"Oi! Rukia! Get up, it's time for school" A certain carrot topped strawberry yelled, banging on his closet door, there was no response from the petite, raven haired, chappy loving, occupant. "Oi! Midget! Come on we're going to be late!" still no response, now the substitute shinigami was getting worried. What if she ran away again? What if she was hurt? Or.. what if.. No don't think that thought! "Ok Rukia! You have to the count of three, and if you don't answer I'm leaving without you!" nothing. "1… 2… 3! Ok! I'm leaving now! I mean it midget!" She was probably at school already, no sweat. But what if she didn't have warm enough clothes? It was getting colder… what if.. Stop worrying, she's fine. No worries, just go to school. She's probably there already, with Inoue-san or someone. Just relax..
The carrot top had been wrong about his shinigami companion before, and today was no exception. He'd gone to school, she wasn't there, lunch break had come and gone. But still nothing from the bunny lover. Now Ichigo was getting really worried, if the midget didn't show in the next 30 minutes he was going to go look for her. And then he'd take her in his arms and… What the hell am I thinking?! Where the hell did that thought come from?! It's just.. hormones yeah, that's convincing let's use that…The carrot top was suddenly jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of classroom door sliding smoothly open then closing. "Ah, Kuchiki-san, you are very late. What is your excuse?"
"Gomen, you see I was called away for an urgent matter by my Brother." Normally her school girl act sickened him. It was so fake, but now it was the greatest sound in this world and the next. He wanted to jump up and yell at her right there. He wanted to yell Where were you this morning?! You had me worried, you idiot! Don't ever do that to me again! And why aren't you wearing a sweater? It's cold out! But he stayed silent as she made her way to her desk next to him.
"Where were you this morning?" he whispered, scowling more than usual.
"Weren't you listening?" She waited for him to reply, when she sensed he wasn't going to give one she sighed continuing, "Onii-sama called me away, I couldn't refuse."
"Well you could have left a note or something." He turned to look at her, intending on having a disapproving sort of glare on his face, but when he turned he saw Rukia with a smile on her face as she stared out the window. It was snowing. Any resentment he had been holding was gone. Instead one of those rare moments occurred, the carrot topped strawberry actually smiled. And in the end, he didn't need her to apologize for making him worry, she didn't have to explain anything, because in the end, all he needed was to see her smile. He would let her off the hook; her smile was, after all, the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen.