Close Enough 3 RenjixIchigo, ChadxIshida Rated T
Close Enough
Sequel to Closer Still and Not Too Close
Author: StarbearerTM
Chapter 3
Warnings: Language
Spoilers: Soul Society Arc, Not Too Close
Pairing: IshidaxSado, IchigoxRenji, implied MizuiroxKeigo possibly?
Word Count: 3125
An: This was on my hard drive for the last month or so. Decided to post it since I've not posted anything in a while and I'm working on a Truhan piece. Not totally satisfied with it, but it insists it wants to be posted LOL.
Fifteen minutes passed since the departure of Ichigo’s two friends. While Ichigo relaxed in his chair, the tension seemed to ease out of his shoulders. He felt a knot of guilt however building up in the pit of his stomach. Reaching into his pocket, he extracted his cell phone. Noticing that Ichigo had let go of his hand Renji asked, “Something wrong?”
“I feel guilty about kicking them out of here since they planned this thing in the first place,” Ichigo mumbled. They had all placed their dinner orders by now, and were sharing the various appetizers, which Ichigo had barely touched his share of.
“Well, one of ‘em gets on my nerves but if you wanna…” Renji trailed off, causing Ichigo to give him a relieved glance. Ichigo pushed himself out from the table.
“Excuse me,” Ichigo murmured, rising to his feet. Already opening his cell phone, he lifted it to one ear, striding out to the entrance of the club. Past several patrons standing in the bar he sniffed at the hazy cigarette smoke clouding the air. It stung his eyes along with the smell that twitched his nostrils. Quickly he hit Keigo’s number on speed dial. While the dial tone trilled, he tapped his foot with nervous energy fighting the sinking feeling in his stomach.
“Ichigo?” asked a slightly confused voice at the end. From its tone, it was hard for Ichigo to tell if he was angry or not. He glanced up for a minute noticing that there were several other men cradling cell phones between shoulder and cheek while reaching for their day planners or scribbling a number down. A soft murmur of background noise indicated he was not the only one who stepped out to make a private call. At least he was in good company. How many of these men were contacting friends or loved ones, or just checking up on their own lives before returning to the comfortable safety of the club?
“Oi, Keigo, I want you and Mizuiro to come back okay? I feel like shit for um…”
“You sure Ichigo?” Keigo’s voice answered, rising in positive tone. “I don’t wanna cramp your style.”
“You and Mizuiro put in a lot of work to put this together. I hate you not sharing it with us and well…” Ichigo trailed off, shifting his weight from his left to his right foot. “So um… if you’re not too busy could you please just come back and we’ll all hang out together?”
“Hold on a second okay?” Keigo mumbled. For a minute, he heard silence, his stomach twisting into a knot. Perhaps Keigo would just blow him off as he had blown him off. Silently he willed understanding that Keigo would accept this. He heard a whispering in the background muffled by what must be the palm of Keigo’s hand, and Mizuiro’s faint voice.
When he next heard Keigo’s reply he listened carefully to each word. “Okay Ichigo. You want us there we’ll be there okay?” Keigo answered quietly.
“You guys are my friends and I just… shit…” Ichigo sighed, pressing a hand to massage his temples. Past him walked a few more male patrons either holding hands or linking arms. “Forgive me for being an asshole about this whole thing. You two accepted the fact I’m in a gay relationship without questioning it and to…”
“Ichigo, it’s cool man,” Keigo suddenly interrupted. “We’re on our way.”
“Thanks… see you soon?” Ichigo asked his heart beating again at a steady pace. Relief came from the tension snapping out of his digestive tract.
“Sure buddy,” said Keigo in a more friendly upbeat tone that sounded more like his usual self.
“Bye, see ya,” Ichigo replied, with a slight nervous chuckle. He pressed the red button to end the call before he strode back through the cloud of cigarette smoke again.
In the distance he heard Renji’s loud laugh echoing followed by Ishida’s chuckle and a peel of laugher from Sado. Approaching the table, he saw Sado sitting with his arm draped around Ishida’s shoulders. The Quincy had leaned comfortably into Sado’s armpit, his other hand wrapped around a glass filled with what appeared to be a yellow liquid with a spring of mint floating in it.
