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Drink it Down

ODESZA remix of Faded by Zhu

Isane walked as she felt, alone. The cold and silent emptiness of the night suited her mood. She flexed her frigid fingers then buried her hands into the warm pockets of her jacket. A breeze kicked up and she squinted her eyes to shield them a bit from the wall of wind.

"Rukia would probably be completely unbothered by the cold." She thought to herself with a smile. Then her smile faded and she felt even more alone. Up till now Isane had only thought of herself, what she was going through. But now that her tears had dried and she was calmer, her mind began to think of Rukia again and what she was likely going through. Isane realized that the empty loneliness she was feeling now Rukia too had probably been feeling too. And she felt bad for the girl.

She wondered why Rukia had hid her feelings. Did Rukia know about her feelings for Unohana? "Probably not." She thought to herself. Then could it be because Rukia was shy? Again no she thought remembering that what she saw in Rukia's eyes after they kissed was pain not timidness. She had no idea why and resolved to talk to Rukia and set things between them straight again. She wouldn't do to Rukia what Unohana did to her and just distance herself.

Her thoughts returned to how she would act toward Unohana now and if their relationship would be forever changed. Given the way Unohana had acted toward her she decided to simply pretend nothing ever happened. Unohana would probably do the same. And she figured that if they did this their relationship would be indistinguishable from the way it was in the past, or at least it would look that way. For her it certainly wouldn't feel that way.

She chuckled to herself then said aloud "This is how it is now." No one was around to hear her.

. . .

Rukia was also outside and alone. She was sitting on a hill looking out at the night sky with her sword stuck into the ground beside her and she gave no fucks about the cold. After Isane left that morning Rukia had sat in bed for a long time, staring at nothing and hating herself. Then she went out to fight hollows again but unlike before it did nothing for her. Her mind kept returning to Isane. Now, as she sat on hill, Isane was all she thought of.

She wasn't worried about herself though. Rather she was thinking about how to get things back to normal between her and Isane, if they could ever get back to normal.

She did not want to speak to Isane face to face just yet. Doing so would be too uncomfortable for her. But she felt she needed to say something so she decided to write a letter of apology.

Deciding that it was time to go home she got up, put her sword away, and went home with intention to write. Upon arrival she bathed then got in bed and wrote "Dear Isane," then paused and stared at the blank page thinking of what to say next, how to phrase it. But before she could come up with anything she fell fast asleep.

. . .

Being that this was a Saturday night, Rangiku was obviously out drinking. She had become bored though and was walking back home along the empty 2am streets when she noticed the Rieatsu of Isane not far away from her off in some trees. She turned off the path to investigate as this was strange and soon found Isane sitting under a tree with a bottle in her lap.

"Isane?"

"Hi Rangiku." Isane said with a soft smile.

"What are you doing out here drinking alone?"

"Just thinking. Thinking and drinking. Do you want some?"

Isane didn't sound down but Rangiku saw that something was clearly amiss.

"Sure." she said as she sat down beside Isane and took the bottle into her hands and brought it to her lips. The smell of quality sake entered her nostrils and enlivened her sinuses just as much as the cold night air deadened them. She took a sip then returned the bottle to Isane.

"What are you thinking about?" Rangiku asked.

"Ehhhhh not much." Isane said avoidantly.

"You went out at 2am to get drunk alone on a cold night for no reason then." Rangiku said.

Isane stayed quiet, her inebriated mind unable to think of a retort.

"Sorry." Rangiku said after an uncomfortable pause. "I shouldn't probe."

"You weren't it's fine."

"No I was. If you don't want to talk about it you don't have to."

"Talk about what?" Isane asked thinking that Rangiku knew something.

"About, whatever you're thinking about." Rangiku said, this time being the avoidant one.

"You know something." Isane said probingly her usual shy demeanor significantly less shy because of the alcohol.

"Naah." Rangiku said. Isane squinted her eyes at Rangiku making a face of suspicion.

"Fine. I guess I do."

"Shit." Isane thought to herself.

