A//N: Hello again peoples. How's it goin? I hope it's wonderful for you wonderful reviewers X3
Yes that was kinda cheesy, so feel free to pelt me with tomatoes, maybe potatoes? I'm a potato freak…
ANYWAYS, my I-REHAB helped, but not nearly as much as I wanted -_-''' since it took months to get this damn chapter up here =_='''''
But hey, I did update within the year so that's good too right? Haha, right? Ha … haha…
-silence…-
-cough- anyway: I still must thank all of you wonderfully great reviewers!! You all deserve justice instead of my lateness! =begs for forgiveness like always=
((+ Please Look Below For Greatness +))
happygirl24 – Thanks :3 Hope you like the update
Never Freedom – Ah! :D I'm glad you liked it! XD Thank you for loving Yuzu so much, that's freakin awesome xD Yea, Renji and Ichi just don't know when to quit do they? …Not that I'd let them. =cough= X333 anywho; thanks so much for the awesome review! :D I always look forward to yours because they're the greatness X3 lol. Hope you like the update :3
Darmed – Wha! Thank you!! XD =freakin has a heart attach XD= oh no! Not the cap locks of doom! =cowers away= … -cough- what? What bacon? See, now I really wanna know what those painful flashbacks of youth are now XD ((curiosity will drive me insane)) who doesn't love strip poker? Especially with Urahara? XD oh randomness.
Crave-the-rave – No worries :3 I don't mind the "update soon". Hell I don't even mind the "OMFG UPDATE OR I'LL KILL YOU!" … ok, maybe I do a little bit, but from you, it's great XDD anyway, thank you so much for liking the chapter and I like the word 'twins' so I'll have to steal that XDD Hope you like the update :D
BonneNuit – Ah! XD thanks bon-bon :3
tsukiko3000 – alskdj AH! I loved that! XD I seriously did XD totally rotfl X3 =greatness= anywho; XD Holy Gullybars? … I LOVE IT EVEN MORE! XDD You don't even have to tell me what it means because it's just that good! XD … though, I still wanna know XD thanks again X3
Ketsuekilover – um –cough- Yoruichi will thank you later, since she's presently about to rape Urahara XD thank you for liking it! X3
SharinganWielder – thank you! X3 a naked, crazy Urahara seems to be the best kind of Urahara doesn't it? Haha!
Yaoifan124 – Thank you so much :D I'm hoping this story wont disappoint :3
Kyoko131 – AH! XD thank you and your excited-ness! X33
– thank you! :DD hope you like this updated "family addition" chapter XDDmoshi95 AKA sherley C. – I'm so glad you liked that last chapter! X3 I was hoping that the cliffy would be a good thing, so thank you for that too XD hope you like this update too X3
NarutoVixin – Thank you NV (lol sorry, I'm all about abbreviations sometimes) any who, sorry it was confusing at first and all, glad you liked it (: hope you like this chapter
Freefall-gypsy – (I like that name) anywho: I'm sorry you've got a tooth ache D: I'm glad my story has helped you forget about it though, maybe this update will get rid of it for good? XD and thank you for the review :D but I think half of it was cut off, but still, I'm sure that for the rest of it, I would still be going "Ah! Thank you ;'3" And I liked the poem, very nice ;3 hope you like the update, and I hope that it serves as a good painkiller X3Yay. I love you all X3 I really do, and I would gay marry all of you if it was legal XDD
Oh by the way, I figured that my OC's may seem like it would throw off the story line at first, but Mr. Don probably won't be used that much anyway. Though mystery girl is probably gunna last a good while on Rukia's side of the story. X3
However, since she's still a mystery, anyone who doesn't really like OC's or if you want to name someone from Bleach (or maybe even off another anime lol) I could use in her place, please, feel free to drop some names ;3 Otherwise, you're stuck with her XD Not that I mind; mystery-girl kinda puts me in mind of a Female version of Hisagi for some reason O.O XD ((fun to work with))
Please, read and enjoy ;3
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Chapter 10: Surprise
Renji looked up into the dark sky as he walked down the concrete sidewalk lit with dim streetlights and let out a long breath. The night sky above him is truly an enigma, one in which he would often find himself lost in as he would peer up into the black obis trying to figure out a few simple riddles of life. But for right now, he was more preoccupied with other, far more important, events rolling through his mind. Said events entirely focused on a certain irresistible red head he couldn't get out of his mind and knew that he never would.
"That … was a close one." He sighed with such deep relief and closed his eyes. Renji has had many near death experiences before, so many that he could barely consider surviving from, and many he'd been spared life from only inches away from death. But even though technically he hadn't been in any real fatal danger, he felt that what had just happened for the past few hours would forever hold the most terrifying place in his soul yet.
One thing's for sure, I definitelywill not underestimate the randomness of Isshin ever, ever, ever again…
((~ Several Hours Before ~))
As Ichigo and Renji finally found the feeling of their limbs again, they quickly and nervously pulled themselves together. Well they didn't literally pull themselves "together", in fact, they were sure to get as much distance between one another as quickly as they could on Ichigo's small bed (which wasn't very much). Renji lifted himself off of Ichigo sitting up straight and Ichigo sat up straight as well. Though, neither one could still find their voice just yet to explain.
"I-I…" Ichigo ventured to stutter and that was all he could do. Damnit. I didn't exactly want to tell him like this but …
Fuck … Was all Renji thought over and over and over again and his jaw was tightly clenched shut.
