Part two everybody. Have fun.

Cover picture done completely by myself.

Let's go. I apologize for the delay in posting. Been having horrible familial problems and for that reason I have lost motivation to do anything at all.

Brought to you by, desperation, hysteria, and the occasional drooping of the eyelids. That and Maximum the Hormone….

WARNINGS! Language, violence, flash back, my shit attempt at 'nursery rhymes'

.:.~O3O~.:.

~.:. Chapter Two: Darker Around The Edges.:.~

Escape we must,

However to get away.

He picks us off,

As one by one we stray.

Hopeless and helpless,

We try to change our fate.

But what we know not,

That our gods, so beautiful and great….

They have forsaken us,

Doomed us to torment.

Because our numbers are up,

And he collects for his own sick enjoyment.

"So run my child,

"Hope and hide."

"Never speak, never shout, stuck in your spot,

"For he is patient and his time he does abide."

"We are the lambs,

Unto the slaughter,"

"No one is safe,

Not even your daughters."

"We call him evil."

"We call him dastardly."

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You'd think I'd remember why no one wanted to go into the forest, why we were all so weary of it. But, no one can honestly say. Everyone, says it's just wrong to be anywhere near there. But if it can't be remembered, then how do they know it's bad?

Those stupid stories they tell their children at night? Oh please, do you take me for a fool? No one honestly believes those. And yet they still push it aside and they'd rather be ignorant then take the chance. I mean, afterall, the wall protects them from the 'evil forest'. This village; our village is safe.

How wrong they were.

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5 Summers after my birth

I held my mother's hand as we strolled about through the forest, our arms swinging back and forth. Father was walking behind us, carrying my little sisters. A ball of light zoomed past us and I yanked excitedly on her hand, pointing.

My mother laughed merrily. "That was a fairy, Ichigo. I suppose we startled her. We should apologize, hm?"

I nodded excitedly and turned to where the fairy had shot off, only to see it was gone. My spirits fell, and with them my smile. My mother gently pulled on my hand.

"Aw well, there's always next time, my boy."

We all walked along in silence, listening to the birds sing and frogs chirp. Father stepped up beside me and smiled down. "Hey, Ichigo. If you listen close enough, you can hear the sprites playing their harps."

My ears perked up and I was listening intently. My mother giggled and started where father left off. "And if you're exceptionally lucky, you'll hear the laughter from the dancing goblins. Maybe even see the gnomes poke their heads out of their burrows."

My father smiled. "Or if you catch someone's fancy, maybe the fairies will weave you a crown of flowers."

I excitedly bounced up and down. I could practically hear it now; see them. I wanted to be a part of it all. I wanted to dance and sing and fling mud just like the forest folk.

I wanted to be one of them. My parents always told me stories and filled my head with dreams of fantastical things. They even told me that dragons once flew over the land, burning coal and making diamonds only to toss them and see where they flew.

I wanted to be in the sky, throwing diamonds. I wanted to run through the canopies like the fairies. So much I wanted and my parents forever encouraged me. I wanted my family and I to live with the forest folk.

And I asked as much. My mother tapped her chin. "Well honey, that's a big move. In order to do that, it will take us a while to gather everything we need and to actually build a house."

My father jokingly stated, "We could always live with the fairies. I'm certain they got enough room in their canopies for us."

My mother gave him a look but they both burst out laughing. My tiny sisters woke up at the sound and looked about at everything. Father gently set them on the ground and they started crawling, exploring. He smiled. "I think they like it here too."

I walked along side my toddling sisters. We turned about in circles, my father's hands upon his hips, he looked to my mother. "Maybe we should move out here."

"Oh but, Isshin! I know it's beautiful but that is an extensive move. It will take time and money."

"You let me worry about money. I'll get some guys together and we'll build a new house. How's that sound?"

Mother smiled beautifully. "It sounds heavenly."

My father then turned to me, a smile bright on his face. He hefted me up into his arms as mother picked up the girls. He looked at me, smile growing bigger. "Guess what Ichigo? We're gonna be moving here."

I giggled and threw my arms around his neck. He laughed and hugged me tightly. "Yeah yeah. I'm excited too!"

