Frivolling the day away

The 10th division lieutenant hummed down the streets of Rukongai with a bounce in her step, another day of Soul Societies ongoing tranquil restructuring , another wonderful day off , another paycheck half whittled away…The blonde woman slowed her pace, and gave a sharp turn as she neared her destination.

Staggering inside she swung the mass of packages and shopping bags about as she casually waved at the bar owner. The slightly wrinkled man, with equal familiarity, gave her a smile and a “Yo!” of recognition. Matsumoto was a regular customer, one could say that the man’s pockets were rather prosperous thanks to the feisty woman and her drinking companions, thusly she had earned some privileges in the laid back little establishment, like her preferred table always being reserved on her day off. Close to the windows so she could people watch, but far back enough in the corner to have privacy, just perfect. Stacking the numerous items of her spending spree next to her, the young beauty anxiously awaited the arrival of her sake, trailing of in murmured complaints.

“Hnnn drinking alone isn’t much fun…. Hisagi was busy with some article, Kira and almost everyone else said it was too early for alcohol… Ikkaku… well he’s just irritating. I wonder if Toushiro would ever be persuaded to try sake when he’s old enough?….”

“Talking to yourself again Rangiku?”

The middle aged barkeep teased, interrupting her musing as he placed the bottle and cups from his tray down on the wooden surface with a light clack.

“Have the first one on the house.”

The woman grinned and let out a chuckle of glee, thanking the man in her characteristic cheery tone, then immediately poured the clear liquid into the shallow cup for that first delighting taste.

Yumichika Ayasegawa, 5th Seat of 11th Squad, was walking along the streets of Rukongai, a noticeable spring in his step despite the fact that he was sweating from the exertion of the past five hours, and that his outfit bore the unmistakable marks of strenuous combat - something Yumichika normally avoided like the plague.

He spotted a little bar, and slowed his pace slightly.
"Hmm...I was going to go back to Squad HQ and change - Looking like this is almost ugly. Buuut..."
After a minute or so, he made his decision, and veered towards the bar.

Walking over to the counter, he ordered a bottle of sake from the old barkeep.

*Matsumoto slumped into her seat, as the rice wine made her mouth pucker and then continued to warm up the rest of her insides. She reveled in that initial sensation... for after the first taste your pallet no longer reacted as intensely to the flavor. *

Rangiku: "Ahhh....subarashii... "

*The woman smiled contently , her eyes half closed in blissful relaxation; as she reached for the container to serve herself again, she detected a familiar voice at the storefront. Rangiku turned to look over her shoulder, catching the glimpse of the meticulously kept hair and the orange accented uniform. The combat squads fifth seat and herself had gotten to know each other a little bit better when they were sent together to the human world, “better” not necessarily being in the positive way. They've had their differences, of course none serious, other than childish name calling, bickering, and occasionally getting on each others nerves.... most likely because they were "both" rather egocentric, opinionated and vain (but neither side would ever recognize their own flaw though it was all too obvious) and as they say opposites attract, similar polarities can repel. However all past irritations aside, they had proved to form a competent team. When all was relaxed, Toushiro, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and herself found they could get along relatively well. With that in mind, the energetic blond kneeled on her seat looking towards the counter up front , making a terrible ruckus, signaling for him to join her*

Rangiku: “Oeee! Yumichika, come sit! Best table in the house!

As he poured himself a drink, he heard a familiar loud voice, and peered over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of 10th Squad's Adjutant, Rangiku Matsumoto.
She was leaning forward in the seat in a most ugly way, loudly beckoning him over. Yumichika sighed as he took his bottle and cup, then walked over.

"Rangiku." He nodded as he sat down across from her. Inside the Seireitei, he would never for any reasons have adressed her by her first name. But outside, he could be less formal.

The female shinigami draped an arm over the back of the chair, relaxed as a feline on a porch. She acknowledged Ayasegawa's greeting with a slight gesture, tilting her head to the side and grinning. It was a nice change to drop the formalities every now and then, after all she had enough of that with her uptight Captain. The minute the officer sat down, Matsumoto noticed he was not quite as primped as usual, arousing her curiosity.