Isshin stood in Ichigo's doorway with that same confused look on his face seeming to somehow stare directly at Ichigo and Renji at the same time without moving. He didn't look angry, but he also didn't look happy, only confused, which was even more terrifying to the red heads sitting anxiously on the bed.
Ichigo gulped. The air in the room was intensely thick and both the redheads had been sweating for different reasons, but for right now it was mainly because of the unavoidable problem they'd forgotten about standing a few feet in front of them.
Although the extremely awkward silence was driving both of the red heads to their remain-calm limit (which again wasn't very much), Renji looked as if he was going to explode and destroy everything within the vicinity in sheer panic. The fact that he looked so crazed was tame compared to all the chaos going through his deranged brain at that stressful moment. Ichigo wanted to grab Renji's hand in an attempt to calm him, but he had to reluctantly refuse because 1.) He didn't know if even that one small move alone would send Renji over the edge of the very near insanity and 2.) His dad was directly in front of them and would see every little move he made. So he decided against that.
The torture of an explanation was coming and the red heads were no where near ready to start.
So Isshin abruptly started for them. Though, what he did was nothing like the hell the red heads had imagined.
"Wow! Would you look at that?!" Isshin exclaimed in true shock. Both of the red heads tensed from the sudden exclaim from Ichigo's loud father. Then Isshin quickly went to the door that was pounded into the cracked wall and whistled. "Now you've gotta admit; I was pretty good dontcha think? I mean, who else could leave a dent this big in a wall!" His goofy smile was improved by booming laughter.
Ichigo and Renji: silence.
"…but…" They stuttered at the same time, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.
Isshin continued to babble on about his amazing smashing skills on Ichigo's poor door into the wall and how he had to display his manly mechanical super skills to fix the door.
Ichigo and Renji still sat quietly on the bed. Shell-shocked seemed to be the only description, but it was still an understatement to their dumbstruck expressions.
After Isshin explained his perfect fixing talents to the red heads, he placed the door back on its rickety hinges and dusted his hands off. "A job well done if I do say so myself! You're mother would be so proud! Proud of her husband for his perfect mechanical skills! Oh if only your son was at least half as gifted with such wonderful skills as I, Masaki." He bowed his head in dramatic shame.
Any other time Ichigo would've been kicking his father's idiotic face into the floor in an instant, but as said before, shell shocked. Waiting for the apocalypse. Surely this was ill fate leading to the destruction of the world because there's no way that what just happened could really happen any other time than at the end of the world … as crazy as that sounds, it made the most since to Ichigo at the moment.
Isshin lifted his head to stare at the two silent red heads as if expecting something (like he didn't know). "Hm? What's the matter? You two look like you've just seen a ghost or something." He asked scratching the back of his head and cocking his head to the side as he looked at them.
"… What the hell just happened ...?" Renji asked slowly, mainly to himself, but Ichigo answered.
"… I don't know…" And he didn't. Neither of them knew what to think when Isshin didn't do what most homophobic parents do when they find their gay son with his lover, which would be to either beat them, throw them out, or whatever else they do. Which is what they were expecting and nothing at ALL what this crazy, obviously demented, insanely goofy man just did.
It was intensely quiet again for about 30 seconds and said deranged man decided he didn't like it quiet (he never does). "Well, if you two aren't going to compliment my greatness of fixing your door, then I'm telling your mother!" Isshin puffed out his chest and intended to walk out the door, leaving the two red heads to bask in sheer confusion, and stand in front of that ridiculously large poster of his mother that he kept in the kitchen and whine to it like a little boy like he usually did.
Ichigo finally blinked. "Wait." He ordered, not in a demanding tone, but urgent, for any kind of answer from his bubbly father. "Dad … why did you …?" He tried to ask, but couldn't find the right words to say the obvious.
His father stood motionless in the doorway and turned to face them, another goofy smile adorned his face. "What? Did you think I would turn into a zombie and eat your brains or something?"
What is it with zombies in this town?! First that strange girl, now his dad, I mean seriously. Renji thought and sweat dropped.
Ichigo shook his head and pressed on, finding his voice again. "No, but I wasn't exactly expecting you to completely ignore … it either." He mentally kicked himself over and over for using such an inferior word as 'it' to refer to his undying love for Renji and the obvious scene that was just displayed in front of his father. But his face would redden into an even deeper shade of embarrassment if he had said anything more and his infamous pride wasn't having any of that.
Gratefully and for once, his father got the meaning of his sentence right away and smiled a simple smile instead of goofy, another unusual plus for Ichigo. "Come on Ichigo, do you really think I'd throw out my only son for being in love? Even if it is with another man?" He questioned with just a little hurt in his voice that Ichigo would think of him like that.
Ichigo ignored his pride to let his jaw drop and quickly said. "No! No, I didn't mean it like that dad." Although, part of him really did, and he felt so guilty because of it.
Renji watched Ichigo's father, much calmer than before, and with passive red eyes and was sure to keep Ichigo's face in his peripheral vision to make sure he was ok. Alert automatically kicked in when he saw how quickly, how easily Isshin transformed from a goofy, happy go lucky dad into a serious, even toned man. It was nothing extreme, he knew that, and it happens to everybody especially when dealing with an emotional subject. But since Ichigo's feelings were on the line, he didn't want to take any chances and that includes even his father's simplest actions. So how will this turn out? If Isshin hurts Ichigo … He knew what he would do if he had to, even without killing the man, but didn't want to think about it for Ichigo's sake. For now, he would just watch how it played out, but always on alert.
