"This way will be easier Kurosaki."
Ichigo's head throbbed and his visions blurry, colors became one. Music sound filled the air, roared, shrieking. The world around Ichigo became a regretful and fear carnival walking.
There was something wrong. This library. Ichigo knew he was at Renji's library. But there were nothing like this before. Nothing felt like this before.
Ichigo tried to lift his hand to rub his forehead, but it looked that his arms didn't want to work. This wasn't right. Why he couldn't move? Why he couldn't see? Like he…wasn't here at all. Like he already left his body. And now even he felt like he was floated on his head, looked under to the scene which honestly…must not be happen.
A familiar face walked in front of Ichigo and he knew he knew that man. Ichigo tried to remember it. He really tried, blinked, looked at, shook his head to clear the fog at his head. Focused your attention, Ichigo. Focused your attention.
That man's face appeared and vanished, the corned of his face looked blorry. His lips curved into a sinister smile. His eyes were empty and cold, emotionless. A teen with a blue hair as his trademark, and always became a sewing freak at his school.
"Ishida?" Ichigo whispered when his head bumped at the arm chair.
"Yes baby this is your Ishida" that older teen calmed ichigo down, his voice was calm, soft, and careful. "I come to clear all of this mess. You must not run away. You only make it difficult to yourself.
Ichigo tried to think, wanted an explanation entered his head, and a bit disappointed when that didn't happen. Something, he must do something. Say something. But he felt tired, so tired. He couldn't keep his eyes open longer.
"Rukia?" he whispered, he knew whatever the way, that that best friend of Renji was somewhere at the house. She must be knew what he must do. She could call Renji, search the shinigami that would keep Ichigo safe. Renji would come. Hisagi or Rukia would call him, as fast as they could.
Why Ichigo couldn't call Renji?
Ichigo called the shinigami with his mind, but his mind was so messed up. He couldn't clear it, even contacted the other's mind.
"Oh, that Hisagi and Rukia will not be a problem again, baby." That kind and soft voice heard from beside him, and Ichigo knew he must be opened his eyes and looked at the man. But why his eyes were so difficult to be opened?
"I am already taking care of them." said Ishida, there was a satisfaction at his voice. "I put something into their tea, you know. Better with that way."
"Tea…" yes that was true, thought Ichigo wildly, tried to wake up. Tried to connect all the experiences, struggled to get back his lost mind. He had drank a tea with Ishida Uryuu, his best friend at his school, and his family was Ichigo's families' best friends. How this man could come to Renji's house? Oh right, Ichigo nodded his head, smiled when his memories appeared back. Good. Nice omen. He started to think again.
He was the one who called Ishida, asked him to come to Osaka. Hoped that Ishida would know something. That maybe his step father ever said something to this boy's families which could help Ichigo to know who was the one who hunt him.
They drank a glass of tea at the library. A comfortable room. The fire lit up at the fireplace. Music being played at the CD player. Renji was gone out. Hunt something. Rukia and Hisagi stayed there but then Hisagi also gone because he got a call from his captain about his job at Soul Society, left him and Rukia alone. But that didn't matter. Everything would be fine. Good. Everything will be fine.
Ichigo's heart beat uncontrollable, beat quickly and loudly when the fear clung and injected adrenaline at his body. A fear to Ishida. Yes, there was something wrong. Something was really wrong.
"No" said Ichigo, raised his head with a great determination. His tired eyes opened slightly and looked at the young boy whom he already knew for a long time. But this Ishida felt so strange. His eyes were empty. His lips formed a thin line which showed so much hatred.
"Now, now, there was no use to fight against me, Ichigo baby. This is not a hard drug, but still will make you sleepy. And that must be that way. Let me do what I must do and all of this will be over. A poor kid, scared half of death. That must not be happen, really. But you are the one who caused it." Ishida sighed and patted Ichigo's cheek softly. "Come to shinigami to ask for help. Really baby, you must not do that. Especially with someone like you."
"Shinigami?" Ichigo whispered that word, expected himself to yell. "You know about that? About Renji and the others?"
"Of couse I know, honey. Of course." He said, smiled widely now. "we know everything we must know. We make it our job. Now lie down and calm down. Believe me, I will do the best for you. For all of us."
Ishida pulled out a knife from his bag, and Ichigo's breath hitched. A fear feeling trapped him like a hot and tidal waves which threatened to drawn him. He must run. He must stand up from the sofa and ran away fro this room. He must hide. Must go from there.
But Ichigo couldn't move.
