Ichigo could feel Malina's energy crackling in the air around him as she tilted her head to the other side. She didn't appear regal as a "queen" should—instead, she looked like the bloodthirsty, psychotic killer that she truly was. The other energy—the one Minako was exuding—was getting out of control.

Just like a bomb, he realized, grinding his teeth. There has to be a way for me to stop it…

"There is." White's voice was cold with mounting fury. "Only she can tell you that."

Ichigo gripped the hilt of Zangetsu tightly. Malina's eyes narrowed slightly. "The clock is running out, Soul Reaper," she whispered as her eyes began to glow eerily. Markings began to appear from beneath her eyes, similar to Minako's, only in a ghastly, black color. "If you won't sit quietly and watch her die, then I will have to kill you in front of her."

"Like hell that'll happen!" Ichigo snapped, lunging at Malina. Malina, using her own speed, went to Kin's cold body, took his sword in hand and pointed it at Ichigo. "You're too emotional, Soul Reaper," she murmured, charging at Ichigo and bringing the blade down on him with such speed, Ichigo had no choice but to dash back to dodge.

When he regained his pacing, Ichigo flash-stepped to Malina, swinging his blade to her side. Malina used her sword to block, gripping the hilt tight in one hand. Her eyes glinted maliciously as she put enough force into her sword to drive Ichigo back. Ichigo didn't let up, putting just as much force to push Malina back—and to close the distance Malina was putting between Minako and himself. Malina's face was alight with sinister happiness as they fought with brute strength. She thought she was going to win.

Suddenly, Malina keeled, clutching at her chest, gagging. Her expression turned murderous as she glared at toward the bound Minako. She was breathing hard, her eyes turning into black and gold.

Just like his eyes…Ichigo realized, his own eyes going wide. White had influenced Minako more than he realized. "Die already!" Malina screamed at Minako. "Why haven't you detonated?!"

Minako either didn't know the answer or couldn't talk through the intense pain she was fighting. Her eyes were flickering back to blue and she coughed up blood.

"Stop it, Minako! You're going to kill yourself!" Ichigo yelled as Malina fell onto one knee, her crimson eyes on Minako with utmost hatred. "Don't try and dissuade her from that, Soul Reaper!" she hissed. Minako's face crumpled in pain before her gaze broke from Malina, ceasing her onslaught.

Malina raised her sword, bloodlust in her eyes. "If you won't detonate, I'll just have to force you!" she shouted, swinging it toward the defenseless girl.

"Minako!" Ichigo flash-stepped, shielding Minako from Malina's blow, giving a shout of pain when cold steel penetrated his back. Minako's eyes widened. "I…Ichigo…" she whispered.

Panting from the pain, Ichigo met Minako's eyes with his own. "Don't be scared," he breathed. Minako studied him. "You're…one again."

"Someone special said she liked it better when we were one." Ichigo could feel his Hollow stirring, wanting his turn to fight Malina. He didn't hold him back…

Minako gasped as the familiar, dark energy began to leak from Ichigo and the mask began to form over his face. "White?" she whispered.

"What's this?" Malina sneered. "You suddenly reek of Hollow, boy!"

He lifted his eyes to look into hers before turning to look at Malina. "Hold still," he growled at her. "I want to make sure to rip you apart."

"Oh~ Try your luck. I'll even stay still." Malina tossed her sword away. White gripped Zangetsu and lunged at her, driving the blade into Malina's chest. Malina's lips curled into a vicious sneer. "Go ahead…finish it."

"With pleasure." White twisted the blade in Malina's chest. Malina choked on her blood as he jerked the blade from heart, muscle, and flesh. The "Queen" collapsed in a growing pool of her own blood. "Tch…that does it then," he growled.

A strangled scream pierced the air and White spun around. Minako was writhing, blood pouring from the markings on her body. White felt Ichigo pushing through for control and for once the Hollow ceded, allowing Ichigo to pull the mask off of his face and run to Minako. Her eyes were shut with pain and Ichigo felt a frantic helplessness in his limbs. He grabbed at the bonds holding her hands, pulling at them furiously, but to no avail.

