A/N: Welcome to the fourth 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
Enjoy- because you can!
Chap. 4 The fourth day
Tatsuki watched Yasutora walk into the dojo with some apprehension. He was wearing sweats, at least, but she would have preferred having him in a full gi. He bowed at the edge of the tatami, at least.
"Afternoon, Sado!" she called, her voice forceful as it always was when she was working out, "No gi? That's disrespectful, you know!"
He stopped at once, his expression guarded, "Sorry. My size is..."
"Hard to find? Try an American store, OK? They usually have larger sizes. I guess it's okay for now. Show me your stance, then."
She had him stand there for a minute, examining his posture, then started nudging him with her toes to adjust his stance. He complied with her instructions as well as he could, but it was apparent that even he was losing patience after a few minutes. "Just say it."
The girl stepped away a little, smirking and waving one finger, "No can do. I do it this way on purpose. One, so you can get used to me touching you. I'm going to be doing it a lot." Her face turned a little pink, and she could have sworn she saw Chad's eyes widen in surprise for a moment. "Uh... second... to... oh, yeah. To get you used to following nonverbal commands. It's something Rukia suggested."
"Kuchiki?"
The black-haired girl nodded once, smiling, "Yeah. She seemed pretty excited about the idea when I asked for her advice. She got all serious for a while, and started rambling about tactics and stuff like that. It took me about twenty minutes to calm her down again.
"Anyway, the point is, in a battle you can't always afford to shout instructions to your allies, sometimes a nudge or a push has to get the message across. This is practice for that. It's something she and Ichigo have been working on for a while, apparently."
Sado couldn't contain his response. "I bet they practice touch commands out of combat, too. A lot."
Did... wow, did he really say that? Sado's an Ecchi! Who knew?
With a monumental effort at self-control, Tatsuki kept the laughter from her voice, "Not really my business. Or yours, is it? Anyway... back to work. You need to keep your stance a little spread so you have stability, but you don't want it to be too far out because then you lose your leverage and mobility."
He nodded quietly, and responded, "Ichigo has a wide stance, Orihime's is too narrow. Ishida and Rukia are about in the middle."
"Heh," Tatsuki said taking a stance in front of Sado, "Ichi always did have a wide stance, yeah. He keeps thinking he should be a rock. I guess with that giant Zanpakuto it makes sense, but I think he'd be better if he adjusted his style to be more like Rukia's. Now... I'm going to start out slow, just using some basic moves. Your boxing training should be able to handle it, even if I start using kicks. Just counter as best you can, all right?"
* * *
The girls' basketball team for their year had come and gone from practice, followed by the senior boys', then the track team running laps around the gym because the weather had turned foul before Tatsuki finally called a quits to their own session.
"That's pretty good, Sado. Your form is pretty sloppy, and it's obvious you rely way too much on your size and strength, but you definitely have potential. You free tomorrow for more work? I have practice for the meet and have to do my homework before that, but I have a few hours tomorrow night if you want. Probably around Six?"
"Sure."
"All right then. Let's hit the shower, and you can walk me home. We need to talk, too."
---
Hn. Her hair's dripping, still. Did she forget her towel? Her shirt is... uh... pink bra... No. Mind out of the gutter. She's your friend, show some respect. "Hey, Arisawa... did you forget a towel?"
The girl blushed a little and nodded, using her hands to shake more water from her hair, "Yeah... not the first time. Usually I just wait to air-dry, but since you were waiting for me..."
She didn't notice. That's good, hopefully she won't. She doesn't need to be embarrassed.
"So," Tatsuki began as they walked toward the school gates through the now-empty grounds, "You're staying to protect the town. Is that something I can help with?"
I hope not.
"Maybe. It depends on your reiatsu if we get attacked."
"You mentioned something about that before. Spirit pressure? How can I build mine up? Is it some exercise?"
She thinks it's just another martial art... she doesn't get it.
"It's... different than that. My power was awoken when I needed to protect others. You remember that talking cockatiel?"
