Endless nothingness. Endless silence. Endless boredom. Within the oppressive, white walls of las noches, things were a lot different compared to ten years ago. With Aizen, Ywach and his army of quincies gone, peace had finally been brought to the three planes. Gruesome was the war with many losses, however, it was an inevitable outcome for the betterment of everyone's lives. With that peace came a complete and utter lack of excitement. From the perspective of a certain ex-espada anyway.
Swaggering down the large hall with his hands behind his head, the bored sexta frowned at the lack of things to do. He had already beaten any adjuchas that had the displeasure of crossing his path while he travelled the white deserts. It was completely unnecessary, only giving him something to do in the barren land. Nel and Harribel, with their combined power, had prohibited any in-fighting except for the purpose of sparring. That was a notion he was perfectly fine with except they never agreed to go toe to toe with him. It was such a pain that all arrancars still alive were such weaklings. The borderline desolate place was starting to feel less appealing to be in, not that he had ever enjoyed being here.
After his fight with Askin, he had been teetering on death's door but was saved by that creepy, hat wearing Shinigami. Tearing that blabbermouth Quincy's heart out was probably his only fond memory of the colossal war. He never intended to let the image of his scarlet heart clenched in his hand ever fade from his mind.
Growling, he stomped his foot into the floor out of pure frustration, creating a sizable dent. 'God, I'm so fucking bored.' Kissing his teeth, he tried to think about something else. Anything else. Unfortunately for him, there was literally nothing else to ruminate about. For hundreds of years, his life (death?) had been nothing but violence and fighting. His aspect of death was destruction after all; killing and maiming were literally engraved into his very being. With that taken out, what the hell was he supposed to do? Calming down as much as his violence ridden mind could, Grimmjow pondered for a moment. He let all feelings of bloodlust ebb away for a moment.
Glancing back as if checking for someone, he considered the thought of just bouncing. Not like anyone would miss him here after all. That notion ignited a twinge of something within him but he ignored it. Shaking the dust off his black boot, he opened a garganta.
"Get ready for the beating of your life. Ichigo."
_._._._
Fifteen years. A time period that could be seen as long or short depending on the context. For one boy, it was the total time he had been alive as well as the occasion behind the celebration currently taking place within his small household.
"Happy birthday, Aki!"
His mother's well wishes never ceased to put a smile on his face, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
"Mum, I'm too old for birthdays now." He moaned, his voice having little to no conviction.
Of course, he was only pretending to complain about it so he didn't come across as childish. He loved his birthday. Luckily for him, his mother saw through his facade of maturity, affectionately ruffling his hair. Reading him was an easy feat for her; he was an open book and her motherly instincts were perfectly attuned to his emotions.
The presents were few in number but significant in sentiment. They didn't have much in terms of money so it warmed his heart to know she still went out of her way to get him something. It was a gaming console, a generation behind but still brought feelings of intense gratitude inside.
The second gift was a simple, orange wrist band with the words "ROCK⭐STAR" written in white. He was surprised at how much he liked it and wasted no time in slipping it on. The bright orange silicone stood out against his white skin, giving the blank canvas he called his body more colour in a rudimentary way. He didn't mind that it didn't cost much, it was proof that he was loved unconditionally which was priceless. Even Though she was only two, his younger sister gave him a gift of her own, specifically a hug and a butchered "happy birthday". Eagerly, he hugged her back and lifted her up before spinning her around. She squealed in delight, brightening the already happy atmosphere further.
Lovingly, Himari watched her two children with a warm smile, successfully hiding the aching feeling that dwelled inside her. Convincing herself that their little family was perfect was difficult because she knew it wasn't the case. An extremely important figure in their life was missing, and the journey to find the right one constantly eluded her. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to simulate the comfort she had been missing and craving for a number of years.
After the cake had been ravenously eaten and games had been played, it was time for bed. Pulling his blue night shirt over his head, Akito got ready to head to dream land. He was still a little giddy from his miniature birthday party; replaying the fact he was a fifteen now. Right before his hand touched his blanket to pull it aside, the doorbell rang. Looking at his door expectantly, he became a little confused. It was far too late for deliveries and they weren't expecting any visitors.
