Hero like me

by Toraoh-sama

Ichigo and Uryu are captured and imprisoned by a revived nemesis. They're subjected to increasingly horrific experiments, abuse and torture. During this ordeal, they make unexpected discoveries about themselves and one another. With only each other to rely on, their worst enemy may turn out to come from an unexpected direction… Warnings: M/M Ichigo/Uryu Violence, rape/Non-con

15. Chapter 15: Black velvet

Chapter 15: Black velvet

Ichigo glared angrily at the subject of his and Uryu's torment, as he finally stood eye to eye with his captor. The Espada was still laughing mockingly, giving him a dark leer.

"Cut the crap, Szayelaporro!" Ichigo shouted, anger spreading from his chest and fists clenched. "It's payback time!"

"Oh, I agree!" The pink-haired man sneered. "You're going to pay for the damage you did to my lab. I'll gladly use your Shinigami friend here as another specimen, too."

"W-what?" Renji asked, shocked. "No way man! Last time was enough. I'm not falling for yer tricks again."

"Really? We'll see about that." Szayelaporro purred and looked at the red-head almost longingly. "You know, Shinigami substitute, if you hadn't been lucky enough to destroy my shield blocking spiritual pressure, your friends would never have found you." The Espada licked his lips. "Too bad your girlfriend isn't so lucky. Has he crossed over yet? Is he gone? Dead?"

"Shut up!" Ichigo shouted. "He's gonna make it! My friends are getting him outta here! You bastard!"

"With 'girlfriend', does he mean Ishida?" Renji whispered, clearly confused, but the Substitute only growled at him in answer.

"Are you sure you want him to survive? After what you did… I mean, will the poor sap be able to handle it? Wouldn't it be more merciful to just let him die?" The pink-haired man laughed, showing his teeth.

"Shut up!" Ichigo yelled again. He already felt guilty to his core about what he did. Of course he did! That freak used him. Used Uryu. Everything was a game to this sicko, apparently. Everything.

Suddenly, the door opened and shouting noises erupted from behind them. Ichigo and Renji swiftly turned around, and even the Espada stopped laughing in favor of watching his new visitors.

"Ooww, come on Ryuuken, we're bound to find them." At that moment Ichigo's gaze met with his fathers. "Son!" The latter screamed. "Come to daddy! Let me hug you and kiss you and-" He jumped the Substitute, who quickly planted his foot into the man's face.

"Sorry, dad." He said somewhat drily. "I'm actually happy to see you, and I'm grateful you came for me, but… we don't have time for this right now."

"Not even a little hug. A tiny, little hug for your old man?" Isshin looked at his son with gleaming, pleading eyes, making Ichigo sigh before giving in. "Ichigoooo! I've missed you so much!" Isshin joyfully exclaimed while almost choking the orange-haired boy against his chest.

"Dad!" The Substitute tried to calm him down, as he hadn't forgotten about the Espada in the room.

"Isshin, that's enough." A firm voice cut the happy encounter between father and son short. "We're not done here yet."

Ichigo felt his father break off the hug, humming disappointedly. His eyes fell onto the other man in the room, who was keeping a little to the back. He'd caught a few glimpses of him before, enough to know he was Uryu's father. As if his facial traits and the spirit bow in his hand hadn't given that away.

"Excuse me…" Szayelaporro cleared his throat, before smiling broadly. "I'm thrilled to see your family reunion, Kurosaki Ichigo, as I have something important to show you. The more, the merrier, as you humans say. Right?"

"Who's this bozo?" Interrupted Isshin.

"That bozo is actually the guy who captured us. He's a clone of the 8th Espada, Szayelaporro." Ichigo answered flatly, while giving the Espada in front of him his full attention again. "Don't underestimate him. He's a sick, cunning bastard, and-"

"You were detained by… that." The unfamiliar voice of Ishida Ryuuken mocked. "Just when I thought my son couldn't sink even lower. Unbelievable. It's a disgrace."

"Hey!" Ichigo looked at the man in disdain. "You don't know anything about what happened here! Don't you dare judge Uryu like that!"

"Uryu?" Ryuuken repeated in a mocking tone. "I didn't know you and my son were on first name basis now. Where is he, anyway? I haven't been able to sense his spiritual pressure ever since he disappeared. We could only assume he was here, as he disappeared the same day you did."

"He's… he's…" Ichigo wanted to tell Uryu's father about his injuries, but couldn't get the words out of his mouth. Guilt and sorrow tightening his throat, he clenched his fists.

"Yes?" Ryuuken asked impatiently, adjusting his glasses.

"Ishida has been gravely injured. The others are taking him to Urahara as we speak. Maybe they're already gone there, and that's why you can't sense him here." Renji finished the question for him and Ichigo gave a thankful nod to confirm this.

"Figures." Sighed Ryuuken and shook his head. "Just like him to embarrass his family like that."

Ichigo wanted to tell him to stuff it, that he didn't know a thing about how hard Uryu tried, but at that precise moment, the Espada responded.

At Szayelaporro's command, a hatched opened up in the ceiling of the room, and 8 Fraccionés dressed in blue uniforms jumped down. They had weapons like swords and zapping sticks ready in their hands. As all the others Arrancars, and Espada's for that matter, had been dressed in white, Ichigo could immediately tell these were going to be a little different than the Fraccionés he'd fought so far. The skull like masks they wore, shielding their features underneath their blue hoods gave them a sense of foreboding. They lined op neatly in a row in front of the glass wall protecting Szayelaporro.

"Be honored. You get to fight my special squad." The 8th Espada chuckled. "I mixed in all the best parts of myself, and a few other samples that I could get my hands on, so it will be a real treat to fight them." He barked a command and a fury of weapons and voices burst loose.

"Ichigo!" Ishhin yelled at his son and threw him something, which he swiftly caught. The Substitute blinked in surprise and awe to hold Zangetsu again and felt his heart flutter.

"Dad! How did you…" But he didn't get time to finish that sentence, as the one of the guards had already targeted him and he fended off his first strike.

Ichigo and Renji fought back to back, while his and Uryu's father did the same. Battle roars resounded, swords clashed and blue arrows flew around. All under the dark gleaming eyes of Szayelaporro, who started narrating like this was his long awaited moment. His voice obviously amplified by speakers in the room's walls.

"Your holiday here at my lab, has been so much fun, wouldn't you agree, Kurosaki Ichigo? What do you think of my personal guards? You've fought them before, very briefly, but you don't remember that, do you?" The Espada grinned broadly. "But then of course, there are a lot of things you don't remember…"

"What is he talking about?" Shouted Renji, while slashing Zabimaru around. Ichigo jumped over the chain-like-blade just in time to prevent his feet being cut off.

"Watch it, Renji! I'm a little rusty." He yelled back, while blocking an attack of one of the blue-clad Fraccionés.

"I'm sure you didn't anticipated me wanting to clone you either." Szayelaporro continued, safely watching the fight from his vantage point behind the glass wall. "That was, of course, my plan the whole time. All the other activities were just… entertaining extra's."

"Can the whackjob shut up, please!" Ichigo's father yelled, annoyed. "You're ruining my fight, man!"

"What does he mean 'cloned'?" Ryuuken directed his attention towards Ichigo while shooting a few arrows around. Before the Substitute even had the chance to point out towards the water tanks containing his brethren, Uryu's father gasped as he saw the evidence for himself. "Why on earth would an Espada want clones of a Shinigami Substitute? It's completely insane."

Szayelaporro laughed. "Yes, well, this capable specimen we're talking about has some unique capabilities I just couldn't resist in tampering with."

"What does he mean by that? Ichigo?" Renji asked him, clearly confused while he kicked back two of the guards.

Ichigo swallowed, but didn't say anything. He'd seen himself transform into that foul monster that almost killed Uryu. He'd been overwhelmingly strong. He'd known he had that power inside of him ever since he'd defeated Ulquiorra, but he had never witnessed his Vasto Lorde's power with his own eyes.

"I… I'm not sure…" Ichigo lied and swung his Zanpakuto around.

The Espada moved forward until he was right in front of the glass wall, clasped his hands behind his back and grinned widely.

"I know with all the fornication you and your girlfriend engaged in while here, you probably started thinking this was a love hotel, but I regret to inform you, this is still a lab." He laughed, and the taunt didn't miss its target. Ichigo froze on the spot after hearing those words, face flustered and cheeks flushed. Was that freak going to reveal what he'd done to the others? His heart started pounding and dread constricted his chest.

"Ichigo!" Screamed his father as he jumped in front of him, defending his son with his blade, fighting his off attacker. "Don't let that freak get to you! Stay focused, son."

"I'm… I'm… trying…" He stammered and tried moving before his eyes locked with Szayelaporro again.

"Oh, this man is your father?" The 8th Espada chuckled. "Say hello to your son's clones, old man." He laughed mockingly, making Isshin lose his concentration for a second as those words sank in. The guard in front of him lunged at him, but was shot by an arrow just in time.

"Keep it together you two!" Ryuuken roared. Ichigo's father immediately snapped out of it and he pushed Ichigo out of the way before resuming his attacks.

"Oh my, another Quincy. How Lucky I am." Szayelaporro sneered. "And that resemblance. You must be the father of my specimen." He laughed darkly. "I have some very interesting footage you'll want to see about you son." The Quincy shot the Espada an angry glare but continued fighting.

However, Ichigo faltered again.

"N-no…" He stuttered. This couldn't be happening! That maniac wasn't about to show Uryu's father and the others what he'd done? He felt his head spin and couldn't focus. The hand wielding Zangetsu dropped down, as did his gaze and he just froze on the spot, hearing Szayelaporro laugh out loud.

"Ichigo!" Renji yelled as Zabimaru screeched besides him and cut into one of the blue guards. "Get a hold of yourself!" As the sword retracted and the Fraccioné stumbled forward, a blue arrow embedded itself into his head, making him scream before dropping down and dissolving.

"I have so so much interesting footage I have yet to show you, Kurosaki Ichigo." Szayelaporro purred. "All of them involve your Quincy girlfriend." He laughed darkly, making his pink hair jump around. He was standing in front of Ichigo, behind the glass wall, and the Substitute could feel anxiety shut him up, paralyzing him.

