Disclaimer: Still don't own Bleach so...carry on!

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Still no sleep. No doubt she was fast asleep, her small form curled up like a cat, just as cute. Dreaming of Chappy, cuddling said character plushie to her chest, sleeping peacefully. He, on the other hand, was not joining her in this wonderful world of slumber. He was wide awake, for reasons unknown. Possibly the stress the small Shinigami was causing? Or, was it fear of a dreamland repeat of the night before?

Ichigo groaned and rolled over to face away from the wall, and to look at his clock on his bedside table. One o'clock.

Great, gonna get no fucking sleep tonight...fucking Rukia.

Beep beep...beep beep...

"FUCKING PHONE!" Ichigo roared. Rukia was awake instantly, jumping out the closet in her pyjamas.

"Ichigo! Lets go!"

Ichigo turned into Shinigami form, arranging his body so if anyone happened to wander in during the thirty minutes he was to be away in, they would assume him asleep.

"Where is it?" Ichigo asked, crouching in the window as Rukia prepared to climb aboard his back.

"The park, again. How weird..." She tailed off, speaking more to herself than Ichigo. Ichigo kept quiet, and leapt out of his window, Rukia on his back.

They arrived at the park, awake and alert. Silence suffocated them, their eyes wide, the hearts beating with adrenaline.

"Where is it?" Ichigo broke the silence, as they both stood back to back, to keep a good look out.

Rukia didn't need to answer, as the Hollow appeared as if by magic through the thick trees surrounding the majority of the park. It was huge, not quite a Menos Grande but close. It's roar shook the ground as it targeted the two Shinigami through their immense spirit power.

"Show time." Ichigo grinned as he unsheathed his sword, the white ribbon that wrapped around it flowing to the ground.

"Careful, Ichigo. This one is different to the one you fought today." Rukia warned, staring at the Hollow as it studied it's enemies.

"Yer, this ones bigger." He replied smugly.

"No, it may be bigger, but it's much stronger than the other one. They both could've been the same size, but this one would stand out."

"Right, so I'll just work that little harder to kick his butt." Ichigo said before he ran towards the Hollow, Zanpaktou raised.

He kicked off from the ground, aiming for the Hollow's head. At the last minute, the Hollow punched forwards with his fist, just missing Ichigo. Ichigo landed on the ground cat like, one hand supporting him and the other clenched around his sword, ready for another attack. The Hollow swung for him again, but this time Ichigo was ready. He jumped up at the last minute, swinging his sword down and sliced the Hollow's arm off.

The Hollowed moaned in pain and thrashed about.

"Doesn't seem that powerful to me," Ichigo muttered to himself, "He's a bit stupid if you ask me."

While the Hollow was distracted, Ichigo jumped up, aiming for his head again. This time his Zanpaktou made compact, killing the Hollow.

Ichigo turned, smirking, towards Rukia.
"Didn't seem that strong to me!" He yelled.

Rukia couldn't help but smile. All through the battle, she had been worried to the brink of a nervous breakdown. She had felt a strange kind of power radiating from the Hollow, and had been scared Ichigo would be defeated.

But of course he beat it, why wouldn't he? He has an immense amount of spirital power. Yet... why am I still worried?

Ichigo turned back to where the Hollow had disappeared, to see the spirits of a small girl and a small boy, holding hands. They were obviously brother and sister, not even 2 years apart in age. Ichigo approached them, followed by Rukia.

"Hey, what's your names?" Ichigo asked softly, crouching in front of them.

The boy spoke for both of them, clearly the eldest.

"My sister's name's Kitsune, I'm Daiki."

Ichigo smiled. "Hey. I'm gonna send you guys to Soul Society, it's just like Heaven, ok?"
The brother nodded, the sister gave a weak smile. Rukia could see she was scared, but knew everything was going to be alright. Ichigo carried out the soul burial, and watched as the two spirits disappeared, turning into two butterflies, fluttering into the night's sky.

"Done. Can we go now? I'm fucking exhausted." Ichigo muttered, rubbing his face with his hand to try to keep awake.

"Wait...this doesn't feel right..."
Ichigo looked at Rukia, and saw she was tense.

"What's wrong? I killed him, right? He ain't never coming back." Again, Ichigo was smirking.

His smirk was cut short by a shrill beeping coming from Rukia's phone.

"Another one?" Ichigo asked, shocked.

"No, it's the same one." Rukia answered. Within seconds, the same Hollow Ichigo thought he had beat was back, almost standing on top of them.

"Rukia! Get back!" Ichigo yelled, male instincts taking over.

Protect the mate...

Ichigo ran at the Hollow again, sinking his Zanpaktou into the Hollows chest as he jumped up to meet the Hollow's height. The Hollow gave one last moan, but as a final strike of revenge, fangs seem to desend from his giant jaw and sink into Ichigo, one through his arm, the other through his shoulder and into his chest.

"Bastard..."Ichigo coughed, as he twisted the Zanpaktou in the Hollow's chest, causing it to howl in pain and finally disappear for good.

Ichigo fell to the floor, wounds bleeding fast. He stared up at the stars, thinking how beautiful they looked, as the pain seemed to dull the more he stared. Suddenly, Rukia's face above his, worried.

But they're not as beautiful as her...

Then he blacked out.

Rukia sat at Urahara's little table, face blank. Her heart beat fast inside her chest, fear dominated her brain. She couldn't help thinking about the last thing he had said to her.

His hand had reached up, and cupped her face. As he had stared into her eyes, his relaxed, hers worried, he had muttered "You're so beautiful." before collapsing.

The blood loss must've made him hallucinate...yet a part of me hope's he meant it.

Rukia's thoughts were cut short as Urahara slammed the sliding door open.

"He's going to be fine, Kuchiki-chan." Urahara's sweet voice filled the room, along with the flapping of his fan. "Kurosaki-kun is all fixed up. I'm afraid he won't be able to go school tomorrow. My my, it's early. Would you like to rest? You look tired."

"Thanks." Rukia muttered. She felt relieved that Ichigo was going to be fine, and the sudden release of worry sapped the energy out of her. She dragged herself down the hall after Urahara, who was leading her to where she was to rest.

"You can rest here, and keep an eye on the patient!" Urahara sang, before closing the door, leaving the room half lit by the rising sun. Rukia saw another futon made up next to Ichigo's, who was sleeping peacefully, wrapped in bandages again.

"How many times have I seen you like that?" Rukia muttered, before flopping onto the futon next to him. She stared at his sleeping form for a minute, before mustering all her courage, leaning over and kissing his forehead.

"Night, Ichigo." She muttered, before taking his hand in hers, bringing it up level with her face, and finally sleeping, curled up like a cat.