That knife looked antique—the silver metal shone, and the held craved with so many difficult crave. Ishida whispered the words floated at Ichigo's mind before he vanished. That boy held the knife at his palms and looked down again to Ichigo.
Ichigo leaned away slightly at the sofa, tried to pull his extremely heavy body to walk away from the man he ever really cared and believed. Then hoarsely he asked. "Why?"
"For the human, of course" that boy's eyes glinted with fanatics' light. His fingers inspected the knife, and turned it around so the fire light reflected at the knife dangerously and deathly. "You must die, Ichigo. Before your birthday."
Oh my God. Ichigo's throat dried, his mind that still have a function to run away from the situation, but the fear filled and ensure his presence.
"No, no, Ishida, don't…" Ichigo shook his head and the room was spun around, the furniture climbed the walls, the lamp at the roof danced on the floor. His stomach felt ill and he struggled to breathe. To got a power.
Ishida stood up, gripped the knife with a tightly grip. His other hand rubbed his uniform shirt and stopped for a moment at his school tie. "I'm sorry baby, I really hope that there's another way, but there's none."
Ishida took one step forward and his school shoes echoed at the hard wood wall.
"Ishida please…"
That young teen chuckled and shook his head, confirmed his disagreement. "It's the time, Kurosaki. After all you don't have a right to be that greedy. You lived for sixteen year, you know. An amazing sixteen years. And I let that happen. I fight, for you. I want you to live as long as you can. Experience all the life offered—before, of course, an end you can't stop".
"You let me live?". Nothing of the word heard logic. Ichigo felt, even though he could think clearly, nothing could enter through his head and made sense.
"Of course yes. But there was someone who also" Ishida said and he sighed. "Must I say, they want you die when you still a child. They feel you as a threat at that time and they want to get rid of you to make sure of the safety of their world. But I fight for your sake." He said, smiled and nodded his head like he hoped a grateful and not fear.
Who this someone which Ishida mentioned? The people that looked at Ichigo all this time? The people that had a right to Ichigo's death and live?
"My family insisted for let you live as long as you can" Ishida said, with so much concentrate, rubbed his knife with his fingers. "So you understand now? You were alive longer that several people wanted you to be. Don't sad. You will not fell any pain. I promise".
"You protect me from…other people?" Ichigo tried to clear his brain, know that was the only thing to keep himself wake up. Knew that he must make Ishida kept talking. Prevented that boy to use the knife. He knew that he must keep himself until Renji came. Ichigo tried to contact that man telepathically, but there just a dim light and fog at his confused mind because of the drug which given by Ishida.
"Yes Kurosaki. I always look after you" Ishida smiled again and sat at the sofa. "That is my family's job. After my family defended you to make your life longer. I being ordered by my father to always near you. But each time passed, I became really care for you. Believe me Kurosaki, if I say it is hard for me as well".
Hard for him?
Ichigo's hysteria almost at his edge and he closed his lips tightly so he wouldn't laugh wildly.
Ishida was so close, thought Ichigo. Too close. He tried to get away from this boy. But his body didn't want to cooperate. His arms felt so heavy. His body like it was melt on the sofa.
"Try to calm down now, Kurosaki."
"What?" Ichigo's throat tensed and his tears leaked from his eyes, rolled down his cheeks. "Calm down?" Ichigo's eyes blinked, focused his attention, and asked. "What are you doing? Ishida?"
God. Let him thought. Let him moved. Let him did something than laid here, waited for his death.
Ishida patted his hand and Ichigo tried away from the boy, but still, he couldn't move.
"I'm a master at this thing. I promise you will not feel any pain." Ishida bent down closer, still smiled, gripped the knife while he was moving. "One stab and everything will over."
That room exploded, being splattered by so many glass pieces from the broken window, Renji jumped through the window and landed. His legs opened wide, his hands formed into a fist, while one of his hands gripped his zanpakutou which shone dangerously. Renji's red eyes glinted, and his growls shook the wall.
Ishida turned faced Renji, this time a serious and calm kid Ichigo knew was not seen at his built, eaten by craziness which could be seen at his eyes and entered from his mouth.
"You will not stop me, shinigami"
Ichigo sighed, relief flooded his body. His head turned on the sofa and his gaze locked at Renji. That man looked like he must being. A past soldier.
His long red eyes fell down from his usual ponytail, fell down at his shoulder while the wind from the broken window blew it. A black shirt clung at his wide chest, tattered at his stomach, at the place where the shirt was cut. He wears black jeans and black sneakers. His red eyes glinted a challenge gaze. He swung his zanpakutou at the air with a strong movement which made the metal's voice echoed. "Get away from him!"
