The air was cool and sweet with cherry blossoms. The stars were bright and gave light to the path that Renji shuffled along, no real sense of urgency. Except for...
"Damn!" He exclaimed beneath his breath as he hurried to find some way to shield himself.
The copious amounts of sake were catching up and there was no rest room in sight. The wait until he found the full flowering bush had him dancing in place as he prepared to relieve himself. And whether it was the sake still in effect or desperate need to pee, he belatedly realized that his make shift toilet was on the lawn of someone he didn't want to mess with.
"Renji Abarai? What, may I ask, are you doing on my lawn at this hour? And exposed, no less." The squad four's captain's voice held no anger but sent chills up and down his spine regardless. He was stone cold sober now.
"Captain Uohana. Please, forgive me. I did not know this was your bush." His apology was quick as was the covering of his lower extremities.
"Mmm. I accept your apology lieutenant, but that does not answer my question." The sweet tone of voice belied the danger poor Renji was in.
He stuttered several times in attempt to form a coherent sentence, mind racing to find the right answer. Or the one that would get him in the least amount of hot water. After mild deliberation, he settled on the truth.
"You see, captain...I had been out with Izuru. We got in a wrestling match and I lost my key. I figured the best thing to do was to make my way to lieutenant Matsumoto's place where I could sleep and find it in the morning when I had the daylight." He shuffled nervously waiting for her reply.
"You have been a very busy little bee, lieutenant. From what I gather, you have gotten into a drunken brawl, in public no less, committed indecent exposure, urinating in public, vandalism of another's property, and intent to fraternize with a female soul reaper at three o'clock in the morning. Is the that correct?" The air shimmered around her as she gathered reiatsu and leveled her gaze.
"Well, I guess you could look at it that way." Renji's eyes were growing wide with fear as he slowly backed away from the healer that was becoming scary beyond all reason...without even making a move towards him.
"I do. And these offenses are punishable, lieutenant. I will have to reprimand you." A delicate, pale hand rose, light emerging from its palm. He swallowed hard before making a hasty retreat in squad ten's direction.
"Must. Get. Away. Want. To keep. All. Body parts." He flashed stepped faster than he had ever in his life, frequently looking over his shoulder to watch for any sign of a pursuer. After ten minutes of running and aching sides he slowed to half speed.
"I think I'm in the clear."
No sooner did he say that, did he come to a abrupt stop as if he ran into a brick wall. Laying on his back, his head swam as he relearned how to breathe. 'What in the hell did I run into? How hard did I hit my head? I think I felt my brain rattle.'
"You got eyes in that pineapple head of yours?" A low voice rumbled over him.
'The wall is talking to me? Nah. That's ridiculous.' He blinked brown eyes slowly, urging his vision to return to normal.
"What's the matter? No tongue either?" The red head felt something nudging harshly into his side.
Renji slowly levered himself up onto his elbows to see this piece of architecture with the gift of speech. What he saw had him laying right back down where he would end up in a matter of seconds anyway. Looming over him like a menacing cloud was none other than the captain of squad eleven. This man fought for pleasure and killed for less. Renji cursed his crap luck and made a mental vow to never drink again if he made it through the night.
"Stop laying there on your back like a submissive dog. Get up and face me, Abarai." Kenpachi ordered.
Pushing up from the ground, legs a bit wobbly, his eyes came level to the large man's chest. His gaze traversed higher. The smile Kenpachi wore was a baring of teeth, lips pulled back, canines fully exposed. Ready for battle, the man looked more akin to a ravenous beast. The squad six lieutenant was not looking to poke the bear so to speak.
"I beg your pardon, captain. Please excuse my clumsiness. " Renji bowed over and over trying to diffuse the situation.
"Shut up and take your punishment." Kenpchi's knuckles resounded with loud pops as he readied himself. Unfortunately, Renji kept on.
"I was only trying to make it to lieutenant Matsumoto's place to re-" A boulder sized fist connected under his jaw, successfully snapping it shut and sending Renji flat on his back.
"I said, shut up." Kenpachi growled.
Renji ran his tongue over his teeth taking count. He could have swore some of them had shattered from the force. He slowly, painstakingly rose from the ground again. His face ached and he was dead tired. He just wanted to sleep. Was that so much to ask? Apparently so, for as soon as he stood he found himself moving backward at an impossible speed, feet not touching the ground. 'Please, just let me die on impact. At least this night will be over.'
The back of his skull met something solid. He slid down into the bushes staring up at the sky for what seemed like the millionth time that night. One brown eye twitched with irritation as he lay there debating whether or not it paid to get up when a large door swung open.
"Renji? Is that you?" The voice was familiar yet carried a little more warmth than usual. Less aloof, detached.
He looked up from his place in the flower bed to find snowy tresses and green orbs peering down at him.
"Captain, Hitsugya. Please tell me this isn't your bush." The hard luck man couldn't have looked more haggard.
White brows knit in confusion at the left field inquiry. 'I think that hit to the head gave him brain damage.'
"Ye- I mean. Um, no?" Ran mentally crossed her fingers that he wouldn't catch the slip.