Ichigo eyes had wandered to the floor than he returned his gaze back to Isshin. "I was just … worried, that I might upset you, or disappoint you. I didn't want to tell you like this but …" He looked over at Renji for the first time since Isshin came in and when Renji looked at him, a confirmation was made in each other eyes, but their gaze with each other continued for longer than they thought and Isshin spoke up again, this time more friendly.
"Well, after that whole thing you had with Chad, I kinda figured you were gay." He said in a matter-of-fact way and not at all offensive. Ichigo froze. "Not that I had a problem with it and I still don't. Son, who you love is entirely up to you, I'm not going to get in the way of what makes you happy." He said smiling.
Ichigo tensed and looked at Isshin in embarrassed shock. "How did you-"
"Oh, it was easy, no one told me or anything, I just figured it out. What, with the way you were staring at him and you'd sometimes bring his name up at dinner, which hardly happens when it's about anyone else, I couldn't help but connect the dots." He winked and bragged in a goofy way. To Ichigo's horror, he remembered how he'd let things like that slip from time to time and of course it wouldn't be too hard to figure out that he had a crush on Chad, even though he kept it well hidden most of the time.
Ichigo's damned blush consumed his face.
Renji grunted and crossed his arms; totally jealous. "You didn't tell me you liked him that much." He complained under his breath to Ichigo.
Ichigo refused to look up and said as he slouched down a little. "Can it, Renji." Completely embarrassed.
Both of them tensed and went wide eyed when Isshin laughed and was somehow quickly in between the two red heads with his arms draped around their shoulders then looked over at Renji. "Oh what's this? A little jealousy I detect? Ichigo must've forgotten to tell you about the time that he brought Chad and a few others over and tried so hard to keep me out of the room, it was priceless! haha!— oof!" Ichigo punched him in the stomach and Isshin collapsed into the floor dramatically. Ichigo's whole face, from his chin to his forehead, from ear to ear, was completely red.
"Dad. That's enough." He said through clenched teeth.
Even after such a powerful punch, Isshin regained his balance and gave a very strained laugh as he held his stomach. "Wow. Ugh. You know how to punch it out of somebody. Must've been my amazing influence on you."
Ichigo stood to finish him off when Isshin held up his other hand. "Alight, alright, I'm leaving." He sweat dropped and limped over to the door, somehow still laughing. "Oh, Renji." He said.
Renji was smoldering in jealousy but managed to look up at Isshin. "Hm?"
He was shocked to see such a sincere smile on this crazy man's face. "Thank you for taking such good care of my son. I haven't seen him look this happy in a long time."
Renji was still surprised by the truly loving gratitude, but managed to nod his head in thanks.
Ichigo held his face in his hands and the red of his blush was somehow seeping through them too. "I'm right here dad!" He complained as he looked up at Isshin.
Isshin smiled his normal goofy smile again and held a thumbs up to him. "I approve! You sure caught a good one, huh Ichigo?!" Then Ichigo was up and slammed the door right in his father's idiotic face. His head was bent down and he kept his hands on the door. He didn't know what to feel more; relieved or confused.
Either way though, his head was spinning. "I'm going … to kill him… with my own two hands." He said through his clenched teeth, his whole upper body in a slump, not even wanting to think about how chaotic and humiliating it's going to be in the morning. Or the next morning, or the next, knowing his father, he'll be sure to corner him with extremely embarrassing questions and scenarios starting tomorrow at the least.
His thoughts were so disoriented, he was too distracted to hear Renji get up and wrap his arms around his conveniently bent waist. Though, Renji did have the extremely appealing habit of sneaking up on him and doing seductive things like this to him all the time anyway. He would never admit how much he loved it to Renji though because of what little pride he had left.
"Well you can do what you want with your hands, but I know what I'm going to do with mine." Renji said smoothly as he ran his fingers down from Ichigo's chest to his hipbones.
Ichigo's eyes snapped open and he gulped trying not to make any noise and blushing insanely. "W-what do you think you're doing you idiot?!" He turned around very quickly out of Renji's grasp.
Renji just smiled at him happily. "I'm trying to get back to where we left off, but you're not letting me." Renji said and he took another step closer to Ichigo making him back against the wobbly door.
Ichigo tried to keep himself out of the daze that Renji usually left him in when he did these wonderful things. "I- I know you haven't already forgotten about my father, who just left 3 seconds ago!" Ichigo tried to make his disapproval sound convincing, but he didn't go on pleading as Renji kept inching closer and closer to him and his hands were running down his sides slowly. He knew his voice would crack.
Renji knew it too and used that split second of silence to his advantage. "Well, he said he approved didn't he? Both of what we are as a couple and of me." He said, even in Ichigo's blushing state, he could tell there was a warm glow in Renji's enticing eyes. They had both been worried about the approval of their relationship … and of Renji.
Though, Ichigo knew all along that his father would never deliberately hurt him the way Renji had cautiously speculated for his safety, he still didn't know for sure just what exactly Isshin would do, what his overall reaction would be.
He should've known, really, he of all people, only son of the crazed Isshin, that his father would of course not take the situation seriously, or at least, not at first, and make fun of them. He should've known that his father wouldn't have cared if he was gay, straight, bisexual, trisexual, omnisexual, transsexual, or anything else as long as he was happy. His happiness is all Isshin would want for his son, no matter how much he teased. And he should've known that Isshin would never carelessly disapprove or try to get rid of one of the few people in this entire world that could make him so truly and wonderfully happy. He should've known that most of all. The guilt painfully built as he thought of the selfish doubt he had about his father.