"Ichigo!" Isshin yelled, as he rushed to his side. "You bastard, leave my son alone!" He parried the attack meant for the Substitute and worked together with Renji to destroy another of the special guards. "Get it together, son. He's really getting to you apparently, but try to shut him out."

No sooner had those words left Isshin's mouth as all the wall-mounted screens in the room turned on, the screen behind him was a lot bigger than the ones on the facing walls. Szayelaporro had a remote in hand, grinning triumphantly.

"Show time!" He crooned. "Now, I hadn't expected suck a big audience, but it will work out even better that way."

"Ichigo!" Screamed his father, but his son wasn't listening to him anymore. Szayelaporro had him glued to the screen in front of him as he watched… Uryu. Tied to a surgical table by his wrists and ankles, trashing about, clad in only his boxers. The onscreen version of the Espada was sticking electrodes to his chest.

"Let me go, you freak!" Uryu shouted. His face was very pale and he was drenched in sweat. Black strands of hair were plastered to his white face, framing it.

Ichigo hadn't heard him say a full sentence in a long time, and it made his chest clench. He hadn't been able to talk since… that maniac had poisoned him.

"Darling Quincy, what did you think of my poison? Did you have a good time?" Uryu didn't answer that. "Now, you both disobeyed me. Your boyfriend had to fuck you, but instead he gave you a handjob. That's not what I asked, although I was counting on you two not to comply.""

"Shut up!" Uryu spat, turning his face sideways, heat rising to his cheeks.

The Espada laughed. "Gladly. I see you want to get to the action immediately. Who am I to hold you back." He gave Uryu a dark smile. "I warned you two the consequences would be severe if you didn't listen to my commands, didn't I. You'll serve as an example, so the Shinigami will think twice before disobeying me again." Uryu trashed in his bindings again, testing their hold, with the only outcome being him starting to pant.

Uryu'd been so worn out by fighting off that poison for 2 days, and still… he wasn't backing down for that stupid Espada. It made Ichigo's chest swell a little with pride for the other boy.

The next few lines of the footage were lost to him, as a screeching sound, and the sword that came with it, barely missed his head. He kicked the guard that came at him backwards, before slashing him in the chest. His eyes focused on the battle that was roaring all around him . The others were still fighting the Arrancars, only 2 of which still remained. They'd killed 4 of the blue guards already. Ichigo tried to join in on the fight by blocking a vicious blow aimed at his father's back, but then Szayelaporro demanded his attention again.

"You'll want to watch the next part, Kurosaki Ichigo." He chuckled wickedly. "Your girlfriend had been subjected to torture before I made this video, but… He was a tough nut to crack. Fortunately, I found the solution to subdue him."

"S-solution?" Muttered Ichigo, his eyes still glued to the screen.

"I have a little surprise for you, Quincy darling." Uryu growled at him, but his expression changed when the Espada clapped his hands and one of his Fraccionés hit another light switch in the room, dimly illuminating another surgical table. Ichigo was laying there, unconscious.

"You bastard!" Yelled Uryu. "What are you going to do to him?"

"Oooh, I wouldn't worry about him, little Quincy." Szayelaporro leered at him. "He's just sleeping, curtesy of my pretty, rainbow-colored gas." He turned back around to face the Quincy as he purred: "Black… velvet." He chuckled darkly while Uryu watched how Ichigo's eyes flew open with a blank, almost doll-like face. "Arise, my pet."

Ichigo watched as the Uryu on screen got big, incredulous eyes as he, himself, stepped forth from the shadows, into the bright light peering down onto the surgical table and came to stand besides the Espada.

"K-Kurosaki?" The Quincy asked with an uncertain voice. "Kurasaki, are you alright? What are you doing?"

"He's not going to listen to you, stupid boy. He's under my mind control." Szayelaporro crooned, while he let his hands glide over Uryu's stomach, before pulling his boxers partly down and disinfecting his lower abdominal region with a wet gauze.

"M-mind control?" Uryu gasped.

"Yes, silly boy. In the 2 days I sedated him at the very start of jour little… adventurous romance… in my lab, I've done many experiments on him to bring out his Hollow side and get that under my control He's still flawed and I cannot utilize him to his full potential, yet. Oh, but I assure you, we're getting there. I'll manage to work with him towards our goal, and he'll be able to stay under my spell for a longer period of time after each session. Do pray our pretty… test subject… will stay alive for as long as needed." He laughed darkly.

"W-what?" The Quincy gulped hard. "What are you going to do?"

"Oh shush, you're ruining my fun." Szayelaporro slapped him in the face before turning to Ichigo. As the Espada put on a pair of surgical gloves, and did the same to Ichigo, Uryu looked at them with fearful eyes.

"Cut him open!" Szayelaporro commanded, handing Ichigo a scalpel. "We're going to remove his prostate." Uryu made a startled noise at that.

"Yes, master." There was no hesitation in Ichigo's voice. Nothing. Uryu was visibly panicking and tested the hold of his bounds, while the sound of his heartbeat shot up. He started rambling to make Ichigo stop, to reason with him, but…

Ichigo saw himself put the scalpel on his friends stomach, while Uryu tried everything from screaming at him, to pleading, but his screen-self didn't so much as waver. His voice was caught in his throat, and his heart was pounding in his chest from anxiety.

As the first incision was made, Uryu screamed.

"K-Kurosaki… Don't do this!" He started taking shallow breaths, shuddering and trashing with his head.

"No, no." Instructed the Espada. "You have to cut him here." He moved Ichigo's hand and directed him to another place. The sharp blade cut through the Quincy's skin as if it were butter, making him cry out again.

"Kurosaki… s-stop!" Uryu looked at him with pleading eyes, while warm blood spilled from his belly, making him tremble all over, but Ichigo didn't listen. "Stop!" He screamed as another faulty incision was made.

"Oops." Mocked the Espada. "That's another miss, I'm afraid. There. That's the right spot." He moved Ichigo's hand again, and the latter cut without hesitation.

A smirk was growing on the Substitute's face as Uryu's screams grew louder.

"Now, for the fun part." Szayelaporro clapped his hands after wiping some of the excess blood from the Quincy's abdominal region. "Open up the incision you've just made."

"Yes, master."

"No… Kurosaki… No!" Uryu's last vowel trailed off into a howl, when Ichigo pried open his flesh with his bare hands, causing blood to gush out. "Please…." Begged the Quincy as tears were forming in his eyes, his wrists straining hard in their binds. "Please… stop…" It came out like a sob and his body started trembling violently. Ichigo smirked and was steadily pushing his fingers inside the other boy's abdominal cavity, hurting him, making the Quincy cry out hoarsely.

The Substitute dropped Zangetsu onto the floor as he watched the events unfold and took a long, quivering breath. Completely shocked and stunned into silence.

"You see, Shinigami Substitute," Szayelaporro crooned, "I never touched him. You did." With that he threw his head back and laughed out loud, while Ichigo still couldn't tear himself away from the screen.

Uryu had fainted. The pain and distress had been too overwhelming, especially as his senses were still heightened by the poison. The 8th Espada smirked and reached for a vial. He put some of the substance onto a cloth, and kept that under the Quincy's nose. The latter sucked in a sharp breath as his eyes flew open again.

"Good." Szayelaporro said. "You don't get off the hook that easily, darling Quincy. Every time you'll pass out, I'll make sure we get you nice and conscious again, so you don't miss anything of the procedure."

Uryu whimpered and his eyes gleamed with unshed tears as the horror of the situation dawned upon him.

"K-Kurosaki…" He tried, but it fell on deaf ears. Ichigo followed the commands of his master and started prodding his fingers inside Uryu's abdomen again. Tears streamed down the Quincy's face as he screamed again and again, while taking stuttered breaths in between.

Suddenly, Uryu's sweaty face became as pale as a sheet and his head fell back onto the table on a moan. His pupils dilated and he was taking shallow, raspy breaths.

"Oh damn, the wimp's going into shock. Already…" Szayelaporro complained. "Stop for a moment, my pet, you don't want to kill him. Yet."

"Yes, master."

"He must have had a drop in his blood pressure." The 8th Espada grinned. "Combined with the fine job you are doing, the poison and his dehydration, he's lucky I'm even treating him or he'd die on this very table."

Ichigo sucked in a sharp breath, feeling stressed and relieved at the same time, at the mention that Uryu may well have lost his life in such a cruel and pointless manner. All because he hadn't listened that time. Because he had been too afraid and too prude to follow up on the Espada's given orders.

While Uryu's head lolled to the side and he was frantically letting his eyes glide over his two tormentors, Szayelaporro swiftly put a breathing mask over his mouth. The Quincy didn't hesitate and sucked in a few erratic breaths. After the pink-haired man had inserted an IV into Uryu's arm to administer fluids, he shouted:

"Proceed."

Ichigo did as he was told, and spread apart the Quincy's cut flesh with clamps. The Espada gave him instructions for what to do next. Uryu fainted again, but was brought to a second time.

Ichigo couldn't watch anymore. What had he done? What had he done to that boy? His heart was pounding so fast, he thought it would explode. His stomach was churning and had he not vomited yet prior to his rescue, he would certainly have done so now.

"Ichigo!" He heard someone scream from behind, and that finally made him look towards the others.

Isshin stood in front of him, protecting his back. One of the remaining guards had fired some sort of metal net from his gun and his father had jumped to his rescue. The guard in question pushed a button on his weapon, and the net was electrified with a high current of electricity.

"Crap!" Shouted Isshin.

"Dad!" Yelled Ichigo, and tried to pry the thing away from his father.

"S-stop it, you moron. You'll get electrocuted, too!" Ichigo screamed as a high current shot through him, a pain he'd hoped never to experience again, but he didn't let go. Renji stepped in to help, while Ryuuken was still fighting the other guard fervently.

"Fuck!" Shouted the Substitute, unwilling to give up.

Ichigo's father tried to get out of the net, but it was useless. Renji and Ichigo were still pulling and tearing with all their might, but they couldn't accomplish anything, other than getting themselves zapped. They heard Szayelaporro laugh.

"I designed those nets specifically so they would only stop their current when the adversary was knocked out. Pretty neat, huh? Besides, wouldn't you rather see what you did to your girlfriend that time?"

That made Ichigo freeze again. As Renji still tried to free his father, and Ishhin was shouting every curse known to man towards the Espada, the Substitute turned around again. The wired net slipped from his fingers.

