CHAPTER ONE: A KING IS BORN
Running! That was all he could think of, getting closer with every step. 'Faster' he thought, 'FASTER!' Faster he went. He had to get there in time; his friends and family's souls were in the balance. Ichigo raced on toward Aizen, with Rukia by his side. They rushed into the room, towards Aizen, who was situated at the far side of the room. Ichigo was so focused on Aizen, that he didn't notice the low level conquistador about to stab him in the back. Rukia did and she reacted on pure instict to save the man she loved. She took the blade that was meant for Ichigo. As the blade ran her through, she simply said:
"Ichigo...", and then she fell to the floor as the blade was removed. Ichigo made quick work of his would be assassin. He knelt down next to her. Orihime, who had entered the room to see Rukia impaled, was already there. Orihime was doing everything she could but it wasn't working.
'No this can't be, why won't my powers work?' The whole time she was working, Ichigo was watching Orihime's face for a sign. Anything would do, as long as it meant Rukia would be fine. When Orihime finally looked at him she shook her head. Exhausted from her attempts, Orihime tried to remain conscience, failed, and passed out. Ichigo sat there in shock until Rukia spoke.
"Ichigo... I'm cold" Rukia said. Ichigo held her close in his arms.
"I know, don't worry you'll be fine soon." Ichigo lied. Rukia looks at him with a knowing smile; she should have told him a long time ago. She knew this was her last chance; she had to tell him before it was too late. She smiles up at him.
"Ichigo..." Rukia said.
"What is it, Rukia?" Ichigo questioned.
"Ichigo... I have always... loved you." Rukia told him. Ichigo is stunned into silence; he had always thought that she thought of him as brother, so he had never had the courage to tell her how he felt. She leaned up and kissed him. For a moment he couldn't respond, but then he kissed her what seemed like an eternity, they broke the kiss and stared into each other's eyes, each looking at the other with unconditional love. Then Rukia took a final shuddering breath, her eyes glazed over and she was still.
"Rukia.... Rukia, open your eyes.... don't leave me alone!" Ichigo shouted. He held her close, sobbing against her body. Wishing, willing against all odds for her to open her eyes, knowing she wouldn't. Never again would she smile at him. Never again would they fight side by side. Never would he get the chance to tell her that he loved her too. He yelled to the sky the pain evident in his voice "RUKIIIIAAAAAA!" As he grieves for the love he will never have. Then Rukia's body dissappeared, as if she had never existed. To Ichigo this was the final blow. It was as if the universe thought he needed more pain than he had recieved from watching Rukia die. there was no way he could recover from this. Ichigo suddeenly stopped even trying to think, he just sat there. Ichigo was now nothing more than an empty shell. Aizen begins to laugh.
"You thought you could defeat me? You thought you could protect everyone? HA!! You couldn't protect one lowly woman, not even her corpse. Karakura town is gone, and the kings' key is mine. I'VE WON!!" Aizen proclaimed. He smirks. As Aizen speaks, Ichigo's sorrow turns to rage. Rage at the man who took Rukia from him. At the man who stood there now mocking her death; At himself for being too weak to stop Aizen.
'Come on king give in to me, let me take over I'll kill him for you, all you have to do is give up.' Shirosaki whispered from the depths of Ichigos' soul. He was right, his hollow half was in perfect health,his hollow half was stronger, he could win he could defeat Aizen. It wouldn't cost him a thing, for he had nothing left to lose. He would only gain from this. He wouldn't have to suffer without Rukia anymore, because without Rukia, life was meaningless.
'Yes, take my body Shirosaki, it's yours. Take it and kill Aizen. Promise me you will kill him.' Kurosaki commanded.
'Done, have fun here old king this is where YOU belong now!' Shirosaki proclaimed. Aizen advanced on the boy as a powerful dark aura began to swirl around the substitute soul reaper. The substitute looks up into Aizen eyes, and Aizen feels true terror for the first and last time in his life. For the substitutes eyes are not those of a soul reaper. They are black with yellow pupils; the eyes of a hollow, yet not. His skin turns a pasty pale as his hair becomes as white as an old mans. Shirosaki looks at him.
