Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Two Sides to Every Coin	By : Raceysama Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male > Grimmjow/Ichigo Views: 3000 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor do I make any profit from these works......

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
CHAPTER 5: SHIRO
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach...
Onwards...
XOXOXOXO
"What the fuck did you just say?" he snarled. His brother fidgeted uncomfortably before speaking again.
"L-Luppi is dead. H-his body was found in the river this morning. He'd been shot, execution style."
He gasped, turned his back to his brother and covered his mouth with the back of his hand, fighting the moisture stinging his eyes. They would go this far? First they strip Luppi of the position he had been so proud of, then...then they kill him? How dare they?
He swallowed back the bile rising in his throat, trying desperately to regain his composure. He wouldn't do this in front of his brother. He would mourn his lover later. In the meantime...
"This is unacceptable, you do know this, don't you?" he asked as he turned to face his brother once more. His brother merely nodded. "I didn't think it would come to this, but they're forcing my hand. Make the necessary arrangements. I don't care how you do it or what city you sign with, I will fight the new Sexta Espada. He will die for his part in Luppi's humiliation," he said, sheer rage replacing the grief that had begun to consume him.
"Sharp, are you sure you-"
"I won't sit back and do nothing after what they did to Luppi! I won't!" he bellowed.
"Ok, ok, I'll do it!" his brother yelped raising his hands in surrender.
He waited until his brother hurried from the room to collapse into the plush office chair. Burying his face in his hands, frustration, anger, hurt and grief spilled from his eyes. Why hadn't Luppi told him he was in danger?
When he'd first started seeing Luppi a year ago, everything had been fine. They had been happy and making plans for the future. Then Luppi told him he'd been demoted and everything changed. Luppi became withdrawn, bitter and angry and he'd had no idea how to reach him until Luppi came to him complaining of "Aizen's little bitch" harassing him and of some new guy that had taken his spot. Then Luppi took off leaving him a note saying he was going to Okinawa for a few days to visit family. He hadn't thought twice about it because Luppi was unpredictable that way. Now his brother was telling him that Luppi was dead.
He clenched his eyes shut and ground his teeth together. There would be hell to pay. He was going to start with the small fry that had taken Luppi's Sexta title and then work his way up to Aizen and his second-in-command. He still didn't have names and that little asshole Tesla had been stubborn to the end. He had no idea why no one knew the new Sexta's name. No one he could get close enough to anyway. He could understand why no one knew Aizen's second-in-command because the guy was like Aizen's shadow. Only those on the inside would know and Luppi had never told him.
Dammit, he still couldn't believe Luppi was dead. His heart felt like someone had reached into his chest and started squeezing unmercifully. They would all die.
XOXOXOXO
"Look, lady, no offense, but I think you've got the wrong person," Ichigo stated firmly.
"Shiro-" Nel started, thoroughly baffled.
"My. Name. Is. Ichigo."
Ichigo was beyond confused and it pissed him off. He had no idea who the fuck these people were, barging into his home calling him "Shiro".
A tall skinny man leaning against the wall, snickered. What the fuck was so funny?
"Well, that's appropriate," the tall guy commented. That wasn't funny. The prick.
"OI! FUCK YOU! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!" Ichigo yelled, beside himself with anger, but the tall guy just cackled.
"Figures ya'd pick up a crazy one, Szayel," tall man continued.
"How was I to know he came with issues?" an injured pink-haired man snapped. He had several bruises on his face, a black eye and a split lip.
"What the hell is going on here?" Ichigo squeaked. He felt himself feeling faint as his grip on the bat weakened.
"Shinji?" a dark-haired man with gray eyes inquired.
Ichigo stared as Shinji flushed and nodded his head in acknowledgment. What the? How did Shinji know this guy? Was that the "Stark" person he was talking about?
"Shinji, you know these people?" Ichigo asked incredulously as Shinji rolled his eyes.
