The art of Moving on
Summary: It all started when Rangiku's love for Gin was questioned in a public interview. It made her rethink what she really felt about him. Rangiku then asks Shuuhei to join her in going the distance to find the answers to the questions of love, hate, and even life itself.
Disclaimer: Bleach, along with its characters, is owned by Kubo and his team.
The Morning After
Last night's interview with Rangiku Matsumoto was indeed a very entertaining one for most people but not for tenth division captain Hitsugaya Toshiro. He was always against live interviews for he was a very private person. He was so private that not even his friends, or maybe acquaintances, know much about him aside that he always has mood swings most likely because of her subordinate Matsumoto. He had been telling Rangiku to avoid such publicity but to his dismay, she actually agreed to be in that pathetic interview. It wasn't really an interview. Shuuhei Hisagi barely asked her. The questions were from the people. And these people were nothing but gossipers who didn't care about Rangiku at all. He'd love to blame Shuuhei but the young vice captain was just as shocked as everyone. Shuuhei was merely trying to save the Seireitei communications industry, or so he said. The questions last night were a mix of stupid ones, obvious ones and highly controversial ones. Toshiro was even surprised that Rangiku calmly answered them. But of course everyone knew she lost her cool towards the end. Stupid Matsumoto. Why did she even allow for an interview by the people if she knew they were going to grill her about Gin Ichimaru? That man died only months ago and the wounds were still fresh. Toshiro would even see his lieutenant stare at blank space from time to time. Surely it was her again thinking about her former lover and best friend, her former everything. Toshiro couldn't understand why Rangiku actually agreed to answer those shit questions. Some even targeted her essence of being a respectable woman. He knew Rangiku didn't really care what people thought about her. She has been done with the bull shit ages ago. But Toshiro cared. He has always hated it when he hears people talking about his lieutenant. People loved talking about her indeed. And one cannot avoid hearing bad things about how people thought of her. The captain massaged his temples as he thought about last night's turnouts.
About Shuuhei and Rangiku's relationship; Toshiro knew about it ever since Rangiku and Shuuhei started going out. They were dating as best friends and he was okay with that. Even before all this hougyoku mess happened, Rangiku and Shuuhei had always been tight. He didn't really hold anything against the vice captain of the ninth. Actually, he loved seeing them together. They were a match, Toshiro thought. He just didn't like it when the two would drink all night and Shuuhei would return the sober lieutenant to the captain's office in the morning. But he does like the fact that Shuuhei never left the lieutenant to barf in the streets. He was a caring man and Rangiku needed much care. He was just surprised that Rangiku actually told the public that she and Shuuhei were making out. Such a bold move indeed. When the captain checked on Rangiku last night, she wasn't in her quarters. Perhaps she was out drinking with him.
But as for Rangiku's statements about Gin, he was intrigued. He has always known the complicated relationship between the two. It was bittersweet indeed. As much as he hated Gin for going on a killing spree and even harming Momo in the process, he knew Gin wasn't just a heartless killer. He must have some heart, for having Rangiku as his best friend and lover He might seem like a jerk but Toshiro knew Gin had reasons. And to his surprise, Rangiku didn't know these reasons. Everyone, including him, thought that Rangiku knew why the traitor was also a traitor to Aizen Sousuke. It was strange indeed. The way Rangiku's face looked when she was talking about Gin was a mix of confusion and longing. He couldn't look at the screen. But he heard the tone in Rangiku's voice. She was in pain, a whole lot of pain. And of course, he would never want to prolong the pain of his lieutenant. As much as he would hate his lieutenant's work ethics and love for hugging him with her enormous breasts, he was still fond of her. He loved her, actually. It wasn't really romantic. It was more of a I-wan't-her-to-be-just-happy love. He didn't want to be her lover. He just wanted her to smile, always.
So much for early morning thoughts. The captain sat up on his bed and sighed heavily. It was going to be a long and stressful day, he thought.
