tampered | Log, Ongoing.

Current Mood: chipper

Log, Ongoing.

When: Sept. 3, afternoon-ish
Rating: PG!
Characters: Matsumoto Rangiku [

10thdiv_haineko] and Asato Tsuzuki [

saccharine_end]
Summary: Rangiku shows Tsuzuki the goods.
Log:

For once in his life, Tsuzuki was punctual.

Though rarely late for most things, he even surprised himself with the speed at which he readied himself to leave, wandering out of the apartment building and down the street. Surely he would have gotten lost had it not been for the (somewhat vague) description given to him by the woman he was supposed to meet. But he hadn’t, and even that was a feat in itself.

And inside, Tsuzuki was excited. A new friend and pie, plus the location of a place capable of producing mass quantities of the sweet treats he undeniably loved. All at once! Surely no one could turn down such a thing, and he didn’t have that odd fluttering in his stomach about this person he had yet to properly introduce himself to. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a terrible thing after all, even despite Tatsumi’s severe reprimanding.

Pacing, Tsuzuki pulled his trench coat a little tighter and watched the sky, interested in the way the wind felt blowing through his hair, waiting.

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Ran didn't waste time like she usually did. Her stomach had been rumbling for some time before she'd offered to show Tsuzuki where the cafe was, so it was quite ready for something by the time she climbed out of the bath.

The drop from the top floor of the warehouse to the ground below wasn't a major one for a shinigami, so after she'd pulled on some of her more casual (not work) clothes, all she had to do was step off the side, landing almost silently on her feet.

"Sorry if I kept you waiting."

It was the smell of clean soap that caught his attention from the opposite direction. Even with the wind blowing, he didn’t have trouble picking up on it

Tsuzuki turned, features softening into the warmest smile he could manage at the sound of her voice. Eventually, it broke into a full grin before he remembered his manners. He’d been told he could be a little overwhelming at times, and he didn’t want to frighten off potential friends.

Stick to the basics, Asato.

He laughed.

“Not too long,” he replied casually, absently judging her from a safe distance. His shinigami senses quietly warned him something seemed different about the woman facing him, but they’d been a little off since he’d stepped foot out of the apartment. It seemed this…City was full of unsuspecting things. Certainly not good for one as inattentive Tsuzuki.

He held out his hand in offering of a typical greeting. “Asato Tsuzuki.” A pause. “And you’re the one with directions, right?”

"That'd be me. Nice to meet you in person."

She took his hand in hers, meaning to shake it, but a tingle raced up her wrist. Haineko murmured something, a nervous growl in her mind as her senses tried to puzzle out the sensation of such similar, but different power at her hands.

"Ah... sorry. Matsumoto Rangiku, at your service."

She reminded him of Meifu. Pretty, elegant. And it would have been impossible to ignore the jolt running through his arm as they touched hands.

Not sure what it was from, as expressive as always, Tsuzuki’s eyes widened. Then narrowed before flattening into familiar violet. Politely, he squeezed her fingers and then withdrew his hand to shove it in the pocket of his trench coat. It was safer to keep himself a little more closed off than usual. Just for the time being. Until he figured out what all of this was.

He rolled the name around in his mind before offering another smile.

“Rangiku?” He twisted his head to the side, wondering why they were still standing near the warehouse when there was pie to be had. “Which way are we going?”

She flexed her hand one more time before offering him a warm, but guarded smile. "Come on... I'm taking you to Juliet... it has the best food." With a nod of her head, she set off, hands lose at her side, one brushing against Haineko's saya as she walked.

"Did you finally find a bed?"

Nothing like some mindless conversation to allow her some time to think.

Juliet.

For reasons unknown, Tsuzuki instantly liked the word and trailed behind Rangiku, curiously taking in the scenic view. He really hadn’t had much time to explore any of the City without Tatsumi breathing down his neck. Exit this. Exit that. Couldn’t he enjoy the free vacation they’d somehow been given? Granted things were a little weird, like the color of the sky at certain points during the day and the unexplainable sounds…

But wasn’t it nice here?

One of his shikigami had started to voice an opinion in the back of his mind when his company’s question caught him off guard. Violet eyes blinked in answer. And then words followed.

