"Hey Ichigo, wait up!"

"Will you hurry up already! Gosh, this is exactly like last time when I took you to that movie!"

"Hold on, I am still getting ready. Umm, how do I put lipstick on Ichigo?"

"How should I know? Hurry up or you can forget about the play!"

Ichigo was taking Rukia to a play in the new theatre in town. It was an Italian play called Dr. Faust. He figured that since Soul Society was Japan of the 1600's that the form of entertainment that she was used to would be a play. Ichigo himself hated plays, but at this moment, making Rukia happy was the main concern.

"You ready yet!"

"Almost."

"You said that ten minutes ago!"

"I promise, this time, I am almost ready!"

"Sheesh."

Ichigo did not have to wait long. Rukia came out in a simple, one piece red dress, similar to what she would wear on most days. She had not put on much makeup and she tried to put some lipstick and managed to do so with moderate success. Even so, Ichigo thought she looked absolutely gorgeous.

"You kept me waiting this long and this is all you're wearing. C'mon, even my grandmother dresses faster than you."

"Well, I didn't think lipstick would be so hard to put on. Can you blame me?"

"Yes, I do blame you. Hurry up, let's go."

Ichigo did not know how to drive yet, so he and Rukia were walking to the theatre. It was not far anyway, and they would be there in just five minutes. There was silence as they both walked knowing that their time together was drawing closer to its end. Ichigo was taking this hard and he knew that the time was close for Rukia to go back to Soul Society, but still, he would cherish these moments as best as he could. Then, Rukia's Mobile Soul Phone went off.

"A hollow right now?"

"Yes Ichigo, lets do it."

Ichigo then attempted to turn into a Soul Reaper but he could not find his substitute soul reaper skull badge.

"Crap, where is it?"

"Ichigo, what are you doing, hurry up!"

"I can't find my badge!"

"Then stay back, I'll handle the hollow."

Rukia was already a Soul Reaper and began to prepare for battle. Then the hollow appeared. It was humanoid in shape and small, unlike a normal hollow. Then Ichigo was drowned with fear. It was a Vasto Lorde hollow. Even though they exterminated the espada in the last war, not all the Vasto Lorde joined Aizen but they normally did not go to the world of the living. Why now? Then the Vasto Lorde spoke to Rukia.

"My name is Throcantus soul reaper. You must wonder as to why I am here? It is simple. Aaeniro, the former ninth espada, was a Gillian that used to be under my control when I was a adjuchas. He grew strong quick, and soon, both of us were devouring hollow to become Vasto Lorde. He never became one while I did. Even so, we developed a partnership and you could say we were what you humans called friends. Yet, he as asked to join the espada. I refused, not wanting to be under command of other hollow. I attempted to talk him out of it and said it would become his death. He did not listen, and now, Aizen sent him on a suicide mission to kill a certain soul reaper. This soul reaper's reaitsu remained with the corpse. I have searched the human world and now, here, I found it. You are the one who killed Aaeniro and thus, I will kill you and devour you."

Both Rukia and Throcantus commenced battle.

"Dance Sode no Shirayuki!"

"The very blade that killed Aaeniro, this should be interesting."

Both performed their respective shunpo and sonido movements, and Ichigo, being human, could hardly follow their movements. They would appear once and clash, disappear, then clash again. After a minute of these exchanges, both took their respective sides. Rukia was out of breathe while the hollow looked as if nothing happened.

"What's wrong, soul reaper? I thought that the killer of Aaeniro would be more of a challenge than this."

Rukia smiled.

"I'm not done yet!"

Rukia then raised her sword and a wall of ice came from the ground, encasing the hollow in it. The hollow broke out of the way, but the ice still stayed on his left arm. He could not get it out.

"Not bad. What a pity that I must lose an arm."

The hollow then shattered the ice where his frozen arm was and stood, one arm short but looking very much in control. The sounds drew attention from a crowd of people. They could not see the hollow or Rukia, only her lifeless gigai and Ichigo.

"What are you people doing, run!" said Ichigo.

The crowd looked at him like he was crazy, until a building collapsed. "This is freaky, lets get out of here."

The crowd ran away after that.

Rukia then realized that Ichigo was still there.

"What are you still doing here Ichigo? Run away!"

"No Rukia, I will not, I won't leave you!"

"This is not the time to be stubborn, Ichigo, run!"

The hollow then looked at Ichigo.

"You seem to care much for this worthless human. To what extent will you protect him?"

