Not Close Enough

Desperate for something to tell his friends, Ichigo finally blurted out, “I missed being here with you, you stupid idiot!”

Renji saw the slight scrunch of his nose, and felt a sharp kick in his shin. Annoyed yet clued in he retorted, “Well if you hadn’t been so damn moody, just came out, and said…”

“Moody? Who’s moody! You’re acting like a girl!” Ichigo snapped back. Keigo and Miziuro’s eyes widened considerably.

“A GIRL? If you said that in front of most of the girls we knew they’d kick your ass you idiot!” Renji yelled. Ishida and Sado shook their heads, wincing at the comment. However Mizuiro and Keigo took no offense, snickering into their rasied drinks.

“That is an insult to girls,” mumbled Sado.

"Relax, it's supposed to be funny," Keigo began.

“It’s just a friggin expression! Since when was everyone so goddam sensitive!” Ichigo yelled, ignoring Sado.

“Guys, calm down, easy,” urged Mizuiro. He looked at Keigo.

“Whoa, whoa, wait, if you two are going to argue maybe you should be alone?” asked Keigo as he forced himself between Ichigo and Renji.

“Stay outta this, kid,” Renji said as he grabbed Keigo and pulled him back. “I don’t wanna hurt ya. You ain’t responsible for this.”

“Ichigo, calm down,” Chad urged, grabbing him by the shoulder.

“Please you’re in a public place,” Ishida whispered. Looks of sympathy headed towards Renji and Ichigo.

Immediately their waiter moved over, asking, “Excuse me gentlemen is everything all right?”

“Sorry,” Ichigo mumbled. “Just a little tiff between my boyfriend and me.”

“We’ll behave,” Renji mumbled, noticing the weight of many eyes on them.

“Have some champagne on the house,” murmured their waiter, as he looked at Renji and Ichigo. “We’ve got a more private table back in the rear if you want to continue your… discussion.”

“At least let’s finish dinner anyway,” Renji said.

“That’s you, always thinking of your damn stomach first,” Ichigo griped.

“Oi, at least I remember to eat. You’d pass out if I didn’t remind ya,” Renji said.

Indignantly Ichigo blinked, resting a hand on his chest. “Excuse the hell me?”

“Ya heard me. You’d leave yer head behind if it weren’t…”

“And you’ve got yours up your ass, idiot,” Ichigo countered, standing up as he grabbed Renji’s shirtfront. “Look in the mirror!”

“The only thing I want up my ass is you, stupid!” Renji blurted out, blushing, until he slapped a hand over his mouth. “Now look what ya made me go and say!”

Ichigo glared back at him with fiery brown eyes that sparked desire inside Renji. “You’re the one who doesn’t watch his damn mouth!”

“Oh, and what are you gonna do about it, jerk?” Renji asked heart-pumping adrenaline through him. Suddenly his pants felt extremely tight. He would never admit to Ichigo he loved arguing because it turned him on so much.

“Uh… gentlemen?” the waiter asked, balancing a tray on his shoulder. Sado glanced up at him, and then noticed him nodding anxiously towards Renji and Ichigo.

“I’m gonna shut you the hell up, that’s what!” Ichigo snapped, as he leaned his forehead into Renji’s. Hot breath fanned Renji’s face.

“Go ahead I dare ya!” the redheaded fukaitaicho egged him on, inhaling Ichigo’s delicious scent.

“Fine!” Ichigo snapped. Jerking him forwards, Renji pulled Ichigo towards him and then fused their lips together. Whatever Ichigo wanted to say next he completely forgot as Renji’s tongue slipped over his. A chorus of sighs and applause heralded what was going on. If Ichigo wasn’t as red as Renji’s hair now, he was damn close.

Pushing hard against his chest, Ichigo tore his mouth away and ranted, “Are you NUTS in front of everyone?”

Frowning Renji snorted, “I’ll kiss ya when I damn the hell please! Nobody else is complaining right?”

