Remember when I said my life was slowly coming back together? Lol I lied ahaha
Here's a chapter anyway! Please review if you get a chance, it means a lot and it's very motivating!
...
Late
Rangiku hummed as hot lips landed on her neck and the warm, wet body of her best friend followed, pressing up against her. His skin was slick against hers, and his strength pinned her against the tiles.
They were in the shower today, the newest location for their Best Buddies Sex Adventure™.
It had become a bit of a running private joke between them, not to mention a challenge.
How many places could they have sex in? How many positions could they try?
They were experimenting now, because it made sense to experiment with someone they trusted entirely. They had been doing this for nearly two months.
The time in the library store room was Rangiku's personal favourite, purely from the desperation she built inToshiro (i.e. stroking him underneath the study table) that led to a wonderfully powerful performance against the door. He had cupped his hand over her mouth and that was the only reason that no one heard them. That had been last week, and now that his wrist was healed, he had handled her weight easily as he held her off the ground and thrust deep inside her.
Teeth sunk into her breast, pulling Rangiku from her retrieve and eliciting a loud gasp from her. She heard Toshiro's deep chuckle over the pour of water from the showerhead.
"I've missed your voice," he murmured, moving to the other breast and biting that nipple too.
Rangiku's hum of agreement was strangled by the pleasure.
She had missed her voice too. Well, she had missed freely allowing out the sounds he pulled from her. She was shameless when they were alone, but she couldn't help herself and Toshiro seemed to like hearing her moan anyway.
Alas they often had to be quiet, since they hadn't told anyone their secret. They had silently agreed to keep it just between them, for the same reason their kisses had always been their little secret. No one needed to know, they'd only butt in and ruin it. Rangiku certainly did not want this ruined – she was having the time of her life. No drama, only sex and affection. No anxiety, only excitement.
Fucking her best friend had turned out to be one of the best experiences of her young adult life.
Lips returned to hers then, as Toshiro straightened back up. Rangiku melted against him, as she always did, and allowed him to press her harder against the tiles. They were cold on her back but the water and the body against her were steaming hot. It was exhilarating.
Rangiku's hands travelled up Toshiro's back, feeling the water hit his skin and spray off. His muscles were toned and tight as he felt her, his skin slick. Rangiku sunk her nails into him, and broke away from the kiss in favour of biting and sucking his shoulder, leaving her mark behind.
Toshiro hummed and caught her chin, tilting her head back so he could kiss her deeply. Rangiku could feel his erection poking her hip. Just the thought of it inside her made her tingle longingly between her legs. She wanted him.
"Orihime won't be home for another hour?" Toshiro asked quietly against Rangiku's jaw as his lips travelled once more. Her eyes fluttered closed and she nodded. Toshiro gave a satisfied hum. "Good. I want to hear this."
Rangiku's eyes opened, feeling him move away briefly and she watched as sunk to his knees, his expression oh-so-cheeky. He pecked her belly button, and then winked at her. Rangiku stared in anticipation, her hips opening up for him. His face moved closer to her heat, and she shuddered feeling his breath ghosting over her. She was throbbing between her legs, excited for what was to come.
Toshiro grabbed one of Rangiku's thighs and lifted her leg over his shoulder. She barely had a moment to readjust her balance when his tongue poked her clit teasingly. The gasp was followed by a deep moan as his tongue moved from her clit to her entrance.
"H-holy shit," she swallowed, gasping again. Her arms reached out, trying to hold onto anything that would steady her. All she got was a tiled wall on one side and a glass screen but she pressed her hands into them, holding on for dear life. Shockwaves rolled up her spine, it was electric.
The tongue was agile and persistent, skilled in making her squirm. It was inside her, reaching higher than she thought it could, stroking her walls, finding her sensitive spots. The appendage was velvety and it was curious, tasting every part of her it could reach.
Rangiku's thoughts were clouded and her head became weak, falling back against the tiles with a slight thud but she felt nothing but pleasure as the waves continued to wash over her.
She groaned loudly, her eyes rolling back as fingers reached up and pinched her clit.
