Bleached Log
WHO: Orihime, Rangiku
WHAT: Orihime prepares dinner for her roommate, and they discuss girly things!
WHERE: Orihime's Apartment
The sound of frying oil, hot and sizzling, is almost deafening. Orihime flinches, raising an oven mit-clad arm to protect her face while squinting one eye shut. Frying foods is always a little dangerous, but that's half the fun. Sesame-coated balls of dough bob to the surface, one by one, and Orihime deftly scoops them out to let them cool on a nest of paper towels. There's a mayonnaise, raisin, and tuna salad covered with plastic wrap, frosted from the cold of the refrigerator, and a steaming plate of some kind of squash stir-fry. It smells of bananas, butter, and cheese as well.
It isn't often that Orihime goes all out like this with her cooking, but after learning that she and Rangiku had similar tastes, it fired up her longing to make her first three-course meal. Four courses, if one counts the pints of ice cream just kickin' it in the freezer.
"That should do it," Orihime exhales, slipping off the mits, untying the apron, and unlooping it from her neck. "Rangiku-san! Dinner's ready! Mind the sesame-wasabi balls, they're still really hot." Not calling Toushirou? Oh gosh no. He probably took his noodle cup and escaped to the roof while the gettin' was good.
Rangiku had been on the floor in Orihime's -- well, their -- room, a pair of earbuds nestled securely in her ears while she went through a selection of songs on a newly-acquired .mp3 player (they were all the rage these days). She was reading a magazine as she did so, lip's pursed at this fall's lingerie collection, trying to decide if she wanted the embroidered balconet bra with matching satin tanga panties, or the super lacy demi with *its* matching panties, before eventually coming to the conclusion that she shouldn't have to decide at all: she'd just buy both!
hat settled, she was just turning to the shoe section of the magazine when the first delicious tickle of Orihime's cooking teased her nose, and by the time she was able to identify the smell as individual parts coming from various dishes, she was already halfway down the hall with a look of dazed glee.
So it was that when the younger girl called for her, Rangiku was already there with a bright, blue-eyed smile to sneak up and suddenly grab her roommate's sides in a surprise hug, lifting her clear off her feet. "HIME, I SMELL CULINARY LOVE~" One could imagine an explosion of hearts to accompany the declaration.
"EEEEEEEEE!!!" Orihime squeaks, dropping her spatula. It clatters to the floor as Orihime's look of shock fades into warm delight. "Ah ha ha ha, Rangiku-san is pretty strong!" She stretches out her toe, trying to touch down with good ol' terra firma once more. It is very difficult to serve dinner when airborne, though rest assured, she might just give it a try.
"Do you like it?" she beams over her shoulder. "I went shopping for groceries with Sado-kun this weekend. Everything's fresh!" And she claps her palms together for emphasis. "I thought I'd save the pancakes for tomorrow, ha ha!"
"Pancakes?!" she suddenly twisted away from the stove, twirling Orihime in the air like parents were often inclined to do with small children, before setting her easily back onto her feet. "I LOVE your pancakes, do you intend to put me in an early grave from pure delightful, delicious overload?"
She bent down to swipe the spatula, returning to its rightful owner. "I will wait for tomorrow morning in barely-contained elation!" A dramatic sigh of wistfulness, and then she swept across the room ever-so-dramatically and promptly deposited herself at the table with a hungry, eager look. "What is the first course, super princess chef of all that is good and wonderful in the kitchen?"
Tsu! Tsu! Tsu! Orihime hops on one foot, arms stretched out to the sides as she struggles to regain her balance. With the help of the refrigerator, this is accomplished. She turns to grin, her cheeks flushed with pride as she rubs the back of her neck. Rangiku really is too kind! And flattery will get her everywhere, especially with Orihime. It's /nice/ to get heaps of praise like that! "Maybe you can help me pick out the fillings, then!" she offers, and snaps her fingers. Interactive pancakes... What a great idea! "I thought we might roll them up like crepes. They'll be really good!"
Whoa...princess chef...SUPER princess chef...! Orihime likes the sound of that, yes she does. Look, her dark eyes just got even bigger and frighteningly starry. "Hoooouuu..." Quickly she shakes her head. No time to daydream about /that/, the food will get cold! But gee, what a tough question! Which one to eat first? "Anou..." Orihime pulls her knuckle to her lip, investigating each dish thoroughly. The appetizers are traditionally served first, right? Then again, the main dish might go cold. And the salad might go warm!
Straightening, Orihime drops a palm into her fist, her expression determined. "We'll eat them all at once!"
For a moment, Rangiku was in another world entirely at the thought of spending a morning with a table full of tasty treats just waiting to be rolled into crepes, fanning her hand girlishly as if she'd just become embarrassed at receiving a compliment. "Oh no, little chocolate chips, I couldn't possibly combine you with the pineapple chunks and caramel without feeling /guilty/.... but if you INSIST," she said dreamily, chuckling coquettishly. "Oh, you said we should invite the strawberries, too? I'm quite overwhelmed...."
She snapped out of it with a wide-eyed grin after Orihime's loud, confident declaration, which Rangiku immediately followed with a triumphant fist in the air, looking determined and excited. "We shall emerge victorious!"
Orihime's fist, too, is launched into the air. Their grins, their expressions, everything is in perfect unison. It's no wonder people think they're related when they see the two girls around one another. "For Japan!" she cheers. Down go the plates. Down go the chopsticks. The teacups are filled, the table is set, and now they can eat in proper fashion.
"So how are the patrols going?" Orihime asks, a wasabi ball poised before her lips between the two chopsticks. "Do you and Hitsugaya-taichou end up fighting very many Hollows?" She blows on it to cool it down, then munches, while awaiting Rangiku's answer.
"Babies, more like," she replied, preying upon one of the wasabi balls as well the very second everything was in place. She nibbled for the sake of conversation, however -- at least for now. "If you want to use a metaphor. Bottom-feeders. Liiiiike... goldfish," she decided cheerfully, since she knew Orihime would appreciate the imagery, "as opposed to sharks."
She popped the rest of the wasabi ball in her mouth, chewing generously before washing it down with a swallow of tea. Rangiku allowed herself a happy sigh. "You make the BEST tea, and you are by far the BEST cook, Hime." She began helping herself to the stir-fry while she continued. "It's all Hollows I could kill in my sleep, disappointingly. It makes me wonder what the hell they're waiting for."
"Ah ha ha ha!" More flattery! And it serves its purpose, Rangiku will have all the tea she could ever desire, and a home-cooked meal every night. Hey, it's effective! "Thank you very much! I'm so glad you like it, most people think it's weird," Orihime laughs. They are...probably right! She acknowledges this! "It's really nice to share it with a friend. I'm pretty sure that's what makes it taste good," she nods, plucking out a wad of mayonnaise-soaked cabbage and raisins.
