Chapter 20

Renji flew out of Byakuya's car. It hadn't even fully stopped yet, but Renji had to get into Ichigo's apartment. Even though he knew it was in vain, he hoped he could find the orangette there. He felt a brief surge when he found the door unlocked, but that disappeared when the silence greeted him. "He's not here." He uttered, his voice a little choked. "Bya, he's not here." Renji told the dark haired man entering the door. Renji remained rooted where he stood, allowing his boyfriend to look around the small flat. The silence in this normally lively building was deafening.

"Renji." He was distracted from his thoughts by that voice. He glanced over to see his lover standing by the desk, looking at him with worried eyes. "You must remain calm. Ichigo needs us to think logically right now. Okay?" Byakuya asked him, his years of police work showing. Renji nodded before coming to stand next to him. "Now you know Ichigo better than I do, is anything out of place?" Renji took a moment to look around the room.

"The room seems in order." Byakuya nodded at his answer.

"So he left on his own." Renji nodded, knowing it was a statement. "What about on the desk?"

"His phone is here, he usually has that." Renji told him, looking through the cluttered papers on the desk.

"He called someone, presumably Shiro, twenty minutes ago." Renji paused at that; they didn't have much time. His eyes caught on something, a notepad left on the side.

"Byakuya." Renji stated, drawing the other man's attention as he held the paper up. His eyes widened in understanding. "Do you think-"

"Yes, he's heading to the docks." Both men quickly made their way back the way they came, praying they could get to the docks in time.

The sound of crashing waves reached Ichigo before the sight of them. The steady sound calmed Ichigo's racing heart. Walking through the last of the warehouse clusters, Ichigo paused at the scene before him. The dark, murky water seemed to mirror the fight that was about to happen. Waves hit the walls as if it was a battle. What made Ichigo pause the most, however, was the man standing watching the water. In the dim light his pale, almost white skin seemed even more unnatural than usual. That skin was like a flame, drawing in moths for the light, but bringing them inevitably to their deaths.

"King." The man stated without turning around. Ichigo remained in his spot, his silence both defying and angering the albino. Quick as lightning, Shiro whipped his body to face Ichigo. "You haven't seen me in years, and this is how you treat your Master, Ichigo?"

"You have never been my master Shiro, and you never will." Ichigo told him, covertly rolling his shoulders, stretching them out.

"My mark begs to differ." Shiro told him, running that bloodthirsty tongue over his teeth, like he could taste the blood from all those years ago. "That will be the first thing I do when you're my pet again, remark you." A pale hand lifted, drawing imaginary designs in the air. "Maybe something more visible, perhaps on your face." A maniacal grin spread across Shiro's face at the prospect. Ichigo could feel his body start to shake, from anger or fear he wasn't sure.

"I won't let that happen Shiro. I'm going to win this fight and be free of you permanently." Shiro sighed, as if disappointed with Ichigo's answer.

"Such a shame pet, I thought I had trained you better."

Ichigo could feel his anger rising. "I stopped being anything to you the moment you had me family assassinated." He hissed.

"Ah but King, you disobeyed me. I had told you to leave them, that I was to be the only person in your world. I am and always will be you God, King. You must pay homage to me and obey me at all times. Now, let us put this silly fight behind us, and come with me now." Shiro held out a hand to Ichigo, expecting him to run to it like it was his lifeline. And for a split second, Ichigo almost did, his mind was consumed with memories from the gang, with Shiro. Suddenly there was another person in Ichigo's thoughts; Toshiro. His bright teal eyes glowing with love and happiness gave Ichigo the strength to finally break the hold those memories had on him. Ichigo felt that burden leave him and turned his chocolate eyes filled with resolve to the albino. Shiro snarled when he saw the look in Ichigo's face. His hand transformed into a claw-like fist. "You are a stubborn pet. I try to be a benevolent God for you, but you must always make me a vindictive one. Oh well, I will take such great pleasure in punishing you." Golden eyes flashed with anticipation.

Widening his stance, Ichigo prepared for the blowup. Just as he brought his hands up, the albino rushed him. As he had displayed earlier, the man was fast. He was able to dodge and weave through Ichigo's defense in no time. Ichigo felt the hits Shiro landed before he could even react. One was on his left side and another just under his ribcage. What Ichigo had more of, however, that the older man lacked, was simple brute strength. The first hit Ichigo gave was on Shiro's shoulder, and it knocked the man back a few steps. This caused the albino to pause for a split second, as if he was shocked that Ichigo had managed to hit him or that he would even dare to try.

That look gave Ichigo a brief moment of hope. He really could beat this man who had tortured him for years. That hope was immediately extinguished when Ichigo saw the look in Shiro's eyes. Over the years he had seen the gang leader with many expressions, anger, satisfaction, rage, but this was different. The gold eyes looked crazed. All sanity had left those eyes, leaving only the anger and bloodlust that wasn't tempered with any rational thought. As both men rushed each other once again, Ichigo felt true fear. He wasn't sure he could make it out of this alive.

Like usual, please review!