Full Title: He picks you up from the airport ... during rush hour.

Short, sweet, and hopefully pointy like a pencil. Enjoy!

After three months of non-stop paperwork and missions, Soutaicho had granted Hitsugaya-taicho a one week leave. Although the boy genius was reluctant to leave his post and his squad to Matsumoto and his 3rd seat, his body and mind were exhausted to the point where he could barely hold a brush right side up. In the end, he gratefully took the offered vacation and packed a small over-the-shoulder satchel (mildly similar to the ones used by the fourth squad), and left for the human world. Upon his arrival on the banks of Karakura's river, Toshiro was surprised to see his boyfriend lying down in the grass. Before he could turn around and head in the opposite direction, the white haired captain felt a pair of large hands wrap around his waist and pull him down. Despite the scowl on his face as he fell, Hitsugaya-taicho's heart fluttered pleasantly.

The second his boyfriend was in his lap, Ichigo buried his face in the crook of his neck and tightened his grip around his waist. Inhaling slowly, the scent of rain and the autumn wind filled his senses, making him sigh in content. Toshiro leaned back and looked out at the river, interested in how the light reflected off of its surface. The two of them stayed like that until the taller of the two broke the silence.

"Why did you try to walk away from me when you got here?" Ichigo asked, trying to mask his hurt tone.

"I thought you wouldn't be here to pick me up."

It was a statement, not a question.

"You didn't answer my question, Toshiro…" Ichigo mumbled.

"You told me you had to go to a job interview, then an appointment with your dentist, and then you had to go take an exam for your college class."

The orange head was quick to respond.

"…I finished the interview early, I rescheduled my teeth cleaning for next week because I have errands to run in that area, and I talked to my professor." He paused for a second, recalling the conversation. "When I told him I was 'receiving family' from out of the 'country', he said I could take the test tomorrow morning. I just have to come to his office."

Toshiro was silent for a moment, thinking about his next question.

"Your apartment is on the other side of town," he ventured carefully. "Wouldn't it have been easier for you to let me meet you over there?"

"I have a bus pass," Ichigo replied, amused at the series of questions. "And I heard running's a good way to relieve post-interview stress."

"…But, why go to all the trouble?" he asked in a small voice as he fumbled with the corners of his captain's haori, stopping when he felt the grip around his waist loosen to a comfortable embrace.

"I missed you Toshiro…" Ichigo whispered.

"Hitsugaya-taicho." He muttered in feigned annoyance. "Why would you miss me? You came by last week with Kuchiki-san."

Ichigo sighed and gave the boy a playful nip on his neck, eliciting a squeak of embarrassment. "Yeah, but I wasn't able to stop by and see you…I'm sorry…"

"…"

Ichigo's shoulders drooped when his boyfriend pulled away to gather his things. Following in suit, the teen picked himself up and dusted off his jeans and after a moment of hesitation, Ichigo held his hand out to the boy. His heart constricted slightly when he saw the scrutiny in those blue-green eyes, but the second he felt a small hand in his larger one, a smile stretched across his face.

"I have to pick up my gigai from Uruhara-san." Hitsugaya murmured.

"I know…"

"…"

The two of them walked in silence. It wasn't until they were 20 feet from Uruhara's shop when Toshiro stopped walking, causing the substitute Shinigami to look back at him curiously.

"Toshiro?"

"…You're a hopeless romantic…"

Ichigo frowned at the strange insult. When he moved to keep walking, Hitsugaya pulled him back again. Turning around to fully face his boyfriend, Ichigo raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" he asked, knowing there had to be some reason behind the captain's behavior. He was met with a silent look before Toshiro's cheeks were dusted with a light pink hue.

"…I missed you too Kurosaki," the boy murmured in a shy, begrudging way.

"I thought you might," Ichigo said cheekily.

Before Toshiro could take a swing at him, the teenager pulled the white haired boy to him for a chaste kiss. Blue green eyes widened slightly and pale cheeks reddened even more. When Ichigo backed away, he tugged Hitsugaya's hand and the two continued walking. He knew everything was going to be alright when the hand holding onto his squeezed slightly and readjusted their interlocked fingers to a more comfortable position.

The substitute Shinigami knew this was how he wanted things to be…for now.

Sneak Peak:

"What…you mean you understand this?"

"I have stayed in the living world long before you were born, Kurosaki. Calculus was one of the classes I took when I was based in Tokyo thirty years ago...I'll explain it to you step-by-step. Come a bit closer, please."

"Please take care of me sensei."