Helping Hands
Helping Hands
The next day, a Sunday, Yachiru and Unohana were to head back to Seireitei for the remainder of Yachiru’s two week vacation. As a sort of goodbye, Matsumoto and Hitsugaya took them to lunch, Yachiru’s choice, and to the beach. When she ordered dessert first, and none of the adults complained, the waiter gave them a bit of a funny look. All went well until a waitress came up to talk with them, interested in Yachiru and Hitsugaya’s hair.
Even that wasn’t too terrible, until the waitress mentioned Yachiru’s looking ‘like her daddy.’ Yachiru took the compliment and expertly relayed it to Hitsugaya, in the fashion of, “See, Daddy. Did you hear that? She thinks I’m pretty, so that means she thinks you’re pretty, too, cause she said we look alike!”
Hitsugaya nearly fainted. Luckily Unohana and Matsumoto picked up on his discomfort quickly enough and were able to sidestep any serious tragedy.
Hitsugaya and Matsumoto saw the others off that evening, and Matsumoto even consented to allow Yachiru to take Futsuka with her. The cat and the girl seemed equally taken with one another, and Hitsugaya would appreciate not having either around for a couple of weeks. So far, he’d dealt with it well.
After seeing the others off, Matsumoto set about to make dinner, as the side trip to the beach they’d taken had left them both quite hungry. All the running and swimming left them exhausted as well. Matsumoto was pleasantly surprised at how much Hitsugaya allowed himself to relax when they were at the beach, even swimming with her and helping the ladies build a sandcastle large enough Yachiru could live in it.
Dinner was simple, Matsumoto lacking the energy to come up with anything too resplendent. Afterward, though both were tired, neither were ready to turn in for the night so they ventured to the video store, settling to do something that didn’t require any real energy on their parts.
“What do you want?” Hitsugaya was browsing through the comedy section, wondering who the people with their names on the covers were.
“Ooh, what about this one?” Matsumoto held one up, displaying it to Hitsugaya. From the cover and title he could tell that it looked to be some kind of romance, maybe a romantic comedy if he was lucky. “Or this one?” She held up another, this one with a decidedly stereotypic horror scene on the front cover.
“I thought you didn’t like horror?” Hitsugaya asked, perplexed. Why would she want to rent something she wouldn’t enjoy?
“I don’t, but don’t you?” Matsumoto shrugged. “Besides, if I’ve got you there, I don’t actually have to watch.” She smiled and winked flirtatiously. Hitsugaya responded with an eye roll.
“What about this one? It looks funny, and kind of sounds like that romance stuff you like so well,” Hitsugaya displayed another option that caught his eye.
“I don’t know… what about that one? It looks good,” not entirely happy with Hitsugaya’s choice, Matsumoto pointed out another. “This one is prettier.”
“You want a video because it’s pretty?” befuddled, Hitsugaya just shook his head in disbelief. At least it was an Medieval setting action film. And, for whatever reason, it seemed such a typical thing for Matsumoto to say.
Neither willing to compromise on just one, they decided to simply get both and argue over which they watched first. It was unlikely that they would make it awake for the duration of the first, much less the both.
When they made it home they put Matsumoto’s film in first. How she regretted that all of twenty minutes later. The previews were no problem, but then the movie opened with a scream and some sort of gruesome scene, leading into yet another scene of the same type.
Matsumoto whimpered and snuggled into Hitsugaya’s side, squeezing her eyes shut and refusing to look at the screen. “Ran, you’ve got to move so I can turn it off,” Hitsugaya tried to console her long enough to turn off the player.
“No. I can’t,” Matsumoto sounded tearful. “Use the remote.”
“I left the remote on the coffee table. I can’t reach it. You’ve got to let go of me just for a minute,” Hitsugaya tried to console her with a hug. Finally she released her grip on him long enough for him to turn off the movie.
When Hitsugaya turned back around Matsumoto still looked on the verge of tears and he couldn’t help the small smile and chuckle emanated from him. He put the other video in but didn’t turn on the player. He went back to the sofa and sat beside Matsumoto who immediately latched onto him again. At least he’d remembered to bring the remote with him.
