"Hey guys!" Toshiro slid in next to Renji, body an inhale away from touching. Rangiku gave him a questioning glance, receiving only a sneaky smile. She mouthed to him 'be-have'. A wink followed by a kiss blown in her direction was his only reply. She was not liking this new Rangiku flavored captain.
"Come sit, captain!" His smile was growing impossibly wide.
Rangiku cautiously took a seat next to the overly friendly Yumichika and was greeted quickly with an arm around slender shoulders. The whole table's conversations halted waiting for an unpleasant reaction coming from the usually prickly captain. Instead, they were all left speechless as the leader of squad ten returned the gesture and signaled the waitress over to the booth.
Renji leaned over as to not be heard by the out of character captain.
"What's with him? I mean I'm not complaining. It's a definite improvement, but is he sick or something?" He was watching diligently as the captain poured himself some of the sake that had been bought by the petite waitress, which he had abruptly pulled into his lap. Renji's brows shot up in surprise.
"I haven't the slightest." Toshiro said out loud, but he knew exactly what his mischievous lieutenant was doing. If he kept pushing the boundaries, she would do the same, dragging his reputation down into the gully. 'Damned brat...'
"Rangiku, I just ordered some of the top shelf sake. Won't you join me?" The innocent invitation just pissed him off more. That was his name she was running a tab under and she knew he couldn't drink while in her body...or could he?
"Why thank you captain. That is a most generous offer." The feign appreciation was a bit hard to swallow for the lieutenant who thought she had the upper hand. She hesitantly pushed a glass over to Toshiro begging with her eyes that he would not drink.
He slowly, deliberately brought the cup to his lips having all those seated there waiting with baited breath to see if there was going to be a follow through. He set it down abruptly.
"Just kidding! You guys didn't think I had forgotten about our little bet, did you? I got every-last-one of you." Toshiro pointed to each of them at the table to accentuate his point before he emitted a laugh high and loud. To Rangiku's chagrin, he had emulated her perfectly. The booth's other inhabitants groaned. So close to victory. So close to a month free from responsibilities.
Renji merely smiled knowingly, a slight bump into the nearby shoulder. Toshiro was then assured that the man beside him would not share the happenings of the other night.
From there, the night was light and happy. They ate heartily and conversed with laughter floating on the air. Toshiro felt as if he was one of them for once. This is where they came to regain their strength and bolster their moral. It wasn't simple gluttony, laziness, or love of drink. It was a place of sanctuary and much needed stress release. He could get used to it.
A strong hand on his thigh brought him back. Renji gave a ghost of a smile as he watched the blonde out of the corner of his eye. Receiving no rebuff, he ran a thumb over the coveted flesh. Unsure of what else to do, Toshiro smiled in return. Unfortunately, there were other eyes taking in the hidden gesture.
"Matsumoto, may I speak with you?" Shuuhei was painted rose as he made his request, but his eyes were filled with resolve. Sensing hesitation from the other lieutenant, he held out a gently shaking hand. "Please."
'What the hell now?' With no other option in mind, he took the offered hand and followed the normally reserved reaper out into the night.
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They walked a few moments before finding a small, downed log to sit upon. They sat side by side for seemingly eternity as Toshiro waited for the blushing man's explanation. Toshiro tried to nudge the conversation along.
"Shuuhei, did you want to talk to me about something?" Toshiro stared patiently as Shuuhei glanced down to his feet, then out into the night.
"Rangiku. I am a capable warrior and gained rank of lieutenant. I lead my squad with pride and often see victory. Then, there is you." Shuuhei turned to meet the widened sky blue eyes staring in disbelief. "You have me speechless and many times left in an incompetent heap, tissue held tight to my nose."
'Sweet gods, is he trying to tell me, well, Rangiku he has feelings for me, er, her? This is not what I need tonight.'
"Ran." The love sick reaper dropped to his knees taking a reluctant hand in his. "You are the most beautiful woman in all of Soul Society. Just the mere thought of you makes me dizzy, or gives me a nose bleed...but that's besides the point. Despite how foolishly I act, I wouldn't have it any other way."
