A/N: I'm always about a chapter and a half ahead of you, so for those of you who didn't like that it was short (sorry!) I meant tohave it that way. XD Slowly, I'm trying to make myself make them longer, but please be patient with me. I'm so used to one-shots that it's kind of difficult. Either way, thank you all for your support.
To all you lovely peoples ;) Enjoy.
Mon Cœur S'ouvre à Ta Voix
(My heart opens itself to your voice)
III
The next morning when Rangiku sat up from the couch, it was to catch her captain coming in with a gallon of milk in his hand, muttering something about "complicated" and "too many kinds". Raising an eyebrow, she followed her grumbling captain to his quarters where she leaned in the doorway, flicking a stray lock of strawberry hair away from her face.
The death stare she received didn't faze her in the slightest as she raised a brow in question.
"Hitsugaya-taichou, aren't I supposed to be the one with the hangover?" He shoved past her on his way out of his chambers, stalking to his desk and sitting down with a heavy sigh.
"You know, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have this headache, Matsumoto." He could feel his vice captain's eyes on him as he closed his own and began massaging his temples.
"It's not my fault you don't ever try to relax." Rangiku said, huffing indignantly as she shuffled over to fall on the couch again. "Who's the milk for? You don't ever just get anything for our kitchen because you never step in there."
It was times like these it bothered him that she had a knack for detail.
"I've had an assistant in paperwork lately."
". . . Oh. Oh! Does that mean-"
"No, Matsumoto, you can't have more time to go out and drink." A low whine was his reply.
"So who is it? Who did you promote to deal with your grumpiness?"
This woman was going to be the end of his patience, he knew it. Of course, glaring at the foot sticking out from the edge of the couch wouldn't help at all either, but somehow it made him feel a little better.
"I didn't promote anyone. Actually she brought you here the last time you got drunk."
There was a moment of silence as Rangiku contemplated, trying to recall through all her hazy post-sake memories. The tip of her index finger tapped at her chin, lower lip jutted out in a slight pout before her eyes widened.
"Oh, you mean Rukia-san?"
"I don't remember her name." A lie. After her note he knew exactly what her name was.
Sighing, he avoided looking at the fresh stack of paperwork waiting for him as he pushed his chair back.
"I'm going out for a walk."
"Yeah, yeah!" Matsumoto encouraged as she sat up, temporarily forgetting about the 'new assistant' at the opportunity of some time off without trouble. "Go take a walk, you're way too tense lately!"
Flopping back down, she waved a goodbye at him and settled in for her daily morning nap without another word.
Rolling his eyes and suppressing the imminent sigh, Hitsugaya pushed his chair back and made sure to grab half the stack that was on his desk before unceremoniously dumping it on Matsumoto's stomach on his way past the couch.
"I want that done before I come back."
"But tai-" Before she could finish her sentence (and come up with an excuse) he dashed out the door, leaving no trace to his presence other than the quickly slamming door and his flinching vice captain.
The rhythm of his stride was soothing, but it was nothing compared to the need to stretch and move. So with that thought in mind, he found his feet leading him towards the woods to train and let off some steam.
The roofs began blurring together as the thought of releasing his tension became more and more appealing.
Hyourinmaru would enjoy the exercise too.
But of course, since when had things ever been that easy?
Hearing the distinct tinkling of bells was his first sign that he wasn't alone. Skidding to a halt, he teetered dangerously on the edge of a building before regaining his balance to search for the source of the sound. Surely enough, when he turned to look back the way he had come, there was something soft and black that smacked lightly on his forehead. For a confused moment he stood there stupidly, trying to figure out why half his vision was alternating between going black and normal until he realized that what had blocked his vision was the constant flapping of the tiny hell butterfly's long wings.
A new mission.
Before the message was even fully relayed he waved the butterfly away, destination changing to the first division barracks. With barely any effort, he took to jumping among the trees and roofs of Sereitei in the direction he had come, shunpo propelling his movements fluidly into the clear morning skies.
It took him only a few minutes to reach the main doors, jumping down from the roof opposite the gateway with barely a scrape of rubble under his sandals. It wasn't until he had landed though that he realized he wasn't the only one to arrive.
The petite shinigami seemed in no hurry whatsoever as she stood in front of the building motionlessly. He dared to think that maybe she was even stalling going in, her head turned towards the doors of the barracks and a hand strangely drawn towards her neck as if there were something there.
"Kuchiki?" There was surprise in her violet orbs as she turned, brow slowly furrowing as the questions began to race in her mind and the hand once at the small of a pale neck lowered to her side.
There was nothing there, the captain noted.
"Hitsugaya-taichou. . . .were you summoned by a hell butterfly as well?" He nodded.
"Hmm. . ." There was a somber aura as her gaze turned towards the barracks once more. Sharp teal eyes caught how her hands trembled in their tight grip but he said nothing as he moved past her to enter, the hint of lavender unmistakable on her person. Glancing at the young woman discreetly, it surprised him how delicate features revealed nothing of the feelings her hands betrayed.
"Let's go."
As they walked in silence, Toushiro's thoughts raced in a million different directions.
What could the head of the thirteen divisions want with Rukia Kuchiki and him? What could they possibly do that someone else from soul society couldn't?
Before he could even begin to contemplate the answer, they were standing before the double doors of Yamamoto-Genryusai's main office and he could do nothing but follow the black haired noble woman into the room.
Rukia bowed deeply, offering her greetings with Toushiro shortly following.
"Hitsugaya Toushiro, Kuchiki Rukia," The main captain himself spoke to them, the room empty of any other living presence. It would've been a beautiful room had he put any personal touch to it, but as it stood there was simply his desk, chair, a plant in the corner, and a wide view of Sereitei. Even in such simplicity though, it felt a bit stifling.
The narrowed slits of Yamamoto-Genryusai's eyes were grim as ever, deep lines of a wary life etched into the crinkles of his features. His heavy gaze slowly passed between the two shinigami standing next to each other, stare penetrating as he spoke. "You are to take on a special mission in the human world."
Ah, so that's why they needed her.
"There is a being suspected to be a hollow taking victims in Karakura Town. Your job is to find and destroy it while in the guise of a human." There was silence for a moment as each of the two ran through scenarios in their head until Toushiro realized that there was something off.
"Why in the guise of a human? That would be too much hindrance on a simple mission as this." In as shinigami with the added bonus of invisibility to human eyes, and a quick out once the job was done. Of course, when measures like this were taken, it could only mean one thing-
"If it is a hollow, it's no ordinary one, is it Soutaichou?" Rukia's voice was soft, eyes hardened as she turned to regard the captain gravely.
"No, it is not." Was the simple reply. Shifting heavily, there was nothing but the sound of the head captain's creaking chair as he took a moment to offer his words concisely. "Your target kills at night, disappearing without a trace before the shinigami in the area can locate it."
And this was where Toushiro knew he was needed.
"How do we find it then?" The white haired captain asked. The older man leaned his head down, eyes closed in a way that made them feel disregarded until he chose to speak again.
"Its victims all share the same characteristics." When he looked up once more, the full impact of his gaze was on Rukia. "They were all women of similar features to those you have."
A chill went down her spine as Rukia realized why she was chosen. Sode no Shirayuki's unease rippled through her as she swallowed, defiantly meeting the man's gaze head on and not allowing the nerves to fray her.
"Do you understand what is required of you?"
Clenching her jaw, Rukia Kuchiki bowed deeply. " Yes, Soutaichou."
She understood perfectly well of course.
Because if not, being bait would be that much harder.