He caught a glimpse of Uryu's too pale face, contorted in desperation, while he seemingly tried to focus on his breathing, trying to shut out the pain. Szayelaporro had asked his on-screen self to move, so he could reach with his instruments inside Uryu's abdomen himself.

"He was lucky, I did the actual prostatectomy myself. If I'd let you do it, he'd be dead right now. I just asked you to shout insults at him, to make him give up."

The Substitute Shinigami could hear himself yell things like 'coward' and 'wimp' and 'you're gonna die' even. Sometimes he slapped Uryu in the face while doing so. Making the other boy's state of mind crumble under the heavy stress, tears still streaking his pale face.

Then he remembered. That day, when he found Uryu in that pitiful state in their cell, he'd enveloped him into his arms for the first time to keep him warm. The boy had been completely freaked out when he awoke. He'd thought that it was because of what Szayelaporro'd put him through, but…

It had been because of what he had done to him.

As Ichigo sucked in a wavering breath, he heard a stern voice shout:

"Dammit, Isshin! I can't leave you alone for 5 minutes!" The Quincy had finished the blue Fraccioné and came to his father's aid. Renji had let go of the net, and stood up to protect the others from the last remaining guard, Zabimaru firm in hand.

"Ichigo," he heard his father mutter, "don't let that freak get to you. You're doing exactly what he wants."

"D-dad, I… I can't… Haven't you been watching? Didn't you see what he made me do?"

Isshin wanted to answer something, but his eyelids slid close as he gave his son a faint smile. He dropped against Uryu's father, who grabbed him before letting him sink down onto the floor. The current stopped, as the Espada had claimed it would.

"Good, can we continue now, Kurosaki Ichigo?" Szayelaporro demanded his attention again, but Ryuuken stood up in front of him, shooting the Espada down with a lethal glare.

"What the hell have you been doing to my son, you creep?" That was the first time Ichigo heard Uryu's father show any concern.

"Why, I haven't done anything to him, father Quincy." The Espada chuckled. "Haven't you been watching the screens?" Ruuken growled at that.

"Yes, I caught glimpses of you two torturing him." He shot a furious look towards Ichigo, who didn't have the willpower to do anything in return. "Are you so stupid, Shinigami Substitute, that you do'd the bidding of an Espada? I always pegged you for a moron, but I hadn't expected your stupidity to surpass even my boldest imagination."

Ichigo stammered something, before Renji butted in:

"Hey, man, in case you missed it, that fruitcake had Ichigo under some sort of mind-control."

"No, I didn't miss that, but still, they were both torturing my son!"

"Torturing him? I did no such things." Szayelaporro intervened mockingly. "We merely performed a prostatectomy on him."

"P-prostatectomy?" Ryuuken's face became a tad paler. It looked like he was going to say something, but held his tongue. Maybe he was too shocked after what he heard. Finally, he managed: "Why would you do such a thing?" He shot an angry look at Ichigo again. "What the hell have you been doing to my son?"

"I… I…" Mumbled the Substitute. He couldn't say it. His heart was going to explode. But then, he was off the hook for a moment as the last remaining Fraccioné wasn't backing down.

"I could use a hand here!" Renji shouted at them. The Quincy took the cue and drew an arrow. Leaving Ichigo alone with Szayelaporro, who smiled angelically. The screen had gone black again, for which the Substitute was grateful.

But… Something told him, this was not over yet…

"You missed the end of your girlfriend's prostatectomy." Szayelaporro taunted with a sad face. "Oh well, you already know how it ended, don't you? I've let you stich him up, crudely, dressed his wounds and threw you both back into your cell." He ran a hand through his bright, pink hair, while Ichigo felt the energy slowly drain from his legs. He wanted to get out of here, but knew he couldn't.

"Why… Why did you make me do something like that?" He managed to mumble.

The Espada seemed all too happy to continue. "You see, Shinigami Substitute, as I was torturing your girlfriend I quickly realized he was resilient and that wouldn't do at all." Szayelaporro gave him a broad grin. "Where's the entertainment, I asked myself. So I tried letting you do it and it made him crack! Oh, it was so beautiful! If you tortured him, he became so meek. A real coward. Bet he couldn't do anything to his precious lover."

"L-lover…" Repeated Ichigo with a broken voice. He knew the Espada could say anything to taunt him right now, but still… those words made his gut clench.

"You must be wondering what else you did to him, correct?" Szayelaporro crooned.

Ichigo swallowed and his stomach made a violent flip. "W-what else…" He stammered. Dear god, please, don't tell him there was more! He was starting to feel like a zombie. He couldn't do anything. He couldn't help the others fight off the guards, he was paralyzed by fear and anxiety. The Espada had him right where he wanted, just like his father had warned him.

"There's a reason for why he was unable to speak, silly boy." Szayelaporro purred. "It was so he couldn't tell you anything, of course."

Ichigo sucked in a wavering breath and felt his head start to pound!

That bastard Espada had told him before he'd paralyzed Uryu's vocal chords because he'd screamed too much during his brutal surgery, but…. It had simply been to silence the Quincy, so he couldn't confront the Substitute with his crimes. It had simply been to shut the other boy up. That was something he hadn't been expecting! Locking eyes with Szayelaporro, he muttered: "Oh my god… What did you make me do to him?" Ichigo's lower lip trembled from sheer fright.

"You are so stupid, Kurosaki Ichigo. As you both knew about the aggression meds I gave you at will, you didn't expect I sometimes felt the urge to take you over completely, didn't you." Szayelaporro grinned. "You always followed my commands when I used my mind control spell on you. At first, you still had nightmares, but after a while, those annoying spoiling flashes went away, and I knew you were ready to proceed to our final experiment." He chuckled darkly.

"N-nightmares?" Ichigo said uncertain. Yes, he had had a lot of nightmares since they'd been captured, but… "Those were… real?" His breathing picked up and his head started pounding harder. "Please… no…" He whispered with a hoarse voice, as he still remembered flashes of some of his 'nightmares'.

"Yes, Kurosaki Ichigo, you remember, don't you. That Quincy is such a sap. Not knowing when you could be trusted anymore, was slowly, but surely driving him insane. And I'm sure he suffered a great deal because of it." Ichigo's heart froze. "Every time he was stupid enough to trust you again, I gave you the aggression meds and you'd go all violent on him. If I felt that wasn't enough, I used my spell to control your mind, and to do my bidding. It was killing him. So hilarious!" Szayelaporro laughed maniacally. "And after that time I've made you claim the Quincy, you've fucked him at least 3 other times!"

Ichigo couldn't believe what was happening. He already felt so guilty about assaulting Uryu, and giving him a massive bleeding after turning on him, but to hear those horrifying nightmares had been real all along. It felt like his mind had just snapped. He just stood there, staring at the Espada, with wide eyes and trembling hands. He'd lost his touch with reality.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, but didn't turn around. He heard his name being called a few times before realizing it was Renji.

"Ichigo? Ichigo? Hey, are you alright?"

Before he got the chance to try and answer something to that, the screen went back on, and Ichigo's eyes were glued to it again, breath hitching in dread.

He saw himself and Uryu sleeping on the floor, wrapped in each other's arms to keep warm. Suddenly, Szayelaporro's appeared on the screen in their cell and said:

"Black… velvet." Ichigo's eyes shot open. "Arise, my puppet."

Ichigo disentangled himself from the sleeping boy and stood up, ready for his orders.

"Fuck him." Szayelaporro commanded.

"Yes, master." Ichigo complied.

He walked back over to the sleeping Quincy and crawled on top of him. Uryu awoke by the sudden movement and started rubbing his eyes, still sleepy. When he saw the look on Ichigo's face his eyes shot open. He must've realized what was going on.

"Dear god, no… " Ichigo whispered to himself.

"You remember this, Kurosaki Ichigo? This was one of the days I supposedly left you two alone. Only, I didn't. I used my spell on you every single day. Testing it. Perfecting it. And your girlfriend paid the price."

Ichigo grabbed both of Uryu's wrists and pinned him to the floor. Uryu was still in a lot of pain from the cauterization of his wounds and wasn't up to a fight, but he tried to get Ichigo's straddling form off of him, nonetheless. The Substitute merely laughed, mockingly.

Ichigo watched in horror as the Quincy struggled. Struggled so hard, his barely cauterized wounds that were sealed only a day or 2 prior, were put under too much pressure and he'd been lucky they hadn't opened up again. He watched as Uryu desperately tried kicking him off, only to earn a few more punches, before his exhausted body deserted him and he just lay there, panting.

Ichigo's alternate form on screen had managed to shrug Uryu's pants down and was palming himself through his Hakama to get hard fast. The Quincy was still trying to fight him off, with heated cheeks because of what he was doing.

"No…" Ichigo muttered when he suddenly heard a strained choking sound from next to him. Looking over his shoulder he saw Uryu's father's watching shocked, his face contorted in disbelief and… disgust. Both he and Renji had finished their last opponent and were watching the screens with mixed emotions on their faces.

Before Ryuuken could say anything to either of the Shinigami, Szayelaporro clapped his hands and 4 more blue-suited Fraccionés jumped down from the ceiling.

"Fuck!" Shouted Renji, and readied Zabimaru in his hand. "Take up your weapon, Ichigo!" He screamed. "Don't just stand there like a headless monkey!"

"I beg to differ, my puppet." The Substitute heard Szayelaporro croon. "You'll want to watch this. Let the others play with my guards. You're not up to fighting them anyway."

"I… I…" He stuttered, while Renji gave him a frown and growled. Ryuuken was already occupied with shooting arrows at a rapid pace, shouting out his frustration. Ichigo did as Renji told him to, and picked up Zangetsu, but it started trembling in his hand as his eyes subconsciously were drawn back to the screen behind the Espada.

"Taunt him." Szayelaporro commanded. Ichigo complied on the spot and looked at the other boy with glazed over, absent eyes.

"You like this, don'tcha. You want to get fucked by me, I've heard you say it before. Want to feel me inside of you, you gay freak." He slapped Uryu hard across the face.

Uryu made gurgling noises and tried to reason with him with the few sounds he could make, but Ichigo just proceeded to tear his boxers down. The Quincy trashed and struggled, but had so little energy he could hardly make a difference. Ichigo promptly shoved his index finger inside the other boy, making him cry out, before his next orders followed.

"Impale him!" Shouted the Espada. "Take him quick and rough, as punishment!"