"Minako, try and hang on!" Ichigo growled, not giving up until the bonds gave way.

"Ichigo." Minako's voice was soft, hoarse from screaming. Ichigo looked at her and saw that tears were filling in her eyes, but she was smiling sadly. "Just go. Get everyone out of here."

"I'm not leaving you, idiot! There's gotta be a way to stop this that you're not telling me!" he yelled.

Minako's mind fell into a haze at those words, remembering what her mother had told her.

"Soul Reapers are not only toxic to you, Minako, but there's another thing you do not know. If you were to lose your mind or someone lose control of your powers, a Zanpakuto can dispel it…at a cost."

Ichigo wouldn't want to do this, but Minako knew it was the only way. "Stab me with Zangetsu," she said.

"What? No! No way am I doing that!" Ichigo shook his head furiously before a ringing yell shattered through his head.

"If you want to save her, do it!"

He winced. White sounded furious at him for even refusing the only option they have—but he could hear that the Hollow didn't like it any more than he did.

"You both don't want to do this," Minako continued, her voice trembling as she fought another wave of pain. "But Malina had sent her power to fuel me as a bomb right when White took her down. If you want to save me, this is the only way how."

Ichigo shut his eyes. Gripping Zangetsu, he knew he couldn't turn his blade on her even to save her life.

"Ichigo, we're running out of time!" Minako's voice was rising—she was becoming frantic. "Just do it!"

"It's the only way we can get her back, idiot. If you get weak in your decision, I'll take over. I'll free her."

She'll die.

"Would you rather she die painful?"

"Please…" Minako begged brokenly. "I don't want to kill everyone. I'd rather you be the death of me. Please."

Ichigo forced his eyes open to look at her. She was fighting brutal agony, and he was the only one who could. He raised Zangetsu and, with mounting pain in his heart, thrust the blade into Minako's chest.

Minako's eyes widened before slowly closing as her blood fell from the gaping hole in her chest. She could feel energy—Ichigo's energy—flow through her, draining the powers that roiled inside of her. She felt the bonds holding her splinter as her body fell. Ichigo quickly caught her in his arms, removing Zangetsu from Minako's chest.

"Minako?" Ichigo whispered, holding her tightly to him. He could feel her skin rapidly becoming cold. She was dying in his arms. Just like before…

"Ichigo!" His head snapped up as his friends ran toward him. Orihime's eyes widened at Minako bleeding in the Soul Reaper's arms before they filled. "Minako-chan…!"

"Orihime." Ichigo looked beseechingly at his friend, the pain so evident in his eyes that Orihime couldn't refuse whatever impossibility he would ask of her. "Save her, please."

Orihime's eyes were set in determination and she nodded. Ichigo set Minako down and Orihime placed her hands over her. "Soten Kishun; I reject," she murmured as her shield appeared. She tried to keep her focus on Minako's injury, but she was distracted by the glimmer of pain in Ichigo's eyes at seeing Minako this way. Orihime lowered her eyes to Minako, watching as her chest slowly rose and fell, the hole in her chest closing.

Minako's face contorted briefly in pain, before her eyes cracked open only slightly. Orihime brightened. "Minako-chan!" she exclaimed.

"Kazuya-san, how are you feeling?" Uryu asked.

Minako didn't reply. It was though she was in a daze. She turned her head slightly to look Orihime and shook her head. Orihime's beaming expression faltered. "Minako-chan?"

"Minako," Ichigo tried to get the meaning of her behavior, "hey, what's wrong?"

"Don't you feel it?" Renji asked in a harsher voice than he intended, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What do you mean?" Ichigo demanded, feeling raw panic rising in him. "Feel what?"

"Her spiritual pressure is dropping," said Rukia solemnly before kneeling beside Orihime. "And it's dropping drastically."

"Ori…hime…" Minako whispered, her voice cracking slightly.

"What is it?" Orihime asked.

"Take it down…your shield."

Orihime's eyes widened. "What?"

