Hello lovelies! I won't be able to post anything this weekend so I thought I'd get this up now :) Hope you enjoy!

Toned, tanned, fit, and ready,
Turn it up 'cause it's gettin' heavy.
Wild, wild, west coast,
These are the girls I love the most.

The girl's a freak.
She drives a Jeep and lives on the beach.

Summertime is everything.

California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg) - Katy Perry

Chapter 6: Chips and Lips: An (Un)usual Sunday

-Rukia-

"What did you say the address was, Rukia?"

Violet eyes opened slowly from a deep sleep. "1306 Gotei," she responded automatically.

Shifting bags and suitcases so that she could sit upright, Rukia looked out the window. Trees and the occasional driveway lined either side of the secluded road. Rukia was almost surprised Tatsuki had managed to find her way this far; she hadn't meant to sleep for so long.

"There's 1305! We must be next!" Orihime squealed as they passed another driveway.

Tatsuki smiled and turned on to the gravel path that was designated as theirs by a mailbox with the name Kuchiki freshly printed on the side. "And we beat the boys! We can claim all the best rooms first!"

The girls giggled and then Orihime caught herself. "Unless you already decided the sleeping arrangements?"

Rukia found the amber-eyed girl looking at her inquisitively. "Oh, no, you can sleep wherever you want."

Orihime seemed pleased and turned back around to get her things together. Tatsuki paused as they approached the cabin.

"Is someone already here?"

Rukia stuck her head out the window to see what Tatsuki was talking about. A black Jeep Wrangler was parked in the driveway. The sleek, glossy appearance and license plate left no doubt in Rukia's mind as to who the Jeep belonged to.

RK-13, Rukia smiled. It's mine!

All high level member of Kuchiki Inc. had company cars. The cars were always black, always in pristine condition, and labeled with the owner's initials and branch number.

"It's mine. Just pull in next to it." The dark haired girl answered. Once Tatsuki parked, Rukia jumped out to look at her new car. A piece of paper stuck on the under the windshield wipers caught her eye.

Sorry I missed graduation.

-B

Her breath caught in her chest and, for a moment, Rukia regretted not saying good-bye to her brother the way she had wanted to the night after their talk.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a question from Tatsuki as to where to put the bags. She grabbed the note and found the key taped to the back. Stuffing both in her pocket, she returned her attention to her friends.

20 minutes later they had emptied the car and examined every inch of the two-story cabin. There were exactly 6 rooms, each with one large bed, but Orihime and Tatsuki insisted they didn't mind sharing a room on the first floor with a connected bathroom.

After showing the girls around, Rukia entered her old room on the second floor. The room was opposite from the other three rooms down the hall but it also had a connected bathroom and a large window that looked out to the beach.

Walking around the room, she found a stack of books by the door, some old clothes in the closet, and a filled sketch pad lying beside the bed. Everything had been dusted and the sheets were fresh but the room still looked exactly as it had years ago.

Everything is just as I left it. Thank you, Brother.

-Ichigo-

"That was 1306."

Three heads turned in sync as the silver car passed its destination.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Uryuu spoke through clenched teeth. Ichigo held back a small snicker. Uryuu's GPS lay on the floor of the back seat, a result of its tendency to report unnecessarily that the car was not driving on a charted road.

The boys had spent about 30 minutes driving around the town of Emerald Beach until Chad found Gotei Lane, an unpaved road that the GPS had been unable to locate.

"You did tell us to be quiet until you found the address." Chad defended his friend, amusement apparent in his voice.

"Just shut up. I'm going to turn around." Uryuu grumbled.

Ichigo noticed the black Jeep as they parked beside Tatsuki's SUV. I wonder who Rukia's friend is…

It took one trip for them to bring in the suitcases and one more for Chad to get the grill. The boys each selected a room on the second floor, leaving the one extra room on the first floor unoccupied. They were investigating the kitchen when Ichigo remembered his question.

"Hey, Rukia." The dining room was visible from the kitchen and all three girls looked up from the table curiously.

