oo2. The Sword

It was about the time he was nearly beheaded by a man with only one usable hand that he began to realize that running out with only his valor might have been a slightly poor idea for the situation. He had depended on his leap-first-ask-later philosophy since he had managed to get away from the restrictive life he had been forced into since a child. Acting without thinking had saved his skin on multiple occasions and in some cases had helped out others but he had to admit that most of those times had been in some kind of controlled environment. There had always been someone there to back him up when he needed out. Being out on his own now, it was getting less likely that he would make it to his next birthday.

Buildings burned to husk around him. He was so close to what had once been the only brothel in the small town that he swore he felt the fringes of his coat searing. His skin was so hot that he was barely able to stand it and the sweat on the palm of his hand was making gripping his sword even harder, relying on the boxed guard to keep the hilt in his grasp. The one handed man came at him with a gleeful grin and he ducked just as the blade sliced the air where his throat had been. He lashed out with his own sword at the first opening, driving the tip into the soft belly of the man but only deep enough to cause him to scream out in pain. The smell of rotten teeth and something that reminded Ichigo of raw, decayed pork assaulted his senses. Waving a hand in front of his nose to try and get the stench away, he watched as the man fell over in agony as he clutched his bleeding stomach.

The brothel collapsed, sending pieces of burning wood all around. He moved out of the way of a flying shard of flaming rafter. The blunt side struck one of the pirates on the side of the head, knocking him out cold. A woman nearly tripped over him in her attempt to escape two men chasing her. Ichigo went to help, trying to keep his focus on one battle at a time, but someone blocked his way before he could take two steps.

A man no taller than him with shaggy hair and a feathered hat pointed a sword at his throat. For a moment, he thought he looked familiar, but he realized the man just had one of those very plain faces. There was nothing striking about him except his smell, but Ichigo knew he couldn't smell too good himself and tried to only hold the fact that he was threatening him and was destroying and looting other's property against him.

The pirate eyed his coat, lingering on the metals. A slow grin formed. "A royal officer? There was no word that the Armada was in these parts. Aren't you supposed to be with the rest patrolling the seas near the Caribbean?"

He was use to the response; after all, many people had asked him the same question just that day. He sighed; looking more annoyed than scared as the blade touched his chest. He gave the same answer he did to everyone who asked such a stupid thing.

"It's none of your business where I should be or shouldn't. You should focus more on yourself."

The pirate smiled, looking amused by his answer. "No, it might not be my business. It was mere curiosity before I cut off your head."

"You can try but the last man failed and I doubt you'll do any better."

The man tried to bring his blade up to rip open his throat but Ichigo went back. The blade grazed his chin as he threw his head backwards to avoid it, dizzying himself with the quick movement as he allowed his body to act on instinct. His leg lashed out as the man fell forward from the lost momentum, landing a kick just above his knee hard enough to collapse it. The man grunted and fell to that knee just as Ichigo landed solidly on his back. The ache left him breathless for an instant, but he knew every second counted. The man was already trying for a downward swing to Ichigo's leg but he kicked out again, knocking him in the chin faster than he could move. The pirate toppled over, holding his bloody mouth just as Ichigo got to his feet and moved behind him. Sword gripped tightly, he sliced across his back causing the man to howl. He could have killed him then. He was wide open and no one would hold him accountable for murder. It would be so simple and no one would even care.

With one more kick for good measure to the wound he had just inflicted, he left that man groaning in pain on the ground. No one would care if he had killed a pirate, he might have even been praised if he got out alive, but he would care. He refused to stain his sword with death. Blood wasn't a problem but he had no right to take another man's life-- no matter how sinful that life had been led. He had been taught better than that and to disgrace his teacher was unforgivable.

There were three men cornering a woman nearby. He was unsure if it was the same who had ran past him before he was interrupted but that wasn't the issue. She had a short sword in one hand with her free hand braced on the stone wall behind her, waiting for the first to attack her with an uncertain look on her face. She was outnumbered and even though the sword wasn't too hard to handle for someone of Ichigo's height, she seemed to have problems holding it properly. The sharp edge was pointed upward and he knew she wouldn't make it when the men gave up the game they were playing. He couldn't see the looks on their faces, but he could clearly see hers.

