Note: These were originally written for and posted to the 30_kisses community on LJ. Reposting because I wanted to make coherent the timeline of these stories.
Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Kubo Tite and affiliated corporations.
Spoilers: Read at your own risk.
Theme from 30_kisses: 01 (look over here)
i. age five
The first time Ichigo Kurosaki invited his sparring partner Tatsuki Arisawa to his house, he was five years old and desperately trying to best her at least once in a sparring match. His attempts had been miserable failures, each one ending with him flat on his back and Tatsuki laughing above him.
"You're going to have to get stronger if you want to protect your mom," she said after the tremors in her body ceased. She offered him a hand and helped him to his feet. "Stop crying!" she scolded, glancing at the other students gathering their bags in preparation of being picked up by their parents. "You'll get stronger... someday."
Ichigo sniffed and wiped at his eyes. "Ya think so?" he whispered cautiously, as if her answer could very well cause him to unleash another flood of tears.
"Sure." She eyed his running nose and tear-streaked cheeks with mild disgust. "Now wipe your face and go get your stuff. I'll meet you by the door." And with that demand - she never asked him to do anything - Tatsuki hurried off to get her things, leaving Ichigo alone in the middle of the dojo.
Tatsuki-chan is cool, thought Ichigo with a smile as he watched her gather her things. He was about to do as she had commanded when he spied Ohno-kun slowly approaching Tatsuki.
Ichigo stilled, his feet suddenly glued to the floor. Ohno-kun was one of the more popular boys in the class - and the only one who didn't seem to mind losing to Tatsuki.
Other boys called her names behind her back, but Ohno-kun was constantly in awe of her, asking her to help with some of the trickier moves, seeking her advice whenever he felt as if he failed to properly execute a move.
But he never spoke to her after class, at least, not without Ichigo being present.
He took a step in their direction but stopped when Ohno-kun tapped Tatsuki on her shoulder.
Ichigo's eyes widened then narrowed. Was she... she couldn't be.... He gasped in shock.
Tatsuki was blushing!
Tatsuki never blushed!
Not even when everyone - Mother, Father, sensei, strangers - complimented her skills.
His shoulders fell, and he became even more depressed when she nodded eagerly at something Ohno-kun said to her and reached into her bag and removed a pen and piece of paper. She scribbled something on it before handing the paper to Ohno-kun.
Ohno-kun bowed deeply. "Thank you, Arisawa-san."
Tatsuki returned the bow.
Ohno-kun ran off toward the door, tossing Ichigo a quick wave before disappearing out the door.
Stunned by what he had just witnessed, Ichigo turned around and shuffled to the other side of the dojo to prepare his things. By the time he was finished, Tatsuki was standing near the doorway waiting for him, the pink in her cheeks still lingering.
They waited for their rides in silence. When the curiosity could no longer be repressed, Ichigo asked, "What did Ohno-kun want?"
Tatsuki flushed. "Nothing."
"What did you give him?"
"My number."
"Oh."
Silence descended upon the pair, an unwelcome and unusual guest. They never had any problem talking, whether it was about something as stupid as what they had for breakfast or about the latest maneuvers they had learned in the dojo that day.
Tatsuki sighed. "He invited me to his house next weekend."
Ichigo scowled, kicking at a twig, wishing it was Ohno-kun. "Why?"
Tatsuki remained silent until their parents picked them up.
That night, Ichigo thundered into his parents' bedroom and begged that Tatsuki be invited over next weekend.
His mother tilted her head to the side, studying him mutely, her lips pursed.
His father, on the other hand, grinned broadly, swept Ichigo off the floor, and hugged his son tightly to his chest.
"THAT'S MY BOY!" he bellowed without concern for Ichigo's hearing. "GOING TO COURT TATSUKI-CHAN! THEY GROW UP SO FAST, MASAKI!"
"MOM!" screamed Ichigo, his arms flailing, his legs kicking. "TELL HIM TO LET ME GO!"
"Isshin," said Masaki, gently prying Isshin's arms from around Ichigo. Their son fell to the ground and darted behind his mother's legs. He peered up at her with a pleading look that erased the worry lines that had appeared in her face. She smiled at him, a beautiful, gentle smile that made the room and his father disappear.
She bent down and placed a kiss on his forehead. "I'll call Tatsuki-chan's mother tomorrow, okay?" Ichigo beamed. "Run along and take your bath. I'll be in later to tuck you in."
Ichigo raced to his bedroom to get his things for his bath. He paid no attention to the hushed whispers going on behind his parents' closed bedroom door.
The next day, nothing had changed. Tatsuki was still the best in the class; Ichigo was still lying on his back at the end of the day.
Sensei ended class, and the children took off again from the center of the dojo, whispers and laughter echoing in the room, a welcome distraction from the worrisome voices in his head.
He looked around for Tatsuki. She was gathering her bag. He started for her but stopped abruptly when he spied Ohno-kun heading toward her.
He remained in the middle of the dojo, once more an unwanted viewer to the happenings going on in front of him.
Look over here.
The words settled in his mouth, too big and too heavy to escape pass his lips. Miserable, Ichigo watched as Ohno sneaked something into Tatsuki's hand. The dark-haired boy hurried off, waving excitedly at her over his shoulder. Tatsuki remained planted near the wall, her fingers unfolding the paper, her cheeks reddening as her eyes scanned the paper.
Hastily she refolded the paper and shoved it into her pockets.
Ichigo couldn't help it. The corners of his mouth turned down; his bottom lip began trembling. Before he could stop it - before he could turn around to prevent her from seeing it - his eyes filled with tears.
Ohno-kun was going to take away his Tatsuki-chan! She was his. She chose him, after all, that very first day when the other students were too busy talking about his weird hair and making fun of the habitual tears he shed.
"Ready to go?"
Ichigo yelped and spun around. "T-Tatsuki-chan...." He furiously wiped at his eyes, but stopped once he realized that she wasn't looking at him. Dejected, he trudged to gather his things, his eyes and throat burning.
Once they were outside, Ichigo asked, "What's with you and Ohno-kun?"
Tatsuki didn't even flinch. "Nothing. He wants me to spar with him on the weekends."
Ichigo looked at her suspiciously. "That's it?"
"Andhelikesme."
"What?"
Tatsuki kicked at a twig on the sidewalk and said, "And he likes me."
Ichigo glared daggers at his friend.
Something would have to be done.