It's amazing, really. Rangiku and Hitsugaya swatting aside goldfish Hollows like that. Orihime had so much trouble with just that one! "We're really glad you're here...even if the action is a little boring," she grins. "I know I feel a lot safer. Everyone else does too!" Well...except Uryuu, she recalls, who seemed shocked at the news that the shinigami were in town. She hasn't even seen him since that day in the club. Orihime's gaze falls as she purses her lips pensively. Is he okay?
"Oh, they just don't know what they're missing!" she replied, firmly. She'd already worked her way through the helping of stir-fry, and was now working her way around the table of foods in a circular motion, chopsticks click-clicking woodenly over bowls like praying mantis fingers while she selected her next edible victims. Whenever a choice was made, she quickly swooped down and devoured the unfortunate niblets with unsurpassed glee.
"Ooooohhhh, no worries there. It's been such a long time since I've had an extended vacation to go shopping here!" A beaming smile, before she expertly stabbed another wasabi ball from where it huddled on the plate fearfully next to its brethren. It was halfway to her mouth when she noticed Hime's down-and-out expression, pausing and blinking. "Neee~, Hime. What're you lookin' so sad for? You look like the floor just fell out from under your feet, babe."
"E-eh? Oh no!" Orihime quickly smiles, holding out her palm as though to cease any concerns with a to-and-fro waving. "I'm not sad at all! Just... I guess I'm a little worried for Ishida-kun." She lays her chopsticks down (for the moment), curling her hands into her lap. "There's something on his mind...something he can't tell me about, he said. I think it's because he lost his powers." A shinigami would likely notice that, right? Even if Chad and Ichigo didn't.
Orihime exhales, then brings up a small smile again. "But I can't say for sure. I'm just worried because I haven't seen him at school since last week. And he hardly ever misses. I just hope he's all right." Maybe she should drop something off on his front porch. Some cookies, with a note offering words of encouragement. Baked goods and hope, fresh and hand-delivered! "Ha ha...I'm sure he is. He's very capable!" She picks up the chopsticks once more. "I trust Ishida-kun. Perhaps he has secret plans that he's working on."
"Ah." She tilted her head to the side carefully, before she popped the wasabi ball into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. No use just letting it hang there midair. Another sip of tea. "The Quincy boy."
Rangiku listened quietly, swirling the tea in the cup she'd kept in her fingertips. She'd noticed.. the change, to put it delicately. She could only imagine what it was like. She knew on some level what it was to be left feeling utterly defenseless, but so.. /physically/, down to your very core.. no, she could only imagine the emotional aspects, but even then the loss was so, so vastly different. Her pain was just the tip of the iceberg compared to what that boy was probably feeling. "... I don't imagine that boy to be the type to just lay down and die," she mused quietly, sipping her tea again and glancing aside, out the window. She could only imagine the reckless hope..
"There's a good chance that whatever he's doing where he is.. there's nothing you can do for him but send out your heart and soul to him and pray he finds a way out of his darkness."
She glanced back to Hime, then, lips pursed. "If you care about him at all, you'll pray he finds his heart finds its way home again."
"P...pray...?" Heart and soul? "A-ah! I do care, so I'll be sure to do that, Rangiku-san!" Maybe a cake would be better than cookies. She's better at making a cake, and Tatsuki mentioned that mint and butterscotch chips really shouldn't go together. Of course, Tatsuki would know best!
Still... The words come so heavily. Orihime studies Rangiku quietly, thoughtfully, holding her teacup in her hands. "Rangiku-san...is there someone you miss?"
There wasn't really an easy way to bring it up, though Orihime's tried. It's difficult to be tactful about delicate matters of the heart. But she recalls the look on her friend's face, and on Gin's face too, when the silver-haired ex-captain ascended into Hueco Mundo.
The startled look on her face was unexpected -- at least to Rangiku herslf. She nearly dropped the teacup, caught it again, coughed delicately and set it carefully aside. She'd been /thinking/ of him, briefly... ever so fleetingly... but she'd never expected the girl to draw that kind of conclusion. The girl continued to surprise her with her strange insightfulness.
"I.." she laughed, then, waving a hand in the air vaguely. She was the comforter, not the comforted: it wasn't supposed to come down to this, and it was rare she was ever caught so unprepared to answer. "Yes, you could say that," she settled for, finally. It was like pulling rusty nails from old wood, and like old wounds, they just didn't want to give in easily and they still hurt a lot coming out. She smiled down at the tea, sadly. "Yes.. you could say that."
"What? /Really/?" Orihime's eyes widen, and she leans further over the table. So she was right! Her /second/ moment of women's intuition! That means she's getting sharper by the moment. It won't be long now until she's got Rangiku's fashion sense, and the ability to see who's in love with who with just a passing glance. AWESOME!
But this isn't the time to gloat. The look on Rangiku's face tells her that much, and the open surprise on Orihime's face softens compassionately. "Rangiku-san?" Orihime's head tips to the left. "Ah...are you all right?" She wants to hear more about this guy, but not if it's going to cause her roommate pain.
Rangiku laughed quietly at her enthusiasm, glancing up with a bemused smile to ruffle the girl's hair affectionately. "You bet, kiddo." She brought her cup of tea up again for a sip, and then exhaled loudly and leaned back to support herself with her free hand's palm splayed out on the floor behind her. It was more of a 'where to start...' sound than a 'this subject horribly depresses me' sound. After all, she was the queen of bouncing back, wasn't she? Even if it wasn't fair, she'd take what life threw at her. She'd decided that much a long, long time ago.
"We grew up together in Seireitei. He found me one day lying dead in the road, if you could call it a road, back then. More like the middle of nowhere," she said, drinking her tea while she related the story. "I thought he was the funniest looking boy I'd ever seen, and that his name was weird enough to match his face." An upward quirk to her mouth; she found it humorous, and these memories didn't hurt.
"What?! REALLY?!" Orihime exclaims. The hair-ruffling was all she needed to stop restraining her feelings. If Rangiku is okay with it, then Orihime can really let loose and open up. The lady shinigami always had that talent about her...it's not something Orihime does all that often.
But there's just something about Rangiku's infectious strength and attitude... And to boot, she's FUN! Orihime absolutely loves her.
"I thought the exact same thing when I first met Kurosaki-kun! ...Well, except for the name, but he has the greatest expressions, ha ha!" She picks up her teacup and sips happily. She had to interject, it was just too coincidental NOT to share. "Did he save you, Rangiku-san?" That would be so romantic. <3
"That he did," she laughed again. "Saved by persimmons, no less -- we used to eat them often together ever since then." She set the tea down long enough to pick up her chopsticks again, snagging another wasabi ball to nibble on. It'd been a while since she'd told anyone about how she'd grown up... such a long, long time ago. It was like another life entirely, like it'd happened to someone else and she was just a spectator.
