Disclaimer: Disclaimers are very important. Giving credit where credit is do. I'm such a dumb ass for forgetting to do so in the last chapter. Forgive me Kubo-sensei I shall never claim the right of your genius. I own nothing, nothing, nothing!
Warnings: AU, OOC-ness, AiIchi, OthersIchi, spelling, grammar, punctuation, unstable types, jealous types, daydreaming, scattered mess that authoress is trying to pass off as a plot, switching views, etc etc etc…
A/N Been far too damn long since Shades has been updated…high past time.
For: As it has been in the beginning and will continue to be until the end, BonneNuit
Shades Of Orange
Part 12
QUESTION IS?
As annoying as flashbacks can be sometimes they are indeed necessary…
(Renji)
When Renji woke up this morning he thought it would be a good day-the plan was simple-he was going to go harass Rukia and together they would go and visit Ichigo. Not just visit-he and the berry had a lot of catching up to do.
The tattooed redhead was finally ready to introduce his fiancé-yes fiancé, the man he had met just a few short weeks ago had proposed and Renji had said yes.
Renji supposed he could tell Rukia but she'd probably just make some sly comment about how she had known all along or whatever. Where as Ichigo would just congratulate him like a friend was supposed to do.
Yes Renji had played the entire scenario out in his head many times-there was only one tiny problem-well not so much a problem as it was…
"So Grantz huh? Do you prefer being called Grantz-san or should we call you Szayel?"
"Only I can call him that."
In all honesty Renji had no problems with Hime but he didn't like it when she was calling his lover so informally-felt that he should be the only one since Szayel was his to have-his to hold-his to
"I'm more curious to know how you two met. I was under the impression that the cast of Pocky Pals was on the other side of the globe up until a few days ago."
"What the hell Rukia? Stop being so damn nosy! Who cares how we met? The point is that we did, now drop it!"
Rukia grinned, Touchy, touchy," silver-blue eyes sparkling "So tell us Szayel-san how did you get this stubborn pineapple to submit?"
The man's laugh was so light and airy-musical even as he answered, "Now if I told you that Rukia-san I'm afraid Ren wouldn't let me back into the bedroom," a pause "And I think we can both agree that fighting is not a good way to start off an engagement."
Silver-blues shot wide open in surprise at the announcement "Oh ho what's this? What's this? Renji is going to be a bride?"
Cue the princess squealing and then proceeding to smoother him with her over-inflated tits "Oh I'm so happy for you Renji-kun," she squeezed him tighter
'And to think I used to like being smothered with boobs.'
"A wedding, my gosh there is so much to do, so many plans to make, so many people to call." A slight frown "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
Renji scowled as Rukia took it upon herself to become better acquainted with his lover.
"I've known Renji since we were in diapers you know, might even have a few pics around if you're interested."
Amber eyes flashed behind designer glasses "Really? And was he just as pretty then as he is now?"
"Bastard!" Renji wanted to snarl out-instead it came off sounding more like B-erk!"
Seriously Hime needed to cut back on the damn Wheaties or something because this was ridiculous.
The buxom brunette finally let Renji go when he started turning an unhealthy shade of blue.
Rukia was snickering
And his lover-his lover was completely oblivious.
What the fuckin' hell?
"Screw you guys I'm just gonna go and see Ichigo by myself. You can stay here and cackle or whatever."
As Renji moved to leave…
Szayel's musical laugh erupted once more "Now, now Ren you know I hate it when you pout like that," the man started poking his face "Come on, come on give me a smile."
Renji wanted to kick the pepto haired male just then but settled for crossing his arms, fully planning on ignoring the trio.
Wishing he had a simpler life.
"So off to Kurosaki-kun's house then right?"
()()()
At this rate Renji would be lucky if he even made it to his damn wedding.
"What the hell Rukia? I thought you said you knew how to drive?"
"I do. This is exactly how Byakuya-nii-sama drives when he's been separated from Shuhei for more than a week."
"Too much information. I do not need to know that-
"Calm down Renji-kun, Kuchiki-san won't get us killed," a pause "Here have one of my cupcakes, the secret ingredient is picklejuice."
Where the brunette had pulled out of tray of cupcakes was anyone's guess-they looked normal enough but if history was anything to go by-more accurately if the stories Ichigo had shared with Renji were anything to go by-he'd be much better off declining.
"No thanks Hime-chan."
Orihime shrugged and then offered one to Szayel "How about you Grantz-san?"
The pepto-haired man looked positively horrified. "Certainly not! I make it a rule never to eat dessert after 11:30 am."
"Oh, oh dear well-I'll give you some to take home then and you can have them with your breakfast tomorrow."
