A/N: hey guys. I'm finally back. Things have been rough on me for the last month. I've had some major changes go on in my life and someone very special to me has been taken away. I've goven up on my We are shinigami story. Sorry to all those who submitted a character but thank you again for all of you work. I feel terrible that I could not bring your characters to life on my pages. This story was written for two people: my late fiance and Strykrwolf who stuck by me and was always ready to listen even when I wasn't ready to talk. Thanks so much Strykr. You made all the difference even if it didn't feel like it to you. Well its very short but here it is; I give you-
Reality
"Screw you!"
Tatsuki ripped the ring from her finger and hurled it at Ichigo's head; the gold band glinted briefly before striking the wall.
"Why did you do that?" came the quiet reply.
"Because of this! " Tatsuki yelled pointing at herself and Ichigo. "I'm tired of this-the fighting, the silence-you never let me in anymore! You never let me see the real you!"
"Tatsuki-"
"No, it's done-we're done Ichigo. The wedding is off. I don't want to see you anymore, I can't take it."
Tatsuki stormed from the house, the door slamming behind her with finality that felt fitting. The impact jarred a picture of the two off them kissing on a sandy beach and it fell to the floor, its glass shattering.
"I guess that's it," Ichigo said to the empty room "it's over."
"You could always go after her, you know." The voice of his roommate Renji sounded from behind him.
Startled, Ichigo spun around then sadly spoke "Sorry, I didn't realize you were home, I didn't mean for you to hear that…"
"It's okay, man. But you really should go after her."
"You're right…"
Ichigo rushed out the door. Tatsuki was only a short distance up the block from him, waiting at the street corner; he broke into a run calling her name. Tatsuki ignored him. Just as he got close enough to grab her she began walking across.
"Leave me alone Ichigo!"
Unnoticed by the arguing couple, a black car careened around the curve at a dangerous speed. The sound of a horn broke into the argument and Ichigo reacted, shoving Tatsuki out of the way just as the car slammed into him-
Ichigo woke in a cold sweat, reality closing in around him."Just a dream…" The unfamiliar walls of his new apartment came slowly into focus. He swung his legs out from under the thin blanket and over the side of the bed, his feet touching the dusty floor that he hadn't ever bothered to clean.
He preferred the dream. Reality… reality was pain, and he'd had enough of that to last a life time. Reality was that he hadn't pushed her out of the way. Reality was that he hadn't died for her. Reality was he hadn't even made it to the street corner. Reality was that she had bled to death in his arms because the ambulance was too slow.
Ichigo got up and walked into his tiny kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. He sat down at his computer and turned the monitor on. He would hide himself in the words and images of others and escape reality for just a little longer...