A/N It's already been a little over a month! My new girlfriend has just been taking my attention away from fanfiction with her enchanting lifestyle over the course of the last month. Oh, I know normally Shuuhei is quite mature and that general shit, but for the purpose of this I've made him a bit more hyper.. Etc.

Nevertheless! I have a chapter for you all.

Happy Early Valentines!

Chapter 7

The bar was packed to the brim. In every corner of the dimly lit club, people were strewn about. Sweaty, grinding bodies of adolescents (as well as those far out of that age vicinity) were squished up against each other, dancing far too sensually for Ichigo's taste at the moment. Ichigo pushed his way past a couple that had been very close to having sex against a booth near the entrance. It struck Ichigo as amusing when he saw a very busty strawberry blonde "dancing" with a white haired male that seemingly never opened his eyes. The male's face was adorned with a large, creepy smile that went from ear to ear; it caused Ichigo to squirm slightly. Across the floor, Ichigo saw Shuuhei waving frantically at him. From behind Shuuhei's prancing figure, was Yumichika fixing his hair and tweaking his eyelashes.

Damn girly prick.

Aside from those two, Ichigo could make out a red pineapple shape looming above all the other men and a bit of something white and spike-like protruding from the booth seat. He expected that to be the infamously short Toshiro. Ichigo squinted and looked a bit harder to search for the new drinking buddy Yumichika had picked up, but made out no new figure. Instead of walking over, Ichigo realised he'd been checking out the scene rather than just heading over. Gathering his wits, he made his way over to the bumbling idiot Hisagi, who was still waving rather hard. Ichigo scowled at the display and made second thoughts towards dashing for the exit.

Fuck it. Let's just have fun for a day, and sulk about my pointless love affairs the rest.

"Yo." Ichigo said nonchalantly to the other men.

"Oi! Ichi-boy ya made it! Go on, man. Have a fuckin' beer. Relax and take it easy." Shuuhei said easily, urging Ichigo to grab one from the table. Ichigo sat down and popped one open and began taking large gulps. Finding himself not enjoying the cold beer rushing down his throat, Ichigo pushed the bottle aside and decided to listen in on the Renji and Shuuhei's argument.

"She wasn't even that cute. I don't see why you were so hooked."

"Fuck man, she was a great lay, you know."

"All you ever think about is where your dick will be next, Renji!"

"Shut the fuck up, Hisagi!"

About an hour later, the gang had found themselves roaming around, dancing and grinding from partner to partner. Shuuhei himself had bought three drinks for three different girls within that time limit. Renji on the other hand, had just gotten as wasted as he possibly could. Being the lightweight that he was, it only took him a few drinks to get a little more than over the top. The entire time, Renji had made it his goal to avoid Ichigo, in order to not become a fool in front of his dear friend. He was a traitor, in the deepest part of his heart, he knew what he'd done was so wrong.

XXX

As time flew, the guys got more into the club's atmosphere. Finally, Yumichika called them all over to the bar area to meet his friend, who had just gotten off work. Ichigo and Shuuhei were the last to arrive. As the pair approached their friends, they saw a very familiar shiny, bald head chugging down a mug of hard beer. The proverbial man was talking animatedly with Renji and Yumichika, while Toshiro looked as blasé as ever.

"What the fuck!" Ichigo and Shuuhei shouted.

"Holy shit! Well if it ain't gay pride and carrot-boy." Sneered Ikkaku.

Ignoring the comment, Ichigo glared at Toshiro.

'Oi, Shiro! Why didn't you say shit?"

"Do not speak to me in the tone, Kurosaki. And why should I have? I didn't know he was even friends with Yumichika." Toshiro replied.

Before Ichigo could reply, Toshiro spoke again.

"It's Hitsugaya to you, Kurosaki. I must be leaving now gentlemen. I supposed I'll see you next week at the fool's lesson."

Without another word, Hitsugaya turned away and flicked his wrist in a form of a wave. Soon he had walked out a sight.

Shuuhei and Ichigo turned their attentions back to Ikkaku, who had an unreadable expression on his face. They grimaced, and the looked at each other.

