Leave Out All the Rest

I lot of things happen last week, one of them was my birthday and the way my best friend and my sister celebrate it lead me to ...unexpect events. But, well I\'m back and since tomorrow I\'m going to be relly busy I thought I publish this chapter today.



I wanted to thank to all the people that review and read the story.



Anyway, this is the new chapter, I really enjoy writing this one and I hope all of you enjoy the reading.





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Chapter 21



A moment in their lives



Rangiku turned around to see Toshiro sleeping peacefully on his back; she let out a soft smile and a hand went to caress his face. It was the first time since they started seeing each other and sleeping together that she woke up first. It was a nice change since she had the opportunity to watch such a cute scene; she giggled and cuddled against him, feeling his body against hers.



She was starting to fall asleep once again when she felt him stir slightly; looking up she watched as he opened his eyes slowly.



“Good Morning, Captain,” she purred in his ear, making him shiver and turn his still sleepy expression to her. “Did you sleep well?”



A strong arm made its way around her waist, laying her on the bed, hovering over her. With a giggle Rangiku noticed that now he was wide awake and smiling wickedly at her. “I always do when you’re beside me.”



“Aw, how sweet,” she said, lifting her head slightly to kiss him softly on the lips.



“I’m always sweet,” he said, earning a soft slap on his arm for his cocky comment, and a very amused Rangiku. He kissed her deeply while his hand roamed around her body until it finally stopped on her belly.



“It seems that we aren’t the only ones awake,” he said with the smiling expression he always had when talking about their daughter, who was currently moving a lot.



“She seems to be a morning person like you,” commented Rangiku.



“It’s that so? Hello, Princess,” said Toshiro, kissing Rangiku’s belly, “and how was your night?”



Rangiku watched as Toshiro engrossed himself in a one-sided conversation with their daughter. Though, Rangiku had to say that their baby seemed to answer to him as every time she moved, much to Toshiro’s delight. It had been two weeks since they had been to Toshiro’s grandmother and things had gone back to something akin to normal. Or as normal as things could get in Soul Society. Though, she had noticed that Toshiro was acting a little strange, but every time she tried to ask what it was he would smile at her and say it was nothing. She would get really worried if it wasn’t for the way he usually distracted her that made her forget all about the outside world.



Rangiku was entering her sixth month and she was beyond happy with the situation; she even had let Nanao, Isane and Rukia plan the baby shower scheduled to take place the next day. She had told Toshiro that and at first he had been a little reluctant, that was until Ichigo came by and the both of them, once again, locked themselves in the room next to their bedroom. After what seemed like hours the both of them came out and Toshiro told her that the baby shower was a fantastic idea.



That, obviously, got her curious about the room.



She heard Toshiro still struggling to find his haori that he had dropped somewhere in the room the night before and Rangiku’s eyes went directly to the room in question.



Don’t even try Rangiku-chan. Hyorinmaru’s voice caught Rangiku by surprise, she couldn’t see the dragon but she suspected he was frowning at her.



‘But…’



No, it’s a surprise; you shouldn’t look inside there just yet.



‘But…’



Don’t even try, I already tried to make him tell me but he wouldn’t budge, this time it was Haineko that, apparently, was pouting. He wouldn’t tell me even though I threaten him with no sex for a month.



And that was cruel, how could you? said a teary-eyed Hyorinmaru.



“Sometimes I wonder…” said Toshiro; Rangiku turned around and saw him rolling his eyes and she couldn’t help but agree as the conversation between their zanpakutou’s continued.



“So, you want to know what’s in there?” asked Toshiro; Rangiku nodded her head.



“Yes, but Hyorinmaru stopped me before I could,” she said, pouting slightly and making sure Toshiro saw the pout. She knew, thanks to Hyorinmaru, that it was one of the things he liked about her.



“Don’t even try it. You’re going to see what’s in there tommorrow,” he said, walking away with Matsumoto following him, curiosity all over her face.



“Tomorrow? Why tomorrow?” Toshiro merely smiled but said nothing at all.



Rangiku saw how, reluctantly, Ichigo dragged her taichou to the Captains reunion leaving her behind with Nanao, who was kind of excited to be with Rangiku in the Fourth division barracks.



‘So, you couldn’t get anything from Hyorinmaru?’



No, and… well, I wasn’t about to insist, not when there is a Captains reunion. This comment made Rangiku curious, mainly because Haineko sounded kind of annoyed.



‘And, why is that? What got you so upset?’



Because, Suzumebachi is going to be there… and the little… Matsumoto opened her eyes in realization, but, truth be told, she couldn’t believe it.



