HitsuMatsu Shippers, I am back and I have missed you all! It's officially HitsuMatsu ship week in The Seireitei Server, come celebrate!
This is a prequel to my Dress one-shot, but you don't have to have read it (yet) to enjoy this fic :)
The cover art is by Iz-Stardust!
WARNINGS: This fic will contain explicit sex scenes, drink spiking, unplanned pregnancy, mentions of abortion, and mentions of abusive parents. Please don't read if any of that will upset you!
There's also going to be eventual IchiHime and RenRuki in the background.
…
Welcome Back to S.U.
College was great!
Well not the classes, the assignments or, you know, actually having to learn stuff. Rangiku loved college for the independence and freedom of living out of home, the social clubs and the parties – oh gods, the parties! She didn't care that she was perpetually poor, had a huge student debt, and that she had to eat packet ramen for dinner four nights a week and toast the other three – she was young, beautiful and drunk Thursday through Sunday. If that wasn't living her best life, she didn't know what was.
It was all so casual too; turn up to class if you want, do what you want, go to bed when you want, stay out as late as you want, fuck whoever you want. Now was the time for bad decisions and spontaneous nights. It was about figuring herself out and having fun along the way, and hey, if she got a degree out of it, it was a bonus.
So yeah, college was great, and Rangiku was glad to be back for her second year.
The 'Welcome Back' party had kicked off several hours ago now, and the dorms were filled with loud, raucous college students, drunk out of their mind and making the most of their last night of freedom before classes started tomorrow.
Rangiku was certainly enjoying it, given that she was well past tipsy now and was tongue deep down her best friend's throat.
Toshiro hummed when they separated, but his forehead stayed on hers, catching his breath. They were in the dark end of the hallway, sitting on the carpet floor, their legs tangled together.
"I've missed this," he murmured, words slightly slurred from what was surely the world's strongest punch more than it was the beer they had now.
"Me too," Rangiku admitted softly before reconnecting their lips.
Fuck, it was good to be back.
…
Rangiku grinned up at the tall, white concrete buildings from where she stood on the street. They were ugly, and had yellow stains where water from leaking pipes and gutters had persistently run down the walls, causing rust. Still, they held beauty and Rangiku loved them. These were the walls of Seireitei University, and after a long summer, Rangiku was finally home again.
The front courtyard was busy, full of new and returning students, many with their families.
Instantly, Rangiku spotted Rukia. The girl was by no means tall or wearing anything particularly noticeable, but she had turned up in a damn stretch limo, so she stuck right out in the crowd. Blushing furiously as she farewelled her overbearing brother, Rukia made her quick escape into the crowd.
Rangiku giggled to herself as grabbed her suitcase by the handle and dragged it through the campus gates.
She spotted more of her friends from last year – Renji was sitting on his own suitcase, phone out and texting, while Nanao and Nemu were collecting their social packs. Nanao had her flirty uncle (who actually owned the uni bar down the road) with her, though he seemed more interested in the well-dressed professor who was helping the Welcoming Committee, and Nemu had her father with her, though his interest lay with a rather big device he had dragged with him that had large antenna and was making an awful high pitched noise. Rangiku had met both men last year and they were a little creepy, each for entirely different reasons.
She saw Ichigo's burly friend Chad. He was standing, looking a little uncomfortable, with Ikkaku, who was lip-locked with his boyfriend, Yumichika.
Rangiku smirked to herself and kept walking. She was looking for Orihime, as they had become good friends last year through Ichigo, and had organised to be roommates this year. Orihime texted her to say she was under the big oak tree in the back corner of the yard, and Rangiku hurried over. Eventually she spotted the girl, standing with Ichigo and Ichigo's father, but instantly Rangiku's attention was redirected.
Toshiro Hitsugaya – her best friend in the whole world – was with them.
Rangiku actually squealed rather loudly, catching the attention of everyone in the vicinity including the white haired man.
His grin when he saw her was wide. She had dropped her suitcase and was already running as Toshiro's arms opened for her. The moment she was close enough, she threw herself at him and he caught her, though he did stagger backwards and made a grunt as he was winded. She was still squealing and he was chuckling now, his arms tightening around her in a warm hug.
Gods she'd missed his hugs.
"I missed you," she told him.
"I missed you more, Matsumoto," Toshiro rebutted, as he always did.
"Obviously," Rangiku teased, rolling her eyes.
Toshiro chuckled quietly as he let her go and Rangiku pulled back from him. They locked eyes and shared a smile.
She had missed him, possibly more than her own mother which was quite a feat. He looked the same as he always did, but she was probably going to have to give him another haircut again soon – hopefully sober this time. His eyes were still that bright teal, and he seemed relaxed, though that was probably about to go out the window with classes starting tomorrow. Toshiro was one of the few to take his course seriously.
"How was Paris?" Ichigo asked her, and Rangiku only just remembered he, Isshin and Orihime were there.
