(A/N) I'm back! Sorry for the wait, but I was busy and my computer was being a bitch. I don't know how soon I'll have the next chapter up, but we'll see. Review!
Notes:
Italics: Thoughts, dreams, flashbacks, emphasis.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. But I do own Daisuke Fujiwara.
Triumphs and Failures
Date
"Stop panicking, Momo."
Rangiku had the urge to smack the girl in order to make her calm down. But she refrained.
"I'm sorry it's just… I've never been on a date before."
"I can tell," Rangiku said.
Momo continued to pace her room.
"Sit and calm yourself, you're giving me motion sickness," Rangiku said, pushing Momo down to sit on her bed.
"Sorry…" Momo mumbled.
"Now let's see what we have in this closet," Rangiku said, walking over to the wardrobe.
She opened it and saw it was empty. Rangiku sighed.
"The only thing I have to wear is my shihakusho," Momo said apologetically.
"Then let's go shopping," Rangiku said. "We still have three hours before it's time."
Rangiku grabbed Momo's arm, and pulled her out of the room. They headed over to the markets in the Seretei, looking in the clothes stores. They all had beautiful kimonos, which were very expensive. Momo sighed and checked her wallet.
Empty.
"Don't worry," Rangiku said. "I'll pay for everything."
"You really don't have to…" Momo began, but Rangiku shot her a glare.
Momo gulped, but Rangiku went back to her normal self. Momo suspected she had PMS.
"How about this?" Rangiku asked, holding out a kimono.
It was crimson red with hemmed with black. The sash was black and made of silk. A black dragon ran down the side of it. The kimono was very short, and Momo was certain she didn't have the legs for it.
"I can't pull that off," Momo said.
"Of course you can!" Rangiku said. "We'll fix up your hair and get you some accessories."
Momo tried to convince her otherwise, but Rangiku was already walking to the register. She sighed resignedly. Rangiku came back over, smiling happily.
"Let's see," she said, searching a table full of random nick-nacks. "Ooh."
She had picked up red chopsticks with black gems dangling from them and a red choker necklace with a black cross.
"Perfect," she said, walking back to the register.
Momo paled. Her stomach was clenching nervously, making her feel as if she was going to throw up.
"Do you have black shoes?" Rangiku asked.
Momo nodded her head, not trusting her voice.
"Good, then we're all set."
Momo sighed thankfully. They walked back to her room, and locked the door.
"Okay, go change in the bathroom," Rangiku said. "I'll do your hair after."
Momo took the kimono and went into the small bathroom. She looked in the mirror above the sink. She studied her face carefully. It was plain and ordinary. She pinched her cheeks and sighed. This was a bad idea. Why did Daisuke even want to go out with a girl like her, anyway?
"You okay in there?" Rangiku asked.
"Yeah," Momo answered, slipping out of her shihakusho.
She pulled on the kimono, and it was a bit longer than she suspected. This did little to comfort her, though, as she put the choker around her neck. She breathed in and let out her breath slowly.
She opened the door and walked out. Rangiku squealed and Momo pulled on the kimono, trying to make it go below the knees.
"Stop that," Rangiku scolded. "It looks fine. Now let me do your hair."
Momo sat down in the chair in front of the vanity she rarely used. Rangiku let her hair out of the bun she usually kept it in, and her brown hair fell around her shoulders. It was longer than she remembered.
"I was going to put it up in a bun, but I think it would look better half up and half down," Rangiku said.
She put the chopsticks in her mouth, and used her hands to pull Momo's hair. She twisted it a bit, and inserted the chopsticks in her hair.
"Do you have any lip-gloss?" Rangiku asked.
Momo nodded and took out the balm she kept in her jewelry box. Rangiku took it and spread it on her lips.
"Perfect!" Rangiku squealed.
It was starting to scare Momo.
Said girl looked in the mirror and was shocked by what she saw. She looked…different. In a good way, of course.
"Thank you, Rangiku," Momo said truthfully.
Rangiku's grin grew wider.
"No problem," she said, kissing Momo's forehead.
She looked at the clock on Momo's nightstand and gasped.
"You have fifteen minutes," Rangiku said. "You'd better get going."
Momo was about to say thank you again but Rangiku placed her finger on her lips and shook her head. They both walked out of the room, but parted ways, Rangiku heading for the squad ten barracks.
-0-
"You know where Momo is?" Rangiku asked.
She was sitting on the couch that was placed in front of her captain's desk. She was reading a magazine to keep herself entertained.
"On her date," Toshiro answered.
"So you remembered," Rangiku said, smiling. "If you really weren't jealous, you probably would have forgotten about that."
"I told you, I'm not jealous," Toshiro said, lying to himself.
"Mmhmm," Rangiku said. "But just to tell you, you should make your move before she falls for the cutie vice-captain."
"Out of my office, Rangiku," Toshiro said.
Rangiku stuck out her tongue, but left.
Toshiro knew she was right. He was beginning to hate his vice-captain for her 'woman's intuition'.
-0-
Daisuke was a proper gentleman and picked Momo up right on time. He told her that she looked beautiful and she blushed, just like on the movies. The restaurant wasn't too far so they walked. They joked and laughed and overall enjoyed themselves.
They hadn't even reached the restaurant yet.
When they did, they got a private booth that had a candle on the table. Momo sat down nervously and Daisuke watched her with a smile on his face. They looked at their menus, ordered their food, and ate while making small talk. After finishing their food, they remained in the booth while the waiter grew impatient. When they realized this, they left and Daisuke walked Momo to her room at the barracks. He placed a kiss on her cheek and said goodnight, heading to his own room.
It was the perfect, stereotypical date every girl dreamt of. Momo enjoyed it, but she felt something was missing. She liked Daisuke, but she didn't feel a connection with him. It was strange. He was sweet and kind, but she could only think of one person the entire time.
'Shiro-chan…'
(A/N) I'll see how soon I can update, but don't hold your breath. For now, review for pocky.