ᵃ ˢᵘᵐᵐᵉʳ ᵒᶠ ˢʰᵃᵈᵒʷˢ

𝔸 𝕊 𝕌 𝕂 𝔸

[katakurah]

hey guys! sorry i've been absent the last couple days. i've been busy with work (and house-cleaning) and that'll continue til about next sunday... orz

i've been drafting everything i owe and will get to them when i can, so don't worry! they will get done eventually!

if you like, add me on discord if you haven't already and we can chat when i get time! aeon#3071

[katakurah]

raisingyourhead​:

Izuru notes the cold expression on Asuka’s face, and he can’t help but shiver some at it. How long has it been since that look was directed at him? He can’t remember. Not really. But then, maybe he’s too drunk to remember. That’s always a possibility too. He closes his eyes as Asuka speaks, not wanting to hear it.

He knows he didn’t give a good answer. That he didn’t give Asuka what he wants. But he doesn’t care either. He knows what he wants, and he knows that he’ll never get it. So what’s the point in admitting to it? 

When the hand loosens, he immediately starts trying to pull away, only to stop when it settles instead on his neck. He’s fully aware of the fact that Asuka could squeeze at any moment, and there’s a part of him that wants him to. To squeeze until there’s nothing left.

But he knows that Asuka won’t do that, either. Just like he knows that Asuka won’t leave, and that he’ll keep pressing until he gets what he wants. His eyes reopen again, this time with a coldness of their own, as he glares back at the sixth seat. 

Perhaps he’s looking too deeply into things, but it almost sounds as if Asuka is propositioning him for sex, now of all times. With the foul mood he’s in, Izuru is hardly up for that sort of thing, and he feels an ire rising up within him that he rarely allows.

It is this anger that causes him to reach up and grasp Asuka’s wrist in his own hand, his grip not enough to hurt, but not loose enough to allow for easy escape either. Tightening his hand for just a moment, he starts trying to pull the sixth seat’s hand off of his neck.

“What I need, Asuka, is none of your concern.” He knows that Asuka won’t like that answer either, but neither does he care. He just wants to be left alone. He wants to sleep. He wants…

Maybe he can get Asuka angry at him. Enough to hurt him, even. It would certainly save him the trouble of getting up to grab another knife from the kitchen, that much is certain.

It’s not entirely untrue that Asuka’s suggesting sex. He’s always found it a good coping mechanism when shit gets problematic and he needs a way to get free from his head. But what the raven’s really after is some kind of reaction: he wants to get Izuru mad. Angry enough to hit him, maybe, or yell or anything. And with that look the lieutenant gives him, it seems he’s well on his way to it.

It’s a start.

His eyes flick down to that small hand as it settles on his wrist, but only for an instant. Fingers instinctively tighten, but not enough to actually restrict Izuru’s breathing, as the lieutenant tries to lever him away. If he really wants to, Asuka has no doubt the noble could push him away, but he’s not so the sixth-seat resists with the strength of his arm rather than his grasp.

“Why,” he growls, “why ain’t i’ my concern? Coz I don’t know ya tha’ well; coz ya ain’t worth i’; coz i’ don’t matter anyway? Bullshi’.” It’s all self-indulgent lies to Asuka. He’s watched Izuru for decades now, has seen him at his low points and the highs. He values the lieutenant more than anyone. “Ain’t I good ‘nough t’ talk to, yer nobleness?”

It’s a low blow, preying on Izuru’s status as a means to aggravate him, but Asuka doesn’t care. He’ll use anything that has a chance of working to get through that thick skull, and he has no intention of apologising for it.

[katakurah]

He groans, letting his head thump against the back of the chair and rolling his eyes. Asuka knows how to rile him, he also definitely can make good on the promise soon whispered into his ear. Renji's fingers squeeze his friend's ass as he contemplates the offer. But he's /already/ straining against his jeans.. And he is so /bad/ at patience. But Asuka will /definitely/ fuck him up if he sets his mind to it. Another groan. "Ugh, fine.. curse yer damn mouth.." And his enticing words..

goddamn is it satisfying to see how affected renji already is. it’s something asuka never tires of and it’s definitely got him pretty wound-up too. he’s almost certain the redhead’s going to take him up on his challenge (despite the fact that he knows that asuka’s going to put him through hell), but he’s not intending to leave it entirely to fate.