"There seems to be something going on between you and Captain Unohana and I figure something went wrong. Why else would a girl who barely drinks be out here like this."

"Well there you go." Isane said with a disappointed tone.

"To me, she looks reluctant and you look like you long for her love."

"Reluctant she is." Isane said, then she took another drink.

"I've been there before and let me tell you, the alcohol won't help."

Isane swallowed the drink and said "I know." Then looked at the bottle with slight disgust and thought to herself that the one Rangiku was most likely referencing was Gin, which she was.

"Cheer up a bit Isane," Rangiku said. "Though you do look a bit sad, at least you don't look desperate. Anyway, I honestly don't wish to probe too far into your life but you're my friend and you can always talk to me if you want to. But if you wish to be alone I'll leave you be." Rangiku said before moving to get up.

"No stay. I'd enjoy the company." Isane said. "If you don't mind of course."

"Not at all." Rangiku responded.

"Well." Isane began. "It's over between me and Unohana. It died before it was born."

"She killed it didn't she?" Rangiku asked.

"Yes. She said that it would be inappropriate and she's right. So now it's just a matter of forgetting it ever happened."

"No Isane." Rangiku said. "Never forget, only move on."

"Hmm." Isane said. "Only move on… I like that."

"I know now why they say that love is the most powerful emotion Rangiku. I don't fully agree though. I'd say that fear is stronger, but love, if that is what I truly feel, is a close second as far as I'm concerned."

"Imagine the fear of love mixed together with the desire for love." Rangiku said somewhat jokingly.

"Perhaps that is what Rukia is going through." Isane said.

"Rukia?" Rangiku said not knowing what Isane was talking about.

"Yes. She likes me."

"Goddam!" Rangiku said. "She told you?"

"No. She just up and kissed me. Then nearly broke down crying, said sorry, and asked me to leave."

"Wow. You're in the middle of a triangle here. Well kinda."

"Yeah." Isane said then chuckled at the mess she was in.

"Though I really enjoy her friendship and though I enjoy spending time with her, I don't return her feelings. But I don't want to hurt her either. So I dunno, how do you reject someone without rejecting them? You know?" Isane said.

"You just, you just have to be honest. I've always been somewhat harsh in my rejections but Rukia is different, she's special, and I've never had to reject someone dear to me. I don't know."

Isane took a long drink then coughed. She handed the bottle to Rangiku who smiled and took a drink as well then shivered and took another one wanting to maintain her level.

"I'd just tell her what you just told me now about her. In any case she's resisting her desires which, while bad for her, is advantageous to you."

"True true." Isane said. Thinking that the advice though simple was good.

"Thanks Rangiku. Now I just have to convince her to let me talk to her."

"Give her time. She'll come around."

"Thanks Rangiku. Talking to you was good, I keep too much to myself as it is." Isane said in a better but still down mood.

"Matsumoto at your service!" Rangiku said with bubbly excitement.

"Unfortunately," she continued in a contrastingly serious tone "all this serious talk has ruined my buzz sooo why don't we get another bottle and get really wasted?!" She said in a once again energetic manner.

"Sure, let's go." Isane said with an appreciative smile deciding that it wouldn't hurt to get drunk for the first time in a while.

Then she tilted the bottle back and took two gulps almost drinking the whole thing down. She would have, but Rangiku playfully snatched the bottle away, and drank the last sip then said "don't chug it like that Isane, drink like a refined lady." then licked the last drops from the bottle's mouth with languid probing movements of her tongue. Isane laughed. "Ok Rangiku." she said with a chuckle.

"C'mon. Let's get out of this goddam cold." Rangiku said while standing up. Then she turned to help Isane up. Upon standing Isane wavered with balance compromised. "Oh my." she said amused, "I'm more affected than I thought."

Rangiku laughed.

Isane smiled enjoying Rangiku's infectious positivity. And then they set off.

. . .

