WARNING:

THIS CHAPTER WILL CONTAIN A LOT OF POSSIBLY TRIGGERING CONTENT. THE WARNINGS INCLUDE:

RAPE, MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, TORTURE, GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF BLOOD AND GORE, GRAPHIC BRUTALITY, PANIC ATTACKS, VOMITING.

THE SCENE THAT INVOLVES THE RAPE WARNING WILL BE EMBOLDENED AND UNDERLINED AT: Ichigo stood completely frozen this time.

THE END WILL BE EMBOLDENED AND UNDERLINED AT: Ichigo snaps his hand around the demon's wrist.

THE SCENES THAT INCLUDE THE DEATH, TORTURE, AND BRUTALITY WILL BE EMBOLDENED AT: (1)"Ichigo! Ichigo please!" (2)A piercing scream rings in Ichigo's ears. (3)A weeping scream is quickly followed by a squelch. (4)Rapid struggling and wet gasps fill the air. (5)Ichigo snaps his hand around the demon's wrist.

THE END WILL BE EMBOLDENED AT: (1)"Ichigo wrenches forward with a cry." (2)The sword stays pinned in place. (3)It squishes easier than squeezing a grape. (4)The wires tighten further and slice right through. (5)Where was the demon?

THE RAPE AND THE MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH ARE ONLY IN VISIONS AND DO NOT ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO THE CHARACTERS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!


Time is like an eternal trickle of water through a crack in the glass. It's known that it trickles out of the crack, but where does it trickle to? Water is the most important thing to ever exist in the entire universe, that it even includes time.

In a sense, it is a God. It blesses the world with itself to bloom bountiful crops and helps societies prosper to great heights through their survival. It also reaps devastation and death through its ruthless ways and brings the ruin of hundreds of civilizations, never to be seen again.

Ichigo's world was once a beautiful valley deep in the mountains, Masaki as the everbright sun and the twins as the Earth. Then, his mother was killed.

The sky was shrouded in pitch black clouds, the Earth broke and cracked under the rain that weeped. Floods decimated all nature and life that lived there. It flooded the cracks and eroded the mountains.

When the storm finally stopped, nothing was left except ruined Earth and a forever cloud covered sky. The rain never stopped, just lessened to a constant cry. It left no room for anymore life, not unless it stopped.

The rain hasn't stopped in six years, and Ichigo has a feeling it won't ever stop. He'll forever drown in the freezing rain.


Ichigo brushes back his wavy hair from his eyes as the humid and hot wind breezes by. He sighs quietly when he opens the glass door with a black gloved hand, cool and dry air hitting his face as the bell chimes.

His black Chelsea boots made no sound as he steps in, letting the door close behind him. He wore a pair of black high waisted, wide leg pants, a black dress shirt fully buttoned up, his dark pink vest properly buttoned, a black tie, three belts of different colors, and his black suit jacket. A pink cloth bag hung across his lower back, the nichirin sword inside swinging every time he took a step.

"Welcome! I'll be there in a moment," A cheerful voice speaks from one of the many stands of flowers. Ichigo smiles softly and walks further into the flower shop.

"Good morning, Ashihara-san," Ichigo greets quietly, making the older woman turn around. She grins widely as she recognizes the tall teenager and quickly sets down the spray bottle she held.

"Ichigo-kun! Oh my! Is it that time of year again? Look at you! You've grown so tall!" Ashihara Momo exclaims brightly. She walks forward with her arms out, making Ichigo smile just a bit wider. He leans down to receive the hug from the older woman, gently hugging her back.

"It's good to see you, Ashihara-san. How's business?"

Momo leans back from the hug to give the orange haired teenager a small look. "Ichigo-kun, how many times have I told you to call me Granny Momo?"

"Six times?" Ichigo states with a slight sweatdrop. Momo nods her head, still giving Ichigo a look.

"Exactly. Six times too many! Now, you're here for the usual, yes?" Momo walks towards more of the flower stands. Ichigo silently follows behind, glancing around for the familiar flowers.

"Yeah..." Ichigo spots the orange calla lilies and stops walking. He sighs quietly and turns his head, averting his gaze. His eyes catch sight of yellow orchids.

"Orange calla lilies, orange peonies, pink lilies, and light pink roses..." Momo mutters to herself, making quick work at picking seven flowers of each.

"...actually... I'd like to add a flower, Ashi–Granny Momo," Ichigo speaks up. He makes his way towards the yellow orchids and gently grabs the one in the middle.

"Oh? A yellow orchid?" Momo walks over and plucks the yellow orchid out of Ichigo's hands. "New beginnings, friendship, and joy... I'll wrap it separately then!"

"Ah, thank you Ashihara-san." Ichigo suddenly straightens his posture without turning around, feeling Momo glare into the back of his head. "Eheh... I mean, Granny Momo..."

