For the next four days, Ishida avoided Karakura like the plague. He vowed to never again go to the store where he bumped into Orihime. People wearing black clothes scared him half to death. Every knock on the door made the poor guy jump. To say the least, Ishida got...twitchy.

So when he ran into Rukia on the fifth day after the New Year's party diaster, he kept glancing around, expecting to see an orange-haired shinigami pop out of nowhere.

Rukia saw this and grinned. "What's wrong? Expecting somebody?" She made a motion, asking him if he wanted her to leave.

Ishida blushed and hastily pushed up his glasses. He stammered a quick, "N-No, I'm not," before adjusting strap on his backpack to distract himself.

Rukia gave a cheerful laugh. "You're an odd guy, Ishida. Where are you off to?"

Relieved she didn't ask about why he left the New Year's party, he lifted up the bag and replied, "Oh, I was going to work. I'm a designer."

The normally dark blue eyes brightened, "Really?"

Ishida nodded, "Yeah. I work for a designer company, they do like, fancy parties for stars, proms for rich schools, and weddings..." He pulled out a portfolio of glossy, high quality pictures. He motioned to Rukia to look.

Rukia gave a small gasp of amazement, as her fingers traced the designs in the pictures. "This is where you've been all these years?"

With a rueful smile, he nodded. "Yep. This is where I've been."

With a happy smile, she finished flipping through the pictures and handed it back to him. "This is amazing, Ishida."

Ishida beamed with pride. "Thanks, Kuchiki."

"Well, I'd better go before you're late for work." She gave a little wave and walked forward. "See ya around."

"Yeah, see ya." Ishida said in agreement. He began to walk his own way.

When he had walked a few yards, Rukia suddenly called out, "Hey, Ishida!"

Turning around with a questioning look on his face, he called back, "Yes?"

The Shinigami straightened up and yelled, "Do you think you could meet me and Inoue for lunch later?"

The smile on his face faltered a bit. One of the last people he wanted to see was Inoue. He still had no idea how she took to him kissing her. "Um, sure! When and where?"

"2:30 at Tasuku's Coffe Shop! See ya there!" With those parting words, the raven-haired woman ran off.

Ishida resumed his walk to work, with a vague feeling that something was bound to go wrong.