Story Title: Paradigm Shift
Chapter Title: From One Matrix to the Next
Authors: AliceKing and Higure-kun
Pairing: eventual ShiroIchi
Rating/Warning: T for this chapter (swearing)
Words: 8,737

Note from Higure: Yeah… I know. I'm really pathetic, right. I am in a bit of a rut in my own fics and started RPing with AliceKing. Now this idea is just something I randomly thought of. I normally don't delve too much into complete AU's, but this nagging thought intrigued me. Hopefully everyone else will too! Cheers!

He couldn't believe it... After all of what he had been through... Was it really going to end like this? He had trained over a month and he was still not strong enough? There was that fight for dominance in his own soul and he even but up with that pig-tailed blonde! He should've been stronger! Was this his limit, after defeating that former Espada? Those cool green eyes in front of him were the eyes of the Cuarta Espada. He wasn't even the Prima Espada! If he was there, losing to the fourth one, did he really have no hope at all in defeating Aizen? He had to save Orhime, damn it! He had promised he would! Kurosaki Ichigo couldn't, no wouldn't, fail her! He wouldn't fail the others either. They were depending on him! Chado, Ishida, Renji, and Rukia. All of them were waiting on him to make it through!

The teen was about to launch forward, despite his injuries, when he felt it. It was cold and pierced him to the very core. Shock chocolate eyes looked at the white hand stabbing his chest, sharper than any knife or sword he had ever come against. The pain didn't even register in his mind as Ulquiorra yanked the hand out, leaving a ghastly hole and sending blood flying, splattering, everywhere. Was this really his limit? Was he doomed to die here, unable to help and save his friends? As his world began to turn black, he vaguely heard the crying scream of the little arrancar girl that had followed him all the way here. Only one thought entered his mind and stuck as he felt lift slip through his grasp.

No... I will not give up...

That was then, and this was now. Chocolate brown eyes slowly opened as Ichigo Kurosaki finally started waking up. The first thing that he found off guard was the bright lights in his eyes. Was he in a laboratory being tortured? Was he locked up in one of the plain white rooms, doomed to be kept there all alone until killed and serve under Aizen? Chocolate brown eyes fluttered with confusion as he looked around, finding himself in a...hospital room? No, this didn't make sense at all. Why was he in a hospital room and not fighting the arrancar!? He sat up with a fast movement, groaning as he felt pain surge through his body. The strawberry blonde saw all the actions flash in his eyes. Orihime's face, Grimmjow, Ulquiorra's hand in his abdomen, and the soft sound of Nel's crying as he faded in to darkness... Was he dead? Was he alive? He couldn't even tell if he was real at the moment as questions flooded his head, making him dizzy.

"Where...am I...?" he asked aloud, finding his voice hoarse.

Ichigo panicked a bit as he felt himself hooked up to different machines, bandages on his body. This was all too much for him, and he was all alone in the room. Damn it, he needed answers! Ichigo needed to get out of here and back to Heuco Mundo and finish Aizen off!!

"Well what do ya know," a voice huffed from the doorway. "Looks like 'lil King woke up."

Ichigo groaned as his eyes turned into slits upon hearing 'king'. "You sound different..." he muttered, "Shirosaki..."

Golden eyes rolled as the teenager strolled over to Ichigo's bed. He plopped down on the chair closest to the kid, propping his feet up on the bed. "Shirosaki? What the hell? Ya damn well know m'name is ONLY Shiro... Seriously... Who would name their kid Kurosaki Shirosaki? Sounds like a fuckin' oxymoron t'me."

Orange eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You...don't HAVE parents...stop being stupid ya damn hollow..." he growled. This didn't make sense, not at all. "And...where did your robes go...? And your eyes..."

Shiro crossed his arms, clearly annoyed. He had to sit here in this room with this half-wit against his will. The older teen brushed off his black shirt with black-painted nails. He wore black tripp pants with white stitching and chains crossing in the back. Black boots were still propped up on the hospital bed. Of course his eyes were a golden color, and his hair was snow white, though he personally passed it off as a platinum blonde to school officials. His eyebrow was pierced as well as his left ear, many bracelets adoring his wrists. Golden eyes made contact with chocolate ones.

"Fuck... Doctors said ya might have some memory loss, but damn if it ain't annoyin'... Ya are soundin' like ya are from 'nother place 'ntirely!" He frowned. "It's the 20th century so no one wears robes 'nymore and what the fuck is a hollow? And as fer your information... I have my eyes 'cause my mother had this color o' eyes... Thin' called genetics or did ya forget 'bout that sorta thin' too?"

Ichigo looked him over, again and again and again. "I suppose...it suits you...it definitely looks...nice...on you..." he suppressed a slight blush as he sighed. "Whatever you say Shirosaki, I know you're just fucking with me." He raised a brow. "And what do you mean, what's a hollow? Why don't you just go back and pester Zangetsu in my mind, ya damn hollow!"

"What's with that shit anyways? Humans can't SEE you Shirosaki. How could ya tak to a doctor?"

The older teen clacked his tongue against his teeth in annoyance. He reached down and yanked the board hanging off of the boy's bed. Growling, he read. "Patient's name... Kurosaki Ichigo. Age sixteen. Gender male. Height is one hundred an' seventy four centimeters. Weight is one hundred and seventy kilometers. Suffered head trauma from falling two stories out of 'is high school buildin' o' Karakura... Any o' this soundin' familiar?"

Shiro read on after flipping a page or two. "Family members... Kurosaki Isshin... Kurosaki Karin... Kurosaki Yuzu... an' Kurosaki Shiro."

