Drunken Solutions [Reika/closed]

A large figure made their way down an ancient looking road. The man stood nearly six feet tall. his broad and muscular body making him appear even larger as his ill fitting Shihakusho appearing a bit too small to fit his frame, muscular arms straining under the sleeves looking ready to rip free with a simple flex of the body. His long brown hair styled in a large spiky style that some younger, newer souls might have referred to as Dragon's ballz, if not for the extra hair being tied back out of the way. The man also possessed a chin beard although he clearly looked he was a few days late in fully shaving to clean up the rest of the stubble. strapped to his side was a simple looking blade, and on the opposite side hung a pair of gourds. The same kind of gourds that you would use to carry water, or wines and other liquor.

One could claim that he was strolling down the street, while less discreet people would say he was stumbling down the road, but not from injury or the like, instead it was clear that this man had been drinking, further reinforced by the fact that he paused and casually uncorked one of the gourds, lifting the bottle to his lips and pouring an amber nectar into his mouth, greedily drinking it down before unleashing a belch as he re-corked so not to spill a precious drop. Finally he would come to a stop on the edge of the city. a large rather run down looking building stood with a emblazoned sun like symbol burned into the door. the same symbol that he had tattooed on his shoulder and arm. He stood there and admired the building as shabby as it looked. a good long time of poor pay finally accumulated enough that he could buy the property and equip it the way he desired. a home to call his very own. part residence, part workshop, part store, a brewery that he could control, creating spectacular wines and other booze that would eventually even impress the soul king and purify a hollow simply by the strength of its contents. plus he could drink for free! He just needed to try and figure out what the hell his next step was going to be.

The day was long and arduous in the maze-like Seireitei, and Reika needed to get rid of some of the frustration that had been building. Too many times had she managed to get lost behind those large stone walls - it didn’t seem to get any better. Each day she was trying to visit one of the six Gotei divisions to find the right fit for herself. And each day was filled with hours of dead ends and wrong turns. There was definitely no way she was going to use the top of the walls after what happened at the Fourth Division; that unruly knot on the back of her head was a reminder not to attempt it for a while.

Today was going to be her day though - the Seireitei was behind her and the familiar old stomping grounds of the Districts lay before. There was nothing like feeling at home in these surroundings. But there was only one thing on Reika’s mind at the moment: going to the restaurant she had been sneaking off to while she was in the academy. Nothing sounded better than a good old fashioned meal with a drink to ease the tensions of the day.

Soft footsteps padded on the path to the outside of the town and the old familiar sight came into view. But something seemed off - the restaurant was looking more rundown than usual. There wasn’t the usual rancor that filled the air and the outside didn’t seem to have the usual patrons just enjoying themselves after a hearty meal. Instead, there seemed to be just one rather tall man, standing before the building with some gourd looking objects. This seems a little odd.

Reika moved her red locks behind her shoulder and tepidly approached the man. “Excuse me… did they close down the old place?” She inquired, realizing as she approached the stranger that he was towering over her by a good head or two. Why does everyone have to be so tall? She fumed. "I was hoping to enjoy a good meal and drink... but it's beginning to look like that's not gonna happen."

"Eh?Ah!"
The man almost comically looked around in front of him, before half turning in Reika's direction. Toji had been deep in his thoughts, and his cups, and at first had not heard anyone approaching, but he eventually looked down to see coppery red hair, piercing blue eyes that seemed to stare right through him and a crisp clean uniform, practically the opposite of his own. he seemed to have been taken by surprise a bit, seeing he woman appear so suddenly next to him.

"Wha? closed?" the gears in Toji's head turned ever so slowly but soon picked up speed as he shook his head. He remembered now. The restaurant that she spoke of, had actually only taken up a small section of the building, serving delicious meals to the shinigami hopefuls that had gained enough spiritual power to grow hungry. "No no no. It's just under renovations."

To be honest for a brief moment when buying the property up he had considered just closing down the shop, but that would have been a stupid decision. After all what goes better with booze than good food and good friends? A good drink was married to fine food throughout history, although each had their own tastes. He had a few ideas that involved food both in cooking and with booze, he simply hadn't reached that far in his plans yet. He had closed the shop side of things to expand it, even going out of his way to badger one of the egghead scientists to help him recreate some of the living world food equipment that he had heard about. One such thing that made his mouth nearly water at the thought was something called a deep fryer, allowing them to take chicken and turn it into crisp golden meat, just the right amount of grease to go with a good beer or stiff drink. imagine that with some fried dumplings, it could possibly be the ultimate in bar food.

The original restaurant folk could keep serving their regular food, but a section was devoted towards food to server with the liquor that he worked on. That and he would occasionally have to do work for the society and it didn't seem right to just close down the entire shop each and every time. Thus he could get a few apprentices maybe and have people help sell his extra stock.

"So you like to drink eh? Well I am sure there is some food, but i can promise that you can at least have some great drinks." he stated waiving a gourd and pointing it at the door. "Come! i need someone to help taste some of the newer batches anyway." he added as he shambled towards the entrance and pulled the door open.

Relief showed on Reika’s face as the stranger said the restaurant was simply closed for renovations. There were too many memories tied to this place - too many times of helping classmates stumble home. It was nice to see that the old restaurant was going to get fixed up, it had been too long since she had come back to the old stomping ground.