“Tatsumi promised to buy one. I think it’d be better to get two, but…” Tsuzuki shrugged his shoulders, smiling. “No more sleeping on the floor.”

"You shouldn't need to buy anything. The City pretty much provides. Maybe it's payment for it playing with everyone here."

Her voice was matter of fact, not even bitter. She slowed her pace to allow him to catch up to her, glancing over her shoulder at him. Haineko nudged at her silently, obviously wanting something, but she ignored her in lieu of conversation with the man.

"Pretty much everything here is taken care of for us, but it's still a prison."

Violet eyes swerved from their original line of vision to glance at the woman, feet picking up in pace to match her walking speed. The way she spoke that word sent a particularly cold shudder through Tsuzuki, familiar and distance all at once.

A prison. So he’d exchanged one set of rules for another.

Shaking his head, he tried to block out the thought, giving another one of those innocent smiles of his.

“I’m sure Tatsumi must’ve figured that out. He’s pretty smart about that stuff.” Withdrawing a hand from his trench coat, he ran it through his hair, mussing it even further. A rather lopsided grin followed, words somewhat low. “Guess everyone’s looking for something.”

Her smile is knowing, and the look in her eyes betraying her age.

"Yeah, but most don't find it, do they?"

She leads him to a small building and through a door into a place that's much bigger than it looks from the outside. The decor is a bit different for everyone thanks to the city. She finds a booth and slides in one side, hands settling on the table.

"Welcome to the Cafe Juliet."

A shake of Tsuzuki’s head gave away his disposition on the subject, he not ignorant enough to disregard the expression in her eyes. Older by far, more knowing.

…like his.

It seemed a habit of his to pout or appear pouting when he thought, arms crossed and head turned down a little. Of course, it evaporated the moment he stepped over the threshold into Juliet. The smells, the sights, the sounds. He was heavily reminded of the quaint shop in Kyuushu and suddenly missed home. But he also tried to ignore that upon following Rangiku to a table. It wouldn’t do to scare her away…

Tsuzuki managed to wriggle out of his trench coat, folding it over his arm and revealing the rumpled work suit he had yet to change from, tie slung loosely around his neck and beneath the collar. Relaxed. He really liked this place.

“It’s nice,” he answered after sitting down, tucking his coat beside him, like a security blanket. Curiously, he tilted his head. “Do they have sake?”

Her lips curl up into a happy smile. "You like sake? Really?"

Her opinion of the man, already high, went up several notches.

"They do, but the best booze is at Automatica... it's a club Underground, but it can be a bit... hairy getting there."

She glanced up at the slight woman that came to take their order, thinking for a moment before she ordered something for herself, plus something for her to take to Sands.

A single nod of his head was his answer. Among other things, Tsuzuki really had a liking for sake. Warm or cool, it didn’t matter as long as it was the best. Perhaps he’d have to visit this Automatica if they were known for good alcohol. He leaned onto his elbow, rolling off something simple to the woman waiting on them, briefly remembering it a bad impression to order so much as once as he was often apt to doing.

Why did he seem so intent on impressing her? That certainly wasn’t like him.

“I’d like to go there,” he spoke conversationally, eyes flickering around to examine the customers seated inside Juliet. “If it’s as good as you say.” And with that, Tsuzuki smiled.

"Well then, we'll make sure to go there one night. It's always better at night." She paused, eyeing him. "It's not a nice place to get to though. There are monsters and such Underground... I won't end up taking someone that can't be useful in a fight."

Haineko nudged her again, this time making her look down at the sheathed blade with annoyance before looking back up. "Er.. sorry... thought I heard something. Anyway... it's a good place. I've spent time there. Really, the city itself isn't that bad if you don't mind the curses and such. And the whole end of the everything thing."

It wouldn’t have been polite to laugh at the almost amusing things she spoke so Tsuzuki settled for smiling deeper, rocking his chin on the palm of his hand. There was no need for someone else to worry about him handling himself in a fight. His fuda usually did more than protect him, and if the need ever arose, his shikigami were always willing to come to his rescue. Such loyal friends he couldn’t live without. He attempted voicing this aloud, though not wishing to give too much detail away.

