The Sweetest Downfall

a/n: Another chapter, ahoy! All in all, there shall be nine!

Big thanks to everyone who's given this pet project of mine a chance!

@Spacetoy: Thanks! To be honest, I wasn't sure where this was going myself at first, and even by the end, some of the motivations behind the characters remain a mystery. I assure you, this was meant to be by no means a PWP. There's a very involved plot cleverly entwined with the smut. *grins*

@Lynzee: I totally agree! Gin and Renji both are super sexy! Especially together! *drools*

@Kuromei: *gasp* *facepalm* My dear, you are absolutely correct. Part of this fic does take place before his promotion. And I forgot that. Don't worry. I fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out!

@satterb: Gin has this wonderful ability to be oh-so-many things in my fics. Just when I think I've pinned down a character for him, he chooses to surprise me yet again. I don't think I've written him the same in all my fics. *laughs* He's such an enticing enigma to explore.

Enjoy the chapter! More warnings for boyloving, spoilers, language, and the like!

Oh, and big thanks to VivienneGrainger for offering to beta this for me! Without her, it would be a mess. *laughs*

The Sweetest Downfall
Part IV – Stars Came Falling

Time passed. Renji hardly noticed it. He trained with Ikakku-san daily, worked to become stronger, and hungered after higher positions. And from time to time, he came when Ichimaru called him. Or to save himself the embarrassment, he met the captain at some obscure location or at Ichimaru's quarters.

Today was no exception.

“Izuru is lonely, Renji-kun.”

The almost off-hand statement threw Renji off his rhythm, and he peeled open his eyes, looking up at the captain as he slid his tongue along Ichimaru's cock.

Fingers tangled in his hair, helping to direct the movement of his mouth. “Ya can't be leavin' him all alone. Whatcha gonna do about that?”

Renji scowled, and let Ichimaru's cock fall from his mouth just to retort. “You let me worry about that,” he muttered, purposefully sliding his fingers around the base of the captain's cock. “You just don't touch him.”

Ichimaru chuckled, sitting back in his chair like some sort of perverse master on his throne. “My, I wish I had such a protective friend.” His hand coursed through Renji's hair encouragingly. “Willin' to do anythin' fer me.”

Renji snorted, and tried to think of Ichimaru being friends with anyone, and realized he couldn't think of a single one. Well, there were some rumors he was pretty friendly with Matsumoto sometimes. And Ichimaru did occasionally hang out at the eleventh division with Zaraki-taichou. But otherwise, he was pretty much a loner. Huh. Served 'im right. Maybe if he stopped smiling creepily at everyone and stopped acting like a bastard, he'd have more friends.

“Yer borin' me, Renji-kun,” Ichimaru reprimanded, and Renji realized that his motions had stopped in the midst of his thoughts.

He glared up at the captain and lowered his lips back to Ichimaru's cock, the simple act of swirling his tongue around the heated flesh something he never would have thought himself capable of doing. But after the first time, it had only gotten easier, and now he was almost ashamed to say that he knew exactly what it took to get Ichimaru off the quickest. Though if he did that Ichimaru recovered quickly, and often wanted to do other things afterward.

Ichimaru purred, his hips rocking towards Renji's mouth, a dark need glittering in half-slitted eyes. Renji carefully closed his eyes, having learned that it was better not to look at Ichimaru. Otherwise he started to notice things. Like Ichimaru's face in the midst of his orgasm, how an attractive array of reds painted pale skin. Or how it always seemed to wipe away that fucking creepy grin. And no way in hell was Renji going to admit this stuff to himself. Or aloud. So he kept his damn eyes shut.

It never helped much, because Ichimaru was even more chatty during sex then he was he was at any other time. His voice was always a constant litany, a purr through Renji's senses, reminding him with every second just who he was entangled with. Renji heard his damn voice in his sleep.

“Very good,” Ichimaru murmured, and Renji wanted to snarl because he didn't need encouragement like some damn weak or blushing bottom.

Instead, he just growled low in his throat, let the vibrations rattle around in his mouth, and flicked his tongue across the sensitive head of Ichimaru's cock. The captain's breathing was sharp and shallow, echoing in the silence of Ichimaru's quarters.