Renji glanced up towards Ichigo, his face lighting up with his wide grin. He held out a hand to Ichigo who reached out to clasp it. “Finally decided to rejoin us huh?” Renji teased.
“Yeah. It’s cool. They’re on their way back,” Ichigo answered, surprised that Renji pulled out his chair for him with his free hand. He sat down, and then met Sado and Ishida’s gazes.
“It was a nice thing for you to do, Ichigo,” Sado commented, nodding.
“Asano can be a pain, but if this makes you feel better Ichigo, then I think it’s wise,” Ishida agreed. Again, Ichigo leaned back in his chair, letting his backrest heavily against the top bar. Renji guided their hands so they sat on the table, clasped together. Another quick survey of the restaurant visually revealed other male couples either lacing fingers together to sit on the table, or draping arms over their significant other’s shoulders.
He wondered just how Keigo and Mizuiro knew where the gay clubs were. It was not a stereotypical bar like he had expected or gone with them on a dare. No, this was a normal quiet and intimate place. Several women sat at tables with some of the male couples, laughing and enjoying company. He had noticed that some men tended to have close female friends. A good deal of the myths were shattered or blown away. There was camp, and then there was reality. What he decided was just to be him.
However, he did feel a bit out of place if not for the clothes that Keigo and Mizuiro had picked out for him and for Renji. They were pleasant and dressy without being over the top or out of character for what he would wear. “Just because I’m dating a guy doesn’t mean I stop being myself,” he mumbled.
“What’s that, Ichigo?” asked Sado.
“Of course you don’t stop being you, idiot,” Ishida sighed labouredly, swirling his drink.
“Now I feel like a real dumbass,” Ichigo mumbled.
“Isn’t as stupid as some of the things you’ve said in the past,” Renji quipped and Ichigo glared at him.
“Shut up,” he mumbled, blushing for the millionth time. Still his eyes kept a watch over the patrons entering and exiting the dining area. He leaned to the side craning his head noticing two men striding up. Still wearing their outfits Keigo and Mizuiro strode towards their table, hands stuffed in their pockets. Mizuiro’s mouth twitched up in his usual enigmatic smile, while Keigo had a moderate smile on his face. Although far from his usual bounding energy, the shine in his friend’s eyes was accessible and conciliatory. Ichigo stood up, releasing Renji’s hand. He reached to pull the two chairs out yet Renji leapt up, grabbed the one closest to him, and dragged it from the table.
“Have a seat you two,” Renji chuckled. Ichigo winced figuring he was making a bigger deal of it then he should but everything Renji did was exaggerated and larger than life compared to the substitute Shinigami.
Chairs creaked and plates were shuffled about with the appetizers. Settling next to Renji Keigo blinked down at the dish of hot wings the redhead had moved closer to him. “Don’t know if you like these but that’s what we’ve all decided to split so far,” Renji said with a smile.
“That’s cool, thanks,” Keigo replied, his own smile deepening.
“Oi, excuse me?” Ichigo called, waiving to their server again. “Two more dinner orders?”
Moving over their server smiled politely, noting the two patron’s return. He pulled his pad out of the front of his apron and said, “I can put your orders in with theirs so they all come out together. Glad you decided to stay, gentlemen.”
“Couldn’t keep us away with a stick,” Mizuiro joked. Ishida’s small friendly smile towards Keigo and Mizuiro was met with nods of gratitude from the two boys.
“A refill of drinks?” the waiter asked. Around him darted a young woman with her hair pinned in a bun, carrying a pitcher rattling with ice cubes. She leaned forwards, expertly topping off each water glass without bumping into any of Ichigo’s dinner party.
“You bet,” said Ichigo. “What are you drinking, Keigo, Mizuiro?”
“Sex on the beach of course!” Keigo blurted out with an enthusiastic grin. “But the non alcoholic version…” he added with a regretful sigh.
“You would,” Ichigo quipped, causing a laugh to echo around the table.
“I’ll have the brand he’s drinking,” Mizuiro said pointing to Ishida who held up his glass of diet soda. The waiter reached over to grab the empty glasses and bottles to stack on his tray.
“Do you need a minute to look at the menu for your main course or shall I take it now?” asked the waiter.
“I’ve had my eye on the steak and lobster special the minute I saw it on the board,” said Keigo.
