By the time Ukitake and Mint made it down to the beach, the sun was setting and the rest of the group were sitting around in a circle. The Snoop gang were grinning over Nat's camera while Di was sitting, arms folded, an annoyed expression on her face. She glared at Mint as she came into sight. "Thanks a bunch, Mint!" Mint smirked at her friend, noticing her wet and dishevelled appearance.

So, Raiden did take my advice after all.

"That, Di my friend, is karma." Di sighed and turned her fury on the Snoop gang instead who immediately hid the camera.

Before Shuuhei sat down he grinned and said, "Yeah, those are definitely going in the Seireitei Communications." Matsumoto smiled mischievously.

"The gossip columns will do well." Di scowled at them.

"Just so you know I hate you all at this moment."

"Now, now, Di-chan, remember what we said. We haven't had any action around here since Kuchiki Byakuya's wedding." Kyoraku said in a cajoling tone.

"I'm guessing you didn't spy on Kuchiki Byakuya's wedding night!" Di snarled at him. Mint looked at her friend.

How odd, she's not screaming at Raiden. Or have I spoken too soon? Matsumoto smiled suddenly.

"I know what will cheer everyone up!" She brought out the three bottles of wine from the mobile home while Kira and Shuuhei displayed theirs. Mint and Di stared in shock at the amount of alcohol on display.

"I'm sorry...am I missing something here?" Mint asked. "Are we starting a bar in gensei or something?"

"Nope! This is all ours!" Matsumoto grinned. "We should play drinking games!" Jai's ears perked up at the sound.

"Yay! We should play Ring of Fire." Di shook her head.

"Nah. Takes too long to explain and all the cards are in the mobile homes."

"How about, Never have I Ever?" Mint asked. Di nodded.

"Yeah. We can do that. It would be entertaining." Nat immediately took charge while everyone poured themselves a drink.

"Right, this is how it works. One person says: 'Never have I ever...whatever. They then say something which they've never personally done. All the people in the circle who have done such a thing, drink. It's as simple as that."

"Ahh...so it's like a less messy truth or dare then." Kyoraku said.

"Thank god." Renji muttered. Mint smiled.

"OK, I'll start then." She thought for a moment. "Never have I ever....had a detention." Di rolled her eyes and drank as did Shuuhei, Matsumoto, Nat, Kyoraku and Raiden.

"What on earth did you get a detention for?" Raiden asked her.

"It was when I was going to school in gensei. I swore at someone." Di replied. "Fine, my go. Never have I ever...." she shot Mint a sly glance. "...had siblings." Nearly the entire group grumbled and then drank. Nat had an evil look his eyes when it came to his turn.

"Never have I ever...gotten to second base." Mint and Di sighed and drank along with Raiden and Ukitake, who blushed. Jai rubbed his hands together gleefully.

"Ooh.... never have I ever got to third base...as in...seen each other naked!" Mint smirked at him.

"Nice try." Di glared at him before drinking, Raiden with her.

"Oh my god when?" Matsumoto asked.

"During the stupid truth or dare." Di snapped, glaring at Nat, who was looking pleased with himself. Matsumoto saw where the pattern was going and smiled.

"Never have I ever got to fourth base!" Mint shook her head.

"Nah uh." Di smirked at the Snoop gang.

"Nope." Raiden put his cup to his mouth. Di looked at him in vague horror.

"With who? Cos it sure as hell wasn't me!" Raiden laughed and put the drink down.

"Ah come on babe I was joking." He swallowed quickly when she stopped looking.

"Come on Rangiku-san, drink up." said Nat.

"What?!"

"If you say something and no one's done it then you automatically have to drink." Mint smiled as the turn reached her.

"Never have I ever flown a plane."

That'll get only Di. Hardly anyone else knows what a plane is. Di scowled at her before drinking.

"What's a plane?" Kira asked. Di pointed up at one.

"That metal, bird-like thing flying up there." Everyone looked up, shielding their eyes.