Ichimaru shifted, and Renji felt a tabi-clad foot prod at his half-hard cock, sliding silkily across his skin. Renji twitched, shifting away, but Ichimaru was relentless and when Renji looked up, a smirk glittered in his eyes. Fingers trekked through Renji's unbound hair, subtly guiding his head. His hips moved in a ragged rhythm, the cock in Renji's mouth swelling.

Ichimaru was getting close, precum coating Renji's tongue and slithering down his throat. He drew back to briefly lick his lips and then took Ichimaru into his mouth again, fingers encircling the base of Ichimaru's cock. Ichimaru sucked in a breath, and then Renji felt Ichimaru swell in his mouth, the captain stiffening. He abruptly shuddered, releasing into the wet heat of Renji's mouth.

He grunted, allowing the captain to do as he wished while waiting for an opportunity to drew back. Bitter release washed over his tongue and Renji grimaced, the last spurt his key to draw back. Only the fingers tangled in his hair wouldn't let him. Mouth full, Renji rolled a glare up at the captain but Ichimaru just grinned at him, something glittering behind his slitted eyes.

Renji had no choice to swallow, and only then did Ichimaru allow him to pull back. Renji coughed, making a disgusted face as he swiped the back of his hand over his mouth. He glared angrily, heat behind his eyes.

“Bastard,” he swore, unable to get the bitter taste off his tongue. “Why'd you do that?”

Ichimaru practically purred at him. “It's not sexy when ya spit it out like tha',” he said, smirking pulling at his lips. “A man might think ya didn't like it.”

“I don't!” Renji retorted indignantly, pulling back a pace and preparing to rise to his feet.

Ichimaru had other plans, apparently, because he reached down and fisted a handful of Renji's shitagi, hauling him upwards. Renji sprawled across Ichimaru, those lips crashing down over his and a tongue squirreling into his mouth.

The captain's hand winnowed its way into Renij's hakama, taking advantage of the slit in the side. And long fingers searched out Renji's cock, giving it a light pull. Renji unconsciously arched into the touch, his hips raggedly thrusting forward. His cock utterly betrayed him by seeping at the tip, recognizing Ichmaru's hand and liking it.

Ichimaru broke away from his lips to tongue across Renji's throat, grazing with his teeth. “This way we both benefit, ne?”

“It isn't... about me,” Renji groaned, hands clutching to the other captain's shoulders as his hips surged forward into skilled touches, unable to resist.

“Oh, but it is,” Ichimaru purred, and his lips traveled lower, mouthing Renji's collarbone. There was a sharp sting as he sucked on Renji's skin, drawing up a bright mark. “I won't enjoy it unless ya do, too.”

Renji hissed, a verbal argument dying on his lips. A thumb stroked over the leaking head of his cock, Ichimaru's hand too skilled for Renji to last long. The scent of sex was thick in the air, and he could still taste that bastard on his tongue.

A hand winnowed upwards, jerking on Renji's hair tie and letting his hair fall loose around Renji's head. It was an annoying habit that Ichimaru followed every time and Renji scowled; his hair was such a pain to put back up.

“Why the hell do ya do that?” he demanded, trying to forestall the inevitable.

Ichimaru smirked against his skin. “The color suits ya,” he replied, promptly dragging his fingers through the long tresses. “Renji-kun looks best draped in blood.”

“Freak.”

“Izuru-chan, on the other hand, looks better with tears in his eyes,” Ichimaru added, positioning his lips near Renji's ear and purring into it, wet heat ghosting over the sensitive shell. “Makes 'im cuter.” He twisted his wrist, stroking Renji's cock with expert skill.

Renji snarled. “Stop talkin' about him like that. He's not a toy.”

“Ya gonna wrap him in plastic, Renji-kun?” Ichimaru asked, of all things, his breath puffing over Renji's skin. “Keep him in a glass cage?”

Holding back a gasp as Ichimaru expertly stroked him, Renji gritted his teeth. “What the hell are ya talkin' about?”

