Chapter Fifteen: Toushiro to the Rescue
Where am I? Rangiku thought to herself as her crystal blue eyes fluttered open to white walls and iron bars on windows.
"Ah, I see we are awake now?" a slithery voice hissed in the air.
"Gin?" she inquired as she turned her head to be met by a wide grin and closed eyes.
Rangiku rubbed her eyes, not believing what her eyes were seeing.
She blinked and then saw a girl in a white arrancar uniform with long brown hair and dead brown eyes. Standing next to the dead looking girl, was Aizen, with his slicked back brown locks and sinister, evil grin.
"But I thought . . . I could have sworn . . ." she sputtered.
"Could have sworn what?" Aizen quirked an eyebrow.
"I could have sworn that I heard Gin, but I guess—"
"Gin is dead. Or have you forgotten that", he snipped at her.
"Oh", she looked down at the ground while twittling her fingers.
When she looked up, she saw the dead girl staring at her repulsively.
Rangiku realized that there was something familiar about this dead arrancar. Then Rangiku realized that the dead arrancar was actually Momo Hinamori.
"Momo . . .?" she questioned looking directly at the dead girl. "It is you?" she gasped. "Aizen, what have you done to her?!" she pointed angrily at the traitorous captain.
"Oh don't worry", he smirked. "She's not a real arrancar but she is under my control and only abides my orders", he informed her.
"You bastard!" Rangiku ran to assault Aizen but was pushed back by Momo.
"Don't you dare hurt my taicho you slut!" she spat at Rangiku while holding her zanpakuto to Rangiku's throat. "Pathetic", she sneered at the blonde.
Rangiku could care less about that Aizen obsessed bitch, but if she wanted to make it out alive, she figured she'd better keep all impulses to a minimum. Besides, she didn't even have Haineko to protect herself with.
"That's enough Momo dear", he chuckled. "We don't won't our bait dead before our prize gets here now do we?" he cocked his head to the side.
"No Aizen-taicho", the brunette said dully then resheathed her zanpakuto. "But know, I shall kill you if you ever try to dispose of my taicho again", she hissed at Rangiku, then flash stepped back beside her precious Aizen's side.
"Well then", he stood from his thrown and walked over to Rangiku. "Would you like some tea?" he asked her.
"Uh . . . come again?" she choked on her words.
"Tea? Would you like some?" he motioned for Momo to come over. "Don't worry, it's not poisoned", he chuckled.
"Uh . . . well, I guess", she shrugged and accepted a cup of tea from Aizen.
"Momo, please, join us", he looked at his lovesick yet uninterested puppet.
"No thank you Aizen-taicho", she huffed then scowled at Rangiku.
"Suite yourself", he grinned then sipped his tea.
Momo just stood behind him, giving Rangiku the evil eye.
"Momo, stop", he scolded her. "Rangiku is our quest. I won't have you scrutinizing her while we have tea. Go to your room", he ordered.
Momo blinked at first, then bowed, "Yes Aizen-taicho", and then she was gone.
"My apologies", he looked at Rangiku. "She has yet to learn her manners in front of a guest", he smiled at her.
"It's alright. I would rather see her go anyway", she hissed.
"I see", he set his cup down and folded his hands under his chin. "So tell me Rangiku, how come you stopped loving Gin? Or more precisely, when did you realize Toushiro was the one and not Gin?" he stared at her.
"Uh . . . isn't that a bit of a personal question Aizen?" she responded.
"Just curious", he grinned even wider but she could tell there was hatred behind that grin.
"Well . . ." she set her cup down and blushed. "I guess it was when Momo tried to kill Toushiro and Gin tried to kill Momo that I realized I loved him", she answered him.
"Really? How . . . interesting. Why then?" he leaned forward, his eyes boring into her soul.
"Because I realized just how cruel Gin really was and how he was willing to hurt Toushiro. And that was just something I wasn't going to allow. Then it hit me, that I really loved Toushiro. I loved him so much that would kill all who dared hurt my taicho, including Gin", she glared at Aizen.
"I see", he sat up straight, returning her glare, with a tight line on his face.
"That's includes you too Aizen. If you hurt Toushiro, I'll—"
"You'll do what?" he hissed in her ear, while one hand gripped around her throat. "What will you do Rangiku Matsumoto?" he seethed in her ear, his hot breath sending chills own her spine and not the good kind.
"I'll kill you", she croaked out.
"I'd like to see you try", she felt him grin against her ear and then he licked her ear. "I could have you right here and right now if I wanted, but if it weren't for out of respect for Gin and the fact that Momo would kill you before our prize arrives, I would dare not do it", he cooed in her ear.
