Hello. Some lemony fun in this chapter too. Things are starting to get really messy, aren't they? If you are enjoying the way this weird story is heading to, feel free to drop me a comment. :)
FOUR - Puppet
Next morning, the alarm rang horribly early. Emerging from the mess of tangled covers he was nestled in, Ichigo rubbed his eyes, seeing that Hitsugaya was shutting his cell phone's alarm. With a heavy sigh, the younger boy stretched lazily in his futon, glaring at Ichigo.
«What time did you come back, yesterday night? I didn't hear you.»
«I don't know» Ichigo replied, sincere. He really had no idea.
Hitsugaya stayed quiet, studying him for a moment, with a raised eyebrow. Maybe he noticed Kon's head peeking from under the pillow, or maybe he saw Ichigo's drowsy expression, because he immediately averted his gaze, kicking the duvet away. «Anyway, Kira slept elsewhere, that idiot» he growled, grabbing a miserable-looking, old bag to look through its contents. «Fuck... I forgot my toothbrush in the other room.»
Ichigo looked at him while he grimaced and closed his eyes, probably counting until ten. Nervous, Hitsugaya glanced at his watch. «It's seven o'clock. Get dressed and hurry up, or you'll miss breakfast.»
Thinking of another day of classes, Ichigo felt his heart sank. Irritated by his roommate's silence, Hitsugaya turned to tell him something, but in the end he didn't say nothing. Again, he looked like he was straining to control himself. «What's wrong with you? Are you sick?»
Ichigo nodded, not really convincing. Hitsugaya sighed. «Got it. I'll tell Kyoraku-sensei that you aren't feeling well, but you owe me a favour.»
«Okay. Thanks» Ichigo replied, flatly.
«Listen, I don't mean to be nosy» the other began, tentatively, «but did something bad happen to you?»
Ichigo stayed quiet, snuggling up under the covers. It was nice and warm, in there, and he didn't want to get out of it.
«As you like» Hitsugaya blurted out, furious. «I'll tell Kyoraku-sensei, later, but I won't do it again, that's for sure. And, in my opinion, you should look a little happier, when your parents will come to meet you.»
«Why?» Ichigo asked, showing a glimpse of interest. «When…»
«Tomorrow is visits' day» Hitsugaya said, turning his back to him while he took off his pyjamas' top. His torso was still child-like, tiny and thin. Ichigo observed him without any interest, holding Kon under the covers. «I guess your dad and your mom will come to-»
«My mom is dead» Ichigo murmured. Hitsugaya huffed, scratching his head.
«Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't know. Whoever comes, though, don't let them see you are unhappy. It would be hard, for them, believe me.»
«What do you mean? Who usually comes to see you, Hitsugaya-kun?»
«Not your fucking business» the other grumbled, putting on his shoes. «On a side note, if Kira shows up, tell him he's an idiot.»
«'kay» Ichigo mechanically replied, closing his eyes. The pain was almost completely gone away, within those few hours of sleep, and his limbs were now just unpleasantly sore.
«If you need something, just call me» Hitsugaya added, scribbling his cell phone number on a piece of paper and letting it fall on Ichigo's face.
Watching him go, Ichigo thought that, after all, he wasn't a complete asshole.
He remained still, his eyes wide open, for more than an hour. The abrupt wake of some time ago completely made the sleepiness go away. Maybe it was about time to get up, get washed and join his classmates. Even because, actually, he felt like seeing Kira again, and maybe, why not?, talking to him, sharing a little of what happened the night before. He had known Kira for the same amount of time he had known Shuuhei, but he already trusted the blonde boy, and this time he was sure he was not mistaken.
He showered and he put on his tie, adjusting it with a loose knot. He hated feeling choked, it was something he never stood, even in Karakura. He put on his shoes and he grabbed a couple random books, before starting to walk along the corridor.
He left the dormitory behind, heading for the cafeteria. He noticed that the walk was making his muscles awaken, and he gradually increased the rhythm, almost beginning to run. He went over the cafeteria, the library, the club rooms, the lab until an irritated voice yelled him to stop. «Hey! It's forbidden to run in the corridors!»