Of course, did those laws still apply here?

“It sounds fun,” he agreed, wondering if they’d really make a date of it. “And there’s no need to worry. I can take care of myself.” Though several of his friends would disagree, his mind chided before he willfully ignored it. He briefly remembered the way their first touch had felt, and still, he could not help wondering why it was so familiar.

Then, Tsuzuki blinked. “C-curses?”

If the power she'd felt in his touch was any indication, she instinctively trusted him to be able to take care of himself. She shrugged and leaned back against the cushions of the booth, watching him.

"Yep. Curses. The so called 'deities' like to play nasty pranks on the citizens here. Every other day or so, something'll pop up like friends become enemies, or loss of inhibitions. Some are kinda fun, but some are nightmares. One day, everywhere you looked, you saw your deepest fears play back at you."

She watched him silently, waiting to see his reaction.

Rangiku’s explanation made Tsuzuki’s facial expression scrunch as he thought about it, carefully contemplated it as carefully as one of Tsuzuki’s understanding would. It sounded…horrific. He certainly couldn’t imagine half the things she’d said, but being a shinigami, living only to protect the truly living, he’d seen his fair share of things subtle and far worse than anyone could think. So this place, this…City, it was a paradox. Granting dreams and desires, but tearing them away with these…

Curses.

A thousand things passed through his mind at the word, and Tsuzuki forced a smile so as not to concern or upset the other. She seemed far too nice to do such a thing to. He’d keep his secrets, as dark and dangerous as they were.

“I suppose I should keep both eyes open, then.” He glanced up at the clatter of dishes. “Ah! It’s here.”

He's hiding something.

She smiled and sipped at the warm sake that she'd ordered, then set into her food with gusto, hungry from all the work she'd been doing with Haineko lately.

"So, where are you from? Everyone around here is from so many differnt areas and times.. it's interesting, the people you meet."

To tell her the truth or not.

Tsuzuki returned the smile, eyeing the pie sitting restlessly on its plate, demanding he eat it before merely stabbing at it with his fork. He wasn’t so good at explaining himself like this because someone else usually did that particular type of talking for him. Decidedly, he pushed his way through half an explanation.

“I was born in Tokyo,” he answered, not bothering to ask if she knew Tokyo was in Japan. Somehow, he figured she knew. “But I work wherever I’m sent. Kyuushu mostly.”

He frowned after a moment, occupying himself by taking a bite of the dessert before him. “Well, was sent.” Tsuzuki then gave Rangiku a wide, closed-mouth smile full of pie.

"Told you the place had good food."

The sight of him enjoying his pie made the smile inch up even more, but she hid it behind her sake dish. He reminded her of an eager kid, even if his eyes weren't young.

"Sounds familiar, but I do the majority of my work closer to my home. Well.. did. I've spent a good deal of time in the field before."

Tsuzuki never had been particularly good with multi-tasking, especially when it came to eating and talking, so he merely nodded in answer as Rangiku spoke. Focusing all of his attention on the pie, however, almost seemed redundant. And rude. It was a wonder no one smacked him on the head for it as he swallowed and searched for one of the napkins that had come with it instead of using his sleeve.

Unable to help himself, “Field? What kind of work’re you into?”

Settled with the question, he leaned back a little and finally noticed that he’d cleared his plate with nothing less than sad dismay.

With a smile, she motioned to the waitress and ordered him another piece of pie, then sent her on her way. Her hands lifted the sake dish to her lips so she could sip slowly as she pondered how much truth to tell him.

"Well, I deal with the dead, if you must know, usually in spirit form."

Information like that usually did one of two things. One- they were instantly facinated, or two- they wanted to get the hell away from her as quickly as possible.

She was interested to see how he reacted.

Instantly, he perked at the sound of her ordering more pie, smiling appreciatively as he settled even more comfortably into his seat. Tsuzuki knew he’d been on the verge of opening his mouth to answer when what she said finally sunk through his skull.

The dead? Spirit form?

Only one word came to mind at the mention of that, and almost disbelieving, he leaned forward, face rather serious as he murmured it, curiosity thick in his voice, “Shinigami?”