"Magnifique!" Rangiku turned to smile at him. "It's Paris, it's always great."
She had been visiting her father, which she only did over the long summer breaks every other year because he lived all the way over in France. He was alright as far as fathers went – he had never been around when she was growing up but he was always good to her when she visited, and he had always paid his child support to her mother.
"Did you just get home?" Orihime asked, coming from behind her. Rangiku turned and saw her dragging over the dropped suitcase. Rangiku thanked her as she took it back.
"Yeah, last night," she explained. "Didn't even bother unpacking."
"All new clothes, no doubt," Toshiro smirked, having heard all about Rangiku's shopping trips in the City of Love.
"New semester, new clothes," Rangiku agreed. "I'll die of embarrassment if I have to 'outfit repeat' too many times."
The entire group rolled their eyes at her as she giggled innocently.
"I better get back to the clinic," Isshin sighed then, looking rather remorse – and then the antics started. The doctor started wailing, waving his arms around in despair. "How am I going to leave my boys here at this school full of punks and whippersnappers?!"
"Shut up," Ichigo whispered at his father warningly and Isshin pouted before grinning widely.
"It is a father's duty to embarrass his kids, Son!" Isshin announced proudly, straightening and puffing his chest out. He raised his voice to be heard by other groups of students and their families nearby, and suddenly tears were in his eyes. "I can't believe you're in your second year of college. I remember when you were just in nappies, Ichigo! Running around the garden naked and-"
Ichigo's right hook was unforgiving, and so was the furious blush on his cheeks. The doctor father crumpled to the ground with a pained groan.
"Shut up!" Ichigo hissed down at the man.
Isshin, who was starting to look like he might need a doctor of his own, sprung up instantly, tears streaming down his face. He grabbed Toshiro under the armpits, lifting him off the ground and shaking him like he weighed nothing.
"Second Son, why is First Son so mean to me?" he wailed. "I am just a humble bereaved father trying to do my best and-"
Toshiro brought his knee up quickly, sending it straight into Isshin's gut and instantly he was dropped as the 'humble bereaved father' grunted and staggered away.
"Bye, Kids!" he waved, as stumbled off, one hand clutching his stomach. "Study hard!"
Orihime was the only one to look concerned, giving an awkward half wave in return. Rangiku, on the other hand, was in near tears of laughter over it. She loved Isshin – he was such a character, and seeing Ichigo and Toshiro constantly embarrassed and annoyed was a highlight.
"What an asshole," Ichigo seethed, glaring after the man.
"Why did I have to get caught up in that?" Toshiro huffed.
"You're his 'Second Son', apparently," Rangiku answered brightly, sending her best friend a cheeky grin which received a cold glare in return, "and you spent all summer with him."
Toshiro sighed then, in apparent resigned acceptance, and finally Ichigo's frown turned the right way up.
"Yeah, that was good," he chuckled.
Toshiro rolled his eyes, but Rangiku could see the smile he was fighting.
Toshiro had spent all summer at Kurosakis, working closely with Ichigo and Isshin in the family medical clinic. Toshiro was studying to be a biomedical engineer, having been fascinated by medical equipment and research since he had been a child. Ichigo was studying to be a doctor like his father, so they had both had a summer full of 'valuable experience' – as Toshiro had told her over the phone. Rangiku, on the other hand, had a summer full of croissants and shopping and she certainly hadn't even thought about university – she preferred her own summer plans, but she knew why Toshiro had loved his.
He had known the Kurosakis for a long time, in fact he had gone to Karakura Town Primary School with Ichigo and his younger sisters before he had moved out to Junrinan to live with his grandparents. That's where Rangiku had met him – on the first day of high school. He was the smallest person in the grade, and the youngest, having skipped a year, but he'd had these big teal eyes and snowy white hair. He had been with his grandmother, discreetly holding onto her handbag. He was so shy and skinny; Rangiku had seen him across the hall at orientation and quickly claimed him as her best friend. She actually had to fight Ichigo for the role, even though he was attending Karakura Town High School over two hours away, but the guy backed down when Rangiku told him he could be Toshiro's 'brother' instead.
She gave Toshiro a nudge and he rolled his eyes.
"You both love Isshin," she teased them cheekily.
Ichigo and Toshiro's scoffs were simultaneous.
"Let's just go get our dorm keys," Toshiro muttered, and without a word he grabbed the handle of his own suitcase and rolled it away.
Ichigo followed suit quickly and Rangiku shared a knowing look with Orihime before they grabbed their own luggage and followed behind. Orihime had gone to high school with Ichigo, so she also knew the Kurosaki family quite well too. Though the girl could never admit it without flying around the room in a tizz, Rangiku knew she fancied Ichigo, probably had for a long time. Rangiku hoped they'd finally get together this year, but she knew Ichigo had feelings for Rukia.
It was a bit of a mess actually.
