A/N: Hey, guys! I had this one pop in my head but has ties to Chapter 15. This takes place in between chapters 17 and 18 but before the move.

It is relatively quiet this afternoon that it's unnerving. This silence hung in the apartment for well over an hour now, maybe even more. Usually, the television would be on at a low volume for only Lilynette to hear. Typically, Starrk has his afternoon naps around this time. Hiromi now has to wonder if the young girl is up to something. Although, she does remember Lily saying that she will be meeting up with her friends today. So, maybe Lilynette has gone off to hang out with them without saying anything.

Hiromi is glad that Lilynette made some friends here. The girls she met at the soccer field provide a particular kindness for Lily that she can't get enough of them. Their affections towards her are intoxicating. What is even better about them is that they are spunky like her. She fits right in with them. Besides, the more time she spends with earth people, the better Lily doesn't want to fulfill Aizen's objectives.

Hiromi hums to herself, thinking. She has her attention on a new wood carving project. She has been working on it for the last few hours. Hiromi holed herself up in the bedroom and at the writing desk where she can work without distractions. The window provides her with exceptional light where she can peer out for short breaks. A light breeze blew into the room, tingling at Hiromi's skin from the crisp air. She sighs contently then glances over her shoulder at the door behind her.

I wonder what if Lily is here. It's pretty quiet for a Thursday afternoon, Hiromi thinks to herself.

With a light heaving sigh, Hiromi stood from the desk to investigate.

As Hiromi left her confinement, she is greeted with minimal sounds. The TV is on, but it's a lot lower than usual. There is another sound going along with the faint voices on the screen. Someone is snoring and loudly. Hiromi smirks, she knows who the obnoxiously loud snores belong to. She silently tiptoes to the end of the short hall and peers around the corner. On the couch is Starrk and sprawled out. Lilynette is sitting at his side, grinning wildly. She presses her lips, lightly shaking.

Confused, Hiromi slowly stalks up to Lilynette. Once she got to the couch and stared down at Starrk who is sound asleep, Hiromi had to clap a hand over her mouth. Lilynette started making a masterpiece out of Starrk with the makeup she gave her. Hiromi noticed some of his is hair braided and tied with little pink bows Oh, my god! Where's my camera? This is hilarious!

"Lily," Hiromi whispers, struggling not to laugh.

Lilynette makes a slight squeak then turned her attention to Hiromi. She has this deer caught in a headlight look in her eyes, embarrassed for getting caught.

"Romi, I, it's, it's not_." Lilynette starts.

"Why didn't you tell me you were giving Coyote a makeover?"

"You, you were busy. I didn't want to disturb you."

"And miss out on the finished product? Move over, and hand me the liquid eyeliner."

Lilynette stares for a moment then beams and quickly hands over an eyeliner pen, chuckling.

"Let's make him beautiful," she whispers, silently giggling.

Hiromi giggles along with her.

Insert Line Break

Hiromi is back in the room now, concentrating on the carving while she waited. She and Lilynette finished beautifying Starrk not five minutes ago. They expect him to wake soon. Neither of them wanted to be nearby when he does, Hiromi especially. She would not be able to control herself. Hiromi knows that Starrk will be mortified of what they did, but it's still something to get her to laugh maybe even him.

She hasn't laughed much since he rescued her. Things are different now. Hiromi is not living in an empty apartment devoid of sound. Since Starrk and Lilynette's presence for three days, she is surrounded by all kinds of sounds. Hiromi loves hearing pleasing sounds, and one of them is laughter. Most of the time, Lily laughs at something funny on the television, but hardly with anyone. Playing an innocent prank on Starrk will hopefully start a string of joyful events.

Hiromi pauses her work to glance over at the door, anxious for her cue. That cue came quick. She heard the yawn of Starrk stretching after his long nap. She presses her lips, then stood from her desk to the living room. When she came around the corner, Hiromi expected to see the masterpiece they created. Except, something new is there.

She stares at Starrk, trying not to contort her features. The addition had to have been added while she was in the bedroom. What the hell? Why, why did she add that?"

"Well, good afternoon, sleepy hand. Did you have a good nap?" Lilynette inquired as she sat on the pouf and avoiding eye contact.

"I did. I slept like a rock." Starrk answers as he stood up from the couch and started for the kitchen.

He stops once he saw Hiromi, his relaxed features creased in an instant. Starrk eyed her curiously.

"What?"

Hiromi hesitates, "Nothing." She answers with a struggle.

Starrk purses his lips, watching Hiromi for any giveaways. She's acting odd.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" Starrk questioned as he poked at his cheeks and touched his forehead.

He noticed Hiromi flinching, her lips twitching and pressed together. "No, not a thing." Oh, holy duckies!

With another purse of his lips, Starrk scans her rigid form. "Positive?"

"Positive," Hiromi answers quickly.

He's a bit skeptic but said not a word to question her further.