The dinner layout was simple; the teens had made sandwiches and a bag of chips rested on the table. Ichigo grabbed a water bottle and joined the others at the table.

"Whose car is outside?" Ichigo tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"Obviously it's hers." Uryuu gave him a sly look as he sat down. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you sounded jealous."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid. I'm just asking because I want to go to the store after dinner. I don't think you want to spend another half hour looking for the road on our way back."

Orihime's eyes widened. "Did you have trouble finding your way here?"

Uryuu blushed under the girl's concerned gaze. "There was just a little issue with my GPS. It was really nothing."

Rukia seemed oddly pleased at the conversation between Orihime and Uryuu but her attention quickly turned back to Ichigo.

"Everything should already be here. Why do you want to go to the store?"

"Just to get some stuff." Ichigo responded vaguely. The girl sitting across from him raised a dark eyebrow. "Chad's a vegetarian. I was going to get some stuff for him and other snacks that we usually get."

The dark skinned boy looked up at his friend curiously but didn't protest. Tatsuki gulped down some water before speaking.

"You can take my car if you want. Just make sure you get some of those chips I like."

Tatsuki reached for her keys but Rukia stopped her. "We'll take my car. I did say I'd cover food expenses."

"Don't be ridiculous," Ichigo protested as she got up and threw her empty paper plate away.

"Come on already. Besides, someone has to make sure you don't get lost again." A smirk crossed her face.

"I know how to get to the store! We've come here every year since middle school."

Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "Quit throwing a fit! Just go and don't forget my chips!"

Ichigo groaned, obviously defeated. "Fine."

-Rukia-

Why is Tatsuki wiggling her eyebrows like that?

Rukia mumbled an awkward good-bye to the tomboy and, only after she and Ichigo had gotten into the car, did she realize what Tatsuki had been implying. She checked over her shoulder to pull out of the parking area and risked a quick glance at the boy in the passenger's seat.

He was looking out the window as if completely uninterested in her and inconvenienced by the entire situation.

Looks like Tatsuki's going to be disappointed…

In an attempt to make herself feel less awkward, Rukia turned on the radio. She settled on the station that she and the girls had listened to earlier and tried to appear as aloof as the man sitting next to her.

"You like this band?" The abrupt question startled her.

"I-I guess," Rukia caught herself stuttering and paused before continuing, "I'm not sure of their name but I like this song."

Ichigo nodded contemplatively. "Waterfall by Eyeshine. It's their best single so far."

The statement had a tone of finality to it, like something he genuinely wanted her to know but couldn't be bothered to make further mindless chit-chat.

Rukia remembered that she was supposed to talk to him about this band but she couldn't find a way to restart the conversation without it sounding forced and shallow.

Luckily, before the silence become too overbearing, they were in the parking lot of the local convenience store.

"Look, I appreciate you driving me and all but you really don't have to come in. It's embarrassing to have a girl pay for you."

Rukia purposefully avoided meeting his eyes as she hopped out of the car and started walking. She heard the car door slam loudly behind her and smirked. I guess Mr. Cool isn't used to not getting his way.

A familiar flash of color across the lot caught her attention as she reached for the door. Her unexpected pause caused Ichigo to come to a sudden stop, millimeters away from running into her. He reached over her head and pulled the door open, forcing her to lean into him to avoid being hit.

"Hey, be careful!" Rukia spat as they entered the store.

"Watch where you're going," he said simply, shrugging for added effect. "Why'd you stop like that?"

It couldn't be… There's no way.

Rukia shook her head. "It was nothing. I just thought I saw someone I knew."

She turned to find that he had already grabbed a small shopping basket and was heading towards the snack aisle. With a roll of her eyes, Rukia followed.

-Ichigo-

Chips, chips, chips…

Ichigo looked through the numerous options and finally selected five large bags, all different varieties. Then, he walked down a few more aisles, grabbing an assortment of items he knew his friends liked.

