Ichigo Kurosaki was a sad man indeed. An orphan, a slave, a killer, a hacker; he was all this and more. He could handle most everything, pain hardly ever registered anymore. Now Ichigo was a homeless man, living day to day by stealing what he could and killing his marks if he had to. You might be wondering about his past, just like him it was a sad thing indeed. His parents were up to their eyes balls in debt and blamed him for it. And because they blamed him they abused him mercilessly. Until he turned eight, then they sold him to the gang known as the Shinigami.
To say that they tortured him would be an understatement. They sexually and physically abused him, making him kill for their own pleasure. It seemed to really turn them on to see a young boy covered in blood with a soulless look in his eyes. It stayed that way for ten years, then they had been arrested and Ichigo took his escape. From then he did the only thing he could, turn tricks to eat. That was the gist of it.
Right now in Kurakara town, he sat in the streets to weak to move after one of his marks beat the holy hell out of him. Hunger pained and contorted his lithe frame. He was a fighter no doubt about it, but right now all he wanted was to die. People passed him on the street but never stopped to help him. Dying would be so easy, less painful than the pitiful thing he called a life. A man with blue hair stopped in front of him, Ichigo looked at him. Handsome indeed, but off putting with the scary expression he wore.
The man had sky blue hair and eyes to match, with green marks slashing under his eyes. His jeans were ripped and worn, his black Converse were wet and muddy. He had on a simple black t-shirt with a white trench coat on top of it all that reached his ankles. The bluenette stared at him, soaked by the seemingly never ending down pour.
"You okay kid?" he asked, crouching down to my level. I looked at him with glassy eyes; heroine tends to do that to a person.
"Who are you?" I rasped, tilting my head to the side. He could be my new master. I thought idlely.
"Grimjow. Why don't you come with me? I'll feed ya." Grimjow asked holding out his hand.
"Are you my new master?" I asked taking his out stretched hand. His brow furrowed in confusion.
"No kid. I just want to help ya." He said.
With that being said Grimjow led me down the street to an apartment building, his hand never leaving mine. I watched his back, as any good slave would. Years of Stockholm tends to leave lasting oddities in the mind, like calling people master or never speaking unless asked a direct question. The heroine kept me going even though I shouldn't be able to move since I hadn't eaten since… how long has it been now? I thought.
The bluenette named Grimjow walked him up the apartment stairs. All around various guys of various ages littered the place. All had the same manner of dress, ripped jeans, Converse or boots, some even had masks. Grimjow had one too, but just on his jaw. I stumbled behind him, the heroine from hours ago finally allowing me to crash. Grimjow stopped suddenly, causing me to run right into him. It was enough to send me into the sweet abyss of sleep.
Grimjow Jaggerjack barely caught the orange haired kid before he hit the floor. Even if he was only trying to be nice to a kid who had received no help form passing strangers, this kid was starting to try his patience. What little of it there was anyway. But that didn't matter; he knew the kid was out of his mind high. He had to get him to the infirmary floor.
Unbeknownst to others this apartment building was the base of operations for the gang Espada. A ruthless gang that had supernatural powers of things called Hollows. Souls that had not crossed over in enough time and became monsters. But they had Soul Reaper powers as well, complete with a zanpakuto.
Picking up the orange haired kid and slinging him over his shoulder, and trudged up the stairs. On the fourth floor they housed an infirmary wing. Dropping the kid roughly on the bed he stretched his arms and shoulders from carrying the kid up four flights of stairs. The doctor, one of the higher ups of their gang, came running. Szayelaporro Granz, a pink haired maniac with amber eyes set behind glasses.
"What? Another stray Grimjow?" Granz asked. I growled at him.
"Just treat him already." I said to the pinkette as I walked away.
"And where are you going?" Granz asked.
"To talk to the boss." I called over my shoulder as I made my way up the rest of the ten floor building.
Every now and then I would pass some other Arancar who would bow respectfully at me. It wasn't for me. All the bowing and honorifics didn't suit my attitude. On the tenth floor the boss made him home, war room, personal bar, and whatever else tickled his fancy. Sitting in his plush leather chair sat an overly white albino, with white hair that stuck up in all manner of directions. He had white skin with black finger nails and a cobalt blue tongue. His eyes were the strangest of any Arancar Grimjow had seen. Black where the whites of his eyes should be and deep golden irises that shimmered in the light.
"Wha' cha need Grim?" he asked.
"I uh…" I found it difficult to talk to him. Shirosaki Hichigo's presence was truly terrifying.
"Brought home a stray." Shiro said. Not a question, a statement.