"So you're the ultimate king huh? It's too bad you're rule was so short, but it's my turn to be the ultimate now! Don't worry though I'll give you a parting gift." Energy begins to gather around Zangetsu. "You should feel honored; you're the first one to see this attack. Not even the old king knows about this one" Shirosaki points Zangetsu directly at Aizens' throat. "Your kingdom must fall, so that mine can rise… Genshi…" Shirosaki smiles as a black pinball of energy appears at Zangetsu's tip. "... BAKUDAN!" For those who survived that day's events, one image stayed in their minds for the rest of their lives, the explosion. A black dome, which emanated an immense and evil spiritual pressure, covered a three hundred mile radius, with the power of over 300 a nuclear bombs. It destroyed everything in its path. As the explosion faded away and the dust settled, a cry could be heard across the land. This one cry was full of joy, full of bloodlust; the cry of a hollow. Its cry faded and it yelled one sentence for all to hear. "I AM THE KING!" Shirosaki announced.
****
Their opponents had run away with their tails between their legs. What cowards, what pathetic little... BOOM. The Arrancars were knocked back by the shockwaves of the blast. They laid there stunned, without an errant thought as to what had just happened. One by one they began to recover, and one by one they looked to the source of the blast. Each of went right back into the shock they had just escaped from, but it wasn't what they saw that shocked them; it was what they didn't see. Aizen's castle was no more. In its place was a giant crater the size of fifty football fields. The only coherent thoughts going through Grimjow's mind were 'Such power! Who could have done this?' Such thoughts were quickly replaced with ones like 'It doesn't matter, they'll be dead soon.' and with that he took off, the others following close behind; all of them headed to the place they had once called home. The soul reapers were in between him and his goal but he didn't have time to bother with such inconsequential nothings. As they drew closer, the dust began to settle and the shadow of a lone figure could be seen. 'Why did that shadow look so familiar?' Then it hit him, but that was impossible. 'That Kurosaki brat doesn't have that kind of destructive power in him; besides, this spiritual pressure feels completely different'. There was no way that it was the same brat, but it didn't matter. Whoever it was, was about to die. Grimjow was right up on the stranger now. 'I'll take the brats head clean off! '. He put all of his strength into one punch and let it fly towards the strangers head. 'Sayonara, little brat, it's time for your eternal slumber, and I assure you, it won't be pleasant.' The stranger made one comment when Grimjows fist was a foot away from his head.
"Oh, not a very loyal subject, are you?"
****
The spiritual pressure was building, if they didn't get away fast enough they were all going to...BOOM!!! The soul reapers were knocked back by the shockwaves of the explosion. As the shockwaves faded they each tumbled though the dirt, and one by one they rolled to a stop. They took some time to catch their breath and collect their thoughts as each reveled in the fact that they were still alive. Renji was the first to recover. As he sat up he took stock of his surroundings. He tried looking for Aizen's castle, but it didn't seem to be where he thought it should be. In its place was a giant crater. 'Am I facing the wrong way? Did we get blown back so far that I can't see it? No we don't seem to be blown back that far.' He could see many familiar formation around him as proof of his thoughts. 'So then where are we... wait, what's that?' Ten figures could be seen racing across the desert land that made up Hueco Mundo, and they were heading directly towards the soul reapers. 'Oh crap!' thought Renji. 'The Arrancars are coming to finish us off, and I'm the only one who is up for battle. DAMN IT!' He would just have to keep the Arrancars back until the others, got their wits about them. He slipped into a defensive stance, ready to receive the first attack; but it never came. The arrancars sailed right past him without so much as a glance or an unsheathed sword. 'What the hell? What's got them so preoccupied that they can't even look at me?' Not that he was complaining or anything. With the state he was in, he would have been crushed. He looked towards the Arrancars and the crater that they were heading to with such haste and the pieces started to come together in his head. Aizen's castle seemed to be missing, the enormous crater, and the Arrancars running towards it without any time to spare even a glance. Aizens castle had been blown up with him in it. 'YES! The war is over before it even begins. HA, take that Aizen!' Renji was so preoccupied with his miniature celebration, that it took him a full five minutes to realize the awful truth. 'Wait but when the castle blew up Rukia and Ichigo were...' "Rukia! Ichigo!" He started running as fast as he could. He only got a few feet away, when he was tackled by Kenpachi Zarachi. "Let me go Kenpachi I have to save them."
"Renji stop. There's no way anyone could have survived that blast. Just look at the crater it made. They're gone, Renji." He tightened his grip as Renji continued to struggle.
