"Hmm… Arata, you're back…" Rangiku sleepily rubbed his neck. "Where's the hangover tea?"
Arata's hands froze, and the steam from the bathroom, the scattered papers on the desk, and Isane's tearful eyes flashed through his mind.
He held Rangiku tighter in his embrace, then leaned down and kissed the crown of her head, as if to affirm something.
"I brought it. I'll take you to bed first, then I'll brew it right away." His voice was a bit hoarse.
Half-asleep, Rangiku reached out and touched his face. "Why is your face so tense? Did someone upset you?"
Arata didn't answer, but laid her down on the large bed in the bedroom and carefully wiped the honey stains off her chest.
When her fingers accidentally brushed something soft, Rangiku suddenly laughed, drunkenly grabbed his hand, and pressed it to her chest.
"Do you want to?" She lazily narrowed her gray eyes, and her other hand was already reaching toward his waistband. "Tonight, you can…"
Arata suddenly grabbed her playful hands, leaned over, and firmly wrapped her in the blanket. "You're still drunk. If you want to do silly things, wait until you sober up first."
Rangiku blinked in confusion, the alcohol clouding her thoughts.
But instinctively, she still sensed the unusual tension in her lover's shoulders and the complicated emotions in his eyes.
However, as mentioned, the alcohol dulled her reasoning. She simply realized something was wrong, but didn't press further.
Soon after, Arata brought the brewed hangover tea.
Steam rose from the porcelain cup, and the light herbal scent filled the bedroom, breaking through the sweet scent of plum wine lingering in the air.
Rangiku lazily peeked out from under the blanket, her golden hair messily falling over her shoulders, her gray eyes still slightly hazy from intoxication, but she looked much more clear-headed.
She took the cup and took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat, bringing a light, refreshing sensation.
"Hmm… this tea is really good." Rangiku licked her lips and looked up at Arata.
In the candlelight, her eyes looked especially tender, but there was also a flicker of inquiry in them. "Arata, did something happen while you were out? Your expression is so serious."
Arata sat on the edge of the bed, forced himself to smile, and reached out to brush the messy strands from her forehead.
When his fingertips touched her skin, the familiar warmth made his heart skip a beat.
The scene from the Fourth Division office involuntarily resurfaced in his mind, Isane's wet hair, trembling lips, and the complex tears in her eyes.
The mixed feeling of guilt and desire didn't allow him to fully calm down.
But now, faced with Rangiku, he could only bury all of that deep within his heart.
"Nothing, I just got held up a bit on the way." Arata answered vaguely, his gaze unconsciously slipping to her neckline.
Her shihakushō had come slightly undone from all the shifting earlier, revealing her snow-white collarbone and gentle curves.
The honey stains hadn't dried yet, and the fabric clung to her skin, outlining a seductive line.
His Adam's apple quivered, and the fire that had just flared up next to Isane seemed to reignite before this familiar sight.
Rangiku noticed the change in his gaze, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.
She set the empty cup on the nightstand and deliberately stretched, causing the blanket to slip even lower, revealing more bare shoulder.
"You were held up? Is that because you ran into some sister from the Fourth Division? For example… Isane?"
Arata's heart skipped a beat, but his expression didn't change.
He leaned closer to Rangiku, his nose nearly touching her forehead, and whispered softly: "Don't let your imagination run wild. I just went to get the tea."
His voice was a bit deeper, with a faint huskiness.
His palm naturally slid to her waist, feeling the soft curve through the blanket.
Rangiku's scent, mixed with the herbal tone of the hangover tea, gradually cleared the chaos in his mind, replacing it with a much more primal urge.
Rangiku chuckled softly, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him closer.
Her lips brushed his ear, and her warm breath stirred his nerves like the touch of a feather.
"Really? Then why is your heart beating this fast?" She deliberately pressed her chest forward and leaned even closer to him.
Though her drunkenness had mostly worn off, the boldness the alcohol gave her made her act even more freely than usual.
Her fingertips slid down his collar, unbuttoning it one by one, revealing his strong chest.
Arata's breathing grew heavy.
He wanted to restrain himself, but Rangiku's actions were like oil to a flame, completely fueling his suppressed desire.
All the emotions piled up with Isane now spilled over onto the woman in front of him.
He lowered his head and caught her lips, kissing her hungrily yet gently, lingering.
The tip of his tongue slipped inside, tasting the lingering flavor of the tea and her unique sweetness.
Rangiku responded eagerly to Arata's kiss, slipping her fingers into his hair and tugging lightly, making him groan softly.
"Rangiku…" Arata's lips moved to the side of her neck, lightly nibbling her sensitive skin.
His hand slid along the edge of the blanket and touched her smooth waist.
Her body trembled slightly, but she didn't push him away, on the contrary, she clung even closer to him.
The flickering candlelight cast the shadow of their entwined bodies on the wall, stretching it into a long, ambiguous, lingering line.
Breathless, Rangiku pushed him slightly away, her gray eyes shimmering with a moist glow. "Wait a bit… I'm still sticky, and I smell like wine and tea. What do you say… should I shower first?"
There was teasing in her words, but also a gentle invitation.
Arata's eyes darkened, and he suddenly remembered the lingerie set in the bottom drawer of the nightstand, the one he bought long ago but she never wore.
It was a gift she brought from the world of the living last time, a boldly cut silk lace pajama set, but Rangiku had kept postponing wearing it, saying it was "too embarrassing."
"No rush." Arata said softly, stood up, opened the drawer, and took out the carefully wrapped box.
Rangiku opened it, and her cheeks immediately turned red. "Oh, you still remember this? I never said I'd wear it."
Her lips said "no," but her eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement.
Arata pushed the box into her hands and leaned in to whisper against her ear: "Just try it on tonight? Otherwise, I'll have to help you put it on."
Rangiku bit her lip and reluctantly accepted the box.
The drunkenness had completely faded, but the calm after the tea made her willing to try things she normally wouldn't dare.
She glanced at Arata, stood up, and walked toward the bathroom. "Then wait here, and don't peek."
As she closed the door, she deliberately threw him a seductive look that made a pleasant tingle run through Arata's body.
The sound of running water could be heard from the bathroom. Arata sat on the edge of the bed, and in his mind Rangiku's silhouette appeared on its own.
The lingerie was made of black lace. The semi-transparent fabric barely hinted at the body's curves, yet didn't take away its elegance.
When they bought it back in the world of the living, it was mostly for fun, but now the anticipation quickened his breath.
The guilt he felt earlier in the Fourth Division was gradually replaced by desire, and Arata convinced himself that this was Rangiku, his lover.
Or rather, a dreamy thought was slowly forming in his heart.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but the bathroom door finally opened.
Rangiku stepped out wrapped in a towel, her wet golden hair tousled, her cheeks flushed from the warm bath.
She gave Arata a look, then shyly untied the towel, fully revealing the lingerie underneath.
The black lace fit her body perfectly, the cut across her chest only hinted at the shapes beneath, and the ribbon around her waist was loosely tied, like a bow on a present waiting to be unwrapped.
Rangiku turned around, and the open back revealed smooth skin; the sight made Arata's eyes darken in an instant.
"How is it? Are you pleased?" Rangiku asked with a smile, though there was a hint of nervousness in it.
Though normally bold, the number of times she had worn something like this could be counted on one hand.
Arata stood, came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her into an embrace.
"Beautiful." His voice was deep, and the tips of his fingers slid along the ribbon's edge, feeling the subtle tremors of her skin.
Rangiku turned around, rested her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him on the lips.
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