-The next Day-
'Geez my hands are aching from all that paperwork' Rukia groans upon waking up "Lady Rukia is everything alright" a maid calls out to her from beyond her door "I'm fine" she calls back before sighing and deciding that it was time to get up and get dressed and go to her squad.
Rubbing her wrists as she steps out of the Kuchiki mansion she is surprised to see Ikkaku standing there with a frown on his normally grinning face "Morning Kuchiki" he greets still frowning slightly "Good morning" Rukia greets back before asking if he was alright and he nods.
"Yeah just glad to see ya up and out of that bed" he replies before flash-stepping away 'Oh so he just wanted to make sure I was really doing alright' Rukia thinks to herself walking slowly instead of flash-stepping towards Squad 13 along the way she runs into Yumichika.
"Good morning Rukia" he greets with a smile "Have you seen Ikkaku this morning" he asks "Yes he just went that way" she points in the direction he had flash-stepped and Yumichika immediately waves and heads towards that direction with a small "See you around" over his shoulder.
'Guys are so weird' Rukia snorts to herself quietly before finally reaching Captain Ukitake's office "Good morning Captain" she greets bowing her head once inside the office "Oh Rukia do you think you could deliver some paperwork to the other divisions for me" Ukitake asks once she sets his tea down.
"Sure but where are Kiyone and Sentarou this morning" Rukia asks in confusion shaking his head at his two co-first seats "They are a bit hung-over" Ukitake points towards the back where two simultaneous groans could be heard "I see" Rukia giggles quietly to herself before straightening and becoming serious.
"I'll take the paperwork now if that's alright Captain" Rukia bows her head again once she has the stack of documents in her arms as she exits the office seeing the first pile which has the Squad 12 insignia on it she heads there first with a nervous smile on her face.
"Here Captain Kurotsuchi" she holds out the small pile of documents to the Squad 12 Captain shaking slightly once he's taken them he grunts dismissing her and she practically sprints out of Squad 12's barracks breathing a sigh of relief 'And I thought Captain Zaraki was scary' she thinks to herself.
Straightening once more she goes around distributing the rest of the documents to the other Squads for the rest of the morning trudging her way back to Squad 13 to report in but is stopped by Captain Hitsugaya "Afternoon Kuchiki" he greets taking in her ruffled appearance.
"Looks like you've had quite the day" he chuckles causing Rukia to huff "Yeah I had to go into Squad 12 and deliver some documents" she rambles off explaining her day and going through different emotions about what happened and this and that all the while Toshirou is laughing silently in his thoughts.
'Oh gods the poor girl' he snickers to himself before smiling softly "Come on now I'll walk you back to Squad 13 and then we can have lunch together" he offers and Rukia instantly brightens feeling excitement at the thought of being able to have lunch with Captain Hitsugaya again.
Taking her by the hand seeing as she was obviously distracted Toshirou drags Rukia out of her thoughts pulling her in the direction of Squad 13 'Oh he's holding my hand' Rukia thinks distracted once more by the warm hand of Captain Hitsugaya "Um Captain" she calls out shyly.
"You know Rukia you can call me Toshirou when we are alone" he whispers hoping that she would say his first name now that he had given her permission to "I couldn't possibly" she stutters out blushing a deep red at the thought of calling Captain Hitsugaya by his first name.
"You have my permission to do so" he responds roughly swallowing thickly Rukia stutters nervously once more "T...Toshirou" she whispers shyly blushing a deeper red than before and causing said man to grin at the nervous stuttering of his name nodding decisively he decided that he likes the way she says his name.
"Much better but next time try saying it with out stuttering" Toshirou grins back at the girl he was still dragging by the hand and Rukia nods releasing the breath that she had been holding when she had whispered Toshirou's name "I'll try" she smiles shyly at him and nearly rams into him when he stops.
"Here run in and tell Ukitake that you've finished delivering the documents to the other Squads and then I'll take you to that new restaurant again my treat today" Toshirou points towards the Captain's quarters and Rukia sprints away giggling to herself once more.
"Captain I've finished delivering the documents and now I'll be heading off for lunch" Rukia rushes out bowing low in front of Captain Ukitake "Of course Rukia" he responds kindly with a knowing smile shutting the shoji door calmly she practically runs back to Toshirou with excitement.
"Are you ready Rukia" Toshirou asks once she returns resisting grabbing her hand and holding it in his own again "Yes I'm ready Ca...Toshirou" she stops herself and utters his name instead 'This is gonna take some time getting used to' Rukia sighs softly to herself hoping that she wouldn't embarrass herself.