Momo smiles brightly, flowers seemingly appearing around her before she turns around. "I'll go ahead and wrap the flowers! Masaki-sama will be so happy to see how beautiful this batch of flowers are!"

"She will be..." Ichigo trails off as he tilts his head back.

A crestfallen smile slowly grows on his face, eyes turning to ebony. "Mama... I'm sorry, but the rain drowned the peonies this year too."


"Nīsan's back! Nīsan! Did you get the flowers?!" Yuzu calls out with a large wave of her gloved hand. Her hair was down from its fishtail braid, butterfly clip no where in sight. It curled around her hair in reddish brown coils and ended at her shoulders.

She wore a black dress shirt with modified longer sleeves to go past her fingertips, a dark pink tinted vest, a black pencil skirt that ended at her mid thigh, black panty hose, a black tie, and a pair of black Mary Jane pumps. A pink cloth bag hung across her back, holding her nichirin sword.

Ichigo gives a wave as he slowly walks over to where his sisters and Rukia stood. One of his hands held the three bouquets while the other held the single yellow orchid.

"Took you long enough, Nīsan! We've been dying from the heat!" Karin states with her gloved hands on her hips.

Her hair was down as well, falling in slight waves to her upper back. She wore a black dress shirt, a turquoise tinted vest, black palazzo pants, a black bowtie, and black booties. Her nichirin sword rested inside a turquoise cloth bag, hanging across her lower back like Ichigo's.

"Moshi moshi! Are you both ready? Rukia-san?" Ichigo greets brightly, stopping right before the three girls.

Rukia borrowed from Yuzu to wear a simple black strap dress with a white elbow sleeved shirt underneath, a white sun hat, and sandals for the day.

"Are you sure you want me to come along? I can always sit back... I just need to be near in case any Hollows show up," Rukia asks with a furrowed expression. Ichigo's smile softens before he holds out the yellow orchid towards her.

Yuzu and Karin gasp in surprise at the flower. "Nīsan! You're giving Rukia-chan a flower?!"

"I was never really... good at making friends. It still eludes me to this day, but..." Ichigo gently places the orchid in the shocked Rukia's hands. "Mama will be happy to know I've made a new friend all on my own."

Rukia stares at the flower, wide-eyed and stupefied. Her mouth opens and closes as she tries to process what is being given to her.

"Ara, ara! It seems I broke her!" Ichigo states with a sweatdrop and a sheepish smile. Karin gives her big brother a deadpan, a hand on her hip.

"No shit, Sherlock."

"Kurosaki Karin!" Ichigo scolds loudly, his youngest sister having the decency to at least look sheepish.

"Where is your idiot of a father? Are we waiting for him?" Rukia steers them back to why they were waiting for Ichigo in the first place.

"Goat Face always goes to the Kurosaki family grave. We'll go there after we pay our respects to Mama at her grave," Ichigo says with a soft smile before he starts to walk. Rukia walks in step with him as the twins follow behind.

"Is your mother not buried with her family?" Rukia asks in confusion.

Ichigo laughs, looking up at the cloudy sky. "Mama was always more her mother's daughter than a Kurosaki. It's a shame Mama was never able to change her name like she planned to do with us."

"Change your name? To what?"

"You'll see," Ichigo answers vaguely. He lowers his head with his eyes closed. It looks like it'll rain soon.


Tatsuki stares up at Orihime's ceiling, her stomach rolling in nausea. Something bad was happening right now... and it involved Ichigo.

"Ichigo and I met when we were four, at the dojo I went to. His flashy hair color, holding hands with such a pretty mom, smiling like crazy. So scrawny and grinning like an idiot... he looked incredibly puny," Tatsuki starts, ignoring the feeling for now. Whatever Ichigo was dealing with, he could handle it. He always could.

"While he looked puny, he really wasn't. Well, he definitely acted puny. Crying anytime he lost, even if it was rare." Tatsuki smiles at the memory and punches her own hand as she grins at Orihime. "You know, I was the first one to make him cry! One blow to the upper body that he couldn't dodge! It was actually a decent fight."

Tatsuki looks away, thinking back about the Ichigo that never hid behind his mask. The Ichigo that wasn't forced to hide his fear or his happiness behind a gentle, but blank smile for fear of his own father and in spite of him. The Ichigo that wasn't forced to become a parent because his only parents left couldn't handle being left alone with children who acted and looked too much like Masaki.

"But... even when he cried, he started smiling again in no time whenever he saw the face of his mom when she came to pick him up. At the time, I hated that. A man who loses, even if it was rare, shouldn't be smiling like an idiot!" Tatsuki continues quietly, smile filled with regret. "He really was spoiled, and he stuck to Masaki-san like glue. A true Momma's boy. But, he looked so happy... laughing so pleasantly..."

