A King and His Horse

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Thanks for the reviews! Since school is now out, I hope updates will be happening a little faster now :D Here's chapter 4! Tell me what you think :]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Ichigo stared out his bedroom window. Rukia, Renji and Inoue stood in his room, watching him. It was awkward none the less, but they acted like he didn't know what he was doing. He closed his eyes, trying to think of anything else other than the people in his room.

He wouldn't help either of us….

His inner Hollow flashed in his mind. What did he mean? What was going on in his inner world?

Those golden eyes plagued his brain. . .

That voice haunted his dreams . . .

For three days Rukia looked at him with concern every time he woke up sweating in the middle of the night. Ever since his encounter with his Hollow, things were never the same. He was constantly plagued with nightmares with led to lack of sleep. His life was getting worse than it was when he first got his Hollow.

He clenched his fist. The headaches were slowly coming back. Each time they grew worse until they're to a point where his head felt like it was about to erupt. "Ichigo, please tell us what happened that day."

That day. What was there to tell if he didn't know himself? His Hollow was telling him why things happened the way they did with the Arrancar. But none of it made any sense. Zangetsū didn't help. "Ichigo . . ."

"I don't know!"

Three looked at him with concerned eyes. Rukia looked at the other two, motioning to the door with her head. Renji and Inoue left the room, leaving the two alone. Rukia looked at Ichigo who was cradling his head in his hands. She walked over to the bed and sat down. "Tell me what's going on."

"It's nothing. I just haven't been getting enough sleep," Ichigo smiled at her.

"You're a horrible liar, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Ichigo could only sigh as he looked at her before returning his head to his hands.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Rukia walked out his room and was greet by Renji and Inoue. She sighed before telling, "He won't say anything."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure he's just a little shaken up from his fight with Ulquiorra," Renji told. "But right now, I need to head back to Soul Society."

Rukia nodded as Renji turned to leave. "And Rukia, just give him some time. I'm sure he's fine."

"I think I'm going to go him too," Inoue told.

"Okay, be safe," Rukia smiled.

Inoue nodded before heading downstairs. Rukia walked down the hall and lightly knocked on one of the doors. A girl with light brown hair opened the door. "Hey, Yuzu, could I stay in your room for tonight?"

The yound girl smiled and nodded, opening the door and letting her in.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

None what so ever…

Ichigo's head started to throb once again. It was two a.m. and another restless night had greeted him. Nightmares had stopped his will to even try and sleep. He brought his hand to his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to rid the pain.

None of us would be here…

His eyes snapped open and he quickly got out of his bed. He couldn't take it anymore. Ichigo stumbled to his window before jumping out and landed on the grass. He started to walk forward but continued to lose his balance before he fell to the ground. He slammed his fist into the ground and slowly got up from the ground. What's happening to me? He thought to himself.

You're weak with 'em, king.

Ichigo's eyes shot open as he felt darkness slowly cloud his vision. "Not you again . . ."

He placed his hand over his eye as he started to run to only person he knew that could help.

You owe me …

"No…"

I saved your life more than once…

Ichigo tried to ignore his inner Hollow, but was failing miserably. He continued to walk the streets of Karakura.

Ichigo…

He gripped his head as his voice became stronger.

Ichigo…

He opened his eyes only stare in shock. His body started to shake when he realized he was covered with blood. It stained his hands and made him look around and see his friends lying on the ground, a gaping hole in each of their chests. "Why . . . Ichigo?"

"Rukia . . ."

"Eh? What happened here?"

Ichigo slowly turned to see his Hollow smirking at the scene. Hatred filled his mind as he ran up to Hichigo and grabbed his arm. "What did you do?!"

"Hm? I didn't do anything. The real question is: What did you do?"

"What…"

"Don't play stupid, king. I'm guessing this doesn't belong to you?"

Hichigo pulled out the black and silver Zanpakutō. Ichigo could almost feel his heart sink. His Zanpakutō was dripping with his friends' blood. Ichigo slowly let go of the white Hollow before taking a few steps back. "You did this. You had to do this."

Hichigo's grin grew wider. He lifted his blood-stained arm as his blue tongue slid out of his mouth and tasted the red substance. "Ichigo . . . I am you."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Kurosaki-san!"

Ichigo's eyes shot open and pulled the person's hand into a death grip. His eyes slowly focused and his breathing soon was steady. When he saw the man in front of him, he let his hand drop to the ground. "I think you should follow me," Urahara told.

The teen nodded before getting onto his shaking legs. He followed the blonde-haired man to his shop before relaxing. "We've been expecting you, Kurosaki-san."

"Expecting me?"

"We've been watching you," Urahara mentioned.

"I was the one watching you."

Ichigo watched as a black cat walked into the room. "Yoruichi-san."

"We know of your problem and I have just the thing. Follow me," Urahara motioned Ichigo to follow him.

Ichigo followed Urahara into a back room where he dug through a cardboard box. He smiled when he pulled out a small, white bottle. He tossed it to the teen, who caught it in return. "Take one whenever he gets out of hand. Headaches, nightmares, hallucinations, anything he's causing."

Ichigo studied the bottle. "These will stop him?"

"For the most part."

"Any side-effects I should be aware of?"

"Just the ordinary. Nausea, lack of sleep, things like that," Urahara mentioned.

Ichigo put the bottle in his pocket. "Thanks, Urahara."

"If you're having more problems, I'm always here, Kurosaki-san."

Ichigo raised his hand as a wave as he left Urahara's Shop. He took out the bottle and looked at his while he slowly walked back to his house. An echoing laughter started to fill his mind.

He thinks that can stop me? 'Fraid I'm not the problem here, king.

Ichigo gripped the bottle as he heard the Hollow's voice. "Stop . . ." he whispered to himself.

I'm only stating the facts . . . master.

Ichigo clenched his jaw. He quietly opened the door to his house and went upstairs. He froze when he saw one of his sisters, Karin, leaning against the wall. "Why are you up?" Ichigo mumbled.

"Can't sleep. Yuzu's been worrying about you. Why are you up?"

"Same reason," he replied as he walked into his room and sat on his bed.

He set the bottle on his desk and lied down on his bed. He closed his eyes to try to get a few hours of sleep but was interrupted by his inner Hollow's laughter. He sighed as he eyed the white bottle. "These better work," he mumbled, reaching for the pills.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

End

Itachi2011