Toshiro hummed from where he was, face buried inside her, obviously appreciating her voice, but the sound vibrated off his tongue. Rangiku gasped, her knees almost giving way. Toshiro caught her though, his arm wrapping around the thigh that wasn't over his leg – just under her ass cheeks – and holding her steady.
"Toshiro," Rangiku swallowed a pant. "I-I can't. I can't take it anymore. Fuck me. N-now."
Her orgasm was coming but she wanted him inside her.
The face withdrew itself and Toshiro's grin was cheeky. Rangiku had barely sighed a breath of relief before three fingers replaced tongue and stretched her open. Rangiku moaned again, more so when Toshiro leaned back in, his tongue flicking her clit playfully.
He obviously didn't care how close she was to climax, he was happy where he was.
Rangiku's body shuddered, unable to stop the building sensation. One of her hands reached blindly below and found his wet head. She grabbed him by his hair and pulled him back from her harshly.
"I'm going to come if you don't stop," she warned him through heavy pants, her voice barely audible over the shower. He had no idea how close she was now.
"I want to taste it, Ran" Toshiro murmured, turning his head to press light kisses against her trembling thigh. "You taste so good."
His light kisses turned to nips and then biting as he left his own mark on her. Rangiku stared, not breathing as she watched him. His pupils were blown and his cheeks red. He was wet and he looked so damn fine.
Rangiku felt her resolve cracking. She was thrilled to know she tasted good, and she was a huge sucker for him saying her name like that – but him marking her thighs, where only she could see, was the final straw for her.
Besides, she did want to climax soon.
She let go of his hair – only slightly, she wanted to hold onto to it – and Toshiro winked at her before his face disappeared between her legs again. Rangiku cried out in pleasure, her body screaming for more.
It was, without a doubt, the most teasing way to finish her.
He was swapping between his tongue on her clit or inside her, and each time he moved, Rangiku thought her knees were going to finally give away. They did eventually, but Toshiro con tinued to hold her up, all while licking everything up, tasting her after orgasm.
She had been loud for him, but she never had to force it. Every time he touched her, she groaned or moaned. She went over the edge, tugging his hair harshly and calling his name.
The climax was so exhausting, Rangiku swore she saw stars for minutes afterwards. Toshiro straightened, his arms moving around her waist as he held her up against the tiles. His cock slipped between her wet thighs and he thrusted only for another minute before he came with a choked gasp.
Rangiku held onto him, her head tucked into his shoulder and panting. Toshiro exhaled deeply, his arms tightening around her. For a while, they just stood there, completely content under the warm water.
"Shower good," Rangiku managed eventually, her eyes opening as Toshiro began to wash her. He had her washcloth and was gently rubbing her body wash over her skin. "But next time you fuck me properly."
"Sure," Toshiro grinned, kissing her temple.
As good as the sex was, Rangiku also loved the care he put into her afterwards. He was so tender, unlike any other man she had ever been with.
He finished washing her and then allowed her to wash him in return. It was nice; a different sort of intimate.
Once done he turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around her, always looking after her before himself, before holding her close for a moment.
He did this a lot now, Rangiku noticed. He seemed to like it, just taking a moment to hold her afterwards. She certainly wasn't complaining.
"Come on, let's get dressed," he said after a moment. "Orihime will be home soon."
Rangiku sighed. That was the only thing she didn't like about the secret. As thrilling as it was sneaking about, they only got to be like this when no one else was around.
"Can we nap?" Rangiku asked hopefully. "We've still got a few hours before Rukia's drinks."
Toshiro smiled softly, cupping her cheek and pressing a light peck to her lips.
"Of course," he murmured. "A nap would be nice."
Rangiku grinned. It was just an excuse to cuddle longer, to be honest.
...
Rangiku stepped onto the roof at the Pink Kimono and took a deep breath.
It had been months since she had been here last, but thankfully it looked just like it used to. The old wooden picnic tables, the cracked concrete flooring. There was no confetti or checked dance floor – not a single trace of the New Year's Eve party was left behind.
It was just an average, student-budget rooftop bar.
And the weather was warmer, which was nice.
Rangiku felt Toshiro's hand on the small of her back, silently letting her know it wasn't too late to back out and go home. She turned and shot him a reassuring smile, before she moved onto the rooftop and towards the table where she could see their friends.