"Wow. That's amazing Di-chan." Matsumoto exclaimed. Di shrugged.

"I didn't actually fly a Boeing like that one...but the principles are the same." Raiden stared at her.

"You did a lot in gensei didn't you?" Di smiled at him.

"Yeah. So? Oh yeah my go." She grinned at Mint.

"Never have I ever...kissed Ukitake-san." Mint smiled and drank.

I have no regrets about that. Di nearly choked as Raiden drank as well.

Oh shit. I forgot about that.

"I forgot! Sorry." Raiden shuddered as he put his drink down.

"Never have I ever got 80% or over in hakuda." Nat said. Di drank along with several other people.

I don't regret that. My zanpakutou runs on it.

"Never have I ever..." Renji looked around for inspiration and saw Edmund the stray dog with his head on Di's knee, "...owned a dog." Mint scowled and drank along with Nat and Ukitake.

"Never have I ever had the urge to bat things like a cat!" she said, a little too loudly. Nat raised an eyebrow.

"Who the hell does that?!" Di felt herself flushing as she drank. Everyone stared.

"No way." Renji breathed.

"Yeah right." Shuuhei laughed. Mint grinned at Di.

"I'll prove it." Di sat on her hands.

Oh no. Mint pulled one of the pompoms from her hood out of her pocket and dangled it in front of her friend.

"Come on Di. Come on." She coaxed, swinging it backwards and forwards. Di shut her eyes.

Damn it no! She felt the pompom bump her nose. ARGH!! She batted it away and then found she couldn't stop.

"Aww." Mint said as her friend flushed. "I think she was a cat in her last life." she explained, sitting back down. Di realised Raiden was grinning at her.

"What?!"

"Aww. That's so cute. Here kitty, kitty." Di hissed at him.

"Don't push it!" Raiden grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap, dislodging Edmund with a yelp.

"Behave, kitten." he said and smiled when he realised he'd come up with a new nickname. Mint stifled a laugh and realised Di was glaring at her. Suddenly her expression changed as an evil smile crossed her face.

"Never have I ever...had an obsession/fetish for soft fluffy things." Everyone once again stared.

"What?!" said Jai. Mint drank feeling a blush creep to her cheeks. She knew Ukitake was looking at her. Di produced a soft doll and held it out.

"Come on Mint. You know you want it. Come on, look how soft it is." Mint crept forward and finally pulled the doll out of Di's hands before retreating back to her place and cuddling it to her face, grinning like a maniac.

"That is ever so slightly disturbing." Jai commented as Mint showed no signs of letting up.

"Never have I ever...kissed a boy." Kyoraku said and grinned as everyone glared at him. Nat, Jai, Renji, Matsumoto, Ukitake, Mint, Di and Raiden all drank. Mint could feel her face growing redder by the second.

Oh no. I'm getting tipsy...and then the hangover headache will come on. I should end soon. Maybe one more round.

"Never have I ever...tongued Raiden." Di shrugged and drank along with Nat.

"Never have I ever drawn pictures of Ukitake-san." she shot back. Mint shot Ukitake a look and saw he was smiling as she drank.

"Never have I ever....had my top taken off!" Matsumoto beamed. Mint felt herself flushing as she drank.

Oh yeah. She threw a glance across to Di to see if she was drinking. To her complete surprise she wasn't.

"What?! Drink up Di." Di raised an eyebrow.

"Contrary to popular belief, I haven't had my top taken off."

"Yet." Raiden finished. Di elbowed him in the ribs. "Easy, kitten." The campfire crackled.

"Never have I ever....gotten smashed." Ukitake said with a smile. Kira, Shuuhei, Kyoraku, Renji and Matsumoto all drank. Mint felt the blood rush to her face.

Damn, I can feel the throbbing already. I'd better make this the last one.