"Ichi, I told you that you were with the Espada last night at Hueco Mundo. These people are the Espada," he explained as if he was speaking to a three year old. Ichigo bared his teeth as he lowered the bat.
"And I told you that I have no idea what the fuck any of that is, remember? I go to sleep, and wake up fucked up! Ring any bells?" Ichigo was furious. Someone had better start explaining, and fast, before he started destroying shit.
"I don't understand," the green-haired woman said softly looking just as bewildered as Ichigo felt.
"What is there not to understand, Nel? It seems like there are two of them in there and we have only met one," the pink-haired man said as he moved forward. Ichigo dropped the bat and assumed a defensive stance. Pink hair paused and the tall man roared with laughter.
"What ya waiting for, Szayel?" tall man chuckled.
"Fuck you!" pink hair snapped and tall man just laughed even harder.
"Ichi, maybe you should listen to them. They can tell you more than I can," Shinji prodded.
Ichigo stared at the diverse group gathered in his living room. There was the really tall guy, the green-haired lady, a huge man with braids, a green-eyed guy, a fierce-looking chick with blonde hair, an older guy with a crown tattoed under his eye, the man with gray eyes that had spoken to Shinji earlier, the injured pink-haired guy, a dude with hair the same color as Renji's and...oh...oh wow...
Ichigo's eyes met a pair of startlingly blue ones that watched him carefully. Holy shit. Suddenly, Ichigo's mouth felt as dry as a bone and his heart began to race. His palms got all sweaty and he felt like all the air in his lungs had disappeared without a trace as he observed the owner of those captivating blue eyes. Blue hair, muscular but not obscenely so, and an enticing-looking mouth-wait, what? What the hell was he just thinking?
"So, you're all here for what? And why does she keep calling me Shiro?" Ichigo asked, pointing at Nel. Pink hair stepped forward again but this time much more slowly.
"Two nights ago, I saw you fighting off two men and since I had already been asked to find a new recruit for the Espada, I chose you. Last night, my brother and I approached you with our boss's offer and you accompanied us to Hueco Mundo for further details. Once there-"
"Ok, stop!" Ichigo interrupted, holding up a hand. "What the hell is Hueco Mundo and Espada?" Pink hair sighed and adjusted his glasses agitatedly.
"Hueco Mundo is where Japan's underground fighting arena gathers to compete for money and bragging rights. The Espada is a group of ten fighters that represents Karakura and as of last night, that includes you. Or rather, the one named Shiro."
Ichigo stared blankly at the pink-haired man trying desperately to form coherent thoughts. None of this shit made any sense!
Ichigo glanced at Shinji and found that he looked just as stunned as Ichigo did. Why? Hadn't Shinji been the one to first tell him about all of this? Ichigo huffed and turned back to pink hair.
"So that's it? You saw me fight and I was instantly accepted?" Ichigo asked, still a bit confused.
"In a manner of speaking, yes," pink hair said stiffly. Tall guy started cackling again and Ichigo noticed pink hair going red in the face.
"Something tells me there's more to it than that," Ichigo dead-panned.
"You were brought to Hueco Mundo and introduced to the boss and a couple of us here. You had to prove you were worthy enough to fill the position you'd been chosen for. In order to do that, you had to fight Szayel," the green-haired lady explained.
"So who's Szayel?" Ichigo asked and tall man snickered.
"Would you please shut the fuck up, Nnoitra?" Pink hair snapped, and suddenly, things made a lot more sense.
"Ohhhhh, you're Szayel. So, I did that to you?" Ichigo asked, trying not to smile and feeling oddly proud of his handiwork. Szayel shot him a death glare.
"The one named Shiro did this, not you, so you can wipe that smug look off of your face!"
"Ara! Touchy!" Ichigo said and held his hands up in a gesture of peace, smirking at the anger rolling off of Szayel. "So, I kicked your ass and now I'm an Espada? Hm."
"I-Ichi, you don't seem very upset about this," Shinji uttered nervously. Ichigo shrugged.