“Hmm, I wonder,” Ichimaru replied dispassionately, and his mouth wandered to do other things. Marking up Renj's collarbone for one, making him scowl angrily.

Ichimaru released his hold on Renji's shitagi, sliding his fingers beneath the folds of cloth and searching out a nipple. The flat of his palm rubbed over it before he deftly pinched slowly puckering flesh, making Renji swear lowly. Teeth grazed over his shoulder and then Renji hissed as Ichimaru bit him, actually bit him, teeth digging into skin and sending a spike of jabbing pain through his body.

Renji would have liked to sputter indignantly, curse loudly and pull away, but the unexpected pain sent a thrill of lust across his body. And he jerked, emptying into Ichimaru's hold, pleasure slicing through his senses. He could practically feel Ichimaru smirking against his skin, proud as always to make Renji lose control.

Panting, Renji pulled back from the captain and tried to rearrange his clothing, instituting a certain distance. His body thrummed from his release, and he hated that Ichimaru could make him feel that good.

“Weren't ya sposed ta be somewhere, Renji-kun?” Ichimaru asked mildly, shifting in his chair as he eyed the vice-captain.

Renji glanced at the clock, and nearly choked on his tongue. “Dammit, it's yer fault if I'm late!” he cursed, scrabbling backwards and lunging for a box of tissue. He hurriedly dabbed at the spots of come on his clothes and tossed the rest of the box at Ichimaru, barely noticing if the man caught it or not.

Ichimaru held up his soiled hand. “What? Yer not goin' ta lick it clean fer me?”

“That's disgustin',” Renji retorted, a scowl twisting his lips.

“It's such a waste though,” Ichimaru countered, tossing him a sly look. His tongue snaked out, lapping over one finger lasciviously. “Ya should always clean up yer messes.”

Speechless, Renji ignored the heat in his cheeks and pointedly looked away. “It's yer fault,” he muttered, and prayed fervently that Ichimaru didn't make a command of it.

But no, the captain just utilized the tissues Renji had given him, tossing the used ones in a nearby wastebasket. He watched as Renji tied the obi over his hakama, trying to make himself look presentable without a required clothes change and bath. Without looking, Renji could feel the weight of Ichimaru's gaze, and it annoyed him.

“Stop lookin' at me like that,” he muttered, reaching up to tie his hair back into its familiar ponytail and winding his bandanna – white this time – over his head.

“Mebbe I like lookin' atcha,” Ichimaru returned bemusedly.

“Well... stop.” Lame, lame, lame, his mind chorused at him, but well, Renji never really knew how to respond to the captain, toeing the line between recklessness and propriety. Not that there was really much of the latter in their... relationship, for lack of a better word.

“Do I make ya uncomfortable?”

“That's a stupid question,” Renji retorted, unable to say the truth aloud.

Because while he still thought that Ichimaru was a bastard and creepy as hell, it wasn't so much that Ichimaru made him uncomfortable anymore as that he just didn't want to enjoy what was happening to him. He wasn't supposed to. This was for Kira's sake, not his own. And yet, he'd somehow gotten accustomed to it. Accustomed to pleasure at Ichimaru's hands and dealing with the evidence of their liaisons.

Renji forced himself to remember why he was doing this. Because Ichimaru was an asshole who was taking advantage of Renji's best friend. And he didn't like it. Not one bit.

He turned to leave, a butterfly nest of emotions fluttering about in his belly.

“Congratulations on the promotion, Renji-kun,” Ichimaru called after him, prompting Renji to pause, glancing at him quizzically. “Kuchiki-hime should be proud of such a fine vice-captain.”

Renji didn't know if that were sincere or not. He couldn't tell. Not when Ichimaru gave him that same stupid grin, his eyes carefully slitted. So despite the heat staining his cheeks at what seemed to be a compliment, Renji scowled.

“Whatever,” he muttered, and excused himself, all too happily escaping into the night. He had somewhere to be after all and Ichimaru was fucking weird anyways.