Rukia awoke early as usual the next morning. As she slowly stirred in the sheets, wakefulness reactivating her body, she heard a crinkle. It was the letter she started writing to Isane the night before squished underneath her. And thus before she could even sit up in bed, her emotions were returned to the state they were in before she fell asleep. Despite this, her sleep was restful so while it did nothing to improve her mood, it did do good for her body so for this she was grateful.

"Well I ought to finish this now." She thought to herself as she got out of bed her kettle to boil.

She walked to her kitchen, and retrieved her bag of green tea and scooped some into the kettle, then grated some lemon zest into it to add. She went to her desk and retrieved a fresh piece of paper, then returned to her warm bed and slumped into it with a sigh and got to work.

Dear Isane,

I write to apologize to you, not only for my violation of your person the other day, but also for lacking the confidence to tell you the contents of this letter face to face.

The truth is, I am strongly attracted to you and have been for some time now. Though I have fought to keep my feelings for you pure, the attraction continued to bubble forth and reached its zenith the morning you healed me. I should not have done what I did and I hope that you'll forgive me. I also hope that despite this new revelation into my feelings we can keep some semblance of the friendship we once had.

Also for the sake of clarification, I was never mad at you, nor have I ever had reason to be. I was only avoiding spending time with you so that I could make my feelings pure again and I believe I should continue to do so until they go back to normal. I'm sorry I made you worry. Like the cliché says, it's not you, it's me.

Your friend,

Rukia

Rukia revised her words a couple times and found them to be satisfactory, then sent her letter off to be delivered to Isane.

She poured herself a cup of tea and took up a book to read, opting to stay in and have a lazy Sunday.

. . .

Byakuya was also up early. As he dined on his breakfast he thought over what he had all but decided to do. His response to Rukia's request discomforted him, as right is it seemed at the time, and this discomfort festered. Now, after considering his own romantic past and the emotional depth and fulfillment given by the experience of love, he realized that he should recant his previous prohibition and let Rukia pursue what her heart desired.

Upon finishing his meal he returned to his bedroom and sat on the edge of his perfectly made bed. Then took from his nightstand a portrait of him and Hisana from years ago. He gazed at the portrait of the two young lovers standing hand in hand. She stood smiling her bright beautiful smile, he more subtly, trying to hide the bubbly romantic joy he felt at the time beneath an air of grandeur and royalty.

He smiled, fully now as he gazed at it. The portrait filling him with warm nostalgia and longing. "I cannot deny Rukia this feeling" he thought to himself and with that made up his mind. So he called for a servant and instructed that they summon Rukia at midday and to summon a tailor at 8. Then he went outside to view the light of the rising sun that had begun to creep over the eastern horizon.

. . .

By this same soft morning light, Rangiku and Isane walked. Both were wasted and Rangiku focused all her attention into getting Isane, who was totally gone, back home. Soon enough they arrived at the Fourth and found Unohana sitting out back watching the sun come up in her usual peaceful demeanor.

Unohana watched as the two stumbled in. Her lieutenant slumped over Rangiku's shoulder giggling to herself at nothing.

Unohana was disappointed regretted her role in causing this, questioning her actions of the night before and the past few weeks.

Upon seeing her captain Isane piped up with energy and called out "Good morn*hic*ing Taicho!" Then let out a drunken laugh. Rangiku silenced the girl so she wouldn't further embarrass herself and escorted her to her room. After a brief struggle to persuade Isane to get in bed and go to sleep, Rangiku exited Isane's room and squinted at the bright light of the risen sun which shone straight into her eyes. Waiting just outside the door she found Unohana standing there.

"I see you've taken good care of my lieutenant." Unohana said with a blatantly sarcastic tone.

Rangiku, with her censor removed rebutted with unhinged rudeness saying "Don't fucking come at me like that after toying with her heart you trifling…" then froze, realizing what she was saying and stopping mid-sentence.

But she stopped a bit too late and Unohana raised an eyebrow in response. Rangiku covered her mouth and said "oops". Then apologized and said "I should go now."

