Hello all you wonderful people out there who like to read my stories! I've started another kick ass story! I hope you enjoy the first chapter and I hope I get you interested :D And yes, I will be working on Why Only You. I haven't forgotten I promise!
CHAPTER 1
I don't know when. Where. How. Or even why. I just know it happened.
But before all that stuff, you're probably wondering exactly who I am. My name is Toshiro Hitsugaya, heir to my family's business and estate (which includes a huge ass mansion and a sizeable amount of land). Now, I am not exactly what you would call normal, as stated by my bright teal eyes and spiky hair that is as white as snow. To go along with my physical abnormalities - yes, I am short for my age - I have been given… gifts, or abilities, if you prefer. But we'll get to that in due time.
I would be lying if I said my life has been all fine and dandy. As a matter of fact, I am an orphan, my parents having been murdered when I was only five years old. Along with the fact of being alone, my almost ghostly appearance, and my special 'talents', I was taught to know things only grown men should be taught, and was smarter than most adults by the age of ten. So yes, I am considered a prodigy of sorts.
I know what you might be thinking. 'Oh my god he's had a tough life!' But it is because I have had an abnormal life that I am determined to remain successful. I also had help from him…
Well, let me get to that. It all started three years ago, when I was sixteen years old, just becoming mature enough to start fulfilling my duties as head of my family company. Unfortunately, this also called for me to do things I loathed. Even those short three years ago, our country of Seireitei was still dealing with slave trade and human trafficking (much like America).
That is when it happened, I suppose. Three years…
I was against the whole idea, feeling that human beings should definitely NOT be used as property. I thought it was revolting! But, because of carrying the family name that I have come to possess, I was forced to keep up appearances. I would, much to my reluctance, go to auctions and purchase slaves, but at the same time hope that I had saved them from an otherwise horrible fate elsewhere. I was kind to them when they arrived at my estate, hoping they would return my respect; they did over time, of course, and I've maintained an almost friendship-like relationship with my servants; memorizing their names, listening to their history, asking where they came from, and so on. I had a fairly decent standing with ALL my servants, until I found him, those three memorable years ago…
There must be at least one hundred men here
"Okay folks, let's settle down! Thank you. Now, the fifth annual Seireitei slave auction has officially begun," the auctioneer shouted, followed by a light applause, but of course my hands remained on my lap, my normal scowl present on my face. "Now to begin. Bring out the first item!"
I scoffed, loud enough to assure myself, but quietly enough so no one else heard me. Items my ass. People are not items, they are living breathing human lives for gods sakes!
As the auction progressed over an hour, seven human lives were stripped of their freedom, although I made sure they were sold to decent masters. It wasn't until the eighth person was brought up that my heart began to wrench.
My bright teal eyes almost popped out of their sockets and I almost fell out of my seat when the fat auctioneer reached behind the block to drag up a small girl. Her dark eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and fury, and only I could tell from just looking at her that she had been raped on multiple occasions. My god! How long has she had to suffer?
"Alright folks, listen up!" the fat man boomed as he held the frail girl by her right arm. "Next item on our list is a fine young specimen of just twelve years old from, you guessed it, Karakura Town! Home to the most fit and lovely items in all Seireitei! This girl isn't just an ordinary girl. Her hair is as dark as the midnight sky. Her eyes as colorful as a raven's feathers. Her exquisite little body…"
The fat man was cut off mid sentence as he stumbled back in pain from a kick to the shin from the girl. I almost burst out laughing when I saw the scrunched face of the fat bastard as he tried to deal with the pain. As suddenly as it had come, the smirk on my usually stoic face dissipated and was replaced with fury. The auctioneer had recovered from the blow and had managed to abruptly back hand the small girl's pale left cheek, sending her tiny from spinning to the ground. This action elicited a laugh from the onlookers, including the fat bastard, mocking and embarrassing her.
I was utterly appalled when the auctioneer had the audacity to drag the small form from he ground and back up on her feet. Her face was full of hate, but only I could have noticed the tears slowly dripping down her slowly bruising cheek. In that one instant, her dark eyes met my wide teal eyes, almost begging me to save her. My heart jumped up to my throat and I swallowed hard. Dear god, what has she done to deserve this?
"Well, she is a little firecracker, isn't she?" the fat bastard chuckled. "Now, if you don't want her for work, you can use her as a whore!"
