Bottoms Up [R, Closed]

[Douma]

It all started with a single rumor that the Vice Captain overheard his unseated squad members whispering about in the middle of their training. He wasn’t even supervising them, but just happened to walk by as he made his way to his office. But one phrase caught his ear. ‘Everyone knows that Ana Kuchiki’s got to be the best drinker in all of Soul Society.’ Kagami spun one hundred and eighty degrees to face them with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. All three Shinigami looked at one another, trying to see if any understood what they had done or said to deserve Kagami’s negative attention. Oh, they would soon find out.

“Ana Kuchiki, right?” Two of them were too puzzled/nervous to move, but one managed to nod his head while his legs shook like San Francisco in 1989. He seemed to wince after he realized the mistake he made. No one in Squad 1 was stupid enough bring down their Vice Captain’s head, despite however high into space it may be. However, the backhand he expected from his Lieutenant never came. Instead, he opened his eyes just a crack to find Kagami grinning like a maniac. The three officers seemed to relax. As long as they were in no danger, they weren’t quite as scared. Confused, maybe, but not scared. After all, the Squad was never overly fearful of Kagami, but understood that he had some occasional ‘mood swings.’ Now, he was in one of his better moods, and after dismissing the men back to their training, he went up to draft a letter in his office.

To the beautiful Anastasia Solis-Kuchiki,

You’re reputation exceeds you. As a master thief and master pirate, there is no one stupid enough to challenge you in your own game. However, there’s been talk about your uncanny drinking ability, and I’m here to get it past that pretty face of yours that I’m several levels above you. But I’m more than just words, and, to prove it, I’ve set up a little challenge for the both of us in Courtyard outside of the Squad 1 barracks. Meet me there at 7 o’clock p.m. and bring as many friends as you want. Let’s call it a date.

With much love,
Kagami Murai, Squad 1 Vice Captain.

Kagami had posted an announcement all over Seireitei titled ”Battle of the Ages.” That should draw some eyes of the ambitious lower-ranked Shinigami, the majority of the population in Seireitei. They were definitely going to get a bunch of viewers. After all, Kagami and Ana both had a good handful of fans in the lower ranks whether they know it or not (Kagami knows it). The Lieutenant showed up in the courtyard in a black suited with bright, white stars dotting the jacket and pants, setting a high standard for their attire. It was a style getting more and more popular with the celebrities in the human world, and if anyone deserved to wear such high-class clothes, it would definitely be Kagami. The sun was starting to get low by the time their challenge would begin, so he decided that it wouldn’t be too unfavorable to wear his Rayban aviators.

According to both the letter and the announcement, the challenge was set to start at 7 p.m. Kagami arrived at exactly 7:24, allowing him to be both fashionably late, emphasis on the ‘fashionably,’ and arrive before anyone would even begin to question if he bailed. There were drinks set up all around the courtyard, so it was partly a social event. However, there was a polished, expensive-looking wooden table with a variety of drinks on each side ranging from mugs of beer to small shot glasses filled with tequila.

Whether or not he found Ana there waiting for him, he would stand next to the table with a look of authority that immediately silenced the viewers. “Ladies and gentleman, I brought you all here today to recognize me as the best.” The best in what, one might ask? Well, everything, obviously, but that was implied and Kagami didn’t feel the need to restate it. It would feel to repetitive. “I am, as I’m sure you all know, Kagami Murai, Vice Captain of Squad 1. And although there could be no show, no challenge without me, it wouldn’t be fair to my co-star to remain unintroduced. Please welcome the beautiful Anastasia Solis-Kuchiki.” 

[Deleted]

[[ooc: this post is waaaaaay too long. Lol.]]

Anastasia had a truly interesting way to start her morning. Her usual mornings consisted of her arriving late to her office. She often liked to take detours, moseying around her favorite districts, stopping by for a morning drink and a card game or two. A cup of sake with no special kick to it was always necessary for the foxy lieutenant…and everyone else if they ever wanted to see her do some kind of work. All of that happened. She’d been about an hour late to work every day and, well, no one cared. It was all daisies and sunshine in Squad 6. However as she made her way over to her office, she saw a crowd of unseated officers gathered by her door… and one familiar officer in particular who was holding a note. One whom she’d designated to open her mail and do some of her paperwork specifically. It was such a bitch sometimes to do all of that shit. Might as well get someone to help her with it, right~?

“Ye goin’ through my mail again~?”

Her voice boomed authoritatively but she was anything but angry. She was simply amused to see so many of her favorite people gathered in one spot all to her convenience. Now she could harass all of them at once~ 7 birds with one stone~!! Still, they all jumped, startled at the loud voice of their lieutenant. “V-Vice Captain Kuchiki!” one of them choked out. She raised an eyebrow. “I told ye slimy gits not ta’ call that…” she pouted, feeling rather annoyed. She disliked formalities. They really weren’t her thing but she also knew they were intimidated by her and she worked hard to eliminate that fear. After all, they were all the same working under the same squad. They might as well be brothers and sisters. “Yes. S-Sorry Ana-chan. This one looked important so I opened it…” The tension in the air disappeared with in seconds as she laughed, slinging an arm around the officer who had her note and the other around the nearest officer. They were all pals. “Heh~ That’s okay! I don’t read my mail anyways~ ! HAHA! Read it out loud, darling~ Let me know what’s got you all so worked up.” she grinned lazily, leaning her weight on both officers.

Life in Squad 6 might as well be close to frat party when Anastasia was around. She was fairly good at releasing the tension and keeping it easy to work around here. That way, everyone got more work done and it was done far more efficiently than most. “To the beautiful Anastasia Solis-Kuchiki,” she nodded her head in approval at the greeting. “You’re reputation exceeds you. As a master thief and master pirate, there is no one stupid enough to challenge you in your own game. However, there’s been talk about your uncanny drinking ability, and I’m here to get it past that pretty face of yours that I’m several levels above you” Something strange stirred in Anastasia as she glanced at the note quite obviously lost when she heard the statement. “Que~? Uncanny drinking ability?” Anastasia rarely spoke with her spanish accent but this time, she couldn’t help it. She was confused and well, it just kinda happened to slip out. “I thought Raion held that title. I’m good and I like it… but I’m not the best.” She looked confused as hell. Didn’t everyone know that big, lovable lion was king of the sake? “But I’m more than just words, and, to prove it, I’ve set up a little challenge for the both of us in Courtyard outside of the Squad 1 barracks. Meet me there at 7 o’clock p.m. and bring as many friends as you want. Let’s call it a date.With much love, Kagami Murai, Squad 1 Vice Captain.”

There was silence for a few moments and every officer looked at their lieutenant curiously, wondering what her reaction would be. They’d all soon see a crack of a smile soon followed by some odd laughter. How funny. Too funny. She was too entertained by this. Only he would do this. “Ahaha~!” She was all smiles. “Doesn’t he know I’m not the best? He’s challenging the wrong person! Pendejo~! Estupido~” Her laughter became soft. It was purely recreational for her. Honestly, she wasn’t really someone who was 100% all about competition. She kept things light and fun and everything she did was for Anastasia and Anastasia alone. Not a whole lot of inflated ego at all. If it was, she would’ve been throwing the word Kuchiki all over the place. Did his ego feel threatened or something? Or did he just want a really good time with your’s truly? She couldn’t tell but minus the competition, it sounded fun.

Hmm…Should she do this? Kagami’s ego was inflated but that didn’t matter much to her at all… That and well, the guy was a good time. Heh. A very good time. Every bit of the boy’s ego was inscribed in this note right down to the syllable. It really was from him. Unfortunately for him, it was about competition. It was all about having this big ass party and having a good fucking time and all that. You’ll have to excuse her; lately, she’s been having “stick in the mud” syndrome and really needs a good party to break her in. “Throw it away~ That boy is siiiilly~” She giggled. “B-But…You have to!” one officer protested. “Yeah! It’s Squad 1 against Squad 6!” another protested frantically. Soon more and more were chanting along for her to go ahead with it. She really couldn’t believe it. The pirette froze with astonishment, wide eyed at all the encouragement she was receiving.

”Chicken.”

She couldn’t believe her fucking ears. Her spirit called her a fucking chicken. This man has tried countless times…for YEARS to get her to stop drinking and now he was encouraging it. “As of late, you’ve been locked up in your office quite a bit. As much as it pains me to say it, go have fun. “ She looked at all of them contemplatively. Just who the hell was she to turn down a good party, anyway?! She smiled. “Allllright! Alright~! I’ll do it! You’re all coming!” She cheered, her voice resonating throughout the entire building. The squad was now in even more of an excited uproar. Anxious for this party and to see two damn fine lieutenants duke it out in their favorite pastimes. “But!…I have an order.” There was silence one again. “I need the biggest fucking sandwich ever. There’s no way in hell I’m doing this on an empty stomach.” with that said, she jumped on an officer’s back and pointed ahead of her, roaring like some kind of crazy pirate captain ready to attack an enemy ship. “ONWARDS~! AHAHA! FULL SPEED AHEAD~! We’ll be teaching that handsome devil just a thing or two about the best damn lieutenant on all of the Gotei~!” and she was off to get her sandwich.

Later that night was that ‘date’ of his. Anastasia was now overflowing with that attractive confidence she seemed to carry around 24/7. She didn’t quite arrive on time either. 7:15 was more like it. It’s earlier than she would’ve normally liked but hey, it was a contest of sorts so she might as well take a look-see around the place. She slowly made her way around the courtyard of Squad 1, her heels clicking with every step. Anastasia wasn’t much of a dress girl… especially not after that Shihoin party. No. She kept it simple. She wore a black, sleeveless top with a plunging neckline and a pair of light, washed out skinny jeans; both hugged her body nicely, accentuating all that the exuberant Kuchiki had to offer. The tall black boots she sported stretched over her knees had some kind of dangerous looking skinny heel were no joke. With her eyes were lined black and lips painted red, the female Kuchiki was certainly a knockout.

When Kagami arrived, he’d heard the constant chants of “Squad 6” over and over until he delivered his speech. “Ladies and gentleman, I brought you all here today to recognize me as the best.” She smirked, already finding herself at the large table with the array of drink set up for the pair. She’d already set herself atop the table, sitting on it and crossing her legs with an air of a captain who’d once had the seven seas wrapped around her little finger. She watched him, smiling as daringly as ever as he spoke. He was even attractive when he was boasting; that’s rare. Heh. There was one thing that truly mattered though. One question: Was he really as good as drinking as he said he was? Honestly, the more he spoke, the more she found herself wondering why he really wanted to challenge her in the first place. After all, it was no secret that Raion was the best at this sort of thing. The man could out drink her into tomorrow while she laid on the ground somewhere with alcohol poisoning. He could’ve challenged Raion.

When he introduced her, she waved to the crowd, blowing kisses to everyone. “If any of ye slimy curs are still up and awake tomorrow, you’re not doing it right!! Let us drink as if it were our last nights here!! ” her voice boomed, her fist raising up into the air. it was her cool way of saying #yolo. She had her fair share of fans and friends present at his little ‘date’. It wasn’t a good enough party unless someone passed out, puked, laughed, screamed, cried and did some dumb shit…or all of those combined. With that, she finally settled down and turned to her favorite lieutenant. She hadn’t removed herself from the table. Rather, she scooted closer to him. “Just couldn’t keep away, huh~?” she smiled teasingly, leaning towards him an speaking in softer tones. She reached a hand out, fixing his collar, her fingers grazed his neck. “Heh. I can see why~” she moved away and hopped off the table, facing it to get a better look of the assortment of drinks divvied up between the two.

