I've succumbed to realize that this story is ending soon. Less then 20 chapters, I estimate.
ZOMG, I've gotten a love for the manga Fullmetal Alchemist. It takes away writing time. Whoops. I've already caught up to it already. Okay, okay. That was a lie. I'm almost through with the book though.

SIXTEENTH CHAPTER: THE DATING GAME

Of Troubles and Confessions

"Wait!" Rukia shouted, beads of sweat trailing down her face as she scrambled along to catch up with Ichigo. They were playing cat and mouse again, and this time, she was the cat. "Wait-- Wait--" She huffed.

Ichigo on the other hand, seemed unfazed after walking that long distance. "I'm not stopping." He grunted, his step striding farther and faster. "You can just go now."

She shook her head. "Hmph. I'm not stopping." Rukia mimicked, her face quickening with each step. "You're going to have to face it, Ichigo! Listen to me!" Her voice boomed in his ears, and he was getting tired of it.

His foot stomped on the ground, spinning to face the short, ebony-haired girl. "Hell-- why should I listen?!"

Rukia looked up, seeing something intense inside of his amber eyes. Something like... intense... intense jealously? She couldn't tell.

"Just-- listen!" She sneered back with equal intensity in her eyes. But instead of alleged jealousy, it was pure rage. "Don't act like a stuck up, stubborn brat, Ichigo!"

"I am not!" He just proved her correct. Upon realization, Ichigo crossed his arms, a snarl coming out from his mouth in defeat. "Hmph."

It was a signal for her to continue.

"For one thing, Ichigo, I don't like Renji." She pointed quickly, pulling out her notebook and scribbling a doodle bunny-version of Renji. "He's just a friend." In crude writings, she wrote 'just friends', next to a doodle bunny-version of her. "See?"

"Not really. Your crappy drawings are blinding my eyes from the truth." He said bluntly, consequently receiving a slap from the girl.

She glared at him. "Don't change the subject!"

"I'm not! I- I just want to say something!"

"Like what?" She looked at him intently, onyx hair swaying in the wind. "What now, Ichigo?"

Ichigo clumsily cleared his throat. "I just want to say that--"

"Hitsugaya-kun, you look restless."

Hinamori raised her eyebrow. "Hitsugaya-kun, you look really restless." She repeated, twirling her hair around her finger carelessly. "Did you get enough sleep last night?"

"I'm fine." Through his gritted teeth, he forced the words through his mouth. "Just... why are you still wearing that dress?" Hitsugaya hissed, glaring icicles at the girl.

She pouted, pulling on the straps of her pink dress Unohana had given her. "What's wrong with it? I think it's really nice!" Hinamori commented.

It was no use trying to argue with Hinamori, Hitsugaya decided, since they both had strong personalities. "Just... let's go back to my office or something." They were in the halls.

Hinamori didn't know that behind her, a group of men had been watching her. The slit of her dress was a bit too ... long... for her. Luckily for Hitsugaya, he had a great photographic memory and was keeping all of those bastards in mind.

"Okay!" She cheerfully complied. "I have to ask Matsumoto-san something, so that's perfect!"

"Ask her what?" Hitsugaya asked curiously, tilting his head sideways at her.

... "Girl things!" Hinamori made an excuse, and he believed it--

-- It's not like he wanted to ask farther than that. "Well... okay."

They walked in silence to the Tenth Division, neither of them knowing what to say.

Renji and Orihime stood in silence at Ukitake's place, one scratching his head and one laughing nervously. "Renji-san?" Orihime piped up. "Renji-san, can I ask you something?"

Renji blinked, looking at the stunningly orange-haired girl. "Yeah, Orihime?" He muttered, still stunned after watching Ichigo and Rukia brush past them like both of them were never there.

"... can I... go now?" She was a bit scared to ask.

He stared at her for a bit, then ran a hand through his crimson hair. "Yeah... I guess...?" He was a bit surprised to answer. "You didn't have to ask me, y'know. It's not like this is my pla..."

Too late, she was already out the door.

He sighed, seeing that he was alone in a place he really didn't want to be in. "Well..." He started, "guess I gotta go report back to Byakuya." Red hair fluttered as he rushed out the door, a smirked cracking on his face.