This elicited another bout of laughter from the crowd, and it was all I could do not to kill every single one of those dirty sons of bitches.
"Now, on to the bidding!"
I had made up my mind. I was going to buy this girl and protect her from these sick animals. But, before I could place my bid, my ears alone heard the frantic cry of a young male from behind the auction block.
"Karin! No, please! Take me instead! KARIN!"
I drew my attention back to the girl named Karin just in time to hear that she had been sold to a brutish man known for his fierce treatment of the female species. I growled at the fact that I had been allowed to become distracted. Damn it! I'm too late. I would have been able to help her!
My heart flooded with a tidal wave of sorrow as Karin struggled against her new brutish master as he began dragging her away. I notice now that at that moment I unconsciously moved to the edge of my seat, wanting to help the girl but not wanting to give myself away. I then noticed that Karin was screaming to the male voice I had heard earlier.
"Ichigo! Don't let this man take me! Please! Ichigo!" Karin screamed until her voice started to become noticeably hoarse.
As the crowd continued to laugh, the male teenager, who had somehow managed to break away from his own master, came whipping around the corner of the auction block. In that instant, I had managed to take In the physical appearance of the boy named Ichigo, who looked no older than myself. His hair was unruly, with what looked like spikes, and was the color of fire. His eyes were a soft brown, almost a chocolate color, but were now filled with rage. His physique… oh my god, he was absolutely beautiful. Muscular, tan… What the hell?
My heart fell as Ichigo was detained by two gigantic looking men when he was a matter of inches away from Karin. He struggled, trying to break free, reassuring the girl all the while.
"Don't worry, Karin! I'll get free and find you! I promise! LET GO OF ME! I HAVE TO TALK TO MY SISTER YOU BASTARDS!"
My teal eyes widened at what the boy screamed. Oh god…they're siblings! And it's all my fault they are getting separated! Damn it! Why do I have to become distracted so goddamn easily?
The whole warehouse instantly became quiet as a certain man stepped out from behind the auction block and everyone's eyes, including my own, drifted to watch this distinguishable man walk smoothly up to Ichigo. Now, mind you, everyone knew this man. This was the kind of man that didn't take shit from anyone, including his friends. The man's name you ask…
Sosuke Aizen.
He was infamous for beating and torturing his servants. It was even rumored that he performed experiments on some of them. What kind of experiments, no one dared to venture a guess.
Aizen had a smug smirk on his face as he whirled around to abruptly punch Ichigo in the stomach in one fluid motion. He whirled back around, satisfied that the orange haired teen was indeed temporarily incapacitated, groaning and hanging uselessly in the two mens' firm grasp. Aizen raised his hands in apology, the smirk widening into a sly smile.
"I'm so sorry for the boy's insolence, gentlemen." His voice was smooth and confident. I almost lost it. "Please, don't stop this gathering on either of our accounts. Continue." The brown haired man then took Ichigo by his orange hair and dragged the teen behind the block, out of the line of sight. After a few seconds, the chatter once again began to build and the auction continued.
I started to fidget and become apprehensive as I thought of what Aizen might be doing to the poor boy. I can't take it! I wasn't able to save Karin but I will not lose Ichigo too! I have to see what's going on.
As discreetly as I could, I slowly rose form my seat and made my way outside into the cool night air. It had stopped raining over the course of the auction, so I knew that Aizen and his goons would bring Ichigo outside. Where no one will hear him scream… I wandered around the area of the small rotting warehouse, my ears listening for either of two voices. As I rounded the very back of the building, my ears managed to pick up the sound of agony and pain, followed by what sounded to me like a "What the hell were you thinking." Am I too late?
I decided to press forward in hopes of saving the brash teen. I peeked my white spikes around the corner, receiving a whole view of the scene while still remaining hidden. What I saw would haunt my mind for years to come. There stood Aizen, pacing back and forth, whispering in between chuckles; and there, pinned up against the wall between the two large men, hung Ichigo, shirtless and gasping for breath. His torso was smeared in his own blood from what looked to be… knife wounds. They were not stabs, but extremely deep cuts, which looked like they were not meant to be fatal but cause an extreme amount of physical pain. So… this is one of his methods of torture.
I couldn't take it anymore! As the sky once again seemed to release its tears, I rounded the corner that had kept me hidden, now completely exposing myself. As I was spotted, Aizen quickly stopped his pacing, but kept the same sly smirk that could deceive the devil himself, commanding the two goons to drop the battered boy. I shuddered slightly when I heard the heavy thud of Ichigo's body hitting the muddy ground.