"Should I be? I mean, now that everything's been explained, it actually doesn't sound that bad. At least now I know where all the cuts and bruises and shit came from," he said.
Ichigo thought it over. He did need a job and this way it wouldn't interfere with his classes. Besides, Ichigo liked to fight, he just hadn't had a reason to since he graduated from Seireitei. Not to mention, his main worry had been alleviated. He now knew what had been going on when he woke up all messed up. Ichigo wasn't crazy after all, he was just...different. Ok, maybe he was more than different, but there were worse things than having another personality...right?
"O-oi, you sound like you're actually considering doing this," Shinji's eyes looked panicked and Ichigo shrugged again.
"I could use the money, Shinji."
"But what about school? What if Isshin finds out?"
Ichigo studied Shinji for a moment. Shinji's face was twisted in horror and he was wringing his hands. It was really pretty hilarious seeing his usually calm and carefree friend looking so worried.
"Are you going to tell anyone?" Ichigo asked. This seemed to bring Shinji out of his desperation quite rapidly.
"What the fuck am I, a rat?" he snapped angrily. Ichigo smiled reassuringly.
"No, that's why I trust you, and anyway, doesn't all this occur at night?" he asked looking at the green-haired lady. She was positively beaming as she nodded.
"Yep, all of the fights take place at night," she chirped.
"So, that's better for me. I can go to class and get any homework done before I have to go. This way, even if I do turn into...erm...Shiro, at least I'll know what's going on," Ichigo explained before something occurred to him. "That reminds me, what position am I taking and, er, I guess I should know your names or something. Oh, and why you broke into my fucking apartment would also be nice."
"Ahh! I can do that! My name is Neliel Tu Odershvank, but just call me Nel!" The green-haired lady claimed, practically bursting with excitement and Ichigo grinned and nodded. She reminded him of Yuzu.
"Yammy Riyalgo, Decimo Espada," the extremely large man with the braids stated with a friendly grin.
"Decimo? So, number ten?" Ichigo asked, to be sure. Nel brightened even further as she nodded.
"Wow! Shiro didn't know the numbers at all!" she laughed and Ichigo blushed, hoping that this Shiro wasn't an idiot.
"Aaroniero Arruruerie, Noveno Espada," a soft but firm tenor broke through Nel's giggles, making the room fall eerily silent as everyone gaped at the man with the bright red hair and solemn burgundy eyes.
"Well damn! I haven't heard him speak in like four months," tall man exclaimed. "Nice to know yer voice still works, Yero." Said man only nodded.
"Szayel Aporro Grantz, Octavo Espada," pink hair enunciated making Ichigo smirk. Szayel still seemed a bit perturbed.
"Your position is next, Shi-I mean, Ichigo. Septima Espada," Nel pointed out. Ichigo nodded.
So, he was number seven. Not too bad. Engrossed in his thoughts, he was jerked back to reality by a gruff, baritone that sent shivers skittering down his spine.
"Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, Sexta Espada," blue hair introduced himself. Ichigo's heart suddenly decided that now was a good time to riverdance. Why the hell did this guy affect him like that? It was disturbing.
Ichigo unconsciously licked his lips and nodded then was stunned as realization jumped on his back for a ride. He was attracted to a man? Impossible. But then, why did all the fine hairs of his neck and arms stand at attention whenever he met that intense blue gaze? Shit.
"Nnoitra Jiruga, Quinto Espada," tall man said with a sinister smile, like he knew something he wasn't supposed to. Ichigo frowned. Guy's weird.
"Ulquiorra Schiffer, Cuarto Espada," a small, dark-haired, green-eyed man monotoned and Ichigo thought the man could at least try to look interested.
"Tia Halibel, but call me Halibel. Tercero Espada." That came from the blonde chick that looked like she was capable of breaking men in half with her bare hands. Ichigo made a note to stay far away from her if he could help it.
"Barragan Luisenbarn, Segundo," the older man with the crown tattoo drawled as he chewed on a toothpick.