The other teen stared, stared, stared, and stared. He couldn't believe his ears. His...BROTHER? "I-I didn't fall from a-a school! I-I was fighting Ulquiorra! At Hueco Mundo!! A-and O-orihime...S-she...She's there! I have to save her g-god dammit!!"

"And I'm only fifteen years old god dammit!!" he shouted as an afterthought.

With a growl, Shiro grabbed Ichigo by the collar of his younger brother's hospital gown. "I don't know what the fuck ya are playin' at, Strawberry, but let's get this straight... I've been here watchin' your fuckin' comatose ass for the past six months! Ya think I like wastin' my time here when I should be goin' to a university or some shit like that? Eh!?"

He roughly let go of Ichigo with a sneer, gesturing to the giant bouquet of flowers on the register sitting beneath the window. "An' yer ex-girl friend is just fine. She's been here 'tleast three times a week since ya were 'dmitted. All yer dumbass friends have been here on an' off. Fuck even Grimm showed up once or twice an' he still has t'go t'school in Tokyo!"

Ichigo looked startled and nodded weakly, laying back and staring at the ceiling. This was...this was just crazy! No hollows? Shirosaki his brother? Grimmjow coming to see him and even Orihime his...ex girlfriend? "This is...all...so surreal..." he murmured, "Sorry you had to look after me and stuff. How long have I been out?"

"I told ya I've been watchin' yer ass fer a good six months..." Shiro huffed. "Since you're up and 'wake, guess I should get the bastard or someone..."

Ichigo quietly examined him, sighing gently. "Oh...r-right okay..."

Shiro proceeded to the door, grumbling about stupid-ass fathers and how it was his responsibility as the older brother to look out for the younger brother. He snorted and turned to shoot a glare at the object of his distain. "HALF fuckin' brother..." he muttered under his breath and exited.

Ichigo brought the sheets up over his head, yelling loudly; mostly a loud 'fuck!' This wasn't FAIR! He had no idea how this all happened. All he knew was this was the most paranormal universe he'd surely ever been in EVER.

The older teen frowned as he came back to the room, one of the nurses in tow. She had hazel eyes and green-turquoise hair, something no one had ever bothered questioning her about since everyone in the hospital loved her. This and his father had commented on how she was the best help they had ever had. He glared inside the room, crossing his arms, casting his molten gaze to the older woman. "Ya goin' to check up on 'im or what?"

"Of course!" she beamed, ruffling white hair. "Don't be so mean, Shiro-kun! You should be happy he is awake!"

"Like a fly is happy when the housekeeper gets a new swatter," he grumbled off-handedly.

She rolled her eyes at him and entered the room. All smiles, she cried out in joy at seeing the teenager, even if he had thrown his sheets over him. "Ichigo-kun!"

Ichigo pulled down the sheets, stairing in disbelief. "N-Nel!?" he asked, staring with wide eyes. Nel! Maybe she could help him figure out this crazy thing that he was supposed to believe was his new 'life'!'

"Nel! You need to help me get back to Hueco Mundo! And explain why this hollow thinks he's my brother!"

Nell looked over to Shiro for answers, only getting a shrug from the older teen in reply. Puffing out her cheeks in mild irritation at the eldest Kurosaki, she turned to Ichigo with a smile back on her face. "That's not very nice to say about your onii-chan, Ichigo-kun! Everyone's been really worried about you!"

"Che! As if!" called out Shiro, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Shiro-kun!" he chided, mussing with orange strands apologetically. "Now Ichigo-kun... I need to give you a check up, okay? I'll just take your temperature and blood pressure. Then I'll have to go get Isshin-san or Ishida-san so they can ask you a few questions, m'kay?

Ichigo stared blankly, sighing and looking away. "You're no help either." he said with a grunt. "Fine, check me up ,do whatever."He decided to go along with this until he could FIND Zangetsu or at least an arrancar that wasn't...practically a child mentally. He knew Nel was SMART but she had her kind of...spacey mind. Maybe she was in on this,maybe everyone was playing a huge ass prank on him!

"I'm loads of help!" Nel pouted. "Even Ishida-san has said so once or twice!"

Shiro's eyes watched, almost calculating, as Nel went through the routine. She stuck the thermometer in his brother's, half brother he reminded himself, mouth. After waiting, the nurse removed the glass object and wrote down the results on her clipboard. She then went ahead and took his blood pressure and scribbled down more. When finished, she looked pleased and was beaming brighter than ever. "All done! Everything looks great, Ichigo-kun! I'll go get someone now!"

As she left, Shiro paid no mind. His intense stare, one that many would run away from, was still locked on Ichigo. Oh how he loathed him... Everything about the other teen pissed him off to no end and here the brat was acting like they didn't know who the hell they all were!

The orange-haired teen was too busy staring perplexed at his hands to realize the glare on him. He didn't care anyways, he was just horrified of everything going on. All this...All this was unbelieveable! Why did his entire life have to take a one eighty degree turn? Ichigo supposed that if he played along long enough someone would get tired of the little prank and call it off and they could all have a good laugh about this in his face. Whatever, he'd just...go along with it as best he could.

"What the fuck're you staring at Shiro?" he asked, snorting at his 'brother'.

The other teen raised one eyebrow. "Ya tell me, Ichigo. All ya have been doin' is spoutin' random shit from yer mouth... I'm gettin' fuckin' 'nnoyed by it 'lready an' ya damn well know how it goes when I get pissed at ya... Or maybe ya don't remember the last time I sent ya here?"