Orihime liked Ichigo, who liked Rukia, who liked Renji, who was a dumbass – a loveable one, but a dumbass nonetheless. The gym was Renji's lady and he was committed to her, certainly more than his business degree.
Toshiro and Rangiku were friends with all of them, but they did their best to steer clear of the love square that had formed. Well, Toshiro tried to steer clear – Rangiku lived for the gossip.
They caught up with the boys at the desk that was handing out the dorm keys. Being second year students, they got to choose who they roomed with. Naturally Ichigo and Toshiro had decided to share a dorm, and Rangiku had claimed Orihime quickly as they both lost their previous roommates. Plus, Orihime was a great cook.
Last year, Rangiku had been with a girl with blue-green hair, who they called 'Nel' because they couldn't pronounce her full name no matter how hard they tried – she was a foreign exchange student with a thick accent, but she had been really lovely. Rangiku would have roomed with her again if she hadn't decided to return home. Orihime had been with her friend Tatsuki, before she had dropped out to pursue her professional karate career.
"Who are the others rooming with?" Rangiku asked, glancing around the courtyard, trying to spot their other friends again.
"Rukia is with a girl from my course. Her name is Kiyone," Orihime supplied. "They both work at Ukitake's."
Ukitake's was the chocolate café just off campus; it was a very popular hangout for the university students because of the student discount, not to mention it was the perfect date spot. Rukia started working there last year to earn a bit of money; see whilst she had a rich brother and a limo to cart her around, Rukia needed the extra money to pay for her 'independence'.
Her brother was old fashioned, didn't quite believe in women having a lot of freedom. He controlled all the family finances, and had kept a close eye on what Rukia spent her money on; if it wasn't conservative clothing, educational books or things to make her more appealing to a future rich husband, then it was a hard 'no' from him. Considering Rukia's more punk-ish style and the tattoos she hoped to get, the girl had got a secret job to earn herself some money to be spent on things her brother wouldn't approve of.
Honestly, Rangiku applauded her effort.
"I suppose Ikkaku and Yumichika will be together again?" Toshiro guessed.
"No they've split up," Rangiku answered – she did know about that one, having been texting Yumichika about Paris fashion while she was away.
"Split up?" Ichigo asked, alarmed. "I just saw them sucking face-"
"No, I meant for the dorms," Rangiku clarified quickly with a chuckle, having seen the same scene just moments ago. "Yumichika says he loves Ikkaku but will kill him if they live together again, so he's going to room with Chad and Ikkaku is going with Renji."
"Ikkaku and Renji together?" Ichigo snorted. "That's going to be a mess."
That was highly likely, yes, since Renji and Ikkaku were absolute slobs, and loud ones at that, but Rangiku guessed Yumichika – who was a bit of a neat freak – preferred to room with someone like Chad, who was quiet and cleaned up after himself.
Chad was a gentle giant, and rather quiet usually. He was a touch older than them, having been held back a year due to 'family reasons' that Ichigo wouldn't share, but Rangiku didn't know a nicer man. He was studying social work, which was one of the few things he seemed to get passionate about.
"I assume Nanao and Nemu will be together again?" Orihime asked and Rangiku shrugged.
Probably, since she had seen them together when she was walking in, but she remembered the two girls bickering all last year. Nanao was passionate, and as a budding lawyer she was also very argumentative, while Nemu had the social skills of a pinecone but the brain of a high-tech computer.
Rangiku was in the Seireitei University Women's Association – or SUWA – with both of them, and it led to many high tension meetings, but she always found it rather funny.
The four of them got their keys and headed off towards the dorm building, splitting off to find their respective rooms. Rangiku and Orihime found theirs on the second floor, and to no one's surprise, the room looked exactly the same as the ones they had last year.
Still, the room was nice. Seireitei University was a good school that had a decent budget (thanks to donors like Byakuya Kuchiki), so the dorm rooms were almost luxurious. They were more like little two-bedroom flats.
The main space, which consisted of a cosy open plan living room and kitchen, looked more spacious than it was because there wasn't much furniture to clutter it up. There was a couch and a coffee table, with a small wall-mounted television, and a round kitchen table with a couple of chairs around it. The kitchen itself was small, with just the basics but enough that they could cook for themselves if they didn't fancy the cafeteria food (nobody did, it wasn't great). The bathroom was off to the right, which had the basic amenities and was adequately clean.
"Which bedroom would you like?" Orihime asked, gesturing to the two doors.
Rangiku nodded to the one on the right.
"I'll take this one," she murmured, dragging her suitcase over to it while Orihime moved to the room on the far left.
Opening the door revealed the bedroom that was the same as last year too. A small double bed pushed against the wall, a basic desk and chair, a tall closet and a set of drawers. Rangiku would need to spruce it up with some colour, that was for sure, but it would certainly do for the year.
