A/N: Hmm it's been a while no? Well here's chapter 11. Thanks all my lovely reviewers this story even though I was unsure about it, has become one of my best works.

Ichigo didn't expect to see Keigo of all people standing at the nurse's station. "Ichi-go!" The man practically squealed before lunging himself at Ichigo. Ichigo lifted one leg and Keigo's face met his foot. "How ya been?" Keigo asked with a large grin while he rubbed his sore nose.

"Fine." Ichigo answered with a light shrug.

"I need a favor." Keigo suddenly said clasping his hands and giving Ichigo his best puppy-face. Although the years had passed since Ichigo saw his old time friend…he hadn't changed. His hair was the same and yes, his face had an older, more masculine look to it, but he was still the same Keigo.

"Uh…" Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck, "what do you need?" He asked keeping his scowl on his face.

"My girlfriend Amaya…well she has this friend…right and—"

"Keigo, I'm married remember?" Ichigo said cutting him off.

"Where's your ring then?" Keigo asked with a frown.

"I don't wear it at work…" Ichigo said crossing his arms across his chest.

"Oh…" Keigo said flatly, "I wasn't gonna ask you to go out with her or anything it's just we really want to get her to be happy again."

Then all the puzzle pieces fell into place; Keigo and his girlfriend Amaya must have talked to Rangiku and they're in on it.

"I'll do it." Ichigo said before turning around, he had work to do after all.

"YAY!" He heard Keigo scream from behind him. Ichigo's scowl deepened, he and Rukia were close friends. He knew that, and as a friend he wanted to help her. He didn't want to see her sad even though that nagging voice in the back of his brain was saying that he was hurting her anyway.

&3&3&3&

Tatsuki typed on her work computer, she had told Renji an hour ago about Orihime's worries. Renji just sat there, working on his case files, not even looking up at her. The sounds of phones ringing, fingers typing and murmuring voices danced around the office.

"Abarai, Arisawa." Said a cool voice from behind the two. Renji turned his chair and Tatsuki looked up to see a white haired man in a suit, Toshiro Hitsugaya, their captain. He was the head of the detective office and his word goes; no questions asked.

He handed a folder to Renji, "You two are on the case, get to it." Hitsugaya said before turning around and heading back to his office. Although Hitsugaya was short he had a great deal of respect from everyone in the police world. The guy that made the mistake of calling him a 'shrimp' is still in the hospital.

"What's it say?" Tatsuki asked crossing her legs and leaning foreword on the desk. "This lady is paying us to find out if her husband is cheating." Renji answered flatly, his eyes not moving from the file.

"Orihime!" Tatsuki gasped before she was able to stop herself. Renji frowned, "No…it's not her." He said setting the file down and staring at Tatsuki.

"Listen to me and listen good…" Renji began; Tatsuki wasn't able to move her eyes from his. "Ichigo is your friend and he made a big impact on someone I care about. He made her smile and that was something I couldn't even do after her heart was broken. I am not going to help you ruin that. Ichigo is just close friends with Rukia got it?" Renji said in that protective rough voice that he used when he spoke about Rukia.

Tatsuki could only nod as if his words paralyzed her voice. "Now, let's go and meet this chick." He said standing up and throwing his dark jacket over his shoulders. Tatsuki stood and followed the red head out of the building; she had to keep her personal and work life separate from now on. She knew that now.

&3&3&3

It took exactly 3 hours for Rukia to find an outfit that Amaya approved of. She ended up wearing a dark purple tank top and black jeans. While Amaya had on a bright red dress with matching shoes, she let her dark hair down so it pooled in curls down her back and in front of her shoulders.

As Rukia was applying a thin layer of lip-gloss, Amaya's phone rang and she answered it with much enthusiasm. "Really? YAY!" she squealed into the phone while jumping up and down in Rukia's room.

"Keigo's friend said yes but it's not gonna be a date." Amaya said after she hung up her phone.

"Good, then we're on the same page." Rukia said stepping out of her bathroom. "What's his name?" Rukia asked and Amaya smirked her reaction was going to be priceless.

"Some Kurosaki guy…Ichi…Ichi-something…" Amaya said placing her index finger on her chin.

"What!" Rukia screamed her jaw dropping "Ichigo?"

Amaya nodded. "Yeah, I think that's his name!"

"Oh god…" Rukia said slapping her forehead, "lovely."

"You know him?" Amaya asked innocently.

"He's a friend." Rukia answered crossing her arms across her chest with a slight huff. It was going to be a long night.

