Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Left Behind But Not Forgotten ❯ Getting Answers ( Chapter 2 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: StarbearerTM 
Tatsuki meets Uryuu the next day wondering just why he was holding back on telling her about Ryuuken for so long, and finds out what a Quincy is.
Anime/Manga: Bleach Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.17.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 244 | Status: Completed
Tatsuki meets Uryuu the next day wondering just why he was holding back on telling her about Ryuuken for so long, and finds out what a Quincy is.
Anime/Manga: Bleach Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.17.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.3K | Visits: 244 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach, I don't. I make no money writing this fanfiction. Note that Tatsuki and the teenagers in this fanfiction are 17 and at the canadian age of consent laws for engaging in such situations.
A/N: The first chapter of a rewrite of something called Quincy Crackfic depicting a more adult relationship between Ryuuken and Tatsuki. I wanted to set up things different for this story to stand on its own.
Next day at school Tatsuki entered class wearing a bandage around her arm and several plasters on her face. Fortunately wearing her school blazer hid the worst of the dressings. She otherwise felt all right but mentally her mind was in turmoil. Anger and frustration filled her as she walked over to Orihime and murmured, “Hi.”
“Tatsuki-chan are you okay? What happened?” Orihime asked.
“Just got attacked. But it's no big deal,” she mumbled. As Ichigo sauntered in she walked over to him and gave him a peculiar look.
“Tatsuki, you okay?” Ichigo asked quietly.
“You and I need to talk, Ichigo,” she said. “But later. Have you seen Ishida-kun?”
“No,” Ichigo said. He gave her an apologetic glance as he saw the bandages.
“Look, you know you could talk to me... you used to...” she trailed off.
“Tatsuki, it's complicated,” Ichigo mumbled. “And here's not the place okay?”
“Fine. You win. But you can't keep dancing around you know,” she mumbled. “I'll let you tell me when you're ready to.”
She added this in a tone that she knew Ichigo wouldn’t ignore. He merely nodded before he sat down. Sighing Tatsuki sat in her usual seat, waiting to see if Ishida would show up. At one minute before the class started he sauntered in and sat down not even looking at anyone. Instead he pulled out his books and arranged them neatly on the table before him.
“Jerk,” Tatsuki mumbled. Orihime however glanced in concern at Ishida paying attention to no one, his face a blank canvas.
Ichigo popped his head up, a frown on his face which wasn’t unusual. Worrying at Tatsuki's temper was new. She had once again caught his attention. Not even looking at Uryuu Tatsuki buried her face in the book. Emotions spun wildly that she couldn't nail down. Her entire life was slipping into an episode of the twilight zone. First seeing ghosts, and now seeing Ichigo once more in black with a huge sword as long as he was tall alongside Rukia. She stole a few glances at Ishida sidelong as if seeing him for the first time, a lump in her throat.
She supposed he had his own secrets but wondered if he'd tell her. There were a few times she had seem him sneak off as well but lately he kept to himself. That strange bracelet he wore around his wrist was still in place but he seemed much more guarded. Orihime had let it slip that he had abilities too, but still...
Again she glanced over at Uryuu, wondering if he would look up. This time his eyes met hers, and he managed a small smile. Tatsuki sighed, realizing that he may finally talk.
“Oh Orihime-chan you're so CUTE when you go on about red bean...” Chizuru chirped before Tatsuki grabbed her and tossed her towards the wall.
“Hands off you idiot!” Tatsuki huffed, moving in front of Orihime. “So... lunch?”
“I've brought enough for both of us,” she said happily, grabbing her bundle. “Kurosaki kun... are you...”
“The roof, usual place,” Ichigo mumbled, looking up with a slight blush on his face. He didn't meet Orihime's gaze directly, but his brown eyes smiled.
Orihime danced over and grabbed his arm. “You have GOT to try this lunch.”
“You two go on ahead. I’ll join you later,” Tatsuki said as she saw Ishida slowly wandering over.
“Care to join me under a tree?” Ishida murmured, holding out his lunch.
