The Substitute Teacher

Chapter 9


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Ichigo was overwhelmed, feeling Renji so close, his big hands on his cheeks, his warm breath against his lips... Was it just a special moment, or the redhead saw him that way too, Ichigo had no idea and at the moment, he didn't think it really mattered. Nothing mattered but Renji's warmth pressed close to him.

He swallowed nervously and kept looking at his sensei, who in turn kept caressing his face.

The loud chirp from Renji's cell phone made them both wince. The redhead slowly let him go and reached into his pocket, checking the screen before answering.

"Hey Rukia... I... I'll be fine," Renji reached out and gently squeezed Ichigo's shoulder in a thankful manner. "You don't have to come over. Yeah, Ichigo's here." Then he gave a tiny smirk at something that Rukia said. "Sure, I'll tell him. Bye, sweetie."

Ichigo blinked, giving him a curious look.

"Rukia said 'hi'," Renji murmured, looking a bit uncomfortable. "You... You'll stay?"

The boy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "If you want me here, of course I'll stay,"

This great, big man looked so vulnerable right now that Ichigo wanted to keep hugging him for the rest of the evening. But that would be ridiculous, right?

"I want you to stay," the redhead said, visibly relaxing. It seemed that he really didn't want to be alone that night. It should be something to talk about, not try to hide, so Renji acted on it, even chuckling a bit.

"Uh, this must be really weird to you... I'm really not my usual self today."

It hurt a bit for Ichigo to hear. So the embrace and every touch in between was not the usual Abarai-sensei. He managed a sour smile. "It's okay... I don't mind."

"I didn't mean," the older man stumbled over his words, "I didn't mean that's a totally opposite of me... You know? It's more like... I allow myself more than I would... or should..."

So he must have seen Ichigo's painful smile and tried to alter his answer. Ichigo shook his head and looked at his sensei, this time without the sour look on his face. "I'll just call my dad, so he doesn't worry, okay?"

Renji let out a breath he wasn't even aware he was holding. "Sure."


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"Are you hungry? I could make you something," Ichigo got into 'Yuzu mode' without noticing until the words were already out. It probably ran in the family.

Renji shifted on his seat on the sofa and eyed the boy a bit suspiciously. "You can cook?"

"Yeah," Ichigo sounded offended. "... Probably," he added silently, slouching into the sofa mattress.

The redhead couldn't help but chuckle at the teen's stubbornness. "Probably?" As Ichigo got flushed to the tips of his ears, Renji gave a gentle smile. "You don't have to do that. I didn't ask you to stay so you would cook for me or anything."

"I want to, okay? You should just take it easy and sit right here on the sofa and do something you enjoy..." Ichigo scratched the back of his head. "I can make pancakes..."

"You're really something, yanno," Renji shook his head. "I wanna keep you company while you do that."

"You're scared there'll be egg shell in them, huh?"

The redhead snorted at the accusation before his expression fell into a guilty look on his face. "I'm... I'm having too much fun considering... Considering today..."

"Hey... It's okay," the teen scooted closer until their shoulders were touching. He leaned into the warmth of the other man, nudging him gently. "You knew this was gonna happen, you know? You're prepared... It's not a bad thing to laugh or have a bit of fun. That doesn't mean you don't respect her... She'd be happy for you, that you're not suffering... What mother would like her kid to suffer?"

Ichigo bit his tongue, realizing that he's the one that has been moody all this time, before Renji came to substitute in his school. His mother would definitely want him to stop blaming himself for what happened.

"Don't be like me," he added, giving Renji a sincere look. "You have to think about yourself now..."

"I'm trying to," the redhead murmured, inclining his head to the side.

"About the things you want..." Ichigo continued.

Renji slowly shifted in his seat, turning to the teen.

"F-for example... That youth center..." The boy stuttered, again lost in those deep eyes. In the slightly darkened room, Renji's eyes looked almost unnatural, such a beautiful shade of mahogany.

"S-sensei..."

"I'm gonna get in so much trouble," Renji whispered.

"What for?"

The redhead observed him silently, his hand sliding up where it was before, caressing Ichigo's cheek. As the teen gently gripped the other's wrist, keeping his hand against his face, Renji pulled him closer until he was in his arms. He got a close view of the tattoos on Renji's neck but forgot all about them when warm fingers gently tipped his chin up.

Ichigo felt his heart throbbing all the way up in his throat as Renji pressed his mouth against his and kissed him gently. He timidly returned the kiss, trying to remember how to breathe when his lungs began to burn from the lack of air. Ichigo tried to calm his racing heart as those soft, warm lips increased the pressure before pulling away.

"For this," the older man whispered against his mouth, his fingers sliding into the bright hair, just above Ichigo's ear. "For having the thoughts that a decent teacher should never have about his student."

"W-what if the student has the same thoughts," Ichigo asked with a shy but hopeful smile.

"Does he," Renji murmured, nuzzling the boy's lips.

"He does," the teen breathed, closing his eyes and blushing at the confession. Feeling Renji's lips moving against his as he spoke was making his head swim and his stomach flutter.

"That still doesn't make it appropriate," Renji said softly but didn't pull away, his fingers still gently playing with Ichigo's hair.

"I don't care," Ichigo said, shivering even as he was in a warm embrace. His breath hitched as Renji kissed him again while cupping the back of his head, holding him close. He had no idea what he was doing, but it all felt insanely good. The gentle slide of lips and only a hint of tongue was all he could focus on, except for letting his hand explore the broad chest before going to Renji's neck to trace the tattoos on the soft skin.

Ichigo had never been kissed before, but somehow he could tell that Renji was doing it great. He was gently nipping his lips, slowly moving his own against them. His tongue was slowly sliding between his lips, just to tease. It was controlled and light, enough to create desire for more.

Just as the teen found some courage to respond more eagerly, the older man pulled away, caressing his face. Wordlessly, he started to kiss his jaw and neck before embracing him tightly, burying his nose in his hair.

Ichigo closed his eyes and relaxed in his arms. He was unconsciously rubbing his face against the material of Renji's hoodie, enjoying the softness and the scent that lingered all around the redhead. It went straight to a place deep inside his chest, which made him want more kisses from that man. He turned his head, sliding his lips over the tattoos on Renji's neck before reaching his ear.

"Kiss me again," he asked quietly, taking a deep breath after the words have left his mouth. He felt the hold around him tighten for a moment and then lips claiming his in a flash, this time a bit more demanding.

Ichigo mewed as the sinuous tongue delved inside his mouth, stroking his own. The heat was burning his cheeks while tingles ran down his spine and pooled in his lower belly. At the moment, he was ready for anything. He would do anything.

His arms slowly wrapped around his sensei's shoulders as he was gently pushed to lie on his back.


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To be continued...