Author's Note on the bottom.

TWELVE CHAPTER: THE DATING GAME

Of Peaches And Naked Cat Women.

"… What now?" Rukia spluttered out, boredly slumped on the couch.

"What the hell?! Oi, remember! You're the one who dragged me here!" Ichigo scowled at her, crossing his arms and turning away from her in rage. "My ass hurts because of you, remember that!"

"Like I care about your ass." Rukia rolled her eyes. "… Not that it's something bad…" she trailed off quietly, almost realizing in a split second that she had said something… really, really… weird.

Ichigo's brown eyes turned to greet her own. "Nani? What did you say?" he asked curiously. "I didn't catch that." he spoke, scratching his head sheepishly, slouching lazily. Rukia turned a bright shade of fuchsia, jumping off from the couch.

"N-Nani? What do you mean? I didn't say anything!" She stumbled on her words. "Peh!"

"You're lying to yourself, y'know that, Rukia?" Ichigo chuckled. "Liar."

"I am not!"

"Sure you are."

"No way!"

"This won't take us anywhere, either." Ichigo rolled his eyes after a few moments of arguing. "But besides, why were we arguing again?" He rubbed his chin in deep thought. "I think it had something to do with… ehh... well... I give up."

"Just like that?" Rukia twitched, leaning on the window she was in front of. "You're an idiot," she muttered, almost laughing at his stupidity.

"I-I am not."

"Yes you are."

"I AM NOT!"

"Yes. You. Are."

"We're not going to have this type of witty banter again, are we?" Ichigo scowled angrily; he was being called an idiot, why wouldn't he be mad? "It takes too long."

"I really don't care." Rukia glared back at him, her stare piercing through Ichigo like a knife. She wanted to punch him really, really, really hard for some odd reason. It just came to her. "Just be quiet. You're annoying."

She idly rocked back and forth; they didn't talk much after that. Ichigo played with his orange hair, twisting it around and around, but there wasn't much hair to twist in the first place. As they went on with their lame businesses, they never noticed a cat sneaking up behind Ichigo, and they never expected what would happen next.

"Psst. Over here, Ichigo," the little black cat cooed behind him, attracting Ichigo's attention. Ichigo spun around quickly, searching for the voice. He found it in the cat, and raised an eyebrow.

"Yoruichi?"

The cat merely nodded. "Yep!"

Poof.

She transformed right in front of him, into a lady. A naked lady, to be specific. Ichigo screamed at the top of his lungs. "Gyaah!" he shrieked with all his might, jumping up, turning around, and falling right on Rukia-- he barely missed her lips as their faces touched.

Urahara popped out from the window. "Did it work?" His question only received on answer. "BAKA!" A vein popped from Yoruichi's head. "You're not supposed to come out yet!" she hissed, almost coming up to him and ripping his precious green hat into pieces.

"My bad?" he excused sheepishly.

"It is!"

"It is?"

"It is!"

"Is it, you naked woman!" teased Urahara. "Put some clothing on!"

"It's not like you haven't seen me like this before!"

It kept going, even worse than when Ichigo and Rukia had argued. This time, the two older ones did not stop. What a great influence, Yoruichi, Urahara. You'll make a better generation.

And the downside was… the two arguing never noticed the younger ones still blushing madly; frozen at the spot.

"Hitsugaya-kun, can you please tell me where we're going?" Hinamori tried her best to catch up with her white-haired captain friend. "You're going too fast, and wouldn't it be better if you just told me?"

"No, it wouldn't." He slowed his pace down, following Hinamori's comment. "Just be patient, Hinamori." Hitsugaya ran his hand through his silky-white hair. "You're so hasty."

"I'm not the one walking at a hundred miles per hour!" Whining, Hinamori had finally caught up to him with shunpo, tired in exhaustion.

"We're almost there, anyways." He motioned for Hinamori to go left; she complied. "Just a bit more."

Hinamori examined her surroundings. "We're in the slums…?" She asked cautiously, going up behind Hitsugaya and grabbing his haori. They were in District 47, far from where they first had started walking. What's going to happen?"

Hitsugaya rolled his eyes. "It's not like I'm going to rape you or something," he mumbled in annoyance. "Just follow me." He motioned for her to accompany him in a long dark alleyway; it seemed like it would take awhile to get to the end.

"O- Okay…" Although very frightened, she kept on. They walked sneakily through the alley, ignoring all the people who sat on the floors, cat-calling to them. Hitsugaya wanted to knock them out-- he could with his spiritual energy.

After a long while of walking through the dark place, Hitsugaya broke the silence. "Here." Hitsugaya finally came to where he was going to take Hinamori. "We're here."

Hinamori's eyes glittered in delight. "How pretty!" Her arms were spread widely, looking at the view.

It was a pretty thing, too. She wasn't kidding. It was a beautiful orchard in the back of District 47, an orchard of fresh, plump peaches-- something the district took a lot of pride in.

