Chapter 2: Skin So Cold

The last of the deep blue had drained from the canvas of the night sky, leaving only the darkness, speckled with the flickering lights of the star scape. High atop the great halls of the Soul Society, Toshiro lay silently on the rooftops, staring into the heavens. His normally clear and focused mind had been cluttered all day with thoughts and emotions he had never experienced in such fervor. Rolling onto his side, Hitsugaya's piercing blue eyes drooped, letting the sight of those moonlit meadows, swaying and glistening as soft waves on a sandy beach fill his tormented soul with some manner of peace.

Why did I HAVE to leave them there in that instant?

Why was I so irritated that Hitto was there when I had summoned him for that mission?

...and did Matsumoto notice when I looked at her?

A flicker of frustration crossed his face as Toshiro cringed, placing his hand on the wound left by the Hollow they faced earlier. At first, he thought it was the puncture causing him pain. Peeling back his kosode slowly, he pushed his fingertips against the remainder of the gash. Unohana had healed this after I returned to the barracks. So if it's not the gash, why does my chest feel heavy? Rolling once more onto his back, his gaze melted back into the starry sky. Amidst the glimmering darkness, shadows of Rangiku dripped into his consciousness, creating ripples of warmth throughout his soul. The image of her lying in that dusty road, blushing...bleeding...and accidentally exposed kept pushing into his foreground of thought. Toshiro hadn't caught more than a glance at Matsumoto's partially disrobed body, and he could not understand why instead of feeling embarrassment for her, he felt a sinking feeling of sadness tied like a weight to that image. Was it because of Hitto and his obnoxious jokes?

For quite some time, Hitsugaya was aware of Tottaki's and Rangiku's budding friendship. He was beginning to notice the two of them hanging out together more often, fighting hollows together, but also impeding Matsumoto's already low work ethic by rewarding her for ditching with a bottle of Sake and his warmth for company; all this after joining only a few months prior. While Hitto was an excellent officer, Hitsugaya was starting to notice a smoldering anger within himself towards the man; an anger which ignited and luckily was contained earlier that afternoon. But why?

This is all very bothersome. I should head back to my office and finish the paperwork I left there...since there's no way Matsumoto would have finished it today...

...Matsu..moto.

Toshiro's silvery hair shone against the bright light of the night sky. Silently, he took his time jumping from rooftop to rooftop, making his way toward the squad ten barracks. Having no way to tell time, he scanned the alleys below, looking for familiar faces and lost souls. He was instead rewarded with silence. Not one soul was stirring at this hour. Pressing his weight against the reshi rooftop, Toshiro leaped without a sound into the open window of the squad ten office and sighed, "Geez Matsumoto. Can't you even close the window before you leave."

Taking a few steps towards the desk, Toshiro felt the familiarity of his surroundings begin to wash away the turmoil in his mind. Yes. This is much better. An office. Just my office where I work and where Matsumoto works as well.

There's no need to be so complicated. It's all irrelevant.

Placing his fingers on the many books lining the bookshelves, Toshiro ran his fingers over the bindings as he moved across the room. He was not paying much attention the materials themselves, but rather just soaking in as much home feel as he could. Before long, he had tidied up a few loose papers, books, and made it across the room. That's when he chanced upon a small red book, embroidered with flecks of gold. A muffled sound escaped his lips as he read the title, "Soft Strums: How to Effectively Discipline Your Subordinates While Remaining Their Friend." Hitsugaya smiled as he pulled the dusty book from it's shelf. He sighed as he used the sleeve of his kosode to gently wipe away the accumulated dust. This book had been a gift from Matsumoto a few years back. It was the sort of joke she would every now and then play, trying to hint at her captain to be a little less uptight. Realizing he'd never once thumbed through it, he gently lifted the cover. Surprise replaced his smile as his eyes widened. A note had been written in painstakingly beautiful handwriting:

"Here's to another year with you as my captain. I know you're a lot older than you look, but I still see you growing to be the best captain in all of the guard. Thank you for putting up with me for all these years- Matsumoto"

Toshiro ran his fingers over the writing; there was a small message scribbled a bit less carefully at the bottom:

"P.S You could try being a bit nicer though. And Sake isn't such a terrible thing. You should have some every now and then."

Hitsugaya smiled gently, "Geez. That's Matsumoto for you." He lifted the book to return it to it's resting place when a shine from the moonlight caught his eye. Matsumoto had hidden a small bottle of presumably Sake behind this book. Frustrated, Toshiro removed the dusty bottle. "She's always leaving these here. Is this an office or a bar?" He walked towards the window to dump the contents of the bottle when his mind wound back the scribbles in the book. Stopping in his place, he looked down at the bottle and sighed, "Perhaps I am a bit cold sometimes. Maybe I should lighten up just a little bit."

