Revised fic: No Longer Left Behind 4/? RyuuTat Ishihime rated PG 13
Title: No Longer Left Behind
Chapter: 4 Betad and revised
Author: starbearertm
Beta: nerdowl
Word count: 3519
Pairing: IshiHime, RyuukenxTatsuki
Genre: Romance, drama, humor
Warning: Language, Lime M/F
Spoilers: Lost Substitute Arc, Left Behind but Not Forgotten.
Summary: The Arisawa family had dinner, and things get a bit awkward.
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump own Bleach, I don’t. I’m borrowing his characters for this fanfiction, and make no money writing it. All characters are of the age of consent for adult relationships in the US.
While Ryuuken and Tatsuki had their time alone upstairs, the others were enduring a particular family ritual of the Arisawa’s. Sitting on the couch with Orihime pressed to his side, Uryuu relaxed. Within the dim room lit only by a square of bright light, everyone watched Jiro press the button on his remote. Another picture revealed Eri wearing a lei and a grass skirt trailing to her knees. Uryuu chuckled at Jiro’s pale knees in the shot next to his wife, both of them holding wide mouthed glasses of pink liquid. Tiny paper umbrellas were thrust into each of them.
“That’s Eri and me on Waikiki… catching some rays…”
“Hah, and I have to say your legs look much tanner now… and healthier!” Isshin boomed out with a laugh from somewhere nearby. “A man’s tan!”
“Goat face…” Karin’s voice gritted from what sounded a clenched jaw. Orihime’s belly heaved in and out with little puffs of air. She bit back a giggle.
Uryuu pulled Orihime to nestle against him more comfortably and sighed in contentment. He had to thank Jiro Arisawa for his boring slide show in the darkness so he could hold Orihime as much as he wished. Ichigo slapped a hand over his mouth stifling a yawn.
“Where’s Tatsuki?” Ichigo suddenly asked. Eri and Jiro paused in the slideshow.
“Tatsuki chan?” Jiro called.
“Dear,” sighed Eri. “She’s in the kitchen with Ryuuken san. “
“But she’s missing the slideshow,” Jiro mumbled with a frown.
“I’m sure you can show her all the lovely family pictures later,” Isshin reassured them.
“Besides which, I hate being left off in the middle of a story!”
“Well, since you insist,” Jiro said with a chuckle.
Karin rolled her eyes gripping Chad’s hand more tightly. “Yuzu’s lucky she’s gone back to the kitchen,” she whispered to her friend. Chad nodded in sympathy and shifted a bit so he could see better.
***
On the wall, the clock chimed half past six. Yuzu poked her head out of the kitchen and shouted, “Dinner in five minutes!”
Eri and Jiro looked up from their slide show, the spell broken as everyone started to shift. She exchanged a surprised glance with her husband who whispered, “I thought Tatsuki was with…”
“Excuse me,” said Eri as she left the room and wandered to the kitchen. Immediately Ichigo straightened up and left to follow her.
“Isn’t Tatsuki and Ryuuken san with you?” she asked as she saw Yuzu’s puzzled face. She and Ichigo locked gazes for a moment.
“Um… Tatsuki san went to get changed,” said Yuzu quickly.
“That could be. I’m sure Ishida san went out for a smoke,” Ichigo added, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets.
“Mmm,” Eri murmured, a suspicious look crossing her face.
“Ichi nii, could you call the others to help set the table? I’ll get dinner out,” said Yuzu. Quickly nodding Ichigo moved off.
“Thank you young lady,” said Eri with a smile. She then wandered into the hall, glancing around. Cupping her hands around her mouth she shouted, “Tatsuki chan! Dinner is in five minutes? Why don’t you take Ryuuken san on a tour of the house?”
A minute later she saw Tatsuki trotting down the stairs with Ryuuken behind her. “All right Mother!” she called.
***
In the dining room dinner preparations were well underway. A mechanism allowed Ichigo and Chad to pull the halves of the table apart to extend the tabletop to twice its length by inserting wooden leaves into the frame. A gear locked them in place securing it for increased occupancy. Next Yuzu and Karin set the table with their second best dishes and real cloth napkins Uryuu had given the family for a welcome home present. The bottle of wine Isshin brought as a hospitality gift went into in the wine rack and Tatsuki’s father selected a bottle of chardonnay.
Five minutes later, the guests milled into the dining room around the Arisawa family table. Jiro sat at the head of the table while his wife sat at the foot. To his right sat Isshin, and to his left sat Tatsuki. At Isshin's left sat Yuzu with Karin next to her. Then next to her was Chad.