but just as he shifts down to bite along that proud jawline, he gets his answer and it has the artist chuckling lowly. “ya love m’ ‘damn mouth’~”

holding his friend’s head back by his hair, asuka takes advantage of that exposed throat, grazing it with his teeth and licking a dirty line right up the column. his free hand wanders down until it can sneak under renji’s shirt and hikes it up until he has free access to the man’s glorious pecs.

fingers splay across one and the raven pauses to glance down with an entertained expression. “damn, man, ya gettin’ bigger. betcha could bench-press me no probs.” of course, it’s not going to stop him tweaking the nipple closest to his touch.

[katakurah]

"Heh." He dips his hands into the backpockets of Asuka's jeans and pulls him forward a little over his hips, arching his back and raising his hips off the chair so he has some control over the grind. "Ya gotta /ask/?" That'd be hot as fuck, having his friend ride him in this chair. He can always count on Asuka to play along with his games, sexual or not. Though, the look on Asuka's face has him suddenly suspicious. He narrows his eyes a little. "Oi, Don't go holdin' out on me now, jackass-!"

asuka licks over his lips when those large hands drag him once more. he arches his back into the motion to ensure there’s as much friction as possible. fuck it’s been too long since he’s done this. between moving and work, he’s only been able to get in a few quickies here and there. they’ve not been nearly as satisfying as what this is bound to be.

so no, he really doesn’t have to ask. he knows about as well as anyone what renji’s thinking right now. they’re very much on the same page, even if the redhead’s version is somewhat more abridged than asuka’s.

his hips resume a steady pace, slow but hard and designed to work them both up with ease. apparently renji’s figured out what’s on his mind and asuka snickers quietly without a hint of denial. “c’mon, it’ll be fun~ y’know it’ll be worth i’.”

he leans in close, breath grazing the redhead’s ear. “i’ll make ya come so damn hard, y’ll be seein’ stars fer a week...”

[katakurah]

raisingyourhead​:

Izuru was about to retort once more only to let out a soft, startled sound as he’s thrown off-balance. He braces himself that much more against the wall, bowing his head with a low moan as he’s squeezed.

While it isn’t entirely pleasurable, neither is it so painful that he can’t enjoy it. So Izuru rocks his hips forwards into Asuka’s hand, and back again to grind against the sixth seat’s to seek some friction. When the taller man lets go, he opens his mouth to protest the lack of stimulation only to shiver as his obi is removed. 

He lets out another hiss as he feels his thighs being scratched, flexing them in response to that. He tilts his head somewhat, enough to look back at Asuka out of the corner of his eye, as he listens. Then, he speaks.

“It can be wherever you like,” he allows in a low voice. “It can be however you like. Just so long as you do something.” He starts to grind his hips backwards again, pressing himself against Asuka as much as he can. “The better question is, Asuka, is what do you want me to do?”

The raven’s breath hitches slightly as those slender hips rock back into his own, betraying Asuka’s own hunger. They’ve been through this many times before but it never really seems to grow old like it does with most other men. He likes putting Izuru through his paces, sometimes pushing the limits, and seeing how the noble reacts to each new way he finds to tease the smaller man.

He’ll tease now, chuckling lowly and grasping Izuru firmly and obligingly rocking himself against that eager ass. There’s still layers of clothes between them but the friction of it feels good and he knows it’ll frustrate the blonde. Asuka leans himself over Izuru’s back so he can growl lowly into a pale ear. “I wantcha t’ beg fer i’ like th’ li’l whore ya are~” Teeth flash and he buries them into the shell of that ear.

Using his feet, he kicks the lieutenant’s knees further apart then leans back so he can slide his clothed erection along the valley of Izuru’s ass in a steady rhythm. Almost like he’s content to get off just like this. And he could do just that, it really does feel damn good—enough to make him hiss softly and let his eyes slide closed for a moment. But then he pulls away and sinks to his knees behind the noble, dragging those loose hakama down as he goes and exposing him to the chill in the room.

Asuka’s pretty sure Izuru won’t be expecting this.

