My Beloved Reviewers:

NightStory: Thank you ^.^ I also feel bad for making Ichigo suffer pitifully...but I sorta really enjoy it . Especially when it's with Byakuya as a witness XD We're all weird when it comes to our inner fangirl/boy XD

countrylovinfangirl: Thanks! I'm working as fast as I can! It's hard trying to balance writing and work. I've spaced off way to many times into the land of fiction when I'm supposed to be working XD

Guests of Mine: Many thanks to your encouraging reviews! They are my motivation ^.^

A/N: Yeah, poor Ichi… Anyway I worked hard to pull this chapter from the infinite cosmos that is my mind. (I currently have four separate worlds going on in there, one being reality, two fanfics, and a fantasy/romance story). I still need to find a name and back story for Mr. Villain, I'll edit my previous chapters when I do finally get his character together. Till then its up to your imagination! (I'll have him identified by the next chapter lol).

Oh, and this story takes place after Aizen stuff, I think. Not quite to when Ichigo loses his powers.

Warnings: Still gore, and ByaIchi fluff. Not much else right now.

Italics- Hallucinations

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

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Chapter Three: Tortured

He tried to keep his brave face on as they grabbed him and dragged him from the cell. He even tried giving Byakuya a reassuring smile, though he wasn't sure how convincing it was. When the door closed off his view of the older shinigami, he couldn't help the slight tremors that his increasing fear produced.

H had been fine when he was with the shinigami captain, maybe it was his ever-calm demeanor, or that Ichigo knew he was practically indestructible, that kept him from completely freaking out at their situation. Now that he was alone with his captors, with no means of defense, he was terrified. He would not, of course, show his captors how truly weak he felt. He would be fine, so long as he kept his tough act up or until they could find a way to escape.

His thoughts ended abruptly when they stopped in front of an open door. Inside was the same sterile white room as yesterday. Though yesterday it had been soaked in his blood. Today it was just as spotless as before they had begun yesterdays "session." He still couldn't erase the images of the gleaming torture devices that had lined the trays next to the metal table, nor the memory of the intense pain that still echoed through is body. Today, only a single syringe lay on the tray by the table. He shuddered at the thought of what could be inside it.

His sight of the offending room was suddenly blocked as, who he recognized as the leader, stepped into his line of vision. "Today we have a fun little toy to try, Kurosaki Ichigo. I'm sure we'll enjoy it immensely. Strap him down."

Ichigo flinched as his almost bare back hit the cold surface of the metal table. Restraints were locked into place around his wrists and ankles, successfully hindering any form of movement.

"I can't wait to see what this poison does to a hybrid. Its a powerful hollow venom that causes mild hallucinations to normal shinigami. It hasn't yet been tested on human or hollow, of which you are both. This should be very interesting," his captor whispered as he lifted the syringe.

Ichigo's wide eyes locked onto the needle in the man's hand as it neared his skin. He squirmed as the needle pricked his arm. The man paused and leaned close once more. "Of course we'll help with the visions. Wouldn't want them to be too good now do we?" He said lowly as he plunged the needle the rest of the way into Ichigo's arm.

He could feel the liquid entering his system. It burned through his veins like liquid fire, igniting painfully as it spread through his body. His vision blurred and the lights began to dim, he heard the man start whispering something by his ear. He tugged at his restraints as his mind slowed.

"Your friends despise you, substitute shinigami. They know about your hollow, they don't trust you to keep sane while keeping him under control. Two of them have already watched rampage before, they frightened, scared of you. You won't be able to protect them from your hollow. What if he gets loose again?"

"No!" Ichigo protested weakly. "S-Shiro made a promise. We made a deal, he won't hurt my friends. Last time was an accident."

"The world of a hollow means nothing to the shinigami. That's why you haven't told all of them."

He was back on the roof of Los Noches, the ground was soaked in red. He looked around, horrified at the amount of blood. He glanced down at his hands, only they weren't his. Sharp claws had replaced his human hands, and they were dripping red. His arms were covered to his elbows in the warm red liquid. He didn't want to turn around. Didn't want to see what he had done.

He moved slowly, painfully so, as he turned. His eyes widened in shocked horror. Two figures lay in a growing pool of red. Orange and black hair giving away the identity of the two figures. Gaping holes in their stomachs answered any questions as to what happened. He tried to remember what happened, but only remembered blinding, burning rage.

It had been him. He had let rage take over and had killed the people he was meant to protect. It hadn't been his hollow, it had been him. He was the one who lost control. He remembered the rage, so his hollow hadn't taken over. He clutched at his waist length hair and screamed.

A malicious grin spread across the captor's face as the teen before him trashed on the table, lost in a realistic nightmare. He jumped slightly when the teen let out a very hollow-like roar. He grinned wider. "Who would've thought his hollow would make an appearance! This is indeed entertaining. We should throw him back into the cell with the other shinigami, who knows what will happen between the hollow and shinigami captain? Will they fight? Either way the shinigami can watch his savior suffer. The poison shouldn't wear out for a few hours."

The two guards nodded before removing the restraints and dragging the still shuddering teen back to the cell.

…

EirSensei: Hope you enjoyed ^.^ I'll have a surprise guest in the next chapter...well not so surprising as I'm sure you've already guessed.

Voice from behind: Tch, King looks pitiful right now. If he keeps it up I'm gonna kick his a-

EirSensei: Hush! You aren't supposed to come out till next chapter!

Voice: Yeah, yeah…

...

That was a sadly short chapter...Sorry.

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