Ichigo smirked, laying on his bed with a pleased look crossing his features as he shut his auburn eyes.

So... he thought as the darkness slowly consumed him. He is jealous.

XXXX

Hichigo sat across from the standing teenager with a deep scowl eched into his handsome features as he glared at the bright haired boy with his golden-black eyes, and seeing this caused the lightly tanned teen to quirk a brow.

"What's up with you? I tell you that I'm in love with Orihime and you go and try insulting her?" he frowned, crossing his arms as he stood in front of the Hollow with authority ringing in his tone.

The albino looked down on the ground, then back up at Ichigo with slightly saddened eyes, yet full of anger and hate. "There's nothin' wrong wit' me, King, I'm jus' worried 'bout how this relationship ya got wit' 'er will turn out." he snarled in a low tone, almost a hushed whisper blown away with the wind speeding past them from Ichigo's impatience. "...that's all."

He stood and turned, about to walk off once again, yet Ichigo claimed Hichigo's wrist into his left hand, yanking him back so he was looking directly at him, seeing that his orange brows were furrowed and his deep chocolate colored eyes were narrowed.

"Cut the crap, Hichigo!" he shouted angrily, the alabaster colored form's eyes widened slightly, a small tint of red tainting his usual pure snow white cheeks. "Tell me the truth!"

"That is the truth, Ichigo!!" Hichigo snapped, clamping his eyes shut as he bit his lower lip nervously, harshly prying his wrist from the shinigami's grasp, backing up and turning smartly on his heel, running off as the bright haired teen stared after him. A few seconds later dropping his head while grinding his teeth.

"I'm sick and tired of this..." he growled.

XXXX

The albino sat down on the ledge of the sideways skyscraper, his legs dangling as he swung them slowly, sighing as he placed his hands on either side of himself, fingers coiling around the edge of the long deep blue building. His head hung as tears welled up in his eyes as he licked his lips slowly, trying to calm himself before he ended up crying.

Hearing a footstep, he veered over his shoulder slowly, lifting his right hand and gripping the end of his sleeve wiping away the tear that escaped as Zangetsu slowly dissolved into view.

"W-what do ya want," he stuttered, voice chocked, "old man?"

The floating form knelt down beside him, placing a skinny, boney hand on his shoulder, long slender fingers resting harmlessly against the white fabric of the shihikusho top.

"I'm concerned," he complied in a deep, caring, tone, "why don't you tell him why you don't like Inoue anymore?"

"'Cause I...I jus' can't..." he sighed, looking away and up at the sideways clouds. "He loves 'er...so I can't jus' up and say, ''Ey, King, guess what! I'm in love wit' ya!!", yer outta yer mind!"

"You never know how he'll respond if you don't tell." the man frowned, his patience wearing thin.

"Still, yer outta yer mind," Hichigo hissed, bringing his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around his shins, locating his forehead against his curled up knees, "'sides...who would fall in love wit' a monster like me?"

Zangetsu sighed in an aggravated way, wondering why he just had to be these two knuckle-heads' guidance. Shaking his head slowly, he patted the shoulder he had his hand rested on, his narrow chin resting on the albino's shoulder.

"Just try to talk to him," he said in his stern 'do it or you'll regret it' tone, "he might even feel the same, or he may not, either way...he'll still accept you for who you are."

"'Cause we're each other's other-half, ya idiot." Hichigo growled, raising his forehead from his knees a bit. "He has t' accept me whether he freakin' likes it or not."

The man shook his head again, "I will leave you to your thoughts, but I still suggest you go tell him how you feel." With that, he began to slowly fade into nothingness as the white haired form sighed, letting the tears slide down his face as he again buried it back onto his knees.

I can't...I can't tell Ichigo, he thought sadly as he slowly wiped the tears away, he has Orihime...and...he's straight, I know he's straight. His heart starts poundin' each time she's around 'im...

XXXX

Ichigo looked from side to side in his inner world, growling once he saw no sign of his inner Hollow, yet blinked once he saw Zangetsu.

"Old man?" he stammered, surprised.

"Ichigo...how do you feel about Hichigo?" the man asked, not beating around the bush, smiling pleasantly once he saw those brown eyes widen from shock at the unexpected question. "And the truth."