Rangiku: "Hey, It's rare to see you about without Ikkaku,... by the way you look terrible! What were you up to?"

Inclining over the table, for a closer look, the lieutenant pointed a slender finger at the tears in his uniform.

"I was...let's just say I ran into some peculiarly ugly fellows who insisted on picking a fight." Yumichika answered vaguely.
That was, of course, true - as far as it went. The whole story was a little more complex.
He filled his cup, and drained it in one, setting it down and sighing contentedly.
"Wonderful sake."

Ayasegawa’s reply, fell dull on Rangiku’s ears, she stared at him for a few seconds with a disbelieving expression. It was an odd thing about Matsumoto, despite her spacey personality, she could tell when someone was hiding something at the drop of a hat. And anyone would have been well aware, that at Yumichika’s level, there were very few people who could put a scratch on him… the two in his division, and perhaps other Lieutenants. There had been rumors here and there, and the beguiling beauty was infamous for keeping herself informed with any novelties floating about the Gotei13. Certain comments about promotions and rookie shinigami had been catching the ladies interest, not to mention the ongoing plight to find adequate candidates for the captain positions. It was to her suspicions that a lot of the soul reapers where taking advantage of the time of peace and re-organizing to train themselves further, very likely to seize an opportunity at ascension.


Rangiku: “Is that so?… And here I thought you must have been training with Madarame.”

Her tone exaggerated, pretending to be convinced with his story, though she was hardly a talented actress. Upon seeing the officers empty cup, she immediately tipped one of the bottles to refill it, people seemed to loosen their tongues after the right doses of alcohol. There’s was something “secret” and that was enough to bring out the woman’s devious nature in order to quench her thirst for gossip.

Rangiku: “ So tell me all about it…this fight. There’s been so many things going on lately, we do need to catch up…”

"Not with Ikkaku, no. I had been out in the 77th District - You might know that Ikakku and I were originally from there." Yumichika added. "As to the ruffians who thought they'd try to fight a Soul Reaper, there isn't much to say about them. They were ugly and weak."
He looked across at Rangiku, fairly certain she wasn't buying his story - though it was the truth, or at least a part thereof.
"So what about you? What brings you out here?"

The 10th squad lieutenant, merely gestured to reassure Ayasegawa she followed. 77th district; of course Rangiku remembered such details, most wayward shinigami all tended to come from the unruliest districts, where the hardships, danger and poverty forced them all to become savage fighters in order to survive, or succumb to its despair and violence. She herself had been a less fortunate spirit who wandered similar streets hungry and scared… for the most part, she chose not to think back to such places, (probably why she appeared to act clueless about them). Matsumoto, picked up a bottle yet again, this time to serve herself. The blond rolled her icy blues, in an exasperated manner, certainly getting more details out of the tactful cool headed 5th seat would take more effort than she was willing to put in, lest she managed to get him drunk enough. She decided to momentarily drop her prodding when in turn he asked about “her” meanderings, but not without first commenting on his sorry state, despite having easily dispatched his weak offenders.

Rangiku: "I'm sure they were, so how come you wound up looking like that?... Did you roll down a hill on your way back? "

She worded in a somewhat high pitched and teasing chuckle, then proceeded to haul up some of her acquired treasures. Trailing off in an excited rant, so euphoric about her grand spree she temporarily forgot about previous conversation altogether, and surprisingly abandoned her attention on the liquor bottles.

Rangiku: “They had some great sales going on in West Junrin'an! You should check it out! I managed to snatch up five new pairs of shoes, some really cute blouses all in the colors for this season, at least according to the human world fashion magazines I stole from- I mean borrowed from Inoue. Two necklaces, three scarves to go with the blouses, since I can’t always match outfits with my pink one, earrings, this gorgeous Kimono for my collection---”

Yumichika opted for silence as Matsumoto enthusiastically displayed her many extravagant purchases.
Yumichika, sensitive to beauty as he was, was practically clueless in terms of women's fashion or jewelry - the latter especially, as he deemed jewelry an artifice designed to imitate beauty more than anything else.
The scarves, however, he thought were quite attractive ones, and the last item really caught his eye - a beautiful kimono.
He was actually surprised, though he did not show it, that she'd managed to actually buy such a piece.
"That is indeed a beautiful kimono." He said simply.

