Not Close Enough

Dinner dragged on for longer than Ichigo planned. Not that he was directly in charge because Yuzu normally cooked and he assisted with cleanup. It was his father Isshin’s fault because of the game of 20 questions he played with Renji Abarai. This was the part of the visit that Ichigo dreaded most. What made it worse was he and Renji had no idea what to tell Isshin.

“So, you have been going to High school long?” Isshin asked.

“Dad, he’s just transferred in,” Ichigo began.

“You two been ‘studying’ together before then huh?” Isshin continued, squinting at Renji.

“I work part time at Urahara Shouten, sir,” Renji attempted to explain. “You could say I was doing lessons by mail till my transfer came through.”

“Rather unorthodox… where are you from originally…”

“Dad, please, he’s had a tough day. Can we save the inquisition for later?”

“What’s wrong with a father getting to know his son’s friends huh?”

“Because it’s none of your business?” Ichigo answered, glaring at his father.

“Hey, I don’t mind. If he wants to know he wants to know,” Renji attempted to break them apart.

“You seem a bit older than a typical high school student,” Isshin observed.

“I was uh… held back a year because I… I was lousy at… at… some subjects,” Renji fumbled, rubbing his neck.

“Oh I see, so you’re a bit older than Ichigo?” Isshin asked.

“Well yeah… hope that’s not a problem…”

“Da-ad, this is getting really pathetic. Don’t mind goat face, he’s just so bored he needs to live vicariously through Ichigo and his friends,” Karin interrupted, shoving her dad aside and looking apologetically at Renji.

“Honey please I’m just trying to be a doting concerned father…”

“Well you’re being a pain in the butt!” Ichigo growled, shoving his forehead into his dad’s.

As they began to wrestle, Karin rolled her eyes again and Yuzu sighed. Both of them exchanged glances with Renji who was still eating a bowl of rice. He met them with a nervous disarming smile bordering on dorky and goofy. “I’m sorry you have to watch this,” Yuzu apologized.

“It’s better than pay per view. I’m so done…” Karin lamented, grabbing her dishes and pushing herself off form the table.

“Um, lemmie help ya with that, gals,” Renji offered, piling the dishes and following her.

“That’s really nice of you Mr. Abarai,” said Yuzu pleasantly, leading the way to the kitchen. By now, Isshin and Ichigo rolled repeatedly on the floor shoving one another’s faces away with their hands.

“I’ll wash, you dry?” Yuzu suggested, tossing Renji a towel. Thankful for learning all about chores from Urahara’s shop he set to work.

Renji nodded. “Sure thing.”

“Dad, Ichigo, ENOUGH!” Karin yelled, grabbing a whistle and blowing it. “You already made Yuzu break three dishes the other day!”

“It’s HIS fault!” Ichigo yelled, levering his dad off him and shoving him across the polished floor to the far wall.

“Is NOT!” Isshin protested, pointing at his son. “He’s the one who won’t answer a few simple questions from Daddy!”

“Oh man, no wonder…” Renji mumbled to himself.

“I’m sure every family has their quirks,” Yuzu giggled. “Yours too?”

“Well, I wouldn’t know much about that. I’m kind of an orphan…”

“Ohhh I see,” Yuzu said. “But you had friends right?”

“Yeah… I did. Three ‘brothers’ and a ‘sister’ you could call ‘em. We weren’t from the best part of town and well…”

“Foster care I hear is really… tough for some people,” Yuzu automatically replied, passing him another dish. Oblivious to the conversation Ichigo and Isshin tackled one another again.

“Do they do this every night?” asked Renji, nodding towards the feuding father and son.

“Several times a day. Dad wakes Ichigo up every morning by attacking him. It’s their way of bonding father and son. That’s what Karin says anyway.”

“Okay…” Renji chuckled nervously, wondering if he was piling himself higher and deeper into manure with each word.

“We’re going to go and study now,” Ichigo said, finally managing to pin his dad on the floor facedown with a hand twisted behind his back.

“Sure, no problem! Just make sure if you do any extracurricular…”

“Dad ENOUGH!” Ichigo yelled, flushing the same shade as Renji’s hair. “It’s enough torture you invited him to eat with us. Gimme a break!”

“I’m um… gonna help him with history,” Renji said.

“That your best subject?” Isshin asked, winking at him.

