Chapter Seventeen

Kin was standing in the middle of his sparsely decorated living room, shirtless, his baggy faded plaid pajama pants resting precariously on his bony hips. The marigold beneath his navel stood out dark against his pale skin, and the two samurai swords on either side of his hips disappeared beneath the thin fabric. He gazed at the canvas he'd been working on for the last three weeks, sipping a steaming cup of coffee as he scrutinized his own work. It was nothing like the reference shot he had started off using, he'd drawn off many others as he'd gotten into it and veered away from his original idea. When Kin painted the brushes told him what to do and he let his hands obey. And so, instead of the angel-esque reference he had begun with, a warrior with her head tipped back, proud fire challenging the viewer to step forward, to defy her existence. The tones were warm all around, her fire colored hair whipping in an unseen wind; her lips were parted just so, as if inhaling deeply right before a war cry. He shivered and closed his eyes, slurping his drink.

This one was well worth the lack of sleep.

When the sound of more coffee being poured broke his moment, Kin turned and watched his roommate, Makoto, chug an entire mug of the steaming beverage before pouring another. He was much shorter than Kin, a fair bit thicker, healthier looking for sure, with long white dreadlocks. Nearly every inch of his exposed skin was tattooed save for his face, which sported several piercings instead. He looked up and then past Kin to the painting, lifting the mug and gesturing towards it.

Kin nodded. "Finished 'bout an hour ago." He was exhausted but had shit to do that day so hopefully the coffee would help him function long enough to get it done.

Makoto set the mug down and made a series of gestures with his hands quickly and then leaned his hip against the counter, eyes going back to the painting.

The girl that's been coming over so much?

Kin nodded and reached for the carafe to refill his mug. Makoto had been born with a malformed tongue and palate and was unable to speak as a result. He'd had several surgeries when he was younger so that he could eat and drink properly without needing a feeding tube, but he had never been able to form words well enough for people to understand him. Kin had known him since grade school, however, and had learned sign language so that they could communicate. Makoto taught him all the naughty words and they had been best friends ever since.

"She still thinks we're datin'." Kin smirked, glancing at Makoto in time to see him sneer and then making a gagging gesture. He chuckled and took a sip. "Tha's what I said. Dunno how she even got that from meetin' ya once." Their meeting had been so brief Kin had almost forgotten about it. Makoto had come home just as Tomoe was leaving, and, being as friendly as they were, Kin had thrown an arm over his shoulders and pulled him close as he shut the door in Tomoe's face. Well… maybe he could see where she may have gotten that idea after all.

Makoto shrugged and wandered out of the room to get ready for his own day. Just as he was about to slip into his room, though, he paused and looked back at Kin.

Watch out for clingy high schoolers my friend. Last thing the world needs is miniature yous running around.

Kin snorted so hard coffee went up his nose and he jerked the mug away from his mouth, spilling it all over the floor and the edge of the counter. Makoto grinned and slapped the wall a few times before he entered his room. Sinuses burning, Kin blew his nose and cleaned up his mess, shouting down the hall that Makoto was an asshole. They both knew where things were headed though; it wouldn't exactly the first time Kin had toyed with his muses before he tired of them or found a new one. He tried to be good, but he never claimed to be an actual good person. And the more he got to see Tomoe in various states of undress, the more he got to touch her smooth skin, the more he wanted to utterly destroy her. Rubbing his nose with the back of his hand, he wandered what she'd look like completely sated after hours of lovemaking. He smirked and shook his head. She'd look amazing, and he'd have to take pictures, and then she'd actually physically fight him over it.

It would be glorious.

But really, Makoto was right. He really shouldn't be entertaining those sorts of thoughts. Those dirty bad thoughts of Tomoe naked and sprawled out on his bed with her naked flesh pink and covered in dewy sweat…. Kin grunted and looked back at the painting again. He needed to pick up another canvas on the way home; he just had another idea that needed to be brought to life. With a wicked grin, he dressed for the day and went about his business.

With a strangled cry Taichi shot up in bed, panting heavily and drenched in sweat; a sick, clawing sensation in his gut. He couldn't remember exactly what he was dreaming about but fear and panic clung to him, making his vision blur for a moment as he slowly calmed down and returned to reality. He let out a breath, closing his eyes and reaching up to rub his face before quickly pulling his hand away and hissing in pain. Oh yeah, his face was all fucked up. He sighed, slumping his shoulders and staring down at the blankets covering his lap. Just when he thought things might be looking up, someone always came along to remind him that he wasn't allowed to be happy about anything. He should just give up already, maybe drop out of school and run away to the mountains. He could live off the land, alone, and never have to worry about overbearing parents, assholes who wanted to treat him like he was nothing more then a hole to stick their dicks in. Never have to worry about adding to the nightmares that consumed him each night. He smirked and shook his head. Yeah right, he was way too dependent on modern amenities to live in the wilderness. He'd die in less than a week.

