Toshiro woke with an unbearable headache. Cracking an eye he cursed sunlight and the vile birds chirping outside. He could not fathom how or why his lieutenant could or would do this every night. On purpose no less.
'Gods, my mouth is drier than Hueco Mundo, not to mention the taste. I need water.'
Concentrating all his will, he attempted to crawl out of bed. Something heavy weighed down his leg and hung over his side. Slowly turning his eyes downward, he caught glimpses of a tatted arm and a long lean leg. Toshiro began to rack his brain.
'I can't remember getting to bed. Hell, I can't remember much after the fifth drink.'
He was terrified to look beneath the blankets, but he just had to know. He lifted them carefully, eyes squeezed tight with dread. He hesitantly opened one eye first, then the other. He was flooded with relief when he saw himself fully clothed and Renji was at least in a pair of gym shorts. The guy had picked up a lot of the humans' habits, and their fashions. Toshiro felt he was spending way too much time in the world of the living and with that ginger Ichigo. But, that was a whole other matter. Right now Toshiro needed to find a way to wiggle out from underneath the man that seemed to weigh a ton at that current moment. Inch by inch, he pulled himself free. He was stiff as he stood and stretched quietly before tiptoeing down the hall to the bathroom.
He took in the foreign yet familiar features in the glass. The soft blue eyes, full lips, hair that fell near to the cinched waist. The body was that of all men's, well most men's dreams. He hated to admit it but he was going to miss being this tall. As hard as he may wish it true, he was not growing anymore. Having his fill of the reflection, he used the facilities, which never was going to be less than being impaled in your backside by a hollow uncomfortable. He began to sweat thinking about his lieutenant having to do the same. She obviously had to by this point. It had been days since their transformation. He began to pace frantically in the small room.
'What did she think? Did she laugh? Did she *gulp* take pictures to show her lame brained friends?'
He hated admitting ignorance but this was a subject where his knowledge was murky at best. He didn't know what "normal" was. He was never part of the crude "locker room" environment, nor did he laze about discussing lewd stories and imaginations with Rangiku and the rest. Thoroughly worked up, he burst out the bathroom door searching fervently for the real Rangiku.
He found her laying mostly bare face down on the plush couch, a thin sliver of sheet covering just his petite backside. Never in a million years would he have left himself so exposed, even in the safety of his own home. He moved toward the couch to wake her and tell her so. He grasped one slim shoulder gingerly, calling her name in a whisper.
"Rangiku. Hey. Rangiku." He studied her in waiting for a response. He called again, a little louder this time.
"Matsumoto. Wake. Up." The last two words emphasized by rough shoves. His body merely resembled Jell-O. No reply, no movement. Then he caught it. A ghost of a smile. The little snot was playing possum. He grabbed her by the back of the neck and began to shake her. So hard he offhandedly wondered if his head would pop off the thin neck.
"Okay, okay! Stop that. I'm up." She huffed. "What is so urgent you had to wake me up early on a weekend?" She queried, running fingers through unruly locks.
Toshiro had not much to say seeing as how after he throttled her, the sheet had fell askew. She had gone to bed, in his body, completely nude. Nothing was left to the imagination and he could feel his face grow hot.
"How can you sleep like that? Isn't it uncomfortable." He asked vaguely motioning to her current state, face turned away. He shifted side to side feeling distraught enough for the both of them.
"No, it really isn't that bad. I can't really even notice it." She leaned back a bit leaving the sheet to pool on the floor. He knew he had to be the color of beets and was near passing out with embarrassment.
"It's not like it's big enough to get caught on anything. I just kinda move it to the side and flop down. Though it does dig in a bit if I'm laying funny." She yawned stretching thin arms above her head.
"You touched it?" He choked out. He could feel himself dying inside.
"Why wouldn't I?" She replied nonchalantly hand moving to her usual metal choker. "It is mine, captain."
Realization slammed him in the head like a brick. She was talking about that damn necklace that was perpetually wedged deep within her cleavage. He thought himself a moron then a sense of relief came rushing in. He must have gave some tell because her grin grew wide and mischief danced in turquoise pools.
