That night, the two of them returned to the hotel where they had originally been staying.
Yamamoto Genryusai and Sasakibe Chojiro were already waiting for them in the lobby.
"Captain Unohana, Arata, welcome back." Perhaps because he had relaxed after arriving in the World of the Living for vacation, a rare gentle smile appeared on Yamamoto's face.
"Captain, I've completed my mission." Arata replied in a deep voice. At Unohana Retsu's glance, he handed the diplomatic documents and a bag of moonlight tea blend to the old man in front of him.
Yamamoto Genryusai accepted them firmly, gave them a brief glance, nodded in satisfaction, and passed the documents and tea to Sasakibe behind him.
"Thank you for your effort." The old man stroked his beard, his gaze pausing briefly between Arata and Unohana Retsu, but he didn't ask any unnecessary questions. "Since the diplomatic mission has been successfully concluded, you may now spend the remaining time as you wish."
"In seven days, all personnel will gather in the hotel lobby and return together to the Soul Society."
"Understood, Captain." Arata gave a slight bow and caught, from the corner of his eye, the faint smile at the edge of Unohana Retsu's lips, which made his heart flutter unconsciously.
Last night's "lesson" had been so intense that his back still ached a little, along with his lower back.
"Arata-kun," Unohana Retsu called him softly, her voice returning to its usual gentleness. "I'll go back to the room and freshen up a bit, and then we'll meet up with the others."
She nodded to Yamamoto and turned to leave. Her silhouette, wrapped in a black suit skirt, was as elegant as ever, without a single trace of last night's madness.
Arata watched Unohana Retsu until her elegant figure disappeared behind the elevator doors, then finally looked away.
Unconsciously, he touched the area of his neck covered by his shirt collar. He had already used Kaido to remove the bite marks from last night, but he could still feel a slight sting.
When he returned to the room, Rangiku was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he found clothes scattered on the bed that looked like spares, and the sound of running water came from the bathroom.
Arata stood in front of the bathroom door and hesitated for a moment before gently knocking.
"Rangiku? I'm back."
The sound of water abruptly stopped, followed by a flurry of movement behind the glass door.
"Wait, wait a sec! I'll be right out!" Rangiku's voice was full of obvious panic, and he heard a bottle of shampoo hit the floor.
Arata laughed, turned around, and sat on the bed.
On the nightstand sat a half-drunk glass of strawberry milk and an opened chocolate wrapper – it seemed the woman had been sneakily snacking while he was gone.
Five minutes later, the bathroom door opened. Wrapped in a white towel, Rangiku peeked out, her blonde hair clinging to her shoulders, her cheeks puffed slightly from the steam.
"Welcome back~" She jumped into Arata's arms, her hair smelling of shower gel brushing against his chin. "Did you have fun in the Western Division?"
Arata wrapped his arms around her slim waist and touched her red ear with his nose.
"It was fine. Their magic is quite interesting." Casually mentioning the main points, he pulled a small decorative paper bag from his pocket. "This is a gift for you."
Rangiku's eyes immediately lit up, and she eagerly opened the package.
When she saw the bottle of perfume with light-golden liquid, her gray eyes sparkled like stars. "It's beautiful!" She carefully sprayed it on the inside of her wrist and leaned in to sniff. "Wow! So fresh and pleasant!"
Arata watched her childlike behavior, and a warm feeling spread in his chest.
Last night's madness with Unohana Retsu felt like it belonged to another world, while the lively, warm lover in his arms at this moment was the real reality.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it!" Rangiku turned around and straddled his lap, the wet edge of the towel creating a dangerous gap.
"But…" Suddenly narrowing her eyes, she spotted the receipt in the package. "Why did Captain Unohana pay for this?"
Arata's breath hitched.
Damn it, he forgot to throw away the receipt.
"Because Captain Unohana said she wanted to buy it for Isane-san…" he stammered, his Adam's apple nervously bobbing, "and she used the division's funds anyway."
