Thanks to those who read and reviewed, asking for more, giving me new inspiration to continue this fic. Hope I don't disappoint. Comments appreciated...enjoy.
Rangiku came back, still a bit damp, and returned to sitting across from her friend. A friend who seemed way too involved in her every little move.
"Nemu," she eyed the woman suspiciously, head tilted to one side, "is everything okay?" She asked, one hand extending to retrieve her cup being tracked by emerald eyes.
"Yes, of course." Her eyes did not raise to meet Rangiku's. The blonde dipped her head to meet the other woman's gaze.
"Are you sure?" Rangiku asked, eyes narrowed. The brunette finally looked to her friend that was staring at her quizzically.
"But of course. I am merely thinking about the task at hand once we leave. You have always had quite a strong constitution when it came to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. There must be many bottles to be disposed of." The smooth lie left the slight curve of lips. She knew her composure to be absolute, no tell tales would be seen, but her heart pumped harder than if it would in any fight she could ever engage in. It was quite exhilarating.
"Yeah, you better bring a cart." Rangiku quipped, a short giggle following. There were a lot of bottles to be removed from the office. No two arms would ever suffice. She began to stand to begin the daunting task of "cleansing" the office.
Nemu saw her starting to leave and grasped her hand, mind racing to think of an excuse for the busty blonde to finish the tea. Rangiku looked back a bit confused.
"We should have a toast to your new found self-control and sobriety." She poured out, face blank. Inside she flinched at the desperation in her voice.
"With tea?" Rangiku retorted. The slight upturn of nose and mild grimace told Nemu what the blonde thought of that idea.
"I feel that it is appropriate considering you are striving to abstain from alcoholic beverages." Nemu reasoned with the still standing blonde. Seeing the pleading look in those green eyes, she sat back down, taking her cup in hand.
"Alright." She raised it over head. "To being sober." Nemu nodded in agreement, both cups touching lips then back down to the table.
"I shall pay for our bill." Nemu said moving to the bar keep.
Rangiku gave a thumbs up in thanks before hoisting herself up out of the booth only to come crashing back down. Her head spun and stomach churned.
"I knew I should have stuck to sake." Her words were bare whispers before darkness claimed her.
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Rangiku sat up running hands through her short locks.
'Wait, short? No one better have cut my hair while I had been passed out.'
Pressing her hands to the desk, small hands at that, she stood uneasily.
'Desk? Wasn't I just at the pub?'
She whipped her head in all directions taking in the scenery of the squad ten office. More than a little terrified, she moved to the full length, antique mirror standing on oaken legs at the back of the room.
"No. Friggin'. Way." Disbelief permeated her now tenor voice. She looked herself up and down, turning in a circle. Surprise widened, turquoise eyes reflected back at her. She tousled her now snow white locks in aggravation, pacing back and forth trying desperately to understand what happened. She had not realized her temper was running high until an etching of frost came across the glass.
"Need to calm down and figure out what the hell," the mirror now displayed a myriad of spider cracks with the force of reiatsu, "happened." The last word a defeated whisper.
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His head was pounding when he cracked an eye. The lacy material hanging over him, he simply chalked up to his disorientation. Wiping at his sleep laden eyes, he winced as a stinging sensation emitted from his cheek. He had scratched himself. Raising his hand, he took in the long, slender fingers adorned with petal pink, half inch-long nails.
Sky blue eyes darted about taking in what they could from his prone position. Pastel hues assaulted his eyes along with highly feminine materials grazing his skin. Needing to see more, he attempted to lever himself up onto his elbows. This was deterred by an overwhelming weight on his chest. Glancing down, he realized it was his chest.
Adrenaline fueled his upward momentum as he propelled up and out of the frilly bed and onto the pale shag carpet. Continuing to search wildly for any indication of where he was, he realized he could see on top of the massive bureau tucked against the room's farthest wall.
