Vertigo
AN: Thanks for all reviewers of the last chapter! Here's more!
School had ended for the year, and summer moved in upon the town. Thankfully the weather was still fairly mild, but then again it was only a matter of time.
It was weeks ago that Rukia had been sick with Vertigo, and the instance was gone from her mind. There was still something odd between her and Ichigo, some phenomenon that was ever present but hard to define. It was like an invisible splinter that she could pull out, if only she could find it. Most confusing of all was that the changes weren't painful like a splinter, just new and hard to fit into with ease and comfort, just like her new tennis shoes.
They still bickered, but at the end of the day he always let her be. Rukia always had loved, and needed alone time as the day came to an end. She was solitary in that way. To her everlasting shock she no longer had to remind Ichigo that she needed some peace and quiet. He let her be. He even let's her have the shower first sometimes instead of wrestling her for it.
Not that she minds the wrestling. She rather enjoys the power struggle of it all. That was how they worked. He said something stupid, she kicked him in the face. It was twisted and weird to interact with him. She liked it that way, and wished things would go back to normal.
As of late he wasn't insulting her drawings. Ichigo didn't call her a bitch when she hit him. Didn't frown at her when she was dead tired. Didn't smack her upside the head. Ichigo had been so nice these few first summer days. So considerate.
She wanted to kill him! It was all so weird. He was just so…. Not himself. Not his arrogant, loud, rude, impulsive, idiotic self. She missed having a reason to fight him. Hell, she missed just him!
Their dynamic was shifting into one that was calmer, friendlier and easier, and it was so foreign. Maybe it was a good change, maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was because he had worried over her illness. Maybe it was because she was distinctly aware of just how freaking soft his cheek was. It was his fault for being so worried about her, for smiling at her that one day.
Stupid boy, being all nice to her, and giving her butterflies.
Not that she had butterflies of course.
It was nice to have school out, especially since he had hollows to take care of. Ichigo hated to admit it, but he felt so frustrated for no reason.
'No reason' was the really evil, very lovely death god currently stewing in his closet. Rukia had always bitched and moaned about her alone time in the evenings and the moment he granted her some she pouted like a little girl.
He wished she'd choke on her juice box.
He wished she'd realize how ridiculous she was being.
He wished she'd see that he just was trying to be nice.
He wished he could kiss that stupidly adorable pout right off her face.
Ever since she fainted, he had noticed something about her. Rukia got sick, she got embarrassed and she got to needing him.
Rukia was a girl. Yes, he knew that already. But he hadn't considered that she was in fact a pretty, intense, smart girl. How the hell had he missed that?
Being a pretty and smart girl, she got plenty of attention. The conversation he had had with Keigo was still haunting him.
The bastard hadn't let him get away, and kept saying how everyone thought they were a couple. Ichigo was used to tuning Keigo out, but something he said snagged his attention.
Keigo didn't believe the rumors. Rukia and Ichigo couldn't possibly be together because they are too mean to each other!
He wasn't mean to Rukia was he? He only called her a bitch once a week, only hit her when she wanted the shower first and only insulted her drawings and height, and occasionally her chest size.
Sweet Jesus he was mean to her! He knew she was tough enough to handle it, and he loved the power struggle of it all, but still! What will he do if more idiots like Keigo don't believe the rumors, and decide that Rukia's fair game?
He simply can't allow her to be taken away by stupid guys, so he should be nicer to her. Then people will assume they're together and avoid hitting on her. Then she won't waste any more time fending off swarms of angry, horny guys.
If a horny guy comes within 20 miles of Rukia he had better run.
Ichigo is a bit nicer than usual to her for these very unselfish reasons. Friends do that right? He's only being nice to her so dumb guys don't hit on her and piss her off. And Ichigo is her punching bag when any one pisses her off.
There's a few more reasons for this change, like the fact that he'd rather have her single than dating a jerk. Then there's the fact that he'd rather have his nuts removed with a toothpick than to see her with anyone.
Possessive much? He'd never feel this strongly about any other friend. It's only because they're very good friends and because he cares about her. Not because he wants her to see that he's a nice guy, and to kiss him on the cheek like the last time he was a nice guy.
So, yeah Ichigo knows he's been acting bizarre around her as of late but it's not because she makes him feel like there's a million hell butterflies in his stomach. Because a midget like her never would.
Except she did.
It was very tempted to pull a Yuzu and scream into his pillow. It was very tempting to pull an Ichigo and punch a wall. To bad both would be a bit loud.
This was going to be the longest summer of his life.
AN: *Giggles* So? How was it?