Chapter 9

"Tesla Lindocruz, a young man of 22, was reported dead yesterday at an underground strip club. Witnesses say he passed out after having intercourse with a regular customer, but never woke up afterwards. His autopsy has yet to be rele-"

Shiro turned off the TV, looking to Ichigo who was sound asleep. They had just returned from eating an hour earlier, Ichigo for the first time in a year not playing with his food. Shiro was afraid he would have kept on doing that for many more years to come, but he guessed his fear was for nothing.

He leaned back against the couch, running a finger between his eyebrows, smoothing out the skin. Ichigo was always scowling now a days, and though he couldn't age, it was still not the best sight. Shiro remembered when he had first met him.

He had saw him smiling and so happy, so playful and alive. He was the last person he thought a vampire of dark dreams would attack and attempt to sire. Vampires like Starrk attacked those who had darker sides they only acknowledged in their heads and hid from others. Hate. Anger. Fear. Ichigo may have had another side to himself, but with love, that side was not something that would or could control him.

Shiro stopped his small massage, looking at Ichigo's peaceful face. What was it that Starrk was targeting, if it wasn't his darkness?

Ichigo shifted in his sleep, pressing his nose into Shiro's rib cage, mumbling something about lemon soda. Shiro smirked, running a hand over his cheek. Ichigo's weight heavied against him as he rested once again, his breath wafted against his shirt and pushing it lightly against his skin.

After a long thought, Shiro came to realize, it didn't seem that Ichigo harbored a darkness. Most vampires, after their two months of recovery go on their first hunt. But when they first begin to hunt, they lose themselves in their hunger, and become monsters. That is when they become aware of the darkness they harbor, and build the bridge that will allow them to tap into their individual talents.

Shiro's was the ability to control fire, making him an elemental vampire. Starrk was given the ability to attack his prey through their dreams, and slowly suck the life and blood out of them, using their own minds as a portal. The darker their hearts and minds, the quicker they die. He was called a dream dweller, a very powerful vampire. Shiro had lost his arm fighting him, but with a quick trick he had another.

But Ichigo never went through that process. He had no talent because of it. So Shiro has had to keep a very close eye on him, because he never knew when he would lose himself. He was weak without the knowledge of his darkness, he could not call upon it and use it to his will. He was strong, no doubt, but only when he was angry.

In some cases, he will never get the chance to be angry. Sadly, Ichigo wasn't the only case with the same problem. But those who could not do as what was called of them were killed by their sires. A vampire cannot be weak. They had to be monster's.

When Shiro had come to realize Ichigo was of a similar case, his first instinct was to kill him. This was the instinct of every vampire when their offspring was not strong enough or was ill. They couldn't risk having something so vile tagging along.

Brad had not only lost himself to his darkness, but could not find his way out. Back then, it was easy to kill him. He couldn't let the boy suffer each time he tried to feed. He was ill, he couldn't go on. Shiro put a hand around Ichigo's throat, feeling for a pulse that was no longer there. But when it came time to kill Ichigo, he couldn't.

He was given three chances to create a suitable offspring to carry on the vampiric legacy, and Satan was slowly losing his patience. This was his second creation, he only had to kill him and create another. But he couldn't. He didn't want too.

If he killed him, after all this time, would Yuzu's friendship have meant nothing?

He removed his hand from his neck, touching his palm to Ichigo's bare chest. He had made her promise, and he wasn't about to break it. Even if it killed him.

XXX

Ichigo sat down on the bed, watching as Shiro slowly moved around the room. They were going to watch a movie while the sun was up, and though Shiro was bone tired and was stalling in hopes Ichigo would get tired, Ichigo was wide awake. He felt like he was human again, grinning stupidly as he bounced in place.

"Hurry up old man!" Ichigo rushed, Shiro sending him a glare.

"There are vampires older than me you know," Shiro reminded, Ichigo nodding.

"But you are the oldest one I met so far!" Ichigo pointed out, Shiro rolling his eyes.

"I bet you tonights dinner that Starrk was older than me," Shiro gambled, Ichigo going silent. He was not losing his dinner to such a lousy bet.
"Okay fine, he may have been older than you," Ichigo grumbled, scooting back on the bed and pressing his back against the bed frame. They were watching the american Godzilla, Ichigo excited to bits about it. Shiro wasn't, pointing out the japanese style wasn't that good, so he doubted this one would be any better. Ichigo went to America and watched this particular Godzilla, and he was sure Shiro was going to love it. He would bet his left pinky on it.

"I can't believe you forced me into watching this," Shiro sighed as he sat on the bed next to him, Ichigo cuddling into his side. He just smiled. He was going to love it so he could just shut up already.

The movie began, and Ichigo was pulled into it once again. Ichigo touched his finger's to Shiro's hand, lifting it off his thigh and linking their fingers. Shiro tightened his hand around his, kissing Ichigo's neck distractedly.

He seemed immersed in it already and Ichigo was very glad, rubbing his thumb over the back of his hand. When his finger stopped Shiro picked up the rhythm unknowingly, his eyes looking to him. For a second Shiro seemed a lot more interested in Ichigo's neck, and though it made Ichigo a little mad, he couldn't help but let his eyelids flutter at the treatment.

