I'm nervous. The nerves make my hands tremble as I pull one from my black slacks, the other squeezing the bundle of flowers I had just bought. My unoccupied hand goes to straighten the tie I wore. I resist the urge to take it off completely, knowing I had worn it for a reason. Releasing the fabric, I run a hand through my hair as I walk toward the entrance, pausing briefly as I spot the person who I had ask to meet.

I take a deep breath before heading her way.

"Oi, Tatsuki."

She looks up from her phone and pushes herself from the gate she had been leaning on when she waited for me. I hear the crinkling of flowers

"Is that you, Ichigo? What's with the getup? Did you just come from the bank after asking for a loan or something?" She asks.

I give a nervous chuckle.

"Given that it's my first time visiting him, I thought I should dress properly, you know," I explain.

She nods in understanding before beginning to walk through the gated entrance. I catch up to her side, keeping in stride with her as she leads me down the unfamiliar path.

"Makes sense, but you really didn't have to dress up. You know she doesn't care."

"Yeah, but I wanted to leave a good impression."

She smirks at me.

"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you have something else in mind by wearing those clothes besides paying your respect."

I breathe out deeply out through my nose, inwardly cursing at being found out so quickly.

"I mean, imagine my surprise when I get a call from you this morning asking to meet me before the time we originally planned," she continues.

I rub my neck with my hand as I look away from her.

"Oh, come on, Tatsuki. Can't you just leave it alone?"

"And where would be the fun it that?" She questions.

I feel myself frown as we continue walking.

"So, you already figured it out."

"Well, you made it kind of obvious. You never call me first," Tatsuki comments.

"Not true."

She rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, leaning over when Orihime calls me and making dumb remarks doesn't count as calling me first."

"You are never happy," I joke. She snorts in amusement.

We walk in silence for a bit.

"You don't need my blessing, you know. Besides, even if I didn't give it, when's the last time you've ever listened to me?"

I scowl at the flowers I'm holding.

"You're my oldest friend, you know that? We've known each other for what? Almost 2 decades? You and I…we've been through a lot over all these years. And don't even get me started on what you mean to Orihime. Because we both know what you are to her. So don't," I glare at the ground. "So don't act like your opinion doesn't mean anything."

I hear her stop and sigh.

"You are, and always have been, so, so dumb." I bristle at the insult. "After all these years, you are still so dense that I'm actually kind of worried for you."

"Are you leading somewhere with these insults?" I bite.

She chuckles.

"You're right. I've known you for more than half of my life. Some of my earliest memories? You're in them. You are my oldest friend. And even after all that, you still haven't realized that I've waited this long just to see you happy, just to see you smile like you used to when we were young." I hear her sniffle. "After all this time, you just don't seem to know what you mean to me."

"Tatsuki—" I start.

She shakes her head, then squares her shoulders and turns to stare directly at me.

"I don't know if she told you, but she was worried about the graduation ceremony. She tried to hide it, but I could tell. I told her not to worry, that even though her aunt couldn't make it, my family would be there. She had just smiled, but I knew the truth."

And so did I. She had been devastated that her only family member couldn't attend, but she tried to play it off like it didn't bother her, like it didn't hurt. But despite the reassurances and the smiles, I knew. So, I did the one thing I could think of at the time; I had called in some favors.

"She had been anxious about hearing silence when her name was called. I knew that, but I couldn't do much, if not anything, to calm her nerves, to put her at ease. To make it easy on her. I couldn't do anything to make her feel like she wasn't alone," she trails off as she looks at her shoes. "But then, when her name was called, all of sudden, the audience erupted in applause and cheers. It shook the stage, but more than that, she was shook to her very core. At that moment, all of her worries and her fears disappeared. She was touched, but more than that, she was happy." She let out a small laugh. "And you know, all of it was so damn loud. It was nearly deafening, and yet, there was one person's voice that rang the loudest. Your voice, above anyone else's, stood out the most, and it meant the most to her. You meant the most to her." Her head tilts up, and tears run down her face as she looks me in the eyes. "And for the first time in a long time, I saw you smile. The same, real smile you used to have back when we were kids. And I knew you felt the same way about her." Tatsuki's arm goes to rub her eyes. "You want my blessing?" She asks in a teary voice. "You have it. Because I'm just so grateful for you making her happy. Thank you for making her not feel alone, for changing her life for the better. But most of all, thank you for bringing my old friend back. I've…I've missed him."

I grimace and avert my stinging eyes while I step close to her, pulling her into a hug.

"I've missed you, too, Tatsuki." I hear her sniffle against my chest. I squeeze her tighter before stepping back.

She wipes her eyes, and in the next second, I feel her kick me in the leg.

"What's that for?!"

"That's a preview of what you'll get if you break her heart," she threatens.

"What about all that stuff you said earlier?" I ask, incredulous.

She chuckles.

"I meant them. So don't let her break your heart."

I shake my head.

"You're crazy."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Psychotic."

She nods.

"Insane."

She starts walking away from me.

"Oi, Tatsuki. Thanks." She stops in her tracks. "Thanks for never giving up on me."

She continues walking, and I smile as I watch her retreating back, knowing that even if she's out of sight, she'll stop and wait for me. Because after all these years, we still fall into the same patterns. After all these years, she still watches out for me, my childhood friend.

I glance down at the flowers in my hand before following her, hoping that Orihime doesn't show up until I ask her brother for his blessing.