Ichigo POV: I grunted, back hitting something hard enough that I bounced off of it. "What the hell!?..." One eye cracked open, a hand raising to shove through my hair. It froze though and I jolted to my feet. This was!- "But how the hell did I get here?!" I growled, eyes scanning over the towering skyscrapers dotting the clouds. "I brought you. King!~" The voice sent an involuntary shiver up my spine. I spun to see my inner hollow crouched some 50 or so feet above me. One leg dangled over the edge of the building, swinging like a pendulum. It broke up my view of his face and the leering grin that stretched his lips unnaturally wide. "You?! Wait! Did you say you brought me here?!" He vanished suddenly and I whirled around just in time to stop the swing of his blade. Sparks danced between us as they slid against each other. "Not bad, King." The mocking tone made me growl and I jumped back to put some space between us. He didn't bother to follow me though. The blade of his sword spilt the side of the building and he leaned against it, chin landing on the hilt. His full weight resting there as he drooped himself over it. "You look tense, partner. What's the matter? You leave me here all alone then when we finally meet again you look so angry. Don't tell me you didn't miss me." Hard golden eyes watched me intently. "Stop playing games!! I want to know why I'm here!!" The hollow chuckled, blue tongue darting out to wet his lips. "And suppose I don't feel like telling you. Then what will you do, your majesty?" A false bored look tugged down his pale features as he raised one hand to inspect his nails. The fake disinterest couldn't hide the odd, something in his eyes. I couldn't place just what that emotion was, but I knew I didn't like it. My hands tightened around Zangetsu, swinging him out to face down the hollow. "I'll force it out of you!!"
One brow arched toward his hair line and he chuckled. "You'll force me, King? Well when you put it like that." He vanished suddenly, and this time I couldn't block the blow. His leg connected with my gut and I choked back my scream. The ground tumbled under me roughly and I gasped as I slammed into a wall. Things tilted around me and blood splattered onto the glass below me as I knelt. "It doesn't look like you're in any position to be forcing anyone! You haven't even realized it yet!!" A hand came out of no where, ceasing my throat to slam me backwards. Hard gold eyes locked me in place as an immense blast of power crippled me. My fingers caught his wrist, clawing at him as I tried to get myself under control. I could beat him! I'd gotten so much stronger since we last faced off! "Is that you think, King~?!" The word was drawn out and spat like an insult as he surged forward until only a few inches separated us. "Have you shoved me so far to the back of your mind that you truly believe that you're the only one who has gotten stronger?!" Hot breath burnt my skin as he hissed at me, rage burning in his eyes. It was strange, I dully noted. That he was so warm. I expected he'd be as cold as he looked. I swallowed against his palm, fingers tightening around Zangetsu. Pain Lance through my arm suddenly and I screamed as he rammed his own through it, pinning me there. "Look at you! Pathic! I told you didn't I?! That I'd never carry a king weaker than me!!" The heavy iron taste of blood coated my tongue and I coughed as his hand vanished from my throat. The blade was with drawn as well and I slumped to the ground, trying to catch my breath. "Get up!! I won't tolerate weakness!!"
The flat of Zangetsu's blade caught my chin, cold metal bitting into my abused flesh. It jerked my face up to his, eyes burning angrily. "So now you're going to kill me?!" He snarled, blade slashing through my chest when it swung downward. Blood splattered over the ground and he kicked me again. "I told you to get up!!" Water stung my back as I plunged into it, blood mixing in forming a cloud as I sank. *Move, damn it! Move!!* I roared in my mind. The hollow dove into the water, rocketing toward me and I snarled. *Move!!!* My eyes widened, hands tightening around Zangetsu's hilt and I roared. "Getsuga tenshou!!" A massive blue wave rushed from the blade, slicing through the water and I panted. "Did I get him?" "Not even close!" A hand curled around my throat, shoving me back against a building as he bit my neck. I jerked away from him but he slammed my head back into the glass. "Don't make me tell you again, King! If you're weak! I'll kill you!" I swallowed thickly, watching that odd flickering in his eyes. "Why are you doing this?!" His lips tugged down, teeth peaking it at me. "That should be obvious! I refuse to serve someone weaker than me!" A breath whizzed from my abused chest. "That's not... What I meant." I panted, one hand catching his wrist. "Why force me into showing you that strength?! Why not just kill me if you want to take over so bad?!!" His eyes narrowed, throwing me away from him before planting his foot in my stomach. I screamed, water filling my lungs as my ribs cracked under him. "What kind of stupid question is that?!! If you refuse, then I will kill you!!" Zangetsu was swung down and it flashed seemingly in slow motion toward me. Every heartbeat sounded in my ears *Lub-dub... Lub-dub... Lub-dub* It counted out the seconds, stretching them seemingly into hours and my eyes widened. *Lub-dub... Lub-dub.* My lips pulled up over my teeth and I snarled, fingers cluching Zangetsu. *Lub-dub... Lub-dub... Lub-dub* "No! I! Can't!! Let you!! Getsuga tenshou!!!" *Lub-dub* The attack raced from me, black and red archs blasting away everything in their path as I staggered to my feet. *Lub-dub* Water rained down over us from the blast and I fell over Zangetsu, his support the only thing keeping me up. *Lub-dub* My eyes finally lifted to see the hollow tumble to his knees in front of me. Blood splattered onto his smirk tilted lips as he coughed, wounds already healing. I swallowed thickly, watching him raise to his feet. My legs wobbled under me but I forced them to hold my weight. Too bad I couldn't make them move yet. A pale hand shot out, snatching the front of my shihakusho to yank me just a breath apart from him. "There's my King. Don't make me tell you again. Next time I might not be so easy on you." Hot lips sealed against mine and I jerked away from him in shock.
