Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach

Author's note: I'm really sorry for the long update. Let's just say I'm really stressed about school and totally forgot about updating. Needless to say, Fanfiction deleted all my drafts and I have to start from scratch now! :(

If you enjoyed this chapter, do leave a review, favourite and follow! It'll probably speed up the process of updating! :)

(I hope this chapter wasn't to bad haha!)

Well, I really hope there was more relationship elaboration in this chapter and more insight about Toshiro's thoughts! The Diamond Dust Rebellion will be a fairly huge part of this fanfiction, so you guys should check it out if you want :)

Enjoy~

"Nanao-chaaan!"

A whine rang out from inside the office of the 8th Division Captain's office. Peeking in from the door, Misaki caught sight of Kyoraku being smacked lightly on the head by Nanao, a murderous flash to her glasses as she glared at him, undoubtly furious at the mass of undone paperwork.

"Nanao-chan? I'll be going for my day off now!"

She smiled, however inwardly laughing at Kyoraku's plight, giving a small wave to both her captain and vice-captain.

Misaki really appreciated how lively the 8th Division was. Poor Nanao did try to make it a more serious and orderly division like 6th Division, however, that just did not work out, with a sake-loving captain and party-driven members.

In fact, Misaki did not even need to report that day... It was just that she felt bad for the captain and his pile of paperwork that would never be done. She had helped him to organise it a bit, however, Nanao sternly insisted that Kyoraku-taicho must do his own paperwork, as he was the captain of the 8th Division, and had his own responsibilities.

Flash-stepping to her room in the barracks, Misaki swapped her black shinigami attire in favour of a light red yukata. Today was a day off, and she hoped to be able to catch up with Toshiro. After all, the last thing she wanted was to have their friendship fall apart.

Speaking of friends, Misaki sighed. She had not seen Hinamori for a long time. Neither had she recently seen Izuru-kun or Abarai-kun. That however, she could understand. After all, with their new positions in Soul Societies, there just had to be some drawbacks, some of which meant lesser time with her friends. Maybe they would catch up with each other... eventually.

Grabbing her zanpaktou, she then flash-stepped to the 10th Division.

As she stood outside the central 10th Division office, a small smile crossed her face. As always, the contrast between the 8th and the 10th was remarkable. There was an air of serene peace. unlike the usual party-like atmosphere in the 8th...

"TAICHO! HITSUGAYA-KUN IS GOING ON A DATE~"

Behind the doors, she heard a familiar voice tease.

"Really?! My, the kids grow up so fast! I swear I still remember the day our third seat was still a tiny recrui-"

"Shut up!"

A slightly annoyed voice rang out after the taicho's deep sounding one. Misaki stared at the wooden door, feeling rather conflicted if she should raise her hand to knock the door, having felt several chills emanating from the icy cold of Toshiro's reiatsu.

As if on cue, the door swung open and Misaki glanced up to spot a pair of teal eyes. Toshiro's eyebrow was twitching slightly, and there was a rather visible tick mark on his forehead. Behind him, she was quite sure she could hear the loud bellow of laughter and the tinkling of sake bottles.

Glancing at her, Toshiro stepped out the door past her, glancing at her before stating.

"Let's go."

Suddenly, Misaki made out Rangiku-chan's voice ringing out cheerily.

"Hitsugaya-kun, show Misaki-chan a great time, neh?"

Toshiro halted dead in his tracks, his eyes closed in irritation as he muttered.

"Matsumoto-fukutaicho, I told you we weren't dating."

His eyes opened and looked at her, as if he was considering something. Curiously, Misaki returned the stare before Toshiro promptly turned away.

"Anyway, I will."

Misaki's eyes widened as for some reason, a smile spread on her face at the sweet gesture.

With that, they shunpoed off. It was time for the long-due ice-cream.

Toshiro sweatdropped a little as he looked at the black-haired girl eating her 5th bowl of ice-cream. He could already feel his money-pouch in the pocket of his shihakusho complaining, but somehow he didn't mind

Well, it was not really ice-cream. The ice cream here in Soul Society was unlike the ice-cream in the Human World. While the ice cream in the human world was full of sugar and preservatives, the ice cream here was all-natural and much simpler, made from shaking milk with fruit juice, to give it flavour.

(Toshiro had absolutely enjoyed the watermelon-flavored ice-cream in particular, not that he would ever admit it out loud)

Somehow, he found himself thinking about to days ago, and his feeling of guilt swarmed up in him again- the feelings over the deaths of Fujishiro Yuuya, and Kusaka Soujirou.

