Summary :Renji, a shinigami who already closed his heart because so many old :wounds, met Ichigo, a teen who got a warning that at his 17th birthday he :will got killed, and he seek Renji for safety. Renji, upon saw Ichigo, with :time passed, realized that Ichigo was his soulmate, his destiny. With the :treat became closer with days passed to Ichigo's 17th birthday, could :Renji saved the boy…or will he lose him and must lived alone forever?
Warning : this story may contain Yaoi or boy x boy story, if you don't like it click : back button but if you wanted to read it, please read it. ^^ and I am really : sorry if there's many, many grammar mistakes in this story. I've never : really good at writing English fanfic.
:this story maybe also contain OOC ness and sexual relationship.
Disclaimer : As much I want it, I much say BLEACH is not mine v
His stalker appeared again.
With a loud beat of his heart and a strangled breath, Kurosaki Ichigo ran between crowds in Shibuya, Tokyo.
He could felt their presence.
"Where?" He whispered from his gritted teeth. His gaze swept around the faces who looked blurry while he was still running. His stalker could be anyone. A teenager who leaned against the building, a man who talked at his cellphone, two girls who gossiped around, a woman who looked bought expensive clothes, or a mother who dragged his child from one store to another.
"God, where must I go?" Ichigo muttered, hoped no answer for his question. The only thing he could do was just run.
The summer weather really felt so hot. The sun that will be set down soon shone a gold red light above buildings behind Ichigo. The place looked so crowded, many people just talked and walked, minded their own business but for Ichigo, their voices were just like a ghost's voice who gave him a warning.
'I don't need to be warn' Ichigo thought desperately. His sneaker shoes collided with the concrete street while he was running. Ichigo knew he was being stalked. Again. Ichigo felt someone's gaze stabbed his back, even when he ran to search a safety, which he knew he would not find.
A guy who walked with hold his bag being bumped with Ichigo. That guy cursed to him, but Ichigo only could raise his hand and yelled "I'm sorry! Sorry!". He didn't have a time. He didn't have a time to being polite. Didn't have a time to feel afraid just because he made someone upset. Didn't have a time to search for a hiding place. For being without a looking gaze.
That modern city was being surrounded with people who wanted to enjoy a summer holiday. The front of the shops being decorated uniquely and beautifully, made like an modern shop like the city they're belong.
Ichigo already walked around the town around one week; search for a running place from the street of Tokyo, which really crowded, but not crowded enough to hide him, made it suddenly felt so scary. Being raised there, Ichigo honestly liked that big town's appearance, but these past weeks there were so many things which changed.
He must admit, thought Ichigo, there were so many things changed since two years ago. At his 15th birthday, he received a letter from his mother who he never knew. She gave a warning that at his 17th birthday, his real father will come for him, stole his paranormal ability, and then killed him.
Now with only three weeks from his 17th birthday, Ichigo's life became more terrifying. Especially since someone pushed him from the station to the railway at Tokyo's station, at time with the arrival of the train. Ichigo could dodge it, thank god for his Samaritan speed, but since that day, he felt eyes spied him, followed all of his moves.
Ichigo thought he would be safe if he hide at this crowd city, made it will disguise him more.
Now he knew he was wrong.
Ichigo grabbed a lamp pole with his right hand, used it to swing his body to the corner of the street. When Ichigo's hand touched the cold black metal, his head filled with memories from people who already touched the pole before him.
The visions changed fast around his head, until he almost couldn't tell the difference of one another. An old man, several women, boys, craves their initial to the black paint, drunk people who leaned at the pole, a lover who leaned in, their lips being locked at a hot, passionate kiss— Ichigo saw all of them in a fast vision although he already tried to prevent it.
Not now. Thought Ichigo wildly, tried with all his force to usher the paranormal's shadows which flooded his head. Usually, Ichigo could manage that flood of visions which filled his head every time he touched a thing for a moment. He learned to stop, let the visions appeared and vanished with their own time. Today, he couldn't be disturbed. Not for just a second.
Ichigo shook his head, tripped, swung his arms to balance his body, then walked around the street hurriedly. Went in and out the crowds while passed shop after shop. Which one? Where he must go? Where he will be safe?