There was a light tap at his door and he muttered just loud enough for whoever it was on the other side to hear. "C'min."

The door opened and Sorin stepped in, giving Taichi a once over before he approached and plopped down on the bed by his feet.

"Hey." He greeted, sounding tired.

"Hey."

"How are you feeling?"

Taichi snorted and regretted it instantly, reaching up to tentatively touch the side of his nose with his fingertips as if that would dull the pain it had caused.

"Like I got beat up."

"What were you even doing out there? You never go towards that part of school."

"I was looking for you, actually." He sighed and looked up and around the room. He wasn't really avoiding eye contact it was just that he and Sorin rarely looked at each other while talking. They didn't feel the need unless things were very serious. And even then….

"Really? Why?"

"Something our teacher wanted. I honestly don't even remember anymore." Sorin chuckled and leaned back, his shoulders resting against the wall and his legs hanging off the side of the bed.

"There's a rumor going around about you." He started, lifting a hand and picking some dirt from under one of his fingernails.

"I imagine there's several by now." Taichi muttered.

Sorin grunted. "About you taking money for sex."

They were quiet for a while before Taichi sighed. It must have been Hideki who started that. Some sort of retaliation for refusing his advances. It had only been a matter of time before it got out and really gained ground, he thought. It wasn't like he had been very good about hiding it since there were several young men in his grade who had taken him up on the offers. Several underclassmen as well actually. He was surprised it hadn't been spread around sooner with how many people knew about it, though he supposed it could have been because he was a guy, and homosexuality was still pretty taboo.

"So… it's true?"

"...not anymore."

Sorin grunted and frowned, dropping his hands into his lap. "You're so stupid."

"Thanks. I needed that." Taichi deadpanned and Sorin snorted, smirking when he finally looked at his brother.

"Hey, you should go for a run with me today. You're gettin' kinda skinny."

"Burning calories won't help that, Sorin."

"Well yeah, but I can't do much else until this heals up." He lifted the hand that was wrapped in a beige Ace bandage. "But maybe working out will help with your mood or something. Improve your self esteem."

"You do realized exercise doesn't fix everything, right?" Taichi's lips thinned and his brow furrowed, even though it hurt a little to do it. His brother had such a one-track mind sometimes. So annoying….

"But it can-!"

"Uhg, shut up, I'm going to take a shower. Just go for your run or whatever." He waved a dismissive hand at Sorin as he pushed out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. Sorin frowned after him and sighed, rolling his eyes as he, too, left Taichi's room. He was just trying to help; what had crawled up Taichi's ass anyway? Sure they were suspended from school, but they weren't actually in trouble from their parents. And sitting around all day was boring as hell.

By the time Sorin had changed and done his warm up exercises in the living room, Taichi was finally exiting the bathroom. He was halfway to his bedroom when the doorbell rang and they looked at each other briefly, Taichi raising an eyebrow at Sorin because obviously he could not answer the door damp and wearing only a towel.

"Delivery for a Taichi Kurosaki." Sorin's eyes went wide as he stared at what was in the delivery man's left hand, and he absently signed for it.

"Ah… thanks." He muttered, taking the item and shutting the door again.

"Tai… it's for you."

"What?" Half dressed, Taichi came back down the hall towards the living room and paused at the end, thin blue brows pulling together at what Sorin was awkwardly holding out to him. It was a modest bouquet made up of six deep red tulips and little bunches of tiny yellow lady's mantle, the stems gathered and held together with a wide, white ribbon.

"Who…?" He asked, mostly to himself, and turned the flowers to see if there was a card hidden within. Ah there it was, hiding in the center, the small rectangular piece of card paper waiting to be read.

"Who's sending you flowers?" Sorin asked, following Taichi to the kitchen. Taichi carefully set the flowers down and pulled the card free, slipping the message out of the crisp little envelope to read the surprisingly neat handwriting.

I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before.
My heart has left its dwelling place
And can return no more.

S.I.

Taichi felt his face heat and his heart trip in his chest as he read the short, simple poem a few more times. No one had ever sent him anything like this… it couldn't be some prank, could it? With everything that had happened to him in the last few months he almost doubted it was genuine. But something made him pause as his gaze lifted to the flowers again, neatly bundled together with that thick white ribbon. Why would anyone go out of their way to tease him like this though? Flowers weren't cheap usually, as far as he knew anyway, and to have them sent to his house like this, when he would actually be home to accept them….

