Blood seeped through Ichigo's fingers and stained his hands as Rukia applied pressure with her zanpakuto onto his causing his hands to bleed from the force. He grunted as he was forced back and increased his power on his zanpakuto feeling his spiritual energy rising. Come on Ichigo, I can take her easily. His hollow self commented yearning to be set free. I don't want to kill her, Ichigo thought trying to avoid Rukia's shots at him, But if it keeps up like this I may not have a choice. He bit back a yell as one of Rukia's attacks hit him in the shoulder lessening his spiritual power and his control over the hollow within.
2 DAYS EARLIER
"A hollow." Rukia mumbled to herself as she felt the small compact phone vibrate in her breast pocket. She shot a glance at Ichigo from across the room and watched as he nodded showing that he understood. "Umm, Excuse me ma'm" Rukia stated raising her hand in the large classroom, "Can I go to the nurse, I don't feel so good." "Very well. Will anyone volunteer to escort Ms.Kuchiki to the nurses room" the teacher asked exasperated and was cut short from Ichigo's hand slicing through the air to beat Keigo. "Very well Mr.Kurosaki" she stated turning back to the board as Rukia and Ichigo rushed out of the classroom and out into the crisp, late fall breeze. "Where?" Ichigo asked following Rukia's petite shadow as they hurried down the street and onto another. "Down there." Rukia answered back as she pulled on her glove and waited for Ichigo to catch up. As he rounded the curb she shoved her hand through his body forcing his spirit out. "Damn, I don't think I'll ever get used to that" Ichigo mumbled as he ran down the sidewalk after Rukia.
Ichigo let himself fall onto his bed as his thoughts lingered to the previous fight. The older he got the harder it seemed to keep his hollow self inside and under control. Also the older he got his mind seemed to linger more to the thoughts of Rukia. As if one cue Rukia climbed up in from the window and laid down next to Ichigo on HIS bed causing him to tense up immediately not trusting himself alone with her in close quarters. He would of normally said something or moved but he was so tired from the days fight that he just turned the opposite way and went to sleep, thinking of the shinigami next to him.