I wanted to let all my followers and commenters that I love them. 3

As always, this weird thing is unbetaed. :( Enjoy!

EIGHT - AWAKENING

Ichigo looked at him, wide-eyed. His fingers were still tangled among Shuuhei's spiky hair, and he was fairly enjoying the warmth of the scalp underneath. He had been so involved in that little game that he hadn't fully paid attention to the other boy's words, and now their real meaning hit him like a stab.

He raised his gaze to meet his, dismayed. Shuuhei's head was on his lap, and he was laying on the stone bench, his eyes still closed and his breath calm and peaceful, as if he was asleep. His voice sounded far and soft too, as if he indeed talked in his sleep.

«I'm dead serious» Shuuhei murmured, grinning a little when he noticed Ichigo's surprise from a slitted eye. He wasn't asleep, after all, he really wasn't. Ichigo weakly shook his head, feeling too tired to investigate further. He went on caressing Shuuhei's hair, touching the hard skull under the scalp. There was a spot, just between the ear and the neck, just below the hairline, were the jaw formed a sharp angle and the skin was smooth like silk. Ichigo kept stroking that spot with the very tip of his index finger, caressing the soft hair covering it, and Shuuhei stretched like a cat, enjoying his ministrations, a soft sigh escaping from his lips.

«Doesn't make much sense» Ichigo finally whispered, looking at Shuuhei.

«Definitely not» Shuuhei confirmed, popping on an elbow to lean his chin on Ichigo's tigh to meet his gaze.

The orange-haired boy had the sudden impulse to move, at that contact. He never really loved cuddling, and even if hugging Shuuhei hadn't been that bad, he still didn't feel ready to go beyond. He just couldn't forget what previously happened between them. He shivered in the cool morning air, pursing his lips to prevent them from trembling.

«Get up now» he said, lowly, «it's better if we both go to bed. Let's try sleeping a little.»

Shuuhei complied, raising and stretching out lazily. On his arms, the muscles' pattern appared and twitched under his skin, drawing lines and twisted ropes deep underneath. After that wanton show of pure beauty, Ichigo distinctively felt something break, then suddenly melt and flow like a river at the bottom of his being. He couldn't think. He couldn't talk. He wanted to tell Shuuhei he needed a shower before going to sleep, but his throat was so tight he couldn't speak aloud. He wanted to tell Shuuhei he thought he was handsome, that he thought he was beautiful. He felt almost physically sick, while he realized about the raw desire gathering in his abdomen. His cheeks burned, his sight was slightly unfocused...

And when Shuuhei turned to talk to him, his dark eyes on his face, his slight frown, the half-opened mouth of who is about to tell something, everything fell apart. The river inside of him turned into a flood dragging him away. Lost, he felt just lost in those dark waters.

With a choked sound, Ichigo reached for Shuuhei, digging his fingers into his clothes, his skin, his hair. He reached for his face like a blind man, as if those thin lips could be his only safeness. His kiss was clumsy and impetuous, as everything he ever did. Tears made his eyes swell, pushing to roll down.

Then, finally, Shuuhei's warm, strong arms tightened around him, dragging him along the desert and silent corridor. They never stopped kissing during the whole walk until his room. What they both needed most was silence and warmth. Everything else was unnecessary, in a moment like that.

Ichigo was shaken away from his daze when he heard the sound of the door closing behind Shuuhei's back. As waking up from a dream, he backed off a little, hearing the soft, wet sound of their lips parting. Shuuhei's face was flushed, his throat and the little portion of chest showing from the neck of his shirt looked as hot as he was burning because of a fever.

«What are we doing?» Ichigo asked, confused. In the dim light, an extremely sweet smile wandered on Shuuhei's lips, softening up the hard lines of his features.

«No clue» he quietly replied, before diving into another lust-crazed kiss. Ichigo moaned, his knees buckling, unable to bear the weight of his body.

