Leave Out All the Rest

Hi again,



Finally a confrontation...but things don't go according to plan. Thanks again, for reading.



Ok, here it is, do not forget to comment and enjoy! By the way, thanks to RiddimMistress and Curtis Zidane Ziraa for reading and for the comments. Thank you!



- zanpakutou talking-



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Chapter 5



Confusion



Ichigo escaped the Shiba place in time; he could hear the moans of pain coming from Ganju who was receiving a beating from his crazy sister. Seriously, does everybody in Soul Society act that way? All wild and crazy? Looking at the events the night before and at his running away from Kenpachi, again, told him that probably he was right.



Night had fallen a long time ago but he didn’t feel like sleeping or staying with too much people. He had things to think, for example how he felt towards Rukia’s decision to stay in Soul Society. He couldn’t lie to himself, a part of him had wanted, even hoped, that the crazy girl would go back with them. But she was right, this was her place and even if she had a special place in Ichigo’s heart…



Ichigo shook his head and started walking, trying to shake those thoughts out of his head. He walked for quite some time until he noticed a small hill and a shadow sitting there. His eyes opened in surprise when he recognized the shadow.



“Yo, Rangiku-san, what are you doing here so late?” he asked when he was near the woman.



He had woken up that morning with a hangover and ready to kill that idiot Renji that had told him that sake didn’t affect him. Yeah, right. His search for the red-head took him to the eleventh division and ended with him where he was at the moment. Looking at Rangiku hugging her knees against her chest. He was trying vainly to keep his eyes from straying to her chest.



“Oh, hey Ichigo, what are you doing here?”



“I was looking for Rukia and ended up having dinner at Kukakku-san’s place.” Ichigo sat beside the blond woman and eyed her for a moment. She was still tensed up and had that miserable aura around her.



“You okay?” asked Ichigo after a while.



The woman didn’t answer right away; she merely looked ahead of her and Ichigo felt uncomfortable for a moment. It was so strange trying to talk with these people. While he was at school or at home it wasn’t so hard; you knew how they would react or at least what you could tell them. But in here, all of them were a hundred years older than himself and what had happened with that Aizen guy and the other Captains had surely destroyed a lot of lives.



“I couldn’t find Taichou anywhere today so I have to do the fifth’s and our division’s paperwork,” she said. Ichigo moved uncomfortably at the mention of the tenth division taichou but Rangiku didn’t notice.



“So, is it hard work?” Rangiku laughed bitterly.



“It’s the worst; Taichou is the one that always ended up doing it for me.” Then in a whisper, “without him…I felt…lost today.”



Yeah, Aizen had fucked up a lot of lives all right. Ichigo panicked at the sight of a single tear falling from Rangiku’s eyes to her cheeks and suddenly the blond woman started sobbing softly and the desperation was evident in her. Ichigo looked around, hopelessly trying to look for help but not finding anyone; he put an awkward hand on the blond fukutaichou’s shoulder. Suddenly the strawberry shinigami found himself with the woman in his arms crying silently on his robes. After a few minutes of not knowing where to put his arms he finally embraced the woman until she fell asleep.



Far in the distance Rukia let out a soft smile grateful that Ichigo hadn’t done anything stupid; her eyes drifted for a moment and focused on a small figure with white hair that, as soon as it had appeared before her eyes, disappeared. Rukia frowned but then decided to make her way towards Ichigo.



“I hope you are not taking advantage of Matsumoto-fukutaichou.”



Ichigo jumped in surprise at the teasing tone of Rukia. He turned around, a faint blush on his cheeks, and found himself looking at a smirking Rukia.



“Ru-Rukia…”



“Sshh...Don’t let me interrupt you,” she said teasingly, Ichigo’s blush increased. Rukia merely chuckled and sat beside him.



“It seems like your getting too soft, Ichigo.”



“I couldn’t leave her like that,” the boy said.



“Yeah, right. So you decided to hug her out of nobility?” asked Rukia with an eyebrow lifted.



