Later that day…

The door slammed open to reveal his beautiful fukutaichou as she spun into the room.

"Hiya, taichou."

He walked round to stop just behind her. He place one well-muscled arm on her shoulder and spun her around to face him.

"You look like you need a cup of tea. ne taichou? She said, stroking his cheek softly. He turned his head slightly and kissed her palm. She smiled.

In an instant she was gone.

"Thank goodness she's back" he sighed softly.

"Don't you start taking advantage of her now" Haineko said in his head. He spun around in shock. She had left Haineko on her table. How had Haineko been able to speak mind to mind with him? Only Hyorinmaru could do that.

"I let her through for a second" Came Hyorinmaru's answer.

The door slid open once more and Rangiku came in carrying a tray with two cups of tea on it. She placed the tray on the coffee table and turned to face him, when a knock resounded on the door.

"Come in" Hitsugaya said, impatient and annoyed.

The soutaichou and his lieutenant walked in.

"S-sou-t-taichou sama?" Hitsugaya half stammered in shock. " I am very glad you accepted my request, Matsumoto fukutaichou" He said calmly. "However, Something very interesting was brought to my attention about you when you came in with the acceptance form earlier." Hitsugaya's throat tightened, he couldn't bear to see her removed from him so quickly. "Your reiatsu has grown significantly, Matsumoto fukutaichou and if my presumptions are right, you have achieved bankai" Hitsugaya froze in shock. "I would have called you to my office if it had not been so late. However, this is a very serious matter considering our recent defection of three captains. So I wish to ask you now, do you wish to take your place as captain of the third division?"

Hitsugaya's heart sank. "As you know, your taichou has been taking care of matters for third division by voluntary for some time now, just as kuchiki taichou has been taking care of matters for the fifth. We have extended a similar request to Abarai fukutaichou in terms of ascending the seat of captain. However, due to loyalty reasons and not being sure of whether he can handle the job, he is currently pending the request and acting as captain in terms of paperwork and leads the squads in missions. Therefore, would you like to do the same or directly ascend the post as captain?" Hitsugaya's shoulders slumped in defeat.

"I have a confession to make." Came Matsumoto's voice, calm but laced with hints of nervousness. His head shot up. "I had achieved bankai even before I transferred out. During my time as the third seat of 8th division I did consider telling you but I wasn't so sure since it was so... sudden after my transfer. However, I had been hiding my bankai before my transfer since I could not bear to leave my division so suddenly and because it has been pure joy serving under Hitsugaya taichou" Hitsugaya drew in his breath and flushed in mortification. It was almost as if she was indirectly scolding him for his disrespect of her abilities and not taking more notice of her. "Therefore I ask to do the same as Abarai fukutaichou and pend the invitation" There was a moment of silence before the soutaicho said, "Hm… Thank you for your honest confession, Matsumoto fukutaichou, your request has been accepted"

The door closed behind him and his fukutaichou as Matsumoto slumped down wearily on the couch. She cupped her hands around her mug of tea and sipped slowly. Hitsugaya sat down next to her. He took a sip of the sweet, hot tea before putting down the mug and drawing her gently into his arms so that she was lying on the couch with her head on his lap. He gently traced the line of her jaw before saying slowly "Why didn't you tell me?" She sighed "I was afraid you'd send me away to another division and I didn't want to leave."

"Thank you for staying, Rangiku"

"You're welcome, Toushirou"

He bent down slowly as Rangiku reached up, wrapping her arms around his head. They kissed at first lightly, gently, then fervently and passionately, feeling themselves melt into each other. Both of them knew there and then that they shared a relationship of love that they would never in a million years be willing to give up.

- 終わり-