Two-Almost

While it might not have been the cause, the beginning (for Ichigo et al. at least), could be traced back to the night they went drinking. Renji was not sure whose idea it had been, but it had seemed like a good one at the time. Things were starting to get back to normal, so it just seemed like the right thing to do. The usual group was there: Renji, Kira, Ikkaku, Iba, Matsumoto, and Shuuhei. Matsumoto had suggested that they invite Ichigo and his group.

"We've fought side by side, so now we should drink that way too," she had said.

Ishida had declined, saying that the Shinigami were still his enemies and he did not drink with his enemies. Orihime and Chad had politely refused, saying that they were minors, but Ichigo had joined them. Renji had not thought much about it; it had been a very long time since he had been that age and Rukongai did not have any kind of age restrictions for anything. He had just assumed that Ichigo knew what he was doing; if he was old enough to fight Hollows, Arrancar, Espada, and traitorous Captains, he was old enough to drink.

Things had gone pretty much as they always did; Ikkaku and Iba were in a corner, trying to outstare each other, Kira was passed out and Matsumoto was asleep at the end of the table, head back and arms flung out.

Renji was watching Kira twitch and mumble to himself. Renji grimaced, whatever he was dreaming about, it was not pleasant. They had all been hit hard by the betrayal of the three Captains, but whatever Ichimaru had done to Kira must have been particularly nasty.

"Hey," Shuuhei's voice broke into his thoughts, "you'd better save wonder boy there. He's about to get his ass kicked."

"Huh?" Renji looked over.

He was sitting next to Ichigo, who was next to the end of the table where Matsumoto was. The young human was on his feet, peering myopically down into Matsumoto's cleavage. He was not steady and looked in danger of falling in.

"Hey, whoah there!" Renji leaned forward and pulled Ichigo back by his collar. "What the hell, Ichigo?"

Ichigo sat down with a grunt, frowning. "It's not right!"

Renji raised an eyebrow, the kid was hammered. Somehow, he had always imagined Ichigo would be the type to hold his liquor well. Renji was feeling pretty good himself; he had passed the happy tipsy stage, the slurry stage, and was at the point where he felt almost lucid again. Shuuhei was pretty much in the same place.

"Not right," Ichigo repeated, his voice cracking. He slapped his hand on the table. "There's no way it should stay up like that."

"What're you talking about?"

"Her kosode. When she leans back like that, it should fall open. But no, it just stays there, defying gravity. How's she doing that? It's not right!"

He glared at the offending garment and then realized what else he had been staring at.

"Augh, shit!" he clapped his hands over his face.

Renji could see that the tips of his ears had gone red and could not help but think that it was pretty cute.

"Be happy that it does," Shuuhei said. "Otherwise…" he shuddered.

Ichigo slid his hands from his face, his eyes were wide. "What?"

Shuuhei leaned forward. "Rumour has it that it's a sight to make the most hardened man weak in the knees. Someone like yourself…it would probably burn your eyes right out of your head."

Renji laughed and patted Ichigo on the back. "He's got that right. Most definitely not something a little virgin like you should see."

"Hey! I'm…I'm…" Ichigo spluttered and fumed, but could not produce a suitable comeback, so he settled on folding his arms and glaring at the two Shinigami.

Shuuhei chuckled. "He's pretty cute sometimes. I can see why you like him, Abarai-kun."

"Shut the hell up!" Ichigo shook his fist at Shuuhei. "Wanna have a go? I'll show you cute! I'll kill you until you die from it!"

He turned an even deeper shade of red when the two Vice-Captains roared with laughter.

"Stop that! I'm not cute! And I'm…there's no way you could know…"

When the two older men kept on laughing, he swung his fist at Renji. It smacked into the red head's palm.

"That tickled, are you trying to make me laugh harder?" Renji grinned. He reached out and patted Ichigo on the head with his free hand.

"Don't fuckin' pet me, idiot!" Ichigo growled and tried to swat the offending hand away.

Renji's grin got larger and he patted the spiky orange hair harder. "Just like a puppy sometimes."

"Bastard! I'll…" Ichigo hiccupped and then slapped both hands over his mouth. His face went from red to grayish-green.

"Hey! Don't ya dare puke in here, idiot." Renji rose from his seat and grabbed Ichigo by the back of his shihakushō. "Here, let's get you some fresh air. Be back in a minute, sempai."

Shuuhei nodded, grinning.

That's just like you, Abarai, he thought, a holy terror one moment and a big softie the next.

They returned to their seats a few minutes later. Ichigo still looked a little green and was unsteady on his feet.

"Here, just put your head down for a few minutes, idiot."

