Not Close Enough

One thing Renji was secretly dreading was the thought of returning to school. Granted his academic future in the living world didn’t matter much except for a cover, he still needed to fit in. Having seen some of the strange fashions on television when he had been allowed to watch any gave Renji some idea of what was going on. Nevertheless, after one experience with dressing as a cop toting a gun, he soon realized the need to differentiate fictional drama from non-fictional television. Then there was the matter of reality TV shows.
These thoughts suddenly occupied his mind as Renji carefully toweled his hair dry. It was difficult to keep from touching Ichigo in the shower, so both stood not facing one another. Neither said much to the other when exiting the bathroom, both wearing robes on the way to Renji’s adopted room.
“What the hell?” Renji exclaimed, after opening the door. Ichigo collided with his back.
“What did you stop for… oh man…? I can’t believe this!”
It looked much as Ichigo had expected it, a borrowed closet with a few items of clothing Ichigo swore came right of Woodstock, along with some other things more appropriate. However, the two items sitting neatly side by side on the folded out futon definitely seemed out of place. Ichigo’s flopped over body with Renji’s gigai propped up next to it, its head braced against Ichigo’s.
“That slick son of a bitch,” Renji commented, stomping into the room.
“Damn it you’ve got no freaking privacy either huh?” Ichigo quipped, picking up the note that was neatly sitting on his body’s lap.
“What’s that?” Renji asked, sliding the door shut. He paced around the room, poking at piles of cds, and stacks of magazines that were askew. Everything was piled and sorted in an organized way, though the small area seemed to have been a broom closet more than anything else.
Ichigo’s dark brown eyes scrolled back and forth across the page:
“Dear Abarai-san and Kurosaki-san,
Tessai took the liberty of placing your bodies here for we figured you would appreciate having a shorter walk to get them after a shower. Dinner is promptly at seven, and first come first serve.
Oh and Abarai-san, don’t forget that you’re on dish duty tonight. Perhaps you could persuade Kurosaki-san to help if he’s not extremely busy.
Sincerely yours,
Kisuke Urahara
P.S. Abarai-san don’t forget to inform Kurosaki-san about your new assignment. I’m sure he’ll give you all sorts of useful tips fitting into school.”
When Ichigo spun around, he saw Renji just behind him, reading over his shoulder. “What the hell is all this about school?”
“I um…” Renji responded, rubbing the back of his neck. “Urahara-san thought it’d be more useful if I um… went to your school as a student. You know to stop you from leaking spirit energy everywhere…”
“Is he insane? It was a disaster when you showed up there LAST time,” Ichigo said, wincing.
“Well think of it like training. In return, I’ll help you learn to control that spirit energy of yours, while you help teach me about the living world. And you and I’ll have an excuse to see each other every day,” Renji quickly informed him. “So why are you whining?”
“Yeah I guess there’s SOME good in it. But there’s a whole hell of a lot you’ve gotta learn so you won’t embarrass yourself AND me in class, okay?” Ichigo said, turning around to completely face Renji.
“So you’re not angry? You’re okay with it?” Renji asked, looking at the slightly worried look in Ichigo’s face.
“Well if it’s an excuse to see more of you, then I guess I can live with it,” Ichigo said with a shrug.
“Great, Ichigo, glad to hear it,” Renji said, bending over and planting a kiss on Ichigo’s cheek. Surprised at the spontaneous affection he rubbed it, and then watched as Renji turned away towards the closet. First, he unfolded a kimono, tugging it on over his arms while holding a folded set of hakama in his arm.
“First thing we got to do is teach you how to dress when you’re in your gigai. Your fashion sense sucks to high heaven,” Ichigo commented. He caught the spare set of shihakusho that Renji tossed him.
“I know these are a bit big but hey!!!”
“Seriously. If you hang out around my school at all, you’ll have to fit in not stand out. Man what the hell is Urahara telling you anyway?” Ichigo sighed, shaking his head dramatically, pulling on his outfit. He tossed the end of his segmented sash around the shoulder, fastening it in place. Renji always wondered just how the thing came together, since it wasn’t something he saw on other soul reaper uniforms. Usually only Captains and vice-captains could put touches that are more personal on the standard shihakusho, while seated officers were allowed only a few modifications. One did not have to wear tabi with their sandals, or they could wear sleeveless tops such as Hisagi did. Yet since Ichigo was a Substitute Soul Reaper, he figured it fit him as unique.
Ichigo only took a minute to drop casually down into his seated body once more. Blinking up he saw Renji watching him intently, arms folded across his chest. “What, you want to take notes or something?” Ichigo joked.
“You make it look so damn easy,” Renji commented, lips turned up in a fond smile.
“All I’m doing is getting into my body. I guess it’s just like breathing,” Ichigo shrugged, glancing up at Renji. “c’mon, in you go.”
“Do I have to?” Renji complained. Standing up Ichigo grabbed Renji’s arms, and then maneuvered him around so he stood directly in front of his gigai.
“C’mon you were the one bitching about being hungry. And I’m starving too, so get into your body already, okay?” Ichigo ordered. He wondered if Renji was just being silly or really hated his physical form so much.
