The truth behind the smile
The truth behind the smile
Disclaimer: I own nothing!!
Part: 15 of 25
50 years after the execution
"Look, here's a picture of Shuhei-chan with mummy and daddy," cried Rangiku as she passed a picture of a smiling Matsumoto sitting between a very drunk Hisagi and a even more drunk Kyoraku, "She was so pretty!"
Shunsui grinned, "Look at this one, it's a picture of all the girls at the beach! Mom really was beautiful."
"What are you doing in here children?" asked Nanao as she entered the room, it was a room in Kyoraku's mansion where all of Matsumoto's things were kept. Her kimono collection, her albums and anything else she had ever owned.
"I was looking for mummy's zanpakuto," said Rangiku, "Shuhei-chan was telling me about it and so I wanted to see it."
"I take it Captain Hisagi didn't tell you that we buried her zanpakuto with her," said Nanao.
Rangiku pouted, "Really?"
"Yes, that is the usual custom when a Shinigami dies," Nanao explained.
"I see," said Rangiku a little sadly, "Well maybe there is a picture in here of it!" She cried and started to look for a picture of her mother with her zanpakuto.
"Hey, Nanao-san," said Shunsui, "Is there a picture of Ichimaru Gin in here?" he asked.
"Why do you want to see a picture of him?" demanded Nanao, a defensive note creeping into her voice against her will.
"Just wondering," said Shunsui with Ichimaru's smile, "Captain Kira mentioned they were friends, remember? So I just thought that their might be a picture of him in one of her albums. I have never seen a picture of him. I have seen pictures of Aizen and Tosen but never Ichimaru. So was just curious," he explained.
"No there are no pictures of Ichimaru in any of those albums," said Nanao, "He didn't like having his picture taken," it wasn't a lie. Ichimaru was notoriously camera shy, but he always posed obediently for Rangiku. Just that Nanao had personally burnt every single photo Rangiku had of Ichimaru Gin, even though she knew how precious they had been to her friend.
4 months before the execution
"Smile Gin," said Rangiku as soon as she entered the cell, next thing Gin saw was a flash as Rangiku snapped a picture.
"What ya do'n, Rangiku?" wondered Gin, blinking slightly as the flash made him see spots.
"Taking pictures of you for our children," she said, "Why don't I have more pictures of you Gin?"
"Ya know the answer ta that," Gin pointed out, "I don' like my picture taken. It's kind a stupid, ya tell me ta smile but I always smile and the flash hurts my eyes."
"What doesn't hurt your eyes?" demanded Rangiku suddenly irritated, "Light hurts it, wind hurts it, water hurts it. You have such sensitive eyes."
"Ya started get'n mood swings," commented Gin, "Ain't it a bit early?"
"I don't know," she replied slightly exasperated, "Please Gin," she pleaded, "Let me take some pictures of you. I am making a scarp book for our children. A scrap book full of pictures of you, little notes you sent me over the years with flowers and gifts. I just... I just..." she couldn't complete her sentence, she didn't know how to put it into words.
Gin, however, understood. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I am sorry Rangiku, ya can take all the picture ya want."
"Thank you," she said, "Will you do something for me Gin? Will you write something for our children? Something I can put in my scrap book?"
"I don' know what I can say," replied Gin.
"Just say whatever you want," said Rangiku, "You don't have to explain anything. You don't have to tell them why you betrayed Seireitei and Soul Society. Just... just write whatever comes to mind."
Gin smiled a true smile, "I guess I'll tell 'em how much I loved their mother."
Rangiku stiffened a bit in his arms, before she looked up into his eyes. Her own shining with tears, "You know that's the closest you have ever come to telling me that you love me."
"Ya needed me ta say it ta know I loved ya?" wondered Gin, a little surprised and perhaps a little hurt.
"No, but it's nice to hear the words," whispered Rangiku.
"Then I'll say it," replied Gin, "I love ya, always have, always will."
3 months before the execution
"What would you have done if we were having the twins before... before everything?" wondered Rangiku, as they sat sharing a meal.
"Yeah know I ain't good with what ifs," replied Ichimaru indifferently.
"Indulge me Gin," begged Rangiku.
Gin sighed, "If we had the twins before Cap'n Aizen revealed his true face, I would've name my boy Souske and Cap'n Aizen would've insisted that at least he join squad five as soon as he could join the Gotei 13."