He looked down and instead of short yet muscular legs, he found ones of creamy skin and soft curves that seemed to go on for miles. Brow arched, he realized exactly where he was and who.
"What catastrophe has that infuriating lieutenant gotten me into now?" He put one hand to his fuller lips, aghast at the honey sweet voice that came tumbling forth.
Listening intently, he made his way out of the bedroom.
"Gods let no one be here but me." His prayer was answered and he continued to navigate through the unknown territory known as Rangiku's house.
Pushing open a pale wood door, he finally found the bathroom. He stood before the mirror, eyes that were not his own, filled with horror, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. He began pacing short paths across the gold flecked tile, mind straining.
"How in hell do I get out of here without being seen?" He asked aloud tucking, for the millionth time it seemed, a stray strand behind his ear. He offhandedly wondered how she coped with such imaginable amounts of hair every day. Not to mention the cost of shampoo. Shaking his head, he scolded himself for getting side tracked.
He left the bathroom and made his way back to the pastel nightmare of a bedroom and flopped down onto its frilly monstrosity. Pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to relieve the dull ache beginning to form in his head, he decided the best course of action was to remain where he was until Rangiku came home. Then, he would kill her. Slowly.
He laid back into the satiny pillows that were near over taking the mattress and began the wait.
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Peering around the corner, Rangiku crept down the hall to escape the barracks. She had to get out of there before somebody spotted her. Not to mention, she wanted to find her captain and see what he was doing in her body. It wasn't like what Renji or Ikkaku might pull, he was too much of a gentleman for that, but there were situations he just wouldn't be able to avoid. She wouldn't be able to look him in the eye if it came down to either of them needing the bathroom before they swapped back.
She was standing before the exit, hand reaching for the handle, when she was spotted.
"Captain!" One of the lower seat squad members called down the hall.
Rangiku continued moving, pretending not to hear the tall, slender soul reaper at the far end of the building.
"Captain Hitsugaya! Please, sir, wait!" The lanky man took to a slight trot, bringing himself alongside her.
Head tipped back, eyes shut, Rangiku muttered a curse under her breath before turning to the subordinate lightly panting from his brief jog,
"What is it?" Rangiku tried her best to maintain an aloof exterior, authoritative tone lacing her voice.
"Pardon me for asking, sir. but, are drills still schedule this afternoon? We have been waiting in the field for your attendance." The nervous reaper gave a stiff bow, silent apology writ on his face.
'Shit, now what?' Seeing no way around it, she mentally acceded, out loud she said, "Of course. Return to formation."
The lower ranking reaper turned and hurried back to the field, Rangiku in her short captain's body in his wake.
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"Where is that damn Matsumoto!?" Toshiro was once again wearing a rut in the shag carpeting of Rangiku's room. The sun had long gone down and she had yet to make an appearance. He had had hours of thinking, imagining what his irresponsible lieutenant was up to in his higher ranking body. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became.
He was near implosion when there was loud knocking at the door. Excitement pulsing through his body had him moving towards the door before he realized that it just might not be her. She wouldn't knock at her own door. He thought furiously to recall whether or not the door was locked. A click of the door let him know that it hadn't been.
"Ran? You left your door open again."
'Renji? What is going on with those two?'
Toshiro had no time to reply as the red head was now walking through the room's doorway. He smelled of liquor causing a bare grimace to crawl upon his features. He personally didn't like alcohol, especially sake, but the body he wore like a costume was accustomed to, and sort of enjoyed, the nostril burning aroma.
Renji stepped into him with a grin, strong hands shooting out to grip the small waist. Toshiro knocked the intruding hands away, body poised for a counter attack. Renji, mind a bit fuzzy, stood stock still confused as to what was happening. This is what they did, had done, forever now and she was pushing him away.
"Ran, what's up?" His tone was concerned and a bit perplexed. His body longed to, but he did not cross the floor, keeping the distance that Toshiro had created between the two.
