Finding Home

Warning this is Yaoi which is boy x boy. If you don’t like don’t read.



Darkephoenix: I am always looking to learn more. Thanks for the little bit of trivia ^^b



Golden Kisune: Heh I try to update daily if at all possible. That’s probably a double edged blade. I satisfy my readers but at the same time I don’t drag it out or make them wait so they aren’t desperate for the next chapter.



Finding Home



Seduce my mind and you can have my body,

Find my soul and I\'m yours forever.

~ by Anonymous ~



Chapter Thirteen



Renji opened the door to the apartment and lead Izuru inside. Once inside Renji settled the exhausted and sore Izuru on the sofa and headed towards the bathroom. Once inside, he turned on the water and watched silently as it filled the tub. Tossing in some bath salts he found on the sink, Renji made his way back to Izuru. The blonde man was dozing, his head leaned against the back of the sofa. Dark marks were smeared beneath his eyes as a testament to how close he had come to death. Renji squeezed his eyes shut and took a few calming breaths. Just the sight of Izuru being crushed beneath that creature had him nearly going mad. He knew that his soul had screamed at the sight. What would have happened if he had been a few minutes later? Would he be carrying Izuru’s body back to Soul Society? Would he have the same eyes as Hitsugaya? Would he even want to bother with living anymore?



Renji clamped down on that train of thought. There was no point in dwelling on the what ifs. They had arrived in time and Izuru was safe, very sore and more than a little tired, but safe. First things were first, he needed to take care of Izuru. The damage to his body had been so severe it was a wonder that he had still been alive when Orihime had gotten to him. He had held onto life with more tenacity than Renji could have imagined considering his emotional turmoil of the last year.



Even though Izuru had clutched at his life, Orihime had still had her work cut out for her. Many in Soul Society assumed that the healing ability of Orihime was passive on her part and didn’t require any more of her than her calling forth it. Renji knew how wrong they where. Orihime had to constantly pour in her own reiatsu into the individual she is healing and guide her fairies in their healing, dictating which areas would be healed first. The painstakingly intricate work needed to rebuild his body had drained Orihime so much so that she wasn’t able to care for the minor wounds of the rest of the group. Renji was alright with a few aches and pains as long as Izuru was alive and well.



“Hey, don’t go to sleep. I have a bath waiting on ya.” said Renji, giving the other man a slight nudge. Izuru groaned and slowly pulled himself to his feet, wobbling slightly before leaning heavily on the redhead. Renji took his arm and led him to the tub of water.



“This will help the aches.” coaxed Renji. Assisting Izuru in undressing, Renji growled at the sight of Izuru’s chest. His entire chest and abdomen was one giant bruise. Orihime had healed as best she could but the drain had been too much to fully heal the broken body. Therefore, Izuru would be stuck with bruises and aches for a few days. Renji’s fingers trailed over the bruises that marred his chest before helping him to step into the tub.



Izuru slowly eased down into the water with a hiss. The salts in the water stinging the handful of scratches and cuts that were left unhealed. His body felt like it was one giant bruise, which wasn’t far off from the truth. He was lucky to be alive. He had been so close to death even now he could hear the comforting whispers in his ear. Death had been about to welcome him into its arms. It had been like a mother‘s loving arms pulling him into its warmth.



Izuru began to shiver. Tiny spasms running up and down his body. He had for a moment considered taking the offer of peace. Peace, it was what he had wanted for so long and it was finally in his grasp. Something had held him back. A spark, tiny and fragile but there just the same. Renji. He couldn’t leave Renji. Renji had become his light in the pitch blackness that had encompassed him. Renji had become his reason for living. Abandoning him would be a betrayal. He would never have been completely at peace.



“Hey, what’s wrong? You’re shivering” asked Renji, suddenly concerned. Tremors were rocking the blonde’s body. Renji pulled Izuru against him. The water from his wet shoulders soaking into Renji’s t-shirt. After a few moments, the tremors eased enough that Izuru could speak.



“I’m glad you came when you did, Renji.” whisper Izuru softly, tears filled his eyes and left damp tracks down his pale cheeks. “I wanted to die for so long. I wanted release from all of this pain trapped in me. I was always too afraid to take that last step. But today I didn’t want it. Today I wanted to live. I cant bear the thought of not being able to be with you.” Izuru buried his face in Renji’s chest. Sobs rocked his body and Renji couldn’t do anything other than hold him. Warm arms encircled Izuru. Here was the only place he felt whole. Anywhere else, he was missing something important but he didn’t know what. He could exist without it but that’s all it was, existing.