In fact it had grown so much that he looked down, away from Renji's piercing red eyes, though he knew that Renji would already know exactly what he was thinking; the damn idiot was just good like that.
"It's not your fault, you know." Renji reasoned calmly, he stopped caressing Ichigo to wrap his arms loosely around his waist. "I mean, who wouldn't be cautious about telling your dad you were gay? It was a nightmare."
Ichigo still didn't look up. "It was hard, hell yea, but he's my dad. I know him better than anyone, so why did I think that he'd really hate me for being with you? It's like I didn't know him at all …" His voice sounded a little angrier, but the anger was directed strictly against himself alone.
For some reason, this made Renji's forehead crease, troubled, but then his face was smooth again and his voice still remained calm for Ichigo. "Ichigo, your father is … very silly." Wow, what an understatement. "But it's obvious he loves you," the words didn't seem to help lighten Ichigo's guilt at all, but Renji didn't stop there, "and he knows that going through this, even with the one you love, was very, very hard on you."
Renji lifted Ichigo's chin so they were staring into each other's eyes. "And he knows that of course you're going to doubt him because you don't want to lose him." Ichigo looked into his eyes and what he saw in those deep, scarlet orbs were a mixed array of emotions, which was actually pretty rare coming from Renji. Though what stood out the least, but seemed to be controlling his words the most as he spoke, was a feeling that was much deeper down. Something Ichigo couldn't place.
Ichigo stared intently into his eyes to try and understand what Renji must be thinking as he continued in a little more distant voice. "And he knows that when the minute you felt confident that everything will work out, that everything would be ok, surely everything would've completely fallen apart. So you tried to only think that he would say no, that he couldn't possibly say yes, and then, after everything was broken, you could finally pick up the pieces and figure out what to do next because you were lucky enough to be prepared for the worst. That was all you could think of."
Although he was staring into Ichigo's eyes as he spoke, somehow he wasn't looking into them anymore, but past them. There was a pause when he finished speaking and Ichigo's expression was slightly troubled, worried for Renji and what he had just seen so hidden in his red eyes. But then Renji blinked, this time his eyes were boring into Ichigo's, and he was completely and utterly focussed on helping Ichigo and the unknown emotion that Ichigo saw had disappeared.
"But look, you're dad accepted you for who you are and what we have, he even accepted me as your boyfriend." He repeated, truly excited that he now knew that all of Ichigo's family adored him. "So don't feel so guilty, all he wanted was your happiness, and now he got that and then some. You wouldn't want to disappoint him by feeling so bad now would you?" He asked playfully, running his fingers on the side of Ichigo's face.
Ichigo blinked. If I didn't know better…I'd say that I missed it. He thought to himself. There was no trace of trouble or worry left in Renji's eyes or expression, or at least, that's what he called that strange emotion, since he couldn't even imagine what it was that he saw buried deep in Renji's eyes. So for now, he'd call it 'troubled', until he could figure out what was bothering his beloved. He berated himself for using such a girly name.
But what Renji had said to him did comfort him; he barely even felt bad anymore.
He smiled warmly and Renji blinked, amazed by such a beautiful smile. "I love your smile." He breathed and leaned down to kiss Ichigo deeply. Ichigo gratefully returned his kiss and wrapped his arms around Renji's shoulders and neck. Their lips were smiling as they departed from each other's.
"When did you get so good talking like that? I mean … your amazing." He meant that in more ways than one. Renji was still so close to him.
He laughed. "Guess I'm just good like that." Just as Renji smiled and leaned in to kiss him again, and as Ichigo leaned up to meet him halfway, there was a loud thud on the door they were presently leaning against. And then the thud yelled. "Ichigo!!! Open the door, I dropped my glasses!!" Isshin said, as he pounded the poor door.
"… You don't even wear glasses, you jackass!" Ichigo called accusingly, all traces of peacefulness gone. Though, his cheeks were blushing wildly as he held up the right side of his body against the door and Renji had held up his hands to block the door as well, his arms on both sides of Ichigo. Although this was definitely not the time, the two red heads couldn't help but notice every little inch they were brought closer together and they would shudder. It was quite embarrassing when your dad was pounding on the door that you're leaning against because your boyfriend was about to rape you, but it was more irritating than embarrassing since Isshin obviously wasn't even trying to be subtle about it.
"Damnit Dad! Why can't you be like all the other normal dad's and leave their son alone in his room?!" Ichigo accused very loudly. How many times has he said that? Renji thought sarcastically and was helpless to just listen to Ichigo argue with Isshin through the poor door that probably wasn't going to last much longer.
"Well it's not like my son isn't in there with another guy, I have a right as a parent to be suspicious!" Isshin defended in a voice that they guessed was supposed to pass off as 'serious', however they both knew that Isshin was far from serious because he sounded more like a little kid wanting to see what the big kids were up to on the other side of the door instead of an adult.
Renji and Ichigo both sweat dropped.
Just then, the poor door was brought to the floor a second time that night from Isshin's big foot. Ichigo and Renji were both sent flying back and Isshin simply laughed in pride of his awesome, almighty kicking powers.
"Ah haha! What a brilliant kick that I have demonstrated and—"
"Did you even leave or were you standing out there the whole time?!" Ichigo shouted, angry marks all over his head.
"Ichigo! Don't interrupt you're father, for you will defy —"
"We weren't even fighting!—"
"THE GREAT ISSHIN KUROSAKI!" Isshin proclaimed, dramatically and very, very loudly.
