Chapter six
Kurosaki Ichigo
By the time the kido wears off he's strapped down to a steel table. He strains, fights as hard as he can to free himself. One thing pulses in his mind rythmically, like the beat of a drum: Ishida. He's got to get free. He's got to go save him. This is all his fault, he allowed himself to be caught off guard, and now Ishida's going to pay the price.
"Stop fidgeting, it is very annoying." Aizen slurs lazily.
"Fuck off!" Ichigo grunts, redoubling his efforts to free himself. "Let me go!"
"Now Kurosaki-san, why would I go through all this trouble of catching you just to let you go at your request." Aizen smirks darkly, "Don't say such foolish things."
"What do you even want with me?!"
"Ah, yes, I suppose you have a right to know." Aizen stands from the stool he was sitting on and begins pacing. The room is grand, almost like a ballroom, with a large white table and a lone throne grandly placed on a raised platform on the north side. Aizen's shoes clack against the cold marble floor as he paces. "Simply put, I want your power. I would wish for you to give it willingly but, if need be, I am prepared to take it by force."
"So what, you want me to join you?" Ichigo asks.
"Basically, yes."
Ichigo begins chuckling, a low and dangerous rumble. "You know," He looks Aizen straight in the eyes, smirking. "Urahara-san always said you were so fuckin' smart, but I think he was wrong."
"Oh?" Aizen coos in curiosity.
"Because if you thought I would ever join you, that I would ever betray my friends; then you are the biggest fucking idiot I've ever met." Ichigo deadpans, staring Aizen down with dark and serious eyes. "I will never help you."
"What a shame." Aizen sighs, turning his back to the young man. "Though that is to be expected, I suppose. Szayel, bring the Hogyoku."
"Of course, Aizen-sama," a voice out of Ichigo's vision speaks. He hears footsteps depart, clacking on the floor.
"You see, Kurosaki-san, you may be unwilling to join my forces but there may be a part of you willing." Aizen turns around to face him, "Your hollow may very well jump at the opportunity of being in permanent control over your body."
Just at hearing that statement Ichigo feels the hollow welling inside of him, eager at the prospect. "Don't you fucking dare." Ichigo warns the hollow.
"Looks like I might be king soon, huh?" The creature responds.
Szayel returns with the Hogyoku, presenting it to Aizen with a deep bow. "Thank you, Szayel." Aizen states stiffly as he snatches away the small orb and brushes the espada off. "This, Kurosaki-san, is the Hogyoku. I am sure Urahara Kisuke has explained its function."
Ichigo glares back.
"Normally I would use this to create an arrancar from a powerful Hollow. I also unintentionally created the Vizard with this. You however are a vizard without the use of the Hogyoku. Haven't you ever wondered what you could become if you used the power of the Hogyoku on yourself?"
"No," Ichigo grunts, "Because I'm not a sick fuck like you."
"Call me what you will, at heart I am a scientist, and I am quite eager to start this experiment." Aizen approaches the incapacitated soul reaper. He looms over him, Hogyoku in hand. In an instant, Aizen thrusts the small orb into Ichigo's chest, which immediately absorbs the item. Ichigo screams in agony as his body loses control, his head is thrown back and the hollowfication process begins. White fluid flows out of his mouth, a hole painfully carves itself in his chest where the Hogyoku was forced. His hands and feet form sharp, pale claw; and red hair bursts out, growing in length until it reaches his lower back.
The mask stops forming, his eyes are black with bright orange irises. He leans forward in the chair, testing out the restraints.
"Hello, I am Aizen Sosuke," Aizen greets politely, "What is your name?"
"Don't have one really, King calls me Shiro though," the hollow replies.
"It is nice to meet you, Shiro." Aizen smiles, "I assume you heard all that I spoke to Kurosaki Ichigo about?"
"Yeah, you want me to take control, as long as I fight for you."
"Essentially yes, you are free to do whatever you wish, as long as when the time comes you help me defeat the soul society"
The hollow is silent as he considers the man's proposal. "I would keep control after you have reached your goal?"
"What you do afterwards is your choice. What I am able to offer you is an advantage, by using the Hogyoku I can turn Kurosaki Ichigo into an arrancar, which will make it much easier for you to keep control of this body. His body is not yet done transforming, if you do not agree I will stop the process."
"I'll do it."
"This does not guarantee control, but rather makes it easier for you to be in control."
"I getcha, just do it."
"It is already happening, soon the metamorphosis will be complete. Kurosaki Ichigo's soul will become more hollow than soul reaper." Aizen states. "When I remove the Hogyoku he will have a chance to fight for control. Ready yourself."