A hand reached out and grasped the bottle on the table in front of the distracted matsumoto, and poured a fair amount of the liquid inside into the cup resting on the other hand. The bottle found it's way back to it's original place.
The cup made it's way to an unshaven face, and the owner of it took a sip. The lips creased into a smile of delight before taking another sip, and placing the empty cup on the table.
Shunsui, sitting in the seat next to Matsumoto, clapped his hands loudly, and smiled at the blonde enthusiastically.

"Ah, I see Rangiku-chan has good taste as always "

Rangiku: "It is isn't it? You should come with me next time I can show you were to find some nice men's attire too! I've been trying to get Toushiro to go but he's really just a pain-"

The cheeky liutenant had energetically chattered on, entirely unaware that a certain Captain with particularly impresive stealth skills (specially when sake was involved) had just crashed their little get together, until his voice popped up in the background.

"Ah, I see Rangiku-chan has good taste as always "

Matsumoto's words abruptly cut off, the woman gave a squeal, and almost dropped her silken garment on top of the drinks; then she herself nearly toppled over the table as she caught it in mid air, avoiding at all cost that it would become damaged or stained. When desperately attempting to regain balance, the busty womans out of control attributes nearly smacked the 5th seat in the face. Huffingly she turned, to find the Captain of the eigth division quite happily downing her liquor.

Rangiku: "K-Kyoraku!? What's with appearing like that all of the sudden!?"

"Captain Kyoraku." Yumichika said, his casual demeanor slipping from him in the presence of one of the Seireitei's top Commanders. "Good to see you, sir."

He poured himself another glass.

Zaraki is likely felt long before is massive frame fills the doorway. The Demon of the Gotei isn't usually seen in Rukongai districts so well maintained but he makes an exception for the sake house.

His good eye shifts to the table with Yumichika, Rangiku and Shunsui, though that seems to be his only acknowledgment to them as he strides in and sits down at a table off to one side. The movement causing the soft sound of the bells in his hair as he rests the blade to lean up against the table itself.

"Sake," he says simply to the owner and waits for it to be brought to him.

His expression is dark, though it seems to be the case most of the time. Only offering a nod as he ignores the saucer and takes a drink from the bottle itself.

"No need for formality when we're just having a drink."

Shunsui refilled his cup again, and took another sip, savouring the experience for a small moment, before peering over at Yumichika, noticing he looked a little worse for wear. He thought best not to mention it. Tattered clothes and bruises usually came with the 11th division, anyway. He watched Kenpachi as he entered, but quickly returned his gaze to Matsumoto. His fellow captain didn't look to be in a very social mood, so he decided not to give him too much attention.
He took another sip, emptying the small cup. He placed it on the table again, and smiled at the young lieutenant beside him.

"Skipping work again, Rangiku-chan?"

Rangiku: “Wah?, today is actually my day off! Don't you go accusing me by your standards.”

Matsumoto spoke her mind quite openly, since the 8th division Captain and herself were rather frequent partners in crime, and she hadn’t a filter when it came to being teased. She crossed her arms about her chest, assuming a serious posture to back up her comment, even though absolutely everyone knew that indeed Matsumuto and Shunsui were equally lazy and irresponsible.

Rangiku: “You sneaked off here no doubt. How about buying the next round in exchange for my silence?”

The wily female shook one of the emptied bottles, a conniving look written all over her face. Usually she had no leverage to pin the tab on Kyoraku , because most of the time she was just as guilty of brushing off her duties. Savoring an opportunity like this was priceless, however her attention was momentarily diverted, how could it not have been?… a nearly 7 foot man with spiky hair was hard to misss. Kenpachi was certainly an odd sight in an establishment with such a relaxed feel, one could imagine most other non shinigami clients would faint once he stepped in, both by his fearsome appearance and immense spiritual essence, never the less he seemed to keep it quite under control (or maybe it was just his eye patch)

Rangiku: "Hmmm, Yumichika, looks like your Captain is enjoying some time off too, how bout you call him over, Kyoraku Taicho is buying!"

