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Hearts Entangled 2
Alimentas Mi Alma by J Alvarez
They sat in the restaurant now at a table for two. A table complete with the requisite electric cooking surface in the middle of the table. They thoroughly looked over the menu despite knowing full well what they intended to order. And then the server came.
"Welcome." the server said with a bow. "Are you ready to order?"
"Hai. We will have nabe of course. Sukiyaki please." Rangiku said.
"Warm soup on a cold night." He said.
"Hai." Unohana said.
"Would you like that with or without egg?"
"With. I can't imagine how anyone could eat this without eggs." Rangiku said.
"A lot do, western influence perhaps, so we have to ask." * The server responded. "Anything else? A starter perhaps?"
They glanced at the list of starters again then continued with their order.
"Tsukemono please." Unohana said, smiling pleasantly at him.
"And Hot Moyashi for me." Rangiku requested.
"Drinks?"
"Sa-" Rangiku began.
"Water is fine." Unohana said cutting her off. Rangiku gave her a look. The server did too. Unohana looked at him more intently than before and he obediently jotted down '2 waters' and underlined it.
"And for desert?"
"Nothing, I think this is enough for us." Unohana said in a polite tone, this time seeking agreement from Rangiku. Rangiku gave a nod of approval.
"Alright. I'll be returning with everything soon."
"I take it you don't like alcohol with food?" Rangiku asked after the server left.
"No, I actually wanted an apéritif but I'd rather not drink in public. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. What about later though?" Rangiku asked playfully, half expecting her invitation to be declined.
"Heh! maybe." Unohana said. "That could be our desert." Thinking to herself that that would be a fun way to end the night.
"Good." Rangiku said then looked around the establishment for a bit in silence.
"I like this place. I like the ambiance." she said taking in its traditional furnishings and design. Finding the warm dim lighting typical of fine restaurants soothing.
"Yes, it's rather quaint." Unohana agreed.
"Their prices are good too. I expected our nabe to cost more."
"Hai. They run a nice establishment here. Nice in every way." Unohana said.
And sooner than they expected, the server returned bearing a large platter.
"Here we are." He said as he presented each of them with their starters, beaten eggs, and glasses of water. Then he placed a cast iron pot containing broth upon the burner and set it to cook.
"You have udon noodles, chopped napa cabbage, enoki, shungiku, and shiitake mushrooms, tofu, negi, a few carrot slices, and of course the beef." The server said gesturing at all the ingredients on the platter.
"Shall I instruct you on the preparation procedure?" **
"No. Thank you. We know how." Rangiku said.
"Excellent. I can bring more broth if needed as well as more of any extra ingredients you may desire."
"Could you bring us a couple more carrots then, I prefer to include carrots in the soup instead of as a garnish." Unohana requested
"Of course. I will be back with the carrots momentarily."
The server left again and Rangiku said "It all looks so amazing. This is gonna be so good." with excitement.
"Mhm." Unohana responded with a cheerful smile.
As they waited for the broth to boil and the server to return with more carrots, they began munching on their starters.
"How's the Tsukemono?" Rangiku asked.
"Good." Unohana responded reaching the bowl across the table to offer Rangiku some.
Rangiku took a bit and offered some of hers in the same manner.
Unohana took a bit of Rangiku's moyashi.
A fleck of pepper got caught in her throat and she coughed. "That has some serious kick to it." she said, the sound of her voice roughened by the pain.
Rangiku laughed. "Too spicy for ya?" she asked as Unohana drank some water.
"No." Unohana said then coughed again. She drank a bit more water and beat her chest a few times as politely as she could manage. "I just got a bit stuck somewhere." She said finally speaking normally again.
"Aah. It was spicier than I imagined it would be. I hope it doesn't make the sukiyaki taste plain."
"Just eat more Tsukemono then." Unohana said offering Rangiku some more.
"Ok." Rangiku said taking a bit. "I should probably get another order of it." She said.
"If you wish. I think there's enough for the both of us though."
"Thank you," Rangiku said appreciating Unohana's generosity. "but having had a taste of it I want to have more than I feel would be fair to take from you."
"Alright then."
They ate a little more and then the server returned with the carrots.
"Sorry to bother you again but could we get another order of Tsukemono? I had a bit of hers and would really love to eat it with the rest of the meal." Rangiku requested.
"No problem at all, I'll be back with more." The server said then set off again.
"I hope he doesn't mind." Rangiku said.
"I doubt it. The staff here have a high standard of customer service. Anyway, lets cook." Unohana said with a crack of her knuckles and a snap of her chopsticks.
And so, they set to work adding ingredients to the boiling broth, collaborating in making their hearty soup. The server returned with the extra order of tsukemono and commented that their pot looked delicious, then he bid them a wonderful meal and left. Preparations complete, they put the cover back on the pot and left it to cook.
Rangiku took another bite of her moyashi then said "So, Isane and Rukia are a thing now."
"I know." Unohana said bright with excitement. "She told me about it a couple days ago. She was so happy. I'm happy for her too. Sometimes I'll see her smile a certain way every now and then and just know that she's thinking of Rukia."
"They're cute together." Rangiku said. "You should have seen them last week. We went out drinking together. They were secretly holding hands underneath the table. They both looked so nervous. It's good that they're calmer and more comfortable with each other now I guess."
"Yes. Were they up to all that during the meeting?"
"Not that I could see. I don't think they would do that though."
"Me neither. They both have rather reserved personalities. That said young love is quite… exciting, and intoxicating. It can drive you to do things you usually wouldn't. It's nice." Unohana said.
