Author's Note:

I still haven't found an anime to watch, mostly because I've been watching Glee with a friend. I'm still in the market for a good one, though! (Maybe Baccano! or Ouran High School Host Club.)

Thank you to those who reviewed: CookieMonsterNr1, soraaa sheep, EnternalSakura, amazoness23, SwirlzSmile, Carol00, drageneyez. I say this all the time, but I love you guys and appreciate you so much.

Kaleidoscope
a Bleach (© Kubo Tite) fanfiction

Theme #85
haze

Opening Song: "Lakehouse" — Of Monsters and Men

Today is Rangiku's birthday.

She celebrates with Kira, Shuuhei, and Shunsui-taichou, who each buy her several rounds of sake. People run up to her in the middle of the day to congratulate her, her friends drop off small gifts (she really doesn't need anymore sake bottles but she's never been one to turn away free stuff), and even Hitsugaya-taichou gives her time off.

It almost seems inappropriate to celebrate, considering the situation they're in, but Shunsui-taichou won't take no for an answer.

"Happy Birthday," the dark-haired captain says, and they raise their cups to her.

Her memory is a lot more hazy than it used to be. She still can't remember her actual birthday or her parents or her past before Gin. He's the starting point of most of her memories — even her birthday is because of him — but the details about him are starting to blur. Maybe it's because she's trying to suppress him. Maybe it's because this battle has gone on for too long and she's too tired. Maybe he's just starting to fade from her life.

This isn't supposed to be a sad occasion, she reminds herself. This is her birthday and she's supposed to be happy with her friends (not thinking about some phantom that keeps wading in and out of her dreams).

"Thank you, thank you!" she cheers as she opens another bottle of sake. "C'mon, c'mon, everyone! Let's have fun!"

The friends are wonderful, the alcohol is great (as always), and the celebration is what everyone needs to cool down. Rangiku is happy, even if she has to convince herself of it. She is happy, even if she's holding on to the pink scarf some figure in her past gave to her. She is happy, even if she isn't whole.

Closing Song: "Blue Jeans" — Lana Del Rey

Angst is my default writing mood and I am really sorry.

xx, der kapitan