"Yes, master."

Without hesitation, Ichigo lined himself up, holding Uryu's wrists down with one hand, immobilizing his hips with the other.

As the Quincy's stilted scream filled the room, the battling sounds stopped for a second. Ichigo dropped to his knees, Zangetsu still in hand, and only now realized he had really done this. Again.

"Old man Ishida!" He heard Renji scream, and quickly looked over his shoulder, trying to shut out Uyu's on-screen whimpers as his mindless alter was ravaging him. His gaze met Ryuuken's, who had a sword planted into his right shoulder. The man looked completely mortified and was staring at the screen, unable to utter a word. Stunned silent by what he saw.

The red-head swung his Zanpakuto, and Ryuuken got his grasp back on reality with a grunt as the Fraccioné retrieved his blade. The Quincy reacted as fast as his son would've and let arrows rain down of his enemies.

Meanwhile, Ichigo had managed to stand back up right in time to fend off an enemy attack himself. The blue Fraccioné was circling him, but he lost his concentration and turned towards the screen as he heard Uryu's fragmented scream again. His vocal chords having too little leeway for such a massive vocal outburst. Ichigo's on-screen form had moved the other boy sideways and was pounding into him, panting hard, while the Espada was laughing mockingly in the background. In tandem with the real one, present in the room.

He remembered that dream. He remembered! He'd startled awake that day thankful that it hadn't been… but it had been. Hands trembling, he tried to stand up to the Fraccioné in front of him, but he felt so miserable his body shivered. Only a moment later, two of Ichigo's overlapping shouts resounded.

One shouted out his completion.

The other one shouted in pain as a blade opened a gash in both his thighs.

Ichigo looked up towards the on-screen Uryu and saw the desperation and hurt in his eyes, marred by tears. Then, thankfully, the screen blacked out again. Ichigo couldn't lift his sword. He tried to, but he was paralyzed by what he'd just witnessed.

"Roar! Zabimaru!" He heard his friend shout as the flailing Zanpakuto made a deep cut through the Fraccionés shoulder. As he was momentarily stunned, Ichigo found the strength to take action and pushed Zangetsu through the Arrancar's gut. The latter screamed, before dropping down and dissolving. Leaving Ichigo with trembling, bloody hands.

"Ichigo, are you alright?" Renji asked as he rushed towards him.

"N-no…" He stuttered. "H-haven't you seen… the screen?" Ichigo asked, voice uncertain and eyes on the ground.

"I'm afraid there's more." Taunted Szayelaporro from behind them. "You've been a good puppet, indeed, Kurosaki Ichigo."

That made the Substitute bury his face in his hands, Zangetsu slipping from his grip again. Desperation gripping hard at his throat and heart pounding.

"Ichigo!" Renji said firmly. "Yes, I saw flashes of it, but it can't be helped right now. Losing you here, won't help us any further!" Those words stuck for now.

"I know. I'll try, but… Go help Uryu's father. He's wounded, too."

Renji nodded and tore a piece off his Shihakusho. "Here." He pressed it down hard onto Ichigo's gashes. "Your wounds aren't too deep. Just keep pressure on them for a while." Roaring, he jumped back into the battle, lending a hand to Ryuuken. "I'll hold them off for a while. You tend to your wounds." Renji said to the white haired man, who nodded with a blank face.

While Szayelaporro continued his monologue, Ichigo kept pressure on his own wounds, as he sat back down again.

"The next time I used my spell on you, I chose a… different approach. We played some mind games then." He laughed and the screen went on.

Ichigo saw himself on screen again. He was sleeping on the floor, curled up next to Uryu. The latter, who was currently awake, was watching him with a faint smile, while he shyly ran a hand through Ichigo's short, orange hair.

"Black… velvet." Spoke Szayelaporro, from the screen in their cell.

Uryu made a high, distressed sound and tried dragging himself into a corner, while he watched how Ichigo jolted upright, seemingly awake, but completely under the mind-control.

"Today, we'll play a little psychological game."

"Yes, master."

"Come closer, so I can whisper my commands, lest it'd spoil the surprise." Ichigo did as he was told. "This is how I want you to proceed."

Ichigo's eyes grew wide as he listened to the Espada's commands. What was wrong with that creep? Why did he want to hurt Uryu like that? As he watched the scene enroll, the bleeding in his thighs subsided and he quickly tore of some fabric of his Shihakusho to start wrapping his gashes.

Ichigo locked eyes with Uryu and was pleased to find the other boy cowering in a corner. The instructions fresh in mind, he marched towards him. Uryu tried to struggle with the limited energy he had, but was soon overpowered, to Ichigo's great amusement.

"Now, fuck him." Szayelaporro ordered. "You know what to do."

"Yes, master."

As Uryu lay panting beneath him, Ichigo took his time preparing him for the invasion this time, as per his orders. He was silently grinning at the blood that coated his fingers. The removal of the Quincy's prostate was still too fresh for these kinds of activities. Uryu looked away and tried to control his elaborate breathing. A crimson flush was spreading over his features.

After everything he'd witnessed himself put the other boy through, it was no wonder the archer had been distrustful of him sometimes. It was exactly as that pink freak had told him, the Quincy had never been certain if and for how long he could be trusted. Ichigo had finished wrapping his gashes, and quickly looked around to see there were still 2 blue Fraccionés left, before his attention was goaded back towards the screen. He felt bad about not helping Renji and Uryu's father, but… He wasn't even sure he'd be able to fight right now.

Ichigo positioned himself, before slowly entering the other boy, earning distressed sounds in the process. As he gave Uryu a moment to adjust this time, he kept eye contact, making the Quincy look at him cautiously. Then, he grabbed Uryu beneath his armpits and hauled him upright, switching their positions. Uryu made a startled gasp as he suddenly found himself on top. Then, Ichigo sat up and enveloped him in his arms, hugging him fiercely to his chest, so they were now both in a sitting position, but keeping his hips completely still.

Ichigo gasped. This position was very intimate and seemed like a travesty of that time the other boy had been poisoned. Uryu'd been so embarrassed and shy at that time and he'd been afraid Ichigo would resent him for what they'd done.

Ichigo'd seen himself act gentle so far, but he had not missed the Espada's demands, and knew it was all a charade to get to Uryu. He fervently hoped the Quincy wouldn't fall for it, but… that was easy for him to say. He felt his chest constrict as he watched the way Uryu shivered against his on-screen self. He was afraid. Afraid of what would happen next. Afraid of what he'd do to him.

Ichigo moaned softly as he started rocking his hips very slowly. Uryu gasped startled and grabbed the Substitute's Kosode top for support while averting his gaze. Then, Ichigo detached one arm from the other's body, grasped the Quincy's chin and brought his face towards him, gently. Uryu looked at him warily and flustered.

Ichigo closed the gap between their mouths in a firm kiss. Making the other boy produce a shocked sound.

"I love you." Whispered the Substitute, still rocking rhythmically and caressing him tenderly. Uryu's cheeks got a deep, crimson blush, and he tried to look away again, so Ichigo repeated his words: "I love you." Stunned, Uryu looked at him intently, before he cautiously reached out and touched Ichigo's cheek with his fingertips, caressing ever so gently.

"Don't fall for it, Uryu. You know it's a trap. You must've picked up some things that maniac whispered, just like I did." The Substitute mumbled to himself, anxiety shooting through his nerves and heart pounding. Then he saw that meaningful look of longing on Uryu's face, the same he'd seen less than a handful of times since they'd been captured, and he knew Uryu was buying it.

Ichigo gave out a dark chuckle, before he quickly and roughly reversed their positions again. He violently threw Uryu backwards onto the floor, before he started pounding into him, brutally. Making him cry out from shock and pain.

"I hate you! You scrawny abomination! I hate you!"

Ichigo felt his heart freeze again when Uryu screamed as he was harshly impaled. His alter was trying to hurt him as much as possible right now, as that fucking Espada had commanded. His heart went out to the Quincy, who didn't deserve any of this…

After a few wild and painful thrusts, Ichigo flipped their positions again. He pulled Uryu upright against his chest and held him in his arms, gently embracing him.

"I love you so much." He whispered feverishly against Uryu's skin before placing soft kisses onto his neck and shoulders, starting his soft rhythm again and rocking gently. "I've always loved you." The Quincy went rigid against his chest, from fear and stress, to Ichigo's great amusement.

Uryu shrieked as he was thrown back down again, hard, and voicelessly cried out as the Substitute pushed his knees up before slamming into him forcefully. All the while gripping his hips with brute strength to bruise.

"You ugly, gay freak! I'm gonna kill you after I fuck you bloody and raw!"

It didn't take long for the Quincy to crack. The next time Ichigo hauled him into a sitting position to envelop him and caress his body tenderly, his face had crumbled in misery and his shoulders slouched in defeat as he clutched his hands in Ichigo's Shihakusho. Sorrowful sobs escaped his lips and tears came crashing down. All the while the Substitute whispered "I love you" into his ear.

Ichigo could feel his own heart break in tandem with Uryu's.

He took a quivering breath to try and calm his racing heart. He hadn't even realized he'd started crying, too, until warm drops fell onto the hands he'd thrown in front of his face.

"I'm so sorry… Uryu." He whispered.

"Yes, I bet you are." Said the honey-glazed voice of Szayelaporro. He had crouched in front of Ichigo, behind the glass wall, and was watching him with great interest. "That Quincy is so pathetic. Even though he couldn't speak, he didn't gave you any signs about any of this happening and dealt with it all by himself. Humans, or Quincies in this case, are so ridiculous! Ever since you broke down in front of him, sobbing like a little girl, that poor sap wanted to spare you. Utterly priceless!" He laughed out loud while standing up.

Ichigo wanted to smack Szayelaporro in the face and then some. For everything he'd make him do to Uryu and for everything he put him through. But the video he just witnessed had depleted all of his energy, and he felt utterly useless. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Uryu's father sway a little, before Renji lent him a shoulder as to not crash to the floor. They were fighting the last remaining blue guard. Ryuuken shot him an angry glare and he quickly turned away. Uryu'd told him his father was not an ordinary man. What was he to think of them now? He wasn't watching the whole movie, but surely he'd caught glimpses of them going at it…

As he gazed back towards the screen with watery eyes, where Uryu had once again been thrown to the floor and was subjected to painful abuse, he heard himself scream:

"You're gonna die here! You're gonna die, you gay abomination! And then I'm gonna fuck Orihime! You scrawny piece of ass!"

