Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who read the prologue! It was nice to see so many people interested in reading the sequel despite how long it's been. I hope I do right by you all by continuing to provide a story that keeps you interested.

I do have a playlist I'm putting together. I love pairing music with stories as I think it sets the mood. I'm trying to figure out the best approach for sharing it with you all - whether it be a list or the actual link to listening to it on Google Play. I'll let you know.

I want to throw out a special thanks to BigNickDiggers, Hese Solstis, Hatake Tsughi, and 2 guests for the lovely welcome backs and the reviews. Thank you so much. I'm glad you guys were willing to hang in there and wait for the sequel!

Hese Solstis and a guest brought up how nice it was to get an Ichigo / Rukia story. I love this pairing, and while I know that Kubo made Ichigo and Orihime cannon I will probably always put these two together. I feel they just simply work with the world and personalities Kubo create. I won't hate on Ichigo / Orihime, just like I hope that people don't hate on Ichigo / Rukia.

With that rant over with, here is the next chapter of For Love!

Author's Soundtrack:
Heathens - Twenty One Pilots (I originally had another song, but this one just fit)

Chapter One

It was raining. Again.

Rukia had warned him the weather was different here. Had he known "different" meant "constantly raining or cloudy with about five minutes of sunshine only a few days in the summer months" he might have considered staying in Japan. Even after nearly a year he still couldn't get used to how wet everything was. It was a miracle the people who lived here could stand it, but the streets were packed. A low hum of chatter and engines floated up to the rooftops. Rain wouldn't keep these people inside. He wasn't sure if that meant they were resilient or unhinged.

From his perch in a small alcove, he pressed himself deeper into the shadow of a stone angel. It did a mediocre job of keeping him from getting soaked as he watched people mill about below, but it was better than nothing.

He had been like them once, walking about, meeting up with friends, enjoying life, and worrying about what college he would get into. Innocent. Naive. It was strange. It hadn't been that long ago and he was already having trouble remembering what it felt like. To glance into dark alleys and see nothing. To hear strange noises in the night and shrug. Now he knew what lurked in those alleys. What hid in the shadows. The world was no longer a place to explore and enjoy. It was a den of chaos and death.

Something stirred in the depths of his soul, clawing at him and the walls he'd managed to put up around it, aching to be free and revel in that chaos. He flinched as it marred the surface, digging and struggling. He would never let it loose. He would never let it control him.

A woman tripped over her own shoes. Her friends laughed and helped her to her feet. The smell of blood was barely detectable as it shimmered in the palms of her hands. The scrapes were small, paper thin lines that were more a nuisance than anything. Still, his throat felt dry and raw. The world around him faded into different shades of gray, making the blood more vivid. A shock of alluring ruby amongst the drudge. The walls shook.

And then her hand was gone, covered by an umbrella as they continued moving down the sidewalk.

He bit down on his lip, digging his sharp canines into the soft flesh until he drew blood. The sweet metallic taste was enough to trick his urges into settling, but it was only a temporary relief. He scolded himself for his own weakness. He was better than this. He wasn't some animal led around by his own hunger. He was Ichigo Kurosaki, a young vampire who would fight for the humanity he abandoned.

Running his hands through his damp hair, he scoffed at his feeble attempt to appear righteous. The reality was hardly heroic. What he wanted was revenge, simple as that. And he wasn't going to get any closer to that goal if he didn't focus on his current task. If he messed this up, Rukia would sideline him and force him to go through another round of training. Shaking the water from his hair, he shifted into a more comfortable position and began the slow and methodical search of the crowd below, looking for any signs of the monster that was on the hunt.

For several weeks a vampire had been stalking the citizens of London, ripping women off the streets in the middle of the night and dumping their mutilated corpses around the city. Every single one of the victims had been found with their throats shredded like strips of gruesome confetti, their bodies drained of blood. After the first few victims, Ichigo was convinced this was a deranged human serial killer. Vampires liked their privacy, from what he could tell, and these killings were far too public. They cried for attention, to be seen and known. Rukia disagreed and decided to prove her point with a field trip to the morgue.

His stomach churned in a disturbing blend of disgust and hunger when he recalled the mangled bodies laid out on the cold metal slabs.

