Chapter Fifty-four
Truce…
Ichigo pulled Rukia behind the building quickly before they were spotted. Uryû was in a heavy-duty lip lock with Orihime in front of the pet store just across the street. Ichigo had visual confirmation that the girls plan had seriously fallen apart.
"Well what do we have here," Ichigo whispered to Rukia.
"Shut up," Rukia said punching him.
"Looks like you girls are the joke this time around. Your ringleader and your best friend," he said pointing out Renji and Tatsuki holding hands walking down the street.
"Let's confront them," Rukia said.
"Wait I'll call Renji and you call Orihime," Ichigo said.
000
Renji read the text message and laughed out loud. Tatsuki looked over at his phone and quickly looked around spotting Ichigo. Orihime noticed the laughter as she held the phone to her ear and spotted Tatsuki.
Uryû grinned like an idiot and spotted both couples.
"Looks like I was right," Uryû said to Orihime.
"War is over we have a truce," Orihime said to Rukia.
000
The calm and perfect day Tatsuki enjoyed seemed too good to be real. The storms had to be somewhere on the horizon yet she could only squint at the clear sunny skies.
Sunglasses would be nice right about now and she frowned at the smug looking Renji who proudly sported a pair. Admitting defeat was something she hated to do. It was Renji who could beat her at any video game and Renji who seemed to always be right she nearly stomped her feet in a tantrum.
"You knew that Orihime and Rukia defected," she asked him.
"Only that Ichigo seemed happy and there was no way he'd behave like that if Rukia stayed away on purpose," he admitted.
"What about Orihime," she asked shielding her eyes as she watched them heading over.
"She always had a guilty look on her face," he reasoned.
"This worked out perfectly," she said just as the others joined them.
"Don't look like that Orihime," Rukia admonished her for the rueful expression on her face.
Ichigo chuckled and Rukia turned on him saying, "Ichigo I'm still thirsty."
"You should be nicer considering–
She stared at him before he added, "Never mind I'll go. Renji, Uryû; take a hint let's go."
It was obvious to Ichigo that not all the anger directed at them was let go so easily. If buying juice was the punishment for locking Rukia away from the battle then he supposed he'd pay.
The guys all walked in silence towards the juice bar until they reached a safe distance away before they started talking.
"So what are your excuses for ending up out here," Ichigo asked.
"Crowds," Renji said shrugging then explaining, "less chance to be alone."
"That sounds like something she'd come up with have you gone soft on us Renji," Ichigo asked.
"Shut up," Renji replied.
"So nothing to do with her stupid war," Ichigo pushed.
"Worse," Uryû spoke up adding, "Renji promised the parents."
"How would you know anything…never mind," Renji said dropping any argument that would only make him look foolish, "The war meant we weren't even speaking she gave up less than an hour after it started."
"I don't need to ask about Orihime. She likely lasted the longest out of guilt," Ichigo said.
"I'd say loyalty," Uryû stated proudly.
"No I'm guessing Rukia since she has no problem ignoring you," Renji said.
000
Tatsuki watched the guys arguing or talking she couldn't be sure. They were likely discussing the same thing that the girls were. Who defected first?
"Ichigo and Rukia probably lasted the longest," Orihime said.
"Please they are practically telepathic anyway do they even need to talk," Tatsuki complained.
"We talk," Rukia argued snapping her attention back to the group of girls.
"So who broke down first," Tatsuki asked.
"I never agreed to this in the first place," Rukia argued.
"Silence does not equal disagreement," Orihime pointed out.
"We spend so much time being forced apart it wasn't a good thing to do anyway. I'm sorry I put any pressure on you guys," Tatsuki said.
"We need to stop punishing them for being great guys," Orihime agreed.
"They understand why we're upset," Rukia said.
"We'll I've moved on and I'm happy," Orihime said nearly dancing with glee.
Rukia smiled but she wasn't nearly as ready to publically declare her happiness in Orihime's fashion. Tatsuki didn't seem the type either as she simply smiled.
"This must have been hard on you," Tatsuki said noticing how Orihime's happiness seemed to melt into tears.
"It was just as tough not telling you my best friends how happy I am," Orihime said.
"Don't cry about it. I promise no more games like this," Tatsuki said apologetically.
"You stood up for us and we were right they shouldn't have left us out. If we played the damsel in distress they would still act like idiots not considering our contributions," Rukia said.
"I want to be upset but somehow I just can't be," Orihime said.
"Uh oh Orihime vision. What is he this time a handsome prince," Tatsuki asked.
"Funny Tatsuki but you were zoning out a minute ago too," Orihime teased.
"I did get hurt not to long ago so maybe they were a little right," Tatsuki said.
Rukia watched the guys at the juice bar. Her mind drifted to the walk she had to get here. She glanced at her charm bracelet and instantly felt regret. She could have been nicer.
