Finding Home

Warning this is Yaoi which means boy x boy don’t read if you don’t like



AN: satterb well I prolly wont do another Grim/Ulquiorra lemon but I think I might throw in another Byakuya/Gin just for old times sake along with the Renji/Kira =p. I’ll just have to see how the flow of the story goes. Thanks to satterb, Yakumo, Affie and Rysha for the reviews.



Finding Home



Love builds bridges where there are none.

~R.H. Delaney~



Chapter 23



Gin and Renji entered the front gates of the Fourth Division, Byakuya having already left the two in order to report on Renji‘s successful return from Hueco Mundo. Gin fully expected to be called before the Sotaicho shortly. Both he and Byakuya faced possible punishment for ignoring the decision of the sotaicho and traveling to Hueco Mundo themselves. Gin knew that Byakuya would have gone eventually to discover the fate of his fukutaicho, but chances are he would have waited to have more backing. Byakuya still tended to lean more towards routes that followed procedure, while Gin was not one to wait for official approval. Besides, he knew that if anyone could push back the shadow that dwelled over Izuru, it was the loud and sometimes obnoxious Renji. Therefore, his first priority was getting back Renji.



Not ten steps into the complex, Renji was immediately converged on by three healers. Renji was struggling against them as they herded him towards an examination room. His frustration was beginning to color his reiatsu.



“For fuck’s sake, I’m fine. Take me to Izuru.” he yelled, but they ignored his request and dragged him along. He was about to draw his zanpakuto and force the issue when a clearing of a throat stopped all the hustle. Renji looked up to see the delicate visage of Unohana-taicho. Her gently face was so tranquil a dying man would drift off peacefully and yet so powerful, an injured man would calm and allow treatment. Her temperament was idle for healing, however, she was not one to crossed or disobeyed. Retsu garnered respect as well as adoration.



“I believe that Abarai-fukutaicho is well enough to delay examination for a little while.” she said with a smile. Walking forward, she ran a blue tinted hand over his chest and side. Nodding, she gestured for Renji and Gin to follow him.



“You are nearly healed, Abarai-fukutaicho. May I ask how you came about healing so quickly? Reports stated you were badly injured.” asked Retsu as she lead them down a sterile hallway. Renji shrugged but remained silent. “Ah, I see. You wish to protect those that healed you. I can respect that. I am not so cautious as the Sotaicho and respect allies, even those hidden.” The last comment was directed towards Gin, who ducked his head with a blush.



“How is Izuru?” asked Renji finally. Izuru was the only thing that he thought of since he had awakened in Hueco Mundo. The icy grip of terror that clenched in his stomach refused to relinquish its hold. He wanted to kick himself for not being more diligent in his scanning of the area. He should have seen that Hollow approach but he was too focused on getting Izuru back through before the rift closed. Renji closed his eyes at the memory of Izuru, tears streaking down his cheeks, as the rift sealed up. The look on his face was terror in its purest form.



“I’m not going to lie to you, he’s locked himself away in his mind. We haven’t been able to get him to eat or drink. Its almost as if he has given up.” Retsu sighed sadly. She had seen this happen before. A young boy had been abused to the point of not feeling anything. After one final abusive episode the boy had locked himself into his mind and wasted away before her very eyes. She had taken his death hard, he was one of the few patients that never completely left her mind. “I’m hoping that bringing those he cares most about to him will help bring him out.”



Renji nodded slowly. His face took on a determined appearance and his lips narrowed. ‘I won’t give up Izuru, not even to death.’ he thought to himself. Pushing open the door, Retsu lead them both into the room. Shuuhei stood up from where he was sitting beside Izuru trying to draw him out. He looked up and his eyes brightened. He walked over to them and took Renji in a tight hug.



“Gods man, I should have known no Hollow would eat you. You would probably give them the worst case of indigestion they have ever had.” said Shuuhei good naturedly. Renji grinned.



“Ha Ha very funny. Just cuz your tender ass is good Hollow food doesn’t mean the rest of us are less tasty.” replied Renji before his eyes traveled to look where Izuru was seated looking out the window. Shuuhei followed his gaze and shook his head.



“I’ve been sitting here with him almost from the moment I heard he was here. He’s like a fucking shell. He hasn’t spoke, eaten, drank, and barely moved since I’ve been here. Hell Renji, if I didn’t know better I would think he was dead.” said Shuuhei dejectedly. “Not even Rangiku was able to bring him out of it. Ikkaku and Yumichika stopped by but nothing from Kira.”



“Thank you for staying with him, Shuuhei. I’m going to bring him out of it.” said Renji, his voice determined.