Rangiku smiled and expressed her agreement.
"I enjoyed that meeting. Part of me wants to attend them more often." Unohana continued.
"Why wouldn't you?" Rangiku asked.
"Too old."
"Ehh!-"
"No no what I mean is... there is something of a youthful… casual… spontaneous air to the Shinigami Women's Association meetings. I don't really have that anymore. Also, since I'm an authority figure both in the club and in the Gotei, I feel the club would probably be more at ease if I wasn't there all the time."
"Nah, the only one who wasn't at ease was Nanao and she's always like that. I think we all liked that you were there, Yachiru especially did."
"Yes." Unohana said with a fondness. "I told you she was named after me right."
"Yes. I wonder why. Is she like your younger self or something?"
"No, not in character, or personality. She is decidedly more… pure, and innocent. Perhaps in strength she's like me. I assume Zaraki named her in my honor, though he probably wouldn't phrase it that way. I can't say for sure though, he and I have never discussed this."
"The Kenpachi must think highly of you."
"Not anymore probably. Not since I laid down my arms. It's good that he doesn't chase me around demanding fights like he used to with Kurosaki before the boy lost his abilities." Unohana said.
Rangiku laughed imagining how wild a sight that would be. Then she imagined what would happen if they actually clashed. A chill went down her back.
"Imagine it though." Rangiku said suddenly serious.
"What?"
"The idea of you two, fighting each other again. We would feel it across soul society." Rangiku said thinking about how heavy and oppressive the air felt whenever Zaraki and especially Yamamoto let loose. Knowing that it would feel the same way if Unohana did too. She looked across the table at the pretty little woman before her and pondered upon the true extent of her abilities, wondering how she would stack up against either of them.
"Oh. Well, that will never happen." Unohana said with a shiver, imagining it, and wanting it for a moment, wanting to feel his blade grind against hers. "That life, like I said, is behind me." She continued. "Plus, we have no reason to fight each other. We never did in the first place."
"I see." Rangiku said in a detached tone.
"What is it?" Unohana asked.
"Nothing, it's just, amazing that that level of power is contained within you, within a single person."
"There is great power in all of us and where there isn't great power there is great potential. I don't consider myself all that special for being strong, but I understand where you are coming from. Personally, I have spent so much time keeping it in, locked up and quiet, that I sometimes forget it's there. Which is nice on some level." Unohana said somewhat sadly. "Perhaps it means I've moved on."
"Perhaps." Rangiku said. "Do you ever want to let it out?"
Unohana let out a pained sigh as she looked down at her hands, and spread out her fingers. Then coiled them into clenched fists. She relaxed them again and finished her internal reflections then said "Yes, " looking into Rangiku's eyes with shame and a sudden feeling of anxiety. "maybe I haven't moved on."
"Stop with that. Energy isn't evil. It's just energy, power. What you do with it is what matters. And wanting to stretch your legs a bit isn't something to be ashamed of either."
"You must understand Rangiku-"
"I do. Without agreeing I do." Rangiku said then reached out to uncover the pot.
"Look. I think our nabe should be ready." Rangiku said intentionally cheerfully, wanting to change the subject and avoid digging at Unohana's inner demons. Wanting to keep their evening together as bright as possible instead.
"So it seems." Unohana said. Her stomach rumbled a bit. She was significantly hungrier than she was when they left the women's association meeting.
Rangiku laughed.
"What?"
"Your stomach." Rangiku said.
"You heard that!?"
"Mhm."
"Oh my, pardon me." Unohana said feeling embarrassed.
"Ease up, it's fine." Rangiku said with a laugh. "Come now, let's eat."
"Ok Rangiku." Unohana said still looking and feeling a little embarrassed.
And so they served themselves. Rangiku took a bit of noodles and tofu with vegetables and a lot of broth. Unohana completely ignored the tofu. She served herself noodles, a bit of broth, and a bunch of mushrooms. The soup exceeded their expectations from the first slurp of their soup spoons.
"We did good" Rangiku said.
"Mhm," Unohana mumbled while chewing on a carrot. She swallowed "and we haven't even added the beef yet."
Rangiku dipped some tofu and noddles into the egg and then popped the largish morsel into her mouth. Though not at all a messy eater she did get bit of egg on the corner of her mouth. Without thinking Unohana moved to dab it off with a napkin but then she stopped herself. They looked at each other for a moment. Then Unohana, still holding the napkin, pointed at it. Rangiku wiped it with her thumb then licked it off.
"I would have gotten it myself but..." Unohana began.
"I know. Thanks Retsu-chan." Rangiku said with a bit of an amorous gaze.
Again Unohana looked a bit pained.
"What is it?" Rangiku asked.
"Nothing. I've just been thinking and..."
"What?"
"Thinking about what you said a few mornings ago." Unohana said with a bit of flustered urgency.
"When? Oh." Rangiku said blushing hard again recalling the morning after.
"I… well… I think we should be something." Unohana said.
A bashful smile crept onto Rangiku's face. Her eyes looked eager. Unohana looked on edge. Both were rosy in the face.
"So that's why you invited me out tonight." Rangiku said smugly feeling quite pleased with this development.
"No actually. I went to the meeting tonight because I wanted to see you. I invited you out on a whim because I wanted to spend time with you. Just us two. And now as I sit here I finally accept that I want to be with you." Unohana said, finding her words and her confidence again.
Rangiku reached across the table and placed her hand atop Unohana's. Emotion overrode propriety and not for a moment did Unohana consider pulling it away. In that moment she had forgotten where they were, whether anyone was looking at them. She existed for a moment in a void of perception in which there was only Rangiku. She ran her thumb against Rangiku's hand looking at it fondly. Then she looked back into her eyes and continued speaking.