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3 Summers later

I walked through the foreboding trees, running my hands along the splintery wood. Little slivers stung and hurt but I more or less ignored them to continue my silent walk. And every time, without fail, my feet subconsciously take me to that tree. The tree where I lost everything; the tree where the naked man found me; the tree where my mother left me. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes and I grasped at her chain for comfort.

I stepped to the front of the tree, observing the gaping hole in the trunk of it, the inside hollow. It was crazy to think how this tree was even still alive. The Hollow Tree, that's right. And inside it lived the Hollowed Man.

I'd read up on my folklore since that… that night. What better way to distract myself from my pain than with fanciful things? Of course fairies and goblins existed, but a Hollowed Man? I'd never heard of him before. But, I believe he's real.

That naked man who saved me… I believe he is the Hollowed Man. It would explain the hole in his torso.

And… I wanted to thank him. He protected me that night, kept my mother's sacrifice from ending in vain. But… How many times have I come here? How many times have I come only to find the tree void? Empty?

Was the man all a part of my conscience, a defense mechanism to keep from going insane? But I swear it couldn't have been. He was… was so real.

I couldn't accept the thought that he might not be real. I needed him; needed to hold onto someone else who knew what happened, someone else who was there. I needed the support, desperately. Everyone in that village were idiots. They couldn't help and I didn't want them to. I needed him.

The tears that were pricking at my eyes earlier pushed their way past against my wanting, and fell in choked streams. I rubbed at my eyes, desperately trying to stop, hide my embarrassing reaction. There was no point in being weak, I was by myself and I had to be strong.

... Didn't mean it didn't hurt. I sighed and glanced at the tree one last time over my shoulder and turned away. There was no point in coming back again, I wasn't going to get any help. But I couldn't move.

Refused to move, I suppose I should say. My fists were clenched by my side as I tried not break down into sobs. I glared at the ground. The wind howled at my back, pushing my cloak flat against me, my bangs flying into my eyes. As I stood there, I felt a strange breeze brush my bangs aside, against the rest of wind.

Lifting my gaze higher, I saw a pale hand gently moving its fingers away from my hair. As the palm retracted, I desperately grabbed onto it, holding it against my cheek as the tears fell again. It was cold and I couldn't help but rub my cheek closer, finding so much comfort in the clammy hand.

I didn't have to look up to know who it was. Relief filled me and I sighed. The hand pulled closer and bare feet filled my vision upon the ground.

"What are you doing here again?" His voice was just as deep, just as lifeless as I remembered it. He squatted down but I still didn't look up from his toes. "Why do you keep coming here?"

I dared to look up and slowly gazed into his eyes, gripping his hand tighter to make sure he was real. Cloudy, vacant eyes stared back, his face etched with bland disinterest. I shook my head and looked away. He didn't move.

We stayed like that for I don't remember how long before the man stood up. I was shocked into frightened worry as he began pulling away. I watched as he turned back towards the Hollow Tree and I ran after him, grabbing at his wrist. As soon as I got a hold of it, I hugged it tightly, begging him not to go with my actions.

He slowly turned to look at me. I stared back, my eyes huge and frightened. I couldn't be alone again. Not so soon. Eventually, he reached over and patted my head. "What's your name boy?"

A smile quickly stretched across my face. I bent down to the ground, he slouching beside me, and I wrote my name in the dirt. Glancing at it, he looked over to me. "Kurosaki Ichigo, huh?"

I nodded enthusiastically. A bland and infinitesimal smirk tilted one corner of his lips. "I'm Grimmjow."

My eyes widened and my face grew hot. I smiled bigger and looked away embarrassed.

I really liked his name.

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Grimmjow taught me so much about the forest. I practically lived with him I was there so much. He'd told me tales I'd never heard before; like that of the Weeping Widow, the Fireswords, and the Wild Men. So many new stories and myths!

But what was even better, he showed me where the forest folk played. I remember it so clearly too.

We were walking in silence, like we always were, when I heard laughter. When I looked to him for clarification, he merely nodded in the direction it came from and started walking that way. Following after him, when we broke the clearing of trees, there was a giant luminescent field of flowers. Sprites were hopping around and dancing, some playing harps, others enticing another to dance with them. Little goblins were running around terrorizing each other, dirty and covered in mud.

The gnomes were hopping alongside the sprites, beating their little drums. And the fairies were throwing petals down from their canopies. The smell was so beautiful; fragrant and peaceful. A roar called and I jumped, grabbing onto Grimm's leg.