He rushed forward, taking the distance in long strides. Someone shouting on horseback nearly trampled him as they rode by, but he stopped short of being knocked off his feet. Another pirate was running with a large crate in his arms but he didn't bother him as he ran towards the shore. When he reached the men surrounding the nearly defenseless woman, he slammed the hilt of his sword into the one on the right's temple, knocking him out cold before anyone saw him. The man in the middle turned, drawing the sword aimed at the girl with him and tried for Ichigo. He blocked it with the flat of his own blade. There was a proper form to sword play, one that Ichigo was very skilled at but when you worked with men who only knew the art of the sword as a killing weapon, you had to fight dirty. He didn't like to cheat, as his former master called it, but he knew better than to think the man wouldn't do the same if he had the chance. He punched him in the nose, knocking the older man's head back. He stumbled and Ichigo moved forward, taking his sword and driving it into his foot. A scream pierced his ears and in an attempt to make him shut up, he drove his elbow into his gut and removed the sword from the man's foot. The guy who had been on the left ran the moment he saw his comrade fall.

"Coward," Ichigo yelled after him, but didn't give chase. Just as he was about to turn to see if the lady had been hurt, the cold bite of steel was at his throat.

"Indeed," the woman said as she held the sword right with confidence. Confused, Ichigo only managed to move slightly before the blade pressed against his Adam's apple, drawing a thin line of blood that left him still. "Drop the weapon now, sir."

"Miss, I think you have me confused," he tried to reason but she only applied more force. He dropped his sword reluctantly.

"No, officer, it seems you're the one confused," her voice was almost childlike. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her smiling almost brightly at him. "After all, you just rescued the enemy."

"You're one of them?" He couldn't believe this. She had tricked him! The men had been trying to detain a criminal and he had harmed them. A string of profanities left his lips.

"Now that's not nice language to say in front of a lady," she chided him. "Now, step back a few paces slowly and don't move or I'll slit you open like a pig."

"What lady?" he replied sarcastically but did as he was told. She kept the steel at his throat as she kicked the edge of his sword on the ground, catching it with her left hand by the guard and rested her petite fingers on the handle. For a moment, she glanced over the blade, studying the etched symbols and the elaborate guard against her tanned skin. A frown pressed at her lips as she turned hazel eyes towards him. He met her look, seeing something like recognition cross her features. A sense of nervousness came over him under her stare, but not because he was at a swords edge. He had to force himself not to squirm. She couldn't know. It was impossible.

"This isn't an infantry navel officer's sword," she stated accusingly. Shit, shit shit! He tried to find a way out before she could figure anything else out.

"I don't know what you mean; it was assigned to me by Commodore--"

She smiled sweetly then and with no warning pulled the sword from his throat. "Don't lie. You're pretty bad at it."

"Wha-"

"Nel! Stop kidding around and kill that guy. It's time to leave!" Someone shouted behind him and he had to force himself not to turn his gaze away from the girl. The satisfaction swimming behind those light eyes of hers left him cold and rooted to the spot. She looked far too pleased as she handed him back his sword, hilt first.

"You're lucky," she said as he stared dumbfounded at her. Without another word, she skipped past him as if nothing had happened.

"What the hell?" The same man yelled and Ichigo turned to watch the small woman go over to a group of pirates. One was carrying a small box, but he noticed that they all stood around him, protecting him. Blood coated the man's hands and splatters were on his face. The other's around him were covered in blood also, some carrying smaller crates with food or supplies. Each one of them was covered in dirt. One of the smaller ones was prying a ring off a severed hand. "You were suppose to kill him!" The blue-haired one said. Captain, Ichigo concluded, but he didn't move to attack. There were too many of them for him to take alone and the fear of what the girl knew kept him rooted to the spot. However, the look the other man was shooting him told him he might want to think of something to do quickly.

"You don't boss me around," Nel told him as she placed her hands on her hips. Ichigo balked and began to wonder if the man really was a captain or not if he let that girl speak to him like that in front of his men.

"Fine, if you can't do something so simple, I'll fuckin' do it." The captain said with a huff and with a gentleness that seemed almost out of place, handed over the small music box to the blonde man who wasn't carrying anything. One of the larger men whispered something to him, but he shook his head. "Just wait. It won't take long. Nakeem-- Di Roy, damn it, get rid of the hand. Cut off the finger if you had to but you've been fuckin' with that thing for too long. Nakeem, gather the others and tell them to head to the boats." The other nodded and walked off. He stepped on a body at his feet and Ichigo could hear the bones snap from his spot. The teal haired man turned to him, looking more pissed that he had to waste his time than anything else and drew his weapon. Without another word, he made his way towards him.

