Hoho. A random shoutout to lazyguy90 whose review prompted me to write this interlude.

I already have the next chapter done, and will probably post it by next week or something. Depends on how much schoolwork I still have to do.

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.

[interlude]

welcome back

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"Welcome back, Kuchiki-fuku—!"

"Excuse me! Sorry! Make some way please!" Rukia blurts out, clutching protectively at the Captain's haori that Hitsugaya Toushiro had forced on her earlier as she shunpoed to the 13th Division Barracks. She did not want to explain to everyone why she was wearing the 10th Division Captain's haori and virtually nothing else on top.

The last thing she needs was a scandal regarding her and the Captain.

"Oh heya, Ruki—"

"Sorry, Kiyone-san! I can't talk right now!" She yells out hurriedly, slamming the door to her room with a loud bang.

Kiyone frowns, effectively confused. "Okay?"

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"Was that Rukia, Kiyone?" Ukitake Jyuushiro asks as soon as his subordinate came into view, wearing a confused expression on her face.

"Yes, sir, but—"

"But what?"

"I think she was wearing a Captain's haori or something…"

"Oh?"

"Yeah, she was hurrying back to her room, so I guess—Hey, wait a minute, wasn't she on a mission with Hitsugaya-taichou—Oh." The blonde third seat tilts her head thoughtfully to the side. Where the hell was Sentarou when she needed his stupid comments?

"Kiyone?" Ukitake quips, a smile fixed on his face.

"Sir?"

The 13th Division Captain made a zipping gesture over his mouth. "I think Rukia'll appreciate it if no word comes out of this."

"Yessir!" Kiyone salutes and briskly makes her way out of the Captain's office, determined to threaten anyone who happened to see her Vice-Captain in her disheveled state.

She hopes that Hitsugaya Toushiro knows who he was dealing with, because Kuchiki Byakuya would be the least of his problems if he made Kuchiki Rukia cry.

If anything else, the 13th Division protected their own.

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A/N: Random interlude is rather random. Haha.

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