For the next week, Valentina spent all her time holed up in Uryu's (rather nice) apartment, intensely studying every single file Yumichika had managed to smuggle them from Soul Society and trying to learn everything she could about Shinigami, their powers, their best warriors and the inner machinations of their society. As a wise man once said, 'know thy enemy', and Valentina was intent on doing that.

Over the course of that week, Valentina read about tales of injustice that made her want to go on a rampage. People getting away with murder because they were rich or nobles, captains who committed state-sanctioned atrocities, and a head captain and judicial body who let it all happen with nary a questioning glance. What Valentina read only cemented her resolve to save the Arrancars from the corrupt system, and hopefully take said system down with time. The same went for Uryu and Yumichika. While Uryu wasn't that surprised by Soul Society's crimes, Yumichika was shocked by the sheer volume of injustices. He knew Soul Society was far from good, but he had no idea just how bad things were. It was a real eye-opener for him and caused him more than a few restless nights, knowing he had been unknowingly complicit in everything.

None of them had left the apartment (except for Yumichika when he snuck into Soul Society to get the files) all week. Uryu didn't even go to school, deciding to call his teachers in advance and inform them that he had the flu. They had cut off contact with the outside world to focus on studying and planning for the future, as well as trying to find a way to restore Uryu's lost powers. No one knew where Valentina or Yumichika were staying, not even Chad or Ikkaku. They didn't tell them for fear that they would start asking questions and figuring out what they were trying to do. No one had called any of them or stopped by to visit. Not even one of Uryu's friends came by to drop off his missed school work. Apparently they were all focused on training so they could get stronger for the confrontation with Aizen, ignoring everything else in their lives to do so. Including school. It was something Valentina should probably be doing as well, but right now she needed to focus on actually learning how things worked so she wouldn't be rushing into anything blind and getting herself in deep shit (aka 'acting like Kurosaki' as Uryu put it).

Currently, Valentina was sitting on Uryu's couch, reading over yet another file. Yumichika was sitting beside her in casual yet stylish living world clothes (he had stopped wearing his Shinigami uniform days ago) doing the same thing. Uryu was in the kitchen making them lunch. They took turns making their meals; Yumichika handled breakfast, Uryu made lunch, and Valentina cooked dinner. It was a good division of household labor, one that almost made them seem like normal roommates… if it weren't for the fact they were living together so they could plot the downfall of a government. Valentina's eyes widened as she read over the file in her hands once again. It was a case file concerning illegal experimentation on several captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13, and there was an unsettlingly familiar name attached to the file that she hadn't noticed at first glance; Kisuke Urahara, a man she was steadily starting to deeply dislike.

"Guys, come look at this.", Valentina told her two roommates. Uryu turned off the stove and walked up behind her to read over her shoulder, and Yumichika scooted closer so he could see the file as well.

"This is a criminal case file from Central 46 dated around a hundred and ten years ago. It's about how several captains and lieutenants were lured into a trap and used as test subjects for a hollowfication experiment, which left them almost completely turned into Hollows. They were sentenced to execution, and the person that experimented on them was to be exiled and stripped of his powers.", Valentina simplified, and Uryu scoffed.

"That figures. Punish the victims with death and let the perpetrator get off damn near scot-free. Typical Soul Society.", the navy blue haired man said, getting in his obligatory jab at Soul Society. Valentina nodded in agreement with his scathing remark.

"Yeah, but look at this. None of them had their sentences carried out. The perpetrator got away with some help from his allies, and he fled from his trial, taking all eight of the hollowfication victims with him.", Valentina continued. Yumichika's eyes lit up in realization.

"That means they're still alive. If those captains and lieutenants still have their wits about them, they may be willing to join our cause to get some payback against the system that abandoned them.", Yumichika said, and Valentina smiled at him.

"Exactly. But that's not the weirdest part. Get this; the perpetrator of the crime was… ", Valentina trailed off as she pointed to a name written on the file. Both boys' eyes widened.

"Kisuke Urahara?", they said in disbelieving unison. Valentina nodded.

"Captain Kisuke Urahara. The man was the captain of the twelfth division, as well as the founder and head of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Apparently he was some big shot back in the day. How the mighty have fallen.", Valentina said with a scoff, and Uryu shook his head.

"I don't believe that. Urahara may be reckless and at times unethical, but even he wouldn't go that far. This is likely a frame job.", Uryu said. Yumichika nodded.

"I agree with the Quincy. He's not the type to do something like this. This seems more like Aizen's thing. Perhaps this was a precursor to his attempts at making Arrancar?", Yumichika speculated. Valentina hummed at his suggestion.

"Maybe. If it is, Aizen picked a good fall guy. A known scientist, has interest interest in Hollows, Urahara looks good for it. Did you know he was an exile and a convicted criminal, Yumichika?", the tanned skinned woman asked, trying to get all the details. Yumichika shook his head.

"No. I knew he was an exile, all of the Shinigami in the living world do, but I didn't know this was what got him exiled.", the black haired Shinigami denied. Valentina sighed.

"Everytime I think I understand the situation we're in, something else comes to light that makes me question everything all over again. As much as I don't like Urahara, he didn't deserve this and neither did those other Shinigami. But something good might come out of their tragedy… at least for us. Do you guys think the hollowfied captains and lieutenants would be willing to join a crusade against Soul Society and Aizen?", Valentina asked. Uryu cupped his chin in thought.

