Title: Three Cups of Coffee (So Far)

Rating: G

Pairing: In this chapter Renji+Kira (not much though). Other pairings such as ShuuKira, IkkaYumi, and IbaNanao come in later on.

Other character: Rangiku, Yumichika, Nanao, Ukitake

Notes/Warnings: Otherworld AU. Our boys are veterinary technicians working in Ukitake's clinic and everyone else has some sort of job that somehow connects all of them together. They are not shinigami, there are no hollows, no kidou or any of that good stuff. They drink Starbucks, for crying out loud. This is the end result of a certain frustration that's been eating me inside out for a while now. My F-List in LJ will understand. This one is for them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its sexy characters. I just borrow them and make them do my nasty bidding. They like it. A lot. :)

A/N: This story here is pretty much writing itself. It won't let me get any sleep, hence, the title which will change per chapter because the more chapters there are, the more cups of coffee there will be--for the characters in the fic and possibly for me in real life. I am steering this fic into ShuuKira but there are other pairings, too, and before you give me that oh-shit-not-another-one-without-a-following-chapter look, the second part is coming along nicely, I swear. Like I said in the shorter A/N (because I can't stick all of this up there) this is the end result of a certain frustration of mine. My F-list will understand and I hope you enjoy it anyway.

I do not pretend to know anything about the veterinary world or how it works. If you think something is wrong it probably is but am open for corrections and constructive criticism.

Three Cups of Coffee (So Far)

Abarai Renji is a dead man.

"Is this the part where I say I'm sorry?" he asks from where he's leaning against the wall of the filing room.

It's a quarter to midnight and he's snuck in again; no one knows he's here. The clinic is quiet so his voice all but shatters the silence. Apparently his friend(?) does not approve.

Renji's question goes unanswered and he wisely keeps his mouth shut while the other occupant of the room goes about his own business, resolutely ignoring him. He tries not to wince when the file cabinet is slammed shut harder than usual or when a stack of patient charts lands just a little too heavily on the top of a desk. The muscles under his cheek tremble almost imperceptibly from the effort of keeping still but when Yumichika finally turns around and Renji is met with his angry blue-violet eyes, he gives in. He winces.

Hell hath no fury like Ayasegawa Yumichika scorned.

"Where have you been?" The shorter brunet hisses then quickly cuts the redhead off just as he was about to answer. "Never mind. I don't want to hear it. You obviously don't have a valid excuse if you didn't go to Ukitake first." He pushes past Renji with a stack of charts in his arms and slams them down on Renji's desk. "These," he said pointing at the lopsided pile of folders. "need to be in the database, in alphabetical order, by tomorrow morning. Dr. Ukitake will be expecting them and if he asks me why they aren't there I will break every bone in your body twice." Yumi's glare hardens somewhat and Renji gulps.

"Gotcha," he says feebly and the brunet turns and leaves in a huff to change out of his scrubs. Renji thinks that maybe he should go after him and beg for forgiveness on his knees the way he does with Rangiku but then he remembers one crucial detail. Yumi is not Rangiku and will most likely kick him in the face if he tries that tactic. One thing he's learned in the few months he's been working as a veterinary technician in this particular clinic is that Yumi's is a wrath not to be reckoned with (and that Rangiku couldn't cook for shit). He should really remember the days his shift came after the brunet's so he could make an extra effort to get to work on time. Rangiku spoils him by letting him off the hook most times but then again, Rangiku comes to work late almost as much as Renji does.

Rangiku ain't new, though, A little voice from the back of his head reminds him and Renji sulks. Three months as an employee really shouldn't be counted as new but since no one came in after him he's basically the new guy. That never did sit well with him.

Somewhere in the clinic the clock strikes twelve and, as if on cue, the barking starts coming from the backroom. There's a blur of white and yellow as his room mate and co-worker, Kira Izuru, comes dashing out. The clock abruptly goes silent and the animals begin to quiet down. Izuru comes into Renji's line of sight again and he waves at the blond who throws him a quick grin before slipping back into the backroom.

Just then Yumi comes out of the changing room, already in his street clothes. Renji tries to duck behind the computer monitor but it's too late. Yumi sees him and levels him with a glare. "By morning, Abarai," he reminds and the redhead nods. Yumi harrumphs and throws a hasty good night over his shoulder before leaving the clinic and walking out into the night, shutting the glass door behind him a little harder than necessary. The impact of the door on its hinges somehow makes the precarious stack of charts on Renji's desk come tumbling down. He doesn't bother trying to catch them. With a sigh, he switches the computer on and quietly gets to work.

Five minutes later he's out the door.

"Dr. Ukitake's Veterinary Clinic and Animal Shelter, how may I help you?"

"…we have got to shorten that," someone mutters from the other end of the line and Nanao blinks. "Nanao? It's Rangiku. Is Izuru still there?"

The secretary's eye twitches a little, knowing what's coming next, and she brings a hand to her temple and starts to rub. "Yes, he is, Ran."

"And Dr. Ukitake?"

"In his office and hasn't been out but I can transfer your call," she offers, drumming her fingers against her desk.

"No need," Rangiku says brightly. "Just tell Izuru I'll be there soon."

