Detective Silva is an OC. Officer Cordoba is an OC. Carina is an OC.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Pacific…
In a city of millions of souls it was fairly easy to lose someone. Tatsuki knew something had happened recently in her friends' lives but she kept her distance. The distance kept her sanity as the years and months ticked by she found comfort in her mundane routine.
Today she watched as a man collapsed at the train station. He was so young but it seemed like he was having a heart attack. A woman rushed in a panic begging for a doctor. Tatsuki watched as people rushed to aid the man.
The look on one woman's face was priceless as if she were saying: good someone else can take over.
Tatsuki paused thinking she recognized someone in the crowd. There was something about the shadowed figure in the distance. Although three years had passed on and she was an ocean away she knew him.
Los Angeles was an easy city to get lost in. In LA no one bothered her and isolation was perfect for her here. She put up her walls and distance from all the strange that clouded her existence in Karakura.
By the time she reached the top on the stairwell the shadowed figure had disappeared. The ambulance workers had removed their patient from the floor and police took routine statements.
A ticket checker stopped her from advancing any further demanding her Metro pass. She wasn't planning on getting on the train and hated being harassed but now wasn't the time to be defiant. She rummaged in her bag for the pass and searched the platform as the man examined it.
Heading back down the stairs she searched around before finally deciding to just go on with her day as if nothing happened. She thought about who she could call to figure out if she were truly going crazy. The thought of calling but dismissed the thought of waking up her friends so early in the morning.
Later that day as Tatsuki strolled around the farmer's market the shadowed figure from earlier reappeared. This time it was clear as day that he was exactly who she thought. Inhaling the salty Santa Monica ocean air she exhaled, "Renji what are you doing here?"
Renji was too far away to hear her question but seemed to understand. Before she could continue towards him she watched horrified as yet another man dropped to the ground in front of her. Clutching his chest the drink he held in his hand tumbled to the ground.
Blue green splashes covered her bare legs and soaked through her socks. Rivers of the drink made their way to the gutter and pavement just below her feet. The woman next to him seemed too concerned about Tatsuki's legs than the fallen man.
The man smiled oddly up at Tatsuki as she asked if he was alright. Focusing on this stranger she feared that she missed her chance to catch Renji. As she dialed 911 she couldn't find him but sensed he was still around.
The man was a detective and a gun was neatly holstered beneath his jacket. He told Tatsuki his badge number and all the information he joked would bring help much faster.
Tatsuki sat with the man after doing everything the operator suggested. The woman who was with him made an excuse that she needed to get back to work and promptly left after asking Detective Silva if he was alright.
"We've got to stop meeting like this," a voice said and she turned recognizing the police officer who interviewed her earlier.
"I can't even begin to explain," Tatsuki said acknowledging the strange situation she was in.
"You two know each other," Detective Silva asked struggling to sit up.
"No but a rash of heart attacks have hit the city hard. Purely coincidence we end up here to investigate yet another," Officer Cordoba answered.
"I'm really fine," Detective Silva said as the paramedics moved in.
"Regardless Detective let these guys do their job and I'll question you later," Officer Cordoba said.
Tatsuki thought the exchange extremely odd. Why would they send LAPD to investigate something all this way? What was this particular officer doing all this way?
"Probably heartburn or something," Detective Silva replied to one of the medics.
Tatsuki pocketed her phone and tuned out the rest of the conversation as the Detective continued to argue for just leaving. She searched for Renji once more. Another thing about LA once you said you were fine the crowds disappeared. The show was over and people stopped caring.
A few passersby looked but for the most part they moved on making it easier for her to find Renji. He seemed to be waiting for her to finish with the police.
After restating her contact information to Officer Cordoba she was allowed to leave. Detective Silva thanked her as they loaded him into the ambulance.
Tatsuki met Renji at the sidewalk and the two walked away from the crowds silent until a safe distance away.
"I don't even know where to start. Could we maybe go somewhere for coffee or something," Renji asked.
"Coffee you can't be serious! How can you just ask that showing up out of the blue like this…forget it why are you here and does it have anything to do with all these people dropping in front of me," Tatsuki asked.
"You know they found Ichigo and Rukia," he asked ignoring her questions entirely.
"I haven't called in a while…when did this happen," she asked rummaging for her phone.
"A couple of days ago," he answered.
She was sure that Orihime would have called. Tears nearly came to her eyes when her phone displayed no messages. How could something this significant happen and not one of her friends bothered to call her, she wondered.
"What happened," she asked.
"You wouldn't believe if I told you. I still can't believe it myself," he said.
"Try me," she said anger rising through her body.
"There are reasons I came in person to tell you. Reasons no one has called you so…not here let's go somewhere and talk," he said.
"Right, coffee," she smiled despite herself and continued walking as he lead her away.
