Disclaimer: Bleach ain't mine.
Note: Sorry it took so long! Do you know this feeling when you were busy and suddenly you have so much free time that you can't get yourself to get anything done? Well, thought it's short, here's the next chapter. Enjoy it!
Chapter 40:
When Renji awoke, even the light that seeped through his closed eyelids was too bright. He moaned and tried to open his eyes a slit. The stabbing sensation in his head was painful, but not too much to bear.
Something mumbled beside him and he turned his head to...
fall off the bed in shock only to realize, that he was not at home in his own apartment, but in Ichigo's room, had been sleeping in his bed and the heck, where the hell were his pants!
"Looking for those?", came a voice from the wardrobe.
Rukia sat on her improvised bed, fully clothed and held his underwear at arm's length. She tossed them over to him, grinning.
"So...", she began with a mischievous smile on her small face, "...how much do you remember?"
Renji, having found his trousers, too, sat down on the floor and flicked through his hazy memories.
"Um...Matsumoto was dancing on the table with a very short skirt...Ikkaku chucked up all over Ayasegawa's shoes. I think he lost three teeth and he had this funny pattern on his face afterwards...Ichigo was doing something like whatsitcalled? Karaoke?...why can't I remember anything about Shihana?"
"I think the reason is that before he went home Nii-sama came over to you and said something like 'You will forget everything my cousin did tonight or you will wake up as minced meat.'"
"Damn!", cursed Renji. "It's got to be something really good, then." Then his face grew pale. He threw a glance over to Ichigo, who was still sleeping soundly.
"Rukia...", he gulped. "What happened that I ended up right here and stark naked?"
Rukia smirked and presented a small white envelope. "I have waited for this question. Fortunately, Ise made some photos."
"P-photos?"
Rukia came over to him and sat down beside him. She took the small package of photos from the envelope and began sorting through them.
"That was when everyone was still quite sober...ah, the 'who can mix more Mojitos in a minute' contest between Tessai-san and Nemu. Poor Tessai-san, he was utterly destroyed...That's when Yachiru chased Nii-sama around the room because she wanted candy until Urahara-san saved him with a giant lollipop...I made that one: Shihana and Ise arguing who can remember more taichous from the last 400 years...You and Ichigo shouting at each other...you and Ichigo having a drinking contest...Iba and Hisagi singing 'It's a men's world'...the conga-line on the bar, it was fun, until Hanatarou stumbled and caused everybody to fall off...ah, and here's your answer."
Rukia pulled out one photo and held it so Renji couldn't see it.
"Show me!", he demanded and tried to grab it.
Rukia jumped away and grinned. "What are you going to give me for it?" She waved it around with a look of triumph on her face.
Her face fell when a hand plucked it from her.
"What's this?", asked Ichigo still half-asleep.
Then his eyes went wide. His head whipped around and focused on Renji, then he looked at the photo again.
"WHAT THE HECK!"
Renji, being more awake, managed to dodge the kick aimed at his head and pinned Ichigo down to wrestle the photo from him.
"There's no possibility that Shihana did get a haircut at the party, is there?", Renji said in a panicked voice.
"I'm afraid I did not", came a voice from the door. "But it was kinda hot, don't you think, Rukia?"
"Agreed", grinned Rukia. "Have you come to fetch us, Shihana?"
"You do not have to accompany me right now. I do not think rehearsals are necessary for tomorrow. I just came to fetch my fiancé for a nice bath in the Kuchiki hot-springs."
She held out a hand for Renji and he took it.
"Do I...", he began.
"No need to put on a shirt. There is a family council meeting scheduled this morning. Nobody will bother us. Well, until tomorrow, best woman, best man." Shihana gave them a polite nod and winked at Rukia. Then they disappeared through the door.
That is what happens when people get drunk^^. There's still a few chapters to go. I hope you stay with me and please review!
