It's A Date
It's A Date
“Toshiro!” called Matsumoto as she stepped through the doors of their office. He was busy, buried under paperwork, and only grunted in acknowledgement. She seated herself on the edge of his desk, ignoring the paperwork and protests. Her gaze leveled with his, and for once in their time together, she looked dead serious. He sent a weary look her way before she continued. “We need to decide on our wedding plans.”
“…O-kay…” Hitsugaya responded, not understanding the intensity in her gaze. She rolled her eyes, sighing softly. “I don’t think I understand the importance, Ran.”
“We have to start planning if we ever want to get this thing pulled off on October 31. We need to decide on colors, dresses, suits, or kimonos, the guest list, where to have it, what time, who will we get to officiate, where we’re going for the honeymoon, those gift registry things Orihime talked about, what decorations to use, what kind of flowers to carry, our wedding party needs to be finalized, we have to ask to borrow Yachiru and Nel…” she trailed off, ticking each item off on her fingers. Hitsugaya looked mildly frightened.
“There’s that much to it?” asked Hitsugaya.
“Of course! Like I said, there’s so much to plan. And I need your help, this is your wedding, too, you know?” Matsumoto explained, “So no trying to throw it all on me.”
“Although it’s perfectly fine for you to shove all the division’s paperwork on me?” Hitsugaya retorted smartly. Matsumoto pursed her lips and scowled before replying.
“This is different. Paperwork is simple to do, you just fill it out and file it. We have just under five months to put together a wedding. I can do it all on my own, but then it’s just my wedding, not yours, too.”
Hitsugaya’s eyes widened in surprise. He knew the date she wanted, but didn’t realize she meant the current year. “Five months? Do you mean this October 31? I thought we’d have until next year.”
“Silly Taicho! Why would I want to wait until next year?” Matsumoto giggled.
He grumbled something under his breath about needing more time to plan and the 31st of October being a holiday. “Don’t worry, Toshiro. The Kurosaki wedding took two months to plan. And that was only because Byakuya taicho had to have some of the stuff special ordered. Otherwise, with their money and resources, it could have taken only all of two weeks. And the guests will have the decency to show up in wedding attire, unless we invite them to come in costume…” she put a finger to her chin, thinking about the idea. She shook her head, deciding against it, and Hitsugaya unknowingly let out a relieved sigh.
“So, what about the rest of that- stuff you named, Ran?”
“Well, I was thinking pink, coral, and black for our colors. Then maybe daffodils, roses, and carnations for flowers. Ishida-san said he’d call us for the designs for the dresses and all. Also, for the guest list, I think we should decide who not to invite, then invite the rest of Seireitei. You’re a taicho, after all, so nearly everyone will want to come. I wonder if we could get the same officiant for our wedding that Rukia found for hers?” Matsumoto began elaborating on her list.
“We could always ask one of the other taichos, couldn’t we?” asked Hitsugaya, not having thought of how the others would react. “Actually, you’re probably right, we should ask Kurosaki for the name of theirs.”
Matsumoto looked confused for a moment. “Why is that?”
“Soifon, Kuchiki, and Kurotsuchi would say no, anyway. Then Ukitake and Abarai will be in it. And Komamura and Unohana don’t strike me as the type to officiate, and that leaves us with Kyoraku-san or Zaraki, and I really can’t see either of them doing it.”
“Shun-kun would do that for us. We should ask him.”
Hitsugaya looked unhappy, but agreed after a brief moment, “I suppose. As long as he doesn’t show up drunk or hung-over.” Matsumoto smiled and hugged Hitsugaya, crushing his face to her chest, and creating a somewhat uncomfortable position for her back. As she resumed her sitting position on his desk, she spoke again, “I’ll let you decide on the honeymoon. And, while you’re out, I’ll speak to Shun-kun, Rukia, and Zaraki.”
“While I’m out?”
