His light.
Gone.
Left.
Abandoned.
Why? He couldn't think straight anymore.
----------------
He was beaten.
He had fallen.
He had failed.
Ichigo twisted around in bed, and slammed his fist into the mattress. The moment the two collided, flashes of a white shihakusho and black teeth flooded his vision for a moment, then disappeared. Ichigo lay frozen in his position, then relaxed onto the mattress.
He was useless. Afraid of something that was a part of him.
But... Ichigo wanted nothing to do with the white shinigami that kept attacking his mind, his thoughts.
Why couldn't it just leave him alone?
Partner? Why partner?
I want nothing to do with him.
Ichigo threw the pillow at the wall. It landed with a soft fwump, then fell to the floor.
Useless.
----------------
Renji raced down the aisle of the Seiretei, coming to an abrupt halt in front of the Kuchiki manor. He sucked in his breath, then rapped at the door soundly with his knuckles.
Rukia.
Her eyes were the first thing he noticed when she opened the door.
She was as short as ever, but seemed healthier now that her spirit energy was returning.
"Renji?" Her tone was inscrutable. "What... Why are you here?"
He coughed, and scratched at his head, a slight blush on his cheeks. "We- well..." He coughed again. "See, there's this mission that I got. And, it's kinda... uh... I was..."
Rukia twitched, then punched the red-haired boy in the stomach. He fell to the floor, groaning. "Out with it, baka-yarou. The door's open and you're letting cold air in. Nii-sama's gonna be angry and I'm not taking the blame!"
"Err. Right, right." Renji felt like he was asking her out on a date. Not that he would. Never. Of course not. Impossible. "There's this mission, see, into Karakura town. There's some trouble there, and.. well, hollow radars are going crazy, and... Would you like to come?"
Her face had turned to stone. "Was I specifically asked for, Assistant Captian-san?"
"Hey! I lost that job a while ago and you know it!"
"Was I?"
Renji shrugged. "Maybe."
She closed the door quietly.