Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever own Bleach or anything affiliated with said show.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

When Ichigo returned 10 minutes later, the rest of the group were still sitting around chatting. Well everyone except Ishida, he looked to be sewing something. Dropping his load of wood by the fire pit, Ichigo glanced at his watch. "Ok you guys, it's time to start dinner so who wants to cook?" He asked.

Rukia jumped up quickly. "I'll do it." She said with a smile.

Since no one else volunteered, and he really didn't want to have to do it, Ichigo nodded. "Sure, go ahead. The pans are already on the stove, the water's in the jug on the ground next to it and the food is in those bags."

"Got it." Rukia said as she walked over to start dinner.

Getting on his knees, Ichigo stacked the firewood in the pit and stuffed paper underneath it. Tearing some small pieces from a branch he'd brought back, he sprinkled the smaller pieces around the paper. Standing up and dusting off his jeans, Ichigo headed over to grab the matches he'd left by the stove. "What are you doing?" He asked Rukia, as she stared intently at the small pot that was resting on the stove. "You're supposed to be making dinner, not dozing off."

"I am making dinner." Rukia said, her eyes never leaving the pan. "But I have to wait for the water to boil first."

"Then you should probably stop staring at the pan." Ichigo said as he picked up the book of matches Rukia had dropped on the box of dishes. "Haven't you ever heard the saying 'a watched pot never boils'?" When Rukia's eyes widened, he shook his head. "Just finish dinner so everyone can eat." He said as he walked over to start the fire.

"A watched pot never boils huh." Rukia muttered quietly. "We'll see about that." Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her. "Hey Renji." She said, still focused on the pan in front of her.

"Um, what are you doing?" Renji asked, when he realized that Rukia wasn't going to look away from the now steaming water.

"I'm waiting for the water to boil." Rukia replied "Ichigo said it won't boil if you watch it and I'm going to prove him wrong."

Always being up for a challenge, Renji plopped down beside her. "Sounds like fun, I'll help too."

Byakuya rolled his eyes at his sister and vice captain's stupidity as he relaxed in his chair. Only to start choking a few seconds later as the smoke from the newly started fire blew towards him. Throwing a glare at the substitute shinigami, he picked up his chair and moved over towards the tent.

Ishida looked up from his sewing when Inoue sat down next to him. "Hello." He said politely.

"Hi." Inoue said in return. "What are you making?" She asked after several minutes of silence.

"Pot holders." Ishida said with a small smile as he held up the frilly pink mitts. "I heard Ichigo say he forgot them, so I made some."

"That was sweet." Inoue said. "And they're so cute too."

Upon hearing the word 'cute', Rukia immediately turned to look at the pair. "What's cute?" She asked curiously, and then she saw the oven mitts. "Adorable!" She gushed, causing Renji to look at her strangely.

Just then, Ichigo walked over to the stove and smirked. "Hey Rukia, your water's boiling."

Whipping around, Renji and Rukia frowned as they watched the water bubble.

"But we only looked away for a second." Rukia whined. "How is that possible?"

"Who cares, just start dinner already." Ichigo said. "I'd like to be able to eat sometime tonight."

Scowling at the water, Rukia dumped in the noodles and let them cook. "Stupid water." She mumbled in annoyance.

15 minutes later, the spaghetti was done and the seven campers all sat down to eat.

"This is actually pretty good." Renji said between bites. "I'm surprised you know how to cook."

Glaring at the tattooed shinigami, Rukia huffed. "Of course I know how to cook."

"Just not very well." Ichigo said with a smirk. "Most things she cooks end up inedible, this is one of the few things she can make without burning it."

With a growl, Rukia jumped up and was about to punch Ichigo when it suddenly began to pour. "Yikes!" She screamed, putting her plate above her head to prevent some of the water from hitting her.

"I'm getting soaked!" Inoue cried, ducking under a branch for some cover.

As the rain continued to fall everyone dropped their plates and found whatever they could to hide under. Ishida and Chad stepped under the rain fly of the tent, Rukia joined Inoue under her branch, Ichigo and Renji moved next to another tree and Byakuya pulled open the back of the van and hid there.

"It's just a small summer shower, it should be over soon." Ichigo told his friends as he shook some water off his head. "They usually only last a few minutes." As he finished, the rain began to die down and soon it was barely even sprinkling. Stepping out from the tree, Ichigo smiled. "See, what did I tell you."

"It might be over, but I'm still soaked." Rukia whined.

"Yeah, me too." Inoue added, wringing out the bottom of her shirt.

Glancing over at the fire, which was miraculously still burning, Ichigo nodded to himself. "Not to worry, we'll just string a line up next to the fire and dry out our clothes."

"There is no way I'm getting undressed around you guys." Rukia said quickly.

Slapping his forehead, Ichigo sighed in irritation. "That's not what I meant." He said. "Go and change into your pajamas and bring your clothes back out here to dry." Seeing the girls nod, he headed towards the tent with Chad. "Is it just me or does this trip really suck?" He asked his friend.

"I'm sure it will get better." Chad replied as they climbed inside the tent to change.

Several minutes later they all found themselves once again sitting around the fire while Ichigo and Renji hung the wet clothes up to dry. Putting up the last shirt, Ichigo sat back down in his chair and stretched. "Ok, I'm officially exhausted now." He muttered softly. "This has been a really long day." Watching Inoue as she showed Rukia how to roast a marshmallow, he yawned tiredly. "I think I'm going to head to bed now." He told his friends. Standing up, he waved and headed towards the tent to get some sleep. Pausing, he turned back to face the fire. "Hey you guys don't forget to keep an eye on the fire, and remember to put it out completely before you go to sleep." Seeing Chad nod, he yawned once more and climbed inside the tent.

A half hour later, Byakuya and Chad decided that they'd had enough and headed to the tent as well. Ishida followed soon after when Rukia accidentally burned his finger while she was waving her burning marshmallow around.

A little while later, after eating her 12th smore, Inoue yawned and stretched. "I think I'll head to bed now too." She said with another yawn.

"I'll join you." Rukia said, dropping her stick on the ground and following the long haired girl to the van. "If I eat another marshmallow I'll be sick."

Renji looked up from poking at the small fire and watched as the two girls walked away. "Goodnight." He called after them. When they waved, he went back to poking at the coals until suddenly realizing that he was all alone. "Well, I guess I should go to bed too. It's boring when no one else is around." He said as he stood up and threw his stick into the pit. Glancing around the campsite, he had an odd feeling that he was forgetting something, but quickly brushed it off. "I'm sure I'm just imagining it." With a shrug, he climbed inside the tent and went to sleep.