A/N: Yep, yet another short for this story. Hope you enjoy it!
Head over Heels

Summer was finally here which meant only one thing: half-naked women at the beach! Isshin smiled at that very fact. His chances were good this year. After he hit twenty, his body filled out. He'd put hours into his physique just for this time of year. Now he had muscles all over the place. The women would surely adore him once he made his way onto the beach.

Thank his lucky stars that college was on break for a few days. Isshin and a few pals from school packed up their things into his nearly broken down vehicle, then headed out to the heated sands by the shore. Perfect day for it, too. The sky had only the fluffiest of clouds splattered across the ocean of blue. The sun was a frequent visitor, shinning down brightly, warming the air...the land...

The streets were alive with people near the boardwalk. Everyone seemed so happy as they paraded around the area. Really, there was nothing like the beach in the summertime heat. Then again, it could also serve to work some up.

He found a place to park his car rather easily at the little hotel. They'd gotten pretty lucky to have reservations. They were even more lucky to be able to afford it. It took weeks of scrounging, but it definitely paid off.

Once settled in at the hotel, the group headed to the calling shore. The four of them cheered as they ran down the beach, taking on the water like a valient, worthy foe. Isshin roared as the waves of sunheated waters pounded him. His friends laughed as the ocean tossed the man back on land with his rear pointed to heaven.

He fell over with a grunt and a thud into weat sand. Shaking his head, he forced his eyes to focus. His breath caught when he finally got his vision back in order.

Long brown hair flowed with the salt scented breeze as the woman moved across the beach. She had a grace about her, a sway that would call to any man there. In fact, it did. At least a dozen men swarmed around her in attempts to persuade her.

She didn't seem upset by the attention, but she didn't revel in it either. She just took it as it was and what it was worth. All the while, a sweet smile played at her face. But there was a distinct disinterest in what the men said to her, whatever it was. He could feel it. The beauty was simply being polite, and surprisingly brave.

So many of the men around her were just as gorgeous as she was. Tall, buff, tanned and almost unnatrually handsome. It made him sick to his stomach.

He watched her with a hunger that he'd never felt before. Isshin would have given anything just to say "hey" to her. But really, how could he compete with the group of beach gods flocked to the woman?

Something deep down told him not to give up. This...this was important! He needed to go over to the woman and offer her something these men couldn't.

His friends called to him in the distance, wanting to know why he hadn't moved. One asked if he needed to go to the doctor, but he waved dismissively, not completely paying attention. Oh no, Isshin was far too busy formulating his plan.

Something like a spark went off in his mind. He had it. It was so crazy, it might just work!

Suddenly, he stood and stretched. After a few exercises, he ran for the woman.

"HEY, PRETTY LADY!" he yelled as he moved quickly down the beach.

The group stopped and turned in Isshin's direction. The Beach God club watched on with disgust in their eyes. The beauty at the center of the crowd continued to smile, but with a hint confusion.

Isshin flipped into the air gracefully, then landed on his hands. He moved left to right and back again with a grin.

"Hi! Hi! HIIII!" he said as he spun around on a hand, "Lookie here!" he flexed with push-ups, "Look at meeeeeeee! Hey! Yoooo hoooooo!"

The crowd of men surrounding the smiling beauty separated slightly, giving the young woman a better opportunity to see Isshin standing on his head. Her eyes widened for a moment before her hand covered her gapped mouth. Her eyes warmed so suddenly as the muffled sounds of her laughter filled the air.

Something about that laugh froze Isshin for a moment. His heart filled with it. Filled to the point the stretched muscles ached, but it felt wonderful.

The men around the woman looked to her as though she were mad. How could she pay attention to such a loser? He could see it their eyes as he began doing push-ups. Her laughter became louder when her hand fell from her mouth, showing the most perfect smile in the history of smiles. Her eyes curved into half-moons of long lashes. It brought a smile him and a scowl to the others.

She walked from the semi circle of wooers, stepping closer to Isshin. He collapsed to the ground, then lept up so that he could stand. Blood had rushed to his face, giving his skin a redness..but that wasn't the only reason. Not at all.

Laughing nervously, he scratched the back of his head. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she grinned. The sun bounced off her glossy brown eyes, giving off glitters of gold with in. It caused Isshin to take in a long breath.

"Hello." She said brightly

"Hey..." he said in the middle of his nervous chuckle.

The men who'd been doting attention on the young woman since before Isshin and his friends arrived on the beach, disbursed. Each one looked annoyed or aggravated, grumbling all the while. After a few moments of just staring, the pair were left alone.

"I..um...My name is Kurosaki Isshin." he lowered his hand finally, "But you can call me Isshi-chin if you want."

That caused her another fit of happiness, but this time a blush came with it.

"I'll keep that in mind." she said, her voice sounding like a sweet melody on the air, "My name is Saito Masaki."

Neither spoke for a moment and just stared. Isshin could hear his heart in his ear. It throbbed, but it also whispered something in his ear. "This means something, Isshi-chin. Don't screw it up."

It's impossible for a man to know his future. He can have a good idea of what he'd want or of what he'd dream of, but fate was a silent thing that truly gave no hint. Destiny was to be played out, not found. But looking at Masaki, Isshin knew he'd discovered his.

A/N2: I'm not sure the circumstances of Ichigo's parents meeting was ever discussed on the show or in the manga, so I made up something cutsie. Don't kill me if I'm wrong. I don't recall it being discussed but...after all those episodes I'm not so sure!

Oh, if anyone was wondering what "-chin" is: According to a fansub of Bleach (I think it was episode 37) it said that "chin" is like "chan" only cutsier.