The black haired teenager runs a hand through her hair, eyes and throat burning. "I regret ever wishing he could just not smile for one day with what happens next..."

Tatsuki stays silent while she fidgets with her fingers. She swallows back her tears and the memories of watching Ichigo aimlessly walk back and forth along the riverbank for hours, sometimes even days.

"Masaki-san died–no Masaki-san was killed when he was nine. I was nine at the time too, but that doesn't really matter. Anyway, even at that age, Ichigo was still a Momma's boy. Still sticking to Masaki-san like glue... but she was killed.

"Starting the next day he skipped school. When I went looking for him immediately because... well... because of certain things I knew about, he was at the riverbank where Masaki-san was killed. Carrying his school bag from morning 'til night. He was... practicing. Non-stop. He'd squat if he got tired, but would get up and start practicing again soon after. It–It... It was so hard to see him like that. The Ichigo of that time."

"It was hard to see him come to school covered in badly hidden bruises and bandages covering his arms. It was hard to keep my mouth shut when it was clear that something was making the adults forget and believe it was normal that he'd show up with a limp. It was hard to pretend to not know anything that goes on in that damned house when I stayed over." Tatsuki bites her lip to the point that it bleeds, stopping herself from speaking her thoughts.

Tatsuki looks back up at the ceiling, clenching her fists. Ichigo...


Kochō Family Grave

Kochō Isao

Kochō Kazue

Kochō Kanae

Kochō Shion

Kochō Shinobu

Kochō Yasue

Kurosaki Masaki

Ichigo brushes his fingers against the kanji of his mother's name. True Hope.

"I thought her name would've been Ten Thousand Bloom," Rukia states softly, head leaned back and eyes closed as she let Yuzu braid the yellow orchid and two orange peonies into her hair.

"Mama always said it was a family tradition. To name your children with names that sound like one theme, but have an entirely different meaning," Karin sighs, watching the butterflies dance above them in between the wisteria flowers that hung low.

"Most people assume Nīsan's name means Strawberry, for his hair. But it means One Protector, or more like First Protector." Yuzu finishes the braid with a triumphant smile. "Citrus Fruit is what most people think my name means, but it actually means Help Someone Good. People always think Karin-chan's name means Summer Pear, but Mama spelled it as Meet Gallant."

"Masaki-san loves you all very deeply. Those are strong names, hopeful names," Rukia speaks in a wistful tone, her eyes opening to stare at the large clouds lazily rolling by to block the sun.

"And yours? What does yours mean?" Yuzu asks curiously. Rukia smiles, icy and far off.

"I knew how to write my name, but I didn't know that my name had a meaning. Not until Nīsama had taught me. He said it meant Light–or that it's meant to." Rukia sighs quietly before she glances over at Ichigo. She giggles behind her hand as she watches Eda rest on Ichigo's head like a dog resting on its back.

"Don't even. He'll just be even more of a menace if you mention anything," Ichigo states with a smile plastered on his face, acting like his crow wasn't even on his head. He glances up at the sky and sighs softly, gently nudging Karin. It's time.

Karin gives him a knowing look before she straightens herself, sitting in a seiza in front of the family grave. "Good afternoon, Mama. It's my turn to tell you all that's happened since we last visited."

Rukia blinks before she glances between the three siblings. She keeps silent as Karin starts to talk once more.

"I start my Hashira training this fall. It was hard, but I had defeated Lower Moon 2 near Christmas. Nīsan wants me to finish the second objective, killing 100 demons, before I ever finish my training. Yuzu's close, but she's more focused on keeping the Butterfly Estate running. Oh! Nīsan got caught in a web of trouble again! Trouble with the dead and spirits and all that. There are these spirits called Shinigami. They help protect other spirits and Humans by defeating evil spirits called Hollows." Karin pauses, recalling all the minor and major things that happened that year.

"Nīsan made some new friends... finally. Inoue-san, Mizuiro-kun, Keigo-kun, oh and Rukia-san! He even gave Rukia-san a flower today. A yellow orchid. I'm still gonna get grey hairs by the time I'm 20 just worrying over him still. Stupid Nīsan, but he's getting better," The black haired girl continues, giving a slightly embarrassed Ichigo a small glare.

"Yuzu's taken to poisons like a moth to a flame, Mama. I still struggle, but Nīsan says I'm better at medicine than even him. I think it's a load of bullshi–"

"Karin..."

"–bullcrap to make me feel better." Karin messes with the hem of her pants, looking up at the sky. "Demons have been progressively more active recently. Nīsan thinks Kibutsuji is either getting desperate, or he plans to wage a battle against the Demon Slayer Corps once again. Either way, we'll be prepared."

A faint shadow flickers past a tree at the edge of the cemetery. Ichigo snaps his head towards it, sight and hearing tunneling towards the direction. His eyes narrow as his hand twitches to grab his sword.

