Hmm ... well, this was a random bit of fluff that came to me, so I wrote it down, and right now, you are reading it. Or, actually, you're reading my author's notes. : P

Just continue to find out what happens!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters.

Ferris Wheels

"Ichigo! I don't want to do this; I don't like heights!" Rukia said worriedly, gripping the safety bar so tightly her knuckles turned white. Ichigo raised an eyebrow as she curled into a small ball beside him and gripped tightly to his arm as they rose further in the air.

"What? The great Rukia Kuchiki, who, might I remind you, rides on my back as I hop over very high buildings, is afraid of heights?"

Rukia glared at him, but the glare was quickly replaced by a scared look as the Ferris Wheel moved them further in the air to allow more passengers on. She gripped his shirt more tightly in her hands, forgetting everything as she buried her head in his chest.

Ichigo rolled his eyes.

"Come on, we're only fifty feet in the air; eighty tops."

Another glare.

"It'll be fun. Now, please sit down and grip the safety bar instead of my shirt."

Rukia did as she was told, which surprised Ichigo even more.

"Wow. That was easy," he commented, which earned him a slap on the arm.

They moved again as the final pair of children jumped onto the ride and then they started climbing again. As they neared the top, Rukia's eyes went wide and she abandoned the safety bar to grip onto Ichigo again; he would catch her if she fell.

"Are we going to go upside down?" she asked frantically.

"No, Rukia, we will not go upside down."

"Why not?"

"Disappointed?"

"No! I don't want to go upside down."

Ichigo watched her as she gripped the safety bar while they came to the very top of the Ferris Wheel. As she watched the whole amusement park below, some of the color seemed to return to her face and she looked anxiously at the world under her.

"I can see so far!" she said excitedly, leaning forward. Ichigo gripped the back of her sweater to keep her on her seat.

And he smiled.

As they began getting closer to the ground, Rukia twitched in her seat. She was finally relaxing a little, he noticed, and she was no longer pale. There was a happy glow in her eyes as they began to rise to the top again. Just a minute ago, when they had started out, she had been so scared she was gripping onto him.

It was the beauty of the land that stretched out miles beneath them. It was the beauty of the sunset that was casting pink and red colors all across the sky as it reflected in her eyes.

"Oh, wow ... Ichigo, look! I can see ... I can see so far ... "

This time, as they came to the top, she was smiling. He knew that they were getting weird looks from everyone on the Ferris Wheel, but for some reason, he didn't really care. She didn't either; she was too busy staring at everything her eyes could take in.

"Wow ... hey, Ichigo! Look! I can see your house!"

When Ichigo strained, he was sure that he, too, could see his house, which was less than a couple miles away. But it was hard to tell if it was the right house; they were all alike.

But it seemed right, so he agreed with her.

"Yeah. Ya can, can't you?"

She turned to him and grinned, bouncing excitedly in her seat as the Ferris wheel lowered again. They slowly climbed in the air, and this time, Rukia said,

"How far do you think it is to the end of the Earth?"

Well, that was random.

"Does Earth have an end? If you walked for a million years, all you would do is walk in circles," Ichigo said, a small blush rising to his cheeks when Rukia reached over in excitement and grabbed his hand in hers. She pointed out to the sky, still smiling.

"What's beyond the sky, Ichigo?"

"I dunno," Ichigo said, a look of concentration coming onto his face as he sighed. "I really ... don't know."

"Oh."

"What's with all the questions?"

She shrugged and was silent until they were at the top. But as they were about to go back down, the Ferris wheel stopped.

"Did it break?" Rukia asked anxiously. Ichigo laughed.

"Nah. They're just letting more people on. It could take a few minutes, so sit tight."

"Oh. OK."

Rukia watched the sunset and Ichigo watched her. The beautiful colors were being reflected in her eyes, and as she watched them with a smile on her face, Ichigo could swear he felt himself smiling, too.

"Ichigo ... I like this 'Ferris Wheel'. Can we come back?"

Ichigo smirked.

"Yeah. We can."

"Good."

Neither spoke again. When the Ferris Wheel started up again, Rukia watched happily as they went in circles. She would be the most excited when they reached the top, and she would silently point things to Ichigo that she saw from so far away. He would nod each time, only slightly annoyed. The glow of happiness in her eyes was enough to make him want to smile happily.

So ... he did.

Fluff ... fluff ... fluff ... (Continues to chant the word 'fluff' while looking around frantically for something resembling sanity)

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