" Do we have to leave?" Ichigo murmured softly the morning of the seventh day.

" I told captain to give me a week to get you better and you're at about 90% right now. Otherwise we'll be called dead or deserters," I said.

Ichigo sighed then nodded as we finished packing our bags. We walked out, side by side, to see the family there. Augustus stepped forward with a bag of produce. " Good luck," he said then shook my hand.

Ichigo found some money in his German uniform that I now gave to Augustus. " 1000 Reichsmarks isn't enough of a thank you for everything you have done for us but this is all we have," I said.

Augustus's eyes widened and he looked between the money and me. We didn't need it anyways. He gave me a hug and then we left. Ichigo and I went off the beaten path so we should get there by late afternoon. That is until we heard two cars. Ichigo and I ducked into the brush and saw the two cars from the other day drive by. Heading right where we just were. " Their heading for-" Ichigo began.

" I know," I hissed. Damn it! " Ichigo head back to camp. I'm going to end this once and for all."

" I'm not letting you go alone!"

" Your eye sights not all there yet your useless to me."

" Damn it Hana-"

" I'm going Ichigo. Without you." And with that I was gone. Ichigo wasn't up for running yet with his bad leg so I had the advantage. I took the back roads back and found myself at the small farm banging on the door.

Augustus answered, surprised to see me. " We're ending the pillaging. Today. Take your family and hide," I shouted.

Augustus nodded. They would go to their basement most likely or into the woods behind the house. I ran into the barn and climbed into the rafters. I only had to wait 5 minutes for the two cars to come. Let's make this interesting hm? I cocked my gun and took aim. Boom went the tire on the second vehicle, the car flipping over and killing most of the passengers. The front car with the leader screeched to a halt, the soldiers out and at the ready. I took another shot and hit the gas tank of the flipped over car, killing off the rest of injured soldiers from the first attack then moving to a new opening on the barn.

The soldiers began charging towards the cottage and barn so I began my attack. I shot several down before they finally looked at the barn. Soon the farm became riddled with bullets and I jumped off the rafters again. I pulled out my pistol and shot at the ones about to enter the barn. Only a few left. I ran around the corner and waited until another three ran right past me. Bang, bang, bang and they were gone. Now, where's baldy?" Come out with your hands up or the girl dies!" a voice rang out.

Nel! I weighed the options. She was only a girl. I sighed and moved through the barn then back to the cottage. Nel was held at gunpoint to the number nine man. " Who are you?" I asked.

The man cackled then said, " I should have guessed you were American. If you were really German than you'd know I am fuehrer Sosuke Aizen's ninth general, Aaroniero Arruruerie. Now who are you?"

" I'm just another soldier."

" Please! You just killed three dozen of my men in a few minutes. Now tell me your name."

" One German called me 'the angel of death' does that sound familiar?" I asked.

Aaroniero visibly froze and his eyes widened. " You?"

" Am I that well known?"

" Some say you've killed a thousand men from your perch in the sky. Rumor was you moved to the front lines but I didn't think they were true."

" Well here I am. I've killed Tosen and now I'm going to kill you."

" Y-you killed him? That was you?"

" Yes"

Aaroniero smiled now. " If I kill you then just maybe I can take Tosen's place as right hand man instead of that fox face. Now, drop your weapons and get down on your knees or the girl loses her head."

I sighed but did as he asked. " H-Hana," Nel whined.

" Shut up you little Jewish rat!" Aaroniero hissed pulling on Nell's green hair.

" Stop! Nel look at me," I said. She sobbed and looked at me. " Everything's going to be ok. Go back inside the house ok?"

Aaroniero smirked and let her go and she bolted inside. I saw him pull a general's blade from his side and saunter forward. He tipped my helmet off and pulled my ponytail out. " Funny. You look just like a woman," he murmured creepily then ran a finger along the side of my face.

I cringed in disgust. " Just get it over with."

" Don't worry I'm getting there," he said then moved down from my face to my shirt. A moment later he ripped it open to reveal my wrapped chest. He began hysterically laughing as I frantically tried to fix my shirt. " My God you are a woman! Oh this is just too good!"

