UPDATE!!!! Yay! I felt like updating early XD
God, the new layout for threw me off! It took me forever to find where i could read my reviews at! ^__^;; I found them now, obviously
cheeky half-demon: Lol Yes, tho this part changes locations, as you will soon see...
Tenshi No Ashi: Ah, thank you so much! And I read your shot; It was interesting to say the least. You seem to have quite a hand with writing battle scenes *gives thumbs up* ^^
Grinja: I know! I feel bad for doing it to him! (Renji was my first bleach love afterall) . It looks like I'll have to make a fic/shot for him at some point...
Wolfsredfalcon: Ah, thanks! Lol yeah, writing those parts had me cracking up too. ^^ I wanted to have the balence of comedy and action in the story, like how Bleach does... I mean, certain things in the show have me in tears! XD
O.o what has happened to CeriseGothicLime? She used to be one of my top reviewers, besides cheeky half-demon...
***Chapter 34
"Damn you!" snarled Renji as he stumbled off of the DDR stage, "You must have cheated, Ichigo!"
"Che, you just suck Renji!" he laughed back.
Hara leaned over the rail, "Don't get too cocky, Strawberry!" she grinned, "Remember, me and Rukia can wipe the floor with you!" Ichigo's triumphant expression fell slightly and he scowled at her.
Grimmjow chuckled, and Ichigo turned to stare at him.
"Grimmjow…" he said, a grin stretching across his face, "I bet you can't beat me!" Grimmjow stared at him, his eye brows contracting.
"Tch. You think so, eh?" he growled, grabbing the rail and jumping over it and onto the step pad, "Try it, teme."
***Barely Five Minutes Later***
"RUN!" yelled Rukia as she and the others streaked out of the arcade.
Hara grabbed Grimmjow's arm and dragged him after them, "Grimm, come on!" she cried, biting back the sorrow of her lost love, the DDR, which he had cruelly murdered in a moment of frustration at not knowing how to play. He had stomped his foot through the foot pad, before punching the machine console itself. It then caught fire and began to smoke and emit sparks.
The group ran as fast as they could, the sound of police and fire sirens coming closer and closer.
"Did you have to break it?!" she sniffed.
"It was cheating! There was no way Ichigo could beat me!" he snarled back.
The group turned down an alley and came to a stop to catch their breath.
Hara and Grimmjow stared at each other for a moment, before turning to stare at the others and breaking into loud laughter. Everyone stared at them, Renji and Ikkaku beginning to snicker as well.
Suddenly…
"Aha!" cried a voice causing everyone to jump, "Found you guys!"
"Matsumoto!" said Rukia, "You nearly gave us a heart attack!" The blonde grinned at them before running up to Hara and grabbing her hands.
"Ha-chan, are you ready for your present?!" she exclaimed.
Hara pulled away, "Present?! No way, I told you I didn't want anything! And plus, I have to get back to deal with the furniture movers!"
"No you don't, Orihime already dealt with that for you!"
"Wha-?!" but Matsumoto had already enthusiastically dragged her off. Hara shot a glance at Grimmjow for him to help her, but he just grinned which made her scowl at him in response.
"Ta-daa~!" sang Matsumoto as she pulled Hara towards the door. Hara's jaw dropped, before she dug her heels into the pavement.
"I told you no parties! And, and no drinking!" Rangiku laughed and pulled harder.
"You never said no drinking!" she grinned, "And plus, you never said no to karaoke bars!" She pulled even harder and Hara skidded to the doorway.
"ARGH!" she growled, her fingers clasped around the door frame, "Let me go!"
"No!" replied Matsumoto with gritted teeth, "You're going to go and have fun-*tug* and sing-*tug*-and get drunk-*tug* and-!" she suddenly let go and attacked Hara's sides, "Goochie Goochie Goochie!"
"GYAH!!!!!!" Hara let go of the doorway and began to convulse with laughter as she tried to escape Matusmoto's attack, "No no-*laugh*-stop, stop-*snort* Ran-*laugh*-giku!-*gasp* I can't-*gasp* breathe! *laugh, snort, gasp* HELP-!" Rangiku let go and Hara went wheeling backwards into something that caught her. A familiar chuckle made her sigh with relief, "Ah, thank god! Let's get out of here!"
"Tch, why?" asked Grimmjow, grinning. "It looks like fun." Hara's jaw dropped.
"T-traitor!" she cried, burying her head against his chest. Grimmjow laughed more and pushed her into the bar.