"Stark Coyote, Primero Espada. Also your friend Shinji's boss," the brown-haired, gray-eyed man claimed with a small smirk. Well, that explains that.
Ichigo surveyed the group of fighters and nodded. He was kind of looking forward to being an Espada but that still left one thing.
"Ok, so why did you break into my damn apartment? Surely one of you knows how to knock," Ichigo stated, voice dripping sarcasm like a leaky faucet.
"I told you he'd be upset," Nel accused glaring at Nnoitra.
"Che, like I give a shit. I didn't feel like waiting."
"You owe me a candy dish," Ichigo said petulantly and Nnoitra snorted as he stared in the vicinity of Ichigo's mouth making him feel somewhat uncomfortable, but not enough to show it.
"Like hell I do."
"You need your rank tattoo," Stark spoke up. Ichigo's eyes widened and his lips parted as if he wanted to say something but couldn't quite find the words.
"T-tattoo? Um, but, where?" Ichigo finally stuttered. Stark smiled.
"That, my friend, is up to you. First tattoo?" Ichigo nodded.
"I've always wanted one but I could never decide what to get."
"Oi, open your mouth," Nnoitra commanded as he stalked towards Ichigo and Ichigo shrank back scowling.
"Why?"
"Just fuckin' do it," Nnoitra growled.
"Hell no," Ichigo snapped and Nnoitra lunged before he could react, hooking him in a headlock.
"Ahh! Ichigo!" Shinji cried and jumped forward to interfere, but was held back by a smiling Stark. "What the hell?"
"He's not gonna hurt him," Stark answered calmly.
Ichigo struggled against the tall bastard but he was pretty fucking strong to be so damned skinny. He held Ichigo still with one wiry arm and used his free hand to pry Ichigo's jaw open. Ichigo fought and tried to bite the asshole, he really did, but like he said, Nnoitra was strong and he already had an advantage over him with the headlock.
"Ah-ha!" Nnoitra cried and immediately let Ichigo loose causing him to fall on his ass.
Ichigo leaned back on his hands and glared at Nnoitra, who was currently leering at him. Ichigo hadn't wanted anyone to find out about that and now this creep was about to expose his hard-kept secret. Nnoitra grinned lecherously at Ichigo.
"Ya got yer tongue pierced," he said slowly. Ichigo sighed angrily when he heard Shinji's surprised squeak.
"It was kind of confidential, you asshole," Ichigo snarled.
"What. The. Fuck. Ichi! When did you-I wanna see! How come I never noticed?" Shinji spluttered obviously not knowing where to begin.
"Coz he's got the flesh-colored one so it blends in with his tongue. Ha! Never woulda thought ya had it in ya kid," Nnoitra exclaimed sounding for all the world like a proud father.
Ichigo scowled but then jerked back in surprise when Shinji straddled his lap and gripped Ichigo's jaw in his hand.
"Open," Shinji commanded and Ichigo instantly obeyed. Hell, the look on Shinji's face was pretty fucking scary. "I can't believe I didn't notice this. I mean, we've been friends for a while and I can always tell when you're hiding something. First Renji with Byakuya, now you have a fucking tongue ring. How long?" Shinji murmured absently, studying the piercing before Ichigo closed his mouth.
"A year," Ichigo answered sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Fuuuuck, I'm losing my touch," Shinji groaned.
"Well, as...entertaining...as this is, there's still the matter of where you want your tattoo," Stark interjected.
That's when Ichigo realized how precarious the situation was with Shinji seated comfortably in his lap. Ichigo flushed and prodded Shinji's chest.
"Move," he ordered and Shinji slid away from him and made himself comfortable on the floor beside the couch.
Ichigo stayed where he was as he contemplated a location for the number seven he was going to receive. At first he considered the inside of his right forearm, but with the profession he'd chosen, that wouldn't be a good plan. Then an idea formed in his mind and refused to budge.