He was supposed to meet the others for drinks, they all planning to buy him at least one in congrats of his advancement. Renji was glad for their enthusiasm, but he wished he was able to tell Rukia as well. Unfortunately, she wasn't here for him to relay the message. And even if she were, he doubted she would have the time to listen to him.

Renji hurried, rushing through the streets of Seireitei and out one of the gates, straight into Rukongai. They were supposed to meet at one of their favorite bars in the mid-districts, where rules were less strict and a drunken fight with the locals was sure to spice up any night. And Renji planned to get fully smashed, hoping that the cheap beer would be enough to wash the taste – and the memories – of Ichimaru from his mouth.

He passed a few people he knew, some who stopped to offer their congratulations, but otherwise, Renji made a beeline for the bar. Noise and smell assaulted him before he even stepped through the door, the sound of a large crowd and many bodies, all crowded in together. He spotted his friends immediately, the five of them having claimed one corner of the bar for themselves.

Iba-san was the first to notice him, saluting Renji with a raised pitcher of beer. “Yo, Abarai! Over here!”

“Yeah, get your late ass over here!” Ikkaku-san added with a slightly drunken laugh. Renji wondered how long the bald Shinigami had been at it, a distinct flush to his cheeks.

Renji scowled, working his way through the crowd. “Not my fault. I had some last-minute stuff to do for Zaraki-taichou.”

Yumichika eyed him with some disbelief, one hand twirling the frou-frou girly drink he always consumed in large numbers because they were beautiful. “I don't recall taichou telling you to do anything,” he commented, suspicion in his gaze.

Rolling his eyes, Renji pulled up the last chair and plopped down into it, right between Hisagi-senpai and Kira, the former patting him on the back and the latter giving him a smile of greeting. “Well, he did,” Renji retorted.

“Yeah, right.” Ikakku-san snorted and took a deep pull of his beer, wiping the foam away from his lips. “It wouldn't have anythin' to do with that mark, now would it?”

“Mark?” Renji felt dread course through him, though he hid it well.

Hisagi-senpai lifted a brow, poking at Renji with one somewhat unsteady finger, right where Renji's bare chest showed through his disarrayed shitagi. “This one, Abarai.”

“Yeah, what girl mauled you, man?” Iba-san asked, dark sunglasses shielding his face despite the fact he was indoors. “She must've been some beast.”

“It wasn't like that!” Renji scowled indignantly, resisting the urge to cover himself like some embarrassed chick. He hadn't even realized Ichimaru had left a mark on him, and wished like hell he'd thought about looking in the mirror before he rushed over here.

The others laughed, certain Renji was just hiding the truth out of embarrassment, but it was Kira's reaction that surprised Renji the most. He got a strange look in his eyes, and hid behind his mug. Renji wanted to ask him about it, but Ikakku-san chose that moment to shove a tankard his direction, nearly spilling the precious liquid inside.

“Drink up,” Ikakku-san urged. “We're supposed to be celebrating. Even if you almost ditched us for yer girlfriend.”

“I didn't say there was one,” Renji retorted, curling his fingers around the cheap wood and taking a deep pull of it. He grimaced as it washed over his tongue.

Hisagi-senpai grinned, nudging him with one elbow. “Must be why we don't see you anymore. You and Kira. The both of you have other obligations.”

Kira sat up, squaring his shoulders as a light flush stained his cheeks. “There's a lot of work as a vice-captain, Hisagi-senpai. You should know that, too!”

“Not as much as you make it out to be.” Ikakku-san laughed. “I think Ichimaru-taichou just assigns extra stuff to keep you busy.”

“Yeah, seriously,” Iba-san agreed, grabbing a handful of pretzels and preparing to shove them in his mouth. “None of us do have as much paperwork as you, Kira. Does Ichimaru-taichou do any of it?”

Kira frowned, glowering at the seventh-division vice-captain. “Some of us are better at some things than others.”

“Ah, come on guys, quit ribbing Kira,” Renji cut in, wiggling his mug for emphasis. “This is supposed ta be a celebration, right?”

“Easy for you to say,” Yumichika muttered with a sniff, giving them all an askance look. “I'm the lucky babysitter for the night.” Meaning, he was the one who got to stay relatively sober while the rest of the dumb bastards got drunk off their asses.