She was going to be fine sitting with her friends, and besides, it was a special occasion; Rukia had been promoted to Assistant Manager at Ukitake's Chocolate Cafe after Kaien and Miyako left to travel the world. Rukia deserved the promotion and the celebration; she worked damn hard between her studies and shifts at the cafe.
"Congratulations, Rukia!" Rangiku squealed, throwing her arms around her petite friend as she circled around the table.
"Thanks, Ran," Rukia chuckled, sipping on a mojito and tolerating the hug for all of five seconds. "Now, get off."
Rangiku smirked but let the girl go – she never was very affectionate – and slid on the bench seat opposite her. Toshiro leaned down beside her and offered to get her a drink.
They had made a pact; only Toshiro was allowed to handle Rangiku's drinks tonight, other than herself. It wasn't that Rangiku didn't trust her friends, she just wasn't sure they would be as vigilant at the bar in case someone there slipped something into her drink. It was all irrational paranoia of course, the Pink Kimono was usually a very safe venue for students, but Toshiro had insisted, and so Rangiku asked him for a gin and tonic, a drink she could sip on slowly and stretch over a couple hours.
He hummed and disappeared to the bar, and Rangiku watched him go, frowning slightly when she saw Kiyone at the bar too and they greeted each other with a hug and kiss on the cheek.
Rangiku looked away. She didn't care.
Looking around the table, Rangiku quickly engaged in a conversation with Renji, who was ecstatic that the bar now had 'protein shake cocktails'. It sounded foul, but he was happy.
Everyone was there that night. Ikkaku arrived and joined Renji on the protein shake cocktails train, while Yumichika sat in his lap with a French Martini and discussed the latest Vogue issue with Rangiku (a far more interesting chat). Orihime sat between Nemu and Nanao and opposite Hanataro, and the four of them discussed various SUWA activities. Sentaro was there, as loud and brash as Rangiku remembered, and he was talking Ichigo's ear off while the orange-haired man tried to catch Rukia's attention. Rukia, however, was now flirting blatantly with Renji and teasing his drink choices.
Toshiro returned, chuckling with Kiyone, before he slipped onto the bench seat beside her and placed her drink down.
"I was vigilant," he promised her quietly.
"Even with Kiyone there?" Rangiku couldn't help but probe. She didn't know why.
"She's not a distraction," Toshiro's expression was frustratingly cheeky. "Besides, this was more important."
Rangiku sighed and thanked him, pushing away her weird jealous feelings. She took a tentative sip of the gin and tonic and hummed, the taste was familiar and refreshing. She could relax a little.
She did relax, and she had a good time.
Toshiro stayed by her side, and they laughed and joked. It was wild how they could spend so much time together and not get annoyed with each other and also still have stuff to talk about.
They weren't alone of course; they chatted with their friends too and laughed at their familiar antics. Rangiku even managed to rope Renji into a pretend-not pretend-seriousdiscussion of what kind of girls he liked.
"Confident girls," Renji told her. "Feisty. A girl who can take it as good as she can give it, and who will pull me up on my bullshit."
"Sounds like Rukia," Rangiku told him boldly, her expression pointed.
Renji smirked at her over his sunglasses before he took a long sip of his drink.
"I don't fancy being murdered by her brother," Renji said, his tone either joking or serious but Rangiku couldn't tell which. "I'm trying to get a job with him, you know?"
Rangiku hummed; she did know that. Renji was doing a business degree and wanted to join Rukia's brother's tech company, Sixth Division, but he was scared shitless of the CEO. Rukia and Renji had been friends since they were children, but Renji had always been a bit too rough-and-tumble to fit in with the elegant Kuchiki clan, or so Byakuya Kuchiki believed.
"Then you should spend less time in the gym and more time studying to get the grades," Rangiku shrugged.
"Might get me the job," Renji pretended to ponder before shaking his head and flexing his biceps. "Won't get me the girl though."
"So you do like Rukia!" Rangiku accused with a gasp, her eyes wide.
