Chapter Thirty-eight
Party…
Tatsuki greeted her friend and stepped aside as she came in the room carrying what could only be a sheet cake.
"We have to go grocery shopping…Renji," Orihime stopped in the middle of the room questioning his presence.
"Hey," Renji greeted.
The damp look of Renji's hair was the first clue.
"Don't hey me mister…what are you doing here did something happen with Tatsuki," she swiveled around to look at a guilty looking Tatsuki nearly dropping her cake, "Tatsuki?"
Suddenly extreme embarrassment washed over her she nearly tripped over herself trying to take the cake into the kitchen.
"I'm fine it was an ordinary Hollow…maybe you should set the cake down," she said.
Orihime was suddenly uncomfortable noticing the steamy bathroom and guilty looks on their faces. She barely listened as the two talked of Hollows.
"So why are you here Renji? Ichigo should have been called," Orihime reasoned.
"I'm thinking about staying for the fireworks," Renji quickly said.
"You are," Tatsuki lit up, "I mean I told Renji about the party and all."
"Renji would never turn down free food," Orihime reasoned and sat the cake down finally adding, "you should go with us to the market I have a ton of ideas."
"Actually we better just hurry up and go because Renji has to report to the home base or whatever," Tatsuki said.
"He's not ET," Orihime laughed.
"Yeah you know I don't know much about that Shinigami stuff," she said.
"So I guess I'll see you tonight," Renji said heading out the door.
"Thanks for the saving and all," she waved.
The door shut and Orihime rushed over to Tatsuki placing a palm on friend's forehead.
"Are you alright," Orihime asked.
"I'm fine I just need to dry my hair," she said.
"And get dressed and why are your eyes so red," Orihime fired off questions as Tatsuki started getting dressed.
"Shampoo got in them," she answered the easiest one to explain.
"This isn't the first time I walked in on someone knowing my luck it won't be the last time," Orihime sighed sitting down on the bed.
"Nothing really happened," Tatsuki said.
"What happened with the Hollow," Orihime asked.
"I was swimming when suddenly it just showed up but I didn't sense it I just saw a flash of grey and then Renji was there," she said.
"Nothing else," Orihime asked.
"Orihime don't press me I really don't feel like talking about this," she said.
"I knew it," Orihime grinned.
"We never really broke up. It's more like a forced separation. There's not much I can do about it. Today he was just looking out for me…
"And what do we have here," Orihime said holding up the clothing she found neatly folded in her chair.
"It isn't what you think…nothing happened he just changed into drier clothes," she said.
"You couldn't hide the excitement in your eyes when he said he'd be here tonight," Orihime observed, "I'm happy for you both."
"We decided to tell you all about our relationship. I'm just so happy that I can finally talk to someone…I'm just scared what that means for him on the other side," she said.
"Let's not worry about that…tonight he'll be here," Orihime said.
"I know," Tatsuki said gathering up her hair ammunition.
"Clothes, hair, and food we have so much to do," Orihime said.
As Tatsuki dried her hair Orihime opened the blinds to let in the sunshine. The view was amazing even from here. Orihime wondered if she would be as happy with her new place.
"You know I don't even think that Ichigo and Rukia have said anything about their relationship to the Soul Society," Tatsuki said turning off the dryer.
"No," Orihime said distracted looking out the window.
"Everyone knows about them I can't imagine he'll ever leave her side," she reasoned.
"Something else happened today," Orihime smiled hugging herself.
"You finished moving out right," she asked.
"Yeah…Uryû showed up," Orihime answered.
"That's good right," she inquired clipping her hair up out of her face.
"We made up. He apologized and we made up," Orihime answered.
"You two got back together," she asked.
"We're taking it slow and talking about it you know," Orihime said.
"That's great Orihime," she said.
"I know you aren't so fond of him but he's really a nice guy…and he really cares about me," Orihime said.
"I'm way past that. I haven't spent much time with him but as long as you're happy I'll make the effort to get to know him. The minute he breaks your heart I'll stomp him," she said.
"OK…and Renji knows better than to mess with the likes of me," Orihime said.
Knowing her friend she was sure some wild image flashed before her eyes. Most likely this vision featured an image of Monster Robot Orihime taking out Renji with flames or something.
000
Tatsuki hosted the party as she knew would happen because she had the best apartment of the group. Standing poolside with Ichigo she was lost in conversation. They hadn't really spoken to each other much in a while so it was a welcome change.
