Title: "A Day in the Life"
Author: King Cobbler
Warnings: This is a product of fluff, please excuse the fluff.
Summary: Being close to Orihime is known to cause hallucinations, irritation, and vast lapses in judgment.
Pairing: Tatsuki/Orihime(friendship), Orihime/Ichigo(onesided), Rukia/Ichigo(discussed), Orihime/Ishida(fluffed)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. In fact, my hair is on loan.
Of Orihime's Best Friend
"I guess that's what happens when you follow your heart . . ." Tatsuki sighed.
She crossed her arms behind her head, leaning into them. At this point, her destination was unclear, but it really didn't seem all that important. Dark eyes stared up at the stars. On this day, nothing seemed important. It felt disrespectful. Here Tatsuke was, enjoying the view, when she should be consoling her friend. Orihime was hurt, she knew, even if the girl denied it. Ichigo had done something again. She was sure of it.
Had the gentle Orihime seen him with Rukia? It seemed likely. Rukia and Ichigo definitely had feelings for each other—even if they were too hard headed to admit it. It wasn't impossible to think they'd finally ended up in a compromising situation. It would be just like Orihime to have such bad luck. She'd walk in, forgetting something, or maybe even determined to serve Ichigo one of her bizarre concoctions, but she'd find him with Rukia instead, locked in a passionate embrace.
The two may not of heard her, but considering Orihime's vibrant personality, she'd probably announced herself. They'd break apart, embarrassed. Maybe they'd even feel guilty. Orihime's feelings for Ichigo were apparent, even if he'd never acknowledged them.
Orihime would make excuses, blabbering continuously to relieve the tension. She'd congratulate them, or maybe she'd just run. She'd be mortified. She knew Ichigo didn't return her feelings, but she'd always hoped that would someday change. Seeing someone else stealing his heart? That would destroy her.
She'd go home and hug her pillow. She'd cry some. She'd probably be happy, though, in some distant, bitter kinda way. Orihime was like that. She wanted others to be happy, no matter what. Especially Ichigo. That's about the time that Tatsuki would've called.
Orihime would pick up the phone because she didn't want to be rude. She'd choke back her tears enough to breathe, but not enough for her best friend not to notice. That's why she sounded so upset on the phone. Orihime had assured Tatsuki she was fine, but she knew better. Orihime only insisted she was completely fine when she was really upset. To have lied to Tatsuki—saying nothing was wrong when she was obviously crying—it had to have been really bad. Had Ichigo and Rukia gotten engaged!?
Tatsuki looked up. In her contemplation she'd lost track of where she was going, but she'd ended up in a familiar place; Orihime's doorstep. She should knock. Orihime would come to the door, even if she was upset. She'd be happy to see her friend, her protector, her comforter. She'd smile with still wet eyes. She'd insist that she was fine, again, but Tatsuki would bully it out of her. Orihime would reluctantly tell her of Ichigo's betrayal and her own plans to leave the country. Tatsuki would talk her out of it and they'd manage to work through it like they always did . . . together.
She knocked.
Orihime answered quickly, but she wasn't the picture of despair Tatsuki had expected. Nope, she was all smiles, with a bowl of popcorn in one hand and chili in the other.
"O-Orihime?" Her visitor questioned in confusion.
"Tatsuki!!" She greeted enthusiastically. "I didn't expect you over, but I'm glad you came." She grinned. "You shouldn't watch scary movies by yourself!"
"Scary movies?" Tatsuki repeated.
"Well not just scary movies, of course." She pulled Tatsuki inside forcibly, almost dropping her bowl of chili in the process. "There's funny movies and sad movies and lovey-dovey movies and happy movies and talking animal movies and. . ."
"Orihime . . ." Tatsuki warned.
"Don't you get it silly, it's movie night!" The girl informed brightly. She lead Tatsuki into the living room.
"So when you called me earlier . . .?" The tomboy prompted.
Orihime nodded. "It was movie night then, too. I'd just gotten finished with 'Titanic'." She plopped down in front of the T.V. "That movie's really sad!"
"You . . . cried?"
"Oh, don't worry, Tatsuki. I had tissues!" She gestured to the box.
Her friend nodded mutely. "That's good, Orihime."
As she sat down to watch a movie marathon with a bowl of popcorn chili between her and the T.V., Tatsuki decided that having a best friend like Orihime Inoue meant that nothing was ever predictable, so your imagination had a tendency to run wild. Just in case, she resolved to stop reading so many romance novels.