"...going on? What do you see?" Ichigo snaps out of his focus, glancing back towards an incredibly worried Rukia. He looks over at his sisters, neither paying attention to him or Rukia.

Ichigo gently reaches up to grab Eda, making him squawk loudly in protest. The noise brings his sisters' attention to him, making him smile at them in reassurance.

"I'll be back. I thought I saw something," Ichigo says softly as he stands up.

"Nīsan, you haven't even eaten your lunch yet!" Yuzu exclaims while reaching up to grab Ichigo's hand.

"If I'm not back by the time we need to leave, go on ahead. I'll eat at the temple, I promise," Ichigo says instead, patting Yuzu on the head.

"Nīsan!"

"I'll go with him and watch his back." Rukia stands up as well, rummaging through her backpack.

"Rukia-nēsan! Let me go! The hellish bird is out there!" Kon screeches loudly, struggling in Rukia's right hold. Eda makes a growl-like noise, glaring at the crow plushie.

"Stop it. You'll be going with us," Rukia states, roughly squeezing Kon to interrupt him.

Ichigo smiles slightly and turns towards his Kasugai Crow. "Look after Yuzu and Karin. And make sure Goat Face isn't even more of a fool than usual."

Eda salutes with a trill, making Ichigo laugh softly. Eda flaps his wings and takes flight before landing on Karin's head.

"March! March! March! Time to deal with the fool!" Eda screeches, making Karin's eyebrow twitch.

"Jeez! We got it! Now get off! I'm not a perch for you to sit on like Nīsan, damn bird!" Karin rapidly waves her hand above her head. Eda squawks loudly and quickly flies away to avoid Karin's hand. He swoops down and lands on Yuzu's head instead.

"Yuzu's not a perch either!" Karin reaches up and tries to grab the crow. He flies up once more, dodging the 11 year old. A cackle leaves Eda's beak as he flies away.

"Damn bird!" Karin shouts loudly before she breaks into a sprint to chase after Eda.

"Karin! Don't chase after Eda-chan!" Yuzu scolds while she chases after her younger twin. "Be careful, Nīsan, Rukia-chan!"

Their big brother waves at them before turning towards Rukia. "Let's go, Rukia-san. Before my sisters leave the wisteria surrounding this cemetery."

"It's a demon then? Whatever you saw?" Rukia questions, both breaking into a sprint in the other direction. Ichigo nods his head, expression blank.

"I can't sense its presence, so it has to be a Demon Moon. Not many lower than them can hide their presence, and none this well." Ichigo quickly takes his sword out of its cloth bag, sliding the scabbard into the tightest belt around his waist.

"Those are the strongest demons, yes?" Rukia asks with a frown. Ichigo makes a noise to answer the question as they sprint out of the wisteria surrounding the cemetery.

"They're more like demons who have the most concentration of Kibutsuji's blood. Most times, it makes them stronger than the rest of the demons, but none of them today are as strong as they were almost a century ago."

"Well, it takes time to gain that amount of power... and you Slayers are a bit of a nuisance." The new voice was Ichigo's only warning before raising his arms to block a sudden kick. He clenches his jaw at the fracture he could feel in his wrist before he is sent flying backwards.

"ICHIGO!" Rukia shouts, turning around with wide eyes. Ichigo flips in the air and lands in a sliding crouch. His eyes immediately pinpoint at the demon who had attacked him, narrowing in slight surprise.

Black eyes with kanji etched in red stares back at him. Upper Six.

"I think it's quite the opposite, demon-san," Ichigo states politely, slowly standing up. He grabs the hilt of his sword and slowly unsheathes it; the pink blade becomes dim underneath the stormy sky.

"Hehe. You humans are like roaches! Never dying, no matter how many hits you take... it's quite frightening!" The demon argues back with a depraved grin.

Ichigo smiles tightly, eyes dark with anger. "Yes, maybe we are... but we have something to fight for. Apologies, demon-san. I forgot to ask. What was your name?"

"That confident you'll kill me, Hashira Kurosaki Ichigo?" The demon pronounces each syllable of the teenager's name. Ichigo tightens his grip on his sword and ignores the flash of pain that crawls up his arm.

"Yes."

"Hmm... Well... Let me ask you this, Hashira Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo's world suddenly turns dark, making him spread his stance and raise his sword. "What's your worst fear?"


The blood tastes sour in his mouth, like a meal gone bad. Disappointing and disgusting. Upper Moon Six almost gags as he forces himself to take another bite. Absolutely disgusting.

He wants some good fucking food at some point. Most of these humans were just disgusting.

"Interesting. I saw it through observation, but to see a demon firsthand... it's quite fascinating," A smooth voice speaks from behind Upper Moon Six.

His skin raises at the immediate threat that stabs at his instincts. He slowly turns around, red on black eyes turning to stare at the shadowed man behind him.