"My, my, captain. Where was your mind?" Her signature giggle came out in tenor making it all the more creepy to Toshiro.
"Forget it, Matsumoto." The order was a low growl.
"Just what kind of girl do you think I am?" The staged pout sat unnaturally on the angular features.
"I said, drop it lieutenant." He gritted out.
"Maybe you secretly wanted me to..." Rangiku feigned surprise, hand hovering in front of a mouth hung agape.
"Now that's just stupid." He threw a hand on one curve.
"Yea, that's it. I bet you even fantasize about it don't you, captain?" She bit her lip seductively. Well, as well as she could given her current body.
"Don't flatter yourself." Summer sky eyes near rolled out the back of the blonde head.
"Captain..." Rangiku called sweetly. Toshiro turned away arms crossed. "Comm'on, captain."
Toshiro peered at her out his peripheral.
Rangiku was running slim fingers over flat planes and spans of pale flesh.
"Matsumoto. That is highly inappropriate. I am your superior." He scolded.
She only continued delving further south, fingertips grazing protruding hipbones and tender flesh between.
"Seriously. You need to stop. Now." He couldn't help but follow the trails she was drawing on his skin. She continued south a few seconds before he leapt the few feet between them grabbing up the sheet on the way. Throwing it over the important areas, he restrained Rangiku, wrists held behind her.
"Ohhh. I didn't know you were into bondage." She batted her eyes as she leaned in to his rage mottled face.
"The only thing I want to bind is your ankles to a large boulder before I drop you into the sea." He bit back.
"And just how do you know what bondage is?" She asked coyly. "Does my captain lead a double life?"
"I unfortunately was paired with one of your primate brained counterparts for an overnight reconnaissance mission a few months back." He released her rising up to stand full height. "The stories I heard that night still give me nightmares.
"Ikkaku?" She asked.
"Shuhei." He answered. She nodded in understanding.
"Anyone who can handle a needle repeatedly stabbing them in the face is a good candidate for such kinks." Her voice was matter-of-fact. "I learned so from Maury last week. Not that specific scenario, but tattoos lovers in general."
"I don't know and don't want to know. The little I heard is plenty for my lifetime." Toshiro sat down on the couch next to her. "And Rangiku?"
"Yes captain?" Her eyes were closed, head back.
"No more watching day time television in the world of the living."
She smiled.
"Yes captain."
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They had managed to sate their hunger, clean, and dress without waking the red headed reaper and were making their way to squad twelve's barracks. They had had enough of this Freaky Friday knock off and were on a mission to find Nemu. Toshiro caught himself many times in the short walk trying to pull ahead of Rangiku to take an authoritative position.
It was a task in and of itself to relinquish the minute amount of headway he had made with his fellow captains and subordinates. He truly cherished the respect and obedience he had gained from hard work and perseverance. His natural born talent didn't hurt either. He wouldn't have made it at all without her. She had came to him and helped him understand what lived inside and gave him a direction. To have her serve him was an honor. But he'd never tell her that. The damn woman had too big of an ego as it was.
"Captain? Captain!" Rangiku was calling him in a harsh whisper. He turned his head to her slowly giving her hazy eye contact. "What planet were you on? I've been trying to get your attention awhile now." Her look was scrutinizing and concerned.
"Nothing. Just remembering some things." He brought himself back from the days of the past.
"Well, we're here. We've been here and just standing outside the barracks is making us look suspicious." She grabbed Toshiro's hand, dragging him inside.
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"I really dislike this place." Toshiro stated as he wove his way in between stacks of texts and busy lab rats.
"Not my favorite place either, captain." Rangiku whispered over her shoulder. She continued on eyes darting about the room in search of the emerald eyed mad scientist in the making. She found its creator instead.
"My, my." He looked them over circling around like a hungry shark. "My Nemu has told me what mischief she has been up to. I must say, I am mildly impressed. Yes, indeed." Mayuri's maniacal grin was quite unsettling, blue nailed fingers skimming and prodding the two.