The front of my shihakusho slipped from his fingers and I tumbled down. My body jolted up from the bed, a gasp filling my lungs as I jerked my eyes around the room. My room. My bed. I was sleeping? My eyes widened, one hand shoving itself through my sweat damp hair. "No way that was a dream! It felt so real! But why would he-?!..." My lips tingled from the ghost of contact and I pulled my hand down to look at it. My fingers broke up the outline of my room until I squeezed my eyes shut. The bed rushed up at me as I flopped back into it, palm pressed into my eyes. "Ichigo? Are you ok?" Rukia asked, closet door hissing softly as she opened it. I sighed, eyes remained closed as residual tremors quivered through my muscles. "Yeah... Just a... Really strange dream. Go back to sleep, Rukia." Her gaze flickered over me hotly but I didn't pay her any mind. I was exhausted and I just wanted to go back to sleep. Without anymore dreams if possible.
My alarm rang loudly in my ears, waking from my thankfully hollow free slumber. One hand shoved back through my hair as I sat up, legs swinging over the edge. My closet door slid open smoothly and Rukia's legs poked out to dangle where they couldn't reach the floor. "Are you ok, Ichigo? You sounded rather stressed last night when you woke up." I sighed, blunt nails scratching back my scalp. More as something to keep me busy than actually being ichy. "Just a dream." A low dark chuckle echoed at the out skirts of my consciousness. I jumped a bit, fingers freezing in their scratching. Rukia was in front of me suddenly, watching me in concern and I shook off my shock. "What happened to you just now?!" She demanded, eyes hard and intense and I swallowed back the lump in my throat. "Nothing. I need to get going." I stood from the bed, forcing her to move or be pressed against me as I hastily tugged on some clothes and ran down the steps. *Just what the hell was that?!* My eyes drifted to my hand, watching my fingers curl and extend a few times before balling into a fist. "Ichigo! Don't forget your lunch! And come eat breakfast before you go!" Yuzu called, halting me from escaping out the door. A long breath was a taken to still my nerves, counting to 10 before turning to face her with a smile. Too bad it couldn't be real. "Sorry, Yuzu. I'm not really hungry this morning, but thanks for reminding me about lunch." She pouted, watching me hurry over to grab the box before finally escaping. I needed to clear my head.