"I've got an idea," he said with a small smile.
XOXOXOXO
So, Grimmjow had a headache from the myriad of emotions he'd just experienced. First, there was confusion after seeing the kid with a baseball bat in his hands demanding to know who they were. Then, there was amusement at the Szayel situation. That had been fucking classic. Next, we had surprise up at bat from the way the kid just accepted everything and rolled with the punches like nothing could faze him.
Then came the most prominent one. Pure animalistic lust. Grimmjow had been at a loss for words once he took a closer look at the kid. There was a distinct difference between the kid Ichigo and the kid Shiro. Shiro was wild, and in your face aggressive, all about fighting. Ichigo...hm...where should he start? Ok, let's start here.
Ichigo was aggressive, yeah, but he was also laid-back. He was adventurous and yet sensible at the same time. Make sense? Now came the hard-to-swallow part. Ichigo was fucking sexy. From his soft nut-brown eyes, strong but slender frame, to the very way he moved, caused Grimmjow to quiver with excitement. Not to mention, that utterly erotic display he put on with the little blond a minute ago and that god-forsaken tongue ring. Grimmjow shuddered.
Normally, he would be repulsed by the idea of a man with a tongue piercing, i.e. Nnoitra, but on Ichigo it was just hot. Shit, Grimmjow thought everything about the kid was hot and now he was struggling ferociously with repressing a monstrous erection. Ichigo was currently lying on his back, shirtless, with Stark tattooing a seven around his navel below a small cluster of bruises. Grimmjow was having a hard time not drooling at the sight of that toned expanse of tanned skin.
So, the issue with not being physically attracted to men was solved because he sure as fuck was attracted to Ichigo. How strange was that though? Although he may have felt a little something when he first saw Shiro, it was nowhere near as strong as this...thing...with Ichigo, and they were the same damn person. It was confusing and frustrating as hell.
Oh, and as if that weren't enough, he now had Nnoitra breathing down his fucking neck and Grimmjow was just waiting for the inevitable "told ya so". A soft, breathy chuckle drew Grimmjow from his reverie.
"That kind of tickles," Ichigo sighed with a devastating smile. Grimmjow had to stifle a groan. Shit, if the kid kept that up he was certain he would come in his pants.
"I do believe he's sprung, ladies 'n gentlemen," Nnoitra commented softly, without looking at Grimmjow.
Grimmjow growled lowly and ignored Nnoitra's bait. He wouldn't fall for that shit. Thankfully, Nnoitra was silent for the rest of Ichigo's initiation process, leaving Grimmjow to his dirty thoughts of the sexy strawberry.
XOXOXOXO
Next Day
"Urahara Shoten, how may I be of service?" an overly cheerful voice sang over the phone and Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"I'll be at your place in five minutes, I need to talk to you," Ichigo cut to the chase.
"Ichigo?" Urahara asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"My my, it's been three years since we last spoke and this is how you greet me?"
"Can it, I'll be there soon so you can nag me then," Ichigo replied in a bored tone.
"Fine, fine."
Ichigo and Shinji were headed towards Urahara's shop after their classes had finished for the day, Ichigo having agreed to let him tag along. He knew that Shinji was curious as to why he was going to see the shopkeeper but that was only because Shinji didn't know that Urahara was a retired psychotherapist and also Isshin's friend.
Kisuke Urahara was a strange man, from the wooden sandals and weird hat he wore down to the paper fan he never seemed to be without. Not to mention his crazy as hell wife, Yoruichi. Ichigo cringed at the memories of the brown-skinned, deep violet-haired devil and her embarrassing lectures on sex.
Although Urahara was weird, Ichigo remembered his old man telling him that Urahara had been good at his job and that his quirks worked in his favor, which is why Ichigo trusted the man to be able to help him with this "Shiro" situation.
