Wow, hello there~

Holy cow, it's been more than a year since I last updated. And do I have a lot of stories to tell.

But I think a very very very sincere apology is necessary. I'm VERY VERY VERY sorry for not updating but I guess I should let you guys read the chapter before you bombard me with hate-mail. xD

Anyways, here is the 'latest' installment of 'A Little More Than A Memory'. Oh, and sorry for the length of the chapter. I just needed a chapter to set things up so bear with me, please? It'll get better next chapter, I promise~ x3

Enjoy~


A Little More Than A Memory - Chapter 7

The sun's rays reflected off the windscreen of a large SUV. Slowly, the SUV came to a halt.

"Miss, the road has been blocked off. We have to take a detour." A monotonous voice floated towards the back of the SUV.

"That'll be fine. Just make sure we make it on time though." Tatsuki stared from her seat, out at the whizzing trees that lined the pavement. As the blurring green filled her subconscious, a sudden flash of cream and gates awoke her from her daydream.

"Where are we?" Tatsuki's head swivelled as she took in her surroundings.

"We are currently travelling through the town of Karakura. Do not worry, miss, we will arrive at Ome Sogo soon. You will not be late for school. You needn't worry."

"Oh ok." Worry was not the emotion that had erupted in Tatsuki's chest. It was anger and rage. Four months worth of bottled-up sorrow.

"Step on it. I don't want to be here anymore."

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Bewilderment filled Orihime.

No sign of Tatsuki.

The arrival to a silent, abandoned home had made worry sprout within Orihime's stomach that morning. And now, standing at the door of her classroom, seeing Tatsuki's seat empty had made the sprout grow into a thriving tree of anxiety.

Suddenly, thin whip-like arms encircled Orihime's waist and pulled her backwards, followed by a husky whisper in her ear, "How's my Hime?"

"I'm… good. Um, where's Tatsuki, Chizuru?" Orihime's eyes were still scanning the room for her friend.

"Oh, Tatsuki… um, she kind of left. Her family just abruptly left Karakura and she hasn't been seen since." Chizuru innocently strolled towards a window.

"What?! Why?" Orihime felt a ten tonne weight suddenly plummet on her chest.

"No one knows for certain. She came to class for another week after you left and then she just… disappeared. There were many rumours flying around. But then you sent a note in saying that you had gone to visit some distant relative who was gravely ill. Well, everyone was mystified as to why Tatsuki left!" Chizuru hid her devious smirk and continued to gaze out the window.

"No…… Where's she gone? Where's she gone, Chizuru?" Orihime had grabbed Chizuru by the arms and whimpered vulnerably.

"I don't know, no one knows. I told you, she just disappeared without a word." Chizuru calmly restated the facts.

Orihime slumped for a moment; coming to terms with this new information. Suddenly, she jumped and grabbed Chizuru again.

"You really have to stop doing that, Hime. I think I might have to drag you to the bathroom soon." Chizuru's lips twitched upwards into a lusty smirk.

"Do you think she left a forwarding address?" Orihime brain was frantic, jumping from one conclusion to another, "Or maybe she's been taken by someone?"

"Orihime, calm down. I don't think anyone has kidnapped her. I just think they moved because Tatsuki wasn't herself anymore." Chizuru knew the real reason and almost gave a sinful smile.

Orihime let Chizuru's arms go and felt a pang of guilt slap her. She was the one that had been given the task to help Tatsuki recover her memory and yet, she had left on the second day. With that thought, her heart tightened and somehow grew heavier. Orihime slowly walked to her desk and sat down. Her head buried itself within her fold arms and tears streamed from her eyes.

'Tatsuki… I'm sorry.' The thoughts became a mantra of apologies, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'

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Those damned images kept swarming through Tatsuki's head, as she listened to the teacher howl about a maths equation. Orihime smiling, Orihime's peculiar cooking, Orihime's apartment… Orihime was the only thing that Tatsuki had been able to think about for the past few months. Irritation boiled within Tatsuki at the fluttering images and the fluttering butterflies that accompanied them.

The teacher had yet again found another student to humiliate, her screeching invading Tatsuki's thoughts once more.

"Urgh… Why can't she just shut up for once?" Tatsuki rubbed her temples slowly.

"I BEG YOUR PARDON MS. ARISAWA?!" The teacher screamed across the classroom.

"Huh? What?"

"Did you just say that I should 'shut up for once'?" A vein visibly popped on the side of the teacher's forehead.

"Uh… n-"

"YES. YOU. DID!" The teacher stormed down the aisle of desks and towered over Tatsuki.

"I-"

"You! Get. Out. Of. My. CLASS!" Tatsuki felt droplets of saliva hit her skin but decided not to comment. Thoroughly irritated, Tatsuki stood up, grabbed her books and slammed her chair into her desk.

"You will have detention next week, for the entire week!" The teacher screeched after Tatsuki.

"Well, you can shove your detentions up where your teaching skills are."

And Tatsuki stomped down the corridor, knowing expulsion was imminent.

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"Do you need something, Orihime?" The school receptionist smiled.

"Uh, yeah. Do you have a forwarding address for Tatsuki Arisawa, by any chance?"

"Let me see, hold on a second." The receptionist swivelled her chair and began typing furiously on her computer.

When Orihime was sure the computer was going to break down, the receptionist slowly turned and sadly announced, "No, I'm sorry. Tatsuki didn't leave behind anything. It says here that when the school tried to call her, someone else had answered."

Orihime felt the tears build in her eyes, "Um…Thank you anyways."

Orihime slowly walked out of the reception and through the white corridors. The white walls gleamed from the afternoon sun, contrasting against Orihime's dark mood. Every foot step felt like a step away from Tatsuki. Every second that past, Orihime felt that she would have less chance to find Tatsuki. For every tear that fell to the floor, a silent apology.

'Will I ever find her?' Orihime silently contemplated.

For every tear that fell, her heart clenched tighter. For every bead, her heart sunk a little deeper. For every droplet, realisation slowly dawned on Orihime.

Every tear was an outpouring of unknown love.


Alrighty.......... please don't eat me. I'm very sorry for the length and the bad story writing.

Firstly, I'm just going to say year 11 mathematics is a bitch. F*ck Calculus. Anyways, so I've been doing a LOT of maths and that's mainly the only thing that's been in my 'to do' list. I've been more social this year as well. Unbelievably.

But I promise that I'm going to finish this story by the end of the year, even if I fail year 10. I will get this done.

So, it only got a little bit juicier~ There will be many more appearances from our lovely 'friend', Chizuru. Actually, that reminds me, I haven't had any time to read or let alone think about Bleach and guess what? I had forgotten what the people's names were! D: No, seriously!

Anyways, review if you would like to. If you don't, it's ok, I deserve that. Oh, by the way, Anonymous people can review now. I don't mind if you flame me, people are entitled to their opinions.

See you next chapter~ (I promise it will not take a year to upload!)