Renji followed in and headed towards the end of the room and leaned up with his eyes looking from side to side then beaming with an, "I found it!" and grabbing onto the kit with a pleased look in his eyes. Dropping slightly he turned to look at Ichigo and popped it open, digging through it and then frowned, not knowing what color to use. "Turn around..." he ordered as he grabbed the needle and popped the harmless side between his teeth, rummaging again and growling. He needed to see the color. That's what mattered most when he fixed clothes. "And hand me the cloth, your ass'll be fine."

"Yessir," Ichigo grinned and proceeded to strip off his pants, first yanking off his shoes. He unbuttoned his cargo pants, unzipped them, and slid them off his legs. He shivered as the slightly chill air of the storage room hit his unprotected legs. Buck up, he told himself. Handing the scrap of fabric and his pants to Renji, Ichigo shuffled in his stocking feet to a box and sat down. It wasn't really that cold.

Renji took both objects and placed his bottom on the floor, finally deciding to grab the black thread and took the needle from his teeth and slipped the string through it, setting to his task, having to reach into the pants and grumbling curses at having to do so. It was so much easier when the clothes he had to fix were on the person, not off. "I hate you, you made this a little harder than necessary." Cursing and muttering some more, his eyes narrowed, watching as some parts lifted when the needle poked through then dipped when it went down.

"First of all, I could have done it myself, but since you offered..." His voice trailed off, knowing Renji knew he had offered so this was kinda his fault. "Second, what kind of friend would I be if I made life easier for you? I mean really, life is about over coming obstacles and sewing one scrap of cloth isn't that bad. And third..." Ichigo stopped talking to stand and turn around in a circle, smiling. "I wanted you to get a spectacular view of my boxers." He sat down on the box again and leaned down to watch Renji sew. "But I do appreciate you doing this. You didn't have to. It's not like you were the one who ripped them."

Renji twitched a bit at Ichigo's comment with his boxers and was close to throwing the pants at him to tell him to do it himself. Letting his eyes look away and his hands stopped working with a soft blush. "Well, it's not every day a friend of mine gets their pants ripped." he replied, his left hand's thumb running over the fabric of the pants line. "...it's not a big deal anyway."

Having had seen the urge to fling the article of clothing at him in Renji's eyes, he mentally sighed when it didn't happen. Ichigo really didn't fancy having a needle stuck in his calf. "I suppose. But if you ever rip your pants and need someone to mend them, I'm your guy." He chuckled, just being friendly. After that episode at the dance, he didn't want to push their friendship farther than what Renji was willing to give at this point. But that goddamned blush of his almost always sent his control into shreds.

Renji blinked and looked at Ichigo then back down on the pants, getting back to work with half-lidded eyes. "I guess..." he replied, right hand continuing its movements and slumping his shoulders with a soft laugh, "I'm not one to sit anywhere too long to let that happen, unlike a certain someone." Saying that the redhead grinned when he was finished and tied it, biting the end of the string on the needle off and tossed the pants to Ichigo. "Finished. Now put them on so I can make sure I got it just right."

Rolling his eyes, Ichigo caught the tossed clothing item and slipped a leg inside. "You can rip your pants doing things other than freezing them." Deciding to let it drop with that, he put his other leg in and pulled them up to his waist. Fastening the button and zipping them, he turned around. "Look good?"

The redhead moved over with the needle in his mouth and bent down, inspecting it then frowning deeply, taking it out of his mouth and moved the needle swiftly, not even touching Ichigo's bottom in a missed spot and tied it, biting the string again without a care of how strange it looked. "'kay...they're good. Now you won't freeze your ass off when you go home."

"If they look funky, I'm going to kick your ass next time I see you. Or partake my revenge another way." Tomato here I come! Cracking his back and stretching a bit, Ichigo didn't hear a tearing noise so the stitches were holding up. Now for the final test. Leaning forward until he was bent at the waist, he reached for his toes. No tearing. "Good job, Ren," he said, straightening his back and turning around.

Renji pushed himself back when Ichigo leaned forward with a protesting squeak. "I don't care if I did a good job! You could've just walked around!" he shouted with a blush and glared, pushing himself up onto his feet and headed over to the kit, leaning down and picking it up, putting everything back and placing it where it belonged with narrowed eyes with an embarrassed feature on his face. "I'm not like other people...I'm not that mean to go and mess up your favorite pair of pants. Don't degrade me to those people." Turning he lifted his left hand to move a few strands of hair out of his face.

