Vertigo

AN: Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter! It made me happy! Right now I have Bronchitis, and it's just lovely {insert heavy sarcasm here}. Anyways, the only cure I know is fluff, so I'll write some!:]

Yuzu had looked through her cookbooks, but had decided in the end to prepare a tried and true recipe, her mother's layer cookies.

She had prepared a batch for Chad and Tatsuki, {and her family at the hospital} and was starting two additional batches for Ishida and Orihime.

Since her father and brother were inhaling them like they were oxygen, it was hard to make much progress.

"Out!" Yuzu scolded, swatting their greedy hands away.

"But darling! It's been so long since I've had these!" Isshin was

"Hey! It's been awhile for me too since I ate Mom's cooking!" Ichigo shouted.

"Oh please. Misaki ate these non-stop for you for 9 months. You've had enough of these. I was terrified that my first born was going to be caramel filled." Isshin laughed.

"What did mama crave when she was pregnant with me and Karin?" Yuzu handed a cookie to Rukia, who hadn't had any yet. She was far too busy listening fondly to the Kurosaki's bickering. She mentally filed away the knowledge of Ichigo's early love of cookies along with his long period spent in car seats. Childhood inspired blackmail was priceless.

"Gummy bears. Ain't that right Karin?" Isshin teased.

His black haired daughter liked gummy bears about as much as she liked stepping on snow globes.

"She ruined 'em for me." Karin deadpanned.

"That doesn't even make sense! You can't taste in there!" Ichigo chided.

"She still ruined gummy bears for me." Karin laughed, swatting her brother on the chest. Isshin laughed and noticed Rukia standing there, holding one of the cookies. It was untouched.

"RUKIA! Oh Yuzu, our lovely third daughter has still not sampled the delicacy of your mother's cooking!"

"Oh!" Rukia shrugged, "I was just listening to you guys. I'm not that hungry anyways… mphh!" The tiny soul reaper gagged a bit.

"Did ya have to shove it down her windpipe, goat chin?" Karin scolded good naturedly.

Once she stopped choking, Rukia discovered that the absence of hunger was no reason not to eat Misaki's cookies. She didn't know the recipe, but she tasted crushed graham crackers, coconut and chocolate.

The strongest taste was the warm, homemade caramel that glued the cookie together. A few additional bites later, she was being kicked out of the kitchen too for eating so many.

Once Yuzu finished baking she was going to go deliver the yummy morsels, and everybody planned to go with her, but until then they all found ways to amuse themselves.

Isshin seemed to be trying to force feed Karin gummy bears, and once she had successfully beaten him off, she went to watch a sports game on the television.

Ichigo was lounging on the sofa next to her, his earphones in and blasting heavy metal. Rukia was on his other side, chewing bubble gum with great enthusiasm. She had just recently discovered it. It was so chewy!

She tried unsuccessfully to blow a bubble, but it was very hard to do so without any previous practice, Pursing her lips desperately, she blew it again.

Right into the pile of orange hair beside her.

Should she tell him?

Nahh! It may be funny to see how long it takes for him to notice it.

After the game ended, Karin stretched and walked by them to go to her room.

Then she turned back and looked at the top of her brother's head.

"Rukia. You are my hero." laughing evilly, Karin bounded upstairs.

"Rukia." asked Ichigo, somewhat sternly.

"Yes, Ichigo?" She replied, with false sweetness.

"You got your gum in my hair didn't you?"

"Yes." Rukia reached down to pull it out. Ichigo yelped and she noted that the pink wad was tangled quite tightly in his hair. Huh. So it was as sticky as it was chewy. Fascinating.

"Hey! That frigging hurt! Why'd you have to go and do that?" He jumped up from the sofa and stomped upstairs, Rukia hot on his heels.

"I didn't know it would stick! I've never chewed gum before!" She shouted, reaching toward his head to go and pull it out. He darted away frantically.

"No! No way!" Ichigo yelled, " I'll get it out myself!"

"No! I got it in, and I'll get it out!" Rukia lunged at him and grappled at his head. He shrieked and swatted her away.

"Idiot! You need to get it wet! You can't just rip it out dry!" He yelled.

"Dammit Ichigo! Just be a man and pull it out!"

"Do you two any idea how wrong your conversation sounds?" Yelled Karin, who had heard all the ruckus and came to investigate.

They stopped screaming for a minute, pondered for a minute and then turned identical shades of brilliant red.

"That's what I thought. Now you," Karin turned to her brother, " Sit down and relax and let her get the gum out. And you, Rukia, be gentle about it. My god, you two are silly." And with that she made her exit.

The two idiots looked at each other.

And burst into laughter.

Half an hour later, the last batch of cookies was out of the oven, and the last bit of stickiness out of Ichigo's hair.

They delivered the cookies, which was easy since everyone was at the hospital. Orihime didn't leave Tatsuki's side unless Ishida made her, so he sat with her waiting for any sign of exhaustion. They both liked the treats, even though Orihime noted their lack of mustard.

Tatsuki's parent's had gone to get her some real food, being as hospital food was so unappetizing. Orihime sat chatting away with her, while Ishida watched the buxom red head for any sign that she was over exhausting herself. Then he'd surely make her go home and take it easy.

Tatsuki chatted with Orihime, though she did seem more preoccupied with Chad, who silently sat in a chair near her bed, letting his large brown hand dwarf hers.

Ichigo and Rukia sat down on the floor, seeing as the room was so full. Ichigo sat just a little behind her, letting his chest press slightly against her delicate back. She was the strongest person he knew, and yet she was so damned tiny.

"You two comfy?" Tatsuki asked playfully. Ichigo shot her a sly look, and Rukia flushed a little bit.

Ichigo knew that even if they weren't eating her cookies, his mom would have still been in the room.

Six teenagers hanging out in a hospital room, all dating each other and bickering lightly, all leading freakishly chaotic lives, yet still actually happy. If that's not something his mother would have been tickled to see, than he didn't know what was.

He absentmindedly drew Rukia closer, grateful for all the improvements she had bought to his life. He bent down to whisper in her ear.

"I love you Midget." She smiled serenely and let him hold her.

"I love you too. Does this mean I can still chew gum?" She murmured slyly.

"No way in hell."

AN: R/R! Squee! It's so fluffy! Sorry if the cookies made you hungry. My mamma makes them for Christmas. Nom nom!