Left Behind But Not Forgotten

**

Riding the bus, memories of lunchtime flashed through his head. He had sat nearby with the guys overhearing Tatsuki complaining to Orihime about Dr. Ishida. From the way his father’s old medical school friend had come over smoking like a chimney last night and Isshin taking a long walk with him Ichigo figured something had gone wrong. Especially when Ryuuken and his father sat down to share a cup of sake. They NEVER drank together in the house that he knew of.

“I hope to hell I don’t go fucking crazy when I’m their age,” Ichigo mumbled stepping off the bus a half hour later in front of Tatsuki’s house. After he swallowed hard and squared, his shoulders Ichigo strode up to her front door and rang the doorbell.

Ichigo clutched the box under one arm, lifting the other to check his watch. He tapped his foot in an odd rhythm counting off the seconds. So far two minutes. The colon on his watch flashed on and off dozens more times until he heard the clicking rasp of the deadbolts being drawn back through the door. A draw chain rasped heralding Tatsuki opening the door just a bit. She peered out through the gap at Ichigo. He could see the hint of her legs covered in baggy grey sweatpants and the oversized Don Kanonji tee shirt stained with a bit of chocolate ice cream just behind the door.

“Oh, hi Ichigo. What brings you here?” she asked. “When I said we should hang out I didn’t mean today. It’s a bad time.”

Definitely, Tatsuki must have been crying from the redness in her eyes. Oh yes, this was going to be very tricky. Already he had several escape routes running through his brain in anticipation of what she was going to say. Ichigo opted for the direct approach.

“Hey Tatsuki, someone delivered a package to the wrong address. Dad wanted me to give it to you so here,” he said shoving it through the door at her.

“What the hell are you…?” Tatsuki asked before Ichigo stepped back. She could probably smell fear he figured. Then the door slammed shut. He breathed deeply heart pounding at the sounds of the chain pulled out of its track and the door flung wide open.

Tatsuki’s eyes gleamed with anger. In one hand she clenched the box tightly, the other forming into a fist. Ichigo threw up his hands saying, “Don’t kill me okay?”

“You explain just HOW you got this or I’ll…’ Tatsuki gritted, stepping outside the door in her slippers. He hated the way her shoulders tensed just picturing the punch she would send his way that next moment.

“I’m serious! The delivery guy sent it to the clinic!” Ichigo yelled back, dodging her fist charging at his face.

“This had better be a JOKE!” Tatsuki practically snarled.

“I’m sure as hell not laughing! Do you think my dad would have delivered it himself if he’d known you’d blow up?” Ichigo shouted, bending back at the kick she aimed at his gut.

“You… you…” she panted, eyes narrowed to near slits.

“Tatsuki, what the hell is getting into you? Why would Ryuuken send THIS to you? I don’t know what’s going on but…” Ichigo said as he grabbed her shoulders. Tatsuki’s eyes popped open, tears gleaming in them. Ichigo had not expected this. Seeing her on the verge of tears was as disturbing as seeing Karin in this state. Something must be really wrong he figured.

“Ichigo… I….” she got out. That wavering voice tugged at Ichigo’s heart. His arm curled protectively around her shoulders in that big brother way he would for Karin or Yuzu faced with some unknown enemy. Even if it weren’t a hollow, he would protect his friends. Especially if it meant their emotional well being as well as physical.

“Tatsuki, talk to me,” Ichigo said guiding her towards the open front door. Tatsuki made no sounds with her face buried in his shoulder. Sighing Ichigo glanced at his watch. He was going to have to call Dad and let him know he would be late for dinner. She almost sagged in his arms in his effort to get her into the house so they could sit down and talk about this. Now more than ever he was determined to be there for her when he would shut her out so rudely before.

On the sofa, Ichigo kept his arm wrapped around Tatsuki’s shoulder. He snagged the tissue box and passed it to her grunting,” Here…”

“Thanks,” she mumbled blowing her nose.

“Oi, why are you so upset about a ring huh? You scared?” Ichigo asked.