On the other side to Tatsuki's left sat Ryuuken. Next to him sat Orihime, then Uryuu. They all spoke their humble acceptance of the food before setting napkins in their lap and picking up their chopsticks. Arranged on the table were the various components of the dinner. Including Yuzu's soup, Tatsuki's pot stickers, Ryuuken's casserole, and a salad the three had made. Chopped sweet potatoes, cucumbers and slices of egg passed around, reminding Ichigo of someone who loved that very food.
Someone he would not see again. Life seemed so empty and strange despite embracing its normalcy. Under the table, Tatsuki kept one hand like most everyone else. She swallowed hard, seeing Ichigo's forlorn expression. A hand reached across her lap and took hers. She looked at Ryuuken sidelong and saw his brow rise a bit.
"This casserole is DIVINE," Jiro said.
"Simply an old family recipe," Ryuuken said humbly.
"You are kidding? It's one of your best ones yet!" Isshin laughed.
"And yet when it comes to sewing a stitch, you can't even thread a needle without help," mumbled Uryuu.
"Ryuuken san is the cook in the Ishida household, Uryuu's the tailor," commented Tatsuki.
"And it's GREAT," said Orihime with a grin.
"I'll say. Shoot, you remember that time in medical school when I lived on peanut butter and ramen noodles. This guy here used to force his cooking on me," Isshin laughed.
"As I recall you would have perished from malnutrition if not for me," Ryuuken said as he glared at Isshin.
"C’mon now! Does it matter?" Ichigo suddenly interrupted. "We've all heard that story a million times, Dad. Give it a rest..."
"You have NO respect for your dear father!" Isshin grumbled glaring at him.
"Guys, enough will you?" Tatsuki shouted clapping her hands sharply. "I want to know what you think of the dumplings!"
Both Ishidas stopped their commentary and merely nodded. Their mutual rivalry was hardly appropriate to bring up here. Especially when Isshin's goofiness threatened to collapse it into insanity. Tatsuki shot Ichigo a look of thanks and he nodded. Eri then said, "I understand you have an important issue to discuss with us, Tatsuki chan?"
Immediately all eyes drifted towards Tatsuki and she flushed crimson. "Mom... what exactly do you want to know?"
"You're facing a very important milestone in your life," Jiro announced proudly.
"Ah yes, when all young men and women reach adulthood and can declare that they're a MAN or a Woman!" Isshin said passionately pressing a hand to his breast. "When love is declared..."
"Dad, what are you talking about?" asked Yuzu, cocking her head to one side.
"Knock it off Goat face!" asked Karin hissing at her father.
"Dad THEY were talking, NOT you!" Ichigo grumbled glaring at his father.
Isshin shrunk down into his chair and mumbled, "Sorry.”
"As your father was saying, dear, we've been wondering just who the new man in your life was," said Eri, turning her gaze on Tatsuki.
Uh oh. That’s the girl under the microscope gaze, Tatsuki realized. "Mom... dad... You already know who he is don't you?"
Tapping his hand erratically on the table Jiro said in a firm tone, "Let me remind you young lady that we still hope for you to finish high school and maybe consider college?"
“There’s no way I’m messing that up,” Tatsuki retorted, glaring at her father, yet she softened a bit seeing the hard set of his brow wrinkling. Normally she felt irritated being around her father acting goofy, taking life so lightly. However, she desperately wished for that attitude now in place of the expression now present.
From the other end of the table, Eri rose and strode across the polished floor until she stood just behind Tatsuki’s chair. Resting her hand on her daughter’s shoulder she said, "But the pursuit of marriage is also a worthy cause. A young lady such as yourself should be able to balance both. Have you considered that?”
Biting her lip Tatsuki gritted, "I can handle it.”
Ryuuken clinked his glass, its chiming interrupting the Arisawa’s debate. Eyes sweeping up and down the length of the table he cleared his throat. Then he said in a clear deep voice, "Mr. and Mrs. Arisawa, I wish to formally ask permission for marrying your daughter."
Eri’s eyes widened, while Jiro neither smiled nor frowned. Isshin grinned and held his thumb up. Tatsuki blushed beet red, as did Orihime. Uryuu swallowed hard as if he were about to cough. Ichigo nodded slowly as if knowing how hard this all was. Karin's eyes widened, but she said nothing, while Yuzu beamed and let out a squeal of delight. Chad remained seated moving no muscles. Uryuu continued to frown deeply, causing Orihime to reach for his hand and squeeze it. Her grey eyes turned towards Tatsuki as she nodded.
Jiro cleared his throat and said, "My main concern about you and my daughter is the age difference. No disrespect intended, Dr. Ishida..."
Cutting her husband off, Eri said, "But we know you will make sure that she is well taken care of, right Ishida san?”
