Time After Time

[x3x]

Ichigo was groaning now.. Well he had been for hours, and all Renji could do was join in with the annoying sounds as he pat his back and glanced into the darkened landscape before him- growing irritated all the while.

He would've thought Ichigo would feel better an hour after taking that creamed coffee earlier in the day, but after taking 30 minutes to get Kurosaki to simply drink the beverage, all the boy had done was complain, groan, whine and cry about how 'he was going to vomit' or 'pass out' or even bigger than that, 'die'...
He had done that for about 8 hours, and it hasn't stopped.

So there they were.. Both Abarai and Kurosaki, sitting on the curb just in front of 'Kuramart' - a small 24 hour mart that could be compared to 7-11 or a Rite Aid of sorts - doing absolutely nothing but sitting in the dead night and waiting.. Well this was more Renji's actions that Kurosaki's.. Ichigo was too busy looking into the gutter pretending he was going to throw up while Abarai was resting the side of his face in his free palm while blankly staring into the street.

"Uugggghh.. Renjii.. I think.. I'm dyyyiing.."

"Mhm."

"Ohhh maan.. I'm.. I'm blacking ouuut.."

"Tell me.. Y'think that's alcohol poisoning?"

"Uggghhh.. I'm n-never drinking again.."

"Mhm.."

Ichigo coughed, hacked and gagged, though nothing would ever come up.. As stated prior, he had been doing this for hours.. and well, from Renji's perspective, when you see this go on continuously, you kinda get bored of it- especially when you know the person who's performing the action is so over-dramatic..

"Renjiii.."

"Kurosaki can we wrap this up soon? I have stuff to do tomorrow.."

"Ugggg- What?" Ichigo spoke sitting straight- magically getting good and well. "What're you doing tomorrow? What kinda stuff?"

Renji groaned hunching on the curb, ironically making him look like the sick one between the two. "- S'None of your buisness, Kurosaki.. I'm assuming you're better now?"

"Hey don't change the topic!" Ichigo snapped, before twisting his face to form the look of unwavering curiosity. "Renji.. tell me what you're doing tomorrow."

"Why do you care?"

"Because you and I both know that I have nothing to do in this town by myself!" He spoke whining, and complaining. "Besides school, I have absolutely nothing to commit to, and no one to hang out with- Keigo and Shinji are always out running around the town picking up chicks and causing trouble, and they never wanna invite me because they think I'll ruin their fun, what with my being in a relationship and all, My friend Chad is usually busy with his own job, Mizuiro goes to that fancy University across town and that's just about it for all my school friends," he let out counting on his fingers with narrowed brows. "-all there's really left to hang out with is Ikkaku-"

"Don't hang out with him." Renji muttered, looking to the Kurosaki boy seriously.

Ichigo blinked. "Hm? Why? I thought you guys were friends?"

Of course both Ikkaku and Renji were friends; They were the best if anyone had to point it out! The two had everything in common-hobbies down to a tee. If anyone wanted to cause trouble for the fun of it, act like an ass, drink and fight, then all they needed to to was travel around Karakura and find both Abarai and Ikkaku- they'd show anyone a good time if they wanted to risk going to jail for the night!
But as fun as that was, Renji didn't want Ichigo doing that- he didn't want Kurosaki to hang out with Ikkaku at all strictly because of that.

Unlike Renji, Ikkaku never had a fucking off switch when it came to that kind of 'fun'. If you feel like stealing some douchebag's bike, then Ikkaku would want to steal 20 of them. If you wanted to steal something as simple as a bag of chips from a grocery outlet, Ikkaku would try to steal something as grand as a 36 pack of beer or something- how the fuck would you even attempt to get the hell out of a store with that?

