Toshiro hadn't known what to make of the letter when he'd first received it. He fretted over it being some kind of joke or prank but it was the doodle of Chappy in the bottom corner that he was convinced could only have been drawn by Rukia Kuchiki herself, that convinced him otherwise. Then he started to worry about everything else.
He'd started by consulting every document he could to ensure that there were no rules or laws in the soul society that would be frowned upon for him to date a noble woman or a lower ranked member of another squad. By the time he'd completed his research and determined that there were no rules or laws against it, and that as a captain he'd be considered worthy of a noblewoman he barely had time before the event to get himself ready.
He'd spent so long worrying about all the wrong aspects of the evening that he had very little time to care about the important parts. Thankfully he'd had a number of outfits bought for him for his mission in the world of the living by his lieutenant. He picked out a pair of black trousers and a white button down shirt.
Toshiro ran a hand through his hair, his eyes on the clock in his bedroom as he cursed under his breath. He'd decided early enough that he wouldn't stand her up, it went against every fibre in his body to leave a woman waiting for him, but he wasn't sure how he felt about this situation or about her? He was sure that Rukia would have ended up dating Kurosaki or the lieutenant of squad six, so what was she doing writing him a love letter?
He watched his reflection as the heat spilled across his face at the thought and he scowled at himself. He had to abandon his hair, he just didn't have the time or creativity to do something with it before he was leaving and picking the small bundle of white roses that he'd placed on table beside his door.
The white roses had been a last minute decision, deciding to go with something that symbolised the frosty nature they both shared without being overtly romantic, but also, it was a rose, so the meaning could double. Toshiro was fretting, actually he was panicking.
He felt like he'd just been tossed into this, with very little time to decide how he felt and he'd not even had a chance to speak to Rangiku and get her thoughts. Normally something like this he'd discuss with his lieutenant but he didn't wish to burden her with everything she had going on right now. This was a battle he'd have to take on himself and he desperately wished that he'd had more time to prepare.
Toshiro made his way to the meeting point, his heart hammering all kinds of crazy in his chest. He'd rather be fighting at least three Arrancar than dealing with this. His thoughts ceased when he spotted the very tree they were to be meeting beside, a blanket was laid out in the grass and a bottle sat in a bucket of ice.
He gazed around curiously for the woman in question, now wondering how early she got here to set all this up. He'd never had a woman make this much of an effort for his attention before and he hated that he'd not paid more attention to her. Then he saw her moving through the trees toward the spot, she wore a black kimono patterned with white and lilac flowers, the white obi tied around her slender waist highlighting the swell of her hips just under it. Toshiro's mouth went dry.
Her skin glittered in the moonlight like freshly fallen snow and though she held herself confidently, with her head held high and her shoulders back, there was something timid and unsure in her movements.
Toshiro felt the moment her eyes finally found him, she smiled shyly and Toshiro made his way toward her.
'Good evening,' were not the most romantic first words he could have said. Thankfully the corner of her lips ticked and he was pleased with the way her eyes seemed to scan his body.
'Good evening,' she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice as Toshiro held the flowers out to her.
'These are for you,' he mumbled, now within touching distance of her. They were basically the same height as each other and he hoped that wouldn't bother her as they sat down on the blanket.
'You didn't need to go to all this trouble,' she said, nodding her head to the flowers and the blanket. Toshiro frowned.
'I didn't,' he said, 'I thought you…' he trailed off as her eyebrows shot up in shock. Nothing on her expression read as anything other than incredulity.
'Oh,' he sighed and pulled the letter out from the pocket of his trousers, 'you didn't write this did you?'
Toshiro felt himself deflate as he handed the letter across to her. Rukia took it with a frown, her eyes scanning the words and then she checked the seal.
'No, I didn't…' she said after a moment, 'then I am guessing you didn't write this?'
Rukia reached into her kimono and pulled out a similar note, handing it over to him. Toshiro took it. Whoever had written it had copied his hand writing almost flawlessly.
'No,' he said.
There was a beat of awkward silence. Toshiro felt his heart sink. He'd been stupid to believe that a girl could see him as anything other than the young prodigy captain.
'Well,' Rukia mumbled and he turned to see a reddish glow climbing across her beautiful high cheek bones, 'we're both here now, we may as well make the most of it.'
She flashed him a grin that literally stole his breath, beautiful white teeth against pale pink lips and large violet eyes finding his own, 'we can brainstorm who we think it is and kill them tomorrow if it doesn't go well.'
Toshiro chuckled at her words. They seemed to settle the weight that had fallen into his stomach. Whoever had this this up hadn't done it with ill intention and clearly Rukia must have had some interest in him otherwise she wouldn't have bothered to show up at all.
'My money is on Rangiku,' Rukia said, curling her legs under herself as she got comfortable on the blanket.
