Romance and Rivalries

Chapter Six
by Rachael

Izuru glanced down nervously at his hands; cerulean blue eyes darted across the shaking digits. In a flush of embarrassment, he thrust them into the pockets of his thick black jacket.

This was getting beyond a joke!

Ever since he was a child he’d suffered with his confidence; he was painfully shy. In the school nativity play his mother used to joke about how Izuru was easy to spot; he was always the angel trying to hide behind the two either side of him (which was normally a good plan, since he was nearly always stood next to Renji). That was when he was four of five; this awkward shyness had carried through with him all through his childhood, into his teenage years, where he still faced it now.

His father used to say to him, ‘Don’t worry, Izuru. I was shy when I was young, it’ll pass when you get into your early teens.’ Now he was fifteen, his parents were beginning to worry.

Although he was nowhere near as bad as he used to be (when he was six he burst into loud, hysterical tears when the teacher told him off), there was definitely a trigger that was making him worse these days. And of course, even Renji, had guessed what that was…

He couldn’t even help himself! Ichimaru-Sensei… Gin… made him feel like… Urgh – he couldn’t even express it! Whenever he looked at him, behind that frozenly composed smile, or flashing those gorgeous crimson eyes his way, Izuru felt like he was completely naked, not just his body, but he felt as thought Ichimaru-Sensei could see into his very mind and soul. And that was just with his gaze!

When he touched him, even in the smallest way, he couldn’t help but blush, he could barely think, or speak properly!

Nobody had ever made him feel like this before… that was why he felt confused and embarrassed. Ichimaru-Sensei was his teacher! How could he be sure if he liked him or not, or was he just being friendly? Izuru’s common sense was saying ‘Yeah, if he just thought of you as a student, he wouldn’t do the things he does’… but his inexperience, his self esteem problem… his whole negative aura would simply sneer, ‘What the hell, Izuru? Why would you even think that of him? He’s your teacher for Goodness sake!’

He was a teacher – he was in a position of trust. No matter what kind of enigma Ichimaru-Sensei was… Hell, maybe he was just being friendly; maybe he was just teasing him because of how Izuru reacted… It must be funny for a teacher to have a student with a crush on them! Oh how embarrassing!

Today was Sunday… In recent years he’d grown used to the fact he was often alone at the weekend. His parents often worked away from home on business trips, the two of them had left for a week and a half just yesterday. It was easy to get lonely in the house, and run out of things to do.

He’d finished his homework, he’d vacuumed, he’d made the beds, he’d tied up, he’d done to dishes, and he’d polished… Most of the time frantically worrying about Ichimaru-Sensei coming over tonight! Izuru’s cheeks flared into a dark pink as his mind washed back to the smooth, long pale fingers on his shoulder, the lingering and ever so slightly sensual touch…

Izuru wished it was colder… anything to hide the heat in his cheeks! He covered his face with his hands again – just because the two of them would be alone together tonight, in his house; Ichimaru-Sensei leaning in, tricking him into thinking he was going to move in for a kiss (something which he knew the other man did on purpose!) – Just because all that would occur tonight, it didn’t mean anything else would happen!

It would be perfectly innocent! Perfectly innocent!

“Hey, Izuru, why are you standing in the street talking to yourself?”

Now to say Shuhei Hisagi had a way with words would be little more impressive than saying Renji Abarai had a way with words… None the less, Izuru adored his sempai, off studying at university now, though he was still in the area. Though these days they didn’t see each other that often, Izuru was busy with his schoolwork and getting into university, Shuhei was focusing on his studies, and his apprenticeship with Vizard Media.

“Hisagi-sempai, it’s been a while,” he walked to the other, silently praying to himself that he didn’t still look pink from his blushing.

“I know, I’m sorry,” the dark-haired man laughed, brushing his fringe out of his eyes and rubbing his cheek, where the familiar 69 tattoo rested. Every one, from Izuru’s mother, to their high school teacher, would comment on Shuhei Hisagi’s looks, he was casually handsome in a way Izuru envied. “How are things? I feel I haven’t seen you three in ages!”

Izuru chuckled, “You haven’t missed very much, we’ve just been busy studying, and drinking at Rangiku’s a few nights.”

He whistled and pouted, “Aw, well I’ll try and make some time soon, I promise. We need to go on a night out, especially if we’re going to Matsumoto-san’s!” he grinned at him and elbowed Izuru playfully in the side. “So, well, what are you doing round these parts?”

“Oh, I was just on a walk, doing some last minute shopping,” he gestured to the small corner shop just in front of them.

It wasn’t untrue… he was going to get some snacks and drinks for Ichimaru-Sensei’s visit tonight. He felt a little bit like a bride making the preparations for his husband’s meal when he returned – Instantly Izuru’s cheeks went scarlet – student and teacher! Student and teacher – they were nothing like a husband and wife!

