Yeah, so this kind of took off in it's own direction and I apologize, but I started writing it and realized it had a really great premise. What better way to make Ichigo love him, then saving him like a knight in shining armor? Anyway, I really hope you like the chapter, and I really do apologize that it's so much longer than the first one!

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Months flew by and before Ichigo knew it, it was nearing the end of the school year. Things had gotten so crazy lately he'd hardly had time to think of anything but school. But, during those few idle moments to himself, his mind traced back to Renji and his encounters and experiences with him. They always left him feeling flushed and a little hard but not as painfully as the first time he'd masturbated. Other than that life was pretty normal. He saw less and less of Renji until he saw him maybe once a month, if that. And there was something else that Ichigo noticed mostly about himself. At first, when he started seeing less of Renji, he didn't really care one way or the other. But then the periods between them seeing each other grew longer and his heart would pinch and ache. Finally, when they saw each other once a month or less, his heart would ache and his body would respond to any thought of him. There was also the dirty little habit he picked up of touching himself once in awhile, mostly because of the absence of the older man's warmth. As time went on Ichigo realized one thing. He'd never hated it to begin with. The reason things were like this now was because he'd longed for it. Even when they'd get together, Renji wouldn't touch him except for the strong pat on the shoulder like they'd always done. It was like everything had gone back to the it used to be. And Ichigo hated it.

The final bell rang. Rising, Ichigo grabbed his bag and stalked out of the door, feeling dizzy for some reason. Maybe It was he'd been distracted by thoughts of Renji. That damn man just wouldn't get out of his head. All the time, Ichigo had to ask himself "why?" Before he had never had to ask himself that question. Life was black and white, things were right and wrong. There'd been no gray area. Until that stupid man came along and told him something silly like that. The dizziness in him grew as moved mechanically through the halls and down the stairs. By the time he reached the front door his body swayed as though he were drunk and stars spun in circles across his vision. Every part of him felt like jell-o. What the hell is this? It's not being caused by thoughts, that's for sure. God I feel like I'm going to collapse. But I can't. I'm not this weak. Those thoughts forced him to move his feet a few more steps away from the frame of the door, which had been the only thing keeping him up. It had been a bad choice. As soon as he moved not three steps from the door, his knees buckled and he was falling. But instead feeling the painful rebound shock from hitting his knees on the ground, there was something thick hugging him around the waist. Well, not exactly hugging him, but close enough. In the back of his mind, through the pounding dizziness he heard someone shouting, "Oi, Ichigo. Ichigo what's wrong! Dude, say something?" Snidely he thought, God just shut up who ever you are! Then he thought, as he stomach lurched suddenly, Shit, I'm going to throw up. What's wrong with me?! Just let me sleep already. I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of who ever this is. Thankfully his prayer was answered. He slipped into unconsciousness, the light fading as his eyes closed.

He didn't know how much later it was when he next saw light. When his eyes opened, he was in a semi dark room, that felt familiar. Glancing around he noticed he was back at his house, but he wasn't in his room. The walls looked kind of white and there was a distinct smell of disinfectant in the air. It took him a minute but he finally realized he was in his family's clinic. As he became more awake he noticed that the dull ache he'd felt earlier was still there but it wasn't nearly as painful. The stars that had been swimming in his eyes had also disappeared, thankfully. After a moment he started to sit up but found that if he did his head started to pound like a hundred jack hammers again so he was forced to lie still. Angry -well irritated, really- he closed his eyes and rolled onto his side. He couldn't believe he'd been so weak in front of someone. He'd always had to be the strong one and he rarely got sick so what the hell was going on?

The door creaked open, intruding on his alone sulking time, and he was once more forced to open his eyes. The person who stepped into the room was the last person he wanted to see at that time. His dad walked over to him and he glared, furrowing his brow deeply. "What do you want?"

For the first time in awhile, Ichigo heard his dad sigh. There were unfamiliar worry lines etched deep into his dad's thick skin. He'd never seen them before and it confused him greatly. When his dad spoke, he sounded almost choked up. Like he was crying. But his dad never cried. Right? "Ichigo, calm down. I just came to check on you. When you were brought home unconscious I was seriously worried that someone had hurt you." Ichigo opened his mouth to protest but his dad shushed him. "I know, your sisters know, you're strong and that you can defend yourself but we do worry."

"What a load of bull. Especially coming from you!" Ichigo muttered, trying to sit up again. Immediately he laid down again though as his head exploded like stars.

