Not Mine Valentine
Childish Games

"That's not... oh never mind." Rangiku reached over to grab the rest of the soiled bedding only to have her small taicho yank all of it away from her.

"I can take care of that."

"Taicho..."

"Matsumoto, out! I've got to change and then I'll take care of this mess. I can do it by myself, I'm not a little kid." Toshiro's cheeks remained red from embarrassment.

"All right, all right." The woman stood up and stepped out of the room.

In a matter of minutes the white haired boy had stripped himself of his clothing and tossed them only the pile. His nose wrinkled up at the smell as he worked on changing into clean clothing. Toshiro dressed in everything but his haori before tying back the sleeves of his black kimono. He then began to haul the bedding out of the room.

He paused as he opened the door and got half way out of the door frame. His bright teal eyes turned to his right and saw that Rangiku was standing there leaning against the wall as he backed out of the room. "Matsumoto, what are you doing?"

The woman startled. "I was thinking..."

"... that I'm going to need your help."

"No. After your done we can take a trip to see Unohana." The woman took a deep breath.

"No thank you." The boy glanced at the ground. "This was a one time thing."

"Not about that. About the other thing."

Toshiro paused. "Just get your but over to the office already. I'm going to be late getting in."

Rangiku took a deep breath. "Why don't I handle the paper work? You can come in later in the afternoon after I head off to the Women's Society meeting."

"How about I come in as soon as I do this?" The boy let the bedding flop onto the wooden planking and somewhat onto the ground before heading over to the water pump in the center of the yard. "You know why? Because I can't trust you to do your job."

The woman watched as the boy filled a pail full of water and began to haul it over to the items. "Taicho... what are you doing?"

"Cleaning the bedding." The boy moved to dump the bucket on top of the mess.

"No!" Rangiku found herself lunging forward to prevent him. "What do you think you're doing!"

Toshiro gave her a rather horrified look. "I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. I need to get the bedding wet and then scrub it"

"That's not how you're supposed to do that!" Rangiku pulled the bucket out of his hand.

The boy's hands dropped to his side. "Why? Why can't you just let me be?"

The woman blinked a couple of times. "Just let me show you..."

"Matsumoto!"

"Why are you getting so upset?" The woman let out a deep sigh.

"Why shouldn't I be upset! You have a bad habit of leaving things for me to do and then coming back and telling me I've done them all wrong. I then have to redo everything" Toshiro's hands suddenly clenched up. "It's not fair."

"You know, I offered this time to help you." Rangiku pulled back and folded her arms across her chest.

"No! You were just going to do the whole thing yourself like always!" The boy looked right at the ground. "Seriously... I'm not a little kid anymore."

"Taicho..."

"Just go ahead and do it yourself and I'll get out of your hair." The boy untied the strands that were keeping his sleeves back before slipping into the room to grab his haori. She could hear him though quite clearly. "I'm going to go for a walk."

M

The small taicho walked slowly along until he came to the front of the eighth division. Toshiro paused at seeing the gate and then upon realizing where he was headed in. He headed towards the division offices and slipped in unnoticed by the fukutaicho. Nanao was already working away at the paperwork. He slipped in and watched as she continued to do her paperwork unnoticed.

A few minutes later a voice caused him to jump. "You know Hitsugaya, you would get people willing to answer what ever question you have for them if you actually let them know you are there."

The fukutaicho of the eighth glanced up just as the small taicho turned to look at Kyoraku with wide teal eyes. The female blinked a couple of times as the man got out his sake and began to drink it. "I didn't see you there Hitsugaya Taicho. What is it you need?"

"Exactly how do you dye your hair?"

A coughing sound could be heard as Kyoraku suddenly chocked on his sake. Toshiro turned to look at the man. "Is this some kind of practical joke the two of you came up with?"

"No."

Nanao took a deep breath. "No... I honestly didn't know Hitsugaya Taicho was here until you informed me he was and I haven't a clue as to why he would be asking me such a question." She watched as the boy opened his mouth to say something. "Don't explain to me why you want to dye your hair. The answer is no, I'm not going to tell you how to do it."