Rogue. That's what Rukia had called their killer as she returned the cover to the bodies. Vampires who were loyal to no Council, traveling wherever they wanted, when they wanted, doing whatever they wanted. Living by their own rules, they spurned Council law. What Aizen had left behind had been a disorganized, mindless army trapped living on instinct alone. Feeding their unquenchable thirst, they left blatant trails of destruction. Rogues were different. They were not slaves to their instincts, but partners. They could think and act strategically all to serve their own desires, making them considerably more dangerous than the creatures Aizen created.

"They're obnoxious shits. They show up, do as they please, give us the middle finger, and bugger off." That had been Shinji's way of explaining it.

Except this particular rogue didn't seem satisfied with leaving a pile of bodies and "buggering off". Most rogues were known to stay in a territory for a week at the most. Any longer and they risked exposing themselves and getting caught. Councils don't take kindly to their rules being ignored, especially the British Council. This rogue was on his sixth kill in three weeks. Rukia was growing increasingly frustrated.

There was movement on the rooftop above him. The sweet scent of cherry blossoms was dampened by the rain, but it was still easy for him to detect. He could almost always smell her. Her blood had a similar flavor, sweet and fragrant. Phantom sensations of his teeth piercing pale flesh and her decadent blood filling his mouth nearly overwhelmed him, beating on the walls of his resolve with a trembling force. Scowling, he shook his head and concentrated on the sour stench of a rotund man vomiting his dinner on the sidewalk below.

"Any sign of him?"

Taking a deep breath, Ichigo managed to gather his composure before replying. "Not yet."

The soles of her shoes scraped the cinder block above him. Glancing up, he saw her standing on the edge of the ledge, leaning over to stare down at the street. The rain had soaked her hair, plastering the dark tendrils to the sides of her cream-colored face. Her dark clothes clutched enticingly to every slight curve. He forced his gaze to her eyes.

"Maybe he's finally had his fill and moved on." Doubtful, but he needed to say something.

She shook her head. "Unlikely. He's stuck around this long. At this point, he's mocking us. He's daring us to come find him and stop him."

"He's doing a real good job of avoiding us." An unnerving thought popped into his head. "Think someone's been leaking our movements to him?"

The muscles along her neck tightened as she clenched her jaw. He could see the gears turning, her mind working to see all the potential angles. Could there be a leak? Were they sending information to this maniac? To what point? And the biggest question, were they connected with Aizen? Perhaps he was being paranoid, letting his hatred of Aizen convince him the man was responsible for everything terrible thing that happened in their lives. The world was an old, large place filled with all types of enemies, not just one.

Amongst all the other things he was learning about his new life, Ichigo had discovered the Councils were on less than friendly terms with one another. Where he had thought there was an interconnected community of vampires, there was a fragmented cluster of foreign powers vying for the best resources. They used subterfuge to spy on one another to gain the upper hand in all matters of diplomacy and war. It was almost funny how similar the vampires were to the humans.

So could this rogue be someone planted by another Council to spy on the British Council's recovery and test them?

"There's always a chance," Rukia finally responded, her deep voice speaking the words with the slow draw of hesitation as if saying it made the possibility more likely.

"Either way, it's not going to make our job any easier," he offered in weak consolation. Standing, he reached above his head and grabbed hold of the ledge. With ease, he pulled himself up and over the edge to stand next to Rukia. A year ago he would have broken his neck trying such a stunt, now it was as natural as taking a step.

"When has our job ever been easy?" She smirked up at him and he wondered if craning her neck like that hurt. He wasn't stupid enough to ask. He rather liked his shins without bruises.

She turned and hopped onto the flat surface of the roof. The gravel barely shifted under her weight as she landed, her footsteps inaudible as she made her way towards the access door. He enjoyed watching the subtle sway of her hips, the confident, powerful stride of her step.

How easy would it be? To catch up to her, tilt her head to the side, and just sink his teeth in?

He stilled, regretting the thought as soon as it appeared in his mind.

"Are you staying here or moving on to the next sector?"

He suddenly felt like irritating her - revenge for clouding his senses and tempting him. "Wherever my princess commands." With a flourish of his arm, he gave a slight bow. He didn't have to see her face to know she was glaring at him, but he looked up anyway.

The corners of her eyes twitched in annoyance and a tempting vein in her neck pulsed as she worked her jaw. And then she was in front of him, the butt of her sword slamming into his gut. He coiled in around it and gasped for breath. It was always surprising how much power she could put behind her strikes.

