Chapter Text
Walking back from the 13th Squad barracks to the Kuchiki Manor, Rukia heard a loud noise coming from the rooftops, followed by a loud curse. Alarmed and a little curious, she jumped to the nearest rooftop, her hand on her Zanpakuto, more from habit than necessity.
They were not at war anymore, had not been for a few decades now, but that didn't change the fact that she was a Shinigami, a warrior trained to protect the Seireitei and the world of the living. And a Captain, at that.
She was surprised to find a fellow Captain standing not two steps from where she landed, his white hair matching the white of his haori. She was surprised to find any Captain there, but him most of all. She’d seen him angry many times, even furious but never heard him curse until now. Had she heard that right?
But, seeing how he glared at something at his feet, his shoulders stiff and his cold reiatsu spiking dangerously, she thought she definitely had.
“Kuchiki, I didn’t hear you there,” he said, turning around slightly.
“Captain Hitsugaya, I apologize for sneaking up on you. I heard a noise and had to come up and check what was causing it. I didn’t expect to find you here.”
He actually slumped at her words, looking tired. “No, I’m sorry you had to hear that. It’s just… I’m at my wits' end with what to do with that woman. She just doesn’t give up,” he said, sounding exasperated.
Rukia smiled, knowing full well which woman he was referring to, though she forced her face into a neutral expression soon after. She didn’t want him to think that she was making fun of him. “What did Lieutenant Matsumoto do this time?”
He turned to look at her. Really look at her. She wasn’t his friend, but he respected her and trusted her judgment. Also, she didn’t strike him as someone who was prone to gossip, and he was at the end of his rope with the situation. So, he decided to trust her.
“Kuchiki,” he said slowly, “do you think there’s something wrong with me?”
She didn’t know what she expected, but it was definitely not that. “What?” was the only real answer to that question.
He sighed. There was no backing out now that he had already gotten that first question out, but he felt that he was going to regret this. He didn’t like sharing his personal life with others and didn’t like having to ask for advice but, knowing Rukia, he was almost certain that she wouldn’t make fun of him. He couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, though.
He knew how to train to become stronger, how to counter different attacks, and what each Captain’s weak points were. But this was completely different. He felt out of his depth. He tried hard not to pay attention to the rumors and Matsumoto’s jibes, but it was becoming difficult to the point of distraction. And he hated distraction.
“Ever since I’ve grown and started looking like an adult, everyone seems to have this idea that I need someone in my life. Especially Matsumoto. It’s like it’s become everyone’s favorite pastime to think of an ideal partner for me. It started as a nuisance, but it’s turning into a real hindrance. I can’t do anything or go anywhere without someone pointing out that I need to relax or take some days off and go out with someone. They won’t leave me alone.”
He sounded miserable, and as much as she found the whole ordeal funny, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. She was in a similar situation, after all.
“I’ve tried everything, but nothing worked. Yelling would only result in Matsumoto telling me that I really need to get laid, ignoring it only makes it worse, and trying to go on dates has proven boring and a complete waste of my time. I went on six dates this month, with various men and women, and I felt more miserable after them than ever. So, I’m asking you, since you seem rational and I trust your judgment—do you think there is something wrong with me?” he finished and just stood there, looking miserable and honest.
She tried not to dwell on the fact that he just talked to her about "getting laid." Him, of all people. But she supposed that he had indeed grown in the past decade or so, almost as tall as her brother now. Tall and handsome, but still cold and strict as always. Towards everyone, but mostly towards himself.
He seemed to think that the peace they were living in was just a brief quiet between storms, always training and working as hard as ever. She respected him for it, but she could see why people were worried about him. She tried explaining that.
“No, I don’t think there’s something wrong with you. As for your friends...have you ever thought that they’re worried about you? Everyone is enjoying their lives and making the best of the time we’re given, but they see you always working. Maybe they just want you to be happy,” she said.
“But I am happy. And I would be even happier if everyone would just leave me alone.”
She wasn't getting anywhere with this. She tried a different approach. Why she cared that he understood was beyond her. Maybe because she thought he was a good person and deserved good things.
“Look at it this way. Do you think Lieutenant Matsumoto has been happier since she's with Captain Gin?”
He didn't have to think much. “Yes. I don't like the man and he has done some terrible things in the past, but he atoned for them and he seems to really care about her, so I guess they are both happier,” he said, shrugging.
