Pai did not pause. Kishu's eyes had cracked with the same madness- same desperation- that Pai had seen in them some seven months before. Pai knew the boy in front of him was a force to be reckoned with in this state. Even MORE so over Ichigo Momimoya.

"What's wrong with her? Does she have a fever?"

"Pai.. I can't..." Kishu was almost reduced to tears.

"Where is she? Home?" Kishu nodded- He was unable to talk. "Fine. I'll get there as soon as I can."

Kishu warped.

Pai had shown no emotion through the meeting. He dare not. Kishu had used it. He had used a charm necklace. Whether Pai liked it or not, the two were bonded. And the bond, it seemed, was strong. Very bad timing on Ichigo's part. If Kishu gave up hope for her… It would tear him up; rip him to shreds from the inside out. And that would have further effects on Ichigo herself. Pai however, did not know- Which garden necklace had Kishu used? Assuming it was that, and not a midnight hope. That would be... Well. That would be disastrous. That could spell the end of Kishu, it really could. But what could Pai do? Kishu was technically above him in rank, despite Pai being his guardian. He'd just set the army on Pai if he tried to do anything.

Stupid army.

Stupid, STUPID ranks.

Pai disappeared.

Ichigo opened her eyes, but they were glazed in pain, and were unseeing as her irises flickered from place to place. She was, it was obvious, in senseless, intoxicating pain. Amidst the pain that had surrounded her brain in fog, She was trying desperately to hold on to her already fading sanity. It was breaking the part of her heart of her heart that did not belong to Kishu. It was not large- but it was large enough.

Ichigo screamed, The glass in the windows cracked. Lightbulbs splintered into a million pieces, Her glass smashed, and fell to ground in a beautiful but deadly symphony. Ichigo's pupils swelled and contracted- Until they resembled something of a cats. Her mind was being torn apart. And now she was too.

"KISHU!!!!!!!!!!" Ichigo's godsend appeared. The scream he was just in time to hear, ripped his heart- Forget heart- It massacred his very SOUL.

"Sweetheart? Ichigo? Honey, I'm here… Shh, Now…" Ichigo's eyes returned to normal shape. The empty eyes stared unseeingly at a face they longed for. Kishu couldn't take it. For the second time in his life, Kishu wept.

Pai appeared.

"It's ok Kishu. Let me…" Pai prised Kishu away from Ichigo, and began to examine her. He WOULD save her.

If he could.

Pai had finished. Already Ichigo looked better. Her skin was peach, Her eyes were closed, but fully functioning, and her convulsions were minor and few and far between. Her heart rate however, was still dangerous. Pai had tried several times to dislodge the bond between them, but the necklace would not budge. It was not, he realized, as bad as it could have been. But quite frankly, it was close. Not a midnight hope, but an Early garden. Not a midnight hope, not the ultimate bond- If one of the pair was unable to cope, it will give pain to the other. Emotions are transmitted back and forth, and if.. if one was killed, so would the other- the ultimate romeo and Juliet. A real life Shakespeare play. If the necklace was forced, Love would bloom. Thank Kami for the small mercies. Kishu was young, the chances of him using a necklace correctly were slim. But… Everything seemed.. Well, Everything seemed relatively normal with the charm, unless this was what caused Ichigo… But there was no connection… Pai did not know what to expect. Who did?

Ichigo was trapped inside her own head. She was cold, and she was alone. She remained quiet, But before long, she began to breathe heavily. At least it gave her something to concentrate on. Breathe, 1,2,3 Breathe, 1,2,3. Ichigo thought of Kishu then, and all her self restraint crumbled down to dust. Ichigo began to cry. Large fat, helpless tear streaked down her face, and on to the floor with beautiful- Terrible- splashes. Ichigo began to run

And Run

And Run.

What else could she do?