Author note: Well I'm trying to keep a nice balance between light heartedness/serious character deveoplement. I will start developing the plot more fully but does anyone think I'm taking too long doing so? I love getting people's opinions so thanks to everyone who's reviewed.

An Odd Pair

Ichigo pulled himself from the water and gave Rukia a glare capable of freezing blood only for her to erupt into laughter.

"What's so funny," he yelled his staring down the shorter women, she did not respond but just reached up and poked his flat hair. "Do you think you're funny?" he joked leading to her giggling hysterically.

"I think I am," she joked and messed up his hair with her hands.

"That's just cruel," he responded, "and I'm soaking yet," he moaned.

"That's what you deserved," she said playfully smiling and giving Ichigo a punch in the arm.

"Well I think I know what you deserve," he teased and stuck his tongue out childishly.

"What would that be?" she asked curiously as she brushed the lone bang out of her face. Ichigo smiled,

"Revenge!" and in one motion he pulled Rukia into his arms and in an overly dramatic fashion tossed her into the pond as she squealed and cursed Ichigo. She hit the water with an inelegant splash and struggled to regain her composure.

He watched Rukia's every movement as she waded towards him and could not help but notice how pretty she was, despite the fact she was soaking wet and staggering clumsily; she may be evil, but at least she's pretty and evil Ichigo thought surprising even him, had he actually thought that about her?

"That was uncalled for," she yelled and proceeded to splash Ichigo a wide smile on her face.

"Oh, it was called for he responded," then proceeded to canon ball into the water leading to more cursing and laughing from Rukia who retaliated by trying to drown him.

For nearly an hour the odd pair had tried to drown each other in an ornamental pond inside of f one of the most prestigious noble manors. Rukia could feel it growing colder and slipped out of the water still grinning.

"Come on," she said offering her hand to Ichigo whom nearly broke his neck trying to climb out. He's clueless she sighed to herself as she watched the substitute soul reaper struggle to return a blade to his belt, she made a mental note to ask about his zanpakutō but it could wait; they had time off together and she did not want to waste it discussing business.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him away towards the door, she led him through the halls, most of the inhabitants either busy or asleep no one paid any attention to the young pair. All along the walls hung portraits of the Kuchiki family's ancestors all posed as though watching their descendants. Rukia led Ichigo to a small room that seemed to be dominated by a fire place and several seats around it.

The thick layers of dust around the room revealed that the busy members of the noble family found little time for relaxation. Ichigo glanced around the room, there were no eerie paintings, actually there was little in the way of decoration at all. Ichigo glanced around the room and saw no sign of Rukia, huh? Where'd she go? He thought to himself as he looked around confused.

"Boo!" thundered a voice from behind him and he jumped spinning about to face Rukia,

"What was the point of that!" he yelled his face pale with shock.

"It looked fun," she confessed with the same sweet smile she had used with the teachers and class mates back in Karakura town. No matter how hard he tried he could not be mad when she had that face even if he knew it was an act.

"You're one evil midget," Ichigo lamented.

"Is that the way to talk to the one who brought you warm dry clothes," she said grinning evilly revealing the pile of clothing she had been holding behind her back.

"So that's where you went, hand it here," he demanded and reached for the clothing only for her to pull it away from him.

"After that comment I'm not sure I should give it to you," she said her grin widening by the second, "perhaps if you'd be a little more respectful," she continued grinning near psychotically. For a moment Ichigo held still, he would not give in to such under handed tactics; not even for warm dry… where those dry socks as well?

"Miss Kuchiki, you are the tallest midget I know and your drawings aren't completely terrible," Ichigo said through clenched teeth watching Rukia's malicious smile widened with every word.

"See was that so hard?" Rukia mocked and threw him the dry clothes, "that door leads to a study," she pointed out. Rukia barely saw him as he sprinted for the door. She could not help but giggle at his mannerisms, such a strong soul reaper, but inside he's not much more than a child she thought to herself.

When Ichigo returned Rukia had already changed into a flowered kimono covered with elegant patterns and colours, she was sitting legs folded on the floor in front of the burning fire. His jaw nearly hit the floor, was that beautiful elegant women actually Rukia?

"Do I have something on my face?" Rukia asked curiously.

Yup definitely Rukia. Ichigo thought to himself as he strode over and sat down beside Rukia who was now desperately searching for a reflective surface with which to examine her face. Although tempted to let her continue panicking Ichigo called to her,

"There's nothing there," and she stopped her search and returned her focus to Ichigo.

"What were you looking at then?" She asked sounding perplexed.

"Nothing you should worry about, midget," he added the final joke to attempt to change the topic as he laid down horizontal to the fire.

"So I'm shorter when I'm not doing something nice for you," she replied sarcastically but received no reply as Ichigo had begun snoring.