Disclaimer: I don't own, nor did I create any of the characters in bleach, or the series. Credit goes to Mr. Kubo Tite.
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It was quiet. Rain pattered quietly on Ichigo's window. Kon had been dragged- kicking and screaming- out of the room by Ririn, who could tell he was upset. Sulking again? You're so pathetic! A mocking voice in his head commented.
"Leave me alone!" He yelled out loud, punching the wall. His inner hollow was talking to him way too often, interfering with his battles. Interfering with his life.
"Ichi-nii?" He heard Karin's voice through the door. "Ichi-nii, is something wrong?" He sighed.
"No Karin." He replied through gritted teeth, trying to ignore his inner hollow's hysterical laughs. "I was asleep and had a bad dream." He said. He grimaced at how phony he sounded. "I'm fine Karin, honest." Ichigo heard her sigh, knowing she could tell he wasn't alright. But, she could tell he needed to be alone. "Alright. Sorry." She replied.
"Can't you leave me alone?" He hissed at the hollow.
If I did that, then I wouldn't be able to devour you! The hollow mocked, cackling. Maybe I'll just drive you crazy. Would you let me fight then? Ichigo scowled.
"No." Ichigo said bluntly. "You're not going to devour me, and you're not going to drive me insane."
That so? You seem pretty close to the edge as it is. Ichigo gritted his teeth. I mean, come on! Look at how bad that Arrancar beat you up, with one hand!
"You got in my way!" He said, fighting to keep his voice down. "If you had just stayed quiet, I could have won!" The hollow laughed.
And? If you beat him, you wouldn't let me fight! That's no fun, is it?
"I wouldn't let you fight anyways!" He pounded his pillow. Why did he have to be the one with a maniac in his head? Why couldn't he just go away?
Because you're weak. You know you are. Come one, you couldn't even protect that woman, what's her name?
Ichigo buried his face in his pillow. He hated it when that was brought up. He hated his inability to help his friends. "Shut up." He said angrily. "Just shut up and leave me alone!" He heard another laugh, and then, silence.
And now he would wait for the next time. He hated it. He hated just waiting for the hollow to come and pester him again. The worst thing was: he had no idea when it would. Sometimes, he would only be left alone for a few minuets.
He rolled over and looked at his alarm clock. 6:32 PM. Dinner would be ready soon. Ichigo sat up and looked at the gray sky, missing Rukia to no end. He stood up and moved to his desk. He had a homework assignment to do- another essay.
'What you fear the most'. He grimaced again. His teacher had to assign that now?! He grabbed his head. Teachers always had a knack for assigning the wrong thing at the wrong time. 'and I'm not going to be able to think of anything except for the hollow.
He heard a slight laugh and tensed, but no voice followed. He relaxed, but only a bit. 'Okay, Ichigo, what you fear the most besides the hollow.' After 10 minuets of fruitless contemplating, he got an idea, and began to write.
A half hour later, He heard Yuzu's voice float up from downstairs, "Ichigo, Dinner!" He got up and went down to eat, effectively distracted from the "conversation" with his inner hollow.
Dinner was amazingly quiet- for dinners at their house, that is. There were the usual kicks to the face and elbows to the stomach between Ichigo and his dad, but it was otherwise peaceful.
Afterwards, he went back to his room to continue the essay. It was panning out nicely and was keeping him preoccupied. 20 minuets later, he was done and pretty happy with it. Okay, so it wasn't an incredible piece that would be remembered for years by his teacher, but it would at least get him a B.
Content and rather tired, even though it was still early, he flopped down on his bed. The rain softly pattered against his window, and he dimly heard Karin's voice from his door murmur, "Good night, Ichi-nii."
Good night, Ichi-nii. He heard. He jerked upright in his bed. "Messing with me now, huh?" he muttered. "Are you randomly going to speak to me and let me get mad when you pretend you didn't?" Hearing nothing in reply, he scowled and drifted into unconsciousness.
He was standing in that now-nostalgic sideways world, facing Zangetsu in Shinigami form. "Why am I here?" Ichigo asked almost automatically. Zangetsu pointed behind Ichigo. Ichigo turned to see his inner hollow.
"You're fighting your counterpart"
Ichigo blinked. "You want me to fight him?" He asked skeptically. "Wait, why?"
Shirosaki (the hollow) grinned. "Because I wouldn't quit complaining to him until he'd let me." Ichigo frowned.
"So, you were those random laughs because you were laughing at Zangetsu?"
"No, I just think it's so funny the way you go all rigid and freak out when you hear me. I was having fun." The hollow replied cockily. Ichigo scowled and the hollow's grin widened. "Oh, come on! There's nothing to do in this place!" He said, shrugging.
Without warning, Ichigo lunged forward and stabbed at him. "You bastard!" He yelled. Shirosaki sidestepped it easily and smacked him on the back of the head with the handle of his sword- which the same as Zangetsu, but with black hilt wrap.
