Chapter 9 Dry Cleaning and Take Out

When the three girls got home that night Atsumi was riled up and ready to party. Tashi was playing a board game with Eri and Atsumi was blaring her music getting ready to go out. Atsumi was still riding on a high after her confrontation with Captain Zaraki earlier in the day. "Shit girls! I was totally ready to fight him! I was like I'll take you out, even though I totally know I couldn't, but SHIT! I felt AWESOME!"

Eri and Tashi laughed at each other and said goodnight when Atsumi left. A short time later they got a call from Tetsuo. Tashi said "It's kind of early for the call isn't it?"

Eri and Tashi were getting used to going to Tetsuo's house to pick up Atsumi and take her home. Half the time it was just a way to get Tashi out of the house, but sometimes Atsumi couldn't walk under her own power. "No, girls, it's different" he said. "I don't know what it is, but she's got terrible stomach pains." Eri could hear Atsumi whining in the background.

"Alright" sighed Eri. "We'll be there in 10minutes." It used to be 25, but the girls flash-step skills were improving.

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"Atsumi, they'll be here soon to take you home."

"Crap" said Atsumi as she lay on an old worn out couch. It was red corduroy and worn in spots so much that it was almost pink. "I think I'm gonna die."

"You're not gonna die. It's probably a stomach virus or something" said Tetsuo.

Renji came laughing from the hallway with a beer in his hand. "OYE!"

The vibration of Renji's 'oye' made Atsumi's head buzz and she thought she was going to throw up. "Shit" she said "Tetsuo, this is getting serious. I think I'm hallucinating."

Tetsuo looked at Abarai, and Abarai looked at Tetsuo. They both looked questioningly at Atsumi. She said "I see a fuckin' Vice Captain in your house and he's dressed like he's some fashion plate from the living world. On top of it all he's got a brusky in his hands!"

Tetsuo said "Hmmmmmm. I think I've got some Soul Society Stomach Settler in the medicine cabinet in the other room. I'll go find it."

There were a couple of guys yelling at each other in the hallway and Renji said "Yeah, just take a nap" then went into the hallway to deal with the two rough students. He settled the matter quickly and went to find the Tetsuo who was digging through the medicine cabinet, unable to find the medicine.

"Crap" said Atsumi. "Maybe it was the food I just ordered?" As Renji and Tetsuo pulled apart the bathroom in search of the medicine Atsumi decided to investigate the food she ate. She stumbled to the staircase and clung to the banister as she went down. She passed some guys who were also regulars at the parties and a couple who were making out. She made it down stairs and into the room where she had been eating her take out meal. It looked harmless enough, but she couldn't figure out where she had seen the delivery boy before. She laid down on the floor and moaned some more.

Tetsuo finally found the bottle, which had fallen out of the cabinet and rolled behind the toilet. Renji found a small cup to measure the medicine with and they both were surprised to find the room which Atsumi was in empty. "Atsumi?" called out Tetsuo, but no sign of the sick girl. Tetsuo then started to toss and catch the bottle. Tetsuo said "Well, we'd better find her. If she's wandering around up here it could be trouble. The floor isn't too stable up here. She could fall right through the floor."

Renji eyed the bottle Tetsuo was tossing and said "Oye, that bottle. Does it even have anything in it?"

"Hm?" Tetsuo looked at the bottle and realized it was pretty light. He opened it up and found it was empty. Not even a drop left. "Shit. Let's see if there's anything in the room next door."

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Tashi and Eri sped through the streets from their home headed for Tetsuo's house. On their way they passed Captain Kenpachi who was sitting at a roadside tea house enjoying some sake after having put Yachiru to bed. He recognized the spirit power signatures of the two girls who sped by and thought it would be interesting to follow them. 'Where are they headed at this time of night? I could probably find a spot to finally fight Touichi. She needs to learn to fight and quit running away all the time.'