“It's the same with my brother,” she found herself saying. “When he first told me he's with Renji, I was surprised, but now I see how happy he is. He tries to deny it, of course, but I see it nevertheless,” she said fondly. “It's only natural that they want the same for us.”
“I get that, and I've tried, but nothing works,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “I hate small talk. I don't know how to do it, and if I try to talk about something deeper, or God forbid about my duties or my job, they say I'm boring. It always ends in one of two ways. Either I get irritated and leave within half an hour, or I get interested enough to stay for the whole date and then they never want to see me again. So, there must be something wrong with me,” he exclaimed, giving up.
“Hmm,” she said, thinking, “maybe you just haven't found the right person yet.” Suddenly, she exclaimed, eyes shining with glee. “I've got an idea.”
“What idea?” he said carefully, the sudden change in her demeanor and voice making him wary.
“Would you go out with me on a date?”
It was his turn to be shocked. “What?” he asked because, again, it was the only real answer to that question.
“Well, I happen to be in a similar situation to yours, only slightly different. Ever since my brother made his relationship with Renji public, the elders gave up on him providing an heir and instead turned to me.” She exhaled. “They've been setting me up with various nobles since then. Trust me, your dates are no match for some of these guys. Sometimes I think it's the same guy with a slightly different haircut, always full of himself, never letting me speak.”
She said the last words through her teeth, and Toshiro felt her reiatsu rise up. He felt it must be different for a woman, and a noble one at that. Soul Society was changing for the better, but he was aware that some noble houses resisted the change, especially regarding women's rights.
“So,” she tried to relax so she could continue explaining the plan, “we could go on dates, you and I. They don't have to be real dates. You said you respect me well enough; I respect you as well. We could try to figure out what it is you're looking for in a partner and find the right person for you. We don't have to have small talk, and you can even bring your work with you.”
He narrowed his eyes at that. “You'd be okay with me bringing work to a date?”
“Yes,” she replied confidently, and he believed her. But he was still suspicious.
“What's in it for you?” he asked after a moment.
“Well, you see - if we tell everyone that we're dating, I wouldn't have to go on dates anymore.”
“But I'm not a noble,” he said, confused.
“No, but you're a Captain. And my brother respects you. He would ask to speak with you and try to intimidate you, just so you know.”
“I'm not easily intimidated,” he replied.
“I know. Wait, does that mean that you agree?” she said, surprised and hopeful.
“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”
She knew that if she gave him time to think about it, he would never agree, so she pressed. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun. Imagine Lieutenant Matsumoto’s face when she sees us. She’ll faint,” she said, imagining it and giggling a little.
He looked at her suspiciously. “Wait, is this some kind of plot from one of those romance novels Matsumoto’s always reading?”
“No,” she said automatically, but he was looking at her with those teal piercing eyes and she relented after a few seconds. “Yes,” she said, shrinking, “but it always works in books.”
“Don’t they fall in love at the end of those stories?” he asked acidly.
“Yes, but that won’t be a problem for us. Wait...” she said, narrowing her eyes at him, “how do you know how these stories end? You’ve been reading them?” she realized, covering her mouth in shock.
“No,” he lied, “I just guessed.”
She was just standing there, a small smile playing on her lips. It was rather distracting.
“Fine, I read a couple of them,” he confessed.
The smile grew into an amused grin. “Are you going to use that to blackmail me?”
“God, no,” she replied. “There’s nothing wrong with reading romance novels.”
He cringed at her statement.
“But this is a good thing. I know a few people who like reading as well. We could try to figure out what you like and what you don’t and work from there. It will be like a mission for me. So, you in?” she asked, now fairly confident that he’ll say yes.
“Fine. But if either one of us wants out, we break up. Deal?”
“Deal,” she said, grinning like a maniac. “Are you free tomorrow? We could go to a tea house for our first date.” She had no idea why she was so excited about this, but the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that this was her best idea so far.
“Tomorrow? I’ll probably be free after 5:00 PM. Does that work?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll come pick you up. I can’t wait to see Lieutenant Matsumoto’s face,” she was practically squealing now.
“Okay, Kuchiki. See you tomorrow,” he said, turning to leave.
“See you tomorrow, Captain Hitsugaya.”
Toshiro all but forgot about the “date” with Rukia until 5:00 PM the next day, when she came knocking.