“Yes, while you’re out. Did you ask them yet? Your groomsmen?” understanding encompassed Hitsugaya’s face as he shook his head. “Then you need to do that. I’ve already asked my girls. Nanao squealed louder than me, and Shun-kun came rushing into the room. Said he thought there was a hollow or something,” she paused to laugh, enjoying the memory. “Then, of course, Rukia said yes, and I had to call Orihime, but she said yes, too!”
“I’ve not yet, but I suppose if we’re going to be doing this so soon, I should get on that,” he sighed resignedly, “I’ll ask Ukitake in a bit, then, and Kurosaki already knows… And I decided to take your advice and ask Abarai, as well.”
He retreated to a point in their earlier conversation. “Though, we don’t have the resources and money that Kuchiki taicho does. Are you sure the end of October isn’t too soon? That’s only about five months.”
“I’m sure, Toshiro. Besides, I thought the bride and her family paid for the wedding? You worry about the honeymoon, remember? And speaking of family,” Matsumoto crossed her arms over her chest, “why haven’t you introduced me to your grandmother yet?” With her last question she fixed a hard glare on Hitsugaya, who shrank back in his chair as much as possible.
Taking his lack of response as bad, Matsumoto stuck out her lower lip in her best pout. “You’re embarrassed, aren’t you? You’re probably afraid of what she’ll think of me. I don’t blame you. Being the only female to ever go against Shun-kun in a drinking contest, and walking out the door with any number of different men, usually Ikkaku and Yumi, before I come home to you probably spurs a lot of rumors. Most of which I’m sure you’ve heard, and she probably has, too…”
“What? What men? It better just be those rowdy hooligans you always drink with,” Hitsugaya returned Matsumoto’s earlier cold look, “I’ve worked too long and hard to give up my position now because I had to kill some fool…”
“Of course. It’s just Renji, Hisagi, Ikkaku, Kira, and Yumi. But I don’t think I ever walk home with the same one two nights in a row. And half the time I have to fight Kira over who gets to walk home with Yumi. And that’s sad, really, that I’ve got competition of the male kind. It’s only one-sided, though,” she huffed. “But, that’s not the point. The point is you’re embarrassed or ashamed to introduce me to your grandmother.”
Hitsugaya sat still for the briefest of moments, desperately trying to come up with a defensive, somewhat truthful answer that wouldn’t embarrass him and land him in hot water. Finally, he decided he’d just stick with the whole truth, and she’d have fodder to tease him for a long time to come. It was better than her being pissed with him.
“Rangiku, I am not embarrassed or ashamed of you. Or by you, or whatever. I just…” he trailed off, not sure if he could bring himself to say it. “I’m afraid… sh-she’ll laugh at me. She’s going to say ‘I told you so’ and laugh at me.”
Matsumoto showed genuine concern and curiosity, not the joking, playful kind she was known for, and Hitsugaya appreciated that in that very moment. “Why would she ever say that? She’s your grandmother.”
Hitsugaya flushed the lovely shade of red Matsumoto found increasingly harder to put on his face. He swallowed nervously, “Because she did. So, therefore, she has every right to say that.”
“So, tell me. What did she ‘told you so’ about?” Matsumoto asked, eyes pleading for the story.
Just as Hitsugaya was about to give in and tell her, a loud knock came ringing throughout the office.
Begrudgingly jumping from her place on Hitsugaya’s desk, Matsumoto stood and walked to the door. “I got it,” she called unnecessarily. She slid the door open to reveal the new Mr. and Mrs. Kurosaki.
“We have a letter and a message for Rangiku-san and Hitsugaya taicho,” Rukia explained when they were greeted and invited in.
“Ishida said he needed you guys and your wedding attendants to go and visit him for fittings or something. And the letter’s from Inoue,” Ichigo supplied when Rukia ceased her introduction.
