The surface beneath Ichigo's fingers was cold. Unbearably cold. Gasping in pain, he sat up, coughing harshly into his sleeve, his eyesight blurry. God, everything hurts. Every muscle felt bruised as he moved, his back arched over with the final convulsion. It took him a moment to catch his breath, but as he did, he finally looked up, taking in his new surroundings.

Indigo skies spanned outward, rippling with angry clouds. Gray, barren stone stretched in all direction, uneven and reaching out towards the tumultuous sky. Gray flakes, what Ichigo assumed to be snow, fell silently around him, drifting over the stone and skittering across the surface as the wind picked up. Beads of water dripped from Ichigo's hair and down into his robes, forcing a shiver through his body. His teeth began to chatter as he stood up, looking around for his friends.

"Rukia?!" He could barely hear his own voice as the wind picked up. Ichigo pulled his robes closer, trying to keep warm. Everything was soaking wet, and the cold was starting to settle in. He was surprised that nothing was frozen yet. "RUKIA?! URYU?!" Moving his foot, he hit something solid, freezing to the touch. Zangetsu lay on the ground, covered in gray flecks. Quickly, Ichigo grabbed his zanpakuto and placed each blade in its sheath, stumbling forward up the incline.

Making it to the top, Ichigo looked out, seeing desolate hills, covered in gray, shifting snow. He reached out a cold hand, letting a few flakes fall into his palm. He wasn't sure if his hand had just gone numb or if they weren't really snowflakes at all. Eyes narrowing, he contemplated. This is all so… strange.

"There you are!"

Kokutō's voice startled Ichigo. Looking up, he saw the Togabito walk towards him, shuffling through the loose, powdery snow. He didn't look cold, despite the chilling winds, sword propped on his shoulder. "I was beginning to think hypothermia got to you first. You okay, Ichigo?"

That's the first time he's called me by my name. Ichigo wasn't sure why that was so significant, but nonetheless it did seem to come out of left field. "I'm fine." His hands rubbed up and down his upper arms, trying to regain feeling. "Where's Rukia and Uryu? Are they with you?" He looked past Kokutō, hoping to see his two friends not too far behind. But all that followed was a swirl of snow left in his wake. He could feel his heart sink.

Looking back for a moment, Kokutō shook his head. "I couldn't find them either. I was looking for everyone, and you were the first person I found." He looked Ichigo up and down for a moment, his visible eye narrowing a bit. "And honestly, I'm surprised you're still alive after all that happened up there. It's rare to see someone fall into the sea and live." His lips curled into a half smile. "Yer a tough kid."

Ichigo was barely paying attention. He could feel his panic start to rise, the scar on his chest throbbing. Shit. I can't lose them here, too! He took a few steps forward, pushing against the harsh wind. But he didn't get far before Kokutō cut him off.

"Woah, hey!" Kokutō's voice was casual, as if there was nothing to worry about. "You shouldn't go wandering off like that, kid. We need to keep moving if we're gonna find your sisters. You haven't forgotten about that, have you?"

Shooting Kokutō a scalding glare, Ichigo pulled his arm away. "We can't just leave them here! They hardly know where they're going! We have to go find them!"

Kokutō's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "You want to find them in the condition you're in, Ichigo?" He drew closer, his face only a few inches from Ichigo's now. "Good luck! You'll freeze before you even make it half a mile! Besides, in that time, your sisters could end up getting hurt, or worse." He pointed in the direction that he'd come before, each word followed by a puff of cold air. "Your friends are more than capable of fending for themselves, but your sisters are a different story, aren't they?! So, decide now. Waste your time trying to find your friends or reaching your sisters and finding your friends later!"

Anger rose in Ichigo's throat. He wanted to shout back, tell Kokutō to fuck right off and that they'd go find Rukia and Uryu. But he knew that Kokutō had a point, as much as it pained him to admit. Letting out a shaky exhale, Ichigo turned away. "Fine." His shoulders slumped, shaking hands hiding in his billowy sleeves. "Let's go find my sisters."

"I knew you'd see reason." Leading the way, Kokutō patted Ichigo on the back. "Don't worry, they'll find their way back to us. Your little girlfriend there is tougher than she looks, and with the Quincy, I'm sure they'll figure it out." Together, they made their way in the opposite direction, the wind to their backs.