Behind him, looking over his shoulder at the card, Sorin snorted.

"Aw, looks like you have an admirer. A secret one. Who's S.I.?"

"I… don't know." Taichi muttered, setting the card aside and reaching for the flowers again. Closing his eyes, he bent his head and sniffed the tulips, inhaling a strong, sweet scent that made his muscles relax and his heart flutter once more. Ah, he was being silly. They were just flowers.

"Weren't you going for a run?" He asked, stepping away from his brother to look for something to put the bouquet in. Surely they had vases somewhere.

"Yeah, yeah." With a shrug, Sorin slipped on his running shoes and left the house.

"I just think it's strange that you've been taking off like that and not telling anyone where you're going. Not telling me where you're going." Yayoi complained to Tomoe, not for the first time since she had started to visit Kin on a weekly basis. She just couldn't bring herself to be honest about it, and it made her feel bad for not confiding in Yayoi but… something told her that her friend would not understand. Hell, even Tomoe didn't understand what she was still doing going over there sometimes.

"It's no big deal, Yo. I'm allowed to do things without you and not tell you all about it ya know." She snapped and sighed when Yayoi flinched and looked away.

Yayoi looked out over the rooftops with a frown on her face, letting her thoughts swirl and attempt to organize in her head before she spoke again.

"With all the stuff going on with Tai lately, it's not surprising that I'm worried about you, Tomo. I just… wish that you'd talk to me about things sometimes. You act like I'm going to attack you if you're honest with me and that really hurts my feelings. Like… do you even trust me anymore?"

Tomoe groaned and fell back against the ground, looking up at the thin clouds dotting the sky. "I trust you, shut up." She muttered. "I just don't want to talk about some things, okay? And I'm not doing anything bad, so stop worrying about it."

"But what are you doing?" When Yayoi persisted, Tomoe groaned again and tackled her to the roof, pinning her shoulders and looming above her.

"Major drug deals for the yakuza. I'm totally big shit now. I'm gonna end up scarier than Daddy and Uncle Nnoi in no time." Yayoi rolled her eyes. "And then, when I'm all done with my illegal trade, I go out for target practice with people I don't like and then ditch their bodies in the bay."

"Shut up." Yayoi pushed Tomoe away, smirking despite herself as she sat up.

"Working on my full body tats too, they're gorgeous." She grinned wickedly and again Yayoi rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Don't tell me. But whatever it is you're doing, be careful please."

"Yeah, yeah. Mom." Tomoe laughed when Yayoi shook her head. Really, it was better that she not know exactly what was going on right then. Not until Tomoe figured it out herself anyway.

Sorin was eating half the kitchen when Tomoe and Yayoi walked in the house after school, barefoot and shirtless as usual. Taichi was cleaning up after making their snack, far more put together than his brother even if he did look like he'd gotten the crap beat out of him. Predictably, Yayoi quickly approached him to coo over his injuries, ask him how he was, and other general mother hen type actions. It wasn't fair, in her mind, that Taichi was getting hurt so much. He was such a good, beautiful person and he didn't deserve what life had thrown at him lately. Yayoi was about to comment on the state of Taichi's poor beautiful face, a gentle hand raising to stroke his cheek, when she noticed the flower arrangement on the island in the kitchen. Sufficiently sidetracked, she exclaimed and skipped closer for a better look.

"Ooh! These are pretty. Where did you get them?" The flush to Taichi's cheeks as he turned away confused her, but it didn't stick when Sorin laughed and picked up the little envelope from the counter, handing it to her.

"Tai has a secret admirer." Tomoe scooted close and looked down over Yayoi's shoulder to read the short, sweet poem, both sets of eyes going wide when they noticed the initials. They looked at each other, then Taichi, then back at the note before they grinned and Yayoi put the card back.

"That's so sweet. And they smell so pretty. You're so lucky, Tai."

Taichi said nothing to that, simply dried his hands on a dish towel. It still made him feel strange receiving something like that, and he'd been blushing off and on since they'd arrived. Any time his mind wandered and ended up on the simple bouquet and the endearing note his heart would flutter and hope would rise before he quickly squashed it down again. It wouldn't do to get overly excited about them, but it didn't mean that he couldn't enjoy them regardless.

Yayoi and Tomoe grabbed snacks for themselves and retreated to her room, shutting the door and locking it. Yayoi dumped her cache on the bed and whipped out her phone, shooting off a text.

yochan5: YOU DID NOT!

sora721947: What are you yelling about now?

yochan5: The flowers omg! And the poem! I can't believe you finally did it!

sora721947: I have no idea what you're talking about.

