Disclaimer: Do we have to do this every single time? No owning Bleach. And we all know it.
A/N: Hi! Started this one-shot collection (finally!) Been planning to write this since… July. But, better late then never, huh? XD Was given 5 prompts —umbrella, katana, Lolita, kimono, slipper—and I chose the last one. This one is pre-SS arc. ;) Enjoy the (slight) fluffiness!
Chocolates
I-Slipper
"Ichigo."
"Hm?"
"I need to buy slippers."
He looked up from his book. "Slippers? Why?"
"I think Yuzu's getting a bit ticked off losing her slippers when I borrow them."
"Stole them, you mean."
"Borrow, Ichigo. So can I get them?"
"Why don't you get it from Geta Boshi? He gave you your school stuff."
"Exactly. He only gave school necessities and this gigai. Anything extra must be paid. I don't think he's one of those generous people to even give me one pair of slippers. I don't have any money to buy one from him."
"That's kinda obvious, since you're freeloading here and all."
"Am not freeloading." She glared at him. "And can you stop changing the topic? I need to buy slippers."
"Why should I spend my money on you, of all people?"
Rukia frowned at first, and then her lips broke into a saccharine smile. "Okay, then I'll ask Kurosaki-san." Rukia headed to the door, her fingers pressing lightly on the doorknob. She turned around, an obvious smirk plastered on her lips. "And if he asks, I'll just say I'm Ichi—"
Ichigo clasped his hand over her mouth. "Shut up, now, Rukia." Rukia wrenched his hand away and promptly broke into a grin.
"Thank you, Ichigo-kun!You are so sweet!" Ichigo's permanent scowl grew more evident as he took his wallet from the table. "Oi, Ichigo," she called out, getting on from the windowsill. "This will only take a few minutes, I promise." She smiled and jumped off the window.
"Ooh, what's this?"
Ichigo looked at her incredulously. They were on the bus, heading to town. He didn't want anyone from school to see him. (Or more succinct, him with the new transfer student. Normal news can never be normal news with Mizuiro around.)
"It's a button, stupid."
"Mm…" Rukia eyed the red button intently. She fingered the new-found discovery. Her finger pressed on it. BUZZZ! Rukia's face broke into a huge smile. The bus came to a slow down. She pressed it again.
BUZZ!
BUZZ!
BUZZ!
Ichigo looked over at whoever was pressing that vexing button again. No one came down from the bus. BUZZ! His eyes dilated and yelled, "OI! Rukia! Stop!" Ichigo pulled her arm away from the button. She restrained his grip and pressed it for the penultimate time that day. Extra long push this time. BUZZZZZZZZ…
"Please do not play with the button, miss." A bus conductor came to them, eyebrow twitching with pure irritancy.
"A-ah… yeah. Sorry." Ichigo looked up at him apologetically. Rukia just smiled at him. There was absolutely no apologetic sentiment in that smile, just annoyance; she had to stop playing with her new-found toy. The bus conductor walked back to the front of the bus and the bus moved again. Ichigo glared at the petite girl beside him. He made shooing movements with his hand. "Move, now."
"But, Ichigo… I wa—"
"Move, Rukia." Unwillingly, they changed seats. Rukia crossed her arms and sulked throughout the whole journey. Trust him to be such a spoilsport. And that bus conductor too! She was just pressing the button, right? There was no harm in that!
People here need to loosen up, Rukia thought. Geez.
Well, it turned out, Rukia really liked shoe—slipper— shopping.
Ichigo didn't.
Because of Rukia… flaws (i.e. shor— um, petiteness) , this slipper shopping had gone from 'merely a few minutes' to almost one hour. One freaking hour! The top two favourite excuses were: "I'm sorry, we don't have your size for that…" (from the attendant) and "I don't like it," (from Rukia). Ichigo was holding himself back from pulling his hair out. Ichigo didn't know why did she want this, but not that! No one cared what's your feet's clad in anyway.
Well, at least not him.
"Can you get her whatever that fits?" Ichigo growled. The attendant —Megumi, her name tag stated— scuttled to the store at the back of the shop. Ichigo was tired, annoyed and most importantly, bored!
"You don't have to scare her like that, Ichigo."
"Can we just get this over with?"
"Not until I get new slippers!"
They initiated a glare-to-the-death contest.
"A-ano… I think… this one might fit…" The brunette attendant stuttered, keeping an eye at Ichigo. Rukia rolled her eyes. (Ichigo won the glaring contest!) Honestly! Ichigo, of all people, seriously needs to lighten up. She didn't know shopping was this fun! He however should just enjoy it. Megumi revealed a pair of baby blue slippers with tropical green swirls climbing from the heel to the toes.
She tried it on. It fit, but…
"I don't like it."
Ichigo groaned. Not again! That's the… the… he lost count on how many slippers it was!
Megumi smiled at her.
"I'll get you a new one."
"Thank you."
He was halfway going to yell, but Megumi seemed still looked unruffled by Rukia's high standards of slippers. Ichigo thinks this woman must have incomparable patience level. Megumi walked over to the two bickering people, bringing a pair of simple red flip flops. There was a winking bunny on the middle of translucent strap and blue strawberries were printed at the soft base. The faux diamond embellished on the bunny (representing the eye) shined a million colours whenever it hit the light.
Rukia broke into a grin.
Please fit… please fit… PLEASE! Ichigo pleaded in his head.
