Tonight We're Going Hard, Just Like the World is Ours

Disclaimer: Own nothing, not Kesha or Bleach

"And why are we going this way again?" asked Toshiro for the millionth time, his stomach sinking. He, Renji, and Ichigo had been walking this direction for a while now; the Sereitei had just vanished and the sun had set. Unfortunately, Toshiro had a pretty good idea of where the group was headed. Rangiku had gotten into documented trouble around this area, which meant there was a bunch of bars around. Toshiro was sure Renji was planning on hitting all of them tonight.

It's going to be SO much fun!

Shiro-chan, pointed out Hyorinmaru. I'm detecting a bit of sarcasm.

Hyorinmaru, urusai!

"Calm down," sighed Renji, haori flowing loosely in the wind, easily reading into Toshiro's silence and facial expressions. "You're giving me a headache and the party hasn't even started yet!"

Toshiro scowled. Whoever invented bachelor parties was out of their minds! It's just an excuse to get completely drunk. While he wanted his friends to enjoy the festivities, he had too many worries to truly relax. He was in no mood to party and deal with irrational people. His mind flashed back to a few hours earlier.

"Can I talk to you, Sir?" Senna had asked him, attempting to look inconspicuous. Rangiku was busy shoving Momo, who had dropped in to the 10th, out the door. Rangiku wanted to decorate, and Momo had business to take care of at her division anyway.

Using such a formal title and the bags under Senna's eyes showed the little amount of sleep she had gotten the night before. Toshiro sighed. As free-spirited as Senna was, he still felt responsible for the spaz thanks to her being his fiancé's subordinate. "Of course"

Senna stood there awkwardly, twirling her hair ribbon. But this time, it was not the gentle, usual pulling. Her motions were harsh and uncoordinated.

"What's wrong?"

"Taicho was muttering in her sleep."

"What did she say?"

"Emotions are stronger. A couple more days and it's almost time."

Toshiro's heart stopped.

"Love can be poison. Shiro, I don't want to die!" Teardrops misted the corners of the young lieutenant's eyes. Toshiro knew how much Senna admired her captain.

He tried to remind himself how to breathe as he placed a hand on Senna's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm not going to let anything happen to her.

"I know."

Tell me if you hear her mutter something else like that again. She needs you to be strong as well, so get some sleep before tonight."

Conclusively, Toshiro was just hoping Senna, Rangiku, and everyone else unwound some tonight and forget about the threat hanging over them. They, especially Momo, needed to have some fun.

Snap out of it! Now is not the time, his dragon reminded harshly, whipping Toshiro back to the present.

"Anyway, we have to have it out here because the girls have dibs on your place considering…well…Momo's division is in no shape to host a large party," reminded Ichigo, not noticing Toshiro's momentary lack of attention.

Plus, everyone felt safer having Momo in the walls of Sereitei, not that any of them had told her or even Toshiro that. It wouldn't hurt for you to get away from everything for a bit anyway. You need to relax and enjoy your wedding, Toshiro, thought Ichigo.

He wasn't the only one concerned. Renji glanced at his fellow captain. There had been no new updates on the stone, and Yumichika was still deep in the coma. The white-haired captain deserved a night out, and Renji was determined to force him to have a good time, even if he had to gag him and tie him to a chair.

Rangiku felt the same way about cheering Momo up, but she didn't plan on using rope and a gag to make it happen.

"You can open your eyes now. What do you think?" asked the maid of honor eagerly. Rangiku had spent several hours getting ready, and she couldn't wait for the party to get rolling!

The shining blue kimono Momo was wearing crinkled and swayed as the young woman blinked and opened her eyes.

Her jaw dropped.

Toshiro's office looked like it was a whole different world. Blue and purple tulle hung loosely from the ceiling. Sparkling fireballs, caused from kido combinations, glowed in the corners. Mostly importantly, all of her main female friends—Rukia, Rangiku, Orihime, Senna, Captain Unohana, Soi Fong, Nanoe, all of the other lieutenants, and a few close friends in her squad—were dressed up and sprawled out comfortably all over the room.

She heard the click of Orihime's camera.

"This is amazing, Rangiku. You really outdid yourself this time!" Momo laughed. She couldn't think of any adequate words to describe how she was feeling.

"All right Orihime! Turn it up!" Rangiku yelled happily in response. The sound of the bass made the walls shake.

"Let's party!" screamed Senna, hyper as always, troubles floating to the back of her mind.

Rukia buried the urge to smack her forehead. While tonight was a nice change of pace, she had been to enough of Rangiku's parties to know how crazy it would get. Well, I guess the faster they get drunk, the faster I can sneak out of here.

The maid of honor grinned evilly; everything was going according to plan.

Get Momo distracted.

Check.

As Renji glanced around the dusty room, he could not help but kick himself for not sitting down and forming an itinerary or something ahead of time. He really should have made a checklist.

This was chaos.

The place was packed, filled with friends and colleagues of Toshiro's. Apparently some of the guys had started drinking hours ago and were totally out of it already. Renji had already made the executive decision that the guys were in no condition to bar hop. Hisagi and Kira were trying to sing a duet. Kenpachi was busy yelling battle cries at a table.

People were placing bets on how long until the table's death.

Shunsui's eyes were dilated, and he was busy hitting on a pretty bar attendant. Renji mentally reminded himself not to let word of it slip to Nanao.