She grinned, dropping her suitcase to the floor (she would unpack eventually), and flopping back onto the bed.
Rangiku loved living in the college lifestyle, and just as she was thinking she could use a drink to celebrate (and from lugging that heavy old suitcase around), her phone buzzed.
Renji
Welcoming party in my dorm tonite, getting a keg and making some punch, 7pm!
Absolutely.
Trust Renji to be on top of the party situation already, and especially now that he was rooming with Ikkaku. It was going to be a big one.
Rangiku texted back immediately, confirming her attendance and promising to round up as many of the others as she could.
Oh yes, it was going to be a big one tonight.
…
The party was, as suspected, huge!
It had blown out of Renji and Ikkaku's dorm, into the hallway and neighbouring rooms. It seemed most of the student body, minus the freshmen who had a private mixer tonight to help them get settled and make friends, had caught wind of the party.
Someone had music playing, and they must have had a professional set up because it was loud and clear, no matter which dorm or end of the hallway Rangiku floated to. There were groups of people chatting everywhere, laughing loudly and falling over each other, sloshing the liquid in their red solo cups.
Rangiku herself was now in Renji's dorm, sitting around the kitchen table and well on her way to wasted. They were playing a drinking game, one that clearly Ikkaku had chosen since it was equal parts drinking and sexual. It was called 'Dirty Shot' and involved an app telling them what to do and giving them dares – they had to input their names so it could call them out personally.
It was outrageous, but Hell it was fun.
"Ichigo," Renji read from his phone. "Take off an item of clothing or take two shots. Socks and accessories don't count."
The group chuckled; Ichigo's words at the start of the game had been 'I better not have to get naked'. With a suffering sigh, the orange haired man reached for the hem of his classic 'nice vibe' t-shirt and pulled it up over his head. Rangiku had always fancied herself more of an arms woman, but Ichigo had a nice set of abs on him that she couldn't help but gawk at.
"Ichigo, you've been working out!" Rangiku exclaimed. Orihime would like this – where was she anyway? Rangiku hadn't seen her since they had been playing beer pong earlier against two very cute seniors. "Trying to impress someone, are we?"
Ichigo flushed and stammered that it wasn't any of her business, while the group laughed again. Meanwhile, Renji passed his phone to Ikkaku next to him, who read the next one. Immediately the bald man snorted.
"Yumichika," he smirked, smacking his boyfriend's thigh from where he was sat comfortably in his lap. "Simulate an orgasm for ten seconds."
Around the table, jaws dropped in surprise and excitement. Rangiku laughed, clapping her hands together – why hadn't she played this game before?
"Or what?" Yumichika raised an eyebrow at Ikkaku.
"Or I'll give you a real one in front of everyone," Ikkaku challenged him.
"I dare you," Yumichika stood his ground. He did look partial to the 'punishment'.
Ikkaku's smirk didn't change but his hand noticeably dropped below the table, undoubtedly into Yumichika's lap and the dark haired man gasped. Around the table, red dusted many cheeks, but Rangiku stretched up to see if she could see what was going on. Ikkaku was only rubbing his palm into Yumichika's jeans-covered crotch but he seemed to go along with it, moaning loudly and simulating the orgasm like he was ordered too.
It got loud, and oddly high pitched, but ten painfully long seconds later, the dare was complete, and the room was full of red faces, even those that hadn't been playing or even noticed them playing until now.
"Wow," Rukia commented dryly, though she certainly looked flustered. "What a performance."
"You should see the real one," Ikkaku sent her a wink.
"Oh I've heard it," Renji shuddered. "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."
Rangiku laughed, while Yumichika only shrugged, taking a sip from his red cup and curling into Ikkaku's chest.
Ikkaku passed the phone to Yumichika then, who looked at the next instruction.
"Everyone finish their drinks!" he announced. "The last one to finish gets spanked by the first person to finish."
The group hurriedly did as they were told, Rangiku downing her whole drink in just a few seconds, making her the winner. Poor Toshiro seemed to flinch as he finished his, his face contorting in distaste, but he wasn't the last.
"This punch is deadly," he winced.
"It's potent," Rangiku agreed with that much, "but I think it tastes nice."
"It's definitely for sipping, not chugging," Toshiro sighed. His cheeks were still pink, but Rangiku didn't think that was still from Yumichika's orgasm performance.
Rukia finished her drink last and the group got particularly excited as she had to get up and move to Rangiku for her spanking.
"Bend over!" Renji called out. "We all wanna see!"
Ichigo was whistling, and Toshiro looked on, a little bleary-eyed but interested. Rukia flipped Renji off before she turned, presenting her behind to Rangiku. The strawberry blonde grinned, before giving that ass a resounding smack that left her cheek jiggling. Rukia didn't seem to mind, as she winked slyly at Rangiku and gave a slight gasp, like she really enjoyed it. It certainly got the boys to react, with loud cheers and whistles.