"Never have I ever...loved anyone more than Jyuushirou-san." she said, melting as he smiled at her. Di rolled her eyes and drank with everyone else in the circle. She opened her mouth to say another but Mint was already standing up.

"Sorry everyone, I have to go back to the tents. I can feel a hangover coming on already." Di looked disappointed.

"So...you're not staying for more drinks then?" Mint shook her head.

"No. Have fun. Don't stay up too late...or drink too much." Di grinned at her.

"Don't worry about me- I can hold my liquor."

Matsumoto watched as they left and then beamed around the circle. Out of the group, Nat was passed out due to his low alcohol tolerance, Jai was on the way to being smashed and she was slightly tipsy. Di felt stone cold sober as always and looking across, she could see that Kyoraku was the same. "Right. Different game." Renji said. Di stretched, feeling Raiden's fingers press against her hip bone.

"How about...a downing contest?"

I'll win this. Jai grinned and nodded but then frowned.

"Wait! Di'll win." Matsumoto laughed.

"Really?"

"She has an insanely high alcohol tolerance level!" Jai whined. He beamed at Matsumoto. Di picked up a shot glass and filled it with tequila.

"Right. Here's how this is going to go. We all drink shots going round in a circle. Everyone counts out their shots when they put their glass back down. When someone feels like they've had enough...or passes out...then they stop drinking. OK?" Shuuhei grinned.

"Sounds great. Let's do it!" Di threw back her head and drank down the shot feeling it burn as it slid down her throat.

She slammed her glass back in the sand before saying, "One."

Mint spread a towel out on the cold sand and sat down beside Ukitake. She cuddled up to him, winding her arms around his arm and laying her head on his shoulder. She knew it was the effects of the alcohol but she didn't care. It didn't seem like he did either.

"I liked your last Never have I ever." She turned her face towards his, seeing that he was smiling at her. There was a pink flush to his normally pale cheeks which she found very adorable. She snuggled her head into the crook of his neck and looked up at the clear night sky. She began shivering due to the effects of the alcohol and snuggled closer to Ukitake, seeking warmth. Loud laughter drifted over on the wind.

What on earth are they doing over there? She wondered. Ukitake put his arm around her waist.

"The stars are very beautiful tonight, aren't they?" Mint looked up and nodded, feeling the cool breeze against her hot forehead. He looked at her with a mixture of love and concern.

"You look flushed, are you alright?" He placed a cool hand against her hot forehead and she thought she would buckle against him. "You feel very warm. Are you ill?" Mint shook her head, feeling the throbbing pain increase.

Oh damn! Please not now!

"No. It's the effects of the alcohol, Jyuushirou-san. I can also feel a headache coming on." Ukitake looked at her in concern.

"We should get you back to the tent then. I have ice packs in there." Mint grinned at him, still clinging.

"I could do with some paracetamol."

Di stared as Kyoraku finally passed out. She was twelve shots in and in no mood to stop. Matsumoto had stopped drinking shots after five rounds had gone by and was laughing as Kira and Shuuhei stripped. Renji was already in his loincloth and once again Di marvelled at how many tattoos he had. She felt the near irresistible urge to giggle but fought it down. She refilled her shot glass and downed another.

"Steady on Di-chan. I think you've won." Matsumoto laughed, dislodging Jai from her lap where he'd collapsed after passing out in the seventh round. Di looked at the bottles still in the sand.

"What a waste." She picked up the nearest one and took a swig from it. Shuuhei grinned at her.

"Hey! Down it Di!" Di shrugged and grinned.

"Why not?"

I can so handle my alcohol. This should be nothing. I'm dead. I can' t possibly die of liver failure. She began gulping down the remnants of the nearest bottle while Renji, Kira, Shuuhei and Matsumoto cheered. She finally finished and wiped her mouth. Whoa. I actually managed that. Sweet. She laughed, feeling slightly euphoric. She started to put the bottle back down but dropped it in the sand instead. Oh. I didn't mean to do that. Why did I do that? She felt Raiden's arms tighten around her waist and felt his mouth by her ear.