"All right," Nanao nods even though her friend can't see her. At that moment Izuru pokes his head out of the backroom and looks at her hopefully. She gives him a pained expression and his face falls before he disappears again. Nanao sighs. "Ran?"

"Hmm?"

"A java chip frappuccino--"

"--with extra chocolate drizzles on top. Gotcha."

"Thank you."

"Tall?"

"Grande," Nanao says and hangs up.

"He hates me."

Izuru looks up from his spot on the floor of the backroom and smiles. He had hoped it was Rangiku when Sajin looked past him to the newcomer and he tries to quell the disappointment when he finds that it's only Renji, still in his street clothes despite being almost an hour late for work.

"He hates everyone," Izuru shrugs, running his fingers through Sajin's thick fur one last time before getting up and turning to his friend. "You're pushing your luck a bit, don't you think?" He shuts Sajin's kennel and locks it. Renji has the decency to look sorry and Izuru rolls his eyes. "I timed you in anyway. No one was looking."

The redhead immediately perks up. "Thanks, man. I owe you one." Renji pauses as if a thought has just struck him. "Actually, I owe you a lot." He grins and Izuru snorts and pushes past him and out of the backroom.

"You'd better get changed before Ukitake comes out of his office," he says over his shoulder and hears Renji mutter something about the silver-haired veterinary surgeon never coming out of his office anyway as he goes off to the change into the hideous light green scrubs he always says makes them all look like the living dead. Izuru shakes his head and resumes working.

When Renji gets back to the filing room preceded by Sajin the charts are back in one neat stack on the desk and Izuru is halfway through encoding the B's into the database. The large copper Siberian Husky looks up at him with huge brown eyes before he lays his shaggy head on the blond's lap. Izuru sighs.

"Someone should get the lock on his kennel fixed," he says as Renji comes to stand behind him, now in his scrubs. The redhead says something unintelligible under his breath and Izuru yelps as the chair is suddenly dragged away from the computer with him still on it.

"That's enough work for you tonight, blondie. You're makin' me look bad," Renji grins and Izuru pouts petulantly but gets up and lets the redhead take the seat. Sajin sidles up to his side as soon as he plunks himself down to sit on the floor and he leans his wiry frame against the canine's hulking form.

"Still staying?" Renji asks and he mumbles an affirmative even as he tries to stifle a yawn.

"Rangiku isn't here yet," he reminds his friend. He can almost hear Yumi saying "between her and Renji…" and he smiles to himself. Just then he feels Sajin tense up beside him and the dog lets out a loud bark.

"Speak of the devil," Renji says.

"And the devil appears," he finishes as Rangiku comes into the clinic at a full run. She spots him almost immediately and Izuru greets her with a tired smile.

"I am SO sorry," she says as she dumps a couple of cups of coffee on Nanao's desk and heads straight toward the filing room. "They let us off late and I ran into a friend on the way here and--" The jiggling of a doorknob cuts off her chatter and they all freeze when she turns wide blue eyes at them. Izuru grabs her by the arm and pulls her into the changing room just as Dr. Ukitake steps out of his office.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Rangiku whispers over and over as the two of them start changing out of their clothes. Izuru sighs and assures her it's all right, telling himself he can hardly reprimand her for it. Rangiku was one of the oldest employees in the clinic and almost always lets the newer ones get away with everything. To top it off she's on her last year of veterinary school and shouldn't even have time to come to work at all but she has never missed a shift so far. So she comes in late sometimes. She always makes up for it in her own way.

Besides, he likes Rangiku. She's funny and great at what she does. You can always count on her to have your back.

"Really, it's okay, Ran," Izuru says again as he tosses his scrub suit into his locker and slides into his jeans.

There's a sharp knock on the door and Renji's voice floats in. "Is it safe to come in?" he asks.

"Yup," The strawberry-blond replies as she slips out of her blouse.

"Argghh," Renji claps a hand over his eyes. "You said it was safe!" He whines and Rangiku giggles as she shrugs into her scrubs. Izuru only grins as he buttons down his shirt and grabs his messenger bag from his locker.

Renji growls. "Anyway, the coast is clear," he says and walks away, grumbling about how the there should be separate changing rooms for each gender. Sajin trots in in his wake and jumps on Izuru, licking his face.

"Lock still broken?" Rangiku asks and sighs when Izuru nods. "This place is really falling apart," she shakes her head and slaps a hand on her thigh to get the husky's attention. "This way, mutt! Let's let Izuru go home now." Sajin barks loudly and goes to her. Rangiku ruffles his fur once before looking at Izuru. "I really am sorry," she says contritely and she reaches into her locker to procure a steaming venti of café au leit. "Peace?"

It's not his favorite but the blond grins and takes it. "Peace. Thanks, Ran," he says as he turns to leave. "Have a good night." Rangiku smiles at him before leading Sajin back into the backroom. On his way out he stops by the filing room to say goodbye to Renji. "I'm off," he tells him.

"About time," the redhead replies, not even looking up from the screen. "There's leftover take-out in the fridge at home if you're hungry."

Izuru mutters a thanks around the plastic cover of the paper cup in his mouth and swallows. "We had pizza earlier. I saved you two slices."

