"So I take Ikkaku is still down for the count" Rukia giggles as Yumichika speaks to her "Yeah you really did a number on him" Yumichika smiles before lowering his voice into a whisper "I think you'd be good for him" causing Rukia to back up in surprise and nearly scream.
"What's that supposed to mean" she asks a scowl on her lips "Ikkaku is used to getting what he wants but to have that constantly pulled away from him perhaps he'll grow up a little more" Yumichika shrugs as he explains and Rukia listens "So you think that by allowing him to chase me he'll grow up" she asks in confusion.
"No I think that constantly bashing his head in he will learn that he can't have everything he wants" Yumichika remarks scathingly "I mean that by not giving in Rukia he'll eventually give up and turn his attentions on to someone else" he answers more calmly this time to Rukia's confusion.
"I see" she hums out thinking of everything Yumichika had told her 'I suppose it's not all that bad that I'm receiving attention from someone' Rukia muses in her thoughts before shaking her head 'What am I thinking I'm not that desperate to want attention from Ikkaku or am I' she suddenly stops mid-thought.
Looking up feeling the over-bearing spiritual pressure very close to her she comes nose to chest with Captain Kyoraku "Ah I'm sorry sir" she jumps away from him with a squeak her cheeks blazing red in embarrassment when he doesn't reprimand her she peeks at him from behind her fringe and lashes.
"Your hilarious Rukia" he pats her head "Would you like to join me in having tea Ukitake will be there as well" Kyoraku offers "I'll make the tea" Rukia compromises and Kyoraku nods "That will be fine I know how much he loves your tea" he compliments easily and Rukia feels her cheeks burn.
"Hey Captain Kyoraku" Hitsugaya calls out from in front of the two causing Rukia to freeze "Have you seen Kuchiki anywhere" she hears the conversation before stepping out from behind Kyoraku "Good afternoon Captain Hitsugaya" she bows her head low in greeting.
"Kuchiki" Toshirou asks raising his eyebrow at the odd pair "I see your already busy" he sighs preparing to turn around and head back to his office "Actually she was just walking with me Toshirou" Kyoraku saves Rukia from explaining her presence before pushing her right in to Hitsugaya.
"Oomph" she lands right on top of Hitsugaya blinking for a moment she doesn't realize what happened but when Hitsugaya soft breathing alerts her she scrambles up off him in pure embarrassment her cheeks so red that they nearly turn purple "I'm so sorry" she apologizes hiding her face in her hands.
"Hey Kuchiki it's not your fault" Toshirou jumps up after the girl had gotten off him throwing a small glare at Shunsui for his stunt he tries to calm the girl down 'So scary' Kyoraku thinks before sneaking off once he was sure Toshirou was occupied with getting Rukia to calm down.
'Damn it how am I supposed to do this' Toshirou curses in his thoughts before getting an idea "Rukia" he breathes out her name softly hoping that she wouldn't mind the use of her first name gasping at Captain Hitsugaya's use of her name she looks up in shock the embarrassment wearing off.
Toshirou smiles at seeing the shock before turning serious "I was wondering if you'd like to get lunch with me again today Kuchiki" he asks using her last name once more "Yeah" she breathes out swallowing thickly trying to calm her racing heart now 'Why does it have to be him' she cries in her thoughts.
"Where should we go today Captain Hitsugaya" she asks as they begin walking towards the district where all the restaurants were at "I figured we could have a picnic I brought food" Toshirou shrugs nonchalantly missing the surprise in Rukia's eyes "That would be nice" Rukia says wistfully.
"It gets boring going to restaurants all the time" Toshirou shrugs leading her to where he had Matsumoto set up the picnic after a minute he see's the basket and leads her over to the basket and sits down on the blanket taking off his Captain's coat folding it and placing in behind him.
Turning around to look at the beautiful tree they were sitting under Rukia doesn't notice Hitsugaya take off his coat so when she turns back around to sit down she gasps in surprise "What happened to your coat sir" she asks "I took it off" he shrugs once more enjoying the conversation with the girl.
Sitting down as Hitsugaya begins pulling food items out of the basket she waits patiently folding her hands in her lap breathing softly when the smell of watermelon enters her senses she looks towards Hitsugaya only to see him holding out a piece for her "Thank you" she smiles before taking it carefully.
Biting into it she lets the juices swish around for a moment before swallowing the bite "Is it good" Toshirou asks wiping his mouth with a napkin "It is" Rukia nods doing the same before setting the piece beside her for some water "I also brought some fried dumplings" Toshirou offers a small bento full of the dumplings to her before digging into his own.
"How did you know I love dumplings" she nearly squeals before taking a bit of the doughy meat-filled ball freezing at the question 'I can't very well say that I asked Rangiku' he thinks for a few minutes before blurting out "I just guessed" he shrugs feeling his cheeks pink slightly.
For the next several minutes silence envelopes them as they eat lunch together under the great white oak tree "So Kuchiki what were you doing with Kyoraku" Toshirou asks once all food had been devoured "Oh that he had actually asked me if I wanted to have tea with him and Captain Ukitake" she explains.