Eyes widening a fraction, Ichigo strive to unfluff Renji's ruffled feathers. "Chill man. I just meant that you did better than I would." Casually leaning against a sturdy stack of boxes, his eyelids fell half shut as he followed the fiery vixen's progress. Vixen? Is that really what I thought? Well it kind of suits him. Ichigo could clearly see embarrassment etched into the other's features. "Why are you embarrassed? Again I might add?"

Renji looked to the side, "Beside havin' your ass almost in my face? No reason." He pushed another stubborn piece out of his face and growled once it moved back into position and pushed it a few more times before glaring and dropping his hand with a huff, trying to blow it away and failing. Deciding to screw trying he headed towards the door with a sigh. Stubborn hair...only happened in the morning when he over-slept, which he always tried to avoid. "Best be heading home I guess. It's really late and I still need to do a few things at home before tomorrow," Renji turned to look at Ichigo, "you're coming tomorrow, right?"

"Here? Yeah. Wouldn't miss it." Ichigo smiled and followed in his friend's footsteps. "I'm just going to sleep in tomorrow. Maybe paint if I feel like it." He wasn't much of a painter but he did enjoy trying. Pastels and oils were interesting to fiddle with as well. There were so many things a person could to add dimension to their art on a two dimensional surface just by using on of those mediums. Then he remembered the sounds that had been coming from Uryu's bedroom when they left. "Hopefully Chad is gone. Or sleeping. I'd really like to be able to get some sleep tonight."

Renji laughed, "Yeah, good luck with that." He turned and shut the door once Ichigo exited the room and moved to the front of the shop, patting Hinamori on the head, "See ya later, kid." She only smiled in response as Renji passed and pushed open the door with a shudder, looking up and then his mouth fell open, looking over at Ichigo and hoping to the dearest God that loved him that the other man was not by the door with him...stupid blue haired sex-addict and his abusive friend...did. Not. Take. It....down.

"What's with the horrified look...?" Ichigo had watched the expression on Renji's face turn from happiness to horrified in 3.2 seconds flat. Idily wondering if that type of thing required practice his eyes followed the other's to rest on the bundle of mistletoe. It was still there? Well maybe I should take advantage of this while I still can and blame it on Renji's mismatched family. A wicked grin crossed his lips as he swooped down and planted a kiss on Renji's slightly parted lips before he could protest. A hand went to each of Renji's cheeks to keep him from pulling away too soon.

Renji muffled a protest then simply gave up with a plot of revenge forming in his mind for the three participants in this evil tradition. He let his eyes slide shout, displaying his defeat and grabbing at the other's shirt, tempted to pull forth than shove Ichigo away but decided against it.

Since no protest was voiced by Renji, Ichigo took this as a small invitation. When a hand gasped his shirt, he could help but smile into the kiss before moving his lips against the other's. Not too much pressure but enough to begin to push the chastity of the kiss. He didn't want to push too far because he knew he would end up hurting in some area of his body.

"People are watching, people are watching!" the little innocent Renji shouted as the redhead blushed at the realization and pulled away with wide eyes once he opened them, swallowing and releasing Ichigo's shirt slowly. "People are watching..." he mumbled before pushing the door open and smiled at Ichigo, "I'll see you tomorrow, 'kay?" He stepped out and turned right, heading off with his hair hanging in his face. Maybe... "That's what I'm scared of?" he grumbled and broke into a slow jog towards his place.

Ichigo stood there, just outside the door and to the right, watching Renji jog off into the distance. "Damn people for existing," he grumbled. And he'd been doing so good, too. "Next time, I'll do better. Man if had been any other guy, I'd have been all over them but with Renji I have to take it slow. Like a rabbit. Easily scared and ready to run at the slightest wrong move." Lost in thoughts, his feet traveled the familiar route back to his dorm. He had walked to and from the coffee shop and his dorm that it was second nature to him. All of a sudden, his nose bumped into the big wooden door announcing he had arrived. Sighing, he pushed it open and took the stairs to his dorm. "Good night sleep here I come." Thankfully, when he reached his dorm door and opened it, he only heard snores. "Thank god." Tip toeing, he got into his room, closed the door, slipped out of his clothes and into bed. Wonder what tomorrow will bring...he thought as he began to drift.

Renji reached his place and dug into his back pocket for his keys, grumbling as he got them out and put one into the slot, turning it and opening the door, taking it out. Shutting the door once he got inside he locked it then moved over to the couch and laid down. "I'll finish everything tomorrow," he mumbled before the darkness began to consume him.

