Chapter 4

Gazing out across the white sands of Heuco Mundo, the New Gods looked out over their dominion. The sky of their world was no longer cloaked in night, as the entire sky was changed by the Darkest, as he had made a sun and then had the inverted moon dance together with him at the edge of the horizon. The effect caused the sky to change into a multitude of hues and colors that invoked awe in all who looked upon it. Legions of arrancar and hollows had peacefully risen from their dark recesses at their command to witness the beginning of the new era and the end of all worlds. Having every hollow summoned in one place without outright chaos is rare, but to hold them silent and fixated was a whole other level of domination.

The New Gods, as they were called, stood upon the ruins of Las Noches, the epitome of power. The name fitted them, for their power radiated off of them through their presence and invoked a sense of wonder as to how such beings could exist. Most were newly formed arrancars, there were also a couple of rare togabito, but then a few were so strange and wondrous that there was no known name for them. All were immensely powerful and conveyed it to the masses while concealing their reiatsu. Their uniforms varied from warrior to warrior, most clinging to the remnants of their former race, of which they had abandoned to become a New God, but all were unified in that same blood red arm band that signified their commitment to the Darkest.

He stood at the head of the group, but unlike the rest he was wearing a massive black hooded cloak that covered his form and on his back was a fearsome weapon. It was a massive double-edged claymore except it had no proper cross guard, as it arcs straight into the handle. The blade looked as though it was a darker color then black, for it would appear as a shadow on a the deepest and peerless of night skies. Its handle was the brightest of silver, but elegant black wraps wound their way around it forming diamond designs until the pommel of the blade. A chain extended out from the black steel pommel and disappeared underneath the tattered edges of the warrior's black cloak. The Darkest himself was tall with broad shoulders, though none could see his face as he was completely concealed, as was his will. Pulling his blade from his back, he stabbed into the ground before him and spoke to his demonic army,

"I thank you for coming today, from the very bottom of my heart."

This earned a few chuckles from those around him who were brave enough to laugh and quick enough to get the reference.

"In case you were wondering, it was me who summoned you here. Some of you wonder why or how I could accomplish this. So I tell you now, it's simple. The emptiness within your souls resonate with mine. When I call out to you, my will influences you and my drive reflects yours. What is it that we all want? What drives us?...It is our longing for something more. It is our desire to become greater then what we are. It is our need to make this world the way it should be. To feel something real again...Many of you are not just slaves to your hunger, for we are as we choose to be. You still retain the memories of your past lives and some cling to your reason in order to escape the madness of being hollow. Many of you have joined together as one in order to attain greater power and if possible become strong enough to become whole once more. Now, this day and this very moment I am offering to you what you desire most. I offer the slaking of your thirst and the assuaging of your hunger. You will follow me into the coming days, into the great war that will tear the very fabric of reality, for I know the truth...that you never lose your heart, for it doesn't reside in your chest like our holes do. This world is the illusion. Pain is not life. Many say that things are they way they are and all is as it will always be."

Stretching one gloved hand forth, he reached toward the sun and the moon who rested their swelled forms at the edge of the world,

"To Fucking Hell With That Shit." His voice dripped with the resentment and dark fury. His voice invaded the very being of all who listened in those moments.

"I will not bow. I will not fade into nothingness. I will not break under the weight of the heavens. I will fight to my last breath for what I believe in and I am not the only one. Is it not in you as it is in me? I refuse to stop fighting for the way the world should be!"

His words echoed across the distance. His power was like a riot in the center of every existence.

"My greatest wish is to watch this world burn and raise my world out of the ashes. A world where we can exist in peace. A world where we exist to our fullest potential. A world in which the ones we love will never be taken from us!"

Now his arms were held out as if to embrace the whole of the monstrous horde below him.

"I will give you power as you have ever known and with it...WE WILL RISE UP, RIOT, AND REVOLT TO MAKE A NEW WORLD IN THE IMAGE OF OUR HEARTS!

Unbelievably, every hollow and arrancar was suddenly rising up and crying up to the sky with their hands outreached. They were with him. The faces of the New Gods each reflected that profound awe being mixed with unsurprise. They knew he could win over monsters and beasts. He could win over anyone. He brought all into his cause, he did not discriminate or condescend. He would embrace a blood soaked demon as easily as he would a radiant angel. None were loathsome to his eyes, for he knew that at the center of everything there was something worth fighting for. At the center of everything there was emptiness. Darkness did not matter to him. He was darkness. He was the Destroyer...the Darkest.

