My Sunshine, My Strength
Strained Comfort Zone

Two eyes drifted up to the roof just outside of the small taicho's room. Rangiku leaned up against the door as her mind contemplated the conversation she just had with her son. "Did he really say he opened up to the Quincy?"

"Your small taicho's never open with anyone about the way he feels or the way he's thinking. Not unless he feels what he has to say is majorly important."

"That's rather changed since Ichigo's entered the picture. That child..." Rangiku's eyes closed as her head tilted down and she swallowed back the panic rising in her chest. "Toshiro's aware he's not supposed to be open with certain people like those Quincy and yet he told me he spoke to them."

"He didn't say anything of the sort. He simply said he didn't think being open with them is a good idea."

A groan escaped the woman's mouth. "That child's always been vague when it comes to telling the truth about something he doesn't want to talk about. He's not going to tell me if he's said anything to them he shouldn't. He's just going to say he thinks he shouldn't be."

"That's true. He's a very odd child."

Rangiku pushed herself away from the door having made up her mind about what she needed to do. She walked at a slow pace through the street as she continued to thinking back on the conversation with her small taicho. Her demeanor changed as she drew close to the place allocated to the Quincy. A few Quincy on the outskirts glared at her and the other Shinigami which passed by. "Not that I can blame them. We're the victors in war yet again."

A shiver ran down her spine as she walked past some of the Quincy into their territory. "Truth be told we're lucky to be alive. Giving them their own area must feel like a slap in the face. They have their own area, but they're not allowed to change anything to their liking without prior permission." Rangiku continued to walk while looking around the place. "The streets are layed out the same, but that doesn't mean I can find anything."

"Hey..."

Rangiku stopped short and turned her head to see she was being followed by a few male Quincy. Her eyes blinked a couple of times as she looked at the men. The fukutaicho of the tenth could smell sake even from where she was. "What do they want?"

"Want to have some fun?"

The strawberry blonde's eyes suddenly narrowed. "No thank you."

"Are ya dissin' us 'cause we're Quincy lady? You some kind of stuck up snob."

The fukutaicho of the tenth turned around and waved her hand at the two men. "Nope. I'm dissing your obviously drunk perverts."

The rieatsu in the area quickly fluctuated as the continued to approach. One of Rangiku's hands went to her zampaktuo just in case. The two men uttered curse words calling her unsavory names she wouldn't want the innocent ears of her young taicho to hear. They also said something about how her clothing advertized what she really wanted. With her thumb she cracked the blade out slightly just as the rieatsu changed again.

Something about the fiery change in rieatsu caused the men's eyes to go wide before they turned to look at each other. A sound came from the roof as someone walked on the clay titles, and Rangiku's eyes darted up despite the fact she knew she needed to keep an eye on the two men. A flash stepped off the roof and landed with a loud bang in between her and the two men. The person let out a tisking sound from his lips as he stood up.

Rangiku's eyes widened as she took in the familiar face. "You..."

The man with the Mowhawk looked at her for a few minutes before turning to look at the two men. "Scram."

The fukutaicho of the tenth crossed her arms as she watched the two men take off running. "I didn't need your help."

"A fight between Quincy and Shinigami would only cause problems. I'd think you'd know that." The man turned his head to look at her before hiking his thumb at his chest. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yeah. You're the monster who burned my taicho."

The man flinched and pulled his shoulders back slightly. "Wh..." One hand reached up to run through his Mowhawk. "You aren't going to forgive me for that? It was battle you know."

Rangiku pointed her thin index finger at the man. "That's just the way men think! It doesn't matter whether it was battle are not. You still hurt my precious taicho!"

"It's not you who needs to forgive me but that precious taicho of yours." The man stepped closer as his tone of voice also began to rise. "Truth be told your precious taicho had no problem talking to me earlier today."

"Wait... he's the Quincy taicho opened up to." The female fukutaicho quickly swallowed before taking a step back to the wall.

"Why the hell are you dressed like that?"

A sudden panic came over the female as her hands reached up to try and pull the front of her uniform shut. Rangiku felt her cheeks heat up as she glared at the man. "That's none of your business!"

"It is my business." The man jammed his hands into his pockets.

"It's to hot otherwise." Two thin hands tightened on her robes as she tried pulling them closer.

"That makes sense. You and I both have fire based powers."

A sudden panic hit the woman's chest and she wrapped her arms protectively around her ample bust. Her cheeks heated up even more. "Are you trying to hit on me?"

"You really don't remember me do you?"

"What?" Rangiku's eyes widened only to look at the ground soon after. "He's a complete stranger, so I shouldn't be getting embarrassed in front of him." Her head finally snapped up. "What? Is that some kind of lame pick up line?"

Two blue eyes watched as the man let out a sigh and ran a hand through his Mowhawk. "Seriously... you and that kid. He thought I was interested in dating you as well."

The fukutaicho of the tenth division's cheeks puffed out as the heat from embarrassment quickly left her cheeks. "Seriously? He talked to out about that? That was none of his business to talk to you about?"

"I think it was his business." The man's words interrupted what Rangiku was saying.

"Hey! I was also going to say I wasn't sure whether you were trying to insult me or not!"

The man's eyes widened, and he stared at her for a few minutes. The fukutaicho of the tenth turned on her heals despite the fact common sense said other wise to leave. She felt the man's calloused hand grab her shoulder. "Wait. I didn't say you weren't beautiful. Let's just say you're not my type?"

Rangiku spun around and slapped his hand away. She could feel her throat strain. "What? Is my taicho you're type? If you lay a hand on him I'll..."

The man reached out to grab the hand which slapped his hand away. She felt his hand tighten painfully around her wrist as he pulled her closer so they were face to face. "Listen to me very carefully because I'm only going to tell you this once. I don't swing that way. When I say you're not my type I seriously mean you're not my type of girl. Get that through your thick skull. Actually leave and don't ever come back here. It's dangerous."

The anger welled up again and Rangiku's other hand quickly moved. The fukutaicho heard a loud resounding slap. The grip on her wrist loosened enough she could slip her other hand away, and she saw a mark left on the man's cheek. She pointed her finger at the man. "Don't you ever tell me what I can or can't do! I'm not some damsel in distress who needs some guy to sweep her off her feet! Telling me not to come here is useless because I have to come after my young taicho."

"You slapped me." The man reached up a hand to touch his cheek. "You really...

"I really don't want to hear any more from you, so don't tell me to keep my taicho away. I can't control him. I'd certainly keep him away if I could as it's the fault of you Quincy that he's the way he is! Not only did you hurt him all of you took away many of the people that child holds precious! I only came because I'm trying to find out why he keeps running here when he's upset."

"I..."

"Don't! I don't want to talk to you." Rangiku spun on her heals and headed back to the tenth division using flash step. She arrived at the tenth division and let out a shudder as her hands went to her arms. "Someone's been here."

She carefully scanned the room looking for anything out of place. Haineko took the time to lecuture her. "There are no traces of reiatsu. You wanted answers, but you didn't stay? How dumb is that?"

"Shut up."

"You're just afraid of the answers you'll find."

"No..." Rangiku looked at the back of the couch. "Where's taicho's haori?"

"Perhaps he came back for it? He may not have wanted you to know he was here."

"Maybe."