He barely spared me a glance as a dragon stepped forth and blew flames into the sky. The sprites cheered and danced more frantically. A griffin landed and cawed, its young tumbling other themselves to wrap up in her embrace.

I smiled and itched to join in. But, as soon as I stepped forward, everything became quiet. All eyes were turned to me. Indecision struck me and I lost all my nerve. It was so awkward for the longest time, they didn't know how to respond to me and I didn't know how to act around them.

Finally, a little girl stepped forwards, her wavy green hair falling in bouncing curls. She smelled like lavender. As she straightened out her rumpled petal skirt, her eyes curiously looked me up and down. "What are you?"

I blinked and stared as she started circling around me. My nerves were starting to get the best of me and I started to back away. Grimm rested his hand upon my back and stopped me from going further. He looked to the little girl. "He's human."

Collective gasps sounded throughout the clearing and even a few moved closer. Random voices popped up from the assembled crowd.

"Human?"

"There are still humans around?"

"I thought those were just myths!"

"A human!"

Suddenly, everyone was moving closer, trying to get a better look at me. I suddenly felt very small. The little girl stepped closer. "I'm Nel. What's yer name?"

Before I could attempt to do anything, Grimmjow did so for me. "He doesn't speak, Nel. His name is Kurosaki Ichigo."

She glared at him. "I was talkin' ta him, Grimmie!" She looked back at me and looked me up and down thoughtfully. "Itsugo, eh?"

My eyebrows furrowed at the deliberate butchery of my name. We stared at each other silently until a smile slowly grew on her face. Without looking behind her, she called. "Pesche, Dondochakka! C'mere ya little Dirt Sniffers! We got us a new playmate!"

I watched as two goblins popped up from the dirt and started running towards us. I looked to her frightened. She smiled kindly. "Wanna play a game with us?"

The wind whistled and blew petals and leaves around. A smile took place of my fear and peace filled my heart.

I was home.

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3 Summers later

"Ichigo, my boy, I need you to do something for me."

I looked over to my grandfather and nodded. Yamamoto nodded once and kneeled before me. "I need you to be strong. I am going on an adventure; I was able to get a pardon from our Lord Ukitake. I'm going to try and find our family's remains."

I winced and looked away. He took a gentle grip and turned me to look him in the eyes again, his own softer. "The wall will be finished within the next year and I must complete this journey before then. This is my only chance. I don't know how long I shall be gone but I need you to be a big boy, okay?"

I nodded sadly. Now grandpa was leaving me too but I understood why he was doing what he was. He slowly stood up. "Our family has been left rotting undignified for far too long. I must bring them home and give them a proper burial."

He picked up his pack and walking stick and stood at the door. He turned back to me. "You will not be alone. I have asked Renji to continue being your caretaker so you will have someone here for you."

He opened the door and stepped outside, I followed him. When he started to step off the porch, I threw my arms around his waist and sobbed into his back. I didn't want him to go. I didn't want to be completely alone. I felt him sigh and turn to lift me into his strong arms. He whispered against my neck.

"Don't worry, my boy. I'll be back before you know it." He kissed my forehead and sat me back upon my feet. With a bow, he set off towards the half built wall and stepped past it. With one last wave back to me, he stepped into the shadowy forest.

The darkness seemed to close in around him as he walked further in, swallowing him whole. I bit my lip worriedly and gripped my mother's chain tightly enough to hurt. Laughter filled my head, laughter not of my own.

I never saw my grandfather again.

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People always take everything for granted until it's gone. I never realized how much I loved my grandfather until he wasn't in my life anymore. I'd always thought I was alone when he was around. But once he really was gone, there was an aching void in my heart. The death of my family had hardened my heart towards feeling so much that I didn't realize I still needed my grandpa until he left.

I wonder how many days; weeks; months I sat on our porch waiting for him to come back through those trees and hug me. How long did I wait for him to pass through the only doors leading into the village now? I waited until I forgot why I was waiting and with it, all hope was lost.

I forgot I even had a family.

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Present Day

The thing that woke me from my midday snooze was the sound of running feet stamping on the hardened ground outside. I was just turning over onto my side when yelling reached my ears; frantic and hysteric. Lifting my head, I sat up on my cot.