"Most likely, yes. These people were experimented on against their will by Aizen, condemned for something out of their control by their government, and forced to flee for their lives. They all have an ax to grind with all our main adversaries, not to mention they might feel like the Arrancar are kindred spirits to them. They are both sets of hollow-like beings who were forcibly made what they are by Aizen, abused and persecuted for the crime of existing. It would be odd if they didn't want to work with us.", Uryu observed, and Yumichika shot him a look.

"You have a point, but you have to remember that our movement is still small and lacking in terms of fighting power. If the ex-captains and lieutenants don't think we'll succeed because of that, they likely won't agree to join us.", Yumichika pointed out.

"But that's why we want them to join us, to solve the fighting power problem.", Valentina reminded him, and Yumichika looked at her with wise purple eyes.

"Which is exactly why they won't join us. The eight of them, plus Urahara and two other captain level Shinigami who left with them, couldn't take on Aizen or Soul Society. In fact, they barely escaped with their lives if what that file says is correct. Sure they've had over a hundred years to prepare for a confrontation and get stronger, but so has Aizen and Soul Society. Aizen has an unwilling army, and Soul Society has its new captains. What we have is three people who really don't know what they're doing. For the hollowfied Shinigami to agree to join our cause, we'll have to make one hell of a pitch. We'll have to not only gain their sympathy, but also show them that we have room for growth. That we can get strong enough to make our movement actually mean something. We have to show them that if we fight, things won't turn out like before for them. We have to show them that things will be different, not because they're there, but because we're there.", Yumichika explained seriously, and for the first time since meeting him, Valentina was reminded that the man before her was centuries old and knew a lot more about the world (both spiritual and otherwise) than she did. Valentina and Uryu studied him with impressed looks.

"That was very insightful… for an eleventh division monkey.", Uryu complimented back-handedly, a teasing smirk on his face. Yumichika rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Oh please, just because I like fighting doesn't mean I can't be smart. I know Ikkaku doesn't exactly help prove that, but it's true.", Yumichika responded, and Valentina decided they should probably return their attention to their blossoming plan before they got sidetracked.

"Cliches aside, Yumichika's right. We'll need to show these guys that we're not just talk by showing them our potential, which means Uryu needed to get his powers back yesterday and I need to try and get back in touch with La Muerte and that other voice in my head since they've been ghosting me this past week, so I can learn how the hell to actually use my powers from them. But before we can do any of that, we need to find out where the hell these hollowfied Shinigami are hiding. We can't exactly make a recruitment pitch if they aren't there to hear it.", Valentina said, and Yumichika pursed his lips.

"Urahara probably knows where they are. He helped them escape, so he probably helped hide them too. We can go ask him.", the fifth seat said, and Valentina scowled.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure that'll be fun. Fine, we'll go ask him tomorrow, but before then I wanna get out of this apartment.", Valentina said sarcastically, and Uryu raised an eyebrow at her.

"What do you mean by 'get out of this apartment'?", he asked. Valentina gestured to him with her hands.

"You know, 'get out'! Put on some nice clothes, hit the clubs downtown, get shitfaced, stuff like that! We've already been swamped with work so far and this is just the beginning. I wanna take this chance to go have some fun before we really have to get serious and buckle down.", Valentina elaborated, and her words gained mixed reactions. Yumichika looked eager, but Uryu was skeptical.

"Ooh, I haven't been out drinking in ages! Last time I went was a few months back with Rangiku and a couple of other seated officers. I hear the human world has some really interesting alcohol. Back in Soul Society, all they've got is sake. It's good depending on what kind you drink, but it gets boring drinking the same old thing after a while.", the black haired Shinigami lamented. Uryu frowned deeply.

"I don't know Valentina, clubs aren't really my thing… ", the navy haired boy trailed off. Valentina looked up at him hopefully.

"Oh come on, don't be so sensible for once! Have you ever even been to a club?", she asked. Uryu shook his head. Valentina grinned.

"Well don't knock it til you try it! Come on, it's just one time! Think of it as a bucket list experience. 'Get drunk with a dead guy and my friend's cousin who I'm plotting a revolution with'.", Valentina joked, and Yumichika laughed. Uryu looked less apprehensive, but he still wasn't totally convinced.

"Valentina, in case you've forgotten after I told you this during our… moment at the airport, I'm eighteen. I legally can't drink in Japan for another three years, and you technically can't drink either.", Uryu reminded the woman, and Valentina smirked deviously.

"Ah, but you see, I've already found a way around that. See, my roommate back at college, Santana, had a boyfriend named Jose that made fake ID's as a side hustle. I bought one off him before I left Mexico, since I figured I wouldn't be able to stay sober for my entire visit. I also put in an advanced order for ID's for you two the day after I moved in, since I figured I could convince you to go to at least one bar with me eventually. The ID's got here yesterday. I got them out of your mailbox while you and Yumichika were still asleep.", Valentina explained, and Uryu looked much less uncertain.

"And you're sure these things work?", Uryu asked, looking a bit intrigued. Valentina nodded.

"Oh yeah. Even the stickiest of bouncers are fooled by those things. No-one beats Jose at fake ID's.", Valentina assured him, and Uryu took a moment to think about it, before sighing hin resignation.

"Well, if this is what you really want to do, I suppose we could go out just for tonight and- ", Uryu started to say, but he was cut off unceremoniously when Valentina threw herself at him and hugged him tightly.

"YES! Thank you thank you thank you! You won't regret this!", the woman said in a very hyper but grateful voice. Uryu winced at the feeling of the death grip Valentina had on him.

