Response to reviews!
Miszxbrii: Yep, I live to make 'em suffer! XD
Strawberry-Ringo: I'm glad ya want to follow it! Confusion is something I like stirring up!
Tiana Misoro: You tell him, Tiana! 8D As for it being you're addiction, I have three words for ya; Good for you! XD
X-Ulquiorra-X: Thank you! *bows*
Kai and Umiki: He may be acting like that, but who cares? XD
xXx-SeMe-ChAn-xXx: I'll join ya on that one!
hehehehehohoProductions0: I know…just building up the angst!
Ok, I know I'm going a little fast, but just bear with me, ok? Isn't fun if they have the feelings for each other but they don't know how the other feels? Well, here's Chapter 4~!
Chapter 4
Ichigo woke up to the sound of the door opening. He looked up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes to see Hichigo grab a cup and the orange juice he bought, fixing himself a cup. "Morning…" he said. Ichigo watched as he fished for another cup. "Do ya like orange juice, chocolate or white milk?" he asked.
"White please." He said, slowly pushing himself off the bed. He was surprised when his chest no longer hurt so much; it was now just a dull throb. "Hey, are ya some kind of medical whiz?" he asked.
"What do ya mean Ichigo?" Hichigo asked, pouring the cup of milk and handing it to him.
"Well, you said I wouldn't be able to leave until, well today, and my chest is better." Hichigo laughed.
"No, I'm not so smart that I can predict when you'll heal up. It's just…" Ichigo watched as his grip tightened slightly on his cup. "Well, if you haven't noticed, we look an awful lot alike, and I've suffered similar injuries, so it was just a guess." He explained. Ichigo sighed as the room fell silent.
Ok, like this isn't awkward at all…he thought. It was then he had an idea. "Hey, you're not working today, are you?" he asked. Hichigo looked at him and shook his head.
"No, why?" he asked curiously.
"Well, if you want, and you don't have to, you can come to my house for dinner." He said, or more like mumbled. Hichigo stared at him. "I mean, I'm not forcing you or anything. It's just, I owe ya, and this is really all I can think of." He explained hurriedly.
"No, you don't owe me at all!" he said, patting Ichigo's back. "I'll…uh, think about it." He answered. Ichigo sighed.
Well, at least it wasn't totally embarrassing…he thought with relief. He heard a car horn from outside.
"That's your dad I bet." He said as he stood up. He walked with Ichigo out the door, just to make sure he was ok. When they neared the door, a sleek red car was parked out front. Hichigo could recognize the man he had talked to before. Isshin climbed out of the car, grinning.
"My son is ali-" he suddenly lunged, but Ichigo just held a fist out and he crashed into it.
"Dad! Can you seriously be any more embarrassing?" Ichigo snapped. He sighed as Hichigo laughed. "Well, I'll see ya later than Shiro?" he asked. Hichigo stopped and looked at Ichigo.
"I guess so." He said. As both of them climbed into the car and drove off, Hichigo couldn't help but feel lonely. More lonely than normal…he thought.
As they drove down the road, Isshin put on a serious face. "So what did you think of him Ichigo?" he asked. Ichigo just rolled his eyes.
"Dad, just because I'm gay does not mean I'm after every guy I see." He sighed. His dad shook his head.
"I understand that Ichigo, but when I asked what you thought of him, that wasn't what I meant." He explained. "You didn't find anything…off about him?"
"Dad!" Ichigo snapped. As far as he knew, his father had never been against 'different' people, seeing as he had a son with orange hair and was gay to top it off. So Ichigo felt confused as to what his dad was asking him. "Just because he's different doesn't mean-"
"I don't mean anything by that Ichigo. It's just…there's something wrong with him. When he came to tell me what happened to you…I saw what kind of person he was, like he no longer cares about what people think about him." He explained to his son. Ichigo gave him an odd stare. "Promise me that you'll be careful around him, ok?"
"Dad, you're not making any sense…"
"Promise me, Ichigo." He said sternly.
"Tell ya what Dad. You can point out what ya mean tonight, seeing as I asked if he wants to come for supper." His dad raised an eyebrow at him. "Dad, it's not like that. I just owe him." But inside, Ichigo wasn't sure if he believed himself. It's just dinner…he told himself.
Hichigo watched as the sun slowly set on the cold city, shivering slightly. I need a new heater…he thought. I'll get one with my next paycheck I suppose… Living in the garage wasn't bad, but he knew he wasn't going to be able to stay long. If a storm hit…he shook his head. It wouldn't do him any good to think that badly. He looked at the clock which read 5:30 PM. Better get walking then…he thought. He bundled himself up in his whole black attire and headed out into the cold evening. He wasn't exactly sure why he was going when he had 'other' plans, but he decided what the hell? I'm not going anywhere…yet. He told himself. But as he walked, he thought about the rest of his plans. Kaien…what am I to really do? He told himself. Am I going just because I'm delaying the inevitable? He wondered.
When a sharp knock came from the door, Ichigo was actually surprised to see Hichigo walk in, dropping most of his winter attire on the floor. "Y-you actually came?" he asked.
"Duh. Wouldn't want to miss telling your sisters how I saved your ass from over fifty thugs." Hichigo joked and he couldn't help but laugh.
"What the hell ever. Anyways, supper's just been put on the table, so you can go on ahead and sit after you wash your hands." He said. Hichigo nodded and headed to where he could smell chicken and washed his hands in the sink. He could feel someone staring and he turned to see Yuzu standing next to him.