This movie turned out to be much more enjoyable for both of them. Nearly halfway through the movie, Matsumoto lost interest and decided to focus on the attention Hitsugaya had been deprived of for the last several days. Laying on the sofa with her head in his lap, she reached up, lacing her fingers in his hair and beckoning for him to lean down.
He met her lips in a slow kiss, trying to savor the moment for fear he wouldn’t have it again for a while. Really, with Yachiru’s ‘growing up’ she wasn’t such a hassle anymore, but there were things neither wanted spread around all of Seireitei. The fact that they spent an hour and a half making out was one of them. That was simply accepted, but the idea was never confirmed.
Matsumoto broke their kiss to trail kisses along his neck and jaw. She teased him some, unbuttoning the buttons on his Polo shirt and placing kisses on his skin there. As per their unspoken rule, she trailed no further, instead trailing her kisses back up. She shifted in his arms and he began rubbing his hands lightly over her back and stomach, the soft circles gently massaging her skin.
Feeling adventurous, he grazed the sides of her breasts, eliciting a hum of pleasure and a cocky grin from Matsumoto. He continued touching softly along the sides and just beneath, but dared to venture no further. They continued their much missed petting until both fell asleep in one another’s arms. Hitsugaya did wish, when he woke in the morning, that they’d have moved to the bed to avoid the crick in his neck.
oOoOo
The next week turned out to be quite hectic. At the clinic Hitsugaya was working long hours, and even Matsumoto was called in to help much more than usual. It seemed that since it was the summer holiday for the students of Karakura, more people were getting themselves into careless accidents. It seemed the clinic was filled for the first half of the week with patients with broken limbs, nothing too serious, and the second half with patients suffering from exercise related aches and pains.
When their phones alerted them to a large hollow in the area, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto were most keen on the break from the clinic. Luckily their soul candies were able to do the basic chores of their jobs.
Matsumoto trailed a step behind Hitsugaya as they made their way to the park. It seemed the stupid things always picked the park to show up in. At least there was a good deal of room where they didn’t have to worry too much about damaging the surroundings.
The hollow was actually fairly easy to kill, but he put up a good defense. Initially every time Hitsugaya lunged for it, it ducked. When Matsumoto had a go at it, releasing Haineko, it somehow sidestepped the ash and managed a very low-class sonido.
Hitsugaya threw a few kido spells at it, which it caught but didn’t harm it much. Finally it raised something akin to a shield to block the last kido blast Hitsugaya attempted. At least it was focused on him and Matsumoto rather than the people around.
The battle together allowed Hitsugaya and Matsumoto to easily slip into comfortable fighting stances, he giving commands and she doing as he said before he managed to get most of it out. “Matsumoto, you go around, keep Haineko up, and attack from the back. I’ll go for the front,” Hitsugaya yelled the short distance across the park. Matsumoto was to the back of the hollow before Hitsugaya managed to get the word ‘around’ spoken.
Sensing the other’s readiness for their joint attack, both lunged at the hollow, Haineko reforming into a solid form and Hyourinmaru returning as well. The zanpakutos howled with pleasure as their wielders swooped in for the final blow.
“That wasn’t my idea of a break, but I guess it worked,” Matsumoto was talking as they walked back to the clinic.
“At least it was something to do besides telling people they’ve only got a sunburn,” Hitsugaya was quite thankful for the break in the idiocy. “They’re worse than dealing with the eleventh division.”
They stopped in front of the doors of the clinic momentarily. Matsumoto pulled Hitsugaya into a hug, whispering, “That was an excellent job today. I think you deserve a kiss for all of your hard work.” She captured his lips in a deep kiss, which he promptly responded to.
Seconds later sobbing and happy crying was heard. Unbeknownst to them, they’d acquired an audience in the form of Isshin and Yuzu, both of whom were holding one another and crying dramatically at the ‘sweetness’ of the sight.
“My little Rangiku-chan has grown up now, and little Hitsugaya-kun isn’t anymore,” Isshin bemoaned. He reminded Hitsugaya very much of Kyoraku, and he wondered if perhaps the two had been good friends.
