First Dates
It was the happiest morning.
Rangiku woke up, her lips tugging into a wide grin as she felt that warm body still beside her. Last night had been the most special and amazing night. Her best friend loved her, the same way she loved him.
She opened her eyes to find they hadn't moved an inch since falling asleep. Toshiro's arms held her loosely, his chest rising and falling slowly. Rangiku tilted her head to see his face; eyes closed, lips parted slightly. Toshiro – her boyfriend – slept peacefully. Rangiku grinned again, unable to stop herself.
She reached up and pressed her lips to his jaw before peppering his skin with small kisses. She felt him wake up, his arms tightening around her for a moment as his lips stretched into a grin that mirrored hers exactly.
"I must be dreaming," he murmured, voice groggy with sleep.
"Do dreams feel this good?" Rangiku chuckled between kisses. She shifted her weight, feeling him move below her. He lifted her as he rolled onto his back, pulling her onto his chest and stomach.
"Nothing feels this good," he smirked that lazy smirk that made her knees go weak. His teal eyes, now opened, were filled with happiness, and perhaps a little cheekiness. "That's why I'm finding it difficult to believe this is real."
"It's real," Rangiku smiled softly at him. She cupped his jaw, her thumb stroking his cheek gently. They came together quickly, their lips pressing firmly against each other.
Kissing him felt as good as ever. Better even, now that Rangiku knew that his lips were hers to kiss and hers alone.
When they pulled back, neither could stop smiling. Rangiku was so happy, and she knew Toshiro was too. She hadn't seen that kind of happiness from him before.
The room was bright; without checking the exact time, Rangiku could only guess it was late morning. She laid her head back on his chest and listened to his heart as Toshiro's hands stroked her bare back gently. It was always so warm in his hold.
She hummed, content. "I could lay here all day with you."
"So could I," Toshiro agreed softly, "but I do want to get started on my boyfriend-ly duties."
"Boyfriend-ly duties?" Rangiku echoed with a laugh.
"Yeah," Toshiro's voice was excited. "I'm going to make your breakfast."
"Making breakfast is a boyfriend duty?"
"Looking after my girlfriend is a boyfriend duty," Toshiro clarified, "especially when she has stayed overnight in my dorm."
"I see," Rangiku grinned. Gods, he was cute.
Still, as good as the offer of breakfast was, Rangiku was reluctant to get up. Last night had been magical, she wasn't quite ready for it to end.
Toshiro was determined though, and lying in bed without him wasn't the same.
He slipped out from under her, found his trousers from last night and pulled them on. Rangiku had stayed in bed a minute longer, listening to him in the kitchen, conducting his first boyfriend-ly duty. Though the bed was warm, comfortable and smelled like him, Rangiku missed him the second he left the room. She was so weak for him.
Sliding out of bed, Rangiku found his dress shirt from last night and slipped it on, buttoning it just enough to cover herself, yet still tease her man.
And tease him, she certainly did.
He was standing by the stovetop and he did a double take when he saw her, his jaw dropping.
"You look…" Toshiro had to clear his throat, his pan forgotten on the hob. "Phenomenal."
Rangiku smirked. She had meant to simply tease him as she walked by on her way to the bathroom, but with his eyes on her and his taken expression, Rangiku couldn't help but go to him.
She was in his arms in an instant, their lips and tongues reconnected as he lifted her up onto the kitchen bench. It was similar to last night as he hoisted her up and quickly found his hips between her thighs. She was all over him, wrapping her legs around him, drawing him closer as they kissed.
Perhaps it was the honeymoon stage, perhaps it was the months of starvation they had endured, but they could not keep off each other.
Breakfast was forgotten but neither cared, hungry for each other instead.
Fuck. In a few minutes they'd be fucking on the kitchen counter-
"OH FUCKING HELL, MY EYES!"
Rangiku groaned as she pulled off Toshiro and over his shoulder, she shot Ichigo a glare.
"You have the worst timing," she huffed.
"If I had the worst timing, I would have walked in a few minutes later," Ichigo made a disgusted face.
Toshiro chuckled then, pulling away from Rangiku and returning to the stove. It was then that she noticed the first pancake bubbling and drying out in the pan. Toshiro grimaced as he flipped it over, revealing the blackened underside. Then again, the grimace might have been because Ichigo had interrupted them – or because he had to keep his back turned to Ichigo to hide his half erection.
"The first one is always a dud," he sighed to himself. Rangiku patted his shoulder in consolation.
"I guess we didn't need to worry about where you two had wandered off to last night," Ichigo rolled his eyes playfully. "I take it you've sorted things out?"
"Sorted things out?" Toshiro repeated questioningly, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Ichigo and I had a little chat," Rangiku told Toshiro before she turned to beam at Ichigo. "He helped me process my feelings a little."
"You knew?!" Toshiro gasped, turning around to point an accusing spatula at his dorm mate. Thankfully his erection had died enough to not be noticeable now.
"Despite your sneaking around, yes," Ichigo chuckled as Toshiro pouted, "but don't worry, I didn't tell her how you felt."
Rangiku pursed her lips at that. Imagine if Ichigo had told her that Toshiro had feelings for her too – it would have made her much less terrified to speak to her best friend, but then again, she probably would have rushed into her decision rather than thinking about it thoroughly and making sure she was certain in what she wanted.
The nerves were worth it all for where they ended up.
"You were right to tell me to think about it," Rangiku smiled at Ichigo. "I knew what I wanted and I told him how I felt. We're together now."
Even as she said it, her heart skipped a beat. She and Toshiro – a couple at last.
"Well I am very happy for you both," Ichigo grinned widely. "Now I don't have to watch either of you mope around."
Rangiku couldn't help but chuckle now at her moping around. It seemed so silly in retrospect, but she hadn't known how things would turn out. That, and the idea of Toshiro moping around lovesick for her was adorable.
