Ichigo woke with a yawn and a coil of his back, pushing the blankets and pillows out of the way with his arms and feet as he stretched. Shoving Renji's arm off his middle, he sat up on the edge of the mattress and yawned again, wiping his eye and smacking his lips.

He got up and shuffled to the kitchen for a glass of milk. Hisagi was already awake and working away at the table on his laptop, diligently. "Morning," they mumbled to each other, Ichigo sleepy, Hisagi distracted.

After washing his face and brushing his teeth and hair, Ichigo felt much more alert, and started making some breakfast. Today was an important day. Renji was meeting his family for dinner tonight.

This had started a week back when Renji, out of the blue, told Ichigo he had to meet his parents. Ichigo had been spending the night, and they'd been in bed together at the time, reading and discussing the news, and he'd suddenly broached the subject.

"I thought you were an orphan," Ichigo had said, sitting up in bed with his pillow behind him. He marked his place and glanced over his glasses.

Renji, who'd been lying on his stomach next to him, his chin and arms on his pillow as he played on his phone, explained with some hilarity, "They adopted me when I was twenty." Ichigo had snorted.

"I got fucked up in a gang-beating once and they took care of me," Renji had told him.

So it had turned out Renji's 'dad' was the Ikkaku Madarame, the kendo star, and they worked together at the same moving company, along with Renji's other parent, Yumichika. He'd gone with Renji and had dinner at their flat and met the two of them, vaguely recognizing them from some photos of an aquarium Renji had shown him last year.

Anyways, the point was, even though he wasn't upset for the way Renji had once blown up at him for suggesting he meet his own family, after that, Ichigo had always been hesitant to suggest it again, and kept comments about his sisters and dad to a minimum. But after Renji had dragged him out and shown him off with clear pride to his adoptive parents and coworkers and his many, many different friends, Ichigo had figured it was okay.

Another night later on in Renji's bedroom, changing clothes after work, Ichigo had mentioned somewhat casually, "I'm going home this weekend," figuring he'd let Renji make of that what he would, and if he didn't want to come, he wouldn't bring it up again for another little while.

"Oh yeah?" Renji had replied, putting on an old band t-shirt and sweats, tying his hair in a messy topknot. "Can I come along?" His eyes brightened up then, and his face stretched in a smile. "I can meet your parents."

"You wanna' meet my family?" Ichigo repeated back, warm inside, "You sure?"

"Yeah," Renji had said, moving towards him. "I wanna' take that step," he'd murmured, kissing him on the lips. "Mmh."

"Okay," Ichigo agreed, pleased. "Sure."

Tossing onto the end of the bed, Renji had stretched his arms behind his head. Ichigo smiled; Renji looked excited. He was too, a little, actually. "What are they like?" Renji had asked.

"I've got twin younger sisters and a stupid dad."

Renji's eyes had absolutely sparkled, and he'd marveled, "Little sisters," as if they were already his very own and he already loved them.

"Not so little anymore," Ichigo'd laughed.

"Do you think they'll all like me?" Renji'd pressed hopefully.

Ichigo had shrugged noncommittally. "No reason they wouldn't."

Later, while he and Hisagi were making dinner and Renji was on an egg-run, he'd made a call home. "Hey, Karin," he'd greeted. "Listen, I'm stopping by with my boyfriend this weekend, so make sure dad knows we're coming."

He'd never formally come out or discussed his boyfriend much – I mean, they know he has one, because he knew he'd mentioned Renji in passing plenty of times, but he'd never brought him home or introduced them or anything, so by all accounts, Karin was surprisingly chill with the news.

"He eats a lot," he'd warned, "You'd better tell Yuzu too so she can get enough to feed him… Yeah, he'll stay with me, whichever room's free... Thanks… Love you, bye."

Not an hour later, just as they'd gotten done eating and Hisagi and Renji had dispersed to watch their soccer game, Ichigo had gotten an excited call from Yuzu to ask what she should cook that his boyfriend will like, and if Ichigo had worried at all how his family would react, he knew then that everything was going to be fine.

Renji was still jubilant over it, but would likely wake up in a panic shortly, as he'd missed his planned alarm. Ichigo had hit the snooze and hadn't woken him, because he was a little jerk like that.

Eventually, after standing at the counter and making bacon pancakes in silence while Hisagi worked at the table with his own breakfast, Ichigo looked up as Renji walked out into the kitchen. Ichigo groaned, exasperated.

"Oh for god's sake, Renji, put something on!"

Renji put his hair up in a sloppy pony and shot back, "I'll walk around how I want in my own goddamn house," trying to get closer to the mini grill Ichigo stood at and the plate of steaming pancakes that had already been finished.