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Atsumi remembered. "Dammit!" The delivery boy had wanted to live in the party house, but was denied. It wasn't anything too personal, the boy simply was too young. A lot of people applied, but not everyone was allowed to live there. This boy was rather bitter about his rejection though and apparently poisoned the food. "Damn, damn, damn!"

She looked at the cardboard container and suspicious meal and passed out. Tetsuo came into the room and gave Atsumi, who was lying on the floor, a pill. "Here, Atsumi, I'll go get some water for you or something. This should help a bit. It's a pain reliever."

"Huh?" said Atsumi feeling terribly sick. She put her head back down on the carpet and Tetsuo ran off to find a cup of water, not beer.

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Eri and Tashi continued to run towards the house. They were almost there when Eri's stomach growled. Tashi laughed and said "Don't worry, Eri. I'm sure there will be something to eat at Tetsuo's."

"I heard your stomach growling before we even left the house! Flash-step always does this to me."

The girls were almost there, totally unaware that they were being followed. They arrived at the house and searched for Atsumi's reiatsu through the smoke and crowds of students. They made it upstairs and found Atsumi moaning to herself on the couch. Eri saw the noodles and said "Hey Tashi, I'm sure this is Atsumi's she always orders it from that cheap place near the coffee shop."

"Help yourself then" said Tashi as she examined Atsumi.

"Iew, no, I hate this curry crap" said Eri. She then sat down on the couch to take a better look at her sick roommate.

Tashi shrugged and her stomach growled. "Wow. Flash-step really does take a lot of energy." She looked at the meal, which was still warm, and said "Well, beggars can't be choosers" and took a few bites.

Eri tapped Atsumi's face and tried to gently bring her to."

Tashi put the food down and said " we need to get her off the floor. There's a couch in the room next door, let's put her there." Eri and Tashi dragged a half conscious Atsumi to the couch in the next room.

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Zaraki knew Tashi was there. He could almost smell it. Zaraki burst into the house, knocking over a group of students nearby. Those left standing saw the hulk of a captain an thought their party was busted. HE then screamed "Where is Touchi-san?"

Everyone froze and eyes darted around the room trying to figure out what would be the next safest move. Zaraki lost his patience and barged through the crowd and down a smoky hallway taking down students all along his way. Tashi was shaking Atsumi's arm to rouse her from her slumber when she heard a wild crash and some students pleading for their lives.

Tashi stood up straight and said "You're kidding me"

Feeling the terror of Zaraki's soul power speeding towards them Eri pulled Atsumi off the couch and wrapped the nearly unconscious girl's arm around her shoulder.

Then Renji fell through the ceiling. When the dust cleared and the Vice Captain stood up the girls gasped. Renji was dressed not in his uniform, but casually and stared at the three girls realizing he might get in trouble if word got out to his superiors that he was there.

He immediately said "What're you doing here?"

Eri was about to answer for them but was interrupted by Atsumi barfing on the floor.

Zaraki's murderous rampage continued down the hallway and Tashi was in a state of disbelief. She only sighed and said "Who…how can this get worse?"

Atsumi heaved a bit more almost answering Tashi's question.

Tetsuo jumped down through the hole in the ceiling to see if Renji was alright and found the girls "I was wondering where you guys wandered off to" he said.

Tashi said "We couldn't leave Atsumi on the floor like this."

Tetsuo said "The captain is after you. Looking for a fight no less."

"Uh…I know" said Tashi. The house shook a bit more as Zaraki barged into nearby rooms. Tashi checked out the windows but they were high from the ground. She knew she could make it, but wasn't sure about Eri and was certain Atsumi would get hurt jumping in her current state. "Renji? Can you take Atsumi to our house? Tetsuo, you and Eri hide in the wall."

"Hey, how did you know—"

"I live with Atsumi. She told me" said Tashi. There was a panel in the wall which could be pushed aside. It was a small space and only two adults could feasibly fit in the spot. It was used for last minute hiding spot when the Shinigami-squad came looking to bust up illegal parties.

