Finding Home

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



AN: I know that Kira seems to be at the end of his rope but I do promise that the story will lighten up considerably as it progresses. I couldn’t in my heart of hearts make light of what Kira is experiencing so its coming off very dark and emotionally painful compared to Coming Home. Also I’m trying to test my limits somewhat. I personally am a romantic at heart and want only happiness for my characters but I opened up this can of worms for Kira so I will do right by him. To all the fans of Coming Home just bear with me. I don’t know how long/short this will be. Thank you to Darkephoenix, Yakumo, Jennifer, and Affie and Rysha for posting reviews. Oh and as a reply to Jennifer just a little Byakuya/Gin fluff somewhere in it I’m sure. Oh and by the way, I know that Wabisuke translates roughly to ‘miserable man’ but I wanted it to be feminine so I am taking artistic license with it and having it translate to “penitent one”.



Finding Home



Chapter Two



The evening of the festival was alive with excitement that was almost palatable. In the large open field, just north of Rukon district 12, paper lanterns were streaming in every direction giving the huge field the illusion of day even though night had already fallen. Izuru made his way through the crowds seeking familiar faces. Dressed in a sky blue yukata that was embroidered with the silhouettes of birds, Izuru nodded and smiled to acquaintances. The blue outfit really did look good on Izuru. The color brought out the blue in his eyes and complemented his complexion well.



The smell of food and spices was heavy in the air and the music added a subtle charm to the atmosphere. Children were screaming with delight at the vendors and games. Nearly all of the sights were colorful and eye catching. Parents chased rambunctious children and youths paired off to go explore under the watchful eyes of their elders. For this moment, for these people, all was well in the world. Izuru envied them their carefree feelings.



It was a upbeat and happy scene. The joy almost able to be grasped. Almost being the key word. For Izuru, it was as if the entire event was in slow motion. It brought back the memories of a happier time. At one time, such an event would have brought him great pleasure. His parents had never missed a festival. Every year, the entire household would dress in their best yukata and kimono. Together they would all walk to the festival. The lights, music and food drawing the attention of all.



When Izuru had joined the academy, though he busied himself with studying, he always made time to continue the tradition that his family had started. Even after their deaths, the happy memories that they had given him would be honored with his participation in festivals. Once he had friends such events had become a joy once again. Now it was simply one of the motions of life Izuru went through almost as if he was an outsider looking in.



“Oy, Kira there you are we have been waiting for you to show.” called Ikkaku from the crowd drawing Izuru‘s attention.



Izuru turned and saw his group of friends seated at one of the tables set out for patrons of the festival. Madarame Ikkaku, Ayasegawa Yumichika, Matsamoto Rangiku, and Hisagi Shuuhei were all seated together, several empty bottles of sake littering the hard wood table. Looking around Izuru noticed that Renji wasn’t with the group. It was odd that Renji was missing.



“Where is Renji?” asked Izuru. It was very odd that Renji wasn’t around. Renji like Rangiku was the life of the party. Loud and fun loving, Renji brought fun to any party. For him not to be around something was wrong.



“We put him to work. He‘s bringing more sake.” said the slightly buzzed Rangiku with a smile. Even out of her normal shinigami uniform, Rangiku made a point of showing off her large breasts. Shuuhei appeared very appreciative of them. Shuuhei’s one weakness was Rangiku’s breasts. The tattooed man wrapped his arm around the busty blonde in a friendly hug while glancing every few seconds down the top of her kimono. It was a humorous visual, Rangiku bouncing around happily buzzed and Shuuhei happily watching her breasts bounce.



Izuru settled beside Rangiku and watched as Yumichika leaned over and handed something to Ikkaku. The bald man turned 3 shades of red then keeled over laughing. Shuuhei stopped his ogling of Rangiku’s bosom and glanced towards the laughing pair.



“What are you two laughing about?” asked Rangiku, between sips of sake.



“Zaraki-taicho assigned me to clean out his apartments at Division Eleven today. Imagine, me, being forced to dirty myself with cleaning. Such an unbeautiful chore.” Yumichika began “So I was cleaning and Yachiru is playing in her room. I leave the room and walk into the common area where Taicho was taking a nap.”



Ikkaku burst into fits of laughter again. Izuru couldn’t stand it anymore. ‘What the hell was so funny?’ “Get on with it.” said Izuru.



“It seems that Zaraki-taicho had promised to find someone to play dress up with Yachiru and forgot. So Yachiru improvised.” Ikkaku was to the point of banging his head on the table. Even Yumichika’s shoulders were quaking in the effort to keep the laugher from bubbling out. Ikkaku passed the picture to Izuru.



It was a simple photograph but it was the image on the picture that resulted in Ikkaku and Yumichika bursting into fits of laughter. Yumichika no longer trying to hide his laughter. The picture was a sleeping Zaraki Kenpachi. His bells removed and replaced with lovely pink bows, his lips painted a becoming red and his eyelids a stunning blue. Fake eyelashes glued to his eyes gave him an even more feminine appearance. The finishing touch was a touch of pink to each cheek. The image itself was shocking.



“That is one ugly man.” laughed Ikkaku as he gasped for air.



