Im back! XD Hahahaha! YAY YAY YAY! ^^ Sorry for the late update. And I have been busy for the past few weeks since I havta fast and I got so tired out due to the massive piles of homework and projects and right now, I have something to celebrate which involved a lot of money! In case u all r wondering, I'm celebrating Hari Raya right now XD Dunno what's that? Check in google ^^
Ina: Urghhh
Me: Haahhaha
Ina: *watches Shingeki no Kyojin*
Chapter 5: Adjusting Without Ichigo
"Ichi-nii~! Ichi-nii? I'm hungry, Ichi-nii~!" Renji sang as he walked out of the bedroom. He rubbed his eyelids and called out for his brother once again. "Ichi-nii?" His voice was at the verge of breaking. It was his first time of waking up without Ichigo beside him. It was his first time not smelling the strong strawberry scent. It was unlike of Ichigo to simply left him without a note. Somehow, today felt weird. He could not pinpoint what it was but he dismissed that feeling away. His first priority would be to find his beloved older brother, Ichigo. He called out for his name once more, hoping to hear some kind of respond but he received nothing. Letting out an annoyed sigh, he decided that his brother would be in the kitchen, cooking up some delicious meal for him to eat. He wasn't sure why the kitchen would be the first place where Ichigo would be, considering that his older brother seemed to dislike cooking unless he's in the mood for it. Walking lightly so to keep his presence small, he walked towards the kitchen, hoping to find Ichigo wearing an apron and cooking up a meal. He could hear the sound of water being boiled. He could hear something being chopped. He could hear audible murmurs which he comprehend them as curses. He rounded the corner, a small smile adorned on his face at the thought of his brother busy cooking up breakfast. However, he was not greeted with the orange hair or slightly tanned skin. He was greeted with someone so familiar that rage bubbled up in his body. He could not stand the gloomy aura surrounding the intruder.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" hissed Renji.
"Renji, Ichigo informed that he's going away for a while. He told me to take care of you although he did mention that Grimmjow-sensei would be looking after you as well. I hope that's not much a problem with me being with you. Does me being here really scares you, Renji?" Ulqiourra asked with his usual monotone voice, turning to meet his cousin.
Renji snorted. "Hell yes! You're my rapist! You shouldn't be here, you son of a bitch!"
"If I'm not wrong, you are insulting your favourite aunty." Ulqiourra replied, not taking the offence into consideration.
Renji rolled his eyeballs. "Shut the hell up! Get out of here! NOW!" He spat with venom laced in his words. He was glaring so hard that his eyeballs hurt at the intensity he was giving off. He witnessed Ulqiourra who was turning his back on him as if pretending not to hear him. He clenched his fists at the rejection given by that bastard and stomped towards him. Just before he could yank the emotionless cousin of his, he stopped on his tracks at the sight of the knife clutching so tightly on one of the hands. He shivered slightly as he slowly backed off. His eyes widening slightly as he saw his cousin tightened his hold on the handle briefly.
"Relax, Renji. I'm not going to kill you. You know that," Ulqiourra lowered his voice. His words seemed to be filled with mixed feelings such as hurt, sorrow and... maybe love? He placed the knife down and emitted out a sigh. He removed the apron and set it down on the chair. He walked towards Renji who was still backing up. He fastened his pace and soon enough, the redhead was trapped in between the wall and his cousin.
Renji's breath hitched as cold fingers began to brush his cheeks.
"Relax, I'm not gonna hurt ya," Ulqiourra whispered as his thumbs rubbed on the tanned cheeks. A noticeable smile adorned on the stoic cousin of his, making the redhead blush ever slightly. The usually emotionless boy leaned forward just to give a short pecks on the cheeks before withdrawing himself completely. He walked to the counter and continued on chopping the carrots.
Meanwhile, Renji was in a sea of confusion as he stared at his cousin. That was... unexpected. He did not know what to do next and he pondered for a very long time what to do next. There was an awkward tension looming in the kitchen and it began to envelope him. He started to fidget around and began to stammer like an idiot just to break the awkwardness between the two. His cousin was his rapist and he expected him to suddenly rape him but nope, he chose to give quick kisses on the cheek and left him alone. 'Nah, he played nice at first so to coax me that he's a good guy and when I have my guards down, he would pounce on me and fuck me till I bleed and spent. Yep, that's his intention,' he thought as he continued to eye the pale boy.
"Ummm... Soooo... Errrr... Ichi-nii-" Renji stuttered as yesterday's event came crashing down on him. A slight blush painted his cheeks.
"Ichigo is fine when he called earlier, Renji. Don't worry about him. I'm sure he's fine. I don't know why he suddenly left you under the care of Grimmjow-sensei. He could have dropped you at the Kuchiki house since Byakuya can take care of you as he seems to have a lot of free time to come to my place. Seriously, Renji, it's better to be with Byakuya. He has been taking care of you since you're a baby and before Ichigo decided to become the brother he is. I don't know why you choose to stay here and let Grimmjow-sensei take care of you. I... Renji, I know that me being here is really damn uncomfortable for you since I... touched you that you didn't like. But listen to me, I'm sorry for what I have done to you. I'm really really sorry, Renji. Just let me make it up to you by becoming like Ichigo. Let me protect you from Aizen and Gin. I... Let me replace Ichigo," Ulqiourra stated with emotions flying out of his lips. He had the decency to look embarrassed for what he had done.