"DAD! What the hell are you doing?! Quit running around you're breaking everything!!" Ichigo seemed to screech just as loudly.
Renji sat on the floor, where he just fallen, clearly bewildered. Is this … how they act all the time?? He sweat dropped even more at the thought of the sheer chaos. He was sure that the whole neighborhood could hear the two 'battling' Kurosaki's.
The night seemed to go on endlessly after that.
((~ Back to Renji ~))
Finally, the night was over and it was in the early hours of the morning, 3:00 AM to be exact, that the two redheads had somehow, someway escaped from Isshin, who hadn't stopped pestering them only until they could escape.
"You got that right." Ichigo sighed as well, though not really relief, just smoldering.
Renji grinned and grabbed Ichigo's hand. "Well at least we made it out alive … I think." He laughed.
Ichigo smiled up at him and laughed too. "Well, maybe you did, but I still gotta go back there. Ugh." The smile vanished as he complained. Renji laughed again, making his Strawberry look up, then he quickly leaned in to kiss Ichigo by surprise.
Ichigo mumbled a quick laugh and gave into Renji's sweet lips like always. It didn't last nearly long enough when Renji leaned out to smile at him. "That never gets old you know it?" He breathed.
They'd forgotten they were walking, but just continued to do so and held onto each other's hand. Soon both the red heads were looking up at the black iron bars surrounding the park they would both never forget for different reasons and walked until they faced the entrance.
They both looked up and then back at each other and smiled simultaneously. "This is where it all started you know." Renji said, never taking his eyes off of Ichigo's. His words couldn't have been more ironic.
Ichigo laughed and leaned closer to him. "I know." He looked into the park and then back at Renji, smiling even more. "Wanna take a detour?" He winked.
Renji smiled. "Of course." He brought Ichigo's hand up to kiss it as they started down the graveled walkway.
The park was always much more beautiful at night; the walkway was just dim enough to see where you're going but not too bright to ruin any moment. In the day the trees provided a welcoming shade against the sun and at night they swayed in the warm wind, but didn't completely cover the dark sky that was filled with bright stars and the mystifying moon. As they walked hand in hand the air seemed so much smoother, so much warmer, and even though the night was so perfect, all they could think about was each other.
As they walked together, they again found themselves feeling just as one. Renji often leaned over and kissed Ichigo's smooth neck, and Ichigo would lean deeper into Renji's side and out of his kisses and kiss his shoulder in return, teasing as always. The early morning hours kept going by and neither of them could care less.
They intentionally, slowly made their way around the park's walkway and enjoyed the peace of being together. They talked endlessly about the most random things, never once growing bored of each other, of what they each had to say about anything, especially any little tidbit about themselves, in fact, that all but inspired them to keep up their blissful conversation. Talking to each other alone was such a unique sensation; neither of them were ever this compelled to simply talk, but it was easily something they both adored.
Ichigo laughed for the hundredth time that night and looked up at Renji. His eyes wandered all over Renji, as they normally did when he was anywhere near him, and they lingered on Renji's flowing violet hair. He smiled "I like it when you're hair's down, Renji." He said reaching up and tugging on a few ruby locks playfully.
Renji scoffed. "Yea, it's a pain in the ass sometimes though. Guess I forgot to put it back up." Ichigo laughed sympathetically as Renji sighed. Ichigo stepped in front of him to make their walk stop and soon brought his hand down to rummage into Renji's pocket. Renji was having a hard time keeping himself in control while Ichigo took his time digging through his pockets and rubbing his thigh as he did so. Ichigo knew this and smiled to himself. He pulled his hand back out of Renji's pocket and he now held Renji's spare hair band.
Renji let out a quiet breath of relief – relief that Ichigo didn't linger on his legs any longer so he didn't have to rape him, that is - and went to grab the band, but Ichigo smiled and kept it out of his reach. "No, let me do it."
Renji blinked and grinned. "Go ahead cutie." Ichigo's cheeks heated from that ridiculous pet name, but he quickly ignored it and ran his fingers through Renji's hair as Renji rested his arms around Ichigo's waist. He smiled as he looked at the subtle determination in Ichigo's eyes. Ichigo found himself fascinated in yet another part of Renji as he slowly ran his fingers through Renji's velvety red spikes and started pulling them back into the head band, being sure not to miss any smooth strands.
Renji was also enjoying Ichigo's soft fingers delicately running through his hair and not to mention the priceless look on Ichigo's adorably determined face. Ichigo would kill me for thinking that, but damnit, how can I resist? Renji bit his lip and smiled as he just gazed at Ichigo, who was putting Renji's hair up without even realizing the hungry eyes on him until he finished and was now looking into those eyes.
Renji dived in to capture Ichigo's lips unbelievably quick and wrapped one arm around his waist as his other hand held the back of his head, dinging his fingers into Ichigo's soft orange hair. Ichigo was stunned and let out a gasp as Renji pushed him off the path and down on the soft grass, kissing him passionately. Ichigo closed his eyes and tangled his fingers through Renji's hair and grasped Renji's powerful back.
The tip of Renji's tongue ran of Ichigo's bottom lip, almost sending him over the edge, then Ichigo remembered (somehow) where they were and tried to protest. "R-Renji…" That seemed to do the opposite though and a chill went down Renji's spine as he heard Ichigo moan his name.
Renji's hands pulled Ichigo even closer into him and Ichigo let out a breathy gasp, Renji moved down to kiss his neck earnestly. "W-wait Renji." Ichigo tried again, a little, but not much more, successful because Renji stopped rubbing and lifted his head up to look into Ichigo's eyes. "Are you ok?" He asked. Renji's heart was pounding feverishly and Ichigo felt it through to his core.
