(AN) Sorry for the late update! I was actually working on some latter chapters that would just not get out of my head! I hope you enjoy this one! Be prepared for new date info and a whole lot of teasing!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Chapter 15
Leaving Ichigo under the stars was one of the hardest things that she ever hard to do. He meant the world to her. Yet Rukia knew in order for this matchmaking to work, Ichigo had to be out of the picture, or she would be highly tempted to drag him into the mix. He deserved a chance at as normal life or as normal as a half human-half soul reaper could get.
An anguished Rukia quickly flash stepped to the manor. Byakuya was waiting for her out front. Rukia's amethyst eyes met his grey ones for a moment before she lowered her head. "Brother."
"How'd it go, Rukia?" He asked as he hid the curiousness from his voice. The dark haired captain couldn't understand why his sister hid her face from him.
"As well as can be expected. Although, you do not have to worry about Ichigo anymore. He will not interfere so the matchmaking shall proceed." Rukia tried to hide any regret in her voice. Any form of weakness on her part could send her in a bout of tears, and she refused to cry in front of Byakuya.
Byakuya eyed his sister worriedly. He expected Ichigo to confess not let her get away. "As you wish, Rukia. Now, I think it's time for you to go to bed. You have a long day tomorrow with the recruits then your date."
"Yes, brother." Rukia bowed before she headed to her room.
Byakuya watched Rukia walk towards her room with her head bowed. A sense of loneliness surrounded her. "Everything will work out for the best, Rukia. You'll see." He whispered before he went to visit Hisana's shrine.
The next morning, Rukia woke up after a fitful night's rest. A burdened heart felt like the world's weight was on her shoulders the entire night. She slowly climbed out of bed, dressed, the proceeded towards the dining room. Her heart fell a little more after the discovery that her brother had left for work. Rukia had hoped to ask him for his opinion on a matter close to her heart.
"Great! I missed him!" She said with sarcasm as she sat down at the table. Sometimes being alone with your thoughts was worse than being in a crowd. A noise came from the other side of the wooden door to reveal Rukia's personal maid Yuuko. The young, happy maid brought Rukia green tea, miso soup, rice, boiled eggs, and steamed salmon for breakfast. A grateful Rukia bowed as a thank you to Yuuko. She was hoping that this hearty meal would give her some much needed energy. If she remained this exhausted, her performance will slip at work, and the Kuchikis could not have that!
"Miss Kuchiki!" A male servant ran into the dining room almost colliding with Yuuko as she was leaving.
Rukia leveled a glare at the male servant. "Excuse me for the interruption, but this came for you this morning."
The servant set the letter down by Rukia's breakfast. She eyed it with such distaste because there would be only one reason that she was receiving notes – a damn date!
Dear Lieutenant Kuchiki,
Please be ready by 7 o'clock for our date and meet me at the Squad 3 Barracks. I would suggest you wear something fun. Ask Rangiku if you need help! She knows exactly where we are going. I look forward to seeing you then.
Lieutenant Kira
A groan escaped her lips. Why was the man so damn formal? Did her brother really scare all of her suitors into being prim and proper? Or was she the one who terrified them? Granted, trouble did follow her everywhere she went, but really… A note? Izuru could do so much better! "Why the hell did I let Byakuya and Rangiku talk me into this again?" She asked out loud. Rukia let out another groan as she noticed the time. She quickly wolfed down her food to refrain from being late.
Eight hours of nothing but training secessions and new recruit inspections drained whatever energy Rukia had left. Noticing her change, Captain Ukitake let Rukia escape for the rest of the afternoon. He was than happy to give his favorite lieutenant a much needed break even if it was to go work on matchmaking plans.
Despite the fact that she was bone weary, a smile lit up Rukia's face as she ventured to her other favorite white haired captain's office. "Hitsugaya!" She called out as she watched him break a brush. Rukia winced briefly because she could feel a burst of spiritual pressure until he realized who was calling him. "You wouldn't by any chance know where Rangiku is? I need to borrow here for a little while?" Rukia bravely asked.
