I sort of remember how I started this chapter, but I changed it. Allow me to explain this time line of unfortunate events:
-My desktop motherboard died. Didn't care, had a laptop. Switched all operations to the laptop. (this was before the creation of this fanfic)
-Laptop dies, inability to gather the information on it. 2.5 years of my life wiped away. Played the man role and didn't cry, but wanted to. (Mid-March)
-Decided to make old desktop work again with the help of a donated computer (from godmother, though not fairy...) (Late March)
-Created a new desktop out of the donated one with a new hard drive and video card. A RAM card dies, leaving me with 128MB. Desktop fails miserably. (Early April)
-Switched new desktop with the "backup" computer, using the recreated one as collateral. Stuffed a 256 in and a new video card. Attempts to continue life begin. (Mid April)
-Get a new review that snaps me back into my writing phase, and leaves me here once again (Late April).
-Random power failures...(Early May)
Bleach Fanfiction: Internal Destruction
by Clifton Myles (Teccan)
Chapter 3
Tears of the Heart! The One Never Meant to Belong?
"—stupid bitch, Ichigo isn't home right now!"
The horrible words laced with hatred and disgust, infected the subconsciousness. As the words repeated over and over, it became clear that things had changed. But then it was heard again...the horrible words...the word he had referred to her as...it was too much for the subconscious of even a Shinigami to take. But the subconscious refused to let it fade. Repeating again and again, the fear finally overtook the consciousness and brought it to light once again.
The sheets rustled and the blanket shifted as the figure awoke in a short frantic burst. "Why...?"
The feminine figure lifted herself up and sat up in her futon. Though she lived alone her thoughts were always on her friends, especially the concerns of the one particular one. But this time around her mind raced of what had just passed on that day...that day that she really had wished didn't really occur. The one living person she cared about the most had become someone—no, something else. The reiatsu pattern, the visage, even the worried voice that always had cautioned her away. But those words weren't aimed at her...they were aimed at her, the one who seemed to be the most involved in his life.
For a moment, a pang of jealousy shot through her, once again stirring the peaceful and pure soul she possessed. Why weren't those words meant for her? Was she so important to him--Ichigo, that even the person he had become engulfed in her never ending influence? Why her? Why not me...Ichigo...? As she remembered the events as they passed, she became less involved with what had happened to Ichigo, but rather her role: helpless...
Again.
The man she loved needed her the most, but not only was she not there to help him, he did not look to her for help and hope. She gripped her sheets as a fury of emotion washed over her. And once again she finds herself covered by her sheets. Softly saying his name with a cracked voice. "I-Ichigo...why...?" Again a waterfall of emotion washes over her as she screams into her bedding.
"Why don't you hate me like you hated her?! Is it because you love her?!"
Streams of water begin to soak the sheets. A cracked voice yelled into the bedding once again, but it echoed throughout the lonely home she lived in. Her roommates remained quiet yet attentive...
"Is it because you love Kuchiki?!"
---
"Idiot. How could you..."
Yet another female awakened in the night. Her bedding was unmatched, as if tossed together for a temporary stay. Her pajamas, pink, could be seen even in the dark. Sitting up as well, but cautious of her limitations, she laid back against the wall behind her pillow.
"I told you to never lose control...you promised me you would protect this town...and you promised Inoue that you would never let her be hurt again...so why...?"
She kicked against the wall in front of her in anger. The confined space gave her only enough room to go so far, but it didn't matter. She wasn't in a real room. She was in a room within a room, but no one existed in that outside room. She slid open the door that lead to her concealed sleeping quarters and look outside. Her clothing glowed from the light of the moon outside the window. But she didn't see a moon through that window...she saw the look of the young man, a young man who had given her so much, suffering. That morning, if only she had known the torment that he felt.
"But you're still an idiot..." Tears ran down the cheeks of the earth-bound member of the Kuchiki family. "...and I'm an even bigger idiot." It was then she realized that not only did she ignore him that morning, but his life had gradually gotten worse ever since he helped her. With that thought she took her sheets with her and laid down on his bed.