He held on Shuuhei, letting him lead him to the bed and leaning on the soft mattress. Shuuhei was incredibly sweet, even if passion-driven. Ichigo was, simply, speechless. He couldn't find other ways to express his... well, his relief. At least he wasn't alone, good God. At least he had someone to share that last, tormented hour before the alarm rang and his day had to start. Yeah, at least Shuuhei was there for him.

His lover's big and a little rough hands already penetrated the layers of his clothes, reaching his bare skin. Ichigo arched, exposing fully, silently obeying to Shuuhei's hands who were helping him to undress. He got rid of his tee, he kicked his shoes away and he slipped away from his tight jeans. He felt the cool air on his naked body, and he shivered while he watched Shuuhei fidgeting with his own clothes. Then, he smiled when his hands were on him again, caressing his thin but muscular arms, the slim chest where every rib pressed against the golden skin. The warm weight of Shuuhei's body leaned on him, and Ichigo sighed, exposing his throat to his soft, light kisses. He was so lost in the inebriating feeling, that he almost didn't realize about his lover's hands, which gradually slid lower and lower. Shuuhei put a hand on his crotch, just slightly pressing on Ichigo's sex underneath the thin fabric of his underwear...

It all happened in a second. Ichigo cried out sharply and curled up into a ball, his legs pressed tightly aside, arms desperately pushing those hands away from him.

Shuuhei parted from him, taken by surprise. Dismayed, he looked at Ichigo pant, his eyes wide.

«Ichigo?» he asked, worried. «What...»

He reached out to caress his cheek, but the ginger-haired's reaction was that of a startled animal. Ichigo backed away again, pressing his face on the folds of the comforter, hiding from him. Shuuhei sighed, shaking his head.

«Kami-sama» he murmured, understanding everything «For God's sake, Ichigo... will you ever forgive me?»

He gently caressed his ruffled hair, sadly watching while Ichigo kept his eyes closed to prevent tears from falling. «I'm so sorry, Shuuhei» the other moaned, his voice filled with raw pain. «I'm so sorry, but I can't. I can't do it, not now. Not after what...»

«It's alright» Shuuhei hushed him. «Don't worry. It's alright.»

The brunette laid next to him, facing the ceiling, arms crossed behind his nape. He patiently waited for Ichigo's breath to calm down, and for his face to lose that terrible, anguished grimace. It was so hard. It was so hard to stand the thought that it was all his fault...

He turned towards him, reaching out to stroke his cheek with a fingertip. Ichigo's dark, hazel eyes fixed on his, and Shuuhei smiled, a sweet, sad smile, stretching out his arms. Ichigo hesitated for an instant, then came nearer, letting their contact deepen, the comforting warmth of Shuuhei's chest surround him. He smelt wonderful, as usual, deep and intoxicating, but the bad memories were still there between them. The moment he'd be able to toss everything behind his back was still far away.

«Can we just stay like this» he pleaded, in a small voice, «just for now? Please?»

«Okay» Shuuhei replied, his voice coming muffled, from somewhere among his hair. Ichigo's face was immersed in Shuuhei's broad chest, enveloped in his muscular arms. "I'm in love with this guy" Ichigo thought, overwhelmed. "I'm in love with... Shuuhei."

Sunday morning was always a rather sacred day, to Seireitei High's students who didn't spend the weekend at home. First, on Sunday the canteen's food was fairly better: breakfast, lunch and dinner were all in Japanese style, without offering the usual choice of Western dishes. Then, everything could be done without frenzy: there was no need to stuff your mouth to avoid being late for class, or to struggle with roommates to get washed, get dressed and get ready in record time. On Sunday morning you could do everything very calmly, enjoying the silence and the tranquillity of the luxurious building.

