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Left Behind But Not Forgotten	By : Polymer Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 5127 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump own Bleach, I don't. I make no money from the writing of this fanfiction story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Only a block from the school a small two-door car pulled over at the curb. Once she took a bite of her donut, Tatsuki pointed with her other hand and said, “Let me out here okay?”
“Very well,” the deep voice answered in the driver’s seat next to her. In the passenger seat, the Val tudo champion unfastened her seatbelt. Before she could open the car door and step out the driver reached over and squeezed her hand with a leather-gloved one.
Two cups of half-drunk coffee sat in the cup holder near the gearshift. Tatsuki leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her companion’s cheek. His dark eyes blinked behind his oval framed glasses as he said, “Have a good day, Tatsuki san.”
“I’ll see you later,” Tatsuki said, squeezing her companion’s hand goodbye. She stepped out of the car and tugged up her long socks. Once she stood up, she smoothed her pleated skirt under her bottom and joined the column of uniformed high schoolers headed into the yard of Karakura High.
“Tatsuki!” cried Mahana waving to her. “Hurry up or we’ll be late!”
“I’m coming,” Tatsuki called, pulling up the small terrycloth cuff on her right hand. She buttoned her school jacket.
“C’mon miss 17 year old,” said Mahana teasing her. Tatsuki rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs to the class with a few of the other girls. Light glittered off a small silver cross dangling around Tatsuki’s neck with a small circle behind it.
“Hi Tatsuki-chan!” said Orihime brightly as she walked into the class holding Uryuu's hand. Eyes flickered towards the two a second before Uryuu released Orihime's hand and all the males in the glass glared at him jealously.
“Hello Arisawa san, I hope you are doing well,” Uryuu murmured looking at her.
“Just fine, Ishida kun,” Tatsuki said with a friendly smile that showed either she was putting on a good act, or she was truly happy.
Looking at each other, Orihime and Uryuu both murmured, “That's good... great...”
“Excuse me, class is about to start,” Uryuu said as he moved to sit down in his chair.
Taking her place behind Tatsuki Orihime whispered, “Are you okay?”
“Me I'm fine,” said she. “Why shouldn't I be?”
“That's good,” whispered Orihime, a bit concerned about just how 'fine' Tatsuki seemed. Yet she decided not to question it. When and if Tatsuki was ready to talk she would.
For the three students lunch class dragged out for an eternity during which Orihime shifted in her seat unable to stop stealing glances at Ishida poised over his desk. She noticed that he had stolen looks at her as well out of the side of his glasses. Tingling from head to toe she felt the sensations that she had previously only experienced around Ichigo. Now they were ten times as intense for the young Quincy.
Tatsuki seemed quite relaxed herself, almost glowing with health. However, the faint smell of cigarettes lingering on her clothes under perfume Tatsuki never usually wore alerted her. In addition, Tatsuki had styled her hair slightly differently with a small barrette on the side. Orihime decided they would have to compare notes at lunch especially since they had had no time together since things had changed so abruptly.
Orihime also noticed the new necklace Tatsuki fingered absently while staring into her textbook. She knew Tatsuki wasn’t necessarily Christian but many youths in Japan wore crosses as a sign of something ‘cool’ and trendy. Something remotely familiar about its design piqued Orihime’s interest. It looked distinctly like the one she first remembered Ishida wearing around his wrist the first time she met him in Handicrafts club.
She blushed remembering the kiss mere hours before. Glancing over across the room, she caught his eyes and a rare smile on his face he hid behind the book he held up. Yes, Orihime was happy. Extremely happy.
Glancing over she noticed Tatsuki seemed happy too. Far happier than she would have expected.
**

When lunchtime finally came both girls headed out with a few friendly comfortable words to each other to meet in their usual place. Sitting down they both opened their lunches and ate in relative silence. Both seemed to wait for the other to break the silence until Tatsuki finally relented. “Did you and Uryuu have fun last night?”
“Uh... yeah... sure,” Orihime blurted out.
“Look Orihime, I'm fine that you're with Uryuu. I really am. I wish you two had gotten together sooner,” said Tatsuki.
“Tatsuki, when I was gone I... I...” Orihime trailed off.
Suddenly she hugged Tatsuki tightly, trying not to cry. Wrapping arms around her tightly Tatsuki hugged her friend back. The two simply sat for a time while Orihime cried and Tatsuki comforted her.