Toshiro felt his stomach lurch. Emotions were not his cup of tea and this guy was vomiting them all over him. The worst part was he felt sorry for the poor bastard. He knew how his lieutenant led him around by the nose, playing on his feelings. He was trapped in his indecision. Get up and walk away abruptly, in search of a place to puke. Or stay out of pity, at the cost of his own constitution. He looked down into steel, steel melting with *shudder* feelings of love. He sighed inwardly before pulling the poor sap up and next to him.
'How in the hell would Rangiku handle this. What would she say? Honestly, she would reject him in a roundabout way. Like she could possibly say yes. Eventually...maybe. Just so she could have him wrapped around her finger.'
She tossed anything she may have said aside and went from the gut.
"Shuuhei. You are truly a great guy." Toshiro glanced about trying to find the words. "But,"
Shuuhei immediately deflated, face turning away. Toshiro gently brought the dejected man's line of sight back to him with a hand on his chin.
"But, we are friends. And I cherish that deeply. You will find someone and that someone will be very lucky to have you." Toshiro let him pull back.
"It's Renji, isn't it?" He had turned away once again.
'Good a scape goat as any...' Toshiro thought.
"Yes, it is." Toshiro replied with as much regret as he could muster. Shuuhei reached a hand down to help Toshiro up, which he graciously took. No need to unnecessarily bruise the man's ego further.
"Thank you for being honest with me." Shuuhei gave a brief smile before leaning in to kiss the unsuspecting "Rangiku". It was sweet and tender, chaste. But Toshiro could feel what the other man had in his heart, passion and devotion. The meeting was brief but had the ability to fog Toshiro's thoughts and when he opened his eyes, Shuuhei had gone.
Left in the darkness, Toshiro closed his eyes, inhaling the cool, damp air. He wasn't ready to return to all the mayhem back at the bar. He wasn't ready to duck and dodge the pawing Renji. He most definitely wasn't ready to sit around a bunch of sake he was incapable of drinking. The fact that he was craving the stuff irked him beyond belief. All the nasty little habits and thought patterns of Rangiku were seeping deep into his subconscious. A brill-o pad and bleach for an invasive brain cleaning were in order after all this nonsense was done.
Having had his fill of lone musings, and knowing he would have a search party coming for him any minute, Toshiro begrudgingly set out to make his return.
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Stepping back into the stale smelling, din filled building, Toshiro stood in the corner observing the booth. Yumichika had Ikkaku in a fit, throwing random items for the jokes being flung about referring to his uncouth, bald head. Renji sat pointing, laughing long and loud. Izuru watched it all leaned back in the booth, eyes lidded, a small smirk gracing his lips. Shuuhei had not returned and Toshiro's mood grew damper for it. As for is lieutenant... Rangiku was nowhere in sight. Blue eyes darted about, searching the milling crowd. His blood pressure skyrocketed as his gaze landed on the floor level. There she was, in his captain's robe, curled up under the table. If there is a way to destroy his reputation, be sure she will be the one to find it.
Having made it back to the table, she slid back in next to Renji being sure to plant a solid kick into Rangiku's Side.
"Ouch! Damn it all." The exclamation came floating up from underneath the table followed by a solid thump, her head meeting wood, the drinks being near tipped followed by another heartfelt, "Damn it!"
On hands and knees, out crawled a very disheveled Rangiku. Toshiro grabbed a handful of the short, white tresses pulling Rangiku into the booth next to him so he could ream her out without eavesdroppers.
"You idiot! What in the gods are you doing? Are you trying to get me demoted?" Even as a whisper, his voice echoed through her skull. She offhandedly thought she may have over done it, the drinking that is. She quickly reprimanded herself for such ideas. She was no quitter.
"I'm fine, I was just taking a breather." She reached for the sake in the middle of the table. Toshiro knocked her hand away.
"Time to call it a night." He began shoving her out the booth, hand gripped tight on her wrist. Partly to keep her steady, partly to keep her from escaping.
"But, I'm not tired." She tried her best to wriggle out of the flesh covered vice grip.
"Really, captain, we need to be up early for work tomorrow. That paperwork won't sign and stamp itself." He half attempted a sing-song tone.
The entire booth turned to look at the strawberry blonde. Rangiku, Rangiku, of all people was worried about work. Renji's hand found the pale forehead, seeking signs of a fever.
"Oh, stop that! I'm not sick.'" Toshiro shoved the intruding hand aside, continuing the process of removing Rangiku from the booth.