Something was going on here. The fact Renji wanted her to get away from here to talk meant that someone he didn't want to meet was here as well.
As reunions went this was unlike anything she could have imagined. She never expected to be reunited with Renji. He knew everything by now. He must have known that she moved all this way to move on. Despite it all he still looked at her as if he never left.
000
Tatsuki's apartment was a small three room place. A kitchen, bedroom and bathroom were all that made up the living space. This was her fifth place and as time went on the amenities at each place seemed to shrink. The lack of space didn't keep her from cramming the place with stuff.
Renji glanced at various items on her bookshelves and wandered the room.
"What were they after," Tatsuki asked sitting down.
"They don't seem to have a clear goal. One theory is that whatever they are working on takes time…years. That said no one can get close enough to find out what they want. They are constantly on the move," he said.
"This city seemed like the place to keep searching for Ichigo and every day at first I really did search. I know this place really well because of searching and this whole time he was...anyway I felt I couldn't move forward or something," she said.
"Many lives were disrupted because of them," he said understandingly.
"It was no coincidence that people were dropping in front of my face yesterday. This must be the work of the same people who went after Ichigo and Rukia," she reasoned.
"Moving back is the best way for you to move forward," he said.
"Strenght in numbers," she nodded and stood up.
"If you can't think of a reason to stay in this city you shouldn't stay just because I-
"My decision is independent from your consideration. Do you want anything to drink," she asked.
"Without even allowing me to respond you can't just ask if I want a drink," he argued.
"I am being hospitable in my home and you're a guest so do you want a drink or not," she asked staring into the refrigerator door.
"No," he answered still looking over odds and ends in her apartment.
"Fine suit your self," she called out shutting the refrigerator and sipping on bottled water.
000
The waves crashed against the pillars down below the Santa Monica pier. A few fisherman sat staring over at the sea their poles lining the deck. Surfers flirted with the high surf but many were far too inexperienced to take on the waves of this size. The pros left in the water carried on as wave watches and onlookers stared at the sea.
The storms in the Pacific kept the show going. Tatsuki watched along with Renji. Her flight was in a couple of hours the decision to return home after all this time started to sink in.
"I honestly didn't spend much time here at the ocean. I wish I took more time here it is pretty amazing," she said already missing the place.
"Yeah," he replied from his silence.
"What did you work on in all the time spent away," she asked avoiding the questions that continued to scream in her head. She didn't care about his soul reaper affairs her concern was centered on personal affairs.
"You are always direct with me no need to ask about things you don't care about," he said slowly turning from the sea to face her.
She could only stare back at him as he called her out for being indirect.
"I'm not sure I-
"There were tons of daily activities, soul reaper meetings and anything and everything else in between," he said.
He worked on anything and everything to get her out of his mind. Telling her anything would only make her feel bad and him feel worse. There were other people in each of their lives but this setting hardly felt like the time or place to discuss them.
Something in her gaze longed to quickly mend things between them. He hoped that is what he saw as she turned back to the ocean. He wished he could show her the place she lived in his heart but that was impossible.
"You are thinking that now isn't the time to tell me but I can tell you want to explain. But I left too in a way," she said.
"I-
"Not that it matters since we aren't together or anything so forget telling me now about any other girl. I don't want to know now," she said pushing aside the conversation for another time.
"Alright," he said in agreement.
Too much was going on with her friends and the last thing she needed as she once again uprooted her life was to focus on jealousy. She could admit to herself that she was jealous despite knowing nothing of the mystery woman back in the Soul Society that managed to sway Renji. That was so long ago now but it was still on her mind now.
Renji knew she didn't mean a word she was saying when she told him she didn't want to know. Thankfully he didn't push the issue and they could continue to enjoy the end of a crazy sleepless night.
So what if she was tired she'd sleep on the plane. Deciding to pack up and leave was a lot of work. Renji helped and together they managed to get everything done. Amazingly everything fell into place from her plane ticket to her car.
Her apartment keys were left with the landlord who decided not to charge her for the next month's rent. The security deposit was not refundable however so she knew she'd be short on cash on the other side of the day.
Her job was the one problem area. It took some convincing but she managed to get her co-workers to take her shifts for three weeks in advance. She put in a notice with her boss explaining her move and was met with a tearful goodbye. Turns out that she was more than welcome back anytime and the boss was prepared to help with any job search she might have when she returned to Japan.
She didn't have much to pack but shipping her stuff to her parent's place did prove to be expensive. With little money left and little time she took a loss on a few things that neighbors eagerly picked over to add to their apartments.
Renji listened as she recounted story after story as they packed. She realized all the stories were focused on her but he seemed genuinely interested.
Because he asked about Huyu she told him the briefest of stories of how they were just friends now. That was the only time the smile faded from his eyes. It was as if he could tell things were a lot more complicated than she made it seem.