"I love this fucking game," Ichigo murmured quietly, but they all caught it.
Rukia took the phone next (practically snatching it out of Yumichika's hand), while Renji reached around the circle, topping up all their drinks with whatever he had in that punch bowl.
"Ahh sweet revenge," she smirked into her phone. "Rangiku, kiss the closest player to your left and use tongue."
Rangiku turned to Toshiro, the closest player to her left, and grinned. This wasn't a punishment!
He only sighed, but leaned with her as she grabbed his collar and brought him to her. Their lips connected quickly to the sounds of their cheering friends. Quickly they opened their mouths to allow their tongues in.
It was all too familiar to her. The way his lips moved with her, the gentle but firm pressure, the way his tongue danced and stroked her.
This was not their first kiss.
He was a good kisser these days, compared to their first disjointed and sloppy kiss at an underage party a few years ago. That had been both of their first kisses, and they seemed to have taught each other a lot since then.
They broke apart, and leaned back in their chairs, as casual as they started.
"You two have done that before," Ikkaku smirked knowingly in Toshiro's direction.
"Of course we have," Rangiku shrugged. "We went to high school together. You know what parties are like then – Spin the Bottle, Truth or Dare, all that cringe-y stuff."
"Matsumoto dragged me to so many," Toshiro sighed. "She was a terrible influence."
Ichigo snorted. "I'll say. You used to be such a nerd."
"Still is," Rangiku clarified. "Just one that can kiss now."
Toshiro's glare was sharp. "Matsumoto-"
"We've had to kiss so many times in those games!" Rangiku laughed, throwing her hands up in innocence. "You've gotten better since you were just an awkward teen, Toshiro."
"Now he's definitely still that," Ichigo pointed out, with a shit-eating grin that had Toshiro shoving him quickly off his chair.
"I'll be twenty soon," Toshiro muttered. "I'm only a few months behind you guys."
Rangiku snorted. She was turning twenty-one at the end of that month, and Toshiro would still be nineteen until Christmas, but sure, he was only a 'few months' behind.
"Last round," Yumichika announced then as Rukia passed the phone to Ichigo as he pulled himself off the ground. "Ikkaku has got his hand down my jeans and I need to see this through."
Around the table, they all groaned.
"Yeah, we do not want to be around for that," Renji advised solemnly.
"Okay let's make this quick then," Ichigo smirked. "After this, I'm beating the midget at beer pong."
He placed his elbow on Rukia's head to make his point, and of course immediately got shoved off his chair in the other direction.
Toshiro caught the phone before the strawberry went down, not concerned about his dorm mate in the slightest, and turned it over to read the challenge.
"Rukia and Renji," He announced. "Pucker up challenge – kiss, and the first person to pull away has to drink a shot."
Yumichika groaned.
"This is going to take forever," he complained.
Renji was grinning though, and patted his lap for Rukia to come sit in it. Across the table, the raven haired girl pursed her lips together. She stood up with a sigh, and rounded the table, muttering as she went.
"Why do I feel like I pulled the short straw in this game?"
"Because you are the short straw in this game," Renji teased her, and in return he received a smack on his muscular tattooed arm as Rukia sat in his lap with a huff.
"Let's just get this over with."
Rukia grabbed his collar, just like Rangiku had done to Toshiro, and pulled him swiftly into a kiss with an air of annoyance.
If Rangiku didn't know any better she would have thought Rukia didn't like Renji, except that Rangiku did know better; Rukia liked Renji a lot.
Rukia's game was the 'hard to get' girl, which unfortunately seemed to be working in attracting Ichigo but not Renji, arguably because the latter was too thick to realise how much the girl liked him. Rangiku wasn't thick though; she saw the way Rukia's eyes followed Renji around the room, the way her body moved like a magnet to his. The problem was that no one else seemed to notice it, certainly not Ichigo, who was watching the exchange with pained puppy eyes. Rangiku bit her lip, feeling bad for him.
Rukia and Renji rose to the challenge, kissing for several minutes, closed lipped at first, but growing more intense. Yumichika lost his patience, grabbing Ikkaku by his neck and dragging him into the nearest bedroom. After a while, Ichigo seemed to crack, standing abruptly and stalking off, muttering about getting a drink.
Toshiro sent Rangiku a knowing look, before he too got up from the table and followed Ichigo out, no doubt to make sure his 'brother' was okay.
Rangiku sighed, and filled up her cup with more of Renji's punch before she leaned back in her chair and continued to observe the kiss. Someone had to referee it, right?
They were kissing heavily now, with tongues and teeth, but it seemed more tactical than a matter of being turned on. Eventually it was Rukia poking Renji harshly in the throat that got the man pulling away with a gasp.
"Hey!" he coughed, holding his throat. "That's cheating, Rukia!"
Rukia raised her eyebrow at Rangiku, noticing she was the only one left.
Rangiku shrugged. "I'll allow it. Renji, take the shot."
