Chapter Thirteen: Aizen Appears
"Aizen-taicho", the small brunette called to the darkness for what seemed the fifteenth time. "Aizen-taicho", she repeated.
"Yes Momo?" he called to her nearly causing her heart to stop.
"Um . . . Hitsugaya and Matsumoto are getting married", she stuttered nervously.
"Just another minor setback my dear. I'm sure you can figure out some way to . . ."
"No Aizen-taicho!" she cried falling to her knees and sobbing. (cry baby) "Toushiro and Rangiku are getting married tomorrow. As in less than twenty four hours from now, they will be Mr. and Mrs. Toushiro Hitsugaya", she shouted.
"I see", Aizen said coldly. "Well then, this changes everything", he said as he disappeared into the darkness.
"Aizen-taicho?" she called to nothing. "Aizen-taicho?" she cried then fell into total darkness.
"Good morning my love", he kissed her cheek lightly.
"Good morning my darling", she kissed him back.
"Today is the day I finally get to call you my wife", he smiled at her, pulling her closer to his body.
"And I get to finally call you my husband", she nuzzled into his neck.
"Are you nervous?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes", she answered curtly.
"You are?" he looked down into her crystal clear blue eyes.
"Yes", she giggled sensing his worry. "Nervous I'll trip over my train or forget when to walk in", she laughed openly.
"Oh", he smiled, the worry leaving his shoulders as he relaxed. "I'm glad", he kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"Alright you two", Ichigo burst into their bedroom. "Time to get ready", he pulled the sheets from around them.
"Hey!" they both shouted in unison.
"Don't 'hey' me", he snapped. "You two are getting married and if you want your wedding to start on time then we've gotta start getting ready now", he glared at them both.
"Fine", they both sighed in unison.
"Goodbye my darling", she kissed her soon-husband-to-be goodbye.
"Goodbye my love", he kissed her back.
"Man, you two are gonna make me sick", he pretended to gag. "Now hurry up before Rukia comes storming in here, pissed as hell", he told Rangiku.
"Alright, alright", she griped. "Don't get your panties in a twist", she smiled at Toushiro.
Toushiro laughed inwardly before she sauntered out of the room.
"Well, shall we get started then?" Ichigo grin mischievously at the young white haired captain.
"Oh boy", Toushiro gulped.
"Owww!" he screamed as the orange haired shinigami combed his hair. "Do you have to pull so hard?" he griped.
"Just want to make sure all the tangles and sticky stuff is all out", he replied. "And hold still. The more you move, the more it hurts", he added.
"I just think you're combing to hard. Is this payback for the hollow incident?" Toushiro whined.
"Oh no", Ichigo said sarcastically. "I have long since forgotten the incident", he grinned.
Toushiro did not believe but knew telling him that would only cause more pain on his part.
"So how did you get all this honey in your hair?" Ichigo asked him suspiciously.
"Uh . . . Rangiku dropped a bottle on top of my head", he lied.
"Mmm hmm", Ichigo hummed. "Right", he added disbelivingly.
"Don't judge me. You and Rukia have been screwing around for months and your house is way messier than mine", he said.
"That's because I'm not always here to keep it clean and Renji lives there when I'm not here", Ichigo stated.
"Doesn't Renji have his own place?" he asked.
"Yeah but it's in his own division and no girl wants to sleep with a guy or live where he works", Ichigo replied.
"I beg to differ" Toushiro smirked.
"Well, not every girl is Rangiku. Tatsuki likes a house that isn't above where you work. That and if Byakuya finds out I'm smuggling Renji's girlfriend here with me, he'll have me banished from Soul Society and I won't see Rukia anymore", he said then added, "So if you tell anyone, your ass is mine", he tugged on the white haired captain's hair.
"Alright, alright!" Toushiro cried as he pulled his hair from Ichigo's grip.
"Good", Ichigo grinned then continued to comb out the honey in Toushiro's hair.
Meanwhile . . .
"So, are you excited about today?" Rukia asked the strawberry blonde bride.
