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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 2, 2017 14:11:52 GMT -6
Ichigo was making lunch for Evita and himself when the he heard the knock. "Come in," he called. "It's open." The door opened and closed and he spread mayonaise over two slices of bread. "I'm in the kitchen," he continued, "which is on the other side of the-" He paused as Rangiku came from around the corner. "Hello, Matsumoto. It's been a long time." He indicated a seat with his knife. "Do you want something to eat. It's not hard to make another sandwich."
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Post by Lt. Rangiku Matsumoto on Aug 2, 2017 14:20:45 GMT -6
She nodded her head slowly to the offer of the sandwich. "And hello to you too, Ichigo." She walked over to the table and took a seat as she watched him make them lunch.
"Sorry to drop in unannounced. I just needed to get away and you were the only one I could think of to come to." She paused propping her arms to the table top and rested her chin to the back of her hand. "So how have you and Eve been?"
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 2, 2017 14:35:57 GMT -6
Ichigo shrugged. "Doing well, I guess. Kisuke sent a message about Aizen's death, and that's good. But it doesn't seem to be really over yet for me." He pulled out two more slices of bread. "The end just makes everything that's happened more obvious." He set the knife down. "Dad says the feeling is normal. But I'd feel better if a damn god hadn't messed with Evita so close to it all."
He rolled his shoulders back and spread the mayonaise on the next slices. "Do you like swiss cheese or cheddar?"
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Post by Lt. Rangiku Matsumoto on Aug 2, 2017 15:15:14 GMT -6
"Swiss, please," she replied sitting up and giving Ichigo her full attention. "A God was messing with Eve? Was it one of the Gods we have dealt with in the past?"
Ichigo scowled. "Kita had a run-in with him, I believe. Giichi, Aizen and Kisuke's father. And he's technically her grandfather."
"Say what?! Why would their father be messing with a child? What happened?" Rangiku asked as she stood and walked toward the counter to help him set the table for lunch.
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 2, 2017 16:14:25 GMT -6
Ichigo nodded in thanks and scowled. “I don’t really know all the details why the bastard came here. Eve doesn’t like to talk about it. The day it happened I found her laying across the table, half-unconscious. She'd been crying, too. She wasn't hungry that night. The next afternoon, she told me that she was weak, a disgrace and had to be broken.” He indicated with his head which cupboard shelf the cups were on. "She hasn't spoken of the event since."
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Post by Lt. Rangiku Matsumoto on Aug 2, 2017 16:27:59 GMT -6
"What? Weak, a disgrace and had to be broken?" Rangiku questioned as she reached for the cabinet door and looking over her shoulder at Ichigo. "Didn't that bastard Quincy do enough to her? Now this God is trying to finish her off?"
She shook her head as she looked back to the cabinet grabbing three glasses for them. "Was Kisuke the only one that got the good genes in the whole bunch? Their father sounds as big an ass as Aizen was."
She walked over to the table and set them out as Ichigo sat their plates with the sandwich on them in place. "I just don't understand why a God would harm a child. Especially one like Eve. Its not like she is a danger to anyone."
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 2, 2017 16:39:15 GMT -6
A small smile formed on Ichigo's face. "She doesn't like to be called a child. Never has. At least that part hasn't changed."
He paused and then shook his head. "So why are you here, Matsumoto? You don't seem to be in a shopping mood, which is usually why you come down here. And you don't usually use the phrase 'get away from it all'. You happily 'escape.' Did something happen to Toshi?"
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Post by Lt. Rangiku Matsumoto on Aug 2, 2017 19:30:33 GMT -6
Rangiku giggled. "Sorry, its habit when you're as old as I am." She looked pointedly at Ichigo. "Compared to me you're even a child in my books." Her hands went to her hips, "but if you repeat that to anyone else I will deny it and then kick your butt later."
The two shared a laugh as Rangiku took hold of the lemonaide pitcher and pored them all a glass. "As far as why I am here." She finished filling the last glass and looked to him once more. "I am surprised your dad did not tell you this," she paused as Ichigo interjected.
"I have not seen dad since the day before yesterday. I was busy with Eve and her school yesterday and afterward the two of us spent the day out in town."
"Well, I guess you will be hearing it from me." She took a deep breath and exhaled. She felt her heart drop, but she pushed it aside and put on a weak smile. "The Eva babies... They were an illusion of Aizen's."
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 2, 2017 21:47:39 GMT -6
Ichigo covered her hand. “I’m sorry. That’s a horrible trick to play. Especially on a young woman.” He squeezed her hand and then turned around, opening the freezer. “What is your favorite flavor?”
“Huh?” Rangiku called out.
“Of ice cream. We have all sorts in here and ice cream may relieve some of your sadness. You can have a cup while I convince Eve to come down. We have a deal but sometimes I have to remind her. It seems like today is one of those days."
