Chapter 7: I drink to make other people more interesting

"Rangiku san" Renji yelled. I knew I'd have to face him sooner or later.

"Hey there… Renj…" I quickly started thinking up excuses to leave here.

"What happened to you, I don't see you around the sixth squad anymore" he whined.

"He-he… nothing just Hitsugaya Taichou needs me more now. Would love to chat, but gotta run Renj. I'm sure you are taking care of the recruits well".

I quickened my pace. I heard him yelling at me, "come by sometimes. The new kids miss you"

I hurriedly waved at him before disappearing behind the corner. Phew!

I have successfully managed to avoid Kuchiki Taichou for the last few days. But I do wonder how long I can keep this up.

"No", Rukia's drunken babbling continued to shower me with her spit. "You don't understand Rangiku-san. My brother…. Nii-sama… is driving me crazy… and I can't tell him no" she loudly hiccupped.

I screwed up my face to avoid her spit shower on my face before sipping my cup of sake, instead of doing my usual gulping down action. This way, I get less drunk in alcohol and drunk in stories that normally I would never have the chance to hear or remember the next morning. Yes, I have matured. So here I'm at Ikkaku's request, though it was surprising to see Rukia in a place like this. But whatever her reasons to ending up in a place where, it was providing me with some good entertainment. It looks like she's going to stir some dirt on Kuchiki Byakuya. Well, not that I really care or anything. It's just you know, for the sake of curiosity. I continued sipping my sake in small amounts and concentrated on her slurred pronunciation.

"I can't do this anymore." Rukia continued ranting next to me while I quietly sipped my sake cup and paid attention her complains. These information soon might come in handy. "Today they showed up again."

"Who?" I asked unmindfully.

"That... that woman. And all her posses, ganging up on me asking me about Nii sama. She's lucky I didn't kick all their asses to the grave" Somehow the drunk angry Rukia looked more cute than threatening.

"Who are these people?"

"Some woman Nii sama has been dating…" she slammed her cup on the table.

I chocked on my little sip of sake. I asked while controlling my cough fit, "Kuchiki Taichou? Dating? Someone?"

"Well yeah. I guess I should say "courting". And not just her, there are others too… she's just one of them..."

I almost dropped my sake cup and fell on the floor. My eyes turned into two golf balls on my face." oth…others?"

"Well yeah…. You know all these noble family business the elders put us through. He needs to regularly court these pathetic single noble women to find a potential… whatever" Rukia slugged down another full cup "I can't believe her audacity. She has the galls to come up to me and confront me about my relationship with my brother. How dare they accuse me of such filth?" she's already down with the next cup.

Kuchiki Taichou has … girlfriends? Plural?

I didn't know what to think anymore. Who is this person I have known for the last few centuries? Well, not really known known. But you know what I mean.

"Rangiku san. I wish Nii-sama would stop leading these woman on. They won't stop pestering me or him." she sounded helpless. I wonder how one saves another from gangs of admirers. "Then he asks me to tell them no on his behalf. And I can't say no to him. I bet half of them already hired people to kill me" she sounded sad.

I figured in this smashed state, giving her any advice will be a waste. She doesn't look like she could even stand up. Looks like whatever that Kuchiki stalker said, really pissed her off.

Right! Now, this is the hard part of getting Rukia drunk. How do I knock this gate thingy here? Is there a calling bell? I exhaled loudly with unconscious Rukia on my shoulder, standing in front of the Kuchiki mansion. I knew there had to be a catch to being the only not-drunk-enough-to pass-out person around here. I had to be the one carrying the passed out drunks home. And it had to be this home. I knew I have to pay my dues sooner or later. I was hoping it would be later rather than now!

Luckily, found some guards who let me in, then a half asleep servant came running to show me to Rukia's room where I lied her down. I sincerely hope she doesn't have any major mission to go to tomorrow.

On my way tiptoeing out of the mansion my latest nightmare found me. The dark yukata clad captain looked down at me like I'm the dirty rat that got caught stealing his precious cheese. I assumed that's what his look meant, not that I can differentiate.

I blushed first then looked away before scratching my neck. "Umm… err… Kuchiki Taichou. Sorry to bother you this late, I was just escorting Rukia home."

I couldn't meet his gaze. Not after what happened that night. I have been successfully avoiding him ever since that night, but it looks like I can't do it forever.

He didn't say anything, or even moved out of the way to let me pass. The silence was utterly unbearable. I know if I looked at him I would probably do something really stupid or embarrassing. Most likely both at the same time.

"Umm… I'll just let myself out…" I tried to walk around him before he grabbed me wrist.

I winched and resisted the urge to push him and run for my dear life. Instead I stood there, desperately looking at the door with longing.

"Matsumoto Fukutaichou… Could you please wait for a second?"

"ummhmm?" I managed to squeak out that noise.

"If you could follow me, please." he let go of my hand and headed towards somewhere inside. I turned around and followed him like an obedient student. Oh, how the mighty has fallen. If Hitsugaya Taichou saw me right now, he would be rolling on the floor laughing like an idiot, and that's saying something.

I sipped my tea without waiting for it to cool down first. The longer I sit here in silence, the more restless I become. He is soundlessly sat across the table from me.

I almost spit out the hot tea that burned my tongue. I noticed him looking at me as I winced.

"Please accept my gratitude for bring Rukia back home safe." Finally he spoke.

"Of course, of course. No need to thank me" I smiled nervously. "Not a problem. She's my friend too".

I went back to sipping my tea. A long mute pause continued.

"About the other day…" suddenly he started and I interrupted by slamming my tea cup loudly on the table. He looked at my face, eyes widened slightly.