“Wow, Izuru, what are you buying? You’re blushing!” the older boy teased, leaning in to poke him playfully in the cheek, “Is there something you aren’t telling me? You wouldn’t be shopping for condoms, would ya?”

“Sempai!” he snapped, pushing him back a little, trying to calm the colour in his face, “It’s not like that!”

Hisagi laughed, “Calm down, you know I’m teasing,” he ruffled his hair playfully, drawing the blonde closer and resting like that for a moment, letting out a sigh, “I have missed you, you’re so fun to tease!”

Izuru rolled his eyes, “Oh, you’re just mean!” he pushed him off again, elbowing him back; “Anyway, what are you doing here? I thought university students only ate fast food!”

“Oh, I’m here with…” His voice went quiet a little as the shop door opened. A tall muscular man came outside, and instantly began making his way towards them. Izuru caught sight of a shiny silver hoop in his eyebrow, and short silvery hair, he had intense dark eyes, which cast over him intimidating. He looked… older than thirty, but overall, his age seemed almost impossible to place.

The man was carrying a plastic bag with what appeared to be popcorn and a few other things; he walked to Hisagi-sempai’s side, and rested a hand on his back, his fingers curling firmly at his waist.

“Shuhei,” he whispered a little, casting his eyes suspiciously at Izuru, who instantly blushed and looked away. “Who’s your little friend?”

From the way they were acting, he could only guess that the two of them were… lovers – to think his sempai would be doing such things!

Hisagi-sempai turned his head so he could see the two of them, raising a hand to introduce them, “This is Izuru Kira-kun,” he pointed to the blonde, lowering his voice as he said, “There’s no need for that look, we’re childhood friends,” he looked back at Izuru, “This man here is Kensei Muguruma-san,” he said the name slowly, emphasising each syllable, like every one was precious.

The larger man seemed to calm himself a little, and offered Izuru a hand; his hands were huge, Izuru’s pale small ones looked particularly tiny as they shook hands.

“Shuhei often talks about you,” he said, his voice was gruff and firm, “And another boy… an Abarai-kun?”

Izuru laughed nervously, “Oh yes, the erm… three of us were quite the trio in high school,” he glanced at his watch a little absent-mindedly… if he was going to start dinner for Ichimaru-Sensei, he’d have to be back soon – not to mention the fact he had no idea what to say to the couple… Would it be rude to ask how they’d met, how long they’d been… involved? That and he got the feeling the silver haired adult really wanted to get home. “I’m sorry,” he spoke up, “I should be getting on actually, it was lovely meeting you,” he said, bowing his head respectfully to Muguruma-san, “Sempai, I hope we can catch up soon.”

Hisagi-sempai opened his mouth to protest, but his lover placed a firm hand on his shoulder, stroking his coat-covered arm slightly.

“Shuhei, you promised. I buy popcorn,” he leant in and whispered something into his ear. Izuru blushed because he could guess along the lines, as Muguruma-san was smirking and his sempai went a little red across his face.

“I’ll, erm, see you soon, Izuru,” Hisagi-sempai said firmly, smiling at him, as he brushed his lover back a little bit, “I’ll ring you or text you or something, but we’ll hang out next week,” he waved as the silver-haired man took his hand and began to march him back down the street.

“Nice meeting you, Kira-kun,” the man called, before he and Hisagi-sempai were around the opposite corner.

Izuru smiled to himself, fancy that. It was nice his sempai seemed settled, or at least with someone who could tame him a little more. Hisagi-sempai looked happy… he was so lucky. He was barely a year older than Izuru, and Muguruma-san looked a lot older than Ichimaru-Sensei…

He hissed as he realized he was blushing again… Oh God, how on earth was he going to make it through tonight?!

***

After last night, Renji had begun to wonder as to whether or not he’d see the light of day again. Although he’d gotten off lucky compared to what Kisuke had done to him for skipping school a few days ago, he was still scared his father was going to kill him…

Getting Jinta to watch The Grudge had seemed like a fun idea at the time, the kid had been such a cocky little brat about it, ‘Oh yeah, some punishment, idiot!’ He’d honestly had no idea that it would make him as hysterical as it had. Until he’d heard the screaming, he’d thought he’d get nothing more than a jumpy Jinta for the next few days.

He could see why Kisuke was mad. Another thing he had to loathe Yumichika for was the fact that once your sexual world is opened you become aware of others sex lives… like his parents for example. Biological or adopted, your parents’ sex life is not a place you want to go! Clearly his little prank on Jinta had ruined one hell of a night for the two of them.

