oops, polyphonic: 07
haha ok, so if you read my earlier post, i was considering watching bleach that night. so, of course, i started marathoning the darn arc all day yesterday. you were right writerx75 it was interesting and i did like it. sigh. and i'm kinda not done either, still have a few episodes left. i stopped myself when i remembered that i had a freaking speech to write (and memorize in sign language, yay) and a test to study for. haha. yeah... i'm such a terrible procrastinator.
but that's not why you're reading this! sorry. the new chapter is here, and renji's finally back.
Title: Polyphonic: ch 07
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: 1584 + 423 extra
Summary: Renji asks a little about love.
"Hey can I ask you guys a question?"
The room fell silent. It was Soul Candy's official post-competition meeting/party and they were waiting for Rangiku to show up with the official rankings and dates for their next appearance.
"Uh, sure Renji," replied Shuuhei, rather perturbed by the fact that the usually overconfident Renji was worried enough about something to ask about it. "What is it?"
"What's it like to be in love?"
There was a sputter as Ikkaku spit out his tea. An effeminate hand pounded his back before reaching up to fix his short dark bobbed hair. "Are you alright, Ikkaku?"
"Yumi, what was it like to fall in love with Ikkaku?" Renji persisted.
As Ikkaku turned bright red, Yumichika paused, adjusting his feather ornaments on his eyebrows. "I suppose it was like the world coming together. Such as when you know nothing can ever be the same again after you've admitted your love."
"Yeah," muttered Ikkaku, rubbing the back of his neck and turning his head away. "Somethin' like that."
Yumichika's face brightened at Ikkaku's words, and without hesitation he glomped him. "Aw, Ikkie-kun you do care!"
"Argh, stop don't call me that! Get OFF me!"
Renji, used to their antics, turned instead to the tattooed man. "And you, Shuuhei? What about your boyfriend, Tousen?"
"He's everything," Shuuhei stated calmly. "He's everything I've ever needed, everything I've ever wanted."
The blonde, sensing that the subject was about to come around to him, quickly deflected. "Why are you asking us all this, Renji? Are you in love?"
"Ah." Renji leaned back on the couch. "Kira," he said, addressing him, "how do I know? I'm attracted to him, but..."
Kira got up, laid a hand on Renji's shoulder, and sighed. "I wish I could tell you, Ren, but it's just something you have to feel for yourself."
"So," came Ikkaku's voice from the other side of the room, pausing in his mock fighting with Yumichika, his hands resting comfortably on his boyfriend’s ass. "Who is it?
Renji glanced over, catching the leer aimed at him. Realizing most of them had probably arrived after Ichigo had already stormed off, he said nonchalantly, "None of your business, baldy."
"What did you call me?!"
The room erupted in a brawl, the subject of love forgotten for the moment.
--
As naive as he seemed about love, Renji had thought he had friendship figured out until Rukia had blown up at him. When he returned home, he paced outside the door to Rukia's room for twenty minutes before gathering the courage to knock.
"My idiot son," said his mother, coming up the stairs. "What are you doing outside Rukia's room? She's not even home."
"What? Where did she go?" Renji asked, anxiously.
His mother eyed her son carefully before answering. "She said she was going to stay at a friend's place tonight because, and I quote, she 'wouldn't be able to sleep with an idiot male so close.' Now, my idiot son. There is only one possible idiot male is this house since your father died, so what did you do?"
Renji winced as his mother glared at him. "I'm not exactly sure..."
"Well make sure," Mrs. Abarai snapped. "You are my only son, but she is also the only daughter I will likely have, so you will make it up to her, you hear me Abarai Renji?"
"Yes, ma'am."
His life was full of scary women, he thought as he headed for his room. It's no wonder he was gay.
--
Lying awake in his bed, Izuru Kira contemplated love. He had never felt it, never known of its existence, until that one day.
In a way, it was what motivated him to join Soul Candy. He had the skills, but there was no way of garnering her attention until he had made a name for himself. She was, after all, Hinamori Momo, secretary to President Aizen Sousuke of the all-powerful Aizen group. She had enough on her mind dealing with the Reapers and the rest of the administration. He had thoughts of joining the Reapers at first, but he had found kinship with Renji and the others. Later, he reasoned, it was probably for the best. As a subordinate in her company, she would treat him formally and respectfully, but he would likely never break through to her true self.