Leading her through the shopping district Toshirou stops in front of the new restaurant that they had visited a week ago together opening the door for Rukia he grins "After you Rukia" Toshirou snickers seeing red bloom across her face at his gentlemanly like gesture.
'If just opening a door for her makes her blush I wonder what other things make her blush' he thinks before following in after her letting the door shut with a soft bang steering her in the direction he had already reserved Toshirou seats Rukia first before sitting down across from her.
"So Rukia how are you today" he starts out slowly catching her rubbing her wrists slightly "Oh I'm alright" she gives a little jump having been startled out of her thoughts "Are you sure you're wrists don't hurt do they" Toshirou asks nonchalantly and she blushes.
"They are a bit sore but nothing I can't handle" Rukia smiles softly placing her hands in her lap neatly right as a waiter come over to take their orders "And what can I get you" the female waiter walks right up to Toshirou completely ignoring Rukia's presence at the table.
Seeing the other woman flirt with Toshirou Rukia huffs slightly "Excuse me" she calls out to the woman drawing her attention scowling at the little brat that had dared interrupt her the woman asks again "What can I get you two" she reiterates her words with disdain feeling that Rukia was undeserving of the attention placed on her by the handsome male.
"I'll just take an iced tea with a bowl of spicy soba noodles" Rukia glares at the woman who immediately turns back to Toshirou huffing at the audacity of the woman Rukia scowls at her back glaring daggers in her head wishing that she could draw Sode no Shirayuki on her.
"I will just have the same as her" Toshirou completely ignoring the woman's blatant flirting focuses his complete attention on Rukia who was pouting cutely 'Aww that's so adorable' he thinks to himself the woman appalled at being ignored stalks away to get their orders.
Placing the orders she gets the two iced tea's and stomping back to their table places the tray on the table with a clank knocking over the two glasses and spilling on Rukia "Ah" Rukia gives a cry jumping up upon feeling the cold tea seep through her Soul reaper robes.
Glaring at the woman Toshirou stands right as the manager of the restaurant comes over to the table as well "What is going on here" the manager speaks before Toshirou can "I'm sorry it was an accident" the woman tries to redeem herself "I'll be talking to you later" the manager shakes his head.
"Are you alright miss I'm sorry about her atrocious attitude here let me get you cleaned up" the manager responds politely leading her to the bathroom "Here's a change of clothes if you'd like" he places the clothes down and leaves Rukia to change in peace 'Why does this sort of stuff always happen to me' Rukia sighs.
Unfolding the clothes Rukia blushes at seeing the dress putting it on she takes a deep breath before exiting the bathroom nervously "Toshirou" she calls out to him and he turns to her before blinking "You look pretty" Toshirou compliments with a blush of his own blooming lightly across his face.
Seeing the young woman sit back down at the table the manager brings over two more iced tea's "These are on the house" he shrugs setting them down gently right as another waiter a male this time brings over the two bowls of spicy soba noodles that had been ordered by the both of them.
Blowing on the noodles Rukia sighs in content "I still say these are the best noodles in all of Soul Society" she laughs softly at Toshirou's comment as she was thinking along the same lines as he was "I agree" she responds before taking another bite soon enough the iced tea and noodles are finished and they are leaving the restaurant.
"Thanks Toshirou" Rukia thanks him saying his first name easier than before "It was nothing" he shrugs leading her back towards Squad 13 "I won't be able to meet you for lunch tomorrow Rukia" he tells her and she slumps her shoulders "I'll be in a meeting all afternoon" Toshirou explains to the dejected girl.
"But maybe we can have dinner instead" he asks getting it all out in one breath 'Who knew asking someone out to dinner would be so hard' he chuckles in his thoughts "I'd love to" Rukia blurts out instantaneously before covering her mouth in shock at basically yelling out her thoughts.
Laughing at Rukia's expression Toshirou decides to tease her a little bit "That's a good look for you Kuchiki" he reaches over and ruffles her hair like he had seen Kyoraku doing at times to get the girl riled up "Hey" she huffs swatting his hands away playfully knowing that he was teasing her.
"Anyways see you tomorrow for dinner" Toshirou laughs out flash-stepping back to Squad 10 stepping into his office he sighs feeling his good mood wear off upon seeing Matsumoto passed out on the couch snoring loudly obviously drunk again "MATSUMOTO" he yells.
