Author's Note: Yeah, I agree with some of the reviewers that Ichigo's little affection-type-thing towards Hitsugaya was a little sudden, and it seemed a little out of place, too. Sorry about that. I couldn't figure out how to get the story going otherwise. I hope this chapter will provide a better transition.

Ichigo's words were followed by a stunningly painful and hollow silence.

"…What?"

"I love you. It took me a long time to realize it, but I know now that I've loved you since the very day I first saw you, because you've got the most beautiful eyes, and…and, it's hard to explain, but…Well…I hate to admit it…But I knew I could never have you, and it pissed me off, so I tried to kill you, and that Kusaka guy saved you, and…I never meant to hurt you like this…"

"You're lying to me," Hitsugaya whispered as he looked away. "There's no way you can love me when you know nothing about me."

"Come on, hime, just hear me out…" Ichigo begged, his voice trailing off, seeing as Hitsugaya seemed completely unaffected by his words.

"I don't want to listen to your bullshit anymore!"

"Toshiro, please, will you just listen to me!? You think I'm joking? You think I'm telling this to you for fun!?"

"Precisely."

"Even if you don't believe me," Ichigo growled angrily, "That doesn't change anything. I already said that I love you. Is that too hard for you to comprehend, hime? You're not stupid."

"Don't lie to me!" Hitsugaya retorted. "You're a goddamn liar, Kurosaki Ichigo. You feel nothing for me and you know it, as I feel absolutely nothing but utter resentment for you."

"That's not true!" the strawberry protested. "I do too love you! I've loved you for five years now, and it's really hard to explain, but…But, please, Toshiro, you've got to believe me."

"Why should I? I have no reason to believe you, let alone to trust you."

"This is how much I fucking love you!" Ichigo shouted, his temper getting the better of him as he reached forward, seizing both of Hitsugaya's wrists and pulling him forward, leaning downwards and pressing his lips viciously against those of the white-haired boy's.

Hitsugaya's eyes widened, an expression of sheer terror flickering across his features before he finally came back to his senses, pulling abruptly away, the fear in his eyes evident as he slowly took a step back.

"I…I'm so sorry…" Ichigo stammered, his heart sinking as he realized what he had just done. How could he have been so stupid and tactless? He couldn't even believe himself. "Hime, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me, I just…I just need you to trust me on this."

"D-Don't come any closer," Hitsugaya whispered, his voice quivering and his eyes wide as the orange-haired teen took a step towards him. Instinctively, the petite boy shrank fearfully against Kusaka's headstone.

"Toshiro, just calm down." the strawberry insisted as he continued to move forward, reaching out to gently touch Hitsugaya's face.

"No," Hitsugaya whimpered, his back pressed against the cold front of the headstone as he withdrew from the contact. "P-Please, don't…"

"It's alright, hime," Ichigo murmured. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." With that, he reached outwards with both arms, wrapping them around the boy's trembling body as he pulled him close, holding him tightly in his arms. "It's alright."

"Let go of me, Kurosaki."

"Toshiro, please…"

"I said, let go of me!"

Hitsugaya wrenched himself from Ichigo's grip, tears stinging at the corners of his eyes as a hand clumsily plunged into his coat. Seconds later, he jerked a handgun out and upwards, pointing it between the taller teen's eyes.

"What're you going to do?" Ichigo demanded. "Are you going to kill me, huh? Well, go ahead and kill me. There's no point in living anymore if the world's full of narrow-minded brats like you! I've told you, time after time, I love you. It's your own choice whether or not you want to listen to me."

"I don't want to kill you," Hitsugaya whispered, "But I've sworn to. I don't break promises. I've sworn before Kusaka's grave that I would do whatever it takes so that you die a death like his."

At that moment, the strawberry's eyes caught sight of movement from a few yards away. His chocolate eyes widened in horror.

"No! Toshiro, get back!" He threw himself forward, grabbing Hitsugaya's arm and jerking him behind his body just as the sound of a gunshot rang out across the deserted cemetery.

The bullet hit him in the side, missing any vital organs, but it still hurt like hell.

"Mother fucker," he hissed through gritted teeth, relinquishing hold on Hitsugaya's arm as he clutched his wounded side, blood soaking through his shirt and jacket.

"Kurosaki!" Hitsugaya gasped, his eyes wide. "Why did you…?"

"So this is where you've been, Hitsugaya," a voice announced as a scowling redhead appeared, his figure coming into view from the mist, followed by a bald man and another with a bob hairstyle.

"A-Abarai?" Hitsugaya stammered.

"You stupid little bitch," Renji hissed, "You've been double-crossing us this whole time, haven't you? You disappear, and where do we finally find you!? With some guy from another gang!"

"It's not what it looks like, Abarai," Hitsugaya shot back. "I'm not with him. We just…"

"Shut up!" the redhead growled as he walked forward. "I've got something else to talk to you about. You've been keeping a little secret from us, haven't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do!"

"Shut up!" Ichigo snapped, looking up at Renji, his eyes blazing with utter hatred. "You fucking lowlife," he hissed, "I can't believe you'd try to kill someone from your own group, especially when he's done nothing wrong!"

"Oh? You think he's done nothing? Well, I'll show you," Renji retorted. Without any further explanation, he took another step forward, reaching out and viciously taking a fistful of Hitsugaya's snowy white locks. With his other hand, he tore the boy's coat from his body. He shook the garment, hard, and a variety of things fell out: ammunition, a few coins, assorted and suspicious pills, a spare handgun, and a small card, which Renji picked up.

"The hell's your problem!?" Ichigo shouted, dropping his gun as his arms wrapped protectively around Hitsugaya's body. "What are you, crazy!? What was that for!?"

"Look at this, Kurosaki Ichigo!" Renji yelled back, holding the card in the strawberry's face. "A government identification card! He's been with us this whole time and sending information back to the government! He's probably done the same to your group, too!"

Ichigo's eyes widened the slightest, but he did not relinquish hold on Hitsugaya.

"So what? Government agent or not, he's still Toshiro, isn't he?"

With a growl of frustration, Renji raised his hand to slap Hitsugaya, who, despite himself, shrank fearfully into Ichigo's arms. In turn, Ichigo reached into his pocket, pulling out his own gun and pointing it at Renji's head.

"Don't fucking touch him," he hissed. "Lay one finger on Toshiro, and I'll blow your fucking brains out."

"Hey, Renji, simmer down, will you?" Ikkaku grumbled, rubbing the side of his head in annoyance. "We don't want you guys killing each other."

"Ikkaku's right," Yumichika nodded. "Starting a fight in a cemetery is unsightly."

"Shut up, both of you!" their redheaded leader snarled angrily. "Stay out of this. This is business between us three, and it doesn't concern you two. Why don't you guys just leave now, huh? Wait for me across the street from this place. I'll be done with both of them in less than five minutes.

"Oh, really?" Ichigo demanded indignantly as Ikkaku and Yumichika grudgingly hurried away to where their leader had indicated.

"Really."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah! I'll blow your stupid face off, strawberry."

"You're on."