At that moment, Matsumoto Rangiku spotted a figure walking slowly from the forest in the distance.
She glanced casually at first, but when she noticed the white clothing, her curiosity was piqued. Looking closer, she realized-it was Yuta.
Yuta had been heading home when the door opened on its own. He hadn't seen who it was, but he had already sensed Matsumoto Rangiku's spiritual pressure inside.
"Welcome back," Matsumoto Rangiku greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Do you want to take a shower first? The hot water is ready. I used it already, but I can change it, in case you mind."
"Or do you want to eat first?"
Yuta glanced at her. She was wrapped in only a bath towel. Her thighs were bare and her towel barely restrained her chest, as though it could give at any moment.
"I'll take a shower first."
He stepped into the bathroom, undressed, and rinsed off. When he came out again, the scent of freshly made food filled the air.
"Dinner's ready. Come eat."
Yuta had already heard the sounds of cooking from the bathroom. At the table, Matsumoto Rangiku poured him tea and handed it to him. As he drank, he felt her jade-like hands on his thighs, slowly kneading his muscles from her kneeling position at his feet.
"Tired? Let me help you relax."
She knelt properly with her knees together as she massaged him.
"…You don't really have to do this."
Yuta gently caught her hands and guided her onto the sofa beside him.
Matsumoto Rangiku grew silent. She picked up the wine from the table, took a small sip, hugged her knees, and spoke.
"I'm scared… scared one day you'll leave without saying goodbye. The same way a friend once did."
"Don't worry. I won't leave."
Yuta took another sip of wine and drew her closer, resting his face in her freshly washed golden hair.
Matsumoto Rangiku-the woman others saw as carefree and charmingly bold. Underneath that exterior, she carried her own pain.
She had long forgotten when drinking became routine. Drinking to forget. Drinking so she wouldn't have to think too much before sleeping.
She returned Yuta's embrace, arms tightening around him with each passing moment, until it felt like she wanted to keep him there forever. Her face pressed against his shoulder as she began to cry softly. Yuta wordlessly patted her back to comfort her.
As her emotions were spent, she noticed something pressing into her lower abdomen. Her tears broke with a faint laugh.
"I didn't expect someone as cold-looking as you to react."
"I'm a man. Holding someone as beautiful as you… how could I not?"
"Let me help you with it."
She offered him a smile as she reached to untie his belt and lowered her head toward him.
Yuta caught her wrist and stopped her gently.
"What's wrong? You don't want me to?"
Yuta looked her in the eyes.
"I want you to do this because you like me. I don't want it to be because you're afraid I'll leave."
He stood up, walked to his room, and closed the door firmly behind him.
The smile faded from Matsumoto Rangiku's face. Slowly, she sat back in silence.
What she had done might have been impulsive-a choice fueled by wine and fear. Perhaps she believed that something physical between them would convince him to remain. The same way Gin had once left her without warning.
Yuta had seen through that fear before she could hide it properly.
Eventually, she stood up and made her way to his room. She opened the door slowly and got into his bed beside him without saying anything.
She propped herself lightly beside his face. Her eyes were clear in the darkness, free of earlier sorrow.
"Even though I haven't figured out whether what I feel for you is love…"
"But keeping it bottled up hurts. So… as your older sister figure, I should help you through your adolescent troubles."
Yuta placed his hand between them again and held her where she was, his expression composed.
"Do you know why Gin left you?"
Matsumoto Rangiku lowered her gaze, her long golden hair falling across Yuta's face as she hovered close.
"I… I think I have some idea."
"Even though I don't know everything, part of me thinks he did it for me."
Yuta looked back at her.
"Gin did it to take back something that was taken from you."
Matsumoto Rangiku met his eyes again and replied softly.
"But I didn't want him to do that for me."
"That thing… it wasn't mine to begin with."
"I always felt like I was the one in billions who chanced upon something precious... something taken back later."
"Gin left to reclaim it... for me."
"But in time, I think it stopped being about me. I think Gin kept pushing forward because of that deep belief in doing what he thought was right."
"If Gin did come back tomorrow with that thing in hand... I would only see him as someone I trust deeply."
"I would be grateful to him. I would thank him."
"But that's not the same as love."
"…If Gin hadn't left back then, we might have become lovers."
"But there's no point in thinking about 'what could've been'."
"Right now, you've made your way into my heart. Even... If Gin returned, he and I would only be friends."
"So… I don't regret what I've done."
She looked down at the blanket held gently between them, watching its rise and fall with his breath.
(T/N:..... Gin got NTRed... poor guy...)
⋯⋯
Meanwhile, back at the Fifth Division barracks-
The lights remained on well into the night. As Captain Sosuke returned, a small figure rushed out to meet him.
"Captain! You're back…!"
She stopped suddenly upon seeing the scorch marks on his clothing.
"Captain! You're hurt? Are you okay?"
Sosuke gave her a calm smile and placed a hand gently on her head.
"It's nothing serious, Hinamori. I exchanged a few moves with someone strong... that's all."
"Really?"
She leaned into the touch, nodding as he reassured her.
To her, Captain Aizen was someone untouchable-a man of unmatched poise and power.
Who could possibly injure someone like him?
"Please try not to fight people that strong next time... I'd worry about you."
"I'll be careful."
He gave her the same warm smile.
She turned and ran back into the building to fetch fresh captain's robes.
Aizen watched her disappearing figure with patient amusement.
People who admire him would likely always remain unaware of what he truly wanted.
Hinamori remained deeply in the dark.
And for now, that ignorance kept things entertaining. He wondered what her face might look like on the day she finally understood it all.
PS GOALS: 150 PS= 5-10 extra chapter on an update.
💕💕
READ 45+ ADVANCED CHAPTER AT MY P@TREON! FOR ONLY 10$
at [email protected] /Zaneninjacat
💕💕
💀💀 gimme powerstones!💀💀