“I hope you slept well, Renji-kun,” he remembered Kisuke’s voice coldly in the back of his head, “because I didn’t get a wink of sleep. I’m afraid Jinta-kun didn’t either, he was up every five seconds because one corner of the room looked like a mass of black hair was sprouting from it, and I was to perform continual checks on this.” He remembered the vein twitching in Kisuke’s forehead.

Right now, Renji had never felt better about being sent out for the chores in his life, he was sure Kisuke had going to lock him in the basement for the rest of his attractive years…

He let out a sigh of relief and glanced down at his shopping bag, it wasn’t like he’d been able to buy anything fun. Cereal for the week… everyone liked a different breakfast at Urahara’s; Renji would eat anything so long as there was a lot of it, and not coffee based… Ururu liked bland tasting cereal, Jinta liked Coco-Pops, and Tessai and Kisuke preferred a traditional breakfast, which contained a lot of delicious and healthy looking things.

Renji glanced at the clock on his cell phone; it was nearly twelve-thirty… Kisuke would have customers, so it wouldn’t matter if he was a little later than normal. He didn’t feel like trudging straight home considering he rarely got out these days. The redhead headed down to the stream, walking onto the bridge he and Rukia used to play at when they were kids. He sat himself down on it, dangling his legs over the side, and feeling the soft breeze flutter through his hair… He’d almost forgotten how peaceful it was here. There was nothing but the breeze, the sound of slowly flowing water beneath him, and the odd chatter of people walking past.

Back when they were kids, they probably looked like a right pair of delinquents… Renji, like most little boys, was a disgusting piece of work, he’d lean over the side to spit over the edge, or practice spitting like a cowboy. Either that or he’d be running around, diving into the water like an idiot, or throwing stones at appropriate targets. Sometimes Rukia would join in, but she was never a foul creature, even when she was young, there was a graceful dignity about her. Although he didn’t express it as often as he probably should… he adored every bone in that girl’s body.

Sighing to himself, Renji opened his eyes and looked up at the midday sky, he stretched out, and was about to clamber down from the bridge, when he saw a familiar face less than ten feet away. A part of him groaned and he severally thought of throwing himself backwards off the small bridge just to avoid any sort of contact…

But then he saw those wisteria eyes, wide with concern, his movements frantic and clutching the mobile phone in his hand.

Yumichika looked a wreck, something that occurred rarely with the narcissistic man, his hair hadn’t been combed, he even looked like he was wearing last night’s clothes, not that it looked bad, and for someone who hadn’t shared his bed for six months, they probably wouldn’t notice any difference. For those who had, it was common knowledge that Yumichika never, or very rarely, wore last night’s clothes the following day. But it was more than that; his expression was full of worry, a look of distress tainting his painfully beautiful features.

The instant their eyes met his ex-lover rushed towards him, his whole posture seemed on edge and frantic. In any other case Yumichika approaching Renji for something would have resulted in very little cooperation from the redhead, but he couldn’t help himself. There was no way he could ignore the distress on his face, the dried tears on his cheeks, and the redness of his pupils…

“Yumichika, what’s wrong?” he asked instantly, lowering his voice to a softer tone he used incredibly rarely. Despite his concern and his worry, there was a selfish little part of him that thought snidely, ‘I hope its Ikkaku’.

His voice was shaking as he spoke, holding a hand firmly across his eyes, “Y-You haven’t seen… or heard from Ikkaku, have you?”

“No, I haven’t,” he admitted. The snide part of him was sneering at Yumichika, ‘Serves you right’, while the rest of him, still struggling with the concept of seeing him distressed and not trying to do the utmost to cheer him up.

Yumichika’s hands were shaking, “H-He isn’t answering his phone…” he looked down at his feet, “And he didn’t make it home last night, or come to mine… I-Iba-san hasn’t seen him…” he was still struggling to keep a hold of his voice, “I-I’m scared something’s happened to him, he can be so… fucking reckless…”

Again he wanted to say ‘Tough, you dumped me for that reckless nut. Don’t come bawling to me when he vanishes’… But the primal instincts were to wrap his arms around him and hold him tightly as he tried to calm himself down.

Renji held him close, stroking his short violet hair, hating that this was his natural reaction, he couldn’t get rid of the damn soft spot, and it still felt so good to wrap his arms around him, to have his hands in his hair… that slender firm body pressing against his... He pulled back a little, holding the other at arms length, “Hey, hey, we’ll find him. I promise,” He said firmly, “Come on, you’re stressed out, and two heads will be better than one.”

Yumichika wiped a hand across his face, he took a deep breath and smiled gently, “Thank-you, Renji-kun, I’m sorry, I wouldn’t ask, but I’ve been up half the night trying to find him… I’m so tired,” he held his head a little before taking another deep breath and looking up at him.

“So, when did you last hear from Ikkaku?” Renji asked firmly. He’d have to put things into perspective. He was looking for Ikkaku, his friend; he wasn’t doing this because Yumichika had asked.