Much later, when he heard the rumors of Hinamori Momo's "extra duties" for President Aizen after hours, he was also glad he did not have to be associated with the man. Kira wasn't dumb enough to challenge such an influential person directly, but he might've been tempted to, had he been in that situation.
He still remembered when they had met. The club that Kira had been working at was full, and in between an order for beers and one for piña coladas, he had noticed her. She seemed almost out of place, in her demure suit and hair pulled back into a neat bun, but then she looked up at him smiling and asked, "Can I get the bill for this man here? He has to go home now."
Kira looked at the drunk man beside her. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"I dun' know thi' chick," slurred the man.
"Come on, sir. It's time to go home." She signaled for Kira's boss. "Hey, put this man's bill on my tab. I'll be back in a bit, so if those guys come, then tell them, 'kay?"
Kira spent the rest of the night in a daze, spending as much time as possible looking for her and messing up all his orders. Finally his boss had pulled him aside.
"Kira, I'm not paying you to make eyes at girls. I'm paying you to make drinks." His boss glanced over to where Hinamori had just reappeared. "She's out of your league, Kira. Her name is Hinamori Momo, executive secretary of the Aizen Group. She's here scouting that dance crew, Grimm's Reapers."
“The Reapers, huh?” Kira mused quietly as he wandered back to work.
Throughout the rest of the night, Kira watched Hinamori watching the Reapers. It was then that Kira decided he was going to dance professionally. He already had some experience, though only as an amateur. But if becoming a professional meant that he could become the recipient of her intense scrutiny, he would do anything.
Kira sighed as he rolled to his side. "One day, I'll save her from that place." Kira declared into the night. "Not because I want her to love me, but because I love her."
He smiled sadly, his blue eyes distantly lost in his thoughts. It was only something he could voice secretly, something he knew he wanted. He couldn't help falling in love with Hinamori, and now that he had, he was going to do everything in his power to help her.
--
Hisagi Shuuhei unlocked the door to his first-floor apartment at a little past midnight.
"Tousen?" he called. "I'm home."
The lights were off, but it wasn't really an indication of Kaname Tousen's absence. Tousen didn't need light, being that he was blind.
Shuuhei frowned at the silence echoing in the apartment. He moved into the kitchen, locating the tape recorder hanging on the wall. It was their method of leaving messages with one another, since it was more convenient for Tousen than a handwritten note. No messages. A quick glance at the answering machine confirmed the same thing. No messages. Flicking on the hallway lights, he peeked into his room in case Tousen had fallen asleep. There was no trace of him anywhere.
Sighing Shuuhei leaned against the wall and slid to the ground. Lately, the blind black man had been leaving and not returning for days at a time, only offering clipped explanations when he was around at all. What Shuuhei had told Renji was the truth. Tousen was everything to Shuuhei. But apparently Tousen didn't feel the same.
Burying his face in his hands, he remembered the look Leones Edorad had given him at the first glance. The muscular redhead had stared at him like he was the most wonderful creature ever created, and for a moment, Shuuhei had felt happy again, and was reminded of how it felt to be truly wanted.
But giving up Tousen felt impossible to him. With just a word, Tousen could make Shuuhei ecstatic, a simple touch to make him yearn. These impossible emotions with such an impossibly handsome man.
Shuuhei's hands dropped and he laid his head back against the wall. How many nights had he spent alone this month? He had stopped counting after 20. Eyes closed, Shuuhei drifted, breathing slowly.
In, out. In, out. Step, step.
Shuuhei's eyes flew open. Footsteps, he was sure of it. He bounded to his feet and to the door, pulling it open.
"Oh hello, Hisagi-kun," said the little old lady who lived next door. "Were you expecting anyone?"
"Ah, no. Good night, obaa-san." Disappointed, Shuuhei pulled the door shut.
As he got into his bed later that night, Shuuhei wondered dispiritedly if his life would always consist of waiting up for Tousen. He took a look at the clock and felt the tocks of the second hand echo into the hall. The emptiness reverberated through him and he felt more alone than before. Drifting off, he was too tired to brush away the tears that had slipped past his eyelids and landed onto the pillow case.
