Author's Note: Hello, this is my first fanfic ever, and what better story to write than on my favorite pairing, IchiHime! Anyway, for those who read it, please leave a review. I rellly wish to know where do I stand as a writer and whether I should continue writing or stop. Thanks in advance for readers and reviewers!!

Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite.

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When the world's crumbling down, there is only one thing that can hold a man together.

When HIS world is crumbling, SHE is the one that's holding him together, till he somehow managed to pull through.

But when it's HER world that's crumbling, he wasn't sure if HE is strong enough to help her pull through…

* * * * *

Ichigo had been pacing back and forth over the last five hours. His muscles were screaming in pain with every movement he made, and there were blood all over him, HER blood… But none of that mattered. His thought was only on one thing, and on ONE PERSON only.

Aside from the orange haired substitute shinigami, altogether there were seven people cramped inside the 4th Squad Waiting Room, right outside the Emergency Room where one of their beloved friend was fighting for her life, and all seven had that same battered and worried look as Ichigo's plastered on their faces.

Chad's was hidden underneath his saggy hair while Renji tried to hide his behind closed eyes, though his frown betrayed his emotions. Ishida had been unconsciously pushing up his glasses more frequently than usual in an attempt to calm his nerve. Matsumoto Rangiku had been bawling her eyes out earlier and was now comforted by a very solemn Rukia. A pink-haired man sat silently in the corner of the room, having said nothing after barging in suddenly into the room nearly knocking down the door. Even the always calm and professional Captain of the 10th Squad barely managed to mask his worried look.

It had been five hours, and none of them had moved from their spots, waiting patiently for someone to open the door to the Emergency Room and provide them with some news, some acknowledgement of what was going to happen to their dear friend.

Vice Captain Kotetsu Isane came out some times earlier, announcing that the patient's condition was finally stabilized for the time being. However, she also mentioned about her not fully out of death's grip yet, and that no one except Isane herself and Captain Unohana were to be near the patient, at least not until she regain consciousness. Then Isane went inside the Emergency Room to her captain's side, monitoring the patient under painful scrutiny and preparing for emergency measures should her condition grew worse.

Renji shifted his legs, and he groaned as pain shot through his muscles. The agony resulted from sitting almost completely still for five long hours. He opened his eyes, and cursed at the sight of orange blob moving non-stop in front of him. 'Damn it! Doesn't Ichigo know when to stop beating himself up over everything that happened?'

He opened his mouth to say something but stopped when he heard a voice, "Ichigo…"

To Renji's annoyance, Ichigo paid no attention whatsoever to Rukia's calling. He was about to get up and punch him in the face to make him stop torturing himself when the Waiting Room's door flew open.

Ichigo stopped in his track. His mouth gaped open as he stared at three figures stepping into the room, unaware that his expression mirrored everyone inside the Waiting Room, except for Hacchi who seemed unfazed by the appearance of three very familiar people; Urahara Kisuke, Shihouin Yoruichi, and…

"DAD…?"

* * * * *

It was cold outside. After the three of them burst in and startled nearly everyone, his father had dragged Ichigo outside the 4th Squad's barrack. The wind was blowing softly, but it did nothing to soothe the inner turmoil inside of him. He'd been trying to deal with the sinking feeling that he is on the verge of losing a very important person in his life, and then his dad showed up… in a shinigamis's outfit? There's only so much that his mind can take…

"Sorry if I shocked you…"

Oh yeah, THAT was an understatement.

"But…, a WONDERFULLY RESPONSIBLE father like me would do anything to help my IDIOT teenage son who'd been crying over his dying lo~"

Ichigo's fist connected with Kurosaki Isshin's face, sending him stumbled facedown.

"SHUT UP! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SHOWING UP LIKE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?"

Isshin got up, his comical expression was replaced a concern look as he let his gaze fall on his son, "Really, now's not the time to completely shutting everyone out. Especially when things might turn out the worst."