She caught the tequila and the salt and the lime sitting over on the corner of the table. The snowy haired female couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow which clearly showed her thoughts were falling into a more devious state. ”Always good to see your face, handsome~ Can’t wait to see it puking over there when I win.” She jested, offering a bit of cheeky humor. Well, not really, she had ever intention of winning but she wasn’t sure how good he was either. “But uh, you sure you wanna do this? You could’ve gotten Raion out for this y’know…” She’d titled her head, giving him a curious, concerned look and batting those eyelashes searching his face for some kind of response. She was at least a little serious for a moment… but that all went to shit in a split second. The loud cheers and chants of her Squad members seemed to rise more and more with the seconds passing by. Ah, yes, competition~ Well, they were both here and it was going to be all fun and jokes. As if there’d be any chance in stopping the two at all.

“You’re in for the date of your life, my friend. Don’t pass out too soon~”

[Douma]

“If any of ye slimy curs are still up and awake tomorrow, you’re not doing it right!! Let us drink as if it were our last nights here!!”

That’s the spirit. Kagami was quite pleased with the turn out so far. He admitted to himself that he hadn’t expected this many people to care about such an insignificant event in Seireitei, but either the Shinigami didn’t have much to do that day or people left their obligations just to make time for Kagami’s arranged challenge. Ana definitely had a good amount of supporters there that evening, with the various, scattered voices cheering “Squad 6!” in the background. Of course, the Vice Captain could also pick up a few shouts in retaliation screaming “Squad 1” at the top of their lungs. Kagami nodded in approval to the passionate Squad 1 members, though he didn’t quite know exactly where they were. He ended up weirdly nodding to himself, but he did it with such confidence that no one could question it as strange or awkward.

Kagami was a little surprised to find Ana scooting over to him. Not a bad surprised. If anything it, was a pleasant surprise. “You just couldn’t keep away, huh~?” She didn’t have any trouble making herself comfortable as she stroked his neck while adjusting his already perfectly straight collar. Maybe it was just an excuse for her to touch him, a gesture that Kagami appreciated. They didn’t have any shame, it seemed. “Heh, I can see why~” Kagami retorted by placing his hand lightly on her lower back, pulling her in just a little closer so that his lips were inches from her ear. He barely had to whisper for her to hear him. “Let’s try to have fun, alright sailor?” He flashed her his normal arrogant smile. “Always good to see your face, handsome~ Can’t wait to see it puking over there when I win.” Kagami let his eyes scan the semi-social crowd, indifferently responding, “Half of that was true, and it had nothing to do with you winning.” “But uh, you sure you wanna do this? You could’ve gotten Raion out for this y’know…” Kagami turned to face her, making eye contact as he spoke. An arrogant expression was ingrained on his face and rooted into his smile, but, in truth, he was happy that Ana questioned this whole event. It wasn’t about a competition. In fact, Kagami could careless whether he won or not. Maybe the title would be nice to have, but he already has various honorifics as it is. It was all for show, all to have fun. After all, what’s life for? Maybe Ana would understand his true motives, but there was no way he would give her that boring explanation. “Competing with Raion wouldn’t be fair. The man’s an animal, literally. You know how lions are, don’t you? Three hearts, five stomachs, and like thirteen livers? No one normal could compete on that level. And, on top of that, the Lion Captain couldn’t look half as breath-taking as you in that outfit.”

Kagami didn’t even acknowledge his words as he pulled back and rose to his feet, but rather directed his attention to the crowd. They seemed to be waiting for something. A few socialized towards the back, but most were expecting some sort of announcement or explanation for how this ‘challenge’ was supposed to go. “Let’s establish some rules for our little competition. Each participant will select one of the drinks laid out on the table.” Kagami gestured to the assortment of alcoholic beverages behind him, where Ana may or may not still be seated. “As you can see, there’s two of everything, kinda like Noah’s Arc. Each round, one of us will select one of the servings. From there, we switch seats and the next person gets his-“ The Vice Captain pauses, reconsidering his words before adding, “-er, or her turn to choose the drink. First one to loses either passes out or trips and trips and falls on their drunk asses while switching seats. In the mean time, all you snubs get to play too! Last one on his feet by the end of the night gets a beating, so drink away and hurry!” Psh, like Kagami would be able to stand up in a couple of hours, much less take on a fellow Shinigami.

Kagami grabbed a seat on the opposite side of the round table, flashing her a charming grin. He noticed her toying with a glass of tequila, unsure of whether or not that would be her choice of beverage for the first round. Whatever she picks, though, he would be able to handle it blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back. God, when the Captain Commander finds out about this, he was in for a taste of hell. Until then, he planned on having the night of his life. The crowd had erupted into a social atmosphere, and less people paid Kagami and Ana mind and began focusing on avoiding the punishment Kagami promised. Now, the Vice Captains would be able to speak normally with each other without anyone making out their words. It gave them a nice opportunity to socialize in the midst of their competition. Speaking of the competition, it was about time to get that moving.

“Make your choice, Miss Kuchiki. Laides first.”
[/b][/b]

[Deleted]

In the back of her mind, she could hear Shoku-chan’s tired sighs. It was all because of her shameless behavior and his. They could’ve been peas in a pod for all he cared. This one flirted. That one flirted back. This one drank until they passed out. That one drank drank until they achieved the exact same effect. It was ridiculous to him. ”Let’s try and have fun, alright sailor?” Heh. Sailor. That’s cute. She simply replied, “Aye, aye~”. He truly did seem intent on winning. Part of her couldn’t tell if that was the point or if he’d done this in the name of pursuing happiness. Truly, she was curious if there was something a little more than the party boy facade he seemed to put up constantly. Anastasia had to admit, it was strange being in the company of someone whose behavior and mannerisms were quite similar to hers. He had a boldness she didn’t traditionally see in anyone else and as arrogant and cocky as he was, he could back it up. It was impressive.

Her gaze connected with his for a brief moment, curious as a kitten. The delighted little smile on her face never left. In fact, it only grew as he continued to talk. “Competing with Raion wouldn’t be fair. The man’s an animal, literally. You know how lions are, don’t you? Three hearts, five stomachs, and like thirteen livers? No one normal could compete on that level. And, on top of that, the Lion Captain couldn’t look half as breath-taking as you in that outfit.” That was true. She snickered at the thought of her favorite lion. Oh those two have been on quite a bit of adventures. Vegas was probably the start of it all. Ah… Vegas… Railed out and no memories of a ridiculous night with friends and the shenanigans whatsoever. She figured she had the night of her life. Hey, when you wake up in a smokin’ nurse outfit, you gotta wonder what the hell happened and how fantastic it was. “I like to think I look better without it~” Banter with Kagami was fun. He could keep up with it and that in itself was enough for the playful Kuchiki. From this moment on, all she could see on tonight’s menu was hilarity and just an overall good time.

She slowly worked her way towards her own seat on the opposite side of the table. Those killer heels making slow clicks as inquisitive eyes scanned the table. Tequila was on her mind for the moment but she decided against it. Not yet at least. They had a massive array of drinks laid out carefully for the pair. It was a recipe for one hell of a night. Hopefully, she remembers it. “As you can see, there’s two of everything, kinda like Noah’s Arc. Each round, one of us will select one of the servings. From there, we switch seats and the next person gets his-- er, or her turn to choose the drink. First one to loses either passes out or trips and trips and falls on their drunk asses while switching seats. In the mean time, all you snubs get to play too! Last one on his feet by the end of the night gets a beating, so drink away and hurry!” Anastasia sat, setting the tequila down. Her eyes momentarily darted to either side of her briefly, watching everyone. Her own squad members included getting into shenanigans and adventures of their own, leaving Kagami and herself up to their own devices. As much of a show it may have been, Ana was a little glad to be away from prying eyes.. though there would always be onlookers and that was natural and perfectly fine. It at least allowed them an opportunity to talk with each other. Maybe he had his own story to tell. Was he a talkative drunk or was he as rowdy and rambunctious as she was when she had more than her fair share of the intoxicating liquid?

”Make your choice, Miss Kuchiki. Ladies first.”

Her focus had originally been on the drinks but she looked up for a brief second, smirking wryly. “You make me sound like a real noble~ Ha. No formalities, handsome. Just Anastasia~” She was never one for stuffy titles and all that. She didn’t like it too much. It sounded suffocating and, well, she was a free spirit. Besides, she liked taking things easy and being as carefree as she could be. She really wasn’t as much as a stick in the mud as one might think. Not all Kuchikis were the same anyway. One delicate finger slid its way across the assortment of drinks carefully. She had a look of great contemplation on her pale face. Anastasia picked her poisons carefully and made damn sure she was going to enjoy it. Red lips would curl into a playful smile; she’d found something right to start off with.

“This shot. Goldschlager” She said with certainty. She figured it would be nice to start off with something everyone knew a little about. She held it up, showing him which one she picked up so he could easily match it with her own. “Hahaha~! To happiness and getting so wasted our captains will likely beat the living crap out of us~!” She laughed before raising the shot glass to her lips and instantly downing it quickly without a care in the world for a chaser. The familiar burning sensation she got was back. There was a certain satisfaction she got when she was finished and the toasty cinnamon flavor lingered in her mouth. Anastasia set her shot glass down in the corner of the table and grinned wickedly at him. She stood up with ease and began making her way over to his side to take his seat. “Ever done this sort of thing with a girl like me?” she asked curiously as she sat, waiting for him to pick something. She was mostly making conversation. Anastasia hadn’t really encountered anyone like herself so he was weird. Kazuko saying he knew her type was weird too. She didn't really think before she spoke either. She just spoke with out regard for anyone. “Heh. Or is this really your fun idea of a ‘date’?” She watched his selection of drinks, curious to see what he’d pick up next. Anastasia hadn’t felt anything yet. For her, this was just the beginning.

[Douma]

“I like to think I look better without it~”

Kagami’s little exchanges with Ana were a great start to the evening, and she was a lot more fun than the emotional walls that he’d normally poke fun at while admiring himself at the same time (he had a talent for multitasking the two). However, with Ana, she would constantly surprise him. That last retort was something he didn’t expect, but it caused him to break his charming, arrogant, and indifferent attitude and give his full attention to Ana, eye contact and everything. Yes, eye contact. No obviously checking her out and running his gaze up and down her body. No, he’d already done that as he arrived. “Funny, just another thing we have in common. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think we’re soul mates.” But Kagami did know better. A lot better, really. Love wasn’t for him. He gave it a shot, and it ended with a bang. Literally. Hiroshima during World War II just a few days before he got married. Boom, no more wedding. Maybe it was a sign from the universe that Kagami was meant to spend his days drinking away with girls like Ana every night. Yeah, best to look at it that way. If you think about it too much, that’s when those feelings start to bubble up.

So less thinking, more drinking!

“You make me sound like a real noble~ Ha. No formalities, handsome. Just Anastasia~” Kagami raised an eye brow quizzically, his nonchalant demeanor slowly returning. “So, Anastasia, aren’t you a noble. I mean, you get all of Sozen’s little perks and pros along with the Kuchiki name.” There were bonuses to being a Kuchiki. The money, the respect and admiration, the connections, the opportunities. Kagami just never pinned Ana as one who would care for much of that. “You’re not like those high-browed nobles. I mean, your cousin Takehiko’s not bad if you tickle him in the right places, but all the noble families just don’t see the world like we do, and don’t know how to let loose and have fun.”

