tampered | (no subject)

(no subject)

When; June 3, evening and night
Rating; PG at most
Characters; Rangiku

silence_bringer, and perhaps Xulchibara

revelations9x6 later on
Summary; Family time
Log;

While her back was happy to be on a nice soft bed, Rangiku wasn't as pleased as ger body was. Certainly, the accomodations were nice, as they always had been, but she hadn't been quite ready to return to her role and place at the manor. As it was, though, she was too tired to pass the wards, much less leave the grounds around the manor house. With a muted sigh, she leaned back on the plush bed, sinking down into the rumpled covers.

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Hotaru knocked softly on the door, not sure whether she should come in on her own or not. She hadn't really meant to upset Rangiku by having Archer bring her surrogate mother back to the safety of the manor, it had just seemed the right thing to do at the time. But the blond woman had assured her that she didnt have to worry about anything.

"Momma?"

Ran looked up at the hesitant voice. She might've been tired and a bit on the grumpy side, but her surrogate daughter didn't deserve her ire or temper. Carefully, she pushed up from the bed and padded over to the door, pulling it open to allow Hotaru to join her if she wanted to.

"I'm not gonna bite you, sweetheart. Come on in."

Her feet carried her back to her bed, leaving Hotaru to decide if she wanted to join her or not.

With a nod, Hotaru followed Ran into the room, waiting for the older woman to climb back into the bed before climbing up herself and snuggling up next to her.

"Momma...are you sure you're alright?"

Once Ran was settled, she found herself snuggled by the younger girl, and was more than happy to curl an arm around her. Privately, she'd missed being around people while she was holed up in the warehouse, but there's no way she'd ever admit to that. A yawn tried to stretch her jaw, but she held it back, tying to keep from showing how tired she truly was.

"Mmm... I'm alright. I'm just really tired, Hotaru. Last night took a lot out of me..."

Hotaru nodded, snuggling up under Ran's arm.

"Did you find your friend, Momma?"

She'd been so worried when they'd come across her mother's unconscious body, so afraid that someone had attacked her, something had happened. It was relieving to know that wasnt the case.

Her heavy hair shifted as she shook her head. "No... someone took her and hurt her. We were all trying to find her, as well as some blades that were taken..." The night weighed heavily on her mind as she thought back to it.

The activity had taken its toll on her, and she hated that she hadn't been more help. Perhaps it was time to bow out and tell her beloved captain that she wasn't cut out for the 13 Squads anymore.

Idly, she stroked Hotaru's hair, fingers sliding over the raven strands so unlike her own. "I'm sorry I've been gone..."

"Do you think she'll be ok, Momma?"

She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of fingers caressing her hair. It was nice, comforting. Similar to how it felt when Archer did the same thing, but not quite alike.

"It's ok. It's not like...I haven't been gone too."

"... I'm sure she'll be fine. Rukia's strong." Her hand never stopped moving, but her eyes slid half closed as she let her mind wander a little. "Been with Archer, hmm? How is he?"

"That's good. I hope she comes back soon..."

Violet eyes snapped open, Hotaru feeling her cheeks warm slightly at the question. With a shy, somewhat hesitant smile she nodded.

"He..he's good, Momma. He....he loves me. Like he did before. He told me.."

Ran bit back a smile at her response. "I thought he would, if he got a chance to spend some time with you. He's a good one, but... you should be careful, you know."

She frowned slightly, cocking her head to the side at her surrogate mother.

"Be careful? What...I don't understand."

Her hand stilled, then dropped down to the covers beside them. ".... sex, sweetheart, not that I'm really the one to be chiding you about it. Still.... be careful about it. Things can get... carried away in the heat of the moment."

Hotaru felt her face redden at the words. It wasn't so much the idea of talking about it, but the fact that the woman she considered like her mother knew about it.

"I.....how did you know?"

Ran chuckled softly, tilting her head a little so that Hotaru's blush was visible. "I didn't know for sure, but judging by your reaction, I'd say it was pretty good timing, hm? Honestly, I meant my words in general... I might be pretty old, but I remember what it was like for me."

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