Tatsuki opened her mouth to say something despite Ryuuken holding up his hand and said, "Age difference isn't an issue for me. I know what I'm getting into. And as far as someone taking care of me, I thought this sort of thing meant the two married people took care of each other."
"I'd be lying if I didn't have a lot of reservations about this," said Jiro.
"Nor I," said Eri. "But you are a young woman now. And you've proved to us that you can make your own choices."
"I... can't imagine not having him around," mumbled Tatsuki quietly. "And well... we get along. Without wanting to kill each other. He respects what I want to do, and he stuck by me in really tough times..."
"Your daughter is a remarkably intelligent and spirited woman," said Ryuuken. "Whom I've grown to appreciate. I wish to spend the rest of my life with her. That is all."
Uryuu remained beet red, lips pressed into a straight line. Orihime knew how hard and awkward this was for him. Ichigo looked down at his plate, almost as if he saw something hidden inside the leftover food smeared in it. He tore at his napkin under the table, glancing eagerly towards the exit archway of the dining room. Yet he promised to be here to support Tatsuki.
Therefore, he said, "Scuse me, but I think it's a good thing. Sure they've got their differences but..."
Jiro raised one hand, leaning in the front of his chair as he said, "Ichigo san..."
"Let my son talk, please. He's got as much right to say anything as anyone else here," said Isshin quietly. "What do you have to add to this discussion, son?"
Sighing Jiro replied, "All right."
Sitting up straight in his chair instead of slouching Ichigo braced both hands before him. He leaned towards Jiro saying, "As her oldest friend, I know what Tatsuki's like. You cannot get her to do anything she doesn't want to do. She's got a good head on her shoulders. And my dad knows Ishida san pretty well. Age doesn't mean a thing when two people care about each other. So I think them getting married isn't a bad thing. Ishida san wants to protect her, and she wants to protect him. You can do that better if you're married."
"He does have a point," acknowledged Ryuuken in a low tone, not surprised that Ichigo was supporting this situation.
The orange haired lad nodded, folding his arms across his chest. He smirked slightly, and added, "Plus I know the two of them are perfect for each other.”
"There are very few people that are compatible with my father," Uryuu said under his breath.
Tatsuki then took Ryuuken's hand in full view of her parents and those gathered. "Mom, Dad... we both wanted to find the right way to approach you in this situation. I'm not usually someone who likes to do things traditional ways. But when it comes to something like this... I know why they exist. And well..."
"I hardly saw you as the marrying type, dear," sighed Jiro. "Your mother and I..."
"We want the best for you. The fact you DID take responsibility like this proves to us that you are ready for this step," Eri said.
"So you have our permission," said Jiro. Before anyone else could utter a word he waved a hand before him. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t be watching and making sure that Tatsuki finishes school, and applies to college. You two will be married in a reasonable amount of time, got it?”
“Sooner rather than later is my intent,” Ryuuken said sharply, drawing everyone’s attention to him. The hard glare in his blue eyes froze everyone in their seats.
Jiro and Eri’s gazes locked on one other before turning towards Ryuuken once more. Eri’s lips twitched a bit while she said, “That is a wise attitude to have, Ishida san. As excited as we are to have her marry she does deserve a decent education.”
Tatsuki pursed her lips, certain she tasted a lemon. What she heard beneath her father and mother’s words was, we want our daughter to be settled down with a good enough education to please her husband.
Still they want me to think they’re respecting my independence. However, all along they’ve told me to enjoy life as a val tudo champion because later on I won’t be able to…
Suddenly her stomach twisted into knots. She gripped Ryuuken’s hand more firmly, memories and incidents flickering through her mind. All the times her parents bragged of her accomplishments only to add some comment after it. Ryuuken shifted in his seat, holding Tatsuki’s hand. A slight frown twisted the corners of his lips downward.
Ichigo mumbled, "Excuse me," and rose from the table as the conversations continued, casual though it was. Something compelled him to take a walk outside. Concerned, Tatsuki was about to join him but Ryuuken's hand rested on her shoulder stopping her.
Lips close to her ear tickled the sensitive skin as he said, “Let him go. He has to be alone," Ryuuken mumbled.
**
Once Ichigo slipped outside through the front door, wondering why the room suddenly felt far too small and the emotions choking him up threatened to swallow him again.
"I'm happy," he mumbled to the night air, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Somehow, the whistling wind seemed to object to this as it slashed through him leaving him chilly. He leaned against the wall under the street lamp and peered out to the neighborhood.
"I am happy, damn it. Never thought I was special because I could see ghosts. I never planned to be a shinigami. Now I'm finally living the way I thought I would..."