To be fair, she just didn't want to watch them making out again for another ten minutes.
Rukia smirked, reaching for the vodka bottle and the shot glass. She poured the alcohol in until it started to overflow before she got out of Renji's lap and gestured to it.
"Bottoms up, Big Boy," she grinned.
Renji threw her a withering look before he picked the shot up and tipped it down his throat (though some of it missed and dripped down his chin). He shuddered as he swallowed.
He looked ready to argue, or challenge them with their own shots, but a loud moan caught their attention. They stilled, eyes widening.
Yumichika and Ikkaku!
"Run!" Renji hissed, grabbing the vodka bottle and tucking it under his arm as he stood from the table.
"What about the punch?" Rukia called after him.
"There's no time, Rukia!" Renji yelled, running from the room. "Save yourself!"
Rukia and Rangiku shared a laugh but another moan had them high tailing it out of the room too, leaving the punch behind to suffer.
Out in the hallway, the girls were separated quickly. It was chaos; there were people everywhere, running around and moving in between neighbouring dorm rooms. The music was louder out here, and some students were dancing – there was even a conga line going, but it was mostly a mess of stumbling drunkards. It was crowded.
Rangiku had to duck into three different dorm rooms before she found anyone she knew.
"Matsumoto," Toshiro called her name and Rangiku turned, sighing in relief. Finally!
He was filling up his drink from the keg that had been placed in the middle of whoever's room this was.
"Drink?" he offered it to her and Rangiku took it gratefully. She wasn't much of a beer drinker but hey, alcohol was alcohol.
He filled up a second cup for himself as she filled him in on the end of Renji and Rukia's kiss.
"How was Ichigo?" she asked him.
"Shitty," Toshiro muttered, "but pretending he's not because he doesn't 'like Rukia like that'."
Rangiku hummed. Yes, that was the party line. Too bad Ichigo was terrible at covering his bad moods.
"I pulled him over with Chad and Orihime," Toshiro continued, straightening with his now full drink. "Five minutes with them and he was smiling again. They've gone to find food. I said I'd find you first."
Rangiku nodded, smiling a little. Chad and Orihime worked in different ways but they both had this way of making everyone around them feel happy and safe. No one could feel angry listening to Orihime's outrageous stories, or feeling Chad's silent and reassuring shoulder squeeze.
"Just the two of us then," Rangiku tilted her head. "Want to go somewhere quiet?"
As it was, they had to lean over to hear what each other were saying. Toshiro nodded his agreement and they headed back into the hallway, navigating towards the stairs and having to step over some suspicious puddles. They made it down to the floor below; it was much quieter down here though certainly not deserted. This was the quiet area, where people stuck to small groups, rarely more than two or three them, having deep and meaningful chats, or making out. There were a couple of girls in tears, seemingly trying to work out an argument they must have had.
Toshiro grabbed Rangiku's hand and led her to the end of the hallway. It was darker, and quieter, but still not empty. No one was paying anyone else any mind though. They sat down opposite each other, leaning back against the corridor walls.
Finally Rangiku had a moment to appreciate being alone – well alone as they could be at a college party – with her best friend. Toshiro looked good, but now that she inspected him more closely, she noticed some changes; his jaw had become more defined over the summer, and he seemed to have almost grown that final inch to meet her height. He looked happy – relaxed.
They held eye contact for a moment, and Rangiku couldn't help but grin.
"What?" he asked, smiling back at her.
"I'm just glad to be back here with you and everyone," Rangiku shrugged.
Toshiro tilted his head, smirking lazily.
"Likewise," he murmured. "It's nice to have you back in the country, Matsumoto."
"It's nice to be back," Rangiku chuckled. "Paris is nice, but it's not home. Next summer I think I'll stay in Junrinan."
"Me too," Toshiro sighed. "Oma is getting older; I don't want to miss much of the time I have left with her."
Rangiku's smile fell away and she felt sadness come over her.
A few years ago, Toshiro's grandfather – his Opa – had passed away, and that had almost killed him. His grandmother's health had deteriorated too since then, heartbroken by the loss of her husband of nearly sixty years. No doubt her death would destroy Toshiro too – he loved his Oma so much, especially since she had been raising him since he moved out of his parent's house at eleven years old.
Rangiku would miss her too. She was a lovely, albeit strict and no nonsense, German woman. She always baked for them, and when Toshiro was in trouble, she would yell at him in her native language, much to Rangiku's amusement.
Rangiku exhaled and scooted closer to him. She settled between his thighs, with her legs bent over his. She reached forward and pulled him into a hug, and his arms came around her. She felt the muscles in his biceps move as she squeezed her. Well now, they were new-
"You've been working out too!" she blurted out accidently, forgetting the moment, and Toshiro choked on a laugh.
"Yeah, Ichigo had us up and working out every morning at six," he explained, his tone holding humour. "Protein shakes for breakfast too."