Kusaka Soujiro, whose existence had been wiped from records. Fujishiro Yuuya, one of his first ever friends who dedicated himself to protecting his friends...

Unlike him. He graduated, leaving Misaki and Yuuya behind. For someone like himself, he hated being alone, he wondered if the both of them had ever held a shred of resentment against him.

"Hey, Toshi-kun... You alright?"

He looked up to meet concerned green eyes, and briefly considered telling Misaki everything- his own guilt, his conflict, his questions... Toshiro also noted the bowl of watermelon ice cream in her hand that was extended to him.

Almost immediately, the thought was stubbornly rejected. Misaki did not need to be bothered with his problems, and he needed to deal with his problems... alone.

He shook his head curtly, rejecting both the watermelon ice-cream and the concern from Misaki, immediately regretting it when he caught the slight hurt and surprise in her eyes. It lasted for only a moment, before the expression of her eyes became guarded and she fell uncharacteristically quiet.

It was then Toshiro recalled his own recent promise to show her a good time, and he quickly held out his hand.

Misaki gave a blink in confusion at the action, and with that he sighed.

"The ice cream. I do want it."

She smiled brightly, straightening her hand out as she handed him the bowl of ice cream, the delight radiating off her in waves.

Her happiness was contagious, and Toshiro's mood lightened up greatly, nearly giving a small smile at her expression.

As Toshiro quickly finished his ice-cream, Misaki got up, then insisting that Toshiro only paid for a bowl of ice-cream, while she paid for all her additional bowls of the sweet dessert.

Looking at the black-haired girl, Toshiro inwardly sighed, however, for some reason his heart felt lighter.

Stepping forward, he grabbed her wrist, before tugging her out of the small shop. Misaki frowned, as if deep in thought, before she relented.

"You know, you're being awfully weird today."

She tugged for him to stop, before glancing back up at him, before a smile crossed her face as she proceeded.

"However, I'm glad that we can still hang out like how we used to, Toshiro."

The use of his actual name didn't go unnoticed, and with that a small smirk appeared, if only a little on his features.

Toshiro tugged her forward, before looking up, smiling as he muttered.

"Come on, we're going to go visit Granny."

...

Omake!

Rangiku frowned at the expressionless poker face on Misaki's face, before placing a hand on her shoulder gingerly.

"Misaki-chan, are you okay?"

As Rangiku carefully nudged Misaki, she gave a look of slight surprise as she suddenly collapsed against the wall.

"Ah, she fell asleep..."

Isshin straightened up slightly as he glanced at the now asleep Misaki, before casually remarking.

"Fukutaicho, why is she curling up like a cat?"

Rangiku looked at the sleeping girl on the floor, before clapping her hands together, her eyes wide and sparkly.

"That's too cute! Much more cuter than my Haineko!"

She jumped as there was a voice cut her off.

"Taicho, fukutaicho. What's going on?"

Toshiro entered, his white hair immediately drawing their attention. Sighing, he gave Rangiku and Isshin-taicho a glare.

"Why haven't both of you finished your paperwork? And what is Misaki doing sleeping on the floor?"

Rangiku gave a closed-eye smile, as she ignored Toshiro's first question and instead avoided the latter, knowing that the third seat would be pissed off more if he knew that she had gotten Misaki drunk.

"Hitsugaya-kun, I brought Misaki-chan here but I absolutely didn't know what happened to her!"

Toshiro frowned in disbelief as his teal eyes narrowed, gazing at the sleeping girl on the floor.

At that moment, Misaki let out a small sound of contentment as she stretched slightly, before curling up again.

"My, my... Misaki-chan sort of resembles a cat, neh?"

Rangiku remarked, glancing up at Toshiro, before chuckling inwardly. The white-haired third seat looked extremely flustered, with pplashes of pink across his face and at the tip of his ears. Grinning, Rangiku couldn't help but lean forward, before she remarked jokingly.

"Could it be... You really have a neko fetish, Hitsugaya-kun!"

Toshiro jumped up, his face glowing from embarrassment as he jerked himself away from Misaki, his arms crossing over his chest in denial.

"No, I do not! I am just going to take her back to the 8th Division barracks now."

As soon as he said that, he immediately picked up the sleeping girl before disappearing, completely neglecting to scold his captain and vice-captain for skipping out on paperwork.

"Take good care of her~"

Rangiku called out before she leaned back in her chair thoughtfully, before picking up a sake bottle and turning towards the rest of her drinking gang.

"Anyone want to bet if Hitsugaya-kun is going to pet Misaki-chan's hair?"