It felt like an eternity before Ichigo spoke again. "Aren't you freezing?" he called to Kokutō. He looked at the threadbare rags and thin fabric that was Kokutō's robes, plus the ripped sleeve on one side. But he appeared completely unaffected by it, carrying on as if it were a warm, sunny day. Ichigo pulled his robes closer, trying to keep his chattering teeth still.

Seemingly surprised by the question, Kokutō laughed. "Appreciate the concern, kid, but no. For me, it's only a bit chilly, but I'm used to it. This was actually the level I came to when I was first brought into Hell." He said it so matter-of-factly, like someone saying what town they were from or where they worked. It unnerved Ichigo. "It's always colder for first timers, but especially for those it affects the most."

"That…" Ichigo didn't quite know how to word his question. There was so much he didn't know about the place; it was hard to even try and find the right terms for things. Drawing in a pained breath between his teeth, he attempted it again. "Does each level affect people differently, then?"

"You mean you haven't noticed?" Kokutō sounded concerned, carrying alongside Ichigo as he wound through the barren landscape effortlessly. "Every level has a theme, for lack of a better word. It forms around the people who falls in, absorbing their emotions until it plays it back on them, corrupting their minds." Stopping for a moment, he looked around at the gray-covered landscape, exhaling deeply. "This one… well, from what I surmised long ago, this one's theme is Desolation." He met Ichigo's eyes, a tinge of sorrow in his gaze. "Complete, utter destruction. Anything that lives – people, hope, determination, it all dies here."

Desolation. The word dug into his body, finding a home in his bones. It weighed heavy against him, and he felt stupid for not realizing it earlier. A terrible shiver went down Ichigo's spine, every hair standing on end. The small scar on his chest seemed to throb with each heartbeat, the only thing reminding him that he was still alive and breathing.

"Don't look like that!" Kokutō burst out laughing again, any shred of seriousness fading away. "You look petrified! Relax, we won't be here long enough for the effects to settle in."

Ichigo couldn't move, feeling his limbs locking up. The panic was starting to pulse through him, trying to bring him back, but something was there. Something that had always been there, that he had always tried to ignore. That terrible weight he'd felt all those years ago…

"Ichigo?"

Kokutō's voice was faint, weaving in and out between the roar of the wind, growing louder and louder until it turned into a dull whine. Ichigo? Ichigo!


Fluttering shadows of tree branches flitted across a carved headstone, dancing across the characters sinking into the stone. Ichigo remembered it felt too tall, looming over him. His mother's name stared back at him, silent in the beautiful summer afternoon.

A small hand gripped his, nearly crushing his fingers. Slowly, he looked down, seeing Karin's fist grow tighter. He couldn't bring himself to stop her, even though the pain kept growing. It was then that he could hear Yuzu crying in the background, as if all sound had been muted before. She rested in Isshin's arms with her face buried in his shoulders as she continued sobbing painfully.

Isshin glanced down at him, his eyes tired. Neither said anything, but nothing had to be said. A crushing weight pressed into his chest, his lungs feeling like they wanted to close. He became painfully aware of the other people gathered around him, wearing black. Incense burned, his head spinning.

This can't be real. The same thought rolled through his head for the past week. Karin looked up at Ichigo, her eyes dark. She spoke, but he couldn't hear her. The priest's sutra grew louder, so loud that his head began to hurt.

It smelled of blood and rain.

Ichigo! HEY! WAKE UP!

Everything hurt, and he could barely breathe. This isn't happening. No.

"ICHIGO!"


It was a solid punch to the face that brought Ichigo back, his body trying to steady itself as he took several steps back. He reached up, holding the spot on his cheek that throbbed as he blinked. Kokutō's expression was dark, his fist still raised. "Dammit, kid, I told you to snap out of it!"

Spitting out some blood, Ichigo looked around, still a little dazed. "What…?" They were still in the cold, barren field, but it felt even colder than before. "Why'd you do that?" He winced, rubbing is face for a moment.

"We need to keep moving." Kokutō pulled Ichigo with him, walking quickly down the hill. "If I had realized that the effects of this level would sink into you already, I wouldn't have stopped." He glanced back once, his lips pulled in a tight line. "You were in a trance for over fifteen minutes, Ichigo."

The scar on his chest throbbed again, his heart racing. "That would explain a lot." Ichigo began to keep pace, almost running alongside Kokutō now. "When you say effects, it's more psychological."