"Um…" Ichigo started again, trying to remember how to talk the suddenly remembering what he was going to say. "We're in a public…park…" Renji's warm breath hovered above his lips and was making him lose his resolve without any effort.
Renji smiled cunningly and led his hand down to Ichigo's lower back, pressing quickly to make Ichigo arch his back and gasp. "I don't think they'd mind." He leaned over to whisper in his ears.
Ichigo couldn't think, he didn't want to think, at that moment he only wanted to wrap his arms around Renji, kiss him back and bite his lips and –
"Oh! Miss. Muffin, please don't bark so loudly." Renji and Ichigo both jumped as they heard the loud, high pitched barks of someone's annoyed dog. They quickly looked up to see that familiar sweet little old lady with curly white hair and a small light pink hat walking on a different pathway across from them. She was walking her small Pomeranian pup and the little dog just kept barking and barking, yapping his little trap off while she quietly tried to keep him walking as not to disturb the red heads again. They could only imagine that the lady was awake so late (or really early) because that pup had woken up that poor little lady needing a walk. She bowed her head, and to the red heads' surprise, it was a gesture of apology for her dog's intrusion on them.
Ichigo scrambled to a sitting position, slightly red but smiling in thanks, as did Renji. Renji blinked thoughtfully as the lady walked her own way. "Hey, haven't we seen her before?"
"Yea, she stopped us on the streets before … no, I should say stopped you from almost rapping me. Again." He said with a sigh.
Renji looked up, feeling not so confused – for once. "Oh yea, now I remember. Hm." He was back to looking thoughtful again. No matter how embarrassed Ichigo was, Renji always found a way to distract him … he was relieved for now that the distraction hadn't been his usual seductive distraction and listened to Renji go on.
"You know, for a homophobic town, they sure don't seem as angry as you made them out to be." He said in a matter-oh-fact way as he stretched and leaned back on the grass beside Ichigo. "I mean, even at school, I don't see that many haters around. That one guy was an exception, what's his name, Keigo? But he still hangs around for who knows why. Then Mizuiro, and Chad," Ichigo held back a laugh as he heard the subtle jealousy fresh in Renji's voice, "and those two girls walk around without any problems. And damnit, those fangirls … and fanboys … don't look too discouraged." He sweat dropped, knowing he'll have to go through those crazy giggling girls again.
Ichigo smiled. "Yea, I guess it doesn't seem that way to start with." Renji was sure not to miss the quiet tone of dark humor when Ichigo spoke. "But really, Orihime and Tatsuki had to bust their ass, or well, Tatsuki had to bust some ass, to get to the cozy spot they're at now. Not that Tatsuki ever got into any big trouble she couldn't fight her way out of." He sweat dropped. "And I guess your …" he thought about it for a second and stifled a laugh. "Your fangirls aren't worried because they run in a pack, or something, I dunno.
And I didn't say it much to anyone either because I still didn't really … well, you know. But a lot of people just assumed I was gay anyway. Plus people always wanna start shit with me because of my hair, so me being gay just adds fuel to the flame." Renji cringed, angry that there were more than those stupid thugs in the alleyway like before that went after his Ichigo. He was only calm because he was sure Ichigo could take them down himself, even then though, as the love of his life, he would of course still be angry that they would ridicule him like a caged animal.
Never the less, he listened without interrupting. "But it's not Tatsuki or you and me that are the ones being beat down. It's the kids I see everyday that have to hide it or get beat down because of it. I guess the only way I know is because I can see the signs like when I was trying to figure it all out myself." He said, then he locked his jaw and clenched his fists. "And those bastards that you never seem to see when help finally shows up, or if they even show up, just keep beating down those kids everyday. No body ever even thinks to help them out either because they're under the suspicion of being 'gay', like it's the fucking plague." Aware that Renji's eyes were steadily locked on him, he calmed himself from getting irrationally angry (like he usually does).
"But I guess it's just something you got to go through and try to learn from … Not that I haven't tried, but it's just … well every time I try to help, I always make it worse for them…" He trailed off again. "So, I guess since we're at the top of the food chain, we're the lucky ones." There was definitely something behind those words that Renji yearned to unravel, completely and totally compelled to try and help his heart.
They sat there after Ichigo finished in comfortable silence alone with each other, looking up at the pitch-black sky. The moon was falling very slowly to the horizon and the stars were starting to fade from the distant rising sun, which was still a good ways from being seen, but the sun was still rising slowly to soon break as morning light. It was now Saturday somewhere around 4 or 5 in the morning, so they guessed, but didn't really care.
"Well," Renji lifted himself to stand "guess we'd better get home." He said, regretful that he had to say the words.
"Yea, guess we'd better." Ichigo rose as well and automatically reached to wrap his hand in Renji's as they walked their way to the exit.
As they walked under the iron archway of the Park's gate, they turned to take a last look into the park that they'd always cherish.
They turned to each other and Renji laced his fingers into Ichigo's other hand. Red melted in chocolate as they gazed in each other's eyes, both were smiling. Then Renji let go of Ichigo's hand to cup the side of Ichigo's neck and leaned in slowly to kiss his lips and Ichigo wrapped his fingers in Renji's shirt as he kissed him back.
