Best I Am

Best I Am

To liven up the office, she said, to banish all that loathsome silence, she said, to add a little color to the job, she said.

Hitsugaya just thought she wanted another excuse to ignore her work.

He tended to ignore the cacophony Matsumoto called "music" when she turned on the stereo she'd brought back from the living world. He sometimes even put in earplugs when she decided to sing along.

It was a matter of principle. Hitsugaya didn't think music was proper in the workplace, so he didn't indulge in it, even when Matsumoto suggested he find something he liked if all her choices were so bad.

So he didn't mention anything when he found himself actually listening to the song that was currently playing. He didn't dare, because after all his complaining...he hated to admit that maybe, just maybe, Matsumoto had had a good idea.

She was actually doing her paperwork this time (there was a first time for everything, as the saying went), so she wasn't paying attention to him. So, he decided to let his mind wander. After how often she had done it, he deserved a chance, too...right?

"...I may not be much of an example right now,
But I can give you all of my knowledge on how
To get along in this place.
Right now all I can say

Is I will do the best that I can,
To be a good example of man,
And I know one day that you'll understand,
You deserve the best that I am.
You deserve the best that I am." (*)

* * *

It was his first day after being promoted to captain of the Tenth Division. He didn't deny that he was nervous; of course he was nervous. Sure, he'd risen to the top of his classes as an honest-to-God prodigy, the best student to come along in centuries, but still...that didn't mean he was actually prepared for the job, even if they said he was ready for it.

He would be meeting his vice-captain today, someone named Matsumoto Rangiku. She had been the vice-captain under Hitsugaya's predecessor, and so she had much more experience than he.

But still...he was her captain now, and that meant he had to provide a good example. That's what everyone told him: Captains provide an example for their subordinates. And he took that seriously.

So he sat nervously at his empty desk, hands clasped in his lap, waiting for Matsumoto to arrive, wondering if she would mock him for his height like so many of his classmates had.

He hoped not.

"...A new captain, ain't that right?"

"Yeah. Haven't heard anything about him yet...just his name. Hitsugaya Toushirou. Probably just another old fogey who'll wanna pretend I'm his girlfriend or something. I swear, why are all the higher-ups perverted old men?"

"Dunno, Matsu. Well, good luck."

"Yeah..."

Hitsugaya stood up, adjusting his new captain's cloak, as Matsumoto Rangiku opened the door. First impressions were always important.

When she closed the door behind her, Matsumoto turned to face her new captain.

They stared at each other.

...My...God... Hitsugaya thought.

Matsumoto Rangiku was most definitely not what he had expected. She was tall, with luxurious blonde hair and striking green eyes, and the biggest chest Hitsugaya had ever seen. She was young, older than he but still young, and had he been older he might have been shocked and delighted by how beautiful she was...as he was, he could only be intimidated by her gigantic breasts.

He swallowed, hands flat at his sides. "Uh...Matsumoto Rangiku?"

She nodded dumbly. "Y-Yes...uh...Hitsugaya Toushirou?"

Hitsugaya nodded. "Yes."

She stood there for a moment, completely unreadable.

And then...

"Awww, what a cutie-pie!!"

Before he even had a chance to comprehend what she'd said, he was suddenly caught up in a tight, smothering hug that threatened to steal the air from his lungs. He struggled to get out of her grip, hitting her back with his fists.

"M...M-Matsumoto...let...me...go!"

When she finally did, her face was glowing with joy. "It's wonderful to meet you, Hitsugaya-chan! Aren't you just the sweetest thing!"

"...Matsumoto...please don't call me 'Hitsugaya-chan.'"

She laughed at his scowl. "Oh, oh, of course. Captain's a captain's a captain, huh? Always hung up on formalities. My apologies, Hitsugaya-taichou, it won't happen again. Say...how old are you, anyway? You've got the hair of an old fogey, but you certainly aren't one."