"Aki! Get the door please!" His mum called from his younger sister's room.
Heeding his mother's command, he sighed.'It's still my birthday and I'm doing labour. tragic'. Jogging down the stairs, he went over to the front door and pulled it open. To his mild irritation, there was no one there. Looking down at the front door step, he found a long, thin box with a small note attached to it. Bending down, he examined it.
"To, Akito. Happy Birthday."
Alarmed, he scanned the area for the mysterious gift giver only to see no one was around. Picking up the enigmatic package, he brought it inside and shut the door. Going back upstairs, he set the box down on his bed to kneel in front of it. He tried to guess what it was for minute; a pointless endeavour that only raised his expectations even more. Positively filled with anticipation, he carefully opened the box. Inside was... Another box. Only this one was made of dark wood and had a very expensive feel to it. The sheen on the wood made it seem as if it had been polished recently. The oddity of it all added more questions to his muddled brain. Turning it so the hinges were at the back, he slowly lifted the lid. Eyes widening, he pushed it open fully.
"A katana..?" He whispered, lifting it off the soft, white padding. "What in the-"
Even though it was extremely plain looking- it was by far leagues cooler than anything he had ever received. Gripping the hilt, he slightly slid off the sheathe, marvelling at the blade glistening in the light. Slack jawed, he didn't even try to guess how much it costed. The thought of selling it crossed his mind but he dismissed it. He was keeping it. He opened it about half way before quickly shutting it again. 'Dangerous things really shouldn't be played with'. Carefully putting it back in the box, he pushed it under his bed so it was away from prying eyes. There wasn't much risk of anyone finding it as his mother greatly respected his privacy, which he was very thankful for. With his bed being high off the ground and not having many belongings, the space under it went unused. Now, it could finally be used for somethng other than the odd shoebox. The ornate box certainly looked conspicuous but it's not like anyone would be looking under there. For a long moment, he stared at the mysterious gift hidden in the shadows.
"Weird."
'I'm never gonna use it anyway.'
_._._._
Red turning to green ushered the busy pedestrians across the even busier street. Akito was a very punctual student, never needing to rush on his way to school in the clichéd way. Then again, he supposed it was because his school was relatively close to his house. Over the years, he had learned how to organise his schedule better. Just one of the ways he had matured since turning sixteen.
The school day was dry and uninspiring as usual. He tapped his pen against his book with his chin resting on his other hand. Every now and then, his gaze would fall on the girl sitting a few seats away from him. Her wavy, light brown hair swayed every time she looked up at the board. The movement was hypnotic to him, dragging a wistful sigh from his mouth.
After school, he attended his soccer club for an hour before finally heading home. Crouching by a vending machine, he waited for his chosen drink to fall down. The plastic bottle cluttered to the bottom, allowing him to reach inside and take it. Twisting the cap, he let the gas escape with a hiss before taking a sip. He winced at the sharp, stingy feeling felt in his tongue and throat.
"Crispy."
At some point in his travels, he decided to take a detour closer to the city centre. Walking through the high street, he saw a couple other school kids hanging around the different shops. Spying the arcade, he considered going in for a little bit; he was in no rush to get home and had some time to kill. Shoving his hand in his pocket, he dug up some change which cemented his choice.
He underestimated just how long he could go at the different games; by the time he left, it was dark out. The moon was high and bright in the sky, illuminating the streets below with its reflected light.
Tap tap tap
Something was following him.
Instincts kicking in, he continued to walk but remained alert.
TAP TAP TAP
They were getting closer now. He held his bag strap tighter.
TAP TAP TAP
They were behind him now. Launching his bag high in the air, Akito turned around with his leg extended, delivering a practiced roundhouse kick to the stranger's face. The person was sent flying back, rolling a few times only to scramble towards him like a crazed animal. Outstretching his hand, a ribbon of light materialised before quickly transforming into a sheathed katana. In just a second, he unsheathed it, slashing the person right down the middle. Their black eyes were wide, mouth wide open as they let out an inhuman cry. Desummoning the katana, he caught his bag.
