This is Week 6: Challege 1: Write a sequel to number fifteen. (23/178+)
Summary: Another one of Rangiku's taicho is mussing again.
Notes: This is a sequel to chapter fifteen.
Lily of the Valley II
Rangiku had a feeling. She was sitting at the desk waiting for her small taicho to get back when her head darted up. Something felt wrong, but she quickly brushed it off and went back to filing her nails. After a bit of time she stood up and headed to the kitchen and prepared a nice rice porridge and a mint tea and headed back to the offices.
Setting the items down on the desk she found herself letting out a sigh before dishing some of the porridge out into a container in order to keep it warm. She carefully set it on the desk along with the tea, hoping he would get back at least before the tea became cold. Taking her own portion she headed off to bed, her energy for some reason strangely drained.
The next morning when she came into the office she found the dishes still there where she had placed them. Letting out a sigh she picked them up and carried the trey into the kitchen. She then came back and sat on the couch. "He should have been back by now. I mean..."
"You know as well as I that he's been sneaking off of late to visit Kurosaki Ichigo's sister. He may very well be a few days."
"I was fine with him spending time with her, I honestly was. I mean, I like the idea that my small taicho has grown up to the point he is liking girls. But... I don't like the fact he is taking off just like our previous taicho. It... it honestly bothers me. I guess I'm just thinking that we're having a similar situation as before. I feel like I am losing him, that dear, dear child."
"Just give it a few days."
It was a few days later that she received word from the first division taicho that she was to go looking for her small taicho in the world of the living as he hadn't been seen for a few days and the last person to see him had been Mayuri. Letting out a sigh she headed for the living world and felt for the child's spiritual pressure, but felt nothing.
"Where to begin looking for that boy? I mean... taicho can very well take care of himself."
"So could your previous taicho."
Letting out a sigh of frustration Rangiku brushed away her zampaktuo from the back of her mind and preceded to go around town looking for the boy. There seemed to be no trace of her and she finally resulted in heading over to Orihime's. She knocked on the girl and the smaller busty female smiled at her with a big grin. "Rangiku! It is so nice to see you again!"
The woman made herself welcome and sat on the ground. The other female finally asked the question. "So what are you doing here Rangiku?"
"I'm looking for my small taicho. I'm worried about him."
"Toshiro-kun? Isn't he at Kurosaki's place."
"Why would he be there?"
"Why wouldn't he?"
"Because Ichigo can't see him anymore. That boy may miss him, but seeing him actually is far more painful then waiting."
"But Toshiro-kun is at Kurosaki's place. I know because I saw him eating popsicles with Kurosaki's sisters just today. He then went into the house."
"I see." Rangiku frowned, folding her arms across her chest. "You know... I'll be back if I still need a place to stay the night. There is something I need to check out."
The woman then headed over to the Kurosaki household. She headed up to the window for Kurosaki's room and peeked in. The window was open and she could see her small taicho sitting on the bed with a cool cloth on his forehead. The boy sensed her and looked in her direction but when he did she knew full well that the boy couldn't see her anymore.
Rangiku swallowed then but choose to remain there. Ichigo finally set down his pencil. "Toshiro... you should be getting to bed."
"Yeah..." The boy didn't respond and instead continued looking at the woman.
Ichigo finally stood up and pulled back the covers, carefully tucking the boy into the bedding and pulled the thin sheet up to the boy's chin. He then went back to his desk and turned down the desk lamp so the child could sleep. Toshiro didn't go to sleep at first but simply looked right where Rangiku was. Letting out a sigh the woman headed back to Orihime's apartment.
"He was there like I said he was, right?"
"Yes... he was."
"Rangiku... is something the matter?"
"Taicho... my little taicho has lost his powers. I'm going to have to report that to Soul Society." Rangiku held up her phone, ready to push numbers. "Perhaps I should give it awhile. Of course, I have the feeling that he sensed that I was there and he expects me to do what I am supposed to do and that is report in. Still..."
