Not Close Enough

Dangling from his belt the substitute soul reaper’s pass bounced against Ichigo’s hip. The substitute Shinigami unfastened the belt so he could pull it off, and press the object to his chest. Like a bizarre double image his soul reaper form ejected from his body.

Renji grumbled as he attempted to exit his gigai. He felt Ichigo watching him, prompting him to struggle more fiercely. With a chuckle the substitute asked, “Having a problem there?”

“Oh shut up will you?” Renji grumbled.

“Here,” Ichigo said, and then slammed his soul reaper pass against Renji’s chest. Immediately the Vice Captain popped out of his body, skidded across the floor before hitting against the far wall.

“Ouch, damn that hurt!” Renji complained, pushing himself up and rubbing his backside. Now wearing his shihakusho and zanpakuto at his hip he staggered to his feet. Ichigo stood near him, tugging Renji’s gigai by its shoulder. He sat the inert body up against the opposite wall.

“That’s the thanks I get for helping you?” Ichigo looked up at him, knowing Renji was making far more of a fuss.

“Well excuse me for not having a pass and forgetting my soul candy,” Renji mumbled, turning his back and folding his arms across his chest.

“What, you want me to kiss your ass and make it feel better?” Ichigo asked, rolling his eyes. “You could at least help store your own gigai…”

“I like seeing you sweating for a change,” Renji answered, turning around. Ichigo noticed the grin on his face, and groaned.

“Just you wait,” Ichigo challenged.

He watched Renji wander over to effortlessly pick up his body. Neatly he sat it down next to his gigai, folding the arms over its lap. “Don’t say I never help ya, Strawberry.”

“Uh, thanks,” Ichigo answered, pleasantly surprised to see how reverently Renji treated his body. Guilt surged through him seeing Renji’s gigai sagging over so the head touched its lap.

“What? Something wrong?” Renji asked, derailing his train of thought.

“Nothing. Just that I’m sorry I just dumped your gigai there like it was a sack of garbage.”

“Hey it’s only a fake body. Yours is real, ya know. Now stop with the angst teen crud and let’s train already,” Renji said, slapping him on the back so he almost fell forwards.

“Whoolf, watch it, clumsy!”

“Who’s clumsy,” Renji retorted, shoving the substitute Shinigami.

“You are,” Ichigo bantered back, nudging Renji with his shoulder. Both wrestling and bickering they managed to reach the trap door to the underground training facility. Not without a few gropes through the loose soul reaper garments, Ichigo found.

Renji climbed halfway down, then flash stepped the rest. Ichigo had barely set foot on the ladder when Renji shouted up, “What’s taking you so long?”

“Keep your shirt on I’m coming,” Ichigo griped, feeling awkward because of the tension that build between them. Up till now Renji treated him much as he had before, with just subtle differences. Just what was he supposed to do, how was he supposed to act? Just more physical wrestling or something more?

“I suck at romance. It's so damn confusing... this whole boyfriend thing,” Ichigo complained. Only a few feet from the training room floor he felt something pinch his butt. Instantly he released the ladder.

“Hey!!! Watch it!” Ichigo yelped, dropping the rest of the way. Once his feet hit the ground, he spun around, glaring accusingly at the Vice Captain.

“What? Somebody do something?” Renji asked, facing away. Already Renji had drawn Zabimaru, swinging it with both hands on the hilt. His stance resembled the samurai of old, slashing strokes alternating with forward stabs. Why hadn’t he released its shikai form yet?

“What do you think?” Ichigo grumbled, reaching back over his right shoulder. As soon as he touched the cloth on Zangetsu’s hilt he heard bandages unfurling. To do so was second nature, swinging the sword over his shoulder to bring it with both hands before him. Instead this time he removed his left hand from it and pivoted on one ankle, thrusting it forwards towards Renji’s back.

Bringing both arms over his head Renji’s blade blocked Zangetsu. Then Renji spun around, lifting Zabimaru and pushing it off. Ichigo leaned forwards again, swiping down with a wicked cut, only to have Renji parry, then lunge by pushing off with his back leg.

“Hey, this isn’t fencing!” Ichigo shouted, leaning to the side. Again he swung Zangetsu in a wild arc, prompting Renji to bring his weapon down two handed.

