Title: Fate

Word Count: 542

Originally Posted: June 29, 2011

Rating: K+

Summary: With Orihime gone, Mizuiro was all Tatsuki had left.

Genre: Friendship/Hurt/Comfort

Characters/Pairings: Slight Mizuiro/Tatsuki

Extra Notes: I didn't edit this one; it was one of the few good ones in there.

The monotonous tone of her alarm clock woke Tatuski up at 5:30 AM, as usual. She went through the motions of getting ready for the day; a quick jog, a shower, and breakfast.

As she walked out the door, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Flipping it open, she was surprised to find a text from Mizuiro.

You ok?

Tatsuki almost smiled. Mizuiro might not be Orihime, but…he was being nice, choosing to talk to her over his numerous girlfriends.

I'm fine.

Mizuiro must have been satisfied with her answer, because there were no more following texts.

As soon as she got to school, however, he was waiting for her. Ignoring Keigo, the black-haired high schooler made a beeline for Tatsuki.

"Tatsuki, I know you're not okay," he started.

Before he could say anything else, Tatsuki glared at him. "I'm fine," she said through gritted teeth.

Mizuiro reached for her. Purely by instinct, she punched him in the face, sending him reeling backward, clutching his eye.

Tatsuki turned around and began to walk away. She didn't want him – or anyone, for that matter – to see her cry. Because she wasn't find. She missed Orihime….and knowing that she was being held captive made it all worse.

"Tatsuki-" She felt a hand grab her shoulder.

She spun around, forcing Mizuiro's hand off of her shoulder. He was gazing, wide-eyed, at her. Perfect picture of innocence. She thought wryly.

"Tatsuki…if you want..we could go somewhere alone, so you could tell me what's wrong?" he asked, keeping a safe distance away from her in case she decided to hit him again.

Tatsuki glanced at Keigo, who was making kissy-faces, and then at the small crowd that had quickly gathered. My reputation will definitely take a dive if I go with him-eh, who cares, anyway? "Sure."

"Come with me." Mizuiro took her hand and pulled her away from the school, ignoring the giggles of their classmates.

He's good at ignoring things.

Eventually, after wandering the streets of Karakura for a bit, they stopped at a small café.

Mizuiro opened the door, setting off a ding that alerted the employees of their presence. A pretty, bright-eyed woman who was wiping off tables looked up. "Oh, hello Mizuiro!"

"Can we use the back room?"

The waitress nodded. "You know where it is."

Mizuiro smiled. "Thanks, Meiri." He led Tatsuki behind the counter and through a small door. Once he closed the door and turned on the light, he turned to her.

"Are we in a storage closet?"

"Something like that," Mizuiro admitted. His hand, while brushing away a stray piece of hair, touched his injured eye. "Ow. Did it bruise?"

Tatsuki nodded. It didn't just bruise; it was a wonderful, deep purple. "Sorry."

Mizuiro shook his head. "Anyway, what's wrong? I know-" he was cut off by Tatsuki bursting into tears.

I…I don't know what's happening. Why am I crying? I'm acting like a girl. Tatsuki thought, tears running down her face. Mizuiro looked torn. He reached out to her, then quickly pulled back. He thinks I'm going to hit him again.

Eventually, Mizuiro wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry into his chest. Her fingers clutched at his shirt, bringing them closer together.

Fate was odd sometimes.

Come on, you have to admit they'd be completely ADORABLE together.