This is it everyone, the moment where we find out if Toushiro lives or dies. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Eight: Teal Eyes
She remembers the first time she ever looked into his eyes, really looked into them.
They were angry with a bit of humor in them. Her taicho was mad that she had spilled all that ink onto his reports but also amused that no matter how hard he tried to get his work done on time, she would always mess it up and he would have to stay late in the office just to get it done on time.
But she knew he didn't mind. Well, when they first met, when they first became taicho and fukutaicho, he had hated her for that.
She can still remember 'til this day the first night they ever stayed up late in his office finishing reports.
"Matsumoto-fukutaicho, just sit there and don't move!" he yelled at her.
"But Hitsugaya-taicho, I said I was—"
"Well sorry isn't going to get these reports done now is it? Either grab a brush or stay out of my way!" he bellowed.
"Yes taicho", she whimpered trying to hold back the tears.
She went to sit at her desk and just looked at him from afar.
She could feel the tears beginning to wail up in her eyes but refused to cry in front of him.
For she knew the moment that she cried in front of him, he would she her as weak and incompetent. And Matsumoto Rangiku was not weak and definitely not incompetent.
She tried hard but with every stroke of his brush and every heavy sigh he made, the tears wailed even more, along with her guilt. They wailed until she couldn't hold them anymore and the dam finally broke.
Matsumoto had did the one thing she had promised herself she wouldn't do anymore, cry in front of a man.
"Matsumoto—"
"Yes taicho", she sniffled trying to halt her tears.
She didn't remember when he had gotten up out of his chair or even when he crossed the office to her chair, but he was standing right in front of her, looking down at her.
"Taicho, I'm—"she began but never finished as two small but strong arms engulfed her as a soft voice spoke, "No, I'm sorry. Please don't cry. I hate to see you cry".
Matsumoto was shocked. No on had ever told her that and meant it in a good way.
She smiled and hugged him back. Feeling the happiest in a long time.
She suddenly felt an emptiness engulf her at the memory of her taicho.
She hoped he'd wake up but Unohana-taicho said his chances were slim to none.
Just when she finally found a man who loved her, really loved her and cared for, he was leaving.
But she didn't blame Toushiro, she blamed Gin.
That bastard! She clenched her fists.
Even in death, he manages to destroy the one good thing in her life.
Tired of moping around and thinking of memories of her taicho, Matsumoto decided to go for a walk.
"Matsumoto, how are you?" a voice called after her.
When she turned around she saw Shunsui, captain of the eighth division and his lieutenant, Nanao, walking towards her.
"Hello Shunsui-taicho, Nanao-fukutaicho", she smiled weakly.
"No need for the formalities. We just wanted to know you were doing and how well Hitsugaya was doing."
Matsumoto knew she could just lie and say he was fine, but then she would be lying to herself. She hoped he would wake up but she knew there was a chance she would never she his beautiful, mysterious teal eyes again.
"Toushiro isn't doing well", she said calmly.
"Maybe not now but I'm sure—"
"No", she cut the fukutaicho off. "Unohana-taicho said his chances were slim to none. He can't even breathe on his own", she cried throwing herself into Nanao's arms.
"I'm so sorry", was all Nanao could think to say.
"What will I do if he dies? Toushiro is the only taicho I know that puts up with me, will put up with me. I can't lose him Nanao, I just can't. I love him", she cried burying her face on Nanao's sleeve.
"Well, if you love him and I'm sure he loves you, then he'll come back", Shunsui finally spoke.
"Really? You think so?" Matsumoto perked up.
"Sure he will. Toushiro Hitsugaya is a fighter and would never leave a woman like you. But he won't come back if no one is there waiting for him", he smiled.
Matsumoto wiped her tears away then pushed herself up off the ground.
"Thank you", she said taking off to wait by his side.
"Any change?" she asked Unohana-taicho.
"See for yourself", she smiled at the anticipating fukutaicho.
Matsumoto slowly pushed the door to his room opened and stepped in.