Then there was a soft which seemed to attract his attention other than the others. A pale blue paint, a gray curtain, and a front window which shone with a gold painting written The Ancient Sea. His sneaker shoes slipped, and then planted firmly when he went into the shop hurriedly. His instinct drove him to choose this shop between the others, and he was not in the mood to argue. Beside of that, the most important matter, he was out of the street, from the looking gaze before anybody spied him could find him again.
The bell above the door rang when Ichigo stepped at the 'welcome' door-mat. An old lady behind the counter looked at him with a suspicious gaze while nodded her head briefly. Ichigo couldn't blame her when she showed an unhappy face like that when she saw him. He must be looked like a half crazy person now. God knew that it was exactly what he was felt now. Breathless, afraid, and confused.
For God's sake, where he can go?
What he must do?
"Welcome" that lady said, even thought her intonation not warm at all. "If I can help you search for something, just ask"
Sure. Thought Ichigo frustrate. He looked behind his shoulder towards the big window which leads to the street. Help me to know the reason why someone chases me.
While gulped, Ichigo walked without destination around the corridor which filled with so many things, and let his gaze swept across the rack and property's boxes which filled with antique things. There was a sea theme for every things at that shop—that's where the shop got its name, thought Ichigo. He carefully tried to not touch anything, if he didn't want to being dragged at another paranormal visions. Ichigo walked behind the shop while kept his head bowed and his shoulder slumped, with a hope he could suddenly vanished, even though he knew it was futile.
Usually, Ichigo will prevent the antique shops. With his 'ability' he has, antique things always consumed his energy. Too much memories. Too much energy step which being left by the owner from the ancestors. But today, without knew why, he had choose this shop between another shops to hide.
The air inside the shop smelt like lavender and chicken soup. A strange combination, but without a reason, felt so relaxed. To stabilize his heart beat, Ichigo need one-two minutes to concentrate. Forced himself to took a deep breath, slowly. A panic feeling which already became his close friend recently, wrapped around his stomach, and growled to threaten him, Ichigo wouldn't give up. Wouldn't fell down broken. Not here. Not now. Ichigo didn't have time. He must thought. Must searched for a way to manage the sudden change which already became his part life.
Just three weeks ago, Ichigo studied at Karakura high school, his high school. He already made his reputation as a bad ass at the school, a smart student, a great athlete, everything a student could be dreamt. And suddenly, everything was destroyed.
The bell above the door rang again, Ichigo stopped and frozen; half hide behind boxes filled with scrimshaw craves and colorful glass balls to decorate the fisherman's net. Ichigo peeked from behind a chest statue Ancient Mariner which being craved from a wood and get polished brightly, then took a relief breath when he saw two old women talked cheerfully when they entered the shop.
Okay. Anybody who stalked him, Ichigo sure surely not this women. That was impossible for them to match his speed. Not as fast as Ichigo when he was ran the Main Street a minutes ago. Because nobody entered the shop after these women, maybe he already successful to run away from is stalker.
But even thought that was true, it wouldn't be long. This city was not so big. "Stupid" Ichigo muttered, turned his body to face the farthest rack behind the shop. "If you can't be run away at Tokyo, what make you think you can do it here?"
"Excuse me" that shop keeper appeared beside him and asked. "Are you talking to me?"
"No, sorry" Ichigo answered and forced himself to smile, even thought he sure his smile looked as scary as his feeling. "I just say my thought out loud".
"Okay" the lady who looked like she was seventy year old, wore a long red kaftan above black pants. Her white hair, being tied neatly Francis mode behind her head, her blue eyes looked at Ichigo for a long time, before finally asked. "Since then, I saw you looked at the scrimshaw, there is something I could show to you?"
"Emm, no, thank you. I'm really just saw the collection" and hide from anybody outside that door. Maybe stayed for too long in one place really not too safe. But it looked Ichigo couldn't ordered himself to walk out from the door. He must stayed here. But how long?
"Okay. But please be careful between this antique things." Said the shopkeeper, and calmly walked away to offer a help for the two old women who now argued a tea save boxes from a oak wood.
