Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
I am so proud of me for getting ideas so soon after my last update! YAY! I hope this is a good sign. As always, I want to thank everyone for reviewing. I really enjoy reading what you think and hearing your suggestions. I hope you enjoy this next little bit, and I'm sorry if the last part of the last chapter seemed really depressing. I did mention the genres vary, but I'm not usually one to leave unhappy endings, so no worries. I hope you like it anyways.
Enjoy! : )
Worth the Wait
Boy had they been busy. They were always busy anyway due to all the work and time they put in at the office, the missions, and training. By the time they found time to be together, they were much too tired to do anything but sleep, only to be rested just enough for the next day's workload. After being quite cranky for a few days, Toushiro agreed to let them off work early so that they could go on a date.
They had decided to have a nice dinner in a restaurant in the world of the living, as Soul Society was limited in their restaurant choices. Toushiro had planned on getting out of work only 4 hours early; he believed they could hurry home, get ready for the date, and be off in the real world in no time. Rangiku, however, would not settle for less than 6 hours early.
"I have to get ready, Taicho, and you have no idea how much time it takes for a woman to be beautiful!" She crossed her arms and pouted in that oh so familiar way.
"Rangiku, I highly doubt it will take you quite that long to get ready, and if it does, we can stay there later and come to work late." He said, rubbing his temples.
"You promise?"
"Yes, I promise." She smiled her big usual smile, and continued to work.
"Okay. Then I'll be okay with getting off 2 hours early."
_____________
They had lived together for quite some time now, and it was times like these that Toushiro wished he had an extra bathroom added to his house. Rangiku had run home from the office after their agreed time and went into the bathroom, locking the door shut. He had smiled when he got home and heard all sorts of noises coming from behind the door and just went on his way getting ready himself. He had picked out his outfit the day they decided to go to the exquisite restaurant, Le Bouchon.
He put on a black suit with a white shirt underneath. The tie was black as well. He had thought about possibly going out of the traditional black and white and possibly wearing a green shirt underneath instead, but he knew that Rangiku would either wear red or black, so he stuck with what was traditional. His hair was just like it always was, just how Rangiku loved it to be. Ready to go, he quickly sprayed a little cologne on that he had received as a little souvenir from Rangiku on her last visit to the real world.
He made his way to the kitchen where he had set a bouquet of peonies on the table. In her mad rush to the house, Toushiro quickly made a detour to the florist and bought them as a tiny gift. He got a vase from the cupboard and arranged the flowers in the vase, then added a little water. He took them to the living room and set them on the coffee table and sat on the couch.
He looked at his watch. It had been about a half hour now since they had gotten off work. Rangiku would be out any time now. He started to pick at things around him, fuzz on the couch, arranging the stack of books on the side table, turning the vase to see which side looked the best. He then leaned back and closed his eyes, just thinking about anything until he dozed off.
He woke up with a yawn and stretched his arms. When he brought them back down, he glanced at his watch and stood up quickly. Could it really be 3 hours since they left the office? Where was Rangiku?
He looked to the bathroom and saw that the bathroom light was still on underneath the door. He walked to it, ready to demand what exactly was taking so long when the door opened, his hand just inches from where the door was.
Before him stood a gorgeous woman. Hair in curls falling down her back with shorter pieces framing her face. She wore a long black dress with thin straps that hugged her body until it flared out at the hip, but only slightly. Her lips had a touch of red color to them, but not too much, and her ears were decorated with a diamond stud earring with a tear drop pearl hanging from it. She wore a necklace that matched the pieces.
"Sorry it took so long, Toushiro, but I did tell you it took long for a woman to be beautiful." She looked away with a blush. He gave her a chaste kiss and a tender smile.
"Rangiku, you have always been beautiful, but I will admit that what I see before me was worth the wait."
Last Words part 2
"Shoot to kill, Shinso."
Her mouth was open as if screaming, yet he heard nothing. She fell to the floor limply, eyes glassy. With a backwards glance, the man looked at Toushiro, eyes opened just slightly, revealing red eyes. With a smirk, he rushed out through the broken window. It was then that he found his strength. Time sped up, each minute passing like a second. He ran to his wounded lieutenant and carried her to the couch. Her breathing ragged. By now, some lower seated officers arrived, looking shocked at the scene before them.
"Take her to the fourth, I will find Ichimaru."