"You're drunk, kitten." came his voice, almost like a purr itself. Di laughed, finding the notion hysterical.

"Don't be stupid. I'm fine." She knew Raiden had stopped drinking at about round ten. Matsumoto laughed, tipsy herself, as Di attempted to pick up another bottle and dropped it.

"Di-chan's drunk! Oh my!" Di shook her head, trying to clear it.

Everything seems to be getting rather foggy. She tried to get up and failed, collapsing back in Raiden's arms. She laughed hard.

"Correction- Di-chan is smashed." Matsumoto joined in the laughter and soon both girls were laughing so hard that they almost choked. Renji looked confused.

"Why are they laughing?" Kira beamed, not in the least bit chilly.

"I don't know. Maybe at you." Di finally recovered herself and forced herself up again, grabbing Raiden's shirt for support. She saw that Renji, Kira and Shuuhei were all in their loincloths and found it hysterical.

"Oh my god! Rangiku-san! They're all-!" She couldn't finish the sentence and instead went off into peals of laughter, burying her face in Raiden's shirt. Matsumoto giggled.

"Oh dear. Kira, Shuuhei and Renji have stripped again." Di stopped laughing instantly as an idea came into her head. Under normal circumstances she would have kicked herself for even considering the suggestion. She grinned up at Raiden.

"How come you're not stripping?" Raiden grinned back.

"What? Ya want me to, babe?" Di considered this.

"Yeah." He raised an eyebrow before taking off his shirt.

"Oh my." Matsumoto said, giggling. "Go Di-chan." Di beamed.

Why's she happy again? She felt Raiden's arms round her again and smiled.

"I have a better idea." Di looked behind her at his grinning face.

"Oh?"

I don't really care what it is. It can't be anything that bad. This alcohol isn't affecting me in the slightest. I'll be fine.

"Why don't you strip?" Di smiled.

"Sure. Why not?" Raiden looked like Christmas had come early. She shakily passed him the bottle of Bacardi before reaching for the bottom of her top.

I'm fine. I can take my top off. I'm wearing a bra underneath it. Yeah. I'm fine. Matsumoto laughed, drinking some more sake.

"Whoa. Di-chan." Di settled back down again, noticing that half the bottle of Bacardi was now gone.

"Hey! Leave me some!! " She pouted, making a grab for the bottle. She overbalanced and fell into his lap again. Raiden laughed hard and put the bottle down, cuddling her.

"Ahh I love ya babe. You're so damn funny." Di laughed as he leaned down to kiss her. She could taste the Bacardi on his tongue and squirmed when he ran his fingers over her belly, brushing over the plaster.

Whoa. Wait. He's not supposed to be touching there yet. Her brain said through a cloud of fog. She made a noise of protest into his mouth and moved his hand away from the plaster with her own. "No. Don't touch there." She mumbled against his mouth. Raiden grinned before kissing her soundly again. When she resurfaced, Matsumoto was once again talking about her breasts to Renji who was grinning.

"They fall out sometimes you know." Renji nodded avidly. "And sometimes they try to suffocate me! It's horrible I tell you!" She shot Di a look. "Do you ever have that problem, Di-chan?" Di's alcohol flooded brain tried to process this.

"Wha-? Suffocated by my-? No."

"Lucky." Matsumoto sniffed, eyeing hers with dislike. Shuuhei had a nosebleed.

Mint was curled up in the centre of her camping bed with a cold compress pressed to her aching head. Ukitake had one pressed to his head too as the alcohol had aggravated the bump he'd received earlier that day. "Ohhhh. My head!" Mint moaned, pain screwing her eyes shut. Ukitake looked highly concerned.

I wish there was something I could do but I can't. She's taken that paracetamol medicine of hers but it doesn't seem to be working. Mint winced as Di's laughter rang out from the direction of the beach. Ukitake managed a weak smile.