[katakurah]

Fuck yeah! Asuka takes him up on his offer. Renji grins, his teeth around his tongue for a few seconds more, despite Asuka's warning. His hands fall easily onto the other's hips after he's situated himself upon his lap, and he pulls him a little closer, taking him up on that warning by putting his tongue to better use, capturing Asuka's lips. He's very pleased that his initial intention is coming true. They're making out. His hands migrate to grasp Asuka's ass, then he moves them, so that he lies horizontally against the back of the tattooing chair, Asuka on top of him. Now this is the life. Way more entertaining than waiting for Asuka to finish his meticulous designs.

the artist hardly minds as he’s dragged even closer, content (for the moment) to let the redhead handle him as he likes. he’s even pliant as that tongue slips between his lips, immediately tasting mint.

renji must’ve pilfered from the front desk on his way through. spicy, but he likes it and draws renji’s tongue deeper, teasing at it with his own. asuka’s never been much one for kissing, but he can’t deny that his long-time friend’s very skilled at it.

he hums lowly as tanned hands shift to his ass, pressing back into them slightly before he’s forced to maneuver as renji settles back onto the chair properly. it’s a stellar view and asuka spends a moment taking it in, the redhead prone beneath him, then grins with intent. the tattooist grasps handful of that wild crimson hair and holds it tight. “ya want me t’ ride ya, red?” 

asuka’s hips shift subtly, grinding down over his companion’s. he wonders how much renji can take of this, how long he can put up with the friction of cloth between them. it’s something he’s seriously considering testing out.

[katakurah]

It's one of the rare days that he chooses to leave on time with everyone else, rather than staying late. Maybe it's because he feels utterly exhausted in a way that he rarely does. Maybe it's for other reasons. But does it matter, in the end? He ignores Asuka in favor of making his way to his quarters, intent on skipping dinner and just going to bed instead so that he can at least try to get some sleep, regardless of any nightmares he may have. He cam always drink to prevent them, after all.

asuka doesn’t bother trying to get his lieutenant’s attention as he passes by. he can see it in izuru’s eyes that it’d be a pointless effort. instead, the raven packs up his papers with a silent exchange and nod to the third-seat. they’ve both done this enough that it’s no longer anything they need to say aloud.

once he’s done, he rises and tracks the blonde back to his quarters. izuru’s not hard to find, not hard to predict, and asuka doesn’t bother knocking as he opens the door and slips through. he might get kicked out for his lack of manners, but he doesn’t expect to. instead, the sixth-seat pads on over to his superior and rests a hand on izuru’s slim shoulder. “need some company?”

he’s not looking for anything today, just to offer a distraction and a sense of camaraderie. “ya c’n sleep on m’ lap if ya want.”

[katakurah]

𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙻𝚅𝙴 𝙿𝙴𝙾𝙿𝙻𝙴 𝙸'𝙳 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚆 𝙱𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙴𝚁

stolen from:  @ujinoko​

ONE ( ALIAS / NAME ):  aeon.

TWO ( BIRTHDAY ):  14 september.

THREE ( ZODIAC SIGN ):  virgo.

FOUR ( HEIGHT ):  175cm / 5′9″.

FIVE ( HOBBIES ):  being a nerd, writing, crazy cat ladying, taking my snake on walks, avoiding adulthood.

SEVEN ( FAVOURITE BOOKS ):  the inheritance cycle—christopher paolini, anything by tamora pierce, the harry potter series.

EIGHT ( LAST SONG LISTENED TO ):  arabella — arctic monkeys.

NINE ( LAST SHOW WATCHED ):  wandavision.

TEN ( INSPIRATION FOR MUSE ):  since we’re literally only given 3 panels with asuka in it, i’ve taken a considerable amount from eline‘s take on him. a lot of fleshing out has been done with blue and angel (and later star). pretty sure he doesn’t even belong to kubo at this point!

ELEVEN ( MEANING BEHIND YOUR URL ):  nothing magical. “katakura” itself isn’t even taken. i just didn’t want to be entirely uninspired.

[toky09]

[katakurah]

He follows after Asuka calmly, raising one brow in response after watching the Lieutenant storm off. "Which would help more? A spar, a drink, or some rough sex?"