A cute, yet strict-looking girl, whose hair were gathered up in a messy bun, marched towards him, straightening her thin glasses. «Did you hear me? Come back to class and stop wandering around!»
Ichigo blushed, feeling caught. «Oh, okay. I mean, I'm sorry, madam.»
«Madam, of all things» Ise Nanao growled, absolutely furious, stepping back into her office. Ichigo heard a rustling noise coming from inside. «And you too... get out of here you punk!»
«Aww, but Nanao-chan…» a deep, male voice protested, almost whining, before a man ran away from the office as if he had a whole army of devils behind his back.
«Enough! I've had enough of your excuses, Shunsui» the secretary bellowed, throwing after him a sumptuous bouquet of red roses, which landed with precision on Kyoraku-sensei's nose. «Don't EVER dare show up in my office!»
Ichigo looked dismayed at who he believed to be a respected Classic Literature teacher, without really knowing what to do. «Er» he began, scratching his nape, «may I help you, sensei?»
«As usual» the man huffed, throwing the flowers in a nearby trash bin. «She always reacts this way, when I give her something as a present. Before, she's all purring and sweet as a kitty, afterwards she becomes completely crazy. Women, you know. But tomorrow she'll be alright again. It happened last week too, it became a habit, I guess.»
The professor suddenly turned to him, looking at him intently. «Aren't you one of my students? The new one, if I'm not wrong. Kurosaki-kun.»
«Yeah, it's me» Ichigo replied, feeling a little guilty.
«How come you're not with your mates?» Kyoraku asked, fixing his clothes. He didn't seem angry, maybe a little ashamed since he had been caught trying to seduce a secretary, and probably even a little curious about Ichigo.
The boy shrugged. «I don't know, this morning I wasn't feeling well» he muttered, uneasy. He was rubbish at telling lies.
«Don't worry, Kurosaki-kun. It's because of the bad grade you got yesterday in Maths, right? I convinced Aizen-san to delete it.»
«Re-really? Thank you, sensei!»
«Oh, it's nothing, really. Aizen can appear a little frightening, at the beginning. And sometimes it's just better to start with the right foot, isn't it?» the professor asked, winking at him. Ichigo smiled. It was the first good news he received in two days.
«Second class is about to finish» Kyoraku went on, checking his watch. «Then it'll be break time. What about joining your classmates afterwards? Meanwhile you might go to the library to revise something. It's a quiet place, and nobody will come to bother you.»
Ichigo smiled. «Thank you for your suggestion, Kyoraku-sensei. I'm happy I met you.»
«You are a good boy» the other murmured, while the boy ran away. Kyoraku shook his head, heading for a plaque on the wall which reported all the various competitions won by Seireitei High during interschool tournaments. Most of prizes had been conquered by the same person. Kyoraku looked at that name, sighing.
«Seriously... I never thought two kids could look like each other so much.» He paused, caressing the brass plaque with the tip of his finger. «Am I wrong... Kaien-kun?»
Kyoraku was right.
The library was a real paradise, above all at that time, since no one was around. Ichigo sat at one of the ancient-style wooden tables, scattering his stuff around, enjoying the big space which was all there for him. After all, he deserved it, didn't he? A little peace, finally. Talking with Kyoraku-sensei put him in a good mood, and he even felt like studying some. Not Maths, though, he thought, smiling, stretching out his legs to lean his ankles on the edge of the table and flipping through the pages of his Biology's book. Gentle professor Unohana's subject, for the moment, was decidedly better.
Yeah, he felt undoubtedly better. As if, after all, he spontaneously succeeded in retrieving a piece of himself. What happened to him on the previous night, in broad daylight, now felt more like an incubus, scary but almost fading away.
Satisfied, Ichigo underlined some words with his felt-pen, quietly humming a song. Then he heard something. A suffocated, quiet sound. It came from behind his back, hidden from the tall shelves of the European Literature section. Ichigo shook his head, believing he was imagining everything, but when the noise repeated itself, he had the distinct feeling that someone was crying.