“It was more of an: ‘I didn’t have an option.’ She just…I can’t see a woman cry,” said Ichigo turning his head to the side trying to conceal his blushing face from Rukia.



Then with a more serious voice Ichigo said



“It seems like this Aizen guy destroyed a lot of things,” Rukia looked at the dark sky and then at Ichigo.



“Yes, he did. But not only him, Tousen and Ichimaru as well.” Ichigo nodded and then tried to lift Rangiku in his arms and stand up. Once he did that he looked over at Rukia.



“Mind if you go with me? I don’t …I don’t remember where Rangiku-san lives.”



“You don’t remember?” asked Rukia lifting an eyebrow, Ichigo opened his eyes in realization as to what he had said then, “when were you at Matsumoto-fukutaichou’s place?”



That tone of voice and the way she narrowed her eyes at him made Ichigo panic a little.



“I…well, you see…” Rukia lifted a single eyebrow and crossed her arms, looking intently at Ichigo who now regretted saying anything at all.



“Let’s go, before you wake her up,” said Rukia in a cold voice, and Ichigo gulped following close behind her.



Neither of them noticed the young Captain clenching his fist and thinking the same thing Rukia had asked ‘When were you at Matsumoto’s place Kurosaki?’





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Hitsugaya Toushirou was making his way to the Tenth Division barracks. He was tired; last night he hadn’t sleep at all thinking over and over again what to do and how to approach Matsumoto. Just like his grandmother had proposed, but then when he finally found her she was in that…in that idiot’s arms!!!



-Did I hear some jealousy? … Wait, I didn’t hear it. Oh!! I felt some jealousy coming from you Toushi-chan!!!-



‘I am not jealous. Why would I be jealous?’



-Mmmhm, good question. Maybe because Rangiku-san was hugging that boy tightly, because apparently he was at her house, because…-



‘Shut Up!’



-Oooh, some one is in a bad mood today.-



‘Yes and you are not helping.’



Hyorinmaru was about to reply when Hitsugaya stumble across Orihime. The girl fell to the ground with a yelp.



“Ow!”



“Oh, Sorry, I wasn’t looking,” said Hitsugaya offering the girl his hand. Orihime took it with a grin.



“Oh, no. I think it was my fault, it wouldn’t be the first time I didn’t notice where I was walking, and since I was in such a hurry I didn’t notice you here Toushirou-kun.”



Hitsugaya blinked several times at the girl that spoke to him so…informally and on top of that had referred to him with his first name. And the young prodigy was pretty sure he had never introduced himself to the girl, so how did she know his name?



“Ah, either way I am sorry.” said Hitsugaya still eyeing the grinning girl curiously. “Sorry, but how do you know my name? I mean we haven’t been introduced properly so…”



“Oh, how rude of me!” said Orihime scratching the back of her head giggling a little. “I am Inoue Orihime.”



“It’s a pleasure?”



-You could sound more pleased Toushirou and stop doing that face!-



“Oh it’s nice meeting you in person! Rangiku-san was right you are very cute boy!” Hitsugaya frowned in annoyance at the ‘boy’ and ‘cute’ references.



“Wait, you said that my fukutaichou talked to you about me,” Orihime nodded her head. “So, you know where she is?”



“Well, she took Kurosaki-kun with her. I think they were going to the Tenth Division; but I think I got lost,” explained Orihime, smiling apologetically.



“I see.” The temperature dropped drastically at those words and Orihime eyed the boy curiously while hugging herself. “Well, Inoue-san. I was making my way to my division, so you can come with me if you want.”



“Thank you!” said Orihime following the young taichou. “Toushirou-kun, do you know why is so cold so suddenly?”





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Ichigo walked around the office looking curiously from the desk to the bookshelf. He turned around when the door of the office opened once again and Rangiku entered with two cups of tea in her hand. The boy went to her and took the one she was offering.



“Eh, thanks,” he said, a little hesitant. He still wasn’t sure why he was there, and the episodes of last night and the night before were still fresh in his mind.



