Disclaimer: Bleach and all affiliated characters and settings are the creative property of Kubo Tite and all companies holding title to its distribution. Used for non-profit entertainment purposes.

Warnings: Strong language.

July 5 Prompt: Tongue Lashing

Directionally Challenged

"You're going the wrong way – you just missed a left turn."

She smirked when she felt Ichigo's shoulders tense under her hands from her perch on his back.

"Am not!"

Rukia sighed dramatically and casually moved her arms around so that the Hollow-detecting device Urahara had provided her was in his line of vision.

"This is where we are," she pointed, "and this is where the Hollow is. You missed that turn."

"Your little machine's broken; I can fucking see that I'm going the right way," Ichigo growled, freeing one hand from under one of her knees to bat the device away from his face. "And get that damn thing out of my way; I can't see with you waving it in my face like that."

"Well, can you see or can't you?" She gave it an extra little wave just to irritate him further.

"Fuck you, Rukia!"

"That isn't such a nice way to speak to a female according to your social standards, Ichigo," Rukia said, tone bordering on condescension. She pulled the indicator out of Ichigo's face to look at it more closely again. "I thought you were more of a gentleman than that. And no, you're not going the right way – the Hollow isn't moving in this direction."

"Well, who are you going to trust more – Urahara's inventions, or me?"

Without missing a beat, Rukia replied, "Urahara's inventions, of course."

Ichigo's shoulders tensed more, and he suddenly went very quiet. Rukia belatedly realized that he'd issued a challenge, and that she'd just shot down the relationship of trust she'd been trying to build for quite some time. Ichigo kept running, but now there was a horribly heavy and awkward silence blanketing the very small space of air between them. With a muffled sigh, Rukia looked back down at the indicator. There was still no sign ahead of them of any sort of surreal disturbance, or anything remotely Hollow-like.

"Ichigo–"

"Shit." He muttered the word so quietly that she barely heard him, and his shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. "Fine. I get it. Which way is the damn thing?"

"Back the other way," she said, "and then take the next left. We can head it off by a few intersections if we go that way."

Ichigo complied with a frustrated grunt. She really had hurt his feelings, but he'd just have to get over it if he was that sensitive about asking for directions. Typical male ego.

Then she looked down at her indicator again, and nearly swore aloud.

"Ichigo?"

"What?" he snapped.

"We missed another turn."

For a moment, Rukia was incredibly grateful for the fact that most people wouldn't hear the scathing language pouring loudly from Ichigo's mouth as they raced down another back alley.