"How much can you eat?" Yumichika muttered as the waiter walked away.

Renji laughed. "It's not that much. Besides, I'm paying. I'm surprised you didn't order just as much."

"Even if you are paying, I can't eat anywhere near as much as you. So why order more?"

"You used to eat more then me."

"When!"

"When we first met you could eat more than me and Ikkaku put together."

"Oh... Oh yeah..." Yumi laughed. "That was such a long time ago."

"I'm surprised you didn't get fat."

"It's because I'm amazing." Yumi smirked.

"I guess that is the only logical explanation."

Yumi chuckled. "So, when are you going back to the human world?"

"I'm not sure yet. Why?"

"Just asking..."

"Are you tired of me being around already?" Renji joked.

"No. I was just thinking that you would want to go visit Ichigo-"

"Why would I want to see him?"

"Well it's obvious that he still cares about you and regrets what happened. And I think that it would make you feel better to have a conversation without the yelling."

"Can we talk about this later."

"But-"

"Please?"

Yumichika sighed and looked away. "Sorry to bring it up."

"It's alright. I just want to focus on us today-"

"You shouldn't say things like that! People will start to get the wrong idea..."

"Say things like what?"

"Things like 'us' and-"

"You're blushing."

"No I'm not!" Yumichika covered his face with his hands quickly.

"You're adorable."

Yumichika groaned. "Shut up!"

Renji smiled. Things with Yumichika were going great, even though he could be kinda slow sometimes. "Hey. Matsumoto's having a party tonight. Wanna go?"

"Sure. Sounds like fun."

"She says we have to bring a date. You'll go with me?"

"As your date?"

Renji nodded.

"And you'll be my date?"

Renji nodded again.

"So you're asking me out?"

Renji smirked. "That obvious?"

"Kinda."

"So you'll go out with me tonight."

"How could I ever say no?"

...Later On That Night...

"You almost ready, Yumi?"

"I'll be out in a minute."

"You said that a hour ago!"

"Shut up, Renji!"

"You said that too!"

"I said shut the fuck up, Renji!"

Renji sighed loudly. They were already two hours late and Matsumoto could be a real bitch sometimes. Especially when she was drunk. He sighed again. "Yumi!" He whined, only to be told to shut up once again. Finally, Yumichika opened the bedroom door.

"I told you I was almost ready."

"A hour ago."

"I wanna look decent if I'm going to a party."

"You look exactly the same as when you went in there."

"Are you asking for me to kick your ass?"

"It was a compliment!"

"Whatever. Are we going or not?"

"Yeah... About that."

"Renji, if you tell me there isn't a party, I'm gonna-"

"No, it's not that. It's just that I would rather it be just us, you know? So I thought that maybe you and I could go out for dinner..." Not to mention the fact that showing up now would only lead to a... drunk Matsumoto.

Yumichika tried to calm down as Renji chuckled nervously. "So let me get this straight. First you invite me to a party. Then you rush me while I'm getting ready for the party. Then, out of nowhere, you tell me we aren't going to the party. We're going out to eat."

Renji nodded, trying to ignore the glare Yumichika had directed to him, obviously trying to set him on fire. "Yeah. It'll be fun."

"Ok. Let's just get straight to the point. Is Ichigo going to be there?"

"Ichigo?"

"Yes. Ichigo."

"Be where? At the restaurant?"

"No! At the party. Is that the reason that you don't wanna go anymore?"

"Are you serious, Yumi-"

"Very. Why don't you want me around Ichigo?"

"Yumi, what are you talking about?"

"Are you and Ichigo fooling around again?"

"Wha-What? You know what... What if we are? It's not like you and I are together! So my love life has nothing to do with you."

Yumichika stared at Renji as everything went silent. He thought Renji was... he thought they were in the dating phase, but... maybe he read into it too much.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

Renji sighed. So much for a nice evening out. Once again, the evening was ruined. Fucking fantastic. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm just stressed and... Yumi?"

He felt so stupid. Once again he had let his emotions get the best of him and look what happened! "I think I'm gonna stay here tonight."

