SMACK
The wooden spoon came down hard and fast on Ichigo's wandering hand.
"Don't touch, baka!" snapped Rukia.
"Ouch," he hissed. "What was that?"
"I said don't touch! These are for Nii-sama."
"You're making cupcakes… for Byakuya?"
Rukia nodded as she measured out the flour for the next batch.
"His birthday is coming up and Ukitake-taicho suggested we give him a party. You know, for all he does as a captain and all."
"Umm…"
"What? Don't they look ok?"
"He… doesn't really seem like a party person."
The petite woman took her eyes away from the cook book to glare at the much taller man.
"We are throwing a party for Nii-sama." She spat. "And besides, I've already made too many cupcakes for us to eat by ourselves."
"I could eat a lot more cupcakes than you, midget." Ichigo mumbled as he again tried to grab a finished cupcake.
SLAP
This time is was her hand.
"No. Bad Ichigo. Bad."
He cursed under his breath as he quietly rubbed his throbbing wrist.
"Do we have too?"
"What?"
"Let me rephrase that; do I have to go?"
Rukia gave him a blank stare.
"Well I would think so. I'm definitely not going without you."
"Byakuya wants to kill me every time he sees us together! Do you remember when I asked for his blessing? I do, and I have the scars to prove it!"
"Awwww." Rukia sighed, putting on her cutesy face. "Is someone scared of my big brother?"
"NO!" Ichigo retorted.
"Good. So you're going?"
He sighed.
"Ahh I guess…"
"YAY! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!" Rukia suddenly shrieked and embraced Ichigo.
"Hey hey hey! You're getting frosting all over!"
"Oh sorry," she muttered, going back to her cupcakes. "I just thought that you were going to be a lot more stubborn than that."
"Tch…" was his only reply. "Just one question."
"Hm?"
"What's with the pink sprinkles?"
"…I thought they looked like his zanpakuto…"
Surprisingly the party turned out a success. Byakuya enjoyed the party, much to Ichigo's disbelief.
"Rukia."
"Hai, Nii-sama?"
"I heard that you provided most of the food. It was very well executed."
"Thank you, Nii-sama." Rukia said with a blush.
Byakuya then turned his gaze to Ichigo.
"Kurosaki."
"y-yes?"
"I'll be watching you."
And with that he left the half scared-out-of-his-mind half adorably-pleased couple to themselves.
"See, baka? I told you that he isn't out to get you."
"Oh yes. That's exactly what he meant."