Christmas Nightmare
~Gifts~
When Gin finished applying the medication to the boy's body, he found Toshiro some lose clothing that would not chafe or irritate where the rashes were, at least to the best results possible. He then left the small boy, to his own devices, to sulk in his depression, and hopefully get over it on his own terms, rather than being forced.
The man then slipped to the front, said something to Urahara about something, before completely disappearing for a couple of hours. This caused Jinta to have a rather irate discussion with the candy shop owner, only to be told off by the ex-shingami captain, with a glare, silencing him from saying anything further about the matter.
When Gin got back, he was carrying a small paper bag. He then headed to the back room that Toshiro was in. when he arrived, he found that the boy was simply lying on top of the futon, his arms spread out to his sides, staring at the ceiling, a look of either boredom, or frustration on his face. It seemed to go back and forth between the two, with a few other emotions mixed in.
Ichimaru then walked over to the boy, setting the paper bag down. He then went and crouched over the boy, so that he was looking at him upside down, a hand on either side of his head. "Hi."
"This caused Hitsugaya to startle. "What do you want?"
"Shouldn't you be resting?" the man stated, maintaining his typical face.
"I have too much on my mind to rest. I guess I have you to blame for that," the nonchalant ran deep through his voice. Toshiro then gave his own question. "Where did you go?"
"To get Matsumoto's Christmas present," the man pulled the paper bad closer.
"Didn't I tell you, she'll toss whatever you give her?" the boy's face twisted in disgust. "How is this going to help fix things?"
"I'll show you what I got," the man stated, as he began to shuffle through the bag, then pulled out the jewelry box, handing it to the child.
"Oi…" Toshiro snapped it open. "It's turquoise and topaz…""
As the white haired child gave the bracelet back, not to mention a dirty look, Gin took the chance to speak up. "Do you know the meaning behind those stones?"
I wonder how you were able to afford something like this. That, and how stupid you can be."
"I had a lot saved up and stored away," Ichimaru shrugged his shoulders. "Why are you saying I'm stupid?"
"Turquoise is given to wish health for a person. Topaz is for love and fidelity," Hitsugaya grumbled.
"You really don't get the meaning…" Gin actually opened his pale teal eyes, revealing that he was actually shocked. "Do you know what a birthstone is, chibi-taicho?"
"No… and don't call me that," the boy muttered.
"I also got something for you to give Ran-chan. It should hopefully give you a clue," the man dug through the bag, then handed the small taicho a small box.
Toshiro opened it, only to suddenly turn pale and green. "You want me to give Matsumoto the symbol for the male restroom with the topaz stone in it. Considering what that stone symbolizes, you're sick…"
To the boy's surprise, Gin let out a sound of shock, not to mention, the man proceeded to stare for a good length of time. His eyes were open wide and his mouth slack. Finally, he spoke up. "You still haven't gotten it. Amazingly, it is amusing how intelligent you are, yet certain things got right over your head, simply because you think too hard."
The small boy felt the box plucked from his hand. "So, I got the whole thing wrong?"
"Duh…" Gin snapped the box shut, and placed it into the bag. He then crouched down further, so that he was leaning over Toshiro, his face much closer. "There is something I seriously thought about talking to you about earlier, but thought best to wait on."
"Wh…" However, both males heard the door to the room open. Ichimaru didn't budge, however, the white haired child's face tilted in that direction, to see Jinta peering in. "Go away Hanakari. You're annoying."
This caused a slamming of the door to occur. Gin simply brushed what had happened off. "I wanted to talk to you about Karin-chan."
"What!" The next thing either one of them knew, Toshiro was sitting up so fast, their foreheads collided. "Owe!"
"Owe… is right…" the silver haired man backed away, allowing the boy to sit up. He then sat so that his back was against the child's. "You knew that I was likely to bring this up. Be glad I didn't in front of your former taicho, Isshin, or that creepy Ichigo person."
"Creepy… you're one to talk," the boy grumbled. "I don't think bringing her up has any importance. I don't have a crush on her."
"Your dream says otherwise," Gin was suddenly laughing.
"No. My dream is the result of Matsumoto teasing me about Karin. We're just… friends. She's the only person equivalent to my age, to accept me for who I am," the boy stated, his voice low.
"Do you know how much that sounds like Matsumoto and me?" Gin suddenly leaned to one side, and clicked his knuckle on the back of Hitsugaya's head.
"Hey! My head all ready hurts from the front," came the muttering. "Plus… you and Matsumoto had a romantic relationship, right?"
