Kira sat on his dormitory bed, cross-legged and wide-eyed. "I can't believe I did that."

"You can't believe you did that?! I can't believe you actually spoke up in the vicinity of your crush!" exclaimed Renji. "You actually stood up against those arrogant, ignorant bullies!" He paused. "It's not the end of the world, right?"

Kira grabbed his pillow and flung it at him. "You know, I'm actually trying to recover from shock here?" he asked plaintively.

Renji chortled. "You, shocked? Did you even see our faces? I swear I thought Momo was gonna wet her pants. I thought I was in some surreal nightmare."

"Renji, I think I'm a good influence on you," said Kira innocently. "Your vocabulary is improving!"

Renji rolled his amber eyes and made a face. Kira chuckled and shut his eyes. He could still hear Ichimaru-fukutaichou's soft admonition after he spoke up against Noda and Yano, and the little chat in the evening before the interns were dismissed.

Over dinner, Hinamori had commented that Ichimaru-fukutaichou was like a fox, the way he was always smiling and seemed to be full of tricks up his sleeves. Renji had agreed sotto voce. No one at their table had disabused them of the remark; Onizuka even went into a lengthy recount of the pranks and tricks played by the lieutenant over the years.

But to Kira, Ichimaru-fukutaichou reminded him of... of a sword forged by a master craftsmen. Sharp, biting, deadly. Always hidden in plain sight, the danger and the potential that he contained. It was painfully obvious that a person would be hurt if they got too close. Perhaps the person would even die. And yet...

And yet, like any work of a master swordsmith, people couldn't help but want to examine it better. Couldn't help but draw in, to test the quality of the blade, to test how deep it could cut, and how smooth the wound. Kira shuddered inwardly; he yearned to know more about Ichimaru Gin, but was terrified at the same time of what he would find.

"Izuru," Renji's voice cut in, "You have Shuuhei's notes?"

Kira blinked up. "Uh, yeah. You need them so early?"

"I just thought I'd see if he had taken notes for Intermediate. I still have no idea who's teaching that course this summer," groused the redhead. He tugged on the hair tie and it promptly snapped. "Damn!"

Kira laughed softly. As Renji reached up to tie it into a ponytail again, Kira slapped the large hands away. "Let me. You keep tying it into a ponytail, you're gonna suffer from premature hair loss. Not pretty."

"You're the pretty one," zinged Renji. "I'm happy with being manly."

"I can be as manly as you are, baboon," said Kira good-naturedly. "Now shut up, I have to concentrate."

"Concentrate on what the hell are you doing to my hair?" Renji shouted, trying to twist around. Kira ducked out of the way, laughing out loud now. He quickly finished the task, snapping a new hair tie around the thick plait. Renji grabbed the tail of it. "You plaited my hair?"

"That's for the crack about being pretty," said Kira, sticking out his tongue.

With a growl Renji jumped up from the floor and grabbed at Kira, who almost managed to roll out of the way. Kira kicked out at the broad chest that was almost over his legs. Renji took the chance, gripped the ankle and pulled down hard.

"Hey!" Kira pushed down at the muscled arms that grappled at him and were reaching up to mess with his hair. "Stop it-"

"Make me!" Renji twisted Kira's slimmer arms above him in a wrestling hold. "Braid my hair, wouldja?"

Abruptly they paused. Kira was suddenly hyper-aware of the heat of Renji's body, the strong frame that pinned them chest to chest, and that close to, Renji had the clearest eyes he had ever seen. They were not amber; they were liquid gold, rich as honey, now darkening with... something.

"'Zuru..." breathed Renji so softly Kira could have thought it was his imagination, but there was the waft of heated breath over his mouth that indicated otherwise. They were far too close now, and Kira wondered if the pounding in his ears was his heartbeat or his mind.

He didn't think of Renji that way, never, not once, but the proximity of their bodies was affecting him.

The knocking on the door startled them out of their reverie. Renji leaped away, stumbling back and colliding into the wall. Kira ordered his face to stop flushing, ordered his heartbeat to slow. Then he rolled off the bed and opened the door.

It was Shuuhei. "Hello, you," he said, leaning in with a kiss. "Didn't expect me, did you?"

"No, not at all," said Kira with a bright, white smile. He licked his dry lips. "Um, come on in. Renji's in too."

Shuuhei shook his head. "Nah, can't stay for long. Came to tell you some special news."

"So... are you gonna share or are you gonna tease?" Kira's lashes fluttered.

"I'm the tease now?" said Shuuhei. He leaned closer. "I seem to recall a certain blond being really, really coy..."

"Shuu!" scolded Kira, desperate to remain calm and hid his nervousness as best as he could. "Tell me already."

Shuuhei grinned and rubbed his nose against Kira's. "I am the new seventh seat of the ninth division."

Kira's eyes widened. "Seventh?!"

Shuuhei's grin grew wider. "Yeah. Seventh. Imagine: telling people your hunky boyfriend's the seventh seat in the ninth division the day he was initiated as a full member."

"Makes me all hot to think about it," teased Kira as he planted a kiss on Shuuhei's cheek. The brunet growled in his throat and pulled Kira into a full-on tongue wrestle before letting him go.

