Title: Apotheosis
Series: sequel to Nexus
Author: Akuni
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: M for 'Much Smut'
Pairing: Renji/Ichigo
Spoilers: read through Soul Society & Arrancar Arcs
Summary: One year after Nexus, Ichigo and Renji face personal challenges and a new crisis that threatens everyone.
Word Count: 60,000ish
Warnings: There is more talk about the war with Aizen that I wrote around in Nexus. There are mentions of character deaths during the war, but they're mostly minor. Should also be noted that there's some definite Shuuhei/Yumichika subtext, and off camera Hitsugaya/Hinamori.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, I'm just borrowing it for a while.
Distribution: Also posted to my LJ. Please ask if you want to share it :)

Dedication: To my wonderful beta Shelagh, for putting up with my writing process and for drawing the amazing art that goes with my stories. She keeps me on the path of reality when my feet try to take me down sugar plum lane. And for Sara, our partner in fangirling and BL love, for helping us stay silly and sane. And I suppose even for my husband, who has had to endure my mental love affair with Renji, my extended hours on my laptop writing this beast, and my ups and downs while writing it. One night we got drunk and he let me read all my fics out loud to him in one night (yes, even all of Nexus) - my voice was ruined the next day, but we had a great laugh. He laughed in all the right places, and wouldn't let me chicken out and stop reading at the sexy bits. :)

And as always, to all my fellow Renji/Ichigo fangirls/guys out there. We know it's impossible, we know it's silly, and we know it's damned hot!

A/N: I said Nexus ate my life - I was wrong. So very wrong. The idea for Apotheosis came to me while I was still writing Nexus, and I scribbled down a couple pages of notes as I went along. Nexus was posted at the end of August, and it's now December. I've only taken a handful of days off writing this story - I even took my notebook to work and scribbled lines and scenes as they came to me. This is definitely an obsession. And I loved every minute of it. I hope you all do, too.

Chapter 3 - Duty

Renji and Rukia were waiting for Ichigo when he entered Soul Society that evening.

"Ichigo, welcome back!" Rukia stretched on her toes to hug him. "Gimme!" she insisted playfully, stepping back and making grasping motions with her hands.

Ichigo laughed. "Say please."

Rukia rolled her eyes. "Pleeaaase."

Ichigo dug in his knapsack. "Found volume eight. That's the one where—"

"Don't tell me, I want to read for myself!" Rukia snatched the manga out of his hands. "Thanks!"

"Gotcha somethin' else, too." He held out a small velvet bunny in a shinigami uniform. It had taken all his courage to ask Ishida to make it, but to his surprise the Quincy had realized immediately it was for Rukia, and had done it up in a blink without a single joke at Ichigo's expense.

Rukia squealed with delight. "Ooh, it's so cuuute!" she exclaimed. "Wherever did you find the outfit? It even has a tiny zanpakutou!"

"Ah, I asked Ishida to help," he rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "Thanks for what ya did a couple weeks ago. Yanno, about the time off an' all."

"Oh... well I just wanted to help," Rukia smiled, still absorbed in her bunny. "It's got to be difficult sometimes…"

Ichigo looked up to find Renji grinning broadly at the pair of them. He smiled back, fighting the impulse to rush to his lover's side. They stood staring at each other silently for what seemed like hours.

"Well?" Rukia finally looked up from her gifts to stare at them. "What's wrong with you two?" she demanded.

"Er?"

"Eh?"

"You haven't seen each other in weeks. You could at least hug or something." Her eyes danced mischievously.

"Oh." Ichigo blinked.

Renji rolled his eyes before moving to embrace him briefly, their energies linking lightly. "She's such a pain sometimes, yanno?" he commented loudly as they headed toward the Division offices. Rukia was walking a pace ahead, nose buried in her book.

"Tell me about it. She lived in my closet for months, remember." Ichigo winked at Renji, directing his overemphasized remark to the petite shinigami's back.

"Yeah well I've been stuck with her every day for years, an' no end in—ow! Dammit Rukia, no fair pinching!"

Ichigo snickered. "Ow! Hey, he started it…"

§

Ichigo's first night in Soul Society was marked by an impromptu gathering of friends and comrades in the 5th Division headquarters. Almost everyone he knew in Seireitei showed up at some point; shinigami he only knew by sight went out of their way to welcome him and express their thanks once again for his assistance in the war nearly four years ago. Every time he visited, there were at least a few shinigami who felt the need to go through the little ritual of thanks.