Renji shook his head and mouthed 'Say no' over and over to his lover.
Thankfully Szayel was an excellent mouth reader-among other things-
Just then the car swerved sharply around the corner, Rukia was cackling like a half crazy cat-lady and Orihime was squealing like a child in an amusement park.
"Wee!"
Renji was not amused or entertained-rather he was holding on to his lover for dear life.
"Slow down Rukia!"
Rukia continued cackling and Renji had half a mind to knock her out of the drivers seat and take control of the wheel when…
Another sharp swerve and the breaks screeched
"We're here!"
()()()
(Kenpachi)
There was a screeching noise just then.
As though a car or some sort of vehicle had just made a sharp turn or simply needed there breaks checked.
Kenpachi turned and narrowed his eyes at the 4 figures making their way up the driveway.
Suspicious but harmless for how dangerous could a pepto-prince, a tattooed pineapple, a big breasted princess and a petite raven be?
Still-as a former Captain of the Navy-it was best to use precaution with any unknown visitor.
"What do you want with Ichigo?"
Yes. Kenpachi had taken it upon himself to protect the orange haired youth's house. He wouldn't let the quartet take any further steps towards the house.
The tattooed pineapple was the one to speak up-although it probably wasn't very wise of him to charge like some sort of untamed gorilla in a zoo and point an accusatory finger at a man like Kenpachi.
"Whose askin' I've known Ichigo forever and I damn sure don't remember him mentioning an overgrown beast like you?"
()()()
(Renji)
Renji knew it was probably unwise to verbally attack a man who could probably snap him like a twig with out breaking a sweat but the hell he would stand around and-
()()()
(Kenpachi)
Deep forest eyes narrowed even more-hand still pressed into the pineapples skull-not squeezing just resting it there-Kenpachi addressed the other 3-
"Well? What do you want with Ichigo?"
It was a bit surprising that the big-breasted princess was the one to step forward-although her voice quivered a little bit her eyes were hard as she stood her ground "We are Kurosaki-kun's friends
"Best-friends." The petite raven chimed in.
"Yes best friends and not once in all the years that I've known Kurosaki-kun has he ever mentioned a-
The petite raven cut the other woman off "Calm down Inoue I know who this man is," a grin made it's way on to her face "Yes you're the other suitor aren't you?"
The princess looked confused. "What are you talking about Kuchiki-san? I thought you said-she trailed off for a moment before continuing, "Just how many suitors does Kurosaki-kun have?"
The petite raven smirked "Who cares? Aizen-sama has already staked his claim and there's no way he's suddenly going to back down jus because this third suitor (silver blues studied him) could crush him in an instant."
The princess gnawed on her bottom lip "Oh I do hope it doesn't end in bloodshed."
Kenpachi furrowed his brows-trying to piece together what the young women were saying. He did not like the idea of his berry being tied down to someone else-still he wasn't all that concerned.
Challenge-a good challenge-it was just the kind of thing a man like him lived for.
He let the tattooed pineapple go and addressed the group once more, voice a little warmer "Ichigo and I had plans to meet but he's not here," Kenpachi grinned widely at the group ( a wonderful intimidation tactic if he did say so himself) "Any idea where he might be?"
()()()
(Grimmjow)
He had terrible luck-either that or the heavens hated him. Maybe this was a sign-a sign telling him that the Kurosaki-brat really wasn't his to have-perhaps he had known all along and only tried to prolong what was already pre-destined?
For what other reason would a giant bone fly into the window of his prized vehicle, startling Grimmjow badly enough that he would lose control and go swerving off the road-no other choice but to slam on the break before the car went toppling off the mountain side-
The sound of all four tires going flat was the icing on the cake.
Grimmjow glanced over at the lazy eyed narcoleptic who didn't even seen the least bit fazed by the crash-
"Wake up!"
It was not that Grimmjow was incapable of changing all four tires by himself-certainly not-as a man and more importantly a half Canadian, he had taken it upon himself to learn all there was to know about survival and such.
"Starrk! I said wake the hell up!"
Grimmjow wasn't a fucking dumbass so he didn't go so far as to actually kick the sleeping Coyote (tempting as it might be)
Slowly slate grays opened and Starrk glanced over "I told you this would happen." The dark haired male yawned lazily "Better hope the berry was smart enough to get out of-
The sound of Grimmjow's cell phone going off drowned the rest of Starrk's sentence out-
"Yeah?"
The blue haired male could barely keep the snarl out of his tone
It was Nel.
And Grimmjow's anger only intensified when the young woman announced that she 'had Ichi for awhile and then lost him.'