Ichigo turned around, rubbing his head. He lunged again, ducked and lashed out with the huge sword. This time, he clipped the hollow in the side, drawing a little blood. The hollow frowned and swung the blade at Ichigo's head, hitting him just above his eyebrow.
Ichigo winced and jumped back. Blood was starting to run into his eye. He closed his eye and began to attack, when Shirosaki leapt forward and swung at him several times. The blades clanged together loudly, sending sparks flying.
The hollow stepped sideways and stabbed at Ichigo. He twisted out of the way, but was still hit in the side- barely. Damn! He thought. I can barely doge his attacks! He shifted forward and lunged at Shirosaki's left side. Feinting to the right, he managed to slash open the hollows shoulder.
Blood splattered the ground and the hollow jumped back, holding his shoulder. Ichigo smiled, glad he had gotten a good hit on Shirosaki, but then prepared himself as the hollow lunged, swinging his blade madly. Ichigo frantically blocked, each hit to his sword causing his arms to tremble.
Where is he getting this power?? He thought furiously. Is he really this strong, or- He stopped in mid-thought. No, don't think that! He thought, baring his teeth. Stepping back, he raised his sword, only to have his arm slashed by Shirosaki's insane attacks. He leapt out of the fray, panting.
The hollow grabbed the hilt wrap of the sword he was wielding and spun it above his head. Shirosaki threw the sword at him and Ichigo dodged to the side just in time. The hollow caught the wrap again and pulled the sword back. He twirled it again and threw it. Ichigo took the opportunity to run in and slashed at the hollow's throat.
Shirosaki pulled it back and parried the blow, delivering a cut to Ichigo's shoulder. They both jumped back, Ichigo panting. The hollow was no longer smiling. I wonder. Ichigo thought. Can I use Bankai in this place? He placed his hand on his arm and concentrated. "Ban-" He started, only to have his concentration broken by the hollow attacking his legs. Ichigo moved out of the way, barely in time, and glared at Shirosaki.
"That's not fair." The hollow commented. "We can't have that." He said, grinning eerily. "But," he continued, holding out the sword, "I can do this!" He said, swinging the sword. "Getsuga Tenshou!" The hollow yelled. A black mass of reiatsu swirled in Ichigo's direction and he jumped, but was still hit by the attack.
He was sent spiraling backwards into the ground, leaving a dent. The Shirosaki took up the opportunity to attack him again. He moved his sword in the way and kicked the hollow in the stomach. Shirosaki coughed and staggered back.
Ichigo jumped up, panting heavily. The hollow was beginning to tire as well. They stood, glaring at each other, Shirosaki's Black and gold eyes glinting with malice. "You're putting up a good fight," the hollow said, "But I will beat you!" He yelled, lunging at Ichigo once again. Ichigo ignored defending, receiving a painful cut to his arm, and stabbed the hollow in the side.
The hollow fell down to one knee and stared at his side. "That was a cheap trick!" He snarled, looking up at Ichigo angrily. His eyes widened and he coughed up blood.
"It was no trick," Ichigo replied. "I just ignored defending against you attack and attacked you. The hollow scowled and stumbled to his feet.
"I'm not done." Shirosaki said, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "I'm not done until I beat you!" He said, lunging forward, despite the profusely bleeding wounds all over his body. He swung repeatedly, yelling, "I haven't killed you, and I'm going to!"
What is with this guy? Ichigo thought to himself rather frantically. He just doesn't quit, despite the fact that he's bleeding all over! The hollow continued to attack insanely, hitting Ichigo's forearms several times. Ichigo lunged forward and smashed his elbow into his face, then planted his knee into the hollows chest.
Shirosaki yelled in pain and fell down. "I'm… not going… to… give up… until I… beat you!" He panted, trying to get up. Ichigo looked down at him. He didn't feel sorry for him at all.
The hollow got to all fours and said in an insane and slightly choked voice, "I'm going… to… kill you!" He said, still panting. His arms trembled and gave way. "Damn it." He said pathetically. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Ichigo stared at him.
"You're done." Ichigo said without emotion "I win. You got to have your fun and fight, now leave me alone!" He said, walking away. Shirosaki grimaced. Ichigo looked around. How was he supposed to leave this twisted place? He furrowed his brow and looked at Zangetsu. "How do I leave?" He asked, putting his sword on his shoulder casually.
"Ichigo!" He heard distantly. He looked back to see the hollow glaring at him, still on the ground. "I'm gonna kill you!" He yelled.
Ichigo actually smiled. "Not today." He said a bit cockily. He looked back at Zangetsu. "But really, how do I leave?" Zangetsu looked at the hollow, then at Ichigo. Ichigo noticed the world fading. "Hey, what the-?" He said, looking around, panic-stricken. "What's going-" He sat up.
He was in bed. I'm going to devour you, Ichigo. Next time I will win.
Ichigo sighed. "Give up."
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EEEEE! More drabbles! Please reveiw