“Um… no, not at all,” Keigo chuckled. “You two just look so sweet together.”

Mizuiro gazed at them, resting his chin on one hand as he said, “Indeed.”

Ishida chimed in, after a sip of his water, “I have to admit it is far preferable to see public displays of affection over arguing.”

Leaning close to him the waiter whispered to Ichigo, nudging his arm, “You’re damn lucky to have such a hot boyfriend kissing you sir.”

“I… this is… shit…” Ichigo stammered.

“And why the hell are ya complain’ now?” Renji grumbled.

“Carry on gentlemen. Those sorts of things are completely encouraged here. Though if you feel the mood strike you, feel free to carry on elsewhere,” the waiter giggled from behind his hand.

“Jackass,” Ichigo mumbled letting go of Renji’s jacket. He looked sullenly for a minute, and then saw that Mizuiro and Keigo were rather amused as were the other patrons looking their way.

“Don’t mind us,” murmured one of the couples nearest them, two men with dark hair and dreamy smiles plastered on their faces. Now Renji’s blush matched Ichigo’s and they reluctantly let go of one another. Appropriately amused and distracted, Keigo and Mizuiro tried to hide their grins behind the glasses held to their faces.

“You see, they love you two. You’re such a CUTE couple!” Keigo crowed, reaching over to pinch Ichigo and Renji’s cheeks. Heads swiveling in unison Renji and Ichigo fixed the young man in a binary indignant glare. At least Ichigo’s dark mood seemed to have evaporated, Renji thought with relief.

Only the stroboscopic flash from Mizuiro’s camera phone broke their focus on Mizuiro. Blinking and cursing the couple struggled to banish the flashing spots swimming before their eyes. Renji yelped, “Oi! C’mon!”

“Okay, okay, sheesh, you’re right, now just back off,” mumbled Ichigo squinting at his friends. Slowly the bright flecks of afterimage were fading to dark shadows, but it would be a bit before he could see properly in the subdued lighting of the gay supper club.

Another camera phone clicked, held up in front of Sado’s face, aimed towards Mizuiro and Keigo. Wrapping an arm around Miziuro’s shoulder, Keigo grinned charmingly with two fingers held up in a victory salute. Now Mizuiro’s cheeks were tinged with a slight pink flush as he leaned into Keigo’s touch.

Across Renji’s face spread a Cheshire grin upon noticing this. Bending forwards, he seized Keigo’s cheek pinching it. He cooed, “Aren’t you just damn adorable ya two?”

“Who us?” Mizuiro asked, turning to look at Keigo, whose eyes were wide.

“Uh um… well…” Keigo stammered, at a loss for words. Mizuiro’s blush darkened considerably.

“Don’t be shy you two,” said Ishida, smirking superiorly. Eyes wide as those of an animal caught in the oncoming headlights of a speeding car, Keigo opened and closed his mouth. No sound came out.

Ichigo moved closer to Renji, who draped an arm around his shoulder. The redhead whispered, “I love this. Payback’s a bitch.”

“You know it,” Ichigo whispered back, kissing Renji’s ear. Their fingers met and interlaced under the table resting atop Renji’s thigh.

“Are you uncomfortable with us pointing out you two as a couple?” Sado asked innocently enough.

Next to him, Ishida rested a hand on Keigo’s shivering shoulder. He continued, “It is quite apparent that you two have a considerable amount of affinity for one another… as well as spending time in one another’s proximity.”

Nervously Keigo grinned at Mizuiro, managing a laugh. He rubbed the back of his neck. In response, Mizuiro finally turned his head to meet his classmate’s gaze. Shyly he chuckled, “I’m not blind, Keigo. And I’m not oblivious.”

Keigo’s eyes narrowed doubtfully, his foot tapping violently under the table. He stammered, “Well you do like girls.”

“You do know I’m bi,” Miziuro said, rolling his eyes. Keigo’s knee bobbed more violently up and down.