"You asked for it," she remarked casually as he growled his displeasure. "You know I hate being called that."

Despite the heft of the blow, he didn't regret it. It was childish, he knew, but sometimes he simply couldn't help himself. There was something devilishly satisfying about ruffling her feathers. It was almost like they were normal people, living normal lives. His amusement faltered when her demeanor suddenly changed. Her features softened and her eyes darkened with a sadness he was painfully familiar with.

"You all right?"

The emotion was gone with a blink. She schooled her features and replaced the icy mask she normally wore. "I'm fine."

Obviously, that was a lie, but when Rukia didn't want to talk about something, there was nothing to be done. But it was easy enough to guess at what had bothered her, what had revealed the tender wounds she kept hidden away. He wasn't the only one who had lost everything.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, he felt a bolt of heat run up his arm. The sensation was like a shock to his system, and he felt the need to jump back, feel his heartbeat steady. He managed to keep his hand in place and even offer a smile.

If she felt a similar sensation, she didn't show it. Instead, she glanced up at him and barely managed to stifle a burst of laughter.

He scowled and pulled his hand away, the uncomfortable heat dying immediately. "What's so funny?"

"Your face," she snorted. "It looks like you're constipated."

Ignoring her, mostly because he couldn't come up with any kind of retort that would salvage his ego, Ichigo started towards the door. Despite it coming at the cost of his own pride, he was relieved to see her smile.

Unfortunately, it was short-lived.

The wind shifted, carrying the scent of blood directly to them. It was faint, like a finger pricked by glass. The cacophony of other smells mixed with the rain made it difficult to detect, but it was there. Someone was bleeding, and not from a mere scratch.

Rukia was pressing on her earpiece. "We've picked up the scent of human blood. Judging by the wind direction, it's more than likely coming from Sector 4. Wait for the signal while Kurosaki and I confirm it's our target."

"Wait. What?" Ichigo rounded on her. She ignored him.

"Confirmed. Alpha Team on standby and awaiting your signal."

Rukia dropped her hand from her ear and turned to see the stern look he was giving her.

"What are you doing?"

"My job," she replied curtly, quirking an eyebrow. He felt the strings of his patience twang. He hated when she played innocent.

"Do you know how much shit I'm going to get in if the Councillors find out I let you come into the field with me?"

The vein in her neck pulsed again and her eyes flashed dangerously. Admittedly, he probably could have said that better, but he really didn't like getting bitched at by ten different people.

"You aren't 'letting' me do anything," she snapped sharply. "If the Chancellors have a problem with it, they can come to me directly."

He was pretty sure they had. Rukia was notorious for failing to be a good little Councilor who sat on her hands and remained behind in the safety of the surveillance van or even her office in the Consulate. It was generally frowned upon that someone of her position was actively putting herself in danger when it wasn't necessary. And it stopped being necessary about five months ago. Of course, the hunters who worked with her appreciated being led by someone who was more than willing to fight beside them and get their hands dirty. They respected her and would do anything she asked them to.

Which is why he didn't normally put up much of a fight. As much as he wanted to do his job and keep her safe, he knew there was no stopping her. And she normally did better after a hunt, her cheeks flushed and smiles coming more easily. They revitalized her, making her considerably more companionable and easy to live with. Tonight, however, he felt uneasy and would have preferred she stayed behind. It would never happen, but at least he could say he tried.

"I'll point them your way then," he sighed. She huffed and waved her hand in the air as if swatting a fly. He had a feeling that "fly" was making the buzzing sounds of the Councilors hounding her.

"Let them bitch. I have every right to decide who should be in the field or not, and I've determined my skills may be needed for this particular mission."

Ichigo stilled. "You mean you think this rogue might be connected to Aizen and you don't want to risk anyone else questioning him."

"Why don't we go ask them."

And then she was off, jumping from one roof to the next as if she was skipping over small puddles instead of 15-foot gaps between buildings. Ichigo was immediately behind her.

The smell of blood grew stronger the closer they got to the source. It hit him like a sledgehammer with every gust, every sniff, slamming him and shaking his bones, down to his core. He began to salivate, the roots of his fangs itching to puncture flesh and gorge himself. He bit into his lip again.

