(A/N): In celebration of having most of my finals done, I present chapter 10! Enjoy.

Chapter 10: The Second Mission

"I've noticed that…since Rukia's been around, I've always managed to get punched by Ichigo. And it usually starts with me being here…"

Renji wasn't really sure who he was talking to, but he found it slightly comforting to say what was on his mind, even if it was to a door.

"I am probably going to be, let's see, thrown out the window if he's in a good mood, when he sees this." Renji clicked his teeth. "And if he's in a bad mood…Yamamato-sama, I hate you, you old coot."

"Ooooooh, you just cursed the Boss, I'm gonna tell!!"

Renji stumbled back in shock, heart beating at an unhealthy rate. Ichigo was leaning against the side of his door, a sly grin on his face. Renji managed to get his breath back.

"Bastard," he cursed. "You're so immature. I feel bad for Rukia."

"Yeah, yeah" Ichigo waved a hand nonchalantly. "Just tell me what you want."

Renji moved his hand inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a black envelope.

"You've got a new mission."

0OooO0

Renji was fully aware of how nervous he looked at the moment, and really, who could blame him? Ichigo looked exasperated and Rukia seemed worried.

"Renji," Rukia said gently as so not to frighten the poor man. "Are you okay? You look a little…pale."

"Pale?" Ichigo scoffed inconsiderately. "The guy looks like he's gonna piss himself any second now. Or faint." He leaned closer with a sadistic leer. "Whichever you prefer. I'd be amused either way."

"So do you accept?" Renji ignored his goading and opted to look warily out the window. It looked like it would rain soon.

Ichigo shrugged and turned to Rukia. "I doubt she'll care what I think, which is no by the way, so don't ask me."

"Rukia?"

"Um…well, I haven't really understood what it is that I'm going to have to do. Could you explain it more thoroughly?"

"Sure," Renji said and leaned back against the plush armchair. "The target is TJK owner Kojima Li, age 26. His father recently retired and handed his legacy over to his eldest son. His father has since been missing and there is substantial evidence pointing that he was the ringleader of a string of unrelated high status murders. His motive was to ensure his business would be above all others."

"Well what does Kojima's doings have to do with his son? Shouldn't you go after—"

"We've tried our best looking for Kojima but even our best trackers can't find him. There is reason to believe that his son may know, considering the fact that he has been shuffling money from his company's account to a private, untraceable one."

Rukia nodded in understanding. "But what do I have to do with all this?"

"Rukia, we don't wish to kill Kojima Li…yet. We need him alive to extract any information. If you choose to accept, the better part of your mission would be to get Li alone in a room during a company party and drug him so Ichigo can sneak him out without a commotion."

"If you choose to accept," Ichigo pointed out. He didn't necessarily like the idea of Rukia seducing yet another man. He didn't know why he cared, he just did.

Rukia shuffled for a moment. "Is there no one else?"

Renji shook his head and his tattooed forehead creased. "Lately, we've been getting more and more work and usually, several of our workers come back severely wounded. Or don't come back at all."

Rukia paused for a moment and looked at Ichigo who was glaring at the tops of buildings outside the window. She took a breath, and accepted.

Renji looked relieved and seemed to collapse into himself. Ichigo simply got up and left to get dressed.

"Wait Ichigo!" Renji called urgently. "I don't think I mentioned it, but it's a highly publicized party."

"So?"

"So you'll need to wear a suit, and Rukia will need a dress."

0OooO0

"I really don't like this."

"Haven't we had this conversation before?"

"Yeah, for the same reason. Didn't I say I don't want her in any more missions?"

"And didn't I say that I don't make the orders, I just follow them out?"

"…She's probably gonna die this time, did you know?"

"How kind of you to think so. Didn't she prove herself last time? And besides, you'll be there to take care of her. I imagine that if by some horrific twist of fate she did die, you would simply crumple into a depressed bag of potatoes, no?"

"No. Actually, my life would be easier."

"…You are one evil bastard, did you know? I hope you die."

"Ladies and gentlemen, my best friend."

Before Renji could continue (and he had a really good insult too!) Rukia stepped into the room, hands on her hips. "You two are idiots, did you know?" She took the first step toward the door and glared back. "Are you coming?"

Renji snuck a peek at Ichigo and began cursing the fact that he didn't have a camera. The look of complete shock on Ichigo's face, coupled prettily with a blush, was enough blackmail to last the rest of their lives.

"You look so pretty when you blush Miss," Renji whispered to Ichigo's, who turned redder.

"You motherfu—"

0OooO0

"Good luck Rukia," Renji called from the driver's seat of the car. He gave her a thumbs up and a big grin. "But I'm sure you don't need it."

Rukia smiled gratefully at her crimson haired friend. "Thank you Renji."

Renji nodded and turned to Ichigo, replacing his friendly smile with a look of disgust. Immediately, Ichigo scowled.

"Oi, what's with that look?!"

