Christmas Nightmare (Bleach Fanfic)

A Mother's Heart

In the tenth division, Matsumoto found herself in a deep depression as she tried to focus on her work. The depression was similar to that which she felt the week leading up to her small taicho's birthday. No, the birthday of her baby girl. She rubbed her forehead in frustration as she tried separating the two. It used to be, she used to be able to do easily, or so she thought, but right now this was simply hard.

"Taicho... why'd you have to go and make things hard for me?" Rangiku shook her head, trying to hold back the pain that simply wouldn't stop welling in her head.

"Rangiku-san?" a quiet voice came from the door. Rangiku glanced up to see Hinamori Momo standing in the doorway. "Are you all right?"

"Just frustrated with a certain someone." The woman held out her hand. "He would be this high."

"Shiro-chan? What did he do this time?" Hinamori moved over to Rangiku, curiosity getting the better of her.

At this, Rangiku closed her eyes, remembering how her small taicho looked, how hard it was for the small child to look her in the eye. "Why do you always forget about my birthday?" Remembering the huge sadness in his voice when she asked this, she closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead.

Momo reached out and shook the older female's shoulder. "Matsumoto! What ever is the matter?"

At that, Rangiku's eyes suddenly snapped open. She then shook her head. "Taicho is also frustrated with me Hinamori. He's miffed that I always forget his birthday every year, but I really did tell him that I thought it wasn't important to him, so I never really pushed the matter."

"He's upset." Hinamori's small hand went flying to her mouth. "I forgot to give him his birthday presant! I forgot to even buy one. Or a Christmas present for him! I was going to go do that when... when Kira asked me to the Christmas party."

"At least you usually remember it every year." Matsumoto's eyes reflected a deep hurt. "I always forget it every year."

"Why don't we go out and get him a present now?" Hinamori smiled at the busty female, a rather determined look on her face. "You like shopping, so it is likely you'll cheer up when we get there."

"I guess." The fukutaicho of the tenth division followed the smaller lieutenant out of the division office and they headed out to the small market. In truth, there wasn't many stores that one could go to in order to buy special gifts for someone, at least not someone who was as particular as her small taicho was. Then again, he never wanted anything for himself.

She glanced into a shop where toys were sold and saw a small snow globe in the window, attracting her attention. Hinamori popped up behind her and noticed the item. "That has an ice dragon in it."

"I think it is an artists impression of what taicho's zampaktuo is supposed to look like." At that, Rangiku blinked a couple of times and then stepped into the store, picking up the globe on the way in and setting it onto the counter. "I would like to purchase this."

The man behind the counter blinked a couple of times. "You are Matsumoto Rangiku, the fukutaicho of the tenth division, aren't you?"

"That is kind of obvious, isn't it?" Rangiku glanced at the snow globe. "How much?"

The man muttered a price and she set the money down. He then spoke up again. "I make things based on the taicho of the other division and they have a way of selling well."

"So, Shiro-chan isn't popular?" Hinamori blinked a couple of times.

"I don't think it is that. I think it is the fact that so few people know much about him still. Adults don't go looking for toys. I am still able to sell items based of the taicho who defected, simply because they are popular among the children." The man glanced at the globe. "The irony is that the taicho of the tenth division is a child himself."

Rangiku simply smiled and they left. Eventually, Hinamori found a couple of gifts herself. She turned to the female shinigami. "Don't you need two gifts?"

"I have time to find a Christmas gift for him. I'm late on the birthday gift, many times over." The two headed back to the tenth division and both noticed that Nanao was standing in the room waiting for them. Rangiku blinked a couple of times. "Nanao! It is good to see you."

"You look like you are still stressed." Ise went and sat down on the couch while the two females joined her.

"I'm trying to think of a way to make things up to taicho." Matsumoto let out a deep sigh.

The fukutaicho of the eighth division pushed up her glasses. "I know you don't like the idea of explaining things to him, but I honestly think that you should tell him."

"Tell Shiro-chan what?" Hinamori piped up.

Rangiku let out a sigh. "It is kind of a private matter between Gin and I."

"Then you shouldn't tell him, if it is a private matter." Momo sighed.

Matsumoto frowned at this. "That is a good reason to not involve him, right? He's too young to be concerned about such a matter."

"That honestly is not what you told me." Ise pushed up on her glasses again. "Rangiku... he wouldn't have asked if it didn't feel to him like it involved him."

"There is that too." Rangiku glanced at the ceiling, then turned to Momo. "I think that I need to talk to Ise a bit."

"It's all right. Shiro-chan is all right despite being stuck in the living world?" Momo suddenly asked.

"He's fine. I just saw him a few minutes ago." Nanao stated as Momo bowed and left them to talk.

Matsumoto turned to her friend. "You went to see taicho in order to fix the problem between us?"

"Something like that. I promise you, I didn't tell him anything about that. However, that said... I've talked to him and I think you really need to talk to both of them." Ise stated. "Otherwise the problem won't be solved.

Rangiku glanced at the wall in front of her. "Taicho is enjoying hanging out with Gin, isn't he?"

Nanao sighed. "I am going to have to say yes. They get along surprisingly well. They are going to the Kurosaki's house for dinner tonight."

At that, Rangiku glanced at the package in her hand. She let out a deep sigh.