«Hey» he called out, cautiously, «who's there?»
The noises stopped abruptly, while the person hidden among the shelves sniffed and cleared out his throat. «K-kurosaki-kun? Is that you?»
Ichigo jumped on his feet, letting the book fall on the floor and running to a dark corner, between letters J and K of European writers. There, curled up on the ground, his face tear-streaked, was Kira Izuru. He was still wearing the same clothes of the night before, Ichigo noticed. Did something happen with that Ichimaru dude? A weird mixture of relief and indignation filled him. Relief because, all things considered, he had been worried, when Kira didn't show up that morning. And indignation... well, that was obvious. Damn Ichimaru, with his sly face and his sugary smile. He disliked him from the very first glance.
«Hey, Kira» he murmured, softly. He looked at those big, blue eyes, tear-filled, finding a little hard not to feel his heart clench at that sight, then he helped the boy on his feet.
Even if he ached to, he didn't ask him questions like "what happened?", since the way the blond clung on him, hiding his face in his shirt, sobbing, was unmistakable. And he didn't even ask "is everything fine?", because it obviously wasn't. He tried to think straight. He believed Kira needed comfort and warmth, so he wrapped his arms around him, holding his shaking form against his chest.
«Don't cry, Kira» he whispered, stroking lightly the soft blond locks he had fantasised on before, «It's alright, now, don't cry.»
Still holding the smaller boy, Ichigo leaned his back against the wall, sitting on the floor. Going to class and leaving Kira in that state wasn't an option, obviously. Absent-minded, he caressed the boy's hard back, lingering on the protruding vertebrae and ribs. «Come on, Kira, it's alright.»
Maybe something in his voice managed to ease Kira's anguish, because, slowly, he felt him rest against his chest. Sweetly, he stroked his hair, combing back the blond tuft from his sweaty forehead.
«Thank you, Kurosaki-kun» Kira whispered, sniffing and trying his best to smile, being polite even in a moment like that. «You are very kind.»
Above their heads, a bell rang.
«Oh, fuck» Ichigo cursed. «Break's over.»
«Are you going to class?» Kira asked, his eyes wide. Ichigo looked at that pale face, and at those blue eyes reddened by tears, and coudln't find the courage to say yes.
«No, that's for sure. I'll stay with you until you feel better, what about that?»
«Oh» Kira murmured, snuggling up again against him, «thank you.»
How weird, Ichigo thought, a hug like that wasn't making feel anything. But the night before, with Shuuhei... he suddenly remembered about his heart pounding violently in his chest, while the other held him tight, as to crush his ribcage, his hard, muscular arms around his waist, his hands roaming everywhere...
Holding Kira was completely different. First, the blond was so delicate, so apparently frail that he didn't really had to think, before throwing his arms around him. He didn't even feel any sexual attraction, for him.
At least for the moment.
«Ichigo, listen» Kira said, straightening up a little, «in a few minutes, freshmen are supposed to have a break, and many of them will come here to study...»
«Okay» Ichigo replied, without thinking, his fingers entwined into Kira's golden hair. It was so soft, so silky, he could have never stopped touching it. He had always liked his hair. «Let's go to our room. Knowing Hitsugaya, he won't come to bother us, and he'll run here to study.»
«What a nerd» Kira giggled, sighing happily while he immerged his nose in Ichigo's shirt.
«Okay, then» Ichigo murmured, helping Kira on his feet and walking towards the dorm, letting Kira lean on him, his right arm nonchalantly put around his slender waist. They walked slowly, without talking. Ichigo breathed in Kira's smell, and he took his time to stare at the details of his face. The soft, rosy lips, his pale cheeks, the high cheekbones, and the marvellous skin, almost a girl's one. And then his eyes, obviously. Those magnificent blue eyes, framed by long, light lashes, and the tiny, almost invisible brows, which formed an elegant arc on his forehead.