"It fits. Do you like it? This is the last pair left in this store."
"Yes, I like it. Thank you very much." Rukia smiled that annoying saccharine smile.
YESSS! Thank you! Thank you!!
"Ichigo, pay them," Rukia instructed, heading towards the exit. Gladly, he handed the cashier the money. She smiled and uttered thanks. Ichigo left with a scowl, following Rukia. "Wait up, Rukia!"
"Those two…" Megumi said when they were out of earshot, "were one weird couple."
Her co-workers nodded.
"If they come in again, I'm not serving them," her colleague said.
Everyone agreed.
Rukia was happy.
She had new slippers. Cute too! And she got to sit beside the window on the way back. The only downside was, she needed to restrain herself from pushing that red 'stop' button. Geesh, that button is fun. She looked out the window, humming a made up tune.
Her eyes widened.
BUZZZZZ! Her fingers pushed on the stop button, making the buzzer rang. Before Ichigo managed to glare at her, the bus had already halted to a stop and she grabbed his wrist and tugged him out from the bus. "ACK!"
Outside, the bus moved on.
"Rukia! I told you not to push that button! And why the hell did you bring—"
"Ichigo. Look," She cut him off, eyes looking in front. "What's that?" She pointed at the sparkling blue horizon in front of them. Wind was blowing tangles through their hair. Ichigo turned his gaze towards there.
"It's a beach. Geez, haven't you ever seen a beach before?"
She shook her head. "There're lakes and rivers in Soul Society, but no beaches before. It's beautiful."
To Ichigo, it wasn't beautiful, but it wasn't horrendously terrible either. The water wasn't Caribbean blue but brown. It wasn't dirty or polluted; it was just… brown. He'd seen better ones, (in TV mostly, but still) but since she's never seen one, this must be really eye-catching.
Without another word, she ran towards the sandy shore.
"Oi! Rukia! Wait!"
She stopped at the side, where the water touched land. Rukia took off her new slippers and felt wet sand and cold water on her toes. She stood near the shore. Small waves licked her toes, sinking her feet into the sand. Rukia grinned and wiggle her toes in the wet sand. She crouched down and swirled her hand in the sand.
Ichigo almost laughed. She looked like a little kid.
He sauntered over to her. "You know, you can go in the water."
She turned to him, eyes sparkling. "Really?" He took off his sandals on the sand, folded his jeans up near his knees and waded in the water. Rukia's eyes widened with interest like a small child being presented with a new toy. She hitched her skirt upwards a bit and waded in the water with him.
"It's cold."
"Of course it is. No one wants to come here during autumn."
No one except her, that is. That's why this place was so deserted. Where ever he looked, they were the only ones there, oblivious to the rest of the world. Rukia tied her skirt to the side and crouched in the water, splashing her hand in it. She felt the rough texture of the sand beneath her feet as small waves crashed to her shins.
Smirking, an idea hatched in Ichigo's brain. He cupped his hands and let water fly all over her. Rukia shrieked at the contact with the sudden coldness going down her skin. "ICHIGO!" The strawberry laughed. Rukia held her skirt and kicked water to him. A huge wave of human —shingami-— made wave crashed all over his front.
It was her turn to laugh.
"Oi!" Ichigo was stunned for a moment, but then retaliated with his own human-made waves.
"This, Ichigo," Rukia muttered darkly. "is war."
And, thus, war did began.
"It's cold."
"Bear with it, Rukia. I don't have a jacket."
Both were soaked to the bone and the smaller of the two was chattering from the cold. Apart from the chilliness, Rukia didn't mind this impromptu trip to this beach. They should come here more often, but maybe not during this season or winter. Maybe she can persuade him to come again during summer. People from the roadside gawked at them. Two soaking people at a beach during autumn! They were just plain crazy, they thought. Rukia and Ichigo sat side by side on the sand. They signed a peace agreement a few minutes ago, ending the hour-long war.
Basically, they were just dead tired.
"Here, have socks," Ichigo said, covering her dainty feet with sand. Her toes poked out from the sand.
"Sand socks!" Rukia giggled, wiggling her toes.
Ichigo stood up, dusting his pants. "We should go before high tide comes in." He took his sandals and walked off.
He stopped, however, when he heard Rukia's anxious voice calling him. Ichigo looked back towards her promptly.
"Ichigo! My slipper's gone!"
"Where did you put it?"
"Right here!" She pointed to the ground where she was standing.
"Well, it isn't there!"
"I know where I put my slippers, Ichigo."
"Then take 'em before the last bus leaves!"
"…i-it's not here…"
"Rukia, you are so difficult!!"
She wanted to whack him but decided not to. He might just leave her here and take the last bus alone. It was unlikely, but then again, he's tired, she can tell. They combed the beach for a few minutes but they stopped since they couldn't find base nor strap of the elusive flip flops. Dejected, Rukia looked at the setting sun and saw something glinting in the water. It was giving out a million colors, floating towards the giant orange orb. She ran to the shore, barefooted, narrowing her eyes. No way…
"M-my slipper…" She weakly pointed to the shrinking small speck of red in the ocean.
Her slippers were eaten by the waves and were now heading for a boundless adventure on the endless ocean, never to be seen again.
Both were quiet.
"Ichigo…" she whispered. "I need new slippers."
Okie! That's the first for this :) The second one will be put in depending on the next five prompts given ;P
Tell me what you think about it :) Please review?