Romance and Rivalries

Chapter Two
by Rachael

Skipping class sounded bad when if you said it like that, but in all honesty Ikkaku didn’t see anything wrong with what he was doing. He was on the list with all the usual suspects of truanting, but if you looked into the matter, the others would be off at home, hung-over, getting more money to become hung-over, or worse. Ikkaku was doing something much more important than class.

He’d like to say he spent his mornings in bed with a very beautiful man, and to some degrees he did… Well, up to the point Yumichika kicked him out because he had somewhere to be.

No, he was off preparing for his future. In his finest opinion the work he did while the others all slaved away at school was much more valuable to him. Ikkaku Madarame spent most of his hours training away. If Kenpachi wasn’t around, then it was just a matter of going to see Iba, and if he was really desperate there was nothing wrong with going down the wrong neighbourhood and hassling some local thugs.

He was always desperate for a good fight.

Today he awoke at roughly half-eleven, he could tell from the alarm clock perched on the wooden dressing table beside him. Ikkaku groaned in his semi-awake state… he was too late to go to school anyway… He’d promised to hang around with Iba as it was… Oh well.

The bald man rolled onto his back, his arms settled behind his head, eyes half open… it was unusual for Yumichika to keep him around this late in the morning. It was normally about seven/eight o’clock that the beautiful male turned him out of bed and sent him out onto the street with a bagel for breakfast.

Glancing to his side he could see Yumichika was still fast asleep. Today must be his day off or something because he never overslept. Ikkaku smiled gently to himself as he stared at the man beside him. It had been hard enough for Ikkaku to believe whom he was flirting with even before the guy went and got a modelling contract…

Even without the camera or his hair and face preened to the highest degree, Yumichika Ayasegawa was a stunning creature. Right now his hair was wavy and sticking up in some places, curled up in the bed sheets, his forehead a little wrinkled as he slept… he always looked like he was concentrating while he was asleep. The beautiful man would complain to hell and back about his appearance while sleeping, but he was still completely gorgeous… Ikkaku sighed, what on earth did Yumichika see in him?

He bent his head and kissed the other on the cheek, “Yumi… wake up,” he whispered, nuzzling down into the bed to wrap an arm around his waist, “Yumi, it’s time to get up.”

Azure eyes opened and he let out a little groan, moving into the warm firm body pressing against him, “The time?” he mumbled, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“It’s about half-eleven, honey,” Ikkaku grunted, about to protest about Yumichika sliding up and away from him. “Oh come on, you have the day off today, right?”

“That doesn’t mean I’m spending the whole morning in bed,” he slipped out of the covers, hunting around the room for something to wear. He favoured a silken black dressing gown hanging over a wooden chair by his desk.

Ikkaku blushed as he watched his lover’s body moving around the room, letting out a little sigh as the robe covered the soft white skin. “Come back to bed, Yumichika.”

Clearly he was in no mood because he sat with his back to him before the large round mirror on his dressing table, beginning to comb his short, dark bob, glancing at Ikkaku’s reflection, “Don’t you have school?”

“I’m already late,” he shrugged. “There’s no point in going now… I might go and piss off Iba at his place?”

Yumichika laughed, turning to face him, “Just don’t go and die on me, you idiot, and don’t wake him before twelve; he’d rip you to pieces.”

“Like I’d die,” Ikkaku puffed out his chest, rolling his eyes, “Have some faith in me for once!”

The bald man climbed out of bed, fishing around for last night’s clothes… he’d turned up yesterday because of kendo practice. It had been kind of exciting to get picked up afterwards by Yumi in the modelling company’s car. His lover had learnt to drive in the last year and used every possibility imaginable to show that off.

“You aren’t even going to shower?” he wrinkled his nose as he saw Ikkaku pick up his bag, his shirt half-done up and doing up the belt to hold up his baggy black pants.

Ikkaku grinned at him wolfishly, his smirk stretched form ear to ear; “I thought you weren’t in the mood this morning.”

“I never said I’d be showering with you,” he cut in, “I was going to buy a new camera today and I’d rather get to the shop before it’s filled with the elderly,” Yumichika flashed him a cocky smile, before turning around to get off his chair.

He began to walk towards the other, and Ikkaku wrapped his arms around his slender waist.

“If you’re going now,” Yumichika sighed, “At least be polite enough to give me a goodbye kiss, Ikkaku.”

Ikkaku laughed, leaning his head down a little, taking Yumi’s chin in his hand, he pressed his lips softly to his. He could feel long and beautiful fingers clasping onto his shirt, his cheeks flushed slightly as Yumichika deepened the kiss, flicking his tongue across Ikkaku’s bottom lip.