He opened the door, making Kira sit on his bed. «Here we are» he announced, with a somewhat silly smile. Then, his look fell on his bed. Evidently, the cleaning woman passed shortly afterwards he left the room, and she diligently tidied up his bed, putting Kon on display on top of his pillow. Struck by a terrible feeling, Ichigo turned, and saw Kira staring in astonishment at the stuffed lion.
«Fuck!» he yelled, grabbing the plush to shove it under his pillow. «Er, you know, this...»
Kira smiled. A genuine, sincere smile, not an ironic one. He wasn't teasing him, and Ichigo silently thanked Kami for that. He really would have not be able to stand mockery, in a moment like that. «It's alright, Ichigo» the blond stated, standing up. He took off his shoes, kicking them away, and then he smelt his shirt. «Oh, Kami. I think I need a shower. You…» he turned to him, suddenly hesitant. «Aren't you going to class, right? Will you stay here?»
«Don't worry» Ichigo assured, lying on the bed and looking through Kira's CDs. «I'm not going anywhere. Take your time.»
Kira smiled and disappeared in the bathroom, shutting the door behind his back. Shortly after, Ichigo heard the sound of water flowing in the shower. He put some of his friend's music in the CD player, lying down again with his eyes closed to enjoy the music at its fullest. Jim Morrison's deep voice stroked him like a gentle caress, making him relax. He felt strangely well, in spite of what happened to him recently. He was happy he was one of Kira's friends. Kira was nice, honest and good-hearted. And then, he awakened a fierce sense of protection into him, as if the blond boy was nothing more than a helpless child. Yeah, he would have taken good care of Kira, he was sure of that. At least, focusing on someone else's distress would have helped him to stop thinking about his own inner turmoil...
«Kurosaki-kun?»
Ichigo opened his eyes, sitting on the mattress. «What's wrong, Kira? Do you need somethi-»
The words got choked into his own mouth, getting lost by what he was staring at. Kira's look was solemn, determined. A little nervousness was shown in his teeth digging in his lower lip, or in his fingers curling and uncurling the hem of the towel he wrapped around his hips. Little droplets of water fell along his body, and his delicate skin was reddened by the warm water. His blond hair were wet, and it finally left his face uncovered. «Kurosaki-kun...» Kira whispered, before letting the towel fall to the floor.
Ichigo's eyes instinctively fell lower, and a rush of heat rose to his cheeks, making his lips quiver. «God in Heavens, Kira, what are you doing?»
«I wanted to thank you» Kira replied, with a tiny voice, standing in front of him. His legs were long, thin but perfectly shaped, the muscles barely visible, the knees a little protruding. Kira's beauty stroke Ichigo like a thunder, leaving him speechless.
«Kami-sama» the boy murmured, not really able to talk further. «But... why?»
«Why not?» Kira gently contradicted him, taking a step closer to approach him further. «You were the one saying you weren't keen on returning to class.»
«Yeah, but I didn't mean anything like this» Ichigo stammered, trying to avert his gaze.
«Well, I did» Kira replied, feebly. «And since the very beginning.»
Ichigo looked at him again, surprised. «Really? And why?»
Kira shivered, probably also because of the cold. After all, he was soaking wet, and he was naked. He wrapped his arms around his chest, lowering his head. «You know last night I've been with Ichimaru-senpai...»
«What did he do to you?» Ichigo asked, frowning in anger. «Tell me. I'm a black belt. If you want, I can go to him and beat the shit out of his ass.»
Kira shook his head in fear, emitting a sound terribly similar to a sob. «Oh, no, Kira, wait...» Ichigo said, standing up and trying to meet the other's gaze, hesitant. «I didn't mean to make you cry.»
«I-it's okay» Kira murmured, softly, his eyes so full of sadness that Ichigo couldn't stand to look into it. «Really, Kurosaki-kun, it's okay. But please... can you stay with me, just for today? Please.»
His lips almost blue because of the cold, Kira took another step, closing the distance between them, grabbing the front of Ichigo's shirt with his trembling fingers. «Please.»