'I will if I end up suffocating to death!', the Quincy thought in a panic. Thankfully for his health, Valentina released him and gave him a starry-eyed look.

"We'll all need to pick out something to wear, and our shoes, and how we want our hair done… ", the brown skinned woman rattled off excitedly as she paced the length of the living area. Uryu and Yumichika gave her fond but exasperated looks. Uryu pointed with his thumb towards the half-cooked lunch that was still on the stove.

"How about we eat lunch first and then we start deciding on outfits once it gets dark?", Uryu suggested. Valentina turned around, saw what he was pointing at, and blushed in embarrassment as she realized she had gotten carried away.

"Oh, yeah. That… probably makes more sense.", Valentina agreed sheepishly. Both Yumichika and Uryu chuckled.

'This girl… ', they both thought as they gazed at Valentina endearingly. The woman failed to notice their affectionate expressions.

—-

It was around seven o'clock and getting close to sunset. Valentina stared at the various outfits laid out on her bed, a contemplative expression on her face. She had brought countless expensive designer outfits with her from Mexico; cocktail dresses, evening gowns, and even some mens' suits, but none of them seemed like the right thing to wear for her evening out. This was a feeling she was very familiar with (she felt it every time she had to get ready to go out somewhere), but tonight she felt it more intensely than she had in a while. She studied her outfits intensely.

'I could wear the blue cocktail dress, but I don't think that's my color tonight. An evening gown is too much for a club, and I don't know about a full-on suit. But maybe if I made some altercations- ', Valentina thought carefully. Her train of thought was cut off, however, when Uryu knocked on her open door to announce his presence and walked inside. Valentina turned to look at him.

"Hey Uryu, what's up?", she asked him. Uryu gave her a nervous look.

"So um… funny story. I just realized I don't actually… own any club clothes.", Uryu admitted reluctantly. Valentina blinked at him in surprise.

"You mean you don't own any suits? No nice shirts or dress pants?", Valentina asked him.

Of all the people she expected to have a barren wardrobe, Uryu wasn't one of them. In the week since she had started living with him, he, Yumichika and her had all bonded over a shared interest in fashion. They all had similar tastes in high-quality clothes, and while Yumichika didn't know much about living world clothes, he was a fast learner. Uryu was also skilled at design and sewing (Valentina had seen his room. It looked like an up-and-coming fashion designer's wet dream), so if he couldn't afford nice clothes or never got around to buying them, Uryu was more than capable of making them. Uryu began to look even more embarrassed when he heard Valentina's questions.

"I do, but… I don't know. They're all so plain, and I hear you're supposed to wear something exciting to a club, and you have a lot of exciting clothing, so I figured maybe- ", the Quincy started rambling, and Valentina smirked at him when she realized what he was asking of her.

"I could lend you an outfit?", she finished for him. Uryu nodded stiffly, and Valentina grinned.

"You didn't even have to ask. Go look through my closet, see if you find something you like. I've got plenty of colorful suits and cocktail dresses that I'm sure you'll love.", the amber eyed girl told him as she turned back to her own fashion dilemma, and Uryu furrowed his brow at her.

"Cocktail dresses? Why would I want to look at those?", the blue eyed boy asked, and Valentina looked at him from over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

"Because they look good and you can pull them off? You said you wanted something not plain for our night out, and those dresses are about as 'not plain' as it gets. Sequins, sparkles, gems, pick your poison.", the brunette woman responded, and Uryu looked thoroughly bewildered.

"But I'm a man.", he said, and Valentina rolled her eyes. She had a feeling this would happen.

"Uryu, let me tell you something about clothes; they are for everyone. If a woman can wear pants, then a man should be able to wear a dress. The ancient Greeks wore togas, and their warriors wore protective metal skirts into battle. They even considered wearing pants cowardly because it protected the legs better in a fight. All clothes are unisex if people stop being little bitches about it. Are you going to be a little bitch, Uryu?", Valentina said, turning around fully with a teasing smirk. Uryu gulped and blushed at the look in her eyes.

"N-no.", he denied, cursing himself mentally for stuttering. Valentina's smirk was replaced with a grin.

"Good. Now start picking an outfit. You don't have to wear a dress if you're not comfortable with it, but at least consider it. I'm sure you'd look great in one, and if anyone gives you shit over it, between both of our skills we could kick anyone's ass no problem!", Valentina said with an encouraging grin, and Uryu couldn't help but smile.

"I'm sure we would.", he agreed. It was something he always seemed to do no matter what. He always ended up agreeing with her, even if it took a bit of convincing. Was it because she was just that good with words, or was it because of something else? He wondered about it as he looked through the woman's closet.

A few minutes later, Valentina had picked out her outfit for the night and was figuring out what altercations she wanted to make to it, when Yumichika walked wearing a bathrobe with a flatiron in hand, looking very frustrated.

"How the hell do you work this hair straightening device?! I swear, you humans come up with the most needlessly complicated inventions I've ever-ooh, who is that Dolce & Gabbana and can I borrow it?!", Yumichika complained as he waved the flatiron around, until he caught sight of a very flattering deep

purple blazer jacket on Valentina's bed and rushed over to grab it. Valentina laughed at his eager actions.

"Yes, you can. It would look so good on you! And give me a second to figure out how I'm gonna wear this outfit and I'll help you with your hair, okay?", Valentina told him. Yumichika nodded excitedly, grabbed the jacket and made a mad dash for his bedroom. Uryu frowned as he checked the name brands on the tags of all of Valentina's clothes.

"Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Armani… how do you afford all this stuff? I know for a fact Chad isn't able to buy this stuff, so by that logic you shouldn't be able to either.", Uryu asked, and Valentina shot him a serious look.

"Uryu, let me tell you something I've told the policía multiple times throughout my life; if it was already stolen or bought with stolen money, then it's not stealing if I take it.", Valentina said with the practiced ease of someone who was very used to reciting those words. Uryu was more than a bit taken aback, but when he got his barings he gave the woman a teasing smirk.

"Yes, and I bet 'don't ask questions you don't want the answers to' is another thing you told them.", Uryu taunted, and Valentina rolled her eyes at his (admittedly true) speculation.

"Haha, very funny. Now hurry up and pick out an outfit so you can leave and I can get dressed.", Valentina said sarcastically. Uryu laughed.

—-

Two hours later, Uryu and Yumichika were ready and waiting outside the apartment. They were both wearing their best. Uryu had ultimately chosen not to wear a dress, and had instead chosen a white long-sleeved dress shirt under a navy blue suit jacket, with matching pants and a matching thin satin neck scarf tied tight like a choker around his neck. He also wore a pair of short blue leather heels (also borrowed from Valentina. Thank God the three of them all shared the same foot size), and some black eyeliner on his face.

Yumichika was wearing something a little bit different. He was wearing the purple blazer he had taken from Valentina over an azure long-sleeved button up and a purple tie. He wore blue pants that were flared at the ends and short heeled purple shoes. Coupled with his usual feather accessories and some sparkly light blue eyeshadow, Yumichika looked every bit like the peacock he tended to act like. His face was marred by an impatient frown, however. He tapped his foot impatiently as he glared at the apartment door in front of him.

"How long is that girl gonna take?! Even Rangiku doesn't take this long! Hell, even I don't take this long!", Yumichika complained. Uryu shot him an annoyed look.

"Calm down. She spent half the time we spent getting ready helping you wrangle your hair with the flatiron, and she wasn't even changed yet when she was doing that! At least give her some time to get her makeup and clothes on.", Uryu berated him. Yumichika sighed heavily and stopped tapping his foot.

"Okay fair, but her eyeliner better be sharp enough to cut a bitch with how long she's taking to put it on.", Yumichika relented, and the two of them waited in silence for another fifteen minutes. When Valentina still didn't come out, Yumichika huffed and glared at the door.

"Okay, that's it.", the black haired man said, before he began to pound loudly on the door.

"Come on, Val! We don't have all night!", Yumichika yelled, and Uryu glared at him.

"I don't recall Valentina ever giving you permission to call her 'Val'.", the Quincy said coldly. Yumichika looked back at him with an unamused expression.

"Well she did. A few days ago. We stayed up late to watch Jurassic Park and that's when she said it was fine.", Yumichika responded, not seeing what the big deal was. Uryu suddenly looked very confused and… disappointed?

"You two watched Jurassic Park? Without me?", he asked, and Yumichika shrugged.

"You were already asleep and Valentina didn't want to disturb you.", the fifth seat answered, and Uryu scowled.

"Oh. I see how it is.", he said stiffly, and Yumichika furrowed his brow at him.

"What is up with you? It's just a nickname and a movie, it's not a big deal. I swear, you're acting like someone's jealous girlfriend- ", Yumichika said indignantly, before cutting himself with a gasp of realization. He started smirking.

"Oh. I get it now.", Yumichika said knowingly. Uryu glared at him.

"What do you 'get'? I don't appreciate being jerked around with vague words, Ayasegawa.", Uryu asked, his patience quickly running out, Yumichika's smirk widened.

"That you see Valentina as- ", Yumichika started to say, but he was cut off for a second time when the door to the apartment opened. Both men turned to look at the door, and were left speechless by what they saw.

"Hey guys, sorry I took so long. My eyeshadow did not want to cooperate.", Valentina said as she walked out the door, running a hand through her hair.

Her outfit was rather simple compared to her friends'. She was wearing a long-sleeved white button up silk shirt that was half undone at the top to reveal her cleavage and her golden coin necklace. She wore no jacket, a pair of plain black dress pants, and a pair of sleek black stilettos that made Valentina tower over Yumichika and Uryu even more than she usually did. Her long wavey brown hair was done up in a high ponytail, and held in place by a thick lock of her hair used as a hair tie. Her makeup was just as simple as her outfit: dark red lipstick, some black eyeliner, and sparkly golden eyeshadow to top it all off. She looked like a goddess, and Uryu and Yumichika thought as much. They both stared at her, gaping like idiots. Valentina blinked at their strange reactions.

"Guys? You okay?", Valentina asked them. The pair of men remained silent, still star struck. They were both well aware that Valentina was a beautiful woman, but this was… wow. And the generous amount of cleavage she was showing certainly helped that. Uryu was the first one to get himself together.

"Valentina, you look… amazing.", Uryu said breathlessly, struggling to find the words to describe the beauty in front of him. Usually, he was very eloquent, but his expansive vocabulary was lost on him the second he laid eyes on Valentina. So he settled for a word that utterly failed to describe her. Valentina grinned at his compliment, seemingly unaware that he was floored by her looks.

"Of course I do, when do I not? Now come on, we need to get a taxi and get downtown before all the clubs are packed.", Valentina said before clapping Uryu on the shoulder and walking off. Yumichika watched her go, his jaw still dropped. Uryu looked at him and smirked.