After that Ichigo moaned loudly and shuddered, having reached the finish line. Smacking Uryu hard across the face, he pulled out and adjusted his clothes before standing up to receive new orders. Leaving an utterly shaken Uryu where he lay against the wall, crumpled in a dazed and crying heap.

"You've done well, my pet." Szayelaporro purred. "Now clean up the mess you made off yourself, so your counterpart won't have a clue to what you just did."

"Yes, master."

Ichigo took some toilet paper to wipe Uryu's blood off his hands, before repeating the action on his groin area. Smirking at the crimson stains, he looked over at the Quincy who was still crying where he'd left him, before flushing the stained tissues down.

"Go back to sleep, my pet."

"Yes, master.""

Ichigo remembered that time now. He'd woken up in the middle of their cell, feeling quite relaxed, while Uryu had been crying in a corner. The Quincy'd convinced him he'd had a nightmare… Tears were still dripping from his eyes as he now realized why Uryu hadn't wanted him to take a look at the bleeding from his rear that day. He himself had been the cause of that bleeding. He'd probably been the cause of all the bleedings that 'spontaneously' started during those few days they didn't have to look upon the Espada.

Uryu had suffered so much and yet… he had wanted to protect him from all of this. He hadn't wanted him to know… That harsh truth made his chest tighten.

He was starting to fear the confession Uryu had uttered, as he lay slowly dying, was true. Why else would the other boy go that far on his account? Ichigo ran a hand through his short hair as he didn't know how to deal with the emotions that knowledge stirred inside his heart.

"Why did you want to hurt him so much?" Ichigo asked with a hoarse voice. "Why leave me unscathed while you were so cruel towards the Quincy?"

"Why?" Szayelaporro grinned. "Isn't it obvious, dear Shinigami Substitute? You were the one I needed, and your girlfriend was collateral damage." He laughed again, while Ichigo gasped.

"C-collateral damage? You…" His voice stocked, but his hands trembled and he made fists, so hard his knuckles turned white. "How dare you…" He wiped his eyes onto his sleeve and looked at the Espada with all the hate he could muster. And then some.

"You'll understand soon enough, but first, there is yet more footage I want you to see."

"No!" Yelled Ichigo. "You can shove your videos up your ass! I don't wanna see any more of them!"

"Leave him alone, you creep! We've seen enough of your shit!" The Substitute heard Renji yell from behind him. While Ryuuken was fighting the last blue-clad guard, the Shinigami flung Zabimaru towards one of the 3 screens in the room. After hitting one of them, the flayed blade promptly changed direction and hit the second and third screen. Ichigo rejoiced when sounds of broken glass mixed with little explosions and the screens went dark with a zap. For a moment, only the battle sounds of Uryu's father and his opponent were heard, before the Espada grinned at them.

"What a waste of energy." Szayelaporro said, flatly. "You do know the biggest screen is behind me, right? And you're absolutely not getting through my glass wall. You'll get to see your sins whether you like it or not, Kurosaki Ichigo. Besides, " he clasped his hands together and joyfully continued, "you hurt your precious girlfriend so much in this movie Especially after you were done with my orders." He chuckled darkly."

"Goddamit!" Renji yelled and Ichigo scowled.

"Hey, Shinigami! We're not done here! Leave that cowardly friend of yours and get your ass over here!" Shouted Ryuuken, clearly not amused with the situation.

Renji scoffed. "Now I'm being bossed around by a middle-aged Quincy." Then the red-head turned his attention back towards him. "Ichigo, don't give that creep what he wants. Just try to keep it together and at least defend yourself, dammit."

"I… I know, Renji. I'm trying, but…" Ichigo trailed off, as the pink-haired freak had already put his last remaining screen back on and his eyes were stuck on that blasted screen again. He didn't want to watch, but at the same time, he needed to know.

"Fuck!" He heard the red-head curse, before jumping back into the fray.

Ichigo was sleeping next to Uryu again, holding him, when the words echoed through their cell:

"Black… velvet."

Immediately, the Substitute jerked upright, waking the Quincy in the process.

"Fuck him raw and hard. Hurt him. Make him scream."

"Yes, master." Answered Ichigo without a touch of hesitation.

Uryu made a frightful sound as the words reached his brain. His body was not fully awake yet, but he tried to will it into action. It was futile. Before he'd even managed to push himself into a sitting position, Ichigo was on top of him.

Uryu froze, stress and fear paralyzing him. His lower lip trembled and he just stared up at Ichigo's dark gleaming eyes, completely terrorized and petrified. The latter grabbed his glasses and swiftly tossed them aside. That action drew a startled sound from the Quincy, but he didn't move.

"See how much power you have over him already?" Grinned the Espada. "You've completely messed him up. He can't even lift a finger against you. If I hadn't had him injected with a high dose of adrenaline when he had to fight your Vasto Lorde form, he never would've survived."

"Shut up!" Shouted Ichigo. "Stop this! I don't wanna look anymore!" Szayelaporro just laughed and gave him the finger. Ichigo felt helpless, but the sounds his friend was making kept drawing his attention towards the screen. He didn't want to, but he couldn't stop himself from looking. He needed to know the truth, as much as he didn't want to find out, and it hurt him tremendously. He felt horror turn his stomach as he saw his alter ego make quick work of shedding Uryu's slacks. Again.

Ichigo pinned the archer's hands above his head and without any sign of compassion, he just slicked his erection with spit before he lined up his hips, ignoring all protesting sounds the other boy was making. Then, Ichigo used his free hand to violently punch Uryu in the tender flesh of his badly injured abdomen. As the Quincy made a hoarse sound and arched up from the pain, Ichigo ruthlessly shoved himself inside the other boy. Without any preparation. Inflicting even more pain.

The Uryu on screen screamed a silent scream, and Ichigo felt tears prick in the back of his eyes again. The Quincy screamed stuttered screams, again and again, as he was forcefully taken. These piercing, broken cries hurt Ichigo so much that he clasped a hand over his mouth to refrain from breaking down himself. He realized his alter didn't speak to Uryu this time as he was concentrating on making it as painful as possible for the other boy.

"Stop this, you bastard!" Ichigo couldn't take this anymore and turned around, trying to shut everything out for a moment, and looked towards the others. Renji and Uryu's father had just finished the last guard. The red-head sheathed his blade, but the Quincy kept his spirit bow firm in hand. They leaned onto whatever they could find in the hopes of regaining their breath. Neither of them was watching the screen, to preoccupied. Ryuuken tightened up the makeshift bandage around his wound, while Renji used a first-aid kido technique on him.

"Oh, you want to play some more?" Taunted the 8th Espada and quickly clapped his hands. Ichigo watched as two more blue Fraccionés jumped down, while trying to ignore the sounds on screen. "Now, these are my last ones, so play nice."

The 2 guards started circling Renji and Ryuuken immediately and Ichigo felt the urge to protect slowly rise from within him. Renji and Uryu's father were clearly tired and injured, and he'd been sitting on his ass for too long already. He tried to channel the despair and guilt, as well as the pain he felt for the other boy, into anger. Anger fueling his legs so he finally managed to stand up.

"You gotta be kidding me! There's more of those blue assholes." Yelled Renji as both him and the other man turned around to face the pink-haired freak, not letting their guard down. Both Ichigo and Szayelaporro watched how the expressions on their faces changed when their eyes locked onto the screen.

"Oh my god…" Muttered Ryuuken as his eyes had undoubtfully found Uryu on screen. He looked so shocked, like he hadn't even heard the sounds until now. Or he'd tried very hard to ignore them. Shivering, he dropped to his knees, looking horrified.

"S-shit… Ichigo, that's…" Renji had clasped a trembling hand over his mouth as his eyes fell onto whatever brutalities he was putting Uryu through on-screen.

Ichigo couldn't bear to look. Certainly not now that he'd witnessed the other two's reactions. He prayed it would be over quick, for Uryu's sake, but… he knew that stinking Espada better than to let him off easily.

Slowly, Ichigo picked up Zangetsu and felt its benign power sooth his broken spirit a little bit. It was like his weapon wanted him to fight. And Ichigo wanted it, too. Wanted to ignore these horrible sounds Uryu was making because of him. Wanted to feel like a hero again, not a torturer.

"I'll handle this." He firmly told the others. "You rest for a bit." Neither of them gave a reaction as they were both stunned into silence.

Ichigo charged both Fraccionés at the same time, slashing Zangetsu around adeptly. Ready to maim. Ready to kill. One of them wielded a katana. The other had a gun on its back and a zapping stick in hand.

It wasn't all that difficult to use all his pent up anger and frustration! Those guards were getting it, even if they hadn't hurt Uryu, he didn't care anymore. And afterwards, he'd make that fucking Espada pay.

Ichigo performed a spinning attack while crouching, and managed to slash one of the guards across the back of his knees. His other opponent swung his katana at him, but a violent kick to the head made him stagger. Ichigo redrew his weapon and as a hard gasp from Ryuuken reached his ears, obviously a follow-up on his son's behavior in the movie, he shoved his blade through the gut of the Fraccioné with the zapping stick, who moaned and slid down before dissolving.

Then, the Substitute made the mistake to turn around to block an attack of the katana wielding guard. His eyes fell onto the screen again and that wounded look on Uryu's face as he cried out made him falter. Add sound to that and a pang of guilt shot through the Substitute again. Shocked, he froze for a moment and instantly felt the sharp sting of torn flesh. The guard laughed and taunted him as he retracted his sword from Ichigo's side.

"F-fuck…" The Substitute muttered as he sank down to one knee. He wasn't giving up! He couldn't! As he screamed and turned Zangetsu in his hand, aiming for a lethal strike, the others reacted too. Szayelaporro's last surviving guard chocked up blood as he'd slashed him in the side at the same time as Renji had unleashed Zabimaru on his torso. Ryuuken had shot a fatal arrow through the Fraccionés throat, immediately going for the kill. Ichigo's lips curled into a faint smile as the thing in front of him dissolved. While he sat there panting, the red-head retracted his weapon and hurried to his side.

"Ichigo, are you alright?" Renji asked, while pulling him upright by an arm.

"Y-yeah… I'll live." Ichigo managed.