“The calamari sounds good,” Mizuiro nodded, leaning over Keigo to look at the menu Renji held up for them. Keigo seemed perfectly content with how close his classmate was to him at that moment, the way Mizuiro’s arm brushed Keigo’s chest.
“Thank you gentlemen. Be right back. Your dinners will be here soon,” the waiter said politely, nodding at all of them. Keigo shifted in his seat, sitting on the front edge of it as he folded his hands on his lap and smirked at the other two couples.
“So, was I right or was I right? Getting all cozy and intimate?” he teased.
“I want to know one thing,” Ishida said.
“What’s that?” Mizuiro asked, looking eagerly at the beer the waiter set before him.
Rubbing his hands together, Keigo reached for the stemmed glass passed his way and played with the small paper umbrella in it. He sipped it quickly, and then licked his lips. Ichigo shook his head and laughed with further relief. Seemed as if Keigo had forgiven him. Ishida then picked up his glass of diet soda and sipped a small amount. “Just how did you know about the existence of this place?” Ishida wondered.
Mizuiro tapped his hand on his knee, and exchanged a look with Keigo, who bounced slightly on his chair. He hid a smile behind the drink raised to his face before saying, “Guys, how could I NOT know where the best places to go out are? Since you guys bury your faces in the books someone has to know how to have fun!”
“Here here,” Renji said lifting up his beer to clink to Keigo’s glass.
“I was right you were cool, buddy. He’s a good influence on you, Ichigo. You’re actually acting like you’re enjoying yourself,” Keigo chuckled, reaching around Renji to nudge Ichigo’s shoulder.
“Miracles never cease. Ice shida seems to be defrosting too,” Mizuiro jibed, nudging Ishida. Hot wings and mozzarella sticks were passed around among the six young men. Keigo had a pile of appetizers on his plate to rival Renji’s after a few more circuits of the entre dishes around the table. Renji released Ichigo’s hand, raising his arm to wrap around the other’s shoulders comfortably, shifting back enough in his chair so his back angled to a near slouch indicating his comfort level was at its maximum.
“Even glaciers thaw eventually to some extent,” Ishida shot back, taking another sip of diet soda. However, his blue eyes twinkled behind his glasses.
“Touché,” Sado added, sampling his own beer. Ishida’s hand disappeared under the table along with Sado’s arm from around his shoulders. Sado’s left hand vanished to join Ishida’s right hand. A quick glance by Ichigo confirmed that their hands were clasped resting on Sado’s knee. Reaching over Sado picked up one of Ishida’s mozzarella sticks sitting to the side.
“So how was your trip?” Keigo asked Renji, midway through dunking a cheese stick into the sauce that Mizuiro had used.
“Trip? Oh… uh… busy. And um… not quite what I expected,’ Renji mumbled, glancing anxiously at Ichigo.
“We’re glad he’s back in one piece all things considered,” said Ichigo, missing the arm around his shoulder once Renji removed it to start eating.
“Was there some accident or something?” asked Mizuiro, frowning.
“Work issues, school issues. Let’s just say that the person I was staying with and I didn’t see eye to eye,” Renji admitted. Sado and Ishida traded concerned looks, lips parting to jump in with a comment just in case Renji or Ichigo blurted something out that would contradict their cover story.
“Sorry to hear that, buddy,” Keigo said sympathetically. “Family situations aren’t always easy.”
“You’re terrified of your sister for instance,” Ichigo added.
“She picks on me,” mumbled Keigo, blushing at the admission.
“You’re too much of a nice guy. You should take jerk lessons from Ichigo or Abarai kun,” Ishida quipped.
“Ha ha,” Renji said in response, tossing an ice cube at Ishida.
“Your aim still is lousy,” laughed Ishida. Laughter predominated once more among the six friends up to the point where the waiter arrived hefting a large serving tray balanced on his shoulder. The girl who had [poured their water carried a smaller tray and a metal stand she unfolded. Both trays were rested down upon it, revealing the platters with each of their dinners. Tantalizing aromas emanating from the steaming entrees twitched all their nostrils. For a moment, it eclipsed the smell that Ichigo had recognized as Renji’s. Not quite cinnamon, and not quite musk, indicating the cologne that Urahara must have chosen for Renji.