“Okay,” Tatsuki murmured watching Orihime drag Ichigo out with her. Rukia followed close behind, joined by that weird redheaded kid with the tatoos on his neck. Keigo and Mizuiro also moved with Chad after Ichigo who was like the pied piper.
***
Beneath a tree Uryuu spread a blanket and indicated she should sit down. Intrigued Tatsuki decided to see what he'd do to try and apologize because the large bundle contained far more food then he would eat alone. She suspected that he had some help from someone else because she didn't recall him being the biggest cook in the world.
Tatsuki scooted so their thighs were almost touching. Ishida poured her some tea from the thermos and handed her a nicely arranged bento with fish, rice and cut out sweet potato shapes. Touched, Tatsuki turned it around in her lap. “Uryuu... this is wow...”
“I owe you an apology, Tatsuki-san” Uryuu mumbled a she pushed up his glasses. “For last night. It was uncalled for.”
“That's an understatement. You left out a lot about your family,” Tatsuki mumbled.
“I am sorry, Tatsuki-san. But there was a good reason for it. I... well...”
“You and your father don't get along. I get it. You could have just told me. I would have understood,” Tatsuki mumbled, pushing the rice around.
“How much do you know about... Kurosaki?”
“If you mean that I can see him killing monsters, then yeah,” Tatsuki mumbled causing Ishida's eyes to widen a bit.
Awkwardly he pushed his glasses up and said, “I'm sure this must be very disconcerting, but there's a reason he may be keeping such information from you. And a reason I've been... hiding something as well from you. The fact you mentioned you can see him... killing monsters...”
“You can see ghosts too?” Tatsuki mumbled, picking up a piece of sushi to shove it into her mouth.
Uryuu leveled his gaze, chopsticks snapping together. “As I assumed you're able to?”
“Did Orihime ever tell you about how she got her powers?” Tatsuki whispered to an extremely interested Ishida whose eyes were almost as round as hers with astonishment.
“Well I...”
Tatsuki let out a loud exasperated sigh and grasped his hand. “I was there. I know a lot more then you guys let on. I'm tired of being left out of the loop.”
“I... apologize for this. I had no idea...” Ishida mumbled, tilting his head down so both wings of dark silky hair tipped alongside his face obscuring it. Reaching over the martial artist tipped his chin up with one hand so she could look into those handsome blue eyes.
“Uryuu-kun, stop beating yourself up and give me some answers please?”
Glancing around Ishida cleared his throat. “Tatsuki-san... Kurosaki-san is wearing those robes because he's a Shinigami...”
“Shinigami?”
“They send souls to the next world and slay hollows. They're not supposed to be seen by normal people. But you seem to have spirit ability as well. You've encountered the monsters... they are called hollows...”
“Creepy,” she mumbled. “But you're not a shinigami too are you?”
Immediately Ishida coughed violently and blushed bright pink. “Of course not!”
Amused, Tatsuki then asked, “Then what are you, some sort of Spirit hunter like Don Kanonji?”
The corner of Ishida's lip twitched up at the same time a small vein throbbed in his forehead. The silver cross charm on his wrist swung into view as he pushed up his glasses and announced, “I am a Quincy.”
“Okay, what the hell is a “Kwin shee?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Quincy...” Ishida repeated correcting her. “We... are humans which slay hollows in a different manner.”
“Quincy huh? Like the medical examiner show?” asked Tatsuki, feeling an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach.
“I'm the last,” he murmured. “Ordinarily we'd be enemies of shinigami but... considering the circumstances... we have a similar goal. Elimination of hollows.”
“You're a ghost buster,” said Tatsuki.
“Ghost buster?” asked Ishida and sighed. “I suppose if you must...”
“Do you use a proton pack?” the martial artist asked.
“Hardly. Come with me and I'll show you,” Ishida murmured as he reached for her hand. “Once you're done of course...”
Tatsuki decided to humor him. His hand grasped hers gently as they finished their food. Since the next period was physical education she was intrigued to see what Ishida would show her. As she had expected he took her to the archery pit. There he donned the clothes that the team normally used. She knew he was a member, but she felt her heart pounding at what he was going to show her next.