That was the last day they had for over a week without an alert. Ichigo was rather hastily attached to the 3rd Division in order to bolster their ranks, something the still weakened Division needed badly. They were so busy, Ichigo barely noticed the days passing by until Rukia wished him a happy birthday. There was no time to stop and take advantage of the excuse to celebrate until the attacks subsided several days later.

§

Ichigo wound up playing host to their friends, though so far only Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Iba had shown up; Renji, Shuuhei, and Kira were tied up in a captains' meeting, and Rukia and Matsumoto had been hauled off by Yachiru for a gathering of the Shinigami Women's Association.

"They ever gonna get here? Renji's supposed t' be hostin' this damn party!" Ikkaku waved from the floor, indicating the small gathering.

"He's on his way," Ichigo noted absently as he poured another round. "The meeting ran long."

"If ya say so," Ikkaku said equably.

Ichigo blinked at him. "You can't be that drunk already! You can't feel it?"

"Uh, no? Ain't got th' same kinda connection, yanno. Ya got more range'n me, least where it comes t' Renji. Emotions, or some shit – forget how it works, exactly. 4th knows, ask 'em sometime."

"Oh. So… the stronger you feel about someone…?" Ichigo was pleased that he could have this conversation now without feeling uncomfortable. He was getting used to Ikkaku's casual disregard for propriety – and his inability to pass up the opportunity to crack a joke, even at his own expense.

The bald shinigami sat up with a laugh. "Ya really need t' learn 'bout this stuff, Ichigo. All these years an' ya still don't know nothin'!"

"Hah, I don't do so bad for someone who didn't go to shinigami school or whatever," Ichigo grinned. "Kicked your ass, didn't I?"

Iba snorted. "'Gotcha there."

Yumichika tossed his head. "At least he's aware, Ikkaku. You're about as sensitive as a block of lead if you can't even sense the captain-level reiatsu headed in this direction." He frowned. "Shuuhei is very tired… you're right, Ichigo. I don't think the meeting went well."

When the shinigami in question arrived, they were tired but eager to join the party.

"I'm totally beat," Renji sighed as he threw his cloak on a chair and flopped down beside Ichigo, their reiatsu already linking subtly. "They talk an' talk an' talk!" Shuuhei nodded as he helped himself to a drink.

"Think of all those students who look up and are inspired by the 'glamorous' life of a captain. I wonder if they'd be half so eager if they knew about all the meetings and paperwork," Kira chuckled.

Shuuhei snorted. "Glamorous? Right!"

"All that damn paperwork!" Renji groaned. "I hate paperwork!"

There was a tap at the door before it opened again to admit Rukia. "Sorry I'm late. Rangiku-san sends her regrets." She pointed at Ichigo. "You owe her a meal for distracting Yachiru so I could finally get out of the meeting." Then she pointed at Renji. "And you owe Nii-sama—"

"What! Why'm I bein' dragged in ta this? What's he got t' do with this?"

"She went with Yachiru to interview Nii-sama for the Shinigami Women's Association Newsletter."

Renji groaned. "Tea, right?" Rukia nodded. The other shinigami in the room groaned right along with him.

Renji looked at Ichigo gloomily. "All you gotta do is buy lunch for Matsumoto, and I hafta make tea for Kuchiki-taichou. That's not even a li'l bit fair, you got no idea..." His eyes brightened. "Tell ya what, Ichigo… I'll buy her lunch – hell, I'll buy her lunch an' yours – if ya help me with the tea."

Ichigo shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

The room went silent as everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"What?"

"You… you've never been to tea with Nii-sama, have you?"

"Er, no. We weren't exactly on good terms before, remember? That whole 'I won't let ya kill your sister' thing kept gettin' in the way. We're not exactly best buddies now, either, though he doesn't wanna kill me anymore." Ichigo scratched his head thoughtfully. "I don't think… Anyway, how bad can it be?"

"I'm going to be on a mission that day. Very long mission." Rukia nodded. "Far away. Maybe Karakura…" she smoothed the laughter out of her face. "But now, it's time for presents!"

"Presents? I don't need you guys to gimme presents."

"Don't be stupid, it's your birthday. Everyone gets presents on their birthday." She motioned to Kira. "You got it?"

"It's all done, Kuchiki-san," Kira smiled. Together they handed Ichigo a large envelope. "Happy birthday!" they chimed.