Kagami couldn’t help but smile as she carefully traced her finger over each cup until she found a serving to her liking. “This shot. Goldschlager.” Kagami personally would have started with something a little weaker than a shot, but why not just dive right in. He reflected her and raised his cup. “Hahaha~! To happiness and getting so wasted our captains will likely beat the living crap out of us~!” “To a night we won’t remember.” As Ana laughed, Kagami matched her with a smile, pressed the glass to his lips, and poured the contents down his throat. He barely tasted it. Round 1 was done, and it would be Kagami’s turn now. But first, time to switch seats.

As Ana rose and made her way to his side, she asked, “Ever done this sort of thing with a girl like me?” “If you mean share a drink, plenty of times. But, all of this,” Kagami gestured to the party going on around them noisily in the background, “then no, you’re the first. And I haven’t been able to say that to someone in a long time.” Kagami was always- well, mostly, at least when dealing with girls- truthful, but he had a tendency to hide some details to tip things in his favor. With Ana, though. He really didn’t give a damn. He viewed her as being the same as him, and she couldn’t possibly judge him on anything without lowering her own opinion of herself.

The Vice Captain got up out of his seat and stood behind it, pulling it back and pushing it into the table as Ana replaced him. Yes, he was being a gentleman. After all, it was still a date. “Heh. Or is this really your fun idea of a ‘date’?” “Fun? Yes. A date,? Hm, somewhat. Though I figured a casual invite to dinner wouldn’t be enough to really get your attention.” It was Kagami’s turn to pick a drink, so, after he sat himself across from Ana, he didn’t hesitate before grabbing a bottle of beer. “Let’s try a Heineken and take things nice and slow.” Oh, they were going to get really drunk tonight. Like, tripping balls drunk. But why rush it? After all, he wouldn’t mind getting to know Ana while they were still in a semi-reasonable state of mind.

Kagami opened his bottle and casually started taking a few sips. There was no toast needed for such a drink, especially with the more casual feel it had. The Lieutenant relaxed in his seat, resting his shoulders and leaning back against the chair. “So tell me, Anastasia, have you ever done something like this with someone like me?” It was a fair question, since she had just asked the exact same question. Kagami knew the correct answer to his question though, whether she responded honestly or not. No, she hadn’t done something like this with someone like him. After all, there is no one like Kagami.

[Deleted]

Soul mates…huh..

Love was a topic Anastasia wasn’t sure how to deal with. For a fleeting moment, she swore that arrogant mask of his dropped. Perhaps there was something real in there after all. Much more than maybe liquid endeavors and scandalous affairs. Something he wanted hidden. It wasn’t that he was an open book. No. Not at all. To the average person, his biggest problem was probably choosing between a blonde with a huge ass or a blonde with huge tits. T n’ A were always nice though so Ana could understand that. Still, he had the appearance that he had not a care in the world. It made her think of her argument with Kazuko. It was truly one of the rarest moments when Anastasia had actually raised her voice angrily and allowed hot tears to stream down her cheeks. She wasn’t as carefree as he thought and Kagami probably wasn’t as carefree as he appeared to be as well no matter how much he might boast it to the skies above him.

It wasn’t because of that particular incident that she’d realized it though. No. For years on end, Anastasia’s behavior had been the same. Spending her nights in bars or at parties either having a jolly good time, getting wasted or just listening to someone who was willing to lend an ear. It was all because she was well acquainted with that sort of behavior. Hell, she saw it in herself. Was she even truly capable of love? Sozen said she was capable of it. It was why she was a Kuchiki after all. Her other attractive qualities just happened to fall into place. Anastasia didn’t feel that way though. She hadn’t loved another. Ana loved her true friends and family but that kind of love just never found her so to speak. Even if it did find its way to her, well, she’d probably go with the flow but it was all confusing to her. She was an expert in the act of loving but a novice in actual love itself. There was no one but herself. She knew it was selfish but there was a reason. Some of it was fear. Scratch that. All of it was. It was a terrifying thing to open yourself up to someone and to have the thing that keeps you alive stomped on and scraped aside like a piece of gum.

”So, Anastasia, aren’t you a noble. I mean, you get all of Sozen’s little perks and pros along with the Kuchiki name. You’re not like those high-browed nobles. I mean, your cousin Takehiko’s not bad if you tickle him in the right places, but all the noble families just don’t see the world like we do, and don’t know how to let loose and have fun.” She looked at him seriously for a moment as he got up from his seat. Realizing how she might’ve looked, she quickly averted her gaze to crowd enjoying themselves away from their table. She quietly moved over, taking her seat. Heh. Yeah. Lavish lifestyle and all that. Anastasia didn’t think she was anyone or anything spectacular because of her new name though. She wasn’t before. Why would she be now? But he was right and at that, she had to smile. He was bringing a little reality into this and that was totally fine. They were trying to get to know each other, right? “Perks? Pros? I don’t get ‘em~ I don’t think I’m all that different than I was before. Though, when they put me in a fancy dress, all hell breaks loose.” she snickered. Oh, dancing with Sozen was so fucking nerve wracking that it was damn near hilarious at the same time.

Her eyes followed him as he took his own seat. Not many people knew. They didn’t know what it was like for her exactly. “I actually don’t fit in at all. Y’know… Tainted blood and all that shit,” that last bit brought out a genuine streak of sadness in her eyes that he may or may not notice. Anastasia could be everything they wanted her to be but she couldn’t do anything about that. She quickly returned to her normal, placid demeanor, “…Though, So-chan’s really nice to me and so is Take-chan~. It sounds glamorous and it is but… I’m not all about that. I can get by without it~ Have been my whole life. All I need is my zanpakuto and my rum…” Her voice lingered on before, slightly raspy from the last shot. “..Maybe even you.” She never failed to drop some kind of line that made many others hearts skip a beat or two. She could be a heartbreaker if she wanted to. The point was to avoid getting hurt, right? He could probably relate if he picked up a girl every night or drank to the degree she did… or both. His modus operandi to chasing long, forgotten demons. She didn’t judge. Everyone was different. Getting by without a lot of things literally was her life. Anastasia knew how to be happy with very little. However, the memories of it all stung. So she decided to drink and be happy as any pirate would. A playful smile slowly worked its onto her face once more. She was curious to see if he could retort to her last line; whatever it was, she was sure she’d like it. It was a reaction.

“..And how do you think I see the world?”

Her head was tilted and eyes wide with interest. He could answer that if he wanted to. Or not. His choice. She was genuinely curious to see how he thought of her. He wasn’t her run of the mill prick with a rulebook and a quill up his ass. There was something there. He just chose to block it out and just do what was right for him. There was a difference between bottling something up badly and just not setting it so high on your list of priorities. Good conversation could be part of a good night too. All you needed was good people and good vibes. Dinner? Casual? More like filthy casual (I couldn’t help myself. Lol.). “Casual dinner? Mate, yer gonna have ta do better than that~” She partly expected some kind of flirtatious answer to her question. She was mildly surprised at his answer. Then again, unlike most girls he’d probably encountered, he was going to learn that Anastasia was in a league of her own and he was going to have to keep up if he wanted to. It wasn’t arrogance, it was the truth.Ana was an adventurous soul and a free spirit. She crossed her legs, leaning back into her chair and propping her elbow up on an armrest with the Heineken in the other hand. She slammed the bottle down against the side of the table, allowing the cap to pop off and fall to the floor carelessly.

“Someone like you? Something tells me you’d like my answer to that~” She laughter lightly, looking at him briefly before she turned her attention to the crowd, watching them in all their jubilance. Their shouts that carried over and cheers and all kinds of drunken banter. This party was slowly getting turnt up and she had to grin at the sight of it all. Anastasia liked happiness and being surrounded by it. She was fully confident and she knew she was happy from with in… even if there were a few holes here and there. “I don’t think there’s anyone quite like you. You’re out of this world.” She drank as her gaze returned to his and offered him a quiet smile. “I’ve shared drinks with all kinds of people in many different situations but this one’s a little new.” Which was true. It’s not every day you encounter someone like yourself and share a drink with them in the form of a contest. Anastasia also didn’t know anyone like him in particular. She brought the bottle to her lips and drank a little more before speaking. “Guess we’ll have the rest of the night to figure it out, huh?” There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye. It could mean several things. All of them possibly happening tonight, from A to Z.

“Whattabout you, Squad 1?” she piped up, directing her attention to him. The Kuchiki had questions of her own too. “I woulda pegged ye for the type to be in, well… any other squad but that one. What gives?” She motioned her head at him with a little smile on her face. It wasn’t really meant to be so invasive. Anastasia just didn’t have much of a filter. So, when she asked about something, she just asked them plain and straight. There was no beating around the bush. It’s always harder to get what you want when you’re not forward about something. “Unless you get unlimited drinks or somethin’… You should let me in on that~” Her family gave her a monthly supply and it wasn’t good enough. The greed in her was just too much sometimes. Anastasia truly had a thing for alcohol. It was practically equivalent to water for her. Anastasia had no reason to hide things from him or anyone really. Truth comes out in one way or another. Better now than later. God. Heineken was disgusting. Always was but it was something she could stomach easily. C'est la vie! That was life indeed! Stomaching the worst of it in hopes of something better. They didn't call her 'pirate' for nothing.

[Douma]

“Perks? Pros? I don’t get ‘em~ I don’t think I’m all that different than I was before. Though, when they put me in a fancy dress, all hell breaks loose.”

“Fancy dress, huh? Makes hell sound kinda nice.” Kagami’s thoughts went straight through his mouth without his mind proofreading them at all. He didn’t think, he just spoke. In other words, Kagami was acting like he normally would. After all, thinking just takes the fun out of everyday life. Thinking is for battle and commanding soldiers and deciding which beverage to pick in a drinking competition. Thinking about what you say, though? That’s just way too much work. With his self-centered, alluring grin. He was just as flirtatious and carefree as ever, and this was before he got drunk. This was going to be a nice, long night. Bottoms up! No regrets! It’s all a dream until everyone wakes up with a massive hangover tomorrow!

“I actually don’t fit in at all. Y’know… Tainted blood and all that shit. ” And the dream wavered a little bit. Kagami’s certain expression seemed to crack slightly before he recomposed it. For the first time, it occurred to him that Ana had some issues she was dealing with. Was it such a surprise because he thought of her as being similar to himself? The Knight of Squad 1 had absolutely no worries, and he thought that put him three steps ahead of everyone else. Was Ana just half a step behind? No, this wasn’t the time to sympathize. They came out tonight to have a good time, and there would be no mushy talk. “ …Though, So-chan’s really nice to me and so is Take-chan~. It sounds glamorous and it is but… I’m not all about that. I can get by without it~ Have been my whole life. All I need is my zanpakuto and my rum…” There we go, that’s better. Less sob stories, more Hakuna Matata. It means no worries. ((Taking so much effort not to break into song xD)) “..Maybe even you.” Ana’s back, and she’s here to stay. Kagami wasn’t fazed by her slightly unexpected retort, and replied with no hesitation, returning his focused gaze to the crowd.[/b]“There’s a line for that, but you can feel free to cut to the front.” Ah, Kagami’s opinion of himself never seems to diminish. In fact, if he didn’t know any better, he might think that his ego is slowly growing with every self-centered word that comes out of his mouth. However, with this last particular line, if Ana was looking close enough, she would notice that he was eyeing the crowd a little too carefully, like he was looking for something. It would be hard to tell, but not impossible. However, he quickly returned his eyes back to Ana, having already averted his gaze for too long.