Ishida’s tilapia arrived in front of him first followed by Keigo’s selection of lobster and steak. The pasta and Alfredo dish Ichigo had selected plunked down next, then Renji’s own selection of a sampler platter positioned in front of the redhead whose mouth already watered. Something resembling a salad and rack of ribs materialized before Sado. Mizuiro’s own selection was the last to be set down. Each of them took a moment to look at the food in anticipation of how it was arranged on the plate, or what portion of their companions they could swipe without too much of a mess.
Renji’s large hand reached over Ichigo’s plate to grab the basket of bread. Ichigo automatically snapped, “Oi, you could ask, jerk…”
“You were already trying to sneak a sip of my beer when I wasn’t looking so don’t complain to me,” Renji shot back.
“I’m not much one for ribs, but thank you,” Ishida said noticing that Sado had placed a few on the side of his own plate. Further conversation dwindled to occasional comments and smacks of the wrist between Ichigo and Renji arguing over who should pass what item without reaching over the other’s plate. Among bites of hot steaming pasta and Alfredo Ichigo found himself remembering the predominantly rice and meat dishes of Soul society. He suddenly licked his lips wishing he could have green tea or sake.
Things didn’t seem quite right without Yumichika and Ikkaku’s bickering to go along with collective meals. Alternatively, Hisagi and Kira along with Matsumoto barging in and scrambling for the sake bottle. Granted Ichigo didn’t eat every meal with Renji’s drinking buddies but he had grown used to the trips out every few nights to a local tavern or squad office. Squad 11 was a prime spot, as were the offices of squad 10 when Hitsugaya was on another mission or occupied. That is until Matsumoto or someone spotted him and a mad scramble to hide the sake bottles ensued.
Here Ichigo was not of full legal age to drink. It was hard to enforce such rules in Soul Society but he stuck to them mostly amid small sips that Ikkaku had slipped him. The bitter tang of sake along with its immediate taste still came to mind. If he closed his eyes, he could conjure the sights, sounds, and smells of Soul Society in an instant.
“Ichigo, you okay buddy?” asked Keigo.
“Oi, Ichigo, wake up,” Renji urged, nudging him hard.
“Yeah,” Ichigo said as he blinked up into Keigo’s and Renji’s concerned faces.
“Kurosaki?” asked Ishida, frowning.
“I’m okay. Sorry to space out,” Ichigo apologized.
“You’ve apologized more times in the last night then you usually do in a week. You are hiding something else from your friends?” Keigo asked.
“Maybe we’re pushing it to ask any more?” Mizuiro whispered in his ear.
“Just thinking, about things. Nothing major,” Ichigo quickly lied, seeing the looks of understanding on Sado and Ishida’s faces. Renji squeezed Ichigo’s shoulder as he wrapped his arm around it again.
“Okay if you say so,” Keigo said, nodding. Ichigo swallowed the lump in his throat and seized his glass of water, swallowing it quickly.
“You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to,” Mizuiro added. “But if you need someone to talk to…”
“I know,” said Ichigo as he swallowed hard. By now, images of bandaged squad members soaked in blood assembled in Squad 4 had come to mind. How Renji had laid in that bed feeling guilty, and how tight the band of the fukaitaicho badge seemed around Ichigo’s arm at times. Frustration and resentment at Byakuya still festered in a corner of his mind, bringing more lumps to Ichigo’s throat.
“Shit, sorry,” Ichigo mumbled as he put a hand to his head.
“Whoa, wait Ichigo… if something’s bothering you spit it out!” Keigo said worriedly.
“I can’t talk about it,” he whispered softly. Keigo looked at Renji, Sado and Ishida in alarm, frowning.
“It’s not anything you did,” Ishida said quickly, giving them a reassuring glance. “It’s just something private. I hope you understand.”
“Okay… like I said before,” Keigo murmured, face still filled with worry.
“C’mon Ichigo, we’re back together eh?” Renji said as he wrapped an arm around him. Breathing deeply Ichigo nodded, forcing back any tears. He did not want to go to pieces in front of Keigo and Mizuiro, relying on Sado and Ishida to cover for him yet again. They had done so for an entire month or more and that was enough.
Five concerned friends all shared various looks of confusion and knowing. Although silence predominated, Ichigo realized that he and Renji would have to talk about what had happened and figure out what to tell the others. This black mood saw no sign of evaporating even though Ichigo could hold back the urge to melt down in front of those not aware of his secret.
