It Takes Time

By: Le tired

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or its characters, blah blah blah, etc.

Rated: T for some language and…stuff?

Author's Notes: Started rotations again, so not getting that much time to write anymore :(. I'll do my best and I have at least two chapters drafted, but I apologize if updates start coming slower. Quality over quantity, right? ^^;

EmeraldTsukino: Thanks for the encouragement, I will do my best to keep updating!

bandgirlz: Your example of what the husband says to the wife is hilarious, I'm going to remember that and use it sometime. I agree Toshirou is definitely more like that, although I think there is also a shyness factor; he's uncomfortable with acting familiar with others. Haha I'm like that too, but I'm also needy, so I demand super shows of affection but then won't reciprocate because I like being hypocritical :P.

kriitiko: Yeah, Hisagi is another one of my favorite characters, so I keep throwing him in there for no reason :P. Also, I wanted to touch on his crush on Matsumoto. They actually looked really good together in that episode 305 (they go to the hot springs) that I could almost see them as a couple…except the omake then shows Matsumoto happily taking advantage of him and I lost the vibes again. Oh well.

KhempriIrisi: Thanks, here's the next chapter! I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

Writing bunny: Wow thanks for all those reviews! Please enjoy the chapter!

Prince of Winter Dragons: Haha sorry the chapter was pretty hard on Toshirou. Every relationship has its problems, and when I think of what would be an obstacle for HitsuMatsu, I immediately think of how aloof Toshirou acts. I actually also wanted to show this because that's part of why I really like Matsumoto; I think she's a very strong character to be able to deal with his personality. We all love the cool guy, but I think in reality, dating him would be difficult if you weren't completely confident of yourself or the relationship because you wouldn't be getting a lot of obvious affection. In regards to Kira and Yumichika, since they're both close to Matsumoto and don't really know Toshirou to see he shows his caring in a different manner, they would naturally worry for her as friends. Additionally, Yumichika is kind of a shallow guy, and Kira is a bit of a pessimist, so I just thought it fit their personalities. As for Matsumoto not defending Toshirou, haha honestly again I think that'd be OOC. I remember that one omake where she says her captain's annoying or something for not letting her buy more beauty products (and then he shows up and yells at her to go back to the office) and I think she complains some other times about how he works her too hard, so I'm pretty sure she's not above bad-mouthing him. Again, I think it actually demonstrates their closeness; you normally wouldn't go around insulting someone unless you knew there wouldn't be any repercussions from that person. Also, given how she talks about her boobs, I'm inclined to believe she's not very serious about a lot of the things she says. She just likes to whine and be lazy and pampered :P. If she was really upset with Toshirou, I imagine she'd be a lot less energetic (like when she mopes about Gin). So again, it was my intention to show that she was very understanding of Toshirou and was just egging her friends on; she also knows Toshirou doesn't need her to defend him (in fact I think he'd be irritated if she told them some of the nicer and more intimate things between them because he's someone who likes his privacy). Hope I addressed some of your concerns. Again, thanks for the review and enjoy the chapter!

sagitgirlth: Haha now you know my evil trick to hopefully snag readers and reviewers…cliffhangers! It's probably all those Goosebumps books I used to read as a kid, every chapter ended with one. Haha 'what will Toshirou do to the drunk Matsumoto' …what do you want him to do, eh? XD

Chapter 15

Hitsugaya Toshirou was having a bad day. Since agreeing to see his lieutenant, one Matsumoto Rangiku, in a nonprofessional manner, he was starting to think bad days were all he could look forward to in the future.

His aforementioned lieutenant lay sprawled and tipsy on Izuru Kira, her back pressed flush against his chest and with one of her hands perched precariously close to his crotch. Not a foot from them was Hisagi Shuuhei recovering from a nosebleed with Abarai Renji's timely assistance (three guesses who'd caused the hemorrhage), along with infamously violent officers Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika. All looking at him like he was the devil.

