The better Shiros legs got, the better got his mood over the following next weeks.
His psyche seemed to stabilize and mood swings or depressions kept away.
The wounds on his arms already healed, the only evidence left behind were rosy scars.
Even if almost nothing of the incident was left behind, Ichigo still wondered about the one situation in the bath.
When curiosity got the better of him, he asked the albino about it.
Mentioned snapped his head up from his meal, looking in a 'isn't-it-obvious' kind of way at Ichigo and stating seconds after.
"You tried to kiss me, that's why. I don't like this, it's to intimate."
That left Ichigo startled.
"Kiss? Hell no, Shiro. I wanted to comfort you, like when you were depressed before. I thought you would calm down than."
Shiro raised a white eyebrow, not quite believing Ichigos words.
"The way you sat on me doesn't fit with your reasoning."
Ichigo took a deep breath, readying himself for a possibly long discussion.
"Listen. I really like you Shiro, but in a brotherly way."
'Oh really?'
A little sarcastic voice in his head asked.
Recently the albino managed to crawl under his skin in some ways, that would prove his words epically wrong.
Ichigo looked at Shiro, who wore an expression that screamed of hurt and disappointment.
This one little look hit the orangette like a billion volt strong lightning and he realized.
He loved the albino at least a little more than a brother and couldn't stand to see him hurt in any way.
He couldn't go back on his words just now, but he had to do it soon, because Shiro would be discharged in the next days or he had to stay silent forever.
Knowing one fact, Shiro wasn't incapable of loving but he refused those feelings, so he would most likely not return them to Ichigo.
As if Shiro had noticed one of his thoughts he told the orangette.
"Your dad said I'll be discharged tomorrow morning. So this 'll be my last night here."
"Ah."
The albino looked Ichigo straight in the eyes, his orbs seeming to swirl like molten gold.
"Would you mind,..staying here tonight?"
Why did he ask that?
Why was there an ache in his chest, when he heard Ichigo utter those past words?
He didn't understand any of it, the least why his heart began to race, when Ichigo agreed to his request.
They sat together, chatting till late at night.
Ichigo had a feeling, that he needed to do something, anything to show the albino his true feelings.
Absently he heard Shiro talk about his cousins and how cute they were, when an idea popped up his mind.
"And than, Masato tried to say my name and it sounded like -"
"Shiro?"
He interrupted the albino, who gave a surprised look.
"Yeah?"
"I..."
"Am I boring you?"
"No. ..."
Ichigo blushed, and was lucky that it was barely noticeable in the dim light they had.
"Let...Let me show you something."
He said, standing up from his seat and crawling on the bed, where Shiro sat with crossed legs.
"What?"
Ichigo put out the little light they had and then he searched for Shiros face in the dark, taking it in his palms.
Shiro was confused.
"What are you -!"
He tried to ask, just to be silenced by a pair of soft, moist lips, touching his gently.
His heart stopped instantly, and picked up its work in a racing pace again.
Subconsciously his lips parted and his tongue danced with the orangettes'.
It was gentle, passionate and mind numbing.
And it didn't last long enough, in Shiros opinion.
Ichigo pulled away and the albino, left of any strength, thumped down onto the bed.
He listened to his racing heart, while he desperately tried to find any words or even a voice to utter them with.
But he wouldn't have none of it.
The feeling inside of him was strange, foreign, but not unwelcome.
It was warm and tingled.
Ichigo heard the albino fall onto the bed and pant lightly.
As soon as the others breathing evened he got up from the bed and hurried to the door.
He already was regretting what he did, not for what he had forced on Shiro or because that right now may have destroyed something between them, but because of himself.
Now he couldn't run from his own feelings anymore and had to suffer over them.
"I better leave. Good night."
The night wasn't any good for Shiro, he slept little to nothing and the next morning was just awkward.
Ichigo came to help him pack his things up and get discharged.
They were silent the whole time.
But instead of the comfortable silence they shared before, it was like a dark cloud hung over them, carrying the last nights happenings around over their heads.
They stood at the exit, Shiro looked down to his hand holding his bag.
"See you around, I guess."
Ichigo said, also avoiding to look at the other man.
"Sure."
Without any other word or gesture he left through the clinic door.
Chapter 7
End
Phew...
The end is a real mood killer, well that's what I think.
Anyway I hope you liked it.
See ya
Shiro Yue