Knowing she was single however seemed to reanimate Renji. She had a feeling he was trying to win her over somehow. He was trying to get back to the place he left vacant nearly three years ago. She was unsure why he tried so hard these past few hours because they both knew he'd leave soon enough for who knows how long.
The two of them continued to watch the waves in silence. Whatever the enemy was up to in this city was none of their concern as Tatsuki was told. It bothered her not knowing what exactly the events of yesterday had to do with her friends.
"Tatsuki you've been silent far too long," he said snapping her out of her thoughts.
"I was just thinking about things," she said.
"Things," he asked.
"I was just thinking about seeing you yesterday at that train platform," she said.
"I ddin't know what you were going to do. I wanted to be the one to tell you about Ichigo and Rukia. I didn't think events would unfold the way that they did," he said.
"What would have happened differently," she asked absently still looking out over the ocean.
"This just this," he whispered wrapping his arms around her.
"Renji I missed you too," she said leaning into his embrace.
"I missed you so much do we even need to bother to talk it out," he grinned inhaling the scent of her hair.
The sudden close comfort made her jump suddenly as she turned and said, "I didn't expect that but I need to hurry up before the flight leaves."
"Right," he said suddenly conscious of how she looked at him now.
Both felt the tension and electricity between them something that was missing for so long. That feeling that sped hearts and made people feel happy threatened to return despite the real issues remaining between them.
More people started to crowd the pier as the sunlight burned off the last clouds of the Marine Layer rather early. The day looked to be a hot one the type of perfect beach weather Tatsuki was sure to miss.
Without another look back Renji and Tatsuki began to walk back to the car. The pier had filled with more vendors and shops that were closed suddenly had their doors open. It was strange walking back as if they were walking through a different place.
When they reached the car she quickly started the engine ignoring any pleas from Renji to drive. None of his arguments made sense and she was sure that he never drove a vehicle in his life despite his skills in the arcade.
"I know everyone believes I left so I could get away from all the strange things happening but that wasn't the reason," Tatsuki said.
"You aren't a very good driver," Renji complained.
"Always a critic but I'd love to see you try to…never mind let me focus on the road already. I know I'll get to the airport in time as long as there isn't any traffic," she said hanging a quick right.
She was confident that she was a good driver but the speed limit was more of a guide than a rule to her. Renji was quick to point out that she was more than 15 mph over it.
"When you decide why you left maybe then you should try to tell me," he said addressing her previous question.
"We shouldn't have stayed away from each other," she said.
Seeing her face while she said this was difficult as she focused ahead on the road but he responded saying, "water under the bridge."
She laughed and turned to him when she met a red light saying, "Don't quote movies unless you do it in character."
"Oh so it is fine if I quote movies now," he said.
As a waitress while working to pay off her student loans she'd overhear people basically auditioning for customers. It was something that made the job fun. Many of her co-workers then really were actors so the cliché turned out to be somewhat true.
"Maybe," she said punching through the intersection at the light change.
"Maybe," he said.
"Yes I'd rather hear what original thoughts you have than random quotes from movies. What makes you think I'm such a fan and why are you so into movies now anyway," she asked.
"They hi-light the best and worst experiences of your world and human imagination I suppose," he said.
"My college roommate Carina wanted to be on stage in Broadway it is this place...
"I know about Broadway," he said.
She wasn't too sure he did but continued anyway.
"Carina was told to come here from Florida to build her dream but when she couldn't pay rent she left all those books you saw behind.
She gave up on her dream but I couldn't bring myself to throw out the books. Leaving here I have no use for them so I boxed them up and gave them away," she said.
"She never came back," he asked.
"She got married had a little boy and they all live in Miami. She told me that was her second dream she never knew she wanted," she replied.
"So is she acting in Miami," he asked.
"She's a tourist guide so I suppose that is a sort of acting job," she replied.
Tatsuki was sure he had no clue what Broadway was and would promptly look it up as soon as he had a chance. Of course she could have just explained it to him but he needed to be an expert and this gave him new challenge to read about Broadway, Miami and maybe even tourist guides. She could never be sure what obsession he would latch onto.
000
Standing in the Arisawa house after so many years healed the homesick feelings Renji had for so long. The place was comfortable and familiar not changing much at all unlike Tatsuki.
From the moment Renji saw Tatsuki in Los Angeles he had to admit to himself he had real feelings for her. He was so taken off guard with those feelings he couldn't focus on the mission.
In the years since they parted she morphed from a spirited tomboy to a classic woman. Her clothes were feminine not showy yet attention-getting. He had taken notice of the looks she attracted many times while walking along-side her. The clothes didn't matter they were noticing her because she was beautiful.