"He gave me my birthdate too, you know," she added, knowing the girl would like that. "I couldn't remember mine... so he decided the day we met would be my birthday. I was living by myself before he came along.. he said it was a perfect day because it was the day I wasn't alone anymore."
"Hm..." Orihime smiles, resting her chin in the cup of her palm. "It must have been a very happy way to grow up." She never would have guessed that someone like that would end up supporting Aizen and his goals. No wonder he bore that look on his face as he rose into the sky... It's hard to believe he could be /bad/ after hearing all of that.
She'll have to remember to ask for Rangiku's birthday once they're done eating. She'd like to get her a present when that day comes. Or better yet, bake the ultimate birthday cake!
"Then...he'll come back again, won't he Rangiku-san?" Orihime smiles. "You two care for each other. I can't see how anyone would want to stay away. Rangiku-san is the best!"
More laughter -- Orihime was so precious. "Happy, yes. He could be a twit, too. He gave me box of bugs as a Valentine's Day present once, you know. And he used to build snowmen with boobs," she teased, full of girlish gossip. "I used to kick 'em down. I was ALSO an excellent throw with an apple, I'll have you know," she added tease-haughtily, looking supreme. "He used to pull such tricks on me..."
Rangiku finished off the wasabi ball, licking her lips. It was the girl's last question which sobered her somewhat, but the flicker on her face was that and no more: fleeting, and then gone behind a confident smile. "You know it. I'm irresistible, after all!" A wink.
Orihime laughs. Now that's a side of Gin she doesn't think anyone else could possibly know, save for Rangiku, and now Orihime. It's so cute! To grow up like that, with a childhood sweetheart. Or just a cherished childhood friend! He MUST come back for her! And yet...
That look, brief as it was, shows that Rangiku doesn't seem to believe it. And that's just heartbreaking. Rangiku's honest in so many ways, and she knows Gin better than anyone. So if she doesn't think he's coming back...
No way, Orihime won't allow it. More impossible things have happened, after all, and if there's still a chance, no matter how slim, it must be clung to! "He will," she says, laying down her chopsticks. She scoots her cushion and self to sit next to Rangiku, leaning shoulder to shoulder. "He definitely will! And he'll apologize for making you wait, too." He'd better!
"Aw, thanks baby girl." Rangiku lifted her arm up and dropped it around Orihime's shoulders after setting her chopsticks down, as well, snugging her close. Squeeze. "So what's this about the Quincy boy, hm? I thought you had a crush on that fussbucket, Ichigo." Teeeease.
Orihime laughs. Yay, Rangiku hugs! Those are nice and non-invasive. "Hee hee--PFUHWHA?!?!" she suddenly stiffens like a board, her jaw dropping. "Me and Ishida-kun?! Oh no, it's nothing like that! We're just friends, you know? We spent a lot of time together in Soul Society, so we got to know each other pretty well, that's all!" Orihime quickly explains with a crooked smile. "I definitely... Kurosaki-kun is..." Well it's hard to just outright SAY that she loves him, even to someone like Rangiku. She sure is red!
Orihime's gaze falls to the table, and she sports a soft smile. "I care for Kurosaki-kun. Very much. And I'm really glad he's okay again." He got that fierce spark back in his eyes, thanks to Rukia. She hated seeing him look so sad before, so /guilty/. It didn't suit a kind person like him. "Besides," she raises a hand to the side of her mouth confidentially, "I think Ishida-kun secretly likes someone else! I had a flash of woman's intuition!"
She busted out laughing at Orihime's reaction, shaking with gleeful hysteria when she saw the girl's face. She almost had to hug herself. "You're blushin' worse than a sunset, girly! Aw, jeez," she sighed happily, wiping a tear from her eye. "I miss bein' a kid sometimes."
"Ichigo's strong but he's dense as a doorknob most days, I swear it. Boy wouldn't know a girl flirting with him if it hit him flat in the face, spelled out and everything. He's a good kid, though." Her glance swung sideways at that last bit, narrowing conspiratorially with a smile. "Oho, is that so? And whoooo, might I ask, is the lucky lady?"
"Ah ha ha...!" Well...maybe that was part of the problem. Orihime doesn't flirt. She couldn't if she tried, it would just be so awkward. But even with Rangiku's harsh (yet accurate!) description of Ichigo, it brings a warm smile to Orihime's face. "He is good...he's the best." She suddenly laughs, her hand snapping to the back of her neck. "B-but it's fine! I don't mind if he's dense!" As long as she can still love him the way she does, it's all right if he doesn't notice. It's all okay. "N-no, I don't know if I should say..." she hesitates at Rangiku's question. "It's sort of personal for Ishida-kun, isn't it?" Maybe if she just leaves out the names... Yes, that should do it!
"I can tell, though," she nods sagely. "Because when we were getting ready to go home, he presented a very cute dress that he made just for her. Those stitches were made with burning love!"
They sure weren't.
"Personal? Psh! Everybody knows that you can't hide love!" she declared, scoffing at the idea of a world without relationships and gossip. "--Nya? Surely you don't mean that little dress Rukia-san was in...?" Her blinking, pointy mou face slowly transformed into a lip-twitching smile. "You DO, don't you? I KNEW IT." ... pause. "Burning love? You're sure?"
"AH! You figured it out!" Orihime gasps in shock and dismay, her fingers splayed over her cheeks. Rangiku was too sharp, she should have known better than to try and be subtle. But there's no sense worrying over it now. At least they can gossip about it freely!
Orihime nods ferociously. "Sure I'm sure! It was women's intuition, after all, and it's always spot on, isn't it?"
Rangiku laughed at that, but the sound was cheerful and she tousled the girl's hair affectionately. "I can only wish Ishida-san the best of luck in wooing his true love, then! Ahhhh," she sighed happily, leaning back onto her palms a minute and then patting her stomach, looking pleased. "I'm stuffed. I say we put some warmies on our feet and go climb in bed." Naps were the best invention in the world, high on her list with magazines, alcohol, and good food.
Orihime claps her palms together with a nod. "I hope so too," she agrees. Uryuu is such a nice person. She never knew that girls like Rukia were his type, but then again, Rukia IS pretty amazing! She's strong, pretty, spirited, compassionate... What kind of guy wouldn't fall for her? If only Orihime could be like that! But no matter. It'll just be nice to see Uryuu smiling again the way he did every now and then when they were running amuck in Soul Society.