He gestured to his phone, “He left mine at seven to go and see Iba-san… I was doing some class work, he called me at about three in the morning, completely drunk,” he rolled his eyes, “I was ignoring him and nodding along, until his voice got quiet… and then I could hear him yelling at running, and then the call ended,” he bit his bottom lip, hands clasped together. “Renji, I don’t have a clue where he is!”

Fuck… now that was even worrying him a little… What if someone had gotten to Ikkaku?

Renji took a deep breath, “Okay, we just need to put our heads together, we’ll find him,” he took another deep breath and rubbed his temples, “So… he went to see Iba-san?”

“Yes,” he swallowed as if he was trying to remember the whole conversation, “He said he and Ikkaku went to a couple of clubs after Iba finished work, and Ikkaku had been drinking steadily at Rangiku’s all night.”

The redhead frowned, “Alright, okay, how about we give Iba a call? Just to get the details down good and proper… Then we go and check the streets around the bars Ikkaku usually haunts? And if all else fails… I suppose Zaraki-san wouldn’t mind helping us look?”

***

Last night he had been so close to his goal; it was almost painful to have it pulled away from him at the last second… Kenpachi was not a pessimist so he wasn’t about to whine or bitch about it, in fact he supposed his goal wouldn’t be as exciting to behold if he could obtain it easily.

Naturally he’d gotten home rather late to find a very tired Maki-Maki (which would have to be his name now, because Yachiru was calling him Mini Moustache, and that definitely wasn’t a name!). He wasn’t about to say he was a good parent, but he must be doing something right as Yachiru was always well behaved when she was with him.

He’d gotten home and his little girl had leapt into his arms, nuzzling his neck and crawling up and onto his shoulders, dangling from his jacket, telling him excitedly that she’d missed him and she and Mini Moustache had been having a lot of fun. Naturally, it seemed like he’d had a pretty easy going night, he’d gone to a fancy party, almost seduced the lovely Byakuya Kuchiki, talked to some interesting people, gotten a lift back from the two guys who’d interrupted his time with Kuchiki, gotten home to his loving daughter, the boys hadn’t caused any riots… Kenpachi Zaraki went to sleep without a care in the world.

This morning however was another matter… He woke up in the middle of the day feeling quite content; he could hear Yachiru humming away to herself at the end of the bed, which must have meant she’d crawled in with him again.

Maki-Maki was the worrying time, he always made a big deal out of the fact that Yachiru wouldn’t go to bed. Kenpachi had a more practical approach, instead of attempting to force her into bed at eight-thirty against her will (which he didn’t have the effort to do, and doubted anyone on earth really did), he just let her drop off when she was tired. The freedom seemed to have paid off, some nights he’d come to bed to find his bed taken up a little pink-haired girl. Luckily for him she’d grown out of the stage where it was the two of them and most of her stuffed animals.

He’d woken up and ruffled her hair affectionately as he made his way to the bathroom. Maybe he had gotten off a little too well with no men in fights last night, but as he raised his head to the mirror, he went completely pale.

All over his face, someone, and he could easily guess who, had drawn on his face with felt-tips! He had pink sparkles on his cheeks and forehead, a kiss mark on his chin, his lips had been coloured purple and she seemed to have drawn green glasses around his eyes and a blue beard.

“Hey, Yachiru – what on earth do you call this?”

She was giggling, now stood up by the bed, trying to hide her obvious guilt with a look of complete innocence. “What’s what, Kenny?”

“Don’t play dumb,” he stood over her, watching her lean up a little and step back so she could still see his face. On the rare occasions they did fight, he’d always try staring her down. It never seemed to work though.

“You’re dumb!” She responded, “Why’re you being boring, Kenny? Your dumb snoring woke me up – I was bored! Why’d ya lock the door anyway?”

Locking the door… he briefly remembered talking to a few of his men yesterday, they were complaining about Yachiru sneaking into their rooms in the morning. He had been a teenage boy once, nobody really wanted their Sensei’s little girl (cute as she was) bouncing on their bed at seven o’clock in the morning, inquiring about the young lady they’d snuck into their room the night before and putting more personal items of clothing on her head and running around the room…

“I locked the door to keep you out of trouble, but I see you found it,” he went to the bathroom to search for something to scrub his face clean with… When Ikkaku started dating, Kenpachi moved the boy into the complex down the street. He loved that stupid boy in a sort of warped affection kind of way, however that definitely didn’t mean he wanted to hear the more… intimate side of his relationships. But it was times like this, when he had something stuck on his face, that he missed Ikkaku living in the next room, and more specifically Yumichika’s make-up wipes.