The crowds began to chant the name that had been given to the Darkest by his creator.

The sound caused a feeling of disgust to rise inside him.

That is not my name...

It is. It may not be the name we prefer to be called, but that name is our role as was given to us. We have chosen to end all things, so this name is fitting in the end...

"Then for now," said the devourer of worlds. "I shall except the name...Apollyon."

"Ichigo!" Called Ikumi Unagiya from the door of her shop. One arm reached up to cup around the side of her mouth to amplify her shouts while the other was resting around her son's shoulder. Kaoru had been growing taller, but unfortunately his personality didn't mature along with the rest of him, proven by his making faces at Ichigo as he walked away.

"What is it now?" Ichigo called back, frustrated that he was still being kept this late during vacation. The sky was darkening and the sun was preparing itself to set.

"Remember, you have been getting to many breaks lately, when the holidays are over I expect you to be working double to make up for all of your lost time." Her voice carried with it a certain derision that just knew exactly how to get in under Ichigo's skin.

Ichigo, turned away from the shop and started walking briskly toward the shopping district while muttering under his breath, "Not in this lifetime, if she thinks that she is gonna make me work double, she is more crazy then I thought she was."

"I HEARD THAT, YOU PUNK!" Ikumi's glare could have burned holes through any regular mortal.

Ichigo turned around, startled by her impossible hearing, "What the hell are you? Normal people don't have extreme senses like that!"

Ikumi put her hands on her hips and grinned proudly at him as she spoke, "Its the "Momma Powers" that come with having kids."

A dark look suddenly passed over Kaoru's face as he realized how powerful his Mom was. Ichigo felt for him a little, realizing that he wasn't going to get away with anything in that household as he got older and less cute.

"I'm off, I will see you guys later!" He called back, waving one last time.

"Happy Holidays!" The Unagiya's called back together.

Continuing down the street, Ichigo headed into the shopping district to search for that final perfect gift.

Ichigo still didn't get why this one gift was so hard. It shouldn't be, but every time he came across something it just wasn't...he wasn't sure...good enough? No that wasn't it. The things he picked out just weren't special. His gift didn't have to be expensive or even useful, as long as it was something that showed her how important her friendship was to him.

Her friendship...

Sure, her friendship...

Ichigo felt his muscles tense as his Hollow's sarcasm voiced itself inside his head.

Fuck off, you know just as well as I do how I feel about her...

Yeah I do, and I know just how far you would go to protect her...

What does that have to do with anything?

The voice was silent.

I would protect her the same as anyone I care about...

Are you so sure? I sure as hell don't remember you coming back from the dead as a monster to defend anyone else.

"Shut up!" Ichigo suddenly realized he had spoken out loud and quickly scanned the area to see if anyone had heard. The demon was getting a foothold as shadows began to dance at the edges of his vision.

See? She is driving you mad.

No, that would be you.

Flattery will get you no where, King...

I don't like her that way...I don't like anyone that way...

You are lying to yourself...and don't try to argue it because I am You, so I would know.

Even if I did...she couldn't be with me and I couldn't be with her

Why the fuck not?

Because she would constantly be in danger around me...both because of my enemies who would hurt me through her and because I could lose control...

We have killed or beaten down anything that has messed with us, I don't think we need to worry about that...and we would never hurt her.

Now who is lying?

I DON'T LIE! What people don't realize that truth isn't bright and happy...truth is dark and cruel...Like me!

Maniacal laughter filled Ichigo's head as he continued down an empty street. Disgust rose up in Ichigo as the laughter reminded him of his own laughter, only the sound was twisted into a sickening and insane version of itself. He could hear the sound of cars and people close by, but the conflict in his mind still rose in steady volumes.

I let go of the reins once and we almost killed Ishida!

It wasn't our fault, he should have just gotten out of our way...

And what happens when it's Inoue in our way?

The finish line can't get in the way of a race. It's the whole damn point...you are just acting on your fear.

What fear?

The fear of losing her...like our Mother.

...If you ever talk about MY Mother again I will-

You'll what? Kill me? I am you, Ichigo! Your pain is my pain, your anger is my anger, your Mother...is mine as well...everything you feel is in me Ichigo and everything I feel is in you too, no matter how much you would like to deny it.