“You jerk,” mumbled Tatsuki. “What do you think?”

“It’s just a ring isn’t it?” Ichigo said tossing the box down. “He popping the question and you’re all freaked out.”

“That’s it pretty much,” Tatsuki said.

“Your parents know?” asked Ichigo.

“Well… I haven’t introduced them… I mean what the hell are they going to think?”

Ichigo's eyes darkened with the concern of an older brother. “Did he say he wanted to see them?”

“Yes, but damn it…” Tatsuki mumbled.

“Then what’s the problem?” Ichigo asked. “Unless you don’t want to get married?”

“Do I look like the marrying type?” Tatsuki asked, laughing harshly.

“Oi don’t bite my head off!” Ichigo complained. “You could just say no.”

“I didn’t even want him to ask,” Tatsuki confessed, glaring at the offending box.

“How can you say no if you don’t let the guy even ASK the question huh?” Ichigo wondered, shrugging. “Look he must be pretty pissed and feeling like you kicked him in the balls to send it to you.”

“It’s so damn melodramatic! I don’t want the damn ring!” Tatsuki snapped.

“Well if you didn’t let him even propose then what is he supposed to think? Didn’t you guys talk this out?”

“That’s the problem, Ichigo. He never once mentioned marriage! He didn’t even give me the time to think…”

“You’re going around with this guy and it didn’t occur to you he’d consider he wanted to marry you? Tatsuki you say I’m dense but c’mon!” Ichigo sighed.

Tatsuki stuck out her chin immediately cutting him off by saying, “Guys nowadays don’t care so much.”

“But it’s Ryuuken we’re talking about! The fact the man even did this surprises me, but the fact he did this doesn’t!” Ichigo said, throwing up his hands. “Can’t you even just look at the damn ring?”

“I don’t want to see the damn thing. Just get rid of it,” Tatsuki sniffled.

“It won’t kill you to keep it. Then you can give it back to him and say no. It’s not THAT hard,” Ichigo said.

“Why send it here?”

“Because then he’s got an excuse to see you. Duh,” Ichigo sighed.

Tatsuki fought back tears as Ichigo reached for the box and held it out to her. She turned away stubbornly. Sighing Ichigo put the box down and mumbled, “Geez you’re so stubborn. You’re acting like this is some disease…”

“I like things the way they are,” Tatsuki mumbled.

“Well tough, because sometimes things change and there’s nothing you can do about them except don’t look back and go forward,” Ichigo said. “I’m not taking this back. You’re gonna either have to open it, not open it and send it back, or see him. But he at least deserves to see you face to face and have you tell him no.”

Snatching up the box Tatsuki all but tore the paper off that was wrapped around it. She turned it repeatedly in her hand, swallowing hard to see the store name on it. “Oh god,” she sighed.

“He’s probably carried the damn thing around working up the nerve to ask you. Of course that was the way my dad was when he was trying to ask my mom to marry him… god I can’t believe I’m giving YOU advice about this…” Ichigo mumbled rubbing his neck.

“Just out of the blue,” she mumbled, tossing the box down on the coffee table.

“Is it the way he asked you? I mean sometimes that makes a difference right?” Ichigo asked.

“Yes and no. I didn’t want this sort of thing. I don’t… I’m not that sort of person,” Tatsuki mumbled. “And I thought he understood.”

“Then tell him instead of bitching about it,” Ichigo said. “Knock on his door and shove it back in his face if you have to. “

“That’s what he wants me to do,” Tatsuki lamented, blowing her nose again.

Scratching his head Ichigo sighed, “Look, even if you said yes, I know people who’re engaged for years right? I mean all you have to do is say no. Is it that hard?”

“Yes, and no,” Tatsuki answered, hugging her knees as she drew them to her chest. “Damn ring.”

“You could at least look at it?” Ichigo suggested. “I mean… aren’t you the least bit curious?”

Tatsuki sighed impatiently and realized he was not going to leave her alone to wallow without something. Therefore, she yanked the expensive box with silver lettering off and saw the black velvet that she recalled Ryuuken holding in his hand. She struggled to open it. “Oh great it’s one of those stupid fancy ones isn’t it? With the button to pop it open? Perfect… so stupid and melodramatic.”