He swallowed hard as he realized something. "So why doesn't Chad look me in the eyes anymore? Like he's ashamed of me?"
His gaze diverted to the tops of his shoes. "Why won't Inoue tell me what's going on? Why doesn't Ishida... why doesn't he... shit..."
He realized the only person that was demanding openness and honesty was Tatsuki. Yet he had all but pushed her away all those months. Now she still maintained that frankness, sharing details of her life with Ichigo as most as she probably did with Orihime. She did not act much differently around him. To her he was the same if he lost or regained his powers.
Sighing Ichigo separated himself from the wall he had leaned against and wandered off down the sidewalk. Not sure of where he was going but needing time to think and decompress. Not burden others with feelings he could barely articulate let alone identify. No, he was fine on his own.
Orihime had forever changed, once having loved him but now she had involved herself with Ishida. He was Orihime's crush and forever may be. Yet he had the sense that in having had him, Ichigo failed to live up to her expectations. Kind, sweet and gentle, yet holding back her true feelings for hurting his. Perhaps she did love him and always would, but the type of love Ishida and she shared was deeper.
Rukia he loved deeply and closely. Willing to try to translate that to a romantic relationship, but missing her so badly it hurt. Almost enough to admit that he would be okay if she never showed up again. Perhaps it was a lie, but he was used to saying goodbye to people he cared the most about. Always other friends that he had would pick up the pieces. Friends he'd neglected along the way.
Under the flickering orange pools of light interspersed with white Ichigo made his way. Shoulders more hunched then usual and brow knitted under the weight of all his thoughts. Aware only of his surroundings as if sleepwalking. Only a gust of sudden wind chilling him drew him out of his brown study. Ichigo snapped his head up to feel the wind fluff through his hair and trigger ghosts of memories that made him pause. Why should the wind feel so significant to him? Alternatively, why should a bit of red ribbon fluttering past him compel him to reach out and grab it?
"Red ribbon," he mumbled, then turned it over to see the label attached. From a women's hair boutique shop in the mall. Groaning with a splintering headache Ichigo put a hand to his head and struggled to wrestle the flashes of memory dancing out of his grasp. Laughter, a set of brown eyes. Standing above the crowd and walking along a string of lights like an expert tightrope walker.
Someone who did not care about yesterday or tomorrow, only about today. Because memories were fractured like a mirror and...
"Memories..." Ichigo groaned. "Shit... what the..."
The ribbon in Ichigo's hand began to glow. Its own memories unlocked from the nature being released. Ichigo was unaware of the nature but once released he felt the sudden clarity so sharp it almost hurt him. Little did he know that a while later he would know this power as Full bring. An ability to unlock and change the nature of something. For him it was anything close that held memories of his life, and transmute it into a means to fight and defend.
Lips formed the one word that he had locked away. "Senna..."
Instantly the ache in his chest opened wide and tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. Now he understood part of the yearning. He had loved someone and forgotten them entirely. Denied that loss as much as he had embraced the loss of his mother. Now the emotions of recognition settled so thickly he could hardly face them. Therefore, he sought the nearest bench and plopped down, huddling over clutching the ribbon as if it were the only tangible thing he could trust.
"Are you okay mister?" asked a voice. Ichigo's heart stopped as he turned and looked up at a memory precipitated into reality.
"You... how..." Ichigo stammered as he glanced up into the face cloaked in shadows. Two amber eyes glowed in the light of the lamp but the smile they held was marred by concern.
"You look pretty upset there. And on such a beautiful night like this. You should be happy... it's not raining," she giggled.
"Senna..." he gasped.
She backed away for a moment and then took a good look at him. Tapping her forehead to try to remember something. "Step into the light..." she mumbled.
Ichigo leapt off the bench and closed the gap between them as he seized her shoulders. Emotions caught in him rendering speech nearly impossible except for, "Senna... oh gods... Senna!"
"Easy there you idiot," she reprimanded him as they both stood under the full light of the street lamp. Wearing a school uniform for Karakura north, the girl's hair was down. She looked at the ribbon in Ichigo's hand and something clicked.
"Senna, don't you remember me. It's Kurosaki... Ichigo!" he rasped, voice raw. "Please..."
"Ichigo..." she trailed off and then her hands came to squeeze his arms. “Ichigo! You do remember me..."
Words tangled together before they could tumble out of his wide open mouth. Voice cracking Ichigo stammered, "I thought you were gone... the memory rosary the..."
She put a finger over his lips to silence him. "Please... not here..."
"What the hell happened, and what the hell is going on?" Ichigo shouted until she tugged him by the hand after her.
"Didn't you hear a word I said through those ears of yours, dummy? I said not here!" she whined in frustration. Not bothering to stop her, Ichigo let Senna drag him off down the street.
