I don't own Bleach, I just like to take them out once in a while :) I am sorry for the delay in updating, but RL has been kicking my ass lately. There are only two more chapters after this, and for those of you who have been following my other stories on LJ (name over there is the same as here), I apologize for no new chapters lately, but I'm hoping to be able to work on them this weekend :) RL getting in the way of Yaoi? It's such a shame. Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Please R & R.
"How is he?" Rukia asked the dark-haired captain quietly as she stepped from the room.
Unohana Retsu smiled weakly. "He's still asleep, but we've been able to treat some of the damage."
"How?"
She sighed, looking over at the tattooed vice captain who stood stiffly at the entrance to the infirmary, his arms folded across his chest. "Many have offered to contribute their reiatsu to help. Ichigo doesn't seem to be someone who will give up without a fight. He's quite strong. He may regain consciousness after a full treatment, but if this continues… He has until about sundown tomorrow, if our readings are correct."
Rukia stood in silence for a moment before thanking the captain and bowing. "Please tell him we're doing all we can," Unohana said quietly, casting another glance at Renji.
Rukia nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Rukia watched as the Captain of the 4th Division walked over to a waiting Isane, speaking to her low enough that no one else could hear.
As she made her way to Renji, she tried hard to keep her face strong for him. When she'd seen him, holding Ichigo and crying into his unconscious body, she could feel the agony radiating from him like a storm. Anyone who saw them at that moment could instantly tell how much he loved Ichigo, just from the look on his face as he refused to let him go.
Now, though, as he stood deathly silent against the wall of the infirmary, she knew his walls were back up and reinforced with steel that even she couldn't break. All she could do was try and be strong with him.
"They think he may wake up soon," Rukia said, looking up at Renji's blank face. Renji only nodded in reply, his eyes still staring straight ahead. Rukia said nothing more. She moved and rested on the wall beside him. If anything, she would be there if he needed her.
"STOP THIS!" the hollow screamed in anguish.
"I don't know how," Ichigo said, lying on the ground, his eyes shut tight.
"You fool! Get up! There's no way I'm going to allow you to let me die!" Shirosaki shouted from beside Ichigo, the two of them powerless as the power flowed from them in thick waves.
"I don't know how…"
"You're weak. I always knew you were weak," he spit. "What about your lover? Don't you care what happens to him?"
Ichigo's eyes flew open to the darkened sky.
"Did you forget? If you don't fight this, your little lover will vanish. Don't you get it, Ichigo? If you give up, you're taking him with you."
"No," Ichigo said, his voice steady. He gathered the strength in his body and focused it on his arm, moving it slowly from his side. "Shirosaki, lend me your power."
"What?"
"Give me your strength, hollow!" Ichigo shouted, a flash of lightning shooting across the sky above them.
"Oh, well, there's no reason to be pissy about it," Shirosaki mused as he forced his arm toward the shinigami. They gripped each other's hands and their backs arched to the opening sky as Ichigo absorbed the remnants of the hollow's strength.
As Ichigo felt the power in him grow, he felt himself slipping from the world, closer to consciousness.
"Don't fail, my king."
Renji had been forced by Unohana-taichou to rest in a cot. He vaguely remembered falling asleep when the sun started to rise, his dreams plagued by visions of Ichigo's listless body in his arms.
When he woke, he returned to his position on the wall, his view of Ichigo's room perfectly unobstructed. Rukia had been called back to her division the night before, and Renji missed her comforting presence as he waited endlessly for word on Ichigo's condition.
He felt his heart jump when he heard the murmurs that Ichigo was awake. Unohana waved at him from the door, motioning for him to come to her. He walked toward her quickly, his pulse quickening in his chest.
"He's awake," she said softly, opening the door to let him in. "He wants to see you." A soft smile was on her lips, accompanied by a gentle understanding in her eyes that made Renji's stark shoulders relax a little.
He made his way into the dimly lit room and heard Unohana close the door behind him. He sat in the chair beside Ichigo's cot and took his hands in his.
"Are you ok?" he asked, his walls threatening to break at the sight of his lover's weary eyes.
Ichigo nodded and swallowed thickly to coat his dry throat. "Are you hurt?" His voice was low and hoarse.
Renji shook his head. "I'm fine."
"We –" Ichigo coughed slightly, his throat aching. "We have to find this thing, destroy it."
His dark eyes searched Ichigo's face. "How?"
"Take me to the woods. I can feel it," he raised a hand to touch his chest. "Here."
"But-"
"I can't let you die, Renji," Ichigo's eyes darkened. "I will not let you die."
Renji knew that look. It was the same look Ichigo had when he got back up in battle, when everyone thought he was done. It was his resolve, a look of complete will and determination. Renji couldn't think of a more intimidating thing than when Ichigo had that look in his eyes, and he knew there would be no talking him out of it now.
"Ok," he nodded slowly. "But how are we going to get you there?"
Ichigo winked. "You could carry me."
Renji smiled as he shook his head. "I don't have the strength."
"What? You said you weren't hurt." Ichigo tried to sit up, but Renji eased him back down.
