Title: Mini Marshmallows
Author/Artist: Cheza-chan
Theme(s): #18 – Disheveled; In the Rain; Thunder
Pairing/Characters: Kurosaki Ichigo/Abarai Renji
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach... but when I marry Tite Kubo, I probably will XD
Summary/Notes: Takes place... during... meh, before the completed Arrancars descend down to fight; when Renji and the others show up from the Soul Society. My Renji/Ichigo pairings come out seeming... cute! I dunno why...
Also, to notnow (if you happen to look here still) , no, no one's seeing anyone behind anyone else's back (smile). Ichigo doesn't want Inoue to be worried about him or miss anymore school coming to visit him for such a trivial matter. He figures, they miss enough with Hollows, Arrancars, and Vaizard (visored, whichever…)
Mini Marshmallows
Orihime Inoue was trapped in her own homeroom. Surrounded by the usual crowd of classmates, she chanced a glance over her shoulder. As though she'd loudly dropped a book onto the floor or desk, the duo from Zaraki Kenpachi's Eleventh Division and the Tenth Division captain turned to stare at her. Yumichika waved and it was only common courtesy that she wave back.
Orihime then surveyed the entire room. Rangiku blocked the doors; she sat in such a way that if an escape were to be attempted through either door, she'd reach it in a suitable amount of time. Retaining a bright smile, the young girl returned to the conversation at hand when Tatsuki questioned her.
All Shinigami present were under strict orders from Ichigo not to let her leave school before it was out, especially if it was to pay him a visit at home.
Orihime sighed softly to herself then smiled, giving her friends her full attention.
§§§
The damp orange hair clung to the boy's fevered brow. Glossy brown eyes slid open at the cold cloth against his skin. Yuzu smiled down at her bedridden brother. Kurosaki Ichigo groaned, turning his head away. "It's your own fault," Karin stated, sticking a thermometer under his tongue. "I don't know what possessed you but, standing out in the rain like that…?"
"I thought Yuzu was the grown up one," Ichigo mumbled around the object restricting proper speech. He coughed and fisted a hand tightly into the sheets.
The thermometer was removed and the young brunette sighed, "I'm not claiming to be grown up. I'm just here to chew you out. Why were you out in the rain?"
With Kon keeping his body safe, Ichigo had attempted to return to the Soul Society with Renji and the others to report the current happenings. Unohana, who was still in the living world, wouldn't permit it, so he waited outside of "Urahara Shoten". The heavens broke minutes later and after an hour of standing in the pouring rain—Kisuke came out to invite him in, but his offer was turned down—Rukia finally came to get the other Shinigami.
"It doesn't matter," he said hoarsely, glancing at the window.
Yuzu left then to check on the tea she was brewing for him, leaving the two eldest siblings alone together. Karin took her brother's hand, forcing him to look at her. "What's really going on, Ichi-nii? You can see, touch, and channel ghosts—I'm sure we all can, even goat chin, I'm sure of it. But…"
"Karin," Ichigo sighed, closing his eyes.
"That day... right in front of me... what happened?" the girl added as he tried to interrupt her once again.
Yuzu saved the Shinigami from having to lie any further by returning. "I brought some visitors," she announced from the doorway.
"If it's Inoue, I'm gonna kick her butt."
"You still have no respect for others," Rukia drawled, crossing her arms. Renji stood beside her, his eyes averted. "We brought you a gift," she chirped, raising a black and silver thermos.
Karin released her brother's hand and stood, sticking her arms behind her head. "Let's go, Yuzu." Hesistantly, Yuzu followed her sister.
"You really are an idiot," Rukia scoffed once the door was closed. "What did you think, Nii-sama would take the place of his fukutaichou after one report?" Rukia scoffed once the door was closed. "You're like a lost, lovesick puppy. And this idiot next to me…" She tossed the thermos to the redhead and smiled. "No wonder you're perfect for each other, you're both idiots. I'm going to see if I can pick your sisters' brains on how much they know. Play nice," Rukia added teasingly, stepping out of the room and closing the door.
Renji sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling a little uncomfortable. For a second time, he'd been afraid of confronting the young boy. "Sorry I didn't come by sooner. Delivering that report took longer than I thought. Actually… me and Rukia stayed a while to make you this."
Forcing himself into a sitting position, Ichigo watched the other Shinigami pull the chair from his desk up to the bed. Ichigo gave a small smile as Renji unscrewed the multi-functional cap and began pouring out the steaming liquid into it. His smile faltered then failed at the constant sounds of something solid, yet small, hitting a liquid surface. As the sounds progressed at a steady rate, he snatched the cup from the redhead. "What the hell is this?" Ichigo asked hoarsely, the violent tick visible in his forehead.
"Hot chocolate with… mini marshmallows."
So many marshmallows floated within the cocoa, there was no room for them to move about, and so they just bobbed there, somehow managing to look unpleasant for all their fluffy, cuteness.
The throbbing vein disappeared and Ichigo grinned. "Thank you," he sighed, leaning across the small gap to place a kiss to the fukutachiou's lips.
Renji blushed, grinning also.