"What the fuck do you mean you lost him? Put that bastard Nnoitra on the phone!"
At Starrk's questioning look, Grimmjow rolled his eyes and mouthed the words-'Kurosaki is gone'
When the Coyote was about to ask another question-Grimmjow silenced him with the swipe of his hand so he could hear the voice on the other end-
It wasn't Nnoitra but-
"What the fuck Halibel? Why are you answering? Don't tell me what to do you damn b-No I don't know where he is-been in the mountains incase you forgot what with all the damn peroxide you put in your hair-guess its frying what's left of your brain cells-oh fuck you-yeah? Yeah well don't think that just cuz you're a woman you'll get off easy cuz you won't. Like I give a fuck-what? What the fuck did you just say to me? I'll kill you for letting that shitty dentures freak touch what's mine do you hear me?-don't you dare laugh at me b-
Grimmjow couldn't stand anymore of Halibel's bullshit. He threw his cellphone out the broken window and then popped the trunk.
Starrk opened his mouth to speak-
Grimmjow let out a low growl-
"Don't fuckin' say a word-just get off your ass and help me fix this mess so I can go and beat Jiruga's face in and take back what's rightfully mine!"
()()()
(Nel)
Halibel was pacing back and fourth-cracking her knuckles and throwing crockery against the wall now and then.
Nel felt like if she had to sit and watch another minute of her 'sister's' wild behavior she'd wind up huddled in a corner again and start bawling like a little baby once more.
Now was not the time to resort to such-
"Um Hali-chan?"
The blonde turned to Nel with a hiss "What?"
"Well I was just thinking I mean there's this-I mean there's no guarantee or anything but he is pretty smart-well according to Ulquiorra anyway and-
Poison green eyes flashed, "Get to the point, Neliel."
"What if Ichi escaped? I mean um what if he left-yes what if he went back to his dorm room or-
Halibel picked up the toaster (which was thankfully unplugged) and threw it against the wall-missing Nel's head by just an inch or two.
"Don't be so fuckin' retarded Neliel? Why father even kept you around I'll never know, probably pity."
Nel had heard quite enough insults for one day. She stood up fully planning to challenge her 'sister' when the door bell rang…
()()()
(Aizen)
He'd only been on the plane for a few hours and everything had been running smoothly and then it happened…
The migraine-the migraine had returned 10 fold this time-
Hinamori was either sleeping in his master bedroom again
When Aizen had once asked the rosy-cheeked girl
'Why do you feel the need to sleep in my bed when I am out of town'
Hinamori's response had been
'Because I want to be close to you Aizen-sama, always.'
Really he should've asked Gin or Kaname to deadbolt the door before he set off on this trip but-
"No matter I'll just kick her out when I return."
The migraine intensified which led Aizen to reach another conclusion.
Not just one-but several of his children were up to something-mis-behaving, being naughty-
Under normal circumstances a simple speed dial and Aizen would have Ulquiorra report everything that was happening detail for detail but as it was-
His third youngest had run off yet again-to where? Aizen was not sure of yet but-
'All in good time.'
So that left Halibel, his eldest, she had been incredibly moody as of late according to Gin and as her father, it was Aizen's responsibility to find out what was troubling the young blonde woman.
So with this thought in mind-Aizen set his laptop down on the seat next to him, reached into the pocket of his jacket and flipped open his phone and dialed.
It went straight to voice mail.
Aizen was not the kind of man to leave some silly message. Halibel would call him back when she felt like it.
()()()
Aizen specifically had requested a private jet plane for a reason but in all honesty he was growing rather bored with the silence.
'I should have brought Gin along or perhaps even-
A somewhat dreamy daze came over the smirking man's aristocratic face just then-
'The boy-Ichigo-kun. Although I still have yet to learn all that I wish to know about him, something about that energy tells me that he'd appreciate the ocean view. More so then that, true to his astrological nature, Ichigo-kun would be at home with the water. Hmm perhaps that is the final step I should take in order to win him over?'
A pause
'Then again Ichigo-kun mentioned that he had a strong bond with his mother. What kind of woman could have produced such a magnificent creature? I shall see for myself.'
"We're here, sir."
"Ah thank you, Zommari."
()()()
(Ichigo)
There really wasn't a whole lot to it. Getting away from it all would probably be the best thing for him right now. All and all going away to a ski lodge sounded very appealing to Ichigo at the moment.
'Maybe this way I'll finally be able to sort out all of my thoughts and be able to choose.'
Hiyori and her posse seemed normal enough. The way they bickered with one another brought to mind the image of a stereotypical dysfunctional family of sorts.