Shuuhei flicked a tongue over his own lip before raising a brow. "Just a taste of our next dinner date. I gotta go back; there's still curfew for the newbies."

"Good night, Shuuhei," said Kira. There was an unfamiliar and uncomfortable sense of relief. I'm guilty. I'm feeling guilty because I wanted to kiss Renji just now. Oh dear lords. "Shuu, wait."

"Hmm?" The dark-haired student jogged back. "What is it?"

Kira breathed in. "I... have s-something to tell you."

"What?" smiled Shuuhei warmly. "If it's about this morning, I already heard. That was quite amazing, love."

Kira fiddled with his fingertips. "Ummmm... Shuu, before you knocked?" He risked a glance at Shuuhei's ebony gaze. It was encouraging and curious. "Shuu, I almost kissed Renji just now."

There was a complete silence. Kira didn't dare to look up, because he'd be looking into cold eyes and there would be a sneer of disdain. Regardless, he went on. "We were just play-fighting and-and we... we sort of got k-kinda entangled and he was really close and really, really appealing a-and I almost kissed him, I swear I didn't do anything, b-but I almost did, and if you're... I mean, don't be disappointed in me? Or angry, please? I know I'm rather... I-I-I get drawn into the, the sensual p-part of, um, I mean physical contact, it just..."

"I'm not angry nor disappointed, love," said Shuuhei, tilting up Kira's chin. "Well, not that angry. Frankly, Renji better not step out of that room right now or I'll give him two black eyes. But... you didn't kiss him. You didn't, right?"

"I didn't, I swear," said Kira. He clung to the strong arms and tugged him close.

"And did you want to do so before that moment? Or now?"

"No, no I don't," repeated Kira. "Believe me, please. I was carried away by the moment but I didn't do anything. I don't want to do anything either; he's just a good friend, and he's not even the slightest bit interested, nor am I because I have you and that's more than enough-"

A finger on his lips silenced Kira's babbling. Shuuhei was laughing softly now. "I trust you, Izuru. And I trust him. Good night... dream about me." Then he whispered something into Kira's ear and the blond suddenly flushed dark red. Shuuhei drew back. "Think that's enough to keep you focused on me?"

Kira bit his bottom lip and nodded rapidly. The dark-haired shinigami flash-stepped away, back to the division's quarters.

Kira, left alone on the corridor, took a deep breath before returning to his room. Renji was on his own bed now, his braid still in place. Before the blond could speak his redheaded roommate gave him a wry half-smile. "I heard," Renji said. "And you're right. It was just the intensity of the moment."

Relieved at his friend's understanding, Kira sat on his own mattress and resolutely pushed away all thoughts of silky crimson hair. They stared at the floor, the wall, the door... anywhere but made eye contact.

Kira coughed delicately. "Um."

"Yeah."

"Have you talked to Rukia since..."

"Once, twice. " Renji breathed out slowly, face falling a little. "She's unreachable now."

Kira knew what he meant. Rukia as a Kuchiki was no longer on the same social status with the rest of them. For the blond he was still able to meet with the noble, though he would probably have to use the side door. Renji would rate the back door, if at all.

The few occasions when Renji and Rukia passed each other in the halls or along the walkway – as they did today – they would still snatch a few precious moments to chat. But Kira felt that Rukia had put up too high a wall between herself and her best friend; it wasn't fair to Renji.

His best friend rolled his shoulders and then faked a grin. "Shall we sleep? Early morning tomorrow. And we have to go on our first runs of Seireitei too."

"True," said Kira. He got up to go brush his teeth. "G'night, Renji."

"Night."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Kira felt as if his lungs was about to explode. The lane ahead was the last stretch; he inhaled and put on a last burst of speed. It was his third run, so he was confident of breaking his previous record of twenty-five minutes and three seconds.

According to their team leader Hasegawa, the maximum amount of time a shinigami was allowed to take on a run was thirty minutes. The fifth division's own limit was twenty-five. Kira sped up and slammed his hand on the gate. Time.

Katsumura the timekeeper grinned. "Twenty-two minutes and seventeen seconds. You made it, Kira."

The blond smiled, keeping his breathing deep and controlled. He was familiar with the routes now. Tomorrow he would be delivering letters and forms to and from various offices.

It was really uncomfortable; his uniform stuck to his skin and he could feel the perspiration rolling down his face and neck. Pulling the collar of his uniform open, Kira fanned himself to cool off.

Where are they?

The team leader was giving them a ten-minute break to wash up. Kira glanced around, and then saw silver-hair.

Ichimaru-fukutaichou. Ichimaru-fukutaichou?

The lieutenant was gazing at him in pure admiration, eyes skimming from the blond's head past his collarbones, down to his exposed stomach. Kira pulled the uniform closed, his cheeks growing hot with that blatant stare. Ichimaru made a moue of disappointment when Kira tidied his uniform up, but sent him a very sexy wink when Kira's eyes made contact with Gin's gaze.

Kira looked away quickly, happy and thrilled.

"C'mon, Izuru," said Renji. "We should shower."