It was such a shame that she couldn’t partake in the old man’s yakisoba and yakitori as the other patrons talked about the coming and goings of the districts. All of that followed by a stiff drink with a few of her classmates really tied a hard day's training altogether. I guess it’s time to find another place for now.

There was nothing to be done for now other than leave, but as she turned to leave an interesting proposition came from the man. “Drinks, eh?” She said, raising a brow with interest. “Count me in.” A wry smile appeared on her features as she followed him in. After all, who could resist a good drink after a stressful day?

As she went in, she introduced herself. “Name’s Reika. Your’s?” The woman paused for a moment before shaking her hands as if to stop him from answering. “Lemme guess, Spike.” She chuckled, gesturing to his hair. “Either way, I can tell you’re a shinigami by the blade. Me too.” Her left hand gently rapped the hilt of her blade. “No division yet though.”

Rukongai. Home to the commoners of their society. These were the people Yuki respected most. People who struggled, who clawed their way up, who made it through life not through some fancy title or inherited wealth, not through some handed-off position, but through sheer grit and determination.

These were the people she fought for.

Not that they knew, of course. Her fight had yet to properly begin. But someday these people were going to be elevated, their lives were going to be changed for the better. Of that she was certain.

For the moment they would need to continue living as they always had. They would need to hold on a little longer. Passing through the streets only brought Yuki a greater sense of guilt, but that guilt helped to fuel the flames of conquest. She would do right by them, even if she had to do it alone.

I don't know if Seireitei will be able to hold everyone. It might not. But that doesn't mean I cannot succeed. No, we would just have to re-purpose some of these buildings. Like this one.

Yuki had stopped for the moment outside one of the shops. It looked a little rundown. Perhaps it was empty? It wouldn't be a terrible idea to check it out if so. She could get an idea of what these places looked like in this sort of state, learn how much maintenance they would really need to fix these buildings up.

The little wolf ventured forth, pushed open the door, and discovered two people. Shinigami. One very tall and one about average. A man and a woman. Alone in an abandoned building. With alcohol. Lots of alcohol.

Ah. Did I walk in on something?

She didn't notice any rankings. Unseated, just as she was. But perhaps they wouldn't know of her nobility. Perhaps she could be treated like a normal person. Wouldn't that be exciting?

"Hello. Am I interrupting something special here?"

It was clear that the girl was happy to hear that the restaurant wasn't closed down permanently, although maybe a bit disappointed that the shop was not officially open.
"Sure Drinks. It's never fun to drink alone after all. As for this place... i guess it's good enough to reopen he food officially tomorrow. Didn't have to do too much renovations there. What's left is pretty much the brewery in the back. That should take a few more days to finish the entire process, then it's just brewing." he explained, sounding happy that he had someone new to drink with. Sometimes you wanted to drink by yourself, to drink down your sorrows, your frustrations, the bitterness of life. Then there were the times that you wanted to drink with company, to celebrate the joy you felt, share brotherhood with friends and love with families. At a time like this who wouldn't want to celebrate the grand reopening of a store... well admitably it was a bit early, but who was counting, can always celebrate again. Toji didn't bother to close the door all the way behind him, more interested in talking and drinking. Perhaps he could get some feedback on some of the newer creations, to see what might be a better drink for people to enjoy.

The redhead, Reika as she introduced herself seemed fairly friendly, asking for his own, yet before he answered she waved her hands to stop him as she attempted to guess it, "Spike? haa, that is funny, Everyone calls me Toji." Something he was sure Reika would find amusing since it literally was what people called he head sake brewer at a brewery. "And yeah, i guess the uniform kinda gave it away too. Not sure what division would be a good fit either. Anyway make yourself at home." he added waving his hands at the available seating, planning to head over to the bar to grab some cups and stuff.

It was at this time that the door was pushed open once again, a tiny figure starting to stroll in before coming to a stop like a startled animal. Toji blinked a few times as he wondered if he was seeing things, the girl apparently having fox or doggo or wolf like ears sticking out of her head. puzzling out what he could remember for why such a thing until the light bulb turned on. "Ah. right. umm Nope you are just in time for the party. Come on in." he said inviting Yuki in. ~she cant drink that much after all...could she?~

Being inside brought back a sleigh of old memories of such joy and merriment in this old room. Long nights lasting way past last call, the rowdy groups that came and went, and the lingering smell of spirits drifting the air. Even now she could catch that acrid scent in the air - either that or it was Toji, especially if you considered how he walked into the building. It was nice to be among a free spirit like that.

Even with the new renovations to the building, she could still picture the cracked and torn leather seating, stained tables, and the old man behind the counter with that grin and his missing teeth. It was good to be back. The young shinigami couldn’t help but grin as Toji spoke of the renovation and the fact that this old place would be opened to the public soon. Coming back when the public was allowed in was definitely on her to-do list.

“It’s a pleasure to meet a kindred spirit among shinigami.” She replied before an unknown person appeared.

Leaning slightly to the right, Reika peered past Toji to see who stood in the doorway. A little shinigami, one actually shorter than herself. Wow, for once she wasn’t the shortest in the room - Reika couldn’t help but smirk.

Taking a seat at the nearby table, Reika gestured to the new shinigami to take a seat. “Join us. My new friend, Toji, just let me in and was about to treat me with a drink.” A small grin crossed her face. “We could do with some more company to make the evening a bit more lively.” Besides, it’d be nice to have another friend.