Renji stepped forward and said "You're not going to fight him are you?"

"NO!" said Tashi "But it will be a lot easier for all of us to get out if we could split up."

They all stood unwilling to leave Tashi alone. She looked at them and commanded "GO! NOW!"

After Renji leapt out the window Atsumi Tetsuo took Eri into the wall space. Tashi heard the commotion Zaraki was causing in the hallway and decided to hop out the window. She saw some squad members across the lawn and thought the better of trying to run past them. She jumped up through the hole Renji left in the ceiling and when she stood she found herself face to face with Byakuya Kuchiki. Her surprise caused her to lose her step and she fell back down through he hole. She was waiting for the pain of the fall, but it never came.

Byakuya pulled her up through the hole by her obi. He set her down o her feet and said "Renji"

Tashi didn't want to acknowledge she had seen the Vice Captain there and get him in trouble, but she couldn't find it inside herself to lie to Byakuya-sama.

It turned out it was lucky for Zaraki to be on Tashi's tail that night. Kenpachi burst through the door. The force of his presence knocked Tashi through he hole and this time she hit. Hard.

When Zaraki entered the room all he saw was Captain Kuchiki in full uniform. He thought he had felt Tashi in there, but she wasn't present. Zaraki didn't ponder it a long time and barked "Where is she? She was here!" he grinned.

Byakuya didn't respond and this angered Zaraki very much so. "Answer me captain. I know you know!" Byakuya turned his head and looked out the window. He saw Tashi leap into the trees and away from the house. After she disappeared squad members combed the area, complete ignorant that she had just passed. Kuchiki looked back at Zaraki who realized Tashi had left. "I missed out on my cutting!"

Byakuya couldn't help but say "Maybe you were too slow."

"I don't think that's the case. I think though you can make it up to me." Grinned Zaraki at the prospect of fighting the famed Zenbonzakura.

"I have no time for such games. "

"You're too serious. You should play more often."

"I have more noble quests to occupy my time" said Byakuya and he casually shunpo-ed to get behind Zaraki and walked out the door.

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Renji sped towards the girls house with Atsumi in his arms. She moaned "uuunh"

"Almost there" he said and the house came into sight. She opened her eyes when they reached the porch and stood on her own two feet.

"Thanks Vice Captain"

"Ah, yeah."

She go the keys out but didn't have the coordination to put it in the hole. Renji did it for her. She turned to thank hi and instead of thanking him found herself puking one last time.

He stood unsure how to react. His pants were splattered with the previous contents of Atsumi's stomach.

"Oh Gods, I'm sorry" she slurred as if it were one word. "Come in, come in" she pulled him into the foyer and said "Take 'em off I'll throw em in the washer."

"No, no, it's"

Atsumi grabbed the belt loops on his pants and yanked him closer. "You don't em to fuckin' stain, do you?'

"You've all of a sudden gotten great coordination for a drunk girl" he said.

She fiddled with the zipper. She stopped and said "For your information, I'm not drunk! I had food poisoning, then that medicine you guys gave me almost knocked me out! But now I'm all funny. But not drunk!"

"Yeah, right. I know what was going on there, at Tetsuo's house."

Atsumi's stomach gurgled in her defense and she yanked Renji's pants to the ground making him yelp with surprise "Ayee!"

He stumbled out of this pants and Atsumi rushed them to the washing machine. She then threw in her own shirt off her back, poured in some soap and turned it on. Renji could help but note the little lacy bra she was wearing and quickly found another place to look.

He took off his jacket and held it in front of himself in and attempt to hid his boxers. Atsumi noticed his clothing and said "What are those? You wear shorts under your clothes?"

"They're boxers. A friend of mine brought them back from the living world."

"What are those things on them?"

"They're flying toasters."

"Ah. I like 'em."