Biting his lip Keigo answered, “Well yeah, obviously I am too, but well… I was so focused on planning this you know…”

“Shut up and kiss him already ya idiot!” Renji snickered.

“C’mon, pucker up. I know you two have the hots for each other,” Ichigo needled, nudging Keigo as he reached over the table to do so.

Eyes hidden behind his fringe of curly brown hair, Sado’s mouth pressed into a straight line. He rumbled, “Kiss the boy, Keigo. It won’t hurt will it?”

“Now wait, this is Abarai kun and Ichigo’s date. I don’t wanna draw the attention from the stunning couple of the evening you know,” Keigo protested, waving violently at a smirking Ichigo and Renji.

“Such a flimsy excuse, shame on you,” Ishida scolded, clicking his tongue. Still he kept that half smile on his normally serious face while waggling a finger back and forth. Mizuiro said nothing, simply looking at a convenient spot on the wall that was less embarrassing then letting everyone see his face.

“Uh well…” Keigo stalled, sweat beading on his forehead.

“So, Keigo, what’s the story?” Mizuiro asked, still not looking at the cinnamon haired teen.

With one finger, Keigo tugged on his necktie to loosen it. Both Renji and Ichigo’s faces melted into expressions of sympathy seeing how the brown haired high school student was squirming and twitching in the seats next to his dark haired classmate. Renji bent forwards over the table and then said to them both, “C’mon, spit it out. If ya can’t tell him in front of yer friends, then say the word an’ we’ll let ya two be alone.”

Clutching his hair Keigo tugged at it and lamented, “This is so not fair you guys!”

“S’okay,” Mizuiro said patting him on the hand. “I think they’ve tormented you enough.”

“Say WHAT?” Keigo asked, jaw dropping open.

“Careful, you could catch flies with that,” Renji joked.

“Shut up, dumbass. Give him a break. Can’t you see he’s suffered enough?” asked Ichigo, thumping Renji on the back of the head.

“Ouch!” Renji snapped.

“Asano, consider this third degree as a taste of your own medicine perhaps?” Ishida contributed, nibbling a bit of his food carefully on the end of his fork.

“You guys are mean,” Keigo whined, burying his head in his hands though he breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“Fair is fair, but Ichigo is right,” Sado agreed, taking hold of Ishida’s hand to give it a squeeze.

“I don’t know you guys. I don’t think I should give you the last part of tonight’s surprise if you’re going to torture him like this,” Mizuiro said as he reached for something in his pocket. Ishida’s eyebrow twitched upwards. Brushing bangs out of his face, Sado glanced at him with a questioning look.

“C’mon you were enjoying it as much as they were, admit it,” Renji laughed as he pointed at Mizuiro.

“Jerk,” Ichigo said, giving Renji a shove.

“What other surprise did you have planned that you failed to consult us regarding?” Ishida wondered.

Mizuiro pulled something out of his pocket, dangling it before Renji and Ichigo’s faces. “Oh just a little something called a love hotel?”

“Ugh,” groaned Ichigo, slapping a hand over his face.

“What the hell are you bitching about now? I’d say it was a perfect gift,” the redheaded shinigami laughed. Renji grinned reaching for the keys only to have Mizuiro dangle it just out of his reach.

“They don’t deserve it for being meanies,” Keigo pouted, snatching the key out of Mizuiro’s fingers.

“On the contrary are you certain you do not wish to utilize it for your own purposes?” Ishida needled, keeping a completely serious face as he swirled ice in his glass.

“Uryuu perhaps you’re being a bit… harsh?” Sado whispered into his ear.

Ishida huffed in response, “I refuse to admit that it isn’t what they had coming to them…”

“Keigo, you, and Mizuiro take it and use it. You’ve earned some down time,” Ichigo said as he reached over and rested a hand on his friend’s closed fist.

“I’d give it to you Ichigo because you’re always a good guy in the end,” Keigo said as he turned over his hand and pressed the key into Ichigo’s.

“Oi, now c’mon that’s too much already,” Ichigo protested, glancing down at the key in his palm.