Sequel to Closer Still and Not Too Close
Author: StarbearerTM
Chapter 3
Warnings: Language
Spoilers: Soul Society Arc, Not Too Close
Pairing: IshidaxSado, IchigoxRenji, implied MizuiroxKeigo possibly?
Word Count: 3125
An: This was on my hard drive for the last month or so. Decided to post it since I've not posted anything in a while and I'm working on a Truhan piece. Not totally satisfied with it, but it insists it wants to be posted LOL.
Fifteen minutes passed since the departure of Ichigo’s two friends. While Ichigo relaxed in his chair, the tension seemed to ease out of his shoulders. He felt a knot of guilt however building up in the pit of his stomach. Reaching into his pocket, he extracted his cell phone. Noticing that Ichigo had let go of his hand Renji asked, “Something wrong?”
“I feel guilty about kicking them out of here since they planned this thing in the first place,” Ichigo mumbled. They had all placed their dinner orders by now, and were sharing the various appetizers, which Ichigo had barely touched his share of.
“Well, one of ‘em gets on my nerves but if you wanna…” Renji trailed off, causing Ichigo to give him a relieved glance. Ichigo pushed himself out from the table.
“Excuse me,” Ichigo murmured, rising to his feet. Already opening his cell phone, he lifted it to one ear, striding out to the entrance of the club. Past several patrons standing in the bar he sniffed at the hazy cigarette smoke clouding the air. It stung his eyes along with the smell that twitched his nostrils. Quickly he hit Keigo’s number on speed dial. While the dial tone trilled, he tapped his foot with nervous energy fighting the sinking feeling in his stomach.
“Ichigo?” asked a slightly confused voice at the end. From its tone, it was hard for Ichigo to tell if he was angry or not. He glanced up for a minute noticing that there were several other men cradling cell phones between shoulder and cheek while reaching for their day planners or scribbling a number down. A soft murmur of background noise indicated he was not the only one who stepped out to make a private call. At least he was in good company. How many of these men were contacting friends or loved ones, or just checking up on their own lives before returning to the comfortable safety of the club?
“Oi, Keigo, I want you and Mizuiro to come back okay? I feel like shit for um…”
“You sure Ichigo?” Keigo’s voice answered, rising in positive tone. “I don’t wanna cramp your style.”
“You and Mizuiro put in a lot of work to put this together. I hate you not sharing it with us and well…” Ichigo trailed off, shifting his weight from his left to his right foot. “So um… if you’re not too busy could you please just come back and we’ll all hang out together?”
“Hold on a second okay?” Keigo mumbled. For a minute, he heard silence, his stomach twisting into a knot. Perhaps Keigo would just blow him off as he had blown him off. Silently he willed understanding that Keigo would accept this. He heard a whispering in the background muffled by what must be the palm of Keigo’s hand, and Mizuiro’s faint voice.
When he next heard Keigo’s reply he listened carefully to each word. “Okay Ichigo. You want us there we’ll be there okay?” Keigo answered quietly.
“You guys are my friends and I just… shit…” Ichigo sighed, pressing a hand to massage his temples. Past him walked a few more male patrons either holding hands or linking arms. “Forgive me for being an asshole about this whole thing. You two accepted the fact I’m in a gay relationship without questioning it and to…”
“Ichigo, it’s cool man,” Keigo suddenly interrupted. “We’re on our way.”
“Thanks… see you soon?” Ichigo asked his heart beating again at a steady pace. Relief came from the tension snapping out of his digestive tract.
“Sure buddy,” said Keigo in a more friendly upbeat tone that sounded more like his usual self.
“Bye, see ya,” Ichigo replied, with a slight nervous chuckle. He pressed the red button to end the call before he strode back through the cloud of cigarette smoke again.
In the distance he heard Renji’s loud laugh echoing followed by Ishida’s chuckle and a peel of laugher from Sado. Approaching the table, he saw Sado sitting with his arm draped around Ishida’s shoulders. The Quincy had leaned comfortably into Sado’s armpit, his other hand wrapped around a glass filled with what appeared to be a yellow liquid with a spring of mint floating in it.
Renji glanced up towards Ichigo, his face lighting up with his wide grin. He held out a hand to Ichigo who reached out to clasp it. “Finally decided to rejoin us huh?” Renji teased.
