Not Close Enough

They spent at least ten minutes standing there on the floor of the training area, just rubbing one another’s backs while locked into a deepening kiss. Even though food had been mentioned, Ichigo and Renji couldn’t seem to keep their hands off one another. He wasn’t sure if it was he or Renji who had started this latest kiss.

*Damn, this feels amazing,* Ichigo thought, heart pounding.

Hands slid up and down Ichigo’s back, fingers pushing through the black cloth of his shihakusho at tensing muscles. Ichigo tried to relax into the kiss but something continued to bother him. Just a few minutes ago Renji had called him a pal, only to correct himself. Again Ichigo felt confusion twisting his young digestive tract. The more time he spent around Renji this afternoon the more he realized Renji seemed just as nervous as he. How long had he had a relationship with other Shinigami back in Soul Society?

Renji’s large hand creeping down to squeeze his backside distracted him thankfully. Ichigo grunted in protest and half shock, shoving himself harder into the vice captain.

*Two can play that game pal*, Ichigo thought while his companion’s tongue slipped over and across his. Abandoning Renji’s back he placed both hands on the Vice Captain’s backside and pinched hard. Instead of a complaint Renji’s hand remained on his butt, dragging him upwards. Ichigo hissed through his nose in shock and delight, senses exploding in near overload.

*Guess he likes my ass as much as I do his,* Ichigo found himself thinking, and then scolded himself.

*You’re such a dumbass. Just shut up and enjoy it,* a thought whispered in his voice, within Ichigo’s mind.

*I don’t need any help from YOU damn it. Shut the hell up,* Ichigo cursed inwardly at that irritating cackle.

Renji enjoyed the fact that he didn’t have to bend over double to kiss Ichigo. While Shuuhi and he were comparable in height, and shared many heated kisses, there was something much more different and delicious kissing Ichigo Kurosaki. Almost like putting one’s tongue on a battery though not as bitter, with the voltage surging through your body. That was how it felt to kiss Ichigo as a soul reaper, unfettered by his physical body. Such powerful spirit pressure fluctuating and spilling out it tingled Renji’s being.

*Luckily I’m a vice captain and I can handle it. Hate to think how he’d be kissing anyone else. Maybe except Rukia, but she had her chance and she blew it.*

The sensation of Ichigo’s fingers rubbing and pinching his muscular ass felt wonderful. At last the kid was growing bolder, Renji delighted. From the way shifted his hips against Renji’s it was clear he was at least relaxing some. For a moment Renji was sure he had become distracted again. A quick pinch here and there worked wonders to bring the Substitute Shinigami’s attention back where it belonged, enjoying his kiss.

Ichigo reluctantly broke the kiss, bracing his head against Renji’s shoulder and panting. “I… damn it’s too intense."

“Take it easy there. What did I tell you about slowing down?”

Ichigo glared impatiently at him causing Renji to ask, “What? You think too much about these things.”

“Oh yeah like I’d know from my big freaking experience,” Ichigo huffed, rolling his eyes.

“Let’s just get another thing clear, Strawberry. I do anything you DON’T like you just tell me to stop okay?” Renji said with a concerned frown. “If you worry so much about screwing up or doing something wrong, how the hell can you enjoy what’s happening to you now?”

“That’s not it,” Ichigo panted. “Just that it’s so damn over stimulating. It was one thing in my body, but now it’s like everything’s on fire at once…”

“That’s why you have to take it easy with that reiatsu of yours. Don’t try so hard. Just focus on how good I’m making you feel. Because I’m sure as hell focusing on those last few kisses. And I dunno about you but it’s driving me crazy,” he lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Crazy in a good way or a bad way?” Ichigo asked.

“The best kind of way,” Renji reassured him, thrusting his hips playfully against Ichigo’s. Swallowing hard, the Substitute retaliated with a shove of his own.

“Heh,” Ichigo said with a smirk. His next words vanished with the breath he drew in sharply, because Renji lifted him up with two strong hands under his backside so Ichigo glanced down at him.

“What the hell are you doing?” Ichigo complained. “Put me down you ass!”

“As much fun as I’m having I’m still starving,” Renji chuckled, swinging Ichigo up so he draped over his shoulder.

“You’re so dead,” Ichigo complained, glaring down at the ground. “Hey… are you even LISTENING to me?”

“Yeah, but what are ya gonna do about it? You know if I don’t get my food I’m a bigger pain in the ass then you wanna deal with,” Renji warned him, still with a playful tone in his voice.

