"I..." Renji turned as red as his hair. "Just wanted a beer!"
"Liar!" Ichigo knew better, even with the Baboon's telltale riatsu. The young man stepped closer, spiritual pressure starting to boil. "You're here for her!"
"N-no!" The tattooed man began to back up slowly. "I came for the beer, I swear!"
"I ain't stupid, Baboon Face! Everyone's been after her since she got here."
"Inoue?" Renji relaxed a little bit. "I came for beer and... To check on Rukia."
"Rukia?!"
()()()()()
As the night progressed the girls became increasingly more festive. They were seemingly unaware of their two onlookers posted outside the bar window.
"Let's dance!" Matsumoto called out, grabbing Orihime as she stood. The red headed woman laughed at the gesture and followed the blonde's lead. "Danza Kuduro!"
"This sounds very familiar." Orihime commented. The song did strike up a feeling of déjà vu. She began to move her hips to the beat, her body became one with the song. She closed her eyes, lost in the sound. Out of nowhere she felt two arms engulf her, a hard body pressing up against hers, matching her rhythm.
"You're a very good dancer." Orihime opened her eyes to see...
"Kei!" What a happy surprise. "I didn't know you danced."
"Kind of. A talented partner helps." He smiled down at the woman. "I see my friend has been keeping you and your friends company."
"He's very nice and Matsumoto seems to be..." She looked over at her blonde friend, now with a dance partner - Kei's friend. "... Taking a liking to him."
()()()()()
The other two women sat at the table watching the scene before them unfolding, when they felt a hitch in spiritual pressure. The hairs on the back of their necks stood up on end.
"Ichigo." Rukia stated flatly. "Give me a minute."
The raven haired girl excused herself from the table and walked towards the disturbing riatsu. Outside, she found the culprit and his accomplice.
"Go home!" Rukia shooed both men with her hands. "You're going to ruin our night!"
"She needs me!" The orange haired male was obviously in a panic over what was taking place on the dance floor. "What if he..."
"Orihime will be fine, idiot. I will watch over her and if that bastard tries anything I'll kill him." She was telling the truth. The red headed woman was like a sister. No harm would come to the redhead on her watch. "Besides, I'm pretty sure she likes someone else."
"Who?!" Ichigo shouted. Rukia rolled her eyes.
"Renji, why are you here too? You're such an enabler!" She grabbed both men by their ears and pulled them towards the direction of the street. Letting go she pointed her finger in the direction of the barracks. "Now, go!"
"Yeesh, shrimp!" The tattooed man complained. "You're always so bitchy."
"What did you say?" Anger clearly seeping through the petite woman's voice.
"Oi, let's just go." Ichigo motioned for the other male to follow him.
"Good call." Rukia breathed out.
The two slowly, albeit reluctantly walked towards their apartments, only stopping by a liquor store along the way. They needed something to drown their embarrassment.
()()()()()
"Was that Ichigo?" Riruka knew the familiar riatsu all too well. "What was he doing out there - and angry?"
"Must have been something Renji said. They left." The purple haired girl smiled at Rukia's statement. Orihime was occupied with a man and Ichigo was alone. The two who never spent time apart from each other were both occupied miles apart. This was her chance.
"I think I should go. I'm feeling a bit tired." Riruka tried to feign exhaustion as best she could.
"Stay. You planned this damn girls night out. Besides, I'm going to need help carrying those two home." At that statement, the other girl winced. How was she going to escape and catch up with Ichigo? Her thoughts were interrupted by her rival.
"Rukia! Riruka!" The red headed girl came bounding up to the table with a young man in tow. "Have you met Kei? He's the one who brought me here!"
"No, but he better keep his hands to himself if he knows what's good for him." The black hired woman ground out. Emphasizing the sentence with the cracking if her knuckles.
"Oh, Rukia! You're so funny!" Orihime laughed at her friend's gesture, clearly not taking it seriously. She really did have a way of lightening the mood, whether she meant to do so or not. "I'm going to get us all more drinks!"
Off, Orihime went, bouncing towards the bar counter, trying not to stumble along the way. She definitely was feeling good, despite her deteriorating sense of gracefulness. The light seemed to shine brighter, everyone was happy, conversation came more easily. It was a good night.
()()()()()
"Rukiaaaaa!" The red headed woman called out to her dear friend.
"Orihimeeee!" She called back. Both were slumped together in a heap at their table.
"I love you! And Matsumoto, and Riruka too."
"I love you too! Where are those two?!" Both looked around. In the haze of drinking and merriment the two had managed to slip away without being detected. Kei had left early because he had to report for duty somewhat early in the morning, the blonde had probably slipped away with the man currently known as "handsome," and Riruka? That remained a mystery. "What a couple of turds! I suppose we should try and make our way back."
"Yes!" Orihime attempted to get up, but fell right back into her seat. "Uh oh."
"Oh, come on! It's not that hard." Rukia tried to stand up and ended up missing her chair and landing on the floor. "Never mind."
"Oh, Ichigo is going to get mad." The redhead whined as she attempted to help her friend up. "I wish he was here."
"Then let's get out of here and find that idiot!" With one big pull Rukia was up, and Orihime fell backwards onto the ground. "Eventually."
()()()()()
Riruka rushed back towards the barracks. It had been about two hours since Ichigo had left the bar. She knew if she didn't slip away and make it back as quickly as possible, she wouldn't have enough time to spend alone with Ichigo - whether he liked it or not.
She approached her crush's door and knocked. There was no answer which was odd. She swore she could feel his spiritual pressure. She closed her eyes and tuned into his calming riatsu. He must be asleep, but where? The young woman moved and could feel his energy strengthen as she walked down the hallway. She could feel him more and more as she approached the room at the end of the hall, a room that smelled of that damned red headed whore. Ichigo was in Inoue's room, sleeping, waiting for her.
"Fucking idiot." Riruka whispered. Anger ignited a spark within her. She began to bang on the door with her fists. "Wake up!"
"What the FUCK!" He called out angrily. He hated be woken up, especially after a night of drinking. Riruka could hear him stumbling towards the door. He flung it open. "WHAT?"
The purple haired girl lunged at the red headed boy in a desperate attempt to kiss him. He turned his head to the side, averting her lips, as he grabbed her shoulders, pushing her away. Her mouth barely grazed his cheek before she was quickly held at an arm's length.
"She left with Kei." The venomous words left her before she could think.
"W-what?!" Ichigo's voice shook with sadness and defeat. Even Riruka could feel his heart breaking piece by piece. She had made a terrible mistake. "I-I have... To go... To go find..."
The young man who unknowingly carried her heart ran away, most likely to find the girl that carried his. No matter how she looked at it, the lie she had dared tell would cast her further away, and pull him and her arch nemesis closer together. She was becoming her own worst enemy. Tears trickled down her face at the realization that she had just lost completely. There was no recovering from this little stunt.