Of Birthdays and Siblings

Sweet Dreams

The summer sun beat down on a small white head of hair as a small boy sat on the porch of his grandmother's house. Two figures sat next to him, enjoying the cold watermelon that was in their laps. A small female spoke up, laughing as she did so. "Watermelon is really nice Toto-chan!"

"When do you think tousan will come back Baba-nee? I figured he would be back by now." The boy stated firmly.

"Tousan is dead and he won't be coming back. That's what they all say." The girl continued to swing her legs back and forth.

The boy frowned at his watermelon. "The villagers say that he was never there, that he never existed. But I remember him as clear as a bell."

"Don't worry..." The male that was with them spoke up. "Your tousan isn't dead. I can sense him quite well."

"See... Maru-Maru says that he isn't dead Baba-nee. What do you say to that?" The boy glanced up, but the facial features of the girl was blurred as well as the facial features of the male that was with them. The boy opened his mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by another female coming out of the house. The figures disappeared as she came out.

"Shiro-chan... please tell me you aren't talking to your imaginary friends again? You need to make friends and play with the other kids." The girl reached down and took his small hand in hers. "Why don't we go and play with the kids next door."

"The kids next door don't like me." The words the child said to her fell on deaf ears. "Plus, I like Baba-nee and Maru-Maru as much as they like me. They don't make fun of me Momo-nee."

"Still... they aren't real." Momo let out a deep sigh. "Of course, you having imaginary friends is really cute."

"They aren't imaginary!" The boy continued to frown at the girl. "Baba-nee is my..."

M

Toshiro suddenly found himself waking with a start, his mind racing. Someone placed their hands on his shoulders and pushed him back down. "Taicho... it is three in the morning."

"The last time I checked, my birthday started with an intruder bursting through my door and landing on top of me. I then got in a fight with them and I got knocked out cold." The boy tried sitting up again, only to find the woman holding onto him.

"Taicho... please. Unohana has assigned you to bed rest." The woman let out a deep sigh, suddenly brushing the lock of hair that fell across his face away. "Be good for me?"

"That's I nice way to spend my birthday. At least I'm not smashing things up for fun." Toshiro felt a smile cross his face, but as quickly as it appeared he found himself frowning. "Where did that come from?"

"The girl did say it was her birthday too." His dragon spoke up.

"But that dream can't be real. I mean, I had imaginary friends when I was a child. If she wasn't imaginary, then what would she be? I almost had the word before I woke up." The boy tried sitting up again. "I need to go and speak with her."

"Her?" Rangiku frowned. She then realized he was referring to the intruder. "Taicho... no. I mean, I'm not sure why you need to be talking to her. Byakuya can just as easily handle her interigation."

"But there is the chance she is going to be put to death because she is a Quincy and attacked us? She didn't seem like she was trying to hurt anybody." Toshiro felt a hand placed on his forehead while Rangiku bit at her lip.

"You don't have a fever, but your body temperature is still low even for yourself. Please just lie back down as you're talking nonsense." Rangiku let out a sigh. "It's my duty as your fukutaicho to make sure you maintain your bed rest as ordered."

Toshiro frowned. "I don't know why I am so worried about the fact she is going to be executed. She is a complete and utter stranger." He let out a deep breath. "My fukutaicho is supposed to be helping me with my paperwork. Instead, she goes out drinking sake at what ever hours she wants. She then isn't there when I almost get killed."

The busty female gave him a sheepish look. "Actually, I wasn't drinking sake. I know that you dont' want to celebrate Christmas, but if you insist on not getting your rest, you might as well have these." Toshiro watched as the woman unwrapped a few cookies. It was his turn to look guilty and he glanced away. "There are tons of cookies and sweets, so we'll have plenty for the twenty-forth."

"I'm sorry I made the assumption you did." The boy continued to glance away from her.

"Taicho... is there something you would like for your birthday or Christmas?" The woman picked up one of the cookies and picked up his hand, placing the delight into the palm. "I know you don't want to celebrate, but they should taste nice."

The small taicho's hand wrapped around the cookie, his head spinning as he sat up to eat the treat. "Matsumoto... what are the chances of my birthday being my real birthday?"

"Where did this come from?" Rangiku suddenly bubbled out an apology. "I'm sorry I'm sorry. I mean, you yourself said that you died on a plain of ice, so that would mean that the chances were slim."

"But what if I didn't die on a plain of ice?"

"Then there is a higher chance it is your real birthday." Rangiku leaned forward, trying to look him straight in the eye. "Where did this come from?" She suddenly pulled back and let out a squeek. "You aren't upset that I didn't show up in time. I mean, if I didn't show up as soon as I did, there is no telling..." Rangiku paused, her words tightening. "... there is no telling what would have happened to you."

Hearing the tone in her voice, Toshiro found himself looking up and at the woman's eyes. Her eyes were watering, making it clear that the idea of something serious happening to him rather upset her. "Matsumoto?"

"You're mad at me, I know... but no where near as mad as myself." Rangiku's words poured out. "If I lost you..." The woman suddenly pulled him into her arms, her hug more gentle then her normal hugs. "Taicho, you're the closest thing I have to family."

"Why aren't you lecturing me for being stupid?" Toshiro's voice was monotone. "I mean, I shouldn't have fought in my night clothing."

He could feel the woman suddenly shake her head. "No... you didn't have a choice in the situation. I am so sorry that I wasn't there. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."

The boy felt a few tears fall onto his white head of hair. His mind tried processing what she was telling him.