"Help me up, Renji…"

"Ichigo…you can't, at least not now," he replied, shaking his head.

"Then we'll go one step at a time…"

"You might want to make sure you have even gained the ability to move those parts you idiot," Renji's insult was half-hearted.

Ichigo sighed. "This must be damn painful for you to watch…"

"Nah…" Renji stopped. "For it to happen to someone who has lived such a short life as yours is the real tragedy."

"I didn't say anything about a tragedy," Ichigo looked him in the eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched. Almost a small smile. "Renji…before we go through with this, I want you to do something for me."

Questioning eyes met sad ones.

"Come here," he beckoned.

In order as for no one outside the room to hear, they whispered.

Renji closed his eyes, not happy with the request. "If it's what you want."

"Do it now…the longer you wait the harder it is."

Renji flipped open his Soul Pager, pale blue screen lighting up the darkness. "Hello? Captain Kurosaki has been found dead near the site of the incident…" Renji closed his eyes. "His last request was to tell Rukia Kuchiki that he loves her and he won't make it home tonight."

Ichigo held back the tears as he imagined Rukia's face, broken at the sound of the news. Broken…when he was alive with Urahara.

"And…please hold the captain position open, and disband the squad temporarily. You know how the Substitute Shinigami Kurosaki is…always coming back from the dead and all."

Was that supposed to be a pun? Ichigo rolled his eyes. Hell…that was lame.

The call ended.

Silence.

"Well… they said they will tell Kuchiki immediately. She will probably try to contact me afterwards…are you sure you want this?"

"Would you rather she finds out I'm crippled for life?" Ichigo's voice shook. He tried to move his arm but could merely twitch his wrist. Didn't matter…

"Ichigo…if something happens to her after she figures this out it will be your fault."

"Don't think I don't already know that!" His voice was raised. Scared. He rolled onto his stomach and buried his face in the pillow as he felt the tears break through, his breaths coming out shaky and uncontrolled. "I'm a sorry sight aren't I…" he couldn't hide the shaking in his tone. "Pretty messed up." A sad laugh came along with the remark.

Renji simply shook his head. "This ain't the end, Ichigo. Maybe you think it is…but there are so many open doors now."

"Since when have you been the philosophical type…and why the hell are you being so nice to me?"

The red-head looked away, and suddenly became interested in the paintings on the wall. "Ichigo…this isn't easy for any of us. We aren't going to treat you like dirt. This is hard for you too…"

"Sometimes we let affection, go unspoken. Sometimes we let our love, go unexpressed. Sometimes we can't find words to tell our feelings, especially towards those we love the best."

"What?" Renji didn't know what the hell the kid was talking about.

"Heard it in a book once…and if I really loved her." Ichigo went on, silent tears running down his face. "I would let her go…"

"Ichigo -"

Ichigo hissed as pain burst out in his stomach. Well that was convenient… The pain settled down but he felt like a bomb. Like any movement would set it off again. He kept his breathing shallow and quick, and his movements close to zero. "Get Urahara…now!" Ichigo snapped through clenched teeth.

"What? Why!"

"Just shut up and do it!" he winced.

Time seemed to slow down, like almost an hour had past since it started. The shopkeeper dressed in green slammed the doors open.

Ichigo was picked up gently. Urahara was aware that any slight movement could be painful.

"Urahara…" Ichigo began, being set down on a healing mat. "You were wrong." His breaths were coming in a pattern. A shaky intake, breath held for a few seconds then a strong and unstable exhale. "While I was still asleep, but conscious, you said there was something odd about my wounds. You said they were inflamed beyond reason and the wound was too shallow to cause that kind of damage." Ichigo continued.

The shopkeeper pondered the possibility for a moment. "We're going to need a test. Mind you it's going to hurt…"

Ichigo nodded and closed his eyes.

A scream of pain echoed through the night sky.

A/N Yeah I wasn't really happy with this one, I did it at like 5-6 in the morning so yeah…lol but hope you enjoyed anyways! I know I'm hurting Ichigo too much but trust the storyline and you will understand why it's key ;) You can expect another update today and keep reviewing! The reviews were the only reason I wrote this and thanks for the reviews guys ^.^

Theme is… *drum roll please*

Tearing Away by Eyeshine

Enjoy ;)