How much warmer had it gotten when they stood there together? Was time really even moving forward or had it finally stopped forever in that moment, just for them? Neither one of them cared at all as they kept their goodbye kiss lasting for as long as they could in front of their favorite place. Though like always, they had to part sweet lips way too soon in their opinions and slowly unravel themselves from each other to part ways.
"I'll see you as soon as I can." Renji promised, kissing Ichigo's hand as he started to back away.
"You better." Ichigo said, holding onto the tip of Renji's fingers until they were too far away now to touch.
Renji laughed, Ichigo smiled warmly just because of that beautiful sound. "I love you."
Renji smiled just as sincerely. "I love you too… sleep good." He winked.
Ichigo scoffed. "Yea, right. Only if you're with me."
"I will be soon." Renji promised again.
Finally, after almost running into a street post backwards, Ichigo had to turn around and away from the shrinking shadow of the person he knew was the most amazing being that this world was somehow capable of holding.
And just like Ichigo had to, Renji turned forward and kept walking farther and farther away from his beautiful heart at least until tomorrow.
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As Renji walked up the porch of Urahara's shop, 'home sweet home', he naturally assumed the house would be quiet, since it was at least 5 in the morning, and who on earth would be awake? Which would be just what he needed so he could walk in and actually have some peace and quiet to think about Ichigo.
He walked up the steps and yawned. Damnit … too sleepy … all of a sudden … He thought and yawned again. Well, at least I can look forward to dreaming of him. He slid the door open, seeing that the shop part of Urahara's home was dark and silent. He dragged himself across the slick floor to slide open the door to the living room, welcoming another round of quiet that was surely around the corner --
"Nooo!!" Urahara wailed as he clenched a handful of blue cards. "Never! I can't loose!! You can NOT have. The. Hat." The insane shopkeeper bowed his head in determination, but looked completely stupid, yet totally and utterly in denial of defeat, so it seemed. The X-Soul Reaper, full time shopkeeper, and around-the-clock idiot sat cross-legged on the floor next to the table, nothing but his boxers and his hat on, to Renji's nearly nauseated eyes.
"…" Renji was shocked for a second time that night, though at least this time it hadn't been nearly as horrifying (though it was close) as being caught making out with Ichigo by his own father, even though he turned out to be just an insane, overly childish, overly nosy, but apparently loving, father.
However, at least with Ichigo's dad, Renji didn't have to suffer living with the insane guy, where as he did have to put up with this half-naked asinine man for who knows how long …
Although he knew subconsciously that Urahara would, yes, give up all his clothing, even his underwear, rather than part for two seconds with that damn hat, Renji still dropped his head, exasperated that the damn idiot would actually do it.
Rukia held her own cards in her hands defiantly and stood quickly to tower over the nearly naked Urahara - Fortunately he was still wearing his boxers. "HA! I told you, you stupid old man! How do you like me now bitch?!"
Rukia's been watching too many late night shows apparently … Renji thought as Rukia told Urahara off like a pro.
She reigned victoriously, still fully clothed except for her belt, shoes, and socks, which she had wisely given up first when she'd been called out, though from what Renji was seeing, Rukia was a lot better off than the other two nearly naked men.
That's right.
Tessai too.
Tessai had failed his duty as a poker playing man to keep his poker-dignity by having more clothes on than just a pair of boxers and a huge white tank-top he'd luckily had under his shirt and suspenders – which lay on the floor beside him, taunting him. Screeching: Muhahah! You failed Tessai! Failure! Failure at life!!
(… Of course this was all in his head … Don't look at me like that!)
Which is why an embarrassed and nearly defeated Tessai sat on his side of the table with gloom written all over his face and surrounding his entire form.
The sight would've been hilarious to Renji under different circumstances – which would mean taking Urahara out of the picture. Entirely out of the picture, actually.
"But Rukia!" Urahara exclaimed for the 20th time since Renji had opened the door – and they still haven't notice yet. "I just can't part with it! It's basically holding the power of my magnificent soul!"
"Magnificent?" Rukia repeated, jaw clenched along with her fists. Of course, Urahara ignored her completely and continued with his own story.
"So you see, without my hat the world –"
"Oh, will you just shut up already you damn idiot!!" Rukia interrupted (violently). With a mocking, whiney voice, she exclaimed "Oh, I'm Urahara, and if I didn't run around with my hat like a stupid dumb ass then the world couldn't possibly go on without me and my freaking greatness!!" She exaggerated intensely about that last part.
Urahara stared at her blankly. "And all this time I thought no body understood..."
"Ugh!" Rukia fumed, annoyed as hell.
Just before the crazy midget could attack, Tessai finally acknowledged Renji – who was currently in a dumbfounded and sleep deprived gaze at the idiotic scene in from of him. "Ah, Renji. Nice to see you're finally home."
Rukia had her fist raised standing right over Urahara then both of them looked up at the same time to stare at Renji.
"Well look what the cat dragged in!" Urahara said, snickering to himself for some reason, even though Rukia was probably about to kill him.
"Yea it's about time you finally drag your ass home!" Rukia complained with anger that she still had left from being so pissed at Urahara.
Renji held out a fist accusingly. "Hey! No reason to bite my head off!"
Rukia let Urahara live for a second to get back up in Renji's face instead.
Tessai sweat dropped. Rukia is usually so well behaved … most of the time. Though, I guess they both have an extreme temper… plus she's had a lot of Sake … He sighed.
Urahara, who was either awfully brave or extremely stupid at that moment, ventured out to stand between the two bitching best friends with his hands raised. "Now, now. No need to fight and ruin my poor shop. Let's talk about me instead, that always makes me feel better." He said, sounding helpful.