"Must you?" Toshiro slapped curious hands away. Mayuri stepped back tucking his hands within his robes.
"Ah, young captain. You must have been eating your vegetables. You have grown much since I saw you last." A smug smirk twisted the colorful paint of his face.
"This is no joking matter, Kurosutchi." Toshiro bit out. "Where is your subordinate? I demand she undo whatever she has done."
"I believe you are letting the few borrowed inches make you irrationally brave. You are in no position to make demands." Snide words slid past the snarl. Toshiro looked taken back. "As you said so yourself, Nemu is my subordinate and will follow my demands. If you insist on being disrespectful, I will be forced to turn you into something unseemly."
Rangiku stepped between them, neck craned upward in an awkward angle. She gently pushed her seething captain behind her, little much it did with the height difference.
"Captain Kurosutchi, please. Being under five feet tall is unbearable." She shot Toshiro a keep your mouth shut look, knowing he would want to give a proper retort. "Help us." Rangiku pled.
"Very well, but not out of the goodness of my multiple hearts. Just to cease your incessant whining." He turned his back to bark into the other room. "Nemu! Come here!"
The slim brunette came quick through the doorway, coming up in front her master to give a graceful bow.
"Yes, master." Her voice and facial expressions were apathetic at best.
"These pests wish to be switched back. Do something about it quickly. Their presence is distracting and whining enough to make my ears bleed. I have things to do." He turned and moved quickly to the room Nemu had exited.
"It is good to see you, lieutenant Matsumoto." A bow. "Captain Hitsugaya." Another respective bow.
"Nemu, you are more than a little lucky that you are my friend. You're little scheme has made for the worst last few days-" Rangiku was interrupted by another deep bow.
"My deepest apologies lieu-" Nemu received a scathing look. "Rangiku. I wished only to grant your wish. Did you not say that you felt Captain Hitsugaya would be more understanding if he was to live your life?" Her eyes were searching, trying to understand where she had made the mistake.
Toshiro slowly turned to Rangiku, disbelief rut deep in his features. She merely laughed nervously and stepped behind Nemu.
"I knew you were the reason we were in this mess." An accusing finger accompanied the ire filled voice.
"Permission to speak, captain, but she did not ask me to do this thing. I chose to do it on my own accord as a token of friendship." Nemu attempted an apologetic tone as best she could.
"Although I do appreciate you taking responsibility for your actions, you would not have done so without the idea planted in your mind by my insufferable lieutenant and her perpetual complaining." He shot a quick glare in Rangiku's direction.
"If you give me a moment, captain, I will recreate the formula to return you both to your proper bodies." She moved over to a wall of texts and removed a large forest green tome. Turning the pages she scanned its contents before placing her finger on the correct formula. She then made haste in collecting the items needed and proceeded to measure and mix them inside the large test tubes and heated beakers. There was a brief illumination admitted from the beaker in her hand before she poured the liquid into two glasses to be handed to the awaiting reapers.
"Smells as gross as it did the first time." Rangiku eyed the contents within the glass with a lip curled.
Toshiro for his part had simply plugged his nose and downed the fluid in one gulp. He was more than ready to be himself again. Moments turned to minutes and still there was no change.
"Nemu? Are you sure that was the correct formula?" Rangiku asked.
"I am positive. I followed the directions word for word. I do not know why it is not working." She had returned to the text going over the steps and items.
"Great. Another day of this." Rangiku ran hands over her face. "Keep working on it, Nemu. I'll come back later tonight. For now, the captain and I have work to do."
"Unfortunately Rangiku's right. Do your best lieutenant." A quick bow was made to Nemu. He mentally collected himself to be his bubbly lieutenant for another day and walked out the barracks door.
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The two were sitting at their respective desks each doing their respective work, when Toshiro needed a fresh ink pad. He began digging through drawers and in doing so found one of the many hidden bottles of sake. He glanced over to Rangiku who was deeply engrossed in the treaty she was reviewing before taking a small pull. He was not very happy with the occurrence, but ever since the other night, he was craving the stuff. Every few orders read and stamped he took another long drink. Before noon the captain was well and truly drunk which led to the conversation that followed.