“It’d be rude to refuse a gift,” Renji said, reaching over at it before Ichigo smacked him on the back of the hand.

“He’s giving it to me. Hands off Aka pine,” Ichigo scolded. Renji promptly stuck his tongue out at him and flipped him the bird.

“Boys, boys, save it for later,” Mizuiro teased, his own grin spreading almost from ear to ear. Hand clenching around the key, Ichigo saw Keigo’s enigmatic smile along with the sparkle returning to his classmate’s eyes.

Softly he said, “Thank you Keigo. I appreciate it. I owe you one.”

“No problem Ichigo old buddy,” Keigo said, beaming with joy. “Now get out of here you two, okay?”

Pushing out from the table, Renji stood up and slugged Keigo on the back. “If you say so! How can we refuse yer generosity?”

“That’s the idea,” Mizuiro cheered, pumping his fist in the air.

“Have FUN!” Keigo laughed, as Renji grabbed Ichigo by the hand and dragged him out after him.

Around them, a few of the couples whispered and a few of them even clapped. Ichigo resisted the urge to pound Renji and the others for his intense embarrassment. However, he realized he had nothing to fear in this establishment because nobody knew them, and many had similar ideas in mind.

***

Fingers imprisoned in Renji’s long strong ones Ichigo panted in an effort to keep up with his lover’s long legged stride. He yelled, “Oi! What’s the damn hurry?”

“Don’t ya want to get the hell outta there, dumbass?” Renji asked, almost yanking Ichigo’s arm out of its socket as he dragged him along behind out of the club's front door.

“But you don’t know where the hell the place is. So who’s the dumbass now huh?” Ichigo shouted after him, clutching the key in his other hand.

“Details, details,” Renji mumbled, clicking his tongue. He spun around, jerked Ichigo towards him so the smaller man collided with his chest, and then plucked the key from his tight fist.

Front pressed up against Renji Ichigo was distracted enough for a moment before he felt Renji’s hand clamping possessively on his ass while glancing over Ichigo’s shoulder to read the address on the key tag. Ichigo rolled his eyes and mumbled, “Idiot. Most hotels don’t use keys like that anymore anyway!”

“Says you!” Renji snapped.

“It’s a gimmick,” Ichigo chuckled, shoving his hips into Renji's, and then slamming him against the outside wall of the club. “They use key cards. Look at the tag, genius, and see if it doesn’t have a magnetic strip.”

Holding the key at arm’s length Renji saw that it was square shaped. “Okay, so it does.”

“Key’s made of plastic. That place is up the street from here. All of them use an identical metal key. It’s the tag, and the actual key’s the card attached,” Ichigo laughed.

“Smartass,” Renji mumbled, letting Ichigo pull him by the hand away from the wall. He hated feeling that warm body moving away just when he had felt his pants grow tight again. It was torture for the vice captain having to walk up ten city blocks in the chilly night air with those pants so tight everyone could see his hard on. What consoled him was that Ichigo was sporting one about the same size as well.

**

Fortunately since Keigo and Mizuiro had made the reservations, all Renji and Ichigo had to do was swipe the card into the slot on the side door of the tall building. Its buzzing blue neon sign intertwined with a few hearts. Ichigo then yelped, “Oi!” as Renji swept him up and threw him over one shoulder, rushing down the hall in his eagerness to find their room.

“Keep it down. Ya don’t wanna wake everyone else up do ya?” Renji hissed, holding a finger before his lips for silence. They stopped before the room number indicated on the key tag, and Ichigo watched Renji struggling to shove the key card into the slot of the door.

“Let me, you dumbass,” Ichigo snorted, twisting in Renji’s grasp so his lover was forced to set him down. Irked, Renji’s bandana clad brow wrinkled slightly at the ease at which Ichigo jammed the card into the slot, lighting it up green with a whirring sound. Reaching around him Renji tugged the handle down and pushed against Ichigo’s back, almost knocking him over into the room beyond.