Matsumoto blushed lightly, Hitsugaya’s own blush three times darker. “We really don’t need an audience, thanks,” Hitsugaya grumped, displeased with the situation. Matsumoto giggled as she and Hitsugaya made their way past the two people in the doorway to find their gigais.
At least that seemed to be the worst of their week. Or Hitsugaya thought until Matsumoto received a call from Yachiru on Friday.
“Yachiru-chan? What’s wrong?” How many heartbreaks would she have to deal with for the week? And what could have happened?
“It’s no fair, Ran-chan. Why does she get to go have fun with him? Ken-chan won’t let me go out and play with Byakushi…” Yachiru was crying, clearly distraught over something. From what Matsumoto could discern, Byakuya had gone out with a woman (which in itself was a surprise) and Yachiru wanted to go out with him as well. Zaraki was right, though. If it was dating she was speaking of, she was too young. At least for someone like Byakuya. Hanataro maybe…
“Yachiru-chan, sweetie, what happened? Who did Byakushi go out with? And where?” Matsumoto was fishing for answers, trying to get a grasp on the full picture.
“He took her out to dinner,” was all Yachiru returned.
“Well, Sweetie, I think Ken-chan is right. You’re still a bit young to be going out with grown men like Byakuya.”
“But, Ran-chan, he was mean to me. He told me to leave cause he didn’t want that lady to see me,” Yachiru sniffled a few times and burst into tears again.
“Look, Yachiru-chan, why don’t I see if I can come back to Seireitei for a few hours. You can talk to me and tell me all about it, okay? Will that make you feel a little better?” Matsumoto suggested, wondering why she was suddenly everyone’s private heartbreak counselor. Well, technically, Hitsugaya was Renji’s.
“Will you Ran-chan?” Yachiru stopped crying long enough to accept Matsumoto’s offer.
“I’ll be there in a couple of hours, okay. Why don’t you go find Retsu-chan, and I’ll come meet you in the fourth division?” Matsumoto finalized her plans and set out to find Hitsugaya.
Matsumoto explained her situation, grumbling lightly about being the one everyone decided to call, and fussing because people were obviously up to no good. Hitsugaya laughed, telling her she better hurry before someone else’s heart broke. Matsumoto left him from the clinic, giving him a quick peck on the lips before she left and promising to be back Saturday, early evening.
oOoOo
Arriving in Seireitei was definitely a bit of an uplifting event for Matsumoto. She always enjoyed the feeling of coming home. She stopped by momentarily to peak in on Renji and ask about his recovery.
“Eh, I reckon I’m okay. It’s been a little weird in the office lately, but we’re making it,” he told her, frowning but shrugging it off.
“Well, I’m sure it’ll be okay in the end. It may take a bit, but things will return to comfortable before long,” she tried to assure him.
“I know. She’s been talking ‘bout transferring to third division, though. Says she’d be happy to give up ‘er spot as fukutaicho. I told her I thought she was crazy, and she got mad at me. I didn’t mean it ‘bout Kira, though,” Renji heaved a heavy sigh, looking saddened and near tearful again.
“You’re not the only one unhappy today, it seems. From what I can tell, Kuchiki taicho has broken someone’s heart. And she’s very upset about it. I just hope she doesn’t blow up another kitchen. Well, unless it’s his,” laughing, Matsumoto tried to cheer Renji up. He finally caught on and laughed with her.
“It would do him some good, the cocky bastard. Yachiru could really show him one.” Renji and Matsumoto carried on their banter, joking about the best ways to get revenge on Byakuya. Some of the simpler ranged from toilet papering his front garden to gluing his chair to the floor. The more extreme hovered around slipping him a sleeping pill and secretly delivering him to the twelfth division.
Matsumoto sighed. “Renji, I have to go, I’ve wasted a lot of time already. I’m supposed to be here to see Yachiru.”
“Indeed, can’t let your best student down, can you?” Renji laughed with her, seeing her to the door of his office. Before she stepped out he remembered her promise. “Ran-chan, I believe you owe me a kiss, remember?” he smiled widely.