It was becoming quickly evident that the Gotei was filled with people that seemed to use one another for their own gain. Everyone seemed to have their own little agenda - that was evident after meeting one noble herself. She didn't have time for such games. Perhaps she was nothing more than a ripple in a great sea of crashing waves. But that was neither nor there. Tonight was about forgetting all that and pretending to be a regular soul away from wolves in uniforms.

Another party? Maybe this one will turn out a little better.

Then again the last one hadn't been the worst experience in her life. Sure, she got her butt thoroughly kicked, and sure she got herself kidnapped. She also had to watch a lot of people die and she couldn't really do much about that either. But she did make a couple new friends. Well, one friend and one who eventually became a friend.

There was another good sign: neither of them seemed to recognize her nobility! This was just what she needed! Real people to drink with. Perhaps they might also become her friends.

Wouldn't that be lovely?

No.

She approached the two, stopping next to the table. Her head lowered into a slight bow. A little formal but it was difficult to kick those habits. "I am Yuki Kameko. It is nice to meet you both" softly spoke the wolf. Then she pulled out a chair next to the woman and hopped up onto it, only to then carefully settle into a seated position on her knees. Her tail, not wishing to get caught on anyone, curled around into her lap.

"Do you two own this place? I have never been here before."

"Indeed!" Toji had nodded to the comment about finding kindred spirits among shinigami. But the comment also stood strong to what Reika had said to the new smaller shinigami when she invited her to come take a seat. It was also a bit odd as all the tiny women around him made him feel like a veritable giant among them all. Did he have to start being careful not to knock over buildings and step on people?

"Yes come join us. the more friends the better." he followed up on Reika's invite waving the little wolf eared girl to join them. it felt like she was a bit hesitant at first, but she did eventually join them at the table in the end. A bit formal he thought as she lowered her head in a bow. She introduced herself in a soft spoken voice. "Kameko eh." he muttered before Nodding. "A pleasure to meet you Yuki, But please no bowing or any of that stiff and formal borrring stuff. how does anyone stand doing that all the time? Gotta stand all stiff and bow at forty degrees exactly and your back must hurt all the time doing that constantly." Toji chattered on, mockingly bowing as he described the matter, and pulling it off exceedingly well despite his appearance. Yuki hopped on one of the seats and he wondered if he needed a booster seat or higher seats for those individuals who might be vertically challenged and wanted to visit the bar or restaurant when he heard her follow up question.

"Ah, right introductions. I am Toji Tejaku. Recent owner of this place. The original location was a restaurant and a few miscellaneous buildings, got it all dirt cheap and have myself expanded restaurant, a brewery in the back here." he said as he waved towards the back of the building, as he moved to grab drinks and a few easy to obtain snacks.

After rummaging around for a few minutes he moved back to the table with several bottles as well as a platter with various snacks on it. "Here. Pick your poison." he told them pointing at the various bottles. "We have your various fruits. Cherry, plum, peach, if none of that is to your liking, We have other flavors and various degrees of strength."

The day was full of surprises for sure. First, the little dive restaurant was closed down for renovations, now it seemed to be under completely new management. Such a shame, the old man must have retired, but at least his business will carry on under this jovial giant.

Hope to see you again, old man.

The atmosphere between the trio seemed pleasant enough once introductions were all out of the way. Reika gave Yuki a small nod and smile, hoping to make her feel a bit more welcomed. That was until Toji decided to bring back various bottles, placing them on the table with his own joyous vigor, inviting them to ‘pick your poison’.

Reika being a bit fastidious about her alcohol looked at the collection of bottles with a touch of disappointment. Yes, there were a few choices picks if you were into something fruity, something that would dull your senses while barely tasting the liquor. This old place demanded something from memory - something that brought a touch of home. The young shinigami really had no choice but to put her years of watching the previous owner in action.

“Excuse me.” She said politely as she rose from her seat and meandered behind the bar, scanning the labels for something that would catch her eye. Sure enough, there on the shelf was a bottle of bourbon. Without a word to the others, she grabbed the bottle, some simple syrup, and three small glasses.

Back at the table, Reika prepared that old standby - what the old man called a ‘whiskey sour’. With a small smile, she offered the pair a glass each. “It’s what the old owner used to push on me all the time. I can only hope you enjoy it as much as I do… If I made it right.” A small giggle left her as she looked at the two, sipping the drink with a smile.

A sense of nostalgia washed over her tongue and instantly she was transported back to a packed venue with the rancor of people enjoying both food and drink. A simpler time without care, truly beautiful.

"Ah. Yes. My apologies."

Come on Yuki. Cool it.

Unfortunately the bowing had been a habit of noble birth and, in her mind, a poor start to the evening. And he was right, it was something that took a lot of discipline and a lot of getting used to. But she still had time to recover! She had already started to open up to other people. Surely she could come out on top here!

"I see."

When Toji returned and offered for them to pick their poisons Yuki did grow a little suspect of the drinks. In fact she immediately sat up on her knees and leaned over, dragging the bottles closer. One by one she popped them open, sniffing at the contents. Some did smell quite pleasant. Some very strong. Some even a little foul. But none appeared to be poison.

He could be using a poison which does not give off a smell. Wait. Crap.