"Well? Aren't you two idiots gonna say anything?"

Baring his teeth, Shuuhei looked over at Ichigo again.

"Let's give him a gang welcome, Ichi-boy."

The two drew back their fists, and popped Ikkaku in the face. Yumichika and Renji came to terms with what had just happened, and tried to hide the grins on their face. The grins became shock when they saw a bloody faced Ikkaku stand up.

"Holy fuck, don't you think you guys sucker punched the man a bit harder than usual?" Renji said in disbelief.

Yumichika put in his two cents. "Shit, Shuuhei, who knew for such a beautifully generic pacifist you could be an even more beautiful man! That punch was a bit less than beautiful though I'm afraid."

Ikkaku was about to throw his own punch when he saw Ichigo and Shuuhei stick their hands out in a cavalier manner.

'Sorry pal, it was just a little welcome. I'm Shuuhei, a normally very non-violent person. This temperamental carrot-top over here is Ichigo. We've met and introduced each other slightly before, but here's to you being one of our friends."

Ichigo's scowl reappeared. "Oh shut the fuck up Shuuhei. Be a man of action for once." Ichigo stuck his hand out further in a gruff manner but with more enthusiasm.

Shuuhei followed suit. They both were shell-shocked when Ikkaku pushed their hands aside. "Be men." Was all he said, before cantankerously shoving mugs of something or other in their hands. "Drink."

Avoiding all awkward little snippets of talking, the men just ignored the past events and acted as if they were all good friends.

'Well from what we've heard from old 'Chika, you're quite the drinker, and quite temperamental, too! You're just like Ichigo, except he's somewhat of a lightweight." Shuuhei said, smiling broadly.

'Fuck off! If you want to talk about lightweights, take a look at tipsy Renji there." Ichsigo replied, the scowl never leaving his face.

"Fuck you, carrot top!" Renj shouted, his words slightly slurred.

"Yeah, point proven." Ichigo smirked.

XXX

At around 11'o clock, Ichigo felt someone nudging his ribs. Ichigo turned to his side and saw a very red Shuuhei pointing to a darker side of the club. Ichigo could barely see what he was pointing to, so he thought nothing of it. Shuuhei urged him towards the direction, and Ichigo decided to walk over to the directed area anyway. As Ichigo made his way through the sea of college kids and lecherous men, something, someone rather, caught his eyes. Ichigo's mouth was opened in astonishment and his fists were balled tightly. Ichigo could feel the blood trickling down his palm. Ichigo saw the short figure with dark midnight hair first, and then he saw those beautiful eyes. Those large, amethyst eyes that used to be filled with coy love and pride stared at him, stared at him now with sadness, but still with that fierce compassion and brazen life he loved, and still desired. It paralyzed him once more. Once more, he was lost in her eyes. It was not until she cocked her finger towards him did he realise he was only now staring at her lingering finger. She sashayed her hips side to side, teasing him, taunting him. Her dress showed off every curve her body had to offer, she was so gorgeous, so beautiful, so damn sexy. Ichigo could hardly contain his libido. The pain of seeing the girl who broke his heart was not enough to keep him away.

When Ichigo finally caught the girl he'd been following, he had nearly lost all of his wits thinking of how to speak to her. He looked around and become conscious of the fact that he was in a rather secluded section of the club. He saw her sitting on by the counter in all her glory. She just sat there, waiting. Waiting for him, he knew. She turned around and saw him, a smirk on her face. He smiled a real smile, though admonish, a smile nonetheless.

"Hey strawberry. Long time no see."

"Yeah.. How've you been?" Ichigo said slightly bitter.

"Missing you.." She whispered quietly.

"What?" Ichigo said, barely hearing her.

A/N Originally, this chapter was supposed to be very long, because I had written over twenty pages of it in my notebook. (Instead I made it a cliffhanger!) Sadly, I'm in England at the moment, and it is around 3:30 am and my girlfriend wants me to take her to a fucking park. Fan-fucking-tastic, right? Forty fucking degrees out and she wants to go to a park. She must be crazy. Might as well be. Fuck me for being crazy 'bout her.

Until the next time I get off my lazy ass! Seeya.