..The point was.. Ikkaku always went too far, and Renji could only imagine Ichigo hanging out with the guy and getting himself into more trouble than he could ever hope for- Psh, only then would Kurosaki end up calling Abarai from jail, asking the guy if he could call the boy's parents, which would strangely enough make Renji wonder why the boy didn't do it himself, and yet nevertheless make the man worry, fret and shuffle around to try to bail the guy out himself before he ended up getting rammed in by grown men twice his size..

Renji flinched before the palm of his right hand smacked his forehead. Yes.. he could see something exactly like that happening.. that was exactly why he didn't want Ichigo to hang out with Ikkaku..

"Renji! Stop spacing out!" Ichigo voiced making the redhead shift his glance to him out of irritation- this, however, earned Abarai an irritated glance in return. "What's up with you? You've been in your own world lately!"

Renji's hand simply slid down his face in the slowest strides before he brought his eyes to glance at the sky. "..I just have a lot on my mind."

"Psh, yeah no kidding." The boy let out before hunching to the gutter and groaning again. "Rrlgh.. I still feel sick.."

"It's been a whole day Kurosaki.. just suck it up."

"Easy for you to say.. You didn't drink your whole body weight in beer."

"Yeah because, fun-fact, doing that makes you feel like shit."

"Uggh.."

The two sat in silence.. well.. a sort of silence. Ichigo was still groaning, except this time holding his stomach, and even though Abarai believed his moans 'n groans would last a little longer it didn't. It was probably because Ichigo got tired of faking, that or the pressure his arms provided his abdomen relieved some strain in his stomach or where-ever he was hurting..
Regardless, the redhead continued to look to the sky, secretly planning his schedule for the next day and mentally preparing him for those certain tasks.. however.. Kurosaki

"You're seriously worrying me.."
This statement made Renji's spine jump in every direction, and operate his body to face Ichigo.

All the Kurosaki boy did was frown, and that was enough to make Renji ache and react ridiculously.

Waving his hands every-which-way, glancing about nervously and shuddering like it was 30 below- Renji's body literally convulsed like he was kid who got his first hit of sugar as he spoke to Ichigo. "W-What're you talkin' about! I haven't done anything Kurosaki, all I'm thinkin' about is what I have to do to move my stuff outta Ikkaku's and into my own place! That's it! I'm moving! Th-That's the big secret- so stop makin' that stupid face alright, damn!"

Ichigo blinked like an airhead but was sure to flash a positive grin the next second. "You're getting your own place!"

"Yes dammit!"

"Wow.. Renji.. That's so cool!" he praised as he leaned. "You're gonna have your own place, you won't have little sisters that bug you every now and again and a mom and dad that nag you!"

Renji pulled back in reaction, dulling his glance to the boy before echoing the only word that stuck..

"Family..?"

Kurosaki only nodded, that gleeful grin that would tempt the sun to rise still on his mug. "You're so lucky! You think you're gonna brag to your family and show them the new place?"

"..Heh.. maybe.." Renji let out as Kurosaki continued to laugh.

Ichigo wasn't really aware of Abarai's past, so sometimes the boy would slip and actually speak about simple things such as the roles of relatives and family in general, to which Renji would find himself mentally reacting to in the poorest way.
Every time he thought about his own family he got the bitterest taste in his mouth, his stomach would turn and his body would just flare in irritation. In all honesty, he hated his branch-in-the-ass bible toting father, and he thought his meek mother was nothing less than annoying. Secretly he cursed them both, but openly he made them out to be ghosts.. When Kurosaki would ever ask about Renji's family, usually the redhead would pretend he didn't hear him, dismiss the topic by shifting it and speaking about Kurosaki's family instead, or just agree about whatever. Those three reactions were enough to get Ichigo distracted and change the topic to something Abarai enjoyed more.. though.. this pattern often repeated itself alot.. making Renji really consider just telling Ichigo his whole family situation so topics relative to 'family' wouldn't have to be brought up again, but then.. that would lead to questions as to how his family became like that, and what made them pretty much disown their only son, which in turn would bring Abarai to determine whether or not he could confess his being gay to Kurosaki. Of course.. that was never going to happen.. It couldn't..