"Sick bastard!" she backslapped him.
How dare he try to take advantage of her and on her wedding day no less.
"That wasn't very nice Ran-chan dear", he used Gin's pet name for her. "You shall pay for that!" he growled pushing his full weight on top of her and pinning her down in the chair, eyes hungry and lustful.
Rangiku was truly frightened. Not even Gin could have scared her this much.
Aizen seemed so nice with his warm smile and caring eyes, yet here he was, pushing himself on top of her like some ravenous animal, hungry from famine and ready to eat. Eat her that is.
Rangiku tried to get herself free but the more she struggled, the harder he pushed her down.
"You're hurting me", she said trying to wriggle her wrists free from his grasp.
"I have yet to really hurt you", he murmured in her as he continued to kiss down the side of her neck.
Rangiku wanted to cry but she knew couldn't. She had made that mistake once with Gin and he abused her for it. She would not make that same mistake with him. She would not let him get the best of her.
"Get off!" she shouted as she got one hand free and began hitting him in the shoulder.
"Now calm down", he whispered as he grabbed her hand from his shoulder. "Just relax. It will all be over soon", he kissed her hand in his and looked at her, eyes laughing maliciously.
Rangiku could feel the tears begin to well up in her eyes and knew he had won when she saw his smile grow even more sinister and creepy.
"Don't worry", he let go of her hand and placed his beside her cheek, wiping the tears that fell from her cheek. "I told you, it will all be over soon", he kissed on the lips as she froze in horror.
"Get away from her!" they heard a voice cry as an ice dragon flew towards them.
Aizen leaped away with Rangiku in his arms and drew his zanpakuto.
"Hitsugaya-taicho, how nice to see you", he grinned, holding his zanpakuto to Rangiku's neck.
"Don't you dare Aizen", Toushiro hissed flash stepping in front of Aizen and knocking his zanpakuto away his hand.
If Aizen looked surprised or shocked, he didn't show it. In fact, he laughed!
"Was that all you got", he chuckled throwing Rangiku off to the side.
"Rangiku!" Toushiro screamed as he rushed to her side. "Rangiku, please, open your eyes", he said as shook her.
"Toushiro", she said groggily. "Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me Rangiku. I'm here and I will never let you go. I will never let Aizen hurt you again", he told her grabbing her up in his arms and stroking her golden locks.
"Oh Toushiro", she cried as she buried her face into his chest.
"How touching", Aizen clapped walking up behind the reunited couple.
"Stay away from her", Toushiro shouted at Aizen, Hyourinmaru aimed towards him.
"Foolish boy", he spat. "I was never after her".
"What?" Toushiro gasped.
"She was just the bait to trap you", he laughed maniacally.
"Deflect Tobiume!" they heard a voice cry as a large blast of reiatsu came hurling towards them.
Toushiro dodged the assault with Rangiku in his arms and aimed Hyourinmaru at Momo's throat.
"I don't want to have to kill you Momo, but I will if you push me too far", he glared at the dull childhood friend of his.
"Well . . . then let's get this battle started", Aizen declared as all four of them vanished into thin air and reappeared in what seemed to be an arena.
Toushiro was dressed in what looked like a samurai's outfit while Momo still had on her arrancar uniform, only with a shorter jacket and a miniskirt with black tights and long white boots.
He looked around and saw Rangiku sitting in a large throne with her feet and hands chained to a chair.
"Aizen, let her go!" he shouted at the grinning traitorous captain.
"I'll let her go on one condition", Aizen flash stepped in from of the white haired samurai captain. "Kill Momo and she walks, refuse, and she stays here with me", he grinned then disappeared on his throne opposite of where he and Rangiku were at.
Momo raised her zanpakuto, her eyes never changing from that dull, dead stare but her face contorted in anger as she screamed, "Deflect Tobiume!"
Toushiro realized he had no choice, just as Rangiku had no choice before him. He knew he would have to kill his childhood friend in order to save the one he loved.
So, what did you think? I know, a little short but great nonetheless. In the next chapter, the showdown will begin. Can Toushiro really kill his childhood friend or will he lose the love of his life forever? Stay tuned to find out more.
Oh! And nii-san, I did update sooner than later. I just really wanted to get the story updated. But another smart ass comment, and not only shall I never forgive you but I will torture you for as long as I am angry. And trust me, women can hold a grudge a lot longer than men. So I warn you, don't get smart.
Please review and ignore my little spat with nii-san. We just fight a lot. Bye!