"Come on Captain did you at least talk to her" Rangiku whines to her Captain "Enough Matsumoto and get to work" he skillfully avoids the topic sipping his tea calmly before turning back to the pile of paperwork sitting on his desk while Rangiku stands there gaping at him.
'Geez am I really gonna have to play matchmaker for these two' she scowls in her thoughts before coming up with another brilliant idea at least in her mind anyway 'Now I just have to lure Captain into taking Rukia with him' she grins before sitting down and starting her paperwork.
'Hmm it's nice to see her actually taking her job seriously for once' Toshirou thinks before focusing back on his own paperwork and for the next 2 hours all that's heard is the shuffling of paper as it's passed back and forth and the scratch of the pen as they sign their names on the documents.
Stretching Rangiku rises from her desk stomach growling at the lack of food "Hey Captain want to go get some dinner with me" Rangiku grins setting her plan into motion "Sure I'm almost done" he agrees feeling slightly more positive than usual and after a moment he stands as well.
"Alright let's go Matsumoto" he gestures down the hall after shutting the door to the office "Wait Captain I'd like to invite someone along is that alright" she smiles hoping that he would fall for it "Why not" he shrugs and she sprints down the halls and out of the barracks as soon as the words leave his lips
"R-U-K-I-A" Rangiku yells grabbing the petite girl and rushing back to her Captains side clutching Rukia in her arms despite Rukia's struggles reaching her Captain who had just left the barracks Rangiku sets Rukia down next to him causing Toshirou to let out a long sigh and run his hands through his hair.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto what's going on" Rukia asks in confusion looking from her face to Captain Hitsugaya's "Captain and I are getting dinner would you like to come along Rukia" Rangiku asks sweetly hoping that she would agree so that she could enact part two of her plan.
"I don't see why not as long as it's alright with Captain Hitsugaya" Rukia answers looking forward to hanging out with one of her few female friends she had "I suppose it's alright if you came along" Hitsugaya sighs out once more before starting forward ahead of the girls.
"Thank you Captain Hitsugaya" Rukia bows her head politely before falling in to step with Rangiku before she decided to drag her "This is exciting right Rukia" Rangiku leans down to whisper to Rukia with a smile on her face "I guess" Rukia smiles lightly feeling ecstatic at being invited.
Her mood drastically decreases upon spotting the last person she wanted to see Ikkaku Madarame standing ahead of them and off to the side talking to Shuhei Hisagi Lieutenant of Squad 9 "Hey if it isn't shorty" Ikkaku calls out hoping to rile up the petite woman once again.
Not saying anything as they pass by them Rukia breathes a sigh of relief at having avoided another confrontation "Didn't you hear me Rukia" Ikkaku speeds up to them calling out to Rukia once more and she sighs "I heard you clearly Madarame" she bites out hoping that he would leave her alone.
While this was going on Rangiku was staring at Ikkaku in amazement for his stupidity "Ikkaku can I talk to you" she huffs out "Not now I'm talking to my woman" Ikkaku says grinning causing everyone to freeze in place at the words "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY" Rukia screeches fed up.
"You're my woman" Ikkaku reiterates grinning cockily and placing his arms around her waist and bringing her closer "THE HELL I AM" Rukia turns red in fury slapping him once before being pulled away from him by Shuhei instantly calming down feeling shame flood her entire being.
"I'm sorry" she apologizes bowing low before flash-stepping away from the small group that had gathered around at the scene 'Damn for a small thing she sure has a nasty slap' Ikkaku thinks rubbing his sore cheek "Well done Madarame" Rangiku snaps before chasing after Rukia.
'So much for dinner' Toshirou sighs before turning around and heading back to Squad 10 to his quarters to get started on more paperwork "Rukia wait slow down" Rangiku calls out seeing the petite girl a small distance ahead of her "I'm sorry Lieutenant Matsumoto" Rukia cries back feeling tears rush to her eyes.
"Hey it's not your fault Ikkaku's an idiot" Rangiku pants finally catching up to Rukia "I shouldn't have reacted like that in front of a Captain and two lieutenants" she sobs desperately trying to hold back her tears but fails as they spill out from behind her lashes and tightly closed eyes.
"Come on Rukia let's get some bento's and bring them to Captain Hitsugaya" Rangiku offers hoping to cheer the young Soul Reaper up if just a little "Will he even want me near him after that little spat" Rukia asks shyly and Rangiku nods "He won't hold that against you" Rangiku smiles to her.
"If you're sure" Rukia smiles finally rubbing her eyes from the tears "Alright Rukia you head on to the office and I'll get dinner" Rangiku grins nudging the girl forward before flash-stepping in the direction of the store while Rukia flash-steps back towards Squad 10 nervously entering the barracks and building.
"Um excuse me Captain Hitsugaya" she calls out softly from behind the shoji door waiting to be admitted in "Come in Kuchiki" Toshirou sighs softly "Are you alright" he asks and she nods sitting on the couch elegantly "You don't have to be stiff like that" Toshirou sighs standing from his desk to sit on the couch as well.