The coals in the furnace were barely glowing. I reached over and shut the door and then closed the smoke hatch. No point in having it open when there was no smoke. The yelling grew louder.

I hurried from my smithing room and ran up the stairs and out of my small shop. I looked around as villagers were quickly running towards Kisuke's residence. What the hell happened to our law man? I straightened up and started running too, he was one of the few villagers I actually could tolerate. As I approached, I craned my neck to try and see over everyone else's heads. I could see Kenpachi standing at the forefront yelling at some poor soul, Yoruichi watching a despondent Urahara his face hidden in his quaking palms.

I pushed my way through the crowd, people grumbling and glaring. I began to pick up the conversation.

Kenpachi was yelling still. "What do you mean that you saw the children chasing something?"

"I-I'm not sure! All I saw was Jinta andUruru playing as they always were. When the shadow near that tree," the man pointed towards it, "started to… to sway. Like –like as if it had a mind of its own! Ururu pointed to it and they both took off! They seemed to disappear into it! That's it! I swear!"

Kenpachi gritted his teeth and stood straight to his staggering full height. "Tch. Useless." He rested his massive hands upon his hips and looked around. "Maybe they're still hiding in the crop fields."

"No." He turned his head to Yoruichi, her hand rubbing into Urahara's shoulder. Her eyes were grim. "I had Byakuya and his men already search back there. They returned empty handed."

"Fuck!" Kenpachi began pacing, a nasty sneer growing on his face. He gestured angrily at the village walls. "I think they were kidnapped! And whoever got 'em is getting away right now as we're all just standing her; standing here and dicking around!"

Yoruichi glared at him. "And what do you suppose we do?! We have no idea where to even begin to start looking and you running your mouth is not helping the situation!"

The monstrous man spun on his feet and stomped towards her. "Enough you two. You're bickering isn't going to find my children…" Urahara piped up from beneath his palms. Yoruichi guiltily began rubbing his shoulders again. Kenpachi turned to glare away.

I stepped forwards to comfort Urahara when a scream stopped me short. Everyone jumped and twisted to look. We all saw one of the guards stumbling backwards from behind Urahara's house and fall to the ground. Urahara was suddenly upon his feet and running to the back, as was everyone else, myself included.

The first thing I saw was Byakuya's back, his spine ram rod straight and tense. After that I saw it.

Twin trails of blood.

Suddenly, Urahara was running down after it, following it desperately. I pushed through to the front of the moving crowd and followed too. The trail splotched out here and there but more or less was a steady drip running over everything; the walls, the roofs, the grounds, even the trees.

We zigzagged through the village, the crowd quickly grew as we passed curious homes. I was pushed and pulled to the back as more burly men shoved their way through, women and children lining the back as well.

I glared and was ready to fight when another scream stopped me short. Running around the side of the hut, I stopped abruptly.

Urahara sat shaking on the ground, everyone else frozen in horror. We had reached the village wall.

And it was splattered everywhere with blood, hand prints clawed into it, dragged this way and that as if desperately trying to escape. Urahara began sobbing, pained tears streaming down his face. Kenpachi snorted angrily. "Tch, well… Looks like we got our answer."

Byakuya stepped up, glaring. "Something still must be done. I have a horrid feeling that this isn't the last we'll be seeing of this." He was barely heard over the shouts of the crowd.

Yoruichi nodded and rested her hands upon Urahara's shaking back. "We will worry about that later. We must have a proper ceremony for these poor children. They deserve that much at least."

I couldn't look away from the blood splattered everywhere, something niggling at the back of my memory. My hand subconsciously reached up for my chain, grabbing it for comfort. Fear I couldn't understand began seeping into my heart, pulsing and growing with each beat. All sound blanked out except for the racing of my heart. All vision faded to black. All I could see was the blood. Laughter; god awful laughter, it filled my head and shook my core.

Was I breathing? Everything began to swim. I couldn't think.

Screaming. Running.

Fear. Blood.

Laughter. Darkness.

A tree. Cold hands.

Silence.

I jerked to as I felt my legs give out beneath me, the ground rushing up to meet my knees. Belatedly, I could hear the sound of my gasping breaths, far too fast and far too short. My vision blurred and soon the ground rose to my face as well.

"Ichigo!"

As everything faded out, I saw feet running towards me and then I knew no more.