He gave a suffering roll of his eyes however, before he turned back to the pancake. He slid the spatula beneath it and lifted it from the pan, flipping it onto the plate.
"Don't eat that one," Toshiro murmured to her, a slight sigh on his lips as he looked down at the 'dud' first pancake. "I'll make more."
"You're doing great, Sweetie," Rangiku pursed her lips to stop the smile and hopped off the bench, deciding to make herself useful by setting the table for breakfast.
"Are you making me breakfast too, Sweetie?" Ichigo asked teasingly from the couch.
"I'm just so happy, I might," Toshiro hummed, and after a moment's pause, he picked up the 'dud' pancake and took it over to Ichigo. "Bon Appetit."
Well Rangiku laughed so much she almost wet herself, and Ichigo shrugged and took the pancake from the plate, eating it like a piece of bread.
"I'm just so happy, I'll put up with this," Ichigo rolled his eyes as Toshiro walked away.
"Oh what's got you in a good mood, Grumpy?" Rangiku's eyes lit up, hoping to hear of an Orihime progress update.
It must have been obvious on her face too because Ichigo flashed her a knowing grin.
"I asked Orihime on a date," he told her happily.
Rangiku's eyes went wide as she squealed. She ran across the room and jumped onto the other end of the couch, getting in Ichigo's personal space and ignoring his indignant expression when he had to readjust his position to accommodate her.
"Tell. Me. Everything."
Well apparently Orihime's interactions with Ichigo last night were positive. They had laughed, they had flirted, they had even-
"And then we kissed-"
Rangiku might have actually screamed at that.
"Kissing her was something else," Ichigo breathed, his smile dopey. "I didn't think it would feel so… electrifying, you know?"
"I do!" Rangiku squealed excitedly. Oh she knew alright – Toshiro's kisses sent her to other worlds. New Year's Day (or fake New Year's Eve, as they were pretending it was), Toshiro had kissed her so passionately, it literally changed Rangiku's life. That's when her view on him changed.
"Anyway," Ichigo grinned widely, "I asked her out tonight. She wants to take it slow but I'm genuinely very excited about it."
"That's so good," Rangiku swooned. "Where are you taking her?"
"We're having a sunset picnic. There is the spot in the park where we'd go after school. It's got a great view of the whole town and the sunset is really beautiful there."
Oh it sounded delightful; Rangiku knew Orihime would love it. It was casual enough for a 'taking it slow date', yet Ichigo had clearly put some thought into it, picking a nostalgic place from their past. He continued telling her his plan of preparing a basket of food and wine and how he was going to pick her up some flowers and wear his new blue shirt.
It was adorable and seeing Ichigo's enthusiasm, while knowing just how excited and nervous Orihime was probably feeling, made Rangiku almost miss that early part of dating. She and Toshiro had skipped right over it because they didn't need it. They'd been having sex for months, known each other for years, and they had known what they wanted when they jumped into their relationship.
They would never need a courtship phase, not even first date was necessary-
Huh. They'd never have a first date, not really.
Rangiku shook off that tiny bit of sadness. There was no way she would ever want to give up what she now had with Toshiro. They were in a relationship. And skipping the dating stage – the chase, even – well, that had its benefits too; they could move on to the familiar, comfortable part of a relationship, when they knew each other well enough to build a solid, long-term future together.
"I'm excited," Ichigo sighed happily, standing up from the couch. "I'm going to shower, don't you two start having sex out here, I'm going to be quick."
"Can't promise that," Rangiku smirked and received an eye roll in response.
She hopped off the couch and returned to the table where Toshiro was now placing a plate of perfectly round, perfectly golden pancakes. Being guys, and college-budget guys specifically, Rangiku was not surprised to find the pancake toppings to be limited to maple syrup only.
"Sorry," Toshiro grimaced. "I didn't think this through."
"Don't be silly," Rangiku waved him off as she turned to the cupboard. "This is fantastic!"
She found some soy sauce and dried seaweed and put both on her pancakes with the maple syrup. Toshiro kept his comments to himself but his queasy expression said everything. Rangiku grinned widely at him; he must have really loved her.
"Cute about Ichigo and Orihime, isn't it?" Rangiku commented somewhere around the third pancake.
Toshiro hummed down at his plate, brows knitted slightly.
"It got me thinking though," he cleared his throat. "We should go on a date soon too. A real one. If you want."
Rangiku raised an eyebrow. She sensed a bit of nervousness from him; he was still picking at his first pancake and not looking at her.
"We don't have to," Toshiro continued. "I just thought-"
"I'd love to," Rangiku cut him off, sensing a loop coming. Besides, she really did want to go on a date with him.
It wasn't a conventional first date of course, since they were already together, but she'd take it happily.
"Cool," Toshiro nodded. "Are-are you free tonight?"
"Well I was planning to spend it in my boyfriend's bed with no clothes on," Rangiku sighed, pretending to be disappointed but her smirk was telling, "but I can do that afterwards, I suppose."
Toshiro flushed – it was adorable.
"Where are we going?" Rangiku prompted after a beat of silence, when Toshiro didn't say more.
"Somewhere special," Toshiro murmured, leaning back in his chair, looking thoughtful and perhaps a little bit stressed. Clearly he hadn't decided yet, but it was a bit of a last minute call.
Rangiku didn't mind. She'd be happy with dinner in a fast food joint if it meant she got to spend the evening with him. And it was cute that he was a bit nervous too; it showed how important it was to him.
They continued to eat their breakfast as Ichigo showered, changed and ducked out to the shops.
Toshiro wouldn't let her clean up, and in all fairness, Rangiku didn't put up much of a fight.
"I'll pick you up this afternoon," Toshiro announced as he finished up the dishes and turned around, leaning back on the sink.