"Excited and nervous", Rangiku replied.
"Oh, well that's just pre-wedding jitters", Rukia smiled.
"Yeah. I guess so", Rangiku agreed. "So, have you and Ichigo decided or talked about marriage? Since you live together in all", she said, changing the subject.
"Uh . . . well . . . actually Ichigo wants to wait and ask Byakuya properly so that it will be legit and there won't be a scandal and all", the young shinigami blushed.
"Awww! That's so sweet!" Rangiku shrieked and hugged the raven haired girl. "Well, I hope it all works out. You and Ichigo make such a cute couple and I can tell that he would love you for all eternity and never hurt you", she said.
"Kinda like you and Hitsugaya-taicho", Rukia grinned.
"Yeah", Rangiku blushed this time. "I am really lucky to have him", she added.
"Good. I hope you realize that and never let anything or anyone come in between you two again", Rukia said sternly.
"I will", Rangiku smiled, just happy to have her taicho back and glad that he was here to stay.
"So, ya nervous?" Ichigo asked the young white haired captain.
"Hells yeah!" Toushiro shouted as Ichigo tied his tie for him. "But not about the wedding and stuff, whether or not Rangiku is going to remember when it is her cue to come in or whether not she trips on her train and falls on someone or ruins the cake later", he laughed.
"That's good to hear", Ichigo chuckled. "I'm glad you're not worried", he added.
"Listen Ichigo", he grabbed the orange haired boy's arm. "This stays just between me and you and no one else. If this gets out I'll—"
"You'll kill me, right?" the orange haired shinigami finished for him.
"Yes", he told Ichigo sternly then looked down at his shoes.
"What is it Toushiro?" Ichigo looked at him concerned.
"I know Rangiku loves and I am so happy to have her to be my wife . . ."
"But—"
"But she is this fiery goddess while I'm just this cranky, obsessed, stick in the mud. What if we're not to be together? What if I ruin her life? What if—"
"What if you two live happily together?!" Ichigo shouted as he shook the worried captain. "What if you two are meant to live a long and healthy life together where it's just sunshine and roses and nothing but good memories?" Ichigo smiled at him.
"Ichigo, you do know marriage is hard work, right? It isn't all sunshine and roses", he told the human boy.
"True. You two will have your fights. And there will be times you can't stand each other, may even want to kill each other, but", he paused and sighed, thinking of Rukia. "That's what makes a marriage so great".
"Come again?" Toushiro looked at the orange haired boy as if he had gone crazy.
"You heard me. Fights are also an asset to marriage. Because after each and every fight, no matter how bad it is, you two will always make up. And the make up sex is just plain crazy", Ichigo laughed to himself. "And everything you thought that drove you crazy is the one thing you love about her and miss when she's gone. So you see, every part of marriage, whether good or bad is a wonderful thing and definitely a blessing from the heavens. And something you should treasure, including the woman itself. So, does that answer your questions?" he asked.
"I think so", Toushiro smiled, glad to have Ichigo as one of his best men.
"Okay then. Well, all done. Now all that is left is to go out there and marry the love of your life", Ichigo smiled and then left the room.
Toushiro followed behind him but he still couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. But why?
"Oh you look so lovely Rangiku", Rukia told the blushing bride.
"Really? You think so?" she looked back at the smiling raven haired girl.
"Absolutely", Rukia nodded.
"Thank you", Rangiku smiled at the young shinigami.
"Are we ready?" a head popped in belonging to none other than Nanao.
"Almost" Rangiku smiled at the glasses wearing woman.
"Okay then. I'll come back in ten", she said then left.
"When did you know Ichigo was the one?" Rangiku asked once Nanao's reiatsu disappeared.
"Excuse me", Rukia coughed.
"You heard me. When did you know that your life wouldn't be complete without Ichigo?" she asked.
"When he saved my life", Rukia answered instantly. "I just knew then, that without Ichigo, there wouldn't even be a life for me to live", she smiled.