"You have to stay laying down, Ichigo, and that's an order. We don't really get what's going on but it's best you don't try sitting up for awhile."

"Whatever." Ichigo sighed, and curled his legs into his chest. After a moment of silence he asked out of the blue, "Hey dad, who brought me home?"

Isshin raised an eyebrow in a questioning glance. "You mean you don't know who did?"

"Na. I passed out as soon as I left the school. They grabbed me before I seriously did any damage. So who was it?" Ichigo rolled his chocolate brown eyes to the side so he could look his dad in the face. There was some obvious bewilderment going on inside his head. "What was their name?" He clarified, thinking that was what had confused his dad.

Coughing, his face turning pink slightly, Isshin replied, "Well the kid said that he was a.... Close friend... of yours. Said he'd known you for awhile and that he brought you here after seeing you suddenly collapse. I don't remember ever seeing him before and when I told him this he said that he'd never been to the house before. At least not through the front door."

Ichigo's eyes widened. Who is this idiot? Saying something like that makes him sound like some kind of criminal! "What did the guy look like?" He asked.

"Um..." His dad stopped to think. "Well he was really buff. He had really long, red hair and he was dressed kind of seventies style. Was a weird guy but... He seemed to be telling the truth."

Renji...?! "Yeah, whatever. That's not important right now!" Ichigo said hurriedly. "Is the guy still here?!"

"No." Isshin replied, shocked by Ichigo's sudden frenzy. "But he said he'll be back later to check on you. "Anyway, are you hungry? You've been asleep almost ten hours now."

"Ten hours?!" He almost shrieked.

There was another voice in the room now, one meeker than his fathers. "Nii-san, are you feeling alright?" Ichigo looked around his fathers massive figure to see his youngest sister Yuzu standing behind the door with her face peeking around it.

"Yuzu!" For some reason he felt relief to see her. Now he wouldn't have to say anything to his dad about his frenzy. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. It was just a headache, that's all." He beckoned her over to him and when she was close enough he reached out and put one of his hands on her head. She smiled her timid smile and that made Ichigo want to grin back. God he loved his sisters.

His father coughed. "Any who, do you want something to eat or not? We still have some left overs from dinner."

He paused but answered, "I'm fine. I'll eat tomorrow. Or whenever I next get up." He dropped his arm back onto the bed before snuggling back underneath the covers. Pretending to yawn he murmured, "Can you leave me alone for awhile? If I need something you'll hear me holler." All they did was nod before exiting his room. He watched their retreating figures and sighed. It'd been awhile since he had. Things were getting complicated again. Why had he gotten so excited when he heard Renji had brought him home? It was only natural. But what was Renji doing at the school in the first place? It wasn't like he attended there or anything. And the town wasn't his place to look over. The most interesting thing was that Ichigo had seen Renji not three weeks ago. This would be the second time in a month. The last time that happened had been.... Hell, he couldn't even remember now. That wasn't an excuse though, not really. They were both guys. They were best friends. And Ichigo couldn't get the damn redhead out of his mind. Damn him, he thought as a bout of drowsiness swallowed him. Damn him for making my life too damn complicated. And damn him fo- the thought tapered off into nothingness as he was once again sucked into dreamland.

His breathing was heavy and every inch of him felt hot. All around him lights buzzed, shining in his eyes and causing him to sweat even more. An unfamiliar weight pressed him into something soft. A bed he assumed. Glancing up he noticed that there was another human on top of him. That was what the weight was. But no matter how much he squinted, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull the face out. The lights were blinding and hot and he was burning. Suddenly he was letting out an ear splitting scream. Something was shoved forcefully inside of him and it was painful. More painful than anything he'd felt before. Every inch of muscle inside him contracted, capturing the uninvited guest in a vice grip. But the person didn't seem to notice. Roughly he pulled out before once more thrusting himself inside. The boy howled out, and gripped the white sheets tightly in his shaking fists. What was happening and why was it happening? He didn't understand. How could he? The sound of skin slapping against skin reached his ears as the thrusts became harder and more feverish. His pain had faded into a dull ache by now. All he felt was the heat and the forceful thing inside of him.

Ichigo woke with a start, his brown eyes flying open like unattended blinds. His heart was racing and he was sweating. As he glanced around the room he started to calm down and convinced himself that what he'd just seen had all been a dream. As to what the dream was trying to tell him was a mystery. He couldn't even be sure that it had been him in the dream. He'd seen the dream through the narrator's point of view, and not from the boys. It could easily have been someone else. Right?

