98 Choice (1/2)
Within a room, Tatsuki could be seen looking out of the window at the clear night sky. She had just taken a bath as a towel hung over her neck while she was wearing a normal t-shirt and shorts. Remembering the two guys attacking them and seeing Inoue protect her had somehow caused her to distant herself from her best friend. As a normal human, seeing all of that was surprising nonetheless but she didn't know how she would face the group tomorrow. Ichigo had disappeared to go knows where, she hated the way she left it with Inoue. But she couldn't help it, it was hard for to find out that her closest friends were hiding such a huge secret.
All of a sudden, she felt that they belonged to two different worlds. One was her protecting Inoue from lecherous hand while the other was Inoue protecting her from monsters she hadn't ever seen before. She just curled up into her knees and buried her face. Suddenly her doorbell was heard, and her mother went to open the door. She didn't care who had come but she was sure she heard a familiar voice.
After the small talk, she heard a few footsteps and her door slamming open. The sudden loud sound caused her to shriek only to see her mother looking at her with judgemental eyes. Her mother looked just like an older version of her but with longer hair and an aged face. Her mother just looked at all the sport posters she had while also looking at her with disdain. In respect the two shared a tomboyish personality. Playing with a ladle, she walked in and carefully scanned her daughter, creeping the latter out.
Finishing her check, she sighed lightly,
”I don't know how, but a friend is waiting for you outside.”
”A friend? Who?”
”I don't know but he was wearing a Karakura high school uniform. He said you had something important to talk about.”
”What's his name?”
”He said you will know who it is, once you see him.”
”Muuuum, don't you think that's in any way suspicious.”
Hitting her daughter with the ladle, she replied,
”Of course, I thought that, but then I remembered you, why would a boy like that have his sights on you?”
For some reason, Tatsuki felt an arrow pierce her pride. She had always been like this; it was because she was better than most boys athletically and a talent in Karate that got her to become a tomboy. Especially with a mother like hers, her enthusiasm for sports had somehow descended into her. Still, she found it confusing about who was meeting her this late at night.
Her thoughts were broken when her mother's voice entered her ears,
”Make sure you bag him, get some good genes into the Arisawa family.”
”Mum!”
With that she hurriedly left the room, ignoring the further shouts of her mother.
”Tat-chan! At least…”
Tatsuki's mother heard her daughter running down the stairs,
”…at least wear proper pants.”
Tatsuki didn't hear the latter part of her mother as she was already at the door. Opening it she saw a familiar back and a head full of familiar white hair tied up into a ponytail.
”Minamoto-san…”
Itsuki turned around and his attention was immediately attracted to her long legs that were on display due to shorts. Tatsuki realised where Itsuki was looking and looked down, immediately seeing her bare legs. It took some time for it to click, but with the assistance of it, she immediately realised as her face flushed red and ran back into the house.
Itsuki just heard the sound of running and shouting after Tatsuki closed the door. Remembering her dim-wittedness, Itsuki thought to himself,
'Am I making a mistake?'
Itsuki just shook his head,
'Whatever happens, happens. I've already made up my mind, no point in changing it now.'
Tatsuki came out wearing shorts that showed off her ankles and a jacket over her t-shirt. She looked at Itsuki with a hint of redness, not knowing how to start.
”So, hehe, nice weather…”
Itsuki just looked on with a blank face, while a voice was heard from behind the door,
”Idiot.”
”Mum!!”
Tatsuki turned back around with a shy smile as the two heard Tatsuki's mother walk away. Itsuki sighed lightly as he gave a smile,
”Follow me.”
”Uh…”
Without listening to her response, Itsuki started walking leaving to fumble slightly and catch up to Itsuki but stay a few steps behind.
”Um, you said that you had something to talk about.”
”Mmhmm.”
Acknowledging her without turning around, Itsuki carried on walking. This went on for some time until Itsuki found what he was looking for. A hollow was just idling around picking his nose, but he carried on walking as if he never saw it. Tatsuki on the other hand saw the hollow and shiver went down her spine.
”Umm, Minamoto-san, where are we going?”
”Why do you ask?”
Itsuki continued acting oblivious while a worried expression masked her face.
”It's just, I want to quickly grab a drink there was a vending machine this way.”
Pointing in the other direction, Tatsuki called out to Itsuki,
”It doesn't matter, there's one just ahead.”
”Yeah, but that one doesn't have my favourite drink.”
”You have a favourite drink?”
”Yes! would you please just come with me.”
Itsuki could sense her fear in that shout as Tatsuki grabbed his hand and dragged him in a different direction. However, that shout allowed Itsuki to get what he wanted. Attracting the hollow's attention, it started moving towards them with a scream. Tatsuki still didn't know how to hide her reiatsu so she was like a beacon of light to the hollow. Tatsuki hadn't even considered the hollow to follow her and show up in front at some distance away.
Seeing the hollow, Tatsuki managed to turn around and drag Itsuki in a different way. Itsuki, still keeping his act up,
”Where are we going now? I thought the vending machine was that way?”
Tatsuki didn't answer until she felt a pressure descend upon her with the origin behind. Looking back, she saw the hollow towering over the two and swung his hand smacking Itsuki.
”Minamoto-san!!”
What happened though was completely out of her expectations. With the hollow smacking Itsuki, she expected see him flung out of her grasp like a sack of potatoes. However, it went contrary to expectation because as soon as the hand made contact with Itsuki, the hollows arm ripped from his body landing onto the side. The hollow had hit Itsuki with such force that it ripped its own arm of.
Tatsuki was there left shock as a stoic look returned to Itsuki. Standing up, Itsuki brushed his clothes as he threw a mod soul pill into his mouth. Instantly, Itsuki came out of his Gigai while rose bloomed around it.
”Go to the side.”