Ichigo opened it curiously. "Duty rosters?" He peered. "I understand havin' my schedule with the 3rd, but… Rukia, why do I have a copy of the 5th Division duty roster? For the next two months?"

"What? Lemme see that!" Renji made a grab for the papers Ichigo tilted towards him. Their heads collided as they bent to examine the schedules.

"Watch it, idiot!" Ichigo scowled.

"Fuck, your head is hard!" Renji rubbed the red spot on his forehead.

They bent again – carefully, this time – to look at the papers. It only took a few seconds for them to recognize the matching patterns of their days off.

"Ah…" Ichigo cleared his throat. "Thanks, both of you." Rukia beamed at him, her eyes sparkling.

"Thanks, Kira," Renji slapped his former school mate on the back. "An' you," Renji patted Rukia on the head playfully. "Since you're so good at doin' the roster, I guess ya got yourself a new job." She gaped at him. "Or ya could help with Kuchiki-taichou's tea," he grinned at her.

"My turn!" Yumichika presented his gift with a flourish.

Ichigo had enough presence of mind to very carefully undo the… he grinned mentally… the beautiful wrappings. It was a folded map of the Seireitei, each building neatly labelled. There were several paths marked out through the streets in some colour code that Ichigo couldn't decipher.

"See, here's the 11th Division headquarters. And this," Yumichika pointed to a path in purple ink, "this is Zaraki-taichou's morning patrol. He goes this way every morning, to get his breakfast here." A perfectly manicured finger stabbed at a building labelled 'a small café with good pastries'.

Yumichika went on, explaining the other buildings and paths – which all turned out to be the locations of and directions to Zaraki Kenpachi's favourite spots around Seireitei.

"Uh… thanks, Yumichika. But why do I wanna be able to track down that—uh, track down your captain, exactly?"

"Track him down? Well I guess you could do that, if you wanted a good fight," Yumichika mused. "I was thinking more that this would help you figure out where not to be." The room erupted into laughter as comprehension lit Ichigo's face.

"Oh! This is great, thanks!" he grinned at the happily preening shinigami. "This'll never leave my pocket," Ichigo vowed as he stowed the precious map carefully.

"Put this in there, too." Shuuhei handed him a small piece of paper. "This is the guy who does my ink. You probably don't remember, but he did yours, too. He offers a special deal to all 'Saviours of the Soul Society'," he informed Ichigo with a chuckle. "There's a note in there, he'll throw in an extra discount for you."

"Thanks, I might take him up on that, actually. Just as long as there's no booze involved next time, and you two stay far, far away while I'm deciding what to get and where to get it!" Ichigo pointed at Shuuhei and Renji, who looked unapologetic and entirely pleased with themselves.

"Ink?" Rukia's eyebrows shot up. "Ichigo, you… you have a tattoo? Where is it? Lemme see! It's not like his, is it?"

"You never told her?" Ichigo gave Renji a surprised look.

"Never came up, I guess," Renji shrugged sheepishly.

Ichigo rolled up his sleeve to expose the strawberry on his shoulder. "Was that night right after the war. You were up at the 4th, and this stupid jerk—" Ichigo jerked his head toward the grinning Renji. "—decided to take me out with these other jerks and get me drunk. Woke up with this and a monster hangover the next mornin'… right about there, actually," he nodded toward a spot on the floor.

Another round of laughter swept the room as Ichigo endured Rukia's examination. "That's really cu— nice, Ichigo, it's very nice." Rukia swallowed her giggles and flapped her hand at Ikkaku in an attempt to divert attention.

"Hah, if I'm such a jerk maybe I won't give ya yer gift." Ikkaku bared his teeth, then sniggered. "Nah, I'm jus' too nice a' guy." He tossed Ichigo a small phial on a chain. "S'my special blend. Ya need ta keep this stuff on ya, I keep tellin' ya. Th' way ya get cut up alla time, they shoulda putcha in with us instead a' th' 3rd!"

Ichigo recognized the salve immediately. "I do my best," he laughed. "'Preciate it."

"Iba-san, it's your turn." Rukia waved him on.

"Right." He deposited a square brown package at Ichigo's feet. "Special delivery from Karakura!" Iba swept an exaggerated bow.

"Karakura?" Ichigo tore open the package. Inside were several smaller wrapped packages and a stack of letters. He rifled through the papers quickly, recognizing the handwriting of several friends, both of his sisters, and even his father.