He awoke to the sound of loud beeps right into his ear. "Take shelter!" Frantically, Ichigo thrashed around in his bed, falling off and onto the floor. His legs were tangled up in his bed sheets. "They're gonna bomb us!" Blubbering about shrapnel and flying objects, the orange haired man scrambled to find something to crawl under. Just then his bedroom door opened to reveal Uryu rubbing sleep from his eyes and yawning. "Ichi-go," he said in between yawns. "It's your alarm dumb ass." Bare-chested and clad in his boxers, Uryu Ishida crossed the room, stepping over Ichigo's wiggling body, and switched off the alarm. "Oh right," Ichigo said, voice thick with sleep. "Thanks Uryu." His roommate nodded and padded out.

Renji grumbled and shifted slightly then opened his eyes with a protesting groan as something leapt onto his back and purred. What was purring...? Did he own something that purred? "Mew," Renji blinked the sleep out of his eyes and turned to look at a black and orange striped cat. "...Ki?" he mumbled, reaching his hands out to pick the kitten up then blinked once he recalled he'd been out late and didn't come to get poor Ki out of the house and go to the Star Bucks with him. Renji looked down just knowing Ki was glaring at him. "Ah...c'mon, Ki...I was out with a friend, I'll take you today so don't be mad." he pleaded with slanted brows. The redhead didn't like it when his pet was mad at him. Seemingly to be forgiving, for now, Ki laid a paw on his cheek and Renji grinned, setting her down then heading towards his room to go get dressed as the feline curled up into a ball, head lifted and tail wagging while watching Renji get ready to go and get things done before leaving the house. One major thing: give her her damn milk!

"Stupid war games," Ichigo grumbled, getting to his feet. "Mess with your head." Yawning, he tossed his sheets back on his bed and retrieved a fresh pair of boxers from his dresser. "Shower here I come." He rubbed his eyes, thinking about a nice hot shower. And I could use the paints today I suppose. Capture Renji's image in color this time... Thinking those thoughts, he walked into the bathroom, and turned on the shower while discarding his boxers. Under the hot spray of water his muscles relaxed and a sigh of content passed his lips.

Renji headed out of his room with a overly large black shirt on him with the name of one of the many of his favorite bands on the back with the tour dates. Obviously the one for this week was Three Days Grace. Ki leapt off the couch, landing with elegant grace and following the other into the kitchen, purring happily once he opened the fridge and got her beloved milk out. Yes, kitty was very happy right now. Popping the cap open and bending down to pour it into the bowl Renji chuckled warmly once Ki pounced and began lapping at the white substance. Petting her head a bit, he then stood and set the milk back in the cold container and moved to get out the brownies he made, then got out a opened container of egg nog and opened it after setting the brownies down and tilted the carten, almost purring himself from joy. Ah...the vanilla brand was his favorite!

Humming a song he'd always loved, 'Roses Are Red by Aqua', he squirted some shampoo into his hand and massaged the gel through his orange spikes. Ichigo smiled, smelling the scent. It wasn't that manly, he'd admit, but he loved the smell. Lavender vanilla. It had a calming effect on his psyche it seemed because whenever he went to his art after a shower, he always did better. Once he rinsed out the shampoo, he moved on to cleaning the rest of his body. The bar of plain ivory soap glided over his wet skin, leaving soapy suds behind.

Renji took the egg nog away from his mouth, "Ahhh! So good!" he grinned, sure he sounded like one of those fangirls in a show that found something so cute. Moving over to the garbage bin, he threw the empty container out and headed towards the bathroom, tugging at the end of his shirt that somehow seemed small. Usually the end was...below his crotch now it wasn't. Maybe he grew? He shrugged and kicked his legs a bit to get his blue jeans to straighten at the end instead of slouch. Stupid Grimmjow...buying the wrong size on purpose. Still he liked them, really comfy. The crimson boxers he wore poked out just like his other pants. Everyone knew that the clothes they got him either had to be comfy or his style, end of story. "Time to get moving," he sighed, setting to the task of brushing his teeth.

Done with his song and shower, Ichigo stepped out of the shower soaking wet and dripping. He grabbed his towel, mentally sighing with relief when he saw that it was clean. Good thing Chad didn't use it again. Maybe me telling him not to got through to him once and for all. He dried himself off and pulled on his boxers. "Now for some breakfast," he said when he opened the bathroom door. "Cereal maybe?" Going through his inventory he decided on Trix. "Gotta love that rabbit." He poured out the colorful pieces into a bowl and added milk from his mini fridge.