At last, Orihime's breathing became less broken by sobs against her best friend’s shoulder. “Hey... you can tell me...”
“There's so much that happened,” she whispered. Tatsuki nodded as it suddenly tumbled out of her friend in an endless stream. She winced hearing the conditions put on her by Ulquiorra and horrified at Aizen's manipulations.
Tatsuki slowly told Orihime about her experiences, dancing a bit around Ryuuken except telling Orihime that she had trained with the man to hone her powers before Urahara worked with the rest of them. Orihime was stunned that Tatsuki had fought Arrancar herself, and was greatly relieved that she had finally had the skills to protect herself.
“So Dr. Ishida trained you?” Orihime murmured in surprise, picking at her clothes nervously.
“Yeah,” said Tatsuki. “I know he was training Uryuu so he could get his powers back. We weren't ever in the same sessions. However, there was some time I got handed off to Urahara so we could train with Karakura Raizer. Then you vanished and Uryuu went after you.”
“All this time I never knew,” said Orihime quietly. Then she smiled a bit.
“Uryuu-kun loves you. I was so busy pushing you into Ichigo's arms I didn't notice,' mumbled Tatsuki guiltily.
“We're all in a love triangle,” joked Orihime. “But as long as you're happy I'm happy.”
Normally Tatsuki would have rolled her eyes at that but she instead looked down at the ground and chuckled awkwardly instead. “Depends on what triangle you mean...”
“Well it would be more of a love square... or a pentagon,” Orihime murmured.
“Uryuu's a good guy. He deserves to be happy. But Ichigo...” she trailed off.
“Loves someone else,” trailed off Orihime. Tatsuki let out a poignant sigh.
“Idiot,” she mumbled.
“Tatsuki-chan, Uryuu-kun told me about his father, and how they trained... did he make you...” asked Orihime twisting a lock of hair around one finger. With a raised brow, her friend noticed the change in honorific to a more familiar one.
“Not the same way. I am not a Quincy, but he said our powers aren't that different. They work similar because I'm a human and my powers were unlocked just like yours and Chad’s were,” said Tatsuki.
“Is he... an unhappy man?” asked Orihime tentatively.
“Let's just say that there's 2 sides to a story. I've heard Uryuu's side and now I've heard Ryuuken... I mean his father's side,” Tatsuki blurted out. Orihime noticed the quick correction.
“If that's so... is he angry at Uryuu for coming to save me?” asked Orihime quietly.
“Why are you asking me? It's their business,” said Tatsuki suddenly. “Look Orihime, your relationship with Uryuu shouldn't happen or not happen because of being worried about what his father thinks. It's up to them to fix their relationship or not.”
“But you and Ryuuken san...” Orihime trailed off before the bell rang and cut their conversation short.
“Sorry gotta go! We’d better hurry or Ochi Sensei will really get mad,” her friend said grabbing her hand. Tatsuki tried to hide the blush on her face and turned quickly away to run back to class.
***

After school, Tatsuki and Orihime met again in the front yard, both a bit awkward. Uryuu and Chad were nearby, the former reading a book actively as he strode in their direction. Tatsuki already headed towards the exit. “Ichigo's still out for the count,” Tatsuki mumbled.
“I know. Tatsuki, you don't have to worry about walking me home...” she trailed off.
“I know silly. Go get that boyfriend of yours and have fun,” said Tatsuki with a big grin on her face.
“Excuse me,” Ishida said as he stood near them and pushed up his glasses. “I wouldn't mind if we all walked together if you don't mind Arisawa san.”
“Sure if you want. You're being a good gentleman to escort us women home,” Tatsuki suddenly said to Ishida's relief. She sensed that Ishida wanted to talk to her about something but was not quite sure of how to breach the subject.
“Why don't we meet in my apartment for tea?” Orihime suggested.
“Actually my place wouldn't be bad. Then you two can go on home from there,” Tatsuki suggested. Both nodded their agreement and headed towards Tatsuki's home first.

***

On the way, they stopped by the clinic to see how Ichigo was fairing. Worried that he was still unconscious the friends paid their respects noticing Rukia sitting at Ichigo's bedside quietly with Chad nearby. They all left flowers and a card for him then left a time later.
Sitting around Tatsuki's table, they each sipped tea, nervous about breaking the ice that had settled. Conversation limited to Ichigo's well being panned out uninterrupted by Tatsuki's parents. They both knew that their daughter had an active social life and let her be alone. Both had found 'excuses' to be out of the house or in other parts of it while Tatsuki entertained her 'friends'.
