Author's Notes: Written a long time ago along with two other stories for Ichigo-Tatsuki, which I became a fan of after becoming inspired by the works of other English and Japanese fans. Enjoy.

Just Barely

Late at night inside the university library, Ichigo and Tatsuki sat across from each other, each with numerous binders and textbooks spread out before them. Around them were students in various states of preparedness, sleepiness, and despair. Suddenly, the hand that was scratching the side of her face was joined by the other as Tatsuki threw back her head and let out a groan from the depleted depths of her soul, falling face forward until her cheeks were pressed against a mishmash of highlight marks and underlines. "I can't take this anymore, Ichigo… why can't it all just be over?"

Ichigo barely looked up from his lecture notes, turning a page and continuing to scribble. "It'll be over soon. As soon as it's done, we'll go out for barbecue."

A wide grin broke out across her face at the thought of sizzling meat and cold refreshments. Morale considerably lifted, she look up hopefully at her partner. "Your treat?"

"Only if you beat the class average."

Tatsuki sighed into her handwriting. "Stingy."

"That was the deal."

Several minutes passed by, the silence punctuated by the scrawl of writing and the occasional turn of the page. Tatsuki, still resting her head against the table, wondered just what she had gotten herself into when she applied for the same university as Ichigo, which her teacher, college advisor, and even parents said was beyond her reach. She recalls painfully the days leading up to the entrance exam; studying until she was bleeding from the ears (figuratively speaking) and catching a cold from falling asleep at the desk. She remembers the fateful day when they stood together in front of the giant billboards, scanning columns and columns of numbers and finding theirs next to each other. She remembers how he grabbed and lifted her into the air, spinning her as she screamed with joy. Then she remembers why she applied to the same university and her resolution that one day, when she's ready, she'll explain the reason to him.

With an imperceptible smile on her face, Tatsuki was about to gather herself and return to studying when Ichigo spoke.

"Hey Tats."

"Mhmmmm?"

"We're both graduating in two years, right?"

At the thought of units still to be taken, she felt the migraines return. "Yes, that was the plan."

"Wanna get married after we graduate?"

Tatsuki opened her eyes and sat up. Ichigo had taken off his reading glasses, slipping them into his breast pocket, and was now looking straight at her. For several moments it was all she could do to stare at her childhood-friend-turned-kinda-boyfriend as he waited for her answer. Then a light bulb went on in her sleep-deprived brain and she exhaled, releasing the breath she didn't she had been holding and started to chuckle. "Wow… haha, nice try there, Ichigo. It's April Fool's Day. You nearly had me though, real sly to wait until I was tired!"

Her awkward laughter gradually faded as Ichigo stood and began to collect his things, a ghost of a smile on his own face. "Well, who knows…" As he turned to leave, he pointed over his shoulder. When Tatsuki turned and looked, her eyes widened, and a deep color began to spread in her cheeks.

The clock told 12:01 AM.