A/N: I have to say the Bleach Beat Collections are really inspirational and help me think :3 Anyhows, here's the next chappie *grins* enjoy~
I should mention OOC too XD almost every character I use is never truly in character. I try to stick to the basic personality but like most author's, one incorporates a bit of themself into the character. So, that being said, I still hope you like it ^^
And please review :)
Date Three: Cake Drive
"Your doing it wrong!" Rangiku snapped, grabbing the heavy laden whisk from Ikkaku's clutches. "Like this."
She whisked the batter with a set rhythm, strength and expertise.
"If you whisk it too much it will come out runny." She explained. "Whisk it too little and it's too thick."
"Well I don't bake when I'm depressed." He said harshly. Rangiku narrowed her eyes, and for a moment Ikkaku caught the stare she had in the photo.
"I do not bake when I'm depressed dickwad." She said icily, slamming the bowl onto the counter top. "Bake the fucking thing yourself."
"Fine then." He said back calmly, trying not to piss her off even more.
"Aww look at the lovebirds cooking!" A voice said teasingly. Matsumoto sighed while Ikkaku frowned.
"Lovebirds is far from it Toushirou." He said flatly.
"That's Hitsugaya-taichou Madarame." Hitsugaya said back, annoyance crossing his face briefly.
Matsumoto leaned against the countertop her arms holding her weight. She looked at Hitsugaya with an annoyed expression. He handed her a stack of papers explaining they were reports he needed her to look over. She gave a brief nod, not saying a word. Ikkaku watched her steadily, waiting until Hitsugaya left to ask.
"Ranno-chan,"
"Hmm?" She glanced at him.
"Why..why are you suddenly cooperating with everyone? I mean you gave up drinking, partying, the fun side most know you by." He said carefully his eyes never meeting hers.
Rangiku lowered her head, tossing words around to explain.
"Because..." She began. "People change." She said sharply, frustration building in her nerves. "They act one way and do another." She started rifling through the cabinets, purposely avoiding his gaze. "Tell you one thing and go against it. I see no point in hypocrisy, no idolizing moronic methods of living." She gritted her teeth and took a breath. "I really don't have an explanation." She admitted. "Just theories and emotions to go by."
Ikkaku nodded, hesitantly laying his fingers across hers. Rangiku's finger hesitantly laced through his, her voice soft and shaky.
"But my question is, why do you care so much?" She locked her eyes with his, scanning them for some type of answer.
"Uh," he stammered. "Well I mean...we're friends right?"
"Friends." She repeated, a mix of emotions tying up her expressions. "Right."
Ikkaku sighed, tugging her along. He decided a breath of fresh air would do them both good.
"Where are we going?" She protested, confused.
"Someplace to talk." He said, hopping onto a motorcycle, and offering her the spare helmet.
"Why far away from everyone else?" She sighed.
'It's odd. Usually he pays my mood no attention but lately he's been attentive.' She thought, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Try not to have a boner the whole way." She said curtly.
"I'm a man dammit. I can if I want to." He smirked, backing out the driveway before peeling out onto the road.
He drove for miles, riding the interstate that crossed the shoreline, coasting along until he reached the countryside. He drove up a dirt path, parking the motorcycle atop a hill that led out to a cliff over a nearby small town. Rangiku took a few paces towards the cliff, the helmet resting on the motorcycle. She sat down in the grass and looked back at Ikkaku.
"In two days you went from being stuck up, snide, and forcefully reserved to somewhat talkative, distant yet accepting of being questioned, and bummed out over a minor wound. And now today, you're rude, moody, and quiet." Ikkaku explained, scratching his head. "Why's that Ranno-chan?"
Matsumoto sighed, looking out over the cliffs, her face falling. Ikkaku sat beside her, patiently waiting.
"It's gonna sound ridiculous, but it doesn't matter the day or time. If I find my thoughts trailing back to.." She sighed, for once struggling to express herself. "Ichimaru," she cringed. "I get uptight. More so I find old habits I use to rely on to avoid thinking about that man, aren't working. I thought maybe if I gave up drinking I'd find some other way to stop the haunting. But..." She stared at her lap, fidgeting. "The drinks, the hopes of if I focus on my duties as a vice-captain I'll be okay, it's not working."