"What? Yumi, come on-"

"I'm just a little tired, is all."

"Look. You know I didn't mean what I said. Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad, Renji. I really am tired. Really."

"Ok. I'll stay home with you."

"Actually, I think you should leave."

"You want me to leave?"

"Yeah. I don't think you should stay here anymore."

"What! You're trying to kick me out?"

"I'm not trying to hurt your feelings but I can't deal with this. You know how I am, Renji. You of all people should know how easy it is for me to fall for someone. And you-"

"You're falling for me?"

"NO!... No I'm not because you're leaving and I-"

"You're finally coming around and you want me to leave? I'm not going anywhere."

"Yes, you are, Renji. You're leaving!"

"No, I'm not!"

"I wasn't asking. This is my house and if I say you need to leave, you'll go!"

"And whose gonna make me?"

Yumichika glared and began to open his mouth before he stopped. Trying to regain his composure, he sighed. "Fine. I'll leave."

"No, you're not."

"Excuse me?"

"I said you aren't leaving."

"And whose gonna stop me?"

"I will." Renji watched with a straight face as Yumichika looked him over. He was obviously thinking about his choices. He could try and leave, but Renji WOULD stop him. He could just kick him out, or at least try too, but Renji would find a way in. Hell, even if Yumi managed to get someone to try and help make him leave, they'd get tired of dealing with it soon enough and he'd would be left in this dilemma once again. Both he and Renji knew that whatever he decided to do, Renji would find a way to stay.

Yumichika groaned, his temper beginning to fly off the handle. "I'm sick of your fucking attitude. You just told me not to act like we're together, and then you turn around and act like this! What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want you to stop putting up this front and just talk to me. You act as if I'm some stranger when I'm you're best friend-"

"God, Renji, could you stop being so confusing? Just tell me what you want from me!"

"I want more. I want so much more from you. But how can I act on that if you can't handle just talking to me?"

"I'm talking to you now, aren't I?"

"When you get confused or hurt, you push me away while I'm trying to pull you closer."

"I don't."

"Then what is this?"

"I-"

"You somehow came to the conclusion that I don't want to go to the party because Ichigo would be there. That's what started this."

"But-"

"Actually, Ichigo won't be there. Matsumoto is throwing the party. Even in her drunkest mode, she wouldn't do that to me."

"Oh-"

"And you know Ichigo is a sensitive subject-"

"But why?"

"What?"

"Why does he have to be a sensitive subject?" Yumi yelled loudly, quickly turning his face away from Renji.

"Yu-"

"If you want more from me, how can Ichigo be the sensitive subject? I've tried to be understanding but I don't want to be second to him. Or anyone else for that matter!"

"I... Yumi..."

"Forget I said anything, Renji. Let's just go to the party and-"

"You're in love with me."

Yumichika felt like all the air had been knocked from his lungs. He looked at Renji and wasn't surprised to see him looking back at him. He wanted to tell him he was wrong, tell him that he hated him, scream at him to get out and never come back... But he was right.

"Aren't you?" Renji asked walking towards him.

Yumi shook his head no. Maybe he could convince him otherwise?

"Why can't you just say it?" Renji continued as he got even closer to him. "Why can't you just tell me how you really feel-"

"You wanna know how I feel? Fine! I've fallen in love with my fucking best friend. The perfect fucking redhead who understands me completely! The one who I think about first thing in the morning, all day during work, and when I'm in bed trying to get some sleep! I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if he's sleeping alright! Is that good enough for you, Renji? Now you know and you can fucking leave me alone so I can get over it!"

Renji wrapped his arms around the now sobbing Yumichika. Lifting the lighter shinigami easily, he walk over to the couch, pulling Yumi down with him. Arms still tightly wrapped around Yumi, he began rubbing his back soothingly, rocking them them back and forth until Yumi's cries began to die down. Not long after, he heard soft snoring next to his ear. Moving to a more comfortable position, he cuddled up with Yumi and tried to get some sleep himself. Tomorrow was gonna be a long day.

REVIEW!

~yukiim