"No!" Ichigo growled. "Minako, Orihime's going to heal you! You're gonna be okay!"

Minako shook her head. "Orihime'll…get hurt if she keeps…treating me," she whispered. "Please, Orihime…take…down your shield…"

Orihime closed her eyes before dispelling her Soten Kishun. "Orihime, what are you doing?" asked Chad.

Minako started to push herself up, but fell back. Ichigo placed a hand against her back to ease her upright. "What the hell is the matter with you?" he asked.

Minako merely raised her eyes to look at Rukia and Renji. "The Soul Society wants to execute me…right? Because I'm a threat?" she whispered.

"You were a threat," Rukia murmured. "But you took the lives of Soul Reapers."

"It wouldn't make a difference if I said that I was controlled by Malina, would it?"

"…I'm sorry, Kazuya-san."

Minako was about to bow her head in acceptance but she felt Ichigo wind his arms tighter around her. Minako looked up at him to see him glaring at Rukia and Renji. "You're not taking her," he growled dangerously. "You're not going to take her from me."

"Think rationally for once, Ichigo!" Renji snapped. "Even you can't save her from the crime she committed!"

"She wasn't in control of herself when she killed those Soul Reapers!" Ichigo roared.

"Stop it, Ichigo," Minako whispered to him. "I was under Malina's influence, yes, but I still killed those Soul Reapers. You can't protect me forever."

"You stop it!" Ichigo's eyes were burning intensely when they met hers, emotions flying through them. Ichigo continued, as though he'd been waiting years to say these things. "You're always taking things as they come, accepting the consequences of your actions no matter what they are! Do you think your family won't care that you're gone?! Your friends?!"

His free hand went to Minako's face, eyes smoldering now. "What about White and me, Minako? You're ready to throw yourselves to the wolves and leave us behind?" he asked. Minako's eyes widened. During the haze Malina had her in, she had made physical contact with Ichigo and found feelings for her that she didn't realize they existed. She had wondered if those were his true feelings. Vaguely, she recalled the way her heart jumped when Ichigo called out her name. What did she feel then…?

"Ichigo-" Rukia began but Ichigo cut her off.

"If the Soul Society takes her, I'm just gonna break her out over and over," he said, holding Minako close to him. "You're not keeping her from me."

"Keep her forever," White growled in Ichigo's head. "If you care about her so much, don't let her out of your sight."

"Idiot! You're losing your head-" began Renji, but he was cut off by a cry of pain. Minako had crumpled forward in Ichigo's arms, her hands clutching at her chest. Blood soaked her hands, dripping steadily at first and then heavier, while her body began to convulse.

"Minako-chan!" Orihime exclaimed, reaching for her. Ichigo supported Minako when she fell forward and worry and panic reached fever pitch.

"What's wrong? Minako!" he yelled, maneuvering her to lean back. His eyes widened.

Minako's skin had paled significantly, her hands soaked in blood. She was trying to catch her breath, but it strangled inside her throat and her lips turned blue. Orihime grabbed Minako's hands and pulled them away from her chest to expose the gaping hole Orihime was healing. It began to sizzle at the edges; blood and a strangely colored discharge began to ooze from the wound. Minako let out another moan of pain, her eyes shutting tightly.

"Minako-chan, let me heal you!" Orihime cried, holding onto Minako's hands, the worry in her eyes rising.

"Let me see her!" Rukia demanded sternly, though she gently pried Orihime's hands off of Minako's shaking hands. She placed her hands over Minako's wound, using her kido to try and heal her, but she frowned. "Something's going horribly wrong," she murmured.

"What's happening, Rukia?" asked Renji.

"Kazuya-san's energy is becoming severely unstable," Rukia answered. "I can't heal her injury properly."

"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked, feeling helplessness creep in his veins at feeling Minako's body crumble before his eyes. "You can't make her pain stop?"

Rukia's eyes wavered in apology as she closed them. "We're too toxic for her right now. If we try any more, we'll lose her."

"Then let me!" Orihime cried. "I'll heal her!"