"It's… odd. When I'm with you it's like my world is less gray…" she said then realized how depressing that sounded. "Wait let me clarify, I'm not implying that my life is dull and devoid of brightness. It isn't... not entirely so. But a significant part of it is. And when you are with me or when I think about you it doesn't feel like that." Unohana said then she chuckled. "I have to think about whether that is psychologically unhealthy for me or not." She muttered to herself suddenly clinical.
"I don't think it is." Rangiku said squeezing Unohana's hand, bringing her back.
Unohana squeezed back affectionately feeling excited.
"Y'know," Rangiku said in a lower volume "I kind of wish you didn't tell me that here."
"Why?" Unohana asked with concern.
"Because I can't show you how I feel about what you just said with all these people around." Rangiku said in a whisper.
"Oh." Unohana said with relief and let her hand go. Then she smirked slightly and whispered "Don't worry Rangiku-chan, you can show me later."
Rangiku giggled, anticipating what the rest of her night with Unohana would hold. And they proceeded to finish their wonderful meal.
. . .
Later, they walked side by side, cold, satisfied, and ready for their night to come to an end. Rangiku's hair and Unohan's haori blowing softly in the wind.
"Goddam was that good." Rangiku said walking with her frigid hands tucked into her pockets.
"Yes. And not too heavy either." Unohana said. Her hands tucked into her sleeves.
"Thanks again for inviting me out." Rangiku said.
"Thanks for accepting the invitation." Unohana said looking slightly upward at Rangiku.
Rangiku smiled in response.
"So, why don't we go to mine and warm up with some sake."
"That sounds delightful." Unohana said. "Let's not drink too much though, the work week isn't over yet."
"We won't. I have to buy some first though. I'm all out."
"YOU are out of sake!" Unohana said teasingly.
"Fuck you, I haven't been drinking much lately so I haven't gotten around to buying more." Rangiku shot back.
Unohana laughed. "Why is that?" She asked.
"Well I can't do your garden justice if I'm hungover, can I? And I get up early to come over to yours so I don't have time to sleep it off either. Anyway, when I do drink it's usually out with friends as of late. A beer after the workday or something."
"I see. By the way, you are breathing life into my garden. I greatly appreciate it." Unohana said thankful for Rangiku's now consistent help.
"You think so?"
"Of course, before you came along I was merely maintaining it whereas now, we are cultivating it. We won't see much of a difference for a while but come spring, you will see our efforts bloom." Unohana said with conviction.
"Well I hope the spring comes soon." Rangiku said. "I want to see your garden bloom and I don't care much for winter. Especially when its all dry and without snow. It's just so cold and most everything green dies, or at least it looks dead. Such a dull season."
"Everything dies eventually Rangiku, All Things End." Unohana said. "That's just how it works Rangiku. For me, that's what makes spring even more beautiful a season. For when spring comes we see life thrive again."
"That is true." Rangiku said wondering how beautiful it would look. Wondering how the seeded patches of dirt would bear life. "I look forward to it."
"Me too." Unohana said. "I love seeing snowdrops bloom. You'll see. You'll see our snowdrops."
Rangiku smiled.
"By the way." Unohana continued as they neared the liquor store Rangiku was guiding them to. "Would you mind if I stayed the night."
"I wouldn't mind at all." Rangiku said. "Don't wanna walk home alone?"
"Well, while I don't like being out and about while under the influence, even with companionship, I actually asked because I wanted to spend the night with you. If that's ok with you of course."
"Of course it is. As if it wouldnt be..." Rangiku said.
"I..."
"Its fine. I understand." Rangiku said knowing the reasons for Unohana's hesitation and wanting to simply keep her calm and comfortable.
"Here." She said as she held the door to the liquor store open for her.
"Thanks." Unohana said and stepped in to the warmer brightly lit establishment.
With a sudden efficiency of movement Rangiku led them directly to the sake selection.
"You ok with this one?" she asked, pointing at a bottle that looked as if it was of high quality.
"If you are." Unohana said.
"It's good stuff." Rangiku said. "It's the sake I buy when I want to treat myself a bit and not just get drunk."
"Oh. Well I trust your preferences." Unohana said cheerfully.
"Alright then, lets go." Rangiku said.
"Why the sudden hurry?" Unohana asked.
"I figure you probably would not want to be seen out buying booze with me." Rangiku said at a low volume, her posture and demeanor looking almost sneaky. As if she wished to not be detected by anyone or anything.
"Oh." Unohana said. And then she felt horrible. She had forgotten about image and propriety over the course of the evening. The happiness that being around Rangiku brought her had slowly worn it away.
"She thinks I don't want to be seen with her." Unohana thought to herself. Then she realized that not too long ago that is exactly what she would have wanted. Not to be seen galivanting about late at night with Rangiku. A woman known for her cavalier attitude and boozy escapades. A woman who enjoyed the leering of lesser men. She thought to herself that she should take Rangiku's hands into hers when they left the liquor store. Just to prove that what Rangiku said wasn't so. And to prove it to herself too. She questioned whether doing so would be forced.
She wondered once again what this was, whether it was a secret affair she was starting. "Am I just like those men? What am I really after in this?" Then she wondered what Rangiku saw in her. "Perhaps my status won her over." She looked, searching for answers, at Rangiku standing beside her who looked like she had somewhere else to be.
"No. This is something more than that. It can't be that shallow. It isn't. I hope it isn't."
Then Rangiku was called upon by the cashier who recognized her.