“Doesn’t matter!” Renji laughed; seemingly pleased Ichigo recovered and blocked his next attack. “Have to mix it up. Besides you get bored after the same styles after a few
centuries!”

“Why the hell don’t you change that thing and come at me instead of playing? Or are you too worn out from last night?” Ichigo taunted.

They came together again, zanpakuto clashing in the middle. Levering against each other they shoved back, then circled. Ichigo swung in long arcs while Renji parried and focused on classic thrusts or one handed swings. Every time Ichigo managed to get past an attack Renji simply jumped over it then shot over his shoulder. Ichigo turned quickly, blocking the simple counterattack. “C’mon, stop playing around Renji! I’m not some beginner!”

“Thought you liked playing games. You did last night,” Renji countered. Suddenly he heard a whispered command, and the gleam of something thrusting forwards. Ichigo quickly blocked, finding himself thrust violently back.

“How the HELL did you release it without the command?!” Ichigo cursed.

“You think we always have to?” Renji asked. “Once ya reach Bankai ya don’t need to always speak it aloud.”

Then the sword contracted, and Ichigo saw it had its characteristic Shikai. Instead of snapping Zabimaru whip style Renji simply swung it back and forth, as if waiting for him to attack. Like I’m going to fall for that, Ichigo thought, flash stepping in a wide arc. Renji jerked his arm, sending his weapon in an S curve but Ichigo suddenly grabbed the cloth on Zangetsu’s hilt. He ducked the gleaming segments of Zabimaru, then whirled Zangetsu around his head, hurling it forwards.

“Shit,” Renji cursed, dodging Ichigo’s zanpakuto crashing inches from where he stood. From a tear in Renji’s right sleeve dripped blood, pooling on the ground. Dark markings from his arm showed through, as he held the contracting Zabimaru aloft.

“What’s wrong, surprised you?” Ichigo taunted, whirling Zangetsu by its cloth in a widening arc over his head. He had to thank his inner hollow for that trick. Inside his mind he heard a harsh grating laugh.

“Shut up,” Ichigo whispered to his hollow.

“Told ya you couldn’t do anything without me.”

“Relax Ichigo. Focus,” Zangetsu whispered.

“Right,” Ichigo nodded, drawing in deep breaths while Zangetsu held his hollow at bay.

“Damn I didn’t realize you could do that… or I forgot,” Renji mumbled. Suddenly he flash stepped and then appeared right in front of Ichigo, swinging his blade. Ichigo barely leaned to the side, recovering Zangetsu while Zabimaru whistled inches from him. A few strands of orange hair fluttered, and he felt his cheek dripping.

“Shit,” Ichigo cursed, shooting backwards.

“Gotcha,” Renji laughed. “Consider that payback for nicking me first time we fought.”

“Yeah well I got first blood!” Ichigo shouted, as Zabimaru zinged past him. He wove to the side, and then charged head on.

“Getsuga tensho!” Ichigo hollered, sending a glistening white crescent towards Renji. He snapped Zabimaru to deflect it on the return swing.

“Nice,” Renji muttered appreciatively under his breath.
***
A few cuts and bruises later both of them were panting. Already Ichigo’s cheek healed, but the cuts on his arms and legs were beginning to sting. Lengthwise Renji’s headband was stained with blood from a nick Ichigo had scored on his forehead. Slashes along the left sleeve had caused it to detach completely, showing his entire tattooed arm. Even his hakama, with more exaggerated pleats than Ichigo’s was tattered in several places.

“Had enough?” Renji taunted, swinging his sword lazily about.

“Time out!” Ichigo shouted. He let Zangetsu drop so its point pierced the ground, still keeping both hands on the hilt.

“All right,” Renji agreed, lifting his sword to his shoulder, signaling to the Substitute that he accepted the terms.

Squeezing his eyes shut Ichigo panted, still keeping his sword with the point buried in the ground. Even in spirit form his heart pounded. He tingled and burned with unresolved tension, and thought he would go crazy if he didn’t have answers to the many questions formed the night before, and the morning after.

“Why isn’t he making a move?” Ichigo wondered, feeling bitter disappointment. However when he felt the wind suddenly puff in the artificial environment he still gripped his weapon, pulling it out of the ground. He swung his body around, facing Zangetsu’s point against any opponent.