He understood why, they were in a pretty compromising situation. Other days, he'd be far more lenient and even try to assuage their fears (even if they were complete idiots to have provided Matsumoto with alcoholic beverages and then think things would be fine). But, it had been a long day, and he was tired of being stared at and scrutinized. Above all, he was tired of people acting like he was Matsumoto's pimp.

It had started with the captains' meeting.

…all right, fine, things probably began way before that, when he somehow found himself kissing Matsumoto in their office.

As usual with Matsumoto, the sanest conversation could suddenly turn surreal. One minute he was attempting to calmly and honestly discuss certain aspects of their relationship, and the next minute, his arms were full of her, hot and willing. More than willing. He'd in fact tried to come to his senses, but she'd grabbed him and kissed him even deeper, ejecting his brain out the window. Yes, she'd literally lobotomized him with her touches and gasps. God it was embarrassing.

At least he knew now that Matsumoto wanted him in every sense of the word. He wouldn't be wondering about that any more. He could still remember how she'd reached out and touched his face so simply, so naturally. He wasn't used to intimate contact, and it surprised him later that he hadn't felt awkward at all about it. Everything Matsumoto did was so guileless, so open. He remembered the soft lulling cadence of her voice and the light in those sky-blue eyes as she came closer. He'd been listening to her, honestly, but at some point he'd gone deaf and all that kept running through his head was, god she's beautiful. It was like a dream, or maybe being hypnotized—there had been nothing else in the world but her.

It was his first time with anyone. Well, he'd flirted around during his days at the Academy and kissed a girl or two, but nothing serious. And those times, he'd been so nervous and excited, he could barely remember feeling much real joy from the encounters at all. Too much fear of doing the wrong thing, or turning the girl off, or wondering where he was allowed to touch. It hadn't been…instinctive, the way it had with Matsumoto. Everything had been too clear before, while the moment with Matsumoto was a blur of images and sensations. There had been no nervousness. It had been shockingly comfortable and even familiar, to the point he was slightly disturbed. Wasn't there supposed to be sparks or racing hearts? Shouldn't she look different to him somehow?

But she hadn't. Even the affection evident in her eyes hadn't seemed new—which begged the question, how long might she have been feeling this way? And things had felt exactly the same as it always had between the two of them. When he'd kissed her, he'd been completely aware that this was the same Matsumoto that snored and drooled on the couch, or spilled sake on his papers. It was the same Matsumoto who stared down Hollows and guarded his back, the same Matsumoto who smiled and silently bore her grief for Ichimaru's betrayal, and the same Matsumoto who every day showed him what it was to live and laugh freely. He'd kissed all her good parts and all her bad parts, and it had been like coming home. As if it had been waiting to happen for decades.

Damn, he really might be falling in love with Matsumoto.

Normally, that would count as a pretty big event, a major epiphany—something to seriously mull over. He would need to figure out exactly what he wanted out of this relationship, and what Matsumoto was hoping for as well. He would also need to set down some major rules…like no more kissing in the office because once they got started, he wasn't sure he could stop them, and then work would really never get done.

Anyway, Toshirou never got a chance to think about things with Matsumoto, no matter how badly the situation was calling for some heavy-duty personal reflection. The jigokuchou had shown up with some bad news (of course it had to be bad news).

Sosuke Aizen had managed to pull one step ahead of Soul Society yet again. He'd succeeded at arrancar completion, and sent some to the human world to test Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends, injuring them severely in the process. Toshirou wasn't really surprised that Aizen had drawn first blood. Central 46 remained empty after the slaughter of its members, and the Gotei 13 for all its legendary prowess was little more than an elite corps of soldiers waiting for orders. They weren't used to making decisions of this scale for themselves, and this was the result.

Well, things were going to have to change. He'd gone to the captains' meeting hoping someone had finally come up with a plan…but it had gone about as well as any other meeting he'd attended.