A devilish glint flashed in his teal eyes. Then Hitsugaya actually smiled at her. "Need help with getting out of a date?" He asked in a mildly flirty voice. This one of the many games him and Rukia played throughout their visits, and they both enjoyed out doing one another.
"No, I need help getting dressed for one." She replied as a blush crossed her face. Why are you blushing? Stupid face! Huh!
Hitsugaya arched a white eyebrow at her reply. He noticed her blush then he smirked at her. "MATSUMOTO!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
A loud crash came from across the room, and Rukia went to investigate. She cautiously approached the other side of the couch to see a sleepy eyed Rangiku on a broken table. Now she understood why Hitsugaya's yell held a hint of glee.
"Awe, captain! Why did you have to do that?" Rangiku slurred from the floor.
"Well if you would quit running off and drinking on the job, I'd be nicer to you!" Hitsugaya growled from behind Rukia.
A slight laugh escaped Rukia's lips so she coughed to cover up her laugh. She loved watching this pair interact. They were hilarious. Hitsugaya acted like the ice dragon he commanded, but she knew he was overly fond of his lieutenant. While Rangiku may be a slacker, she worked hard when it counted.
"Rukia needs your help, so I suggest you sober up quickly. I am giving you the rest of the afternoon off to help her. But on one condition! I don't want to even see a glass of alcohol around you tomorrow until you are off duty! Do we understand one another?" Rangiku's eyes lit up at her icy captain's minor thawing due to her favorite petite soul reaper.
"Yes, captain!" Rangiku was up on her feet in an instant. She grabbed Rukia by the arm and they ran out of the office as Hitsugaya shook his head at them.
"They're going to be the death of me one day!" He exclaimed as he sat behind his desk to return to his paper work.
Rangiku and Rukia burst into her bedroom like a whirlwind. The soul reapers laughed at some of the servants' expressions, which Rukia knew Byakuya would be hearing about her behavior shortly. She just laughed it off. If anything, Byakuya would laugh, maybe scold her but not harshly. He would be excited to learn that his little sister was having fun.
Rukia watched Rangiku raid her closet. "So what did you have in mind to wear for Izuru tonight?" Rangiku asked as she was in awe over Rukia's fancy kimonos. She knew the Kuchikis were wealthy, but this took the cake! Rukia wasn't the fashion queen some of the nobles wanted her to be, but the girl had a talent for collecting the best pieces Rangiku's ever seen.
"Why are you hiding all these lovely clothes?" Rangiku asked jealously.
"I'd let you borrow them, but we both they're not going to fit." Rukia teased as Rangiku pouted. "Really, Ran, those were given to the Kuchiki house, and the maids place them in my closet hoping that I will wear them. But I am more of sensible kind of girl. Besides I'm just about always in my shihakusho working. Why should I bother with fancy clothing right now?"
"I just want to slap you for hiding all these breath taking works of art in your closet! But I understand your point." She looked back to the closet longingly then she turned to Rukia.
"From now on, I shall pick out what you are wearing for the dates!" Rangiku excitedly explained as Rukia groaned. "We're putting that fantastic wardrobe to use!"
I asked her to come help me pick out an outfit why? Oh, right, because she knows where we are going tonight! Breathe Rukia! You got this! A little dolling up may tonight feel special.
"Fine, Rangiku. What should I wear tonight?" Against her better judgement, Rukia caved to a nonverbal commitment to let Rangiku have her way with her wardrobe, hair, and make-up.
"Didn't Izuru send you a note telling you about the date?" A surprised Rangiku asked as she stopped to look at Rukia.
"No, he didn't! He said to ask you if I had any questions about how to dress! That's why I stole you for Captain Hitsugaya." Rangiku raised an eyebrow at Rukia.
"Hmm..." The wheels in her brain started to turn. "You did steal me from captain - without a fight from him at that!" An grin emerged on Rangiku's face as her eyes lit up.
