title. that beautiful girl, she's a beautiful girl
summary. in which, Tatsuki watches her favorite drama unfold.
note. yes, late, late V Day fic for FLOL. sigh, boo. comments/reviews are HEARTS and CHOCOLATES, yes? inspire me, yes? :D
disclaimer. bleach; disclaimed.

One fine and dandy day, we find Tatsuki, proud and noble.

"Life is like a domino effect," declared Tatsuki in all seriousness, as though she was participating in a declamation contest.

In front of Tatsuki was Orihime, staring at her best friend with a look of child-like awe, caramel eyes wide with admiration. She clutched a big heart-shaped homemade chocolate covered in a neon pink and dizzying bright orange wrapper, with periwinkle ribbon with hibiscus prints wrapped around it prettily. The color combination made Tatsuki cringe, but she liked (secretly) the color and design of the ribbon.

Tatsuki smiled to herself smugly; she was Cool and she knew it.

"Move forward. And the rest will follow."

"Tatsuki-chan…" started Orihime hoarsely, teary-eyed. "Y-You're so cool."

"I know." Tatsuki smirked with metaphorical sparkles surrounding her.

Orihime pumped a fist in the air. "You're right, Tatsuki-chan!" Tatsuki nodded, very satisfied. "But… I don't know how to play domino."

The metaphorical sparkling sparkles vanished. "O… Orihime!"

"Hm?" said the pretty, pretty girl with a smile.

Tatsuki slumped in despair. "Forget it. Now, listen to me very closely."

Orihime nodded fervently. "Hai, Cool-sama, hai!"

"Today is…?"

Doe eyes widened slowly as the thought sank in. Color flooded Orihime's cheeks, spreading over her nose and cheeks. "Valentine's Day…" she murmured, eyelashes lowering to hide her eyes.

Tatsuki brandished a finger at her. "It's your chance!"

Orihime's thick lashes lifted, her expression frantic. "B-B-B-But…"

"No buts! Like I said, life's like a domino effect: push forward and the rest will follow. If you keep on hesitating, how will you be able to move forward? Take a step forward!"

"You make is sound so easy…" Orihime groused mournfully, scrunching her face childishly while clutching the chocolate to her chest.

"Jeez! It is easy! I taught you some moves, right?" Orihime's blush deepened at Tatsuki's wiggling brows.

"But…"

"It's our senior year already. Next year, we'll be college students. You're lucky if you end up in the same university with him."

Orihime bit her lower lip. "Mmm…"

"Orihime."

The titian-haired girl closed her eyes, breathed – inhale, exhale – and curled her hands around the chocolate determinedly. Orihime opened her eyes. "Tatsuki-chan is right."

Tatsuki showed her a thumb's up sign with a wink.

Inspired and determined, Orihime nodded and furrowed her brows cutely. "All I have to do is look at him," she raised the chocolate above her head, "give him the chocolate and say, 'I like you very much, please accept my feelings, Ku—""

"Huh? You like someone, Inoue?"

Orihime felt as though she was hit by a thunderbolt. Next to her, Tatsuki grinned gleefully. She needed a bucket of popcorn – now and quick.

"Who is it?"

Orihime whirled around clumsily, her long flowing hair sweeping around her shoulders. "Ku-Kurosaki-kun!"

Kurosaki arched an eyebrow. Orihime realized how her words sounded. Her face grew redder, like her hair. "I mean, I mean-" She flailed, panicking, her arms moving about her like windmills."Yo~ Kurosaki-kuuun~"

The boy smiled, almost a grin, in amusement. His eyes were bright behind his messy orange hair. "Heh. Yo, Inoue." His gaze dropped to the chocolate she was holding and back to her flushed face. "Well, whoever he is, he's a lucky guy."

Their eyes crossed and locked. He grinned lopsidedly; she felt her heart flutter and dance.

"Good luck."

Oh her heart, be very still, don't jump, don't dance, don't beat too much. "O-Oh yes! T-Thank y-you very much!"

Ichigo stared at her under his hooded lids for a while, eyes dark and burning, his face neutral— forced neutrality, Tatsuki thought with glee. For Orihime's part, she was uncomfortable under his intense gaze but it didn't stop her from staring back at him. The longer he looked at her, the harder she blushed and the more she realized that...

Oh I'm so in love, so in love…

And then, the three of them jumped at the dull sound of morning bell. He blinked and averted his gaze.

"That's the bell," he said.

"Un."

For a second, their eyes met. Kurosaki smiled slightly before turning to go, his posture laid-back, his gait unhurried.

…

…

Orihime slumped forward in relief. "Uwah, Tatsuki-chaaaan…"

A sigh and face palm were Tatsuki's responses. This drama (or comedy, she later considered) seemed to require more bucket of popcorn.