From the corner of the room Ichigo heard a cough. Quickly his eyes flew to that corner, searching it for the source of sound. A flash of red crossed his vision. Not like blood. No. It was smoother and it didn't flow like blood. Hair! Ichigo realized. "Renji!" He yelled, shocked.

"Keep yer voice down!" He demanded, moving closer, his massive arms crossed over his chest. "Ya don't need ta wake the whole damn neighborhood now do you?" Once he was about a foot from the bed he stopped moving and Ichigo stared at him, feeling an ache in his heart that he'd felt many times before, now. "How do you feel?"

Slowly, Ichigo attempted to sit up. He found that his head didn't pound any more, that it didn't hurt. Quietly, as he made himself comfortable in a sitting position, he replied, "Fine."

"So what the hell happened? You were just standin' in the doorway fer so long I got worried. And then you went and collapsed! You were acting pretty weak." Renji half joked, cocking one red eyebrow.

"Shut up." Ichigo muttered. "I don't know what happened. It just did."

Renji scoffed. "Well don't go losing to pain like that again. Yer supposed to be some "prodigy" for the substitute shinigami. Well, maybe not a prodigy but close enough."

"What the hell are you talking about? There aren't any other substitute's besides me. I'm not even supposed to be one in the first place. And "prodigy" my ass. A prodigy would never fall behind in classes just from missing school and would definitely not just randomly disappear for days at a time."

"Who said you were a school prodigy?" Renji asked, snickering.

Ichigo glared at him and folded his arms over his chest. "I'm better at school then you could ever be. You're no better than any of the other ditzes in the world."

"Hey now! How low of a blow are you going to give?"

"As low as a girl like you can take." Ichigo countered, only about one-fourth joking.

Renji was fuming now. "Me? A girl? What the hell are you talking about? I'm more man than you could ever take. I'm not the one who passes out over nothing."

Ichigo's eyebrows rose in mock-surprise. "Oh? Then I suppose you crying out to me to save Rukia was a manly thing for you to do?" Ichigo knew he was taking the (play) fight to an extremely dangerous line but he couldn't help it. All of his pent up energy -anger and all- were coming out before he could think.

Renji looked stunned and Ichigo felt his heart twinge. Maybe things had gone too far. Should I apologize? There was no need to thought it seemed. Renji just sighed and shook his head as he replied. "No. It wasn't manly. I guess I shouldn't harp on you about not being a man. You're more man than I could ever be."

The statement shocked Ichigo. Here he was thinking that Renji was completely pissed when he seemed to be the exact opposite. He managed to sputter, "W-what are you talking about? You're the one who was both stupid enough, and courageous enough, to tell some guy that you like him, and not in the I-want-to-be-good-friends kind of way." He quoted Renji with almost pure perfection. If anything had stuck with him that night it had been that. Until then he'd never understood what it meant to really like someone. Especially not another guy. Even now he didn't understand but he was beginning to. He was beginning to understand the pain in his heart when Renji and he were apart too long. He understood the longing he felt and the jealousy he felt when Renji was with other people. Everything was just clicking into place. Like one, gigantic, unsolvable puzzle.

"That's not being a man, Ichigo. That's called being stupid." Renji muttered, blushing at his own stupid quote. Of all the things I've ever said to him he had to remember that. He thought, internally rolling his eyes.

"Tell me then Renji," Ichigo started, "what being a man really means?"

"Well, I think being a man is being able to protect the one you love most without a second thought. It's being able to stand up to what you're afraid of and being able to take life in strides. It's being able to know when you've been bested and being able to admit you need to grow stronger. That kind of thing." Renji rattled them off one at a time, ticking them away on his fingers. Ichigo was watching and took note that the redhead was hardly aware when he was suddenly grabbed by the collar.

But he certainly noticed when Ichigo's soft, dry lips crashed against his own like a hungry beasts. Ichigo knew that Renji was shocked but he couldn't take it any more. The look of Renji's lips kept taunting him, telling him to do it already. The ache in his heart grew too painful when he thought about kissing them. Something was really wrong with him but he couldn't care less.

Hesitantly Ichigo opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out to run it over Renji's lip. Surprisingly they parted without any hint of rejecting him. Taking the hint, Ichigo pushed his tongue inside, completely aware that his brain still told him this was wrong, wrong, and wrong! After a minute or so they had to pull apart and Ichigo was actually disappointed. Renji's mouth had been so warm and welcoming, he didn't want to lose it. So, as soon as the older man had made himself more comfortable, he dove back in, capturing Renji around the neck and dragging him down until his own back touched the bed, and Renji's body lay on top of his. It was a good thing the redhead had moved so he sat in a basic straddle style over the orange haired boys legs.

