Well, I have no idea . . . at all . . . ever . . . where this came from.

It is AU!

An on that note, I will explain a little. This is my little AU story about what could have happened when Ichigo went after Rukia the night she was taken from Earth by Byakuya and Renji. 'Round chapter 70 - something in the Manga and EP 15 - something in the Anime.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters.

'Cause I Love Ya

"Leave her the hell alone!" Ichigo yelled, grabbing sword as he ran, blood sliding down the side of his face as he thrust the Zanpaktou forward. It met with the other Zanpaktou, clashing hard and forcing Ichigo backward. His feet gave out under him and he slid to the ground, hard. His head met the concrete, but he jumped back up in seconds, determination written clearly on his face as he ran forward again.

A soft, scared voice stopped him.

"P-Please . . . Ichigo, no, not for me . . ."

He turned around briefly to look at her. She was on her knees on the ground, her right arm clutching her left shoulder. Her hair was wet and pressed tightly against her pale face. She looked up, her violet eyes meeting his.

"Please, not for me."

"Why the hell not!?" Ichigo yelled, blocking another attack from his opponent.

"Don't throw your life away for me. It's not worth it. Please, don't die . . . for me . . ."

She began crying, which only served to make Ichigo even more angry. His brown eyes flashed with anger as e charged toward Renji again, their swords meeting in the middle of the street, rain falling down upon them as she cried.

"If I did die . . . I wouldn't have thrown my life away for nothin', stupid!" he yelled, not meeting her eyes as he was forced backward in the street again.

She looked up sharply as his Zanpaktou made contact with Renji's.

"Ichigo!"

He didn't answer her. Instead, he put more force into his attack and thrust his Zanpaktou into the other man's body. The red-head slumped forward, leaning on his sword for support. Blood was pouring everywhere, mixing with the rain and sliding down the street toward her.

"Why . . . why must blood be shed for my sake!" she yelled, her violet eyes blinking away tears as fast as they came.

She looked down for only a second, then he was at her side, his hand under her chin to lift her face up to meet his.

"I'll protect you, no matter what, Rukia."

And then he was gone as quickly as he was there. She looked up in surprise to see the gate open again.

"I-Ichi . . . go . . ."

He was standing in the middle of the street, blood pouring from his wounds as he breathed in deeply. He looked over and smirked at her, reaching a hand up to wipe blood from his forehead. Rukia jumped up from her spot on the ground, running over, placing her hands on his chest.

"No! Please, no more fighting!"

"Let me go, Rukia!"

"No!"

Rukia gasped in surprise as he began falling limp onto her. She helped him to the ground, laying him down on the hard concrete.

"Ichigo . . . why, why did you have to bleed for me?"

And before he brother walked over and took her firmly by the arm to haul her and his injured vice-captain through the gate, Ichigo muttered,

"'Cause I love ya . . ."

Well, what was utterly cheesy. But hey, I'm the master of such. :P

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