"Did you decide where we're going?" Rangiku tilted her head at him from the kitchen table.
"Perhaps. Can't tell you though, it's a surprise."
"How mysterious. What time will you pick me up?"
"Afternoon. I'll let you know at least two hours before."
"Make it three. There's a lot of beauty prep to be done."
Toshiro's lips twitched, finding humour in that as he moved towards her. His nervousness seemed to disappear then too.
"You don't know how gorgeous you are already," he murmured, leaning down to peck her lips.
Rangiku blushed. Rarely did a man make her blush like that and even though she did know how gorgeous she was, physically speaking– she spent hours on an intense skin and hair care regime and a ridiculous amount of money on beauty products and clothes – it was always nice to hear it. And hearing it from Toshiro, who she had known for years and was surely immune to her looks, was more meaningful and it made Rangiku feel every bit as beautiful as he believed she was.
"Okay I'm going back to my dorm," Rangiku sighed. Shower, a nap, maybe a bit of a stretch to relieve the tightness in her thighs after last night's activities.
Would she rather shower and nap with Toshiro? Absolutely. But he did have that pretending-not-to-be-stressed-but-definitely-stressed, pre-exam 'I need to study' look on his face and Rangiku knew better than to stay and stress him out more.
There were no more exams or even classes now, but she knew he must have still been nervous about the date he was planning. He had been waiting for his shot for years and now he finally had it – he didn't want to mess it up.
Rangiku knew there was very little she could say to calm him, she just had to enjoy their date, whatever it was. That would be the only thing that could settle him now.
She pulled on a pair of his joggers and picked up her dress from the floor. They kissed again at the door, exactly where they had been last night, but this time they managed to pull away – only just.
Oh dear, she was so happy. Rangiku couldn't stop smiling as she walked back to her dorm.
Or she couldn't, until she entered her dorm to find Orihime, Rukia and Kiyone sitting on the couch, catching up on the party gossip from last night.
"Oh welcome home," Rukia sent Rangiku a pointed look and it was clear she had noticed her disappear with Toshiro last night.
"Morning," Rangiku greeted but ignored the look. She now understood why Rukia had been disapproving of her and Toshiro, and she hoped her friend would be happier when she found out they were together now.
"Did something happen last night?" Orihime turned to Rangiku with concerned eyes. "I've never known you to leave a party so early."
Rangiku grinned widely – for Toshiro, she'd leave anything early, even a party.
"I went home with my boyfriend," Rangiku winked at Orihime and immediately the three girls reacted with shocked expressions, in varying degrees of excitement.
"Toshiro?!" Orihime asked, shrieking, and Rangiku grinned widely in answer.
It was awkward that Kiyone was there, but she was going to find out sooner or later, and Rangiku didn't think Toshiro or herself owed her anything. Kiyone and Toshiro had all of what, two dates? They had never actually slept together, despite how it had looked when Rangiku had walked in after her failed date with Shuuhei. Besides, from what Toshiro had told Rangiku, it sounded like Kiyone had actually encouraged him to go for Rangiku.
And it wasn't actually her who seemed the most uneasy about it.
"Have you thought this through?" Rukia asked her, a sceptical eyebrow raised. "It's a lot to risk for…"
For sex. It was left unsaid but Rangiku knew it was what she meant.
"I'm in love with him," she answered coolly, guard going up. "I have thought it through."
"Okay," Rukia agreed with a small shrug. "I would just hate to see him get hurt again."
"Again?"
There was a thick silence for a moment as Kiyone took a long sip of her tea and Orihime looked confused, unsure where the tension was coming from or how she could fix it. Rangiku understood Rukia's protectiveness for Toshiro but she didn't understand why her friend didn't seem to support her.
"He's been pining after you for years, Ran," Rukia sighed then, tired. "He's watched you go from man to man without looking twice at him. It's left him hurt so many times and you never noticed."
Rangiku's brow furrowed as she straightened her shoulders. It wasn't nice hearing that.
"If you've thought about it and you're genuinely in love with him, I'm happy for you-"
It didn't sound like it.
"I am in love with him," Rangiku interrupted.
"-just don't hurt him is all I'm saying," Rukia finished with another small, casual shrug.
Rangiku nodded slowly, taking it in. It stung, to be honest, firstly knowing she'd been hurting her best friend for years without knowing and secondly because one of her closest friends didn't seem to support her new relationship – something she had been so excited to share with everyone.
"Thanks," she muttered, turning away and walking to her bedroom. Orihime called after her but she shut the door firmly behind her, cutting out the voices.
She sighed as she sat on the bed, her teal dress folding in her hold. She didn't even get to ask Orihime about her date with Ichigo.
Just like that, her happiest morning fell flat.
…
Rangiku napped for a couple hours before Toshiro text her.
Toshiro
Your three hour window starts now. I'm picking you up at 4!
Rangiku smiled at the text, one eye cracked open over her pillow to read it. Her grin stretched wider when a second text came through a few seconds later.
Toshiro
I'm picking you up at 4, Babe* x*
Then another, a few seconds after that.
Toshiro
I'm picking you up at 4, Beautiful* … I'm not sure which you prefer but I am excited that I get to call you these things now :)
Rangiku swooned, rolling onto her back and hugging her phone to her chest. She giggled, imagining Toshiro – her best friend for a decade – calling her romantic pet names. It was adorable and it was exactly what Rangiku wanted. She held her phone back up and began typing.
Rangiku
You can call me whatever, Handsome x
Toshiro replied instantly.
Toshiro
Okay, see you at 4, 'whatever, Handsome x'
Rangiku's laughter was not human. He was such a dork, and she loved him.
She plugged her phone back in to charge and groaned as she slid out of bed. First up, she needed a shower.
Thankfully it was quiet outside her bedroom and when she emerged with a towel slung over her shoulder, the living room was empty.
