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Author:
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Chapter 1: The Announcement
[Gin POV:]
It was around noon and it was blazing hot outside though good thing this coffee shop is air-conditioned. I was sitting near the window of the shop, sipping my decaf coffee—I was afraid that if I drank normal coffee I would get hyper later on. I gazed outside as I stared blindly at the people who passed by. My mind was preoccupied about the announcement the Commander just made a few hours ago in Seireitei. It kept on lingering in my head.
I picked up the cup and drank everything to the last drop. I took in a deep breath and then breathed out. Done, I guess I can probably head back now, but with that, another thought flashed into my head. I wonder if Rangiku likes coffee. She has so much work on her hands right now, I'm sure she could use some.
I stood up from the chair and then headed to the counter. The cashier kindly greeted me with a smile and I did the same thing to her, the problem was I was always smiling so it was hard to tell the difference. I ordered her the same one I ordered earlier—I wasn't really sure what she liked so I just went with anything. After preparing it, she finished it by putting the lid on and she handed it out to me which I accepted.
I gave her the bill. The cash register then printed out the receipt. She ripped it off from the machine and then gave it to me. "Thank you for coming Sir, please come again." She said sweetly.
"Thanks." I replied. I then turned around and headed towards the exit when, without warning, a woman bumped into me making me accidentally spill the coffee all over her. Coffee was dripping from all over her face and dress.
"You jerk! What the heck were you thinking?!" She yelled at me so loud that it got everyone's attention in the shop.
"Hey that was my coffee" I said mournfully, ignoring her and focusing on the slop on the floor—something that should've been for Rangiku. "Thanks a lot." I uttered with sarcasm.
"Ugh!!!" She grunted as she swung her right hand at me but it was no use, she was way too slow. I could even see her hand coming. I raised my hand next to my face to block it.
I fixed my usual grin though this time it was actually a smirk. I knew that what I just did sort of embarrassed her so that was payback enough. "After what just happened, you don't have the right to slap me."
I wiped both of my hands with a napkin from one of the tables and then left everyone in the room in awe, including her. Before closing the door, I glanced back at her and the expression she had made me giggle. She was so angry that she could've blown the roof off the place.
Once again I sighed. The whole thing was pretty nostalgic for me. I dunno if I should be down because I lost the coffee or I should be glad because I feel like I just made a new friend. I chuckled to myself before heading back home.
[Rangiku POV:]
Sunlight was shining through the window and I could see the tiny dust particles floating in the air. I was isolating myself from everyone in the Captain's office. There I am standing next to the window, staring blindly at whatever was there. I was lost in thought because of the commander's announcement just a while ago. I didn't know what to do.
I snapped myself out of it when I heard someone knock on the door and then come inside. It's a shame I forgot to lock it, I needed some time alone to think and with this person here now I can't.
"Hey Rangiku! So did you hear about the news?" She smiled pleasantly at me as she jumped onto the couch. She then gazed up the ceiling, probably daydreaming.
"Yes Momo, I did. I was there with you when it was announced." I said blankly while sending her a flat smile as I turned away.
"Oh the idea of ballroom dancing…" I jerked the moment she said that. "It's a shame about the stupid rule though." She pouted. "Only the girls can ask the boys." She mimicked it exaggeratedly then she moaned but then she smiled and looked up again.
"I know right, what is the commander even thinking?!" I suddenly lost composure and then punched the wall which startled her from her daydream.
"W-what's t-the m-matter? You d-don't like d-dances?" Her voice quavered as she leaned back against the couch. She was also trembling—in retrospect maybe punching the wall wasn't the best idea, I think I scared her.
"No, it's that stupid rule!" I growled in frustration.
"Oh I get it!" She unexpectedly smirked. "You want someone to ask you out! But because of that rule… you can't! So now you have to ask him!" She grinned mischievously.
"NO!" My eyes skipped around the room; left; right; anywhere but her eyes. I tried to deny it though her guess was right—accurately right.