Ichigo stared and swallowed his pride. "Yes Onii-chan, please do forgive me for my stupidity." he sneered, smirking at his brother playfully. He wasn't scared of him, honestly. Maybe if he coaxed him into putting him in ANOTHER coma, he'd be back where he was SUPPOSED to be!

"Least ya 'dmit t'bein' a dumbass..." Shiro smirked right back, even if it did feel off. It wasn't like his brother to actually fight back.

"If that fag keeps me over night I swear to god I'll jump out a window and kill myself the right way this time..." he stretched his arms and legs, stairing at his arms. "Cuts...?" he asked no one in particular, stairing at arms with a questioning look. "Who the hell would mutilate my arms..?"

"Glass, 'lil King. That's what happens when ya fall through a window... Glass breaks and the shards get stuck in yer skin..."

"Oh..." he paused. "Duh..." he snorted at his stupidity, rolling his eyes. "These look like they were done by blade though..." he shrugged it off, figuring it was just wishful thinking.

"If that's what it's like to be in a coma, sign me up," the elder brother snorted, scowling. "I'd love t'get away from this hellhole..."

"I think I got away from another hell hole and entered an even weirder one..." he mumbled to himself, looking around once more with a sigh. "So...do we like...hate each other or something? Because you don't seem so bad..."

"Ya really don't remember 'nythin', do ya? Che... What a waste of time..."

Shiro strode over to where he had been sitting previously. Once again he sat down and propped his boots up on the bed. He was still fucking irritated to all hell. That wouldn't likely change either, as long as he still had to babysit... Damned Ichigo and damned father... "I hate yer guts, though I ain't sure 'bout ya. I never cared 'bout how ya saw me."

Ichigo brought his knees to his chest, sighing. "Okay then..." he murmered, asking nothing more. If Shiro didn't like him then that was fine. He didn't like him in the other world either so it wasn't too bad he guessed. Ichigo glanced at the door then back down as he gave a small noise of discomfort. Maybe he'd get killed by something before he got used to this whole 'world' thing this was.

Shiro was about to comment when a very distinctive cry of 'IIIICHIIIIIGOOOOO' could be heard down the hallway. The older teen groaned and then face-palmed. It was no wonder as Kurosaki Isshin came flying through the door. Once an idiot, always an idiot. Atleast, that is how Shiro saw it. He doubted if anyone disagreed.

"ICHIGO!" Isshin wailed, pulling out his wallet and nuzzling the picture inside. "Masaki! Our boy has finally woke up from his nap! We knew that he would come around, didn't we!? Our son is strong!"

Ichigo stared blankly. "Get the fuck out dad, seriously. Not in the mood."

He smacked Isshin's face with his palm. His dad was the same too. He was worried for a minute that he'd be an asshole here or something, since everything seemed odd. Ichigo flopped back on his bed, sighing and staring at the wall. "Someone kill me..." he groaned.

"Can I really?" Shiro commented dryly.

Isshin only laughed. "Oh Ichigo! I can't do that! Every good father has to take care of his son!"

"What the hell old man!?" the older teen hissed. "I've been here more than anyone!"

"It's your duty!" Isshin beamed, making his way over to Ichigo's bedside again, reading over all the data the screens were displaying. "You're the eldest, Shiro! Now Ichigo, sit up so that daddy can check out his son!"

Ichigo retreated, falling into Shirosaki's lap with a yelp. He didn't bother getting up, instead using his older brother as a shield. "No way are you getting your hands on me creep!"

"Oi!" Shiro yelled in protest, twitching in anger.

"But Ichigo! I cannot let you run around with out one! There could be something wrong with your brain still! You were in a coma for sooooo long and your daddy has missed you terribly!" Isshin said, still coming closer, nuzzling the photo once again. "Masaki! Where did I go wrong!? Our boy suddenly no longer wants my affections! Oh what will our daughters think!?"

Karin leaned in the door. "I still think you're a freak." she stated blankly.

Ichigo blushed, deciding he wasn't going to remove himself from his older brothers comfy lap until he was pushed off!

"No! You just...ugh it'd feel like rape in some sense! You're TOO affectionate!!" Ichigo squawked in protest, glaring.

Isshin wailed. "Is everyone against me!? MASAKI! Our children have grown up to be such spiteful beings! They wound me deeply!"

"Stop yellin' old man..." Shiro growled, dropping his legs in an attempt to dump his younger brother on the floor. "Don't fuckin' add me into that 'lil messed up family image o' yers... Oi! Ya comin' in or not, Karin? Where's Yuzu?"

The younger brother only ended up clinging more to Shiro. Ichigo's arms now hung around his neck securely as he stared blankly at his father.

Karin waltzed in, dressed much like Shiro. She had sort of adapted her style from him, and looked up to him. The girl looked up to Ichigo too, but for different reasons entirely. Shiro was just so badass, like her! "Yuzu ran off to go get her stuffed animal...thingie...Kon...from Nel."

Ichigo gaped. "Kon!? Hah, poor bastard." he ignored stares of confusion from his family. "I mean...uh...right...stuffed animal..." he gave a shit eating grin. He was really going to have to work at playing all this off.

"Che... Girl needs to drop the damned thin'..." Shiro commented, ignoring his father's wails about language, and turned his glare to Ichigo. "Get the fuck off, King. Let the ol' man get 'is job done so I can go home..."

"But onii-chan is so comfortable!" he said in the most childish voice he could, smiling innocently up at Shiro. "Won't onii-chan hold me a little longer?"