Matsumoto and Gin were sitting on one of the couches, whispering; she was giggling occasionally. He wanted to groan in frustration again, but knew that they—Gin especially—would poke him about it, so he pretended not to hear them and tried to focus on the paperwork.
When Rukia entered the office, he was glad to see her and even smiled in greeting. Rangiku stood up, separating herself from Gin, and turned to the newcomer.
“Rukia-chan, what brings you here?” she said in her cheery voice.
“I’m here to see Captain Hitsugaya.”
“Oh, go ahead then. Don’t let me keep you from your work,” she said, sitting back down and melting into Gin’s side, continuing where they left off.
Rukia watched them out of the corner of her eye while approaching his desk. “Hello! Are you ready?” she asked.
“Just let me gather my things. You’re sure you’re fine with me bringing the paperwork?” he checked one more time.
“Completely sure,” she said. “Are they always like this?” she added in a lower voice, gesturing towards the couple.
“Yes,” he said, fighting the temptation to sigh. “I want to bleach my eyes sometimes,” he said, and she laughed.
That got Rangiku’s attention. “What are you kids on about?”
“Nothing,” Rukia replied, turning around to look at her. “We’re just discussing where to go. For our date.”
“I’m sorry, I must’ve misheard that. You’re going where?” Rangiku asked, smiling.
“Captain Kuchiki and I are going on a date, Matsumoto. I would prefer not to be disturbed this evening. If there’s an emergency, try taking care of it yourself, please,” he said, gathering his papers and walking around the table to stand next to Rukia. There, he thought, that should provide enough evidence to make their story convincing.
Rangiku stopped smiling while he was talking and regarded them. When he finished, she started laughing. It started as a sharp, disbelieving snort before evolving into rich, unapologetic laughter. She was gasping for air, her face flushing pink and tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Every time she looked at Toshiro’s stony face, it only triggered a new wave of mirth.
Gin was smiling as always, that lazy smile, cocking his head to one side in a mocking gesture. When she managed to calm down and wipe away her tears, Toshiro was in full glaring mode, waiting for just one wrong word to start yelling at her.
“Ah, Captain,” she said fondly. “I thought that you were serious.”
“I am being serious!” he growled, more than said.
“Surely you don’t think anyone would believe you? You two? Dating? Yeah, and I’m the Soul King.”
“We’re really dating, Lieutenant Matsumoto,” Rukia said, offended by her words.
“Listen, darlings, I love both of you, but let’s be honest here. You’re calling each other by your titles, you’re standing miles apart with no obvious chemistry, AND... you’re taking your work with you on a date?!” The last one was more a question than a statement. “Come on, what is really going on? You can tell us.”
“Yeah, or don’t tell us and go on with whatever it is you’re doing. I just want to see where this goes. Oh, and if you need a lesson in chemistry, you can come to us. Right, Ran? We’re always open for people wanting to join us.”
“Don’t tease them, Gin,” she scolded, and he scoffed but turned around, still amused. She turned to them again. “So?” she said, expectant.
Toshiro stepped forward, defiant now. “Listen. We’re really dating, and if it’s different than what other people are doing, then screw it. We’re doing it our own way, and we don’t care what anyone says. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going on a date and we don’t want to be disturbed,” he said and, waiting for Rukia to lead the way through the door, went outside.
They were at the tea house in record time, both of them walking furiously. The owner, an older man with deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, greeted them politely and directed them to a secluded corner where they could enjoy their tea in silence, away from prying eyes. The tea house was comfortable and not too crowded, with only a few people conversing quietly.
“I hope you don’t mind, I brought my own work with me,” said Rukia after sitting down.
“No, not at all,” he answered, all serious and polite once again.
After a few minutes, during which they sipped their tea and worked quietly, Rukia noticed that he had stopped working and was looking in her direction.
“What?” she said, confused.
“Oh! Nothing, nothing... I was just... well, you’re doing a lot of scribbling and crossing out words, and you were muttering to yourself…”
“Oh, I didn’t realize. I’m sorry, I’ll stop,” she apologized. Really, could she stop embarrassing herself and start behaving like the noblewoman and Captain that she was?
“No, I don’t mind,” he said, surprising her. “I was just wondering what you are working on that’s giving you so much trouble.”
“It’s only the training rotation that I’m working on,” she said, somewhat sheepishly. She was self-conscious about her work as a Captain since he was much more experienced than she was, but he had asked and seemed genuinely interested.
