Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters that are affiliated with the franchise.

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, chapter ten is being delivered straight to you. I hope you enjoy it.

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"Welcome home, Ichigo," softly murmured Rangiku, who was clearly exhausted, having been worried sick about where the substitute soul reaper had wandered off to for the last couple of weeks. Literally, she cried herself to sleep almost every night, which was so unlike her.

Couldn't he had, at the very least, gave her a heads up that he would be leaving for a little while? The buxom blonde swore that she was going to go to Urahara and enlist his assistance in locating her young lover.

Now, obviously, that wouldn't be necessary.

Damn him for frightening her half to death! Following Gin Ichimaru's death, the blonde promised that she would never allow a man to make her emotionally vulnerable ever again. What good that promise did her now, as, inwardly, she was a wreck.

Lest she forgot, though, it was so like Ichigo to not want to worry his friends. Comprehending that reality still did next to nothing to alleviate her pain or worry, however. She couldn't help the fact she was an emotional being. The woman contemplated tirelessly interrogating him on where the hell he ventured off to but quickly opted against it, as it simply hadn't mattered.

He was home - and that's the only thing that counted in her eyes.

Let it be known that the woman also recognized that he wasn't going to divulge where he'd gone, so it was practically useless to bother making an attempt.

So, in spite of Lieutenant Matsumoto's concern, she offered a gentle smile and took in his appearance - slightly disheveled, with his shihakusho ragged and some facial hair taking form on his handsome mug. Strangely, the lieutenant thought he couldn't be more attractive. … Encircling her arms around his neck, Rangiku leaned into his chest, breathing in his scent.

"Sorry I worried you, Ran'," the teenager apologized. "I just had some things to figure out for myself."

"It's alright. I'm just glad you came back, even though I never doubted you would for a second," lied the female soul reaper. "After all, you and I both know you can't say no to this ass.

"Why don't you come inside, Ichigo? I can only imagine how cold you are after your travels."

"Nah, I'm good," the boy declined.

"Nonsense, come inside," the blonde tried again, pulling his left arm. She needed his presence right now, yet she was reluctant to admit it.

"Quit it, Rangiku," stated Ichigo firmly, putting her in her place. "You're making this harder than it already is."

Frowning, the lieutenant raised her voice, "What do you mean 'making this harder than it already is'?! What in the world are you trying to say to me, Ichi'?!"

"Ran', I …"

"Be a man and say it! A man who hesitates is often about tell a lie or is in the midst of a deceitful act!" Amid how wound up she'd been prior to his arrival, Rangiku just couldn't hold in her frustration any longer.

Taking a deep breath, the teenager countered, "I'm saying that we're through. There, I said it: We're done. This arrangement … it's finished. It's my fault for starting this situation in the first place, so I'll understand if you hate me."

"Bullshit, Ichigo Kurosaki!" the blonde spat with venom. "You go missing for weeks, give no word on where you've been, and you expect to humor me with this 'I'll understand if you hate me' trash?!

"Just listen to how ridiculous you sound! Surely you could come at me better than that! I'm not Orihime, so I won't accept whatever comes out of your ass, thinking it's sunshine! Well, guess what? It isn't, buddy!"

The substitute soul reaper was shocked. Never had Lieutenant Matsumoto become so beside herself that he hadn't recognized her before. Frankly, it shook him to the core.

"Look -"

"I don't want to hear it," disrupted the buxom lieutenant. "Here I am, worried sick about you, waiting every night for you to come here so we can screw each other's brains out ... and you want to end things?! Well, it isn't going down like that, Ichigo Kurosaki! We're done when I say we're done!"

The woman reached down, grabbing his crotch and tugging him forward. Then, she kissed him. Rough. Only when she ran out of breath did she relinquish the liplock.

"You're going to fuck me - and you're going to like it. Capiche?"

Ichigo had to admit, he liked this aggressive Rangiku. Exactly where was she when she was attempting to play matchmaker? Huh?

If only this were a few months ago, chances were that he never would have considered Orihime as anything more than a dear friend. Albeit, that was a moot point now, though. This was wrong. If he were to give in to his urges now, his time away would have been for naught.

"Rangiku, we can't. I want to … so bad. But, we can't. I've already fucked up enough as it is. Put it all on me. I'll accept responsibility for hurting you and for hurting 'Hime."

Was it really coming down to this? After they were rekindling the fire they once had, despite the circumstances, Lieutenant Matsumoto couldn't believe it. He was walking away from her … from them.

How could he?

She promised that what they shared was no-strings-attached sex and that emotions wouldn't get involved, but how could they not? The boy had transformed into a sexual Adonis and he ensnared her heart like no other man - outside of Gin - ever did. Every occasion he fucked her, she screamed, whilst experiencing a scorching sensation within her loins that seemed like melted butter.

They hadn't exchanged many words over their time together - didn't need to. Through sex, as well as rapport, they understood one another so well that their relationship never felt like a sappy romance flick. Rangiku never cared for sappy romance flicks - they were much too cliche and overwhelmingly atrocious to the point she had desired to regurgitate her sake intake.

To put it simply, she had fallen in love. Hard. Unexpectedly.

She wasn't ready to confess her sentiment, however, she was ill-prepared to allow this boy - no, this man - to get away.

"Ichi', just stay with me. None of what happened could've happened any other way. It doesn't matter. I forgive you, and I'm sure, in time, Orihime will forgive you, too, if she already hasn't. Please … I …"

Looking apologetic, the boy murmured softly, "I gotta go. Ran'. Take care of yourself."

Before she could grab him again, Ichigo had already flash stepped out of her reach. Her heart aching, a tear ran down her eye.

Love hurt. Truly, it did.

The air was cold on this night, making Rangiku shiver as she stood there, gazing at the night sky.

"Gin, wherever you are, was I really this much of a bother to stay with? Tell me … Did you ever love me? Was I … important to you?"

Author's Note: I know this chapter was short, but hopefully you all enjoyed it, anyway. I thank everyone for their support and will see each of you on the next update. Peace.