'King'
He could almost see the sneer behind the taunting voice.
'Not now' he growled through gritted teeth, hands clenching on the hilt of his sword.
His reply held a violent edge to it. His anger already at its limits, but his hollow always could take it up another notch with just a few apathetic or sarcastic words, depending solely on the hollow's mood whether they where spoken with malice or sheer indifference.
'Aw is King a lil' upset?' Ichigo gripped his sword tighter trying to block out the sounds coming from the back of his mind as he continued to attempt to release his bankai in the real world.
'King,' his voice sounding somewhat serious for a moment, ' you know if you let me out,' the seriousness died here as sadistic joy took over ' I could release bankai for you …kill the man you can't beat… kill the man your so… scared of' victory dripping from his hollow's voice spurred on a rough 'no'.
'You'll lose if you don't …let all your pretty friends down. I wonder if they'll still love you then. Eh Ichigo, do you think they will. When the earth and Soul Society have been completely annihilated and all of your 'loyal' friends are forced to serve under the Bounts rule, will they love you then? You who couldn't save them because of your fear…he he he King when that time comes you'll see that all you really have is me. I'm the only one who will never leave. No matter if you fail, no matter if you die, you'll never be alone, you will always have me. No matter how you try to wish it away'
During the length of his monologue Hichigo had been slowly but forcefully pulling on the restraints put against him by Ichigo. Still Ichigo needed a final push.
'hehe wonder what you'll do about Rukia and…Renji' his eyes glowing in pleasure at his coming words.
'What' Ichigo faltered and Kairiya nearly dealt a fatal blow. Ichigo used flash step to give himself a chance to recover.
'What the hell are you talking about now?'
The bait was taken, Hichigo grinned as he spoke, 'the boutou have been trying to kill off all higher level shimmigami wonder what's gonna happen when your not there to save Rukia eh King? Will you be sad? Guess it will be raining here a lot soon…especially with all that guilt'
Furious with his hollow now 'What guilt!' was almost screamed allowed.
Hichigo hesitated for a moment out of a flash of empathy or to milk the moment more, who knows.
'The guilt, King, It'll be your fault she's weakened because of you, remember how it all started, she gave you her powers to save you'
Hichigo let his powers flow easily sweeping Ichigo down while the boy was in shock and taking over the fight for the moment, hm good timing as it seemed, it was getting out of Ichigo's control… laughable it was out of Ichigo's control before it even began.
'Don't worry too much King it's her own fault for letting it happen. She isn't like you and me.'
He was enjoying this battle it was good to be fighting again. Then he felt it, the pull on his power. King was over his shock and taking back control. No he wouldn't let him. He had to win this fight. Ichigo couldn't do it.
After the bounts went through the gate Ichigo took a second to think about the latest conversation he and his hollow had had.
'Yo'
'Back so soon?' He giggled.
'What did you mean like me and you?'
'Silly King, we survive by putting our self first, we our selfish king'
'I am not! I'm fighting to protect everyone how is that selfish?' Ichigo demanded.
'King that's not why you fight. You fight so you're not alone, So that you have someone there to praise you, to fight with you, to challenge you. But King I've already told you you'll never be alone I'll always be here.'