Matsumoto squealed in delight at the news and promptly removed the letter from Ichigo’s hands. She tore it open and read through it quickly. “Taicho, we have to go to the living world tonight! Orihime-chan’s invited us to a dinner party at her house. Maybe I can find out some more information about her new, mysterious boyfriend…”
Catching the wary look on Hitsugaya’s face, Ichigo tried to placate the young taicho, “Don’t worry, Ishida’s in charge of cooking. And Rukia and I are going to be there, too. As long as Grimmjow’s not there with Ulquiorra, I think everything’ll be okay. He’s as bad as Zaraki when it comes to fighting. Whatever Hat-and-Clogs did to the Arrancar must have caused him to lose the few brain cells he had left.”
“You’re only upset about that because you weren’t the one getting laid the last time we were in. And as much as you talk about Grimmjow, if you weren’t married to me I’d think you were gay,” Rukia chimed in, a small amount of ire showing in her voice.
Ichigo turned a funny shade of red, a mixture of anger and embarrassment. “I was not upset and I am not gay. You should be proof enough of that. And, I like to think I have the decency not to be doing that in public!”
Rukia cast him a hard, skeptical glance. “Says the man who wanted to have a quickie in the bath house last week. Lots of gay men have children and ex-wives,” Rukia fumed. Matsumoto giggled loudly, breaking up the increasingly funny argument.
“What’s the deal with the bath house and men? First, Renji tries to put the moves on Momo, and almost succeeds, and was that a sight to see. And now you? I’m going to have to try this sometime…” Matsumoto said through her giggles, causing Hitsugaya’s ears to turn pink. Somewhere in the back of her head, where Haineko usually reminded her of such wrongdoings she remembered maybe, perhaps, just a little bit, promising not to tell about Abarai and Hinamori. Well, if Haineko hadn’t been sleeping, or off in the spirit world somewhere with Hyourinmaru, she might not have mentioned that.
“I fail to see the thrill in having sex in public,” Rukia fussed. “I still say you were just upset because Ulquiorra got to have fun and you were left with Grimmjaw, and nothing to do. Thank god Nel wasn’t with us,” Rukia suddenly stopped mid-sentence and rubbed her growing belly, wincing in mild discomfort as she did so.
“Can I feel?” Matsumoto cried, her vocals high enough pitched to make a dog’s ears bleed. After recovering, Rukia nodded her head.
“Usually it doesn’t hurt that bad when she kicks. Isane-san, Unohana taicho and Isshin all said it shouldn’t hurt much for a few more weeks still. I think they must have been wrong,” Rukia smiled ruefully.
With Rukia’s permission, Matsumoto dragged Hitsugaya to her, placing his hand on Rukia’s stomach. He looked a little freaked out at first, not really sure he liked the idea of something inside of another person being rather up close and personal like this. The baby kicked again, causing Hitsugaya to smile when he felt the movement. Matsumoto squealed in excitement, her octave much more pleasing to the ears now, and hugged Hitsugaya.
“Ah, crap, we gotta go. We promised Inoue that we’d pick up some sodas and things before coming over, and we have errands to run for Pops. Not to mention we need to pick up Nel, I dunno how long Orihime can handle her,” Ichigo interrupted the women’s entertainment. “We’ll see you guys at seven tonight? And Ishida said he needed to see all of you guys - and us, I guess - tomorrow around ten-thirty. I think he’s finished with class then.”
Ichigo and Rukia bade Hitsugaya and Matsumoto farewell. It was always a Thursday, wasn’t it? Just when the week was about over, leaving the weekend for all kinds of crap to go wrong in… But, no. He never had the chance to wait for the weekend.
After finishing the paperwork and promising Matsumoto a nice lunch out, and the afternoon and next day off for both of them, Hitsugaya had a few people to see before heading for the living world. Ukitake would be surprised, and probably happy enough to wet himself. Hitsugaya only hoped he wouldn’t actually go to those lengths.
Ukitake Juushiro sat behind his desk, feeling rather okay. He’d had no relapse in his health of late, and had not even gone into a coughing fit once for a whole week. Presently he sat daydreaming of the evening to come with his dear Soifon, giving only half a mind to the paperwork his eyes scanned over. And in other good news, he’d almost decided who to place as his fukutaicho. Since the two third seats finally quit spending all of their time squabbling about insignificant, and often downright stupid things, Kiyone shone even brighter. Sentarou seemed to be sitting comfortably on the sidelines, enjoying watching her. Kiyone it seemed it would be, indeed.
