Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Rukia snickered.

"Shut up." Ichigo scowled as he followed the short shinigami through the 13th Division corridors. He thought about ignoring her, maybe even for the rest of eternity, but quickly changed his mind when he heard more snickering escape her. This time he felt his eye twitch as he glared down at her, and he snapped angrily. "What?"

"Nothing," she answered all too innocently. The snickers had subsided, but there was still a wide smirk on her face.

"Che." He clasped his hands casually behind his head, trying to act nonchalant. Ichigo looked away from her, but the scowl was still present. Then he heard another snicker from her. "You're such a bitch," he growled. That earned him a smack to the head. "Ow! What the fuck, Rukia!"

"If you can't even dodge that, no wonder you got hit by a bus."

"To save the little girl," Ichigo ground out, again, starting to feel like a broken record. He had told this story at least a hundred times already, and he had only been in Soul Society for a few hours. It seemed that everyone wanted to know how the substitute shinigami had eventually met his end in the human world. Of course, they all laughed – and even insulted him – when they found out, and he'd already had to beat some of them up.

"I know." Rukia paused. "That's the man you are."

Her soft, confident words brought him out of his foul mood. Ichigo suddenly felt uncomfortable, because she was saying strange things; but at the same time, he finally felt at ease since arriving in Soul Society, because being here with her was so right.

"Ichigo."

This time, her somber tone caused him to stop, Rukia halting as well. Ichigo avoided eye contact, but after a moment of silence, he finally looked down at her with a scowl. He was surprised by the intensity of her gaze, and he reached up to rub the back of his neck as his face softened into a small frown. "What?"

Rukia narrowed her eyes, almost thoughtfully, and continued to stare at him with that unsettling gaze. His brows furrowed even more as she continued to stare at him wordlessly, and he opened his mouth to insult her.

"I'm sorry."

Now he was feeling really uncomfortable with that pitiful expression she gave him. So he crossed his arms and looked away in annoyance. "Why are you apologizing, stupid?"

"Because," she started solemnly, face set in a frown. "You didn't have a chance to live."

"So?" Ichigo shrugged. The thought had already crossed his mind, but like almost everything else in his life, he decided not to worry about it too much until it became a problem. And unfortunately, it seemed like it was going to be a problem right this second.

"So?" she echoed, frown deepening. "After everything you've been through, weren't you looking forward to living a long, normal human life?" A hand came up, and she started ticking off points with each finger. "Graduating from university, becoming a doctor, getting married, having kids, growing old and decrepit—"

"Why does everyone assume I'm going to become a doctor?" Ichigo interrupted her with his usual scowl, before scoffing and looking away. He was more annoyed at her mentioning that he would be old and decrepit, as she had so kindly worded it. "Normal is overrated," he finally added when she looked as if she was going to continue with her arguments. But when her expression didn't change, the deep frown still set firmly on her face, Ichigo sighed and uncrossed his arms. "Look, I had a taste of what it was like to be a normal human already," – he knew he didn't need to explain what he was referring to, judging by the slight grimace that flitted across her features – "and I didn't like it."

"But—"

"Hey," he cut her off, leaning down slightly. "I was going to end up here eventually. What's a few years early?"

"You weren't even 30 yet. I hardly think that's a few years early."

"It is compared to the eternity I'm going to be spending here," he countered smoothly, a confident smirk on his face.

Rukia sighed, appearing to have realized that he was going to be stubborn about this. But her face softened and she smiled. "Yeah," she murmured softly. Then her face broke out into a smirk. "Assuming you survive your first year as a real shinigami."

"Che," was his retort to her jibe. But he gave her a smile too, and then placed a hand on top of her head. "Don't give me such a sad look again, midget." That earned him another smack to the head. "Ow!"

"Call me that again and I'll make sure you don't survive your first year," she threatened, leaning up to meet his annoyed scowl with an icy glare of her own.

"I could kick your ass," he retorted confidently, arrogantly.

"But Kurosaki-kun! You wouldn't dare lay a hand on an innocent girl!"

Ichigo could feel his eye twitch at that sweet, high voice she used to use in school. But her expression was still one that promised she would make his afterlife a living hell – literally – if he continued to walk down this dangerous path. "You're right," he answered, watching as her lips lifted into a triumphant smirk. "Wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your subordinates, lieutenant." Her face contorted into a glare.

"You're going to eat your words," she growled as her hand touched the hilt of her sword.

Ichigo smirked, and reached his hand back to grab the handle of his sword as well. "Bring it—"

"Rukia! Kurosaki-san!"

Ichigo tore his eyes away from Rukia, his hand still on his sword. Then he saw the 13th Division Captain striding over with a bright smile, and he quickly dropped his hand to his side. From the corner of his eyes, he saw that Rukia had done the same, and he noted with smug satisfaction that she seemed slightly horrified.

"Captain Ukitake!" Rukia greeted her Captain with a respectful bow. She definitely looked embarrassed, probably because she'd almost been caught harassing a new recruit. Serves her right.

"Welcome to the 13th Division, Kurosaki-san," Ukitake smiled and bowed to him.

"Thanks. Glad to be here," Ichigo answered truthfully, bowing in return. Of all the Captains, he probably liked Ukitake the best, and he had been relieved when he found out that he had been assigned to the 13th Division. His worst fear had been that Kenpachi had recruited him, but serving under Byakuya was a close second.

"I know you'll fit in perfectly. You made a good choice," Ukitake added with a pleased grin.

"Yeah, of course—" Ichigo paused, frowned, and went over what the Captain had said. "Wait, choice?"

