Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. But secretly everyone wants to be rich a famous like Kubo.

"Talking"

Thinking

Thinking/Talking Soul Spirits

Talking voice Rukia hears.

Dark Nights

Chapter 13: Dreadful Circumstances

"Trust me; you'll know when the world ends when Toshiro reveals himself as Justin Bieber." I mocked, watching Toshiro's reaction closely, making sure that I really pissed him off this time.

"Oh ya, and what would that make you then?" He asked. "Rukia Bieber." he said with a smirk.

I grimaced even at the thought of it. "Ew, that sounds nasty." I said truthfully. "It's almost worst than 'Rukia Hitsugaya'." I added as I stuck out my tongue, Toshiro trying to cover how annoyed he was at my childish wordplay.

"No, that's because you saying it wrong, it supposed to be 'Hitsugaya Rukia'." he said in a 'matter of fact' kind of tone and the smirk that stayed plastered on his face growing into a full out grin.

"'Rukia Cifer' sounds better." (BTW: 'Cifer' is pronounced 'Shifa'.) Ulquiorra cutted. "No matter how you say it, it kicks "Hitsugaya Rukia" ass.

I couldn't help but laugh and Ulquiorra's remark as he took the imaginary trophy right from Toshiro's arms. This was the type of random conversations we ended up producing because we were bored. So much for being mature teenagers right?

"Rukia, what nonsense did you start up now?" Ichigo asked sitting down next to me, Indian style. "Can't you just have a moment a peace, even for the fireworks, I'm sure it'll start soon." he said and he was probably right.

"It's not a crime to prevent death-by-boredom." I said. "I just saved two lives." I refereed to Ulquiorra and Toshiro who were more guilty at being stupid than I was.

Ichigo sighed not even bothering to tell me how wrong I was. "So... Rukia, you never told us how you 'date' went with Toshiro."

"It WASNT a DATE!"

My eyes went to the blushing Toshiro who was now glaring at the ground, pulling out the grass. Then I looked back at Ichigo with a wide, toothy grin. "It SUCKED."

Earlier:

"You kids have fun now ya' here!" Orihime called out waving her arm in the arm like a maniac as I trailed behind Toshiro. "Don't get yourselves into any trouble guys! Bring back lots of fireworks!"

I waved back over to her with a two figure salute. "See ya!" I shouted back.

"Would you keep it down?" Toshiro nagged.

I looked at him for a bit, not expecting that he would lash out on me like that. "You know, you're a real grouch, old man." I said peeking out to the side of my eyes, waiting to see his reaction.

"Old man huh?" He snickered, not showing me his face.

"Pedophile." I muttered, a bit uneasy since he didn't look back to face me.

"Kwebby."

"What's that?"

"A midget who has an affinity towards raping men of all ages, preferably Asian men." Toshiro said with a taunghting laugh. "It's a real word." He glanced back, a childish grin growing on his face, his emerald eyes laughing for him.

I stared at him for a moment, analyzing every detail in his face, almost taken back by Toshiro's expression. It had been a while since I had seen Toshiro smile like that, and I was good to know he didn't lose his happiness. I snapped myself back into reality, mentally slapping myself. "Well you would know about being attracted to Asian men, wouldn't you?" I snapped back, making sure I didn't seem too harsh or too dazed.

"Me?" He asked almost surprised that I referred to him a Kwebby. "Like HELL!" He shouted his expression growing from disbelief too plain annoyed.

"Well I don't see any other Snowflake around here."

"Why you..."

I glared at him, making sure he didn't dare finish his sentence. "Say it!" I shouted. "I dare you! Finish it!" I challenged, knowing he wouldn't dare to finish the sentence. After what seemed to be an hour of awkward glaring, we both finally gave in, turning our backs to the other and giving a stubborn 'Hmph!'

"I can't take this crap; I'm going back to the tent." Toshiro said, walking back towards the camp grounds.

I walked the opposite way. "Fine, but remember, it's going to be your fault when you end up crying over my gave!" I glanced back out of the corner of my eye. "Or better yet, crying over the fact my name would be Mrs. Rukia Cifer."

Toshiro stumbled over his own two feet at the sound of that name. I didn't even have to look back to tell that he was peeved. I slowed my pace down a bit and just as I had predicted, Toshiro had caught up, his eyes fixed on the ground. "Don't get me wrong," he said, "I'm not doing this because I'm jealous or anything it's just... uh... what kind of friend would I be if I let a human walk around town like a late night buffet?" he mumbled.

I smiled to myself. "Thanks, Toshiro..." I muttered and his face turned a different shade of pink. "But you such a pushover!" I laughed shoving his shoulder with my own.