&3&3&3&

Hinamori stepped into the plain office holding onto a light brown box with a white ribbon on it. She had walked in here many times and every time she did she felt like this place needed an interior decorator.

"Hinamori, what are you doing here?" Hitsugaya asked while stepping from the back room where he kept all his files.

"I brought you something to eat!" Hinamori said happily skipping over and handing him the box. Hitsugaya noticed that she still had on her work clothes, bright pink scrub pants and a white shirt with yellow flowers scattered across it. "You work too much whitey-Chan!" Hinamori scolded as the man set the box down on his desk.

He glared, "Don't call me that while I'm at work."

"When are you not at work?" Hinamori asked with a pout, "I get lonely you know?"

"Look whose talking." Hitsugaya said crossing his arms and Hinamori blushed.

"I just miss you, that's all." Hinamori said, her eyes moving to the dark blue carpet. Hitsugaya sighed and walked up to her and gave her a light kiss on the lips. He was lucky he found a girl who was the same height as him. Hinamori wrapped her arms around his neck in an effort to pull him closer.

He pulled away, "Hinamori, I have to work." He said, but Hinamori pouted and said, "I can't have five minutes alone with you?" She dropped her arms from around his neck.

Hinamori sighed and brushed past him, heading into the back room, "Hey! Hey stay out of there!" Hitsugaya flustered before rushing in after her. The door shut behind him and he turned around to see Hinamori smiling. "All I want is to spend time with you whitey-Chan! Is that so hard to give your wife that honor?" She asked and Hitsugaya blushed. He could already see where his was going. "Alright fine, but try not to be loud. I am still at work." He said a playful glint in his bright green eyes.

&3&3&3&

Rukia sat on the couch, her amethyst eyes moving from the TV to the door ever so often. When the doorbell finally rang, Rukia's heart jumped and Amaya thankfully rushed to answer it.

"Hey midget!" Ichigo greeted as Rukia stood from the couch; "Looks like you just can't stay away from me huh?"

She gave him a swift punch to the head "You wish!" she grumbled.

"Oh my! Rukia-Chan gets more and more lovely each and every day!" Keigo yelled getting ready to pounce on the dark haired girl. All three hit Keigo before heading out of Rukia's apartment and downstairs to Amaya's car.

The car ride would have been silent if it wasn't for Keigo's constant remarks and his constant need to tell dirty jokes. Rukia and Ichigo were sitting the in the back so Amaya was the first to hit her boyfriend when he said something out of line.

20 minutes later they reached the downtown district, a place with dozens of neon lights and music blasting from each building. People moved from place to place, cars sped down the streets and the noise of sirens was forever constant.

"Remember Kurosaki, this is just another friendly outing." Rukia said to the orange-haired man as she stepped out of the jeep.

"You just keep your hands to yourself Rukia." Ichigo jeered with a smirk before he joined the others in the parking lot. The group entered the restaurant, it was a very simple place, decorated in creams and the tables were all a dark brown. Somehow, Rukia knew this wasn't it for their friendly outing…if she knew Amaya, this was just part one.

As the group was seated a bright bubbly girl approached them with their menus. Her brown hair was up in a ponytail. "Good evening, my name is Arina and I'll be your server today!" She said her blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Omigosh!" She practically squealed looking at Rukia, "I know you!" She said quickly taking out her notebook.

"Umm…huh?" Rukia's cheeks blushed slightly, she normally was great at remembering faces but this girl didn't look familiar.

"You won the blue ribbon at last years Art show! That painting you did was so lovely! Oh please could I have your autograph Ms. Kuchiki? You are such an inspiration to so many young artists! I heard that you brother didn't want you to but you—"

"Arina, that's enough. You're making me blush." Rukia said reaching out and taking her notebook. The young girl beamed as her hands were clasped up against her chest. Rukia's hand moved swiftly across the lined paper and she handed it back to Arina.

"Oh thank you!" She said before looking around the table, her cheeks flushed. "Now, what do you guys want to drink this fine evening?" She asked the smile still on her face. Ichigo blinked, looking from their waitress to Rukia, his brain trying to comprehend it.

Rukia was some…art goddess…and yet she worked at a local café busting tables? That didn't make much sense. He frowned before two words made his head snap up and his brown eyes glaring at the petite raven-haired girl.

"Okay, so two strawberry martini's…and" Arina said looking over at Keigo. Ichigo tuned the rest of her words out as his eye twitched.

"What?" Rukia asked blinking as he glared at her from across the table.

"What is with you and strawberry martinis? Ichigo asked in a low growl.

