Renji was having some difficulty between wanting to take her up on her offer and doing the right thing. The idea was currently more tempting than moral decency. Her nonchalant nudity as she toweled off was enthralling. She was eying him and trailing her gaze over the pattern of his tattoos blushing when she caught just how far down the ink went. Handing him the towel with a shell shocked expression. She hummed in contemplation.
"Those wouldn't happen to be on you for more than decoration would they?"
Lingering desire gave way immediately to the sobering thought of explaining the nature of the markings covering him nearly head to toe. Briskly drying off to stall for time, he was saved from answering by the incessant beeping of his phone.
'Saved by the bell'
Neither of them was especially surprised, orders had been overdue but there was a slight disappointment beneath the understanding in Rukia's eyes. Planting a quick kiss to her forehead he dressed rapidly and murmured. "We'll save that for another day"
Getting a bit of spark back Rukia countered with an offhand wave "That long for one hollow? I'll try to wait up but no promises."
His time estimate wasn't far off the mark. A burst in activity had him baffled as hollows would appear on radar and blink out only to reappear in vastly different directions. Wanting to smash the phone in a brutal display of frustration was stalled when he came to realize just what was happening as he started relying on instinct and his own perception. Spirit signatures familiar and unfamiliar were getting to the beasts before he could. At several points throughout the evening he got close enough to witness separate instances of the ryoka, the resident soul reaper, and a strange man in a ridiculous get up tailed by a rabble of kids butchering the monsters. Of the all the appearances he could only reach two in time to send them properly to soul society. Eventually the signals died out completely and he headed back in a veritable cloud of annoyance.
Rukia wasn't in his futon as he had hoped; she had crawled into her own 'room' and was snoozing soundly. The sparseness of spirit energy in their current plane couldn't be doing much for her recovery time. It was no wonder she had been mildly grumpy at being woken earlier that day. Flopping into his own bedding he resolved himself to sleep. He tossed and turned but eventually sank into light fitful sleep.
The moon was out and it cast eerie shadows on the walls. Instinct was rousing renji to the slight chance of danger as a trickle of unfamiliar spirit energy prowled towards the open veranda door. Opening bleary eyes he could only make out the outline of a small furry animal with a tsk of annoyance he grabbed the first solid object nearby and hurled it. It sailed past with a soft clatter. He could have sworn he heard the thing cackle softly doing a double-take and finding that it was in fact a cat he took hold of a sandal as his vision sharpened the second projectile did not miss. The muffled thud of impact was accompanied by a disgruntled feline yowl. With a distinctly pleased feeling warm in his chest he rolled over and nuzzled into his pillow.
The trickle of unfamiliar energy spiked momentarily and the clack of the opening closet door punctuated his bolting upright. Renji and Rukia exchanged concerned glances before she jumped out of her nook and crouched in a fighting stance. He rolled out of bed and did the same. A dark figure shadowed the door frame with a decidedly irritated expression glinting out of gold eyes. The woman was shifting her weight from foot to foot as she glared at renji. Before she practically spat at him "After I took time out of my schedule to check on your problem!" she paused not bothering to explain her statement further as she practically snarled bouncing from foot to foot.
Clawing a hand through purple hair she took a few minutes to shrug off her temper while observing the baffled youths. "Well if you want me to help you now, you have to play a game with me"
Rukia didn't quite understand why the shihoin noblewoman was upset with renji, but was faster on the uptake of rolling with the situation. "What would that be exactly Yoruichi-sama?"
She grinned in a way that gave her face a decidedly feral expression "Catch me"
Hesitation was not an option both bolted after her into the night air. She teased them as the chase continued appearing close enough to tug a lock of hair or to tickle an ear before practically disappearing with the speed of her flash step. If either lagged too far behind she would return and make mocking remarks. At one point Rukia had her grasped in what she was sure was a bear hug but when she looked again all that remained in her arms was an orange jacket.
The hunt had led them into the heart of the small city and into a decidedly run down looking district where spray painted graffiti was evident in profusion. Yoruichi laughed impishly as she darted into an industrial looking building. As they chased her deeper something was getting louder. It was muffled by concrete but decidedly rhythmic. Feeling uneasy neither knew what to expect, definitely not to burst onto a balcony overlooking a massive makeshift dance floor.
The full volume of the pumping music was staggering and the flashing lights and artificial fog were disorienting. The swarm of dancers was equally foreign to anything either of them had ever seen before. Hair styles ranged from gravity defying spikes to elegant knots and free flowing western styled curls. Neon body paint seemed to be the primary dress code and any other clothing was limited to the bare essentials of preserving modesty or lack thereof.
Yoruichi had leapt into the mass of swaying bodies with the ease and grace of a fish taking to water. As her pursuers stared in dumbfounded awe yoruichi smirked and not only allowed but encouraged the gyrating dance moves of two other women for a few moments. Flash stepping to them when her partners became distracted she eyed them in contemplation before proceeding to artfully shred their clothing before either could protest.
