LC333: Third update this month; Ichiruki writing muse is strong lately. According to grammar "More Chappy shopping" is "Chappier Shopping." Unnecessary fact, but it's a heavy chapter. Might be a little gory(?) but necessary.

Caution: Serious stuff ahead.

Chapter Fourteen

My eyes were on Kaien-dono. His eyes were wide, shocked to see me with the Kurosaki's. I don't think he expected me to be with Ichigo and his sisters. He started to move forward but stopped. He seemed unsure what to do.

Please, Kaien-dono.

The crunch of metal sounded in my ears.

Fix this.

Karin and Yuzu both let out screams.

Fix this. Fix this. Fix this.

I felt my body hit the door, leaving dents in the shape of my body.

Please be the person I know you are.

Ichigo screamed in pain.

The one who's kind.

Kaien-dono still didn't move.

The one who cares for the well-being of his friends.

Kaien-dono's expression showed him in thought.

Please.

His eyes were heavy.

Please.

Kaien-dono rose from his squat

Please.

and ran away.

NO!

Yuzu lurched to the right. She let out a shriek as she tried to grab onto her brother's seat. Yuzu's seat belt snapped against her skin. She would have belt burns on her left shoulder and part of her neck. Her grip slipped and she flew into her sister.

Karin was grabbing the back of my seat to try to keep herself in place. Karin lurched slightly to the right, managing to stay in place until she ricocheted off of Yuzu. Karin hit her door with a crack. Her face went from shock to one with a mixture of pain, the sound of a bone breaking ringing in my ears.

My elbow hit the window. My window cracked and shattered. Some pieces flew. Bits scratched my face and part of my arm. Pieces of the dented door hit me, but didn't pierce the skin.

Nothing fatal for me…

But Ichigo…

He was directly hit. He tried to steady the car. His chest hit the steering wheel, air escaping him. His door was carved in to the shape of Ka- him. The door was carved into the shape of him. The metal had hit the side of Ichigo's body. A groan of pain was heard.

The car began to tilt.

Ichigo started to slide off of the door.

The scent of blood began to fill the air.

Ichigo.

I felt the car began to turn once more. We were about to be upside-down.

I looked over quickly at Ichigo.

The left side of his body was stained with blood. It was too much.

I let go of the door and went for Ichigo.

I had to hold him there. If he slid off, he would lose what he had left.

And then he would die.

Just like Nee-sama.

Crash!

The loud sound of metal crushing hit my ears, making my wince. I squirmed in my seat, trying to readjust myself in the upside down car.

Karin shouted in pain again, trying to escape her seat. She hit the hood of the car "the ground" with a thunk.

I undid my seat belt, hitting the ground on my back and crawled over to Ichigo.

"Karin?" I asked.

She sat up and moved her arms. She tried to move her right leg. "I think I broke my leg."

"And Yuzu?" I glanced at her.

Karin tried to reach her sister, struggling until she placed her hand near her sister's mouth. "She's breathing."

She didn't appear to have any major injuries. Her eyes were closed. Her breathing was now even, heart beating fine. "I've got Ichigo."

I heard the sounds of sirens coming towards us.

"Ichigo." I whispered urgently.

He didn't answer.

"Ichigo."

Still no answer.

"Open your eyes, Ichigo!"

He jerked slightly. His eyes shifted around the car, trying to focus on his current alignment. "How are they?"

I glanced back at the two. Karin was trying to move closer to her sister, wincing when her leg had some movement. "Karin's injured but conscious and Yuzu-"

"How's… how's Yuzu?" he asked with alarm.

"A couple of scratches." Karin's voice sounded labored. "I think she fainted."

"And you, Karin?"

"Broken leg." Karin responded.

The sirens stopped next to the car.

"How do you feel?" I asked him.

"Tired." His eyes seemed to be closing.

"Fight it." I told him.

He smiled weakly. He moved his arm away from his side and looked down at his left hand.

It was soaked with blood.

"Sir?" one of the first responders tapped on Ichigo's window.

"Get my sisters." He mumbled.

I heard them pry the back door open. One reached in and Yuzu's seat belt was cut off and she was carried off.

"My leg is probably broken." Karin told another as they scooped her out of the car.

"Rukia?"

"Yes?" I asked.

"Are they out?"

"They took Yuzu and Karin."

"Good." Ichigo closed his eyes.

"Don't!" I demanded. I placed my hands on his face. "Don't close your eyes."

He opened his eyes. "I didn't know you cared."

