Toushiro Hitsugaya hated feeling confused. Especially when it had to do with his job. Worst of all he was confused about one of the most confusing people he'd ever known; Rangiku Matsumoto. It'd been sometime since he had begun to complain less about her state of dress, her laziness, and even the amount of time she spent drinking. At first he thought that he was just loosening up. Rangiku didn't mind and neither did he so they just went with it without talking about it. But when she caught his eyes wandering away from his desk and to her…assets he didn't live down the embarrassment or her comments…or anyone she happened to tell…for a month. Ukitake had started slipping condemns in his candy baskets and Shunsui had pulled him aside for 'The Talk' a few times. Of course then the short captain had begun to carry his zanpaktou around like it was wartime again.

And just when he thought it couldn't get worse, he'd started having dreams that left him in a cold sweat and his blood pumping where it shouldn't be at his age. Now, he couldn't look at his lieutenant in the eyes without risking a blush and possibly further embarrassment.

"I'll just wait it out," he told himself as he tried to go to sleep for the third time that night. "Maybe this time I won't have the dream."

Soft skin that was so warm…gasps of breath…pain of fingernails in his back…taste of sweat and something he didn't know yet…'Toushiro,'

The child prodigy woke from his sleep with a start and a stifled cry of surprise. Her room was next to his. He didn't need her to see him like this. Getting up from his futon he walked outside to feel the cool breeze on his body. If he had been anyone else he would be cold wearing only a thin standard shinigami's robe. But of course he didn't get cold. He'd never felt cold in his entire time in the Soul Society.

He had a flash of his dream and couldn't help but shiver at the thought. A chuckle came from behind him and he didn't turn to see Rangiku. He knew that if he looked his eyes would stray too long.

"Cold Taicho?" the sound of her walking over to him came to his ears and he continued to look pensive while looking at the moon. "You couldn't sleep? I heard you get up."

Cursing under his breath he didn't respond. That is until she touched his shoulder gently. It was most likely to be comforting but his body tensed on its own.

"You can talk to me Toushiro," she said foregoing his title and for some reason he didn't care that she had.

"I'm fine Matsumoto," he said a little colder than he'd meant to. Turning to her and putting on a face of thankfulness he added softly, "Thank you, but it was just a dream."

The older woman seemed to search his face for a moment before smiling and returning to her room without another word. And for some reason, Toushiro felt cold without her hand on his shoulder.