~~~THE KARAOKE BAR~~~
"Saki all around~!" sang Matsumoto drunkenly, slinging her arm over Ikkaku's shoulders. He stared at her with raised eyebrows before shaking his head. It was well known how well Rangiku could hold her drink.
"So uh…" said Ichigo, "Who's paying for all of this?"
Matsumoto stared sleepily at him, "Us of course!" she hiccupped, "'Cept for Ha-san and Grimm!"
"Grimm?!" Grimmjow glared darkly at Matsumoto before turning to Hara who gave him an apologetic grin.
"W-w-Wait just a minute!" shouted Ichigo as he stood at the table in his classic pointing stance, "How much money do you think I have?! I'm just a damn high schooler!"
Matsumoto took a swing from the sake bottle, "Oh! Don't be so mean, Strawberry! Don't you want to celebrate poor Ha-san's birthday?!"
"A-AGH! Don't call me that!" he snarled, crossing his arms and sitting down. Matsumoto turned to look at the bright lights on the karaoke stage, "Come on, someone should sing!"
All eyes went to Hara who gulped and put up her hands, "No, not me!" she sipped at her sake, "Make someone else go…" a grin flashed across her face, "Like… Ichigo!"
"Hell no!" he snarled, "I don't-" Rukia knocked him out of the booth, "HEY!" he yelled. She stood over him, hands on hips and a devious grin on her face. Hara slid out from under Grimmjow's arm and over to Rukia, a similar grin on her face. Ichigo stared up at the two of them, dread clearly on his face.
"Go and show how well you sing, Strawberry…" taunted Hara.
"Renji!" he called, "Help me!"
The red head just chuckled, "Sorry Ichigo, but it is Hara's birthday…Go and sing, eh?"
"BASTARD!" he yelled as Rukia dragged him away. Hara giggled as she turned around and winked at Grimmjow before running over to where Rukia was standing.
"What song…?" muttered the shorter girl as she went through the list.
Hara peered over her shoulder reading each title. "That one!" she exclaimed pointing to something that made Rukia grin as well.
"Perfect…"
"Huh? You know it?" asked Hara as she pulled back.
"Yup," Replied Rukia, "While I've been staying here I've watched TV…" The two girls walked back to the booth, grins on their faces.
Just as they sat down, the music started and the lights dimmed. All eyes went to Ichigo who was standing on stage, looking both pissed off and scared at the same time. As the guitar started, his eyes went wide and then very, very, angry. Nevertheless he began to sing,
"…I want to be the very best…that no one ever was…" Hara and Rukia burst into peals of laughter, their eyes swimming with tears. Matsumoto sprayed sake all over the table, causing Hara and Rukia to slip out of their seats and practically roll on the floor in laughter. "To catch them is my real quest; to train them is my cause-"
Grimmjow began to chuckle, a huge grin on his face. Ha, that's what the teme gets! He thought triumphantly. He didn't know what was exactly so funny about the song, but Hara seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.
"I will travel across the land…searching far and wide…for each Pokémon, to understand…the power that's inside-" Hara struggled to get out from under the table, gasping for air as she held her sides. Grimmjow pulled her up, and she clung to him, laughing her head off. Ichigo glared at the table, his cheeks slightly red.
As he sang, the door opened and Orihime walked in, freezing on the spot and staring at Ichigo, her eyes wide.
"Pokémon! Gotta catch 'em all! It's you and me, I know it's my destiny-"
Orihime suddenly waved at him and cheered, "Go Ichigo!"
In return, he turned redder and stammered on his lines. By the time he was finished, pretty much everyone at the table was trying to catch their breath, their faces red and their eyes swimming with tears of laughter. Ichigo gritted his teeth and sat down, glaring daggers at Renji.
Hara leaned over the table and patted his head, "Oh come on Ichi! You didn't do half bad-" everyone laughed, "You know what? I'll let you choose the next person to sing-" He looked up with a grin, "Other than me and Rukia." His grin grew all the bigger.
Sitting up he turned, "Renji, I choose you!"
"N-NANDA?!" he cried, his eyes big. "H-HELL NO-!" He gulped as he saw Ichigo, Rukia and Hara's evil expressions. Dammit!
Again everyone burst into laughter as they watched the singing antics of their friend.
"F-Fighting evil by moonlight…winning love by daylight…"
The list of ridiculous songs went on and on, each causing the group to laugh and almost pass out from lack of air (and saki) between laughter. After Renji, Yumichika was sent up to sing that "U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi" song, followed by a drunken duet of Matsumoto and Ikkaku singing, "Best friend," by Aqua (he's my best friend, best of all best friend, do you have a best friend too? Tickles in my tummy, he's so yummy yummy, do you have a best friend too? Ikkaku would then reply-Huuhaa, huha!).