Renji pursed his lips and rolled his eyes, as if he was about to chuckle but then he reached over and rubbed Rangiku's head, messing up her hair. She battered his hand away and shot him a glare, but the burly redhead was already getting up, rounding the table to sit beside Kiyone.
"Do you want another drink?" Toshiro asked, reappearing after chatting with Rukia for the last twenty minutes or so.
"I'll get it," Rangiku sighed, standing up. Honestly her butt was sore from sitting so long.
She pinched Toshiro's cheek as she passed him and giggled at his resigned sigh.
She made her way over to the bar, ordering the same drinks again. The bartender was a young guy, and he was trying to banter with her – either to flirt or for the tips – but Rangiku wasn't engaged, her focus on watching him make her drink. She hoped one day she wouldn't feel the need to be so cautious again.
He made the drinks and she paid (and gave him that tip for her lack of social energy), before returning to the table.
Everyone else seemed to be getting drunk around her, except Toshiro who stayed firmly on her level. He was whisked away by Momo who had turned up and wanted to show him the view at the other end of the rooftop. Rangiku felt that jealousy stir in her again; hoping Momo wouldn't be the next Kiyone.
They were both lovely girls, but Rangiku really liked the fun she was having with Toshiro and she didn't fancy giving it up anytime soon.
Instead of dwelling on it, Rangiku threw herself into the closest conversation. Unfortunately she hadn't really assessed the situation beforehand and found herself between Ichigo and Rukia.
"Yeah, I think I'm just happy being single at the moment," Rukia shrugged casually. "My brother would kill me if I brought home a guy now."
Rangiku grimaced internally at the awkward state of the conversation. Rukia's answer was in response to Ichigo's flirty 'So tell me, Rukia, what kind of guys are you into?"
Obviously he'd heard Rangiku ask Renji and thought he could get away with it too. Unlike Renji, Rukia gave a lot less away.
"I think your brother is just fussy about who you bring home," Ichigo persisted with a chuckle.
Rukia smirked and hummed in agreement, rolling her eyes slightly. "Gotta have at least six digits in your bank account and a promising career."
"So like, a doctor perhaps?" Ichigo replied smoothly.
Rangiku smirked into her drink. She had to give it to Ichigo, the boy had balls and he was very smooth. Unfortunately, he was using it on the wrong girl.
"Not a General Practitioner," Rukia sighed. "Not a tiny clinic in your standard Karakura family home."
Ichigo's grin faltered as Rangiku winced slightly, and Rukia turned and walked away without another word. The poor guy was trying so hard but Rukia wasn't having it. At the same, Rangiku felt for Rukia – she knew what it was like to be hit on constantly by someone who just could. Not. Take. A. Hint.
"I'm sure she's echoing her brother's opinions," Rangiku rubbed Ichigo's arm. "You wouldn't want to be a part of that anyway."
"But I do," Ichigo sighed sadly.
"You're not becoming a doctor to earn six digits or to please a snob," Rangiku reminded him. "You're doing it to help people, like Toshiro that night…"
Ichigo sighed and nodded, and his eyes fell to Toshiro who was being told a story by an animated Orihime.
"You're becoming a doctor for the right reasons," Rangiku continued on, seeing an opportunity. "Like Orihime becoming a midwife."
At that moment, Orihime made an outrageous gesture with her arms, almost knocking a tray of drinks out of the hands of a passing waiter, and Ichigo chuckled, his attention now on his childhood friend.
Together, Ichigo and Rangiku looked at Toshiro and Orihime for a minute longer. Momo joined their conversation, but like Toshiro she wasn't getting a word in. Rangiku left Ichigo to his thoughts, and hoped he didn't notice that Rukia had returned to Renji's side and was trying to get involved with him and Ikkaku. Ichigo didn't look but Rangiku sighed internally; she knew Rukia didn't actually care what her brother thought at the end of the day; she just wanted it to be Renji that she risked it for.
"Toshiro and Orihime are too good for this world," Ichigo murmured after a while and Rangiku almost choked on her drink. Yes, that's the spirit! Well… kind of.
"Come on," Rangiku sung, grabbing Ichigo's wrist and dragging him over to where Orihime, Toshiro and Momo stood.
Orihime's eyes lit up when Ichigo arrived, Rangiku almost swooned.
