A Tainted Love

An Ichiru and Zero fan-fic

Ichiru smiled up at the worried figure looming over his bed. It wasn't unlike his brother to visit in the middle of the night like this; it had become part of the routine.

"Zero?" Ichiru mumbled. He was a bit tired, so his words were slurred, but he tried for his brother's sake. As he had so many times before, he shoved his blankets aside and squirmed to make room for his twin.

Zero crawled beneath the covers, making sure to leave more for his brother than himself. He reached over and placed his hand on his twin's forehead and sighed when he found it to be incredibly warm. He was left with a sense of dread every time his brother was sick. "Ichiru, you should be sleeping. Staying up won't make you better."

Ichiru flashed a weak smile in his brother's direction. "Does it really matter, Zero? As long as you're okay, mom and dad won't…"

"Don't talk like that, Ichiru." He wrapped his arm around the smaller boy's waist; he loved it when they were close. "Mom and dad love you very much, and they only want the best for you."

"You speak so wisely, Zero. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be like you."

"Ichiru!"

He gave another weak smile. "Don't scold me, Zero." He reached over and placed a warm hand on his twin brother's cheek. Zero's eyes fluttered closed. "I can't help how I feel."

Zero nuzzled his head closer; their noses were almost touching. "You're so perfect, Ichiru. Being sick doesn't make you weak."

"No, Zero. But compared to you…"

"Please, Ichiru." Zero would never admit that there were tears forming in his closed eyes. "I'm begging you to stop!"

Zero gripped the sleeves of Ichiru's sleeping clothes and pulled him closer; they were now chest to chest. Zero's eyes flew open to reveal the twinkle of tears before Ichiru watched them slide down his brother's face.

"You're hurting me, Zero." Ichiru whispered. Some part of him didn't want Zero to let go, and was pleased when he didn't. "Don't cry for my sake."

Then, Zero did something unexpected. He kissed Ichiru.

Their lips met in the innocence of a first kiss. It was a soft touch that left them both with a dizzying sense of realization: they loved each other. It wasn't the innocent connection that twins shared; this was something more.

Zero angled his head to deepen the kiss. He had no experience, but Ichiru seemed to think otherwise. He wondered how many people his brother had had the opportunity to kiss.

When they pulled away, they were both smiling.

"Zero?" Ichiru asked.

"Ichiru?" He responded.

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I do, Ichiru." He leaned over his brother to shut off the lamp before snuggling close to his wheezing brother. It didn't matter that he was sick; Zero would risk death for the boy beside him.

"Like mom loves dad?"

Zero didn't know where the answer came from; he was too young to understand, but it came with no thought. "Yes, Ichiru."

Ichiru entangled his hands in the silver locks of the boy he loved. "One day Zero, you and I will be together. I'll never leave you, Zero."

"I'll be waiting, Ichiru."

Ichiru leaned over to place another, quick kiss upon the lips of his brother before closing his eyes to sleep. He couldn't wait until he and Zero would finally be together, even if it meant years of heartache and sin.