He honestly didn't mean to say it. Those words just came spilling out. Like word vomit.

" Whaddaya think of me? "

She squints as her deep eyes gain contact with the bright light of the winter morning sun.

" Hmm...well... "

" Spit it out. "

" Why do you wanna know, anyway? "

He tucks his hands behind his neck, and looks away from her. From what she could see, his serious face was a tinted pink.

" No special reason. I just...I just wanna know if I qualify as something more than a ' little brat ' these days. "

" You're almost six feet tall. How could you possible qualify as little? "

The pink just got deeper.

" You know what I mean. I don't like being thought of as a kid. "

" Now you know how Captain Hitsugaya feels. "

" Quit changing the freakin' sub- "

" Okay, okay...you're a... "

A snowball to the face was a far cry from a direct answer, but that's what she gave him.

" What the hell was that for?! "

She just laughs. " You're a friend, Ichigo. A really good friend. "

" Tch. Thanks, Rukia, that's way better than being a brat. "

" You're welcome...brat. "