Ichigo stared at the card in her hand, scowling. What could he possibly see in her, she wasn't pretty but violent and then drove normal people away from her. Slipping the card into her pocket she glanced at the other fighters, the one she had beaten up smiled at her, waving her over. With a glance at Shiro she stood and took a few small steps forward.
"Hey Silence, Hal, I and couple of the other girls are going out for a drink, care to join us?" She stared at the childish woman stunned she'd even asked. For the short time she'd been there she hadn't even bothered to learn the woman's actual name. It may have been Meli or something. Ichigo glanced back at her twin, Shiro shrugged, she couldn't care either way. Ichigo turned back to the expectant group and nodded, with Yoruichi jumping onto her back shouting about getting her drink on.
"Come on strawberry, lead the way." Ichigo sighed and raised a brow, slowly she moved into a back bend careful to keep her weight even since she had the added weight of Yoruichi. The exotic woman screeched like a cat that had been dunked in water as she fell. The others laughed, the childish woman grabbing her arm to avoid more conflict.
"Why don't we just go before another fight breaks out," she muttered with a slightly tense smile, eyes fixed on their whining boss.
The bar they went to was one Ichigo had been visiting for years now, the bar tender smiled and waved as she came over, dragging Aries with her. Without a word Chad placed a beer in front of her, causing the older woman to pout. Ichigo looked up at her with confusion.
"I thought I was finally going to hear you speak and it turns out that he knows exactly what you want," she muttered, brows creased and fists clenched. Ichigo smiled, snickering at her behaviour.
"Sorry but I rarely have much to say," she said her voice husky from lack of use. Shiro glanced at her surprised she was even talking, Ichigo shrugged watching as she donned an apron before stepping behind the bar.
"What will it be Neliel?" Shiro asked, it was odd that she actually knew the names of the other fighters. Nel grinned, bouncing on her seat like an excited puppy.
"Scotch on the rocks, I'm very surprised you actually knew my name," she said, almost shouting. The twins both cringed, maybe talking to the girl was a bad idea. It had seemed like she had taken one to many hits to the head. Speaking of punches, Ichigo had yet to check the damage from the match. Shiro smacked the first aid kit down onto the counter, already one step ahead of her. With a sigh she moved to sit on the counter and let her sister fix her nose, she didn't need a kink in it yet.
"I'm sorry about that Silence. Normally I wouldn't punch someone on the nose but I needed a gap between us and that was the only time I saw an opening," she muttered instantly unhappy compared to seconds ago. Nel seemed genuinely sincere, with a shrug she accepted the apology, hissing as Shiro moved her nose back into place before applying the band-aid.
"Are you sure you should be doing that Rain?" The Amazon woman asked, having finally caught up with her friend.
"Yeah, not the first time I've fixed her nose," she started,
"And it certainly won't be the last," Ichigo finished, plugging her nose with tissues to stop the bleeding. She didn't bother trying to clean up the blood staining her lips, chin and neck. It kept away any of the local perverts that would normally try to grope her. After a while she pulled out that card she stashed in her pocket, thinking about the man who had given it to her. At first glance you wouldn't think someone like him was a painter, rather a boxer or maybe a crime boss even. Something about him was different, a wild cat, that's what he reminded Ichigo of. Focusing on the business card she blocked out everything else till the current conversation became background noise, pondering what this man found fascinating about her.
It wasn't until someone steered the conversation back to the up coming fights that she bothered joining in again.
"Hey Rain when will you be entering the ring again? I haven't seen you fight since your début," Hal asked, the curiosity clear in her tone. Shiro's first match hadn't been much of a fight, that girl they had matched her with had almost died in the ring.
"She was suspended, Menoly almost died on the way to the hospital," Yoruichi said, scaring everyone but the twins as she snuck up on them. Shiro bit her lip, glaring at the floor, while Ichigo opted for glaring at Yoruichi. The other two just simply looked shocked.
"Surely you jest?" Halibel asked, eyes wide. It was the most emotion they had seen on the woman.
"She's serious," Shiro hissed, extremely mad at the exotic woman for saying that. The pale copy slammed a drink down on the counter, turning her ice-cold gaze onto the older woman, glaring till she took the glass and left. Halibel and Nel gazed at the two, really curious about what happened during her first match but one look from Silence sent their curiosity running. Halibel had the feeling that if they even opened their mouth with the intent of asking about it, Silence would kill them.
"That aside when are you returning to the ring?" Nel asked bravely, trying not to shy away from the fiery twins.
"We fight each other next week," they muttered, speaking in unison, their voices monotone. The two took that as their cue to leave joining the others at the booth. Ichigo beckoned her copy forward, grabbing her hand and squeezing. Silently she reassured her sister that they wouldn't be repeating the past, not again. Shiro leant forward till her forehead was resting against Ichigo's, slowly she smiled glad for the support.
"So are you going to model for the blue haired guy?" Shiro asked, changing the conversation as quickly as she could.
"Yeah, I think I'll be going round tomorrow. Bruises and all." the two giggled, Shiro quickly returning to her work, feeling better.
Yoruichi was thoroughly plastered, lying prone on the floor of the bar snoring. Shiro stood over her amazed at the amount she must have had to pass out like this. She kicked her foot lightly to see if there was a response and received nothing. Soi fon had left earlier in the evening, so they couldn't ask her to return the drunk home.
"Looks like we're going to have to take her home," she grumbled, tossing her apron onto the counter.
"You sure you don't need some help?" Rukia asked, lingering at the entrance with Tatsuki, both a little concerned about the drunkard sleeping on the floor. Shiro waved them off with an unamused look.
"We're good, her place is on the way home." Rukia glanced at Yoruichi once more before being dragged out the door by Tatsuki, who shouted out "bye." With a sighing a shared look of annoyance between her and Ichigo pulled Yoruichi to her feet before helping her onto Shiro's back, the pale copy the stronger of the two.
"Night chad," they muttered, a defeatist tone in both their voices. The giant smiled at the twins, holding the door open for the pair, watching as they descended into the dark streets.