Keigo jumped me the second I got through the doors and I ducked under his grab so he tumbled down the hall. "Yo." One hand was raised in a retreating greeting as I continued down the hall. I just wasn't in the mood for banter today. The chair rushed up at me as I plopped into it. Scratches and dull gray marks littered it's work surface from the numerous other students that sat there before me. Some might say it was dirty and ugly but it gave me something to focus my mind on as I counted the imperfections. The soft click and squeak of shoes filled my ears far louder than I remember them being. Or maybe that's just how my mind perceived them. In any case they drown out my scrambled thoughts, if only for the moment. "Ok! Looks like everyone is here today so let's start our lesson!" Ms. Ochi instructed cheerfully and I breathed a sigh. My bag was rummaged through, finding the correct book quickly. It clunked softly as I sat it down and flipped to the page she'd called out. I was honestly glad to have something else to occupy my mind. My lips still burnt from the dream and I swore I could still feel his hand around my throat. I swallowed thickly, reaching to rub the area self consciousness. A low distance chuckle reverberated around my head and I jolted against my desk. It was undeniably closer than just an hour ago. *Of course I am, King. Have you completed failed to notice just how close I've gotten?* My breath caught, frozen in place as my own hand crept up around my throat against my will. *Then let me show you. I'm right here, King. I have been for a while now. How pitiful you didn't even realize.*
The chair shrieked against the floor as I jumped from it, toppling over in my haste. The hand at my throat went lax and I could feel everyone staring at me as I stumbled and tripped my way from the class. I had to get away! Inside my head the hollow chuckled. *Where do you think you're running to? I'm inside you after all. You can't escape!* One hand raised, blunt nails scratching at the side of my face. I swore I could feel that blasted mask forming under my skin. "No!! I won't let you take over!!" He barked with laughter, reaching hands grasping and tearing at my mind until I could see him standing in front of me. *You won't let me take over, King?! There wouldn't be anything you could do to stop me in your current state!!* His wide leering grin stretched his lips and I stumbled under a rock, falling face first into the grass. "No!!" *Yes!! You're my King!! And if you don't want to be gobbled up then I suggest you start acting like one!!* Blood trickled down into my eye, painting my vision red. Someone landed next to me and I jumped away from them, reaching for a weapon that wasn't there. "Ichigo!!" That voice! "Orihime!! Stay back!!" The hazy red image froze, hands balling against her chest as mine heaved for breath. *Now look what you've done. You've scared the poor thing.* "Shut up!! I won't give you control!!" Every muscle in my body trembled as I desperately tried to force him back. *Tsk! You really are a fool, partner! Do I need to drag you back in here for another lesson?!! I won't serve someone weaker than me!! Not get off your knees and stand, King!!* My legs wobbled and he snarled at me. *You're pathic!! And you call yourself my King!!* My jaw clenched and I finally forced myself up. "I am your King!! I'm in control!! Not you!!" *Then act like it!!* He screamed, surging against my mind until I lashed out against him using his own power. I hated using it but it was the only way to force him back.
His presence was washed away to the out skirts of my mind, barely tickling my consciousness. He wasn't gone, and he wasn't going to give up. But I had bought myself some time. "I will never let you have control!" He chuckled, prowling around the edge like a tiger waiting to pounce. *We shall see, King. You're getting so lax and it pisses me off! One of these times I'll stop warning you!* I swallowed thickly, sinking to my knees but he snarled at me. *Up!! A King kneels for no one!! You have more than enough power at your disposal that no one should be able to bring you to even one knee! Let alone both!* His energy rushed at me but I fought back, refusing to let him in. He growled against my mind. Pain lanced through my gut like I'd been stabbed but there was no wound when I reached for it. "What was!-" The hollows power flooded through my body making it tremble. Blood trickled down my lip when I bit through it and he sneered at me. *Get up I said!! Or I'll take your body right here!! Get up!!* I gritted my teeth, nails still clawing at my face as I finally got to my feet once more. *Tsk!! Stop being so weak!!* I swallowed thickly, his presence fading away from my mind but the energy remained. My chest heaved for lost breath and Orihime took a hesitant step towards me. "Ichigo?..." I heaved a sigh, offering a weak smile and she ran the few yards between us. Her healing shield stretched across my face where I had dug it open, knitting the damage back to like it never happened. "It was your, hollow wasn't it?..." A shaky breath left my lungs and I inclined my head. "It's going to be ok, Orihime. I won't let him win." She looked really nervous and I hated I'd done that. I hated having others worry over me. The pain dulled to nothing and the shield vanished. "I'm sorry I worried you, Orihime... Everything will be ok. I promise." A small smile curved up her lips and she nodded lightly. "I should get back to class. And you should go rest. I'll tell the teacher that you just had a bad stomach ache." I breathed a sigh, eyes darting over the grass below me. "Thank you, Orihime. I'm sorry about all this." She threw herself at me suddenly, arms winding around my waist as she buried her face. "Don't apologize, Ichigo. I know you'll win. You haven't failed any of us yet and I know that you can beat this hollow too!" He rumbled lightly making me flare out to try and put some more distance between us. "Thank you, Orihime. I think I'll take your advice and go rest." She nodded, finally letting me go though I wasn't sure just what to do now. Resting meant he could drag me back into his world and I surely didn't want that. But I was exhausted after that battle. ~hollow hollow hollow~ My pass chimed. "Well, it looks like that choice was made for me."