She propped her elbows on the table, cradling her cheeks in her palms. "You're a smart one. Yes, shinigami. You'll be shocked at some of the people you'll meet here in the city."

Certainly she hadn’t thought that had been what he’d meant?! Tsuzuki was completely and utterly stuck, shocked. Maybe just a little excited because…

Well, he hadn’t thought to think there were more shinigami besides those that worked in JuChoOh. Technically, he hadn’t even bothered asking, too caught up in his own job to really pay attention. Tsuzuki shook his head.

“No, it’s…” Maybe it’d be okay if he told her, since she was a shinigami, too. Tatsumi would HAVE to forgive him. Right? “I am, too. Second Division.” He then offered a rather wavering smile.

Blue eyes blinked once, betraying a little shock before she tilted her head a little.

"No wonder your power felt similar... I'm Tenth Division, but you're not one of us... well. Us, as in from where I'm from."

Tsuzuki had to laugh at that. Yes, he was excited, and he briefly wondered what power these other shinigami (there were more?!) possessed compared to those he acquainted himself with. He really liked Rangiku now. So much so that he ignored the pie the waitress had set at the end of the table.

“How…how many more? Are they here?” It was difficult to ignore the animated way he talked, drawing attention from the few who cared to look, and Tsuzuki smiled.

He couldn't wait to tell Tatsumi.

Ever the officer, she merely smiled and shrugged. "Oh, a few of my comrades are here... most just recently arrived in the city." She reached over and pushed the pie to him.

"I knew there had to be other kinds of us, but I never imagined I'd meet one."

Who would have thought? Other shinigami. Here.

Tsuzuki continued ignoring the dessert, even after Rangiku pushed it towards him. He merely commenced poking it, trying to rake in all the new information he’d just heard. Eventually, he managed to nod in response.

“Me, too. I mean…” Tsuzuki absently licked at the filling on his fork. “There are a lot of us in Meifu, but…” He shrugged, still unsure how to explain what he wanted to say. In fact, he wasn’t sure what it was he wanted to tell her.

“Uh….heh.” He ran his hand through his hair, smiling.

She found it easy to answer his smile.

"There's a lot of us in Seireitei, too... I'd love to find out how things are different for each of us... "

Her sake was forgotten in lieu of good conversation.

Another pleased laugh left his throat.

“I was thinking the same thing!” And suddenly, as if remembering something, he frowned, rubbing at his chest. Briefly, Tsuzuki wondered why he thought of Hisoka before turning on his smile again. He didn't want to think about that now.

“You can’t read minds, can you?”

An unladylike snort was his answer. "Not likely. I don't think any of us can do that... maybe a touch of empathy at times, but not flat out telepathy. We've all got... different gifts."

She trailed off, wondering if she should be so easy with volunteering information.

“Empathy…” The word slipped from his mouth before he could stop it, thoughts settling heavily on everyone at home. Watari, even Terazuma. And he missed Hisoka, the word bringing a flood of memories he wasn’t sure how to handle at the moment.

Tsuzuki forced a quiet laugh.

“Gifts? Some might think them worse than those curses you were talking about.” He wasn’t going mention that he was one of them…

She didn't miss the strained sound, nor did she ignore the growling voice in her mind. Haineko sensed power in him and she shared what she knew with her mistress; Ran's head tilted to one side and her eyes glassy for a moment.

She blinked again, clearing away the haze before she smiled up at Tsuzuki. "I suppose it all counts on how you look at it. I know I consider mine a gift."

He didn't want to talk about this.

His shikigami were restless again, and Tsuzuki had a difficult time suppressing the loud questions being directed at him in hopes to be answered. There was no way he was going to ask Rangiku that. In fact, he really didn’t have the mindset to ask her anything else, and he wondered why the café seemed so much smaller than it had been just minutes prior.

“I’m sorry. I…should probably be going now. Tatsumi might worry, and I didn’t leave a note.” Tsuzuki rubbed at his hair, feigning embarrassment, hoping the abrupt departure wouldn’t cause suspicion.

Of course, if it was one thing the shinigami had been born without, it was tact.

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Log, Ongoing.

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