This caused the older of the two to let out a groan. "You don't get it. What happened between Matsumoto and me, wasn't Romantic. We we're goofing off. I don't want you to make that same mistake we did."
"You mean… me…" the small taicho suddenly tensed.
"What do you mean by that," Ichimaru's voice was a dry kind of inquisitiveness.
"I am going to ask you something," t he boy stated. Then, just as the door opened again, "Do you love me?"
The small taicho's eyes quickly darted towards the door, in time to see Tessai grab Jinta by the scruff of his neck. "I thought I told you to sweep the front. Leave them alone. They're fine."
"Annoying, definitely," Gin stated. However, he raised an eyebrow, as he glanced over his shoulder at the small boy. "You are, waiting for an answer, aren't you?"
"Yes… I am waiting for an answer," Toshiro muttered.
"I can't say, whether I do or don't love you," Gin stated, watching the child sink further into himself. "Truth of the matter is, I don't know what that is. What I do know, is I care about your well being."
"It's not as if I know what it is either," the boy muttered, suddenly leaning against Ichimaru's back, though his body was still completely tense.
"No… I think you know better than I do. You might think you are completely ice, but I don't think you've realized yet, you've got Ran-chan's kind heart," the man stated. "You were trying to lead somewhere."
"I am a mistake, am I not. The only reason you care, is because you are obligated to care, because you are the reason I was born," the boy stated.
"If you were a mistake, then why is it that you put a smile on your grandmother's face," Gin stated, startling the small boy. "Try to get some sleep."
M
Meanwhile, Matsumoto had gone back through the gate, and had headed back to the office. She carefully closed the door, and took a good look at the stack of papers that were sitting on her small taicho's desk, not to mention the ones on her own. She bit her lip, still trying to hold back the pain. She had taken her time getting back.
She heard a small knock, and moved aside, to let Nanao through the door. "I was hoping you would be back by now. How is Hitsugaya Taicho?"
"He said he hates me," Rangiku stated, her voice quaking.
"Now, now. He's a preteen. That means he's going through that stage. I mean, he pushed off your hugs again, right?" the woman quickly asked.
"It wasn't as simple as that," the robust female sighed. "He said he hated me, and that he would rather have Gin help him."
"Help him with what… what is going on?" Nanao found herself being given a quick explanation of what had happened. The female narrowed her eyes at her best friend. "You are… hiding something from me."
Matsumoto went to go sit on the couch, and motioned Nanao to come over to see her. "Nanao-chan… you remember how, in school I got comments for having to take a year off?"
"You told me about your miscarriage… quite a few times," the female sat down. "You just never went into detail, though I have an idea, who the father was."
"Taicho and I… we basically had an argument. He asked me why I avoid his birthday, and asked me to tell him the truth. I can't tell him though, his birthday, is the same day I miscarried my baby girl. I didn't know that when I first met him. I don't want him to think he's a replacement for something I lost. He doesn't need that," Rangiku stated, while her female leaned back.
"Are you sure they aren't the same child?" the female muttered. "Your taicho, is a lot like Ichimaru you know."
"Oh… I know that," Matsumoto sighed, tears trickling down her face. "Taicho wasn't born in Soul Society. As much wishful thinking as I have, he isn't my child. He is upset with me though, and he has a right to be. I mean, I've avoided his birthday, for so many years. I can't use the excuse, he doesn't care anymore, because truth of the matter is, I above all other people, should have known what it is like, birthdays."
"Why don't you try and get him a present? The best present would be, to get the paperwork done," the female stated, suddenly glancing at the piles on the desk, pushing up her glasses.
"It doesn't make up for the fact, he is actually favoring Gin," the orange haired female started to mess in her hair nervously.
"I don't get that. Ichimaru is… well, to say the least, he is one of the most problematic people I have ever met. I couldn't help but notice, that he would purposely go out of his way to tease Hitsugaya Taicho, more than others," the female stated.
"I wonder if that happens to be, because Gin was jealous of taicho, or something. I mean, I've spent a lot of time with taicho, and Gin always seemed to be watching over my shoulder, when I did so," the female sighed, trying to wipe her tears away.
"That… or he could actually be trying to use you," Nanao sighed.
Matsumoto's eyes suddenly went wide. "I asked Gin, not to tell him… about the miscarriage. However, he's never been sensitive about that. What if he has told taicho?"
"I don't see why he would Rangiku. Though truthfully, I wouldn't trust him.
