A.N. – I love and hate Bleach. The endless fighting bores me, but I love the characters that inhabit this world. I tend to gravitate toward the neglected characters in whatever series I am into. For Bleach, it's Karin first, then Tatsuki. Since there is a lot more quality Karin fics on this site, I decided to start up a Tatsuki story, based on what I wanted to see happen to her after episodes 142-143 of the Bleach anime (because she got shafted for meaningful screen time, as always). Thanks you for reading (and hopefully reviewing). A disclaimer: I don't own Bleach; Tite Kubo and various companies do. I do not profit monetarily from this work in any way.

Tutelage

There's only so much a person can take before they put someone's head through a window. Arisawa Tatsuki was at that point. Truthfully, she'd already been there once today, but the urge was by no means out of her system. Seeing Ichigo again after taking her frustration out on him earlier in the day didn't make things any better. That he'd casually dismissed her and her friends as he left to who-knows-what fate made her blood roil anew. That, and feel miffed that there were no windows handy in the cavernous sublevel of endless rocks.

So when the weird man in the hat and clogs called their little group out and proceeded to tell them absolutely nothing, well, that was it. In the recesses of her mind, an alarm was blaring, telling her that this foe would not be beaten as easily as her childhood friend. However, Tatsuki was already well out from behind her hiding-place boulder and charging the scruffy shopkeeper with speed she did not know she possessed.

That she failed to even connect with the strike she aimed for his quirked lips was not a total shock, but it did piss her off that little bit more. The man, for his part, said nothing as he side-stepped too fast for her to see as she came at him again and again. With each missed blow, each act of aggression that did not land, Tatsuki became sloppier in her approach. Her breathing was ragged, her movements slackening; his countenance did not change but for his grin slipping a bit each time she decided she had not had enough. He saw the first tear escape out her eye and let loose a sigh.

Ending all pretense, he stood in mid-air directly above her and peered down, eyes shadowed by the ridiculous hat. Her face was crestfallen as she surveyed the situation. Slowly she crumpled to the ground, all means of fighting exhausted. He came down to join her, crouching to be at her level. Keigo and Mizuiro, quiet bystanders in all this, made to come over as well, but the proprietor shooed them back with a glance. Speaking low so only she could hear, he said, "Now, how do you feel?"

"Twisted. Confused. Wrung out." Each came with a deep inhalation of air. "And so, so...alone. God, she's gone only a day, and he's barely left…" Her voice hitched. "And here I am, a mess." Nodding in silent understanding, the man stood, casting his shadow over the fallen fighter.

"That's good, good. Remember how you feel now, and never let go of it." He paused, and she cast her eyes up toward him. "It will be essential if you are to progress any further."

"Further? To what?" Her words sounded hesitant, but her eyes had a slight spark beginning to form.

"That is for you to decide." He held out a hand, and for a moment Tatsuki reached out to take it. The spark fully formed, she batted it aside and picked herself up off the ground. She cast one long look around the place before turning to the once-again smiling man.

"Thank you. I must be going now." He nodded but did not speak. Gathering her cohorts, she briskly ascended the stairs and left the shop. Tessai came over to his boss.

"Kisuke, what purpose did that serve?"

The man in question shrugged. "A catalyst. To what remains to be seen. But she'll be back."

The former Kido corps leader twitched his mustache at this. "What makes you so confident of this?"

"She never even got my name. She got nothing, really, but a lesson in how far she needs go. So she'll be back as soon as she grasps that.

"Should I make some tea, then?"

"Tessai, my man, I believe Ururu has already beaten you to the punch." Kisuke cast a wistful glance at the sky-like ceiling. "Wise girl." Cocking his hat just a bit, he trotted up to prepare for the catalyst to ignite.

A.N. 2 – I wanted to do a one-shot drabble; I prefer reading and writing short-form fiction. Now this little ficlet has ideas about continuing itself. If it were to go on, it'd be about Urahara's training of Tatsuki (thus the fic's current title - I'm open to suggestions), with a good dose of Yoruichi thrown in. Tatsuki would not become a soul reaper; she is merely going to slowly realize her potential. Anybody interested in this?