"I guess that's how Toushiro sees me, huh?" she laughed weakly.
"Rangiku, what's wrong?" Rukia asked walking over to the blonde.
"What if Toushiro thinks this is a mistake and later decides he shouldn't have married me? I mean, I know he loves me and I don't think that he'd ever stop loving me, but—"
"But what?"
"Marriage is nothing like being his lieutenant. I will be his wife. I don't know how to be a wife!" she screamed.
"And what woman does", Rukia laughed. "Listen, Toushiro doesn't want some woman who will cater to his every need. Otherwise, he wouldn't be marrying you. And I'm sure he doesn't want some woman who can't take care of herself, then he would have married Momo. No, Toushiro wants a woman that will love him and support him through thick and thin and accept him for the grouchy captain that he is", Rukia smiled. "Toushiro wants a woman just like you", she added.
"You're right", Rangiku smiled drying her eyes. "I may not be much use and I may not be needy, but I'm loving and understanding and that's what he loves about me. Thanks Rukia. I really needed to hear that", she hugged the young shinigami to her chest.
"You're welcome", Rukia mumbled into her chest. "Uh . . . Rangiku . . ."
"Yes?"
"I can't breathe".
"Oh sorry", the blonde let go of the raven haired girl and smiled.
"So are you ready to get married?" Rukia asked.
"Let's get this wedding started!" Rangiku cheered.
"Finally, we're here", Kenpachi groaned as he walked into the court grounds of the Seireitei.
"Hey Kenpachi. Glad you could make it", Ichigo greeted the tall spike haired captain.
"Thanks. Now get off my back you two", he said pulling off a grown woman with a braid in the front of her and a pink haired teenager with growing assets.
"Hello Ichigo", Retsu Unohana, captain of squad four smiled at him.
"Hi Strawberry!" Yachiru Kusajishi, lieutenant to squad eleven and Kenpachi's, captain of squad eleven, adopted daughter waved happily at him.
"Hi you guys. Well, we should be starting soon so why don't you take your places", Ichigo informed them.
"Okay", Yachiru scampered off while Kenpachi and Retsu went to look for their seats.
"Ichigo, hello", a bald shinigami with a very pretty yet quiet girl waved to the orange haired teen.
"Hey Ikkaku, Nemu", he waved back. "How are you?" he asked.
"Great", Ikkaku Madarame, third seat to squad eleven exclaimed while Nemu Kurotsuchi, lieutenant of squad twelve just smiled.
"Well hurry up, the wedding is about to start", he hurried them along.
"Ichigo", he heard a very familiar and vain voice call to him.
"Hi Yumichika", he turned around and smiled at the feather browed man. "Who's this?" he asked looking at the silver haired woman he had his arms linked with.
"Oh, this is Isane. Isane, Ichigo", he explained.
"Hi", she waved. "Well sweetie, I think we should hurry or we won't get good seats", she smiled at him.
"Okay", he smiled back. "Bye Ichigo" Yumichika Ayasegawa, fifth seat to squad eleven waved as he and his girlfriend, Isane Kotetsu, lieutenant to squad four walked off.
"Beautiful day isn't it", said a man with white hair and brown eyes to the young orange haired teen.
"Oh hey Juushiro", Ichigo replied. "How are you?"
"Better but even if I were lying on my death bed, I still wouldn't miss this wedding for the world", he smiled. "Well, I had better get in there", Juushiro, captain of squad thirteen said as he strolled off.
Ichigo had seen most of the captains and their squad members and even had to hide from a few (Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of squad six, would be one and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, captain of squad twelve, because he is friends with the Quincy that kicked his ass) but he had yet to see a certain red haired lieutenant arrive yet.
"Where the hell is he?" Ichigo groaned.
"Where's who?" Toushiro asked. "Oh no. Is Juushiro too sick to marry us? Is he dead? What happened?!" Toushiro shook Ichigo.
"Pull yourself together", Ichigo slapped him.
"Now that wasn't very nice", he heard a very familiar and very cocky voice call from behind him.
