Author's Note:

I have realized that a lot of people reading this are not familiar with the basic plot of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". I am hesitant to explain it, because I think it's a must read. However, I feel that I should explain that Rukia is cast as Hermia, Renji as Lysander, Ichigo as Demitrius and Tatsuki as Helena. Now that you have proper character representation you don't have to think so much. So go read it. Now!

In a forest that still didn't exist

Jinta would have found Renji sooner if it hadn't been for Ururu. Seriously, the girl couldn't even walk properly on her own. It was his firm belief that Ururu's entire existence was for the sole purpose of making his job harder. At least that's what he told himself.

"Give me the flower", he commanded in his most grown-up voice. In the last hundred years, Jinta had begun to hit puberty. But the problem with puberty was that sometimes, his voice cracked, and he sounded like a little girl. Which was really embarrassing, to say the least.

"Are you sure this is the right guy?"

"Of course I'm sure; the girl is lying right over there. Are you blind?"

"Well, how do we know it's them?" A hundred years had made Ururu only slightly less timid. But she still felt the need to ask the all-important question, to be sure they got it right.

"Do you see anyone else around? Stupid!"

Jinta promptly ripped the slightly deformed flower from Ururu's hand, and wrenched it out over Renji's face. A good deal of green slop splattered all over him.

"Now, let's go, I'm hungry."

"But…They told us to…"

"I don't give a damn. She's just over there. There are no animals around. Of course she will be the first thing he sees. Now let's get the hell out of here."

Ururu simply bowed her head, and stumbled after her friend. Of course, she just knew they had made a huge mistake.

Later, with Demetrius the Dumb, and Helena the Hopeless

"Would you slow down? You don't know where you're going. At this rate, you are bound to get us lost in the dark!"



Ichigo sighed. What had he done to deserve this? He just knew Tatsuki was silently insulting his ability to sense reiatsu. Or rather, his lack thereof.

"My advice to you is the same as before. Go away!"

"What, and leave you alone to get lost in the dark? I don't think so."

"Didn't I tell you? Your company is torture for me. I repeat; go away!"

"You –Ouff!"

Tatsuki had tripped over something, and fell face first into a bush. She silently swore. Like she hadn't suffered enough lately?

"Damnit, Ichigo, wait!"

But of course, the idiot completely ignored her. He strode off quickly, and was gone before she could even get up. Damn him. She looked down at what had made her trip. And gasped. Normally, Tatsuki wasn't a gasping kind of person. But once the surprise wore off, she had to suppress the urge to giggle. Another reaction that didn't come naturally to her. In his hurry, Ichigo had not only run away from her, he had also escaped a sleeping Renji.

"You are so lucky it was me who tripped over you…Hey, wake up!"

She kicked him. He was still snoring. She kicked him harder. He grunted. What was it about men? Were they all idiots?

"Abarai-fukutaichou. Wake up!"

Impatiently, she got down on her knees, and shook him awake. And it sure took a lot of shaking.

"Uhh…Arisawa-san? Is Ichigo with you? Ichigo…Such a foul name! That man was made to be impaled upon my sword!"

"Eh?"

"Arisawa-san, nay Tatsuki-chan… Where is Ichigo? I shall kill him!"

"Don't say that Abarai. You have Rukia, he does not. Surely that is enough?"

"Enough? Rukia? Certainly not. It is you I love, my lovely Tatsuki-chan. I regret all that time I wasted with her, when it is clear, we are meant to be together!"

"Is that supposed to be funny?"

She was angry now. Tatsuki Arisawa was no one's fool. Even though she and Abarai had never been close, she had assumed he held reasonable respect for her, as she did for him. But this was just ridiculous.

"Oh, Tatsuki-chan, for you I would walk through fire!"



"Enough! I may have to take Ichigo's scorn, but I certainly need not stand here and be the target of your ridicule!"

And with that she turned on her heel, and stalked off in the direction from which she could feel Ichigo's reiatsu.

Renji cast Rukia a nervous glance. He could almost discern her figure amongst the trees. Good thing Tatsuki hadn't seen her there. Without further thought, he stalked off after his beloved Tatsuki.

Under that dank tree, however, Rukia awoke with a start. A feeling of distinct dread had followed her into sleep, and produced a nightmare where a hollow feasted on her heart. She could still hear a cold laughter echoing in her ears. She needed to find Renji.

Hobbling up on unstable knees, she began her search, not finding him anywhere in the vicinity. She had to track his reiatsu.

Back in Karakura

Isshin was on a mission. A mission concerning his own personal vendetta. A mission which brought him to Urahara's storage room. Urahara Kisuke himself was unconscious on the porch, where Yoruichi had banished them both after they got too rowdy in the living room. Unknown to her, however, Isshin had only pretended to be roaring drunk. In order to drink Urahara under the table.

Hobbling along the first aisle, the completely sober Isshin tripped over a box with a green flower painted on it. After wiping his face off the floor, he grinned wickedly. Now Urahara would pay for waking him up so early today. And Yoruichi would pay for saying he couldn't hold his liquor. Because Isshin could so hold his liquor.

Grabbing a handful of the ugly looking plant, Isshin silently skulked up the stairs towards Yoruichi's bedroom. The kids weren't the only one's making bad choices this week.