"Well, yes," Ukitake replied, at first confused by the question. But then he smiled again. "We are honored that you chose to join the 13th Division."

"Wait, wait!" he interrupted loudly, hands up and eyes narrowed suspiciously at Captain Ukitake, before turning to scowl at Rukia. She avoided his gaze. "I had a choice?"

"Um, yes?" Ukitake replied hesitantly, looking between his lieutenant and the former substitute shinigami.

"You didn't tell me that!" Ichigo shouted at Rukia, pointing an accusatory finger at her. He was glaring at her now, both annoyed and confused that she had made it seem like they had assigned him to a division.

"Oh, I didn't? I'm sorry, it must have slipped my mind," Rukia answered innocently, looking at her Captain with an apologetic smile. Then she turned to him, still with that fake smile – and the crappy acting! – fixed on her face, and bowed. "Please accept my apologies, Kurosaki-kun!" And that annoying voice too!

Ichigio could feel his eye twitching. "Why, you—"

"I understand if you do not think the 13th Division is good enough for you, Kurosaki-kun!" she continued. Ichigo felt his eye twitch as she started dabbing at supposed tears in her eyes – where had the handkerchief come from?! – and made a sad little sobbing sound. "We were all very excited to have you join us, but if you want to leave..." she trailed off, and turned her back to him as the fake sobbing continued.

"There now, Rukia. I'm sure it's nothing personal against you," Ukitake reassured her, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. Ichigo felt his mouth drop open, shocked that the Captain was actually buying into her crappy acting.

Rukia looked up at her Captain and placed a quivery smile on her face. "I know, sir. But, I just, I thought he..." Then she glanced at him, and Ichigo glared back at her. That only caused her to hide her face back into her hands, and the sobs returned.

Now a vein popped somewhere on his forehead. "Oh, for the love of—"

"Won't you reconsider, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo paused as the 13th Division Captain gazed at him with the saddest, most pleading expression he had ever seen from a grown man – his father excluded, of course, because that old man always had a pathetic expression on his face – and he had to refrain from slapping his own face. "I didn't even say I was leaving!"

"So you're staying, Kurosaki-kun?"

He glared at Rukia, who was now gazing up at him with such a hopeful expression. He knew she was faking it, because he could see the evil gleam that her Captain seemed completely oblivious to. The Captain was still looking at him too. "Yes," Ichigo ground out, trying to control the twitching of his brow.

"Great!" Ukitake grinned, and pat his lieutenant's shoulder comfortingly. "Then why don't you show our newest member to his quarters before he changes his mind, Rukia?"

"Of course, Captain!" Rukia beamed at them. Ichigo wanted to throw up.

"Then I'll see you both later! Lots of paperwork to catch up on." And then the Captain of the 13th Division – his Captain – was striding away.

Ichigo glared down at Rukia, who was waving dramatically with a bright smile on her face, until her Captain was out of sight. Then she looked at him with an arrogant, triumphant smirk. "Bitch," he growled at her.

"That's no way to address your lieutenant," she told him prettily.

Ichigo really wanted to wipe that smirk off her face. "You set me up." His tone wasn't inquisitive, it was accusatory. And angry.

But Rukia only shrugged as she started walking again. "I saved you. If I hadn't gotten to you first, I'm sure Captain Zaraki would have dragged you to the 11th Division already."

He glared at her back for a few seconds, had a mental battle with himself about whether or not to follow, but eventually he started walking after her. "Not if I run fast enough."

They walked in silence for awhile, turning corners and walking down a dozen different corridors. Ichigo was trying to remember the path they took, but everything here looked exactly the same, and he felt like a rat in a maze. He was going to have to break down walls and doors to get anywhere.

"Ichigo?"

"What?" He was still annoyed at her, as was evident by his tone. But Rukia didn't seem to notice, or maybe she just didn't care. She was still walking in front of him, and she didn't even spare a glance back when she asked her question.

"Do you want to be part of the 13th Division?"

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, wondering why she even cared to ask him after going through all that trouble – crappy acting – to guilt him into staying in the 13th Division right in front of Captain Ukitake. "Don't be stupid. Where else do you think I'd want to be?"

Finally Rukia looked over her shoulders at him, but only for a second. He thought he saw a smile. But then she continued, "Like I said, I know Captain Zaraki would love to have you." He let out a strangled grunt, but she ignored it. "Nii-sama might not show it, but he respects you. He wouldn't mind having you in his division either." He groaned. Ichigo didn't doubt that last part, but he had a feeling it was because then Byakuya would have an excuse – otherwise known as training – to beat him up. "You seem to be quite familiar with Captain Hitsugaya, and I know Lieutenant Matsumoto wouldn't mind having you around." He was silent this time, but he could feel the blood threatening to trickle down his nose. "And I think Captain Kurotsuchi would love to experiment on you."

"I said I'm staying, alright!" Ichigo had grabbed her shoulder, pulling them both to a stop. He didn't like the visuals he was getting from all her suggestions. When she looked back at him again, he saw an amused smirk. He dropped his hand and scowled at her. "Is this how you treat your new recruits?"

"No. Only you," she replied easily.

"Bitch." This time he got kicked in the shin. "Ow! Stop abusing me!"

Rukia smiled. "Welcome to the 13th Division, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Author's Notes: So this story was floating around in my head as broken scenes, and I simply had to get it out. That's what happens when you're stuck in class with a professor who likes to go on irrelevant hour-long tangents. Anyways, considering how class has been going, this story will probably be continued as a series of chronological drabbles.

As always, please read and review. Constructive criticism is always welcome.