TITLE: The Infected
PAIRING: Ichigo and Orihime
RATING: M
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Kubo-sensei's bleach.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: First chapter of this series that I've been wanting to write for awhile. Thanks to my boo for looking over it for me and making sure everything was in top condition. Thanks in advance for reading and I hope you enjoy it! :D

_.

Hot tears spilled down her face as wide, frantic eyes moved back and forth. They reflected with fear as a large hand was covering her mouth, not letting her utter one sound. Honey-colored hair fell down her shoulders, the strands sticking to her clammy cheeks.

Her small hands were covering the larger hand, her fingers shaking uncontrollably. More tears fell down her cheeks as she tried to keep silent even though dark fear was starting to overwhelm her small body. She was absolutely terrified. They weren't human. They were monsters and they were nearby. She could hear the heavy thudding of their footsteps and their loud moans.

"Shh..." he whispered in her ear and she swallowed thickly after wards. Her body wouldn't stop shaking as she heard the creak of the stairs that led to their bedroom. A whimper escaped as she realized just how close they are and then a hand slowly covered her eyes, making everything go dark.

"Stay still. Everything's going to be okay," he promised but she shook her head slowly, lips pinched together as silent tears cascaded down her face. She wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe his words but looking at the current situation they were in, it was remotely impossible to have faith that they would get out of this alive.

"I won't let them hurt you," she heard him promise and it comforted her fearful heart some. Taking a deep breath, she tried to make her tears stop and believe in him. He was the man she loved with all her heart, the man she married and she knew, if anything, he would get them out because in the three years of being married, he had never broken one promise.

Everything would be okay in the end.

A few moments went by before the grunting and moaning from the outside their bedroom grew silent. She felt as if the air had thickened while she slowly felt his hand pulling away and her eyes opening up. She heard him exhale shakily and found herself turning her head slowly to look up at her husband who was already looking down at her.

His eyes were gentle, a soft but sad smile on his face as he brushed a few strands away from her face, his thumb lingering on her cheek. Their eyes locked as he kept that forced smile on her face and without realizing it, her tears came down faster.

"Shh... shh..." he whispered, cupping her cheeks, his hands catching her tears. "Hey, it will be okay..." he assured her but his words didn't calm her fears and he found himself pulling her closer, one hand on her back, rubbing soothingly while his other hand fell to the back of her head, fingers entangling themselves in her disheveled chestnut locks.

"We'll get out of here and I'll get you somewhere safe, I promise," he told her, his breath fanning against the top of her head as he laid his cheek against it. He held her close, not wanting to let go but he knew soon, they would have to try to find a way out – one way or another.

She wrapped her arms around him, burying her wet face in his chest. His warm hands eased her as they rubbed her back and even in such a situation, it made her feel safe.

"I love you," she suddenly whispered and she felt his hand stop. She pulled away, looking up at him, her hands clenching the front of his T-shirt. Their eyes locked as she gave him a heartwarming smile despite of what was going on around them.

"I know," he replied and she could see sadness flickering across his eyes. "You don't have to tell me that."

Her hands slowly let go of his shirt before reaching out to his cheeks, her slender fingers caressing his cheek bones. He felt his lips go dry as she grew closer and that was all it took before he captured her mouth with his, his arms encircling her small frame, their noses brushing against each other's.

His hands wandered, feeling every inch of her body as she threaded her fingers through his orange hair, gripping the silky locks. A soft moan escaped her as she sat up a bit, trying to get better access to his mouth. Her lips crashed against his, in desperate need of his touch, her large breasts pressing up against his chest as his hands went down to the back of her thighs, holding her in place.

His head went slowly backwards as she sat up on her knees, making herself taller than him as she lightly traced his bottom lip with her tongue, wanting more than just a simple kiss. He parted his mouth almost instantly, letting her tongue venture in and touch his, sparks igniting between them.

He felt her long tresses brush against his cheeks as she let out another soft moan followed by a deep grunt. His fingers tingled as they grazed across the curve of her bottom, making him want to groan loudly. He ached to pull those pants down and have his way with her but he knew the situation didn't call for it.

Instead of pulling away, he felt her pull away momentarily as she opened her eyes to look down at him. Both of their cheeks were flushed as she spoke softly.

"I don't hear them anymore..." she said and it made his eyes flicker to the side before looking up at their bedroom door that he had been resting against. Three different deadbolts were on the door, keeping it locked tight so no intruders could come through. Normally, it would hold but for creatures like those that were not too far away, he knew it wouldn't be too long before they had to run.

"They're still here," he told her, glancing back at her and he watched as she nodded in agreement. "They don't sense any movement so they're probably waiting to hear something again before attacking."

Removing his hands from her bottom, he gripped her arms, his eyes now reflecting with seriousness. They needed to get out while the time was right. This was their chance. Since they weren't being hostile right now, it was the best opportunity they needed to get out and get away as far as possible.

"What about everyone else?" she asked, her eyes casting downwards as she moved away while he stood up. She took his hands as he helped her up before walking across the large room to the windows. Blinds kept them from being seen from outsiders and he had a feeling if they were inside their house, they were outside as well. "W-we can't be the only survivors."

Ichigo pressed his lips together in a dark scowl as he leaned his back against the wall before using two fingers to pull apart a few blinds so he could look outside. Glancing in between that small gap, his eyes widened as he saw what waited for them. He was right. They weren't only inside but outside too.

