Chapter 1
Longing
Legal Blah: I don't own bleach, although if I did romance drama would be everywhere.
Rating Blah: M *for later yoai smut, swearing, violence, and all that good stuff
Author note blah: this is my first multichapter story. It's a RenjiXIchigo story so if you don't like that stuff don't read it. If you do and flame me, I will sick hungry hollows on you. And please leave comments as they are always welcome!!
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How on earth can you possibly live each and everyday of your life completely oblivious to the fact that someone is head-over-heels in love with you? This was the question Ichigo asked himself as he followed Renji to another hollow attack. He had known the shinigami for over a year now. An entire year of fights and friendship that had slowly melted Ichigo's hardened heart.
When it started in middle school it was just a phase. His hormones were overreacting, he reasoned, he would get over liking guys. But he hadn't, and Ichigo had finally admitted to himself that he was indeed gay. It was a trial to say the least. Should he tell someone? Who? What would they think of him? Would anyone one he knew disown him for his sexuality?
After almost a year of hiding, he had finally confided in Yuzu and Karin, knowing his two sisters was the most likely not to judge him. The girls had been a little shocked, but quickly got over it. They had told Ichigo he was no different in their eyes then he had been before his revelation. It was like the world had gotten warmer. Over the next few months he told his friends, all of whom shared similar reactions with his sisters. All except Chad, who confessed he'd expected as much from the start.
Now he was facing a different dilemma. One that he felt couldn't be hidden for much longer. It had started out as a crush, an infatuation. But the days had slipped by and Renji had become much more then a friend, Ichigo loved him. At night he lay in bed thinking about those strong tattooed arms around him. It felt like a million hell butterflies had gone nuts in his stomach. His heart would ache in longing. But how to tell Renji? He had finally decided on the course of very strong hints. Like compliments and flashing Renji one of his rare, genuine smiles. The thickheaded man however, didn't seem to notice at all, which leads us back to Ichigo's earlier question.
How on earth can you possibly live each and everyday of your life completely oblivious to the fact that someone is head-over-heels in love with you?
They reached the playground were the cell phone in Renji's hand indicated the hollow was. They heard a shrill call from up above them. The hollow looked like a dinosaur with angel wings and a long whip-like tail. The two shinigami jumped into the air supporting themselves on platforms of their own spirit energy.
"I'll distract it while you go for the head!" yelled Renji to Ichigo. The orange haired teen nodded and got into position.
"Hey over here ya giant pigeon!" chided Renji. The hollow looked at him and shrieked angrily. While it was looking away, Ichigo easily sliced through its mask from behind. The bird disintegrated leaving the two men standing in the sky alone.
"Good work. Now let's get the hell outta here," said Renji. Ichigo made to follow, but was stopped short as a deep longing possessed him. "Oh Ichigo, you coming or what?"
"I…yeah I'm coming," Ichigo replied lamly. They shunpoed to Ichigo's house where they both entered his window and retrieved their bodies.
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"Hey Renji?" asked Ichigo a week later at lunch. The two men were sitting a little apart from the rest of their friends, mostly because they wanted to avoid Orihime's cooking. The red head grunted for the other to continue.
"Where'd you get your tattoos?" Renji looked at Ichigo a moment before asking, "Why?"
"Just curious I guess."
"If ya must know I got these when I turned 16 along with a friend of mine. We got identical tattoos. The only difference was his eye brows were different then mine because of his hair. It was kind of like a best-friends-forever thing." He smiled at the memory.
"So where's your friend now?" asked Ichigo, regretting it when he saw Renji's pained expression.
"He died a long time ago," the older man whispered. They sat there for a moment. The breeze tickled Ichigo's cheek, bringing with it the scent of fresh cut grass.
"Hey Ichigo." Ichigo looked over at Renji who continued, "Don't die okay. I've watched a lot of people die, some of them my best friends. I don't want that to happen with you. 'Kay?"
"Okay," sighed Ichigo. He allowed his shoulder to slide until he rested some what on Renji. The small contact made him shiver involuntarily. Renji was one of his best friends, but just that, a friend. He couldn't mess that up.