“..And how do you think I see the world?” “Well, after a few drinks, you’ll see it tilt to the side, or maybe even flip over completely.” There have been several occasions where Kagami’s gotten so drunk that he felt like he was on a boat during a storm, the world swaying back and forth as he struggled to keep his balance. Maybe that’s the kind of pirate Ana was. The best kind of pirate. If she expected some sort of serious answer, she would be sorely disappointed. Kagami realized that the best way to keep the night alive was by getting rid of any and all of life’s flaws and problems. A little ironic, but it’s worked well for him over the past several decades. If Ana was anything like Kagami, she would see the world in however way she wanted whenever she wanted. Real life things, like emotion and responsibility, shouldn’t be a bother. That’s the way the world should be seen, but they could always rely on Captains like the Old Man at the top of Soul Society and Sozen to keep the world go round and take care of all those bad aspects of life.

Ana turned her gaze to the crowd, and Kagami took that as an opportunity to do the same, searching the mass of irresponsible Shinigami for… something that would soon be revealed. #Suspense “I don’t think there’s anyone quite like you. You’re out of this world.” Kagami had to agree, both mentally and verbally. “Couldn’t have said it better myself, mate.” Kagami’s head was getting a little too big for his shoulders, but not quite. No, his ego would never reach a limit. “Guess we’ll have the rest of the night to figure it out, huh?” “Oh, you’ve got no idea.” Ana appeared to suggest that she could see where the night may or may not head. Kagami couldn’t help but praise himself on his plan to flip the whole evening upside down, and Ana couldn’t possibly see it coming.


“Whattabout you, Squad 1? I woulda pegged ye for the type to be in, well… any other squad but that one. What gives? Unless you get unlimited drinks or somethin’… You should let me in on that~” Kagami’s reasons for being in Squad 1 were simple, really. “I like to be in charge,” Kagami answered smugly, his words followed by a nice, large gulp of beer. Kagami was a simple man, and he only cared for three things. War, wine, and women. However, a close fourth would definitely be power. It just didn’t fit the “W” theme. Standing at the head of a battlefield ordering subordinates around just gave him that real sense of influence and authority. “What about you? What’s so great about Sozen and the Kuchiki Squad? I thought you didn’t fit in, somethin’ about tainted blood.” Kagami regreted his words instantly. After all, he was just dreading the thought of their conversation getting even slightly serious, and now he just had to bring up the same topic that caused reality to resurface. Maybe running things through his head before speaking wasn’t such a bad idea.

Ana would have time to respond if she chooses to, but not long after, the two would see rapid movement from the corner of their eyes soon followed by a thud. A body had fallen. But not nearly enough time has passed for the other Shinigami to have passed out already. A couple of seconds later, two bodies fell simultaneously. A fourth body lost consciousness. “Looks like some people can’t handle their liquor,” laughed Kagami. Ana might be confused, but Kagami knew exactly what was going on. He had spiked the drinks of the other attendees. Within a span of fourty seconds, a over one hundred of the Shinigami that came to watch a ‘competition’ would be completely knocked out for about two to three hours. What was the point, one might ask? For Kagami to be alone with Ana. Needless to say, it was effective.

“Now that we ditched those fanboys and girls, let’s get this date started.” The Lieutenant rose from his seat, and offered his hand to Ana, to help her from her chair. After all, things were finally heading in the direction of an ordinary date. Kind of. No, no ‘date’ has every quite gone this way before, and Ana was the lucky soul to experience it first, especially with Kagami. The sun had set by now, a full moon lit up the black, starry Soul Society night. Seireitei seemed to be ghostly silent, and it was almost haunting to realize that the only present sound is your voice and its echo. That’s what happens when you drug half of Soul Society’s finest. Ah, Kagami was gone hear an earful from the Captain Commander for that one. It would be worth it, hopefully. As long as there aren’t any unexpected setbacks. Knock on wood.

Kagami led the way, and simply expected Ana to follow. After all, it was obvious to both of them that he was the only one with any clue as to what is going on. Kagami wasn’t into hand holding, but his elbow was always extended if she wanted to take his arm as they walked. It seemed like some sort of Kuchiki-like thing to do, but Ana was no ordinary Kuchiki. “Better than a casual dinner?” he asked, though his voice hinted that he knew the answer. Ana liked to toy with him, and she could say whatever she wanted to, but the Gotei’s Greatest, Kagami Murai, knew he had impressed her to some degree. He had never put so much effort into a ‘date,’ and he sure as hell was going to make sure he didn’t waste any of it. Tonight was going to be a night to remember… assuming that they don’t black out and forget half of it. That was still an option. The drinking competition was on hiatus, but the drinking lives on.

“You’re not afraid of heights, are you?” Kagami admittedly did have a little phobia of being up too high, but it had more to do with the potential of falling than the actual altitude. As long as he had his mirrors below his feet, Kagami didn’t mind it too much. He summoned three mirrors, one a few feet in front of them and one two hundred meters above, and another perpendicular to the second. By linking them appropriately with his infinitely active Zanpakuto, Kagami created with his mirror gate leading to the three meter by three meter square platform he had created for them, leaving it suspended in the air. However, he needed to arrange more comfortable conditions up there, and so he summoned another mirror, this one by the table they had just been seated by. He linked it to the reflective platform above and had the mirror pivot to swallow up their seats, tables, and drinks. Everything was prepared for them somewhere over the rainbow.

Kagami would lead the two of them through mirror, and Ana to her chair, pulling the chair back and sliding it back in after she was seated. He then returned to his position across the table. Each of them would find their drinks untouched, assuming that Ana had also left her’s on the table. If she chose to look out at the change in scenery, she would notice that the entire expanse of Siereitei and even the inner Rukongai districts. Deciding that they’d had enough of shots and beers, Kagami grabbed two tall glasses, popped a the cork off an expensive-looking French wine, and filled each of their glasses to the half-way point. Hopefully, Ana would start to feel like this was a real date. Hopefully, Kagami had swept her off her feet. If that hasn’t happened yet, he still had another ace up his sleeve that he was saving for later. “Have I finally impressed the famous Anastasia Kuchiki?”


[/b]

[Deleted]

“A few drinks? Awh. C’mon handsome~ Ye don’t think very highly of me do ye?”

As if a few drinks had ever knocked her out. Well, there were a few drinks and a few drinks. Only, after the first few did the second one have any real meaning. If that made any sense… at all. It was rarely a serious moment with Anastasia. Though, for a while it has been. What with Kazuko and Sozen and this and that. Not giving a shit suddenly became hard work, man! What happened to the old days when none of that was around. When she had dangerous heists and affairs from one end of the spectrum to the other. Anastasia, as much as she hated to admit it to herself, grew up a little. She accepted that but there was no way in hell she was changing. So long as she was around, there would music blaring, drinks being chugged and the sounds of pleasured screams and rambunctious laughter would all be present. So long as she was around, she made sure the parties were alive. Of course, there was that added tinge of danger she loved so much.

But that sure as hell did not mean that she wasn’t one hell of a woman. She knew she was a knockout. As if there was any doubt~

She smirked at his smug response. So he was that sort of person. The type who was so insistent on being head honcho. To have control of everything else and have the limelight. It made sense. She could understand that. After all, with attention came power, wine, war and women. When you were notorious, people fought you for power, craved your company with a good drink and some just wanted an intimate of you for the night all for an experience of a lifetime. It was like being a Kuchiki without actually being a Kuchiki. To Kagami, this was his show and he wanted all eyes on him and he wanted them to know he was the best thing since sliced bread.

Welp, that’s all cool~ It doesn’t hurt that he’s damn easy on the eyes either. Anastasia had her time with that. She was a fearless captain after all. She’d spent most of her human life as one and having all sorts of adventure. Had all kinds of men wait at her beck and call like a real queen. However, that was one chapter of her life over. This was a new one. And while she was a queen in her own right, she was more than happy to step aside for someone else who wanted it badly enough. It didn’t mean she was a push over. Stepping aside and being overpowered were two very different things. No one controlled her. She was free and independent. Her calm hid a storm and only Kazuko knew what it was like… and likely regretted it. She knew she did. Her spirit hadn’t seen her like that. “What about you? What’s so great about Sozen and the Kuchiki Squad? I thought you didn’t fit in, somethin’ about tainted blood.” The look she gave him was certainly new. It was amused but there was something different about it. A certain ruthlessness was present. She stared at him long and hard until she found the right words to say to him. “I’m a pirate. Don’t forget that~” It was her own way of saying she came before everyone else.

Anastasia didn’t really want to explain herself or tell her life story to Kagami any more than she’d already let on. She’d said a mouthful already. She was never comfortable opening up to anyone and when she did, she already knew that, with that person, they were as thick as thieves. It could’ve been interpreted many ways but it was the truth nonetheless. She never forced herself to do anything that made her unhappy and if she wasn’t sure of something, she never looked back twice. It was left in the dust amongst other things. She wouldn’t continue the topic further. Anastasia took a few few more sips from her bottle and watched his expression. He seemed to be looking for something.

“Mmm…?”

Party goers suddenly started dropping like flies. She sat up straight, clearly surprised. What was going on and why did this feel similar to a certain incident she’d been a part of in Vegas? One body, two bodies, 5 bodies, 20 bodies. What the hell? Everyone was losing consciousness. Her squad mates and his. She could hear Kagami’s laughing. Uhm. Did people even have enough to drink for that to happen in the first place? “Looks like some people can’t handle their liquor,” Anastasia closed her eyes and hung her head, laughing. Of course. This was intentional. Spiked drinks her speciality and his apparently. So this wasn’t a contest. This was a date. It was all smoke and mirrors. She should’ve known. “Now that we ditched those fanboys and girls, let’s get this date started.” He was by her side now. Her eyes darted between him and his hand. “Alright, handsome. Ya got me. What are you up ta’ now?” Were there more tricks up his sleeve? She sure as hell hoped so. Anastasia was entertained. She took his hand and set the beer down on the table, ready to follow him god knows where. Silence surrounded the pair. Not a whisper could be heard. Just the sound of Anastasia’s heels clicking along as she followed Kagami. Unlike Seireitei, the skies were busy tonight, with the moon and stars irradiating, dancing in the midst of the dark. Anastasia normally loved the sun. She didn’t dislike it at all but she had to admit, things were pretty tonight and she was starting to like. Starting to like a lot.

“Better than a casual dinner?” She wouldn’t say it out loud but, she was mildly impressed. Truly. Instead of taking his arm though, she held his wrist and moved it around her shoulders and snuggling just a little bit closer. “Mmm…Not as good as dessert~” she said cheekily before looking up at him, winking. Of course, there were sketchy intentions. Her fingers reached into his pocket (I have no idea what he has in them, if he has anything in them. I just wanted her steal again. Lol.), searching for something to steal. The drinking contest seemed to be put on hold but she was sure someone was going to black out. Maybe it would be the both of them. Who knows. Anastasia always had more tricks up her sleeves than the normal soul. She’d use it all in the name of having one hell of a night.

