A/N: Well, everyone I am utterly amazed at myself for making yet again another story. But this one has been driving me insane for weeks so I finally was like you know what I don't care if I have a billion stories in the process already let's just throw one more onto the gigantic pile eh? Well, hope you like it!

Chapter 1

The boy wielding his unbelievably large sword swung at the large black mass slicing through as easy as butter. Blue spirit particles decorated the area, sweeping the evil aura from the air. This was his reward for a job well done, it had always marveled him. The way something so troublesome and reckless could create beauty to this extent. Of course he would never admit this simply because of the fact that he was the one and only Ichigo Kurosaki, the substitute Shinigami.

A Rukia Kuchiki seemed content sitting on the sidelines watching her roommate grin to himself probably prompting his ego. She had been able to take care of hollows on her own accord now, she wasn't just a groupie anymore, but she never got tired of watching her orange haired companion do all the hard work. At least that's what she kept telling herself, deep down she knew there was something else, but she couldn't quite figure out what 'that' was.

"Now to find where that midget got to." Ichigo sighed swinging Zangetsu over his right shoulder letting his left hand lay limp to his side, without for once a scratch. (Interesting)

He was mighty proud of himself, he had always seemed to get some type of wound during any fight, whether it was a hollow fight or a verbal spat between him and Rukia and today he would be able to go home without any false accusations from his family. Karin knew perfectly well why he'd always be so blooded up, but there was no use in ranting on about a totally different situation when going with the flow would have saved both her and Ichigo a chunk of life they weren't going to get back.

"Rukia!?" Ichigo hollered in hope of a response, even though he knew his efforts were futile.

Every damn time Ichigo finally found her she'd be in some weird trance, with no chance of snapping out of it without getting physical. Once it went so far that he'd ended up carrying her home on his shoulder. It was inevitable that he would get smacked for getting blood up her dress.

"Why was it his fault for her lack of awareness?" He thought to himself focusing on some random tree outside the park where he'd just recently slain his last victim.

"Then again," he interrupted his own thoughts, "How could I say that about Rukia when I'm the idiot standing in the middle of the main road talking to himself?" With that he thought it would be unwise to continue his conversation with himself so without a second thought started jumping roof to roof, something that had become second nature.

The black haired shinigami was about to make her way over to Ichigo when her beeper went off.

"Another one?" Rukia shouted to herself readying to slam the phone onto the concrete, she thought better though.

"Ichigo will have to wait" she sighed really not wanting to run half way across town looking for only god knows what.

If Ichigo knew this himself he'd be mighty pissed, since he was already speeding to the other side if town looking for Rukia went. "Where the hell is she?" It never took this long, he was even resulting to using shunpo. Normally he wouldn't care so much for the well being of his friend, but this occasion was different, she'd been the one to hide his body, his one weakness in this world since once it's gone so was he.

XxXxXxX

"Damn," Rukia hissed jumping back narrowly avoiding a sharp tentacle waved in front of her.

"He's pretty nasty looking." She continued, studying her target. It was a sewer green, large front tentacles that waved menacingly in the air over head, down on all fours, and of course a hollow mask with a green design trailing down the right side.

The short shinigami had become rusty from the lack there of action. It was a terrible temporary weakness, especially in this line of business. Her breathing came in greater gasps as the fight wore on. Blood trailed down her arm, a tiny flow, hardly what you would call an alert for concern.

"Maybe I needed Ichigo more then I thought," she pondered while ducking as another arm swung by, gracing her left shoulder impairing it.

"Shit," She cried as she dropped her sword cradling the wounded shoulder in her unhurt hand.

"Why is this so hard? Experience or not I shouldn't be having so much trouble." she yelled in her head.

One more hit and she'd be through.

"Having trouble shinigami?" the hollow menacingly laughed out retracting his tentacles for the moment.

Rukia just sat appreciating the reprieve before death.

"Don't be ashamed, it's a 'special' ability of mine. One hit, one slice even if it's the size of a paper cut you'd get infected." It paused glaring at Rukia growing a crooked smile.

It liked to play with it's prey, it had always made the meal that much more enjoyable.

"Infected?" The shinigami said in gasps.

The pain was growing worse, she could sense something flowing to each individual joint supporting her body.

"My skin is made of 89 percent toxin, one touch is as toxic as twenty snake injections."

She was taken back by how stupid and naive she'd been; the fight was lost from the beginning. It'd only been toying with her, giving her false accusations till the end, that she figured was about now.

"See, it's not that dishonorable of a way to go. I know all you death gods are all for honor and nobility." It laughed readying to attack.

He was starving now, just the presence of any reiatsu would have set him off.

"Was this really it? Was I to live just for this moment? Was the whole point of my being to be this hollows snack?" Thousands of thoughts and last questions flooded her brain. Many of the questions couldn't have been answered, but she did agree on something; fate had been very cruel to her.

"No." She retraced her words. Not completely unfair, after all she did meet Ichigo.