As they kissed, Renji found it impossible to keep his hands to himself and so did Ichigo. The next time their lips parted, Ichigo told him, "You won't know how far you can go until you try." Although the quote wasn't at all sexual, Ichigo knew that Renji would figure it out. The quote was both true in war and love. Even Ichigo didn't know how far they could go. They'd done this all before, and they'd done it in public.

Not even acknowledging he'd heard, Renji's hand moved to Ichigo's firm, muscled side. His hands slid underneath and began to glide over the skin, not quite touching it, but getting close enough to form goosebumps. His other hand rose further up to touch the chiseled, guyish face. It wasn't feminine at all he noted, but there was just something about it that was irresistible. Perhaps it was the always slightly parted lips or the perfectly fitting nose. Maybe it was the way his eyes were always calm not matter the situation. Whatever it was, Renji had fallen for it, and he'd fallen pretty damn hard.

The hand on his face moved to touch Ichigo's lips, and then slid across his cheek to his ear, and from there down to his collar bone. The touch made his body shiver. It wasn't really sexual but there was something lusty about it. It was obvious that Renji wanted to go all the way but was afraid to risk everything. Tonight could be the night Ichigo lost himself to someone or he might run away again. Ichigo knew that they could only go so far before his mind awakened again. Just let this last a little while longer. He thought, opening his eyes to stare at Renji. The man was as beautiful as a man could come. (Besides Yumichika who was just feminine to begin with. It was almost too obvious he'd been born in the wrong body. Oh, and maybe not as beautiful as Byakuya but that's just cause he was snooty.) Ichigo found himself wanting to touch Renji's body. So he reached up and took Renji by the waist, grasping him firmly. He felt a ripple go through his body at the touch.

"What are you doing?" Renji asked, making a slow trail down Ichigo's side with his free hand.

Blushing slightly Ichigo replied, "I just felt that I...." He stopped.

"That you what?" Renji's hand had trailed past his hip and had curved slightly so that it rested on his butt cheek. His thumb was making tiny, circular motions and Ichigo heard himself moan so quietly that only he could hear it. It was such a simple gesture but it made him react so.... Unusually.

"That I.... Wanted to touch you." He muttered, now full out blushing.

Renji gave a knowing smile. "Why didn't you just say so, you moron?" He backed away, releasing Ichigo, just long enough to pull his confining shirt over his head. Without a moments hesitation he threw it aside. "Better?" He asked and the younger boy nodded, staring at the tantalizing tattoo's that sported Renji's body. They were so beautiful but they seemed to have reasons behind them. Reasons Ichigo could never even begin to comprehend.

I don't know him well enough yet. I won't ever know him well enough. He thought bitterly, reaching up to brush his hand along the tough skin. Yet another surprise. The skin under his fingers was fairly soft and it was warm. Extremely warm. "Is your skin always so warm."

"No. It's just because you're burning me up."

Ichigo couldn't help but laugh.

"What?"

Snickering Ichigo replied, "You crack me up."

Renji leaned over him again, getting just close enough so that their noses touched. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're a funny guy, that's all." The sarcasm made Renji laugh. He couldn't laugh long though for he was pulled down into another passionate kiss that stopped him mid-chuckle. Ichigo's hands caressed the toned body with perfection, checking every inch of it. Well, maybe not every inch. He hesitated when his hand ventured south of Renji's belt. That was too far. Actually, all of this was too far but he couldn't stop. With Renji's lips crushing against his he mind melted and he couldn't think straight. Even when it was Renji's hand that ventured south of his belt.

At first it was just resting on his thigh but it didn't sit still long. Soon it was on the move, closing in on his crotch and the erection that had started to grow. The calloused thumb, although he couldn't feel it through his pants, made circular motions on his inner thigh, getting closer and closer with every passing second. Soon it was no longer on his leg at all. The hand had made it to his crotch area. The warmth permeated through his jeans and reached his almost throbbing cock. Still he couldn't stop it. Even though he knew it shouldn't continue he couldn't help it. Finally his dream was becoming reality. After dreaming about it every night for so long it was happening and he wanted it. He wanted it bad.