She hadn’t really been paying attention but they were somewhere high up. His question about heights didn’t fall deaf on ears. In fact, it was interesting. “Not at all… Are you~?” He didn’t seem like the type to be but Anastasia was already getting all kinds of ideas in her heads. Devious ones. She pulled away from him, watching him summon his mirrors. She’d seen something like this on their mission together a while back. She gave him a quizzical look, still trying to piece together what he was up to. She decided to give up trying just let whatever was happening, happen. Things were more fun that way. Curiously, Anastasia walked up and poked her finger through the glassy surface and quickly pulled it out. It was so weird to see yourself go through something you weren’t supposed to. When they stepped through, Anastasia saw the same damn drinking table with all the drinks in tact and everything.

“Huh..” Even better? They were hundreds of feet up in the air. She…wow…uh…This is sweet. Her face revealed that she was surprised. She found her way over to her seat, looking over all of Seireitei. Anastasia gingerly took the glass of wine, smiling a little. Yeah, this was pretty nice. “Have I finally impressed the famous Anastasia Kuchiki?” “… You went through all of that to impress me?” she asked almost incredulously. She could hardly believe anyone going through so much lengths to get her to swoon and fall over like so many other girls would. “Credit given where credit’s due. I like~” but she was not so easy. Or maybe she was and everyone else was blind. After all, she was a woman with next to nil desire… but one: Happiness. “You sure pulled out all the stops.” she took a sip of her wine as she pushed her head out, looking down below her. It sure looked like it would be one hell of a fall if someone “slipped”. Heh.

She set her glass down and walked over to his side. “Hey, stand up for a sec.” she lightly tugged at his arm, pulling him to his feet. “Ever been sky diving before..?” she looked back at him as she slowly and carefully made her way over to the edge. She came to a stop when she felt she was at a good enough spot and pulled him a little close, looking right in into his eyes with the most amused look on her face. She looked at him expectantly for a few moments, waiting for an answer before looking over the edge at the ground underneath them for a while. There was a certain spark in her unusually ghastly eyes. The kind of spark that was up to no good. Though, she normally never was. She was a pirate first and foremost and pirates, you don’t trust. Pirates give you the run around and leave you high and dry until you’re left with nothing. Pirates sought after happiness through their own means but truly were they the most selfish beings of them all.

She was daring. She somewhat expected some protest out of him… which was okay. She knew she could wrap him around her finger and calm him down (if really was scared) just as she’d done before many times. “I’d hold tight if I were you…On ten.” she said, deciding not to give him much of a choice on the matter. Ah, before she did anything else though, she had one more thing to say. She wanted to make a point so she pulled herself closer to him. Both her hands moved up, her fingers would their way to either side of his face and she’d angle it so that he was looking straight at her. No tricks… maybe? That wicked smile of her’s was back as she pressed her forehead against his. He’d see up close just how odd her eyes were, they were white, haunting almost. “No.Mirrors.Okay? Trust me~” Her voice was reassuring, talking in hushed tones. Her fingers fell from his face, sliding down to the collar of his jacket. She’d turned him so his back was to the table and her’s was facing the brisk, open air of this exciting night. Anastasia moved slowly, bringing him with her. She took one small step backwards. “One….” One more step. “Two….” She looked him in the eyes, raising an eyebrow. “Three…”. Her face was close to his. Pausing for a moment, grinning like the devil. Her breaths were slow. She knew he wouldn’t be expecting this.

“Ten.”

As it turns out, Anastasia also liked surprises and tricks. Maybe more than Kagami. Just like that, without a single warning, she hooked her leg around his and pulled back making the pair fall over the edge of the mirrors together. If he allowed it, the pair would be free falling head first. First stop: The cold hard ground. At least, it seemed that way for a bit. “Woooooohooooo~!” she yelled from the top of her lungs. The sensation of falling was terrifying but it was that fear factor that cause this random rush butterflies in her stomach. Anastasia was pretty fricken’ crazy but it was all about the excitement and that adrenaline rush. It was too much fun She pushed he head to the side, looking at the ground. Seconds before they hit the ground, she called out, “Bakudo 37. Tsuriboshi!” It quickly sprung to life, being the awesome trampoline/safety net it was. It was a blue star shaped cushion pinning itself to anything it could latch itself on to.. all thanks to Anastasia.

Anastasia was notorious for a reason. Not some tame house cat. There wasn’t any part of her that truly could be tamed. She was as wild as an animal and all for the Kuchiki’s to use to their advantage. However, Kagami was someone to impress as well. He was Squad 1's finest. Not that she'd try at all. He had that air about him but Anastasia never tried for anyone. She was just herself and she was comfortable with that fact. If he wasn't too thrilled with her then that was fine... but it would suck. He seemed to know how to party and have a good time and she liked people like that. The pair would land right on the cushion, their descent wouldn’t end with broken bones or any injuries. Rather, it was a comfy, safe one. When they landed, she took a moment to breathe. She was feeling quite comfortable to remain ever so close to him for a few seconds, her face hovering over his. “Heh. Sorry, Kaga-chan. Probably not what you were expecting… but I like a little excitement.” her voice was light, she was slowly catching her breath. Anastasia wasn’t entirely sure if he was scared of the whole heights thing or the falling thing at all, so she watched him, her eyes scanning him, checking to see if he was alright. Whether he was or not, she peeled herself off him, rolling onto her back and looking up at the stars in the sky above this. She wore a delighted little smile, pleased with her stunt.

“Hope you have a way of getting back up… Cause I don’t~”

[Douma]

Kagami was slightly relieved. He thought he had struck a bad chord with his more personal question about her squad, but Ana didn’t seem too bothered. Her eyes have a slightly colder gleam, though, but maybe they just shone like that in the moonlight. Even if there was a subtle cruelty somewhere in his expression, Kagami wasn’t thrown off much. He was more relieved that Ana didn’t let the whole situation explode in his face. “I’m a pirate. Don’t forget that~” So Ana had more layers than she let show. Kagami was just beginning to peek into the less carefree aspects of her personality. He was genuinely intrigued, but he prioritized enjoying the night over analyzing Ana. No, he would save that for Squad 12. Speaking of that brilliant squad, he would have to thank them some other day. With a discreet exchange of coins, Kagami had managed to get his hands on the perfect elixir that knocked out so many Shinigami. And, best of all, if when the Captain Commander began unleashing his anger and fury and whatnot, Kagami wouldn’t hesitate before pointing a blaming finger at Squad 12.

Score Check:
Kagami 1 – 0 World

And that score would just account for the past five minutes. A more accurate total would be far too one-sided to give the world any credit. From birth, Kagami had been leagues ahead, and it just wasn’t a fair match up. But now, once again, the Vice Captain had shattered the system and gained a few points in Ana’s favor by surprising her. Yes, he counts that as sweeping her off her feet. As they walked toward the mirrors leading to the platform in the sky, she threw his arm around her and leaning against him. “Mmm… Not as good as dessert~” Kagami mentally awarded himself another point. It was 2-0, and the match had just started. Little did he know, Ana swiped a few coins, a kunai, and a condom from his pocket, scoring her a point and a half right under his nose.

“… You went through all of that to impress me?” The Vice Captain offered a modest shrug. Was he being humble?! That was definitely a first, but what else was he supposed to do? Gloat about how successful his efforts had been? No, he’d done enough of that in his lifetime, so maybe tonight would be a chance to take a break from all his bragging. Kagami would never admit it, but he just felt like his plans and the energy it took to execute them was all worth it. His intention was to blow Ana’s mind, but he did get a surprisingly large amount of self-satisfaction out of it. For that reason, he didn’t feel so eager to accept praise for it all. Make sense? Kinda? Not really… Ah, he’ll snap out of it by the next day and tell all of Soul Society stories of the ‘Greatest Date.’ It would be another tale added to his legacy.

Kagami rose from his seat at Ana’s request with an amused, yet quizzical expression on his face. There was something about the way she looked, a trait that Kagami was familiar with. The gleam of devilish excitement in her eyes could only mean one thing: she had a crazy, spontaneous idea. “Ever been sky diving before..?” “All the time. Why do you ask…?” Kagami sustained his cocky grin, but behind is arrogant mask, he was sweating a little bit. Just a little, not enough for Ana to notice and barely enough for him to recognize. It wasn’t fear, Kagami was too good to feel fear. (There goes the modesty ) It was a bit of anxiety, the nervous kind. Not the energetic, excited, dare-devil anxiety. Well, there was a bit of that too.

It’s just that his nervousness made him even more nervous. It was dumb how people got that way about some nerves, so Kagami just decided to drown any anxiety in arrogance. When in doubt, make the ego bigger. “A 200 foot drop isn’t much fun, though. I have to take you to this one place that gives a good two miles between the plane and the ground.” Talking about himself usually made all of Kagami’s little worries go away. Not this time, though. “I’d hold on tight if I were you… On ten.” With no air ground in Soul Society, Kagami only had his mirrors as a safety. That would be more than enough, though. But no, that wouldn’t be fair, huh? No, Kagami made the decision that he would keep a mirror hidden by the floor just in case.

Even as Ana’s hands slipped from Kagami’s face, he still found himself staring into her eyes with a genuine curiosity. He wasn’t exactly lost in them inthat sort of way. It was more like he was trying to figure them out like one would with a puzzle. They reminded him a bit of the white labyrinth that was his Inner World, which is just as disturbing as it is enticing. Her countdown snapped Kagami out of his deep thought, but even then, he had a semi-distant expression in his eyes that only faded a few seconds later, when he realized what was soon to come. Instead of fighting, Kagami decided to embrace the whole skydiving idea and jump right into it. Literally. He was planning to drag Ana off the platform with him at about 5 or 6. Ana beat him to it, though. Course she did.

Ten. Kagami knew what was coming, and found himself staring back into Ana’s eyes as she pulled them off the edge. Ana’s leg was still wrapped around Kagami’s as they fell, and, frankly, he didn’t mind. The Vice Captain only needed to glance at the ground once to summon a mirror, immediately linking it appropriately so that it would be hidden from Ana, before turning back to his date. With the Ana’s hair blowing wildly around her glowing face as they fell, the wind seemed to pull a whisper out of Kagami’s mouth. “Beautiful…” Even with the wind roaring and Ana screaming, they were close enough that she would pick up on the word or at least easily read his lips.

Just as Kagami prepared to use his concealed mirror to rescue them, Ana finally played her hand. Her use of the Bakuda gave them a mattress-like cushion, allowing them to bounce a few times before coming to a halt with Ana lying on top of Kagami. “Heh. Sorry, Kaga-chan. Probably not what you were expecting… but I like a little excitement.” “It was way better than the two mile fall.” That was probably the best skydiving experience Kagami had, probably because it was the only time he had ever shared it with someone. It was nice to have a partner-in-crime, especially one that followed Kagami willingly and had the same intentions as he did. Kagami had to force Takehiko into the whole Vegas thing. Ana, on the other hand, would have jumped into that dress at the mention of ‘money’ and ‘Vegas.’

“Hope you have a way of getting back up… Cause I don’t~” “We’ll end up right back up as soon as you get rid of this safety net.” Assuming that Ana did so, the two would find themselves falling right back down into a mirror that would ‘suddenly appear,’ or so it would look that way to Ana. Kagami, on the other hand, knew it was there in the first place. When they fell through the glass, Kagami and Ana would be reappearing hovering a few feet above the side of the platform in the air. With Ana over him, Kagami took the weight of the fall on his back, but he didn’t flinch or show any signs of pain. He just took the hit like a man, so that the two could lie next to each other for at least a few more seconds. It was a nice, comfortable feeling.