"No!" that boy's voice was annoying. "He must die. For all of us. He must die. Tonight." With a quick turn, Ishida attacked towards Ichigo.
Ichigo screamed and readied himself to a knife's slice at his throat.
Renji just had a second. His instinct took over. He raised his zanpakutou high and swung it, his zanpakutou grazed Ishida's body.
"Aaaaahhhh!" Ishida screamed while he held his stomach, where Renji's zanpakutou grazed it and swayed took a step back. Two steps. With a surprised expression, that boy looked down at Ichigo, then he looked at Renji with an empty gaze. He then fell and crashed into the coffee table, before he landed at the floor. Laid with a wide wounds at his stomach, blood pouring out from his wound, red staining the carpet. He only could groan weakly.
Renji quickly came to Ichigo. His hand held Ichigo's face, inspected the boy's body, made sure that Ichigo didn't hurt at all. He ran with his shunpo like a crazy person. Passed in and out the traffic's crowd, eaten by the rage which triggered by the hollow. After he arrived at his house, he felt a danger aura, but saw a boy with a knife in his hand really surprised him.
Relief flooded him like a tidal waves. He didn't late. He looked at Ichigo's body and he saw that the boy didn't hurt but being drugged. This was the reason why he couldn't contact Ichigo's mind, no matter how hard he tried.
Ichigo, he tried to contact the boy's mind and only found a bundle of fears and terrors. You're safe. I will protect you to keep you safe. Now, sleep.
"You come" Ichigo whispered.
"I am, now calm down" Renji left him, jumped the coffee table and landed beside the dying boy at the floor.
Ishida's eyes opened wide when a trickle of blood ran down his mouth, when he tried to talk, cursed Renji.
"Who the one who sent you here?" Renji demanded while he knelt down with one foot and looked at the boy's eyes.
Ishida choked, groaned, and forced himself to smile even thought it didn't show at his eyes. "You success to kill me, shinigami. But there are others who will come."
"Why?" Renji bent down, used his power voice to talk with the boy even though he was dying. "Tell me why."
Ishida's eyes closed, then opened again, locked at Renji's with so much weird intensity, when he was at the edge of the death. "If his father…can't be stopped…Ichigo must die. Before that demon…can use Ichigo at his birthday. Our people are so many." That boy warned, his voice faded became a strangled whisper. "You can't prevent all of us."
Ishida then died, his last breath out from his mouth. Renji turned around, left the corpse. He walked towards Ichigo, lift him from the sofa and hugged him tightly, Renji's arms wrapped around the boy's body.
Ichigo's head tilted to the back and his eyes opened. Ichigo saw the man, and weakly he tried to lift one of his hands, touched Renji's cheek, then let his hand fell. "Thank you".
How Ichigo could be so close to the death? Here, at the place that becomes his protection place?
Rage burned inside Renji, but then it was changed to an extreme relief that he knew Ichigo already safe. At that time, Renji knew that the danger still not over, the hollow he killed earlier said that either hollow or human that wanted Ichigo's death. That boy looked like he proved the sentence's truth.
But why?
What was Ichigo have that made him became a threat for the hollow and human realm? Renji looked at Ichigo's face and only saw a boy. A beautiful, confused, and scared boy. And everything Renji's body demanded him to protect Ichigo. To keep Ichigo safe. No matter what the cost.
Renji left the room, not cared at all with the glass pieces were shattered across the room and the corpse that laid at the floor behind him. He entered the waiting room and walked towards the stairs, but Ichigo then woke up again and whispered "Rukia"
Renji gritted his teeth and felt a rage urge, either to the attacker of his house and to himself. He even didn't think to know about Rukia's condition. His mind only focused to Ichigo. To meet him straight away. To protect him.
But he knew that something happened to his best friend, he knew Hisagi was at Soul Society earlier so he didn't afraid about him but Rukia…he didn't know. She must be with Ichigo. Rukia will fight with all his power to protect the boy. And when she failed he will send Ichigo to Soul Society and contacted Hisagi right away. Because Rukia didn't do that, Renji thought the girl must be unconscious or drugged like Ichigo.
"I will search for her after I take care of you." Renji promised. And with that promise, another promise appeared at his heart. That promise was said without a sound, and he vowed to make it true for all people he cared about. He would find the people who responsible to the attack at his house and after he found that, he would make sure they would never make any danger anymore.