Ichigo knew that the girl knew and he couldn't help but look at her, waiting for her to tell someone of her findings. But she just stood there and sheathed her sword, looking just as annoyed if not more than the buccaneer heading over to kill him. The fire light caught on the blade coming at him and he barely managed to block the attack, stopping it only an inch before it would have sliced off his skull. The man had moved too fast, much too fast for him to follow and he had been lucky to manage any kind of block. The force of the blow caused him to lose purchase in the dirt; sliding his feet back an inch or so as he held his blade to keep the other from his skin.

"Why is everyone out for my head today?"

"Shut the hell up," the other snapped and kicked him in the gut.

The air in his lungs left him and he fought to block the next attack. The captain didn't give him enough time to catch his breath, driving backwards and lashing out with his fist. Ichigo managed to duck the blow, but couldn't stop the sword from slicing his arm. Pain laced up his shoulder and he stumbled backwards.

"How pathetic," the captain said with a sneer, driving the point of the sword down towards his gut. Ichigo knocked it to the side, seeing the look of cold indifference to the fact that he was trying to take a life on the other's face. This wasn't the time to hold back, he realized. If he did, he was sure to be like the other bodies scattered around them. The girl knew, so what? It wasn't the time to worry about that when his life was on the line.

"Look who's talking?" Ichigo growled out, moving forward with a downward strike to the others arm. Caught off guard, it sliced through the skin of his bicep but the man barely seemed to notice. He didn't wait, driving forward like the captain had earlier and pulled his sword upwards with the motion. The captain jumped back and the blade caught on his shirt, ripping it right up the middle. A trail of blood stained the dirt covered white linen and that did seem to surprise the blue haired man. "I don't go around taking the lives of the innocent. You, sir, are worse than pathetic. You're trash."

The captain's blue eyes burned. He came at him but Ichigo danced out of his way, giving him his back as he lunged forward. Ichigo drove his elbow backwards, knocking the other in the spine and sending him to the ground. He fell face first, sputtering out the dirt that had collected in his mouth. A smirk played on Ichigo's lips. Nearby, a small grenade had been set off, causing yet another building to end up nothing more than a pile of burning wood. Splinters rained down on them, catching in his hair and in his clothes. Leisurely, he dusted them off as if he hadn't just nearly got sliced open moments before.

"You little brat," The captain spit as got to his feet. When he turned, Ichigo was surprised to see the man smiling, but the look in his eyes had shifted. No longer was it the chilled apathy to murdering; now it was a manic glee that set his features alight. Ichigo took an unconscious step back. Shit, what had he gotten himself into? "Seems like you'll be a little more fun than I expected."

Ichigo held his sword before him, poised. His palms began to sweat. "This isn't about fun, this is survival."

"Ooooh, how wrong you are." Something had changed in the midst of their fighting. Something dark and feral had come over the man that Ichigo couldn't find the words for. When he had first attacked him, it had just been to kill him, but now, staring into those gleaming eyes that caught the fire with their own light, he knew that it wasn't just about the kill any longer. This man was going to have fun in driving his sword through his flesh, in ripping the soul from his body. He would rejoice in it.

The captain rushed him and Ichigo managed to get a kick to his side, forgetting he had a weapon in his hand as the need to protect himself took over. The captain blocked it with his left arm, bringing the sword in his right to stab into his ribs. Ichigo pulled to the side, falling over at the awkward movement and only managed to save his life by entangling his feet with the others. The blue haired captain didn't fall, merely stumbled, and Ichigo quickly got back to his own feet and tried to slice his arm. The swing missed, barely grazing the lace at the end of the man's coat.

Laughing, the captain came at him. Ichigo tried to side step the fist aimed at his chest but the man brought his other fist around, containing the hilt of the sword, and smashed it into his face. Something popped in his head and he was stunned as he tried to catch his balance. The captain wasn't done though. He grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him down, driving his knee into his gut. Ichigo gagged as he tried to find some leverage. Another punch sent him to the ground. Before he hit, his sword slipped from his fingers.

"Get up, brat. Get back on your feet so I can cut you to bits," The captain was dancing, jumping from one foot to the next as he swung his sword through the air with glee. "I could kill you with my bare hands but where's the fun in that? Get up, boy. Come on you little shit, get up so I can cut you right back down."