“I don’t wanna,” Renji mumbled playfully.
“Sit your ass down into that body now, Renji. If a substitute can get into his body a Vice Captain SHOULD be able to,” Ichigo teased, pushing hard so Renji topped backwards into his gigai. Grunting the gigai opened its eyes and stiffly raised its head to glare up at Ichigo.
“Hey, watch it!” Renji snapped. He raised both hands, grabbing at Ichigo’s outstretched ones, ready to wrestle. Leaning forwards Ichigo interlocked fingers with Renji’s, pushing and tugging at him.
“Oh yeah, and what are you going to do about it eh?” Ichigo teased. They both snapped their jaws shut hearing the light rapping on the door.
“Abarai-san, is Kurosaki-san in there with you?”
“Yeah be right there!” Renji called back. “Is dinner ready?”
“Hold your horses hat and clogs, we’re coming,” Ichigo called, adjusting his grip on Renji’s hands so he held them not with threaded fingers but with his underneath. The Vice-captain let the substitute drag him playfully to his feet, and then steadied himself against Ichigo. Their colliding bodies brushed tantalizingly close for a second.
“Did ya HAVE to use that word exactly?” Renji whispered, breath fanning Ichigo’s face.
“Oh stop already,” Ichigo huffed, his entire body burning from head to toe with renewed desire. Inside his stomach felt sagging and empty, devoid of food. He surmised if they wanted to do any more exploring, they would have to eat and fast.
“Last one to the table washes and the other dries!” Renji suddenly teased, smacking Ichigo on the shoulder. Before Ichigo could grab him Renji dodged away, halfway across the bedroom floor.
“Wait a minute… HEY!”
They almost stumbled over one another in an effort to get out the door. Urahara already strode half down the hall, chuckling behind his fan all the way to the main part of his home.
***
“You’re hopeless you know,” Ichigo complained grabbing Renji’s wrist.
With rice dumpling poised at his wide-open mouth Renji hesitated, glancing at Ichigo. “So what? There’s plenty for you.”
“That’s not the damn point…”
“Aw quit yammering and eat already,” Renji said, shoving the dumping into Ichigo’s mouth instead. Caught with a ball of rice sticking to his palate Ichigo mumbled in protest. Renji broke off the part of it sticking out of the youth’s mouth, popping it into his. Ichigo chewed the morsel, managing to swallow it. He found himself watching the muscles in Renji’s jaw moving up and down combined with the movement of his neck.
“Thanks a heap,” Ichigo muttered, scattering pieces of rice down his shirtfront.
“Don’t mention it,” Renji answered, tossing another at him. Neatly Ichigo caught the onigiri, raising it to his lips to devour it. Stealthily Renji had scooted so he sat directly beside Ichigo, insuring their knees touched as well as their arms and shoulders.
“If you were closer than this you’d be sitting on top of me. What is it with you?” Ichigo commented.
“Got a problem being around me or something, Strawberry?” Renji teased.
“You’re still pissing me off when you get like this! It’s weird,” Ichigo shivered.
“Relax, you’re too easy to tease, Ichigo,” Renji complained. “Is it that bad to want to be near ya?”
“It is when you’re messing with my head, Renji. I don’t mind people yanking my chain but this is driving me up the wall. Keigo pulls this shit with me all the time, and that’s why I pound him sometimes,” Ichigo growled, glaring at Renji.
“Oh you mean that chatterbox who was hounding ME and you insisting we were related?” Renji blinked, suddenly understanding why Ichigo was so worked up.
“Yeah. He always hangs on me and jumps on me. Freaks me the hell out. That’s why you getting in my face pissed me off, Renji,” Ichigo explained.
“No wonder,” Renji realized. “Sorry Ichigo. Didn’t realize that. Maybe it’d be better if I did this…”
“Did what?” Ichigo wondered, feeling the pressure of Renji sitting directly next to him vanish. Then he felt the air behind him blocked, along with two legs sliding down either side of his. Against the back of his neck wafted Renji’s hot breath, along with two muscular arms reaching around him from behind. Renji’s arm wrapped around his waist, holding him so his back brushed against the other man’s chest. A soft smell of fabric softener filled Ichigo’s nose.
“What are you doing?” Ichigo said through gritted teeth.
“Relax, Ichigo. I’m trying to get you used to having me around ya in more ways than just in the shower with our clothes off. How can you be comfortable with sex if ya aren’t even with someone in your space?” Renji asked, whispering into his ear.
“Just what does this have to do with…?”
“Just cause we’re guys doesn’t mean ya can’t get close in other ways. And I want to be near ya, so guess ya gotta put up with me doing things like this now and again,” Renji informed him.
“Yeah but… it feels weird,” Ichigo said. He could not suppress the sigh from his lips when Renji hugged him from behind, pressing his chin into his shoulder.
“You’re a lousy liar, Ichigo,” Renji murmured, kissing his neck and cheek. Reaching around him Renji grabbed some food, which disappeared around Ichigo’s rib. Just like a large loveable dog Renji seemed to want to hang and cuddle up to him, which Ichigo wasn’t sure if he liked or was just worried because it would arouse him. Inching backwards Ichigo rocked back so part of his bottom collided with something soft. Still he was on his knees while Renji was sitting down on his bottom behind him.