"Put pressure on that wound for a while." Ryuuken said coldly. "We aren't done here."

Unfortunately, that's when all of Ichigo's attention was drawn back towards the screen. Apparently, his alter had finished and Szayelaporro had ordered for him to make Uryu presentable for his other self. With a sharp gasp, he watched as his on-screen alter wiped most of the blood from Uryu's abused parts, and readjusted his clothes. Then he went to lay back down.

Ichigo saw himself 'wake up' again and crawl towards the other boy, whom lay absolutely still in the middle of their cell, limbs splayed out and glazed eyes staring into the distance. He remembered that moment. That was the day Uryu had had a meltdown. He'd looked so vulnerable and ready to break at that time, it had made his heart freeze.

Now he knew why…

"Now for my favorite part!" Laughed Szayelaporro. "The next scene is simply hilarious!"

"Fuck you!" Ichigo spat, as he remembered what would happen. Slowly, he walked back up to the glass wall, flanked by Renji and Uryu's father. The latter quickly crouched down next to Isshin to check on him, as he was still unconscious.

The Espada was still laughing mockingly when Ichigo heard his on-screen self ask:

"Did you have a nightmare again?" Uryu remained unresponsive. He just kept panting and staring at nothing.

"I know you're in a lot of pain, and I know this place is hell, but… please, don't give up, Uryu. I'll help you through this."

"Oh my god…" As the realization hit him that he had just put Uryu through hell and then he'd asked him not to give up… That he would help him through this, while he'd just violently raped him. He couldn't even begin to fathom what Uryu must've felt…

The Quincy's face contorted in hurt and tears started spilling from his eyes. Ichigo swiftly drew the other boy into a hug, pulling him up into a sitting position in the process.

Ichigo froze when the on-screen Uryu started sobbing as he held him. He saw himself whisper soft nothings to the other boy, just like he remembered, while he let the Quincy cry for as long as he needed to, wrapped into his arms.

"It's okay." Ichigo whispered, even if he knew his friend was about as far from okay as he could be, but still… "Please, don't give up, Uryu. For me. I'm with you." At that, the Quincy finally lifted his arms to hug him back, clinging to Ichigo with desperation.

Ichigo couldn't hold back a few fresh tears that spilled from his eyes. He'd hurt Uryu so much, and still… The Quincy had tried desperately to spare him from all of this. He'd rather it had stayed that way, that he hadn't found out, out of respect for the other boy's sacrifice. He'd rather that he'd been oblivious to all his sufferings, as he didn't know if he could ever forgive himself for putting Uryu through all of this.

"You know, Shinigami Substitute, " purred Szayelaporro, "when I separated the two of you, it wasn't because you needed to rest up for that final experiment. It was because you were going to kill your girlfriend ahead of time!"

That felt like another stab in Ichigo's heart. "You… you asshole!" His voice was hoarse, loaden with hurt.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Ichigo, it's gonna be alright." He heard Renji say, while he squeezed his shoulder in encouragement.

"I-I didn't know about this, Renji… I didn't know. I never wanted to…" He trailed off and suppressed a sob. His friend gave him a soft look and nodded in understanding.

"Of course not. And I'm sure Ishida knew that, too. We'll figure it out." He gave Ichigo a faint smile. "But first we'll take care of this fruitcake."

"Y-yeah…" Ichigo answered, but he couldn't even convince himself. Guilt and misery were battling inside him, and he had a hard time holding them in.

No matter how hurt he was right now, he knew he had to take down this Espada. For Uyu's sake, if nothing else. As he took a deep breath in and out, he wiped his tears away before facing the others again.

Szayelaporro gave them a round of applause. "So, you managed to defeat all my guards, did you. Well, whoopty-doo." He mocked. "Now you all have time to view the next movie."

"Just how many movies did you make of that pathetic son of mine." Ryuuken sneered.

"Oh plenty, old man!" Quipped Szayelaporro. "Should I let you watch them all?"

"Don't you dare!" The older Quincy countered. "My son had enough flaws as it was, without you two corrupting him even more! My brain can't even process those perverted acts I witnessed right now!"

"Don't talk about Uryu like that!" Ichigo yelled, but didn't get the time to give the Quincy's father a piece of his mind as the Espada beat him to it.

"Corrupting him? Now, now, Quincy dad, I gave him exactly what he wanted. Didn't I, Kurosaki Ichigo?" Before the Substitute got to answer that, Szayelaporro pushed a button on his remote and Uryu's voice echoed through the room.

"I-I want Ichigo to fuck me! I-I want Ichigo to fuck me!"

"Goddamit! Not this again!" Shouted Ichigo. He threw a punch at the glass wall in front of him, as he heard the others gasp in astonishment. It only made the Espada laugh mockingly.

"Don't forget, you're in my domain now, Shinigami!" That being said, the room started filling with rainbow colored gas.

"Fuck!" Shouted Ichigo. "It's his sleeping gas!"

"Stay low!" Barked Ryuuken, while jumping down. "Cover your mouth with something!"

Both Shinigami's did as the Quincy ordered and quickly went to lay down flat onto the floor, pulling a piece of cloth in front of their faces.

"Oh, don't worry. You won't get to sleep this time, Kurosaki Ichigo." Szayelaporro leered. "I just want to get you nice and drowsy, immobilized if you will, to start the final part of my show."

"F-final part?" Ichigo coughed. The Espada didn't answer anymore, but was pacing in front of the glass wall, waiting for his gas to have its desired effect.

"Fuck… my head…" Stammered Renji and turned over to lay on his belly. "What is this stuff?"

"He's used it on Uryu and me a few times. " Ichigo stopped to cough a bit. "Sometimes it knocked us out, sometimes it was less strong."

"Just shut up and save your breath, you two!" Sneered Ryuuken. He had such a charming personality, the Substitute thought. He could already see why Uryu had issues with him.

As the three of them lay there coughing for a moment, their bodies were under the influence of the rainbow-colored fumes that started to disappear. Szayelaporro was taking a few deep theatrical breaths in and out from behind his glass wall, just to taunt them. Then suddenly, he let the glass retract into the ceiling.

Ichigo wanted to jump him, now that he finally didn't wear that blasted collar anymore, but his body refused all activity and he just lay there on his back, panting. The Espada walked over towards him and lifted up his chin with the heel of his booth.

"How does it feel, Shinigami Substitute? Just like you remembered?"

"Fuck you!" Ichigo spat, his eyes ablaze and fury roaring through his body. "Just you wait, Szayelaporro!"

The latter just laughed. "Of course. But first, there is something important I want to show you."

"Goddamit! You've already made your point!" Uryu's father yelled. "I don't want to see any more of your horrendous movies!"

"Ah, yes, but this has been bothering my petty Shinigami captive for quite some time now." The Espada leered. "It's your lucky day, Kurosaki Ichigo!"

Without further ado, and under deftly curses of the three men, the screen turned on.

Ichigo gasped as he saw Uryu tied up to a surgical table again. His nose was bleeding and he had a split lip. Trembling slightly, he told the Espada:

"S-screw you! That's none of your business!" That earned him another blow to the face.

"Stupid Quincy." Szayelaporro crooned. "I have ways to make you talk, boy." He pulled out a syringe and injected something into Uryu's arm.

"What are you… aah…" The Quincy's head dropped back onto the table on a moan.

"Getting dizzy already, huh?" The Espada mocked. "I've just injected you with a powerful truth serum. Now, you'll tell me what I want to know whether you like it or not, Quincy." He laughed and smacked Uryu across the face again.

"As you must've guessed this was one of my interrogations with your girlfriend." Szayelaporro addressed Ichigo. "Of course, his lips were sealed, but…" He chuckled darkly.

"Come forth, my puppet."

"W-what?" Moaned Uryu, as he tried to get his head upright. "K-Kurosaki?"

Ichigo already felt his anxiety rising again. What had that freak make him do to Uryu this time? Was there really no end to this? He heard Renji gasp, but Ryuuken seemed unaffected nor surprised.

"This was actually the first time I used my mind controll on you, stupid Shinigami Substitute. I had to drug the Quincy after, so he'd forget about it, lest he'd spoil the surprise for you." The 8th Espada threw his hair back and laughed maniacally. "Now, I'll fast forward to the juicy part."

Ichigo saw in the fast flashes that he was standing next to the Quincy and was following Szayelaporro's orders again, which, this time, meant torturing him for information.

"Again!" Yelled the Espada.

Uryu tried biting his lip to suppress a shout, but failed and cried out as Ichigo shoved a bamboo blade under the nail of his index finger.

"What is your relationship with that Shinigami Substitute?" Szayelaporro demanded.

"He's… a friend… Why do you want to know?" Uryu's head lolled back and forth because of the drugs.

"I ask the questions!" He backhanded the Quincy, and more blood dripped from his nose. "Again."

Ichigo shoved another bamboo blade under one of Uryu's fingernails. He screamed and his head fell backwards again, body shivering.

"I-I'm telling the truth… Kurosaki is my friend…"

"You are here because you tried to protect him. Why?"

"Because… I… I want to be with him…" Uryu muttered. As he must've realized what he just said, a faint blush appeared on his face. Szayelaporro laughed.

"Yes, I already guessed that much from how obnoxiously you were always asking about him. You want him to be more than a friend, don't you?"

"Y-yes… "

Ichigo made a startled gasp, but kept his eyes glued to the screen.

"Again." The Substitute chuckled darkly as he slid another bamboo blade under one of Uryu's fingernails.

"Stop!" He cried. "I am telling the truth! You know I am!"

"I do! But this is so much fun! Now we'll be recording a message for your boyfriend. Just answer my question." He gripped Uryu's chin between his fingers and turned his face towards one of the camera's. "How do you want to be with Kurosaki Ichigo?" Uryu hesitated for a moment, before replying:

"I… I want to be close to him."

"That won't do. Again!" Uryu screamed as Ichigo pushed one of his torturous blades deeper into his tender skin, while he grinned darkly. "Think of your wildest dreams, Quincy! How do you want to be with Kurosaki Ichigo?"

"I want… to be intimate with him."

"Again! Are you stupid, boy! I know you want his hands on your body! Say it with conviction! With passion! Or we'll keep this up!"