"Because you're the prettiest one here, you'll be rooming with us girls Berry-tan."
Ichigo had nothing against Mashiro but really hadn't the green-haired woman ever heard of-
"The hell with that! Ichigo will be rooming with the men as it should be."
"You sure are talkative today Kensei," Risa's eyes twinkled with perverted glee "Planning to corrupt the berry are you?"
"Shut up you idiots! The berry head will have a room of his own, one where he can clear his mind and chose a lover to run away with."
"Okay seriously who are you and why the hell do you know so much about me Hiyori?"
Spy or a stalker was one thing but how was it possible that the snaggle tooth blonde seemed to know his inner secrets and private thoughts?
He could hear the all too familiar cackling of Shirosaki dancing in his head.
When Ichigo saw Hiyori reach for her flip-flop this time he knew well enough to duck but sadly for him, it only encouraged the shorter girl to start chasing him around the room.
It was so ridiculous but oddly fun too.
()()()
And as if Hiyori and her posse weren't strange enough…
"That's my traveling suitcase-what are you-cinnamon and coffee eyes narrowed "Are you-do you mean to tell me that you snuck into my room and-
"Hey! The room was abandoned so it's not like I was breaking in especially when the door was unlocked and all and besides there was nothing in there but a dusty old mattress and a mountain of plushies-which I'll have you know I almost broke my damn neck on so thanks so much for that-
"You're blaming me?"
Hiyori nodded before stuffing another rice ball in her mouth "Damn right-she poked Ichigo hard in the chest-"You do something like that again and I'll have my lawyers come after you."
"Lawyers? What the hell are you-I'm the one who should have a lawyer or perhaps a guard dog-Ichigo shuddered-I hate to guess what else you've done while I'm not around."
"Oh nothing much just rummaged through your sock drawer and your closet a few times-another poke-next time hang up your dresses instead of just leaving them in a wrinkled mess on the floor."
Ichigo was quite horrified "Y-you went into my closet?"
"Mm hmm," Risa chimed in "Gotta say I'm just a tad bit jealous, I've tried many times and I've never been able to step into 7 inch heels."
Ichigo tried to fight down the blush that was threatening to rise. Honestly couldn't the snaggle tooth and the porn chick at least wait until Kensei, Love and Hachi were out of the room?
"There's nothing to be embarrassed over berry-head if I had legs like yours I'd want to show them off too," the blonde got right in his face as she asked, "How often do you have to shave anyways? Once maybe twice a month?"
Ichigo glared at Hiyori. "That's none of your damn business."
Hiyori rolled her eyes. "Stop being such a drama queen we're all family here."
Seriously what the hell planet was this chick living on?
Mashiro moved away from the small cushion she was sitting on and made her way over to Ichigo, practically jumping in his lap and swinging her arms around his neck "Sharing is caring berry-tan. For example last night while in the shower I-
"STOP!"
Mashiro jumped and then pinched his cheeks-which only irritated Ichigo further.
In the nicest tone he could muster at the moment he asked the woman to kindly "Get off."
She complied-thankfully.
Although she was pouting now.
"Really Ichigo if you're going to become one of us you really need to wipe that damn glower off your face."
Ichigo was surprised to hear Hiyori actually call him by his name-
The blonde snorted "Don't look so shocked I could have called you Ichigo at any time, in fact I will so long as you address me as Hiyori-san."
"Sounds fair enough."
"Good." Hiyori grinned, "Now then you don't mind answering a few questions of mine do you?"
Ichigo was wary and didn't want to agree to something he would regret later but at the same time-
"Oi, oi knock it off already!"
'Aw aint that sweet King Mr Silver-Blond tryin to protect ya.'
'Yeah so I noticed but I don't think it has anything to do with-I mean he's probably just annoyed because he doesn't like a lot of racket or something.'
'If that's what ya choose to believe then by all means go ahead and think it Ichi-King.'
"Kensei is right. We've brought Ichi-tan here to educate not tease him."
He really couldn't stand the way Shinji kept grinning at him. A grin that wide just spelled trouble.
Mashiro pouted, "Oh but think of how much fun we could have, we can teach the berry-tan how to please both men and women-it would be like the ideal crash course of sex and everyone here loves sex so-
"I think it would be best if we just left the young lad alone, he's had quite an adventurous day and-
"I smell smoke."
"Oh dear the bran muffins!"
Not to come off rude but Ichigo was rather impressed when the rotund man with the pink mustache flew out of the room at an incredible speed.
"Don't look so shocked. Hachi was a track and field champion back in his prime years."
Why Kensei felt the need to tell Ichigo this?
