There was a flash of white in front of Ichigo just before the cero hit him, or should have hit him.
"Toushirou!"
The tiny captain having managed to permanently seal the opening where the hollows where trying to come through had seen the battle between Ichigo and Ulquiorra and rushed to Ichigo's aid when he saw the strawberry having trouble. Toushirou's banki had long ago left him, leaving him exhausted, he only had time to use his body as a shield to save the one he loved.
Blood dripped down from his chest as his breathing hitched, becoming short, pain filled, gasps.
"What's this? You throw yourself in front of a cero to save him? What a stupid thing to do, you are also trash."
"I . . . won't . . . let you . . . hurt him."
Trembling violently Toushirou manged to raise his sword to face Ulquiorra.
"Ugh!" he cried out as the espadas hand pierced his already injured chest, creating a deep, bloody hole.
Toushirou crumpled to the ground in a pool of his own blood.
"TOUSHIROU!"
Ichigo watched in horror as the small frame fell to the ground.
"Trash."
The strawberry looked up to Ulquiorra, Toushirou's blood on his hands, calm as ever.
"He was nothing but trash."
White hot rage sparked at Ulquiorra's words as Ichigo gazed down at Toushirou, lying bleeding and broken on the ground in front of him.
"You'll pay." he hissed, shaking with suppressed anger.
"I doubt it, after all you are also nothing but trash."
Ichigo's hand snapped to his face, forming the hollow's mask, over the years he had become much stronger in his hollowfication form. For the first time since this battle began Ichigo was thinking clearly, he flashed stepped, appearing behind Ulquiorra who had turned and raised a hand, blocking Ichigo's sword.
"Gesuga TENSHOU!"
The blast sent Ulquiorra flying, but he quickly recovered and flew back at Ichigo. Ichigo dodged the espada once more and then came back but this time with a cero at point blank range.
This time it was Ulquiorra who fell to the earth. Ichigo reached up and removed his mask before landing lightly beside the fallen espada.
"You're the one who's trash Ulquiorra!"
He raised his hand again but this time the red light forming in his hand was not a cero but kido.
Flashback
"Hey Toushirou?"
Toushirou looked up from the book he was reading as he lounged in Ichigo's arm
"Yes?"
"Will you teach me kido?"
Setting the book down Toushirou rolled over in his arms and wrapped his arms around Ichigo's neck.
"What is this sudden interest you have in kido?" Toushirou asked suspiciously.
Ichigo laughed and hugged him tightly.
"Truthfully I just want to spend more time with you!"
End flashback
"Haien!*"
The purple blast of spiritual energy hit it's mark and the flames that rose incinerated all of the espada to the point were there was nothing left. Ichigo wasted no more time once he was sure Ulquiorra was gone he ran to where Toushirou lay.
Gently he cradled the bleeding boy in his arms. Toushirou's skin was almost transperant from blood loss and he moaned weakly in Ichigo's arms. Slowly the tiny captain's eyes fluttered open and he smiled painfully when he saw that it was Ichigo who was holding him. A trembling blood covered hand reached up and Ichigo quickly grasped it in his own.
"Ichi . . . go."
"Shh, don't talk, save your strength." Ichigo murmured eyes filled with panic and concern as Toushirou coughed blood. The smaller male shook his head.
"I . . . need you . . . to . . . know. . . that I Ugh!" he broke off again with a pain filled gasp and more coughing.
"Toushirou, don't"
"That . . . I . . . love . . . you."
Toushirou felt his strength leave him as he spoke, he closed his eyes and allowed the darkness to take him. Ichigo felt the small body go limp in his arms.
"Toushirou? Tohsirou! Wake up! Toushirou! Don't you dare die on me damn it!"
Ichigo called and called him but received no answer and the worst part was that the truth his heart had already know was becoming clear to him.
Brief note:
Well this chapter is a little longer. Oh and one of my reviewers has right fully pointed out Ichigo's sucky fighting in the last chapter, minus the fact that I really do suck at action scenes, I did do that on purpose to show more of Ichigo's emotional state. Even if he had become a better fighter to not let his emotions take over, I figured that having a major fight and thinking your husband is cheating on you still might cause him to not be thinking clearly, so that's why Ichigo wasn't doing to well :) thank you to all who reviewed and pleased continue to do so!
*Kido that Kaname used on Gimmjows arm when he cut it off.
Ganju Shiba's note;
Well that was depressing, what is crazy Zx thinking this time? Not only is her user name that of a slow motorcycle, at least compared to my Bonnie, but it looks like she killed off one of her main characters? I mean how stupid it that! Not that I care, after all I am Ganju Shiba, the self proclaimed biggest soul reaper hater in the world!
Author's note
Zx14ninja: GANJU I AM GOING TO KILL YOU
Ganju: What did I do? I only spoke the truth.
Zx14ninja: first of all you are the biggest soul reaper hater in the world, in my story that's Ulquoirra, secondly, you don't know if I killed Toushirou, and third and most important HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST THAT YOUR PIG IS FASTER THAN MY MOTORCYLE!
Ganju: Bonnie could beat you any time!
Zx14ninja: Oh yeah? Bring it on! I'll kick your ass!
Ganju: You wanna go? Then lets go, right here right now!
Zx14ninja: Fine then, first one to the finish line wins!
Ganju: Fine! But wait where's the finish line?
Zx14ninja: that's for me to know and you to find out, see ya! (takes off)
Ganju: Hey no fair! Now I am the biggest self proclaimed hater of Zx14ninja.