Ichigo and Shuuhei stayed in bed for more or less half an hour after the alarm rang, dozing half-awake, appreciating the warmth of their embrace and the comfort of not being alone. The first to open his eyes fully was Ichigo, and as he used to do every morning, the first thing he did was reaching out under his pillow to grab Kon the stuffed animal. Without thinking, he hugged the soft, familiar teddy before feeling observed, and he turned to face Shuuhei, finding him perfectly awake and watching him with a sarcastic smile. «Well, aren't you terribly cute.»

«S-shut the fuck up» Ichigo retorted, throwing the teddy away, his cheeks burning.

«I don't see why you have to get so mad» Shuuhei went on, unimpressed. «I love stuffed animals. But more than that...»

Ichigo held his breath, while the brunette slowly stretched to reach him, planting a kiss on his lips, «More than that, I like you, Kurosaki.»

Ichigo stayed silent for a while, frankly unable to decide if furiously blushing and hitting Shuuhei with a shoe or something or if throwing his arms around his neck and go dirty.

«Thank you for staying, last night» he shyly said, in the end, popping on an elbow to look at the other in his eyes.

«It was nice» the brunette replied, sincere. He caressed Ichigo's hair, tracing the contours of his nose with his fingertip. «You are nice.»

«Erm» Ichigo mumbled, as always not very keen on accepting praises. He kicked the covers away, padding barefoot to the bathroom to get washed. Shuuhei followed him yawning, without hurry, stopping in front of the mirror to look at his reflection.

«I look like a panda» he stated, touching the dark circles around his thin eyes, «when everything will be over, remind me to take a good night of sleep.»

«I get what you mean» Ichigo confirmed, rustling in his closed to get a clean shirt.

«Don't worry about the uniform, today» Shuuhei reminded him, trying to comb his hair using just his fingers, «it's Sunday.»

«You're right» Ichigo murmured. He looked through his stuff, choosing a crimson tee for him. He looked for one to lend Shuuhei too: it would probably fit a little tight, but it would have been better than nothing. Shuuhei smiled without talking, silently undressing in front of him and putting on the clothes he was handing without saying anything. Ichigo looked at him, almost touched, feeling a sort of light warmth spread inside of his stomach.

He loved him.

«I thought we could ask Unohana-sensei if Kira got better during the night» he said, gulping down the lump on his throat. Shuuhei nodded, buckling the belt of his jeans.

«Sure. Let's go and have some breakfast before. We haven't been eating anything from yesterday, and we stayed up all night.»

Obedient, Ichigo followed him until the canteen. Rather surprisingly, at the table they used to sit Renji, Byakuya and a well-know prodigy boy with silver hair were already waiting for them.

«Hello, Hitsugaya» Ichigo said, moving the chair next to Renji to sit. The younger boy just nodded, going on gulping down an enormous bowl of miso soup. Renji discreetly got closer to Ichigo's ear. «He came back early in the morning, so upset we were barely able to recognize him» he explained, trying his best not to be heard, «it was hard, for him. He was friends with Kira since middle school.»

Ichigo nodded, frowning. Just as he always thought: Kira really had lots of people who loved him. Yeah, but then, how could such a loved boy fall in an abyss of pain and try stopping his life?

The thud of a tray being leaned on the table in front of him shook him awake from his daydreaming. Shuuhei ruffled his hair, taking his seat and pointing at the breakfast he just brought to him.

«Eat up.»

«Hm-mm» Ichigo grumbled. Sure he hadn't been eating much lately, but he still didn't fancy stuffing food inside of his stomach. He even felt vaguely sick while looking at the rings of spring onion floating around on his misoshiru's bowl. He raised his gaze, accidentally meeting Byakuya's pale face, and he came to think that the aristocrat boy didn't look very keen on his food as well. Their table was a fairly silent one, and a little melancholy too. Before Kira's incident, things used to be pretty lively...

«Hey» Hitsugaya said, after a while, «where's Kaname-kun?»

Shuuhei stiffened, and Ichigo turned to him, worried. «Kami-sama» Shuuhei murmured, upset. Something similar to fear crossed his face, and Ichigo couldn't avoid feeling slightly jealous, at that sight. «I hope he's alright...»