Matsumoto rolled her eyes. “You’re too forward, that’s what your problem is. Take it down a notch and you’ll have a girlfriend in no time. And a good one.” Regardless of her playful scolding, she obliged and kept her end of the bargain, kissing Renji softly on the cheek. “I suppose since you seem clean today.” She only hoped no one saw. The rumors would be terrible if they did. Well, Hitsugaya did say he didn’t care.
Yachiru was waiting for Matsumoto in the fourth division like she was told. When Matsumoto found her, she was crying in the arms of one very disturbed Hanataro. Matsumoto’s heart, soft already, instantly melted in sympathy for the young girl. She quickly crossed to her, relieving Hanataro and thanking him.
“Hi Yachiru-chan. You want to go for a walk with me?” Matsumoto suggested, hoping it would calm the girl down.
“Rangiku-san,” Hanataro said as Yachiru was drying her tears and agreeing to the walk, “She was okay for a good bit, but just a few minutes ago she said something about Byakushi being mean, I think, and then… started crying again.” Hanataro stammered around only slightly. He was getting better at this talking to Matsumoto business, at least. Matsumoto smiled.
“Thanks Hana-chan. We’ll go for a walk and see if we can’t get some relief.” With that, Matsumoto set out for a walk around Seireitei, Yachiru holding her hand like a lifeline.
Matsumoto learned that the woman in question was none other than Yoruichi, and she and Byakuya were going out to celebrate an old family tradition, shared between the two noble families. She guessed that Urahara may not have been with Yoruichi, but if Byakuya was going out with her it was because of a lost bet or blackmail. So, chances are good that Urahara trusted her anyhow.
Though that did not change the fact that Byakuya was, in fact, quite callous in his dealings with Yachiru. He must have been in rather a foul mood. Matsumoto couldn’t recall him ever using such harsh language, and the last time they’d seen each other, Byakuya acted almost sad to see Yachiru going away for so long a time. For the stoic noble, anything aside from pissy was an improvement to his temperament.
Still, she resolved to have Hitsugaya kick his ass. Telling Yachiru, with a few more choice and much more unkind words, to leave him alone and find someone else to annoy just did not sit well with Matsumoto. Maybe it was her recessive mothering instinct. Whatever it was, she was unhappy with one sixth division taicho. Actually, she could probably get Renji to do it, if she asked politely. And promised a few bottles of sake.
Matsumoto and Yachiru spent the evening and the night in Matsumoto’s rooms, since Yachiru lived with Zaraki. She convinced Yachiru that she should try pursuing someone younger for the moment. Though Byakushi was indeed a fine piece of man-candy, he was a bit too old for Yachiru yet. Another two decades, and she could ask him to marry her. If only she knew how much to heart Yachiru took that.
But, perhaps, in the meantime she should chase after Hanataro. He could use the experience. Though it was rather unusual to think on, as Hanataro and Hitsugaya were about the same age, give or take a decade.
She promised Yachiru a pancake breakfast the next morning, and both were sound asleep by midnight. Quite a record for Matsumoto.
oOoOo
Hitsugaya, on the other hand, did not have things so easy. Friday afternoon there was a wreck near the clinic. The only lucky thing they could say was that no one was killed from it.
The six patients brought in had a collection of two broken legs, seven spots needing stitches, a sprained wrist, and two concussions. Luckily there was no major surgery involved, and all but the two with a concussion were allowed home that night. Hitsugaya was just happy to have the weekends off. He maintained a sort of on-call status, but only once had Isshin called him in, and that was simply to relieve Yuzu for the afternoon.
And now that he was home, by himself, he had no one to talk to but Hyourinmaru. He knew he could call someone up, but Matsumoto was busy with Yachiru, and though he considered Renji a friend, that was still… a bit on the side of awkward to be calling him up to chat. It wasn't something common among guys anyway.
Therefore, he was currently sitting inside his inner world conversing with the dragon one on one.
‘Master, what happens to be troubling you of late?’ Hyourinmaru inquired, sensing Hitsugaya’s unease.