“I guess you’d press the side…” Ichigo mumbled looking at it but Tatsuki wrenched it open.

“I hate this mushy romantic crap,” Tatsuki muttered, managing to get it apart. Ichigo winced at the decimation of the box and Tatsuki not even looking at how it appeared on the black velvet.

As if expecting her to hit him he muttered,“Uh… you didn’t have to…”

“I’m looking at it. Get off my back,” she grumbled.

“If you were gonna send it back I think he’d really be pissed to see a broken box,” Ichigo replied with a frown.

“Don’t care,” Tatsuki answered, holding the ring in her hand after she tossed the box down. She held it between her thumb and forefinger barely wanting to look at it but sniffling all the same. Then she placed it on her palm and stared more carefully at it watching the sparkle of the diamond flanked by two sapphires.

“Huh, not what I expected,” mumbled Ichigo.

Tatsuki swallowed as she took in the design, noticing the modest cut of the stone set almost flush into the white gold band. She could wear it without catching it on anything. Not a huge obnoxious rock but something almost classic and not overly feminine. Sighing she said, “This isn’t what I expected either. Small… and actually nice. I thought it’d be some huge rock with tons of smaller rocks…”

“Looks like something you’d pick out,” Ichigo said with a shrug.

Again, Tatsuki winced and clutched the ring in her hand tightly. She glared at the slightly mangled box with a broken hinge itself as if it were the issue. She mumbled, “It’s pretty.”

“See was it THAT bad?” Ichigo asked her. “I mean the only victim was the box… I guess if you wanted to send it back in that it’d give him a clear answer.”

“No, it wasn’t that bad, but it doesn’t make this any easier,” Tastsuki answered.

“So you aren’t gonna make me take it back are you?” he asked.

“No. I’ve tortured you enough,” she said with an ironic laugh. “But why he’d send it to the clinic… that is what pisses me off more.”

“I’m sure he probably told my dad ALL about it,” Ichigo mumbled, wincing in anticipation of a punch. “Or dad wrung it out of him.”

“He must know all about it. Because he picked you to deliver it,” Tatsuki said. “Because you’re the reason he and I got together.”

“What?” Ichigo asked, blinking as he shifted uncomfortably.

“Your spirit energy leaking out gave me my powers. Ichigo you set everything in motion. So you’re the logical guy to try and keep things going,” she said.

“I’m not getting it except he’s being an ass and rubbing it in my face and my dad’s face,” said Ichigo with a sigh.

“Now you’re being your usual hardheaded self,” Tatsuki said with a slight laugh. “He’s giving you the chance to be the big hero and save the relationship.”

“What?” Ichigo yelped, almost popping out of his seat.

“Who else knows me better?” Tatsuki asked him. “Who else but you would know just what to say to get me to take the ring?”

“That manipulating shit. No wonder Uryuu hates him,” Ichigo growled.

“He is pretty shrewd,” Tatsuki chuckled through her tears.

“So, you gonna talk to him or what?” Ichigo asked.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to him. You should probably head off now Ichigo. It’s almost seven…”

“Shit… shit shit!” Ichigo cursed as he leapt up.

“Thanks Ichigo… I owe you one,” Tatsuki said as she hugged him and kissed his cheek. Ichigo blinked a bit.

“Uh sure…” he said as he awkwardly patted her shoulder. “ Don’t be too hard on him.”

“No problem,” she said as she walked him to the door. Then after seeing him out Tatsuki flopped back on the couch. She gathered up the mess and tossed the box along with the ring and the card into the trash without even bothering to read the note.

“Don’t care. I’m going to do this my own way,” she mumbled still clutching the ring in her other hand.

She unlatched the chain holding the cross from around her neck and slipped the ring onto it. Then she fastened the necklace again so the ring hung at the hollow of her throat partly obscuring the cross.