This time Renji's face breaks out into a grin and he pushes his feet against the floor so the chair comes rolling over to the blond and he can hug him around the waist. "Damn it, Izuru, you're the best girlfriend ever," Renji crows and Izuru snorts and rolls his eyes. Then the redhead pulls away but only so he can grab Izuru's drink and take a huge gulp for himself.

"Hey!" Izuru whines and tries to get it back but Renji only rolls away from him on his chair.

"No more caffeine for you, buddy," the redhead admonishes. Then he gets up and puts his hands on Izuru's shoulders and starts pushing him so his vans slide across the tiles. Izuru doesn't bother struggling and just smiles and waves at Nanao who gazes at them fondly from behind the her desk. Renji is still talking to him but he isn't really paying attention until they're by the exit and Renji grabs his chin in one hand, forcing him to look at him.

"There's this thing called sleep," Renji says. "People need it to function properly and stay alive." Izuru pretends to pout as the redhead pushes the glass door open and all but throws him out of the clinic.

"Get some!" Renji yells after him, shutting the door in Izuru's face but not before the blond sticks his tongue out at him. Renji waves him off and Izuru smiles good-naturedly before heading toward the driveway.

Renji has known Izuru almost all his life. Izuru's family moved into the house next to theirs when he was eight. A few weeks passed without anyone seeing neither hair nor hide from the family living there.

Renji was hanging out in his backyard when he'd heard yelling coming from over the fence. There was a small hole in one of the planks just big enough for him to peep through and when he did he saw a couple yelling at each other by the front porch. The woman was blond and pretty and had tears in her eyes and the two adults continued to yell at each other until the man threw his hands up in the air and pushed past the woman and into the house.

It wasn't until hours after that, much later in the evening when he was taking the garbage out for his mom after dinner, that Renji saw the couple again, this time accompanied by a small boy about Renji's age and a dog. The woman was still yelling but the man didn't seem to be able to hear her as he hopped into his car and hit the ignition. Then the yelling had stopped all of a sudden as the woman moved to stand by the car window talking quietly to the man as the little blond boy looked on in silence.

All of a sudden, the tires screeched as the car quickly backed out of the driveway. There was an earsplitting howl followed by an even louder wail and the next thing Renji knew the car's tail lights were disappearing around a corner and the woman was gone, leaving the little blond boy sitting in the yard with his unmoving dog in his arms.

The screen door slammed open behind Renji and his mom came running out of their house in her nightgown, asking him what all the noise was about. Renji stared dumbly at the small boy and didn't answer her but jer voice startled the boy across the yard. The tiny blond looked up and Renji thought he had never seen anyone look so lost.

They've been friends ever since.

Renji is almost two years older than Izuru but was only ahead of the blond by a year in school. They'd gone to the same high school and Renji took a year off after graduation, getting into some odd jobs here and there and telling himself he'd wait for Izuru to graduate before he decided what to do with himself.

It was Izuru's idea to get into Veterinary Technology. It was Izuru's idea to go to college at all. Of course, Izuru didn't actually have to finish the course, could have just gotten a transfer and moved on to veterinary medicine because he could afford it. But he insisted on settling for an associate's degree and moving out as soon as he could to give his mom the break she needed. Izuru could be stubborn like that.

"I'll start when you start," Izuru said and Renji told him he'd never get to be the vet he wanted to be if he had to wait for him.

"You waited for me before college," Izuru persisted and the redhead didn't have it in him to tell him he hadn't had much of choice--he had been saving up back then--so he shut his mouth and the two of them graduated together.

Not long after graduation Izuru, true to his word, moved out of his mom's house and landed himself a job working with Dr. Ukitake. Renji helped him move his things into his new apartment across the city. A month later, Izuru did the same for Renji and then gave the clinic a call.

"You ready?" Izuru asked him on his very first day. Renji looked past the glass door and surreptitiously eyed a stern-looking brunet who could only be the secretary. Her glasses glinted frighteningly and Renji almost balked and ran.

"No," he gulped but let Izuru pull him into the clinic anyway.

He hasn't looked back once.

Renji watches patiently as Izuru hails a cab and climbs into the backseat. After noting the cab's plate number, he turns back into the clinic and heads for the filing room. Nanao is sitting idly in front of a computer, obviously bored, and Rangiku walks out of the backroom and into the laboratory with Sajin at her heels.

Then the sounds of a door opening makes them all turn around to see Dr. Ukitake stick his head out of his office. They all look at him--Renji and Rangiku a little nervously--but he only smiles and asks for a cup of coffee before slipping back inside. Nanao gets up to make it and Rangiku catches Renji's eye and gives him an exaggerated look of relief. The redhead grins.

"Seven more hours to go," Renji says, still grinning, and Rangiku makes a face.

"Don't remind me. Why this place runs 24-hours, I have no idea," she grouses and Nanao smiles from where she's adding more sugar than is strictly necessary into a cup of coffee.

"Some people gotta make a living," is all Renji says, shrugging. It is so true. "Now…where's the pizza at?"

A/N: Reviews will be appreciated. Tell me what you think?