“I know you're on the archery team,” Tatsuki said.
“Please just watch,” he mumbled. “Now imagine a bow made out of energy. Spirit energy...”
“Spirit energy,” Tatsuki said, narrowing her eyes. Holding it up with both hands he then knocked an arrow and pulled back on the string. He let the arrow fly with ease so it struck the target dead center.
“And then imagine arrows made of the same energy. Flying at fast speed,” Ishida explained. He strode over to her and extended his hand.
“Arrows huh?” Tatsuki asked, picking up a bow herself. She grabbed one of the arrows and fitted it to the string, watching Ishida's eyes dance over her appreciatively. Then she released the bow so the string snapped. Her arrow struck the edge of the target on the black ring.
“Not bad at all,” Ishida commented, moving behind her. “But you could work on your line a bit...”
“So... you been doing this all your life? Being a ghost buster?” she asked.
“Quincy,” he corrected her, positioning her hand on the string while he lifted her arrow hand higher. His fingers tickled under her upper arm, breath hot in her ear.
“So... you're the last?” she asked quietly.
“Indeed,” he murmured. Tatsuki frowned a bit as her arrow shot prematurely from her bow slamming into the red part of the target.
“Tough break. You sure there aren't any Quincy out there somewhere you don't know about?”
“That's impossible. I would know,' said Ishida sadly.
“Uh huh, raw deal,” mumbled Tatsuki, swallowing hard. Her head pounded with a nasty headache suddenly along with the squirming in her stomach.
“Are you all right?” he asked concerned.
“I think I feel a bit tired,” Tatsuki lied not wanting him to think it was his lunch that was making her ill. Far from it in fact.
To her surprise two hands removed the bow and arrow from her. His strong arm slid around her waist pulling her close to his slender body. Tipping her chin up Ishida looked her right in the eyes. The soft kiss that touched her lips next sent fire through her entire body. Opening her mouth Tatsuki brushed her tongue along his lips curious to know what it would be like. Lips moved over one anothers in a soft sweet but clumsy motion.
Relaxing, Tatsuki slid her hands down Ishida's back. She wasn't quite sure where to put them, but figured that he was just as nervous. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ichigo and Orihime stealing a kiss on the volleyball court. Seizing the sides of Ishida's face she thrust her tongue into his mouth. He made a surprised moan and tightened his grip.
“Kurosaki kun, that tickles,” whispered Orihime, causing Tatsuki to pull her head up. Ishida stepped back, realizing they weren't alone.
“Inoue... we could get caught here,” whispered Ichigo as he glanced around.
***
Later on she helped pack away the archery equipment. Shyly she allowed Ishida to hold her hand until they reached the classroom. Something jogged her memory the minute Ishida wihspered, “Do you wish to come by my apartment to study?”
“Sure. But a little later. There's some things I gotta do. Some errands,” she replied as she sat down in her chair.
“Then later?” Ishida asked hopefully, blue eyes gleaming with the promise of reconciliation. “I have more things that I wish to explain.”
Eyes shining Tatsuki answered, “Yeah sure. That'd be good...”
Ryuuken hadn't said just what he was. Only that he preferred not to use his powers because he hated them. All he wanted was a normal quiet life. Just like her. To think that a man could just fire bolts of energy and kill monsters so easily with dead accurate aim.
***
Striding through the revolving door of the hospital Tatsuki smelled the fant tinge of antiseptics and floor polish merged. Dozens of voices interlocked in a mosaic of sound starting the minute she set foot on the tile. Blue and white dominated the hopsital's décor, blue crosses in multiple locations jarring her eyes and sending off warning bells. The motif tugged at her curiousity confirming her fear.
Uryuu had no idea of his father's capabilities did he? Or should she even try and answer that. The night before Ryuuken had started to explain things in the car on the drive home, but the janging ring of her cell phone from a worried Orihime dominated most of her attention. He relented when she insisted she could walk up to the apartment herself and climbed out of his sports car.