Her shower was piping hot, the way she liked it, and she washed her hair thoroughly. Thankfully much of her pre-date beauty regime had been covered the night before for the End of Year Party, but that didn't stop her shaving again and moisturising her entire body.
Out of the shower, she blew dry her hair so it would be just a little bit wavy, and put on a soothing facemask while she flipped through her wardrobe looking for an outfit.
Toshiro was annoyingly vague about where they were headed and what she should wear. He had just told her 'summer casual' but she knew he didn't really know what that meant. In the end she settled for a black mini skirt, loose cream button down and a chunky brown belt. She had some ankle boots with a low heel that tied the look all together; it was nice if they went somewhere up-market, but casual enough if they went somewhere mellow.
She honestly didn't mind where they went or what they did, but she did secretly hope there would be an obvious element of romance to it. She and Toshiro had been everywhere as friends but she wanted to have a date that was unquestionably romantic. She wanted to go somewhere and feel like they were a couple – not just friends.
Luckily, Rangiku did run into Orihime again, just before four.
"Oh you look so pretty," Rangiku gushed, coming out of her room to find Orihime sitting on the couch, strapping on some sandals. "I heard about your night with Ichigo, he was buzzing this morning."
Orihime grinned widely. "I'm so excited, I have so many butterflies in my stomach."
"You look great," Rangiku told her, "and you're going to have the best time. Just have fun tonight."
The girl took a deep breath and nodded. She did look good in a white tee that was scrunched up and tied off at her waist, a long floral skirt with a split up the leg showing off her calves as she walked around the room, finding her purse and keys.
"I'm really happy for you and Toshiro," she turned to Rangiku with big eyes. "Rukia is too, I'm sure."
Rangiku hummed, not wanting to disagree or talk about that much further. Her focus was on Toshiro tonight and that was all.
"Thanks," she answered and thankfully there was a knock at the door that saved any follow ups.
It was Ichigo, and he did look suave himself in his white button down and chinos. He carried a picnic blanket and a wicker basket that was overflowing with wine and Tupperware containers full of food. He really had gone all out with it – more so when he pulled out a bouquet of sunflowers.
"For you," he murmured, passing them to Orihime. "I thought they suited you."
Rangiku wanted to die of cuteness overload. Sunflowers did suit Orihime – she was sunshine in human form, a pure force of positivity and resilience.
"Thank you," Orihime blushed brightly, hurrying to put them in a vase (or a tall glass, since they didn't have a vase in their dorm).
"Your boyfriend will be down soon too," Ichigo winked at Rangiku. "Says he's giving you an extra ten minutes of 'Rangiku time'."
He knew she'd be late. He knew her all too well, bless him.
Rangiku smirked. "Good man. I haven't picked a bag yet, let alone jewellery to match."
Ichigo rolled his eyes but any retort was lost when Orihime returned, ready to leave. They said their goodbyes and Rangiku waved them off, hoping they would have a nice night.
She found a small cross body bag and picked her jewellery, all the while her excitement for the date was bubbling inside her. She remembered when Toshiro picked Kiyone up for their date and he'd called her beautiful and given her daisies (Kiyone's favourite flowers, apparently) – Rangiku couldn't wait for that to be her this time. She squealed at the thought, smiling stupidly, and finally there was a second knock at the door.
"Well, hello Handsome," she whistled lowly when she pulled open the door, revealing her explicably gorgeous boyfriend.
Toshiro wore dark jeans and a navy button down, his white hair wild and messy as always but it was clear he'd tried to comb it anyway.
He grinned at her, though his cheeks were noticeably pinker, and held out a hand. "Ready to go?"
Rangiku tilted her head at him, eyebrow raised. His hands were both empty – no flowers – and he hadn't called her beautiful yet.
"No flowers?" she asked, trying to sound casual and not at all disappointed. "Kiyone got flowers."
And so did Orihime, about five minutes ago.
Toshiro smirked widely. "You are not Kiyone."
Well… it was hard to argue with that. Still a few flowers might have been nice.
Toshiro was unconcerned however, and he held out his hand again for Rangiku to take. She pursed her lips and accepted it, and was immediately pulled into Toshiro's chest, his arms circling around her and holding her tight to him.
Rangiku gasped, feeling his breath ghosting her ear before he kissed her temple.
"This is the best day of my life," he whispered to her and Rangiku couldn't help but feel her smile return.
Kiyone never got that and why would she? Toshiro hadn't spent years wanting to take her on a date.
Toshiro's arms loosened and he stepped back slightly, his hands falling to hers and capturing them.
"Come on, Beautiful," he grinned. "We've got a lot to get through tonight."
"Is that so?" Rangiku queried flirtatiously, allowing herself to be pulled along as Toshiro backed down the hallway.
Toshiro grinned as he nodded, "And then you'll get your flowers."
That was something implied for certain. Interesting.
Rangiku forgave the lack of flowers now, since he clearly had planned something else, and better than that, he wasn't treating this date like previous first dates of his. Rangiku had thought she wanted that treatment but it was occurring to her now that it was more important to be different.
She was different, and she was something truly special to him.
…
"Am I allowed to know now where we are going?" Rangiku asked as they walked along the street.
They had only been walking for about ten minutes since leaving campus and though the summer weather was glorious, Rangiku was going to go insane with the suspense of not knowing yet what her first date with Toshiro would be. Toshiro didn't seem as concerned as he strolled at a leisurely pace, chatting happily about returning to Junrinan for the summer break. Whatever nervousness he had been harbouring before seemed to have completely disappeared.
He chuckled at her question, or perhaps at the suddenly impatient tone she had used as it blurted from her mouth, cutting him off mid-conversation.
"Okay, okay," Toshiro laughed. "Well, as you know, I've been wanting to take you on a date since I was about twelve years old."
