Chapter 4: Revelations

Izuru did not get off easy once he returned to the Barracks. He was laughed at, and made a mockery of, but for some odd reason, this did not particularly bother the blond haired Lieutenant. He felt like he belonged with these people.

Though they'd just humiliated him in front of his Captain, and evidence of the act remained on a video recording, he felt pleased to be a part of this group. He smiled softly as he settled down onto a plush throw blanket. He didn't feel one bit out of place.

His face was reddened, not from lust, as the others jokingly assumed, but out of pure embarrassment. He had just done something with his Captain that he hadn't even dared do with any of the women who had caught his eye in his lifetime. Izuru drew his eyebrows together, his normally painful expression appearing more extreme. He did regret what he'd done, but he supposed it couldn't be helped.

What's worse was that he'd done the dare with his Captain. He could never hope of not confronting the incident at some point. It wasn't as if he was one of the many other, lower ranking members of Squad Three that he'd never run into again. No, it was his Captain, and he, a Lieutenant, had no chance of avoiding what he'd done.

Izuru raked a hand through his bangs as he dreaded the moment when Captain Ichimaru would eventually bring up the events of the night.

However, with Renji patting his back in congratulations for completing his task, and Rangiku snorting with laughter as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders in a half hug, Izuru felt anything but isolated, and slightly less worried than he usually was.

Izuru was reserved and orderly, but his friends did nothing to make a big show out of it. They accepted him, they respected him, and they cared about him. It was everything Izuru could ask for in a group of companions. It was everything, and more.

"Okay, okay, let's move on, everybody!" called Renji as he sat down next to Rukia. He reached around her and began to tickle her midsection, making the small Soul Reaper squeal. She yelled and tried to get away from Renji, but only succeeded in tipping herself over in laughter. Renji smiled broadly and turned to Izuru. "Pick someone," said Renji as he pulled Rukia back to a sitting position.

Izuru riffled through the faces of the people around him.

"Lieutenant Ise?" he said timidly.

Nanao Ise, Lieutenant of Squad Eight, was wearing a simple black t-shirt and black shorts. She turned to Izuru and pushed her thin, oval-framed glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Please, just call me Nanao, Izuru," she said, "I'll take truth."

The crowd of friends whispered excitedly amongst each other, and determined a good question for Nanao.

"In your opinion, we want to know who you think is the most physically attractive male and female individual in the Seireitei," stated Isane Kotestsu, the Lieutenant of Squad Four.

Nanao blinked. "Male and female?" she questioned, "I am very straight, thank you very much."

"Oh, we know," chimed Rangiku, "But we're still curious."

Nanao exhaled, feeling both annoyed and uncaring. I might as well get this over with, she thought.

"Physically attractive male…" she began, pausing for a moment, "I…" she stopped as her cheeks grew flush, "Captain Kyoraku. That's my answer."

Various individuals shouted "I knew it," and "aw," all of which made Nanao blush even more. Had the others really known about my feelings towards my Captain? she thought. Has it really been that obvious?

Regardless of the answer, she was not done with her question just yet.

"As for a female," Nanao started, turning away from the group, "Rukia," she mumbled.

Nanao turned back to see Rukia, now seated on a cushion in Renji's lap, blush and smile at Nanao. "Thank you for your honesty, Nanao," said the Lieutenant of Squad Thirteen.

Nanao looked away, shoving her glasses up once more. "Think nothing of it," she muttered.

Nanao then realized that it was her turn to call on another player. She looked up, and made her choice.

"Renji, truth or dare?" asked the bookish Lieutenant.

Renji, who was sitting with his arms loosely draped over Rukia's shoulders, thought about his answer before vocalizing it.

"Dare," he said, raising his eyebrows in a gesture of provocation.

Rukia freed herself from her friend's arms and ran to the other side of the room where the others began discussing Renji's dare.

The long haired Lieutenant plugged his ears and began to hum. He kept his eyes open, though, and watched as Izuru got particularly involved with the generation of his challenge. I wonder what he's up to, thought Renji idly.

Seconds later, the group reformed its circular shape, prepared to launch Renji on a new task.

"Ready, Renji?" Izuru asked, attempting to fight a big, goofy, smile from taking over his face. The smile won out in the end, and Izuru grinned at Renji, the highs of his cheeks glowing.

Renji shrugged. "Yeah, get on with it."

"We dare you to first escort the lovely Orihime Inoue back home to the World of the Living."

