NeonHorizon: Back by demand. I won't say popular demand, but people did want me to update and it's been a while. This story is pretty fun to write. The OC is nothing like my other OC's.

"Look at 'em, Enji! What's she got that I don't have, huh? Itori-chan's hangin' all over Teru! Pisses me off!"

Renji watched as the short-haired girl linked arms with Teruko. There was an odd flicker of jealousy as he noticed Teruko's face flush pink. He knew she liked boys and girls. He had seen her flirt with a human girl to lure her to her death. This was different though. Teruko seemed genuinely attracted to this female ghoul.

"What d'ya think it is, huh? Ya think Itori-chan just swings that way and she's been playin' with me?" Yuudai scratched at his head as he studied the girls from a distance. "Teru's blissed out over there and I'm stuck walkin' with a guy. What kinda unfair shit is this?"

"…she knows you're looking…" Renji murmured.

"What? Ya think she's puttin' on a show for me or somethin'?"

He nodded and Yuudai grinned. The taller ghoul started talking about how cute it was that Itori was trying to impress him, but his pale-haired companion had his thoughts focused elsewhere. Renji was thinking about his upcoming challenge to Uta as well as their long-haired leader, who had offered her help in the fight.

Teruko was definitely the leader of their group of three. Even if Yuudai was bigger than her. Even if Renji was her equal in strength. She was the dominant force behind them and was ultimately the one who decided what they would do. Renji had never seen Yuudai fight, but he could only guess that he was no match for her if it came to a physical altercation.

"Pretty creepy, huh? Remember the first time I saw Teru get all gooey over someone; creeped me the fuck out. She starts blushin' and actin' all cutesy. It's kinda great, but pisses me off 'cause she's never like that around me. Look! She's actin' like an actual girl and it's kinda hot, right? Don't act all prude, Enji; I see the way ya look at her!"

He grimaced and bowed his head, having not realized that he was actually staring at her. "…sure…"

"C'mon! Like you're not thinkin' about what it'd be like with her!" Yuudai nudged him with an elbow, hard. "Ya know, if I was stronger, I'd take her."

"What?"

"If I was stronger than Teru, I'd just take her! Can ya imagine bein'-"

"Stop." Renji let some irritation leak into his tone as he glared at his friend.

Yuudai rubbed the back of his head and sniffed. "Yeah, well, ya get what I'm sayin', right? Girls like that act all aggressive and mean 'til they meet a guy to dominate 'em. Then they get all gooey and sweet. What the fuck?!"

Shift P.O.V

Teruko saw Itori starting to turn to look behind them and had to move quickly. If she let her relationship with Renji be known too early, then the challenging fight would be far less entertaining and Uta would know what was going to happen. She wanted to see him look surprised. She wanted to fight him full force, with no punches held back; she wanted to see his full strength.

She did the first thing that came to mind in order to distract Itori. Wrapping both arms around her friend's neck, she leaned up and smashed her lips against the other girl's. Teruko muffled Itori's squeak of surprise and closed her eyes, hoping that Yuudai would get Renji out of the area as soon as possible. She was so distracted by that hope that she was genuinely surprised when Itori hugged her and kissed back.

Her heart was hammering as she drew back, face burning red as she stared at the short-haired ghoul. She bit her lower lip and looked away quickly, glad to see that Yuudai seemed to have understood the silent command. "Sorry. Couldn't stop myself. You…smell really good," she stated, making up an excuse.

"Awww! I was starting to wonder if you'd ever make a move, T-chan! But, you know, you probably shouldn't do stuff like that; you're gonna make Uta jealous," Itori teased her.

Frowning, she ran her fingers through her still slightly wet hair. "Hm." Teruko shifted her gaze, now searching for any sign of Uta in the area. She was unable to smell him anywhere close or even on Itori so she was sure he was probably off somewhere else. "What's he doing today?" she asked, trying to sound casual. On the inside, she was worried that he might be nearby and may have seen her with Renji.

"You finally make a move on me and that's the first thing you ask?" The short-haired ghoul sighed and shook her head. "Way to get a girl's hopes up. I think Uta and some of the other guys were gonna hunt some doves that've been snooping around. He said they didn't need any help so I was hoping I'd get some alone time with my T-chan."

"Help?"

"Yeah. Sometimes I tag along to create a distraction. It's really fun!"

Teruko smirked and pushed her hands into her pockets. "Yeah. You're a good distraction; I'm sure."

Itori lightly slapped her arm, laughing softly. "You're such a flirt sometimes."