“Come to my office tomorrow if you still wish to have answers to your questions, Arisawa-san,” Ryuuken had said. “Otherwise, the choice to remain in the dark is a wise one if you don't get involved in things like last night.”
“Stupid jerk. Hiding stuff and then givign a damn. What the hell does he care. Just because I'm dating his son... and his son never told me this till...” she trailed off. She'd seen Uryuu firing spirit arrows in passing but the fact had been murky till now.
Tatsuki gave her name to the receptionist for an appointment to see Dr. Ishida. Promptly she'd been handed a visitor badge and slipped it around her neck while someone escorted her to a back elevator. The nurses and doctors wore typical uniforms but the tiny blue cross dominated the pins they wore with the hospital's logo. Of course many hospitals had a cross as a symbol but the coincidence of blue and white was just too great.
“What the hell am I doing here? Uryuu promised me answers. So why am I going to that jerkass doctor?” she mumbled riding up in the elevator. A sharp ding and the sliding of doors open before her jolted her out of her musings. Sneakered feet stepped on the blue carpet underfoot carrying Tatsuki closer to the executive offices where the Director would coordinate most of the operation of the hospital.
Tatsuki soon sat in a large blue and white panelled office lined with multiple bookshelves and dominated by a large painting along one wall. Around the corner wrapped the waist height windows affording a view of the city spreading out beneath them. Cigarette smoke wafted into her nostrils causing her to wince. Noticing her Ryuuken set the cigarette in a small notch of the glass ashtray's side and indicated the chair before hiim.
“Good day, Arisawa-san,” he greeted curtly.
“Hi. So, here I am,” she said.
“We could have avoided this had you not chosen to ignore my offers for information.”
“Is this because I'm dating your son that you're going to so much trouble? I hope that's why...”
“Wouldn't any father wish to meet the significant other of his own son or daughter?” asked Ryuuken. “Considering he never tells me much about his private life.”
“You must have seriously made him angry if he doesn't even want to look at you or call you dad,” Tatsuki mumbled, settlign in her chair. She crossed her legs and leaned back.
“Correct. Am I correct in assuming he is aware of your unique abilities?” ryuuken then asked, pushing aside a manilla envelope on his desk. She peered over and saw a picture of an old man with moustache and beard next to a picture of a young Uryuu looking shyly up at the camera. He couldn't have been more than 10 years old.
“Actually yeah,” Tatsuki muttered. “And... I've seen him in action... but I wasn't sure if I was just imagining things because I was half unconscious at the time...”
“The reason behind your abilities is everything to do with your friend Kurosaki. The fact you're involved with my son makes it my concern that he is well and that you are well,” Ryuuken said with a cough. “Because you have spirit energy those monsters are drawn to it... and as such I realize that you've already taken it upon yourself to defend yourself against them.”
“That's damn obvious,” Tatsuki said unimpressed. “Answer me one thing. Does he know about you... being a...”
“No. And I wish it to remain as such,” Ryuuken answered abruptly. “My reasons for that are my own. I had no desire for him to take it upon himself to hunt what you call monsters and expose himself to constant danger.”
“So that means he's not leaking spirit energy like Ichigo does?”
“He's better at controlling his,” said Ryuuken. “And if he had not trained and increased them to such a degree he wouldn't be a target for them. I don't want my son fighting the souls of the dead when he should be focusing on living.”
“Because of the Shinigami?” she asked.
Ryuuken's eyes widened just a fraction behind his glasses. “Correct. My son has no business calling himself a Quincy. He has no talent for the abilities and is reckless.”
“And what the heck would you call talent, sir?” asked Tatsuki, looking at Ryuuken sharply. “You used your abilities to help me, so what's this stuff about...”
“You are alive, and I wish that to remain that way,” he said. “You've crossed a threshold that is difficult to return from. Since my son insists on involvign himself in matters that do not concern him that means you are affected.”
“I'm not going to scream and be a damsel in distress. That's not my style Doc,” said Tatsuki. “And I'll be damned if my friends were in danger and I dind't try to help.”
“You are a martial artist and your first inclination is to fight. Since you are so foolhardy then you should learn the proper way to fight Hollows,” Ryuuken said.