Renji frowned at his reflection in the mirror. For one reason, and one only: a stubborn strand was sticking out again. His hands worked viciously at it and moaned from depression. And it was at the left side of his head. Licking his hand and putting it down didn't work, water didn't work either, even combing angrily didn't. He eventually ended up glaring at it and hissing like Ki did when he almost crushed her turning in his sleep. "You stubborn bastard," he muttered, crossing his arms, his sleeve drooping at the elbows. "I hate you..."

Crunching away as he ate his food, Ichigo went to his room and sat on his bed. He stared at his easel imagining a painted image of Renji appearing there. Licking the spoon free of milk and cereal, he tapped his chin with the piece of silverware. It would take a good chunk of time... Glancing at his clock he read the numbers. It was about 10 a.m. He blinked. "Man I'm up early today... Usually I'dhave hit the snooze without even waking up." Ichigo shrugged and finished his meal. He washed them into eh bathroom sink and put them away. Then he went about getting dressed. Dark jeans, plain black t-shirt, socks, and a pair of black converse. Satisfied with his choices, he pulled out the tub with his art supplies. Soon he was sitting in front of a black piece or sturdy, white, thick cardboard. His paint brush dipped into the red and Ichigo's hand began to paint Renji's flame colored hair.

Renji walked out of the bathroom with a pout, glaring at Ki, whose shoulders where shaking, "Shut up." Sighing, he went into his room and got his faded green hoodie out and yanked it on, walking out and scooping Ki up, heading into the kitchen after yanking on his dirty red sneakers and grabbed the brownies. Heading out the door, he set the black and orange cat down, reached into his back pocket, pulled out his keys and grabbed the doorhandle tugging it shut, slid the key in the hole and locked the door. Putting the keys back, he picked Ki up again and headed towards the coffee shop with a wide smile on his face.

Dabbing in some black to make some strands stand out, adding white for some shine... His mind became blissfully blank as he painted. It was his salvation in a way since life could get hectic. All that existed when he made art was him and his piece. Ichigo wrinkled his nose as something tickled his cheek. He swiped at it, leaving a small streak of white. Renji's face was forming as his added more colors as he focused.

On the way to the coffee shop Renji idly wondered if he should go see Ichigo. Blinking, he shook his head rapidly with a blush and got a confused glance from the kitten in his arms. "Mew?" Was what brought Renji back and he smiled at her, "Its nothing, don't worry." Looking up he saw the Star Bucks and an even bigger smile took form on his face, pushing the door open with his shoulder. "Hey! Rukia , Grimm I brought some..." His voice trailed off and backed away from the door as he saw who the teal haired man was talking too, Rukia's eyes widening once they saw Renji and waved hesitantly. "Shit..." Was all that passed his lips next, holding onto the two things in his arms tightly, but not too tight.

Frowning, he rinsed his brushes and set about forming the torso and upper limbs. Ichigo's tongue poked out as he traced delicate lines showing the small muscles on Renji's chest. Painstakingly, his hand was close to shaking since he wanted to get it right. The character and personality that was Renji had to go into this. Slowly, his friend emerged from the white background. Serious and slightly scared eyes. Fingers barely twitching due to sitting still. The urge to leave showed on his face as well.

The man with dark hair turned and had wide eyes, "Ah! Renji, it's been so long!" He sounded pleased as Ki hissed and Renji shrank back a bit. "H-hey, Hisagi." he replied looking away and hands trembling slightly. Rukia frowned, "Hisagi, just leave. It's his day off and I thought Grimm taught you a lesson for coming to harass him last time?!" "I didn't harass him." Renji swallowed and moved into the building and moved over to the counter and set the brownie container down, bending down to set a hissing Ki down, who only turned to glare at Hisagi. "Its...fine, Rukia," Renji sighed, standing and offering a weak smile. "How have you been since I last seen you...since High School I should say." "Been well, though I've been trying to find you. You suddenly vanish-" "Beat it," Grimmjow frowned.

More lines appeared as the upper abdomen extended into the lower extremities. Almost finished. Totally absorbed in his work, he didn't notice how little time had passed. Once he was done, he'd marvel and smile. But now... more paint adorned and filled empty space. His pace was fast as he got closer and closer completion of his painting. One more stroke...! Done! He set down his brushes and stepped back to admire his work. Each line was just so and the whole impressed upon him that he had captured a precious piece of Renji. Ichigo smiled and glanced at the clock. It was almost eleven. "I finished in record time."