“I guess you are wondering why you’re here,” said Rangiku, sitting on the couch and signaling the place next to her to Ichigo. After a moment of hesitation Ichigo sat there.



“Well, yeah. We are returning to our world in two more hours so…if you don’t mind,” said Ichigo, taking a sip from his cup.



“I just…want to say thank you.”



“What for?” said Ichigo frowning. Matsumoto turned to him with a little smile.



“I was feeling really bad last night and well…I cried on your shoulder.” then she let out a giggle and looked at Ichigo with a gleam of mischief. “I was there ready to be taken advantage of for whoever happened to be close, but you behaved like a gentleman.”



Ichigo blush at that comment and mumbled something that Rangiku couldn’t make out.



“I just… thanks for the awkward hug and taking me home.”



“It…it was nothing” said Ichigo feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation. He looked at the woman in front of him and asked the question he wanted to ask last night. “Why were you so …sad? I mean, I though Toushirou was your Captain not Aizen.”



There was a moment of silence in which Rangiku let out a tired sighed, she sat more comfortably and took a sip from her tea. For a moment Ichigo thought he had made a really bad comment at a bad time; he was surprised the woman hadn’t smacked him in the head as Rukia usually did. Ichigo was about to say something to break the silence when Rangiku started talking.



“I wasn’t sad about Aizen. I was sad because of other Captain that went away with him.” She turned around and looked Ichigo in the eye. “You probably don’t understand a lot of things that happen here; but, when you are a little kid living alone and starving to death, whatever offer of kindness is welcome.”



Ichigo looked at the woman and then centered his attention on a table in front of him. Rangiku let out a bitter laughed.



“Gin saved me that day, he even gave me a birthday and a purpose to live.” she said, then looking at Ichigo’s confused face she added. “Ichimaru Gin, you know? The one that had his eyes shut?”



“Oh, Fox-face!” said Ichigo in realization, Rangiku laughed at that nickname and smiled at the boy.



“Yes, that’s the one. That nickname really fits him,” she said. “The funny thing about this is that, I shouldn’t be surprise. He always leaves.”



“So, you two knew each other for a long time?”



“Yes.”



“And…” Ichigo moved uncomfortable, not really knowing if the next question was appropriate. Rangiku looked at him for a moment.



“We were lovers,” she said, saving Ichigo the embarrassment of asking that question. Ichigo nodded his head and went silent.



“I’m sorry,” he said. Rangiku looked at him open eyed.



“What for? It isn’t your fault! And I understand that you were curious,” she said in a relaxed tone. “Like I said I shouldn’t be surprise”



“But, still that hurt,” said Ichigo. “That he thought those ambitions were more important than you.”



Rangiku once again opened her eyes wide in surprise, and then she let a soft smile appear on her face.



“Yes, it hurts too much, even though I made my decision to stay here.”



“What do you mean?”



“I could have gone with him. I know he would have taken me with him,” said Rangiku. “But I just couldn’t; if Gin wasn’t happy with me here who can assure me that he was going to be happy with me wherever he is now?”



Silence filled the office once again. Ichigo emptied his cup thinking about the night when they found Toushirou leaving Rangiku’s place. He eyed the woman before looking away. For what Ikkaku had said she believed that all of them had been drinking that night, so she didn’t suspect anything. But, was it right? Should he say something or not?



“You know, for a human you are a good listener.” Ichigo looked aside embarrassed. “Oh, and a good drinking companion too. Maybe next time you can invite me for one or two drinks?”



“One or two? You guys drank like 50 bottles each!” said Ichigo. Rangiku looked amused at the boy’s reaction. “If I were to invite you I surely would ended up broke. That’s only if I feel in the mood to drink, which I will not.”



“Oh, but Ichigo-kun!!!” said the woman trying to catch Ichigo, but the boy stood up and got away from her. “It is a rule that once you become part of our drinking group you have to pay for the next round!”



“Says who?” replied Ichigo.



