I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF! I wrote this all today, i think it's really good too! So like with my other story I worked on the story line while doing my engligh homework in band class the other day, and then more in english while trying to stay awake while my teacher was talking. Lol, So it is a little cheesy, a little, and we get a little history. I hope you guys like it cuz i think it came out very good. Enjoy :D

Chapter 10: I Must Protect

Rain. Rain had often been the deciding factor in Ichigo Kurosaki's life. Rain had taken Uryu's mother, causing a rift to grow between his friends. The rain had taken Uryu's grandfather, closing the rift. Rain had taken his mother, his memories, and his past. Ichigo woke up on the river bank on the morning on June 18th with his mother's dead body lying on top of him. He remembered his mother; he remembered his family, his friends, and his past. However, for the rest of his life, he had felt as though something were missing. Ichigo would never go out when it was raining after that. Even if it was a light drizzle, or his friends had been planning something for weeks, or even if they were just expecting rain, Ichigo would not go out. He would stay in his room and talk to the ghost of his mother of whom he was sure haunted him. He would apologize profusely, over and over again, trying to calm her angry soul. He would cry silently in his arms with no one aside from Zangetsu to console him. Zangetsu had learned however that it was best to leave Ichigo alone when he was like that. He would only intervene if he thought Ichigo was in danger of hurting himself, which he had done on more than one occasion.

Ichigo was unclear as to when he first met Zangetsu. He knew it was before he discovered his abilities as a vampire though. He remembered finding a little black snake on the riverbank shortly after his mother's death. He seemed cold and alone, and Ichigo could sympathize with that. He went up to the snake and surprisingly felt no fear. The snake looked at him with his red eyes, a look which Ichigo swore was a look of hope, and Ichigo brought him home. He kept the snake in an enclosure in his room. He would feed the snake and keep him warm, and the snake was so gentle that he would often let him out of the enclosure. The snake would do his own thing, but often, would sit on Ichigo's shoulder and watch over him. Ichigo always thought that it was for warmth, but enjoyed the snakes company. He decided to name the snake Zangetsu, unsure as to why. Something in his gut just told him that that was his name.

About 3 years ago, Ichigo discovered that he was a vampire. He came home, already confused as it was and Zangetsu began talking to him.

"So, you've discovered that you're a vampire then" he said in a very wise deep voice. Ichigo practically jumped through the roof.

"You just talked to me!" Ichigo shouted. Zangetsu nodded.

"I've been talking to you ever since we met Ichigo, however since you're power's hadn't awakened you were unable to hear me. I am here to tell you that you have a great power Ichigo, and I will help you awaken it. A Zanpaktou, which is what I am, is born along with a vampire. However, when you were born I laid in a state of dormancy. You have been a vampire you're whole life Ichigo, but you're power's only appeared 3 years ago, and now they have awakened.

"How have I been a vampire my whole life? Mom and dad weren't vampires."

"That I am unsure of, but I am sure that I waited for 9 years for you're power's to come out of their dormant state. I did not expect it to take so long for them to awaken fully, but at last they have. I am you're blade Ichigo, and together we can do what you have wanted to do since you're mother died."

"Protect those I love."

Ichigo could feel the cold rain dripping all over his body. He was lying on the ground, unable to move. His vision was blurry and he couldn't see. He could however feel the cold rain falling across his body; he could feel the sense of aloneness that was wrapped around him. He could feel the pain of the wound that his inner hollow had inflicted and here the sounds…of the river.

Why do I hear a river? My inner world doesn't have any rivers. I feel so alone, so cold. I've lost. I'm dying and this must be the coldness before death. I can't see anything. I've failed. I promised myself after my mother died that I would protect everyone I loved. Dad, Karin, Yuzu… and even, her. Yes, I do love Rukia. I have felt that since I've met her, the rain has stopped falling on me. The sense of despair, the feeling that no one cared, the feeling that I was alone, all vanished when I met her.

"I…….GO!"

What's that? I can hear something. It's very quiet, but it sounds upset. Another person I couldn't help, another person I couldn't protect.

"ICH….O!"

It's a girl, it sounds like she's screaming. It sounds like she's screaming my name. Why? Why is she worried about me? Why should anyone care about me?

"ICHIGO! PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"

WAIT! That's…That's Rukia! Why is she screaming? Why would I leave her? I would never leave her. Oh right, I'm dying. I'm sorry… I couldn't protect you either. I really do suck.

"Ichigo! Ichigo! You're the only friend I've ever had, please don't leave me ICHIGO! This thing took my sister, and it took your mother, I WON'T LET IT TAKE YOU!"

I want to protect you Rukia. You're always worried about me! You need to worry about yourself more often. I don't have to protect you, I want to. I want to hold you and make everything alright. I want to make the rain stop falling for you, like you did for me. I want to see that bright smile on your face again, and feel the pain that comes when you kick me for insulting chappy. You've saved me so many times; I want to save you this time. I will……………….I will......................... I WILL!

"I WILL PROTECT RUKIA!"

Ichigo's eyes suddenly shot open. He could see everything. He could see his inner hollow's eyes grow in surprise and fear. He grabbed the white blade that was imbedded in his abdomen and ripped it out. The blade suddenly turned black.

"Zangetsu and I made a promise 3 years ago that I would get stronger to protect those I love. I've always thought that I knew what I was fighting for. I thought I was fighting for my family, for my friends. But now I know what I am truly fighting for. I am fighting for her, for Rukia! I don't think I could bear to know I was the cause of any pain or suffering she was feeling. I will do all that is in my power to keep that smile on her face! I'll defeat you, and whoever gets in my way of that!"A black demonic aura began to engulf Ichigo, making the inner hollow practically collapse under its weight. Ichigo shunpoed towards him, shouting the entire way.