"You're not getting fed while your dick's out," Ichigo said flatly, grimacing at him and sliding the plate out of reach.

Renji looked down at himself, no shame whatsoever, shoulders dropping in momentary confusion. "Everyone in the house has seen it, I dunno' what your problem is."

Hisagi just continued eating his cornflakes mildly, giving Renji a onceover before looking back to the newspaper and his laptop.

"Get!" Ichigo boomed, pointing to the hallway, and Renji scowled, but stomped back down the hall. Ichigo watched his tattooed butt move as he left.

Hisagi didn't comment on the exchange, as it was nothing new. They've all gotten quite used to each other. At least he and Hisagi haven't seen each other naked yet, which is something they don't talk about.

Thankfully he didn't seem to mind that Ichigo was over all the time, or at least if he did, he didn't complain about it in front of Ichigo.

He made Renji a plate, smothering it with powdered sugar just like he liked it and putting on the humongous but exact amount of syrup he always used. Still, he set out the bottle next to his plate.

Ichigo bounced between his place and Renji's quite a bit, and although Renji occasionally came over, he didn't really spend the night often, because he and Grimmjow still had trouble occupying the same space, since they both were sort of needy for his attention and competed for it rather aggressively.

The time had gone fast, now that he thought about it. They've spent Christmas together with Rukia and a bunch of friends, and by now it was springtime, almost summer again.

Since he and Renji have been together, Ichigo had gotten well acquainted with maybe fifty something of Renji's friends and five of his close ones, had gone through him fostering about three stray dogs, and has been on approximately seventy-five dates. Things have gone just as they had before they'd split up, except perhaps, Renji was a little more attached to him.

When Renji wandered back out in a t-shirt and underwear, he asked, "Syrup? I like them with syrup."

"Yep, I put some on yours."

"I wanted to," Renji said in disappointment.

"I left it out."

Perking up, Renji sat down across from Hisagi and after putting on a little more syrup just to be contrary even though the plate was perfect, he dug in, stuffing his face full as always. "Mmm. You're the best, Ichi-ban," he said with a smile, and Ichigo smiled back a little.

"I'm trying to eat here," Hisagi complained half-heartedly, at which Renji just gloated that he was probably jealous that he didn't have hisboyfriend over to cook pancakes for him. "Maybe I am, so what!"

After they got dressed and ready and packed their weekend bags into the car, they began the drive out to Ichigo's parents' house. Renji was excited - nervous, but excited.

Ichigo smiled as they pulled up to the curb, rolling the windows down so he could better see his home and the way the sun shone on it. Renji put his sunglasses up on his forehead, staring out with his mouth open a little. "Whoaaa…"

"It's not really that big, it's just 'cause my dad runs his practice out of here."

"It's really a clinic?" Renji wondered, still staring all sparkly-eyed. Ichigo downplayed it a bit.

"Yeah, but it's small, not for serious emergencies."

Renji made a noise of acknowledgement and got out after Ichigo did, walking after him up the drive to the front door. Ichigo felt weird knocking on his own door and waiting for someone to answer, but he felt it was better with Renji here that they don't just walk in.

Somehow he didn't expect it when the door snapped open and he immediately got whacked in the face. His reflexes kicked in, and he blocked the second hit, but didn't punch back or jump out of the way, because his dad was getting too old to eat it in the yard every time Ichigo didn't take the blow.

Ichigo has warned Renji about his dad a little. He'd mentioned the thing with the giant poster and the craziness, but he'd neglected to mention the physical attacks. That surprise ambush probably having been the last thing he'd expected, Renji was startled enough to flinch back, seeming to not know for a moment whether it was okay to clobber Ichigo's dad to save Ichigo from getting beaten up.

"You shitty old man!" Ichigo hollered, "When are you gonna' quit this shit?!"

"My boy is home!"

"Ugggh," Ichigo groaned, but let his dad hug him. Renji cleared his throat and seemed to defrizz, like a cat recovering from getting spooked.

"Yuzu here?" he asked as they separated, meaning to ask about their room and then bring their stuff in.

"She's inside," Isshin said, shooting an eye to Renji, who was silently waiting for Ichigo to cue him in.

"Oh yeah," Ichigo muttered. Really, he was still a bit uncertain about how his dad would react. He didn't think he'd behave badly exactly, he was never straight out rude, but his dad had little ways of showing people if he didn't like them. Honestly, he got downright scary.

"Dad, this is Renji."

"Hello, Kurosaki-san," Renji greeted formally, bowing stiffly at the waist and then flashing his best smile. "I'm glad to meet you. I hope we'll get along." He held out his hand, and Ichigo glanced between them when his dad didn't take it right away, looking Renji up and down. Right, the tattoos and the hair… C'mon, dad.

