I'm honestly surprised by the amount of views I've had so far and thanks to those few who reviewed. I'll try to keep this story updated.

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach so please don't arrest me!

It'd been a week since they'd been brought back to the Soul Society when Yumichika was finally allowed to leave the Squad Four Barracks. He didn't leave for long. Only to shower, change his clothes, and grab a quick bite to eat then he returned to wait by Ikkaku's bedside. He been in the same place often, but never before had he been so worried about Ikkaku. They had been best friends for a long time and never had Ikkaku received such a close encounter with death. Even his fight in the rukon district with Kenpachi hadn't caused him such fatal wounds. Neither had Yumichika ever been filled with such dread . . . and guilt. If only he'd stepped in sooner to help.

His mind was troubled. He doubted and question himself and the situation. The question he lingered on currently was, why was this situation different from any other? He'd never felt like this before. What had changed? He pondered upon those questions as he sat in the room that his injured friend occupied. He danced around the answers that popped up in his head trying to find one that would satisfy the questions appropriately. But he had no such luck in finding the answer he sought so desperately for.

The strawberry blonde stepped into the hospital room to find her normally flamboyant and enthusiastic friend with his head in his hands. She had never seen him so depressed. She wished that she knew what to do to help him, but it seemed the only thing that would help him, was for him to be told that Ikkaku would be okay. Though that wasn't something she could guarantee. As he looked up to see who had entered the room she also wished she could show him to a mirror. Worry lines streaked his face and his hair had lost its shine. He seemed to have aged several years. But she knew the his outward state reflection only a minor fraction of his inner state and concluded that now wasn't the time to be worrying about looks.

"How is he doing?" Rangiku asked gently placing a hand on his shoulder. Yumichika merely shook his head in reply.

"How are you doing?" she said genuinely concerned about her friend.

"Been better." When he looked up a her she read the guilt that was written all over his face.

"What happened?" she wondered what could have caused such a drastic change in Yumichika.

"I hesitated. I let this happen. If he dies I-"

"This is Ikkaku Madarame we're talking about!" her voice and eyes were suddenly hard. "He's not going to die! He owes you for saving his life and he won't let a dept go unpaid. " Yumichika was stunned at Rangiku's harshness. She herself was stunned by her outburst. All he could do in reply was blink. She was right. This was Ikkaku Madarame the third seat of the eleventh division. He'd had many close encounters with death and even though this was the worst how could Yumichika been brought to think that somehow that meant Ikkaku wouldn't survive. When Rangiku saw the sudden realization on his face she was relived that what she'd said had been able to bring him comfort.

Rangiku and Yumichika remained in the room together without many words being passed between them. When Rangiku finally did get up and leave she tried once again to comfort him some more. She knew the relationship between the two men and luckily she once again was able to bring temporary peace to Yumichika. After her departure Yumichika became aware of a feeling that he had. One that he couldn't quite bring to words to describe. His confusion was temporary as he became aware of Ikkaku's stirring. The man tossed and for one brief moment opened his eyes. They met Yumichika's and then closed once more before Yumichika could bring himself to say anything. Sudden relief flooded through him as Ikkaku's spiritual pressure began to increase. It was only a slight increase, but it was enough.

The azure water surrounding the island no longer shimmered and his reflection could not bee seen. The normal blue sky was cloaked with grey clouds. Heavy winds bent the long grass and flowers that covered the island. The petals of the flowers wilted and blew away. The leaves of the once strong and beautiful trees began to blow away as well. His world was falling apart. The rain had not yet begun to fall, but the winds made up for that. Guilt and sorrow lingered around the secrets that were stored there. It'd been a long time since Yumichika had entered his inner world. He normally enjoyed his time there when he could escape Ruri'iro Kujaku's torment. Now he longed to get out but there was something there that called to him. He wandered about his normally beautiful world observing the chaos that was represented by the feelings that he had. When he finally reached his destination he looked upon his zanapkuto spirit.

"Fuji Kujaku? Why am I here?" Ruri'iro Kujaku sighed in frustration from being called by the loathsome nickname that had been unjustly bestowed upon him.

"I can give you answers." He told Yumichika.

"What answers?"

"The ones I've been practically shouting at you all day. And yet you still haven't heard me."

"What answers." Yumichika demanded this time. Ruri'iro Kujaku went on to explain why he'd been called into his inner world. When Yumichika had received his answer it took a moment for it to sink in. When it did dread filled within him and the sound of thunder brought him to consciousness.

Yumichika sat up in his room in the Squad Eleven barracks. Dread surged through him and try as he might he couldn't deny what he'd come to realize. Now with as much satisfaction that came with what he'd come to realize he didn't know whether he'd be able to keep yet another secret.

Well there you have it. Please let me know what ya'll think!