Hey guys! Pon-Pon here with a new Bleach story! I haven't exactly decided what to do with this one and I forgot why but this idea has been bugging me for a couple of days now. Anyway this is the prologue of Loving Pain. Enjoy! =D
Loving Pain
Prologue: The Future
Pressure, crushing bones every second as it continues to increase. A painful gasp escaped dry cracked lips, body arching even as the pressure grew stronger. Begging inside an already broken mind, Make it stop, make the pain stop! Insanity already blurring deeply needed vision, another choked gasped escaping. Pinpoint needles slide in alongside the pressure that has yet to cease. Oh make the pain stop! As if someone heard the unspoken prayer the painful pressure stopped, the needles sliding back out and the water that had felt like burning fire was cold once again. A voice, watery and shrill, holding the barest hint of noticeable mockery, filled ringing eardrums, "Ready to listen?" Voice locked away, unable to move, there was no way to answer. "Oh come now, ya know how ta answer aibou." Using the last shred of sanity, of power, an answer was given. I'll listen you damn monster. Weariness took over as conscious mind, sane deprived as it was, finally fell to rest, no longer able to hear the monsters' mocking voice call back. "Good boy Ichi."
A scream of agony pierced the silent air. Everyone knew that scream. Some even felt a twinge of pity for the owner. But there was nothing they could do to help. He should have listened. If he had only listened then this wouldn't have happened. One man waited outside the door where the scream came from, an expression of grief coating his unnaturally solemn features. Blonde hair fell forward to shade gray eyes, his voice for once serious as he whispered, "Will you listen now, Ichigo?" And he was shocked to hear the boys voice whisper an answer back inside his mind.
I'll only listen to myself, Kisuke. Sighing softly, Kisuke couldn't help but feel angry at Ichigo's stubbornness.
"You damned fool."
Better to be a fool than a fake.
Kisuke couldn't understand why Ichigo refused to listen despite knowing the consequences. Apparently Kisuke wasn't the only one who couldn't understand. Shinji Hirako, a man of average height with short shoulder length blonde hair and a piano like grin, voiced the very question plaguing everyones mind.
"Why is Ichigo refusing to listen to the lord?" Everyone present in the room looked at Shinji with solemn eyes, until one spoke up. Tatsuki Ayakawa (?)the strong young woman who was closest to Ichigo, held her left arm while glancing off to the side as she spoke to the gathered group.
"He's probably doing it as a form of punishment."
Another scream pierced the stiffling air before Shinji, obviously a little shaken asked Tatsuki, "What do you mean by 'punishment'?" Ichigo's scream of pain echoed around the open room and Tatsuki couldn't seem to form an answer before an obviously weakened voice spoke though the body wasn't present.
Don't be nosey you guys. I just don't listen to orders. Kisuke said nothing in reply to that. The boy was trying to stop his friends worry, and hours passed by in a blur after that as Ichigo put a stop to their conversation. Not a peep was heard from Ichigo, there was no answer as to why, and now after another couple of hours passed the door that held Ichigo captive opened. Kisuke, who had resumed his position there along with Shinji, backed away and watched the boy stumble out. Blood dripped down from his right arm onto the grey floor, bright and fresh as Ichigo slowly lurched forward. Shinji caught him before he fell, gently bringing the boy into his arms, not even caring about the blood staining his clothes.
"Take him to 'Hime, Shinji." Kisuke ordered softly, looking at the blood on the floor. Something about it made Kisuke uneasy. Luckily Shinji didn't complain, hastily making his way to wear Orihime was resting. Now alone, though he was completely ignoring the golden eyes watching from inside the room, Kisuke lowered himself to get a better look at the blood. His eyes widened as the puddle basically twitched on the floor, turning a darker shade as it rose up off the ground. Before anything could happen a glass container closed around the blood. Looking up from his spot on the ground, Kisuke stared into the golden eyes surrounded by black sclera.
"Ichigo is special, Kisuke," their lord said softly, his snow white hair falling over his eyes. "There is something inside him, something dangerous, demonic even. His blood is proof enough." Dimly Kisuke could hear the thing formed from Ichigo's blood bang against the beaker.
"Those screams aren't because of the severe beatings are they?" Kisuke was confused. They all thought Ichigo was being punished for not following orders and the boy never disagreed with them or tried to hint otherwise.
"No," Shiro, their lord, admitted, his voice still soft. "It's the beast trying to take over. I'd never punish my brother for being himself." A shocked sigh left Kisuke's lips as he learned of the relation between their lord and Ichigo. And then he felt stupid for not realizing it sooner. Their resemblance to each other was uncanny.
"I'm a fool," he said with a humorless laugh. And the words spoken in both his mind and out loud made him smile a gentle smile.
"Better to be a fool than a fake," the brothers said.