A firm foot planted to the middle of her back finally dislodged her and Toshiro steered her in the right direction. The small body bounced off the walls, stumbling this way and that. Toshiro stabilized her gait with a hand braced on her shoulder as they exited the door, the remaining inhabitants of the booth laughing at the wee captain's expense.
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The cool air hitting her skin stopped her head from spinning. But her captain using her voice to chastise her was causing it to throb.
"When we get home, you are going straight to bed. Look at the shape I'm in." He gestured at his small form hunched in on itself. "You can't be pulling these stunts inside my body. I won't live it down once we change back." He had an arm looped through hers guiding her gently. "If we ever change back." His voice deflated, shoulders sloping down.
"I'm sorry, captain." She wasn't sure if she meant the words or if all her many antics had made it the default response. He merely looked at the bowed head, leading them further on their path.
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They made it safely home, incident free, to Toshiro's relief. He walked her and laid her down on the always comfortable couch. She snuggled in, able to stretch fully in his shorter being. He shook his head at the woman he called lieutenant, both weariness and warmth in his smile. He honestly couldn't imagine having her any other way. Having successfully contained the chaos that is Rangiku, Toshiro went to the roof to think.
As for Rangiku, she sat up swaying on her couch, thoughts fuzzy, when she heard the door swing open. She smelled him before anything else. Sake, his signature cologne, and the basic scent of him. She loved his smell. It was exciting and comforting, eliciting a increase in her heart beat. She hoped he would join her.
"Oh, hey, captain Hitsugaya." He gave a brief nod in Rangiku's direction, eyes obviously searching for the curvaceous form that lived there as he continued down the hall.
"She's on the roof."Rangiku answered the unvoiced question.
"She really is turning into you." The red head laughed.
"You have no idea." Rangiku mumbled.
"And you have picked up her little drinking habit." Renji stood above her smirking.
Among other things...like a love of moisturizer, a penchant for shopping, and a most discomforting desire for the man standing so casually next to him.
"You really did put them down tonight, captain. It was quite impressive. But, if I can give you a piece of advice?" He sat carefully across from Rangiku, far end of the couch.
"Go ahead." Rangiku nodded her acquiescence.
"Given you aren't quite as, well, big as most of us-" The icy glare he received left his sentence unfinished. "No offense, of course." Renji choked out, clearing his throat afterward.
"None taken." Rangiku said, tone snarky. She would have liked to claim it was just all in character, but her pride as a heavy drinker was a bit tarnished as well. She added a brief smile to let on she wasn't angry.
Renji visibly relaxed sinking further into the far cushion of the couch. He threw his long legs up onto the cherry wood coffee table, crossing them at the ankles. Rangiku loved his casual sensuality. She found watching him do everyday things to be more appealing than when he was actually trying. Maybe because when he did with her it was in fun and meant to be over the top. What was it actually like to have Renji Abarai pursue you in a serious manner? Her thoughts drifted on the subject, some chaste, some quite arousing.
"Captain? You alright?" Renji was leaning close, waving a hand in front of the vacant expression.
Rangiku started a bit.
"Yea, yea. I'm fine." She shooed him away with a dismissive hand.
Renji leaned back again fanning his face with a swimsuit issue he had found on the table. He started shifting uncomfortably before tugging his form fitting shirt over his head .
"Damn it's hot. That Rangiku sure likes it warm in here." He continued fanning himself, sweat trailing down his temples, neck, and chest.
Rangiku mused how fun it always was to follow any bead of liquid on that body to see which way it goes. With all the lines and angles to dip into... She wiped weakly at her mouth, almost sure she had been drooling.
"Is there a bug on me 'er somethin?" Renji's eyes darted about the exposed flesh.
Rangiku blushed at being caught staring.
"No. I was just looking at your tattoos." Rangiku lied right through her smiling teeth. "I hadn't realized you had so many."
"Oh. Yeah, there's quite a few. Mostly my chest and back, my face, a few extremities." He pulled up a pant leg to show the hidden ink gracing the toned calve. "I really like the ones on my back." He turned so Rangiku could see.
Apparently she was still quite intoxicated as she reached out and traced the outline of one broad design. The skin was soft over solid flesh. Warm and slick to the touch. It really was getting hot in there. Realizing what she had done, she snatched her hand back, cursing her stupid crush.