"I'm not…"

"You need to be strong FOR HER. If she comes out of it alive, it wouldn't do her any good seeing you like this. You need the strength from all of us who cares about you, that's why I rushed here with Kisuke and Yoruichi-san as soon as I heard what happened. I'm sorry if my sudden appearance shocked you, but I just wanted to be there for you, something I had failed countless time before…"

"Dad…"

Isshin smiled at his boy. His heart was breaking at the sight in front of him. He knew he was not being a good father for not coming clean with his identity, for not lending a hand in his son's fight. He knew Ichigo had suffered a lot lately. He knew Ichigo had been putting his life in danger constantly ever since he acquired that shinigami power, when he'd gone to Soul Society to save Rukia, and especially when he went to Hueco Mundo to save Inoue Orihime.

He knew Ichigo had risked his life trying to save her, yet somehow she was hurt, and Isshin feared what had happened to Ichigo when Masaki died would happen again if Inoue Orihime were to die. In fact, the impact of Orihime's death on Ichigo might be worse than Masaki's, considering he actually had a power to protect Orihime yet he still failed, when back then he was nothing but a helpless child.

"I swore I'd protect her without fail," Ichigo's voice came out in a hoarse whisper, snapping Isshin out of his deep thought. He looked over at his son who was staring out into the distance, obviously thinking what he had been thinking earlier.

"I've failed once and I promised myself this time, I would not repeat the same mistake all over again."

"Ichigo…"

The substitute shinigami turned to face his father, "Dad… What if I fail again this time…?"

Isshin was speechless.

"I don't know what I'd do if I lose her. I can't face everyone who cares so much about her… They all had faith in me, that I would save her… If she died, I can't stand it if they forgive me in the end! I can't! Even she…, even she said it's not my fault before she…"

Ichigo stopped, no longer having the strength to keep talking, since he's using all of his remaining energy biting back the tears threatening to break through. He clenched his fist together, so hard that he could feel his fingers burying into his flesh. He's a man, damn it! 'I can't cry!'

Isshin watched silently as his son fighting back tears. His heart broke yet again when he noticed a single tear rolling down Ichigo's cheek. He noticed Ichigo's fists clenched even harder, the knuckles were now white over the pressure, his brows furrowing deeper and he was biting his lips together in a desperate effort to keep more tears flowing down.

He reached out his hand, wanting to comfort Ichigo but stopped when he realized that by doing that, he might only weakened Ichigo's resistance against his burst of tears. Knowing Ichigo, crying would seem as a sign of defeat to him and he definitely didn't need that.

For once in his life, Kurosaki Isshin was dumbfounded. He wanted to do something, to say something to ease the young man in front of him… But his mind couldn't come up with anything.

"Ichigo… Just how much does that girl means to you…?"

"What…?"

Oh shit! He hadn't mean to say that out loud. He'd merely been thinking to himself when the words unknowingly slipped through. He stared at Ichigo, who in turn stood gaping at him, his expressions completely unreadable.

Millions of thoughts and feelings were jumbled inside Ichigo's head as his father's words were replayed over over and again. '…how much does that girl means to you…?' How much…? How much…?

He didn't know exactly how much she means to him, but that she is very important to him. She's very important that if she were suddenly gone his world would be so empty. The realization hit him and suddenly he felt like he was drowning, as if the world is spinning around and sucking him into a bottomless pit, crushing everything around him, shattering his world… She was the one who saved him before when his world was crumbling. If she's gone, what should he do? What can he do when the source of his strength was gone? What…?

"Kurosaki!"

Ichigo swirled around towards the voice, still in daze, unable to grip the emotions and realizations around him. Ishida stood before them, slightly breathless. Obviously he had been running

Ichigo mentally steeled himself. Ishida must be bringing some kind of important news about Orihime, which was the only explanation for his frantic rush to get to him. It could be good news, but it could also be bad news…

"Inoue-san's woken up."

And Ichigo felt a ray of light seeping through the darkness of his life, bringing hope…

* * * * *