Finding Home

Warning this is yaoi which means boy x boy so don’t read if you don’t like.



AN :Thank yous to Darkephoenix, Affie, Jennifer, satterb, and Midnight Essence. Get wells to Rysha. Ive only been hung over once and it wasn’t a bad hangover just a little head ache and some queasy stomach.( Told yall I don’t drink, mostly I was the DD in college.) So I really had no experience to base Renji’s hang over on LOL Hope yall enjoy this chapter.



Finding Home



Love is an act of endless forgiveness

A tender look which becomes a habit.

~ by Peter Ustinov ~



Chapter Eighteen



Renji groaned as he stepped out of the apartment and into the bright midmorning summer sunlight. Izuru took sadistic pleasure in the look of pain that crossed Renji’s face as he pulled him from the door frame. It had been a long time since he had taken devious pleasure from the teasing of another. So long in fact that he couldn’t even remember the last time and today he took immense pleasure in every wince and every groan that passed Renji’s lips.



It wasn’t the fact that he came home too drunk to barely even walk straight for Izuru to want to torture him. In fact, Izuru had fully expected Renji to, if not get drunk, get buzzed when they had left for the club. No, the reasons for the torture was the fact that it hurt Izuru that Renji had acted so strongly to Izuru dancing with the other man. It was as if he didn’t trust Izuru to be alone with another man and that hurt a little. Izuru was just starting to trust Renji with pieces of his soul and then Renji goes and acts like Izuru will jump the first person that shows him kindness. Izuru had laid awake long after Renji had passed out thinking. Renji had come to mean so much to him in such a short amount of time. The fun he’d had this morning had been cruel and he felt somewhat bad for his actions. Izuru started down the street and Renji trailed behind abet at a slightly slower pace.



Making their way down the streets towards the busier shops and business, Renji moaned as they passed a bench on which sat a mother attempting to calm a screaming child. The little boy’s screams seemed to intensify the pounding in his head. That coupled with the glare from the sun was nearly crippling. Time to beg, perhaps Izuru had calmed enough to let him at least have the glasses.



“Have mercy on me, Zuru.” whined Renji as a hand reached up to shade his eyes. Izuru simply arched a brow and pulled Renji‘s sunglasses off to wave them in front of the hung over man..



“Its your own fault, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if you hadn’t jumped to conclusions last night.” stated Izuru as he tucked the sunglasses in his pocket. Renji was going to need to suffer a little longer.



“Is that what this is all about? Cuz I didn’t like seeing that mans hands on ya? And ya were fuckin’ enjoying having that man‘s hands on ya.” Renji growled. The sun coupled with the blaring headache was enough to put his temper on a very short fuse. Izuru’s visible eye narrowed taking the glasses from his pocket and threw them at Renji. The other man scrambled to keep from dropping them.



“Shows what you know, asshole.” muttered Izuru before taking off down the street. His determined steps carrying him away from Renji. It really hurt him. Renji had always been there for him and had pulled him from the dark place. What Renji had done for him was nothing short of saving his life. Wabisuke was nearly back to her old self. Her constant warmth, an undertone that was now present once again in his mind. Like most zanpakuto, Wabisuke was a mirror of her master. She rarely spoke but her presence was a soothing one.



Izuru rubbed the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve the pressure. The frustration building sent a dark shiver down his spine. Dark thoughts once again trickled in his mind. It would be so easy to fall back into his self destructiveness. The pull was very alluring. Clenching his fist so tight, his nails cut into the palm of his hand. The pain brought the darkness closer. Izuru could almost taste it. The welcoming release from his own frustrations. Izuru felt himself pale.



‘Please.’ his mind whispered ‘Renji, I need you.’ He was beginning to shake. Ducking into an alley, Izuru leaned against the wall and clenched his eyes shut. His pulse was pounding in his ears. His vision seemed to narrow. Clutching his chest, Izuru struggled to catch his breath. Tears filled his eyes. He couldn’t seem to gain control over himself.