"Oi Renji, this one's got your name on it," Ichigo held out a small waxed paper bundle. "That's Yuzu's writing…"

"Hah!" Renji snatched the bundle out of his hands and dug into it eagerly. "I really love that girl." The sweet, chocolaty scent of Yuzu's baking rose from the package.

Ichigo elbowed him. "How come you're gettin' presents for my birthday, huh?"

"I'm just that kinda guy, what can I say?" Renji grinned around a mouthful.

"Iba, how'd you manage this?" Ichigo knew for a fact that the 7th had been just as busy as the rest of them this past week.

Iba stood very straight. "My ways are many, and they are mysterious, Kurosaki-dono," he intoned solemnly.

"Uh, thank you very much, Iba-fukutaichou," Ichigo tipped his head politely, looking up in confusion when Ikkaku cackled gleefully.

"Ya got 'im, Iba!"

"Tetsu-san, that wasn't very nice," Yumichika chided, though he too was hiding a smile behind his hand. Iba was smirking unabashedly.

"I wrote t' your sisters when ya told me you were comin' here early. Lucky for you they like me an' were willin' t' do me a favour," Renji explained loftily.

"Feh… idiots." Ichigo grinned. "Thanks everyone, this is great." He raised his glass, and the party began in earnest.

I've got some weird friends, but they are good friends. Ichigo laughed at Ikkaku drunkenly attempting to teach Rukia his 'Luck Luck' dance, the not-quite-as-drunk Rukia gamely playing along while Iba commented on their technique.

Through their link he could easily feel Renji's tiredness, but Ichigo was still slightly surprised when Renji shifted to lean against his shoulder.

They never touched each other in public – at least, not like this. They made no secret of their relationship, they were both just extremely private about it. The lightest of spiritual links was maintained, but it was incredibly subtle. True, they always sat together, and in company their legs would often press against each other briefly, but…

Not that this is exactly public – it's our place, after all. It's just our friends, and it's not… it's actually kinda nice. No one even blinked, though I'm pretty sure Rukia and Yumichika're gonna go all sparkly-eyes.

Ichigo returned the pressure with his shoulder, and tentatively leaned his head against Renji's. A surge of affection flowed between them. For some reason Ichigo couldn't understand, his heart began beating wildly.

He caught Rukia smiling at them as she tiptoed her way through another dance – there were those sparkly eyes.

They sat like that together for most of the night. Even when they moved around to join other conversations and refill their glasses, they eventually returned to their comfortable spot leaning against each other.

The party lasted well into the night, ending only when even Ikkaku's seemingly endless supply of drinks ran out.

When everyone finally left, they staggered to their futon, collapsing onto it in a tangled heap. Ichigo was seriously considering just falling asleep where he'd landed when he felt Renji's hands sliding over his chest.

"I thought we were tired?" Ichigo turned on his side to smile at his lover.

"Not too tired t' give ya a proper birthday present," Renji murmured gently. Their lips brushed, meeting again and again, each time pressing more firmly than the last until they finally parted to allow soft tongues to slowly, sleepily caress each other. They brought their hands together, linking their fingers as they began their private celebration.

§

Omake
-Chapter 3 omake-

Shuuhei: I think the "wrap Renji up as a present" idea wasn't so bad.

Yumichika: How tacky, Shuu-chan!

Akuni: (giggles)

Shuuhei: Dammit Yumi don't call me that... (inpublic)

Akuni: I think it's sweet.

Rukia: She is so right.

Yumichika: You're outvoted, Shuu-chan! At least they appreciate romance!

Shuuhei: (sighs)

Rukia: (thoughtful) Yumichika-san, there's something I think you might be able to help me with.

Yumichika: Ohh?

Rukia: I've convinced Nanao-san to let me borrow her camera, and I thought with your eye for beauty, you might be willing to help me capture a special moment.

Yumichika: (sparkles)

Shuuhei: Uh oh… I am so outta here…

Yumichika: Not so fast, Shuuhei!

Shuuhei: Crap.

Akuni: Sorry, Shuuhei, he's faster than I am.

Ichigo: Hey guys, what's up?

All: NOTHING!

Renji: … Uh, ok. (aside to Ichigo) I think they're still drunk.

Ichigo: Uh huh. Maybe we should just go back to bed.

Renji: Now that's a good idea!