The bald man broke the kiss, a teasing smirk on his lips, his hand had fallen from his chin to rest upon the slender man’s shoulder, “Now, now, you have to buy yourself that new camera, right?”

His eyes narrowed and he raised both hands and pushed the other back a little towards the door, “Of course, and you have to go and bother Iba. Off on your merry way.” he said sarcastically, leaning against the wall.

It was moments like this which suggested Ikkaku was possibly the luckiest teenager he knew… Contemplating that, he chuckled to himself, swinging his bag over his shoulder, he turned the key and opened the door, as he was about to leave he looked back and grinned, “I…” he lost his nerve a little and quickly stammered in, “… I’ll… see you, erm… later, Yumichika.”

Closing the door quickly behind him, Ikkaku hastily walked off towards the elevator… It had been happening a lot lately, that damn Yumichika would get him squished into a corner and he’d find himself wanting to say ‘I love you’…

And it was definitely moments like this that he wished Yumichika had never once been Renji’s boyfriend… Renji was the guy he could talk about anything with, the embarrassing stuff, the damn right stupid stuff… These days he couldn’t ask him anything like that. After all, there was no nice way of saying, ‘Hey, Renji, I think I’m in love with your ex, you know, the one that broke your heart… yeah I think I’m love with him.’

It probably looked really bad to everyone else… and a cliché… the boyfriend running off with the best friend. Renji had told him time after time that he’d forgiven him. But Renji was a good guy, he was honourable, and until six months ago Ikkaku had thought he was honourable too…

Picking up his phone Ikkaku glanced at the screen, he’d missed three calls from Kenpachi… that meant either something had come up or Yachiru had gotten a hold of the phone. No matter how much respect he had for the man he idolized, Ikkaku still found it hilarious he didn’t really understand how to operate a phone. Still, everyone had his or her ups and downs…

Ikkaku cast a final glance up at Yumichika’s apartment building before letting out a deep sigh and turning down the street. Iba’s place was just down the road from here; an apartment on the fourth floor of the club the older man was a bouncer at.

Now was time for a fight!

**

“The flowers are lovely, Byakuya,” Jushiro Ukitake glanced up at the younger man who was stood with his back to him facing the window. “It was nice of you to drop by here yourself.”

The ebony haired male turned back to him, “It was no trouble at all. I hear you had a hospital appointment this morning so I thought I’d come by to check on you.”

He smiled happily at him, “I do appreciate your visits, it must be a little dull for a young man like yourself to keep popping by on an old geezer like me,” he laughed at he spoke.

The white haired man gasped a little as he began to cough; Jushiro hated showing his sickness in front of Byakuya. He winced as he stopped coughing, his ribs aching, his shoulders hunched, Jushiro hated the sight of blood on the hand he had clamped over his mouth. Looking up, Byakuya had rushed to his side, looking concerned. Quickly he wiped his hands on the baggy black shirt he had on, “I’m fine, look at you, worrying.”

“Are you sure? I could go and get you a glass of water if you wish?”

“I’m perfectly alright,” he shook his head, resting a hand upon his arm, “Please sit down, just a little cough, I assure you.”

The younger man didn’t look convinced. He frowned and nodded his head; “Very well,” Byakuya took a seat on the chair beside the sofa.

His dark eyes surveying the older man before him; Jushiro Ukitake was dying, he went out of his way to hide it, but the closer you were to him, the more obvious it was. The bags under his eyes, his pale skin, his slim and withering form… it was such a sad sight. He looked like a shadow of the man he had been. And yet, despite it all, he was still smiling, he appreciated everything and everyone he saw…

On his last years, Jushiro Ukitake’s personality hadn’t changed. His spirits were high; he seemed so alive in contrast to Byakuya, young, healthy and completely dead inside.

“So, what have you been up too lately, Byakuya?” Jushiro asked, “I hear from Rukia every now and then. She’s looking so happy these days.”

“Yes…” he took a little pause before nodding his head, “Her school work is at a very high standard and she is often with her friends. As for myself, well, I’ve been very involved in my work.”

Jushiro nodded his head, “Shunsui has been telling me about your success. You have a talent for business, your grandfather always said you would…” he looked back at the flowers, “Byakuya, you have a sensible head on your shoulders, but I think you’ve forgotten a little…”

He tilted his head to the side, “Forgotten?”

“When was the last time you… laughed?” The white haired man looked up at him, “I hoped… that one day I’d see you as care-free as you once were.”