Instantly putting on an actor's smile and nodding to the boy, Renji made sure to resort to his distracting topic changers, all in the hopes Ichigo would speak about something more enjoyable, and undoubtedly save him from his memories, "Yeah.. I'm excited.. I wanna show them, but who knows, I mean.. I've been rooming with Ikkaku at his apartment for all these years, so who knows if they might care or not."

"Trust me, parents care Renji."

"Yeah.. still.. I might just not tell anyone y'know? I dont' want them or anyone else popping up out of nowhere."

"I understand! Heh.. I'm still a little jealous.." Ichigo groaned before smacking his teeth and looking to the sky. "-I can't wait till I move out. I can do whatever I want in my own place and no one can tell me what to do.. there won't be any curfews and no one could eat my snacks when I'm sleep."

"Psh.. You're such a loser." Renji laughed making Ichigo squint an eye. "You want a house just to get away, but .. don't you also want a house just for the self-satisfaction of being able to keep a roof over your head without depending on anybody? Taking care of yourself in a space that you've acquired by yourself is like the ultimate way of showing everyone that you're a true adult, that you're able to handle anything now.."

Ichigo jerked, then scoffed before punching the mans shoulder, making Renji grit his teeth and suppress the need to yelp or let out an unmanly 'Ow'.

"-the fuck, Kurosaki!"

"I hate it when you say stuff like that.. it only makes me more jealous." he mumbled, leaving Abarai to raise a brow and watch the boy glance away in a pout. "-We're the same age, and here I am complaining about getting snacks taken away from me while you're moving up in the world- literally sounding like a grown ass man! Ughh.. I would've expected this from everyone else, but not you Renji.."

The redhead blinked, but was sure to flinch and glare. "-What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well.. I mean.. you're you.."

"Yeah! So!"

"So everybody has a job and stuff.."

"Yeah and so do I!"

"Yeah but it's not like the other's jobs.. They work at mature, cultured places while you-"

"Ichigo! Ikkaku works in a warehouse taping up boxes, Shinji works as a desk clerk in a shabby ass hotel of which I assume he makes side-money by whoring himself out to customers and hookers alike, and Keigo works at a fucking Pizza hut! I happen to work in a successful business firm's mailroom! If anything, I'd say my job was way more mature, cultured and established than any of the other guys!" Renji defended, rather proud of where he was in life.

Ichigo only groaned as he cradled the back of his head and glared at the curb. "Yeah.. but still.."

"Still? Still what!"

"You're not supposed to be like this- when class is over, you're supposed to be sitting around and goofin' off with me.."

"Tch, You thought I was just going to sit around and be stupid like you- complaining about candy 'n snacks 'n all that bullshit, refusing to make something of myself? Screw you, Kurosaki!"

"You know that's not what I meant." Ichigo frowned, making all of Renji's anger and irritation completely float away like a receding wave. "..Don't get me wrong, Renji.. I'm happy for you. You have a job, you get a paycheck and you have your own place.. You have no idea how much I want that- but you know me.. I can only focus on one thing at a time. My priority is school, so till that's all done and finished, I can't bring myself to find a job or anything. I can only sit around and study and then do whatever I want with the time I'm given.." he mumbled, timidly shifting his irises to Abarai. "I just thought.. y'know.. since your job gives you more time off than the others.. that you'd kinda be there to hang with me all the time.. Y'know?"

