Disclaimer: Don't own, never did never will rights to Tite Kubo!
A/N: I got great reviews and feedback for chapt.1 so thanks to every1! Oh, and sorry it was so short but this one will be much longer and I promise not to dissapiont! R&R and enjoy!
Ichigo woke up to loud hollers and obnoxious laughing as the first rays of sun shined through the ragged windows of the hut. About twenty children raced about; playing, cleaning or turning in supplies, all under the ministrations of Renji.
Ichigo tentatively walked through the mayhem and stopped in front of Renji, showing off his trademark goof-ball smile, "Hey Pineapple!"
Renji scowled at him but he said nonetheless lovingly, "didn't I tell you not to call me that! Ah, whatever, how was your sleep last night?"
Ichigo smiled up at him, "great!" he chirped, stretching like a cat for enfaces, so what're all these kids doing?"
Renji shrugged, tugging on his ponytail, "just the usual, chores, playing, but we're going out to the market today!" He said, pointing at himself, Ichigo, and three other boys.
Ichigo gave him a bewildered look, "huh? What for?"
Renji smiled proudly, sticking out his chest and turning his head to the sky, "well, as noble children of the Rukongai, we--"
"Here we go again!" huffed one of the boys, a tubby one with brown hair. "Geez Ren, just get down to business so we can leave!"
Flames nearly shot out of Renji's ears as he glared daggers at the boy, "shut up okay! Everyone has to get the lecture before we go out to the market! I don't want anyone thinking we're just petty thieves!"
"Wait, thieves?" Ichigo inquired, a mixed look of fear and curiosity etched on his face.
"Well Strawberry, you see… well…" Renji pondered the question, not sure how to answer, " 'member how I told you life is hard in the Rukon? Well, to survive, sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do in order to survive. If that means stealin', well then we'll steal."
Ichigo's expression didn't change, but a certain fire rose in his eyes that unnerved Renji, "is stealing… dangerous?" He whispered it so only Renji could hear him, not a fearful whisper, but not in a taunting one either, in more like, a secretive whisper.
Renji chuckled, any doubts or worries long gone, "nah, usually we're just stealin' from oldies or oblivious women, nothin' to worry about."
Ichigo grabbed his hand as he practically dragged him out the door, "then let's go!"
Renji sputtered, surprised at how forward he was, "hey, we need to prepare and make sure everything's in order, we can't just leave!"
Ichigo smiled as he continued to pull Renji along until the many market stalls that littered the streets came into view, "wow, I wouldn't have thought of you as responsible! Big deal! You wanna get food, then let's get some food!" He continued dragging Renji until they came up to a small stall, the three boys from earlier right behind them. The stall had a large assortment of dried meats, fishes, fruits, vegetables, and candy. A small elderly woman sat in the stall, casually reading a battered book as she occasionally scratched the grey whisps protruding from her head. Renji stealthily crawled under the display table and winked at Ichigo, signaling him to swipe whatever he could and run. Ichigo nodded and grabs a sack of fish, a sack of vegetables, and a sack of candy. The old woman let out a screech of anger as she attempted to lift up from hr chair but saw that someone tied her kimono to the wooden legs.
Ichigo ran over to the three boys who where howling with laughter, "here, take these and run back home, now!" The boys nodded mutely and raced down the road. Ichigo turned around and saw a petrified Renji staring into the maddening eyes of the elderly women as she lifted a jagged stone that was sharpened to a point, aiming for Renji's head. Just as the stone left her palm a shocking sensation went through Ichigo, an electric current that sharpened his senses and enhanced his reflexes. He soared in front of Renji, catching the stone in his bare hand, just inches away from the pineapple's face.
Drops of blood began to drip from his hand as he gripped Renji's arm and they ran together, the sound of the women's howls permeating their every sense.
Renji led Ichigo into a dark alley and began tearing his own shirt, bandaging Ichigo's hand as he struggled to catch his breath. "Man Ichi, how'd you do that! I thought I was a goner!"
Ichigo shrugged, "I dunno, I didn't even feel like I was in my own body, I felt like a superhero." He smiled at Renji but hissed in pain at the harsh fabric brushing his raw flesh.
"Sorry! Ichi, gee I'm sorry, does it hurt bad?" Renji wrapped Ichigo in his arms as a few stray tears fell from his eyes, "I shoulda never let you come, I shoulda had you stay with the other kids, I--"
Renji was cut off as Ichigo harshly pressed his lips to Renji's, their lips moving together in a blissful harmony. Suddenly the pain in Ichigo's hand was long forgotten. He quickly backed off, "sorry, it's just you wouldn't shut up and I--"
It was Renji's turn to silence as he smothered Ichigo's lips, a triumphant smirk on his face.
When they broke apart, Ichigo had a look of sadness in his eyes, "Renji, I'm sorry, what we did was wrong, we're only supposed to be friends."
Renji laughed, tightening his hold on Ichigo, "don't talk like that, nothing we do could ever be wrong, but if you just want to be friends then we'll be friends, best friends."
"Okay," Ichigo smiled timidly, "friends, together."
Renji smiled, "alright, together. But hey, we better head back, people will start lookin' for us."
Ichigo held onto Renji tighter, "please Renji, can we stay here a bit longer?"
Renji let on a rare, genuine smile, "all right, we can stay here, together."
Chotto matte
A/N: Well well, how'd you like it? I've been procrastinating but I finally sat my butt down and wrote chapt.2! this is longer bows so I hope you're all happy! No lemon this time but I promise there will be some soon, I won't leave you all high and dry! Next chapter will be very fun cause Renji and Ichi will discover that they're different from the other children! Thanks for reading and REVIEW!