Rangiku hummed – ahh yes the years and years of pining he'd been doing.
"I've planned hundreds of first dates with you in my mind," Toshiro continued, "but I was never brave enough to ask you on one of them. So today, I thought we could actually do a few of them."
"To make up for lost time?" Rangiku smiled softly.
"More to celebrate us over the years and how we've grown," Toshiro returned before he stopped suddenly and gestured to the building across the road. "Here's our first, first date."
Rangiku stared at the building for a moment, trying to figure out the puzzle.
"The mall?"
"The mall," Toshiro confirmed.
"Okay," Rangiku continued to stare, not comprehending it but if she knew Toshiro like she thought she did, she knew there was more to it.
"If you remember, the mall was the number one date spot in our first few years of high school," Toshiro reminded her. "It was all the rage to take your crush there, just to walk around and get slushies. Maybe even hold hands if it was going really well."
Rangiku snorted. Oh yes, that she did remember. She had been on a few mall dates back in the day.
"So we're going to walk around and drink slushies," Rangiku grinned, "and maybe hold hands?"
"That's what we would have done if I had asked you on that very first date I'd planned," Toshiro shrugged, and familiar uncertainty flashed suddenly in his eyes.
She recalled then a tiny twelve year old Toshiro, the one stuttered a lot when he talked to her even though they were best friends. The one that had stood to her shoulder in height and had a worn Spiderman backpack.
It was hard to imagine that he had been wanting to ask her out, even then.
Rangiku felt her heart melt a little. She wanted to go to the mall with that boy.
"Let's go then," she smiled, linking her arm around Toshiro's.
The man visibly relaxed then, the uncertainty disappearing with a breath. They set off across the road and into the mall.
It was actually a wonderful 'first, first date' – as he put it. It was the perfect blend of what dates were like back when he first got a crush on her and something more comfortable to their long relationship as friends. They had been to the mall a hundred times, they'd had plenty of slushies together over the years, but this time it was a date.
They did hold hands as they walked past the different shops, and they both blushed like twelve year olds when they complimented each other. For a while there they reminisced about school and that early time in their history.
"Rangiku Matsumoto," Toshiro gasped dramatically, "I would never let any girl cheat off my exams."
"You let me cheat every time!" Rangiku accused him as she laughed. "You would always position your paper and hands so I had a clear view of your answers."
"Rangiku Matsumoto," Toshiro repeated her name, his tone far more implicit, "how many times do I need to tell you that you're not any girl?"
That shut Rangiku's mouth quickly, the blush once again returning to her cheeks. Toshiro smirked at her, his expression saying it all as he took a sip of his bright blue slushy.
He really was something special too.
For a moment, Rangiku's stomach flipped as remembered Rukia's words to her earlier – about how she had never looked twice at Toshiro and it had killed him to watch her date other men without even considering him.
It was insane from her perspective now that she overlooked him so many times without thought, when he had been the most important man in her life since the days of taking your crush to the mall as a date.
Rangiku quickly dropped Toshiro's hand and grabbed him by his collar, drawing him in quickly for a kiss. He was surprised at first but then he melted against her, his lips moving with hers.
He looked stunned when they separated.
"Sorry," Rangiku murmured, reaching up to wipe a bit of her smudged lipstick off the corner of his mouth. "How's that for a mall date?"
Toshiro's eyes were unfocused as he touched his fingers to his lips lightly.
"I think you just killed twelve year old me," he breathed.
…
As it turned out, sixteen year old Toshiro wanted to take Rangiku to a fairground.
"I don't really know why," Toshiro had frowned to himself as they entered under a colourful archway, to the screams of children not wanting to leave yet and thrill-seekers on rides. "You were just so fun and adventurous. I was never like that but I think I wanted to show you I could be."
Rangiku squeezed his hand – she hadn't let it go since they'd left the mall. He was too cute.
"I've always thought you were fun," she assured him.
"You've called me 'boring' several hundred times," Toshiro corrected, though he was grinning. "Last week, most recently."
Rangiku grimaced internally. That had been at the bar with all the board games – after he'd said no to her offer to buy them a round of Jägerbombs.
"'Boring' isn't the right word, I don't know why I use it," Rangiku tried to explain herself but it didn't look good. Still, Toshiro seemed unfazed as he steered them towards a booth for ride tokens. "You're not a huge drinker or party-goer, but I still think you're fun. In fact I have more fun with you because I can only really be my true self with you and-"
"Relax, Ran," Toshiro chuckled. "I know all that."
He turned to speak to the attendant in the booth as Rangiku took a deep breath. Suddenly she was the one feeling nervous. She remembered Rukia's words that morning, they were echoing in her mind.
She had always been so flippant with Toshiro – calling him boring (though she'd never really meant it like that), never wondering if that ever stuck to him or made him feel self-conscious. It had though, a long time ago, if that was why he had once planned a fairground date for them.
"Got enough tokens for two rides each to start," Toshiro returned to her, showing her a strip of red paper tokens. "Pick one each and we go on both?"
Rangiku swallowed down her negative thoughts and looked around at the rides. She saw one the slingshot people into air, another that dropped them from a great height, and of course there were several rollercoasters whizzing around, looping upside down and plunging down steep slopes. Sixteen year old her would have loved them, but then again, sixteen year old her would have probably been able to keep down the large slushy she'd just finished off.
"Tea cups," Rangiku announced, pointing ahead where the much more mellow spinning cups were travelling around the centre teapot at a far slower pace than the rollercoasters.
"Are you sure?" Toshiro frowned. "There's kids getting on. There's not even a height restriction on it."
Rangiku shrugged. "If I'm being honest, it's always been my favourite from when I was a kid. Besides, it reminds me of you."
"Why?" Toshiro asked, following her as she moved off towards it.
"You like tea," Rangiku answered. "I think your grandmother has tea cups like these."