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Those moments killed me the most. Little snippets of things I couldn't honestly remember teasing my memory. Always, but when I woke up, all would be gone and I'd feel as if another piece of me had gone missing. The wounds I always felt throbbed viciously in those moments. And those were the times when I felt most vulnerable.

And I could feel him. That… that monster. The air always felt so cold, chilled as if frosted with snow but truly was only despair. I could hear his echoing laughter, see his damning smile.

Those poor children, Jinta and Ururu? They were only the beginning. Byakuya had no idea how right he was and I'm more than certain if he had known how true his statement was… He would have done anything to make sure he was wrong.

In those moments, I heard his laughter, echoing in my head and burning my soul.

If only I had known that that the laughter echoing in my head was the laughter echoing in the woods, was truly there –truly real… If only I had known…

Could –Could I have done something?

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My dreams were always vague. The only thing I could remember were shapes and shadows and certain colors. Namely blue.

Vivid light blue eyes. I always wake up desperate after those dreams, as if remembering a long lost lover's embrace and begging to be held again.

My eyes fluttered open and I stared at the ceiling of my room. Slowly, I sat up and stared at my sparsely decorated walls. Blue.

I couldn't remember when or why but it had become my favorite color. My entire room was filled with it. Sky blue everything. I pulled the rumpled blankets from my legs and stood up, confused. Staggering to my feet I turned around trying to remember my dream.

But I could remember nothing except the smell of blood and the sound of screams. But those blue eyes. Those were the worst. They haunted me, made my chest ache with longing but I couldn't understand why; couldn't remember why.

With an irritated sigh, I glared at the wall already sick of trying. What was the point anyway? No matter how many times I tried, it never worked. I stomped over to my closet and pulled out another tunic, pulling the one I was wearing over my head.

I caught my reflection in the mirror. I stared at my toned chest, rubbing at the burn marks spotted up and down it. Glory of my work, glory of my stupid mistakes and immaturity when I began.

I glared at the scars in disgust. I turned away. Whatever. What was done was done. I was lifting my tunic to pull over my head when I glanced back into the mirror and jumped.

Shadows covered my room but eyes of glowing darkness stared back at me, golden circles burning in the middle. My skin was deathly pale, my smile twisted too far in a sick parody. Hair twisted and matted with blood, white as snow otherwise, fell down my shoulders.

The eyes narrowed as the smile grew and psychotic laughter echoed in my head. I stumbled backwards, tunic falling from my hands.

Pale palms pressed against my mirror, long black claws cracking the glass. Fangs poked over black lips, a tongue just as pitch licked upwards. The laughter echoed around. "Iiiiiiiiiiichiiiiiiiigoooooo o…" The laughter grew, the shadows swirling deeper in my mirror.

I screamed and fell backwards. Horror of the utmost engulfed me.

I knew that face! But where?! I crawled backwards on my bed, away from the evil thing, laughter piercing the air as the shadows swallowed everything.

When my eyes opened everything was silent and everything was normal. I shakingly glanced at my mirror and sighed in relief to find that the reflection was normal again. I stood up and picked up my tunic, shaking the confusion and fear from my body. I pulled on the light green cloth and adjusted my linen pants. I picked up my leather boots and crouched down, lacing them up. Glancing up, I froze.

There were cracks running up and down my mirror, as if claws had stabbed at it.

I backed away grabbing at the chain on my neck.

What the hell?!

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That was only the beginning. That face? That was the catalyst. Afterwards, things only went downhill. The village, the safe haven we all thought we had? It was all blown to hell. He knew who he was looking for then. Now he knew what he wanted. I was good as his I should say.

I was good as dead. No one escapes his gaze. But he was going to have fun beforehand. He fucking loved making us squirm. I wish I could have remembered where I knew that face then. Maybe less people would have suffered; I could have reminded them of everything they had forgotten.

Perhaps, everyone would still be there and alive.

Perhaps…

~.:. End of Chapter Two: Darker Around The Edges.:.~

Yep. So we're getting closer to the actual beginning of the adventure. The flashbacks won't happen forever, just a couple more chapters of it.

As for the delay in this update…. That's because of the family issues I brought up in the opening announcement. I again apologize.

I'm excited to get this story rolling though. Thank you for every review everyone, I loved each and every one!

Please, let me know what you thought! Until next time! I love you guys!

~8DRainbowManVan8D