"Good evening Matsumoto-san." He said pleasantly.
"Hey. Been well?" Rangiku asked.
"Yes. And you?"
"Great. Really great in fact." Rangiku said glancing involuntarily at Unohana.
"That's good to hear. Will this be all for you?"
"Mhm."
"3000 Kan please."
She paid, thanked the cashier, said goodbye, and moved to leave. And then he addressed Unohana. "And for you Captain."
"Nothing. I'm with her. Thank you." She said with the subtlest grin.
"Oh. I see. Thank you both for your business then." He said with a bow.
They nodded in response and with that they left.
Out in the empty streets again they walked beside each other. Unohana looked toward Rangiku who wore a satisfied and relaxed expression. A soft gust of wind blew her hair back a bit and she squinted her eyes. Then Unohana moved to coax Rangiku's had out of her pocket.
Rangiku complied and their hands folded effortlessly into each other.
"Wh-?"
"Shh." Unohana said softly, squeezing her hand.
"I want you to know that I'm not embarrassed to be seen with you. Out here, in there, anywhere. Ok?"
"O-ok? I don't mind y'know. You're a Captain and -"
"But I'm also me, and I care about you. So while my first priority in life is my duty to the Gotei, I won't let that leave you neglected or feeling in any way unwanted. Fuck if someone sees us together right now." Unohana said speaking uncharacteristically. "I'm on my time right now."
"And yet you won't go to the meetings?" Rangiku said.
"I won't. But that's about me. This though, this is about us." Unohana said.
"I'm actually important to her. She cares." Rangiku thought to herself.
"I understand now. Thank you." She said.
"Mhm." Unohana said then brought Rangiku's hand to her face and nuzzled the back of it with her nose for a moment. Then she kissed it softly and let it go again and tucked her hands back into her sleeves. They smiled at each other. And they carried on towards Rangiku's home, walking close, feeling closer.
. . .
They arrived at Rangiku's home and both felt a sense of relief. They could finally lay back, sip some sake, and chillax for the rest of the evening. Unohana smiled the moment Rangiku turned the lights on. The lights were brighter than those of the restaurant. Still, they were dimmer than those at her place and their yellowish tinge gave Rangiku's home an ambiance of warmth that she liked.
"You have a nice cozy home." She said looking around the place.
"Thanks." Rangiku responded. "Would you like me to show you around? Its small so it'll only take a moment." Rangiku said with a chuckle.
"You seem to make the most of it though." Unohana respoonded.
"I guess." She said as they walked deeper into the washitsu.*** Shoes removed, they felt the softness of the tatami mat underfoot.
"It's pretty comfortable for guests in here and though I don't work at home often, when I do I do it there." She said gesturing at a shelf bearing office supplies, books, and a couple board games on the bottom. A small low desk was also stowed nearby.
"Here is the kitchen." Rangiku said and then paused, not knowing what else to say about it.
"It's incredibly efficient," Unohana said with excitement. Loving the way the refrigerator, shelving, stove, and everything were all trucked together nicely along the wall. "this piece too." she said running a hand across the surface of the kitchen island as Rangiku filled a pot with warm water for the Sake.
Rangiku laughed and placed the bottle into the pot on the counter.
"I'm winging that." She said gesturing at her work. "Let's go to my bedroom." She said flicking the water off her hands as she led Unohana deeper into her home.
She opened the door to her bedroom to reveal a large low platform bed with dark cherrywood stained accents, pure white pillows, and vibrant red sheets. There were two identical nightstands on each side of the bed whose wood construction matched that of the bed.
"The frame is also tatami." Rangiku said gesturing towards it.
"It's massive." Unohana commented
"Yeah. Plenty of room to play on." Rangiku said.
Unohana chuckled. Rangiku clutched her sleeve playfully and pulled her towards the closet door.
"And this, is my closet." she said swinging the doors open to reveal a space almost as large as the one they just came from. And it was filled with clothes she had acquired over the years.
"My my, you have quite the collection." Unohana said in awe. She knew that Rangiku did a lot of clothes shopping but never anticipated that she did so to such an extent.
"Yeah." Rangiku said. "Sometimes I think it's excessive. Honestly this is where most of my money goes."
"Not a bad place for it to go." Unohana commented with a shrug wondering if it really was excessive or not.
"I guess." Rangiku said.
"Can I, look at them?" Unohana asked feeling a bit mesmerized as she stepped in. She had never seen a personal collection of this size and had only seen selections of this variety in shops.
"Of course." Rangiku said. "If you find something you like you can keep it."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I probably have something else like it in there anyway. Plus, I doubt I'll ever get to wear everything in here. We pretty much always have to be in uniform y'know."
"I guess. Maybe you could wear them when you retire."
"Retire?"
"Well, if and when you retire."
"I don't think I want to retire." Rangiku said.
"Why not?" Unohana asked as she flicked through the clothing.
"I dunno. I feel like, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I think I'd be sort of lost."
"Just do what you do in life now minus the work." Unohana suggested a bit absentmindedly, focused mostly on the clothes she was flicking through.
"But the work is the central part though. Like it's not my favorite part, not all the time at least, but it's the most important."
Unohana stopped and looked toward Rangiku. "I completely agree. And by the way I don't intend to retire either. Most of us are like that. We Shinigami usually serve until we die."
"I know. I've always wondered whether I'd fall one day in battle, just like most everyone else." Rangiku said.
Not wanting to deny a very real possibility Unohana asked "Does that make you afraid?"
