I've never written this pairing before? This is what happens when you read avtorSola's amazing IchiHitsu fic, "Smells like Peppermint".

Also, I'm so rusty when it comes to writing Toshiro, so I hope that you will forgive me.

Toshiro scowled as he saw himself in the mirror. After an hour of fighting and fidgeting, Rangiku had managed to get him into a costume.

A werewolf costume, to be exact.

"I look ridiculous and I hate it."

Rangiku pouted at her Captain's obvious disapproval.

"I'm not wearing it."

"C'mon Captain~" Rangiku pleaded. "It's the only costume I have for you, and you look really good in it!"

"I refuse to be seen in public wearing this-"

There was a knock at the door.

Toshiro froze. It was apparent that there was nowhere to hide, and Rangiku had already moved to answer the knock.

"Rangiku, don't-"

Toshiro could've sworn he saw a hint of a smirk on Rangiku's lips when she opened the door to Toshiro's office. "Look Captain~! Ichigo and Rukia are here."

"Great," Toshiro muttered under his breath. He spun to face the door, hiding the ridiculous tail behind him, but he couldn't do anything about the ears before Rukia and Ichigo's eyes landed on him.

Rangiku grinned and grabbed Rukia. "C'mon! Let's get ready!"

"What, but Rangiku, I'm already in my costume- AH!" Rukia cried as she was dragged out of the room. Rangiku shut the door, leaving Ichigo and Toshiro alone.

Toshiro glanced Ichigo up and down. Apparently, the same unfortunate fate that had befallen Toshiro had also reached Ichigo, since the Substitute Shinigami appeared to have been forced into a cat costume, complete with an orange tail and ears.

Then Ichigo's eyes found Toshiro and the Substitute let out a laugh. Toshiro's irritation grew tenfold at the sound.

I'm going to kill Rangiku, Toshiro thought.

Ichigo noticed the air around Toshiro was growing cold and Ichigo quickly composed himself.

"I'm glad my humiliation amuses you," Toshiro grumbled.

Ichigo blinked. "What? No, that's not why I was laughing…"

Toshiro could see the blush growing on the substitute's cheeks and he raised a brow. His irritation was momentarily replaced by his curiosity. "What is it?"

Ichigo stepped up to Toshiro, the difference in height becoming apparent. Ichigo offered Toshiro an apologetic smile, "I didn't know that Rangiku forced you to wear that."

Toshiro scowled. "Do you think I'd wear something so degrading on purpose?"

"Degrading?" Ichigo repeated back. "I'm the one that looks ridiculous. I thought you looked cute…"

Both Ichigo and Toshiro's eyes widened at the substitute's admission.

Ichigo spun away, heading for the door, "Well, anyway, we'd better catch up with Rangiku and Rukia before they get lost or something..."

"Ichigo."

Ichigo paused and turned around. "Yeah?" Ichigo could see Toshiro blushing.

"Thanks."

Ichigo blinked. "For what?"

Toshiro scowled. Stupid Substitute Shinigami making him explain himself…

"For making me not feel like a fool."

Ichigo chuckled a little. "You don't have to thank me for that."

When Ichigo reached the door, he looked back to see Toshiro once again looking at himself in the mirror, adjusting the ears on his head.

Ichigo grinned. "We probably shouldn't leave Rangiku and Rukia unsupervised, right, Toshiro?"

Toshiro turned to Ichigo, his eye twitching a little at the way Ichigo addressed him...

But for once, he didn't feel like correcting him. "Alright, let's go…"