Mesmerized by his lips, I did not hear his question. "Rukia!?" his eyes filled with concern. The pain in my head was worsening. A chill went down through my spine as black dots began to appear before my vision. They slowly multiplied. A tingling sensation began to spread from my spine to the rest of body. "Rukia! Look at me." Ichigo demanded as he dropped the umbrella that was keeping us dry. –Idiot, now we are both going to get wet, and I am looking at you— I glared him. Not aware that I could no longer feel the sensation of the raindrops hitting my face or that my reply was not spoken. "Shit Rukia! Have long have your bandages been like this!?"

I numbly looked down on my right arm as Ichigo pushed up the jacket sleeve to reveal the rest of the bandages. The black dots were now swimming erratically obstructing my vision. I blinked, and they rearranged enough that I could see the pristine white bandaged had turned into a dull reddish-brown color. When did that happen? Without my consent he scooped me into his arms and run in the direction of his house. I made a sound to protest, but nothing came out. I frowned as I attempted to move my mouth. Nothing happened. What the heck…why can't I make my mouth move?

Beep Beep Beep. It was Ichigo's phone indicating a message had come in. "Shit," he cursed as he kneeled down to set me on his knees as he fumbled to take his phone out his jean pocket. He cursed again when he saw the message. I frowned as I read the text message 'Karakura Park.' Isn't that the park we are in? Surprised, I wondered what that meant.

He looked down on me, and cursed again. "Fuck…" He quickly dialed a couple numbers, "Uryuu pick up the damn phone! Shit!" He attempted the call again and this time with success, "Uryuu!…Orihime? Why…Is Uryuu there? Nevermind! Tell him Karakura park. I have Rukia with me and I can't…" A loud buzzing filled my hearing drowning out the rest of the conversation. Ichigo hung up the phone, as he picked me up and continued his run home.

The dark presence I felt earlier reappeared, and sending chills down my back. –Ichigo—I shouted to warn him, but my mouth made no sound. Next thing I knew Ichigo went flying into a wall and I was falling down. My body landed like a bag of cement. I cringed in anticipation of the pain, but I did not feel the impact.

A dark looming shadow that looked like an amoeba appeared before me. The amoeba black mass had a small white mask at the middle of his mouth surrounded by what looked like teeth. The monster was gleefully looking at me. I felt something cold tightened around my bandaged arm. Dull color was replaced with a bright scarlet color.

= What's this? A shinigami, THE shinigami…I can't believe my luck that I was the first to find you! =

I shivered at the sound of the monster. An appendage shot out from its body. It wrapped itself around my body. I screamed internally as I felt the monster began to eat away what felt like my soul. I felt something inside my soul stir.

=YMMM! So tasty! If I would have known you were this tasty I would not have agreed to find you for him. A little nibble wouldn't hurt you. =

"Hey you fucker! Get away from her!" shouted Ichigo as he soared through the air towards the monster. He swung a large sword down onto the arm that had attached to me. The detached arm dissipated. In a black yukata he stood before me as he held up the large sword in a defensive stance. Wasn't he wearing jeans and a t-shirt? The monster back away screaming in pain as his voice changed from a gleeful child to an angry man.

=Another shinigami? You little shit. You are going to regret interrupting my meal! =

The monster quickly tightened into a ball as Ichigo swung again onto the monster. Ichigo frowned as his attack did nothing. The monster laughed as it reformed itself around him as random black limbs sprang towards him from the shadow. Ichigo counterattacked the black limbs that were jutting out to pierce him. He realized too late that the monster had started to form sphere around him. He cursed as he started to slice through the sphere while he dodged the limbs that jutted out randomly attempting to attack him.

The limbs were beginning to form faster. Some were able to get past his defense as it jabbed into his body and quickly retreated before Ichigo could cut with his sword. The sphere reformed quickly at each swing. Ichigo was now breathing heavily at the exertion. With a malicious laughter, the monster tightened around him forming a sphere of swirling black mass. I could no longer see the slashes from Ichigo's sword. Blood began to drip from the ball.

-ICHIGO! - I screamed. –NO! NO! ICHIGO!- I struggled to get my body to respond. My vision blackened as the pool of blood grew below the ball.

OOxxxxOO

I awoke to a pair of lips softly kissing my own lips. What the?! Desire resonated through my whole body. Any coherent thoughts I had when I first awoke went out the window. My lips opened to deepen the kiss. Their arm tightened around my waist as they pulled me in closer. My own pressed against him matching his desire to my own. My hand was entangled in the softness of his hair while the other was doing an exploration of my kisser's body. I was shocked at my audacity as I lightly ran my free hand down from his defined hard pectorals down to his abdominals.

A soft moan escaped from my mouth as my hands felt the hardness, and the curves of the muscles. It was slick, probably from sweat I presumed. All coherent thoughts escaped me at that moment as my hand with trailed lower.

"Rukia," he moaned against my lips before deepening the kiss. His tongue expertly danced with mine. His hand slipped into my yukata as the other cradled my head. Wait a yukata?! When was I…I groaned distracted by his hands that had somehow found its way under my garment.

The touch of his warm hand on my cool bare skin was like a lightening strike. Surprised by how real it felt, I pushed him away. 'I can't do this' I whispered. I don't even know who I am kissing. Am I remembering a past memory? I can't be. His lips feel so real. This can't be a memory or a dream. "Rukia?" the young man asked confused by my action. I looked up at him, but met with darkness. I opened my eyes. They did not respond. I could feel a slight twitch but they didn't open.

With all the strength I got, I forced my eyes open. My view was greeted with a wobbly fan and a wooden ceiling. I frowned. What the hell… A weird blonde haired man in a green and white striped hat came into view from above. His emotionless gray eyes examined me. He frowned. I blinked, and was about to ask who the hell he was when I saw an orange color appear above me. Ichigo? Where the hell am I? My mouth did not make a sound. From what I could see Ichigo was talking to the man. The sounds were still muffled.

In the corner of my eye I could see that Ichigo yukata's was half off and covered in blood. My movement was unnoticed. –Idiot, why aren't you getting yourself looked at- His face turned into a scowl as he continued to talk to the man in the hat. I concentrated on his lips to see if I can make out what he was saying. I guess I don't have that ability. Luckily, at that time the buzzing ceased and I could hear their conversation.

"Urahara, why is she not waking up? Is her gigai broken? As far as I can see she doesn't have any new injuries besides the one on her arm. And the hollow didn't leave any damage," Ichigo said to the man in the hat. Urahara, hmmm that must be his name. What is a gigai? Sounds dirty…Hollow? For some reason a bunny with a negative symbol popped in my mind. I giggled.

Ignoring Ichigo, he examined me closer. He frowned, "I thought she was supposed to be staying within your house? Do I need to send her back into Soul Society with her brother for better protection?" I have a brother!? What is this Soul Society?

"No! I can protect her better than that prick! The last time I let her leave to go back to Soul Society, I end up finding her almost dead in the desert of hell!" shouted Ichigo as he crossed his arms. With a serious face he spoke his concern, "What worries me is the hollow."

"Did you destroy the hollow?"

"I think so…" Ichigo said as he looked away blushing.

"What do you mean you think so?"

"Well…I awoke and he was gone…he won't be bothering us."

"How do you know that he won't come back?"

Ichigo's blushed deepened, and shaking his head he glared at Urahara, "Rukia was there with her Zanpakuto."

Urahara's eyebrow rose. "Interesting…she was awake and she had her zanpakuto out?" he asked.

"Well…she was one minute and the second she wasn't." Ichigo commented. He blushed at a thought, but he quickly regained his composure, "It was like she was all there…and then…"

Urahara muttered under his breath, "Interesting side effect, I wonder..." Raising his voice again, "Ichigo, I need you to keep Rukia safe and within the barrier I placed around your clinic, until I get back. Make sure she does not leave it! I need to go see an old friend. Jinta, let everyone know I will be gone for a few days."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed, "Every time you see an old friend it stirs up trouble for me."

Urahara brought his hand back over his head and laughed heartedly. "You wound me by your accusation."

"Well last time you went to see an old friend; I got an urgent message from you to fetch Rukia, who I mentioned left on her accordance. I had to sneak back into the Soul Society to find out that she was missing! And then I had to search from hell and back to find her in death's embrace!"

"Well you found her," pointed out Urahara, "I do need to go see this old friend, the sooner the better for Rukia's sake."

"But what about Rukia? She has been immobilized since this afternoon."

"Don't worry; the affect will wear off soon. It is just her gigai readjusting." As Urahara said that, I could feel a warm sensation spread throughout my body. As if someone one had flipped a switch turning on all of my nerves. I could every bruise and dull pain my body that it had acquired while I was immobilized.

"Why do I get the feeling you aren't telling me everything," Ichigo glared at him, "What do you mean…"

"Ichigo…" I murmured. Ichigo stopped his conversation with Urahara upon hearing my voice. He kneeled down and placed his ear near my mouth. I nipped it in anger.

"OWWWW!" He exclaimed as he clapped his hand over his ear, "What the heck Rukia!"

Urahara teased him, "Aw, to be young again."

He was turning a deep red, "You didn't have to nip at my ear. Shut up Urahara, this has nothing to do with you."

I sat up and pulled on his other ear as I scolded him, "Why are you standing there still bleeding! And your yukata is practically falling off!"

Ichigo stared down at his clothes. He smirked as he raised an eyebrow at me, "Liking what you see?"

Urahara laughed as he walked away, "I will let that Jinta know you will need some medical attention."

I blushed remembering the dream I had before I awoke. Despite all the blood, I could see his muscles that were well defined. I wonder if it was… I poked at his wound to distract my thoughts away from the dream. The poke caused Ichigo to go on his knees from the pain. I narrowed my eyes at him, "What bothers me is all the blood you are getting all over me."

"That fucking hurt midget," he said as weakly got on his knee, "This is what I get from saving you?"

I frowned, "You have some explaining to do…like what the hell was that monster? A hollow?"