A/N: I know it's been a really long time. Anyway, a couple of people to thank for the last chapter's reviews: CressidaRene and Eradona.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Bleach characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Tite Kubo et al.
A Little Revenge
Something's Fishy
When Rukia caught wind of a rumor that Ichigo had been to see her brother, she dismissed it as nothing more than nonsense. The two hated each other with a depth that surprised her even now. She would have thought that Ichigo's sacrifice, or rather apparent sacrifice, during the Winter War and his subsequent promotion to captain would have eased her brother's hostility. And even if Byakuya was still adverse to Ichigo, her boyfriend rarely held a grudge against his enemies after defeating them and often made friends. Rukia supposed that it went deeper than her brother's sense of superiority and Ichigo's brashness. They were both older brothers and in Ichigo's eyes, Byakuya had failed her once too often. Older brothers were supposed to protect their younger sisters and until after she had been almost executed, the Kuchiki noble hadn't done that. Knowing all this, she easily believed that the rumor was false. There was no way that the two would willingly spend any more time in the other's company than absolutely necessary. During captains' meetings there was a telling frost in the air that had nothing to do with Hitsugaya-taicho's Zanpakutou.
Rukia couldn't unfortunately dismiss the information a second time when it was brought to her by the most reliable source of information. Rangiku Matsumoto might be the biggest gossip in all of Seireitei but there hadn't been a time in Rukia's memory when the other lieutenant had been wrong about something. So when she and Momo appeared in her office asking her if she knew the reason why three men that they knew really didn't get along all that well were suddenly seen together, Rukia knew something was not right.
"He might have gone to complain," Rukia offered, not completely believing her own words. It was true that Ichigo made his dissatisfaction about being ordered to dinner loud and clear but she couldn't figure out why he would have dragged Hitsugaya along for the ride.
"About what?" Momo asked sitting back in the chair she'd been offered and sipping tea. Rangiku was across from her, doing the same. She had cut back on the sake of late and she had the niggling suspicion she was going to need all her wits about her. Something was a little off.
"Nii-sama often announces at meetings that we are expected at dinner without asking us if we're free. Maybe Ichigo got fed up and trailed him home. Hitsugaya-taicho might have tried to prevent a fight." It was entirely possible and seemed to make sense to Momo.
"My son is equally hot tempered given the right circumstances. Not that Byakuya Kuchiki is completely lacking in that department either. All three of them in the same place are a volatile combination. They certainly weren't sitting down to tea."
"No, I'm sure that must have been the case." Rukia sat her tea cup down to pick up a cookie. She often missed the ones Yuzu made. Idly she wondered if she could convince Ichigo to let her go to the Living World so that she could get the good stuff.
"What was the case?" Ichigo strode in the room, his confident steps slowing when he found Momo and Rangiku there as well. "Is something wrong?"
"No, no. Somebody said you were seen leaving Nii-sama's. I was sure they were wrong until Matsumoto-san confirmed it."
"Oh, that's right. The jerk ordered us to dinner again tomorrow. I swear he does it to make me uncomfortable. We had some words." Ichigo held his breath, hoping they wouldn't read anything else into his words.
"Most likely."
"Kurosaki-taicho, was Toushiro-kun with you?"
"Yes, he went with me. We were walking back together when I caught up with Byakuya. He prevented a fight." The three women nodded knowingly, and the orange haired captain released a silent sigh of relief. He seemed to have assuaged their suspicions.
"I wish you wouldn't argue with Nii-sama, Ichigo."
"Che, he's the one who started it." Giggles were the reply to the childish charge and he didn't bother to hide his sigh this time. "I almost forgot. I found this in a shop on my way back." He took out a small wrapped object from his uniform and handed it to his girlfriend.
Matsumoto and Momo leaned over to see the gift, finding a small chocolate bunny in the rice paper. "Chappy!" Rukia hugged the treat to her for a moment and then put it down to hug Ichigo. "You hate Chappy."
"With a passion and it's not Chappy just a rabbit shaped chocolate. The shopkeeper said he might be able to duplicate Chappy's shape. Anything else would be against copyright laws…" He trailed off, realizing that the Soul Society probably had no concept of Japanese copyright laws if they had even heard of such things. "Anyway, he said he'd try to make some up for you. I'll go back later this week to see if he was successful." He had come up with the ploy as an excuse to be seen entering candy shops. Toushiro had been surprised at his cleverness and had approved.
Unfortunately for the other teenager, he had been pressured into getting some candy for not only his girlfriend, but for his mother as well. Ichigo had a feeling some of those sweets would find their way into the white haired captain's mouth but didn't say anything. He had teased his friend enough about spoiling the women he loved.
"So, where is Toushiro?" Matsumoto stood, stretching.
"He's waiting back at your office. He'd tried stopping to see Hinamori-san but she wasn't there. Now I know why. He's got a present for you both."
"A present?" Matsumoto asked, while Momo's face lit up. "He's such a sweet boy." The two visitors left, in good humor and smiles all around.
Rukia looked at Ichigo, her chocolate bunny half eaten already. "What did he buy them?"
"Candy, of course. It gives him an excuse to indulge his sweet tooth."
"But Hitsugaya-taicho hates candy."
Bending down, Ichigo kissed the confection off of her face. "I'm sure that his consumption will have nothing to do with wanting candy and everything to do with Momo. Chocolate is much better when taken from the lips of the woman you love."
"Idiot," she said half-heartedly. He wasn't one to openly admit most of the time that he loved her so when he did, she took it seriously. "Is it really that much better?"
Ichigo broke off a piece and stuck it into his mouth. After a few brief chews, he swallowed, smiling knowingly down at her. "Why don't you kiss me and find out?" The challenge was answered and he went back to his desk smug. His plan to be more affectionate was working and he was getting some nice side benefits too.
"You're right, it does taste better that way," Rukia said before standing to pick up the empty tea cups. When she left the room, Ichigo scrambled for a way to send a message to Toushiro. He finally called his third seat Sentarō Kotsubaki in to bring it to the other captain. After swearing the other man to secrecy he went back to his work. He would find out who had started the rumor that he had been talking to Byakuya.
Toushiro's response came a few minutes later and he destroyed the evidence just before Rukia made it back into the room from washing and putting away the dishes. She looked at the two men in the office with a wary eye but did not voice her questions. Ichigo tended to give the two third seats equal tasks that kept them busy and away from each other. She couldn't figure out whether they were naturally over competitive or they were attracted to each other and just fighting it. To find one without the other was no longer odd. He also often gave them the less important tasks, wanting to give her the more difficult ones that would show her brother how capable she really was.
"Can I help you with anything, Kotsubaki-san?" Rukia asked when he was still standing in the doorway.
"No, ma'am. Was there anything I could do for you?"
"I'll take any paperwork that has backed up on you." Rukia studied the jumpy third seat and then her captain. Ichigo was studiously plowing through the stacks on his desk, signing with an efficiency that sent a warning bell off in her mind.
"Thank you, ma'am!" the man left in a hurry, confirming her suspicions.
Something was most definitely fishy.