The Trouble with Love-games

Eventually, you are going to lose…

Thank you very much for the feedback (Nightkill, Miku Alli, StrawberryDragon94 and Kaileychicago) It was most useful in helping me construct this next chapter. And just for you guys I will make sure this contains some top class Ichiruki ;) Sorry if I have been focussing too much on other characters in the recent chapters! I really couldn't resist throwing in some GinRan since they are actually my fave pairing :P I must admit I'm not a big fan of chapter 8 myself, but I'm gona roll with it.

Onwards and Upwards

P.s. I'm still a moocher. Obvs.

…..

"Ok guys," Ichigo began addressing his team, who were all showered and clean following a freezing cold practice session out on the practice field. "There was some pretty sick stuff out there tonight, so lets just bring it like that tomorrow and we will beat Quincy uni's stuck up team no problem. Ok, lets go have a drink, one only!"

He looked pointedly at Renji and Hisagi, who both pointed at the other saying:

"He's talking about you!"

"And go check if the girls have found Momo yet" Remarked Uhrahara, thinking of his beautiful Yoruichi leading the search party.

…..

Rangiku had returned home as soon as Momo left, gathering the girls, and the few guys in their group who were not on the soccer team or rugby team, (Kenpachi had those players who were not also in the soccer team doing an intense workout in the gym) which left Kira and Yumichika to help.

So far they had, with Gin's help leaving them the gate code for his and Aizen's halls, checked out Aizens room. Since Rangiku had a spare key for when she wanted to surprise Gin, they managed to get onto Aizen's balcony by climbing across from the ajoining one outside Gin's room next door. Soi Fon and Yoruichi had thoroughly checked the room using their flashlights, and it was apparent there was no one there. The flat's kitchen was empty when Rangiku and Orihime checked, other than one of Aizen's flatmates, Ulquiorra. Rangiku had made up some bull story about dropping off a parcel for Gin with her friend. Ulquiorra cared not for the private lives of his flatmates, and so merely nodded, and when Orihime asked if he had seen Aizen's girlfriend around he simply shook his head, staring at the readheaded girl.

'She is beautiful' He thought. Girls didn't often catch his eye, he didn't really care about anything in this world except his artwork, but this one was different. Her smile was so infectious, that as the girl left, calling "Nice to meet you Ulqui!" His features arranged themselves into a sad smile.

They met up with the other search party, comprising of Yachiru, Yumichika and Kira, who had been searching all of Momo's favourite eating haunts and bars in town. The boys looked rather relieved to no longer be alone with the ridiculously hyper active girl who never shut up.

"Hey guys" she squealed, happy to see her friends

"Any luck?" Kira asked

"Negative" Yoruichi replied

"We didn't find Momo either, even though we looked evvvvvvvvverywhere" Exclaimed the pink haired girl, a slightly crestfallen look on her face.

"Shall we head back to the bar and consult with everyone on what to do next?" asked Rangiku "I bet Shunsui and Ukitake and Uhnohana will have some ideas, they are all so smart!"

"I agree" concurred Yoruichi.

And with that, the seven off them got into Yumichika's silver Porsche that his search party had taken, and the others got into Rangiku's white Range Rover, and sped off back towards Seireitei campus.

….

9:30pm: The gang found themselves at their usual table.

Ichigo couldn't help but be disappointed. A little glimmer of hope lay in the back of his mind, wanting Rukia to be working tonight, although he would never admit it to himself. He was telling himself the disappointment was soley based on the fact Momo was still missing after the search party.

He and Uhrahara made their way over to the bar to get the round now everyone was present. Rangiku was already leaning on the bar, chatting to Uhnohana, 4th year medical student and supervisor at the bar. Ukitake was also working, no sign of Shunsui at present.

"Hey Retsu" Uhrahara addressed the supervisor who had long black hair held off her face by a braid that acted like a headband.

"Oh hi there guys! It's pre-match day right, so just the one pint for everyone?"

"Your memory never ceases to amaze me"

"Well if you were a med student you would understand why!" She laughed a kind laugh, and set about getting their drinks. She continued to speak to the three of them. "So Rangiku tells me you've lost miss Hinamori"

"Not so much lost" sighed Ichigo

"No I think it's more a case of she has lost the plot…" Said Uhrahaha, looking warily at Rangiku, however she did not react to his cynical comment as she usually would, just stood silently staring at her drink which she was aimlessly stirring.

"I think your best bet would be to ask Toshiro's opinion"

"We should? I mean" began Rangiku "I know they are close, but Hime and I are just as close if not more so to her, and we have no clue…"

"Ahhh I wouldn't be so sure miss Matsumoto, as it happens, Tohiro Hitsugaya's grandmother is one of my patients, and she always tells me adorable stories about when he was a kid and he used to play with his best friend and next door neighbour, Hinamori."

"No way!" exclaimed Ichigo

"I knew they were close! That explains it, I thought he just had a crush on her!" said Rangiku!

"Well I wouldn't rule it out," Uhnohana smiled "But yes, it would appear they were childhood friends, who lost contact when Momo moved away, but have found each other again here at Seireitei!"

"That's adorable!" Rangiku cried "I can't believe I didn't know! They are both so quiet about the past! Man!"

"So I assume, Retsu, you are implying to us that she may have gone to some kind of childhood hideout she and Toshiro shared?"

"Yes, that was my logic, it is my understanding they used to live by the river, at the rundown area of town, the Rukongai"

"Well isn't that handy" Remarked Uhrahara. Come kids, let's go ask Toshiro for his wisdom."

