"Reap, Kazeshini."

"Now raise your head, Wabisuke."

Kazeshini's chain wrapped around Ayon's neck and pulled him backwards. Wabisuke slashed down on Ayon's back, doubling his massive weight and the amount of blood spilled.

I widened my eyes. "Shuhei! Izuru!"

They both looked at me at the same time.

Shuhei tightened the chain around the monster's neck. "You should heal Momo's wounds! We'll take care of this guy!"

Kira-senpai nodded.

I looked at them both and hurried to Momo's side, where the recovered Rangiku was kneeling next to. Taking out the remaining bits of my antidote, I injected the rest into Momo and kept watch over her.

Rangiku whispered, "She will be alright, wouldn't she?"

My eyes wavered. "She might, but it isn't certain."

"Momo..."

I looked at the sky and hoped for the best.

About five minutes later, Momo opened her eyes. "...Where am I...?"

Rangiku smiled. "You're safe..."

They hugged each other tightly.

I glanced worriedly at Shuhei and Kira-senpai battling with Ayon. "..."

The great beast was flung up by Kazeshini and Wabisuke dealt the final blow.

Grey blood poured down the town like layers of ash...

There were cheers from the other soul reapers...until Shuhei fell.

I was the first one there to care, but soon, there was a whole crowd.

"Call Retsu and Nemu!"

"Is he alright?!"

"No, he isn't!"

"He's bleeding from the lower abdomen!"

"Why isn't it stopping?!"

I reached down and held his hand. "...Shuhei..."

My eyes closed. "...Is this what you wanted...?"

I woke up to the constant pitter-patter of rain and the stroking of slender fingers in my hair.

Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I sat up and looked into dark grey orbs.

Shuhei was lying in an infirmary cot, his head propped up by a few pillows.

He managed a smile. "Good morning, Rozu."

I blinked. "...Good morning... You're feeling better..."

He nodded. "Yeah, it's just I pushed my body to its limit... Findor Carias injured me minorly, then Tosen cut me in a few spots, and then Ayon almost beat me to a pulp with a Cero."

My eyes saddened. "...It's all my fault... If it weren't for me... If I could've handled Ayon on my own... you wouldn't be here..."

Shuhei reached down and held my hand. "...Then you'd be injured far worse than I... and I would never live with myself..."

I was about reply, but the infirmary door burst open and Kira-senpai and his father, Izaya Kira, entered.

Izaya looked completely furious. "What is the meaning of this, Rozu?! Our families were in an agreement!"

Kira-senpai tried to intervene. "Father, this isn-"

"You stay out of this, Izuru!"

Fear gripped me like an iron fist. I knew Izaya Kira was dangerous, especially when he was angry. "...I...I... Izaya-sama... gomennasai..."

Izaya fumed silently. "Gomennasai will not cover the shame you will bring to your family!"

He kept ranting until I could take no more.

I shot up with equal fury. "I cannot put duty over love! You're expecting too much from me! I'm nothing but a pauper! I'm nothing that deserves your son!"

He unsheathed his Zanpakuto and pointed it at Shuhei's heart. "You will deserve him if this buffoon is removed from the picture!"

I screamed, "NO!"

There was the sound of blood splattering against the floor.

Sorry, this was a short chapter, but I just had twenty minutes to write it. Review and favourite! ~Artemis