Ahead, Rukia stopped at the edge of a rooftop, her gaze focused on the alley below. Her hand was raised in a fist, signaling him to stop. When he was beside her, she indicated to look below. The harsh mixture of bright city lights and vapid darkness of the alley made it difficult for his eyes to adjust and focus on what she wanted him to see. Pulling the hood of his jacket over his head, he was able to block out the light and see the silhouette of swaying figures, like reeds dancing in the wind.

To a passerby, they might have been a couple locked in a passionate embrace. Guttural moans echoed off the brick walls, barely audible as the rain began to roar around them. It did little to dampen the staggering smell of blood.

The walls trembled.

Rukia motioned. Fortifying the walls and shaking the beast off, he dropped into the alley. His stomach fluttered, and he enjoyed the momentary thrill of freefall. Then he braced himself for impact, his knees bending as he hit the ground. Straightening, he spotted Rukia landing on the other side of the alley without a sound.

He was nearly knocked off his feet. The smell hit him like a wrecking ball, smashing against him and cracking the walls of his control. Blood. There was so much blood. It was pooled on the ground like a dam released. Streams of it traversed the trash-filled street gutter, pouring into the storm drain. The stirring beast launched itself at the fractured walls, demanding release so it could partake in the feast before him.

Covering his nose and mouth, Ichigo tried to reign everything in. This wasn't food. It wasn't a banquet. It was a human being. A person. A girl.

A girl being ripped to pieces.

She was limp, draped backwards, staring at him with vacant eyes as the vampire feasted on her flesh. He was dedicated to carefully peeling away the skin of her neck like the crispy layer of fried chicken. Veins and muscles were exposed. Blood trailed down her throat, soaking what was once a white sweater. The vampire hummed with satisfaction, licking at the freshly exposed meat. Ichigo couldn't tear his eyes away.

Suddenly the vampire stopped. He licked his lips with a loud, smacking sound and raised his head to glance at Ichigo. The lower half of his face was stained red, almost like war paint from native tribes.

"I would offer you a taste, but I don't like to share." His lips spread wide. "Not that there's much left anyway.

Bits of muscle and clots of blood were stuck between his teeth. Tufts of his black hair fell from his face, revealing a cloth covering his left eye. The woman in his arms stared at Ichigo with dull eyes. She was young, barely 20. Her whole life had been ahead of her. Now she was nothing but a lifeless shell, reduced to a meal that would be discarded like a piece of trash.

Rage consumed him. The beast was silent as he reached for his sword.

"We don't have anyone matching your description in our database." Rukia's voice was strong, steady. Ichigo was almost furious she could look so calm with such a grisly scene before her, but he wished he could be just at heartless at this moment.

The vampire didn't look at Rukia, his eye on Ichigo's hand. "Maybe your system is still busted from that attack. I heard you guys got your asses handed to you."

Rukia narrowed her eyes at the back of his head. Ichigo gripped his hilt tightly, but she didn't give him the signal to attack. They didn't know what their rogue looked like. There was a chance that this wasn't their guy. If he had permission to travel through the territory, they would have to let him go with a warning to clean up his mess. Ichigo felt the bile rise in his throat. If vampires had permission, they could kill as long as they didn't do it often and didn't leave a mess behind.

Ichigo really hoped this was their rogue.

"Name and Identification Number. Otherwise, I'll immediately label you as a rogue and take you in for questioning."

Ichigo growled unhappily at the thought of bringing this asshole in alive after what he had done. Council rules or not, he had murdered someone, killed when it wasn't necessary. Ichigo wasn't going to let him leave the territory with just a slap on the wrist.

Rukia must have heard him and shot him a look of warning.

"Silly me, I must have left my ID in my other pants." The vampire finally turned to face Rukia. Ichigo didn't like the way his smile widened even further. "Well, well, well. Isn't this my lucky night. I didn't think they were letting you out of your room."

If his comment bothered her, Rukia didn't let it show. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

He snickered. The motion shook the body of the dead women slightly and Ichigo felt his obedience slip.

"I thought they were keeping you locked up tight in that tower of theirs. Or did you sneak out? I've heard you're rather good at sneaking about."

This time, Rukia's hand settled on the hilt of her own sword. "You talk a lot."

The vampire shrugged. "So I've been told. Someone else likes to talk about you a lot as well."

She didn't twitch in response, but Ichigo noticed the rain around her freeze and bounce off her like little white pellets.

"And who would that be?"

"That's for me to know."

Rogue or not, this asshole had a connection to Aizen, which meant they needed to take him alive. Ichigo silently cursed his bad luck.

