Treason

Thank you for the reviews, that's what keeps me going. Hmm.. this chapter is a bit shorter. Sorry, I had a bit of writer's block, so this has to do.

Last chapter's vote:

The biggest part of the reviewers seems to have chosen option B to my delight. Now I only have to find out how to write a decent yaoi-scene, I have never even written a yaoi-scene! Oh well, still have a lot of chapters before that happens.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Warning: Character-death, Renji/Ichigo and possible yaoi in future chapters.

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They were now standing in front of the cemetery. Ichigo seemed to have slightly calmed down after bashing Renji's head a couple of times.

Ichigo sighed and clenched his hand around the bouquet, looking down at the beautiful white flowers. They painfully reminded him of his sisters, their bright smiles, their sweet innocence and those cheerful eyes that always looked up at him in admiration.

Renji glanced at Ichigo and gave a sad smile, understanding it must be hard for the other to be here again.

"Shall we?" Renji carefully asked.

Ichigo looked up at him and nodded uncertainly, he didn't really know if he wanted to go or not. But there was no way out of it, he would go, he needed to go and he must go.

He started walking, walking the familiar path he had always wandered when his mother had died. But back then he still had his sisters and pops, but now he was alone. He glanced back over his shoulder at Renji who gave him an encouraging smirk in return and followed him too.

"You don't mind if I come too, do you?"

Ichigo looked down at his feet, deep in thoughts and looked back at Renji. He gave a small smile. "Nah… it's kinda nice that someone else is with me."

Renji smiled, glad that Ichigo was finally opening more up to him.

Ichigo halted and looked down at the Kurosaki family grave. "Here it is…" He mumbled more to himself than to Renji.

"I'll get some water for the flowers." Renji said, he thought Ichigo would like to be alone for a while.

"No! no… you can stay…" Ichigo shot up, uneasiness creeping in his voice. "If you want to…" he added in an afterthought.

Renji smiled. "Sure…"

Ichigo looked back at the grave and kneeled down in front of it. He stared at his sisters' and pop's name, that stood out with black letters on the solid stone under his mother's name. He just realised he really was the last one left of his family

"Sorry… I couldn't come earlier." He placed the white carnations on the grave and traced his fingers over the letters. He really missed his happy cheerful family; he even missed the annoying attacks his father gave him almost every unsuspecting time when he let his guard down.

Ichigo gave a bitter smile and stood up, his back still facing Renji. He lowered his eyes, hiding them under his orange bangs. He felt the uncontrollable urge to punch something. He didn't understand it at all anymore, where had his family gone? Sure enough he should have seen their spirits when they died and who had done it was more of a mystery than it first was. It gave him such a frustrating feeling; to not know. But he would find out, he would make sure of it.

He suddenly felt a pair of comforting strong arms around his tense shoulders.

"Calm down, Ichigo. You're way to tense." Renji whispered in his ear.

Ichigo slightly leaned in the redhead's embrace, his muscles slightly relaxing as he felt Renji's spirit power flow over his skin. He noticed how this was always working as to calm him down and he wasn't complaining.

Renji thought he could stand here forever with Ichigo, protectively hold him in his warm embrace. And he wasn't planning on letting the other go; therefore it was maybe time to express his feelings to Ichigo for a bit. He didn't know if the other was ready for that, hell… he didn't even know if he was ready for that himself. But he needed to let Ichigo know he was there for him. But right now, he knew it wasn't the right time for that, he would tell him later.

Ichigo turned his head, locking eyes with the redhead. "Let's go." He said softly.

Renji said nothing and followed the other's back. Ichigo looked over his shoulder and slightly nodded his head in a way to invite Renji to walk next to him, which was of course responded with a smirk and a quick leap so he walked next to Ichigo.

They both walked out of the cemetery onto the riverbank and noticed the sun was already setting. Orange, pink and red layers decorated the sky as the soft sunrays shone on their faces and on the river that reflected the light like a huge mirror.

They both walked along the riverside, enjoying each other's company and the breathtaking display that surrounded them.

"Let's sit down." Renji suddenly simply said and plopped down in the grass.

Ichigo plopped down next to him and sighed, falling back with his hands behind his head, sprawled in the high grass. He felt himself Fully relax as the wind played with his soft hair, swaying it in front of his face.

Renji couldn't help but stare at the other boy who lay so completely relaxed next to him. His normal scowl was completely gone, giving him a much younger look. The sun shone on his hair, giving it a mysterious glow in the calm breeze. He was simply beautiful.

"Renji." Ichigo called, distracting Renji from his thoughts. "What are you staring at?" Ichigo gave him a funny look.

"You…" Renji purred and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on Ichigo's lips.

"What are you doing, you idiot!? Not in public!" Ichigo scowled as he quickly pushed the other off him.

"Why not, it'll be fun." Renji grinned and leaned in closer again.

"What if someone sees us!?" Ichigo hissed and hysterically looked around if there was someone watching them.