“i wanna kill ‘im...” 

asuka flexes his injured hand restlessly, the violent energy waning slightly into a hot smolder that sits in his gut. he doesn’t want of the suggestions, he just wants to slice off that smiling mask and expose the vile reality underneath.

but that’s not going to happen, so he takes a few slowed breaths and deliberately relaxes his grasp. what he needs right now is to get away from third, ichimaru, and izuru. as protective of his lieutenant as asuka is, there’s no way he’s going to be able to be near the blonde without doing something else stupid right now.

another deeper, more controlled breath and he faces rikū, brow still tense but less knitted than earlier. “lets get drunk ‘til we pass ou’.”

[katakurah]

He looks up when he hears the commotion, and his eyes widen at the sight of Asuka trying to stab the Captain. In a flash he's on his feet and making his way towards the confrontation, his eyes darkening. Even when Asuka starts to walk away, Izuru first checks over Gin before turning to chase after the sixth seat. It's rare that he's riled like this, though he really should have expected it. He had hoped that it would never come to this, but he really shouldn't be surprised. (1)

Asuka had not made any effort to hide his disdain for the Captain, after all. Even so... Izuru pushes his emotions aside, the part of him that wants to scream and cry at having to go against one of his friends, and instead allows his mind to become blank as he catches up and forcefully pushes at Asuka to get him up against a wall. "Don't. Don't do that again. The Captain may let you off easily, but I won't. I will not stand for insubordination, Asuka." (2)

he’s breathing hard as he exits the building, fists clenched in raw vitriol. dammit!

a wild punch leaves cracks in the wall and splits his knuckles wide open. asuka wants to do it again and again. until the pain outweighs his anger. but he doesn’t get the chance to take a second shot. he’s pinned there by a force. for a flash, he thinks it’s ichimaru again, come to taunt him more, but when he looks up, it’s just izuru. 

which only enrages the sixth-seat further.

“ya think i fuckin’ care?!” he’s lashing out but he doesn’t care. izuru’s too blinded by devotion to see what that fox-face bastard is doing. asuka grabs the front of the noble’s uniform, blood from his knuckles staining the fabric. he shoves the smaller man away from him, a look akin to disgust on his face. “makes me sick!”

the raven doesn’t care how izuru takes that right now, he just can’t stand and watch how the blonde defends their captain time and time again in spite of everything. he needs space. he can’t breathe like this.

[katakurah]

He passes by Asuka's desk and pauses, tilting his head playfully, before turning to face him fully. "Ne, Asuka-kun, d'ya think Izuru'd like it if I had m' way wit' him? He's so cute when he cries, I jus' imagine he'd be even cu'er all red. Whatcha think?"

asuka tenses the instant ichimaru stops at his desk. one hand surreptitiously makes its way into his lap and out of sight, freeing one of his blades from its place on his wrist. the other flattens out on the woodgrain in an attempt to maintain his air of indifference.

he counts his breaths, keeping them steady in an effort to block out those silky-smooth words, but there’s a tic in his jaw muscle that gives him away.

don’t react. he wants you to. don’t do anything stupid—

but at those last two words, asuka’s self-control fails him. in a flash, he’s out of his chair and driving the knife towards the bastard’s throat before his chair even clatters to the ground. there’s no way it’ll make contact—gin’s far too clever and devious—and the moment it’s blocked, the sixth-seat snarls like some animal.

dropping his blade, he stalks out.

he knows there won’t be any repercussions on what he’s done. ichimaru’s not the sort to deprive himself of more fun and have the sixth-seat detained. he’ll get back at asuka in other, more subtle ways.

[katakurah]

When Asuka's chair drove him backwards, his hands were on the back of it, but once it stopped, and Asuka seemed disinclined to get up, he moved them to his friend's shoulders and looped his arms around them. "Hah? Really, yer just gonna sit an' wait?" Renji was obviously amused by this, as it was unusual. "In that case.." He pulled the chair {and Asuka in it} closer to the tattooing chair, and swiveled Asuka around, himself hopping onto it. Then patted his thighs and stuck out his tongue.

the warmth in renji’s embrace is kinda pleasant, but neither of them are looking for “comfortable” right now. far from it, in fact.

asuka offers nothing more than a middle finger for the teasing comment and waits to see what the redhead’s planning. he’s not kept waiting long and chuckles quietly when he’s tugged along forcefully. the ease in which renji moves him speaks volumes about his superior strength and yet asuka knows from experience he can subjugate it with relative ease. he arrives at his destination an smirks openly, eyeing up that large body as he might a perfectly-cooked steak.