«Over there» Byakuya intruded, unimpressed, pointing at another table fairly distant from them. Ichigo immediately recognized Kaname's mocha-coloured skin.

«But those are our third year senpais» Renji observed. «Look, Ichimaru-senpai, Kira's ex boyfriend, is there too. What is Kaname-kun doing among those guys?»

«I bet they became friends» Hitsugaya grumbled, angry. «Sure he didn't even bother asking about poor Kira.»

«Yeah» Renji had to recognize. «Well, maybe he doesn't know anything yet. Usually, he's a very discreet one.»

«Don't be stupid» Byakuya said, shooting an aggravated glance to Renji, «by now, I'm sure the whole school learnt about our night trip to the hospital, and I don't think teachers kept the secret too. Kyoraku-sensei looked pretty determined to solve everything quickly. See? It's practically impossible that our senpais don't know about last night. I wonder when Kaname-kun became this intimate with that bastard Ichimaru, though.»

Ichigo shivered, thinking to the upsetting albino guy Kira had been in love with. «Are you perhaps trying to say that... Kaname knows what happened but doesn't care about it?» Ichigo asked, dubious. Shuuhei tensed next to him, but he didn't notice.

«Yeah. Furthermore, he likes getting involved with unpleasant people» the raven-haired boy murmured angrily, fidgeting with his sticks. He raised his icy grey eyes, looking at Shuuhei. «Got a problem?»

Shuuhei was furious. Livid, almost. Probably Byakuya's words offended him, but Ichigo couldn't understand why he had to feel so responsible about Kaname. They were friends, and that was fine. But still... Shuuhei specified since the beginning that they weren't lovers too. What could this almost excessive bond mean?

Shuuhei didn't reply to Byakuya's boasting question, and he just averted his gaze. Renji, from under the table, put a warning hand on his boyfriend's knee, to calm him. He knew better than anyone that when Byakuya had something in his mind, nothing could distract him. He could just hope that things didn't get too nasty...

«This thing will be sorted out soon, Hisagi-kun» Byakuya slowly stated, ignoring Renji. «Believe me, it will.»

For a second, Shuuhei looked about to explode. Then, suddenly, he calmed down, his lips stretching in a sly smile, the scars changing their paths along his cheek. «Wow. What an impressive charisma, Mr Class President.»

At those words, Byakuya really lost it, almost sending his chair flying on the floor. «Byaku!» Renji cried out, grabbing his arm to stop him. Hearing that loving nickname, the young aristocrat looked like he lost some of his determination. First he looked at his boyfriend with a rather dismayed expression, then his glance turned cold again, focusing on Shuuhei.

«I'll get everything sorted out quickly» he threatened, his voice as low as a whisper. Ichigo shivered: even in his perfect, doll-like beauty, an enraged Byakuya Kuchiki looked nothing but terrifying. «The culprits will be punished, as well as their helpers.»

Byakuya pushed his chair away, walking away quickly, followed by Renji.

The atmosphere turned pretty gelid, among the three last boys still sitting around the table Ichigo looked at Shuuhei: his face was like carved in marble, it didn't show any emotion at all.

Hitsugaya huffed, distracting him from his thoughts. «Go to the Seireitei High, they said. The best school in the prefecture, sure. A school of freakin' FAGS!»

Later, Ichigo wandered in the desert corridors, walking among the empty classrooms and the silent labs. It was like visiting an ancient monument: far from the usual chatting of the students, Seireitei High totally looked like an old, solemn palace, or a dusty museum. Ichigo overtook a noisy group of senpais who, cell phone in their hands, kept taking photos of each other laughing all the time, and he went deeper in the labyrinth of corridors leading to the library.