"Yeah, we should," said Kira absently, tugging on his blond fringe.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

After dinner Kira and Renji were about to go back to the dormitory. They had Intermediate Zanjutsu tomorrow and they had to report early. Kira thanked their team leader and the shinigami for teaching them today, and the other two repeated his words.

"See ya tomorrow, guys," said Katsumura. His light brown hair flopped in his eyes and he flipped them out of the way. "Don't be late!"

"I won't," promised Hinamori. She was staying at home over the holidays, so she had to run the other way to the gate. "Bye Renji! Bye Kira! See you tomorrow, have fun at the course!"

They were at the office gates. Renji waved the girl goodbye. Kira was feeling all over himself. The redhead watched as Kira felt in his sleeves, in his pockets, even looking down the opening of his uniform. "What's wrong, Izuru?"

The blond peered up at his friend. "I think I lost my chain."

"Chain? Oh, the silver one you got from your mother?"

"Yeah, that one." Kira was becoming increasingly frantic. "Have you seen it?"

Renji scratched his head. "I know you had it when we went into the bathhouse for our shower," he said at last. "Did you have it when we went into the kitchens?"

Panicking, Kira rubbed his cheeks with his palms to calm down. "I don't know!" he said in a soft wail. "I think so."

The taller student folded his arms. "I'll go check the kitchens, you go look in the bathhouse. Don't worry, we'll find it."

They split up. Kira didn't want to ask his team leader to assist since he didn't want to trouble his seniors. Quietly he ran to the bathhouses, set outside; the lights were still on but there didn't seem to be anyone around.

He searched the locker room first, methodically moving from cubicle to cubicle. Nothing. With a small groan he wondered if anyone took it, but it was only silver, nothing valuable at all. Perhaps it was in the bathhouse itself...

Kira took off his shoes and sandals, slipping into the large, steamy room. Steamy? Kira wondered why the water was still hot when all the division were already in the barracks and preparing to sleep. Then he saw something glitter inside the water, near the edge. He crept closer and peered down, waving away the steam to identify the item. It was a chain. If not for the shallow water, Kira wouldn't have seen it at all.

The blond hesitated. He didn't want to get his clothes wet, but he would have to strip to go in and retrieve it. There didn't appear to be anyone about, so he quickly divested himself of his clothes and slid into the hot water.

Hissing with the heat, Kira took a breath and reached down to grope for the chain. After two or three tries, his fingers managed to hook it and he emerged, gasping. It was his chain, thank the lords.

"You startled me," said someone cheerfully.

Kira squeaked and turned around. It was Ichimaru-fukutaichou, sitting on the edge of the bath, legs already submersed in the water. He was beautiful, silver hair dripping into his eyes and water droplets rolling down his neck. Kira's gaze moved of its own accord, following the lean curve and lines of the strong and slim arms, skating past the chest and down the flat abdomen and a little lower-

Embarrassed, Kira swiveled around and focused on breathing slowly. The lieutenant chuckled and there was a watery sound. He had entered the bath and cupped water to rinse his face. "What are you doing here? I thought everyone had gone home."

"Uh... I dropped this," muttered Kira, holding it up and showing the lieutenant. He didn't dare to face him though. "I, uh, erm, came to look for it and, and f-found it. I d-di-didn't mean to intrude on your bath-"

"Show me," interrupted Ichimaru.

"Wh-what?"

"Show me the chain," he repeated. Kira suddenly found a slender, pale arm reaching over his shoulder to take the chain from him which meant that his fantasy crush was right behind him and they were both naked and oh god Kira was about to start hyperventilating-

Ichimaru dangled the chain in front of Kira's face. "It's pretty."

"Th-thanks, thanks sir," breathed Kira and took it. Except Ichimaru didn't let go. "Um, sir, I-I should go, I have... I mean, I think Renji is still looking f-for-"

"Shh," said Ichimaru. "Turn around, Kira."

Kira couldn't disobey, not when the words were whispered into his ear and in such a soft tone. The blond swiveled about and was met by the lieutenant's blue-green gaze. Ichimaru draped the chain over Kira's neck and clasped it, his arms circling Kira's head and neck, his face dangerously close to the younger man's.

"There." The silver-haired lieutenant smiled, tapping the pendant on the chain with a long finger. "Be careful with it – I see it is very important."

"It-it is. Thank you sir."

"Go on now," said Ichimaru, dismissing him with a wave. Kira clambered out of the bath and scooped up his clothes, suddenly hyper-aware of his nudity. He could feel the lieutenant's eyes on him as he exited to the changing area to put on his clothes.

Oh fuck. I'm going to go insane tonight.

No, no no no. Bad Izuru.

Think of Shuuhei, naked Shuuhei, naked and willing Shuuhei, naked and willing Shuu who is bound and begging... on deep red sheets, beneath me, writhing, pleading... naked and bound Shuu and Ichimaru-fukutaishou holding the ropes to tie me down as well OH MY GOD.

Kira shook his foggy head clear. He should probably run to Renji and then run home to dispel the images in his head. Otherwise, Renji would be hearing quite an interesting story when they slept.