“i did sanitise tha’ earlier, y’know.” not that it really matters since renji’s been on it for some time now and it’ll have to be cleaned down before his next customer anyway. especially if it’s leading where asuka thinks it is.

the tattooist obligingly climbs into the proffered lap, one knee on the bench and then the other before settling himself on renji’s thighs. he then leans in to snap his teeth at that exposed tongue with a wolfish grin. “use i’ or lose i’, they say~”

[ujinoko-deactivated20211006]

@katakurah​: [ lit ] your muse lighting a cigarette , spliff , etc. for mine. 

          Akon isn’t entirely sure what to make of the situation he’s found himself in.  Or rather the repeating situation.  After their initial meeting he had figured that that would be it.  It seemed the other man had different ideas though,  as here he was yet again…  And this time Akon knew he had been sought out specifically.  Asuka was far from home base,  meandering outside of the twelfth as he was.  As Akon had been informed by one of his underlings.  The man has asked for him by name when they’d been scurrying inside the building.  Why he felt it necessary to go out and greet him instead of making him leave was beyond him.  Akon supposed he simply found the entire matter interesting.

          “You stalking me now?”  He asks casually as Asuka comes into view,  not really bothered by what his answer would be.  It wasn’t like Akon had much room to speak on invading people’s privacy.  “I’m a busy person,  y’know.  I don’t have time to be playing games if that’s what this is to you.”

          Akon reaches into his pocket and produces his pack of cigarettes,  long fingers grabbing one easily.  He places it between his lips,  making to grab his lighter in his other pocket but it seems the other man is quicker than he is.  The flame dances before his eyes and for a moment he doesn’t react.  If this was a game though,  Asuka had for the first time grabbed his attention.  He inhales,  pulling the flame into the tip of his smoke.  It ignites the tobacco,  the beginnings of ashes collecting on the end as he pulls back to indicate he doesn’t need it any more.

          “So are you going to tell me what this is about or am I supposed to guess?”  Akon lifts a hand into his hair,  pushing it back as he locks eyes with Asuka purposefully.  He intends to be given an honest answer…  Or else he might have to make sure whatever interest the other man had in him died as quickly as it had risen.

[katakurah]

Asuka lets the flame linger for a few moments after it’s needed simply for the pleasure of watching it flicker in the subtle breeze. He’s amused that Akon’s actually emerged from whatever cave he’s tucked himself into. Apparently Akon’s just as interested in him as Asuka is in him—though he hasn’t quite figured the horned man out yet.

“thought ya didn’t play games,” the lighter flicks closed and disappears into the sixth-seat’s uniform, “bu’ seems like ya came runnin’ when I called.” For all his general antagonism, Asuka likes to see what makes people tick. The ones that interest him anyway. He knows there’s more to the scientist than just what’s in his lab. He’s noticed the muscles hidden beneath that white coat; they’re not something that comes about from just standing around playing with chemicals and body parts all day.

But that’s hardly all that’s piqued his interest.

The raven leans back into the wall surrounding Akon’s division and watches with calculating eyes. “I was thinkin’… those horns o’ yers. Tha’ all ya c’n do t’ someone?” not that Asuka’s truly wanting to having some kind of modification done on himself (or, at least, he’s not planning to)—he just wants to get the man talking. Maybe crack that wall of indifference Akon puts up in front of himself.

Or at least get a peak over it.

[katakurah]

kazeshinigami​:

Shuuhei acknowledges Katakura’s point about what he’s getting out of this play with a small nod, though the bit about owing him a favor sits ill at ease in his gut. Well, so long as it’s not something that will earn Muguruma’s wrath or something, Shuuhei should be able to manage. He’s used to repaying people in favors (albeit, often of the sexual kind, and he can’t be certain that’s what Katakura means here).

His breaths are coming heavier now, rattling his frame more each time. Every muscle in his upper body is tense, and the strain is setting in. How many more are left? At some point, he supposes, Katakura will run out of canvas.

The appearance of the knife in his field of vision pulls him out of that thought. Given the order to clean it himself, Shuuhei cautiously edges toward it and licks a long stripe up the edge of the blade, trying to apply enough pressure to pull the blood away without leaving a slice on his tongue. How good a job he does, he isn’t certain. His vision is a little in-and-out from holding back the pain. “I… Is that… acceptable?”

