Yes, yes, I know my last chapter was not as good as my other ones, by I did better with this one. For those who are wondering what a triage is, it's a unit of the military that sorts out the wounded and dead after a battle. I'm not completely up to date with what's going on currently in Bleach, so if something I write is inaccurate, please state it in a review and I'll make the corrections ASAP. :) Thanks a bunch!

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CLANG!

The two swords sent sparks into the air upon making contact. Ichigo growled as he tried to push the sword off of his own. Drops of sweat rolled down his face as he fought. The right arm of his uniform was already ripped from a previous blow, exposing bright red blood as it rolled down his arm and onto his wrist.

"Your doin' good, Kurosaki. Last time we fought, ya couldn't even dodge one of my attacks." Gin drawled as he jumped back from his opponent. "Ya lucky tha' one didn' slice ya neck."

"Can it, bastard!" Ichigo yelled as he ran towards Gin. He swung his sword, only for it to miss its target. He pulled his sword up again sliced through the air in a downward stroke. The sound of metal clashing against metal resounded throughout Ichigo's ears.

"Stop messin', Kurosaki. I'm sure ya can do better'n that. Or has all tha' time ya been spendin' with tha' Rukia girl turned ya soft?" Gin's sick voice filled his enemy's ears.

Ichigo's eyes filled with rage. "Don't you dare talk about her!"

"Aww, poor Kurosaki. I seemed to 'ave hit ya soft spot, huh?" Gin snickered sinister. "It's alright, kid. Once I'm through with ya, I'll make it a plan to kill 'er too."

Ichigo's eyes became filled with malice and hatred as well as rage. "If you ever go near Rukia again," Ichigo snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "I'LL RIP YOU APART!" His sword changed into its bankai form as he stabbed at Gin. His sword was nothing but a black blur as he relentlessly attacked his enemy, each blow stronger than the last.

"Better, kid. Now I don't 'ave to hold back any more." Gin slashed at Ichigo, his sword cutting through his shoulder. A spray of bright red blood was sent into the air, hitting Ichigo's face and uniform. He hissed in pain as the sharp sting spread throughout his body.

"Wow, Kurosaki. Ya must've gotten better, 'cause that should've taken your whole arm off." Gin flicked his sword, the blood flying onto the ground.

Ichigo tried to ignore the searing pain that his wound was causing him, but the stinging was to painful to overlook. He could feel the crimson liquid trickling out of his wound and covering his arm, staining his black uniform. He coughed, his vision blurring.

"Seems I went a little too hard on ya, Kurosaki. That one move almost wiped ya out." Gin advanced towards Ichigo, his sword poised.

"I'm not done yet!" Ichigo yelled as he ran at Gin.

"Looks at me like ya are." Gin's blade ripped through Ichigo's chest, sending blood and gore on all directions. His eyes widened as the pain fully registered in his head, but he was too surprised to scream. All he could see was the ocean of red that formed in front of him, and all he could hear was the rapid beating of his heart. He hit the dirt with a thud as Gin walked away, laughing.

Ichigo looked across the torn battlefield, his comrades lying around him, most dead, some wounded and dying. He was feeling that same pain he had felt when Rukia found him in the woods, feeling like your body is in fire. It was killing him just to breathe. He was about to pass out, when a familiar voice filled his ears. "Ichigo, wake up! C'mon, you gotta stay with me, open your eyes."

"R-Renji?" Ichigo rasped, seeing the face of his wounded friend.

"C'mon, Ichigo, you gotta stay awake. Just keep your eyes on me." Renji turned his head and shouted in the opposite direction, "Where the hell is that medic I called for?!" Ichigo noticed how badly Renji had been wounded. He had a long cut running down the side of his neck and onto his shoulder, where the blade had cut through the cloth of his uniform. His side had a large gash in it, blood pouring out of the wound.

"Just stay awake a little longer, Ichigo. I've got a medic coming, he's gonna take ya to triage." Renji propped Ichigo's head up, attempting to keep him awake. "Come on, just keep lookin' at me, you're gonna be alright. Ya can't fall asleep."

"Renji, you're…banged up pretty bad, too." Ichigo's vision was going in and out, fading to black then coming back.

"Don't worry 'bout it." Renji looked around the area. "Damnit, somebody get me that medic!" He screamed, at no one in particular. He placed a hand over Ichigo's chest wound, trying to stop the profuse bleeding. The red liquid quickly covered his hand and seeped through his fingers.

"I…can't see anything." Ichigo hacked up blood and vomit, the repulsive mess spilling over the front of his uniform. "I'm really cold."

"Just hang on, Ichigo. I'm gonna get ya through this. You still gotta see Rukia and that kid you two are expecting. Can't have you dying on 'em" Renji ripped the one of the sleeves of his uniform and wrapped it around Ichigo's shoulder wound. Ichigo groaned when his comrade tightened the makeshift bandage. The piece of cloth quickly became soaked with blood. "The medic's comin', Ichigo, he's right over there. Just hold on a little bit longer." Were the last words Ichigo heard before he blacked out.

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Haha, a clifhanger! Now, does Ichigo kick the bucket, or does he bounce back? You'll have to wait and see! BUWAHAHA!! Now, I've got a question for all of ya. What gender should Ichigo and Rukia's baby be? I don't really know what to make it, so when you review, tell me what ya think. If you do, I'll give you a cookie!