"I'll take your word for it. I'm going for a short walk." He announces and turns to the door.

From behind him, Hiromi clapped her hands to the side of her face and gapped.

"Alright, see you later!" Lily calls as he left the apartment, wildly grinning.

Upon leaving the apartment, Starrk's skin tingles from the crisp air. He shivers then starts down hallway. Starrk wasn't a few feet away when the property owner came into view. They are a short, buxom elderly woman who stood with a slight slouch and at five foot three. She has a cane on her right side and a smile. She stared at him silently.

"Good afternoon," Starrk says then continued on to the stairs.

The woman said nothing at first but smiled still.

"Young man," she starts, catching Starrk's attention.

"Yes?" He stops to glance at her.

"You do realize you have makeup all over your face, right?"

Starrk stared at the elderly landlady, confusion contorting his features.

"Huh?"

The woman approached him. She pulls him to a window and had him look at his reflection. A frown slowly forms, his eyes narrowing as Starrk stared at his reflection. He sees color on his cheekbones and lips. His eyelids are a bright lilac purple and sporting a perfected winged effect eyeliner. He then noticed the little braids in his hair tied with little pink bows. The addition that is on his forehead is a drawing of a male's anatomy part in red lipstick. The corner of his eye twitches, his scowl deepening. What the fuck!?

"Hiromi," Starrk lowly groans.

He storms back towards the apartment door, pulling at the handle. It doesn't budge.

"What the fuck! Damnit Hiromi let me in!"

He can hear her snickering, along with Lilynette. "S, sorry, I can't!"

"Ugh, Lilynette, open the door!"

She laughs. "No can do, Coyote! Romi has me pinned!"

"I do not!"

"Then let me in damnit!" Coyote yells. Fucking shit, this is embarrassing!

"Nope!" Hiromi and Lilynette both cajoled.

"And why the hell not? What provoked you two to paint my face while I was sleeping, huh?"

"What makes you think I was a part of it?" Hiromi counters, laughing still.

He deadpans. "Who else can accomplish a perfected winged eyeliner? I've seen you put that crap on your eyes before, you know."

"Aw, don't be mad at me, Coyote. Lily was already painting your handsome face before I joined."

Starrk groans, scowling at the door. "Just, ugh open the door, please Hiromi."

Unbeknownst to him, the landlady pulled out a disposable camera from her fanny pack. She wildly grins while Starrk continued to yell. She snaps a picture of him where he instantly glances her way. The stunned expression on his face only made her take another.

"You do look rather pretty, young man."

Starrk's gaping mouth turns into a toothy snarl, growling. "What the hell, lady!"

"Ooh, and that was my last one, too!" She happily exclaims as she wound the counter.

His eye twitched, mouth gapping again. "Don't you even think about it."

The elderly woman grins mischievously, then turned heel. "Too late! I'm getting these developed today!"

"HEY!"

"And you're going on my refrigerator, cutie pie!"

"What, wait! Get, get back here!" He stammers.

Before Starrk could attempt to chase after the woman, a door opens, and a click of a camera went off. He turns in time for Hiromi to snap another photo of him with a baffled expression. She has a bright grin, one where her eyes are closed, and chest heaving from laughing.

"That one is certainly going in the memory book." Hiromi gushes as she removed the polaroid from the slot, fanning it.

He groans, his shoulders sagging. "You get a joy out of my suffering, don't you?"

"Oh, lighten up, hanii. I'm not doing it to make you suffer, you know."

"It certainly feels like it. Getting my face painted with stuff made for women is embarrassing, especially while I'm sleeping. I look like a freaking cross-dresser."

Hiromi considers this, smiling still. "Do you want to know why I participated in making you even more beautiful, Coyote?"

Starrk cocks a brow, his lipstick covered lips screwed sideways. "Why? So, you can embarrass me?"

Hiromi lightly laughs.

"I may have embarrassed you, Coyote, but it also made me laugh. It made Lily laugh. Other than Grimmjow having chopsticks rammed into his nostrils and me referring to him as a snarling walrus, I haven't had a good laugh for quite a while."

He blinks, guilt slowly starting to weigh on his shoulders. Oh, damn. I didn't think about that. And what the hell is a snarling walrus?

"Don't let the lack of humor in my life get to you, Coyote. Besides, everyone needs a good laugh once in a while; rather, it's at someone else's expense or their own. Laughter is the best medicine, anyway."

He remained to stare, annoyed still. Laughter?

"Come on now, sugar muffin. Let's get this stuff made for women off your face. That penis Lily drew on you defiantly needs to go."

Hiromi takes his hand and guides him inside, her smile never faltered.

Is Laughter the best medicine? Hmm, maybe I should explore this concept.

"Hey, I just figured out a new nickname!" Lilynette happily exclaims.

Oh god, please don't say it. I'll just laugh.

"What sort of a nickname?" Coyote inquires as he and Hiromi crossed the room.

She giggles, "dickface!"