His head was a turmoil of thoughts. He was thinking about Shuuhei and his weird attitude about Kaname, about Byakuya's wrath and poor Kira. But something else was tormenting him... Hitsugaya was back, and he could do nothing about it. Since Ichigo saw him at breakfast, though, he did his very best to avoid remaining alone in his company. The candid-haired boy didn't look displeased at all because of his behaviour (or better, he probably chose to avoid him in the first place), but Ichigo still feared the moment they would found together in their room, the one they shared with Kira. When that moment came, they could never avoid fighting, and Ichigo was fairly sure that Hitsugaya would end to accuse him for not being able to protect Kira from his tragic destiny. That would be too much. He could barely stand the guilt when he was by himself, think with Hitsugaya pointing at him.

He shivered, entering an empty classroom and sitting on the teacher's desk.

He absentmindedly played with the pen holder on it, moving a little not to get hit by a ray of sun filtering from the window. Doing that, he noticed something he never really saw before, shining lit by the sunshine. He climbed down the desk, getting closer.

It was some sort of plate, hanging on the wall next to the door, probably some sort of degree given to some brilliant student by headmaster Yamamoto himself. On the plate was carved the date of three years before, and there was a name, both in kanji and in Western letters, right in the middle of it.

«Kaien» Ichigo read, not really paying attention to the family name and focusing instead on the first name of the student. In smaller writing, he read also the long and vaguely upsetting list of the various goals the boy achieved: captain of the soccer team with three championship won, class president, best marks of the whole region and so on. It was so impressive it made him slightly nauseous, so Ichigo found himself wandering out of the classroom again, immersing in the corridors feeling even more depressed than before. «Just what I needed to feel better» he grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets. His marks weren't that bad, but still not exactly brilliant.

«Kurosaki-kun!» a voice called from the other side of the corridor. Ichigo turned, and he saw Byakuya Kuchiki walking towards him.

«Hello» he said, a little uncertain. The raven-haired boy didn't even bother replying to the greeting. It looked like he was in a hurry, or that he was worried for something.

«Kyoraku-sensei told us to meet in the hall, we're leaving in a quarter of hour.»

«Really? Where are we going?» Ichigo asked, feeling a little left out. Byakuya huffed, irritated.

«To see Kira, idiot! He woke up this morning, and he asked to see his classmates.» Byakuya stared at Ichigo, his eyes burning. «Or maybe you're too involved in your stupid business that you don't want to come?»

«Oh, come on, I've never said this» Ichigo tiredly blurted out. He didn't feel like fighting, not at all. Seeing his reaction, Byakuya's irritation seemed to fade, and the brunette just averted his gaze, walking along Ichigo.

«I bet Hitsugaya's happy» Ichigo said, just to fill that uncomfortable silence. Byakuya nodded, distracted, and he almost smiled.

«Sure. Shiro-chan was really hap-» he suddenly stopped, bringing a hand to cover his mouth. For a boy like him, who always talked politely and never forgot suffixes and honorifics, using a nickname like that was almost a serious mistake. Ichigo hid a smile as well: evidently, Byakuya himself was so happy because of Kira's awakening that he wasn't able to hide it properly.

«I spend too much time with Abarai-kun» the Kuchiki rigidly added, pretending to be angry. «Damn him.»

They both stayed silent, walking. The atmosphere between them was changed, and they felt strangely at ease in company of each other, which was something new. «Let's take the elevator» Byakuya offered, leading Ichigo there and pressing the button. They both entered the cabin and waited for the doors to close.

«I noticed you went exploring one of our senpais' classrooms» Byakuya said. Ichigo was pretty surprised that a guy like him was apparently trying his best to do some normal conversation, and he almost felt nervous because he was suddenly afraid to say something stupid that could ruin that enjoyable atmosphere.

«Uh, well» he commented, embarrassed. «There was this plate on the wall... have you ever heard about some guy called Kaien? I forgot the family name. Looked like he was some important guy in this school...»

Ichigo was talking, and he didn't realize about the change in Byakuya's face. If he had looked to him in that moment, he would have noticed the grimace distorting his beautiful face.