Ukitake’s daydreaming was interrupted when Kiyone knocked on the office door and let herself in when she received no warning to stay away. Speak of the devil, Ukitake thought, smiling.
“Ah, good morning, Kiyone-san,” Ukitake greeted her. She bowed politely in response, then introduced the visitor, the reason for her appearance.
“Ukitake taicho, Hitsugaya taicho is here to see you,” she smiled brightly. Ukitake ushered his guest in and sent Kiyone along her way with two chocolate candies in her hand.
“Good morning, Hitsugaya kun. What brings you here at even this early of an hour?” Ukitake greeted his younger visitor.
“I need to request to have the afternoon and tomorrow off. Inoue has invited Rangiku and me to the living world for a dinner party. And then we need to be fitted by Ishida for our wedding garments tomorrow. I suppose that means we need clearance to go to the living world for the weekend, then…” Hitsugaya shrugged noncommittally, rambling a bit under his self-inflicted stress. Actually, that was Matsumoto-inflicted stress.
“I trust you have the proper forms filled out, then?” Ukitake asked, knowing the young taicho would already be three steps ahead of him in that area.
The proper forms were filed and clearance given. Hitsugaya politely refused the candy, but gave in, as always, to Ukitake’s offer (read: begging) anyhow. And, just as their meeting was drawing to a close, Hitsugaya stood. Ukitake looked up at him in surprise. This was untypical of the Hitsugaya-kun he knew.
“Ukitake-san, I have another favor to ask,” Hitsugaya began.
“Ask away, Hitsugaya-kun,” Ukitake opened the floor.
“I’ve never much been fond of the candies you always insist on giving me, but Rangiku loves them, so I keep accepting. Now fresh fruit, on the other hand… but that’s not what I want to ask. Though while I’m on the topic, I wanted to kill both you and Kyoraku-san when you conveniently cornered me in the park a few months ago. I spent the most humiliating two hours of my life with you that day. I will say that since it was indeed humiliating, I’m glad it was you I spent it with, rather than someone like Kurotsuchi taicho or something. That would have been unbearable,” he paused for breath, and Ukitake took a moment to interject something into the conversation.
“We only did that at Rangiku-san’s request. Besides, it was educational and Shunsui and I haven’t had that much fun in a few centuries. And I know you were taking notes.”
Hitsugaya half rolled his eyes at the older man. “Again, that’s really not the point. Although you’ve subjected me, willingly on your end, to this kind of torture, repeatedly, over the years, not to mention the ‘candy’ you gave me last week, you’ve still above it all treated me as an equal rather than a child. If something needed to be said, you just told me and didn’t withhold information for the sake of my youth. And it is because of this sort of treatment that I would like to ask you, Juushiro-san, to be my best man at my wedding,” Hitsugaya finished, his speech gaining speed but still clear and understandable at the end.
Ukitake felt such an overwhelming sense of joy wash over him. Hitsugaya-kun, his son in so many ways, wanted him to be a major part of his wedding. He worked hard to restrain himself from crying or hugging the younger man. That may come across the wrong way. Hitsugaya was not big on shows of affection like that.
Instead, he smiled happily and simply accepted, “I would be honored, Toshiro-kun. I would be honored.”
Hitsugaya looked relieved and nearly as happy as Ukitake. “Good, then. We need you in the living world tomorrow at ten-thirty in the morning for fittings. Seems our tailor needs us.”
The younger taicho bid Ukitake goodbye, and proceeded on with his own business. Only a very few short minutes later, Kyoraku walked into Ukitake’s office.
“Juu-kun? Did you and Soifon join the honestly-dishonest club?” Kyoraku asked, seeing the expression on his friend’s face. Ukitake could only offer a look of confusion in reply.
“You’re wearing the same smile you wore the first time you kissed a girl. It’s also the same smile you wore the first time you kissed Soifon. Therefore, you must be smiling now because you had an extra special night last night,” Kyoraku reasoned.