“Was that your first time freefalling?” Skydiving implied that they had parachutes. Though mirrors and magic were probably ten times better.

[Deleted]

He seemed as cocky and arrogant as ever. Maybe even more just before they plummeted to the not-so-cold ground. He’d asked questions about what she was up to, just as she’d done before. She completely ignored them. Anastasia was completely silent, letting his questions go unanswered and float there all while she wore a little smirk on her face. The only time she spoke was when she’d counted down and demanded that he didn’t use any mirrors. Anastasia wasn’t going to give up her games and her tricks. Tonight, Kagami was her victim. Maybe her favorite victim. Who knows?

She wasn’t sure if she was imagining things, but Anastasia could’ve sworn she heard him whisper the word “Beautiful” to her in the midst of their fall. It wasn’t a word she heard traditionally. Not when it concerned her. It’s easy to say you’re hot shit but, when someone said something seemingly genuine that’s when you’re in hot water. Hot water in the sense that maybe this person liked you or maybe they don’t. Confusing things really. Luckily, she was used to dishing out stuff like that and she was sure Kagami was as well. Hell, maybe it wasn't even about her. Maybe it was just the general atmosphere. They were jumping around and flirting under a starry sky. That sort of thing was bound to happen. Still, it was just an odd thing to say but Anastasia decided against dwelling on it further.

“My first time free falling? …Haha~ No way!” She’d done it in the human world dozens of times when she stole from museums. Hundreds of times when she was running from thugs and thousands of times in her inner world… only to be caught by her saint of a spirit. Falling with someone? She could probably count on one hand. “I take it it’s not yours but have you done it like this with anyone? Heh. It’s a real heart stopper.” They were the most exciting experiences she shared with people. Not only that, but parachutes required money which wasn’t a problem. She could just steal ‘em. However, that required time and effort and she really wasn’t about to put forward all of that when she had a blue cushion-y substitute… Besides! It’s way more fun to make people nervous and hold on to them. It’s why couples go to scary movies. Anastasia didn’t need a campy horror flick to achieve the same results.

…Not that she was being manipulative or anything like that. Getting a rise out of anyone was her goal. Though, she always pegged Kagami as the type who wasn’t phased by her usual antics. Not in the slightest. Sometimes she wondered if it just went over his head. He was the type to hit on anything and everything the same way she did. If he was anything like her, maybe he’d be down for getting his hands dirty in some shady business. Her own shady business at least. Anastasia had her own past and a reputation. Could she let him in on that? Ah. If she did, the possibilities were endless. Oh, but she couldn’t jump to conclusions yet. Shady business required a certain kind of trust and a special kind of insane that she looked for in people. People who flirted with danger just as much as she did was a nice touch too. In a way, it was very much like Azumi who wanted her for…who cares? It was worth it in the end~ The pay out was always worth it when you were a thief.

Yet, despite just somewhat meeting Kagami, she felt as though he was more than capable enough. She’d already seen him in action. The way he used his mirrors to deceive and suit himself in any given situation. He would be ridiculously useful. Why hadn’t Azumi approached him? If anything, they were ridiculously similar. Something told her that he lived for the rush. Lived for the excitement. Why, if she didn’t know any better, she’d say that he probably thought it was all far more addicting and far sweeter than anything he could get his hands on…literally. Aha. He was a hell of a daredevil. He was nuts and he was bold, obnoxious, loud and really fuckin’ proud. Maybe there were a few other traits that would deem him worthy on any ship of hers. That was something Anastasia liked… but she was still cautious. She always was though. The most important question here was..

“…Is he trustworthy?”

Who knows! All she knew was that she was enjoying his company. Anastasia loved banter but finding out what made someone tick was just as fun. He may be her biggest challenge yet and she loved that. It made it all the more satisfying when she finally got her way in the end…and Anastasia always got her way. She took things by storm very much like a pirate and a thief would. Still, it was nice to know they were on the same page.

“Aha~ Don’t fall for me now~” she jested before rolling back onto him. She was getting ready to get rid of the cushion and fall into the mirror he’d placed under it. “It’s always better when you’re not jumping alone.” she said almost nonchalantly. It was fact to her. Company was nice in general. Anastasia, who always had her zanpakuto by her side, drew her blade. She could’ve used the kunai she stole from him but… she was saving that for later. Like a knife through butter, she slice through the thing. It gave way to their combined weight and soon dissipated. They’d both fall through the mirror he’d cleverly planted during their descent. “…Even better with you around~” she said as she looked back at him as they fell into the mirror, waiting to be back at the top with the tables and the drinks.

Back in the air. Anastasia felt quite comfortable where she was and remained on top with a content look. She propped herself up a bit, resting her forearms on his chest. “Though, the not being alone thing pretty much goes across the board for anything, mate.” She lowered her head with her long white hair draped to the side, resting it against his, forehead to forehead. He had eyes like Shoku-chan. That same deep purple that she could stare at without feeling bored at all. “Maybe you’ll find yourself agreeing with me~? Maybe not~? I just know it’s nice to be with someone. Heh… Especially you~” Not to imply loneliness. She was far from it. Ana had her issues with struggling to be a Kuchiki but by no means did she need anyone at any point for anything at all! She’d achieved everything by herself. Even if the consequences of love were as painful as glass splinters embedded in hearts, she wouldn’t cut herself off from it. That was silly. Life loses its spice without love. Spice always made things interesting and it sure as hell gave it that hazardous streak she loved so much. Yeah, spice was pretty damn good.

Unfortunately, not everyone knew that. Out of fear, they cut themselves off and they stagnate. They stagnate and become long and forgotten. There was nothing more saddening than that thought. It was something Anastasia swore wouldn’t happen to her. Not on her life. As a former pirate captain, she was far too great for that to happen. She suddenly backed away, opting to roll off of him completely and move to his side to lie on her back and look at the stars. She was silent for a while, giving him a chance to talk before she’d confess something… a little strange. “Truthfully, I hadn’t done that with anyone in a very long time~” she turned her head to look up at him briefly and smiled before looking back at the stars once more. “You tricked me into a date. I’m not only impressed, but I’m a little glad~ ” To think she was going to stay in and do paperwork. Pfft.

“Why though~? I have to know why the all powerful, great and devastatingly handsome Kagami Murai wants to kill a little time underneath the stars with some fine wine and a dirty thief." Maybe it was for fun? Anastasia just wanted to know a little more. Prying never hurt and knowledge was power. Nothing wrong a question or two. "You don’t seem like the type to, but you pulled out a lot of stops to impress me. I could be wrong, mate~ I’m just curious y’know~? … and don’t say it’s cause I’m a Kuchiki.”

[Douma]

“I take it it’s not yours but have you done it like this with anyone? Heh. It’s a real heart stopper.”

Kagami shrugged the question off, answering with a vague response. “Eh, once or twice, maybe.” How many times wasn’t the real question. If Ana wanted to really stump him, she’d be asking who he’d done it with. There were some facial qualities he may or may not remember about the girls Kagami had been with, even those he had gone as far as to skydive along side. Maybe he could recall their breast sizes, or the curves of their amazing bodies (all of them had amazing bodies, Kagami didn’t settle for anyone under an 8), but he would never be able to remember their names. He just never established a real connection with them. It was all about the drinking, and the sex, and the hangover in the morning that he had when he promised to call them later on, which they both knew would never happen. It was all about that fuck and duck lifestyle. One night stands every night. Rage. Turn up. All that cool kid jazz that kinda leaves you wondering ‘what do I do next?’ But Ana was different. “But you’re the only one I’ll remember.” He flashed her his usual self-assured, charming ass grin. It was his trademark and it definitely left a mark on the ladies.

“Aha~ Don’t fall for me now~” Kagami almost laughed. His grin definitely widened, but the chuckle didn’t quite roll off his tongue. “I thought you knew me a little better than that.” Kagami didn’t fall for anyone. No one. He practically messed around with anyone that was worth his time, but actually falling for anyone? Nope. Not him. And Ana knew that, but the question was could he somehow get Ana to fall for him? As great of an achievement as that would be, he wasn’t sure he could pull it off. He and Ana were too similar, and she probably knew all his moves and methods before he even made them. Kagami was just a player of the game, and Ana was mostly likely familiar with the rules. And she knew how to break them too, which made the game even more fun. She cut the reiatsu net between them, and made some flirtatious remarks as they descended to the mirror below. She had a smart mouth on her, and Kagami found that pretty hot. After all, he wasn’t going to invite a less attractive girl to dinner. He had standards. (( God, Kagami’s such a dick xD ))

When they reemerged on the mirror, the table was set up beside them and Ana was lying just on top of Kagami. By propping herself up, she widened the distance between them so that they could talk eye to eye with just a small air gap. Her breath smelled like liquor. “Though, the not being alone thing pretty much goes across the board for anything, mate.” Kagami, again, shrugged. He felt that he did perfectly fine on his own, having amazing adventures and sharing the stories with his unseated admirers. He lived the good life and drove in the fast lane. There was no room for a passenger seat. “Maybe you’ll find yourself agreeing with me~? Maybe not~? I just know it’s nice to be with someone. Heh… Especially you~” No, Kagami wasn’t agreeing with the whole being not being alone thing, but he felt the same way about how nice it must be to be around him. “Ya know, I feel like I’m doing the best on my own. No restrains and responsibilities. No stupid rules to hold me back. After all, technically, this isn’t legal,” he said, gesturing his arms around him before letting his head rest on his palms. “But if I went with everything everyone set up for me, then I wouldn’t be lucky enough to have you alone a couple hundred meters in the air. No one gets this opportunity, especially not with someone as beautiful as the infamous Anastasia Kuchiki. I did all this on my own.”

There were a few times where Kagami got a partner-in-crime to tag along with him, like Takehiko during Vegas. Heh. He probably kept that dress and tries it on when he’s alone with some high-heels and those fancy gloves. But, back to the point. Other than that, Kagami had pretty much done everything on his own, and it typically worked out fine. Of course, there are exceptions to everything, but let’s just leave it at that. Kagami’s fine going solo. But… “Then again, I haven’t ever really met anyone that sees eye to eye with me. You’re something special, Anastasia.” And Kagami meant it. He knew that they would have many more adventures ahead of them, and he could only look forward to what the future brings.

“Truthfully, I hadn’t done that with anyone in a very long time~ You tricked me into a date. I’m not only impressed, but I’m a little glad~ ” Kagami raised a brow in question. “Really? I’d expect men all over the world to fall at your feet.” Ah, guys can be so desperate at times, and Ana had that little something special that made them fall half in love with a look. Well, maybe they weren’t quite in love as they were horny. Yeah, that’s about right. Kagami’s different, though. He could actually function intelligently through his ‘urges,’ as one might say. This whole event may have been an attempt to get into Ana’s pants… or maybe not. “Why though~? I have to know why the all powerful, great and devastatingly handsome Kagami Murai wants to kill a little time underneath the stars with some fine wine and a dirty thief." Kagami could have made some smart, sexual response right then and there. ‘The dirtier, the better’ or, if he wanted a more cliché, cheesy response, which do occasionally work, though probably not on Ana, he could have said ‘the only thing you’ve stolen is my heart.’ But no, that would be too simple and unsatisfying. Why had he set this whole event up for one girl when he could be getting two or three a night?

