So we're finally having some sort of development in this! Huzzah!

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.

One Step at a Time

Step 5
Friendship

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"Your report is…lacking, Kuchiki." Hitsugaya Toushiro tells her over tea one day, and Rukia resists the tempting urge to throw the contents of her teacup right at his face because she slaved over that report last night!

Somewhere along the line, Kuchiki Rukia ends up doing paperwork for the 10th Division every Wednesday afternoons in Matsumoto's stead, and Hitsugaya Toushiro doesn't mind it one bit. He claims that he lets it be because the girl made great tea, but then again, the rest of Seireitei knows that his intentions are less than pure.

"Lacking?" Rukia deadpans, sending the man a frown over the rim of her teacup.

"Your report sucks."

Slamming her teacup none-too-gently on the table, the raven-haired Vice-Captain affords the Toushiro a dirty look. "Well, sorry, Hitsugaya-taichou, not everyone can be as great and awesome as you." She declares mockingly, rolling her eyes rather excessively.

Teal eyes roll in incredulity and Toushiro steeples his fingers, leaning his elbows on his table. "That's true," he says, an annoyingly smug grin spread upon his lips. "I am rather amazing. But seriously though, you need to rewrite this, Kuchiki."

Rukia mumbles something under her breath even as she deftly reached for her inkpot; arguing with the annoying Captain would only bring about a long lesson about how she was undermining authority and whatnot.

Authority, her ass.

"What was that, Kuchiki?" The white-haired male asks, a single eyebrow rising in interest at her unintelligible mumbles.

"I said," she starts gratingly, a pretty blush gracing her cheeks "that you can just call me Rukia, taichou."

A blink. A pause. And Hitsugaya Toushiro feels as if his hearts is about to jump off his chest.

I'm assuming this is what you wanted to happen seeing as you've not stopped with addressing her by 'Kuchiki'? Hyourinmaru pipes up, sounding awfully unimpressed somewhere in the back of his mind.

And so what if it was?

The Dragon stops for a moment, before letting out a long-suffering sigh. No, no, nothing, continue with whatever it is you're trying to accomplish in whatever manner you wish.

Are you…are you trying to give me…advice?

Perhaps.

"If that's the case then I'll have to ask you to do the same."

Rukia blinks and Toushiro can't help but think that she looks absolutely adorable when she does that. "What."

"If you want me to call you by your given name, then you'll have to do the same." He explains slowly, as if talking to a small child.

"But you're a Captain! I can't—"

"If you want," Toushiro pipes up thoughtfully. "You may call me Toushiro-sama." He says with a shit-eating smirk, leaning back on his chair with an air of superiority.

"Pfft," the petite Shinigami splutters out, before laughing outright, doubling over on the couch she was sitting on. "'Toushiro-sama'? Seriously?" She gasps out incredulously, giggling still. "Oh my god, you are so full of yourself aren't you?"

"I'm the youngest Captain in the Gotei 13," Toushiro starts. "I think I'm allowed to be slightly full of myself."

Rukia just shakes her head in disbelief, a wide grin on her lips. "Please know that my respect for you just went down the drain," she tells Toushiro solemnly.

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A/N: Durhur. Toushiro is one smug little bastard.

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