merry christmas!, polyphonic: 11
merry christmas all. :) well it's a little late, but i think it's still christmas in america... too bad i think i'm getting sick, but that's life, isn't it? haha, of course i'll get sick. sorry i'm not linking everything right now, but i'll probably do it later. figured i could get another chapter out since i have access to my story and the internet.
and finally, some happy stuff for renichi. yay.
Title: Polyphonic: ch 11
Beta: 3_broken_hearts
Pairings: Renji/Ichigo (centric), Grimmjow/Ichigo (one-sided), Gin/Rangiku, and more
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters.
Rating: PG-13 (mostly)
Warning: AU, shounen-ai, kissing (homo and hetero), mild violence, a little swearing
Word count: 2222
Summary: Getting to know one another.
The sky was darkening as Ichigo stepped out of the dojo, stretching his limbs. Sado had left earlier while Hitsugaya had been delivering a chilling lecture on lack of attention and dedication to Ichigo. Privately, Ichigo agreed with his kendo instructor, but his aching muscles weren't quite as ready to forgive.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll go to the supermarket for the eggs and milk. Anything else? No? Okay see you at home, Mom."
Ichigo's head snapped toward the direction of the all-too-familiar husky voice, his eyes focusing on the redheaded figure walking toward him in the fading sunlight. He was dressed in sweats and looked as if he'd just come from the gym, but even all mussed, he looked like a young god with the dying sun shining around him like a brilliant halo. Ichigo's heart was thudding in his chest even before the cell phone clicked shut. It was almost too intense, after not seeing him for a week, like all the time away had desensitized him to the beautiful creature that was Abarai Renji. And then, as if he felt Ichigo's eyes upon him, Renji's gaze slowly rose and locked with his.
"Renji," Ichigo breathed.
There was a brief hesitation before the redhead offered an unsure "hello" in response.
He was nervous, Ichigo observed, as he watched Renji pull slightly at the silver pendant hanging around his neck and shift a bit restlessly. Not that Ichigo was any better. Drinking in the sight of Renji was making Ichigo feel slightly light headed.
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here." Renji's big hands gestured to the dojo and probably the entire encompassing area before rubbing nervously at his tattooed neck, visible underneath the topknot he had tied to keep his flame bright hair up. "It's just that the gym is ... Well, it doesn't matter. I'll go now, you don't have to worry about running into me around here anymore okay?" Without waiting for a response from Ichigo, he spun on his heel and started walking in the opposite direction.
"Wait." The word came out before Ichigo had a chance to check it, but at least it had made Renji stop. He took a breath and thought rapidly. He had a distinct feeling that if he didn't keep Renji from walking away at this moment, he would never have a chance again. "There's no reason why you can't... I mean, it's not like I mind seeing you." Now it was Ichigo's turn to be nervous, but he soldiered on. "I was pretty mad at the time, but it's not like you have to avoid me or anything. I'm not that scary, am I?" He laughed half-heartedly, trying to lighten the tense mood.
Renji's head turned slightly and Ichigo saw his lips quirking into a half grin. "No, I guess not."
Ichigo smiled more genuinely this time. "Anyway, the supermarket is this way, so let's walk a little bit together."
Slowly, the rest of Renji's body turned toward Ichigo. "I don't know if that would be such a good idea. I still think about you. And not in an innocent way either."
Ichigo's cheeks flushed. "It's not like you're gonna jump me just because we're together, right?"
Eyes serious, Renji replied carefully, "I don't trust myself not to, Ichigo."
Ichigo shivered slightly when he heard Renji say his name -- foggily, his brain remembered that this was actually the first time Renji had said it to him -- but he still retorted, "I think I can take care of myself. I'm taking kendo lessons, so if you do anything I don't like, I'll just hit you with this." Ichigo held up the bokken he had just trained with, still in his hand.
There was a short burst of laughter from Renji, and Ichigo felt he had never heard a more beautiful sound. Was he really ready for Renji to be in his life? It was too late now anyway.
