Hey guys I'm so sorry for the long dleay, my school work was much more important to me, this is a hobby as it always will be. Thank you to the people who decided to stick with me and I hope you all enjoy this little chapter while I go work on some other stories. I hope now that it's summer I can get back and post a little more, and always remember I do love and so do Shi and Kyu, they just decideed it would be a nice time to vacation themselves! I can practically hear their indignation at that statement so I should probably stop before they curse me with voodoo or something lol. So again, Enjoy and please do review!

OH! WARNING: Fluffy smexiness nearish to the end and SPOILERS! I warned you now so please PLEASE don't flame me. I will most likely remove ANY flames and/or publically respond with my rebuttal, especially if it is in a review. If you have issues please PM me and don't take it up in a public review section.

Chapter 8: A Storm is Coming

Ichigo flushed crimson when he saw the two standing in his kitchen doorway. He stepped back from Renji timidly and smiled at the two. However, that smile was wiped off his face as quick as he could snap his fingers when Rangiku flew forward and grabbed Renji's collar screaming.

"What the hell is your problem Abarai! You shouldn't lead him on anymore! You have serious issues you know that! I can't believe you would stoop so low!" She pulled him close and glared, sparks practically flying from her eyes.

Shocked Ichigo stepped backwards. Before he could react though, Hisagi was between the two and pushing Rangiku backwards. "Rangiku-chan! Calm down you don't know anything!"

"Like hell I don't! Ichigo's come to me a lot crying because of that tattooed bastard! Ask Rukia! She was there almost every time!" At this outburst Renji looked at Ichigo with wide, sad eyes. He shook his head and mouthed the words, 'We'll talk.'

"And do you know what Renji's been through? No, Rangiku-chan you DON'T so calm down and let THEM work this out on their own! Now sit down and stop yelling before everyone—"

"Else gets here?" Toshiro intoned softly, and behind him was standing a very stiff and straight faced Kuchiki, followed by the rest of the gang. Ichigo groaned and literally face palmed.

"Hey guys, I think we have more important matters than my love life so can we get over this and start planning?" Ichigo growled softly.

"Of course of course Kurosaki-san!" Urahara pushed past and strode in, followed by a dark skinned, purple haired, yellow eyed woman – Yorouichi. "Let's do this shall we! Ahh It's been a while since I've had your families cooking! Yuzu's been busy with her family and we all know Karin doesn't really care since she has the money to eat out!"

Ichigo merely grinned. "So I heard. By the way, I never got to say I was sorry for making you see that…"

"Ahh Ichigo what do you mean?" Yorouichi slung her arm around the new captains shoulders.

"Me dying…" He cast his glance downward and she shoved him.

"It's fine! Your still here – sort of – now let's eat!" She grinned widely and plopped down at the table.

Once dinner was done, everyone lounged in the living room. Some conversing lightly on what the former Espada had said, others content to stay quiet and listen, not having any real input.

"So, Abarai-kun, you said they claimed to be like Ichigo? How so?" Urahara asked, his question was chorused with a few yes's from the surrounding people. "Kurosaki-kun was half human half shinigami to begin with, and then he gained the hollow powers when he went to regain the shinigami powers! And then there is the fact he had a Fullbring… How does one copy such a thing…" He pulled up his fan in front of his face out of habit as he contemplated the phenomena.

"Maybe the Fullbring is what did it…" Hitsugaya mumbled. "I remember fighting that brat with the hand held game console."

"Yes. Didn't Ginjou steal Ichigo's Fullbring?" Byakuya's voice was almost missed, as it was almost only a murmur of wind.

"Maybe some of that power dispersed into Hueco Mundo… But I highly doubt that's possible." Yorouichi responded in turn.

"I believe you all forget the kind of power Kurosaki-kun wields." Urahara shut his fan with a snap. "A small fraction of his reiatsu outdoes quite a few many lower ranked officers in any division at any given time. In fact, if I recall, most Third Seats barely reach half that amount. His capacity is the same as the sou-taicho."

"It's really that high?" Ichigo muttered distractedly. "Why do I run out so fast then?"

"Simple really." Urahara grinned. "You don't control how much you use, really it is wasteful the way you fling it around."

