Embers was a good club for this kind of thing. Ginta dodged around an elbow that came at him at head height, and maneuvered himself until he could see all the people he was most interested in. Usagi was having fun with Tousaki — no surprise there. She was underdressed, but the bouncers hadn’t turned her away, probably because Ginta’d claimed to be her date. Which made Bunpei, who was manning the door, crack up and waive the cover for both of them.

Usagi danced like she sparred, with one-hundred percent commitment to every move. Tousaki was a little more nuanced, if no less committed. And he looked like a wet dream, with sweat slicking his shirt to his skin at the back, and mesh highlighting every muscle from chest to navel. Since Usagi had done half his work for him already, unbuttoning Ryouma almost to the beltline, Ginta decided he’d make it his goal for the next half hour to get that overshirt off of Ryouma altogether.

Getting the mesh tank, and those almost-painted-on slim denims off would be a matter for a later hour. If Raidou didn’t decide to get territorial again. But Genma, bless him, was keeping Raidou distracted.

When there was a shift in the music, he shimmied past an enthusiastic and tipsy group of dancers, and sidled up to Usagi. “At least one rookie knows how to have fun.”

She gave him a wolfish grin, dark-lined eyes glittering black when the strobes flashed green. “It’s still early.”

“Yuuhi’s working on Six’s other one.” He gestured with a flung hand. “Ours might take some coaxing.” Not a lot of coaxing, if Kasumi’s outfit was anything to judge by. She, at least, knew how to dress for a club. Her gravity-defying outfit had already earned her a few hungry looks, even holed up in that booth with her boyfriend and Abe. Another round of drinks, Ginta guessed, and she’d be dragging her boys out onto the dance floor.

Ryouma frowned up at the empty spot on the balcony rail where Kakashi and Kurenai had just been, but he didn’t say anything.

The DJ started up a fresh beat. Usagi reached up with two fingers to turn Ryouma’s face back to hers. With her fingers still on his chin, she rose up on her toes, leaned in, and just when it looked like she was going in for a kiss, said, “Water break, kid. Go get something to drink.”

Ryouma blinked, and looked down. “I owe you a round.”

“Beer!” Usagi said immediately. She grinned. “And something in a ridiculous glass for him.”

“The more ridiculous the better,” Ginta agreed. “Tell Mitsumi you want a Three Way Climax with a twist.”

Ryouma did a slow turn, making a show of scanning the dance floor, then asked, “Where’s the twist?”

“I’ve been called twisty,” Ginta said. “Pretty sure it was a compliment.”

“Twisted,” Usagi clarified.

Ryouma grinned. “So long as they meant flexible.” He swiveled off towards the bar.