"Come back, blockhead," she began, tears welling up. She was trying to hold in the next wave. "Come back, idiot..." Her tears ran down over her eye as she laid on her side on the bed. "Come back, Ichigo!" She began to cry harder, each breath feeling heavier and heavier. "Come back, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
His image in the window began to fade away, and the moon once again shone on her sorrow-stained face. Just like the one who held the jealousy, she was losing control over emotion.
"Come back, Ichigo!"
---
Streaks of light flashed through the sky, brightening up the figure that was now consuming the area around it with its reiatsu. Light reflected from the white blade the figure now held, and, slowly but surely, his outfit changed from black to white. The sight captured the attention of all who could see the spiritual. One in particular, a friend of the previous form of this figure, spoke up.
"Ichigo," he began, his red hair flying back from the spirit pressure, "what's going on with you?"
The spirit pressure grew, even causing the figure's clothing to react. The one called Ichigo turned to him, his skin getting paler and paler until it became completely white to match his clothing. "Oiyo, guy, how many times do I have to tell you?" He slashed backwards with his sword, causing a contrast of colors. A black energy in the form of a blade flew towards the red-haired individual. "Ichigo ain't home!!"
Tch...Ichigo...! The one known as Renji unsheathed his sword quick enough to raise it to defend himself, but the force of the attack pushed him back a few feet before his sword gained teeth and forced the spirit blade aside. With Shikai active, he already felt the strain of his seal, and understood that pushing him any further would be suicide. But one thing was certain to the Shinigami...this wasn't Ichigo. He remembered this pattern...not too long ago he felt it in the time period that Ichigo was battling his superior, Kuchiki Byakuya. It seemed like it was only a few seconds, and was shrugged off as a misread, but now, he was certain. As the hair of the one he considered to be his rival turned from orange to white, he knew.
This was apart of Ichigo...
---
The memories of that afternoon continued to replay over in his mind, vividly as if he was almost there again. At the top of the house of Orihime, he looked into the same full moon as Rukia, and wondered where and when the one formerly known as Ichigo gained the power and reiatsu of a Hollow. Drowning out the crying of the young woman below him, the captain let his mind drift back in time. The images flashed again...
---
"Damn you, Ichigo...you're friends with such troublesome people...freakin ridiculous!"
Looking around him, all he could see where the looks on their faces as they stared at the white version of the image of Ichigo. Annoyance grew within him, especially with the black-haired female...every time he looked at her he felt a pang of emotion. This primitive being had no knowledge of what emotion was, only that it was apart of Ichigo...a part he was trying to do away with. He turned to her with the same grin on his face. If he was going to get rid of Ichigo...he would have to get rid of her. Using spiritual energy as his floor, he dashed towards her with an outstretched hand, grabbing her neck and ramming her into the building rooftop. "Ya gotta go, missy…"
A pulse of reiatsu broke the ground broke the cement below the small female Shinigami, but the white figure resembling Ichigo was looking elsewhere.
"Did you really think you could just ignore me like that?"
"…ya, I kinda did! Git' the hell out of the way!"
The arrancar had attacked the white one. With Zangetsu in his right hand blocking the attack, and his left hand pressed against Rukia's neck, he seemed a bit overpowered. But instead of thinking of what to do, the white one lifted and slammed Rukia down against the roof again, causing it to break and make her fall through. A free hand was now open, and he used it to point two fingers at the arrancar's chest. A sanguine glow surrounded the fingers as the white Ichigo gained his classic Surprise took the arrancar and he jumped backwards pulling sword to guard his chest just as the shot of spiritual energy overtook him. Cero? Hitsugaya thought to himself.
"Heh."
As the smoke cleared, the reiatsu-tempered skin appeared charred and broken. The hollow-shinigami hybrid, named Kannyuu, had a look of fear and anger in his childish face. It was already apparent who the stronger one was, as the Shinigami watched this Hollow-on-Hollow crime continue in shock. Ichigo, or the one they believed was still Ichigo somewhat, had used the signature Hollow technique. Immediately it became clear to Captain Hitsugaya, the leader of the earthly Shinigami team, that this situation was too dangerous to proceed with. But curiousity held him to that building. Curiosity forced his mouth shut, hiding the orders that was crucial to the survival of his unit members.