‘You’re jealous!’



Jealous? Me? Of that little, insignificant insect?! Never! Not even when she made advances to MY Hyorinmaru and he declined. Of course, the fact that Wabisuke, Houzukimaru and Zabimaru were holding me so I couldn’t show the stupid bee what a real zanpakutou is…



“Rangiku, are you okay?” asked Nanao when she noticed Rangiku laughing.



“Yes, I’m fine,” said Rangiku, Haineko still talking inside her head. “Let’s go, I bet Isane is waiting for us.”



Rangiku stared at the pictures that Isane had given her of her and Toshiro’s daughter; she looked at them over and over again, hugging the pictures against her chest with a big grin on her face.



“Rangiku, you should stop that, you’re going to crumple it and then Hitsugaya-taichou is going to be unable to see them,” said Nanao, slightly amused at her friend’s antics.



“But, Nanao-chan, how can I stop? Look at her! Look! She is so tiny and cute!” said Rangiku, showing the pictures to Nanao. Nanao noticed that Rangiku had tears in her eyes, though by the way she was talking and smiling Nanao guessed they were tears of happiness. “I can already see it!! She’ll have my stunning looks and Toshiro’s hair and eyes!”



Nanao giggled, “You really think she is going to have white hair?”



“Of course! I can already imagine her, a little version of me and Toshiro.” That was said with a voice full of happiness while Rangiku looked at the pictures for the hundredth time.



Nanao ginned at her and couldn’t help but think how happy her friend was; this was kind of surprising considering the circumstances surrounding Rangiku and Toshiro’s relationship. Nanao had to admit that she liked the Captain of the tenth division as Rangiku’s partner. She had been there and heard enough from Ukitake and Kyouraku to know that the young taichou would make her happy. And he already was doing a great job, if Rangiku’s truthful smiles and energetic behaviour was any sign.



“I’m happy for you Rangiku.”



“Oh, Nanao, thank you! But, you know what I think?” said Rangiku with a gleam of mischief in her eyes.



A little wary of what her friend could say Nanao asked, “What you think about what?”



“That you and Shun-kun should start a family of your own so our kids could play together.”



“Rangiku!” exclaimed Nanao with a wonderful blush adorning her face, while Rangiku giggled at the expression of her friend. Nanao shot her a glare before walking ahead with as much dignity as she could muster, while trying to erase that particular idea from her head. “Let’s go! We have to get ready for your baby shower!”





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“I’m sorry the captain’s reunion was at the same time that Rangiku’s appointment with her doctor,” said Ukitake with sheepish smile on his face; Hitsugaya had been gloomy all the reunion, fidgeting and glaring at whoever made an unnecessary comment.



“It’s okay, it was inevitable,” said the young man. Beside him was Kyouraku, and on the other side Ichigo. The four of them met at Ukitake’s office.



Ukitake watched as the young taichou of the tenth division sat with a conflicted expression on his face while Kyouraku made some comments to Ichigo, ignoring the mood Toshiro was in. Ukitake, however, couldn’t ignore it. He was like that since Rangiku and he had arrived from Toshiro’s grandmother’s place and the new soutaichou had a feeling that Toshiro’s mood was due to that visit.



“Is everything all right, Toshiro-kun?” asked Ukitake, smiling at the young man gently; Kyouraku and Ichigo went silent and turned to Toshiro, who moved on his chair a little uncomfortably.



Toshiro looked at the other males immediately present and sighed; even if they were annoying sometimes the three men inside the room were the closest thing to friends and family he had. Apart from his granny, Rangiku and Hinamori.



“I have a problem that I want to discuss with you,” he said, lowering his gaze and frowning slightly. It wasn’t easy for him to be so open with his problems or his feelings.



“My, no need to be so serious Toshiro-kun,” said Kyouraku. “I guess I have to get…”



“No, I… want to discuss this with all of you.” This statement caught the three men by surprise and they looked over to the white-haired captain with more interest and curiosity than before.



“Okay, so what could be so important to have you more grumpy and silent than usual?” asked Ichigo; Toshiro rolled his eyes at the bluntness and casual tone in which Ichigo spoke.



“Well, I went to Granny’s place a few weeks ago,” he started ignoring the silly grins on Kyouraku’s and Ukitake’s faces when he mentioned his granny. “And she said something that got me thinking.”



“I see, and what that may be and how can we help?” questioned Ukitake; Hitsugaya lifted his gaze and a tiny, little blush appeared on his face.



“Well, she mentioned marriage.” At the lack of reaction from them Hitsugaya continued talking. “She thought I was marrying Rangiku.”



