Full Stories

by DevilsCourt

The robot is amazing for grammar. From original works to fan fiction, many stories are here.

2. Powerless

A shiver went down his spine, one of dread and fear. This was something that the elder captain had not felt in a thousand years.

"Captain?" his faithful lieutenant called, a flash of concern in his silver eyes.

"Something is amiss," the old commander commented grimly, rubbing his cane with his thumbs, gaining comfort from the warm wood. "I do not know what, but something is dreadfully wrong."

0oo00oo0

A snake seemed to curl around him, a foreboding that squeezed the air from his lungs. Gray eyes seemed to spark with a primal fear, freezing his limbs long enough to drop the glass mug of tea, letting it shatter on the floor. His loyal friends and companions in exile turned his way, eyes filled with both concern and curiosity, and in the bespectacled man's view, a bit of irritation.

"You alright?" the purple-haired woman asked, walking up to tip his green-striped hat up and brush his sandy locks back, out of his eyes.

"Something's not right."

0oo00oo0

The father of three tilted his head at his oldest, who had stopped eating for a second before his brows furrowed into a deeper scowl than normal.

"Something wrong, son?" he questioned, hoping to get the teen to at least speak to him.

"I dunno," he answered, taking a sip of green tea, "just got the chills is all. Probably nothing." Ah, that was a lie. He depended on his instinct, the thing that had kept him alive. Right now, it was telling him to hide before he was found.

His long, orange hair had grown over the three years that had passed from the Winter War, falling to his mid back. His son's power had all but vanished, leaving him vulnerable... and irritable. He had grown a bit taller, reaching 5'10", catching up to his old man quick. Other than that, nothing much had changed... except for the young eighteen-year-old's attitude.

His son, upon losing his powers, avoided his friends. Locking himself in the house or at Kisuke's for quiet and updates on the world he can no longer see. They had taken to whispered words on the comings and goings of their spiritual friends, hushed on the hollows that orange-haired young adult knows plagues the city of Karakura.

Ichigo hatted it.

"I hope you're not getting sick," the youngest fretted, big, brown eyes fill with motherly concern.

"I'm fine, Yuzu," her brother assured, calming the blond twin. Once dinner was done and the teenager had retreated to his room, the dark-haired, older twin pulled her father aside.

"Did you see that?" she asked, low enough for her twin not to hear. "They were all..."

"Yes, I did," Isshin frowned, pulling out his phone to look at the very short list of contacts. "I've never seen them do that before. I'm going to speak to Urahara about it, see if he knows something."

Walking into his clinic with his phone to his ear, it only rang once before the shopkeeper picked up.

"Did you feel it?"

"Feel what, Kisuke?" Isshin questioned, a single brow raising in question, even if his old friend could not see it.

"I don't know yet," the blond sighed, the sound of rustling in background. "I just got a really bad feeling."

"Ichigo said the same thing, and that's why I called. Something's up with him."

"It's not his power returning," Urahara stated harshly, as if to crush a false hope.

"I know that," Isshin snapped defensibly, "but it's more about the spirits around him. You know how they like to bother Karin now that Ichigo has lost the ability to see them." A hum acknowledged the statement. "They started screaming at Ichigo... and it's what they said that has me uneasy."

"What did they say? Surely nothing a few Plus say can rattle you that bad, Isshin."

"The kept saying he was 'marked', screaming at the top of their lungs that he was going to die." The silence on the other end of the line did nothing to sooth the father's anxiety.

"Has Ichigo mentioned any marks or whatnot? Any kind of tattooing or odd urges to go somewhere?"

"He talks to you more than he does me now-a-days," Isshin sighed, running rough hands through his hair. "He did say he got the chills though and he tensed up like he was ready to run. After the girls go to bed, I'll bring him over and maybe we can figure something out."

"That's as good a plan as any, I suppose. Do you think that he will agree?"

"If he doesn't I'll be hauling him over," the eldest Kurosaki smirked, but it fell quickly. "I just don't want anything to happen," he sighed, running his hand again into his hair to pull lightly on the black strands. "This has got me worried, Kisuke..."

"We'll think of something. I'll be waiting."

"Thanks."

"No problem, Isshin," his old friend confirmed, the click on the other line ending their conversation for now. The Shinigami sighed heavily, making his way back to his home and up the stairs to his son's room. Just as he suspected, Ichigo was sitting on his bed, head braced on his knuckles, elbow supported by the windowsill as chocolate orbs gazed at the sinking sun. He was already in his sleeping clothes of a white t-shirt and gray sweats.

"Ichigo," his father called, but the teen didn't move from his spot, "there's something that has been worrying me and I was hoping you would come with me to Kisuke's to check something out."

"And what would that be?" Ichigo asked, now looking at his father. Isshin held back a flinch at how tired those young eyes looked. They had seen too much.

"Some of the spirits around you have been acting... strangely," his father tried to explain, watching as his son's eyes lit up slightly. "They're saying things that make no sense. I was hoping to have Urahara check you out just to make sure everything's alright." Ichigo nodded, stand up to follow his father down the stairs and out the door.

0oo00oo0

"Isshin, Ichigo! Welcome, welcome. Have a seat and I'll get some t-" he tried, but his bigger employee sat him down, then headed to the kitchen.

"I wouldn't even trust you with a spatula," Ichigo smirked, looking a bit more alive than he had in his room.

"You are always so mean to me, Ichigo!" Kisuke cried out dramatically. "Yoruichi would back me up."

"No, she would tell me that one time she found an octopus tentacle in her cup," Ichigo teased, nodding his thanks to the larger man as Tessai set his cup in front of him. "So, Goat-chin said something's up?"

"Mm," Kisuke hummed, looking at the boy from under his hat. "Have you felt anything lately? Urges to go somewhere or any type of symbol on your skin?"

"No," Ichigo answered slowly, brows furrowing. "I've felt off lately, but that's it."

"Off?"

"I don't know how to explain it," the teen sighed, running his hand through his hair. "It's like something's warning me, that something bad is going to happen. I've always trusted my instincts," he stated, looking at the shopkeeper in his analytical gray eyes, "and they've never proven me wrong."

"Indeed. Well, the ghosts have been restless around you lately," his mentor commented, looking around the teen at something he couldn't see. "Now I understand what you mean, Isshin. This is most odd."

"Why?" Ichigo questioned, an old frustration of not being able to see gripping his heart. "What are they doing?

"They've been yelling that you're marked, by what we don't know."

"Cant you ask?" Ichigo questioned, some of his his frustration leaking through his tight hold.

"They wont answer, I've been trying. To them, I suppose, I'm invisible," Isshin scowled, look much more like his son. "I'm surprised you never noticed Kisuke."

"I've never seen it," the exile denied. "This is most odd," he flinched at something, "and loud. How you sleep at night it questionable."

"They randomly disappear," Isshin explained, looking over to his son, eyes wandering around him.

"So, Ichi," Kisuke addressed, catching the orangette's attention, "nothing out of the ordinary? Besides that feeling you got." Ichigo shook his head. "If it's any comfort, I got the feeling as well. So, you're not crazy, at least." He dodged a shoe, grin plastered on his face as he whipped out his trusty white paper fan.

"Maybe its a soul thing?" Isshin tossed up.

"I don't know," Ichigo shrugged, itching at the base of his neck, under his long hair that was being held back by a black tie. "Damn it, I gotta figure out what itches so bad."

The two friends gave each other a look, a thousand words spoken in the few second stretch.

"Let me see, Ichigo," his father prompted, hooking a finger around the loose collar of Ichigo's t-shirt. He flipped the orange tail over his son's shoulder and pulled down the collar so he could see, getting a nasty shock to his system. "Kisuke..." He was over there in a second, eyes widening.

"What the hell is that doing there?" Kisuke demanded, anger and worry seeping through his mask.

"What is it?" Ichigo asked, looking over his shoulder. Isshin pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of it, letting Ichigo turn to see. An orange brow raised, then set into a deep scowl. "The hell?"

The picture was that of a sun in golden ink on his tanned skin, a perfect circle in its middle, a five-pointed star inside.

"That, my student," Kisuke started, looking the boy in the eye, "is the mark of an old demon, one that has been sealed for a very long time. You haven't been getting into things you're not supposed to, have you?"

"Are you trying to say I'm into Satanism?" Ichigo glared, the shopkeeper avoiding his gaze with his fan.

"No, but that would be and explanation. That mark blends well with your skin, and with where it's at, we wouldn't expect you to see it. You said it itches?"

"Yeah," Ichigo confirmed, reaching back to rub it. "Really bad. I tried putting some cream on it but it didn't help."

"Wouldn't expect it to," Isshin sighed, running a hand over his face. "What do you know of demonology, Ichigo?"

"Not much," he admitted.

"Well, that mark there is the symbol of Tartarus, or the 'Pit', most call it. Despite what Soul Society says, Hell is very different from what people think," Kisuke explained, grabbing a pencil and paper from nowhere. "Instead of it being layers, it looks something like this."

He proceeded to draw circles that overlapped each other in small sections, one in the middle and six on the outside.