"Thank the gods. Could you possibly tell me whose bush it is?" He continued his question and answer session still prone in the dirt.
'Whew. Need to be a bit more careful with my words. Focus girl!' Ran inwardly chastised herself before answering.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto's. Why do you ask?" One brow arched as Rangiku eyed her fellow soul reaper.
"No reason. Just making sure I wasn't somewhere I wasn't supposed to be." He said absently. "Do you see Kenpachi anywhere?" Renji whispered to the short captain.
Rangiku looked up and down the empty streets. Not another soul in sight.
"No, the coast is clear." Ran whispered back.
Renji rose from the ground, body ready to give out. Seeing his struggle, Rangiku offered a hand. One quick yank and Renji stood his full six foot two over the considerably shorter "man". Renji stared a moment before his lips quirked. Rangiku arched a brow.
"Yes? Did I do something to amuse you?" She really was getting the captain's behavior down pat.
"No. Not at all." His smirk grew to a grin.
"I see. Then can you explain to me why you are smiling like an idiot?" She stood a bit taller, eyes daring him to speak.
Renji quickly schooled his features.
"Now I know it was something interesting and most definitely about me. I suggest you start talking lieutenant." Rangiku let a bit of her captain's reiatsu slip through her being. Renji paled as his breath could be seen in the summer air. She could see his throat work, pulse jumping near out his skin.
"I was just remembering a joke Izuru told me earlier tonight." He fidgeted as the lie left his lips, and prayed he wouldn't be ingested by a certain frozen dragon.
"Mhmm." Skepticism etched deep in her features, she pulled Hyōrinmaru from his sheath to absently check the blade's edge. The action got the desired result as Renji grew paler still and backed off the stoop sending him back into the bush.
Done playing with the mouse on the porch, she turned her attentions to her poor captain, trapped within her body.
"Rangiku!" She called clearly as she came back over the threshold. "Lieutenant Abarai is at your door." She passed her curvaceous form in the hall as the captain went to greet the unwanted guest, but not before he grabbed her around the wrist.
"You are going to pay, Rangiku. Remember who I am and that I will not permanently be in your subordinate body." He hissed low and dangerous. The little game wasn't quite as fun anymore to the mildly petrified Rangiku.
"Renji?" Toshiro called out into the seemingly empty space.
A slim hand shot upward signaling the attached body's location.
"Here." Renji stood, lopsided grin in place. Toshiro casually took in the other reaper's form. He was disheveled, dirt covered, and not a bit of shame showed for it. Toshiro couldn't imagine being that loose with his own dignity and public image.
"You just gonna' stand there staring blocking the doorway or can I come in?" His voice was teasing as his eyes sparkled. Toshiro shook his head, done taking the red head's measure.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry." Toshiro stepped aside. Renji hopped gracefully up the few stairs and into the house.
Muttering a curse on his ever exasperating lieutenant, Toshiro followed him through the door and into the kitchen.
"Man. You would not believe the night I've had, Ran." Renji's voice was a bit muffled as his head was buried deep within the refrigerator. His backside was all Toshiro could see from his post against the door frame, as the man spelunked for his late night snack which was turning into a five course meal. Renji poured himself a glass of sake and made himself comfortable having the large meal laid out before him.
"First, Izuru got me so drunk I couldn't even see straight." He tossed back the sake. "Then, I lost my key." He took a large bite of a rice ball and spoke his next sentence around it. "I pissed on Captain Uohana's bush." He swallowed. "Thought for sure I was gonna' die with that one. Then." He pointed a finger in Toshiro's direction. "The friggin' icing on the cake." He gave a harsh laugh. "I flashed stepped face first into Kenpachi." He took another bite. Toshiro's eyes grew saucer wide.
"Is that where you got that black eye?" Toshiro, genuinely interested in how he had survived, crossed the floor to sit across from the ravenously eating red head.
"No. That's from Izuru. We got in a bit of spat." A flash of teeth. "The concussion I've probably got. That was Kenpachi. Bastard sent me flying into the side of your house." He offhandedly added, "Remind me to check for damages in the morning. I'll fix'em." He had eaten all but a few noodles that clung to the inside the red ceramic bowl and now leaned back on two legs of the cherry wood chair.
"Oh. You still planned to stay the night again?" Toshiro was really hoping to rid himself of the tatted reaper as soon as he finished clearing out Rangiku's refrigerator. He had dodged a bullet earlier and was praying that was the end of it. Damn, the luck.
"Yea. I was hopin' to. If that's alright of course." He said, leveling the chair once more. There was an unsaid apology for his earlier actions laced in those words.
Toshiro mentally groaned, but nodded his assent.
"Thanks, Ran." He poured another sake for himself then raised the jug in offering in Toshiro's direction.
"Thanks, I don't drink." Toshiro realized his err as soon as the words left his lips. His lieutenant was an absolute lush.
"Yeah. How is that going for you anyway? Have you really gone cold turkey?" Renji's inquisitive gaze made Toshiro a bit uncomfortable. First, because he had no idea what he was talking about. And second, it felt like he was trying to see right through his robes. Yes, it was probably just Toshiro's imagination, but still. He pulled his robes tighter over the ample chest.
