I've been fiddling with this instead of with my novel.... Oh well! Hopefully this won't be something that ends up with an epic length. That would fail, a lot. Anyway, I'm sleepy, so off to sleep I go n' stuff

Thanks to: sierraqueen, MissTeak, crazyfreakazoid, Master Solo, cool guy 33, Mihara-chan, Sonozaki-sama, and Solar Kitty. Man, this is surprisingly popular for just something I sort of slapped together one day ^___^ I love you guys!Chapter 2

Gin had to keep reminding himself that forming relationships with others was important to reach his goals. Even if it meant going to Hooters for three things he could care less about: wings, beer, and Hooters girls.

His boss, Steve, however, did. His boss wanted Gin to go with him, along with another co-worker, Frank. Steve told him that the girls would come sit down at the table with them and talk with them. Gin thought that was probably one of the most annoying things a waitress could do. He did not care to get to know a waitress; that would not help him with his goals at all.

Still, he drove with Steve and Frank to the restaurant, his usual smile and teasing manner in place. He looked around the place; nothing special.

A woman walked up to them, "Hi, welcome to Hooters! Can I get you a table or a booth?"

"How about a high top?" Steve said.

"Oh, sure," she said and led them to a high table with bar stools. "Rangiku will be over in just a second to get you started off."

Gin preferred chairs with backs to them, but he was not about to complain out loud. He looked at the menu, "What's good?"

A woman responded, her voice smooth and a little husky, "Everyone loves the wings, but tonight we have a special on snow crab legs. Can I start you boys off with something to drink?"

Steve and Frank both ordered Budweiser. Gin knew he was expected to drink as well. "Sam Adams." It was somewhat better than Budweiser, he thought.

"I'll need to see your ID, please."

Gin slid it out of his wallet and finally looked up at the waitress as he handed it over. His hand froze. "…Do I know you?" The big, ice blue eyes surrounded by waves of strawberry blond, the beauty mark near her mouth, even her figure with breasts threatening to spill out of a tank top stretched to its limits, yet almost loose on her waist, it all seemed all too familiar.

"Aw, most people say I'm pretty unforgettable," she said, looking over the ID. "I'm Rangiku. Now, I know Steve and Frank here, but you're new, mm? Do you work with Steve?"

"Gin Ichimaru, pleased ta meetcha. I work fer Steve" he said, but the words were automatic. His eyes opened a bit more, revealing blue eyes with a hint of green, staring at Rangiku, feeling as if he was seeing someone important after a long time apart. Something about her also made him sad. He felt it so deeply it hurt to look at her, yet he could not tear his eyes away.

Rangiku handed back his ID and looked away from him quickly. "Okay then, I'll get those drinks sent in for you."

"Someone's a boob man," Frank said and laughed.

"Looks like we took him to the right place," Steven said.

"Maybe." But Gin did not think he was much of an anything man. He just had his fun and went on with life. Most people he knew wanted to settle down, tie themselves to others until there were so many strings all around they were bound up like a mummy.

He did not care for being confined. He could hardly stand wearing a tie at work. As soon as he was off the clock, he would remove his tie and unbutton his top button. Gin looked around at the other waitresses, "Hooters Girls" they called themselves. All were fairly attractive women, but it was obvious Rangiku was the favorite from the way her section was filled.

Beer bottles clinked down. Rangiku folded her arms on the high top, leaning towards them. "Well boys, have you had a chance to look over the menu?"

Gin's jaw clenched a bit when both Steve and Frank ordered their crabs legs to her breasts.

He knew his own gaze flicked downwards; it was hard not to notice her chest. Still, he raised his eyes when he ordered, meeting her blue ones briefly. "Guess I'll get the same."

"You know," Rangiku said. "I get the feeling you might like the boneless wings more. The parmesan garlic sauce is great."

"We'll do tha' then," he said. Gin was not sure why he believed her, but he did.

Rangiku walked away; his eyes wanted to follow her, but instead he took a sip of his beer and listened to Steve and Frank talk about office politics. They were thinking of laying off some of the entry-level employees, and possibly letting that rumor slip to see who performed the best with the possibility of losing a job looming over them.

"Ah, I dunno about that," Gin said. "Rather see who works the best normally. 'Sides, lotta drama ya can cut out then."

"The worst is sorting them all out," Steve said. "But you know, Gin, you're on top of you're game. Maybe I should put you in charge of that."

Gin would do it if he had to; he would do a lot o things if he had to. However, he did not care for that at all. Firing people who did not deserve it did not set well with him. "We'll see."

By the time they were part way through their meal, it was much slower in the restaurant. "Anything else I can get for you?"

"I'll take another Budweiser. After that, why don't you sit down with us for a bit, rest your feet?" Steve said.

"Ah, sure, I'll see if I can't manage that," she said, but Gin decided she did not want to.

He was not sure she wanted her to sit down, but when she returned with the beer, Rangiku sat down beside him, the only open seat. "Well, boys, I tell you what, it's been a busy night. It's nice to finally sit down."

"So, Rangiku, how're things? Settled into working here all right?"

"Oh, things here are great. Last time we talked I was pretty nervous; it was my first week," she said. "But I guess I must be a natural, I got used to it all fast. So new boy, how'd you end up working with Steve?"

"Jus' finished up my masters, moved down from Connecticut fer the job."

"Your masters? But you're only twenty-three."

"Gin's a real go-getter," Steve said. "Started college at seventeen, got his BA in three years, his masters in another three."

"Wow, so you're a really smart one, huh?" Rangiku glanced at him. "I did a little college, but sometimes things don't work out the way we want them to, y'know? So, Frank, did you ever manage to ask out that hottie you saw at the gym?"

"Not exactly," Frank said. "There's been a lot of stuff going on at work, plus I've been playing a lot of basketball with the boys."

Gin's customary smile rose slightly. "Ah, c'mon now, that sounds like some mighty big excuses. Might as well compliment her by actually askin' her out."

"See? That's what I said. Unless a guy's just flat out creepy—and Frank, you seem like a sweetie—a girl will be flattered, no matter if she says yes or no. Don't you want to make her day?"

"Looks like you're getting double-teamed," Steve said.

"I know, I know," Frank said.

"'Sides, if you just keep staring too much too long, yer chances might go down. She might think yer a stalker. Wouldn' want that fer my buddy here."

Rangiku smacked Gin's arm. "Be nice. You'll scare him. Frank, don't listen to Gin. He's mean." She emphasized her point by making a face at Gin, laughing to take away any offense.

Each time she left, Gin's eyes trailed after her, loath to let her leave. At the same time, something at the back of his mind nagged him, telling him to let her go. In fact, the feeling told him he should run the opposite way without looking back. To never return.

Then Rangiku would return, and the feeling was swept away with her smile, the sound of her laughter. Once, he thought, he must have met someone like her.

Finally, Rangiku brought their bill, split three ways. Gin glanced down at it. He tossed down a twenty and a five for a fifteen dollar meal and walked out, forcing his eyes away from the busty woman as she called out a good night to him.

I'm thinking about doing the sort of dual-perspective that chapter 1 has throughout the story, but I don't know if it would just be repetitive. What do you guys think? Do you want to see their meeting through Rangiku's eyes as well, or go straight on with the story through Gin's eyes?

Reviewers get pie. An extra piece and/or whipped cream will be added to that if you answered my questions.