Never Fade Away

Author’s note: Sorry this is so late! I moved to a new house and then I just couldn’t find a good place to end it.

Chapter 6

Later that night Ichigo’s cell phone rang unexpectedly. He didn’t recognize the number, but he answered anyway. “Hello?”

“Hey partner! Hope you weren’t sleeping.”

“Shirosaki?” What the fuck? “How did you get my number?”

“Bugged it out of that Kuchiki prick.” That drawling tone set the hair on the back of Ichigo’s neck stand up. “So what are you wearing?”

“What do you want, Shirosaki?”

“Gods you sound sexy over the phone.”

“Shirosaki!!!”

“Call me Shiro. I just called to see if you wanted to meet up tonight and fight some hollows.”

“I don’t sense any hollows. And it’s already 10 o’clock!”

“Come on, Ichi. There’s got to be some hollows around here somewhere, now get out here before I drag you out.”

“Like you could.”

“I could.”

“Whatever let me get my sword and I’ll meet you somewhere.”

“Why meet me somewhere when you can just come right out your window. Nice boxers by the way.”

“Eh!?” Ichigo looked up from his place on the bed and saw Shirosaki leering at him through the window. “You bastard!”

“Now, now, Ichi, there is no reason to get worked up.”

“I’m half naked and you are outside my window.”

“Open up, Ichi. And you shouldn’t be ashamed of your body,” Shirosaki’s eyes moved over his body, lingering on his covered groin and long legs. “You have a beautiful body.”

Ichigo shot out of bed and hopped into some pants and threw a shirt on. “I’m coming already!”

“We haven’t even done anything yet.”

“Shut-up, Shirosaki!”

Grabbing his sword, Ichigo threw open the window and glared at Shirosaki. “Let’s go fight some hollows.”

They got back at midnight and with a lot of shoving and punching from Ichigo, Shirosaki left to go back to his house. It really was too much fun teasing berry head, made all the more fun knowing that it would piss Zaraki off who seemed to take a real liking to Ichigo.

Ichigo was looking forward to sleeping in the next morning but he had no such luck. His cell ringing woke him and he felt like throwing it across the room, but settled for a sleepy “h’lo?”

“You always sound like you’re half asleep when I call, Strawberry.”

“Hey, Kenpachi.” It was somewhat soothing a familiar to hear Kenpachi’s voice.

“I’m moving today, just wanted to see if you wanted to show me around town and then later we could fight some hollows.” Kenpachi was hopeless with directions he could always use some extra help, especially if it was from his favorite Strawberry.

“Say yes, Ichi-berry!” A perky voice screamed into the phone, causing Ichigo to flinch away from the phone.

“Good morning, Yachiru.”

“Morning Ichi-berry! Come play with me and Ken-Chan!”

“Alright, alright, just let me shower and then I’ll get ready.”

Dragging the phone away from Yachiru, Kenpachi managed to get a few words in, “We’re neighbors now, so just come over when you’re ready.” Kenpachi quickly gave the address before Yachiru screamed into the phone some more before a chuckling Ichigo hung up.

Ichigo showered, sighing as the warm water cascaded over his strong body. He was very disappointed that he had to get out, but he forced himself to do so. He dressed in a worn pair of black jeans and a light blue shirt with a black skull on it.

Walking over to the house they were staying at, Ichigo grinned to himself over the change in his and Kenpachi’s relationship. They started out just sparring and now they were hanging out just for the sake of hanging out. Ichigo strolled up the front walk the house and knocked on the front door. He curiously heard a brief sound of a struggle before the door opened to reveal Shirosaki smiling widely with Yachiru clamped onto his head and tugging it as hard as she could.

“Ichigo! So nice of you to come!”

Ichigo eyed Shirosaki warily and stepped inside. Kenpachi was leaning against the wall just inside, eyeing the spectacle with amusement. “Hey, Strawberry. Come on in.” Shirosaki managed to tear Yachiru off of him and didn’t hesitate to loop an arm around Ichigo’s shoulders.

“Hey Ichigo, I hope you aren’t sore from last night, I think I went a little rough on you.” Ichigo didn’t hear the insinuation in Shirosaki’s voice or the growl that is provoked from Kenpachi.

“Nah, I’m good. I’m used to it by now.” Kenpachi was narrowing his eyes at the two of them and trying to contain the unexpected anger that boiled within him. He knew that Shirosaki was turning it into something perverted, but it still made him angry and he didn’t know why.

Leaning over, Kenpachi jerked Shirosaki off of his Strawberry. Ichigo blinked at Kenpachi and gave him a smile that made Kenpachi grin back at him.

“Have you decided what to name your sword yet, Strawberry?” Asked Kenpachi curiously as he grabbed his jacket.

“Yeah, actually, I was going to name it Zangetsu.”

“Zangetsu? Like a morning moon? Nice.” Said Shirosaki, feeling slightly left out with Kenpachi hovering over Ichigo.

“Thanks…” Ichigo said, “So where are we going?”

“Anywhere you want, Strawberry.”

Ichigo smiled and Yachiru pounced and him and tugged lightly on his bright hair. Let’s go to the ice-cream shop!” She declared. Ichigo rolled his eyes but smiled again, the girl really grew on him.

“Ice-cream sounds fun; I think I’ll come along.” Kenpachi glared at Shirosaki, but Shirosaki just smirked at him and followed Ichigo outside.

Yachiru rode on Ichigo’s shoulder all the way to the ice-cream shop. There were a hundred different flavors and condiments they could add there and Yachiru mixed sherbet, rocky road and bubblegum ice-cream with peanut butter added in. Ichigo stared at this odd selection and continued to order his own, much plainer, chocolate. Shirosaki made a point of looking at Ichigo lewdly out of the corner of his eye and ordering strawberry.