"A little. I used to be afraid that dying would hurt. But I've been stabbed and slashed and starved. I've had chunks of me torn out. I've bled and bled until I didn't think I could bleed anymore only to continue to exsanguinate. I've stood on the precipice of death many times, longing for the darkness beneath. Hoping that falling into it would end my pain. But each time, I failed to die. Instead, you, or Isane, or someone else from your division put me back together again. So I don't really fear the pain or despair of death anymore. I just do what I can to avoid it." Rangiku said. Unohana listening, empathizing, with a caressing hand on Rangiku's waist.
"Perhaps what I'm afraid of now is that pain is the last thing I would ever feel." Rangiku continued. "Dying at the hands of an enemy and not in the hands of someone that I love. Y'know?"
"Yes, I understand."
"You did an amazing job by the way. I've never seen anything like it." Rangiku said wondering whether Unohana's touch was affectionate or an inspection of her work.
"With what?" Unohana asked.
"My waist."
"Oh yes. I did heal that." Unohana said withdrawing her hand. She found it surprising that the series of surgeries she performed on Rangiku no more than a year and a half ago had slipped her mind.
"So mundane its all become." Unohana thought to herself.
"How is it by the way? Any lingering pain?" she asked, touching and prodding it this time as a doctor, not a lover.
"None at all. It feels and looks like it never happened. Like you undid it."
Unohana felt glad. "No, that's Inoue's talent. I merely helped your body regenerate. Can I see it?" she said.
"Merely helped me regenerate!?" Rangiku said as she opened her robes and pulled up her shirts so that Unohana could see. "Please. You either rebuilt or regrew a whole slew of organs in me." She said recalling the long bulleted operative reports that had to be added to her medical file.
"It's just what I do." Unohana said crouching down to look at it closer.
"Well you do it well. I was in bad bad shape and now I can barely tell there used to be a hole there. Sometimes I think I see a faint scar but then I think I'm just imagining it. Can you tell?"
"No. Not visually." Unohana said looking intently at it. "As far as I can see your skin in free of imperfections." Unohana said then looked up for a moment and smiled. "I can tell by touch though."
"Does it feel weird?" Rangiku asked with concern.
"No no. I just know what new regenerated flesh feels like. The collagen feels... younger if you will. Also, I just recognize my own work."
"How?"
"A bit of my rieryoku is left behind. Most of it fades quickly but a small bit remains for quite a while. I can feel it." She said holding her hand over the spot for a moment, feeling the traces of her energy.
"I can recognize Isane's work in the same way as well." She said getting up off the ground and pulling Rangiku's shirts back down for her. Rangiku let her robes stay as they were.
"I didn't know that that was the case." Rangiku said. "There's a bit of you in me then."
"A tiny little bit yes." Unohana said with a smile. "Can I hang this up somewhere." Unohana asked. Suddenly noticing that she was hot.
"Of course. Im sorry. It slipped my mind. I should have done that earlier. Let me get that for you." Rangiku said quickly moving behind her to help her remove her Haori.
"I just wanted to know where to hang it, I wasn't expecting this much help." Unohana commented.
"Nah." Rangiku said as she gently pulled it off her body and respectfully hung up the garment.
"I gotta treat my guests right. yknow. Especially you." Rangiku said, this time taking her time to move behind Unohana again. She embraced her and kissed her neck. "You don't mind right?"
"No. I don't mind this at all." Unohana said with a giggle, running her hand across Rangiku's arm. Then she undid the sash around her waist allowing Rangiku to remove her warm outer layer and hang that up too.
"Thank you." Unohana said.
"Mhm." Rangiku said then decided to remove her robes too.
Unohana resumed browsing Rangiku's clothes again. Her fingertips gliding along the fabrics, flicking them by absentmindedly again. But she soon came across an exceptionally nice piece of fabric and took notice. It was a one shoulder dress in vibrant red. And it was just as delightful to touch as it was to look at. She took it off the garment rod and said with conviction. "Now this, this is gorgeous. It's like the dress you wore to dinner with me that one time but even prettier.
"Yeah. I don't think I've ever worn it."
"You should. It would look amazing on you."
"How about you try it on." Rangiku suggested. "I've never seen you in a dress and I think it would look amazing on you too."
"I, wh-, I don't think I could fill it properly." Unohana said feeling a bit shy to put on such a form fitting and revealing garment.
"You calling me fat or something." Rangiku asked, pretending to be very offended.
"No no," Unohana said laughing. "I'm just shorter than you and I feel it would fit your curves better than mine."
"Nonsense. Put it on. You'll look great." Rangiku encouraged. Wanting to see Unohana wearing something overtly feminine for once.
"Fine." Unohana said handing Rangiku the dress so she could disrobe. She pulled her undershirt up a bit then paused. "Do you not intend to turn your back while I change?"
"Only if you require me to." Rangiku said, a small smirk on her face.
Unohana chuckled and began to undress, handing the garments one by one to Rangiku. She stopped at the bodysuit she would wear when she didn't want the straps of a bra to be digging into her all day. She thought it looked good on her too, that it framed her torso well. Rangiku's expression suggested that she liked the look of it too.
She reached for the dress, but Rangiku pulled away a bit. "C'mon now Retsu." She said. You can't wear a dress like that with a bodysuit underneath. Gotta take that off too."
Unohana grumbled.
"What? It's not like I haven't seen them before."
Unohana frowned and pouted unconvincingly then complied.
"Slowlyyy…" Rangiku instructed.
"Don't push it now." Unohana shot back, removing it with ever greater efficiency of movement.
