Forbidden Love

Chapter 6 - You aren't talking about me, right?

Shiro's POV

I paced across the cold, wooden floors of our room, hands delved into the messy thing I call my hair as I pulled at it frustratingly. Ichi knew. No, I didn't tell him. Of course not! I kissed him. Outside. Where anyone could've seen us! Sighing, I plopped down onto the edge of the unmade bed and ran my hands through my tormented hair. How am I gonna hide my strange, un-brotherly affections now? The sharp sound of the doorbell ringing interrupted my thoughts and I jumped, startled. When I heard the door open not even a moment later, I crept over to the bedroom door, peeking out to see who it was. When I saw a shock of black, violet, and burnt brown, I knew who it was.

'Orihime, Tatsuki, an' Rukia.' I shrugged my shoulders casually, leaning out a little more to hear their conversation. Mind you, I wasn't eavesdropping! I was just curious as to what they could want.

"Ichigo ...think you ...drive ...to the mall ...shopping." I heard Rukia asking Ichi a question but I only a couple of glimpses of what she was actually saying. Ichigo groaned loudly at her and I chuckled quietly, so as not to attract their attention. Rukia threw a glare at him with sharp violent eyes and he gulped, quickly nodding his approval.

"Let me ...grab ...keys ...tell Shiro." My eyes widened when I realized he was coming upstairs to our bedroom. Closing the door as quickly and quietly as I could, I grabbed some manga off the night stand and jumped onto the bed, trying to look as discreet as possible. I saw the bedroom door open out of the corner of my eye and an orange head of messy hair popped in.

"I'm taking Rukia, Tatsuki, and Orihime shopping." I nodded in acknowledgement, trying to hold back my nervous blush. I could see him looking at me with those warm, big, chocolate-colored eyes innocently and his kittenish tongue peeked out to lick those soft, rosy, full set of-

'STOP RIGH' THERE SHIRO!' I looked away, biting my lip in retaliation to my dirty thoughts. I heard his keys jingle as he picked them up off the desk along with his phone and wallet.

"Call me if you need me, 'kay?" I nodded and he sighed, opening his mouth to say something but stopped, instead just shaking his head and walking out. As soon as I heard the front door slam shut, I rolled over, spreading my arms and legs across the bed. Sighing, I ran my hands through my hair again.

"Wha' th' hell am I gonna do?"

Regular POV

As Ichigo drove his 2006 Jetta Volkswagen, which his Dad had bought for the family to use since the clinic van probably wouldn't work, his thoughts kept flashing back to what happened that morning. Even as he walked through the girl-filled mall, following the girls into different stores, his thoughts kept being dragged back to that moment.

'Shiro...he...he kissed me. My brother...my twin... my own flesh and blood!'

"ICHIGO!" Rukia's angry voice interuppted Ichigo's thoughts. He looked up to meet a pair of pissed-off, violet eyes. Rukia scowled at him, placing her hands on her hips while her ballet flat-clad foot tapped insistantly on the white-tiled floor.

"What?"

"I've been calling your name for the past five minutes. What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing... What did you want?" Rukia sighed, running her fingers through her hair to try and fix it's ruffled appearence. Once she was satisfied, she patted it into place and stood up straight, waving her hand at herself.

"What do you think of this one?" Rukia was wearing a pair of jean shorts that ended two inches above her knee and had a sky blue tank-top with a huge graffiti purple heart in the middle. Topping it off, she held a purple clutch purse and wore navy blue converse sneakers. A matching pair of purple heart earrings were in her ears and a several necklaces adorned her slender neck. A black heart clip placed strategically in her hair held back her obnoxious bangs.

"It's nice, I guess." Rukia stomped her foot in frustration at his answer.

"That's what you said to the last ten outfits!" Ichigo sighed at her.

"Sorry. I guess I'm just tired." Rukia just stood there for a couple of minutes, silent as she stared at him. Finally, she sighed, walking over to him and plopping down on the bench beside him. She clasped her hands together and leaned forward, staring straight ahead and avoiding his confused, tawny eyes.

"Look, Ichigo... I know I haven't known you that long, not even a year, in fact, but..." Here, Rukia looked up, locking her violet eyes with his chocolate orbs. "I'll always be here for you. No matter what, okay? If something's wrong... just talk to me, please." Ichigo's eyes widened fractionally. That's the most sincere thing he's ever heard her say to him. He turned, watching Orihime jump up and down excitedly across the store, pointing out a shirt to Tatsuki. He chuckled softly and he vaguely heard Rukia giggle from beside him.

"Yeah, I know... It's just..." Ichigo sighed again while Rukia listened quietly, curious eyes still watching him as she waited from him to continue. "I'm just so confused." Rukia smiled, grabbing one of his hands in her small, dainty ones.

"Like I said. I'm here for you. I'll never judge you, no matter what, okay?" Ichigo grinned at her slightly.

"Thanks Rukia." He looked down. "But, I've kinda got a question." Rukia tilted her head in confusion and curiousity.

"Yeah? Just ask me anything." Ichigo breathed in deeply before letting it out slowly, eyes glaring at the white tiled floor.

"What do you do if you really like someone, but you don't know how to tell them? And, it's like really wrong to like them because they're one of your really good friends and if people found out, most everyone would reject you or even hate you?" Rukia's slender, elegant eyebrows furrowed in thought.

"You aren't talking about me, right?" Ichigo looked at her strangely.

"No! Of course not! I mean it's not like you aren't... pretty, it's just..." Rukia laughed at his twisted expression.

"It's okay, I understand. Just friends, right? I feel the same way." Ichigo smiled and sighed in relief.