Ikakku-san slung an arm over his best friend's shoulder, swinging his hand around to poke Yumichika in the cheek – a lot like poking a sleeping dragon Renji thought to himself. “Aww, Yumi, I promise not ta let Iba puke on ya this time.”

The fifth-seat sniffed. “You'll be lucky if you don't end up in a ditch.” Purple eyes slanted at the bald Shinigami. “I might just take care of Kira-kun and leave the rest of you morons to your fate.”

“That's not 'xactly fair, Yumi,” Ikakku-san retorted, his expression dangerously approaching a pout.

Renji rolled his eyes and reached across the table, lightly smacking the third seat across the head. “Stop flirtin' and pay attention. Where's all the celebration, man?”

Ikakku-san squawked and glared, rubbing his head. “Yeah, cause Yumi would be my first choice if I started going after dick,” he commented sarcastically.

“I have higher standards,” Yumichika retorted and winked at Kira, taking a large sip from his fruity drink. The blond promptly reddened, and hid further behind his drink.

“He's just mad because he can't find any men to seduce and then destroy tonight,” Ikakku-san stated loudly.

Beside Renji, Hisagi-senpai sighed and shook his head. “You know, they wonder why we can't believe they're just best friends when they act like that.”

Renji had to agree, and he lifted his tankard, planning on getting fully smashed. He watched as Iba-san got involved in the disagreement between the two best friends, and Yumichika noisily pulled Kira into it. No doubt it would actually be Hisagi-senpai who ended up babysitting tonight as was usually the case.

He resolved to enjoy himself because that was his intention to the start. He pushed aside all thoughts of Ichimaru and fucking and Ichimaru fucking him to the back of his mind and concentrated on forgetting. And celebrating.

After all, he'd worked damn hard to get that position and he wasn't going to let anything screw it up. He had to catch up to Kuchiki Byakuya and surpass him. That was Renji's goal. Otherwise he wouldn't have anything to show Rukia whenever she came back from her patrol in the Living World.

- - - - -

“I think I need to reconsider my friends,” Hisagi-senpai grumbled, an unconscious Yumichika thrown over one shoulder as he held tightly to the back of Ikakku-san's shihakushou. The drunken Shinigami was threatening one of the other inebriated patrons of the bar, slurring insults and wobbling unsteadily.

Renji chuckled, a bit lit himself, and held onto a swaying Kira, the blond snuggled up against his side like a warm blanket. “Don't worry, senpai. Next time it's Kira's turn and you know how he takes his responsibilities seriously.”

“If he manages to show up,” Hisagi-senpai muttered, his eyes tracking around for Iba-san whom the both of them had lost sight of some time ago. And he was the least drunk of the lot. “Where the hell is Tetsuzaemon?”

Renji looked around, but couldn't spy the seventh-division captain anywhere. “Hell if I know.”

The other vice-captain let out a sound of frustration. “Know what? Fuck it. I've got enough on my hands.” He gave a yank to Ikakku-san's shitagi to prove his point and the man stumbled back towards him with a yelp. He eyed Renji and Kira. “Think you can get Kira back?”

“Sure, no sweat,” Renji answered, as he hadn't gotten as drunk as he'd liked. He'd been too distracted by the things he'd told himself not to think about it.

“I can make it on my own,” Kira mumbled unconvincingly, though his hand clutched onto Renji's shitagi tightly.

Renji snorted. “Yeah, okay. Whatever, Kira,” he retorted, and he shot Hisagi-senpai an amused look. “Good luck, senpai. See ya at the meetin' tomorrow.”

Hisagi-senpai groaned. “And here I'd almost forgotten. Take care of him, Renji.” And with that, he wobbled out of the crowd, dragging Ikakku-san along with him. Yumichika made a low sound of nausea, prompting Hisagi to snap, “Don't you dare puke on me, Ayasegawa!”

Chuckling, Renji turned himself and Kira in another direction, heading for the third division first.

“I don't think I said it yet, Abarai-kun.”

