Hello, sorry it took so long. Nothing to say, so we'll just continue, ok?

Nope, still don't own TMM.

Ryou was still racing against the clock. What he'd do when he got there, he had no clue. "I must be getting closer," said Ryou to himself. "Please Ichigo, wait a little longer.

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Ichigo just brushed her hair continuously, like she had been doing for the last 24 minutes. Kish had caught her trying to sneak away and relocated her to one of his sister's old rooms. The lock clicked on the door as Kish slammed it, scaring her. She looked in the mirror, and then turned to the dress behind her.

Wearing the dress Kish's mother had worn was a little frightening. She had no one to talk to and was lonely. She then figured this was how she would spend the rest of her life; lonely, unless she gave Kish children. She shuttered at the thought; wouldn't being married to him be enough torture?

She continued brushing her hair and remembered when Ryou talked to her when she was bored. She then remembered that when she was around Ryou she was never bored and always felt safe. That was the person she wanted; someone who kept her from being lonely and someone who made her feel safe. "But..." she thought. "It couldn't be?"

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Ryou was still riding on Lightning when he came upon a thick string of vines that was...hiding something. Trying to stop Lightning this time was a problem, now that Lightning wasn't tired, he could go for hours and hours. So he came up with one of his brilliant ideas. He jumped off Lightning's back and landed on his bad foot that still hadn't finished healing. His face twisted in pain as Lightning continued running, not aware that the rider had left. Ryou limped over to the sign and lo and behold, it said Middle Centariun Castle; 1 Mile Away. Ryou was happy yet sad.

Good news; He was only 1 mile away. Bad news; He had no horse, which meant he would have to walk. His sprained foot meant if he went fast, he would collapse from all the pain. So he figured the faster he got going, the quicker he'd get there.

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Ichigo was dressed, ready, and sad. Tears streaked down her face as she heard a knock on the door. She wiped her tears, figuring it was Kish who wanted her to hurry up. So, she picked up the ends of her dress and headed down to the chapel, located in the basement After finding her way through the maze hallways, she heard the organ music playing and figured that was the room.

She opened the door to find out that the chapel was NOT located in the basement and she had taken a secret underground passageway. She wanted to walk down the aisle as slow as she could, but Kish had a look to kill, so she walked quickly. She was now being condemned doomed to a life of loneliness and unhappiness. The preacher started talking and Ichigo just wished that his annoying voice would just drone on forever.

Ryou felt as if he wasn't any closer. Looking ahead, he then saw a big, dark looking castle about 50 feet away. He felt as if he couldn't continue walked, but he trudged on. He had kind of devised a plan. Get Ichigo out and leave. "Nah," he thought. He needed a foolproof plan; one that would actually work. Then again as long as he wasn't too late, he would be fine...or somewhat fine until Kish had to deal with him.

The base of his plan; get Ichigo out. Walking toward the castle, he noticed a smaller castle/church-like building with lights on inside. "Strange...why would those lights be on, and yet the castle is so...dark," Ryou thought. He made his way to the building with the lights on as soon as the rain started falling.

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These last words came from the priest; "Do you, Kish take Ichigo as your wife?" Didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. After Kish had said yes, Ichigo was wishing he'd be dense enough to forget where he was in his book, or maybe that time would stop. Finally, the final word; husband.

She managed all her courage and stuttered "I...I...I...I can't." She fell to the ground in tears. Kish bent down to comfort her, but what he said wasn't really all that comforting. "Say I do, otherwise you'll never see your mother alive again," he whispered. Ichigo stood back up, tears still coming like waterfalls down her face and began saying "I...I..."

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Ryou didn't care about his pain anymore; he just ran as fast as he could to get there. He looked inside a window and saw Ichigo standing there in a wedding dress. He watched her collapse and Kish bend down, saying something. She stood back up and Ryou couldn't take it anymore; he busted open to doors. Three heads turned and he saw a smile crawl across Ichigo's face. She ran down the aisle only to be stopped by Kish who took her arm and twisted it behind her back.

