The Substitute Teacher

Chapter 16


xXx


Several days had passed since Ichigo had met Byakuya, and he nearly forgot about it all. He felt safe and he trusted Renji. What happened in the past should stay in the past, he believed. Ichigo also encouraged his sensei to get back in touch with his childhood friend, Shuuhei. They've talked a few times over the phone and gotten together once, but Ichigo hadn't joined them, believing it was for the best that they had the time to talk to each other alone.

The following Saturday, after finishing homework and helping his dad with trimming the hedge, Ichigo had taken a hurried shower and quickly pulled on the first jeans and T-shirt he found in his closet. He couldn't wait to meet up with Renji.

Ichigo was supposed to come over, but he hadn't texted his sensei the whole day. He figured nothing had changed in their plans and gazed into the hallway mirror one last time.

"Lookin' good," he grinned at his reflection and yelled a goodbye to his dad.

As Ichigo left the house and began walking down the street, crossing three blocks, he was pulled aside by a very firm hand. He swiftly turned around and saw a raven-haired man with pale, flawless face and slate grey eyes.

Ichigo gaped. "You're..."

"That's right, you remember," the cold voice answered. "Now, listen to me very carefully, boy. I want you out of the picture."

"W-what?"

"Renji belongs with me. He's pretty stubborn but I know that eventually, he will come to his senses. Now, to make that faster, I will kindly ask you to step aside."

"You can't ask me that! I... I care about him." Ichigo felt weird saying it to the man, but it was true.

"Oh, that is such a nice thing to say, but you see, you're in my way. If you do care about him, like you say, you will break it off. Today."

"No way," the teen barked angrily and yanked his arm free from Byakuya's hold. "There's no way I'm doing that! Are you crazy? You can't just show up and expect him to take you back! He's with me now!"

"You didn't let me finish," Byakuya murmured, his eyes growing hard on Ichigo. "You will break it. Otherwise, someone might call your father and your school..."

Ichigo's eyes widened in horror as Byakuya continued.

"And someone might mention that everyone's favorite teacher is having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Now, you don't want Renji to end up in prison for seducing a teenage boy, do you?"

"You..." Ichigo's voice trembled with rage. "You can't do that..."

"Oh, I can. And I will."

"You don't care about him at all," the boy gritted his teeth. If there weren't for the huge bodyguard waiting by the car, he might have considered attacking the rich bastard.

"I do care. And I know that you do as well, and that you won't allow it to happen. Right?" The thin lips stretched into a barely visible smirk. Ichigo's resolve was fading.

"I..." Ichigo was barely holding in the sudden tears that threatened to burst. He felt weak. "I'll tell him what you did."

The raven haired man let out a chuckle. "Didn't you hear what I will do in case you don't leave him today?"

Ichigo sensed he might start feeling sick. This was too much. He stared at Byakuya who was just standing there, observing him calmly. He tried to breathe but all he managed were short, shallow gulps. He was familiar with this feeling – the verge of a breakdown.

He couldn't leave Renji... He couldn't hurt the man who was so kind and loving... But he couldn't be the reason for Renji to be sentenced, either... Ichigo would never want it to happen... And he saw that Byakuya meant every word he'd said.

He'll have to do it, for Renji's good.

"And be sure to break it off properly because I'll know," Byakuya added as an afterthought. He looked so emotionless that it was infuriating. "I can find out anything. Today, boy. The sooner the better."

Feeling like his head was full of cotton, Ichigo quickly turned on his heel and hurried down the street back to his house.

Ignoring his sisters' worried looks, he stormed up to his room and locked the door before leaning against it and sliding down to the floor. There, he didn't need to hold back. Hot tears blurred his vision, creating streams down his cheeks. Of course something like this would happen. It was too good to last.

He understood that Byakuya was serious and the mere thought of Renji being prosecuted made him nauseated. He gritted his teeth. At least... At least he could prevent it. He wished he could tell his reasons to the man he adored, but again, Byakuya had set out the rules.

Ichigo sat there on the floor for good twenty minutes, just staring at the wall.

Finally, with a shaky hand, he reached into his pocket and fished out his cellphone. He stared at the picture he had as a background on the little screen: Renji grinning lazily and reaching out to snag his phone. Ichigo wanted to scream.

He felt his throat tightening as he dialed Renji's number. He closed his eyes, waiting for the other man to pick up.

"Hey Ichi," Renji answered happily, "Aren't you on your way here?"

"No," the teen sounded hollow. "I won't be coming over today..."

"What's the matter?"

"I don't..." Ichigo took a deep breath, sniffling a bit. "It's over."

"What's over?" He could hear the puzzlement in Renji's voice.

"Us. It's... I can't be with you anymore..." His whole stomach was quivering but this was for the best, for Renji's sake.

"What, why? Did I make you angry or something? Come on Ichigo, you're just pullin' my leg, aren't ya?"

"N-no... I mean it... This... It was a mistake... This is not what I want anymore..." He cried into the phone.

"Ichigo," the redhead's tone grew serious. "We should talk about this in person."

"No. I don't want to see you now," Ichigo lied. "I won't give you trouble at class... I promise..." His breath hitched as new tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm sorry... Goodbye, Abarai-sensei," he whispered into the cellphone and ended the call.

Ichigo felt his heart breaking as the phone almost immediately started vibrating with an incoming call from Renji. He declined it and turned the device off. Pulling his legs to himself, he hugged his knees and cried, letting the heavy sobs shake his whole body.


xXx


Renji was staring at the cellphone in his hand.

Ichigo just called him 'Abarai-sensei'. Ever since the first night they ended up together, Ichigo had called him by his first name. This was like a punch in the stomach.

Ichigo just broke up with him.

He tried to call him, to get at least an explanation, but the boy had turned the cellphone off. Renji never felt so miserable in his life.

After several moments, his phone rang and he answered it without even checking.

"Ichigo..."

"It's me," Rukia chuckled, "Don't you look when you're answering?"

"Sorry," the redhead murmured.

"Alright, what's wrong?"

"I... I'm not sure..."

"You sound weird. What's up, Renji?"

"... Ichigo just dumped me..."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly that."

"What, why?!"

"I have no idea!" Renji yelled, throwing his free arm up in the air. "I haven't heard from him the whole day and now, he calls me and says it was a mistake and that he doesn't want me anymore."

"Wow. Well... Was he pissed?"

"Not exactly," Renji rubbed the bridge of his nose. "He was kinda stressed out."

"Maybe you should just leave him alone today, and you can see each other tomorrow or something... Maybe someone found out you two were involved and now he doesn't want to be bugged about being gay? Or maybe..."

"Stop that, Rukia," Renji grunted. He really didn't want to believe Ichigo would be like that. But it was a possibility. And it hurt to think that might be the reason.

"I'm sorry... Do you want me to come by?"

"Sorry babe, I just wanna be alone."

That's what he was. Alone. That broody, sweet young man won't be coming over. Renji won't hold him in his arms or kiss him.

Saying a barely audible goodbye, Renji leaned back into the sofa and stared at his hands. Was it really happening? He set the sound on his cellphone to loudest possible, so he wouldn't miss if Ichigo happened to call him. Was it too much to hope for?


xXx


To be continued...