Zangetsu never gives me this much bullshit...

You still just don't get it do you! We may be different faces but we are all you, and since he is me I guess you could say he is giving you shit...

Look, no matter what you are, or what you believe you are, this is my body! My soul! We will do as I say and you will listen to me!

For now, King, but some day soon I will crush you and be taking the throne for myself...

Ichigo waited and was rewarded with a serene silence, the dark pressure behind his eyes and at the edges of his sight had sunk back into the far reaches of his being.

For a while now, Ichigo had been having trouble with his darker half. He had experimented before in the underground training area of the Visored place. It was easy to find a time when it was vacant due to them all being so busy nowadays with their being reinstated. When he attempted to form his hollow mask he felt an intense pain shooting through his entire being. A desire to lose control rose up inside of him and he could feel his hollow transformation beginning. The power almost overwhelmed him, the joy of destruction was trying to make him lose his mind. Ichigo had to fight the transformation in order to keep from unleashing his inner demon and killing anyone, and most likely everyone, in the vicinity.

This had been happening every time he tried accessing that part of himself since the regaining his powers.

Ichigo now wondered if he should maybe tell someone about it, maybe Urahara, Shinji, or Rukia even.

His thoughts wandered as he now walked among the crowded streets of the shopping district. Families were out together and hand-holding couples were drifting side by side as if there was no one else on the sidewalk but them. Groups of friends chatted with each other as they made their way to either their homes or the festival. It usually started at sunset, but things didn't usually pick up till about seven or seven thirty that night. Walking around normal people he began to feel strange. Looking around, he wondered if when compared to normal people he could still be called a human.

Ichigo had always been proud of that fact. He had shoved it in the faces of his enemies, that he wasn't some monster or 'superior being' like them. He was just a man who took the power he needed to protect what he needed to protect. Now he wasn't so sure.

His powers were a constant reminder that he was separate from everyone. Glancing around him at the normal people he began to feel an intense distance. Most were going on dates, or spending time with their families, or heading home from work, or just wasting time with their buddies, but even though Ichigo did all of that he still felt like he was on a different level from them. It was like he could never be as carefree as they could be. The monstrous power inside of him demanded his constant control and the random enemy would always ensure his having to fight for his life.

I should be past all of this by now.

Ichigo thought to himself.

He had been powerless before, but he was never carefree. Ichigo always felt like he had lost something of himself and was glad to have it back finally. He knew he was where he belonged, but he hoped that being who he was meant to be wouldn't keep him from ever having a 'normal' life...if it would keep him from having a family of his own...

A lit shop window attracted Ichigo's eye. He paused to stare at the wares. It was a strange antique shop, in the window there were a few items for sale, like an old urn and a set of fans, but what really caught his eye was the necklace. It was a silver locket. It had the appearance of two wings folding over one another and creating the shape of a heart with their outline. One of the wings was black while the other was white, but it shined brilliantly in the fading light. Strangely though, it seemed to shine almost independently of the light from both the sinking sun and the bulbs of the display.

Not only that but it also seemed to have a presence.

He entered the store to get a better look. The store was clean and neat, with interesting items on display shelves and toward the back was a large desk that doubled as a glass case to show off the smaller, more valuable, wares.

An old lady worked the register while a small girl tidied up around the store. She was using a broom that must have been a foot and a half taller then her. The girl brushed her long brown locks back behind her ears and smiled up at him, with her hazel eyes shining in that way only kids' eyes can shine.

Looking back she called out to the store owner, "Obaasan, we have a customer!"

The little grandmother must have been snoozing because it took her a moment to realize what was going on. Shaking her head slightly she picked up her small frames and placed them on her face. Her grey hair was pulled back and tied up in a bun. She had a sweet look about her as she bustled her way over.

"Hello young man," she spoke up to him, probably cricking her neck as she did. "Can we interest you in anything?"

"Yeah," Ichigo bent down a bit in order to make conversing a little easier for her. "I was wondering if I could take a look at that necklace you have on display in the front of the store."

"Ah, you have a good eye." She turned to her grand daughter and with a nod, sent the girl running to the front of the store. "That is one of our rarest items."