Exhausted and drunk she nearly fell down the three short steps connecting the porch to the lawn but Unohana intercepted and caught her. Releasing her once again when Rangiku found her balance.

"Careful now." Unohana said in a slightly mocking tone despite feeling a bit annoyed.

"Thank you." Rangiku said then walked forward a few steps before suddenly rushing towards the garden fountain and vomiting in it. Captain Unohana shook her head at the pitiful sight then made her way over to help.

"I'm sorry!" Rangiku said embarrassed. "I'll be sure to wash all the fish."

"There are no fish. This is a fountain." Unohana responded calmly.

"Oh." Rangiku said with a laugh before heaving again.

Unohana held Rangiku's hair back as she vomited, noticing that there wasn't a single chunk of food in the vomit, only stomach acid and alcohol. It clearly burned on its way out.

Rangiku coughed then wiped the corner of her mouth with her wrist. "Thank you." She said. "And sorry. I'll clean your fountain for you."

"No need." Unohana said. "It will filter itself out."

Unohana helped Rangiku up.

"You should come inside and have some tea and something to eat. It would set your stomach right."

"No no. I've caused you enough inconvenience as is."

"Please. I insist." Unohana said feeling bad for being mad at Rangiku when in fact the only person she should have been mad at was herself.

"You are in no condition to walk all the way home alone."

"Ok." Rangiku reluctantly agreed not wanting to aggravate Unohana further. Then followed her into her living quarters wherein Unohana directed Rangiku to the bathroom so she could freshen up.

Rangiku washed her face and rinsed her mouth. Then she looked into the mirror and saw that she looked like a horrible mess. It was truly a wild night that she and Isane had. Then she peed, sitting with her head hanging down due to the pain of her building headache, dried herself, washed her hands, and exited the bathroom, following the smell of brewing tea back to the kitchen.

"Have a seat." Unohana said.

Rankigu seated herself at the table and rubbed her temples. She felt pretty horrible and her ears rang a little in the deafening silence of Unohana's home. The only sound was made by the bubbling of the teapot but Rangiku was too drunk to notice it.

Shortly thereafter Unohana presented her with a cup tea. It had leaves and herbs floating in it. It was undoubtedly the medicinal tea of a healer, both because of its rustic look and potent smell. Rangiku wondered obscure roots and herbs could be in it then raised it to her lips to take a sip. Unohana stopped her.

"Not yet. It's too hot. You'll burn yourself."

"Oh, thank you." Rangiku said. Grateful that she had been spared additional pain.

"It should soothe your headache." Unohana said as she took a seat across from her on the table. She sat upright with hands clasped together.

Rangiku nodded as she blew on it cooling it down. Once it was appropriately cool she took a sip and grimaced as the tea was bitter as fuck. Unohana added no sugar and it stung as it flowed down her esophagus then kicked the back of her throat with the spice of ginger.

"It's good for you. Drink it down." Unohana calmly instructed after noticing Rangiku's reaction.

"It's gotta be with a kick like that like that." Rangiku said with awkward humor before taking another sip, then wondered if that comment was also rude.

Unohana moved from her stoic position and got up to return to the kitchen.

"Do you like omelettes?"

"Y-yes." Rangiku said. "But you don't have to..."

Unohana turned her head round to look at Rangiku with a look that said 'shut the fuck up and accept the goddam omelette.'

Intimidated, Rangiku said "I'd love an omelette. Thank you very much." then resumed blowing on the tea.

Unohana smiled and turned away once more to fetch some eggs, a skillet, and a bowl. She put the skillet on the stove to heat up then began cracking eggs.

As she cooked Rangiku looked on and drank her tea, one bitter sip at a time. She sat thinking about what she had said to Unohana earlier and the potential consequences of it. She doubted she'd face any official punishment for disrespecting a captain but didn't know what Unohana might do unofficially.

