All that Ichigo's mind registered was pain; searing, endless pain. All he could hear was the biting wind as it howled and all he saw was red. He briefly thought about trying to move but his body would not listen. He didn't know where his Zanpakutō was. He heard a brief cackling as something shuffled around. He was harshly rolled over as the cackling was suddenly closer before it disappeared. He heard more shuffling as something was lifted off the ground near him.

"Zangetsu?" his mind briefly wondered.

The cackling was heard again as whatever had been near him fled, taking whatever it had found with it.

"Zangetsu," his mind called but weather or not the spirit heard him was unknown. The pain was just too much.

Ichigo lie there for what seemed like eternity. He tried to move again but his head only rolled to the side. His body felt wet and he knew it was his blood. The ground around him was soaking it up hungrily.

Ichigo didn't react when he barely registered the footprint. His mind was too far gone. They came closer. He didn't flinch when a cold hand, at lest he thought it was a hand, rested on his cheek. His head was turned to the other side and Ichigo barely cracked his eyes open.

"A grinning fox…?" thought Ichigo before what was left of his mind finally fell into darkness.