She was doing it again. Surely this man was not planning on poisoning them. They hadn't even known that she would be coming! But then she'd thought the same of the noble party. It had been so long since she'd joined in on any social gathering and even still she'd been lured into a trap.

You are right to be wary. You don't know these people. You don't know what these people are capable of.

No. Stop.

A hand moved up, rubbing at her forehead. She watched carefully while the woman moved around the counter, drew out multiple bottles of liquid, and created some new concoction. When her glass was slid over she gingerly picked it up, brought it to her lips, and took a single whiff.

Should be fine.

Even so her red orb locked onto Reika, waiting until she had taken a sip. Only then did Yuki lift her glass to her lips, sipping. It wasn't a terrible taste. She probably would have preferred one of the sweeter drinks. But still, not terrible.

"Thank you" spoke the wolf, pausing before she went back to finishing her drink. By the time her glass was settled back upon the bar Yuki's tail was lifted from her lap, swaying calmly behind her. So far the experience was pretty relaxed. Perhaps she might even stand a chance of cutting loose for awhile!

"So. May I ask which divisions each of you come from? I hail from the fifth."

Everything seemed to be going fairly well at first, Smiling and introducing oneself to each other. the Girl Yuki seemed to relax a little. clearly one of those formal types, proper dress code and bowing. But at least she wasn't one of those nose in the air nobility types who wouldn't be caught dead 'slumming it' with the people. They were doing the typical social things you do when you first meet up and start to socialize. A sentence that made perfectly good sense in his head even if other people would not make much sense of it. ~'socializing by being social' what next 'people die when they are killed'? Bah whatever.~ That was until he had dropped off some of the bottles that he had fetched and invited them to choose their drinks. It was not nearly as joyous as he had expected. Reika clearly looked at the bottles in disappointment, not even really touching them before she excused herself to the bar. Toji Raised an eyebrow at that reaction, feeling disappointed that his guest was more interested in the, admitably more expensive imported whiskey as she grabbed the pre made syrup mix which was a combination of the sugar and syrup and lemon and lime juice.  

At least Yuki seemed interested in his drinks, Almost as soon as he told her to pick her poison she had seemed to sit up and lean forward, even grabbing the bottles and bringing them open so that she could uncork each one and inhale their aroma. "Heh, Taking a interest in my creations Yuki? These are some of the latest batches of booze i have brewed, and you are all in luck cause you are among the first to get a chance to taste. The fruit based ones are obviously newer. the Harder liquor is a few hundred years in the earliest. But i should have probably asked what sort of things do you usually like to drink before i pulled out bottles. I was just thinking start with the less overpowering flavors like these. You don't have the harsh bite of alcohol, so it doesn't smell too strong. Perfect for.." He cut himself off as Reika returned with the whiskey sours that she made. ~maybe now isn't the time to admit you sneak drinks on the job.~

"Thank you most kindly. The Old Man certainly loves this drink. Surprised he served anything else really." Toji said a almost serious look on his face as he judged the drink she presented to him before taking a sip. "...Ahh. Not bad at all. I should tell the Old Man that he had a veritable protege lurking around when he stops in next. If you ever want a job let me know." he said finishing off the glass, neatly setting it aside before fetching a small glass of water to clear the pallet as he popped open some of the other drinks and poured himself a drink.

"I haven't actually decided on a division yet. Although it is something that i really should do. Let's see. Sixth division.." Toji pauses and looked at himself before chuckling. "They go on about proper procedure and justice and and all that. and i am like 'if justice is blind why can't it overlook me on occasion?'. They are just stuck up and full of themselves. The fourth...the Eggheads are good and know what they are doing, Gotten a few favors out of them that were great, but unless i can research and develop booze, i don't think that's the place for me. Third, well 'a drink can cure what ail's ya' they always say, but there is always someone nagging about 'you shouldn't drink so much its bad for you'! It is a really mixed message ya know? So i don't know about them really. Those Sneaky Guys in Second division rarely know how to kick back and relax and have a party it seems. And well Even if the First Division wanted me, why the hell would i want to surround myself in the 'glory' of paperwork? No thanks. And Fifth division. You guys are Fairly cool. And i am not just saying it because you are right here and i don't want to insult a friend. You all can kick a lot of ass and yet know when to enjoy yourselves. So honestly my best bet is probably with you lot. Luckily for me i am not too shabby with my sword."

Reika sat in silence as she listened to the Toji talk, secretly hoping that she didn’t insult him by not partaking it first. Being back here, it just called for that old familiar taste - that and some Yakitori. It was still amusing to see Toji talk about his creations with such passion.

“No. No. It’s just one drink. Don’t expect me to replicate it with anything else.”

Seriously, don’t.

As Toji spoke about the different divisions he wasn’t a part of, Reika grabbed the bottle of cherry alcohol and poured herself a bit into her empty glass, the sweet aroma filling her nostrils. This was an interesting brew - at least it smelled like it. Taking a sip, she raised her brow in surprise at how smooth it was. She barely registered that Toji was done talking.

Oh.

“Fresh graduate.” The woman said softly, setting her glass down. “I’ve been spending the last few days going to each division to figure out the right fit… and find someone to help me out with kido.”

Am I droning on? Nah, I’m good.

