A/N: TBA

A/N: Ah, sorry for the later update, guys. I seemed to have stumbled over a retarded roadblock over what was going to happen during the engagement party, so I took a short break for a while. School has resumed… blargh. It's horrible. My first week really sucked.

Right, so if anyone is still interested in the beta-ing job, PM me! And include your email in the PM :D

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the chapter. Con-crit is very much welcome.

One Night Stand

Chapter 4

There was a reason why Shunsui didn't go to parties. Especially engagement parties. First of all, they repeatedly reminded him of his own ineptitude at sustaining a lasting relationship with any woman, not to mention his sore lacking in the feminine area altogether. No, it wasn't that he was too busy for social life, far from it; Nanao-chan was, in fact, the one who did the bulk of the paperwork for the Tenth Division. It was just that after Nanao had become his fukutaicho, everything had been different.

Second, why go to a boring, dull, stuffy affair of a party when you could go clubbing? Sake definitely beat champagne any day. Although champagne really wasn't a bad drink either…

The pink-clad taichou sighed. Despite his reservations, this particular party was especially important. If his favorite drinking buddy wasn't coming along with him, then bar-hopping was every bit as dull as any more formal social event. As such… he had to go to Rangiku and Byakuya's engagement party. It was proper protocol, after all, and maybe he'd get a chance to spike the punch. A party with him and Rangiku would be infinitely rowdier.

At any rate, he had to go get something called a "suit" done. Rangiku's formal dinner called for clothing of the more human-world sort, and Shunsui had nothing that fit in that department. Consequently, he and Jyuushiro would be leaving for Rukongai to find something suitable. Apparently, the outer courts were more fashionably advanced than Seireitei ("Out with the old and in with the new, I always say! Kimonos are so yesterday. We really need a change in shinigami uniforms, ya know?" Rangiku could ramble on and on about clothes for the rest of her life, if need be).

Also, he was rather curious as to what dear Nanao-chan was wearing to the semi-formal event. Provided she did go. A skimpy back-less dress? Or maybe a poofier tutu-esque piece of clothing? Bubble skirt? Sheath? Wait… no no no. No wandering down that alley... How the hell do I know so much about dresses in the first place? Damn that Rangiku.

Speaking of the beautiful, straight-laced vice captain, she had been acting stranger than usual for the past few days. Casting furtive glances at his desk when she thought he wasn't looking, avoiding him – more than usual, anyway – and giving him the cold shoulder. Her skin seemed sallower than it had been before, and there were dark bags under her eyes. Was his sweet Nanao-chan coming down with something? Our division's rotation for hollow watch in Karakura is coming up in a month or so… I hope she'll be up for it, Shunsui thought bemusedly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jyuushiro walking slowly towards the gate where he was standing.

"Ahhh, Jyuushiro, old friend. Well then, shall we get going?"

The white-haired man smiled gently, tilting his head in acquiescence. "Of course, Shunsui."

Dammit! Damn it all to hell. Isn't it called morning sickness for a reason?

An enraged Nanao stood in Rangiku's bathroom, staring the toilet bowl down as she flushed its contents. It just had to start today of all days, didn't it? I have to go to the party. I'm in her apartment getting ready, for goodness' sake. She can't find out about this pregnancy until I'm ready to tell her. Stupid stupid stupid stupid…

Trudging back to the full-length mirror in her friend's apartment, she smiled weakly at her friend who was staring blankly at her. On second thought, thank God it's not morning.

"Are you alright, Nanao?" Concerned blue eyes peered up at her own, a questioning look in them.

"I'll be fine, Rangiku. Help me get this blasted dress on."

The fukutaichou smiled, albeit a bit confusedly. "Hopefully you're not getting sick or anything; it means a lot to me that you're coming to my engagement party."

Nanao grinned quirkily at her friend. "Now, now, no need to get all soppy on me, Rangiku. Promise you'll do my make-up for me? I'm not an expert on these kinds of things, as you well know…"

Rangiku shook her long mane of hair haughtily, before answering, "Of course, darling. You'd be lost without me."

A fluffy feather pillow narrowly missed the laughing woman's head.

Nanao winced as she walked into the brightly lit ballroom. The tight, sleeveless dress she wore rubbed against her chest in a way that caused… well, great discomfort, to put it blandly. From what Unohana-taichou had briefed her on at yesterday's check-up, she was sure this was one of the other symptoms of pregnancy. Extremely sensitive breasts. How lovely. However, if she didn't want anyone to suspect anything, she'd have to play this particular aspect down. Pasting on a smile that felt more like a grimace, she strode towards the front table to help set up the punch bowl and various appetizers.

At six o' clock sharp, Byakuya and Rangiku strode out of the tall double doors that led to the ballroom and began welcoming the other guests inside. Slow, comfortable jazz music was playing in the background, and people were let in to find their seats. Nanao herself, she found out with a groan, was seated with her misty-eyed taichou, Yachiru, Kenpachi, Hitsugaya, and Hinamori. The captians, vice-captains, and other shinigami who had been invited were evidently seated together in a series of round tables that held six. Nanao resolved to sit farthest from her captain, who was sporting a light pink tux and black tie (that look rather appealing, thank you very much, whispered a voice in Nanao's head, which she promptly ignored), as possible.

This resolve was soon smashed to bits by the person in question when Shunsui insisted that he sit right next to his "dear Nanao-chan," whom he observed to be "a bit peaky."

