"Rangiku, wouldn't you agree that Kaori isn't smelling too good?"

Rangiku opened her eyes and glanced over the back of the sofa towards her Captain, who was gazing at the wilting African violet.

"Looks fine to me," Rangiku said, yawning.

"Really?" Toshiro said, an eyebrow cocked in amusement. "Because I'd say she looks a bit... drunk."

"Oh, you knew yesterday when you watered her," Rangiku said sulkily. "What's poor Momo going to say if she sees how badly you've been treating Kaori?"

Toshiro returned to his desk. "Well, you know what they say, flowers and frost don't mix well. Momo knows I've got a black thumb, she only gave me the damn plant because I killed another African violet off as a child, and they're supposed to be pretty much unkillable. It greatly amused her."

"Does that mean I'm free to tell her you fed it sake?" Rangiku piped up from the sofa.

Toshiro sighed wearily. "Tell her whatever you like. She'll be surprised it lasted this long."

Rangiku stroked her imaginary beard. "If I can tell Momo whatever I like, can I tell her that the sake you fed it was leftover from your all-night drinking session with me, Izuru and Shuuhei?"

"She wouldn't believe you," Toshiro said.

Rangiku gave Toshiro her best cat smile. "Oh yeah, wanna bet?"

Toshiro frowned. "Not particularly."

"Come on, Captain, you're no fun," Rangiku wheedled.

"Perhaps not, but at least I can get my job done," Toshiro said frostily, glaring across the room at his subordinate.

Rangiku pouted, before quickly turning into a broad grin. "Hey, Captain? I've come up with a new bet."

Toshiro rolled his eyes. "Oh, please do tell me, I'm sure this is something I can't live without hearing."

Rangiku clapped her hands together. "Okay!" she exclaimed happily, jumping up and pacing the room slowly. "I bet you five thousand yen... that I can't get you drunk!"

Sighing heavily, Toshiro withdrew a five thousand yen note from his desk drawer and threw it at an astonished Rangiku who stopped in her tracks. "Here. Now stop bothering me."

"Oh, I see," Rangiku said quietly, holding up the note and staring at it as though it didn't exist.

"Don't spend it all on sake," Toshiro said, turning back to Kaori and poking one of the shrivelled purple flowers.