Chapter 2

'Wait…would that count as suicide?'

Ichigo wondered aloud after thinking about his last statement.

The hollow simply continued to laugh, but not in its usual evil way, more like two friends sharing a joke.

'It probably would, but that's beside the point now, you never answered my question king.'

'No way! Who knows what you might do if I let you out to "play" as you call it. You could destroy the whole of Kurakara town. For god's sake you could probably destroy the world if you wanted to.'

'I promise I will not destroy towns or worlds. I promise I will not eat people's souls. Come on! All I wanna do is fight some hollow bastards and get away from standing on blue sideways buildings and staring at fake sideways clouds in the messed up world that is our mind. Let me out or I'll make you.'

For a moment Ichigo considered the idea. It would save him time if the hollow did his work fighting off the other hollows, but he almost instantly shook the thought out of his mind. He couldn't let that thing out, he probably wouldn't keep that promise anyway and what if one of his friends noticed the change or saw that mask? Rukia would probably try to kill him, literally.

'Sorry but no deal. I can't risk it.'

Ichigo answered simply. He could almost feel the hollow frown inside his inner world.

'Guess there's no choice. Sorry King, if that's the way it's gonna be then I'll just have to fight for my freedom.'

'Shit.'

Ichigo muttered before passing out on the bed.

ooOOOOoooOOOooooOOOOooOOOooo

*Inner world*

'For god's sake!'

Ichigo yelled as he stared around at the blue sideways world and the white copy of himself. For once the hollow wasn't grinning insanely but frowning. It made him look more human and even more like Ichigo.

'I don't really wanna fight. Can't we just make a compromise? I mean look at this place. Would you really wanna be stuck in here forever with nothing to do but talk to that old man Zangetsu?

Off in the distance standing on his pole Zangetsu frowned.

'Even if I wanted to let you out I can't trust you.'

'Get over it, you know deep down I'm not gonna do anything horrible so just back off without a fight for like half an hour.'

'If I agreed, would I be able to take back control whenever I wanted.'

'Well you have been able to so far, remember you kept trying to pull that mask off?'

Ichigo looked down at the ground, or more the window he was standing on.

'Half an hour and stay away from everyone I know unless they come to you and you can't get them away in time. Also, if I find it necessary then I will find a way to gain control again.'

The hollow grinned.

'Whatever you say, king.'

'Oh and, what exactly should I call you? I don't really like calling something that is a part of me Hollow.'

The hollow smiled a bit less creepy this time.

'Well, I had thought about that a while ago and Hichigo was my favorite name.'

'I bet I can guess what the H stands for. Real reassuring, Hichigo…'

Ichigo mumbled.

'Guess I'll see you in around half an hour, king. I hope you enjoy Zangetsu's company more than I do.
Buh-bye.'