Shoving his hands in his pockets Renji said, “Yeah. Let’s just say it’s a hobby of mine.”

Ichigo groaned and grabbed his bag, then led the way up the stairs. Renji shrugged, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Isshin shook his head and laughed, giving Ichigo a thumbs up that his teenage son ignored. Karin marched out and grabbed her father’s wrist, flipping him over her shoulder in a perfect judo throw.

“Dad, enough, you’re lame without the stupid thumbs up. Ugh…” she sighed in disgust.

“What?”

“I’m so never bringing any of my friends over here. I don’t want to die of embarrassment like Ichigo is probably doing right now,” she answered.
**

“Finally,” Ichigo mumbled, leading the way down the hall to his door. He opened it and stood back. Renji waited for a minute then realized Ichigo was inviting him in. Rolling his eyes, he entered first, with Ichigo close behind him. The door slammed shut, and both young men glanced around the room. Automatically Ichigo dropped his books on his desk and pulled up his chair.

Not sure of where to go Renji simply dumped his books on the floor and sat on the carpet by his bed. He sat on his knees and looked expectantly at the other young man who had shoved earphones in his ears and turned away already.

“At least he’s focused on schoolwork,” the vice-Captain of squad six observed. Though he was a little put out that Ichigo had not even tried to steal a kiss or something else he would have expected. Decidedly bored Renji finally opened his notebook and read over the lessons that were equally dry.

“What the hell is this stuff about algebra? When the hell am I gonna have to use this?” Renji asked, grabbing one of Ichigo’s headphones and pulling it out of his ear.

“How the hell should I know? Look, if you’re going to go to school you could at least TRY to act the part. I’m not a delinquent. I actually have grades I need to keep up…” Ichigo responded, glaring at him.

“Sorry,” Renji apologized, as Ichigo returned attention to his book. He began to think coming here was a mistake because it reminded him even more how different their worlds were. Not that learning about the human world was not a bad thing; it was just… bringing back unpleasant memories of his own academy days.
Ichigo stared over his shoulder to see Renji looking up at him. “What now?” he growled.

“This date’s wrong ya know…” Renji answered, pointing to one of the tables in Ichigo’s history text. “It happened in 1315, not 1320…”

“What happened then?” Ichigo sighed, glaring at him.

“If they’re gonna write a textbook they need to get their figures right…”

“Look, could you just cool it with the interruptions. I didn’t write the damn text… I just learn it…”

“It was just a simple question. Don’t need to bite my head off ya know,” Renji answered.

“Stop trying to pick a fight with me. I’m not in the mood,” Ichigo mumbled, turning his back and shoving his headphones into his ear.

“Mood schmood,” Renji muttered crossly, put out that Ichigo was ignoring him again.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, just go back to your studying, kid,” Renji answered.

“I heard you say something, so what was it?”

“You were the one with that thing in your ears you call music,” Renji argued back.

Ichigo slammed his hands down on the desktop. “You’re so damn ANNOYING! Why’d you come over anyway if you didn’t want to study?”

“Are you KIDDING me? You’re sixteen and you need a damn map to figure out why…”

“I’m not stupid Renji. But I’m not studying biology right now, and I’m not going to use you as a test subject, so just do your homework!” Ichigo retorted.

“You’re no fun,” Renji answered, looking as if he was sulking.

“Look, are you messing with me, or are you serious?” Ichigo asked, yanking his headphones out of his ears. “Is this some kind of teenager act or is this going somewhere?”

Renji leapt to his feet. “You’re the one who’s flipping out and being all serious and shit. I just asked a few simple questions and you go all ape-shit!”

Ichigo abandoned his chair, fists clenched at the level of his waist. “I’m NOT going ape-shit!”

“Sure sounds like it to me!” Renji yelled back, as Ichigo grabbed the front of his shirt.

“Shut up! You want someone walking in cause you won’t keep your big mouth shut?”

“You’re the one who started yelling first,” Renji countered.

“Gaah, this is ridiculous. I’m not biting. I’ve got a report to write,” Ichigo mumbled, letting go of his shirt in disgust.

“Sorry,” Renji mumbled when he saw the frustration on the teen’s face. “It’s just you’re in such a damn mood I thought I’d get ya to lighten up. You’re the one taking things so seriously.”