"Renji!" Ichigo yelled. "And Tatsuki?" he scratched the back of his strawberry blonde head.
"Who is this?" Toushiro stepped around Ichigo.
"Oh, this is Tatsuki Arisawa", Renji grabbed her hand and pulled her close to his side. "My girlfriend", he grinned like a fool.
Tatsuki blushed then gutted Renji in the stomach with her elbow. "Duh you idiot. Not like you haven't been telling people about us. I know you have", she glared at him.
"Well, just a few people hon but nobody special", he smiled back then began kissing her on her neck.
"Stop stupid", she swatted at him playfully. "Not in public".
"Ahhh. But you're just so irresistible", he said wrapping his arms around her waist and trailing down to collarbone and showering her with more kisses.
"Renji!" Ichigo yelled again. "Get your ass in there so we can start the damn wedding! And I will deal with this matter later", he glared at them both.
Tatsuki and Renji both just laughed as they walked passed a very red face Ichigo and a bemused Toushiro.
"What got up his ass?" he heard Tatsuki laugh.
"Beats the hell out of me", Renji replied causing the couple to break out in further hysterics.
"Lighten up Ichigo. It's a wedding, not a funeral", Toushiro smiled at the orange haired shinigami then walked on ahead of him.
Ichigo just smiled then followed behind the white haired captain.
Rangiku was worried. Everyone was here except for the one person that mattered to Toushiro: his childhood friend Momo.
Rangiku didn't know what she was going to do. She just knew there was no way Toushiro was going to get married without Momo here. Oh she was so screwed.
"Rangiku, time to go", Nanao popped in.
"I know", she said and grabbed her bouquet. "I can't", she said then turned and walked into the bathroom.
"Rangiku, what's wrong? I thought you wanted to get married to Hitsugaya-taicho", her best friend said.
"Nanao-chan, what's wrong?" the eighth squad's captain, Shunsui Kyouraku asked his girlfriend.
"I don't know", Nanao replied. "She just said she can't".
"Ran-chan, what's the matter? Toushiro is the man you've always wanted and now you don't want to marry him? How cruel", Shunsui shook his head.
"Taicho", Nanao hit him on top of the head with her flowers.
"It's not that I don't want to marry him, it's just . . . we can't get married until Momo gets here", she said through the bathroom door.
"Oh, I see", Shunsui nodded. "Nanao, go find Momo. We have a wedding to save and save it we shall", he declared.
"Oh taicho", Nanao groaned but did as she was instructed.
"What do you mean we can't get married?!" Toushiro exclaimed.
"Don't worry Toushiro, I'm sure everything is fine and the whole matter will be taken care of in no time", the orange haired teen assured him.
"Why Ichigo, you're so encouraging. Never pegged you to be an optimist", Juushiro teased.
"Shutup you old man", he snapped.
"Ichigo!" Rukia kicked him in the shin. "That is no way to talk to Ukitake-taicho".
"Oh it's fine", Juushiro assured her.
"Damit Rukia!" Ichigo growled.
"Will somebody tell me why she isn't ready to get married?" Toushiro shouted.
"Oh . . . well umm . . . you see . . ." Ichigo scratched his head.
Toushiro looked at Renji, who just stared at the ground. Then he looked to his girlfriend, who did the same. He looked at Rukia, but she had turned her head, as well as Juushiro.
Why wouldn't anybody tell him what was going on?
"Damit, you pansies", Kenpachi groaned.
"Kenpachi, don't", Retsu tried to stop him.
"Rangiku ain't getting married until yer ex gets here", Kenpachi said.
(oh, I forgot to mention that Kenpachi is one of the groomsmen. As well as Renji, Ichigo, and Shunsui. Juushiro is the reverend and the bridesmaids are Retsu, Tatsuki, Rukia, and Nanao. Basically, the girlfriends of the groomsmen. Sorry if any confusion)
"Is that all?" Toushiro laughed. "I thought it was something serious. Well I don't care about that. I wish Momo could be here but I never said she had to come. If she doesn't want to see me and Rangiku get married that badly, well screw her", he shrugged.
