Chapter Forty-nine
Notes…
Tatsuki sat up in bed and glanced at the empty side of the bed. A letter sat in the place where he slept. She didn't want to read it. She wanted to hang onto her anger from last night.
She couldn't be angry any longer and she quickly snatched up the paper and read Renji's words.
'I was never good at any relationship far too busy working on myself to make a decent relationship work. Everything I said to you I meant. I know that I don't want to mess things up between us. What we have together is better than any one thing.
I'm so sorry I didn't wake you up. Sorry I didn't follow through when I did wake you earlier. You know what I wanted I'm going crazy knowing that you wanted me too.
We're so good together it makes no sense to work on any other. I'll miss you but I'll never say it not in this letter (goodbye that is).
I'll never say goodbye to you. I do miss you already. I wish things had gone different but you were so peacefully and beautifully asleep in my arms. That will have to be enough for me.'
Love
She read the letter several times deciding that it made no sense.
He wanted to make love to me before saying goodbye. No, he wanted to wake me and say goodbye. No, he made some mistake and wanted an apology but it was all very vague.
What are you trying to tell me, she questioned.
Why didn't he just shake her and say it instead of leaving her with a worthless piece of paper. She twisted the paper in her hand as if to tear it in half but she couldn't bring herself to do so. Instead she stood pacing the room.
"More words, more paper and meaningless apologies. Sorry," she said out loud.
Sitting on the bed once more she reached underneath and pulled out a shoebox. It started as a joke. She watched a movie where the lead actress filled away her love notes in a shoebox.
Tatsuki had her own version because she was paranoid she'd wake up and find that Renji was gone forever. She looked inside the box and everything from ticket stubs to birthday cards were there. It hardly made her feel better as she stuffed the letter in the box and defiantly shoved it beneath the bed.
000
Tatsuki flipped through the book that sat on her nightstand her great-great grandmother's journal. She read this story when she was a child. She knew the story inside and out about the princess. Since her father told her what he knew she had yet to consult the book.
She tossed the book on the bed and headed to her bathroom. Starring at her reflection she made faces in the mirror.
Nothing different at all I'm no princess just a normal young adult. As normal as one can be in Karakura with an active imagination that causes me to dream crazy dreams…
She stopped her inner monologue swearing she could see something in her reflection. It was as if her reflection smiled at her. Her eyes had blue tones to them. She blinked several times and looked closer.
Brown eyes good I'm just going crazy.
Feeling incredibly lonely and a very freaked out; she left the bathroom quickly and double checked the lock on her door. Several images of Jason or Freddy popped into her imagination any moment she figured she was done for a victim of some Halloween movie icon.
She crawled under the covers in her room and turned on the television. Skipping to some comedy show she focused on the jokes trying to ease her troubled mind to sleep.
000
Renji paced the room the Soul Society was now involved in his relationship with Tatsuki. The worse thing that could happen played over in his mind.
"How did this happen," Renji asked.
"We didn't see anyone we were ordered back. We are assuming that the punishment squad may be responsible," Rukia answered.
"Where did they take her," Renji asked.
Ichigo came into the room hotheaded and zeroed in on Renji.
"What did you do Renji," Ichigo asked.
Ichigo saw firsthand his best friend a Shinigami fighting before his eyes. He knew what it took to become a Shinigami and he only knew one person that was capable of transforming her besides Rukia.
"Whoa calm down both of you," Rukia said pushing the two apart.
"Rukia stay out of this," Ichigo said.
"Or what," Rukia asked staring at him adding, "you're both acting like children and we don't have the time for this. Let's go Renji we'll find out why they took Tatsuki."
"Rukia," Orihime called out with questioning eyes filled with unspent tears.
"She'll be fine Orihime. There are rules this isn't like the time with Sôsuke," Rukia said reassuring her.
We hope, Ichigo thought.
"Alright," Orihime said nodding and wiping at her eyes.
"Trust us," Rukia said looking at Ichigo before she and Renji disappeared.
000
"One would think that the lesson has been learned especially by the likes of you," Rikichi said.
"Addressing me any kind of way now are we Rikichi," Renji said glancing over his shoulder as he walked towards the Captain's quarters.
"I apologize it isn't my place," Rikichi said.
"For the last time…not that I owe you an explanation, I didn't share my power with a human so I don't know what happened or what this meeting is about," Renji said.
"Then how is she here what is going on," Rikichi asked.
Renji would like to know the same thing. He only knew that Tatsuki came into some power on her own during their last meet with the enemy.
Kisuke was hard at work finding some way to channel her spiritual energy and other than that he had knew nothing. Renji had returned to the Soul Society weeks ago when recalled so there wasn't an explanation.
"I don't know," Renji finally answered standing just outside the door looking at his apprentice.
"Fine I believe you but the Captain's waiting," Rikichi said waiting for Renji to walk through the doors.
Renji slid the doors open and was promptly acknowledged by the Kuchiki guards. Inside his eyes darted to the misfit of his dreams.
"Tatsuki," he questioned.