"Sleep sounds good," Orihime exhales contentedly, thinking of how nice it would be to curl up close to the heater beneath a thick quilt. That's the best part of the colder months. Standing to her feet and grasping the edge of the table, Orihime backtracks to clear the floor so they can lay out their mats. "I'll just clean up the dishes real quick, then! You can have first pick of the mat and blanket, Rangiku-san!"
She watched Hime clear away the dishes for a moment while the girl's back was to her, expression bemused but warm, the way one watched a daughter or little sister when the younger was enjoying themselves. A soft chuckle, eventually, and she stretched langorously while replying. "You bet!"
Rangiku hauled herself to her feet lazily, padding to the closet. One, then two mats came flying out, tossed over her shoulder easily, and then the blanket followed, all of it landing in a soft, rumpled pile beside the table. She vanished down the hall briefly, the sound of drawers opening and closing repeatedly before she apparently found what she was looking for, barefooting it back down the hallway -- "I got the warmies~" she sang happily -- before she flopped down next to the pile. She fluffed both mats experimentally, patting here and there before apparently making a decision. Floomp! A quick snap of the mat in the air and she let it settle on the ground, straightened out.
"Yay!" Orihime doesn't know what warmies are specifically, but at least the name gives away the general purpose. She's almost finished with the dishes, too, since anything leftover was just covered in saran wrap for tomorrow's school lunch; two people don't use up that many dishes, so a quick scrub and rinse were all she needed.
Flicking off the water from her fingers by flailing her wrists about, Orihime pads into the living room expecting to see fuzzy slippers or good, thick athletic socks. But when she sees the bright, rainbow-colored toe socks, she squees with delight. She'd seen them in the stores before, but never really considered them as a real purchase. Just something fun to look at! But now here they are, and Orihime couldn't be more pleased with her roommate's taste in fashion. "Those look wonderful! Ahhhhh, your feet will never get cold!" she applauds.
"That's right!" She scooted and situated herself on her mat, crossing her legs a moment. "Here, gimme your foot," she said, waving a hand to indicate that the foot should come toward her after Orihime had joined her on the mats. She separated the socks out and then squiggled one of them onto the younger girl's foot, making sure all the toes were properly in place, before surveying her handiwork. "Aha! Okay, next one."
Rangiku says, "pretend i totally spread out both mats"
Orihime laughs. She can't help it! It's impossible to be in a bad mood, even a little one, when Rangiku is around. Obediently she sits and stretches out her leg, then the other, while leaning back on her palms. Already she can feel the warmth and coziness seeping in. And if one's feet are no longer cold, it doesn't take long for the rest of them to warm up. She laughs. "That feels fantastic! Thank you very much!" She wishes she had a camera. Then she and Rangiku could lie on their backs, kick their feet up in the air, and take pictures of the rainbow toes pointed merrily at the ceiling. What a great picture that would be!
Socks firmly in place on Hime's feet, she tossed the other pair in Hime's lap and then unfolded her legs, stretching them out and wiggling her toes. Her turn! "We should go shopping tomorrow, what do you think? We can find you a cute fall jacket!"
Like any good and dutiful hostess/sister/friend-type, she props Rangiku's leg upon Orihime's bent knee, cheerfully snugging the sock into place and adjusting each toe to fit like a glove. Once the band is secured below Rangiku's knee, Orihime gives the shinigami lady's calf a gentle pat, beaming. Onto the next leg! "Shopping might be fun," she laughs. She doesn't have a great deal of money, but if it's just a jacket, well...she /could/ use one. Last year's is too small, it's hard to zip up. "What about you? What would you like, Rangiku-san?" After all, Rangiku bought her these nice socks! The least she can do is buy her something equally nice (if not nicer) in return.
"Hmmm..." she thought about the question a moment, pursing her lips ever-so-thoughtfully and wiggling her toes after Hime had secured the socks on her. Yay! Cozy. "I was looking at some nice bras earlier, I'll show you tomorrow," she sighed happily, scooting over to Hime and leaning to snag the blanket and shake it out before a quick flick of her hands sent it up and settling around both of them. Snug! "And then we can get lunch, and go see a movie, and go dancing...!" So many things to do!
Eeeeeee, this is going to be spendy! But considering the company, it's worth it. Orihime knows she probably won't get a chance like this again after the war. And that's if they all survive. She's not so idealistic to think that there won't be casualties, that she might lose someone she cares for. Hasn't life already taught her that? One moment is all it takes for a person to be gone.
Orihime settles down on her side, curling up close to Rangiku's shoulder with a happy sigh. It really is just like having a big sister in her life. "It sounds like it'll be the best day ever," she giggles. She's never had such a full, fun schedule before! "But...I've never danced before...will it be okay?" she raises her head, blinking curiously.
"And we won't even have to spend a thing," Rangiku teased as if she was reading the girl's thoughts, wrapping her arms around Orihime's shoulders and settling her cheek on top of the younger girl's hair. "I'll show you how, it's easy! All we have to do is find a couple of guys..." If the lady shinigami was skilled at anything, it was getting other people to pay for her things. She laughed, then pointed up at the ceiling.
"Look look! I told you it would work," she grinned up at the dully growing green constellations on the ceiling, where she'd stuck the glow-in-the-dark plastic stars and moons she'd found at the store and they had put up together. "And dancing's easy, too," she added, smiling. "I can show you how, no problem." Rangiku could make anything seem like it wasn't a problem at all and that it was the easiest thing in the world -- it was her gift of confidence.
Until she opened her mouth and complained about everything she DID think was a problem, usually much to her Captain's dismay. And by dismay we mean occasional, strong urges for homicide in her presence.
"What? /Really?!/" Orihime exclaims, looking up at Rangiku with awe and admiration. Rangiku is so talented! And it's supposed to be easy, too...what could it be? Certainly nothing the impressionable girl can't handle. "Wow, that's amazing! I can't wait!" she laughs, and turns her eyes to the ceiling at Rangiku's suggestion. Her mouth falls open, issuing an impressed 'ohhhhhh!' "That's so /cool/!" she chirps. Just like sleeping outdoors, except not half as cold!
She feels wonderfully warm and safe like this. She doesn't bother trying to hold back her yawn, and nuzzles her friend affectionately as she settles down, curling up a little tighter. "I'll give you a tour of everything...tomorrow... Good night, Rangiku-san. Thank you for everything."
"Goodnight, baby girl," Rangiku murmured as Hime nuzzled up to her, finally quieting down, fingers absently trailing along the girl's hair while she stared up at the ceiling. She spent the time counting the fake, dimly glowing stars even after Orihime's breathing evened out and she fell asleep, smile fading while she let her thoughts drift, thinking about everything, and in the end, nothing at all.
"I'll make sure nothing happens to you," she whispered after what seemed like an hour, pressing a kiss to the top of the girl's head in the dark, making sure the blanket was tucked up around them snugly with her free hand before letting her eyes close.