"We can't have you slacking now can we? Go over that way and paint each other" She indicated against a far wall several tubs of body paint in various colors.
"Shoo, go on, do as the romans do, before I do it for you"
No other known specialist could be reached for their current predicament, alternative options being absent there was no choice but to comply. Renji winced slightly as he felt the wet paint brush imagining that he would soon be covered in bunnies, flowers and other equally girly designs. He focused on painting her in fearsome tribal styles.
Yoruichi paused her revelry enough to smile at them approvingly. "Now dance"
Rukia paled noticeably, and renji arched an incredulous eyebrow "You're joking right?"
With a frustrated huff their task mistress glared in annoyance. "Alright, I'll give you two songs to observe then I expect you to dance" disappearing for a moment she returned with a bottle and two glasses handing them off with purpose "In the meantime drink this"
Rukia eyed the container skeptically and muttered to Renji "I don't think I can handle much"
He leaned in and whispered "Pinch your lips at the rim and pretend to sip."
The liquor was smooth and nearly tasteless. Both watched the crowd flabbergasted at how exactly they would be able to imitate any of the deft movements displayed. Then Renji caught sight of a pair of males circling one another as if preparing to fight, their movements were mock hostile and their moves were based entirely off muscle strength rather than grace. Backflips, kicks, and what seemed like punches was the base of the routine.
Pointing it out to Rukia excitedly "We can totally do that! Maybe better!" it was just his luck the music had cut and his proclamation was made to the entire club rather than to his intended recipient. The crowd parted and formed a circle around both groups as their unintended opponents swaggered their direction.
well shit
The crowd was starting to chant and stomp their feet expectantly the phrase 'dance off' was most disconcerting of all.
"Smooth… like sand" Rukia drawled quietly.
The dominant of the pair pointed an accusing finger in the new comers' direction "Better? Is that what you think?"
Rukia stepped forward "Maybe was the operative word in case you missed it."
He eyed her up and down dismissively and waggled a finger "That ain't how it works down here. Your friend here shouldn't have run his mouth if he can't back it up."
A runt in size only Rukia hated nothing more fiercely than grandstanding bullies. Jutting her chin determinedly she demanded "What are the odds?"
"Pride" He sneered
Mentally face palming renji let his face go hard and impassive. Of all the words to throw down like a gauntlet to a kuchiki the moron had to use the word pride of all things? Luck and fortune seemed to have run dry as the DJ started up a beat.
"Rules?"
"We dance then you dance. The crowd decides the winner" Without further ado the pair began a combination of acrobatics with dynamic footwork.
We are so screwed
As the display continued both spotted several moves they could successfully imitate but not in the same perfectly symmetrical intervals. Even if they could it would be a poor echo. A growing sense of dread and directionless determination stirred unpleasantly. Their opponents finished with a whooping exclamation as if they'd already won and stood back expectantly.
Resolved to at least try both were shocked to find their bodies manipulated by feather light touches that had them working like marionettes on a puppet masters strings. Howls of encouragement were bolstering their confidence and they began falling into the rhythm till at the last they were moving on their own. High on adrenaline and triumph they ended with a cocky pose. Their one time rivals approached with appreciative grins and started dropping incomprehensible slang in praise.
Flipping out a card from his sleeve the leader tucked it into Rukia's hand "You're alright. You need anything you call us." Throwing a sign that might have meant farewell he and his compatriot made their exit.
The confrontation over the crowd disbanded and went about their own merry making like a crashing tide. The music eased from the throbbing beat and smoothed its way into something gentler and the mood of the entire room changed drastically. Deciding to go with it for a while both found themselves enjoying the atmosphere a little more than either would ever admit.
"The trick is in translating what the sounds make you feel to how you move, not unlike battle ne?" Warm breath imparted this message to both of them individually close to the ear with an intimate closeness before their agitators dodged away to illustrate that point with elegant undulations of the body.
There was only one explanation for the entire situation Rukia thought with conviction.
I am hallucinating. That is not Urahara. That is notYoruichi. Or I am asleep and this is all a very weird dream. Count to ten and wake up.
This internal dialogue did not affect the surroundings by teleporting the both of them back to the house. Nope. They were both there surrounded by pulsing music, covered in paint, and watching the two former captain's twist to the beat. Beckoning them closer Yoruichi acknowledged that she knew about the problem with chiyo and agreed to look into it. As they left both turned to the other and said in unison the same thought.
"Captain"
"Ni-sama"
"doesn't need to know"
By the time both got back home and collapsed gratefully together on Renji's futon the sun was transforming the sky with the bright hues of morning.
Rukia thought absently as she fell asleep 'the paint is never going to come off these sheets"
Written to the tune of:
Darude : Sandstorm
Lady Gaga : Shiebe
Daft punk : technologic
Foster the people : I would do anything for you
I hope you all enjoy :)