*sigh* This fic is almost over too...a wee bit shorter than my norm I know. But we'll see~! :D So off we go!

Chapter 8

Ichigo opened his eyes and sighed at the warmth that surrounded him. He could feel Shiro's warm, gentle hold on his body. It feels so nice...having him here. I feel like it's...right... He looked down to see the Kaien doll in his arms and frowned sadly. Gin, I hope you'll be ok. Stay safe ok? Your a good friend...

"Morning Ichigo..." Ichigo turned to see Shiro looking at him with sleepy eyes.

His eyes look...nice when he's waking up. "Morning..." He yawned. "Did you sleep ok?"

"Better than I have in centuries." He admitted. "Your very...comfortable." Ichigo's face turned red and Shiro chuckled warmly. "Don't be embarrassed. Isn't that a good thing?"

"I-I guess...it's just...I was thinking similar things." He mumbled the last part, but from the wide smile on Shiro's face he could tell the Fallen had heard him. "God your embarrassing me more!" Shiro laughed and rubbed his shoulders gently.

"Sorry, but it's just us here...well us and that pervy eyed doll." He smirked. Ichigo frowned and held Kaien close. "What's wrong?"

"...It's Gin. His world is crumbling apart." He felt Shiro tense. "Do you know anything about that kind of stuff?"

"Something is heavily interfering with his powers...so much so that its affecting his flow of power. Whoever it is, they're powerful." He explained. "Gin's a very powerful, old demon."

"Yeah, I guessed that much. Not to mention he has a scary doll collection." He mumbled.

"Be a little respectful." Shiro snapped. "Those are souls of the deceased..."

"I know...I'm sorry." He sighed and got up. He put Kaien on a shelf and could feel the doll looking at him in amusement. "I'm just worried, that's all." He jumped when hands rubbed soothingly on his shoulders.

"It's alright Ichigo...I understand. He's a good friend, but-" He was cut off when he sensed a Demon and sighed. "Wrath Demon..."

"Go ahead and go. I'll stay here this time ok?" Ichigo smiled. Shiro nodded and turned to leave, but Ichigo grabbed his hand. "Look...be careful ok?" He felt a hand on his cheek and looked up to see Shiro staring at him with warm, kind eyes. "Shiro-" He was cut off as soft lips touched his in a sweet kiss. "Mmmph?"

"I promise I'll be ok. Ichigo...we'll talk after I come back ok?" Ichigo watched him go and he sighed, his cheeks red.

He kissed me...again...he blushed and held Kaien a bit tighter. He gently placed Kaien on a small shelf in his room. "There. I hope its comfy for you...I dunno if you can speak or anything...but still." He smiled and started to walk away when he heard a voice echo in his mind.

"...urosaki...Kurosaki..."

"Huh? Who's there?" Ichigo looked around, but saw no one. No one's there? Maybe- He felt a sharp pain in his skull and he leaned over the bed, watching the world spin. "Wh...what..."

"We...speak..." Ichigo gripped his head before the world went black.

When Ichigo opened his eyes, he found himself floating in a dark space. "Where...am I?"

"We are in the deep recesses of your mind." Ichigo turned around and a soft gasp left his mouth. "Surprised? I am sure you are...since you are looking at yourself." Ichigo blinked as he stared. In front of him was a carbon copy of himself, only slightly thinner, almost feminine in appearance, with soft warm brown eyes and bright, crystal white wings.

"You...Helel?" He asked, uncertain.

"That is correct, Kurosaki Ichigo." The angel whispered. "Albeit...I'm not all here...and I do not mean that as if I am insane."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I mean that I am still trying to pull the shattered pieces of my soul together. I have been trying real hard to bring my soul together, but without the right vessel, I could not...then you were born." He explained. "Our bodies are the same, and when you were born a piece of my soul found you and joined with it. Over time, my soul began to reform, but when you became Samael's Reaper, and your spiritual awareness completely opened, my soul began to reform faster."

"So basically...I'm carrying your soul around like a skin bag?"

"Crude, but something like that yes. However, the body, once mine, is now yours. I do not belong." Ichigo could see the pain in his eyes and sighed.

"So...what is it you want from me?"

"I merely wish to speak to Samael one more time." Ichigo blinked. "Our curse is ending...soon my soul can be reincarnated elsewhere. But before I pass on, I wish to see him...tell him how much I still love him." Ichigo felt his fist clench and his stomach flip flopped angrily. "However...I know he has moved on-"

"No, he still loves you. He wouldn't really love me...not without seeing you." Ichigo interrupted, feeling hurt by his own words. "He still misses you."

