FFV's note: This is a joint fanfiction with morlea, which means I type a chapter, she types up a chapter and sends it to me, etc.
This is my post.

A breeze swept by and ruffled vibrant strands. Cherry-colored spheres were half-lidded. The boy loved his job at the Speedway, every single day was nice. ...mostly because a certain person came every single time at exactly five in the afternoon.

Leaning back on the brick building the redhead closed his eyes and drifted off as the music from his Sansa bounced about on his ear drums. Porcelain and the Tramps was his favorite out of a few others. Good thing he had the thing on Shuffle so the next song playing was This is Halloween.

Perfect...

Letting his eyes open halfway the teen wondered how much longer he needed to wait.

Yes, he fell helplessly head over heels for the person that was coming to get the usual.

"Yo, Renji, break's over!" a familiar voice called. Plucking out the ear-phones the young male stuffed them into his black jeans, reaching for his music player and paused it, shutting the lovable device with screaming voices off. "C'mon man, get yer ass in the buildin'!"

Renji snorted, "Keep yer boxers on, dickhead."

Pushing off the wall he headed into the gas station's store and moved to go back to putting the soda bottles into the fridge, passing his bald coworker and friend. He noticed the painted pink streaks on the side of the teen's face and figured Yumichika did it again. That guy was always an anal for 'beauty'.

Bending down the tattooed male sighed and lifted a hand to grab at a Mountain Dew bottle. Curling his fingers around it he lifted it up but paused once he couldn't move it any further than a few inches from the storage unit.

Glancing over his shoulder Renji's eyes widened and stared at who was standing there.

Rukia's brother-in-law. Byakuya Kuchiki.

This man personally crept Renji out beyond comprehension. So cold, so dominant, superior as well...he seemed to never take no as an answer. That was one of the things that pissed the boy off the most.

"'ey, Byakuya," Renji greeted, letting go of the bottle and pushing himself to stand, brushing off his plain black shirt with the words, 'I'm out of my mind right now, please leave a message.' His hands ventured down to his pants and blinked once the dark haired man watched him in an emotionless way. "I ain't a fuckin' show to watch, man!"

God how he hated this man. Always expecting to get whatever he wanted.

"I just came here for Rukia, seeming as she's come down with the flu."

Renji's eyes widened then. "W-what?!" he cried, the sound echoing about the area, alarming most of the staff seeing as Renji would only laugh loudly and that was it. "The flu?! When did this happen?!!" The redhead loved Rukia like a sister, of course he'd panic over something that would be trivial to others.

Ikkaku was just passing by and blinked, turning while holding onto the buns' box for the hot dogs. Raising a brow his gaze went to the dark haired man and frowned deeply. "Yo, Kuchiki, quit botherin' Renji!" he called, narrowing his eyes. "He ain't on break anymore."

"I only came on behalf of my sister," the raven haired male frowned before setting the green shaded drink down on the counter beside him, frowning as he left, the blad teen growling once the door shut and looked over at the redhead who went back to what he was previously doing, but being a little harsh while doing so.

"I don't know what Hisana saw in him," Ikkaku frowned then moved to take the buns where they were supposed to go.

Honestly, what had Rukia's sister seen in Byakuya?

Not that it was any of their business. Filling the fridge with sodas the redhead stood and moved to stand, grabbing onto the crate, eyes halfway shut as he groaned from annoyance. Now his good mood was totally bombed. He doubted anything could fix it.

"Renji," Yumichika called, waving his arm. "Your favorite customer is coming over, looking as beautiful as always."

That's one of the many other things the redhead hated about the dark haired boy. So pretty and witty and gay... Not ashamed to show it off either. He was wearing a pink shirt for Christ's sake!! Wording of the day? 'I know I'm gorgeous, you don't need to tell Me.'

But hearing those words pass the purple haired teen's lips made the inked seventeen year old scurry to the front, nearly crashing into the Cheez-its, doughnuts, chips and whatever else that accidentally got in his way. Reaching the front he tripped and landed flat on his face just as the door swung open.

Renji lifted his face up and whimpered before looking to the side and seeing that he'd knocked over the bags of pies, gum, and the other sugary treats contained in wrapper.

