AAAAH, I can't wait any longer!! I HAVE TO POST IT!!! You guys are lucky that I may not be able to update in the near future, so I decided to post early...

Anyways, to all who reviewed...-hands out plushies of choice to everyone- yay!!! -huggles Hitsugaya plushie-

And a little side note: I must have a wicked sense of humor, because i was laughing my head off at all the reveiws. So, this chapter is dedicated to all of those who thought Mitsuki had died. :D


Mitsuki had fainted from the loss of blood, but she was alive, barely. He had already wrapped the wound, trying to stop the blood loss, but it still poured out sluggishly. Weakly, she stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. "Toshiro? You're…still here?" she whispered.

She was still alive! Relief flooding over him, he nodded. "Of course. Do you honestly think I'll ever leave you again?"

She laughed painfully, than stopped to cough up blood. Alarmed, he tightened his hold, talking to keep her conscious. He told her what Chiyo had said, about Ryuu's plan, and her eyes were filled with hate.

"That jerk! I hate him, I hate him!" She yelled, than instantly regretted it. Falling back in pain, she felt Toshiro dab at her sweaty forehead with a piece of white cloth. She frowned for a moment, than realization dawned on her. "Toshiro…you're cloak…"

He shook his head. "It's ok. I have others. You're what's important right now." She smiled, leaning back against his chest. Even now, tearing apart his white Captain's cloak, his symbol, to take care of her…tears pricked her eyes. "Toshiro…Anata…please, leave. You need to go fight Ryuu…we both know I'm not going to make it. I've…I've lost too much blood."

Despite the severity of the moment at hand, Toshiro couldn't help but smile. She had called him her Anata…her sweetheart. Shaking his head once more, he said firmly, "You will survive, Mitsuki, even if you don't want to. Captain's orders." She smiled faintly in response, letting out a deep sigh, growing still. Concerned, Toshiro gently shook her. "Mitsuki?" he asked, and when she didn't respond, he repeated it, panic growing. "Mitsuki!" he called.

The only response was from her shattered zanpaku-to. It began glowing in a wavering yellow light, forming into the unicorn.

But instead of the proud creature it once was, he could tell that it was horribly changed. Its wings hung limply against its sides, the mane and tail tangled and matted. Its horn, once glowing with a radiant light, now shone dimly, and it looked….fragile, vulnerable, just like Mitsuki.

"Hogosha Chuusin." He whispered. "What's wrong with Mitsuki?"

The unicorn bowed her head. "She's dying, slowly, from the inside out. Though her physical wound will be able to heal, her mental one will take longer, if it will at all. "

"Can I save her? Is there any way at all?"

The unicorn hesitated. "There is one way, but it's extremely risky- it puts both your life and the others in jeopardy." She said quietly.

He shook his head. "I don't care. If there is a chance to save her, no matter how slim, I'll do it."

Hogosha Chuusin nodded. "Alright. Place your hand over Mitsuki's wound, and take my horn in the other. But whatever you do, do not let go unless I say it. Do you understand?"

He nodded, and did as she told. The unicorn looked him in the eye, her horn poised directly over his heart. An unspoken agreement passed between them, and she thrust her horn into his heart.

He felt fire race through his entire body, consuming him completely. The pain was incredible. His fingers flinched, but he kept his hold firmly. The pain was soon replaced with a numbing cold, and he closed his eyes, suddenly exhausted.

He was drowning in a world of blinding white, shards of invisible power whipping through him. He battled against it, trying to get through to the other side, not knowing what was there but knowing he had to go. He met a terrible resistance, but his natural stubbornness made him continue to battle until he finally broke free into an endless field of flowers. The sky above was writhing with storm clouds, and the only light came from him. Startled, he realized he was shining with a white light, just like the unicorn used to. Realizing this must be Mitsuki's inner world, he ran forward, trying to find her, searching the ground around him as well as in front.

He soon saw a lone figure standing beside a massive lake, the edges lost to the horizon. Getting closer, he noticed it was Mitsuki, standing in front of a small boat, hesitating. Panic rising in his throat, he called out her name, reaching out.

She jumped, then turned around, eyes wide. "To…Toshiro? What are you doing here? And why are you glowing?"

He grabbed her hand, tugging her away from the lake's edge. "I've come back to save you, Mitsuki. You can't go yet. Ryuu is still alive, and you're the only one who can stop him."

She laughed. "You've got to be kidding me. You think I have what it takes to defeat Ryuu when I couldn't even see through Chiyo? I'm supposed to tell when someone is lying, yet I wasn't even able to see through the lies that Ryuu had crafted. I'm not fit to save anyone, not even myself."

Despite her boldness, Toshiro continued to pull her away. "You are fit, Mitsuki. I remember, once, someone told me I was a reincarnation of a heavenly guardian, one that appears every thousand years or so to aid the Soul Society in times of need." The words Gin had told him were still etched in his mind. "Now I know that it's not me, but you, who are the guardian. You're heart is pure- so full of love, compassion, and fierce loyalty to your friends. Mitsuki, you were the person sent to us to make things right, and I know that you need to come back." He pulled her closer, kissing her softly. "And I need you now more than you can ever imagine."

She hesitantly returned his gesture, her lips brushing his softly. "Well, when you put it that way…I guess I could return."

He beamed, and her world began wavering, vanishing. They held on to one another until the last wisp went away, and Toshiro opened his eyes to emerge from the dream.

The unicorn in front of him was returned to its former glory, and she nodded at him. He removed his hand, and it reared back, neighing with complete and utter joy. It dissolved to flow back into the now solid zanpaku-to, and he let his gaze travel back to Mitsuki.

He went weak with relief when he saw that Mitsuki was breathing deeply and evenly, and she was no longer bleeding. Removing the bandages, he tore off more of his cloak and cleaned her wound, his eyes widening when he discovered smooth skin. Instead of a hole, there was now a small star-shaped scar. His fingers lightly traced it, and this seemed to provoke a reaction from Mitsuki. She stirred, and his hand immediately went to her face. "Mitsuki?" he asked eyes wide.

She opened her eyes, her blue eyes staring up at him. He sighed, hugging her close. "You're alive." He whispered, feeling her arms wrap around him.

"So are you." She teased softly, and they looked at each other, love glowing strongly in both their eyes. Toshiro helped her up, and she staggered slightly, leaning against him for support. He grabbed her zanpaku-to, handing it to her. She replaced it in her sheath.

"One more thing." He said, than dug out the necklace. She gasped softly when he presented it to her, eyes watering. "I thought you'd forgot." She said, putting it back on. Her fingers gently traced the silver dragon, than she immediately kissed him on the mouth, catching him off guard.

When they broke apart, he smirked at her. "Guess I'm forgiven, then," he laughed.

She smiled. "You are. Now, come on- we have a war to win."

Hand in hand, they raced out together, toward a battle that was already beginning.


See why I was laughing so hard???? xD I never intended to kill Mitsuki, so she's gonna live to fight again. yay, you go, girl!

Anyways, next treat is...um...Bleach Mangas? Ok, let's do that...Bleach mangas it is!