In other words, it sucked.

…actually, it was worse.

Toshirou still couldn't understand how the squad captains were picked, and he didn't think he ever would. Spiritual power was important, yes, but you'd think dedication to the job itself would be important. Sanity couldn't hurt, either.

It was clear from the start Zaraki didn't give two shits. He just kept making smartass comments under his breath, or complaining about how boring it was to just stand there. Kurotsuchi was another stellar example of narcissistic apathy, only showing interest in the scientific implications of arrancar completion and the hogyoku. Kyoraku looked hungover as hell and nodded off a few times. Soi Fon did a pretty good impression of looking serious, but he caught her rolling her eyes a few times and stifling a yawn. As a specialist in assassination, Toshirou guessed she found Yamamoto's approach of open confrontation trite and unappealing. Kuchiki stared off into space and brooded as usual. Only Ukitake and Komamura seemed actively invested.

That was enough for Toshirou to lose his own focus. It didn't help any that he'd just made out with his lieutenant not thirty minutes ago, and he was still feeling slightly hot and breathless. He was also paranoid, wondering if the other captains could smell her perfume on him, or maybe had she left a smudge of lipstick on him. So he'd stood there the entire time, feeling like a criminal of Aizen proportions, while his brain ran around in his skull screaming what the hell happened we actually kissed omigod are you out of your mind but it was amazing but shit how did it happen why can't I remember what happened during those fifteen minutes...and so forth. Again, not good.

But the really really really really horrific part had to be after they were dismissed and the captains were all filing out slowly. The friendlier ones often took this time to socialize and catch up. Toshirou had never been among them, so he was surprised when a hand landed on his shoulder.

It was Kyoraku, of course. "Yo, Hitsugaya-taichou. It's too bad the arrancars had to come and ruin your fun night, huh?"

Toshirou had been confused for a moment. "Fun night…?" And then remembered he'd agreed to take Matsumoto out tonight…an hour ago. Oh god, she was going to whine about this for the next two weeks.

Kyoraku must have seen his face because he chuckled a little. "Don't worry, Hitsugaya-taichou, I'm sure you can make it up to her. Rangiku-chan has always struck me as very understanding."

Ukitake quickly joined his friend. "Ahh yes, this was truly unfortunate timing, wasn't it, Hitsugaya-taichou? But there's no true reason to fret. Love won't waver in the face of such minor obstacles."

"…thank you." Faced with the other captains' eagerly interested faces, Toshirou tried to reach the door, but in his haste promptly bumped into Zaraki Kenpachi. The tall scarred man grinned and winked his one eye at Toshirou as if they shared an inside joke (and they did not). "A little distracted, aintcha? You weren't yerself during the meeting, I saw. Thinkin' about how yer gonna ride her hard tonight, yeah?"

Toshirou didn't know how to respond to that.

Then, Kurotsuchi had walked up, looked sideways at him, and grinned. "Oh, I've been meaning to tell you, Hitsugaya-taichou, I have some serums that might interest you. Women, as you know, can be notoriously difficult to pleasure and the time it requires can be quite tedious." He produced a vial of bubbly purple liquid from his coat jacket. "Inject her with this, and she'll quickly reach orgasm no matter where you touch." In his other hand, the mad scientist held up a notebook. "I'd appreciate it, if you'd record how long it takes, and perhaps ask your lieutenant to rank her pleasure on a scale of one to ten. Oh, and of course, don't forget to list where you touched her. You can pull her hair or maybe poke her in the eye, don't hesitate to explore all options." He sighed. "I'd test it on Nemu, but as you know, she's artificially created, and I don't want any confounders in my research."

"I'm not taking that!" Toshirou yelled, flinging his arms as far away from the proffered items as possible. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yamamoto turn in his direction, and prayed the captain-commander did not feel it necessary to come over and investigate what Toshirou was yelling about.

"Well, I was just trying to be helpful." Kurotsuchi shrugged.