"This is what it actually looks like. They are still, in themselves, other plains, but they are still connected."

"Like islands," Ichigo theorized, getting a not.

"Islands with bridges that the sinners cant cross." Ichigo looked at the picture again, something clicking in his mind.

"The seven sins," he noticed. Kisuke nodded, writing the sins in their respective bubble.

"Exactly. They all have their own land, but Tartarus, is here." He used the end of his pencil to point at the connecting bridge between Sloth and Pride, Pride being the middle circle.

"So it's a bridge with a big hole under it."

"Well said, my son," Isshin cheered, getting an eye roll.

"So, from what you're saying, demons are real and one that has been sleeping a long time is out to get me... and we don't know why," Ichigo summed up, still analyzing the sheet of paper.

"I've only met the man once," Kisuke explained, drawing all eyes on him. "He is both one of greatest men I've had the pleasure of meeting... and the sickest, most twisted person I've known. Even to this day, and I know Myuri."

"How can he be both at once without having personality disorder?" Ichigo questioned, frown returning.

"I don't know..." Kisuke admitted. "It's just something about him. Let's hope you don't find out."

"So if demons are real..." Ichigo continued, trailing off.

"Angel are as well, but those stuck-up bastards don't come down from their perch," Isshin grumbled, getting a chuckled from his son.

"So I'm being pulled into the spirit world again," Ichigo sighed, but there was a relief there that both adults caught. "How powerful are we talking?"

"He was part of the original devils," Isshin reminded. "In other words..."

"Tear Soul Society to pieces with his pinky," Kisuke finished, seriousness written on his face. "For some reason he has marked you... and we don't know why."

"Tu es ille, et. Si est quod Magister vult [You are the one, then. If it is what Master desires," a deep voice spoke, a figure appearing in a cloud of ash. Silver armor gleamed on his chest and plates of the same metal protected his calves. He had long, black hair that was capped under a large bird's skull. Red eyes shined through the mask, looking at Ichigo as if to peer at his soul. A black cape hung from his shoulders, barely hiding the sword and nasty looking whip at his waist.

"What?" Ichigo spoke first.

"Master Ichigo," the being spoke, fist over his unbeating heart with a light bow, "I have come to collect you. Master is awaiting your presence." His Japanese was flawless, even the accent was perfect. As if he hadn't spoken another, dead, language five seconds ago.

"My son is going nowhere," Isshin growled, soul candy already in hand should he need it.

The man's brow furrowed, barely seen with the skull. "I'm afraid I cannot return without him. I have my ord-" he tilted his head, as if listening to something, Ichigo scowling before he tried cleaning out an ear with his pinky. "Very well. Take as much time as you need, Master Ichigo, and I will escort you home. Master has informed me that this is new to you and may be hesitant to comply."

"How can I see him," Ichigo frowned, "and what was that noise?"

"Noise, Ichigo?"

"A humming. It sounded like really muffled talking."

"Master has tried to connect to you in the past," the man explained, "and so you have a weak connection, but your soul companions made it difficult. Now, Master is strong enough to call to you."

"How long has Abezethibou been awake?" Kisuke asked, not stumbling over the foreign word. Unlike Ichigo, who tried, and failed.

"Since the young master has been alive," the man replied, his gaze going from the shopkeeper to the teen once more. "I have been very rude, Master Ichigo. My Master has taken to calling me Raven. I am messenger and defender of the King of the Pit." He bowed again, fist over his heart. "May I inquire something?"

"Yeah... sure."

"What happened to your soul companions? They seemed to have disappeared," Raven asked, Tipping his head slightly.

"None of your business, demon," Isshin hissed. "Why does Abez want Ichigo?"

"None of your business, Soul Reaper," Raven returned, smirk splitting his face. "I must ask you to not address my master so informally."

"I can't say his damn name!" Isshin complained. "It's all weird." Ichigo stood, staring down the blackbird in front of him.

"Can I ask, then? What's up with all this?" Ichigo questioned, brows furrowing in annoyance.

"That is for master to tell, young Master," Raven replied. "I am afraid I cannot give that information away."

"Why don't we take this downstairs?" Kisuke offered, leading them all to the basement. The fake sky and sandy bottom was the same as it always was. "So, no info from you then. Can we question your master, then?"

"Kisuke," Isshin hissed. "You cant think of bringing the man here."

"No, no, oh God, no," Kisuke denied hurriedly, "but it does seem out friend here can speak to the Lord of Torment."

Raven nodded. Tilting his head to listen, he then turn to Ichigo. "Master has instructed me to inform you on what the bond between the two of you will consist of so you may ask in 'person', so to say."

"There will be no bond," Isshin grumbled, only to get a dark look from his son.

"You," he pointed at his father, "need to chill. You," he pointed to his old mentor, "need to stop staring at me before I kill you, and you," he turned to Raven, who looked startled, "need to start talking. I'm not agreeing to anything unless I know all the facts."

"Understandable," Raven accepted, nodding. "Have been informed of the Seven Seraph Princes?"

"Seven Ser- the seven sins? I know what they are, but I'm getting the vibe you mean actual people."

"They are, indeed, demon princes personifying their respective sin. Lucifer, Sin of Pride, is the High Prince among us. The only title of King among them is my own master's title over Tartarus."

"They all have circles they rule over, right?"

"This is, indeed, correct."

"Are you a sin?" Ichigo questioned, confusion shining in his eyes.

"No, not even close," he chuckled. "I am a Fallen my master had rescued long ago."

"Do you have wings?" Ichigo asked, a childish curiosity shining through. Raven chuckled, nodding as two sets of blackened feathers sprouted from his back, pushing his cape back. They seemed unhindered by the armor, more than likely having a piece cut out to make room. Ichigo looked in awe, walking up to the man, both the warriors behind him tensing. "Can I touch them?"

Raven moved one forward, curling around his right side as if to protect him. "You may," he allowed, grinning at his new master's innocence. Ichigo smoothed out some of the feathers, them having been ruffled from his flight here, no doubt. They were soft, much softer than Ichigo expected.

"Back to the topic," Raven reminded, his winds folding into his back once more, making Ichigo pout and sit in the sand. Raven joined him, the two men loosening as they continued standing. "Each of these sins had chosen a champion, should they be needed. You have encroached on Hell once," Raven reminded, Ichigo having the sense to looked ashamed. "You had dropped into Greed's territory, the sinners there rebelling for their freedom. You stopped this, thankfully, but did catch many eyes."

"Yeah, didn't mean that," Ichigo apologized, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "They had my sister."

"We understand," Raven assured. "Master himself was going to step in should it haven gotten to bad. The rebellious now lie in the Pit with my master. Many of the sins argued over you, but Master had already set a connection to you, shutting them all up," Raven smirked.

"My master, despite what some may say," red eyes shifted to the two adults, "is normally a calm and understanding man. I have a connection to him, as you have seen, but it is not as strong as the one he is trying to create with you. Beyond telepathy, my master's bond creates a connection to the shadows, Master's domain. Should you accept, there is much power to gain from this. However," Raven paused, watching Ichigo's face fall behind the black mask he had put up, "Master suffers from the voices of the Pit, and you, too, will hear their cries. Master has blocked them from me, despite my willingness.

"You must learn to block them out. To let them play behind your thoughts. This bond will also tie you to Tartarus, along with the creatures in it. They will not follow a weak soul, so you must be confident." Ichigo nodded, showing he was listening. "Beyond that, I do not know what may happen. Each champion has reacted differently to a bonding. With one of the the Princes, for instance, the urge to commit their particular sin increases."

"Do you think," Ichigo started, biting his lower lip, "it could reawaken my own power?" Raven thought this over, looking the teen over. A clawed hand came to rest on his chest, the ravenette tilting his head in question.

"You may, you may not," Raven answered, pulling his hand away. "I can feel them, buried behind confusion and despair. They are simply weak at the moment, and maybe, just maybe the bond will strengthen them. The opposite may be also true," he warned. "It could completely crush them."

Ichigo gulped, rubbing the mark at the base of his neck. Was he willing to commit to this.

"What do champions do, specifically?"

Raven nodded, "good question, young Master. You see, there is a time when the demon princes must rest, if only for short periods of time. They are completely vulnerable then, and that is where these champions come into play. They guard from intruders and should they be needed to do so, participate in wartime. Fret not, there hasn't been a war since Master's early days."

"Will I be able to come back?" Ichigo questioned, the thought of leaving his sisters causing his scowl to deepen.

"Yes," Raven nodded, looking to the older Kurosaki. "There is a fruit only grown in Master's castle that allows souls to be removed from the Pit. Master created it for this purpose. Should you wish to return at any time, you are more than able to. Now, this means you will be called back and kept in the two previous events I mentioned."

Ichigo nodded, his head swimming with the amount of knowledge that had just poofed into existence a little too fast. He weighed pros and cons, his soul having already made up his mind. Brown orbs shifted over the figure in front of him, and something inside of him, his instinct, told him this man was telling the truth. That he belonged somewhere else. He had thought the feeling was connected to S.S. ... but that might not be the case anymore.

"Ichigo," his father called, gaining his attention. "I know this is your decision, but remember who we are talking to. Demons are not the most righteous of creatures."