Ikkaku laid back on his back, keeping his eyes closed.
"Um, Ranno-chan, it seems to me you're hiding more than that." He said, twisting his mouth to the side. "Like something's gnawing at you. Something you want to share but can't. Now I'm not saying that's the" -he peeked an eye open, watching the tears fall down her cheeks- "case..?"
She rubbed her eyes, the tears still streaming. He sat up, lightly touching her back. She bent forward trying to curl up and hide. He could not seem to ask why she was suddenly in tears. She collected herself, getting to her feet.
"Bringing me out here was not a good idea." She said roughly. In truth, she needed time to think. To find a way to tell him what was eating at her for months since that autumn. Yet, no words were good enough.
He sat up, staring in the opposite direction. "We're not going anywhere until you tell me why you've been acting differently."
"I don't have to!" She snapped. "Last I check you never stopped to think of others!"
"Bullshit," he spat over his shoulder. "I have to think about my Captain, my fellow subordinates, and the rest of the Gotei 13! Just like you Rangiku! Do you really not trust any of us since Ichimaru left?! Since his disappearance you have changed." He got up, closing the distance between them. "And I for one don't like it. No one likes a depressed Rangiku." He softened his tone. "No one likes to see you one minute okay and the next lost in thoughts you won't share to help us understand."
She eyed him steadily, locking her jaw.
"First off, my thoughts are mine alone. Second, it's not like I don't care about any of the Gotei 13. It's more of trying to grasp the fact..." She didn't finish. In her mind she was spinning up a white lie to avoid telling him the truth. He raised a brow, urging her silently. "The fact I don't want to be what people remember me as: a drunk, lazy, unproductive assistant to a prodigy."
"Nonsense." He said quietly, pulling her into a hug. "You aren't a drunk lazy unproductive assistant. You pull through when we need you to, and you just like to have fun..to forget the past for a little while."
Her arms wrapped around him silently, almost reluctant but in a way as if she was allowing herself to trust him.
"Yeah, I guess so." She mumbled. "Just promise me something."
"What?" He noted the sweet smell of her hair similar to that of lilacs.
"You tell no one." She said in a serious threatening tone. "Got it?"
"Understood." He chuckled.
'Yet you still lied.' He thought. 'You still won't tell me though you know I'm watching...or why else would you act so erratic to evade being found out?'
"Can we go back now?" She asked sheepishly. "I have a cake to finish."
"Yeah." He smiled, offering the helmet. "But my cake will beat yours!"
"Ohohoho, we'll see about that!" She promised, hopping on the back. "Now hurry up Baldy."
Her arms locked around his waist, and she felt her cheeks flush. He's not so bad she told herself hoping that the feeling stirring in her stomach wasn't going to dejected after the next two days. She tightened her grip at the thought of the end. Secretly, she was having way more fun than she was really going to show, but she didn't want him to see that. She didn't want him to know she was falling, wherever Gin failed at he was pulling through.
Of course, Ikkaku had a feeling that Zaraki and Toushirou had decided this "consequence" on the notion that maybe he could help her revert back to the Lieutenant everyone knew, and not this cold shell. He tossed ideas in his head of what to plan for the coming days, and before he realized he was pulling back into the General's "Mansion". Really it was a five-star hotel with affordable prices, literally.
Matsumoto hopped off and raced him inside. The pair stayed till past midnight baking cakes.
"Yare, yare," Zaraki grumbled at the two passed out against the table, covered in splotches of batter and icing. "Idiots don't know how to keep a place clean."
"But, she looks better." Toushirou noted, hoisting her up carefully. "Still think it'll work?"
"I'm hoping so." Zaraki admitted. "If he can't get her to start forgetting that bastard, then who knows what'll happen if he shows up."
"Or worse: ask her to join him." Toushirou sighed.
"I have faith she'll turn him down."
The men looked towards the new voice, Unohana taking Matsumoto from Toushirou.
"Believe me," she added. "Rangiku is a walking complex of puzzles and secrets."