"Pick your jaw up off the floor, Ayasegawa. You'll catch flies.", he told the Shinigami, before following after Valentina without another word. Yumichika forced himself out of his stupor when he realized he was about to be left behind and ran to catch up with the pair.

A few minutes and a hailed cab later, the three roommates were on their way to downtown Karakura. Valentina sat in between her two friends in the back seat, looking eagerly out the windows at the city lights. The woman smiled brightly.

"Dios mío, it's been a minute since I've hit the club scene, and I've never been to a club in Japan before. The nightlife here seems different from the nightlife in Mexico.", Valentina rambled excitedly. The men she was sandwiched between just watched her quietly, content to be mesmerized by her gorgeous smile. Valentina surprised them by looking at them both abruptly, tearing her gaze away from the lights.

"You both look great, by the way.", the brunette woman told them sincerely, and they both blushed red.

Twenty minutes later, the three were dropped off outside the 'The Screwdriver', the hottest club in Karakura according to Valentina's brief google search. The night was still young, but the place was up and running and the line to get in was long. Valentina paid no heed to the line. She walked to the front of the line, ignoring the people complaining and telling her to get in line like the rest of them. Yumichika and Uryu, not entirely sure what their friend was doing, followed after her. When Valentina reached the velvet rope and the bouncer, she stared the muscular man (who was shorter than her) down with fearless amber eyes. The man looked at her wide-eyed, before his gaze drift lower to her cleavage. Uryu and Yumichika glared at the bouncer intensely when they noticed this, causing him to jump slightly and nervously meet Valentina's eyes.

"Let us in.", she ordered the man. The bouncer cleared his throat.

"Ma'am, you have to wait in line for entry like everyone else- "

"Let us in.", Valentina repeated, her amber eyes flaring. The bouncer gulped.

"Y-yes ma'am.", he relented, lifting the red velvet rope that blocked entry to the vibrant club. The people in line yelled more complaints, and Valentina whipped her head around to glare at them.

"Hush.", she ordered the crowd, and with that chilling single-word command, they all frightfully silenced themselves. Valentina turned back around and walked into the club. Again, Yumichika and Uryu did nothing but follow after her.

"That guy was such a pussy! All it took was a glare and the fucker rolled over like a little puta (bitch)! The bouncers back in Mexico at least put up a little resistance! And did you see the people in line?! Total sheeple!", Valentina yelled over the blaring music of the club as she strutted through the building. Yumichika gaped at her ins shock.

"How did you do that?! You scared the guy so bad he didn't even ask for ID!", the purple eyed man asked. Valentina shot him a wolfish grin over her shoulder.

"I know, right?! They usually don't get that scared back in Mexico. Most of the time, they ask for some form of ID, which is why I made sure to get us some fakes, but that pansy didn't even try to ask! I'm telling you guys, I've been away from Japan so long I had forgotten how annoyingly soft-spoken everyone here is!", Valentina said with a laugh, only half answering Yumichika's question. She turned around and walked backwards and gave her friends finger guns.

"You guys go get a booth, I'll get us some tequila! Can't have a fun night out without the classics!", the tall woman told them, before turning back around and running towards the bar. Not knowing what else to do, Uryu walked over to the nearest booth a ways away from the crowded dance floor and sat down at it. Yumichika followed suit and sat across from him, where he could see Valentina ordering drinks and laughing about something with the bartender. The Shinigami stared at the woman with dazed eyes.

"I swear that woman is like Medusa, except every time I look into her eyes I turn into a slut instead of stone.", Yumichika said with a slow shake of his head. Uryu choked on air.

"What the fuck?!", Uryu sputtered at his companion's out-of-the-blue remark. Yumichika rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on, don't act like such a prude. Even a gay man could see Valentina is sex on legs.", Yumichika said. Uryu raised an eyebrow.

"And would that demographic include you?", he asked, genuinely curious. Uryu and most of his human friends had assumed Yumichika was gay because of his flamboyant manner of dress, his personality, and his close relationship with Ikkaku. Getting some confirmation of whether or not that was true would be interesting if nothing else. Yumichika smirked at him.

"Sorry to tell you this Quincy-boy, but I see the beauty in all genders, male, female or otherwise. And a word of advice, next time you pop the sexuality question, don't look so eager to get an answer. It tells me you're either into me or into Valentina, and since you don't look too inclined to kiss me right now, I'm going with option number two; you like Valentina, don't you?", Yumichika asked teasingly. Uryu turned a bright red.

" … am I that obvious?", Uryu asked after a moment, looking very embarrassed as he indirectly admitted to being infatuated with Valentina. Yumichika's smirk widened.

"Like a tie-dye shirt at a funeral. It's almost comical how much you suck at hiding the fact you have a crush. Virgin much?", Yumichika taunted. Uryu glared at him.

"Shut up.", the blue haired boy grumbled. Yumichika rested his head on his dainty hand and continued to watch Valentina intensely. The woman was still talking to the bartender, an amused smile on her face.

"I can't say I blame you for acting that way, though. Valentina is the kind of woman that makes people act some kind of way. She… she's definitely something special. Something I've never seen before. She's more than just beautiful. She's mesmerizing.", Yumichika said dazedly. Suddenly, the red faded from Uryu's face and his expression turned serious.

"Would you say her beauty is worth betraying the system you've worked for for centuries? Is she worth betraying the comrades you made through that system? Like Madarame?", Uryu asked severely.