"Yeah. But, still. What do I do?" Rukia's grin faded, turning into a more serious look as she answered.

"Look, if you love this person... No matter what other people say, just tell them. It's not worth living your whole life without knowing what they would say." Ichigo nodded.

"Thanks Rukia." Rukia smirked at him.

"No problem! Now let's go get something to eat. I'm starving!" Ichigo shook his head, grinning at her. Rukia darted into the changing rooms while Ichigo called out to Tatsuki and Orihime from across the store. Several patrons turned to glare at him for being loud but he ignored them.

"Come on guys! Let's head to the food court! Rukia will be out in a minute." Orihime waved back, signaling that they'd be over soon. Ichigo sat back down as he waited for the girls. After a few moments, he smiled to himself.

'It may not be on the top of my list...but I'm still having a good time.'

Shiro's POV

As I paced throughout our empty house, Ichi still running on my mind, I tugged on my hair and worried on my lower lip.

'Up the stairs, down the hallway, punch the wall, turn around, down the stairs, into the kitchen, kick the door, turn around, into the living room, stare at Ichigo's picture, scowl, turn around, up the stairs...'

It was the same process, over and over as I tried to figure out what to do. Soon after Ichigo had left, leaving me alone with my thoughts, I had gone crazy. That morning had hit me like a brick and left me with nothing to work with. After staring at the ceiling for five minutes, it finally sunk in... I kissed my brother. Not only is this wrong, and sick, it's illegal. If people found out, not only would people hate Ichi and I, we could be arrested. I scowled. What the fuck is up with this world? Since when did it matter who loved who? I mean, who cares if we're related? It's not as if I could get Ichigo pregnant! I blushed. I mean, if we did have sex... My face turned even redder and darker. Ichi bent over the desk, hands gripping the edges so tight his knuckles would turn white, jaw slack in a silent scream of my name as I slid in and out of his tight, delicious ass... I shook my head at the thought.

'Stop thinkin' 'bout that! Ya need ta tell Ichi it was a mistake!' After a moment, I grinned widely. 'Tha's it! Tell 'im it was a mistake! 'E'll understand!'

Now all I had to do was wait for him to get home... I sighed loudly. This was gonna be a long day. I returned to pacing as I waited in frustration.

Ichigo's POV

Sliding into the front seat of my car, I shut it behind me, listening to the sound echo in the parking garage of Karakura's only shopping mall. Two car doors slammed behind me and I heard shopping bags being shuffled around as Rukia, Orihime, and Tatsuki got themselves situated in the back of my car. I shoved the key into ignition, the car roaring to life. Throwing the car into reverse, I manuevered through the nearly full parking garage, trying to exit the dark building in one piece. As I finally made it onto the streets, Rukia leaned out of her seat to turn on the radio. I grinned and chuckled under my breath as I heard a familar song playing, knowing the girls behind me would know it and sing along.

"I see you looking at me.
Like I got something for you.
And the way that you stare.
Don't you dare.
'Cause I'm not about to.
Just give it on up to you.
'Cause there are some things I won't do.
And I'm not afraid to tell you.
I don't ever want to leave you confused."

Orihime squealed, jumping up and down. She grabbed Tatsuki's hand and reached around to nudge Rukia, who smirked back at her. The three of them bumped their shoulders together and began to sing along. I glanced at them from my rearview mirror, watching all three girls really get into the song.

"The more you try.
The less I bite.
And I don't have to think it through.
You know if I'm into you.
I don't need a man to make it happen.
I get off being free.
I don't need a man to make me feel good.
I get off doing my thing.
I don't need a ring around my finger.
To make me feel complete.
So let me break it down.
I can get off when you ain't around.
Oh!"

I chuckled and shook my head at their childish actions in my backseat.

"You don't need a man, and yet I'm the one who has to drive you to the mall." Tatsuki leaned up into the front seats and scoffed, shoving my shoulder lightly.

"Oh shut up. You had a good time too." I just smirked back at her, gripping the steering wheel as I resisted the urge to laugh.

"You know I got my own life.
And I bought everything that's in it.
So if you want to be with me.
It ain't all about the bling you bringing.
I want a love that's for real.
And without that then no deal.
And baby I don't need a hand.
If it only wants to grab one thing."

Finally, I pulled into Orihime's driveway and placed the car into park. I watched the three girls in my backseat rock out some more before I shut off the car.

"Hey guys, I know you really like this song, but we're here." All three pouted, but Tatsuki opened her door and crawled out, Rukia and Orihime following her on the other side of the car. Rukia tapped my window and I rolled it down as Orihime and Tatsuki walked into Orihime's house. They turned around to wait for Rukia but the violet-eyed girl waved them off and said she'd be there in a moment and to just go on without her.

"Thanks, Ichigo, for driving us today. I know it must've been awful for you." Rukia spoke sarcastically and with a grin. I moaned painfully and grabbed my chest.

"It was just horrid." She reached over and slapped my shoulder playfully.

"Oh shut up! You had fun, too! Don't forget what I told you, okay?" I smiled at her thankfully and leaned over to hug the black-haired, petite girl. I held her for a moment before pulling away and smirking at her.

"I won't." She stepped back and waved at me as I drove back down the driveway and out into the practically empty street. As I headed towards home, I swallowed and braced myself for lay ahead of me.

'Next... the fun part.'

A/N- I know the chapter was short, but I'm working on the next chapter RIGHT now.

I know this isn't the best place to say it but

R.I.P. 2,977 victioms of 9/11

God Bless You.

Edited: April 25th, 2011

Word Count: 2,550