"You've got one hell of a right hook" Toshirou finally says after sitting in silence for several minutes and Rukia giggles "I grew up in the Rukon District had to be able to fend for yourself or you wouldn't survive" Rukia shrugs nonchalantly not bothered by her past unaware of the ice-colored eyes watching her from the side.
"You know if Madarame's giving you problems you can always tell your brother" Toshirou says staring at her openly now "I couldn't this is my problem not his and I won't throw around the Kuchiki name like that as if it could solve all my problems" Rukia huffs out crossing her arms childishly.
"I'm not saying that…" Toshirou starts but trails off as the shoji door slides open and Rangiku steps through closing it and setting the bento's down in front of the two before digging in to her own meal as if it would be her last covering her mouth Rukia tries not to laugh at Rangiku.
"Slow down Lieutenant Matsumoto there's no need to hurry" Rukia says swallowing her bite of food "Of course there is I have to have a little chat with a certain someone" Rangiku growls out "You should let me handle that" Rukia sighs out "I don't think so he won't listen to you anyway" Rangiku smiles setting her empty box down.
"Well see you two later" Rangiku winks exiting through the shoji door once more leaving the two in awkward silence "So I suppose I should head home then" Rukia sighs standing but trips over the edge of the table throwing her arms out to catch her self she curses inwardly at her clumsiness.
All of a sudden her fall is broke by arms winding around her small waist and she stares into the ice-colored eyes of Captain Hitsugaya "Ahh I'm sorry sir" she closes her eyes shut feeling the blood rush to her cheeks angrily in embarrassment "It's alright just be careful" Toshirou says setting her on her feet properly.
"I will" She whispers exiting the office and heading straight home trying to cool her heated cheeks all the while 'What was that why did I get so embarrassed' Rukia asks herself taking a bath before sitting on her futon still wondering what had caused her to react like that.
'Damn I can't sleep there's too many things on my mind at the moment' Rukia huffs in her thoughts throwing the covers off of her and standing grabbing Sode no Shirayuki and creeping out the door at the end of the hall to get some late night practicing in only to find someone else up doing the same.
"Captain Kyoraku" she calls out in a soft voice and he turns towards her "Ah Rukia" he smiles coming to stand before her "So what are you doing out so late" he asks questioningly "I couldn't sleep sir" Rukia answers standing ramrod straight not moving a single muscle.
"So you thought you'd get a little late night practice in hmm" he grins patting her on the head and ruffling her hair playfully "Relax Rukia I'm not Byakuya" Kyoraku teases jumping away from her with a glint in his eyes "Come on Rukia want to spar" he asks and Rukia gapes at him.
"But sir I'd hardly be a match for you" she murmurs dejectedly "It won't be for a match just for fun to loosen you up" Kyoraku shrugs clucking his tongue at Rukia "SIR" she whisper yells her cheeks flaming up once more in embarrassment at the innuendo that was directed at her by Captain Kyoraku.
"That's the spirit" Kyoraku laughs ruffling Rukia's hair once more before speeding away with Rukia hot on his tail 'So he wants to play I'll show him my flash-stepping abilities' Rukia smirks in her thoughts before flash-stepping ahead of Captain Kyoraku only to ram head on into a solid body of a person.
"Whoa there Rukia" Ukitake says standing next to her pulling her up to her feet as she stares wide-eyed at Kenpachi Zaraki "I was actually just coming to find you" Ukitake smiles softly before gesturing to Captain Zaraki "I heard one of my men has been bothering you" Zaraki says grinning darkly.
"That's right Sir but it's also my problem and I should be the one to deal with it" Rukia responds and answers hotly growing flustered with people trying to interfere with her life "So she's got some bite to her after all" Kyoraku appears behind her after a moment laughing.
"That's not funny Captain Kyoraku" Rukia nearly pouts before turning towards Captain Zaraki who let's out a rumbling laugh "So you think you can knock some sense into that pin-head" Zaraki asks deeply and she nods "Good luck then it's gonna take a rhino to get Him to back down" he replies.
"I'm exhausted now" Rukia yawns out after both Captains had left and only Kyoraku was still standing next to her "Then get to bed but you owe me a friendly spar Rukia" Kyoraku pats her on the shoulder before flash-stepping away his spiritual pressure sky-rocketing.
'Huh wonder what that was all about' Rukia thinks but a moment later her question is answered as an angry and out of breath Ise Nanao Lieutenant of Squad 8 comes flying around the corner nearly knocking Rukia over in her rush "Have you seen Captain Kyoraku" Nanao pants out.
"Ah he just left that way" Rukia gestures in the direction the Captain had taken off in and before she could say another word Nanao was gone after her Captain once again "I suppose I ought to go home and try to get some sleep" Rukia whispers aloud to herself before hurrying home.