Byakuya stood up a little, turning back towards the window, his cold eyes gazing at the beautiful garden. Since Jushiro couldn’t work any more, he’d thrown all of his efforts into the garden… he could see exotic flowers, beauty of all different colours. A series of sakura trees with gentle pink flowers dancing in the breeze.

The younger man held a hand to his forehead a little, his eyes suddenly soft and sad, “It’s harder to be carefree now I’m no longer a child, Ukitake.”

He laughed, sitting back and coughing slightly, before straightening up, “I still laugh, don’t I?”

Byakuya looked back at him with a small smile, “You certainly do.” He trailed off, forgetting what he was going to say as he heard a key turn in the front door… Kyoraku must be home.

“Jushiro,” called a voice from the front door, “I’m home!”

Instantly Jushiro’s eyes brightened and shakily he stood up from the sofa, almost stumbling causing Byakuya to rush to his side and bring him back to balance.

“Thank-you, Byakuya,” he smiled at him, before turning to face the dark haired man who entered the living room. “Had a good time, Shunsui?”

The other man beamed at him affectionately, wrapping his arms around his lover and drawing him close, “It was fun, I haven’t seen Lisa-chan in a while,” he stroked Jushiro’s long white hair, “So naturally I’m black and blue under my shirt,” he pouted.

He laughed and kissed his cheek before drawing away, “Byakuya-kun paid me a visit while you were away,” he gestured to the young man who nodded to them politely.

“Ah, Byakuya, it’s been a while,” he offered him a hand, “I have to ask Rukia-chan for any information about you.”

Byakuya folded his jacket over his arm, “Yes, I’m afraid I’ve been rather caught up in my work, Shunsui-san.”

“I dare say you’ll be coming to Yoruichi-san’s annual party though?” he said a little hopefully. “Jushiro and I are attending. There’s a rumour that Kisuke-san is making an appearance as well. I’m sure she’s invited you?”

He let out a little… negotiating inside sort of noise… edging slightly from foot to foot, it was a habit he only had when he was avoiding something. “She has… invited me. Though I’m not sure I can lose a night’s work–”

“Nonsense,” Shunsui laughed out loud, “It’s been too long, and nobody sees you anymore, Byakuya-kun. Not to mention the lovely ladies attending,” he went to nudge him playfully.

Byakuya shuddered to himself. Yoruichi was considered by most men to be an object of utmost beauty and charm. This was of course the complete and utter opposite of Byakuya Kuchiki’s personal opinion; Yoruichi, as the older girl who teased him when he was little, had always been the embodiment of the utmost irritation and annoyance.

He had heard men in secret talking about their desires for Soi Fon, Yoruichi’s slender Chinese bodyguard; however, the fact that this sort of talk remained secret was vital if they wanted to live.

Whereas Yoruichi was friendly and approachable, Soi Fon was scary and cold. It was rumoured that she made men cry accidentally four times everyday, and on purpose seven times per day. But of course Byakuya did not really care for such nonsense.

“I will try and change my plans,” he spoke up after a moments pause.

“I hope you do,” Shunsui said confidently, an arm around his lover’s waist, “In fact I was about to ask if you wanted to join us for lunch? I’m planning on taking Jushiro here to that new place just down the road… if he doesn’t mind you joining us?”

Jushiro shook his head, “It’d be wonderful for you to join us, Byakuya.”

“I’m sorry I’m afraid I have a deadline coming up,” he admitted, brushing his hair out of his face, “I’m sure the two of you will have a wonderful time without me. I should be leaving now actually,” he began to slip on his jacket, cringing internally as he saw a sad little pout on Jushiro’s face.

“Oh, well, another time then,” Shunsui nodded his head, kissing the side of his partner’s head; “I’ll let you out of the front, Byakuya. And I do hope to see you at Yoruichi-san’s. I’ll buy you a drink.”

“The drinks are free,” Jushiro cut in, laughing and taking a step towards Byakuya. He grinned at him. “Thank-you for visiting and the flowers really are beautiful.”

“Any time,” he offered him a hand, which the sickly man shook firmly. “I’ll see you soon, Ukitake.”

As he headed out of the door, Byakuya took one last glance at the couple before he headed down the lawn and towards the black Mercedes-Benz he had waiting for him. A lot of people said bad things about Shunsui, and he wouldn’t lie to himself, Byakuya had been one of them. However no matter what people said, they couldn’t deny that he was good for Jushiro.

It was so much easier to be happy when you’re with someone you love… Byakuya took a deep breath and raised his car-keys out of the pocket of his expensive tailored jacket…

‘I suppose’, he thought to himself, ‘I’ll have to try hard if I intend to laugh again’.