She quickly worked it down her legs then flicked it into the air with her foot and caught it. Then she laid it atop the rest of her clothes. Her bodysuit bore her scent the most. Without thinking, Rangiku inhaled a bit deeper, enjoying the softness of her smell. The faded sweetness of her perfume.
"Do I need to take these off too?" Unohana she asked wiggling the sides of her briefs up and down.
"Nah." Rangiku said with a laugh and handed Unohana the dress.
"Thank you."
Unohana slipped it on easily as it was a couple sizes too big for her. It hung loosely on her thinner frame. Were it strapless it would slide right off her and crumple at her ankles. She tried adjusting it for a bit, trying to get it to look right. But it refused to comply, as if the fabric did not want to touch her skin. She soon gave up, shrugged with frustration and said, "How does it look?"
Rangiku giggled. Unohana looked way too cute to her like that. "You're so skinny!" She said feeling her through the fabric. "It's really loose. But I can take it in a bit with some clips and stuff."
Unohana laughed "Are you giving me a makeover now."
"Nah." Rangiku said then got really excited. "Wait do you want me to?!" She asked thinking that that would be fun.
"No, not tonight at least." Unohana said.
"Alright. By the way I like the natural look of your makeup." Raagiku commented.
"Oh I'm not wearing any." Unohana said nonchalantly.
"Wh-? Wow." Rangiku said.
Unohana felt fukkin beautiful and blushed a bit. "Want me to let my hair down?" She asked.
"Yeah."
Unohana removed her hair tie and started unraveling the braid.
"Can I do it?" Rangiku asked. "I like touching your hair."
"Sure." Unohana said.
Rangiku cracked the joints of her fingers and set to work unraveling the braid. Then she started running her fingers through it. Combing it and separating it into long wavy locks. Unohana stared at Rangiku's face with its focused expression all the while. She glanced at her soft pink lips every so often. Affectionately longing. Rangiku finished with her hair and muttered "Alright now, where did I put those clips?" to herself turning away to look for them.
As Rangiku looked for the clips, Unohana turned to face the mirror. She laughed out loud at the sight, she thought she looked pretty comical.
"I'll get it looking good in no time." Rangiku said coming back toward her with the clips. "Can you hold the box for me?" she asked.
"Sure." Unohana said turning back toward her and taking the the box into her hands. "Don't look at yourself in the mirror until I'm done."
"Alright."
"Ima just pull it in a bit." Rangiku said. She stepped behind Unohana and ran her hands down her torso, over her hips, and down her thighs. Getting a feel for the curves and lines she was going to be conforming the dress to.
"Sounds good." Unohana said, enjoying her deft and professional touch.
Rangiku worked in focused silence and little by little Unohana felt the fabric hug her more and more. Closing in around her and taking the form of her body.
Nearing the top of Unohana's back, Rangiku moved in front of her again, took two clips and put them into her mouth. Then she squished Unohana's boobs together and upward a little bit.
"Well damn." Unohana said.
"Hold them like that for me please." She asked.
"Ok." Unohana said cupping her breasts in the way Rangiku instructed. She felt sexualized and embarrassed as she looked down into her own cleavage. Unaccustomed to having her body presented in this way. Unaccustomed to that look she saw in Rangikus eyes for a moment when she stood back and looked her up and down.
Rangiku took the clips from her mouth, reached behind her and affixed them to the fabric.
"You can let the girls go now." She said.
Unohana laughed at Rangiku's phrasing. Rangiku laughed because Unohana laughed. She stood back a second time assessing her work.
"Almost done. Don't turn around yet." She said then retrieved a thin rose gold necklace and put it on Unohana.
She messed with Unohana's hair a little bit more, adjusted the shoulder strap, and stood back to look at it again. Then she nodded and said "I'm done, you're fucking beautiful Retsu. Have a look at yourself."
Unohana blushed again and turned around. And what she saw reflected in the mirror was gorgeous. A view of herself that she hadn't seen in forever. She took it all in. Hair curling round itself, flowing down onto her shoulder. The other shoulder holding up the single strap of the dress. The necklace framing her scar in a way she found beautiful, and beneath that an ostentatious display of cleavage she could now kind of appreciate. And finally, the way that magnificent dress hugged her body and framed her slight subtle curves.
"Wow." She said as she looked at Rangiku through the mirror standing proudly beside her.
"I know." Rangiku said, moving behind Unohana again.
Blushing, Unohana said. "I... thanks Rangiku-chan. It does look great on me."
"That it does." Rangiku said running her hands down her body, this time sensuously. She, looking at the two of them in the mirror.
"We can take it to a tailor to have it properly fitted to you." Rangiku offered, resting her hands at Uonahana's hips. Loving the way Unohana looked in it more than Unohana herself did.
"No way. I refuse to let this dress get mutilated like that." She said placing her hands atop Rangiku's and pulling them onto her stomach, pulling her closer. "And if it looks this good on me, I can only imagine how nice it would look on the body it was originally intended for."
Rangiku smiled and kissed Unohana on the cheek in response, then let her go. Unohana turned around to face her.
"Put it on for me." Unohana said reaching behind her back, moving to take it off.
But Rangiku stopped her. "No wait! Let me take a picture of you first."
"Why?" Unohana asked.
"We'll you're not keeping it, so I'll probably never see you like this again. I just want a picture, for the memories."
"Ok." Unohana agreed.
"I'll get the camera." Rangiku said.
She let Unohana go then took a box of things from the top shelf of the closet and removed an instant development camera from it.
"Nice camera." Unohana said.
"Thank you. It's an antique I bought in the human plane." Rangiku said positioning herself before Unohana and framing up the shot. "Y'know what, it would look better if you stood in front of a better background."