«Well... probably something beginning with S... however, he looked like a phenomenon. He must be something like three year older than us, and he collected sports' trophies, high marks and who knows what else. Blimey, I really would like being like him, something like the classic model student...»

«The name of that guy was Shiba, Shiba Kaien» Byakuya interrupted him, harsh, his voice tense like a violin string. Ichigo turned to face him, surprised. Again, Byakuya Kuchiki changed into a cold and insensitive being, distant kilometres from him. The closeness he felt just some minutes ago was already gone.

The boy's grey eyes, as cold as ice, stared at him.

«Never say that name in my presence again.»

The elevator's door opened loudly, scaring Ichigo and making Byakuya jump too. The two looked at each other, then the Kuchiki walked away in the hall, regaining his usual regal manners.

«Congrats, Ichigo» Ichigo mumbled, talking to himself. «You never fail to ruin the best moments.»

Kyoraku-sensei and Unohana-sensei drove them to the hospital this time too. Ichigo sat in the back seat of the old Wolksvagen of the Literature teacher, between a pouting Shuuhei and a decidedly ill-humored Hitsugaya. «Come on, guys» Kyoraku happily said, trying to look optimistic, «Izuru-kun is better. Aren't you happy?»

«Listen, sensei» Hitsugaya interrupted him, «did Kira's uncles go to the police, after what happened?»

Ichigo closed his eyes, while various images came to torment him: Kira smiling to him, naked on his bed, Kira's face livid, unconscious, his body sprawled on the bathroom floor while the paramedics hurried at his side... Shuuhei realized about his distress, and he put a hand on his knee, caressing his thigh. Ichigo thanked him with his eyes, unable to smile properly.

«Sure» the professor said, «the cops said that Kira wasn't attacked inside the school, but in the club I showed you that night.» He drove in the parking lot, sighing. «Then, you can say I'm the one to blame for what happened.»

Hitsugaya didn't say anything, but the glance he shot to the teacher was enough. Ichigo and Shuuhei stared at the younger boy while he climbed off the car and slammed the door closed, walking away briskly. Kyoraku's face was sad, and Ichigo felt sorry for him. «Don't worry, sensei» he said. «Hitsugaya's only worried for our friend. He didn't mean to be disrespectful.»

The man smiled, a little forcefully though. «Sure, Kurosaki, sure. Thank you.»

Nobody spoke, while they crossed the long, white corridors of the hospital to reach the intensive care block. Kira's room was clean and luminous, and a nice garden could be seen from the window. At least, he wasn't sharing his room with anyone else. Before going in, Ichigo turned to look at his friends: the most unnerved among them was Byakuya, who kept glancing around evidently uneasy with the surrounding environment. Renji kept close to him like a shadow, not daring doing anything to soothe him, but doing his best to make him feel his protection the same.

«You can enter one or two at a time» Unohana said, gentle. «Kira-kun is awake and lucid. I think we can consider it almost a miracle. In particular, he asked to see you, Kurosaki.»

Ichigo looked at the woman, perplexed, blinking like an idiot. Suddenly, he didn't fancy seeing Kira that badly. Shuuhei pushed him a little on his side, encouraging. «Go» he whispered, close to his ear. Ichigo gulped, turning quickly towards him, trying to put some courage together. While doing it, he noticed Hitsugaya's anguished face.

Gritting his teeth, he stepped in the room.

The room looked better than he thought. Rather small but light, white being the dominant colour, but the open window let some fresh air and sunshine in, and he almost couldn't smell the typical medicine scent of hospitals. His friends was laying in a candid bed, his back leaning on a few pillows, his head resting on the soft fabric and his blond hair sparse like a halo. He kept his eyes closed, as if he was sleeping. Ichigo saw the small tube of the catheter inserted in the main vein of his delicate wrist, while the other arm was encased in a voluminous plaster cast. He didn't need to feel so upset, he reminded himself. His father was a famous surgeon, and he was used to see people being taken care of. He shouldn't have to feel intimidated...