Renji sighed. He'd been expecting a much more difficult task. "All right," said Renji as he got to his feet, "Let's go, Orihime."

Orihime stood up and placed herself at Renji's side. She smiled up at him, and Renji returned the gesture.

"Hold up there, big guy," said Izuru, "You're not done here yet."

Renji narrowed his eyes. "Just what are you saying?"

Izuru's lips broke into a semi-apologetic grin. "After you get Orihime home safely, you have to go to Ichigo Kurosaki's house and" Izuru stopped to grimace, "do to him what I did to my Captain." Izuru practically groaned the last part, his mind over flowing with the unpleasant memories.

Renji's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. "I have to…"

The members of the group simply nodded.

There is no way this will turn out right, thought Renji, briefly glancing at Orihime. Fuck it. I might even get a laugh out of this.

"Fine," Renji said grudgingly, as he led Orihime through the Senkaimon that Rukia had opened while he'd been standing still. Hell Butterflies trailed behind the pair as they departed, and Renji could only hope things wouldn't take a turn for the worst.


Half an hour later, Renji Abarai stood in front of the Kurosaki household, staring up at Ichigo's window.

It wasn't as windy in the World of the Living as it was back in the Seireitei. The burgundy and emerald leaves of the nearby trees rustled drily in the breeze, the air stale and muggy, rather than biting and chill, as it was in the Seireitei.

The sky was wearing a cloak of no particular color, one that was the blackest of blues that shifted and shone with every passing cloud, with every breath of the wind, and with every flick of a leaf as it tore through the night, perched upon the back of the speeding gale.

The street itself was dark and lifeless, seeing as were the dead of night and everyone was asleep. The sound of the city off in the distance knocked Renji from his state of simple observation, and he began to recall why he was standing and admiring the beauty of the World of the Living in the first place.

Renji had abandoned his Shihakusho for a pair of grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt back in the Seireitei. The warm breeze dishevelled Renji's long, crimson hair, making the thick, red locks dance about his face. It was quiet, and Renji could hear the sounds of cars driving off in the distance, the noise muted and delayed. It smelled of food and family, and Renji yawned as memories of his soft bed back in the Seireitei resurfaced.

Sighing, Renji pulled his Soul Pager out from his pocket and dialed Rukia's number. She picked up on the fourth ring.

"Renji?" said Rukia.

"Yeah," he said, running a hand through his hair, glancing up at Ichigo's window, "I don't think I can do this."

There was a loud ruffling sound. "Renji, just do it," said the annoyed voice of Rangiku.

"But-" Renji protested, only to be cut off.

"Do it, and record it, or we won't open up the Senkaimon," threatened the busty Lieutenant of Squad Ten.

"Fuck," said Renji, dropping his gaze to the gavel beneath his feet. He looked back up at the window, the light of the moon glinting sharply off of the glass panels. "All right, bye."

Renji shut the device off, pocketed it, and Flash Stepped to Ichigo's roof, just outside of the window.

Here goes nothing, Renji thought as he gingerly heaved the window open.

The Lieutenant of Squad Six bit his lip as he slithered into Ichigo's bedroom, barely making a sound.

Once on the inside, Renji leapt over Ichigo's bed where the spiky haired Substitute Soul Reaper slept, his face to the window.

Renji pulled open Ichigo's closet and propped his Soul Pager up on a shelf. He selected the video feature, hit record, and set the device in its place. He then slowly made his way to Ichigo's bed.

Fucking hell, cursed Renji as he stood over Ichigo. He might punch me.

Renji huffed mentally as he lowered himself onto Ichigo's bed. The structure creaked, and Renji froze, his mouth forming an 'O', his eyes immense.

Ichigo did not stir.

Renji exhaled slowly, feeling very relieved, and let himself lay on his side.

He better not wake up, thought Renji as he tucked an arm under his head.


Ichigo Kurosaki hazily woke up from his peaceful slumber.

His eyes were greeted by the gorgeous image of the moon beyond his windows, the thin curtains flapping in the wind.

I thought shut that window before I went to bed, he thought, his eyes gradually falling closed.

Just then, Ichigo felt something warm and heavy fall across his midsection.

His eyes shot open, and he saw a lean, muscled arm resting across his waist.

Ichigo's heart skipped a beat. He attempted to roll onto his back, got halfway there, and yelled out a terrified scream.