The midget was still trailing behind him and, for once, she was surprisingly quiet. She seemed to have an odd fascination with what he was choosing and putting in the basket.

What a weirdo.

"What's the kid's cereal for?"

Ichigo had tried to be sneaky about slipping the Kellogg's Chocolate Rings into the basket but to no avail.

"Yuzu always gets it at home and every now and then I have some in the morning. Is that a problem?"

Purple eyes grew wide in innocence and she shook her head, making her hair swish gracefully around her neck. Ichigo watched as she walked ahead. She almost looked pretty for a second.

And then, "Who's Yuzu?"

Ichigo sighed. This trip was taking entirely too long. "My younger sister. She and my other sister, Karin, will be sophomores next year."

Rukia looked at him thoughtfully for a moment and then nodded. "I think I've seen them in gym."

Ichigo grunted noncommittally in reply and continued walking down the aisle, stopping to grab a couple packages of hamburgers, veggie and regular, and a package of hot dogs.

"Anything you wanna get?" Ichigo asked before they reached the cashier. He watched her eyebrows pull together as she thought. If he didn't know better, he might have thought it was cute the way her bright eyes looked over the store and then fixated on something across from the register.

Ichigo tried to follow her gaze but a rack of kid's rabbit toys blocked whatever she was staring at. He turned to look at her questioningly but her attention had already been diverted.

"No. I don't need anything." Apparently, she had changed her mind.

Ichigo set the full basket on the counter and stuck a hand in his pocket for his wallet.

"Miss Kuchiki! How nice to see you! Is Byakuya visiting as well?" The blonde cashier beamed as he noticed Rukia walking past Ichigo.

"My brother is currently on a business trip." Rukia gave the man a polite smile as she handed him a credit card.

Her voice wasn't cold exactly, but Ichigo noticed a formal congeniality that Rukia had never displayed before.

"Well, be sure to say hi to him for me when you see him. It's certainly been a while since I've seen either of you around here." The older man's voice now had a teasing lilt to it. "So, you and your boyfriend are here for some romantic time alone then?"

Before he could protest, Rukia spoke, "Mr. Urahara, please." Her face was flushed and, though her voice was reprimanding, there was a friendlier glint in her eyes. "I'm staying with some friends from school. This is my friend, Ichigo."

She gestured to him and then back to the cashier. "This is a friend of my brother's: Mr. Urahara."

The man smiled widely at him. "Nice to meet you, Ichigo!"

"Hey." Ichigo nodded and picked up the grocery bags.

"It was nice seeing you two! Yoruichi will be upset that she missed you." Urahara called as Ichigo and Rukia headed for the door.

Rukia turned and replied, "Please give Mrs. Kisuke my regards. I enjoyed seeing you as well."

She gave a polite wave and followed Ichigo out the door.

"You have strange friends." Ichigo commented once they were in the car.

Rukia's pink lips curled into a smile and, before he could stop himself, he found himself mirroring the action.

He quickly recovered with a scowl when she spoke.

"Urahara and my brother grew up together." She hesitated, as if considering whether she wanted to continue.

"Our families often vacationed here together and they were business partners until Urahara decided to move out here. He's one of the few people that my brother has admitted to actually being fond of. I imagine it's because he no longer has to work with him." A smirk formed on that petite mouth and Ichigo realized that she was trying to make a joke.

He allowed himself to chuckle quietly and made a mental note that maybe this brat wasn't as bad as he had thought.

.

.

Later, after they had returned home and everyone had turned in for the night, Ichigo found himself lying in bed, thinking about those small pink lips.

He tried to imagine what they would taste like, soft and warm against his own before forcing the thoughts out of his head.

The last thing I need is to get attached to someone I'm never going to see again. She'll be out of my life completely in a week. No point in even thinking about it.

Ichigo pulled the white sheets around himself tighter and tried to quiet his mind. Slowly, he allowed the sound of the waves outside to lull him into a peaceful and dreamless sleep.

Well, there you have it :) This was one of my favorite chapters to write so I hope you all liked it as well. Please review!