Hitsugaya sighed. “I’m just… unsure of a few things, that’s all.”
The dragon, though he looked vicious, could actually be quite the gentle giant. Hitsugaya stroked his head and Hyourinmaru let out a low rumble, something akin to a purr.
“You’ve been spending too much time with Haineko, you’ve learned to purr,” Hitsugaya commented, laughing.
‘Perhaps, though I only spend as much time alone with Haineko as you do with Rangiku, or thereabout,’ Hyourinmaru gave the equivalent of a shrug.
“Huh. Really?” Hitsugaya spoke quietly, deep in thought about whatever was on his mind. When he was in this world, Hyourinmaru couldn’t hear his thoughts. The dragon did sense something amiss, something Hitsugaya was gathering all of his courage for.
‘Toshiro, what do you prepare for? Are the defining battles not long over?’ Yes, Hitsugaya decided, the dragon was spending entirely too much time with the cat. He was now looking at Hitsugaya with his head cocked to the side and that funny eye squint that Futsuka often had.
“Those battles have been over for more than a year and some now.” Hitsugaya still didn’t answer Hyourinmaru’s question.
‘Then what makes you gather your courage and resolve like you are doing? Is there something else pending that I do not know?’ Hyourinmaru wore a look of concern.
Hitsugaya hesitated. The ice dragon would know soon enough anyway, but he was still unsure of it himself. Once he made up his mind, though, he refused to turn back. Another look of concern from Hyourinmaru and he decided it was now or never to share.
“I think… I’ve changed my mind. I think that I… don’t want to wait any longer.” Hitsugaya blushed, even if it was a private conversation between him and his zanpakuto.
‘About Rangiku?’ Hyourinmaru requested confirmation. Hitsugaya nodded, still blushing. ‘What do you intend to do?’
“That’s where I get lost. I have no idea. Does she want the candlelit dinner and a stroll on the beach? Or would she prefer something simpler, or more elaborate?” Hitsugaya cradled his head in his hands. “I have no freaking idea how in the hell to ‘set the mood.’” He leant back, hitting his head lightly on the wall of the cave.
‘Why not ask her? Or your new friend? He must have some ideas. Zabimaru talks of his attempts to woo women often. From what I understand he has rather a high success rate where your problem is concerned,’ Hyourinmaru knew about as much about human relationships as Hitsugaya. That meant that they were left pretty much in the dark. ‘Or you could do some research on it. Do they not have books here?’
“Wow, that’s a great idea. I think I will.” Hitsugaya conversed some more with Hyourinmaru, trying to build up his courage. When he came consciously into the human world again, he quickly made ready and headed for the nearest library. He’d never blushed so hard in his life.
oOoOo
With the new plethora of knowledge acquired about the best way to ‘set the mood,’ Hitsugaya walked confidently back to the flat. He worked on his plan for the next night, praying silently that nothing would go too wrong before, or during, then. He anticipated using what, according to the last magazine he happened across, was supposed to be simple and romantic, without going absolutely overboard.
The article suggested using just a few candles about the room (and perhaps a nice homemade meal, which he also wanted to try, but was too worried and nervous to do anything proper with) and the optional soft music in the background. He was without any way to play the music, even if he knew the first thing about what to pick. Hyourinmaru kept up his encouraging statements, reassuring Hitsugaya that his actions would be well received. Hitsugaya was grateful for the dragon. Without him he probably would not have made it through the day.
All the preparations for the evening were complete in record time, the nervous energy boosting his speed. This left him with some time on his hands to sit about worrying. Finally, with about half an hour left, Hitsugaya showered quickly and dressed, trying to run a comb through his hair. He stashed his gigai in the spare room, along with hers. Of course, the nearer the hour came, the more he was shaking from nerves. Maybe that shot of sake wouldn’t be such a terrible idea after all. He was shrugging off his taicho haori just as she opened the door.
When Matsumoto walked through the door to the flat at seven, she’d never been more thankful for her selection in undergarments in her existence. And when her eyes met Hitsugaya’s… she just knew.