I didn't have to be told that I had just pissed him off.

XXX

Toshiro checked his watch, "Damn, Rukia, we better hurry all the shops close early today."

I looked at him in surprise. "You're joking!" I shouted making a gasping noise. I grabbed Toshiro's wrist. "Come on! We got to hurry before they all close!" I shouted dragging him along the vender's street market, keeping an eye out for an open Firework shop.

"Sir!" I shouted to the plump man behind the desk as he turned around from whipping the counters. "I want the biggest set of fireworks you got!" I shouted.

Toshiro gawked at me. "Rukia! The Biggest! We don't have that kind of money!" he shouted.

I glared back at Toshiro. "You're a freak n' Prince! Whaddya mean you don't have any money you selfish asshole!" I shouted back.

Toshiro face palmed. "Rukia I wonder what kind of imagination runs through your head. No. Scratch that." He said. "I wonder how you brain works all together..." he muttered, giving up on explaining to me that he was flat out broke and the only money we had was the lint that stayed in my pockets.

"Sorry ma'am but were closed." The owner interrupted. "Best of luck next year." he said closing the blinds the shop and bringing the down.

"Ah! But wait!" I tried put it was too late he already refused. I looked back at Toshiro with a sad expression. "Come on, there's bound to be a place still open!" I said, and he gave me a sympathetic look in return, taking me towards more of the Town's hot spots or possible places where there would be a Firework shop.

But with the great luck we have had so far, it wouldn't be a surprise with it had started raining.

And it did.

"Toshiro!" I shouted feeling cold, wet prickles of water hit my face. Toshiro looked up, starring up into the raining sky, watching the grey clouds roar with lightning. "Over there." he said, taking off with jacket and putting it over my head.

I looked at him from under the jacket and he took me under the long roof. No rain seemed to touch us from under there, but as I watch the details on Toshiro's face once again I couldn't help but realize, he was such a goof.

"You know Toshiro," I said. "I almost fell for the hot-shot act." I said with a smirk on my face and he kept his emerald eyes stuck on mine as if saying 'oh really?' "But then I remembered you weren't some hero-stranger, you were you, just being a goof." I said. "Trust me, the last thing that would make me fall for you, is some lame-mo move like that." I said.

"Well I can tell you right now I didn't mean for my motive to be like that." he said. "I was just being courteous to a friend." he smirked.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "Courteous?" I snorted. "To me?"

Toshiro grumbled something under his breath and sat down against the wall of the shop. "Looks like we're stuck here for a while." he said. "Might as well adjust to it." he grunted.

I stared at him. "Adjust, huh?" I stared out into the rain, my vision going fuzzy as the rain seemed to fall faster. "And how do you suppose we do that, Snowflake?" I asked looking back down at him, sliding down along the wall, and sitting down next to him.

"Let's go let something to eat." he said. "I'm sure there's got to place around here."

"Last time I went to get something to eat here, I almost became the meal." I said boldly.

"Ya, but I'm here now, and since when have I ever let you down before?" He asked with a childish grin.

I pursed my lips, biting on the inside of it, trying to hold back a smart ass response. "Ya, ok, food sounds really good right now, just no ramen noodles ok?" I made sure. Toshiro shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded.

I walked next to him into the rain, the picture of Toshiro's snowy hair drooping and sticking to his tan face made me smile.

"Thinking about me?" Toshiro asked his face close to mine as he crouched down. I snapped out of my thoughts to stare up at Toshiro with a glare. "Well you had a content little smile on your face so I figured you were thinking about me." he said, in a matter of fact kind of tone.

I fixed my violet eyes to the ground staring at the puddles. "Well I wasn't." I said as I grimaced at my lie. "I was just thinking about how nice it would be to go back home, you know, with everyone together." I said noticing a small wet puddle a few steps away and jumping up making a large splash and my feet hit the bottom.

"Hey!" Toshiro complained, his pants getting wet with muddy water.

I looked up at him and blinked. "Oh! Shit... I'm sorry." I said.

"Nah, nah, its fine." He dismissed, not bothering to fix his pant. "Go do you bunny-hopping thing over there." he waved off and I did so. Hopping from one puddle to another, just like hopscotch. I noticed how Toshiro was staring at me with his emerald eyes, a crack on his lips curving into a small, content smile

"Wanna join me?" I asked with a smile as Toshiro turned his head in disgust.

"Now why would I want to do that?" he asked already knowing the answer to his remark. "Just watching you do that stupid thing is fun enough." And I couldn't tell whether he was being sarcastic or not, but I dismissed the feeling.