Finally realizing the conclusion Kyoraku was drawing, and wondering why in Soul Society he hadn’t seen it sooner, he found his voice and replied happily, “Oh, that. Hehe,” Ukitake laughed nervously, ears and cheeks pinking, “that was supposed to be tonight… But, no, Hitsugaya-kun has asked me to be his best man for his wedding, Shun-kun! Can you believe it?”
Kyoraku, receiving insight into his friend’s head, congratulated the other man. “Yare, of course I can believe it. Congratulations, Juu-kun, you’re as close to being a father as you’ve ever been,” Kyoraku smiled happily, patting Ukitake on the back. “Let’s drink to it, then we’ll go tell Nanao and your dear Soifon!”
“She still won’t let you drink in the office, will she?”
“So, how’d it go?” asked Matsumoto when she saw Hitsugaya for lunch. Hitsugaya smirked slightly.
“Well, Ukitake-san was quite excited, and Abarai didn’t act quite so, but I’m sure I heard a celebratory making-out when I left. Something about a bet. Really, do we sound that… disgusting?” Hitsugaya’s smirk turned to a grimace.
Matsumoto laughed happily, “Not since our first kiss. You’ve come a long way, young grasshopper. If Renji wasn’t such a slob, he and Momo wouldn’t sound like that, either.”
“Young grasshopper? Need I remind you I am still your taicho?” Hitsugaya’s brows knitted together in a scowl.
“You may be my taicho, but there are some things that you can’t learn from books, and the Gotei 13 isn’t going to teach you. So, that kind of makes me like your taicho in romance and relationship education, doesn’t it?” Matsumoto offered in response. She looked around her to take in her surroundings. They weren’t what she expected them to be. “I thought we were going out for lunch?”
“We are. I just thought we’d take the time to ask my grandmother to join us first. She’ll probably try to force us to stay and let her cook, though.”
“And what’s wrong with that? I always thought she’d be a great cook?”
“Granny is a great cook, but she rarely lets me treat her. Even though she’s never put even as big a dent in my wallet as you, much less Hinamori…” Hitsugaya sighed. “Even now she eats so little. I know she doesn’t have to eat, but still.”
Matsumoto tried a few different comforting phrases in her head, but none seemed to fit. Instead she settled for a friendly sort of hug, which, unlike her typical drown-Toshiro-in-my-cleavage-hug, Hitsugaya returned.
“Toshiro-kun? Is that you?” a voice seemingly belonging to an older woman called.
Releasing himself from Matsumoto, Hitsugaya turned to face his grandmother. She looked to be gathering flowers along the short path from the road to her home. He turned to his granny and embraced her. Matsumoto giggled quietly and mentioned that he had grown just a tiny bit taller than the elder woman.
Finally, after releasing his grandmother, Hitsugaya gave her a proper verbal greeting. “Hi, Granny. How are you?”
“Good afternoon, Toshiro-kun. I’m doing well. Even though you never visit me anymore. Momo-chan doesn’t visit much either, but she did come to see me a few weeks ago. It’s been since the end of last year that you’ve come,” she scolded Hitsugaya. He blushed a light pink on his cheeks and ears at her scolding.
“I know. And I’m sorry,” Hitsugaya apologized. “That’s why we’ve come today to invite you to lunch with us. Rangiku and I would be honored for you to join us.”
Hitsugaya’s grandmother smirked. She definitely had a look of ‘I told you so’ on her face. “I would be happy to join you, Toshiro-kun. But had you sent word ahead, I could have made dinner.” After a short pause, “Well, aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Matsumoto ‘tsked’ a time or two at Hitsugaya, smiling happily. “Granny, this is Matsumoto Rangiku, my fiancé.” Hitsugaya blushed a little darker while Matsumoto bowed politely and extended a hand to his grandmother, who returned the gesture.