Renji blushed and Atsumi laughed. She then threw a towel at him and said "Shit, you're almost as easy to embarrass as Tashi."

They both thought about her and Renji said "I've got to go back"

Atsumi slyly spoke as she opened a package of food "So your captain wouldn't mind you runnin' around with half yer clothes? You look like hot shit if you as me, but I don't know if Byakuya-kun really feels the same."

"Byakuya-Kun? Are you sure you're not drunk?"

"I'm feeling better now, but I'm surprised Tashi didn't feel anything. We both ate from the same dish." Atsumi closed her eyes then suddenly ran back to the bathroom.

Tashi ran down the road feeling safer with each step. 'Two more turns and I'll be able to see the house!' No sooner did she finish her thought than she ran into a wall. She sat on the ground thinking 'When did they put a wall across this road?'

Tashi looked up form the ground and saw her wall was Captain Kuchiki "Where is Renji?" he asked.

Tashi didn't stand but got to he knees and bowed. She felt a sharp pain from running an flinched, She was out of breath and Kuchiki waited for an answer. When Tashi didn't answer he said sternly "Do not make me repeat myself, child."

Tashi's nerves caused her stomach to go into spasm, and the pain in her side traveled across her abdomen "Oh gods!" she said and fell to her elbows. She righted herself and realized 'It's not from running or nerves! It's dinner! I was poisoned like Atsumi!'

Tashi knelt before her lord awaiting the inevitable shame of vomiting in public. She realized telling herself to not vomit was as likely to work as telling Zaraki to find a peaceful solution. She felt an arm pick her up by the waist and heard Tetsuo say "Sorry Captain, but Tashi's not feeling well enough for interrogation right now. " He used his lame flash-step skills to get them out of t there.

Byakuya trailed them easily back to Tashi's house . Tetsuo slung Tashi over his shoulder. This jolted her a way she wasn't expecting and before entering the house he heard a splash on the porch behind him. "Sorry Tashi" he said sheepishly as he entered her house. He took her to the bathroom where he found Atsumi already laying claim to the toilet. "Sorry Atsumi, urgent request!" he said as she plopped Tashi next to the toilet. She quickly made use of it.

"S'alright" said Atsumi, leaning against the tiled wall. "I'm slowin' down. What kind of shit did you feed us?"

"I'm sorry! I did know!" defended Tetsuo.

"Oye!" he heard form behind him. Tetsuo turned around to say hi to Reni and to apologize for the insanity involved him in. Tetsuo was stuck dumb when he saw Renji's clothed in a fierce denim jacket, a head band, and a fluffy towel decorated with fuzzy ducks. Tetsuo began to laugh uncontrollably at the sigh of the stern Vice Captain donning fluffy ducks.

Tetsuo wasn't laughing when Atsumi said "Iiiiew! Fucker you've got puke on the back of your –" she belched "pants!" Before he knew it Tetsuo was also wearing a fluffy duck towel. The guys sat in the living room listening to the dryer tumble their clothes and to the girls intermittently barfing.

Captain Kuchiki found the house and held back a sigh before he approached. When he appeared in front of the two young men on the couch Renji could not hold back his own sigh. The captain approached and Renji dropped his head in defeat. "You caught me Captain."

When Renji didn't get a response he looked up, cautiously. He saw Byakuya's very serious face. The captain extended his hand and a pink ticket.

"huh?"

"You left this on my desk. I believe you will need it to retrieve your uniform from the Shinigami Dry Cleaners."

"Ah, yes, sir" said Renji waiting for the axe of Kuchiki's discipline to fall.

The cool Captain's eyes flickered over his subordinate and he said "Mm, I like fluffy ducks as well." Then Kuchiki left, the speed of his departure blew wind through their hair.

The two men on the couch couldn't find anything appropriate to say at that moment, and instead of tempting the bizarre chain of events to continue, they stayed silent waiting for morning to come.