Going for coffee became a regular thing for Ichigo and Rukia, the same café, the same table, it became their home away from home; they would talk about everything and anything that was on their minds, which they both enjoyed very much. Ichigo could never wait to see Rukia, like a five year-old on Christmas Eve, just waiting to open his presents. Rukia had become more animated and lively, which was obvious to Orihime.

"So, how's it going with you and Ichigo?" Orihime asked in her usual way, amicable.

"It's going great, actually." Rukia said with radiance, "What about you and Ulquiorra, is everything okay?" Rukia was concerned

Orihime started to giggle, "Hey, Rukia can you hand me that paper," Orihime couldn't stop giggling and pointed to the piece of paper.

"Uh, sure," Rukia was unsure of what was going on or what was so funny and handed the paper

As Orihime grabbed the paper, Rukia saw a beautiful diamond ring, right smack on the ring-finger of Orihime's left hand.

Rukia stared at the ring with awe; Orihime's giggle grew louder like a jittery school girl.

"You like it," Orihime smiled as she stuck out her ring-finger to give Rukia a better look.

"Ulquiorra, h-he proposed! When? How?" Rukia hugged her friend. Rukia was shocked, she never knew how the man enamored a pulchritudinous girl like Orihime; but if Orihime was happy she was happy.

"Yup, he proposed to me last night," Orihime was glowing, "We were at this garden of roses and had a picnic under the stars. He handed me an orange rose and got down on one knee; it was so romantic."

"That's fantastic! When are you planning to have the wedding?" Rukia was delighted

"In June," Orihime looked like she was about to cry

"Wow, that's in one month. You sure you'll have enough time to plan the wedding?"

"Of course we do, we are having the best wedding director in town to help."

"Rangiku?"

"Who else, silly,"

Rangiku was one of the best of the best when it came to planning a wedding; she was also one of Orihime's friends.

"Hey, Rukia," Orihime started, "I would love for you to be my maid-of-honor at my wedding, how about it?" she asked shyly

"Absolutely, Orihime, why wouldn't I?" Rukia hugged her friend. She'd never been a maid-of-honor before, but was glad to take the duty of it.

"Great!" Orihime squealed, "Well, start planning at lunch."

"Okay, I just need to call Ichigo and tell him I won't be able to make it, for coffee, today."

"Hello…Hey, Rukia, ready for coffee?…uh huh…uh huh…Sure, no problem…I-I'll talk to you later…okay, bye." Ichigo hung up his phone with a worried scowl.

He was chest fallen to hear that Rukia won't be able to have coffee with him.

'She has her reasons, right?' he said to himself, so he shrugged it off; he knew Rukia wasn't like that.

Ichigo was glad that he was able to spend so much with the beauty that was Rukia. Now that he looked back on it, no girl has been so…interesting. Rukia, for one, had a mind of her own, she was independent, she's smart, and she was someone who would be heard not just seen. And from what he's seen from their first encounters, she could take care of herself. She wasn't rich, like others girls his father would insist him on being with. Ichigo loved how he could be himself around her. His whole self. He knew that he can be himself and not worry what she would think. That's what he admired most about her

Although, he was pissed that he never had the chance to kiss her.

"Dumb bastard!" Ichigo said to himself, as a thought of the scarlet-haired-man came to mind.

"Renji, was it?" Ichigo wasn't really good with names, but Rukia was neither a name nor a person he would never forget.

"Whatever." Ichigo slipped his phone into his pocket

Ichigo continued his day, even though he really wanted to see Rukia.

Most of Rukia's nights consisted of her and Orihime up late looking through wedding catalogs, magazines, anything that had to do with weddings; along with long phone calls and video chats with Rangiku.

Rukia was beat; she also had to skip her coffee dates with Ichigo. She spent her lunches helping with the planning, so she couldn't go. She really wanted to see Ichigo though and felt bad.

"I'll make it up to you, promise," Rukia said to the phone

"I don't know, Rukia." Ichigo responded, "Promise?,"

"Promise."

"Well, I do have something in mind youcould do to make it up to me," Ichigo said seductively

"Perv," Rukia laughed, "I'll talk to you later."

"Later."

Rukia hung up her phone and slipped it into her pocket. And let out a big sigh.

"Well, at least I got to talk to him," Rukia said to herself and rubbed her tired eyes.

Ichigo listened to the dial tone for a little bit before actually put his phone into his pocket.

"That's not a happy face," Karin said to her brother, "Is everything alright?"

"Yea, well…Rukia's been canceling a lot of our dates lately," Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck

"Did you two get into a fight?"

"That's the thing, everything was perfectly fine and then…BAM she started canceling." Ichigo said as he scowled in confusion.

"You think she might be avoiding you," Karin spooned a mouth full of food into her mouth.

"I didn't really think of that," Ichigo thought aloud

Karin took a moment to swallow her food, "You really like her right."

"Yea, of course."

"Then talk to her."