“So... Kurosaki kun...” mumbled Orihime.
“Yeah... rough deal losing his powers,” Tatsuki mumbled.
Ishida nodded, his silence making it clear he knew exactly what Ichigo was going through and would face when he finally woke. Either girl knew a good deal of his secrets at this point. Another however hung uncomfortably like an invisible large elephant none wanted to mention. Coughing discretely Ishida then mumbled, “Are you well, Arisawa san?”
“I'm fine, thanks for asking,” said Tatsuki politely picking up her cup of tea and sipping it. “You?”
Immediately Ishida’s eyes gravitated towards her necklace. He slowly picked up the cup of tea she offered and took a small sip. She could see his eyes boring holes in it and squirmed in her seat. Clearing his throat Ishida said, “I apologize in advance for asking a personal question, but I was curious as to the nature of...”
The Val tudo champion bristled. All the muscles in her shoulder gathered into a tight knot. She sighed, “Spit it out, Uryuu-kun.”
“What exactly is the nature of your relationship with Ryuuken?” asked Ishida next. Near him Orihime gulped a huge mouthful of tea.
At that moment, the hairs on the back of Tatsuki’s neck stood up. A flash of heat arose in her forehead and surged down her entire body to her feet. Even her scalp seemed to rise up with the beating of her heart. She wondered if a dozen people could scrutinize her now. Crisply she said, “Nothing you need to worry about, Ishida san.”
Silence fell for nearly thirty seconds only interrupted by the bites everyone took of the cookies they picked up from their plates. The awkward pause broke with Ishida’s next question that was more of a statement, “So there is a relationship between you?”
Tatsuki could not believe what she was hearing, or she didn’t want to realize what he had just said. Ishida Uryuu had just uttered the words that she dreaded. Why did she suddenly feel like a naughty girl caught climbing out of her bedroom window on the way to a rave? When she should be doing her homework? Blood roaring through her ears she evasively asked, “What do you want to know?”
Pushing his glasses up on his nose Uryuu then said, “Well, considering you and Orihime are close friends, and that he is well... we are related...”
Orihime chimed in that moment wiping crumbs off her mouth and Tatsuki wanted to hug her. “Uryuu they're just good friends right? Like sensei and student?”
Ishida’s blue eyes narrowed indicating he was unconvinced. Perhaps even insulted that such a thing was a possibility. “Just good friends is very ambiguous, Inoue san.”
Another wave of heat slammed through Tatsuki. She could feel nerves tingling and snapping in her head with the remainder of her patience. Ishida had just pushed her over the limit. She shoved a cookie into her mouth and chewed on it for a good 15 seconds. Pointedly she replied through gritted teeth, “Funny you're asking considering you two don't talk more than necessary.”
Each word caused Orihime to flinch visibly. She didn’t know if she wanted to edge closer to Tatsuki or Ishida. Therefore, she chose a position midway between them and murmured, “Tatsuki chan… Ishida kun… is everything okay?”
“Inoue san, there is no need for you to intercede. I am simply trying to have a civil discussion with Arisawa san,” he said.
Tatsuki’s brown eyes bored into Ishida’s, frustration pouring off her body. From behind her cup in a low tone she said, “I'm not digging into your private business with Orihime, but you know I'd kick your ass if you hurt her.”
“The same remains with my concern regarding you, Tatsuki. Although we are not involved romantically, you are still my classmate and a friend. If Ryuuken's intentions are...” he trailed off, biting into a cookie violently.
Unconsciously Tatsuki clenched her pendant. She turned away from Ishida, shaking her head, mumbling, “He's a Quincy just like you are. The same rules apply, don’t they?”
Goose pimples rose on Orihime’s arms beneath her jacket sleeves. It was the first time she was sure that Tatsuki had uttered the word Quincy in front of Ishida and he flinched. Just as if she had punched him. She hated the hurt look in his face; brows pinched together, eyes opened wide and lips parted. The very same expression he wore when he would told her to calm down and she had yelled at him. Back around the time the Bount invasion happened and three mod souls tested Orihime and her friends. When she was sure that Tatsuki had vanished forever because of Ririn’s pranks.
She next heard her boyfriend say in a low curt voice, “He rejects everything a Quincy is even if he IS one. You have no idea what you’re talking about Arisawa san.”
“Maybe I don’t. But you’ve got no business telling me what I can and can’t do, Ishida san,” Tatsuki snapped, slamming her cup down. Her fists clenched at her sides.