Beside her, Toshiro chuckled. "Well alright. I'm secretly glad to not be going on anything that will make me scream. It's a bit emasculating."
"Never," Rangiku grinned.
They queued with the kids and tired parents, and finally they were ushered into a tea cup of their own. Side by side in the cup, Toshiro's arm stretched over Rangiku's shoulder and she sunk into his side.
The ride was actually faster than it looked once sitting in the cup, so Rangiku closed her eyes and enjoyed being close to her boyfriend. She held onto him tightly, wishing she knew how to tell him how much he had always meant to her, even when she hadn't thought of him as a romantic interest. It was hard for her to let that go now; she wanted to push it away and simply enjoy the present with him, but since Rukia had spoken to her this morning, the reality of their past had been nagging in the back of Rangiku's mind.
She could never change it. She could never take back the times she hadn't noticed Toshiro or every time she had so dismissively gushed about another guy in front of him. It must have killed him every time, yet he had never stopped loving her, never stopped being her best friend.
She didn't deserve him.
The ride slowed to a stop and Toshiro squeezed her before moving back to stand.
"That moved faster than I thought," he whispered to her, as if afraid the children would hear him and mock him.
"But you didn't scream once," Rangiku teased him playfully. "I'm proud of you, Babe."
"Babe," Toshiro echoed, stopping for just a moment. He shot Rangiku a smile. "I like that."
Noted.
"Come on," Rangiku rolled her eyes, linking her arm around his again as they stepped back onto the grass. "Which family-friendly ride do you want to go on next?"
"Hmm," Toshiro hummed, glancing around. Eventually nodded towards the tall, extremely slow moving Ferris wheel. "Sea views?"
"Perfect."
…
"We have just one more stop before dinner."
"Ooh, where?"
"Just up here."
Rangiku allowed herself to be led down a narrow alley way. It was light enough to see but she never felt unsafe with Toshiro anyway, and there was nothing at all to worry about. The alley led into a twist of narrow paths, each side lined with cute boutique stores. Rangiku spotted some clothing stores that had some beautiful pieces in the window, and she'd have to remember to come back after the summer. Toshiro pulled her along, past adorable toy stores and antique shops, finally stopping outside a bookstore.
Rangiku was surprised, and he didn't explain himself as he opened the door and ushered her inside.
It was warm inside. No air-conditioning, but probably the exact place she'd want to visit in the winter. The shop was cosy, with a big log fireplace that was currently out of use (being summer and all) and deep arm chairs for reading. There were bean bags in the corner, sitting atop a fluffy emerald rug. It was homey – it felt like people lived here.
The walls were lined with books – thousands easily – on wooden shelves. As narrow as the store was, it certainly made up for it in height; the bookshelves towered high, with ladders everywhere so people could climb up to see the higher books.
"This is the oldest bookshop in the country," Toshiro murmured. "I come here a lot. Sometimes to study, sometimes just to read. It's the kind of place that you can stay at for hours and not notice the time go by."
Rangiku nodded, stepping between the shelves and reading the spines as she passed them. Toshiro still hadn't explained why they were here – it wasn't exactly a typical date spot – and he seemed in no hurry to.
"The fashion section is actually really cool," he murmured. "Do you want me to show you it?"
Of course he knew what would interest her most.
Rangiku nodded and followed him towards the back of the store to where it opened up to another sitting area that looked even cosier than the front of the store. There were armchairs that looked impossibly comfortable, complete with cushions and even knitted blankets. There were also some study tables, but they were empty now that most schools in the area were done with exams.
Toshiro led her to a full bookcase and Rangiku gasped slightly as she took in all the spines facing her; they were all fashion books. She didn't know there could be so many, yet she was looking at them. From designer biographies, to style origins and history, to present day social issues and so much more. It was amazing.
"There's a café upstairs," Toshiro told her, speaking quietly though there was no one around. "Do you want anything?"
Rangiku requested a coffee and Toshiro nodded, turning and disappearing up a spiral staircase in the corner.
She continued looking through the books and by the time Toshiro had returned, coffees in hand, she pulled one from the shelf and started flipping through it. It was biography of Coco Chanel. Rangiku was probably well versed enough through her own research on arguably the most influential female designer to have lived, but having a physical book in her hands felt like it was going to hold even more secrets about this woman's history, of both the good and the bad.
Toshiro sat down in an armchair and Rangiku sat herself in his lap. It was far more comfortable than the tea cups and Ferris wheel as she sunk against him. He kissed her temple and passed Rangiku her coffee. They sat together, sipping their drinks and reading the foreword of Coco Chanel's book.
Without even knowing why they were here, Rangiku had decided this was her favourite part of the date so far.
She felt at home. She felt like this was genuinely where her future with Toshiro would lead her. She could so clearly envision them sitting by the fire in winter, sharing a chair and a book. It was a future she wanted more than anything.
"I love this," she murmured, turning her head and meeting Toshiro's lips with hers as he mirrored her.
"I'm glad," Toshiro murmured when they separated. "This is me, Ran."
Rangiku cupped his cheek and brought him in again for another kiss.
Maybe this was why the bookstore that she'd never been to before somehow felt like home – maybe it was because it reminded her of Toshiro. If someone's soul and essence could be a physical space, Rangiku thought this store was what Toshiro's would look like.
They separated again and Rangiku curled against him, resting her head on his shoulder. She felt him kiss the crown of her head before he leaned his head on hers.
"Is that why you brought me here on our date?" Rangiku guessed. "To show me 'you'."
For a moment, Toshiro was quiet. Rangiku waited patiently until he eventually inhaled deeply.
"I suppose," he murmured. "I wanted to bring you here last year… while you were dating Gin."
"'While'?" Rangiku repeated, prompting him to continue. She already knew there was more to this story.
