Toshiro observes the Thai dance going on before him and tries to avoid being hit by their hand movements. He has to admit, it's interesting but he could be spending his evening doing something more constructive than watching a pair of women contort themselves in angles that look like they are painful. He feels an elbow at his side and looks up to see a grinning Ichigo as he looks at the dance going on before the awed crowd.

'Looks cool, doesn't it?' he says and hands Toshiro a cup of shaved ice soaked in a pink liquid. Toshiro takes a bite and feels his taste buds tingle while his insides freeze. He cannot understand why he's having ice while it's as cold as a refrigerator outside but the watermelon flavor makes up for it. He takes another bite and shivers as this time, the cold rushes to his head and numbs it. He adores watermelons but it doesn't help ease the iciness of the treat. He sways slightly and Ichigo grabs him.

'Brain-freeze, huh?' he teases and uprights him but holds on a bit too long. Toshiro snatches his arm away and watches the remainder of the dance until the women bow down to the clapping and usher the people to the Thai food stall.

It's growing dark now. Strings of lights are turned on and glow above the stalls like little fairies. Children laugh and weave through the crowd as they play with their miniature windmills on a stick. Couples walk by with their arms around each other, nuzzling noses and kissing. Toshiro clears his throat and looks down at his cup whenever a couple passes by. Ichigo looks at him curiously.

'Hey, Tosh?' he says as he stuffs his hands in his jacket, looking straight ahead.

'Don't call me that!' Toshiro says suddenly and angrily.

'Why not? You got something against me?'

'Well in case you don't know, we're not exactly the best of friends.'

'Good. I don't think I'd like of you to see me as just a friend.'

Toshiro can feel his face grow hot. He grips his cup tighter.

'Kurasaki, I know you're gay. But I'm not. So don't think I'll change for you. I'm flattered you're interested in me. But I can't return your affections.'

'Tch, I wish you wouldn't call me 'Kurasaki'. Shows the distance between us.'

Toshiro scowls at him but Ichigo just grins and doesn't look at him, his scarf fluttering behind him.

'Did you even hear what I just said? I'm not interested!'

'I heard you. But that's what they all say in the beginning. Trust me, Toshiro, you'll come through.'

Ichigo breathes out, creating a puff of icy breath to escape his lips. Toshiro raises an eyebrow at him before taking a bite of his sweet treat and shuddering again due to the cold. He doesn't care how cold it is; he enjoys the taste of watermelon rolling on his tongue. Plus, it reminded him of…

'So what's with you and Karin?' Ichigo asks out of the blue. Toshiro almost trips on his own feet.

'Who told you?' he blurts out.

'A little birdie.' Ichigo grins widely. Toshiro growls.

'Momo…' he hisses under his breath. He looks back at Ichigo and assumes a calm face. 'We went out once. But she turned out to be a bitch. So we broke up.'

Ichigo whistles.

'Harsh,' he exclaims.

'The truth usually is.'

'What did she do?'

'None of your business.'

'That bad?'

'You have no idea.' Toshiro clamps a hand over his mouth. Ichigo laughs.

'Chill out, Toshiro! I won't push you to tell me everything. It's not easy finding out the people you love can break your heart.' He looks up at the starry sky. 'I should know. I first opened up about my sexuality to my best friend. I was head over heels in love with him and I thought he would understand. I was so stupid to think that.' He looks down at Toshiro who is, surprisingly, listening. Ichigo gives him a sad smile and his eyes seem to be showing Toshiro the heartbreak their owner had suffered at the time of the incident. 'We haven't spoken to each other for three years since then. Byakuya prefers to stay away from me now though I don't think he's told his sister I'm gay. And I guess he doesn't plan to. He really is ashamed of what I am and of the fact we were friends once.'

He says the last part quite bitterly, taking Toshiro by surprise. He never knew that the prince was ever rejected by anyone let alone a sensitive soul. He always saw him as this perfect egotistical guy who couldn't get enough of himself. Turns out, there's more to this boy than just a pretty face and a popular image.

