DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH. (SNIFF)
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Chapter 10
Ichigo had been hanging out more and more with Gin during the weeks following the ends of his exams. He supposed it was a natural progression. Gin wasn't doing anything wrong anyway, so he was not bothered, but there was still a hint of wariness between them. He enjoyed the man's company though; he was learning a thing or two from the man. The silver haired man was involved in business, him being the youngest executive in the company he works for. But what he could not understand though was his lover's reaction when he told him he was on good terms with the silver haired man. It could've been jealousy or worry.
So it happens that they were having coffee together when Shuuhei happened to bump into them. The tattooed man knew his lover had a budding friendship with the man who stole Izuru from him. But he could trust Ichigo. It was Gin he could not trust.
"Ichigo!" he felt a familiar warmth when he saw that wild tangerine hair.
The berry's eyes lit up upon seeing his lover. There was also a hint of a smile playing at his lips, instead of the usual frown. Gin, ever observant as he was, took this all in his mental database. It was for future use, so to speak. It was pretty easy to break the berry's defenses but it would be more difficult to break the couple up, that he was sure. Again, he was struck by both men's physical similarities, the hair, even the lithe frame, though the older man was a bit more on the muscular side. Even their facial structure was almost identical. If Shuuhei had the same wild tangerine mane, they could have been thought of as twins.
"Shuuhei! Come, have a seat." He gave the berry a peck on the cheek as he sat down. Of course, he could not resist taking the seat between his senpai and his berry. He acknowledged the other man with a discreet nod. Then the berry gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Aw, ya two look so cute t'geth'r like dat." The look on the silver haired man's face was as close to a leer as it could get, allowing for his default creepy smile.
The berry slightly flushed at the remark while his lover looked with utter disdain at the other man.
"Come on, Hisagi-kun, I was jus' jokin'." The tattooed man just glared.
"Shuu, I'll just go get something for you, 'kay?" the man in question just nodded imperceptibly.
Both men watched the berry's retreating back. Shuuhei could not help but fume, thinking Gin was trying to steal Ichigo the way he stole Izuru from him.
"Stay away from us."
"Wat'cha say Hisagi-kun? I don' think I heard ya."
"Fucking stay away from us, Gin. Just stay the hell away."
"I think ya misunderstand, Hisagi-kun. Ichigo was th' one who invited me t' have coffee, ya know. An' I ain't doing anythin' wrong. Why would ya think like tha' abou' yer senpai?" the silver haired man was wearing his most mocking smile yet. But before the tattooed man could retort, the berry came back, bringing along a cup of latte for him.
Ichigo could tell that something was going on between the two men. It was the way his lover was trying to hide behind his calm façade but his hands were trembling. Why, the berry was not sure. He felt the tension in the air, and it was just so suffocating. As he sat down, cup of latte in his hand, he looked from one man to the other, confused. Shuuhei took the cup from him and put it on the table, then caressed his cheek. There was something unreadable in his lover's eyes, and this left him even more flustered.
He wanted to ask what the hell was going on, but he could not. His words were stuck in his throat, and he was afraid to ask because he really did not want to find out.
Gin was enjoying every minute of it, creepy mocking smile and all.
They were walking hand in hand toward their favorite restaurant in the shopping district. It was long after the incident in coffee shop. Shuuhei was in a pensive mood, and the berry kept throwing furtive looks at him, trying to decipher what was going on his lover's head. It was causing the berry so much undue stress, this side that he never knew existed in his lover. He involuntarily squeezed his lover's hand. The other man suddenly stopped walking then drew Ichigo into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry." His own eyes met the chocolate orbs as his hands tenderly held the one he loved dearly. He kissed the berry's forehead. "Let's just go home. I don't think I can eat."
"Me either."
Even in the comfort of his apartment around them, the berry could still not help but feel anxious. He could not bring himself to ask his lover either. This did not escape Shuuhei's notice but he himself could not breach the subject either. Yet he promised himself that with Ichigo, everything would be different. He took a deep breath.
"Come sit with me, please." His request almost sounded like a plea.
Ichigo complied. He also willed himself to calm down. He knew that Shuuhei would not hurt him on purpose. As he sat down beside his lover, arms automatically wrapped themselves around him. His lover told him everything about Izuru; how they broke up and why.
There was a hint of sadness in the older man's voice as he told his berry everything, yet he knew deep inside that with every pain dealt to him, it was all worth it because then he met Ichigo. He drew the berry closer to him, savoring his warmth more than ever.
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a/n: yey! another chap finished. phew. i was preoccupied the last few weeks that i was no able to focus on this. sorry! anyhow... i've been experimenting with another pairing, hehe... uh, thanks for reading!