Where was she?
His freedom.
The one he could talk to openly, unafraid of being judged.
The one who understood him.
The one who would quietly stay by his side, even in a storm.
--------------
The rain had started again. It was pouring. It was raining rivers and lakes and ponds.
Zangetsu looked up at the sky with a sad, lonely look yet again. In his gruff, resonant voice he spoke to the sky.
"Ichigo..."
A cackling laugh came from behind him.
Startled, the rough man looked behind him.
"Ossan. You don't really believe he can keep this up, do you? The boy isn't THAT good." The white Ichigo smirked.
Zangetsu sighed. "It is another time of testing. Nothing more."
The raindrops pelted his face.
The white self took a step forward.
Zangetsu glanced at him, noticed the sword the hollow carried, and sighed. "Boy, your childish antics will get you nowhere."
An ugly grin stretched across the hollow's face.
"We'll see."
The sword slashed towards the defenseless man.
-------------------
Ichigo lifted his sword to the arrancar, and Orihime stared up adoringly at him.
"Orihime. Help Chad." Ichigo said, then lifted Zangetsu up above his head, and was about to swing it down when--
"Miss me, partner?"
Ichigo stiffened, paralyzed with terror, and began his slow descent into madness.
---------------------
He had failed to protect yet another.
A/N: from bleach, arrancar arc, right before rukia returns and ichigo's hollow self is keeping him from fighting.
