Not Close Enough

Back in the living world, a black phone rang in Urahara’s shop. Turning from whatever he was doing, the shopkeeper picked up the receiver. “Urahara’s shop, how can I help you?”

A bewildered voice answered, as if it was not too sure that anyone much less Urahara would answer. Relief mingled with disbelief almost. “Hat n’ Clogs, that really you?”

“Ichigo?” asked Urahara, his eyes wide under his hat. “We were beginning to think they’d never let you go. How are you?”

“Great. Things couldn’t be better. It’s a long story…”

“Whoa slow down. We have been getting updates here and there,” Urahara reassured him.

“Thank goodness,” Ichigo said. “Look, what’s going on with… I mean I hadn’t heard much…”

“Everything seems to be quite fine here. Your friends have made sure of that,” said Urahara brightly.

A relieved voice queried, “Then Kon hasn’t…”

“Seems he’s behaved himself. Though you have two friends who are worried sick,” said the shopkeeper.

Ichigo's voice held a note of guilt. Urahara could hear the slap of a palm against a forhead. “Chad and Ishida… oh man… I’m sorry…”

“They’re fine. Seems that your absence has brought them together. I have to say its all good,” Urahara chuckled.

“Well that wasn’t the only reason I called. Seems that you’ll be getting a shop hand back in the next few months,” said Ichigo.

“Is that so? Abarai san’s got a tour of duty here?” asked Urahara.

“Him and a few others…. Seems you’re going to have five new customers needing gigais,” said Ichigo.

“My my, things have become interesting. By the way, I’ve a question for you?” asked Urahara with a smirk.

Ichigo's voice was unsure. “Yeah?”

“You have a good time with Renji in Soul Society? I understand you two were sharing an apart…”

“How the hell did you know that?” Ichigo growled.

“I have my sources,” said Urahara with a giggle behind the fan he raised to his chin.

“Never mind that. Have you seen my body at all? They didn’t let me call Kon at all and…”

“Why not ask your friends Sado and Ishida? They’ve been keeping an eye on him!”

“Is there some way we can get in touch? I mean I’ve still got some things to finish up here before I’m allowed back through the senkaimon gate… and they won’t let me call anyone directly in the living world…” Ichigo mumbled.

“Not to worry Kurosaki san!” Urahara chuckled lightly. “Your two friends are training down in the underground room. If you’ll hold on I’ll have them call you!”

“Please if you would that’d be great!” Ichigo said excitedly. Hanging up the phone Urahara ended the call and rose to his feet. He wandered off into the shop, heading towards the entrance to his vast underground chamber.

***

Far below the store, two friends trained hard to pass the time. Over the last five weeks, they had moved from friends to lovers. Every session lately crackled with tension. As one blue bolt shot past a purple and black striped arm, its owner dodged to the side. All Sado had to do was lean his body slightly. Only the tingle of Quincy energy grazed his skin. At a distance of 100 yards Ishida's form blurred back into a sideways motion.

Dropping on an angle Sado let his fist crash into the ground. A cloud of dust rose between them kicked up by the currents of Ishida's fast movement. As Sado anticipated, the latest volley of a dozen arrows spread wider this time.

Flipping over Sado then brought back his other hand and then formed a shell of blue ki around his armored fist. Breath hissed out his nose, brown curly hair flying back from the force of the energy's blue surge as he released it. A thrust forward of the arm was counterbalanced by dropping to one knee and bracing his body from the blow back of the energy sizzling towards Ishida.

Two more blasts anticipated in rapid succession, one directed from a slight turn of Chad's body to the right. The second came from a correction to the left. Brown eyes narrowed to see the last one connect on the edge of the spider web bow. Didn't Ishida realize it worked as a bull’s-eye for an attacker as well as an aiming guide?

Unfortunately, it did not stop the next volley of arrows. Angling his arm in front, Sado presented a small target as he charged sideways. Arrows deflected from the shield of his armored arm. Sliding forwards, he then angled his body back so his boot collided with Ishida's foot. The Quincy compensated by zipping to the side, but forgot to account for Sado's other hand reaching out to grab his bow itself.

"Grrrggh," Sado grunted his fingers actually touching the Quincy energy bow. It stung and the look of shock in Ishida's wide eyes behind his glasses was worth the pain.

"Are you crazy Chad?" Ishida whispered fiercely.

“Depends,” Sado whispered, watching as his lover dispelled the bow. Ishida’s hand reached out, touching Sado's where only a minute burn existed.

“You shouldn’t take such chances,” Ishida murmured, stepping closer to Sado. Slowly he raised the bronze hand to his lips, kissing it softly. Sado rumbled when Ishida started to lick and suckle his fingers.

“I hate to interrupt,” said an amused voice. Both teens swiveled their heads around at the same moment, frowning at the shopkeeper. From behind his fan, he gave an amused smile.

“What is it?” Ishida mumbled.

“I’ve got a long distance phone call from Soul Society from a classmate of yours,” Urahara said, grinning.

At the same moment Ishida’s eyes widened behind his glasses, Sado’s did as well. They both rushed from the training ground up the ladder. Urahara chuckled, following them as he looked down at the pictures he had snapped of them unawares.