'As if the guy really needs a reason to talk to you King.'
"Really when you say prime I mean-um just how old is-
"Boring! Come on every one hurry the hell up so we can get to the ski lodge already!"
A horn. Where the hell had that horn suddenly come from? The damn thing was larger than Hiyori's head!
()()()
A van or a trailer is what Ichigo had been expecting-he never would have guessed that Hiyori and her 'family traveled around in a-
"Tour bus?"
Hiyori muttered a curse when one of the luggage bags fell on top of her.
"Are you okay?"
"Nothing to worry your head about. Anyway you wanted to ask a question so ask?"
Ichigo frowned but went ahead and tried asking the question again "This is a tour bus isn't it?"
"Back in the day, like centuries ago Shinji, Love and this other guy named Rose were part of pop sensation, they called them selves 3SummerLove or something. Got a demo tape of their first single around here somewhere."
Hiyori started rummaging around in the suitcases and before Ichigo knew it several items were flying out of the vehicle-
After a moment or two the blonde let out a shout of "Ah ha here we go!"
()()()
'He's good looking, yeah but I don't want him-hell I don't even know him-course if I'm going to get technical I still don't really know the others either-well I mean-it doesn't matter
"You shouldn't frown so much at your age."
Ichigo snapped out of his inner thoughts-or make that more like-
'Crap he must have caught me looking at him-I mean I didn't mean to but despite that silver blond color he doesn't look old-I mean even if he was-not that I care or anything but I think I'm slowly starting to realize something about myself-
"Loosen up! Stop being so tense! I'm not going to bite you."
'Even he did ya wouldn't exactly protest now wouldya king?'
'Shut up!'
'Look Ichi-King how much longer are ya gonna let this go on for? I mean you already dropped ya pants, ya already offered your oral services, you've received service-there's really only one more step to take-so go ahead and take it!'
'I'm not going to have sex with someone just because their attractive-
'Fine what ever I really don't care whatcha do at this point-go fuck a moose for all I care-!'
'You-what the hell? Stop being so fuckin' crude all of the time!'
'Hey I'm only sayin' what ya are too chicken shit to say-a pause 'Doncha get it? This is like a test-you've been given several choices so hurry up and make a damn decision-
'I already told you that I-
'Then go call Kenpachi and have phone sex or somethin' don't know don't care but do somethin'-anythin' so I can finally get some GD sleep round here.'
'Hey you're the one who insists on being a gate crasher inside my head every time I-
"From this moment onwards consider me like a mentor of sorts."
Ichigo blinked. "Um what?"
Kensei looked a bit irritated "Haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying for the past five minutes?"
Ichigo couldn't tell the silver blond the truth there was no freakin' way Kensei would even believe him-even if he did-
"Ichigo you're 19 right?"
"Uh yeah?"
"Good enough for me."
"Um what?"
Something cold was pressed into his hand and it took Ichigo a moment or two to realize that it was
"Drink up a lil' bit of alcohol is good for the soul."
Ichigo really had no desire to drink anything but-
()()()
"Bad things happen to boys who daydream Ichi-chan."
When the hell had grinning blond gotten so close? He could practically taste the man's breakfast-
Ichigo didn't mean to be rude but-
"Uh Hirako-san could you-
"It's Shinji," the blond came even closer-nose nearly touching Ichigo's own "Shinji."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Fine. Shinji now can you please back off a bit?"
The blond made no attempt to move only continued grinning at the orange haired youth.
Ichigo looked around for help but the only other person around at the moment was Love (and the dark skinned man with the side burns was too far entranced with the television screen watching-well Ichigo wasn't sure what the hell the man was watching but he was pretty damn sure that the human mouth wasn't meant for-
"Oi Shinji bring your happy ass back up front and leave the berry head alone."
Shinji pouted, "Why do you always want to spoil my fun Hiyori?"
"Because the berry head doesn't want some old geezer like you."
The blond looked out raged. "I am not a geezer!"
"You're going to be 39 of course you're a geezer."
To say Ichigo was surprised-"You're thirty-nine?"
The blond just winked at him before making his way back up towards the front of the bus.
Ichigo still couldn't believe it. "Thirty-nine?"
"Well 37 actually but Hiyori-chan likes to exaggerate."
"Ah he speaks." Ichigo rolled out of his borrowed bunk bed and moved down to the carpet where Love was still watching tv.
"So what are you watching anyway?"
"…"
"You don't talk much do you?"
Just when Ichigo thought the older man had gone back to ignoring him again
"You'll learn something on this trip, so pay attention Ichigo."
'Learn what exactly?'
()()()
TBC