He kicked him and Ichigo tasted blood. He barely managed to stop the kick aimed at his head by holding up his hands. Pain racked his body, leaving him numb in places. It seemed the adrenaline he had been working on during all the other fights at died at some point, leaving him spent and tired. He couldn't give up though. His head throbbed, his nose was numb, and he was pretty sure something was broken in his wrist. Where was his sword? Hadn't it just been in his hands? He coughed, rolling onto his side to try and prevent himself from choking on blood. Another kick came at his side and he cried out. How had he gotten so weak so fast? He couldn't stand up. He could barely even move.

"Aw and here I was thinking I would get some decent exercise," a disappointed voice said from above him. "Piece of shit barely put up a fight."

A boot was raised over his head as he managed to glance up. It seemed he wasn't worthy to slice up any longer. The figure was blurry, but the light teal of his hair caught in the light was imprinted in his memory. Never had Ichigo felt so defeated. What had he been thinking? He should have listened to that inn keeper and stayed where it was safe. Bitterly, he thought of his uncle and his warning, hating him for being right and for so much more.

"Grimmjow, wait!" A childlike voice screamed out. Just as the killing blow was about to be made, Nel threw herself on Grimmjow, knocking him off balance and to the ground.

He growled as a pain ran up his elbow from where he hit it. "Damn it, woman. What the hell was that for?"

"Stop! You can't kill him!" She was screaming in his face, spitting in his eyes and he shoved her off. She fell on her butt beside him, tears running down her cheeks as she grabbed his legs and hugged them to her chest. He tried to kick her off but she was persistent. "Please, listen to me! You can't kill the boy, you just can't!"

"What the hell is your problem, Nel? You didn't have any problem with me kicking his ass. It's just a piece-of-shit military brat! I can kill him if I want to!"

"No! You don't understand!" She released him and crawled over his legs as Ichigo lay a few feet away, coughing uncontrollably. She ignored him, grabbing his discarded sword in her hand and crawled back over to Grimmjow who was now sitting up and glaring at her. She shoved the sword in his face, causing him to growl and snatch it out of her grip.

"What am I suppose to do with this?" He snapped, not believing her behavior.

"Look at it! Look what it says and then look at him!" She pointed to the boy who was now trying to get back on his feet. "Please, just do it."

With a scowl, he did as she said to humor her. For a long moment his eyes scanned the steel, running over the elaborate designs, the craftsmanship, and the symbols on the guard. He went still, looking over it once more before looking at the boy who collapsed back into the dirt when his legs failed him. "No," he said in disbelief.

Nel nodded her head. "Yes."

"No fucking way."

She frowned at him, "Don't be a moron. You know it's true."

Shit, what had he almost done? He stared at the boy on the ground who was concentrating on his breathing as he bled and tried to remain conscious. Grimmjow's attention flickered to half the crew watching them, waiting, then to the music box in Yyfordt's hands. Ice formed in his gut and he had to swallow down the rising lump in his throat. The scowl on his lips faded completely.

"How is that even possible?"

Nel shrugged as she wiped the tears off her face, a smile shining through when she saw he was listening to her. "It's improbable, but it has to be him. No one else could have that sword and you know it."

He stood and helped her to her feet. The sword was warm in his hands, splattered with his blood and several others but there was no question about what she was saying. The thrill of the fight washed out of him in an instant, leaving him numb.

"Edrad?"

"Yeah, boss?"

"Grab the boy. We're shipping off."

The larger man froze, looking almost uncertain. "But boss, I thought you said no prisoners."

"Don't fucking question my orders!" Grimmjow shouted and several of the men jumped. "Knock the bastard out and take him to the boat. Everyone else, head out."

No one questioned the captain again. Nel stood by him and watched as Edrad came over to the crouched orange haired boy and with enough force, he hit him on the head. The body collapsed, but he caught him before he fell completely from where he had been trying to stand for the second time and threw him over his shoulder. Frowning, she looked back at Grimmjow who was staring at the sword with unwavering focus, holding it delicately in his palms. She reached up, placing a hand over his and tried her best to smile.

"You didn't kill him. That's what counts."

He jerked under her touch, turning wide eyes toward her. She caught the look of near desperation just before he covered it up with indifference and shook off her hand. She didn't try to touch him again.

"What a shame, huh?" His words were hollow when he spoke, but she knew what he meant. Slowly, they followed the rest of the men out of the town and to the shore.