Ichigo screamed in pain and Ryou's face twisted in fury. After it looked like Ichigo's arm might break, Kish let go and Ichigo fell to the ground and started walking toward Ryou. "Well, looks like we meet again. Here you are interfering with my perfect wedding," he said finally running toward Ryou and attempting to punch him. "Do you really think I'm going to let you walk out with my bride!"

Ryou dodged Kish's attack, panting from running around everywhere. Then, Kish drew his weapons and struck again. But he didn't cut Ryou; he just struck him so hard that he flew back into a wall. Ryou was exhausted; he did not need this right now. He found a sword up against the wall and before Kish struck him in the heart with his weapons, he grabbed the sword and blocked Kish's attack; throwing him backwards.

Ryou stood up and Kish charged at him again. He blocked Kish's attack, but while holding him back, Kish said, "You think I am really going to lose and let you take Ichigo away from me you son of a bitch!"

He really hit Ryou in a bad spot. More anger running through him, he threw Kish back again and in the process, made a long cut across his stomach. Kish fell to the ground holding the wound and fell on his knees. Ryou walked up to him in anger and grabbed him by his collar. "Look you bastard, I never knew my mother because she died giving birth to me. She sacrificed herself for me and was, is, and never will be a bitch, so you just shut-up!" he yelled in anger.

Kish then took his weapons and stabbed Ryou in the stomach. Blood came from different directions as Ryou managed to grab Kish and threw him into the alter. Ryou collapsed from his wound, panting hard. Kish finally stood up and looked at Ryou who was on the ground, wincing in pain. A sinister smile was on his face as he walked over toward his injured foe. He then raised his weapons, preparing to kill Ryou.

Ichigo couldn't stand watching anymore. Kish was brining his weapons down when Ichigo ran toward him and jumped on him, taking her hands. She wrapped them around Kish's neck as Kish gasped for air. He tried to shake Ichigo off. He just kept shaking until finally, he collapsed from lack of air and Ichigo released her grip and went over toward Ryou.

She tore her wedding dress to make make-shift bandages. She bent down and Ryou grabbed onto her shoulder. She stood up as they limped out of the church. The walls and ground started moving and the ceiling was starting to collapse. They ran outside and watched the church fall to the ground, and once they escaped, they saw Kish fly upward, still alive.

"I will have my revenge; you haven't seen the last of me!"

Ichigo looked at Ryou for awhile and then wrapped herself around him. "Ryou! Thank God you came! I was so scared!" she said really fast. He was surprised and blushed at first, but accepted the hug and held her tight. "I was really scared too Ichigo...," he said quietly as he held her tight. Just then, he spotted Lightning grazing a couple feet away. The two hopped onto the horses back and rode to Zakuro's kingdom.

Woah, hold on a minute! Don't think this means the end and they lived happily ever after. No way! This story is just getting into the middle. I still have plans! This story ain't going anywhere and it sure as heck ain't done. Don't worry, I'll post as soon as i can, just wait a little bit, ok? I am also going to announce now that there will be a sequel Letting Down Myself...or did i tell you that already? Oh well, it will be a separate story. Here's you paragraph/summary of the next chappie:

Exactly how many times did you kiss me?" he asked. Her face became as red as a tomato. "Um...uh...look at this plant I gave you, you've been in bed for so many days that it's going to..." Ichigo ended abruptly. Feeling guilty for not telling him because she might have invaded his personal space, she muttered "Three."

Ah, no wonder, I've been out for awhile...that means...this is my last day on the surface... thought Ryou, depressed. He was going to miss everything and everyone; the dancing game, the movie theater, the people up here, but most of all, he would miss Ichigo. "Ichigo...I'm sorry but...I have to leave tonight," Ryou said in a sad tone. It took awhile for Ichigo to contemplate this, but minutes later, she realized he wasn't joking. "Wh...wh..WHAT!"

The next chapter is short; the whole thing took up three and a half pages. But it says a lot. Anyway, read and review, over and out. Nibzo