Ichigo sighed and looked at the racks between him which being filled with many things. He asked to himself, was that lady minded if he stayed at his shop, hide for one or two months. But after he thought about that, Ichigo realized that hiding was not the best solution. Whoever his stalker, he surely will find Ichigo again. And if he kept stayed at this shop, Ichigo will be trapped.
But wasn't he already being trapped? He not safe at his home, and ran away really not helped the situation either. What he needed was answers. Answers which really logical. Answers about his mother who called from nowhere to warn him about the danger that Ichigo itself didn't know how to fight.
Ichigo walked further from the front window and walked further to the back of the shop which have a dark appearance. Near the cashier table, that three women were talking with each other. Their voices were a state sound which really relaxed but annoyed at the same time.
While dodged the sunlight, Ichigo walked to the dark corner which being filled with the antique things which not really interested. Cups and bowls being united in a heap, and a large metal plate being placed under a dim lamp.
Nothing could attract anybody's attention. Nothing could pull out anybody's imagination or knowledge. But, not knew why, Ichigo felt like he was being dragged to the back rack. His gaze placed at the edge of an ivory knife which half hidden beside the metal plate. His fingers itched to touch the knife even when in his mind tried to prevent it. A touch and he knew the memories which being locked to the knife will be seen. He will see the people who already held the knife, used it, and brought the knife.
Even like that…Ichigo kept moved closer, his breath hitched while his gaze being locked to the knife. There was something about the knife. Something called Ichigo.
The held of the ivory tusk was craved difficultly, even thought his corners already being eaten with times passed. Ichigo leaned to the front, his heart beat fast. He analyzed the decoration at the yellowish thing and acknowledges it as a dolphin craves who walked around the waves.
"A pirate maybe" Ichigo whispered, his voice not more than a whisper. While being analyze the edge of the knife was shining, like all of this time neglected in the dim shop, waited Ichigo to come and find it.
That thought made he frozen for several seconds. Was this his reason chose this shop as a hideout? Was his paranormal ability become stronger? Was he already managing his ability further? Was that just another piece from the riddle which being around him for these past several weeks?
"Dear God, I don't know how much I still can manage this" Ichigo could manage his 'touch' and 'saw' ability. But he didn't want another ability. Even thought that, Ichigo still couldn't prevent the demand to touch the knife. Either because it was a fate or just a coincidence which made him being there. That knife surely kept something. He took a shaking breath once more and his hand circled around the held of the knife, pulled the knife out to the light.
That cold and craved ivory bone heated at his hand. Ichigo tightened his grip, took a deep breath and waited, tried to be ready for whatever which will be happen. But nothing could made him ready.
Suddenly Ichigo's world moved, destroyed, and back. After saw so many visions which were so real all of his life, he already used to this. But this time, Ichigo thought when he felt the wind blew off his short hair and sea water splashed to his face, his experience felt different.
More real.
More direct.
That crowded antique shop vanished became fogs, and Ichigo startled when he fallen into his vision.
People yelled around him, a shriek rivaled the wind's howl and a waves crashed which hit the ship.
Night without the moon as dark as the inside of the bag. But, there was a spark of light. The lamp which shone wildly because the wind, the shadow moved around at the ship with the faces a ship's crew who desperately tried to save the ship from the storm.
Ichigo turned his body around slowly. He was a separate part from the part of the scene. At one side of the ship, there was another ship which also fought with the same storm and the ship crew's yelling spread like a ghost above the wind. Ichigo felt a jolt of a wild emotion from the scared felt from the past changed himself. Logically, he knew this world and all of the men who yelled and fought for their life's safety already vanished became a fog in the time's swirl, hundreds years ago.
But now, Ichigo stood at the front of the ship which shook and being splashed from the saw waves that as cold as an ice. Being trapped at the memories which saved from the ivory's knife. Ichigo felt wind ruffled his hair with the cold and strong fingers. He felt a swirl of terror grabbed the crew which already died a long time ago.
A helplessness shook Ichigo which being forced to admit that there were none that could he done to change the vision which flooded. There was no way for him to help that people and decreased their worries. Ichigo took a deep breath, and looked up to see people climbed a pole and hurriedly pulled down the sail before it was broken. Ichigo saw people tripped and fallen down at the wet back, cried for help and begged to God.