"I'm sure Hitsugaya-taichou would prefer to express his feelings for Matsumoto-fukutaichou through less artificial means," Ukitake interjected, ever the mediator.

"Ahh yes." Kyoraku nodded sagely. "If he cannot properly pleasure Rangiku-san, he can't really call himself a man, much less her lover, you know? It's all about learning each other's bodies."

"No, I don't get it."

"Who cares about pleasuring the woman?" Zaraki snorted. "A real man just takes what he wants, and the woman had better be satisfied with what she gets." He licked his thin lips and looked at Toshirou again. "Am I right, Hitsugaya-taichou?"

"…I'm leaving."

Toshirou shunpo'ed out of the captains' assembly hall. Goddamnit. He probably should've expected that. It figured those dysfunctional people would be more interested in his relationship with Matsumoto than the imminent invasion (take that, Aizen…except Toshirou still didn't feel particularly victorious). It was probably what happened after living for centuries at the pinnacle of power and near-invincibility. Aizen had decided to go berserk, the others just turned into perverts.

Toshirou had almost made it back to the barracks of his own division when Soi Fon appeared before him. "Soi Fon?"

The onmitsukido commander looked uncharacteristically mild. "I just wanted to know…did it work?"

"Did what work?"

"Rangiku-san taught us that a good way to approach the target of our affections was to compliment them on their looks." Toshirou squinted. Was the woman actually…blushing? "I…I wanted to know if it worked before I tried it on Yoruichi-sama."

"Uh…" Well, Matsumoto had been discussing his appearance when they kissed so… "I guess so."

Soi Fon blushed further. "What…parts of your body did she mention that aroused you?"

Toshirou contemplated making another run for it, but this was the student of Shihouin Yoruichi, goddess of shunpo. He'd probably be overtaken in a second. Probably better to just answer her questions to the best of his ability and hope to repress memories of the conversation tomorrow. "…she talked about my face, my eyes…"

"I was thinking about complimenting Yoruichi-sama's muscular arms and long elegant legs. Would that have worked with you?"

"…probably. If I had long legs."

Soi Fon nodded, looking determined. "Thank you, Hitsugaya-taichou. You have been most helpful." She disappeared in another flash of shunpo.

"You're welcome…" Toshirou muttered to the empty space that Soi Fon had once occupied, then resumed his dash towards the sanctity of his own division compound. Upon reaching headquarters, he began looking for Matsumoto—unsure if it was to try and make up their appointed outing, or strangle her for what he'd had to go through tonight.

Strangely, his fukutaichou was nowhere to be found in the division. Upon further reflection, he remembered asking her to leave so he could focus on the next steps for dealing with the arrancars. Where could she have gone? Maybe she wanted to be alone…the arrancars undoubtedly would have reminded her of Ichimaru. Ugh. A brief mental image of Matsumoto turning to go, her pretty face strangely drawn and her eyes hooded in sorrow, flashed before his eyes. Toshirou sighed. Maybe he should have said something to her.

What will you do now, master? came Hyourinmaru's booming voice from within his sword.

What indeed. If he knew Matsumoto (and he thought he did, to a decent degree), she was drinking. Hardly the best coping mechanism, but it had been working for her. And most likely, she was with friends, so she should be all right. On the other hand, given his new role in her life, perhaps it would be good for him to go see her and comfort her. Or…would it just hurt her more? If she was already thinking about Ichimaru…maybe now was not the time to burst in as her new love interest and pretend he could make her pain go away.

…this was too much. Toshirou thought he might implode from frustration before he reached a decision. He'd never hemmed and hawed so much in his life but goddamnit, he'd never had to deal with something like this before. If his fellow squad captains really wanted to help him out with women, maybe they should have given him some advice on what to do in such a situation instead of their perverted bedroom scenarios. "Whatever," he finally growled. "I'll just find her and decide from there."