She started explaining the new system she was working on, which would ensure that individual needs were recognized so that every member of her squad received training based on those needs and weaknesses. Captain Hitsugaya listened attentively and nodded along, asking some interesting questions that she hadn’t thought about.
He was a really good listener, she realized. He wasn’t as loud as her best friends, Ichigo and Renji, nor was he as quiet and distant as her brother. Feeling more confident and relaxed, she started to talk about her duties, the rotation schedule that was giving her headaches, and even what manga she was reading at the moment. It was strange. Good. She was talking more than on all those dates with the nobles combined. And he listened.
Is this what a date should look like?
Suddenly, she remembered why they were there in the first place and did a double-take. “I’m sorry, Captain, I got distracted. We’re here to talk about you and try to find the right person for you, not to talk about my work. I apologize,” she said, bowing slightly.
“Please, don’t apologize. We can talk about whatever you want. I was serious back there. For once, we can just be ourselves and not care about what other people think. Must I remind you again that I brought paperwork to our date?”
He smiled, and she felt herself relaxing again. Right, this was not a real date. She was just feeling weird with all the attention he was giving her. She was buzzing all over from being the sole focus of those intense eyes. So, she decided to change the subject.
“Okay, fair point. So, back to you. What is the first thing you notice about someone?”
He didn’t need to think long, answering almost immediately: “Their reiatsu. How strong it is and how controlled.”
“Right...” She sighed. This was going to be a long conversation.
When they were finally done with Rukia dissecting his romantic psyche, she had a decent idea of where his interests lay. She had even made a chart. A very well-done and illustrative chart, if she could say so herself.
“This looks very good, Captain Kuchiki. A very detailed and picturesque analysis,” Toshiro praised.
Ha! Take that, Ichigo! She could draw.
Even though the Captain was elusive and even shy sometimes (he was cute when he was blushing), she had managed to get him to actually think about his preferences and reply to her questions. Apparently, Toshiro was straight, and the things he noticed first about women were their eyes and hands.
“You can find out a lot about a person just by looking at their eyes and hands,” he had said.
If Rukia was thinking about how her eyes were too big and her hands were too ugly, with tiny scars from frostbite and ink stains from her work, that’s only because she was self-aware. Not because she wanted him to like her. Shut up.
He also seemed to like quiet, serious types, and that was definitely not her, so there was that. She wasn’t sure why she was disappointed. This wasn’t even a real date. They were just helping each other. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy when she mentioned she’d introduce him to a couple of girls she thought were his type and he agreed amicably.
Would they get to sit across from him in this same tea house, talking quietly? Would he listen to them with the same focus he was giving her today? Would he have that same cute blush while walking them home? Would he look at them with fire in his eyes while leaning in to kiss them?…
Whoa, whoa, where did that come from? She felt hot all over. From embarrassment or something else, she wasn't sure. She realized she’d been staring at him for some time now while he was back to working. Staring at his handsome face and his spiky hair, wondering if it would be soft to the touch. What was happening to her? Maybe she had eaten something funny or was coming down with something. Either way, she needed to get away from there as soon as possible without insulting him.
“Um, Captain Hitsugaya?”
He looked up from his work. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go home now.”
He blushed again and started gathering his things. “Right, sorry. I was immersed in my work and didn’t realize how late it had become. You said you have joint training with Squad 6 early in the morning, and here I am, making you sit here all alone and bored while I’m working. I apologize,” he said, bowing.
“It’s fine,” she said, smiling at his outburst. “I... actually, I had fun. Thank you. I’d better go now,” she said, standing up.
“Wait. Let me walk you home.”
“No need,” she said, wanting to get out of there quickly. “Have a good night, Captain Hitsugaya. Oh, I’ll get back to you about what we talked about,” she said and walked away.
He was left standing there with a confused expression on his face and a quiet, “Good night, Kuchiki.”
Rukia was sitting in her office, enjoying the warm sunlight spilling through the window. She should visit her friends in the World of the Living soon; she hadn’t seen them in quite some time, but there were always more things to do and organize when you’re a new Captain.
Maybe she could convince Captain Hitsugaya to go there on their next date. She cringed inwardly. Maybe there shouldn’t be any more dates between them. She was starting to like him, and he clearly didn’t like her back, so she would only end up hurting herself. No, she should just give him the list of the girls she thought would be his type and be done with it.
