Ikkaku groaned and shifted slowly as the morning sun beamed into the room through the thin coverings over the large window on the third seats side. The halo of yellow streamed in and hit him right in the eyes which he continued to squint but before he could silently complain about the light the very first thought he had was of Yumichika. He instantly sat up and looked to the other side of the rather smallish room and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his friend had come back to their quarters and was asleep on his own futon. He was sure that Yumichika wouldn't stay mad for long especially not at him and the fact he was there in their room made Ikkaku smile for a moment knowing it was water under the bridge and yet he still felt the need to somehow make it up to the pretty male.

Ikkaku knew that his small blowup had nothing to do with that idiot Renji and the only reason why he had a brief fit of aggravation was because of the frustration of feeling aroused by Yumichika and having no idea what to do about it and not knowing whether it was a good or bad thing that the one person he wanted but couldn't have had made his lust stir knowing nothing would ever happen between them.

Ikkaku continued to look at Yumichika and his sleeping form. His friend was facing him and even in his sleep he looked beautiful especially with the sun streaming in and illuminating the flawless almost china like flesh. The fifth seat had removed his yellow feathers and his whole look just seemed so pure and almost angelic in a weird way. Ikkaku felt that arousal boil again and the urge to just go over to Yumichika and wake him before pressing his lips to the others was high. He supposed he could do it and if there was an adverse reaction he could blame it on sleep walking or something. Ikkaku's idea of surprising Yumichika in such a embracing way quickly left his mind when he felt he needed to get up and leave before Yumichika woke up he really didn't want to get his ass chewed for the way he acted the night before and he REALLY didn't want to have to explain the real reason why he was such an asshole towards him. With that in mind Ikkaku quietly got up and as quickly as possible he dressed himself in an unworn Shihakusho from the closet that was taken up mostly with Yumichika's clothing as swiftly as possible before slipping out the room and closing the door behind him. He was off to find Renji but not for the same reason he had planned out yesterday Ikkaku had decided that he needed to say something to someone and Renji was the closest thing he had to a friend other than Yumichika otherwise he feared his head may very well explode.

Ikkaku made his way towards the division six barracks and pounded on the door to the red heads quarters

"OI! ABARAI! GET YOUR DUMB ASS UP!" Ikkaku said loudly

He wouldn't have been so loud if Captain Byakuya Kuchiki was there but the snobby noble resided in his mansion that was a good distance from the barracks. Ikkaku knocked again louder forcing the tattooed lieutenant up and out of bed.

Ikkaku almost cried with laughter when he saw Renji open the door. His long hair was in a mess and all puffed up, he had dark circles around his eyes and even had dried drool on the corner of his mouth

"What…..the…..fuck….DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!? IT'S FUCKING DAWN! WHAT THA HELL DO YOU WANT!"

Renji yelled loudly as he glared at Ikkaku. The bald man wiped away his tears and tried to stop laughing long enough to speak. He gasped a few times and grinned like a mad man.

"Get dressed I need your help"

He didn't want to ask for Renji's help hell he would have rather battled the guy again then have some deep and meaningful conversation he wouldn't have cared if he was left in a bloody state as long as Renji was in just as bad condition as he was.

"Gahhhhh it's too fucking early to be kicking your ass Ikkaku fuck off and come back later"

"HEY! DIPSHIT! DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE HOZUKIMARU WITH ME?! AND YOU KNOW I TAKE HIM EVERYWHERE!"

Ikkaku growled and scowled at Renji waiting for the idiot to wake up and see that he did in fact leave his weapon back in his room which was HIGHLY unlike the barbaric man who NEVER went anywhere without Hōzukimaru.

He watched Renji look down and then back up again

"Ehh…come on in lemme get dressed and then you can explain why you needed to wake me up"

Renji stepped aside and walked back towards his bedroom leaving the door open for Ikkaku. The third seat waked into the barracks and closed the door behind him. He looked around the room and shook his head at how clean the room was but with Byakuya Kuchiki as his superior he really wasn't all that shocked that Renji would do whatever he could to impress his dear Captain that he admired so greatly.