Renji pulled back again, his eyes agape, mouth glued shut and body slightly twitching.
This.. THIS SHIT.. Damn Renji hated THIS. Ichigo wasn't drunk, he was completely sober and he was saying some heartfelt bullcrap that you'd hear in sappy tv show's that would make Abarai literally vomit if he heard this on the television, but hearing Ichigo say it.. He.. He felt like a woman- No, not even a woman, a girl- A teenage girl conversing with her love interest about their futures and whatnot!
This was sickening, but all the more nerve-racking for Renji. He didn't know how to respond to this- well he had an idea, but that idea always led him to want to pounce on Ichigo and stop him from making those stupid schoolgirl faces then reward the boy by pecking his sunkissed skin as he complied obediently to Abarai's order- but he couldn't do that!
Renji always had to think quick! Think of something casual and cool to say! Just so he wouldn't be weird and he'd be able to hold back his urges even if it's just by a little bit, but that was always so difficult to do as well. Just what could Abarai say to Ichigo in response to his question without looking or seeming weird in every way possible?

The redhead actually stared into space as he wondered just what he could say, all the while listening to his heart reverb a fast, powerful beat that echoed all the way to his ears. Listening to this, paying absolutely no attention to what was going on, and subconsciously figuring that this wasn't a good fucking time to open his mouth and say anything to Kurosaki, Renji stayed silent with his eyes still wide and trap glued shut, eventually watching Ichigo narrow his eyes and glance away.

"-Tch.. you don't get it... You just think I'm a lazy idiot who likes to complain.. and I bet you think I'm acting strange just because I'm being honest with you.." he mumbled before slowly revealing sharp eyes that were somewhat soft and a face that was getting pink out of embarrassment.

Gawd Renji didn't like that look.. If his whole straight facade was a brick wall, then that look was a fucking wrecking ball, breaking down Renji's whole demeanor and forcing him to desperately fight his urges.

Please don't look at me like that— Renji wanted to say this, but as the words reached his brain, his mouth would not operate to form sentences properly. So rather than speak, Renji was just staring at Ichigo like a fucking moron, looking about as stupid as he felt, and giving Kurosaki the impression that what he had said was just so awkward and stupid to hear.

"-You're an asshole." Ichigo abruptly spoke, making Renji twitch. "I was actually being honest, but of course you ruin it by looking at me like I'm a friggen idiot or something.. tch.. this is the last time I say anything nice to you, Abarai.."

No- don't think that!

.

Undoubtedly, I believe you Kurosaki!

.

This just.. uh.. has taken me by surprise!

Simple sentences such as that were pig latin to Renji's tongue, so instead of saying that, he ended up muttering, "N..d... U..Th-uh..t...s", which in response made Ichigo very confused, in every sense of the word..

Raising a brow and sporting a seriously bothered face, Ichigo lowered his eyes, sending daggers to Renji who shook his head and finally snapped out of it.

"-D..Don't say that stuff to me Kurosaki! If you knew me at all, you'd know I wouldn't think that of you!" he spoke pointing a childish finger. "Y-You'd also know that hearing that sappy shit makes me at a loss for words! Seriously! If you wanna say something nice, then say something that didn't come from your stupid chick flicks!"

Ichigo flinched. "You ass! What I said was serious stuff! I didn't take it from a movie! And how dare you say that in the first place! You're making it seem like those are the only movies I watch!"

"They're the only movies you talk about!"

"That doesn't mean anything!"

"Right, but it just makes my point that much more valid!"

The two literally went back and forth in their argument, eventually resorting to name-calling and other slurs; Bitch, Ass, Bastard, Cunt, Super-Bitch..
It went on and on until the two were glaring each other down like rabid dogs, only to in the end, stand from the curb and compose themselves like the adults they were.. though.. they were still pretty angry..

Ichigo's russet eyes shifted every which where, before he finally hid them with his lids and scoffed. "I'm going home. Thanks for the coffee earlier and all that.."

"Whatever." Renji uttered waving him off. "Next time you feel like wasting time, call Keigo."

"Tch! I won't just call Keigo! I'll call all of my friends, and then we're all gonna hang out and have fun and exclude you!"

"Whoop-de-doo.." Abarai lamely cheered, twirling a finger in the air before he turned and walked off. "Later Kurosaki."