This provoked an unexpected reaction from Kyouraku who frowned and looked at Hitsugaya with the most serious look he could get, “So you’re not planning on marrying her?”



“What?! Of course… I mean… I don’t know,” was all Hitsugaya could say, still confused by Kyouraku’s reaction. “I thought that what I did and what Hyorinmaru said was enough… but… I mean I have thought of marriage but…”



“What did your zanpakutou say? And what exactly did you do?” asked Ichigo once Toshiro trailed off, not really knowing what to say. Toshiro sighed and explained to them the mark he had put on Rangiku their first time.



“And well, at first I never thought of this…not like that,” said Hitsugaya, a little more confused due to the glares Kyouraku was sending his way; it was so out of character.



“Toshiro-kun, you cannot think that what you just told us is enough,” started Ukitake after a moment of silence.



“I know,” he said glaring at the man, kind of offended that they all thought that he wasn’t serious about Rangiku or that he was capable of whatever they thought he was capable of doing. He was not Gin.



“Then, what are you going to do?” asked Kyouraku looking at Hitsugaya; Ukitake merely rolled his eyes at his friend’s antics. “Because I’ve known Ran-chan for a long time now, and I can tell you Toshiro-kun, that, even thought she doesn’t show it, she would be delighted to get married and have a big party.”



Toshiro rolled his eyes; it didn’t surprise him at all that she would want a big party. “Like I said, I didn’t want to propose to her like this…” he railed off, not wanting to remember how they got in that situation to begin with that night after the betrayal. “I would have liked to… you know, date her first before getting her pregnant.”



“I don’t get it,” started Ichigo. “You want to marry her, yes or no?”



“Yes of course I want to!” replied Toshiro.



“Then why didn’t you say that in the first place,” replied Ichigo back. “It would have saved time.”



“Because I’m not sure she wants to! That’s why!”



“So, you do want to marry her?” asked Kyouraku, his mood improving greatly at hearing that, Toshiro nodded. “ You don’t know if she wants you?” again Toshiro nodded and this time Kyouraku started laughing really loud; seconds later Ukitake join to his friend while Ichigo and Toshiro looked at each other without comprehending what was so funny.



“What’s so funny?” asked Ichigo, Toshiro shrugged and kept his eyes on the two men in front of him.



“Have you seen the way she looks at you? The way she talks about you? How she finds whatever excuse she can come up with to be near you?” asked Kyouraku, shaking his head. “Have you noticed how happy she gets when you enter a room or just appear wherever she is at? Even before all the mess with Aizen.”



Toshiro didn’t say anything but a small smile appeared on his face; an expression of relief and happiness was present now and he merely nodded his head. Yes. He had noticed that and was grateful to have the opportunity to be with her, that after everything she was his just as much as he was hers.



“Then, all this drama and unnecessary talk is because…” said Ichigo, Toshiro glared at the new taichou.



“That. And because I don’t know how to propose to her,” Toshiro mumbled. “I don’t know what to do or how to do it.”



“I see, then I guess we can help you out with this,” said Ukitake with a goofy smile.



“I…I was expecting you could help me. But I want this to be a secret,” said Toshiro. “I want to surprise Rangiku.” For some reason he felt a little wary when Kyouraku and Ukitake smirked at him.





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Night had fallen a long time ago; Rangiku was pouring some hot tea for Toshiro, who was working on the paperwork in the study he had installed in their house. She felt slightly guilty, since it had been her fault that he didn’t finish the reports that afternoon, but really she couldn’t help it. She had to show him the pictures Isane had given to her and she had to tell him all the things she learnt that morning about their baby.



Besides, it wasn’t as if he didn’t enjoy the distraction.



But she knew it was her fault he was working and not with her in bed, so as a good girlfriend and fukutaichou she made his favourite tea to take to him.



Toshiro signed another report when he felt Rangiku entering the room; he lifted his head from the papers and looked at her with a slightl frown.



“Rangiku, are you okay?” The woman merely smiled at him and neared his desk, putting the cup of hot tea in front of him.



“Yes, I thought you may appreciate this.” Toshiro smiled at her and nodded his head.



“Yes, thank you.” She leaned in and kissed him on the forehead.



“It’s the least I can do; since it’s because of me you’re doing this at this unholy hour of the night.”



“It’s only seven.”



“Exactly!” Toshiro rolled his eyes and took a sip from the cup; Rangiku let her eyes roam around the room. Toshiro looked at her for a moment before smiling softly and returning his attention to the last pages of the reports he was signing.