Arms encircled his shoulders. Glancing up, he saw Renji’s concerned face in his narrowed field of vision. Focusing on him, Izuru was able to create a focal point for himself once again.



“Relax. Breathe in and out slowly.” whispered Renji as he pulled him into his arms and pressed Izuru’s head to his chest. The sound of Renji’s steady heartbeat calmed him. Renji’s presence and Wabisuke’s soothing humming brought the world back into focus. The darkness receded. Izuru was truly scared. Was is so easy to fall back. Would he never truly be free of the dark pull. Perhaps it would be better if he resigned his commission. If he could so easily fall into despair would he be able to lead his men safely.



“Renji…” whispered Izuru, his eyes lowered.



“It was just a panic attack. Come on, I know a quiet place we can sit.” said Renji and pulled Izuru from the alley and towards a small fountain situated in the center of a tiny park. The park was small only a few trees and benches. It was meant as a quiet place to rest while shopping. Renji sat on a bench facing the fountain and pulled Izuru down beside him. The water in the fountain gurgled softly and mist floated over the area cooling the air Some children played nearby but surprisingly they weren’t annoyingly noisy. It seemed that the air of this small refuge effected everyone.



“I know that I came on a little strong last night at the club. I just didn’t like seeing his hands on you.” said Renji softly, pulling his sunglasses off and looked over at Izuru. His warm brown eyes searched the blonde’s face.



“It didn’t mean anything. He was showing me how to dance.” answered Izuru, keeping his eyes downcast.



“I know that but when I saw him run his hand up your body, I snapped. You looked so sexy moving against him. I couldn’t stand it.” said Renji pulled Izuru’s face up to look at him. Blue eyes met brown.



“I’m sorry, Zuru.” whispered Renji and he leaned in to brush his lips across Izuru’s. His mind screaming ‘Please forgive me.’



Izuru leaned into the kiss, his tongue darting out to lick at the soft lips that were teasing his. “I’m sorry too, Renji. For today, I mean. It just hurt that you felt you couldn’t trust me.” Laying his head once more on Renji’s chest, he simply sat there listening to the beat of the heart.



“So ummm was there a point to this outing?” said Renji breaking the silence.



“No, I just wanted to torture you some more.” quipped Izuru. Renji groaned and pulled Izuru tighter. Izuru nuzzled his neck. This was perfect. The sound of the fountain and the wind rustling the trees was the music. The saying ‘Love is friendship set to music’ seemed most appropriate in their case. They had been friends for over fifty years and were just now finding their way into each other’s lives.



‘Just wait until we are along again. I’ll show you torture.” Renji thought to himself as ideas of all the ways he could ‘torture’ Izuru circled around in his mind.



“Renji! Kira! Over here.” yelled a voice. Looking up Renji saw Ichigo making his way over to them in shinigami form. Renji’s eyes narrowed as Ichigo stopped next to them panting lightly. His face and robes were dirty and sweaty. He really looked like he had been put through the ringer. Whatever worked him over did a through job. Even his reiatsu was slightly depleted from the feel of the air.



“What the fuck happened to you?” asked Renji as both him and Izuru stood. Izuru must have been thinking along the same lines as Renji that something was up. Ichigo wasn’t one to tire easily. The substitute shinigami made being a shinigami seem easy. Within the last year, Ichigo had become one of the most powerful shinigami associated with Soul Society, on par with the taichos.



“What do you think happened? A shit load of Hollows. I was on my way towards the apartment to get you guys.” said Ichigo. He needn’t say anymore. Renji tossed a small pill to Izuru and swallowed one of his own, having stopped the previous day to pick up the artificial soul pills from Urahara. No use leaving their gigais flopped down somewhere if they were needed. Upon swallowing the pill, both shinigami were ejected from their gigai and stood standing next to Ichigo in full uniform.



“Stay here.” said Renji to the artificial souls. Both nodded understanding and Renji and Izuru followed close behind Ichigo.



