A/N: It's been too long since I've drabbled for IchiRuki, but hopefully I'll pick it up again. I've done a few other Bleach fics, so it's not like I've been too lazy!

Keeping Hold

By Nessie

Fierce wind causes the folds of his dark Shinigami robes to snap and sway as he once again hauls Zangetsu up and over his shoulder. Readying, she thinks, for whatever comes next. Even if it's death.

And what can he mean to gain from this, staring down the end of his life as though it is nothing but another enemy he must overcome for the sake of others? The cliffs all around them, both tangible and unseen, appear to rock as the vicious storm sends up a spray from the ocean. It is a warning. Rukia wants to heed it, but Ichigo…as always, Ichigo remains unmoved by the danger, unless that movement is forward.

There is a thick flow of blood on the side of his face, the one lucky cut of the Hollow he has been fighting. The fight has made him foolish, and he has allowed himself to be lured to danger where the earth is unsteady and the sky cruel. Lightning spears between the clouds like knives aimed for his heart.

Rukia wonders how, over the hiss of the wind and the gunshot-like pound of the rain, she can hear the relentless beat of her heart in her ears.

The Hollow speaks; obscene words meant to goad the bright-haired youth, make him angry. And maybe he is angry but that smirk that tells of overconfidence never falters, and he doesn't miss his chance of throwing back a curse or two. That is the way Ichigo lives…eagerly, desperate for his chances.

Don't be stupid, she begs him in her mind. Please don't be stupid. She doesn't think she could take the death of Ichigo…first there was Kaien's death, and it had split her heart in pieces innumerable. After such time it took, hunting down those scattered bits and mending herself back together as carefully as she would mend something sacred, Rukia is sure that there would be no finding her heart's jagged shards a second time.

The Hollow goes in, and Ichigo begins his new attack without a stitch of fear in his eyes. Rukia's gaze holds enough for both of them. And she, too, is the only one who can see the Hollow's roundabout counter, using the blinding sheets of rain to his advantage.

"Watch out, Ichigo!"

He hesitates for just a moment, due either to her voice or to the previously unthinkable idea that the Hollow might win. But then he swivels and swings, and the Hollow is caught with his claws raised – claws that had been zeroing in on a lively human heart. The wayward soul dissipates into billions of lights and is gone.

Rukia sighs as Ichigo turns and raised his sword, sending her a victory grin.

The cliff begins to crack, and she's shouting Ichigo, Ichigo, ICHIGO but then he's there, grabbing her and taking off. They make it onto sturdy grass as the dry earth they had been standing on crumbles and falls away, drowning in a deep, storm-darkened sea.

They are clutching each other, Rukia's heart is still loud, but now the unsteady tempo mingles with Ichigo's heavy breathing. His too-tight grip on her is reassuring, makes her feel certain.

She lets go of his robes, but she still keeps a tight hold on him, as he does for her.

The End