Ichigo perched on the roof of a building, awaiting the Vasto Lorde he was supposed to be hunting down. He scanned the streets below, searching for any signs of the Hollow. The Hollow's spiritual pressure was thick in the air, but he could not spot it.

"What the hell," Ichigo said as he unsheathed Zangetsu," Where is that Hollow?" The spiritual pressure flared suddenly, and Ichigo whipped around to find the Vasto Lorde that he had been looking for. The Vasto Lorde was tall and skinny and resembled something close to a lizard, except for the fact that he had needle sharp teeth protruding from bis mask.

"Looking for me," the Hollow said," I am not 'that Hollow'. I am Donyoku." He held out a slender hand, but Ichigo slapped him away.

"I'm not very polite to people," Ichigo sneered," And I'm sure as hell not gonna be nice to you. I came here to kill you, idiot." Donyoku rubbed his hand. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, by the way," Ichigo finished.

"Well, I shall be no stranger," Donyoku pulled two wicked, curved daggers out from behind him," Prepare yourself Ichigo." Swiftly, the Hollow struck out at Ichigo with both daggers, which he easily dodged. The dagger blades were made of black metal, and they looked evil. Donyoku flung the daggers at Ichigo, and Ichigo ducked, even though they had sailed over his head by a few meters.

"Where are you aiming?" Ichigo asked.

"I meant to aim there," Donyoku held out his hands. Ichigo turned around quick enough to raise Zangetsu and block the daggers as they sailed back towards Donyoku. A bead of sweat rolled down Ichigo's temple. Ichigo dove at the Hollow and sliced at his chest, but he slammed both daggers into Zangetsu. The force caused Ichigo to be pushed back a few meters.

"Your brute force is exceptional, boy," Donyoku said as Ichigo dove towards him once again. Donyoku ducked as Ichigo swung his blade, and sliced the Shinigami across his unguarded chest. Ichigo's shoulders slumped slightly, and he jumped back a few steps. Blood dripped down his chest onto the ground, pooling around his feet.

"Well, maybe you should give up now," Donyoku shrugged. Ichigo laughed maniacally.

"I'm not done with you yet," Ichigo snarled. Donyoku used Sonido and appeared beside Ichigo. Ichigo gasped as the daggers pierced his thigh. Ichigo swung out at him and Zangetsu sliced off his leg. Donyoku pulled the daggers from Ichigo's side, and Ichigo screamed.

"Ichigo..." Donyoku fell to the ground in a large pool of blood," You are reckless, yet I am greedy. Which one of us is less evil than the other?" Ichigo clutched his side in pain, and blood poured between his fingers.

"Like I care," Ichigo sputtered.

"Neither," Donyoku said, staring up at the sky," You and I are the same, yet we are different. A strange, twisted paradox, don't you think?" Ichigo growled and lifted his Zanpakuto, which seemed much heavier than early.

"Shut your mouth," Ichigo sneered," Let's finish this, already." Donyoku hurled both daggers at Ichigo, and Ichigo blocked them with his Zanpakuto. Zangetsu seemed to be even heavier now. "Tell me, what is your weapons power?"

"Take a crack at it, Kurosaki."

"Your daggers make the enemy's weapon heavier each time they come in contact," Ichigo stated. Donyoku chuckled as his daggers flew back into his hands.

"Wrong. My Jaakunabuki's ability is to drain the spiritual pressure from the object it hits," Donyoku said matter-of-factly. Ichigo stared at him in confusion. "You are feeling heavier because your lack of spiritual pressure is tiring for your body," he said. Ichigo raised Zangetsu above his head and prepared to deliver the final blow.

"Getsuga," Ichigo shouted," Tenshou!" Donyoku's eyes were wide in fear as the arc of reiatsu barreled towards him. Ichigo sheathed Zangetsu and coughed as the dust began to clear. Donyoku lie on the ground in two separate pieces, and he began to dissipate. "That's over," Ichigo mumbled under his breath.

"Ichigo!" Ichigo heard a familiar voice. He saw Rukia running towards him, and he noticed that she was soaked with blood. Ignoring the pain in his side, Ichigo ran towards her and embraced her. "Ichigo, you're hurt," she mumbled against his chest. Ichigo pulled back with a concerned look in his eyes.

"What happened?" he asked," It looks like a terrible wound, we need to get you home right now. You can explain later." Ichigo crouched to the ground allowing Rukia to climb onto his back. Shakily, he got to his feet and flashstepped back to his house. After slipping through his bedroom window, he lie Rukia down on his bed and returned to his gigai.

"Seems like deja vu," she whispered into his ear. Ichigo smiled sadly.

"I was prepared," Ichigo said as he pulled his first-aid kit out of his dresser. "Where were you stabbed," Ichigo asked as he popped open the small box.

"My chest," Rukia wheezed. Ichigo's heart sunk to his stomach. He really did not want this to be awkward, but there was no avoiding it.

"Uh, do you wear any..." Ichigo searched for the right words," Excess clothing under your kimono?" Rukia's face turned a bright shade of red, and she swallowed nervously.

"N-No," she said with a trembling voice. Ichigo noticed how scared she looked, and so he ran a hand down the side of her face.

"Hey," Ichigo said warmly," I know you're nervous. I'm not gonna do anything that you are uncomfortable with." Ichigo retrieved her gigai and helped her to return before he tended to her wounds. He gripped the hem of her shirt, but stopped," Are you okay with this?"

