Vertigo

AN: Thanks to all who reviewed! Here's day two in Omotesando!

They had all been very tired after shopping and had fallen asleep before they had a chance to go to the pool. The next morning Ichigo was awakened by Yuzu and Karin rummaging around for their bathing suits.

Rukia was still sound asleep. Kiddyland had indeed carried Chappy the rabbit merchandise, and she had bought a blue rabbit plush. It was currently sharing her bed.

Stuffed animals were almost cute when they didn't talk.

He almost wished they hadn't brought Kon. He was in the suitcase that Ichigo was sharing with Rukia. He had started to bitch and moan during the car ride, saying it was too hot, but after Rukia suggested they leave him in the ice chest, among the fresh meat and snacks Yuzu had brought along, he stopped complaining.

He was being real quiet now, and they decided to let him out at night for fresh air. Unfortunately he had heard about the plans for the pool, and had insisted he tag along, murmuring excitably about 'wondrously tiny bikini bottoms'. He was quickly subdued and back in his suitcase prison, silent but brooding.

He'll be fine in awhile, Ichigo thought.

"Brother?" Yuzu had seen him awake apparently.

"Yeah?"

"Could you wake Rukia? It's almost twelve and we wanted her to come with us to the pool."

"Alright then. If she doesn't wake up you'll have to wait for her okay?"

He walked to Rukia's bed, gently shaking her.

"Oi! They're going to the pool. Wake up."

At home he always yelled through the closet door. He was oddly intrigued to actually watch her wake up. She stirred a bit, then blinked heavily at him, almost in confusion. It was really frigging adorable in his opinion. Not that he'd ever tell anyone that.

"Tell them I'll be ready in a couple minutes." She replied groggily.

"Don't let Kon escape when you get your suit out."

They all went down to the pool a short while later. Yuzu was still picking a spot for her towel when Karin was doing her third dive into the deep end. Ichigo was doing the same. It was hot out, and the cool water felt good. Karin bobbed up next to him.

"You do know that the bimbo who sat her towel near Yuzu's is currently eyeing you right?"

"Whatever." Ichigo had noticed her. He just didn't really care. He was about to tell Karin to not call random people bimbos, when he felt a small hand grasp his ankle and pull him down.

He was up as soon as he was down and coughing. He met the mischievous eyes of one Rukia Kutchki.

"Nice swim there Ichigo?" she laughed smugly.

"Go back to the kiddy pool. You're too small for the deep end." He splashed her, but she darted away, her eyes gleaming with mirth.

" I can do a handstand in the water." Rukia gloated.

"You can not!" He scoffed.

As it turned out she could. Ichigo had decided to go and sit in the sun awhile. He was getting kinda chilly. Rukia was doing her best to teach Karin to do the handstand too. He watched her position Karin, steady her, and then encourage her to try again until she got it. He hated to sound soft, but it made him really happy that Rukia and Karin liked each other so much.

"Taking a break from all that exercise?"

Turning around he saw a rather scantily clad brunette.

"Yeah."

"I'm Yoshi."

Judging by her tiny gold bikini, long hair, and navel ring, this must be the bimbo that Karin was telling him about earlier. He gave her a polite smile and continued watching Rukia and Karin swim together. It looked like Yuzu had now joined them.

"Those you're sisters?" Ichigo heard Yoshi ask. He turned to face her, slightly surprised. He had thought she had left.

"Two of them are." He shrugged. He felt rude, but he didn't feel like talking right now.

"So who's the other girl?" she frowned, as though she was mad that he knew a girl that wasn't his sister. She was being a bit weird.

"Just a friend." He replied calmly.

"So you don't have a girlfriend?" She beamed and wiggled closer. She was wearing a really musky perfume, and had on quite a bit of eye makeup. Who wears makeup to the pool? Or perfume? Was this chick afraid of smelling like wet dog? She wasn't even swimming much at all. Besides, chlorine doesn't smell bad. He had it on him and he smelled fine.

Rukia had been swimming for hours and she smelled just as good as she always does.

Wait, what did he just think? He shook his head a bit to clear it.

"No I don't have a girlfriend." He looked around to watch the pool again. Yuzu and Rukia were getting out. He really liked Rukia in a bathing suit. She was wearing a bikini too, but it was actually fairly modest, just a blue two piece. It was actually looked really good on her, but he'd never tell her that. It would inflate her ego too much.

"Well, Yuzu and Karin wore me out." Rukia walked up to him, giving Yoshi a small half smile, and plopping next to him.

"I bet they did. I told Karin that she could do swim team, but she doesn't believe me." Ichigo held up her towel, which she gratefully took.

"I think she could do it. It would be nice for her to have something to do when the soccer season ends." Rukia wrapped up in her towel and sighed a bit at the warmth. He noted that she still had a smudge of sunscreen decorating her tiny nose.

"See, I should have told her that!" exclaimed Ichigo. They both laughed at his exasperation.

They never did notice Yoshi leaving.

"I wonder what other cities we're going to." mused Rukia.

"With Goat Face, I'm never sure what he has up his sleeve."

"He has energy, I'll give him that." she laughed.

"Hey Rukia? Guess what?"

"What?" She cocked her head to look at him.

"I never did get my revenge for you pulling me under." And with that he threw her in the pool.

He expected her to be surprised, maybe even pissed. But she just yanked him down with her. Rukia was not one to be afraid of making a splash.

They tried their best to drown each other and only stopped when the pool closed. They walked back up to the room at 6:00. They were exhausted and cold.

And pretty darn happy.

Ichigo sat up in his bed long after the last person went to sleep.

He had always been accused of being gay. People had assumed that he didn't know that Inoue liked him. Why else would he reject a girl like that?

Maybe he was just weird. It was a common fact in his life. He saw ghosts, and fought demons after all. It only made sense that the typical girl all his friends seemed to like just didn't appeal to him. Every time Keigo pointed out a tall, leggy, well endowed girl with perfect golden skin and long hair, he just didn't feel anything. It didn't do anything for him.

Maybe he just really liked short, boyish girls with pale skin, a handful of scars and short hair.

His 'type' was getting very specific.

He had known for awhile now. Rukia was special. She was tough as nails, stubborn and independent. Then she did something really nice and that was cool too. Who else would make fun of him then help him while he got sick? Who else would spend hours tenderly playing with his family in the pool and then later hold his head underwater?

He may not have the guts to tell her yet, but by the way this trip is unfolding, he's sure she already knows.

It's just a matter of time.

AN: R/R Please!