"Who the hell are you?" Upper Moon Six slowly snarls, hands forming into claws.

"Does the number etched in your eye indicate how strong you are? Six is the weakest, I assume," The man continues as if the demon didn't even speak.

Upper Moon Six sneers and stands up. "It's Upper Six. I may be the weakest in line of the strongest, but I am the sixth strongest demon my lord has. Now, who the fuck are you?"

"You may call me Aizen. I have a proposition for your lord." Upper Moon Six feels something almost like anger prickling at the back of his mind, as if Aizen was speaking of Muzan-sama in a mocking manner.

"You absolute trash! Do you think I'll allow you to even insult my lord's name?! You'll pay for it with your life!" He screeches in his anger before pouncing forward. His outstretched his arm, letting his nails sharpen into talons as he got closer.

Aizen stays where he stands, the shadows slowly receding to reveal his face. Upper Moon Six slams his hand through the man's stomach–or attempts to. A sudden blade blocks his nails, barely cracking the weapon.

"Oh? Even when you were originally human, your new biology can even damage a zanpakutō," Aizen states calmly, a blank smile on his face. Upper Moon Six stares up at him with wide eyes before glancing at who blocked his hand.

A man with slitted eyes and a fox-like smile giggles as he slowly pulls back his sword. "This is going to be fun, Aizen-sama."

"You're not a demon slayer," Upper Moon Six states, taking a step back. He glances between the two men, his mind screaming at him to attack or run.

"No." Aizen continues to smile, unnerving the demon even more. "You seem to be disgusted by human flesh and blood."

"...Humans nowadays fill themselves with disgusting foods. It makes their blood sour to me. Unlike the other demons, I have standards," Upper Moon Six slowly answers. He has a feeling he can't get out of whatever this man wants.

"What if I had another type of blood with me? Something that might taste amazing to you? Something that might make you stronger?" Aizen questions, making Upper Moon Six straighten in his sudden apprehension.

"What do you mean, 'might'?"

Aizen chuckles before lifting up one of his hands, a blood bag resting inside his palm. "I apologize. You are the first demon I've come across, so I haven't been able to test it. This is blood of a spirit. In theory, it should give you a boost in power."

Upper Moon Six stares at the bag with high suspicion. Aizen keeps his hand out for the long minute that the demon stays silent.

"And if it doesn't work?" He finally asks as he slowly reaches for the blood bag.

"I'll leave you, and your lord, alone," Aizen answers immediately. Upper Moon Six almost believes in his honesty... but his instincts still scream to be wary of the man.

The demon inspects the bag, keeping the two men in his peripherals. He finally pierces the bag with one of his nails and brings the bag to his lips.

Explosions of flavor and almost a feeling of electricity zaps through his body. He curls in on himself as if in pain. The demon chokes on his own voice, clawing at the ground.

It almost felt worse than when Muzan-sama graced him with more of his blood as a reward. Almost.

Upper Moon Six gasps for breath that he does not need, staring up at the partially cloudy sky. He raises a shaking hand above him and stares at the gnarled veins that had appeared.

"Such a quick evolution. You demons are truly fascinating," Aizen compliments, sounding almost hungry for more information.

"What–what do you want? What is your proposition?" Upper Moon Six asks from the ground, uncaring of the man seeing him in a vulnerable position.

Power seems to course through his veins, making him almost drunk off it. It was stronger than marechi and now that he has tasted it... Aizen and that man next to him reeked of the blood.

Aizen smiles just a bit wider, like he was surprised by the demon's intact suspicion. "It's more of a win-win situation, if whomever your lord sends succeeds. I need a strong demon to be an obstacle for a... particular demon slayer. A simple experiment to determine how strong this demon slayer is."

"...what do you want after that? If this experiment is successful?"

"I wish to see the results first before explaining further."


"Ichigo! Ichigo please!" The screech startles Ichigo and makes him whirl around. He freezes, flinching heavily at the scene he sees.

"Ichigo! Ichigo! Help me! Please!" Tatsuki begs, voice shrill before she cries out. Loud pops and cracks echo in the space as two silhouettes pull at her legs and arms in opposite directions.

She screams out as blood starts to stain her shirt around her abdomen. Tatsuki attempts to get the silhouettes to release her as they continue to pull.

"PLEASE! WHY ARE YOU STANDING THERE?! PLEASE HELP ME!"

Ichigo couldn't move. His breath stalls. Tatsuki continues to scream as her body is slowly ripped in half.

"Stop."

He watches as the skin starts to rip, blood starting to fall like a running tap. He tries to take a step forward, but is stuck to the ground.

"Stop it."

Tatsuki screeches loudly at a sudden and harsh pull. The skin breaks and a loud snap cracks almost booming in Ichigo's ears.

"Stop it! Stop!"

