On a walk in Central Park two weeks later

"Okay I have a confession to make and you're not allowed to judge me."

Rukia and Tatsuki are trying to enjoy the last few days of nice fall weather before the temperature drops to below freezing and it no longer becomes acceptable to wear cropped lulus out in public. Tatsuki looks over to her friend with mild concern but nods her head, prompting Rukia to continue.

"Remember that guy from Ran's event a few weeks ago, Ichigo Kurosaki? I've kind of been...seeing him."

"Define seeing." Ever the lawyer, Tatsuki would not make a final decision until she had all facts available for her case.

"We haven't slept together if that's what you mean. I don't even think we've been on a real date. We've met for coffee a bunch of times when I'm having a hard time writing and he has a long lunch hour. We text and snapchat occasionally but so far that's really been it."

"So then I wouldn't say you're seeing him. It sounds like you're just hanging out?"

Rukia has no idea how to answer. The problem with living in New York in 2016 was no one knew how define their relationships and everyone was too afraid to try. In an age of text messages and Snapchat and Instagram, when it was easy to communicate the same information with the men you're fucking versus the men you're dating, what made one relationship more special and intimate than the other? Facebook statuses and hashtags?

"Well even if you do sleep with him I won't judge you. Just don't start dating him unless he really seems like he's worth it. I mean how old is he, like in his twenties? He's probably not even ready for a long term cell phone contract, much less a serious girlfriend."

At a mansion in the Hamptons on a private beach

Byakuya invites Rukia for dinner before he closes his house down the for the winter. While cutting into her foie gras, he asks if she's been dating anyone significant lately. She pauses for a moment, before continuing to cut her food.

"No, no one in particular."


I am not the fabulous Candace Bushnell, and therefore do not have the insight into dating and relationships she has.

….I can still try