The night carried on, and Rangiku nursed her second drink until it was just melted ice. She decided against a third drink when Toshiro offered to get her another. As it was, her tolerance was low because she hadn't had much to drink since New Year's Eve and she was starting to feel the second gin and tonic.
Still, she was thoroughly enjoying herself and the night, and the sunset had been gorgeous. The girls spent at least half an hour getting photos with it in the background, and Rangiku was extremely happy with her Instagram potentials.
It was just as they were finishing up their photoshoot that Rangiku felt a tap on her shoulder.
She turned to find a familiar head of blue hair and a smug smirk.
"Grimmjow," Rangiku recalled from the speed dating night, and the man grinned widely.
"I noticed you didn't have a drink," he purred. "Here."
He held out another gin and tonic and Rangiku felt her fears rise again.
"No, thanks," she declined as politely as she could think to. "I'm not drinking any more tonight."
"Come on," Grimmjow rolled his eyes. "One more won't hurt. I didn't spike it, don't worry."
He held it out again and Rangiku took a step back, embarrassed that he knew (though most people knew by now). Grimmjow laughed a little before he took a big sip of the drink and held it out again. "Happy?"
No. No, she was not happy.
Fortunately Toshiro was there instantly.
"Babe?" he called her, his arm wrapping around her waist. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Rangiku sighed in relief, leaning into him. The fake boyfriend act was a familiar strategy. "Grimmjow, have you met my boyfriend, Toshiro?"
Grimmjow straightened, snarling slightly as he reassessed the situation.
"He's your boyfriend?" Grimmjow clarified doubtfully, his eyes flicking between them. "Him?"
"Yeah?" Rangiku frowned, her tone challenging. "What's the problem?"
"Leave it, Matsumoto," Toshiro warned her, and she felt him pulling her back but Rangiku didn't move. She knew that tone and she wanted Grimmjow to man up and explain himself.
"I just thought you'd have a taller-uh, a higher standard," Grimmjow sighed and he turned quickly, walking away before Rangiku could follow up or throw something at him.
"A higher standard?" she echoed once he was gone. "What does that mean?"
"Don't worry about it," Toshiro muttered and when she glanced at him, he seemed upset.
Rangiku stared at him. She wasn't stupid, she knew what Grimmjow was implying – she just couldn't comprehend it and she wanted it explained to her, partially to try and make sense of it and partially because she figured Grimmjow would feel dumb saying it out loud.
After all, what did height really matter? Toshiro was the same size as her now anyway.
"Ignore him. You'd be a great boyfriend," she told Toshiro, who hummed in agreement.
"I am a great fake boyfriend at least."
"You are," Rangiku smirked.
Toshiro rolled his eyes briefly before he seemed to straighten more seriously. "How are you feeling?"
"Kinda want to leave now." Rangiku admitted, glancing over at her shoulder where Grimmjow was now laughing loudly with his friends.
"Let's go."
They said their goodbyes to their friends, and no one questioned them. They all knew Rangiku wasn't totally comfortable back at the bar after her last visit.
They left the Pink Kimono and walked down the street, back to the university campus. They were both quiet but it was peaceful. It was a mild evening, the sky now completely dark and the stars starting to glimmer above. The trees were still without the breeze, and they could still hear the music and chatter from the bar.
After a moment, Toshiro caught her hand and Rangiku squeezed it back.
"Any girl would be lucky to have you," she told Toshiro softly. She knew he was still thinking about Grimmjow's comments, and likely feeling self-conscious about his looks again.
For a beat Toshiro was silent, but when he replied he whispered so quietly, Rangiku almost missed it.
"Not 'any girl', Matsumoto."
...
Rangiku returned to her dorm. It was late by the time she left Toshiro's. She would have stayed the night with him, but Ichigo came home early – not long after them, actually – and Rangiku was out of excuses to randomly spend the night in her best friend's bed.