As she walked over to his beside, her heart began to swell at the fact that her taicho was getting better.
When she reached his beside, her bubble of joy busted.
She didn't see any change.
His eyes were still closed. Tubes were still streaming down his body and he still wasn't breathing on his own.
"Unohana-taicho—"
"Look carefully. There has been change, but very little".
Matsumoto looked again.
She didn't see it right away, but as she slowly drew closer to body, she saw that was some color to his face. Yesterday, he was pale to the point that his hair was more colorful than his skin.
But today, there was a soft shade of pink on his cheeks. So at least he was still alive and that meant he would come back.
"It's small but it will do. I think he'll pull through. He just needs time", Unohana informed her.
"Okay. I'll stay here as long as it takes for him to recover" she said.
"And what about your squad?"
"Shunsui-taicho and Renji-fukutaicho said they would take turns with the paperwork. Even Ikkaku-san and Yumichika-san said they would help out. I'll check in on them once a day, but I'm needed here more than anywhere else. He needs to know that I'll be here so I can be the face he sees when he wakes up."
"Very well. Would you like me to prepare a—"
"That won't be necessary. I'll sleep right here. Goodnight Unohana-taicho".
"Goodnight Matsumoto-fukutaicho".
Matsumoto woke up to the morning sun warming her face.
She looked down to see if her taicho had changed over night.
Nothing. At least his cheeks were still pink.
She placed her hand on his cheek and lit up at the surprise.
His cheeks were warm. Hitsugaya was never warm, not even when he was awake. He always felt kind of chilly but his were really warm. Warmer than they were yesterday.
That made Matsumoto happy and worried.
She thought he must be catching a fever or something.
So she got up from her chair but was stopped when she felt a small, frail hand grab at her robes.
"Toushiro, can you hear me?" she whirled around kneeling beside his bedside.
No answer, but his hand never left her shihakusho.
She smiled and gently pulled his hand away from her robes and lifted it to her face. "Okay, I'll stay", she kissed it gently then placed it back down, not letting go.
Hyourinmaru . . .
Silence.
Hyourinmaru . . .
More silence.
Hyourinmaru!
What, what? I was asleep ya know.
No I did not know.
Is there anything you need master?
Actually, this may sound stupid, but what happened? Did I win or did Gin defeat me?
You won. Gin is dead.
How? He wasn't dead when I passed out. Did he bleed out or something?
No.
Then what happened?
I delivered the final blow.
Without my command?
No.
Then what?
Matsumoto killed him.
She did?
Yes master.
Wow. I know she must be hurting. That must have been hard for her. The man she loves is—
Is lying in a coma.
What?! But I thought you said—
Gin is dead. But you aren't. You are in the fourth division lying in a hospital bed, in a coma.
So . . .
Matsumoto loves you, you idiot!
Wow. I never thought . . . well did she tell you?
No, but it's all in the way she acts. She hasn't left your side since you collapsed.
Really?
Nope. She said she would stay and wait for you to open your eyes.
She did?
Yes master.
Well, I had better rest up so I can open my eyes.
Good. Then maybe I can get back to sleep.
Lazy dragon.
Did you say something master?
Silence.
"Any changes Matsumoto-fukutaicho?" a calm voice asked her.
"His cheeks are still red and his eyes haven't opened, but—", she lit up, "he did grab my robes and he wouldn't let go. That must mean something right?"
"It means that he is trying to reach you and won't let go 'til he does", she smiled back at the blonde blue-eyed woman.
"Oh I hope so", she said more to herself than anyone else.
"Well, good day Matsumoto-fukutaicho", Unohana bowed then left the room.
"Don't worry taicho, I won't go anywhere. So just keep reaching for me. I'll be right here waiting", she smiled then kissed his cheek lightly and started humming his favorite tune in his ear.
That tune, it's so familiar . . .
Duh! It's the tune you always hummed when you ate watermelons and thought of her.
It is?
Yes master.
It sounds much more . . . heavenly when she hums it.