The woman clutched the phone to her chest. Orihime frowned. "What would happen to Toshiro-kun?"
"I don't know." The woman's eye's widened. "Hold on." She quickly dialed a particular number and a coughing voice could be heard on the other hand. "Ukitake Taicho!"
"Rangiku! Have you managed to find your small taicho? You'll need to bring him back if you have so that the head taicho can have a word with him."
"About that... the reason taicho didn't come back is because he's lost his powers." Silence came on the other end. "Ukitake Taicho?"
"No, no. I just need to think for a bit." The man then spoke. "Where is he right now?"
"He's with the substitute shinigami."
"I see. So he has a place to stay. I'll speak with the head taicho."
"But won't there need to be an investigation into why he lost his powers?"
"There is that. I'll handle it Rangiku, though you may want to see him to let him know that you know he is all right as well as... you're going to want to say good-bye you know."
"Can you give me a couple of days or more?"
There came silence and then Ukitake spoke again. "No. Parting with that child will be hard enough for you as it is. Don't prolong it."
Rangiku let out a sigh. The next morning she headed to Ukitake's place and got a gigai. The man raised his eyebrows. "I take it that you figured out about your small taicho?"
"Yes... what do you know about it?"
"He was keeping Karin-chan safe and ended up in a mess of things. There are still traces of his spiritual pressure there and he can still sense things which means his powers aren't completely lost but as far as he's considered they are as good as gone."
"Thanks for telling me." Rangiku headed over to the Kurosaki place and at first hesitated at knocking on the door. Taking a deep breath she finally knocked. The door was open by a small female. "Hi. Is Toshiro here?"
"Toshiro-kun? He's up in Ichi-nii's room. He's not doing very well in this heat." The girl paused, a frown spreading across her face. "How do you know him?"
A head of dark hair peeked around the one girl. "Rangiku-san?" The small female let out a sigh. "It's all right Yuzu. This is Toshiro's relative whose placed him in our care for now. She's come to see how he is doing."
"Oh! It's nice to meet you." Yuzu smiled, but then frowned again. "Are you his mother? You look like you could be his mother, except for the fact your coloring is different."
Rangiku's eyebrows raised up and Karin grabbed her wrist. "That is none of your business Yuzu."
"How is he honestly doing Karin?"
"He's already missing Hyorinmaru and we've caught him talking out loud to himself, so he is avoiding my sister."
"What about your father?" Rangiku watched as the girl paused for a few minutes, frowning.
"I'm going to say my father is a goofball so him finding out stuff isn't really that big of a deal." The girl let go of the woman's wrist and the busty female headed up the stairs. She knocked on the door and it opened up.
Ichigo saw her and instead of saying something simply went back to the desk. She came into the room and opened her mouth to say something. "In case you're wondering I'm fine with the situation. I mean with you guys not showing up around here. Toshiro already explained it."
"Rangiku..." The woman saw the boy sit up. The child blinked a couple of times, the cold rag dropping off his forehead. "I figured things wouldn't remain calm for long."
Letting out a sigh the woman walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the boy into a hug. She found that the boy didn't struggle for once and her hand rubbed the back of his head. "I've been so worried about you, you know. Couldn't you have sent a message through Urahara?"
"I hadn't thought of that. I'm fine though Rangiku."
"Because Ichigo is taking care of you?"
"No... taicho's taking care of me. He..." The boy stopped short. Realization hit the woman and she pulled him closer.
"Don't worry. I am going to pretend that I didn't hear that. I can leave that out of the report. You just worry about getting better."
"Matsumoto... I'm not going to be getting better anymore then Kurosaki is. Well... maybe. Taicho's powers are back."
"You're such a good boy."
"Matsumoto..." Toshiro pulled away. "Don't call me that."
"All right. It may be a long time until I get to see you again, so please... let me enjoy this."