Ichigo closed his eyes. Kami, Kira was begging him. What was he supposed to do?
The answer came by itself. Slowly, he reached out to pull Kira against himself. He hugged him gently, brotherly, letting him snuggle up against his warm body. Kira just desperately needed soothe and gentleness, that was the reason why he almost humiliated himself to ask him to keep him company. The idea to be about to have sex for the second time didn't really appeal to him, though. He was sure it would be way different, than with Shuuhei, since Kira and the brunette boy were so different, but... he still was afraid.
«Kira» he whispered, «I'm a little nervous. Last night I've been with someone too...»
«Don't worry, Kurosaki» Kira replied, getting even closer, «we both have something to forget.»
His kiss was sweet, gentle. He must have washed his teeth before, because his mouth tasted like mint. Trying not to displease him, Ichigo did his best to remember and imitate Shuuhei's gestures of the night before. First, he used only his lips. Then, he added some soft caress with the tip of his tongue... Kira whimpered, wrapping his arms around his neck. «Ichigo...»
Dragged by the blond, Ichigo found himself lying prone on Kira's bed, on top of the other boy, propped on his arms not to crush him. Kira's expression was sweet, almost tender, and Ichigo kissed him again. Kira's body was incredibile, he thought. He was so slim he could count his bones, but holding him close to his chest didn't give him the impression of hardness and strength of Shuuhei's tanned muscles... no, no.
He had to stop making comparisons, he thought, gritting his teeth. It was over, right? He just needed to stop brooding about that night. Now Kira Izuru was in his arms, not Hisagi Shuuhei.
Gently, he stroked the blond hair, which was still wet, and he kissed him on his lips, before descending along his chin and his white throat, where the skin was so soft that seemed to writhe and vibrate at every touch. He licked attentively on his Adam's apple, which moved up and down when Kira swallowed, along his bony collarbone and the hard surface of the sternum. Kira's skin had a sweet, peculiar flavour. And then, it was so soft, so smooth... slowly, he went lower. Along his path, he found one of the boy's nipples, which he took briefly into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue. Kira sighed, weaving his fingers into his orange hair, and Ichigo suddenly had a weird idea. Carefully, trying not to hurt him, he held that little bud of skin with his teeth, pressing slightly. The sharp cry he earned in response confirmed the rightness of his thought, and it undoubtedly aroused him too.
Kira's trembling hands fumbled with his tie, taking it off and beginning to fidget with his shirt's buttons. Ichigo helped him, shrugging away the cloth and throwing it unceremoniously on the floor. When he pressed his naked chest against Kira's, he was almost overwhelmed by a deep, incredible feeling. He felt like their hearts were furiously pounding at the unison, one against the other. Meanwhile, Kira's hand sneaked until his belt, unbuckling with rapid and a little convulse movements. Ichigo quickly slipped away from his trousers, not really caring about anything else besides of Kira.
Sweet, his mouth descended again on his friend's skin, tasting his flavour and going lower and lower. He caressed the tender belly, and since he noticed that Kira liked it when he kissed on a certain spot around his navel, he lingered for a moment, enjoying the blonde's squirming. Then he travelled lower, finally reaching the most intimate part of his body.
Kira's breath became laboured, ragged, at that point. And those little cries escaped his lips more frequently. When he bit down on the tender skin of the inner thigh, Ichigo heard him hold his breath.
The truth was that Kira had never been handled in that way. Never, by any of the boys he dated, and least of all by Ichimaru-senpai... it shouldn't have felt this good, with Kurosaki-kun. It really shouldn't have. But still, when Ichigo's tongue touched his erect member, he made a sound with resembled a yelp, pressing a hand onto his mouth to muffle his cries.
Ichigo, though, was having quite a hard time. First, Kira's sighs and moans were having a devastating effect on him, arousing him maybe a little more than what he had expected. And then, Kami-sama... who did he think he was kidding? He couldn't guide a sexual intercourse, he never did it before. And the only time he tried to have sex with someone, it went decidedly wrong, and he wasn't keen on repeating the fiasco.