Does it now?
Yeah, it does.
Master?
No reply.
Sleep well master the dragon smiled then went back to sleep.
Matsumoto couldn't sleep. Not because she was worried about something or because something was bothering her, but because she was so happy that her taicho was recovering. And at a much faster rate than she thought possible.
He still had a long to go before he was strong enough to breath on his own but he was recovering.
Matsumoto watched as he slept. A peaceful expression on his face.
She wondered what he was dreaming about. Probably watermelons or her or both.
Suddenly, she heard him grunt and saw his eyebrows twitch.
"Are you trying to open your eyes taicho? Tell me, what's wrong?" she kneeled beside him worried.
He didn't respond but his eyes kept twitching and his body began to thrash about.
"Toushiro, what's wrong?" she begged him.
His body began thrashing harder as he began coughing.
She looked at the tube in his mouth and realized he was choking.
She reached for him and tried to pull the tube out of his mouth but he kept thrashing and knocked her hand aside.
Annoyed and irritated, she hopped on top of him, forced his arms down with her legs, and then pulled the tube out of his mouth.
He gagged then silently laid his arms by his sides and fell to sleep.
"Am I interrupting something?" Unohana suddenly appeared in the doorway looking at Matsumoto peculiarly.
"Um . . . see . . . it's not what it looks like" she blurted waving her hands defensively.
"What happened to his tube?" she asked furiously.
"Oh, see that's what I was trying to tell you. He was thrashing, and I didn't know why, then I saw that he was choking, so I removed the tube", she said all in one breath.
"Oh, I see", she said absorbing what the surprised fukutaicho was saying.
"Well, next time, just let someone know before you apply treatment to a patient".
"Um . . . yes ma'am. Sorry about this", she blushed hopping off her taicho and bashfully sitting back down in her chair.
Hyourinmaru . . .Yes master?
What just happened?
You were choking on the breathing tube down your throat.
I had a breathing tube down my throat?
Yes. You couldn't breathe on your own, so they place one down your throat. But when you were able to breathe on your own, you began to choke on the breathing tube. So, Matsumoto removed it.
She did huh? Well, I'm glad I can breathe on my own but it still isn't good enough.
Isn't good enough? Why this great! Do you know how long it takes to recover from a coma or how many people don't recover from their coma at all?
I know, but she wants to see me open my eyes and I am determined to do just that.
Well, just don't over do it. If you do, you could revert back to your comatose state or even die.
Don't worry, I'll be careful.
Good.
"How's he doin'?" Renji asked placing a hand on her shoulder for support.
"Better. He can at least breathe on his own, but that's as far as he's gotten", she replied.
"Don't worry, he'll wake up soon. You know how he hates to leave paperwork unfinished", Renji chuckled lightly.
"Speaking of paperwork, how's it coming?"
"Great! We're almost halfway through the stack. Ukitake-taicho said he'd even take on some of the work load, since he doesn't have anything better to do", he informed her.
"Okay. Well, it that all?"
"Yeah. Well, I hope he gets better soon and try to get some rest Rangiku. No offense, but you look awful."
"Get out", she swatted at him playfully. "But really, thanks Renji. See ya around."
"Bye Rangiku", he said closing the door behind him.
That was Renji wasn't it?
Yes it was.
He seemed really worried about Rangiku.
He did indeed.
I have to get better soon.
And you will, just be patient.
I can't. I don't want Rangiku to have to suffer anymore.
She'll suffer even more if you try to rush things and get worse.
You're probably right. I just hate knowing I'm the cause of her pain. I promised her I would never hurt her.
I'm sure she knows you don't mean to hurt her. Just rest and try not to worry. You'll get better faster that way.
I hope so.
"Good morning Matsumoto-fukutaicho", a grave voice called from behind her.
"Uh . . . good morning Yamamoto-taicho", she scampered to her feet when she saw who it was that spoke to her.
"Please, sit down. This is very important and I think the news should be given while you're sitting down."
