Disclaimer: Bleach is Tite Kubos'

Author's Note: I'm currently studying in Seoul for my exchange program and damn. This place is such a lovely one. It's a lovely winter night and I can't seem to take GinRan off my mind.

Chapter 3 - The Alcohol

Toshiro looked through the corner of his eye to check if Gin did follow him. The smirk on his face irritated the young man so much that he wanted punch him in the face right there and then. He looked straight ahead again and sighed heavily. He saw it coming. He knew Gin would return to New York. He just didn't know when. Toshiro didn't expect it to be today, out of all days to pick. Rangiku was at her prime. She was at an all-time high. And Gin chose to distract her or perhaps bring her down once more now that she's on top. He never really had much encounters with Rangiku's ex but he knew all the stories; everything. Hearing Rangiku cry her heart out in the middle of the night was enough to make him hate the man. That bastard actually went back to New York.

Toshiro stopped walking and faced Gin. "So, what's up?" Gin put his hands in his pockets. "Cut the crap, Ichimaru. Why are you here?" Toshiro crossed his arms. "Of course, to be in my friend's wedding," Gin said without even removing the smile on his face. "Damn it, Ichimaru. Are you really going to play this game with me now?" he huffed. "Come on, like I told Rangiku, I'm going to work in New York. It's about work, okay?" he shrugged. "Is that all?" Toshiro raised his eyebrow. "It seems like you're the one who should be straightforward in asking, Hitsugaya Toshiro," Gin said. This man was good with the mind game, not even Toshiro could beat him in this.

"Fine. What do you want from Matsumoto?" Toshiro exhaled. "Ran-chan? You're still jealous of me, I see" Gin chuckled and ran his left hand through his hair. Toshiro gritted his teeth. It's true that at one point in his life, he loved Rangiku in a romantic way. That was all in the past, he believed. But after all, he still loved Rangiku and would never want his best friend to wallow in a pit of misery once more. Once you love someone, you'll never stop loving the person even if the fires of romance have stopped. "This isn't about me, Ichimaru. It's about you going back to this city and fucking with Rangiku's heart once more," he turned his back to Gin and leaned on the railing. He looked at the horizon and controlled his breathing. He was pretty angry, just seeing that bastard's face. "Whatever's going on between us is none of your concern. We already resolved what happened in the past and I've apologized. She said she's forgiven me and that's what matters. We're okay. Stop being so nosy around things you shouldn't even think about," Gin frowned. "And yes, I went tonight to see her and apologize. I've always wanted to set things straight," he added. "You really think an apology can heal that shit of a wound you gave her?!" Toshiro growled. "You know what? You care for her too much. You're the one who should back off. She's with that photographer now. Why do you care? It's not as if I'm still interested in her," Gin arrogantly said. "You? Not interested?" Toshiro scoffed. "I know you. You're back for her. You just want to toy with her again. Then after she realizes she still wants you, you're leaving her again for who knows what," Toshiro barked.

"Man, you got to chill. I'm going back inside. Stay here and breathe in some fresh air," Gin shrugged. Toshiro groaned and rolled his eyes. He looked at Gin who was walking slowly back to the reception hall. 'That bastard knows how to lie so well and be mean,' Toshiro clenched his fists. Gin was also losing his temper, so he decided to just grab another drink from the bar. Toshiro has always been the annoying nuisance. 'He doesn't even know half of my façade,' Gin thought as he smiled at everyone he came across with. The people were looking at him in a judging way. Does everyone in this wedding know about how he left her?

Gin ordered a bottle of Bacardi and some soda. Toshiro really got in his nerved like he always did. He smiled at the bar tender and faced the party. He spotted Rangiku hugging the bride. She must really be happy right now, Rangiku. The crowd was clapping and Gin couldn't really hear but Rangiku announced that the reception was over. The crowd kept on clapping for a while and it was time to go home. The bride and groom surely wanted some alone time.