And that was how he ended up traipsing from bar to bar in Rukongai until he finally heard some familiar voices. Some of Matsumoto's drinking lieutenant friends. He'd just stepped over the threshold when he heard his own name being mentioned, and reflexively shunpo'ed back out to listen unnoticed.

Wasn't it a saying, that if you didn't want to hear bad opinions about yourself, you shouldn't eavesdrop? If it wasn't, it should be. It took a minute for Toshirou to understand exactly what they were talking about, but when he did…it bothered him. Really bothered him.

For one, it sounded like one of the lieutenants, Hisagi Shuuhei, had a thing for Matsumoto. Not surprising, and Toshirou thought he might have even heard the rumor before, but it was quite another thing to hear the young man admit it with such unreserved frankness and gentleness. Well, everything Toshirou had heard about Hisagi-fukutaichou had been highly positive, and as the current division leader for art and culture, the man was probably sensitive and communicative about his passions. Completely the opposite of Toshirou, whose last words to the woman he was supposed to be seeing were of dismissal so he could get some work done.

Clearly, others thought Matsumoto could do better as well. Toshirou winced over and over, as the lieutenants discussed the possibility of him playing around with Matsumoto (although part of him definitely wanted to yell, "Matsumoto is not a defenseless kitten! Do you know the living hell she'd put me through if she thought I was toying with her emotions?") and how Hisagi could come to her rescue once Toshirou had used and abused her. And worst of all, it sounded like Matsumoto thought he'd forgotten the date.

Okay so maybe he had forgotten for a little while, but he would have remembered at some point! He needed to find Matsumoto and fix this misunderstanding. Even if she understood his circumstances, she was likely hurt. And that was the last thing he needed.

That was when Matsumoto's voice had rung out, shrill and bubbly from intoxication, but nowhere as melancholic as he feared, given everything he'd heard. Her friends were indeed keeping her sadness at bay. Maybe he should go after all. He wasn't needed tonight. That was good, right? That was a good thing, these other men were so much better than him at making her happy…right? Matsumoto was all right, that was all that really mattered. He could always talk to her tomorrow.

Right. That was why he was still standing outside the bar, when he heard Matsumoto shriek.

She sounded like a hundred vasto lordes had traveled from Hueco Mundo to descend on her personally. He should have known better. Every other time outside of combat she'd sounded as if she were in dire danger, it was just her breasts. Her breasts were falling out, her breasts were suffocating her, her breasts were giving her back pain…always her goddamn breasts.

And sure enough, they were the culprit once more. Toshirou ran in, ready to draw his sword…and was almost hit with a gush of blood from Hisagi. Skidding back a few steps, he saw Kira cradling Matsumoto in his lap. No enemies, nothing life-threatening, save for the quantity of sake consumed.

Matsumoto was a flirt. Toshirou knew that, and he knew that wasn't going to change regardless of her relationship status. Her love for Ichimaru hadn't kept her from throwing her breasts around, or even dating other men, albeit briefly. He'd heard the men voice concerns about the bodily harm he might inflict should he find them with Matsumoto, and that was (sadly) the only information Toshirou knew he could completely discard. Matsumoto had always fit in better with the male Shinigami given her louder personality and similar interests. Asking her to change her behavior around them would likely alter their friendships, and Toshirou wasn't about to do that. Plus he highly doubted he could ever really change Matsumoto's behavior; if he had, he wouldn't be swimming in paperwork every day.

But. BUT. Why was it that every time she flirted, she left disaster in her wake?

It was irritating, to say the least. Kira must have seen his face because he practically dropped Matsumoto as he tried to get out from underneath her. For her part, Matsumoto just looked confused before her eyes landed on her captain.

"Taichou! Did you come to join us? Ah, why are you holding your sword? Is there trouble? Do we have a mission?"

"…no." Toshirou forced himself to relax his grip on his sword hilt. He thought he could hear a sigh of relief from the other side of the table where Abarai was tending to Hisagi. "I heard you scream and thought there was trouble."