"No, they're alive. I know it. Ichigo was there, he wouldn't allow himself or Rukia to be killed like that. He must have found a way! I know it." He kept struggling. As soon as Kenpachi loosened his hold even the tiniest bit, he was gone.
"Renji, I know how hard it is to believe that they're gone. I want them to be alive as much as you. That bastard Ichigo still owes me a fight, but they're gone, Renji; They're gone." Renji was still struggling as Kenpachi held him there, but little Renji's efforts slowed and finally stopped as the truth of Kenpachi's words hit home. Renji went limp in his arms, and Kenpachi released him; knowing he wouldn't be running off any time soon. Renji began to sob quietly as Matsumoto held him in her arms and let him cry on her shoulder until he was done. The supreme captain watched until it was done, they stood, and looked to him for guidance. He said simply
"We must retreat for now, and gather information, so that we can prepare for whatever comes next. That is our first priority. Let's go." He led the retreat as they followed numbly behind.
****
Shirosaski stood in the center of the crater, reveling; his moment had come at last. He was finally the king, and not JUST the king. He was the ultimate king. His moment did not last long as he realized that he had no subjects, and a good king needs subject. The only question was how long he would have to search to find his servants.... oh; it seemed that question answered itself, for ten of his new subjects were racing towards him at breakneck speed. "Ah such loyalty and just moments after my kingdom is formed, too." Then he sensed the punch coming straight for his head. 'Oh, he plans to usurp me this soon does he? What a fool. I won't hand my throne over to anyone!' "Oh, not a very loyal subject, are you?"
****
"Oh, not a very loyal subject, are you?" The stranger smiled. "Attacking your king as soon as you meet him." the stranger said as he dodged Grimjows attack. Grimjow recovered and launched in for another attack saying: "You're no king, and certainly not mine. Now that Aizen is dead I bow to no one."
"Well if I'm no king..." the stranger began as he grabbed Grimjow's hand, and used it to flip Grimjow over himself and on his back in the sand. The stranger looked to the others and forced them all down with his spiritual pressure. "...then why do you bow before me?" the stranger finished. "Now while you're all down there, listen up. I shall say this in a manner that your little brains can comprehend. I have killed Aizen and destroyed his castle. Therefore I am the new Ultimate king, and as such you will do as I command. Also while we are alone you may call Shirosaki-sama, but when others are around you will call me either "your highness" or "your majesty." Anyone who disobeys my orders will be dealt with as I see fit. Am I understood?" Shirosaki asked. They all ignored him and struggled to stand. "Hmmm, this won't do at all. I said: am I understood?" he said while increasing his spiritual pressure so as to inflict just enough pain to make them submit, and one by one they did submit, all except for Grimjow, who continued to remain silent.
"Well, well, you're very strong willed aren't you? I like that you will make an excellent servant."
"This is what I think of being your servant." Grimjow said and spat at Shirosaki." As long as I live I'll be waiting for an opportunity to kill you." Shirosaki smiled and said
"A hollow after mine own image, I love it. You've got spunk kid, I like that. I'll let you live for now, but as soon as you turn on me, I'll destroy you." Shirosaki released them and turned to face the rising sun. "Ah, it's good to be king." he said, smiling all the wider, and so was born the Hollow King.
a word from the author
well boys and girls there it is. the first chapter of "The Hollow King". this is my very first story so please bear with me as i figure things out. For those of you surely cussing me out for killing off rukia dont you worry, i'll be rectifying that soon enough. please rate and review. also for those of you wondering what happend to orihime most of the next chapter devoted to what has happened to her. What relation is this strange man that appears before her;what deal will she make with him? until then keep a fiction eye open
genshi bakudan- atomic bomb
A message from the beta: "Chase Bonvie."
I was honestly hurt to have had to fix so many errors. I did what I could about spelling, grammar and punctuation, as well as the practices of story writing, but Ward A.K.A. 'bleachfan' made this practically impossible. The story seemed completely bogus as I read it, but Ward thinks otherwise. I had to remove his disclaimer. He thinks that anything posted on a fan site is going to be a sign of ownership. This is Fan Fiction, after all; where imagination comes to life. I hope you enjoyed reading. I somewhat wonder if Orihime dies too, considering her proximity. -Chase Bonvie