"Please, you don't have to mention it." I lowered my head in an apologetic bow which also hid my red face under my hair. I kept my eyes on the table in front of me. "The events of that night is already forgotten." My courage failed me to look at him in the eyes. If I did though, I would've noticed the tiniest smirk on his face.

"I merely wanted to ask you if you could kindly return my kenseikans, I must have left them at your place when I was drying my hair"

He did? I didn't see them anywhere. I felt like my blush is permanently setting in my cheek. I somehow managed to utter the words, "I will definitely have a look".

"I believe I left them on the counter next to the blue flower vase" he sipped his tea.

What blue flower vase? How it is that he knows the colour my flower vase?

"Of course… I will return them."

Should I get up to leave now? How does one ask for leave in a noble house?

"You are still welcome to train our new recruits. I've barely seen you around to discuss this further."

I think I might have started sweating. Oh boy! How hot is it in here? Do I stink? I hope he doesn't start smelling my fear.

"Umm…" I can't admit to bribing Hitsugaya Taichou to give me something to do at my own squad so that I won't have to go back to sixth squad.

"Of all the things I've heard about you, you are not living up to any of them Matsumoto Fukutaichou." He silently sipped his cuppa tea. "You're not half as courageous as they say you are." He continued with his expressionless tone.

My eyes were on him instantly. What? He was looking down at his tea cup with a blank look on his face. Suddenly all the feeling of embarrassments were gone and on place there was something resembling anger.

Did he just call me a chicken?

My grip on the tea cup hardened and I gently put it down on the table. "And you aren't half as noble-ish as they say you are." I spoke softly while grating my teeth to control these anger. Although I must admit I haven't been acting my usual self lately.

"I thought I've already admit to that" he looked at me now. There's a slight twinkle mimicking amusement in his eyes, where rest of his face remained unchanged.

Is he having… fun? This is bordering on evil. After what he did that day, he's acting like it was a game. I foolishly stepped into this trap, made it so easy for him. Silly silly Rangiku. It's time to saddle up.

You have to bring in your A game, Rangiku. I took a deep breath.

"So, Kuchiki Taichou." I conjured up my most seductive look in my eyes and pushed the unfinished cup of tea gently to the side before leaning towards him. Resting both my elbows in the table, I pushed my weight on my knees to face him. I don't know whether the view of my cleavage will work on him, but I still made sure it's there. His eyes were locked on mine and his hands holding the cuppa tea tighten a little.

"You want me…" I paused. My face was only a foot away from his and our eyes were at the same level. "to train the new recruits, even when any of your other seated officers can do the job well enough?"

He's face, as stoic as ever, looked entirely unchanged. May be the lighting in this room isn't efficient. I thought for a second. From my previous experiences, I should already see him blush by now. May be I should move to the side a bit, that might give him a better vision of my prized possessions.

He kept staring at me and without even blinking. I suddenly felt like this has turned into a staring contest.

When I was finally looked away, my resolve has faltered a bit. And he took the chance, "if you must know it was in Hitsugaya Taichou's rrequest that you've started training in the first place. And I've already assigned roles to my other officers." He started sipping on his tea again.

I leaned back and exasperated in boredom.

"Well, if you want me that badly, I guess I'll have to continue. I'll see you tomorrow at the sixth squad". I stood up and walked towards the door when I heard him started to say something with his signature air of smartassness.

"As I've mentioned, it was in Hitsugaya Taichou's reques…"

I didn't care anymore. You may have won, but you won't get the last words.

And in the next moment, I was flash stepping out of the Kuchiki mansion, fuming in my own silent anger.

He sat there motionless as the last words he spoke to her hung unheard in the air, and then he put down his cuppa tea. He wondered what her problem is. Why can't things be simple when comes to her? Maybe the problem isn't with her, it's with him. When she looked at him with that mischievousness in her sky colour eyes, he thought he felt a skip in his heart beat. He hasn't felt like that in a very long time. And not the mention how tongue tied he became during her approach, these feelings are entirely foreign. These feelings of confusion in his stomach is making him uneasy, constantly.

He stood up, and headed towards a particular corner of the vast Kuchiki mansion.

"Are you happy, here?" he spoke to her softly.

"Yes" she smiled which may not have touched her sad big eyes. The way she spoke was gentle and placid. "I'm very happy here."

He wanted to touch her but he was afraid she might shutter like thin glass. He doesn't want to make her disappear. She was always so soft, gentle and barely existing.

After tossing and turning for a few hours in his bed, he dreamt of summer. This is odd. Fall has always been his favourite season, not summer.

By the time I reached home, my anger has calmed. I need to think things through now. All those times of going with the flow has left me unsure and confused about what is happening around here. This Kuchiki Byakuya is an alien, I can't read him. His reputation precedes when comes to his stoic undisturbed way of carrying things out, but something about that does not match.

What bugs me is the nagging question in my head, what does he want from me? He clearly gives me the vibe that there's something I've been doing he doesn't approve of. Then why does he keep showing up everywhere?

I need to find a way to keep him from getting to me.

I need to stop playing along and start playing for the win. It is strange how I keep crossing path with the Kuchiki Taichou these days, it feels like I have seen more of him the last few days then the last few decades. Hell, I've never even noticed anything about him, except the frequent occurrence of sakura patterned ornaments in the Kuchiki mansion during their sneaky soul society women's association meetings.

My head hurts. I think I will figure this out as I go. But one things for sure, I'm not going to let him win in this whatever this is.

With a new sense of determination I went to bed. It was a dreamless sleep, just the way I like it.

To be continued