Hand of Sorrow
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I had my fair share of problems with this one, this is for sure... but I love this song and HAD to do a oneshot for it!
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Song: Hand of Sorrow
By: Within Temptation
Requested By: Hollow Ichigo-Ichigo (via PM)
Genre: AU
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The orange-haired, young man was kneeing in front of the high-standing throne in midst the dark stone chamber, the brunette man sitting on it smirking at the form of his loyal assassin. When he spoke his voice dripped with something undefinable that froze the blood in ones veins, not the teen's in front of him though. His heart had long since become stone, unmoving, no emotion running through his system.
"May I ask... where your loyalty lies?"
The man in front of him paused, head rising, blank facade broken only by the puzzled look in his amber irises that held the depth of an ocean. "Sire, what is with that question? The answer should be obvious."
The smirk on his king's face widened, nearly splitting his complexion in two. "True, but I want to hear it spilling from those lips of yours."
The brows of the younger man furrowed more, only by a slight notch but it caught the others attention regardless. After seconds of silence ticked by the orange-haired teen opened his mouth to answer, voice void any emotion signaling the robotic features he gained throughout the years.
"My loyalty lies with you, Sire, and only you. This life of mine is yours to throw away for you were the one saving it and giving it meaning and purpose."
"Well said."
"Now, may I ask, who the person is for me to kill this time, Sire?"
"Her name... is Kuchiki Rukia."
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The child without a name grew up to be the hand
To watch you, to shield you, or kill on demand
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He never failed. A job he was given was carried out without question and a success rate of one hundred percent. He was no human for no human being could kill with such passion and indifference at the same time, the expression in his victims eyes upon meeting their sure death heightening his senses and quickening his heartbeat, exciting him beyond belief, but his soul – if he even possessed one to begin with – staid untouched by the happenings.
He didn't care if he took the life of the mother of a group of children in front of their very eyes or if he killed a man without family or friends. To him each life was the same – worthless. If his king found they were no longer worth to live he took them from existence, slit their throats without a second thought.
For as long as he could remember he had led that life and he saw no reason to change the path he knew and believed in.
Why, then, did he let her go that night?
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The petite woman was running for dear life, the dress she wore entangling with her legs and slowing her down as she threw occasional gazes back over her shoulder, trying to see him through the darkness that had fallen over the town and made every darker shadow seem like him. When she entered another alley she let out a silent scream when a strong arm wrapped around her middle and kept her from escaping.
She was pressed against him as she felt the cold steel of his dagger at her neck, eyes widening to their extent as he trapped her against the wall, free hand covering her mouth. His lips were by her ear, his pulse quick by the excitement of seeing the raw fear in her violet irises as he whispered. "Shush, I don't want to have to kill more people than necessary just because you have to scream, chibi."
He felt her lips move against the palm of his hand forming the word 'dôshite?' against his skin. "Lord Aizen ordered me." If even possible her eyes widened further as her whole body shook against his. He frowned. Why indeed. Normally, he killed poor people who hadn't paid their taxes or had spoken ill of the king. But never a rich person, and judging by her clothes she was a very rich woman, possibly the daughter, sister or wife of some rich bastard.
So... why her?
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The choice he'd made he could not comprehend
His blood a grim secret they had to commend
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That thought surprised the assassin. Since when did he question his lord?
Something wet suddenly touched his hand and when he checked he saw her crying, violet irises watery from the burst of emotion.
What do emotions feel like, I wonder...
And just like that did he remove his hand from her mouth and the dagger from her throat as he stared into her questioning eyes. "Why does he want you dead?"
Kuchiki Rukia gulped as she kept her eyes locked with his. "M-my brother denied financial assistance in the war. We need it for medical treatment to my sister."
"Why does he want to see you dead when it is your brother disobeying orders?"
"Because neither my sister nor I would help him after Nii-sama's death."
"So he plans on taking you out of the way and getting your brother to agree," he mumbled under his breath, brows furrowing further. His eyes wandered back up to hers as he watched her amethyst eyes tremble from fear.
And without another word he was gone, leaving her to sink to the floor.
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He's torn between his honor and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied
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"Well?"
Kurosaki Ichigo took a deep breath as he knelt down in front of his master. "I... failed, Sire."
A brown eyebrow went up. "What was that?" The cold voice filled with deep anger making the assassin fear for his life.
An emotion, wow... what do people find so alluring on them?
"I failed, Sire. I couldn't find her."
"That is... unfortunate..."
Ichigo's head snapped up upon hearing the tone of voice his lord used. "B-but surely one failure won't soil your opinion of me, Sire?"
The brunette king glared. "That we will see."
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So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind
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"How did the man look, Ms Kuchiki?"
Said woman averted her gaze from the sand-blond man in front of her as she tried to remember the encounter the day before. "He... was tall... and well-trained, hair was spiky and light in color, dare I say, orange. His eyes..." She trailed of as her gaze became dreamy. "They were pure gold..."