He could really get used to this...

Shiro's pierced eyebrow twitched violently. He suddenly stood and shoved Ichigo off of him. His glare was a heated intense gold as he jabbed a finger at his younger brother. "Half brother ya shithead!"

"Shiro!" Isshin said with a frown. "Stop acting like a child or else you will have to give your brother a nice hug and a big kiss!"

Ichigo stood swiftly, as if unharmed though it kind of hurt his ass. "Pffft" he pouted. "I was just having a little fun. I missed my onii-chan all this time I've been asleep!"

"That's my boy! Now sit down. Daddy needs to give you a proper exam before releasing you. Karin? Please remove the bandages like a good girl. Those cuts have been healed for months! Shiro! Start pulling out his IVs and do NOT make it hurt on purpose!" Isshin said, in his business-like manner.

The younger brother stared blankly. "Like this?" he randomly pulled out one of the IVs, not even twitching the least bit. Grimmjow hit harder then that; it was just a little needle anyways. "Hm...like a mosquito..." he mused plainly.

He found it almost pathetic that his father couldn't even tell the difference between being serious and sarcasm. No wonder he got away with so much shit!

"Dumbass... Goin' 'bout it all wrong..." Shiro smacked Ichigo's hands away. He reached over and turned off the machines, one by one. The eldest of the siblings then started to remove all the tape around the various hoses. The last thing he did was press his fingers against Ichigo's skin, drawing the needles out slowly. It was odd... Shiro was in no way albino, but against Ichigo's still sun-kissed flesh, it made his complexion far paler in comparison.

Isshin was all business too. He took out a little flashlight and checked Ichigo's pupils. The doctor then proceeded to check his reflexes as well. He paused and looked at his son with a serious expression. "Nel-chan told me you were experiencing some... hallucinations of some sort. She mentioned that you were speaking of hollows and a place called Hueco Mundo. I don't know if you realize this, son, but none of what you've experienced is real. The mind does many things to itself in order to stay working. It is a complex structure."

"You mean..." he whimpered. "I went through fifteen years of what I thought was my life in a coma!?" he asked, staring in disbelief at his father. He shuddered, smacking all hands away, and leapt off the bed.

"Oh god...f-fuck this!" he yelled, running out of the room and down the halls. Where he was headed or what he was doing was no concern of his right now. He just needed to get away from this all. It was driving him insane! A soft growl of frustration escaped Ichigo's lips as he finally stopped minutes later, finding himself up the fire escape, on the roof. He was panting, meaning he had gone a few flights of stairs.

His whole life was just his imagination!? Did that mean...no hollows? No Rukia, no Soul Society and no Hueco Mundo? That just couldn't be! It was so real, every fight, every time he spoke, felt an emotional; it was the entire most realistic thing he'd ever experienced! It was...it was his life!

A few moments later a hand gripped hard on his shoulder. "Fuckin' moron... Just had to overreact..."

Ichigo jumped at the contact, hissing. "G-g-g-go a-way! I-I just w-wa-ant t-to d-die!!"

Shiro spun him around, grip still tight on his shoulders in surpressed rage. "Eh? Ya want t'die? Go ahead! Go and jump! I'm guessin' that's what really happened, even if Kuchiki an' Abarai say otherwise! Ya 'lways have been a whiny brat! Whenever somethin' doesn't go how ya want it to, ya have a fit! Always have! Always runnin' to the highest place ya can get to! And who is it 'lways fuckin' chasin' ya down? Me!"

Ichigo felt himself tear up against his will, arms wrapping around his brother. "I-I'm s-sorry! I-I j-just don't understand!!" he cried, tears streaming down his face. He was so confused and frustrated! It hurt to think, and to breathe right now! His whole what he thought were fifteen years were a lie and now he was supposed to be expected to just go la-de-dah with all of this going on!? He didn't remember any of this ever happening and he was just expected to act like it had and go about his life as though this is the way he knew it to be? That was unjust! And his so called half brother wasn't making it any easier for him, the asshole!

Fists clenched at Shiro's sides at the contact and the fresh tears starting to stain his shirt. Really... The shit he went through for this whiny prick... Unbelievable... He growled lightly. "Ya shouldn't have run off... The bastard wasn't finished speakin', dumbass. I heard all o' it before so ya are lucky... Memory loss was expected, King. Not one of those deadbeats downstairs care if ya remember or not. Th' only thin' that matters to them is that ya are up, 'wake, an' ready to live life again."

He snorted and then continued, only pushing the still sobbing teen away from him a little. "So get yer ass back down there, eh? Stop bein' a crybaby..."

Chocolate eyes looked up at him, nodding gently and blushing a bit. "Y-yes Onii-chan..." he removed himself from Shiro reluctantly, looking down and then back up at him.

"Would you have...rather I had never woken up?" he asked curiously, in a quieter tone as he whipped his eyes.

The older brother thought about this for a moment. He ruffled orange locks and turned away, heading to the door that would lead them back to the stairs. Not a word was said and his gaze was unreadable. Shiro only stopped to see if his half brother would catch on he expected to be followed back.

Ichigo paused for a moment, fixing his hair on instinct and followed after his brother, He stared at the back of his head. Maybe this Shiro wasn't really as much of an asshole as he acted to be. Maybe he really cared for Ichigo...? The strawberry boy pushed the thought away, deciding to think on it later as he made his way back to the room close behind his older sibling. His eyes glued to his feet. He felt helpless in this world!