"Is this a photo-shoot too now?" Unohana complained jokingly as Rangiku led them out of the closet, Unohana waddling as fast as she could behind her.
"C'mon it's just one picture." Rangiku said looking for a place for Unohana to stand.
"How about right there by the window?" Rangiku suggested pointing at a large window into which a bit of moonlight shone.
"Sure." Unohana said waddling over to the spot in her tight-fitting clothing.
Rangiku laughed out loud. "What the fuck is that walk?!" she asked.
"I don't want to undo any clips, you made it very tight." Unohana explained taking little tiny steps to her destination.
"They'll be fine." Rangiku said still laughing as Unohana finally waddled into the spot and turned around.
"Like this?" Unohana asked.
"A little to the right so that the moon can shine on you a bit." Rangiku instructed.
Unohana shimmied over a bit.
"There." Rangiku said.
She brought the camera up again and instructed Unohana to strike a pose.
"Like what?"
"I dunno, something natural. Something comfortable."
Struggling to think of something Unohana, adjusted her footing a bit. She looked down at her hands trying to figure out something to do with them. She soon chose to imagine that she was standing in line somewhere, that seemed 'natural' enough for her. Her hands folded into each other before her stomach, she straightened her back, and then looked at Rangiku. Looking at her through the lens. She smiled a warm little smile, waiting for Rangiku to give her feedback and guidance. But without warning Rangiku snapped two quick shots. She gave her no time to break her modest and slightly shy stance.
"You didn't count down." Unohana complained.
"It's more candid this way." Rangiku responded walking over, then they waited for the pictures to slowly print out.
"See. One for you. Aaaand one for me." She said handing Unohana a picture, she held her copy with fondness, looking upon it with a warm smile.
Unohana looked at herself in the photo and yet again found the view of herself beautiful. The light of the moon gave a gloss to her hair and the radiant red she was wrapped in. Like Rangiku, she was drawn to the look in her eyes. Eyes she was staring into as if removed from herself. "I guess you're right." Unohana said thinking that she looked somehow vulnerable in the photo. "Thank you for this."
"My pleasure. So, you ready to get to drinking now?" Rangiku asked putting her picture and the camera away in her nightstand.
"Nuh-uhh, now you gotta put this on for me." Unohana said excited to get out of it.
"Oh, yeah. Alright." Rangiku said.
"So get me out of this tight dress and strip for me then." Unohana said starting to waddle back over to the closet.
Rangiku laughed again finding it hard to take Unohana's words seriously when she was walking like that.
"It's really tight." Unohana complained.
"You're just not used to clothes like that." Rangiku said.
"I know."
They returned to the closet and the clips quickly became undone. Unohana slipped out of the dress. She put her bodysuit, pants and a loose shirt back on. Then she watched as Rangiku undressed, just as Rangiku had watched her.
Rangiku slipped the fabric on. Unohana thought that the dress truly belonged on Rangiku and not on her. It fit her perfectly.
"There." Rangiku said, then spun around in place.
"Marvelous." Unohana said. Admiring the woman before her with her eyes and then with her hands as she so loved to do. Moving around her in a slow intimate orbit.
Her orbit ceased in front of Rangiku. But she continued to feel, softly running the tips of her fingernails up Rangikus stomach. She felt the fabric and the flesh underneath on her way up. And where fabric ended and skin began, she felt with the skin of her fingertips. Slowly running up her chest and trachea, then tracing Rangiku's jawline. Finally she withdrew her fingers at her chin.
"You're exceedingly beautiful Rangiku." Unohana said.
"I know, thanks."
Unohana shook her head and laughed. Rangiku laughed too.
"Hand me that camera." Unohana said. "It's my turn now."
"Sounds good to me." Rangiku said handing her the polaroid.
Unohana quickly looked it over getting an idea of how it worked.
"Alright." She said.
"Want me in better light?" Rangiku offered.
"Sure." Unohana said, following Rangiku out.
"Hey, Rangiku-chan." Unohana said.
"Ye-." Rangiku began to say as she was turning around, only to be interrupted by the camera flash.
"Hey!"
"It's more candid this way." Unohana said.
"Hah! Fine you got me there." Rangiku said.
Unohana giggled.
"Come on now let's get me in some better light."
They made their way back to the window and Unohana snapped another picture of her in the process of turning around.
"Y-! Seriously now." Rangiku complained.
"Ohh don't worry you'll look great." Unohana said glancing at the picture from the closet that had just finished printing. She placed it on Rangiku's dresser and started framing up the next shot.
"Maybe lean up against the wall by the window." Unohana suggested, enjoying her time behind the camera.
"Alright." Rangiku said.
"Fold your arms across your chest."
Rangiku complied. She smiled, she was having fun too.
"Looks really… cool." Unohana said then snapped a picture.
"How's this." Rangiku said bending forward a bit with a hand on her hip, winking, and making a peace sign. A classic anime stance. Unohana laughed and snapped a picture of that too.
"Let me see how they came out." Rangiku said walking over to look at the printed pictures.
"These three are nice." Rangiku said excluding the second one.
"That one's my favorite. I'm keeping it." Unohana said then thought for a moment. "Actually can I keep all of them?"
"Sure."
"Ok." Unohana said. "I just want one more then we can drink."
"Ok. Where do you want me?" Rangiku asked.
"Back a little." Unohana instructed. Rangiku took a step back and Unohana followed.
"Back." She said and followed the same.
"Back, back, back…" She said all the way to the wall.
