Silently, Rukia and Ichigo strode along the street, Rukia having to take nearly two steps to the taller man's one.
It didn't help that, being uncomfortable, Ichigo was walking even faster than normal.
Some days Rukia really hated being so much shorter than her best friend.
The silence wasn't awkward; it never was with them. And sometimes, like now, Rukia was even grateful for it. She took the opportunity to use the concentration that normally would have been reserved for conversation to instead continue her earlier musings about her night.
She started with wondering why Ichigo had even proposed this ridiculous plan. All their friends insisted they liked each other secretly, but Rukia knew this was preposterous. Ichigo was her friend, nothing more. And there was no reason that an idiot like him, especially an idiot who was somehow popular enough to have nearly any girl in the school, would be attracted to someone of such superior wit and intelligence.
It just didn't make any sense. Not that Ichigo's motives ever made much sense to the average human. Which was just one of many reasons they were friends.
Abruptly, Ichigo halted, Rukia skip-run-walking a few extra steps before her brain registered the sudden stop. She had been so lost in thought, her feet were functioning almost entirely on autopilot. In retrospect, she realized she had probably slightly resembled a puppy following its owner.
Sometimes she really did hate that height difference.
Rukia suddenly noticed that she hadn't been paying any attention to where they were going. Looking around, that lightbulb in her brain blinked on: Ichigo had brought her to her favourite tea-shop.
"We're here, space cadet," Ichigo scowled.
Normally, Rukia would have hit him. Or drop-kicked him. Or inflicted pain in a myriad of other incredibly fun ways. But right now, she was too astonished that not only had the strawberry remembered how much she loved the place, but had actually thought about what she might like to do.
Tonight might turn out better than she had expected.
Ichigo yanked open the door. "Are you coming in, or are you just gonna stand there all night? I'm hungry."
This time, Rukia did hit him. Just slightly softer than usual.
The pair slipped into the heated store, sliding off their jackets and shoes in the foyer.
"Welcome, welcome!" Proclaimed the blond-haired, slightly crazy-looking manager. "Ahh, are we on a date tonight?" His eyes glitter from between his hat and fan as he eyed Rukia's coursage...and elsewhere. She was a beauty, he couldn't help it.
Ichigo's scowl deepened. "Table for two."
"Of course, of course!" The manager, Kisuke Urahara, gestured to a small, pigtailed girl. "Ururu-chan will take you."
The girl bowed deeply. "Please follow me!"
Trailing after the very formal young girl, Ichigo turned to Rukia. "You like this place, right? I know it's not really fancy and all, but I thought you said you liked it here."
Rukia scoffed. "Wow, you bothered to remember something about me for once."
Ichigo's scowl deepened. "I remember plenty, midget."
They arrived at a table, situated in the back corner. A typical date-night table.
Rukia was reconsidering. Maybe tonight would turn out just as bad as she expected.
Over dinner, the pair bantered normally. It was like any time they had gone out to eat as friends, although they usually were accompanied by at least a few others. Really, it was almost hard for Rukia to remember that they were on a date, except for the corsage on her wrist and Ichigo's insistence on paying for her food.
Oh, and the hovering, creep manager who kept making comments about how, even though they were in a dark corner, making out was not permitted in the restaurant.
It turned out that said manager had a surprisingly strong nose. None of Ichigo's punches, which were the farthest thing from gentle, managed to do more damage than a nosebleed.
Once Ichigo had paid for their meal, he stood, extending a hand to help Rukia up. He really was being quite a gentleman tonight. "Hurry up. We'll be late."
"Late for what?" Rukia thought they were just going to dinner. Wasn't that a normal date? Of course, with her lack of experience in the matter, she could be wrong...but she'd never admit it.
Ichigo smirked in response. "You'll see."
With that, he marched to the foyer, handing Rukia her coat and retrieving his own. Sliding their shoes back onto their feet, they again headed out into the chilly night air.
A/N: Aren't they just so lovable? Anyway, not much to say about this chapter. Review, please? And if you have anything you'd like to see, feel free to request it, but I'm not making any guarantees as to if I'll take your suggestions or not.
~Ash