"Oh it was stupid," Toshiro chuckled then, the deep sound reverberating down his throat and Rangiku could feel it from where she was nestled in the crook of his neck.
"Tell me," she whined softly.
Again Toshiro was silent for a beat.
"I just… I never thought you'd see me in a romantic way," Toshiro started, "or anyone like me. Shy, nerdy, weird hair-"
"I love your hair," Rangiku cut in with a pout. She had tilted her head back now so she could see Toshiro. He wasn't looking at her, which likely meant he'd gone shy and nervous again.
"I never thought you'd be attracted to someone like that," Toshiro ignored her, "… but then you met Gin… and he was me. Just taller. I hated him because we were the same person, but he got to be with you."
Rangiku stared at Toshiro, processing that revelation. Toshiro and Gin, the same person? Hair colour – similar, sure. Eyes – deep and mysterious, okay. Brain – extremely intellectual, fine. Physical body – fit, the both of them. But Rangiku had never thought to compare them-
"But then I started to think," Toshiro continued, swallowing mid-sentence, "if you could be attracted to Gin… maybe you could be attracted to me too. That's… that's why I wanted to bring you here last year. To remind you who I was and maybe you would see the same thing in me that you saw in Gin."
For a while, Rangiku didn't know what to say. Suddenly she was reflecting on her whole relationship with Gin. Maybe that was why Gin hated Toshiro just as much as Toshiro hated him? He was always so jealous of the time Rangiku spent with her best friend, and maybe it wasn't the time so much as it was him seeing Toshiro as a threat? Rangiku had always thought Gin was just the possessive type, but now she was starting to see the bigger picture. The man would sneer every time Rangiku would mention Toshiro's name- Oh no.
Suddenly Rangiku was remembering her initial attraction to Gin. She remembered feeling a connection between them too – she had thought it was funny how a man who was practically a stranger at that point could seem so similar to her.
Maybe that was when she really fell for Toshiro – she'd just had the wrong man in front of her.
And Gin was the wrong man.
"You and Gin aren't the same," Rangiku told Toshiro then, lifting her head off his shoulder so she could look at him properly. "I never noticed the similarities much. You have always been someone I could trust and depend on. You can always cheer me up and make me laugh, and you never judge me on anything. Gin wasn't like that; he was impatient and spiteful. He always had to be in control-"
"Yeah, he was a shitbag," Toshiro muttered, interrupting.
"He was a shitbag," Rangiku agreed with a chuckle. "That's why it didn't work out. I'm just slow learner, you know that."
Toshiro pursed his lips together and threw her a look.
"And I never loved him," Rangiku murmured, cupping his cheek again, "but I love you, and it's your differences that I'm attracted to."
Toshiro sighed then, seemingly resolved, before he pulled Rangiku closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"That's all that matters," he whispered against her.
…
Orihime
It's going well! Ichigo is so cute :) Can't wait to tell you about it tomorrow!
Rangiku swallowed, slipping her phone back into her bag. She was happy for Orihime, but her own chest was tightening. She clutched a paper bag holding the Coco Chanel book Toshiro had bought for her at the store, her grip tightening with anxiety. They were standing in a glass elevator as it carried them up to a mysterious rooftop bar he had just told her was their final stop on their first date.
Though the conversation about Gin had ended and they had left the bookstore, Rangiku still felt awful inside. The uneasy feeling that had been with her since bumping into Rukia that morning had only grown worse.
Toshiro, at every stop on this string of first dates and without knowing it, had reminded her just how special and beautiful he was, and at every stop Rangiku had been reminded that she didn't deserve him.
He had loved her for so long, had thought about her all the time.
Rangiku couldn't say she had done the same and she felt terrible about it. What if Toshiro never truly believed she loved him, and started to think she was just using him until someone better came along? What if he met someone who was just as crazy about him as he'd always been about Rangiku?
"Are you okay?" Toshiro asked her, his concerned expression visible in the shadow. "You've gone quiet on me and a quiet Matsumoto is one I worry about."
"No, I'm fine," Rangiku shot him a smile, pushing the feeling down again. "Just taking it all in."
She didn't want him to think she wasn't enjoying the date. Rangiku loved the date, and she loved him-
Toshiro hummed, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her.
"I still think I'm dreaming," he murmured. Rangiku leaned into him, not trusting her voice to speak again, though the warmth of his hold was spreading through her.
The elevator stopped and his arms loosened as he stepped back.
"Turn around, Beautiful," he instructed softly, nodding his head to something behind her.
Rangiku turned in his arms and gasped at the sight.
"Holy shit," she blurted without thinking, causing Toshiro to erupt into laughter behind her.
The view was incredible. They hadn't even left the lift yet but the sight in front of her was phenomenal. She had been told the view would be good but she hadn't really expected it at all.
It was the top of the very grand town cathedral, up close and uninterrupted. It was gorgeous building, something architects everywhere frothed over. Behind it, the town – soon to be lit up with thousands of lights as the sky grew darker. In the distance, the rolling hills past Karakura Town faded out of sight.
"Supposedly the sunset is amazing up here," Toshiro murmured between the kisses he was peppering against her neck. "I know how you love a good sunset, view and rooftop bar combo."
She did and the sound that came out of her throat was delight mixed with amazement and probably a lot of horniness. He really understood her.
Toshiro grinned as he led her out of the lift to meet the maître d' who led them to a low table in front of a comfortable outdoor sofa.
"This is nice," Rangiku gushed to Toshiro in a low tone. "Bougie!"
"I know," Toshiro seemed just as amazed. "I'm scared they can tell I'm poor."
Rangiku laughed at that but she felt the same. The bar was fancy and very upmarket. Just a quick glance at the wine list told her why she never knew it was here – no student could afford this place. She knew Toshiro was going to be stretching it and she also knew he was going to reject any offer of hers to pay.