Grabbing Renji by the belt loop, Ichigo tugged him into the room and let the door slam shut behind them. He felt Renji’s chest slam into his again, a pair of hot lips fusing onto his while Renji’s face blocked any view he had of the room or its décor. It seemed to blur around him as Renji swept him up and dumped him onto the bed.

“Shit you’re not wasting any time are you?” Ichigo panted, surfacing for breath as Renji broke the kiss.

A quick glance revealed a maroon carpet with moderate plush weave, a small black glossy fridge tucked in a corner of a simulated walnut set of cabinets. Only a meter of space separated it from the double bed with the salmon pink and powder blue swirled bedspread he laid upon now. Under his neck, he felt pillows before his head thumped against the wooden headboard.

“And you’re complaining WHY?” Renji half growled, grabbing Ichigo’s pant legs and tugging.

“Don’t tear the pants, jerk! Keigo spent a lot of money on those!” Ichigo protested, fumbling with his own belt buckle. “And don’t you know it’s rude to enter a room with your shoes still on?”

“You’re not even looking at my feet, you ass,” Renji laughed, pointing to his socked feet. Just inside the door, his shoes sat neatly. Ichigo rolled his eyes, watching Renji yank both his shoes off, tossing them one by one just inside the door.

“Shut up,” Ichigo hissed, twisting his fingers in the front of Renji’s jacket. Pulling him down Ichigo aligned his lips over the vice captain of squad six’s mouth, thrusting his tongue inside. A moan vibrated through their jaws and a thrusting tongue squirming against his. Renji’s hands helped him undo the button of Ichigo’s tight pants after clawing the belt open with a click. Legs tangled together, rubbing and bumping one another’s erections imprisoned in their tight pants.

“Can’t stand this. Want you,” Renji whispered against Ichigo’s ear, breaking the kiss again for much needed air. Now his legs straddled Ichigo’s hips, his weight bearing down from above. Now Ichigo unfastened Renji’s belt, button, and zipper with practiced ease. Shrugging his shoulders, Renji shed the jacket off on the bed.

Ichigo ground his hips up at the same time Renji shifted on him, rubbing their hard ons together. Both of them seemed to groan in mutual satisfaction. Sizing the halves of Ichigo’s shirt Renji almost tore the buttons in his haste to get it off, yet stopped when Ichigo glared up at him. Instead, he attacked Ichigo’s mouth in a deep kiss, tugging at Ichigo’s pants instead of tackling his shirt. He broke away once again to peel them off and down the orange haired teen’s muscular legs.

Digging his fingers into Renji’s waistband Ichigo pulled them down as well. Renji shimmied his hips glad to shed them like a snake’s skin so his bare legs could tangle again with Ichigo’s. Two pairs of pants comingled with the growing pile of garments on the floor beside the bed. Out of the corner of one eye, Ichigo saw a scrap of powder blue cloth at the same time he felt a blast of cold air on his groin. Still wearing his jacket and buttoned shirt he realized Renji had stripped their entire lower halves and now knelt between his bare legs.

“Wait a damn minute I’m not undressed… oi!” Ichigo protested, though it vanished in a long low moan at the sensation of a hot moist mouth wrapping around his shaft. Red hair tickled his lower belly and the patch of orange hair at his base. Through his moans, Ichigo peered between his half shut eyes at the bobbing head now moving steadily. Fingers stealthily slipped into his ass, spreading and making him yelp with their intrusion.

“Oh shit…” Ichigo ground out, seizing Renji’s ponytail. He yanked the elastic out.

“That hurt!” Renji complained, raising his head.

“So do your fingers,” Ichigo mumbled. Renji glanced at him in apology, fumbling for something in his pants. A tube of something narrowly avoided hitting him in the head as Ichigo tossed it towards him. Grabbing it up, he smirked at the wisdom of his partner. A spurting sound preceded the invasion of two now slick fingers slowly gliding into Ichigo’s ring of muscle.

