Away From You

Summary: AU I'm a coward. I couldn't answer you. HitsugayaXMatsumoto, Slight HitsugayaXHinamori and MatsumotoXIchimaru (Note: Italics are Matsumoto's thoughts.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.

V. Forgive Me

Her lips lingered on her fiancé's for a little longer. He would not come back. Never. Never. Never. He was gone. She had even attended his wedding as his bride's maid of honor. So why did she still believe that she still had a chance. Her own fiancé lay sleeping beside her after they had enjoyed their usual late night activity. However, she could not even sleep a wink not now and not especially after that dream.

Every time she closed her eyes, they became lost in a sea of aquamarine. "Congratulations… Director Matsumoto." He had told her many years after she had been his secretary. That morning, she was tired as usual. It was horrible when she reported to work. Her secretary was the wife of the man she loved. One day he had ran into her after many months of being married to his childhood friend. "I'm glad to see you're well." He told her formally.

"I missed you. Please come back to me." She wanted to say.

Right then, his loyal wife appeared at his side, planting a kiss on his cheek with a smile. "You too." She replied instead. Suddenly her own fiancé appeared at her side. Her fiancé's forever lasting grin looked down at her. He nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, smiling as he did so. "Gin," she reprimanded. The man immediately stopped and presented himself properly to his other fellow director.

"You're both comin' to our weddin' righ'?"

He nodded towards Gin. "Of course." He answered. "I have to go to a meeting soon, so I'll see you at the wedding. Congratulations on the engagement." He left toward the direction of his meeting, while his wife handed me my schedule for the next week.

When I asked her about her preparations for her wedding she replied, "It was really hectic for him. It must be twice as hectic for both you and Ichimaru-san since you're both directors. Your schedules must conflict a lot."

"The wedding isn't for a few months. I think we'll be fine. Besides, I have Nanao to help me with any extra preparations."

"But I'd much rather have your husband at my side instead of my best friend." She wanted to add, but she held her tongue.

A month later the unbelievable happened. The childhood friends, the two people everyone expected to get married and have happy children, divorced. The young director ordered for a silent divorce and it was months later till everyone else found out. He had told her they separated and what happened the next day.

His voice was as if he was in shock. "Senior Director Aizen, can you believe it? She was the one who said that she had gotten over her childish crush and yet…"

She knew he still loved her and a good friend would be trying to cheer him up and give him advice. "You really love her." She whispered unconsciously. He looked at her curiously.

"Of course," He agreed, with a faint smile. "But what should I do? She cheated on me. Sure, she wants to give it another shot, but should I trust it?"

Despite what her heart was saying, she nodded slowly. "If you love her, work hard for your relationship. Maybe… maybe you should give it another shot."

His eyes only revealed shock at her advice. However, they turned into a gentle gaze and he smiled. "Wisdom befitting a director." He told her, getting up from his seat and walking towards the door.

"Don't go."

Even though she didn't say those words, he stopped at the door. He twisted his head slightly and asked her softly, "Is this really… what I should be doing?"

"What do you think?"

"Choose me, Director, not her."

"Honestly, I'm not quite sure."

"I'm sure I'll always be by your side."

"Well, take a number and sit back down. Let's talk it over again."

He hesitated, his stare full of uncertainties. "Please give me a few more moments with you."

Finally he heaved a sigh and shook his head. "It's fine. Do you really think this is the best choice, Matsumoto-san?" His expression was serious; his eyes pierced her heart. "Answer me, Rangiku." He whispered softly. Her eyes widened when he called her by her given name. It left her neck hot and her face flushed.

"Director… Forgive me." She ran past him, her strawberry blonde hair trailing behind her. He curled his hands into fists, slamming it against the doorframe. His eyes fell onto the floor, shut tightly from the world as a single tear slid down his cheek.

"Forgive me, Director. I really wanted to be by your side, but I'm just a coward. I couldn't answer you."

The white-haired man walked towards the desk and looked at the frame on her desk. He frowned towards his previous actions. When her secretary came by her office, she was shocked to see her ex-husband standing behind her superior's desk, staring at a photograph. The former Hitsugaya Momo left without dropping off the forms and instead dropped her letter of resignation. However the man continued to stare at the back of the photo until late at night when everybody left.

My first day off spent with Director Hitsugaya Toshiro. Everyone thinks he's like ice, but he's really great. I think I'm falling for him.

He felt empty and sad. His heart felt completely frozen. Why had he been too stupid to not realize her feelings until now?

"Maybe when you left, you took my heart with you."