Then that man walked to Ichigo's looking gaze. Tall, with broad shoulders. He wore leather brown pants, a long sleeved white shirt, and knee length boots. His ruby red hair being tied to a ponytail behind his head. His red hair swept all around the ship and he shouted orders while he was walking with a determined step to the edge of the ship. That man bent down to fought the wind, his eyes narrowed towards the rage storms, like analyze the danger they fought.
There was no afraid feeling in his expression, there was only calmness. Ichigo didn't need to see the ivory knife which slipped at the man's waist to make sure that he was the owner of the knife that was still being held tightly by Ichigo, made his fingers hurt. But there was the knife, shone lightly at the darkness. At the past or the present, place where Ichigo now there, inside the antique shop in Shibuya.
"Come here!" shouted the man while grabbed the long rope at the edge of the ship and widened his eyes to the smaller man which being tripped at the back of the ship. "Pull the rope!"
The man who mentioned hurriedly come over the man.
"Okay, Renji-san" exclaimed that short guy. He took the rope from Renji and brought it while ran around the ship.
Renji. The man's name was Renji, thought Ichigo. Ichigo completely trapped inside the man and his world between the fought with death. Renji's energy remain so strongly at the knife, like his soul filled that thing, made Ichigo saw the vision of his past who felt so real more than anything that ever happened to him before.
Ichigo suddenly hoped that he could be there at the ship at the past, to hold Renji's hand and buried himself at his embrace—especially if Renji could held him back, provided Ichigo a comfort.
But while the vision spun around Ichigo and the ships' crew knelt down begged to the God, Ichigo knew it was futile. Whatever Renji did—his era was already passed.
And when he realized that these man with the gorgeous appearance not more than a mere memory, his heart felt like torn up. Ichigo felt sad—even thought the man stood not far from him. So full of life, strong, and gorgeous.
That man turned around and saw straight to Ichigo's eyes. His red eyes widened surprised and he walked closer. "What?"
"No" Ichigo whispered and gulped. "That's impossible. You can't see me. These visions just one-sided."
"Who are you?" he asked, still looked to Ichigo like that teen fell from the heaven and maybe that was he looked at Renji's eyes.
But how could this could be happen? How this man could saw him? How could there was a contact who can crossed so many ages of life? And how his respond will be affect?
"This couldn't be happen" said Ichigo while walked back and shook his head like that activity could made him sure that all of this was never happen.
"How you can be here?" demanded that man, his voice power beat the storm's rage. He looked like he was a man who used to give orders and saw that orders being followed.
Ichigo couldn't gave what he wanted. He really still under shock and surprised feeling, he didn't knew what he will answer anyway. For a moment, Ichigo felt a stab of disappointment and an agony shook his soul.
Renji was so real, alive. More alive than any visions he ever felt before. But, at Ichigo's time, this man's bone already became dusts, far before Ichigo himself born. And that notice filled Ichigo's mind with an empty feeling which threatened to swallow Ichigo, like the sea who tried to swallow the ship.
"You really can see me"
His red eyes narrowed when he saw Ichigo. "Are you an angel?"
God, why he could say something like that? From where he saw an angel from him?
That ship being crashed and wrapped by the waves and crashed to the front of the ship, splashed the water as cold as an ice to the deck. "What do you want?"
Strange. And surprised.
As surprised as when he saw another man came from behind Renji and pulled the ivory knife from the man's belt.
"Renji, watch out!" Ichigo exclaimed, but it was already too late.
With his mind being turned around, Renji couldn't dodge the attacker stabbed the ivory knife to his back. Renji knelt down with an angry and agony—looked at Ichigo like it was his fault.
Ichigo couldn't do anything to that man, even when the attacker gripped the bloodied knife and walked away while yelled "This is for my king!!!!"
Ichigo walked closer to Renji, even thought he knew it was futile. While he stood as an observer helplessly trapped at the past, the waves crashed really hard to the ship and pulled Renji from the deck before finally ate the man's body to the surface of the black water.
Ichigo took a deep breath and fought his want to pour his tears out because the lost feeling he felt which really shook him.