"Isshin," his dad said after a beat, shaking Renji's hand, at which Renji beamed. "C'mon in, boys."

"Great, yeah," Ichigo gusted a sigh, shouldering past his dad and jogging upstairs, sticking his head down the hall. "Yuzu?" he called, but got no answer. He checked a couple rooms, and found Karin's old room all cleaned up with two futons laid out, quite close together, and stacks of fresh sheets.

Going back down, he was just in time to see his dad sizing Renji up and mentioning something about how he'd thought his son had moved past the rebellious phase. "God damnit, dad!" Ichigo hollered.

"You haven't been to jail, have you?"

"Well, not exactly…" Renji shifted uncertainly, and Ichigo groaned.

"Dad, get away from him, you're gonna' scare him off," Karin called from the other room. Ichigo threw a hand up towards her voice.

"Thank you." Turning to Renji, he asked, "Now could you please go get our stuff from the car?"

"Yeah, both bags?"

"Yeah." Ichigo put his hands on his hips and glared at his dad as Renji went outside. "Has he been to jail, Dad, are you serious?"

"I remember you spending the night in the joint once in high school, young man."

"That's only 'cause those jerks tried to kill Chad, and you know it!" Ichigo yelled.

"There, you see, I'm just checking which of you is the better son," his dad said, and winked, and Ichigo, having gone speechless, choked on his retort, scowled, and stormed out of the room. Damnit.

Renji wandered back in with their stuff. "Here, you want me to put this away?"

"No, I got it," Ichigo muttered, shouldering the bags and making for the stairs. Renji followed him to the bottom.

"You're not upset, are you?" Renji wondered with a slight frown, and Ichigo gave a long sigh. He really wasn't.

"No." He looked up and let Renji give him a quick kiss before he bounded up the steps and dropped their stuff off, taking out their pajamas and tossing them out.

Renji dutifully waited at the bottom for him and then took a long sniff. Ichigo was getting a bit hungry too. "Hmmm," Renji sighed, obviously able to smell Yuzu's cooking.

"Ichi-nii!" Yuzu called, presumably from the kitchen, "I missed you!"

Ichigo's usual scowl melted a bit and he tossed his head over his shoulder to get Renji to follow. He'd expected Renji to love his sisters all along, but after Yuzu greeted them as Ichi-nii and Nii-san and took her roasted eggplant out of the oven, Ichigo was surprised Renji didn't die and go to heaven right there.

Dinner went great – Renji ate a ton as expected and effusively praised Yuzu's cooking, which made her turn pink. He and Karin got along well too, which made sense, considering Karin and Ichigo had always been closer in personality.

Afterwards, they hung out in the living room as a family. Renji and Yuzu played go-fish on the sofa, and Ichigo and Karin sat on the floor and played his old Atari while he rested his head on Renji's leg. His dad didn't try to embarrass him any more, and asked normal questions about work and school, how had they met, how long have they been seeing each other, and he'd even called Renji 'son' once or twice more, which made Ichigo flush in that weird mix of angry and pleased, while Renji just seemed to glow and eat it right up.

Once it got late enough to go to bed, his dad, having to get a final rip in, said, "Keep in mind, the walls are thin, kids," as they went upstairs. Ichigo flipped him off, and Renji just laughed.

Some of Karin's stuff was still in her room even though she'd moved out, but she'd made a nice space for them and was spending the weekend with Yuzu, who was in Ichigo's old room. Ichigo knew he was an adult and everything and shouldn't have expected not to be allowed to sleep in the same room as his boyfriend, but it still seemed a bit of a surprise when he saw the rolled-out futons again and they were alone together in his childhood home.

Changing and chatting as easily as they did in Renji's apartment, they scootched the futons the rest of the way together and got under the covers in the dark, both breathing a relieved sigh at having gotten through the day without serious incident.

They glanced over to each other at the same time, and when Renji began smiling, it infectiously spread to Ichigo, who opened his arms just in time for Renji to roll on top of him and grab him and throw him around. Ichigo tried to keep the laughing to a minimum, keeping his mouth closed, but snorting and snickering as he and Renji tussled under the blankets, messing them up.

At last settling down, Renji whispered in his ear in the dark of the night, "Hey." He kissed him on the lips soundly and then leaned back down to his ear. "Ichigo," he whispered with a playful smile in his voice.

"What?" he hissed back, smiling.

Renji put his mouth right against the shell of his ear and barely breathed, "I love you," as if he was handing him this unimaginably mysterious and precious thing. Renji held it in his hands and showed it to Ichigo, gently transferred into his cupped palms.

"I do, I really love you."