“Me and the boys!” replied Rangiku clapping happily. “Let’s go, I bet that if we look for them we could have a few drinks before you go!”



“Oh, no! No. Definitely no after the other day! I think I still have a headache.” Rangiku pouted at that and then with a gleam on her eyes she leaned in a seductive way to Ichigo, who turned red and started making his way to the door, very slowly.



“Oh, look at the time! I have to go!”



Rangiku wasn’t about to lose her opportunity for free sake. So she grabbed Ichigo by the sleeve of his shinigami uniform; Ichigo struggled at that and in the middle of the confusion he walked into the wall which made him stumble backwards. At the same time Rangiku tugged harder than she mean to which ended up with the both of them falling to the floor in a very compromising position



That’s how Hitsugaya, Orihime, Renji, Ikkaku and Yumichika found them after hearing the little struggle that was taking place inside the office.





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The temperature in the room dropped drastically. Ikkaku, Yumichika and Renji looked at each other before glaring daggers at Ichigo that had stood up so fast that he almost hit Orihime.



“Do I want to know what was happening?” said the young taichou in a cold voice. Ichigo shock his head and Matsumoto merely smiled apologetically at her taichou.



“Sorry Taichou, we were talking and then Ichigo-kun invited me for a drink and we were on our way when we fell!” said Rangiku dumbly letting out an amused giggle.



Ichigo joined Matsumoto and then grabbed Orihime by the hand.



“Yeah, but… look at the time. I think we better go,” said Ichigo waving. “It was nice meeting you two. Take care.”



And with that Ichigo left the office with Orihime close behind. The other three looked at each other before following Ichigo, leaving Hitsugaya and Matsumoto alone. Matsumoto eyed her taichou, and noticing his bad mood the woman decided to follow the others, but…



“Where do you think you’re going Matsumoto?” Matsumoto stopped dead in her tracks and looked at her taichou apologetically



-I think she is trying to go with the others-



‘Not now Hyorinmaru.’



-Gee, someone is really grumpy today…just remember, you love her and the sex is fantastic…so let her explain herself first.-



Hitsugaya growled at that comment and he felt himself turning red at the memories the dragon thought were convenient at that moment.



“I just …” Hitsugaya looked at her. For a moment his mind went back to the night they spent together and the name that had left her lips while …while.



“Taichou, are you Ok?”



Hitsugaya jumped when a hand touch his forehead; he looked up to see his fukutaichou frowning in concern at him. Hitsugaya felt the sudden urge to grab her hand and kiss her senseless, to hug her against him; but, he let his pride take over the situation. He slapped Matsumoto’s hand and turned around, missing the hurt in his fukutaichou’s face.



“I am perfectly fine Matsumoto. Now, get to work”





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-This has gone too far Toushirou!-





Hitsugaya almost jumped, startled at the loud growl and the strength behind those words. Around him the rest of the Captains looked at him with curiosity, and Yamamoto-Soutaichou looked at him interested.



“It is something the matter, Hitsugaya-taichou?” asked the old man.



“No, Sir. I apologize for that,” said the young taichou looking serious and trying to conceal his blush from the other Captains.



“Are you sure, Hitsugaya-kun? You were released a few days ago from the fourth division, but, maybe you should rest a little,” commented Ukitake with concern.



Hitsugaya frowned at those words; he looked at Ukitake with his usual expression and shook his head.



“No, thank you Ukitake-taichou; it wasn’t anything to worry about,” he said.



“Very well then,” said Yamamoto returning to his speech about the next step against Aizen’s threat.



‘What the hell was that Hyorinmaru?! You made me look like an idiot’



-Well, you deserve it!!-



‘How come?’



-Because of you I haven’t had any….and I mean any fun with my sweet little kitten!!-



Kyouraku eyed the young Captain with curiosity when the temperature around him changed a little. He let out a small smile when he saw the annoyance evident in Toushirou.



‘You mean to tell me that you scream like that, inside my head, because you haven’t had any ‘fun’ with your kitten? What kitten are you talking about?’



