Life Is Not A Dream
Chapter Five
Rangiku laid curled up on the bed as she slept deeply. She had been having good dreams lately and she didn't want them to end. In fact, she rather stay asleep than awake and sit in the room bored out of her mind. And since she was having a really good dream, she didn't notice at first that someone was trying to wake her up until she felt her arm hurting.
Rangiku finally opened her eyes to see Hitomi pinching her arm. As soon as Hitomi saw that Rangiku opened her eyes, she stopped pinching her arm. Rangiku sat up rubbing her arm when Hitomi shoved a plain purple bag onto her lap. Which caused Rangiku to looked at it weird.
"Well opened it up." Hitomi excitedly said after seeing Ran just staring at it. "Come on hurry up, I got other stuff to do today."
Rangiku opened the bag and pulled out a dress. It was a dark purple dress with ribbons and three bows on it. One bow in the middle of the dress while the other two looked to be located on the sides. It was a pretty dress, but she didn't understand. When Hitomi gives her clothes, she just put them in the dresser and told her about the clothes. She didn't put them in a gift bag to give to her like a present.
"You don't like it?" Hitomi asked after seeing the confused look on Ran's face. She was about to slap the girl until she realized that Ran might not know what day it was. "Wait, do you know what today is?" Hitomi watched as the girl shook her head. "It's your birthday." She said excitedly pulling her in a hug.
Rangiku was surprised. She did remember telling Hitomi when her birthday was, but she didn't think Hitomi would remember it. Not to mentioned Rangiku tend to lose track of the days stuck in this room. She wouldn't know the date unless Gin or Hitomi told her. Rangiku gave her biggest smile and hugged Hitomi back. "Thank you" Rangiku said when Hitomi pulled back. Seeing the look on Hitomi face told Rangiku that the she was happy with her reaction. As long as Hitomi was happy, Rangiku didn't have to worry about getting punished.
"Well go on and get changed." Hitomi demanded. "I want to see you in it. Like I said I don't have all day."
Rangiku nodded and pulled her nightgown off and quickly put the dress on. Hitomi helped with the zipper in the back. Rangiku brushed her hair before she posed for Hitomi. "How do I look." Rangiku smiled as she twirled the best that she could with the metal cuff to show Hitomi how the dress looked on her. She nearly tripped on the chain though. She hoped it would make Hitomi happy to show how happy she was.
"Very pretty. Gin Nii-San would love to see you in it." Hitomi said. "Breakfast is on the dresser. Don't spill anything on the dress until Gin Nii-San gets home to see you in it. Got it."
Rangiku nodded before Hitomi smiled and left. After Hitomi left and Rangiku was alone, she sat on the bed. Her smile no longer on her face. She was trying to prevent herself from crying. It was her birthday and she didn't know it. She had hoped by now that she would have been home safe and not here waiting for Gin to come and have sex her whenever he felt like it.
She misses her home and her parents. At home she would have a birthday party and play with her family and friends. Her mother would make the best birthday cake. Rangiku would sometimes try to sneak a taste of the cake before it was times to blow out the candles. She remembered her mother had to hide the cake on her to prevent her from getting into it before it was time to serve the cake. Even though she tried to prevent herself from crying, she couldn't help but feel the tears streaming down her face.
Sayuri didn't bother trying to leave her bed all morning. She had felt lost without her daughter. Especially now on her daughter's birthday. This was the first birthday Sayuri had been without Rangiku. She didn't know what to do. Normally Sayuri would be planning and setting up a birthday party for Rangiku. Making her daughter's birthday cake, watching her daughter open presents.
Sayuri knew eventually she wouldn't be with Rangiku for every one of her birthdays. But she had thought that she would be there until Rangiku had left home on her own as an adult and even then, she would always make sure to wish Rangiku a happy birthday even if it was by phone if they could not see each other in person. Like how it was with her own mother before her mother passed away. However, it was far too early to be separated from her daughter. Rangiku would only be 11 years old today. Far too young to be away from her mother and father.
Sayuri slowly sat up on her bed. She had subconsciously placed her hand on her stomach. She couldn't help think of the other child she lost. She didn't even know she was pregnant when it happened. She had not only lost one child to a kidnapping, but she had lost another one while it was still in the womb. Every now and then since her daughter's kidnapping and losing the baby, Sayuri would wonder if she was a good mother despite losing two children. One child to a strange man and one child who never got the chance to live.
Several minutes passed and Sayuri finally got out of bed and changed her clothes. She was the only one home, Kazuya couldn't take any more time off of work. And she wouldn't want him to get fired. She knew he would stay home if she needed him. As much as she wanted him to, Sayuri knew it would be too selfish to ask him to stay home with her. Instead, she had made lunch plans with her sister-in-law Ami. If she didn't leave soon, she'll be late.
Ami and Hiro been a great support for her and Kazuya. Her other sister-in-law Fumiko and her husband Kei were there too, but with Kei's mother's health and the fact they both work, they don't have much time and she didn't blame them. Once Sayuri left her house, it didn't take long to get to Ami's apartment. No sooner as Sayuri knocked, Ami answered the door.
"Sorry for asking you come here instead of going out to our normal café." Ami apologized. If she couldn't make it out, she would've cancelled, however she didn't want Sayuri to be on her own feeling sorry for herself on Rangiku's birthday. Instead, she insisted on having lunch at her apartment.
"It's alright." Sayuri followed Ami into the apartment. "Toushirou-Kun getting sick isn't your fault." Sayuri sat at the table while Ami severed tea. "Is he sleeping?"
"He just got back to sleep." Ami nodded in the direction of Toushirou's bedroom. "Toushirou's fever is down a bit and I did get him to eat a little."
"He probably hates staying in bed though." Sayuri picked up her tea cup and took a sip.