"Rangiku, don't look at me like that!" But the blonde soul reaper was lost for the moment. "Quit seeing bunnies, white butterflies, ice dragons, and whatever else in that head of yours! Hitsugaya and I are just good friends!" Rukia yelled at her.
The bosom beauty eyed the raven haired beauty suspiciously. Rangiku didn't buy a word of coming out of Rukia's lips. Her and the captain were too close to be just friends. "Why did he let me escape work then if your 'just friends" She asked.
"We have a deal..." Rukia quietly replied as she turned her attention to a embellished, white shirt and a black, leather skirt. She prayed Rangiku wouldn't pry to much into their unique friendship.
"Oh?" Rangiku commented. Rukia could hear all the unvoiced questions just from the single "oh".
"Ran, it's not like that, and you know it!" A blushing Rukia exclaimed.
"I don't know anything, Rukia! That's why I'm asking questions." She walked up to her petite friend invading her personal space. "But why are you blushing if its nothing?" Rangiku asked.
"You know I don't like being put on the spot. I get anxious." Rukia concluded. "Captain Hitsugaya has become a good friend, Ran. He's one of the few people who won't judge me nor is he trying to vie for my hands. It's refreshing." Rukia became redder at their proximity. She hated feeling trapped, and there was no escape route from her closet except through Rangiku.
"You are special friends with him then. Friends who go to lunch together half the time. He's a friend who lets you hide in his office when your running away from your problems. Maybe he's even a friend who has hugged or even kissed you on the cheek? Or was it the lips, Rukia?" Rangiku asked as they were nose to nose. The older soul reaper was trying to read the younger's emotions.
"Move, Rangiku!" Rukia groaned. Why did the biggest gossip have to be her best female friend?
"I see that I hit a nerve." She slowly backed away from Rukia to give the flustered soul reaper some space. She loved Rukia to death, but she didn't want to become a soul reaper popsicle anytime soon.
"Look, I brought you here to help pick out an outfit for the date with Izuru! Why are you grilling me about Captain Hitsugaya? Can you just do what I ask? Just this once! Hell, I already even told you that I would basically be your dress up doll if you would just quit harassing me!"
"Fine. I'll help you because your so damn cute!" Rangiku exclaimed as she pinched Rukia's cheek.
Inhaling deeply, Rukia was trying to focus on not turning Rangiku into an ice statue. She doubted Hitsugaya would appreciate that nor would he ever let her brow his lieutenant again.
Rangiku didn't realize the temperature around her dropped till she saw her breath. "Okay, Rukia! I get the picture. I'll shut up! Now, warm this place up!"
Without any more motivation, Rukia recalled her escaped spiritual pressure. It's been a little haywire since all this stupid matchmaking started. "Sorry..." Rukia grumbled.
"I'll leave the captain out of it for now, Rukia, but you owe me an explanation about you too! I think there is more to the story than what you claim!" Rangiku exclaimed.
"One day, I'll tell you, but right now can you just help me survive this date?" Rukia asked as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Alright! Alright! Tonight Izuru is talking you to a concert - an upscale rock group! So I'd wear the sapphire, lacy top, the mid-thigh black, leather skirt, and the knee length black boots. You'll look sophisticated, yet sexy." Rangiku purred.
"Are you sure I need to look like this for Izuru? He doesn't seem like the type to go to a rock concert."
"He's full of surprises, Rukia!"
Somehow, Rukia doubted Rangiku's words. Izuru Kira was a good man and a brilliant lieutenant, but he could be very boring. Rukia wanted a date who wasn't scared to argue with her or call her out to keep things lively. She didn't need someone roll over at the simplest suggestion. Rukia hoped Rangiku knew what she was doing including Izuru in the dating mix.
Thank you to all my readers for reading, reviewing, following, and favoring this story! Y'all are awesome! I appreciate the love! I hope you have a lovely, safe Labor Day weekend!