"Of course I care, fool." I murmured.

"I'm injured here and you insult me." Ichigo smirked.

"Just giving you a reason to insult me back." I need him to keep speaking.

He smiled. "Rukia."

"Ichigo."

"Make sure they're okay."

I felt my eyes brim with tears.

"You'll see it for yourself."

He let out a deep groan as he tried to move.

"Don't move. You'll just hurt yourself more." I told him.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Just remember, you can't get angry at someone who's about to-"

"Ask your favor, Ichigo." I couldn't hear him say that word.

He reached out and grabbed my hand.

Ichigo's eyes were locked on mine. He seemed hesitant but opened his mouth. I looked straight at him, tuning out the sounds around me. There was no crash. No injuries. No possibility of death. Just Ichigo and I.

Ichigo's voice was a whisper. His voice was soft, inviting. He spoke those words with seriousness, conviction. His request was sincere. Maybe I don't need to know why I agreed, only that I did. I wanted to comply to his request so much.

So I will.

We both wanted to react, but this was unfamiliar territory for us both. Other than the occasional fight, the only time I had touched Ichigo was when I led him to see Nee-sama and his mother. I leaned forward, Ichigo meeting me half way.

He grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled me closer.

There was a brief moment of the two of us gazing at each other. It felt invasive, vulnerable.

"Kiss me, Rukia."

His lips and mine collided.

The kiss was hesitant, slow. We weren't used to being so close, so intimate with the other. Our mouths took time exploring each other. Time to overcome our hesitant but eager selves. Time to take in the other's taste. His lips were soft, still tinged with the taste of tea.

He let go of my shirt and placed his palm onto the back of my head. Ichigo's hand ran through my hair, getting caught in my locks. He pulled me in closer to him, the kiss becoming more feverish. My lips moved across his hungrily. I don't remember ever having a hunger this intense. Something that contained such fervor.

Cosmic bliss.

Ichigo groaned.

Some recognition hit me.

We were still in the crashed car.

Ichigo was losing blood.

There was only one way to increase Ichigo's chances of surviving this.

It was wrong.

I would be taking his right to choose.

But he would live.

I had seen it done before with me.

Doing this would put his life in danger.

Ichigo's heartbeat slowed down slightly.

He was already in danger now.

He was too young to die.

I bit down on my tongue hard.

There was no other choice.

I pulled back from the kiss and waited until there was a decent amount of blood pulled into my mouth.

Ichigo pulled back and frowned. "Why did you sto-"

I pulled him back to my lips.

There was no going back.

There was no hesitation in this kiss.

I felt some blood switch from my mouth to his.

He needed to take it.

I knew it was wrong. But Ichigo needed to keep living.

Even if it was as a vampire.

He reacted to the new taste in his mouth, almost pushing back.

I held his face to mine.

Please Ichigo.

The helplessness entered the kiss, wanting more of his lips.

He met my pace equally, a flush entering his skin.

We huffed for air as we stopped. There was some red on the sides of his mouth. His amber eyes were heavy.

"You need to live." I told him as I reclaimed his lips once more.

I reached out and touched his chest. As long as this heart beats there was still a chance of him living.

His heart was still-

Ichigo stopped.

My eyes widened.

"Ichigo."

No response.

"Ichigo."

His heart had stopped beating.

"Ichigo!"

No.

"Ma'am?"

I looked at the responder with wide eyes.

"Get him!"

One took the door off of the car, another reaching for Ichigo.

They laid him out on a stretcher.

I jumped right out of the car and followed.

Two ambulances with Yuzu and Karin took off.

"Miss-"

"I'm fine!" I told one as I ran behind Ichigo.

His heart has to keep beating.

I jumped into the ambulance with Ichigo before anyone could pull me out.

Ichigo.

"Clear."

Defibrillators were pressed against Ichigo's chest. He bounced up but he was still flat lining.

You're meant to protect Yuzu and Karin.

You're meant to find a girl to take home to your father.

You're meant to be with your friends and family.

"Clear."

They were pressed once more. Still no pulse.

"Ichigo!"

I tried to step forward, a responder holding me back.

"One more."

You're meant to take me to dinners with your family.

You're meant to spend more time showing me Karakura.

You're meant to tease me about Chappy.

Ichigo, you better not die!

He can't.

They pressed the defibrillators to him.

He had to pull through.

His body contracted to the movement.

You're meant to spend more time with me.

You're meant to live a fulfilling life.

Another flat line.

"ICHIGO!"

You're not meant to die.