All three of them carried trays of drinks. Just as Ichigo set his down in front of people, a flash of violet caught his eye from the bar. It was Rukia. She and Kyoraku had just returned from the stock cages with trolleys full of drink, getting ready to stock up for the weekend.

In his staring, Ichigo forgot that he was about to hand Renji his drink, and as he tilted his neck to keep sight of her, he subconsciously tilted the drink… onto Renji's lap. The red head, who had been talking to Hisagi, yelped.

"What was that for man!"

"Haha Abari peed his pants!" Yelled Yachiru.

Renji glowered.

"Sorry bud, my bad, I'll go grab ya some napkin's"

"Yeah cos that will make it all better…" Renji grumbled, his face bright red as the others continued to mock him.

'Oh great' Thought Rukia, as she saw who was approaching 'It's the strawberry'

"Hey midget,"

"What do you want strawberry, did you miss me so much you had to come see me mere hours later?" She flashed a devilish smile

"AS if! Have to say I'm amazed you can see over this counter to know it's me!"

"Well anyone would know, you can see your dumass fluorescent hair from a mile away" Rukia quipped.

Ichigo was about to reply, when Kyoraku intervened.

"Now now, this is not the behaviour I expect from a harmonious student teacher relationship"

"I don't want a harmonious, or any other kind of relationship with this idiot" Rukia yelled, acting angry, though she knew she was blushing somewhat at the thought of her and Ichigo being in a relationship being put in her head.

"Yeah, like I'd take you" he scoffed, though was also blushing a little.

Kyoraku smiled and left to watch from afar, pleased at the reaction his words had caused, he had picked them very carefully after all.

Ichigo was the first to regain his composure.

"So midget, you coming to the game tomorrow? You know you can't refuse the chance to see my sexy legs again. He winked at her.

"Depends, are spectators allowed to throw things at players if they suck?"

"If you don't get caught, I wouldn't know, I'm too awesome to ever have had anyone consider such a thing…" He smirked.

'Man this midget is a laugh to chat to, and she has the prettiest smile, even when she's smirking at me… Ahhhh no what am I thinking. She's hot. That's all And I want her at the game so she will see how good I am and fall for me. That's it'

"I highly doubt that…" she muttered.

"Huh?" said Ichigo, pried from his inner battle with his feelings.

"Oh I just asked why you came over if it wasn't to see me?"

"Well I did want to say hi, but I actually wanted some napkins, Renji had a little accident"

She laughed.

"You seem to be out, go grab me some from wherever you keep them, tiny serving wench!" He said, demandingly, but with humour in his voice and face.

"Serving wench? Why you"

"You forgot the tiny part" He chuckled as she pouted and went to get the napkins.

'She's so cute when she's angry' He mused.

Rukia came back with the napkins, but did not set them down on the counter. Ichigo reached out for them. She slapped his hand away, however, grinning evilly.

"Oi what was that for!"

"You can't have these till you ask me nicely, I want you to say 'Please miss Rukia, the nicest girl in the world ever, may I have those napkins?' "

"Oh like hell I can't."

He turned to Kyoraku and Ukitake, who were pretending to observe the bar, but were actually focussed on the arguing students.

"Guys, can I get some napkins"

"Nah mate" said Shunsui "Miss Kuchiki there has the last packet."

Ukitake smiled at his friend, as an acknowledgement of a clever lie.

"Yup," he said "I'm afraid you'll just have to get them Rukia's way…"

But Ichigo had seen his opportunity, as Rukia was now facing her superiors, the napkins were turned toward the counter. He lunged across the counter, pushing off with one hand, and grabbed the napkins with the other. However before his motion was complete, Rukia whirled round and grabbed hold of his hand / the napkin pack.

They were both taken aback for a second.

'Holy shit!' Thought Ichigo 'I feel like she just set my hand on fire, or electric shocked me, and that is the weirdest sensation in my stomach, like butterflies…'

Judging by the look on Rukia's face, she had just experienced a similar sensation.

They both stood there, holding the napkins.

'Her skin feels so soft and delicate, I don't want to fight her off, I'd quite like her to keep hold of me…'

Kyoraku went to cheer, but luckily, Ukitake had the sense to cover his friend's mouth, to prevent him ruining this moment of realization for the two teens.

'What the hell' Rukia thought, I haven't even known this guy a week, and I already seem to react to him more than I did with my high school boyfriend, Kaien!' I didn't even think I was over him, and here I am, wanting nothing more than to keep hold of this starwberry's strong hand.'

"Uhhhh-hmmmmm"

Renji had announced his presence with his fake throat clear.

Ichigo and Rukia broke contact immediately.

"Oh er hey Renji, I got the napkins!"

"So I see,"

He looked to Kyoraku and Shunsui, who were beaming. Ichigo looked over too, and the two of them instantly pretended to be arranging glasses.

"Toshiro thinks he knows where Momo is" Renji quickly spluttered, before his friend became suspicious that he and the two mangers were up to something.

"Momo?" He said questioningly, having momentarily forgotten about his friend thanks to all these foreign feeling invading his brain. "Oh yeah shit! Let's go! See ya midget" His bravado was returning to him "You best be at the game tomorrow to come check me out"

"Fuck you!" Yelled Rukia, though secretly her heart was fluttering.

'He really wants me to go to that game, perhaps I'll see if Isane is going…"

…

Omg super long chapter with Ichiruki! Aren't you guys lucky! R&R pleeeeeease :D