Ichigo's POV
I simply stared at the redhead, eyes scanning, searching, desperately looking for something. Locking eye contact again, I nodded once he added the fact that he wasn't gay, a whore, or a slut…a chill rushing down my spine at the thought.
I think that's how my dad got his blood…grabbing someone for a one-night stand just for blood until he met my mother.
Who was brutally killed when I was only nine. I never really forgave the guy that murdered her. So what if she was teaching me how to feed on a human's crimson liquid, it didn't mean that some bastard had to slaughter her with a rain of bullets.
"I can tell that you aren't," Geez…this is putting such a strain on my voice, which I rarely use. "Well…I don't know what else to say…" My brown orbs trailed down to the floor slowly, legs beginning to feel like wet noodles as the surge to tackle the redhead down rushed through my throbbing veins. I needed blood…I needed it so badly now.
He just grinned a genuine grin. His canines slightly sharper than normal humans', but not like mine, not at all. Reaching into his black backpack, he pulled out what seemed to be a spiral notebook, not that I was really paying attention.
The sound of rustling paper rushed through my ears, making me feel like I had too much alcohol to drink, though in the human realm I was too young. Not that I have ever tasted it before.
"Ah," he hissed, flinching a finger away from the paper, the scent of blood drilling its way into memory. My eyes hazed ever more, glancing at the muscular form as he lifted his right hand, index finger the only one out, a small bubble of rich liquid surfacing. "God, I hate paper cuts," He then smiled, looking at me with an embarrassed wide smile, "don't you?"
"Uh…Ren…" My voice died, staring at the simple slit that made only a tiny droplet peek out, a small droplet driving me insane. "Can I…see that for a…"
He looked at it, then back at me. Then slowly showed it to me, a handful of raspy breaths escaping my mouth as it came closer, closer until…my lips formed around his finger, pink tongue tracing over the warm, hot, liquid.
My eyes fell halfway shut, slowly gazing up at Renji to see that his eyes were wide.
"I…Ich…" he stammered, possibly freaked out that I was happily cleaning the blood. "Ichigo…?"
I slowly took my patches of flesh away from his finger, lifting my head up until we had eye contact, my own eyes instantly widening as my mind recollected itself, a blush slapping and plastering itself on my cheeks and over my nose.
"I-I'm sorry," I quickly apologized, looking away as his orbs slowly lowered to stare at the salivated limb. "I don't know what came over me."
I'll never forget the taste of the think crimson liquid…and who it came from. It was spicy, sure, but bittersweet…like he was hiding something he didn't want anyone else to know.
Hell, it suited him.
Abarai looked back up at me, noticing that I was standing there, contemplating on whether I should run away once again, or get my ass kicked for acting so gay.
What came next I wasn't expecting one bit. He burst out laughing, shoving the hand into his pocket while he lifted his left arm, wrapping it around my neck and pulling me close, his pearly white teeth glistening in the dim light.
The realm of light…where I don't think I can linger in any longer than I should right now.
"A-Abarai?" I gasped, eyes wide as his howling in laughter fell down in volume to a snicker, burying his face into my hair, since my hood fell from the sudden jerk. "Hey…you all right?"
"That's what I should be asking you," he chuckled; I swore I felt his lips tug into a smile, my hair moving and tickling me. "No one's ever done that before."
Only the normal people haven't.
He parted, smiling at me like a maniac, wait…nope; he's not even close to being a maniac, that's someone else I know. I shook my head muttering one word, "Damn."
The redhead blinked, looking at me with new determination flashing in his eyes. "Well…I guess I've wasted more of your time then I should have," Renji grinned, slowly removing the only warmth I've felt since my instincts finally aroused from their long, fifteen year old, rest. "So…I think I should just leave ya alone. I can tell I'm beginning to bother you."
"Huh?"
