For @bleachsmutfest Day 5: TELL IT YOUR WAY. This is focusing on Chapter 18: Don't Smile No More.
CW: SFW! Mentions of grief and loss.
Tatsuki remembered the smell of curry wafting in as she entered her home. Dojo practice had been exceptionally brutal today, but a bowl of her mother’s curry udon was enough to make it go away. But what she didn’t expect, was the intensity of her mother’s cooking, and her father helping her with it as well. It seemed like they were making a bigger batch than usual.
“Tatsuki, how was practice today?” Her mother asked, smiling at her briefly, before focusing on cutting the vegetables.
“Um…” Tatsuki hesitated, unsure of what was going on, “it was fine.” She stared at the big pot of curry on the stove, it was larger than what her mother usually used. “What’s going on?”
Her mother gave her, what she would later recognize, a sad smile.
“Your father and I are going to the Kurosaki home tomorrow and we’re bringing them some curry.”
“Ok…” she said with confusion in her face.
“That reminds me,” her mother put down the knife on the cutting board, “Tatsuki I have a favour to ask you.”
“Sure, what is it?” She asked, peering behind her mother as she opened the fridge.
“Ichigo liked these snacks, yes? I bought some for him.” She gave another sad smile, “could you give these to him for me tomorrow?”
Tatsuki nodded, unsure of what was going on.
“Why don’t you change out of your clothes, and I’ll fix you some dinner?” Her mother went back to her cutting board. Tatsuki nodded her head as she headed to her room.
Tatsuki was a diligent student, even at a young age. She woke up on time and got ready as her mother and father milled away in their morning routine. Her mother packed her bento, and the snacks she was meant to give Ichigo.
“Don’t forget, ok?” Her mother reminded her, as she patted Tatsuki’s lunch bag. “Also your father and I might be a bit late today, but there’s leftover curry in the fridge if we’re not home yet.
“Ok!” Tatsuki yelled, as she made her way out the door.
At school, kids were loud and boisterous as ever, Tatsuki included. But in the back of her mind, worry began to seep in.
Where’s Ichigo?
She didn’t quite understand what happened. Her mother said something had happened to his mom… but she wasn’t clear on the details.
She quickly excused herself from the game of football her and her friends were playing, lying to say she needed to use the washroom. Instead, she went back to her classroom, expecting to see a small, orange-hair child sitting in his seat.
But he wasn’t there.
Tatsuki frowned, unsure of what to do. Should she ask the teacher? Should she let her mom know?
But as the chime rang to alert students to head back to their classrooms, her classmates shuffled in, and her teacher, seemed to not notice Ichigo wasn’t present. Roll call was announced, and when their teacher called for Ichigo and heard silence, they shrugged their shoulders and moved on.
It bothered Tatsuki.
But the school day went on, kids laughing, groaning and sighing as lessons and homework piled on. Yet to Tatsuki, it seemed like a blur. She continued to stare at the empty seat where Ichigo would be, wondering where he was.
When the final bell came, Tatsuki rushed outside with her friends, but instead of playing football with them like she usually would, for some reason she felt compelled to go to Ichigo’s house.
She walked along the familiar path she knew from the dojo, taking in the sights and sounds. In the distance, she could see the river come along, the path along it… and bright orange hair.
Tatsuki’s eyes went wide, sprinting towards the bank, but her heart fell.
It was Ichigo… but… tears began to well in her eyes.
He was pacing back and forth along the river path, his school bag on grassy patch. He seemed to be looking for something, as he would crouch down every so often…
“Ichigo?” Tatsuki murmured, unsure if he would hear her.
And he didn’t.
“Hey, Ichigo.” Tatsuki spoke a bit louder. He lifted his head quickly, and Tatsuki felt her heart pang. His eyes were puffy and red and with dried snot coming down his nose.
“He – hey” Ichigo stammered, trying to compose himself. “What are you doing here?”
“You weren’t at school today, Ichigo.” Ichigo looked down at his feet, kicking a pebble in front of him.
“Y-yeah, I was looking for something.”
“Do you want me to help?” Tatsuki offered, setting aside her backpack next to his.
Ichigo shook his head, “no. It’s ok.” He reassured her, but Tatsuki was caught off guard by the lack of smile on his face. “You should go home.”
“You should go home too.” Tatsuki countered, getting frustrated.
“I’m not done looking!” Ichigo shouted, startling Tatsuki. She had never heard him speak to anyone with that tone. “She has to be here.” He began to whimper as he ran down the riverbank once again.
Tatsuki didn’t go home. She sat in silence watching Ichigo along the riverbank. She placed the snacks her mother gave her into his backpack, making sure he would have it later. She felt frustrated, but this frustration felt unfamiliar, as if she wanted to cry. But not… out of anger like she would at her dojo matches, but something else, something she couldn’t explain.
She bit her lip as she continued to watch, a deep sadness growing in her heart every time Ichigo crouched to hug himself.
“Ichigo, we should go home.”
“I’m not going home, not until I find her.” He whispered.
“You punk!” A loud voice erupted above them, scaring the both of them. The two children stopped in their tracks and saw Ichigo’s father and Tatsuki’s parents, on the sidewalk by the riverbank.
Tatsuki had only met Ichigo’s father briefly, but she remembered thinking he was goofy. Today though… the loud voice and jolly expression did remind her of before, but his eyes, his eyes were sad, something she never saw before. Ichigo’s little sisters, Karin and Yuzu, stood behind their imposing father.
Ichigo didn’t look up at him, avoiding eye contact. And without any warning, Ichigo’s father ran down and picked him up, hauling the small boy over his shoulder and grabbing his backpack.
“Let me go, old man!” Ichigo yelled, but as his father ignored him, his yells turned into wails. His sisters could only look on sadly as Ichigo cried into his father’s shoulder.