“Better?” Renji murmured, head ducking once more. Now the long tendrils of hair fell over Ichigo’s hips and groin, tickling with the relentless mouth and tongue suckling at his shaft.

“Ahhhh…” Ichigo groaned, rolling his head on the pillow. Minutes later, he tugged Renji up and shook his head.

“What?” Renji mumbled, a look of hurt crinkling his brow.

“Come here,” Ichigo murmured and then pulled him up. Twisting a leg around Ichigo then flipped them over so Renji was beneath him. Now Ichigo’s fingers pumped at his shaft at the same time he fumbled with the tube of lubricant. He managed to coat the fingers of his right hand and thrust them into his partner’s tight anus, wringing strangled moans from Renji.

“Damn it you… shit… you didn’t haveta… fuck…” Renji gritted, blinking up at him.

“Yes… I did,” Ichigo panted, swinging one leg over Renji’s hips. He maneuvered Renji’s hard slick cock, now straining with an almost purplish head towards his own opening.

Brown eyes widened in lust watching Ichigo lower his hips. Immediately he gripped the substitute’s ass and pelvis with both of his large hands to steady him. Groaning, Ichigo shoved himself down onto the sizable erection, savoring the extent of it stretching him. Renji sighed in bliss at the tight embrace of Ichigo’s muscles squeezing his shaft.

Now Ichigo braced his hands on Renji’s broad shoulders, tearing at his shirt. He managed to work enough buttons loose to reveal the broad zigzagging pattern he loved admiring so much. One of his hands tickling along the ribs festooned with diagonal pointed marks. Renji gazed up into those brown eyes clouded with desire, and knew they mirrored his own. With a grin, he bucked up, almost knocking Ichigo over.

“Prick,” Ichigo gasped, grinding down. Both found the motion they liked best, matching each other’s pace.

“That’s it… just like that,” Renji gasped, his hair fanning out around the pillow. Now Ichigo sucked in his breath as the world tilted sideways and Renji was cradled between his thighs.

Crossing his legs at the small of Renji’s back Ichigo cried out sharply, “Renji… damn…”

Sweat dropped on Ichigo’s dress shirt, Renji’s muscular tattooed torso gleaming in a sheen of perspiration as his long hair dangled down. He shoved his lips over Ichigo’s, drinking in a harsh kiss that the substitute hungrily returned. Tongues brushed past and danced in the merged hot space of shared breath. In and out, faster and faster Renji pounded, hearing Ichigo’s muffled cries between desperate kisses.

Giddily he panted, breath hitching. Hot blood roared in his ears, resounding in his body with the tingling shiver of snapping white-hot fire. Each thrust brought him closer, sinking deeper into his lover’s body. He couldn’t get enough of Ichigo, rocking under him as his orange hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. The substitute's fingers squeezed Renji's dark marked arms tightly.

“Renji!” Ichigo cried.

“Ichigo… DAMN!” he hollered, arching his back.

The supernova exploding in his brain almost grayed out his vision in one split second that dragged into a long span of time. Wave after wave of release pounded with each beat of his heart. Deep inside Ichigo, he felt himself erupt, while feeling the scalding heat of the liquid spurting over his chest as well.

A moment later, his arms failed to support him as he collapsed atop Ichigo. Arms gently imprisoned him, keeping him from climbing off his orange haired lover. Ichigo panted and rasped in his ear, calming him as he tried to breathe again. Each thundering pound of his heart slowed to a gentle pulse as he settled down into a boneless mass draped over the other man like a blanket.

Hot, sticky, and sated he buried his face in Ichigo’s shoulder. Just savoring the close contact of their tangled bodies. Ichigo didn’t push him off, sighing as he rubbed Renji’s back. Eventually Ichigo did shift him to the side, and they managed to pull the covers around them and share a mutual look of weariness.

“Fucking great,” Renji whispered, kissing Ichigo’s neck.

“Got that right,” Ichigo murmured, resting his forehead against his lover’s. Contented and happy, they fell into a deep sleep.