"Ya your right it's stupid huh?" I said as I started walking towards him.

"Well, if I did it, I'm pretty sure I would look stupid, but you didn't look all that stupid." he said. "It looked... well..." I perked an ear, listening closing to what he had to say.

"C-"

"Argh!" I slipped on the rainwater, falling to my butt, grabbing my tailbone in pain and Toshiro just watch me with a grin on his face. "Don't just laugh!" I said embarrassment and blush heating up my face. "My butt hurts."

Toshiro grinned. "Rukia, there's a time and place where you should say that, but it's defiantly not now." he said lending me a hand as he picked my body up in on big and swift movement.

My blush attacked me harder. "Well I know for a fact that it's not going to be you who get to hear those words, when the correct time and place come too." I said refusing to look at his emerald eyes.

He put a hand on my head. "I wouldn't be so sure of that."

"Tch." I crossed my arms. "You know I never thought it would be you to make a remark like that," I said. "Usually it would be Ulquiorra's or Rangiku's job to make a perverted remark."

Toshiro went red. "I-It's not like I pictured it or anything!"

"I never said you did."

"D-Damn you Rukia." He slurred his eyebrows furrowing lower than what they were. "Honestly I'm not that bad of a guy! So why do you get off treating me like I'm a perverted old man?" he said and suddenly regretted his choice of words.

I looked at him with a smirk. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

"No."

XXX

I stood still, my neck starting to cramp and I stared up at the large building in front of us. "Looks like they expanded." Toshiro said with a chuckle in his voice. "So why don't we stop staring at the giant thing and go inside to order."

I gasped like Toshiro had just blown off a dog bone. "How can you say that so causally?" I shouted. "This place is like extra fancy! It's gonna take a freakn' night to just get in the building let alone a table!" I said, knowing there must've been some poor people who would have to wait a year to eat a stupid fancy restaurant.

"Calm down Rukia." Toshiro said. "Are you forgetting who your date is? Hello." he said a bit too highly, rolling his emerald orbs.

I frowned at his cocky attitude. "You have a big head Toshiro." I said loud enough for him to hear. "A big, fat, white, head full of gas."

"Just wait till graduation." He took me by the hand, dragging me to place where you'd make an appointment. "Come on," he said as I received glares from girls in line and Toshiro received drooling mouths and total dumbass devotion.

"Table for two" he finally said as the man wrote something down.

"Name?"

"Histugaya Toshiro."

The glasses guy looked up, almost as if he had to scan every bit of Toshiro to make sure he was who he said he was. "Welcome Mr. Hitsugaya, fallow the waiter to your table."

"Thanks." he said and I stayed quitted, almost scared to make a sound.

The tall guy that looked like a butler stood in front of the table without any word. It seemed like he would be reasoned if he just held a decent conversation with a customer. "This is fine." Toshiro said almost as if the butler-waiter had asked a question.

I shrugged to myself and let out a sigh, sitting down in the chair before anyone else.

Then I felt something extra wrong.

I suddenly had this strange feeling that everyone the floor was staring at me. I dared to open my eyes, looking around at the people in the other tables. Sure enough, the women had their mouths hung open and the men looked like they were disgusted at me.

I lowered my head the slightest and then looked at Toshiro to see if I did something wrong.

But there he stood with a big childish grin on his face like I had done something to amuse him. "How independent!" He said. "Rukia Kuchiki needs no gentlemen to tell her when to sit, let alone pull her out a chair." he said, and started to clap as if I was an announcement.

But I was glad he cleared things up, even if it was in a weird way. Though I didn't return the smile, I figured that would just blow my independent image and make me look like an airhead.

And I also wanted to make it seem like I was mad at him for making such noise.

"Rukia?" He muttered when he didn't see a good reaction. "H-hey, did I do something wrong?"

I crossed my arms. "Why'd you make such a ruckus?" I said right above a whisper. "Do you know how much that embarrassed me? Go show somebody else off as a stupid prize!" I got up, just to increase my chances of grabbing his attention. "This is a date, not an auction."

Toshiro furrowed his eyebrows as I took my seat again. "You're right." he said. "You don't need me to help you out all the time, after all, your Rukia, and the one thing you can most defiantly do is defend something that you know is miss judged."

I looked up at him, his emerald eyes staring right into my purple ones. "Cut the crap and sit." I said, turning away from him as blush caught up into my cheeks. "a simple apology was fine."

Toshiro did what he was told and opened up the menu. I decide to do the same.

'W-What the hell!' I mentally shouted. 'What the hell is that suppose to be? Shit, I can't even read this piece of fancy mumbo jumbo!' I sweat dropped, closing the menu and hanging my head down low.