WHAT: Orihime prepares dinner for her roommate, and they discuss girly things!
WHERE: Orihime's Apartment
The sound of frying oil, hot and sizzling, is almost deafening. Orihime flinches, raising an oven mit-clad arm to protect her face while squinting one eye shut. Frying foods is always a little dangerous, but that's half the fun. Sesame-coated balls of dough bob to the surface, one by one, and Orihime deftly scoops them out to let them cool on a nest of paper towels. There's a mayonnaise, raisin, and tuna salad covered with plastic wrap, frosted from the cold of the refrigerator, and a steaming plate of some kind of squash stir-fry. It smells of bananas, butter, and cheese as well.
It isn't often that Orihime goes all out like this with her cooking, but after learning that she and Rangiku had similar tastes, it fired up her longing to make her first three-course meal. Four courses, if one counts the pints of ice cream just kickin' it in the freezer.
"That should do it," Orihime exhales, slipping off the mits, untying the apron, and unlooping it from her neck. "Rangiku-san! Dinner's ready! Mind the sesame-wasabi balls, they're still really hot." Not calling Toushirou? Oh gosh no. He probably took his noodle cup and escaped to the roof while the gettin' was good.
Rangiku had been on the floor in Orihime's -- well, their -- room, a pair of earbuds nestled securely in her ears while she went through a selection of songs on a newly-acquired .mp3 player (they were all the rage these days). She was reading a magazine as she did so, lip's pursed at this fall's lingerie collection, trying to decide if she wanted the embroidered balconet bra with matching satin tanga panties, or the super lacy demi with *its* matching panties, before eventually coming to the conclusion that she shouldn't have to decide at all: she'd just buy both!
hat settled, she was just turning to the shoe section of the magazine when the first delicious tickle of Orihime's cooking teased her nose, and by the time she was able to identify the smell as individual parts coming from various dishes, she was already halfway down the hall with a look of dazed glee.
So it was that when the younger girl called for her, Rangiku was already there with a bright, blue-eyed smile to sneak up and suddenly grab her roommate's sides in a surprise hug, lifting her clear off her feet. "HIME, I SMELL CULINARY LOVE~" One could imagine an explosion of hearts to accompany the declaration.
"EEEEEEEEE!!!" Orihime squeaks, dropping her spatula. It clatters to the floor as Orihime's look of shock fades into warm delight. "Ah ha ha ha, Rangiku-san is pretty strong!" She stretches out her toe, trying to touch down with good ol' terra firma once more. It is very difficult to serve dinner when airborne, though rest assured, she might just give it a try.
"Do you like it?" she beams over her shoulder. "I went shopping for groceries with Sado-kun this weekend. Everything's fresh!" And she claps her palms together for emphasis. "I thought I'd save the pancakes for tomorrow, ha ha!"
"Pancakes?!" she suddenly twisted away from the stove, twirling Orihime in the air like parents were often inclined to do with small children, before setting her easily back onto her feet. "I LOVE your pancakes, do you intend to put me in an early grave from pure delightful, delicious overload?"
She bent down to swipe the spatula, returning to its rightful owner. "I will wait for tomorrow morning in barely-contained elation!" A dramatic sigh of wistfulness, and then she swept across the room ever-so-dramatically and promptly deposited herself at the table with a hungry, eager look. "What is the first course, super princess chef of all that is good and wonderful in the kitchen?"
Tsu! Tsu! Tsu! Orihime hops on one foot, arms stretched out to the sides as she struggles to regain her balance. With the help of the refrigerator, this is accomplished. She turns to grin, her cheeks flushed with pride as she rubs the back of her neck. Rangiku really is too kind! And flattery will get her everywhere, especially with Orihime. It's /nice/ to get heaps of praise like that! "Maybe you can help me pick out the fillings, then!" she offers, and snaps her fingers. Interactive pancakes... What a great idea! "I thought we might roll them up like crepes. They'll be really good!"
Whoa...princess chef...SUPER princess chef...! Orihime likes the sound of that, yes she does. Look, her dark eyes just got even bigger and frighteningly starry. "Hoooouuu..." Quickly she shakes her head. No time to daydream about /that/, the food will get cold! But gee, what a tough question! Which one to eat first? "Anou..." Orihime pulls her knuckle to her lip, investigating each dish thoroughly. The appetizers are traditionally served first, right? Then again, the main dish might go cold. And the salad might go warm!
Straightening, Orihime drops a palm into her fist, her expression determined. "We'll eat them all at once!"
For a moment, Rangiku was in another world entirely at the thought of spending a morning with a table full of tasty treats just waiting to be rolled into crepes, fanning her hand girlishly as if she'd just become embarrassed at receiving a compliment. "Oh no, little chocolate chips, I couldn't possibly combine you with the pineapple chunks and caramel without feeling /guilty/.... but if you INSIST," she said dreamily, chuckling coquettishly. "Oh, you said we should invite the strawberries, too? I'm quite overwhelmed...."
She snapped out of it with a wide-eyed grin after Orihime's loud, confident declaration, which Rangiku immediately followed with a triumphant fist in the air, looking determined and excited. "We shall emerge victorious!"
Orihime's fist, too, is launched into the air. Their grins, their expressions, everything is in perfect unison. It's no wonder people think they're related when they see the two girls around one another. "For Japan!" she cheers. Down go the plates. Down go the chopsticks. The teacups are filled, the table is set, and now they can eat in proper fashion.
"So how are the patrols going?" Orihime asks, a wasabi ball poised before her lips between the two chopsticks. "Do you and Hitsugaya-taichou end up fighting very many Hollows?" She blows on it to cool it down, then munches, while awaiting Rangiku's answer.
"Babies, more like," she replied, preying upon one of the wasabi balls as well the very second everything was in place. She nibbled for the sake of conversation, however -- at least for now. "If you want to use a metaphor. Bottom-feeders. Liiiiike... goldfish," she decided cheerfully, since she knew Orihime would appreciate the imagery, "as opposed to sharks."
She popped the rest of the wasabi ball in her mouth, chewing generously before washing it down with a swallow of tea. Rangiku allowed herself a happy sigh. "You make the BEST tea, and you are by far the BEST cook, Hime." She began helping herself to the stir-fry while she continued. "It's all Hollows I could kill in my sleep, disappointingly. It makes me wonder what the hell they're waiting for."
"Ah ha ha ha!" More flattery! And it serves its purpose, Rangiku will have all the tea she could ever desire, and a home-cooked meal every night. Hey, it's effective! "Thank you very much! I'm so glad you like it, most people think it's weird," Orihime laughs. They are...probably right! She acknowledges this! "It's really nice to share it with a friend. I'm pretty sure that's what makes it taste good," she nods, plucking out a wad of mayonnaise-soaked cabbage and raisins.