****

The following night Ryuuken tossed and turned in fitful sleep. As many doctors he had issues dozing off after a double shift. Today was no exception. It was so easy to plunge headlong into work after an unanswered and very painful question. Avoid the feelings entirely and pretend they did not exist because the person he wished he could see was absent.

Nevertheless, he would wait. He was quite good at it. Each glimpse down that day at his cell phone yielded only business calls or texts from Uryuu saying he would join him tonight for training. To his credit, his son was present at almost nightly sessions. Not many words passed between them except what was necessary for correcting judgment.

In his sleep, deprived brain Ryuuken ran through every possible reason amidst the sea of background thoughts of his son's performance or lack thereof. Superimposed on those thoughts were workaday lists of all the hospital affairs. Keeping his eyes, closed Ryuuken let them run down.

In that fugue state between wakefulness and drowsiness, he turned over so he lay on his back. The distant hum of reiatsu and moan of distant hollows were something he tuned out but the presence of a reiatsu outside the apartment made him tense. He sighed and turned over on his side facing the wall, the large bed conspicuously empty.

For a while, the trace dampened down. Ryuuken jolted once more out of complete and utter darkness. All his muscles had seized up and the cramping in his leg twisted painfully. He bit off the curse he muttered at the sound of something at the front lock. A clicking tap just heard under the noise of the white noise machine he had turned on.

Because he had turned off his senses unless necessary, he relied more on the sound of footsteps to tell him who had let themselves in. For a moment, he was not sure if it was Uryuu or someone else. Only a few people had the keys to his apartment including his son, his property owner, the house cleaner, and the cook.

Completely still, he lay on one side hearing the footfalls stop before his door. A clamped down or very small reiatsu tugged at his senses. He promptly ignored it. Whoever it was, he would not allow them to think they had the advantage until the last second. Therefore, he folded his arms over his chest and turned over to face opposite the wall.

Even though the hinges did not creak, the change in air pressure alerted him someone had opened his bedroom door. His bed vibrated with each step of the person approaching. Beneath him, the mattress shifted and sheets rustled and tugged with someone pulling on them. Only when the intruder touched his hand did Ryuuken act decisively. Twisting to the side and yanking the visitor under his body so his legs pinned their hips.'

"Do you think me a complete idiot?" he half huffed. "I knew it was you the instant you stole in here."

"It figures you would," came the voice he relished hearing but had been denied contact for a week. He guessed it was by her choice.

"Care to explain why you came sneaking like a thief in the night instead of speaking to me face to face? There is something called email that you and your peers use as well as texting?" he snorted, looking down at her dark eyes staring up into his.

"You gave me a key, so I figured I could come whenever I wanted! Since when is THAT wrong? You didn't ask for it back! So would you mind getting off of me unless you plan on doing something else?"

"Young lady you try my patience. First you deny me the honor of asking for your..."

"Just shut up and listen okay?" she cut him off, putting a hand over his mouth. "And someone your age wearing pajamas I still think is stupid!"

"Humph..." he answered knowing he had the ability to push her away. Under her hand, muffling them his lips twitched.

"You caught me by surprise, Ryuuken," she said quietly. "So I'm giving you the same treatment."

Ryuuken glared down at her. Only his Quincy honor kept him from fighting back. He backed away and sat to the side so she released his mouth. "I had expected you would attempt to contact me. This was hardly what I had in mind," Ryuuken muttered annoyed.

"You assumed things so is it so surprising that I'd assume things too?" she said. "Like sending me something in the mail special delivery? Is THAT called keeping in touch?"

"Since you didn't send it back I supposed your contact would be forthcoming," he said.

"You've got your way of doing things, and so do I. I guess I was making a point. I'm ready to talk..."

"So... you wish to talk now at this hour of the night?" Ryuuken asked.

"I guess, but you didn't go out of YOUR Way to get in touch with me for a whole week other than that special delivery and that hardly counts!" Tatsuki said, sitting by him on the bed completely clothed. She leaned against the headboard and Ryuuken glared at her.

