Prologue
"I think I might be in love with you…"
For a moment, Ichigo Kurosaki had not processed those bitter words. He was on his way to the grocery store to pick up some milk for the morning. But when he finally understood what had been said, he swiftly blent in with the shadows.
The alleyway was tightly cramped, and the flickering lamppost nearly compromised his position. He tried his very best to keep still as the awkward scene unfolded in front of him.
"That's not possible," came the cold response. "What is it about this situation that gave you the wrong impression? Did I encourage your feelings in some way?"
"How can you act so calm at a time like this!?"
A sinewy man of medium height adjusted the frame of his glasses. His eyes were deep sapphire. With them, he peered into the other man's depths.
The two men scarcely maintained an appropriate interaction. It was as if neither cared that someone might notice their close proximity. The stronger, more brawny man cradled his lover's face. His large hands ran smoothly over the other's lips. In time, he chose to give up the fight and vanished into the night.
What the hell did I just see, Ichigo wondered. He heard rumors of that kind of intimacy between men before, but never did he witness the matter upfront.
What meant to be a quick trip for milk turned into an unforeseen encounter with the strange half of the city.