Torn between them Orihime dodged around Tatsuki and sat between them. She waved her hands wildly like a referee hoping to dispel the tension winding up between the two. Perhaps she was trying to dispel the flickering reiatsu her friend was giving off that resembled flames. Invisible to the ordinary eye Tatsuki’s reiatsu burned like fire when mediums like she and Ishida looked at her.
Orihime said, “Tatsuki knows what she's doing, Ishida kun! I trust her so you should trust her too. What does it matter as long as she’s happy?”
Sunlight flashed across Ishida’s glasses, obscuring his eyes with two squares of glowing light. He gritted, “It matters because I’m concerned just what she’s happy about, Inoue san.”
Before he could say anything else, Tatsuki glared at Ishida and snapped, “Frankly Ishida san it’s none of your business. You’re a real piece of work acting all protective!”
“It’s only because I’m your friend and classmate that I am trying to get you to see reason, Arisawa san,” Ishida responded, his own fists clenched at his sides.
“Tatsuki chan, Uryuu kun, please don't argue,” Orihime said, touching both their shoulders.

Ishida released a sigh, turning his gaze away. He murmured, “I apologize Inoue san, Arisawa san. I had no desire to provoke your anger.”
“Never mind. I guess you were just being a friend,” Tatsuki said, releasing her fists. “Are you going to kick his butt if he hurts me?”
Even though Orihime giggled a bit, her joke fell flat on the Quincy. He confessed, “Well... not in such words but essentially yes…”
“I’m a big girl, Ishida san. I can take care of myself,” Tatsuki said. She reached over and refilled his teacup.
Now Ishida met her gaze again. “Nevertheless you've all but admitted to me that your involvement is more than just casual.”
“Tatsuki chan,” Orihime trailed off, an uneasy smile on her face. She let the steam slowly rise from her cup then sipped it thankfully.
“And you are aware of the age difference,” added Ishida, picking up his cup again. He stared into it instead of sipping any this time.
“Considering I'm seventeen, and legally such things aren't unheard of, I know what I'm dealing with,” Tatsuki said firmly.
“I'm sure he's just worried,” said Orihime.
“I know, but still,” Tatsuki said frowning at Ishida. “You're speaking as if you're the adult and he's the teenager!”
“I am aware of the irony of the situation, but you must see the validity of my concerns,” said the Quincy, frowning.
“Then you talk to him,” said Tatsuki, her hand shaking enough that the tea almost splashed out of her cup. “Hash it out. Argue about it. Stick twelve hundred arrows in each other but TALK to HIM!”
Lips drawn into a tight line Uryuu glared back at her. His cup slammed down hard enough to rattle the dishes. He stood up from the table abruptly, fists clenched. Immediately Orihime stood up and wrapped an arm around his trembling shoulders. She murmured, “Maybe we should get going?”
“I think that is wise,” Uryuu mumbled. Finally, he turned around and regarded Tatsuki with as neutral an expression he could muster.
“What you do is your choice. Thanks for being worried, but its okay,” Tatsuki said.
“Have a pleasant evening, and thank you for the tea,” said Ishida flatly. “Let's go, Inoue san.”
“See you,” Tatsuki said as she showed both of them out. She helped them on with their coats and opened the door for them.
Furious, Uryuu Ishida marched out, his blue eyes ablaze. His reiatsu was equally disturbed in a narrow focus around him. Nervously Orihime pulled her coat on as he yanked his on and turned away. Tatsuki wasn’t going to listen to reason obviously.
**

Ishida had stormed halfway out of the house with Orihime close behind him before she reached out to grasp his arm. Gently she tugged on it, calling, “Uryuu kun…”
Her hand wrapped around his slender arm, pulling on it enough to halt him in mid stride. Eyes widening Ishida snapped out of his funk shortly. Sometimes he was not aware of the effects of his moods on other people. Normally he did not care but for Orihime he made an exception.
Orihime called it the ‘area of effect’. If he were Hitsugaya, everything would be frozen in a radius of 3 yards. His blue energy bristled against her skin, dark and heavier than its usual azure tingling. When she first met him, she had noticed this aura of indifference or silence immediately. It had not put her off much because she was used to people bristling. Somehow, it drew her even more to want to help them like strips of Velcro pressing together.
Ishida’s Velcro seemed to match hers even before either of them realized it. Glancing over his shoulder Ishida said, “Orihime?”