Uryu knew that Ikkaku and Yumichika were extremely close, if not romantically as a lot of people assumed, then platonically. One usually wasn't found without the other. It was hard to imagine Yumichika being willing to abandon him for any cause, or the life he had built in Soul Society. Yumichika's expression immediately sobered at the mention of Ikkaku.

"Ikkaku and I… I know we come across as rather close. And we are… we were. He was my best friend for centuries. When we were still traveling the roughest districts in the Rukongai, searching for good fights, we were closer than brothers. When we decided to become Shinigami and serve under Captain Zaraki, we were still closer than brothers. But along the way… something changed. Ikkaku changed. Nothing was about the people he cared about anymore with him. It was all about the fights. With Hollows, with other Shinigami, with you and the other Ryoka when you invaded to save Rukia. It was about the fights before you know, but now everything was about the fights. He had become more callous, and suddenly Ikkaku was just like every other squad eleven monkey that cared about his next adrenaline high more than his friends.", Yumichika said with a bitter smile. Uryu blinked at him in surprise.

"Yumichika… are you- ?", the Quincy started to ask. Yumichika cut him off when he laughed sardonically.

"No, I'm not in love with him if that's what you're trying to ask. Like I said, Ikkaku was like a brother to me. And besides, bald and thick-headed isn't really my type. Tall, dark and intelligent is.", Yumichika said with a wink and a glance towards Valentina, who was heading towards them with a large tray of tequila shots. Uryu looked at him stiffly as he what he had though for a while was confirmed to be true.

"So it's true. You're appreciate Valentina more than just aesthetically.", Uryu said with certainty. Yumichika scoffed.

"Obviously. I've only known her a week, but anyone with eyes could tell that Valentina is an amazing woman, inside and out. I don't know if what I feel is love quite yet, but it's certainly getting there.", Yumichika said with a smile that quickly turned to a smirk as he tilted his head coyly.

"What about you, Quincy-boy? What do you feel?", Yumichika practically purred. Uryu opened his mouth to answer, but he wasn't able to when Valentina arrived at the booth and sat a tray of tequila shots down on the table.

"Whoo! Sorry I took so long guys, the bartender just kept on talking and talking! The guy wouldn't shut up until I gave him my number! But hey, at least he gave me the drinks for free!", Valentina said as she took a seat beside Uryu. The navy haired boy looked at her in shock, worry and slight jealousy.

"You gave a stranger your number?!", the Quincy asked over the music. Valentina cackled.

"Hell no, I ain't stupid! I gave the guy a fake number that just blares 'JOHN CENA!' at full volume whenever it's called! It's what I do whenever a guy wants my number!", the woman denied, and Yumichika started cracking up.

"I have no idea who John Cena is, but that's hilarious!", the black haired man said, and Valentina nodded.

"Hell yeah it is! Now start knocking these things back! Then we can hit the dance floor!", Valentina agreed, before picking up two shots of tequila and downing them one after the other without so much as a grimace. Yumichika picked one up and drank it, wrinkling his nose as he swallowed it.

"That's definitely stronger than sake!", Yumichika said as the alcohol burned its way down his throat. Uryu picked up a shot but didn't drink it, instead eyeing it apprehensively.

"I don't know about this… ", Uryu murmured uncertainly. Valentina, despite the loud music blaring from the DJ's speakers on the dance floor, somehow heard him and slung an arm over his narrow shoulders, causing him to jolt and turn red.

"Oh come on! Live a little! It's not a night at the club if you're not drunk off your ass!", Valentina said with an encouraging grin, and Yumichika nodded with a smile.

"She's right, you know. Go on. Try one.", the Shinigami encouraged. Uryu eyed the shot again, scowled, and then downed it as fast as possible. He nearly spit the alcohol out as he forced it down his throat.

"OH GOD IT BURNS!", the blue eyed man yelled at the searing taste of the drink. Valentina laughed and pat him on the back as he coughed and sputtered.

"There you go, atta boy! The burning means it's working!", Valentina told him as he coughed up a lung. Uryu glared at her with watery eyes.

"You knew this was gonna happen!", Uryu complained. Valentina's grin widened.

"I did, and I think it's hilarious, but that's besides the point. Hold still.", Valentina told him. Uryu froze as she reached out towards his face. She wiped the unshed tears from his eyes with her thumb, careful to mind his makeup. Uryu felt his face go red.

"Wouldn't want your makeup to run.", Valentina said with a charming half-smile. Yumichika smirked at them knowingly, not that either of them noticed. Uryu felt his heart skip a beat, and he wanted to say something, but Valentina removed her hand from his face and words were lost to him. She gave him a cheerful grin.

"Now that you've suffered through the horror of the first drink, let's get messed up!", Valentina declared, before picking up another shot and downing it. Yumichika followed her example, this time without making a face, and Uryu eyed the tray of shots for a moment. Then he sighed.

"Sure, why not?", he said, before picking up a shot and downing it with a grimace. Valentina's grin widened.

—

Two hours later, the alcohol was flowing and the conversation was flowing harder. Valentina had downed fourteen shots in the span of half an hour and was only buzzed, Yumichika had had eight and was a little drunk, and Uryu had only had three but was utterly smashed. He looked at the flashing lights of the club from his seat in the booth with an utterly bewildered expression.

"Why's the room spinning? Where'd the magic lights come from?", he said, slurring his words slightly. Yumichika chuckled at his reaction.

"I think someone's had a little too much to drink!", the purple eyed man teased. Valentina laughed.