“You offering ghost busting lessons now?” she asked, cocking her brow.
“There is only one condition. You must not reveal this to my son,” said Ryuuken.
"And WHY is that?" Tatsuki countered, glaring at him.
"I have my reasons," he answered. "Which you will discover in time."
***
Converting /tmp/php36RPvK to /dev/stdout
A/N: The first chapter of a rewrite of something called Quincy Crackfic depicting a more adult relationship between Ryuuken and Tatsuki. I wanted to set up things different for this story to stand on its own.
Next day at school Tatsuki entered class wearing a bandage around her arm and several plasters on her face. Fortunately wearing her school blazer hid the worst of the dressings. She otherwise felt all right but mentally her mind was in turmoil. Anger and frustration filled her as she walked over to Orihime and murmured, “Hi.”
“Tatsuki-chan are you okay? What happened?” Orihime asked.
“Just got attacked. But it's no big deal,” she mumbled. As Ichigo sauntered in she walked over to him and gave him a peculiar look.
“Tatsuki, you okay?” Ichigo asked quietly.
“You and I need to talk, Ichigo,” she said. “But later. Have you seen Ishida-kun?”
“No,” Ichigo said. He gave her an apologetic glance as he saw the bandages.
“Look, you know you could talk to me... you used to...” she trailed off.
“Tatsuki, it's complicated,” Ichigo mumbled. “And here's not the place okay?”
“Fine. You win. But you can't keep dancing around you know,” she mumbled. “I'll let you tell me when you're ready to.”
She added this in a tone that she knew Ichigo wouldn’t ignore. He merely nodded before he sat down. Sighing Tatsuki sat in her usual seat, waiting to see if Ishida would show up. At one minute before the class started he sauntered in and sat down not even looking at anyone. Instead he pulled out his books and arranged them neatly on the table before him.
“Jerk,” Tatsuki mumbled. Orihime however glanced in concern at Ishida paying attention to no one, his face a blank canvas.
Ichigo popped his head up, a frown on his face which wasn’t unusual. Worrying at Tatsuki's temper was new. She had once again caught his attention. Not even looking at Uryuu Tatsuki buried her face in the book. Emotions spun wildly that she couldn't nail down. Her entire life was slipping into an episode of the twilight zone. First seeing ghosts, and now seeing Ichigo once more in black with a huge sword as long as he was tall alongside Rukia. She stole a few glances at Ishida sidelong as if seeing him for the first time, a lump in her throat.
She supposed he had his own secrets but wondered if he'd tell her. There were a few times she had seem him sneak off as well but lately he kept to himself. That strange bracelet he wore around his wrist was still in place but he seemed much more guarded. Orihime had let it slip that he had abilities too, but still...
Again she glanced over at Uryuu, wondering if he would look up. This time his eyes met hers, and he managed a small smile. Tatsuki sighed, realizing that he may finally talk.
“Oh Orihime-chan you're so CUTE when you go on about red bean...” Chizuru chirped before Tatsuki grabbed her and tossed her towards the wall.
“Hands off you idiot!” Tatsuki huffed, moving in front of Orihime. “So... lunch?”
“I've brought enough for both of us,” she said happily, grabbing her bundle. “Kurosaki kun... are you...”
“The roof, usual place,” Ichigo mumbled, looking up with a slight blush on his face. He didn't meet Orihime's gaze directly, but his brown eyes smiled.
Orihime danced over and grabbed his arm. “You have GOT to try this lunch.”
“You two go on ahead. I’ll join you later,” Tatsuki said as she saw Ishida slowly wandering over.
“Care to join me under a tree?” Ishida murmured, holding out his lunch.
“Okay,” Tatsuki murmured watching Orihime drag Ichigo out with her. Rukia followed close behind, joined by that weird redheaded kid with the tatoos on his neck. Keigo and Mizuiro also moved with Chad after Ichigo who was like the pied piper.