“Why don’t we get something to eat? I could make some lovely bean paste and wasabi…”
Turning around Ishida rested both hands on her upper arms giving them a gentle squeeze. His blue eyes softened considerably holding a look between distress and concern. “I’m sorry Orihime for being so moody. It’s just that I’m concerned about your friend and…”
“I know Uryuu but Tatsuki knows what she’s doing,” said Orihime. “If she’s happy then we should be happy too!”
“You don’t know my father very well do you?” mumbled Ishida darkly.
“Only what you’ve told me, Uryuu kun,” she murmured with only a tiny smile, eyes closed slightly. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t tell me more.”
To his surprise and delight, Orihime’s arms slid around his body tightly so her breasts pressed to his body. For a moment, he blushed profusely at the contact of her entire front against his wishing his body would not betray him. His blue and white bag sewn with the Quincy cross on the side slid off his shoulder and dropped to the ground with a thud. Yet Ishida hardly noticed caught up in the sensations of Orihime pressing her face into his shoulder. In her embrace he almost trembled.
“Orihime,” he murmured, drinking in the warmth and comfort she offered. She was so soft and curvy in contrast to his angles and straight lines. Exuding warmth and a tingly feeling, he could sense all the way in the extremities.
Before he could move out of the embrace, Orihime slid a hand up to his cheek and stood up on her toes to peck him on the lips. She bumped his glasses up in the process mumbling, “Ooops.”
“Don’t apologize,” he chuckled. Seizing her around the waist Ishida pressed his lips down onto hers. Not caring who could possibly see them Ishida angled his head just to the side to allow her mouth to move fully over his with gentle half circular motions. He cracked one eye open to see that her’s were still party open as well.
When they parted from the kiss Orihime asked, “Feel better?”
“Much, thank you,” he said, resting his hands on the small of her back. She had linked her fingers together at the middle of his back as if not wanting to release him and Ishida loved it.
“Good,” Orihime said with a grin that made her eyes sparkle. Her hair seemed to glow a bit in the rays of the evening sun. Staring past her lovely face, he noticed that the sky burned with striated bands of amber and pink.
“I think I need to ask Ryuuken about Arisawa san,” Ishida mumbled. “Let him know why I’m worried for her.”
“That would be a good idea,” Orihime agreed, resting her cheek against his chest. “But I still think we should be happy for them.”
“I want to know what’s going on,” Ishida mumbled darkly. “Just what exactly has…?”
“We could go talk to him at the hospital now if he’s there?” said Orihime quietly, not directly looking at him. “If you want I’ll go with you.”
“You mean speak to him NOW?” Ishida asked, blinking at her in disbelief.
“If he’s working in the hospital why not? Unless you think he’s too busy. I think it’d be better if you just told him how you felt?” she said with a shrug.
“Orihime… I… don’t know if that’s a good idea. You don’t…”
“Maybe I don’t. But maybe she might show up there. And if she’s there, and I’m there, maybe we can all just sit down and talk with some tea? I know they have a cafeteria there and we could…” Orihime started to ramble.
Almost tempted to tune out her string of words Ishida groaned. “Orihime that’s very sweet of you but I really don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Tatsuki said you two needed to talk, right? So why would it hurt to talk with all of us together?” said Orihime. “Would it help if Kurosaki kun came with us?”
Trust her to bring up the one person he least wanted to think about other than his father and ex girlfriend. The Quincy bristled and said, “No. I’d prefer to keep this to ourselves.”
He squirmed in her arms a bit before Orihime finally released him from the hug and clung to his hand instead. Gently she urged, “Please let’s just go talk Ishida kun? It will be easier. If he’s busy then we can just come home.”
“I would rather just go home now,” mumbled Uryuu. Seeing the sad look on her face, he quickly added, “Why don’t we go to your apartment, and then you can make me something?”
Instantly Inoue’s face brightened up. Faced with the dilemma of eating one of Inoue’s strange concoctions and speaking to his father, Ishida figured he had a stronger stomach for the former. Besides he wasn’t sure he could stand the thought of where Tatsuki may be and what he might discover if he went over now.
She linked arms with Ishida and grinned as she said, “I know just what to make! You’ll love it Ishida kun!”
Relaxing considerably, Ishida let her lead him towards her apartment. He tightened his embrace on her arm and let out a sigh of contentment as she rambled on about what ingredients she would use.
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Left Behind But Not Forgotten