“I’m IN a mood cause my dad played 20 freaking questions because you had to show up and play meet-the-parents. You could have freaking TOLD me.”

“Well… sorry I didn’t ask for your permission sheesh!”

“When two people are in a relationship they need to discuss things, damn it,” Ichigo replied, glaring at Renji. “They don’t just pull shit out of their ass and expect the other to dance, Renji.”

“Now what are you bitching about?”

“You should have told me you were coming over,” Ichigo answered. “In a gigai.”

“You rather I sneaked in through the window as a Shinigami?” Renji asked, blinking at him. “I thought the whole point of this was for us to spend more time together…”

“The point is it’s driving me up the wall! I didn’t think I would have to be your goddamn babysitter, Renji. If you’re going to play the part don’t do such a sucky job.”

“Give me a damn break! I’m trying the best I can!”

“I thought you guys in high school could balance work and a social life. Guess I was wrong,” Renji snorted.

“Guess you were. Man, can’t you just leave me be for a few hours so I can freaking study?”

“If that’s the way you want it, fine,” Renji huffed. “I know when I’m not wanted…”

“I didn’t say you had to leave, you dumbass!” Ichigo said, grabbing the back of Renji’s jeans as he turned to leave.

Renji turned his head just enough to glare at Ichigo in confusion. “Then what the hell DO you mean?”

“I just mean can’t you just study like me if you’re going to be a student? Can’t we sit in the same room without you pushing my buttons?” Ichigo wondered. Those dark brown eyes seemed so hard and serious ever since Renji showed up. Ichigo hadn't relaxed his default frown in all that time.

Renji marched over, grasping Ichigo by the shoulders. He pressed his forhead into Ichigo's while lowering his voice. “Who’s pushing? I’m just trying to get you to unwind and you’re turning it into world war 3!”

“Just forget it…” Ichigo groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. He reached up and tugged Renji's hands off his shoulders as he took a step backwards. “I haven’t got time for this shit.”

“Excuse me, sheesh,” Renji mumbled, swinging his head to the side and folding his arms across his chest. This earned him a similar pose from Ichigo. Now the substitute stood with his back turned to Renji, arms tucked tightly in the fashion of an upside down pretzel.

“And you say I’m damn moody. Take a look in the freaking mirror will ya?”

“I am NOT!” Renji protested, glaring back at him.

“You are too!” Ichigo countered, giving him a shove. Renji toppled backwards and landed on Ichigo’s bed. Ichigo landed on top of him and the two of them realized just where they were.

“You’re heavier than I thought in that body,” Renji commented.

“Stupid freaking idiot…” Ichigo growled.

“I figured you were gonna put the moves on me, but I didn’t figure you’d do it this way,” Renji teased.

“Pain in the goddamn ass,” Ichigo growled. Before Renji could open his mouth to spit out a witty rejoinder Ichigo silenced him with a hard kiss. Blue jean clad legs tangled together as Renji wrapped his arms around Ichigo’s neck and held their mouths together.

“Finally you’re relaxing,” Renji answered, and Ichigo glared at him.

“I don’t have time to horse around,” Ichigo mumbled, sitting up on his hips. He rested his hands against Renji's chest and felt felt the pounding heart just beneath his fingers.

Now Renji cocked his head to the side with an infuriating develish grin spreading from ear to ear. "All work and no play, Ichigo... it wouldn't kill you to take a study break now would it?"

"A... all right you win," Ichigo mumbled. Already he was distracted because of the long fingers rubbing up and down his sides. Twisting cloth between his fingers he dipped his head down to kiss that infuriating smile off his boyfriend's face. This proved more challenging than Ichigo originally thought because he still felt the muscles of Renji's lips smiling against his. It was difficult to remember why he was irritated due to Renji's tongue dragging along his mouth and inviting its way inside. Sliding his hands across Renji's chest Ichigo siezed his arms to squeeze the hard muscles.

They twitched under his touch at the same time Renji's hips ground upwards. The seams of their pants pressed tightly against sensitive anatomy that was steadily hardening. That burst of air surging into Ichigo's mouth coaxed him to open his lips more so he could trace his tongue over the roof of Renji's palate. Spreading his legs wider Ichigo wrapped his bent knees on either side of Renji's hips. Shakily he tickled down the front of Renji's shirt so he could slip his fingers between the belt and jeans.