They arrived at Urahara Shoten and stepped into the dimly lit front room. Ichigo was looking around for the strange man, bouts of nostalgia threatening to overwhelm him when suddenly, Urahara appeared at Ichigo's right elbow wearing a mysterious grin causing Ichigo to damn near jump out of his skin and barely suppress what was sure to be an embarrassing scream. Shinji wasn't so lucky as his scream was enough to wake the dead.
"The fuck did he come from?" Shinji asked holding his hand over his heart and trying to bring his voice back down to normal levels. Urahara smiled and whipped out his trusty fan while Ichigo shook his head.
"Why do you always have that thing?" Ichigo asked, making a grab for it. Urahara deftly stepped out of the way and tapped Ichigo in the forehead with the closed fan.
"Now, now, none of that. Why don't you tell me what you're here for, Kurosaki-kun," Urahara replied as he re-opened the fan and held it up, shielding half of his face.
"Can we go somewhere and sit down? This might take a while," Ichigo suggested and Urahara immediately nodded.
"Of course," he answered and led them into a back room. "You can sit down while-"
"I got it, Kisuke," Yoruichi said as she stepped through the door carrying a tea tray with several cups. "Ahh, Ichi-chan! Look how you've grown! Are you still a virgin?"
"Yoruichi-san!" Ichigo reprimanded, his face resembling a ripe tomato. Yoruichi giggled and set the tea tray onto a small table while Shinji cackled and sounded dangerously similar to that Nnoitra guy.
"I'm sorry, Ichi-chan, you're just so fun to tease."
"Yoruichi-san, please don't call me that," Ichigo muttered sullenly.
"Fine, I'm going," she said and reluctantly left the room, sliding the door shut.
"Urahara, what I tell you stays here, are we understood?" Ichigo demanded. Urahara nodded, his fan waving back and forth.
"Of course, Ichigo, I'm aw-"
"That means you can't tell my dad either." The fan paused but continued immediately after.
"I see. I understand," Urahara stated solemnly.
"Ok. Well see, the thing is-" Ichigo paused to take a deep breath before hurriedly continuing. "I think I may have another personality. I've gone to sleep and woke up the next morning with cuts and bruises and no recollection of how they occurred. Then Shinji told me he saw me somewhere that I absolutely don't remember being and some of my other, er, friends claimed I had come to them calling myself Shiro."
By now, Urahara's fan had completely stopped moving and he studied Ichigo carefully as if the solution lay somewhere on his face.
"I see. How many times has this happened?"he questioned.
"Twice."
Urahara was silent for several minutes and Ichigo began to get nervous. Was it that bad?
"This case is strange indeed. Most people with Multiple Personality Disorder aren't aware that they have it, but you seem to have had help in that area. I'm not sure what you're asking of me, Kurosaki-kun," Urahara carefully explained.
"I'm not even sure what I'm asking. Maybe-is there a way to get rid of the other personality?" Ichigo asked.
"There may be a way to combine personalities, but that takes years of treatment. I may be able to draw it out though to see if it truly exists."
"What do you mean, 'draw it out'?" Ichigo didn't really like they way that sounded.
"Well, Kurosaki-kun, have you heard of hypnosis?" Urahara asked with a deadly serious face.
Ichigo glanced at Shinji who glanced at Ichigo and they both burst into fits of laughter. Was Urahara fucking serious? Hypnosis?
"Urahara, are you serious?" Ichigo voiced his mind's question. Urahara smiled.
"Quite."
"You mean the you're-getting-very-sleepy kind of hypnosis?" Shinji asked, still snickering.
"Aaahhh, I see. That kind of hypnosis is false. I can assure you when one is hypnotized they are awake and aware. It's more a form of relaxed concentration; for example, daydreaming. I can help Kurosaki-kun induce an Alpha state, or rather a light hypnotic trance. Just like playing video games. Although one may be concentrating on the video game, one is still able to answer the phone or answer questions, ne?" Urahara enlightened.
Ichigo just stared at Urahara in disbelief. He was really serious. If Urahara was serious then he was definitely telling the truth, and if he was telling the truth then Ichigo would listen. Hell, he was willing to do anything if it meant getting rid of this supposed "Shiro" character because he really didn't like losing chunks of his time and memory.