"Okay then, let's go."
Together, the two of them walked slowly down the sunlit path into the darkening twilight.
--
Renji had been worried at first when Ichigo had suggested they walk together, but he soon found that he could relax in the uncomplicated presence of the boy. It wasn't as if the desire had gone away. In fact, being around Ichigo and seeing the different emotions playing on the mobile face and seeing his mouth shape his words, however innocent, gave Renji plenty of fresh material for his increasingly frustrating wet dreams. But hanging out with Ichigo and hearing his laughter made Renji fall even more in love, if that were even possible.
It became a routine since Renji and Ichigo came out from their respective practices around the same time. Sado walked with them the majority of the time, his presence a silent shadow, but Renji didn't mind. Everything about Sado seemed calming, from his voice to his steady direct gaze when he spoke to anyone. Renji worried a bit over whether Sado liked Ichigo as well, but after awhile, he found that Sado and Ichigo's relationship was entirely platonic and they were both happy with it.
Soon, Ichigo smiled more than frowned while he was with Renji, and even Rukia had begun to comment slyly on Ichigo's improving mood.
During the second week of their fledgling friendship, Ichigo finally mustered the nerve to ask about Renji's tattoos. "Um, so you know those tattoos you have?"
Renji chuckled, suppressing the urge to pull Ichigo into a hug for being so cute. "Yes, I know I have them."
The blush that spread across the orange-haired boy's face was adorable as well, and Sado must have thought so too because Renji saw his eyes crinkle, which was as close to a full smile as Renji had ever seen on the silent man's face.
"Well, what are they? I mean, why do you have so many? And... I don't know. You don't really have to answer. I'm just, well.. curious..." Ichigo trailed off, with a slightly sheepish expression on his face.
"My father was an artist, and his favorite subject happened to be a nue [1]. He'd always draw these markings on them and I'd always thought they were beautiful. I guess after he died, I just wanted to have something that would always remind me of him." Here he paused. It wasn't always easy talking about his father, but for some reason, with Ichigo and even Sado, it felt all right. "It's a stupid reason I guess, but I thought that, maybe if the tattoos looked as good on me, my mother wouldn't miss my father as much because she'd be able to see his mark on me all the time."
"It's not a stupid reason. It's beautiful. Your reasons, your tattoos, everything. You're beautiful, Renji." Ichigo looked at Renji with such earnestness that Renji felt sudden moisture well up in his eyes.
"Thanks," he said gruffly, tugging nervously at his necklace again. He looked down at it, the silver glinting in his hand. "Actually, he gave me this too. He said it reminded him of the markings he always drew, and wanted me to have it. It was the last present he ever gave me."
There was a small silence before Ichigo finally asked the inevitable question: "What happened to your father?"
"He died in a car accident when I was twelve." The words were abrupt. Ichigo sensed there was more of the story than Renji was willing to disclose, but he didn't push. If Renji wanted him to know, he would tell Ichigo himself.
"I'm so sorry," he murmured instead, knowing that his words weren't adequate, but needing to say something.
Sado, sensitive as he was, just put his hand on Renji's shoulder. "I'm sure he would have loved your tribute to him."
Renji gave both boys grateful nods and the rest of the walk was surrounded in an introspective silence.
--
Renji was later than usual, and Ichigo was waiting outside the dojo next to the little river. Sado had gone home (his family was waiting for him), but Ichigo had insisted on waiting for Renji.
Ichigo's gaze swept the riverbank. He had saved a dog there once. His eyes had reminded Ichigo a little of Renji at the time, looking woebegone and abandoned while flailing helplessly in the water. Before his mind could catch up, Ichigo had jumped into the freezing water and brought the dog out. That day he'd caught a glimpse of red as he rushed past to the shelter, but hadn't been surprised. Renji had been stalking him then, had even admitted to it shamefacedly after they'd started talking. But Ichigo didn't really care. Not anymore, anyway, since talking to Renji had become the highlight of his afternoons.
