Fireworks
Chapter 2: Worst Birthday Ever?
When Rangiku arrived at the Tenth Squad, Hitsugaya was in the storage room, directing the other subordinates on what they should do with things that are not needed anymore. "Captain!" she called out in a sing-song voice, which interrupted Hitsugaya. The young Captain turned his attention to her with a look of annoyance in his face. "Oh, there you are. Where have you been? You were supposed to be back several minutes ago!" he told her.
She grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the storage room. "Captain, it's my birthday in two days and..."
"I don't care if it's your birthday in two days! You have to be here and help out in clearing out this dump or else we'll get penalized!"
She gazed at him in surprise. "You don't care about my birthday?" she asked.
"No, and if you're planning to go somewhere and bail out on this task, you won't be allowed to go on leave for the rest of the year." he said gruffly as he crossed his arms. "Now go to my office and sort out the papers that have been there for five months." he commanded before he left to go back inside the storage room.
Rangiku breathed in and sighed heavily as she made her way back inside the barracks. "Darn it. Why did Captain Yamamoto have to give that order anyway? It's not even time for spring cleaning!" she mumbled in annoyance. She thought it would be useless to find Hisagi or Renji already to invite them to watch the fireworks with her because she knew they would be tied down to their own squads for the mandatory task of cleaning their respective barracks' storage areas.
"Looks like this is going to be one of the worst birthdays ever." she thought sadly.
Later that afternoon, she even received a personal note from Yachiru and the little girl apologized for not being able to go to the Fireworks Show with her because she had to help in cleaning her squad's storage house. Rangiku randomly folded the note and begrudgingly continued to sort the documents that Hitsugaya wanted her to sort out. She was interrupted when somebody knocked on the door. "Yeah?" she called out lazily.
The door slid open and when she lifted her gaze, she saw Fifth Squad's Captain Sosuke Aizen. She wondered what he wanted but then she noticed that he held a pile of papers and they looked heavy. She felt the blood drain from her face when she saw the papers. "Where is Captain Hitsugaya?" he asked her.
She made a disgusted face. "Somewhere outside and scolding his other subordinates. What's up?" she asked casually.
He easily noticed the annoyed look and tone of the Vice-Captain but he just smiled at her. "These papers are his, actually. Old reports." and he walked over to her so he could place the pile of papers on top of the desk, which was already filled with other piles of paper.
"You're brought those personally here? You could've asked someone else to do it for you." she told him.
"I wanted to take a walk so I did it myself. Besides, can't I say 'hello' personally to Squad 10's Vice-Captain?" he asked. Rangiku had a glum look on her face as she stared at the way he smiled at her. He looked like a charming nerd, and she was not really the type to pay attention to nerdy men but something about Aizen made her think twice about him. But when she did not react to what he said, he just cleared his throat and awkwardly raked his fingers through his hair. "Well then, I should be going. Please say my regards to Captain Hitsugaya." with that, he excused himself and left without looking back at her.
Rangiku did not mind and she just continued to sort the papers in silence.