But before Ichigo could took the knife out from his hand, another vision flooded his mind, took him to a roller coaster journey filled with blur colorful color, shrieks who filled his ears, and so many emotions shook him.
He saw Renji again. This man's red hair still tied to a ponytail behind his head, but now a bandanna rested at the top of his head. He wore black jeans, blue and white sneakers, a black shirt and red jacket while he moved like a black panther who hunts for something.
Ichigo surprised saw the scene before him. This man he saw already dead several minutes ago, but now he fought with his opponent like an expert swordsman. His long sword attacked the monster in front of him. Renji laughed while he tilted his head, enjoyed the fight, being passionate to face the threat, the danger.
Ichigo could felt Renji's happiness when he faced the fight. His extremely confidence with his own ability, and Ichigo want to be laugh together with him. But what already happened? What the visions want to show? His visions never separated like this before. Never showed an already dead man only to show it again that the man still alive and…Ichigo looked around and his eyes caught a green and white small street block…Osaka?
Ichigo stood at the modern city's street, tried to search for a logic answer about his vision. This couldn't be real, this man already dead several decades ago. But now here he was, at the present, Ichigo's time. Healthy, alive.
The man's red eyes still the same. His built stronger and fiercer, but it still Renji. The man he saw at the ship at that time. The man who could cross the gap hundreds of years to make contact with Ichigo a moment before his death.
The man who Ichigo saw already being stabbed and drowned at the sea.
"Another time, Shinigami!" shouted the monster angrily.
That sword fight finished with the change color and light that blurred. Renji already being alone again under the yellow light from the dim lamp.
"Stupid hollow" Renji muttered while he put his sword back to the sheath behind his jacket. "Ran away from the fighting. Is he didn't have a pride at all?"
"Hollow?" Ichigo whispered, asked to himself what the man was talking about?
Renji turned his head and followed his instinct, he pulled a knife from his belt while he bent down slightly. He cursed, narrowed his eyes, and saw straight to Ichigo's eyes like he did at the ship when the storm happened.
Really impossible, but this man saw straight to him again.
"You?!" Renji exclaimed, while he stood slowly. Renji kept gripped his knife tightly and took one step closer to Ichigo. "Who are you honestly? From where do you come?"
"This can't be happen" Ichigo whispered.
As soon as he finished said that, Ichigo fell the ivory knife and also ended the visions. One second later, he found himself at the antique shop at Shibuya. He laid at the cold wood floor, looked up to the owner of the shop who looked not too happy to saw him.
"Are you having a disease or what?" exclaimed the owner of the shop.
Ichigo took a relief breath and tried to concentrate. Got out from his visions always made him tired, and this time he really felt like he just had a marathon run.
"Ha? What? A disease?"
"What happen with you? Amnesia?"
"No" Ichigo answered and lifted his body with his knee. "Why I was on the floor?"
"Because you fell limp and collapsed" the woman explained, and the two other old women whom Ichigo saw before nodded his agreement.
"That's true baby" said one of the women while she was nodding fast. "You fell down, made me and my sister scared half to death."
"So" the owner of the shop said loudly. "If you think you can ask my responsibility about this. Think again" said that lady warned. "I have a candid camera, master. And the witnesses. You don't slipped because anything. You just suddenly tripped without any cause."
Oh my god
"I don't need responsibility" said Ichigo convinced him, and sat slowly because he felt his stomach a little sick. His visions always disturbed his stomach.
"This is already closed time" said the old lady. She exactly not a kind lady when he said "I thought you should go"
"Yeah" Ichigo picked the knife from the floor carefully. He half heartedly hoped that the visions will come again. But now, the old knife just laid in the silence, like that thing already showed all it could show and now Ichigo was alone.
Okay, it's alright. At least he knew what he must do now. Where he must go.
Ichigo stood and said "I want to buy this knife before I go. How much the price?"
"I will search first" said the old lady, where her eyes shined brightly. She walked towards the cashier, and Ichigo knew his credit card will be out a large amount of money soon.
But it was no problem. Ichigo already found the man who could help him. He knew from his instinct, like he knew even thought he already died long, long time ago, Renji still alive now.
And Ichigo knew where he must search for him.
Osaka, Japan.