"He takes after me that way." Ami said smiling. Ami could be stubborn in her own way. "If you'll excuse me, I'll get lunch on the table."
When Ami went to the kitchen Sayuri just sat there looking in the direction of her nephew's bedroom door thinking of the last time Rangiku got sick. She remembered it just like yesterday expect for it was last winter. She remembered she rarely left Rangiku's side that much except to cook. She even slept in Rangiku's room until she got better. Sayuri got up and went to peak into Toushirou's room. Sayuri couldn't help but give a sad smile at the sight before her. Toushirou was sleeping in his bed. Next to him, Sayuri could see stuffed turquoise dragon. She couldn't help but remember that day Rangiku picked it out.
Flashback
"Which one do you think the baby would like." Sayuri asked the then four-year-old Rangiku. Sayuri had taken Rangiku to the local toy store to pick out a toy for the newborn Toushirou. Rangiku looked at the stuff animals and without hesitation she picked a stuffed toy that was just as big as she was.
"This one mama." Rangiku held onto a turquoise stuffed dragon.
"Don't you think that'll be a little scary for your cousin." Sayuri asked, not to mention maybe a little too big. "He's only a baby."
Rangiku shook her head. "No, this one. I know he wants it." The look on Rangiku's face told her that she wouldn't change her mind no matter what Sayuri said. In the end, Sayuri bought the toy.
End Flashback
Sayuri remembered how eager Rangiku was to give that stuffed dragon to the baby Toushirou as soon as she saw him in his mother's arms when they visited the hospital despite Sayuri telling her that the baby was too small to hold it.
"Hyourinmaru is still is his favorite after all this time." Sayuri heard Ami's voice behind her.
"Hyourinmaru?" Sayuri asked about the name. She didn't think the dragon had a name. Then again, Rangiku named her stuff toy cat Haineko.
"It's what he calls that stuff dragon that you and Rangiku-Chan gave him when he was born." Ami said. "Lunch is on the table." Ami led Sayuri to the table.
"Aww it's so cute that's he calls it that." Sayuri thought it was a cute name. "I'm still surprise you guys still have it."
"He sleeps with it every night." Ami and Sayuri sat down at the table and ate their lunch while they talked and remembered the past. After they were done eating Ami made more tea and the two sat on the couch and continued chatting.
Toushirou woke up and sat up on his bed. His head was still hurting, but he was thirsty. He slowly got out of bed and made his way to his mother, climbing next to on the couch. "I'm thirsty." Toushirou said. Ami placed her hand against his forehead before heading towards the kitchen, coming back a minute later with a glass of water and a wet rag.
Toushirou drank the water and when he was done, he felt his mother pick him up and laid him back on his bed and place a cool wet cloth over his forehead.
It had gotten dark by the time Rangiku heard the door open. By that time, Rangiku had long since stop crying but she didn't bother to turn on the light. Instead, she let her eyes adjust as the room got darker. She looked in the direction of the door to see Gin coming into the room and turning on the light.
"My my it's dark in here." Gin flipped the light switch on. "Oh my my what a pretty sight we have here." Gin placed a small square table down near the bed. Rangiku watched Gin leave. He didn't bother closing the door knowing that Rangiku couldn't move that far with the chain on her ankle. Gin came back a few minutes later with a basket and a soup pan. Hitomi followed him with a small cake in her hands.
Hitomi placed the cake in the middle of the table before she opened the basket Gin brought up and pulled out three bowls. Before she set the bowls on the table, she poured stew in each bowl while Gin put the spoons on the table.
Rangiku was confused at this set up. They didn't do this before. Usually when they feed her, they would just bring her food up while they either ate before or after. But they never ate with her. When she was told to sit down and eat, Rangiku didn't dare to disobey. While they ate, Rangiku was mostly silent and agreed with them when they asked her a question.
With the meal done. Hitomi put a candle on the cake. It was a small round cake with white frosting and sprinkles on it. "Make a wish." Hitomi said. Rangiku nodded and blew out the candle.
"What did you wish for?" Gin asked while Hitomi was cutting the cake He was looking forward to a slice.
"Gin Nii-San you know it's rude to ask anyone what they wish for." Hitomi said taking three smalls plate out of the basket and placed a piece of cake on the plates. "Otherwise, it won't come true."
"That's true. I forgot." Gin said as Hitomi placed a piece of cake in front of Ran and then himself.
Rangiku was glad she didn't have to say what her wish was while they ate the cake. Even if they had made her, she would have probably made up a wish that wouldn't get her into trouble. After they ate the cake, both Hitomi and Gin took everything they brought up except the table back downstairs. It wasn't long before Gin came back up with a plastic store bag. Rangiku opened the bag to find a couple drawing books and color pencils. "Thank you." Rangiku said and Gin smiled as he sat down next to her.
"Know what ya going to draw yet?" Gin wrapped his arm around her.
Rangiku shook her head. Yet she was still glad to have a drawing book. Even if it was from Gin. She missed drawing. She used to draw all the time. Rangiku leaned against Gin when he pulled her closer to him. Not that she had a choice.
"Do ya like your dress that Hitomi got ya?" Gin asked poking at one of the bows before he settled on twirling his fingers through her blonde hair.
Rangiku nodded and said "yes" in a small voice.
"Do ya like the gift I got ya? Gin asked.
Rangiku just nodded as she held the drawing books close to her chest hoping that Gin would see that she loves her presents. After a few more minutes Gin got up, he wished her a happy birthday. He kissed her on the lips and closed the door as he left the room.
Rangiku scooted over to the table and placed the drawing books and color pencils on it. She waited a while listening for anyone coming back. After a while, she sighed in relief. It seems part of her birthday wish came true. She was happy that Gin didn't make her have sex with him. Now all she wanted to do was to go home.