Chapter: 4 Betad and revised
Author: starbearertm
Beta: nerdowl
Word count: 3519
Pairing: IshiHime, RyuukenxTatsuki
Genre: Romance, drama, humor
Warning: Language, Lime M/F
Spoilers: Lost Substitute Arc, Left Behind but Not Forgotten.
Summary: The Arisawa family had dinner, and things get a bit awkward.
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump own Bleach, I don’t. I’m borrowing his characters for this fanfiction, and make no money writing it. All characters are of the age of consent for adult relationships in the US.
While Ryuuken and Tatsuki had their time alone upstairs, the others were enduring a particular family ritual of the Arisawa’s. Sitting on the couch with Orihime pressed to his side, Uryuu relaxed. Within the dim room lit only by a square of bright light, everyone watched Jiro press the button on his remote. Another picture revealed Eri wearing a lei and a grass skirt trailing to her knees. Uryuu chuckled at Jiro’s pale knees in the shot next to his wife, both of them holding wide mouthed glasses of pink liquid. Tiny paper umbrellas were thrust into each of them.
“That’s Eri and me on Waikiki… catching some rays…”
“Hah, and I have to say your legs look much tanner now… and healthier!” Isshin boomed out with a laugh from somewhere nearby. “A man’s tan!”
“Goat face…” Karin’s voice gritted from what sounded a clenched jaw. Orihime’s belly heaved in and out with little puffs of air. She bit back a giggle.
Uryuu pulled Orihime to nestle against him more comfortably and sighed in contentment. He had to thank Jiro Arisawa for his boring slide show in the darkness so he could hold Orihime as much as he wished. Ichigo slapped a hand over his mouth stifling a yawn.
“Where’s Tatsuki?” Ichigo suddenly asked. Eri and Jiro paused in the slideshow.
“Tatsuki chan?” Jiro called.
“Dear,” sighed Eri. “She’s in the kitchen with Ryuuken san. “
“But she’s missing the slideshow,” Jiro mumbled with a frown.
“I’m sure you can show her all the lovely family pictures later,” Isshin reassured them.
“Besides which, I hate being left off in the middle of a story!”
“Well, since you insist,” Jiro said with a chuckle.
Karin rolled her eyes gripping Chad’s hand more tightly. “Yuzu’s lucky she’s gone back to the kitchen,” she whispered to her friend. Chad nodded in sympathy and shifted a bit so he could see better.
***
On the wall, the clock chimed half past six. Yuzu poked her head out of the kitchen and shouted, “Dinner in five minutes!”
Eri and Jiro looked up from their slide show, the spell broken as everyone started to shift. She exchanged a surprised glance with her husband who whispered, “I thought Tatsuki was with…”
“Excuse me,” said Eri as she left the room and wandered to the kitchen. Immediately Ichigo straightened up and left to follow her.
“Isn’t Tatsuki and Ryuuken san with you?” she asked as she saw Yuzu’s puzzled face. She and Ichigo locked gazes for a moment.
“Um… Tatsuki san went to get changed,” said Yuzu quickly.
“That could be. I’m sure Ishida san went out for a smoke,” Ichigo added, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets.
“Mmm,” Eri murmured, a suspicious look crossing her face.
“Ichi nii, could you call the others to help set the table? I’ll get dinner out,” said Yuzu. Quickly nodding Ichigo moved off.
“Thank you young lady,” said Eri with a smile. She then wandered into the hall, glancing around. Cupping her hands around her mouth she shouted, “Tatsuki chan! Dinner is in five minutes? Why don’t you take Ryuuken san on a tour of the house?”
A minute later she saw Tatsuki trotting down the stairs with Ryuuken behind her. “All right Mother!” she called.
***
In the dining room dinner preparations were well underway. A mechanism allowed Ichigo and Chad to pull the halves of the table apart to extend the tabletop to twice its length by inserting wooden leaves into the frame. A gear locked them in place securing it for increased occupancy. Next Yuzu and Karin set the table with their second best dishes and real cloth napkins Uryuu had given the family for a welcome home present. The bottle of wine Isshin brought as a hospitality gift went into in the wine rack and Tatsuki’s father selected a bottle of chardonnay.
Five minutes later, the guests milled into the dining room around the Arisawa family table. Jiro sat at the head of the table while his wife sat at the foot. To his right sat Isshin, and to his left sat Tatsuki. At Isshin's left sat Yuzu with Karin next to her. Then next to her was Chad.