Rangiku looked horrified, "You would have drawn our children into your treachery?" she demanded.
"I didn' say that, Rangiku," replied Gin calmly, "Cap'n Aizen often asked me if I wanted ta get ya on our side. If ya would join our side. I told 'im ya wouldn'. Ya were too good, too loyal and took ya duty ta Soul Society and Gotei 13 seriously. Cap'n Aizen wasn' in ta corrupt'n good people. Said it took too much work with indifferent results. That's why Izuru and Hinamori were only ever pawns ta be played. Unless the kids were rotten like me, they would've been no good ta Cap'n Aizen."
"Then why would he want them in Squad five if not to work on them and mold them into the subordinates of Aizen-sama?" wondered Rangiku.
"He would've want 'em cause they were my kids Rangiku," whispered Gin.
"I don't understand."
"I don' expect ya too. Ya had ta know Cap'n Aizen. Had ta really know 'em ta understand," replied Gin.
"What was Aizen to you?" asked Rangiku.
"He was my cap'n," said Gin, his smiling mask firmly in place.
"Gin."
He sighed again, "That's what he was Rangiku. He was my cap'n but I loved him like I would a father and an older brother. Don' know if he loved me back like a son and a younger brother. I wished he did though."
"Are you sorry he's dead?" wondered Rangiku.
Gin shook his head, "Nay, I ain't sorry. Some ambitions shouldn't be achieved."
"Where would I be if your side had won?" asked Rangiku.
"Probably where ya are now," replied Gin with a wide smile, "Knocked-up and in a cell. Except the cell would really be the room ya and I shared, and ya wouldn't be fac'n execution."
"You are assuming I would have let you touch me again," countered Rangiku, her anger raising slightly.
"Ya would have," said Gin with certainty, "Ya have always loved me enough ta overlook my bloody hands, I don' think that would hav' changed."
2 months before the execution
"Why are you doing this?" demanded Nanao as she watched Rangiku going over her latest batch of Gin pictures.
"What do you mean, Nanao?" asked Rangiku, "I want my children to know who their father was."
"Do you? Do you really?" asked Nanao, "If I were you I wouldn't tell them about that bastard. I wouldn't. I would burn every picture of him and do my best to hide his identify from them. If they asked I would lie. I would tell them... I would tell them I got drunk and don't remember who knocked me up or something. Anything is better then the truth!"
"But Gin..."
"Is a traitor. Is a sadistic, manipulative, bastard who was nearly the cause of your death!" cried Nanao, "I can't do this," she said as she got to her feet, "I can't sit here and watch you look at pictures of that snake with that look in your eyes. He doesn't deserve your love. He never has!" with that she turned and left.
Rangiku watched her go with a sad look in her eyes. She had expected this and was prepared for it. She didn't blame Nanao, nor did she worry about Nanao loving her children any less just because they were his children as well. But her words did still hurt. She was awaken from her thought by Captain Kuchiki entrance.
"What brings you here Captain Kuchiki?" she asked, starting the complicated motions to get to her heavily pregnant body to it's feet, "If you are looking for Captain Hitsugaya, he is not here at the moment."
"Please remain seated, Vice-captain Matsumoto," said Byakuya, "My business is actually with you."
"With me?"
"Yes, I have been informed by Vice-captain Kusajishi that you do not have a house within Seireitei and in fact plan to live with the babies in the squad ten barracks," said Byakuya.
"Yes, that's correct," replied Matsumoto.
"I cannot allow that," said Captain Kuchiki, "A squad barrack is no place for infants. Therefore, I offer you the use of one my houses in Seireitei. I have one very close to squad 10. It is currently vacant, let me offer it to you indefinitely and rent free."
Rangiku's eyes widened in sheer surprise, "Captain Kuchiki that's beyond generous of you! I can never thank you enough! Especially since I never got the impression you liked me or Gin for that matter."
"On the contrary I find you rather entertaining and I always enjoyed my little chats with Ichimaru. I would have enjoyed them more if his very presence did not frighten Rukia out her wits," replied Byakuya.
"He tried to kill Rukia!" Rangiku pointed out, "And you ended up taking the blunt of Shinsou's attack!"