Matsumoto sat down slowly fearing the old man had bad news to give her.
"I hear that Hitsugaya-taicho is recovering quite nicely", he smiled.
"He is", she responded flatly. Too nervous to smile.
"Well, the matter that I wish to discuss with you is his recovery. Even though he is recovering, he still is comatose and therefore can not lead his division."
Matsumoto absorbed everything the old man was saying and chose not to speak what she feared was coming.
"I think maybe a new captain should be appointed to squad ten. Not right away of course, but if he does not wake up by the end of the month, then I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to assign a new member to squad ten and ask for his . . . how do you say . . . being put to sleep."
What?! Matsumoto thought. He wanted to put her taicho to sleep if he could wake up, but only after he replaced his position.
"Since you are the closest thing he has to family, I thought I should run it by you", he stated plainly.
"Why?" she spatted letting her anger get the better of her. "Why bother to ask me if you're just going to kill him off anyway?"
She was furious at how nice the old man could be one minute and so cold the next. Always concerned with his precious Seireitei and not with the members that make up the divisions.
They had feelings and worries and problems that he just simply overlooked. He never really took the time to see how his choices affected everyone. They were just supposed to swallow their hearts and do their jobs.
She was sure she wasn't the only one that would be upset if squad ten's captain was replaced and killed.
Ukitake-taicho would probably die if he heard this. He loved giving Hitsugaya candy and weird, strange looking toys. (sex toys) He also loved just being around Toushiro. And not because theirs name were similar or because their hair was the same color, but because Toushiro reminded him of the son he never had.
And Renji. She was sure Renji would miss her taicho. Whenever Renji got a little behind on paperwork, Toushiro would offer to do it so he wouldn't get in trouble with Byakuya-taicho.
She knew Ichigo would miss her taicho too. It seemed Toushiro (and Kenpachi and Renji) were the only people in all of Soul Society that liked him. Really liked him. Toushiro especially loved when Ichigo came to visit because Ichigo didn't treat him like a kid but not as a captain either. He treated him like a person. And she knew how much her taicho appreciated that. Ichigo would be crushed and probably destroy half of the Seireitei if they killed her taicho.
And Matsumoto. She would miss him most of all. No more hugs that would crush his little face in her big bosom. No more taicho to carry her home when she got too drunk or when she just didn't feel like leaving the bar. No more yelling at her to get up off her ass and get to work. No more soft gentle hands to wipe away the tears caused by years of abuse and misery from Gin. Most of all, there would be no more Toushiro to love and care for her. How was she going to deal him not being here anymore?
"Matsumoto-fukutaicho . . ." he interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes sir?" she asked not wanting to look at the old man's cruel face.
"I know this will be hard for you, but it has to be done. A comatose captain can't run an entire division. I'm sorry for your loss."
And with that, he turned and walked out of her taicho's sick room.
'I'm sorry for your loss'? He said that as if Toushiro was already dead. She thought angrily.
"Oh yeah?! Well fuck you, you mean grouchy old man!" she shouted hoping he heard her.
Then she collapsed to the floor and cried like a girl who had just lost her mother or a woman who had just lost her one and true love.
Hyourinmaru?
Yes master.
Matsumoto is upset.
Well, I suppose she would be with the news the old man just gave her.
That old geezer. How dare he?!
There is nothing we can do. You're recovering as fast as you can.
Well, it's not fast enough. I need to wake up. Now!
Master, you aren't thinking of—
Raise my reiatsu.
But master . . .
Do it! Or so help me . . . I'll definitely be buying a new sword when a wake up.
But are you sure you wan to do this now? While she's so upset and crying? If you do this now and something goes wrong, it would only upset her.
Fine. We'll do it after she falls asleep.
Whew. Dodged a bullet there.
Did you say something Hyourinmaru?
Nothing master.
That's what I thought.
Matsumoto finally fell asleep after four hours of crying.
She was exhausted and just wanted to pretend that what Yamamoto said was just a bad dream. If only for a couple of hours.