"I just don't want to mess this up." Ichigo put his face in his palms

Karin noticed her brother's distress and knew immediately that this girl must be something else. Not some girl and meant something to Ichigo. Karin felt proud of her brother for finding her.

"Then stop looking so sad and talk to her." Karin said

"I don't look sad."

"Whatever, just go to her."

Ichigo went straight to Rukia's work. It was still the afternoon. So Rukia was still at work.

Ichigo approached the building, as he entered there was a young girl, well at least she looked young, who had her hair in a high bun cocooned in a small cloth. The name plate at her desk said 'Receptionist.'

"Is there anything I could do for you, sir?" the girl said, who was overwhelmed by the handsome, orange-haired man in front of her.

"Yea, can you tell me where I could find Rukia Kuchiki." Ichigo ran his fingers through his hair.

The girl was surprised to hear that he was looking for Rukia. 'Lucky girl' she thought.

"Of course, uh, she's on the third floor; first door you see to the left. Is there anything else I could help you with?" she asked

"No, that's it," Ichigo said with a friendly smile and walked toward the elevator.

The young girl stared at Ichigo as he left.

Rukia felt the sweat roll down her face as she headed towards the door carrying a giant pile of papers. Since Orihime was planning her wedding, their boss, Aizen has allowed the two get off work early to plan. As long as he was invited which, of course, he was.

Rukia stopped in her tracks when she saw a familiar face walk through the door.

"Ichigo?" Rukia sputtered dropping the papers she was carrying to the ground.

Ichigo turned with a scowl that soon faded and turned into a smile. Not a friendly smile, the ones people use to be polite. It was a genuine smile. Rukia felt her face heat up.

"Rukia!" Ichigo quickly walked to Rukia, and helped her pick up the papers on the floor

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you."

"Well, I'm a little busy."

Ichigo took a look at the papers he was gathering. "Yes because looking through wedding catalogs is very time consuming," Ichigo teased.

"I'm not looking through them," Rukia snapped defensively, "I-I'm planning a wedding." She finished shyly

Ichigo froze, "What? Why you're not even engaged!"

"The wedding is not for me. It's for…" Rukia started

"Rukia! Rukia! Rukia!" Orihime nearly sprinted to her friend and swiftly pulled her to the side.

Rukia wasn't expecting the sudden move and almost tripped. "Orihime, what's wrong?" Rukia didn't know what was happening.

"Who's that?" Orihime asked as she pointed to Ichigo, who was still gathering papers along with the ones Rukia dropped when she was swooped away by Orihime.

"That's Ichigo," Rukia said

"That's Ichigo? I thought he would look different." Orihime turned and walked to the fellow ginger.

Rukia got nervous, 'What is she going to say.' She thought, 'And why didn't Momo page me? She's the receptionist isn't she?'

"Hi, Ichigo, is it?" Orihime greeted

Ichigo looked up and stood to say hello.

"Yes, hello. You must be…" Ichigo stared

"Orihime, Rukia's friend."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Orihime." Ichigo nodded in acknowledgement; He would have shaken her hand, but his hands were full.

"I've heard soo much about you, Ichigo." Orihime smiled

"Oh, really," Ichigo smirked at Rukia, "I didn't know that. Rukia?" he smiled

"Ichigo this is Orihime; Orihime this Ichigo," Rukia lately introduced, "She's who I'm helping with the plans for her wedding."

"He's a lucky man," Ichigo congratulated

"Thank you," Orihime smiled

"So, Ichigo did you need something?" Rukia asked

"Can't a guy see a beautiful girl like you without being interrogated?" Ichigo grinned.

Rukia turned bright red.

Ichigo's face lit up when he saw her reaction.

"I'll leave you two alone," Orihime said with a smile. Orihime felt a special connection between Rukia and Ichigo. The way he looked at her and said her name. The tenderness in Rukia's voice whenever she talked about him.

"What did you really want, Ichigo." Rukia calmed down but still had a hint of blush.

"I wanted to ask why you were canceling so much."

"Well, you found out," Rukia put her hands on her hips

"I was worried; I thought you were mad at me or something."

Rukia's body relaxed, for once. That's what she liked about Ichigo, no matter how stressed and tired she was, Ichigo was the only person she could unwind with.

"Why would I be mad at you?" Rukia gingerly smiled

Ichigo felt a spark of energy sweep through him and gave her an ear-to-ear grin.

"Oh, good," Ichigo said with relief

"Can you go now? Please, I'm really busy." Rukia said softly

Ichigo was about to give Rukia back the stack of papers.

"Let me carry these for you." Ichigo offered

"It's okay," Rukia shook her head, "I got it."

"Are you sure?" Ichigo looked at her, "I don't think a midget like you could carry this much paper." He jessed

Rukia playfully punched his arm, "Idiot."

"Hey, do you want me to drop everything?"

Orihime smiled as she saw Ichigo carrying a pile of papers and walking Rukia to her car; both smiling and laughing.

"He's a keeper, Rukia."