"Yeah, so… what if?" Renji stroked one hand over Ichigo's hip, earning a shiver from the other boy.

"Cut it out, Renji." Ichigo gave him an annoyed look and slapped Renji's hand away from his hip. He went back to staring at the sky, ignoring the redhead who was still watching him.

"Ichigo…" Renji suddenly. He gave Ichigo a serious look.

"Nnnh…?" Ichigo glanced at Renji and noticed the serious glint in the crimson depths that were looking at him. "What's wrong Renji?" Ichigo asked, a tint of worry was hinted in his voice. He lifted himself a bit up with his elbows. He didn't understand the sudden mood-change.

Renji gazed deep into Ichigo eyes, getting lost in those beautiful light-brown pools. "There's nothing wrong. Its just… maybe we should talk about … you and me." He finished and gave Ichigo an uncertain look. Was he going to tell his feelings?

"Eh? Renji…?" Ichigo gave a confused look. "What are you getting at?"

Renji couldn't help but let a small grin pass his lips. Ichigo could be so dense at some times.

"What I mean is; that I maybe care more about you than just a friend…"

Ichigo blinked and nervously fidgeted with his shirt as he gave Renji a surprised look. "Renji…"

"You don't have to say anything back, I just want you to know that I'm right behind you.(1)"

Ichigo gave a small smile and looked back at the glittering river. "Thanks… Renji."

Renji also smiled. This had gone fairly well, the orange-haired boy hadn't rejected him like he thought he would. Sure, Ichigo had not really responded to him, but the thought that Ichigo accepted him was more than enough to make his hart skip a beat.

Renji slowly and uncertainly lifted his hand up and placed it on Ichigo's hand, smiling when Ichigo flashed him a surprised look.

Ichigo's face warmed up as he saw the smile directed at him and went back to staring at the river, a small smile played on his lips too. He didn't really know what to think about all this, he didn't really know what his feelings for the redhead were, but what he did know was that he didn't want Renji to leave his side and that he also liked the other more than just a friend. But he knew he wasn't ready to tell Renji this already, he just wasn't somebody who let his feelings out that easily.

He could feel Renji's warmth flow into him, just by touching their hands. He decided he quite liked it and that he should hold hands with Renji more.

Renji slowly began to stroke Ichigo's hand with his thumb, the soothing circles sending Goosebumps over his skin.

Ichigo wanted to lean onto the other's shoulder, but knew that would attract far too much attention. Besides, he wasn't really one to do such things, certainly not in public!

So they sat there together for who knows how long, watching the beautiful view. They only realised how late it was already getting when it started to get darker. The sun had already set.

"Ichigo…?" Renji said, gaining the orange-haired boy's attention.

"Nnnh…?" Ichigo glanced at Renji, his head rested on his lifted knees.

"Shall we go back to your place? It's getting dark."

"Mmm-yeah, sure." With that said, they both lifted themselves up and started to walk back to Ichigo's house.

They walked together in a comfortable silence, their shoulders sometimes brushing. Neither knew what to speak of, neither wanted to speak. They just wanted to enjoy the feeling of each other's presence.

Ichigo suddenly grabbed Renji's warm hand in his own and hold it tightly, their fingers intertwining.

Renji looked down at Ichigo's face in surprise. The other looked up and gave him a cheeky grin as he held Renji's hand tighter.

It seamed Ichigo didn't mind to get clingy when it's dark. Renji returned the grin with an ear-to-ear smirk and slightly pulled his hand back so that Ichigo had to lean against Renji's shoulder.

"Hey!" Ichigo protested and gave the redhead a playful nudge in the shoulder.

Renji smiled, this could work out just fine.

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"Aizen-sama… there occurs to be some problems around Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Hmm…? Tell me." Aizen gave the lower arrancar, who kneeled humbly in front of him, an interested stare as he lazily lifted his chin of his hands.

"It's Abarai Renji, a shinigam-" The man was interrupted.

"I know who Abarai-kun is, I know him quite well actually. Please continue."

He's gaining trust from Kurosaki-san; if he continues like that he'll ruin the whole plan! We should eliminate him."

"You are not one to decide such decisions." Aizen said dead-calmly.

The arrancar flinched visibly at Aizen's words. "My apologies, Aizen-sama, it won't happen again."

"Hmm… It's okay" Aizen said as he leaned his chin on his hands again, lost in thoughts. "If it goes to far; I'll dispose of him personally."

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(1) In more than one way, hehe. Ok, that was wrong, bad me, BAD!

Ok, chapter 9; done!

This chapter's vote: Does my grammar suck? (I really want to know! And please tell me what I do wrong.)

Option A) Yes, it really does… Why am I even reading this story?

Option B) It's okay, I easily read over them. There are only a few.

Option C) don't whine, woman. It's good! (Me: OMG! Really!?)

It's not that I want to hear; like: OH! It's great! No, I just want to learn from my mistakes so I can improve my writing. Thank you.

R&R!