A/N: Heeey, thanks everyone for your support! You were all very kind, all very very sweet and you pushed me to write even though I'm really lazy! I hope you continue reviewing!

Now, someone asked me if this was the sequel of "Holiday In the Living World". I guess you could look at it that way - I mean originally I had stocked the idea precisely for this matter but I think it wouldn't be much of a problem if you hadn't read the "Holiday". Now that I look at tha old fic of mine, it's full of mistakes and imperfections and even though I'm sure there must be errors in my current work as well, I'm pretty sure it's not that bad. Anyway... a big WARNING for everybody who haven't read the "Holiday": a VERY OUT OF CHARACTER HYOURINMARU. Yeaaaah, he's going to be a bit of a perv, and he'll probably stuck his nose a lot in Hitsu's business, I hope you don't mind. This chapter is a bit weird, but the way I see it, the whole fic is going to be pretty weird... Oh, well... There you go, chapter 2!

This was officially the worst day of my life. I was stuck in this house, all alone, with Matsumoto representing the only close to rational being around me, while a strange quarantine was on the loose all around my division and let's not let out the worst part – I hadn't finished my paperwork. I bet no one would be so kind as to do it instead of me, so the moment all of this insanity was over with, I'd be stuck with two-weeks worth of reading, writing and stamping. Oh, the joy.

Little did I know the joy was about to get even better.

I was laying on the sofa in a pair of old baggy pants I used as pajamas and staring with an intense scowl at the ceiling. I suspect that from a different angle one could assume I was making very arduous attempts to burn a hole in it (maybe in order to re-attain my freedom) but the truth was I was trying to detonate the whole house. Myself along with it.

Now, as hard as it is to believe, I was indeed making efforts to keep positive or neutral thoughts as the dominating padding of my head but so far this was the best I could do. And trust me, it was still a good thing I hadn't completely freaked out yet. I might not look that way, but I get really, really anxious when I stay indoors for too long. Right now the mere idea of not going out for days was having an extra unnerving effect on me and when I recalled the fact Matsumoto was going to be with me the whole time, I wanted to scream. Really. Badly. And trust me, I don't usually do screaming. Especially inner screaming…

…But right now inner screaming was very popular with me.

I felt my jaw clench as my brain flooded with images of how I was about to spend the next few days. The thought of pointless passing of time, bad cooking and long-avoided conversations sent my mind overloading and I had to remind myself to breath slowly in and out, cuz I was just teensy-weensy hairbreadth away from hyperventilating.

You're overreacting again. A familiar voice echoed in my head and I exhaled through gritted teeth.

"Where the hell have you been?" I snapped and Hyourinmaru half-roar half-laughter rang inside my mind.

Hooking up. You'd be surprised how many single ladies there are in times of crisis.

"I wouldn't know. I'm stuck with the only one I can't touch." I replied sarcastically, the remark rewarded with yet another "sort-of" laugh. Since I'm this responsible, serious and profound man, it's only natural that my soul slayer likes slacking and is so very fond of those little attempts of his to force me into discussions about how babies are made. However, as hard as it is to believe, I wouldn't want anyone else as a zanpakuto, even if I could choose. Does that sound weird to you? Don't be so surprised. What I'm actually trying to say is, despite the fact he could be extremely irritating at times (especially when it comes to my love life) and even though every once in awhile it makes me wish I could punch him, I know this is his pervy, twisted way of caring.

But you used to! Oh, sweet memories… If I knew you'd break up for such a moronic reason, I'd tell you to at least shoot a record. Something like that would be worth a fortune on the black market now.

And that coming from an ancient, powerful and wise creature such as Hyourinmaru.

I sighed and rolled to a side, tuning him out with ease. I love him for who he is, but one has to have their ways to keep their sanity. Trust me – with both a zanpakuto and a girlfriend… exgirlfriend like this, I would know.

I closed my eyes, Hyourinmaru's voice fading away in the distance as I tried to deliberately slow down my breathing. It's a good trick I sometimes use when I can't fall asleep – it speeds up the process in most of the cases.

Several minutes later, just as I was beginning to feel myself finally relax, a strange noise reached my ears, sending my muscles into alarmed, tensed state. I cracked open my eyes, my thoughts running wild in my head as I counted off all the possible sources of the sound. Just, as I was reaching quietly for my zanpakuto under the pillow, it hit me (pretty much like a brick in the face) and I barely resisted the urge to slap myself in the forehead.