"So who is it? C'mon tell me, who is it?" She assumed it anyway and she repeated the question over and over again until I answered. I massaged my head with my fingers as it was giving me a headache.
I eventually cracked and gave in, "Fine I'll tell you! Okay? It's…" I looked away again. "A guy…"
"Of course it's a guy! Now c'mon tell me…" Her eyes grew bigger and her lips were pouting—its official she was doing the puppy dog pout and I couldn't resist to that.
"It's Gin! There I said it!" I answered reluctantly and then crossed my arms. "Are you happy now?" My eyes strained to look away.
"Captain of 3rd squad Ichimaru Gin? That Gin?" Her jaw sort of dropped and she raised one of her eyebrows. "Well I guess it makes sense." She had a change of expression as she stroked her chin. "You two look really good together and plus he's a really great guy." Finally she said something to lighten me up.
"You really think so?" I smiled for real this time.
"Yeah, I mean he's Captain Aizen's most trusted companion. He must've been so faithful and reliable to be so important to Captain Aizen… oh Captain Aizen…" The uplifting feeling disappeared the moment I found out that this was all about Aizen.
"Oh…" I frowned but I tried to hide it from her but I think she still noticed.
"AND not to mention he's always so wacky and never so straight up." She went on all jittery. "That's what separates him from the other captain's they're all so serious, and also the fact that he knows how to handle a zanpakutou like nobody else." Nice save actually. "And like I said, you two look good together" Her tone of voice changed, I think actually meant the last part.
"Thanks, that somewhat helped but that's not really what I'm frustrated about. Gin's not into dances or such and I'm afraid that he might not have time for it, being a captain is a really busy job you know." I sighed. To be honest, I sound like one of those unpopular kids who were too shy to ask a popular guy so instead they tend to make up excuses to not ask him out. Yuck, Though the apple doesn't fall from the tree.
"So in short, you're afraid he's gonna say no." She uttered. Am I that easy to read today? "You do realize your gonna have to ask him sooner or later or else you'll run out of time. It's tomorrow night."
"I know!" I punched the wall again and bent my head down.
"Wow, Rangiku I've never seen you so violent before." She stared. She looked so surprised because of what I just did.
"Violent?! I'm not violent! Especially not over Gin!" My tongue suddenly slipped. She was right I was getting a little violent because of Gin.
"You made a huge crack on the wall with the size of a chair!" She pointed out.
"Yeah, a toddler's chair anyway!"
"More like a king's throne!! Can't you see how big it is! Which only encourages the fact that you're that violent over the guy!" She wagged a finger at me.
"Fine." I admitted it hesistantly. "Ugh! I just wish I could get this over with! This is killing me!" I grunted.
"Don't worry, they say a couple's foundation of their love always starts with a dance, yup it all starts with a dance. Either that or it grows stronger with a dance… I'm not really sure…" She was pursing her lips, trying to recall whatever it was she was gonna say but I get the idea.
"You got that from a book, right?" I joked as I raised my eyebrow and shot her a one-sided smile. Though it was because of what she said that I was renewed with faith now.
[Gin POV:]
So delighted to be finally back at Seireitei, back into my loose Shinigami uniform. My mind was a little more at ease now because of the incident earlier. It was certainly extraordinary, stuff like that doesn't happen here. Humans really are revolutionary.
I was taking a nice stroll around town before heading back to my office, observing anyone who passed by. I wanted to see if everyone was affected like I was with the news. Out of the blue, someone odd showed up and approached me.
"Hey Ichimaru!" A guy with extremely spiky hair called out to me. "Where have you been?" He demanded. "I need to talk to you about earlier I'm pretty sure your one of the few people who was there." He whispered in my ear.
"Yes? I was out taking a walk. What is it?" I said calmly while grinning as always.
"You mean you're not even bothered by the fact that the dance is just being used to hold a secret meeting, that's carefree and laid-back of you as usual!" He scolded me, apparently he thought wrong. It did bother me, the whole time actually.
