Chapter Four: A Sweet and Cruel Dream
Tatsuki arrived in front of Orihime's house and was about to knock on the door, however Orihime suddenly opened the door.
"Tatsuki!" exclaimed Orihime, throwing her arms around her.
"Oh-um hi Orihime!" stuttered Tatsuki. She managed to plaster a wide grin at her.
Rukia came downstairs and smiled.
"Hey Tats!"
"Hey Rukia" Tatsuki grinned.
The three girls went upstairs to Orihime's bedroom to study. It was the same old room with the shelves and her pink teddy bear on top, the small table in the middle and the bed in the corner of the room. It looked like a cozy bedroom.
"I could make you guys some sweet bean paste and bread" cheered Orihime.
"Um no thanks!" smiled Rukia.
"I'll pass too…"
"Aw come on! There's nothing wrong with it!" pouted Orihime.
Of course Orihime has many baking experiments, in which a lot of people find them sort of strange and untrustworthy.
"I'm not hungry Orihime, I already had dinner before I left because I didn't want to trouble you with food" said Tatsuki.
"I did too" Rukia said also.
"Ah it's okay, but right now it' study time!"
The three friends studied, until about an hour. Orihime told them a weird story along the way home; however Tatsuki didn't really pay attention.
She couldn't put out that thought of Ichigo was trying to kiss her, but she had no choice but to reject him and why did she feel so sad? So many questions ran through her head that the memory made her head ached, luckily Orihime hadn't noticed it, however Rukia could sense that something was bothering Tatsuki.
~Ichigo~
"Ichigo are you ok?" asked Renji looking up at him who was sitting on the bed. Ichigo looked mad. Not angry, but had a suffering expression on his face. Ichigo didn't answer him however.
But a few minutes later…
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
"Calm down Renji! I didn't know what I was doing ok?!" glared Ichigo.
"I can't believe you Ichigo!" cried Renji.
"I know! I feel like a complete idiot now!" said Ichigo frustratedly.
"So, how did it go?"
"Um, what?" startled Ichigo.
"The kiss! How did it feel?"
Ichigo paused for a moment before he could answer. The thought of it pierced his heart. When he saw the look on Tatsuki's face he felt like he'd been punched in the gut. The look in Tatsuki's eyes was filled with shock and sadness. But why did she look sad? Was she afraid of his actions? Did she had someone else and felt guilty for doing this? Whatever it was he probably knew that after that Tatsuki wouldn't want to see him again.
He thought it over again and again and didn't know why he did that to her.
"She stopped me" stated Ichigo looking at the ground from his bed.
Renji felt struck. He saw the pain of rejection hidden in his friend's scowl and he couldn't help, but feel sorry for Ichigo. Renji knew how close Ichigo and Tatsuki were when they were little and thought that they really liked each other. He got to know Tatsuki and realised that she was a great girl for Ichigo, however he saw how close Rukia and Ichigo became, and he couldn't help but feel jealous of Ichigo. He felt the pain of being left alone, however during dojo practice he was comforted by Tatsuki. Tatsuki has a way of cheering people up and he probably realised why Ichigo likes her a lot.
He remembered the day when he talked to Ichigo on the day Rukia accepted to go with him to the dance. That time, Ichigo told him something interesting.
~Flash back~
Ichigo was eating lunch with Renji under the tree, in the school yard.
"So how did it go?" asked Ichigo. He sipped his juice box while he was under the tree and Renji sat down blushing madly.
"She said…yes" said Renji smiling like an idiot.
"Heh, moron. I told you she would say yes" smirked Ichigo.
"But I thought-"
"For the last time, we are just friends!" interrupted Ichigo.
Renji sighed and smiled when he thought of Rukia. After awhile they talked, until Renji asked Ichigo a question.
"So Ichigo, who are you taking to the dance?" asked Renji.
"I don't know. I don't feel like going to the dance actually"
Renji suddenly smacked him behind the head, which angered and annoyed Ichigo. You pick.
"What the hell did you do that for?!" shouted Ichigo.
"Ichigo, a dance is a special occasion where you get to spend time with your friends! Even though you don't want to take someone at least come and hang out!" exclaimed Renji.
He's got a point thought Ichigo. Besides, he didn't know what he was going to do on Halloween at home.
"Fine" sighed Ichigo. "Smart ass" he muttered at the end.
After a few moments of silence, Renji could see from the corner of his eye that Ichigo was eyeing someone. Ichigo looked over at the group of girls that contained Rangiku, Rukia, Michiru, Mahana, Ryo, Chizuru, Orihime and Tatsuki. His expression looked soft and kind of hard to read. It was like he was struck by something, but in an enchanted way. Renji wondered who he was looking at and he sure hope that it wasn't Rukia. Instead of specifically asking him who he was looking at, he decided to ask a different but similar personal question.
"Ichigo, I'll tell you a secret about me and Rukia if you answer me honestly" said Renji seriously.
"Um…..ok?" frowned Ichigo.
"Do you have someone special in your life? And you know what I mean so don't you try to mock the question" said Renji. He stared intently at Ichigo making him nervous. Ichigo paused a little before he could answer.
"Promise you won't tell anyone" said Ichigo.
"Or else…?" Renji smirked.
"I won't hesitate to bring you to hell" glared Ichigo seriously. Renji grinned widely and nodded, excited to know the answer. "But first you have to guess". Renji groaned at that, and proceeded on saying the names of the girls in Ichigo's class.
"Isane?"
"No"
"Rangiku"
"No!"
"Mahana"
"No"
"Orihime"
"Please stop naming girls with big boobs… and no."
"Rukia?"
"Hell NO!"