"Fuck!" the redhead cursed loudly, pushing himself up onto his knees, reaching around to pick up what had fallen along with him. Once his hand reached to the side to grab a chocolate pie cherry-colored hues blinked at the warmth washing over his senses.

Slowly...very slowly...he glanced over to see that the hand atop his was sun-kissed. Traveling upwards he saw a loose-fitting blue shirt then ever upwards his eyes connected with chocolate. The warm color he came to adore.

"Um -"

"Let me help," the spiky haired male spoke, his voice soft and tender, yet so stern and demanding. He was...in Renji's opinion...so perfect.

Nodding the redhead moved aside and let the other help him pick the stuff up. Renji had a soft smile as he moved about, glad that the other hadn't laughed at him for falling. Standing and putting the last packs of gum away Renji dusted his hands off on his shirt.

"Yo, Ichigo! Hurry up and get the -"

Both teens looked up to see a figure the same height as Ichigo walk in, stopping immediately when golden pools landed on them. He was pale, deathly pale, hair the color of pure snow, nails painted black. He was clothed in the High School's soccer uniform, white and tan, just like the uniform.

He was sweating, Renji figured he'd missed the match. Not like he cared.

"I'm getting it Hichigo, chill." the orange haired one snorted, turning and reaching around Renji to grab at a packet of gum then headed to the back where the refreshments were stored. "Dumb ass..." Grumbling the elder Kurosaki headed back with a bottle of Propel and a bottle of Pepsi Max. "You pay this time."

Stuffing the items into the bleached form's arms, Ichigo headed out the door and Renji parted his lips to say something, reaching a hand out but dropped it and moved to stand behind the counter. Looking up he offered a smile to the, he guessed, twin to Ichigo.

Hichigo raised a brow then plopped the stuff down with a huff. "S'up?"

Renji looked down and got his hands to go to work scanning the products. "Nothin' much, ya?"

"Oh..." The albino leaned on the counter, arms crossed as he watched the redhead's hands move, how well their precision was. Amazing. "Played a game of soccer and kicked major fuckin' ass."

The Abarai wasn't really interested but he nodded anyway. He wanted to see the orange head, not the snow white. He knew that Hichigo Kurosaki worked at a local store...was it Pick 'n Save or Walmart? Furrowing his brows slightly he tried to remember then wanted to bash his head onto the counter.

Of course!

Hichigo worked at the Cousins he himself often went to for that one meatball sandwich thing. God how the redhead loved it.

"That's nice, wish I could've been there to see it." Renji muttered. He was lying. He hated sports. Those people only joined to get chicks.

"Nah,"

Ruby eyes shot up and they were wide as Renji stared at the one across from him. "...what?"

"I said, 'Nah,' man. Listen to people more." Hichigo sneered, his yellow orbs going to the price totaling to $5.89. Reaching into his back pocket he tugged his black wallet and popped it open, rummaging then cursing. Looking up he pulled out a twenty. "Got change fer a twenty?"

"Yeah." Renji reported, opening the register and rummaging as he took the twenty and paid the albino back what was left over.

Their fingertips brushed, even just slightly, and the redhead looked to the side.

Shit...he was forcing down a blush. So not cool.

Well, the sports player did look a lot like the elder twin so it did make sense.

"'ey," the disoriented voice called, getting the inked student to look back at him. "I look forward to seein' ya at Cousins later...Renji."

That was the only thing the white haired male left him with before gathering up his stuff and exiting the door, leaving Renji with wide eyes and hands reaching up to touch the fingertips to his face. Oh, God...he was......blushing.

This was terrible!

Outside Ichigo had watched the exchange, crossing his arms and glaring at Hichigo once his twin exited the store. "What did you say?" he demanded, voice monotone and thin, orange, brows furrowed.

"Nothin', damn!" the pale duplicate snapped, shoving the gum and soda into his brother's arms. "Jesus fuckin' Christ, Ichigo, ya make me sound like I torture people twenty-four/seven!" He grabbed onto the cap to his water and unscrewed it, taking a large gulp.

A sigh simply passed the elder's lips, "You know that I've learned by now not to trust you."

"That's cold. Now go get yer ass back to yer bookwormin' shit."

Ichigo glared at his brother and smacked him upside the head, receiving a glare. Yes, Ichigo Kurosaki worked at Barnes and Noble...and enjoyed the peace and quiet there immensely.