Glowering, Kenpachi ordered the bubble gum ice-cream trying to refrain from killing Shirosaki. Ichigo was trying to lick his ice-cream, but every time he did, Shirosaki would bump his elbow and he got ice-cream on his face. Kenpachi and Shirosaki both were thinking how cute Ichigo looked when going cross eyes trying to look at the ice-cream at the tip of his nose.

Kenpachi really enjoyed the day they spent together. After ice-cream Yachiru insisted that they go to the amusement park and they enjoyed having fun there under the guise of doing it for Yachiru. Although Yachiru was usually clinging onto Kenpachi, she spent the entire time that she wasn’t on rides on Ichigo’s shoulders, leaving Shirosaki and Kenpachi to trail behind them trying not to stare blatantly at his ass. Well, Kenpachi was in denial that he was staring and Shirosaki was using his will power not to grab it.

They worked their way back to the house and relaxed on the couch. Kenpachi purposefully sat right next to Ichigo so Shirosaki couldn’t paw at him anymore. Shirosaki grumpily took the armchair and glowered as Kenpachi indiscreetly put an arm on the back of the couch with a hand lingering near Ichigo’s shoulder.

Ichigo was not as unaware as some people seemed to think. Shirosaki had gotten increasingly flirty as the day went on and Kenpachi was reacting oddly to it, seeming to want to keep Ichigo to himself and away from Shirosaki. Ichigo didn’t know why Kenpachi cared if Shirosaki flirted with Ichigo or not. Ichigo found it highly suspicious, but oddly comforting that Kenpachi cared enough to get irritated.

They relaxed for a little while before Shirosaki decided that they needed to go out and destroy some hollows. Ichigo sighed and went to go get his sword.

“Lets split up, Zaraki and Yachiru go that way and me n’Ichigo will go this way.” Shirosaki said, gesturing.

“Why do you get Ichigo?” Asked Kenpachi disdainfully.

“Because he is my partner, in case you have forgotten. You may have taught him how to use his power more, but I’ll teach him the art of fighting.” Kenpachi glowered at Shirosaki, but allowed them to leave together with an apologetic smile from Ichigo.

“Do you have a problem with Kenpachi?” Asked Ichigo as they raced over roof tops.

“Nah,” said Shirosaki, “I just think it s funny how worked up he gets over you.”

“Worked up over me?” Asked Ichigo curiously, they paused as they felt a malicious presence nearby and they approached it cautiously. They quickly disposed of the hollow and returned to the conversation with ease.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice how he feels about me.”

“You are going to have to be more specific.” Said Ichigo, yet he thought he knew what Shirosaki was talking about, just didn’t want to admit to it out loud.

“Kenpachi doesn’t like people, he refrains from killing some people, but he doesn’t like them. He likes you.”

“Well, it’s not like that is a bad thing, right?”

“Course not, but he is rather possessive over you. I just don’t like that he is trying to take your time away from me.” Shirosaki emphasized.

“Hah! Seems like you’re the possessive one.”

“I am very possessive…” came the slow drawl, Ichigo blinked curiously and then Shirosaki was before him with his leering eyes and mischievous grin. Ichigo took a step back and Shirosaki took a step forward, invading his personal space and pressing him against the alley wall.

“What are you doing Shiro…?” He was cut off by insisting lips pressed against his. Ichigo made a squeaking noise and tried to pull his head back but Shirosaki caught the back of his head with one hand and his chin with the other. Ichigo was helpless to pull away from that consuming mouth and tried to push him away at his shoulder but it did nothing to deter Shirosaki.

And then the pressure and the lips were gone. Ichigo opened his eyes to see an angry Kenpachi standing next to him. Shirosaki was a few steps away and rubbing the side of his head where Kenpachi had hit him.

“Ouch…” Said Shirosaki as he frowned at Kenpachi. “What did you do that for?”

Kenpachi glowered at Shirosaki and found that he didn’t have a reasonable explanation; it wasn’t like he had any say in who Ichigo made out with. But Ichigo was smiling at him now, so it must have been okay.

“Thanks Kenpachi.”

“You don’t have any say over Ichigo!” Shirosaki growled angrily.

“Neither do you.” Ichigo edged away from the two angry men and stood next to Yachiru a safe distance away.

“I’m his partner!”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“And you mean something to him!?”

“I met him first and taught him how to fight!”

“You only taught him the basics, after that all you are about are brute strength.”

“I don’t need to do any of that fancy pansy stuff you add to win a fight.”

“Well, we will see, won’t we!?” Shirosaki and Kenpachi both drew there swords and made to attack before Ichigo got in the way.

“Not to ruin your guys’ fun, but this isn’t the place to be doing this.” Shirosaki and Kenpachi reluctantly sheathed their swords. “I don’t know what that was,” he said to Shirosaki, “But I am going to try and forget this ever happened.”

“But Ichigo…” Shirosaki whined.

Ichigo stuck his fingers in his ears, “la la la la!” He said and started off with or without them. Shirosaki pouted and whined the entire way back with Ichigo trying to block it out and Kenpachi remaining silent and very pissed off. Ichigo headed back to his house and them to theirs. It was certainly more interesting having them around.


Please review, it makes me want to write more when it’s appreciated. Okay, and now for a vote!!! You can vote more than once!

Should Shirosaki be interested in Ichigo romantically?

A) Yes, but just flirting: 10
B) Yes, but trying to push Ichigo into sex: 9
C) No, what the hell? Why did you have to bring Shirosaki into this: 0

Ha ha, and someone voted for a threesome between Shirosaki, Ichigo and Zaraki, so if you want to vote for that you can. And someone else wanted both ShiroIchi and KenIchi so…

D) Yes, a threesome between them: 2