A/N: Biggest trouble with this chapter was to choose the song to it xD I'm still not completely satisfied.
Music: Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO sighting near highland

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History Involved Itself

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I look through half closed eyes as Ikkaku stretches his strong back as he sits up on the edge of the bed, and then stands up and heads towards the bathroom.

Rolling closer to the edge, I reach for my skirt that's lying on the floor, hazily pulling it on as I walk to the kitchen to put on some coffee.

I have this feeling, call if motherly instinct if you want, that something isn't completely right. I haven't seen Renji since we were out last Saturday. It doesn't sit well with me, the look his face had then, the way Ichigo leaned at his shoulder, as if Renji was his property.

Maybe it's just that I don't really like Ichigo's role in his life.

I hear Ikkaku entering the kitchen behind me, followed by the sound of him opening cabinets to bring out sandwiches and the like and I fill two cups with coffee before I turn and sit down at the small table.

"Thanks." he mumbles as I put one cup down in front of him and I nod in recognition.

I really should go and visit Renji today. Since it's Sunday he should be free.

"Do you need to work today?"

"Yeah, but I don't start till twelve, so there's no hurry."

That's good, that gives me a reason to go back home. Oh, why don't I just move in here, it's not like Ikkaku would care, I'm practicably living here already.

Would save us both some money.

Then I would be able to buy that Vivianne Westwood dress.

Hmpf, I can buy that one anyways.

I spin the still too-hot coffee cup between my hands and watch as he takes a bite of his sandwich. I should eat a bit of my own.

I don't find it annoying, that people think we're together, I can see why they'd think we are. Just the way we're so careful and yet absolutely not around each other would set those thoughts into anyone's head. Then that I sleep here at least one night a week, and that I own a key of my own...

Our relationship is weird. And why Renji would want us, expect us, to marry- he should be the one who gets why we're like this, but also, it's understandable why he's the one who expects us to be together the most.

Ikkaku was his best friend, he still is, even though they don't meet like they used to anymore. But then again, it would be weird for them to hang out like they used to, since they're not in high school anymore, and they're not kids.

I would say that mine and Renji's relationship has changed more than theirs.

Ah, you're being so sentimental Rangiku~

I should change the subject before I drift into areas I don't really want to think about.

I text Renji on my way there, to make sure he really is home, and to be nice and warn him of my arrival. We've been pretty tight lately but he's still all uneasy with me coming and going as I want to.

The moment he opens the door I can see that something's wrong.

"Hi," he greets me like he usually does. "I put on some tea, you want some?" And now I know that somethings wrong.

"Yeah, thanks." He nods and heads back into the kitchen, and I kick my shoes into the pile in the corner.

Minutes later, we're on the couch in the living room, the TV is on and there really isn't anything good on in the middle of the day.

"So, what's up?" I try. It's not normal for us to just sit quietly. It's not normal for us to drink tea, when both of us are coffee people. Besides, it's past noon, so it should really be beer, right? What the fuck's he thinking about?

"Nothing much. Got a job down at Game down town."

"You get a discount?"

"Yeah. What do ya want?" He tears his eyes away from the screen to grin at me.

"Kingdom Hearts II."

"No." Defeated.

"What do you mean no? Why not?"

"Cause that's lame, and I'm not gonna support anything like that." He glares at me, in that way so I'll know that he means what he says, but if I really want the game he would get it for me.

But this isn't what I want to talk about, this isn't what I came for. And he knows that too.

"What happened?" My voice is lower this time, and so is his, when he looks back at the screen before answering.

"I slept with him."

I wait for him to continue. Time waits for him to continue.

"When we got back home last Sat he-" I take Renji's hand in mine. This is why I dislike Ichigo. Even if he really hasn't done anything wrong, and he's really great and funny and yes, hot, the way he affects Renji is something I hate.

He who'd finally moved on. Finally gotten back up on his feet, after Rukia.

"I can't help but worry. The way he didn't remember anything the day after, it's not normal." Fuck, that's cold.

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It's rather warm outside as I follow Ikkaku, who's carrying his new dishwasher in his arms. People are moving in big circles around us.

"This sucks." he groans for the tenth time as he shifts the boxed machine in his arms. "Renji should have fixed the car by now."

"You're a man, you can handle it." I hum, not paying much attention to him as I stop here and there to look at the new collections that are displayed in various windows.

"I'm gonna kick his ass the next time I see him."

Hope he's alright. I've always been overly concerned over Renji, I know that, but, I have to be.

There's no one else that cares.

I really am acting like his mother, but then again, I am, at least a little. It's not like I'm old enough to really be. But after seeing him in a bad way more often than I ever could have imagined-

He was the one who helped me, saved me, all those years ago. And when it became too much, was he the one who threw away his pride and asked Ikkaku for help and if he hadn't then I wouldn't be here today.

I wouldn't be forced to install a new dishwasher into a home where I live only half of the time.

"Ikkaku?" Huh? That wasn't my voice. I tear my eyes away from the red dress in the window to see who's greeting us, only to realize that I don't recognize the man – which is weird, since we've pretty much been joined by the hip since high school.

Otherwise could be said of my bald friend, who's looking pretty surprised, and not all that comfortable.

"Yumi?"

"Yes," the man smiles broadly at us, yes me too, now that he's realized that we're together. And it does feel like I've seen him somewhere before. "Wow, I never thought that I would run into you again, it's been quite a while, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, you could say that." He puts the machine down on the street, probably glad to have met an excuse to drop it for a while. "What are you up to?"

"I'm taking a course in modeling and make-up," As the wind blows he brings a hand up to move his silky black hair out of his face, and it's amazing and I wanna touch it. "It's only for a month, so I'm living at the hostel two blocks from here."

I feel like I have to interrupt. I feel like I'm missing something important here, so I "cough" and his eyes move to me right away.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, how rude of me!" He gives me his hand, and I accept it. "I'm Ayesegawa Yumichika, I used to know Ike back in the days." Nickname basis, they were probably pretty tight.

"I'm Matsumoto Rangiku, glad to meet you." I glance over at Ikkaku, who looks kind of happy now, like he's found something he forgot he'd lost. "I couldn't help but over hear that you're living at the hostel, that must be awful!"

"It is!" The over animated face he does makes me fall instantly in love with him. "But since it's for a whole month it's not like I can afford to live at a hotel."

"Why don't you live with Ike? He just bought a new dishwasher." It's as big as a microwave oven, so that it'll fit on the counter.

"Oh no, I don't-"

"Nonsense!" I grab his arm and start to walk again, leaving Ikkaku with the big machine once again. "You and your conditioner are more than welcomed!"

"Haha, well Rangiku-chan, I'll accept your offer then. Oh!" He takes my hand again, and his fingers are smoother than any I've ever felt before on a man. "Look at your nails! How healthy, would you let me paint them later?"

I have a feeling that this is someone who I'll have a great time and more with. "Sure!"

Weird however, that Ikkaku used to be friends with someone as metro sexual as this.

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I don't want to complain... or well, I do. It's a bit weird, having about 200 readers but only so few that review. And honestly, it's not worth going through the trouble of posting this if there's so few that enjoy it. I can just continue to write on my own.