Rukia gave Toushiro one of her bubbliest grins. "You look like a Dalmatian." She said wickedly, still grinning. Matsumoto exhaled when her captain only playfully retaliated with a gentle push. She didn't have to do any work, these two got along so well already.

Toushiro was also surprised at his mild reaction. He didn't mind that she taunted him. In fact it amused him, so few people could tell where the line was in his squad. Nobody knew how to play without pushing it too far. He felt happy joking around with her. Like he had with Momo when they were both younger and going to the academy. He hadn't felt that way in a long time. He sighed as the unhappy thoughts washed away his enjoyment.

The violet-eyed soul reaper noticed the change in his demeanor. Did I do that? She wondered quietly, startled by the change in her new friend. She gave a forced laugh and hurriedly apologized.

"Don't worry about it Rukia, I was thinking about…something else." He didn't want her to know he was thinking about Momo, and he wasn't sure why.

"Oh alright." She seemed unsure still. He gave her a smile, encouraging her to be happy.

Rukia's heart did a little summersault. His whole face lights up when he smiles she thought noticing her reaction. Like all emotions, expressing this would make her seem weak. It would pass.

"Oh you two!" Matsumoto flapped her hand at the two awkward ink-stained soul reapers. "You should find a hot spring. "You're disgusting!"

"If you say one more word Matsumoto, I will have you demoted. Don't think I will forget this" The vein in Hitsugaya's head twitched. Grudgingly, he accepted the truth in her words. They were dirty… It would be hard to command looking like a 'Dalmatian' as Rukia had so tastefully described it.

"You can come with me, Rukia. Matsumoto, when I get back, I expect every surface to reflect my face back to me. I don't know what you were thinking, but I hope you never think it again" putting on his angry huffy face he grabbed Rukia by the arm and dragged her out with him.

Matsumoto grinned. Bath houses. Now THAT has potential.

Silence stretched between the two soul reapers. It wasn't awkward per say, but Rukia still grasped at something to say on their short walk to the baths.

"Do you like to draw?"

"What?" her violet eyes were so big and beautiful. He was distracted. Lost, even? His inner narration snorted.

"You know, like this." She showed him one of her doodles of a rabbit. "I know it isn't very good, but its fun to do."

"it's interesting…" Toushiro remarked, hiding his amused reaction.

"You're better than Ichigo. He just tells me I suck. I know, I just don't care." Oh crap it sounds a little like I'm whining. New subject new subject new subject!

"You should smile more often." Worse, worse, worse. Why? So much for keeping that one secret.

"Excuse me?"

"It makes you look better…not that you look bad….just that you look so much—well younger." Handsomer she added internally.

"With lieutenants like Matsumoto, that can be hard." Despite his words, he grinned. His green eyes sparkled.

They finally reached the bath house, removing their uniforms in favor of the steaming water. Ink pooled out into the water rinsing from their arms, hair and faces. Toushiro relaxed into the bath, shutting his eyes and enjoying the warm spring water. Rukia's mind reeled. She tried to ignore the way she'd been tempted to look at him while he prepared for his bath. Normally it wasn't a big deal for soul reapers to share a bath. They were comfortable in their own skins, they showed no emotion. Why should it matter if they bathed together? But still… she peaked over at him, sidelong through her lashes, at him leaning against the side of the pool. He looked so happy and content. Like he wasn't a captain thrust into his post at a young age and forced to oversee an entire squad of people. It was wonderful.

She ran her fingers through her black hair, trying to rinse the remainders of the mornings adventures from her locks. It would be difficult knowing if all the ink was out, as it had blended perfectly into her hair.

Toushiro was disturbed by the rippling water. Gently he began to help her scrub the ink out. "Its only fair I should help, after all, it's my fault for getting you into this mess." He remarked as she leaned into his hands.

"Thanks" she murmured, relaxing into him. "We shouldn't spend all day here though. As soon as we're done here, we should go back. I'm sure you have lots of work to do, and lots of soul reapers to bully"

He grinned again at her gently spoken comment. He enjoyed her humor far too much. He splashed her with a handful of water. "Indeed I do," he stated gravely, "perhaps I shall begin with you." Rukia awoke from her state of relaxation and splashed him back sticking out her tongue at the tenth squad captain.

"I thought captains were supposed to be dignified."

"I thought soul reapers were supposed to respect people in authority."

"The seireitei is very different from how we both thought." Rukia teased. "Now let's get out of here… I'm starting to resemble a raisin"

Authors Note:

I know, I know, its been like 2 years since I updated, and I'll be surprised if anyone reads this update at all, but I appreciate it. I hope you enjoy… Im going to try and keep this going…. No promises though.