To his left Renji’s reiatsu flared. He felt long fingers grab his wrist. Staring at Renji he noticed the spread of the blood along the white cloth headband, and shivered at the proximity of the taller Shinigami standing only inches from him.

“Relax; you called time out didn’t you?” Renji answered.

“Yeah… I have some questions I got to ask you Renji, when I’ve… caught my breath,” Ichigo answered. He felt Renji’s fingers squeeze his arm and saw him nod.

“I guess I should explain myself. Just leave Zangetsu here and c’mon,” he said. Curious, Ichigo drove his sword into the ground so it stood upright. Staring past Renji he saw Zabimaru leaning against a rock not far away from where they stood.

Renji’s hand slid down his arm and squeezed Ichigo’s hand. As Ichigo turned he asked, “What gives?”

“What do you mean?” Renji asked, feeling the substitute tug back on his hand.

“What’s with just the fighting and all…? I thought…”

“You thought what?” Renji asked, blinking in confusion.

“Wrestling in the store, and fighting… what… I mean how… how do I… I suck at this,” Ichigo groaned, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Spit it out Ichigo. Take your time,” Renji urged, interlacing his fingers with Ichigo’s. Then the substitute sensed Renji in front of him, resting his other hand on Ichigo’s shoulder near his red segmented sash.

“What do I do? I have no freaking clue how this works,” Ichigo admitted, blinking up at him.

“What do you mean?”

“How I’m supposed to be around you now… I just… I’ve no clue… all right?” Ichigo asked, his hand trembling in Renji’s. His jaw clenched firmly as he glared up at Renji with confused dark eyes, his brow creased with anger.

“I… I’m not that great at this either,” Renji admitted, taking Ichigo’s hand and posing it on his chest. “But I do know this is a good start.”

“Beating the hell out of each other?”

“Figuring out how to act around each other, Strawberry, just by doing things together. That’s what people do on a date in this world isn’t it?”

“A what? Did you say what I THOUGHT you said?” Ichigo wondered, only just registering the words. In disbelief his mouth dropped open.

“Isn’t that what two people do in a relationship like this? Something they like? Or were you expecting me to ask you to one of those movie things, or to the damn mall? I don’t know what the hell people do on ‘dates’ in this world. I mean I sort of have an idea but I just… this is the first thing that came to mind,” Renji admitted, not looking directly at Ichigo. He scratched the back of his neck, stepping back from the substitute.

“Is THAT what your problem is?” Ichigo laughed. “Hell Renji you should have asked me! Didn’t Rukia tell you anything in those reports of hers? She was supposed to use some of those sucky drawings of hers…”

“Watch it, Ichigo. That’s my oldest friend you’re talking about,” Renji warned, frowning menacingly.

“I’m sorry. I meant those… unique drawings she does that she said was gonna be for a book about the living world,” Ichigo fumbled, realizing his mistake.

“Never saw that. I saw what people did ‘dating’ on TV and in magazines. And it just didn’t sit well with me ya know. Fighting, drinking, hanging out with the guys is what I’m used to… and well that’s what I consider fun. Why should you go do something you’d freaking hate? Besides, I was figuring the next time you’d think of something for us to do,” Renji laughed sheepishly.

“Oh… well why didn’t you SAY something, damn it? I can’t read your mind!” Ichigo growled.

“Well I can’t draw you a picture like Rukia could,” Renji admitted, scratching his head.

Ichigo licked his lips, unsure of how to answer that without insulting Rukia’s artistic merits further. So he thought carefully before he said, “That’s the problem! At least with Rukia’s drawings you had the bunnies and bears spelling it all out… simple as possible!”

“Yeah, I miss her too,” Renji suddenly said with a forlorn look.

“What ever happened to talking?” Ichigo asked, dodging around Renji. He laid both hands on the Vice Captain’s shoulders, squeezing them tightly.

“Because I’m even worse at talking about feelings then you are,” Renji complained, gritting his teeth. “And I wanted to do something together that felt comfortable. You and I always seem to enjoy arguing and fighting so well…”

“I get it now,” Ichigo sighed with relief. “I thought you were dissing me because Hat and Clogs walked in on me sitting on your lap.”

“Hey,” Renji said, as Ichigo stared at his sandaled toes.

“What?”