The last two hours were rather exhausting with Ichigo home. He was in a mood and collapsed at the end of the couch, ranting about girls (AKA Rukia) being 'impossible to read'. Rangiku, who had been clutching Toshiro's rock hard member under the blanket (as Ichigo had walked in mid-hand job), had to discreetly let it go and wipe the pre-cum off her hand on her jeans. Poor Toshiro had a clenched jaw, his eyes focusing as he no doubt tried to turn himself off so he could tuck his cock back into his pants. Ichigo was oblivious to it all, thank goodness. He was too caught up in his rant to notice anything was off.
The rest of the evening from there was tiring. Rangiku had to comfort Ichigo, sympathising with him but also discreetly trying to turn his attention to the very beautiful, very available Orihime. He couldn't be cheered up though, his mood tonight persistent, so they popped on a movie to distract him. Or to make him shut up.
Either way, it meant two more hours sitting between a stroppy Ichigo and sexually frustrated Toshiro (who was pretending not to be sexually frustrated). To make matters worse, Rangiku started to feel overheated between the two of them and under the blanket. Half an hour into the movie, she started to feel hot, like she had a fever developing. After an hour, nausea started to build in her stomach. It developed gradually, and Rangiku prayed she wasn't getting sick.
"Are you alright?" Toshiro had asked her as they stood from the couch after the movie.
"Yeah," Rangiku had swallowed, waving his concern off. "I'm just hot. Maybe I'm still a bit drunk."
"Do you want me to walk you back to your dorm?"
"No, I'll be fine," Rangiku had grinned. Toshiro was such a sweetie.
They said their goodbyes, and Rangiku slipped out of the door just as she heard Ichigo huff and groan. "Why do girls have to smell so good?"
Rangiku wanted to take that as a compliment, but she knew who Ichigo really meant. Besides, she herself was all gross and sweaty now.
She walked slowly back to her dorm, holding onto the handrail down the stairs while her other hand planted itself on her hip as if it helped the nausea. It didn't, but overall the feeling wasn't so severe. It was nowhere near as bad as when she had her drink spiked.
She said a quick hello to Orihime as she passed the girl in the kitchen, brewing a tea – or two teas, now that Rangiku had walked in.
Once in her bedroom, Rangiku opened the window and sat on her bed, inhaling the fresh air deeply. It helped. So did spending the next ten minutes watching cat TikToks.
She felt better as she returned to the kitchen and accepted her tea handed to her.
"How was the rest of the night?" she asked Orihime who sighed as she sat at the table opposite her.
"I'm worried about Rukia," Orihime grimaced. "She was annoyed tonight – at the boys I think."
Rangiku tilted her head questioningly, prompting Orihime to continue though she already had a good idea of what had likely pissed Rukia off.
She was right of course, as Orihime went on to explain. Ichigo had been trying to flirt (terribly) with Rukia all night, even after their earlier awkward encounter, and by comparison, Renji had barely glanced her way at all. Orihime's sad face had Rangiku's heart clenching.
"Rukia was just annoyed, she'll get over it," Rangiku sighed. "What she really needs to do is tell Ichigo explicitly that she's not interested. Then maybe he'll see what's right in front of him."
She shot a pointed look at the girl opposite her, but Orihime shrugged, disheartened.
"I don't think it will help," she murmured quietly.
"Why not?" Rangiku frowned. "Once he knows there's no future with Rukia, he'll move on. It will hurt at first, but he'll have you and you never know what can blossom out of a friendship like that."
"I think Ichigo sees me the same way you see Toshiro," Orihime smiled sadly, her eyes rolling weakly as if she was trying to have humour about it but it really just hurt.
Rangiku pursed her lips at the comparison. This was why she and Toshiro had never told anyone they often kissed (let alone what they got up to these days); everyone was sure to make a huge deal of it and never let them live it down.
"It's not the same," Rangiku replied calmly. "Neither of us have feelings for the other or would ever want to pursue a romantic relationship. You want that with Ichigo, it's different."
Orihime hummed and nodded slowly, although her expression wasn't all that convinced.
Rangiku sighed and finished her tea quickly as Orihime appeared to turn thoughtful. Once finished, she stood, placed her mug in the sink and headed into the bathroom to have a shower before bed.
The tea and fresh air had helped her nausea but it wasn't completely gone and Rangiku just wanted to get to bed and sleep it off.
…
She didn't sleep it off.