They were half way to Tatsuki's house when he finished relaying how his powers had begun to manifest in protecting poor Shibata, and later protecting Ichigo's sister. She didn't ask any questions at first, but saved them all up for the end.
"So the reason so many people around here have this high reiatsu or whatever is because of Ichigo? He leaks so much out that we absorb, and we get strong because of that?"
"Seems so."
"Hmm... maybe I should spend some more time around him to build my powers, then."
"No."
"What? How can you say something like that, Yasutora?" She wasn't incensed, but he could tell she was a little annoyed that he'd said it so bluntly. He wasn't all that sure why he'd even said it. He wasn't jealous. Was he? Ichigo had Rukia. He wouldn't do anything to Tatsuki.
Then why do I care so much? They are my friends, I know I can trust them. Do I...
"I can help you with it. Spend more time with me, and your powers will eventually wake up."
She stopped suddenly, and he was three paces past her before he noticed she was no longer beside him. "Arisawa?"
When Sado turned to look at her, the girl's expression was carefully neutral, but there was... something... in her eyes. I've never noticed how green they are. I thought they were hazel. But they're really a dark green. Like pine needles. It's really pretty. ...oh, no. This is not good.
"Chad?"
It was the first time he could remember the girl ever calling him by his nickname. Up until a few days ago, she'd almost always used his family name, only recently had they become familiar enough for the use of his given name. But his nickname? That was something even Orihime and Uryu didn't do often. Pretty much only Ichigo.
"Hn?"
"You really want me to spend more time with you?"
I knew it. She's sharper than she lets on... my foot's in the fire now. "I..."
His answer was drowned by a high-pitched shriek, "Tatsuki and Sado! You guys make such a cute couple! I'm so happy for you!"
---
"Chi... Chizuru? What are you doing here?" How did she sneak up on us? She's behind Chad, but I never even saw her... oh. She was behind... Chad. Sneaky bitch!
"I was just out to get some shopping done for dinner. I never thought I'd see the two of you having a serious discussion like this in the street, though. If you guys ever need love advice, come to me, okay? I'm happy to help!" The red-head was already past them, waving with one hand and carrying a loaded bag with the other. She called back, still excited, "Don't be shy! Just make sure you tell each other how you feel, and it'll all work out!"
How... how I feel? What does she... how did... no! We're just friends! Partners! "What... what was she getting at? Is there something you need to tell me, Yasutora?"
The giant grunted and turned away, but said nothing.
He's quiet, but that's not like him. He always answers a question. At least with a look.
"I... I didn't mean to upset you, if I did... If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. I mean, it was just Chizuru, and we all know she's crazy. Right?"
Crazy... but right. Damn her! As if her bugging Hime wasn't bad enough, now she has to but into my love life too? Tch. My love life. Right. Even Sado has better taste than that. And look at his clothes. Roses on a man... feh.
"She's not."
What.
The.
Hell.
Did he just... No. He couldn't have. Did he?
"Don't misunderstand. You are my friend. We are allies. Compatriots. But something she said the other day. At the meet.... made me think."
He put his hands to each side of his hairy head and shook it quickly, then resumed in a voice that might have actually been trembling, "I... don't listen to me. I don't know what I'm talking about."
As Tatsuki watched him walk away, the darkening clouds finally began to let loose their burden, and a light rain began to fall all around them.
"Mom, Dad, I'm home!"
Without doing more than listen for a response, the fighter dashed up the narrow stairwell, past her brother's room and into her own. The door slammed behind her, and Tatsuki finally let herself relax. This room was her only sanctuary from the world. Outside of her family, only Orihime had ever seen it. If the truth was known, Tatsuki's reputation might be damaged forever. She was known throughout the school as a tomboy through and through, and no one picked a fight with her. The only time she'd ever displayed what Chizuru called 'womanly charm' was when she explained that writing "Tatsuki" in Hiragana was much more feminine and cuter than writing it in the normal Kanji method. The letters are so blocky in Kanji.
