Beyond the Hourglass

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews, they make me so happy. And Ryn, I actually started writing this just the other day. I've written a few chapters ahead, but I update each time a finish a chapter. Do not ask me how I am doing this. I guess it helps that my chapters are knid of short, but for the last story I wrote it took me several months just to write the first chapter. I have never done anything like this before. And Nex, I mentioned in a previos AN that my run-ons and comma splices are intentional. It's meant to reflect how his thoughts are all jumbled and continuous. This is my first try at that, though, so it probably sucks. Well, on with the chapter. And please review.

Starlight

Byakuya returned promptly at sunset, relieving Shuuhei and Kira of their duty. Shunsui and Unohana followed shortly. Ichigo was not happy at the prospect of having to stay in the same building as a certain snobby bourgeoisie but was relieved when Unohana took himself and his boyfriend to another room to examine them further.

“First, I want to check that they are healing properly,” she explained, “but then I would like to examine that strange reiatsu some more, if you don’t mind.”

“We don’t.”

“Good. Now take off your shirts, both of you,” she ordered.

Ichigo looked hesitantly at Renji to see his reaction, but when he just started to take off his shirt with seemingly no effort Ichigo felt obliged to do the same, although a blush stained his cheeks because he still felt awkward doing this in front of people especially older women he hardly knew even though she seemed like a nice enough person but it did help to have his boyfriend with him although if he thought about him too much he might end up even more embarrassed and he really did not need that so he started thinking about other things like how he did not hear any birds outside and then she put a hand on his side and he was back in the moment and he was definitely about to be embarrassed but then he felt the earth start to shake and they were running and putting their shirts back on and they were shouting and then they were outside. They were met by three figures: the two from the previous night, and him. The man who had raped him. He was standing there, and looking at him and suddenly he felt alone and sad and angry and he tried to charge at him but he was being held back.

“Don’t worry,” she said, “we’ll take care of them.”

He saw Urahara and Shunsui and Byakuya standing in front of them, ready to fight. He wondered where Yoruichi was. Unohana began chanting something he could not quite understand and a barrier popped up around them and Shunsui charged at the man who had raped him and then they were surrounded in flames and he could not see them anymore. But then the large man charged at Urahara, who managed to dodge the blow fairly easily. Urahara was fighting like he always did, seeming to toy with his opponent but at the same time studying and dissecting his moves. Byakuya and the woman appeared to be playing a game of tag, with neither seeming to gain the upper hand.

The wind started to pick up and whipped at the flames and the earth was still shaking and he could hear the clatter of swords and the grunts of physical exertion. He realized that he was crying and he was pulled into a hug and he was there with Renji and he felt for a moment that it was just the two of them and he felt better. A cry of pain brought him back to reality. He was there, unable to do anything. This was supposed to be his fight and he was just standing there on the sidelines letting everyone else fight for him and he wanted to fight so badly but they would not let him and he felt helpless again and he hated that feeling.

A swirling pink blur filled his vision and he knew Byakuya had released his bankai and he saw Urahara get a hit on the large man and he still could not see the man who raped him but perhaps it was better that he could not. And then he saw Shuuhei and Kira running towards them and they asked what was going on but he was not quite sure himself and then Unohana started talking and he was nodding in agreement to things he did not actually hear but it felt like he should nod so he did and he felt Renji still holding him and he felt safer with him there. The earth stopped shaking and the wind stopped blowing and the flames died down and he could see the man who raped him leading his cronies away and Shunsui and the others were chasing them and it was just him and Unohana and Renji and they just stood there not sure what to do next.

After a few minutes he saw Shunsui leading the others back with a look of defeat on their faces.

“We lost them,” Shunsui explained.

“It’s like they just completely disappeared,” Urahara continued.

“We cannot sense any trace of their reiatsu,” Byakuya finished.

They stood in silence for a moment, the situation beginning to sink in.

“That man,” Shunsui began, “he was the one who raped you?”

“Yes,” Ichigo admitted.

“This is bad,” Shunsui went on.

“Yes it is. Very bad indeed,” Unohana added.

“Was she. . .?” Shunsui asked.

“Yes, she was. Was he. . .?” Unohana asked.

“Yes.”

“Then I think this might have gotten even worse,” Unohana said with an edge of worry and fear to her voice.

They stood there in silence, unable to actually say anything or look at anyone and Renji kept holding him and he wondered who exactly they were and why they seemed to be after him or if they were even after him and was it just him being paranoid but he felt safe as long as Renji was holding him. Unohana was telling them that it would probably be a good idea to head back inside and everyone agreed so they went inside and an awkward silence fell but then Urahara decided to start talking and everyone agreed that the Commander-General should be informed of this and that they should have a conference with him the next day but that sleep was a good idea for the moment. Except for Shuuhei and Kira. They were still on patrol and had not really been involved in the fighting so they left again. Unohana was busy tending to everyone else’s wounds so he and Renji had some alone time and Ichigo planned to make the most of it.

They were in their room, door locked, alone. Renji made his way over to Ichigo and then they were kissing and Renji could not keep his hands from roaming over Ichigo’s body and they were moving down onto Ichigo’s mat and they were still kissing and groping but then they stopped and Renji was taking off his shirt and Ichigo did the same and they were kissing again and Renji’s hand found one of Ichigo’s nipples and he never knew something like that could feel so good and Renji’s mouth made its way to his neck and his fingers kept working on Ichigo’s nipple and Ichigo could not help but moan.

“Oh god, Renji.”

And Renji’s mouth continued its descent and it too found Ichigo’s nipple and Ichigo had thought his fingers felt good. Renji’s fingers moved even lower and found his pants and were trying desperately to get rid of them and before he knew it they were gone and he was naked. Renji stopped what he was doing and stood up, taking in the sight. It made Ichigo uncomfortable to have Renji staring at him naked like that and then he saw Renji taking off his pants too and they were naked, together. Ichigo had never seen Renji like this before. He had never realized how freaking gorgeous his boyfriend was until that moment.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” Renji almost growled.

Ichigo blushed at the compliment.

“Especially when you blush like that.”

Ichigo looked him in the eyes and saw that same fiery passion he had seen before and then Renji was down with him again with his mouth at his crotch and Renji was taking him into his mouth and dear god he had never felt anything that good before. Renji was sucking and moving and Ichigo did not know how long he would last and it felt so good and his mind was racing and he could not focus but he noticed the little things like Renji’s hand on his balls and the other still on his chest and then he came and shouted Renji’s name and then Renji was telling him to be quiet and he blushed. Then Renji was lying next to him and Ichigo moved his hands along his skin and he heard Renji moan and then they reached him down there and he started to stroke and stroke and Renji kept moaning.

“Ichigo,” he purred.

And Ichigo kept going and Renji’s breathing started to get shallow and then he moaned Ichigo’s name and he felt something sticky and Renji kissed him. He was tired and content and he was being held and he went to sleep naked in Renji’s arms.