A/N: Well, I'm back again. My poll result was tied, so I decided that eventually I'm going to do both a HitsuMatsu and a HitsuHina. Right now, the HitsuMatsu has presented me with a few more ideas, that and it was set up just a little bit better thanks to "The Name Of The Game." I will come out with a HitsuHina sometime in the future. I like both pairings on different days of the week.

This is in the same realm as my other AU fic. I wanted a Universe, so here it is. There may also be more fics based on it eventually too. Tell me what you think about that. Anyway, this is not a Shunsui x Nanao, which is strange (believe me I know) but I figured that I needed to do other pairings I like too. Based on that, I don't know if I got the characters exactly right. You'll have to let me know if I screwed something up. That's bound to happen eventually.

This fic is special in a way. It's my tenth one, and this fic also puts me over 100,000 words...finally. Took me long enough. Any suggestions are highly welcome. I have an outlined plot already figured, but I like new ideas to help me along. You know the drill. Good, not good? Let me know. -KG

Oh, and I have another poll if anyone's interested. It'll prob be up for a while.

Disclaimer: Do we really need to do this anymore? I think it's pretty clear that this is in no way mine...except my plotline, of course.


A Minute More Than Nothing

Chapter One: Return To The Thirteenth Step

The Thirteenth Step's bustle was starting to give Toshiro Hitsugaya a headache. It's not that he hated celebrations, he rather enjoyed them sometimes, he just had a lot of things on his mind at the moment. He sighed deeply, bringing his hand up to rub his temples. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the drink in front of him as well as the noise around him. He didn't plan on engaging in much conversation, and he definitely wasn't going to drink whatever that was sitting before him.

He groaned quietly, hearing the conversation kick up a few notches. A laugh rang out, one that he could easily pick out in a crowd, the one of Rangiku Matsumoto. Sure, it was nice to know she was having a good time, but did she have to be so loud? He opened his eyes and sent a small glare in her direction, spotting her sitting by Shunsui and Nanao a little way down the bar. As if that would quiet her down. It never got her to practice when he wanted her too, so he didn't really expect it to work now, especially when she wasn't paying attention.

He supposed that he shouldn't be so sour during a celebration, but he really couldn't help it this time. On this Saturday, just about everyone had been surprised when Nanao had walked in with Shunsui's arm around her waist. Even he, who had watched their relationship with each other while they were at the bar, wouldn't have guessed at that. Apparently she was going to go work with him in the Brewery business and would be leaving here. That's how tonight, of all the possible nights, turned into somewhat of a celebration between the two.

It really wasn't his fault that he was sour today. There were just so many things for him to be thinking about right now, most leading to the massive work load that he would have to accomplish soon. One large event stood out in particular. Why did it have to be tonight? Of course, there was a show tonight. True, it was only about five, but getting Rangiku to do anything later was going to be a pain. He didn't really approve of her drinking this early when they still had work to do, but it's not like she listened anyway.

And why did he worry about her so much? Well, sometimes it puzzled him too. He found it extremely odd, back when Shunsui had made his first recent appearance in the club, that he felt the need to step in between him and Rangiku. It was almost like he was defending her before she could be insulted. He didn't really know why he did it, just that it seemed the right thing to do. Was he protecting a member of his team maybe? Nevertheless, that just added onto the list of things that had been bothering him lately.

Thinking of tonight's show, he was reminded of one of the other problems scratching around in his mind. Another member of his team, Momo Hinamori, was still missing in action. Sure, they knew that she was having conflicting wishes right now, but it worried him that she hadn't been to a show or practice in over a month. The last time she showed up was the beginning of June. He scowled a bit, creasing his forehead. Lately, she had expressed that she might want to join the entertainment roll over at Hueco Mundo.

The first time she said this, he blatantly asked her why.

Sosuke Aizen, the owner of this other club, was a man that Toshiro was not very fond of. The company he kept, the other two co-owners, Kaname Tousen and Gin Ichimaru, didn't help his prestige much. Toshiro knew first hand that the three didn't do things like everyone else. There had been some talk of dealing with the bad part of town, but he didn't get into it much.