"Sir, you know the wedding planner?" the bar tender asked out of the blue. "Oh everyone knows her," he chuckled. "You seem to be the surprise guest for tonight. Everyone kept on looking at you," he said. "Were they? Oh maybe I've got dirt on my face," Gin joked. "I even heard from one of the guests that you were with the wedding planner back in the day," Gin kept his annoyance to himself. This bar tender was even nosier than Hitsugaya Toshiro. Gin just smiled and drank his Bacardi. He looked at what's left of the bottle and it's just a quarter of it. Damn it, Gin.

People started leaving: officemates, some friends, and other people. Rangiku was walking all over the place, taking care of the clean-up. "Nanao, it's really okay for you to leave. Your husband is waiting for you," Rangiku nodded to reassure the bride that she's okay. She's the one who planned the wedding anyway. Nanao waved good bye and ran out of the hall. "Okay, I got to fix this before the alcohol fully kicks in," Rangiku massaged her temples. "My, my, Ran-chan. You drank too much alcohol tonight, didn't you?" Gin slurred as he walked to stressed wedding planner. "You're the drunk one Gin," Rangiku glared to signal that she was too busy to be teased. "Hey mister! Please call your team and clean the area now. Thanks a lot!" Rangiku waved at the janitor. "Mister bartender, you can go home now! Please just leave the leftover liquor on the table over there and oh you can bring home a bottle or two!" she said. Rangiku picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Ran-chan's so busy," Gin sat on the stage and removed his jacket. Rangiku ignored him and talked on the phone. It was another client. The bride wanted meet with Rangiku on Thursday and she wanted to talk about the venue. Rangiku said she was going to go and hung up. "Okay, don't panic Matsumoto Rangiku," she told herself. She sighed and sat on a chair facing Gin. The cleaners have arrived and Rangiku greeted them as if she wasn't tired at all. "Hey, throw me that bottle," Rangiku extended her arm to Gin. "Same ol' Ran-chan," Gin chuckled as he threw her the almost empty Bacardi bottle. Rangiku, with perfect reflexes, caught it flawlessly. She looked inside the bottle and frowned. "Damn it Gin. You've been drinking a lot too," She said and drank it directly, not caring about getting a glass. "There's something about tonight I guess that's making us want to drink our hearts out," Gin wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I can't believe you're really here," Rangiku chuckled. "Well I am. And I'll be staying here for a while, maybe a long while," Gin nodded. His vision was starting to blur. Rangiku drank all the liquor and frowned. There was no more left. Well, there were still a lot from the left overs.

"Well that sucks for me then," Rangiku mumbled. Gin pretended not to hear. He was quite sure Rangiku wasn't fully recovered. "We can grab breakfast sometimes," Gin said. "Wow, you won't be busy with work?" she sarcastically remarked. Burn. "Let's just see," he smiled. Rangiku stood up walked towards Gin. She sat close to him and sighed heavily. Her head was throbbing and she was so afraid that she might say some honest shit in her head. They were both drunk. Maybe it was time for honesty hour?

The cleaners were finished and Rangiku gave them a thumbs up and waved them good bye. She looked at Gin who was now lying down on the stage. "You look so fucked, you know that?" Rangiku laughed. Gin just stared at her, still with a smile. "How was Japan for you?" she asked. Gin wasn't really ready to talk about Japan at that moment. He just wanted to share the moment with her. "Fine, I guess. Nothing to report," he shrugged. "So where did you meet her?" Rangiku lied down as well. "Her?" Gin played coy. He wanted to hear Rangiku say it. "Her. Your fiancée. I don't even know her name. I don't care any way," Rangiku said. Somewhere deep inside, Gin felt pain. She didn't really care about him after all. But of course, Rangiku was just not letting her guard down.

"Haha Ran-chan," he replied. How lazy of him. "Yeah right, I'm going to plan your wedding with whoever she is. I don't need her name, really," She said. Rangiku was acting indifferently and Gin didn't like it. He actually wanted her to be more curious about it. "Yeah, you don't" Gin frowned.

Rangiku didn't reply anymore and just stared at the ceiling filled with cloth. "Ran-chan, I guess you've really grown up," Gin suddenly blurted out. "You're dating that photographer and you're a successful wedding planner in New York. I guess you have a penthouse somewhere and you're going home tonight to celebrate another job well done." He said. "Yeah, I guess, It's what I've always dreamed of," Rangiku bit her lip as she remembered those nights of dreaming with Gin. "I'm so happy that you're happy, Rangiku," he called her with her name, not her nick name. He was pretty serious. Rangiku felt tears started to form in her eyes but she stood up and wiped them off.