Still, he didn't look too worried about it as he told her to pick a bottle while he adjusted a blanket around them, snuggling close to her. There was a blanket at every table – but only one, clearly meant for sharing. Rangiku realised quickly this was a date spot; every other guest around her was in a couple. They were curled against each other, fingers intertwined and stupid smiles on their faces.
The low lighting and décor, it was all designed to be intimate. Rangiku smiled softly; this was better than she could have hoped or imagined.
"Apparently it's very romantic here," Toshiro told her as his arms came around her middle. "That's why I picked it. I thought you would want to go somewhere we'd never go as friends."
"That's perfect," Rangiku grinned. "It's exactly what I wanted for tonight."
Not that the earlier parts of the dates weren't romantic. Sitting in his lap in the quiet bookstore, curling into his side over the sea in the Ferris Wheel, holding hands and flirting in public – it was all romantic to her. Finally she and Toshiro were together – in the open – and it felt so good.
"Oh good," Toshiro smiled and there was relief in his eyes. "The romance doesn't end here either; wait until you see my bedroom."
"Oh?" Rangiku raised a suggestive eyebrow. She liked where this was going…
"Clean sheets, candles, you'll even get those flowers," Toshiro smirked at her. "Alas, they are rose petals scattered across the bed but-"
Rangiku's brain stopped and she missed the next part of his sentence but holy shit, rose petals on the bed?! Now that was romantic – and far better than the bunch of daisies Kiyone had received. Toshiro was making love with Rangiku tonight, and gods she wanted him.
"I am horny as hell now," Rangiku murmured. "Not going to lie to you."
The waiter who was taking their order (who Rangiku had missed arriving during her quick zone out) kept a surprisingly neutral face, but Toshiro was grinning ear to ear.
He ordered a bottle of wine and then waiter hurried away.
"I am ridiculously in love with you, Matsumoto," Toshiro chuckled as he turned back to her, his teal eyes sparkling happily, "and I'll show you that later, I promise."
Rangiku could only hum, except that it came out a hungry growl. She swiftly pulled him in for another kiss, but this time was far deeper and passionate. Toshiro held her close, his arms firm around her.
They must have been kissing for quite some time as there was a bottle of wine and two glasses on their table when they finally separated. The food menu was also left open, a none-too-discreet message from the staff to put an order in soon.
They did, opting to share a few bites rather than get a big meal each. Rangiku was happy for whatever, she was only hungry for her boyfriend now anyway.
The evening from there was as good as the rest of the date. They drank their wine and ate their food, and they laughed and made out in between.
Rangiku felt so safe with him, she could be exactly who she was and he loved her still.
Even though she was oblivious and had unknowingly hurt him for years.
There it was again, that awful feeling in her stomach. It came in waves.
"Are you not enjoying this anymore?" Toshiro read her changing in expression quickly. "We can go-"
"No," Rangiku chuckled weakly, shaking her head and grabbing his hand quickly. "It's not that. I'm having the best time with you."
"It doesn't look like it," Toshiro grimaced. "You keep getting this sad look."
He pointed awkwardly to her face, his own expression uneasy.
Rangiku sighed and lifted his knuckles to her lips. She needed to tell him her thoughts otherwise he was going to spiral and think she wasn't happy with him.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, catching his gaze and struggling to hold it. It was hard to look into the eyes of the person she loved and had hurt so much. "I never looked at you and I-"
She inhaled sharply on reflex, a big lump in her throat forming, but Toshiro caught her quickly, pulling her in close.
"Hey, don't get upset," he murmured. "It's all in the past."
"But I hurt you," Rangiku felt her eyes flood with tears. "For years and years. I kept meeting new guys and-"
She was cut off by her own hiccup and then a pair of lips softly pressing against hers.
"It was worth it," Toshiro murmured, pressing his forehead against hers. "Everything was worth it to end up here with you now. You never hurt me, Ran. I hurt me. I never told you how I felt."
Rangiku closed her eyes and sighed. She hadn't know how he felt but she still didn't feel good that she had ignored him for years while he had always been there for her.
"You would never hurt me, Matsumoto," Toshiro continued as he pulled back a little to see her face properly. He sighed and reached for a clean napkin, pressing it softly to her wet cheeks. "You're my best friend."
"I love you," Rangiku hiccupped again. "I really do."
"I know," Toshiro hummed, his smile soft, "and I love you too."
"You're crazy," Rangiku tried to chuckle as she sunk into Toshiro's chest, cuddling into him.
"No, you're crazy," Toshiro laughed. "That's one of things I love most about you. So let's not worry about anyone else. It's just you and me, and this is where we are now."
Rangiku swallowed and nodded against him. He didn't mean the rooftop bar was where they were now, he meant that they had finally confessed their feelings and gotten together. A real couple – that's where they were now, and it was the best place they'd ever been.
She was glad they were heading back to Junrinan soon. It was going to be their private summer, away from their friends, just the two of them home again with a new start.
"You are incredible," Rangiku breathed against him. She could feel his heart in his chest – it was steady, as he had always been in her life.
"I am," Toshiro replied, and she could hear the smirk in his tone. "Only someone incredible could ever get Rangiku Matsumoto to be his girlfriend."
"You're such a dork," Rangiku rolled her eyes, laughing now that her tears were forgotten.
"One that you fell in love with," Toshiro teased her. He tried to tickle her sides but Rangiku caught his fingers and clamped them tight in her fist.
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes. There was no rebuttal there. She had fallen in love with him.
She kissed him again, holding him close, never intending to let go of him. He melted against her as he always did.
He loved her, and she loved him.
They were so much more than best friends.
…
Welp there you have it! I might have got a bit lazy in the end there because I am in a BIG RUSH to get some other works out this month.
Anyway, I love writing HitsuMatsu so undoubtedly I will be back soon :)
Please review if you get a chance!