Rangiku woke up in the morning with nausea twice as bad as the night before. It still wasn't as bad as the time she had her drink spiked but she did miss the start of her first class due to spending the morning with her head in the toilet, and she missed the rest of her first class due to feeling sorry for herself and taking a nap on the couch.
Maybe it was a hangover? Rangiku had only a couple drinks but she had taken months off drinking, perhaps her tolerance had simply plummeted?
She could have also eaten something dodgy, Toshiro always said that would happen to her and Orihime one day.
By lunchtime, she started to feel more human again. She picked up a sports drink from the canteen and ate crackers from the box as she made her way to her afternoon class.
It was weird, and Rangiku kept trying to think of reasons. Was there a stomach bug going around?
Of course Googling it didn't help. That told her she was definitely dying- or pregnant, but she couldn't possibly be that-
… Oh shit.
Rangiku, who had previously been slumped in her chair while the lecturer prattled on and on, straightened suddenly in alarm. She quickly opened the calendar on her laptop, thinking back to her last period.
When was it? She'd never been that regular.
Breathe, she told herself, trying to calmly recall her cycle over the last few months.
She remembered a recent period. It had been just before she and Toshiro had slept together. She remembered it because she had been frustratingly horny and yet could only touch her clit. Some people liked doing that sort of stuff at their time of the months, but it just wasn't for Rangiku.
But that period had been about two months ago. Surely she'd had another since then?
Rangiku thought back again, scouring her calendar for social events and trying to remember if she had avoided wearing white or strategically timed a menstrual cup emptying.
Oh yes! There had been a football game of Toshiro's a few weeks ago (well, Toshiro's team had played but he had sat with her, moping because Isshin and Ichigo had told him his wrist wasn't healed enough to play sport yet) and Rangiku distinctly remembered finding blood spots in her underwear when she went to the bathroom at half-time. She hadn't had anything with her and had placed toilet paper in her knickers until she could get home.
It had been a very light period, in fact it was pretty much just spotting, but blood meant no baby!
She was probably having nausea because her next period was due to begin. Rangiku sighed in relief, and went to close the open Google window listing the symptoms of pregnancy – until one caught her eye.
'Light spotting - sometimes a small amount of light spotting is one of the first signs of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the uterus – about ten to fourteen days after conception.'
Rangiku's heart dropped and her stomach flipped.
Memories flooded in of a night she hadn't been so smart, and of tiny blood spots in her underwear roughly a week or two later.
No, she couldn't be-
Rangiku placed her elbows on the desk in front of her and held her head in her hands. She felt sick and emotional and terrified, and yet also strangely numb.
She was pregnant - with Toshiro's child.
…
The rest of the day dragged on. Rangiku's heart hammered in her chest and her breathing was nearly labourer from the panic. She had to take a pregnancy test – immediately.
But she couldn't. Her class ran overtime, and then as she rushed towards the campus gates, Nanao caught her wrist and dragged her back to the library.
"No, you're not skipping out on the SUWA meeting," she was muttering. "We've got the Spring Break party to plan."
Rangiku tried to argue but she was shushed by a stern librarian as Nanao pulled her through to their meeting room out the back.
Swallowing and taking a seat, Rangiku told herself to calm down. Whether she took the test now or in an hour's time, it wouldn't change the end result.
Alas, the panic and stress distracted her throughout the meeting and Nanao grew more frustrated as time went on. Normally, Rangiku was their best event planner but tonight she had no ideas for them. Nemu tried to step up with some thoughts, all of which were promptly crushed by their President. After a while, Nanao stopped calling on Rangiku for her opinions and she was able to slide back into her mind, trying to think of her options and how on Earth she'd tell Toshiro.
Eventually a hand clicked in her face and Rangiku flinched back into reality.
"I thought you would have at least heard that one," Nanao muttered. "The meeting is over, you can go."
Rangiku blinked and looked around the room to find almost everyone gone. The only other people there were Nemu, engrossed on her computer, and Rukia, packing up art supplies and preparing to leave.
"What's the matter with you?" Nanao asked quieter, sitting back down in her chair. "You're never distracted when we have a party to plan."
