Not owned.

Beta by Warrior

Hopefully better.

Comments are highly welcome and encourage.

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Waking up in utter darkness somewhere where you don't know. It is scary but more than scary it was horrifying. Yet now it doesn't even raise surprise or fear as annoyance… and anger.

Even in this place, if that was the correct way to describe it. Ichigo was filling exasperation, as he only wanted to sleep. To have a lazy day, without his father launching an attack, to have a day without having to worry about his sisters as they also lay lazy on the living.

But now, he was – where ever this was- lying on his back like he was float on water but in space. He blinked at couple of times trying to get used to the non-exist light. Ichigo grimace at the familiar throbbing tell-tale signs of upcoming headache, slowly making it a hassle to figure out what to do.

He was not lazy, but there is a point in life where being kidnapped, taken hostage, tricked, trapped or simply sleep and find you are somewhere unknown. Gets old really fast and tiresome without mentioning, it raises unwanted questions and doubts.

Rubbing his eyes with his hand, Ichigo continue lying on nothingness. On contrary belief, he was smarter than he let on and lying on the float on nothing but utter black abyss was the best idea at the moment. However, acting like nothing was wrong was probably wrong.

But he couldn't help think. Even with the 17 years of seeing and living with ghosts and then 17 months without ghosts and back. He was still Ichigo Kurosaki.

The Ichigo Kurosaki. The one with insane amount of Reiatsu. With a Hollow (Shiroigo) and Zanpakutō, Zangetsu. Vizard. Fullbringer. Quincy. The one who beat Aizen, Bounts, Fullbringers. Holder of Hōgyoku. The one who bond with Muramasa even death. The one who was double dose with reiatsu from two different times.

"Ichigo." A voice resonance throughout the emptiness, a cold deep voice laced with a hint of something… indescribable.

"Ichigo," the voice repeated.

Standing, Ichigo glance around in a futile attempt to localize the voice. He was still in human form. Vulnerable and exposed, the odds were not good.

"Where are you?" 'Better to have your enemies in front of you than not.'

"I am not your enemy, Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Then what are you?"

"I am your friend, brother, father, sister, mother, lover, even enemy if you want. I am your past, present and future, Ichigo Kurosaki. Or not." The voice explained, whispering. Only that this time, that subtle hint was more pronounce. It was warmth. The sheer realization made Ichigo shiver by force or amount, Ichigo didn't know.

"Everything and Nothing?"

"Yes."

"Then tell me, Voice, what is your name?"

"Name?"

"Yes."

"I had none."

"Can I name you then?"

"As you wish." There was no outward change but there was a shift in air, of joy and happiness, perhaps even acception.

"Yuuri."

"Yuuri?"

"Yes, Yuuri. I read once a manga, and one of the main characters, his name was Yuuri. You remind me of him, simple but complex."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. But Yuuri, you didn't take me from my bed just to chat."

Again there was a shift, the joy and happiness disappear. Replace by melancholy and disconsolate. "Ichigo, your future is fabricated by war, blood, loss and pain. Regardless of what path you take you would always been fighting. You were born to fight. You were power, Ichigo Kurosaki."

Shock struck him, follow with fear and hurt. He was no saint. He has cussed and lied (rarely) but still did, he did fight, he has killed. Yet why was he destiny to suffer? He was not stupid. He knew he was not going to have a normal life. But did he deserve constant pain, war? What horrendous offense did he commit?

"Why?"

"Why what?"

'Why me? Why more war? Why more pain? Why more fights? Why wouldn't it stop? Why wasn't normal?' All those choke him, fighting to get out. But in the end only one came out. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because end the end it is you who is going to destroy everything you seek you protect."

"What?" Ichigo yelled before glancing down at his hands already imagine them cover with blood.

"You know why. You have learned a lot, Ichigo, more than you let others know, more than even your Hollow or Zapakuto know. I know everything about you."

"I didn't know what you are talking. I am fine. Shiro and I are better than better. Muramasa and Zangetsu get along with him aka Hōgyoku is enjoying living. I am fine."

"Ichigo you can't tell lie to me as you can lie to everyone else."

"Then tell what is wrong."

"You are dying." Fearing ran through Ichigo like cold water splash onto him. "That ache, the pang of loneness, of wariness. You are dying, Ichigo. Soon all those thing those feelings are going to consume you. You would be nothing but power. A machine with great power but no will to steer it or strength to control. It would go rampage. Killing and destroying everything you have fought for, Ichigo. You know this."

"Who are you?"Gripping his shirt at heart, Ichigo shouted as he dropped on his knees. It was all true. There was something growing steady, a hole, a void, an endless abyss just like this growing inside him.

"I tell you already, I am everything you want me to be or nothing." The voice now named Yuuri, replied.

"You are me. You are everything I need. You are everything I don't need too. Because at the end no matter what everything is going to stay the same but alter completely." Ichigo reply neutral as he pieced everything together.

"Forge our future, Ichigo Kurosaki"

Ichigo shook slightly as he raised his eyes from the ground, with a hysteria filled laughter pour out of him. Most as if his Hollow were coming out. But it wasn't. It is the darkness the void Ichigo had.

"How?"

"Weld your cage. Ichigo Kurosaki, weld your cage."