Di woke to the feeling of the early morning sunlight on her face. Huh? Didn't I close the window flaps last night? She winced and gingerly put a hand to the side of her head. Ow! That definitely doesn't feel like a hangover....What exactly happened last night? She came to the realisation that she was lying on a camp bed as opposed to an air mattress and that the tent was too big to be hers. Wait...I'm in Mint's tent! Why? Didn't I make it back to my tent last night? Actually...what exactly happened last night?!

Di coughed and swallowed dryly. Her mouth felt like the bottom of a parrot's cage and she was pretty certain she didn't have a hangover as she felt her bruised temple. She sat up and glanced down with a gasp as the blanket slipped off. Shit! Where's my top?! What the hell happened last night?! Di looked over at the other camp bed to see Mint looking back at her. Di managed a semi-cheerful wave.

"Morning Mint! What exactly am I doing in your tent?" Mint gave her friend a look.

"You really don't remember?" Di laughed nervously and ran a hand through her hair.

"Aw come on...you make it sound like I was smashed!" Mint sat up, feeling Ukitake roll onto his side with a murmur.

"You were!" she hissed. Di held her hands up.

"OK, OK...wow...I really can't remember a thing! Did something happen? Is my top in here?" Mint folded her arms in disapproval.

"You weren't wearing it when you came in here." Di clapped a hand to her mouth- half in shock and half in amusement.

I really did that last night?!

"That's not the half of it!" Mint snapped, determined to wipe the smile off her face. "You were going to do something stupid with Raiden last night too!" Di looked confused.

"Like what?"

"Drunken sex!" Mint replied shortly. "On my tent floor." Di stared at her in shock before a disbelieving smile spread across her face.

"Yeah right! You're just saying that because you're pissed off I ended up incoherent in your tent!" Mint turned to Ukitake.

"Jyuushirou-san? Last night, did Di and Raiden make out in here? And was she telling him how to undo her bra?" She saw him flush at the memory.

"Yes." Di heard Ukitake say in a small voice.

No way. We couldn't have...my god...DID we?! Mint saw Di's face fall and realised she'd hit a chord.

"Don't worry- we broke you up before that. It was a close one though...he'd taken his trousers off." She pointed over to the corner of the tent. Di's eyes went wide.

Oh my god. Those are Rice's jeans. She shivered and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

"Exactly how much did you have to drink?" Mint asked curiously. Di shrugged, massaging her aching temple.

"I have no idea. Dammit! Why does my head hurt?!"

"Hangover?" Mint suggested innocently as the bruise on her own forehead throbbed a little. Di shook her head.

"It's too localised to be a hangover."

"You must have hit your head last night then." Mint replied as Ukitake stirred beside her. "It happens to drunk people." Di hugged her knees to her chest and nodded in acceptance.

Funnily enough...I'm not as mad as I thought I would be at him.

"In that case...I must've left my top at the beach! Oh shit! The tide!"She felt herself pout in annoyance.

I liked that top! I bet it's washing around in the ocean now. She got out of the camp bed and stretched.

"Well...I'm sorry to have caused an inconvenience. I'll go back to my own tent now." Di made her way unsteadily to the door, collecting Raiden's trousers before she left. The dew felt cold and wet beneath her bare feet as she unzipped her tent and near fell into it. Raiden was sprawled across both sleeping bags and the air mattress, deeply asleep. Di felt a smile touch her lips.

Thank god he kept his boxers on. Where's his shirt though? She knelt next to him and shook his shoulder firmly.

"Rice?" There was no response.

He sleeps like the dead. Di thought in amusement before gently brushing strands of dark blue hair away from his face. She stopped herself as her fingers unconsciously traced the contours of his face. What am I doing? This is really unlike me! She busied herself by finding her bikini. I'm going for a swim to clear my head. Maybe I'll even find stuff for us to do tomorrow.

Mint smiled at Ukitake as he tried to wake himself up.

"Good morning Jyuushirou-san."

Ukitake kissed her before saying, "Why don't I hear anyone else?" Mint grinned.

"They'll all be passed out until later in the afternoon apart from Nanao-san, Isane-san and Di." Ukitake smiled.

"Oh good. We get some time to ourselves and I had a brilliant idea last night."

"Oh?" Mint asked, curious.

"I'm taking you shopping today." He felt a burst of happiness inside him as he saw Mint's face light up.

"That sounds great! I love shopping!"

Wow. This is unexpected...I wonder why. Mint thought to herself, slipping off the camp bed to get dressed. Ukitake averted his eyes as she did so. I really don't care whether he looks or not. Mint thought to herself as he busied himself with tidying his camp bed. He's such a gentleman but...I sometimes wish he WOULD look. She heard Nanao and Isane emerge from the mobile home talking.