“But what about Zangetsu and Zabimaru, stupid? You don’t think they want to be left down here while you stuff your face do you?” Ichigo reminded him.

“Oh hush I was gonna pick them up,” Renji snickered, carrying Ichigo over to where Zabimaru leaned up against the rock.

“Yeah right,” Ichigo retaliated, then pushed down on Renji’s back, and wriggled easily out of his grasp.

“Hey where are you going?”

“Like you could carry me and Zangetsu together? Please?” Ichigo snorted, landing on his feet behind Renji. Back and forth the Vice Captain glanced, suddenly seeing Ichigo grasping his weapon by both hands and heaving it up out of the ground. Clicking his tongue Renji flicked Zabimaru back to its katana form with a blaze of green energy.

“Your loss of a free ride,” Renji said with a shrug, sheathing his zanpakuto.

“I’ll take a rain check. You owe me one later,” the substitute Shinigami promised with a rather suggestive grin.

“Damn kid fighting’s not the only thing you pick up fast on,” Renji realized, shaking his head in disbelief. “And you said you sucked at relationship stuff?”

“Guess I’m learning after all,” Ichigo realized, watching Renji’s eyes staring at him as if he could see through Ichigo’s clothes. If Shinigami had x-ray vision Renji must be getting an eyeful because of the way he was licking his lips. Renji blurred out one second, and then Ichigo felt someone yanking his waist the next. Only a split second later and Ichigo’s sandaled feet hit the floor of the back storage room by the trap door opening.

“See I could carry you, that sword of yours and all easily,” Renji boasted, arm still around Ichigo’s waist.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah you’re the badass. Let’s see how much bragging you do when you’re whining about not having enough food in that black hole you call a stomach,” Ichigo teased back, poking Renji in the abdomen with a finger.

To his delight Renji tightened his grip on Ichigo’s body, squeezing their opposite hips together so it was rather troublesome to walk. They found their way back to their respective ‘vessels’ both knowing that the bruises and aches they would feel would translate back to their physical forms. Before Ichigo could lower himself into his body Renji’s hand stopped him.
“Could always get cleaned up before,” Renji suggested.

“Here?” Ichigo blinked.

“Shower’s down the hall. I helped wash a load of towels last night. I’ll bring your body and my gigai to the place I crash. When you’re done you can get back into it there,” he proposed.

Ichigo wanted to invite Renji to join him, but his self control and restraint won out over hormones. Yet he wondered if Renji was deliberately testing him. “Guess there isn’t much room in Hat n’ Clog’s shower.”

Reaching for his shoulders Renji bent forwards to press a hot quick kiss to Ichigo’s lips. Eyes gleaming he whispered, “Not here, not now. Want to find someplace better than this, if we’re gonna go past third base. I’ll not have ya in a broom closet, dirty stall, or shower till we’ve had a proper good first time all the way.”

This admission brought a lump to Ichigo’s throat. He was certain it would be easier to surrender to his raging hormones and jump at the chance with a shared shower with Renji. “But I wouldn’t mind,” he whispered, squeezing Renji’s hand. “It was damn dark last night…”

“I know. But I well…” he trailed off.

“Renji I’m a damn century younger than you but I’m not going to break. So let’s get our asses into that shower already and clean up before we get back in our bodies. Or am I going to have to drag you there myself?” the substitute Shinigami complained, glaring angrily at Renji. “I’ve as much say in this as you do, and I say we’ve got the self control to just fool around and save the best for last.”

“You’re one stubborn guy, Ichigo Kurosaki. I was half hoping you’d shoot my suggestion down,” the vice captain laughed. Relief filled his face, smoothing out the wrinkles from his brow. “Damn if you didn’t just do what I’d wanted.”

“Stop jerking me around that way and jerk me around another way already,” Ichigo said, and then flushed when he realized what he said. He stepped back from Renji, turning to the side.

“Rukia said I had a filthy mouth,” Renji laughed, throwing back his head. Extending his hand he held it out to Ichigo. “All right Strawberry, let’s get cleaned up and see what else we want to get into today…”

Ichigo grasped the older Shinigami’s hand, interlinking their fingers. Still half frowning he whispered, “More than you’d think, Renji.”

All Renji could do was grunt and nod in agreement. Quickly they rushed down the hall to the bathroom.

***

Metal rings rasped on the bar holding up the garishly colored shower curtain. Bending over Renji leaned into the shower to turn the controls. He felt with his other hand to regulate the temperature. Behind him Ichigo’s nose tingled from the smell of the hot water and the fresh bar of soap after he tore the package open. “Here you go!” he called, tossing it over his shoulder.