“How?” asked Shuuhei.



“I’m going to force him to respond to me. He’s scared of more pain but I’m going to force him to acknowledge me.” said Renji and made his way over to Izuru. When he reached his lover he felt his heart nearly stop with pain. Izuru was simply gazing unseeing out the window from his chair. His eyes looked blank, as if no soul resided in the body. Renji knew Izuru was still there, he was just hidden deep. He would bring him back out. Renji felt that he would know if Izuru’s soul was no longer there. A slight knock on the door went unnoticed by Renji as Retsu and Gin stepped outside at the request of the messenger. Renji grabbed Izuru’s limp hand.



“Izuru, Can you hear me?” said Renji. No response. He shook him slightly, still no response. “Fuck it all, Kira Izuru answer me.” growled Renji. There was still no response. Renji felt a pang in his chest. Then, an idea flitted through his mind. Renji leaned down close to Izuru’s ear.



“Izuru.” Renji whispered in his ear. Renji trailed his lips along the rim of Izuru’s ear, pausing to nip at the lobe. Renji felt an almost unperceivable twitch in the hand that he gripped. For a moment, Renji was unsure if he had even felt that twitch. Continuing his journey, Renji nipped his way along the smooth underside of Izuru’s jaw. It had always amazed him at the nearly hairless state of Izuru. He never had to shave like other men, his jaw, chest, and legs completely devoid of all but the finest hair. Renji grinned as he felt a shiver travel through Izuru’s body. He was in there.



“I’m going to step outside for some air.” said Shuuhei with a cough as he tugged at the black collar he wore around his neck. He may be straight but the sight of Renji’s lips trailing along Izuru’s jaw was so erotic that he felt a twinge in his body. Thinking it better to leave the two alone, he stepped from the room to clear his head. When he stepped outside he saw the pale face of Gin, frowning instead of the trademark grin.



“Yamamoto-sotaicho wants the convene a special taicho meeting to discuss Kira-fukutaicho.” said Retsu. “Your presence is also requested, Hisagi-fukutaicho.”



“Lets head that way.” said Gin and turned to walk out of the division. Retsu and Shuuhei slowly followed behind.



“Should we tell Renji where we are going?” Shuuhei asked Retsu.



“I think we should just let them be for now.” said Retsu and turned to give instructions to a few of her division officers before walking towards Division One with Shuuhei, Gin having long since flash stepped ahead.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Renji glanced out of the corner of his eye as Shuuhei grew a little red in the face and nervously made his exit. He smirked a little as his friend for many years exited the room in such a hurry. Turning his attention back to his beloved, Renji nipped his way to the corner of Izuru’s lips, careful to avoid the lips. Renji sucked at the corner before transferring his lips to the other corner. Izuru’s breath hitched in this throat but still his eyes remained dead.



“Izuru, come back to me.“ whispered Renji against Izuru’s lips. Renji carefully took Izuru’s lower lip between his lips and sucked gently at it before covering his lips completely. His lips glided softly over Izuru’s and his tongue teased the seam begging entrance but refusing to simply take. He touch begged a response from the other. He would only give and only take was freely and willingly given.



Izuru felt warm. The first time he had felt warm in his soul since Renji had been killed. Perhaps the gods were taking pity on him and sending his soul to the afterlife. He felt lips on the rim of his ear. He had never considered his ear so sensitive until Renji. It seemed that was the first place that Renji went to. He felt his hand twitch at the thought of Renji. The touch deepened and skimmed along his jaw biting and sucking. Why was he feeling this, was it Renji? Was he dying and going to be with Renji?



“Izuru, come back to me.” The words echoed in Izuru’s mind. It was Renji. Come back? Why did he need to come back? He was going after Renji not, coming back to him. The darkness was fading. ‘No!’ his mind screamed. He didn’t want to go back. He didn’t want to go back to where it hurt to simply live, where everything he loved was taken from him until his heart was as scarred as his body. Lips covered his own and he felt the warmth of the touch seep into his cold soul. He felt a tongue trace his lips and beg entrance, of their own accord his lips parted and the tongue that teased slid inside.



Izuru gasped as the warm organ teased his own. He couldn’t help but respond. He felt his hands lift and grip at firm shoulders, one hand sliding into the other’s hair. His eyes were closed, and he leaned into the kiss that seared his soul with fire. The lips tasted of cinnamon and faintly of sake. Just like Renji. Strong arms cradled his body as eventually the lips pulled away, breathe panting against his cheek. Izuru’s eyes fluttered open as he focused on the man that held him so tightly. Red hair, tied back with a white strip of cloth and black tattoos arched in tribal patterns over gentle brown eyes that looked at him with devotion. Tears filled his eyes and slid silently down soft cheeks.