Another harsh pull and Tatsuki's intestines fall out of the ripped skin. Ichigo wrenches forward with a cry.


"STOP IT!"

The blackness fades and Ichigo is suddenly sitting on the forest floor. Bile crawls up his throat before he gags. Ichigo coughs loudly, heaving for breath before vomiting again.

A loud cackle echoes through the dense forest. "Ohohohoh! This is fucking hilarious! Your worst fear–the thing you're most scared of, is watching people die?! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Alarm bells scream in his head, making Ichigo suddenly lurch backwards, clumsily holding up his sword. He blocks a rough kick to his chest and falls backwards from the momentum. He rolls and lands in a crouch, eyes burning charcoal and hands shaking heavily.

"Ichigo!" Rukia cries out worriedly, taking a few steps forward.

"Get–get back! Let me handle this!" Ichigo shouts, voice hoarse. He glares at the demon as he slowly stumbles to his feet.

"You–your Blood Demon Art has–" Ichigo clears his throat, still panting for breath "–that was it just now, w-wasn't it?"

"Give the man a fucking prize!" Upper Moon Six exclaims in sadistic sarcasm. He leans forward, his grin growing almost lecherous.

"You really should've blocked with your sword the first time." Ichigo's world goes black once again.


A piercing scream rings in Ichigo's ears. The dull blade that was thrust into Chad's wrist is slowly dragged through his arm, cutting through the wall behind.

Chad cries out again, struggling to rip his hands off of the wall they were nailed to. He looks up and stares into Ichigo's eyes, pleading, begging, hoping for any help.

"Ichigo... please," The whisper punches Ichigo's gut like a physical fist. Ichigo tries to wrench his leg out of whatever it was stuck in.

"I said stop it!"

The dull blade suddenly slices up, making Chad scream even louder as it severs the muscle from the rest of the arm. The sliced skin hangs from the teenager's wrist, swinging like a pendulum.

"...you promised... Ichigo... Ichigo please!" Chad begs, barely louder than the last. The dull blade presses against the center of Chad's chest. He begins struggling once more before the blade is ruthlessly thrust forward.

"Stop it all! Stop!"

The scream breaks off into a squelch as the blade is wrenched upwards. It roughly slices through Chad's throat and jaw, stopping in the middle of his face. The sword stays pinned in place.


Ichigo stumbles backwards before all the air in his lungs gets punched out. He flies back a moment later, his body slamming and breaking through a tree. He lays on the forest floor, gasping for breath, reeling from the new vision.

"...ge... Dodge! Ichigo, Dodge!" Ichigo instinctively rolls to the left, a foot slamming into the ground where he was just laying on. The ground cracks and splinters underneath the power and momentum.

Ichigo rolls backwards and stumbles onto his ass, staring at the demon with wide eyes. His eyes narrow before swiftly swinging his sword towards the demon's legs.

"You fucking bitch!" Upper Moon Six screeches, pouncing forward when his leg is sliced. Ichigo attempts to block the attack, but his world blackens as the demon rings its hands around his neck.


A weeping scream is quickly followed by a squelch. Orihime writhes on the ground, attempting to crawl away from the hand that had completely crushed her knee like squeezing a grape. She reaches out for Ichigo in heaving sobs before screeching when the hand squeezes her thigh. The hand suddenly pulls back, easily tearing the thigh from Orihime's pelvis.

Ichigo claws at his neck, eyes forced open to watch.

"Kuro–Kuro–Kuro–saki-k-kun! Kurosaki–" A whining scream cuts Orihime off as two hands squeeze her torso. She heaves for breath, bile and blood falling out of her mouth like a waterfall. The hands pull once more, disconnecting Orihime's pelvis from her torso.

Ichigo's eyesight starts to tunnel as he continues to be deprived of oxygen.

"P-p-please... Please... H-h-help..." Orihime struggles to speak, still reaching a hand out.

The hands reach up and grab Orihime's head. Ichigo struggles even more to do anything. It squishes easier than squeezing a grape.


His hand wanders aimlessly around his own waist, searching for the hidden blade. Ichigo's bloodshot eyes stares into crazed demonic black before he stabs the demon in the center of its chest with his tantō and wrenches it to the right.

The demon screeches in pain as its liver is sliced in half, leaping backwards and stumbling to the ground.

Ichigo takes in quick breaths as air is finally back in his lungs. He tries to calm his hyperventilating, struggling to reach his sword.

"YOU DAMN HASHIRA!"

Ichigo grabs the hilt of the sword and quickly rolls back onto his back, letting the demon do all the work and get itself stabbed through the neck.

"I-if... If–if you th-think..." Ichigo struggles to talk through his hyperventilating, roughly pulling his sword to the left when the demon tries to escape. The demon leaps backwards with a hand on his halfway severed neck.