“Thanks, Strawberry,” the older Shinigami said, catching the white bar in his hand. He popped it into the soap dish, after he set two bottles of shampoo from the shelf into the stall.

He had turned his back wrestling with the ties on his hakama. Pulling his uniform top out, Ichigo let it hang around his shoulders before letting it slide down. A quick glance over his left shoulder and he caught a sight of black and white cloth sliding down Renji’s back. Then the torn fabric slipped down more completely, hitting the bathroom floor. Jagged black ink pointed downwards, two lighting shaped marks leading Ichigo’s eye directly towards the backside still covered with his hakama.

“Towels are over there,” Renji said, not facing Ichigo. He reached up one hand grabbing at the white band of cloth soiled with his blood, unfastening it so it fell into the pile with his torn clothes.

“Right,” the substitute Shinigami said, reluctantly tearing his eyes away from Renji’s muscular back. His eyes almost were hypnotized following the pattern and memorizing it. White and green striped terrycloth felt soft on his rough hands, as he picked up the stack of towels and set it on the commode near the shower.

“Hot or lukewarm or do you give a damn?” Renji asked.

“Just not cold,” Ichigo mumbled, finally getting the knot out of his sash with shaking fingers. He turned around to see black cloth suddenly falling to puddle at Renji’s feet, and felt his heart stop.

“Damn,” he drew in his breath, following the line of tanned flesh up to one knee. His eyes caught sight of markings very similar to those gracing Renji’s chest, forming a diagonal band across and around to stop at one hip.

So much thought was given to what was up top that seeing below stunned Ichigo, especially the smooth planes of his sculpted ass, where the dual lightning bolts down his back seemed to point to. He wondered if his own featureless flesh was boring to look at in comparison. That jagged scar in the center of his chest, along with the scars on either shoulder were slightly pinker then the rest of the surrounding skin. All three of them came from Seiritei, where he had first encountered the other Shinigami in their second battle to the death.

Absently he fingered the one scar, feeling a hand fall on his shoulder. Starting he turned to see the Vice Captain of squad six running two fingers over the scar on his left shoulder. “Damn… I forgot how bad that was… shit…”

“It’s history,” Ichigo said, realizing why Renji’s eyes filled with regret. It was one of the scars the vice captain had given him when they’d first fought.

“Zabimaru has a damn nasty bite. If I’d know… damn it I’m sorry Ichigo,” Renji suddenly mumbled.

“Forget it. You didn’t know, Renji,” Ichigo said, reaching to grab Renji’s hand. “I gave as good as you did, remember.”

“Hell your blade’s cut me too,” said Renji with an awkward chuckle.

“Besides, gives you something to look at on me,” Ichigo said. He shrugged and gave the vice captain of squad six a small smile. Now he feasted on an unimpeded view of the markings on Renji’s pectorals, which were in odd symmetry to the band on his upper thighs. Diagonally they arched so the complete pattern mirrored that on his chest, when both his legs were tightly together. The whole effect made Ichigo think of a hyperbola from geometry class and he shook his head.

“You’ve got plenty worth staring at, scars or not, Ichigo,” Renji said, his dark eyes travelling over the substitute Shinigami’s body with admiration.

Ichigo felt himself blushing, realizing the other man liked what he saw, and judging from the movements lower down both were having quite an effect to the other. He fought the impulse to cover his crotch with his hand, since Renji stood completely naked in front of him without hiding any part of himself. Ichigo found himself staring at everything revealed before him, and his heart pounded double time.

“Damn,” Ichigo swore again, his mouth open partway.

“Yeah,” Renji answered his eyes wide as he slid his hand over Ichigo’s muscular arm, then across the substitute’s chest. Closing his eyes Ichigo shivered.

“B... better get that shower now. I’m sure Hat n Clogs will bitch if we use up the hot water don’t you think, Renji?” Ichigo laughed nervously.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about hiding like I said before, Ichigo,” Renji said in a soft tone, leading the way to the shower. Ichigo stepped in after him, the tattooed redhead tugging the curtain shut behind them both. His strong hand nudged Ichigo under the shower first, so hot water blasted his sweaty orange hair, inundating it.

“You sure?” Ichigo asked.

“I get to see you wet and naked so I win as well,” Renji said, and winked at him, with a lusty gleam in his dark eyes, making Ichigo shiver from head to toe.