What I do best. Not that Teruko would ever tell her that. She knew how special it made a girl feel to have someone flirt with them. It made their heart race, their palms sweat, their eyes glitter. Teruko snickered in response and shook her head. "So…you want me to entertain you?" she continued.

If she was anyone else, she might have been daunted by the task of keeping Itori preoccupied. Part of her wanted to just go home and catch a nap after such a relaxing bath, but part of her was ready to spend the whole afternoon with Itori. As she always did when she hung out with a girl, Teruko found herself acting like a guy. It was always like this, whether she had a crush on the girl or not; she was always a gentleman.

It was a little challenging for her to find things for them to do. They went to a convenience store for coffee and she smirked, watching Itori flirt with the shop clerk to get them free coffee. The two girls walked around the fourth ward and Itori pointed out certain areas to avoid, waving at people she knew and introducing Teruko to them.

When they finally parted ways for the night, the sun had gone down. Teruko walked alone down the cracked, uneven sidewalk. Her hands were in her pockets, head bowed as she thought about what Renji had planned for the next day. Uta better not have gotten hurt today, she thought bitterly. Won't be a fair fight if he was. And if I tell Renji to back down, it'll look like I've gone soft.

She paused at a street corner, her nose twitching as she picked up the smell of fresh human blood. It made her instantly salivate and she sniffed at the air, trying to discern where it was. If it was a fresh kill, the ghoul who did it was probably still close. If she managed to find a corpse that was abandoned, she would see what leftovers she could scavenge for herself.

Teruko did not have to look far. She was in a shady area of the fourth ward and as soon as she turned the corner, she happened upon the grisly scene. It was as Itori said; Uta had apparently hunted down a pair of investigators. One was already dead. The man's head was no longer connected to his body and his corpse was bleeding out against the side of a building.

The other man had a broken ankle that looked like it had been crushed and was sprawled on the cement. The second he saw her, he started shouting for help and began dragging himself toward the girl. He managed to push himself up and struggled to his feet. This human was battered, but determined to not suffer the same fate as his partner. He limped even as Uta watched from near the corpse.

She approached the man, but she was wary. There were two silver cases discarded carelessly on the sidewalk and she was sure those were their weapons. Before she could consider this further, she was proven wrong. This man began swiping at her as soon as she came within striking distance. He was wielding a small knife, which would normally leave her unfazed, but this blade actually sliced her wrist when she lifted an arm to defend herself. What the hell?!

Teruko was given no chance to release her kagune and exact her own revenge. Running footsteps alerted her to the swift approach of Uta and the investigator's eyes widened in terror. Seconds later, a hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him backwards. Another hand burst through the front of the man's chest as if he was made of tissue paper.

Blood splatted her shirt and pants, dotting her face in some places. Teruko stared at the red-painted hand that poked through the man's chest and took a step back. The human's shoulder was released and he crumbled to his knees, gurgling and bleeding like a macabre waterfall.

Uta shook his arm, getting rid of excess blood, and a sheepish half-smile formed on his face. "I didn't think I'd see you today…"

"…same…" Teruko lifted her right hand to push hair behind her ear, but her wrist was quickly snatched by his hand.

He stared down at her bleeding wound and brought his face close. Uta's warm, wet tongue dragged along the length of the wound and he felt her shudder. Seeing how pink her face was turning, he was urged to continue. His lips parted more and he pressed them against her pale, delicate skin. Her blood painted his mouth crimson and he licked at his lips, savoring her flavor.

Bringing his face down close to hers, he used his blood-covered hand to tilt her chin up so she had to meet his red and black stare. A smile drew at his mouth and he tilted his head slightly. "You taste really good," he started. The smile grew as he licked remnants of her blood from his lips. "I could just eat you."

To cover up her embarrassment, she curled her hands into fists at her side and stared back in unblinking defiance. "Try it. Dare you. Don't mind getting into it, even if I like you; I'm not a meal."

"I never said what part I want to eat." He was almost satisfied when he saw her flush bright red, but then went a step further. His bloody hand released her chin in favor of cupping and caressing the side of her face. Uta brought his lips to hers, beginning with a soft and gentle kiss that soon escalated.

Teruko back up a step, still not ready to totally give in. She already felt like she was melting. He followed so she stepped back again and again until her back hit a wall. A knee wedged between her thighs and his lips left hers in favor of licking along her cut again, painting his tongue crimson with her blood.

Supposed to fight him tomorrow. Or at least be ready to jump in to help Renji. Can I fight him full force when I'm feeling this weak just from a kiss? She lifted her free hand to touch her lips and smudged the blood.