He Can't Apologize

It has been two days now since Yammy and Ulquiorra came to Karakura Town. This was three days before the Shinigami and Rukia arrived in Karakura Town to provide support for Ichigo and the Nakama, and to protect the town from further Arrancar incursions. During that time, Ichigo was in agony. Not simply because he couldn't protect his friends, nor was it because his Hollow encroached upon his mind, or the fact that he lost a fight.

It was in agony for Tatsuki.

Ichigo's P.O.V

She and the others were only there for training...they didn't do anything, yet they were killed, and Tatsuki was the only one left alive. She didn't do anything, yet she was caught in the god-damned cross-fire again! I wasn't fast enough to protect her again!

I uttered a silent curse, as I placed a hand on my face.

My Hollow didn't even have anything to do with how close she came to being killed. She was just there when they came...just like she was when Sora attacked Inoue. Only this time, those guys were there for me and me alone. Sado and Inoue were hurt, and many other innocents were killed...even Tatsuki almost died.

Inoue told me to not apologize, but aside from that, there's nothing else I think I can do...I can't even apologize to Tatsuki! She doesn't know anything about what's going on, and because of all the god forsaken secrecy I need to keep in regards to being a Shinigami, I can't even explain to her why what happened did.

Even I did...I do not believe she'd ever forgive me?

What do I tell her? Those guys were searching for someone, and apparently, I was the one they wanted. How can I possibly tell Tatsuki that those guys...whatever they were, were only there for me, and everyone else got killed because they were searching for me?

I felt a tear stream down my face, as I began to remember how the incident affected her.

I walked over to Tatsuki's only to be confronted by her father. He told me about how Tatsuki was taking what happened. He said he had never seen Tatsuki so devastated by anything in her life, as he listed off the karate team-mates who were with her, yet died while she somehow lived. ...I knew all those names. I used to spar with each of them at times at the Dojo when I was younger.

He wouldn't let me see Tatsuki, and I agreed with him on that.

I could not apologize to her, but what was worse was that...I can't apologize to her, no matter how much I want to.

I could not even keep the promise that I made to myself for Tatsuki's sake.

I do not believe that when I go back to school...I'll be able to look her in the eye.