"I concur. Behold, the king of lightweights!", Valentina said with fake sophistication in her voice. Uryu groaned at her words and rested his head against her shoulder with a familiarity he usually hesitated to show.

"Stop talking like that! You sound like my father!", Uryu complained. Valentina patted his head affectionately and chuckled.

"I'm sorry. What does your dad sound like? An annoying bastard?", Valentina asked, humoring the drunk boy. Uryu scowled.

"More like a pretentious asshat who threw away his heritage because it wasn't profitable enough.", Uryu grumbled. Valentina whistled.

"I sense daddy issues~!", she said in a sing-song voice. Uryu groaned again and rolled his eyes.

"You have no idea. So are we gonna dance tonight or what?", Uryu asked impatiently. Valentina pat him on the head again.

"Patience, young patawan. We'll dance when you sober up a little. Can't have you tripping on the dance floor and giving yourself a concussion because you had a little too much to drink.", Valentina said patiently. Uryu whined.

"Stop being so responsible! Why can't you let me stumble around drunkenly like anyone else would?!", Uryu demanded to know petulantly. Valentina smiled at him fondly.

"Because someone has to babysit you your first time getting drunk so you don't die or get hurt. I didn't have anyone to babysit me my first time and I ended up getting in a bar fight and broke the other guy's jaw so bad he was on a liquid diet for half a year. I would've got arrested if I hadn't slipped out the back when the policía came bursting in. I'd rather there not be a repeat incident.", Valentina elaborated. Uryu looked at her in confusion.

"Why'd you break his jaw?", he asked. Valentina's fond smile disappeared and was replaced with a dark look.

"I saw him slip something into a girl's drink. I walked up to him, threw the drink in face and told him I'd beat him so bad I'd make him see God so he could beg him for forgiveness. What happened next is a blur, but I do remember feeling the man's jaw break under my fist.", the amber eyed woman said seriously. Uryu looked up at her in awe. He already knew the woman he was clinging to was selfless (she wouldn't be leading a blooming crusade to protect and liberate the Arrancar if she wasn't), but the story he was being told just hammered that home. Yumichika nodded at Valentina in respect.

"I'll drink to that. That guy got what he deserved.", Yumichika said as he knocked back another shot. Valentina shook her head.

"Enough about depressing topics. Let's keep enjoying ourselves. Uryu, do you want me to get you a glass of water so you can sober- ?", Valentina started to ask, but she cut herself off with a gasp of excitement when the DJ started saying a certain song. It was Mi Gente by Beyonce, a song Valentina was intimately familiar with, and one she was not expecting to hear in a Japanese nightclub.

"Oh my god, I love this song! This brings back so many memories! Do you guys mind if I leave you here and go dance on my own for a little while?!", Valentina asked ecstatically. Uryu and Yumichika smiled at her, happy to see her so excited.

"Not at all.", Uryu replied. Valentina squealed, shot up out of her seat, and ran at full speed onto the crowded, light-up dance floor. She found a spot for herself amongst the sweaty bodies and stumbling dancers, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let the music flow through her.

(Watch video on Youtube from 0:00 to 1:07 for a visual on Valentina's dancing)

watch?v=jiUXxXAxM24&t=51s

He say my body stay wetter than the (ocean)

And he say that Creole in my body's like a (potion)

I can be a beast or I can give you (emotion)

So please don't question my (devotion)

After spending weeks creating and practicing her solo routine for her midterm last year, dancing to the song she had listened to so many times was like second nature to her. Valentina let her muscle memory and instinct guide her movements, just like she did when she fought. She paid no attention to the horde of people around, not caring if anyone was watching her or if she made a mistake or missed a step. She was dancing for herself and for her own enjoyment, and in that moment, nothing but that mattered.

But despite her uncaring attitude, her dancing drew a crowd of onlookers. Club-goers paused their dancing to watch in awe as Valentina twisted and moved her body to the beat of the music, flexing it in ways most people were incapable of doing. Some even watched her with eyes filled with lust, finding her dancing seductive. At some point, several people started cheering her on and singing along to the lyrics of the song.

I been givin' birth on you haters 'cause I'm (fertile)

See these double C's on this bag? (Murda)

Want my double D's on his bed (Serta)

If you really love me make an album about me (word up)

From their place at their booth, Uryu and Yumichika watched the object of their affections dance, entranced by the at she moved. They hadn't noticed her 'performance' at first, but once a circle of spectators formed around her they got curious and craned their heads to see what was going on. They were very surprised to see Valentina dancing her heart out to the sound of some American song neither of them could understand. Their breath hitched in their throats and they felt like they were suffocating on how beautiful she was, if that was even possible. They couldn't move, they couldn't speak. They could only watch, enraptured by the movements of Valentina's body.

Soon as I walk in

Boys start they talkin'

Right as that booty sway (freeze!)

Valentina's eyes jolted open when she heard the crowd that was watching her scream 'freeze' at the top of their lungs. She realized that she had attracted an audience, one that was very entertained by her dancing. Valentina didn't hesitate to continue dancing. She had danced for crowds before at school, and when she danced at clubs people often gathered around her in rings of people like this one. This was nothing new for her. If she was going to be thrust into the spotlight, then she might as well own it. Valentina caught sight of Uryu and Yumichika watching her from the booth and shot them a seductive wink and a smirk, causing both of their faces to catch fire. Valentina's smirk widened and she resisted the urge to chuckle. She loved those two. They were so easy to tease.