Ichigo flushed and internally cursed the green clothed man. Renji had been oddly silent through the exchange, as had Rukia and most of the other usually loud Shinigami. "What do you guys think?" Ichigo said, addressing aforementioned people.

"Hmm." Was Rukia's response.

Renji merely grunted at the same time as Ikkaku.

It was Yumichika who said, "Well, we can't really say much as this isn't really our area. I believe you are most suited to figuring out this anomaly."

Ichigo sighed and stretched back, suppressing a yawn as he looked at the clock. It was nearly 12:30 in the morning and he had to be up by 6 to be at the division and get some paperwork done before anyone else showed up.

"Okay… We all have more time to discuss this… I think we should all part ways and try to think of as much as we can, the storm is coming… And we all need our rest." He accentuated the statement with a little yawn and a slow blink. He watched as everybody nodded in acquiescence and got up and ambled out the door and to their respective housing units or barracks. Renji was the last to start leaving, and as soon as Yorouichi found her way out the door Ichigo grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Is it time for that talk?" He murmured softly, avoiding looking directly into the very slightly taller shinigamis eyes, choosing instead to stare at the middle of his forehead between tattooed eyebrows.

"Yea… I have a lot to tell you, and now I think I can without breaking." Renji pulled Ichigo to the futon and they both sat down, Renji looking troubled and contemplative, Ichigo looking mostly just troubled. Then Renji took a deep breath and launched into what had happened.

30 minutes later found Renji staring wide eyed at the back of a very pissed off orange haired Shinigami. The redhead cursed internally and reached out a hand to grasp Ichigo's forearm. He turned the fuming strawberry to face him. As Ichigo glared at a point past Renji's head, Renji pressed his lips against the youngers. He kept applying pressure until Ichigo parted his lips and let his eyes slide closed. Renji internally smirked a little in triumph. Slipping in his tongue he started to carefully map out every part of Ichigo's mouth he could reach. As he did, Renji pressed closer and Ichigo's arms found their way to his neck.

Taking this as a sign of encouragement, Renji let his lips fall down Ichigo's chin, and slid them across the youngers jaw. There he nipped and flicked his tongue, earning a whimper from the orange haired shinigami. Renji walked Ichigo backwards to the futon and laid them both down, the red head started to nip and suck at Ichigo's exposed neck, then down to the junction of his shoulders and neck that was just barely covered by his uniform. There he left an angry looking red mark that was sure to bruise later. The whole time Ichigo was panting softly and running his hands up and down Renji's back. When he arched his back up a little bit, Renji knew he'd found the little soft spot that never failed to bring Ichigo to a whimper.

Renji pulled back and stared down into Ichigo's melted gaze. When his conscious caught up to him he groaned internally. He slid off the new captain and laid at his side, nuzzling into his neck, then he murmured softly. "I don't want this to be about sex."

Ichigo stiffened a little and Renji sighed and began to pull back. Ichigo wrapped his arms around the redhead. "Don't leave though. I don't want this to be about sex either but I do want you back. We'll do THAT when it feels right plus I don't want to pressure you into anything, or you to pressure me. SO we'll take it slow and let it come naturally… Even if this seemed natural." Renji tipped his head back and glared at the smirk he was receiving.

"I ain't a girl Ichi." He pouted a little. "Besides, I think you're right. It was a little too natural though. It's a bad way to start a relationship off, or restart in this case."

The two shinigami smiled at each other and Renji shifted up to switch places with Ichigo. When the younger was situated they pulled up the blankets and cuddled together, sleep coming easy enough despite the fact that a storm was brewing and they both knew it. This was the last good night they'd have for a while to come.

A/N: This chap title makes me think of A Game of Thrones... "Winter is Coming" anyway I hope you all enjoyed and please if you have questions feel free to either PM or review and ask, even if it's a question that should be answered by the cast, they will... I'll make 'em lol.

And thank you to all my lovely supporters! Especially my reviewers:

Maru de Kusanagi
DURRBALAAM
Rock4Rox
BBQkitten
Bakura Apeiron
Loveable-Chelle23
Anna Mae 2243
thesleepless
Rhea1305
LazyTurtle
Mayuzu
NJay-Ficilist
Lil Mexican
DidiRose
tenneys-oats
Layra

^Let me know if I spelled your name wrong, I'll be sure to fix it! And If you have questions feel free to ask, I've always got a way to get an answer to you!