At some point, Rangiku leaned over the table and stared at Grimmjow before poking his stomach.
"Nani?!" he growled, swatting away at her hand and almost spraying sake around, "What are you doing, woman?"
She grinned and poked him again,
"Oi Grimm-kun…" she said in slurred words, "I was wonderin' *hic* something…" Hara and Grimm exchanged a glance, "That hole in your stomach… when you eat or drink…doesn't it just fall out?" Hara choked on her drink and began to laugh while Grimmjow stared at Matsumoto in a mixture of shock and angry surprise.
He took the bottle of sake from Hara and downed the rest before wiping his mouth,
"Ya know…" he said, "I don't really know. It hasn't happened yet so…" he opened a new bottle and began to drink it in silence, one arm slung over Hara's shoulders and his foot on the edge of the table.
After Grimmjow had drunk enough sake to knock out two people, he went up on stage, grabbed Ichigo by the collar and demanded that they do a duet to beat the "bald guy" and "gay guy". Ikkaku and Yumichika then attempted to attack him, only to end up singing a quartet of "Numa Numa" which sent all the girls stumbling out of the bar and onto the street so they could breathe.
"Oh," gasped Matsumoto, "Oh!" She wiped away tears as she held onto Orihime who was smiling. Of course she didn't drink any of the alcohol, only Ichigo did, and it was only thanks to Renji teasing him about it as pay back for some coffee incident.
Hara grinned and leaned against a mail box, her head buzzing. She had drunk as much as Grimmjow, but as she had told him, she seemed unable to get completely wasted. Rukia groaned and held her head in her hands as she sat on the ground,
"I feel…odd…"
Hara went to her, "You probably drank too much…"
Rukia nodded, "You're right…" she groaned and held her head, "I think… I'll go home…"
Hara stood up straight, "We all should, it's late, and you guys go to school…" she grinned, "Now we just need to round up our men, ne?"
"Hai," she replied, along with Matsumoto and Orihime.
~~INSIDE~~
"Oh…"
"My…"
"God…" said Hara, Rukia and Matsumoto as they stared at their 'men'. All of them, Ichigo included, were passed out on the stage, nearly lying on top of each other. Hara snickered and went over to Grimmjow who was sprawled on the stage, an empty sake bottle in his hand. Hara cradled his head in her lap and brushed the hair out of his eyes.
"Ungh?" he murmured, an eye opening.
Hara grinned, "It's time to go home… You nearly drank the whole place, Grimm." He smiled and rolled to his feet before nearly falling off the stage; the only thing that saved him was Hara grabbing the back of his shirt.
"Come on," she laughed, putting his arm over her shoulders and helping him out of the bar. Rukia meanwhile was poking and prodding at Renji and Ichigo who were completely out. Hara shook her head at them and then looked to see Matsumoto trying to get Ikkaku up. Yumichika was drunk as well, but able to stand on his own feet.
"Do you want some help?" asked Hara while trying to keep Grimmjow up. Matsumoto shook her head,
"Nah, I can do it," she said, "You and Hime can go ahead of us…" she shook Ikkaku's shoulders, "Oi, Baldy, get your butt up!" Hara grinned and helped Grimmjow to the door as Matsumoto growled and added, "Ikkaku run! Yachiru is coming!"
"Un…gah!" Ikkaku stumbled to his feet and fell off the stage, before stumbling towards the karaoke machine and looking around in alarm.
"Do you want help, Hara-san?" asked Orihime as she held open the door,
"Sure…" she replied, her knees threatening to buckle as Grimmjow sagged towards the floor. Orihime put Grimmjow's other arm over her shoulders, and the two girls made their way down the street. Hara grinned as Grimmjow's head lolled side to side, his eyes closed,
"I'm not going to pity him in the morning," she laughed, "Or any of the other guys…"
Orihime smiled, "What about you though? You drank quite a bit yourself…"
"Nah, I can't get this skunk-drunk, I have a high tolerance… If anything, I just feel a bit looser than normal."
When they were about three blocks from the house, Hara suddenly stopped, "Crap!" she said, "I forgot Grimm!"
"Huh?" Orihime stared at her,
"It's this stuffed animal Grimm got for me at the arcade that kinda looks like him… I think I left it in the bar…" she put her hand on her forehead, "You think you can wait here for me? I'll just slip outta my gigai and flashstep over to it."
Orihime nodded, "Ok!"
Hara grinned and slid out of her gigai which fell to the ground.
