Your Fractured Life
Summary: Poisoned by a hollow, Ichigo may not have long to live. It is up to Renji and Rukia to find a cure, but is it too late for the Substitute Soul Reaper? Renji/Ichigo, Rated R.
A/N: I hope the way I have laid this out is not confusing - it is broken up into different days, but for the most part the days will run in sequence. This chapter will probably be the only one which is out of sequence. I got the entire story planned out, which is unusual for me because I tend to write whatever, and then think about the plot later. This story is going to be yaoi, Renji/Ichigo, and there will be lemons, so if you no-likey, no –readey, k? Also, for warnings, I will put them in for each chapter, but for this one there aren't really any warnings I need to mention. Anyway, enough of my ramble, enjoy XD
Hesitate (chapter 1)
Day 9:
Of all the ways Ichigo Kurosaki had imagined his defeat, it did not occur to him that it would be an illness to bring him down. Ichigo always wanted to fight with honour and to die fighting. There is no honour in dying from a poison that is slowly smothering him, attacking his body from the inside out.
He feels useless and pathetic. But most of all he has failed. He failed those he loved; he has failed his family and friends. How is he supposed to protect others when he can't even look after himself?
Ignoring the dull ache that is taking over his body, Ichigo turns onto his side with a stubborn determination and glances at Renji. He knows this could be the last time he sees him. His heart twists in pain, his chest aching more than the poison which is spreading through his blood.
Ichigo regrets many things. He regrets not being stronger, for being stubborn and foolish, for running into battles without thinking. But not admitting how he feels about Renji sooner? This is what pains him most - this is what he regrets.
Ichigo is calmed when he feels fingers brushing his cheek. Gentle lips soothe across his forehead.
"Renji," Ichigo sighs.
"Relax, Ichigo." Renji wraps strong arms around Ichigo's frail body, holding tight to stop the trembling that is wracking Ichigo's body from fever. Tenderly, lovingly, Renji places kisses down the side of Ichigo's neck, down to the protruding shoulder where Renji rests his head. He watches Ichigo's chest rise and fall into a slow rhythm, a bitter reminder that those breaths could be his last.
"Thank you, Renji," murmurs Ichigo.
Renji's reply is filled with doubt and pain. "For what?"
Ichigo buries his head against Renji's chest, allowing himself to be comforted by his lovers embrace, and for a moment, for just one, sweet, painful moment, he can pretend he is not about to die.
Day 1:
"Ichigo… hey, Ichigo."
Ichigo turns around, not because of his name being whispered from behind him, but because he really, really wanted those thin fingers to stop prodding his ribs. When he turns in his seat, Ichigo is confronted with Ishida looking more serious than his usual intense self. Ichigo frowns in question.
"I can sense there is a hollow near here," the Quincy mutters under his breath.
Silent, Ichigo nods and excuses himself from the class room, Ishida, Chad and Orihimewatching his movements carefully.
"Oh Ichigo," Orihimewhispers.
Discarding his body carefully behind a hedge, hopefully hidden well enough so no one would come across his lifeless body, Ichigo flees the school.
His skin tingles with adrenaline in anticipation of the battle ahead. He sprints and leaps from building to building, along rooftops and small buildings, the wind washing over his body and cooling his heated skin. He is able to sense the hollow now that he is closer.
"There you are." The corners of Ichigo's lips curl into a smile. He is eager to fight. It had been too long since his last battle with a hollow.
Gripping his zanpakutō at the hilt, Ichigo rushes at the hollow, slashing, slicing and thrusting his sword with fluent movements, which, to the naked eye, would be extremely hard to follow. The hollow counterattacks, its spiked arm lunging to grab Ichigo.
"That the best you got?" Ichigo gasps, the wind knocked out of him from the punch. The stubborn soul reaper shows no pain as he attacks once more, slashing once, twice, three times, against the hollows arm. Ichigo grits his teeth, frustration taking over. "Damn you!"
Ichigo jumps back when he realises the hollow is taking no damage from his relentless attacks. He tries to think of another plan, but none comes to mind and he is forced to evade the hollow rather than attacking. He ignores the dull ache that is beginning to creep up his body.
Swiftly, Ichigo drives his sword deep into the hollows chest just above the hole in the centre of its body. Ichigo grins widely as he raises the sword, slicing upwards, but before his blade is able to reach the hollows mask, he is thrown off, falling to the ground.