Matsumoto…

I can't believe I had forgotten about her! Or forgotten the merry fact that I wasn't all alone at my own house, where no sane burglar would dare enter.

I sighed, realizing all of my attempts to fall asleep were gone for good and decided I might as well get a glass of water now that I was already fully awaken.

I got off the sofa weary and rounded it, my mouth opening in the process to let Matsumoto know I was up. I didn't have the chance to speak up though - for she was so very kind to turned on the lights.

"AHHH!" I screamed as the odious light hit my widened pupils before I had had the chance to cover my eyes. I cursed under my breath, palms hiding my temporarily damaged sight as I jumped about blindly like it that was going to make me any better. Figuring this was about to be really fun, Hyourinmaru decided it was a good moment to join and contributed to my irritation with more uproarious laughing.

"This is unbelievable!" I murmured angrily as my eyes finally adjusted and I pretty much tramped my frustrated way into the kitchen. I entered, feeling too tired, too worn out and too exasperated not to let it all out on Matsumoto when I saw her pulling enormous amount of food out of the fridge and putting it on the counter.

"There you go again, killing our nutrition like you did with my eyes…" I quipped, making sure to drag my feet as loudly as possible when I got a glass from above the sink and then filled it with water.

Matsumoto didn't reply(which alone was unnatural). She just kept putting products on the counter as if I had not come in at all and when I sneaked a peek at the fridge and noticed half of it was already empty, a hint of suspicion crept into my head.

"Hello? Matsumoto?" I called in a snidely sing-song voice. No reaction.

I always knew this was gonna happen – I just didn't think it was going to be so soon! She realized you were too uptight and boring to be paid any attention to and now she's ignoring you! I'm so sorry, master, but you'll have to get used to being a lamp.

I rolled my eyes, not in the mood for a skirmish with Hyourinmaru right now and carefully approached my vice-captain from behind. By now the whole containing of the fridge was out in the open, piled on the counter without any care for what was breakable and what wasn't.

"Hello?" I called again, more cautiously. I peered over the opened door of the fridge, trying to see Matsumoto's face. I blinked, a look of bewilderment taking place on my face as I noticed she was still pulling things out of the fridge.

What is she doing? There's nothing there…

She was reaching in, closing her fingers about the thin air, then pulling her hand out and placing whatever she thought she was holding on the counter before repeating the motion.

This must be some sort of a game you're too stupid to understand.

"Oh my…" I murmured, flabbergasted. "She's sleepwalking!"

…Precisely the type of game I was talking about.

I shook my head, still trying to comprehend what I was seeing.

"This is no game. She doesn't know what she'd doing." I paused to swallow with some difficulty before adding. "She's asleep."

Oh. Makes sense. We should probably wake her.

"No. We mustn't. It could be really bad for her. We just have to watch over so she doesn't do anything stupid or dangerous. It probably won't last more than 30 minutes."

I had read about this. It was quite an individual experience. For some it could be very dangerous – they could walk off the top of a building, cut themselves or even attack somebody. Others did all kinds of natural things – such as cleaning, "watching" TV or in Matsumoto's case… emptying the fridge.

…Or…

Hm… I wonder if…

I leaned in closer to her and lowered my voice, trying to sound as soothing as possible.

"Matsumoto… It's Hitsugaya-taicho. The fridge is empty now, you can stop."

For a moment she didn't seem to notice me and just pulled the next "product" out but then all of a sudden she turned around and closed the door of the fridge.

"Hitsugaya-taicho…" she mumbled almost inarticulately. Her eyes were half-opened but glossed-over and unfocused. Despite her strange state however, she had obviously heard me. The thought made me smile, regardless of my inner resistance to that action.

"…so pig-headed…" she finished and I immediately stopped smiling, an angry scowl forming on my face as Hyourinmaru burst into yet another fit of laughter. Boy, could I amuse this creature to death, or what?

Wow, you're so plain obvious, she figures you out even when she's unconscious. Ah, this woman keeps amazing me. You should give her a raise. And then a kiss. And then a hug. And then a s…

"Shut it." I snapped quietly before turning back to Matsumoto. "Would you like to sit down? I'll get you a chair."

And so I did, being a gentleman to the lady even if she resembled a plant more than she resembled a real lady. She slowly sat down and I felt strangely relieved that she was such a obedient sleepwalker. Bickering with her in this condition wouldn't be much fun.

"Okaaay. Isn't that nice?" I continued, sitting opposite of her and forced myself to soften my usual tone into a velvet-like coo. "You must be really tired from all this work of pulling everything from the fridge out. You did a great job that no one else could fulfill. Would Matsumoto now like to go back to bed?"

