. . .

Renji rested his head on the back of his seat and looked out the window. Checking his phone again for the time, he turned the volume of his music up a little more and folded his arms over his chest, as if trapping his hands in his armpits would keep him from checking the time again in a few minutes.

'Only half an hour left now.'

He'd been on the train long enough that he should've been lulled to sleep by now with its rhythmic humming, but with legs as long as his, he felt rather cramped in his chair – not to mention he was restless with anticipation.

He and Rukia had this tradition of traveling out to see Ichigo every time there was a scheduled school break. Of course, he wasn't in college anymore, but Ichigo was. Ever since he'd gone off to school in a different prefecture, they all didn't see each other as often anymore. It's been almost two years now of seeing each other only once every few months. He knew Rukia, Orihime, Chad, and all the rest missed Ichigo too – hell, even Ishida did – but sometimes he felt like they hadn't taken it as hard as he had. Renji got on with his life and everything, but to be honest, he missed Ichigo terribly from day to day, even after this long.

Anyway, it was that time of year again, and Renji had come out to visit Ichigo for the week. He was actually a little nervous about it. The thing is, whenever Ichigo couldn't come home himself over break, usually he and Rukia would go out to visit him together. This time though, Rukia had gone out of the country with her brother – read: Renji's boss – for some business meeting. Renji's going to be alone with Ichigo all week.

Ichigo was expecting him, so he'd likely be waiting at the station when he arrived. Renji clenched his eyes shut and half-dreaded the coming week. It wasn't that he thought things would be awkward just the two of them – whenever they met they always fell back into the natural swing of their friendship. It wasn't that he doubted his own resolve either. It's just that the distance and the time apart hasn't been enough to cool him off, and that worried him.

Renji sighed and opened his eyes again.

'Twenty-six minutes…'

. . .

He'd taken the early train, so when he finally arrived at his stop, it was only about three in the afternoon even after such a long ride. After swinging his bag onto his shoulder and pulling his headset down around his neck, Renji got out onto the platform and wandered into the station, eyes scanning eagerly for a familiar and sorely missed flash of bright hair.

It didn't take him long to find Ichigo, since he was waiting near Renji's platform on a bench. Ichigo seemed to have seen him first, because he stood up as he approached, hands in his pockets and that same old half-smile on his face. Renji perked up at the sight of him.

He didn't think he'd ever been happier to see anything than Ichigo standing there in his blue long-sleeve and joggers, as handsome and wonderful as ever. If he hadn't known it before, he knew then that there was no hope for him. If it was still this bad after this long, there really was no hope whatsoever.

"Hey!" he called, speeding up towards him with a grin. Ichigo raised a hand and let the tired quirk of his lip stretch a bit more. Renji accepted his fate and smiled like a loon.

"Hey dude," Ichigo greeted, stepping forward for a quick embrace, putting one arm around Renji and slapping his back. Renji ruffled his hair, and Ichigo snorted, pulling back and smoothing it out.

"Ready ta' hang out?"

Ichigo huffed a laugh, ducking his head and letting his hands go back into his pockets. "Totally. Did you eat already, or…?"

"Ahh, I could eat."

"Cool."

Renji followed as Ichigo turned and led them off to roam the area. It was mostly on him to initiate conversation, since as Ichigo had matured, he'd mellowed out even more and talked even less – Renji had to rile him up a bit to bring out his old hothead self, which didn't take long. They had a way of bringing out the best in each other like that - y'know, by picking at each other endlessly.

After hanging around into the night, they called a late-running cab service and finally went back to Ichigo's apartment. By that point Ichigo was chatting with him easily and the feeling of dread that had earlier plagued Renji had dissipated.

When they made it up to Ichigo's place, he unlocked the door to let Renji in so he could finally set his stuff down. He'd been carrying his bag around with him all night, not that it had been very cumbersome.

It wasn't until he came in and looked around that he realized he hadn't been in Ichigo's house in ages. In fact, this wasn't even the same apartment as last time. The last few times Ichigo had had a break, he'd come home instead of having them come down to visit. He must have changed residence since the last time Renji had come over.

Renji took his shoes off and lined then up by the wall next to the door, watching as Ichigo passed him easily into the dark. As he flicked the light on in the kitchen, he sniffed and blinked blearily, seeming tired.

Renji smirked, looking around Ichigo's front room, immediately noticing that it was just as clean and organized as Ichigo's bedroom had been years ago back at the clinic. There was nothing here other than the furniture, any personal items that would've been lying around in a normal home having apparently been stowed away.

"Sleep wherever you want tonight," Ichigo hummed absently, checking his cupboards to assess his dishware, taking out a glass or two to inspect.

Renji threw his bag on the couch and then himself after it, pleased when it bounced beneath him comfortably. He folded his arms behind his head. "Sweet."

"Dude, c'mon. Get up and help."

Even though it was already late, they'd planned to stay up and hang out, drink some beers and eat junk food and watch the weird late-night TV shows. Renji made himself comfortable, considering the merits of doing what Ichigo said. "What should I do?"

"Uh, I guess you can go get the snacks."

Renji picked his head up and watched Ichigo move around in the pale light of the kitchen, the fluffy bits of his hair on the top glowing yellow like they did in the sun. "You don't have anything here? Ichigo, what the hell, you knew I was coming."

"Whatever, maybe I forgot," Ichigo shot back, and when Renji complained more for no other reason than to be a jerk, he groaned, "Ugh, quit it. At least now you can pick out what you want."

Renji considered this for a second and then leapt up. "Spot me a thousand." When Ichigo didn't turn around, seeming not to have heard him, instead looking through his freezer with one fist on his hip, Renji repeated again, "Dude, split it."

Ichigo brushed him off. "Okay, okay, just gimme' a-" He moved back away from the freezer and sneezed, drawing his attention. He sniffed again and swiped at his nose, and Renji desperately tried not to balk at the realization that nothing had changed - nothing at all had changed. Everything Ichigo did was still the cutest thing he'd ever seen.

"Think I'm coming down with something."

Renji smirked widely then to cover his tracks. "I thought only idiots got colds in the summer," he teased, then frowned and hummed in confusion, "or wait… is it, 'idiots don't get colds?'"

Predictably, Ichigo shot him a glare and opened his mouth to retort, but was distracted by a heavy thump. Renji blinked as a large cat bounded down the hall and up to Ichigo's feet. Ichigo huffed and shook his head, then leaned down to greet it and scratch its ear.

"Whatever, it'll clear up," Ichigo dismissed, pulling his wallet out to toss a bill on the counter for him. He sniffed again and turned back to the freezer unconcernedly and waved a hand a bit.

"Go, I'll make some coconut ice."

"Yes!" Renji crowed, snatched up the bill, and got his jacket on to head out for their party supplies.