***

Ichigo had hated to say goodbye to Renji at the senkaimon gate, but it would only be a bit until Renji got back to his gigai and they figured out a reason for what was going on. Meanwhile Sado and Ishida left their training at Urahara's store and headed towards the Park where they were supposed to meet up with Keigo, Mizuiro, and Kon. Both of them had not forgotten they were still enlisted in a scheme to get Ichigo and Renji back together. Even though they knew the couple was official, they still had to play their parts. They had gotten a call from Ichigo saying he was finally coming home today, and had tried to figure out how to tell Kon.

Both had a few hours to kill before Ichigo mentioned he would come home, and they spent them eating ice cream, waiting for Keigo and Mizuiro. Kon had texted them and he seemed to be taking his time getting there, as were their other classmates. Hungry, Sado insisted on treating Ishida to ice cream.

Pale drops of French vanilla marked liquid trails down a bronze arm. Similar liquid but green in color dribbled onto ivory beige complexion. Walking along both companions looked at one another's hands and the mess their ice cream was making.

"I think dishes would have been better than cones. I doubt the ice cream's tolerance for temperature is very substantial," Ishida complained.

"You have to admit part of the amusement is licking up the part that melts," Sado disagreed.

"Other than the fact I find French vanilla a bit bland and I doubt you're fond of mint chocolate chip..." Ishida said transferring the cone to his other hand. "I'd say you were hinting at something."

Simultaneously Sado lifted his hand to Ishida's to the Quincy extended his own soiled in melted ice cream. Two tongues darted out of respective mouths lapping up the liquid from their partner’s hands. Ishida moaned softly at the pressure of Sado's lips and tongue on his index finger and the back of his hand while Sado suppressed his own noise from the way Ishida's tongue cleaned the melted mess away.

"Get a room you two, sheesh!" Kon interrupted.

"Kon," both Ishida and Sado mumbled in frustration. Resorting to napkins, the duo glared at the annoyed mod soul in Ichigo's body.

"I've been damn patient with you two jerks playing chaperone for a whole damn month but this is the limit!" Kon shouted.

"Well you've gotten a reprieve. He's coming back," said Ishida.

"Why am I the LAST to know these things hmm?" Kon snapped. "He's coming back and he doesn’t freaking TELL ME?"

At that moment both Mizuiro and Keigo pounced on him, grabbing Ichigo. "See I TOLD you he'd be coming back!"

"Haven't you forgotten that your boyfriend's coming back soon?" asked Mizuiro, patting 'Ichigo' on his shoulder. "You said it was a month."

"Oh yeah right..." Kon stammered, as Ishida and Sado gave him that famous warning glare. "That's right..."

"C'mon Ichigo, time to stop window shopping and get ready. We've got something cooked up that'll knock his socks off," Mizuiro said.)

"But..." Kon stammered.

"Don't tell me you two forgot what we discussed before," Keigo whispered to Sado and Ishida.

"You mean that... meeting for that school project, right?" asked Ishida.

"What are you guys whispering about, hey?" Kon protested.

"Ichigo, we've got one hell of a welcome home party for your boyfriend planned. Leave it to us!" Keigo said, grabbing Kon in Ichigo's body by the arm and marching him off. Sighing Ishida and Sado shook their heads and moved off to play their role.

"You realize this is all pointless because they've already..." Ishida mumbled.

"I know, but we have to play the part till the final act," Sado reassured him.

His Quincy companion shook his head. "The only thing is do Ichigo and Renji know what sort of a homecoming they're in for?"

"You've made the outfit, so you must be as committed to this as I am. I know it's a pain, but we're almost home free," Sado said.

"Ichigo is going to owe us for this, substantially," Ishida whispered, finishing his ice cream.

**
Far above them on a telephone wire dashed Ichigo, frowning. "What are those two up to," he muttered as he followed them. Kon had bitched at his friends for nearly a quarter hour and his ears were still ringing. Not wanting to let his body go, he kept to them like glue.

"What the hell is this all about you two?" asked Kon in Ichigo's body.

"We know you've been window shopping and trying to forget him, but it's clear you miss him," said Keigo.

"I told you guys I was over him!" Kon protested.

"Not so. You've only been going along with our ogling of the opposite sex to make us feel better," said Mizuiro.

"You guys are damn confusing!" Kon pouted.

"Well Ichigo my buddy, you noticed we never actually did anything with said dates but watch and entertain," said Mizuiro.

"You got lucky, I didn't," mumbled Kon.

"You always seemed so edgy though. No use in pretending how much you miss that Renji guy," chuckled Keigo.

"But that's cause the geek and Chad were always breathing down my NECK!" shouted Kon. "I didn't DARE so much as look at a girl or a guy!"

"We knew that. Both of them were making sure you stayed true to Renji, my man," Keigo laughed, patting his back.

"But that's not it at all!" Kon spluttered.

"C'mon Ichigo, we're doing this for your own good!" Mizuiro said as he moved to the other side, and both friends dragged Kon with them towards Keigo's home.

“Both of them are planning a date with Renji for me?” Ichigo stammered realizing the story now. If only he could get Kon alone and get back into his body, then straighten out this situation things would be better. All he needed was an open window and Kon’s plushie body. Quickly he trotted down the nearest wire towards the Kurosaki Clinic.