"If I were you I would keep my voice down, Kenpachi." Another familiar face walked up to us.
"Ah, Byakuya you're out too? You must be pondering on the subject as well." I greeted him happily.
"I bet the commander's just using this to tighten security. I mean the whole Soul Society's invited." Kenpachi lowered his voice now as his scrutinized the area one by one, making sure that no one was around or nearby.
Byakuya looked away as he reminded us with an impassive tone. "It would be better if you don't talk about this in public, sometimes walls have ears. And also not all captains are informed of this so…"
"Yeah whatever I'm just upset about the fact that I won't be able to enjoy the party. There's gonna be food there man!" Kenpachi disguised the subject with another one but still somewhat related to it.
"Oh right! While everyone's enjoying it, we'll be…" I ended the sentence with that. Byakuya was emitting this strange vibe that probably meant he wanted us to stop talking about it. It made me wonder if he already had a heads up on what was the secret meeting about.
"It doesn't matter I don't even like dancing anyway." Kenpachi suddenly mentioned as he voice was back to normal now—loud as ever. "What about you two? Do you like dancing?" He grinned and patted us both on the shoulder.
"I'm uninterested it in though it's ok." Byakuya answered and then walked away. It's as if he already finished his job in making sure we keep quiet.
"So not into it, I don't dance." I replied cheerfully as I also began to walk away. "Bye bye" I waved my hand at him before disappearing.
I stood there on the roof of a nearby building, waiting for Kenpachi to leave the scene. I knew someone was there listening to us, but I don't think it was the whole time. I could sense that person's presence and it was very recognizable to me, but I thought I'd let the person go for now and start asking questions maybe tomorrow.
[Rangiku POV:]
After going out and shopping for some snacks, I came back to the captain's office. Thank goodness the captain still wasn't there yet, though there was one person who was inside.
"Hey Rangiku! You're finally back!" Momo stood up from the couch and spread out her arms to welcome me.
"Yeah, so what…" I said miserably. "I wish I never went out in the first place." I put the down the stuff and then sat on the couch's arm then I groaned heavily.
"What's wrong? Are you still frustrated about the 'thing' we talked about earlier?" She used her fingers to air quote it.
I moaned loudly as I forcefully fell on the couch with my face first. "That whole dance thing is fake." My voice was drowned out by the cushion.
"What?" Her eyes grew immensely bigger.
"The whole dance idea is such a fraud, the one you said earlier where it all starts with a dance well what if the guy doesn't want to dance? Where's your foundation of love now?" I said a bit angrily and bitterly, trying to hide any sadness I felt.
"Oh I thought you meant the dance tomorrow was fake." She laughed. "Oh it's way too impossible." She wiped a tear from her eye then continued laughing.
"Yeah it's not. Why would it be? In fact, why would you even think that?" I looked at her, puzzled at what she had just said.
"I dunno, you said it… Never mind, let's go back to your dilemma." I bet she mentally slapped herself for that to remember. "Did you finally ask him?" She came up and sat down on the captain's desk.
"No I overheard him say he doesn't like to dance, so what are the odds that he's gonna say yes to me." I explained as a frown appeared on my face. The sadness I felt was starting to slip out little by little.
"You know, he might say yes to you. Did you ever think of that? You guys are childhood friends, you have a special bond of friendship that might even turn into-" I interrupted her.
"Don't even say it! It won't happen and there's no chance that it will!" I yelled. "I give up. I don't wanna worry about this anymore. Tomorrow I'll just show up but that's all I'm gonna do." I banged my head on the cushion.
"I get it. You're afraid to get hurt but I'll respect your decision. But just so you know, you'll spend all your life wondering and you might even end up regretting if you don't ask now." She approached me and patted me on the shoulder.
And from that, the sun sets and dusk takes over. Day seeps into night but a heart remains in turmoil. What will happen next?
Note: I'm not really sure about the last part, it just came to me hehehe. Please don't forget to R&R :) bye byeXD