Immediately Ichigo glanced down at the vice captain’s crotch, chuckling when he realized the soft red hair at the base of his cock was indeed the same tone as his hair. A soft red trail led to just below his bellybutton, in almost the same manner as the orange down that was thick at the base of Ichigo’s. In comparison to Renji’s tanned skin the substitute Shinigami swore his was a bit pinker. Reaching up Renji tugged at the hair holder behind his head, yanking it off so his hair fell loosely around his shoulders.

“Get under there will you?” Ichigo urged, grabbing Renji by the shoulders and twisting himself so Renji was blasted with the full force of the shower. “It’ll take longer to wet that mop of yours!”

“What’s that about mops, Strawberry?” Renji asked, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Don’t hog the shampoo. Leave some for me. I have dibs on the soap,” Ichigo laughed, grabbing the white cake sitting on the metal dish.

“Could you help me out here, Ichigo, if I soap you down?” Renji asked, holding up the bottle of shampoo. He held it with the cap facing the younger man.

“Uh sure. Turn around,” Ichigo said, feeling a bit shy about them facing one another. Damn it he’d seen and felt Renji’s cock in his hands but something about them standing up rather than laying down made him feel far more vulnerable.

“Trade ya,” Renji said, reaching for the soap, rubbing some in his hands to form a white lather. “You do me and I do you…”

“Depends on what you mean by that,” Ichigo answered, realizing the double entendre. He squeezed a bit of the shampoo into his palm, working it between his fingers.

“Guess it’ll work better if you wash my hair like this,” Renji suggested, flipping the wet strands over his head and bending slightly. Ichigo squawked a bit when the vice captain rubbed across his chest with soap slick fingers.

“Hey wait a minute…” the substitute gasped, and then plunged his hands into Renji’s hair, squelching shampoo in his fingers.

“Ohhh that feels good. A bit harder do ya mind?” Renji moaned.

“Sounds like something else,” Ichigo groaned, feeling blood rushing south. If he glanced down he saw his cock slowly engorging with blood thanks to Renji’s delicious noises. With slow hypnotic strokes he worked the shampoo painstakingly through the wet red strands, saturating each. Meanwhile the older man tipped his head back, reaching over to rub more soap over Ichigo’s raised arms.

“Take a break and let me wash your hair, Ichigo,” Renji whispered. “Turn around.”

“No. Only fair I rub your chest this time,” the substitute Shinigami protested. He tipped the shampoo bottle over one of Renji’s hands. The vice captain was forced to accept the liquid spurting out with a rather rude noise into his palm. Reaching up Renji slipped his arms on the outside of Ichigo’s, soothingly rubbing the shampoo and squelching Ichigo’s hair into tight spikes so it stood up even more than when dry.

Both their cocks rubbed up against one another in their struggle to wash and scrub one another’s hair. Ichigo gritted his teeth in order to bite back a moan. Renji lowered his hands, and then grabbed the bottle of conditioner. “All right, enough’s enough. I’m sure ya can’t stand this any much longer than I can…”

“No… I want… I need…” Ichigo panted, reaching down and wrapping his hand around Renji’s fully erect cock. Already it firmly fit in his fingers, hard, smooth and slick, the color of Renji’s hair almost.

“This… it’s slick,” Renji whispered, squirting conditioner onto his palm. Ichigo tossed his head back, biting back a cry at the sensation of Renji’s fingers containing his erection.

“Hold out… your hand…” Renji panted. Ichigo cracked open an eye to see hair plastered over Renji’s face, showing a limited view of those dark eyes shaded by black brows. The intricate pattern wound its way till it was lost further up on his forehead, giving him a dangerous look that further spurred sensory overload to Ichigo’s pleasure tingling body.

“Ahhh, Renji… your hands… they feel so awesome,” Ichigo gasped, his head slamming against tile. Hooking his knee around the older man’s Ichigo braced his back to the wall. On one knee Renji dropped, pulling the substitute’s hand to brace on his shoulder.

“Relax, lemmie help ya, and you’ll help me,” Renji urged, hands slicking up and down, kneading the tip. He rubbed the pink head of the substitute soul reaper’s cock with his thumb teasingly, delighting in the way Ichigo jerked his head to one side.

“Get up here. I want to do you at the same… time…” Ichigo growled, grabbing Renji under the armpit. He forced the vice captain to stand in front of him.

“Ah… no fair…” Renji gritted pressing his forehead into Ichigo’s shoulder.
He braced his body against the substitutes, enjoying each squeezing pull that Ichigo’s slick hands dragged over his cock. Making a circle with thumb and forefinger Ichigo slipped his hand forwards, reaching under to massage and rub underneath. He stared down the chevron shapes wrapping around Renji’s shoulders, to an invisible place while his sense of touch spiraled out of control.