The Uryu on screen screamed again, and the Substitute gulped hard. This was not something he'd been expecting and it felt like his head was about to pop open. And the thought he was watching this with Renji and Uryu's father mortified him. He remembered the Quincy telling him his father was unaware of his preference, and this would be an insane way to find out.

"Alright, Quincy. I'll give you a moment to catch your breath. My message has to taunt your boyfriend for all he's worth. Do not fail me again or I'll make it so much worse for you."

Uryu was taking shallow breaths and blinked a few times, his head lolled to the right on a moan while he desperately tried to regulate his breathing. He was clearly thinking over his next words with utmost caution. Ichigo chuckled darkly, ready to continue the game while the Espada gave him a moment. When the Quincy's breath was somewhat normal again, his pale cheeks turned crimson as he admitted:

"I-I want Ichigo to fuck me!"

"Finally! We can work with that." Szayelaporro grinned darkly and released his chin. "Again." He told his puppet, who complied immediately. Uryu screamed again as yet another blade was pushed under one of his fingernails., body trembling. "Why? Why would you go so far, being tortured like this for his sake?"

Tears started spilling from Uryu's half-lidded eyes as his gaze crossed Ichigo's absent one.

"Because… because I love him…" He whispered, his eyes locking with the Substitute's. "I love him…"

The screen went off with a zap and Szayelaporro started laughing hysterically. "Oh my! You should see the looks on all of your faces! It's hilarious!"

"Whoa…" Muttered Renji. "That's… heavy…"

Ichigo just sat there, shocked and completely taken aback. He inhaled sharply and tried to process what he'd just witnessed. Uryu had been injected with a truth serum. He had been incapable of lying. Of course, he'd heard his confession before, but Uryu had been mortally wounded at that time and he hadn't been certain if the weight of those words were true.

The pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place. He'd been thinking about Uryu saying those words for so long now, he'd even mistreated the Quincy because of it. And now… it seemed both theories were applicable at once. Yes, Uryu had really meant it. And yes, it had been tortured out of him.

"Uryu…" Was all Ichigo could stammer. The guilt and pain he felt in his heart had just become a 100 times worse, because the Quincy… loved him. Uryu loved him. And he'd done such horrible things to him.

He'd been right about this. That bastard had been using this against them all along! As he looked towards Uryu's father, he saw his mouth had literally fallen open and he was looking at him in pure disdain, but he didn't have time nor interest to address him right now. The old man would just have to cope for now.

"You fucking dick!" Shouted Ichigo. "You've played him all along, didn't you! Torturing him like that because of his feelings! Just so you could get to me!"

The Espada clapped his hands, before dipping down and crooning to him: "I modified those Hollows to lure you in with their chanting, don't you remember? They waited patiently for weeks, testing my spiritual pressure shield, waiting for the right moment when you would be fighting alongside one of your friends." Ichigo gasped, and Szayelaporro grasped his chin so he could almost bring their mouths together for extra impact. "I wanted to control you and to test my hold by having you unleash your powers at the one brought with you. Any of your friends, Shinigami or not, would have done the trick, but this…" He laughed mockingly. "This was a double lucky shot! Not only could I get rid of that stupid Quincy that was partly to blame for my predecessor's demise, but to have him destroyed by the one he loves. It's utterly breathtaking! I couldn't have thought up such a scenario myself!" He laughed maniacally, making his pink hair dart around, before wiping a tear from his eyes.

"You… you sick freak!" Sneered Ichigo, still trying to move his body into action.

"Owww, don't be like that." Szayelaporro tutted. "He wanted to be fucked by you, didn't he. Well… I hope you lived up to his expectations!" He burst into a fit of mocking laughter again.

"F-fuck you! You goddamn bastard!" Ichigo screamed. His brain functions were slowing down at the thought of what he'd put Uryu through. And to think that maniac had used the both of them like this only because the Quincy was in love with him was more than he could bear. He felt his abused heart shatter again, and tears were stinging at the back of his eyes. But…

There would be a time to grieve about all of this. A time to think everything over. A time to figure out what to do with Uryu's feelings. To try and heal. And to ask for Uryu's forgiveness. Now was not that time. He didn't allow himself to wallow in self-pity and hurt any longer.

That Espada was going down. Even if it was the last thing he'd do!

Letting his eyes glide over the room, he saw the confused look on Renji's face as he, too, was trying to get his body moving. Uryu's father tried pushing himself on all fours with trembling hands. He didn't show any emotion.

"Now, as you have brought a perfectly good new specimen for me. I'd gladly show him around the lab." Szayelaporro said while striding towards Renji.

"What? N-no way, man!" The red-head was visibly panicking. "Not this weird shit again! I've endured enough the last time!"

"Leave him alone!" Shouted Ichigo. The Espada gave Renji a toothy smile and undid his hair, letting his fingers glide through the scarlet strands.

"There. That suits you more." He purred, while pulling his face close and letting his other hand slide down the small of his back. "I remember you. You were working together with that Quincy to take my predecessor out. What a wonderful coincidence! I'll take you to one of my cells, and-"

"Back off!" The Shinigami shouted. "Leave me alone!" He looked at Ichigo with a flustered face, but the latter still couldn't move and cursed.

"All you Shinigami are so stupid. Don't you know that I always get what I want?" With that he picked up one of the zapping rods of his former guards and buzzed Renji in the neck. "That'll make you compliant for a while-"

Suddenly, Szayelaporro shrieked. His face contorted in shock and he spat out blood as a sword protruded his abdomen.

"Surely you haven't forgotten about this stupid Shinigami?" Isshin mocked, emerging from behind the Espada. He kicked the man forward so he slid off his Zanpakuto. Staggering, Szayelaporro took a few steps forward, clutching his chest, glaring all around him and muttering curses.

"Dad!" Shouted Ichigo. For once, he was actually happy for his father's loony personality. How long had he been conscious?

"That was fun!" Isshin said, his usual jovial self. "What did I miss?"

Ryuuken scoffed at that, but kept silent. Ichigo felt relief spread through his chest as it appeared his father had at least missed the video's where he was abusing Uryu. He wanted to tell him something, but didn't get time to react as Szayelaporro spoke again.

"Black… velvet!"

"Fuck!" Shouted Ichigo, but immediately felt the mind control spell start to pull at him.

"Pick me up, Ichigo!" Yelled a familiar voice inside Ichigo's head. "Pick me up, now!"

"Ichigo!" Shouted Renji, who finally had managed to get his body into action and tried crawling towards the Substitute. Ryuuken was swaying, but he'd gotten on his feet. Isshin stood in front of all of them in an offensive stance, smirking at the Espada

"This charade has been fun while it lasted, but now I'm through with you." Szayelaporro sneered. "I'll take my specimen back, and that red hottie can stay too." Renji shrieked after hearing that while releasing Zabimaru. "Now, my puppet, kill those 2 old men!"

"Goddamit! We're in for it now!" Shouted Ryuuken. "He's going to turn on us, too!"

Ichigo's mind went blank and he was falling down an endless black hole.

"Fuck…" He cursed. It was going to happen again and he had no control over any of it. If Szayelaporro's plan worked out, he'd wake up, not remembering anything, and he'd have killed both his dad and Uryu's… "Gods, no…"

"Ichigo!" Old man Zangetsu appeared in front of him, as if he was falling down with him. "Thank god you picked me up. This time, we'll work together to break that bastards hold over you."

"Can you do that?" The Substitute asked with a wavery voice. He'd fallen right into that trap of that fucking douchebag again, so tormented by what he'd seen that he hadn't realized the Espada could simply pull off the same trick again.

"I think we have a decent shot at it. If you follow my lead."

Ichigo grinned. "Anything you say, Zangetsu." Instinctively, he reached towards him and when they touched, he found himself in his inner world again. Standing on the side of a building, as usual. As he'd fallen to his knees, Ichigo quickly rose to his feet, his Zanpakuto firmly in hand. "So, how do we go about-

"Long time no see, Ichigo." A high-pitched, familiar voice said. He didn't even have to turn around to know its origin.

"Indeed, Shirosaki." He said, using the nickname his Hollow alternate personality picked for himself.

The white-skinned version of himself huffed and jumped over him. "King, let me out. I'll deal with this."

That made the Substitute hesitate for a moment. "I don't know if-"

"Do as he says, Ichigo." Zangetsu seconded that. "He'll prevent your friends from being attacked by yourself, as the mind control won't affect him."

"It won't? But how?" Ichigo asked incredulously.

"Simple." Said Shirosaki. "I'm not you. At least not in spirit. Thank god for that!" He mocked. "That loser controls your mind, not mine." Ichigo was too tired for this to put up a lot of resistance. If his Hollow could help him out of this mess, he'd take that chance.

"While he keeps him busy, we'll work together at breaking that Espada's hold over you." Said Zangetsu. Ichigo nodded, as they were both right. This was his best shot at ruining the Espada's plans and getting rid of his control over him once and for all.

"Alright, Shirosaki. Go!"

"You got it, king!"

And with that, Ichigo's Hollow jumped up and disappeared. He heard gasping all around him when he made his theatrical entrance. Holding his Zanpakuto and sitting, light as a feather, atop the Espada's shoulder.

"What?" The latter asked alarmed. "Who are you?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Shirosaki laughed. "I'm Ichigo." Without further hesitation, he stabbed Szayelaporro in the shoulder, drawing a startled yelp from him, while licking his lips in the process. As he retrieved his blade, he put on a show by licking it clean.

"Yuck! Get off of me, right now!" Yelled Szayelaporro. He grabbed him by a foot and wanted to toss him off, but Shirosaki jumped and landed somewhere between the Espada and the other three men in the room. They were staring at him, pointing their weapons at him, as well as at the Espada.

"Ichi…go?" Asked his father. "I've never seen you like that, are you really-"

"It's me, pops." He scoffed. "I'm the better version of him. He's kinda busy right now." With that, he laughed like a maniac and dashed towards the Espada again. "You should've stayed in your glass bubble, pink freak." He sneered. "Ichigo told me you your bill was due, and I'm afraid I'll cash in double!" He laughed again.

Szayelaporro was trembling slightly, as his abdominal and shoulder wound had to give him some discomfort, to say the least, but that everlasting grin did not fade from his face. He had taken a gun in hand and fired the net right into Shiroaski's face.

"Fuck!" Yelled White Ichigo as he was zapped with electricity "What is this?"

