[ Action, Voice ]

[ashesandpearls]

[The clock turns midnight, and all seems to be normal in the apartment of the two shinigami who sleep with their reiatsu tightly banked. But when Hitsugaya wakes up in the morning - far earlier than his lieutenant - he notices immediately that something is different. The reiatsu which is normally banked has changed - it no longer feels like his

Comments

DONE :D

[likeafirework]

[And then he looks her over, his gaze stopping on the bright silver chain around her neck.

That doesn't work either.

His eyes narrow and he regards her with suspicion. That's not his lieutenant. She feels slightly wrong, she's wearing the wrong necklace, addressing him differently...] Who are you?

[ashesandpearls]

[Normally, she would flop back on the bed and possibly tease him for his rudeness, but her fellow captain hadn't taken his hand off his sword, so she doesn't. Leaving one hand on Haineko, she lifts the other to rearrange her rumpled hair.]

The same as I was yesterday, Captain Matsumoto Rangiku of the Third Division.

[She shoots him a sudden sharp look.] And I called you Hitsugaya yesterday as well. Is there something wrong with your memory?

[likeafirework]

... Captain? [No, really. Captain? He never really doubted she had the power for bankai, but the motivation -- that was a different story.]

Yesterday, I called you 'lieutenant.'

[ashesandpearls]

[Oh now, that is unamusing. There's the faintest hint of steel in her voice.] I haven't been a lieutenant since - [well, never you mind how long she's been a captain] - long before I met you.

[likeafirework]

[He hears that steel and, frankly, it's disconcerting. He's heard that before, but never quite like this.]

Impossible. [His voice is flat.] You're my lieutenant.

[ashesandpearls]

[He sounds so certain. But she knows he's wrong - and he still hasn't taken his hand off Hyourinmaru.] Maaaa, this is troublesome.

[She deliberately lays Haineko aside.] We'll sort this out after coffee. Or are you still tea?

[likeafirework]

[It takes him a moment, but he puts Hyourinmaru aside. He's not sure what it is, but there is something still familiar about her. She is Matsumoto Rangiku somehow.]

I think this might be a coffee day.

[ashesandpearls]

Mmmm, seems like. [She gets up and ties a loose sheer robe over whatever it was she was or wasn't wearing and ambles barefoot into the kitchen to start making them coffee. Getting attacked by her flatmate wasn't exactly top on her list of things to do, but it did have the remarkable side-effect of waking one up.

Coffee would make everything more palatable.

...His lieutenant? She doesn't even know what to think about that.]

[likeafirework]

[Hitsugaya stands there for a minute, absolutely confused and already deciding to blame Luceti and hating it. Hating it. This is his lieutenant this town has taken away from him now. She's the only person here she absolutely trusts and now? Now she doesn't remember being his lieutenant at all.

He hates this place.

He turns on his heel and stalks into his room. Excuse him for a moment; he's having this conversation dressed, thank you very much. After a few moments, he appears at the kitchen door, leaning his shoulder on the doorjamb and simply watching for a moment.

On any other morning, watching her make coffee might be normal.]

[ashesandpearls]

[She can feel him watching her. She wonders if the tease that comes to her so easily is appropriate in this kind of situation. And then she discards the concern - since when did she care about a little thing like that when it came to teasing one of her favorite captains?]

Next time, I'll sell tickets. [She casts a grin at him over her shoulder.] It's bad business to provide a free show.

[likeafirework]

[He's silent for a moment as he takes that in. When he speaks, he doesn't move.]

Some things never change.

[ashesandpearls]

[Aaah, so they were going to be Very Serious, were they? She sighs. It figures. When the coffee is done, she pours two cups and brings them to the table.

But has been long habit of hers, she doesn't take a drink at first, just cradles the cup in her hands. The look she gives him is part invention, part challenge.] Well?

[likeafirework]

[Once she's got the coffee poured, Hitsugaya pushes off the doorjamb -- almost reluctantly -- and sits at the table. There's a part of him that's railing against all this, calling it absolutely, completely unfair and he's a little ruthless when he pushes those thoughts aside. Those are a child's thoughts and he's a captain.

Still, he can't help it when he looks at her. He's never had a different lieutenant. He doesn't want a different lieutenant (despite threats to the contrary -- and this is just... It's just...

It's not right.]

Well, what? [He takes a sip of the coffee and gives her a hard look. She wouldn't just be messing with him, would she? As soon as the thought surfaces, it's dismissed. Even she knows not to pull something like this, especially with such timing.] You were my lieutenant when we went to sleep.

[ashesandpearls]

[Her voice is velvet edged steel.] Suppose we start not with claims and accusations, but with questions. Because I assure you, I am no lieutenant.

[She meets his look without flinching, and without further challenge, but there is no doubt that pound for she is not backing down, and she is not amused. She's been a respected captain for longer than he has been a shinigami. Having it questioned in this way does not amuse.]

What do you remember about the first time we met?

[It's a test, feel free to test back.]

[likeafirework]

[His chin rises at her words, subtly, and his look becomes one reserved for Very Serious Conversations -- and edging on the one he gives those who doubt his ability and experience. Accusations and claims? That alone makes his back stiffen and has him setting the coffee down on the table. He can see she is not amused; so be it. Neither is he. She may think she's a captain now -- and her reiatsu may very well back that claim -- but he's worked damned hard for his position and even she can't treat him in this way. His voice is flat, clipped -- he does recognize the need to establish a baseline here, but that doesn't mean he'll be happy to answer questions.]

The market. [And then, because he won't sit there and simply answer her questions, he asks one of his own.] When were you promoted?

[ashesandpearls]

[In all the ways of nonverbal communication, Hitsugaya will have the advantage over her. Her expressions are essentially the same, and he has had years of practice in reading them. While Captain Matsumoto considers Hitsugaya a friend, she hasn't had the chance to bust in under his exterior as his lieutenant has done, and many of his expressions read 'blank,' and 'serious,' and 'grumpy' to her.

But 'the market' was a familiar - and true answer. She glances down to her yet untouched coffee in a moment's consideration before flicking her gaze back up to him.]

About thirty years before that merchant decided to be so rude to you. [A sigh. And then she decides to talk. Just talk. With simple, uncalculated openness.] I was astonished at the strength of your reiatsu. You joined the Academy shortly after I spoke with you about it, and I had hoped I was wrong, that I'd be able to recruit you to the third, but when you graduated from the Academy you were promoted to Captain right away. I threw you a party instead. You hated it. I