Rangiku stared at him for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Why are you so nervous~" She leaned in and bit his earlobe, the towel shifting completely with the movement, "I didn't say you're not allowed to…"
Before Arata could sigh in relief, he heard her whisper seductively in his ear: "But as compensation… you'll have to obey me for the next seven days~"
After those words, Rangiku pushed Arata onto the bed, and a seductive, tense atmosphere of desire quickly filled the room.
All her emotions melted into broken moans, as Rangiku melted in his arms like a puddle.
——
"Mmm…" Rangiku's fingertips dug deep into Arata's back, leaving several red marks on his bronzed skin.
Outside the window, London's morning light gave their silhouettes a hazy, golden outline through the sheer curtains.
Arata kissed away the tears of passion that had welled in the corners of her eyes.
Over the past seven days, he had come to understand one truth deeply, never underestimate a woman's persistence when "compensation" is involved.
From cruising the Thames to the London Eye, from the British Museum to the Shard observation deck, Rangiku had dragged him to nearly every corner of the city.
And as soon as night fell, she would always find a new way to "inspect" that day's war spoils, the perfume bottle Unohana Retsu had chosen was used in the most varied and highly compromising situations.
"Arata…" Rangiku suddenly bit his shoulder, her voice full of uncontrollable tears. "The divine messenger is ringing…"
The black device on the nightstand really was vibrating, and on the screen flashed the group message "Everyone to assembly."
Arata reached out and glanced at it. There were only forty minutes left until the meeting time.
"You can lie down for ten more minutes." He tossed the device back on the stand, and his fingers slid down Rangiku's sweaty spine to her waist.
The woman jumped up like a cat that had its tail stepped on, but he grabbed her tightly in his arms.
"You broke… the rules…" Rangiku glared at him, but the red corners of her eyes didn't look threatening at all.
Suddenly remembering something, she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "Last time you promised to teach me the Western Division's magic!"
Arata caught the soft "weapon" and pulled her into his embrace along with the blanket.
"I'll teach you when we get back." He kissed the top of her head. "But it seems you're more interested in another kind of 'magic' than numbered spells…"
The ambiguous words made Rangiku blush instantly from ears to collarbone. She grabbed a shirt, pulled it over her head, and ran into the bathroom. "Pervert! I'm going to shower!"
When the two of them dragged their suitcases into the hotel lobby, most of the Shinigami had already gathered.
Kenpachi Zaraki was yawning while stuffing souvenirs into checked luggage – Yachiru had forced ten boxes of chocolates into the suitcase.
Ukitake Jushiro and Kyoraku Shunsui were checking the list of people, while Unohana Retsu stood in the corner quietly talking to Kotetsu Isane. Her dark green cheongsam dress made her skin look as white as snow.
"Senpai Arata!" Hinamori Momo ran over, holding a plush bear in her arms. "This is a gift for you! Thank you for your careful guidance…"
Tōshirō added uncomfortably: "I said that Mr. Saitō probably doesn't need something this childish, but Momoko insisted on buying it."
Arata smiled and ruffled her head, noticing the familiar silk scarf tied around the bear's neck – it was the same style Rangiku had seen in the boutique two days ago.
These kids are really thoughtful when they put their minds to it.
With the sound of Yamamoto's staff tapping the floor, the lobby suddenly fell silent.
"Everyone," the old man said, looking at them one by one, a rare gentle smile on his face. "This vacation in the World of the Living has successfully come to an end. Now line up by division and prepare to return to the Soul Society."
At the moment he passed through the light gate, Arata unconsciously tightened his grip on Rangiku's hand.
When the feeling of weightlessness receded like the tide, the familiar sight of the Soul Society appeared once more before their eyes, and the distant voices of team members training in the morning could be heard.
"We're finally back." Arata took a deep breath.
"The air in the Soul Society is still the most comfortable!"