"Don't get me wrong..." Shiro said as they walked back, nearing the room with the expected family. "I still hate yer guts... There's just no reason t'get all upset if ya don't remember anythin'. Doesn't do 'ny o' us 'ny good."

Ichigo smiled a bit to himself, looking up with a scowl. "Whatever, I don't seek your approval anyways!"

Shiro giggled, amused with this comment. "That's news t'me. I'm kinda curious with what happened in yer head these past few months 'nyway. Might have t'force ya to share."

"Oh dear lord, now you want to spend time with me?" he laughed and glared playfully. "Careful Onii-chan, people might accuse you of actually liking me!"

The older brother clacked his tongue with a silent hum following. It didn't matter anyway, as Shiro would be stuck looking after Ichigo anyway. It is how it always was and that pissed him off to no end. He turned the handle to Ichigo's room and sidestepped. As predicted, Isshin came barreling out with his fish-like kissy lips. Really... The man was too easy to read.

"My sons have come back to me!" the man cried, attempting to latch onto Ichigo since he failed with Shiro.

Ichigo ducked at his father's attack, missing him with ease. He didn't act much different here then in his 'dream' world he supposed he'd call it. "Baka!" he growled at his father, rolling his eyes and moving back into the room. "Give me real clothes, this thing sucks."

"KARIN!" Isshin darted back into the room. "Did you bring your brother clothes like Daddy asked!?"

"Yeah but...uh...ya see..." Karin held up a bag that resembled one of hot topic. "His clothes piss me off, so I bought him new clothes."

"That's my girl!" the doctor wailed, giving a thumbs up. "You love your brother so much that you bought him a new outfit! See, Ichigo!? Your sister has missed you almost as much as me!"

Karin rolled her eyes, handing him the back. "Whatever, hope you like them onii-chan." she gave Ichigo a smile. Ichigo, Yuzu, or Shiro were the only people who ever got smiles out of her. Isshin was just...ugh STUPID. He didn't get anything besides bored looks and snarky remarks.

Ichigo blinked and took the bag, ruffling the younger sibling's hair. "Thanks Karin..." he removed his hand from her head, looking around. "Uh...I'd hate to be blunt but LEAVE so I can get dressed!"

Shiro rolled his eyes and Isshin was tearing up. The old man was wailing and moaning something about his son growing up. He made a comment about how he needed to be there just in case something went wrong and Ichigo feel over and hit his head again. The eldest of the siblings rolled his eyes again. Shiro grabbed his insane father by the collar of that white coat from behind. He started dragging out the old man and motioning for Karin to follow.

Karin followed like a lost little puppy. She was like that with Shiro ever since Ichigo got into the coma. She didn't want to watch her only other brother, even if he was a half brother, die the same. "Oh shut it dad, make Shiro stay if it means so much to you." she suggested plainly.

"OOOO! Karin you are so smart! Shiro! Stay with your brother!" Isshin flailed.

Shiro gawked. "No fuckin' way ol' man! 'Lil King can take care o' himself!"

"I agree! I'm sixteen fuckin years old, just get out!!" Ichigo hollered, already starting to pull his stupid little medical dress thing off since Karin had gone off to find Yuzu. He dumped everything in the bag out on his little bed thing, thankful she'd bought him boxers… Well... They were rainbow striped but they were boxers none the less! Ichigo quickly pulled them on over his legs, liking how they hung securely on his hips.

Meanwhile, Shiro was walking down the hallways. He was a bit hungry and since hospital food always sucked, vending machines were the only actual choice he had. Not paying any attention to the nurses and all the other doctors scrambling about, he made his way out of the buidling. Across the street were the two machines that had supplied him many a meal while his idiotic brother had been in that patient room. Slipping in a few bills, he selected two items that would tide him over until he got home for a meal. Sliding in some more in the other machine, he got some tea. When all items were gathered in his arms, he headed back. No doubt that old man would want Shiro to take everyone home, so he shouldn't go anywhere, for now. With a grumble, he made his way back to Ichigo's room.

Ichigo finished dressing himself, and was just a LITTLE bit uncomfortable in his clothing. It was tight in all the right places. He now sported a tight shirt with a rainbow on it, tight jeans that he swore were cutting off circulation, along with an unneeded belt and converse shoes. Ichigo wasn't sure why he'd put it all on really, he DID have boxers and it was all he needed but he was nice and decided to wear all the stuff anyways, even the striped arm warmers...

"Ya look like a fag, Ichigo," Shiro stated simply, a piece of pocky hanging from his mouth. He had just opened the door, relieved that his brother was fully dressed. Their sister had chosen quite the interesting ensemble...

The younger brother jumped a bit, grunting and glaring. "I know...but...Karin picked it and I'm not gonna be a dick and not wear the clothes she gave me," he stated simply, shoving his hands in his pockets. " 'sides she gave me eyeliner too, but I just couldn't go that far... "

"Believe me... You don't need it. C'mon... I haveta take ya and the girls home."

Ichigo blinked in confusion and nodded. "Okay onii-chan..." he murmured simply, brushing past his older brother out into the hallway.

Shiro's brow twitched at Ichigo's words, biting down hard on his pocky. He followed silently behind his younger brother, only stopping to yell at Yuzu and Karin to come along. It was really irritating to him, but at least he'd be able to pass out on his bed once they got back. Pressing the button on the elevator, he tossed his box into the trash and took out another.

Karin marveled at her brother, tugging at his clothing. "Onii-chan, you look great in what I bought you! I thought it might be a little too big...but they're just right." she grinned a bit, looking him over but then frowned. "No eyeliner?" she asked.