Renji climbed the stairs and listened to his steps echoed like an uncontrollable heartbeat. Renji walked to the bedroom and laid Ichigo on the bed, then quickly he felt the man's pulse. State. Renji sighed and allowed himself smiled. The boy's heartbeats were strong. He would survive. And that was the only matter important. He covered the boy's body with quith blanket which he pulled from the edge of the bed, then walked down downstairs to investigate the situation and find Rukia and inspected her condition and contacted Hisagi to come back immediately.
"No. no. Don't. Don't Ishida. Please. Don't do this…"
Ichigo's scared and soft voice woke Renji up from his sleep. Awake almost immediately, Renji held Ichigo and hugged him tightly, one of his hands caressed Ichigo's back slowly and gently. Renji felt the urge to enter the boy's mind and read his mind, but he held himself. Renji chose to give Ichigo a privacy which undoubtedly, needed by the boy. Ichigo already slept for hours and Renji really grateful when that boy awoke. "That's alright, Ichigo. You already safe. Ishida was not here anymore."
Renji didn't need to say that he already left Ishida's body at the small gang at the center of Osaka. That corpse would be expected as a murder's victim. There was no link between that boy to his house. Renji already drove the boy's car to the bus terminal and cleaned all the boy's presence. Like, except for Ichigo, Ishida never came to the house.
Ichigo woke up at Renji's embrace, his brain immediately faced with memories that appeared. When he stunned and tried to wriggle away from Renji's embrace, that man freeing him. He combed his hair a bit, then Ichigo sat straight at the bed and looked around wildly like he tried to know where he was, and what were happened.
"Renji" that man's name heard like a beg. A whisper from his heart.
"I'm here" said Renji, and half turned he switched the lamp at the bedside on. Almost immediately, the yellow light shone pale at the darkness.
Ichigo closed his eyes. "Don't turn on the lamp. Please, don't turn it on."
"Okay" the lamp was switched off one second after.
The shadows danced at the room, shone by the silver and pale moonlight, Ichigo's orange hair shone darkly, made Renji stunned. The boy's soft skin as moist as porcelain, his brown eyes showed wounds and confusion.
And that boy touched something into Renji, which he himself didn't realize with its presence.
"Rukia?" Ichigo asked. "Hisagi?"
"They are alright" Renji raised one of his knees. And put his arms on it when he looked at Ichigo. "I called Hisagi-san right after I took you here, and Rukia, she didn't get the drug as much as you. She awoke two hours ago. They are extremely angry, but don't hurt. Those drug not the hard kind. Only meant to make you weak not to kill."
"No" Ichigo said, rubbed his eyes and with his fingers. "You're right. Ishida want to use the knife to kill me. He tried to—tried to" Ichigo looked up, his gaze stabbed Renji's gaze and that man felt pure passion, so strong, made him really difficult to breathe.
Renji used all of his strength to calm himself down, Ichigo was really fragile and scared. And he was under his protection. Renji wouldn't let his lust burst uncontrollably when that boy really fragile. His hands fisted to keep himself from the desire to hold Ichigo. More than a simple passion, a not expected new sensation demanded him to calm him down, keep him strong, and made Ichigo's wound hurt less.
"I don't understand" Ichigo whispered hoarsely while he shook his head, let the tears ran down his cheeks, formed a step shone by the moonlight. "I invited them here because I want to ask for his help. He was my family's best friend. He was my best friend" Ichigo hit his hand to his chest. "Why he was so heartless to do something like that?"
"He was not something like you knew before." Renji whispered loudly.
"So who is he? Who am I?"
"We will search for that Ichigo. Together."
"Then?" His voice was broken when he closed his mouth with his hand. "When we know the real fact, what will we do then? What if I can't agree with myself? What if it better to me to let them kill me?"
"No" one word. Stern and confident. "They will not kill you. You even will not think about that. Who they really are doesn't change anything."
"Maybe there is something bad in me. Maybe it is the cause they want me to die. I don't know…" Ichigo shook his head and his hair moved at the gentle movement of fire and light.
"I know" Renji grabbed Ichigo, followed his instinct which not let him to do anything. He hugged the boy tightly, pulled him on his lap, and leaned him at his chest. Then Renji whispered sweet nothings when the boy grabbed his shirt.
"You are not evil" said Renji, his voice calm and comforting.
"You can't tell that Renji." Ichigo buried his face at Renji's chest.
"I am already fighting the evil for more than five hundred years. "Renji replied, his voice was gentle now, conformed, and hypnotized him. "I can feel it at the air when there was an evil. I felt the presence more than anything."
Fire walked through Renji's blood when he raised Ichigo's chin with his fingers and looked at the eyes that held so much emotion and power.
"Nothing evil inside you, Ichigo. We will open the truth." Renji vowed "Together. I will not let you hurt."