He must have stared too long at her as they sat on the couch in her parents' house because she made a face and glared back at him.
"What Renji," she asked.
"Nothing you're just different," he said.
"Ok then stop staring at me," she said laughing.
"I'm not staring at you I was just looking at you," he said.
"No difference," she said.
"There is…so what," he said.
"I have another confession to make," she said.
"Don't bother I know," he said.
"About the notes," she asked.
She twisted on the couch legs crossed facing him. He thought she was confessing romantic feelings. They were back in that friend zone again and he was somewhat thankful his wandering mind had shifted focus to her question.
"I know about the notes," he answered.
"That isn't possible," she said.
"Relax I was assigned the case so all your documents and observations ultimately ended up in my squad's quarters on my desk," he replied.
Tatsuki had pages of notes and observations as she searched Los Angeles searching for Ichigo. She spent months keeping an eye on anyone connected to Mark and Pearl. Alongside her notes was all the information Uryû gathered when he caught up to Ichigo and Rukia before they disappeared for good in California.
"Why aren't we investigating the guys who had heart trouble in Los Angeles," she asked.
"Plans have changed since Ichigo and Rukia returned. I didn't ask for reasons I simply followed orders," he answered.
"But you volunteered to come tell me about Ichigo and Rukia returning," she said.
She was right about everything and there was no way he could dupe her into thinking otherwise. It wouldn't be long before she demanded to know everything that was going on with his mission. He could tell her the men yesterday were targeting her but this would just open up a whole new set of questions. She stood interrupting his internal debate.
"Your silence is speaking volumes," she said.
"I'm not trying to deceive you," he said standing up and following her as she mindlessly unpacked a box.
Silence greeted him.
"Please understand that," he said placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm not upset but answer a question for me," she said stopping to look at him.
"Alright," he said.
"It was the police officer wasn't it," she said.
He would never be able to keep a secret from her he thought. She had already figured out that she was a target and who the adversary was.
"Yes," he answered simply.
"I thought so," she said and continued her unpacking.
The answer he gave was good enough and she didn't want to force him to do what he was uncomfortable with. The police officer Cordoba that showed up at both incidents wanted something from her and Renji's presence must have stopped whatever goal he had.
The detective victim was let go and Tatsuki mentally searched for any connection between him and victim 1 from the train platform.
"I can see you are thinking about what happened," he said.
"Those people…the detective and that train passenger didn't seem like the type to be targeted. I knew nothing about either one so I don't know what the reason behind attacking them would be. If it is random I'd feel better knowing that the guy wouldn't hurt anyone else," she said.
They weren't heart attacks but a method used to control the victims soul. Renji knew that the victim had to die in order for Athen's control to take over. It wasn't lost on him that the detective had a gun. If the target was indeed Tatsuki the gun would be the easiest way to take her out. They still didn't know enough and Renji couldn't tell her what he knew.
"I would never leave someone like that alone to hurt anyone. I would never tell you not to worry if I thought they were in danger," he said.
Tatsuki knew then she was the target. If innocent people surrounding her were not in danger then by simple deduction she was the one in danger. A cold shiver ran her spine and tears began to well up in her eyes but she pretended to focus on her unpacking not daring to turn and face Renji.
"I'm sorry I know you wouldn't leave like that," she said keeping it short so he wouldn't hear her breakdown.
"Working with that squad is not something you need to concern yourself with," he said.
Renji noticed the sound of her voice. Now that Ichigo and Rukia were back there was no reason for her to involve herself in this fight. No reason for her to work with squad 2 and no reason for her to think herself a scout for the Soul Society.
"Hand to hand combat is my specialty and I'm no good at long distance and ignoring things from afar. I'm not worried or afraid to get close to them if it means protecting my friends," she said.
Gone was the shaky sound of her voice of a moment ago. She seemed fully committed as if she convinced herself as she spoke. This wasn't good enough for Renji and he came back with a request saying, "I am asking that you not involve yourself in any of it."
"Because I'm human," she asked.
"Because you're Tatsuki I'm asking you not to get involved…also because you are Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Uryû and Rukia's friend. Because you are their daughter," he said pointing out the family picture in the dinning room.
"You left yourself off the list and I have plenty of-
"And you are my friend the soul I've vowed to protect," he said.
She had to look away it was a reasonable request but the way he said it infuriated he yet made her want to weep at the same time.
How dare he make me into some soft romantic fool?
She could hold her own in a fight and she had no fear of these people who caused them all such grief with their stupid games. She decided it was pointless to be afraid of them just moments before Renji made his request.
In the end she gave in saying, "I'll stay away from Soul Reaper business."
Compromise still gave Tatsuki the freedom to get involved because in her mind as long as it involved her it became human business. Renji seemed to understand this stance but said nothing more satisfied for now that she'd keep her word.