"Those are reasons that make me look forward to his execution," replied Byakuya, "Not reasons that will allow me to stand idly by and watch his children suffer when I can do something
to elevate their suffering with negligible impact to myself.
Matsumoto smiled, "Thank you, Captain Kuchiki, you are a very good man," her smile broadened as she added, "I am sure you and Yachiru will be very happy together when she is old enough to marry."
Byakuya's face went red as a cherry blossom and he made a swift exit from the room. Rangiku, however, noted that he didn't protest. Rangiku made a mental note to drop a hint to Yachiru to get on with the whole growing up thing.
Author's note: I feel like I should explain why I have Rangiku and Nanao be such close friends in the story. Apart from the fact that they are both members of the Shinigami Women's association and Kyoraku is Rangiku's drinking buddy I went off the Valentine's Day Omake, given below. In it, Rangiku comments about Nanao's chocolate making and seems to imply that they make Valentines chocolate together every year. Rangiku also teases Nanao about making the chocolate for Kyoraku but not having the guts to give it him and for writing something she didn't mean on it. I know it's still making a mountain out of a molehill but when everything is taken into account (they both appear to be close to each other in age, both members of Shinigami women's association, both linked to Captain Kyoraku, both Vice-captains with opposite personalities to their captains etc) to me seemed enough to write them as close friends. Friends who make valentines chocolate together and tease each other about the people they want to give the chocolate to.
Also, during Diamond Dust Rebellion Nanao and Kyoraku, along with Renji, were the only people to visit Rangiku when she was placed under house arrest and the only people who went just to see her. Renji was trying to find information from her to help Ichigo. So you know there are other signs that Rangiku, Nanao and Kyoraku are close. Also, there is episode 228 - the Bleach Beach special. There again Rangiku and Nanao were shown to be close because while Rangiku isn't one to conform to social norms, her interaction with Nanao during that episode would be extremely uncomfortable (especially given Nanao personality type) if they weren't good friends. Not to mention that during the next weeks previews Rangiku offers to strip to get the guys to complement them and Nanao is the one that holds her down. Again, proof that she's a person who acts as a foil and wet blanket to Rangiku's outrageous personality and actions, something mere acquiescence/colleagues just wouldn't do.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!!
Part: 15 of 25
50 years after the execution
"Look, here's a picture of Shuhei-chan with mummy and daddy," cried Rangiku as she passed a picture of a smiling Matsumoto sitting between a very drunk Hisagi and a even more drunk Kyoraku, "She was so pretty!"
Shunsui grinned, "Look at this one, it's a picture of all the girls at the beach! Mom really was beautiful."
"What are you doing in here children?" asked Nanao as she entered the room, it was a room in Kyoraku's mansion where all of Matsumoto's things were kept. Her kimono collection, her albums and anything else she had ever owned.
"I was looking for mummy's zanpakuto," said Rangiku, "Shuhei-chan was telling me about it and so I wanted to see it."
"I take it Captain Hisagi didn't tell you that we buried her zanpakuto with her," said Nanao.
Rangiku pouted, "Really?"
"Yes, that is the usual custom when a Shinigami dies," Nanao explained.
"I see," said Rangiku a little sadly, "Well maybe there is a picture in here of it!" She cried and started to look for a picture of her mother with her zanpakuto.
"Hey, Nanao-san," said Shunsui, "Is there a picture of Ichimaru Gin in here?" he asked.
"Why do you want to see a picture of him?" demanded Nanao, a defensive note creeping into her voice against her will.
"Just wondering," said Shunsui with Ichimaru's smile, "Captain Kira mentioned they were friends, remember? So I just thought that their might be a picture of him in one of her albums. I have never seen a picture of him. I have seen pictures of Aizen and Tosen but never Ichimaru. So was just curious," he explained.
"No there are no pictures of Ichimaru in any of those albums," said Nanao, "He didn't like having his picture taken," it wasn't a lie. Ichimaru was notoriously camera shy, but he always posed obediently for Rangiku. Just that Nanao had personally burnt every single photo Rangiku had of Ichimaru Gin, even though she knew how precious they had been to her friend.
4 months before the execution
"Smile Gin," said Rangiku as soon as she entered the cell, next thing Gin saw was a flash as Rangiku snapped a picture.
"What ya do'n, Rangiku?" wondered Gin, blinking slightly as the flash made him see spots.