Ichigo made a slurry protest, but Renji just pushed him into his chair and then pushed his head down. He kept his hand on the back of Ichigo's neck, kneading until the younger man relaxed.

Shuuhei watched Renji's hand through half-lidded eyes. He knew just how it would feel, calloused, strong, and warm. He realized that it had been a long time since he had felt those hands on him.

Back then I still had a Captain and the proper amount of fear, he was in the 11th squad, and the world was still sane, Shuuhei thought.

"You are rather fond of him, aren't you?"

Renji looked up at the sound of the quiet voice. "I guess. It's hard not to be, really. He's so…"

"Young. And human."

"Yeah, that's so true. He's seventeen, but we were in a whole different place at that age. We age differently and grow differently. And his home is nothing like Rukongai."

"It's nice, huh?"

"It's a good family. Weird, but good." Renji thought about some of the things that he was learning from Urahara. "And maybe not all that different from us." Renji looked down at Ichigo and smiled. Not really aware of it, he reached out and touched the young human's cheek. "In any case, there's no way. He's too…"

Shuuhei sighed. "You're doing it again you know."

Renji pulled his hand away. "Huh?"

"Raising yet another pedestal to put him out of reach. When will you realize your own worth?"

"I uh…" Renji felt a flush climbing over his face. "Well, you know how it is, some of us stay dogs are just slow learners. Easier just to gaze up than jump, I guess."

Shuuhei shook his head. "Renji," he murmured. He could guess who had put that ridiculous idea into Renji's head, but he was not about to say anything against a higher ranking officer.

Renji shrugged and sank back in his chair. Shuuhei sighed and rubbed his hand over his bad eye.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry." He forced a grin. "I'm getting broody in my old age."

Renji laughed. "You've still got a ways to go before you can say that." He looked around. "This was a good idea; feels good."

"Feels almost like normal."

"Almost? Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, almost. Don't worry, I'm getting there. It just takes a little longer for some of us."

Renji nodded and dabbed at a puddle of sake with one finger. "It's probably not much comfort, but they fooled everyone. Everyone. Even the old man."

"I know, I know, that's part of the problem. I can't sort out what was meant as misdirection and what was the truth. So much of what he told me has shaped me into what I am now and I don't know how to rid myself of the deception." Shuuhei ran his fingers across the tattoo on his cheek as he thought about it. "Maybe I need to just cast it all away and start from where I was before." He made a derisive noise. "Or maybe I've just had too much to drink."

"Hmm, maybe." Renji murmured. He had become distracted by Shuuhei's fingers as they stroked his cheek and then slid across the bridge of his nose. "So maybe, start back at the day you got that." Renji touched his own nose.

"That was a good day. A very good day…and night."

"It was." Renji grinned. "The next morning was a little rough, though."

Shuuhei made a low noise in the back of his throat, almost a purr. "It's a good idea. Any chance you'd like to help me out with that?" He saw the other man hesitate and waved one hand to dismiss the idea. "I'm sorry. Forget it. I've definitely had too much to drink."

"Don't apologize. It's…" Renji paused chewing on his lip. Then he chuckled. "You know, I've been an idiot, chasing after impossible things while something really good was right in front of me. Sempai, if you want I would be glad to help you out." He leaned forward, letting his voice drop. "As I recall, it will be my great pleasure."

Shuuhei's answering smile made the hair stand up on Renji's neck. "So, let's go and see how much we remember."

-0000-

Ichigo sat up, rubbing his eyes, trying to get them to focus. What he saw made him yelp and he almost toppled backwards out of his chair.

The big shiny grin complemented the shiny bald head hovering in front of him.

"Ikkaku, what the hell? Too close. Just too close, damn it!"

"Heh, why are you worrying about me? Can't you hear it Kurosaki? Your death is coming."

"Huh? What the hell is your problem?"

It was hard to believe, but Ikkaku's grin got wider. "Listen. The bells. They're coming this way."

Ichigo listened and then sprang out of the chair. "Oh, crap! Where's Zangetsu? Shit! Where'd that old man get to?" He began to look around.

"I think Renji said something about putting your zanpakutou in the room he rented so you wouldn't lose it." Matsumoto was awake. She stretched and yawned, waving one hand to indicate the direction. "Down that hallway, fifth door on the right." She blinked. "The bells are getting closer. Can we have one last toast for you Kurosaki-kun?"

"Oh hell no!" Ichigo bolted down the hallway.

Ikkaku watched him go and then turned to Matsumoto. "You do know that Renji's in there with Shuuhei?"

"Hmm, really?" Matsumoto's eyes got big and round. She put one finger to her lips. "Do you think that'll be a problem?"