"That was so close! My heart, oh my heart is going to jump out of my chest!" Orihime whimpered, hugging the heart-shaped chocolate to her cheek. Tatsuki shook her head at her friend's dramatic antics.

"It doesn't have legs, don't worry. Let's go." She gestured to the flustered honey-colored haired to follow her. "Don't forget." Tatsuki reminded her.

Orihime lowered her thick lashes and replied softly, "…Hai."

"Come again?"

"H-HAI!"

…

…

_&.

…

…

Tatsuki-chaaaan~ why oh why did you leave me?

In her own little world, Orihime began to sob mentally, dramatically.

She was bent over, peeking through a gap of the rooftop door, watching Ichigo, Sado, Ishida, Tatsuki, Rukia, Renji, Mizuiro and Keigo eat their lunch. From her hiding spot, she can hear their loud, slightly violent but playful, banter.

Mou… I just can't walk in there and… and… and…

She gripped the chocolate tighter in her hands, slumping more.

Tatsuki-chaaaan… Little by little, Orihime felt her confidence crumble into pieces. Self-doubt and insecurity began to worm its way up to her heart.

Well, she told herself, comforting herself, there's next year, right? Her brown eyes lit up. Right! I can try again next year! She nodded to herself, proud at her epiphany. I just could not do it in front of everyone and embarrass myself and most importantly, Kurosaki-kun.

She slowly straightened up, her gaze downcast. Right. Definitely, next year! With one last glance through the gap, she turned to the stairs, standing at the edge of the step. Orihime looked down at the chocolate she made which made Tatsuki proud, for she prepared something normal – normal, which in Tatsuki's vocabulary meant 'no strange ingredients'.

Orihime smiled to herself; she had sewed a customized ribbon for this occasion, and she was proud of it. Too bad… her efforts were about to go unrecognized.

Do not despair! Next year's… another year!

She was about to step down to the next step when the door slammed open loudly, making her jump on her spot. Breeze rushed in and her hair flew about around her violently. She blinked and pushed her hair off her face with difficulty; her hair had grown very long and thick now.

A hand grabbed the neck of her school blouse.

"And where are you going, huh?" A menacing voice came behind her.

Orihime blinked. "Eh?" She glanced over her shoulder with foreboding.

Tatsuki gave her a sinister, knowing grin.

Oh no…

"Let's go."

Orihime floundered clumsily. "Oh no, oh no! T-T-Tatsuki-chan— Ack!" She squealed when Tatsuki gave a strong yank, dragging her backward. "No, no, stop, Tatsuki-chan!" she cried out, her arms flailing in front of her, digging her heels onto the ground. But Tatsuki had always been strong— she was strongest girl in Karakura-cho!— so the Strongest Girl in Karakura did not yield and continued to drag Orihime across the length of the rooftop towards the stunned and confused group.

"Oi!" Ichigo was frowning. "You're hurting Inoue, Tatsuki!"

Tatsuki rolled her eyes.

Hearing her former-crush-now-love-of-her-life's voice, Orihime struggled harder. She knew her face was very red now and her heart, oh no, her heart was racing in the speed of 180 mph. And it was as fast as Shinkansen N700.

No! No! No! Aliens, save me! Where is your Yellow Sonic Beam that will take me up to your spaceship?

Ichigo had stood up, followed by the rest of their curious friends.

I am… doomed! Zombies, save me!

But no one came to her rescue. Poor Princess.

Tatsuki stopped abruptly, causing Orihime to tip backward. She flailed her arms to steady herself. Fortunately, Tatsuki had grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to face the rest. Limply, Orihim's shoulders sagged, her head flopping forward, arms hanging lifelessly at her sides.

Ichigo frowned. "Inoue, are you alright?"

The girl visibly flinched but kept her head bowed, long rich burnt orange hair hiding her face.

"Orihime, do it," hissed Tatsuki.

At the sound of her best friend's voice, Orihime whirled around, her hair flying around her delicate face and shoulder, and looked up to Tatsuki, her eyes teary and pleading. Tatsuki snorted. "Your teary eyed act will not work on me this time."

Orihime changed tactics.

"Neither your puppy eyes."

Tatsuki shook her head and spun her around again. As gently as she could, she shoved the flustered girl forward. Orihime squeaked, tottering but later caught herself. Through her long hair, she saw a pair of male shoes and assumed that she was standing in front of Kurosaki-kun.

Do it!

Flustered, heart pounding and panic-stricken, eyes closed and wanting to get over with this quickly because her heart was going to jump out of her chest and it will, it really will! – Orihime thrust the heart-shaped chocolate forward and stuttered loudly,

"H-Happy Valentine's D-Day!"

Gasps filled the tense air, followed by stifling silence.

Orihime blinked at the male shoes and morbidly curious, she looked up and peeked through her messy bangs.

Her jaw dropped in horror, mirroring Tatsuki and Rukia's shock.

…

…

_&.

…

…

"R-Renji-kun!"