"What do I do then?" he asked hesitantly. Shit, he was still nervous though. Urahara smiled.
"All you have to do is want to be hypnotized and trust me."
"Ichi, I dont know," Shinji interjected. Ichigo could understand his friend's feelings but he was desperate.
"I have to try something, Shinji. Urahara, how does this work?"
"Why don't I show you?"
Ichigo nodded as Urahara stood and gestured for them to follow him to another room that held a couple of futons on the floor. He knelt beside one and waved Ichigo over.
"Lie down, please," he said softly and after a moment's hesitation Ichigo obeyed.
With Ichigo lying on the futon and Shinji kneeling beside him, Urahara closed his fan and tucked it into the sleeve of his kimono.
"Well, Kurosaki-kun, are you ready to be hypnotized?" Shinji giggled, but Ichigo nodded soberly. "Alright close your eyes and relax your body."
Ichigo did as he was told, or rather he tried to, but his body refused to loosen up. How was he supposed to relax when he was so keyed up?
"Kurosaki-kun, imagine that you have just arrived home after a long day and you're finally able to wind down," Urahara suggested, his voice a soothing rumble.
Ichigo saw himself showering after a full day of classes and several hours of doing homework, then staggering into his room to collapse on his bed. He didn't even notice when his muscles finally went lax.
"Now begin counting backwards from 100. Out loud if you please," Urahara continued.
"100...99...98...97...96...95...94...93...92..." Ichigo counted.
"If he's going to be awake, why did you make him close his eyes?" Shinji whispered.
"Would you be comfortable looking at an unblinking person for an indefinite amount of time?" Urahara asked with a grin.
"Ah, yeah, that would be creepy. So what happens now?"
"He will eventually stop counting and enter a light hypnotic trance, then I can suggest that I meet, uh, Shiro did he say?" Shinji nodded and continued watching Ichigo count.
"71...70...69...68..."
Ichigo felt really good, like he was vegging out on his couch in his underwear letting the tv watch him. Even though he could hear what was going on around him, he wasn't really paying attention. Ichigo managed to reach fifty-nine when he suddenly started seeing buildings that were horizontal instead of vertical and a cleaar blue sky with white fluffy clouds rolling by. What the fuck is this?
Perched on the corner of one of the buildings was a guy with his back facing Ichigo and his legs hanging over the side of the strange structure. From what Ichigo could see, the guy was wearing an all white karate gi (uniform) with a black sash and had...white hair?
Ichigo slowly approached him wondering where this place was. Figuring he'd get some answers, he crouched to the man's level and lay a hand on his shoulder. The man whipped around as if he'd been startled and Ichigo fell back on his ass in shock. His eyes! What the hell?
"King?" the man asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. Ichigo still couldn't get past this guy's eyes.
"Wh-what the hell are you?" Ichigo finally managed. The guy's smile was so big all of his other features nearly disappeared.
"Finally!" he said and scooted closer to Ichigo but Ichigo scuttled backwards away from him. "Awww, c'mon King! I ain't gonna hurt ya!"
"Why the hell are you calling me that?" Ichigo demanded.
"Coz that's who ya are! I'm only here ta help. Well, I was."
Ichigo didn't know what the hell was going on anymore. He had no clue where he was and who this...speaking of which, was this guy even a person? He had white hair and his eyes were spooking the hell out of Ichigo. The sclera was black where normal people's was white and his irises were a bright gold.
"Ok, please, explain to me who the fuck you are and where the hell we are!"
Ichigo was irate. The last thing he remembered was counting backwards from 100 in Urahara's shop under the guise of being hypnotized and the next thing he knew, he was here. He needed answers and he needed them like yesterday.
"Ya oughta know the answer ta that, after all yer the one that made me." Ichigo scowled deeply.
"Pretend I don't know what you're talking about," Ichigo said dryly.