"Goddammit Renji!" Ichigo shouted with a weak stomp before following behind the redhead, making him pause and glance over his shoulder.

"...Leave me alone."

"No! Even though you're being an asshole, I want you to know that I'm serious Renji! And.. Okaaay, I was an asshole too for the job comment! I mean, I have no right to talk because I don't have a job 'n stuff and-"

Kurosaki couldn't bring himself to finish as Renji was glancing someplace else with that stupid airheaded stare he seemed to sport- This always offended Ichigo. That look pretty much said that Abarai didn't pay attention because sentences were starting to get long-winded..
Ichigo grunted, bringing Renji's vision to shift to him and allow him to basically get to the damn point..

"..Sorry, alright?"

"Tch.. you still on with that? Shut the hell up Kurosaki, I'm over it."

Ichigo flinched before lowering his head, still glancing at Renji all the while- looking like a goddamn child that was about ready to beg, making Abarai groan and shift his vision elsewhere. He couldn't bring himself to look at the boy any further.. not when he kept sporting stupid faces..

"Ugggh.. You're so irritating." Renji groaned shutting his eyes- saving himself. "It's alright.. I know what you meant back there so shut up."

"So.. We're cool?"

"I'm only blaming your moody attitude on your drinking- even though I know damn-well you're sober.." he spoke mumbling low at the end.

Two solid blinks were given before Ichigo smiled. "Alright then! We're good.. So where to?"

"Where t-" Renji paused as he groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Kurosaki.. it's late.. I just wanna go home and sleep."

"I didn't mean it like that! Where's your future place? I wanna see it!" he cleared up.

"Wha- No. No no no. I already told you.. I'm not showing anyone where I live- I mean.. I'm not living there now, but I'm going to.. y-y'know what I mean." he spoke, rambling a bit, making Ichigo frown.

"Whaaat? Oh come on Renji! You're not even gonna show your friends?"

"Why? So you guys can show up at my doorstep when your drunk and plastered, or egg my house when I piss you off? Pssh-"

"Keigo, Ikkaku and Shinji might do that, but I won't!"

"Yeeah okay.."

"C'mon! Renjii!"

Abarai only yawned in response- showing he was tired by both the day and the current convo, making Ichigo groan and yet smirk the next second.

"...I'm gonna find out anyway."

Renji twitched, watching the Kurosaki fold his arms and nod proudly to his prior statement before continuing, "Mhm.. You can't keep anything from me Renji. I'm going to find out where you live."

"What're you trying to be? My stalker? Yeah that's not creepy at all.." he laughed. "G'luck with that Kurosaki.. I'm going home now, later."

All Abarai did was turn, shove his hands in the pockets of his coat and marched off, all the while listening to Ichigo's rant's of his newly found mission. The boy wanted to find out where Renji lived because most likely when there was nothing to do outside, he'd want to hang out with Abarai at his house, and the redhead knew that couldn't happen. Having Ichigo spend all day at his home- in his domain where everything was run by Abarai and Abarai only.. Yeah.. Renji knew that wouldn't pan out well..

"God.. friggen.. damn.." he groaned lowering his head in despair. "That cannot happen.."

As if his own words were that of stern truth, Renji recovered and composed himself. He knew he would keep his home a secret and Kurosaki wouldn't find out.. C'mon there was no way! Ichigo didn't have a car to get around places, and the area Renji wanted to move to wasn't exactly a walk down the road! Psh, there was no way Ichigo would find out- afterall Renji wasn't even going to tell Ikkaku where he was going! He knew in the end everything would be fine!

...But still.. Ichigo's words.. They made Renji uneasy.

Flinching and glancing over his shoulder, the man of red hair saw nothing but a barren street and the mini-mart in the distance. There was nothing around but dark buildings, creepy streets and alleyways and a cold air that would push anyone to hurry home.

..Yeah.. Everything was going to be fine.