Gin, he knew, had made a deep cut to Rangiku in the past relationship that they had. That fact alone (which he had learned from Nanao, and it was unintentional really), made him dislike the man. Rangiku may be a bit wild, but she didn't have an evil bone in her body, certainly not deserving what she got. He had also heard, probably on accident, that Kaname had a hand in getting Nanao fired from that club too. He found it ridiculous that anyone would want to fire someone as hardworking as her, but he just let that add to the reasons why Momo's dilemma was absurd.

Momo, however, was convinced that Aizen was nothing but a wonderful man, someone who had helped further her own talents, much to Toshiro's disdain. Sure, he was glad that she improved and was happy, but it stung just a little when she wouldn't ask the same thing of him.

He sighed again. He had known Momo since forever, them growing up in the same neighborhood and eventually working at the same place. It's not always easy in the city like this, but it's alright when you have someone to lean on. He didn't expect her to stay here forever, especially when he himself didn't think to, but he couldn't help but feel a little betrayed at the blind loyalty she put into a man that she hadn't known half as long.

Including Momo, there were five girls on his team at the club. Out of all of them, Rangiku was the best one. He couldn't deny that even if she didn't work all that hard (at least when he was around), she was as good as she claimed to be. That's why she was the lead. She didn't really know it, but the others looked up to her leadership. She directed as she would a class too. Without her everything fell apart. Maybe that was why he harped on her so much.

He wasn't sure exactly what kind of background Rangiku had, and that was odd for him. He was fairly confident that he could pick out talent when he saw it, and all the members of his team where picked especially for the things they could do. He usually paid good attention, but she was elusive to let on what she had accomplished in the past. He was hesitant to work with her at first, but after seeing her dance, his opinion changed.

You just couldn't beat refined talent.

He guessed that she had studied in most areas of dance. He knew that she had gone to some sort of school, he just didn't know which one. There was a slight air of mystery about her, but from what he could tell, she might have reason to act this way. Gin could probably be an example. He would agree that things were simpler if people knew less.

Orihime Inoue, another lively addition to the team, had studied some of the more modern forms of dance. This was particularly useful when putting on shows for the club. She usually had ideas of how to spice up their performances. Most times, she would join those out on the floor before and after a show as well. She once mentioned that she had also taken a few textile crafting classes, so she was also a big help in designing and picking out their flashy costumes.

Isane and Kiyone Kotetsu were found by an old acquaintance of Ukitake. They had started dancing together at a young age. They had taken various forms of gymnastics throughout the years as well as minimal amounts of ballet. Their advanced flexible moves uplifted their performances greatly. It wasn't that hard for the others to catch on either when the two decided to teach the rest some things.

He supposed that was also a reason he chose the people he did. There had been many auditions at first, but none really stood out they way his team did. It was a small blessing that they worked well together. He hadn't had to struggle with them so far, and he was grateful. They all seemed serious about their line of work, and he thought that maybe that's why they worked so well.

Well, he wouldn't have chosen them if they weren't good.

Momo was the last member of their close knit team, or what he thought was close knit. He had know her since forever, back in the orphanage where they grew up. He knew she had talent back then, and it would only be a matter of time before she expanded. Momo had studied a lot in ballet and had taken a few ballroom classes to further the graceful aura she presented when she performed. He had thought her serious too, but maybe they just didn't see things the same way anymore.

You can't stay locked in the past forever, after all.

Momo's sudden change is what troubled him the most at this point. With her they had five on the team. That was the number he needed. If he couldn't change her mind and give her a reason to stay with them, they might just be in trouble.

Sure, having four on a team was fine for shows here at the club, but they would need at least fiver for what he had planned. Just thinking about the looming event made him tingle with excitement. It was everyone's best shot for advancement, the greatest opportunity he could give them. He clenched his hands to avoid seeing them shake. It wasn't like he wore his emotions out on his sleeves, he preferred them locked away behind his stony façade.

Somehow though, even without Momo if need be, he would make this work out. He owed it to the girls if nothing else.

As he was lost in his thoughts, he didn't see the presence approaching him, planning on breaking his concentration.

