Renji Abarai stopped by Division Eleven. That wasn't unusual; he was a common enough sight around the division. He looked around for his best friend, and finally caught up with him on the training grounds.

"Ikkaku? Got a minute?"

The bald third-seat was awaiting his turn on the field. "Sure. What's up?"

"I need some advice. I know we're supposed to keep the whole 'Romance Raffle' thing confidential, but I just got word that I won that date with Yachiru, and it's in a couple of weeks, and I have no idea what I'm gonna do with her."

"YOU!" Out of nowhere Captain Zaraki appeared. He had an insane look in his one exposed eye. Renji knew that look. He considered his options: his bankai would only buy him a couple of seconds at best, and there were no open gates nearby. He had no way out. Whatever this was, he had to stand and face it.

"You are going on a date with Yachiru?" The Captain bellowed. How had he overheard? "You filthy, perverted….What are you thinking?"

"What do you mean, what was I thinking? You threatened to kill us if we didn't buy tickets. I spent a whole night's drinking money on tickets because you told me to."

"I don't wanna hear that! I swear, if you so much as touch her…"

"Hey!" Renji was in too deep at this point. He might as well stand up for his honor. "What do you think I am?"

"I know what you are", said Kenpachi, looking as angry as he ever had. "I know exactly what you are. You're seven body parts that I'll bury in unmarked graves - arms, legs, head, torso, and the part I cut off first, if anything happens to her. You just make sure she has the best time of her life, and no funny business."

"But…I still don't know what we should do."

"Well, think hard, smart guy."

/

"Shuhei!"

Iemura leaned in the doorway of the Ninth Division headquarters and called out for his friend. It was 5:30, half an hour before the much-anticipated dates were to begin. Acting Captain Hisagi was half hidden behind a stack of paperwork that had accumulated on his desk.

"Yasochika? What's going on?"

"You've got to do me a favor. I was just called in for the night shift. I've got to report at 6:00. You need to cover on that date for me."

"What? No way. I'm working all night too. I don't have time to be out on a date!"

"Come on, you're an officer of the Men's Association too, you know."

"Don't do this to me."

"Look, we don't have any other officers, and there's no way I can make this. You've got to help me out."

"If this is a cheap trick for getting out of the date…"

"I never joke about work." It was true: Iemura hardly had a sense of humor about anything, but above all else he took his job seriously.

Hisagi sighed. "You owe me. Not just one favor, either. You're going to be paying for this forever."