When the guests had all found their places, Byakuya and Rangiku swept into the middle of the dance floor and began dancing to a short song. The rowdier guests began hooting and calling. Rangiku seemed to be having the time of her life; Byakuya just looked cold and impassive, but some of the others could see the softening of his eyes when he looked at his fiancée.

After the dance, Rangiku went to her table, grabbed a fork, and tapped a champagne glass to get everyone's attention. "As you can see, dear friends and," with a wink at Nanao, "family, behind you along the back wall are platters for the buffet dinner. Please feel free to help yourselves!"

And with that, the chaos began.

Hungry shinigami, no doubt tired after a long day of work, descended upon the buffet and punch table like vultures on a piece of rather well-preserved meat. The other non-shinigami guests stood in shock, startled at the voracious appetites of their protectors. Unohana had to resort to herding them all into the line.

Nanao decided to wait until the line was shorter before getting her dinner. She was starting to feel a bit queasy again, and didn't want to push it. Unfortunately, Shunsui, sensing that all was not well with his fukutaichou, sat hovering over her, demanding to know what was wrong.

"Nanao-chan, you look green. Not a spring cold, is it? Are you sure you're alright? I can escort you back to the barracks, if you want…" Shunsui said with a slightly lecherous grin.

Nanao sighed. "No, taichou, I'm fine. Let Rangiku have her night. Then I'm going straight home."

The captain stood up and bent down so he was looking directly into his vice-captain's eyes. He was so close to her that she could count the individual flecks of gold in his warm brown irises. Her breath hitched slightly as Shunsui leaned even closer. "I hope you're telling the truth, Nanao-chan. Because if you weren't," he whispered, "and I find out that you haven't been taking care of yourself, then I'd have to… punish you." As he pulled away slowly, Nanao could have sworn that his lips brushed over the shell of her ear.

Without a glance backwards, the captain then proceeded to glide towards the tables of food.

UNBELIEVABLE! thought Nanao, silently fuming as a bright flush diffused over her cheeks. Damn that man. I'm trying my hardest to enjoy the party and ignore any discomfort, and he has to come over and ruin everything!

Wait… whoa there, Nanao. Getting hormonal already? A voice that sounded surprisingly like Rangiku admonished her slightly.

Letting out a small puff of air, she headed to the table to see if she could shove any food into her stomach. On the way there, Kenpachi wordlessly handed a garish pink and purple glass of punch to her. She had no doubt that it was spiked.

Unohana, gliding next to her, shook her head covertly at the dark-haired woman. "You can't accept any drinks tonight, Nanao, dear. Keep the baby in mind."

Nanao blushed furiously before whispering to the 4th division captain, "I don't drink anyway, Unohana-taichou. Don't worry about it." She waved a hurried goodbye before stalking to Rangiku's side, where the proud bride-to-be was beaming happily and exchanging whispers with an ever-stoic Kuchiki Byakuya.

"Kuchiki-taichou. Matsumoto-fukutaichou."

Rangiku laughed. "Oh come now, Nanao, no need to be so stiff and formal. It's an engagement party, for goodness' sake! Loosen up, will you?"

"Whatever will help you sleep at night, dear Rangiku-san," Nanao sniffed, before smiling slightly at her friend. The playful banter continued as Byakuya turned to talk to Renji. His red-haired friend was dressed sharply, and Nanao had to do a double-take before she realized that the man in front of her was the uncouth fukutaichou of the 6th division.

An hour or two later, the reception had ended, and a grinning Rangiku ran up to the front of the stage, stunning red dress glinting in the light, bow askew.

"Thank you all for coming tonight! It means a lot to me… and to Byakuya, though he might not admit it." Nanao gave her a discreet thumbs up, before wincing again at the pain in her chest.

"I'm sure you all know that the wedding ceremony will be this summer, sometime in June."

What a procrastinator, even when it comes to her own wedding… Rangiku smiled ruefully. "Well, that's all, folks! If you're looking for a nice, private alcove," here, the fukutaichou smirked evilly, "then feel free to go out to the back of the hotel. There're gardens there that are open till two in the morning. Ja!"

Rangiku stepped off the stage and headed over to where Nanao, Shunsui, Byakuya, and Renji were standing. Nanao had to stifle a chuckle when she saw the exasperated look on Byakuya's face. Rangiku swiftly kissed the expression away, and started dragging Byakuya towards the back door.

Byakuya, looking back one more time, called for Renji to follow. Nanao paled, sensing a catastrophe just waiting to happen. The 6th division captain caught her eye and… winked. Renji, grumbling, stood up and –

Wait, WHAT? Kuchiki Byakuya just winked at me? What the—

"Oh Nanaooooooo-chaaaan!"

Damn you, Byakuya-sama.

"What, may I ask, do you want, taichou?"

"Oh, Nanao-chan, so cold, so cold!" She was unmoved when presented with his chibi-crying face.

"I'm worried about you, Nanao." The expression on the eighth division captain's face abruptly turned serious. "I know I was always tell you this, but don't overwork yourself for my sake."

Nanao found herself oddly touched by Shunsui's words. The brown-haired man's visage remained thoughtful for a second longer before—

"Now then! Let me walk you home, Nanao-chaaaan!" The captain eagerly thrust a victory sign underneath Nanao's stunned face before latching on to her arm like an octopus and leading her out of the hotel.

Way to ruin a moment, taichou, she thought, but strangely, there was no heat in it anymore.

A/N: Ehhh I'm not very happy about this chapter. Oh well though… at least it's something? Haha. Tell me what you think!