Heh, so, you people want more? Okay then, here's more.

As for-warned, these chapters are going to be shorter than what I usually write; suck up and deal with it.

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Chapter 2
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Ichigo woke up, the smell of something burning drifting through his nose. He bolted up from his spot on the couch, which was now only occupied by him.

"Shit."

The orange haired hybrid jumped off the couch, and ran into the kitchen. Renji was in the kitchen, staring at the toaster in complete fascination and shock. Black toast was visible from the slots on top of the appliance.

"Boke! How many times have I told you to stay away from anything that heats up?!"

"Well, I decided to stop counting after 23," the red head replied sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

His lover smacked Renji's head with his fist, this time, with more force. Renji was sent off to the left about a yard, stopping only when the counter grew from the floor. The orange haired boy took the toast out of the toaster, a scowl on his face, and irritation in his eyes. Ichigo ripped the bread up, and put it in a small plastic container.

"Renji, either go back into the living room, or on a stool. I don't want anymore fires in this kitchen!"

Sighing in defeat, the red head sat on one of the three stools, which overlooked the kitchen from the bar. Ichigo's apartment didn't have a table for eating, but a bar that looked into the kitchen, the eating surface was above the stove and oven. Renji put his arms on the black granite counter-top, and watched as Ichigo prepared the food for their breakfast.

"What are you making?"

"Nothing to spectacular. Just some scrambled eggs," Ichigo answered, taking out the box of eggs, a couple of vegetables, and some leftover ham from dinner a couple nights back.

Renji nodded, a small smile gracing his features. The orange haired hybrid's scrambled eggs were actually quite good. He would cut up half a pepper, and most of a tomato. Their leftover dinner meat would also get chopped up, and tossed into the mix. Sometimes it amazed Renji, the way Ichigo could cook; he never thought Ichigo was the "make the meals" type of person. However, the red head could understand Ichigo's position; after having two false alarms go off, and the fire department called out to calm the "fire," his orange haired lover rarely allowed him in the kitchen around meal times.

While the eggs were heating up, Ichigo started making the coffee. A drink Renji still hadn't acquired a taste for. He didn't get off the stool, worried that his movement might disturb his lover's momentum in the kitchen. To his surprise, a clear glass was placed a little less than a foot away from his arms; Ichigo went back to grab the juice out of the refrigerator. The boy also had a strict no alcohol rule in his home, limiting Renji's choice of liquids to consume.

"Ya want orange of apple with white grape this morning?" Ichigo's voice came from the opened refrigerator.

"Orange."

Ichigo shook his head, why he still asked Renji what he wanted, he didn't know. He always drank the same thing in the mornings; the apple with white grape was left for him to slowly drink when he felt like it.

The orange haired hybrid placed the carton of juice next to the glass, before turning back to his breakfast preparations. He used his spatula to keep the mix from sticking to the sides of the pan, and to keep it from burning. The aroma filled the small apartment; Renji could feel his mouth salivating from behind his closed lips.

Ichigo took out a couple of bagels, and put them in the now cooled toaster.

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After their breakfast, Ichigo had kicked Renji out of the apartment, and sent him to get the groceries. Originally, the red head had argued against the order, but gave in after the reminder of what he did while Ichigo was sleeping, and the orange haired hybrid could kick his ass up and down most of Karakura without breaking much of a sweat.

A few minutes after Renji left, Ichigo also left; he was going to Urahara's place. He needed the blond haired shop owner to watch his body while he ran a personal errand in Soul Society. Ichigo knew he also had to be quick about his self-assigned job.

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Renji walked up and down the aisles, checking the list his orange haired lover had given him. His first glance at the list made his jaw drop, each thing put on the list was very specific in what brand, amount, approximate price, etc. each item was. He shook his head, Ichigo was a little picky when it came to this kind of thing. However, a decent meal at least twice a day reminded him why he was doing this.

"Okay, next is cheese... Kraft brand... one pack of single slices each... around $2.63... cheddar and swiss..."

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Rukia looked up from her manga, when a loud banging came from her balcony doors. She marked her spot in the book, and set it down. Walking to the disruption, she could only assume it was either Ichigo or Renji, because only those two would act in this fashion. The black haired shinigami slid the shogi door open, to see her orange haired friend, standing there, with a look of 'I need you to tell me things that I don't know.'

"What do you need, Ichigo?"

"I 'need' to ask you some questions about Renji."

"Why can't you ask him?"

"Because, I can't."

"Huh?"

"Will you just help me already?!"

Rukia had to suppress a smirk, even after 3 years of knowing eachother, he still was so easy to tweak.

"Alright, you can come in. Just try to be quiet, Ni-sama is downstairs, talking to Soutaicho."

"Whatever."

Ichigo walked into the moderate sized room, well, moderate size for a mansion that is, and Rukia sat infront of him, elegantly.

"What do you want to know?"

"Well, I've gone to Kira, Shuuhei, Ikaku, and Yumichika. I've gotten different answers from all of them, some more disturbing than others," the orange haired hybrid mentally cringed at the 11th division's 5th seat's idea of a gift certificate to a hair salon to fix Renji's "not pretty enough" hair. "What are some things that Renji likes? I know I've lived with him for over 8 months, so don't give me that shit about 'you should know these things by now.' You've known him the longest, so you should know, right?"

The shorter shinigami looked down in thought, before raising her head to reply. "I'll answer that on one condition."

"What?"

She thrust the manga she was reading earlier in his face, a determined look on her face. "Get me the next volume of this, I've read this one more than once. I've almost got this one memorized, just like the others," Rukia finished, a triumphant smirk on her face.

Ichigo looked shocked at this demand, but nodded anyway.

"Good. As you know, Renji is constantly covering his tattoos over his inked eyebrows..."

The orange haired hybrid nodded.

"He is kind of obsessed with keeping those hidden, probably because they are entertaining to make fun of. He also hates spicy food, though, considering you're the one cooking, you've figured that out."

"Actually, I don't cook spicy things that much, too much of a pain to prepare."

"Okay... What else did you want to know?"

"I think I've got his whole personality pinned down, through trial and error; but maybe you can find some cracks I missed."

"Well, ever since we were young, still in Inuzuri, he's felt like he had to prove himself. I was always better at kidou than he was, which most likely set him off balance."

"Now that you mention it, he did compare himself to a stray after I beat him a while back, when I was trying to save you."

"Build on that."

"Anything else?"

"Nothing that you don't know already."

The orange haired hybrid stood up, and smiled at Rukia. "Thanks, that helped a lot." He turned to leave, when Rukia called his attention back to her.

"Don't forget my manga."

"Yeah."

Ichigo left the room, and flash stepped away. He landed at the Soukyouko, a few steps later. The orange haired hybrid closed his eyes, focused on Urahara Shoten, and opened a portal to the small shop. Quickly, he jumped in and ran towards the end of the tunnel.

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Renji sat at the end of the couch, watching the lights on the Christmas tree blink. When he arrived at the apartment, Ichigo wasn't there, and a note was taped on the refrigerator door:

Renji,

Sorry I ain't here right now, my boss called me in due to co-workers getting sick or going on last second vacations. I'll be back later tonight, love ya.

Ichigo

PS: Stay away from all electrical appliances in the kitchen! Actually, stay away from all electrical appliances I told you not to touch.

The red head actually believed this, because it wasn't the first time this has happened. However, it was now 5:30, and his stomach wasn't letting him forget the fact that it was hungry.

"Where the hell are you, Ichigo?"

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Yup, short chapter; can't think of what else ta chuck in here, without writin' another chapter into this one.