Chapter 8: The Nightmare

Shiro woke to find himself floating in water. Black fingernails on the tips of his fingers. His body was much larger than it had been before. His hair was very long and floated around him in the water. He reached his hand up to his face, but did not feel the soft smooth outline of his skin, but instead it felt like he had a mask on. His hands went even higher upon his head and found two curved horns upon his head pointing in the forward position.

I'm a monster! was his first thought as he came fully awake.

Shiro turned his head one way and then another before he looked down at his hands once more. Lifting his hand to his chest, Shiro tried to calm himself down. Surely his mother and father would find him. Right? Ichi definitely would find him. Ichi would never leave him, even if he did look like a monster. Suddenly he saw three figures walk up to the glass cage that held him in the water. Their voices echoed, but something about these men was off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew he should be angry at them. He slammed his fist against the glass wall causing the white haired male to look at him, his slanted eyes opening slightly to reveal icy blue eyes.

"Violent, isn't he?" the fox man stated, for his eyes reminded Shiro of a fox for some reason.

"Will we be able to control it?" the dark skinned man asked.

Control me? Shiro wondered. Why would they want to control me? Who are these men? A frightening thought crossed his mind as an icy feeling ran down his back. Did they kidnap me? Fear filled Shiro as the brown haired male looked at him. The charismatic the man had seemed to hold a dark secret to it. Shiro did not like this man. He was dangerous!

"We shall release him in the jureichi and see what happens from there." the man stated.

Shiro suddenly screamed as his body was electrocuted, the electric current was amplified by the water, making it so much worse. When he came to again, Shiro found himself in an alleyway. Jumping into the air the white hair boy, turned monster, ran.

The next scene of events that took place were in a blur. He saw his father, his mother even. Both looked at him with such hate. Seeing that from his father wasn't all too unfamiliar, but the look startled him from his mother. Both attacked him and before he could say anything he felt his world melt away.

Waking Shiro screamed as the dream was still fresh in his mind. Ichigo woke instantly and tried comforting his twin, only to have Shiro wrap his arms tightly around him while crying hysterically. The door to their room opened, startling Shiro who lifted his dark eyes up to find his mother approaching him. The dream her came to the forefront of his mind and as she wrapped her arms around him to comfort him, Shiro screamed.

"NO!" he screamed over and over as he wiggled to get away from her. She was going to hurt him. She was gonna-

Suddenly Ichigo pulled him back into his arms. "It's okay Shiro." he said as he began rocking back and forth with his brother in his arms continuing to cry as the dream refused to leave the little boy.

"NO!" Shiro continued to scream.

Isshin came into the rooms moment later. "The girls are awake." he said to Masaki tiredly as more cries filled the household.

"He won't let me comfort him." she told him with a worried look.

Isshin sighed as he looked down at the white haired boy. "I'll take care of him, while you take care of the girls." he Tod her with a reassuring look.

Masaki gave a nod, before giving Shiro one more worried look. "Alright." she said as her shoulders dropped in defeat.

Isshin got onto his knees as he leaned over the bed the boy's shared. "Hey kiddo," he said softly as he petted Shiro's head. "It's going to be alright. It was just a bad dream." He began rubbing Shiro's back as the boy continued to cry into Ichigo's chest. It was then that Isshin noticed how cold his son was. Even through the light pajama top, Isshin could feel the coolness of his skin. He's freezing. he thought with worry. "Ichigo, I'll be right back. Keep doing what you're doing."

"Okay Pop." Ichigo agreed with a nod. With both of their parents gone, Ichigo continued the rocking motion and hugged his brother tightly to his body. He hadn't wanted to say anything to embarrass Shiro, but their bed was wet now. Neither boy had wet the bed in a very long time. "It's gonna be okay Shiro." He tried to reassure his brother, but was unsure if it was having any effect.

Isshin came back a few moments later and extracted Shiro from Ichigo, which seemed to be a very bad idea as the little boy screamed as if he was being hurt by his father. Ichigo got out of bed and followed them into the bathroom. Isshin sat Shiro on the edge of the bathtub, which had been filled with warm water. Ichigo got an idea and began taking his clothes off as Isshin finished doing the same for Shiro. As soon as Shiro was placed into the water, Ichigo got into it too and pulled his brothers back against his chest.

