Just had to make this. This story came to mind and I had to write it down. Updates will come quickly because chapters will be short.
Lost Heart
Can I have what is not there? Can I seek what I do not know?
To lose what was never mine. A purpose I must seek.
The first thing he knew was that he was perfectly alone, no one was near him. The sky was dark but for a crescent moon that lit up the sands.
Why am I here?
He looked around for something or someone to answer his question. But there was nothing but sand and what looked like twigs as far as the eye could see.
Who am I?
He looked at his hand. It was a pale color. He appeared to be wearing a white shihakusho, making him stand out; A blemish in the vast, godforsaken dessert.
A hole was centered at his chest. It didn't hurt, which was surprisingly strange. It just felt….empty. Like he had lost something important but couldn't remember what it was. And above his heart, tattooed on his chest, was the number 0. What purpose the number served, he also did not know.
There was a sword slung through the tie on his waist, it was almost as long as his legs. He moved his hands over the hilt.
Resolución.
He did not know how he knew its name, only that it was enough that he knew it.
He touched his face, the right side was smooth, but the left…there was something there. It felt like a mask. It stopped where his jaw started and seemed to be plastered all the way up to the back of his head. A horn jetted off at his temple, sharp on the end. The mask could not be pulled off. It was stuck. But he did not mind. It felt right, and to destroy it would mean losing all that he was. He could feel spiky hair sticking up from his scalp and pulled out a strand so he could see what color it was.
Orange…how…interesting…why would I have this color of hair when I am a…
But what was he exactly…a mere being that existed in solitude? No. There were others, far away. He could feel them. He could feel their fear. They were afraid of him.
Why? Why keep their distance from him? Why would they doom him to isolation?
How long he was in this state, he did not know. Time was of little concern. All he did was stand there, looking at his surroundings without a soul to speak to. Days, months, maybe even years post have passed by without his consent.
There was nothing. And then, there was something.
A lone person was walking towards him…holding something. It appeared to be a cloak. His eyes slid over her appearance. It was almost as if he knew that person.
It was a girl. She had a mask, like him. Her long green hair streamed out behind her like a banner. Her clothes were white like his own. The sword she carried was shorter than his. A red mark was splotched across her face while a scar divided her forehead.
He smiled. He did not know why, but he knew this was a person he could trust. He watched her approach. It was a slow process. She seemed to be having trouble walking in the sand. The closer she came, the harder it was for her to move.
At last she was ten feet away before she stopped. Perhaps she could not come any closer because the air was so stifling around himself. The girl bowed on one knee in a respectful manner. He looked at her, waiting.
"Are you the Zero Espada?"
Her voice was strong, yet he could tell she was afraid. Her legs were trembling and her breath coming in quick gasps, almost as if she could hardly bare to stand in his presence.
"Zero Espada…." He repeated, speaking for the first time since he became aware of his existance. His own voice was raspy from the lack of use. "I do not understand…"
The girl glanced up at him, slightly surprised. Her eyes widened as she saw at him properly for the first time. A look of recognition flickered in her eyes and she opened her mouth to say something, but then thought better of it. The look was replaced with determination.
"Do you have the mark of zero on your body?" She rephrased her question, bowing her head yet again.
He pulled the neck of his shihakusho down slightly to look at the 0 marking across his heart.
"If you mean this, then yes I do."
The girl looked up. As soon as her eyes spotted the tattoo the Arrancar grasped the cloak she had brought with her and threw it at his feet.
"Wear it; it will contain your spiritual pressure so that you will not crush those around you. You are our leader now….Espada number 0…"
"Why am I your leader?" It was all he could think of asking as he pulled the cloak at his feet over his shoulders and draped the hood over his head, casting his face in shadow.
"You are the strongest there is…." The girl replied, standing up with ease now that his spirit force had been contained somewhat. "No one can stand up to you. You are king of Hueco Mundo."
"Is that good?"
"Depends on one's point of view….but for the most part, yes."
"I see…" He moved towards her, his eyes meeting her green eyes. "And why do you come to me?"
"Because I am the only Espada left, which makes me the second strongest…so…I will follow you where ever you go…and…" She hesitated for a second. "You seemed lonely…"
He pondered her words for a moment.
"I guess I am...but not only that….I just…."
"What?"
"I don't remember who I am or what I've been doing up until this point. I feel like I've forgotten something that's important, yet I don't know where to start looking." He looked away from her, suddenly finding the sand at his feet worthy of his attention, not wanting to show the despair he was feeling.
The rain had been falling mercilessly in the depths of his soul.
"I know your name…"
He looked back up at her, a small flame of hope flickering inside him. The girl gently smiled and touched his shoulder.
"You are Ichigo," she stated then touched her own shoulder. "I am Nel."
"Ichigo…" he repeated her words and found himself smiling, "I like it. Thank you Nel…tell me, what do I do if I am king?"
"Whatever you desire." Was her reply and she made a gesture to the landscape. "It is not my place to tell you where to go or what to do. But…" she smiled even wider; her eyes were almost playful, like a child. "If I were to make a suggestion, I would go where ever the wind blows…Ichigo. I will follow you where ever you go, no matter what you do."
"There really is nothing better to do, is there?"
"Unless you want to frolic in the sand, no."
He nodded, almost happy now, a new resolution filling his mind. What he wanted was to find answers, and the best way to do that was to move forward, one step at a time.