"Hey, Ran?" He had turned slightly in his chair, long legs slung over the side.
"Yes, captain." She glanced in his direction then back to her paper before her head snapped back up to the rosy cheeked captain. "Captain, are you drunk?" Her voice was a whisper.
"Nah." He waved a hand at the notion before sliding partway out of the chair. "Well, maybe a wee bit." He giggled.
"You have to be kidding me. At work? Really?" She had gotten up to get Toshiro a glass of water and help him back into his chair.
"Don't you go pointing fingers, missy." He sloppily wagged a finger at his lieutenant. "You do it all the time."
"But I have practice." She informed him, voice proud,
"That's not the only thing you have practice at." He laughed loud at his own insinuation.
"Well, that was just rude. And how would you know?" She demanded. He completely ignored her question to hit her with his own.
"Am I normal?" He asked, one eye squinted.
"Captain, you are the last being I think of when trying to describe normal." She forced the glass of water into his hand. "You need to sober up. Drink the water."
"No, no, no." Water sloshed up over the rim as he shook his head. "That's not what I mean. Am I at least average? Ya, know..." He glanced downward.
Rangiku turned red as understanding dawned on her. 'He's seriously going there.'
"Captain, this is not something I want to discuss with you. It's just too weird." She put her hands up in a defensive gesture.
"Look, I really want...need to know. And, I feel we've known each other long enough that you would tell me the truth." He stared at her with hopeful, trusting eyes.
"I don't know, captain. I don't want things different between us." She had come to crouch in front of him.
"I think I am mature enough to handle any truth you give me." He attempted and failed to pull himself up into a straight line.
"Fine." Rangiku stood up quickly causing Toshiro to grow dizzy in trying to follow the quick movement. "You are... decent." She could feel the flush creep over her skin.
Toshiro looked at her, clearly confused by the answer. She let out a huff in frustration.
"You definitely have nothing to worry about." She explained hastily.
Blue eyes blinked at her, slow and with effort.
"You are in the top three that I have seen and that is no small feat. There, does that put things into perspective for you?" She straightened her robes before returning to her work, definitely finished with the conversation. He would have to torture her get anything more out of her on the subject. She glanced up as she felt eyes on her to find a self satisfied smirk.
"Okay." He replied simply and returned to the work piled in front of him. "Hey, Ran?"
"Yea?" She didn't look up to answer.
"Ya' wanna' touch it don't you?" A grin appeared, threatening to split his face.
"You are cut off. No more sake for you. Now, do your work over there." She couldn't help but laugh a little too. Her captain was definitely more fun when he was a little marinated.
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Work had gone by swiftly and smoothly, paperwork caught up which it hadn't been in months. The two felt it a cause for celebration and went for dinner afterwards. Of course they went to Rangiku's regular spot which put them amongst the usual people. Yumichika was the first to spot the duo waving them over to the corner booth.
"Captain, wait." Rangiku caught the back of his robes. "This may be more than we're able to cope with. These guys may catch on if we aren't careful."
"How hard can it be. It's not like their intelligence is a force to be reckoned with." He pulled loose of her grip.
"There's something else." She whispered. He glanced over his shoulder. "They have a bet going that I can't go a week without drinking. If I win I get free sake for a month. They win, I have to do all the errands and paperwork for all of them for a whole month." She stared at him pleadingly. A smile spread across his face in understanding.
"What do I get out of it?" He asked.
"Really, captain? Blackmail?" She let out a long breath. "I'll do all of yours and my own for a month. No complaints, no excuses." She looked a bit defeated.
"Deal." He continued to the booth, sun bright smile in place.
"I am so screwed." She hung her head and drug her feet following her devious captain.
Hoping to get further along real soon. There are a few circumstances I wanted them to experience before the big switch. Please read and review ;) thanks for your time!