Kira's vague comment confused Renji, who adjusted the other vice-captain's weight on his side. “What ya talkin' about, Kira?”

“Congratulations. I don't think I said it yet.” Kira frowned, furrowing his brow in a manner that was kinda-sorta cute, though Renji would never admit it aloud. “Being a vice-captain, it's a pretty big step.”

“Err, thanks,” Renji responded, a bit embarrassed by the heartfelt congratulations, even if it was just a bit drunken. He could always count on Kira to be honest with him. It was one of the reasons they had such a good friendship.

Even if it seemed to have waned in the past years. Ironically coinciding with the amount of time Kira had spent under Ichimaru. Ack. Under. Very bad choice of words there.

“And Kuchiki-taichou... he's probably not easy to work with,” Kira continued, dangerously approaching a babble. And Renji vaguely remembered that a drunk Kira was a loquacious Kira. Sometimes fun, sometimes not. “He's kind of... cold, isn't he?”

'At least he ain't creepy like Ichimaru,' Renji thought, but he kept it to himself. Kira was pretty defensive about his captain, which raised all sorts of questions in Renji's book. But he never asked them for that very reason. Maybe Ichimaru was right and he was misunderstanding something about the situation. But it wasn't like he could just come out and ask questions either. It was hard for Renji to believe that Kira was submitting to that kind of thing out of his own free will.

“It'll be a challenge,” Renji admitted cautiously, wondering where Kira was heading in that long train of thought.

Kira nodded, stumbling a second and clutching tighter onto Renji's shihakushou. His cheeks were flushed an attractive shade – no bad thoughts – as he hummed thoughtfully.

“I wonder if Ichimaru-taichou still wants me as his vice-captain.”

Well, that comment kind of came out of nowhere. It startled Renji, who reacted to just the sound of Ichimaru's name the same every time around. Something tightened in his belly, burned in his chest, and his heart skipped several beats. Flashes of pleasure danced across his brain and he fought them off, wildly waving an inner zanpakutou.

“What're you talkin' 'bout, Kira?”

Kira shrugged, all pretend nonchalance, but there was a definite disappointment lingering in his expression. His eyes cast towards the ground, shifting pointedly away from Renji. “He doesn't call on me like he used to. He just pats me on the head, calls me his cute little Izuru-chan, and then it's business as usual.” And now the look on his face was a definite sulk.

In the meantime, Renji was feeling considerably uncomfortable. Knowing what he did, he knew what Kira was really talking about. But he had to pretend ignorance and look at it through the eyes of someone who was clueless. Even so, it sounded suspect.

“Maybe he's just busy,” Renji suggested, hating that Kira could sound so disappointed by the lack of attention from his perverted captain. “I'm pretty sure he's not goin' ta transfer you or anythin'. Yer the best vice-captain he could have,” Renji reassured, and wondered when he'd become some kind of advice-giver.

He was the last person anyone should seek for comfort. He wasn't any good at it.

Luckily, the third division was coming into view, the journey back to Seireitei having taken a shorter time than Renji would have expected. But then, he wasn't entirely sober himself so there was a good chance he blurred out a good bit of the walk.

“Yeah, maybe,” Kira responded quietly, but even Renji couldn't tell that he wasn't quite convinced. He fell into a somber silence, one that didn't suit him at all, but wasn't unusual for this new Kira that wasn't like the Kira he knew from the Academy.

Ichimaru had changed him far too much. Renji didn't like it at all.

He kept his eyes peeled for the silver-haired captain as he crept into the third division, briefly nodding at one of the patrolling division members. They recognized him and waved, looking fondly at Kira stumbling at his side. Renji wasn't surprised that Kira was well-liked in his division. It was really hard to hate someone like Kira.

He knew his way to Kira's quarters by now, having been in this situation before, which was a good thing because Kira was starting to sag at his side. Steps more confused and tangled, eyes drooping visibly. He never did hold his alcohol too well, especially when those bastards aka Ikkaku-san and Iba-san, started shoving liquor at him. And for some reason, Kira was really tossing them back tonight. He rarely drank like that. And he hadn't been very forthcoming with conversation either. Another oddity.