"Well, since I could never communicate with ya before, I gave mahself a name. Care ta guess?" the guy's grin was devouring his face and Ichigo finally understood.
"Shiro?" The guy showed what seemed like every one of his teeth with his next smile.
"That's it," he said gently, his expression softening although the wide grin was still present.
"So you really do exist."
"Of course! I've got ya to thank for that too. Since you fought that piece 'o shit Gin, we've been together, only I live here in this world that ya made for me."
Say what? Why couldn't he remember any of that? Surely he would be able to recall creating a whole different personality and giving him a place to live like a pet, right?
"Why can't I remember that?" Ichigo asked. Shiro rubbed his chin in thought before responding.
"Here's the deal. Ya kinda lost touch with reality when ya fought that squinty-eyed shit coz at that age ya were squeamish 'bout fightin'. Course ya still had the desire ta defend yerself and I guess that's where I came in."
"Like a defense mechanism?"
"Yeah, jus' like that! Ya figured since it wasn't "yer regular self" fighting, ya didn't think it was wrong. Truth be told I was worried 'bout ya. So angry an' sad all the time, it wasn't healthy, so all the fights ya had in middle school was me takin' care 'o ya, 'til ya went to Seireitei. Then ya learned to fight on yer own and ya made some friends. Ya didn't really need me anymore. Sometimes though, ya'd get crazy excited durin' a spar or tournament an' lose yerself, letting me out a little. Those were fun times. Then ya graduated and forgot about me. Everytime ya had the urge ta fight er somethin' ya would ignore it, but I need an outlet sometime or else I gotta force one."
Ichigo really had no clue how to respond to that. Shiro had been created by him and evolved into an individual personality somewhere down the line, and had been with him since middle school. How could all of that have happened without him remembering? It was true that his middle school fights were hazy, though. Ichigo looked timidly at Shiro and asked him the question he'd been wanting to ask since first laying eyes on him.
"So, why do you look like that? Do you look like that when you're, uh, using my body?" Shiro raised an eyebrow and grinned hugely.
"Baaaaka, ya watch too much anime. Course not, it's yer body! I only look like this here coz this is how ya made me."
"Oh," Ichigo felt like a moron. Of course he didn't look like that while using his body or else Shinji wouldn't have recognized him at Hueco Mundo. Ah! Speaking of which... "So, care to tell me how you planned to make that whole Hueco Mundo Espada thing work without my knowledge? Or were you just gonna sit back and watch me slowly lose my mind?" Ichigo fumed as Shiro winced. Well, at least he had the decency to feel bad about it.
"I really tried ta talk ta ya 'bout it, but fer some reason, I just couldn't even though ya'd be right there. If I tried ta touch ya, my hands would go right through ya like we were ghosts or somethin'. By the way, how are ya able ta talk ta me now?" Shiro asked, tilting his head to the left curiously.
"I was supposedly being hypnotized. Guess it worked."
"Ichi! Ichi, wake your ass up!" Shinji's panicked voice sounded so far away.
"Looks like ya gotta go," Shiro stated sounding strangely disappointed. "Maybe we can talk some more again another time, yeah?"
Ichigo nodded as he stood and with one last look at Shiro started walking away. The buildings and sky began to fade and Ichigo slowly opened his eyes to see Shinji hovering over him looking extremely frightened.
"Oh my god, Ichi, you had us so worried!" Shinji cried. Ichigo looked around to see Urahara kneeling beside him with an intense look that just did not suit the cheerful man's face.
"What happened? Did it work?"
"Well, Kurosaki-kun, in the beginning you were responsive, but once you stopped counting, I could no longer reach you. It was very strange," Urahara said quietly.
"I saw him. I spoke to him too," Ichigo muttered and Urahara leaned forward.
"And?"
"Let's just say he's not dangerous and he told me what I need to do to keep him from using my body. I think I'll let him stick around for now, though."
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Two Sides to Every Coin