Then, while he approached the bed carefully, trying not to make too much noise, Kira's eyes suddenly opened, blue and wide, and the blond boy smiled warmly. «Ichigo!»

Ichigo smiled back before ven realizing, but he didn't move. Seeing Kira finally awake was a relief, and the raw emotion filled his throat for a moment, preventing him from talking. «Hello» he said, a little coarsely, when he managed to put together some courage.

Kira was still smiling, and when he noticed Ichigo looking around pretty uneasily he patted the mattress next to him, inviting him to sit. The ginger-haired one complied, still feeling a little weird. «Er... the room isn't bad, at least.»

«No, it really isn't. I think I have nothing to complain» Kira lively answered, surprisingly cheerful and energetic. «I have a bunch of stuff to read, and I can watch all TV I like. If I asked, I even think they'll let me have a laptop and an internet connection. Food isn't bad either, believe me. Hey, do you think you can bring me some music, next time you come? I miss my CDs... I'd like some old school rock, and also, let's see... The Offspring, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and also… uhm… Aerosmith!»

Ichigo looked at him. Even if his face was still paler than usual and his eyes were circled in purple, Kira's expression was of pure happiness. Maybe he was just happy to see him, but... Kira never was so cheerful, not even when he was, let's say, "well". It didn't take long to understand that his chirping voice, his endless chatting and his seemingly happy face weren't fully sincere: they were just made to convince everyone who came in that hospital room that everything was fine, more than fine. That everything was perfect and ready to solve. Yeah, let's turn a page and let's all go home.

But Ichigo knew that things like those didn't work like that. And the completely absent light in Kira's blue eyes, that jaunty, careless light that charmed him when he came at Seireitei High, couldn't but confirm his fears.

«Kira» he began, not really knowing how to proceed, «are you sure you are alright like this?»

Something seemed to crack, in the seemingly perfect mosaic of lies that Kira carefully built. For a moment, his smile lost itself. «Eh? B-but sure, Kurosaki-kun. I mean» he added, talking at light speed, weakly wriggling the fingers of his broken arm, «this thing isn't comfy at all, but…»

«No, no» Ichigo interrupted him, unnerved. He sighed, shaking his head: going around in circles wouldn't help anyone. «Look, Kira, let's stop pretending. I want you to tell me who did this to you.»

Kira's eyes immediately took their sincere light back. The boy's white teeth attacked his lower lip, digging in the flesh, while every line in his thin face seemed to deepen itself. Ichigo shook his head again, recognizing that behaviour.

«Kira» he repeated, reaching out to gently brush the voluminous lock of blonde hair hanging on his friend's forehead, «you mustn't be scared to tell me about it.»

«Why?» the other asked, bitter. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again Ichigo saw tears shining, ready to fall. «Sure I'm scared, especially to tell everything to someone like YOU.»

Instinctively, Kira tried to brush his cheeks with his right hand, but when he tried to do it, the catheter's tube tensed, making him realize with a yelp of pain about the needle in his vein. He looked at that as if he never saw it before. «What did I become?» he murmured, sounding so bewildered that Ichigo felt like throwing his arms around him. «How did something like this happen to me, of all people? What did I do wrong?»

«Kira...» Ichigo began, worried. He didn't want him to cry. He didn't want him to feel bad again, suffering and feeling pain. He still felt responsible. Maybe, if he had been at Kira's side, that night, that tragedy would have never happened.

«Tell me his name, Kira» he said, with a voice he barely recognized as his own, a voice of a man who was able to kill, «Tell me the name of the man who raped you.»

Kira's eyes stared at him, wide.

TBC

Next chapter's teaser:

«My name's Otoribashi Roujuro» the blond said, with a warm smile, «I wanted to say I heard you have been unwell lately, and it's nice to see you are again in good shape.»