"I've got you now!" Exclaimed the 8th Espada. "That net will keep buzzing electricity through you until you lose conscience. Pretty nice, huh."

"Not really." Taunted Shirosaki, before thrashing like a savage, tearing the net with his hands and cutting it with his sword. As he threw the net off of him and rose to full length he scoffed: "And here I was, hoping for a challenge when king finally let me out…"

The Espada looked at him with incredulous eyes. Apparently his interest piqued and a toothy grin appeared on his face as he drew his sword. White Ichigo laughed mockingly at that, as he'd never seen Szayelaporro use his blade during all the time his other-self had been a prisoner here. That had to count for something!

A power struggle started between the two of them. Swords clashed, fists hit, legs stomped down, and the derisive laughter of white Ichigo drowned out all other sounds.

"Go Ichigo!" Shouted Renji from a distance. He and the others were just spectators now.

"This is the most fun I've had in a long time!" He screeched and managed to make a long gash over the Espada's chest. The latter wasn't chuckling anymore, but looked angry. Blood from his shoulder wound among others, was slowly seeping through the white fabric he wore.

"You piece of shit!" Szayelaporro screamed. "You've completely ruined my perfect outfit! How dare you!"

"Like this!" Shirosaki taunted, before he slashed at the Espada's back, drawing a deep, bloody gash.

"Damn you! My clothes are in tatters!" Szayelaporro yelled. "You're gonna pay for that!" He jumped back for as far as he could, held his sword in the air and muttered: "Sip! Fornicarás!" With that he swallowed the long blade down.

"Whoa!" Shouted White Ichigo. "That's some neat trick, man!" He jumped in front of the Espada and watched with great interest what would happen next.

"Dammit!" He heard Renji yell. "Ichigo, watch it! That's his Resureccion! He's gonna turn us into voodoo dolls!" From the waver in the red-head's voice, Shirosaki could tell the Shinigami was really worried.

Ichigo's Hollow watched as slowly, the Espada started glowing. Laughing hard, with his head thrown back, his blade completely absorbed into his body.

"You're in for it now, stupid Shinigami Substitute. I'll make you compliant again. You'll see. After I'm completely restored and have crushed anorgan or two-" Szayelaporro stopped abruptly, as the glow of his body dimmed out. "W-what?" He screeched.

Shirosaki laughed. "That all you can do, fruitcake?"

"No! I'm supposed to evolve into-"

"Shut up!" He stabbed him in the gut while the Espada was distracted. Szayelaporro took a step back, groaning, while putting pressure on the wound with his gloved hands. Swaying a little, he cursed:

"Fuck! That stupid predecessor must've intentionally sealed my Resureccion! Goddamit!"

"Get him!" Shouted Isshin as he dashed forwards, with Renji in tow, while Ryuuken was drawing an arrow from the side.

"No!" Yelled the Hollow and glared at them with his yellow eyes. "He's mine!"

That being said, he disappeared into his inner world again where Ichigo had been calling his name for a little while now. He knew what that meant. As if that smirk Ichigo was flashing him wasn't proof enough.

Zangetsu had managed to break the mind control!

"You done?" Ichigo asked, more determined than ever.

"He's all yours." He gave a mocking, theatrical bow, before jumping over him while giving his king a high-five.

"Shirosaki!" Ichigo yelled, before he disappeared again. "Thank you!"

With renewed vigor, Ichgio found himself standing in the room with his father and the others again. In the few seconds it had taken to trade places with his Hollow, his father and Renji had started circling Szayelaporro, while Uru's father had his spirit bow in hand, ready to fire. Ichigo dashed forward and jumped between them.

"Ichigo! Good to see you're you again." Renji shouted.

"I've waited for this moment, Szayelaporro."

True to his character, the latter threw his hair back and laughed. "Yeah, I bet you have, Kurosaki Ichigo. I don't know how you broke free of my Black Velvet spell, but it doesn't matter anymore. See this remote, boy?" He pressed a button on it. "I've just set the entire lab to self-destruct. As if I'd surrender my work to filthy Shinigami." As if to emphasize his words, red lights went on and an alarm started blaring:

"Warning! Warning! Self-destruction activated! Ten minutes to self-destruct!"

Suddenly, a blue arrow hit the Espada in the middle of his chest. That was Ryuuken's way to let him know how he felt about it. It made Szayelaporro stagger and grunt, but that stupid smile didn't disappear of his face.

"I don't need 10 minutes, you douchebag." Ichigo said with a calmness that surprised himself. His blood was boiling, and he could be spurring liquid rage right about now. It must be the influence of Zangetstu that held him back. Or the repercussions of being under that pink freak's control.

"Still pissed about what I made you do to your girlfriend, huh? Oh, you poor sap." The Espada said, feigning crying. "I guess it wasn't as good for you as it was for him."

"Shut up!" Ichigo shouted, holding his Zanpakuto firmly in hand. "You can't even use your sword anymore, can you." He got a toothy grin as a reply. "Say your prayers." Ichigo said coldly while dashing forward.

"Warning! Nine minutes to self-destruct!"

The Substitute yelled as he dashed forward, using Shunpo for added speed. He dragged Zangetsu into the Espada's side effortlessly. Blood splattered around, and… he felt a sharp pain in his gut.

"Son!" He heard his father yell while he looked down. Szayelaporro had pierced him with a wakizashi he must've had hidden under his robes. And he'd been stupid enough to let himself get skewered.

"F-fuck…" He muttered, looking into the dark leer of the Espada, while he spat out the blood that he tasted in his mouth.

"Didn't see that one coming, eh, Kurosaki Ichigo." After those words, Szayelaporro spit out blood as well, before he started panting, as Ichigo hadn't held back either. "I'm full of surprises, ain't I?"

"More like… full of shit." Ichigo pulled out his sword and slashed the Espada across the chest again. The latter screamed, but didn't release the hold over his wakizashi.

Laughing darkly, he said: "You're gonna die here, with me. Now won't that make for a nice ending?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Shouted Ishhin, while stabbing Szayelaporro from behind again, drawing a high-pitched wail from the pink-haired man. He was now pierced between Ichigo and his father. His legs gave way and he would've sank down if not for the two Zanpakuto's holding him up.

"Warning! Seven minutes to self-destruct!"

"Dad, get back. I want to kill him!" Ichigo looked at his father with all the fury and hurt he'd accumulated and the latter gave a disappointed sigh, before withdrawing his sword.

"I understand, Ichigo. Make it quick. You're losing too much blood."

Ichigo gasped as he looked down to see a small puddle forming at his feet. He didn't have that much time left. For his father to let him take on his enemy by himself, he must've figured out how important it was for him.

Szayelaporro's arm fell down, finally letting go of his wakizashi, but Ichigo didn't remove it, as he knew the bleeding would become much worse.

"You're so… pathetic. Just like that… pitiful Quincy." The Espada was still mocking him with bloody lips, so Ichigo redrew his sword and slammed it into his gut.

"Who's pathetic? I bet you're nothing compared to the real thing, you asshole!"

"Warning! Six minutes to self-destruct!"

"Ichigo! We gotta run! Just leave that freaking bastard here!" Renji screamed at him.

Renji was right. They didn't have time, but this freak had it coming for a long time. Besides, if they left him here now, everything he'd done in this room up until now would be in vain. He couldn't take any chances with this guy. He probably had an escape pod or something. No, they had to make absolutely sure he was either dead or detained. They'd shunpo out of here in a few minutes anyway. Still, he had to be quick.

"Getsuga tenshou!" Ichigo screamed. Releasing the full blast point-blank into Szayelaporro's body. The latter screamed as he was engulfed by light.

As the blinding luminescence was receding, Ichigo smirked to see the 8th Espada laying crumpled on the floor. He was trembling heavily, blood gushing from his mouth. His severed legs a little further on the floor. Part of the blast must've cauterized his torso somewhat, which was probably the reason why he was still alive.

"D-damn you, Kurosaki Ichi-" He trailed off, coughing.

Ichigo felt a massive relief spread through his veins and dropped to his knees. Finally drawing the Espada's sword out of his gut. He immediately started to put pressure on the wound with his trembling hands, but his father was behind him in a flash.

"Warning! Five minutes to self-destruction!"

Isshin put his hands over Ichigo's abdomen and started healing him, working fast to reduce blood loss. "I can only do minimal healing Ichigo. We have to get outta here. Fast!""

"I know, dad." He whispered. "I'm sorry." As he fell sideways towards his father, he continued: "Bastard had that coming… Payment for me and… Uryu…"

Uryu's father was next to them in a flash, trying to cover up the dangerous wound with a makeshift bandage, while Isshin was still closing it up with his spiritual pressure. Ichigo felt himself grow dizzier by the minute, but still, his eyes widened at Szayelaporro's next words:

"Stupid Shinigami… I've made clones of myself… I'll get you for this… And that Quincy…"

"Shut up, fruitcake!" Sneered Ryuuken. "You're bluffing!"

"Am I?" The Espada laughed, but had to stop in favor of taking a raspy breath.

"You'll never harm Uryu again…" Ichigo tried while doing his best to cope with the pain and dizziness. "I'll make sure of that…"

"Silly boy, I'm not the one who's going to destroy that precious Quincy of yours." Szayelaporro grinned darkly. "'You will do that yourself." Ichigo gasped at that, but didn't get the chance to counter that, as an electrocuting net was suddenly fired over the Espada and he screamed. "Goddamit! Stupid Shinigamis!" It didn't take long for him to pass out.

"I'll take him with me for captain Kurotsuchi!" Renji grinned. "I'm sure those two have lots to talk about. Not to mention that's a fate worse than death."

"Isshin, we gotta go. Now!" Uryu's father stated firmly, while Ichigo was trying to lift his thumb towards the red-head. He felt his father grab him in his arms to lift him up, while he tried to suppress a groan.

"Warning! Four minutes to self-destruction!" The alarm continued blaring.

"See." Isshin quipped. "Still plenty of time."

With that, the 4 men dashed out of the room, using Shunpo and Hirenkyaku alike. Ichigo grabbed his dad's Shihakusho as he felt his head grow very heavy and stammered:

"Thanks… everyone…"

Although he was exhausted and wounded, and the two doctors had probably just saved his life, he couldn't help but have a sense of accomplishment. He let his lips curl into a smile as his last coherent thought before he lost conscience was:

"I did it… Uryu…"