Falling back onto their butt, the person violently shivered as a black mist rose from their body. After a couple seconds, they finally came around in a rather dazed state. Crouching down, Akito placed a comforting hand on their shoulder.
"You alright?" He asked, feigning ignorance.
The person, a man who looked to be in his early twenties rubbed his head with a groan.
"Ugh, I feel like I just woke up from a horrible dream."
He smiled, relieved the man had been turned back to normal. In an ideal world, he wouldn't have to deal with these instances in the first place. Though, some small part of him was glad this strange afflicition gave him a more exciting purpose in his otherwise mediocre life. He comforted the bewildered man.
"You'll be alright."
Back at home, Akito fell back on his bed with a sigh. That was the nineteenth one he had cured. He called them nightmares. People who appeared at night who had pitch black eyes with weird, bone-like structures on their face. He would slash them with his sword and they would go back to being normal humans. The first encounter happened a year ago when he was coming home from school and one had pounced on him. He wasn't sure of their motive or why they targeted him specifically. He knew he was special on the account he could see apparitions but there was no way they could know that. There were also those big creatures with holes in their chest he saw from time to time. He steered clear of them as he wasn't dumb enough to take them on. With another huff, he sat up. He had stuff to do.
Another day came to an end, meaning another night grew. More nightmares. Akito sat on a rooftop; hand stuffed into a bag of crisps as he scouted. So far, he had been in the clear, much to his delight. He wasn't sure if he wanted one to show up. On one hand, he could get seriously hurt and possibly die, on the other, he would've sat outside for hours for no reason. Rolling his eyes, he shoved another crisp into his mouth.
To his luck, something unusual caught his attention. Something a little too unusual. Standing up, he scanned the area where he saw one of those big monsters lumbering down the road. Normally, he'd pay it no mind out of self preservation but, in this case, he had to intervene. Just ahead of the beast was the terrified spirit of a boy who looked to be around his age, maybe a little younger, running for his life. He could tell as he was slightly transparent with a chain hanging from his chest. Conflicted, Akito summoned his sword but didn't feel confident enough to try and help. The boy stumbled as he ran, turning to look back at the monster which only made him scream.
"HELP!"
'Dammit.' Moving, he slid down the drainage pipe on the side of the house before hopping down and sprinting to the trouble. Catching up, he saw the beast had a tail and used it to his advantage. Picking up the pace, he jumped onto its flopping appendage, climbing up onto its back. It had fur he could grab so he didn't fall off. Pulling himself up until he was at the nape of its neck, he raised his sword. It glinted beautifully in the light before he stabbed it down as hard as he could.
A deafening roar shook his bones. The monster halted its movement to claw at its neck. It shook itself like a wet dog, sending Akito tumbling to the ground, making him wince and groan. The ghost was close by, staring at Akito like HE was the apparition. Akito frantically motioned for him to get away which the ghost thankfully listened to. Turning back to the monster, AKito reacted just in time to roll away as its hand came crashing down toward him. He saw the indent it had left in the road, his stomach dropping from the near death experience. Getting up, he ran in the opposite direction the boy had gone. He was much faster than usual thanks to the adrenaline pumping through his veins like nitrous in an engine. By the sound of heavy footsteps, he was sure it was chasing him. Running forever wasn't an option. He had to face it.
Spinning around, he held his sword up, pointing it straight at the approaching beast. Fear coursing through his systems caused him limbs to shake. His unsteady hand made the blade glitter as it reflected the moon's light. His fight or flight response had kicked his senses into overdrive, making him sweat a little. As soon as it pounced, he rushed forward, sliding under its belly whilst slicing it. Rolling out from under it, he watched as it stumbled. Its roar made him wince from the sheer volume, forcing him to cover his ears.
'I'm gonna have tinnitus by the end of this'.
He readied himself as the beast righted itself. It was a lot tougher than he expected; he wasn't sure how long he could keep this up. Once again, it rushed him with a feral cry, clawed hands slamming against the concrete. Gripping his sword, Akito prepared to stab its masked face, knowing he only had one shot. It was gaining speed. Akito furrowed his brows, aiming to strike it in its eye. It got closer and closer until-
CRUNCH
"Pathetic."