"True...but I believe he has fallen for you...he just know not what to do...how to truly feel." He said. "Samael comes...we can speak later...should I have the strength."

Ichigo opened his eyes to Shiro shaking him worriedly. "Hmm? When did you..."

"I came back a few minutes ago to see you collapsed on the floor. Are you alright?" Ichigo scratched his head and Shiro placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hey-"

"He's alive...sorta." He mumbled. When Shiro gave him a puzzled stare he sighed. "Helel. He's...inside my body."

"He...he is?" Shiro asked, his voice trembling.

"Yeah...said he wanted to talk to you..." Ichigo mumbled. Yeah...like I really want you to-what the fuck is wrong with me?! He thought angrily. Love...is that really it? Am I...heh, idiot... Shiro seized his shoulders and Ichigo looked down, eyes hidden behind orange bangs.

"Can I? Ichigo, I must speak with him!" Shiro said urgently. "There's something I must tell him!"

"What, are you gonna get all sappy and tell him how much you love him?" Ichigo gritted out. He knew he sounded like a jealous girlfriend, but he was jealous. Jealous of Helel...you're so loyal to him... "Are you gonna pretend that I'm here or something?"

"What?! No-"

"Then what?! Admit it, ever since we met all you saw was him! You never really saw me at all did you?! Helel this, Helel that! Fuck all of it!" He snapped angrily, his shoulders shaking with sobs. "Fuck you! To think that I...I actually care! You don't give a shit! You-" He was silenced by a soft kiss and his eyes widened. After a moment though he melted into the kiss, reaching up to run a hair in white tresses, sighing as Shiro's lips played with his own. When they broke apart, Shiro chuckled. "What?"

"You look adorable when you blush...not Helel, you." He smiled. "Ichigo...I want to talk to him...to tell him I've fallen for someone else." He said, placing a gentle, cool hand on Ichigo's burning cheek. "Yes, I still love Helel...a part of me always will. I think that's how it is with humans and their first love, right? There will always be a place in my heart for him...but you..." He sighed and stood up, wrapping his arms around himself. Ichigo noticed how small he seemed, and at the same time he seemed to show his true age. "You I...I have never felt this strongly before...not with Helel...never. I...I've been told that a true, pure love is like a burning flame that engulfs you...and I think I understand that now. You consume my thoughts all the time. At first...I thought I was just concerned, what you being a human and all."

"But as time went on, it changed...I...I grew fond of your presence, of your scent. When Grimmjow tried to feed from you, I grew angrier than usual...hell I even gave you a blowjob just to get rid of your discomfort." Ichigo turned red at the hazy memory. "Then...when my hunger consumed me, and you offered yourself...a part of me wondered if Helel would have done that...and...and I truly feared that I had killed you."

"Shiro..."

"Once, I did see Helel in you, I won't deny it. But as time passed...I couldn't. You were so different than him...and I found myself falling for you...and I have fallen, fallen so hard I hit rock bottom and I don't want to climb back out." Shiro laughed, an empty, humorless tone. "I am a pathetic excuse of an angel...a lover...a person." His body trembled as tears fell down pale cheeks. "Ichigo...I do love you. I just-" He gasped when arms wrapped around him, the warm, alive body of Ichigo humming and holding him in his embrace.

"No...I should have been fair. All that stuff I said...I was angry and jealous." He admitted, burying his face in Shiro's back. Just beneath he could feel the magic that concealed large, black feathered wings. "I don't care anymore...I just want you happy...because I...I love you too." He sighed as he said the three little words and chuckled."Such simple words...and yet-"

"Yet they hold the weight of hearts...souls...the world itself sometimes." Shiro finished as he turned around, pulling the young man close. "Ichigo...what did I do to deserve you?"

"Well let's see. You've saved my life, kinda forced me into this Reaper business, and your previous lover now lives in my head...sound right?" He smiled when Shiro laughed. "Good...you're better when you laugh." He smiled. "The question now remains...what do we do now?" Shiro put on a thoughtful face.

"Yes...what indeed?"

Chapter 8 end

Ugh this took awhile getting down...and I think that's my longest 'love speech' to date. *chuckles* Oh wells! Reviews are always appreciated! Oh, and my prayers and hopes go out to my best non-sister sister's dad and I hope he gets well soon! Give CuteCat213 ur wishes ok! ;D I promise it'll be ok! Well reviews ok?