Everyone's faces were shocked at the words uttered by the young captain. Why even Kenpachi was shocked and he could care less.
"So I guess we should tell her then?" Renji asked.
"Duh", Ichigo hit him on the back of the head.
"Ouch! That hurt Strawberry", he drawled out Ichigo's nickname.
"Strawberry?! No one can call me that except Rukia and Yachiru", he screamed as he chased Renji around.
"That's enough you two", Kenpachi glared at them and they both went still. "Let's hurry up and get this thing over with", he griped.
"Kenpachi hates weddings", Retsu explained.
"Do not. This tie just itches", he complained trying to loosen it.
"Well take it off", Toushiro said.
And again, shocked faces all around.
"In fact, everyone, take off your ties", he said to his groomsmen.
"Finally", Kenpachi cheered as he removed his tie and soon everyone else followed. All except Juushiro.
"I happen to like my tie and thus, shall keep it on", Juushiro said.
"Suite yourself", Toushiro shrugged.
"Are we ready to start?" Kenpachi asked.
"Just as soon as someone tells Rangiku I'm okay with Momo not being here", Toushiro answered him.
"Great", Shunsui said sauntering up to the rest of the groomsmen. "And here I thought you'd be upset", Shunsui smiled.
"Taicho, should I go tell Rangiku?" Nanao asked him.
"Tell me what?" they heard the voice of a very busty blonde behind.
"Rangiku?!" they all shouted in unison.
She just ignored them and walked over to Toushiro.
"Honey, isn't it bad luck to see the braid before the—"
"Listen Toushiro", she said, pulling him away from the rest of the group. "We can't get married", she said solemnly.
"Rangiku, its okay I—"
"I know how much Momo means to you and even though I could care less for her, I really do want her here. I don't want you to get married without your childhood. I want this day to be perfect for the both of us", she babbled on and on.
"Rangiku", he shook her then smiled. "I don't care whether Momo is here or not. True, I wish she could be here but it is her choice to come or not. And if she can't be happy for us, then screw her. I am going to marry you no matter what", he leaned in and kissed her.
"Really?" Rangiku smiled.
"Really", he grinned.
"Well, then let's get married", she said.
"Finally", Kenpachi groaned as the others tried to act like they weren't listen to their conversation. "Listen up you pansies—and ladies", he added after Retsu elbowed him. "The wedding is about to start, so I wanna see all asses in a chair or I'll throw your ass up a pole", he barked.
Everyone within the court grounds scurried to a seat and firmly planted their asses to a chair.
"Okay Juushiro, ready when you are", Kenpachi nodded.
"Uh . . . very well then", he smiled as everyone got into the positions around the bride and the groom. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here—"but he never got the chance to finish as a large blast of reiatsu collided with the alter, nearly killing Juushiro, Rangiku, Toushiro and all the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
"Damit, what was that?" Renji said as he forced Tatsuki down to the ground and covered her body with his.
"I don't know", Ichigo replied as he held Rukia. "Is everyone alright?" he asked looking around.
"We're fine", Retsu said as Kenpachi lifted a huge piece of debris from their bodies. "Kenpachi, are you hurt?" she asked concerned.
"Che, Yachiru hits harder than this thing. I'll be fine", he reassured her.
"Juushiro, you alive?" Shunsui asked as he helped Nanao off the ground. "And what about you Nanao, you okay?" he looked to his girlfriend.
"I am fine taicho. Just a bump is all", she replied.
"Unohana-taicho, I'm going to head over to the fourth division to get Nanao treated. Please tend to Juushiro for me", he said as he lifted a stubborn Nanao in his arms and shunpo-ed off.
"I'm gonna look for Yachiru", Kenpachi said as he kissed Retsu goodbye then shunpo-ed off as well.
"Ukitake-taicho?" Rukia cried as she looked upon her bloody captain.
"Don't worry. I'm fine", he smiled while coughing up blood.