Rangiku knew little about Unohana after all. Their interactions were few and they had never spent time together in a non work related circumstance. All Rangiku knew about her were her professional achievements and the fact that she could intimidate even the likes of Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake. This was a woman to be taken seriously and yet here she was, drunk and tired at Unohana's table, being cooked breakfast after insulting her. She was naturally uncomfortable.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the eggs pouring into the hot skillet. Soon afterwards the appetizing smell filled the room and caused her stomach to stir with painful hunger. She watched as Unohana cooked, moving about with smooth efficiency. Fetching ingredients and adding them to the omelette. Some green stuff, some meat, a pinch of this, a spoon of that.

With all ingredients added Unohana waited for a moment then folded it. She waited a moment more and flipped it and immediately fetched a plate. She placed it before Rangiku with a welcoming smile that Rangiku did not find welcoming at all, then she grabbed the skillet and slid the sizzling omelette onto the plate. Rangiku sat up straighter in her seat. Unohana reached for her spices once more and garnished the omelette with a dash of paprika and some parsley. Then she placed a fork and knife by the plate, sat down, and gestured toward the plate instructing Rangiku to eat.

Rangiku looked at the appetizing omelette before her with its magnificent presentation and equally magnificent aroma then looked at the woman who made it.

"It looks so good." She said trying to make the situation more comfortable.

"Enjoy." Unohana responded.

And Rangiku dug in. The flavor penetrated every corner of her mouth just as much as the tea did. But while the tea penetrated with its bitterness, the omlettes penetrated with savory flavors. It had ham, spinach, cheese, and a bit of bacon and green onion.

Rangiku swallowed then said wow.

Unohana smiled. Rangiku smiled back.

She ate another bite of the omelette then asked if Unohana had already had breakfast to which Unohana responded in the affirmative. Unohana got up to pour Rangiku a glass of orange juice then put the skillet in the sink and left the kitchen, disappearing into another room.

Rangiku listened to the soft sounds of Unohana moving about as she finished the omelette and juice. Then she stood up and became dizzy as the blood rushed away from her head. Though her headache was not as strong and her stomach was calmed and satisfied she was still drunk. So she waited to get her bearings then made her way to the sink and washed the plate, cup, and utensils and started washing the skillet. Unohana called her name with her sweet voice.

"Rangiku." She said standing right beside her.

Rangiku jumped, startled, causing the pot to crash against the metal of the sink and cause a great clamorous noise.

"I'm sorry I startled you."

"No it's fine I just didn't hear you come back."

Unohana nodded then said "Leave the pot. I'll wash it. Come now."

Rangiku obeyed shaking her hands off then followed.

Unohana led her to her living room were a bed was made on the couch.

"Now sleep. You need it." Unohana instructed.

"Y-" Rangiku began with intention to try to deny the invitation before stopping and instead saying "Yes Captain Unohana."

She got into the makeshift bed, head spinning as she reclined, and pulled the soft sheets over her then laid her head on the pillow.

"Sleep on your side not on your back." Unohana advised so that if Rangiku vomited in her sleep she wouldn't suffocate.

Rangiku turned to her side and snuggled up feeling a little uncomfortable given that Unohana was standing stiff as a board watching her with her ever stoic face.

"Rest for as long as you wish." Unohana said. "I'm leaving now for a bit so if you wake before I return just let yourself out. Also feel free to pour yourself some more juice if you want it. Oh, and take better care of yourself next time."

"Yes, thank you for taking care of me." Rangiku said. "I feel so much better now."

"I'm glad." Unohana said and with that she left the room and returned to her bedroom to don her Captains garb and head out.

And so Rangiku slept comfortably and peacefully as the daylight shone brightly outdoors.

. . .

She awoke later rejuvenated, restored, and sober without a trace of a hangover. "Unohana had really worked her magic" she thought as she rose out of bed then folded the sheets neatly.

She elected not to pour herself another glass of juice even though she was thirsty but she did stop to wash the skillet that was still left unwashed in the sink before letting herself out.

As she walked home through the relaxed Sunday streets she wondered what it was that Isane saw in Unohana and she reflected over the morning she had with the legendary woman. It was weird and a little awkward but she enjoyed it nonetheless.

. . .