The girl placed a small foot stool down so she would be tall enough to reach around the neck display in order to retrieve the locket. Stepping down from the stool, she held it in her hands as if she held a newborn. Walking back slowly, she handed the necklace to her grandmother and stood close by.

"This locket isn't very old, but the stone on the inside is. It is said that it had been handed down through a lineage family, who supposedly trace their roots back to Lady Yang. The Lady Yang, according to legend, was a beautiful consort to the emperor of China but fled due a rebellion, it is also said that she was able to see and be visited by spirits from other worlds."

Holding the small locket out on the palm of her hand, the old woman pressed down on where the black wing folded over the white wing. As she lifted her finger away the wings unfolded and revealed that the wings were connected to two angels carved into the inside of the locket. One was a man, painted black, while the other was a woman, painted white. They were embracing while leaning over a stone that was cradled in their arms as if it was their child. The round stone was filmy like a pearl toward its center but clear at its edges. The stone was the source of its mysterious presence.

The old lady continued, "The story goes that here in Japan, a spirit of another world came to her with this stone as a gift saying that if two people pour their love into it, they can always be close to each other's hearts. For generations it was passed down from parent to child. Over the years it was featured in lots of different necklaces but this one was the last before the fall of their house. When the last of their house died and had no heir to pass the stone onto it was sold at auction, where I bought it, around fifteen years ago."

Ichigo laughed, "You expect me to buy that?"

"Well, the locket is very nice..."

"No, I like the locket, I meant the story."

The grandmother looked aghast, "Are you saying that I made it all up?"

Ichigo gave her a look.

"I may have embellished a few things..."

"That's what I thought."

He stretched his hand out, "May I see the locket?"

The little woman placed the trinket on his palm. Upon inspection, he began to notice all the little intricacies of it, like the definition of each feather on the wings or the way that the angels formless faces were turned toward one another. You could feel their gaze upon one another rather then see it. Then there was the stone.

Placing his finger on it he could feel its warm and once he focused he could even feel a pulsating energy from within the stone. He closed his eyes and began to dive into it with his senses. He didn't really feel anything at first, just a gentle warmth like the glow of a steady and faithful candle, but then he felt a strong pull from deep within its core like something was calling him inward. Ichigo felt his consciousness being sucked into an inner world, though much different from his own.

As he made sense of things, Ichigo realized he was floating in a kind of cloud or fog. When he landed on a flat surface, what he figured was the ground, he focused on the haze. There was a strange mist all around him, but instead of it being wet or cold it was warm and soothing. He could feel the pulse clearer now, but it wasn't from a single source, for the sources of the pulse were everywhere. All around him, hundreds of stars seemed to blaze through the veil, all pulsating to the same beat, but each one was unique and different, as shown by their many various colors. They cast beautiful light through the mist, setting it alive with a thousand different hues. The stars were made from people's reiatsu that had used the stone before, and it was here that their spirits could communicate with one another. They emanated the emotions that their bearers had at the time when they used the stone. When he came close to one he could feel a variety of that person's feelings, but they were all practically identical in that area. From each one he could sense an overpowering happiness and an intense passion. Everywhere there was tenderness and devotion. These were the feelings of people who were deeply and impossibly in love. If he listened he could hear their whisperings to one another.

Ichigo began to turn red with a shameful embarrassment. He felt as if he was peeking in on someone's most intimate moments. He drifted back to the surface and stared up at the sky of this world. The colors all danced harmoniously and the mist shivered and leapt as if it was alive. It all reminded Ichigo of a picture of the Northern Lights he had seen when he was younger, as if he was in the very midst of it. Ichigo felt as if he was in the very midst of love.

This was perfect, Ichigo realized.

If he gave this to Inoue they could communicate at anytime she needed his help. He centered his reiatsu into his hands, he imagined an orb taking form in between the palms of his hands. As he looked upon his own star he was surprised. His thick black red reiatsu was conflicting with his original white blue reiatsu. It formed over the surface of the orb while the latter formed the center. The white light was constantly trying to shine through the dark surface that constantly shifted. It was like looking at a storm ridden sun, with light shinning through the black storm clouds and dying it in melding hues of blue and red. He watched as it floated up and away from him, taking its own place in the sky.

He made his way back to his body and opened his eyes in the real world.

"Maybe some of your story isn't a total lie," said Ichigo to the owner.

The lady smiled at him, "I told you."

Ichigo smiled at her, "In any case, I'll take it."