Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 10

Two days of peacefulness had passed. On day one, Rukia kept her promise to Ulquiorra. She sent word to Kukaku that she would like a meeting, but the Shiba family head still had yet to reply. Rukia gave Ulquiorra an address of an old friend in the Rukon District to help him learn the area until she could secure him a place with Kukaku.

The second day was even blissful until that afternoon. Shuuhei stopped by early that morning with flowers to ask for a second date. Unfortunately before Rukia could accept his request, Rangiku walked through Rukia's door with paperwork in her hand. She coldly told Shuuhei no. Rukia shrugged at Rangiku's coldness at the moment, but apparently, there were still had people who wanted to a date. Even though she wasn't too fond of Rangiku's answer, Rukia promised Shuuhei another date at a later time. Then a pacified Rangiku left as she sought out the rest of her drinking buddies with Shuuhei in tow.

Rukia was able to complete all her paper work plus Captain Ukitake's before five o'clock. She was debating what she wanted to work on next until she heard her name.

"RU-KI-A!" Rangiku called from her office door.

The black haired soul reaper eyed the blonde cautiously. Rukia knew Rangiku wasn't sober by the sound of her voice and the numerous hiccups that followed.

Taking a deep breath, Rukia looked up at Rangiku as she held on to the door for support. "Yes, Rangiku? Can I help you?"

A woozy Rangiku walked over to Rukia's desk. "No, but I can help you." An arched eyebrow dared Rangiku to continue her words. "We need to go shopping… Man shopping to be precise." She replied with rosy cheeks and an evil smile.

Violet eyes the size of saucers starred into her blue ones. Rangiku smiled even wider. Rukia wasn't expecting her to want to shop for men.

Quickly, Rukia randomly grabbed a pile of papers from her desk. "I'm sorry, Rangiku, but I still have work to do today." As soon as she replied, the nervous soul reaper flashed stepped to the safest place in the Soul Society.

"Hey, Captain Hitsugaya!" Rukia called out. The white haired captain was finishing a mound of paper work.

"You've shown up a lot earlier than I expected." He sneered.

"Well, since I am hiding from your lieutenant, I figured your office was the safest place to be!" Rukia exclaimed. She knew all too well if Rangiku showed her face near Hitsugaya that he would put her to work.

His musical laughter flowed through the room. "What did she do this time, Kuchiki?"

"One, she's drunk."

"How is that unusual? She's always drunk if she can get away with it." Toshiro countered.

"True, but that's beside the point…" Rukia began.

"Which is?" He interrupted her yet again. He could tell by the little tick near her eye that she was annoyed, which cause him to smirk. He loved seeing fire in her violet eyes. Rukia was too amusing for her own good.

"Could you let me finish my sentence, captain?" Rukia asked as she tried to think happy thoughts. A drunk Rangiku and a sassy Captain Hitsugaya were enough to make any sane person want to commit murder.

"No, it's more fun to interrupt you, Kuchiki." His smirk grew wider to when she could see his teeth. The man's favorite past time has been pushing her to her limits whenever he saw her since their deal the other day.

Damn man is annoying as ever, but at least it was safe in here though. A snarky captain was easier to handle than a drunk Rangiku.

"She wanted me to go shopping for men." Rukia stated with a grimace. "While she was drunk. Can't you see my dilemma? I refuse to be dragged around man hunting by the woman half the Soul Society wants in their bed, especially when said woman was drunk. She would leave me with who knows what kind of a man to have fun when she is like that! Then I would have to freeze stupid people who would not leave me alone."

"Tell me how you really feel, Kuchiki!" Hitsugaya said laughing. Sometimes he was thankful for Rangiku's laziness. He enjoyed his verbal sparring with Rukia.

"So do you understand now why I am hiding here from her?" Rukia asked in a defeated voice. She shivered as thought about some of the seeder clubs Rangiku liked to visit.

"You're scared of my lieutenant?' Hitsugaya asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Damn right I am! She scares me when she's drunk. She gets these little hearts every time she sees me near a man that she thinks is suitable for me." Rukia complained. When Rangiku was in matchmaker mood, no one was safe.

"Well, at least I can say my life is never dull with you around, Kuchiki." Humor lined Hitsugaya's voice as he starred smirking at Rukia.

"You're welcome for the free entertainment, Toshiro…" She countered his tart reply.

Rukia barely kept as straight face as he quit laughing to glare at her. "It's still Captain Hitsugaya to you, Lieutenant Kuchiki."

"Whatever you say, Captain Frosty." She replied. The room grew a little colder, but the temper drop didn't bother either ice wielder.

"Why you little..." Before Hitsugaya could fully reply the sound of a throat clearing cause both ice wielders to turn to the door. Neither noticed when Lieutenant Iba Tetsuzaemon arrived.

"Excuse me, captain." Iba said from the doorway. He had quietly watched Hitsugaya Rukia's interaction for a few minutes before interrupting their battle of wills. The tension between the two them was unusual to say the least. They were acting similar to her and Renji or her and Ichigo. Iba's never known the captain to have good friends like this. Even though Hitsugaya was childhood friends with Momo; their relationship was still one the rocks after a recent Aizen argument again. Apparently, Rukia would be his first friend in a long time to give the captain as much hell as he does everyone else.

A vein popped out of Hitsugaya's forehead, but he remained cool nevertheless. "Please come in. What can I help you with, Tetsuzaemon?"

"I need your signatures for these transfers." He watched as Hitsugaya worked his way through the papers. Iba leaned down to ask Rukia a question. "What has the captain all stirred up?"

"The usual…" Rukia replied nonchalantly.

"Kuchiki…" Hitsugaya growled when he heard Rukia's response.

"Don't mind him. He's just in a bad mood since Rangiku took the afternoon off to drink."

"Lucky girl. An afternoon off would be wonderful!" Iba replied.

At this time, Rukia's stomach decided to growl. "Well, I guess I better be off! By Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon! Captain Hitsugaya."

Rukia made it as far right outside the door when a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"You had me thinking earlier. Would you like to go to dinner with me?" Iba asked confidently.

Rukia tried to read his thoughts behind the mirrored glasses to get a read of the quiet lieutenant. Why the hell not? I'm not doing anything, and it would get Rangiku off my back if she were to see me.

"I would like that, Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon."

"Great… Kuchiki. Uhm, can I call you Rukia?"

"Yes, I actually prefer it. Sometimes it gets confusing when Byakuya is around." She said with a little laugh.

"Let me finish up, and I will meet you in two hours. Would that be enough time for you?"

"Sounds great! Where would you like me to meet you?"

"I'll meet you at the manor." Iba stated.

"See you then!" Rukia called out as she hurried back towards the manor to get ready for her upcoming date.

So Ulquiorra9000, you know your requested date is coming up! :) I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. I had fun writing it this chapter. I love me some Toshiro!