"Aww that's so sweet of you, taichou." Matsumoto started to get up, but quickly lost her balance and toppled back into her seat, but not before upending the table with all their drinks. "Oh, I think…I'm a little drunk, taichou."

"You think?" Toshirou glared at her, then turned to Abarai, who looked the most reliable since he'd been helping Hisagi. "Does Hisagi-fukutaichou need any further aid?"

"Uhh no sir, he should be fine." Abarai fidgeted. "Ahh sir, I just wanted to tell you, the reason he was bleeding…that is, it wasn't—"

"It's fine. I've been here listening to all of you flap your gums for the past ten minutes. I know Matsumoto is to blame for all this."

"The past ten minutes…?" Abarai gulped and exchanged nervous glances with his companions, visibly trying to recall their conversations during that time period.

"I'm to blame, taichou?" Matsumoto pointed at herself innocently.

"Yes, you, Matsumoto, who else? You're almost always to blame for just about anything that happens around here." He started to say more, but with the entire bar and five other seated officers staring wide-eyed at him, he decided it wasn't the time or place to start verbal fisticuffs with Matsumoto. "…forget it. I came to see if you were all right, since you weren't back at headquarters when I returned from my meeting. Since you're fine, I'll be leaving."

"Ehhh? You're leaving just like that, taichou?"

"Yes."

"Butttt…" Matsumoto swayed a little and her eyes glazed slightly. Toshirou rolled his eyes and waited for her to regain her train of thought. "…what about our date, taichou?"

Crickets sang loud and clear in the night.

"You…want to go on a date now?" Toshirou demanded. "Matsumoto, it's past midnight! Have you any idea what I've been through tonight? I'm completely exhausted!"

"Oh…then maybe we can just go back to my place." Matsumoto ran one hand provocatively down the side of her chest to her waist to where it rested on her thigh, and cast a heavy-lidded sleepy-eyed smile at Toshirou. "You can sleep there." Her voice crept on all fours on the floor over to rub sexily against his leg. Hisagi's nosebleed returned with a vengeance.

"Hold on Hisagi!"

"Somebody get more napkins! Tissues, anything!"

Toshirou wanted to smack himself in the face. "…fine! Get over here and I'll walk you back to your quarters."

"Really?" Matsumoto gave him a dazzling smile. Toshirou's heart gave a strange thump. How could his presence make anyone so happy? She really was a strange woman.

"Yes." He hesitated. "And I promise to make up for our…date tonight." It wasn't like he'd gone off and forgotten for some arbitrary reason; he'd had work, damnit, important work. But he couldn't just leave Matsumoto disappointed, either.

As expected, his fukutaichou lit up like a Christmas tree at his statement. "You remembered, taichou!"

"Of course I did," he said sourly. Did Matsumoto really think he cared so little about her? "Don't think everyone else is as irresponsible as you."

"Ohhh, you're too good to me, taichou!" Matsumoto managed to keep her balance this time and rushed over to throw her arms around Toshirou. He reeled from the smell of sake as well as the constricting embrace.

"Will you stop that!"

Matsumoto merely giggled, then turned to her cohorts still at the table. "Okaaay, Hitsugaya-taichou and I are going back to my place now, so he can make up for our date tonight. But you boys go ahead and keep having fun, all right?"

"Yes…waitaminute, I didn't say I was going to make up for the date now! Oi, Matsumoto, don't deliberately cause people to misunderstand! I'm just walking you home!" But one look at the faces of the onlookers, and he knew it was hopeless. No one was going to believe he wasn't answering a booty call. Toshirou decided he'd been too unappreciative of when people mistook him for a child. Being mistaken for a pervert was oh so very much worse. He sighed, defeated. "All right Matsumoto, let's go."

"Mm!"

He took her hand and together, they finally stepped out into the night.