"It's going okay I guess." Toshiro was striving for nonchalant and was pretty sure he was failing horribly.
"You've been cheating, haven't you?" A smug smile sat on his face.
"No. No, I haven't." Toshiro thought it was difficult to defend himself seeing on how he wasn't sure what he defending in the first place.
"You can have a drink, right now. I won't tell the guys." Renji slid the jug across the table.
"Really, I'm fine. You go ahead." Toshiro sat back in his chair to further himself from the overpowering smell.
"Look, I'm not trying to trick you into losing the bet. I just think that you seem a little tense lately. I'm..." Renji rubbed the back of his neck to relieve the nerves tingling throughout. He always hated looking soft. 'Screw it.' He tossed back his second glass. Liquid courage to the rescue.
"I'm worried about you, ya' know? You should be able to wind down and enjoy yourself without all this bull shit judgement flying around. So, have one. With me." Sincerity. That's all that Toshiro could read from the man's facial expressions, the tone of voice. Even his body language was open and reassuring. He had his charms Toshiro mused. And Rangiku would do well to make something more of their friendship.
'What the hell. What's one drink?' Toshiro thought. He could do one. He couldn't die from just one. Although to him, the liquid smelled unnervingly close to turpentine.
"Okay. But, just one. Then I need to get to sleep." Toshiro watched as his second in command's good friend grabbed another glass and poured a drink just for him.
It did not turn out to be just one drink. Once Rangiku's body had a taste of the foul stuff, it went down like water. Seven drinks later found Toshiro leaned back against a broad tatted chest, one strong arm wrapped around his waist. They lounged on the couch, idly chatting, no real depth to the conversation. Toshiro felt relaxed. It was nice to have no responsibilities. To sit and just do nothing at all. He must have quit speaking and was staring into space for Renji had nuzzled his face into a bared shoulder without notice.
"Ran? You okay?" His warm breath on the bare skin brought a sigh from "Rangiku's" lips.
"Mhmm. Just thinking." Toshiro settled his head back turning his gaze toward the ceiling.
"You do that a lot lately. I think your captain is rubbing off on you." He teased.
"Well, it's prudent to be prepared and aware. I do not find it to be a personality flaw but a strength." Toshiro was a wee but irked and his tone reflected that. Renji decided to drop the conversation altogether.
Letting go of the slim waist, he sat Toshiro up to bring one of the pastel pillows behind the blonde head. Satisfied in the comfort of the position, he brought two large hands up to "her" temples. He began in gentle circles, dragging calloused fingers down the jaw line and under the delicate chin. Toshiro melted into the attentions. Renji watched the bodily responses through lidded eyes. The arc of back as he kneaded tight shoulders. White teeth biting into supple lips as he ran feather light touches across upturned inner arms. Then, the muffled moans came as he ran fingers through the strawberry locks. Sweat trickled down his brow as he listened to them, labored breathing sending breasts up and down. He could feel his heart thudding, trying to escape his chest. Halting his ministrations, he leaned down toward parted lips, stopping part way.
'Com'on, Renji. Just lean down and kiss her. It's obvious how she feels about you. You've been friends and allies for quite some time. It wouldn't be a huge leap to say you want something more. Stop being a sissy and just do it.' He continued downward, lips pressing gently against "hers". No reaction. Brown orbs rolled as he heard the familiar sound of Rangiku's drunken snore.
He shifted out from underneath the prone form to stand beside the couch. One arm under each end of the tall woman, he carried what he compared to a sack of potatoes down to the bedroom. Leaving lights off, he tucked her in and kissed her cheek. He turned to walk away when a hand grasped his.
"You can stay, if you want." Toshiro muttered into the soft pillows. He wasn't sure he wanted him to, but he felt that the man and Rangiku deserved it.
Renji slid under the covers and threw an arm over full hips. He nestled his face between soft shoulder blades and amidst the cloud of perfumed hair. He breathed it in deeply, cherishing this little progression they had made. A few minutes like that, and the two were fast asleep.
xxxxxx
Rangiku paced the roof, restless and worried. Should she have really let the captain do this? It had been his idea, but it was a lot to ask. She felt like a child passing a note to her crush. 'Do you like me? yes or no'. She was disgusted in herself for being such a coward. She prided herself on being desirable. She never felt inadequate or like she'd even have to try for a man's attentions. But, he seemed to be the exception.
"Damn you, Renji." She flopped down onto her rump and looked up at the sky.
"He's just going to ask some subtle questions, feel things out." She sat up straight. "Gods, I hope not too much feeling...things." She could feel her blood drain at the prospect of her captain making time with her, her, whatever he was. Having truly worked herself up, she bounded from the roof and hurried inside.
Once outside her bedroom door, she tried her best to stay a silent shadow peeking in between the door and frame. The little light that hung in the hall threw a small sliver of gold across the bed. There they lay, fully clothed, and snoring in unison. Rangiku let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Curiosity satisfied, she moved to her plush couch to make camp for the night. 'Man, I miss my bed.'