Silent Hill Extreme
Chapter 14: The Silver
'It hurts…'
Ichigo felt a tightening pressure all around him.
'She's… dead'
He kept falling through a dark landscape as if he was sinking in water.
'Yuzu…'
His chest hurt the worst…
'It hurts…'
A buzzing sound hangs over the space where he was.
*Bzzzt*
"He… relapse… I'll cut"
A stab in his heart, that's how it felt…
'Ahh!'
It hurt…
-SHE-
Karin looks at The Original as it chanted something. The door was locked at the moment, but it would open.
The middle born of the Kurosaki family grits her teeth, trying to escape the ropes that held her hands on her back.
Cheryl was out of commission and Ichigo was nowhere to be seen.
The possessed Norman kept doing a strange spell or something, Karin didn't know.
What she knew is that if he opened the gate, it would be game over for all of them…
She knew what she needed to do, eyeing where Layla sat holding her guns and Cheryl's shotgun…
She only wished that Ichigo was by her side while doing it.
'Ichigo… where are you?'
-SHE-
"Ichigo"
Ichigo's eyes snap open and he sees that he stands in a city. The building he stood on was peculiar as it stood sideways.
He was in his inner world…
"Did I die?"
"You're an idiot, Ichigo"
Ichigo turns around to see his hollow counterpart, smiling serenely at him. It was something he never expected to see, it was surreal.
Out of the norm.
"What are you doing here Hollow? I thought you disappeared with Zangetsu…" Ichigo looks at the hollow, somehow, without feeling fear or adrenaline as is usually happened.
Hell, he was comfortable in his presence.
"I did" The Hollow confirms with a nod "But I had to wake up to keep you alive"
"To keep me alive?" Ichigo looks confused at that "Wait, wake up… that means Zangetsu is awake as well?"
"Don't get your hopes up, Ichigo"
Ichigo looks at the Hollow with surprise "What do you mean?"
"The Old Man is gone, simply as that" The Hollow walks up to Ichigo and looks him up and down "You're so close to death that I can actually talk to you, you know that right?"
"I… I was escaping from The Original…"
"You fell in the lake, but you're not there anymore" The Hollow shakes his head "You're somewhere nastier than that… And you're being treated"
"Treated of what?"
"The Auswählen" The Hollow looks at Ichigo seriously "The bastardized Quincy King used that technique and took everything Quincy from you, including the Old Man"
"The Old Man? A part of my Quincy heritage?" Ichigo's eyes widen at that "But… no way! He's part of my Shinigamipowers!"
"No you idiot!" The Hollow chuckles at that "The Old Man simply took my place as I couldn't stand up to take responsibility you know?"
"You're my Zanpakuto spirit?" Ichigo looked obviously incredulous.
"Always, Ichigo" The Zanpakuto spirit grins at him "I was by your side from the beginning you idiot"
"But you tried to attack me!"
"I made you stronger! That I had a parasitic Hollow attached to me since you were born, just made me the way I am" The Zanpakuto tells Ichigo who seems more overwhelmed by the information "Think, Ichigo. Don't you feel this is correct?"
It was true. Ichigo never felt more at ease in his presence. Much less in the Old Man's presence…
"I helped you in the Shattered Shaft… I taught you how to properly use the Getsuga Tensho. I taught you the Saigo no Getsuga Tensho" The Zanpakuto points at himself "My name is Zangetsu ya know?"
"This… this is too much to take…"
"You better take it in quickly as we don't have much time…" Zangetsu looks around, which made Ichigo realize that the world was falling apart "You're dying. The consequence of Auswählen is that not only it takes the Quincy powers you have, but also leaves a clot of Still Silver in your heart that is killing you"
Ichigo looks shocked at that "What can I do?"
"You? Not much" Zangetsu shakes his head "But I can heal the fatal wound you're receiving"
"A fatal wound?"
"You're full of questions Heh?" Zangetsu smirks for old times' sake "Someone outside is pulling the silver out of your body. It's an open heart surgery in a wasted place that will surely kill you… but I know of a way I can help you"
Ichigo stares silently at Zangetsu, his white Shihakuso fluttering as the world around them collapsed "What's the price?"
"You don't have your soul awakened, Ichigo… so me intervening will leave you with your soul asleep until you die"
"My soul asleep till I die… So I won't have Shinigami powers until I die?"
"That's right" Zangetsu nods, seeing Ichigo mulling over those words.