***
Beneath a tree Uryuu spread a blanket and indicated she should sit down. Intrigued Tatsuki decided to see what he'd do to try and apologize because the large bundle contained far more food then he would eat alone. She suspected that he had some help from someone else because she didn't recall him being the biggest cook in the world.
Tatsuki scooted so their thighs were almost touching. Ishida poured her some tea from the thermos and handed her a nicely arranged bento with fish, rice and cut out sweet potato shapes. Touched, Tatsuki turned it around in her lap. “Uryuu... this is wow...”
“I owe you an apology, Tatsuki-san” Uryuu mumbled a she pushed up his glasses. “For last night. It was uncalled for.”
“That's an understatement. You left out a lot about your family,” Tatsuki mumbled.
“I am sorry, Tatsuki-san. But there was a good reason for it. I... well...”
“You and your father don't get along. I get it. You could have just told me. I would have understood,” Tatsuki mumbled, pushing the rice around.
“How much do you know about... Kurosaki?”
“If you mean that I can see him killing monsters, then yeah,” Tatsuki mumbled causing Ishida's eyes to widen a bit.
Awkwardly he pushed his glasses up and said, “I'm sure this must be very disconcerting, but there's a reason he may be keeping such information from you. And a reason I've been... hiding something as well from you. The fact you mentioned you can see him... killing monsters...”
“You can see ghosts too?” Tatsuki mumbled, picking up a piece of sushi to shove it into her mouth.
Uryuu leveled his gaze, chopsticks snapping together. “As I assumed you're able to?”
“Did Orihime ever tell you about how she got her powers?” Tatsuki whispered to an extremely interested Ishida whose eyes were almost as round as hers with astonishment.
“Well I...”
Tatsuki let out a loud exasperated sigh and grasped his hand. “I was there. I know a lot more then you guys let on. I'm tired of being left out of the loop.”
“I... apologize for this. I had no idea...” Ishida mumbled, tilting his head down so both wings of dark silky hair tipped alongside his face obscuring it. Reaching over the martial artist tipped his chin up with one hand so she could look into those handsome blue eyes.
“Uryuu-kun, stop beating yourself up and give me some answers please?”
Glancing around Ishida cleared his throat. “Tatsuki-san... Kurosaki-san is wearing those robes because he's a Shinigami...”
“Shinigami?”
“They send souls to the next world and slay hollows. They're not supposed to be seen by normal people. But you seem to have spirit ability as well. You've encountered the monsters... they are called hollows...”
“Creepy,” she mumbled. “But you're not a shinigami too are you?”
Immediately Ishida coughed violently and blushed bright pink. “Of course not!”
Amused, Tatsuki then asked, “Then what are you, some sort of Spirit hunter like Don Kanonji?”
The corner of Ishida's lip twitched up at the same time a small vein throbbed in his forehead. The silver cross charm on his wrist swung into view as he pushed up his glasses and announced, “I am a Quincy.”
“Okay, what the hell is a “Kwin shee?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Quincy...” Ishida repeated correcting her. “We... are humans which slay hollows in a different manner.”
“Quincy huh? Like the medical examiner show?” asked Tatsuki, feeling an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach.
“I'm the last,” he murmured. “Ordinarily we'd be enemies of shinigami but... considering the circumstances... we have a similar goal. Elimination of hollows.”
“You're a ghost buster,” said Tatsuki.
“Ghost buster?” asked Ishida and sighed. “I suppose if you must...”
“Do you use a proton pack?” the martial artist asked.
“Hardly. Come with me and I'll show you,” Ishida murmured as he reached for her hand. “Once you're done of course...”
Tatsuki decided to humor him. His hand grasped hers gently as they finished their food. Since the next period was physical education she was intrigued to see what Ishida would show her. As she had expected he took her to the archery pit. There he donned the clothes that the team normally used. She knew he was a member, but she felt her heart pounding at what he was going to show her next.
“I know you're on the archery team,” Tatsuki said.
“Please just watch,” he mumbled. “Now imagine a bow made out of energy. Spirit energy...”
“Spirit energy,” Tatsuki said, narrowing her eyes. Holding it up with both hands he then knocked an arrow and pulled back on the string. He let the arrow fly with ease so it struck the target dead center.