"Be back in a flash!"
Hara ran, leaping from roof to roof until she found the bar. Matsumoto and the others were gone, and the bar looked closed.
"Great…" sighed Hara, "Looks like I gotta break in…" She pried at a window and found it unlocked, "Or sneak in…" she added under her breath. Inside it was dark and deathly silent, and out of habit she was tense and alert. She didn't sense anyone or anything, so she knew it was safe but she couldn't help her old habit.
Hara searched through the booths before she finally found her prize. The stuffed cat was lying on its side on the booth cushion. "There you are!" she whispered, before grabbing it and jumping out the window.
Suddenly she heard a noise and froze, her eyes scanning the area. A cat streaked across the roof of a nearby building, its yellow eyes glowing slightly. Hara let out a sigh, it's only a cat…chill…
She leapt into the air and went back to Orihime.
When she got there, Orihime, her gigai, and Grimmjow were gone. A pang of panic ran through her, and she looked around frantically before trying to sense out their reitsus.
"They're at the house," said a voice behind her, causing her to jump and gasp.
"Oh it's you," she said, spinning around, "Don't be so sneaky!"
"I wasn't…" replied the white haired captain, raising an eyebrow, "What are you doing out this late?" Hara waved the stuffed cat in front of the young captain's face.
"Getting something I forgot at the bar…see?"
He smiled and closed his eyes smugly, "Tch, a stuffed animal? How childish." Hara crossed her arms over her chest.
"Excuse me?" she poked him in the shoulder, "You're calling me a child?"
"Maybe I am," he replied.
Hara scowled playfully, "First you question me to what I am doing, and then you go and make fun of me? Who do you think you are, gaki?!" He stared at her and opened his mouth to argue but Hara put up her hand, "Tch, silly, I'm only kidding."
"Don't do that!" he snapped, looking furious. Hara grinned,
"Ah, that's what you get for picking on me. Well, Shiro-chan, I gotta go and make sure Grimm isn't giving poor Hime-chan trouble…night!" and with that, she jumped away.
Hitsugaya watched her, a frustration mark on his forehead, "That…girl…" he growled to himself, "she's just like…how her brother was…" He shook his head and jumped onto the roof, "Why was she so jumpy?" He closed his eyes and reached out with his senses, I don't feel anything…
Hara walked up the stairs quietly, the stuffed cat in her arms. The whole conversation with Hitsugaya had been slightly odd; not what went on between them, but the feeling she got during it.
Someone was watching us… she thought, I'm almost certain of it! Hara leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, trying to see if she could catch anything, but all she could sense nearby was Grimmjow, Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, and Orihime. Ah, it's probably Rangiku… she thought, and if it isn't, well I doubt I'll find out tonight, so I'll just drop it for now.
She went towards her room where she opened the door and quietly walked in. Her eyes narrowed in the dark before they found Grimmjow sprawled across the bed, snoring. I'll let him sleep… I doubt he'll wake up anyway… She smiled and placed the stuffed cat on the nightstand. I just wish I could see just what my room looks like! Hara decided she could wait for that, and instead of climbing into bed with Grimmjow which she was tempted to do, she turned and left.
"Just as I thought…" she muttered softly as she stood in front of Orihime's door. Hara could hear Orihime talking softly to herself, and she could see that a light was on. She knocked twice, before standing back with a smile. Orihime opened the door slowly,
"Oh it's you, Hara-san," she said, "I wasn't sure if you were back or not… Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yeah, I did," she replied following her inside, "Grimm didn't give you trouble, did he?"
"Oh no," said Orihime with a smile, "Matsumoto came and helped me carry him to your room…" she laughed, "He was pretty much out before he even hit the pillows."
Hara grinned, "Thanks," she sat down against the wall, beside the open window. Orihime nodded and sat on a cushion by the dining table.
"Also," she added, "Thanks for helping with the furniture, 'cuz of you, I got to see all our guys act like complete idiots…" Hara chuckled, "Well more idiotic anyway."
Orihime smiled, but Hara saw through it. Leaning forward she stared at Orihime with concern, "Hime-chan…what's wrong? What's got you sad, eh?"
"Huh?" replied the orange haired girl, "N-nothing," she smiled.
Hara frowned, "Now, I don't know if that see-thru smile of yours works on others, but it sure doesn't work on me… Come on; tell me what's wrong… It's better to tell someone than to let those feelings eat you up." Hara pulled her hair back, "I know from experience..." she crossed her arms over her chest, "Is it about Ichigo?"
