BANG!
Blood blossomed over his light blue uniform shirt as equally blue, but dulling, eyes turned up to look at the shooter. Slowly, he lifted his own pistol, his hand oddly steady, even as his vision started to dim. He shot off three consecutive shots and watched the one who shot him first crumple lifelessly to the ground before staggering forward a few steps. A grunt passed through slowly paling lips as his legs buckled beneath him, causing him to fall to his knees.
"Sorry...I-Ichi...I won't be...c-coming home...th-this time..." He gasped out to no one before slumping to his side, his strength leaving him, "T-take care...of him...R-Renji...R-Rukia..." He gasped out, his voice getting a bit watery sounding as blood bubbled up in his throat, "I-I love...y-you...I-Ichig-" Was all he managed to get out before darkness engulfed him and his breath left him as his heart slowed to a stop...
"GRIMMJOW!" Ichigo gasped, jolting up in his bed, tears streaking down his face as his whole form shook. He staggered out of his bed and towards the bathroom, falling in front of the toilet and heaving up any and all contents of his stomach.
Renji, who had already been awake, came into the bathroom and knelt beside the orangette, rubbing soothing circles on his back as he continued to heave, "Shhh...calm down, Ichigo...it was just a dream..." He whispered as he tried to calm his long time friend, silently cursing anyone who would dare try to take Grimmjow from Ichigo.
When the heaves stopped, Ichigo gasped slightly and leaned on the red-head, still sobbing slightly. Renji held him gently, grabbing a cloth to clean his friend's face, "Come on, Ichi...let's get outta here." He whispered softly after cleaning the sick off the younger male's face.
Ichigo nodded and let himself be helped off the floor and lead from the bathroom after the red-head flushed the toilet. Renji steered Ichigo over to his bed and set him down before sitting beside him, glancing up only when Rukia came into the room and sat on the orangette's other side, hugging him gently.
"It's ok Ichigo, he'll be back, just like he always is." She whispered gently. Both of them knew how much it scared Ichigo to think that one of the times that Grimmjow went out on an assignment, he might not return. Both of them were worried and tried not to think that maybe, one day, one of these horrid dreams the orangette's mind came up with might come true. They knew that if that ever happened, there would be nothing in the world that would be able to stop Ichigo from falling into an endless depression that would inevitably lead to his own demise. Both Renji and Rukia were petrified, yet prepared if that day would ever come. They made a promise to each other that if that ever happened, they would do anything and everything they could to help the orangette.
After a few moments, Ichigo managed to calm himself down and scrubbed a hand over his face before sighing softly, "S-sorry guys...thanks..." He murmured, his voice rough from screaming and moaning during his nightmare, then getting sick and crying. He slowly stood up and looked at the couple, forcing a small smile on his face, "You guys want some breakfast?"
"You relax, Ichigo. I'll get breakfast." Rukia demanded, standing as well and walking over to the door. She glanced back at Renji, "Make sure he gets a shower before he comes down then go get the girls." She told him before leaving the room.
Renji shook his head and ran a hand through his unbound hair, "Ya heard her highness, Ichi, go hop in the shower while I go grab the girls." He said before standing as well, "Ya sure yer ok now?" He asked softly, looking into the orangette's eyes, mentally wincing at the fact that one was now and forever will be dull, unseeing, and blank.
Ichigo nodded and gave his friend a brotherly hug, "Yeah, I'm ok." He said, smiling slightly for real this time, though he added mentally, 'I'd be better if I heard from Grimm so I know he's ok...' He let out a soft sigh and cleared his throat before stepping back, "Go get your girls. I'll get my shower and be down in a few." He promised before turning to his dresser and starting to dig around for clothes.
Renji watched him for a few before nodding to himself and turning to go grab the twins from the room they always stayed in when Renji and Rukia always came over while Grimmjow was at work. He picked them both up, smiling slightly when they whined before snuggling against his shoulders. He then headed towards the stairs, pausing a bit to see if Ichigo was in the shower, when he confirmed it, he continued his path down into the dining room, putting the twins in their seats before turning to Rukia.
"I'm really worried about him this time, Renji." She murmured softly, turning to her husband who nodded in agreement.
