Chapter one: You can learn a lot about a woman by her sake intake

"… here Ran-chan." A silver haired adolescent shouted my name from the top of a tree.

"Why were you hiding from me" I heard myself sulk.

"… 'cause you'd be looking fer me" I could see his smirk even with the sun behind his slender figure.

"…But I was thinking you were gone. I thought you left…I thought... " was that a slight tremor in my voice.

"Yar so silly Ran chan." He jumped and in an instant he was standing next to me. "here" he handed me an almost wilted, squashed flower.

I felt like the happiest girl in the world.

…

"…Matsumoto Fukutaichou?"

Someone is calling my name. I'm sleeping and I want to keep on sleeping. "Umm…" I tried tearing open my eye lids. So heavy, so comfortable, I want to sleep.

"Matusumoto Fukutaichou… are you well?" a deep voice resonated inside my heavy head.

I didn't want to, still I forcibly opened my eyes a little. A very unusual face floated into my field of vision.

"Umm... Ku... chiki...Taichou?" I opened my eyes slightly further. Why am I dreaming about him? That's a first.

"Why are you sleeping here" his deep voice rang again in my ears.

I am dreaming, aren't I? I thought to myself before slowly sitting up straight.

"Kuchiki Taichou, what are you doing here? Is it a hollow attack?" I murmured unmindfully. Rubbing my eyes, I looked at the surroundings and tried to remember where I am. It's the spot I've been frequently visiting the last few weeks. This is my secret Gin spot. But why am I sleeping here? More importantly, why is he here at this time? I looked at his blurry face through my eye lashes, he's kneeling next to me. His grey eyes are focused on me.

"I should be the one enquiring to why you are passed out in a place such as this" his monotonous voice drifted from the darkness of the night.

The empty sake bottles beside me rattled as I moved. I scratched my hair only to realise it's a mess. Some twigs and dry leaves in my hair is nothing compare to my other experiences at being discovered in positions compromising enough to put any guy to shame. Face of a frustrated Hitsugaya Taichou came in my mind. Oh, he wouldn't like this even a bit.

"Did I fall asleep here?" I looked around with my drowsy eyes and let out a nervous chuckle. I tried to stand up while realising the fact that I might topple over any minute and felt the slight embarrassment warming my face before holding myself steady.

After a brief pause of studying my face, he stood up silently and turned to leave. I finally stood up only to stumble and fall. But I found myself still standing as the captain of the 6th squad grabbed me by my arm.

Before turning and leaving after I was steady, he said, "It would be wise to not fall asleep drunk in a place like this at this hour. I trust you would find your way home. "

I felt the effect of alcohol was wearing off from the slight embarrassment as I watched him leave.

But I decided to worry about the consequence sometime tomorrow may be, if I'd bother with it at all. I wobbled towards my so called home to find my warm bed and sleep like there's no tomorrow.

…

The pounding in my head and the over sensitive hearing didn't help the humiliation I felt in the morning. Everything about yesterday was coming back to me. I clearly remember the smug disdainful look Kuchiki Taichou gave me. Getting drunk off my ass in a bar with my friends was one thing, but passing out like that and getting caught by the sternest captain of all 13 squads is something totally different. My normal everyday behaviour cannot nearly be called appropriate as far as a noble-ling such as himself is concerned, but I still wouldn't want an impression that might lead him to vote against my captaincy in the future. Well, that is if I ever decide to become one. Right now, I'm perfectly content with my current responsibilities, or the lack of it.

I rubbed my temple and sipped the cuppa coffee. I had no idea anyone from seireitei would be there. I've frequently started visiting that spot since Gin's death. I could see the most glorious sunset from there. It always reminds me of the time I'd spent with Gin. It had become a tradition for me to go there to watch the sunset and pretend Gin was there with me. Even though he is gone, the mess he left me in is still here and I miss him.

The need to drown my sorrows in bottles of sake somewhat receded since his death. But I can't say that I don't enjoy getting pissed drunk every now and then. My lack of hangovers almost every morning was something Hitsugaya Taichou didn't seem to mind.

"Matsumoto!" I looked up to see a surprized Hitsugaya Taichou. "You're here early?"

"Hitsugaya Taichou. Yeah, my coffee machine is broken." I rubbed my temple. "Hey Taichou, can you put in an order for another coffee machine in this month's budget?"

"No. This isn't your personal shopping list. We need every cent we get for the much needed repairs that is still pending since the war and why are you hung over again? I haven't seen you like this in a while. I sincerely hoped whatever made you reduce you sake intake would stuck for longer. I guess I've hoped for too much", he seem irritated.

"Ouch..." my tone was of genuine hurt. "You still loved me no matter what though, right?" I feigned disappointment with a pout. I remembered I need to buy some lip gloss too.

He ignored my comment with the flick of his hand. He approached his desk after filling up his coffee mug.

"Hey Taichou." I called him again. Irritating my Taichou is one of the easiest and the most entertaining way to get over my headaches.

"What is it now Matsumoto? Don't tell me you want a day off. I thought we were finally done with this ridiculousness." I noticed a tick on his forehead while he studied the form he will be working on soon.