“Yeah. It’s cool. They’re on their way back,” Ichigo answered, surprised that Renji pulled out his chair for him with his free hand. He sat down, and then met Sado and Ishida’s gazes.
“It was a nice thing for you to do, Ichigo,” Sado commented, nodding.
“Asano can be a pain, but if this makes you feel better Ichigo, then I think it’s wise,” Ishida agreed. Again, Ichigo leaned back in his chair, letting his backrest heavily against the top bar. Renji guided their hands so they sat on the table, clasped together. Another quick survey of the restaurant visually revealed other male couples either lacing fingers together to sit on the table, or draping arms over their significant other’s shoulders.
He wondered just how Keigo and Mizuiro knew where the gay clubs were. It was not a stereotypical bar like he had expected or gone with them on a dare. No, this was a normal quiet and intimate place. Several women sat at tables with some of the male couples, laughing and enjoying company. He had noticed that some men tended to have close female friends. A good deal of the myths were shattered or blown away. There was camp, and then there was reality. What he decided was just to be him.
However, he did feel a bit out of place if not for the clothes that Keigo and Mizuiro had picked out for him and for Renji. They were pleasant and dressy without being over the top or out of character for what he would wear. “Just because I’m dating a guy doesn’t mean I stop being myself,” he mumbled.
“What’s that, Ichigo?” asked Sado.
“Of course you don’t stop being you, idiot,” Ishida sighed labouredly, swirling his drink.
“Now I feel like a real dumbass,” Ichigo mumbled.
“Isn’t as stupid as some of the things you’ve said in the past,” Renji quipped and Ichigo glared at him.
“Shut up,” he mumbled, blushing for the millionth time. Still his eyes kept a watch over the patrons entering and exiting the dining area. He leaned to the side craning his head noticing two men striding up. Still wearing their outfits Keigo and Mizuiro strode towards their table, hands stuffed in their pockets. Mizuiro’s mouth twitched up in his usual enigmatic smile, while Keigo had a moderate smile on his face. Although far from his usual bounding energy, the shine in his friend’s eyes was accessible and conciliatory. Ichigo stood up, releasing Renji’s hand. He reached to pull the two chairs out yet Renji leapt up, grabbed the one closest to him, and dragged it from the table.
“Have a seat you two,” Renji chuckled. Ichigo winced figuring he was making a bigger deal of it then he should but everything Renji did was exaggerated and larger than life compared to the substitute Shinigami.
Chairs creaked and plates were shuffled about with the appetizers. Settling next to Renji Keigo blinked down at the dish of hot wings the redhead had moved closer to him. “Don’t know if you like these but that’s what we’ve all decided to split so far,” Renji said with a smile.
“That’s cool, thanks,” Keigo replied, his own smile deepening.
“Oi, excuse me?” Ichigo called, waiving to their server again. “Two more dinner orders?”
Moving over their server smiled politely, noting the two patron’s return. He pulled his pad out of the front of his apron and said, “I can put your orders in with theirs so they all come out together. Glad you decided to stay, gentlemen.”
“Couldn’t keep us away with a stick,” Mizuiro joked. Ishida’s small friendly smile towards Keigo and Mizuiro was met with nods of gratitude from the two boys.
“A refill of drinks?” the waiter asked. Around him darted a young woman with her hair pinned in a bun, carrying a pitcher rattling with ice cubes. She leaned forwards, expertly topping off each water glass without bumping into any of Ichigo’s dinner party.
“You bet,” said Ichigo. “What are you drinking, Keigo, Mizuiro?”
“Sex on the beach of course!” Keigo blurted out with an enthusiastic grin. “But the non alcoholic version…” he added with a regretful sigh.
“You would,” Ichigo quipped, causing a laugh to echo around the table.
“I’ll have the brand he’s drinking,” Mizuiro said pointing to Ishida who held up his glass of diet soda. The waiter reached over to grab the empty glasses and bottles to stack on his tray.
“Do you need a minute to look at the menu for your main course or shall I take it now?” asked the waiter.
“I’ve had my eye on the steak and lobster special the minute I saw it on the board,” said Keigo.
