The Trouble with Love-games

Eventually you are going to lose…

Oh hey guys! Insane amount of hits for the last chapter! Good times! Thank you to Hinata Rae, Miku Alli, Paradox-otaku, Kalthurin and Bleacihgoxrukia for reviewing :D

Hopefully, this chapter will end on a happier note than the last for you!

I like mooching.

…..

A week had passed by since Rukia walked out.

Ichigo was still incredibly down. He had stayed in his flat nearly all week, despite the fact that the snow had now melted. His soccer was suffering, they only drew their last match, against a fairly average team, it seemed the depression of their captain was severely damaging team moral. His studies were off more than usual too. It wasn't that he didn't want to try hard, it was that every time he did, all he could think about was her. That stupid smartass midget, the only woman ever to succeed in breaking the invincible heart of Ichigo Kurosaki.

He had done as Uryu said, sending her a chappy plushy, a limited edition one at that. He had spent hours on the internet tracking the damn thing down, and he hadn't even got a thank you. He hadn't expected one.

…

Rukia sighed as she cleaned glasses at the bar. Isane caught her.

"Rukia! Please cheer up, you shouldn't let a stupid boy make you feel so down."

"I know, but, he is not a stupid boy Isane" She looked at her friend, eyes wide and glistening. "He is an idiot, and I hate him, but god! I miss him so much! It's not fair. I never want to see him again, but all I want to do is run to him for comfort! Why are feelings so messed up!" She yelled, scaring a bunch of nearby customers, who took their drinks and hurried away.

Isane really did not know what to do for her friend.

She had done everything she could think of.

Rukia had phoned her the next morning and Isane had come straight to get her for a bitch about guys, crying, chick flick and ice cream session. She had made her come out shopping, study together, nothing was working. Rukia refused to come to the game at the weekend.

Much as she thought he was a douche, she had thought Ichigo's present, and the letter he attached were quite sweet, and she suspected he was genuinely sorry. She even thought deep down, Rukia knew this. She was just too angry at the moment to be willing to accept it.

Rukia was beginning to cry. Isane seized her friend and pulled her into the glass wash room, as Jyushiro noticed, and followed.

"Rukia, this has got to stop" Isane said. "You have to decide if you are moving on or forgiving him."

"But how can I forgive him!" she wailed! "He used me"

"No, he didn't mean to." Said Jyushiro. This was the first time he had seen Rukia since the break up, however Shunsui had worked with her earlier in the week and got the lowdown. The two of them felt partially responsible, since the bet was their idea. It went perfectly, until Ichigo lied to Renji. They were hoping he would forfeit.

'Stubborn orange haired jerk' Jyushiro thought.

"Of course he did, the bet!"

"No, Rukia, Isane is right, this is quite enough. I am going to tak you to see Kyoraku right now and we are going to fix this mess. Isane, would you mind getting back out front?"

She started.

"No sir, of course not!" She gave Rukia a quick hug, and ran off.

"Come on" said Ukitake, leading his still crying employee down to his and Shunsui's office. The latter was there, lounging back on his chair, hat over his face.

Ukitake slammed the door, and laughed as the man practically fell off his chair from jumping at the noise.

"Lazy ass."

"Way to make me look good in front of our subordinates Jyu, cheers."

"Why we are here my friend." He chuckled "I think we owe miss Kuchiki here an apology…"

"Yeah I think we do. Would you like the floor?"

"Sure. Rukia, take a seat" She sat, looking puzzled.

'What is all this talk about apologies, it's not their fault he is a pig' she wondered.

"So, you see, Shun and I like to play matchmaker occasionally. You know, we think two people would make a good couple, so we meddle, and make it so. Over Christmas, we came up with the genius idea of setting young Ichigo and yourself. We thought it would be, well, hilarious, but that after you guys got used to each other, you would realise actually, you were perfect together."

"Yup" Shunsui interjected. "You two were total opposites, white and black, sun and moon. Perfect. And it seems we were not wrong."

"Indeed. So, you see, we engineered this whole bet. It was our idea, we just provoked Ichigo and Renji into it. Of course, we were expecting that Ichigo would fall for you whilst trying to find a way to get you into bed, and thus forfeit the bet."

"On that count, I'm afraid, we are guilty of being wrong"

"We are so sorry Rukia, this is not how we wanted things to turn out. You guys looked so happy."

Rukia took a few moments to take in this new information.

'So, he doesn't just go around making bets about girls. And he didn't just want to do me, I was picked by them, as a potential love match. This is all very confusing. But he still lied.'

"Thank you for telling me this." She said, looking up at her superiors. "I appreciate that your intentions were good. And you were on to something, I like him a lot, and I really thought he liked me…"

"But he does like you Rukia! He was obviously hoping Renji would drop the bet if he said he won."

"Clearly he forgot how stupid young Abari can be"

"Indeed. And I must admit" Jyushiro continued "I think he should have just confessed the truth before it blew up out of proportion like this."

"But just think about it. You are both miserable without each other. This whole thing is just a big understanding that is only partially his fault. Everyone deserves a second chance."

"Perhaps" she said, wishing for more time to think this all over.

"Well," Kyoraku seemed pleased with their progress "I say after this shift we all go out for a few drinks, and have some fun, and everyone will feel better!"

"Quiet drinks" Ukiatake stressed. "How about it Rukia?"

"Erm, well, my brother is still really mad about me not coming home the other day…"

"Oh don't use the old brother excuse, we know your brother of old, I'm sure we can convince him!" Said Shunsui.

"Rather you than me" Rukia muttered.

"Okay! Lets go inform the kids of the plan! I'm feel Seki-Seki sake house tonight!" And the three of them headed back to the bar, Rukia's head fit to explode with feelings and information.

…

In Ichigo's kitchen:

"Come ON Ichigo, it's not gonna be a hardcore night out, we just wana get you out there, you know, you could use a few drinks with your mates." Renji urged his friend

"Yeah, we haven't been to the uni bar all week cos of you, so lets go somewhere where you won't be reminded of her." Hisagi chipped in

"Lets go to Seki-seki!" Rangiku suggested enthusiastically.

"Ooooh yes, it is beautiful there" Said Yumichika, glowing at the thought of going to a more upmarket bar, not some student dive.

"It's settled." Said Ikkaku

"I'm booking taxis to come at 9!" said Rangiku, turning to Ichigo "And you better be ready, because if you aren't, we will frog march you out however you look! You have been warned" And she swept out with the rest of the girls, probably to go and pick outfits.

Ichigo sighed.

'Looks like I have no choice. Perhaps it is time to go out and have fun. Being miserable never solves anything.'

…

Okay I know this was kinda short, as the last chapter or so were, but I am going for short but frequent updates at the moment! So hopefully the quick update makes up for the short length!

Thank you for reading everyone! 3