"Yeah. Which is why it's important to keep moving and not waste time." The bandages on Kokutō's head buffeted in the breeze. "Like I said before, this place will absorb your emotions and reflect them back at you. With desolation, it reminds you of your guilt, breaking you down. And once it does -."

A jingle could be heard through the piercing wind, slithering along the ground and rustling beneath the snow. "Oh shit!" The chilling fear in Kokutō's voice startled Ichigo. Before he could look back to see what it was, Kokutō pulled him by the wrist, his pace picking up now. "Don't even think about looking back! It'll slow us down!"

"What the hell was that?"

"Those were chains!" A gust of wind picked up, lifting sheets of snow off the ground. It nearly blinded them, but Kokutō pushed them forward.

Ichigo began to cough violently as the snow entered his mouth. It wasn't cold, nor did it melt on his tongue like snow normally would. But his mind was racing, trying to keep up with what Kokutō was saying. It was all so hazy. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

"JUST KEEP RUNNIN'!" His grip was tight on Ichigo's wrist. "DON'T GET SEPARATED, YOU GOT IT?!"

Wake up, ya stupid fuck! Ichigo could almost make out Zangetsu's furious shouts in his mind, ringing in his ears. Don't ya fuckin' dare die there! Pulling up the collar of his Shinigami robes, he covered his mouth and pushed forward, desperate to stay awake. His legs were moving as fast as he could muster, his heart beating so fast it felt like a hammer in his chest.

The flurry of snow began to dissipate a bit, but it was still hard for Ichigo to make out Kokutō's dark outline. His ears were on high alert, trying to listen for the sound of the chains slithering through the snow. Did we lose them already?

"The exit isn't too far off, Ichigo!" Kokutō's voice startled him a little. "We're almost out! Don't stop runnin'!"

It was there, ringing in his ears louder now. Taking a moment to look back, Ichigo watched as chains shot out, aiming for his back. He cried out, diving forward and pushing Kokutō to the ground. "The hell-?" Kokutō's angry cries were cut off as he saw the chains land in the snow, slithering under the surface once again. "Shit! GET UP!" But Ichigo was already on his feet, running faster than he ever knew he could.

"WHERE'S THE EXIT, KOKUTŌ?!"

"IT'S JUST OVER THIS INCLINE!" He kept pace with Ichigo, the strips of material on his face, dancing wildly, dangerously. The top seemed so far away, Ichigo feeling his body screaming in fear. He could hear them still, trailing after him, inches from his ankles. There was no chance he was looking back to check, though. I gotta get out of here! His mind screamed. I need to get them out! Karin, Yuzu…!

The exit was a dark, rectangular shaped cut out in the snow. Almost there! He was only a few inches away when he felt the sharp, cold pang in his ankle that seared all the way up his leg. "SHIT!" He cried out in fear, but he kept going. It dug into his flesh, working its way through to the Achilles tendon, but as he descended into the pit, he could feel it rip out. It was free fall from there, the howling wind disappearing entirely…


"Ichigo?"

Turning his head, Ichigo saw Karin's small silhouette standing in the doorway. The darkness of his room was interrupted by the soft light in the hallway. "Ichigo, are you still awake?"

Ichigo sat up in bed, rubbing his face a little. He glanced at his clock, reading the red numbers as well past 1 in the morning. "Karin?" His voice was a bit hoarse. "What're you doing up this late?"

"Couldn't sleep." Soundlessly, she walked into his room, closing the door behind her. "Yuzu's crying again." The tone in her voice was numb, casual. As if it were the new norm. She turned and sat at the end of his bed, her legs dangling over the edge. "No one's sleeping."

A pang hit Ichigo's heart hard. It was over a week ago that Karin and Yuzu were laughing and smiling, running around the house. But here she was, cold and rigid. It was like she was older than five, older than even he was as a nine-year-old.

They sat in silence, her small body leaning against his all and his head resting in his hands. He didn't know what to do or what to say, but he felt that was okay for the moment. It was the kind of silence that shared what neither wished to express.

"Do you think we'll see her again?"

Her voice cracked at the end. Ichigo looked up at her, uncertain what to say. Of course we'll see mom again, he wanted to say. Spirits always come back to the spot where they died. But something told him otherwise, deep in his heart. "I dunno, Karin."