"I'm sorry for getting mad at you, Hinamori. I brought you here to make it up to you. I knew you'd like it here." Hitsugaya smiled courteously at her, pulling her towards one of the trees. "The people let us have some," he foretold her; "You can take and eat as much as you'd like. Just don't take the whole orchard. I know you eat a lot, but…"

"Hitsugaya-kun!" she whined. "I don't eat that much!"

"You wish," he laughed out loud, leaning on one of the trees. "It's a miracle how you never gain much weight. You should ask Matsumoto for advice. She knows how to do it."

"HITSUGAYA-KUN!" Embarrassed, she flailed her arms in the air.

"Hey, hey. It's Hitsugaya-taichou to you, Bed Wetter Momo," he grinned, watching Hinamori coming up with a bunch of peaches, sitting next to him.

They always enjoyed peaceful times like these.

"I- Ichigo…" Rukia forced the words out. It was hard to speak when someone is hovering over you, with lips as close as they could get. But they could get closer.

Subsequently, he didn't. He leaned in, Rukia closing her eyes.

"Did we miss anything?" Urahara piped in, the two speeding away from each other, opposite sides of the room.

Yoruichi, with clothes on now, raised her eyebrows and voiced her opinion. "I think they've done something. Something we'd love to know. Were you two doing something?" Her sneaky grin caused them to blush even harder.

"I think they almost did do what we were supposed to make them do-- you do know what I'm saying, do you?" Urahara whispered in Yoruichi's ear. She nodded-- apparently, she understood. "You do?"

"I've known you for a long time, Kisuke." She explained. "I can understand your petty language."

"Point taken." Their gaze turned, and bore through the hearts and minds on Ichigo and Rukia.

"Something went on here, hm?" Yoruichi teased. "I wonder what could've happened." She added one final comment. "You blushing little strawberries."

"Inoue-san…" Ishida started, backing up into the corner, trying to be near them. "Ne- Nemu-san…" He inched away like a little insect. "W-what… What are you…?"

"Ano, Uryu-san, I'd like to-" Nervously, Nemu started to speak, but was bluntly cut off by Orihime.

"I'd like to take you out on a date, Ishida-kun!" Orihime asked brightly, almost jumping in excitement. "You're so fun to hang out with, so that's why I'm asking you out!"

You can imagine Matsumoto jumping in the shadows.

Ishida was flabbergasted. "A- Ah… well…"

"Please?" Her eyes twinkled in her innocence, almost making Ishida melt in the process. You're really great, and…"

"I'll go with you." Smiling, he accepted, then turning to Nemu. "Ah! Nemu-san. Were you going to say something?" he asked curiously. "I'd be happy to hear it."

"No!" she piped. "No, Uryu-san. Nothing at all." She nodded her head, and backed away.

Mayuri slapped his head. "Aiya…" So much for his plan, he thought. But then again… 500 yen really wasn't that much to start with; it was the same amount of cash you could buy a large drink with at an average airport. "Nevermind, Nemu!" he hollered to her. "Let's just go!"

Nemu nodded, and rushed away from Orihime and Ishida, causing Ishida to be even more curious than ever. "Hmm…?"

It was a long day for Hitsugaya and Hinamori; they had hung out at the orchard for the whole afternoon. Hinamori yawned, stretching her arms out wide. "Wow it seems late... should we go now, Hitsugaya-kun?" He glanced up into the air-- the skies were now a mixture of blue, orange, pink, and red. "Well…"

"Look at these colors!" Hinamori gasped in delight, looking into the sky with awe. "It's so beautiful! Can we stay for a bit more and watch it, Hitsugaya-kun?"

"Mm." Hitsugaya nodded in approval, Hinamori clapping in happiness.

"I don't think I have seen anything as beautiful…" Hinamori told Hitsugaya as they watched the sun set, the array of colors blending in with each other before fading out.

"I have," was Hitsugaya's only reply. You.

And that's it. For now. Next chapter, next Sunday, hopefully.

You know, I feel like I'm missing something. I gotta add Renji in. Also Soi Fon for fun. Next chapter maybe?

Here's the story. PTC was on Friday, and I was so scared... my grades aren't honor-roll worthy this quarter. I was silently praying, "God, I promise to update this as soon as I get home... just don't make my dad see the report card!!"

Anyways, we went, and I was still freaking out. And yeah. But in the end, the report cards were locked up; we came late. It was a super miracle. So I'm still alive. Yay! Prayers do come true.

Thanks for all your reviews!

-Tsukia, twelve minutes ago.

Dedicated to Yukiko Tsukishirou, for being my 300th reviewer. Can you believe it? 300?

THANK YOU TO GODDESS OF CRIMSON SAND FOR BETA-ING THIS! Totally. You also gave me the title. x3