"Ichigo turned his head to see the Francis door that open, let the chill wind entered the room, and blew the thin curtain in the silent dance of death. "Are we will safe here now?"
"Yes" Renji answered, while he was gritting his teeth. He felt so upset while he realized that Ichigo almost die. "The protection way already done…"
"The example…?"
Renji smiled. "A stronger kidou already was being placed."
"Kidou?"
"Well, just imagine, like a magic lock. That lock usually uses to prevent the hollow to enter and let the human enter it. After this night, the lock also will prevent the human. No one can enter the house without our permission."
Ichigo blinked. "You can do that? I thought you said you suck at kidou…but a great kidou like that…"
"No baby" said Renji smiled. "Rukia is the one who do that."
"Rukia?"
Renji shrugged tried to ease the tension at his body. "Rukia is the smartest girl at kidou in our year of academy. She really mastered the kidou. That's why she is so angry now. Rukia felt she must know the bad intention of the boy…"
"That's not Rukia's fault" Ichigo said gently.
"No" Renji agreed. "That is my fault." Ichigo shook his head, but Renji ignored him and kept talking. "You are here. At my house. Under my protection. It will not happen anymore. I want you to know…and sure that you will safe with me."
"I'm sure" Ichigo sighed and said "I was the one who invited him here."
Almost immediately, Renji became rigid. "You can't repeat that again, Ichigo. Your safety is the top priority. No one can enter the house until we solve the problem."
"Don't matter" Ichigo answered, sighed once again. "I think, I don't want to talk with anybody" he combed his short hair with his fingers. "Ishida tried to kill me. If I can't believe him, I can't believe anyone anymore."
Renji sighed. "You can believe me Ichigo. I will not disappoint you again."
"You not disappoint me, Renji. You save me."
Renji smiled and wiped Ichigo's tears with his thumb.
Ichigo turned his head and closed his eyes while he muttered "Renji" said Ichigo and gently held Renji's hand, and brought the hand to his face. Then he looked up and locked his gaze to the man.
Slowly, Renji pulled Ichigo closer, and closer, until their mouth only a centimeter apart. And when he couldn't hold his lust longer, Renji kissed Ichigo's mouth. Lust to the boy's charm, Renji held what he claim was his and found the heart he was thought already frozen.
One touch of Ichigo's mouth and Renji burned by the fire. He lusted and aroused. In one swift movement, Renji walked and threw Ichigo on the bed. Ichigo raised his arms and wrapped it at Renji's neck, pulled the man closer and hugged him close.
Ichigo's mouth opened when Renji's tongue slipped into his mouth and claimed it. Took all the boy offered to himself. Every curve of Ichigo's beautiful body melded with Renji's body, like he was a missing piece from the man's life. Renji touched him and found his lust. Renji devoured Ichigo and found a life.
Renji…
That man smiled when he kissed Ichigo, and answered the boy when he spoke, from mind to mind.
I must get you, Ichigo. Felt my lust to you. Look into my mind.
Ichigo's mind opened for Renji, and Renji's mind was flooded by Ichigo's mind. Visions, shadows, rich by color and sound, filled Renji's mind. Visions they were together, locked at one another's embrace. The visions from the boy's life at the past. Ichigo' world was like the boy knew before, now started to lost.
Renji saw it all.
Saw Ichigo.
All about Ichigo. In one second which made his heart beat faster, Renji understood the boy's feeling better than anybody he ever knew before from his long life.
I need you too, Renji. Now. Please, now.
Renji deepened the kiss, gave all he had, everything he has. Renji knew that when Ichigo touched his mind deeper, the boy will saw Renji's past, his years of suffered. His loneliness. His wounds. He could ushered his past away from the boy if he could, but there were nothing he needed to hide from the boy who could touch him that deep.
Renji pulled away and looked at the brown eyes' depth, then he saw the shocked feeling he could felt reflected in front of him.
"Oh my god" Ichigo's voice was stern, tensed with so much lust which still throbbed between them. He could see Renji's eyes and the man could felt the sensation that flooded to shook him.
"I saw—"
"I know" Renji cut him, his hand caressed Ichigo's body, above his stomach, up to his chest.
Ichigo's breath hitched, he made his body closer to Renji, his eyes closed at the burst of lust he felt. Ichigo shook his head, then he whispered. "I saw you. All of that year. I saw…you."
"Open your eyes baby" Renji said, his voice gentle and deep, like his touch. "Open your eyes and look at me now."
That boy obliged him, looked at him with so much curiosity and Renji sighed.
He already lost.