The man in front of her raised an eyebrow. What's up with her? She sounds like a love-sick puppy...
"His... 'name' is Kurosaki Ichigo. He is lord Aizen's personal assassin and up until now never failed his missions. Those who have seen him fulfill his duty described him as an emotionless killer not caring whose life he takes. I'm surprised he took mercy on you."
Rukia didn't know what to say after Urahara Kisuke's statement.
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So many years have passed, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?
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The dark-haired woman looked out of her open window as she stared at the moon, contemplating what had happened and what she found out. A yell was about to tore from her throat as an arm wrapped around her waist and a hand clamped over her mouth preventing any sound to escape her lips.
"Silence or I'll finish what I started, midget," whispered lips by her left ear causing the blood to freeze solid in her veins. She felt him drag her towards the bed and onto his lap as he sat down on the mattress. His hand removed itself from her mouth as he turned her face in his direction, staring into her eyes from confused and angered amber flames.
"What is so special about you that I find myself unable to kill you?"
Her eyes widened.
They had found themselves staring at each other in the darkness of her room night after night, not speaking after his question that went unanswered.
Then, one night, he crawled over the mattress and came to a halt in front of her, probing her face with his amber irises.
"Why is it that I find you so interesting? For as long as I can remember I served the crown, killed on demand and never asked any question as to why I got an order. Why is it different with you? Why am I questioning my way of life all of a sudden? Why am I feeling doubt? Why am I feeling emotions?"
His face drew nearer to hers and she wasn't backing away as his hot breath fanned over her face. "Why am I feeling the wish to run away, take you with me and never be seen in this town again?"
"Why am I... fearing I fell for you?"
With that his lips crushed on hers, kissing her, unsure as to what or why he was doing what he was doing at that exact moment. His hands buried themselves in her raven tresses as he explored her mouth with his tongue, his body heating up with unknown emotions and sensations.
That very night he claimed her his, not paying a thought as to what that could lead to.
It turned out to be his biggest mistake.
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The curse of his powers tormented his life
Obeying the crown was a sinister crime
His soul was tortured by love and by pain
He surely would flee, but the oath made him stay
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"You smell human, Ichigo."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly as he held his head low in front of his king. "Really? I wonder why."
He swore his lord's voice reeked of evil right then. "Maybe because you had your fun with the woman I ordered you to kill?"
Ichigo's head snapped up, pure shock and horror written all over his face, the emotionless mask he wore his entire life broken to pieces by one, simple statement. "What?" His voice was hoarse and low in the huge hall.
Instead of answering the brunette's eyes narrowed to a glare as he flipped his fingers, two guards bringing a petite woman in, the sight causing Ichigo's breathing to hitch in his throat.
She was thrown next to him, her eyes full of fear as she looked up at him, his eyes holding the same emotions visible in hers.
"Kill her."
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He's torn between his honor and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied
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There was silence as the assassin looked at his master with wide, horrified eyes. "What?"
The brunette's eyes narrowed further. "I just ordered you to kill her, don't make me say it a third time."
The orange-head shook his head as he stood up, taking some steps backwards. "No."
The king straightened as his glare intensified. "What did you say, furniture?"
A shock went through the teen as he heard the word used so very often to describe him. A mere piece of furniture was all he was, there was no reason for him to feel emotions, to love, to possess.
Why, then, was he feeling so very human since the night before?
"No," he repeated with more vigor this time, standing his ground.
"That is... unfortunate."
And in the next second a dagger pierced his back, blood covering the ground as he fell forward, soon the sound of another body hitting the ground filling his ears as he directed his blurry vision towards Rukia laying only feet away.
Reaching out with a shaky hand he felt tears form in his eyes and run down his cheeks.
So this is... feeling fear... for the one you love...
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So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind
So many years have passed, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?
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Rukia was reaching out for him as well, similar tears to his own staining her flawless skin as they desperately tried to touch the other.
"F... orgive... me... for dragging... you down with me..."
She shook her head as she tried just a bit harder to feel his fingertips that were just out of her reach.
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Please forgive me for the sorrow
For leaving you in fear
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"I-I wish we... could've met differently," he whispered as the outlines of his vision darkened, black consuming him.
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For the dreams we had to silence
That's all they'll ever be
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"I... love you, Rukia..."
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Still I'll be the hand that serves you
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"I-I... love you... too..."
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Though you'll not see that it is me
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With his last ounce of power Ichigo pushed himself up slightly, reaching farther to get a grip of her hand.
Finally their fingers intertwined...
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So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
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As both bodies fell limb to the ground, hands clasped tightly together as their glassy eyes stared into thin air.
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Will all our sins be justified?
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…
…
Okay...
I... don't like this oneshot... it didn't do the awesome song justice...
And... if someone wants to murder me for killing them... feel free to do so, at least I won't have to take the tests awaiting me in school the next weeks... :'D Just kidding...
And I published the continuation to Chapter 10!
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