"Well well. If it isn't Toshiro Hitsugaya! As I live and breath," Aizen recollected, opening his arms as if he expected to receive a hug from me. "How long has it been since I've seen my best friend's son?"
I growled, wondering how he still had the audacity to treat me like a son. "Let's get a few things straightened out right now, Sosuke Aizen. First of all, it has been almost eleven years since I've seen you, and it has been that long for a reason. Secondly, it would benefit the entire balance of life if you were to suddenly stop living and breathing. And finally, how dare you call my father your best friend? Especially after you murdered him and my mother?"
The said murderer stared at me with wide brown eyes, now filled with what seemed to be anger and mostly confusion. But despite that, he managed to retain a now hateful smirk on his face. Ichigo began to stir awake on the ground, barely managing to prop himself up on his hands and knees, when Aizen forcefully kicked the poor boy in the ribs, over which where many of the deep cuts were located. I shivered visibly at the sight of the orange haired teen doubling over in absolute agony, which elicited a full laugh from Aizen.
"Now, Shiro my boy. I know you didn't come out in this stormy godforsaken weather just to visit. What do you really want?"
Might as well get right to the point. "I would like to purchase that boy from you," I said as I pointed on the ground to Ichigo. It seems to me like you're having trouble with him anyway. I could take him off your hands."
"… I… don't need… your… help," a voice said from the ground. I looked down o see Ichigo, still lying down, unable to get up, but he had somehow managed to shoot me a spiteful glare through chocolate eyes. "I will not… be… bought… and sold… as other people… see fit," he said between raspy breaths. I could tell his strength was waning, fast. I had to get him somewhere where I could take care of him.
Aizen took this as another chance to abuse the teen, abruptly kicking the boy's face, almost rendering his unconscious. "I'll just… leave him here with you. No charge," the bastard said smoothly. "He's more of a liability than an asset to me now. Especially after he saw me sell his sister. And besides, I don't feel you should have to pay for damaged goods."
My ears alone heard what almost sounded like a whimper coming from the ground where Ichigo laid sprawled, now unable to even lift his own head. I have to take him now or he'll die for sure. He's bleeding out, and the rain isn't helping. I suddenly noticed that Ichigo had gone limp on the ground, finally unconscious.
"I'll take him, even if he is damaged," I whispered to myself. But unfortunately, Aizen had picked up on it.
"Ah, I see," he smirked. "You really like this particular boy, don't you? Well, I already said you could have him, so take him. I don't need him anymore." As he started to walk away, he passed me and stopped right next to me, placing a large hand on my small shoulder. "You know, Shiro, I did kill your parents, and you'll never be able to prove it. Just think about that."
Aizen patted my shoulder and started to walk again when I interrupted him with a reminder of my own. "You are fully aware of what my dad was capable of, right Aizen?"
"… Yes, I vaguely remember the things he was dabbling around in. What does that have to do with anything?"
I turned around to face my parents' killer, my teal eyes full of fury. "I'm my dad's son. I was his first experiment. Think of all the things I am able to do. I will prove you killed them, using what I have. Think about that." My statement certainly made an impact as Aizen abruptly turned around and hurried away from me and the boy on the ground, now unconscious.
I knelt down next to the boy after Aizen was completely out of sight, running my hands over his torso and examining the wounds. Although he had said he didn't need my help, he was lucky he and his sister had caught my attention. I was probably the only one in existence who could help Ichigo and Karin reunite.
I placed my arms under Ichigo, using one of my abilities to lift him effortlessly from the ground, the rain continuing to soak everything around us. I took this opportunity to look upon the teen as he slept. His face was full of concern, even when he was distant from reality. My face in turn swept with concern as I walked with him in my arms to my carriage.
Come now, Ichigo. It is time I took care of you, despite not knowing each other. I will help you reunite with your sister. I promise...
Wasn't that cool? Did that get your attention? I hope it did because it took me a while to come up with the plot! IchiHitsu ftw!
Also, if you wanna read another super duper IchiHitsu story, read Hidden Truths by Toshirokun13. It has gangs and stuff in it! You know you want to...
I also asked Toshirokun13 to help me co write the rest of this story, so this should be fun :D
Please review on your way out! Come on... Please? *makes puppy dog eyes* I'll have Yuzu make you brownies if you do!