Disclaimer : I don't own Bleach


Chapter one : Poison


His fever was still increasing and his body was soaked in sweat. Aching, burning, the sensation of pain shivered through his body. If he concentrated he could feel the poison drift through his body. A damp cloth wiped his sweaty brow.

She was still there, looking at him, almost feeling his pain. Her violet orbs were worried as his whole body shook.

"He is not getting any better." Urahara leaned against the wall. He was worried about Ichigo, but Rukia was busy breaking. She hasn't stepped away from the orange haired man since the attack.

"He'll get better." Her voice broke and tears started to stain her cheeks. "He has to."

She gripped his hand and kissed it gently. She didn't know if he could hear her. She wished he could. A part of her felt angry, she told him not to be so impulsive, but no… he didn't see the hollow. She did. She saw how its tentacle flew at him. She saw how it struck him. She saw how he fell. And now she is seeing him fight for his life.

She herself didn't feel all too well… not sleeping for three days was taking its toll on her body. The body Ichigo tried to protect with all his life.

"I'll always protect you."

His words. His resolve.

The day she promised to be with him forever, he was overjoyed. The day she said she loved him, he held her tight. The day she told him 'yes', he couldn't stop smiling. And when she said "I do"… he replied with "Forever!".

They were a couple in love. Fighting hollows and the rules of the Seireitei was what they did best.

That's what plagued her that night, remembering his smile. The memories they had shared together played through her mind. Her body had reluctantly disobeyed her orders and fell asleep next to him.

The sun was high in the sky the next day when Rukia awakened. Ichigo's fever had increased.

Her own body felt warm and uncomfortable. Like she didn't fit well in it.

Her attention was pulled when Ichigo moved, only slightly.

"Ichigo?" She was next to him in an instant.

Nothing.

"Ichigo… can you hear me?"

Nothing.

She slumped down to the floor and started to weep, softly in her hands.

For days it continued. She didn't eat. She didn't sleep. She only sat and looked at him with regret and sorrow. His condition got worse and worse. He didn't wake from his coma, he didn't move because of the pain. Frozen, while his wife cried beside him.

"Rukia… this isn't good for you. Please get some rest." By now even Renji was sincere. When he and Byakuya arrived they saw how miserable she looked. Bone thin. She looked as if she had aged 50 years (in human aging).

"I can't… he is going to wake up and I won't be here." She was more determined than ever that he was going to wake up… and soon.

But little did she know, the person she loved was already slipping away.

"How long, Urahara?" Byakuya was pained as he saw his sister's expression. He too had grown to accept the Kurosaki's, even the ones who had no sense of respect.

"Probably in a few days." They weren't talking about a delivery or a party… they were talking about the end, for Ichigo. Rukia had chosen not to believe them, she screamed and cried out loud that they were wrong. She reminded them how strong Ichigo was, what he went through. That he would never die thanks to mere hollow. No, she was positive that he would wake up. That her 26 year old husband was going to smile again.

When she fell asleep around midnight, Byakuya carried her to another room and asked Urahara to examine her. She had been looking very ill, and she still didn't want to eat or sleep unless she was passed out like now.

Urahara did as he was asked and found the result very troubling.

The next day, with Rukia disappearing into Ichigo's room, Urahara decided to tell Byakuya the result before telling Rukia. "Byakuya… this is bad. She-"

He was cut off when as strange cry and sobbing came from Ichigo's room. It lasted for weeks.


"Ichigo! Stop running…" The orange hair disappeared through the trees as she ran after him. "Hey! Don't run away from me." He said nothing, only continued to run to their destination. She started to run herself and picked up her summer dress to make it easier.

The sun's rays were sharp and hot, but the wind made the summer day baerable.

He continued to run, with all his might. The only way for Rukia to catch up to him was to use shun-po. So when she stood next to him, he jumped a little.

"Hey! I told you to wait." His amber orbs looked to her.

"But he is waiting." He playfully pulled Rukia along the grassy landscape to a small hill, with a lonely Sakura tree.

"Do you think he knows about me?" His question caught her off guard.

"Of course… where ever he is, I know he is proud of you." His sudden smile wasn't strange to Rukia, she knew all to well that he loved to smile.

He ran to the giant tree, but slowed when he got near.

At the foot of the tree was a grave-like stone, only inscribed with a symbol of a sun.

For those who knew… Ichigo Kurosaki was the Black Sun in the lives of many people and souls.

"Hello Daddy…" The five year old touched the stone and turned to his mother. She nodded. "… I love you."

Rukia could feel the tears flow for her eyes as she saw her son talk to his father. A father he never met.

"Don't cry Mommy… Daddy wants to see you smile." He gave her a reassuring hug.

When the sun began to hide behind the mountains Rukia got up to go home. "Come on, let's go home." But the orange haired boy refused and climbed the tree. "Ichigo Kuchiki Kurosaki! Get down from there… NOW!" The boy obeyed her and jumped out of the tree and landed on his feet. Rukia took his hand and started their journey home.

If you looked closely at them, while they walked in the last rays of light, you could see a 3rd figure walking beside them, protecting them.


Oh... Hello! This 'story' is basically going to be Oneshots. Each one will be about a thousand words long... Hence the name.
Thanks for reading the first one! Yayness!

I'd love to hear your ideas and if you want a request... just let me know!
WE LOVE FEEDBACK! (we, meaning me... and only me)