Tomoe, once again reading over Yayoi's shoulder, yanked her phone away and tapped out her own message.

yochan5: Yer such a fuckin sap sora

sora721947: You two are making my head hurt, stop texting me.

yochan5: He blushed

Unlike previous responses, Sora's wasn't immediate and Tomoe grinned wickedly as she added more.

yochan5: Smiled and blushed and put them in a fancy vase

sora721947: …it would be pointless if he didn't like them…

The girls dissolved into a fit of giggles, Yayoi taking back her phone from Tomoe.

yochan5: I would have died from happiness if someone had done that for me Sora. I'm so happy you finally decided to do it. I know Taichi loves them.

sora721947: He doesn't know it was me, right?

yochan5: Not even a little. He's dumb like that.

sora721947: Good. If you tell him I will never speak to you again.

yochan5: I would never! Anyway, have to go. Girl's night.

"What the hell is he going to do when Tai finds out about his crush?" Tomoe plopped on her bed and tore into a bag of chips.

Yayoi sighed and shrugged. "Die of embarrassment most likely. I mean, just because Tai likes the flowers, doesn't mean he'd return Sora's feelings."

"That idiot…." She shoved a few chips in her mouth and chewed quickly, shoving the mouthful to the side so she could add, "Of course, you aren't much better with Sorin."

Predictably, Yayoi turned red, her eyes going wide and her mouth hanging open. Tomoe smirked and threw a chip at her.

"Ah, young love everywhere. Makes me wanna puke." She clasped her hands to her chest and her grin grew as she fell back with an exaggerated smile.

"Shut up Tomo! What if he hears you?"

"Good thing he's an idiot." Tomoe laughed.

When Tomoe's phone chimed an incoming message Yayoi snatched it up in retaliation. She swiped the code to unlock it and opened the message, freezing when she realized it was a picture… and who that picture was of. Her eyes went wide as she recognized the tall stranger from the thrift store that Tomoe had gotten in an argument with. He was grinning wide, his tongue curled up at the corner of his mouth, a bit of his shaggy black hair obscuring one of his narrow icy blue eyes. He was wearing a plain red tank top and some dark jeans that looked a bit too big for him, and was holding up a leather contraption that may have been someone's attempt at lingerie. But who on earth would wear something like that? It was just all buckles and strips of black and would cover literally nothing! There was a caption with the image that confused her even more, "Wut bout dis nxt time Kitty Kat~?"

It took a matter of seconds really for Yayoi to get an eyeful before Tomoe ripped her phone out of her hands and went pale at the image on the screen. Fuck, fuck, fuck! She shot out a quick, angry message, "DON'T SEND ME SHIT LIKE THAT!", and tossed the phone on her bed, ready to dive into damage control she wasn't remotely ready to attempt.

"Tomo…." Yayoi started, but Tomoe was saved by a knock on her bedroom door. She'd kiss whoever it was, even her brothers, she swore it.

She answered it, seeing Grimmjow standing on the other side, frowning. "Hey Daddy!" She greeted far too brightly, and Grimmjow grunted, glancing at Yayoi briefly.

"If your brothers can't lock their doors, neither can you." He grumbled.

"Sorry Daddy. Hey, can we order pizza for tonight? Yo and I are gonna stay up watching movies and stuff and we need fuel for that."

Grimmjow's frown grew as he began to realize that the house was going to be fuller than he'd expected. It would have been nice if Ichigo had mentioned that the night he's finally allowed back home the place would be infested with teenagers. How was he supposed to seduce his husband into wild loud makeup sex all night long with an audience? Well… this sort of audience anyway. He made a face and grunted.

"Make sure your brother wasn't planning on making dinner first."

Tomoe smiled over-bright and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss her father's cheek. "Hey, me and Yo are gonna go for a walk before it gets dark, okay? Just around the neighborhood."

"Don't go too far. You can order your shit when you get back though. I don't want you complaining it's cold because you took too long."

"Fiiiiine." She smiled and waited for her father to reach his bedroom before she shut the door again and rested her forehead against it. She let out a large sigh and sagged against the wood.

"Alright fine, I'll tell you what's been going on. But not here. I don't want anyone to hear anything…."

"You didn't tell me Yayoi would be here tonight." Grimmjow grumbled the second Ichigo walked in the door. Sorin was out back with Taichi, the two of them competing to see who could do the most sit-ups before they gave in to the pain, and Tomoe was still out for her walk with Yayoi.

"What?" Ichigo frowned and then remembered Tomoe asking her over earlier that week. "Ah, right. Damn…." He slipped out of his shoes and made his way to the kitchen for his habitual after work beer. He caught the flowers out of the corner of his eye and made a face as he popped off the cap and tossed it in the trash.

