Toshiro's POV

Right when I entered the dreaded mall, chills ran down my spine. I hate being in malls. I get goose bumps just being close to one.

You see, malls are places that hormonal teenage girls come to "hang out" and "shop." They're all having fun together. Then one girl would see me and think I'm "the cutest thing ever." All the girls would agree and start to chase me around like I'm some kind of puppy. It's annoying and bothersome.

The only reason I'm coming in is because of Rukia. I mean, I have to be here for Rukia. No! I'm here because of my orders. That's all there is to it. I was ordered to protect her and never leave her side. That's it. There's no other reason I'm putting myself at risk of being attacked by a mob of hormonal teens.

"Shiro-chan, I'm hungry," Hinamori complained.

"That's what happens when you don't eat what has been given to you, Hinamori," I replied harshly.

"Can you take me to the food court?"

"Now, why should I do that?"

"Shiro-chan, it's my first time in a mall. I've barely been to the world of the living. Please, can you take me?"

I sighed. "I have to stay with Rukia."

Hinamori grunted and crossed her arms like a child would. "Rukia, Rukia. That's all you ever talk about. She ruins everything!" I heard her mumble.

Instantly, my anger rose. I grabbed her by the arm and made her face me. "Listen here, Hinamori," I hissed silently. "She has done nothing to you! You have to stop acting like a child and grow up! It makes no sense to hate some one that has done nothing to hurt you!"

She looked down. "That's what you think."

"What do you—"

"Hey, you two," Matsumoto called. "Are you guys coming or not?"

I let go of Hinamori and walked over towards the others. Hinamori followed.

As one would guess, Matsumoto led everyone. I wonder how she knows so much about human customs.

"All right, everyone," Matsumoto said when she stopped. "This is where we split up. We'll split up into a group of girls and a group of boys. In two hours, we'll all meet in the food court. Hey, Captain, could you give everyone some money?"

I sighed. I gave everyone the same amount. "Don't spend it all. This will be you're allowance for the week."

"Ok, let's get shopping!" Matsumoto said cheerfully. If only she could be that cheerful about doing paperwork.

"Wait a second, Matsumoto," I said. "I can't leave Rukia's side, remember?"

"Um, Captain, I don't think you want to follow her into the shops we're going to."

I looked up at the store Matsumoto had stopped at. I am not going in there! "Make sure you don't leave her side. Not even for a second," I added.

She saluted. "Yes, Sir," she said jokingly.

"Ha-ha, really funny."

"Don't worry, Captain! Rukia-chan has me and Hinamori to protect her! See ya," she said before she dragged both Rukia and Hinamori into the store.

I turned around and walked away. "That's what I'm worried about."

Matsumoto's POV

Oh, I love, LOVE, LOVE human malls! They have so many stores and so many cute things! Oh, and the store we're in has so many cute lingerie choices! There are so many colors and designs! Oh, this one looks so cute. Oh, but not as cute as this one!

I looked all around looking for things that would look amazing on me. Then I saw Rukia-chan sitting uncomfortably.

"Hey, aren't you gonna look around?" I asked her.

"No."

"No? Come on, even Momo's looking around!"

"I don't really shop at places like this."

"You don't? Well, that's about to change!" I went over to her and pulled her up. "Ok, let's look for something that'll look cute on you!"

I dragged her around the store and showed her piece after piece. She would always get a blush and say no. I wonder why.

And that's when I realized it. Rukia-chan has an innocent—almost childish—mind. She doesn't want to wear small, showy, cheetah-print underwear. Her mind is a completely different one than my own.

Ok, Matsumoto, think like Rukia-chan. Geez, she'd be thinking of leaving this place. Ok, maybe think like me and Rukia-chan.

OMG, that's so smart of you, Matsumoto.

Why, thank you very much, Matsumoto.

You're quite welcome!

Wait, what am I doing?

Oh yeah, I remember know. I looked around. Hm, I think Rukia-chan would like this! It's not too showy but it's not too innocent!

"Hey, Rukia-chan, what do you think about this one?"

"Um, I guess it's ok."

I gasped. It worked! I'm so smart! "Ok, what size are you?"

"Um, I don't know," she replied, her face red.

"What? How do you not know? Oh well, I'll have to measure you."

"Huh, what?!"

"Oh, come on," I said as I dragged her to a changing room. "It's ok. It's not like I'm some perverted freak or something. Oh my goodness, if Captain saw you in this one, he'd get so kinky."

"What?!"

"Never mind," I said, remembering who I was with. I found a changing room and led Rukia-chan in. She was so shy. It was adorable. Oh, Captain would rip her to shreds if he saw how shy she was. He'd get so kinky. And that dragon in him wouldn't help one bit. Geez, those animal instincts.

"Hey, hold still," I said.

"Um, maybe I should do this myself."

"No, it's ok. I got this."

"Um, it's just I'm not comfortable with people seeing me."

"Oh, I bet you look adorable."

"What?!"

"I'm kidding! Sort of."

"What?!"

"Nothing," I said. "Take off your shirt."

"Um…"

"Relax, I didn't mean it in a weird, perverted way. I'm a girl too. Look, if it'll help, I'll take my shirt off too."

"What?! Please don't do that!"

"Fine, fine, but hold still."

"Um, I don't think—"

"I'm just—"

"Wait!"

"It's ok! I'm just measuring! Oh, you're so adorable!"

"What?! Could you not look at me that way?"

"Oh, Captain would get so horny if was here."

"Matsumoto!"

