Three years later..
Shino Academy
The midday was bright and peaceful. 1st year students were almost finishing their first semester in the academy. A class of students walked out from a dojo, dressed in black standard shikahusho, Zanpankutou strapped to their waists.
They formed groups of their own and slowly dispersed to the places of living. After about 10 minutes, another group of students walked out. Three students. Two boys and a young girl. They walked side by side, carrying books in their arms.
"I'm so hungry. I could eat a cow.." In their lead was a young boy, about 12 or 13 years old. His dark brown hair was short and messy, but was held in place by a forehead protector that wrapped around the upper part of his face, bearing a strange leaf like symbol.
He was handsome. Bore a serene smile, and wore a tailored academy uniform. His zanpankutou was strapped to his waist, along with a small kunai sheathed to his lower back.
"Tsk. What a foodie. I'm not paying for lunch today. It's on you!" To his right was another boy, shorter with bright silver hair, and a scowl on his face. His cold blue green eyes looked ahead, arms folded and Zanpankutou strapped to his back, it's length almost his height.
"Oi, come on Toshiro. I swear I'll pay you back." The brown haired youth rubbed his palms together pleadingly, but the silver haired boy only rolled his eyes. "Humph! You eat like a pig, Genma. I'll use all of my money just trying to satisfy your hunger. Just ask Momo.." He pointed to the young lady who was absent mindedly walked beside them hugging her books.
"Oh come on man. Y-you know I can't ask her.." The youth, Genma scratched his head embarrassingly. "Ask me what?" She finally turned her attention to them. They both went silent. "Spill it Toshiro." She turned to the silver haired Toshiro who looked away in annoyance. "Genma?" Genma was too shy to ask what he wanted and just had to swallow his words and look away.
It wasn't until then that they spotted a figure vigorously waving towards them from afar.
"Oi, isn't that Liuetenant Rangiku?" Momo, the girl squinted her eyes and asked. "Yeah, Matsumoto. It's her." Toshiro folded his arms at the sight of the busty Shinigami headed their way only for Momo to slap the side of his head. "That hurt!" He nearly cursed, but he knew better than to do that in front of Momo.
"She's an honorary Lieutenant, don't call her by surname, that's disrespectful.." She sent him a glare. "Whatever.." Toshiro rolled his eyes, meanwhile, Genma sighed deeply at their antics.
She reached them in a flash. "Woah! Look at you all grown up!!..Maybe except for you Toshiro, you still look the same.." Rangiku covered her mouth in laughter. "Tsk!" While Toshiro coldly harrumphed.
"Hahaha. What brings you here today, Liuetenant.." Momo sneaked a laugh and then turned to her with a respectful gaze. Rangiku smiled and then turned her head to Genma looking shy in the middle. "Oh me? Nothing much, I was just bored dealing with all that paperwork in the office and decided to come visit you kids..
Although, I can hear someone's stomach rumbling from all the way here. Good thing I'm here, let's go get something to eat!" She sent a suspicious side eye towards Genma who grabbed his belly in embarrassment and then turned to the rest of them excitedly.
"Aw! We wish we could, but Toshiro and I have to go see Grandma in the Rukongai. We heard she's not really well.." Momo pouted, Toshiro looked away.
"Well, it can't be helped. I guess I'll see you another time then." Rangiku saw them off with a smile. " Oh and Momo, make sure he behaves.." Her voice resounded towards their disappearing figures and her responses from them were a snort and a giggle.
"Why are you here? Am I in trouble?" It was when the two disappeared from their sights, that the youth finally parted his lips and spoke, his expression a deep frown.
"You mean apart from the googly eyes you've been using to glance at Momo? Then no not really.." Rangiku teased, but the boy only tensed. "You know what I mean, Rangiku." He cleared his throat.
"Look, Genma, I didn't tell you the truth for you to question me every now and then. I did it for your own good, and because I didn't want to keep things from you.." She patted his shoulder gently and sent him a reassuring smile.