Ichigo raised bis brow and blushed a bit. "I...don't know how to put eyeliner on...and I already look gay enough as it is!" he cried in response, crossing his arms as he leaned back in the elevator.

Karin crossed her arms as well. "But girls love the gay!" she insisted.

"Yeah, so do the gays!" Ichigo's eyebrow twitched.

"Enough, ya two," Shiro hissed. "Just get goin' to the bus stop. Oi... Ichigo..."

Ichigo stopped his bickering with his younger sister and looked over. "Yea onii?" he asked.

Shiro took Ichigo's hand by the wrist. He pressed on the pressure point in the teen's arm to make the palm open up. With a bored expression he set enough change in Ichigo's hand to get on the bus. He then gave Yuzu and Karin their share to get on as well.

Ichigo blinked and took the change silently, staring at his brother for a long moment. He wasn't even sure WHY he was staring anymore, accept for the sake of taking the hole idea of his brother in. Shiro was...just something else entirely to Ichigo. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about Shiro interested him, even attracted him to the slightly paler, older boy.

Even though he could feel Ichigo's eyes on him, Shiro ignored it. Instead he took Yuzu and Karin's hands, the demanding younger sisters that they were, and continued on to the bus stop. They'd have to walk once they got out of the downtown area, but the eldest didn't really mind. It wasn't that much of a chore to walk, but the bickering and the talking was. Shiro didn't really like being social or civil and it was grating on his nerves to be nice for once. He glanced over his shoulder at his half brother and rose an eyebrow expectantly. "C'mon..."

The other teen snapped out of his little day dream and nodded his head, following after his older brother obediently. From everything he had collected of Shiro, he figured that he must listen to his brother's wishes in this world, so he thought he'd go along with that as to not confuse people. Ichigo stayed quiet, much quieter then he did in... his 'dream' world. It was because he didn't know WHAT exactly to say that didn't make him sound crazy or like an idiot.

It took only a few minutes for the bus to arrive. Shiro ushered in the twins first, following right after them. He placed his payment in the container and took a seat in the back. His golden eyes stared out the window on his right, arms neatly folded over his chest. There was a scowl painted on his face and looked as though he really just wanted to go away. He did finally rip open his other box of pocky and started to eat it. The bus would be a good ten to twenty minutes before their stop...

Ichigo sat directly across from Shiro, but was stairing at the ground. He sat much like L from Death Note, slightly perched on his feet,knees to his chest and back slightly bent.The strawberry blonde had a lost look on his face, just trying to settle into everything. Ichigo wondered if his room was the same here too, 

and if he had supposedly lived out almost fifteen years of his live in THIS world, did he incorperate what he knew in this world into that which he knew of the dream world?

Shiro kicked the seat next to Ichigo. "Stop spacin'."

Ichigo squeaked in suprise, glaring at his brother and snorted. "What's it ta ya if I do??"

Lips quirked into a grin. Whatever this was causing Ichigo to bite back at him, Shiro would accept it with open arms. Something happened, he knew, but wouldn't dare say anything about. "Makes ya look pathetic, not that ya ain't."

"You should be the last person talking about pathetic oniichan." he replied with a little grunt and another smirk, directing his attention back at the ground. He wasn't interested in arguing with Shiro, he really didn't give a damn what he guy thought of him. Or maybe he did...and that pissed him off more!

"Oh? Why th' hell do ya say that, 'lil King?"

"Case ye got nothin' better ta do then down grade yer own brother, onii-chan."

"Half brother, fucktard..."

"Oh whatever." he grunted, glaring at him for a moment before looking away again.

Shiro kicked the seat again, this time more out of irritation than anything. He really did hate the little fucker. Ichigo always had been over Masaki when they were younger. The brat always was at his adopted mother's side and she always, always took away the tears on the orange-haired brat's face. Shiro narrowed his eyes dangerously, the golden orbs shining with malice and hate as he glared at Ichigo. What he wouldn't give...

Ichigo quietly traced things on his pants with his finger, thinking and thinking. Shiro was his half brother, and his mother had only been married once so his father must have had him with another woman. Ichigo didn't mind, but he was curious as to when Shiro had come to live with him, but he thought it stupid to ask his half brother. Ichigo realized too that his mother was dead, all due to him, in this world too, right? Or else she would have for sure been at the hospital with him. Ichigo gave a soft sigh at this realization, He buried his head against his knees, closing his eyes.

The bus came to a shuddering halt about fifteen minutes later. Shiro arose from his seat, the girls following suit. He got out of the bus and, as if on autopilot, started out in the direction of home. Since he wasn't one to like his tea cold, Shiro had decided to pop the lid now and start drinking it. The eldest paid no mind to his younger brother following along or not. It was just expected that he did.

Ichigo had followed along after his older half brother, with his sisters. His eyes were still on the ground, but he followed along obediently. The strawberry blonde had decided that he wasn't going to ask questions, and he wasn't going to talk more then needed. Right now Ichigo just wanted to go curl up in his room and die.

Shiro was pleased with the silence provided, something he was not blessed with all that often. He felt the tension, but he would be damned if he asked the spoil brat what was up. It was another half hour before he caught side of their house. A puff of air escaped his lips and he trudged on, taking out the keys from his pocket. The building was the same that it ever was, the attachment to the house's right still remained the same from when their father had finally stopped working the clinic and agreed to work at the hosptial with Ryuuken. His room was located in there as well as a study, after a bit of remodeling.