"Your brother is in shock Ichigo." Isshin told his eldest son. "You need to warm him up."

Ichigo nodded, not really understanding what shock was. "The bed is wet Pop." he told his father who gave a sigh.

"Alright." he said as he stood up. "Don't let him fall asleep." Ichigo gave a nod as Isshin left the room for a moment.

Rubbing Shiro's slowly warming body, Ichigo stated quiet as he listened to his brother's quiet mumbles. He kept saying the word no over and over. Ichigo lifted Shiro's chin to force his brother to look into his eyes. "I don't know what you dreamt of, but I'm here Shiro."

Shiro blinked at him, but went silent afterwards. He clung to Ichigo like a lifeline, because at that moment in his mind Ichigo was his only link to reality.

Masaki came in with Isshin a few moments later with warm towels. Both parents began to dry off their sons, Shiro staying quiet the whole time. Not even a whimper as Masaki dried his body off, even though the memory of her killing him was still there. Both boys were placed in clean night clothes and fresh sheets. Neither Masaki or Isshin left the two alone for the rest of the night, opting stay close just in case Shiro needed them.

Morning came early for the Kurosaki family as the twin girl's made their needs known quite loudly. Shiro tugged out of bed by Ichigo, who helped him dress for the day. Shiro wasn't feeling all too happy this morning, as the dream was still at the forefront of his mind. For breakfast Ichigo got the cereal out and though he made a mess, he made them breakfast. The two boys sat in front of the television and watched cartoons. As Ichigo finished his breakfast, he saw that Shiro had barely touched his bowl.

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked his brother.

The white haired boy shook his head. "No." he stated sadly as tears began falling from his dark eyes. "Ichi?" he began as a questioned formed on his lips. "Am I a monster?"

Ichigo blinked in surprise. "No." he answered honestly as Shiro sniffed and wiped his eyes. "Who called you that?" he asked getting upset that someone had told his brother that.

"Nobody." Shiro answered as he laid his head on his arms that were on the coffee table.

Ichigo frowned at the sad look in his brother's black/gold eyes. "You're not a monster." he restated. "And even if you were, you're my brother." Shiro raised an eyebrow at that. "Being my brother means that if you're a monster, so am I." Ichigo grinned at him. "So if you turn out to be one, we'll be monsters together."

Shiro suddenly threw himself at Ichigo and began to cry. Peering at the scene, Masaki held a hand over her mouth to stop herself from interrupting the boy's moment. Upon hearing what they were talking about though, Masaki began to cry, tears forming and falling from her eyes. When Isshin arrived at her side, she turned towards him and hugged her husband as she cried softly against his chest, thus leaving Isshin a bit confused.

A week after the first nightmare, the second one came. It was even more violent than the first. Showing Shiro himself attacking and killing a man. Blood on his hands. Next a battle between himself and his father. His father had a huge sword, but that sword seemed like nothing against the red energy beam he had used and fired from between his horns. In the end he was once again killed by his mother the same moment he had attacked her.

He woke up screaming once again and once more Ichigo was the only one able to comfort him. Isshin again made a warm tub full of water and as the two boys soaked in it, he changed the sheets on their bed; as Shiro had wet it once more.

During the next month the dreams got increasingly worse and with them came Shiro falling into a depression. He would go silent for days at a time and look so sad. During this time Ichigo never left his side and had taken to holding his hand on most days to ensure Shiro was never left behind. The only thing keeping Shiro stable was Ichigo. The white haired boy felt at a loss at what to do. He couldn't tell his brother that he was dreaming of dying or that it was their parents who were killing him I. his dreams and the dreams kept coming, that is until one day they stopped. However, with the dreams coming to a stop was Shiro no longer talking. He wouldn't ever speak again until he the day he met a true monster years later.

M-Angel: I know this chapter was a bit sad, not to worry though, the next one won't be. It'll have some action in it and yes, Grand Fisher is about to show up. As for whether or not Masaki lives, well you will have to wait and see. ^_^