On the other side to Tatsuki's left sat Ryuuken. Next to him sat Orihime, then Uryuu. They all spoke their humble acceptance of the food before setting napkins in their lap and picking up their chopsticks. Arranged on the table were the various components of the dinner. Including Yuzu's soup, Tatsuki's pot stickers, Ryuuken's casserole, and a salad the three had made. Chopped sweet potatoes, cucumbers and slices of egg passed around, reminding Ichigo of someone who loved that very food.
Someone he would not see again. Life seemed so empty and strange despite embracing its normalcy. Under the table, Tatsuki kept one hand like most everyone else. She swallowed hard, seeing Ichigo's forlorn expression. A hand reached across her lap and took hers. She looked at Ryuuken sidelong and saw his brow rise a bit.
"This casserole is DIVINE," Jiro said.
"Simply an old family recipe," Ryuuken said humbly.
"You are kidding? It's one of your best ones yet!" Isshin laughed.
"And yet when it comes to sewing a stitch, you can't even thread a needle without help," mumbled Uryuu.
"Ryuuken san is the cook in the Ishida household, Uryuu's the tailor," commented Tatsuki.
"And it's GREAT," said Orihime with a grin.
"I'll say. Shoot, you remember that time in medical school when I lived on peanut butter and ramen noodles. This guy here used to force his cooking on me," Isshin laughed.
"As I recall you would have perished from malnutrition if not for me," Ryuuken said as he glared at Isshin.
"C’mon now! Does it matter?" Ichigo suddenly interrupted. "We've all heard that story a million times, Dad. Give it a rest..."
"You have NO respect for your dear father!" Isshin grumbled glaring at him.
"Guys, enough will you?" Tatsuki shouted clapping her hands sharply. "I want to know what you think of the dumplings!"
Both Ishidas stopped their commentary and merely nodded. Their mutual rivalry was hardly appropriate to bring up here. Especially when Isshin's goofiness threatened to collapse it into insanity. Tatsuki shot Ichigo a look of thanks and he nodded. Eri then said, "I understand you have an important issue to discuss with us, Tatsuki chan?"
Immediately all eyes drifted towards Tatsuki and she flushed crimson. "Mom... what exactly do you want to know?"
"You're facing a very important milestone in your life," Jiro announced proudly.
"Ah yes, when all young men and women reach adulthood and can declare that they're a MAN or a Woman!" Isshin said passionately pressing a hand to his breast. "When love is declared..."
"Dad, what are you talking about?" asked Yuzu, cocking her head to one side.
"Knock it off Goat face!" asked Karin hissing at her father.
"Dad THEY were talking, NOT you!" Ichigo grumbled glaring at his father.
Isshin shrunk down into his chair and mumbled, "Sorry.”
"As your father was saying, dear, we've been wondering just who the new man in your life was," said Eri, turning her gaze on Tatsuki.
Uh oh. That’s the girl under the microscope gaze, Tatsuki realized. "Mom... dad... You already know who he is don't you?"
Tapping his hand erratically on the table Jiro said in a firm tone, "Let me remind you young lady that we still hope for you to finish high school and maybe consider college?"
“There’s no way I’m messing that up,” Tatsuki retorted, glaring at her father, yet she softened a bit seeing the hard set of his brow wrinkling. Normally she felt irritated being around her father acting goofy, taking life so lightly. However, she desperately wished for that attitude now in place of the expression now present.
From the other end of the table, Eri rose and strode across the polished floor until she stood just behind Tatsuki’s chair. Resting her hand on her daughter’s shoulder she said, "But the pursuit of marriage is also a worthy cause. A young lady such as yourself should be able to balance both. Have you considered that?”
Biting her lip Tatsuki gritted, "I can handle it.”
Ryuuken clinked his glass, its chiming interrupting the Arisawa’s debate. Eyes sweeping up and down the length of the table he cleared his throat. Then he said in a clear deep voice, "Mr. and Mrs. Arisawa, I wish to formally ask permission for marrying your daughter."
Eri’s eyes widened, while Jiro neither smiled nor frowned. Isshin grinned and held his thumb up. Tatsuki blushed beet red, as did Orihime. Uryuu swallowed hard as if he were about to cough. Ichigo nodded slowly as if knowing how hard this all was. Karin's eyes widened, but she said nothing, while Yuzu beamed and let out a squeal of delight. Chad remained seated moving no muscles. Uryuu continued to frown deeply, causing Orihime to reach for his hand and squeeze it. Her grey eyes turned towards Tatsuki as she nodded.
Jiro cleared his throat and said, "My main concern about you and my daughter is the age difference. No disrespect intended, Dr. Ishida..."
Cutting her husband off, Eri said, "But we know you will make sure that she is well taken care of, right Ishida san?”