The orange haired boy shuffled backwards and fell off of his bed, landing hard on the floor between his bed and the window. Deep, silky laughter followed his tumble.

Lying beside him with his tattooed brows raised and an extensive smirk adorning his features was Renji Abarai.

Panting Ichigo stood up. "What the fuck are you doing here?" shouted Ichigo.

Renji sighed and sat up, leaning against Ichigo's head board. "I was dared-," said Renji.

"Dared to do what? Scare me shitless?" cried Ichigo. "Well, congratulations! You succeeded."

Renji chuckled. "I was actually dared to seduce you," Renji explained. "Be thankful I didn't do much more." Renji paused. "Be thankful that you woke up when you did."

Ichigo's face twisted into an expression of horror and disgust. He looked up afterwards, then back at Renji. "Why me?" asked Ichigo sleepily, "and just who the fuck came up with a dare like that?"

The pair remained silent for a few minutes, listening to the noises of the night that came from beyond Ichigo's window.

The Substitute Soul Reaper sighed, dropping back down onto his bed. "Can I go back to sleep now?" he asked, clearly exhausted.

Renji smiled apologetically. "Yeah, sorry about this. That was as awkward as it was for you as it was for me."

"Yeah, I'm sure," Ichigo shrugged, tucking himself back under his blankets as Renji grabbed his Soul Pager and clambered over the windowsill. "Forget about it, though," said Ichigo, his voice muffled by the pillows and blankets that surrounded his head. "Just shut the window on your way out."

"Sure thing," Renji said, lowering the window, "Good night."

"Good night," Ichigo replied, as his friend disappeared into the dark.


The occupants of the Squad Six Barracks' meeting room laughed rambunctiously over the footage of Ichigo falling off his bed at the sight of Renji appearing in it.

"That was too good," said Yumichika, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "But, Izuru's was better."

Renji rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and thank God for that."

Yumichika smiled and patted Renji on the shoulder before waltzing back to his spot on the floor.

Everyone's laughter slowly died down as the group resumed its original circle shape.

"All right, Renji," said Rukia as she playfully bumped Renji's arm, "Pick someone."

Renji tapped his chin, weighing his options.

"You two," he said, gesturing at Isane and Kiyone Kotetsu, "Truth or dare?"

The two sisters consulted each other, speaking heatedly for a few moments before turning back to Renji.

"Truth," the two girls said in unison.

Everyone began to move in order to discuss questions, but Rangiku stopped their progress partway. "I have a question," she said, her tone filled with devious intent.

Isane and Kiyone exchanged glances. "All right, what is it?"

Rangiku giggled. "Tell us about your most private sexual fantasies."

Isane gasped and Kiyone snickered.

"You go first, sis," prodded the younger Kotetsu.

Isane sighed and looked downwards, tracing circles on the pillow below her with her index finger. The few long strands of fair, silver hair she had fell forward over her shoulder, the beads she wore tinkling slightly as she moved. A blush crept into her cheeks as she began to speak.

"I always try to please Captain Unohana," she said, refusing to look up, "but, I do wonder if she'd ever want to try and please me, but not quite in the same way." Isane briefly glanced up to see the faces of the males present all flush, their cheeks flaming.

"That's actually-"started Shuhei.

"-really hot," finished Renji.

"Oh, shut up," Rukia crowed as she smacked Renji in the back of the head.

Isane turned to her sister, attempting to hide her reddened face from the crowd.

Kiyone stared at the patrons of the room, considering how to word her answer. Her eyes were wide, but unlike her sister, she did not blush as easily.

"Well," she started, batting her eyelashes childishly, "Let me just say that I wish I could do much, much more for Captain Ukitake than take care of him when he's sick." Her eyes flickered around the room. "I'll just leave it at that," she finished, giggling as she began to blush. The blond Co-third Seat of Squad Thirteen rubbed the back of her head, feeling proud of herself for being brave enough to answer the question.

A resonate "Oooh," echoed around the room, and Kiyone and Isane both giggled. Isane then whispered Kiyone, who nodded in agreement.

"Momo!" called Kiyone, "Truth or dare."

The small, brown haired Lieutenant turned to the sisters. She blinked for a moment, and smiled. "I'll do truth, please."


Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone for reading! I hope you're all enjoying the story! I got TONS of views, but only one review for the last chapter, so if you could take a moment to type up a little something to let me know what you thought of my story, I would really appreciate it! Thanks again,

-Shan