It's amazing, really. Rangiku and Hitsugaya swatting aside goldfish Hollows like that. Orihime had so much trouble with just that one! "We're really glad you're here...even if the action is a little boring," she grins. "I know I feel a lot safer. Everyone else does too!" Well...except Uryuu, she recalls, who seemed shocked at the news that the shinigami were in town. She hasn't even seen him since that day in the club. Orihime's gaze falls as she purses her lips pensively. Is he okay?
"Oh, they just don't know what they're missing!" she replied, firmly. She'd already worked her way through the helping of stir-fry, and was now working her way around the table of foods in a circular motion, chopsticks click-clicking woodenly over bowls like praying mantis fingers while she selected her next edible victims. Whenever a choice was made, she quickly swooped down and devoured the unfortunate niblets with unsurpassed glee.
"Ooooohhhh, no worries there. It's been such a long time since I've had an extended vacation to go shopping here!" A beaming smile, before she expertly stabbed another wasabi ball from where it huddled on the plate fearfully next to its brethren. It was halfway to her mouth when she noticed Hime's down-and-out expression, pausing and blinking. "Neee~, Hime. What're you lookin' so sad for? You look like the floor just fell out from under your feet, babe."
"E-eh? Oh no!" Orihime quickly smiles, holding out her palm as though to cease any concerns with a to-and-fro waving. "I'm not sad at all! Just... I guess I'm a little worried for Ishida-kun." She lays her chopsticks down (for the moment), curling her hands into her lap. "There's something on his mind...something he can't tell me about, he said. I think it's because he lost his powers." A shinigami would likely notice that, right? Even if Chad and Ichigo didn't.
Orihime exhales, then brings up a small smile again. "But I can't say for sure. I'm just worried because I haven't seen him at school since last week. And he hardly ever misses. I just hope he's all right." Maybe she should drop something off on his front porch. Some cookies, with a note offering words of encouragement. Baked goods and hope, fresh and hand-delivered! "Ha ha...I'm sure he is. He's very capable!" She picks up the chopsticks once more. "I trust Ishida-kun. Perhaps he has secret plans that he's working on."
"Ah." She tilted her head to the side carefully, before she popped the wasabi ball into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. No use just letting it hang there midair. Another sip of tea. "The Quincy boy."
Rangiku listened quietly, swirling the tea in the cup she'd kept in her fingertips. She'd noticed.. the change, to put it delicately. She could only imagine what it was like. She knew on some level what it was to be left feeling utterly defenseless, but so.. /physically/, down to your very core.. no, she could only imagine the emotional aspects, but even then the loss was so, so vastly different. Her pain was just the tip of the iceberg compared to what that boy was probably feeling. "... I don't imagine that boy to be the type to just lay down and die," she mused quietly, sipping her tea again and glancing aside, out the window. She could only imagine the reckless hope..
"There's a good chance that whatever he's doing where he is.. there's nothing you can do for him but send out your heart and soul to him and pray he finds a way out of his darkness."
She glanced back to Hime, then, lips pursed. "If you care about him at all, you'll pray he finds his heart finds its way home again."
"P...pray...?" Heart and soul? "A-ah! I do care, so I'll be sure to do that, Rangiku-san!" Maybe a cake would be better than cookies. She's better at making a cake, and Tatsuki mentioned that mint and butterscotch chips really shouldn't go together. Of course, Tatsuki would know best!
Still... The words come so heavily. Orihime studies Rangiku quietly, thoughtfully, holding her teacup in her hands. "Rangiku-san...is there someone you miss?"
There wasn't really an easy way to bring it up, though Orihime's tried. It's difficult to be tactful about delicate matters of the heart. But she recalls the look on her friend's face, and on Gin's face too, when the silver-haired ex-captain ascended into Hueco Mundo.
The startled look on her face was unexpected -- at least to Rangiku herslf. She nearly dropped the teacup, caught it again, coughed delicately and set it carefully aside. She'd been /thinking/ of him, briefly... ever so fleetingly... but she'd never expected the girl to draw that kind of conclusion. The girl continued to surprise her with her strange insightfulness.
"I.." she laughed, then, waving a hand in the air vaguely. She was the comforter, not the comforted: it wasn't supposed to come down to this, and it was rare she was ever caught so unprepared to answer. "Yes, you could say that," she settled for, finally. It was like pulling rusty nails from old wood, and like old wounds, they just didn't want to give in easily and they still hurt a lot coming out. She smiled down at the tea, sadly. "Yes.. you could say that."
"What? /Really/?" Orihime's eyes widen, and she leans further over the table. So she was right! Her /second/ moment of women's intuition! That means she's getting sharper by the moment. It won't be long now until she's got Rangiku's fashion sense, and the ability to see who's in love with who with just a passing glance. AWESOME!
But this isn't the time to gloat. The look on Rangiku's face tells her that much, and the open surprise on Orihime's face softens compassionately. "Rangiku-san?" Orihime's head tips to the left. "Ah...are you all right?" She wants to hear more about this guy, but not if it's going to cause her roommate pain.
Rangiku laughed quietly at her enthusiasm, glancing up with a bemused smile to ruffle the girl's hair affectionately. "You bet, kiddo." She brought her cup of tea up again for a sip, and then exhaled loudly and leaned back to support herself with her free hand's palm splayed out on the floor behind her. It was more of a 'where to start...' sound than a 'this subject horribly depresses me' sound. After all, she was the queen of bouncing back, wasn't she? Even if it wasn't fair, she'd take what life threw at her. She'd decided that much a long, long time ago.
"We grew up together in Seireitei. He found me one day lying dead in the road, if you could call it a road, back then. More like the middle of nowhere," she said, drinking her tea while she related the story. "I thought he was the funniest looking boy I'd ever seen, and that his name was weird enough to match his face." An upward quirk to her mouth; she found it humorous, and these memories didn't hurt.
"What?! REALLY?!" Orihime exclaims. The hair-ruffling was all she needed to stop restraining her feelings. If Rangiku is okay with it, then Orihime can really let loose and open up. The lady shinigami always had that talent about her...it's not something Orihime does all that often.
But there's just something about Rangiku's infectious strength and attitude... And to boot, she's FUN! Orihime absolutely loves her.
"I thought the exact same thing when I first met Kurosaki-kun! ...Well, except for the name, but he has the greatest expressions, ha ha!" She picks up her teacup and sips happily. She had to interject, it was just too coincidental NOT to share. "Did he save you, Rangiku-san?" That would be so romantic. <3
"That he did," she laughed again. "Saved by persimmons, no less -- we used to eat them often together ever since then." She set the tea down long enough to pick up her chopsticks again, snagging another wasabi ball to nibble on. It'd been a while since she'd told anyone about how she'd grown up... such a long, long time ago. It was like another life entirely, like it'd happened to someone else and she was just a spectator.