“The calamari sounds good,” Mizuiro nodded, leaning over Keigo to look at the menu Renji held up for them. Keigo seemed perfectly content with how close his classmate was to him at that moment, the way Mizuiro’s arm brushed Keigo’s chest.
“Thank you gentlemen. Be right back. Your dinners will be here soon,” the waiter said politely, nodding at all of them. Keigo shifted in his seat, sitting on the front edge of it as he folded his hands on his lap and smirked at the other two couples.
“So, was I right or was I right? Getting all cozy and intimate?” he teased.
“I want to know one thing,” Ishida said.
“What’s that?” Mizuiro asked, looking eagerly at the beer the waiter set before him.
Rubbing his hands together, Keigo reached for the stemmed glass passed his way and played with the small paper umbrella in it. He sipped it quickly, and then licked his lips. Ichigo shook his head and laughed with further relief. Seemed as if Keigo had forgiven him. Ishida then picked up his glass of diet soda and sipped a small amount. “Just how did you know about the existence of this place?” Ishida wondered.
Mizuiro tapped his hand on his knee, and exchanged a look with Keigo, who bounced slightly on his chair. He hid a smile behind the drink raised to his face before saying, “Guys, how could I NOT know where the best places to go out are? Since you guys bury your faces in the books someone has to know how to have fun!”
“Here here,” Renji said lifting up his beer to clink to Keigo’s glass.
“I was right you were cool, buddy. He’s a good influence on you, Ichigo. You’re actually acting like you’re enjoying yourself,” Keigo chuckled, reaching around Renji to nudge Ichigo’s shoulder.
“Miracles never cease. Ice shida seems to be defrosting too,” Mizuiro jibed, nudging Ishida. Hot wings and mozzarella sticks were passed around among the six young men. Keigo had a pile of appetizers on his plate to rival Renji’s after a few more circuits of the entre dishes around the table. Renji released Ichigo’s hand, raising his arm to wrap around the other’s shoulders comfortably, shifting back enough in his chair so his back angled to a near slouch indicating his comfort level was at its maximum.
“Even glaciers thaw eventually to some extent,” Ishida shot back, taking another sip of diet soda. However, his blue eyes twinkled behind his glasses.
“Touché,” Sado added, sampling his own beer. Ishida’s hand disappeared under the table along with Sado’s arm from around his shoulders. Sado’s left hand vanished to join Ishida’s right hand. A quick glance by Ichigo confirmed that their hands were clasped resting on Sado’s knee. Reaching over Sado picked up one of Ishida’s mozzarella sticks sitting to the side.
“So how was your trip?” Keigo asked Renji, midway through dunking a cheese stick into the sauce that Mizuiro had used.
“Trip? Oh… uh… busy. And um… not quite what I expected,’ Renji mumbled, glancing anxiously at Ichigo.
“We’re glad he’s back in one piece all things considered,” said Ichigo, missing the arm around his shoulder once Renji removed it to start eating.
“Was there some accident or something?” asked Mizuiro, frowning.
“Work issues, school issues. Let’s just say that the person I was staying with and I didn’t see eye to eye,” Renji admitted. Sado and Ishida traded concerned looks, lips parting to jump in with a comment just in case Renji or Ichigo blurted something out that would contradict their cover story.
“Sorry to hear that, buddy,” Keigo said sympathetically. “Family situations aren’t always easy.”
“You’re terrified of your sister for instance,” Ichigo added.
“She picks on me,” mumbled Keigo, blushing at the admission.
“You’re too much of a nice guy. You should take jerk lessons from Ichigo or Abarai kun,” Ishida quipped.
“Ha ha,” Renji said in response, tossing an ice cube at Ishida.
“Your aim still is lousy,” laughed Ishida. Laughter predominated once more among the six friends up to the point where the waiter arrived hefting a large serving tray balanced on his shoulder. The girl who had [poured their water carried a smaller tray and a metal stand she unfolded. Both trays were rested down upon it, revealing the platters with each of their dinners. Tantalizing aromas emanating from the steaming entrees twitched all their nostrils. For a moment, it eclipsed the smell that Ichigo had recognized as Renji’s. Not quite cinnamon, and not quite musk, indicating the cologne that Urahara must have chosen for Renji.