Renji narrowed his eyes at him. "As for you, I hope you fall down a flight of stairs and break your neck."

"Some friend!"

Renji nodded again to Rukia and started pulling away. Before accelerating, he stuck his head out the window. "And remember Ichigo, you're not to harm him." With those final 

words, he slammed his foot down and sped away in a screech of rubber against pavement.

Before Ichigo could go after him, Rukia placed a hand against the back of his collar and started pulling him towards the glass doors that led to the party. The doormen opened it for her, and she smiled charmingly. Ichigo sneered when he saw the blushes on each face.

When they finally entered the bright, glittering lobby of the hotel where the party was being held, Rukia let go of him. He straightened his simple black suit with a black shirt and red tie. He looked toward Rukia, who looked admittedly beautiful in a knee length, body hugging dark blue dress with thin straps. It dipped low in the back revealing delicate, porcelain skin

"So do you have a plan?" he asked his companion, aware that she probably did not.

"Yep, to make it up as I go along."

Ichigo sweatdropped and followed her inside. As he expected, the inside was hell, at least for someone like him. Rich people decked out in expensive outfits and adorned with jewels mingled and danced to the light music. Champagne glasses clinked and obnoxious laughter echoed throughout the high walls. Busty woman clung to the arms of men twice their age and sent death glares to the girl they had just been giggling with.

A bunch of stuck-up, fake bastards and bitches.

"You seem uncomfortable," Rukia said and Ichigo nodded.

"I never liked missions like this, where I go undercover with a bunch of these people. I'd much rather kill the guy in a dark alley of a poor neighborhood then be here. I feel cleaner there."

"You contradict yourself."

A shake of the head. "Not a contradiction. It's a way of thinking that one can only understand when one experiences it."

Rukia decided not to press further and lit up when the deejay started speaking. "He'll be arriving soon," she whispered, as everyone else had gotten quiet.

"Ah."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present, and I'm not just saying that I'm pleased because he's my boss, Kojima Li-san!!"

After a few doses of fake laughter, the spotlight turned to the carpet clad stairs where a handsome young man was descending. Immediately, woman started squealing and 

jumping. The young Kojima was indeed handsome, with thick black hair, green eyes and a demeanor that screamed 'bad-ass'.

Though Ichigo wondered how long he could keep up that front with a sword against his throat.

"You're not supposed to hurt him, remember?" Rukia reminded when she recognized the gleam in his eye. Sometimes he was really taken aback at how well she could read him.

He looked from Rukia to the target who was being bombarded by a group of men with cigars in their teeth who beat him on the back. But something was amiss. Why was he looking at Ichigo? His eyes widened at the sudden thought, w-was Li gay?

No, he wasn't looking at Ichigo, he realized. He was looking at Rukia and she was looking back! Worse, she was actually giving him a shy smile.

Ichigo's stomach churned.

"Dear Lord," he said, tone dripping with horror. "A-are you…flirting?"

Rukia didn't break eye contact, but nimbly managed to thrust her stiletto heel into his foot. Ichigo was amazed that he was able to hold back his scream and applauded himself.

"Go away."

"What?"

"Go away," she repeated. "I can't get him alone if you're hovering over me. Go…mingle or something."

"Yeah right, with these people?" He looked at her incredulously. "You're not serious."

"You don't have to mingle if you don't want to. But I was serious about you leaving." Without waiting for his negative response, she started darting through the people like a koi fish and away from Ichigo.

He blinked after her for a while before sighing in defeat. "Whatever," he said to himself as amber eyes scanned the premises. They lit up when he found what he was searching for.

The bar.

0OooO0

Kojima Li was an impressive man, a sheer force to be reckoned with. He was strong and clever and in order to get him to follow her plan Rukia had to be sly, sneaky and smart.

Well, not really.

In fact, all it had taken her was a well placed glance, a shy blush and smile and he was instantly putty in her hands. She had overestimated him, but had to admit was pleasantly surprised at how easy it had turned out.

And right now, she was pulling off her alias splendidly as a mysterious and sweet partygoer who was in no way suspicious at all. But she imagined she could pull it off much better had she not had a pair of glowing amber eyes digging holes into her bare back.

Stupid strawberry.

0OooO0

Ichigo was disgusted. He knew Rukia was a good actress, but he never knew she was this good. She giggled at just the right pitch, blushed at all the right moments, and smiled with just the right gleam in her eye.

And he hated it!

He much rather preferred the angry, screaming, profane midget that he was so used to seeing everyday. This Rukia was weird and…decent. Ew.

His fears (not that he would outright call them fears) were absolved when a man came to congratulate Li and Rukia took a moment to turn around and glare at him with a look that clearly said: 'Stop staring at me you dork, or I'll kill you.'

Yep, same old Rukia.

TBC

Hokay! Another mission, isn't that nice? And also, before people start cursing me for always giving Rukia the job of the distraction because she's a girl, I understand where you're coming from. But please don't be mad because we're gonna see more from her in the third (and last) mission. Yay!