Characters: Tatsuki, Ichigo
Summary: She hates being left out of the loop.
Pairings: Ichigo x Tatsuki
Warnings/Spoilers: spoilers for the Arrancar arc
Timeline: Arrancar arc
Author's Note: One has to wonder exactly what Tatsuki was thinking when she put Ichigo's head through a window. The "romance" is strictly implied, and to some extent has to be read into.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
She's put his head through the window before she knows what's happening. Glass flies all around them—more than a few shards graze Tatsuki's face and the back of Ichigo's head is a mass of blood that pools onto the floor—like the flurries of an ice storm and Ichigo slumps against the wall, Tatsuki's small, now bleeding hand clenched around the front of his shirt.
First comes numb shock. Tatsuki has always been an aggressive person, has never been averse to violence or fighting—mainly because she's more than capable of taking care of herself and almost always wins. But this… This is a lot, even for her. This is drastic, even for her.
Soon, however, the numb shock replaces itself by what was there before and what's there now. Rage.
The look in Ichigo's eyes is dull and even secretive. This only stokes Tatsuki's ire to greater heat. Damn it, you bastard, Orihime's gone! she wants to scream. Do not mess with me!
Where is she? I know you know, so tell me! The inner voice rises to a crescendo in its fury and fear for her friend. I've got a right to know! Tell me!
All this Tatsuki can communicate with a single enraged glare. Ichigo sees, understands…
…And says nothing.
This is the moment when Tatsuki's hope begins to die.
Why won't you tell me? The rage is beginning to die from her voice, to be replaced by pain and fear. Orihime's gone; doesn't he care at all? Doesn't he?
And why won't he just tell her? Don't you trust me, Ichigo? I thought… I thought… you trusted me.
Tatsuki thought she meant enough to Ichigo that he would at least tell her the truth when she confronted him. That he would value her enough not to treat her like an idiot.
She can see she was wrong.
And somehow, that makes Tatsuki hurt more than any injury she's ever received in karate, hurt matching the visceral fear she feels for Orihime.
Because Ichigo doesn't trust her. And he's not going to say anything.
He'll just keep on treating her like the idiot she knows she's not.