Disclaimer: All Bleach characters belong to Kubo Tite.

Your Hands In Mine

Kurosaki Ichigo sat at his desk staring hard at the textbook, the very image of a focused student. Only the loud drumming of his pencil against the desktop showed that he wasn't exactly so engrossed in history- chapter 3.

Where the hell was she?

Not that he cared about what she did after school, or with whom she chose to gallivant off with.. But she should at least have the courtesy to inform him. So he wouldn't have to worry. No, he corrected himself- so he wouldn't have to bother with carrying the dinner tray all the way upstairs.

Taptaptaptaptap..

Even the sound of his own pencil rapping was irritating his nerves. He tossed it down and stretched out on his bed, shutting his eyes.

A few moments later, he sensed Rukia stepping into the room. He sensed her presence more often than he heard her because she always moved so lightly, with hardly a sound.

Well, she didn't look as if she had been in a scuffle with any Hollow's..

"Awake are you?" Rukia said as she felt his gaze on her. She picked up the bowl of rice from the dinner tray.

"It's impossible to take a nap with you waltzing through the window as you please."

"Are you grumpy because you just woke up, or is this your usual moodiness speaking?"

Ichigo scowled at her, "Grumpy? What reason could I have to be grumpy for?"

Rukia studied his face thoughtfully and said nonchalantly, "The girls in our class took me out shopping for the trip to the beach this weekend. I was at the mall this afternoon."

"Why are you telling me this for?" Ichigo said defensively, "I didn't ask you where you went anyway."

"No, you didn't. But, you looked as if you wanted to know."

Ichigo paused, unsure of what to say in reply, and looked quickly away with an unreadable expression on his face.

ooo0ooo

"I waaaant to gooo…!" Kon whined loudly.

Ichigo tried unsuccessfully to pry the possessed soft-toy out of his backpack. He hissed, "Shut up before you wake Dad or the girls!"

"Your stuffing would probably sink you to the bottom of the ocean if you got wet!" Ichigo said, yanking harder on the foot that was taking pathetic swipes at his nose.

Ichigo sneezed explosively and swore.

"What are you talking about? I can just see it now! You'll get a Hollow alert and when sister detaches your soul, everyone will gather at your unmoving body and scream, 'Aiiee! Kurosaki drowned!' You need me there!"

"Alright. You can follow. But, let me hear one peep out of you, and I'll feed you to the fishes," Rukia said firmly, plucking him out and stuffing him into her own backpack.

Kon settled himself against a towel as he took a look around the inside of Rukia's canvas bag. The only reason why Rukia didn't hear Kon's astounded exclamation was because she chose to zip the bag up at that moment.

Sister was going to be wearing that at the beach? Ichigo, you're finished!

ooo0ooo

Asano Keigo sprawled on the beach blanket and asked, "Hey, where did the girls go?"

"They said something about changing into their swimsuits," Mizuiro said as he adjusted a pair of sunglasses on his head, "Should be back anytime soon."

Keigo sighed contentedly, "Today's my lucky day! A chance to see my dream girl in a swimsuit!"

Ichigo wondered if Keigo was talking about Rukia. Now why did he suddenly have this urge to dunk his classmate in the nearby ocean? The weather was being so compromising today- sunny skies and the occasional breeze blowing by.. Nothing was going to ruin his mood.

"Whoa.. take a look at that now!" Mizuiro said, whistling softly.

Ichigo turned around and saw the girls. No, actually, Ichigo's gaze locked on immediately to one Kuchiki Rukia.

Am I seeing things? She could.. not.. have possibly-!

Ichigo hadn't even finished his line of thought before he was sprinting across the sand, effectively kicking sand into Keigo's wide-open eyes and mouth on the way.

Ichigo's classmates watched as he grabbed Rukia's wrist, not even slowing down in the process, and dragged her to the line of beach huts farther away.

"My.. oh, my..Kurosaki sure works fast!" Mizuiro said to his stunned companions.

ooo0ooo

"Ichigo..what.. do you think.. you're doing?" Rukia demanded between breaths for air.

All she knew was that he had taken one look at her, and charged like an enraged bull at the sight of a red cape. Now, he was concentrating on a point 3 inches above her head.

Suddenly, Ichigo pulled his T-shirt over his head, stunning Rukia speechless. The words of the saleslady seemed to echo faintly in her ears.

"Kuchiki-san, I guarantee you this. Something.. interesting will happen when you stand before him in this."

Something.. interesting? Wait-a-minute! If this requires Ichigo stripping- then this is too much!

Flustered, Rukia backed away a few steps and closing her eyes tightly shut, she choked out, "Auugh! Ichigo, stop..stop!"

Author's note: As much as I've written on this swimsuit, I actually still have no idea what it should look like. Hah..