"I'd rather you than your dad," she said," Go ahead." Ichigo nodded grimly and slipped the shirt from her small body. Rukia's heart pounded as cold air slipped over the top half of her body. After tossing her shirt aside, Ichigo grabbed an alcohol wipe and wiped the blood from the sword wound. Rukia whimpered when the alcohol came in contact with the cut because it stung terribly.

"Be brave," Ichigo said to Rukia as he turned her onto her stomach to cleanse the wound on the other side. He held her gaze, never once sneaking a look at her. Once he was done, he grabbed the bandages and wrapped them around her torso. He did the same with the cut on her arm and head. After he had finished, he put the rest of the supplies back into the first-aid kit, and he shoved it back into his dresser.

"That wasn't that bad, was it?" Ichigo asked with a smile as he sat down beside her. Rukia had noticed that Ichigo's eyes had not lingered anywhere when he had wrapped her with bandages. Ichigo handed her one of his shirts and helped her put it on.

"Thank you," Rukia said. Ichigo knew exactly what she was thanking him for, and his face flushed.

"I would never take advantage of you," he said," That's not what matters to me. All that matters is that you're alive." Rukia gasped when she realized that blood was dripping down Ichigo's leg. His eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed on top of her, his head falling into her lap.

"Ichigo, you idiot," Rukia said. She hopped to her feet and grabbed the first aid kit from Ichigo's dresser. She sat down beside him and removed Ichigo's shirt to reveal a nasty slice across his chest. Rukia cleaned the cut and wrapped the wound with a bandage. With shaky hands, she began to slide Ichigo's shorts off of his legs.

"Ichi...go," Rukia choked up at the sight of the wound. It was deep and the skin surrounding the wound was red and inflamed. Grabbing the alcohol wipe, she began to clean the wound. After sterilizing it, she wrapped a thick layer of bandages around his thigh. She put up the first-aid kit and shut off the light.

Rukia lie down beside Ichigo and cradled his head in her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and her vision clouded. Rukia buried her face in his chest and wept bitterly.

"Ichigo," she whispered, wiping the tears from her face," You're such an idiot." Ichigo began to stir. He opened his eyes to see Rukia weeping. He brushed a hand against her cheek.

"Hey," Ichigo said sweetly," Don't cry, Rukia. Did I scare you?" Rukia sniffled.

"I'm so tired of all this. You could die on the battlefield at any moment-," Rukia was cut off when Ichigo pulled her against his chest.

"Have faith in me, Rukia," Ichigo sighed," I'm not gonna die that easily. I have too much to lose." Rukia smiled and welcomed his embrace. Ichigo shivered, and when he looked down, he realized that he was in his boxers. "Uh... Rukia..."

"Um, about that..." Rukia blushed," I had to bandage you up." Ichigo gulped, and his face glowed a bright shade of crimson.

"I'm kinda c-cold," Ichigo shivered.

"Want me to go get you some clothes?" Rukia asked.

"No, it's okay," Ichigo smiled. He tugged a wool blanket over their bodies. "Come a little closer, Rukia." Rukia shifted closer to him. A warm, sweet scent wrapped around her, the comforting smell of Ichigo.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

"I don't know, but I did find out some important information. The team of Vasto Lorde we are up against uses weapons called Jaakunabuki," Ichigo said," But let's not talk about this now. You need rest." Rukia closed her eyes and nuzzled his neck. She kissed a soft part of his neck and he leaned his head back. "Rukia..." he sighed.

"You need to rest too," Rukia whispered before she kissed him again. Ichigo put a hand on her back and pulled her closer.

"How can I," Ichigo said with a laugh.

"Want me to stop?" Rukia asked with a smirk.

"Well, I never said that, did I?" Ichigo asked. Rukia kissed the soft spot on Ichigo's neck, and nibbled at the soft skin. Ichigo groaned, which made Rukia blush. "I'm never gonna get sleep for the rest of my life if you keep doing this to me," Ichigo said.

"Rest of your life?" Rukia asked, pulling away from Ichigo. Ichigo blushed terribly. An awkward silence pervaded the air. Rukia wondered what he meant by that phrase.

"Is that all I get?" Ichigo asked, breaking the silence. Rukia caught on quickly.

"What do you want?" Rukia asked with mock agitated voice. Ichigo lowered his head to her neck and took in her sweet scent.

"I'll show you," Ichigo said suggestively. He kissed her neck softly, lingering on the soft spot of her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he twisted her fingers into his hair. He kissed her again, but this time, he nibbled softly at her skin. Rukia gasped and tugged at Ichigo's hair. "Does that feel good?" Ichigo asked.

"Y-Yeah," Rukia whispered," D-Don't stop." Ichigo blushed and kissed her again, nibbling a little harder, and she tugged at his hair. Warmth slowly spread through Rukia's body as he kissed her again. Rukia bit her lip to keep her from screaming as Ichigo sucked on her neck softly. She tugged on Ichigo's hair harder resulting in a flare of pain in her injured arm. Rukia's skin tasted salty, but sweet to Ichigo. She let out a small whimper as he pulled away from her.

"Huh?" Rukia asked when he pulled away.

"That's enough, we don't want to reopen your wound," Ichigo said softly," You need some rest."

"Okay," Rukia pouted. She curled against Ichigo's chest and took in a deep breath of his masculine scent. After a few minutes she finally gained the courage. "I love you, Ichigo," Rukia whispered against his bare chest. She had no idea that Ichigo was asleep, but that did not matter.