For Renji's part he sat stock still unsure of how to react. It wasn't an overly sexual touch the captain had used, but it definitely had some heat to it. The way the fingertips had lingered, left where he had been touched fevered and oddly aching. Once the hand had moved, he turned back around nonchalantly to face the touchy feely captain. He decided to just chalk it up to alcohol freeing the usually cold reaper's inhibitions.
"So, you have any?" Renji asked, attempting to end the awkwardness.
"Um, no." His reply sounded more like a question, his tone lilting upward.
An angular brow arched under the equally angular inked patterns.
"Why do I feel like you're not telling the truth?" The smile was warm, contradicting the accusatory words. Renji scooted closer searching the small captain's person for any possible image peeking out from under the robes. "Is it hidden somewhere?" He began tugging at the collar and pulling up sleeves, imposing body looming above the much smaller one.
"No. I don't have any at all." Rangiku whispered, swallowing hard. The man's face was inches away and Rangiku felt her pulse quicken, as well as a terrible compulsion to pull Renji downward to smother herself with every inch of his muscled form. It'd be a great way to die.
Renji's face lit up making Rangiku worry a little. It was never a good thing when an idea was formed in that pineapple head of his.
"Here, check this one out." Renji stood turning his back to Rangiku tugging at the waist band of his pants. About half way down his buttocks was what looked like a broad stroked cherry blossom branch. The tips of the branch reached around, up and over a narrow hip. It was artistically done is black and shades dimming down what would be normally a very feminine design.
Rangiku stared appreciating the artwork as well as the tight, round shape of the red head's backside. Her mouth went dry and her fingertips tingled.
'Self control, girl. Touching on that one, Renji won't let that one slide.'
She had nothing to worry about because as she argued with herself, the infuriating cloth went back to concealing all that tanned goodness.
"You won't tell anyone, will you?" Renji turned pink with embarrassment. "The guys will never let me live it down. Shit, it's half the reason I don't go skinny dippin with those crazy bastards. The other half is the cold water." He laughed nervously.
"Of course not. Secret's safe with me." Rangiku reassured him as she locked the image away in her mental treasury.
"Thanks." He gave a grateful smile. "Hey, I'm beat and still need to get in the shower. It was good hangin with you tonight, captain. You should come out with us next time." With that, he strolled down the hall, turquoise orbs set hard on his form. She stared longingly until the light thrown into the hall was depleted to a miniscule sliver by the large bathroom door.
She sat there listening intently for the water pounding into the shower walls, provoking her wild imagination. The earth and mint soap floated down the hall and into her nose bringing a tightness to her chest. Then, a sound. She strained to hear, body leaning precariously over the arm of the couch. The couch she knew she couldn't leave without losing her willpower. Again. It low and muffled, barely audible. Again. She had to know. Consequences be damned.
She set one foot to the wood floor.
'This is it, girl. You get off this couch, you're done for.'
Ignoring her own warning, she put her other foot down and quickly tip toed down the hall. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she stood just to the side of the door, body pressed tight against the wall. Again. The noise, no, the name, shot right through her core. He had called her name. No, calling was far from what he was doing. Calling was innocent. How it dripped from his lips was terribly obscene. It was long and drawn out. Breathy at the end. Sultry and deep. Never had her name stirred things low in her body like this.
She knew what was going on the other side of that door but every fiber of her being sang at the idea of actually looking inside. She had to. There was no way around it. Steeling her nerve, she put one eye to the slit in the door.
One of his large hands was pressed into the wall, his head was bowed. His muscles bunched under the slick skin with harsh strokes. His breathing was erratic at beast, her name only quick gasps now. She became light headed, blood pounding in her ears. She tried with all her might to ignore the ache below her navel, pressing hips tight against the wall. Her stomach clenched, warmth growing. Renji groaned out her name one last time, his release evident. She fell hard into the wall as she felt herself explode. She braced herself, waiting for any indication he had heard her. No signs detected, she slid down the wall.
'So that's what it's like. Always wondered.'
Breathing under control and strength returning to her legs, she hastily made her way back to the living room. Truly exhausted, she face planted into the couch, body limp and loose.
'If that's without touching me...damn, I'm doomed.'