09.

TITLE: seventeen

WORD COUNT: 1,007

SUMMARY: For Ichigo and Renji, the seventeen months they spent apart from each other felt like an eternity for the both of them.

RATING: PG. No naughty bits or juicy scenes, just two lovers getting back together after some time.

NOTE: This is actually one of the newer pieces which I wrote for this compilation - the original "seventeen" I posted quite some time ago, but due to the way I ordered what was left of the pieces for "inu to tsuki", this shortened version took much longer to get out. The full-length version is funnier, and gets Hot and Steamy, so if you're looking for that then head yonder!

The seventeen months in which Ichigo had no powers whatsoever had been utter hell to bear for the both of them.

The very day the last few remaining shreds had disappeared, it had taken all of his being to suppress his emotions even as Rukia said her farewells, her image growing fainter with each moment before his eyes, as Inoue, Ishida and Sado looked on a short distance away. She had looked up with him, eyes glittering, and whispered, "Thank you," even as the petite shinigami's figure, now barely a pale imitation of a ghost, finally vanished into thin air, no longer visible to Ichigo, her presence something he was unable to feel anymore.

Not just hers, but that of a red-haired shinigami as well, who had been watching the entire scene from behind a lamppost. Renji had wanted to be the one saying goodbye to Ichigo, had even contemplated doing it a day before the end of it all, while his image could remain whole in Ichigo's eyes and mind, but eventually relented and asked Rukia to do it on his behalf – she knew him better, he reasoned, being the one who had awakened his powers.

And he didn't want to make it any harder for his partner than it already was, even as he turned and began walking away, a single tear rolling down his cheek and splashing onto a clenched fist. Inoue was the one who noticed the redhead walking away, with Ishida's and Sado's eyes on Ichigo, who was now staring up at the sky; she was certain the pain she felt in her chest was Renji's, her right palm closing over where her heart was.

Ichigo had no idea how the next seventeen months went by him – sure, graduating junior high and moving up into high school was big enough, and that kept him busy for a while, but he was reminded of his current reality every now and then, when Ishida would suddenly run out of the classroom without any notice, with Inoue or Sado – or sometimes even the both of them – occasionally following behind, or when he'd sometimes take a stroll around the neighbourhood after classes and happen to chance upon the sight of Karin leaving Urahara's shop, the eccentric man always giving him a quick glance with an expression the orange-head couldn't quite read before waving a cheery goodbye to the young girl.

And despite having told Mizuiro and Asano that he was perfectly all right with his new life now when the latter brought up Rukia during lunch one day and wondered aloud how she was doing, the rather terse tone of Ichigo's voice and how he had looked away from his friends as he muttered, "I'm all right" betraying his true sentiments, even as he knew, as he was saying those words, that he didn't feel it.

And then he ran into Kugo Ginjo, who promised to help restore his powers in exchange for removing those of his and his companions and allowing them to live as normal humans.

Ichigo was ecstatic at those words – sure, he'd found the taller, broader man's offer suspicious at first, but Sado's admittance that he felt Ichigo's pain of not having the strength to protect those dear to him, coupled with Ginjo's urging, won him over, and soon he was training eagerly with the rest of Xcution. With every swordfight, every punch and kick, he could feel his powers returning, increasing, developing, growing -

only for it all to be taken away by the very man who had swore to give him back the abilities he once had, the same man who now had him sprawled face down on the ground, a foot on the younger man's back, a smirk across his face even as he kicked Ichigo's hand away. "Fool – come after me one more time, and I won't show any mercy."

Ichigo couldn't believe what was happening, couldn't believe what he was hearing – even as he shakily stood up, balancing himself unevenly on his sword, one uncertain step after another as he tried to reach towards Ginjo to reclaim his hard-earned powers. And just as he was about to touch the silver-haired man, now standing with his arms folded across his chest, a bemused look on his face, he gasped as he felt the sharp edge of a sword run through him.

There was no pain, though – only a soothing warmth flowing into him, even as he turned around to see a familiar figure in black forming before his eyes, a smile on her face even as Rukia said, "It's been far too long, Ichigo." Even as the warmth grew progressively hotter, Ichigo made out the silhouettes of a few other figures standing a distance away from Rukia, and his heart skipped a beat when he recognised the crimson hair, distinctive tattoos and that all-too-familiar face, now looking at him with a wide grin on his face.

"Ichigo!"

He barely had time to call out his partner's name, though, before Ginjo leapt towards him, broadsword aimed at his throat; battle instincts returned to him, though, once he grabbed the hilt of his sword and blocked Ginjo's attack with one swift move. Before long, all of the Fullbringers were defeated, the ringleader with a surprised, pained expression on his face even as he lay dead, Ichigo closing his eyes and bowing his head a little before turning away from the body of the person he just defeated.

"Ichigo."

He opened his eyes again to see Renji walking towards him. His eyes starting to brim with tears, Ichigo began walking, striding, runningtowards him, burying his face in the redhead's chest, his arms around the older man's waist even as the latter ruffled his orange hair, another hand stroking his back..

"Renji….." Ichigo's voice was choked and trembling as he looked up at the other shinigami's face, a tear running down his cheek. Renji smiled slightly, even as he wiped the trail with his thumb.

"It's good to be back, Ichigo."