It was the first time she entered the room after he moved and re-arranged everything in it. She started passing around, looking curiously at the personal office of Toshiro. The place was organized in the same way that their office at the tenth division was. The only differences were the book shelves that were in front of Toshiro’s desk and not behind, there was also a big TV on the wall and Rangiku discovered that Toshiro had one of that game console he had while in the Real World.



There was also a sofa in there and she couldn’t help but smile slightly, as she had another spot in which she could nap while Toshiro worked. She made her way to the sofa when something on the book shelves called her attention.



There were several picture frames, each one of them had a picture of her with Toshiro or Hinamori or his grandmother or other people like Ukitake and Kyouraku. There was even one she remembered was hers, one in which she was with Nanao and Hinamori. However those weren’t the ones that called her attention.



“Toshiro this is…”she said grabbing the picture frame in which was a picture of her and Gin; Toshiro lifted his eyes from the forms he had been signing and realized what Rangiku was talking about.



“You look beautiful in that picture,” was all he said; however he stopped what he was doing and let his hands rest on the desk. “I’ve never had the opportunity to see you with the uniform from the Academy.”



Rangiku turned to him with disbelieving look on her face. “Gin is here,” she said as if that settled whatever conflicted feelings she was having at the moment.



“I would kill him again, over and over if I have the opportunity,” said Toshiro standing up and making his way to Rangiku. “I loathed the man, not only because I was jealous, but also because there was something wrong about him.”



“Then why…” started Rangiku, but Toshiro stopped her with a soft smile, taking the picture frame from her hand and looking at it.



“You look beautiful in this one, happy. And he…” a small frown and reluctant expression appeared on Toshiro’s face. “He, even if I hate to admit it, he did love you… and care for you… in here he looks more… normal, for lack of a better word. Besides it was the only picture in which he wasn’t grabbing you in a bothersome way.”



Toshiro heard the purr of contentment coming from Haineko, and soon after that felt the lips of Rangiku on his. He kissed her back with the same passion she was showing him, and little by little they made their way to the sofa; breaking the kiss Rangiku smiled breathlessly at Toshiro.



“Someone is jealous,” she said, giggling slightly; Toshiro put a hand on her tummy and felt, not for the first time, the wild movements of his daughter.



“You shouldn’t be, Princess, here,” he leaned in and kiss Rangiku’s round tummy over and over again. “See? Daddy always thinks of mummy and his little Princess.”



“You said that was the only picture in which he wasn’t grabbing me in a way you didn’t like, so what did you do with the other pictures?” asked a curious Rangiku; Toshiro stoped what he was doing and looked everywhere but at Rangiku.



“Well…”



“Yes?”



“I want to burn them,” Rangiku opened her eyes, shocked, and was about to scold him when he continued. “But, then Haineko said that you would get a little mad so she gave me a better idea.”



“Haineko? What idea?”



“Well I put that box in a block of ice and put it in the pond,” said Toshiro smiling sheepishly.



“Toshiro!! But, what about the other pictures?!”



“I’m not dumb! I only put the ones with Ichimaru, which I have to say were few and I’m kind of glad,” he explained with a little smile.



“Humph, still…you could have told me,” mumbled Rangiku, crossing her arms; Toshiro sat behind her and made her lean against his chest while he wrapped his arms around her and put his head on her shoulder.



“Yeah, I could.” She shivered at the cold breath coming from him against her skin. “But, look on the bright side; they’re going to… survive in there if you want them back. And you have one with him here.”



“The only one you approve of,” she mumbled, not as mad as she was before. She heard Toshiro chuckle slightly and kiss her softly on her cheek.



“So, you wouldn’t mind if I have some pictures of Momo in the same pose as the pictures of you and Ichimaru?” Rangiku turned her head slightly and glared at Toshiro.



“Even though we weren’t doing anything bad or… well intimate,” said Rangiku which earned her a growl, “I would mind greatly.”



“See? My reaction was natural.” When he saw Rangiku looking at him with a raised eyebrow he rolled his eyes, “If slightly exaggerated.”



“I think I can forgive you.”



“You think?” Rangiku turned around and put her head on his shoulder.



“Yes, if you promise me to take me to bed right now.” Toshiro lowered his head and kiss her softly on the lips.



“As you wish, Rangiku.”





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Rangiku giggled when she heard Toshiro curse and then mumble something she couldn’t hear. He had insisted that she cover her eyes with her pink scarf so she wouldn’t see whatever he had prepared for her.



Once again she felt his hand grasp hers and soon she felt the firm surface of the floor, and now she suspected they were in their place since he had gone for her to Shunsui’s place.