"Why so mean, Grimmjow?" the dark haired man asked, mock hurt covering his face. "Because you're a slimy little bastard who can't let go of past events, how does that sound?" Rukia frowned, crossing her arms as Renji sat at the counter, fiddling with a mug of hot chocolate Rukia had given him earlier to calm down from the shock of seeing Shuuei after almost four years. "I don't get it," the redhead mumbled while taking a sip, Ki nuzzling her cheek against Renji's, "why'd he show up now? ...not fair." He kicked at the counter and a loud thud echoed about the room, capturing everyone's attention for a minute before Grimmjow threatened to literally boot the dark haired man in the ass out the door if he didn't leave.

Ichigo's chocolate brown eyes lit up as he thought of an idea. "I could call Renji right now! Maybe he'll want to come over and see it. Now where id my cell..." He muttered a few words as he rummaged around in his clothes from yesterday. "Ah! Got it!" He scrolled through his last received calls and found the last one he had gotten. This must be his number. He programmed the number into his phone and punched the green phone button to send his call. He pressed it to his ear and waited.

Renji's eyes widened as the ringtone he'd assigned Ichigo sometime along the walk rang and hastily grabbed for his phone, flipping it open and answering the call, "H-hello?" Obviously taken off-guard and pushed away from the counter and heading into the back of the building, into the way back in the 'storage' room as Ichigo dubbed it the day before.

"Hey Renji! Good news- Wait. What's wrong?" Ichigo heard the small stutter and frowned with concern. He sounded a little upset, too. Maybe this was the wrong time to call. "Am I interrupting something?" His concern leaked into his voice.

"It's nothing," Renji replied, shifting away from the door and placed his bottom on a sturdy box, "it's not a big deal...don't worry." He placed his other hand against the phone. "You said you had good news...can I hear it?" He forced himself to sound like nothing was wrong...but Ichigo might hear through the pitiful disguise.

"It is not nothing. I can tell." Ichigo's frown deepened. He grabbed his leather jacket and his keys as he headed out the door. "I'm coming over to the coffee shop." He guessed Renji was there since he seemed like a morning person. Unlike me. Wonder what happened to unsettle Renji this much? "But the good news is that I finished a painting of the pose I sketched of you. It looks amazing."

Renji's eyes widened then fell halfway shut, "That's the best news I've heard all day." He then glanced over at the door then looked down on the floor, kicking it with the scruff of his heel. "Just...don't hang up the phone." Hearing Ichigo calmed his nerves down just enough to relax slightly and forget a bit of why he was upset.

"Sure thing. So..." Ichigo took a breath and thought about what could have possibly happened to make Renji sound so down. "Would you like to see it sometime?" It was kinda lame but it was something to say. Once he arrived he'd find out what happened. He was already out of the dorm building having nearly ran the whole way down the stairs. He tripped a few times but caught himself before he fell on his face.

Renji scooted back and smiled, "Yeah, I'd like to see your art anytime." He lifted his right hand and pushed some hair out of his face. "They're really something." He shut his eyes for a minute then reopened them, not even knowing that Shuuei was fighting with Grimmjow to get to the back of the building to find Renji and communicate with him without having a fight and Rukia just went to go get the thickest frying pan she could find to wallop Hisagi with.

"Almost there..." He rounded the corner to see the Starbucks. It looked alright outside... "I think you'll really like it though." Ichigo stepped up to the door and opened it to find Rukia searching through drawers, Grimmjow yelling at a man with dark spiky hair along with a 69 tattoo on his cheek plus three scars with it, and no Renji. "Where are you Renji? It's a madhouse in here."

"In the back..." Renji replied and hung up the phone, shoving it into his pocket to his hoodie and brought his knees up to his chest. "Get the hell outta here!" Grimmjow growled. "At least let me talk to Renji!" the other man protested, Rukia returning and clapping the pan to her other hand. "Nope, not after what you did to him in High." The raven looked up at Ichigo and motioned towards the back, figuring Renji was the one that brought a panting Ichigo here. Looking like he ran a marathon or something.

"Thanks Rukia," Ichigo said as he headed for the door that he and Renji had gone through last night. Storage. Glancing back at the newcomer, he couldn't help but think that this man might be why Renji was so upset. Like to know why so I could have a reason to kick his ass. He pushed open the door to find Renji on a box with his knees held against his chest. Going over to the huddled form, he put a hand on his shoulder.