Toshiro's eyes narrowed and he glared at her. "I know that you haven't had time to talk to Matsumoto this morning, so why are you saying no."

The woman's eyes went wide. "You came and asked me after Matsumoto Rangiku told you no? Isn't that an answer enough for you?"

"You didn't know I'd done that until after you said no. Plus, isn't it my decision and not anyone others to make?"

"Oh boy..."

"Listen to me carefully Hitsugaya Taicho. While you may be a taicho, you are still a child and as such myself and the other older members of higher seated officers are obligated to keep an eye out for... things like this."

"Things like this? Exactly what is that supposed to mean?"

"Rebellious behavior that is unbecoming for a seated officer of the Gotei Thirteen of course."

"Rebellious... now see here. I'm going to start off by saying I am not a child."

"You could have fooled me."

"That..." Toshiro narrowed his eyes at the woman. "And it isn't rebellious behavior. Rebellious behavior is where you preform treacherous acts against Soul Society. I may have done some of that in regards to... well that over a year ago, but really. Do you really take me as a person who would go out of my way to harm Soul Society? I mean, come on."

Nanao's eyes went wide and she stared at him. "What ever has gotten into you?"

"What do you mean what has gotten into me?" The boy frowned and looked away. "I'm perfectly fine and I am being my normal self."

"You really think this is normal for you?" The woman's tone tightened as her frustration grew.

"Of course this is normal for me. The only reason your going off on me is because..."

"Because you're being absolutely childish."

"Excuse me?"

"When I said you were being rebellious I didn't mean you were trying to commit treason. I meant that you were being a childish brat whose suddenly gotten it through that thick head of yours that you're going to do anything you can to upset the adults around you simply because you can do it."

"Come again..."

"You heard what I said to you."

"Oh, I heard you all right Ise. What I don't get is why you're saying that I'm... that. I have'nt done anything wrong."

"Nothing wrong! I thought you're supposed to be a taicho of the Gotei Thirteen but you can't figure out what you've done wrong?"

At first Toshiro gave her a blank look. A few seconds later he spoke up. "I don't get why you're saying that. But if you want childish..."

The female's eyes suddenly went wide as he stuck his tongue out at her. "Hitsugaya Taicho!" The next thing the child taicho knew he was letting out a stifled yelp as she grabbed his tongue and pinched down. "Don't you dare ever do that again!"

The boy pulled his tongue back in and then shook his head. "That hurt!"

"You're the one who decided to be a moronic brat and stick his tongue out at a seated officer! Would you do that to any of your men."

"Well, no..."

"Then I made my point."

"No you didn't!" Toshiro clenched his fists at his side. "None of my men would call me a childish brat."

"Maybe its about time one of them did." Nanao watched as the boy's face faltered and his muscles suddenly relaxed. He glanced away from both of them and her eyes went wide upon realizing what she said. "I'm sorry Hitsugaya Taicho. I said that out of anger, not because I believe it to be true. You are though acting rather strange today."

"No I'm not..."

"Hey, Nanao... don't you have a fukutaicho meeting today?" Kyoraku asked from his desk.

"Yes, but it isn't for..." The female paused and looked at the boy. "You know what, I'd better be going. I'll finish my paperwork later."

Toshiro watched as she slipped from the room before turning to look at the other man. "I know what you did there."

"I think you were getting in a bit over your head. Nanao's not one to put up and shut up when she's made her mind up about something."

The boy's eyes widened. "That said... how does..."

"Nope, not going to tell ya." Kyoraku leaned back in his chair. "I'm not going to get on the bad side of either one of those two and I suggest you cool it. You know how Ran-chan gets when she is furious about something. We both know she isn't afraid to tan your hide despite the fact you out rank her, much like with my Nanao-chan."

"Yes... but..." Toshiro let out a deep sigh before slipping away. "Oh, just... never mind."