"Shinigami…that was…a…a…Cero…"
---
It was then he knew that the problem he had would definitely call on Soul Society's attention if he didn't suppress the situation immediately. Planning and timing was of the essence, and it wouldn't be long until Ichigo would be classified as the rest of them "masked warriors" that were "kill-on-sight". He sighed and looked up again for hope, but none would come.
There was one other man who felt that Ichigo's transformation wasn't right. The man known as Madarame Ikkaku found himself more upset than sad or confused. It isn't right Ichigo...I finally gain Bankai, and you gain something like this?! I always knew you had something special within you, but not this...not now...
He slammed his fist against the wall, cracking into the home he was now staying at. But his mind wasn't into how Keigo would react. He was frustrated. You wanted to save Rukia...and you gained power to do so...but this...this isn't power. He looked back again at the events that had everyone else up that night. This isn't power.
This is...insanity.
---
"Is that what it's called?" He said, playfully. "I just thought I was channelin' spiritual energy into my fingers to stab ya with!"
The fear subsided from the arrancar as he tightened the grip on his Zanpakutoh. He had gained a new resolve. "I was being easy before, but now I will kill you." He moved his right hand to the side, holding his Zanpakutoh out. "Before you die, I suppose you'll need to know my name..my real name.."
The child-like arrancar chuckled and called upon an aura of reiatsu. "My name—"
The aura of reiatsu disappeared, and the arrancar's voice fell silent. His mouth opened as if attempting to scream in pain as a white blade was skewered through his throat. The Bankai of the one named Ichigo had overpowered the arrancar easily in the hands of this new being Ichigo had become.
"Peh. I don't even HAVE a name…why the hell would I wait for you to tell me yours?"
Blood overflowed from the child's mouth. The sound of his neck breaking could be heard as the blade was twisted. A laughter echoed through the silence in the kill pierced its way into everyone's mind as the Hollow Ichigo cut downward, leaving behind a white trail of energy behind the cut. The power of the attack caused the remains of the body to explode, removing the once dangerous threat. One step away, Hollow Ichigo returned to the rooftop that he had dropped Rukia through.
"Back to what I was doing..."
He hopped into the hole, floating down to where he placed Rukia. With the arrancar's defeat, Rukia was back to number one on the list. But that was common sense to the other ones. It didn't take long for one of them to jump to action.
"Captain Hitsugaya!" Renji yelled, moving in first. Hitsugaya Toushirou immediately nodded to the others, and they moved down the hole. Orihime and Sado ran back to the stairway
As they followed after the Hollow-like Shinigami, they heard echoes of the insane laughter that were now slowly being etched into their minds as his signature. But the main concern was of Rukia's safety...that is, if the Hollow side of Ichigo really intended to do away with the best thing that happened to Ichigo's life. But he was. Though the Shinigami team wasn't sure, he was. He was absolutely sure...in order to have full control, he had to destroy Ichigo.
In order to stay in reality...he had to destroy everything that represented Ichigo.
In order to be truly free...he had to kill everyone that was a reminder of Ichigo's existance.
In order to achieve his goal...he had to kill...
Starting wit' da' Shinigami bitch.
He was reaching her...he could feel the reiatsu. But it was stronger than it was before...much stronger. But it wasn't stronger than his. It didn't threaten him...instead it thrilled him. His target was going to put up a fight. However, the black-haired Shinigami had more than just a fight within her...she had a resolve.
Ichigo...I'm not fighting you. I'm fighting him
"Sode no Shirayuki..." A bright light glowed from the bottom of the building as the one previously known as Ichigo got closer to his key piece to freedom. As he landed he noticed that her Zanpakutoh had changed form. It was now white. "Copying me...eh? EH?! You have ta die, don'tcha realize--"
Before the sentenced finished, he found Rukia on the other side of him, and feeling a cold aura consuming him. The dance had begun. Ice and water consumed the hollow and rose into the air, freezing all that was contained in the light in a beautiful display of elegance and grace. I have to kill him...