"What do you mean?"

"This is what I mean."

The hollow raised his right arm, and a red light began to glow.

"Cero."

The beam was flying straight towards Ichigo. Everything came slowly to Ichigo as he saw a figure intercept the beam in front of him. It was Rukia. Rukia took the full force of the blow, and lay there, her body broken. He ran towards her, but the Vasto Lorde stood between her and Ichigo.

"You have feelings for this soul reaper, right human? Witness your helplessness as I proceed to tear this soul reaper limb per limb."

The hollow walked towards Rukia grabbed her left arm.

"You took my arm, so now, I will take yours."

He then tugged with all his strength, and Rukia screamed loudly. Ichigo could hear bone and sinew beginning to crack.

"You bastard, stop hurting her!" cried Ichigo.

"You are in no position to order me human. Your turn will soon come."

Ichigo could never remember feeling so helpless and because of him, Rukia was getting tortured and was going to die, all because of him. Rukia's screams of pain grew louder and louder, and Ichigo saw that the hollow was greatly amused of doing this to him and her. Ichigo then got up, and with all his might, punched the hollow. This resulted in his fist being cracked and bloodied. The hollow turned.

"What was that fly right now that hit me? Oh, it was you. Sorry, I could not tell the difference. If you want to die that bad, then I guess I will grant your wish."

The hollow turned and was about to perform another cero attack until streak of blue light came out of nowhere and hit the Vasto Lorde in the head. The hollow gave a otherworldly shriek before completely vaporizing. Ichigo looked up and found Ishida standing there.

"Worthless fool, staying in the heat of battle when you are clearly of no use. Have you no sense Ichigo?"

Ichigo only stayed silent as he walked over to Rukia, her body burned from the blast and her left arm twisted out of proportion. Rukia looked up.

"You fool. You should have ran when you had the chance."

After this, Rukia said no more as she blacked out.

"Rukia, I-"

Ichigo could not speak. Ishida then came and said,

"Ichigo, we must get her to Uruhara's place. Take her with you and I will take her gigai. We must hurry."

"What about Inoue? Can't she heal Rukia."

"Seriously Ichigo, I cannot believe you are a soul reaper. Couldn't you feel it, Ichigo? Orihime is gone, she went to Tokyo to visit relatives."

"I see…."

At Uruhara's shop, Rukia was placed under intensive care. After a night, Rukia woke up again, but was not in good condition. Uruhara told him everything. Her internal organs were to greatly damaged.

"She may be able to speak when she wakes up, but that does not mean she is any better. Her liver is completely dead. She is also badly infected with a virus from Heuco Mundo that the Vasto Lorde was carrying. I doubt that he knew he had it, as he probably built up an immunity, but still, the virus has already caused a buildup of fluid in her lungs meaning that she is already beginning to drown under it already. I am sorry, Ichigo, but at best, she will only live two days longer. I have not told her this. Telling her would be too cruel."

This was last night. Ichigo stayed at Uruhara's and was waken up by Tessai.

"Lady Kuchiki wants to speak with you, Ichigo." said Tessai.

Ichigo went into the room and Uruhara was in there.

"I'll leave you two alone." said Uruhara as he left the room.

Ichigo saw Rukia and then said,

"Rukia, I-"

"It's okay Ichigo. We are still alive, are we not?"

"Yes, but I was so stubborn, had I left as you told me, you could have beaten that hollow. You could have died."

"Don't worry Ichigo, I'll get-"

Rukia started to cough extensively. Uruhara and Tessai rushed in, but Rukia waved them away and soon regained her composure,

"I'll get over a little cough, don't worry about me Ichigo!"

Rukia was smiling, completely unaware of how dire her situation was.

"Rukia."

"Yes, Ichigo."

"About that time, when you said that you had to go to soul society. I know that I am but a human, but, even if you are the Captain Commander, I'll go to soul society with you. I'll join a squad, and if I am refused, then I will be your humble servant in you mansion Rukia and if I am refused even that, then I'll beg until my voice dies. I have already lost my mother. I do not think I could bear losing another one so dear to me."

Rukia was shocked to hear this. Ichigo was normally very stubborn and introverted, but to hear him speak like this brought tears to her eyes, though of joy rather than sorrow.

"Thank you, Ichigo."

"Get better Rukia!"

"I will."

Ichigo went ran home and before his sisters or father could see him, he slammed the door to his room, locked it and, for the first time since he lost his mother, he cried.