"You don’t seem like the type to, but you pulled out a lot of stops to impress me. I could be wrong, mate~ I’m just curious y’know~? … and don’t say it’s cause I’m a Kuchiki.” “C’mon, gorgeous. I was hoping you had learned a thing or two about me by now.” Kagami wasn’t the type to ‘fall in love’ and have one of those ‘happily after hours’ where he walks into the sunset with his ‘soul-mate’ or whatever. Nah, that was below him. However, Ana had a point. He had a legitimate reason for arranging this whole date, and it was to comfort himself. Ever since his encounter with Myza, Kagami had been severely troubled. What happened to him? He had a fiancee, a family. And when he died, poof. All gone. Clean slate. Fresh start. Kagami had always been reckless, but he was at least faithful to his fiancée. After his mortal life ended, all that went away. And why might that be?

Kagami wasn’t good enough. His family deserved better. His fiancée deserved better. He was supposed to head a noble family in Japan, so how would he do that if he spent his nights in bars and his mornings getting over rough hangovers? What would his kids think of him as, that pathetic drunk that was supposed to be the leader of something great? How long would Manami put up with it before she packed her bags and took the kids? Kagami just simply wasn’t good enough to be a part of a family, to be a husband, to be a son. He was best off on his own, and he didn’t need to let anyone down. That’s why he hadn’t even tried to search for his family. What would he say if he found Manami, the single person he had actually loved once upon a time? ‘I’ve thought about you ever single day.’ She wouldn’t buy it, no matter how true it was. Kagami had become this big shot Vice Captain, and they had undoubtedly heard of his reputation as a ladies man. He would get slapped and turned away. That’s what happens when his true colors show.

Kagami’s arrogant façade cracked. His grin faded, and he found him staring into Ana’s ghost eyes, finally understand why he set up this date. There was just a hint of regret in Kagami’s eyes, and if Ana was looking closely, she wouldn’t miss it. He couldn’t hide it if he wanted to. “I needed to make sure I wasn’t the only one…” If Kagami met someone else living a wild lifestyle, turning away their obligations and leading a life of their own, he was hoping that he could feel better about himself and everyone he abandoned. It was a really pathetic attempt, but you can’t blame a guy for trying. Ana was the pick me up he needed, and if she stayed true to herself, he could really use some of her cheerful attitude to get him back on his feet. Metaphorically, of course. He was enjoying having just a couple of inches between their faces and the warmth between them.

At that very moment, Ana would hear a whistling sound coming from directly in front of her. She would be able to look up in time to see a huge blast of light not too far over their heads. Being so close to the Rukongai district, Kagami had payed a small fortune to a group of Shiba family members to set up this firework show near the location for their drinking competition. It was the final ace Kagami had tucked up his sleeve until this moment. The fireworks kept coming every couple of seconds, and two or three at a time were launched occasionally, forming brilliant, overlapping patterns. The Shiba had the best fireworks by far, and it was worth the money for such a show. They could keep it going for another thirty minutes, which would be more than enough.

And so, Kagami had set up the perfect romantic environment. A great view, beautiful stars, a full moon, and now, a fireworks show. And he was wasting it, feeling all gloomy and stuff. As much as Kagami didn’t want to waste the opportunity, he wouldn’t be the one to make the first move either. The environment was perfect, but Ana would have to be the one to act on it. For the next few seconds, Kagami forgot about Minami, his parents, his past, and did what he did best; live in the moment.

[Deleted]

Maybe it was a curse to know all the tricks of the trade. When you know too much, you’re just suspicious of all kinds of things! Though, that was a pointless thought. Anastasia didn’t give a damn. He was fun and that was all that mattered. She did wonder if this was an elaborate scheme to get laid. Hmph. He wasn’t doing too badly. But she knew this game already. She’d played it dozens of times. It wasn’t something she’d get tired of either. Even after Shoku’s various protests, she’d still go on. The first one to lose was the first one to fall. That’s how it always went. It was all fun until someone got too serious. It was messing with someone’s emotions, but would it be so bad when the other person was doing the same thing? He could actually be endless entertainment for her…

”But you’re the only one I’ll remember.

She smirked. How many times has he said that to someone? ”Heh. Yeah. Sure…” she turned her head to see that same grin that’d make any girl’s heart flutter. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t like it. Anastasia figured he was full of empty promises. Have a hell of a night. Wake up in the morning next to someone or… someones. She’s had a few adventures and in all of them, she just woke up and made her way home without so much as a goodbye. If Kagami wanted to try to get Ana to fall for him, he’d have to pull some magic tricks or something. Anastasia didn’t see herself falling for…anyone. Sure, that’s how it all started out, but being tied down wasn’t something she planned. She knew him well enough to say that he sure as hell wasn’t thinking about it either… but asking questions and prodding him wasn’t a bad thing.

“Ya know, I feel like I’m doing the best on my own. No restrains and responsibilities. No stupid rules to hold me back. After all, technically, this isn’t legal, but if I went with everything everyone set up for me, then I wouldn’t be lucky enough to have you alone a couple hundred meters in the air. No one gets this opportunity, especially not with someone as beautiful as the infamous Anastasia Kuchiki. I did all this on my own.” She looked around her. Now that he’d brought it to her attention, some of this probably was illegal. “The goal, my friend, is to be free of that cage they put us in~” Under the weight of a shinigami’s responsibilities, she felt shackled. There was no room to breathe. No room to stop and smell the roses. She needed to enjoy life. Anastasia was very much like a cat; she needed to roam, she needed eat whenever and drink whatever and she was always hunting for something in the most discrete way possible. Most importantly though, cats were free and they did whatever the hell they wanted. She respected that. “Someone makes the rules to keep others in line. Rules shouldn’t be broken.” She said giving him a mock stern look. She remained like that for a moment before smiling slyly. “That’s why I make my own rules… I’m as free as a bird~” Mess with someone else’s property? Why do that when she could do her own thing? Why do something someone else dictated when she could dictate something else?

“It’s refreshing to hear that, mate. Sometimes, it’s like no one really has a mind of their own.” And boy, oh boy, was it annoying. ‘You’re not responsible’ this and ‘That’s not allowed’ that. She wasn’t sick of it. She knew lots of what she did was looked down upon. Kagami could think for himself and that was probably one of the best things about him! Just like him, it was just in Anastasia's best interest to do what makes her happy and with that, she really didn’t give a shit about anyone. There were times she did though. She wasn’t heartless. Anastasia had a lover here and there but in the end, it was all the same. The last one she had fell through; thieves in love? How could they give up the thing they loved most for each other? It was bittersweet but that was in the past. Anastasia looked forward and never turned her head to look behind her. “Then again, I haven’t ever really met anyone that sees eye to eye with me. You’re something special, Anastasia.” They really did see eye to eye. "And you're a breath of fresh air~" All they wanted to do was their own thing. She could legitimately see herself chilling out at a bar with both him and Raion. Even more things. If none of this was truly legal… she could certain think up a few dangerous adventures she’d happily bring him along on. He could be her partner in her crime.

This was getting much better.

“Really? I’d expect men all over the world to fall at your feet.” Blinking, she looked up at him, propping herself up more. Her expression was blank for a moment. She did but she also didn’t. Not many men made it far. She was like many sweet poisons one might drink at a bar; delightful for a time, hell you probably can’t get enough of it, but left you with nothing but a hell of hangover. “Ah… I mean…” she was trying to be modest about it. Anastasia looked down but she was blushing and doing a poor job at hiding it. It took her a moment, but she just ended up laughing. She was nervous about this particular topic and she couldn’t figure out why… but what the hell. Just roll with it, right? Who cares? “Heh. There’s plenty of stories, mate. For most of them, the end was the same. I don’t fall easy~” She finally looked at him, smiling almost triumphantly. She’d met horrible men and amazing men. All kinds really. With that kind of power though, came responsibility. Why, she could break someone’s heart? Though, that’s where she drew the line. Her intention wasn’t to hurt anyone, just have a jolly old time.

She laid back down, opting to rest her head on his chest. He’d answer her question about why he brought her out there. With killer looks and a smile to die for? Of course it was suspicious as hell. He could’ve been on a date with different easy girls than with one difficult one. Anastasia was still perplexed. Was he beating around the bush or something? Still, she couldn’t help herself. “You could teach me more than that if you wanted to…” hand slowly snaked its way to a button on his shirt, the one closest to his neck. She lightly tugged on it in an attempt to garner his attention. She moved herself further up to look at him, raising her eyebrow. There was a certain look in Anastasia’s eyes that was bewitching. As if she were giving him permission to do something. Though, she knew nothing would happen. At that though, she bit her bottom lip, not bothering break eye contact with him. She was taunting him. Kagami wasn’t going to make a move on her. He had too much pride for that. He wanted her to make the first move and she wasn’t going to do that.

They were both too prideful. Anastasia couldn’t even remember the last time she’d made the first move. It was like that for a while, her playfulness against his. That was all until that ridiculous persona of his dropped. ”I needed to make sure i wasn’t the only one…” It finally fucking dropped. Kagami was finally being real with himself. However, Anastasia’s own smile faded. The more she looked into his eyes, the more she realized he was a deeply troubled soul. This guy had issues. Like, issues. Issues he really needed to work through. It’s all nice for a while when you ignore it, but eventually, he’s gotta work up the courage and make peace with it, right? Ana’s problems were mostly gone… save for Hokori… actually, she probably shouldn’t even be talking. But Anastasia knew her issues weren’t as bad. If whatever it was made Kagami look like this, then it was probably really bad.

She ran her fingers through his hair. You know what, she’ll make the first move. Why not? Her hand glided down to his collar, pulling it as she moved her face closes to his, her lips just mere centimeters away from his. Anastasia stopped immediately when she heard a familiar whistling. Her eyes widened at the loud piercing sound that would wake up all of Seireitei if its inhabitants weren’t so heavily drugged and intoxicated. Instead of actually moving to complete the kiss, she turned her head to look out at the sky to see fireworks. Huh. Now this was the definition of pulling all the stops. For a guy who carried a kunai, some change and a condom on a night like tonight, he did well. She found herself just watching it instead of making a move. He could deal with it. She was sure he could. Unless he wanted to do something. Then that was all on him. Not only that, but the idea of making him work for something was amusing. Flashes of reds and greens and golds dancing in the dark sky meant for their eyes only. Yeah, Kagami was chasing hard. She liked that. “You really planned the hell out of this night.” Close, but no cigar.

“You’re not the only one, by the way.” She looked at him from the corner of her eyes before looking back at the fireworks. “I drink to chase my own demons away and I have a nasty habit of pushing things away. Things I shouldn’t be pushing away.. People I shouldn’t be pushing away. You know how that goes.” she sighed. What she said seemed said but she was actually quite happy. Opitimistic even. Instead of one of those scheming looks she had, she looked fine. Like everything was going to be okay and it would all come together in its own way. No matter what storm was raging on with in her, she knew she was the captain. She was the master of her fate. She was the captain of her soul. Storms don’t live on forever. All she had to do was make peace with whatever it was and finally move on. Anastasia knew whatever troubles she had, it wouldn’t bog her down. She gave him a warm smile, finally breaking away from the fireworks display and looked him. And she also knew.. “You’ll be okay, mate. You just keep that pretty little grin of your’s up and I swear it. You will.”