“I managed to find someone to train me in the First, Zenji Hatayama.” She said with a shrug. “Apparently a noble - never would have thought with the way he acts. Then again, what do I know of nobles?”

"You created all of these? Impressive."

This was a man who knew what he wanted in life. Someone passionate about something which didn't pertain to combat or kido or any of the normal aspirations for their kin. Brewing alcohol. It was just as if not more so respectable as any of her dreams were considering he wasn't trying to kill anyone with it.

As Toji set about detailing his experiences with each of the six divisions Yuki reached over the counter again, taking up the bottle of cherry alcohol that Reika had popped open. A glass was poured, brought to her lips, and inspected like the others with a single sniff of her nose. It certainly did smell very sweet, even reminded her of her garden to an extent.

"Oh? Perhaps I should test you. Another day, of course."

In one gradual sip Yuki downed the small glass of its contents. It went down smooth. Very smooth. And as its scent attested it was pretty sweet. In fact she leaned over to fetch herself a second serving!

Don't drink too much.

Why? This is nice.

You don't know these people.

What do you think I'm trying to do right now?

They'll let you drink yourself into a stupor. Then you'll see. You'll be lucky to wake up in one of their beds, let alone waking up at all.

The little wolf rolled her eyes. She could handle a few drinks. What sort of warrior couldn't? Still, her spirit did make a slight point. Perhaps moderation wasn't a terrible idea. She could start after this cup.

"Ah. Zenji. He is a good man and an exceptional master of the demon arts" she stated before turning her attention towards Toji. "Also this one is quite good. If you have extras I might purchase some for later."

Actually that did give her an idea for questions to ask. Friends partook of these sorts of things, after all. Questioning to find differences, to find common goals and dreams. "You do this as a hobby, yes? What other sorts of hobbies do you enjoy? I ask the same of you-"

Oh. Right. She hadn't actually learned the other woman's name.

"Ah. Miss."

Good recovery.

"I enjoy gardening."

And killing things.

"And hunting."

And fighting.

"Eh, most drinks are simple, you just need to understand the recipe. like if you take Tequila, Gran Gala orange liquor or triple sec, Orange juice, and toss in some maraschino cherries and the juice, you will have just made yourself a rather potent Tequila sunrise. Mixing drinks can be considered an art form, but ultimately it is about what you want the taste to come out as. If you think it tastes good. then drink it." Toji told Reika before switching to Yuki.

"Yes, all of these are my creations, or replications. I try my best to both recreate spirits from the mortal realm and work on creating my own, but sometimes it is difficult. Some of the ingredients are just a pain inn the ass to get ahold of, and some of their brewing and distillation processes are a bit more complicated. But it creates a few interesting ideas that i plan on exploring. Now if Sweet drinks like this isn't your cup of tea, i do have other things that you might enjoy. I just personally prefer things like this. Smooth and sweet. Life is difficult enough after all, without drowning your feelings in bitterness."

Toji stopped when he realize that he was getting carried away talking, plenty of time to bore new friends with the intricacies of Booze-o-mancy and the philosophy of drinking. instead he sat back and enjoyed sipping his drinks, as well as seeing the two seem to actually enjoy his creations. Yuki mentioned briefly about testing him some other time, to which he nodded his head in agreement. They started talking about someone named Zenji, a noble person who was good at kido.

"Afraid i have never been good at the demon way, even if it has some convenient techniques, so i wouldn't be much help there. And i am glad you think so!" he said smiling as Yuki praised his drink "And certainly. Hell as celebration for making new friends, i will Gift you both a bottle of your choice, If you want more, then we can talk about that sort of thing." Yuki took their conversation in a interesting direction asking for everyone's hobbies, and voicing her own, Gardening and hunting. "Yeah, it's not like this can really be my main profession. We got to be in our divisions and do those jobs, so it has to be the hobby. Other than that i enjoy cooking, even if its mainly like just to have tasty snacks to go with tasty drinks. umm i guess... fighting? Not sure if that really is a good hobby though." he replied with a shrug.

Toji seemed to be more than thrilled to talk, a stark contrast to the demure Yuki. Reika poured herself another drink as she listened to Toji happily chat away at his creations, definitely more a passion than a hobby. Meanwhile, Yuki was into gardening and hunting. What did Reika really have? She mulled it over with another sip, feeling the warmth on her cheeks.

These two seemed to have their own priorities set straight. Yuki had her place in the fifth, Toji had his business. Reika was a blank slate in the Gotei and had yet to find her place. It was getting frustrating. Or was that the drink talking?

“It’s Reika.” She finally said when Toji was done talking. “And yes, Zenji seems like a rather nice guy. Hopefully, he’s a capable teacher.”

He seemed more than capable.

“Hobbies. Hobbies.” She said as mulled over the thought, taking another sip. “I suppose I would spend most of my time with my family if I weren’t in the process of finding a division right now.” Reika flashed a large smile. “Listening to pops gripping about having to fix something in the house and mom scolding him for being lazy.”

Reika guffawed, slapping her hand lightly on the table. “I’m sorry. Haha! Just thinking about them and all the frustration the past few days.” She smiled again. “This is nice just to forget where we are and enjoy each other’s company.”

And she really was, or so the drink was telling her as she drained another glass. Each sip was just a way to ease the tension, each drink a way to forget. And it seemed that Toji was giving her the gift of gab by allowing them to take a bottle home. Reika gave the man a gentle pat on the back.