"Wow."
"Plus Karin had me playing soccer with her in the evenings. Couldn't catch a break."
"How is Karin?" Rangiku found herself asking, pulling back from the hug. "She and Yuzu graduated school before the summer, didn't they?"
Karin Kurosaki – Toshiro's first love. They had dated for two years, semi long-distance since it was about a two hour drive or train ride between Junrinan and Karakura Town, breaking up just as Toshiro started college. Karin was a year behind them at school, but only a few months younger than Toshiro. She was the exact opposite of Rangiku, but the epitome of Toshiro's 'type'; petite, sporty, tomboy-ish, no bullshit and straight up honest. She was cool, too cool for the nerdy Toshiro, with an indie-style.
"Well Yuzu is going to a culinary school this year, and Karin is taking a gap year, going to travel and volunteer abroad," Toshiro answered. "She came out to her family over the summer. Well not so much 'came out' as brought her new girlfriend home for dinner."
"Good on her," Rangiku smiled, hiding her shock.
She hadn't known that about Karin, but Toshiro didn't seem all that surprised. Maybe he had known, maybe that was even why they really broke up? Rangiku wasn't sure she believed the whole 'we've just grown apart' bullshit he told her when it happened.
She wanted to ask but the guy seemed to have far more interest in Rangiku's lips and he reached forward to kiss them gently. Rangiku hummed in content and kissed him back. It was slow, almost lazy.
It was a reunion kiss. This time there were no rules, no witnesses. There was no tongue or teeth, just lips moving gently against each other.
After a moment, Toshiro pulled back with a grin. Rangiku rolled her eyes and picked up her drink to take a sip of it. She couldn't quite manage the sip though, as Toshiro had started chuckling and that had set her off too.
Everything Rangiku had said about them kissing during the 'Dirty Shot' game was true – they had started kissing at high school parties, during games such as Spin the Bottle, but what she had left out was that they kissed outside of those games too.
They had laughed about it the first few times. It had seemed so funny, almost like a novelty – kissing their best friend who they had no real attraction to, like two straight girls kissing at a party to impress boys, though hopefully without the cringe.
But what started as a game turned into a joke, and eventually became almost routine, well into college.
They drank, they kissed, they laughed.
"It's been awhile since we've done that properly," Toshiro chuckled and Rangiku grinned back at him, shrugging.
"Well that's what college is for, right?" she giggled. "Certainly not those pesky classes."
"I'm excited for classes to start!" Toshiro looked offended.
Rangiku shook her head as she laughed, her cheeks starting to hurt from all the grinning.
Of course he was excited for classes to start, he breezed through the curriculum.
"You're such a nerd," Rangiku rolled her eyes theatrically, feeling all the effects of the alcohol now.
"That insult means nothing to me, Matsumoto," Toshiro tutted gently, leaning back against the wall.
Rangiku smirked, leaning back on her hands opposite him.
"Who said I meant it as an insult?"
Toshiro grinned, lifting his cup and tilting it towards her slightly.
"Touché."
Rangiku plucked her own cup off the carpet and clinked it with his in a toast of agreement.
They took their sips and winced simultaneously. The beer was disgusting.
They chuckled seeing their mirrored reactions, and shared a small smile.
Toshiro placed his cup back down and reached for Rangiku, bringing her closer until she was very nearly in his lap. She closed the gap, her eyes fluttering closed as their lips reconnected.
She could taste the beer on lips, and the taste that was distinctly Toshiro. Again, they kissed lazily, almost a little sloppy in their drunken states, but it was nice.
It was good to see him again – Rangiku had really missed him, and not just for his kisses.
Though she had certainly missed that too.
It never mattered, it was never awkward. They were friends, and sometimes friends kiss – it didn't mean anything and it didn't have to. As long as they didn't do it when they were dating anyone else – and they had never cheated on their partners – then who did it really harm?
That was why it had been a while. For most of last year, Rangiku had been dating senior Gin Ichimaru – her first serious relationship. Toshiro hadn't liked Gin – always the protective best friend – but he had respected Rangiku's wishes to be civilised with the man. He had been right of course; things went tits up just after finals when Gin had broken her heart, telling her they were over and he was moving abroad. He had graduated that year, and she'd had no contact with him since. It was a big part of why she had gone to Paris, just wanting to escape for a couple months.
Toshiro had been right not to trust Gin, but he never made Rangiku feel stupid for it. The night they broke up, Rangiku had gone straight to Toshiro's dorm and he had held her crying form all night long. He was a great best friend, and he always tolerated her bullshit.
And he was a great kisser too, which was the only real thought in Rangiku's mind when his tongue swiped her lips and she opened up to let him in.
The kiss stepped up its game then, but it still wasn't heated. It was just nice and comforting.
Toshiro hummed when they separated, but his forehead stayed on hers, catching his breath.