"No."

I stared, dumbfounded.

"Why not?" I exclaimed without thinking, then cringed at my own loud voice and added again, more quietly. "Why not?"

"I'm hungry."

Splendid.

"Would you like a fruit? Or a cookie? Or…"

"Macaroni and cheese."

Just marvelous.

"But fruits are better for you…" I tried desperately, already knowing it was in vain. Her head tilted unusually much to a side.

"No macaroni and cheese, no going to bed."

Great. A sleeping person was manipulating me. How low could I fall?

I sighed, throwing my hands in the air with defeat.

"Ok. As long as you promise you'll go back to bed as soon as you're finished."

"Rangiku promise!"

And so, in the middle of the night, I found myself boiling macaroni for my unconscious ex-girlfriend in order to get her in bed. No pun intended.

I've never been a culinary genius, but my opinion is if you strictly follow the recipe, you just can't get it wrong. Hyourinmaru's opinion is if you strictly follow the recipe, you're a stuck-up Hitsugaya, who needs to get laid and fast. But right now we don't care about Hyourinmaru, because he won't boil us any macaroni – the best he can do is produce a lump of macaronsicles but I doubt they would be very tasty.

Fifteen minutes later I placed a plate of macaroni and cheese in front of Matsumoto and gave her a spoon (I was a bit scared to give her a fork) and urged her to eat. She didn't move for a minute, then stood up and walked to the pile of products on the counter, pulling a raw egg and handing it to me.

"You're hungry." She stated wisely. I blinked.

"No, I'm not."

"You are."

"No, I'm not."

"Pig-headed!"

"Fine, I'll take it…" I drawled with annoyance, carefully accepting the gift before going back to my place and sitting down. I watched her eat in silence (with the egg secured in my palms) and then several minutes later, after the plate was already empty, keep scooping up and putting the spoon in her mouth in a mechanical motion. With yet another sigh I informed her there weren't any macaroni left and suddenly she seemed very much aware of the fact as she put the cutlery down and smiled absently.

You can ask her anything you want now, I bet she'll answer! It'll be like "Truth or dare" only without the dare. And with only one person playing.

"I won't do it. It'll be like taking advantage of her." I rebutted firmly as I stood up and took her arm, trying to coax her to stand up.

"Aw, come on, you promised!" I whined when I noticed Matsumoto wasn't moving. In any other circumstances I would've most probably just dragged her upstairs but in this condition of hers I was a bit uneasy about using force.

"Toushiro…" she whined back, the name making me jump a little.

"It's Hitsugaya-taicho!" I snapped out of sheer habit as I felt the form of address hit a whole chain of memories. "Do not call me by my first name, lieutenant!"

Oh, well. Pig-headed it is. This is like yelling at a furniture for tripping you up. Which by the way I've seen you do.

"Will you give me a goodnight kiss?" Matsumoto asked in an innocent drawl. I choked.

"What?"

Was she serious? She couldn't be! I was in some sort of a living hell!

You must be in heaven!

"Matsumoto…" I tried but she grabbed my arm with unexpected force, trying to pull me towards her. "I-I can't… It's immoral!"

What the heck?

"But I can't go to sleep without my goodnight kiss!" she pouted and I arched an annoyed brow.

"You obviously did!"

Will you please explain to me why you're disputing this matter with an unconscious person?

I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to yell at both of them and after a few deep breaths I attempted to reason with her:

"Okay, I'll make you a deal: tomorrow night, if you still want a goodnight kiss, I'll give you one. But right now I can't." I paused, searching my genius mind for a brilliant and plausible excuse. "Hyourinmaru will be jealous."

What! NO, I WON'T BE JEALOUS!

Matsumoto seemed to understand everything, her mouth forming an "o" as she carefully stood up and allowed me to lead her to her room. When I helped her get into the bed and lie down, she turned her head towards me and smiled a drowsy, happy smile.

"I really like it that I'll get to spend more time with my captain. I have a great idea of what we'll do tomorrow." She closed her eyes and turned to a side, smile still present on her face. "It'll be so much fun. You'll see."

I covered her shoulders with the blanket and shook my head, fighting my own tiny smile.

"Night, Matsumoto." I murmured before exiting the room.

A/N: Almost forgot! Check out my new Hitsugaya video in youtube. The link to the youtube profile is in my profile here. ^_^ I like being intrusive so much!