"You can't replace Ichi-nii," Renji replied firmly. "I don't like Byakuya and his poker face. That poker face of his... ppffttt... annoys the hell out of me. I don't want anything from you. I would appreciate it if you just leave this house... I... Ulqiourra... I..." he stopped himself from continuing. His gaze had left the pale form since he was unable to stand the horrible aura around the other boy and that he simply hated to see that said person and thus averting his gaze to settle on the photo on the dining table. He walked towards the table, grabbed the photo frame, tears began to blur his vision. His chest constricted as he stared at the beaming face of his older brother. Upon seeing the smile to which he had grown so fond of, missed so much, the warmth and comforting the smile had been and the secrets lay behind the smile (he missed these and held a vague smile at this moment), he sobbed and inhaled deeply. He shut his eyes close, cooling the burning sensation. His mind seemed to become a broken disc since it kept on replaying the smiles of Ichigo. He clutched onto the photo frame, bringing it closer to his chest. He needed his warmth around his cold self. He missed Ichigo so much. He sucked in another breath as he opened his eyes slowly. He looked down and the pain in his chest seemed to have intensified. He shook his head, forcing himself to remain calm and push the memories of Ichigo away. But alas, he simply could not do such a simple thing. His body carved from Ichigo's warmth. His eyes seek out for the familiar face or the bright orange hair or the smiles or the trademark scowls. His ears remained perked to listen to the laughter that would echo throughout the house or the soft rumblings or complains about this and that. His fingers twitched, demanding to hold the calloused and rough hands of his brother. Tears came by and threatened to fall. He fought so hard not to let any single of them broke the dam."Ichi-nii, I need you," he whispered as a lone tear trailed down his cheek as a thumb grazed over the photo where Ichigo was positioned at. He felt so empty and lonely without his brother by his side. He had grown so attached to him and that he knew. He knew that why they had to separate but he just could not accept it. His heart was at the verge of dying away at the lack of his brother's love. His heart was already too broken to be fixed. Ichigo had left him. He reluctantly tore his gaze away and forced himself to descend his eyes on the white form near him.
"Ulqiourra, I... You better head out. I can take care of myself ya know," he said. "I don't want ya to take care of me. I'm perfectly... f-fine," he cursed himself mentally for sounding so wimpy and insecure. He ran his tongue on his bottom lip and lightly bit on it. "I'm serious. Just... leave me alone."
"No." Renji yanked his cousin and dragged him towards the door. He opened the door, let out a scream and quickly slammed the door closed. His heartbeat rate increased tremendously. His eyes widened at the sudden sight of that monster. His face drained of colour immediately. His lips were quivering. Another scream ripped out from his throat as he saw that horrible freak wanted to step into the house. His grip on the handle was so tight that his knuckles were of a pale colour. He lined himself besides the surface of the door, his shoulder meeting the smooth wooden door. He pushed forward, hoping to close the gap, to prevent the 'light' from coming in. He let out small harsh pants. Blinking his eyes so that the tears would simply roll down his cheeks and that he wanted to clear out from the blur, he gasped when he heard a loud thumb and that he could not budge the door forward. Instead, the door began to push backwards. He shakily eyed the door. He began to panic. A hand gripped at the side with such a force and that prevented him from closing the door shut and even perhaps locked it. He let go of the jet-black-haired boy so that both hands could push the hellish person out of the way with all his strength. He kept on pushing and sensing that he would not win, he leaned against the door and used his back to push forward. He eye-communicated with his cousin, asking for help.
Ulqiourra nodded briefly and leaned against the door as well. He bit his lower lip, shut his eyes closed as he pushed the door backwards with all his might. This was the least he could do for Renji. "Renji..." he said as he cracked an eye opened. He had to see how his cousin was faring. 'He looks so pale and terrified. He looks as if he's gonna faint anytime soon. If I'm Ichigo, what should I do? Should I call the police or-' he was pulled back to the reality at a voice he was so familiar with. The other eye opened in dismay and surprise. He had his guard lowered due to the shock and hence, causing him to stumble forward when the door jerked violently forward. He gathered himself and pushed the door behind with his remaining strength. He had to help Renji.
"Oh, is that you Ulqiourra? Fancy in meeting you here. Didn't give me a call to join in the fun." These words dripped with danger, sarcasm and annoyance behind the fake smooth voice.
Dundundudun~ I bet you all know who would that be! Hehehehhehe ^^
Ina: Ah! It's-
Me: Ssshhh! Don't ruin the fun!
Ina: That's a bad cliffhanger, you know
Me: Sssshhh!