She elbowed the fifth seat to encourage him, the more the merrier she always thought, and although she wasn’t that acquainted with Zaraki, it was all the more amusing to her, just to dig a bigger hole in the pony tailed Captain’s pocket.

"You're asking me to bother the Captain of Squad 11 while he is drinking?" Yumichika asked, a shocked expression on his face. "He would kill me." He did not, however, voice his opinion of the most ugly way in which she was trying to goad him into approaching Captain Kenpachi.

Of course Zaraki was able to hear the conversation happening at the other table. He was also aware of the fact that he had little in common with the gathered and that his presence would only serve to make the group....uncomfortable. Isn't he considerate?

The bottle is tipped up and his throat works as he drinks down the sake. A glance of that one eye is cast to his squad member Yumichika. The back of his hand is used to wipe away the sake from his lips.

"I would not kill you for interrupting my drinking sake, Yumichika." Zaraki says simply, "Only if you did so for no reason."

He's cut short by the sing-song voice from the door, "Ken-chan!" The pink haired Lieutenant comes flying through the door and Zaraki reaches a hand out to grab Yachiru by the back of her shihakushou an lifts her up.

"Eh?" He's handed a stack of papers drawn on in different colors. His grin is unsettling as he realizes they are his work missives and sets Yachiru on the table. "You finished all the paperwork, eh?" He chuckles a bit and can already hear the complaints from the other Divisions.

He even tolerates his Vice-Captain reaching out to one of the carefully molded hair spiks to make the bell sound. Demon of the Gotei, yes. But he seems to have an endless well of patience for the high spirited girl.

Shunsui watched as the 11th seniors created a distraction which would attract both of his drinking companion's attentions. Seeing his chance, he deftly, and silently, ran out of the door. Matsumoto would likely squeeze him for more than he actually had if he stayed. She could drink an elephant under the table, and then some. Plus, there were a few other bars in the area that had come to accept his patronage.

Then again, it was probably a good time to go back to the the division headquarters. Nanao-chan had probably started looking for him by now, and he would rather be caught napping than drinking, especially since he was meant to be doing work from his office. Facing in the direction of Sereitei, the captain set off at a slight run. He just hoped that Rangiku wouldn't realise he was gone till it was too late.

ooc: sorry for the quality I rushed through it

Rangiku pulled an awkward face, when she realized Kenpachi heard every word of their conversation, admittedly discreetness wasn't her strong point. She tried to behave casually, putting on a blameless front and a cheesy smile as she waved at the 11th‘s Captain. Instead of feeling embarrassed, she decided to shamelessly pass the buck on the unamused officer.

“See Ayasegawa? He’s no stiff! You‘re so overly dramatic.” She blurted in a bouncy and over the top voice.

Luckily, the random arrival of the pink haired fukutaicho distracted everyone from their previous train of thought. The flaky woman, dropped her shoulders in relief, and leaned back into her seat, hoping that Yumichika would take the fire (if any). Relaxing once again, the easygoing beauty was apparently uncaring of her surroundings, but caught a certain movement out of her peripheral vision.

“Please excuse me for a moment” she said softly, not addressing anyone in particular, but making sure not to be rude.

Rangiku, dug into her uniform and pulled out her communication mobile, quickly punching in a sequence of keys, accompanied by a soft chime confirming the completion of a command. Promptly after she smiled contently and returned her attention to the table.

Yumichika nodded wordlessly in acknowledgement of his Captain's statement.
Then Yachiru Kusajishi, Adjutant of Squad 11, walked in and headed straight towards Captain Kenpachi.

"Adjutant Yachiru." He adressed the tiny, pink-haired officer. "Good to see you."
As Capain Kyoraku slipped out - no doubt to sneak back to his Squad's headquarters before his adjutant found him here - he poured himself another drink - draining the bottle he had ordered.
He sipped the drink with a long-suffering sigh.