"Nothing…" I smiled deviously. "I was just... You know… wondering…" I made an innocent face, "how did it go with Momo last night?"

I noticed a clear evidence of blush on his cheeks. Without removing his eyes from his paperwork his spat out in annoyance, "It's none of your business Matsumoto. Now please finish those paperwork."

I giggled. "Taichou, you are soo cutee!" I deliberately used the word "cute", it pisses him off the most. He growled, "If you are not going to shut up and do your work than take his to the 6th squad captain and bring his signatures" He threw a file at my desk.

Sixth squad? My mouth dried tasted bitter. Those eyes again? God! I grumbled out the words, "I'll just finish these paperwork first then"

He didn't expect me to surrender so easily. With a suspicious look at my face he concentrated on his work.

Yeah. I can't face that stuck up snob now. Later, may be.

…

Around the afternoon, I found myself standing in front of the sixth squad captain's office. I took a deep breath before knocking.

"You may enter."

I slid open the door. Kuchiki Taichou looked at me with a cold hard stare. I am not sure if I saw any emotion playing across them. With him, it's hard to tell.

"Kuchiki Taichou. I have some files that need your signature."

He gestured to his desk. I silently placed the file in front of him. He barely glanced at me and quickly started going through the pages.

I was unsure of how to start a conversation like this. So I just went right ahead without thinking too much.

"Kuchiki Taichou?"

"Do you have something to say Matsumoto Fukutaichou?"

"Well, about last night… I wanted to apologise. If you weren't there, I probably would've stayed like that all night."

I heard his pen stopped. I felt the all-knowing dark grey eyes piercing my soul. After a brief moment of silence he went back to his papers.

I felt a twinge of hurt and anger. What's with this guy? I said I'm sorry. The least he could do is accept it. How rude! It's not like I threw up on him or anything. Wait, I didn't throw up, did I?

I studied his face intently. I hope I didn't throw up on him. That's my last time drinking by myself. You never know who finds you where, in what condition these days. This time it was only Kuchiki Taichou. I can't imagine if ever bump into the sautaichou. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

The silence and the sound of his pen was becoming too overpowering. I have to say something, I can't just let my apology hang there.

"Umm… Kuchiki Taichou?"

He stopped writing again and looked at me sideways, expecting me to say something. That bastard. Is this how you converse with someone? For a noble he sure does lack the common manners.

"I apologised to you." I stated the fact firmly.

Few seconds of silence later he said, "I heard you"

Now this is becoming irritating. "You didn't respond"

"I assumed you didn't need one."

"I don't understand"

"You apologized to lessen yourself the humiliation you felt and to make sure I don't associate your last night's drunken state to your normal self and question your ability as a Fukutaichou. I assure you that whether or not that is your natural state, I do not possess any interest in you to remember what happened last night for too long." he picked up his pen and started writing with all his air of smugness.

What? How does a person insult another with such carelessness? All those times I thought maybe what they say about this captain was all an exaggeration. But they were right all along. Before I could stop myself my mouth spoke the next words automatically.

"I don't understand how you could be so indifferent to an apology. I assume it's because no one ever taught you how to be respectful of others unless they have some blue noble blood in their veins. I hope treating others like dirt makes you feel better about your noble ass but you should know only a pompous, arrogant, asshole could throw aside a sincere apology without even acknowledging the persons existence. Noble or commoner, everyone is human and they deserve the least amount of decency of being treated like one. Not just some piece of object."

I huffed heavily. My anger meter plummeted down just as quickly it went up. I felt my hands were shaking slightly as the sudden burst of energy left my body.

"Excuse me", I turned around on the spot and stormed out of the office. Before long I found myself panting in front of the 10th squad office.

I forgot to bring back the files.

After a brief moment I went inside the office. Hitsugaya Taichou looked up from his desk.

"Did you get the files signed?"

"Kuchiki Taichou said he will send them back once his done with them" I lied. I will have to ask Renji to get those files back for me.

What an arrogant asshole. Then again, I hope that sudden burst of spiteful words doesn't come back to bite my ass with any dire consequences. The thought left me feeling more than a little guilty. Silly, silly Rangiku! What have you done? I felt my head throbbing. I packed my up for the day and left the office. I really need some drink now.

…

"… Come on, Ran Chan. I'll make it up to you. How about a round of sake on me tonight?" his chameleon grin changed into something genuine.

"Don't you dare start thinking I forgave you" I huffed out the words.

"Oh no. I can never dare think that." his smile widened.

"Good. Because the only reason I am going is because I love sake. That's it"

His silently stared at me with the weirdest look on his face. He had few hours before he needed to go back to his lieutenant duties.

…

I found myself watching the sunset again at my secret Gin spot. The cool breeze felt nice against my skin. It calmed me down. This place makes me feel less alone. I was pondering about what happened this afternoon. I wish Gin was here instead of me. He would find something witty to say instead of losing his temper like me.

I have a feeling I need to stay clear of Kuchiki Byakuya from now on. I could never win against him in a duel. I sighed.

...

To be continued