"Kuchiki-san?"

"Mm, Inoue?"

"What do strawberries taste like?" Orihime asked, eying the one Rukia was polishing off at this very moment.

"You've never had a strawberry, Inoue?"

"No...well, I did when I was very little, but I can't really remember--I'm allergic," she explained, continuing wistfully, "They look like they must be good."

Rukia shrugged. "They're really not that great. A little sour, actually. They're alright, I suppose, but there are things that taste better...

"Anyway, who am I to tell you what a strawberry tastes like? No one but you can say what you would think of it. If you really want to know, you should try one."

"But--"

Rukia waved her off with a hand. "Is this a life-or-death allergy?"

"I don't think so...I just broke out in hives." Orihime's eyes widened. "Oh, I see! I must be willing to sacrifice for my desires! Maybe it's a test of my convictions given to me by the gods!" She made an exaggerated swooning motion.

A quick flash of confusion passed across Rukia's face, but then she smiled. "Precisely."

"All right, then!" Orihime picked out a small one from the plate in front of her, finishing it in one bite. "Wow, that was even better than I thought it would be!"

"Really, maybe yours was different somehow..." At this, Rukia leaned forward and, well, kissed her. After a few seconds of confusion, Orihime broke away.

"Kuchiki-san!"

"What? It did taste a lot different...although I suppose that could have been you."

"But, Kuchiki-san! You kissed me!"

"Yes, it was interesting...I've kissed a few boys, but never a girl."

Orihime gaped. "Kuchiki-san, you shouldn't be--oh, dear."

"What? Are you all right, Inoue?"

"...I feel kind of itchy. I think my hives are coming in."

"You should probably go home. I'll walk you," Rukia replied practically.

"But--all right." They walked in silence, side-by-side, a very strange-looking couple indeed. Luckily, Orihime was too preoccupied by her hives to wonder what other people must think or notice the stares they were getting. When they reached the door, she opened it, stepped in--then stopped. "Kuchiki-san?"

"Yes, Inoue?"

"I...think it would be nice if we could do that ag--I mean, not the--I mean, Kuchiki-san, would you like to come over here some time next week? We could have fruit like we did today."

"I would be delighted to, Inoue." Rukia paused on the sidewalk. "But no more strawberries?"

"No. No strawberries." Then, as if realizing suddenly the significance of what she'd just said, she turned as red as...well, a strawberry. "Goodbye, Kuchiki-san! I'll see you tomorrow," she called, so quickly the words tumbled over each other. Then she shut the door.