He darted off quickly, not really knowing where Ichimaru had gone, but somehow feeling like he was going the right way. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop when a blast of energy sent him crashing to the ground. He quickly caught himself and rushed at him, the fight already in full force. The sound of swords clashing echoed in the darkness. Filled with rage, Toushiro unleashed his bankai. Ichimaru followed suit and were a blur of blade and ice. Soon other captains had appeared watching the fight, ready to help if needed, but knew full well that Toushiro wanted to fight him alone.
As the fight dragged on, signs of fatigue showed on them both. No longer using bankai, they fought once more, using swords and strength. As if a test to prove who was the best, they would fight with skill alone. With one final attack, they lunged at each other, Ichimaru's sword pushed through Toushiro's right side, piercing his lung. Toushiro's sword was thrust into Ichimaru's chest. He looked at Toushiro, and smirked again, then coughed up blood.
"Seems like a draw."
"You would think that." He pulled out his sword as he pushed himself back, blood running where shinso was. Ichimaru fell to the ground and the captains quickly joined Toushiro.
"We'll take care of him now. Matsumoto is in the fourth. They say she hasn't much time left." Kyouraku said softly. Toushiro stiffened, then nodded in understanding just before he quickly ran off to the fourth division. He stopped when he saw the fourth squad lieutenant, Isane.
"Where is she?"
"This way." They ran quickly through the halls into a room with many monitors, tubes, and staff. At the sight of Toushiro, everyone left the room aside from Captain Unohana.
"We've done all we can, but we cannot stop the bleeding. I tried everything I could, Captain. I am so sorry." She excused herself, shutting the door quietly behind her. Walking slowly, he made his way to Rangiku, his body shaking.
"Oh…Ran…" He caressed her face, the other hand holding hers. Her face was cold and pale, her lips no longer the usual pink. Bandages on her abdomen were slowly soaking up blood. She opened her eyes slowly and took in a ragged breath.
"T-Taicho…" She tried to lift her hand, but it would only quiver. Tears started to fall. "I love you."
Those three words were all he needed to hear to push him over the breaking point. He sobbed and lay his head on her chest.
"I'm so sorry, Rangiku. I couldn't save you. Please forgive me."
"No one is to blame. It was a shock to everyone. All that matters is you're here now. I love you, Toushiro." Her eyes started to close.
"I love you too, Rangiku." Her hand went limp in his, and knowing she had left him forever, when just moments ago everything had fine, he let out a scream of anguish.
He stood up quickly pushing his chair back, a scream still coming from his lips. Rangiku looked up from her paperwork with a scared and confused expression, her hands gripping the page she was working on.
"Taicho…what?!?
"R-Rangiku?" Staring at her, his eyes softened. A hand went to his face and felt the dampness of tears. He looked at his body where Shinso had left him bleeding to find his uniform was just as clean and wrinkle-free as it had been that morning,. Then he walked briskly to his lieutenant.
"You're okay?" Rangiku looked up at him, still confused.
"I suppose you could say that, but you really have no idea what kind of pain this paperwork inflicts on me." She held up a rather large stack of documents. "I kept working, see?"
"Rangiku, I have something to tell you. If today was the last time I'd see you, I would have a lot to say." He pulled her up from her chair and wrapped her a long, loving embrace. "I would say that I love you more than you could ever know, and that you have made my life into something worthwhile. You've helped me in so many ways and without you I don't know what I'd be doing, or where I'd be. Imagining my tomorrows without you in them breaks my heart. And if this was the last time we'd see each other, I'd do anything in my power to keep you here with me, even if it was impossible. I would still try. Because you are everything to me." He kissed her deeply and looked at her with dazed eyes.
"Toushiro…I thought we had to be professional at work?"
"I just said something really profound and romantic. Can't you just be the typical woman and gush about it? I had a really really bad dream!"
"Haha, okay. That was really sweet, Taicho." She smiled, and hugged him once more.
"I love you, Rangiku."
"I love you, too, Toushiro." Now let's get this paperwork done so we can go home and get your sleepy butt to bed.
There it is! I hope you enjoyed it! I really hope I can keep my little streak going. I do promise to try my best, but no guarantees. I've been trying to write longer stories, but my laziness has really gotten the best of me and I lose interest in them so quickly. I think I have too many ideas that I try to put into one story to make it interesting because the ideas I have I don't think are interesting enough to make a story that lasts more than 2 chapters. Ah well. I'm sure when the time is right it'll happen.
Anyways, thank you for reading! : D