"I'm not. I donated my reiatsu. A lot of people have." He nodded toward the door. "You have no idea how close…"
"Don't." Ichigo squeezed his hand. "We just need to find someone who can get me out there."
There were several shinigami gathered outside of the infirmary entrance. Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika stood with Shuuhei near the entrance, waiting for their turn to donate.
"Look at all these people!" Yumichika exclaimed.
Ikkaku stood silent. He didn't particularly care for Kurosaki one way or the other, but when he'd seen Renji broken down as they carried the young man from his office, something almost paternal stirred in him, upsetting him far more than he would've liked. And the boy did save Soul Society, what was it, three or four times?
They all looked up as Rangiku joined them. Shuuhei held out his hand and she took it, holding tight. "He's awake," she said, forcing a smile.
"Good," Shuuhei said with a small nod.
They stood there in silence for a while as people came and went from the entrance. Yumichika studied himself in his mirror while Ikkaku practiced sleeping while standing. Rangiku rested her head on Shuuhei's shoulder while he watched the early afternoon sky.
The time passed slowly as they waited.
The sound of heavy footfalls drew their attention to the large man stalking toward the infirmary, his pink haired lieutenant perched over his shoulder.
"We're comin', Ichi!" she shouted as they made their way through the surprised crowd and into the entrance doors.
The doors to Ichigo's room flew open with a screech. Renji jumped up from his seat beside Ichigo and stared in shock as Zaraki Kenpachi stepped into the room, his vice captain, Kusajishi Yachiru, attached quite skillfully to his back and hung over his shoulder.
"Captain?" he asked, instinctively standing between the large man and Ichigo. These two had a history that even the lowest ranked of the shinigami were familiar with.
"Who is it?" Ichigo struggled to see.
Renji kept his eyes on Kenpachi. "Um-"
"Zaraki Kenpachi." Kenpachi announced as Yachiru hopped onto the floor.
"Ichi, we came to say hi," the pink haired vice captain said as she popped up beside Ichigo. "Ken-chan is very sad that Ichi is hurt."
Kenpachi walked past Renji and stared down at Ichigo. His face tensed as he saw his only real opponent weakened by someone other than himself. It sickened him that Ichigo's power, his skill was reduced to this helpless form by someone who didn't even have the courage to face him.
"You can't die yet, Ichigo. You're not allowed to die until I kill you," he said, his voice stern, his gaze never wavering.
There was a tense quiet in the room for a few minutes before Ichigo coughed.
"Kenpachi," he began, his voice still rough. "I need a favor."
"Will it make you strong again?"
Ichigo nodded slightly. "Yea," he coughed a few, rough times and grinned up at Kenpachi. "Think you can give me a ride?"
Renji sputtered, but Ichigo kept his gaze firmly on Kenpachi. The large man looked back, a crazy grin spreading on his lips.
In one quick movement, the captain slipped his arms under Ichigo's body and lifted him. Renji stared in shock as his former captain held his lover like a bride being carried over a threshold.
"Where we goin'?" Kenpachi asked as Yachiru hopped up on his back, a wide smile on her face.
Ichigo passed a look to Renji and smiled weakly before answering, "Sokyoku Hill."
"What are you doing?!" Isane demanded as Kenpachi stepped out of the room, Ichigo curled in his arms.
"It's ok," Ichigo coughed. "We're going to do a little sight-seeing."
Isane turned her eyes to Renji, who followed close behind them. He nodded, "It's ok, Isane. Can I have some water for Ichigo?"
Isane blinked a couple of times before saying "Of course," and preparing a canister, shoving it in her relief bag. "I'm going with you."
"What? Isane, it might be dangerous," Renji countered.
"I don't care. My captain ordered me to take care of him, and that's what I'm going to do." She rushed off after Kenpachi before Renji could refuse.
Murmurs floated through the crowd as Kenpachi stepped outside, Ichigo tucked to his chest. "We are going to find the person responsible for this. All of you in the 11th," he looked around, taking in who was present. "…are expected to follow us. The rest of you can do what you want."
Rangiku looked at Shuuhei and he nodded in silent agreement.
Yumichika fanned his face quickly to keep the tears from shedding. "It's just so beautiful."
Ikkaku was oddly jealous, but shrugged. I guess a fight's a fight.
As the shinigami grouped together in agreement, Kenpachi nodded and started to walk before Renji grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"Wait, please, Zaraki-taichou," he said as he made his way in front of Kenpachi. He looked down at Ichigo.
"Eh, Kenpachi. You may wanna look away," Ichigo said with a smile when Renji started to bend down to him.
"What?" Kenpachi looked down and quickly averted his eyes, mumbling something heatedly under his breath.
Renji kissed him, squeezing Ichigo's hand tight. "Just in case," he whispered, before pulling away.
"Awwww, it's boy boy love!" Yachiru squealed.
Yumichika collapsed onto Ikkaku in tears. "I can't take it! It's just so beautiful!"
Renji turned to the crowd and scowled at the watching eyes. "Sober up ya bunch of perverted bastards!" he shouted. "The 6th is with me, 11th with Zaraki-taichou."