10 Lives – 10 Deaths
I've taken a break from my other crossovers and decided to do a Bleach fanfic. This one is sort of non-canon but contains some of the characters and has some connections. I only thought this up over a night so I hope this goes well. Now enjoy this latest story by Themulchmeister as we divulge in the tales of 10 very unique people and their struggle to adapt to a world they are the cause of so much pain
1. Loneliness
ROCKY DESERT: SOMEWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA
My name is Kurt Stoch, but I now go by the name of Coyote. I have tried unsuccessfully to live amongst others but I have never been granted the true feeling of belonging.
When I was born, I was told my mother died from aftershock of the birth. This was something I learned to cope with, but as a child, it seemed the closer people came to me, more death resulted. Was it because I had tried to make friends? Or simply people within a certain radius die around me?
After a while during my adolescence, the small knit community became suspicious and saw me as a demon that should be cast away.
"We cannot survive whilst you're here plaguing our village, you must go and live a life devoid of human affection."
That's what the mayor told me in front of a mob, armed with rifles, pitchforks and torches. They shouted abuse at me from afar, too afraid to get close to me in case they succumbed to the death I seemed to carry with me everywhere I travelled.
I walked the barren highways for some months until I came across another rural community in Alberta Canada. I was originally amazed I had travelled so far to cross the border. Some kind conservative folk took me in and offered me refuge in their shelter.
This was the first time I had not killed anyone. I was not sure wether to feel happiness or fear that it would return. I would grip the steaming mug of black liquid with both hands and sip the warm soothing elixir they called coffee as I revealed my tragic story to the villagers. They had the upmost sympathy for my suffering and had the most generous hospitality, but I didn't deserve this. No matter what, I was still a murderer of hundreds of people.
"Thank you all for taking me in, but I cannot stay here. I have decided to go by dawn." I said to the others as they all sighed with disappointment.
"Please poor traveller, you must stay and recuperate for a while." One of the kind villagers said. "We have plenty of spare beds; you won't be a burden on us."
"You don't understand. I can't do this again, not to you people. You don't deserve to die." I was now hiccupping past my sobs.
One of the older men rested his hand on my shoulder. "Whatever happened in the past is not relevant now, you have been around us for a few hours and we have not perished, you are not a demon."
I gave a slight smile feeling a bit less down about myself. They even trimmed back my brown locks. But as I slept that night, I could hear screams of despair along the other beds. I immediately rose up to check the situation. What I discovered brought back those demons I thought I left behind, but now they had caught up with me.
A man in striped pyjamas lay cold on the floor with the palest complexion I had ever seen. His body already in rigor mortis as a young woman with blonde hair wept on the floor nearby. For some reason, both had their genitals revealed.
If only that was all. Others had turned soon after and clasped their chests in pain. All seemingly dying of heart attacks. Something was afoot.
The young girl looked at me with aqua eyes which instantly encapsulated me. However she would soon fall to my aura of death. I had to run away, my time here at this village was over as well.
"Please wait Coyote!" She pleaded with me. Somehow she knew my name. Knowing I might have killed her brother or friend dug an even bigger hole in my blackened heart.
"I'm sorry but I must go."
"No take me with you..." But her voice was drowned with the wailing of lost souls.
She was the only survivor and the last human face I ever saw. Now, ten years later. I live a nomadic life in the prairie, surviving off the little creatures that are also not immune to my death curse. My name is Coyote, yet I have no pack.
As I carry tonight's meal back to my cave an echoing voice that sounds quite human attracts me. I turn and see a fairly tall man with long straight black hair. He's wearing a black trench-coat and trousers. Mustn't be familiar with the weather here. Now he starts walking towards me waving a strange object in his hands.
"Please don't come any closer or you'll die." I plead with him, though he probably sees it more as a threat.
"The Coyote is it eh?" He asks in a ferocious cockney British accent. "We've been lookin' for you."
"We?" I shout out from the distance. "Who could possibly want me?"
"Why the Boss of course." He waves his peculiar object which as I gain a closer look resembles somewhat a jet black crossbow.
"What's that in your hand?" I ask cautiously.
"Oh this, never you mind. As long as you come along nicely we won't need to use it."
"I don't understand. I can't go anywhere; I kill all those around me."
"Oh we'll find a way past that, so, you ready?"
I taste the rising powders of sand that cut at my flesh. My clothes are now tattered and my hair has grown long and mopped. If I stay here I am doomed to eternal loneliness yet if I go I will only relive my nightmare. I must live a life devoid of human affection.
"I'm sorry sir but I cannot do this to myself again, I must decline your offer."
He shakes his head and makes a 'tsk-tsk' sound. "Oh well, your not gonna like this. He raises his crossbow which is now loaded and fires it at me. Since it is so far away I am easily able to dodge. What he shot was not an arrow, or even a weapon, it was a small and fragile glass canister. Purple gas slowly rises from the broken jar.
"What was that meant to do?-" Just as I think that's all I grip my left arm in a throbbing pain. Now the pain quickly spreads to my whole body. It is like something has triggered my nerves into overdrive as I now struggle to breathe past the intense pain. I cough and wheeze as my whole body is taken over by a sudden and mysterious shock.
"That little jar I shot at you contains a concentrated form of a gas, which only I can create through my breath." He even demonstrates my blowing some of the faint purple substance from his mouth. "The gas you have now inhaled contains a neurotoxin which stimulates the nerves causing what you should be experiencing as intense and chronic pain." He is now a few paces away from he as I lay helplessly on the ground in the foetal position, tears pooling from my eyes. "I'm just like you Coyote, I'm also an Espada."
"E...eh...Espada?" I struggle to say past the pain.
"Boss told me we are specially chosen humans with a unique gift. We are the very agents and embodiments of death." He seems to proudly point at himself and boasts a sinister grin, revealing a set of combed teeth. He is now crouched and talking eye-to-eye "By the way, I should have introduced myself, my name is Tori Neil Jenkins and I'm the epiphany of despair."
"Fuck you Neil." I spit at his putrid face as the pain pierces my abdomen. It feels like someone has been stabbing me and slashing me in various parts of my body – only no blood has been shed.
"You were said to be one the strongest, that's why we left you for last, but you have made this job that little bit easier." He unfurls a brown sack. "Come now, you have many others awaiting you."
Others? So I'm not alone...
I ponder what possible torment, or opportunity waits as I fall into unconsciousness.
So what do you think? Very original? Prbably not but I decided to write this anyway. Be prepared as the rest of the story is actually done backward so bear with it. I will focus on the perpectives of each Espada and you'll see how the characters eventually tie in with each other towards the end. Please review and continue on to the next chapter.