Then it clicked in my brain. My tenseness around him, licking his finger clean, acting odd…was making him think that I was becoming annoyed with his presence. Sure, when others chatted non-stop, I walked away…but now…now I wonder why I haven't yet.
"You're not bothering me," That slipped past my lips before I even realized it.
Renji's POV
Ichigo had licked my finger clean of blood, which shocked me sure, but puzzled me at the same time. His chocolate eyes turned into that honey-brown as he swept his warm tongue over the crimson liquid.
But right now…he simply announced that I wasn't bothering him.
I grinned, usually people would say that I am annoying them, asking questions or just talking to them. Yeah, they even walked away from me sometimes, either that or start a senseless fight. My reddish-brown eyes glanced to the side, seeing some people walk into the building. Tall people, one with long raven colored hair, one with spiky brown hair with the number sixty-nine under their left cheek, and one I knew all too well.
My left hand shot up, waving. "Rukia!!"
She looked up; her violet eyes dull, not full of life like they usually were when I knew her from the Rukon. My smile faltered, heart sinking as my gaze went back to the vibrant haired Kurosaki, noting that his eyes were once again brown.
I think after today…I'm getting an eye exam.
He lifted his head, looking over at the raven haired girl with a quirked brow, as if wondering who she was and how I knew her. I was beginning to wonder myself how too. Rukia wasn't the same after the Kuchikis took her in. I was there that day…and I still regret letting her go to them.
"Kuchiki Rukia?"
Those words snapped me out of my thoughts, noticing that Kurosaki was frowning, looking to the side with a sigh.
"She doesn't talk to anyone expect who she's told to talk to, but…when that long haired guy leaves, she'll talk to you,"
"Yeah…" I mumbled. I knew that all too well. Byakuya Kuchiki never let Rukia talk to anyone, not even me.
My eyes blinked as I felt a hand place itself on my right shoulder, eyes going back to Ichigo, his eyes hazed but still looking like his usual self, as far as I could tell. I let my eyes close, taking in the comforting touch.
His hand was almost lukewarm…slightly cold, but…the pattern of his hand was different somehow from the others I've felt.
They were velvety, calloused, rough…and soft. The ones I always encountered were always harsh, always curled up in a threatening fist. Ichigo's were different, abnormally different.
Reopening my eyes, I saw Rukia bow to the long haired man, watching him leave then turning in my direction, walking over hastily until she was close enough to leap into a hug, which she did. Her slender arms wrapped around my neck, one of my own wrapping around her waist, then settling her feet onto the floor.
"Renji," she smiled, but it was fragile…weak…wilting like a flower that never bloomed. "How many tattoos do you need, geez, you must've gotten maybe ten more since I last saw you."
I shrugged my broad shoulders, "They just appear on my skin, I told you that already."
Her purple orbs carried over to Ichigo, and I saw the look of slight fear flicker in her dull eyes.
"Kurosaki Ichigo,"
He gave a mock bow as a reply, "Pleased to make your acquaintance, miss Kuchiki." The bright haired boy stood up straight while I placed my right hand over my face while shaking it.
"Just Rukia, Kurosaki," she complied.
This wasn't going to end well…I could just feel it.
"No, no, miss Kuchiki, it's Ichigo."
"Just Rukia," she hissed.
"But miss -" he started.
"JUST RUKIA!!"
"Would you two knock it off?" I groaned, biting my lower lip to keep from shouting. Both immediately ceased to a stop, glancing in my direction as I removed my hand, now examining the point of my index finger, seeing no tiny slit in it, causing me to blink. "Ichigo…we need to get to our lockers," I glanced over at him just in time to see a smirk slither across his pale lips, nodding, "I'll see you later, shrimp."
"Stop calling me that!" she retorted, receiving a pat on the head from me, then I jogged to catch up with Ichigo before I was too far behind, barely catching what my childhood friend had said next, "Be careful…"
A little too early for Ichigo to taste Ren-chan's blood, I know...but I couldn't help myself. Anyway, please review.