"I've missed this," he murmured, words slightly slurred from what was surely the world's strongest punch more than it was the beer they had now.
"Me too," Rangiku admitted softly before reconnecting their lips.
What was weird was that they kept it a secret. Not the drinking games kisses, that was a laugh for everyone – but moments like now, where they were almost curled up together, kissing in a dark corner.
Rangiku preferred the privacy though, she didn't want Ichigo, Orihime and the others to know what she and Toshiro drunkenly got up to. They would try and turn it into something it wasn't; they would try and put pressure on them to be more than what they were.
Rangiku and Toshiro didn't want that. They just wanted to be best friends and kiss when they were drunk.
It would never be more than that, and they were happy to stay that way.
So stay that way they did, for at least an hour. They were intermittently swapping between casual kissing and casual conversation, and thankfully they were engaged in the latter when Orihime found them.
"There you guys are," she beamed at them brightly. "I thought I better get you to bed since we've got classes tomorrow."
Rangiku groaned but Toshiro straightened excitedly.
"Where's Ichigo?" he asked, pulling himself to his feet before he reached down to help Rangiku up. He wasn't very stable and they both ended up stumbling.
Suddenly, having stood after sitting drinking for an hour, the drunkenness hit them hard.
"He's gone to his room," Orihime answered, a concerned look on her face as she reached out to stabilise them. "Have you two eaten?"
She really was the 'mum friend' of the group.
Guiltily, Rangiku and Toshiro shook their heads.
"Well let's get you fed then," Orihime held up her finger like she had gotten a bright idea, her smile wide and infectious. "Come on!"
They followed her, gripping each other's arms for dear life as they struggled down the hall. The stairs, when they reached them, were a challenge, but Orihime held their hands – literally – through it.
"I'm going to be so hungover tomorrow," Toshiro groaned, reaching the bottom step.
"Not me," Rangiku giggled. She didn't get hangovers, much to Toshiro's annoyance.
Finally, they made it to the second floor where Rangiku now shared a dorm with Orihime. They all but fell through the door when Orihime opened it for them. She quickly sat them at the kitchen table. A minute later she presented them with sandwiches and told them to eat up while she had shower.
"Is this… Nutella and tuna?" Toshiro asked, a frown on his face as he inspected the insides of his snac
"It's good, huh?" Rangiku managed between the quick bites she was taking.
Toshiro gagged, and for a moment she thought he was going to throw up but he held it down, pushing his plate towards her.
"You can have mine," he told her, his voice strained.
Rangiku shrugged, not looking a gift horse in the mouth, and quickly demolished that one too.
Orihime emerged from the bathroom dressed in her matching pyjamas and beamed at them as she collected their empty plates.
"Toshiro, are you staying the night?" she asked.
"I don't think he's going to make it back up the stairs," Rangiku snorted. "What floor are you on again?"
"Fourth," he pouted.
"You can stay with me," Rangiku told him with a chuckle.
Orihime seemed to agree with that, and she followed them into Rangiku's room, literally tucking them into bed when they climbed in without bothering to change, not that Toshiro had any other clothes to change into. Again, this was something they did – regularly sleeping in each other's beds – and they had been doing it long enough that even their friends didn't question it.
"Night, Mum!" Rangiku called out as Orihime headed back to the door.
"Night, 'Hime," Toshiro managed. The second his head was on the pillow, he was struggling to stay awake.
"Goodnight, Children," Orihime grinned at them from the door. "Sweet dreams."
With that, she flicked off the light and closed the door behind her.
"Aw she's so sweet," Rangiku murmured, turning to face Toshiro, though she couldn't see him in the dark. "Why doesn't Ichigo realise that?"
"Maybe one day," Toshiro sighed tiredly.
Rangiku chuckled, hearing Toshiro's tired tone and lack of enthusiasm for the conversation. He was so sleepy.
She moved closer to him, finding his arm and lifting it over her middle. Weakly, that arm curled around her. She reached up to find his lips, and they shared another brief kiss in the dark.
Toshiro pulled away though, muttering that she tasted like Nutella and tuna, his body shuddering for a second as Rangiku laughed.
She turned over in his arms and pulled him closer to her so his chest was against her back, keeping her warm, keeping her safe.
"Bonne nuit," she whispered good night in French.
"Gute Nacht," he returned quietly in German.
Rangiku smirked, staying silent that time and letting him fall asleep finally. Her finger traced his forearm gently, drawing loose patterns.
She was still on Parisian time, so her sleep patterns were a bit off and she wasn't all that tired. Still, after a few minutes, the alcohol combined with the utter comfort of laying in Toshiro's warm hold, and Rangiku felt her eyelids starting to droop.
She was happy – to be back at college, to be back with her best friend.
…
Also something to note, I haven't stated which country this is set in – I didn't actually pick one so I wasn't confined to any particular education system.
Please drop me a review if you enjoyed this chapter!