What kind of terrible joke was this?

"Rukia, don't worry, the plates are pretty big here so we can split it." Toshiro whispered to me, almost like he read my mind. "We'll have the hasenpfeffer stew," he told the butler-waiter. "and uh... whatever sides that are most commonly ordered."

"I'll have a coke," I broke in.

"And I'll have water."

"Eww... Don't get water, fish have sex in it." I said bluntly as Toshiro gave me a weird look.

The poor butler-waiter bowed and left.

I looked up at Toshiro with my big purple eyes and sighed feeling like a fool for opening my big mouth. "I think it was a mistake to come here." I said honestly. "How'd getting a few fireworks turn into a fancy date were I feel like a misunderstood child?"

Toshiro smiled. "You're to negative, I would rather talk about how you should be thanking me, than you feeling about being stared down." he said. "Just look at the bright side, even if you get stared down you'd be too short to be affected."

I glared at him. "Keep talking Snowflake; let's just see where it'll take you." I pointed at him with the knife.

And again the chorus of gasps took place.

I didn't even get the chance to yell as the stalkers because our butler-waiter had already brought us food. And sure enough, Toshiro was right, the plates where rather big, and with all the side dishes the man got us our table was completely full.

I looked over to what Toshiro ordered. "T-Toshiro, what is that?" I asked him horrified. There was a brown, poop-ish, juice, full of spices that covered the red, bobbing meat as the vegetables glomped together under the sticky juice. "Honestly it looks terrible." I hissed.

Toshiro laughed. "No way Rukia! This taste awesome." He said as he put a spoonful into his mouth.

I gagged a bit inside my mouth, quickly swallowing it down. "N-No I'll pass." I said putting a hand in-between us. "Actually, I'm not really all that hungry now."

"You've gotta be kidding me, your missing out on the best stew you'll ever have!" He said happily. "Come on Rukia! It tastes like chicken."

That did it. I couldn't hold back the barf that wanted to come out.

XXX

"How DARE you FUCKING kids disrespect my delicious meals by regurgitating them all over the floor of my successful restaurant! I wouldn't care if you're my FUCKING wife; I would still kick your ass for grinding you feet on the floor of my PRESIOUS palace! SO SCRAM YOU FUCKING LITTLE MIDGITS!" The cook had been going on and on about how stupid we were and shouted at us for a whole ten minutes. "AND NEVER SET YOUR FUCKING FEET ON MY FUCKING CARPET EVER AGIAN!"

I turned my back to him, fed up with the shit he spat out. "I don't need to here that kind of crap from you!" I said and waved him off Toshiro not hesitating to fallow and lead.

"Rukia!" he hissed. "What the hell were you thinking? And why does your stomach always seem to have a knack for making a show when I'm around." he sighed. "Urgh. and that was my favorite place too."

I glared at him. "Toshiro don't you dare go blaming my stomach for this!" I shouted. "It was your brilliant idea to serve me that freakn' poop."

Toshiro looked at me and laughed. "Poop, eh?"

I glared at him some more. "Worst. Date. Ever." I sulked. "And I didn't even get the fireworks like I said we would..."

XXX

"Oy, Rukia, what took you so long?" Ichigo ran up to me, Orihime not far behind shouting something along the lines of 'where are fireworks?'

I looked up at him with a sad look. "I SORRY!" I panicked. "There was only one shop left! And when we got there it was closed! And Toshiro didn't want to pay shit!" I grasped on to Ichigo like a child to his father when they knew they did something wrong.

"Not true!"

Ichigo chuckled his hand stroking my head. "Ya we figured you would fail your mission." he said and I looked up at him confused letting go. "So we sent Ulquiorra to go grab some. Even though we all ended up going since Orihime insisted on going and Ulquiorra said he wouldn't go if she went. So I had to tag along too."

I shoved off him crossing my arms. "So if you were going to get some anyway why'd you make my go with this idiot?"

"Rukia, you were the one who wanted to go."

"That's beside the point."

"And that's what happened." I said to Ichigo as I looked at the small, rectangular box Orihime had handed over to me. "Chasers..." I said reading off the label. "Hmm... interesting." I opened the box and knocked out the three fireworks into the palm of my hand. I grabbed one and held the stem up, flashing the lighter on in my other hand.

"Hey, Rukia that's dangerous!" Toshiro whined. "put the thing on the ground, you don't know what it does!"

I ignored him and held the fire next to the firework's stem, sparks taking no time at all to come shooting out and I through the firework high up in the air. We all waited, trying to spot the sparks or at least where it could have landed and nothing happened.

