A/N: Welcome to the second chapter of Seven Days from Heaven. As always, I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo's characters, art, storyline, etc. I just write in his world because it's awesome. :D

Anyway, Enjoy.

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Chap. 2- The second day

The fifty kilogram bag flew away from her, and on it's return, she whipped her left foot into a crescent kick, sending the bag swinging completely around her. She was about to hit it again when something small and light struck the top of her head. Tatsuki threw herself to the right and looked around, but the room was empty. Is it... one of those Hollow things? One I can't see?

A small sound caught her attention, and she turned back toward the bag still making sweeping arcs on it's long chain. There was a trickle of plaster and white paint falling where she'd been standing, directly beneath the hook the bag was hung on. It looked like she'd been hitting it too hard and too often, judging by the state of the hook. It was half pulled from the beam in the ceiling. The coach is going to kill me, that's the third one this year. If only I didn't keep seeing him... with her. I don't even know why I'm mad!

After the girl had completed her workout and showered, she began moving through the deserted halls toward the entrance. She was just passing the homeroom when she heard a faint sob. She cracked the door as silently as possible, but let out an audible gasp when she saw who it was. What the hell? What's Chizuru doing here on a Sunday? And... why is she crying?

"Oh... um... hi, Tatsuki," the redhead said quietly, not trying to hide her dripping face and puffy red eyes.

"Chi.. Chizuru, what happened? Did... what did Yasutora do to you?"

The crying stopped at once, now the girl looked simply thunderstruck. "No.. no! He didn't do anything. Chad wouldn't hurt any of us. He's the nicest out of all our friends, and–"

"Then what is it? Why are you crying? Who made you cry?"

"You."

Tatsuki Arisawa was a champion-level black belt, had faced down, if not defeated, two Hollows and shown little fear in doing it. But that word, that simple answer to a simple question, filled her with horror from head to toes.

"M... me?" Before she knew what she was doing, the girl had crossed to the far corner of the room and taken her usual desk, right next to Orihime's where Chizuru was sitting.

"What did I... how... you get beat up all the time and laugh it off, so why are you crying when I haven't even done anything?"

There was silence in the dark classroom for a long time before Chizuru answered. "It's not because you hurt me... I'm sorry for you."

The surprise before paled next to this one, but Tatsuki thought she knew what the girl meant. I mean, all of our friends have boyfriends, or at least people they like. But who do I have? I've spent my whole life getting stronger, and what do I have to show for it? Sure, I'm a good fighter, but Orihime, who I promised to protect no matter what, had to save Chizuru and me from that monster. Even Ichigo's ten-year-old sister was able to beat that one I almost broke my hand on last week. I'm not even anything to look at, so all the guys brave enough to ask out someone that can beat them up aren't at all interested.

"–the guys just want to watch me with another girl anyway. I know you think it's only lust with Orihime, but," Tatsuki was brought back to reality by the sudden venom in the usually cheerful girl's voice, "I really do love her. You can beat me up all you want, but I'll never stop. I guess... what I really feel sorry for you about is that you don't know what that feels like."

Tatsuki had nothing to say.

"I know you love your friends enough to die for them, but I'm talking about something else entirely. I love Orihime enough to live for her. To devote my whole heart to her happiness. To live knowing that even though she will never feel the same way, I can live my life knowing that she at least acknowledges my feelings. That's why I pity you."

Pity? Damn... why does she pity me? I'd rather be alone than never have a chance at requited... whatever.

"Well... I don't really know what to say, Chizuru."

The redhead gave a wistful smile and removed her foggy glasses to wipe at her eyes. "You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know that some people care if you're lonely, that's all. I'm sure Orihime feels the same way as I do, especially about you. You two are like, best friends, and she understands you better than anyone else, I think."

Tch. It's not like I really care all that much... do I? Tatsuki was now almost home, she could see the bright blue sign of the Kurosaki Clinic a few blocks away, her own home just beside it. So what if I don't have a boyfriend? I'm only fifteen, there's plenty of time. Older, more mature guys probably wouldn't be so easily intimidated by me anyway. Pity... I don't get that at all. People say I'm a genius, a phenom. I have more medals and trophies for martial arts than just about anyone in the world my age, so what difference does it make to me if I have much of a social life?

I say that...

But do I really mean it?

I think I do...

No, I'm sure I do.

It would be nice to have... someone else, someone to have a romantic relationship with. But I really don't care all that much. If I did, I would participate in the other girl's discussions about who they like... go out to Karaoke more often... ask a guy out, for once. It's not like I'm shy. I don't want to be distracted, I like my life the way it is... that's why I chose it...

... right?