"I…um…well… Hey! You did know, didn't you?"

"Hmm, maybe." Matsumoto shrugged and then yawned again. "I really should get my camera and maybe take a few pictures, things might get interesting with the three of them together. Hmm, maybe a little later." She settled back down and appeared to fall asleep again.

Ikkaku grimaced. "How does Captain Hitsugaya ever manage?"

-0000-

"Renji! Hey, Renji! Where's Zangetsu? I need…" Ichigo burst into the room, slapped the door shut, and surged towards the bed before the sight in front of him really registered. He slapped one hand over his eyes and staggered back until he hit the wall. "What the hell! Renji! You…naked…him…tattoos…naked! Augh!"

Shuuhei sank back on his heels, reluctant to leave the taste of Renji's skin behind. He rested his fingers on Renji's stomach, just where it met his hip, as though he was marking his spot. He should probably feel annoyed, but watching the young human, face red where it was not covered, flail his arm around as he sputtered, was actually quite amusing.

Renji propped himself up on his elbows. He gave Shuuhei a look that managed to be both apologetic and arousing. "Idiot! Didn't anyone ever teach you to knock?"

"Hah!" For a moment, Ichigo forgot about the 11th squad Captain, his sword, and the sight in front of him. "Like the way you do, when you come barging through my window?"

A grin spread across Renji's face. "That's because I know that I won't be interrupting anything. When that changes, I'll knock."

"Idiot! Where's Zangetsu?"

"Moron. Right where you left him. In the sword rack near the door."

"What? Matsumoto said you brought him in here."

"And you believed her? Idiot!"

"Jerk! Why wouldn't I?"

"Because she's evil and you're drunk. And you should always know where your sword is." Renji looked at Shuuhei. "Sorry." His gaze snapped back to Ichigo. "But the idiot's about to leave."

Shuuhei made a low noise in the back of his throat. "Is he? Look at him, looking at us. I think he might like to stay."

Ichigo felt his whole body flush and he jerked his gaze away. He had been staring from between his fingers. While Shuuhei's face was marked with scars and tattoos the rest of his body was not. His ivory skin made an amazing contrast against Renji's tan, tattooed chest and arms. Ichigo had seen portions of the tattoos before, but seeing them all at once, highlighted by flushed skin, was doing funny things to his head and belly.

Shuuhei ran his fingers across Renji's stomach muscles. "I'll bet you've wondered, Kurosaki: do they feel different, taste different?" The fingers flowed in a new direction, following the black lines down until they tangled in coarse red hair.

Renji made a low noise, half protest half groan of pleasure. It was not a good idea to tease Ichigo like that, while he was able to handle much more than the average teenager, this was probably beyond his limits. On the other hand, Renji could imagine what Shuuhei had suggested and his body liked the idea very much.

"Or if not," Shuuhei continued, almost purring, "just watch. We don't mind that at all. Right, Abarai-kun?"

He smiled down at Renji, eyes half closed and hazy, and Renji could not remember what stupid reason he had ever had for breaking it off with this man. It probably had something to do with putting all his energy into catching up with a certain noble and proving himself to Rukia.

Ichigo made another noise, it sounded like he was choking back a sob. He was clutching the wall behind him and it was hard to tell if he was trying to hold himself back or push off from it.

"Ichigo, it's…" Renji started.

"No Ken-chan, it's this way. Go left." Yachiro's high pitched giggle sounded close and so was the reiatsu spike that always accompanied Zaraki Kenpachi.

"Shit!" Ichigo's exit was as precipitous as his entrance.

Shuuhei listened to the noisy retreat, one eyebrow raised. "Is he always that loud? Not that I mind some noise." He saw the expression on Renji's face. "Do you want to go after him?"

"I…no. He'll be fine. The Captain's reiatsu's moved away…in the wrong direction of course. And Ichigo's probably already at the nearest gate."

"You're sure? Don't feel like you have to…"

"It's fine." Renji shifted, stretching his arms out and shaking out his hair so it fanned out across the sheets. He tilted his head so that the long line of his throat was exposed.

Shuuhei took a deep breath; he loved it when Renji sprawled out like that, inviting exploration. He ran his hands along Renji's thighs. "When did you get these?"

"Hmm, a while ago."

"They're amazing." Shuuhei traced the designs down and up again and then returned to Renji's stomach.

So much had changed since the last time he had done that; new tattoos and bankai for Renji, new (and some old) companions in the fight against Hollows, and betrayal and pain for them all. And yet, some things had not changed so much; Renji arched under Shuuhei's hands, urging him on with sighs and groans. He reached up to bury his hands in his sempai's hair and pulled him close.

"This was a very good idea."