'Why are you telling me this, Kurasaki?' Toshiro says quietly after a moment of silence as they walk.

'I trust you, Toshiro,' Ichigo says simply. 'You're not like the other guys I've dated. You seem honest and down to earth. It's what I like about you.'

'I'm still not going to go out with you, Kurasaki.'

'Oh yeah? Then what are we doing right now, Toshiro?' He laughs and gives him a playful nudge. 'Relax! I'm not going to pull anything on you. I wanna take it slow with you. You deserve the special treatment from me.' He winks at him. 'And call me Ichigo.'

Toshiro rolls his eyes and turns to admire the beautifully adorned stall on his side, not wanting Ichigo to see the smile playing on his lips. Ichigo isn't as bad as he thought he was. Toshiro actually feels ashamed for thinking he was just an arrogant brat. He's can't believe he's getting to know the people he's hated since last year and is actually liking them. Still, he only wants to be friends with Ichigo, nothing more and nothing less. Suddenly, Ichigo stops abruptly and sticks out his hand to stop Toshiro.

'What is it, Ichigo?' Toshiro says irritably. The prince points to the sky and smiles softly.

'It's time for the fireworks,' he whispers. As if on cue, the sky lights with showers of blues, greens, yellows and all the colors of the rainbow. Toshiro watches in awe as the fireworks form a dragon that dances across the midnight blue sky before disappearing in spirals of flickering colors. Flares streak across the sky and bathe the festival in its brilliant light. Toshiro is so mesmerized by the display that he doesn't notice Ichigo put his arm around him and cuddle up to him. To everyone else, they looked like any other couple. But Toshiro doesn't care. Right now, he just wants to enjoy the fireworks without having to worry about anything…


'Shut up, Ichigo!'

'I'm sorry! But you should've seen your face when you ate that Mexican chili!'

'I'd like to see you try it and not want to dunk your head in a bucket of ice! I was fucking burning up and all you did was laugh your ass off!'

Ichigo wipes a tear from his eye and pats Toshiro's head as they stroll down the sidewalk and turn the corner to reach his house. Toshiro huffs and crosses his arms.

'C'mon, Toshiro! Don't be a spoilsport! I'm just having fun with you!' Ichigo protests when Toshiro refuses to talk or even look at him. Toshiro smiles a little and upon seeing him smirking like that, Ichigo shoves him playfully.

'No fair! You're just teasing me!' Ichigo whines. Toshiro chuckles as he leans on his gate to push it open.

'Don't be a spoilsport, Ichigo! I'm just having fun with you,' he says slyly. He skips down his footpath to his house. Ichigo follows, laughing as well now. Toshiro pulls out his house keys and fits it into the lock.

'Well, this is goodbye,' he says, smiling now. 'I hate to admit, Ichigo, but I had a nice time. Helped relieve me of some stress.'

'No problem, Toshiro,' Ichigo says softly. Noting the change in his tone, Toshiro quickly looks up and locks eyes with the prince. His gorgeous chocolate brown eyes are soft and gentle and seem to be yearning for him. Before he can process what might be forming in the prince's mind, Toshiro notices that Ichigo is leaning in really close, his lips just inches from his.

'Don't,' Toshiro mutters. Ichigo stops.

'Why not, Toshiro?' he whispers. Toshiro takes a step back and fixes Ichigo with a serious look.

'I'm not ready to be open for another relationship, Ichigo,' he says severely. 'I don't think…I'll be ready for a very long time. I-I'm sorry.'

Ichigo looks down at his feet.

'Yea, alright,' he mutters and then he hears a door shut. He looks up and sees Toshiro has disappeared. Breathing a sigh of disappointment, he shuffles off the porch and walks away, his shoulders drooping in sadness. Toshiro peeks out the window to see him leave. He sighs and walks up to his room to sleep. He may not feel for Ichigo as he feels for him, but he just couldn't help feeling sorry for the prince. Still, he didn't want to give him hope that Toshiro might go out with him. Not when his heart belongs to someone else.