this piece in particular deviates from the fairly set structure I have in this collection. it's an odd piece, to be sure, one I assumed took place before the Hueco Mundo arc. I hope you enjoy it.
"There was a time, once," Tatsuki says softly. Her hair drapes shadows over her brow, trailing faint ink over her face. She wets her lips and glances up briefly. "A long time ago…"
Outside, a cricket chirps. It's past midnight.
"I didn't know," Orihime says, trying to smile and instead feeling her stomach sink. She wills herself not to squeeze at her pillow.
Tatsuki gives her a lingering look. Her gaze slips down, like rain on a window. "It was far in the past," she murmurs. "His mother even asked me once. She knew."
Orihime's breath hitches and Tatsuki's eyes are on hers again. She imagines herself behind a solid stone wall, touching at rock and listening to voices sharing secrets she could never understand.
"I'd beaten him again, at practice. She'd come to pick him up and he was getting his things. He… you know he doesn't notice this stuff."
She knows. She nods, feeling her head tip back and forth and thinking of the tick tock of clocks.
Tatsuki sighs, something sad and thoughtful. She draws her knees under her chin. "She was so pretty, his mom. She'd leaned down and said, 'He won't know how you feel if you keep beating him so badly.'" Tatsuki's eyes are dark and distant, like night clouds. "I was so surprised that I couldn't even pretend. It made her laugh, and she said she'd keep it a secret. That she'd cheer me on."
Something dark and dangerous is biting at her, deep inside. She thinks of all the confessions she's told, all the things she's never asked. All the times Tatsuki listened.
"We were together so much. I mean, everyone just assumed…" Tatsuki says, the ends of her voice fraying into splinters and split ends.
The churning feeling stills as she takes in the creases by Tatsuki's eyes. She remembers bandaging her knuckles, linking their arms together, towers and princesses and dragons. Knowing looks and pure promises.
She takes Tatsuki's hands gently. Her heartbeat is slow and calm. "Did you?"
Tatsuki smiles ruefully. "No. Neither did he." She turns their hands to better clasp at Orihime's. "But you're different. Remember that."
this was a look at Orihime and Tatsuki discussing an old crush Tatsuki had on Ichigo. it was meant to be a bonding and understanding moment between the two girls, but also a reminder of how both have different relationships with Ichigo- one better suited for romance than the other. I also hope the fact that Orihime and Tatsuki's friendship will surpass all roadblocks, big or small, managed to carry across.
let me know what you think!