Author's note: Holy crap, I'm so sorry for not updating! I've had a lot on my plate lately because my grandma's cancer came back with a vengeance, my parents had a bad fight, high school sucks, and I've been lacking in writing time. But fear not! I shall not abandon my story or let down my readers. On a different note, thank you to all who read and reviewed! I agree that the last chapters were short, but i didn't really know how to fit them together or make them longer. also, about Ichigo's innocence, I'm going to completely trow you guys for a loop and do something utterly different. suffer! lol, jk, enjoy the latest installment of A Strawberry's Innocence!

Pain.
It poured through my veins like liquid fire, threatening to consume me. My throat bled from screaming but the pain didn't end.

This, my friends was innocence training.

(flashback)

As they brought me into the training room, a new scientist burst through the doors wearing the creepiest headdress with odd face paint and a white robe overtop of the exorcist's uniform. He violently shooed away the other workers as the grand doors slowly closed. I began to feel Slightly nervous and rather suspicious while looking at the doctor's strange uniform. It was like my danger alarm was blaring at a 10 and decided to destroy the "off" switch the moment I stepped in the room.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the scientist began, "my name is Kurotsuchi Mayuri, and i'll be overseeing your innocence training."

The scientist gave a slightly crazed smile that sent a shiver down my spine and gestured to the center of the room. Out of the floor, a small marble column rose, drawing my eyes to the strange beauty of the object resting on top, cushioned in a scarlet silk pillow. It was the most beautiful shining crystal I could have ever imagined, throwing beams of soft, pure light into the darkened room.

The light beckoned, pulling you in with a feeling of security and protection.

I was so lost in thought that I was startled when Kurotsuchi cleared his throat and began an explanation. "this innocence belonged to a great exorcist long ago, his name has been forgotten in this realm, but stories of his legendary power never say he was a mix of many different worlds, wielding the most powerful sword known to man, but it was the raw power of the warrior that brought him to fame. He spent his entire life fighting to find which realm he truly belonged in."

This realm? Are there other realms?
"what does this have to do with me?" I asked, "what could I have to do with legendary power?"

I asked, because frankly, the scientist scared the crap out of me, and what's worse is that he seems familiar to me. I can tell he knows more than he's letting off.

Kurotsuchi answered in a deep exited tone, "my dear boy, this innocence once belonged to you."

I was shocked. only today had i found myself in this place with Alma and Kanda, and now this clown-faced weirdo is tellling me that i'm a long dead wanderor with a sword. "how could I have had this innocence if I was just born?" it all made no sense.

"created, not born." the scientist quickly interjected and began to explain, "you see, the millennium Earl is making akuma faster than we train exorcists to fight them. We may have found a way to combat them, we take old exorcists' minds and try to re-animate them to use their innocence. Isn't it glorious? We'll bring in a new era of war using you, and if you can't synchronize we'll use your little... friends Kanda and Alma."

This statement enraged me, how dare he bring them into his crazed schemes! He's done enough.

Wait... enough?

I've just met this man and yet it feels as though... As though we've met before.
Whatever... I couldn't let this man hurt my new friends, they're all that I have.

Seeing the expression on my tiny face turn to rage, he countered, "However, I have something extra special planned for you." he chuckled darkly, pulling out a small remote and pressing a black button.

Another platform rose on the other side of the room, only this time the object was covered with a thick glass case.

This other case contained a set of 10 charred bone masks varying in decoration and size. there was a broken helmet, a piece of a jawbone, and even a head piece that looked like a broken ram's skull. They were only partial masks but there was one more in front, a clean, full, white mask with red brushstrokes around the eye.

As soon as these masks were visible, something deep within me snapped; my heart started beating painfully against my chest, my breathing became labored almost, as though there was a heavy presence in the atmosphere and a hole was trying to tear itself open in my chest. memories of two different landscapes flashed before my eyes; one was a white-walled city, and the other was a moonlit desert. neither of the memories contained any people, but the landscaped alone brought even more pain to my troubled mind.

Seeing my pain, the scientist gave a face-splitting grin and explained, "we've been researching the earl's dark matter as well as our innocence. These masks are the rarest form we've ever encountered of any type of dark matter, they are also the most powerful. We've seen this power consume hundreds of souls, leveling cities for the sole purpose of hunger. The council believes you have the potential to use powers such as these because of your possible Noah side."

At this point, the scientist's face became even more crazed and the atmosphere became overwhelmingly heavy as he continued, "they are fools! you have a power so much greater, and so muck darker. The Earl himself would quake in his boots if he were to glimpse the power of the creature you could become!"

"you're lying!" I screamed, "I'll never be a monster!"

"Wrong again," he Interjected,

...

"You already are a monster"

How was it? read and review please! if you do not review, i'll send an evil plot bunny to consume your mind and nag you about it until you review. Until next chapter,

Walkerkyuubiluva