"Sigh. I'm sorry. It's just ... You've been away for a long time. I thought something bad had happened.." He finally confessed, his tense shoulders dropping back into the normal place.
"Oh? So you missed me?" She teased again. "It's been more than a year since you last visited.." His expression was rather downcast.
"You know what, let's sit and eat, I'm hungry. I'll explain along the way.." They found a small field and sat, admiring the setting sun, and then began eating.
Genma expression softened at the taste of whatever it was he was eating. Rangiku was a snack lover, so it made sense that most of her meals were snack based.
"I was out on a mission. For nearly the entirety of last year and the early part of this year. That's why I couldn't come visit... Besides, I wouldn't want the other students thinking you're a mama's boy. You wouldn't either. They'll think you're a pushover.."
She chuckled, while Genma snorted.
"You want to tell me what's going on between you and Momo?" She sent him a teasing glare to which he panicked and cleared this throat.
"N-nothing! She's just a friend!" He stammered, with a strong glare, but when he saw the teasing smile on Rangiku's face, he deflated and let out an embarrassed smile as he scratched his head.
"I know.. I know.." Rangiku laughed it off seeing him turn red. "But if you like her, it's better to be straightforward than hide. Who knows, she might actually feel the same.. Just saying" Gemma's eyes lit up for a few moments with a ray of hope and then deflated again..
"But matters of the heart are usually sensitive and should be considered with utmost care before any step is taken.." He lifted up his head to the sky and quoted. Rangiku raised a brow.
"Says who?" She asked. "Minato Sensei.." Genma replied. She smiled. "That Sensei of yours isn't really a role model for relationships unlike combat. He sees a beautiful woman like me for the first time and what does he do? Run.. " Rangiku laughed and for a moment there, the youth laughed as well, the tip of his nose burnt with nostalgia.
"I think if you really like someone, you should do what the heart tells you to do and tell them. Because every minute you delay is enough time for you to lose them forever.." Now it was Rangiku's turn to be nostalgic.
"You sound like you know a little too much about this heart stuff, sis. Don't tell me you're getting married soon.." Now it was Gemma's time to tease. Rangiku covered her mouth and laughed softly. "If I was, I wouldn't invite you. You're too much of a trouble maker.." She chuckled.
"But I'm your brother.." Genma chipped in with a scoff. "You're adopted.." She turned to him, and both of them laughed it off.
"I've actually dreamt of you and Minato Sensei together one time, you know. It was beautiful. The two people I cherish most in this world finding eachother and we becoming one big family.." He spoke dreamily. "Yeah, well, I think you should pick up calligraphy and literature while you're at it." She scoffed while sipping a cup of wine.
"I mean what's not to like? He's so cool. He's strong, he's really handsome and he's fast." He raised a brow. "Why don't you marry him then? You sound like you're in love with him yourself.." They turned to eachother and laughed heartily.
"It's been almost 4 years. I wonder how he's doing inside that place.." A dead silence replaced the joyous mood just a minute later. "If anyone can survive and thrive in that place, it has to be him." Rangiku chipped with reassurance.
"Sigh. I wonder when I'd get to see him again..." Genma sighed, taking out the kunai Minato had entrusted to him years back. It spun around in his hand for a moment and then he gripped it tightly.
"Things would work out how they're meant to be, Genma. Your master is a good person. I believe he'll make it out.." She patted his shoulder.
"You're right, I guess. There's no use in worrying.." He drank the water in his cup in one fell swoop. "Anyways, tell me about that day. How did it feel, going up against him with the Captains and other Lieutenants?" He lay down and turned to her with an expectation..
"We've been over this topic for more than 10 times. Are you punishing me or what?" Rangiku sighed and lay back down as well. Genma's adoration and affection for Minato was was overwhelming. Normally it was a good thing, but in this case, she wondered if he had it in him to not go down the route he did.