"Taking pictures of you for our children," she said, "Why don't I have more pictures of you Gin?"
"Ya know the answer ta that," Gin pointed out, "I don' like my picture taken. It's kind a stupid, ya tell me ta smile but I always smile and the flash hurts my eyes."
"What doesn't hurt your eyes?" demanded Rangiku suddenly irritated, "Light hurts it, wind hurts it, water hurts it. You have such sensitive eyes."
"Ya started get'n mood swings," commented Gin, "Ain't it a bit early?"
"I don't know," she replied slightly exasperated, "Please Gin," she pleaded, "Let me take some pictures of you. I am making a scarp book for our children. A scrap book full of pictures of you, little notes you sent me over the years with flowers and gifts. I just... I just..." she couldn't complete her sentence, she didn't know how to put it into words.
Gin, however, understood. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I am sorry Rangiku, ya can take all the picture ya want."
"Thank you," she said, "Will you do something for me Gin? Will you write something for our children? Something I can put in my scrap book?"
"I don' know what I can say," replied Gin.
"Just say whatever you want," said Rangiku, "You don't have to explain anything. You don't have to tell them why you betrayed Seireitei and Soul Society. Just... just write whatever comes to mind."
Gin smiled a true smile, "I guess I'll tell 'em how much I loved their mother."
Rangiku stiffened a bit in his arms, before she looked up into his eyes. Her own shining with tears, "You know that's the closest you have ever come to telling me that you love me."
"Ya needed me ta say it ta know I loved ya?" wondered Gin, a little surprised and perhaps a little hurt.
"No, but it's nice to hear the words," whispered Rangiku.
"Then I'll say it," replied Gin, "I love ya, always have, always will."
3 months before the execution
"What would you have done if we were having the twins before... before everything?" wondered Rangiku, as they sat sharing a meal.
"Yeah know I ain't good with what ifs," replied Ichimaru indifferently.
"Indulge me Gin," begged Rangiku.
Gin sighed, "If we had the twins before Cap'n Aizen revealed his true face, I would've name my boy Souske and Cap'n Aizen would've insisted that at least he join squad five as soon as he could join the Gotei 13."
Rangiku looked horrified, "You would have drawn our children into your treachery?" she demanded.
"I didn' say that, Rangiku," replied Gin calmly, "Cap'n Aizen often asked me if I wanted ta get ya on our side. If ya would join our side. I told 'im ya wouldn'. Ya were too good, too loyal and took ya duty ta Soul Society and Gotei 13 seriously. Cap'n Aizen wasn' in ta corrupt'n good people. Said it took too much work with indifferent results. That's why Izuru and Hinamori were only ever pawns ta be played. Unless the kids were rotten like me, they would've been no good ta Cap'n Aizen."
"Then why would he want them in Squad five if not to work on them and mold them into the subordinates of Aizen-sama?" wondered Rangiku.
"He would've want 'em cause they were my kids Rangiku," whispered Gin.
"I don't understand."
"I don' expect ya too. Ya had ta know Cap'n Aizen. Had ta really know 'em ta understand," replied Gin.
"What was Aizen to you?" asked Rangiku.
"He was my cap'n," said Gin, his smiling mask firmly in place.
"Gin."
He sighed again, "That's what he was Rangiku. He was my cap'n but I loved him like I would a father and an older brother. Don' know if he loved me back like a son and a younger brother. I wished he did though."
"Are you sorry he's dead?" wondered Rangiku.
Gin shook his head, "Nay, I ain't sorry. Some ambitions shouldn't be achieved."
"Where would I be if your side had won?" asked Rangiku.
"Probably where ya are now," replied Gin with a wide smile, "Knocked-up and in a cell. Except the cell would really be the room ya and I shared, and ya wouldn't be fac'n execution."
"You are assuming I would have let you touch me again," countered Rangiku, her anger raising slightly.
"Ya would have," said Gin with certainty, "Ya have always loved me enough ta overlook my bloody hands, I don' think that would hav' changed."
2 months before the execution
"Why are you doing this?" demanded Nanao as she watched Rangiku going over her latest batch of Gin pictures.
"What do you mean, Nanao?" asked Rangiku, "I want my children to know who their father was."