"Neither are Shinigami," Ichigo countered, a few names popping into his head. He turned back to Raven. "This is only from the bond, right? I don't have leave now, do I?"

"While that is what I am hoping for, it is your choice to stay or go," he answered.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Kisuke asked, speaking from his spot on a rock.

"The air here is very thin," Raven explained. "I would much rather be home, where the air is thicker and much easier to breathe."

"I've heard that from a few people," Ichigo chuckled. He rubbed the base of his neck again, eyes closing in thought. He sat there silently for what felt like hours before coming to a decision. "I'll do it."

Raven nodded, eyes closing and head tilting to hear. "Concentrate, Master Ichigo, on his call. It may be painful, but as I've said, it reacts differently to each person." Ichigo nodded, relaxing and closing his eyes. He waited, but not for long.

A spark lit up somewhere deep in his soul, and he caught it and fueled it as much as possible. He gasped, the wind kicked out of him as shivers raced across his skin. Arms wrapped around him, the smell of blood and peaches calming his nerves. Armor pressed firmly to his back, black wings spreading to encase them, giving him protection.

"Calm, Ichigo," Raven spoke, pulling him closer and into his lap. "Does it hurt?"

He was going to speak, but no air could reach his lungs. He felt like he was drowning, unable to breathe as he sunk to the bottom.

"Mitescere, maiori [Calm down, young one," Raven spoke into his ear, and even though it was in that strange language, he understood. "Obruent illam si keep pugnam Tartari. Et ossa tua est excipiant [Tartarus will drown if you keep fighting it. Let is seep into your bones]." He whispered calming words, stroking his long hair.

Ichigo's breath hitched, opening his eyes to look at Raven, who was calm and still whispering calming words. He had taken his helm off, red eyes blazing fiercely in the darkness his wings created.

Calm down.

He found himself obeying, his heart rate slowing and his breath evening out. He closed his eyes once more and just let the feeling of water rush over his skin, pulling him deeper, but he didn't fight for air. It only took a few seconds, but he was able to breathe again. Taking big gulps of air in solid pants, he reached up to cling to the side of Raven's neck, trying to ground himself.

The ravenette had an arm around him, another running through his hair. He had loosened the tie, setting the strands of orange flame free. He was still cooing, trying to get the teen stable in his arms. Voices were muffled outside the protective shield of feathers, it sounded like his father.

Ichigo got his breath steady, feeling so free and whole once more. Nodding to Raven, who had his mask back on, but making no move to get up, Ichigo closed his eyes as light blinded him. It felt brighter, almost harsher, than before.

"We dwell in the dark, young one, and so the lights blind us. Do not worry, you will get used to them," Raven assured, a hand resting on his eyes to block out the light. "Shopkeeper, could you turn off the lights?"

"Why would you need that?" he heard Kisuke ask, pulling out a remote and lowering the lights.

"You can look now, Ichigo."

Brown eyes opened as pale fingers slipped of his face, letting him look about. He could tell it was dark in the room, the warmth from the light not hitting his skin, but he could see just fine. Isshin looked worried, Urahara looked curious.

"I'm fine," Ichigo assured, letting Raven help him up only to help him in turn. "More than fine, actually. I feel a lot better." He rolled his shoulder, feeling way too energetic for how late it was.

"Your power, Ichigo?"

He panicked slightly, reaching deep in his soul for the two companions he lost to a madman.

'We are with you, Ichigo.'

'Can't get rid of us that easy! '

Ichigo burst into tears, falling to his knees as he hugged his chest. Isshin and Kisuke were at his side immediately, Raven hanging back with a soft smile on his face.

"Son? Ichigo? What's wrong?" Isshin fired off, wiping his son's tears. Ichigo's smile lit up the room, true happiness swirling in his newly found power.

"Zangetsu... I have them both back."

"Good for you, Ichigo," Kisuke smiled down at him, looking then to the Fallen messenger. "What now?"

"I am supposed to take the young master to the palace, but I have been ordered to let him adjust for as long as he needs. The return of the rest of his soul is a shock to his system and in turn has made him emotionally unstable. He can take as long as he needs to sort his thoughts."

"Thank you," Ichigo called to Raven, the tears having stopped but there was still a light hitch in his breath. "Thank you for giving them back to me."

"Do not thank me, young Master, but our master. He is the one that has given you back what your soul yearned for. I must remind you of the consequences that came with this might," Raven warned, peering at him through the eye sockets of his helm.

"I don't hear anything," Ichigo informed, tilting his head much like Raven did to listen.

'They are here, Ichigo. They are rather loud.'

'And fuckin' annoyin'. Don' worry though, we got 'em until you meet this 'master' o' ours. He should be able to help with 'em.'

Ichigo nodded, looking at the Fallen. "Shiro and Ossan Zangetsu said they are holding them back for me until we go with you so that Abezeth- Abezethi- damn it. So that Abez can help us with them." Raven nodded in acceptance.

"Will you be staying here with us until he decides to go?" Kisuke asked, looking the other male with a calculating gaze.

"It depends," Raven shrugged. "I shall stay to support Master Ichigo should he need me, but if Master calls..."

"We understand," Ichigo nodded, "but where will you stay? I don't have much room and I doubt you wanna stay with this loon." Ichigo threw a thumb Kisuke's way, getting a playfully offended look from the shopkeeper.

"I do not need much room," he stated, ash swirled around him, hiding his form. As it dissipated, though, all three men blinked in amazement. He had been replaced with a four-winged bird. A raven. Ichigo tried to hold in a chuckle, only succeeding by the skin of his teeth. The bird narrowed red eyes under the birds skull that sat perfectly on his head. It had shrunk, much to their amazement.

Raven lifted off of the ground, landing on Ichigo's shoulder.

"With me, then?" the orangette asked, getting a nod and a hesitant look to both of the older males.

"Fine with us, I suppose," Kisuke agreed, but Isshin was more hesitant. Flashing a look to his old friend, who immediately understood and nodded, Isshin simply sighed.

"Fine, but no funny business," the older Kurosaki warned. "I got two little girls at home who don't need to be pulled into this mess." The blackbird nodded again, looking at Ichigo.

'I won't be seen by the twins. I will make sure to cloak myself.'

After not freaking out and figuring it was telepathy, Ichigo relayed the message. Isshin nodded in approval, still giving the Fallen an distrusting glance.

0oo00oo0

When they made it home, it was already eleven at night, but Ichigo couldn't sleep. He couldn't sit still. He only tossed and turn until finally giving up and sitting on his bed.

'You could try going into your spirit form,' Raven offered, the blackbird nesting in a blanket Ichigo had pulled out. Currently, he was laying on Ichigo's desk.

"Wouldn't Soul Society find me? I've never been good at hiding my spiritual pressure," Ichigo questioned, brows furrowing.

'How do you think they haven't found us yet? You do indeed leak like a faucet, and that will have to be fixed. Here.' Raven picked something from his feathers, something silver in his beak when he offered it to Ichigo.

"Did that just..."

'It was in my cloak,' Raven deadpanned. 'Put it on.' Ichigo picked up the trinket, a chain coming with the charm. It was a silver Chinese dragon, a mane of amber and eye of topaz giving it color. It put it on, not feeling any different. 'This will cloak you from others and will not limit your power, but you cannot sense those around you.'

"That's fine, was never good at it," Ichigo admitted sheepishly.

'And that, too, will change. Why has your mentors never taught you this skill?'

"I just had too much power," Ichigo explained, rubbing his neck. "I couldn't contain it without blowing myself up. That, and I just wasn't good at it. There was too much to grab." The blackbird nodded in understanding. Ichigo moved to his desk, pulling out his combat pass.

He couldn't get rid of it, no matter how much pain it sent through his heart. A reminder of what he gained and lost. He ran a thumb over the worn wood, the skull staring at him with empty eyes.

'You are aware that that pass is tracing and listening to you, correct?'

"Yeah," Ichigo confirmed, "but I trusted them enough to keep it." He practically heard Raven roll his eyes. He never knew such a sassy bird. "Here goes nothing."

He pressed the pass to his chest, a surge of energy flowing through his veins, giving him the rush he craved. A black Shikakusho wrapped around his frame, brushing gently along his tan skin. The heavy feeling of Zangetsu resting on his back making his soul cry out. The heavy thump of his body hitting the floor woke him from his trance, making him look back.

Sighing and grumbling, he threw himself- he would forever be weirded out but had come to accept it- on his bed. Lifting his window, letting the breeze hit his face before he jumped out, the blackbird following gracefully.

Laughing softly, he made a platform under his feet before he speed off in a flash step, Raven keeping up easily. The wind rushed past him, chilling his bones. The power at his fingertips rushed to be released. Something shimmered into existence next to him, the white blur passing him to jog in front of him, a blue tongue stuck out teasingly.

"Catch me if you can, Kingy!"

Ichigo smirked, speeding up to catch his white doppelganger. Raven caught up to Shirosaki and landed on his shoulder, amused at the two's antics. Gold on black eyes glanced his way, a playful spark dulled by the pure gratitude in the Hollow's eyes. The raven nodded and the game of tag continued.