Renji groaned through their merged mouths, arousing Ichigo even more. He twisted fingers around the belt buckle as he lifted himself enough to tug at it. At last, he broke the kiss drawing in great lungfulls of air. Long fingers were sliding between his own waistband and tucked in shirt. All he could hear at that moment was a frustrated huff from Renji tugging at the unfamiliar buckle. It wasn’t a simple hook and pull but the type one threaded an end through and pulled a distance back with a metal tab.

Grumbling the substitute twisted his hips violently enough to drag Renji’s body sideways. Already Renji fumbled at his zipper, yanking Ichigo’s pants to his knees. Shoving his hands in the seat of Renji’s jeans Ichigo squeezed his backside hard. He then jerked the other man’s jeans with a harder shove down the backs of Renji’s thighs.

He wondered why the vice captain grinned at him still as he bent his left leg and jerked it back. Spasmodically he repeated this while seizing Ichigo’s cheek and kissing him hard. Cloth flapped until Renji peeled his left leg free. Ichigo grunted in surprise as Renji pinned him down with one shoulder, twisting him completely under.

“Get off you big baboon,” Ichigo growled.

“That’s Zabimaru, not me, kid,” Renji corrected him, swinging his leg over so he sat on Ichigo’s hips now. The Shinigami substitute jerked his pelvis up so their groins rubbed, with only the thin cloth of their underwear between them.

“Ugh… Renji… you’re so annoying,” Ichigo gritted his teeth, though he loved that big idiot’s weight crushing down on him.

“What’s this… boxers? Nice…” Renji commented, tugging on the teenager’s elastic. “Did you change?”

“Gym class. Locker…” Ichigo panted. They were light blue and soft under Renji’s fingers. Still he wore his shirt buttoned and his pants down around his knees, cool air chilling his bared thighs. He focused on the black markings winding down Renji’s one thigh free of his tight jeans, thinking how ridiculous the vice captain looked.

“Mmm do that again,” Renji urged, feeling Ichigo’s hand sliding along his inner thigh and into the fly of his boxers. One hard squeeze of Ichigo’s hand almost distracted him from the process of distracting Ichigo.

“You look like a damn rooster,” Ichigo whispered up at him, realizing Renji’s hair was still in that topknot, with a purple and yellow striped scarf wrapped around his brow.

“Rooster or cock?” Renji teased back.

“Lame,” Ichigo groaned, then yanked Renji’s shirt to pull his lips down again for a kiss. Sighing Ichigo lifted his head slightly from the soft pillow to bury his lips into Renji’s. At the same time, he curled his fingers around Renji’s erection and fisted it.

Gasps and kisses became more urgent. Renji continued to grind down on Ichigo until he felt as if he would go crazy. Whispered words between them produced a tube of lubricant from a pocket of Ichigo’s pants. The next thing Ichigo knew Renji had ripped and torn at his boxers because he was too impatient and he caught a glimpse of his partner’s bare groin in all its glory.

“Damn,” Ichigo panted. Lubricant slicked against his erection from Renji’s fingers. Shifting to the side Renji lay down and grabbed Ichigo’s hand, guiding it between his legs.

“Gimmie a hand will ya?”

“You sure? This way?” Ichigo whispered, eyes half shut with the sensations overwhelming him. He plunged one then two fingers into a tight ring of muscle. Renji’s teeth gritted and he hissed through them.

“Mmm, one more…” he urged. Ichigo nodded, licking his lips. Then Renji again pressed his hand against Ichigo’s shoulder and swung his bared leg overtop. Ichigo squeezed Renji’s hip, helping maneuver him over so the vice captain could slip him inside.

Using his body weight Renji forced himself down onto Ichigo’s erection. That tight squeeze almost wrested the substitute’s control because it was such a change in sensation. Ichigo swallowed hard as he disappeared completely inside the larger man astride him. Now Renji braced his hands on Ichigo’s chest and curled his knees under him, panting.

“Damn kid… that’s… that’s good… now what the hell are you waiting for? Move already!” Renji coaxed.
Ichigo bucked up, almost dislodging Renji. It gave him a perverse sense of pleasure to see the larger Shinigami bucking and riding astride him. Panting and throwing his head back, then pressing himself to Ichigo’s chest. Awkwardly Ichigo rammed in and out of his lover, lips fusing to Renji’s once more. In their struggle for release, Ichigo flipped them over so he could bend Renji’s legs up and hook them over his shoulders.

