The Arisawa's are OC (except Tatsuki).
Chapter Forty-eight
Space…
Renji stood around the window of Tatsuki's apartment as she sat up in bed listening to him talk about her father.
"Renji my father can exaggerate things somewhat. He might have joked," Tatsuki said.
"He was clear," Renji said.
Mr. Arisawa made thing extremely clear when Renji made his intentions toward his daughter know.
'A man is not worth the dirt he stands on if he can't do things the right way. I know things have changed dramatically over the years but I don't want that for my daughter. What is the right thing? I'm glad you asked. Promise yourself that unless you are ready to give up everything in your life for her love that you will not touch her,' Mr. Arisawa said.
'I-
'Don't just say it. Realize just what it is you are about to do if you continue to see my daughter. You are a good guy but think and consider everything…Promise me that you won't touch her until she has a ring on her finger. I know that sounds old-fashioned of me but just promise me that at least,' Mr. Arisawa said.
Tatsuki stared at him hurt.
"Do you realize how hard it was for me to gather enough courage…never mind that you don't want me," she trailed off.
She couldn't understand the problem they slept side by side all this time. They were so close to each other all this time. She felt like she knew him better than anyone including her father. So what was the problem?
"You aren't thinking straight and I made a promise," he replied.
"I think I need some air," she stood up from the bed enraged. She didn't get very far because she didn't feel like storming off without answers.
How dare her father interrupt like this? She'd have to talk to him.
"Should I leave," he asked when she just stood in the room glaring at him.
"My father just keeps interfering and keeping secrets from me and now this," she said waving her hand towards him.
"You know it is no secret you were there when he said something similar at dinner," he said.
"I thought that was a joke. I mean who- why does he suddenly care we could have been together anytime. Where does he…I can't believe this at all I really can't," she said sitting back on the bed.
"I understand the way you feel but he is your father," he said.
"We can't just go get married like a normal couple if that's what's really stopping you. What kind of promise could you make," she asked then added, "Am I only good enough to be your friend why do you keep coming back to me?"
"There are no friends in my life like you. I love you but this isn't about love to me. I'll sleep on the couch I never intended to hurt you," he said.
He looked at her once before leaving the bedroom. She could have thrown a temper tantrum and threw him out but she didn't she just looked so hurt. He felt low as he lay on the couch trying to think of anything else.
000
Tatsuki sat up in bed the tears freely falling from her eyes now. What could she do or say to change Renji's mind. If they were going to be apart anyway did her father's talk matter?
Renji was being level-headed and doing the right thing. Only after she made an idiot of herself did he move to sleeping on the couch. She should have accepted what she had and now she was alone in this room just like as if he were already gone from her life.
Decidedly she made her way to the bathroom discarded her clothes and sank into the cold tub. It was a miracle she managed to make it without running into the wall half blinded by her watery eyes.
She reached over and turned the faucet letting the water steam up and filled the tub. Aroma therapy was something her mother enjoyed sending Tatsuki every kind of scented spa soak, candle and even oils. Tatsuki shook the lavender-scented soak into the tub.
The promise of relaxation fresh in her mind she lay back and tried to relax. She needed him like nothing else but instead here she was lost in her desires alone in the tub. She closed her eyes and waited as the tub filled the sound of the water extremely soothing.
000
It felt like less than few minutes passed when she heard a voice awaken her and felt the lukewarm water of the tub splash around her.
"Are you alright Tatsuki," Renji said just outside the door.
"Don't come in," she said heat rising to her face.
Was I that loud…that dream was so real and he probably thinks I was…I will die of embarrassment if he comes in here?
"That's no kind of answer…I thought I heard my name…you are…you're not-
"Could you just go away you're making things worse," she said feeling guilty despite herself.
Go away, Renji thought, go away how, after all I should be the one in there making her call my name.
He'd see her so vulnerable and she'd never forgive him unless he intended to give her what she wanted. Need coursed through his body and he knew he wasn't strong enough to begin with. The only thing holding his promise together was the closed-door.
"My way, your father's way and your way…they are all selfish and putting us on two different paths so let's discuss doing this the right way," he said.
"It isn't what you think…I didn't do what you think I did," she said.
She finished drying off and wrapped her robe around her. The tub emptied out and she busied herself cleaning up and avoiding him.
"How can you tell what I think when I'm talking to you through a wall," he asked.
He heard her moving bottles and cleaning up inside taking her slow time to come out of the bathroom. That movement suddenly stopped and he watched the door open.
"I know you talk in your crazy dreams it isn't the first time I've heard it. So am I close," he grinned.
"That isn't what you thought at first though," she said ducking quickly around him and heading for her bedroom.
He followed after her, "it wasn't but even if I did it isn't that big of a deal…it is kind of hot," he said very close to her ear.
She whirled around. She seemed less embarrassed now and more level-headed. This also meant she was aware of the robe and where his eyes landed.
"Sorry I've been acting so crazy," she said turning back and opening the bedroom door.
"Yours is the only crazy I want to deal with. So are we alright," he asked.
She shut the door, "Give me a second and don't go back to the couch. I promise not to torture you or test you. I just don't feel like sleeping alone."
How exactly would he make it without the couch? He knew she would torture him whether she meant it.
She smelled amazing and gave him such a visual gift. He calmed down earlier so he could deal with it he hoped. Now he just had to focus on something unsexy…anything.
He knew the real reason behind her mood. He understood how being separated for so long truly affected her. This wasn't about sex but intimacy he realized it and though that she had come to realize it as well tonight.
But all the realization in the world couldn't fix him when he needed her. They never knew when they'd see each other and the separation, be it a door or the living room couch was too much for either one of them now.
The door opened. Ordinary flower print pj's covered her head to toe. Not even her grape polished toe nails were visible beneath the comfy socks she wore. Regardless of how she thought it made her look plain he couldn't help his wandering mind. She looked that good to him.
"Do you want to talk more," she asked turning down her sheets and climbing into the bed.
Don't ask me to think of what I want, he thought.
"I'm good what about you," he asked climbing into his side of the bed.
The left side closest to the door had been his side for as long as he could recall.
"No I'm so relaxed that stuff my mother gave me really works," she said.
He looked at her as she reached over and cut off the lamp from her side. Sliding beneath the covers he wished things weren't so uncomfortable between them now.
Surprising him and easing his doubts a little she cuddled up to his chest her left arm resting comfortably around his abdomen. His right arm encircled hers and she slept in his arms. He didn't deserve this.
While his mind raced she was starting to fall asleep.
"I can't do this," he said.
"I can move," she mumbled and tried to shift away. His arm held her still.
"No you don't have to move," he said.
"Alright," she sat up pulling away from him, "what is it then I'm starting to lose my patience with you Renji."
"I can't deny you anything. I can't sleep thinking that I hurt you-
"Renji go to sleep idiot," she said slipping back under the covers and turning her back to him.
"I can't sleep," he said.
Something that sounded like ok came from her side of the bed. He leaned over her but she looked asleep. His irrational mind screamed at him to just wake her while his rational mind laid out a lengthy argument against that.
12:00 AM he got the call from the Soul Society, too late to do anything now he had to leave.