And Ichigo watched as this dark seed opened up and revealed the glowing red insides, its petals unfurled and lighting up his face in the darkness with its gleam. He peeked inside with wonder and gazed at the beautiful delicate flower and its many petals, glittering like they were cut from living ruby. Then he closed it up and held it to his chest. He was going to plant it inside and water it and protect it so it would grow and thrive.

Renji drew back at his silence, looking down into Ichigo's face, seeming apprehensive for a moment, then began smiling suddenly. Ichigo didn't catch on to why for a moment until he became aware of his own smile, which grew even larger with the realization.

He snagged an arm around Renji's neck and pulled him down, and they kissed warmly for a long time. Then he replied against his lips, not bothering to whisper, but kept his voice down anyways. "Love you too."

Renji separated them. "You do?" he whispered, "You really do?"

"Yeah, really," Ichigo said, drawing him close, and Renji wrapped his arms around his shoulders in a hug. Ichigo settled their heads together, and then licked his ear – and not in a sexy way, either. Renji jolted away, dropping him.

"Ack!" He punched for Ichigo's head, and he rolled to the side to avoid it, which just prompted Renji to dive for him. "Asshole!" he hissed, "Fucking ruining my moment! You can't just let me have this?! Huh?! Can you, you little shit!"

He landed on top of Ichigo's back with a thump. "Oof!" Ichigo wheezed. They struggled for a while, Renji hanging on around Ichigo's waist and Ichigo wriggling like a fish and trying to crawl his way out from under his dead weight.

Renji eventually began laughing at his futile attempts to escape. "You are such a shrimp," he teased, voice shaking with hilarity.

Ichigo thrashed and bucked Renji off. "I'm not a shrimp," he said firmly, scowling.

"Yeah you are, I'm bigger than you."

Ichigo glared at Renji's stupid smug face, he hated that look. "That's just 'cause you're a fucking fatass with your stupid ridiculous muscles."

"Dumbass! That makes no sense!"

They wrestled more for some time, grappling against each other and insisting the other 'take it back' first. Eventually they were getting sweaty with exertion, breathing heavily and turned on, and Renji, lifting himself up for a second, pushed his disheveled hair out of his face and panted, "Y'know?" grinning widely, "You're really sexy like this."

"Holding you down?" Ichigo snarked, knocking him over and sitting on his stomach.

"Yeaaah," Renji replied, biting his lower lip and doing that dumb thing with his eyebrows. Ichigo let out a large 'pfft' of laughter through puffed cheeks just in time for Renji to flip them again and and pin him with a hum of relish. He laughed as Renji nosed eagerly at his neck and began peeling his shirt off.

"Okay, I'm on top now, so you have to tell me the truth," Renji said with mock-seriousness, which just made Ichigo snicker more. "Did I put on weight?" Ichigo didn't mind his weight so much when he was letting it rest on his boner like that, but he didn't have to say so.

Going along with it, Ichigo mock-apologized, "I didn't mean what I said about your muscles."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Tell me more," Renji prompted, squirming in anticipation, his toes curling up as he huffed a few excited breaths.

Ichigo had gotten a lot better at the whole sexual experience and was much better able to play along with Renji's games and thrill him right back. He could actually push his buttons a little now that he wasn't completely new to it all.

So he said, after some pretend-thought, "The cut of your shoulders is really sexy."

"Say some more," Renji urged again, like old times when Ichigo'd had nothing left to say and he'd eaten up every boring word he'd squeezed out of him. Even now with Ichigo's amateur dirty-talk, he was clearly getting riled up.

"When you do those one-armed push-ups?"

"Yeah?" Ichigo tried not to smile when he could see the hairs stand up on Renji's neck.

"And when you stretch when you wake up…"

"Uh-huh…"

"And your goddamn chest," Ichigo breathed, stopping. Renji blinked, urging him on.

"What?..." Scrunching his eyebrows, he demanded again. "C'mon, go on! What!"

"And the dimples in your ass," Ichigo finished completely unsexily. "Gets me hot," he said blandly.

Sweating, Renji heaved, hissing with exasperation, "You're a menace." Ichigo just snickered as Renji pinched his sides in punishment for getting him going.

"Aww," Renji laughed back, "I can't resist that smile, Ichiban."

"Oh yeah?" Ichigo challenged breathlessly as Renji hugged him aggressively. "Come down here and prove I'm your number one."

Renji leaned down to kiss him, and then they both blinked in surprise at a sudden thump against their backs.

"Quiet up there, kids!" came a muffled call, and a broom jabbed the ceiling again from the floor below.

"Damnit, Dad! " Ichigo scrambled up and flung the door open, storming downstairs, fuming to the sound of Renji cackling behind him.

. . .

I'm feeling better ever since you've known me. I was a lonely soul, but that's the old me. A little wiser now from what you've shown me, yeah, I feel again, feel again...