"Last one…is it Tatsuki Arisawa?" Renji quirked an eyebrow at him as Ichigo didn't answer. Ichigo turned his head to look at the group of girls.
"Yes" Ichigo said softly, gazing at Tatsuki.
Well of course it had to be Tatsuki thought Renji. They've been best friends for life and I've seen them together since they were four.
"So what was the secret about you and Rukia? Did you guys kiss?"
"Actually I lied about that" laughed Renji.
"YOU BASTARD!"
*End of Flashback*
Renji chuckled at the memory, startling Ichigo.
"What's so funny?" he muttered.
"It's nothing" said Renji straightening himself up. He looked at the time and realised that he better be getting home. "I have to go now though"
"Sure" "Ichigo, there will be a time when you have to tell her your feelings, but for now just get closer to her" said Renji. He then turned and walked out the door.
"Thanks, Renji" whispered Ichigo, with a smile. For now on his goal is to get closer to Tatsuki no matter what.
"I'll be right back, I just have to go to the bathroom!" said Orihime. She left the room and went downstairs, leaving Tatsuki and Rukia alone.
"Tatsuki" spoke Rukia.
"Yes Rukia?" asked Tatsuki.
Rukia paused for a moment, thinking about what she was going to say.
"Are you feeling alright?" asked Rukia.
Tatsuki looked down on her lap. Her expression darkened and Rukia could see that she looked kind of sad. Tatsuki clenched her fists until she looked up at Rukia brightly.
"I'm feeling good!" said Tatsuki giving her a wide smile. Rukia stared at her; however that wasn't what she meant.
"Don't lie to me Tatsuki Arisawa" said Rukia, seriously.
Tatsuki gulped. She couldn't believe that she was found out that easy. She hated when someone like her could show some weakness. It was pointless to lie to Rukia, since she is good at detecting lies.
"Rukia, I..um…" her voice trailed nervously. Tatsuki felt her face burning up and for some reason something is strangling her voice from talking. Should I tell her?
Luckily Orihime rushed up and hurried in carrying a tray of ice cream.
"Hey, I brought some ice cream up! Who wants one?"
"ME!" cheered Rukia cheerfully. "I want the strawberry kind!"
"I'll have whatever" smiled Tatsuki.
Rukia gobbled up her strawberry ice cream. Orihime was having a hard time what to decide for her vanilla ice cream top or additions.
Tatsuki was glad that she ended up with chocolate ice cream. It was her and Ichigo's favourite. Sometimes after skating the two of them would go and get ice cream for themselves and Ichigo and Tatsuki would always get chocolate. Those were happy times and those memories were special to Tatsuki because they were with Ichigo and his big wide smile. However when he was only nine at the time, his mother died trying to save him and Tatsuki. Until ever since then Ichigo wasn't his happy self. At that time she couldn't bear, watching him wandering around the river, waiting for his mother to come back. It was the only thing that she wasn't able to cheer him up for. She felt as though it was all her fault.
"Tatsuki, what's Ichigo's favourite ice cream?" asked Orihime smiling. Tatsuki suddenly felt startled and looked at her ice cream with a small smile.
"It's chocolate" said Tatsuki. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh um, no reason!" she gulped. She was blushing madly though.
"Orihime what are you trying to hide?" Tatsuki chuckled.
"I was actually thinking of delivering him a box of chocolate ice cream…" said Orihime, with a blush.
Rukia and Tatsuki smiled and giggled.
"Aw~ that's so sweet!" squealed Rukia.
"You think so?"
"Ya, he's going to love that!" winked Tatsuki.
Orihime chuckled and smiled down on her lap.
The girls had a fun time together, until it was time for Tatsuki and Rukia to head back home.
"Bye guys!"
"See yah, Orihime!"
While the two walked down Rukia looked up at Tatsuki, who was in her sad mood again. Something is really wrong with her thought Rukia. She's been looking like that the whole time when they were in Orihime's room.
"Rukia, you are the only one I could tell you this. So please don't tell anyone" said Tatsuki. Rukia looked up at her and nodded.
"Ichigo—he…" her voice trailed off again. Why can't she say it?
"He tried to….—" Again she couldn't do it.
Rukia looked at her puzzling.
"He tried to what?" spoke Rukia. She almost sounded excited.
"He tried to ki—" Once again Tatsuki knew that she couldn't tell Rukia, and she knew why.
"He tried to kill me" said Tatsuki. Rukia looked freaked out, and Tatsuki couldn't believe that she was able to lie to her.
"That bastard! What does he thin—" growled Rukia.
"Rukia please don't be mad at him! I did something unforgiveable and it made him mad, but don't worry I'm not sad or anything! I just feel tired that's all!" chuckled Tatsuki. She tried to assure Rukia with a wide grin.
Rukia paused for a moment and then turned away.
"If you are fine Tatsuki than I'm glad"
Tatsuki sighed in relief.
"But if something is truly bothering you, then please don't hesitate to tell me Tats" said Rukia.
Tatsuki smiled and nodded. Rukia can be so helpful sometimes.
"Bye Rukia"
"Bye Tatsuki"
Suddenly, Ichigo turned her body around and pressed his lips against hers. He wrapped one arm around her waist and the other gently tangling his fingers in her hair, deepening the kiss.
Tatsuki stood there feeling stunned, but responded and wrapped her arms around Ichigo's neck. It felt so good to Tatsuki.
"I love you Tatsuki" whispered Ichigo.
"I love you too Ichi—"
Tatsuki suddenly sat up on the bed, breathing hardly.
Her eyes narrow in shock and she collapsed back onto the bed.
"What the hell?" her voice trailed with confusion while a sweat dropped down her neck.