"Yeah looks exactly like you only more color." I said, rubbing the back of my neck. A knock sounds at the office door and Granz comes in after an okay from Shiro. The orange haired kid following like a lost puppy behind him. His eyes were clearer, but you could tell he was still crashing. He looked around with wary but wild eyes,
"Wha' cha name kid?" Shiro asked him. The kid got down on his knees in front of the desk with his head bowed.
"I do not have one. My master is supposed to name me." He said no moving his eyes from the floor.
"Master?" I mouthed to Shiro.
"Look at me." Shiro commanded and the kids head swung up with out any hesitation.
"Are you my new master?" the orangette asked as if he were a child asking "are you my dad?". Shiro grinned, an evil and sick grin.
"And if I am?" Shiro asked the orange haired kid.
"Then you name me master." Ichigo said his eyes looking at Shiro but never his eyes.
"Do my eyes scare you?" Shiro asked.
"No master. I was trained to never look my master in the eye." He stated with no emotion.
"Do you want a master?" Granz asked him. Ichigo looked to Shiro for approval, he nodded in return.
"Masterless means I have no life. Master is the only reason I live." Ichigo answered the doctor.
"I have made my decision. I will be your new master but you are to listen to the other high ranked Espada as you would me." Shiro grinned.
"Thank you master." Ichigo said as he bowed his head to the floor boards.
"What was your birth name?" Shiro asked.
"Previous master said it was Ichigo Kurosaki." The look on the kids face was one of disgust.
"You don't like your name?" I asked.
"It does not bear happy memories Grimjow-sama." He answered in a flat, emotionless tone.
"Then you will be Kuro. Any objections?" Shiro asked and the orange haired kid shook his head.
"Grimjow! Szayelaporro! Take him downstairs and put him through the stages. I want to know his full potential." Shiro said, they were dismissed.
The newly named Kuro followed behind Grimjow and the pink haired Szayelaporro, a doctor. He was a few steps behind, enough to keep up with them but far enough back as a slave should. The masters were talking idly, about where they should start first. Kuro didn't care, he had new masters to serve and that meant his life had meaning again. They led him back down to the infirmary wing, they set him down on one of the stools and the pink haired doctor began checking him over.
"Strip please." Szayelaporro asked him. He stood and took off his shirt, stopping when told to.
Standing in his boxers in front of the doctor and Grimjow didn't bother Kuro in the least. With his previous master he was used quite often. Doctor-sama checked his heartbeat and to check how the crash was going. Kuro assured them that he could function while crashing, doing his duties as their slave perfectly. At Grimjow-sama's sharp intake of breath I looked at him curiously.
"Is there something wrong Grimjow-sama?" I asked him.
"What happened to you?" He growled. I stared at him quizzically.
"He means your scars." Doctor-sama whispered to me.
"A scar for every time I was a bad slave. A scar for every fight and a scar for every kill." I replied automatically.
"Kill?" Doctor-sama asked.
"My previous master used me as a pet, an assassin, a hacker, and anything he wanted me to do." Again an automatic reply.
"I see." Was all Grimjow-sama said.
Doctor-sama finished looking me over and walked with Grimjow-sama down to a lower floor. A gym and sparing floor by the looks of the equipment. Doctor-sama told me to stay by him and I did so without a word. Grimjow-sama walked forward and spoke briefly to a man with black hair and jade green eyes. He walked over to Doctor-sama and I and began to look me over. Dressed in nothing but my boxers and jeans, I gazed at the floor so I wouldn't offend him.
"I am Ulquiora. What is yours?" he asked me.
"My name is Kuro, Ulquiora-sama." I said bowing my head low.
"You will spare with him. Fight as if you were to kill him but don't. Understand?" Grimjow-sama asked me.
"Yes master." I said bowing.
I followed Ulquiora-sama to a mat. One used to soften the blow of the floor if you were knocked down by your sparing partner. I stared at the mat; I had heard of them but never actually seen one. I glanced at Ulquiora-sama. The bone-like helmet sat on his head, it was unnerving. I had heard of the Arancar from my previous master but he had never asked me to kill one. He didn't want the retaliation.
Ulquiora-sama rushed me, knocking me to the semi-soft ground of the mat. It was a simple hold, one I twisted out of and pinned him under me. He kicked me off of him and brought out his zanpakuto and rushed me again. I summoned mine and held it in front of me in record time to block Ulquiora-sama's sword. Zangetsu was a black sword the length of me and about half of my width. No hilt or guard, just a white bandage around it.
I pushed him back and rushed him. He swung his sword but I ducked as I brought my sword up, barely missing his chin. I didn't let up. If I failed to please my masters I would be beaten, and as much as I liked to feel, pain was not high on my list. I struck blow after blow, affording him no time to counter or go on the offensive. Previous master taught me much, on the defensive you never won. Until Ulquiora-sama did something unexpected.
"Bankai." He said, Grimjow and Doctor-sama watched me closely. I jumped away.