"Retsu what…" Rangiku began, in confusion but was interrupted by a kiss. A kiss with lustful ferocity. Quickly Rangiku's surprise faded and she soon was kissing back in kind. Her hands made their way to Unohana's waist, pulling her in. But Unohana resisted, grabbing one and pinning it to the wall above Rangiku's head. Her other hand remained clutching the camera, finger ready on the button. Rangiku whimpered into the kiss, completely submitted to that fiery moment. And then Unohana broke it and stepped back suddenly and raised the camera.
"Retsu-" Rangiku began but for the third time that night was interrupted by the flash.
"Oh hell no." She said realizing what Unohana had done. Unohana snapped another picture of her reaching for the camera as she moved backward. This only made Rangiku chase quicker but she kept snapping. She snapped photos all the way to the bed Rangiku tackled her onto. And then she conceded and laughed.
"I cant believe you just kissed me like that for a picture."
"Wait till you see the look on your face Rangiku-chan." She said. Camera humming away printing a photo. They looked at it and it was the wrong one.
"Must have dropped it." Unohana commented, getting off the bed and looking for it on the floor.
She soon found it and the picture was just as she anticipated. The hunger and longing in Rangiku's eyes and the redness of her face were absolutely beautiful. So too was the gloss on her lips from their saliva, and the glow of her hair in the light of the moon. Her slightly outstretched arm beckoned. Unohana thought it was perfect.
"Look at it." Unohana said giving it to her. "It's the most expressive one of the lot."
Rangiku's face went red again when she looked at it. She was beautiful in her lack of composure.
"Come to me." She said reaching out for Unohana.
Unohana obeyed. Rangiku grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close.
"There's so much more to you than I ever expected Retsu. You don't know how happy it makes me to call you mine."
Unohana smiled. "Is that what you wished you could tell me earlier in the restaurant?"
"What?" Rangiku asked confused. "Oh no, I think I said I wanted to show you."
"Oh, what?"
"Just a kiss." Rangiku said then leaned over and kissed her sweetly, modestly, lovingly. "That is all."
Unohana smiled as they stared into each other's eyes for a moment. "This is what it's for. This is why I want her. For this feeling we share right now." She thought to herself. "The fires of love."
"Alright," Rangiku said concluding their moment. "How bout we get to that sake."
"Sounds great." Unohana said, gathering her snapshots off the bed.
"Sweet." Rangiku said. Eager to continue this wonderful night with her lover.
So she put the camera away and changed back into her regular clothing and they set off to the kitchen.
"By the way," Unohana said "wear that dress again for me sometime. Don't let it collect dust in your closet."
"Ok Retsu-chan. I'll wear it again for you."
And in time she would.
. . .
*Japan does not have a salmonella problem with their poultry like we do. Eggs are eaten raw over there all the time.
**Even if served in a restaurant nabe is prepared by those consuming it. My research shows that restaurants will generally prepare the broth for you, and leave the rest of the cooking and mixing of ingredients to you.
*** Traditionally speaking, Washitsu are tatami florred rooms, at least according to Wikipedia. In contemporary Japanese architecture, which I feel strongly influences the architecture of the Bleach universe, the washitsu serves the purpose of a living room.
An: I'm back lol. Damn is writers block a bitch. Took me a while to figure out how to best depict the evolution of Unohana and Rangiku's relationship. And by a while i mean a whole fucking year. Sorry about that. Im a shit writer and those two are hard to write, each being rather complicated characters. Did I ever tell you all how the idea of this story came to be. It started out as a Isane and Unohana ship simply due to hints of Isane's feelings within canon. But the idea of them being together just isn't right to me, due to Isane being Unohana's subordinate both professionally and personally. So I had to find someone else for Isane to be with and Rukia just kinda made sense. So this story was going to be Isane one-sidedly longing for Unohana, Rukia one-sidedly longing for Isane. Isane was going to realize she couldn't have Unohana. She and Rukia would each individually confide their struggles to Rangiku who would get them together. Alot like how Lily Peach Plum went down.
If I stuck with that idea this story would have ended so long ago. Two years ago perhaps. But as I have probably mentioned before Captain Unohana is my favorite character in Bleach. Writing the story I previously described leaves her and her nuances completely unexplored. So I was thinking of someone to pair her with so that I could explore her a bit. Rangiku came to mind and I thought to myself "this couple makes no sense at all. Like why would they ever get together" and then decided to try and figure out how to make it make sense. I figured that would be a fun challenge. I thought about it for a while and figured something beautiful out. I drafted an ending and then started writing. And here we are three years later. Their story has become the core of this fanfiction, I can explore so much more than I previously could have, and Unohana has become the central character. So, writing this is really labor intensive. There is a lot to cover and I have to do so correctly.
Did I ever tell you all that ive drafted and deleted entire chapters, then started to edit them only to delete the whole thing cuz I didn't like it. I've done that twice. I had a Rukia and Isane scene drafted for this chapter that I spent a while writing. But when I went to edit it I decided to remove it because it made no sense from a physics standpoint. I have to thoroughly rework that. I also have part of a Rangiku and Unohana sex scene written. They were supposed to smash in this chapter (tonight in the chronology of this story) but that would make this chapter huge. 8000 words is a good length, I found a good stopping point, and content is long overdue. Anyway I'll fix and finish up those scenes and have them posted soon. This aint a spoiler btw, just a teaser lol. Thanks for bearing with me and my shit. I'm loving creating this and sharing it with all of you. This story is back in synch with the seasons which is nice. The ending of the story occurs in spring so hopefully I will have everything wrapped up and post the last chapters in IRL spring.
Thanks,
Jextacy