"Your it!" called a female voice, one Ichigo immediately recognized.

"No one gave you permission to play, Kitty-sensei!" Shiro yelled in both irritation and laughter.

"I invited myself," Yoruichi grinned, dashing away when Shiro tried to get her. Ichigo paused in horror when his twin looked at him, a twisted grin on his lips.

"Oh King~"

"Nope."

Ichigo took off, a white blur tackling him to the rooftop. A grunt and a sigh of defeat echoed from below Shiro, his smirk getting bigger along with his ego.

"You suck at this game, Ichigo," Yoruichi laughed, appearing next to them, a bird landing on her shoulder. She turned to look at it and smiled. "You must be Raven. Thanks for my playmate back."

'It was of no consequence.'

"He said no problem," Ichigo relayed, shoving Shiro off of him and standing to brush himself off. "God, that felt good. I haven't felt my muscles burn like this in a while."

"How come I cant sense you?" Yoruichi asked. "I happened to see you and Kisuke said you'd probably be running around."

"Ah, this." He pulled out the dragon charm and showed it to the purple-haired assassin. "Raven gave it to me so I didn't draw any attention to myself."

"How come I didn't sense you before?"

"Raven," Shiro answered. "He blocked the burst with his wings and kept out power in check since then." Yoruichi looked at the bird on her shoulder, raising an eyebrow. The four-wing bird hopped off of her shoulder, ash swirling to cover his shift into his more human form.

"Should I have not, he would have killed many people," Raven explained, throwing a glance at Ichigo before returning his gaze to Yoruichi. "From what we have observed, this is against the young master's personality along with it being a hassle to both realms. Having that many deaths on our hands will not sit well with anyone."

The assassin nodded, golden eyes gliding over Raven's new form.

"You know how to use that whip?" Yoruichi purred, eyeing the two weapons at the Fallen's side. Raven smirked, playing along.

"In many ways," he replied, watching here eyes widen before a playful spark ignite in her golden eyes.

"Oh, how many?"

"Fathomless. Whips are very versatile. Master is very fond of it, but he likes using his claws a bit more."

"Hell yeah! What could be bad 'bout rippin' your opponent 'n half with your own two hands?" Shirosaki grinned, his own nails sharpening into points. Ichigo sighed and rolled his eyes, plopping down on the rooftop.

"Getting all bloody," Ichigo deadpanned, a nod from Raven and a fist bump from Yoruichi. Shiro glared. "Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of your clothes?"

"You're wearin' black!" Shiro protested. "I'm wearin' white! White!" Ichigo snickered, Yoruichi cackling like a madman. Raven simply shook his head, smile on his face as Shiro pouted.

"My armor is white, do you know how much work goes into it?" Raven questioned, peering down at the glimmering metal. The group burst into laughter again, Ichigo being the first to recover. He looked out to the full moon, a smile stretching over his lips.

"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout, Ichi?" Shiro questioned, looking at his king. Their soul-deep connection told him nothing of what his master felt besides the strong feeling of pure happiness.

"How much I missed this," he responded, running a tanned hand through orange locks. "It feels so good to be in the game again."

"You know, Kisuke worked himself into his after-grave to try and get your powers back," Yoruichi informed, a layer of guilt settling on Ichigo's face. "I think he's mad that it was just handed to us. His science brain couldn't fix it."

Ichigo chuckled, Shiro cackling before disappearing. The orange twin turned to Raven, a question swimming in his heart.

"Do I have a time limit to how long I can stay here?" Raven closed his eyes in thought before answering.

"No, I would think not. Master is known for patience when it comes to the young. He knows this is difficult for you and will not push."

"What will he be doing the first time he goes with you?" Yoruichi asked, crouching down to sit with Ichigo.

"Mostly to control that monstrous power of his. That, and to meet the master and see the castle. Make sure the Hydra doesn't eat him."

"Hydra?" both Shinigami asked, brows raising.

"Of course," Raven sniffed, "only the best to guard the palace."

"But it's Tartarus..." Ichigo trailed of slowly before continuing, "who in their right mind would wanna go there willingly?"

"Lords Belphegor and Lucifer come over often, and though no one invites him, Lord Asmodeus is persistent on bedding Master," Raven sighed, a headache forming right behind his temples. "Anyone else is only asking for a slow and painful death. He is not called the Lord of Torture in jest."

"I would assume not," Yoruichi nodded, "if what rumors say is true."

"What rumor?" Ichigo questioned, Raven's eyes sparking in interest.

"That the King of Hell is the one who taught the second squad all the methods we use. Technically that's the correct term," Yoruichi shrugged, stretching until a satisfying pop sounded.

"It is, but also, not at all. Master has, indeed, given the Shinigami a few of his techniques, but it is only a grain on his beach of experience."

"From the outside, this conversation would not be about not be about torture but about something mundane, like cooking," Ichigo chuckled, shaking his head. Yoruichi nodded, agreeing.

"It's time for you to be heading home, there, Ichi. It's getting late and you still need your sleep," Yoruichi reminded, watching a long yawn get drawn out from the young adult.

"Yeah, got work in the morning," he groaned. "Night, Yoruichi."

"Night Ichigo, Raven." Then she vanished. Ichigo rolled his eyes, standing and looked at Raven.

"Ready to head home?" he asked, rolling his shoulders to loosen them a bit.

"Indeed," Raven replied, "it is late and you still need rest."

"Don't demons sleep? Fallen, my bad," Ichigo corrected himself. "I would think they were at least nocturnal."

"We do sleep, but we do not need to. More a luxury, really," Raven explained, heading toward the Kurosaki household. "Have you noticed the ink that is on your skin?"

"What? The mark on my neck? Yeah, I have."

"Not that." They crawled through his window, landing on his bed, being careful of Ichigo's body. "The other ones." Ichigo raised a brow, looking at his hands, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. "Take off your top. It's underneath."

Ichigo did as ordered, taking off his white shitagi a black kosode to reveal the tattooed chain wrapping around his torso. Ichigo just stared, both curious and alarmed. The chain was black, standing out against tanned skin. It circled around his arms, shackles cuffing his wrists. They were concealed by his long sleeves, which is why he never noticed.

"They aren't there in my human body," Ichigo informed, scowl deepening. "I had on a short-sleeve t-shirt when we found the mark. You seen." Raven nodded in agreement.

"I believe it has to do with the bond between you and Master. That bond wraps around your soul, but I've never seen it physically manifest besides Master's mark," Raven remarked, switching to his bird form, nestling in in little bed of blankets. 'Perhaps it is because of your heritage. I do not think there has ever been a Soul Reaper champion.'

"Maybe," Ichigo sighed, shrugging on his uniform and hopping back into his body. "A lot of things don't go right with me. Bankai takes ten years minimum to master and even longer to get. I got it in three days. I was a Soul Reaper for a month and beat up half of Seireitei. I nearly killed an immortal, for God's sake," Ichigo ranted, throwing his hands up as he lay on his bed.

'I do see the issue. You have, indeed, proven yourself over and over to be able to do the impossible. That is what had caught Master's eye. You should sleep not, young Master,' Raven advised, curling into his blanket-nest.

"Stop that."

'Stop what?'

"Calling me 'young Master'. I'm not your master, I don't own you. Never will."

A soft chuckle echoed through his head as he relaxed into his bed. With Raven watching over him and his powers only a pass away, his soul finally was at peace.

0oo00oo0

"Ready?"

Raven, Ichigo, Isshin, Urahara and his employees, and the Goddess of Flash all stood in Urahara's basement. Ichigo, in his soul form, stood with his back to Raven, wishing 'I'll see you soon's to his friends and father. His sisters had been told that he was going to a camp on one of their father's whims and Yuzu bought it, but Karin gave her father a doubting look.

"Yeah. If it's anything like you say, then I would like to get a bit of sight seeing in," Ichigo grinned, excitement and an odd feeling curling in his soul making him almost bounce on his heels. "We wont be gone too long, right?"

"We told the girls two weeks," Isshin reminded. "So if you need any time you have it, but remember, there are earthquakes here in Japan. One could happen at any time."

Ichigo rolled his eyes, turning to Raven and nodding his consent. He was wrapped in an odd power, dark but not evil, before ash seemed to swirl around him. When he was able to see, he was in front of a huge castle. It was pitch black, black sand under his feet and black stones making up the castle walls. He made a mental note to wear boots, the sand slipping easily into his waraji.

He stared in awe as the castle's golden doors opened by their selves, revealing a white marble floor, gold-bordered purple drapes, and bright, red marigolds and pink bouvardia coupled in the corners in small flowerbeds.

"The flowers represent Master's moods," Raven explained, leading the awed teen into the castle. "Marigolds are a favorite of his, meaning grief and despair. When they are red, it is merely decoration. It is orange that you must watch. The bouvardia means enthusiasm. He is very eager to meet you and has been for a while."

A huff blew loose, orange strands over Ichigo's shoulder, making him freeze as his instincts told him of great danger.

