Protecting You Part 1 Painful Realisation

Summary

Aizen has been killed by Ichigo and everything has returned to normal. Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro find out about Ichigo's other life as a soul reaper. Keigo and Mizuiro are fine with it but Tatsuki takes it badly and hates Ichigo for hiding it from her. Things go from bad to worse when more misfortune comes to Ichigo causing Tatsuki to hate him more for his actions. Ichigo didn't tell her because he was protecting her from everything but there is another reason for doing it but As Tatsuki hates him things only get worse.

It's been a few weeks since Ichigo fought against Sosuke Aizen and killed him things returned to normal for Ichigo Orihime was safe and back home and the threat from Aizen is over. That's the good news the bad news is Urahara told Tatsuki Arisawa, Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima everything about Ichigo's other life as well as Uryu, Sado (Chad) and Orihime. To say the were all shocked would be an understatement Keigo and Mizuiro was surprised but were happy.

Tatsuki on the other hand took it badly whilst she was enjoying school and her life Ichigo her oldest friend and Orihime her best friend were battling hollows saving Rukia and Orihime getting kidnapped and then rescued by Ichigo of course that was no surprise she always knew that Ichigo always protected his friends what hurt her is that he never told her but neither did Orihime for that matter. For that reason she resented Ichigo.

They all left Urahara's shop and went home. As Tatsuki lived close to Ichigo so she visited Ichigo to demand answers. She knocked on the front door which was opened by Yuzu. She smiles "Tatsuki-Chan it's been a while what brings you here" Tatsuki gives a fake smile "Is Ichigo here" Yuzu nods "He's upstairs" Tatsuki nods and starts to head upstairs. She knocks on Ichigo's bedroom door and it's opened. Ichigo looks shocked to see Tatsuki but by the look she's giving him she doesn't look happy. He sighs and lets her in then closes the door.

"What brings you here Tatsuki it's been a wh..." Before he can finish Tatsuki speaks "Cut the crap I know everything you being a soul reaper, Orihime and Chad having powers and that four eyed prick being a Quincy what I want to know is why the hell didn't you tell me" Ichigo is stunned "What the hell how did you find out" Tatsuki sighs "That Urahara guy now answer my damn question why didn't you tell me" He sighs "I was trying to protect you I didn't want you getting involved or killed."

She slaps his face "You saying I'm weak you piss me off Ichigo I know were not as close as we once were but fuck I had a right to know I seriously can't believe you did this to me you make me sick" She turns around and heads out the room and walks downstairs and leaves the house leaving a stunned Ichigo.

He sits down on his bed thinking what just happened it's true he never told her but he had his reasons to be honest he didn't really want Orihime or Chad getting involved damn even Uryu was an unwanted participant but Tatsuki was different he didn't want to tell her because deep down he has feelings for her and didn't want her in harms way.

Of course she's not weak far from it she's the second strongest girl in Japan but that's fighting against humans he's thought hollows, damn mod-sols, vampire like humans called Bounts, Espada, Arrancar, The soul society and rogue Shinigami she wouldn't last to long against any of them and that's why he kept everything from her.

Besides like she would have believed him well she obviously did or she wouldn't have arrived at his house so pissed. Now the one person he actually has feelings for hates him that's not what he wanted at all.

The next day Ichigo arrives and as soon as he steps into his class he sees Tatsuki glare at him with so much anger it actually hurts to see it. He tries to ignore it and walks to his desk just before he sits down he hears Keigo "IICCHHIIGGOO" Ichigo sticks out his arms knocking Keigo on his backside "Hey Keigo" Keigo rubs his head "Hey what was that for" Mizuiro sighs "Drop it Keigo it's a regular thing" Keigo sighs and gets up "So you saved the planet and you kill monsters that's pretty cool man."

Ichigo's mouth twitches into a half frown half smile "Thanks" Just then Chad comes in "Hey Ichigo" Ichigo nods "Hey Chad these two know about us me, you, Orihime and Uryu" Chad looks at Keigo and Mizuiro who both nod. Chad just nods "OK." Meanwhile Orihime comes in "Morning Kurosaki-Kun."

He nods "Oh hey Orihime" He then notices the glare from Tatsuki and looks away and sighs. He looks at Orihime who's talking to Tatsuki they seem to be OK so why did she take it out on him she's not raising her voice to Orihime or nothing.

He looks at his watch the teachers running late so he stands up grabs his bag and leaves the classroom. Orihime notices him leaving "Where are you going Kurosaki-Kun" He doesn't answer her and just leaves getting another scowl from Tatsuki to add to the others she's already thrown at him today. He leaves the school and starts walking away.

He doesn't really have a destination in mind just anywhere from Tatsuki's scowls and constant glares in his direction he can't understand why she's so upset like she said there not exactly as close as they once were.