"What?" he asked, trying not to sound harsh.
"Did you hurt yourself?" she asked, pointing at his wrists. He instantly covered them up, feeling nervous.
"Uh s-sure. Accident at work." He stammered. She just nodded and took the rest of the cups to the table, filling them with lemonade. He let out a soft sigh as he walked and sat at the table. Ichigo sat next to him, and a girl with dark black hair sat on the other side of him. He hadn't seen her, but her resemblance to Yuzu, slightly anyways, told him that that was Karin.
"What?" she asked, sounding agitated. He moved back some when he realized he had been staring at her.
"N-nothing. Sorry, but I didn't see you when I was here last." He apologized. She just smiled and nodded.
"Sorry for snapping then. I'm Karin." She said, holding her hand out. He took it and shook, being careful to hide his wrists. Ichigo watched and smiled.
He obviously isn't used to people…he thought, slightly amused.
"Well then! Now that everyone's here, let's e-" Isshin almost dove for the chicken, but Yuzu smacked his hand with a ladle.
"Dad! Prayer first!" she scolded, causing Hichigo to chuckle slightly. She then placed her hands together and bowed her head, everyone quickly following suit. "God, thank you for all of this food and family. Oh! And thanks for Shiro." Hichigo could feel his heart clench at the mention of his name. "If it wasn't for him, who knows what would've happened to big brother. Thank you for sending him to save Ichigo." Ichigo cleared his throat and Yuzu peaked at him. "Amen!"
"Amen" everyone repeated, and began digging in.
When dinner was done, Hichigo decided to help Yuzu with the dishes. Well, that was the idea. "Hey Yuzu, you can put the food away. I'll do the dishes with Shiro." Ichigo said. Hichigo rolled his golden eyes and grabbed a plate, scrubbing it swiftly.
"So, am I getting an interrogation or something?" he asked, causing Ichigo to chuckle.
"Not really, but if I don't ask them, Dad will have my head." He said. Hichigo just snorted, but inside he felt upset.
At least you have one to worry over you…he thought. His dad had died when he was only ten due to cancer. And when it happened…he blamed himself. It was his fault his father didn't get the treatment, and now…
"Hey, Shiro? You've been washing the same plate for a while now." Ichigo's voice snapped him from his thoughts. When he looked at Ichigo, he could see the concern in his brown eyes.
"I'm…fine. Sorry." He said and handed it to Ichigo for him to dry it off. Ichigo reached over and handed him the knife they had used to cut the chicken up. As Hichigo washed it, he stared at it, almost amazed by its sharpness. It was a sight that creeped Ichigo out slightly. He slipped the sponge over it, but his finger nicked it slightly and he flinched. "Damn…" he grumbled.
"Here, lemme get something real quick." Ichigo said and ran off, only to quickly come back with a cheap blue band-aid. He wrapped it around Hichigo's pale finger.
"I can do it myself thank you very-" When he looked up, he saw the concern on Ichigo's face and it struck something inside him…something painful.
"Sorry. Got just a little carried away." Ichigo said. Hichigo could feel his legs shaking. Ichigo watched as Hichigo's golden eyes widened he took one more look at the knife in his hand and then at Ichigo.
"I…I gotta go…" he whispered. Ichigo wasn't sure what to do. One moment Hichigo had been joking off and the next…he was shaking.
"Shiro?" He reached out to help him, or at least do something. But Hichigo shook his head and dropped the knife. He ran towards the door, grabbed his stuff and was out the door just as quickly, leaving Ichigo alone in the kitchen.
Hichigo burst into the garage after an hour and a half of running. He ran to the bathroom and dug into the drawer, seizing the old razor. No more…he thought. No more…
Ichigo finished washing the dishes when Yuzu came in. She picked up the knife Ichigo had forgotten about and noticed the small stain on it. "Did Shiro hurt himself?" she asked.
"Yeah, but after I helped him, he freaked out and ran home." He said, feeling annoyed at the memory. Yuzu put on a thoughtful look.
"Hmm, maybe he has to fix up his other wounds too." She said, placing the knife in the sink. He stopped washing a large plate and looked at her.
"Other…wounds?" he asked.
"Yeah, his wrists were all bandaged up. Said he got hurt at work." She explained. He froze as he remembered how Hichigo had looked when he looked at the knife.
No…no way…he thought. The crying…the way he looked at that thing…he quickly placed the plate in the sink and grabbed his coat. "Dad! Get the car ready!" he yelled. "I'm going to Shiro's!"
"What's wrong Ichigo?" he asked, noticing how his son was panicking.
"I think Shiro's in trouble." He said, quickly slamming the door.
When they got there, Ichigo bolted out of the car and straight into the garage. He desperately looked for the bathroom. C'mon Ichigo! Hurry! He told himself. When he found the door, he opened it and covered his hand. He saw Hichigo holding a razor to his arms, most of his pale arms cut and dripping with red liquid.
"I-Ichigo?" he whispered, his voice shaky. Ichigo took two steps forward.
"Shiro…" Hichigo backed away, but his vision suddenly tipped dangerously and he fell forward, his head hitting the floor harshly. "Shiro!" Ichigo picked him up, being careful as could be. He shook him slightly, but he didn't get a response. When he felt for a pulse, it was fast, almost too fast. "DAD! GET IN HERE!" he yelled. "SHIRO NEEDS HELP!"
Chapter 4 end
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