“Mighty kind of you to do such a thing. Keep it up and I might enjoy a little too much!” She grinned.

Mixing drinks certainly was a fine idea. So many different flavors could be created! Although she had absolutely no clue on where to start with that sort of thing. Luckily these two had a few ideas.

I'm going to try as many as I can tonight.

"If you need ingredients I might be able to assist. I hunt frequently on Earth. Perhaps I could bring a few back for you in the future."

You're not a courier.

This is what friends do. I think.

As she finished off another cup of the cherry drink Yuki moved on to a new flavor: plum! After all if she were going to get a bottle to bring home then she really didn't need to focus on that one flavor for the rest of the night. Not when there were so many to try! Heck, she didn't even wait for someone else to test it first! Although she did take a few whiffs before consumption, just to be certain about its lack of lethal ingredients.

The wolf nodded once in Reika's direction, glad to have finally learned of the woman's name. That was an important step towards friendship, was it not? They even had a shared acquaintance! Perhaps next time they could invite Zenji too!

If there is a next time.

There could be!

Toji enjoyed cooking and fighting. Yuki knew how to cook, but it wasn't exactly a hobby. Still, she could see the appeal. Perhaps not the sort of cooking one did in a restaurant, as that could be hectic, but cooking at home could be relaxing. And of course he enjoyed fighting. That alone qualified him for a spot in the fifth. Well, as long as he was any good anyways.

Family.

Yuki paused mid-sip. That was a strange hobby, wasn't it? Or was she the strange one for not thinking so? She was probably the weird one.

Family. I miss family.

A memory came to mind. Homeschooling. On her right sat a woman. A plain white kimono covered her slender body. Her hair was darker, straighter, as though she'd managed to conquer the wild spirit of their kind. A soft, kind face smiled down upon her, a hand settled atop her head. She too smelled of strawberries. Pressure upon her left shoulder turned her attention towards the figure on her left. A hulking beast covered in grey fur, though dressed properly in a Shinigami's uniform. One paw covered her shoulder and part of her upper arm. He was massive, certainly intimidating, especially with the scars covering his face. However she was not afraid. Beneath all the scars he too was smiling.

Yuki.

He wasn't smiling in the next memory. None of them were. A brilliant white light pierced the beast's chest, vaporized his body. There was a scream. Her scream. The woman's arms wrapped around her body. She felt tears in her right eye and a searing pain in her left.

Stop.

She stood at the gateway to her family's estate. Men were gathered. Shinigami. They were speaking to her. Yuki didn't hear their words. She felt the tears again, but this time there was nobody there to comfort her. This time she was alone.

Breathe.

Glass cracked, snapping her back to reality. Her hand trembled, body tensed with claws digging into her cup spreading lines across its surface like a web. The fur on her tail had stood up, puffing it out while it extended back behind her. Yuki's pupil was constricted as though she were prepared to lash out, to kill something. She closed her eye and took a few moments to breathe, to collect herself. Then she downed the rest of her drink, carefully setting the cup back upon the counter.

"Family is important. Cherish them. Do not worry about finding a division. You have plenty of time for that."

As her body relaxed she straightened out her posture. Hopefully that hadn't been too awkward. In any case she reached for the peach wine, pouring herself a glass. Thankfully the cup was still up for holding her drink.

"I enjoy fighting too, although I will admit that it is perhaps not the healthiest way to relax."

"thanks For the offer, getting some of the stuff is a pain simply because it takes forever to grow and i don't want to be making a new batch of wine every 50 years, a good batch can be aged for that or longer, but i want it to actually be easy to get."
~hmm is family really a 'hobby'?~ Toji couldn't help but wonder before mentally shrugging. 'What would you know?' the thought sprang to mind like a whisper. What would he know about that? He barely remembered anything after all, his past was pretty much a blur before he came into the rukongai. Family were a vastly distant memory lost long ago. Old friends from before joining soul society? Much the same,just crimson upon snow. Toki grabbed a waited for Yuki to finish pouring herself the glass of plum before pouring himself a new glass.

The talk about family did cause the air to change a bit, especially around Yuki, Toji could have sworn that her ears flicked back at the word. This was only punctuated by the cracking of glass, as the cup that Yuki held began to spiderweb, thankfully thick and sturdy enough that it wouldn't shatter completely in her hand. It didn't take a genius to detect the killing desire she was emitting and seeing how her tail fluffed out like crazy. Thankfully she gained control over herself in that span emptying her cup and setting it carefully down, as she told Reika to cherish her time with family.

Toji thought to ask what was wrong, but decided in the end that if she wanted to talk about things then she would speak about them. A drinker either swallowed down their emotions with their glass, or spilled forth their problems, but one shouldn't try to force it one way or another. Instead he quietly slid a clean unbroken glass over to her so that it could replace her current one once she had finished off her glass.

"You are right, fighting is never a healthy way to relax, but a good fight followed by soaking in a hot spring, with a good drink and some snacks, that can be bliss." he said as he grabbed a few more bottles and set them out, from an apricot brandy, to a cinnamon infused drink, he grabbed a few different drinks that gave his two guests a wide choice to drink from.

"Yes we should enjoy each other's company, a toast to new friends." he said smiling, raising his glass to the two of them.

