Chapter 2

" Don't tell me-" The fog cleared, a silver figure moved.

"Oy- Kera get up!" The red arrancar was already fading.

" You just won't stay dead will ya?" Ichigo asked.

Rukia POV

Rukia sweat-dropped at Ichigo's remark.

" I don't think that's the case." She unsheathed her sword and got ready to fight. She knew she didn't have to, Nero was barely standing on his feet. Then again, so were they. The two arrancars' attack hadn't exactly left them Scot free. Suddenly she saw it.

" Ichigo, WATCH OUT!" The silver arrancar wouldn't go down without bringing down at least one of them. His eyes widened in horror then pain as the wind sword cut Ichigo's jugular then went through his chest. Rukia saw red. She sliced the arrancar in half, then ran to Ichigo. There was already a sickening pool of blood.

" Ichigo you dumb ass. Don't you DARE die on me!" Her voice choked on the last word. Her eyes were already streaming with tears.

"Ru-" He coughed up some blood.

" Shh, don't speak." She cradled his head and rocked back and forth. He can't die. He's survived this long. Kenpachi didn't kill him. Nii-sama didn't bring him down.

" YOU CAN"T DIE!" She sobbed/screamed.

Ichigo POV

He didn't see it happen. The next he knew, there was pain and blood, his blood. He saw Rukia kill the arrancar and felt her rush over to him. He felt himself losing consciousness. He felt her tears.

" Ru-" He coughed up blood. Don't cry over me. It would kill me more than this.

"Ru-kia. Don't cry. Please." She cradled his head.

" Don't die on me..." He didn't have the strength to reply. His hand went limp.

" Rukia-"

" Don't speak-"

"Please, let me" She stared at him with said eyes.
"That day, when we met, when I saved you from excution, only to think Aizen would kill you. When you came back with your powers, in Hueco Mundo. I loved you, I always have." She widened her eyes.

" Fool, you think I didn't?" She couldn't breathe she was crying so hard.

" So that's why, even if I'm dead-

I'll be with you, I'll be here to stay." With those words, he closed his eyes, a smile on his face. And went limp.

Rukia POV

" I'll be here to stay." And he died. No, "ICHIGO!" It was too late. The idiot died. He loved her, she loved him. She fell and cried into his kimono, breathing in his scent.

" Kaien-dono.."