“Okay, I did this with Kurosaki and with his father. He helped some because I didn’t know how to do it or what to do,” started Toshiro, and Rangiku could hear the nervousness in his voice.



“Now I’m curious. What is it Toshiro?” she said, fidgeting a little while squeezing Toshiro’s hand. “Tell me, what is happening that couldn’t wait until later on. Remember that Nanao-chan has the baby shower organized and…”



“Okay, okay. Wait a second.” She heard various sounds but wasn’t able to say what was happening, she could feel Haineko inside of her just as curious and as anxious as her.



Oh, you two will love this one!! The decoration was my idea! said a very excited Hyorinmaru.



“Okay, you can take that scarf off.” Rangiku did as Hitsugaya told her to do. She noticed that she was in front of the room beside their bedroom.



The door was slightly opened and walking forward Matsumoto entered the room with Toshiro behind her.



She couldn’t help but gasp at the sight in front of her. That he had worked all that time with Ichigo only to make the nursery was just… well, it wasn’t that surprising now that she thought about it. She walked in and watched every single detail, from the soft touch of green and white on the walls to the baby crib at the centre of the room. The wall border, she noticed with a soft smile, had kitties in it playing with bees.



“The blanket was kind of difficult to make,” said Toshiro, walking to the crib and showing it to Rangiku. She had tears in her eyes. “I… I know this is kind of stupid, but I want it with cats and dragons… well, I couldn’t get the sheets or the blanket cover with them, but Kurosaki Isshin made it possible with the pillows.”



She watched the room as Toshiro explained what he had done and why; inside the crib she saw the dragon she had bought for the baby back in the Real World. On the other side of the room she saw a small shelf in which the books and all the things Toshiro had bought were resting now. She saw some toys around and couldn’t help the tears from falling down her face.



“Ran, are you okay?” asked Toshiro when he finally noticed her, she turned around and smiled softly at him.



“Yes, of course I am.” He neared her and showed her a single chair that was near the crib, he wiped away her tear and she giggled slightly before hugging him tightly. “I love you.”



Toshiro smile slightly and hugged her back, “I love you, too. So, you like it? I mean, they did help me and I had some ideas of my own… but, I’m not perfect. And I was kind of nervous about this.”



“It’s perfect. I love it.” He kneeled in front of her and put his head on her tummy, caressing her there slightly while she put her hand on his hair.



“Do you think she will like it?” he finally asked; the question made Rangiku giggle before she nodded her head.



“I think she will love it.”





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Toshiro closed the door of the nursery and smiled, satisfied that Rangiku had liked it and that she was ready to do whatever needed to be done to make it look more like a girl’s room. Though she had said that the way he had fixed it was just perfect and there was nothing else that needed to be done, except wait for the birth of the baby.



You have to give yourself some credit Toshiro, the place looks just fine. You did an excellent job.



‘Thank you, not just for what you said but for helping me out.’



Ah, you know me, always ready to lend a hand.



‘So, this has nothing to do with what Haineko promised you later today?’ Toshiro watched, amused, as Hyorinmaru moved shyly and tried to conceal his expression from him.



Of course not, this is only for you.



‘Yeah, right. So, I was thinking about the ring…’



Oh, yeah. Well, I think that you don’t need help from Ukitake, Kyouraku and Ichigo for that.



‘What do you mean?’



Well, I… Suddenly, Hyorinmaru trailed off and Toshiro sensed why he had done it.





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Hinamori Momo looked at the door in front of her; she bit her lip and fidgeted nervously for a moment before taking a big breath and stepping through the door.



She remember when entering Toshiro’s place was just as natural as entering her division or her own place; but now, since she had acted so mad at him and stopped talking to him, she didn’t know what to do, or how to approach her childhood friend. She had thought so much the last few days, she had watched the couple from afar for so long… and after so much thinking she had came to a decision. That’s why she was there and why she was looking for Toshiro.



She turned around to the main hall of Toshiro’s place and saw him in front of the door of his study. He turned around and his eyes opened wide at her presence; the girl stopped a good distance from him and offered him a nervous, yet shy, smile.



“It’s… It’s good to see you Shiro-chan,” she mumbled, feeling slightly out of place and kind of dumb for her greeting.



Toshiro looked at her for a moment before smiling softly at her, “It’s good to see you too, Hinamori. What are you doing here?”





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I felt evil for ending there, but oh well. So the Suzemebachi reference,I don\'t know if any of you has seen the last filler, but I just love the way Suzumebachi said that Hyorinmaru was hot. I thought I could used it and make Haineko jealous.



Anyway, this is for today, hopefully I\'ll see you next saturday.



Don\'t forget to review!