But every time she had thought of doing that in the past three days, a wave of jealousy and something akin to anger hit her, and she ended up throwing the paper away. She would just ignore him and everything would be fine. Right?
After going back to her work and realizing that she couldn't concentrate—which had nothing to do with her daydreaming about long fingers, white hair, and soft lips, thank you very much—she decided to give up and go for an early lunch. She was gathering her things when she heard a knock on the door.
Without looking up, she said, “Come in.”
She felt his reiatsu before he even opened the door. She looked up, and there he was. With his confident step and an intensity that felt overwhelming in the closed space of her office. Tall and more handsome than ever. It really was unfair that he could look like that without even trying.
“Captain Hitsugaya,” she squeaked, then cleared her throat. “What brings you here?”
“Well, I didn’t hear from you after... after the date, so I thought I’d stop by and see you?” He finished more like a question than a statement.
Was he nervous? No, why would he be. He was probably still confused because she had left in such a hurry that day. She forced a smile and said, “I’m fine, thank you. I was very busy and didn’t have the time to think about what we talked about. Also, I’m not sure when I’ll have the time. I’m sorry.”
“What we talked about?” He seemed confused.
“Your type?”
“Oh, no… there’s no need… I mean, don’t worry about that. I’m sure you have better things to do with your time,” he said uncomfortably, one hand on the back of his neck. He looked younger like that, almost shy.
He stepped closer into the room, standing in front of her desk. “Actually, I brought you something. I remembered you complained about the schedule rotation giving you trouble, so I brought a few examples of my own schedule.”
He put a stack of papers on her desk, spreading them out. “These are examples of the 10th Division’s schedules over the years. I’m not saying you should use them,” he looked straight into her eyes to make sure she wasn’t offended, and she nodded for him to continue, “but I’ve added notes to every one of them. Things that worked, things that were not appreciated by my subordinates, things that needed improving. Take a look at them when you’ve got the time, and if you have any questions, I’m at your disposal,” he said, straightening up.
She stood there, not knowing what to say. He remembered. Not only did he remember, but he had taken the time to put this together for her. Why? “Um... thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you. You didn’t have to. I’m sure it’ll make my life easier.”
“Sure, it’s no trouble,” he replied. He was blushing now. He looked like he wanted to say something else, so she waited patiently.
“Also, I noticed that your hands were stained with ink the other day, so I took the liberty of bringing you the ink that I use. It dries faster than the others and doesn’t leave stains. I was by the shop this morning, so I thought I’d stop by and buy one for you.”
She looked at him, then at the bottle of ink on her desk, and then at her hands. “Yeah, they really are ugly,” she said softly. She felt like a fool.
“I’m sorry?” he asked, as if he wasn’t sure she was talking to him.
“Nothing. Thank you. Again. If you’ll excuse me, I was just about to go to lunch,” she said, not looking at him. Damn, why did she sound like she was going to cry?
She tried to brush past him, but Toshiro reached out, his fingers catching her wrist with surprising gentleness. Rukia froze, her heart hammering against her ribs.
“They aren't,” he said, his voice low and steady. He didn't let go; instead, his thumb brushed lightly over the pale scars on her knuckles. “I've been thinking about what you asked me. About what I notice first.”
Rukia looked up, her breath hitching. His teal eyes were intense, searching hers.
“Your hands aren't ugly, Rukia. They’re the hands of a Captain. Every stain, every scar shows how hard you work. I think they’re beautiful.”
The heat bloomed in her chest. It rose to her cheeks, warming them until her skin felt like it was humming with electricity.
“Your eyes, too,” he continued. He was blushing a bit more now, but he wasn’t backing down. “I love how they can be kind and fierce at the same time. It can be intimidating, but I find I can’t look away.”
He finally let go of her wrist, but he didn't move away. “So, I was thinking… I really enjoyed our time together the other day. Would you go out with me again? For real, this time?”
Rukia felt the sting in her eyes vanish, replaced by a warmth that spread through her entire chest. A real grin, the one she usually reserved for her closest friends, broke across her face.
“Yeah, I’d love to,” she said, her voice finally steady. “How do you feel about the friends-to-lovers trope, Toshiro?”
Toshiro blinked, his eyes widening for a moment before a soft, genuine smile stretched his lips.
“I think,” he said, his teal eyes shimmering with a mixture of amusement and something far deeper, “that it may be one of my favorite tropes.”