This is Week 8: Challege 1 – Part 2: Generate a word list and write a one-shot for each word. (26/249+)Here is my list. (value, gamble, brass, candle, gang, composer, coat, rumor)

Summary: Toshiro has a belief that can't be true, but he finally decides to take the necessary gamble.
Notes: I actually tried going with a different plot but filed said plot away for a longer fic.

Gamble

The small taicho leaned against the wall, his arms behind his back as he took a deep breath. His throat swallowed, causing his Addam's apple to bob. His right leg was bandaged up and it hurt to walk on, but the need to come and see his fukutaicho wouldn't go away. No sound came from the room they had set up as a makeshift healing area and other shinigami moved back and forth through the tight halls.

"You should be in bed resting."

"No one has mentioned the fact so I am fine."

"Shiro-chan!"

The boy's head darted up. "Ukitake Taicho."

"Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I told you."

Toshiro swallowed again and looked at the ground. "I want to be near her, but wouldn't it be wrong as a captain to admit it? Plus... I'm worried to go in and see how she's doing."

"You came to visit Matsumoto?"

"I..." The boy continued to look at the ground. "Why am I so upset about this?"

"How would you describe your and your fukutaicho's relationship."

"Of a mother and child. But she can't possibly be my real mother."

"Shiro-chan?"

"Why is that?"

"Because I died on a plain of ice."

"Really?"

"Shiro-chan..."

"Yes... I mean..." There came a pause and the boy continued. "I guess it is possible that I didn't die on a plain of ice."

"What is this about not dying on a plain of ice?"

Two bright teal eyes looked up at the man, his lips pushing together. "It's complicated."

"Why don't you and I go and borrow Kyoraku's office. You wouldn't mind him overhearing our conversation. And his old fukutaicho if she happens to be there."

Toshiro's head darted towards the room Matsumoto was in. "What about..."

Ukitake heard him pause. "She'll be here when you get back."

"You don't know that. Her injuries were no where near as bad as mine, but she's still lying there, not waking up. She may never wake up."

"All the more reason for us to step away and talk about how you're feeling. I'll help you to Kyoraku's office."

Toshiro relented and took the man's arm, leaning on him so that he could hobble to the room they had set up so that Kyoraku could hand out orders. The fukutaicho who had been Yamamoto's former third seat looked up, frowning as he did so. "Do I need to step out so that you can speak to Hitsugaya Taicho privetly?"

"That would be appreciated." Ukitake helped the boy over to one of the chairs.

Kyoraku looked up, an eyebrow going up. "You should be resting young one."

"He's been hanging out around the room we prepared for Matsumoto and needs to talk to someone about how he is feeling."

"I am feeling fine. By that I mean my body does hurt, but I can get around." The boy piped up.

"I mean we're here to talk about your emotional feelings." The older white haired male shook his head at the child.

Toshiro blinked a couple of times. "Oh. Well, if that is the case I will admit that my emotional feelings are not doing well. There are some things." The boy stopped speaking, his mouth twisting up into a frown. "Actually... there is something that bothers me, particularly if... particularly if Matsumoto passes. I don't know though if my issue has to do with... well, me just being upset with the fact she isn't waking up."

Nanao looked up. "What exactly is bothering you?"

"As I was telling Ukitake, I was thinking about how I may not have died on a plain of ice like I thought."

The female walked over to a tea pot and poured the boy a cup of tea. "I am not following."

"Well... when ever people ask where I came from... why everyone wants to know, I honestly don't know... I tell them I died on a plain of ice. That's how I remembered dying, or at least I thought it was a memory of dying. There is a problem with this assumption."

"Your inner world is a plain of ice." Ukitake smiled at the boy.

"Yes. I've been thinking of late... despite the fact I honestly don't understand why other people want to know... about where I came from. I for some reason want to know who my parents are. Why?"

Nanao blinked a couple of times. "That is because everyone wants to know where they came from. Those who don't know who their parents are want to know who they are."

"Well... that may be true... but I'm doing this thing I believe they call projection... but I can't help but think that she... Matsumoto is my mother."

The woman sighed. "She wouldn't mind I think you treating her as your mother figure as she is very fond of you. Also, isn't that the way your relationship is."

