Note: This is merely a quick note as to what inspired me to create this story. I've been watching bleach for a long time, and have never really been a fan of the Yumichika and Ikkaku couple. But as years have gone by I've warmed up to the couple and I've been reading a lot of stories about them. Not trying to hate on anyone's stories but I didn't feel as if the people whose stories I read truly captured the characters well enough to bring out the reactions of Ikkaku and the feelings of Yumichika about the whole situation. Ikkaku is smarter than people give him credit for plus they're best friends I'm sure that he would know the nature of his friend well enough to have figured it out. I also think that Yumichika doesn't want to ruin what they have by coming out with his true feelings in fear of ruining their friendship. So if that be the case I think Yumichika would deal with his feelings the same way he deals with his zanpakutou's power. He will do anything to keep people from finding out. Though Yumichika is gay I believe that Ikkaku is straight. So Ikkaku would deny that his best friend is in love with him. So if Yumichika were brave enough to open up to Ikkaku then reality would hit Ikkaku hard and he'd have a difficult time dealing with it. Also I wanted to capture Yumichika's more serious and sensitive side rather than his usual flamboyant, beauty obsessed side to prove that there is more to him than meets the eye. These are just my opinions so don't go hating on me for vocalizing them. Anyways now that my rant is over I will give you a brief summary and let you get on with the story.

Summary: Ikkaku and Yumichika have been friends for a long time. They have been through a lot together and Yumichika hasn't been able to come to terms with his feelings for Ikkaku. When Ikkaku faces a near death experience Yumichika is troubled with thoughts that his friend might die. He discovers his true feelings for Ikkaku and is somewhat guilty of the secrets he has kept. When Ikkaku's condition grows worse will Yumichika find the courage to tell his friend or will he be too late?

Time/Setting: This has no specific time but it's before Aizen betrays the Soul Society. This takes place in both the world of the living and the Soul Society.

Disclaimer: Unfortunate as it is I don't own Bleach . . . . :(

The night was bitterly cold. Frigid wind whipped the man's hair into his face. He stood in an alley in an attempt to get out of the wind but it sought him out. The battle that took place before his wasn't abnormal in any way. He'd done this about a thousand times. Standing aside and watching as his friend laughed maniacally through a heated battle. There was a small army of hollows of the Adjuchas class. Yumichika had quickly dealt with the ordinary hollows and let Ikkaku deal with the rest. He didn't have any doubt that the bald man would win. These may be large class hollows to a normal shinigami, but Ikkaku was up to the challenge. He'd practically begged to be given this mission. He hadn't found any suitable opponents for months and was becoming anxious for a good fight. Yumichika could have given Ikkaku somewhat of a challenge, but they have dueled together so often that it wasn't that much fun for either shinigami anymore. They knew each other's moves and specialties by heart.

At least the powers that Yumichika had been willing to present. He mused on the thought of him showing Ikkaku his true powers and what the outcome of a fight between them would be. It would never happen though. Yumichika could dream about what would happen and how Ikkaku would accept his power openly, but he knew that would never happen. Knowing what it may cause if Ikkaku ever found made Yumichika resist the urge to even think about him coming clean about his true powers. There was also one other matter that Yumichika himself couldn't come to terms with. His feelings regarding Ikkaku as more than a friend. The outcome of that was to horrendous to even think. So he merely pushed it out of his mind and dismissed his feelings an implausible speculation.

A sudden wave of spiritual pressure revived Yumichika from his thoughts and he looked upon the battle. One adjucha had Ikkaku pinned to the ground with his sword several feet from his grasp. Five large adjuchas, not counting the one holding Ikkaku to the ground, crept towards him and each bellowed out in turn. Ikkaku strained and struggled to wriggle out of the adjucha's grasp. Unable to break free he was rained upon by the hollows. Dread filled Yumichika. He'd always told himself that he would be fine if Ikkaku died in battle, but as the sudden thought of never seeing Ikkaku in one piece was too much to bear. He gripped the hilt of his zanpakuto but hesitated as Ikkaku's spiritual pressure wavered. He was still fighting back. Yumichika let his guard down but only slightly to see if Ikkaku would somehow pull himself out of this one. When Ikkaku's spiritual pressure dropped past a certain point ,Yumichika knew he had lost consciousness and was dying. He rushed at the swarm of adjuchas and made quick work of the first one. After that they all turned on him with blood on their lips.

Yumichika stole a quick glance at the limp and bloodied body of his friend. He wasn't able to get a good look at the injuries before the hollows charged. He whipped out his zanpakuto and immediately called upon his partial shikai. After receiving many wounds and directing the hollows away from Ikkaku he made connection with the soul society and told them of his current situation and Ikkaku's fatal condition. Reinforcements showed up to collect the fallen Ikkaku and a badly wounded Yumichika, who'd defeated the last hollow just as they arrived. As a fellow shinigami approached him to congratulate his success in finishing off the hollows, he collapsed into unconsciousness.

Curtains opened and the bandaged figures were bathed in sunlight. One was a rather handsome man whose breath was even and he seemed to sleep peacefully. The other a more rugged looking man whose wounds were more fatal and caused his breath to be ragged. His skin was deathly pale and the squad four members were well aware that he may not awake from his deep slumber. His injuries proved to be a challenge. They were slowly healing and here and there they would become infected. He was treated many times a day and was checked up on often. His progress was being charted carefully and the results caused some discomfort considering the man's disposition.

As the light flooded over his face Yumichika awoke to the blinding white light. He blinked several time to lose some of the heaviness of his eyelids. He glanced about the room. He soon recognized where he was. It hadn't been his first time in the squad four barracks. He eyed the curtain that separated him and his friend. He sat up slowly and yanked it to the side to reveal Ikkaku's mangled cadaver. Immediately relief flooded through him to see that he was still breathing. He hadn't even known he'd been that worried about Ikkaku. He sat back against the pillows of his bed and watched the rise and fall of Ikkaku's chest until the door opened and a nurse strolled in with a warm smile.

"What's his condition?" Yumichika asked and noticed the brief look of uncertainty on the nurse's face. The nurse had been given strict orders that if Yumichika asked his friend's condition she tell him Ikkaku was doing fine. They wanted to prolong the news to Yumichika until he was well enough that the stress and worry wouldn't affect his physical condition. The nurse knew however by the look on the man's face that he would worry no matter what. So disobeying her orders she told him the truth that he wasn't doing well. Concern washed over Yumichika's face and the nurse wondered for a moment if she shouldn't have told him, but instantly eliminated that thought. She would not have felt right lying to him.

Yumichika waited until the nurse had left before he let his eyes come to rest on the body of Ikkaku. There were so many thoughts that arose in his head that he became too conflicted to even begin to make sense of it. He shook his head free of those thoughts and once again returned his focus to the seemingly lifeless figure of his friend. He focused on the way the light poured in from the window and came to rest on the man's paled face. How even in his sickly condition he portrayed a beauty that would always be Ikkaku. His face didn't show any signs of pain, but Yumichika knew all too well that the real pain lay beyond the skin. Just as his did. He felt the guilt arise, but did nothing to stop an overwhelming sensation that this was his fault. At the same time he knew Ikkaku wouldn't have been happy if Yumichika had interfered. But Ikkaku was no longer in fighting condition when Yumichika impeded. And what would Ikkaku have felt like having lost to hollows! So Yumichika's actions were acceptable, at least that's what he told himself to ease the guilt.

Whew! Don't worry this isn't the end, but I am open to any criticism or suggestions. Please review it'd mean a lot to me!