“Damn yes… good…” Renji panted, loving that tense expression on Ichigo’s face that frowned in concentration. It was one thing for Ichigo to scowl but if it was because he was focusing on screwing him, it was damn sexy.

“Crap… this is… this is… oh man…” Ichigo repeated ground out, slamming them together harder and harder. That way Renji rocked his head back and forth spurred him on. Not to mention how he struggled to rub his belly against Renji’s erection to stimulate him.

“Don’t pull out,” Renji whispered. All at once, he lost his control, feeling the burning muscles tightening and the inevitable surge of ejaculate into a tight space.

“Can’t… ohhhhhh...” Ichigo stammered, collapsing across Renji. Between them hot semen spurted and coated the front of Ichigo’s shirt as Renji came. They lay together panting, strong arms grasping Ichigo to him as Renji caught his breath. A fond smile spread over both their faces.

“Now… don’t ya feel more relaxed?”

“I’m going to have to change my shirt thanks to you,” Ichigo whispered.

“A little study in biology never hurt with history,” Renji quipped, kissing Ichigo on the forehead.

“You’re hopeless, you know that?” Ichigo scowled, but he had to admit he felt remarkably good. Sighing he spread himself atop Renji and rested.
***
Finally, they untangled one another. Ichigo scrambled off Renji and stumbled over to remove his soiled shirt and pants. He felt Renji’s eyes watching him pull on fresh underwear and a pair of sweats with a clean T-shirt.

“Here,” Ichigo said. A pair of boxers flopped across Renji’s face.

“What the hell’s this for?” Renji asked. It was followed by a T-shirt.

“Just put ‘em on. Or does it freak you to wear my underwear?”

“Hell no… but ya didn’t have to…” Renji laughed, and then peered at the shirt. Holding it up at arm’s length, he read the words “red Pineapple?”

“Something wrong?” Ichigo grinned. Renji glared at him, and yanked off his soiled shirt.

“Wise guy huh? Got some issue with my hair?”

“You’ve got no sense of humor,” Ichigo snorted. “If you don’t want it…”

He marched over but Renji jerked the shirt to his chest. “I didn’t say that, smartass…”

Renji hiked the shirt over his head while Ichigo wandered over to his desk and flopped down on the chair. He heard cloth rustling and then heard Renji call, “Hey… what are you doing over there?”

“What does it look like? I’m studying…” Ichigo answered.

“I know that, but now?” Renji asked. Annoyed, Ichigo glared at the vice captain who had now put himself back together.

“I've wasted enough time already!” Ichigo retorted.

Renji frowned at this. “Is that what you think I was doing? You seemed to damn enjoy it!”

From the fierce creasing of Renji’s dark brows and the scowl on the vice captain’s face Ichigo shivered. Mumbling he got up from his chair and wandered over to sit next to him on the bed.

“I’m sorry Renji… I just… I wanted to, and it was great… it’s just… but it’s a lousy time for it…” Ichigo finally admitted, voice muffled through the hands he pulled off his face. He folded them between his knees and sat hunched over, staring at the floor.

“Sorry, guess I didn’t think about that,” Renji apologized as Ichigo squeezed his eyes shut once more and inhaled deeply. Renji swung around to sit next to him, adopting a similar position. Drawing in great breaths, he tried to calm himself down even though the gigai made it difficult. Resting his elbows on his knees he put his chin between his upraised hands and stared at the same invisible spot on Ichigo’s carpet the substitute was examining.

“Go ahead and study. I’ll let ya be and study too,” Renji finally relented.

“Thanks,” Ichigo mumbled, rising from the bed. “By the way if you wanna lie down and study there, it’s okay. More comfy than the floor.”

“Thanks,” Renji answered picking up his books and flopping onto his stomach to stare at them.

“You’re still a big damn kid. You got that part of being a teenager right,” Ichigo mumbled.

“Thanks I think… hey what’s THAT supposed to mean?” Renji complained, yet Ichigo ignored him, engrossed in his music and the textbook before him. Grouchy, the vice captain flipped pages with a loud flop of individual pages. Bending his knees, he swung his calves back and forth behind him so his feet were at least off the bed.