«Kira» he said, pulling himself on a sitting position, «Kira, I don't...»
The blond opened his eyes, looking at him worriedly. He had never heard the other spoke in such a tiny and feeble voice. He stared at him for a moment, surprised, then he reached out for him, cupping his face between his hands. «Don't worry, Ichigo» he murmured, gently pushing him aside, reversing their positions. He sat on his lap, pressing his hips against him, his voice suddenly unstable. «Let me help you.»
Then, under Ichigo's bewildered gaze, he spat into his hand. Ichigo thought it was so weird, that a well-educated boy like Kira could do such a thing, that he remained still, completely speechless, watching him with burning cheeks. But when Kira's wet hand brushed against his member, coating it in saliva, his mouth gaped open, and he started to pant. And when Kira positioned on top of him, holding him with his fingers to guide him towards his hips, everything quickly got worse.
«Kira, no, please...» he begged, struggling to talk aloud, «please, slowly...»
He was so tense, as tense as a violin's string. His heart hammered like crazy, almost about to burst out of his ribcage, and he didn't even know exactly what was happening to him. He just knew for sure he had to slow down, or that enormous bubble of heat he felt growing deep into his insides would have exploded.
Kira did as he was told, giving him time to recover and to start breathing again. Then, slowly, he lowered himself onto him, receiving him inside of his body.
Ichigo's eyes fluttered closed, his face burning. It was so different, so atrociously different. What went wrong, with Shuuhei? He didn't understand. Mechanics were pretty much the same, maybe, that time, it lacked some feeling. Yeah, that was where the difference lied, he suddenly realised. He trusted Kira, he wanted to make him feel better, and maybe he even was a little infatuated of him, while he never really felt anything for Shuuhei, besides a feeble, almost non-existent attraction.
Kira began to move, slowly, his movements a little clumsy. Seeing he was having a hard time, even in his dazed state, Ichigo reached out for him, pulling him against himself and rolling on top. Kira sighed contentedly, when he penetrated even deeper inside of him, and he wrapped his legs around his waist, as to keep him as close as possible. Propping himself on his elbows, Ichigo started to move, relying on his instinct. Pleasure, sudden and almost frightening because of its intensity, assaulted him violently, ranking up his spin and invading his brains. He felt as if he was about to faint...
Kira came first. Ichigo felt him tighten almost impossibly around him, and then trembling hard, as if he could break in his arms. With a cry, Kira arched on the mattress, spreading his semen on Ichigo's tense abs. It was too much to bear, for him. When that hot bubble he felt growing inside finally broke, he was dragged into a maelstrom. Ichigo silently let the orgasm catch him, again unable to voice out his emotion. His body went limp as a ragdoll's, and he fall forward on Kira's, resting on top of him. The blonde boy's delicate skin was drenched in sweat... and Ichigo had to pull the hair away from his own face, trying to normalise the rhythm of his breath.
Then, all of a sudden, he realised something: Kira was sobbing desperately, still sprawled on the bed.
«Kira» he asked, horrified, «Kira, what happened? Did I hurt you? Kira?»
The mere thought was terrifying. Suddenly Ichigo remembered fully the way he felt that night, after Shuuhei abused him, and he felt his heart sunk, thinking he could have done the same to Kira...
«No, Ichigo's, everything's alright» Kira whispered, smiling in spite of the tears. «Oh, Ichigo... it's been so nice.»
Ichigo calmed down, leaning down to stroke gently the still slightly damp blonde locks. «I'm happy of it, Kira» he replied, softly.
They remained still, entwined in their embrace, until they both fell asleep. For the first time since he came to Seireitei High, Ichigo slept peacefully.
TBC
Teaser for next chapter: I know he always did his best to hide the scars of his soul under a shell. Unconsciously, I even think he wanted to show you nothing but the most obvious way, for him, to be strong, dominating. He saw you were weak and disoriented, and you remembered him who he was long time ago.
See ya! :)