"What? I ordered one for you too!" Rukia said with a smirk.

"Oh god." Ichigo slapped his forehead. "I hate you."

The rest of the dinner was ping-pong of conversations between Amaya and Rukia, while Ichigo and Rukia had an occasional argument about her choice of drink or her choice of dessert, which happened to be chocolate covered strawberries. Rukia stopped mid-conversation to glare at Ichigo.

"What?" She asked with a huff.

"Why do you have to torture me midget? Is it because I'm taller than you?" Ichigo said finally having the upper hand.

"C'mon Ichigo…you know me better than that. Here." She lifted a chocolate covered strawberry from her plate and reached over the table to place it on Ichigo's plate.

"I'm not eating that." Ichigo said crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.

Amaya giggled slightly, they had such obvious chemistry and attraction towards one another…she had to give it a little push. "Why don't you shove it down his throat Rukia-Chan?" Amaya said with one raised eyebrow. Rukia grinned towards her friend and she stood from her seat and walked over to Ichigo's side. She lifted the chocolate covered strawberry from its spot on his plate and placed it against Ichigo's lips. His face began to heat up.

"Come on Ichigo…don't be a baby." Rukia said with a grin. Ichigo opened his mouth to retort when suddenly, the strawberry was in his mouth. He had no choice but to chew the fruit that would forever be Rukia's secret weapon.

He swallowed and stuck his tongue out at Rukia who had returned to her seat. They split the check four-ways and Rukia hugged Arina, their waitress goodbye. "Whatever you do in life, follow your heart okay?" Rukia said to the younger girl who just beamed.

Ichigo stood behind Rukia and he allowed his scowl to fall for a brief moment. She really was amazing. She could kick his ass and yet have this caring side. Ichigo smiled slightly.

"It was so great to meet you…" Arina said, her eyes close to tears.

"I work at Karakura High School in the afternoons. If you have time, come and see me." Rukia said patting the girl on the head who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Ready to go Ichigo?" Rukia asked turning around to face her companion. His scowl returned to his features and he nodded, giving a wave to their waitress who called out to them to drive safely.

&3&3&3&3

As Rukia had predicted, the night wasn't over. Keigo wanted to go dancing and of course Amaya agreed even though Rukia complained. They pulled into the nightclub that Rukia recognized from the time that she danced with Grimmjow. The club, like ever other club, was blasting with music but this time, Rukia wasn't with Rangiku who would tell her to relax before dancing over to the dance floor.

Amaya and Keigo rushed to the dance floor, Ichigo excused himself to the bathroom and Rukia found her way to the bar. She didn't want to drink; she just wanted to be away from the dancing. Just as Rukia sat on the black leather stool, a man approached her. Rukia rolled her eyes.

Ichigo had called into the hospital just to check in, it wasn't his work night tonight but he just wanted to make sure no mistakes had happened. So far, the only deaths that happened were natural ones, elders or clinically ill patients that knew and were ready to pass on. Ichigo pocketed his phone and walked back into the club. His blood began to boil as he saw some sleazy guy so blatantly hitting on Rukia. Ichigo resisted the urge to roll up his sleeves and beat the guy to pulp. He walked over and tapped the guy on the shoulder, "What's your problem?" The guy spat.

Ichigo's eyes were burning it almost made Rukia cringe, but there was something sweet about him coming up here to 'rescue her', even though Rukia Kuchiki wasn't the type to get rescued. Oh no. She could handle this on her own. "Is she your girl?" The guy asked not moving from Rukia's side.

"Yes." Ichigo answered, he'd say just about anything to get this guy away from her.

"No." Rukia answered before quickly correcting herself. "I mean…yes! Now please, get the hell away from me." Rukia said with a sweet smile.

The man grumbled something about how all the pretty girls are taken. Ichigo took her hand, "Come on…darling…let's go dance." Ichigo said wanting to get Rukia far away form this man. Rukia had no choice but to nod and follow Ichigo to the dance floor.

"I could have handled that y'know." Rukia said setting her hands on his shoulders.

"Sure ya could of midget." Ichigo said his hands on her waist.

"But thanks…. darling." Rukia said with a soft chuckle and Ichigo rolled his eyes.

"You're never gonna let me live that down are you?"

"Nope!" Rukia said grinning.

A/N: Finally I finished this chapter! It was fun to write…so yeah! Review Review Review!

The character Arina was an OC from Ichigo-fan-girl; she was the 200th reviewer, Woot! Once again thanks to Alice001 for beta'ing.

:hugs: Have a lovely week guys!