And Toshiro, arms folded, sat in a corner.

"Hey, at least try to enjoy it!" said Renji gruffly as he sat down and slid a foaming beer to the young man.

Iba saw the exchange from a couple of tables away and laughed. "Are you even legal, Kid?"

The glare from Toshiro silenced Iba instantly. Then, Toshiro glanced apologetically at Renji. "Sorry, it's just not my thing."

Shunsui smiled, quickly figuring out the situation even though he had kicked back a few. "Relax," he called out from the bar. "She'll be fine. Think of the powerful people she's hanging out with right now; no one's going to mess with her. It's your party; tonight's an exception to the age rules. Anyway, I know you've had one before."

"When?" asked Ichigo with interest, as he strode over, still completely sober.

"Right before I proposed," sighed Toshiro in defeat as he took a sip. It burned, but after a couple of seconds the extra heat felt pleasant.

"I gave him the sake to help him calm his nerves," called Shunsui, giving a thumbs-up.

"Figures," whispered Renji.

Toshiro smiled at Renji's comment and took another large swig. It went down better than the first one…so did the third one.

Shunsui laughed at the young captain's expression. Nobody else, even though they were tempted, had the guts. "Before you have too much and forget everything, I just want to give you some advice from a crazy old man. Don't go to bed angry at each other, and always be willing to admit she's in the right!" He instantly went back to flirting with the bartender.

Toshiro wasn't sure if his cheeks were red because of the sweet comment or the booze.

Momo's cheeks were scarlet mostly from the wine. She had not planned on drinking at all, but the girls had kept nagging her about it.

Orihime had told her in the world of the living that was considered peer pressure.

Also, according to Orihime, the article of clothing she was holding up was another common thing in the world of the living. All the girls had stopped what they were doing to gawk. It was blue, silk, and lacy.

Rangiku had called it lingerie.

CRASH!

Renji whipped around but then just put his head in his hands.

Ichigo cocked his head and frowned. "Shoot, I thought the table would last for at least another five minutes."

"Someone owes up!" yelled Hanaterou with excitement. He did not win at gambling very often.

"Yeah, yeah," muttered Ichigo digging deep into his pockets. "Does anyone want to take Kenpachi's sword away from him?" he asked to no one in particular. Someone had to, and he wasn't about to volunteer.

"I'll do it," said Toshiro, a weird buzzing in his ears as he asked for another drink.

Ganju walked over as tiny wisps of blue started swirling around Toshiro and placed a dollar on the table. "I think you'll take him out in two hits."

Renji and Ichigo looked at each other. "Absolutely not. Momo will kill us if we let you get yourself beat up before your wedding day!"

Kira waltzed over, still belting out tenor. "Ain't no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you, Baby!"

"SHUT UP!"

"Bu-"

"GO PLAY POKER OR SOMETHING!"

Ichigo started scratching his head. "Why are you even here, Ganju? You don't even know Toshiro."

"True, but a party's a party."

Renji smacked his forehead. As annoyed as he was, that was hard logic to argue with.

Toshiro sighed, mind drifting to Momo. "I guess I could let someone else handle it."

Ichigo and Renji sighed in relief and looked at each other. "Want to play rock, paper, scissors to decide?" asked Ichigo, buying time, the amount of people with clear enough minds to volunteer dwindling quickly.

Oh, where did I go wrong?" thought Renji sadly. Aloud he said, "Sure, might as well."

"You're glowing," smiled Captain Unohana to Momo. Compared to the guys, the craziness of Rangiku's party seemed civil. Yes, the music was loud and most of the people present were tipsy, awing over the gifts, or dancing on tables, but no one had passed out yet.

Notably though, Nanoe had actually taken off her glasses and was letting her hair down, literally, which meant the world had finally come to an end.

"Really?"

"Yes, you are," said the older, wiser captain simply.

Thinking about the memory with the twin stone, she glanced around worriedly. Thankfully her aura was still normal and not oozing out as purple smoke.

Seeming to read her thoughts, Captain Unohana placed a gentle hand on her shoulders. "I mean oozing joy, not spiritual pressure. You're shining. You seem so happy." It's a nice change.

"Thank you, Captain," smiled the bride-to-be. She thought about the last few days, about how fierce Toshiro had always been about protecting her. She thought about how much she loved his eyes, the way he tried to be angry but would let a corner of his lip turn up, and how he had a secret fascination with carrots and watermelons. "I'm really happy."

"You're a lucky girl," called Unohana over her shoulder as she went to talk to Soi Fong.

Momo looked at Rangiku, who was relaxing by the window, sake in hand. "I know," the captain whispered.

Why does it still hurt so much? Rangiku wondered.

"Are you okay?" asked Momo

"Of course I am!" yelled Rangiku, jumping a foot, plastering on a fake smile.

Momo shook her head, "If you're upset, you don't have to hide it."

Yes, I do, thought Rangiku. "I know."

Momo narrowed her eyes. "Okay…then…let's see who can down a beer the quickest!"

"Are you serious?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"It's you. Well, if you're sure." Rangiku was shocked. She really thinks she can challenge the master? Maybe I should shut her off when she is behind.

NAH

Meanwhile…

"Ichigo, I'm going to kill you!" snapped Renji.