He was all of a sudden aware of his body moving, and his head pressed against something soft. Ah. He knew that feeling. He managed to shove the mass off of him and looked up to find exactly the one he suspected, one Rangiku Matsumoto.

"Ne, Shiro, lighten up. This is a party!"

He scoffed. "Just because this happens to be a rare celebration, doesn't mean that you get out of doing work today." He smirked at her priceless expression. "As you already know, there is a show later on tonight. I expect you ready to go practice very shortly."

"But-"

"No buts. Consider yourself lucky that I'm letting you have that." He glared at the glass in her hand, full of sake. "Now go bother someone else while you still have time." He smirked. "Unless you'd like to go practice now?"

She didn't think twice about smiling sheepishly and turning back toward where her other friends were sitting. How she ever got good at dancing he'd never know. It was usually such a hassle getting her to do anything. Oh well. As long as she showed up and performed well, he supposed that he didn't care that much.

He watched her return to her friends and join in on a conversation almost immediately. A social butterfly. Honestly, that woman would be comfortable in any type of situation. It was one of her strengths, he supposed.

He went back to staring at the drink in front of him. He didn't want to even know what kinds of things were in the pinkish mixture. He wasn't a big drinker, mainly because he saw the stupid things it did to people. Frowning at a bad memory, he took to glancing about the club instead.

Behind him, people were dancing away, unknowing of their own personal party up at the bar. He recognized one of Renji's mixes of "Be Good To Me" through the speakers. The lights were dancing around the moving masses, them oblivious to all the work that went into making such simple things. Shuuhei and Renji certainly did a good job at what they did too. It made him smile a little. After all, they were also part of his big plan. Hopefully things would go well for them too.

Feeling eyes upon him, he shifted his own back towards the bar. He met a smiling Ukitake looking at him. He was drying glasses, much like he was used to seeing Nanao and Nemu do. Jushiro finished washing and drying, then came over towards where Toshiro was seated.

"Good evening, Toshiro."

He nodded in reply. "Jushiro."

The older man smiled. "Would you mind doing me a favor tomorrow?"

Toshiro raised an eyebrow in response. "What do you need?"

"Well," He chuckled a bit nervously before he continued. "It seems that I have a few errands to run during the day tomorrow. I was supposed to be covering for Rukia, but I really need to get these things done. I know you don't like the bar so much, but I wanted to know if you would be willing to work a shift tomorrow afternoon."

He thought about it for a moment, taking in Jushiro's slight worried expression. True, he didn't like the effects of some of the things at the bar, but he considered the white-haired man a friend if nothing else. He had given Toshiro a chance, and that was something he would be eternally grateful for. Besides, this place was really a group effort. Everyone took their turn to help out.

"It won't be a problem."

Instantly the other man's expression brightened. "That's wonderful! You have my thanks."

He nodded. "Think nothing of it."

The taller man started to walk down the other end of the bar to some new customers when he looked back at the shorter one. "You know, if that sits there any longer, the ice is going to melt." He then turned back to his previous destination.

Toshiro glanced back at the bar, focusing on the drink that Jushiro had mentioned. The daiquiri was pinkish in color, the frost on the glass still there from when it was placed. Rangiku had gotten it for him. She claimed it matched his frigid personality. He scoffed again, but didn't take his eyes off the drink. Absently, he thought that it was the same color as the scarf she wore draped around her shoulders.

His thoughts strayed back to the problem at hand for a moment, but he shook his head to clear them away. It was just one drink.

Ah. To hell with it.

Picking it up, he sipped cautiously at first. If he would have been younger, he might have smiled brightly. He didn't know if she knew watermelon was his favorite, but he wasn't about to question it.

Further down the bar, piercing blue eyes crinkled to match a smile.

-End of Part One


A/N: Yes, I am indeed in a chatty mood today so I'm going to share some more of my thoughts. I don't own "Be Good To Me" by Ashley Tisdale. It's not a bad song, and frankly, it was the first dancing type song I saw on my music player. Also, I'm not really sure if there's a watermelon Daiquiri or not, but at any rate, there is now. Okay, I'm done now. Let me know what you think. Ciao! -KG