"He gave me my birthdate too, you know," she added, knowing the girl would like that. "I couldn't remember mine... so he decided the day we met would be my birthday. I was living by myself before he came along.. he said it was a perfect day because it was the day I wasn't alone anymore."
"Hm..." Orihime smiles, resting her chin in the cup of her palm. "It must have been a very happy way to grow up." She never would have guessed that someone like that would end up supporting Aizen and his goals. No wonder he bore that look on his face as he rose into the sky... It's hard to believe he could be /bad/ after hearing all of that.
She'll have to remember to ask for Rangiku's birthday once they're done eating. She'd like to get her a present when that day comes. Or better yet, bake the ultimate birthday cake!
"Then...he'll come back again, won't he Rangiku-san?" Orihime smiles. "You two care for each other. I can't see how anyone would want to stay away. Rangiku-san is the best!"
More laughter -- Orihime was so precious. "Happy, yes. He could be a twit, too. He gave me box of bugs as a Valentine's Day present once, you know. And he used to build snowmen with boobs," she teased, full of girlish gossip. "I used to kick 'em down. I was ALSO an excellent throw with an apple, I'll have you know," she added tease-haughtily, looking supreme. "He used to pull such tricks on me..."
Rangiku finished off the wasabi ball, licking her lips. It was the girl's last question which sobered her somewhat, but the flicker on her face was that and no more: fleeting, and then gone behind a confident smile. "You know it. I'm irresistible, after all!" A wink.
Orihime laughs. Now that's a side of Gin she doesn't think anyone else could possibly know, save for Rangiku, and now Orihime. It's so cute! To grow up like that, with a childhood sweetheart. Or just a cherished childhood friend! He MUST come back for her! And yet...
That look, brief as it was, shows that Rangiku doesn't seem to believe it. And that's just heartbreaking. Rangiku's honest in so many ways, and she knows Gin better than anyone. So if she doesn't think he's coming back...
No way, Orihime won't allow it. More impossible things have happened, after all, and if there's still a chance, no matter how slim, it must be clung to! "He will," she says, laying down her chopsticks. She scoots her cushion and self to sit next to Rangiku, leaning shoulder to shoulder. "He definitely will! And he'll apologize for making you wait, too." He'd better!
"Aw, thanks baby girl." Rangiku lifted her arm up and dropped it around Orihime's shoulders after setting her chopsticks down, as well, snugging her close. Squeeze. "So what's this about the Quincy boy, hm? I thought you had a crush on that fussbucket, Ichigo." Teeeease.
Orihime laughs. Yay, Rangiku hugs! Those are nice and non-invasive. "Hee hee--PFUHWHA?!?!" she suddenly stiffens like a board, her jaw dropping. "Me and Ishida-kun?! Oh no, it's nothing like that! We're just friends, you know? We spent a lot of time together in Soul Society, so we got to know each other pretty well, that's all!" Orihime quickly explains with a crooked smile. "I definitely... Kurosaki-kun is..." Well it's hard to just outright SAY that she loves him, even to someone like Rangiku. She sure is red!
Orihime's gaze falls to the table, and she sports a soft smile. "I care for Kurosaki-kun. Very much. And I'm really glad he's okay again." He got that fierce spark back in his eyes, thanks to Rukia. She hated seeing him look so sad before, so /guilty/. It didn't suit a kind person like him. "Besides," she raises a hand to the side of her mouth confidentially, "I think Ishida-kun secretly likes someone else! I had a flash of woman's intuition!"
She busted out laughing at Orihime's reaction, shaking with gleeful hysteria when she saw the girl's face. She almost had to hug herself. "You're blushin' worse than a sunset, girly! Aw, jeez," she sighed happily, wiping a tear from her eye. "I miss bein' a kid sometimes."
"Ichigo's strong but he's dense as a doorknob most days, I swear it. Boy wouldn't know a girl flirting with him if it hit him flat in the face, spelled out and everything. He's a good kid, though." Her glance swung sideways at that last bit, narrowing conspiratorially with a smile. "Oho, is that so? And whoooo, might I ask, is the lucky lady?"
"Ah ha ha...!" Well...maybe that was part of the problem. Orihime doesn't flirt. She couldn't if she tried, it would just be so awkward. But even with Rangiku's harsh (yet accurate!) description of Ichigo, it brings a warm smile to Orihime's face. "He is good...he's the best." She suddenly laughs, her hand snapping to the back of her neck. "B-but it's fine! I don't mind if he's dense!" As long as she can still love him the way she does, it's all right if he doesn't notice. It's all okay. "N-no, I don't know if I should say..." she hesitates at Rangiku's question. "It's sort of personal for Ishida-kun, isn't it?" Maybe if she just leaves out the names... Yes, that should do it!
"I can tell, though," she nods sagely. "Because when we were getting ready to go home, he presented a very cute dress that he made just for her. Those stitches were made with burning love!"
They sure weren't.
"Personal? Psh! Everybody knows that you can't hide love!" she declared, scoffing at the idea of a world without relationships and gossip. "--Nya? Surely you don't mean that little dress Rukia-san was in...?" Her blinking, pointy mou face slowly transformed into a lip-twitching smile. "You DO, don't you? I KNEW IT." ... pause. "Burning love? You're sure?"
"AH! You figured it out!" Orihime gasps in shock and dismay, her fingers splayed over her cheeks. Rangiku was too sharp, she should have known better than to try and be subtle. But there's no sense worrying over it now. At least they can gossip about it freely!
Orihime nods ferociously. "Sure I'm sure! It was women's intuition, after all, and it's always spot on, isn't it?"
Rangiku laughed at that, but the sound was cheerful and she tousled the girl's hair affectionately. "I can only wish Ishida-san the best of luck in wooing his true love, then! Ahhhh," she sighed happily, leaning back onto her palms a minute and then patting her stomach, looking pleased. "I'm stuffed. I say we put some warmies on our feet and go climb in bed." Naps were the best invention in the world, high on her list with magazines, alcohol, and good food.
Orihime claps her palms together with a nod. "I hope so too," she agrees. Uryuu is such a nice person. She never knew that girls like Rukia were his type, but then again, Rukia IS pretty amazing! She's strong, pretty, spirited, compassionate... What kind of guy wouldn't fall for her? If only Orihime could be like that! But no matter. It'll just be nice to see Uryuu smiling again the way he did every now and then when they were running amuck in Soul Society.