"All right, all right, I'll stop! Ok, we're done here! Now, let's go get you some stuff! I was totally referring to the merchandise."

~Meanwhile~

"OMG! He's so adorable!"

"He is!"

"After him!"

Oh no, not again! Why is it always me?!

I am truly a genius. By thinking like Rukia-chan and me, I found so many cute, but not too showy, things for Rukia-chan. Oh, she's gonna look soooooo adorable in them. She got blue and yellow and red and purple and so many other colors. I even convinced her to get black. It took a while, but it'll be worth it! Oh, my captain wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her if he saw her in it.

After that, the three of us went to store after store. We bought a lot of stuff. Ok, more like I did. Rukia-chan had to control me every time I wanted to buy more and more. She even ended up taking my money and putting it away because of how out-of-control I was getting.

Two hours had gone by quickly. We were heading down to the food court before I knew it.

On our way down, I spotted some to-die-for boots on display. I immediately rushed to the window.

"Rukia-chan, I have to have them!"

"Matsumoto, buying those would pretty much leave you penny less!"

"But they're calling me! It's ok, little babies! Matsumoto will get you out of there in a second! Rukia! They're begging to be bought!"

"Fine, then return all of that," she said pointing to all my bags, "and you can have them."

"Oh, the pain," I said walking away. "Rukia-chan, why must you be so cruel?"

"Ha-ha, real funny," she said as we walked away. "I wouldn't have to if you'd just…"

"Hm? Just, what?" There was no response. "Rukia-chan? Just, what?" Again, she didn't respond. I looked back and almost died. She was leaning against a wall, one hand over her mouth, the other clenched so tight that her knuckles where white. I dropped my bags and helped her stand up. "Rukia-chan, what's going on?!"

She didn't say anything. After a moment she said, "I'm going to be sick!" Next thing I knew, she was running to a bathroom.

I grabbed our bags and ran after her. "Come on, Momo!"

Luckily, the bathroom was empty. Good, we won't drag any attention.

I heard Rukia start to throw-up. Could this be the same thing as last time?

The memory of Rukia falling to the ground flashed into my mind.

Oh, please, let her be ok. This can't happen again.

She finally came out. She went to a sink and rinsed her mouth out.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"Um, yeah, I just didn't feel well. I was a bit dizzy. I guess that's why I felt so sick. Well, I'm all right now," she said smiling.

I sighed. "Stop. Don't put on that fake Kuchiki smile. I know you well enough to know your real smile. With me, you don't have to act brave." Her "smile" disappeared and was replaced with a frown. I heard a small sob and then she completely broke down. She fell to the ground, covering her face with her hands.

I got onto my knees and hugged her. She was shaking uncontrollably. This made me realize just how fragile Rukia could actually be.

"Matsumoto, I don't want to do this anymore," she sobbed.

"What do you mean?" I asked; worry overwhelmed me because of what she might be implying.

"Living," she confessed. And my worry just multiplied greatly. "I don't want to live anymore! I'm tired of always attracting danger and destruction!"

"Rukia, you don't—"

"Really? Take Ichigo as an example. He hates me! I just know it! I put him through so much danger and pain because I wasn't strong enough to defeat a hollow. Then there's Aizen. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have the hogyoku! I was too weak to keep it away from him. And now you and Captain Hitsugaya have to waste so much time to protect me. I've caused so much pain and suffering. I've even killed the only person I ever loved. I'm worthless and only a pain. I'm so over this!"

"Rukia, look at me!" She wouldn't. I shook her. "Look at me! You are not a pain. You are not worthless. You are not a waste of time. And you most certainly do not cause pain and suffering! All of that stuff that happened was not your fault! You're kind and generous and amazing! Saying that you're worthless makes people like me feel worse about themselves." She gasped. "Look, you are so, so, so talented and smart and sweet. You do what you're supposed to and you don't slack off. You bring happiness to the most difficult people and you're always willing to help anyone. Even those that've insulted you," I said thinking back to our first encounter. "People admire you, you know. I hear it all the time. These people are just too shallow and self-centered to say it. They're the ones that put you down." I unconsciously looked over at Momo, who looked appalled. I sighed. "Rukia, don't ever say those things. You can give someone a heart attack. So, you got it?"

She looked up at me and nodded.

"Good," I said as I wiped her tears. "Now, wait here 'cuz Matsumoto has to tinkle." Rukia laughed. That's more like it.

As I was doing my business, I heard the door open. Oh, now that's good timing. Geez, if life could work out that way all the time…

Oh, I'd be able to drink so much sake without being caught.

When I was done, I washed my hands and grabbed my bags. Huh, Rukia-chan must've already gotten hers. I walked over to Momo. Where's Rukia-chan?

"Hey, Momo, where'd Rukia-chan go?"

"Huh?" she said as she looked at her nails. "Oh, her? She left with someone."

"What?! Who?!"

"I don't know. Why should I care about anything that worthless rat does?"

"YOU STUPID, INCOMPETENT CRYBABY," I yelled. "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET IT GO?!"

"What?!"

"Ok, I get that Rukia-chan "took" "your" Shiro-chan—"

"How did you—"

"But why can't you understand this? She didn't mean to. Get it through your think skull! She has tried so hard to get you to like her—or at least not hate her—but you're too stupid to let it go! God, Momo, stop being such an ass and grow up!"

I ran out of the bathroom and searched for Rukia. Of course, things just had to get worse. There came Captain and the others.

"Hey, where's Rukia?" Captain asked when he got to me.

"Captain, Rukia-chan… is gone!"