AN: This is my first ever fanfic. Don't expect much from it. It comes from the bit in the Bleach anime where Renji visits Ichigo's school – the first bit of the first paragraph is as close to quoting as I could remember. I can't remember where it was placed in the anime, so I might get some of the details wrong.
Chapter 1
Ichigo glared at Renji. His 1980's attire was causing hysteria among the students at the school. He knew Renji didn't have to have come. And to top it all off he had told everyone Ichigo was his cousin. And Rukia wouldn't stop laughing.
Renji glared back at Ichigo. They had just been arguing over this. How was he supposed to know what was in fashion in the world of the living?
Mizuiro laughed: "You two are exactly the same! I can tell you're related!"
Ichigo and Rengi jumped back from him an identical expression of horror on their faces. Rukia started laughing again.
"Just go back to Urahara's shop," Ichigo hissed.
Renji regained some of his earlier cockiness. "I'll be waiting," he called as he walked away, thumbs in pockets.
Ichigo and Rukia returned to Urahara's shop later that day.
"I suppose you want to see the freeloader," said Jinta, sweeping up outside the shop.
"Renji?" said Ichigo. "Yeah."
Just then, Rukia's hollow detector went off. She took it out her pocket and looked at it. "By the school," she said.
"I'll get it," Ichigo said. "I'll come and yell at Renji later."
Rukia nodded and knocked his spirit out his body. "See ya," said Ichigo, and left.
When he got back to the shop about half an hour later, Rukia had already left. Ichigo walked into the shop and pulled back the door to the back. "Renji-" he yelled. Urahara appeared round the corner. "My, my," he said, tapping his face with his fan. "No need to shout. The freeloader's just through here."
Ichigo stormed into the living room. "Renji-" he said again, then couldn't think of what to say next. Renji was lying on the floor next to the circular table. His goggles were over his eyes. They were alone. "I don't believe for one moment you were actually ordered to come to Karakura town," Ichigo said, sitting down on the opposite side of the table.
"No, I was," said Renji. "To check up on you, mainly. To see you weren't causing trouble. At least, not too much trouble." He smirked. "Shut up," muttered Ichigo. He couldn't think how to argue against this. The silence began to become awkward.
Ichigo broke it: "Well why'd you have to wear that? Or tell everyone you were my cousin? People like Mizuiro just say things-" he stopped. He hadn't meant to bring that up, because it was unnervingly true – Renji and Ichigo were very similar. Renji sat up.
"I don't know what people are wearing. And I had to have a cover story," he said irritably.
"You could've said you were Rukia's cousin. Or Chad's, or Inoue's, or Ishida's."
"Being your cousin was more believable though."
They thought about what Mizuiro had said. Awkwardly, Ichigo stood to leave. Urahara appeared around the edge of the door. "Don't go yet," he said ominously and slowly. "I made tea."
Ichigo shivered. "I'll stay."
Urahara came in with the tea, then disappeared out the door again. Before he left, he caught Renji's eye. Renji looked away.
"They all hate me," he growled to himself. "Calling me "freeloader" and making me do all these chores…"
Ichigo looked at him "Well, you don't have to stay here, do you."
"Where else would I go? I still have to eat!"
Ichigo thought about this. "You could come and stay with me. Inoue's been dying to have Rukia stay with her. She doesn't like her staying with me for some reason. Not that I want to have you. But if you actually have to be here."
Renji grinned. "I might take you up on that," he said, adjusting his goggles.
Ichigo finished his tea. "Well, I'm going now. If you wanna come, you'd better come now. I'm not going to offer again, you know." Renji stood up to leave. "Sure," he said.
Behind the door the four residents of Urahara's sighed with relief. "We got rid of the freeloader!" said Jinta triumphantly.
"All the more work for you," said Urahara.