"Sleep sounds good," Orihime exhales contentedly, thinking of how nice it would be to curl up close to the heater beneath a thick quilt. That's the best part of the colder months. Standing to her feet and grasping the edge of the table, Orihime backtracks to clear the floor so they can lay out their mats. "I'll just clean up the dishes real quick, then! You can have first pick of the mat and blanket, Rangiku-san!"
She watched Hime clear away the dishes for a moment while the girl's back was to her, expression bemused but warm, the way one watched a daughter or little sister when the younger was enjoying themselves. A soft chuckle, eventually, and she stretched langorously while replying. "You bet!"
Rangiku hauled herself to her feet lazily, padding to the closet. One, then two mats came flying out, tossed over her shoulder easily, and then the blanket followed, all of it landing in a soft, rumpled pile beside the table. She vanished down the hall briefly, the sound of drawers opening and closing repeatedly before she apparently found what she was looking for, barefooting it back down the hallway -- "I got the warmies~" she sang happily -- before she flopped down next to the pile. She fluffed both mats experimentally, patting here and there before apparently making a decision. Floomp! A quick snap of the mat in the air and she let it settle on the ground, straightened out.
"Yay!" Orihime doesn't know what warmies are specifically, but at least the name gives away the general purpose. She's almost finished with the dishes, too, since anything leftover was just covered in saran wrap for tomorrow's school lunch; two people don't use up that many dishes, so a quick scrub and rinse were all she needed.
Flicking off the water from her fingers by flailing her wrists about, Orihime pads into the living room expecting to see fuzzy slippers or good, thick athletic socks. But when she sees the bright, rainbow-colored toe socks, she squees with delight. She'd seen them in the stores before, but never really considered them as a real purchase. Just something fun to look at! But now here they are, and Orihime couldn't be more pleased with her roommate's taste in fashion. "Those look wonderful! Ahhhhh, your feet will never get cold!" she applauds.
"That's right!" She scooted and situated herself on her mat, crossing her legs a moment. "Here, gimme your foot," she said, waving a hand to indicate that the foot should come toward her after Orihime had joined her on the mats. She separated the socks out and then squiggled one of them onto the younger girl's foot, making sure all the toes were properly in place, before surveying her handiwork. "Aha! Okay, next one."
Rangiku says, "pretend i totally spread out both mats"
Orihime laughs. She can't help it! It's impossible to be in a bad mood, even a little one, when Rangiku is around. Obediently she sits and stretches out her leg, then the other, while leaning back on her palms. Already she can feel the warmth and coziness seeping in. And if one's feet are no longer cold, it doesn't take long for the rest of them to warm up. She laughs. "That feels fantastic! Thank you very much!" She wishes she had a camera. Then she and Rangiku could lie on their backs, kick their feet up in the air, and take pictures of the rainbow toes pointed merrily at the ceiling. What a great picture that would be!
Socks firmly in place on Hime's feet, she tossed the other pair in Hime's lap and then unfolded her legs, stretching them out and wiggling her toes. Her turn! "We should go shopping tomorrow, what do you think? We can find you a cute fall jacket!"
Like any good and dutiful hostess/sister/friend-type, she props Rangiku's leg upon Orihime's bent knee, cheerfully snugging the sock into place and adjusting each toe to fit like a glove. Once the band is secured below Rangiku's knee, Orihime gives the shinigami lady's calf a gentle pat, beaming. Onto the next leg! "Shopping might be fun," she laughs. She doesn't have a great deal of money, but if it's just a jacket, well...she /could/ use one. Last year's is too small, it's hard to zip up. "What about you? What would you like, Rangiku-san?" After all, Rangiku bought her these nice socks! The least she can do is buy her something equally nice (if not nicer) in return.
"Hmmm..." she thought about the question a moment, pursing her lips ever-so-thoughtfully and wiggling her toes after Hime had secured the socks on her. Yay! Cozy. "I was looking at some nice bras earlier, I'll show you tomorrow," she sighed happily, scooting over to Hime and leaning to snag the blanket and shake it out before a quick flick of her hands sent it up and settling around both of them. Snug! "And then we can get lunch, and go see a movie, and go dancing...!" So many things to do!
Eeeeeee, this is going to be spendy! But considering the company, it's worth it. Orihime knows she probably won't get a chance like this again after the war. And that's if they all survive. She's not so idealistic to think that there won't be casualties, that she might lose someone she cares for. Hasn't life already taught her that? One moment is all it takes for a person to be gone.
Orihime settles down on her side, curling up close to Rangiku's shoulder with a happy sigh. It really is just like having a big sister in her life. "It sounds like it'll be the best day ever," she giggles. She's never had such a full, fun schedule before! "But...I've never danced before...will it be okay?" she raises her head, blinking curiously.
"And we won't even have to spend a thing," Rangiku teased as if she was reading the girl's thoughts, wrapping her arms around Orihime's shoulders and settling her cheek on top of the younger girl's hair. "I'll show you how, it's easy! All we have to do is find a couple of guys..." If the lady shinigami was skilled at anything, it was getting other people to pay for her things. She laughed, then pointed up at the ceiling.
"Look look! I told you it would work," she grinned up at the dully growing green constellations on the ceiling, where she'd stuck the glow-in-the-dark plastic stars and moons she'd found at the store and they had put up together. "And dancing's easy, too," she added, smiling. "I can show you how, no problem." Rangiku could make anything seem like it wasn't a problem at all and that it was the easiest thing in the world -- it was her gift of confidence.
Until she opened her mouth and complained about everything she DID think was a problem, usually much to her Captain's dismay. And by dismay we mean occasional, strong urges for homicide in her presence.
"What? /Really?!/" Orihime exclaims, looking up at Rangiku with awe and admiration. Rangiku is so talented! And it's supposed to be easy, too...what could it be? Certainly nothing the impressionable girl can't handle. "Wow, that's amazing! I can't wait!" she laughs, and turns her eyes to the ceiling at Rangiku's suggestion. Her mouth falls open, issuing an impressed 'ohhhhhh!' "That's so /cool/!" she chirps. Just like sleeping outdoors, except not half as cold!
She feels wonderfully warm and safe like this. She doesn't bother trying to hold back her yawn, and nuzzles her friend affectionately as she settles down, curling up a little tighter. "I'll give you a tour of everything...tomorrow... Good night, Rangiku-san. Thank you for everything."
"Goodnight, baby girl," Rangiku murmured as Hime nuzzled up to her, finally quieting down, fingers absently trailing along the girl's hair while she stared up at the ceiling. She spent the time counting the fake, dimly glowing stars even after Orihime's breathing evened out and she fell asleep, smile fading while she let her thoughts drift, thinking about everything, and in the end, nothing at all.
"I'll make sure nothing happens to you," she whispered after what seemed like an hour, pressing a kiss to the top of the girl's head in the dark, making sure the blanket was tucked up around them snugly with her free hand before letting her eyes close.