Chapter 29: Old enemy turned friend

Ten years later

Kai and Ichigo opened a local candy store that has actually been doing well, but they moved out of Japan and they now live in New York City. Their candy store is a complete success, but they find it annoying sometimes. Every time a new customer comes in, they ask them about the tattoos on their neck. Their answer never changes. "We were drunk and we regret it." Each time they said it made it easier to get over it. The more they said it, the more they believed it.

Ichigo managed the money and Kai took care of the inventory, while manning the cash register. Ichigo was glad he got that degree in business management, and being a secretary helped a lot, too. Oh yeah, the name of the store is called Childish Delights. They sell candy, shakes, cakes, and pies, anything you can think of, they sell. Isshin's friend, Kisuke Urahara helped them open it and start the business.

Kai stood behind the counter checking the inventory hanging on the wall when the bell rang. "I'll be with you in one moment."

"Kai." He then felt a sudden throbbing in his neck. He held onto his neck and cringed in pain. "Hey, you okay?" Kai turned around smiling. "Yeah, I'm fi-" Kai stopped midsentence when he looked at the person before him. There stood pineapple head looking at him with worry. "Renji? What are you doing here? What do you want? Ichigo is over you!" Kai yelled and threw random things at the abusive red head. He just stood there and took it, but when Kai noticed that it took no affect he stopped. "I actually came here with my new…lover."

Kai tilted his head in confusion. "I… I didn't even know that you guys moved out here. We're just here on vacation and to try out the candy at this store. We heard that everything was homemade." Renji explained. "Who's your… new punching bag?" Renji could practically taste the venom that was spat in his direction. Renji visibly tensed and pointed an albino that looked just like Ichigo. Kai's eyes widen in shock and confusion.

"You wouldn't believe what happened if I told you, but his name is Shiro." Kai nodded. "Listen…I know that I've been a jerk to you and especially to Ichigo, but I was wondering if you guys would like to hang with us." Kai looked at him not really sure if Renji could be trusted. "Trust me I learned my lesson ten years ago. Believe it or not that albino is insane and I'd rather not piss him off." Renji laughed nervously.

"So someone finally made you their bitch huh?" even Kai was a little caught off by his choice of words, but he didn't show it. "Yeah, you might as well say that."

"To make you feel better, Ichi's memory was erased. You can start over with him." Renji smiled. "That'd be nice."

"But if you hurt him again I will hunt you down castrate you then cut off your limbs and I will make sure you feel EVERYTHING. Then after I'm done I will slit your throat and burn your body." He said all of this with a smile, which freaked Renji out more. "Woah, ya sound like me. I practically tortured him for a week." Kai turned to look at Shiro, who stood next to Renji carrying an armful of candy. Kai could feel the smile spread across his face. "I mean I didn't castrate him, but I might as well had." His voice was watery.

"You look so much like Ichi."

"Well, Szayel did take some of his DNA and use it ta make me. I'm just the more insane and bluntly honest side of Ichigo." Kai nodded. "I can imagine."

"Hey Kai, It's almost closing time. What do you want to eat?" Ichigo walked out of the storage room and stops at the doorway when he sees Renji and Shiro. "Hello."

"Hey, Ichi this is a…..friend of mine. His name is Renji and this is his boyfriend Shiro." Ichigo looked at Shiro with confusion written all over his face. "He looks like…."

"You, but they invited us to hang out after work. You wanna come?"

"Exactly where are they planning to go?"

xXx Club Visored

Within two hours of getting there Ichigo and Shiro were already drunk and Kai was buzzed, but still able to communicate well. Renji was the only sober one. "So how ya been?" He asked loud enough. "Last time I saw ya was when bubblegum helped ya get away."

"They're no longer here. Everyone left us ten years ago, but they left us a large amount of money." Renji raised his eyebrow in curiosity. "Really? How much?"

"Fifty million each." He answered while taking another drink "Wow. That's a lot of money." Kai nodded. "I bet you spent it within ten years too." Kai shook his head no. "We took it out of our accounts and put it somewhere safe. We raised the money ourselves to open that store. We wanted to be away from Japan as soon as possible."

"Why didn't you spend it?"

"Why didn't we spend it?" He knows that Renji means no harm, but he just can't help getting pissed off at the thought of telling this story. It was now only he and Renji, since the twins took went to the dance floor. "Your job has you take care of demon children for almost two years. You watch them grow up into strong young men only to fall in love with them. Then in your time of need they just leave after you showing your love to them. The only thing left to remind you of them is the damn mark they put on you before they left." Kai tugged down his shirt and showed him bat. Renji was in utter shock and confusion.

Now Kai just broke down in silent tears and Renji didn't know what to do. Then the bat started glowing and Kai visibly winced in pain. "Everything you had before is gone. Everyone you care about is gone without a trace. They didn't even say goodbye befo-" Before he could finish Kai fell to the ground unconscious. "Oh shit, Kai!" People started to gather to help. "Is he okay?" Renji tried to shake him awake.

"I don't know. He wasn't even drunk yet, just a little buzzed. Kai!"

xXx

Shiro and Ichigo was still dancing around laughing and having fun. Then Ichigo stopped dancing and looked to the ceiling. "Ichigo?" Shiro stopped dancing and looked at him with worry. "Grimm…jow." He whispered right before he collapsed just like Kai. Shiro knelt next to him and tried to shake him awake. "Hey, Ichigo!" He didn't wake up. All the sober people on the dance floor hurried over to help. "What happened, kid?"

"The hell should I know. He just stopped dancing and collapsed."

"We need to call an ambulance."