"The poison must have been getting to her head now," she thought growing a some what of a smile, No way would she ever think her life was complete from just the confrontation and befriending of Ichigo Kurosaki, the thick headed lug.

He'd only been in her life for this small sliver of time, no one person could make that much of an impression on anyone, shinigami or not. A movement stirred her thought process, it was the end of her. "Bye Ichigo." she whispered not caring if the large chunk of matter before her heard.

XxXxXxX

"Where the hell are you Rukia?" Ichigo was now becoming very pissed off it had been what ten minutes?

"What's the matter carrot top?" The red headed shinigami, formally known as Renji hollered jumping in rhythm with his annoyed friend.

"Rukia disappeared." Ichigo said nonchalantly ignoring his latest insult.

"Again!?" He said in disbelief. "She really must not like you."

He laughed nearly avoiding Ichigo's killer right hook.

"What do you care?" Renji said become more serious, "It's not like your affected in anyway by her disappearance."

What he said was only logical, after all Ichigo showed no sign of affection for his partner. Little did Renji or logic for that matter know that Ichigo had tons of feelings for Rukia, he was just really good at hiding emotion.

"She hid my body." he said covering for the true reasoning that he'd just recently figured out.

"Damn, that sucks." he retorted, while matching his pace with Ichigo's which had suddenly began rising.

"I'll help you look for her, after all you're awful at locating spiritual energy." Renji laughed stepping away from Ichigo, turning to head off in the opposite direction before his friend would have a chance to retaliate.

Ichigo clenched his teeth together letting the insult slide, after all he had bigger issues on his mind. Bigger than he could ever imagine.

"Rukia better not be in danger or she's screwed because Renji is just as bad at sensing reiatsu as I am." he thought to himself.

If only he knew what was to come.

The trees had been getting too familiar for Ichigo's liking. Even though he'd only left from Renji's presence just minutes before, it was like you've seen one tree you've seen them all. Searching for Rukia had become a great annoyance, he was nearing the edge of the city and there had still been no sign of her.

"Maybe I should go-" Before he could even process his own thought he felt a weird vibe slither it's way through his body.

"Rukia." he said unconsciously.

He wasn't sure how or why, but Rukia was in danger. He had to pick up the pace. His presence had become a blur, merged with the air that seemed to get thinner as thoughts progressed. Now most people fear the worst in times like these and Ichigo was no exception. He'd gone from a bunny related crisis to well, the absolute worst, the possibility of death. He shuttered shaking away those vile thoughts, but they kept coming back like they were telling him to find her fast, to be in time.

"A hollow?" He said to himself hearing a distinct cry being produced from one, "And it's hungry."

He'd been able to tell the difference between calls, that's how long he'd been playing hero. He set course for the noise somehow knowing that Rukia was involved, his gut told him so, after all that's what told him to stab himself with a sketchy little girls sword two years ago and look what happened. He'd survived and met Rukia. Fate was most defiantly interesting in many ways.

"Oh god Rukia." he grunted in disbelief.

He had finally made it to the battle field. Rukia was mere moments from death clenching her shoulder, moaning with pain. A hollow was revving for his last attack, in fact it was half way there. The tentacle had maybe ten feet left until it reached impact. Ichigo did only what instinct told him to do, save her.

He leapt forward, no plan or strategy. Zangetsu had no time to be unraveled, there was only a slight opening one that would cost him, but his gut once again led his thoughts and it told him that anything was worth her. A scream rang through the night piercing the silent cloak surrounding the area.

Direct hit.

To be continued..

A/N: Okay everyone, how'd you all like it? A little darker than I normally right, but hey I thought it was good. Me myself is quite proud and have a great feeling of accomplishment. So, I would like reviews, and if you're a normal reader then I know that you know about the whole favoring issue, if your not then let me explain. I have three other stories I'm in the middle of on here, strangely most of them Bleach (I've been having odd Bleach cravings lately not sure why) and whatever story at the time seems to be doing the best or is the more popular one will get my full undivided attention for a while. So, the more reviews the faster the next chapter comes out! So, REVIEW!

On a side note, is it snowing where anyone else is because it's like four feet of snow where I am. I'm on vacation in New Hampshire and its like one gigantic blizzard, it doesn't stop snowing. But it is fun to play in. On top of that I get to spend it with my boy cousin (Sophmore) with three of his friends which are boys and the best part is that I'm the only girl in result being that I get their undivided attention. Isn't that great? Well, I know the girls reading this would appreciate it. For the boys, uh let's see…we played Super smash bros. for hours on end and I won lots o rounds! I'm skilled with a remote and Marth. -Your Neko Writer

Random Anime question:

What couple do you prefer in this story?

A. Orihime and Uyruu

Or

B. Orihime and Chad

Also…

Does anyone like Renji and Tatsuki? Answer

1 for yes

2 for no

IMPORTANT: If you decide to answer the question put it like 1A or 2B on your review. It's a lot easier plus makes less work for you all! See I can be considerate at times. Also, be looking for these types of questions throughout the story, so don't forget to scroll all the way down!!!!