'Gin's gone. He's just come back to work here and ask for my help for his god damned wedding. Nothing more,' she scolded herself. "Well, I'm glad that you're happy too. And yes, I need to go home now. Could you help me with these bottles of liquor?" she extended her hand to him. He grabbed it and they both carried the 10 bottles of liquor out the hall. Rangiku almost fell on the floor but she managed not to. "How are you going home?!" Gin asked in deep concern. "I called Shuuhei. I asked him to pick me up," She looked back at him. Gin was jealous of this new guy of Rangiku alright. "Oh, I see. Take care then. And be safe," he reminded. Shuuhei arrived momentarily and hopped off the car. "Oh there's so much liquor left!" he opened the back of the car and placed the bottles there. "Okay, I got this man. I'll take Rangiku-san home now. We're fine now," Shuuhei grabbed Rangiku's waist and glared at Gin. He smelled something wrong about Gin. "Whoa, okay man. Take care you guys," Gin chuckled and hopped in his car. Gin sat at the back of the car and massaged his temples as his driver played mellow music. 'Damn that Shuuhei's too possessive of Ran-chan,' Gin thought.

"So, how was the wedding?" Rangiku giggled as Shuuhei started the engine. "As always, spectacular," Shuuhei looked at the tipsy Matsumoto. "Nanao was so beautiful out there. I'm so happy," she squealed. "You're beautiful tonight too, as always," Shuuhei winked. "Stop it, Shuu-chan!" Rangiku hit his lap. Shuuhei chuckled. Rangiku was too cute. "So, you're ex-boyfriend appeared today, huh?" Shuuhei asked to see what her reaction would be. Rangiku lost her breath for a millisecond and she managed to keep herself calm right after. "Yeah, it surprised everyone in the house tonight."

Shuuhei knew now wasn't the time to talk about Gin. "Oh anyway, you're pretty tipsy right now," he shifted the topic. "I guess I need to bring you up all the way to your room tonight. I'll help you with the bottles," he said. "Shuuhei, you're the best! I can always count on you," she kissed him on the cheek. Shuuhei chuckled and blushed simultaneously. He looked at Rangiku and she has fallen to sleep. She shouldn't. She was surely getting to get drunk. After fifteen minutes he turned the wheel and they were already parked in the building. He woke her up and she looked so red. "Go up already. I'll bring all the bottles," Shuuhei said and Rangiku followed his orders like a lost puppy.

Shuuhei reached Rangiku's floor after 15 minutes. The floor was only hers, exclusively. He placed the bottles on the counter and found Rangiku sitting on the couch. "Hey, you should get changed and go to sleep! Today was a tiring day," he pulled her hand. "Do I have to change?" Rangiku pouted. "If you want to sleep in a restricting dress, be my guest," Shuuhei dared her. "Yeah, I know. This dress is so restricting," she groaned and pulled Shuuhei to sit beside her instead. "Come on now," he felt the sexual tension between them. There has always been some sexual tension between them. "Shuuhei, do you like me?" Rangiku sat on his lap. Shuuhei gulped. He nodded and felt sweat on his forehead. "Yeah, I like you too. That's why we're dating," Rangiku hugged him. She was getting flirtier by the moment. "A while ago, you coughed when I said that sex was necessary in a relationship," she whispered to his ear. Shuuhei felt chills up his spine. "But see, we're still in the dating stage. We're not yet in that stage," she moaned to his ear. This was torture. 'I just need to get away from this overthinking,' Rangiku thought. Shuuhei didn't reply. His body was reacting but he didn't say a word.

"I know you want it, Shuu-chan," she licked his ear. "But do you think we should?" she breathed. Shuuhei shrugged. "I don't know too," she giggled. Shuuhei felt so weird. Rangiku never acted like this. Not even when she was too drunk. Right now, she was just tipsy but she was behaving in an aggressive manner.

"I guess, I don't care what's going to happen from here on," Rangiku closed her eyes and…