Renji slid open the door to Kira's quarters with a grunt and gratefully stumbled inside, Kira becoming a rather dead weight. Renji fumbled his way to the back room, lit only by moonlight cascading in through open blinds and with a grunt, half-tossed, half-dropped Kira onto his futon. Luckily, the blond had been thoughtful enough to lay it out before he met them at the bar.

Dropping to his knees, Renji grabbed for Kira's waraji, not wanting his friend to sleep fully clothed. Kira blinked sleepily at him, his blue eyes unnaturally bright in the darkness. Not quite helping, but not quite hindering either.

“Abarai-kun?”

“Just go ta sleep, Kira. Yer gonna have a nasty headache in the mornin',” Renji said, tossing the sandals over his shoulder. They scattered somewhere in the darkness. Bah, it wasn't his responsibility to clean up messes.

Kira made a noise that could have been agreement, his eyelids fluttering. “You're a nice guy, Abarai-kun. No wonder ev'ryone admires you.”

“Not everyone,” Renji assured him, though he wondered why he discussed this with a drunk. “I've still got a long way to go.”

“But you're strong,” Kira argued back and his hand snapped out, snagging Renji's arm when the redhead moved to rise to his feet. His eyes searched out Renji's, trapping them in their azure stare. “People can't help but like you. Everyone likes you. I like you.”

Kira was babbling now and though it confused Renji, he let it slide. He'd never seen such an expression on Kira's face, but Renji dismissed it. Kira was drunk after all, he didn't know what he was saying.

He tried to extract himself from Kira's hold but the blond's fingers tightened, holding on with the strength of the inebriated. Renji squawked as he was dragged down until he nearly fell atop Kira. The heat in the other man's cheeks had deepened alluringly, and Renji swallowed thickly.

“Kira--”

“Everyone likes you but I really like you,” Kira repeated earnestly. “I've always liked you.”

Renji didn't quite know what to say. The air felt heavy, expectant, and he thought now was a pretty good time for him to escape. Kira didn't know what he was saying and Renji didn't want him to regret anything in the morning. His heart was pounding in his chest for some reason and Kira was unnaturally close. Too close.

Kira let go of his arm and Renji tried to pull back, but the release was brief. Those hands flashed out, cupping Renji's face. And before he could react, Kira had pulled their heads together, his mouth slanting over Renji's. It was a sloppy kiss, soft and wet, tasting strongly of alcohol. Renji recognized dimly that he should be resisting, but Kira was soft against his mouth, an underlying sweetness to the kiss, and he helplessly groaned, actively participating.

Ichimaru's taunts about wanting Kira echoed in the back of his mind. Renji had always considered them to have no merit. Kira was his friend, not a potential lover. But now... now he was beginning to think there might have been some truth to Ichimaru's insinuations. And that truth stirred in his gut, twisted heat through his groin, and drizzled down his spine.

Kira ended the kiss and their lips hovered teasingly apart. He could feel the blond's breath against his lips. Renji opened his mouth to say something, his body yearning for more, quicker than his mind could catch up.

But the hands fell slack from his face as Kira blinked sleepily, and slipped into unconsciousness. He fell back against the futon, blond hair lying messily against the side of his face.

Renji was left utterly perplexed and staring, the lingering aftertaste of Kira on his lips. What... the hell was that? He blinked, unconsciously lifting a hand to his mouth. Why had Kira kissed him?

He backed away slowly, tossing a small blanket over Kira so that he didn't get cold during the night, and rising to his feet.

Renji padded quietly through the darkness, closing the door to Kira's quarters behind him, something stirring inside of him. He wasn't supposed to see Kira through Ichimaru's eyes, but damn if he didn't want the blond now. It thrummed through his body, and was very obvious in the ache in his cock.

Renji groaned, resisting the urge to hit his head against the wall. Just what he needed. More complications.

*********

a/n: And the plot thickens! Heh heh. Another chapter should be coming soon. Two weeks, maybe one depending on what I feel like uploading next.

Well, I hope everyone liked it! I know I had fun writing it. *grins*