“Tatsuki, let’s go home.” Her father spoke softly, holding out his hand. “It’s been a long day.”
She nodded, watching Ichigo and his family disappear into the distance.
“I couldn’t stand to see Ichigo like that.” Tatsuki told Orihime, frustration in her voice. Orihime could only nod in sympathy. The two of them sat in silence as Orihime processed everything Tatsuki had said.
Her thoughts swirled around Ichigo, wondering whether he was in pain today, wondering if he was enjoying the time with his family, wondering if he was remembering the happy moments with his mother.
The pitter patter of rain broke her thoughts.
“I should go home Tatsuki-chan.” Orihime beamed, excusing herself.
“Are you sure? You can stay her for the night.” Orihime laughed and joked about being evicted, hauling a sleeping bag around, but realized her joke may not have landed as well as she thought.
“I’m just kidding, I’ll be at a hotel.”
Tatsuki frowned, “ok… but you’re always welcome to stay.”
“I know, thank you Tatsuki-chan.” Orihime smiled gently, giving her friend a hug.
The rain was calming, soothing Orihime’s restless mind. She learned so much about Ichigo, but her feelings left her uncertain. Looking up to the rain, she sighed.
“If I were rain,
That joins sky and earth that otherwise never touch,
Could I join two hearts as well?”
Chapter 18 has always stuck with me with the haunting and sad picture of Ichigo looking for Masaki. There's something utterly heartbreaking that a young child is just so consumed by grief that this is their sole comfort... this "arc" also featured my favourite poem by Kubo, spoken by Orihime at the end.
An Au where Ichigo always knew he wasn't completely human and he had shared that information with his friends(Tatsuki, Orihime, Keigo, Mizuiro, Sado and Chizuru) much before he ever met Rukia.
Their group knowing that, decided to train in different fighting styles and weapons as they never know if someone could come looking for Ichigo or a bad spirits may try to hurt him.
Because of spending so much time with Ichigo, they started to absorbe the reiatsu he was unknowingly letting go and form their own so they developed their own powers(Orihime and Sado will probably be their canon ones while the powers the others would get is up to the writer).
With their ability to fight already in training, they also decided that they had to work on their studies and Mizuiro(who I will suppose is the smartest) couldn't be the tutor to all of them so they decided to annoy another student(Uryuu) to help them which ende duo with them integrating him in their group and learning about him being a quincy, shinigamis, hollows, etc.
What would happen when Rukia appeared? It may be up to the writer but instead of how it happened in canon, someone(Aizen) could have decided to send a few shinigamis(who else beside Rukia is up to the writer) to the human world as they had felt a sudden growth of reiatsu in Karakura(which is due to the whole group and not just Ichigo) or that hollows were being killed but no by the work of the shinigami that was taking care of the town.
Really, it is up to the writer what to do after this and what ships they may decide to add and all that.
This trend bothers me so much if I'm honest. Like it's not that big of a deal but they sure make it one. Yet another reason why I wonder if straight men even like the women their dating.
As always reader is written as gender neutral/fluid
Warnings: none SFW
Characters: Ichigo, Orihime, Uryu, Chad/Sado, and Tatsuki
Ichigo
He'd be confused as to why, but would do it for you if you asked. He probably had to do it a lot for Yuzu and Karin when they were little so it's not that big of a deal to him.
When you explain that it's a trend going around and show him a few videos he'd be even more willing to do it because of how unwilling some of these people's partners are to do something so simple.
"It's not a big deal so why not just do it?"
He might get annoyed if you ask multiple times, but if you say something about how you like it better when he does it or that it tastes better? How is he supposed to say no now? He'll think that's that cutest thing (and if you're lucky it might even make him a bit flustered).
Orihime
Of course! She'd be more than willing to do something for you if it makes you happy! She wouldn't even question why, you probably asked her for a reason so why wouldn't she?
Once you tell her it's a trend and show her a video or two she'd understand why you asked but be a little upset for the people who asked their partners and got shot down.
"Why wouldn't you if it's something that will make your partner happy?"
It wouldn't matter how many times you asked, she'll do it anytime without complaint. She'd do anything if it ment that you'd smile at her so sweetly.
Uryu
It really depends with Uryu. Part of me wants to say he wouldn't but at the time if you two are dating why wouldn't he? He'll ask why you can't do it yourself as he's quite literally already peeling it.
He'll definitely want to know why you suddenly asked him to peel an orange for you so you explain that it's a trend and show him the videos. He might be a bit annoyed that it's just a dumb trend honestly.
"Just tell me that next time, I would do it regardless."
And like he said if you ask him again he'll do it without complaint. Why wouldn't he when you always ask so nicely?
Chad/Sado
Absolutely and without question. He's always more than willing to something if the people he cares about ask him to and that's no different with his partner. Honestly, he's probably be even more willing to do it when you ask.
Explaining that it's a trend doesn't change anything for him and seeing the videos of people refusing to do it would really confuse him. It's not like it's a huge ordeal so why wouldn't he?
Don't be afraid to ask him multiple times either because he will continue to do it for you if you ever ask. He'd do anything if you asked really and that's no different.
Tatsuki
Yeah obviously. She's probably already done things like this a million times for Orihime so of course she'll do it for her partner. You'd only have to ask and she'd already be holding out her hand for whatever you wanted her to open for you.
Dear God her reaction when you tell her it's a trend and show her videos is absolutely amazing. She'd be pissed. Especially at the straight men who throw a fit.
"it's just an orange! Quit complaining and just do it if you actually like them!"
That aside she'll continue to do it whenever you ask regardless if you ever tell her it's a trend. It's already like second nature to her and she cares about you.