Shuuhei tilted his head and raised his eyebrow simultaneously. Why the heck would Rangiku want to go to Las Noches. Yes, it was where Gin lived after he left Soul Society. But what would they actually gain by going there? Gin's already dead. And what are these questions she's talking about? Rangiku smiled and lied down again. She didn't want to drag Shuuhei into this but she was sure as hell she needed him now more than ever. She needed the truth. She needed closure. She couldn't stop thinking about Gin Ichimaru because she couldn't figure out why the fuck would that idiot join Aizen Sousuke and then attempt to kill him. It didn't make any sense. She was sure there must be some explanation. The easiest way was to just ask Gin himself. But that's impossible, right? He has left her. And she knew that that was the last time he would have left her. Maybe.
"I don't know what I'm looking for as well, Shuuhei," She shifted to face the lieutenant. He always sleeps with his bare chest and she loved tracing his battle scars on his back and front. They were beautifully crafted. They were the missing puzzle pieces that formed a story of bravery. Shuuhei leaned on the wall and sighed. "Rangiku, what if we find nothing?" He asked. There was a hint of pessimism but it was more of concern. Of course he didn't want Rangiku to be getting more hurt in this idea of hers. Rangiku shook her head slowly. She knew she'd find out the answers eventually. She knew there were answers. She knew she'd find meaning and piece together everything in her life. Life would be very cruel if it let her feel the longing for something she didn't know, with the fact that it is just a mere illusion. No, life isn't cruel. It is beautiful. And even though she has been through a lot of pain, there must be some explanation. That was what she was yearning for, to find the explanations, to have some peace and move on.
"I'm positive i'll get something out of this," she smiled. "You're one hell of a mess, Matsumoto," Shuuhei turned to her. "And one hell of a beautiful mess you are." Shuuhei then kissed Rangiku in the forehead which gave her the assurance that he will support her, even go with her to anywhere. It may seem that Rangiku was just using Shuuhei to have somebody to lean on. It was more than that. It was far more than that. And it may seem that she's going on a journey which revolved around Gin. But no, it was about life and love. "So, about your plan. Do we tell them? Your captain and everyone else?" he scratched his head uneasily. "I don't know. If we go through the processes of formality, it could actually take a lot of time." Rangiku answered, surely giving a hint that no, she didn't want to tell them. It was more like a leave everything ad go soul searching kind of thing. "Then let's go."
It was dusty. It was cold. And it was dark. Everything Rangiku hated was in Hueco Mundo, except for the dust part of course. It was actually advantageous if she was to fight someone head on in this place. The two walked in the sands and Shuuhei had a quick pace. "Shuuhei, I don't think you should hurry up. It's going to tire you out," the blonde shinigami called out. "Rangiku-san! The quicker we get to places, the more answers we will get!" he answered back. Oh Shuuhei, such a technical answer. Rangiku knew this was going to take long. It was a soul search.
Rangiku took time to admire the pace amid the coldness and the absence of light. It was a peaceful place somehow. Gin surely loved this peacefulness. But it was lonely as well. The absence of noise amplified the echoes in Rangiku's heart. Rangiku walked on. Shuuhei was somewhat right. She needed to find the answers real quick or else she'd go mad. Las Noches was in ruins. It wasn't completely destroyed but the remnants of the fights were evident. Rangiku started surveying the place. She went in and out of the quarters of the espada, and every one else. She needed to find Gin Ichimaru's quarters. It wasn't easy because the rooms looked alike and there surely were no names in the entrances of the rooms. Shuuhei also searched the place. Some rooms smelled so bad it reeked of hollow smell. He assumed those rooms didn't belong to Gin.
There was this room. The walls weren't damaged. It was deep within the palace. It was kept clean and tidy and it didn't reek of hollow smell. Shuuhei entered the room and found observed that it was much like a room of a typical seated officer of the Gotei 13. There was a low table and a mattress. There was a cabinet, maybe for clothes. He opened it and saw something. It was the captain's coat of the third division. "It's Ichimaru's room!" Shuuhei's eyes widened. He was about to call on Rangiku but he decided not to, yet. He wanted to find things first. Maybe he'd find things Rangiku shouldn't know.
And he indeed found some.
A/N: What do you think did Shuuhei find?