Nearsighted eyes glanced down at a sparkling shimmer slightly askew of her throat. He had shifted to the side and noticed the quality of how the light refracted. Not from glass or metal but from some sort of gemstone. Reaching out his hand, he touched the object and felt the circular shape of it with the widening raised surface pricking his fingers in the gloom.

"You're wearing it," he mumbled. “But not in the usual manner?”

"No kidding," she mumbled, glaring away from him at the open door. “Funny that you got Ichigo involved in sending it over….”

“Kurosaki send his son to deliver it. Just as I expected he would,” Ryuuken murmured at her slightly confused gaze.

“Figured things were really out of whack when it took talking to Ichigo about relationships,” she murmured, resting her hands in her lap. Through the dimness of the blue numerals on the clock casting their light in the room he could barely make out her facial expressions.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask me why I chose that method,” Ryuuken murmured, reaching out to caress her cheek. She leaned into the touch and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Who else then Ichigo a childhood friend?” she chuckled sadly, glancing at her lap. She fingered the ring thoughtfully.

Ryuuken whispered softly, taking her hand. “Tatsuki… does this mean you accept?”

She nodded her head slowly and mumbled, “Yes and no. I am thinking about it… But in my own way."

"You can answer yes or no,” said Ryuuken rubbing her palm with his fingers. “Or tell me what you’re thinking now. What you’re feeling.”

“That’s a laugh. You and I talking about feelings instead of just experiencing them,” Tatsuki murmured, turning her head to his.

“It was a valid assumption that you were afraid. But you could have saved a great effort for both of us if you’d simply said so to begin with,” Ryuuken scolded.

“Stupid of me I know but that’s not the only thing. I… My parents have been back for a few days,” she murmured. “I… don’t know what to tell them…”

“Are you frightened of what they’ll think of me? Is that why you hesitated in saying yes?” Ryuuken asked her cupping her cheek.

“Y… yes…” she blurted out.

“There is a reason things are done a certain way. In addition, we will work together to resolve this. If they do not approve, then it is understandable…”

“Mom and Dad often pestered me to get married even though they encouraged my martial arts… and…”

A pang of familiarity shot through Ryuuken. He sighed and pulled her into a hug. “Tatsuki…”

She leaned against him bracing her shoulder into his armpit. He felt warm and solid against her and his soft lips on her forehead made her melt further inside. “I guess you really will have to come to dinner. But damn…”

Ryuuken tensed a bit causing her to glance up at him. He sighed saying,”Tatsuki… I am certain you’ll be rather annoyed with me with what I’m about to admit, but ever since you and I commenced spending time together, I had been getting to know your father…”

Instead of anger, he felt her relaxing more into his touch. She mumbled, “More of that gold old boy’s network? The usual feeling out process?”

“Social networking has always eased things,” said Ryuuken. “We are on speaking terms…”

“He does deliver packages,” Tatsuki said with an ironic laugh. Ryuuken’s eyes widened a bit. She seemed to be taking this rather well.

“The number of times he’s dropped off letters and important documents to the hospital it doesn’t take long to get to know someone on a first name and social basis,’ Ryuuken said, kissing her hair as he inhaled her scent. Tatsuki’s father worked as a courier for a living, and her mother helped in the small business.

“Ryuuken, this is a mess,” she mumbled.

“We’re both responsible, but we’ll both see it through,” Ryuuken said.

"But we're going to talk about how and when and I may change my mind..." Tatsuki mumbled. A million details made things complex but the intent behind his action was clear. If they could fight hollows, something like discussing marriage and meeting the family seemed secondary. Yet it was all too frightening of a battle and Tatsuki had let herself be psyched out.

“Consider it a lesson learned,” Ryuuken murmured. She bent over to kiss him slowly. Suddenly his lips moved to hers, hot breath slipping into her mouth. She yelped with surprise at his hand pulling her forwards. Then as his tongue coaxed at her lips she parted them and wound her arms around his neck. Ryuuken snared her in a pajama-clothed arm so she pressed her fully clothed body to his. Her fingers twisted in his pajamas.

"Silk... these are silk," she whispered rubbing them.