He settled for water and a washcloth, it had a little blood on it in one of the corners… though he couldn’t remember why or where from. Bending down a little, he splashed cold water on his cheeks, taking the cloth and beginning to scrub, leaving it in an awkward array of colour.

Meanwhile beside him, Yachiru hopped up onto the window ledge, beaming and swinging her little legs tirelessly, “Well, Kenny, I’m glad you don’t have glasses, c’os that’d look silly on you!”

“Thanks for your opinion,” he grunted sarcastically, looking back up at his reflection, he’d gotten most of it off… with exception to the sparkles dotted all over his cheeks, they had run into an oozy pink, giving him to look of an unsuccessful transsexual, not really something he’d ever thought to consider while looking at his own reflection.

Yachiru pouted, leaning a little closer, “Oh come on, Kenny – see the funny side! I couldn’t help being bored!”

It was difficult to get mad at her. Kenpachi Zaraki, possibly one of the most feared men in martial arts, inspired young men accidentally throughout the land… was wrapped around the little finger of his six year old.

“Yeah, yeah, fine. So if I let you out, will you behave?” he headed out of the room and towards the door once his face was completely clear.

Yachiru’s eyes lit up, “Yeah – of course, Kenny – no need to be so rude!” she shook her hips in irritation. Just recently, and he supposed it was because she was getting a little older, she kept trying to act more womanly. This mostly involved putting her hands on her hips, pouting, and complaining about things she didn’t actually mind too much. And finding her a good female role model didn’t look like such a good idea; he didn’t know many respectable women, and Yachiru didn’t respect anyone except herself and him.

“Yeah, yeah, just don’t cause trouble,” he watched her little form dance down the stairs, before he turned his attention back to his bedroom, and more specifically, the telephone. He had gotten Byakuya’s number from Gin a few days ago now, but hadn’t thought to try it out yet.

Flopping unceremoniously onto the bed, he lay on his back against the pillows and dialled in Kuchiki’s number into the phone. A fine piece like him probably wouldn’t lounge around all day… no, he’d most likely be hacking away at a key board behind a desk, wearing a suit, and looking all fancy and proper… It was a very lovely sight indeed…

“Hello, Byakuya Kuchiki’s office, how may I help you?”

So he had a secretary… well, a man as rich and powerful as he claimed to be was likely to have one. Gin did seem a little uneasy (as uneasy as that guy could get) about giving him Byakuya’s number without his permission, which would explain why he’d given him his work number, instead of his mobile.

The secretary had a dull female voice, in fact until he heard her cough; he was almost convinced it was a robotic voice rather than a flesh and blood woman. She sounded young and from her tone, probably reliable for someone like Kuchiki.

“I’d like to speak to your boss,” he said, grinning a little, “I’m sure he’s available.”

“Who can I ask wishes to speak to him?”

“Kenpachi Zaraki.”

“I’m afraid Mr Kuchiki is unavailable at the moment. But I will tell him that a Kenpachi Zaraki-san called and he should get back to you as soon as possible.”

He rolled his eyes, this wasn’t acceptable. He was ready to talk dirty down the phone and try and arrange another rendezvous…

“Well, what’s he doing?”

“I don’t believe I’m entitled to share that information.”

She had absolutely no emotion in her voice, she would have sounded like she was being difficult, but her tone was devoid of any sort of personality to suggest difficulty.

“Look, I’m not asking anything particular; I’d just like to know whether or not he’s in a meeting.”

“I apologize, sir, but Mr Kuchiki is working; he doesn’t accept unprofessional phone calls when he’s working.”

Well that was a little more information…

“Who says I’m not professional?”

“I’m afraid I’m not entitled to share that information.”

Was he taking the piss out of him? He scratched his hair in frustration, “Listen, lady, I just want to talk to your boss, is that too difficult?”

“Mr Kuchiki is working at the moment. I will tell him you called, sir.”

He was so mad he felt like ordering… Maki-Maki to turn on the laptop, find out where the Kuchiki building was, drive down there, brush past this damnable woman, and give Kuchiki a good shaking for being so damned difficult to get a hold of!

“Yeah, that’d be spiffing,” he grunted, slamming the phone down in irritation.

***

“Mr Kuchiki,” Nemu poked her head around the door of his office, carrying a note pad to her chest. She was dressed in a knee length black skirt, and a clean white shirt that showed off a hint of her cleavage. There was a neat little belt around her waist to emphasise her slender form.

Byakuya glanced up from his laptop, “Is there something wrong, Nemu?” He removed his reading glasses and surveying his secretary with uncertainty, it was rare for the quiet woman to disturb him with… anything really. He half wondered if her father had called again; now there was a man he really could not stand.

“No, sir,” she glanced down at her notepad, “I only wish to inform you that a Kenpachi Zaraki called for you. I sent him away, was it wrong of me, sir?”