"Do you? Do you really?" asked Nanao, "If I were you I wouldn't tell them about that bastard. I wouldn't. I would burn every picture of him and do my best to hide his identify from them. If they asked I would lie. I would tell them... I would tell them I got drunk and don't remember who knocked me up or something. Anything is better then the truth!"
"But Gin..."
"Is a traitor. Is a sadistic, manipulative, bastard who was nearly the cause of your death!" cried Nanao, "I can't do this," she said as she got to her feet, "I can't sit here and watch you look at pictures of that snake with that look in your eyes. He doesn't deserve your love. He never has!" with that she turned and left.
Rangiku watched her go with a sad look in her eyes. She had expected this and was prepared for it. She didn't blame Nanao, nor did she worry about Nanao loving her children any less just because they were his children as well. But her words did still hurt. She was awaken from her thought by Captain Kuchiki entrance.
"What brings you here Captain Kuchiki?" she asked, starting the complicated motions to get to her heavily pregnant body to it's feet, "If you are looking for Captain Hitsugaya, he is not here at the moment."
"Please remain seated, Vice-captain Matsumoto," said Byakuya, "My business is actually with you."
"With me?"
"Yes, I have been informed by Vice-captain Kusajishi that you do not have a house within Seireitei and in fact plan to live with the babies in the squad ten barracks," said Byakuya.
"Yes, that's correct," replied Matsumoto.
"I cannot allow that," said Captain Kuchiki, "A squad barrack is no place for infants. Therefore, I offer you the use of one my houses in Seireitei. I have one very close to squad 10. It is currently vacant, let me offer it to you indefinitely and rent free."
Rangiku's eyes widened in sheer surprise, "Captain Kuchiki that's beyond generous of you! I can never thank you enough! Especially since I never got the impression you liked me or Gin for that matter."
"On the contrary I find you rather entertaining and I always enjoyed my little chats with Ichimaru. I would have enjoyed them more if his very presence did not frighten Rukia out her wits," replied Byakuya.
"He tried to kill Rukia!" Rangiku pointed out, "And you ended up taking the blunt of Shinsou's attack!"
"Those are reasons that make me look forward to his execution," replied Byakuya, "Not reasons that will allow me to stand idly by and watch his children suffer when I can do something
to elevate their suffering with negligible impact to myself.
Matsumoto smiled, "Thank you, Captain Kuchiki, you are a very good man," her smile broadened as she added, "I am sure you and Yachiru will be very happy together when she is old enough to marry."
Byakuya's face went red as a cherry blossom and he made a swift exit from the room. Rangiku, however, noted that he didn't protest. Rangiku made a mental note to drop a hint to Yachiru to get on with the whole growing up thing.
Author's note: I feel like I should explain why I have Rangiku and Nanao be such close friends in the story. Apart from the fact that they are both members of the Shinigami Women's association and Kyoraku is Rangiku's drinking buddy I went off the Valentine's Day Omake, given below. In it, Rangiku comments about Nanao's chocolate making and seems to imply that they make Valentines chocolate together every year. Rangiku also teases Nanao about making the chocolate for Kyoraku but not having the guts to give it him and for writing something she didn't mean on it. I know it's still making a mountain out of a molehill but when everything is taken into account (they both appear to be close to each other in age, both members of Shinigami women's association, both linked to Captain Kyoraku, both Vice-captains with opposite personalities to their captains etc) to me seemed enough to write them as close friends. Friends who make valentines chocolate together and tease each other about the people they want to give the chocolate to.
Also, during Diamond Dust Rebellion Nanao and Kyoraku, along with Renji, were the only people to visit Rangiku when she was placed under house arrest and the only people who went just to see her. Renji was trying to find information from her to help Ichigo. So you know there are other signs that Rangiku, Nanao and Kyoraku are close. Also, there is episode 228 - the Bleach Beach special. There again Rangiku and Nanao were shown to be close because while Rangiku isn't one to conform to social norms, her interaction with Nanao during that episode would be extremely uncomfortable (especially given Nanao personality type) if they weren't good friends. Not to mention that during the next weeks previews Rangiku offers to strip to get the guys to complement them and Nanao is the one that holds her down. Again, proof that she's a person who acts as a foil and wet blanket to Rangiku's outrageous personality and actions, something mere acquiescence/colleagues just wouldn't do.