There was a voice in his thoughts now. "You're not going to stop me?" It asked. The voice was warm, smooth. Ichigo shook his head for he could not find the voice to tell him to stop. So it continued. The strong hand stroked him slowly through the denim and through the fabric of strawberry boxers. All Ichigo could do was close his eyes and arch his body softly into the touch. It was sensational. Every last bit of it. And the dream could have lasted. It could've gone on forever but dreams never last. People have to wake up from dreams and face reality at some point. And Ichigo was rudely awakened. He should've known that the man would get bored of touching him through the fabric. He should've known that Renji was ready to go all the way but of course he was as dense as always.

Even as he heard the zipper of his jeans being undone he couldn't say no. Even as he felt the fabric of his jeans and boxers come off over his ass, and even as he felt the sudden breeze over his lower half he couldn't say no. No. It took Renji reaching out and touching him with that same calloused hand that had been touching him before to make him wake up. Even though Ichigo had dreamed about it happening, he couldn't take it. There was no way he could lose something so precious to a man. Not to Renji or any other guy that came along. They were men and they shouldn't have been doing what they'd been doing in the first place.

And Ichigo let Renji know this. As carefully as he could he pushed Renji away from him, sending him toppling slightly. Ichigo noticed that his eyes were moist. He was crying even though he'd agreed to it, and even though he'd been the one to push Renji away. Quietly he ordered, "Renji, get out. Please, just get out. That's as far as you could go, Renji. I'm sorry but it's just not going to work. It's not. It..... It can't." There was no reply. Ichigo watched as the older man crawled off the bed and glided over to pick his discarded shirt up off the floor. "Renji I'm sorry. Really I am."

"Quit actin' like a girl. You can't like what you can't like and I ain't gonna be the one to force you. Later Ichigo." He waved halfheartedly as he headed out the door, slipping on his shirt as he went. The room grew quiet and only then did Ichigo notice how hot he'd gotten. His body was sweating and his breathing was quick and short. Even only he could've stayed in the dream.. Even only the logical side of him would butt out. Maybe then he wouldn't have to hurt that man like he continued to do. Rejecting him two different times, each time going further than the last time. How many times would it take before Ichigo wouldn't reject him any more? How more times before he stopped hurting him?

Luckily for Ichigo he didn't realize that his father had been outside the door, listening the entire time. He was lucky that he didn't know what Renji had really told his dad when he'd been brought home.

Renji kicked the door softly with the toe of his shoe. Ichigo lay limp in his arms, his breathing heavy and staggered. His body temperature was way above normal and he was sweating. It was freaking him out. When there was no reply after two minutes, he kicked the door harder this time. When no one answered, and right when he was about to kick the door again, it swung open and Ichigo's father stood looming in the doorway.

Gruffly he asked, not noticing his son in the mans arms, "What do you need?"

"Kurosaki Isshin I assume?"

"Yeah, what about it."

"I've come to deliver a precious package to you." Renji held out Ichigo as steadily as possible. It hurt to see the accusing look in the guys eyes when he saw his boy. It was obvious that he thought Renji had purposefully down something to him.

"What the hell have you done?!" He roared, nearly ripping Ichigo away. "Son, son. Wake up! It's Daddy! Come on Ichigo, wake up!" His voice was rising higher and higher. There was panic in his voice and it tore Renji apart. What the hell could he say after being accused by someone so sure?

"Kurosaki-san, he was passed out in the doorway of the school. I picked him up and brought him here because I knew this was a clinic." Renji told him, hoping that he'd be believed. He hated when people thought he was lying. Especially when he was telling the absolute truth.

There was doubt in the mans eyes but he said nothing but, "Whatever. Hurry inside." With inhuman speed Isshin moved from the front hallway to the clinics' infirmary type thing. Once there he laid Ichigo out on a bed before sticking thermometer in his mouth. He was antsy as he waited for the beep. As soon as it stopped the man tore it out of Ichigo's mouth, nearly fainting when he saw his son's temperature. It was over 103.0 degrees. Immediately he began fumbling around the room for various things: something that would lower his temp, a cold, wet rag, a basin, etc.

Renji followed calmly, closing the front door behind him. By the time he reached the room, Isshin had already gotten Ichigo settled in the bed. The man didn't turn or say anything until Renji was right next to him. Before he could speak though he was asked, "Kid, what are you to my son? I've never met you or seen you before but suddenly here you are, carrying my kid like a rag doll while he's got such an insane fever. And he's unconscious to boot!"