Minako coughed up blood, forcing her eyes open. She raised a shaking hand toward Orihime. With confusion shadowing her features, Orihime took Minako's hand in both of hers before gasping, her eyes glazing over and widening. Her own hands began to tremble as she dropped Minako's hand.

"Orihime?" Uryu ventured cautiously as Orihime's eyes filled with tears.

"N-No," she whispered. "No…"

"Orihime, what's wrong?" asked Rukia, grabbing the girl by her shoulder.

Orihime shook her head slowly. "You can't," she whispered brokenly to Minako. Ichigo didn't like how Orihime was falling about. What message was sent between them?

Orihime closed her eyes. "Ichigo, you should let Minako-chan go."

"What are you talking about?" asked Ichigo, tightening his hold instinctively on Minako.

Orihime took in a deep breath. "Soten…"

"Stop her now!" White roared in Ichigo's head, but it was too late when Orihime opened her mouth. "…Zashun."

Orihime's Tsubaki shot into Minako's bleeding chest. Minako's eyes widened from the impact before her expression softened from the agony that had been stamped on it. "Thank you," she whispered from her damaged throat.

"Orihime!" Ichigo could barely choke down the shock. Why had Orihime just attacked Minako? Orihime looked at him with streaming eyes. "She wanted me to. She showed me what was happening. I-I couldn't let it…" she sobbed uncontrollably.

"What are you talking about?" asked Uryu. "Kazuya-san showed you what?"

"She was dying!" Orihime cried, burying her face into her hands. "She was—was suffering! You did stop her from becoming a bomb, Ichigo, but…but…your spirit energy…it's killing her."

Time stopped for a moment. His mind stopped working.

He was killing her.

"Your energy can kill her…" White hissed in his head and for once Ichigo heard no sadistic amusement from his counterpart. "…Mine can't."

What are you talking about?

"My energy, moron. It can stabilize her."

Are you insane?! You may as well turn her into you!

"Would that really be a bad thing as long as we have her?"

Before Ichigo could form a response, he sensed his Hollow's energy coiling around the dying energy of Minako. She had her eyes closed, her breaths shallow. She didn't look any different from the agony she had gone through before Orihime had Tsubaki shot into her chest. Barely suppressing an anguished sound, Ichigo shut his eyes and begged silently of his Hollow. Save her...

Orihime's attack was quick. Painless even. She barely felt it.

She could still feel traces of Ichigo's energy within her when he had stabbed her with his zanpakuto. Minako knew this was what her mother warned against. The reason Ichigo may be the death of her. She silently made her peace. If she was going to die, at least she was going to die in the arms of someone she cared for…

"Is that what you think is going to happen? We're just gonna let you die?"

Minako's eyes flew open. White was glaring at her and this time, there was no sadistic humor, no trace of his usual haughtiness. There was just intense determination, almost primordial.

"White," she breathed, "why are you here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" White approached her, his steps resolute. "By instinct, I'm selfish. I don't want to let go of what rightfully belongs to me. But by your keen point of view, Ichigo and I are one in the same—which means you also rightfully belong to him."

"Are you insane?" asked Minako, her eyes widening. "You were always against Ichigo "claiming" me and now you're all for it?"

"It's because of you." White's tone was brisk when he reached for her, his thumb and index finger holding her chin in place so she couldn't look away. "You're finally seeing us as one person. You've finally tapped into those instincts inside of your soul."

She gasped when he pinned her down, his eyes gleaming unfathomably. "You're still my queen. No matter what and I refuse to let you wander away." A smirk graced his lips as his free hand traced a path from her cheek, down her neck, and came to rest over her heart. "This is still mine."

Minako let out a silent breath. "I'm going to die, White. Ichigo's energy is toxic to me. My power is fading."

"Why do you think I came in here for?"

She let out another gasp as she felt energy shoot within her, to her very soul. "A-Ahhh…" she moaned and she knew White recognized it as a moan of pain.

"Be strong, my queen," he breathed. "It'll be over soon."

On the outside, while his friends watched as he clutched the girl he loved to him, Ichigo's eyes flew open when he heard Minako take a breath.