"Hydra, be nice," Raven scolded. "Ichigo here is Master's champion. Play nice." Ichigo turned, and sure enough, there stood a nine-headed, winged lizard. All nine heads had different colored eyes, all staring at him in curiosity.

"Hi there," Ichigo greeted nervously, the huge beast's black-eyed head sniffing him. It blew a bit of air at him, making him step backward. The Hydra seemed to accept him, all of them curling around him protectively. He pet one of them, slowly gaining confidence as he went. It purred low in its throat, the sound rumbling through the empty hall.

"He seems to like you," Raven observed, petting a yellow-eyed head that had looked him over for wounds. "Come, Master awaits us."

Ichigo stumbled after Raven's graceful steps, the Hydra thundering behind them. How it didn't knock anything over was completely lost on Ichigo. The Substitute Soul Reaper gaped at the throne room, the majestic colors of black, white, gold and purple continuing on, but only bouvardia flowers remained.

In the middle-back of the room was a throne, a figure sitting there draped in silk and silver. Ichigo's blood ran hot and his soul cried out at he looked at the figure, something connecting the two of them far deeper than anything he had ever felt.

The King of Tartarus was wearing a gold, Roman toga, both shoulders pinned with silver clips. If one looked closely, you could see silver vines slithering through long, crimson hair. One leg was crossed over the other at the knees, his head being held up by his knuckles, elbow supported by the armrest. He had pale skin, almost milky, the silver dragon charm with a mane of ruby standing out against it. Golden eyes shifted over his frame, taking him in as he was, capturing his soul in his gaze.

"Ichigo," the king spoke, Raven already by his side, "I thank you for agreeing to this. You could have declined, and it brings me endless joy to have you here. It has been a long while before I have interacted with the Reapers, and I would like to inquire as to their well being."

The man's voice was smooth, silky. It held no malice, but you could hear the steel behind them. Ichigo had no doubts that voice had tempted many to sin, and succeeded.

"Of course, your Highness. The pleasure is mine. I am told that you are the one to thank for Zangetsu. You have no idea how much it means to me," Ichigo thanked, emotions welling as he bowed slightly at the waist.

"None of that, young one," Abezethibou smiled gently, Ichigo lifting his head to look at the King of Torture. "You are an equal to everyone here. My dear champion, there is nothing here that you must bow to." He stood with the grace of thousands of years of experience, stepping off his dais to join his champion on the floor. "Come, I must show you your home away from home."

Ichigo stood strait, following Abezethibou through the halls. He looked about, noticing the shadows warp around them, as if summoned by the demon's mere presence.

"So," Abez started, drawing brown eyes to him, "has Raven been on his best behavior? I gave him a bit of freedom on how he did this and I am ever curious as to how he conducted himself."

"He loves dramatic entrances," Ichigo chuckled, "but he's got a really soft smile. He made quick friends of my little crew. He was a bit pressy about having to come here, but other than that," he shrugged.

Abez nodded, the chuckled a bit. Ichigo gave him a questioning look and Abez answered. "You have not said my name once." Ichigo flushed a bright red. "I assume it is because you cannot say my name?" Ichigo nodded, the floor suddenly interesting. "The High Prince has given me a nickname that only he is aloud to use. He calls me Abismo, meaning abyss in Spanish."

Ichigo tried it out on his tongue and found it much easier to say.

"How have you liked the castle? While its walls to tend to mislead, once you find your way around, it should be no chore." Ichigo, like the idiot he sometimes was, had not paid any attention to where they were heading, and not was lost in the halls with the King of Torture. Now, they were at a large pair of doors, which were a good two feet over his head, which were pushed open with a breath of spirit pressure from its king. "This is the training room."

It was like anything you expect. There was a huge plateau of sand, one that had a few shifts in it from previous bouts. There were high walls and an open ceiling, but even Ichigo could feel the barrier around the place.

"Just across the hall is the showering area," Abez explained, moving to leave the training grounds, "and just down the hall is a small dining area. Not the main dining area, mind you. Hopefully, we can get that raging fire of a soul you have under a bit of control."

"I've never been able to," Ichigo grouched. "There's just so much to grab that my hands get full and some just leaks. If I try and completely suppress it, my body feels like it's going to explode."

"Ah, but it is not the problem of there being too much," Abez coached, walking down another of the identical halls. "There is a problem of how much you can hold. Yamamoto has vast amounts of energy, but he doesn't leak. We just have to strengthen your arms to hold it all."

Ichigo nodded. It made sense, but how were they going to do that? The smirk on Abismo's face scared him. They finished their tour, ending in the gardens. There was flowers from all over the world in silvers and golds, gems sparkling in the inside. There was what looked like a forest beyond it, but if he squinted, he could see little black fruits hanging from the trees.

"These are the shadow fruits that Raven told you about," Abismo confirmed. "Do be careful when retrieving them." Only Ichigo's warrior reflexes and instincts saved him from getting swiped by a huge paw. "There is a protector. The spirits here also want these fruits to escape their punishment. So, the Manticore protects it."

The beast came into full light, a lion's body and head had a scorpion's tail curling over it, bat-like wings folded at its sides. The giant beast towered over the both of them by a good few inches, looking down at Ichigo with curiosity and something close to respect.

It sniffed him, taking him in, before rubbing its head against him, pushing out a chuckle. Ichigo pet its mane, smoothing it out as it purred. It walked off to lay down, cleaning its paws.

"He likes you," Abismo laughed, "but while were here, Ichigo." Ichigo turned to him, noticing he was getting serious. It made his skin crawl. "I want to know what the bond did to you. Raven has told you that it reacts to everyone differently, and I don't want you to be suffering anything nasty because of me."

Ichigo thought about it, but shrugged. "I don't feel anything wrong. I have Zangetsu back, and that weird mark on the back of my neck, but other than that. Oh, there is this," Ichigo remembered, lifting his sleeve to show the shackle and chains around his arms. "I got them on my legs, to. Raven said that I rub my wrists unconsciously and I've been trying to stop."

"Can I see the mark?"

"It's under my collar," Ichigo informed, turning for Abismo to pull down his collar. Ichigo shivered as cold fingers brushed his skin, an odd feeling curling in his stomach.

"It is, indeed, mine. I don't know if it is selfish to say, but I'm proud of myself that I got to you first." Abismo sighed, remembering that argument. "I could tell you would do best with me, so I had to take to from them."

"From what I hear," Ichigo scowled, turning to face him again, "some of them can be douches." Abismo blinked at the modern word before laughing.

"Yes," he breathed, trying to get air into his lungs, "I suppose you could say that." Abismo smiled at him, the expression soft and patient. He came a bit closer to him and cupped Ichigo's tanned face, searching brown eyes with gold. Ichigo's breath caught, the chilled, pale hands sending sparks down his skin, the bond between them crying out in his soul.

"Why don't you come say hi, Zangetsu? You seem curious," Abismo whispered, rubbing his thumbs over Ichigo's cheekbones. The cloaked zanpakto spirit stood behind its master, but the albino was at both of their feet.

"My Kings," Shirosaki purred, looking up from where he knelt. Abismo chuckled, letting Ichigo go to pet the albino's hair. The Hollow purred, a low sound that echoed in his throat.

"Hello, Zangetsu. I was wondering when you would come to see me. You seemed so excited, your master's blade was nearly vibrating," Abismo chuckled, confusing Ichigo.

"Abismo, that's not-"

"Zangetsu? My dear boy, can you not tell?" Abismo questioned, confusing Ichigo even more. A firm hand landed on his shoulder, the older spirit's presence settling him. "They are both your power, yes, but it seems you swing a false blade." Golden eyes turned sharply to yellow-protected silver.

"False blade? Zangetsu has always been like this," Ichigo protested.

"That's because," Shiro spoke up, standing, "it was never right to begin with. He locked me up, telling me it was for your protection. The greedy bastard only wanted you for himself! I've told you, King, that I am Zangetsu! That fact never changed!" Shiro raged, pointing to the darker spirit.

Ichigo turned to 'Zangetsu', confusion and betrayal shining in brown irises. "It is true," Zangetsu spoke, "but I have not lied to you besides my name. I wanted you to rely me, your Quincy. I wanted to keep you from turning into a Soul Reaper, but as we grew, all I wanted to do was protect you. To train you in both life and battle."

Ichigo turned to his guardian, determination shining in his eyes, a bit of something else shining in his eyes.

"I don't care."

All of them simply looked at him, stunned.

"You have both carried me, even though I was a complete ass to one of you. I realized that while you were gone. I don't care if you lied to me, you only did it to protect me. Your name is still Zangetsu, there's only one difference." He held out a hand for Shiro to grab.

"You have a partner now, not a prisoner."

Shiro took that hand, power igniting between the three of them as his old blade crumbled on Ichigo's back, two more taking it's place. The both still looked like cleavers, a smaller trench knife wrapped in white cloth at his waist and a Kyber knife resting on his back in black cloth. Both blades were pure black, the handles made into the blades.

A sense of completion came over them, a wave of pure pleasure and trust flowing between them.

"Did ya not hear the Quincy part?" Shiro questioned, waiting for his master to freeze up, but it never happened.