"Kurosaki-san, can you take Ukitake-taicho to fourth division. Rukia, please accompany him. Abarai-fukutaicho, Arisawa-san, please come with me. We still have to locate Hitsugaya-taicho and Matsumoto-fukutaicho", Retsu instructed them.
"Hai", Renji saluted while Ichigo lifted Juushiro and Rukia onto his back. "You sure you can carry them both Ichigo?" he looked at the carrot top puzzlingly.
"Light as a feather", Ichigo grinned then shunpo-ed off.
"What can I do?" Tatsuki asked.
"Just search through the debris until you find them", Retsu told her.
"Rangiku? Rangiku!" they heard a male voice cry.
"Hitsugaya-taicho, is she . . ." Renji trailed off.
"No, but she's badly wounded. Please help her", he cried lifting his crippled bride in his arms.
"My, my, my, what a shame", a sinister voice echoed in the distance. "I told her not to defy me and to not have this wedding. But did she listen? No. Instead, she goes and has the wedding. Now how hard is it to follow instructions and not get married?!" the voice said, growing more angry by each sentence.
"Aizen, you bastard!" Renji cursed.
"Abarai-fukutaicho is it?" the voice appeared through the dust and smiled his ever present evil grin at Renji. "My how we've grown", he sneered "And I see we even have a girlfriend now. Someone that isn't Rukia. In fact, she's a human", he drawled on the word human. "How befitting", he chuckled. "Filth dating filth. Too bad though, she was lovely", he grinned even more sinister as he shunpo-ed toward her, zanpakuto aimed and ready for the kill.
"Tatsuki move", Renji screamed as he unsheathed his zanpakuto in time to deflect Aizen's attack. "Don't you dare touch her", he hissed.
With a single burst of reiatsu, Aizen blew both Renji and Tatsuki backwards, sending them flying into a nearby pillar.
"Aizen!" Retsu seethed as she stood before him, zanpakuto aimed towards him.
"Retsu? Well, this is a surprise", his grin widened at the sight of her. "How have you been?" he asked.
"Better, since I broke up with you", she hissed.
"Now Retsu", he shunpo-ed right in front of her. "How is that anyway to treat your ex-lover", he cooed in her ear.
"Get away from her", a loud booming voice shouted as a zanpakuto came in between Aizen and Retsu. "I will kill you if you ever come near her again", Kenpachi growled as he put a protective arm around Retsu. "You alright?" he turned to her.
"I'm alright", she smiled, glad that Kenpachi was there to protect her.
Renji had finally come to and came up beside Kenpachi, with an unconscious Tatsuki in his arms.
"Unohana-taicho, please, you have to help her", he cried worriedly.
"What the hell happen to you two?" Kenpachi asked.
"Aizen", Renji growled.
"So I see we are slumming down a bit, eh Retsu?" Aizen chuckled. "Couldn't find anyone better than Kenpachi to scratch that itch?" he laughed callously.
"Shutup!" Kenpachi spat. "Don't you dare talk about Retsu like that or I'll kill you right now" he yelled.
"Kenpachi, I'm going to go on ahead and take care of Renji and Tatsuki. Hitsugaya-taicho, bring Matsumoto-fukutaicho along", she instructed.
"Okay", he nodded as they made their way to the fourth division.
"I don't think so", Aizen snapped his fingers together then a great blue light flash, followed by what appeared to be an arrancar, standing in their path.
The arrancar had long following dark locks, big dull brown eyes and a white jacket and skirt, trimmed with back.
"Momo?" Toushiro breathed as she unsheathed her zanpakuto and spoke "Deflect Tobiume" and then, the only he saw before his eyes closed, was a large blast of reiatsu coming toward him and his bride.
I know it was a bit long but what did you think? Sorry it took so long to update. I will try no to take so long on the next chapter. Please review and voice opinions. Oh, and if it has to many mistakes I apologize for that too. I stayed up til four in the morning writing this. So sorry if not my best work. Well, goodnight. I'm going to bed now.