Ishida’s tilapia arrived in front of him first followed by Keigo’s selection of lobster and steak. The pasta and Alfredo dish Ichigo had selected plunked down next, then Renji’s own selection of a sampler platter positioned in front of the redhead whose mouth already watered. Something resembling a salad and rack of ribs materialized before Sado. Mizuiro’s own selection was the last to be set down. Each of them took a moment to look at the food in anticipation of how it was arranged on the plate, or what portion of their companions they could swipe without too much of a mess.
Renji’s large hand reached over Ichigo’s plate to grab the basket of bread. Ichigo automatically snapped, “Oi, you could ask, jerk…”
“You were already trying to sneak a sip of my beer when I wasn’t looking so don’t complain to me,” Renji shot back.
“I’m not much one for ribs, but thank you,” Ishida said noticing that Sado had placed a few on the side of his own plate. Further conversation dwindled to occasional comments and smacks of the wrist between Ichigo and Renji arguing over who should pass what item without reaching over the other’s plate. Among bites of hot steaming pasta and Alfredo Ichigo found himself remembering the predominantly rice and meat dishes of Soul society. He suddenly licked his lips wishing he could have green tea or sake.
Things didn’t seem quite right without Yumichika and Ikkaku’s bickering to go along with collective meals. Alternatively, Hisagi and Kira along with Matsumoto barging in and scrambling for the sake bottle. Granted Ichigo didn’t eat every meal with Renji’s drinking buddies but he had grown used to the trips out every few nights to a local tavern or squad office. Squad 11 was a prime spot, as were the offices of squad 10 when Hitsugaya was on another mission or occupied. That is until Matsumoto or someone spotted him and a mad scramble to hide the sake bottles ensued.
Here Ichigo was not of full legal age to drink. It was hard to enforce such rules in Soul Society but he stuck to them mostly amid small sips that Ikkaku had slipped him. The bitter tang of sake along with its immediate taste still came to mind. If he closed his eyes, he could conjure the sights, sounds, and smells of Soul Society in an instant.
“Ichigo, you okay buddy?” asked Keigo.
“Oi, Ichigo, wake up,” Renji urged, nudging him hard.
“Yeah,” Ichigo said as he blinked up into Keigo’s and Renji’s concerned faces.
“Kurosaki?” asked Ishida, frowning.
“I’m okay. Sorry to space out,” Ichigo apologized.
“You’ve apologized more times in the last night then you usually do in a week. You are hiding something else from your friends?” Keigo asked.
“Maybe we’re pushing it to ask any more?” Mizuiro whispered in his ear.
“Just thinking, about things. Nothing major,” Ichigo quickly lied, seeing the looks of understanding on Sado and Ishida’s faces. Renji squeezed Ichigo’s shoulder as he wrapped his arm around it again.
“Okay if you say so,” Keigo said, nodding. Ichigo swallowed the lump in his throat and seized his glass of water, swallowing it quickly.
“You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to,” Mizuiro added. “But if you need someone to talk to…”
“I know,” said Ichigo as he swallowed hard. By now, images of bandaged squad members soaked in blood assembled in Squad 4 had come to mind. How Renji had laid in that bed feeling guilty, and how tight the band of the fukaitaicho badge seemed around Ichigo’s arm at times. Frustration and resentment at Byakuya still festered in a corner of his mind, bringing more lumps to Ichigo’s throat.
“Shit, sorry,” Ichigo mumbled as he put a hand to his head.
“Whoa, wait Ichigo… if something’s bothering you spit it out!” Keigo said worriedly.
“I can’t talk about it,” he whispered softly. Keigo looked at Renji, Sado and Ishida in alarm, frowning.
“It’s not anything you did,” Ishida said quickly, giving them a reassuring glance. “It’s just something private. I hope you understand.”
“Okay… like I said before,” Keigo murmured, face still filled with worry.
“C’mon Ichigo, we’re back together eh?” Renji said as he wrapped an arm around him. Breathing deeply Ichigo nodded, forcing back any tears. He did not want to go to pieces in front of Keigo and Mizuiro, relying on Sado and Ishida to cover for him yet again. They had done so for an entire month or more and that was enough.
Five concerned friends all shared various looks of confusion and knowing. Although silence predominated, Ichigo realized that he and Renji would have to talk about what had happened and figure out what to tell the others. This black mood saw no sign of evaporating even though Ichigo could hold back the urge to melt down in front of those not aware of his secret.