… Slay

Lift up your people

From Texas, Puerto Rico

Dem' islands to México

Women squealed and men screamed in excitement as Valentina got on her knees, moving with the slowing tempo of the music. She moved her legs in ways most people thought impossible, tossing her hair around as she did so. For what wasn't the first time that night, she was grateful she had decided to wear a ponytail. She could only imagine the state of her hair if she had chosen to leave it down for the night.

¿Y dónde está mi gente? (yeah, yeah, yeah)

Mais fais bouger la tête (yeah, yeah, yeah)

Azul, are you with me?

Say yeah, yeah, yeah

(uno, dos, tres, cuatro!)

The crowd chanted the numbers in accented Spanish as Valentina once again hit the floor, this time doing a split. There was even more screaming. At this point, almost everyone was filming her on their phones. Valentina smiled widely. She felt proud of herself. She had worked hard since she had started attending performing arts school to be as good at dancing as she was, and it always made her happy when she got the chance to show off her skills, unintentionally or not. And if she made sure to put a bit more effort into her dancing when she realized she had an audience… Well, no one else but her needed to know that.

Ay yeah, yeah, yeah

Ay yeah, yeah, yeah

(uno, dos, tres, cuatro!)

Valentina tossed her hair one last time as she took a knee, finishing her routine. She shot the grinning and awe-struck boys that were standing in front of her one last wink, before standing up and blowing a kiss to the crowd. Everyone was clapping and cheering like she had just won the Olympics. People were shouting how amazing she was, asking how she could dance like that, and some rather tasteless people in the back were yelling about how hot she was. Valentina smiled at everyone and waved, seeping in the attention.

It took a good ten minutes for the buzz to calm down, during which girls asked to take pictures with her, men asked for her number, and one talent agent gave her his card with a sly wink and a 'call me'.

Before coming back to Japan, Valentina would have jumped at the offer to put her dancing skills to good use. She had become a dance major knowing that she loved doing what she studied, but being uncertain how she would use her skills once she completed her education, or if she would even get a job where she could use them in the first place. Now she was being offered an opportunity to find a job that required her skill set… and she felt apathetic. Dancing was fun and a big part of her, but it wasn't her main focus in life anymore. She had found her true purpose in life; helping and protecting those oppressed by Soul Society. And that wasn't going to change.

Valentina threw the business card in the nearest trash can after grabbing a bottle of water from the bar (dancing that well was exhausting). She started walking back to her and her friends' booth after downing the whole thing. She never made it there, however, because Yumichika and Uryu intercepted her by sneaking up behind her and clinging to each of her arms like a pair of clingy lovers. They both grinned up at her, clearly intoxicated. It seemed they had downed the rest of the tequila while she was gone.

"Val, you-you were amazing! Where the hell did you learn to dance like that?!", Yumichika asked, his eyes awe-filled and and mildly disbelieving. Valentina laughed at his words.

"Didn't Yasutora tell you? I go to a performing arts college in Mexico City. I'm a dance major. What you just saw was my midterm project for my modern dance class from last year. I created, perfected and performed that whole thing for my professor in the span of two months. Naturally I got the highest grade in the class.", Valentina bragged not-so-subtly as she tossed her hair. She had worked hard on that choreography, damnit. She had a right to brag. Uryu scoffed jokingly.

"'Her dancing was impressive, she looked like Aphrodite, yada yada yada'! We already know that, Ayasegawa! What I wanna know is how the hell did you do all that in heels?! I've nearly broken my ankles three times tonight in these two-inch ones you let me borrow, and you were practically breakdancing in fucking stilletos! I demand answers!", Uryu yelled with a pout. Valentina winked at him.

"Bad bitch magic, that's how. You'll learn about it soon enough, mi carino. And did I just hear the great Uryu Ishida curse?! What is the world coming to?!", Valentina purred teasingly, causing Uryu to blush in embarrassment.

"Shut up! I'm an adult, I can curse if I want to! So do we get to dance with you tonight or are you too tired from your 'performance' earlier?", Uryu asked sassily. Valentina laughed at him again.

"Down boy, you'll get your time on the dance floor right about… now!", Valentina said cheerfully, and Yumichika looked up at her in concern.

"Are you sure? I just saw you do a perfect split in the middle of a club. Twice. If you need some time to rest, that's perfectly- ", Yumichika said, trying to be the voice of reason. Valentina scoffed.

"Bah, who needs 'rest'?! I've got damn near a dozen and a half shots of tequila in me and the adrenaline is still running hot! Let's go have some fun while my legs are still numb!", Valentina insisted. Yumichika wanted to protest, but one look at Valentina's smile and he was a goner. So he just sighed in resignation.

"If that's what you want then- "

"Glad to see we're on the same page! Now lets fuckin' rock this city!", Valentina whooped, before dragging her two friends onto the dance floor. Their last thoughts before they were swallowed by the crowd and before everything started getting blurrier than it already was were that maybe they should have kept their mouths shut.

Wow this is a long-ass chapter! Sorry it took so long, I took a brief vacation and had less and less time to write. I wanted this chapter to be shorter, but I also wanted to cram as much Yumichika and Uryu content into this chapter as possible, because once we get back to the plot and start meeting the other love interests, those two will be getting less and less of the spotlight. I don't want their romance with Valentina or them falling in love with her to seem half-baked, so I'm trying to give them a decent sized arc before the plot really gets going. Next time, the morning after and Uryu's asshole dad!

So long and Goodnight, Thackery Binx.