Author's Note:
( Written in Vietnam.

My mom told us the agenda for our last week here, and I think it's funny how every day's big event revolves around eating a lot of food. )

HAHAHAHAH I'M SUCH A DICK OH MY GOD. So I'm really super sorry that I haven't updated this in a million years and that I promised to finish this whole thing by the end of graduation, but, um, it's May and I've already graduated and I'm just barely passed the halfway mark? Yeah, I'm REALLY SORRY I'M SUCH A LAZY ASS.

In other news, I just ordered PERSONA 3 PORTABLE AND I'M SO FREAKIN' PUMPED YEAH.

Again, a huge thanks goes out to Dragen Eyez, sunsetblossom, MissTeak, Charmane, xwannaflyx, SwirlzSmile, Mihara-chan, Miko-Ceres, and sasori4ever for reviewing. :D You all just make me so happy~


Kaleidoscope
a Bleach (© Kubo Tite) fanfiction

Theme #58
dumb luck

Opening Song: "Aesthetics and Identity" - Ishida Uryuu

It was that time of year again, the time that every shinigami dreaded and feared: evaluation day. Their accomplishments and failures would be brought before the heads of their division, and from there their punishment or award would be decided. It was frightening even for those who had been within the Gotei 13 for decades, for they never knew what their standing would be once they exited the room of judgment.

While every other shinigami was running around, fretting about, and mourning with their companions, one female sat off to the side, the same look of nonchalance on her pretty face. People couldn't help but wonder if they should hate or envy Matsumoto Rangiku, for only she would go into evaluation day without a care in the world.

Gin, being the sincere and compassionate person he was, thought he'd go and see how Rangiku was doing. (And he needed a break from his own division's evaluations, but saying that would just make it sound like he was using her as a distraction.) Needless to say, he wasn't exactly surprised to find the strawberry blonde stretched out lazily across a couch. "I can see this whole thing's got ya real worried," he commented jokingly as he took a seat on an arm rest.

She shrugged from the opposite end of the couch. "It's not that big of a deal. I don't know why everyone's freaking out."

Gin watched as one girl came out of the evaluation room with a sullen, defeated look on her face. "Gee, I dunno. Maybe it's got somethin' ta do with pride in yer work?" She quirked a brow challengingly at him, to which he simply chuckled.

"It's your turn," the girl mumbled to Rangiku, not even bothering to look her in the eye before trudging off.

"Well, good luck," he offered. "I'm sure ya'll need it."

"Yeah, yeah." Flicking her wrist dismissively, Rangiku showed no signs of worry as she pulled herself up off the couch and headed into the room. Everyone turned towards her when she emerged ten minutes later, each of them genuinely curious as to what her report was. Nothing good was the mutual thought.

She wore the same look of difference when she exited as she had been when she entered, and she said nothing when she reclaimed her seat on the couch. Gin cocked his head to the side questioningly, and the others looked on with curiosity. Just what had she been told?

"So, how'd it go?" he asked after a moment.

She shrugged indifferently. "Nothing really. I got a promotion."

His eyebrows shot up towards his hairline in surprise, and it was clear that his shock was shared with everyone else in the room. "Really? How big a promotion?"

Still she looked unconcerned. "Vice Captain." She couldn't help but grin smugly as the jaws dropped and the whispers rose. "See? The captain must have noticed my calmness and ability to take things on without letting stress get in the way."

"... So he rewarded ya fer bein' a lazyass."

She scowled. "We don't judge here, Gin. What you consider lazy others consider a virtue."

"Or maybe it's jus' dumb luck," he replied with a grin.

"My luck is far from dumb," she protested. "As the newly appointed vice captain of the 10th Division, I find your comment offensive." He only chuckled as he ruffled her hair, in which she promptly bit his finger.

Closing Song: "The Fad" - Chevelle

Word Count: 572

I have a legitimate fear of jaywalking. I mean, I admit my fear of feet is weird, and my fear of stairs is a little... bizarre, but not liking jaywalking is legit - I mean, I could get run over! Seriously, just ask xoProcrastinator; I wouldn't let her jaywalk even when the road was totally clear. And here in Vietnam they don't have those signals that let you walk, so you have to jaywalk. AND IT'S SO SCARY OH MY GAWD. ; w;