"Then why are you here with me" he asks in confusion "Because I have tea with Captain Ukitake all the time don't get me wrong I love my Captain but doing the same thing all the time does get boring" Rukia explains thinking about her Captain fondly before turning her attention back on Hitsugaya.
"I see" Toshirou breathes out feeling better about asking Rukia to have lunch with him before remembering something that he had heard "So you beat up Madarame" he grins slyly "I think I did more than that he's still unconscious as far as I know" she grins widely feeling good about herself for once.
"Really" Toshirou asks in surprise 'She doesn't really seem like she can do much damage to anyone' he thinks to himself "Yeah though I feel a little guilty as well" Rukia admits "Why would you feel guilty" he asks narrowing his eyes slightly "Well I heard that a big mission is coming up" she explains sighing.
"And you think that Squad 11 will get that mission" Toshirou finishes her thought and she nods "So you feel bad because you knocked out one of their best Squad members" he asks "Yes maybe I shouldn't have been so horrible" Rukia sighs again 'Here we go again' Toshirou thinks.
"Rukia, Madarame will be fine he's been in worse situations than just being beat up by a girl" he reassures her patting her shoulder gently hoping to cheer her up "You really think so" she asks sadly "I don't think I know" he says cockily getting a laugh out of Rukia at his words.
"Thank you for inviting me to lunch Captain Hitsugaya" Rukia smiles softly at the small white-haired Captain before standing once the trash had been picked up bowing to him she prepares to head back towards Squad 13 when Hitsugaya stops her "Good luck tomorrow" he says mysteriously before flash-stepping away.
"What's that supposed to mean" she asks in confusion staring after Captain Hitsugaya 'Talk about cryptic words' she shrugs before continuing on her way only to ram right into Kyoraku "How did lunch go with little Toshirou" he teases and she blushes beet red "Captain" she shouts hiding her face in her hands again remembering what he had done earlier.
"Awe are you still embarrassed about earlier" her ruffles her hair grinning "That was uncalled for" she pouts before realizing what she was doing huffing she crosses her arms "Ah but it also got you lunch with Toshirou" Kyoraku laughs reaching out to play with her hair again.
"Ahh don't do that" she whines swatting his hands away gently not wanting to get in trouble for hitting a Captain "Come on Rukia put a little more effort into it if you want me to stop" Shunsui laughs again preparing to mess her hair up further only to find her half way down the street.
"That's the spirit Rukia" he grins waving her as she disappears around the corner 'Geez it's like everyone feels the need to pick on me' she scowls in her thoughts so lost in her thoughts that she doesn't realize that someone was headed straight for her until she rams right into the person.
Looking down she sighs when she finds its Ikkaku Madarame 'Maybe I could try being nicer' she thinks cringing at the thought but pulling her self up she holds out her hand "Here I'll help you up" she tenses when he just lays there "Madarame" she whisper shouts scowling at his action.
Sighing he takes the girls hand and allows her to pull him up "Thanks Kuchiki" he stops upon realizing that it was Rukia who had helped him "So decided that you want me after all" he grins arrogantly "No but I've decided that I could be a little nicer" she shrugs still feeling the urge to slap him unconscious once again.
Looking at her in surprise he grins "You're warming up to me aren't you" he asks "As I just told you I've decided to be nicer it doesn't mean that I want you anymore than I did yesterday I still don't like you" she huffs out while walking away from him and he follows her.
'Maybe we should start out as friends' Ikkaku thinks to himself before stopping in his tracks "You want to hang out sometime" he calls out to her and Rukia stops and looks at him in confusion "I'm not going to be your wo.." she trails off when he shakes his head "I mean as friends" he supplies.
"When I have time" she responds and he nods in understanding turning around and heading back to Squad 9 to meet up with Shuhei while Rukia continues walking back to Squad 13 only to find a other Squads there as well "Huh what's going on" Rukia asks Hanataro as she spots him among the crowd.
"Oh Rukia" he bows to her and she shakes her head "Right um they are pulling people from each Squad to go on the big mission tomorrow they already have a list of names for each squad as well so we are just waiting for who's going tomorrow" Hanataro explains to Rukia meekly.
"I see" Rukia whispers pushing to the front pulling Hanataro along by the arm so that he didn't get lost in the sea of people "Ah Rukia there you I was just getting ready to have a search party sent out for you" Ukitake greets pulling her to stand in front of him and in between Head-Captain Yamamoto.
"Rukia Kuchiki I select you to go on the mission tomorrow" Yamamoto murmurs and gasps ring threw the crowd at the selection "Me Head-Captain sir" Rukia gulps nervously "Yes" he nods and turns away "My selections are complete everyone who has been selected prepare for tomorrow" Yamamoto's voice rings out.
With the message sinking into everyone's thoughts Yamamoto turns and heads back to his own Squad "Congratulations Rukia" Hanataro bows to her again before waving and heading back with his own Squad "You should prepare for tomorrow" Ukitake ushers Rukia towards the Kuchiki mansion.
"But sure I don't even know what the mission is about" Rukia stops and turns "The details will be handed out to each member of mission tomorrow now go home and prepare" Ukitake orders his subordinate kindly with a smile "Of course Captain" Rukia nods doing as she was told.
