~~ AFTER EFFECT ~~
Chapter: A New Name
Rating:
Warnings: OOC Ichigo and reincarnations
Genre(s): angst, humor, rebirth, adventure
Summary: One thousand years after the beast is contained, a weak soul releases him.
Date Written: 24 February 2011
Date Published:
Word Count:
Dedication: Byakuya, he's just that awesome.
Calm winds eased the toll of heat as the caged man tried to coax a kitten to drink. Nothing so far could force the life-saving liquid into the kitten's body. Every time his guards entered the holding area, he begged them to save the weakening animal, every time, he ignored him.
Today would be the third day since the kitten came to him. Today, his only friend in the world would wither, and cease to exist.
Tears burned at his eyes as the kitten mewled and mourned. Patches of orange and black fur came away close to the skin. How could those who called him beast allow the weak to die like this? Enraged, he curled around the aching body, the only comfort he could give. A single tear fell from dull eyes. He'd had enough of this world anyways...
"Is he okay?"
"I don't care, he should've died."
He flinched. No matter how many times he heard them, those words seared deeply. Who had he been?
"Say that one more time." He jumped as the crash jarred his cage. The kitten mewled as he was forced to hold the kitten above his head to keep from crushing it.
Looking through the bars of his prison, the beast noted who had done what he could not. The newcomer wore his long hair about his shoulders. The loose garments that the other guards filled swallowed him in one dreary gulp. Everything save for face and hands remained invisible. Even part of his face was covered by the length of his hair.
The newcomer dropped his arm away from the man's throat with little thought when the kitten's breathing began to slow. The beast's and the newcomer's eyes met with brutal force. The clash of earth and sea fought over something, but neither knew what.
En the end, the newcomer's flat face twisted into the soft smile of someone the beast knew from a dream. A long and forgotten dream, yet it felt too real... "What is your name?"
The beast growled and held the kitten away.
"Fine then, I'll think of one for you." The newcomer's eyes lit and he opened his mouth to speak. "Come, Ichigo, I need to see the kitten to help it."
'Ichigo froze as the newcomer entered the cage with him. Could he trust him?
"I'm Byakuya." Then the newcomer disappeared, leaving the cage open and Ichigo confused. The name felt familiar...