"Pops told me while you were sleeping," Ichigo grinned, already knowing what the Hollow part of his soul was trying to do. "So it doesn't come as a shock."

So while Shiro cursed Goat-chin into oblivion, Abismo smiled warmly at all of them. Truly, he had chosen the right one.

"Ah, Highness," Shiro spoke, standing next to him. Golden eyes met, one a bit darker than the other, and the lighter pair shut before his head nodded.

"Ichigo," Abismo called, hating to wipe that smile of his face, "I think it's time to deal with those voices."

Ichigo gave him a confused look, so both Zangetsu's loosened their grip on the insanity roaring in their king's head. Ichigo's eyes widened, pain spiking through his head, as a thousand voices assaulted his ears all at once. Cold hands covered his ears, blocking them out. Chocolate met shining gold.

"It is most important that you know how deal with these, Ichigo."

Even with the hands over his ears, his soothing voice rang clear, calming his nerves and silencing the voices. Amber eyes closed, a soft bliss coming over him as he leaned into his king, his horse's arms wrapping around his waist to steady him.

"We can't keep 'em back forever, King. We're gonna get tired, eventually," Shiro sighed, nuzzling Ichigo's mark.

"I know, Shiro," Ichigo confirmed, sighing.

"Let us go to the training hall, then, and get this sorted," Abismo commanded, the two spirits nodding and returning to Ichigo's inner wold once more.

0oo00oo0

Ichigo sat in the middle of the training hall, legs crossed, eyes closed. He wasn't in his inner world yet, simply relaxing. Abismo sat in front of him, watching him with an intensity that Raven had never seen.

His master had summoned him to watch over them, to seal them should things go wrong. He watched as the features of the teen softened, relaxing into the arms of the blade that laid across his thighs, the smaller one stabbed into the sand between his legs.

He watched his master nod, closing his eyes to follow his champion into meditation.

0oo00oo0

Abismo had to say he was impressed. The skyscrapers that laid sideways in the young adult's mind were impressive, but that is not what he had come for. Both Zangetsu were lined shoulder-to-shoulder to their king, glaring at the think wall in front of them.

"Through there," Shiro informed, eyes narrowing. "Can you hear 'em? There's thousands."

"This will not be a easy task," Zangetsu warned, shifting his gaze to Ichigo from behind his yellow, wrap-around sunglasses.

"We can do it." Ichigo's tone was final as he turned to Abismo.

"We will do this together, my young champion," Abismo assured, cupping Ichigo's face again, but a heat settled over his skin. He watched as the man's skin turned red, his right eye matching his Hollow's gold on black. A red, leathery wing flexed from his left shoulder, spreading out to show its full size. Horns that spiraled curved back, parallel to his skull.

Skin and muscle pealed of his left side, his cheek disappearing to give full view of the inside of his mouth, fangs, and the bottom part of his cheekbone. The left hand holding his face withered, flesh turning to ash until it was warm bones that soothed him. The same happened up his arm to his shoulder, the left half of his torso letting his ribcage into view, a void filling where his insides would be.

"Do I scare you, Ichigo?" he breathed, eyes shifting to a blood-crazed crimson for only a second. "Is this a form that will haunt your dreams and turn these buildings into rubble?"

"No," Ichigo replied, his voice firm. Abismo nodded, satisfied, and took a step back from the teen.

"Good. Let us deal with this, then." Ichigo nodded, his zanpakto already unsheathed, their human counterparts gone. He turned to the wall, feeling the pressure behind it, as if it was a dam hold back water. Taking a deep breath, he raised his Kyber knife, his eyes glowing silver.

"Getsuga Tensho."

His signature move clashed with the wall, letting the waves of begging souls loose.

"Do not fight them Ichigo, lest you burn their souls for eternity. Let them flow passed you, but not through you."

Ichigo nodded, sheathing his blades once more at the hoard came at them. He flinched at their screams, pleas for help he could not answer.

Help me!

Save me! It burns!

We are slaves! Free us!

Screams of pure agony ripped through him, but not a soul touched him. He didn't let them. Not with his power, but his pure will. He didn't look at the King of Torture, who he knew was watching him with a keen eye. A soul grabbed his ankle, another his wrist, but he never moved, the limbs of the deceased sliding off of his as if he was covered in a layer of oil. Never did his stance shift or his heart waver.

His soul stood as a rock in a sea, a pillar of might that would never bow to the likes of water.

Soon, it was over, the sea of souls slipping through the space between the buildings to scream out to the void below. They were still there, if you listened, but Ichigo paid them no mind. The king was still on his throne and no souls were going to knock him off.

Ichigo gave no warning to falling, but Abismo caught him anyway, pulling the Shinigami to him. Petting his hair with warm bones and wrapping his wing around his champion to dissipate the chill that had suddenly settled on his skin.

"Bravo, Protector. Well done. You kept you soul open to them yet your will firm. You passed my expectations. You have earned your rest, young one," Abezethibou praised. Ichigo nodded sleepily, letting his eyes droop in the comfort of his king's arms.

0oo00oo0

Raven picked Ichigo off the ground after settling Zangetsu's two blades on his own back and hip. His master opened his eyes, summoning his favored Japanese long-pipe, the bowl and mouthpiece a harsh gold, the shaft obsidian black with golden Hydra heads roaring around it, different gems in their eyes. It lit itself, his master taking a calm breath of smoke, the smoke forming a Chinese dragon to wrap around Ichigo before disappearing.

"You can put him in my room, Raven. He needs the rest," Abismo nodded, Raven bowing slightly and making his way to his lord's chambers. Abismo stayed in the sand for a bit longer, thinking as he wasted his lungs on the pipe.

A screech echoed in his ears, making him look up. He lift his pale hand to let the fire-bird rest on it, a letter gripped in its mouth. The bird looked a bit like a falcon, its head a bit slimmer, but its entire body was made of Hell's flames. He took the letter, the phoenix hopping up to his shoulder.

What the bird had was an invitation to show off his champion at the main palace. 'Whenever you deem him ready, send word '. A soft smile pulled at his lips at the signature at the bottom. He turned it to the back of the page, using his magic to put ink to parchment. He gave it to the phoenix and watched it fly off. This was going to be interesting.

0oo00oo0

Ichigo woke up in black silks, the soft bed calling his name as sore muscles resisted movement. He groaned, knowing he had to wake up. The bed, which his hazed mind supplied he was on, dipped, long fingers running through his hair. The smell of tobacco filled the room, relaxing him back into the mattress. A low voice sang softly in a different language, a smooth lullaby leaving pale lips. It only stopped to take a breath of the pipe that was held in their hand.

Dors, petit prince. [Sleep, little prince.]

Dors, petit. [Sleep, little one.]

Rêvez et rappelez-vous tous les bons moments. [Dream, and remember all the good times.]

It was in French, he realized, though he didn't understand it. The words were smooth and elegant, giving it away. He snuggled into the warmth, unknowing burring his face into the King of Torture's thigh. He didn't stop his petting, nor did his lullaby sease besides the small pauses to take another hit on his pipe that never went out.

The voice above him chuckled, running his fingers through orange spikes. "Ichigo, it is time to wake up. Come on, it's time for you to wake. Breakfast is ready and we must not keep Raven waiting."

The orangette groaned, but blearily looked up at him.

"I dun wanna," he whined, not willing to get up from the soft bed. Abismo chuckled once more, a nasty though entering his head. Hooding his golden eyes, he let the flesh of his hand melt away after he set his pipe down on the bedside table.

The warm bones brushed Ichigo's cheek, leading a trail down his throat. His Adam's apple bobbed, the young warrior's hands twitching. Abismo suppressed his laughter as he trailed his warmed bones against the back of the other male's neck, watching as he started to wiggle. His brows furrowed, eyes fluttering open again to glare at the older man.

"Wake up, vindicem [my champion," Abismo snickered. After Ichigo got himself situated and ready, picking up his two blade that were resting on their own stand, the headed to the dining hall, bickering playfully back and forth.

"You know, Ichigo," Abismo spoke up, taking another huff of his pipe, "you are the only one who is brave enough to glare at me like that. Even the other sins are wary of my ire."

"You woke me up," Ichigo countered. "I wouldn't care if you were Kami-sama, I would still glare at you." Abezethibou laughed, his ribs feeling into the pressure of his lungs expanding.

"And this is why I like you, Ichigo Kurosaki," Abez smiled, calming down. "You give everyone a big fuck you when it's needed." Ichigo gave his king a smug smile as they entered the dining hall, Raven already seated. Abismo took his place at the end of the table Ichigo taking the chair to his left.

Ichigo watched in awe as figures made of ash shifted through the doors, carrying trays of food and bottles of drinks ranging from what looked like wine to milk. Ichigo immediately took to the orange juice, happy one of his favorite drinks were among them.

From Western breakfast of eggs and bacon to some his own cuisine of white rice and miso soup, it was all laid out. Shiro took the seat next to Ichigo, practically drooling. He startled the ashen people, spooking them into stepping away.

"Rest your spirits. No harm will be done by him," Abismo assured. The wisps seemed to understand, continuing their service and them briskly leaving. "Do dig in. Eat as much as you wish. There is always more."