"I have a great job and a beautiful apartment," Tatsuki said forlorn.
"With an awesome view," Ichigo added.
"It kicks serious butt," she said.
"It does," he agreed.
"All that and I see why he didn't show up tonight," she said.
"Renji's a man of his word. There has to be a reason for him not showing up," he said.
Tatsuki contemplated mentioning the stranger who showed up but did not want to get too involved in all the Shinigami business.
"Do you know something Ichigo," she said wide-eyed.
"I can't-
"It's alright I understand a little more. You don't have to tell me alright," she said leaning over the railing.
"I understand what you are going through and I've been there myself. There is really no advice I can give you because I feel the same way sometimes. Tatsuki you still-
"No. This is my party. I didn't expect him to show when we agreed of throwing it and I certainly won't ignore everyone who showed up to celebrate tonight," she said defiantly.
"Then let me give you some advice similar to what he'd say…trust him," Ichigo said and turned her around by the shoulders to head back up the stairs to the party.
"Thanks Ichigo," she said.
000
Uryû knew a lot about Rukia's struggle with the Sereitei. He knew maybe more than Ichigo but he wasn't the type to gossip all that he did know. The agreements and talks with Ashido made him knowledgeable about everything so he decided to talk it out with Rukia just to know where she stood about Ichigo.
"You only have about three years left and then of course the matter of your…shall we call it drug abuse. Have you told him," Uryû asked.
"He knows all about the drugs and the three years trial period and don't make it seem like drug addiction or something," Rukia said.
"Sometimes you have to repeat-
"Not with him. We're taking things a day at a time. There is no plan with him. The only thing he's planned in all this time is to go to that college. I think…I'm sure it was something he spoke about with his mother," Rukia said.
"He was too young to talk like that," Uryû said.
"Your concern for me is appreciated but if you really want to know what's going through Ichigo's mind you should ask Ichigo," Rukia said.
"Fair enough but we're…I'm also concerned about you," Uryû said.
"I'm going to the Seireitei soon. I just want to enjoy the summer here for a while then I'm going back. I can put up with this for three years easily enough. As for drugs," she tossed him the medicine Kisuke gave her, "I can go without it for a while. If you don't believe me ask Kisuke he's the only supplier I know of."
Uryû stared at the bottle. He had some idea of what would happen with her without the medicine but she wanted him to trust her. Perhaps he was in the wrong interfering with his friends' lives like this.
"Speechless," Rukia asked.
"You keep it. I'm really sorry for interfering. It is really none of my business," Uryû said holding the bottle towards her.
"Let's get going we have partying to do," Rukia said smiling ignoring the pill bottle.
000
Renji suddenly showed up at the party.
"I came as soon as I could," Renji said standing next to her on the rooftop.
"My mind hasn't changed," Tatsuki said looking out at the setting sun.
"The appearance of the Hollow today is related to a bigger picture that we can talk about later," Renji said.
"You look worried," Tatsuki said really looking at him for the first time that night.
"I'm fine. There's just an adjustment going from all that to this place you really made it look great," he said.
"If you need to go-
"There is nothing we can do tonight and nowhere I'd rather be so let's just enjoy this party," he said holding her hand.
"You mean enjoy the food," she asked.
"You look beautiful," he said.
"After thinking about so much earlier you're getting me at a good time," she said.
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
"Please I'm not that fragile," she said and he knew better.
He pulled her close holding her in his arms.
"I love the way you hold me," she whispered and straightened up to say, "and you look pretty good for yourself."
"Everything turned out nice," he admired again.
"And you haven't even tried the food," she said leading him to the table.
"The sun's setting shouldn't the fireworks start soon," he asked.
"I swear I won't force you to eat anything strange from Orihime world. Go eat you have plenty of time," she said.
Renji took up the offer and filled his plate with stuff he didn't even recognize. It wouldn't hurt to try he thought eyeing the various trays and platters as Orihime swooped over to talk to Tatsuki. In the back of his mind he wondered where Rukia took off to he was certain she was there.
"Have you seen Uryû around," Orihime asked.
"No but then again I was too busy looking an embarrassing mess," she said.
"No one noticed. It seems like every year we add a new person to this group," Orihime said looking at all their friends milling around.
"Yeah there are more people here," Tatsuki also looked around for the first time all night.
"We should come up with a name," Orihime said.
"No that is alright," Tatsuki said waving her suggestion off.