Sitting down at his desk, he poured a small amount of the Sake into a glass Matsumoto had left in one of his drawers. Lifting the glass to his lips, Toshiro drank the contents slowly, but in one long sip. Setting the glass down, he looked towards the darkened office, a small wave of the Sake beginning to sink in. "Strong stuff Matsumoto." he whispered, returning the cup and the bottle to the bottom drawer. Toshiro pushed his chair out and stood up, glancing at the door. Matsumoto had hung a small mirror next to the opening, as he walked past it, Toshiro caught a glance at his reflection. Though getting used to standing a little taller these days, something still looked off...

My Haori! Matsumoto was supposed to leave it here before the night's end. Geez can't she do any...

Having scanned the room a bit more thoroughly, Hitsugaya's eyes caught sight of the sleeve of his Haori draped over the couch. Disbelief that he didn't see it before let a small chuckle escape Toshiro's lips.

Oh well. At least she left it, but I mean, she could have hung it up or something.

He walked over to the couch and reached out for the robe when suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. Matsumoto lay sleeping peacefully beneath the cloth of his Haori. He hadn't noticed her there at all since he had stepped into the office.

Are my senses THAT thrown off? Is my mind so much in chaos that I couldn't sense such a familiar spiritual pressure only a few feet from me? Or is it so familiar that I no longer sense it's presence, only it's absence?

Hitsugaya retracted his arm, unsure of whether or not to take the Haori. He needed it for the captain's meeting in the morning. But glancing down at her limp body, full chest rising and falling beneath the fabric, she looked absolutely serene. He sighed and sat down on the table directly across from the couch, staring at Matsumoto. The curves of Rangiku's body were evident even beneath the Haori, and caught the moonlight as it shone brightly through the window of the office. Her lush, orange hair fell behind her neck but a small amount was resting on her face, tickling her nose as she slept. A small cringe ran across her delicate features, as if she was dreaming of something painful.

Toshiro felt his hand lift before he could even think, gently brushing the small amount of hair from her face and behind her ear. Her skin was unbelievably soft, as though he had grazed a patch of silk. Unable to find the will to remove himself from her, Toshiro began caressing her ear, then slowly moving up to her scalp where he began running his fingers through her shimmering hair.

Why? Why can't I stop?

After a few minutes, Toshiro finally broke free of the spell Rangiku had unintentionally put on him, removing his hand from her face. Sighing, he stood up, knowing that waking her up like this, removing the Haori, and kicking her out of the office would only make her more angry with him. Toshiro was so sure she was mad at him for not completely blocking the Hollow's attack earlier. And after staring at her, peacefully dreaming for so long, he knew she must have been dreaming about Hitto. It was time to leave.

I would only make her cold if I stayed. *sigh*

As he walked past the arm of the couch, something grabbed his wrist. It was a firm but soft grip. As he looked down in surprise to remove what had caught him, he froze.

"Taichou," Matsumoto groggily whispered with just a hint of her normal tone, "Please don't leave." Toshiro's eyes widened as he looked down onto his leiutenant, begging him with a celestial sparkle in her eyes so brilliant he couldn't make a sound or even a movement. "Please stay here with me. It's so lonely out tonight with the moon. Neither of us should be alone."

Hitsugaya shivered for the first time.

Do I stay? How could I leave when Matsu..Rangiku needs me. Is she not mad?

Looking out at the moon, which did, more than ever, have a lonely shine across it's face, then looking back down at Matsumoto who had let go of his wrist, Toshiro wished she had never released her grip. He wanted to feel her touch again, even just once. Unable to explain this new fascination, even need, for his lieutenant's company, Toshiro sat back down on the table top across from Matsumoto, as the two began staring into each others eyes, possibly looking for answers to the same questions.

"Taichou," Matsumoto finally stated, a stern and concerned look in her glistening eyes. Toshiro stared back, sending a chilling sensation all over Matsumoto's body. She felt her soft nipples begin to harden from the cold. When releasing a tired sigh, she could see it in the air. But she didn't mind the cold, even as it slowly began to extinguish the heat of her body.

"Rangiku," Hitsugaya replied simply, watching the warmth drain from her body. She didn't look discomforted by it. She instead remained serene as it washed over her. "What do we do now?...Matsumoto..." Toshiro finally asked behind trembling lips.