Right before Urahara sends Ichigo (and Sado and Ishida) to Hueco Mundo, Ichigo asks him to look after his family. Urahara asks about his friends, to which Ichigo replies that he'll apologize to them later. There is a brief pause after the three of them leave, then Urahara says, "What he said. How's about you all come out now". Lo, Tatsuki, Mizuiro, and Keigo peak out from behind a rock, having seen the entire thing. Tatsuki looks pensively at the spot where Ichigo left. "Well then," Urahara says, "I guess I should do my part as well".

239: Winged Eagles - 8/16/06

Tatsuki, in front of Mizuiro and Keigo, confronts Ichigo about Orihime's disappearance. She's looked everywhere, she says, but can neither find her nor feel her presence, but "you [Ichigo] know where Orihime went, don't you?" Ichigo tries to brush it off, but Tatsuki pins him against a window and demands that he be straight with her. When Ichigo denies knowing anything again, Tatsuki admits that she's seen Ichigo in Shinigami form, fighting with the others against the Hollows (she doesn't use those terms, because shestill doesn't know anything about such things). She pleads with him a third time to tell her. Ichigo hesitates, stares her straight in the face, and says that it has nothing to do with her. Tatsuki punches Ichigo in the face, bashing his head against the window and sending glass flying everywhere. Keigo rushes up and restrains Tatsuki, while Mizuiro asks Ichigo if he's okay. Still mad, Tatsuki starts screaming at Ichigo. "Just what am I to you, anyway?! Aren't we friends? Aren't we nakama?" She breaks down and tells him that he "shouldn't be...hiding anything...from me...idiot...". Mizuiro and Keigo look on sympathetically. Ichigo gets up and tells Mizuiro and Keigo to take care of Tatsuki. As he walks off, he tells them not to get involved in what he's doing. Tatsuki just stares down at nothing as Ichigo leaves.

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