Tatsuki opened her mouth to say something despite Ryuuken holding up his hand and said, "Age difference isn't an issue for me. I know what I'm getting into. And as far as someone taking care of me, I thought this sort of thing meant the two married people took care of each other."
"I'd be lying if I didn't have a lot of reservations about this," said Jiro.
"Nor I," said Eri. "But you are a young woman now. And you've proved to us that you can make your own choices."
"I... can't imagine not having him around," mumbled Tatsuki quietly. "And well... we get along. Without wanting to kill each other. He respects what I want to do, and he stuck by me in really tough times..."
"Your daughter is a remarkably intelligent and spirited woman," said Ryuuken. "Whom I've grown to appreciate. I wish to spend the rest of my life with her. That is all."
Uryuu remained beet red, lips pressed into a straight line. Orihime knew how hard and awkward this was for him. Ichigo looked down at his plate, almost as if he saw something hidden inside the leftover food smeared in it. He tore at his napkin under the table, glancing eagerly towards the exit archway of the dining room. Yet he promised to be here to support Tatsuki.
Therefore, he said, "Scuse me, but I think it's a good thing. Sure they've got their differences but..."
Jiro raised one hand, leaning in the front of his chair as he said, "Ichigo san..."
"Let my son talk, please. He's got as much right to say anything as anyone else here," said Isshin quietly. "What do you have to add to this discussion, son?"
Sighing Jiro replied, "All right."
Sitting up straight in his chair instead of slouching Ichigo braced both hands before him. He leaned towards Jiro saying, "As her oldest friend, I know what Tatsuki's like. You cannot get her to do anything she doesn't want to do. She's got a good head on her shoulders. And my dad knows Ishida san pretty well. Age doesn't mean a thing when two people care about each other. So I think them getting married isn't a bad thing. Ishida san wants to protect her, and she wants to protect him. You can do that better if you're married."
"He does have a point," acknowledged Ryuuken in a low tone, not surprised that Ichigo was supporting this situation.
The orange haired lad nodded, folding his arms across his chest. He smirked slightly, and added, "Plus I know the two of them are perfect for each other.”
"There are very few people that are compatible with my father," Uryuu said under his breath.
Tatsuki then took Ryuuken's hand in full view of her parents and those gathered. "Mom, Dad... we both wanted to find the right way to approach you in this situation. I'm not usually someone who likes to do things traditional ways. But when it comes to something like this... I know why they exist. And well..."
"I hardly saw you as the marrying type, dear," sighed Jiro. "Your mother and I..."
"We want the best for you. The fact you DID take responsibility like this proves to us that you are ready for this step," Eri said.
"So you have our permission," said Jiro. Before anyone else could utter a word he waved a hand before him. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t be watching and making sure that Tatsuki finishes school, and applies to college. You two will be married in a reasonable amount of time, got it?”
“Sooner rather than later is my intent,” Ryuuken said sharply, drawing everyone’s attention to him. The hard glare in his blue eyes froze everyone in their seats.
Jiro and Eri’s gazes locked on one other before turning towards Ryuuken once more. Eri’s lips twitched a bit while she said, “That is a wise attitude to have, Ishida san. As excited as we are to have her marry she does deserve a decent education.”
Tatsuki pursed her lips, certain she tasted a lemon. What she heard beneath her father and mother’s words was, we want our daughter to be settled down with a good enough education to please her husband.
Still they want me to think they’re respecting my independence. However, all along they’ve told me to enjoy life as a val tudo champion because later on I won’t be able to…
Suddenly her stomach twisted into knots. She gripped Ryuuken’s hand more firmly, memories and incidents flickering through her mind. All the times her parents bragged of her accomplishments only to add some comment after it. Ryuuken shifted in his seat, holding Tatsuki’s hand. A slight frown twisted the corners of his lips downward.
Ichigo mumbled, "Excuse me," and rose from the table as the conversations continued, casual though it was. Something compelled him to take a walk outside. Concerned, Tatsuki was about to join him but Ryuuken's hand rested on her shoulder stopping her.
Lips close to her ear tickled the sensitive skin as he said, “Let him go. He has to be alone," Ryuuken mumbled.
**
Once Ichigo slipped outside through the front door, wondering why the room suddenly felt far too small and the emotions choking him up threatened to swallow him again.
"I'm happy," he mumbled to the night air, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Somehow, the whistling wind seemed to object to this as it slashed through him leaving him chilly. He leaned against the wall under the street lamp and peered out to the neighborhood.
"I am happy, damn it. Never thought I was special because I could see ghosts. I never planned to be a shinigami. Now I'm finally living the way I thought I would..."
He swallowed hard as he realized something. "So why doesn't Chad look me in the eyes anymore? Like he's ashamed of me?"