"That's not what I meant. I actually think... no feel... that she is my real biological mother. But that can't be. Matsumoto hasn't had any kids, not to mention the only likely candidate for being my father hates my guts. I'm quite sure all of you know who I'm talking about. He tried to kill me once."

Nanao took a deep breath, folding her arms in her lap. "No, it isn't possible for you to be her child. Still..." There came some silence. "I think you should tell her. She might... she might wake up. Telling her you care enough about her to wish that she was your real mother... it might give her a reason to fight. So please... tell her."

Toshiro looked at Ukitake and then Kyoraku and then looked back at the thirteenth division captain. "Should I?"

"I think so." The older white haired taicho reached out for his arm. "I'll help you back to her room."

Again the boy leaned against the man and when they arrived at the room he was helped into the chair. He places his hands into his lap and frowned. After a few minutes he spoke. "I want you to wake up Matsumoto. I don't want to lose you. You're too much like a mother to me. It's to the point I believe that I may actually be your biological child. I know I've said that I've died on a plain of ice. But I know you can't possibly be my mother because you never had any kids."

"Hitsugaya Taicho?"

The boy's head shot up, seeing Isane in the door. "I..."

"You should be resting. That's the first thing I have to say to you."

"It's my fault." Ukitake spoke up. "Shiro-chan was agitated about Ran-chan, so I brought him here thinking he would be able to rest easier if he saw her."

Isane frowned. "Also... what is this about Matsumoto not ever having any kids? Why would you bring that up?"

Toshiro looked away. "I say it because it is impossible for her to be my real biological mother if she has never had any children."

The tall female frowned. "Hitsugaya... she..." There came a pause as Isane thought carefully about her words. "Is there a reason you would think that you might be her child if she did in fact have children?"

"I was just thinking about the fact I honestly think that I was born in soul society. Matsumoto being my mother feels right, but it can't be."

Ukitake noticed Isane's face twisting up. "Is something the matter?"

"It's just... there is patient confidentiality. But..." Isane took a deep breath. "I think this is a time to break the silence here, particularly since we don't know if she is going to make it. It's only fair to be honest to Hitsugaya Taicho about this. It's actually not true that she had no children. She doesn't ever bring it up because she doesn't have any memory of having any children, but because Unohana and I take care of her check ups we did find out she did have children."

Toshiro looked away, swallowing. "You said this is private and that you wouldn't normally tell people this kind of thing."

"Rangiku... she told us that she thought you could be the child that she had, but she had doubts because you kept saying you died on a plain of ice and came to Soul Society."

The boy's hand clutched his pant legs, frowning as he did so. "But... Ichimaru..." The child took a deep breath. "Ichimaru hates me. He tried to kill me. So it's not..."

Isane's eyes widened. "Look... maybe he just didn't know you were his child."

The boy looked at the ground. "Please. Can I stay with her? I don't want to leave her. I don't want her to go."

"Yeah... I'll go and get a blanket. You know... she may wake up."

"She also might not." The boy suddenly felt Ukitake pushing the chair nearer the bed and the chair legs scraped across the ground.

"Stay with her and rest."

Toshiro nodded his head. Eventually a blanket was wrapped around his shoulders and his head darted down. He was woken up by a soft hand touching his cheek. Opening his bright teal eyes, he saw that Rangiku was looking at him. "Matsumoto... you're awake."

"I'm sorry to worry you taicho." There came a frown. "Or should I be referring to you by your first name, all things considered?"

The boy blinked a couple of times. "You heard? I thought you couldn't hear?"

"Your voice... it brought me back. I couldn't help but hear you say what you did. I kind of was hanging back because I was worried about... well, it's been eating away at me that you are my little one and I've been having dreams about once holding you and... well, there are other things."

Toshiro frowned. "You love me, don't you Matsumoto?"

"Of course."

"And he doesn't."

"We can't know that for sure."

"He tried to kill me."

"He was playing double spy. If he showed you any favoritism."

"Matsumoto... I have problems buying that."

"Well..." Rangiku's mouth closed as she thought for a bit. "Taicho... do you remember how your granny didn't remember who I was?"

"Don't you mean that she didn't know who you were?"

"Wouldn't she have remembered me if I had been the one to place you in her care? That means Gin cared enough about you to place you into a safe place for what ever stupid reason he felt the need to."

"I'll need to think about that. Just... don't you dare die on me ever Matsumoto unless it is old age or illness."

"The same goes for you."