A/N

This is my first Bleach fic, just so you all know. It would be appreciated to get a few reviews, just to see if you guys like it ^.^ otherwise I might not keep writing T.T oh well! So I hope you enjoy it and I guess if you guys want a theme song to listen to while reading this….hmmmm…..I choose the song

Guardian Angel by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus I don't know why just enjoy lol

He lay on the floor, chest aching with every breath. He hadn't killed his enemy…at least not yet. He dragged himself forward, on his one good arm. He had to get up again; he had to finish what he had started once and for all. Suddenly, he broke into a coughing fit, chest searing with pain. Blood stained the grass as an end result…is this what was making him so light headed? The thundering of footsteps could be felt on the ground where he lay, but he couldn't care less.

"Ichigo..." A raven haired girl tested cautiously, reaching out to him delicately.

No response.

"C-Can I…" she touched his shoulder tentatively. He flinched a bit, and then relaxed. But as soon as he would have thought it was over, again he keeled over into a vicious cycle of coughing, blood staining the grass and streaming down his mouth.

She turned him over gently, examining his body. She listed his injuries: bruises, cuts, sword arm broken but nothing horrible. She made her way down his body, pressing firmly in his chest area. He hissed audibly and his breathing became heavier and slower as blood pumped its way down his neck. Bruised lungs…no. The aftermath wouldn't be that severe. Broken rib maybe…Her eyes widened as another option dug its way through her head. She gingerly ran her fingers over his chest again, her touch as light as a feather. The break wasn't clean, and in the time she spent in Squad Four (so many countless years ago) it seemed to have punctured his lungs.

Tears streamed from her eyes, and she felt embarrassed and helpless. All she could do was cry, cry and cry. For once she wanted to protect him…but whenever she tried he always ended up being the one who protected her. She hardly noticed when Renji gently picked her up around the waist and gave her a hug as members of the Fourth placed Ichigo on a stretcher, hooking up a mask to his face. She nearly burst into tears again at the sight of him so helpless…so innocent…so…

She collapsed into tears again, staining Renji's uniform as she sobbed. He would always get hurt trying to protect her…but next time it would be different. She would protect him, and she would never have to see the look of fear and pain in his eyes again. She could hold him every night knowing that she would be there for him, and it wouldn't always be him that would throw his life away again, and again.

"I love you," Rukia half whispered and half sobbed, her memories flashing before her eyes. "Forever…"