"Bankai." I said as I let my spiritual pressure flow.
Zangetsu changed to a normal sized pure black sword. With a four in chain on the end. Of course my cloths changed as well. Changing to Soul Reaper attire with a long black coat over top that reached my ankles. Ulquiora-sama was powerful, his pressure greater than my own. But that didn't matter, I had to please my masters my showing them my skill. I allowed my power to build and just as Ulquiora-sama had finished his release my attack was ready.
"Zetsuga Tenshou!" I let forth my attack, a black wave of energy tinged in red.
Ulquiora-sama met the attack full force; I was running out of options. And while I had my Hollow powers they would most likely destroy the building. I stared absently at Ulquiora-sama as he flew at me, seemingly unaffected my attack. Fine. I raked my hand over my face and allowed my Hollow mask to appear. As Ulquiora-sama and I rushed each other, Grimjow-sama stepped in between us. I stopped short and twisted away from Grimjow-sama before I hurt him.
"Enough! We've seen what we needed to." He said. I bowed low.
"Is master pleased?" I asked quietly.
"Why do you ask, Kuro?" Ulquiora asked me.
"If master is pleased Kuro doesn't get hurt. Is master pleased with Kuro?" I answered, hoping I could escape a beating on my first day. Doctor-sama lifted his hand to my face and I involuntarily flinched. Screwing my eyes tightly shut, then opened them as I felt something gentle on my head.
"Master is pleased." Doctor-sama said as he patted my head.
"Come on, let's get you fed." Grimjow-sama said.
And with that I re-sealed my power to be back in my jeans and Converse. I followed behind them again, close enough not to lose them but far back to not offend them. Masters are nice to Kuro. I thought. It was strange to think of having a kind master. I followed them down another floor to a mess hall of sorts. I glanced around warily; Master Shiro had said to listen to the high ranking members as I would him. So there I walked trying to figure out who they were. So I would know who I could stop from using me as pervious master had.
"No need to be nervous Kuro." Ulquiora-sama said.
"Just act as you would with your other owner." Doctor-sama said to me.
After they grabbed their food I grabbed a small loaf of bread and sat on the floor by my three new masters and waited. Looking at them but not in their eyes. I waited for them to tell me to eat or to demand my bread and tell me to eat from their hands. They looked at me strangely. Have I done something wrong? I thought as I took in their stares.
"What are ya' doing Kuro." Grimjow-sama asked me.
"Waiting for permission to eat Master. Or for you to order me to eat from your hands." I responded.
"Why are you on the floor?" Ulquiora-sama asked.
"I was never permitted to sit with masters at meals." I answered.
"W-Well you can eat with us. So go ahead and eat." Doctor-sama said. I took a bite and swallowed quickly.
"Have I displeased you masters? Does Kuro need to be punished?" I asked, there was nothing I could do to keep the fear from my voice. They looked uncomfortable. Was I too close? Too far?
"No Kuro. No punishment. Come here." Grimjow-sama said. I stood and he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the seat next to him. My eyes went wide.
"I have never sat with Master before. Is this alright Master?" I asked. The nodded and motioned for me to eat.
I ate with them, assuring them that the bread was enough for me and that it would not hinder my ability to do my duties as their slave. They always cringed at that word, it was odd. Didn't people like having slaves? After a while Shiro-sama joined us. I jumped up from my seat next to Grimjow-sama and sat on the floor again with my eyes on the floor. I couldn't stop from shaking. The three masters might be okay with me eating with them as if I was human but Shiro-sama might not be.
"Some thin' wrong Kuro?" Master Shiro asked.
"No master." I responded. Master turned his attention to the three other masters.
"Whats up, King?" Doctor-sama asked.
"Hows is' pressure?" he asked.
"Unable to get a read on it." Ulquiora-sama replied.
"Kuro! Do you know why we can't get a read on your power?" Master Shiro asked me.
"Master did not remove Kuro's collar." I replied in a steady voice.
"Stand." Master Shiro ordered as he neared me.
I stood immedietly while keeping my eyes on the floor. I dropped my shield and let the collar show. Master Shiro popped the release on my collar and it fell to the floor with a metallic clank. Without my collar my spiritual pressure was uncontrollable. Master Grimjow, Szayelaporro, and Ulquiora fell out of their seats. Gasping for air as my pressure chocked them. Master Shiro put my collar back on, unaffected by the pressure. The three other Masters got back in their seats.
"Don' hide the collar. Now we have a prisoner down in the basement. You kill em' Kuro." Master Shiro said.
"How would Master like Kuro to kill him?" I asked. They gave me a strange look. Did I say something wrong?
"How ya mean?" Doctor-sama asked.
"Previous master liked Kuro to make kills messy. Previous master liked it when Kuro was bloody." I said dropping to my knees.
