Later that night, Tsukimori was in her room changing and thinking about what had happened in to woods. Smiling, she touched her lips. 'He kissed me...' She looked up when a knock came at the door, finding Shuhei on the other side.

"Everything OK, Shu?"

Shuhei nodded, rubbing his neck and hoping the shadows of the roof would hide his blushing from the moonlight. "I wanted to know if you would like to come with me to join Renji and the others for drinks?"

Tsukimori smiled and nodded. "Sure, just let me get changed."

Shuhei waited patiently for Tsukimori, blushing when she came out in a white and light teal kimono decorate with lilies.

"Ready?"

Shuhei nodded and they went on their way, both wondering where things between them would go from there and how they were going to bring it up to each other.

After joining the others and enjoying drinks for an hour, everyone was beginning to really feel the effects of the sake.

"I heard that you guys found yourself in a nest of Hollows." Renji said, leaning over towards Shuhei.

"It wasn't anything we couldn't handle." Shuhei said, taking the cup of sake Izuru offered him. "If it hadn't been for Tsuki's quick thinking, we'd have really been in trouble." He looked over at Tsukimori as she talked with Momo, a small smile growing.

Renji looked between Shuhei and Tsukimori, sensing something happened between them. Something good. "Oh?"

"I got us more sake!" Rangiku said, stumbling over to them already completely trashed.

Tsukimori looked up as Rangiku joined them, her smile fading as Rangiku threw her arms around Shuhei.

"Tsuki?" Momo saw her smile immediately fade as Rangiku toppled over onto Shuhei, her arms around his neck as she hung all over him.

Tsukimori excused herself, making some excuse that she needed some fresh air. Momo looked at Renji and Izuru, seeing them just as worried as she was, then turned her gaze to Rangiku as she kept Shuhei trapped in her arms.

Shuhei tried to wriggle out of Rangiku's grasp, but was having difficulties. He looked up and noticed that Tsukimori had left, his heart sinking. "Where'd Tsuki go?"

"She needed some air." Momo said, sighing.

Shuhei pushed Rangiku off, much to her complaint.

"Where are you going? We were just starting to have fun!"

"Rangiku, you're completely clueless." Shuhei said. "There's only one person I'm interested in and it's not you, so back off will you?" He excused himself, hurrying off after Tsukimori.

"What'd I do?"

"You can be really dull sometimes, you know?" Renji said, shaking his head.

Shuhei ran after Tsukimori, but didn't know where she went. He tried to find her spiritual energy, sensing it nearly back at the Squad 9 barracks. "Shit..." He hurried to try and catch up to her, to explain.

Tsukimori didn't want to be anywhere near Rangiku, fearing that she might do something she would regret, so she just headed back home to the barracks. The cool night breeze helped to calm her down, but it didn't stop the tears from slipping. 'Is he just playing me..? What is she to him..?'

"Tsuki!"

Tsukimori could hear someone calling to her, but she didn't want anything to do with anyone at the moment. She ignored them and turned into the barracks, making her way towards her room.

Shuhei had finally caught up to her, but she was ignoring him as he called to her. She had turned into the barracks, heading for her room, but he reached for her hand and stopped her.

"What do you want, Shu?"

"Tsuki, I'm sorry..."

Tsukimori turned towards him, the tears slipping down her cheeks. "You're sorry? For what? Leading me on and letting me feel the way I do about you? For kissing me and then letting her draped herself around you?" She pulled her hand free and stepped back. "Just leave me alone..." She made her way down the hall and started to turn the corner, but Shuhei stopped her. When she looked back at him, he caught her by surprise and kissed her.

Lingering for a few moments, Shuhei pulled back and looked down at her. Reaching up to wipe her tears away, he offered her a small smile.

"Shu..."

"I would never lead you on, Tsuki, you should know me better than that."

"But Rangiku, she..."

"She throws herself at any guy she can, especially when she's drunk like that." He stroked her cheek. "We're just colleagues, Tsuki, nothing more. She's not who I want to be with." He pressed his forehead to hers.

"What are you saying..?"

"I'm saying I want to be with you, Tsuki. I really care about you, more than I ever thought I could." He looked down at her, lifting her chin up towards him. "Will you be my girl?"

"Yes."

The following morning, Tsukimori met up with the members of the Soul Reaper Women's Association. Momo asked if everything was alright and Rangiku came over to apologize for her behavior the night before.

"Everything's fine, I promise." Tsukimori told them with a smile.

They all looked at each other, then at her again.

"So did you and Shuhei..?"

Tsukimori's cheeks burned red as apples and she shook her head at the insinuating tone of the question. "N-No, nothing like that!" She looked down at her hands, her smile growing even still. "He did ask me to be his girl, though."

"And?"

"What'd you say?"

"I said yes."

The room erupted in squeals of joy and cheering as they hugged her.

"We're so happy for you!"

Off on the other side of town, Shuhei was talking with Renji and Izuru when they asked if everything was OK between him and Tsukimori.

"Ya, it's great." Shuhei replied, smiling as he looked out over the river.

Renji and Izuru looked at each other, then back at him.

"Did you finally ask her?"

Shuhei nodded.

"And?"

"She said yes."

"Good for you."

"About time!"

Shuhei smiled, wondering why it took him so long to admit that he had feelings for Tsukimori and even longer to tell her. But he was glad that he had and he just hoped he didn't screw things up.