Grimmjow had followed, standing close to Ichigo and backing him against the island counter. His blood had been on fire since the night before and he was irritated that all the half formed plans he'd been dreaming up might have to be put on hold. He hated it when the kids overheard them because they looked at both of them strangely for days afterwards. It was worse when Yayoi was there….

His hands rested on the countertop on either side of Ichigo's hips and he leaned in close. "Would have been a nice head's up. I could have kept the hotel and we could have just gone there."

Ichigo grinned and pulled the bottle from his lips with a wet sound. "Oh? You think because you can come home I'm going to let you do stuff to me again?" He teased, almost laughing at the look that crossed Grimmjow's features.

"I'm not waiting anymore, Ichigo." He promised in a husky whisper, dipping down and letting his lips rub against the ones in front of his. Ichigo's breath caught and he licked his lips, tilting his head a bit but not completing the kiss.

"So what, you're going to touch me right here in the kitchen then?" Grimmjow growled and it went straight to Ichigo's dick. He almost groaned but managed to hold back.

"It's been hell not being able to touch you, on top of everything else." Grimmjow's teeth gently took Ichigo's bottom lip and he pulled before letting it go with a pop.

"That's what you get for being an asshole." Ichigo breathed, fingers itching to dive into Grimmjow's hair and pull him closer, merge their bodies, taste his soul with his tongue. "Besides, don't you want to sleep in your own bed tonight?"

"I don't want to sleep." Ichigo chuckled and kissed Grimmjow, lips parting and tongues meeting, tasting, devouring. Grimmjow pressed close and groaned when Ichigo's fingers teased into the back of his hair. The world dropped away, kids no longer existed, and the kitchen was suddenly just for them. Only for them. He wanted to fuck Ichigo on every goddamned surface.

"Oh gross." Sorin's voice broke their moment, causing both men to jerk back, their hearts pounding in their throats. "Get a room you two."

Taichi snorted and groaned, pressing his fingers to the side of his nose and trying not to look at his fathers who had just been making out in the kitchen like teenagers. It was good that their relationship was in the process of being repaired, but that didn't mean that he wanted to see that shit. He grabbed the flowers by the vase and walked from the kitchen, Sorin following behind him.

"Are you just going to carry that everywhere now?"

"What? It's mine, I can move it to the room I'm in."

"I don't want to see that everywhere you go…."

The boys continued to bicker, their voices getting smaller as they retreated to their rooms, and Grimmjow sighed, dropping his head to Ichigo's shoulder.

"I'm buying a second house." He grumbled, making Ichigo smirk. "A fuck house. Just for us. And we can just give this one to the kids."

With a snort and a small chuckle, Ichigo pushed Grimmjow back, kissing him gently on the lips before he picked up his beer and drained it.

"It's still early, and I'm starving for actual food. How about we eat and relax and just enjoy the fact that the house isn't full of tension anymore, alright?" He gave Grimmjow an imploring look and Grimmjow sighed, muttering that he was tense, but ultimately agreed. Food, relaxation, and then he'd drag Ichigo to the bedroom and gag him so they could fuck and then make love and then fuck again.

Happy with that plan, Grimmjow grinned and kissed Ichigo back. Beer, food, sex, all with the man he loved. He'd never screw this up again; not for anything.

A/N Omg Sora, y u so cute? The poem excerpt is by John Clare from the poem titled First Love, and there is hidden significance in the flower selection. Kudos to anyone that can guess or cheats and looks it up like I did... It was fun to do a little bit of research for something so sweet, and hunting down just the right thing to go in that note was amazing~ I forgot how much I liked doing stuff like that lol

So, a lot happened in this chapter, huh? A little look at Kin again, and his elusive "boyfriend" that has Tomoe feeling even worse for the strange feelings that she's developing for the tall, sexy artist. I'm finding it very difficult to find good enough resources for JSL (Japanese Sign Language) so I'm going to have to gloss over any gestures that Makoto may do when he pops into scenes here and there going forward. I think more stories need characters with disabilities and while I'm only tentatively stepping into that territory with him, I hope that everyone can still appreciate him.

Anywho, I'm excited to get to happier things. I know I mentioned to some of you that this chapter would possibly be all sexy daddies, but you'll have to wait at least until the next one. I don't see how it would be put off any later unless I am mean to one of the kids again and I think I can lay off them for at least ONE chapter lol

Thoughts? Comments? Let me know how I'm doing and if you like how things are going. I always enjoy hearing from you guys and, as always, thanks for reading and reviewing!

~Penny