An old man was out fishing while it was pouring buckets of rain, his friends unbelieving he was going to get any fish. Ichigo tightened his hand around Shiro's when the water of the sea began to rise, rising up slightly with it. He leaned forward when the first peak of scales appeared, hissing when Shiro bit his neck.

He leaned away from him, biting his lip when his hand rested on his thigh, deadly close to his groin. He wouldn't admit it, but it was turning him on. He hoped he wouldn't notice as leaned farther away, watching the movie intensely.

Godzilla rampaged through the small city of Manhattan, the people scattering about like bugs. Ichigo was pretty sure that was how Godzilla saw them.

A man managed to get a video of him, but then all of a sudden he disappeared. Everyone was stunned, and the city was soon evacuated. Just as the main character Niko Tatopoulos was about to lift the sewer lid so the smell of fish would be more widespread, Ichigo felt a cold nose press into his neck. He looked to Shiro with a questioning gaze, but he saw his eyes were trained on the movie.

Ichigo raised a hand, rubbing his cheek with a sudden urge to do so. Shiro at first stiffened, looking to him uncertainly. But he soon relaxed, touching a hand to his, leading it farther down to the end of his jaw. Ichigo rubbed in small firm circles, Shiro hissing before relaxing heavily against him.

Ichigo felt like he really needed this. Shiro was always frowning at him or correcting him about something. Even though they were vampires, pain was still pain. Ichigo thought that maybe Shiro had pain there, so he rubbed just a tad harder, kissing his other forehead. Shiro rested his head on his shoulder, watching the movie with lidded eyes.

"Does it hurt here?" Ichigo said after some silence, Shiro looking to him.

"When i was human, I had a wisdom tooth that was stuck beneath my skin and couldn't come out. I was stuck there for a while, and someone, I can't remember who told me to rub it to increase the circulation of the veins stuck between my tooth and my skin. Always thought it was ridiculous, and it hurt like crazy, but the swelling wasn't as bad after a while."

Ichigo was shocked for a second.

Shiro was not very verbal about his previous life. He always saw it as a nuisance. Ichigo was curious and wanted to know everything, but at the same time didn't. The way Shiro talked about it was heavy with anger and regret. It sounded like it pained him to actually speak of something like that. For the first year of living with him, Ichigo would pester him constantly about it. He wanted to know everything, even if it would only hurt Shiro.

Now though, he knew better. He understood the pain of remembering something like that when a lady he had an interest in asked him if he had any family. His first instinct was to yes. He wanted nothing more than to brag about his family then bitch about them like he always did.

But the simple thought of them hurt. He could feel Karin's presence and hear Yuzu's laugh, but when he turned around there was nothing there. Nobody. That's when he remembered, he didn't have a family anymore. As long as he was this, he could no longer believe in their existence.

He had killed that young lady out of anger. He had brung her home and sucked her dry before tearing her head from her shoulders. He cried over body and curled into a ball in her blood.

He didn't want to remember. They were dead to him. Shiro was the only one that was his family. But when he slept that day, he heard that voice again.

"Your family left you, but I will always be here for you. Always Ichigo."

"Ichigo?" Brown eyes blinked back to reality. Shiro had moved away from his embrace and was staring at him with worry and concern, touching a hand to his arm.

"Ichigo what's wrong?" Ichigo pulled away.

"I will always be here for you. Always Ichigo."

"Ichigo what's wrong?"

"Always..."

"Ichigo!"

His head snapped to the side, tears building in his eyes as the pain spread through his cheek like fire. Ichigo touched a hand to his cheek.

"What's wrong with you?" Shiro hissed, Ichigo looking to him with distant eyes.

"Take me home."

"But I will always be here for you Ichigo. Always… Ichi-"

Ichigo cut off the voice with sudden anger, gripping his skull.

"Take me home!" he screamed, feeling Shiro's hands grab his wrists, Ichigo unknowingly digging his nails into his skull.

"I can-"

"Take me home!" Ichigo screamed, pushing Shiro away and throwing a pillow across the room.

"I wanna go home! Take me home now!" Ichigo screeched, Shiro staring at him in shock and disbelief.

Ichigo tackled him, both of them falling to the ground with a loud thud. Godzilla's mighty roar echoed throughout the room. Shiro remained still as Ichigo had his hands around his neck, his eyes stoic.

"Take me home dammit!" Ichigo growled, Shiro gritting his teeth when he shook him.

"Take me home!"

The orange haired man melted away into a small boy, his brown eyes welling up with tears.

"Please, just take me back home! Please!"

Shiro's eyes closed. He was sick.

Ichigo gasped when he was suddenly on his back, his eyes widening as yellow eyes glared down at him.

He was sick and would not get better.

Fire erupted in Shiro's hand, Ichigo struggling beneath him, feeling hopeless beneath his body.

Like all the rest, he shall not live. He shall not draw in another breath, or feel another wind.