-The one and only, my sweet Haineko.-



There was a moment of silence before Hitsugaya replied



‘Haineko? As in, Matsumoto’s zanpakutou?’



-Yes, I thought you knew!-



‘Well, you did say something, but I though that you were being…well, you.’



-Hey, what’s that suppose to mean? Anyway, I am here to tell you that if you don’t talk with Rangiku I am going to resign my position as your zanpakutou.-



‘You can do that?’



-Well…no, not really. But I can hold my power!-



‘Ok, before you do anything…how it is my fault that Haineko doesn’t want to be with you anymore?’



-Because you made Rangiku feel bad this morning. You didn’t have to slap her hand away, or ignore her when she offered you tea or not train with her as you usually do. -



‘It’s not my fault.’



-Of course it is. Toushirou, you want to be treat like an adult, but, right now you are being childish. I mean, you are jealous over a human!!! Sure, the human is hot and all…-



‘Hot and all?’



-Ok, forget what I said about him. What I mean is that she needs someone to hear her out, someone to hold onto for this time that is really difficult for her. And you are the person she is looking and waiting for.-







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Matsumoto was looking outside the window, the sound of music filling her ears while her mind was full of memories. She had beside her a silver box. The same one Gin had given to her for her birthday.



“I’m such a fool.”



“Why?”



The voice behind her made her jumped a little; she turned around to see her Captain looking at her with a soft smile in his face. It was such an odd gesture coming from him. It wasn’t as if he didn’t smile, it was that it usually was a smirk and the soft, tender smile was reserved only for his childhood friend Hinamori.



“Taichou, you startled me! I don’t like when you sneak around me that way,” she said faking a pout. “One of these days they are going to break free from my uniform and you will be the one at fault.”



That commentary caused a cute blush on her taichou’s face and a giggling from Haineko and a comment that Matsumoto didn’t understand. But that didn’t matter; she had made her taichou blush and that merited a hug against said breasts.



“One of these days you are going to kill me,” said Hitsugaya, redder than before.



“Oh, Taichou. But so many would die happily like that,” said Matsumoto with a smile. “Wouldn’t you at least be happy that I killed you with style?”



Hitsugaya rolled his eyes at the comment but returned the smile Matsumoto had sent his way. He then looked at the music box and then at Matsumoto.



“Who gave you that?”



“Gin did.” The mood turned gloomy for a moment. Hitsugaya looked at the box, glaring with passion to said object.



“I see,” he said turning his attention to Matsumoto. “Well, I was wondering…”



“Yes?” asked Matsumoto curiously when her taichou trailed off and turned around passing his hand over his hair.



“Well, you said that Kurosaki invited you for some drinks…since he had to return to his world…I was wondering if you still wanted to go for those drinks.”



Matsumoto looked at her taichou in surprise, Hitsugaya looked over at her.



“I mean, with me.”



“But, Taichou, you don’t drink,” she said, clearly confused by Hitsugaya’s invitation.



“I know.”



“And you hate going to the bars!”



“I know.”



“Then, why?”



They stayed like that for a long time, the only sound was coming from the music box Gin had given Matsumoto. Hitsugaya was looking for a good explanation while Hyorinmaru hit his head on the ground.



-Just repeat after me: ‘Because I love you’ …come on say it!-



“Because I…I thought it would be nice?”



Hyorinmaru dropped his head to the ground once again. Matsumoto looked at him and smile softly at her taichou.



“Thank you, Taichou. But I think I’ll pass.” Hitsugaya felt like an idiot when she said that. He nodded with a frown and Matsumoto could see the hurt and disappointment in his eyes.



“I see. Ok then…” he turned around and started walking away when a hand on his arm stopped him. He turned around to look directly into Matsumoto’s eyes.



“I don’t want to drink sake today Taichou. But I wouldn’t say not to a cup of tea.”



She gave him a brilliant smile that Hitsugaya found himself returning before nodding his head.



“Tea, it is.”





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Ok, this is for next time!!!



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