him? Haineko purred.

"Taicho! He's known for spewing lies left and right. I can't verify that what he says is true, and... if it isn't true who do you think is going to get hurt the most." Rangiku was surprised at his response and reached out and touched his cheek gently. "No silly... you're... oh, never mind. I need to go and think about this."

She then found herself heading back to the tenth division. She found Ukitake sitting at Toshiro's desk glancing through what seemed to be a photo album. He glanced up when Rangiku entered the room and noted the fact she was pushing her lips together in frustration. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Have you talked things over with Gin?"

"He's lying to taicho."

"Are you sure about that?" Ukitake closed the book and stood up. "Unohana was in on this Rangiku. I don't think she would have allowed this if she suspected that what he said to her wasn't true."

"Yes. But there is no proof." The woman leaned against the doorway and placed her fingers on her mouth as she closed her eyes.

"Toshiro handed me this before he left. It is one of the gifts Gin gave him. The thing is, seeing it will likely make you even more upset with Gin rather then making you feel better." The man walked over and handed the photo album over.

The woman opened it up and the horrified look on her face returned. "How did Gin come by pictures of taicho when he was a child?" She flipped a few more pages and she snapped it closed. Her eyes closed. "There is a picture in here of Gin."

"There are quite a few pictures of Gin in there, but mostly it is an album of pictures of Toshiro when he was to young to remember Gin coming by and visiting."

"This just means that Gin knew taicho as a child." Rangiku closed her eyes. "Taicho remembers dying on a plain of ice."

"Look at the pictures again Rangiku." The man opened the book up to the first page. "How old does he look in this and how old does Gin look for that matter?"

"Taicho is an infant in this picture." The woman found herself biting on her lip. She then sat down on the couch and buried her face in her hands before sobbing.

Ukitake patted her on the shoulder. "I'll go make you some tea. If you want, I can call Nanao over and she can go hurt Gin for you."

"I don't know if I can face her. I had a child out of wedlock and pretty much abandoned him." Rangiku continued sobbing.

"I had better send word for her to get over here." The man left the room.

The next thing Rangiku knew the trey was clinking down on the coffee table. "Rangiku?"

"I've sorry. I..." The woman's head came up and she tried wiping her tears away. "What did Ukitake tell you?"

"Nothing. He just said you were really upset and needed a friend to talk to." The woman wrapped her arms around Rangiku's shoulder. "Please, tell me what is going on?"

"I..." The busty female reached over to the table and picked up the photo album. "Take a look at this. I can't say it out loud. Particularly after what I said to taicho earlier. I don't know what to do."

The woman leaned back and opened the photo album. She then pushed up her glasses. "These are pictures of your taicho when he was a baby. How did you get them?" She turned a few more pages before pausing. "Never mind. That man was involved. He's really good at breaking your heart, isn't he?"

"I'm more worried about taicho though."

Nanao snapped the book shut. "That would be because you're his mother. You and I've both known that you've instinctively acted like a mother hen around him, but you don't do it with other children. Drink some tea. It will help you calm down. Not that I blame you for acting the way you are."

Rangiku picked up a cup and took a sip. She closed her eyes. "What I did was pretty much abandoning him though."

"Did you?" The other woman picked up her own cup. "The way I see it you for some reason don't remember that you are his mother, and yet when he needed you the most you some how managed to find him and your instinct kicked in. Ever since then you've remained by his side. I wouldn't call that abandonment. Still..."

"Something is bothering you."

"I'm bothered by the fact Gin kept Toshiro from you all this time, but then again if my calculations are right Toshiro would have been born..." Nanao paled and her cheeks flushed up. "Wait... by my calculations he's not just an illegitimate child you had him when you were babes yourself."

Rangiku remained silent. The woman glanced over. "I mean..."

"I know that you didn't mean it as an insult. I did the calculation as well."

"Well, Gin would have been dealing with Aizen and all of Soul Society now knows that he was playing the role of a double traitor. He had to have planned it from the beginning and didn't want to drag either of you in. But..." Nanao frowned. "What bothers me is the fact he could have very well left Aizen alone and the three of you lived out your lives as if nothing happened. Unless of course Aizen was the reason for you losing your memories."

"So what do I do now." Rangiku took another drink of her tea.

"We'll finish the tea and go shopping."

The busty female turned to look at the woman. "I'm not in the mood for shopping for myself. I prefer doing that when I want to reward myself."

"No, no." Nanao waved her hand. "Today's your son's birthday and Christmas is coming up so we'll go and get him a present that comes from the heart. We can also pick up a birthday cake as well and some other goodies for Christmas. We'll work on turning this around so it is a positive thing for both of you, though we still have to deal with Gin and those moods of his."