"You won't kill me this easily!" Ichigo tries to clench his eyes shut when the world turns black. He doesn't–he doesn't want to see anymore!


Rapid struggling and wet gasps fill the air. Ichigo struggles with all his might to even stand as Mizuiro, Keigo, and Rukia hang from the black by wires.

"Stop it! Just stop it! I'd never let this happen! Not to them! Not to any of them!" Ichigo screeches in his fury and despair.

Ichigo watches the wire tighten further around their throats. Blood drips down to the floor as they each reach out for Ichigo.

"Help me! Ichigo please! Please! I don't want to die! Not here! Please!" Rukia's thoughts ring loudly in his ears. Ichigo sobs out and tries to stand, only to be kicked back down and held there.

A loud buzz suddenly fills the air, making Ichigo's hair stand. "No! No! Please! Please! Just fucking stop it!"

All three bodies jerk and twitch rapidly as electricity shocks them. Ichigo gags at the smell of burnt flesh. The wires tighten further and slice right through.


Ichigo cries out and races forward. His teeth clench in his anger, sword raised above his head.

Upper Moon Six cackles loudly as he barely manages to dodge the blade. It misses his neck, terror clearly in his eyes.

"Even when you've lost control, you're still terrifying!" The demon reaches forward, letting its shoulder get sliced. "But you won't even get out of this one fast enough!"


Ichigo stood completely frozen this time. He couldn't–he couldn't breathe he couldn't–

"Nīsan–Nīsan please! Please!" Cries and pained moans leave Yuzu's lips as she struggles against the familiar silhouette. Her legs are trapped in its–in his hold, consistently dripping down her thighs.

"Nīsan, why are you standing there?! Please! Please help us!" Yuzu cries out before a piercing scream drowns her out.

He couldn't–he couldn't–he can't breathe. He can't breathe. The twins–the girls–they–

Karin struggles and kicks and screams at the one pinning her down from behind. She sobs in pain as her arm is twisted behind her back, snapping in half. He leaves her with a harsh tug, blood flowing in small streams down her thighs before entering her again.

"Nīsan! Stop standing there! Please! He's hurting us! Stop him!" Karin cries out desperately.

He can't–stop–stop–stop–stopstopstopstop.

The one holding Yuzu roughly grabs her by the throat when she tries to bite him. Her neck snaps easily and he continues–

Stopstopstopitstopitstopitstopitstopit!

Karin continues struggling even when he forces her back into a deep arch. She screams out in pain as each thrust bends her back just a bit more.

Stopstopstopitstopitstopitstopitstopit!

Her back snaps in half and the bloodcurdling screech rings in Ichigo's ears. He still–

Stopitstopitstopitstopstopstopstopstopstop.


Ichigo snaps his hand around the demon's wrist. The demon screeches in pain when his wrist is twisted into a complete right angle. Ichigo raises his foot and slams it through the demon's stomach.

His eyes, completely soulless, stare down at the demon. Ichigo raises his fist and slams it through the demon's chest. He raises it again and punches only an inch to the left. He raises it again and punches another inch to the left.

Ichigo continues to stare at the demon, not caring about the blood that showers on his face. He continues to punch the demon, even as he bisects it.

He doesn't hear the screams or the pleas. He just continues to punch the demon.

He can't stop. He can't stop. He can't–he can't–he couldn't breathe. He couldn't–he couldn't–where–where–why can't he breathe?

Ichigo's punches get harsher and harsher. Something warm and wet falls down his cheeks and his lungs scream in pain around the warmth surrounding them.

Warmth? What warmth–why–why–he can't–he can't–he needs to breathe–why can't he breathe?

"...chigo... Please! Please stop! Please! Please breathe!" The warmth around his lungs shakes heavily. Ichigo raises his fist one more time, soulless eyes staring down at the bloody mush below him.

Where was the demon? Where–why–why is the warmth shaking–his lungs are still screaming–that means he needs to breathe right? So why–why–why can't he breathe?

"Ichi–Ichigo... please..." A distraught and broken whisper tickles his back.

Oh. The warmth was actually arms wrapped around him. Is it Rukia? But why is she–is she crying–why is she crying?

Ichigo lowers his fist, still staring down at the mush. Ichigo lifts his hand again and touches his cheeks.

Oh. He was crying. Why was he crying. Wait–he still needs to breathe. How does he–how does he breathe again? What–where was the demon?

Thunder booms like a faint echo in his ears. He swallows thickly and opens his mouth. The first droplet of rain hits his head as he takes in a stuttering breath.

He chokes on the air and bends forward, heaving for breath. His sobs get choked off by the air leaving and entering his lungs so quickly.

"Ichigo... Ichigo!" Rukia panics through her sobs and tears. She just hugs the orange haired teenager tighter as he starts to scream in his utter despair.