Two days left. And...I guess Jyuushirou-san and I have grown a lot closer. She smiled to herself, pulling her sandals on. Definitely closer. There's not much time for this in Soul Society seeing as we're both on duty all the time. This trip has definitely been worth it as far as I'm concerned. She looked up to see Ukitake looking at her. He smiled apologetically.

"Sorry! You looked as though you were deep in thought. I didn't want to disturb you."

You look very beautiful when you're thinking. he finished silently. Mint shook her head.

"It was nothing. I can't wait to go shopping with you! Shall we go straight after breakfast?" Ukitake smiled happily at her enthusiasm.

"Sure. We'll set off to town after breakfast then." Before leaving the tent, Mint reached up to pull Ukitake's head down into a kiss.

Taicho, I love you. I do. You mean the world to me. she thought, as her arms automatically wound round his neck. She wondered if her thoughts had somehow been conveyed through her kiss to him. It would be nice to imagine so. she thought, taking Ukitake's hand and leading him out of the tent.

Raiden woke feeling his head pounding like a drum. He groaned to himself and turned over, trying to keep his suddenly sensitive eyes out of the light pouring in. Di was curled on the air mattress, reading. Her hair was wet from the shower she'd taken after the swim and the scent of her shampoo filled the warm tent. Di turned the page, aware that he was awake. "Good afternoon, Rice." she said loudly. Raiden winced in pain.

"Ah for the love of the King! Keep it down, babe!" Di smiled to herself.

"Rough night?" Raiden squinted at her.

"Don't you have a hangover?"

"Don't get them." Di replied, uncurling her legs to adjust her position on the mattress. Raiden groaned and covered his face with his hands.

"I feel like shit, babe." Di raised an eyebrow behind her book.

"You look like it too. You should take a shower." Raiden groaned again and shifted around in his sleeping bag.

"Can't. Be. Asked." he grumbled into his pillow. Di sighed and marked her page before putting the book down.

"We had an interesting night, by the way." Raiden looked up, a grin on his face.

"Oh really? Did we do something?" Di grinned inwardly.

Perfect. He doesn't remember a thing either. She shrugged.

"Well...we did do something."

"Like?" Raiden prompted. Di smiled at him suggestively.

"Need I say more?" Raiden's grin almost split his face in two. Then he frowned.

"How come I don't remember it then?"

"You were smashed." Di replied serenely, stretching. The plaster on her navel was starting to irritate her.

Just another 24 hours...she thought to herself.

"And...I was on top." Raiden's eyes shot open wide in shock.

"The hell you were!" he snapped. Di smiled at him, enjoying his reaction.

"Yep. You were pretty out of it. Don't worry...I had fun though." She winked at him before turning away to spread her towel out to dry.

"Shit." Raiden muttered to himself in disbelief. "I can't bloody believe this! No way was I on bottom!" Di opened the other window, making him hide under the sleeping bag hood.

"I can. I was coherent at the time." She shot a look at the tuft of blue hair she could see to check he was buying it.

"Bullshit! You were as smashed as me! I remember that much! You downed an entire bottle!" Di adjusted her top.

"I have an insanely high alcohol tolerance level...like Jai said." Raiden shook his head, hair cascading to touch the pillow as he raised himself up on one elbow.

"I can't believe I would do that." Di nearly laughed at the expression on his face. It was priceless. She smirked at him.

"Why do you care? Are you a 150 year old virgin or something?" Raiden laughed at her.

"You wish, babe." Di raised an eyebrow and folded her arms.

"Oh really?"

I don't want to know. I really don't. He winced, raising a hand to his head.

"Aww...poor baby." Di said insincerely. "Come on. Get up! In the shower!" Raiden flopped back onto the mattress.

"Can't. Move." Di sighed hard before crawling across the tent space and grabbing his arm.

"Come on! I'll help get you to the mobile home! Seriously, you need a shower." Raiden protested a bit before letting her help him up. Di passed him his trousers. As he put them on, she grinned. "By the way...we didn't do anything last night. Mint and Ukitake-san stopped us before we could- thank god! I spent the night in Mint's tent and you....must have passed out in here." Raiden stopped getting up and stared at her. Di could see the cogs in his head turning as he translated this.

"YOU!!!" He pounced on her and she fell back, laughing hysterically.

"Your face! You should've seen your face!"

"I can't believe you! You'll pay for that, Di!" He suddenly stopped and winced as his head throbbed again from his shout. Di laughed quietly.

"Perhaps you should take a shower first and then try."

Mint walked around the mall in Auckland with her hand in Ukitake's, trying to ignore the strange looks they were getting. Ukitake was in high spirits and on the lookout for a particular shop. I'm pretty sure Di said there was a jewellers in every mall in nearly every city. The idea had occurred to him when Di had come back from the beach after her swim.

