(I)

Prologue

Fate binds two hearts like string

which leads them through the path of death,

to fight against the cruel King,

until the gods take their last breath.

.

I pray farewell dear life.

Your splendor fills my heart with peace,

but for now I have to leave you...

Death awaits at the gate of Hell.

.

.

.

Ichigo painfully raised his head, cracking his eye open from the dried blood, looking beyond the line of men at the setting sun. The gleaming orb slowly disappearead in the horizon, marking the mere moments of life left to him, orange and crimson rays reflected on the blade of the Kwan Dao that was soon to slice his neck. It was a moment of reverence for him. He'd heard that on the brink of death, you see your life flashing before your eyes. It may have seemed totally insane to anyone else, but a part of him had... hoped that the fate bestowed upon him would trigger the memories which had deprived him of half his life. And yet, as if in an outworldly state of mind, his lids lowered in peace and acceptance. If he said there was anything in the life he had gracelessly lead worth living for, he would have lied. He glaced at the man kneeling and bound next to him, awaiting to share his fate. Even for the pallor and the various injuries that adorned his face, his jaw was set firmly and his chin was up; facing his executors with spite for their deeds, but also pride at how he had ended up in that position. In the very depths of his dark eyes, there was the ever-existent fear of death, the constant will to hold on to life. How admirable must it be to love something so dearly, but decide to let it go for the sake of righteousness! Ichigo chuckled as he turned to face his shadow. He was not a hero, even if many had graced him with that title before. A true hero must first hold their life precious, to really make a sacrifice for someone else's. In a way, he was selfish. If he lived, he could have helped more people along the way... even that girl. But he surrendered to his punishment, without worries or regrets. If he said he was not envious of the man next to him, he would be lying. And so being the situation, he calmly addressed the official before him.

"I want to die first."

The man laughed throatily and raised the menacing blade in the air, as the last traces of sunlight died away, replaced by freshly lit torches.

"Warrior, prepare to die!"

The Kwan Dao was raised high and Ichigo closed his eyes serenely, listening to the air whip as the blade came down to decapitate him. And a milisecond before that could happen, they heard it.

"YOU FORGOT THIS!"

Amber eyes snapped open to find a katana flying in the air above him.

~\/~

~Kishikaisei 23564~

~Volume 1: Yakusoku~

~Chapter 1: Hajime~