There was a squeal from Yachiru as she sees Yumichika, "Peacock!" Of course, Zaraki could have saved the beauty-conscious 5th Seat from his bouncy Lieutenant, but watching was just as entertaining, really.

Papers in hand, She dashes over and crawls into Yumichika's lap and goes about showing him her colorful 'signatures' Zaraki grins and slowly rises up with the soft sounding of his bells. Without an invitation needed, he sits down beside his 5th seat and glances at the others at the table.

That rumbling voice, "Yumichika, we're going to be testing out the new recruits for the 11th Division soon. I want you and Ikkaku to handle it. I don't want any pansies in my damn Division so tell Ikkaku to go rough on them. S'already bad we got two women."

"Kenny! Can I go!?" His one eye focuses on the pink haired demon before looking up to Yumichika, "Yeah, you gotta do what pretty boy here says, though." Drinking at the saucer as he looks to Matsumoto for a moment when she sits back down.

Shifting a bit as he leans back. "Also, I'm giving you an allowance, Yumichika, I don't trust the rest to handle this, so it's your duty. The 11th is going to host a party. Need you to make the place look good. I'll be sending Ikkaku to deal with that woman with the fireworks."

The doors are pushed open and the sight of a terrifying composed Nanao is filling it. She's closed her communicator and looks at the gathered. Not seeing the pink haori...she looks to Rangiku.

"Matsumoto-fukutaichou..." Said in greeting as the doors close behind her. "He was just here? -And- he skipped out on his bill on you?" That she was taking this so well was a bad sign. Reaching up to adjust her glasses softly.

She held a stack of papers that looked to be about the size of her kido book. "You have my every assurance that Kyoraku-taichou will be covering at the least his own drinks' cost." And pain of death. He skipped out on his duties to drink sake?

"If you will excuse me...I have some business to attend to."

Rangiku stared at the rambunctious young adjutant as she clambered on the feathered fifth seat with her uniquely informal missives, Matsumoto would have been enthusiastic about her paper work too, if her Captain accepted it in such a format. Tapping her fingers on the table, for a moment she seemed to have her attentions set elsewhere.

Hmmm this is weird, she usually shows up like a bullet…

Expectant of whatever it was, she didn’t seem to be paying much attention when Kenpachi joined the table, but it changed the minute her ears caught the word “party”. Usually the blonde would have jumped up in excitement and proceeded to invite herself on the spot, but in this case, the gathering would take place in a rather unknown and reputedly unwelcoming squad, the fact they were holding in the first place was odd. There was however a second set of words that also captured her interest, (though at first she merely thought she heard wrong) when the gruff Captain mentioned the breaking in of new recruits, and complained about having two women amongst the ranks. If what she'd heard was true, then a female other than the mischievous half pint had been drafted into the combat corps, that alone made for a worthwhile reason to drop in for the inquisitive woman.

Just as Rangiku was going to raise a question about this spontaneous social gathering, she noticed the spectacled eight division Lieutenant. Nanao instantly assimilated the situation without even questioning the one who tipped her off, it was one of the qualities that made her so efficient.

"That's right, actually he can't have gone far, I didn't seem like he flash stepped out of here... taking a wild guess he either came to his senses and ran back to work..... or more likely is at the bar across the street and four buildings down."

The blue eyed lady, commented smoothly and pointed out the small window she enjoyed so much. It was always a comical sight, when the strict adjutant went on a warpath, though it probably wasn’t as funny to Kyoraku.

"Aah yes, Kuukaku Shiba." Yumichika replied as he accepted the Captain's assignments - the ever-rambunctious Yachiru bugging him all the while. An ugly woman if ever there was one - For his part, Yumichika was glad to not have to deal with her. "Very well then. I'll head out immediately."
Having once observed Captain Kuchiki's effective solution to the little pink thing's antics, he withdrew from a pocket a sweet pastry Yachiru was fond of and set it down on the table in front of her. As he stood, 8th Division Adj. Nanao Ise walked in. "Adjutant Ise, it's good to see you." He said politely, then made for the door. "Another time perhaps, Adjutant Matsumoto."
And he left.

[exit YUMICHIKA AYASEGAWA]