"What's he planning?" Rukia asked. Her tone was even, calm, but Ichigo could hear the slight ragged edge to her voice.

The rogue gave her a playfully confused smile. "Who?"

Her patience dwindled and she bared her teeth in a show of force. "Sousuke Aizen!"

Instead of being unnerved by her display, he hummed in thoughtful consideration, making a show of tapping his finger on his chin. The girl bobbed as he shifted his weight. "Nope. Not ringing a bell."

The grip on Rukia's sword tightened. Any minute she would break and kill the vampire, connection to Aizen or not. Ichigo was split between excitement and jealousy. He wanted to be the one to cut this douchebag into little pieces.

"I got it! Let's play a game!" The rogue's smile faded as he held the girl out like an offering. "One of you takes a good long suck and I'll answer your question."

Ichigo's stomach roiled, tumbling between desire and revulsion. "Go to Hell."

The rogue snorted. "I'd heard you were pretty tight-laced, but really, I think you're just as twisted as I am. I bet you get your kicks a different way." He tilted his head, studying Rukia as if evaluating every inch of her. "You're the types that like to be cut and sucked on."

Rukia's nose curled and he laughed.

"That's it, huh? How about we go a round, and then I'll think about answering your questions."

Mine.

The constraints snapped. Pulling his sword from his sheath, Ichigo charged the rogue. Burying his shoulder beneath his ribs, hitting the bastard with the full force of his body. The girl fell from his grip and hit the ground with a sickening thud. Ichigo felt a moment of regret but turned his attention to his target. The rogue stumbled backwards, nearly toppling over. Giving him no time to recover, Ichigo slammed into him again.

The rogue was tall and lanky, but it took quite a bit of power to launch him into the side of the building. Ichigo sunk the black blade of his sword into the vampire's shoulder and pinned him to the wall.

"Oh, ho, ho," the vampire chuckled. Ichigo winced as the blood on his breath wafted into his nostrils. "So, one of the Council dogs has teeth! Feeling a little territorial are we?"

Ichigo snarled and twisted his sword. Hissing, the smile finally faded, giving Ichigo a small taste of satisfaction.

"I'll ask you again," Rukia began, standing behind Ichigo. "What is Aizen planning? If you answer, I can offer you a quick death."

"An execution without a trial?" The rogue mused. "And here I thought the Councils were supposed to be just and righteous."

"Ichigo."

Ichigo twisted the blade again, earning another hiss of pain.

"Okay! All right! Shit! You guys have no sense of humor. I surrender." Mockingly, he stretched his hands out for her to cuff.

It was so slight Ichigo almost missed it. A tiny glimmer of silver. Instinctively he jumped back, but not before feeling the bite of a ragged blade as it tore across his abs. Rukia drew her own sword and struck at the rogue, but he'd gotten himself free and feinted to the left, slipping behind her. He pressed his foot to her back and kicked her into the wall. She struck it with such force it gave beneath her, burying her in dusty bricks. He began to move towards her, but Ichigo planted himself between them.

The rogue pulled up short.

"Is that all you've got?" He sighed in boredom. Lifting his sword to his eye, he studied the blood on the silver edge of the blade. Ichigo clenched his jaw and gripped his sword. The wound on his torso throbbed and ached, but he ignored it. "Can't say I understand what that maniac is thinking, but you're not nearly as interesting as he made you out to be. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Fangless dogs don't have much of a bite."

And then he was gone. Ichigo prepared to give chase. Like hell he was going to let this bastard live to kill again. But the sounds of Rukia digging herself out of the pile of rubble stopped him in his tracks.

"Son of a bitch," she cursed. She stumbled to her feet, clutching her right arm. Her eyes fell to his wound. "That looks pretty bad. You all right?"

He was supposed to be the bodyguard, the one who took care of her, and she was the one worried about him? Figured.

He nodded. "You?"

"Just a dislocated shoulder."

She waved him off as he approached to help. It was annoying how stubborn she could be sometimes.

"That went well," he remarked sardonically, leaning against the wall as he waited for her. He studied the rooftops above, itching to give chase. But Rukia hadn't given the order and didn't seem as interested in pursuing him, which was odd given he was very clearly connected to Aizen.