“Renji.” Izuru gasped and the other man smiled.



“Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty. Looks like the fairy tales were right, a kiss from the prince awakens the princess.” grinned Renji as he leaned down to kiss away the tears.



“Who do you think you are calling me a princess?” asked Izuru quietly as he lay his head on Renji’s shoulder. Renji began to chuckle, the deep vibrations sounded like music to Izuru. They sat like that for several minutes.



“I thought you were dead and I wanted to be dead too. First my parents, then Ichimaru-taicho left me, and then you were gone. I just couldn’t bear it any longer. ” Izuru finally whispered against Renji’s chest, breaking the silence. Renji sighed and pulled him closer.



“I wont leave you Zuru. I’ll always find you.” said Renji into Izuru’s neck.



“I thought I was in love with Taicho.” said Izuru, feeling Renji stiffen in his arms.



“You don’t have to say it.” said Renji but Izuru shook his head and continued on.



“I devastated when he left and didn’t take me with him. He always showed so much attention to me and helped me so many times. I thought he cared for me. Then, I was left alone to run our division. I had no way to release the build up of strain until I finally broke. I kept on going as if nothing was wrong but inside the darkness was growing. Then you came through to me. I don’t know how or why but you lead me out of the darkness and I began to rely on you being there. Now I know I never want to be separated from you. I feel alive when you touch me and I burn when you kiss me. I love you too much, Renji. I don’t know why you would want someone as broken as me.” said Izuru, while keeping his eyes downcast. Renji reached up with a calloused hand and lifted Izuru’s chin.



“You don’t need to say it because I knew from the moment I held you in my arms as you cried on the floor of your bathroom that I would protect you with everything in my power. You were just lost, Izuru, not broken. And I like you just how you are.” Renji leaned down and took the kiss Izuru offered. His lips tasted slightly salty from the tears but sweeter than the finest candy. This is what Home felt like.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Shuuhei couldn’t dismiss the unease that shivered along his spine as Yamamoto-sotaicho took his place at the head of the two rows of Taicho. Shuuhei took his place, a little back from the taicho, where fukutaicho stood in the event that their presence was requested at a taicho meeting. Retsu offered him a calming smile but even her eyes expressed a bit of worry. Reiatsu practically crackled from Gin who didn’t even bother to grin but quietly took his position. Byakuya sent calming reiatsu towards his lover but even that only kept the normally grinning man from tearing the place apart and did little to ease his own frustration.



“Hisagi-fukutaicho, step forward.” ordered Yamamoto in a booming voice. Shuuhei attempted to keep a straight face as he stepped forward to face the aged sotaicho.



“It has come to my attention that you have obtained Ban Kai.” boomed the sotaicho.



“Hai, Sotaicho.” said Shuuhei. Only a few weeks past his zanpakuto had bowed to him and awarded him access to Ban Kai. The battle had been rough and for a while he feared Kazeshini would destroy him and therefore himself, but in the end Kazeshini had relented and bowed to him.



“Although, I am sure your zanpakuto has much left to teach you, you have proven yourself not only in merit, but also in action as an individual well equipped to lead your Division. Hence, I award you the position of taicho of Division Nine.” A servant came from the shadows and offered the haori to Shuuhei. Shuuhei stood almost in shock. He was not expecting to be given the division. Kenpachi stepped forward and snatched the haori from the servant and held it open for Shuuhei.



“Take it boy, ya more than earned the honor.” said Kenpachi, not one to bother with formalities but in his eyes Shuuhei had long since been taicho before Yamamoto bothered to actually acknowledge him. Kenpachi acknowledged strength and this boy had shown plenty of that since Aizen’s defection. Shuuhei smiled a little and a blush stained his cheeks. Slipping his arms in the haori, he bowed low to Yamamoto and took his place beside his fellow taicho. Byakuya nodded in approval. He had been trying for weeks to get Yamamoto to acknowledge the young man’s achievements. He noticed several other taicho nodding as well, it seems that he wasn’t the only one that saw the merits of Shuuhei. The happy moment was soon shattered at the sotaicho’s next words.



“Now, I present before you the motion of having Kira-fukutaicho removed from the Gotei Thirteen.” The words sent dread through more than one person standing in that room. This is what many of them had feared the most. The fate of the gentle Kira Izuru was about to be decided.



TBC



AN: Ooooooo a cliff hanger! What will happen? Will Kira be removed from the Gotei 13? Stay tuned to find out! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I really enjoyed writing this chapter and its probably one of my favorites. Until next time.