So very sorry this took much longer than I thought to get online! Thanks for the review Maiko122, I hope the wait is worth it. Final chapter tomorrow.

Obviously I don't own Bleach, I don't make any money from this story, Now on with the fun!

At the entrance to her quarters, Rangiku heaved herself off of Renji's shoulder and sheathed Haineko. She pulled out key to the door but on entering it into the lock Renji's hand came down on hers. "First I need my hair tie."

She looked up at him incredulously. "Jeez aren't you being anal about a fancy rubber band?"

"I'm not the one..! I'll explain in a minute. I just need it."

Rangiku turned so she faced Renji completely. She held out a hand and shook it so the sleeve fell back exposing the tie around her wrist. She placed her hand against Renji's cheek. "Here it is."

Renji knew he was blushing and he knew she could see and probably feel it too. With both hands he took the hand on his cheek, pulled it away just a little so he could remove the hair tie, and then set it back to his flushed cheek. "Thank you."

Rangiku winked at him. "Suit yourself, I like it down, personally." She drew her hand down the side of his face and along his neck before pulling it away. Then she turned her attention back to the door.

Renji made a mental note of Rangiku's preference. "So, ah…"

"Save it. You don't think I want you to leave after all that, do you?" She put a hand on the doorknob and looked into the distance.

Renji frowned for a moment. Perhaps she imagined he wanted to excuse himself after seeing her home. In fact, he meant to explain about Captain Kuchiki and how they would eventually have to face the repair costs of the night's "chase." "Have to say, that was a heck of a workout."

Rangiku smiled and looked back at Renji. "So, I was wondering, Renji. What was up with that fight? If you needed to beat me so bad why not beat me? Or if you were sick of the whole thing why not go home? You kept me waiting so long in that alley I was starting to get worried that's what happened."

Renji looked into Rangiku's clear blue eyes. "Hm. Where to start." He drew in a breath. Then he took a step toward her and swiftly wrapped both arms around her, pressing his lips to hers. She was unbelievably soft, luscious like the petals on a rose that hadn't yet opened. Renji's mind reeled.

Rangiku inhaled through her nose and reveled in Renji's scent, all sweat and musk. To keep her balance she grabbed a fistful of Renji's kimono. The man did a damn fine job of just about anything he put his mind to.

Eventually their lips parted and Renji leaned his head down until their foreheads were touching. He couldn't hold back a bit of a snigger. "Did you plan any of this?"

Rangiku's laughter rang out. "Do I ever? Moment to moment is the only way I can make sure I'm having any fun."

"So like a cat meowing up in a tree." Renji slipped his hands over Rangiku's hips, mindful of Haineko..

Rangiku rolled her eyes as she loosened her grip on Renji's kimono. "And another thing, where did that 'demon cat' thing come from?" She tried to pout and sound hurt but it wasn't particularly convincing.

"Oh that." Renji decided not to mention that Captain Kuchiki had brought it up first. He still didn't know why he had said it and just hoped his Captain had no history with Rangiku. "I don't exactly know. But it does remind me, Rangiku. We kind of made a mess out there. While you were in the alley I was delayed by Captain Kuchiki who made it clear we were going to have to take responsibility for repairs."

"Piffle" declared Rangiku with a dismissive wave of the hand. "I knew that, but it's hardly such a serious matter."

"It'll be a serious matter when we to deal with it first thing in the morning. The people whose property we damaged are going to be very interested in seeing that we get to it." Renji frowned. There was a drawback to being such a sunny, breezy person, and it occasionally involved not taking situations as seriously as everyone else did.

"All that tells me is that I don't have to think about it till morning." Rangiku laid a hand on his upper arm and looked up at him with a smile. "There's nothing we can do about it right now, right?"

Renji sighed with a half smile. Her warmth was infectious. "Sure, I guess it'll have to wait until morning." He playfully pressed Rangiku against the wall next to her door, grinning down at her. "I suppose if you let me in I could allow you to get off your feet. Your tabi must be filthy by now."

"Oh my, Lt Abarai, are you trying to take advantage of a lady's hospitality?" Her voice was pitched perfectly in scandalized tones but the playfulness of her eyes and the grin that tugged at her mouth gave her words the lie.

Renji chortled. "Show me a lady and I'll be sure to tread lightly around her hospitality." He put an arm up to cradle Rangiku's head moved slowly into a long, comfortable kiss. He couldn't deny that having her considerable bosom pressed to his chest was making the whole situation a bit more dizzying than it might perhaps have been otherwise. Nerves were firing throughout his body, particularly below the waist and soon he would have to make some decisions.

Rangiku couldn't help but moan. She just couldn't believe the man. He was all broad, brash muscle and poor impulse control that would suddenly turn into steely obligation and duty. And here he was kissing her like there was no tomorrow, lips burning deep, igniting her core. As usual, she decided to let tomorrow decide for tomorrow. She pressed a thigh between his legs. Her lips tugged into a smile when she realized how far along his body was in responding to hers. She nipped at his lower lip and was rewarded with a grunt and a hand cupping her ass and pulling it closer. Unnoticed, her ever present pink scarf slipped off a shoulder and trailed to the floor.

Renji was keenly aware that if there were any lines left that he didn't want to cross he would have to pull away very soon. But, God, he didn't want to. So… not leaving means… He needed just a little more of his mind back and Rangiku's silky tongue taking quick little swipes at his lips wasn't helping. He pulled his head away, ignoring the hand gripping his arm and the dissatisfied pout below him.

"Just gimme a second, dammit." He closed his eyes to try to think but Rangiku wriggled against him, giving him no where to hide.

"Aw, what's the matter Renji? It's not like you've lost your nerve. I know right where you left it." She shifted her pelvis to prove her point. Renji managed to hold himself back and keep his eyes closed. Rangiku was amazed by his control. This man. "What do you have to think about so hard?" Rangiku giggled at her own double entendre; Shuuhei would have laughed his butt off.

A crease appeared on Renji's forehead. He opened his eyes. "Look, I just want to know what the hell all the nonsense was about if in the end we just go for a roll in the hay. Which" a hand on her butt tightened "I don't mind. But that's a hell of a lot to put a guy through. What're you after?"

"Hmm." Rangiku ran a hand to Renji's neck and traced the tattoos that grew down the sides. "Maybe it's just that I didn't want to apologize for drinking your sake just yet. Maybe I just wanted to beat you at something." She gave small, sudden smile. "Maybe I wanted to see you come a little undone." She looked him in the eye. "Maybe it's because you never dance with me."

Renji took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "So did you get that tonight? Are you satisfied?"

Rangiku licked her lips. "Well that was like dancing. Maybe better. And I got to see your hair loose. I like it." She smiled broadly and twirled a lock of crimson colored hair around a finger before letting it go. "But you beat me pretty thoroughly." Her smile turned wicked. "Although…"

Renji's eyes narrowed. "Although?"

"Well you still haven't gotten your cup back." Rangiku closed her eyes and gave a small shrug. "I guess if it's over then it doesn't really-"

Across the courtyard a window snapped open and a young face framed by wild silver hair popped out. "Would you two shut up! Some of us don't believe in sleeping during work hours!" The window slipped shut again before Rangiku could say anything to the boy.