The sound of multiple footsteps made Ichigo look up with surprise. Renji wasn't alone today.
There were five others, including one that Ichigo recognized as Rangiku, Renji's manager. The others Ichigo assumed to be the rest of Soul Candy. He stiffened slightly when his gaze caught onto Renji. There was an arm slung casually across Renji's shoulders by a dark-haired man with a sixty nine tattooed on his face and Renji seemed not to mind it at all.
"Ichigo!" Ichigo felt a little better when he saw Renji's eyes light up upon seeing him, and even more so when Renji bounded out from under the arm Ichigo was glaring at to stand at his side. There was a happy grin on Renji's face. "Sorry were you waiting for me?"
Ichigo didn't have time to respond before he was enveloped and crushed into a large pair of breasts. "Mrrmemph!"
"Ichigo! It's been such a long time! You're still as cute as ever."
Ichigo gasped for breath as he was finally let out of Rangiku's grasp. "Hello, Ran-san."
Renji eyed them suspiciously. "Wait, how do you two even know each other?"
"Oh how quickly we forget," Rangiku sighed dramatically. "I was the one who saved him from those grabby men at the club."
Renji's eyes widened as he recalled the incident and then he narrowed. Ichigo thought he heard him growl under his breath, "Well you wouldn't let me do it."
But Ichigo was distracted from that by the arrival of the rest of the group. The dark-haired one (who Ichigo still remembered had been all over Renji) smiled warmly at Ichigo. "So you're Ichigo. Renji seems to really like you." Renji squawked and turned as red as his hair, but the man ignored him and continued. "My name is Hisagi Shuuhei, and any friend of Renji's is a friend of ours."
"Keh, I wouldn't go that far, Shuu," a bald man retorted.
"Oh, do be civil, Ikkaku," said an effeminate man, fluttering his hands over the feathers on his eyebrows. "My name is Ayasegawa Yumichika and that rude one is Madarame Ikkaku. You can believe Shuuhei in that we trust in Renji's judgement."
A blond man stepped forward. "Izuru Kira. It's really nice to meet you."
"Oh," was all Ichigo could manage. He was a little overwhelmed by the different personalities as well as taking in the fact that Renji seemed to have talked about him to his friends. Suddenly he felt a shoulder bump with his, and Ichigo relaxed, knowing that Renji was still beside him.
"Do you want to come with us?" Renji asked after Ichigo had turned to look at him. "We just got the prize money from the last contest divvied up, so we're going to celebrate at that club we danced at last time."
That explained why all of them were with Renji today. "Oh I mean, isn't it just your group tonight? I don't think I should..."
"No way, Ichigo," laughed Shuuhei. "The more the merrier. And besides," he threw a wicked grin at Renji, "it'd make Renji really happy."
"Shuu!" Renji hissed, cheeks aflame.
Ichigo couldn't help but grin. "Sure." He plucked slightly at the black t-shirt and jeans he had on. "But I'm not exactly dressed right."
"No worries." Ikkaku shot Ichigo a lopsided grin. "Neither are we."
Ichigo realized with a jolt that they were right. All of them were in various casual clothing, ranging from sweats to cutoff jeans. "Then how are we supposed to get in? Isn't there like a dress code?"
"Of course there is." Kira smiled at him as he explained. "We're heading over to Yumi's place now. He dresses everyone whenever we show up to any club together. But you look like you could fit into some of our stuff, so it should be fine."
"Like I would let anyone look less than perfect when they're with the beautiful me," huffed Yumichika, flicking at his hair with a negligent hand and starting to walk off. The rest of the group followed.
"Rukia's coming too." Renji's voice was warm as he grabbed Ichigo's wrist and tugged him as they trailed after them. "She'll be so excited to see you dressed up. I swear that girl always treats me as a human doll, and I can't see how you'd be any different."
Ichigo listened to Renji ramble on excitedly and smiled secretly as he felt the warmth of the large hand permeate his skin through his wrist. In that moment, he couldn't help but feel completely happy.