‘I was a Hollow without a visible hole. That’s the only way I can describe what it felt like to live.” said Izuru into Renji’s chest. Renji simply tightened his arms around the other man and sat there. Izuru’s sobs faded and his tears dried. He lifted his face to gaze into Renji’s eyes. Soft brown eyes, the color of freshly turned soil, gazed back into his own.



Renji pushed back the bangs from Izuru’s face with one hand while the other reached up to cup his jaw. For what seemed like forever, Renji simply stared into the deep blue depths of Izuru’s eyes, the type of eyes that you could lose yourself in.



Lowering his lips to Izuru’s, Renji gently traced their shape with his tongue. Shivers of a different kind quaked through Izuru’s body. Izuru gasped and Renji slid his tongue inside the warm mouth. Leisurely exploring the dark depths, Renji felt Izuru sigh into his mouth and relax against him. The kiss continued on like this, a gentle expression of emotion. Not demanding or taking, the kiss was an form of comfort that both men allowed. Pulling away, Izuru moaned as Renji stood and pulled the him to his feet. Wrapping a thick towel around Izuru, Renji led the blonde towards the bedroom. Pulling back the covers, Renji tucked Izuru in. Renji moved to leave and Izuru’s hand shot out to grasp his wrist.



“Don’t leave me alone, please.” asked Izuru in a quiet voice. The need for physical contact after such a traumatic experience pulled at Izuru. He needed to have another person there. No that wasn’t what he needed. He needed Renji there. Another person wouldn’t suffice, it had to be Renji.



Renji sighed and climbed into the bed behind Izuru. Pulling him against his chest, Renji wrapped his arms around the smaller man. Renji was heat and comfort. The residual trembling in Izuru’s body faded as he settled against his friend. Renji buried his face in the curve of Izuru’s neck, breathing in the clean smell of his skin.



“I wont let anything happen to ya.” stated Renji firmly. Izuru sighed and drifted off to sleep. Renji remained there, holding him until he was sure that Izuru was deep asleep. Pulling himself from the bed was one of the hardest things Renji had ever had to do but there was things that Renji needed to do before he could rest.



Walking about the apartment, Renji secured all the doors and windows. Sitting down on the sofa, Renji summoned a Hell Butterfly. The tiny black creature fluttered around the room for a moment before landing on Renji’s finger.



“Kuchiki-taicho, Ichimaru-taicho, Kira and I are here in Karakura Town. Urahara-san put us up in an apartment not far from his shop. Some disturbing things have come to our attention since we have been here. Izuru was attacked by a massive Hollow. Intelligence has always stated that Hollows of this type were ringleaders. Never attacking themselves but sending lesser Hollow to do their dirty work. Izuru is alright, Orihime-san was able to heal him. Taicho…..I would advise ya to look into this. If several of these type of Hollow were to invade the Living World, the casualties would be heavy. This Hollow alone took Ichigo, Rukia and myself to bring down. I probably could have taken it out myself if not for the power restraint however it would have probably exhausted all my power.”



Renji paused before continuing. Now that he had relayed the knowledge of the Hollow, he would need to inform his taicho of the progress of Izuru.



“Izuru has made some progress. He hasn’t cut or self injured himself since before leaving Soul Society and earlier today participated freely in a small picnic with Ichigo and others. I think that he is opening up. That’s all for now.” Renji stopped his recording. Taking the Hell Butterfly to the window, Renji gave it a final order. “This is for Kuchiki-taicho and Ichimaru-taicho alone.” Lifting his hand, the butterfly fluttered off towards Soul Society.



Renji stood there watching it disappear. The sun was beginning to set and the events of the day were starting to take their toll on him. Making his way back to the bedroom where Izuru was resting, Renji stripped his clothes and climbed into bed behind the blonde. Izuru stirred but didn’t awaken. Cuddling back towards Renji, Izuru settled once more into sleep. Renji closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.



TBC



AN : Sorry I know it’s a little shorter than I normally post. I hope everyone enjoyed the Renji/Kira fluff. Until next time.