--
Bonus fluff Ikkaku x Yumi section (not really pertinent to the storyline)
Ayasegawa Yumichika spent a lot of time in front of a mirror. He was there right now, removing his makeup for the day. That was probably why when Madarame Ikkaku, who hated mirrors and beauty, had first gotten him one for his birthday before they had even started dating, Yumichika had known that Ikkaku was the one for him.
As he put on his nightly moisturizing cream, he called to Ikkaku who was lounging on the bed. "Did you think Renji was being serious, Ikkaku?"
"Who knows with that guy?" Ikkaku drawled lazily, watching Yumichika in the mirror's reflection. Ikkaku would never admit it to anyone, but watching Yumichika spread the creamy lotion over his face was fairly arousing. "Get your ass in bed already."
Yumichika's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you only think with your dick, Ikkaku?"
Ikkaku positively leered. "And what other part of my anatomy do you think should be functioning when I'm in bed, looking at you?"
Yumichika turned in his chair. "I'm serious, Ikkaku. Do you think our little Renji could be falling in love?"
Ikkaku lay back on the bed and was silent, the music from the radio playing a silly cliched love song. After a moment, he said, "Renji is very capable of strong emotions, but most of the time he's pretty terrified of being alone. If he's thinking about it, of risking his heart, it might be the real thing."
A weight settled over his body where Yumichika had stolen up to him. "You can be surprisingly sweet and insightful sometimes. Makes me remember why I fell in love with an idiot like you."
Strong arms snaked around Yumichika's waist and pulled him fully against Ikkaku. "I wonder why you did everyday." He paused, and a smirk stole across his face. "Then I remember, that I'm the best lay you've ever had."
Yumichika laughed breathlessly. "Is that so?" Entwining his arms around Ikkaku's neck, he pulled their faces together.
A breath away, Ikkaku groaned out, "I guess I'll have to prove it to you." And the distance disappeared as he crushed his mouth into Yumichika's.
Hours later, even after their bodies had cooled, they were still intimately intertwined, neither man willing to relinquish a second of contact.
"You're mine forever," murmured Ikkaku into Yumichika's hair, voice drowsy with exhaustion.
Yumichika grinned against Ikkaku's chest. "Of course."
On the corner of the vanity lay a small compact mirror, it's well-worn metal backing smooth and plain with only a few characters etched into the surface: I <3 Y.
A/N: Getting back to Ichigo again soon. Haha, sorry he's been gone for so long. I know you've all missed him. And I don't hate Shuuhei, I promise.
begin at 01. back to 06. on to 08.
but that's not why you're reading this! sorry. the new chapter is here, and renji's finally back.
Title: Polyphonic: ch 07
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: 1584 + 423 extra
Summary: Renji asks a little about love.
"Hey can I ask you guys a question?"
The room fell silent. It was Soul Candy's official post-competition meeting/party and they were waiting for Rangiku to show up with the official rankings and dates for their next appearance.
"Uh, sure Renji," replied Shuuhei, rather perturbed by the fact that the usually overconfident Renji was worried enough about something to ask about it. "What is it?"
"What's it like to be in love?"
There was a sputter as Ikkaku spit out his tea. An effeminate hand pounded his back before reaching up to fix his short dark bobbed hair. "Are you alright, Ikkaku?"
"Yumi, what was it like to fall in love with Ikkaku?" Renji persisted.
As Ikkaku turned bright red, Yumichika paused, adjusting his feather ornaments on his eyebrows. "I suppose it was like the world coming together. Such as when you know nothing can ever be the same again after you've admitted your love."
"Yeah," muttered Ikkaku, rubbing the back of his neck and turning his head away. "Somethin' like that."
Yumichika's face brightened at Ikkaku's words, and without hesitation he glomped him. "Aw, Ikkie-kun you do care!"
"Argh, stop don't call me that! Get OFF me!"
Renji, used to their antics, turned instead to the tattooed man. "And you, Shuuhei? What about your boyfriend, Tousen?"
"He's everything," Shuuhei stated calmly. "He's everything I've ever needed, everything I've ever wanted."
The blonde, sensing that the subject was about to come around to him, quickly deflected. "Why are you asking us all this, Renji? Are you in love?"
"Ah." Renji leaned back on the couch. "Kira," he said, addressing him, "how do I know? I'm attracted to him, but..."
Kira got up, laid a hand on Renji's shoulder, and sighed. "I wish I could tell you, Ren, but it's just something you have to feel for yourself."