Ichigo screamed for Shiro to stop, begging him and pleading like a servant that was being whipped. The fire burned him even though it was nearly two feet from his chest, Ichigo screaming for him to stop when he felt his skin prickle with sweat.

"Shiro stop! Oh god please! Shiro! Stop! Stop!"

No words shall he speak, no mercy he shall be given, called on the name of the Satan, to return to his home of fire and hate.

Ichigo sobbed hard when the fire was close enough to make his skin hurt, his shirt catching a flame. It spread slowly, burning Ichigo. He screamed bloody murder, begging him to stop, to put it out.

"And the Lord said, let there be light."

Shiro's finger's pierced Ichigo's flesh, sinking in slowly. Ichigo screamed for what felt for hours, feeling his hand of fire slide past his ribcage, the tips of his fingers touching his heart. The pain took away his breath, Ichigo's eyes white as he screamed through it all. But, in his mind, a small whisper echoed.

"Set me free, Ichigo. Accept me, and I will scare the darkness and pain away."

Ichigo in his mind reached out, arching when Shiro wrapped his hand around his heart.

"I am all that is left. Accept me, and I will set you free. Accept me, and all you have lost will be returned to you."

Tears fell down Ichigo's temples as he thought of all he had lost.

Karin. Yuzu. Dad. Orihime. Rangiku. Chad. Uryuu. Keigo. Renji. Mother…

"I want it all…"

Blood spurted from Ichigo's mouth as Shiro's flame began to burn his every organ, his hand reaching up as he saw all those he had lost. Blood poured from his eyes and nose, Ichigo reaching higher, almost feeling their warmth. He wanted…

His mother smiled at him, taking his hand.

"Remember, whenever you need me, I'll be right here. Don't you ever forget that."

Ichigo felt on the verge of dying again, his hand tightening around hers.

He wouldn't…

He wanted...

"I want it all back!"

Everything seemed to stop. Electricity traveled up Shiro's arm before back to Ichigo's heart, the organ pulsing. The TV turned off and all of the lights turned off in the house, even the sun seeming to dim. Then it was all released. The explosion was silent for a second, the sudden light blinding. Ichigo took in a breath, his lungs rising with his intake of oxygen. When he released it, a loud booming scream echoed through the house. Shiro was thrown back from the shock wave, slamming into the wall, creating a spider like mark.

It was quickly erased as the house itself shattered into a million pieces from the explosion, a news reporter who had been videotaping something pointing his camera to the house. His smile soon fell as house after house was blown down, the shock wave stretching five miles in radius in a large circle. Entire neighborhoods and buildings were obliterated, the sounds of screams heard from even where he was.

Then something as bright as the sun shot up from the center, the camera man screaming as the tail of the helicopter was hit. The helicopter spun out of control, the camera man screaming out to his partner as he fell off the helicopter, swallowed by the falling debris and flames.

After a mighty roar from the explosion, everything became silent. All of Tokyo was in the dark, and in the center of it all, a man stood. But as Shiro gasped for breath as he was raised high by his neck, he did not see a man.

He saw a monster.

XXX

Yuzu smiled as she prepared their dinner, chopping a carrot. She put the remains into a pot, turning the flame down low. She wiped her hands on her apron, turning when she heard a knock on the door.

She smiled at the thought of her husband returning home so early. He had went to Tokyo the day before, Yuzu rubbing her belly, humming silently to the baby inside. She had married when she turned 17, pretty early Karin told her, but Yuzu knew she had found the one. She was eighteen now with a baby on the way. Two more months and she would be able to see her baby in person.

She could hardly wait!

She opened the door and was confused when she saw Orihime.

"Oh, i wasn't expecting you!" Yuzu chirped, Orihime pushing past her. Karin followed in after her, her eyes holding a deep sadness.

"What's wrong?" Yuzu asked, confused as to why Orihime would brush past her so rudely.

"Turn on the news," Orihime told her, standing next to the couch. Yuzu was confused once again but did as she was told, searching the channels before she got to the right one.

"Tokyo is in devastation today after a sudden explosion that tore down neighborhoods and buildings, killing thousands. No one is for sure who had done it and blames and some people here in the safe zone have already began to claim America was testing out a new bomb, a conspiracy that has been investigated for over a decade. The entire Northern section of the Tokyo capitol, a famous tourist spot has been almost completely wiped out, leaving many missing. We have footage given to us by a man who witnessed the blast."

Yuzu put a hand to her mouth in shock as she looked to what had happened, tear welling up in her eyes when she saw a familiar building.

The Izumi Garden Tower came down slowly, her hands shaking as the screams seemed to echo in her ears.

Her husband…

Her husband had been in that building.

Karin caught her when she fell, holding her close as she sobbed loudly, her entire body shaking.

"The reason for the explosion is being investigated, but thousands of firefighters and police officers and search dogs are already searching for survivors, even regular citizens who search to help those who have lost love ones."

Yuzu sobbed against Karin's chest, her hands tightening in her shirt.

"SOUTA!"

Author's note: Things will start getting hectic. Reader be warned.