Catch Me A Catch
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match
Find me a find, catch me a catch
Matchmaker, matchmaker, look through your book
And make me a perfect match
— Fiddler On the Roof
Seireitei has been infected by one of the most dangerous in either the world of the living or the dead: a matchmaker.
The days of peace and quiet were sadly over. Now it seems as though everybody is trying to prove their skills as a matchmaker.
Many of the female shinigami were absolutely smitten with the thought of a matchmaker.
It was actually the Shinigami Women's Association that told the story of the first few cases of this benevolent matchmaker.
However, it wasn't just the shinigami that were being bitten by the love bug. The human allies in Karakura Town were bitten as well while in Seireitei for their summer vacation. In fact, they were the first the first cases this mysterious matchmaker took on.
The humans had just finished their talk with Yamamoto-soutaicho when they started talking about what they were going to do as couples while on vacation. Now, only Ichigo and Orihime were a couple at this time, but Ishida and Sado had plans for getting a summer girlfriend.
"This is all wrong." the matchmaker's voice called out, startling the four.
"Excuse me?" Ichigo questioned the owner of the voice.
"The chemistry is all wrong here. The girl needs a man who will keep her grounded, protected, yet allowing her her many quirks. A man who can devote himself fully to her. The Quincy would be an ideal candidate." came the voice again.
Orihime and Ishida looked at each other before turning away, both blushing slightly. Ichigo sees this. "Well if you're so smart, then who would be a good match for me?"
"That's quite easy to answer, boy. You need a female who will stand up to you and challenge you. One with a sense of humor to balance out that scowl. You tend to shy around females, so your perfect match would be one who isn't all that shy about getting what she wants." the matchmaker explained.
"Oh yeah? And who would fit that description?" a curious Ichigo questioned.
"Matsumoto-fukutaicho of the 10th Division."
"How do I know that you aren't just pulling my leg?" Ichigo asked.
"I am not one to joke around, boy, especially not on something so serious. Now get going and go find your new girl!" the matchmaker said as he bid the humans farewell.
Much to the annoyance of the captain of the 10th Division, the substitute shinigami appeared in the quiet office and was indulging Matsumoto on her every whim while she caught up with the orange haired girl.
"Kurosaki. What are you doing?" the male asked, not even looking up from the stack of papers the boy had brought over to his desk as Matsumoto's request.
"Just hanging out, getting to know people better, Toshiro." the orange haired male responded without breaking eye contact with the busty lieutenant.
"Leave if you two are just going to flirt all day in my office." was his reply. A knock on the door broke the silence caused by Hitsugaya's order. "Enter."
The door opened to reveal the smiling face of the girl who turned Soul Society upside down: Kuchiki Rukia. She surprisingly ignored the others in the room and went straight to the captain's desk. "These are the reports from both Ukitake-taicho and Kyoraku-taicho. And here's the report for Matsumoto-fukutaicho, which must have her signature, from Ise-fukutaicho and myself." she said as she handed him each stack separately.
"Why do you have the 8th Division's officer's papers as well, Kuchiki-fukutaicho?" the captain asked, not being able to quell his curiosity.
"Kyoraku-taicho was hiding from Ise-fukutaicho in Ukiatek-taicho's office. When he was cornered by this fukutaicho, he handed his paperwork over to my taicho, and Ise-fukutaico did as well." Rukia answered letting the ending belong to imagination— it really isn't that hard to guess what happened. "If you will excuse me, I have to get back to work."
And she left just as unexpectedly as she entered. After a few seconds of silence, "Hey! That crazy girl didn't even say 'Hello'!" was heard all the way outside of the division complex alerting the next division over that their favorite sparring buddy was in town. The men on post outside the 11th Division quickly spread the word to their peers that Ichigo was back.
It has been almost two months since the matchmaker made his first match, and due to Orihime sitting in on a SWA meeting and telling of how she and Ichigo were matched up with Ishida and Rangiku, the news of the matchmaker spread like wildfire.
One of the most surprising matches to come about was the match of Abarai Renji and Hinamori Momo. Everyone expected that Hinamori and Hitsugaya would be matched or Rukia and Renji. Surprisingly, the two had had a crush on the other while in the academy, but after the incident in the world of the living with the hollow, it was pushed to the back burner.
Even more surprising was Hitsugaya's reaction to the news that his childhood friend was romantically interested in the loud, brash tattooed redhead. He congratulated them on their relationship before he informed Abarai about the consequences of breaking Momo's heart.
Rukia was happy for her friends. Hinamori was a good balance for Renji. Ichigo's relationship was progressing well with Matsumoto. Orihime was as happy as ever with Ishida. Although she didn't show it, she was feeling a little alone. Her friends all had someone special, and she is maintaining the division while Ukitake-taicho recovers from his most recent decline in health.
Hitsugaya let out a heavy sigh. Ever since that fateful when the matchmaker had confronted Ichigo and company, and the substitute shinigami started to pursue a relationship with the busty woman, Hitsugaya was stuck not only filling out all the paperwork, but also delivering it.
And that is how he ended up in Yamamoto-soutaicho's office.
"This is a surprise. What brings you to my office, Hitsugaya-taicho?" the old man asked.
"Paperwork. Here's the current paperwork for the 10th Division." the younger captain replied.
"Hmm. I see. Tell me, why are you not with a pretty female now? You have the time. It appears that both the 10th and the 13th Division are a bit ahead on the paperwork." a sudden twinkle came into the eyes of the old man. "Yes. That would be perfect."
"Sir?" Hitsugaya asked, worried about his leader's sanity.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro. I can see exactly what you need. You need a female who is similar to you, yet is your opposite. Mature, yet childish. Cold, yet warm. Powerful, yet fragile. You need someone who will listen to you, yet correct you when you are wrong. Someone who will keep you on your toes." the wise man said passionately."
"Sir, are you trying to find me a match?" Hitsugaya couldn't keep the disbelief out of his voice.
"Of course not." Hitsugaya let out a silent sigh. "I never 'try' to find a match. I know a perfect match, and I never tell them unless I am certain it will work."
"And just who would be my perfect match? You put out a difficult description to match to an actual being." Hitsugaya pointed out, a little curious as to who Yamamoto-soutaicho would name. Not that he would admit that.
"Why, Kuchiki Rukia, of course."