Yuki’s words did strike true, but something about the word family seemed to tip that cool, calm demeanor. The glass cracking in her hand sent a small chill down Reika’s spine. There had to be more to the story, but in the redhead's stupor, there was no need to ask. She placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder and gave her a gentle shake.

“Hey, we’re among friends. It’s okay.” She said with a wink.

Grabbing a new bottle that Toji brought over, Reika poured the cinnamon-infused drink into her glass, the smell was enough to open her sinuses in an instant. She raised her drink with the man. “To new friends.” She said cheerfully before downing her drink.

Reika knew she had to take it easy tonight, tomorrow she had another division to visit. Surely a few more drinks would be fine with what time it was. Plenty of time to recover. “Tomorrow I head to the sixth division.” She ran her index finger along the rim of the glass in thought. “I’m not exactly sure I’d fit in a place like that - justice and all.”

She looked at Yuki from the corner of her eye. “And perhaps after that, I can come to visit you in the fifth for a tour.” It wasn’t exactly an opportunity she could turn down when there was someone in the division right there. “And maybe you can get this big guy to actually join a division instead of drinking so much.” Reika eyed Toji with a grin.

A new cup was slid over. With a gracious nod she pushed aside the slightly fractured glass, accepting the new one. For a moment she grew worried about the atmosphere. Had she ruined the mood? Pushed away more people?

Reika's hand settled upon her shoulder, causing the little Shinigami to tense up just for a moment. But all was fine. She could relax and she did relax. They were her friends.

I can trust them.

Her tail wagged just a slight bit behind her. When she caught a whiff of what Reika was indulging in Yuki leaned over to pour herself a glass, holding it to her lips for a sniff. Cinnamon was a very strong spice, especially for someone like her. But it was really nice too. It cleared things up, although at the moment she didn't exactly need that.

"Agreed. It is nice to relax in a hot bath after intense physical stress, although I've not tried it before alongside drink."

Inviting them to her place might be a fine idea. They could drink there. Relax in the bath. But then she was a little worried that they might treat her differently, being a noble and all.

She raised her glass, joining in on the toast! "To new friends" Yuki repeated, only to down her own drink. A shiver ran down her spine. It was really good! And quite well spiced to boot!

"Sixth division. Sticks in the mud. They are fun to pick fights with though. However they are supposed to be responsible for upholding at least a sense of justice, something a lot of them seem to lack. Not all though."

That sixer for example. He was respectable. "I would be happy to show you around fifth, although there really isn't much to see. Barracks. Sparring pits. The headquarters. Just buildings."

Ah. To Hell with it. They would find out one way or another. Friends are supposed to be honest with each other.

Yuki leaned over, popping open the apricot drink to pour herself a glass. She also offered one to both Reika and Toji. "I must admit to you both something, and I must ask that you do not treat me any differently for it. Unfortunately I am a noble. I don't enjoy it. Nobody is going to be punished for not treating me as one."

With drinks poured she relaxed back in her seat, lifting her cup to her lips to taste the new wine. It was a little more refreshing, certainly sweeter than the cinnamon. "On that note, you are both free to visit my place if you'd like. Perhaps we can try drinking there together sometime. Not that I don't enjoy this place. I do. But I doubt this place has an open air bath hidden away."

Again she worked on her cup, gaze slowly drifting between the two. As she finished her drink she took notice of something, setting her glass back upon the table. "Sorry. I don't mean to gloat. I hope it did not come off as that. All of this is just a little new to me" she mentioned, waving a hand once. "Socializing with people, I mean."

Smooth.

Thankfully the incident didn't grow too wild, as Reika reached over and patted Yuki's shoulder. More than likely a better to pat there then to pat the top of her head like he initially thought about doing. And it seemed that the cinnamon infused liquor that he pulled out was also a big hit, as nearly immediately both girls reached and had a glass.
Reika added that she was heading to the sixth division the following day, voicing a concern about not being fit for a place like that. "Well i think they are stuffy, rule driven sticks in the mud. But if that is what you want to do, then maybe there will be one who doesn't complain at me all the time." he said with a laugh. "As long as you keep a clean heart and clear mind you should be fine."

"And i resent that... i do hard work to make the booze you are currently drinking! it's not like you just toss things in a pot and magic booze comes out...hmm magic booze..." Toji got lost in that thought for a brief moment, nearly tuning out the rest of the smol talk until Yuki admitted to having a confession to make. That she was in fact a noble.

"hmm? Cool cool.. why would we treat you differently? And sadly no, no open air bath hidden away...yet." he said rubbing his chin and looking at the floor as if he were planning to build one under the ground. "That is a good idea. And don't worry about it. you are doing fine with the whole socializing thing."

Well, it was unanimous. The sixth squad is a bunch of ‘sticks in the mud’. How disheartening was that? Still, Reika had to at least visit them to get a better idea of how things were. A soft sigh left her as she poured some apricot brandy into her glass and took a swig, enjoying the refreshing taste, though it was missing something.

Yakisoba.

Reika’s stomach grumbled, wanting the food she used to pair in this very restaurant a short while ago. Even as she smiled about Yuki offering to show her around, food seemed to cloud her hazy thoughts. The taste of those noodles and bits of pork were calling her to the point that her mouth was water for the mere chance of eating them.

“Huh, wah?” Reika snapped back into the conversation.