“And then imagine arrows made of the same energy. Flying at fast speed,” Ishida explained. He strode over to her and extended his hand.
“Arrows huh?” Tatsuki asked, picking up a bow herself. She grabbed one of the arrows and fitted it to the string, watching Ishida's eyes dance over her appreciatively. Then she released the bow so the string snapped. Her arrow struck the edge of the target on the black ring.
“Not bad at all,” Ishida commented, moving behind her. “But you could work on your line a bit...”
“So... you been doing this all your life? Being a ghost buster?” she asked.
“Quincy,” he corrected her, positioning her hand on the string while he lifted her arrow hand higher. His fingers tickled under her upper arm, breath hot in her ear.
“So... you're the last?” she asked quietly.
“Indeed,” he murmured. Tatsuki frowned a bit as her arrow shot prematurely from her bow slamming into the red part of the target.
“Tough break. You sure there aren't any Quincy out there somewhere you don't know about?”
“That's impossible. I would know,' said Ishida sadly.
“Uh huh, raw deal,” mumbled Tatsuki, swallowing hard. Her head pounded with a nasty headache suddenly along with the squirming in her stomach.
“Are you all right?” he asked concerned.
“I think I feel a bit tired,” Tatsuki lied not wanting him to think it was his lunch that was making her ill. Far from it in fact.
To her surprise two hands removed the bow and arrow from her. His strong arm slid around her waist pulling her close to his slender body. Tipping her chin up Ishida looked her right in the eyes. The soft kiss that touched her lips next sent fire through her entire body. Opening her mouth Tatsuki brushed her tongue along his lips curious to know what it would be like. Lips moved over one anothers in a soft sweet but clumsy motion.
Relaxing, Tatsuki slid her hands down Ishida's back. She wasn't quite sure where to put them, but figured that he was just as nervous. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ichigo and Orihime stealing a kiss on the volleyball court. Seizing the sides of Ishida's face she thrust her tongue into his mouth. He made a surprised moan and tightened his grip.
“Kurosaki kun, that tickles,” whispered Orihime, causing Tatsuki to pull her head up. Ishida stepped back, realizing they weren't alone.
“Inoue... we could get caught here,” whispered Ichigo as he glanced around.
***
Later on she helped pack away the archery equipment. Shyly she allowed Ishida to hold her hand until they reached the classroom. Something jogged her memory the minute Ishida wihspered, “Do you wish to come by my apartment to study?”
“Sure. But a little later. There's some things I gotta do. Some errands,” she replied as she sat down in her chair.
“Then later?” Ishida asked hopefully, blue eyes gleaming with the promise of reconciliation. “I have more things that I wish to explain.”
Eyes shining Tatsuki answered, “Yeah sure. That'd be good...”
Ryuuken hadn't said just what he was. Only that he preferred not to use his powers because he hated them. All he wanted was a normal quiet life. Just like her. To think that a man could just fire bolts of energy and kill monsters so easily with dead accurate aim.
***
Striding through the revolving door of the hospital Tatsuki smelled the fant tinge of antiseptics and floor polish merged. Dozens of voices interlocked in a mosaic of sound starting the minute she set foot on the tile. Blue and white dominated the hopsital's décor, blue crosses in multiple locations jarring her eyes and sending off warning bells. The motif tugged at her curiousity confirming her fear.
Uryuu had no idea of his father's capabilities did he? Or should she even try and answer that. The night before Ryuuken had started to explain things in the car on the drive home, but the janging ring of her cell phone from a worried Orihime dominated most of her attention. He relented when she insisted she could walk up to the apartment herself and climbed out of his sports car.
“Come to my office tomorrow if you still wish to have answers to your questions, Arisawa-san,” Ryuuken had said. “Otherwise, the choice to remain in the dark is a wise one if you don't get involved in things like last night.”
“Stupid jerk. Hiding stuff and then givign a damn. What the hell does he care. Just because I'm dating his son... and his son never told me this till...” she trailed off. She'd seen Uryuu firing spirit arrows in passing but the fact had been murky till now.