"Sure bloody works fer meh." With that Master Shiro walked off again.
"Come on kid." Grimjow-sama said.
And like a good slave I walked down with him to the basement of the building. It was dark in the basement, the only light coming from a few lights swinging on the ceiling. There was a man in a chair in the center of the room. He was tied to the chair and had a cloth gag in his mouth that muffled any noise he made. His brown eyes were open and wild, he was scared. He looked ordinary. Black hair, ripped jeans, sneakers.
"Go on kid. Weapons are on that wall over there." Grimjow-sama said.
I walked over to the wall where a vast array of knives and other instruments hung. I chose a serrated one, about six inches in length. But that was a guess, I never went to school. I picked it up and tested the weight. I crouched in front of the man with the blade in my hand. He was trying to speak but the gag made his words incoherent. I stabbed his arm and wrenched the blade out, causing a splatter that coated my arm and cheek. A stab to the neck, cleanly between the trachea, spinal cord, and the major vein that sat there. More blood coated my bare chest. One more stab and the man went silent. I was coated in blood, so much so that anyone would swear I bathed in it.
"Master pleased? Kuro do a good job Master?" I asked.
"Yeah Kuro. You did good. Just leave the knife on the table." Grimjow-sama said.
Grimjow watched Kuro like a hawk while he killed the prisoner. There was no enjoyment in the kill itself but when I told him he did well his face lit up. He didn't care about the fact he had just killed a man. Just that his master was happy. It was strange to watch the orangette practically skip around in glee. He followed behind me like usual, a smile still on his face. I took him up to my room.
"Go shower." I said. And he did so and was out in ten minutes. His hair was still wet. I grabbed a towel.
"Sit here." I told him and he sat on the floor in front of the bed where I sat. I put the towel over his head and began to dry his hair. I felt him stiffen.
"Somethin' wrong?" I asked.
"M-Master does not have to do that." He said quietly.
"Don' worry. Relax, the painful part has yet to come." I told him. He stiffened more.
"Kuro was bad? Kuro going to be punished?" he said looking at me, tears in his eyes.
"No Kuro. You were good. We just gotta make you a full Espada." I told him and patted his now dry hair. I laid his head on my knee. Hoping to comfort him slightly.
"Master is happy? Master wants Kuro to be an Espada?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Then Kuro will do it." He replied happily.
I walked him over to the medical wing. I was getting more exercise today than he had in a long time. Up the stairs and down the stairs, running this kid all over. Szayelaporro was waiting for us when we arrived, the little black box that held the power to make an Espada. I told Kuro to lay down on the bed by Szayelaporro and he did so without hesitation. I walked over to him as Szayelaporro prepped the Hyokoku, gabbing his hand.
"It's gunna hurt. A lot. Try not to scream too much okay?" Szayelaporro said as he walked over.
Without any warning Szayelaporro plunged a knife deep into his chest. The kid coughed up blood and looked at me with fear in his wood brown eyes. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Soon his body died and he was left a soul with a chain attached to his heart. One that was being eaten at a faster pace than any before him. Granz activated the Hyokoku and Kuro began to change.
First his mask started to materialize, odd since a Hollow formed by the body disappearing first then re-building itself. His clothes changed into a white version of what the Soul Reapers ware. A hole formed on his chest; at the point where his collarbones met in the middle. Two red marks appeared under his right eye, the white coat was left open. At his stomach it was held closed by a belt while above and below that it hung open. His scars where still there. All through this he stayed quiet; the grip he had on my hand never tightened.
When it was finally over he sat up, a trembling hand touching the mask that rested on the side of his head. Kuro looked between me and Granz. Afraid or waiting for permission to speak.
"Well?" Shiro asked as he walked in.
"A success." Granz told him.
"Kuro, come ere'" Shiro commanded. Kuro got up and walked, stumbled, over to Shiro. Shiro looked him over, head to toe.
"Something wrong Kuro?" Shiro asked.
"Is Master happy?" he asked.
"Yes but aint ya in pain?" Shiro pinned him with a stare.
"If Master is happy Kuro is fine." He said with a smile.
"Wha ever. You will share a room with Grim. Understood?" Shiro asked.
"Yes Master." Kuro said bowing.
Meanwhile, Ishin Kurosaki walked down the halls of the Soul Society headquarters. Down to the Head Captains quarters. After all these years of staying away from them, Ishin found himself crawling back with his tail between his legs. The Head Captain was an old man with a bald head and a snow white beard that reached the floor.
"What do we have here? Ishin coming back to us?" the Head Captain rasped.
"I have done something terrible. And I need your help to make it right." Ishin said bowing.
"What?"
"I sold my son to a Yakuza. I need to make that right."
"If he is your son then we will help. But if he is with them…"
"I know."