Shiro took that to heart, Ichigo a bit more calm and mannered. Raven couldn't help but be amused by how different the twins were.

"So, what are we planing today?" Ichigo asked, scooping some rice into his mouth.

"A dear friend of mine has invited us to the High Palace for you to meet the other sins. I've been told to send word when you're ready," Abismo explained, playing a bit with some scrambled eggs.

"Like, the Big Guy down here?" Shiro questioned, at least having the decency to swallow before he spoke.

"Lucifer, yes," Abismo confirmed, "but I would like to get that raging inferno of yours under control before we go. Any demon will take that as either a threat or a challenge. Neither we want."

Ichigo went red, rubbing the base of his neck. "I've never been good at it, so it'll take a lot of time."

"Not if he teaches you right. For how much you suck, you can learn to at least swallow correctly."

Shiro burst into cackles as Ichigo looked at him wide-eyed. Raven had a grin that the King reflected. Brown eyes narrowed, tanned skin turning red, black and red power wrapping around him. His glare turned murderous, and Shiro took the hint to start running, not that he forgot to cackle along the way.

0oo00oo0

Ichigo's brow furrowed in concentration, the dragon pendant Raven had given to him in the blackbird's hands once more. He newly found energy was whirling around him as he tried to contain it. His top had been removed, saying that as he drew on his power, the chains itched.

He sighed, opening his eyes groaning in frustration. A headache built up behind his eyes, sweat gathering at his temples.

"UGH," Ichigo complained. "I still cant get it all!" Raven sighed but his master was patient. Abismo walked up to his champion, his own outfit switched to his more casual pair of burnt-orange, silk hakuma, his chest as bare as his feet.

"Ichigo," he smiled softly, getting the younger's attention, "it will take time. Here, sit." Ichigo plopped into the sand with a huff and watched Abismo disappear from his his vision. Shuffles behind him told him his king had sat behind him. He was pulled into a lap, making him squeak.

"Concentrate," he whispered, putting a hand over Ichigo's eyes. "Feel the things around you. Feel how your power swirls around you, how protectively it encases you. Do you feel Shiro? Zangetsu? They are hear with you, giving you strength."

Abismo smiled as he felt the teen relax, peace loosening his muscles, seeing the world without his eyes. Ichigo let out a calm breath, centering himself.

"Take that strength and hold it close. Remember what you do with that power. You protect, and in turn, it protects you. Gather it all in your arms, let it soak into your pores and strengthen you." As he spoke, Ichigo's raging energy calmed, absorbing into him and being sealed away. He could feel Ichigo's brows furrow as the last little bit refused to fit into his hold.

"Do not get frustrated with it. It only wishes to be always by your side. Coax it to you," Abismo coached, the thumb of his other hand coming up to rub at his temple. "It is only scared that should it leave you, you will be harmed. Remind it of your strength."

Shiro came to rest on his knees in front of him, a look of both pride and worry that he couldn't help crossing over his face.

"I know, King. I know you're strong... and that we could never truly leave ya..."

"We are worried," Zangetsu spoke, standing behind his other half.

Something flashed over their faces, a sense of pride and trust flowing through their souls. Both spirits nodded, disappearing. Ichigo opened his eyes, his energy restrained and a broad smile on his face.

"I DID IT!" he cheered, standing from Abez's lap to throw up his fists in victory. "I GOT IT ALL!" Raven chuckled into his hand, watching as Ichigo melted back into the sand, huffing out a sigh of relief. He rolled his eyes, looking at the imaginary watch on his wrist.

"It only took you," his brows furrowed, as if calculating the time on the invisible watch, "three years. Congratulations, Master Ichigo." Ichigo flipped him off, still panting on the ground.

Abez laughed, his skin turning leathery and red, horns curling back toward the base of his skull. His red hair, which Ichigo had agreed was even brighter than Renji's, was flowing down his back except for a few rebellious strands that fell between his horns.

"Indeed, you did, Ichigo," Abismo chuckled, his ribs aching. "So, now here is a question, young champion."

"Hm?" Ichigo hummed, turning his head to his king.

"There is still the invitation to the High Palace, Ichigo," Abez reminded. "If you would like to train a bit more, then that is alright, but we can go now, if you wish."

"I really wanna go," Ichigo smiled excitedly before the expression dropped a bit, "but something tells me that I should probably get used to my swords before we go." Raven nodded, coming up to them.

"That is wise, Master Ichigo," he praised, getting a scolding look from the orangette. "The sins there may become a bit violent. I am holding you to Master's protection while I am not there."

"Does it really get that bad?"

"I can handle myself," Abez waved away, "but Raven likes me to have backup. Most of the sins are reasonable around me and Lucifer, but Satan and Leviathan seems to have a special hate for me."

"It doesn't surprise me that Wrath and Envy would have a bone to pick," Ichigo shrugged, eyes raising to ceiling in thought. Abez raised a brow. "I looked it up. I am right, right?"

"Yes, but I would not call them that in front of them. Our titles hold a power," Abez warned, raising from the sand. He took another breath from his pipe, the one that never seemed to go out.

"What kind of power?" Ichigo asked, sitting up. "People call me Substitute all the time."

"Champion of the Pit," Abezethibou addressed, watching as Ichigo stiffened, shivers racing across his skin and his muscles locking him in place, "do not brush them aside here. In Hell, your title is a gift and a responsibility. It holds weight, but you only feel it so strongly because I am your 'master', for lack of a better word. It will feel different with the other sins, not as intense."

Ichigo shifted through what he was feeling. An urge to go to his king's side and kneel was almost too strong, coils of a snake wrapping him in a suffocating embrace. His breath was stolen from him, eyes locked on Abismo's form.

"Come, I think this is enough for today." Ichigo stood quickly and followed after him, retrieving Zangetsu's blades from the sand.

"Is your title King of the Pit? Or of Tartarus?" Ichigo asked innocently, curiosity burning in his amber orbs.

"No, and I will not tell you. That is a loaded question of both trust and loyalty. Only one knows my title, and he is not you," Abez dismissed. "I would bargain against asking anyone their name. It takes hundreds of years of trust and companionship to ask for such a sacred thing."

Ichigo nodded, mulling it over in his mind. Titles. It was like the true names of the Egyptian gods. They held an odd power.

"Abismo..." Ichigo spoke softly, knowing he had crossed a line. He got a hum from the red-skinned devil. "Have you ever... I don't know how to explain it."

"Take your time."

Ichigo furrowed his brows, not knowing how to continue. He scowl deepened, a hand going to rub at the base of his neck. "I feel more at home here than I do anywhere. Shiro is always purring while we are in Hueco Mundo while Ossan are more comfortable in the World of the Living... Is it wrong to feel so safe here?"

Abismo looked at the young boy who was asking for his wisdom. He was lost, guilty, and it was something Abismo couldn't stand.

"My champion," his title made his ears perk, "my chains are wrapped around your very soul. If you didn't feel at home here, I would be worried. Each part of your soul has a place that they are most comfortable, but you have only one home." Ichigo's eyes flashed, understanding settling on his face. "Can you tell me where your home is?"

"Kurosaki Clinic."

Abismo smiled, nodding. He had half expected the boy to say the World of the Living. "You know," Abismo hummed, a sly smile crossing his lips, "you could show off a bit more skin, Ichigo. Maybe cut those sleeves off."

Ichigo rolled his eyes, knowing that his king only wanted others to see the chains that sealed their deal. Suddenly, a chill went down his spine, his instinct making him reach for his Kyber knife.

"Ichigo?" Abismo called, noticing his companion's sudden tenseness. The castle's flowers shifted to wolfsbane, alerting its ruler to an intruder.

A whistle broke through the stillness, claiming the offender was impressed. "Quite the catch you have there, Abezethibou. He's a cutie." A blond man with bright blue eyes came out of the shadows, smirking flirtatiously. "You know, you should come with me for a night and see if you change your mind about the King of the Pit."

Ichigo wrinkled his nose at the offer, causing a bout of laughter from Abismo and a haughty turn of a nose from the new man.

"Ichigo," Abismo breathed, clinging to Ichigo's shoulder for support, "you just wrinkled your nose at the Sin of Lust." He went into another fit, unable to catch his breath as his chest caved in.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow, looking the man up and down again. "And you are?"

"I am Asmodeus, Sin of Lust," he introduced, leering at the younger male. "I hear you are the new champion and I got curious."

"If all the sins are like this then what is the point of having a party at the High Palace? They'll all just come here," Ichigo griped.

"Because a few of the sins are not welcome here," Abismo explained, "and will be slowly fed to the Hydra piece by piece should they even step within twenty miles of my kingdom." Ichigo could tell he meant every word.

"Your master is very wicked with a blade," Asmodeus informed, hooded blues trained on the half exposed form of Abez. "He isn't called the King of Torture in jest."

"Raven said the same thing," Ichigo recalled. He was confused as a growl ripped through the younger sin's throat, a smirk playing across Abismo's. "What?"

"Me and Raven had a thing back in the day and Asmodeus is still a bit tender about it."

