Characters: Tatsuki, Orihime
Summary
: "What the hell happened to you?" Drabble.
Pairings
: None; the Tatsuki x Orihime is strictly platonic
Warnings/Spoilers
: Slight spoilers for Hueco Mundo arc
Timeline
: Post-Deicide arc
Author's Note
: Poor Tatsuki. And poor Orihime.
Word Count:
300
Disclaimer
: I don't own Bleach.


Every moment since she wasn't able to sense Orihime has been Hell on earth, and when she finally sees her again, Tatsuki doesn't know whether to fall to the ground crying or just start screaming.

She's alright. Thank God, Orihime's alright.

Every night's been a waking nightmare, every day a blur of vicious guilt and crippling pain, because Tatsuki's always been the one who protects Orihime, but she's failed somehow, because Orihime's gone and Tatsuki can't find her, can't even sense her (And she's never even known how she manages to do that, just knows that, by instinct, she always knows where Orihime is).

And now, Orihime's home. She's safe, and tangible, and real again, standing right in front of her.

But Tatsuki can see that she's different. Lost all the luster, face like a mask, Orihime has changed. Become hollow beneath a thin layer of skin, brittle and frail and so utterly broken. If Tatsuki didn't know better, she'd swear it wasn't even the same person she's looking at.

God… Has she always been like this?

The hug that follows is long and hard and utterly silent, hundreds of words spoken without either one of them ever opening their mouths. Some things don't need to be communicated, are better off not communicated, and neither Tatsuki nor Orihime need to speak to tell how much they missed each other. It seems to last for eternity, and Tatsuki doesn't want to let go of the girl whom, she realizes, is trembling in her arms. Deep down, Tatsuki's afraid that if she lets go, Orihime will disappear, and won't come back from the abyss this time.

But when they break apart, Tatsuki's canny eyes search Orihime's face, and she asks, sickened and afraid of the answer, "What the hell happened to you?"