This chapter was inspired by a song I listened to recently to escape the chaos of my family.

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach, its characters, or any settings that I may use in the story. I'm just borrowing it, so when Tite Kubo asks for it back a I will give it back (eventually), but until then enjoy the story.

"You strip me down, the layers fall like rain. It's over now just innocence and instinct sill remain. You watched me as I slowly disappeared. I reached for you to save me, you were frozen in your fear. Take it all away. . . ."

"Circling the pain inside my soul. I reached inside your silence to steal what you won't show. I try to find the answers in my fears. But what was found was lost again as soon as it appeared."

"I'm breaking, I can't do this on my own. Can you hear me screaming out? Am I all alone?"

- 'Take it all away' by Red

The silence was anything but peaceful and the only thing to be heard was the loud pounding of the young man's heart as he rest is eyes on his injured friend. The man who slept looked better than he had over the past few days, but there was still the lingering question that was constantly asked. What he going to make it? A few days ago when Rangiku had paid the two men a visit she had implanted some hope into Yumichika. Now that hope was slowly fading. Dread and sorrow once again found a place in Yumichika's heart. It seemed as if he were spiraling into a dark hole in which he could only escape if Ikkaku was there to pull him out.

All of Yumichika's friends had never seen him like he was now. He couldn't even come to grips to what he was like now compared to what he was like before. Maybe once Ikkaku healed Yumichika would go back to normal, or if Ikkaku died this condition of Yumichika's would become permanent, so to speak. Eventually he'd get out of the dark hole on his own, but it'd take a while. However, no one knew Yumichika's true feelings. If they understood how much Yumichika truly cared about Ikkaku they'd understand than no matter the outcome Yumichika would never be the same. This feeling. something that he wouldn't allow himself to say in his own head let alone out loud, was new. It'd change him forever.

Yumichika hadn't shed a single tear or even gotten watery eyes. He remained solemn and silent. That was almost unbearable for the zanpakuto. Even though he and Yumichika didn't see eye to eye very often, he still cared. Ruri'iro Kujaku tried once again to interrupt the silence and try to snap Yumichika out of this stupor, but once again no matter how loud he shouted it didn't seem to make a difference. He regretted telling Yumichika about his feelings, but he couldn't stand all the questions and confusion. However it hadn't seemed that telling him the truth had made much of a difference, mostly due to Yumichika's constant denial. Though he had known it would take a while for it to really set in it seemed that now it would be longer than he had anticipated. These were his feelings, they were not so easily hidden as his zanpakuto's power. So Yumichika'd eventually have to face the facts, he was in love with Ikkaku Madarame.

He couldn't sleep. He'd been up half the night by Ikkaku's bedside until Captain Unohana had to personally escort him out. Now he lay in his bed wide awake with worry. No it was more than that. Worry, dread, fear, guilt . . . . love. His thoughts were more jumbled than ever. As the night progressed he eventually fell into an uneasy and restless sleep.

A flash of silver and a sharp sting at his throat.

He could feel it digging into his skin.

"Come on! Fight me!" the knife wielding young man shouted in his drunken state.

"W-What?" the victim was filled with fear as blood began to trickle down his chest.

The other man wavered for a moment and the victim took that as his opportunity to strike.

The situation had been reversed.

But it was not anger that drove the current knife wielder, rather fear.

Both then became locked in a battle.

One in defense and the other trying to just protect himself.

When the battle was resolved it resulted in a draw.

Both men were worn out and the attacker congratulated the other on his good fighting ability.

From then on both men went on fighting, but never each other.

They fought for survival.

They fought for fun and to gain skill.

And they fought for each other and had since.

After the dream Yumichika'd had the previous night his feelings became a little more settled. He was glad that even though it'd been a long time he could still remember in full detail when he met Ikkakku. It was kind of hard to forget, Yumichika still had the scars. Friendship born from a fight was sounded strange, but it meant a lot to Yumichika because he had always assumed that they would go on fighting, for each other that is. But now what? Ikkaku was dying. What could be done?

A sudden thought came to Yumichika and he immediately tried to dismiss it. But the more he tried to rid it from his mind the more and more it seemed to scream out to him. It was an absolute, one hundred percent, horrible idea. It wasn't something he could do without exposing his true self. The part of him that he had for so long fought to keep hidden. No longer could he stand the thought of the idea and yet he could no more stand the thought of Ikkaku dying. It was a bad idea, but it was crazy and stupid enough that it might work. Hell, he could top some of Captain Kurotsuchi's ideas with this one.

I love cliffhangers, don't you? I'll give anyone five dollars if they can guess Yumichika's idea. Thanks for reading.