Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach...

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Fight till the last gasp

From the rooftop where he was crouching, Yumichika watched, fascinated, the battle going on below him. All around him, he could hear the footsteps of people running away or coming closer to look, and the various cries and yells - scared, excited, horrified - that they made as they moved or observed, but he didn't care. He only had eyes for the two figures fighting a few dozen paces away, in the courtyard below him. He and Ikkaku had first heard the commotion, then they had felt the tell-tale energy, and now Ikkaku was fighting its source, a gigantic six-legged insectoid Hollow. It was not the first time the bald man battled a Hollow, and Yumichika was completely positive he would defeat this one just as he had defeated the others, with a crushing blow to the head that would break its mask, after he had toyed with it to his heart's content. Even from the distance, he could see the manic grin on his friend's face, and he could tell Ikkaku was having lots of fun.

Yumichika observed attentively, as the man jumped and ran and dodged and attacked. He tried to remember everything Ikkaku had taught him about sword-fighting, and he closely analyzed each situation, aiming to determine which tactic Ikkaku was going to use at each moment. He could feel his own limbs jerking around slightly as he immersed himself in the fight, trying to see it through Ikkaku's eyes and forcing himself to react in time to avoid each of the monster's blows and to take advantage of each opening. He could feel the wild pleasure of the battle rushing through him, and he ached to jump and take part in it too. He looked forward with great anticipation to the day when he would have his own sword, and he would be able to fight his own Hollows.

It came as a big shock to him when he suddenly found himself forced to do just that. He had barely seen the monster's leg move towards Ikkaku, but he could now definitely clearly see how the man was pinned to the ground by a giant claw impaling him through his stomach. Yumichika's heart missed a beat, but even as the next one came, he was already jumping from his rooftop into the courtyard and running towards the monster and its prey. Without needing to think about it, he picked up the sword that had fallen from Ikkaku's grasp and fought back the Hollow's attempt to feed on the bald man. His mind had already been fighting for several minutes, and now his body naturally fell in step with his brain, smoothly transitioning from spectator to actor.

This fight was much harder than his practice sessions with Ikkaku, not least of all because his mentor did not have six limbs and a pair of mandibles to attack him with. Yumichika soon discovered that keeping an eye on all of those appendages from so up close was much more difficult to do than it had been from the rooftop. Still, he did not let this deter him, keeping on his toes, evading the monster's attacks, and waiting for an opportunity to jump and break its mask. He knew he had the endurance necessary to keep this little dance going on for quite some time, so he was fairly confident that victory would be his eventually. Sooner or later, the Hollow would make a mistake, and Yumichika would be able to finish it off.

At the same time, one thought kept interfering with his concentration: Ikkaku was wounded, how long could he last? Yumichika repelled this worry again and again, knowing full well that he could not allow himself not to be fully focused on his fight, but eventually his concern over his friend proved to be his undoing. As he was sparing a glance to check on Ikkaku's state, he missed a move on the Hollow's part, and did not see the leg coming straight at him. It did not impale him like it had done to Ikkaku, but it caught him in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him, and sending him flying through the air and crashing into a house.

His back and then his head hit the wall, hard, and pain shot throughout his body. A loud siren rang in his ears, stars exploded all over his field of vision, and a metallic taste invaded his mouth. It was all he could do to hold onto the sword and keep himself from losing consciousness. From the ground where he was now lying face down, he tried to look up to where the Hollow and Ikkaku's body were, but his vision was swimming and he had to close his eyes to stop massive waves of nausea from turning his stomach over. Desperately scrambling to get his breathing, his senses and his muscles back into working order, he tried not to succumb to the panic that threatened to overwhelm him at the thought that Ikkaku was now lying defenceless at the monster's mercy.

He was on his knees and elbows and struggling to get back up when he felt a strong pair of hands grabbing his arms and pulling him upright. He very nearly passed out from the move, and he felt himself being eased back down into a sitting position with his back to the wall. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard a voice - a man's voice, but not Ikkaku's - asking him if he was all right. He tried to nod in response, but winced and moaned as the movement sent new shots of pain down his spine and up into his head. Again the man spoke, and Yumichika barely made out an explanation about the Hollow being gone, his friend needing immediate medical help, the unknown man coming back later to get him and how he must not move and he must wait here. Again, he tried to nod, though more slowly this time so as to avoid causing himself too much pain.

He could not tell how long he stayed there, sitting against the wall, his eyes closed, his head throbbing and his stomach squirming, his whole being fighting to remain conscious. At one point he felt someone dragging a wet cloth across his forehead, which helped a bit but not enough that he figured he could open his eyes again without feeling sick, and he vaguely heard a female voice whispering some sort of encouragement. He was beginning to wonder if he would ever regain his senses, when he felt Ikkaku's sword being wrenched out of his hand. He tried to protest and resist, but neither his limbs nor his mouth seemed to be willing to obey him anymore. Then he felt two strong arms grabbing him under his knees and shoulders and picking him off the floor. He failed once again to open his eyes, but that did not prevent him from noticing the insane speed at which he was being carried away. His overwrought mind reeled one last time, and he blacked out for good.