Rukia chuckled bitterly. "It certainly could have gone better." She eyed a sturdy part of the wall suspiciously. "While he was running his mouth, I managed to get a message to the Alpha Team. They should be close by. Hopefully they caught sight of him and gave chase."

That certainly explained why she wasn't moving very quickly. "Is that okay? He seems like he knows Aizen somehow."

Taking a deep breath, Rukia threw herself against the wall. Ichigo cringed as he heard an unpleasant pop. Tenderly, she groped around the joint of her shoulder, making sure everything was back in place.

"We don't have much choice in the matter. If they catch him, interrogating him at the Consulate might not be so bad. They have a better setup."

"Meaning he has a better chance of surviving your questioning."

Rukia sent him a withering glare.

The Alpha Team checking in saved Ichigo from the verbal lashing she'd been prepared to give him. It wasn't his fault she had a tendency to push the limits. Using her good arm, Rukia pressed her earpiece.

"Kuchiki."

"Alpha Team reporting. We lost him. Should we continue pursuit until we pick up his trail again?"

Sighing, Rukia shook her head. "No. He'll have gone into hiding. We'll keep surveillance in the area. Head back to the Consulate. We'll meet you there. Ichigo's bleeding all over the city, so we'll be stopping by the infirmary."

"Roger. Alpha Team out."

"I'm fine," Ichigo stated, irked she'd made it sound like he'd gotten beaten to a pulp. The guy only managed to land one hit. "It's just a scratch."

"Oh?" Reaching out, she lifted his shirt, exposing his abs to the cold rain.

"Hey!"

"Does that look like 'just a scratch' to you?"

Admittedly, the wound hurt a lot more than being grazed by a serrated knife, but the gash streaking across his muscles looked more heinous than he'd expected. The rogue's sword had sliced a six-inch tear, with lacerations stretching out from the main wound like tiny roots.

"There goes my modeling career."

Rukia rolled her eyes and dropped the hem of his shirt. The wet fabric slapped against his injury, causing him to wince.

When the pain and frustration dulled, he found himself staring at the body of the dead girl. Rain had drenched her clothing and hair. Trails of makeup and tears streaked her bronze skin. The flesh from just below her ear to the top of her shoulder had been torn away, leaving behind tattered muscles and joints, and tiny specks of bone exposed. If someone didn't know better, they would have thought a large wild cat had gone at her. Pity and grief tightened around his heart and lungs like a vice. There was nothing he could have done to save her. She was dead before they arrived, but it still felt like he failed her - just like he failed his family.

"What do we do about her?" His throat had tightened, constricting around his vocal chords and making it difficult to speak.

Rukia had pulled her phone from her pocket and was typing a message. She looked up from the bright screen and over at the girl. There was a flash of sympathy there, but it quickly vanished.

"The cleanup crew will take care of her."

Ichigo snapped. "And, what? She becomes just another missing person?"

A hand on his arm caught his attention. Pools of deep amethyst stared up at him. He wasn't sure what he saw there. Compassion? Remorse? Understanding?

"If we leave her body here for the police, it will only incite more panic. Scared humans don't tend to think logically and it may end up endangering more people." She sighed and offered him a weak smile. "I know it's not ideal, but it's the best we can do for now."

Clenching his jaw, Ichigo looked back at the girl's body. She had died in an alley, scared and probably begging for someone to save her, thinking about her family and loved ones. And now she would disappear into the depths of the Consulate until it was deemed "safe".

"She's suffered enough."

"Judging by the wounds he inflicted, she was dead within a few seconds. She didn't suffer long."

Her words were meant to be comforting, but they were anything but. They certainly wouldn't be any consolation for the girl's family, who wouldn't know what had happened to her for months. That short period where his sisters had been missing had been terrifying, not knowing whether they were alive or dead, suffering or safe.

Even then, Rukia hadn't seem affected. Considering how long she'd been alive, it shouldn't have been surprising. How many people had she seen like this? How many victims had she hidden away? How many families had she known would suffer because of her dark dealings? There were glimpses of compassion and regret, but could she feel any more than that?

The memory of her grief for Giles slapped him in the face.

"Come on," she said, tugging on his arm. "There's a surveillance van not far from here. We'll get you patched up until Dr. Bell can take a look at that."

As they exited the alley, he could hear the sounds of sirens, their long wails echoing in the night as if mourning the tragedy of it all.

Thank you all for reading!

Edit: The tail end of this chapter has been updated to fix a continuity error I found.