Turning her head, Karin's eyes glistened, the red light of his clock dancing between tears. "What was it that got her?"

Once again, Ichigo couldn't answer her. Images of blood and the smell of iron came rushing back to him. Taking a shaky breath, he shook his head. "You should go back to bed."

"B-but, Ichigo-."

He turned away, laying on his side and pulling the comforter over his head. "Go back to bed."

The muffled sounds of Karin's footsteps faded into the background, and everything stopped with the click of the door closing.


Light filtered around Ichigo, dim but passible enough that he could make out shapes. He blinked a few times, looking around. It was a narrow passageway, flickering lanterns, stone tablets and shredded shide hanging on worn hemp rope lining up on either side. Crack stone columns stretched up towards a dark ceiling. On either side of him were a set of steps that plunged further up and down.

He could feel the pain in his ankle once again, suppressing grunt. Gritting his teeth, he looked down, seeing blood pool onto the dusty stone flooring, soaking into the white sock and sandal. He lifted it, checking to see if it was still usable. With a wince, thanked anything and everything in the universe that his Achilles tendon was still intact, but it hurt beyond words to move his foot. In fact, he was confused as to how he had been standing before, even after that fall.

"Looks like they managed to get at you a bit, huh, kid?" Kokutō appeared from below, his face eerie in the dim light. "Glad to see you got out okay. Would've had to come after you, and I wasn't looking forward to that." He gave a small laugh, which didn't settle right with Ichigo.

Ichigo flinched as he moved his foot, taking a step down. "Are you gonna explain where those chains came from?" His expression was taut, infuriated. "You've barely explained anything, so start talking!"

Kokutō looked shocked, raising his hands in an attempt to calm Ichigo down. "Take it easy," he said. "We gotta bandage you up first and then we need to split before they come back. But I'll explain on the way. Now-" he glanced at the top step – "pop a squat as I wrap up that ankle. You don't want to be runnin' around with an injured foot in Hell, trust me."

Reluctantly, Ichigo sat, watching Kokutō as he inspected his ankle. He tore a sizable chunk of fabric out of his robes, stretching them and preparing to wrap them around the wound. "To make it brief, this place aims to trap anythin' and everythin' that enters its gates." Cleaning the wound, he looked up as Ichigo winced each time. "Each level has a theme, a sick underlying message, and it uses that to confuse and trap ya. And once it gets close enough, Hell itself tries to sink its chains into you and drag you down. Doesn't matter who you are." Tightening the make-shift bandage, Kokutō stood up, sighing. "You just gotta keep your head on straight. No matter what happens, don't forget why you're here."

Standing again, Ichigo took a sharp inhale. "And where are we now?" He looked around quickly. "Is this another level? Because it seems really small if it is."

Shaking his head, Kokutō began to walk down the stairs, motioning for Ichigo to follow. Their pace was fast, but Ichigo found it wasn't too hard with his injured ankle. "Nope, this is just a pathway between the two levels. Before the first two came into being, there used to be levels like this between all of the levels in Hell."

"What changed?"

"Dunno, kid." Kokuto shot him a look. "The world changes, so it would only make sense that this place would change as well."

Continuing downward, Ichigo could feel his heart in his throat. Rukia and Uryu are still up there, he thought. We shouldn't have left them. His brows lowered a bit, Kokutō's voice muffled. I'll make it up to you guys once we find Karin and Yuzu, I promise.


A/N: Hello, everyone! It's been... quite some time, hasn't it? And boi has our world gone down the drain.

So, this chapter is not great. It's been through too many revisions, edits and what not. I actually had it written out and hated the entirety of it so it was scrapped and started again. Then COVID-19 happened. And let me tell you, my mental health has been fucked up (I'm sure many of you can relate). For this, I apologize. I wanted to have more chapters out before March ended, but sadly I was unable to. That, and Animal Crossing came out and I can't stop playing it. It's work and then Animal Crossing. Not a great time for my creativity. But make no mistake! I intend to continue on with this story. Even if this whole series takes me a decade to complete!

I hope everyone is safe and sound right now. If you are one of the many people who work in the service or medical industry, please take care of yourselves. I appreciate all your hard work and I hope that you and your family are safe.

I intend to put another chapter out this month. I don't know when or how, but it will happen. Take care and see you soon.