Disclaimer: I don't own a thing except the idea. How fucking sad.

Chapter: 37

Title: Escaping Death

A/N: Yeah, maybe off Hiatus, but that doesn't mean I'm updating in a timely fashion. I hardly get reviews, so why would I be nice? ;) I update Gravity of Love every other day because they review...

Translation: Review and I will UPDATE FASTER!

You cant thank Jason Ray for this update. If he didn't want me to update so bad, you'd all still be waiting.

Also, I am changing my penname so yeah..be on the lookout for that. For now-

Read. +Review+ Enjoy!

There were two things Kukaku felt were unsettling. One; the healer seemed to know her father. And two, the Kurosaki clan. For all the years, and her knowledge, she had never known a clan existed. She had only been aware of seven clans. Her father had told her stories of the eightth, but thats just it. She had thought them only mere stories.

"Whats goin on?" Ichigo asked, confusion weighing heavily on his shoulders. "What do you mean Noble Clan Kurosaki? What do you mean we're a clan of Vizards?"

Seiteki took a few moments to glance between Kukaku and Ichigo, an amused glare glistening in her eyes. Neither liked the way she was looking at them, and they were growing impatient.

"Never mind." Ichigo growled, clenching his fists. "I just want to save Yoruichi. Thats all I came here to do. I don't give a damn about my familys background!"

Kukaku felt his spiritual pressure rise, and she knew he was ready to burst. The healer seemed unfazed as she raised a brow.

"Oh really? Your not interezted in how or why your a vizard?" For a moment, Kukaku though Ichigo would give in. But she seemed wrong as his hollow mask began to slowly appear.

"Look lady, your pissing me off!" The air became stale, and Kukaku gently set her hand on his shoulder. The tension she felt was beyond anything she'd ever known. But she knew that she couldn't let him lose control.

"Ichigo, shes toying with you. Calm down." The brash woman barked, squeezing his arm before dropping hers to the side. Seiteki let out a laugh as she watched the two.

"We didn't come all this way for nothing Kukaku..." Ichigo's voice was low, soft. It was obvious how badly he needed to have his Yoruichi back.

"Thiz Szhihouin woman..." Akuma began, taking a few steps towards a giant cherry blossom tree. "...zhe zeemz to be rather important to you. I haven't zeen a man thiz determined to zave the love of hiz life in centuriez."

"Shes the only thing I live for. If I lose her; there'll be nothing keeping the hollow inside me at bay."

"And we can't let that happen." The three turned to spot the blond clogged man standing without his hat for once. He was staring at Seiteki, eyes soft and holding emotion. Ichigo and Kukaku exchanged glances. They'd never seen him look that way. He'd always been one to conceal his true feelings. Apparently, he seemed to know the healer as a small smile creased her lips. The orange haired vizard took a step back, standing beside the black haired woman. "Seiteki, its been far too long."

"You were zuppozed to come back, Kizuke." Her voice had gotten softer, as if she were vulnerable. "But you didn't. You choze that Szhihouin over me!"

"You can't hold a grudge against Yoruichi for my decision!"

A sharp breeze blew by and Ichigo narrowed his eyes. Surely they couldn't be saying what he thought they were saying. He glanced down to Kukaku, seeing her eyes darken with curiosity.

"I chose her because she wasn't afraid of anything, Seiteki. She was a free spirit. She didn't care about what her bloodline thought of her." Kisuke had taken a few steps, his arms gripping the womans shoulders now. "I loved you both, but you were too concerned with what your family thought about merging with mine. We'd have never worked out."

"We would've found away."

Ichigo's jaw tightened, fists clenching and unclenching at his side. They were running out of time! Soon, Yoruichi would be dead. And then what? What would happen then? He'd go mad. That much was obvious. His inner hollow would take over, and he sure as hell wouldn't do a damn thing to stop it. Why would he? Without her, there was no purpose. No reason to live. To exist. Yoruichi was the only thing keeping him at bay.

"Yoruichi fell out of love with me, almost too soon. I hardly believe she ever even loved me. I think she knows she was never in love. Not until she met Kurosaki Ichigo." Kisuke continued. He wanted to make his old love understand. "Her heart belongs to him; theres no need for you to hold a grudge against her any longer, Seiteki."

"Look I'll do whatever you want. Just save her." Seiteki's eyes stared directly into Ichigo's, and for a moment he thought she was going to back out again.

"Alright. Take me to her."

"Thank you." Ichigo breathed, relieved. It didn't take nearly as long to get back to their home, but Ichigo knew by the look on his dads face that Yoruichi wasn't doing well.

"Her life zeemz drained..." Seiteki began, her eyes glowing with a mysterious light. Ichigo stood behind the couch frozen. Tears streaming down his face. "Juzt what happened to thiz woman?"

"We don't know... Can you save her?" Kukaku glared, standing near the large window. She felt an odd presence outside, and it made the very tips of her fingers tingle.

"What ever happened to thiz woman iz beyond my power. Zhe zeemz to have zuffered from zomething not amongzt thiz world. I can only zave her with the help of ze other power."

"What about my power? I'm a vizard." Ichigo cleared his throat, taking a step forward. "Whatever did this to her had to be way more powerful than a hollow. And the only thing stronger than a hollow and a shinigami is a vizard."

"Thiz juzt might work. You, Kurozaki boy, lift her up. There may be a way to do thiz, but zhe'll need the man that haz her heart." Seiteki informed, watching as Ichigo slowly lifted up his goddess. Her eyes darkened at the sight. Ichigo's face seemed so focused, so determined. She could hear his heart beat; and could tell it only had a pulse for this woman. Yoruichi's body molded into his like second nature. A subtle smile appeared on her face, and she secretly wished Ichigo could have been around centuries ago. "You and Yoruichi zeem to have a ztrong bond..."

"Yoruichi and I..." Ichigo trailed off, watching as Yoruichi's head tilted to the side, unconsciously buried in his neck as her frail and limp body laid dead on his. His arms wrapped themselves tightly around her waist, and he gently kissed her temple. "I know she loves me, just as much as I love her. There isn't any damn thing thats more powerful that what we have."

"Then thiz will be rather painful for you. You'll feel az if you are burning on the inzide." Ichigo nodded, setting his head against Yoruichi's. True to her word, Ichigo felt as if his insides were being scorched. Sweat began rolling down his face, and Kukaku felt her insides being torn out. Her shrill scream was drowned out by the blinding light that lit up the room. Kisuke and Isshin both stared at each other, as they dried to block the light. Why in the hell was Kukaku screaming like that? And what was going on? When the blinding light disappeared, Yoruichi's chocolate color had returned, and Ichigo's body was covered in sweat. His eyes were closed, his head back against the couch. His arms were loose around her, and Yoruichi's golden eyes had opened slowly.

"Ichi...Ichigo!" She jumped up, looking around the room. The blonde woman in front of her smiled to her, and she instantly turned to the man she was sitting on. "Ichigo?" She lowered her voice, leaning in to study his face. She felt his arms tighten, and then she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Like hell I'd ever lose you." He whispered into her ear. Seiteki turned her head from the hugging couple, she glanced back. Kukaku's body was covered in sweat, she was on her hands and knees, breathing heavily. Isshin and Kisuke watched with narrowed eyes.

"What...the hell...was that?" Kukaku coughed, blood pouring from her mouth as she glanced up. One eye was completely black while the other was dialated with an extremely blue pupil. Ichigo's eyes instantly recognized this to be her vizard stage... But something was wrong. Kukaku felt pain contort throughout her body, and she screamed again. Yoruichi turned, eyes widening.

A/N: What happened to Kukaku? Hm? Want more, Review!