Grabbing Ichigo’s segmented sash he fingered it lightly. Ichigo glanced down, a question in his dark eyes before Renji jerked on it, causing their chests to collide. Still holding Renji’s shoulders Ichigo felt the other man’s breath wafting in his face, dark brown eyes staring down into his own. Renji’s large hand rested on his back, siding down to squeeze his backside. Gripping folds of cloth on either side of Renji’s neck Ichigo tugged Renji down a bit and covered his lips hungrily.

Through the kiss Renji sighed, then twisted his face to the side and moved his lips out from under Ichigo’s. In retaliation Ichigo ground his teeth against Renji’s, thrusting his tongue against the Vice Captain’s. Forcefully Renji invaded Ichigo’s mouth with his tongue, sweeping over his palate and tasting deeply. Ichigo relaxed, realizing he wasn’t quite sure he was doing, but it seemed to please Renji.

Releasing his mouth Renji panted, “It’s… not a competition, relax will ya?”

“Shut up,’ Ichigo muttered, embarrassed. Yet Renji claimed his lips again, hesitating without opening his mouth. Simply he drew his tongue across Ichigo’s mouth opening to his. This time the substitute Shinigami hungrily dominated it, feeling Renji’s movements matching his own. Lightly he explored, inhaling, and savoring the taste of the substitute as he slid his hands up and down Renji’s chest. Then he brought them under Renji’s arms, wrapping them around his back.

Ichigo opened his eyes, reluctantly feeling Renji’s mouth retreating. Fortunately it wasn’t too far away because Renji lightly kissed his cheeks, and rubbed a sideburned cheek to Ichigo’s. Panting, he rested his face on the vice captain’s shoulder, trying to come to terms with all the emotions roiling through his young body. To his surprise Renji simply stood there, rubbing his back and pressing kisses to his forehead and lightly drawing his tongue along his exposed neck now.

Ichigo kissed and nipped at the patches of black immediately visible on Renji’s neck. He heard a contented sigh in response, and then slid his tongue along them, tasting a salty tang. Relaxing he leaned more heavily against Renji, his hips pressing against the vice captain’s.

“That’s more like it,” he heard Renji whisper in his ear. “Just do what comes naturally. Don’t fight it, and don’t fight me. I mean not when we’re…”

“Making out?” Ichigo ventured to say, feeling the heat seeping in his cheeks.

“If that’s your word for it yeah,” Renji confirmed, rubbing the substitute shinigami’s spine through his shihakusho.

“It feels… different than… last night.”

“That’s why I figured it’d be better if you were out of your body this time too. But if ya wanna get back into your body and want me to get into that gigai…”

“You hate being in it,” Ichigo pointed out. “You’d just piss and moan about how uncomfortable it is.”

“Yeah. But I’d put up with it if it’d ya wanted to do this in it…”

“Thanks,” Ichigo said, the corners of his lips twitching slightly upward.

“Well what do ya know? Wonders never cease. You actually smiled?”

“Big deal. Nobody’s here to see but you, and I know you’ll keep your mouth shut or else…” Ichigo trailed off.

“Else you’ll beat me up next training time?” Renji finished.

“You bet your ass I will,” Ichigo promised, stepping back. Still he kept his hands on Renji’s waist, not sure what to do next.

“So… you wanna keep fighting… or do something else?” Renji asked. “You had some questions ya wanted to ask me?”

“Something else you enjoy doing. Eating,” Ichigo suggested. “Cause before too long you’ll be pissing and moaning about THAT too.”

“You afraid I’m gonna raid YOUR refrigerator if I stop by your place?” Renji said. Ichigo shrugged.

“I’ll pay if Hat and Clogs gives you hell.”

“With what money, Strawberry?”

“All those damn hollows I’ve killed lately I’ve got a ‘line of credit with him. Once I figured out Rukia was getting all the money for them and when I came back, Urahara told me she’d made changes to my account.”

Bending close Renji asked, “Speaking of, what DO you do with the money since you’re not in soul society?”

“I don’t have a freaking clue, other than when I come here and ask for something to eat or stash my body here,” Ichigo explained, rubbing Renji’s sides lightly through his kimono. “But if it keeps you from bellyaching fine.”

“You’re a real pal, Ichigo.”

“A pal?” asked the substitute, glaring up at the vice captain.

“And a whole lot more,” Renji said, bending down to give him another kiss.