Ichigo would give her anything that she wanted. Even now his gaze sought out hers perhaps some sort of telepathy. She smiled back and turned back to the others rejoining the conversation Orihime started.
000
The juice bar had many choices. Far too many choices for some people.
"How am I supposed to know what she wants," Renji said staring at the menu.
"Relax Renji she won't care they just wanted to do that girl talk thing they love so much," Ichigo said.
"Like hell she won't. I didn't even ask her. I've never even been here before you two have it so easy," Renji complained.
"Not really Orihime changes her mind daily and she is reluctant to choose a favorite. Given the chance she'd order the whole menu knowing her. Then again-
"Rukia hasn't been here either so there's a 50/50 shot she'll hate whatever I bring her," Ichigo said cutting off Uryû's long winded explanation. Truthfully it wasn't so bad Ichigo just had the habit of doing that to his rival-friend.
"We could have avoided their wrath by asking," Renji restated his position.
"Don't call them," Ichigo said eyeing the cell phone.
"Why not," Renji asked.
"You think you're being thorough but she'll think you don't know what she'd like," Uryû explained.
"Exactly," Ichigo said, "there is a 50/50 chance she'll yell at you for not calling but calling would be worse."
"That makes no sense," Renji complained deciding not to care what the results as long as this conversation ended.
"Or she could send you back for whatever she does want," Uryû said.
"Or drink it and say nothing until you forgot about it then bring it up later…like collateral or something to use against you," Ichigo added.
"Or my favorite claims she never wanted juice to begin with," Uryû said.
"Alright you guys are doing this on purpose to mess with my head," Renji said ending the back and forth.
"Pick something if we take too long they'll never forgive us. Oh and don't ask advice from the girl at the counter," Ichigo warned.
"Or even look at her. They'll feel like you're flirting and if you say this girl suggested it then you'll end up wearing the drink," Uryû said.
The responses were all so crazy but Renji didn't worry. This was a drink decision not a major decision at all. If she didn't like it, who cared really they could easily fix that situation and she should have just told him what she wanted in the beginning.
000
Renji survived the juice bar to the amusement of everyone. Tatsuki laughed that he had made things such a big deal. At the same time it made her demands seem a bit much and she decided to be better about it in the future.
Renji sat on the couch next to Tatsuki. The program on the television was typical for them. They watched a story about the ruins of the city an archeological dig and the history behind it. Renji thought it was time to set his plans in motion although he realized Ichigo would be upset that he beat him to it once again.
"I know I'm asking a lot but how would you feel about marrying me this week," Renji asked.
"I would…what," Tatsuki asked confused.
"We'd leave tomorrow," Renji said.
As if that clarifies anything, Tatsuki thought staring at him.
"How do I feel," Tatsuki asked again.
"Yes I'm asking you," Renji said.
"Excited, happy, nervous…how would we get married so soon," Tatsuki asked.
"That depends on if you want to…if you would like to be surprised or not," Renji answered.
"Surprise me," Tatsuki said.
"Before you agree completely I have to tell you that we'll be on our own for the most part if we go through with this," Renji explained.
"Meaning I can't tell anyone," Tatsuki asked knowing her family would never go with this type of thing.
Renji shook his head and said, "Remember the trip we talked about when I said we needed to get away?"
"Yes," Tatsuki replied.
"Well we are going somewhere tomorrow," Renji said.
He couldn't believe how well he managed to pull off this surprise she truly had no clue what he was referring to. Even more surprising he was happy that she was willing to go at his word.
"We didn't plan anything out. I don't have a dress or anything at all," Tatsuki said suddenly coming down to reality.
"It is spontaneous so we have to leave now," Renji said and stood before she could say another word to change her mind.
"What! You're serious," Tatsuki stared at his hand before pulling to her feet.
"Absolutely," he grinned and added, "but I'll ask you once again are you-
"Don't ask again you are insane and I can't believe I'm going to do this. Let me call Orihime," Tatsuki said resolving to go along with his crazy plan and be surprised the whole way.
"You're forgetting the rules," Renji warned snatching the phone.
"Right, spontaneous…You didn't tell me any rules. And what should I bring," Tatsuki asked.
"No questions. All I need you to bring is you," Renji said making his way to the door.
"That is sweet but what will I tell everyone. I guess I can blame it on the champagne we finally opened up. But I could have said something to someone…Then there is Kame she's only agreed to cover me one day in the past at work so how do I explain to Sue…I guess I didn't think things through-
"Everything is taken care of trust me," Renji said leading her out of the apartment.
She took a deep breath and picked up her purse slinging it across her chest. Quickly she wiggled from his grasp to unplug the coffee maker and made sure everything was off before locking up the apartment.