[Douma]

You know that whole thing about how people have layers? The thing Shrek mentioned relating ogres to onions and such. Or was it cake? Either way, maybe it’s true that some people have layers, and the deeper the layer, the more complex they become as a person. Each thin sheet of frosting and cake reveals another side to the person, and that their outside appearance isn’t truly who they are, but only the cover of the text within the book. It’s all cliché but Shrek isn’t wrong. Everyone has various amounts of layers, both people and ogres that their ‘identity cake’ is composed of. God, I feel like an elementary school teacher or kids Disney writer right now.

Now, Kagami’s cake is a little special. It’s got this huge crust of rich, dark chocolate frosting mixed with an elegant hint of raspberry spiked with just enough wine to get the party started after a few slices. This crust continues for a long, long, long way below the surface until there finally lies a tiny pearl of delicate red velvet protected by its frosting blubber. As delicious as that red velvet is, it never sees the light of day and remains hidden in that dark, protected nucleus engulfed by awesome sugary and alcoholic frosting.

Why doesn’t that red velvet ever come out so people can get a chance to give it a taste. Kagami doesn’t like red velvet. Well, no. He likes red velvet. It’s delicious. But, in a metaphorical sense, he doesn’t like his red velvet and doesn’t want to give anyone a taste. From a literal sense, he wouldn’t mind letting Ana give it a try, but, again, I’m trying not to be literal. After all, the past three paragraphs of pointless fluff have soley been there to create this absurd banality that people are like cake. Wait, why am I fluffing, this is just a social. Fuuuuuuuu~ *shatters fourth wall and grinds it to dust*

So, let’s talk about this frosting part of Kagami. Right now, it really loves what’s going on. Ana’s pulling him in from his collar, her hand freely exploring his smooth, gray hair. And the way she looked at him, biting her lips, not to mention that look in her eye, was driving him nuts. Maybe this reinforces a stereotype about men, but Kagami was finding it very hard to keep himself restrained. He was holding on by a thread, just managing to keep himself from sealing the deal and meeting her half way. But no, that wasn’t the way things worked. He would make things happen on his terms, and even if that meant chaining himself to a fence, it would be a worthwhile accomplishment. Ana said it herself: “I don’t fall easy.”

He was so close. So damn close. But, of course, Murphy’s Law kicked in: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And so, the fireworks cut off what would have been the sprint into the safety zone, and what happened in the safety zone stayed in the safety zone. But things don’t typically go they way they were supposed do, and Kagami ended up cock blocking himself. Who knew the perfect, most romantically planned date could have a finishing touch, the fire works, backfire. They were supposed to be the frosting on the cake, pun intended, to seal the deal. So close.

Now, there was another side of Kagami, a much weaker side that only emerged in the moment that Ana was making her move. His eyes had softened, and his outer shell had just the tiniest crack that he couldn’t quickly cover up. Ana undoubtedly noticed something, but Kagami regained his composure after the fireworks. He beamed with his characteristic, self-assured grin that he flaunted so frequently. However, that ball of red velvet was still fighting to get out, and he was forcing himself to subdue it. He didn’t want things to get real and serious, the man just wanted a night that he could spend in good company and reflect on good times. Why stain something like that?

“You really planned the hell out of this night.” Kagami raised his eyebrow at her with an amused look. “Some people are worth it. And I already told you before, Miss Kuchiki, you’re special.” She had mentioned that she preferred to go as Ana before, and so why, one would thing, might Kagami be emphasizing a formal address. Because it was light-hearted teasing, and he could find a little bit of fun in that. And it almost gave the evening the mood of a satirical high-class date with the man tucking in the woman’s chair in some rich restaurant while they laughed about petty matters and exchanged irrelevant small talk. That was about as phony as something can get, so, in a weird way, the night Kagami had prepared was much more real.

“You’re not the only one, by the way.” Here comes the red velvet. Kagami tried to give her a look that said ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ but the absence of his usual flare in his eyes would tell her otherwise. Even though the Vice Captain was, in fact, relieved to hear that he wasn’t alone, there was one detail that was still bothering him. Even if wasn’t the only one ignoring the reality of his past, then what can he do to fix his situation. Was his only option to move on with his life and power through the guilty feeling of his stomach flipping inside out every time he just happened to look back?

[]“I drink to chase my own demons away and I have a nasty habit of pushing things away. Things I shouldn’t be pushing away.. People I shouldn’t be pushing away. You know how that goes.”[/b] Kagami titled his head in moderate surprise. Up until that moment, he seemed to completely neglect the possibility of Ana dealing with her troubles just has been doing. It was selfish, but that’s how Kagami had lived his life for the past several decades. It was all about him, and now, he found a friend that just might be in need. But her positive tone told him otherwise. Typically, Kagami was great at reading people, but, in this case, the Vice Captain couldn’t seem to decide if she had just as much frosting as he did or she was actually content with the way things were, despite the loneliness her words implied.

“I’ll stay close in case you ever get a little tired of pushing.” This wasn’t one of his empty promises with the sole purpose of getting him into her pants. No, Kagami was serious, and whether or not Ana could figure that out through his self-confident demeanor, Kagami didn’t intend to blow her off like the rest of his one-night stands. Speaking of one-night stands, Kagami wasn’t about to give up after Ana pulled away at the last second. He had come way too far to just turn back, and the Vice Captain was ready to see his plan through to the end.

Kagami hadn’t even glanced up at the fireworks this entire time, and instead directed his gaze to Ana. He was sure the light show would be breathtaking. After all, he paid the Shiba members in the Rukongai district just outside Seireitei a small fortune. But his main focus of the evening was Ana, and he wouldn’t let his plans distract him. When she looked back down to meet his violet eyes, dancing as they reflected the fireworks above, he was met by a kind, sincere smile. “You’ll be okay, mate. You just keep that pretty little grin of your’s up and I swear it. You will.” The Vice Captain could only hope that she was right, and returned her smile in optimistic agreement.

But he wanted to be more than okay, at least for that night. “Right now, I’m on top of the world.” Kagami spoke softly, almost in a hushed whisper. His words were partly literal, considering that they were in fact lying on a mirror platform several hundred feet above the ground. But, more importantly, at that very moment, Kagami finally managed to return to his mindset that was buffered from the harsh reality of life. Once again, he was just an untroubled man enjoying the fireworks with a beautiful woman.

Maybe Kagami had just lost his self-restraint, or maybe he decided that this was as good a time as ever to break his golden rule and make the first move, but the Vice Captain finally decided to act instead of wait for Ana to start round two. While keeping his energetic amethyst eyes locked with her’s, Kagami delicately placed his left hand on her leg while intimately moving his hand to her lower back. As he did so, Kagami would very slowly move his face toward Ana, inch by inch. His gaze and confident expression never faltered. However, when he was just millimeters from Ana’s lips, Kagami stopped. He was 99% there, but Kagami just couldn’t allow himself to do all the work. The rest would be up to her.

[Deleted]

Miss Kuchiki

It was chuckle worthy. Truly, it was. Anastasia couldn’t help but smile something delighted. It did have a nice ring to it. At the same time, it was such a refined name for such an unrefined girl. So formal and stuffy sounding. He made it seem like it wasn’t so bad. There something nice about the way he said it. Hey, if handsome here wanted to call her ‘Miss Kuchiki’, then he could all he wanted to. Far be it from her to stop him. After all, she’d always given everyone her own little nickname. She expected the same treatment from others. It kind of reminded her of when Shade scolded her for doing something…. heh. Well, a man with that sort of will was weak. Of course he’d reprimand her while still trying to be proper. Nobles.

Kagami said it differently though. That was what she liked the most. “…Persistent, aren’t we Mister Murai? Coulda sworn I said not to call me that.” she spoke with a mock stern expression. Still, she happily sighed. This was nice. Being able to joke around and be playful amongst each other. This was something, rather, someone she could see herself hanging around with. Maybe she’ll keep this one. It was always nice to have someone who thought like you around, right? At least you knew what they were thinking and you knew that they were fun. Sounded like cupcakes to her.

For the remainder of her time, she settled on being silent for a while. Kagami was the one with real issues after all. Even when she prodded a bit with her own details, it was undeniable. Behind that facetious demeanor, there was a man with a real heart that was hurting. It made Anastasia a little sad to see he was going through that… and even more sad to see the lengths he’d go through to cover it up. Maybe Kagami was happier burying it and doing what she did. Ana could try confronting a lot of the things in her past… but it’d need to start with her own parents. Parents that clearly didn’t exist in any way, shape or form. People that deserved to be stolen from and a retired friend who never bothered to see her or tell her about his retirement. They were all gone. All of them with the exception of… ”You silly pirate, I will always be here.” …And she was happy with that.

He wouldn’t come out right and say it but she knew it. His expression spoke volumes. Even after she revealed that she had her own issues. Anastasia knew she’d be fine. She was adaptable after all. She’d walk on alo— ”I’ll stay close in case you ever get a little tired of pushing.” Instead of her usual knowing, carefree expression, Anastasia looked at him rather confused. It was genuine. That was the part that threw her off. It wasn’t just sweet promises and cavity inducing words. It was real. She couldn’t help but smile at his little declaration. Anastasia didn’t even have a comeback for that one. It was certainly new. How long would it last though? ”Have a little faith.” Maybe a very long time then. She counted on Kagami keeping his promise… even if she’d act like she didn’t need it.

He smiled. It was always good to see someone else smile. It meant no worries and it was a sign of hope.  “Right now, I’m on top of the world.” Good. He was in a good mood. He was more than likely going to try to have a night with her. Even if she didn’t make the first move. She could see him trying again and again. It was ultimately her decision though. “I’m glad.” she whispered back, looking at him. He could easily see that she felt the same way, on top of the world. Much to her surprise, he was doing something. His hand on her leg, snaking its way up, moving to the small of her back. It sent a shock throughout her body. It made her react instinctively, causing her to pull herself much closer to him. She watched him for a moment, his face moved closer and she had to really initiate it… didn’t she?

Hm. Well, the best thing about being a thief was getting to have your cake and eat it too. Kagami could get his frosting but she’d also make him pay for making her initiate it. She’d do it in her own fun, little way. With that said, she slowly inched her face closer to his, tilting her head slightly and gently pressed her lips against his, holding it for a moment and giving him the chance to react. All while she had something planned. The kunai she’d stolen from him previously was going to be put to good used. The crafty girl carefully pulled it out and found the opening of his jacket. She wedged the kunai into his jacket, pinning it and him to the mirror. All this went on as her lips moved along with his with the occasional teasing and playful kisses. For a second, someone else’s face flickered in her mind. Someone far away. Weird. She quickly put it out of her mind as she went on. If Kagami chose to get up or move around, he’d feel the kunai pinning his jacket down. After giving it a few seconds she pulled away immediately, standing up and walking backwards.

“Sorry.”

Her voice was light, breathy from their exchange. Anastasia looked at him with a great deal of interest. Oh, she knew what she was doing. She had to pull herself out of it. Otherwise, there’d be no game, yes? He was handsome and a good time. For sure. She stopped at the edge. He was never going to get any in the first place. “I might’ve stolen a few other things~” she winked wickedly as she pointed at his pockets. Well, she means it when she said she didn’t fall easy. Still, a nibble didn’t hurt. He might hate her for this… but that’s okay. They both had fun, right? Maybe he wouldn’t. Who knows? The pirate was making her escape. Boisterous, hearty laughter erupted and she could only look at him with the same daring look she'd given so many before him. “You’ll remember this as the night you almost caught the great Anastasia Solis-Kuchiki~!”

She fell backwards, plunging rapidly into the dark abyss below the mirror platform and disappeared.

Social Over.