"So," came Ikkaku's voice from the other side of the room, pausing in his mock fighting with Yumichika, his hands resting comfortably on his boyfriend’s ass. "Who is it?
Renji glanced over, catching the leer aimed at him. Realizing most of them had probably arrived after Ichigo had already stormed off, he said nonchalantly, "None of your business, baldy."
"What did you call me?!"
The room erupted in a brawl, the subject of love forgotten for the moment.
--
As naive as he seemed about love, Renji had thought he had friendship figured out until Rukia had blown up at him. When he returned home, he paced outside the door to Rukia's room for twenty minutes before gathering the courage to knock.
"My idiot son," said his mother, coming up the stairs. "What are you doing outside Rukia's room? She's not even home."
"What? Where did she go?" Renji asked, anxiously.
His mother eyed her son carefully before answering. "She said she was going to stay at a friend's place tonight because, and I quote, she 'wouldn't be able to sleep with an idiot male so close.' Now, my idiot son. There is only one possible idiot male is this house since your father died, so what did you do?"
Renji winced as his mother glared at him. "I'm not exactly sure..."
"Well make sure," Mrs. Abarai snapped. "You are my only son, but she is also the only daughter I will likely have, so you will make it up to her, you hear me Abarai Renji?"
"Yes, ma'am."
His life was full of scary women, he thought as he headed for his room. It's no wonder he was gay.
--
Lying awake in his bed, Izuru Kira contemplated love. He had never felt it, never known of its existence, until that one day.
In a way, it was what motivated him to join Soul Candy. He had the skills, but there was no way of garnering her attention until he had made a name for himself. She was, after all, Hinamori Momo, secretary to President Aizen Sousuke of the all-powerful Aizen group. She had enough on her mind dealing with the Reapers and the rest of the administration. He had thoughts of joining the Reapers at first, but he had found kinship with Renji and the others. Later, he reasoned, it was probably for the best. As a subordinate in her company, she would treat him formally and respectfully, but he would likely never break through to her true self.
Much later, when he heard the rumors of Hinamori Momo's "extra duties" for President Aizen after hours, he was also glad he did not have to be associated with the man. Kira wasn't dumb enough to challenge such an influential person directly, but he might've been tempted to, had he been in that situation.
He still remembered when they had met. The club that Kira had been working at was full, and in between an order for beers and one for piña coladas, he had noticed her. She seemed almost out of place, in her demure suit and hair pulled back into a neat bun, but then she looked up at him smiling and asked, "Can I get the bill for this man here? He has to go home now."
Kira looked at the drunk man beside her. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"I dun' know thi' chick," slurred the man.
"Come on, sir. It's time to go home." She signaled for Kira's boss. "Hey, put this man's bill on my tab. I'll be back in a bit, so if those guys come, then tell them, 'kay?"
Kira spent the rest of the night in a daze, spending as much time as possible looking for her and messing up all his orders. Finally his boss had pulled him aside.
"Kira, I'm not paying you to make eyes at girls. I'm paying you to make drinks." His boss glanced over to where Hinamori had just reappeared. "She's out of your league, Kira. Her name is Hinamori Momo, executive secretary of the Aizen Group. She's here scouting that dance crew, Grimm's Reapers."
“The Reapers, huh?” Kira mused quietly as he wandered back to work.
Throughout the rest of the night, Kira watched Hinamori watching the Reapers. It was then that Kira decided he was going to dance professionally. He already had some experience, though only as an amateur. But if becoming a professional meant that he could become the recipient of her intense scrutiny, he would do anything.
Kira sighed as he rolled to his side. "One day, I'll save her from that place." Kira declared into the night. "Not because I want her to love me, but because I love her."
He smiled sadly, his blue eyes distantly lost in his thoughts. It was only something he could voice secretly, something he knew he wanted. He couldn't help falling in love with Hinamori, and now that he had, he was going to do everything in his power to help her.
--
Hisagi Shuuhei unlocked the door to his first-floor apartment at a little past midnight.
"Tousen?" he called. "I'm home."
The lights were off, but it wasn't really an indication of Kaname Tousen's absence. Tousen didn't need light, being that he was blind.
Shuuhei frowned at the silence echoing in the apartment. He moved into the kitchen, locating the tape recorder hanging on the wall. It was their method of leaving messages with one another, since it was more convenient for Tousen than a handwritten note. No messages. A quick glance at the answering machine confirmed the same thing. No messages. Flicking on the hallway lights, he peeked into his room in case Tousen had fallen asleep. There was no trace of him anywhere.