He sighed and pulled out the keys. Shiro unlocked the door and took a step inside, kicking off his boots. Yuzu came next, delicately sliding off her shoes and immediately going to the kitchen. Even though she hadn't said a word so far, the little girl wanted to make the perfect dinner for the return of her younger big brother! She wanted everything to be just right and had been thinking about it the entire time. Shiro followed her into the kitchen, laying the keys on the table.

The orange-haired teen kicked his shoes off, shuddering a bit as he looked around. So far, the same as it was in his dream world. His eyes took everything in and he headed upstairs wordlessly, turning the way his room was located and opened the door, blinking. It looked the same… everything... It was as though he had never left his dream world at all. Maybe this was all just a big joke… That was what he was hoping anyways.

Karin took her shoes off as well, blinking and following Ichigo upstairs as quietly as she could. Her older brother was acting so strange, she wanted to find out what was wrong! The Ichigo she knew...well...he knew how to do makeup, and he certainly never talked back to Shiro! "Onii-chan...?" she asked a bit quietly, blinking when the boy turned around startled by her.

"Y-yea?" he asked a bit quietly, looking at her with eyes that she could tell were lost and confused.

The girl took a step closer, hugging Ichigo. She was still much smaller then him, but not as small as when she was twelve years old. "I know...you're confused and estrange but onii-chan it's okay...we're here..." she said in the quietest voice she was sure she'd ever had.

Ichigo blinked and his eyes softened as he hugged the small girl in return. "I know I just...feel like this is the dream world and that was the real world..." he murmured.

Shiro was busy peeling and cutting potatoes for Yuzu. His feet were propped up on the table and his eyes staring at the knife as he meticulously cut the vegetable. Yuzu was humming a happy tune. That stuffed lion was sitting on one of the counters. Why she drug the thing around, he didn't know. The girl was twelve and still loved that old thing that Ichigo had given to her a few months before the accident. Maybe that's why... The twins had been terribly attached to his younger brother.

He was brought out of his thoughts when a spoon smacked his hands. Shiro blinked and looked up to see the angriest look Yuzu could muster. "Don't put your feet on the table, Shiro-nii!"

"Che..."

"Don't 'che' me!" she huffed, puffing her cheeks out. "Get them off and clean the table!"

Shiro grumbled at the girl, but took his feet down and placed the cut potatoes into the pot. He then got out a rag and started wiping down the table. As an added bonus, he even started to set it. It wasn't a big deal, but doing so would make things less of a hassle and he wouldn't have to deal with that girls pouting face anymore. As he set everything just right, as he knew Yuzu was a little OCD when it came to this, he vaguely wondered what was going through everyone else's minds about their brother...

Ichigo came downstairs with Karin at his heels a bit later, and well, she had decided she'd remind him just how one was supposed to put eyeliner on. He just looked...Ichigo just looked like a pretty pretty girl in eyeliner. It was dark around his chocolate brown eyes, making them pop out and look rather intense. It also drew attention to just how feminine and pretty his face was, especially with that cute little lost look. At 

least he didn't have a permanent scowl on his face anymore, but rather a soft, lost look that he was sure to have for a very long time.

"Doesn't onii-chan look nice now??" Karin asked, clapping her hands a bit as she gave her older full brother a pat on the back, obviously happy with the work she'd done.

Shiro snorted. "Ya turned him back into a fag... An' here I was enjoyin' not lookin' at 'lil King's face like that..."

"Onii looks good with makeup on! Dad told you to stop being so down on his lifestyle!" Karin snorted, hitting her older half brother over the head swiftly.

Ichigo gave the blankest expression. "Life...style...?" he questioned, looking a bit uneasy of getting an answer on that one.

The eldest flicked Karin in the forehead for that and turned his attention to the lost look on Ichigo's face. "Ya DID dump th' princess, King..."

Karin whined and hit him again, rubbing her forehead. "What do we do onii? Ichi-onii-chan doesn't remember he's gay!"she whispered to her older half brother, giving him a worried look.

"So...? People break up all the time..." he blinked a few times, crossing his arms and looking even more confused then he already was

"More like ain't interested in 'anythin' at all, Karin," Shiro huffed. "Or are ya sayin' that ya like girls just 'cause ya are a tomboy?"

She puffed her cheeks and turned red, bashing him over the head repetitively. "G-gah! Shut up onii-chan you don't know anything about me!!" she cried in anger,spinning on her heels and exiting the room.

Ichigo watched her go and turned his attention back to Shiro. "Wow...yer good with women, aintcha?"

"Karin!" Yuzu called after her, placing the spoon in Shiro's hands and chasing down her sister.

After rubbing his scalp a few times, Shiro frowned. He went to the stove and stirred the pots contents slowly, not wanting to have a wailing Yuzu come back. The girl was a little scary when she was upset. Even more so, Shiro really just didn't like it at all when she cried, which was often... "I don't give a shit."

Ichigo sighed, seating himself and putting his feet up. He stared off into space, a bored expression on his features. "I have an intense need for a smoke right now..." he said out of nowhere, feeling himself twitchy with a need known as addiction. He smoked? Christ he was asking himself questions about himself, himself! He should know what he did and didn't do.

"Ya quit two years 'go 'fter the old man found out 'bout it and hours an' hours o' two cryin' 'lil girls raggin' ya 'bout it," Shiro hissed. "Got tired o' coverin' yer ass. Remember ya poutin' at me for two whole weeks."

"I pout...?" he asked, sounding lost again. He was overloading with curiosity of himself again and just simply asked his brother: "Can you tell me about myself onii-chan? I don't...I don't remember anything and you seem to know me..."