I glared at him once I finished buttoning my shirt. " I may be a woman but that hasn't held me back once in this war. Now kill me as a soldier," I said heated.

" As you wish," Aaroniero said. He pulled his blade back and I relaxed. I'm going to die saving that child and I still saved Hanatero. I can live with that. But my heart panged thinking about Ichigo. Wait why am I thinking about Ichigo? I woke from my thought as the sword glimmered in daylight. " Goodbye, angel of death."

Just as he was about to attack a stone hit his head. He turned and we both saw Nel sticking out her tongue. I dove to the side and grabbed my pistol then shot him in the chest. He turned back to me growling then stepped forward. I shot him again and he kept coming. I tried to shoot him one last time but my bullets were out. He grinned maniacally and was about to stab me but someone shot him in the head. He fell to the side while I remained panting. I turned ever so slowly and found my savior to be Ichigo. He ran over to me and knelt beside me, also panting. " Hana are you ok?" Ichigo asked.

I couldn't say anything my voice is gone. Instead I reached forward and grabbed Ichigo in a tight hug, grabbing the fabric on his back between my knuckles so tightly they were white. Ichigo gently hugged me back, patting my back. " I-I'm scared Ichigo. I can't do this anymore I can't," I said miserably.

" Why do we fight?" Ichigo asked me sternly.

I pulled off his shoulder and back slightly. " What?" I asked looking into his face.

" Why do we fight?" he asked.

I gulped at our close proximity. " T-to protect the ones we love."

" I'll protect you. I swear on my life I'll protect you. And I know you'll protect me," Ichigo said.

I could only nod. I nearly forgot the reason I came here. Hanatero. I smiled and nodded and Ichigo finally smiled back. Just hen Nel ran over, hugging Ichigo and I in her small arms. I fight for this, this light happiness welling up in my chest. Augustus stepped over as well. " Thank you, thank you so much," he said excitedly.

I stood up and said, " People are going to want to know where this guy went. And you're going to tell them the truth. The angel of death killed them ok?" I asked and Augustus smiled. I turned and saw the other car." Can we take it?"

" Please do," Augustus said. He also loaded the car up with more fresh food and then we were off, riding back to camp in style. I took off my helmet and let my hair whip in the air. I stood up on the seat and raised my hands. I felt so free, so alive. I let out a loud cheer and Ichigo laughed then I sat back down. It was nightfall by the time we got back to camp and we were nearly shot at because of our vehicle.

" Calm down captain it's us," I said taking off my helmet.

" Ichigo you look well," captain said ignoring me.

" All thanks to Hanataro here. He saved me," Ichigo said grabbing my shoulder.

" Come on that doesn't matter now. We come bearing gifts!" I shouted then began unloading the food out of the car. And that night we feasted. Bread, cheese, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables, all foods we had nearly forgotten. Even a few bottles of wine. While the others went to go take a bath I sat on the edge looking over the battlefield.

" Sure is loud out here huh?" Ichigo asked sitting beside me.

" I just got used to the calm," I said with a smile then took a sip from my bottle. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the chocolate from a while ago, breaking a piece off for Ichigo and I. We drank and nibbled watching the light flash through the sky.

" You know I would have died without you, in the trenches last week," Ichigo said. I turned and saw him staring at me.

" And I would have died today without you," I said.

" I guess we really do make a great team," Ichigo said.

I nodded. I looked down and shakily put my hand in his, entwining my fingers with his. He looked back at me surprised. " Do you promise?" I asked quietly.

" Promise what?"

" To protect me?"

Ichigo paused. I sighed and was about to turn back. " It's funny. I always thought you would be the one protecting me. You're the best shot in this entire damn army. But I realized we all need protection. So yes, I am going to protect you Hana. Your one of the ones I want to protect," he said. I was surprised when he leaned forward and kissed my forehead. " Because I protect my loved ones."

I was about to reply when the chorus of yells from the others interrupted us. Ichigo abruptly stepped away and back to his sleeping mat. Ichigo said he protects his loved ones. Does he… love me?