"What's that on your wrist, Di?" Di quirked an eyebrow and then looked down to see.

"Ah. It's part of something called a friendship bracelet." She held up her wrist to show the yang part of what had been a yin-yang. Underneath the dangling white yang was a small bar which said the word 'friends'.

"Oh. I see. So...how does that work?" Ukitake asked, curious.

"Well, it traditionally comes as a pair. So...the friend who gave this to me would have the other yin half which says 'best'. Hence 'best friends'. The halves fit together to form the complete thing, see?" Ukitake smiled gently.

"I see. Do you remember the friend who has the other half, Di?" Di shook her head and looked at the yang bracelet sadly.

"No. Nothing. I wish I could. I still keep it though...as a keepsake I guess. You know...for sentimental value." Ukitake nodded.

"I understand. However...can these come in necklaces?" Di looked up at him, towelling her hair at the same time.

"Yeah they do? Why?"

"Well...I was thinking of getting something like that for Mint and me. You know...like..." he trailed off expectantly. Di grinned at him.

"Oh? Like 'Mint and Ukitake together forever'?" Ukitake flushed.

"Well...yes....can it be done?" Di smiled at him.

"I think that's so sweet Ukitake-san. She'll love it. And it can be done. Also...you can have personalised messages put on the back of each half." Ukitake gasped.

"Really? That would be perfect! Thank you Di!" Di smiled and wrapped the towel round her waist.

"No problem. All you have to do is find a jewellery shop in Auckland. They'll do it for you. However...it won't be cheap." Ukitake shook his head.

"Price is no object!" Di grinned.

"Good man! Have fun!" Ukitake left her to go back to her tent before heading off towards the mobile home for his bag.

This will really tell Mint that I love her. It's perfect! I'm sure she'll love it!

"Umm...Jyuushirou-san?" Mint asked as she was dragged down yet another arm of the mall. "What exactly are you looking for? Where are we going?" Ukitake looked from left to right as he strode purposefully down the mall.

"It's a surprise, Mint! I can't tell you! I need to find a certain shop." Mint sighed.

Oh dear Jyuushirou-san.

"Why don't you try the mall map? It has what's on all the different floors." Ukitake whirled around.

"Where is it?" Mint pointed behind him.

"Over there by the escalators."

"The esca-what?"

Mint sighed as Ukitake frantically scanned the board. What is he up to? She ignored the staring people who were coming up and down the escalators.

What were the jewellers again? Ukitake thought, getting out his notebook and holding it at an angle so Mint couldn't read it. Ah hah! There's Partridge Jewellers, Guthrie's Jewellers, Swann's Fine Jewellery and Jeweller's Workshop around here! Thank goodness Di consulted the tour book. He found Partridge on the fourth floor and smiled. Right. Partridge it is then. Mint gave him an inquiring look.

"We're off to the fourth floor Mint!" She almost laughed as he tried to drag her up the down-moving escalator and gently steered him around to the up-moving one.

Why the fourth floor? Is he planning something big? She felt warm and happy. I hope he is!

Di sat on the steps of the mobile home, idly playing with the friendship bracelet. I must have been very close to this person for them to give me something like this. I wish I could remember them. She hugged her knees to her chest and sighed, letting her fringe flop into her eyes. She glanced at her watch and sighed hard. It's been an hour and Rice still isn't out of the shower! I thought only girls were allowed to take that long! A thought occurred to her. Oh god! I hope he hasn't fallen asleep in the shower! Di burst into the mobile home in a slight panic.

"Rice?!" She skidded to a halt and folded her arms, annoyance showing clearly on her face. Raiden was sprawled on the double bed in the caravan, fast asleep. Di gritted her teeth in annoyance.

Jeez. The only thing he managed to take off was his stupid hair tie. She shook him violently.

"Hey! Rice! Wake up!" Raiden made a noise and rolled over. Di made a fist and punched him solidly in the small of his back. "Oi! Wake up, baka Rice!" Raiden made a noise of protest. "NOW!" Raiden sat up and rubbed his face.

"What, babe?"

"Have. A. Shower. What part of that don't you understand?" Raiden groaned and made his way to the bathroom. He tried to turn the shower on and missed, to Di's amusement. "Oh dear. Look, just this once, I'll give you a shower. It's only because I think you might fall over and hit your head at any minute." Raiden managed a smile. Di closed the door.

I really hope none of the others were awake to see me going in here. Di thanked her lucky stars that she was wearing a bikini still and turned the shower on. My god. It's a tight fit in here. she thought, trying not to breathe. Di ran her fingers through his wet hair, marvelling at how long the tail at the back was. Wow. He has nice hair. She flicked Raiden's hair over his shoulder and lathered soap onto his back.

