More Romantic Bleach Drabbles
Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite, not to me.
Author's Note: Solar-chan is on a roll! I'm trying to be more diligent with these than I was last time around! At the same time, though, I will be focusing on finishing Life After You as well as writing a few more random one shots.
Dedicated to blackteaplease!
Many thanks to my readers and reviewers PunkRockHolly, xXxMiserableLoveFairyxXx, brendabond, ZareenBlack, StarPrincess999, capslock-nanao, and darklover! I have to say, I did miss getting near daily reviews from you guys! I feel more social now! HaHa.
2. Friend
He had been her friend for as long as she could remember. She had stayed by his side through so much. She had even saved his ass more times than she could count. And now she was at his side, trying o convince him to grow a pair and finally ask Orihime out.
"You too, Tatsuki?" Kurosaki Ichigo asked, looking slightly annoyed.
"Why not? It's obvious that there's something between the two of you," Arisawa Tatsuki replied. She knew Orihime loved Ichigo as deeply as she did. Tatsuki also knew she could not compete with Orihime. 'I may have known him longer but she's the one fighting by his side every day,' she thought with a twinge of jealousy.
"I guess..." Ichigo conceded.
Tatsuki slapped him square between the shoulders and grinned at her friend. "C'mon. You're the only person I wouldn't have to beat up for wanting to date Orihime!"
Ichigo nodded slowly but kept his eyes on Tatsuki's face. Something in the way he was watching her sent a shiver up her spine. It was almost as though he were telling her that it was she he wanted, not their voluptuous friend.
"Stop giving me weird looks Ichigo! If you don't make your move someone like Ishida's gonna steal Orihime away!" she joked, her tone light. If she treated it like a joke, she could keep her heartache hidden. It wouldn't do her any good to let him see her true feelings. She was destined to be nothing more than friends with Ichigo. She supposed she had always known her role in his life was limited. She lacked the same amazing abilities that Orihime had in common with him. She could never be part of Ichigo's dangerous life. She could never be the one for him.
"Yeah, I guess... Thanks, Tatsuki..." Ichigo said with a forced smile. He looked hurt, rejected. Like Tatsuki pushing him to Orihime broke his heart too.
"Good luck, Ichigo!" Tatsuki called as Ichigo got up to approach Orihime. When Ichigo started talking to Orihime, Tatsuki quickly left the room. She could not watch Ichigo ask Orihime out. She leaned against a wall and sighed. She loved Orihime but Tatsuki could not bear the thought of losing Ichigo to her completely. Standing in the hall alone, tears began to stream down Tatsuki's cheeks.
"Aw hell. Don't do that Tatsuki. You make me feel bad about not chasing after you right away!"
Tatsuki turned and saw Ichigo scowling at her. "Why aren't you with your girlfriend?" she demanded.
"Orihime won't go out with anyone but Ishida, so I followed the girl I really wanted," Ichigo replied with a shrug.
Tatsuki blinked and began to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Why didn't you say anything? You let me make an ass of myself!"
"It's not my fault you're blind! I've only ever had eyes for you, Tatsuki!" Ichigo snapped.
"Re-really...?"
"Yes, really! Inoue and I are just friends, but you're the one I want as my girlfriend," Ichigo told her.
Tatsuki just threw her arms around Ichigo and hugged her best friend, her boyfriend.