"Ichigo-kun?" his wife whispered, suddenly feeling very afraid as she wrapped her arms around herself, not knowing what else to do. He glanced away from the horrific scene to see his wife shaking as she waited for a response. She was aboslutely scared as she held onto herself, trying to calm her fears in this deadly situation.

"Hey... hey..." he whispered as he offered out his hand and she didn't say anything, her soft feet padding against the carpet. She hugged him tightly, her cheek resting against his chest as she let out a sniffle. Her eyes were wet as she tried not to cry again but her faith of ever getting out alive was diminishing.

"What is out there?" she asked, knowing she needed to know despite how afraid she felt.

Without replying, he moved the blinds a bit so she could witness what he had already seen.

Thousands of walking corpses walked outside their house, staining their lawn and concrete with blood. Crashed cars painted the streets, crimson dripping off different houses and people attacking one another. Creatures, that once used to be human, now had shredded clothes and rotting skin as they walked across the roads and yards, searching for fresh meat to eat.

"W-what..?" she found herself, stammering as she let go of her husband, stepping away. Her eyes were filled with horror as he looked at her, knowing that she was alarmed. He felt his heart clench tightly as she started to hyperventilate, tears streaming down her cheeks again, her head shaking violently.

Ichigo pulled away from the blinds as he grabbed her shoulders, his thumbs caressing her skin as he tried to console her but he knew he couldn't. This was reality and it was a tragic nightmare.

"Listen to me, Orihime," he said, his eyes hardening as he rested his forehead against hers. "...Whatever happens, don't look back," he told her, his eyebrows furrowed while his mouth hovered dangerously over hers. She could feel his warm breath fanning her lips as he went on. "Don't fucking look back and just run."

"What?" she questioned before realizing just what he was saying. "No! I won't leave you behind!" she cried out, trying to back away but he held on tight, not letting go.

"You have to, god dammit!" he cursed. He wouldn't let the woman he loved die like this. If he could just get her somewhere safe, where she wouldn't be such a tragic situation, he didn't care what happened to him.

"I'm not just going to leave you behi-" she was cut off as the sound of pounding footsteps interrupted her and both of their eyes widened. Both of them whipped around as they heard their bedroom door shake with each hit the monsters gave from the other side. Loud snarls and shrieks pierced their ears and Orihime covered her ears with her shaking hands while he let out a loud curse, knowing they had been found.

A hole suddenly shattered through the wooden door, a rotting arm waving blindly as it tried to reach the married couple despite the obstacle in front of him.

"We've got to go! Now!" he shouted, grabbing the blinds and tearing them off the window. There was a loud thud as they fell to the ground while he unlocked the window, gritting his teeth as he tried to pull it up.

"B-But where are we going to go?" she cried out as she looked back at her husband who had successfully opened the window. "What about everyone else?"

He didn't answer her as he climbed out the window before turning around to offer his hands to her. "I don't know but we can't stay here! We'll find shelter somewhere else!"

"What if there is no where else?" she yelled back, her vision blurring with tears. She didn't know what to do. Fear was making her not think straight. Her heart was beating too loudly for her to hear correctly. She was too scared to move.

"We don't know that! It's better than staying here and dying, Orihime!" he told her, motioning with his hands to come. "Listen to me! I will do anything to make sure you don't die!" he cried out, wanting her to believe in him. "Dammit, trust me!"

"I-I..."

"Orihime!" he yelled and it made her eyes open, not realizing that she had closed them as their bedroom door came crashing down and they soon came after her.

Without hesitation, Orihime grabbed his hands and he pulled her out quickly, barely avoiding a hand as it tried to grab her foot. They both fell to the ground but he took most of the fall, his back making a sickening thud as it came into contact with the grass.

"I-Ichigo-kun!" she cried as she felt him groan, her body on top of his. He quickly sat up though, despite his injury and pulled her up with them. He grabbed her hand and made no time for her to say anything as he dashed across the lawn and away from what soon would be after them once again.

Ichigo looked desperately around the destruction and felt relief crash down on him when he noticed a large, black truck that sat parked in the middle of the street. The door was left open and that was all he needed to see before advancing.

As soon as they got near the truck, there was a loud crash and they both turned to see more than a few monsters coming after them. From different houses they ran towards the couple, making Ichigo pull Orihime close, yelling at her to get in the vehicle.

She quickly crawled in and he followed suit, shutting the door just in time before a creature could grab him. More screams filled the air as Ichigo turned the key in the ignition before the engine fired up, making Ichigo grin in relief. He smashed the gas pedal with his foot, wincing at the loud sound of squealing tires before the vehicle sped off, running over the people that were in it's way.

He gripped the steering wheel as he turned around a corner, driving down the street and away from the catastrophe that was behind them. Glancing to the side, he noticed Orihime hugging herself, shaking with tears and it made him call her name softly.

She glanced at him and he gave her a comforting smile. "It's going to be okay," he repeated and she felt her tears come fast before she crawled over to him, holding him close as he drove on. He wrapped an arm around her shaking shoulders, his eyes hard and a scowl on his lips as he drove through the bloody city, watching his home blur past him.

"Everything will be okay," he said again, more to himself than to her.

At least, he hoped it would.