“Mmm, just like that. I want to give you the same thing you’re giving me, Renji…” Ichigo panted, biting down on Renji’s earlobe, the only part of his body readily accessible to his hungry lips.

Hands mutually stroked, squeezed and thumbed the ends of two erect cocks, straining fit to burst. Slick hardness pumped with long callused fingers, simultaneously matching one another’s pacing. Neither differentiated from the other, except the sensation of cold flat tile behind the Substitute’s back, or the long read hair dangling before the Vice captain’s eyes, through which he peered and saw the half closed eyes blinking towards his.

“Ichigo…” Renji gasped, pulling his head up from his shoulder, and then dropping it down to devour those lips. Forcefully he thrust his tongue past sharp teeth, leaning heavily so his chest slammed into the younger man’s.

Between Renji’s legs Ichigo shoved his knee, giving Renji a place to straddle. Shakily the Vice Captain sat on Ichigo’s thigh, steadying his body while the substitute Shinigami kneaded and pumped harder along his twitching cock. That hard thigh rubbing his balls almost forced Renji past the point of no return. Squeezing dark lashed eyes shut he sighed in pleasure as Ichigo’s tongue danced over his. Shuddering Ichigo felt his muscles tighten, then the pulsing surges as he came into the accommodating channel of Renji’s right hand. Warmth spurted through and around his fingers, seeping down his thigh only a second later when Renji muffled his cry into Ichigo’s lips.

Grunting Renji leaned hard on the substitute, his legs almost unable to support him. Slowly Ichigo slid down the slid tile, stopping himself and Renji with his other hand slamming on the back ledge of the tub. He managed to lower himself to sit down, pulling Renji to sit on his lap on the floor of the shower. Sighing himself he pressed his face into Renji’s shoulder, wrapping both arms around his lover. He didn’t mind the slick ejaculate coating his thighs, and his hand, nor Renji’s body weight heavily covering him.

“Ohhhh hell… mmmm…” Renji managed to stammer.

“Mmm,” Ichigo hummed, panting for the breath that was whipped from his chest. Renji straddled him weakly, his strength deserting him though his body tingled with pleasure.

“Damned if that wasn’t the best… and hardest I’ve cum in ages,” Renji panted his throat raspy, voice deliciously deep.


“Can’t move, can you?” Ichigo laughed, rubbing Renji’s back. “Weak as a kitten?”

“Oh shut up you,” the vice captain answered, burying his face in the substitute’s neck. “Sure I’m not crushing ya?”

“Are you kidding me?” Ichigo asked. “You may be taller than I am, but I’m sure as hell not going to break in half if you sit on me.”

“Then ya don’t mind if I sit on yer lap a bit longer, till I catch my breath, Strawberry,” Renji sighed.

“Not at all Renji,” Ichigo purred, loving the marvelous feeling of that tattooed body draped over him. Renji now straddled his knees, drawn up and in front of him on the shower floor. It amused him to have the older man sitting so comfortably there on his young self, able to hold and protect him in post coital pleasure. Carefully he rubbed the bar of soap, which had fallen to the shower floor by now, over Renji’s shivering shoulders and arms.

****

Once Renji had regained his strength and caught his breath, he straightened up in Ichigo’s lap. Chuckling he rubbed his fingers over the younger Shinigami’s hair, before bending down to give him a lazy kiss. “Guess we’d better finish up before there’s no more hot water huh?”

“I can hear your stomach already growling anyway…” Ichigo pointed out, hearing the distinctive noise even over the sound of the shower. Laughing Renji managed to stagger off Ichigo’s lap and sit on the shower floor next to him. Sated, both of them washed one another off, and kept their hands to their selves till they were able to turn off the shower.

Even drying one another off took a bit of restraint. From the hazy warm glow over his body the younger Shinigami judged Renji must be feeling the same sensation. That smile he felt stamped on his face would probably be there the rest of the night, the substitute realized. Also he saw a familiar silly grin on the vice captain’s face as he tossed a towel to Ichigo. It resembled the one he had first given the younger Shinigami in the class a few days ago.

*Dorky, but endearing,* Ichigo chuckled. Damn, if he wouldn’t look similarly stupid till the glow wore off.

Renji helped towel him of, and he slipped on one of the two robes hanging up on the back of the bathroom door. Renji gathered their clothes into a pile and tossed them into the hamper. They made their way back to the room where their bodies were stored, both secretly ogling the other’s bare legs as they walked side by side.