Okay Hyourinmaru, she's asleep.
Are you about this master? I can't guarantee you'll come out this alive. Master, please reconsider.
Shutup! I've made up my mind. Now, raise my reiatsu.
Yes master.
Are you serious? That wasn't even enough to flinch a finger. Damit, I want to open my eyes! Now raise my reiatsu!
As you wish master.
Hyourinmaru raised Hitsugaya's reiatsu enough to release his zanpakuto.
Toushiro at first just flinched, but soon he felt the pressure come over his body and he began to feel queasy.
I think I'm gonna throw up.
Do you think you can open your eyes now?
No. Now raise my reiatsu some more.
But . . .
More!
As you wish.
Matsumoto woke to the sound of something beeping.
When she looked up, she saw all the machines blinking uncontrollably and her taicho was thrashing about.
"Taicho, what wrong?" she tried to stop his incessant thrashing.
He simply pushed her aside and began thrashing harder. Flailing his arms about and kicking his feet in the air.
"Taicho please!"
"Move", Unohana-taicho came in pushing her aside. "What happened?"
"I don't know. I woke up and he was thrashing again. He isn't choking so I don't know what's wrong", she replied.
"His spiritual pressure is off the charts. What could be causing this?"
"Matsumoto . . ." he mumbled faintly.
"Yes taicho, I'm right here", she grabbed his hand tightly.
He trashed it about slamming her arm into the nearby table.
She winced at the pain but never let his hand go.
"Try to calm him down while I sedate him", Unohana told her.
"You won't put him under?" Matsumoto asked worriedly.
"I promise", she smiled.
"Okay", Matsumoto said as she climbed on top of Toushiro's body and held down his arms and legs.
"Try harder. He still won't be still", she said throwing away the needle.
Matsumoto applied all her weight on his body but he still keep thrashing.
"Toushiro, I'm right her, I'm not going anywhere. I won't let them kill you. So please, lie still for me", she spoke gently.
"Matsumoto", he shouted almost knocking her off the bed but she held firm.
"Toushiro, please . . ." she begged.
"If he keeps this up, he's going to—"
B-b-bunnnnnn! His monitor went blank and Toushiro went numb underneath her body.
"I'm afraid he's dead", Unohana said quietly.
Matsumoto couldn't believe what she was hearing. Yamamoto didn't need to kill him because he was already dead.
"Toushiro . . . please . . . don't leave me!" she cried into his chest.
Nothing. Her taicho was gone forever now and he would never come back. Ever.
"Toushiro!"
Matsumoto cried clinging to his body for dear life as her tears ran down the cotton of the robes on his chest.
"You promised Toushiro. You promised", she whispered softly.
"Matsumoto . . . I think you should—"but she was cut off by the stillness of Matsumoto's cries.
"Toushiro", Matsumoto sat up, thinking she felt his hand grab hers.
When she looked down, she saw his hand resting on tops of hers on top of his chest.
"Toushiro, are you—", she began yet stopped when his other hand came and rested upon her cheek, wiping away her tears.
Toushiro opened his eyes and smiled, "Rangiku . . ."
Matsumoto couldn't stop the tears from flowing now. At least these tears were tears of joy and not tears of sorrow.
Matsumoto leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You're alive taicho, you're alive", she squealed.
Toushiro sat up wrapping both his arms around her waist and hugging her tightly. "I love you Rangiku", he spoke in her hair.
Rangiku pulled away and looked at him puzzlingly, unsure she heard him correctly. "What did you just say?"
"I said 'I love you Rangiku'", he smiled at her.
"I love you too. Toushiro Hitsugaya", she smiled back at him before placing her lips on his and staring into his clear beautiful teal eyes.
Toushiro smiled staring back into her clear blue orbs while, for the first time in his entire life, his own teal eyes cried tears of joy.
That was so beautiful. (sobs while wiping tears way) Toushiro finally woke up and Rangiku got to see his eyes again. Still one more chapter. Please review and tell me how you like this one.