He certainly wasn’t expecting that – where on earth could he have gotten his number? His cheeks darkened a little as he thought back to last night… the larger man’s hand resting upon his body, his gruff voice purring into his ear.

“Yes, yes you were… and if he calls again, tell him I am in a meeting.”

“Yes, of course, sir.”

If he’d hired a nosier person, he’d have seen some sort of inquiring expression, if not a lot of embarrassing questions. But with Nemu, all he received was the same blank gaze and a nod of understanding.

He was lucky to have such a perfect secretary…

***

Luppi had to admit, he wasn’t used to being messed around. Never in his life had he been faced with something that didn’t seem quite like it would turn him on his head. He’d always had everything he wanted; his erratic adoring mother had always given him all she could with the drop of a hat. His grades had been good, and despite his feminine appearance, he’d always had the appropriate amount of attention from anyone he longed for. Of course he’d had a few bad relationships, who hadn’t? However all of them had ended, as they should; with Luppi breaking them up and being longed after.

Grimmjow had totally knocked him off his momentum. The stupid prick might as well have punched a hole through his chest or something! Nobody broke up with him, especially so casually!

“Hey, Luppi-kun, you’re getting a bit forceful with that stapler again,” taunted a voice from behind him.

He slammed his hand down on the stapler aggressively, turning around to see Ichimaru Gin stood behind his desk, with that same sinister grin on his lips. The teacher was also known as Aizen’s Golden Boy, which would have made him terrifying enough as it was. Although he was one who got on quite well with Gin he was still a little afraid of him, he doubted it was possible to know Ichimaru Gin without fearing him in a sense.

“It… doesn’t always work,” he smiled brightly at the taller man, “It’s nice to see you, Gin-san. What brings you to my office?”

“Ain’t a guy allowed t’ just visit a friend?” He beamed at him, lounging down on his desk, moving the others files aside as if they were definitely of less importance. He turned back to Luppi after a second of browsing his desk, with that same haunting smile, “Well, t’ tell the truth, I did have… ulterior motives when I popped down to yer office.”

He wondered when Gin didn’t have ulterior motives briefly, before leaning forwards on his hand, his lips drawn into a wide smirk, “So, can I inquire as to these ulterior motives?”

“I heard the other day, that ya were spreadin’ stuff about Grimmjow-san?”

Well, at least he wasn’t bullshitting, which he was in a habit of doing… But the comment had caught him off guard. When anyone mentioned that blue-haired fucker’s name, he felt a liquid rage boil in his belly. Flashbacks of all the dirty things he’d done with that man. And it had been dirty… Luppi had a taste for sex as it was, but with Grimmjow, he couldn’t even help himself, he’d wanted it all the time, and the blue-haired male had been oh too happy to give it him. The two of them found themselves doing things they wouldn’t have even considered in their dirtiest fantasies. They’d done it on the boss’s desk at the Christmas Party (it didn’t sound like much unless you considered their boss was Sosuke Aizen), he’d let Grimmjow stick a vibrator in him for a day at work, controlling by a remote; not exactly appropriate for when he was meeting clients, but Grimmjow had insisted.

All of that pleasure and embarrassment contrasted with Grimmjow’s cocky tone, ‘Yeah, Luppi, whatever we had… well, it’s over now.’

He couldn’t even work out why he was so angry with him. Perhaps it was because he’d liked him, a little more than he’d ever liked anyone else. Perhaps it was because after all that excitement, after all that unbelievably good sex, he’d been dumped for a teenager who still looked like a virgin to him.

“You have me all wrong;” Luppi pouted irritably, “Spreading things makes it sound like I made something up, Gin-san.”

“Oh I don’t think yer made it up at all, I just wanted t’ make sure I’d heard the whole story!”

He didn’t exactly trust that at all… From the look he’d gotten at that high school brat Grimmjow had with him, he attended Karakura High School; where Gin taught. The other was probably trying to find some sort of way to get the focus off his pupil. Perhaps Gin had a reason not to want Child Protection digging around in his classes?

Luppi flicked back his short pixy style hair, “I know what you’re thinking. Yammy has already said it; I’m spreading shit because it’s Grimmjow. I’m merely thinking of the firm, I’m sure Aizen-sama doesn’t want this business to be seen as the sort which hoards child molesters.”

Gin’s eye twitched a little at that comment, “I believe ya, Luppi-san; I really do. I just think yer rushin’ into stuff a bit much. I mean, go complainin’ to Aizen-sama, Kaname gets involved; if he found out Grimmjow-san wasn’t screwing with the kid,” he shrugged his shoulders, “There goes yer validity. And say Grimmjow did something bad in the next couple o’ years, who’d believe ya? Yer’d just be ‘spreadin’ shit c’os he dumped ya’,” he looked back at him with that same brilliant smirk, “See what I mean?”

