Dis - yadda yadda - claimer.

--

Escape on a roof

Renji had got to be kidding! A party, thrown by Kuchiki and Urahara!? Could things get any worse??

"Don't say that."

Houzukimaru was right; obviously, his luck had abandoned Ikkaku today, so he had better not invite more disasters.

"I think the girl knows."

The girl...? Oh, Orihime-chan. The phone call, a few minutes ago!

"Yeah, I bet she does."

"So what's the plan?"

"We're getting out of here. Now."

After checking that the girl was busy in the living-room (... Was she making paper ornaments? In pink and orange!?), Ikkaku discreetly looked through the cupboards. He quickly located a box big enough for his needs, and proceeded to fill it as fast as he could. He then grabbed a pen, fished for a paper towel in one of the drawers, and wrote a short thankyou note which he left visibly displayed in the middle of the table. Finally, he threw one last critical look all around the room, checking that he had not left any mess anywhere and that he had cleaned everything he had used or touched.

And then he opened the window, jumped out, and ran away. From a girl. And a party. Like a coward. He sighed; he would never hear the end of it if - no, when, let's be realistic - the Lieutenant got wind of that. Oh well.

"Tell Kujaku we're meeting on the building top we were at on our first night."

He arrived there first, and sat down under the darkening sky. This had been one mad day. All he had wanted was to celebrate Yumichika's birthday in the way his friend liked best - privately -, but no! Everyone else just had to get involved. And here Ikkaku had naively thought that things would actually be easier during a mission to the Living World. No sugar-loaded Lieutenant to demand a cake and games, no Captain and subordinates to jump on the opportunity to guzzle sake down by the -

The sake! He had forgotten the sake! How could he have forgotten the sake!? He took his head in his hands. This was a disaster...

"Ikkaku?"

He looked up - and stared. He must have looked funny like that, because Yumichika laughed softly as he sat down next to him, while Hitsugaya scowled.

"Not a word, Madarame."

That was the wrong thing to say. Ikkaku smirked.

"Why, don't you two look sexy!"

Hitsugaya crossed his arms and looked away, while Yumichika chuckled.

"Don't you worry, Ikkaku, Rangiku-san already knows what to get you."

Ikkaku's heart dropped.

"Wh-What?"

Yumichika nodded happily.

"Yup. You, and Renji, and Ichigo..."

"That woman is crazy!"

Yumichika laughed again while Hitsugaya sighed. "Tell me about it."

The short Captain uncrossed his arms, picked up a shopping bag at his feet and handed it over to Yumichika.

"Here. Happy birthday, Ayasegawa."

Yumichika seemed surprised; even more so when he looked in the bag.

"Thank you, Hitsugaya-taichou!"

"Ah. Just remember our deal. And you didn't see me tonight, either of you."

And with that he disappeared in the doorway to the staircase.

"What did he give you?"

Yumichika pulled a bottle from the bag and beamed.

"Sake!"

"Oi! How did he know?"

"Know what?"

"That I forgot the sake."

"You forgot the sake!?"

"Yeah, well... I had a hard day, OK?"

Ikkaku scowled as Yumichika snorted.

"You're not the one who went shopping with Rangiku-san and ended up getting all dressed in black - on my birthday no less."

"What!? You look good in this."

"Thank you very much, but that doesn't change the fact that you had Matsumoto drag me through an entire mall, so it had better have been worth it."

Ikkaku bit his lip.

"Especially if you forgot about the sake..."

Ugh. Maybe he should have gone along with that party idea after all. Reluctantly, he picked up the box behind him and gave it to Yumichika.

"They are cold, and soft too because they were in the box, but happy birthday anyway."

He could tell his friend was intrigued, and he hoped he would not be too disappointed. The purple eyes widened in surprise as Yumichika opened the box, and there was a note of wonder in his voice when he asked:

"Did you make them yourself?"

"Yup. Asked Tessai-san to show me how, and Orihime-chan let me use her kitchen. Matsumoto and Hitsugaya were supposed to bring you back there, but..."

Yumichika laughed again - but it was his easy, happy laugh this time.

"Yes, I heard about the party."

"You didn't want to go, I hope?"

"Are you kidding?"

The smile on Yumichika's face told Ikkaku everything he wanted to know. He was at peace again as he watched his friend pull a saggy French fry from the box and nibble on it.

"How did you know?"

"You took two servings, two days in a row, on your first time, and you haven't gone more than three days since then without having some again."

Yumichika smiled that soft, bright half-smile that Ikkaku loved so much.

"You know me too well."

Yes, yes Ikkaku supposed he did. He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes as he allowed his lips to stretch into a small self-satisfied smile.

"Thank you, Ikkaku."

"Welcome, kid."

Silence. Finally. Relaxing, quiet, peaceful, comfortable silence. Until...

"Hm, I guess that explains the pink apron incident."

"... RENJI!!"

--

END.

I hope that wasn't too un-funny...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YUMICHIKA!