Rangiku bounced her leg under the table and looked briefly around the room again. She felt like she needed to tell someone, and Nanao was a good choice because Rangiku knew she could rely on her lawyer friend's discretion.
She sighed and leaned over, whispering quietly. "I think I might be pregnant."
Nanao's eyes went wide but she didn't make a sound. Nemu's head snapped up from her computer screen, apparently not as engrossed as Rangiku had believed, and even Rukia who had been halfway out the door had turned sharply back inside and returned to her seat.
All eyes were on her and they were shocked. Rangiku flushed and ducked her head.
A moment of silence passed before Nanao eventually spoke up.
"Have you taken a test?"
"Not yet," Rangiku answered quietly. "But I'm late and I was sick all morning."
"How late?"
"Very," Rangiku emphasised again. She wanted to cry; saying it out loud was so much more real.
"What contraception do you use?" Nemu asked bluntly, and had already flipped open her notebook, her pen poised to take notes until Rukia snatched it from her hand and chucked it across the room. The pen hit the whiteboard with a plastic on plastic clatter before it fell to the carpet below.
"Just condoms," Rangiku swallowed. "I've never been able to use much else."
The pill? Rangiku forgot to take it too often for it to be reliable. The implant in the arm made her feel sick and have her period every day for the three months she'd had it. An IUD was too terrifying an option to even look into, just the pictures made her shudder, though some women swore by it.
No condoms were the best option for her, and besides, it was the only thing to protect from STIs as well, so either way she had to use them.
"Have you…" Nanao trailed off, the prude inside her struggling with the question that Rangiku knew was coming. "Have you had unprotected sex?"
Rangiku took a moment before she nodded. She had, the night Toshiro had been beaten by his parents.
She was torn between being angry at herself, because she had always been good at making sure her partner wore protection, and being relieved that it was that moment that a baby might have been conceived. She hadn't even thought about contraception on the night, because the moment had been so emotional and full of love and trust. They had been totally lost in each other.
Rangiku didn't want to be pregnant, but she didn't regret that night. She would do it all over again (but maybe she would remember to get a morning after pill next time).
More silence passed before Nanao sighed and pushed her glasses back up her nose.
"Well there's only one thing for it," she stated simply. "You need to take a test tonight."
"I will," Rangiku nodded before grimacing. It felt good to get it off her chest but she was still scared. "I'm nervous though."
'Nervous' didn't cover it, but it was harder to admit just how afraid she was.
"I'll take one too," Nanao offered, understanding anyway. "We can do it together."
Rangiku smiled weakly. "Yeah?"
Nanao shrugged before her cheeks went an interesting shade of red. "Yeah, you're not the only one who has gotten caught up in the heat of the moment recently."
Oh now that was interesting and Rangiku shot her friend a look. Shuuhei?!
Nanao shrugged again. "I am on the pill though."
Fair enough.
"I'll take a test too," Rukia joined in. "Solidarity and all that."
"Me too," Nemu added. "It will be a fun little experiment."
The three of them glared at her but as always, it went over her head.
…
Half an hour later, the four girls sat around the kitchen table of Nanao and Nemu's dorm. In front of them, a plate with four overturned pregnancy tests.
They had taken it in turns in the bathroom, before returning to the kitchen and placing their test on the plate, turned over. They decided they would wait until the last person was done, and then they'd find out together.
Rangiku was trembling now. She crossed her arms in an attempt to stop herself shaking.
"Who's the father?" Nemu asked her, already speaking like she knew the result.
"I'd rather keep that to myself until I can talk to him about it," Rangiku answered.
She thought of him though and saw Toshiro's bright teal eyes staring at her like they had done that night. He was so full of care and compassion, Rangiku didn't doubt for one minute that he'd support her in whatever she chose to do. It did make her wonder if he, given the choice, would want to keep the baby and raise it, with all his career and study ambitions.
Would she even want that? Her mother had, and she was a lot younger than Rangiku was now, but she had never done anything else with her life. Rangiku wanted to do more with her life.
"It's time," Nanao announced quietly.
The girls looked between themselves and there were some nervous expressions. Together they reached into the middle, picked a test on the plate and turned it over.
Four hands retracted and they stared down at the tests.
Three were negative.
One was positive.