Chapter 7 Rangiku steps up

"I'm sorry lieutenant Matsumoto but it's the truth Captain Hitsugaya is dead" said the Shinigami, "You are now the acting Captain of squad 10". Then the Shinigami walked away not waiting for her respond. Rangiku blinked away tears as walked to find Momo she knew that she should probably go and tell her what had happened it would be better coming from her instead of someone else. She began to go find Momo walking slowly trying to process everything, he was supposed to be immortal and impossible to defect that was why he was a captain. She still remembered the day that they meet at that store. A small laughed escaped her as she remembered how small and grumpy he was, but it was soon returned with tears. "Damn her, I swear when I find her; I'll make her pay for what she done" she thought.

Momo was in her quarters, she was still recovering from Yuri's attack but was well enough not to be in the hospital. Rangiku stopped at the door not sure how to break the news to her without breaking her in the process. Knocking on the door, Momo opened it quickly; she was covered in blood and tears. Rangiku ran to her and hugged her crying.

" It's ok Rangiku, Toshiro would want us to be strong" she said sadly.

Rangiku let go and rubbed her eyes.

" Yeah, Captain would want us to be strong. You look awful are you ok though ' she asked.

" Oh um, as good as I can be and I should probably change I don't need to be still wearing his blood" said Momo.

" Wait, that's his blood" said Rangiku in shock.

" Yes, I'm the acting Captain of squad 5. So I was a the Captains meeting, I saw the whole thing. I couldn't even stop her from attacking and I didn't even see her kill him. All I saw was Yuri roll Toshiro's dead body roll over to the head Captain; then everything went downhill from there" said Momo.

Rangiku opened her mouth in shock she had forgot that Momo was the acting Captain and would be a the meeting as a result but she hadn't expected this.

" Momo, I'm so sorry. I knew that you two where close" she said.

Momo looked away from Rangiku not meeting her eyes.

" Thank you Rangiku, I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to go though his things since Granny's gone. I feel like I'm invading his privacy like his still here, but I know that he's not" said Momo.

" If you want I could help" said Rangiku putting an arm on her shoulder.

" No, I'll be fine" she said.

" Well I've got to go address the squad; do you think that you'll be ok on your own" Rangiku asked.

" Yeah" said Momo.

Rangiku knew that she should stay there and make her friend feel better, but she knew that she couldn't now that she was a Captain now. So she turned and left to go to the squad 10 bunkers.

" Yuri I promise you will die by my blade for what you have done" she thought.

It was strange she was sad that her Captain was gone but she had also gained a sense of determination and will that was not there before. She was going to be just as good of a Captain as he was.

The squad was standing around the main conference room of the squad 10 bunkers all of its men were talking amongst themselves no doubt that they had heard the news by now and were now scared of what was going to happen next because of it.

" Quit everyone" yelled Rangiku trying to get them to listen.

The squad unexpectedly stopped for her and lined up waiting for their orders. In shock Rangiku didn't say anything for a moment.

Then she found her voice and said " By now you have all heard the news that Captain Hitsugaya is dead and that I have been but in charge as acting Captain for the time beginning until we find someone to replace Captain Hitsugaya. But while I am in charge I promise I will not let this be the end of us, squad 10 is turning over a new leaf starting today".

" Lieutenant Matsumoto, how do you plan on accomplish that. Well all know how lazy you are and that you never take charge unless you have no other choice" said third seat Cho Kato .

" I know that I slack off more then my fair share but after everything that has happened; I think that it would be wrong just to sit back and do nothing. Toshiro Hitsugaya was not only just my captain but my friend. The least that I can give him is that his squad and everything that he tried to accomplish will not be lost due to his death. Especially not due to that arrancar Yuri …" Rangiku rage started to flare up as she started to talk about Yuri.

Patting her back, Cho said " I know Rangiku we all hate her too, but I know that Captain Hitsugaya would be happy that you are doing this for him" .

" Thanks I hope that your right Cho " said Rangiku.

After the Meeting Rangiku throw herself into work exactly were her Captain had left off. She had planned to finish all the rest of the paper work by the end of the day and do training with the newbies before dark. But she only had a few hours and it Was already getting dark .

Sighing " Well that paper work isn't going to finish it self" she thought.

She found the paperwork long and boring, and she wasn't sure how Captain had managed to get all of it done without much hassle at all. Forcing herself to focus on the paperwork trying to finish in time. Then with out her realizing Cho had come into the room.

" Rangiku, I was wondering since your not used to do paper work and all, but would you like some help " asked Cho.

Rangiku jumped out of her chair in shock.

" Cho you scared me , but yes I would love the help. Thanks" said Rangiku.

" Ok, show me what you have left" said Cho starting to smile.

Rangiku showed her the paper work.

" Oh well this should be easy to finish" said Cho.

Soon the two became absorbed in their work and before long they had finished all the paper work, with enough time to spare for training.

" All right, were unstoppable" said Rangiku.

" Yup" said Cho and started to laugh.

" I think that I can handle the newbies but if you want your welcome to come and help if you want to" said Rangiku.

" No, but thanks for the offer. I still have some of my own work to finish myself. But I'll help you with your paper work until you get used to it" said Cho.

Then she waved and turned to leave, and Rangiku went to the training grounds .

Training went rather smoothly for a change; normally it took every thing that she had to get them to cooperate with her and each other.

Standing on the ground by her self even though it was dark, with Haineko in her hand . She started her own training. She was going to beat Yuri with everything that she had which meant that she had to master her bankai. Remembering what he had told her about bankai she set to work.

" Growl Haineko " she said using her Shikai.

But before she had even that chance to begin training Haineko appeared before her.

" You're up late old lady, so what's got you up training so late" she asked while she purred and walked around Rangiku.

" Haven't you heard what's been going on. Captain died and I have been put in charge of the squad for the time being. Now I need your help with this on order for this to work, so quit complaining ." Said Rangiku with a commanding tone.

" Are you felling ok Rangiku, I understand that you would be upset after his death. But this is not like you at all. " said Haineko looking at her master with concern.

" Yes, I'm fine Haineko. It's just … " She stopped mid stance and looked down. " His gone and he couldn't even do anything to save himself. I'm going to get her back for what she has done and for that I need to be stronger. Yuri was able to defect Captain easily so I'm going to need to be even stronger than a Captains level in order to be able to defect her . So Haineko are you going to help me or not. I don't care ether way, but I'm going to defect Yuri if it that last thing that I do and no one is going to stop me" said Rangiku.

As she said this she looked at Haineko with a face that looked like she could kill anyone or anything that could get in her way.

" Well Rangiku, I guess it's time for us to get to work" said Haineko and smiled.