His gaze diverted to the tops of his shoes. "Why won't Inoue tell me what's going on? Why doesn't Ishida... why doesn't he... shit..."
He realized the only person that was demanding openness and honesty was Tatsuki. Yet he had all but pushed her away all those months. Now she still maintained that frankness, sharing details of her life with Ichigo as most as she probably did with Orihime. She did not act much differently around him. To her he was the same if he lost or regained his powers.
Sighing Ichigo separated himself from the wall he had leaned against and wandered off down the sidewalk. Not sure of where he was going but needing time to think and decompress. Not burden others with feelings he could barely articulate let alone identify. No, he was fine on his own.
Orihime had forever changed, once having loved him but now she had involved herself with Ishida. He was Orihime's crush and forever may be. Yet he had the sense that in having had him, Ichigo failed to live up to her expectations. Kind, sweet and gentle, yet holding back her true feelings for hurting his. Perhaps she did love him and always would, but the type of love Ishida and she shared was deeper.
Rukia he loved deeply and closely. Willing to try to translate that to a romantic relationship, but missing her so badly it hurt. Almost enough to admit that he would be okay if she never showed up again. Perhaps it was a lie, but he was used to saying goodbye to people he cared the most about. Always other friends that he had would pick up the pieces. Friends he'd neglected along the way.
Under the flickering orange pools of light interspersed with white Ichigo made his way. Shoulders more hunched then usual and brow knitted under the weight of all his thoughts. Aware only of his surroundings as if sleepwalking. Only a gust of sudden wind chilling him drew him out of his brown study. Ichigo snapped his head up to feel the wind fluff through his hair and trigger ghosts of memories that made him pause. Why should the wind feel so significant to him? Alternatively, why should a bit of red ribbon fluttering past him compel him to reach out and grab it?
"Red ribbon," he mumbled, then turned it over to see the label attached. From a women's hair boutique shop in the mall. Groaning with a splintering headache Ichigo put a hand to his head and struggled to wrestle the flashes of memory dancing out of his grasp. Laughter, a set of brown eyes. Standing above the crowd and walking along a string of lights like an expert tightrope walker.
Someone who did not care about yesterday or tomorrow, only about today. Because memories were fractured like a mirror and...
"Memories..." Ichigo groaned. "Shit... what the..."
The ribbon in Ichigo's hand began to glow. Its own memories unlocked from the nature being released. Ichigo was unaware of the nature but once released he felt the sudden clarity so sharp it almost hurt him. Little did he know that a while later he would know this power as Full bring. An ability to unlock and change the nature of something. For him it was anything close that held memories of his life, and transmute it into a means to fight and defend.
Lips formed the one word that he had locked away. "Senna..."
Instantly the ache in his chest opened wide and tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. Now he understood part of the yearning. He had loved someone and forgotten them entirely. Denied that loss as much as he had embraced the loss of his mother. Now the emotions of recognition settled so thickly he could hardly face them. Therefore, he sought the nearest bench and plopped down, huddling over clutching the ribbon as if it were the only tangible thing he could trust.
"Are you okay mister?" asked a voice. Ichigo's heart stopped as he turned and looked up at a memory precipitated into reality.
"You... how..." Ichigo stammered as he glanced up into the face cloaked in shadows. Two amber eyes glowed in the light of the lamp but the smile they held was marred by concern.
"You look pretty upset there. And on such a beautiful night like this. You should be happy... it's not raining," she giggled.
"Senna..." he gasped.
She backed away for a moment and then took a good look at him. Tapping her forehead to try to remember something. "Step into the light..." she mumbled.
Ichigo leapt off the bench and closed the gap between them as he seized her shoulders. Emotions caught in him rendering speech nearly impossible except for, "Senna... oh gods... Senna!"
"Easy there you idiot," she reprimanded him as they both stood under the full light of the street lamp. Wearing a school uniform for Karakura north, the girl's hair was down. She looked at the ribbon in Ichigo's hand and something clicked.
"Senna, don't you remember me. It's Kurosaki... Ichigo!" he rasped, voice raw. "Please..."
"Ichigo..." she trailed off and then her hands came to squeeze his arms. “Ichigo! You do remember me..."
Words tangled together before they could tumble out of his wide open mouth. Voice cracking Ichigo stammered, "I thought you were gone... the memory rosary the..."
She put a finger over his lips to silence him. "Please... not here..."
"What the hell happened, and what the hell is going on?" Ichigo shouted until she tugged him by the hand after her.
"Didn't you hear a word I said through those ears of yours, dummy? I said not here!" she whined in frustration. Not bothering to stop her, Ichigo let Senna drag him off down the street.