She didn't have the opportunity to speak as Byakuya spoke first commanding attention.
"A Shihakushô and a Zanpaku-tô, care to explain Renji," Byakuya asked.
Renji had no explanation. In the world of the living she had no Shihakushô or Zanpaku-tô.
"No…did you…are you dead," Renji managed his heart squeezing at the thought something terrible happened to her while he was here in the Soul Society.
"No I'm-
"You may go," Byakuya said to Renji cutting her off.
"But I-
"Please leave now. Do not make me repeat myself for your amusement," Byakuya said.
"Yes Captain Sir," Renji said.
At least his fear that something terrible happened was unfounded. As he turned to leave he noticed that she seemed to want to say something. Unable to remember a time when Tatsuki was unable to speak her mind he couldn't help but worry what the Captain would do.
Outside the building Rikichi quickly caught up to Renji who stormed away helpless and enraged unable to do anything.
"I told you he was disappointed," Rikichi said.
That word cut.
"He didn't look upset and she didn't look frightened," Renji replied replacing the word he didn't want to think of.
Tatsuki was a fearless one. She wouldn't be frightened but perhaps she would give the Captain his proper respect. He stopped walking calm again he was never one to become easily upset always thinking of some way to blame himself. He could take matters into his own hands and go back making sure that she was alright but that would make matters worse with the Captain.
"Renji?"
"I'm sorry I have to go back. If it is my fault somehow I can't let her die by his hand. I'll need my sword," Renji said.
"Sorry Renji I can't help you," Rikichi said.
Renji stared at the mark on his hand. When did he let down his guard?
"You don't understand Rikichi he'll kill her himself. He'll…"
Rikichi held him up as he slumped against the railing. Paralyzed in seconds and asleep within a minute the drug likely came from squad 12 the administration technique of squad 2. Perhaps it was mercy that he'd be knocked out like this when he wanted to fight to save her.
000
"Get this demon woman away from me," Ikkaku screamed out.
It was unclear which woman he was referring to as both Tatsuki and Yachiru were his tormentors.
"We win again baldy," Yachiru said taking a victorious stand on his back.
"Ugly morons," Yumichika said.
Ikkaku turned his head towards Yumichika who stood leisurely against the wall saying, "don't encourage them."
"You're right I don't have time for this," Yumichika headed out the door nearly knocking over Renji who took in the scene a bit confused.
"What are you doing in squad six barracks anyway," Renji asked.
"We had nothing better to do so we ran into her," Yumichika answered stepping back and pointing out Tatsuki.
"What is going on," Renji asked.
"Guys let's go I'm bored now," Yachiru announced and her subordinates followed after.
I spent the afternoon thinking they had executed you or worse and you're here as if nothing is going on, Renji thought.
"They're kicking me out in a week," Tatsuki announced dropping the wooden sword to the ground and walking towards him.
"What does that mean," he asked.
"It was determined that neither you nor I did anything wrong. I'm just a gifted human is all and nothing is easily explained. Whatever they do know they aren't telling me and I'm fine just being allowed to return home," she explained.
"Then they know about us…about our relationship," he asked.
"No one bothered me about it. Ikkaku clarified that he already knew but was surprised. As for anyone else I don't know what they think or if they know," she said.
"I see," he said.
Something changed in him. Tatsuki worried that he was pulling away from her. What did she expect him to do?
She wanted him to hold her and reassure her that nothing had changed. He stood there looking at her but saying nothing.
"Renji I don't know what happened…could you at least say something," she asked.
"I thought I had lost you. The thoughts that ran through my mind today and you have no clue as you smile there asking me to say something," he said a little more harshly than he wanted to.
She took a step towards him unsure of what she wanted to say. His glance was not of anger but full of worry still.
Was it fear? She wondered.
He pulled her into his arms surrendering he wanted this convincing himself that he didn't care about what happened to him he just wanted that look to disappear from her face.
Was it sadness? He wondered.
"So I guess there is no getting rid of me now. I'll be by your side forever even if I have to hunt you down…unconsciously at that," she smiled leaning against his shoulder her arms around him.
"Ruined," he said.
"No complete. You are my soul mate and I can't deny it not after this. I'm not unhappy so stop worrying. I can't change my mind now not after I came here like this," she said.
He looked at her she was changed by this experience as well as if all the other times they were together they had held back. Emotionally open to her he had to say what was in his heart.
"I know you are mine…always. And you trust me so there is nothing else to say. I'd stay here with you all day but I have to talk to my Captain. I need to know where I stand," he said.
A smile lit up her features and she almost chuckled at the mention of Captain Kuchiki.
"What is that smile for," he asked.
"Rukia's brother is really something else," she said.
000
"Should we try to go after them," Orihime asked.
"How can we," Ichigo answered after a while.
"Rukia told us to trust them. We stay; anything else would likely provoke the wrath of the Soul Society," Uryû said.
The possibility that they could all be imprisoned or dead made it impossible to get a good night sleep. No one wanted to leave the apartment and Ichigo hadn't heard a word from anyone about what was going on.