The room itself was... almost typical of a junior high girl's room. Posters of her favorite movie stars and bands adorned the walls. One wall was devoted to pictures of Orihime, with some of their other friends scattered throughout. The bedspread was eggshell blue, patterned with cherry blossoms blowing in the wind. There were a few stuffed animals in the corners, even a diary partially hidden under her bed. I haven't written in it in a while. I should start again. But what do I write? I hate just writing events. And I don't know what to feel.
Trying to keep her mind of her troubles, not just Chad but all of her friends and the danger they were placing themselves in, the girl began going through her closet and dresser, sorting her clothing. Every once in a while, she did this to calm down. Her parents considered it wasteful to throw half of her outfits away all the time, but to Tatsuki, it was very therapeutic. The simple repetition combined with actually having to decide what she liked and didn't over and over again always seemed to help her find her center. No, this one won't do. And it used to be a favorite of mine... maybe Chizuru would like it. This one, though... yeah. It's simple, dark, but vibrant. It looks a lot like that shirt of Chad's, actually. Maybe I should throw it out, too. Nah. It's not my fault our tastes are similar. Right?
It was almost an hour later when she finished, but her mind was finally made up. She stepped over the massive pile of clothing she'd be giving to her friends or donating to charity and climbed up onto her bed. Placing her back against the wall by her headboard, she glanced out her window toward the Kurosaki home. A long time ago, Ichigo's room had been the one across from her own, and the two would talk over the fence all the time. Now, though, that room was shared by his twin sisters and when she was visiting, Rukia. The shinigami was there now, and when she noticed, she waved her petite hand toward Tatsuki, smiling, then resumed whatever it was she was doing below the level of the window.
Screw it. I can't call him. He'll just get freaked out if I ask him what he meant. He'll think I'm too pushy. Which I am. Why would he say that, though? That Chizuru isn't crazy? He could have been talking about Orihime... but I'd know. She likes Ichigo. And maybe Ishida Uryu. So that means he was talking about... us. Saying she wasn't crazy about us. Well, him anyway. I think I'm the crazy one between the two of us, really.
Damn it! I have to know! Before her hesitation and cowardice could stall her any longer, Tatsuki reached over for the phone on her bedside and began dialing his number.
"Yasutora Sado speaking."
What? No one else... I wasn't ready for him to answer! But then... he lives alone. His grandfather and parents...
"Uh... hi, Chad. It's Tatsuki."
"Evening."
"I... I called about a couple of things. When Rukia was talking about Espada yesterday... were those the ones wearing white you were fighting a while ago? With Hollow masks, the holes, and mostly white clothes?"
"Yes. The Espada are the leaders of the Arrancar."
"That makes sense. The other thing..."
Damn, damn! I can't just ask him. I'm such a wuss!
"I..."
She could feel him waiting patiently on the other end of the line. Earlier, when she'd been deliberately trying to provoke him by poking him with her toes had been the closest he'd ever come to losing his temper around her, but this time she was sure he would wait forever if he had to. I just have to do it! I have to know, or I won't know how I... That's just stupid! I have got to stop lying to myself! I may not act like it all the time, but I'm a woman too. And he... I know he knows it. He has to. I just...
"Tatsuki?"
His deep voice brought her back at once. Gripping her cell tightly with both hands, so tightly they were shaking, she eventually choked out, "Is there... is there a girl you like?"
Stupid! What kind of inane, moronic question is that?! What am I, twelve?
"Yes."
"Oh... I... I see. Thanks for telling me. I'll let you go."
"You don't want to know who?"
No. It's not me, it can't be. So it's best if I don't know at all.
"Sure, if you want to tell me."
Shit! What the hell's wrong with me tonight?!
"It's... you."
When Tatsuki's brain resumed something similar to normal functioning, she could hear her mother yelling up the stairs, "Tatsuki! It's time for dinner! I've been calling you for five minutes!"
"I'm... I'm sorry, Chad, I have to go. Dinner. I'll see you tomorrow."
She heard the echo of something just before her finger hit the red 'end' button, but couldn't make out what he'd been saying.