Several hours later it's about 7pm when Ichigo stops outside Orihime's house. He knows about her crush on him for ages he was oblivious to it he only really clicked when he went to rescue her that he started to notice the sighs which made him replay his whole friendship with her until he realised that maybe she always had feelings for him.

The only problem is he doesn't have feelings for her yea he loves her but only in a friend way he'd do anything for her but he doesn't love her and doubts he ever will he wants Tatsuki but that's not going to happen.

He wants Orihime to be happy but he's not the person to make her happy, and doesn't want her to think that his feelings will change because sadly they won't yea she's a beautiful smart girl who has many many admirers boys and maybe some girls (Chizuru). He's been dreading this all day well to be honest since they returned from Hueco Mundo.

He sighs and knocks on her door. The doors opened and Orihime's shocked "Kurosaki-Kun what brings you here" He sighs "Can I come in I'd like to talk to you if that's OK if it's to late I'll come tomorrow" She smiles "Now is fine come in" She steps away she's happy now but doubts she will be shortly. She smiles "Would you like some tea."

He shakes his head "No I'm fine" She nods "Are you OK you left school and never came back" He sighs "I had a lot on my mind" She nods and they both sit down on the couch. He sighs "Orihime I've been thinking about this ever since we got back from Hueco Mundo but now I think is the right time but here goes.

I know you have feelings for me" She's about to speak but he lifts his hand "Let me finish" She nods so he continues "Now I'm not the smartest person in the world I only realised it when I came to rescue you now knowing that I have to tell you that unfortunately I don't feel the same way about you" He sees her face drop.

He sighs "I'm sorry Orihime your an amazing girl you really are your smart, beautiful, caring and one of the kindest people I know and I want you to be happy but I'm not that person I'm sorry" She sighs "Why can't you love me Kurosaki-Kun I love you" He sighs "Because I have feelings for someone else" She starts to cry "It's Rukia isn't it" He raises his eyebrow "Rukia I admit were close but she's more of a sister then anything" She looks up "Then who Yoruichi, Rangiku or someone else from the Soul Society."

He sighs "It's none of them" She looks at him "Then who" He stands up "I can't say" She stands up "Why not" He sighs "I'm sorry" He walks to the front door "I'm sorry Orihime I really am I hope you find someone you deserve to be happy" After saying that he leaves and she sits back on the couch crying.

The next day when Ichigo arrived at school Orihime was nowhere to be seen she's never late so she must have stayed off. He sighs "She must have taken it hard but it was the only way. Yet again Tatsuki continued her glaring and damn it was pissing him off if she was a guy he would have knocked that look right off her face.

After school Tatsuki went to visit Orihime with her homework. She knocks on the door when the door opens Tatsuki sees Orihime still in her pj's and sees that she's been crying she sighs "What's wrong Hime" Orihime doesn't answer her she just steps aside and Tatsuki enters. When they sit down and after 10 minutes of Tatsuki trying to get out of her what's wrong Orihime finally tells her everything.

Tatsuki is now even more pissed with Ichigo "I'm going to kill him first he hides the fact he had a secret life as a soul reaper and by the way I'm angry with you also for not telling me and now he breaks your heart."

Orihime sighs "I was trying to protect you Tatsuki-Chan and as for Kurosaki-Kun I can't help it if he has feelings for someone else whoever it is but he's still my friend" Tatsuki groans "Some friend" After an hour Tatsuki finally leaves just like before she heads to Ichigo's this time she's not as nice when Yuzu opens the door she barges past her and storms up the stairs to Ichigo's and barges into his room.

As soon at Ichigo turns around Tatsuki starts laying into him and Ichigo lets her do it. After five minutes which have resulted in Ichigo having two black eyes cuts on his cheeks and a busted lip she stands there looking at him with fire in her eyes.

"How could you do that to Orihime she's been in love with you for years" Ichigo looks down and thinks so this is why she's here. She sighs "You are the biggest arsehole I've ever seen you make me sick Orihime cried all day because of you" He finally stands up "I'm sorry but I don't love her if you hate me forever that's fine" She punches him in the face again and then leaves.

He closes the door and then slides down after a few seconds he feels his eyes watering he's actually crying "I can't believe this is happening the one person I have feelings for hates my guts".

The next day Ichigo's different people comment on his face but he ignores them all he even ignores Keigo just punching him and walking away. For the whole day he sits away from his friends at lunch he stays inside and when school ends he walks home by himself. For the next few days the same thing happens. Orihime's notices the change in Ichigo she even saw his face and knows that Tatsuki did it and when she asked her she didn't even deny it actually admitting she enjoyed it.

