Name: Whole Heart
Rating: PG
Genres: Romance/Drama
Summary: You can only save her if you believe with your whole heart. You can only protect her if you believe in yourself ... and if you love her, with your whole heart.

Author's Notes: Hmm ... Part of the introduction of this chapter was quoted, but the part about loving her was by me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the characters.

Whole Heart

Can I really gain that power? Can I?

Ichigo sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. His eyes drifted to the closed closet door; Rukia was sleeping behind it again. She'd gotten scared in his sisters' room and had asked to sleep in his closet again. No matter what he'd said, she had just shoved past him and closed herself inside without a word.

Of course you can. If you want to save Rukia with your whole heart, you have inside you a will as strong as iron.

He shuffled through the pages of his book and sighed again. Why did he tell her no in the first place? He'd seen fear in her eyes; why had he tried to turn her away? She never showed fear. What had caused her to act like that? What was wrong? Running a hand through his hair, Ichigo dropped back onto his bed and clasped his hands behind his head, staring up into the ceiling, his eyes wandering and making out the same patterns he'd been seeing since he was small.

"What's wrong, Rukia?" he asked himself quietly, his eyes turning to the closet again. He could hear her shuffling around a little; maybe she was awake?

No, probably not.

With your whole heart ...

What did that mean, anyway? It'd been bothering him for some time now. His whole heart?

When he was little, he'd always thought that he wanted to protect his mom with all of his heart ... was this the same? His name, Ichigo, meant 'One Protector' ... but, now that he'd failed with his mother, who did he want to protect? The answer seemed simple; he wanted to protect everyone. But it had been different with his mom. He'd wanted to protect her more than anything in the world. More than anyone, because he'd loved her more than anything or anyone.

But ... who now?

His eyes strayed to the closed closet door again, and, shaking his head, he turned away.

"I-Ichigo?"

He hadn't realized until that moment that Rukia had climbed out of the closet and was sitting on the edge of his bed. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her chest and her legs were folded up in her lap as her violet eyes met his. Her body was glistening lightly with sweat as she bit her lip, turning her gaze down.

"Rukia? Are you alright?" Ichigo asked, sitting up and reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder; he stopped and put it back down at his side, however, and frowned a little.

"Are you leaving again?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, clasping his hands in his lap as he tried to look into Rukia's eyes; they were filled with pain, fear, but most of all, they were filled with hope. "You mean, like I left to train with those Visord guys?"

"Yes."

"Ah, then no, I don't think so."

"Thank you."

What was wrong with her? She was never like this.

"I had nightmares, Ichigo," Rukia started. She paused and looked up into his face for the first time that night.

Ichigo didn't speak; she seemed to be finally opening up a little to him, and he wanted to hear it.

"While you were gone, I had nightmares of that ... that thing taking control of you, and that ... that I would have to-to hurt you ... "

She trailed off again and Ichigo finally reached his hand out to touch her shoulder gently. She flinched and bit her lip.

With your whole heart ...

"I ... years ago, there was another man that I was close to. H-he ... he was possessed by a h-hollow, and I ... I was forced to ... kill him," Rukia paused and took a deep, shuddering breath as her gaze dropped. Ichigo had a look of horror in his eyes as his hand dropped from Rukia's shoulder; it was shaking. "He ... was one of my commanding officers... His wife, she was killed and he went after the hollow that killed her. I ... I was there, while he was fighting, and it-it took over him. I killed him, Ichigo, I killed him ... and what if you ... "

Ichigo cut her off, placing his hand on her shoulder again and staring deeply into her eyes.

"Look at me Rukia."

She avoided his gaze, turning it to the quilt on the bed.

"Look at me."

She did, though her eyes were still filled with anguish.

"I don't want to kill you, Ichigo ... "

"Rukia, look at me ... you won't, I will never let him out when I can't control him. I can do that now; when he's out, I have control. I promise, I swear, you will never have to hurt me."

The look in Ichigo's eyes was so sure ... she wanted nothing more than to believe him. But ... how could she? Kaien ... she had seen. He hadn't been able to do anything. Nothing, to what had been done to him. He couldn't prevent the hollow from taking over him and she couldn't stop what she had done. He had forced himself down on her blade, and there was nothing that either of them could have done. What could Ichigo do? Could he prevent it?

"Rukia ... please, believe me."

"Can I?"

With your whole heart ...

"I'll protect you with everything I have, Rukia. I'll never let anything hurt you, and I'll never hurt you."

With your whole heart ...

"Promise?"

"I swear."

"Thank you, Ichigo."

They were silent for a few moments, just sitting there, nothing spoken between them until Ichigo reached out and took her hand softly into his. "Are you OK now?"

"I think so," she said slowly. "Should ... should I go back to your sister's room?"

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

Rukia smiled and nodded, standing to her feet and clasping her hands behind her back. She gave Ichigo a gentle kiss on the cheek before walking quickly back to the closet and hopping inside. Ichigo smirked, his fingers dancing over his face.

With my whole heart, Rukia, I will always save you. I'll protect you with everything I have ... and I'll give my life for you. One Protector ... I couldn't save her, my mom, but I swear I will not fail this time. Because I love you with my whole heart.

Hmm ... whatcha think? I've had this burried in my computer for three months while wondering again and again if I should post it. I was worried about lots of things ... just please leave your opinions. Should I have just left it to gather dust in the back of my computer? Hmm?

Please Review!