Taking a short break from studying!

I bring another mini-update of sorts, this time featuring Byakuya-nii's so-called reinforcements from the last chapter. Personally, I have no idea as to what inspired me to start this interlude thing, but then I started writing it and the idea had been too funny (at least it was in my head) to pass up.

I will sadly not be updating for the next few weeks, due to of course, school and because the plot bunnies for the Bleach fandom had been dwindling out. I'm afraid Kubo's three week hiatus has take its toll on my muse. Also, I am working for other projects in other fandoms so please bear with me.

Title: One Step at a Time
Characters/ Pairing: Hitsugaya Toushiro, Kuchiki Rukia; HitsuRuki
Rating: K+ - T
Warnings: OOCness, inconsistencies, language
Summary: There are steps that they have to undertake as they fall in love. A series of mostly interrelated one-shots and what-nots and everything in between of the HitsuRuki Variety.

Disclaimer: I am but a poor college student. I own nothing.

This is unbeta-ed. Mistakes are mine.

[interlude]

the reinforcements

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R E T R I E V I N G M E S S A G E S : _

Conversations between Kurosaki Ichigo and Abarai Renji, dated January 6, 20XX.

Messages sent from 07:00 PM to 07:45 PM.

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Abarai: OI ICHIGO WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Kurosaki: What the hell, Renji?

Abarai: RUKIA'S IN LOVE

Kurosaki: What?

Abarai: RUKIA'S FREAKING IN LOVE!

Kurosaki: Who the hell is the midget in love with?

Abarai: THE HELL WOULD I KNOW KUCHIKI-TAICHOU WON'T TELL ME ANYTHING ELSE

Kurosaki: WHAT? Damnit! Byakuya's keeping the bastard all to himself! That selfish prick…

. . .

R E T R I E V I N G M E S S A G E S : _

Conversations between Kurosaki Ichigo and Abarai Renji, dated January 6, 20XX.

Messages sent from 08:19 PM to 10:23 PM.

. . .

Abarai: So…it isn't you, right?

Kurosaki: Fuck no. And it obviously isn't you either.

Abarai: I KNOW THAT

Kurosaki: Then stop asking obvious questions, dumbass

Abarai: Well, who do you think it is?

Kurosaki: The hell would I know? Shouldn't you know more about her…preferences?

Abarai: Like hell I would.

Abarai: But I dunno. Someone like Ishida? Probably.

Kurosaki: …someone like Ishida?

Kurosaki: What about just Ishida himself?

Abarai: Are you fucking kidding me?

Abarai: He's a Quincy!

Abarai: And I'm pretty sure that it's someone from Soul Society

Kurosaki: You have a point there. The midget hasn't visited for a long while now.

Kurosaki: But damn. Someone like Ishida huh?

Kurosaki: Well that crosses out almost everyone in Soul Society.

Abarai: Hey!

Kurosaki: Oh wait. What about that guy. Shuuhei-san?

Abarai: Hisagi? Probably not. Rukia doesn't like tattoos.

Kurosaki: Huh. So that explains why it isn't you.

Abarai: Shaddup.

Abarai: Ah, I know. Yumichika.

Kurosaki: Yumichika? But isn't he…

Abarai: Isn't he what?

Kurosaki: Gay.

Abarai: How the hell do you even

Kurosaki: Then he isn't?

Abarai: Obviously. He's like..metro—something

Kurosaki: Metrosexual?

Abarai: Yeah that

Kurosaki: Oh. Alright.

Kurosaki: I don't think it's him either.

Kurosaki: I remember Rukia saying that he's too pretty.

Abarai: What the hell

Kurosaki: Hey, do you think it's Hanatarou?

Abarai: Hanatarou?

Kurosaki: Hanatarou.

Abarai: Seriously?

Kurosaki: Good point. Rukia will most likely beat him up or something. That little bitch.

Kurosaki: What if it's a Captain?

Abarai: You serious?

Kurosaki: What?

Abarai: I don't know if you've noticed.

Abarai: But the Captains are old.

Abarai: Older than dirt.

Abarai: A several hundred years older than me and Rukia.

Kurosaki: …how old are you guys?

Abarai: Oh wait. There is someone around Rukia's age…

Kurosaki: Who?

Abarai: Hitsugaya-taichou's around Rukia's age, I think.

Kurosaki: Toushiro, huh.

Kurosaki: Well they are of the same height.

Kurosaki: And they went on that mission together…which reminds me…

Abarai: Reminds you of what?

Abarai: Oi Ichigo.

Abarai: OI

Abarai: THE FUCK

Abarai: GODDAMNIT YOU BASTARD

. . .

R E T R I E V I N G M E S S A G E S : _

Conversations between Kurosaki Ichigo and Abarai Renji, dated January 6, 20XX.

Messages sent from 11:00 PM to 11:36 PM.

. . .

Kurosaki: HOLY SHIT RENJI

Abarai: Oh so you're replying now huh?

Kurosaki: IT IS TOUSHIRO

Kurosaki: Wait. What's that supposed to mean?

Abarai: What do you mean it is Hitsugaya-taichou?

Kurosaki: I asked my little sister.

Kurosaki: And my dad.

Kurosaki: But mostly my little sister.

Kurosaki: So apparently, Toushiro walked Rukia to my house after that mission with Tentacles

Kurosaki: And my dad and little sister were creeping around the living room by that time

Kurosaki: And that

Abarai: Is there a point to all this?

Kurosaki: YES. Now let me finish.

Kurosaki: They say that Toushiro kissed the midget.

Abarai: What.

Abarai: WHAT.

Abarai: WHAT?

Abarai: HE DID WHAT?

Kurosaki: So yeah. I'm coming over to the Soul Society this weekend. Already talked to Urahara and shit.

Abarai: We're gonna kill the little fucker?

Kurosaki: Hell yes

Kurosaki: But we're pinning the blame on Byakuya.

Abarai: Sounds like a plan.

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E N D O F M E S S A G E S

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[end interlude]

A/N: Because the mental image of Renji and Ichigo texting each other furiously like a bunch of teen-aged girls was just too precious.

Will they succeed in their dastardly plan to rid the world of Hitsugaya Toushiro? Or will Byakuya beat them to it? Or more importantly, will the fangirls let them succeed in disposing of everyone's favorite human ice block?

Comments? Suggestion? Violent reactions?

Please leave a review!

(Reviews strengthen my muse and help me churn out another chapter where Toushiro will hopefully not be maimed by Ichigo and Renji. *wiggles eyebrows*)