Sighing in agitation, Shiro turned off the heat. He turned around, leaning against the edge and glared daggers at his younger half brother. "Forget 'bout it t'night and just fuckin' smile an' nod 'lot. Ya fell from 

two stories and ya are lucky t'be with yer precious sisters and idiotic father. Just take what ya have fer right now an' maybe it'll come back t'ya. If not, then ya know damned well where to find me."

Ichigo stared for a quiet moment, eyes softening a bit and he nodded, figuring his half brother was not in the best of moods now, or if he was ever in a good mood at all. "Shiro, I gotta ask though...am I like...gay...or something?" he blinked, biting his lip. "Cause I just feel strange... like... I'm a spirit in a totally different person..."

"Personally? I don't know what was goin' on in tha' head o' yers. Ya had dumped the princess an' the next day ya threw out all o' yer clothes and demanded new ones. The shit ya are wearin' now is what ya had been wearin' for 'bout a month before yer accident."

Shiro scoffed. "Thought that th' outside finally matched the whiny spoiled bitch inside..."

The teen looked a bit surprised and taken back by the 'whiny spoiled bitch' insult. He wasn't sure why, but the words hit him fairly hard and stuck. It was taunting his head as he looked at his older half brother. White teeth chewed on a tanned bottom lip and he looked away before turning and smiling warmly at Shiro. "I spose you're right onii." he bowed a bit.

"I'm not hungry, please excuse me!" with that Ichigo swiftly made his way back up to his room, quietly closing the door. What was this strange tug at his heart? It hurt...and annoyed him to no end!

Deciding that this skipping plan was his best option, the eldest Kurosaki made his way to his room. Once inside, he promptly locked the door. It wasn't like he needed someone barging in on him. His golden eyes scanned his room. It wasn't as sparcely decorated as Ichigo's. There were several posters from various bands on his walls. Black curtains hung from he two curtains, matching the plain black bedspread. His pillows were white, as were the sheets. The bed itself was against the far wall, not close to the windows. However, his desk--as cluttered as it was--had been placed under the window.

He groaned and yanked off his shirt, throwing it on the floor. It's not like he was the neat and ordly type. Shiro promptly changed into a pair of shorts, once again throwing his pants into the heap of clothes. Stretching once, he pulled back the comforter and dove an arm under the bed. Coming out with a MP3 player, he stuck the buds into his ears and cranked it, hoping that nothing would disturb him this time.

Ichigo contemplated how he would face the world tommorrow, figuring he had to go back to school. All his friends, would they still be there or were they all imaginary too? Only time could tell him these things, but for now he knew he had to sleep.

As the orange haired teen closed his eyes, he let out a small sigh, realizing just how empty inside he felt. Maybe it was okay to feel this way though, considering he just was told his entire existence was a lie up until a few hours ago, and he was a whiny bitch...

Yuzu noticed instantly that both of her brothers were missing, frowning a little bit. She sighed and, instead of getting angry, put everything into containers for the next day, and set some aside for when their father would come home. On a post-it note she wrote just how long the man would need to zap it in the microwave for. Quietly she headed up the stairs and headed onto her room, casting a lingering glance in the direction of Ichigo's room. Yuzu knew everything would be all right, despite how things looked now.

Silently as she could, she made her way to Ichigo's door. The girl knocked on the closed door gently. "Ici-nii?"

Ichigo wiped his eyes a bit. He'd found himself break down. With the crying he realized maybe he shouldn't be alone much, since it gave him time to let everything settle in and the realization could also grasp him. Not to mention the sing song voice of his conscience letting him know he was pathetic.

A tanned hand grasped the knob of his door, twisting it open. "Y-yea Yuzu?" he asked, mentally cursing himself as he just knew his eyeliner was smudged and fucked up.

The girl opened the door a little more and smiled softly at her brother. "I'm glad you are back, onii-chan."

The orange haired teen smiled as best he could force himself too, hugging Yuzu gently. "Glad to be back..." he murmured.

"Onii-chan... It's okay, you know... We're here and we will still love you no matter what. So... Ichi-nii needs to just be Ichi-nii and not worry, okay?"

Ichigo gave a soft sigh, nodding his head. "I-I just...don't know who I am Yuzu...and you know onii-shiro isn't making it any easier..."

He brushed fingers through his orange locks. "Though I suppose asking for kindness out of him is really stupid."

Yuzu blonked. "Shiro-nii was being nice…"

"Maybe I just am too spoiled to realize it..." he grumbled, mostly to himself, and sighed.

"If onii-chan doesn't want to be... He could just change it," Yuzu stated, her eyes shining with innocence.

Chocolate brown eyes scanned her curiously. "Do I act spoiled...or whiny..?" he asked. Of all people he figured he might get SOMETHING out of Yuzu that he could think on.

"Well... You did complain a lot," she said, tapping her finger on her chin.

"Mmm...I suppose I did..." he replied gently. "I'll work on that...I don't exactly want him to hate me...or anyone for that matter..."

She giggled. "No one will hate you, Ichi-nii! Just be you!"

The girl yawned, indicating it was time for bed. She leaned up and gave her brother a little peck on the cheek. Yuzu bid him goodnight and scampered off to her room to join her sister. Today had been exhausting emotionally for everyone, so she was going to get up early and make a good breakfast!

Ichigo closed the door of his room, smiling a bit to himself with a gentle sigh.

Maybe...everything will be okay... He thought quietly to himself, crawling back under his covers to slip into sleep.

Shiro, Yuzu, Isshin - Higure
Ichigo, Karin - AliceKing