He actually felt a shiver run down his spine, instantly he felt his eyes lower to the floor… were his feet shaking? “You erm… have a point there.”

Okay, so maybe he’d exaggerated the story a little when he presented it to Aizen. He hadn’t meant too, it had been jealous rage. Grimmjow turns up with some kid, bold as brass. Some high school brat as well – he doesn’t even look like Grimmjow’s type – he could never satisfy him the same!

His mind had jumped from one conclusion to another… Until the point he was spilling a truth and lies story to Aizen-sama about Grimmjow bribing a minor into silence after fucking him…

Gin leant forward and patted him on the head, “I knew yer’d see it my way, Luppi-san. Yer so smart!” He glanced around the office for a moment before letting out a long low whistle, “Anyway, I have business t’ get too; yer know how it is. Bye-bye!”

Luppi watched the enigmatic man turn on his heel and vanish out of the door. He felt a flicker of annoyance dance through him… Why was it he could be so easily controlled at times?!

***

Kenpachi Zaraki sighed; he had sat around his room, wondering briefly if Byakuya would call him, if only to order him not to call in that prissy little voice. However when the phone did ring, it was Ikkaku’s friend with the red-hair… so no-where near what he craved on any level.

“What d’ya want?” he grunted. Kenpachi Zaraki was not normally the sort of man to wait around the phone, but in this case he was quite eager to continue their little game.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Zaraki-sama,” the boy yelped, the fear painfully obvious. It was sort of reassuring that he could still scare people just by grunting angrily at them, “I didn’t mean to disturb you at a difficult time, and I know it’s awfully presumptuous of me to ring you and just assume you’d have time for me-!”

The phone was snatched, and he heard a familiar voice; Yumichika, “I apologize for this, sir, but I’m in urgent need of your help. It’s Ikkaku…”

Now that got his attention, he let out a heavy sigh, “What’s he gone and done now, Yumichika?”

Yumichika let out a heavy sigh, he sounded like he’d been crying and had he been a softer man he probably would have crumbled at that fact. He listened intently to the others story; apparently Ikkaku and Iba had fought last night and broken off from each other. He could hear the other man’s voice talking with Renji Abarai in the background, which probably meant Yumichika, had put quite a search party going. Kenpachi rubbed his head, Ikkaku was normally a good student, but he hated it when he pulled stunts like this! He’d drink himself stupid, then go and get himself mixed up in a dumb fight. Still, Ikkaku was his responsibility and if something happened to him – hide it he might – he’d feel terrible.

“Alright, Yumichika; whereabouts are you boys now?” Kenpachi sighed, rubbing his temples, “I’ll come and help you look for him… No, no, its fine, we’ll find Ikkaku. I’ll beat the bum into shape when we do.”

He hung up the phone, groaning a little as he rose to the window to finish dressing himself. He slipped into a pair of jeans and a shirt from a few days ago; he fixed up his jacket and tried to get his mind off a certain man, and onto the matter of finding his tenacious student.

Just recently he had noticed a change in Ikkaku. He was training harder than ever, doing more hours than anyone else in the dojo, which wasn’t exactly uncharacteristic of him anyway, but there was something… a little unnatural about his focus. He skipped school to train, Kenpachi could care less, but there were times he had to remind himself that he was the boy’s teacher and not his friend. If he had to think about it, the only time Ikkaku wasn’t training was when he was with Yumichika or when he was out drinking with his friends; so naturally he encouraged both of those things. As a former pupil, he talked to Iba a lot, the man seemed to have a few worries about Ikkaku; he had implied, though he hadn’t said anything completely certain, that Ikkaku was practicing in under-ground Fight Club’s… And if that was the case…

***

The trouble with society was probably that it had too many ‘do not’s (!)’. And the trouble within the trouble was that all the ‘do not’s (!)’ were very attractive: Drinking, sex, smoking (not that he smoked or anything), fighting… on a very ignorant view, homosexuality.

If he had to think about it, Ikkaku probably ticked the box for most, if not all of societies little foot holes. Not always, but rather often, he’d find himself getting into a mess over these seemingly easy going things.

Last night it had been fighting.

Over drinks at Rangiku’s, he and Iba had been talking and the conversation strayed towards Ikkaku’s part in the up coming karate national tournament, how his school kendo team (the only reason Ikkaku hadn’t been told by Karakura High School to ‘jog on’) was competing… which had set his mind up for fighting.

Then a bunch of bums tried to trash the place (one of them had tried to pull a waitress into the toilets for some fun, and didn’t like being told to leave), so he and Iba, being the honourable sort, had taken it upon themselves to remove the men for Rangiku and kick their asses.