Izuru sat there stunned for a moment. There was for several moments no expression on his face. Finally, Izuru’s shoulders began to shake as laughter tore from his throat. Real laughter for the first time since Ichimaru-taicho left with Aizen. Izuru couldn’t stop laughing the image was just too ridiculous. Zaraki-taicho, the fearsome taicho of Division Eleven, his face painted up like a street corner prostitute. It was unbelievable. The laughter just kept coming, the joy it sparked was almost painful but in a different way. Tears began rolling down his face.



“What…. Happened… to Yachiru?” gasped Izuru in between laughter.



“Last I saw of them, Taicho was chasing her down with his zanpakuto threatening to ground her with no candy allowed for a month.” Yumichika snickered, taking a sip of his sake taking care not to choke. The image of a make-up covered Zaraki chasing his tiny pink haired fukutaicho around the Division Eleven complex sent Izuru in to more laughter. It felt good. For that moment the pain seemed ……bearable.



“Its good to hear ya laughing again.” Renji said from behind the group, carrying several bottles of sake. By this time the picture had been passed around and everyone at the table was laughing. Putting down the bottles, Renji picked up the picture that Rangiku was hugging to her bosom. Upon seeing it Renji sat down and deep laughter burst out of him. Renji’s laughter was the kind of laughter that seemed to come from deep down.



Izuru stopped laughing and watched Renji. Some of his apprehension returned. How would Renji treat him. Izuru had been going to great links to avoid Renji in the last few weeks and he was sure that Renji would have surmised that he was being avoided. When Renji finally was able to gain control over his laughter he glanced at Izuru, his smile still in place.



“How have ya been, Kira?” asked Renji. Only Izuru understood the unspoken in the question.



Dropping his eyes Izuru simply answered “I have been fine, it has been busy at Division Three since Ichimaru-taicho returned.”



“Awww is Kira-fukutaicho ‘s unrequited love for his taicho still going strong.” joked Ikkaku. Izuru stiffened. The group had always joked about Izuru’s devotion to his taicho. It was a joke to everyone. If only they had known how close to truth it really was. Renji noticed the slight jerk in Izuru’s posture.



“Yea, but everyone knows Ichimaru-taicho and Kuchiki-taicho are an item now. Looks like poor Kira’s love is going to remain one sided.” said Yumichika with a giggle. The table erupted in laughter once again. Everyone except Izuru and Renji. Izuru glanced at Renji. ‘Why isn’t he laughing as well. Everyone always laughs at the running joke’ thought Izuru. Renji simple picked up a cup and poured some sake in it. Handing it to Izuru he filled his own. Izuru simple stared at the alcohol for a moment. Picking up the cup, Izuru tossed back the liquid relishing in the burn as the liquid worked its way down his throat.



The night continued on much of the same, Izuru drinking far more than he had intended. Soon, the nightly festivities came to a close. Rangiku supported a completely sloshed Shuuhei, and Yumichika guiding a drunk Ikkaku, bid their farewells to Renji and Kira. Izuru having drunk more than he could handle was leaning on Renji’s shoulder snoring slightly and mumbling drunkenly. Renji sighed and threw Izuru over his shoulder, making his way through the waning crowds towards Izuru’s small apartment.



Once in the apartment, Renji laid Izuru on his futon. Taking a moment Renji ran his fingers over the pale skin of Izuru’s cheeks stopping at his lips. Tracing the frowning lips with his finger, Renji leaned in and lightly brushed them with his own. Pulling back, Renji sighed and covered up the sleeping man.



“Ichimaru-taicho” Izuru mumbled in his sleep before turning on his side.



Renji felt a pang in his heart. Even though Ichimaru was completely devoted to Kuchiki-taicho, Izuru still longed for him. In the past, Renji would have bowed out in favor of Izuru’s desire but now that Renji knew those feelings Izuru harbored for his taicho would never be returned. He made it his mission show Izuru that there were other people that could be let into his heart.



He had respected Izuru during their academy days. The quiet young man had taken to meeting Renji and sparring with him. A friendship had grown from it. Soon the two were nearly inseparable. After graduation they didn’t get to see each other as often but made an effort to meet every few weeks for drinks. The group soon grew to include Rangiku, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Shuuhei. Even in battle, Renji always made sure to keep an eye on Izuru. Where along the way his feelings changed, Renji could not say for certain. But somewhere, somehow he had fallen hard for the blonde fukutaicho.



‘You are opening yourself up for heartache with that one.’ Zabimaru stated plainly, his deep voice rumbling through Renji’s mind.



‘I know but maybe it will be worth it. I cant allow him to remain on this path he’s on.’ replied Renji as he closed and locked the door of the apartment.



‘Hmmph.’ was the only reply that Zabimaru gave before going silent.



Renji paused, glanced once again at the apartment, then began to make his way back to his own. The deep night offered little comfort for the wearied soul of Abarai Renji. The last few weeks were spent worried over Kira, the worry only increasing when he noticed Kira going out of his way to avoid him. Now it was time to save Izuru from himself.



AN: I tried to lighten up the story a little. Kira still needs a lot of work but the healing is about to begin. I read somewhere that laughter is the best medicine so I thought why not have Kira laugh at something. Then I thought back to a review Darkephoenix made for Coming Home about Kenpachi and the bells are actually a result of Yachiru putting them there cuz what man in their right mind would put bells in their hair even to make a fight more interesting. So the result was Yachiru playing make up on Kenpachi’s face. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Read and Review.