Yes. Definitely a dumb ass.
"Shut the hell up!!" They yelled in unison, sending waves of anger swooshing over the half naked shopkeeper and almost sending him flying backwards.
Had Tessai not been around to 'keep the peace', so to speak, there would be another neighborhood that would be awoken by a senseless fight among idiots.
But as it were, Tessai was fortunately there. "Renji, how about you pull up a rug and play some poker with us?" He offered to Renji.
The redhead was currently holding Rukia's spastic face in his palm so she wouldn't kill him and was trying to get his other hand on Urahara. Somehow he'd heard Tessai though and looked up. "Huh?"
"He said poker, you deaf moron." Rukia mumbled into his palm. Renji glowered angrily and attempted to shove the midget backwards, but instead she ducked swiftly and spun her tiny but powerful leg around to sweep Renji off his feet in seconds.
She managed to catch him by surprise, but instead of falling on his ass like she was hoping, he quickly back-flipped to land on his feet. "Ugh! Damnit you little midget when I get my hands on you —"
"How about we all have some doughnuts?" Urahara interrupted Renji's rant happily because he was now in the kitchen – far enough away from being killed, in other words, yet close enough to be heard and very annoying. "Never mind, I've taken the liberty to bring them to you."
Urahara walked into the room and carried a plate of warm, sugarcoated doughnuts. Their sweet, dizzying aroma wavered in the air around the two gawking soul reapers as Urahara floated (oh that's hilarious to imagine) from the kitchen to the table they stood over and finally to Tessai's side, who was sweat dropping.
Whether or not Urahara was actually sneaky enough to know that by bringing in those irresistible Tessai-made doughnuts that he would stop the fight between Renji and Rukia in mili-seconds is unknown.
However, it was plain to see that some part of him – if not every shameless part of him – did it to grab their undivided attention for at least a few seconds to gloat and bask in his own self-formulated glory like so. "Ah, please, allow me to grant you the right to bow before me and my amazing –" Renji and Rukia reached for the warm tray at the same time, but Urahara lifted it and took a step back to make them hit the floor in front of his feet with a loud –thud- "ow!" and "Shit!"
"NOW, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," said shameless shopkeeper [try saying that 3 times fast haha], "bow down before me and apologize for nearly destroying my table and my face, not to mention you two kept threatening me so ruthlessly! Tsk, tsk." He took a doughnut from the tray and held it up to his face, examining it so it seemed. "Ah, all these doughtnuts I spent HOURS preparing for you…"
"Liar." Renji mumbled.
"We all know Tessai made those … those doughnuts from paradise." Rukia said drooling.
"Hey!" Urahara looked down at them, almost pouting. "What did I just say?! You're supposed to be thanking me! You only got it half way right by bowing before me, which is not the proper way to bow by the way and --!"
"Argh! You bastard!!" Renji roared and lunged for Urahara.
"Damnit you bastard I will kill you! I will murder you're soul!!" Renji yelled
Urahara ran around the small room, "But Renji wait! Think of the doughnuts!"
"!! Oh!" He turned to see Rukia stuffing her face with the heavenly doughnuts. "…"
"AH!?! Rukia what are you DOING?!?" He exclaimed grabbing a fist full of his spiky red hair and peering from her to the doughnuts to her again.
"Mhm mm shhnme uhhmd mmthm dmmhm, mmh!" She mumbled very accusingly, mouth full of chocolate, powered, and probably cream filled doughnuts all at once.
"What do you mean 'well you should've lunged for the doughnuts?' ?! I was busy trying to kill that fucking bastard! … and don't call me an idiot, idiot!" Angry red marks were all over Renji's brow, obviously being an idiot.
"… How did he … never mind." Tessai started to ask then sighed, still sweat dropping then looking over at Urahara willingly jump between them again.
"Something tells me you two need a time out."
"What the hell you crazy moron?!" They each yelled, well Rukia mumbled, but it was still basically the same thing.
"Well I was just saying—"
"Who cares what you're saying!" Renji said.
"Hmm!" Rukia added, crumbs flying to the floor.
"… give me some of those—"
"MM!" Rukia said, holding the tray away from him.
"What?! Rukia!!" He said, continuing the chase, along with Urahara, being an idiot, and Tessai, sitting where he's sat all night with that same sweat drop on his massive head.
Who knows how late it would be when everyone finally collapse from exhaustion, but it definetly wouldn't be until Renji had at least one doughnut before Rukia would eat them all.
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Phew! I'm done X3 That was pretty fun to write, I've gotta admit XD
Well I hope the length of this chapter is pleasing, rather than agonizing, but you know how it goes. Lol
Ichigo's Dad: Aw man, I was barely in this chapter! Why did it have to end with those people? I had an important role too! –whines- … Heeey, why is my title Ichigo's Dad?! That's not fair! I have name too!
R-Tiki: Um, Isshin, you –
Isshin: Yay! That's better :3
R-Tiki: But Isshin you really shouldn't –
Isshin: Anyway, really, my super mechanical skills were not portrayed NEARLY as greatly as they really are, I mean obviously I would hold the door knob before lifting and –
Ichigo: Dad! DX get your ass off of me … NOW!
Isshin: But son, this is all part of your training: can you defeat the ass, or cant you? Dun dun duuun!"
Ichigo: … Please tell me you did not just sing your own theme song -_-''''
R-Tiki: Will Ichigo ever defeat the ass? Find out next time ;D
Ichigo: You're just as bad as him!!