'Mine isn't,' Toshiro smiled and Rukia's eyes met his again. He felt an electric current jolt down to his stomach when she looked at him. He'd never seen anything so beautiful in the moonlight as Rukia Kuchiki in a kimono. Remember he had words to say and that she was waiting for a response, he continued, 'I mean Rangiku has had a lot going on, but I don't think she strikes me as someone who could masterfully forge our handwriting.'
Rukia blinked and nodded her head, 'I did consider…' she flinched as she tried to stray away from the topic of Ichimaru, 'I mean… who else?'
The question was answered for them as Toshiro went to lift the bottle out of the ice bucket and spotted the little note attached to it. It was signed by none other than captains Kyoraku and Ukitake and Toshiro smiled to himself as he twirled the bottle around for her to read it.
'C-captain?' she squeaked and then the colour was rising in her cheeks again, 'why would he?'
'Perhaps he thought our icy spiritual pressure would be suited for each other,' Toshiro replied, he found when she got shyer that he got braver, 'perhaps they were just bored.'
Rukia giggled at that, the sound much more feminine than he'd have expected from the usually rambunctious woman.
He opened the bottle and poured them both a drink. The liquid hit the back of his throat like a breath of liquid fire and he tried his best not to cough in front of her. Rukia took a drink and made a face.
'Yeah,' she wheezed, 'that felt like it's been picked out by captain Kyoraku.'
It was Toshiro's turn to chuckle at that, he knew the man had a love for alcohol. Toshiro did not and Rukia didn't strike him as much of a drinker either. It was welcome in the sense that it provided a beautiful light colouring on her cheeks and made it easier for conversation to flow between them. They spent a bit of time talking about their divisions while he plucked up the courage to ask her the real question he was burning to ask.
'Forgive me if this is personal,' he said, gazing away from her. He'd unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt to try and allow some air down his torso, the heat from the alcohol making him feel uncomfortably warm. 'Why did you choose to meet me here… I thought that,' he inclined his head awkwardly, 'you and Kurosaki or you and Abarai…'
'Oh no,' Rukia sounded genuinely horrified and as Toshiro turned to watch her, her expression was wide with shock, her lips parted and her eyes wide and round before she shook her head. 'Oh gods no.'
'No?' Toshiro felt the grin crossing his face.
'No, no, no, they're my friends but they're idiots,' she shut her mouth after that comment but the giggle opened it again, 'I love them but not, not like that.'
'Oh, that's good,' Toshiro replied.
'I met you tonight because…' Rukia frowned into her now empty glass and held it out to him. Toshiro chuckled and took it to fill it up, vowing to stop drinking himself so he could walk her home safely. 'I was curious. Kiyone seemed to think we had a lot in common, plus you're,' she nodded toward him but seemed unwilling to finish the comment.
'I'm what?' Toshiro asked curiosity piqued.
'Attractive,' Rukia hid her blush behind her next sip and Toshiro felt himself sit up a little straighter.
'I am?' he asked.
'Yeah,' Rukia's eyebrows furrowed like she wasn't sure if he was being facetious or not.
'It's just, no one has ever said that about me before,' Toshiro shrugged.
'Maybe not to your face,' Rukia's words were getting bolder, the more she drank the more she seemed to be acting around him how she'd act around Kurosaki or Abarai.
'Well I'm glad,' Toshiro smiled at her, watching the way her eyelashes fluttered against her high cheekbones. 'I think you're beautiful too.'
'Oh,' Rukia's cheeks went a tinge darker and she ducked her head, 'I thought you'd think I was too loud and outspoken.'
'Maybe that's what I like about you,' he grinned, 'besides, maybe you can actually give me a challenge in a snowball fight. Rangiku is awful.'
Rukia laughed again, her voice high like wind chimes as she considered his proposition.
'I'll kick your ass.'
Toshiro laughed heartily at that, the words flowing from the noble woman's mouth were much closer to words he'd expect from a Rukon district street kid.
'I guess we'll have to see,' Toshiro took another small sip of his drink, his heart lighter than it had been in months.
The evening ended with Toshiro walking her back to the Kuchiki manor, not wishing for her to be left alone tonight after she'd had too much to drink. Despite the alcohol her steps were straight and sure, she moved with all the grace of a fighter in battle and he couldn't help but be a little impressed by her.
'Thank you for tonight, Captain,' Rukia said as she slid open the gate to the Kuchiki manor.
'Please, call me Toshiro,' he replied, his hand caught hers, dainty and effeminate with smooth skin. He raised it to his lips and kissed once over her knuckles, relishing the way her cool snowy skin felt against his.
'Toshiro,' she breathed his name in a way he'd remember forever, her other hand tucked in at her chest, close to her heart. 'H-have a good night,' with an embarrassed bow she turned and closed the doors to the grounds and Toshiro stood there, feeling giddy and excited for the first time in years.
For the first time, he actually felt warm.