"Wash your hair will you? The shampoo's on the floor near your foot." Di sighed as she went up on tip toe to reach his shoulders.

This isn't so bad. At least he isn't trying to be clever in here. I wonder if Ukitake's found the jewellers yet. Mint'll be really pleased I bet. She grinned to herself. Those two are so cute. She reached for the shower to rinse off Raiden's back and spluttered slightly as shampoo cascaded down his back.

"Argh! It's so damn confined in here!" she snapped, directing the shower.

"Rice. Move your hair again. It's in the way." She heard him laugh quietly.

"Oh? Is it obstructing the view, kitten?" Di froze.

Oh shit. He's woken up. What the hell do I do?

"Ah. I see that you've woken up. Good. You can finish this by yourself then." Di tried to reach for the sliding door and found it being obstructed by his arm.

"Hey, hey, what's the mad rush, babe?"

Waddya mean what's the mad rush? I'm in a shower with you and you're naked! I need to get out NOW!

"I...left something on in my mobile home." Di replied, avoiding eye contact as he looked over his shoulder. Raiden smirked.

"Like hell you did. You were waiting outside on the stairs for an hour." Di blinked several times in confusion.

"How in the world did you-? Oh my god." Realisation dawned far too late. "YOU!!!! You tricked me! You set this up didn't you?!" Raiden managed to shrug in the confined space.

"Yep. It's payback for what you pulled in the tent. Two can play at that game, babe." Di scowled at him, fisting her hands.

"Yeah, yeah now you've pulled your little trick can I get out?" Raiden grinned at her.

"Oh? But I haven't pulled anything yet." Di gulped.

Oh noooo. There's another part?

"Okaaay. So exactly what is it that you intend to pull?" she replied, folding her arms and bracing herself.

"You." Raiden replied, turning around. Di's eyes went wide and colour rushed to her cheeks as his hands reached for her hips. She shut her eyes instinctively and immediately felt his mouth against hers.

Oh.....my......

Ukitake finally came to a halt in front of the jewellers. "Here we are!" Mint looked up at the sign saying, 'Partridge Jewellers'. Her mind span off. Oh my god. Is he going to get me a RING?! Oh my god! OH MY GOD! She flushed and looked at him coyly.

"Wow. Jyuushirou-san....this looks great!" she said, squeezing his arm while the Wedding March played in her head. Ukitake beamed.

Oh good. She's excited! He ushered her into the shop. Mint listened to the door chime behind her and then walked over to the glass countertop to look at the jewellery.

I had no idea that he knew this kind of western tradition! I wonder which one! Ukitake had paused at one of the counters and was smiling pensively.

"Mint! Over here!" Mint tore herself away from a stunning display of necklaces and rushed over. "Look. I was thinking of something like this." Mint looked down and the Wedding March stuttered to a halt in her head.

Ah. Matching pendant sets. I see. It's cute! But...damn it....I knew it was too soon!!!! She realised that Ukitake was looking at her to see her reaction so she smiled up at him.

"This is so cute, Jyuushirou-san!" She reached up and kissed him. "I love it!" Ukitake beamed gladly.

Hurray!

"We should order it now and get it engraved, don't you think?" Mint nodded, a large smile still on her face. "Well," he gestured at the case. "I'll let you pick a set." Mint bent over the case intently.

This is so romantic! I can't believe that he thought of this by himself! She looked over her shoulder at him to see him smiling at her. She gazed intently at the sets. I have to pick a unique one. Hmm... Her eyes roved over the display case. That one! It was perfect to her eyes. A leaf pendant had caught her eye. It lay there in the light, edged with a silver border, a stained-glass like look to its autumn brown surface. It glittered prettily as Mint moved her head.

"That one, Jyuushirou-san!" Ukitake noted where she'd pointed and smiled at her.

"Good choice, Mint. We'll get that one then." Mint bit her lip when she saw how much it cost.

"But...it's so expensive...for the pendant and the two chains." Ukitake shook his head.

"Doesn't matter. Anything for you!" Mint felt a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach.

That's so cute! She watched as he got the attention of one of the shop assistants.

"And what would you like engraved on the front?"

"Umm...how about, 'Jyuushirou and Mint together forever.'?" The assistant gave him a look.

"I'm sorry sir, but that message would be too long."

"Oh right. Umm..." Mint stepped in.

"How about: "Jyuushirou 'heart symbol' Mint." The assistant thought for a moment.

"I think we could arrange that, miss." Mint beamed happily.

"And...anything for the back? You can have time to think about it. Engraving the front of both will take about an hour with the requests we have." Ukitake nodded.

"Thank you. I'm sure that'll be more than enough time." He took Mint's hand.

"We should go and sit and think about this." Mint looked up at him hopefully.

"We should have cake too." Ukitake laughed as they left the shop.

"Of course. I'm starving."