"Yeah...I heard him moaning and calling out for him in his sleep...this one was worse then normal..." He murmured as he leaned on the counter and crossed his arms, "I can't help but wonder if these dreams are...ya know...just that or...more..." He murmured.
Rukia sighed a bit, but nodded and flipped the pancakes she had cooking in the skillet, "Yeah...it happens everytime..." She murmured, "It's like..." She started, but stopped when she heard a happy shout come from Ichigo's bedroom. Both her's and Renji's worry erased instantly only to be replaced by relief, "Sounds like he's still ok..." She murmured, their conversation ending when they heard Ichigo race down the stairs.
"He'll be home in a few days! The assignment went easier then they thought!" He cheered happily, "They were able to do what they needed and get out much faster then they had anticipated and Ulquiorra's gunna give him two extra months of vacation on top of what he lost because of this assignment and promised not to call him during that time." The orangette exclaimed.
Renji laughed at the sight of his long-time friend trying to contain his excitement and want to bounce happily, "That's great Ichi. That means you'll get to plan your wedding." He said, smirking when the orangette's cheeks colored a bright red, "And the honeymoon~" He teased.
"Shut up!" Ichigo yelped, turning and running back up the stairs, trying to hide his embarrassment from the cackling red-head.
"You are so mean to him, Renji! Go apologize or no pancakes!" Rukia demanded.
Renji's eyes widened and his face paled, causing his tattoos to be even more prominent, "Y-you wouldn't..." He whimpered, whining at the look on his wife's face as she pointed to the stairs, "I'M SORRY ICHI!" He cried, racing up the stairs.
Rukia just shook her head and turned back to the food, hiding a small smirk at her husband's childish antics.
After breakfast had been eaten and the dishes had been done, Rukia insisted on taking Ichigo out shopping for something to wear for his wedding. She had left Renji at home with the girls, not wanting him to tease Ichigo anymore.
"Rukia...come on...do I really gotta do this...?" Ichigo whined, staring at the clothing she had chosen for him.
"Yes...now go try them on and make sure to show me each outfit...I wanna pick the best one." She demanded, pointing towards the changing rooms with one hand while the other rested on her hip.
He sighed but turned and walked into the dressing room, mentally thanking the fact that she at least picked tuxes instead of the dresses Renji had been teasing him about during breakfast. Once in the small room, he looked over the four tuxes the petite woman had chosen for him to try on. One of them was sky blue with a white shirt and black vest under the jacket and paired with a slightly darker blue tie, the second was all white, save for the vest and tie, both of which were the same blue as Grimmjow's hair, the third one was also all white just with an orange tie and vest, the last one was Ichigo's favorite of them all. It was a bit more casual then the first three with black slacks, a light blue dress shirt, and a stormy grey jacket to wear over top. There was no tie with the last one, and would have definitely been Ichigo's choice if it was up to him.
After some contemplation, he decided to try on the white and blue one first, followed by the blue one, then white and orange, then finally his favorite. With this decided, he stripped out of his jeans and tee, turning his back to the mirror in the changing room to scowl at the scars on his back before sighing and starting to pull on the first suit.
He tried on each one and showed them to Rukia, standing in front of her for about five minutes each time, turning this way and that to show her every angle. The white and blue and white and orange ones were both eliminated the first time he tried them on while the blue one and the casual one both got second chances and opinions from a random saleswoman the petite raven had dragged over. In the end, they bought both, Rukia saying that the blue one would be for the wedding itself, while the casual one would be for the reception. At hearing that, Ichigo had groaned a bit, asking why he would need to change, to which Rukia responded that he looked sexy in both suits and she couldn't decide.
After the suit shopping, the two headed to a take-out restaurant to get lunch for themselves as well as Renji and the girls. While they were there, Ichigo got a call after they ordered. When he fell silent and dropped the bags he was holding, Rukia looked up at him to see that his face had been drained of all color and his eyes were wide. Before she could even speak, the orangette had run out of the restaurant, leaving his bags beside her. She bit her lip in worry and pulled out her own cellphone, quickly calling Renji.
"Something happened." Was all she said into the phone before hanging up, scooping up Ichigo's bags, and following the orangette out and down the street, worry coiling within her stomach as she prayed to any and all gods out there that it wasn't what she feared.
A/N: The beginning was a dream if you didn't get that. I will say it was a bit of foreshadowing though...that's all I got...comments?