Realizing he was going to arouse suspicion, Toshiro quickly gathered his wits.
"It's just been a long day and I'm a bit tired." He gave a watered down smile with cherry glossed lips, which he would never admit aloud, tasted quite delicious indeed. Renji gave a bare nod of understanding.
"Cool if I crash again tonight?" The red head was closing the distance as he spoke.
"Yeah, that's fine. On the couch right?" Hope sang through his words.
Renji quirked a brow, a slow smile settling in. The man just couldn't help himself but tease as he came to lean into the tall blonde, eyes lidded.
"Unless you want me to stay with you." His easy smile growing into a predatory grin.
"No! No, the couch is quite fine." Toshiro had backed into a small corner, pulse hammering in his throat. He would be sick all over the place if the tattooed lieutenant closed the minute distance that now stood between them. A dip of his red head and their lips would be connecting.
Renji pressed in further running a singular digit down the inside of Toshiro's forearm as he pressed angular hips into the full ones that the mortified squad ten captain currently occupied.
'Is that…Is he…Dear gods!'
A firm shove had the space invader stumbling back, mercifully enough that Toshiro could use the long legs of his lieutenant to make a bee line to the bedroom door. Unfortunately, the obviously aroused pursuer jumped over the bed and now blocked the exit. Arms encircling the slim waist, Renji backed up the panicking Toshiro to the edge of the bed. One quick shove had the mattress taking out his legs and the poor faux Rangiku sprawled out before a very excited Renji.
"You can stop playing hard to get, Ran. I saw how you were looking at me the other night." Renji had his muscular body looming over the tensed one of "Rangiku". He dragged blunt nailed fingers down one side causing a shiver to assault the prone body beneath him.
'This body is mutinous. I can protest all I want, but this flesh of Matsumoto's says the contrary. I need to get out of here.'
Toshiro's thoughts were cut short by a strong press of lips. Heat grew below Toshiro's navel as Renji's hips rolled into his. Toshiro was trying with all his might not to enjoy the assault, but the womanly body he was then "wearing" was traitorous and he soon found himself letting go and surrendering into the sensations. That was, until, a vice like grip went to one toned thigh. Fingers dug in pulling long legs apart to make room for the battle hardened body.
Toshiro shot up knocking Renji back off the bed onto his back. Finally clear headed and no longer trapped, he hurried to the bathroom and locked its door.
Moments after escape, there was a soft knock which Toshiro pointedly ignored. It sounded again, this time accompanied by an apologetic voice.
"Ran, I'm sorry. I took it too far. I must have misunderstood, read into what happened the other night." Renji slid down the door, back firmly against it. Once to the floor, red velvet, pulled back hair brushed against the wood as he tipped his head backward.
"Ran, are you mad? Please talk to me." His voice was more than a little deflated.
"No, I'm not mad." Toshiro faked sincerity as best he could. He was not going to go through with what Renji was after, but he was also not looking to ruin whatever Renji and his lieutenant had between them. The least he could do was salvage the obvious friendship that the two shared.
"You seem mad." Renji retorted, lip jutted out in a pout that only he could see.
"I was just a little surprised is all." Toshiro was sitting cross legged on the floor, back against the wall farthest from the door.
"Like I said, I guess I just misread some of things you were doing. We cool?" Renji picked at his red pineapple shirt nervously, hoping that he hadn't lost his best friend due to his ever raging hormones.
Toshiro couldn't help but roll his eyes at the pathetic man on the opposite side of the door.
"Yeah, we're okay." Toshiro leaned forward, fingers plucking at the dark uniform in which he was clad.
A few minutes of silence and Renji hoisted himself from the floor, brushing away the microscopic dust on his pants.
"Well, I'm gonna hit the couch. Night Ran." Reji's voice faded as he made his way back to the living room and waiting couch.
"Night." Toshiro mumbled as he closed his eyes, need for sleep over taking him.