"I'm his boyfriend." Renji answered honestly.

"His boyfriend? Are you nuts?" Isshin paused for a minute before continuing. "It's like you're accusing my son of being gay. There's no possible way for him. Quit while you're ahead and quit deluding yourself."

"I can assure you I'm sane. There'd be no reason for me to lie. Whether or not you want to believe me is up to you. Have you ever noticed changes in your sons actions? There are days where he comes home completely flustered and out of focus. He goes to his room and pretends to sleep away his problems while all he's doing is making things worse. There are days where he comes home a perfectly happy, perfectly normal teenager. He eats with his family and then goes to do homework. The days that he comes home so confused are the days he can't get the person he cares most about out of his mind." Renji took a breath. "He's never told you about me because he thought it mattered. He's always just thought of me as his best friend. Until now. Not now now, but a few months ago now."

Isshin had a look of shock on his face. He stared at Renji and that at his sons face. There was no way he was gay. It just wasn't possible. "Prove it to me. When he wakes up, prove it to me that you mean as much to him as you say you do."

"Fine. I'll be taking my leave for now then. I have my own job to do." Renji strutted out of the house, thinking of the moment he'd get to be with Ichigo alone.

Isshin now understood. Ichigo cared for the man more than he'd ever cared about anyone before. (Besides his family and that one young lady. Rukia or whatever her name was.) After about five minutes of crouching by the door, he stood and straightened his white coat before entering the room. Ichigo was curled on his side facing opposite him.

He didn't look up as his dad approached, even though he knew the man was there. He didn't want to talk. Especially not to the person who couldn't mind his own damn business. His dad always thought that Ichigo didn't know but he did. Always. Nothing could escape him.

"Ichigo can I talk to you?"

"Talk away," he muttered, pulling the soft blanket tighter around him. He'd pulled it over himself after Renji had left. He had hoped to hide from the world forever. But that was just another dream among dreams.

Sighing, Isshin sat at the foot of the bed, and for the first time, placed a comforting hand on Ichigo's ankle. He'd never done that before, even when the Ichigo had been small. He had always just tried to jump kick him. Ichigo was surprised but didn't pull away. The could do whatever the hell he wanted. "I know what's wrong with you."

"Any person could figure out what's wrong with me." He noted bitterly, bringing the blanket up until it was over his nose.

"No. I don't think so. Ichigo, besides being over worked and over stressed you're.... Well... To put it in simple terms, you're love sick. Completely love sick and completely head over heels for someone. You can't come to terms with it though which is only leading to more stress for you. I hate to say it but you need to decide. Is this person really worth all the worry you're putting towards h-" he stopped himself. "Towards them?"

Ichigo sat up straight in one flowing movement, his eyes wide. Turning to his dad he asked, "What do you mean, dad?"

"I'm saying that you need to decide if you love him. Is he worth all the pain and the hatred and the longing? I'm not telling you to take it all the way as you're only fifteen but think about it. He's just going to be one among many."

Even though Ichigo knew his father had been spying he felt a tingling his stomach when his father had said "he" rather than "she". It meant that somehow, his father had already accepted him as his "gay" son. His dad accepted him so why would he still hesitate? What was there to worry about.

A silence fell over the room as Ichigo thought long and hard about it. He thought about all his options, and about all the things that could happen. Of all the things that could go wrong but at the same time, all the things that could go right. He thought about all the opportunities he'd miss once he accepted being in a gay relationship with his best friend. But most of all he thought about all the things he'd do with the person that said they loved him most. Even though it was only a short period of time, Ichigo decided. "Yeah dad. It's worth every last horrible feeling that I'll get. Because for every bad feeling I have, there's a million more good feelings that will overcome it."

"Then I wish you the best of luck, Ichigo. That redhead... Don't let him be too bad of an influence on you."

"Shut up, dad."

Ichigo saw Isshin smile for the first time in awhile, and he was almost disappointed when the man stood up and patted him twice on the leg. "You shouldn't be so nasty to your elders."

"And you shouldn't eavesdrop on your fifteen year old son." Ichigo laughed when he saw his father turn red and stalk away with his shoulder hunched in embarrassment. Before becoming comfortable again Ichigo thought, thank you dad. And Renji, next time I see you, I swear it'll be the last time I'll ever hurt you. I love you Renji, and I wish I would've noticed sooner before it might be too late.

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Please wait in idle anticipation for the third and final installment of this thrilling, heart throbbing story! Just kidding. But do please come back. :D