Shiro grunts in acknowledgment. Aizen's fingers wrap around the orb glowing in Ichigo's chest, yanking it out forcefully. Shiro lets out a loud howl.
Ichigo was ready, waiting for the moment the Hogyoku was removed. He ambushes the hollow, jumping at him with Zangetsu raised in the air. Ichigo brings the large blade down on the unsuspecting hollow. Shiro attempts to dodge but Ichigo is too quick and slashes through his shoulder.
"You can't stay king forever," the hollow rasps, laying on the side of a skyscraper in Ichigo's mindscape. "'specially not now, you can feel it. I'm more powerful now, it won't be long before I get control."
"I will never relinquish control to you." Ichigo claims defiantly.
Shiro's howl quiets. Ichigo looks up, Aizen standing over him expectantly. "Oh, Kurosaki Ichigo." He coos, "I was not expecting you to prevail."
"Fuck off." Ichigo pants, "I've been fighting the fucking hollow for some time now, giving him a small advantage like this isn't gonna change anything. I'll still beat him."
"Then, I will have to lend him my assistance." Aizen smirks ominously. "I will enjoy breaking you, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Aizen pulls out his zanpakto, holding it infront of Ichigo's face, "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."
After Being exposed to the hypnosis process Aizen delivers a swift blow to Ichigo's head, knocking him unconscious.
He hears Ishida scream, Call out to help him. "Kurosaki! Please!" He struggles to reach him, to save his friend but something is holding him back. He feels a dull pain in his wrists, he looks down. He's chained to a wall out in the middle of the Hueco Mundo desert, sand whips around him in a harsh wind, scraping at his skin. The sky above is pitch black. Thick metal cuffs are shackled to his wrists and feet, warm blood dribbles down his arms from where the metal has dug into his skin. Ishida screams in agony, a shivering sob of pain. It vibrates through his entire being, a cry loud enough to reach him at this distance, filled with so much agony. Ichigo's mind wanders to the conversation they were having before this happened. Ishida, what were you trying to tell me? The boy suddenly shrieks, high pitched and terrifying; but what is even more horrifying is that the shriek is suddenly cut off, replaced by empty silence.
"Ishida!" Ichigo shouts only to find himself in a different location. His arms are indeed shackled, he is stuck to a wall in a dim concrete room. A dream. The room is 10x10 with a cubby cut out of the the wall to serve as a bed. However it does not provide any comforts of a bed, the cubby is four feet wide, barely long enough for Ichigo to lay down, and just tall enough for him to sit up, the cold stone is only padded by a thin wool blanket. He shivers, noticing that his clothes are gone spare his underwear. In the center of his chest is a hole with blacked edges that runs through to his back. He reaches up and touches his face, finding that remains of his usual hollow mask linger, permanently attached. The left side of his jaw is covered by the smooth surface. His arms and legs are connected to the wall of his cubby, giving him enough room to lay down or stand close to the wall.
The steel door that seals the room screeches open. "Ah you are awake, Kurosaki Ichigo." Aizen strolls in the room confidently. "I hope you find your quarters agreeable?"
"Go to hell!"
"How rude, you should know better not to say such things to such a gracious host." Aizen states, feigning insult. "Now Kurosaki, I must ask you one more time: relinquish control of your body to your hollow, or face the consequences."
"Fuck you!"
"What a shame. I suppose I have no choice then." Aizen sighs. He nods his head, signifying to Szayel to enter the room, pushing a stainless steel table of medical instruments. Aizen approaches Ichigo until they are inches away, he grabs the shackles and removes them from the wall. He yanks them viciously sending the teen flying to the middle of the room. There Aizen pulls the shackles through a ring on the floor, Ichigo is stuck on his knees with his arms pinned behind his back. Aizen circles around to come standing in front of the prone, orange haired boy; he softly grabs his face in his hand and trails his thumb down his jaw. "If you won't do as I say I will just have to use force!" He says with a soft whisper, before removing his hand and punching the boy in the face with intense force. The blow sends Ichigo sprawling on his side, his head painfully connects with the concrete floor.
Ichigo blinks a few times and shakes his head. He manages to struggle back to his knees and spits blood on Aizen's face. "Go fuck yourself!"
Aizen's expression contorts into rage, he draws back this leg and kicks Ichigo in the stomach, below the hole in his chest. Ichigo coughs harshly, blood splattering on the ground in front of him.
Aizen grabs a knife and begins to inspect it with admiration, a dangerous smile on his lips. "We are going to have some fun together, Kurosaki Ichigo."