**

Lunchtime should have been the best part of Renji’s morning… He wasn’t going to lie; he had it pretty good when it came to lunch.

Tessai was an amazing chef, and although he had recently been making Renji make his own lunch, he was a lot more likely to pity the redhead’s drowning in homework and chores, and make lunch for him.

He had to admit, there was nothing better than a bento box made by his loving adoptive father. He had a real knack for getting it just right… but today, Urahara had given him money to buy something, which had been so rare and surprising, the red-head was sure it was either a trick or blackmail.

Still, he had money for food!

The only problem was the only place he could think to go was McDonalds…

It really showed how little they all had money to eat out. The group of them had stood awkwardly around the playground, unsure of what to do with themselves. It was usually only Rukia who had money for lunch, which she spent of juice at the canteen and a burger…

Ishida and Orihime (although hers never looked quite as they should), always had bento boxes too, and Ichigo varied from where he stayed at night.

Everyone must have been a little envious of the beautifully wrapped, and sometimes even shaped like animals, dinners that his little sister Yuzu prepared. It was how every man imagined married life.

“So, McDonalds is it?” Renji asked Rukia as the two of them stood in line together inside the bustling building. You could really tell it was lunch time here… there were old people who, like Renji, could think of nowhere else to eat out; young mothers with screaming toddlers silenced only by the toys in a Happy Meal; a few students suffering from a severe lack of funds… and of course, there were the hopelessly fat people who were probably addicted to this damn place!

“I don’t remember the last time I came in here,” Rukia admitted, “not since we were kids, Renji.”

“I doubt Byakuya brings you here,” he joked, elbowing her playfully in the side. She laughed and nudged him back, blinking when she saw a girl in the next queue holding a fashion magazine.

“Holy Hell,” Rukia bent her head a little to get a closer look without physically jumping on the girl just to see, “isn’t that Yumichika?”

Renji winced, he had been hoping to go without this for a few days before he got used to the idea of his ex being sprawled out on front-covers… Brushing his hair out of his face, he managed to give her a stiff nod.

“Yeah, that’s him,” he grumbled, “I guess his modelling is going well.”

Renji glanced back at the magazine cover and felt himself shuddering inside as he saw Yumichika lying flat on his back on a bed, modelling a pair of tight jeans and slim fitting designer shirt. He was wearing dark colours and was a stunning contrast to the white silk of the bed. His lips drawn into a glossy smirk, leaning back against the pillows so carelessly… The redhead had to curse himself… why was his sexuality awakened by such an unforgettable form?

Rukia rolled her eyes, “I still think you let Ikkaku off too easily. It’s not like Yumichika tied him down and forced him to date him, you know,” she folded her arms and looked up at him, a concerned look on her face.

“Oh come off it, Rukia. Ikkaku is my best male friend,” he fiddled with a button on his school shirt, “and a guy like Yumichika can easily make someone stray past boundaries…”

“I’m just worried about you,” she said awkwardly, “Come on, Renji, we’ve always looked out for each other, haven’t we? I’m just worried that they’re taking advantage… you’re a nice guy.”

Renji laughed a little, wrapping an arm around her skinny shoulders, “Ah, Rukia, trust me, I’m not that nice,” he blinked and went red as he noticed it was his turn to go and order up. “Shit,” he grunted to himself as he headed swiftly towards the counter. One of the things he absolutely despised about himself was that he could be so awkward; nowhere near on a Kira scale, but whenever he caught himself doing the wrong thing, he’d get into a fluster. Like now for instance, he thought the girl behind the till was looking at him funny, and he said he wanted a Happy Meal because it was the first thing that came to his mind.

She chuckled as she prepared it for him, and Renji rubbed his forehead miserably… he didn’t want a Happy Meal… why had he asked for such a stupid thing? Aw damn Yumichika… this was his fault somehow.

“Here you go, sir,” the girl said, trying not to snigger at him, as he went red, reaching out and taking it, muttering a quiet thank-you. Clutching his Happy Meal in one hand and feeling like a first-degree moron, Renji Abarai turned back to Rukia and went completely pale as he came face to face with his ex-lover.

“Y-Yumichika?”

Was there a worse time to run into the guy who broke your heart? Holding an embarrassing kids’ meal from a cheapo place like McDonalds; red in the face, the girl behind the counter laughing at him behind his back, and looking far from attractive and worthy of being missed as he’d imagined he would be in all of the times he’d imagined this meeting…

Well, it could be worse… he supposed he could be naked or something…