"See," Toshiro said. "told'ja-" Just as Toshiro opened his big mouth the firework came rushing back down, threatening to land on Toshiro as he tried to move out of the way. But these fireworks weren't called the "Chasers" for nothing. The firework kept on bouncing on the ground almost as it was falling the Snowflake around everywhere.

"SHIT!" he cried out. Apparently the firework hit his butt, leaving a burn through the cloths he was wearing and singe his ass. "RUKIA YOUR STUPID FIREWORK BURNED MY ASS!"he shouted trying to get a good look at his butt to make sure it wasn't too severe.

"Oh please." I waved him off. "It's not like you gonna use that thing right now." I said rolling my eyes.

"U-Use it?" he panicked.

I smirked walking over to Orihime who was pouring off drinks to everyone. "Hey Rukia try some of this! Ulquiorra got it, but don't worry he said it was firewater, so it's not spiked."

(BTW: Firewater is another word for liquor.)

"Firewater huh? How does it taste? Is it any good?"

"Oh Rukia it's wonderful! It actually tastes like firewater going down your throat! But I think there's a pinch of cranberry juice. Try it." Orihime poured me some in a cup she had in her hand. "Toshiro! You too, ok?" she motioned for him to join us.

"I'll pass."

I took the cup Orihime handed to me and sat down next to Ulquiorra and Ichigo. "So where'd you get the drink, you know it actually taste a lot like actual spiked cranberry juice."

Ulquiorra put his arm around me. "Just keep on thinking that." He smirked as I felt my head go dizzy. It was fast, the pale smirk on Ulquiorra's face looking right at me as his rare genuine smile hit me.

I felt myself blush, but it could also be because of the drink. "Molester!" I shouted all heads turning and laughing as I clearly made Ulquiorra squirm.

"A-Ah! Not even you little-!" Ulquiorra let go of me quickly, blush catching his face too, as he looked away. "just keep your mouth to yourself." he said as he narrowed his eyes to the ground.

I realized that I probably had made him uncomfortable so to make matters lighter I decide to jump of his lap, swinging my arms around his neck and grinning up at him. "Aww~ I was just messing with you Mr. Batman~!" I said cuddling next to him the drink talking for me as I started to hiccup. "Ulqui-chan~ *hiccup* why is your face red?"

Ichigo laughed and I could feel Ulquiorra get up, letting me drop to the floor with a loud thud. "I'm gonna get a seat for the fireworks, you can continue you nonsense here." he said covering his blush with his bangs.

"Ow~Ow~Ow!" I cried grabbing my butt in pain."Ichigo~" I cried. "Kiss it! *Hiccup* It hurts~" I was officially drunk.

It was Ichigo's turn to turn red. "Rukia stop joking around."

"But Ichi~! *hiccup*" I got up turning my back to him and pointing my butt up. "It hurts." My drunken body threatened to pull down my pants.

"Rukia!" Ichigo panicked. "C'mon this ain't funny no more!"

I turned around at clomped Ichigo with a tackle, gluing myself to his waist and putting my hand up his shirt tracing his abs. "Orihime! Come here! *hiccup* you have to feel this! *hiccup* It's totally lick-able!"

"R-RUKIA!" That came from all over.

I let go of Ichigo as he sighed in relief fixing his shirt that I probably wrinkled up. I looked at looked at Toshiro and he stiffened. "Hey, don't look so upset, I'm sure you got some good qualities too!" I walked up to him and patted his back.

"Rukia, you're so wasted."

I leaned on Toshiro with open arms. "Well good, *hiccup* that way I won't re-*hiccup* Remember what a bad days it's been."

I could feel Toshiro smile. "I wonder if you'll say that when I pull out the video camera and show it to you tomorrow."

"You didn't." I suddenly didn't feel so drunk anymore.

"Well somebody had too."

"Damn it Toshiro I'm gonna-"

A loud whistle blew off and it grabbed all of our attention eventually bursting out into dozens of lights.

"You can kill me later Rukia!" Toshiro said as Orihime ran through us shouting 'It's starting!' He grabbed my wrist. "C'mon, let's get up the hill, Ulquiorra already stole my spot!"

I blushed. "S-sure..."

Later:

"Hey Ichigo, Do You know what hasenpfeffer is?" I asked.

"Uh ya, I think its rabbit stew."

Author's Note:

There. I am so sorry. It's so late. Hope it's decent.

I was on some big time hiatus for this chapter and also I had a bunch of summer camps that I really don't like. But I'm glad I was finally able to put it up and I make a little joke with Toshiro eating Rukia's favorite thing ever.

Hope you enjoyed it!

Next chapter should be up soon.