Author's Comment:
This chapter was re-written because my laptop died on me before I managed to back the story up. So, this is more or less a half-assed version that WILL be edited if I manage to get my data back. I scribbled this up so you people can know what is happening in the story and so I can continue writing (almost) as if nothing happened. Oh, and so you don't think I'm on a break from writing again ^^ I know you waited long enough for the previous chapter. Thank you all for reading my work and for your lovely comments and critique.

~Kazuma


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The Substitute Teacher

Chapter 15


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"What the hell are you doing here," Renji asked with a frown on his face.

"It's good to see you too," Byakuya smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Aren't you going to invite me inside?"

"No."

Byakuya sighed. "I've missed you, Renji."

"I…"

"I've really missed you. Haven't you missed me too? Let me in, we can talk…"

Renji's frown disappeared to Byakuya's soft voice, almost as a conditioned reaction. He felt the familiar burn behind his eyeballs – a feeling he'd forgotten for the past several months. He looked Byakuya in the eye. "Look, I've got company right now."

"So you've really moved on? I thought Rukia was exaggerating."

"Why would she?"

"Well, a man can hope, right?" Byakuya, gave a small, almost invisible smile.

Renji decided to ignore that. "So… You're back or just visiting?"

"Hm. That depends."

"On what?"

"On you. I've realized that I really don't want to be without you. So… If that's what it takes to be with you, I will gladly move back here. What do you say?"

"I say you can book a flight back to Paris first thing tomorrow morning."

"Renji…"

"Don't 'Renji' me! You're only ever thinking about yourself! You show up here and you can't even respect that I'm friggin' happy with somebody else!"

"We were together for years, this can't be-"

"It can be! It is! And as far as I'm concerned, this is for life," Renji argued, actually surprised that he was able to see it so clearly. He was ready to remain with Ichigo forever – or, as much of forever as an average human life could provide.

Byakuya seemed genuinely surprised for a moment or two, but he quickly put back his straight face. "Do I know him?"

"No, you don't."

"Can I meet him?"

"That depends," Renji narrowed his eyes on his ex.

"On what," Byakuya chuckled at the way Renji used his little game.

Renji heaved a sigh. "We can still be friends. I don't hate you or anything, but I'm done with you in any romantic way there is. You can't ask me back or flirt with me in front of him."

"But I can when we're alone…?" Byakuya cocked his head.

"Not ever."

"Why are you so protective?"

"I'm not. I'm just being considerate and nice."

Before Byakuya managed to answer, his eyes darted over Renji's shoulder and he nodded. "Well, hello there."

Renji turned around in a second. Ichigo was standing by the doorway of the small corridor that led from the bedroom to the living area. He was wearing Renji's sweatpants and T-shirt that were obviously too big for him and he was mutely staring at the two by Renji's front door. Renji sighed again and stepped aside so the boy wouldn't think he was hiding something.

"Hi," Ichigo finally croaked.

"What's your name?" Byakuya asked, taking a slow step inside the apartment.

"Kurosaki Ichigo."

"I'm Kuchiki Byakuya. Pleased to meet you."

"You're Rukia's brother?"

"Yes, I am..."

"And he was just leaving," Renji added, glaring at Byakuya.

The man chuckled. "Yes. I just stopped by to say 'hello' to a good, old friend of mine." He walked out of the apartment and turned to Renji once more. "I'll call you later," his voice was a low sensual purr.

Renji barely managed to keep himself from slamming the door as he closed it.

"It's him, right? The one who kept inviting you to Paris," Ichigo asked as he flopped down on the sofa.

"Yeah, he is. Wait, how do you know about that?" Renji joined the boy on the sofa and put an arm around his shoulders.

"There was a dedication on that book of greatest love poems. Remember, that I borrowed?"

"Yeah, I remember. So, I've got some explaining to do, huh?"

"Well, no... If you don't wanna," Ichigo shrugged, staring at the muted TV.

"No, I want to. I don't wanna keep anything from you."

"Okay... Should I be worried?"

Renji pulled him into a tight embrace. "No, Ichi. You'll never have to be worried."

"Then... Tell me about you two. Your story, how you've met and all that," the boy relaxed against him, resting his head on Renji's shoulder.

Renji sighed, remembering his past and playing with the strawberry blond hair for some time.


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He'd met Kuchiki Byakuya when he was twelve. Byakuya was fifteen and the Kuchiki family had just adopted Rukia. When they came for her to Miss Saiko's house, Renji only remembered seeing perfection out of this world, incarnated in ivory skin and raven black hair that was falling freely around the boy's shoulders.

It didn't bother him much that it was a boy, just like him.

The child's fascination was forgotten for the next several years. Rukia would come to visit occasionally, but always without her new older brother.

When he was eighteen, he was invited to spend the summer with Rukia and her family. Of course, he then met Byakuya again and that was it for him. After several days of feeling lovesick, he decided to confess his new feelings to Rukia.

It felt amazing to find out that the other had his eye on him as well. One thing led to another and Renji had spent the remainder of the summer with Byakuya in his arms.

Renji was in love with him, he loved him, he burned with emotions for Rukia's older brother. He believed that Byakuya had loved him as well, only in a lot more toned-down way. It was more like he'd let Renji hold him and do everything he wanted. It looked more like patience than love.

Renji never doubted the relationship he had with the noble heir. They were together until the Kuchiki family decided to move to France – for how long, nobody could tell.

When Byakuya asked him to come and live with him in Paris, he almost screamed 'yes' but stopped himself, realizing something. He'd follow this man to the other side of the World just like that, without questions?

The more Byakuya explained, the more Renji didn't want to go. He realized that he would be nothing there. He didn't speak the language, so he wouldn't be able to teach. He would just be there and would do nothing until Byakuya would return home after a work day.

And when he asked why Byakuya wouldn't stay in Japan, he answered that it wasn't part of the plan. He had finished college and was ready to take over the business, so he was needed in Paris.

Byakuya thought that he'd like the life he was offering to him. He wouldn't need to do anything, just be there with him. As strange as it may sound, Renji was offended. Byakuya asked him to give up on his dreams and plans, give up on his whole life and just come to live at his family's expense in France. Some would accept it in a blink of an eye, but Renji was too proud.

What hurt the most was that Byakuya didn't seem to care. He was actually surprised when Renji turned him down.

'I thought you knew me,' were the last words that Renji told him before he'd left for France.


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"And that was nearly a year before I met you..." Renji murmured, nuzzling Ichigo's hair.

"So he was your first, like you're mine?"

"Well, he wasn't my first kiss, but all the other stuff... yeah."

"Who was your first kiss?"

Renji chuckled, remembering. "My best buddy, Shuuhei. We were fifteen and curious."

"You've never mentioned him."

"Well, we had a fight and we kinda stopped talking a few years ago..."

"Wow," Ichigo blinked. "I can't even imagine being like that with Chad or Ishida... What was the fight about?"

"It was about Byakuya and how he's no good for me. Hah, I guess Shuu was right. Man, was I stupid."

"You should call him."

"I should," Renji nodded. "I will."

Ichigo finally smiled. "Thank you for telling me all that."

"Thank you for listening," Renji smiled back. He pulled Ichigo closer. "By the way, I love seeing you wearing my clothes."

"Yeah?"

"Mm. But..."

"But?"

"But now they've gotta come off," Renji murmured with a grin and tackled the boy, making him laugh out loud.


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To be continued...