Akito froze. The thing's mask shattered on impact, it's body fading into black mist. Blinking, he looked at his saviour with an unbelieving expression. Unorthodox would be a fitting description. Bright, electric blue hair, black jumpsuit, a white jacket with two belts around his waist. The most peculiar thing about the stranger was the white canine prosthetic on his face along with the katana by his side.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer." He spat.
Akito flinched, pointing his sword at the strange man who didn't seem to find it very threatening. He felt both scared and intrigued but his gut instinct told him the former feeling was the one he should listen to.
"What are you?" he asked, hating how nervous he sounded.
Completely disregarded was his question as the man was busy looking around like he was stuck in a maze. Deeply set on his face was an intimidating scowl, making him look twice as intimidating. Akito had no idea he was nothing but a sleeping gazelle before a prideful lion. He had just met him but could tell he was nothing short of an animalistic beast.
"The fuck is this place? None of this looks familiar." The stranger said, mostly to himself.
Akito tilted his head, taken aback by the man's cluelessness as well as crude language. Somehow, knowing he was lost made him a little less threatening. With that in mind, he lowered his sword.
"Uh, are you... Lost?"
The man turned to Akito as if just now noticing him despite his insult from earlier. He clearly took offense to the question if his sneer was anything to go by.
"You saying I got no sense of direction, huh!?" He said with a snarl, making the boy flinch.
Not wanting to engage with this anomaly any longer, the teen began backing away.
"Well, I'm just gonna g-"
"Wait."
Not in the position to defy his orders, Akito halted with a gulp. He hoped he wasn't about to get crushed like that monster. Wordlessly, the man stalked up to him, glaring at the katana he had yet to put away. Akito turned slightly so it was less visible to the other.
"Who the fuck are you?"
His tone had a hint of confusion as if Akito was somehow familiar to him but he couldn't put his finger on it. Before he could answer, the stranger harshly grabbed his cheeks, turning his head this way and that. Akito winced as his nails dug into his skin.
"You're definitely not a soul reaper and you definitely ain't no fucking Quincy."
Pulling away, Akito glowered at the man who continued to stare at him like he shouldn't exist.
"What are you talking about? I'm just a guy." He answered, desummoning his katana with a flick of his wrist.
This didn't go unnoticed by the man who spied the action curiously. He snorted like Akito had told him a joke. Standing up straight, he raised his chin in a confident way.
"Where's Ichigo?"
'What?'
"Ichiwho?"
Wrong answer. Akito yelped when the tip of a sword was placed an inch away from his throat. He never even saw him draw it.
"Don't be a smart ass. I know you know where he is. Your reiatsu feels the similar."
'Soul reaper? Quincy? Reiatsu? What is this guy taking about??' gulping, Akito backed up more, not in the mood to get skewered.
"I really don't know anyone called Ichigo. Why would I lie to a man who looks like he can kill me in a second?" He replied, voice raising out of desperation. The urge to run was overwhelming.
Right answer. His mixture of honesty and pandering seemed to do the trick in convincing the man to put his sword down. Despite that, Akito had a hunch he'd be able to do immeasurable harm without it.
"Whatever. Just tell me how to get to-"
He paused, face going blank for a second. Akito tilted his head.
"To..?"
"Shut the fuck up." The man aggressively whispered, putting his fingers on his temple to massage it.
"Fuckin'... Uhhh, where is he again..? FUCK!" It was on the tip of his tongue.
Akito flinched again when the man stomped the ground hard enough to leave a crack in the concrete. Akito realized he seemed to have a penchant for finding things with supernatural strength, a trait he was beginning to hate. The man suddenly bent down, clenching his fists as he shouted.
"It's been ten fucking years! How the fuck am I supposed to remember where he is!?"
Taking this as his chance, Akito began sprinting away from the crazed man.
He managed to get back home, letting his guard down when he didn't feel the guy's oddly profound presence. Sighing, he made his way to his bedroom, hoping to sleep the day's stress away.