"Not getting any powers for the rest of my life… the price for returning and possibly killing The Original and protecting the only sister I still have?" Ichigo directs a fierce look at Zangetsu "Do it, please…"
Zangetsu grins at that "I wouldn't have it any other way, Ichigo!" The Zanpakuto claps his hands and the collapse stopped suddenly "A few parting words… it will be a long time till we see each other again…"
Ichigo straightens up at this.
"The Original is a part of the Quincy King. They used the piece of soul that Yuzu had to create a new king through that ritual… that means that while it has the knowledge and some of the power of the king… it's not the king and certainly it's not immortal Ichigo!" Zangetsu looks at his wielder "It has your piece of soul as well. But it won't be enough… Because I know of the material that can kill it! Use the Still Silver, Ichigo. That's the weapon that can take it down!"
The sky suddenly turns white and the light covered the building behind Zangetsu…
"Over all… live long, do whatever you want… the world is not on your shoulders. Not anymore! You're free! Be whatever you want! Because when we meet again, I'll make you work for your powers!"
Silence between them, a goodbye…
"See you later, Partner"
With that the world turned white and Ichigo suddenly awakes…
He sits up and cries in pain "Ah! The hell…?"
He looks up and sees that his chest is covered in bandages that were stained in blood.
"You shouldn't move…"
It was a woman who looked to be in her forties. She had greying blonde hair and wore rags that barely passed as clothes.
"What… what happened?" Ichigo breathes in and out, looking at the woman.
She looked old… well not old, but aged.
Weary eyes look at him and sighs "You should have died… this place must have taken care of you"
"This place?"
"This nightmare…"
It was then that Ichigo noticed his surroundings. Everything was rusted and missing pieces. The Floor was a metal grid that covered holes that led to nowhere.
"I'm in the otherworld…" Ichigo curses under his breath "I need to get out…"
"There's no escape from this place"
Ichigo turns to the woman, who looked scared of the thought "There better be because I'm leaving. I'm not staying here. I need to save… I need to save my sister"
"A sister…? I haven't seen my family in a long time" The woman shakes her head "I'm sorry but I don't know where the exit is. I would have escaped a long time ago…"
Ichigo stands up and grits his teeth from the pain on his chest "Then I'll find one… where is whatever you took from my heart?"
"How do you know I did surgery on your heart?"
"I simply know" Ichigo replies, annoyed by the meddling woman.
The woman frowns in confusion before sighing "I threw it away"
"What!?" Ichigo walks to the woman, wincing in pain as he did "Where did you throw it?"
"Down the drain…" The woman tells Ichigo, backing away from his imposing figure.
Ichigo looks at the sink and curses "Damn it…" He looks around and sees his Katana by the bed. He picks it up and walks to the door "…I'm going out. Do you know where the drain goes?"
The woman thinks for a moment but walks with Ichigo outside. Apparently they were in a city. A Nightmarish one, but a city. The place where he woke up was an art shop that didn't look like one on the inside. It was called 'Fenders Fine Arts and Appraisals'.
An old wood sign revealed that this was Laymond Ave.
"Down the street, you'll find the river. Follow it to the bay of Toluca Lake… there's a drain pipe there" The woman turns to Ichigo and gives him a bottle, that upon closer inspection revealed it was a Healthy Drink "You'll need it"
Ichigo takes the drink and nods in thanks "I'm sure. Thanks for the help…"
"Lisa" The woman smiles at him "My name's Lisa"
"Thanks, Lisa" Ichigo nods at her and runs towards the river.
It was only a few minutes before the first monster came into his path. It was a straightjacket. He quickly dispatched it after avoiding its acid spit.
"What an annoyance" Ichigo mutters as he cleans the blood of his katana with one swipe.
Soon he reaches the bridge and turns towards the lake. He sees what looks like a harbour of some kind. In the distance he could see an island that hosted what looked like a penitentiary.
Ichigo could not stare long because three Raw Shock appeared on his way. Their bladed hands were a problem once, but now it was a short work. The monsters had no real sword experience besides swinging its limbs.
Those monsters were short work for Ichigo, who slashed through them and kept going.
Soon he reaches a bridge that, under it, had a great pipe that sent sewer water to the river.
Ichigo's face takes on a green tint as he walks towards the river, the putrid smell permeating the area.
He had to wonder what he did to deserve this…
Maybe not the whole sewer water thing, but the question did seem geared towards the Silent Hill issue.
Nevertheless, he dives into the water and looks around the shore for what may look like silver.
"Ugh the smell…" Ichigo complains as he wades through the muddy water.
His efforts seem wasted as he isn't able to find the Still Silver.
He was about to give up when something happened…
Ichigo squints to look in the distance, as he sees a figure standing in the harbour.