"No," said Orihime, looking down at her lap. "It's just…" she looked over to the wall across from she sat, "Today is aniki's birthday…"
"Oh?" replied Hara, "That's cool, that means that me an' him almost have the same birthday!" Orihime nodded and pulled her knees to her chest,
"Yeah… but Sora-nii's parties were a lot quieter… He'd take us out to eat dinner, and we'd go see a movie or whatever he wanted…" Hara got to her feet and went to where the picture of Sora sat.
"Hmm… he looks like a cutie…" she smiled, "Ah, you have the same eyes." She turned around with a soft smile, only to find Orihime with her face hidden beneath her fingers. Oh…she's…crying… thought Hara, damn…
She went and knelt down beside her, "You miss him, ne?" Hara pulled her fingers through Orihime's hair,
"Mmhmm…" murmured Orihime, her shoulders shaking slightly as small sobs escaped her. Hara didn't like seeing her cry, and it brought up painful memories of her own brother.
"I miss my brother too…" she admitted, "Zuro was…well…my hero…I wanted to be just like him…" Orihime pulled back and stared at her with tear filled eyes, Hara was smiling, slight tears in her own eyes, "But sometimes things don't turn out how they should… Losses, heartbreak, betrayal…" Her fists clenched, at the last word, "We have no control over them…they happen…whether we like it or not…whether it hurts us or not…" a tear rolled down her cheek, "T-that's why we are supposed to stay strong…" she turned to look at Orihime, "But…it's okay to let go…to let some of that hidden pain out…" Hara wiped away the tear and grinned at her, "I know your big brother wouldn't want you to hurt over him like this…" Orihime shook as tears fell down her cheeks and Hara just held back her own as she pulled the younger girl to her. Orihime sobbed into her shoulder, clutching onto her shirt and shaking with each sob. Hara smiled and rested her chin on her head, "…Sorry…" she whispered, "I'm not helping, am I?" She patted her back, her eyes half closed, "It's okay…" she said, "Let it out…"
After about ten minutes, Orihime pulled away and wiped at her eyes, "T-thank you…Hara-san" muttered Orihime with embarrassment.
Hara grinned and leaned back against the table with a yawn, "Che, think nothing of it…" She opened a dark eye, "Well, actually there is one thing you can do for me…" she grinned widely and stood up.
"What?" asked Orihime,
"Call me Hara-nee-san or Onee-chan," she replied, before going to the door. Orihime stared after her with shock, "I'm going to bed now… I'll see you in the morning, ne?" she walked out the door, "G'night, Hime-chan,"
When the door was completely shut Hara let out a sigh and let her shoulders droop slightly, that girl… she shook her head, if anyone tries to hurt her… I'll-
"You've grown, Hara-chan," commented a cheerful female voice from behind her. Hara jumped and spun around.
"Rangiku-san! I swear, you and Toshiro must have it in for me! Jumping out to scare me and…" she noticed Matsumoto's serious and pleased expression, "What's with that look? And what do you mean "you have grown?" Of course I have, I wasn't going to stay a kid forever, ya know."
Matsumoto chuckled, "I know. That Orihime's something though, isn't she?"
Hara nodded, "Yeah… If I were to ever have a little sister… I'd want it to be her…" Hara leaned against her door, while Matsumoto leaned against the other wall.
"She's just like you," said Rangiku, "When you were younger…the same kinda attitude."
Hara shook her head, "No, I thought so too, but no… Orihime is Orihime…" she reached for the doorknob, "Well, I'm tired, and there's a nice cozy spot on the bed with my name on it…So, goodnight-"
"One thing," said Matsumoto. Hara paused, "Your arrancar friend... Grimmjow… are you sure about him?"
"Wha-?" replied Hara, "Well yeah, of course I am," she smiled, "Why?"
Matsumoto shrugged. "I was wondering…" she grinned, "He suits you though,"
Hara grinned in reply, "Does he? That's good. Well," she let out a loud yawn, "Is that it?"
Rangiku nodded, "Yeah, go to bed. I'll see you in the morning if I don't have to work."
Hara nodded at her, "'kay, g'night then." She opened the door and walked in, letting it close with a soft click.
Grimmjow was still sprawled on the bed, this time his arm and leg hanging off the side and the blanket on the floor. Hara picked it up and threw it over him, before she took off her shoes and slid under the sheets. He groaned and rolled over, his arm automatically wrapping around her waist and pulling her against his chest. She smiled and reached down to clasp her fingers with his as she closed her eyes. Of course I'm sure of him…I… I think I'm in l-… before she could finish the thought, she fell asleep, a smile on her face and Grimmjow holding onto her tightly.