"At least Di seems to be having fun." Mint sniffed.

"Her volume control always goes out the window when she starts drinking. It's like the alcohol only affects her vocal chords." Ukitake laughed gently.

"It's a shame you have a headache- you could be joining them." Mint shook her head.

"No. I'd much rather be here with you, Jyuushirou-san." Ukitake smiled again and winced as pain shot across his skull again.

That's sweet of you to say so, Mint.

Di felt puzzled. Why am I the sea? I should know better than to go swimming while drunk. Matsumoto was splashing around happily, hair bouncing around her shoulders while Shuuhei and Kira swam around further out in the breaker zone. Di felt Raiden pick her up.

"We shouldn't go swimming." she heard herself say. Raiden grinned at her.

My god he looks cute when he's drunk. Di thought, winding her arms round his neck and kissing him. Shuuhei came tearing out of the breaker zone.

"Rangiku-san!" Di laughed hard as Matsumoto stepped to one side and Shuuhei fell flat on his face.

Oh my god! This night is so damn funny! Mint hasn't a clue what she's missing out on!

"Hey, babe. Would you really do me if no one else was around?" Di laughed and kissed him again.

What a dumb question.

"Of course." Raiden's eyes lit up. Renji came running out of the sea and hid behind a rock. Di looked over in confusion as Raiden began to kiss her neck.

"Renji? The hell are you doing?"

"I...I've lost my loincloth." Di laughed so hard she nearly gave herself a stitch.

"Oh my god! You're so-" She broke off with a gasp as she felt Raiden's tongue against her skin. She squirmed against him, heat racing through her veins as she felt his mouth on her pulse.

"Mmm Rice...what're you doing?"

"Let's go back to the tent." he said insistently, kissing her ear. Di smiled at him.

"Sure." She squinted at her watch. "Wow. 2am already?!..I think." She let herself down from his arms and began trying to walk out of the surf, nearly tripping over Nat. Raiden laughed at her.

"You can't walk in a straight line! Give it up." Di pouted.

"I'm fine!" She swayed and almost collapsed against him. Finally, she compromised by grabbing hold of his arm to support herself. "Rangiku-san! We're going back to the tents!" she yelled over her shoulder.

"Fine, fine! Have fun, Di-chan! Tell us how it went!" Di grinned to herself as the tents came into sight.

Hang on. What did she mean by tell us how it went? How what went? She stumbled after Raiden as he made his way to the second row of tents.

"Here. This tent looks big enough to do stuff in." Di smiled happily, alcohol still washing around her system.

"Yeah. Doing stuff sounds fun."

Hang on a minute. Doing stuff? Her head asked. What exactly is that going to entail?

Does it really matter? She tugged Raiden's arm before he unzipped the tent.

"Is it going to be fun stuff?" Raiden's grin widened.

"Of course, baby. Promise."

Mint looked up with a start as the tent flap unzipped. The hell?! Di coming to say goodnight? Or some random people back from the beach? To her surprise, Di and Raiden came in, both looking wet as though they'd just stepped out of the sea. Mint raised an eyebrow. Okaaaaaaaay. Why the hell are these two in here? Did they go in the surf again? Without any warning, Raiden pressed his mouth to Di's and pulled her to the floor. Mint's eyes went wide.

"What the hell?!" Ukitake looked round from where he been attempting to read.

"What is it, Mint?" Mint leapt off the camp bed, abandoning the cold compress.

"What are you two doing?!" Her eyes grew wide behind her glasses. "Ah. Oh god." She could hardly tell where Raiden ended and Di began. She turned around and yelled to Ukitake. "Jyuushirou-san! Help me!" Ukitake, startled, jumped up and ran over.

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Time out you two!" Mint shouted, trying to prise them apart. She gasped. "Di- where the hell's your top?!"

"Don't care." her friend mumbled, refusing to let go of Raiden.