[1] It's what Zabimaru is. Duh. Hahah.
begin at 01. back to 10. on to 12.
and finally, some happy stuff for renichi. yay.
Title: Polyphonic: ch 11
Beta: 3_broken_hearts
Pairings: Renji/Ichigo (centric), Grimmjow/Ichigo (one-sided), Gin/Rangiku, and more
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters.
Rating: PG-13 (mostly)
Warning: AU, shounen-ai, kissing (homo and hetero), mild violence, a little swearing
Word count: 2222
Summary: Getting to know one another.
The sky was darkening as Ichigo stepped out of the dojo, stretching his limbs. Sado had left earlier while Hitsugaya had been delivering a chilling lecture on lack of attention and dedication to Ichigo. Privately, Ichigo agreed with his kendo instructor, but his aching muscles weren't quite as ready to forgive.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll go to the supermarket for the eggs and milk. Anything else? No? Okay see you at home, Mom."
Ichigo's head snapped toward the direction of the all-too-familiar husky voice, his eyes focusing on the redheaded figure walking toward him in the fading sunlight. He was dressed in sweats and looked as if he'd just come from the gym, but even all mussed, he looked like a young god with the dying sun shining around him like a brilliant halo. Ichigo's heart was thudding in his chest even before the cell phone clicked shut. It was almost too intense, after not seeing him for a week, like all the time away had desensitized him to the beautiful creature that was Abarai Renji. And then, as if he felt Ichigo's eyes upon him, Renji's gaze slowly rose and locked with his.
"Renji," Ichigo breathed.
There was a brief hesitation before the redhead offered an unsure "hello" in response.
He was nervous, Ichigo observed, as he watched Renji pull slightly at the silver pendant hanging around his neck and shift a bit restlessly. Not that Ichigo was any better. Drinking in the sight of Renji was making Ichigo feel slightly light headed.
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here." Renji's big hands gestured to the dojo and probably the entire encompassing area before rubbing nervously at his tattooed neck, visible underneath the topknot he had tied to keep his flame bright hair up. "It's just that the gym is ... Well, it doesn't matter. I'll go now, you don't have to worry about running into me around here anymore okay?" Without waiting for a response from Ichigo, he spun on his heel and started walking in the opposite direction.
"Wait." The word came out before Ichigo had a chance to check it, but at least it had made Renji stop. He took a breath and thought rapidly. He had a distinct feeling that if he didn't keep Renji from walking away at this moment, he would never have a chance again. "There's no reason why you can't... I mean, it's not like I mind seeing you." Now it was Ichigo's turn to be nervous, but he soldiered on. "I was pretty mad at the time, but it's not like you have to avoid me or anything. I'm not that scary, am I?" He laughed half-heartedly, trying to lighten the tense mood.
Renji's head turned slightly and Ichigo saw his lips quirking into a half grin. "No, I guess not."
Ichigo smiled more genuinely this time. "Anyway, the supermarket is this way, so let's walk a little bit together."
Slowly, the rest of Renji's body turned toward Ichigo. "I don't know if that would be such a good idea. I still think about you. And not in an innocent way either."
Ichigo's cheeks flushed. "It's not like you're gonna jump me just because we're together, right?"
Eyes serious, Renji replied carefully, "I don't trust myself not to, Ichigo."
Ichigo shivered slightly when he heard Renji say his name -- foggily, his brain remembered that this was actually the first time Renji had said it to him -- but he still retorted, "I think I can take care of myself. I'm taking kendo lessons, so if you do anything I don't like, I'll just hit you with this." Ichigo held up the bokken he had just trained with, still in his hand.
There was a short burst of laughter from Renji, and Ichigo felt he had never heard a more beautiful sound. Was he really ready for Renji to be in his life? It was too late now anyway.
"Okay then, let's go."
Together, the two of them walked slowly down the sunlit path into the darkening twilight.