Ikkaku moved over to small table and sat down on one of the cushions that rested on the floor waiting for Renji to get dressed and fix the mass of messy red hair. He felt like he was waiting forever before the lieutenant returned looking less stupid and more awake.

"Alright I'm listening what is so damn important?"

Renji sat down on the other cushion and just looked at Ikkaku. The bald man didn't even know where to begin what the hell was he supposed to say "I think I am in love with my best friend?" he shook his head probably making him looking like a lunatic. He wasn't expecting Renji to understand but he did know that he would keep his mouth shut and this had been eating Ikkaku up for too long and this was probably the only chance he was going to get to say what he needed to say and at least try and get it off his chest.

"I'm trustin' you to keep your mouth shut and believe me I wouldn't be here talkin' to you about this if I had someone else to talk to but I don't so I need you to be cool and not be a total ass about what I am goin' to say to you…got it?"

He saw the confused look in Renji's red-brown eyes then a slight nod

"Alright but what about Yumichika? You can't talk to him about whatever is making you all weird?"

"NO I CAN'T ALRIGHT! IT'S ABOUT YUMICHIKA IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ME ANY GOOD TALKIN' TO YUMICHIKA ABOUT YUMICHIKA NOW IS IT?"

Ikkaku was already losing his patience but he needed to remain calm this was truly the only person he had to talk to and he had to keep his cool if he wanted to achieve some sort of resolve.

"Look….you have no idea what this shit is doin' to me it's messin' me up and if I don't say somethin'….well shit….I dunno what I am gonna to do so just hear me out"

Ikkaku added calming down and hoping Renji was going to be kind enough to at least hear his problem and not make a big deal out of the fact that the Ikkaku Madarame, the battle loving bloodthirsty third seat of division eleven was in love with another man.

"Well spill I don't have all day"

Ikkaku sighed and gave Renji a very seriously look to show the other that he wasn't kidding with what he was about to admit, that he was very genuine and it was not something he wanted Renji making a joke out of either

"I think I am in love with Yumichika"

Ikkaku found himself blurting out. He didn't even take another second to think it just came out like vomit and there was no way to take back or add on to what he said to make it appear like he had said something else but the moment those words left his mouth Ikkaku was breathing a sigh of relief. It felt so good to say it no matter how crazy it seemed or sounded it was just such a weight lifted he didn't even care how Renji was going to react anymore.

"That's it? That's this urgent matter you needed to see me about? Well fuck, I could have told you that Ikkaku just as I can tell you that he is in love with you too"

The red head slightly chuckled and shook his head. Ikkaku was a little taken aback by Renji's response. There was no smart ass comment about them both being men, there wasn't even a question of why on the lieutenants face.

"You don't think it's weird that we are both guys?"

"Psshh no….do you know how many men I have slept with in the past? I would be a hypocrite to say anything. Besides you have known each other forever you live like husband and wife just without whole marriage thingy"

Ikkaku wasn't really sure how to take that. Sure they had a bond and they literally didn't go anywhere without each other and Yumichika did take up their closet space with clothes and he left all his somewhat girly hair care products in the bathroom…as he thought about it perhaps it was true they did kind of live like husband and wife and they weren't having sex and from what Ikkaku knew that was the norm for married couples.

"Wait…what? You have slept with other guys?"

He asked finally dawning on the fact that Renji said about his sexual adventures

"Yeah but keep that on the down low right? I don't need Byakuya up my ass questioning me….although I wouldn't mind being up that guys ass for once"

Ikkaku grinned as Renji chuckled at the last statement

"So….what do you think I should do then? Should I just put it out there and hope that he feels the same why or do I just say fuck it and try to forget that I feel something for him and go about like we always do?"

Ikkaku genuinely wanted the advice even better he would have appreciated Renji just telling him how it is and what he should do so he didn't have to play the cat and mouse game in his mind any longer

"Wellll that's really your call. You can pretend that there is nothing and eventually drive yourself insane…r or you can grow a pair and just tell him how you feel and finally test just how lucky you are….the choice is all yours Ikkaku"