This was the end. Tomorrow morning would mark the end of the months Captain Aizen had to wait before he could finally utilize the Orb of Distortion. In an odd act of defiance to the somberness of the occasion, Rangiku had suggested going to a night club and dancing the night away. Ichigo, Captain Hitsugaya, and Ishida had seriously protested but somehow all were swayed under Rukia’s threats. Orihime, depressed by the eminent battles and injuries for the past months, was finally a bit cheered to know tat everyone would come together for a final party.

The dance floor at an underground night club named “Toro” was busy. The lights flashed every few seconds, a different hue each time. The scent of alcohol and sweat were heavy on the dance floor.

Hitsugaya sneered distastefully at his surroundings. The entire club was vibrating with the music. It commanded him to dance but he ignored its call.

Do the D.A.N.C.E.
1 2 3 4 fight
Stick to the B.E.A.T.
Get ready to ignite
You were such a P.Y.T.
Catching all the lights
Just easy as A.B.C.
That's how you make it right

Orihime giggled to Ichigo and Chad about the club’s choice of international music. She said something about loving the bubbly beat inside the club. Rangiku found tem a booth near the bar at the edge of the dance floor and then disappeared after giving Renji a wink.

Hitsugaya sighed and got into the rather welcoming booth. Made out of dark brown leather, it was unexpectedly nice in that type of establishment.

Although they all sat at first, Orihime and Yumichika quickly moved into the dance floor. Captain Hitsugaya began trying to chat with the boy, Ichigo. It was very difficult though, because Ichigo seemed very consumed with thinking to himself. The young captain was then forced to sit and listen to the rather catchy song.

Do the D.A.N.C.E.
Stick to the B.E.A.T.
Just easy as A.B.C.
Do the DANCE

He began to bop his head to the beat of the pop song. He was mortified when Rangiku with her hands full of a tray of drinks caught him letting go. He scowled at his Vice Captain very quickly.

“SHOTS!!!”

“Everyone grab one!” He heard over the blaring music. Rukia was the first to snatch one off the tray, quickly followed by Ikakku and Renji. Ichigo and Hitsugaya were hesitant to take the pro-offered beverages.

“Oh come now Captain, won’t you have just one little shot for your Vice-Captian?” Rangiku purred into his hair. She was sitting next to him. Having snatched two shot glasses from the tray, she offered him one with a wink.

“Just one.” He said in his most Captain-ly voice. She smiled becomingly at him. It was reminiscent of the smiles she gave him when he let her out of doing her share of the paperwork.

As soon as he downed the drink, the music seemed to intensify.

Do the DANCE
The way you move is a mystery
Do the DANCE
You're always there for music and me
Do the DANCE
The way you move is a mystery
Do the DANCE
You're always there for music and me

He closed his eyes and when he opened them Rukia was pulling him onto the dance floor. “Captain, Dance with me!” she commanded. His head was rushing a bit. All he could do was give a weak nod. They moved onto the dance floor, the pair of them. She laughed softly as they bumped into anonymous other patrons of the nightclub. Obviously Rukia didn’t drink often. She was very giddy.

She squirmed a bit when they got into an open space on the dance floor. It took a second for him to realize that the squirming was what the living called dancing. He began to imitate the arm and hip movements of his neighbors awkwardly. She laughed a bit more, finally grabbing his arms and trying to make him loosen up.

She closed the distance between and whispered in his ear. He could only make out a bit of what she said. Mainly “Close your eyes,” “listen,” and “music”. He followed her commands.

Do the D.A.N.C.E.
1 2 3 4 fight
Stick to the B.E.A.T.
Get ready to ignite
You were such a P.Y.T.
Catching all the lights
Just easy as A.B.C.
That's how you make it right

He laughed to himself a bit. Here he was, Quite possibly dancing the last night of his life away. What an odd ending to his life. He never let loose. Not since watermelon eating with Momo early in his life. Since then it was all work. Become a shinigami, become a seated officer, become a captain, become something better then Aizen.

As strong as you might
Working day and night
Whatever happens
Do the DANCE (do the dance)

He had no family, no friends, no real life. No, he had friends. There was Matsumoto, and Ukitake, and even this group he was with…this rag-tag group of shinigami and humans. Maybe it wouldn’t be the oddest ending to his life. He laughed again and listened more intently to the music.

The way you move is a mystery

He chuckled at Rukia who was wiggling and squirming in his arms.

You're always there for music and me

He smiled to himself as he glanced back at the booth with all of his friends, who were laughing and drinking shots.

Do the DANCE (do the dance)


--

Song used: “D.A.N.C.E.” by Justice

--

Ichigo tried to work on his mathematics homework, he really did. The only problem was that his closet door wasn’t closed all the way. Almost, but it was missing that extra inch. He could see the black murky confines of his small closet when he stole glances. Now, he wasn’t obsessive compulsive, nor was he any kind of neat freak, not like Ishida anyway, but he was very, very curious.

You see, ever since a certain black haired Soul Reaper burst into his life he hadn’t been able to access his closet for more than a few minutes each morning and at night. He had no idea what could be going on in there or worse, what she could have stored in there! She could have stashed weapons in there, or maybe she kept a bunch of Chappy the Bunny memorabilia stashed in there. It would hardly be surprising, considering her affinity for the cotton ball menace. She might even have some really surprising things stashed in his closet; He blushed at the thought.

His palms started to itch. He had to open the closet up and see what was inside! He debated in his mind whether it was wrong to invade Rukia’s personal sanctuary. ‘It was my closet first!’ he thought to himself. That was the best argument he had ever heard. Very convincing. He decided that since it was his closet, there was no harm in taking a peak at the contents.

He walked over to it determinedly and put his hand on the opening. Slowly, quietly, as if she might burst in if he opened it too loudly, he pushed the door aside. Inside, piled high in the corner by it’s lonesome self, was a pile of books. ‘How exciting…’ he dryly remarked in his head.

He sat down where she would normally curl up to sleep and allowed his fingers to reach over and run down the spines of the stack. From the feel of the spines, some of the books turned out to be manga, others textbooks from school, and more others simply novels.

However, one book in particular caught his attention. It had a very wrinkled spine, as if someone had spilled something on it. He picked it out of the bunch and bought it into the daylight. The cover read, “BARELY LEGAL” in bright red letters on top of the black background. His eyes widened and he almost dropped he book. ‘What the hell is Rukia reading?’ he wondered, his mind numb and slow from the shock. He blushed a little when he imagined of her actually reading the book.

Just as he was about to flip it open and see exactly what she read, Rukia popped into his room via his open window. Before she even saw him she began to address him, “Ah! What happened to buying me a new dress Ichi-” She stopped when her eyes came to rest on Ichigo pawing one of her few possessions.

“So, when did you start becoming interested in ‘BARELY LEGAL’?” he questioned with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. “Well you pervert, if you finished reading the cover, you would see that under the main title it says, “What to do in Japan that doesn’t require a certain age!” she replied curtly.

“So it’s not…” Ichigo began.
“No.” was Rukia’s answer.
“Damn” He cursed.
“Yep.”