Bleach, Chapter 4, Party.

There are so many reasons I can come up with that explain why parties are a bad idea for me to participate in. Otherwise, parties are good for information.

"So we have a party?"

Yamamoto nodded, once again. "How many times do I have to tell you? You get a party with the squads. They get a party with you. Understand?"

"And we have to go." I stood there. Nope, definitely no. I like parties because other people will be more stupid by getting drunk so I can make a move to manipulate, but me in the party? My brain will be mush. I will not tolerate alcohol in my body.

"Not the shinigamis, you have to go."

"Can I pleeeeeease not join?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you deserve it."

"But I don't want to!"

"It's good once in a while to have fun."

"This isn't fun!"

"It is. Now go. You have no say in this, Rikona. I'm head captain. Or did you forget that?" he smirked.

Wow, the old man even had the nerve to smirk. Then persuading comes in handy. "I-"

But he interrupted, to my annoyance. "I know that if you open your mouth, I don't stand a chance. So go. Now."

I bowed my head. "Yes, head captain.

I turned my heel fuming and headed towards the next room on the right. It couldn't be that bad, could it?

+++

I stood at the corner of the party. Genryu wouldn't say this was not participating, right?

There were already people who managed to get drunk. Standing at the edge of the party in a black dress can camouflage you, which is common sense.

Yamamoto had insisted that I wear a dress, so I chose black. Much to my dismay, Genryu had had the nerve to say that I might get a friend. Having friends means that you have to share information, which is a risk to your life. And considering his expression, it was something that I really despised. His facial expression was something that said, "My granddaughter is growing up."

How dare he? I fiddled on the hilt of my dress with a blush. If anybody sees me like this, they will surely think I was one of those fluffy princesses. Misunderstandings are what I hate the most.

And him calling me his granddaughter? I taught him for goodness sake! I should call him my grandson!

I ripped a little on the dress, which I immediately regretted. The sound could draw attention, which it did.

"You know you ripped it, right?"

I turned to the voice to see Kyoraku Shunsui. He's one of the captains. Not that I expected anyone else. Byakuya only invited the captains and me, which was really rare.

He dipped his hat. "So you're the teacher everybody's been talking about?"

I nodded. "I guess? I don't know what got me too popular. I would rather not be, though. Enemies know where you are, you know?"

"Yeah. You remember me?"

"Mhm," I turned around and walked a few steps. "I need to go to the bathroom." I shifted from leg to leg to give the lie a touch.

Lets see if I could have a conversation with him or not. Is he dum, or is he astute?

"I know you don't have to go to the bathroom," he remarked.

Ok… the first part passed. Lets see if he can get past me, though. "How do you know? RIght after we returned, I drank a lot of fresh water. It makes sense for me to want to go to the bathroom. I didn't drink any alcohol either. How can you claim that I do not want to go to the bathroom?"

Kyoraku sighed and his hand went to his hat. "You truly are the head captain's brain teacher. And I take that back. What I do claim is that I want to have a conversation with you. I want to see what the head captain's teacher is like."

I narrowed my eyes. What was he playing at? "Well, you don't get one. I have to go to the bathroom."

"I already did. That was a conversation, wasn't it?"

My face showed nothing. "Yes it certainly was. I'm going to the bathroom now. I'll have a conversation with you after I'm out."

So I did what I said, even if I really didn't have to go to the bathroom. Genryu did teach some good captains. Kyoraku is someone that is both smart and strong. Captain material. Now what about the other captains? Not that I care. It's really interesting to think about, though.

Saying that I really had to go to the bathroom meant that he only found out one thing, not two. That's one less weakness.

After some time, I flushed a random toilet and washed my hands. Then I walked out.

"So. Do you want to talk to Ukitake as well?"

I nodded and shrugged. "Sure, I guess. Now that I'm discovered, I might as well try."

Turns out my social skills were actually really bad. While everybody was talking and having fun, I was in the back. Whenever someone talked to me, I ended the conversation quickly with a straight face. A straight face means nobody can see your true intentions, and you remain a mystery.

Over time, I got really nervous. Fitting in was never my priority, but I realized this could be good practice. So then people wouldn't notice you on a mission.

I sneakily left the table and when I was across the room, I let out a sigh of relief.

I let go of my arm, which was now red from my other hand gripping it. I went to the bathroom and looked into the mirror.

What I saw was really different from how I entered the party, and all the differences were most likely caused by me.

My silver cat eyes were tired, my black dress had stains all over them. My black hair was a mess, and my normally tan skin has become a lot more pale. The pointy ears by the sides of my hair were drooping.

This is why I don't go to parties. When I get back, I always look like this, or worse.

I sighed. If I'm already this wasted, then why not make it happier?

I headed to the main party room, took a bottle of wine, and got myself a comfy spot in the corner.

So I drank myself raw. I drank, bottle after bottle. I giggled. Ha! Drinking this much, now Yamamoto might as well regret it, right? Why haven't I thought of this before?

At some point, I lost consciousness.