"What's that beautiful light?" Yumichika asked. The light had just begun to rise to the Shinigami group as they closed in on Rukia. Renji looked closer at the light, and a will to live struck him as he glided sideways yelling. "Move away from the light!"
Not much time could be taken before the light struck, but the message was clear. All of the Shinigami took individual maneuvers to dodge the beam. A breath of air rushed out of Renji in relief, but too soon as a scream of pain was heard above him. Ikkaku's voice. Ikkaku lost his balance as the light grabbed his leg, holding him in the air. With the baboon king still initially released, Renji's Zanpakutoh extended to cut into what was now rock-solid ice to free his comrade. The others descended past him as even the teeth of Zabimaru could not fully cut through the power of Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki. "Hang on , Ikkaku!" He yelled, knowing well how much damage the finisher would do if Ikkaku was not released in time. In desperation he called upon the little reiatsu that he could muster. He swung to a level flooring on the story and channeled. "Ban-"
Shatter...the ice shattered, destroying the essence that was the Hollow version of Ichigo. Rukia began to sheath her sword, sighing. If her timing had been off, she would've missed her chance to destroy the menace.
"Rukia!" Recognizing the voice, she looked up to see Hitsugaya and Matsumoto, landing on one knee, followed by Yumichika. A scream was heard in the distance as they all looked up. Hitsugaya went cold knowing the reason for the cry out. Before Rukia could say a word, he interjected. "Is he gone?"
"Why dontcha ask me?!"
An explosion could be seen from outside the building, completely decimating the first three stories of the building. Out from the windows white spiritual energy could be seen. The building began to collapse, but another burst of white energy prevented it from caving in on the inside. Dust and smoke filled the air, but no standing shadows could be seen. As it cleared, little by little, only one shadow remained.
Rukia quickly cleared her head and opened her eyes as she laid in the debris. Her head came up...and a white sword came down next to it nearly killing her. The face of her friend appeared in front of her, devoid of color as he crouched down in front of her.
"What was that? Didya think you could kill me and get your boyfriend back? HA! Despite my look, this is still Ichigo's body...I'm just in control now. If you want to kill me, you'll hafta kill him too!"
Pulling his katana from her side, he raised it with his right hand and aimed for her head. "I'm about to be free...die, bitch."
The movement was swift, and the blow made...into her shoulder. Ichigo's eyes widened. "Wha..."
Don't kill her...please...don't kill her...
"You pathetic bastard, stop messin' with me!"
Don't kill Rukia...
The white color, though seeming to be underneath Ichigo, began to recede upwards. The sword's color became absorbed into the arm of the body of Ichigo. The arms followed too. The entire body's white shell became absorbed into one point: the face. The whiteness formed into a mask that had attached itself to Ichigo's left side. A black arm rose to rip the mask off.
"You can't do this! I was supposed 'ta win! ..."
The mask broke apart, pieces flying in all directions. A pulse of spiritual energy emitted from Ichigo's body as he began to return to his original self. "I can't let you kill Rukia." He dropped the mask onto the ground and tugged on the sword that had almost taken the life of a precious person. He looked around at the damage that the Hollow had done and realized just how much damage was done. He could see them all...
Chad laid inbetween the steel bars of the stairs.
Inoue not far away from him...
Ikkaku's leg, missing...
Renji's body, battered and cut...
Hitsugaya, Yumichika, and Matsumoto, torn by cuts and slashes all over...
and Rukia, cut up more than the others, with a deep wound in her shoulder and a near broken neck...
Looking at them he could see himself performing the evil deeds that made them that way...and he knew, that this time, it was different. It wasn't like the last time...it wasn't like against Byakuya. It was different. There was a level of control, of consciousness...where he could see what was going on and had no control. He was losing control of the evil within him...and the others were suffering from it. Looking up into the moon, he disappeared right under the moon's light, and so did his will to fight.
---
The painful memories remembered were tearing him apart, causing him only to bring himself pain. Under the familiar moon in an unknown town, Ichigo began his walk...
Not alone.
With him.