--
Renji had been worried at first when Ichigo had suggested they walk together, but he soon found that he could relax in the uncomplicated presence of the boy. It wasn't as if the desire had gone away. In fact, being around Ichigo and seeing the different emotions playing on the mobile face and seeing his mouth shape his words, however innocent, gave Renji plenty of fresh material for his increasingly frustrating wet dreams. But hanging out with Ichigo and hearing his laughter made Renji fall even more in love, if that were even possible.
It became a routine since Renji and Ichigo came out from their respective practices around the same time. Sado walked with them the majority of the time, his presence a silent shadow, but Renji didn't mind. Everything about Sado seemed calming, from his voice to his steady direct gaze when he spoke to anyone. Renji worried a bit over whether Sado liked Ichigo as well, but after awhile, he found that Sado and Ichigo's relationship was entirely platonic and they were both happy with it.
Soon, Ichigo smiled more than frowned while he was with Renji, and even Rukia had begun to comment slyly on Ichigo's improving mood.
During the second week of their fledgling friendship, Ichigo finally mustered the nerve to ask about Renji's tattoos. "Um, so you know those tattoos you have?"
Renji chuckled, suppressing the urge to pull Ichigo into a hug for being so cute. "Yes, I know I have them."
The blush that spread across the orange-haired boy's face was adorable as well, and Sado must have thought so too because Renji saw his eyes crinkle, which was as close to a full smile as Renji had ever seen on the silent man's face.
"Well, what are they? I mean, why do you have so many? And... I don't know. You don't really have to answer. I'm just, well.. curious..." Ichigo trailed off, with a slightly sheepish expression on his face.
"My father was an artist, and his favorite subject happened to be a nue [1]. He'd always draw these markings on them and I'd always thought they were beautiful. I guess after he died, I just wanted to have something that would always remind me of him." Here he paused. It wasn't always easy talking about his father, but for some reason, with Ichigo and even Sado, it felt all right. "It's a stupid reason I guess, but I thought that, maybe if the tattoos looked as good on me, my mother wouldn't miss my father as much because she'd be able to see his mark on me all the time."
"It's not a stupid reason. It's beautiful. Your reasons, your tattoos, everything. You're beautiful, Renji." Ichigo looked at Renji with such earnestness that Renji felt sudden moisture well up in his eyes.
"Thanks," he said gruffly, tugging nervously at his necklace again. He looked down at it, the silver glinting in his hand. "Actually, he gave me this too. He said it reminded him of the markings he always drew, and wanted me to have it. It was the last present he ever gave me."
There was a small silence before Ichigo finally asked the inevitable question: "What happened to your father?"
"He died in a car accident when I was twelve." The words were abrupt. Ichigo sensed there was more of the story than Renji was willing to disclose, but he didn't push. If Renji wanted him to know, he would tell Ichigo himself.
"I'm so sorry," he murmured instead, knowing that his words weren't adequate, but needing to say something.
Sado, sensitive as he was, just put his hand on Renji's shoulder. "I'm sure he would have loved your tribute to him."
Renji gave both boys grateful nods and the rest of the walk was surrounded in an introspective silence.
--
Renji was later than usual, and Ichigo was waiting outside the dojo next to the little river. Sado had gone home (his family was waiting for him), but Ichigo had insisted on waiting for Renji.
Ichigo's gaze swept the riverbank. He had saved a dog there once. His eyes had reminded Ichigo a little of Renji at the time, looking woebegone and abandoned while flailing helplessly in the water. Before his mind could catch up, Ichigo had jumped into the freezing water and brought the dog out. That day he'd caught a glimpse of red as he rushed past to the shelter, but hadn't been surprised. Renji had been stalking him then, had even admitted to it shamefacedly after they'd started talking. But Ichigo didn't really care. Not anymore, anyway, since talking to Renji had become the highlight of his afternoons.
The sound of multiple footsteps made Ichigo look up with surprise. Renji wasn't alone today.