Laughter, terrible, overwhelming laughter fills the air, suffocating him. Ichigo pushes himself off the ground on shaky legs and continues to ignore the ebbing pain in his body.
"What's so funny, freak? You think I'm done?" Ichigo snarls, raising his zanpakutō in front of himself, the tip of his blade pointing at the hollows head. The hollow is still laughing; a deep, ferocious laugh that sends chills down Ichigo's spine.
"You won't be laughing when I'm finished with you!"
The sound of the hollow's roaring laughter stops. A kido blast connects with the creature's chest, sending it hurling into a building.
"Ichigo!"
"Rukia," Ichigo says, as his friend leaps from a building to stand next to him.
"Hello to you to," Renji snarls, although with a smile playing on his lips. "Having trouble with that hollow?"
Ichigo rolls his shoulders, stretching out his muscles. Frowning, he says, "I'm just warming up," as he lunges and swings at the hollow, not letting up his own fierce attacks.
A blast of spirit energy flies over Ichigo's shoulder, connecting with the hollows chest. Rukia, Ichigo thinks, thanking her for diverting the hollows attention and allowing him to attack in its moment of distraction.
The hollow continues to laugh. It laughs even as Ichigo plunges his sword deep into its towering body. The sound is chilling and piercing, and it seems to only get louder as the monster fights, slicing away with its sharp, spiky arms towards Ichigo.
Ichigo is grabbed once more and hurled to the floor. In an instance he is powerless. He feels weak, his heart and head is throbbing, and he struggles to keep his eyes open. When Ichigo stands, his body trembles, his stomach lurching. He is a sickly yellow colour, eyes dull and lifeless. He can't grip onto his zanpakutō any longer and it drops to the ground with a heavy thud of metal hitting mud.
"What…" Ichigo manages to stutter before throwing up, his eyes watering with each convulsion.
"What have you done to Ichigo?" He hears Rukia yell over the pounding in his head.
"Watch out!" Renji's voice sounds distant to Ichigo, even though Renji is now stood in front of him, zanpakutō raised against the hollow. "Ichigo!" Renji shouts, glancing from the shivering form lying on the floor, over to the hollow. "You…you will pay for what you've done to him," snarls Renji, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.
The hollow's reply causes Renji to flinch, the sound of its terrifying laughter rough with hatred.
"You monster," Rukia is screaming at the hollow, "Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man!" Rukia chants, frowning in concentration. "Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hadō, 33!"
The explosion sends debris and dust around the hollow, covering it in a cloudy shroud. The sound of laughter disappears, and for one fleeting moment Rukia thinks she has defeated it, but there it is, a ferocious grin stretching its lips over pointed fangs. The hollow, arms stretched out, dives at Ichigo once more.
"Ichigo!" Renji takes the impact, his arm being cut from shoulder to his wrist which splits open painfully. He ignores the pain and snarls at the hollow, blood rolling down his ribs and his left arm as he struggles with the hollow, holding him away with the edge of his sword.
The hollow is laughing again and it moves suddenly, using a technique similar to that of the flash step. Then, quicker than either of the soul reapers can follow, it is gone.
"Renji, no! Forget about the hollow," Rukia demands. Renji halts, anger twisting his lips into a scowl. "Ichigo," Rukia's voice is soft, but filled with concern. Ichigo has stopped shaking now.
"Ahh," Ichigo wheezes. He drags his palm from his forehead down to his mouth, sighing. "Thanks, Rukia. Renji. I'm fine." As he says this his head pounds harder and he knows standing would likely make him throw up. But he hates the feeling of being so powerless and shrugs off Rukia's gentle hands that tries to help him stand.
"See guys," Ichigo says his voice raspy and sore, standing on unsteady feet. "I told you I was fine." He is unsure if he is trying to tell Rukia and Renji that, or himself.
Ichigo's body is wracked with tremors, uncontrollably so, his vision blurred and he can barely make out the two soul reapers before him. He brings his hand to cover the shuddering cough that wracks his body and as he pulls his hand away he realises it is covered in blood. That is the last thing Ichigo sees before he falls to the ground, unconscious.
Ichigo doesn't hear the sudden cry of Renji and Rukia shouting his name, or the gentle but firm hands stopping his fall as Renji holds the lifeless form to his chest.
I'm going to be evil and end the chapter here. Comments are much loved, and feel free to point out any mistakes, (I know there will be some, and I apologise) as this is un-betad at the moment. :)