His scream hurts even his own ears as he punches the ground. He continues to punch, harder and harder each time. His voice goes hoarse as his screams taper off into loud weeps.

Ichigo finally uses his other hand to grab one of Rukia's, trying to keep himself grounded. Rukia immediately squeezes his hand as tight as she could sobbing loudly into his back.

"It's–it's okay. You–you defeated it. You–you're okay. Everyone–everyone's okay. I'm–I'm–I'm–" Rukia breaks off into a loud sob, digging her forehead into Ichigo's back "–okay. Okay. I'm okay. It's okay. Please. Please, just–"

Ichigo shakes his head, furiously grabbing his hair. "I couldn't–I couldn't–I couldn't–" do anything. I couldn't move. I couldn't save them...

"It–it–the demon. It was us-using its power. It–it wasn't real," Rukia forces herself to speak through her own tears. The despair, the rage, the self-hatred–no the self-disdain stabbed her heart harder and harder, even if it wasn't hers.

"It wasn't real... it wasn't real. It–it really wasn't. What–whatever you saw. It wasn't–it wasn't real..."

They stay sitting on top of what once was a body, soaked in blood and rain. The rain weeps in its own grief.


Ichigo leans heavily on Rukia, feet finally stepping on old cobblestone. His dead eyes barely spare the normal cemetery a glance as they slowly stumble their way towards the old temple.

Alas my love you do me wrong

To cast me off discourteously;

They pass by Isshin, both ignoring him. He doesn't even spare them a glance.

Ichigo opens the door, shivering from the sudden shock of warm air hitting his rain soaked frame. He finally looks up, spotting Yuzu and Karin eating on the floor.

And I have loved you oh so long

Delighting in your company.

"Rukia-chan! Nīsan you're–oh my God! What happened?! Nīsan!" Yuzu's voice goes shrill in her terror and panic, stumbling over to help Ichigo walk further in.

Karin races after her, face pale and eyes wide. "What the fuck happened?! Nīsan, you're covered in blo–"

Greensleeves was my delight,

Greensleeves my heart of gold

Greensleeves was my heart of joy

And who but my Lady Greensleeves

Karin and Yuzu both make noises in surprise when Ichigo suddenly lifts them up in each arm. He stumbles further into the temple, carrying his sisters–his baby girls–like they were toddlers again.

Ichigo sits down close to the light, carefully adjusting the twins to be in his lap. He wraps both his arms around them and places his head on top of theirs.

"...Nīsan?" Yuzu picks up the courage to lightly tug at her big brother's sleeve. Ichigo doesn't look at either of them, tears silently falling from his eyes.

"I have been ready at your hand. To grant whatever thou would'st crave," Ichigo begins to sing the next verse of the age-old lullaby. His voice was broken in place, hoarse from his screaming and weeping.

"I have waged both life and land. Your love and goodwill for to have..." Ichigo's voice wavers as his tears flow freely. "Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves my–my heart of g-gold. Greensleeves was my heart of–of joy. And–and who but my–my Lady Greensleeves..."

He hugs Yuzu and Karin closer to his chest, uncaring of the blood that stained their own clothes. He sobs loudly and kisses both of their heads.

"'m sorry. 'm so sorry... 'm sorry..." Ichigo repeats his pleas over and over again.

"No matter the injuries, no matter the war, do what you are born to do. Be a protector."


Monster. Monster. That boy–that thing was a monster.

Masaki couldn't feel his body. He could feel his legs, but he couldn't–he couldn't–

Faint footsteps are muffled by the pouring rain and wet grass. A barely formed eye rolls around before looking up.

"...etter than I expected, Masaki." Upper Moon Six couldn't hear that well, struggling to regenerate his eardrums to even decipher what the man was saying. "I'll leave some blood for you here. Be ready to meet me once more sometime in the future."

Tears well up in Masaki's eyes. Did he watch the entire thing? Did he watch his torture?! Masaki starts to cry loudly, in terror and dread.

"I suspect your lord and I will have much to discuss later," Aizen bids his goodbye and leaves.

"Kurosaki Ichigo... Kurosaki Ichigo, you are a monster. A demon! I'll make sure everyone knows to kill you slowly!" Masaki goes almost manic his his terror filled rage. He'll get stronger. He'll get stronger and kill that demon before he can even lay a hand on Muzan-sama.

And surely, surely, Muzan-sama will make him his Upper Moon One. Most definitely!


Hey... I hope you all enjoyed this mass suffering of a chapter...

...now we can add more hurt to Ichigo's suffering... yay...

To be honest, both anime/mangas, Bleach and Demon Slayer, I feel like could have been so much darker. And I understand why neither went down this type of dark route. But also... the missed opportunities...

Next chapter will definitely be a bit of a breather for you all, don't worry. Ichigo's still going to suffer for quite a bit though.

I hope you all like the story so far! Bye!

WhovianWhoudini