Chapter 2: Scars on the other end ~ Shirosaki Hichigo
What had come over me then I do not know. Was it the way his cries sounded? Or the way he seemed so vulnerable? Or was it the look in his eyes, he was terrified of me. That look he had. And the way he withered at my touch. He hated me. He probably still does. My little king.
I wander his mind for awhile, waiting for him to fall asleep. What am I to say to him? I have tormented him for so long now, and suddenly I notice his true feelings. I am stupid, a fool.
I wait. When he lays in his bed. I know he tosses and turns, trying to find a warm spot in his mattress, beneath his blanket. He is troubled, it rains. The skyscrapers will fall into little buildings of Karakura. And he will sink into a depression. It has rained these past few days since I have last seen him. I feel worried now, knowing he has not slept. Knowing he is upset or distraught and it is probably my fault.
I feel his presence enter. I turn and see him standing there head bowed. I slowly turn to fully face him and then my feet carry me towards him. When I come within a few feet he takes a step back. I stop.
"King." I try to sound more comforting than I ever have. He shudders though. I try again. "Ichigo."
His head lifts up eyes wide in sudden surprise. He does not appear scared but more shocked. I shift forward again and he stays where he is. "Ichigo. I'm sorry for the other day…"
His eyes widen more. "…Y-you are?"
I lift my arms and place my hands gently on his shoulders, I feel the flinch he makes but I try to make my touch as comforting as I possibly can. He stares into my eyes. He's searching, I know he is. I give him a gentle look. He continues to look into my eyes, I see the fear in his still, but he wants to believe me. I know he's warring with himself. I can hear his thoughts in my own head. Is he telling the truth? One side thinks. Or is he tricking me? The other contradicts.
I shift to pull my hands away but his hand lift rather quickly to grab at my wrist. His head is bowed again. "…Ichigo?" I question.
"Why do you…" He began, but he was at a loss of words for the second half of his question.
"I do not know why I do what I do Ichigo. I am a hollow. Maybe its instinct that drives me, or the want for power, to not be beneath you but on top. I know I am hurtful with you, harsh, abusive. But I have now seen how scared you are…and I am sorry for all the things I have done to you to make you that way." I kept a gentle tone. His body shifted and his hands went from gripping my wrist to knotting lightly into my robes, his head against my shoulder. I moved to wrap my arms around him and to my delight he did not flinch, nor shudder. "You should sit down…I know you haven't slept." I felt him nod. I stepped back but he refused to let go of me. I chuckled which caused him to look at me with an innocent look. "So attached now aren't you?"
He blushed and glanced away. I chuckled again and ran a hand through his hair. I sat down and brought him into my lap, so his back was against my chest, he shifted for a few moments then found a comfortable spot and slowly started to relax.
He drifted off after an hour. He was beautiful. His hair, his eyes, his physique. I remembered when he had lost his powers. When I saw him disappear from here for the last time sorrow filled me to the brim. The look, his understanding, he had grown up. When he had gained me and Zangetsu back, I went back to my old ways, scarring him. And now we were here, I had finally come back to understanding; I have grown up just as he has. So I will promise to hold him close, and never let anyone hurt him. He has enough scars.