Chapter 4- Miruizo
Rukia could not sleep. She was worried that the murderer was after Ichigo. Mizuiro had, as could be expected from him, tried to flirt with her, but she had clearly stated she was in a relationship with Ichigo and not in a mood to tolerate flirting.
Rukia sighed, unsure of what had become of Ichigo. She had no way of knowing since they weren't allowed to communicate. Rukia lay on her side in the closet, hoping it would all be over soon.
Rukia heard a banging on the door. She sat up, startled. Rukia heard Mizuiro's footsteps, and rushed out of her closet to stop him from opening the door.
Mizuiro had almost reached the door when a frantic Rukia tackled him to the ground, wearing nothing but the bathrobe she had in place of Yuzu's pajamas. Mizuiro was startled by this, and took the opportunity to flirt with Rukia.
The door was forced open, the bolt broken by Hollow Ichigo's brute strength. Rukia screamed, and Mizuiro had a look of utter terror on his face. Ichigo's Hollow mask showed no emotion, but his eyes betrayed his primal thoughts.
Pain.
Pain was evident in his eyes.
Anger.
Anger flared from the pain, and Ichigo's grip tightened on the dagger.
Rukia knew what Ichigo thought she was doing. She ran up, catching Ichigo's hand, stopping him from killing Mizuiro.
She screamed at Mizuiro to run. That Ichigo was after him, not herself. But Mizuiro, that poor, foolish boy, stood rooted to the spot in terror.
Ichigo knocked Rukia aside with a powerful blow from his arm. Rukia's head smashed against the wall, and she lay still, her breathing light. Ichigo continued on to the terrified Mizuiro, who let out a loud scream, but was quickly silenced. Mizuiro's head rolled to the blood-stained floor, and Ichigo collapsed from exhaustion.
Rukia wasn't unconscious, but she wasn't completely conscious either. She was in-between, unable to move her body, but able to think.
Rukia's mind, affected as it were by injury, struggled to accept what she knew to be true. Ichigo was the murderer. Not intentionally, but he had been donning the Hollow mask in his sleep and murdering those poor people. She, Rukia, was the reason. Anyone who interfered, or his subconscious believed to be interfering, was killed by that mindless being of the emotionless mask. Rukia drifted into unconsciousness, knowing that either Ichigo must die or his mask must be destroyed.