See how he likes having games played with him, Ichigo thought wickedly. Renji had been disturbingly right about how Keigo drove him up the wall. That clingy friend was like an overenthusiastic puppy, always finding excuses to hang on him, and he just could guess Keigo must find him attractive. While Ichigo was flattered and found Keigo cute, the classmate was just ‘not his type’ compared to the man behind him reaching around for morsels of food. Besides, he suspected Keigo already had fooled around with other friends. He wanted someone who knew what they were doing, not someone just fumbling along unaware of their own desires. Someone as comfortable with his or her body and sex as Renji. Perhaps it was Renji’s self-confidence, which was part of what made him so damn attractive, while wanting to push Keigo away.
“Uh, don’t hog the wasabi,” Renji complained.
“You’re the one reaching around me to get it,” Ichigo shot back, placing the tray on Renji’s knee. “Quit pissing and moaning. Here it is!”
“Thanks,” said Renji, chewing mouthfuls with a loud noise suspiciously close to Ichigo’s ear. That slight humming and smacking his lips at first was annoying, but now sounded suspiciously arousing.
Great, just great. I’m going to get another hard on thanks to him and we’re just freaking EATING. If something else doesn’t happen I’m going to pin his tattooed ass to a wall and fuck him myself, Ichigo found himself thinking. In retaliation, he shifted to kneel more closely but purposely grabbed the table and pushed back so his toes rubbed Renji’s crotch.
“What the,” Renji coughed, realizing that Ichigo was catching onto his game.
“Don’t think I’m stupid, Renji. I know what you’re doing, and two can play that game, ‘pal’,” Ichigo answered, putting a teasing emphasis on the last word in his sentence.
“Good, then it’s working,” Renji answered, moving one of his hands down to rub over Ichigo’s stomach, stopping short of his belt buckle and waistband of his jeans.
“So just how much more of this food are you going to stuff your face with huh?” Ichigo asked quietly.
“Urahara wanted me to do dishes,” said Renji quietly.
“Well then let’s take the dishes with us,” Ichigo said, turning partly around and giving Renji a very serious scowl.
“What are you so pissed about?” Renji asked.
“Thought you of all people knew just because I don’t grin like a freaking idiot all the time doesn’t mean I’m always pissed off,” Ichigo rolled his eyes. “I was just saying we could take all the food with us and finish eating back in your room, and then wash the dishes if something ELSE was going to happen.”
“What sort of something else?” Renji asked, playing with the buttons on his shirt.
“Oh come on, do I have to draw you a damn MAP?” Ichigo groaned.
“I’m not stupid either Ichigo. I think that eating back in my room would be more interesting then out here. Just gimmie a minute and I’ll get a tray or two from the kitchen,” Renji said.
“All right, I’ll straighten up in here,” Ichigo offered, watching as Renji climbed up from behind him, simultaneously feeling the weight of Renji’s hand pressing down hard on his shoulder for balance.
***
Minutes later, they carried the food on two trays into Renji’s room. One of them stayed behind to help clear the pots and pans and let them soak in the deep sink, while the other kept a lookout for Urahara and Tessai. Renji sensed their reiatsu was focused in another part of the store, so they waited.
“Whatcha doing, Kurosaki san?” Urahara asked, seeing Ichigo carrying another tray.
“Just taking this stuff to eat in the back. We’ll do the dishes later,” Ichigo said, his gaze uncertain.
“You and Abarai san working on a project?” Urahara asked.
“Yeah we’re going to focus my spirit energy. And I’m going to tell him how the hell to dress right or he’ll embarrass himself,” Ichigo said, his face schooled into a serious frown.
“Sounds quite a project. Just wash the dishes when you’re done, mmm?” Urahara asked, walking past Ichigo with a singsong voice.
“So you don’t mind?”
“Why ever would I mind, Kurosaki san? Should I?” Urahara asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Just wondering. In case you have something planned for Renji to do. Considering you’re pissing and moaning about him being a freeloader?” Ichigo asked.
“My dear boy, why do you think I suggested he work on helping you? That saves ME trouble.” Urahara laughed smoothly, peering out from under that hat of his. “It’s part of his keep here.”
“All right whatever,” Ichigo said with a shrug, wandering back into his room.
“Have fun,” Urahara teased, wandering off. Leaving Ichigo to complain under his breath when he opened Renji’s door.
Ichigo set the trays down in a clear area of Renji’s floor. He was thankful the other person was so organized. For a minute, he flipped out his cell phone to give his family a call, just in case. If Renji noticed his hint there was a good possibility he may be crashing here, away from annoying fathers. Urahara seemed to be less of a hassle then Isshin any day.
Then again knowing Urahara, he may have already caught on about Renji’s ‘thing’ with Ichigo. After all, he WAS a genius and inventor. That schemer probably deliberately made some excuse for Renji and Ichigo to spend time, and had not objected to them using his training area.