Tatsuki gave her name to the receptionist for an appointment to see Dr. Ishida. Promptly she'd been handed a visitor badge and slipped it around her neck while someone escorted her to a back elevator. The nurses and doctors wore typical uniforms but the tiny blue cross dominated the pins they wore with the hospital's logo. Of course many hospitals had a cross as a symbol but the coincidence of blue and white was just too great.
“What the hell am I doing here? Uryuu promised me answers. So why am I going to that jerkass doctor?” she mumbled riding up in the elevator. A sharp ding and the sliding of doors open before her jolted her out of her musings. Sneakered feet stepped on the blue carpet underfoot carrying Tatsuki closer to the executive offices where the Director would coordinate most of the operation of the hospital.
Tatsuki soon sat in a large blue and white panelled office lined with multiple bookshelves and dominated by a large painting along one wall. Around the corner wrapped the waist height windows affording a view of the city spreading out beneath them. Cigarette smoke wafted into her nostrils causing her to wince. Noticing her Ryuuken set the cigarette in a small notch of the glass ashtray's side and indicated the chair before hiim.
“Good day, Arisawa-san,” he greeted curtly.
“Hi. So, here I am,” she said.
“We could have avoided this had you not chosen to ignore my offers for information.”
“Is this because I'm dating your son that you're going to so much trouble? I hope that's why...”
“Wouldn't any father wish to meet the significant other of his own son or daughter?” asked Ryuuken. “Considering he never tells me much about his private life.”
“You must have seriously made him angry if he doesn't even want to look at you or call you dad,” Tatsuki mumbled, settlign in her chair. She crossed her legs and leaned back.
“Correct. Am I correct in assuming he is aware of your unique abilities?” ryuuken then asked, pushing aside a manilla envelope on his desk. She peered over and saw a picture of an old man with moustache and beard next to a picture of a young Uryuu looking shyly up at the camera. He couldn't have been more than 10 years old.
“Actually yeah,” Tatsuki muttered. “And... I've seen him in action... but I wasn't sure if I was just imagining things because I was half unconscious at the time...”
“The reason behind your abilities is everything to do with your friend Kurosaki. The fact you're involved with my son makes it my concern that he is well and that you are well,” Ryuuken said with a cough. “Because you have spirit energy those monsters are drawn to it... and as such I realize that you've already taken it upon yourself to defend yourself against them.”
“That's damn obvious,” Tatsuki said unimpressed. “Answer me one thing. Does he know about you... being a...”
“No. And I wish it to remain as such,” Ryuuken answered abruptly. “My reasons for that are my own. I had no desire for him to take it upon himself to hunt what you call monsters and expose himself to constant danger.”
“So that means he's not leaking spirit energy like Ichigo does?”
“He's better at controlling his,” said Ryuuken. “And if he had not trained and increased them to such a degree he wouldn't be a target for them. I don't want my son fighting the souls of the dead when he should be focusing on living.”
“Because of the Shinigami?” she asked.
Ryuuken's eyes widened just a fraction behind his glasses. “Correct. My son has no business calling himself a Quincy. He has no talent for the abilities and is reckless.”
“And what the heck would you call talent, sir?” asked Tatsuki, looking at Ryuuken sharply. “You used your abilities to help me, so what's this stuff about...”
“You are alive, and I wish that to remain that way,” he said. “You've crossed a threshold that is difficult to return from. Since my son insists on involvign himself in matters that do not concern him that means you are affected.”
“I'm not going to scream and be a damsel in distress. That's not my style Doc,” said Tatsuki. “And I'll be damned if my friends were in danger and I dind't try to help.”
“You are a martial artist and your first inclination is to fight. Since you are so foolhardy then you should learn the proper way to fight Hollows,” Ryuuken said.
“You offering ghost busting lessons now?” she asked, cocking her brow.
“There is only one condition. You must not reveal this to my son,” said Ryuuken.
"And WHY is that?" Tatsuki countered, glaring at him.
"I have my reasons," he answered. "Which you will discover in time."
***
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