Here I am, with a oneshot. Yes, a oneshot. I know I owe you people some updates on my other stories, but those are just too much work right now. I'll get to it eventually, stupid cross country season is almost over so I should have a little more time when it's over.

Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach.

. And You Promised Me .

She could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage as her eyes stayed fixated on the motionless body only inches away from her. Her eyebrows held a stern angle as beads of sweat ran down her forehead and she tried to ignore the fact that her eyes were burning to cry. But she wasn't going to cry, she promised she wouldn't cry. And that's what she had to keep telling herself. She promised, she promised.

But he promised he would never go away. He promised he would stay with her. He promised he would be there to love and protect her until his last breath.

And now a machine was breathing for him.

She listened to the rhythmic beeps coming from the machine that kept her assured he was still alive as she gently squeezed his much larger, calloused hand in hers. His eyes were firmly shut, his skin was pale, and an oxygen mask covered his mouth. Just looking at him made her want to scream. The several tubes and other medical equipment was crowded around his hospital bed, it made her feel uncomfortable, and it drilled mercilessly away at her small glimmer of hope. Every second that passed by with his eyes shut, every second that she had to go without hearing his voice, made it all feel like it was over.

And just maybe it was, she was getting closer and closer to believing that it really was. He didn't look so good, in fact he looked awful. His condition was beyond medical repair, she was simply waiting for a miracle. She was waiting to see his smile again, to hear his voice, to feel his touch. Any response at all, anything.

She was desperate.

She shook her head slightly side to side as she bit down hard on her bottom lip.

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"I don't understand...I've never even met this man before. Why would he want to kill Ichigo?"

"We have reason to believe that he was hired to attack Mr. Kurosaki. He wasn't the direct source of the attack. Someone else wanted him dead."

"And what's the reason? What reason do you have to believe it?"

The police officer ran a hand down his face in frustration as he sighed and looked at the short, stubborn woman glaring daggers at him.

"Ma'am, it's quite complicated--"

"What's the reason!?" she raised her voice unintentionally but failed to realize it as she stepped closer to the officer.

"Miss, I'm going to need you to calm down. Things will be explained to you in time, as for now you should visit Kuro--"

"I want the answers, now, Sir." she cut him off with a heavy, deep tone.

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Her eyes watered as the emotional pain swelled, fogging her thought about what had happened not too long ago. She could feel her hands beginning to tremble as her mind went into a state of numbing pain. The faint tear trekking down her cheek brought her back to reality and she stared intently at the engagement ring that decorated her left hand beautifully. Literally choking back the tears she brought herself up to her feet and covered her mouth with her hand, staring out the window.

The winds were whipping leaves about in the air, and she could feel herself starting to get sick.

'I'll be here. Always.'

She could almost hear his voice telling her again, but not quite. It killed her that she couldn't remember what he sounded like. She wanted to hear him, she needed him to tell her everything would be okay.

But it wasn't going to happen, and it pushed her a little further from hope.

Her stomach reminded her of her sudden nausea, and she made a bolt to the bathroom, emptying the little amount of content she had contained. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve as she coughed and backed away against the wall.

And the high-pitched screeching advertising the loss of her beloved's heart rate filled the air.