Sighing Shuuhei leaned against the wall and slid to the ground. Lately, the blind black man had been leaving and not returning for days at a time, only offering clipped explanations when he was around at all. What Shuuhei had told Renji was the truth. Tousen was everything to Shuuhei. But apparently Tousen didn't feel the same.
Burying his face in his hands, he remembered the look Leones Edorad had given him at the first glance. The muscular redhead had stared at him like he was the most wonderful creature ever created, and for a moment, Shuuhei had felt happy again, and was reminded of how it felt to be truly wanted.
But giving up Tousen felt impossible to him. With just a word, Tousen could make Shuuhei ecstatic, a simple touch to make him yearn. These impossible emotions with such an impossibly handsome man.
Shuuhei's hands dropped and he laid his head back against the wall. How many nights had he spent alone this month? He had stopped counting after 20. Eyes closed, Shuuhei drifted, breathing slowly.
In, out. In, out. Step, step.
Shuuhei's eyes flew open. Footsteps, he was sure of it. He bounded to his feet and to the door, pulling it open.
"Oh hello, Hisagi-kun," said the little old lady who lived next door. "Were you expecting anyone?"
"Ah, no. Good night, obaa-san." Disappointed, Shuuhei pulled the door shut.
As he got into his bed later that night, Shuuhei wondered dispiritedly if his life would always consist of waiting up for Tousen. He took a look at the clock and felt the tocks of the second hand echo into the hall. The emptiness reverberated through him and he felt more alone than before. Drifting off, he was too tired to brush away the tears that had slipped past his eyelids and landed onto the pillow case.
--
Bonus fluff Ikkaku x Yumi section (not really pertinent to the storyline)
Ayasegawa Yumichika spent a lot of time in front of a mirror. He was there right now, removing his makeup for the day. That was probably why when Madarame Ikkaku, who hated mirrors and beauty, had first gotten him one for his birthday before they had even started dating, Yumichika had known that Ikkaku was the one for him.
As he put on his nightly moisturizing cream, he called to Ikkaku who was lounging on the bed. "Did you think Renji was being serious, Ikkaku?"
"Who knows with that guy?" Ikkaku drawled lazily, watching Yumichika in the mirror's reflection. Ikkaku would never admit it to anyone, but watching Yumichika spread the creamy lotion over his face was fairly arousing. "Get your ass in bed already."
Yumichika's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you only think with your dick, Ikkaku?"
Ikkaku positively leered. "And what other part of my anatomy do you think should be functioning when I'm in bed, looking at you?"
Yumichika turned in his chair. "I'm serious, Ikkaku. Do you think our little Renji could be falling in love?"
Ikkaku lay back on the bed and was silent, the music from the radio playing a silly cliched love song. After a moment, he said, "Renji is very capable of strong emotions, but most of the time he's pretty terrified of being alone. If he's thinking about it, of risking his heart, it might be the real thing."
A weight settled over his body where Yumichika had stolen up to him. "You can be surprisingly sweet and insightful sometimes. Makes me remember why I fell in love with an idiot like you."
Strong arms snaked around Yumichika's waist and pulled him fully against Ikkaku. "I wonder why you did everyday." He paused, and a smirk stole across his face. "Then I remember, that I'm the best lay you've ever had."
Yumichika laughed breathlessly. "Is that so?" Entwining his arms around Ikkaku's neck, he pulled their faces together.
A breath away, Ikkaku groaned out, "I guess I'll have to prove it to you." And the distance disappeared as he crushed his mouth into Yumichika's.
Hours later, even after their bodies had cooled, they were still intimately intertwined, neither man willing to relinquish a second of contact.
"You're mine forever," murmured Ikkaku into Yumichika's hair, voice drowsy with exhaustion.
Yumichika grinned against Ikkaku's chest. "Of course."
On the corner of the vanity lay a small compact mirror, it's well-worn metal backing smooth and plain with only a few characters etched into the surface: I <3 Y.
A/N: Getting back to Ichigo again soon. Haha, sorry he's been gone for so long. I know you've all missed him. And I don't hate Shuuhei, I promise.
begin at 01. back to 06. on to 08.