Yuki is a noble? Odd. That did sorta explain the formal introduction and bowing she did when they had met. It didn’t change anything between them - it’s not like she had a cavalier attitude that you hear most nobles have. Reika couldn’t help but laugh.

“No one here cares about your nobility. Tonight, you’re among friends. And with that,” Reika rose, er- stumbled from her seat, not realizing how much she had drunk. “I say we grab some of these bottles, get some fresh yakisoba, and take our new friend up on her offer to drink at her place!”

The young shinigami smiled, her cheeks were rosy from the alcohol. It was a sound plan in her mind. Why not go out, grab some delicious food, and make their way to Yuki’s? “B’sides, Toji can talk about his magic booze.” She gave the man a gentle shove on the shoulder.

It's a good plan. The best plan. Yakisoba!

Yep. Reika is drunk.

A single audible sigh of relief left the little noble. They didn't care! That was a substantial weight off her shoulders! Heck, Toji even mentioned that her socializing abilities were up to par! Well, at least passable, but that was completely acceptable to her. Having friends was the best!

Okay. Tonight I relax. Completely relax.

It's not going to end well and you know it.

Not every encounter with another person has to end terribly. Maybe you should try relaxing.

How can I when I am stuck with someone as ignorant as you are?

Again she waved her hand. It wasn't as though her spirit knew everything. There had been times when it was wrong. Of course it was right plenty as well. Still, if she just listened to it all the time then she'd never get close with anyone!

"I wholeheartedly support this idea."

Drinks, delicious food, and a nice calming bath with her friends. She needed this. Also she needed more of that delicious cherry wine! In fact she'd grab the rest of that bottle as she stood, along with the bottle of apricot wine with her tail! Of course Reika's already uneasy balance had been noticed.

Yuki scooted over and placed her free hand upon Reika's right arm, guiding it up onto her shoulder. Being short meant she could act as a proper crutch! Or a guide! Friends literally supporting friends! This was next level!

"I grow strawberries too. We can enjoy some while we feast and drink and do whatever else it is that people do during these occasions. Also I have a couple of guest houses so if you need to sleep off our celebrations you are both welcome to stay over for the night."

Or however long.

Wow. You are lonely.

The drinks kept flowing amongst the three of them, neither Toji or Reika seemed to care about Yuki’s status as a noble, and they even had an invite to check out how a noble lives the high life, which Toji did have to admit was something to look forward to.

Then it happened, an earth shattering noise that knew no limit! The growl of Reika’s stomach. She reinforced to yuki that it was ok to be a noble and then stood up, swaying in place as she suggested that they grab some bottles and get fresh yakisoba and then go check out Yuki’s place.

“Sure we could go out for some Yakisoba or ramen or whatever. I don’t think we got any of those ingredients right here at the moment so we might be able to find a spot…” he sounded somewhat hesitant to just stumble into yuki’s home all drunk though, of course his head was a lot clearer, since he soaked in the alcohol daily in comparison to the girls. As he tried to figure out how he might say that it could inconvenience Yuki to suddenly have guests without warning, he got distracted by Reika’s mention of his magic booze and the fact that Yuki was wholeheartedly in agreement for this idea.

“Wait, how did you know about that?!” he was startled back a bit which only exaggerated the strength reika had pushed his on the shoulder with. “That is supposed to be a secret.” of course as a craftmaster of the booze he had his own special magical booze creation. But it was his secret that he hadn’t planned on revealing to the world just yet as it was not ready.

While distracted he barely noticed how Yuki had scooped up the bottles with her hand and tail, just that she seemed to worm her way underneath Reika and acted as a support for the unballanced girl. He did catch what she said though as she mentioned growing strawberries and they could enjoy feasting on them as well, and that she had a couple of guest houses they could crash in. ~a couple.. Like more than two? Wow~ “Umm.. Strawberries are good… could make some infused strawberries… “

~best to skip the chocolate though.~


“Yes.”

In a resounding success, Reika in her stupor had managed to rally the troops, er- friends, together for a night on the town. It would be a journey for food and a lovely visit to Yuki’s home, but mostly for food. The ravenous shinigami couldn’t be stopped! Equilibrium be damned!

Unfortunately for her, the alcohol was doing all the talking, but Yuki was there to support Reika. That’s what friends were for! Reika smiled at the kindness being shown - they had only known each other for a short time, yet here she was, literally supporting her. “Thank you, friend.” A small chuckle left her before looking at Toji.

“You types,” Reika said, pointing at the man with her left index finger, “You brewers or whatever ya call it. You’re always chasing after some magical alcohol that tastes like heaven. You’ve already done so with these.” She gestured to all the bottles Yuki was holding. “Yuki grabbed them all because they were so good!” There came a resounding grumbling from Reika’s stomach, causing her to pause for a moment. Quickly she pointed to the exit. “Now let’s go get that food and some of those strawberries!”

Three shinigami walk into a bar, there has to be a joke in there somewhere. Now three shinigami smelling of alcohol leave a bar and head into the evening life of the districts.

The busy streets were filled with people waiting in line at the various food stalls that lined the roads, vendors with their food carts called out to the denizens to come try their fresh foods, and the random hustle and bustle of souls filled the air. This was life in the districts - this was home to Reika. “Let's find something good for the road.” Delicious smells filled the air, enough to make your mouth water and leave your stomach for want.