“It seems I did tell you so, and she’s prettier than I imagined,” Granny stage whispered to Hitsugaya. She noticed the questioning look on Matsumoto’s face, “I know when my Toshiro-kun is in love. Just the same way I knew he wasn’t the only one. I acted the same way when I fell in love. He was younger than me, too…” she trailed off, winking at Matsumoto and reminiscing.
Granny recounted her tales of pursuing her lover in the “days of old,” as she deemed it, to Matsumoto as they dined. This, of course, led to the very detailed description of Hitsugaya’s last few visits. Hitsugaya, already blushing deeply, excused himself to the washroom in an attempt to save himself some embarrassment. Matsumoto, however, cooed over all of the stories, relishing them the way many do baby pictures of their lovers.
After finally moving on to a new topic, and the hour of Inoue’s dinner party arriving, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto bid his grandmother farewell. “That was perhaps one of the best visits I’ve had with anyone,” declared a proud Matsumoto. Yes, she would enjoy her acting mother-in-law very much.
Inoue and Ishida’s apartment lacked only the sand to complete the beach look. However, Matsumoto did not expect the palm frond to as good as hit her in the face when she walked into Inoue and Ishida’s flat that evening. Had she expected it, she would have ducked down. Uncharacteristically, Hitsugaya let out a small snort of amusement. “See, why would you want to be any taller, hmm?” she teased.
Hitsugaya scowled lightly at the jibe, but, trying to behave like a proper ‘gentleman,’ took her hand and led her inside. Neither expected the cast awaiting them, nor the decorations, but neither complained. Rukia and Inoue greeted them simultaneously, both expressing great delight in their presence. Ichigo, Ishida, and Sado greeted them with a kind bow of their heads. Ulquiorra - acting on Inoue’s request, no doubt - greeted the newcomers politely, a small spark of amusement reaching his eyes. Grimmjaw muttered some greeting and actually gave a (very) small bow in welcome to the newcomers.
From the restroom flew a blur of green, which in a flash of sonido latched itself tightly to Hitsugaya, nearly knocking him over. “Shiro-chan!” the blur squealed, gripping Hitsugaya tight around his middle. Still in a daze, it took him several seconds to determine just what was going on.
“Um, hello, Nel-chan,” he finally managed to gasp. Rukia might have scolded the young girl if she and the other females had not been laughing hard enough to cry.
“Oi, Neliel. I didn’t get a greeting like that,” Grimmjow pouted. Nel stuck her tongue out at the bigger Arrancar, blowing a raspberry.
“That’s probably because ‘Uncle Grimmy-kun’ forgot to tuck her in last night,” Inoue chimed in, smiling largely.
“Nel, I can’t breathe,” Hitsugaya managed, feeling the same pang of discomfort as every time Matsumoto smashed him to her chest. And here he thought she would be the one to kill him…
Nel immediately broke into sobs as she released her grip. “I’s sorry, Shiro-chan,” she cried, “Pwease don’t get Nel in twouble!”
Hitsugaya looked confusedly at the girl, wondering what ever gave her any indication he was upset. Surprised and winded, yes; upset, not really. “Hey, don’t cry,” he stuttered out nervously, “I’m not angry. You just surprised me, that’s all.”
Nel’s tears dried as quickly as they came on, and she squealed happily again. “Well, if it’s not that big of a deal, why was she crying?” Hitsugaya asked the room at large.
“Cause I’s a masochist,” Nel answered, “it’s no fun if I don’t cwy!”
If ever Hitsugaya and Matsumoto thought Nel’s behavior unusual, they certainly believed it tenfold now. “What the hell have you guys been teaching her?” he asked, shocked at her display.
“I found her that way, I swear,” Ichigo defended himself.
“She’s always been like that,” Grimmjow seconded, sharing a knowing look with Ulquiorra.
Ishida cleared his throat loudly to gain everyone’s attention. “If everyone would like, dinner is ready,” he announced. All those in the small living room crammed into the smaller dining area.