"Go away Glasses, we're busy." Raiden snapped, trying to undo Di's bra. Mint felt her head spin.

This is not happening. My god, I think Di's drunk- no, scratch that, both of them are. This isn't good. She saw Ukitake blush and turn away, unable to do anything. Mint hesitated. What am I going to do?! Suddenly the flap opened again and Matsumoto poked her head in.

"Hello, Mint-chan!" she said cheerfully, face flushed. "I saw Raiden-kun and Di-chan come in here and-" She looked down. "Oh my!" she giggled. "Get in there, Di-chan!" Mint hissed at her.

"Stop encouraging them! Help me! Please!" Matsumoto pouted and then smiled.

"Night Mint-chan, Ukitake-san. Get in there Raiden-kun!" Mint gave a sigh of frustration as Matsumoto left.

Damn it! Will no one help me?!

"How the hell does this thing come off?"

"Just undo the hooks at the back!" she heard Di giggle.

Oh hell no! Mint tried to split them up again and succeeded in attracting Di's attention.

"Go away, Mint! Stop being a spoilsport!" she snapped, driving her backwards with a flick of her knuckles. Mint sprawled against the leg of the nearest camp bed, feeling a bruise forming on her forehead.

I have to do something!

"Jyuushirou-san! Help me!" she implored. "For god's sake he's taking his trousers off!" Ukitake immediately snapped into action. He tried to pull Di and Raiden apart and nearly succeeded. Raiden lashed out.

"Get the hell off me, jiijii-taicho!" Ukitake sighed and tried a different track.

"But, Raiden, surely you don't want us watching you do it?" Mint watched as something clicked in Raiden's head. He got unsteadily to his feet as Di protested.

"Come on babe, let's go." Di tried to rise but Mint held her down.

"No! You stay here!" Raiden turned back, hearing Di's protests and realising she wasn't on her feet. He found Ukitake blocking the way.

"Go on ahead, Raiden, she'll follow you."

"Oh OK." Ukitake watched him until he went into the tent next door before breathing a sigh of relief. Behind him, Mint was still struggling with Di.

"Jyuushirou-san, I'll look after her, but could you check the beach to make sure that no one else is doing anything stupid. If everyone was as drunk as these two then..." She let the implications hang. Ukitake nodded.

"Right. I'll be back in a minute." He went out into the night while Mint tried to get Di to the camp bed. It was proving difficult.

"No! Where's Rice? I want Rice!" Mint sighed in frustration, shoving her onto the camp bed.

"Stay there and sleep it off! There's no way I'm letting you anywhere near him tonight." Di tried to get off the camp bed again.

"I'm going back to my tent."

"No you're not!" Mint snapped, shoving her back down. "Stay here! You're smashed!" Di glared at her.

"I want Rice." Mint felt her patience fraying. Her headache was getting worse.

"Stop trying to get up Di for god's sake!" she snapped, pushing her back down again. Mint looked round to see Ukitake come back in looking tired and cold.

"Well, that's all of them back in their tents." Mint beamed at him.

"Thank you, Jyuushirou-san." Di shoved past her and made a break for the door. She was checkmated by Ukitake.

"Di, you're staying here tonight." Ukitake said gently, avoiding looking at her directly.

"Get out of the way, jiijii-taicho!" Mint was horrified.

Right, that does it! She grabbed her friend by the arm and towed her back to the camp bed. Di struggled back up again.

"Just sleep it off!" Mint yelled, punching her squarely in the side of the head. Di collapsed on the bed, out like a light. Mint heaved a sigh of relief, feeling her head throb.

"What a night." Ukitake said quietly as Mint covered Di with a blanket.

"Indeed. It looks like I'm going to have to sleep in your camp bed tonight." She gave him a look. "Unless...you don't want me to." Ukitake smiled and blushed a little.

"No. Of course not. Circumstances call for it." Mint grinned.

Suddenly my head doesn't hurt anymore. It's a miracle.