While Asuka’s many things, he’s not the sort to abuse a favor owed. It’s one of the few things that’s genuinely beneath him. There’s enough fun for him just letting the indebted person speculate on what he might want from them to satisfy the sixth-seat. In the end it’ll probably be something simple like buying a round of drinks or a blowjob, or maybe paperwork—it just depends on the person and Asuka’s mood.

He can see Hisagi’s beginning to really feel it now, the effort he’s having to put in to keep himself steady underneath the sixth-seat’s blade, to stay obedient. It’s quite the sight under him and Asuka’s beginning to take note of the head building low in his gut. The delicate flicks of the lieutenant’s pink tongue over his silver blade are just about the hottest thing he’s seen in a while and he hums his satisfaction in a low tone.

Once the knife’s clean, Asuka withdraws it and sits back, resting his weight low on the scarred man’s hips. He studies the cuts he’s already made as they bleed sluggishly. The first kanji’s almost clotted now and the sixth-seat traces his thumb over it with surprising gentleness. Just enough pressure to smear the congealing blood across angry skin and join it with the pool formed by the second symbol. “Two more,” he offers, a small reassurance that Shūhei’s half-way through his ordeal.

But the next ones will hurt all the more.

Nevertheless, Asuka begins again with a diagonal cut and a downward slash at its centre. This one’s quicker than the last as he works through the series of horizontal and vertical strokes that make up the latter part of the kanji, but he’s steady as the skin gives way under his knife. It’d be all too easy here to drag the blade sideways over flinching muscles and take off a good chunk of flesh; the raven doesn’t want to actually disfigure Hisagi despite his actions.

“Ya no’ gonna pass ou’ on me, are ya?”

[katakurah]

3rdofthethird​:

@katakurah​ from here

He notes the doodled on form, and almost comments on it, before thinking better of it. There are more important things to do, after all. Instead he merely sighs and tries to make a note to himself to come back later, after he’s gotten his answers, to try to clean up the desk at least a little before Izuru reaches it and decides to claim the paperwork for himself. 

He guides the other man not to a bar, but rather, to his quarters. He’d purchased a fair amount of sake on his last day off for this express purpose, after all. “Go ahead and sit down wherever you like. I’ll get the sake and some snacks.”

he’s more than suspicious now; he’s certain rikū’s got a specific goal in mind. there’s no other reason he’d be treated like an actual guest by the noble.

there’s a few reasons asuka can list off the top of his head as to what that goal is: izuru is the first. this usually happens when the third-seat wants to have a serious discussion about their lieutenant’s behaviour. or it’s about asuka’s attitude getting out of hand—a little less common than the first option but not by much. the last is that rikū himself needs to vent in private. it’s pretty rare it happens so asuka doubts it’s that. as for the other two... it’s a 50/50 split so he’ll just have to wait and see.

the raven takes up one of the cushions laid out by the small kotatsu in the corner of rikū’s living quarters and waits. it’s no good rushing him, so asuka simply leans back against the wall with his legs sprawled out and hands cushioning his head. “’s a good thing ‘m on patrol t’morrow. think i migh’ jus’ go mad if i had t’ do paperwork fer one more day...”

[katakurah]

Aha-! success! Renji grins down at his friend, feeling rather victorious. Though he does almost spastically fling the pencil from behind his ear across the room when it seems like Asuka might make a grab for it. In the end, the artist had only meant to bury his hands in Renji's hair. Ah, well.. All the better. He snorts at Asuka's warning. "Don't I always?" Besides.. They had the whole shop to themselves, could be fun. Although Asuka's apartment was also just a stairwell away..

asuka snickers as he hears the pencil clatter somewhere at the opposite end of the room. he’ll make renji pay for the broken lead later. right now, he’s got far more interesting things on his mind.

leaning his head back against the taller man’s shoulder he smirks over at him with his usual sly deviousness. “mmm, true.” asuka’s free hand pushes the sketchbook away and he shoves his chair backwards, forcing the redhead to take a step back as well. the artist doesn’t stand just yet, though. he’s more curious as to what renji has in mind. 

“so, whatcha thinkin’?” usually asuka’s the one to take the lead—it’s just in his nature—but this time he’s content to let his companion. for a while, at least. as long as renji keeps things interesting for him, anyway.