"Dude," Ichigo turned to Lust with a blank expression, "go take a hot shower to dissolve all that salt." Abismo blinked, not understanding the modern slag, but apparently it was an insult because Lust jerked in indignation.

"ME? The Sin of Lust... SALTY?" Asmodeus gasped, an offended hand clapping to his chest. "You need to watch that mouth of yours, boy."

"You can try and make me," Ichigo glowered, crossing his arms. Abez immediately stepped in between them, a glare leveling both of them.

"Asmodeus... get out of my house."

The sin shrunk back, back arched like a hissing cat before he disappeared into the shadows again.

"Ichigo..." The orangette flinched. "Stop being mean. Asmodeus is quick to jealousy and wrath. You don't want to catch his ire," Abismo sighed, looking to his young champion with a form of parental patience.

"Not my fault," Ichigo huffed, but before he could continue to defend himself, he was scolded.

"It doesn't matter who starts the fight, but who ends it," Abismo spoke wisely. "When you pick fights with the sins, you better have the control and power to back it up. While Asmodeus is not the most powerful of the sins, he is still a force to be reckoned with."

"Is he part of the originals?" Ichigo questioned.

"No. There are only three originals. Lucifer, myself, and the Sin of Sloth, Belphegor. We are the only ones who have not been resurrected."

"Resurrected?" Ichigo blinked.

"Ah, you wouldn't know that. As long as their specific sin is being committed by mortals, the Seven Sins will reincarnate. While they do come back and have the same memories, they may or may not have the same amount of power. That is why dying is risky, along with the amount of time it takes," Abismo explained, moving down the hall once more. "We have not died since our original falling, making us originals."

"But... your not a sin," Ichigo puzzled, "how would you come back?" Abismo stopped and glanced at Ichigo, having reached his room, his lips thinned in thought.

"Ichigo..." Abismo spoke softly, "I'm going to show you something... something that could be used to kill me should anyone get a hold of it." Ichigo's eyes widened. "This is a sign of trust that I hope you don't break." His champion nodded, only concern and curiosity shining in his eyes. Abismo opened the door to his room, walking in and expecting Ichigo to follow.

Follow in he did, taking in the room once more. This was the room he had woken up in, apparently Abez's bedroom. He followed Abez to the wall opposite his bed, one that was bare of anything besides the ashen gray wallpaper.

"Here is a relic that most have died trying to get to. Hopefully one that will stay in one piece till the end of time." Abezethibou tapped a knuckle to the wall and it looked almost like a paper caught fire. It started where Abez had knocked and melted the wall in a neat circle. Behind it... was a crown.

It was made of bones, black gems in the crevices. It was oddly beautiful, but as Ichigo slowly crept closer, a chill went up his spine.

'That's the source of his power...' he heard Shiro whisper. He could feel the albino reach for it in his inner world, an overwhelming feeling of protectiveness flooding his blood. He brushed it with his fingertips, a spark of Abezethibou's dark aura brushing against his own.

Ichigo turned to his king who was still, watching him with soft eyes.

"Yes, Ichigo. You feel it, don't you? The connection between that pile of bones and I. That crown is my... one of my treasures. I rarely ever wear it, but I want to tell you tale of how it was made." Ichigo looked back to the neatly arranged bones, gems glittering. "It was made of my bones." His champion whipped around, gasping as bones shone in the void where his flesh had once been.

Abismo pushed him against the wall, caging him with his arms. "They were ripped from me, much like Adam, and made into the symbol of both my power and weakness." Ichigo could smell the anger in his soul and the breath that tickled his nose. "The God I served betrayed me because I loved another of my gender. He threw me out of my home because my heart ticked for someone else and now that man rots here with me, guilt gripping his heart every time he looks at me, praying I cant see it. This is what trust and love has gotten me Ichigo..."

He seemed to calm, his flesh returning and letting Ichigo go. He turned, his back to him in vulnerability. "This is what it has given me... so I ask; what has it given you?"

"My..." Ichigo chocked up, making his master look over his shoulder. "Its got my mother killed. It dragged me into a war I had no reason to be in... its gotten the ones I love hurt." He paused, looking at the defeat in the elders golden irises. "But it has given me so much more."

"Like?"

"My family and friends. I wouldn't trade them for all the power and riches you could give me. I got to kick a wanna-be god's ass and a couple more on the way. Its given me the power to protect, and if I didn't trust, how could I have someone at my back... like you are right now?"

Abismo faced forward once more, the wall next to Ichigo concealing the hidden gem. A chuckle broke passed his lips, making his shoulders shake. "If I told you..." he began, "that it was only turned so I didn't have to look at those fierce, determined... completely honest eyes of yours... what would you say?"

He was waiting to be called a coward, Ichigo realized, but the fire in his soul only burned brighter. "I'd tell you that I've been told that before." Abismo turned back completely, looking the teen dead in his amber eyes. "You've lost your fire is all. You just need someone else to light it." Ichigo smiled softly at him. Abismo released another chuckle, this one a bit more real.

"You do realize you just helped a 3236 year old man solve a problem he's burred in his heart of centuries in less than a minute?" Ichigo chuckled, a broad smirk flaring to life on his face.

"You're just a brooding old man," Ichigo teased, poke him in the shoulder, not that he budged. An offended hand came up to his chest playfully, eyes wide.

"Me? Old? You should know Lucifer's age. He's older than me."

"By how much?"

"296." Ichigo whistled as he quickly did the math.

"3532? You're all old."

"To you, maybe," Abezethibou jested, rolling his eyes. "The youngest of us is 2755. She fell after I was sealed."

"Leviathan?" Ichigo questioned, leaning on the wall he had previously been slammed into.

"Yup. Asmodeus was just a baby of 102 when I was struck into the ocean."

"Baby?" Ichigo joked, raising a brow.

"Go rest up," Abismo scolded, "you're going to need it going up against Raven and his blade." Ichigo rolled his eyes, but left anyway, making his way to his room that Raven had showed him earlier that day. He looked at the large bed, black and gold inviting him to come and rest. He took it, sighing. He thought of all he learned today, slowly letting his eyes drift close.

0oo00oo0

He heard a crack, a scream echoing in the room. Gasps and pants bounced off the walls in an vain attempt to fill lungs with air, whimpers of pain and anguish ringing in his ears. Blurry tile was coated red, blood dripping from his mouth.

He couldn't breathe.

So much pain.

He could hear someone, calling out a name that wasn't his. Red, long hair that didn't belong to him formed curtains on each side of face, blocking out even more of the world. He looked up, finding a blurry face, pale skin and shoulder-length, black hair.

His flesh was boiling and rotting, melting away. His bones snapped, clawing through what skin he had. They fell to the floor, shifting and bending, rattling their discontent from being forced out of their fleshy confines.

They glued themselves together, stitching into a twisted crown for a fallen king. The ground opened up below him, swallowing him and putting him into a dark sea of saltwater. A moon hung overhead, lighting the water just enough to see. The blood in his lungs joined with the water, his vision finally going blissfully dark.

"Sleep forever... Rey Ahogado."

0oo00oo0

Ichigo bolted upright, breathing heavy. He noticed the lack of water around him, the absence of the scent of his own blood. He swallowed, eyes wide as he thought of the meaning of his dream.

It was obviously a memory, a vision... but not his own. That bright red hair gave it away. Abismo. He had told him that he had been locked up in a body of water, but that was awful. He wasn't kidding when he said that crown was made of his own bones. Who was that blurry face he had seen? He seemed to know the King of the Pit, calling him by his nickname.

He thought about it for a while before he was spooked by a ash servant. He seemed a bit startled himself to see him awake, but laid clothes on the end of his bed and pointed to a door, the sound of water coming from behind it. Had they come in without him noticing?

"Thank you," he said, the servant bowing and leaving him to his own. Picking up his clothes and moving to the connected bathroom, Ichigo sighed, what was that? He shivered as he looked at the water.

He quickly washed up, looking at his outfit up and down with a raised brow in front of the full-body mirror. Black jeans and no-sleeve t-shirt, probably from the Living World. It showed off the chains on his arms, the cuffs around his wrist visible. His long, orange hair was in a tie, keeping it out of his face, black boots (thank Kami) on his feet. He had on a black haori, a pentagram encased in a sun in gold on the back.

Abezithbou's symbol.

Ichigo smiled a bit, heart filling with a sense of duty.

"You're giddy this mornin'," Shiro teased, coming up behind him as he walked into the hall.

"Finally have boots," Ichigo complained, smirk cracking on his face. "Took me forever to get the sand out of my sandals."

"True," Shiro agreed, grin splitting his face as the ashen servants flinched away from him. "Wanna spar after breakfast?"

"Yeah," Ichigo agreed, "it's been a while." He looked to his pale double, noticing that his clothes had changed to match his, though they were bleached white. He raised a brow.

"That damn Shikakusho is annoying sometimes," he complained in explanation. "I actually like normal clothes. It's Prince Pole-up-his-ass that likes traditional clothes."

"You just called yourself that," Ichigo teased, entering the dining hall.

"We might be Zangetsu

Drowned King -rey ahogado