The meal passed smoothly enough, and Hitsugaya only had to pry the small bottle of sake (where she got it, he didn’t know) from Matsumoto’s fingers three times. Nel alternated between Hitsugaya and Grimmjow’s laps, stealing food from their plates and garnering quite a few giggles from the women. After dinner, the party reconvened in the living room, where Hitsugaya finally gave in and let Matsumoto have her drink.
oOoOo
When the commotion in the living room had settled, Ishida asked to see the soon-to-be-newlyweds in the kitchen, where he had lain out books, magazines, and his personal portfolios on the table. Hitsugaya looked warily toward the display, not knowing where to begin, while Matsumoto dove into the first magazine she laid eyes on. Sensing Hitsugaya’s trepidation regarding the whole situation, Ishida took matters into his own hands.
After much groaning and complaining on Hitsugaya’s part for Matsumoto to just pick something out for them all, she decided on her dress. A pretty dress, cut just above the knees in the front and dropping in length as if flowed to the back and formed a train. It was modest but not too much, and just revealing enough that all the men wouldn’t be drooling any more than usual. Ishida sketched a quick sample of the finished garment, using a soft pink silk for the dress, and trimming it with black. The bridesmaid dresses she chose to be the coral-orange color, black trimming them as well, and picked a nice, stylish mid-calf length cut for them. The dresses she and Ishida chose for the flower girls looked quite similar.
She let Hitsugaya and Ishida debate on the men’s clothes, declaring her only rule to be “I don’t want to see any white on anyone in my party.”
oOoOo
Around ten o’clock Rukia and Ichigo announced their departure, saying Nel needed to be put to bed. She was currently in Grimmjaw’s arms, sleeping with her head on his shoulder and drooling profusely. Matsumoto smiled at the serene sight.
“Grimmjow, are you staying with us tonight? Nel would love for you to come,” Rukia asked, a humorous undertone to her voice as she took Nel from his arms.
The Arrancar looked contemplative for a moment. “At Ichigo’s old man’s?” he asked. Rukia nodded, a grin touching her face. “Do I have to see Yuzu and Karin?” he asked warily.
“I suppose they should be there,” responded Rukia, smiling slightly.
Grimmjow looked fearfully at the young woman and shook his head enthusiastically. “No way, no how.”
“What? You got something against my sisters, Blue Boy?” Ichigo demanded. Rukia laughed loudly and Ichigo turned to her, “What the hell’s so funny?”
“Yuzu likes him a bit too much, I think. You wouldn’t know it, but, despite her quiet demeanor, she’s quite adamant about pursuing the men she wants to date,” Rukia explained to a very pissed off Ichigo. In a matter of a split second Ichigo went from pissed to shocked beyond belief.
“Why didn’t she tell me she wanted to date him? She can’t do that!” Ichigo yelled.
“Che, she can if she wants. Except I don’t want to,” Grimmjow replied in kind.
“So, you do have something against my sister?”
“I never said that. I just don’t think I wanna date ‘er.”
Ichigo stewed silently for a few moments before declaring, “Fine. But if you decide you do, if you so much as misplace a hair on her I will kill you.”
“Alright, alright, don’t get yer panties in a wad.”
Ulquiorra would have added his two yen, but he couldn’t justify his dislike for the situation. So he remained impassive as always.
Matsumoto and Hitsugaya were still discussing the evening long after they left Inoue’s and reached the ‘Shinigami Flat,’ as it had been dubbed.
“You know, at one point I thought I might lose my precious Taicho to some silly human girl…” Matsumoto mused as they walked.
“Considering the only human girls we’ve been in contact with are Kurosaki’s sisters and that Ururu that lives with Urahara, I’d say that was just a silly thing to be worried about. Even if Yuzu is incredibly pretty,” Hitsugaya teased.
Matsumoto smacked Hitsugaya playfully on the back of the head, then crossed her arms and feigned annoyance. Unable to keep up her act, she finally just agreed with Hitsugaya. “She is, isn’t she?”
“But, they’re all too young. I don’t date younger women.”
It took the remainder of the walk to their temporary home and until he was snoring lightly beside her before Matsumoto realized that he had, in essence, called her old.