“We found a tear, that’s the only way I can describe what it is. This morning I was jogging with Rukia, I swear that woman likes to torment me, and we both sensed a strong Hollow presence. We investigated the old factory and that’s where we found the tear. It’s a direct hole straight to Hueco Mundo.”



“What?” said Izuru his visible eye widening.



“You heard me, and the fucking thing has been spitting out Hollows like no tomorrow. Orihime is there now keeping it shielded and not letting anything get through but that’s only a temporary fix. She is gonna get tired soon. And then the shit is gonna hit the fan. It was all Rukia and I could do to hold off the swarm while we waited for her to arrive. Seems the head honchos in the Hollow world are doing spring cleaning and a lot of the minor Hollows are trying to escape.” said Ichigo.



The trio came upon an old factory on the outskirts of Karakura Town. It looked like it had been closed for years. Rust and dirt covered nearly everything. Leading them deeper in, Izuru gasped when they rounded a corner and saw it. The “tear” was about the size in width and height of a small house. A golden shield covered the large black hole. Ishida and Chad were standing near Orihime ready to attack in the event her shield failed. Rukia was just releasing the Hell Butterfly when they approached her.



“I sent a message to Ukitake-taicho. He will alert the rest of Soul Society of this development.” said Rukia. Renji, Rukia and Ichigo began conversing strategy. Izuru listened for a moment then made his way over to the young girl doing her best to hold the Hollows in.



“Are you alright, Orihime-san?” asked Izuru. A slight sheen of sweat had formed on her brow but the girl turned her face towards him with a bright smile.



“I am fine, Izuru-kun. Its not as hard as healing, I don’t have to focus so intently.” said Orihime with a bright smile. Izuru was sure that it was easier than healing but that didn’t make it any less taxing and the girl was obviously strained. Making his way back towards Ichigo and the others, Izuru took a spot next to Renji.



“I really am fucking tired of this shit. We come here for a rest and every time I turn around something is fucking shit up.” Renji made a point to send a glare towards Ichigo. He didn’t mean work was the only interference. Izuru caught the glare and blushed, completely understanding the hidden meaning. Rukia’s Soul Society phone took that moment to ring. The Hell Butterfly had arrived. Rukia answered.



“Hai?” she answered. Nodding her head at the voice on the other end. “Hai, they are both here now. One moment. Renji its Nii-sama, he wants to speak to you.” Handing the phone to Renji, Rukia stepped back.



“Hai, Taicho.” Renji spoke into the phone Kuchiki-taicho‘s quiet voice spilled into his ear.



“Renji, I am going to assume that the reasoning of this influx of more dangerous Hollow is directly related to the Arrancar we left in Heuco Mundo. If they are forcing their way out, it probably means that the Arrancar are indeed removing anyone that doesn’t have loyalty to them. I need you and Kira-fukutaicho to assist Kurosaki until we have orders from Yamamoto-sotaicho. We are about to head to an emergency meeting.” Byakuya said to his fukutaicho.



“Hai, Taicho.” Renji answered.



“Tell them to hurry Renji. Orihime-san is getting tired. The shield may not hold much longer.” said Izuru. The concern was evident in his eyes as they drifted towards girl. Her entire body seemed to be straining. The dip in her reiatsu was evident to everyone n the room. Chad was speaking lowly to her in a calming voice. It was evident that she wouldn’t be able to hold the shield much longer.



“Taicho…” began Renji.



“I heard, Renji. We will urge for expedience Until that time, the dampening field on both yours and Kira-fukutaicho has been released.” Renji heard Byakuya say before the line went dead. Renji shut off the phone and tossed it back to Rukia. They all looked up as a tiny crack worked its way across the shield.



“I sure hope they hurry.” said Ichigo, pulling Zangetsu from his back. Renji, Rukia, and Izuru followed in suit. “Cause the shits about to hit the fan.”



TBC



AN: Yea yea I know (>.>) I just needed to tie up the loose ends with the Hollows. It wont be too long. 1 maybe 2 chapters then a nice juicy lemon. I sure do need it. This story has taken over my mind. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Until next time.