Of course when she said that Ichigo overheard it which made his depression skyrocket to new heights he got detention everyday for the next week getting into several fights not all of them were started by him but he always ended them. The following week it's lunchtime and Ichigo is by himself he's on the roof but it's to cold to be out but that doesn't stop Ichigo but Uryu notices him head to the roof so he follows him.

"When he gets up there he sees Ichigo looking over the rail looking out at nothing he sighs "Kurosaki" Ichigo doesn't turn around "What do you want Uryu" He sighs "What are you doing up here all alone" Ichigo sighs "Why do you care" Uryu sighs "Because and although I hate saying this you are my friend so what's wrong with you."

Ichigo finally turns around "Were friends now are we" Uryu sighs "I heard about you and Orihime." Ichigo nods "I see what's your point" Uryu lifts up his glasses. "She still cares for you and seeing you like this is making her sad who is it you love someone else Is that it."

When Ichigo doesn't reply Uryu sighs "Who is it "Rukia" Ichigo sighs "Why does everyone always assume it's Rukia we are friend nothing more and before you ask it's nobody in the soul society" Uryu nods "Do I know who this person is"Ichigo's about to speak when his soul reaper badge beeps he presses the badge and leaves his body and Shunpo's away. Uryu sighs He sits his body against the railings and then leaves.

Ichigo makes quick work to the two hollows cutting the first one down before it even knew he was there the second didn't last long either. Ichigo is about to leave when he sees a spirit of a boy hiding In the climbing frame at the park where the hollows were Ichigo has never been good with sensing Reisetsu but he can hear the sound of crying his sisters did it enough when his mother did and he did it a lot also.

He approaches the kid "Hey kid it's OK to come out now the hollows are gone. He's surprised that two spirits come out a little boy and a girl about the same age he sighs "Where are your parents."

Then he looks closer he knows these two kids many years ago they were taken from a park and there bodies were later found in that very same park buried under the climbing frame they were hiding from earlier it makes sense that the second Hollow was sent to hell maybe he was one of the kidnappers.

He gets on his knees "Your safe now I will set you free you will go to the soul society it's a nice place you can wait there for your parents" The girl cries "I miss my mummy" Ichigo sighs "I know how you feel I also lost my mother but you will meet them again are you ready.

The boy takes the girls hand and he uses the end of his sword and touches both there heads giving them a Konso each. They both say thank you before they disappear. He stands up and sighs when he turns around he sees Chad "Hey Ichigo" Ichigo sighs "Did you follow me" He's surprised when Chad says "Yes."

He sighs "Why" He then sees Chad had his body on his back like he's giving him a piggyback ride" Ichigo sighs and re-enters his body. Chad nods "Those two seemed familiar" Ichigo nods "Yea they were taken from this very park and then killed and buried here" Chad nods "You gave them a Konso" Ichigo nods "Yes so why are you here Chad."

Chad sighs "To talk with you Orihime told me that you spoke to her and that you have feelings for someone who isn't in the soul society" Ichigo sighs "I've already had this discussion with Uryu" Chad nods "But he doesn't know you like I do" Ichigo sighs "Chad what the hell" Chad sighs "It's Tatsuki isn't it that's why your so miserable" Ichigo sighs "It doesn't matter anymore she hates me so that's the end of it so drop it I'm tired I'm going home" Chad nods "Night Ichigo" Ichigo doesn't reply he just returns to his body then leaves for home.

The next day Ichigo arrives at school he hardly slept last night six times he had to get up and kill hollows it's driving him insane and it's also causing him to have little sleep. So as usual he's in a foul mood. When he arrives in school he sees Orihime and Tatsuki talking so he just ignores them and acts like there not even there.

He sits down at his desk and groans he yawns several weeks now the same thing has been happening Hollows appearing one after the other occassionly he gets there and the hollows dead probably Uryu or Chad. Orihime still hates killing hollows even if there trying to kill her in a way he doesn't know why she decided to join them because she hates fighting but words alone wouldn't have saved Rukia and words alone didn't rescue her either.

Meanwhile Orihime and Tatsuki and still talking. Orihime sighs "Kurosaki-Kun's in a bad way just by looking at him I can tell he's not sleeping Chad says he's fighting Hollows constantly" Tatsuki shrugs "Why do you care after what he did to you who cares what he does" Orihime sighs "Tatsuki-Chan I still care about him even if he doesn't feel the same about me I think I might know who he likes I know Sado-Kun knows but he won't tell me."

Tatsuki raises an eyebrow "You and Sado seem to be getting close" Orihime blushes "Were just friends" Tatsuki smirks "Right so who do you think it is this mystery girl" Orihime smiles I think it's You" Tatsuki looks shocked "Me" Orihime nods.