AN: If there is something you want to see in this story, please let me know and I will try to incorporate it.
The main hall of the 1st Division's headquarters was silent as many of the people inside waited for one last person to arrive to the pre-planned meeting. After about ten minutes, Kurotsuchi Mayuri finally appeared.
"Ah. It seems as though I made you all wait on me." the mad scientist said.
"And why are you so late, Kurotsuchi-taicho?" Unohana asked while silently thinking of how many open rooms she had at the division as a precaution.
"An experiment got a little out of control. Now, about 15 subordinates are all sorts of colors." he said while wearing a creepy smile. "I'm sure it's nothing too serious."
"Well, if that is all, then we will now start the meeting." came the voice of Yamamoto-soutaicho, effectively silencing everyone in the room.
Half an hour later, all the necessary reports were given and many were ready to leave when Yamamoto caught them all off guard.
"Have you taken the advice I gave you last week to heart yet, Hitsugaya-taicho?" There was a certain twinkle in the old man's eyes that Hitsugaya didn't trust.
"I'm not going to be with someone just because someone else thinks that I should be with them." answered Hitsugaya.
"Aha! I knew it!" Ukitake happily exclaimed. "So that's why you were so out of it when you came to my office last week!"
"You mean the kid came to your office willingly?" a confused Kenpachi asked.
"Exactly! He just wandered right in without seeming to realize it. I was so worried about him that I even called Unohana to come and check on him."
All eyes look to Hitsugaya who has his eyes narrowed on Ukitake. "They don't need to know everything, Ukitake."
"If what we are assuming is true, that Yamamoto-soutaicho matched him with someone before leaving the office, then why did he wander to the 13th Division?" Soi Fong questioned.
"Just because you all are in relationships right now doesn't mean you can just ask and assume anything about other people's relationships." Hitsugaya responded.
"That sounds awfully defensive, Hitsugaya-taicho. Were you perhaps rejected?" Byakuya added his input into the conversation.
The temperature suddenly plummeted in the hall before an infuriated Hitsugaya suddenly walked to the door and left.
"Did he really just leave before a meeting was dismissed?"
"He didn't answer the question."
"Do you think we pushed him too far?"
"Considering the flurries outside, I give it a day until he is back to himself."
"Did anyone else catch the fact that he was proving that he truly gave the idea of his match some thought because he was being so defensive about the subject?"
"Do you think he is nervous about confronting her?"
"Hitsugaya, nervous? I want to see that."
"Of course you do Kenpachi. Though, one has to wonder about what type of girl could affect Hitsugaya so much?"
"Perhaps, he is not happy with his match?"
SWA Meeting
"OK! Before we take the next vote, who's the newest couples that we know about this week?" Kusajishi Yachiru asked the gathering of women.
"Well, Madarame Ikkaku and myself got together since the last meeting." Soi Fong said casually.
"Kuchiki-taicho and myself recently became a couple as well." Unohana added with a smile.
"Whaa?" Many of the women were shocked. "You and Kuchiki-taicho?"
"It's nice that we all have someone. No one is really left anymore when we talk about relationships." Nanao shyly admitted.
"Yeah. It was about time that you gave into Kyoraku-taicho's advances." Matsumoto commented.
Only Unohana spared a glance at the raven haired female sitting at the end of the table. The girl had obviously just finished working a short while ago. Her hair was a little messy and her eyes looked tired even though she showed no emotion on her face and held herself up proudly. Unohana thought that the girl worked entirely too hard for being someone so young.
"I've heard rumors that your taicho has found someone, Rangiku. Is it true? Who is it?"
That comment broke Unohana's train of thought.
"As if he would tell me. He wouldn't even tell me about an oh-so secret couple last week." the busty woman answered.
"What couple?" Many of the females were listening now, some even leaning in as if that would make the answer appear that much faster.
"I don't know! He wouldn't tell me!" Matsumoto pouted. "And then he lectured me about spending too much time with Ichigo. If taicho does have girl, then he doesn't have to worry about being separated from them for long periods of time. Summer's almost over, and Ichigo will have to go back to school."
"Oh, Matsumoto. I forgot that Ichigo will have to go back soon. How is that going to work out?" Kiyone asked, honestly curious.
"Well, he said that he will try to come here for a weekend once a month, and during his school breaks."
"No more sad stuff! Enjoy carrot-top while he is here!" Yachiru exclaimed causing the table to giggle.
"So, who's the most unexpected couple this week?" Nanao asked.
"Since we don't have confirmation on Hitsugaya-taicho's possible relationship status, I vote that Soi Fong-taicho and 3rd seat Madarame are the most unexpected this week." Unohana suggested, earning many nods of agreement.
"Okay then! If anyone needs to rant about their man, now is the time to do it and get some advice."
"Renji has been really on edge lately. And he won't talk to me about anything." Momo said. "I don't know of it's because I did something or what. What do you think, Kuchiki-fukutaicho?"
All eyes turn to the woman at the end of the table as if just noticing that she is there. "I'd say that he just needs to use up some pent up energy. Renji is a fighter. Whether it's just a verbal confrontation or an actual fight, he thrives in it. Get him and Ichigo to spar. He will be back to his normal, brash self in no time." Rukia answered.
"It's been awhile since you attended a meeting, Kuchiki." Soi Fong stated.
"I've been busy."
"Has a boy been keeping you away?" Matsumoto asked.
"Now, now. Let's leave Kuchiki-fukutaicho alone. I'm sure she has her reasons." Unohana intervened before the conversation could really get started. She caught the grateful look that Rukia sent her and gave her a gentle smile in return. "I believe that now is a good time for get some snacks."
Soukyoku Hill
The moon was high in the black sky as a pale figure sat at the edge of the hill. "Kuchiki. What are you doing out here?" a male voice called out as the visitor sat next to figure.
"I could ask you the same thing, Hitsugaya-taicho." the female replied.
"I believe I asked you first." Hitsugaya answered.
"This is where I come when I just want to get away from everything for the time being." Rukia admitted.
"I figured you would try to stay away from this place as much as possible. It was nearly your execution site, after all." Hitsugaya said honestly.
"It was nearly yours, too, if I remember correctly." Rukia said.
"That's true. Even if it wasn't unexpected, to be labeled a traitor…" Hitsugaya started.
"I know. We both had our own reasons for doing what we did during those times, and it was what we considered right by our own standards. I think that's what truly matters in the end." Rukia explained. "I'll admit though, that I sometimes worry about how easily it will be for Seireitei to turn its back on me again."
"Indeed. No one even asked if there was a reason that I turned rouge. They just automatically put a label on me, on you." Hitsugaya added. "It's nice to know there is someone out there who understands, even if it isn't the best thing to share a connection on."
Rukia couldn't help but laugh at that, and after a bit Hitsugaya laughed as well.
"You're awfully talkative tonight, Kuchiki. From what I hear, you don't open up very often." the white haired man said.
"Perhaps I trust you. Besides, you said it yourself, we share a connection that no one else around us understands." the woman responded easily.