There were five others, including one that Ichigo recognized as Rangiku, Renji's manager. The others Ichigo assumed to be the rest of Soul Candy. He stiffened slightly when his gaze caught onto Renji. There was an arm slung casually across Renji's shoulders by a dark-haired man with a sixty nine tattooed on his face and Renji seemed not to mind it at all.
"Ichigo!" Ichigo felt a little better when he saw Renji's eyes light up upon seeing him, and even more so when Renji bounded out from under the arm Ichigo was glaring at to stand at his side. There was a happy grin on Renji's face. "Sorry were you waiting for me?"
Ichigo didn't have time to respond before he was enveloped and crushed into a large pair of breasts. "Mrrmemph!"
"Ichigo! It's been such a long time! You're still as cute as ever."
Ichigo gasped for breath as he was finally let out of Rangiku's grasp. "Hello, Ran-san."
Renji eyed them suspiciously. "Wait, how do you two even know each other?"
"Oh how quickly we forget," Rangiku sighed dramatically. "I was the one who saved him from those grabby men at the club."
Renji's eyes widened as he recalled the incident and then he narrowed. Ichigo thought he heard him growl under his breath, "Well you wouldn't let me do it."
But Ichigo was distracted from that by the arrival of the rest of the group. The dark-haired one (who Ichigo still remembered had been all over Renji) smiled warmly at Ichigo. "So you're Ichigo. Renji seems to really like you." Renji squawked and turned as red as his hair, but the man ignored him and continued. "My name is Hisagi Shuuhei, and any friend of Renji's is a friend of ours."
"Keh, I wouldn't go that far, Shuu," a bald man retorted.
"Oh, do be civil, Ikkaku," said an effeminate man, fluttering his hands over the feathers on his eyebrows. "My name is Ayasegawa Yumichika and that rude one is Madarame Ikkaku. You can believe Shuuhei in that we trust in Renji's judgement."
A blond man stepped forward. "Izuru Kira. It's really nice to meet you."
"Oh," was all Ichigo could manage. He was a little overwhelmed by the different personalities as well as taking in the fact that Renji seemed to have talked about him to his friends. Suddenly he felt a shoulder bump with his, and Ichigo relaxed, knowing that Renji was still beside him.
"Do you want to come with us?" Renji asked after Ichigo had turned to look at him. "We just got the prize money from the last contest divvied up, so we're going to celebrate at that club we danced at last time."
That explained why all of them were with Renji today. "Oh I mean, isn't it just your group tonight? I don't think I should..."
"No way, Ichigo," laughed Shuuhei. "The more the merrier. And besides," he threw a wicked grin at Renji, "it'd make Renji really happy."
"Shuu!" Renji hissed, cheeks aflame.
Ichigo couldn't help but grin. "Sure." He plucked slightly at the black t-shirt and jeans he had on. "But I'm not exactly dressed right."
"No worries." Ikkaku shot Ichigo a lopsided grin. "Neither are we."
Ichigo realized with a jolt that they were right. All of them were in various casual clothing, ranging from sweats to cutoff jeans. "Then how are we supposed to get in? Isn't there like a dress code?"
"Of course there is." Kira smiled at him as he explained. "We're heading over to Yumi's place now. He dresses everyone whenever we show up to any club together. But you look like you could fit into some of our stuff, so it should be fine."
"Like I would let anyone look less than perfect when they're with the beautiful me," huffed Yumichika, flicking at his hair with a negligent hand and starting to walk off. The rest of the group followed.
"Rukia's coming too." Renji's voice was warm as he grabbed Ichigo's wrist and tugged him as they trailed after them. "She'll be so excited to see you dressed up. I swear that girl always treats me as a human doll, and I can't see how you'd be any different."
Ichigo listened to Renji ramble on excitedly and smiled secretly as he felt the warmth of the large hand permeate his skin through his wrist. In that moment, he couldn't help but feel completely happy.
[1] It's what Zabimaru is. Duh. Hahah.
begin at 01. back to 10. on to 12.