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Post by Lt. Rangiku Matsumoto on Aug 2, 2017 22:17:33 GMT -6
Rangiku chuckled. "Lets do chocolate. It seems like a chocolate kinda day to me." She took her seat back at the table and watched Ichigo as he scooped out some ice cream into a bowl for her.
She balled her hand and rested it against her cheek as her elbow propped to the table top. "I stopped by to see if I could bother you for a place to rest my head while I was on leave. I would have went elsewhere, but as you know..." She fell silent as Ichigo looked up at her.
"Sorry I did not want to say it. However, she was always my free zone when I was in the human realm. I have no one now but you."
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Post by Ichigo Kurosaki on Aug 3, 2017 13:18:56 GMT -6
Ichigo paused. Then, he carved Rangiku another scoop, placed it on top in the full bowl, and pushed it towards her before replying. “It’s alright, Matsumoto. Orihime was already on my mind.” Setting the ice cream scooper down on a small plate for later, he turned to put the ice cream away, not speaking again for a couple moments. He’d sensed Evita coming downstairs and halt on the stairs.
He wondered if he should continue.
What would his dad have done? … Or Hime?
“Meeting Rukia introduced me to you all and got me started on the path as a substitute soul reaper. But Orihime’s capture was the beginning of me chasing Aizen to put an end to his ploys to hurt people. To hell with Soul Society’s choice to leave her because she disappeared on her own, I said. And I didn’t care later if it was some kind of trap. She was one of my closest friends and she…” a small smile surfaced on his face, eyes overbright, “had always been there for me, no matter the consequences. She was a brilliant light.” He closed the freezer. “Hell, I dragged her into this even if it really was the Hougyoku who gave Chad and her their powers. And even when the second war occurred, she continued to smile at me.”
He sat down at the counter, feeling Evita do the same on the stairs.
“I was an idiot. Not embracing her before I did.” He chuckled. “Before she challenged me with what she wanted after all the hell she had gone through. For me.” He shook his head. “But then again, at least I’m not the only one. But now that it’s over, I can’t help but remember her. And that, after all I did in this horrible mess… I could not save her one last time.”
He shrugged. “Like Dad and Mom with me.”
He stood again. “I didn’t speak for a while after that night. It’s difficult enough losing someone. It’s even harder when you’re drenched in their blood and no one else is around. No one to help. I wish Eve didn’t have to know that.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Come to think of it, that was probably one of the main reasons I threw Aizen across the town in the first war, too. After seeing Ichimaru and you over him, hands crimson trying to keep him alive. You didn’t need that either.”
He laughed quietly. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling and your ice cream is melting.”
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 3, 2017 13:20:02 GMT -6
“Then get her another serving,” Evita called out as she stood up on the stairs. She entered the kitchen. “We get discounts as valued customers after all.” She looked to Lieutenant Matsumoto, as if looking for a second opinion, and then leaned against the wall, folding her arms. She didn’t want her dad to stop talking, even if she didn’t understand why it was so important.
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Post by Lt. Rangiku Matsumoto on Aug 3, 2017 13:37:44 GMT -6
Rangiku waved a carefree hand over her bowl of ice cream. "Nah, its fine. I like it a little melted." She smiled brightly at the two then, looked pointedly at Evita. "So what do you think, young lady? Think I could hang out here for a few days with you and dad?"
She took a bite of her ice cream and hummed at the taste lingering in her mouth. Her head nodded in approval as she looked back to Evita. "Maybe after classes you and I can troll the park and see what kind of trouble we can get into..." she shrugged, "that is if you want to hang out with one of your dad's old friends."
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 3, 2017 14:02:10 GMT -6
Evita shrugged, unwilling to speak again so soon. But then she met the woman's eyes. "Stay if you want," she said. She wasn't sure about the rest, but she had asked her and Dad would be reluctant to help his friend if she didn't say something.
A moment later, not comfortable in the atmosphere around her, she pulled out a bowl and opened the freezer, pulling out three flavors of ice cream: peanut butter chocolate chip, strawberry, and rocky road. She started serving herself.
"Don't eat too much," Ichigo murmured. "I got dinner all ready."
Evita shrugged again. The sandwiches wouldn't go to waste that quickly. She finished getting her bowl ready and sat down at the counter, staring at her bowl, hands going to her lap.
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Post by Lt. Rangiku Matsumoto on Aug 3, 2017 14:10:06 GMT -6
Rangiku looked to Ichigo with questioning eyes. "It would be appreciated, but I understand if you want your space. I am sure I can find some place to hang out while I am here."
Ichigo waved his hand. "There's a guest bedroom Karin usually uses or the big couch. Choose which one you want. Tomorrow I have to go into work early so I won't be making breakfast, but I do most days."
Rangiku nodded her head slowly to his suggestions of where she could lay her head. "Thank you, Ichigo and I can help you out while I am here. I won't free load on you. I can get breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evenings. I am sure you're tired after work and not in the mood to cook. It will only be three days, but at least its a break for you as well."
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