Being drunk and having just fought a bunch of weaklings, the natural step for Ikkaku seemed to be to go and fight somewhere else. He wanted to go to the Red Bull, a local fight club for the over 25’s, to which Ikkaku had become something of a regular. He lied his way in, and once or twice he’d won the Grand Prize; and what guy couldn’t use a few ten thousand yen these days?

Unfortunately Iba was more fun when he was younger, and now, in his mid-twenties, he was beginning to show an irritating sense of reason and responsibility.

Ikkaku could briefly remember him saying, ‘Geez, Ikkaku, when’s this gonna stop? You could get killed in a place like that, and they’ll ban ya and hospitalise ya if they find yer a minor.’

He could recall shoving him and Iba shoving him back and telling him to ‘Get yer ass home, before ya make a fool of yerself!’

But based on the fact he couldn’t recall going home, and this alleyway definitely wasn’t home, he could only assume he’d told Iba where to stick it, and done what he wanted to do anyway… Glancing down briefly at his body, he could see a few bruises on his arms, and he was real stiff, like he’d been fighting… Wincing he felt his jaw ache as he attempted to move it. This sucked… Gripping the wall, Ikkaku forced himself to his feet, instantly noticing a pain in his leg; he’d definitely been kicked real hard.

Looking up at the wall as he began to force himself out of the alleyway, not sure how he was moving on his aching legs, Ikkaku recognized the Red Bull building. From how aching his body was, he could only assume he had been inside… and maybe passed out in the alley on leaving. Frowning he turned his attention to the wallet, stuffed unceremoniously into the back pocket of his jeans… upon taking it out, Ikkaku’s look of complete exhaustion switched into a delighted grin.

Forty thousand yen!

So he had won, Ikkaku wiped his bloody lower lip, and pocketed his wallet again, heading down the street, with a strange sense of pride only a battered from fighting man could really posses.

Come to think of it, where on earth was his mobile?

He could remember something else briefly… after Iba walked off on him… Those guys came back… and they had friends with them… Wincing, he glanced down at himself, nothing broken. Ah, he probably just kicked their asses again!

Ikkaku whistled to himself, hoping nobody had worried about him or anything, because that would be totally unnecessary and…

“IKKAKU!”

Shit!

Before he had time to turn around, someone had thrown themselves at his back, arms wrapped around his shoulders, and he felt Yumichika’s face pressing against his back. His head was spinning as he was turned around, and about to embrace his lover, when he slapped him hard around the face.

“I was worried about you, you idiot! Where have you been?”

Glancing behind Yumichika, he spotted quite the search party had assembled for him… Renji, who looked relieved, waved nervously at him. Beside him was Rangiku, who was chatting away to him, saying something like ‘I told you we’d find him!’

Though if he thought Renji was relieved, he could barely believe the look on Iba’s face. Frankly the older man had blamed himself completely for Ikkaku’s disappearance; it must be the whole mid-twenties’ responsibility kicking in. Iba turned his head around the corner, calling to someone.

Ikkaku went pale as he saw his Sensei catch up with the others, he didn’t look worried, but he did look pissed off… which meant he must have been worried. At this moment in time, he couldn’t work out who he was more scared to see; Yumichika or Kenpachi Zaraki…

Both looked about ready to tear his head off…

***

Izuru supposed it was natural to be stressed. He took a deep breath as he bent down to take the sake out of the cupboard. Everything was ready, he’d set the table up with snacks… he was dressed. But he was still unable to believe that Ichimaru-Sensei was coming to his house, when just the two of them would be here!

The blonde closed the cupboard, and placed the bottle on the table… Maybe the candles were over the top… He nibbled his bottom lip, placing the glasses opposite each other. He wondered if Ichimaru-Sensei would mind him drinking, he didn’t seem particularly resentful catching him in the bar; in fact that was what started this wonderful situation… Normally he was good at being responsible, but he wouldn’t be able to relax, and the last thing he needed was squeaking and getting embarrassed whenever Ichimaru-Sensei got within inches of him…

He made sure to take another deep breath before he looked over at his reflection in the mirror. He’d picked out a tight fitting white shirt and a smart pair of jeans, he hadn’t meant to dress particularly formally… it just sort of happened. He wasn’t as fortunate as Renji to be able to just be informal and carry it off. He wasn’t like Hisagi-Sempai, who could switch between the two like a master. He was always so formal, and knew without a doubt that Ichimaru-Sensei would tease him about it…

The boy yelped as he heard a knock at the door, almost dropping the glass, he placed it on the table and sprinted to the door. Pausing as he did to take a deep breath, looking at his reflection in the mirror, before he breathed in nice and deep, calming his blush to the best of his ability as he recognized the familiar outline of the man he so adored…

He turned the key in the lock and his eyes instantly fell to his feet, “Welcome, Ichimaru-Sensei…”