"Is that…?" He looks at the figure and discerns a bowl hat… "Urahara?"
Ichigo walks out of the water and runs to the harbour. He runs by Rice St. until he reaches the docks…
There in a dock, he could see the fluttering of Urahara's coat. He walks to the man, wondering what he was doing here…
"Of all the place we could meet… it had to be this one, right Ichigo?"
Ichigo stands beside the man, staring at the penitentiary with a certain intensity "Why are you here… and how did you get here?"
"That… is a long story, Ichigo… but Yoruichi came for help after I sent her here to find you and your sisters" The man tilts his head downwards "As soon as I came, the town claimed me back"
"Claimed you back?" Ichigo turns to look at Urahara in surprise.
"I was young when my family moved here" Urahara looks at the penitentiary one more time before turning around "We lived in South Silent Hill. I lived there till the 1800's when the plague killed us. I was received by the Wing Bind in the Soul Society due to being closer than the Seireitei. I didn't quite adapt to that place, so I ran away. I soon found myself in Rukongai where I met Yoruichi… the rest is history"
"So… you were from here…" Ichigo pulls out his katana, seeing another raw shock.
"Precisely" Urahara nods, pulling his own katana and slicing the monster before Ichigo could blink "I studied this town after death for many years… But I also avoided it" Urahara swipes his katana to rid it from the blood of the monster. "The plague you see, wasn't a natural illness. It was part of a ritual"
"A ritual that killed hundreds…" Ichigo shakes his head "Who would do that?"
"My parents" Urahara replies solemnly "Or at least the organization they were in. They… study the ancient and supernatural, turning it into their favour to shape the world… they still exist, but are a very secret group"
They soon reached a forested area that was filled with red mist. The rust ended, but the ground was clearly stained with blood and bulbous roots.
"I took it upon myself to study what brought my parents here… it was not nice at all" He sighs in discomfort "The short is that there seems to be some native spiritual activity that ties those who step in these lands. The case of Alessa and Cheryl is one of many. I… never intended for you to end here, Ichigo"
"Yuzu… she died to a ritual" Ichigo looks at the man who bows his head "And now I'm trapped in this nightmare with no way out… Karin is out there with the Original and I can't do shit!"
"I'm sorry for your loss, Ichigo… Yuzu was a good soul" Urahara runs forwards and slashes a few monsters into pieces faster than Ichigo could recognize them.
Silence descended on them for a few minutes before Ichigo decided to break it.
"Where are we going?"
"Ah that's simple. To the place I died" Urahara replies easily "This is my nightmare I gather… somewhat mixed with yours, so going to my neighbourhood is the way to go"
They soon came to a road that led them towards Southern Silent Hill…
"This isn't the worst I've seen this town"
Ichigo looks at the town, which was filled with monsters, completely dark and rusted, then turn to look at Urahara with shock in his eyes "You're joking right?"
"During the plague it might have been more disgusting… rotting bodies in the streets, hunger and a disgusting smell of urine…" Urahara half smiles at Ichigo "Yeah this is quite the sight…" He makes to walk, but stops "Before that, I have to give you something before I forget it…" He pulls out a silver piece of rock from his pocket "Curious that you appear around here and suddenly I find a piece of Still Silver you know?" He throws it at Ichigo who picks it up in shock "You were looking for that?"
"How…?"
"I'm tempted to pull out my fan just to annoy you" Urahara grins at Ichigo, pulling out his katana "But I think we have a few customers to greet"
Ichigo looks from the Still Silver to the horde of monsters waiting for them…
"Welcome to our nightmare, Ichigo"
BREAK
So… nice revealing and obviously necessary chapter no?
So yeah, Ichigo wakes up to find that someone took the piece of Still Silver from his heart and threw it… thanks Lisa. Yeah that was Lisa if you didn't realize it.
Ichigo also met Zangetsu now that the Old Man/Yhwach is gone from his soul. Unfortunately, to save Ichigo, Zangetsu goes to sleep for a long time. Time enough for Ichigo to live his life like a normal person… right?
Then he goes and meets the reinforcements that Yoruichi looked for. Surprise?
Urahara's past is revealed. His parents also worked for a secret organization? If that goal is not enough to deduce the organization… soon you'll learn. It ties to the future of this fanfic. Should warn you, it's not exactly related to SH or Bleach.
Well they walk meanwhile, reaching from Pleasant River to Southern Silent Hill where they will meet their way out.
How will this pan out?
See next chapter…
NEXT CHAPTER: The Butterfly