"I love her! And I will not allow her to worry about me anymore!" He stabbed his hollow in the chest. A black aura emerged from the hollow as he smiled.

"Looks like you've finally figured it out King. But be warned. When I sense the slightest weakness, the slightest break in your resolve, I WILL RETURN!" The hollow faded and Zangetsu returned.

"Where did you're resolve come from Ichigo?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. After he stabbed me, it all went black, and all I could hear was Rukia screaming for me to be alright. I wonder if I was remembering something about my past."

"You did always tell me you felt like you had lost something important after you're mother died, and it wasn't just her. If it was a memory, and you think that it can help you uncover you're past, and why you're a vampire, than I pledge to help you Ichigo." Ichigo could only smile lightly at the sword he knew so well.

"Thank you, but if you excuse me, I think there's a vampire who is waiting for me to snap out of it." With that Zangetsu nodded and dismissed Ichigo.

"At this rate he's not gonna make it" Shinji growled. It had been approximately an hour since Ichigo had started fighting his inner hollow, and the vizards knew that they couldn't give him much more time.

"No please! I know he can do it!" Rukia shouted. She was trying to fight back the tears she could feel forming in her eyes.

"If this fight goes on much longer he won't be able to return to his body even if he does win" Hiyori barked back. "If that happens he'll want us to kill him anyway!"

"I know Ichigo can win!" Rukia shouted back. The other vizards sighed at her when they felt a sudden explosion of demonic energy. The looked at Ichigo, who was fighting Love and saw him, screaming in pain. The completely hollowfied monster fell to his knees and his body began cracking in many places. The high pitched roars and growls were slowly turning into lower pitched screams. Ichigo had won, and was gaining control. One of Ichigo's claws grabbed his mask and began pulling it. Ichigo let out one last scream and ripped off the mask, causing the body to explode. When the smoke cleared Ichigo was standing there. The only evidence that remained was a mask on his face. The mask had 9 strips on it, taking up about a half of the mask. Ichigo fell to the ground with a thud, and the mask fell off his face.

"Ichigo!" Rukia screamed. She ran over to him and got on her knees. She lifted his upper half and placed his head on her knees. "I'm so glad you're ok Ichigo" she gasped as the tears began to fall down her face.

"Please…" he coughed. "Please stop worrying about me so much Rukia" he weakly smiled. She smiled again, and promptly smacked him in the head.

"You idiot! Don't tell me to stop worrying! I'll worry whenever I goddamn want!" She then smiled again and kissed his forehead.

"Well well, aren't you two the cute couple." Shinji smiled. He walked over to them and crouched down. "So, how ya feel now?"

"Fine. Not bad at all." Ichigo smiled back.

"Very good" Shinji replied with that toothy grin on his face. "Now the real fun begins."

Ichigo and Rukia sat in the room they had been given at the warehouse. It was very cozy. It had nice wooden floors, a sliding window door that led to a terrace. The terrace overlooked the river that flowed by the warehouse. The room was green with some decorations on the walls. There was a couch, a television, a refrigerator full of blood, a microwave, and one bed. They made their way out onto the terrace with their dinner, a bowl of rice and a glass of blood. They sat on the chairs outside. The sun was setting, it was a comfortable temperature, and the wind was blowing gently. They enjoyed their meal silently for a minute until Rukia broke the silence.

"Ichigo" she started.

"Hmmm?" he looked at her with a mouth full of rice.

"Kensei said that in order to beat you're inner hollow, you must have a very strong resolve. What was your resolve Ichigo?" she asked innocently. He practically choked on his rice.

"Well, um…" he was blushing furiously. "It was…to protect those I love" he stuttered, not looking at her.

"Well, you're name does mean he who protects, so I guess that makes sense" she smiled. She went back to chomping on her rice happily, but Ichigo knew he had more to say.

"There was another thing" he added sheepishly, scratching his arm as he said it.

"Oh?" she responded.

"Something came to me when I was fighting. I heard you screaming for me to be alright. I decided that I didn't want you to have to worry about me anymore, that I would protect you so that you wouldn't have to worry, and that you would smile more. Because I…" he stopped and looked away. His face was as red as Renji's hair.

"Because you what Ichigo?" she asked. She was honestly clueless.

"Because I…I…love you Rukia." He felt a sudden wash of relief upon saying the words that he had hidden inside for so long. Her eyes shot open. He looked at her, her dark vampire eyes shinning in the coming moonlight. The look on her face was one of complete surprise. Ichigo began to feel as though he had screwed something up until Rukia vanished before his eyes and reappeared right in front of him. She grabbed him and pressed her lips against his. His look of surprise matched hers. This soon blew over however and he returned the kiss. After a minute she broke it and smiled. As close as she was, her beautiful vampire eyes appeared to glisten.

"You idiot!" she chuckled as she hit him over the head. "You really thought that I'd rejected you? I just didn't expect you to say it. I thought I'd be the first to break. Thank you Ichigo. Thanks to you, my rain has stopped." He was surprised again by the words she had said, mimicking his own thoughts. She giggled. "Even though he may not look it, Zangetsu is quite the talker." Ichigo laughed and the two embraced and kissed again, the moonlight shining on them.

Did you like the ending? I did. I almost cried writing this but i think i have overactive tearducts anyway lol. So in the next chapter Ichigo begins hollow training and his mask wil be explained. I think you guys will like where im going with it. Also, we will have another Vampire council meeting, hahahahaha!

Also, I need you guys to vote on my is gonna reveal his power soon and I need to know what you guys want! Please Review! Love Paige, See you soon!

P.S GO WINGS! The Sharks are SO GOING DOWN! Luckly since we had a snow day yesterday im very refreshed and will be able to stay up uber late to see the game lol