"That is the reason that I bother wearing them," he said. "They're quite comfortable. And silk has the tendency to heat up."

Tatsuki's hand ran over the front of them feeling the seams. "White I take it? And blue?”

"White and blue," Ryuuken nodded as he turned so she fell against him.

Both his hands plunged into her dark hair and Tatsuki shivered at the initiative he was suddenly taking. Most of the time he let her initiate. Since she was already between the sheets, his legs tangled with hers and she felt the intense heat of the silk rubbing her bare skin. Down her back, his hand slid lightly cupping her backside to hold her there. She slid her hand down behind the waistband of his pajama bottoms and his skin and squeezed. Ryuuken sighed through their kiss and rolled over so her neck was nestled in the pillow.

Grabbing the curve of her bottom, he gave it a slight rub and pinch. She immediately slipped her leg between his and nestled her crotch against his thigh. Both her legs then tightened around, rubbing against it. He tugged her skirt up enough so her panties themselves pressed to the silk of his bottoms. She reached between them to pull at her clothes but he stopped her. Glaring at him, he sat up and slid his fingers through the waistband so he could drag them down.

Tatsuki bit her lip in confusion why he only removed her underwear before lying alongside of her. Any speech would have to wait as he kissed her once more and rolled her beneath him. "Turn over," he whispered, lips tickling her ear.

She did so, feeling him spoon into her, that soft silk nestling into the backs of her knees. Then his hands stole around to cup her breasts through the fabric of her shirt and bra. Just beneath her, his erection rubbed covered and separated only by the thin silk. One hand started to unbutton her from behind at the same time his other rubbed down her belly flipped her skirt aside and plunged between her legs. She bit back the loud yelp.

"Trust me," he whispered, freeing the last button and dipping in to squeeze her breast lightly.

"F... feels good but I want to face you..." she stammered out.

"All in good time," he whispered nipping her ear. Fingers slipped into her entrance, poking and prodding just enough for her to shiver. The slightest brush against her sensitive spot and Tatsuki clenched around his hand.

She reached awkwardly around to grab at his pajama bottoms and tug them down. He released her long enough so she could turn over and get them down around his knees. Then Ryuuken urged her to turn over again so they were once again spooned. Tatsuki reached to grab his hips and rub her bottom against the hard erection poking between her legs. A slight shift and Ryuuken managed to thrust smoothly into her. Now his hands reached up and removed her bra pulling it aside enough to squeeze her breasts gently.

"Ahh..." she gasped out, pushing back onto him. She licked her lips at how good it felt.

"Mmmm," he moaned, thrusting in a few times. All she had to do was rock back onto him, his tip hitting her in a place she ordinarily did not think. Except when they did it sitting up with her facing away. Then Ryuuken lifted her leg and pushed hard, urging herself to touch and tease herself.

"R... ryuu ken..." she grunted, sweat blistering on her forehead. Inside her half opened clothes she was burning up, savoring that full feeling spreading and hammering into her so nicely. One of her hands rested between her legs atop his stroking her just before their joined bodies, his other squeezing, and pinching her left nipple. She tweaked the other in time, rocking back with each push that drove him deep inside.

Shaking she let out a low moan, squeezing inside of him. Ryuuken held her tightly to him as she shivered. Once she relaxed, he flipped them over so he sat up and she was astride his lap. She shrugged out of her shirt and tossed it down removing her bra. He hooked her knees under his arm and lifted, so she pushed down to lift off and fall back onto him. Once his hand curled around her mound she yelped and jerked. Both his knees slipped up and angled so she rested her back to his chest and shivered again.

Ryuuken hissed out her name in a whisper growing into a loud moan. That last snap of his hips pushed him in and he held her still. She grabbed both his arms and held them in place. They both jerked and shook in each other's arms enjoying the rush that pounded over them and gripped their rapidly thumping hearts. Then the couple lay limp and sighing in mutual but sweaty contentment. Wrapped in one another’s arms they slept the rest of the night away knowing they’d have to face tomorrow together as well, and hopefully years to come.