"Now... where to?" Orihime peered around the secret crevices in Seretei. "I wonder if there's something to eat..." She thought dreamily, a load of wheat bread smothered in red bean jelly popping up in her mind.

Upon the great amount of delicious food she imagined in her mind, she forgot to look in front of her and bumped into something hard clumsily, falling flat on her face.

"E- Eh?! ... how embarrassing." She sweat-dropped, rubbing her aching head. "Whoops!" Orihime got up and dusted herself, walking along on her way quickly.

A small chuckle was heard. "Isn't it polite to apologize when knocking head first into someone... Orihime?" The voice, which was presumably a man, rumbled, Orihime freezing in place in surprise.

"... is it... ?" Her eyes widened in question. slightly turning her head backwards to see who the man could be.

Ulquiorra's face remained stoic. "Hn."

"What would you say if I said something that you might not think that I really meant when I say it?" Ichigo's eyes were raised in question, Rukia's as well. "So?"

"Well," She cleared her throat, "I'd have to wait and see if you'll say what you said again because I cannot say anything because what you said I cannot say because I can't remember."

Pause. "Well, I dunno." Ichigo shrugged. "I don't know what you said either."

He promptly received a slap on the face.

"Hmph." Rukia grunted, crossing her arms in total impatience. "Just say what you have to say!"

"What if I d--"

"NOW!"

Rukia was an impatient woman, unluckily for Ichigo.

"Ulquiorra-san, why are you here?" Her brows scrunched in curiosity. "Shouldn't you be in Hueco Mundo?" Orihime's eyes pierced into his eyes almost as deep as he in hers. "Why are you here?"

He tilted his head slightly down. "I do not think that I have the right to tell you."

Orihime decided not to question any longer.

"Matsumoto?" Hitsugaya knocked on his door sharply. "Matsumoto!" He yelled.

Hinamori pouted. "Hitsugaya-kun, you don't have to shout... it's not really nice." She instructed, recieving a growl.

"She's my vice-captain." Hitsugaya replied stubbornly, a sigh escaping his lips. "And a lazy one too... where the hell did she go?" He spoke angrily, searching around the office for a sleeping lady.

Hinamori clicked her tongue, eying the place too. "Hm... I wonder...?" She followed Hitsugaya on his journey around the place to find his lazy subordinate. Carefully, she tapped him on the shoulder.

"Maybe she went out." She suggested.

He rolled his eyes. "How would you know? For all we know, Hinamori, she could just be lying around the--" His ramblings soon stopped, though, as he saw what Hinamori held in her hands.

A note.

Dear Hitsugaya-taichou,

Meeting someone. You can do my paperwork, I accept!

Hugs, Matsumoto.

He was furious.

"Okay! Okay!" Ichigo retracted his arms back and in front of his face, an 'x' shape. "I'll tell you, just don't slap me again!" He cooed, trying to calm the impatient girl.

Rukia nodded happily. "Okay then! Go!"

Ichigo sweat-dropped at her sudden mood change. "... uh..."

"Well?"

"... what if... I were to say... that I... well... anoo... what if I loved you?"

Okay, okay. Short, but it's to the point. And yeah. Hm. I don't know. Shall I extend it a bit? Or finish this quick and painless? Who do you think will win? Thanks insanlynuts for being the 500th reviewer! Wow. 500 reviews. Never thought I'd see the day. And I'm sorry for the delay. I was... in shock of Sanjaya getting out. Okay, not really. But it was one factor!

I hope you review, it really makes me happy to see a bunch of it in my inbox! Well, not now. Alerts aren't working. Again.

-Tsukia, tma.

What's happening during the next chapter:

Rukia is surprised. Really. Hinamori and Hitsugaya find Matsumoto in an unexpected place. Orihime enjoys some time with someone she'd really never hang out with... due to his lack of social skills.

And... Ishida is somewhere in the mix! And Kira and Hisagi enter! And Yoruichi and Urahara and Soi Fon join the fun!

Once more thing. Renji's true purpose of this story is... revealed? Isn't he just Renji? I dunno.