Guardian of Shadows (Solo - 1st)

It was late, later than what you could call a normal day of work, it had dragged out, the reappearance of Kaiyo had left alot of unanswered questions and with that alot of reports and more, ofcourse they deserved an answer but on the cost of the long days was something else, the sun had long gone down, Shadows turning more alike into just plain darkness, yet in the end it was all just one big shadow covering this place, which in itself made these hours particularly special it was in this time where Shikuro felt the strongest, he didn't know why, but in the shadow was always where he found comfort and strenght, even more after starting his relationship with Hikage. Not exactly because he knew that he was possibly much stronger but it gave him a sort of weird feeling, it was a feeling he never really had had before meeting Hikage, strangely enough. With a Yawn and a stretch Shiku finnished the last of the reports for the day, he stashed them away and sighed in relaxsation.

While just sitting there thinking he realized, though hikage was possibly the closer "person" he would ever know he knew close to nothing about him, except for his way of enjoying life as it was, though that was only th way he wanted it to look, Shiku knew that but he never figured out what his true thoughts and feeling where. Shikuro took a deep breath calmling his senses, this wasn't exactly stuff he normally wondered about, but yet it was something that had peaked his interest, the trick og getting into his inner world had long been discovered after getting in here a few times now, to seep deep within himself was just a matter of focus. He closed his eyes, waiting about 5 second before opening them again, finding his office gone, it was still dark though, but only cause of the long shade though the darkness was alot less aparent within this shade. Shikuro got up on his feet looking around him, finding Hikage no where around here, maybe he slept around this time or something, Shikuro didn't mind though this would be the first time he was here without Hikage popping up immediatly, this would also be the first time he had entered without shouting out for Hikage he looked up the large building it was tall, made him wonder slightly, just how much this world was his, if he could controll it freely and all that. And with that in though he walked over to the wall, placing his foot on it quickly followed by his next, starting to walk upwards, funny enough it didn't seem like this was wrong in anyway, the moment he stepped up on the wall it was just alike it was the ground and he had just walked down a wall to get there.

Shiku smiled not sure why but he kept walking alike he kenw there would be something interesting at the top of this thing, not cause he had any idea what he would find up there he just knew it had to be interesting good or anything alike that, so he kept walking, from time to time looking back down to the ground where he came from first now realizing just how tall this building really was, it wasn't really an ordenary building thats for sure, not to mention what would actually be inside of this thing. but in some way Shikuro just didn't find that as interesting as what would be on the top. After 10 mintues walking or something alike that he reached to the top, with each step getting closer, feeling the excitement rissing withing his body, and just before he walks over the edge he stops, taking a deep breath, he took one look back wanting to see the distance he had covered only to find that he barely could even see the ground proberly at this height, and with that confirmed he looked forward getting ready to step over the edge.

As Shikuro steped over the edged he found himself blinded for a second going from the safe sight of the shades into starring into the sun, a rather bright light taking comparison which forced him to look to the side. He took a few second to get used to the change in light turning his eyes back, and shadowy figure stood there staring at the same sun, which was a beautiful red sun going into a sun set, sending its last strong red rays over the clouds making colors you don't normally just happen to see, it was a piece art you could say, Shikuro stood there amazed, he'd never though of his inner world being capable of showing such images.
He took a deep breath, then taking the courage to step forward, there was still the matter of that person standing there, and who exactly he was, though it should be pretty easy to figure out it had to be Hikage but still as it was right now, the shroded shades that normally lies around the shoulders had spread out almosy as long as wings on his back, so was it really the same person?
As he took his steps forward about 3 meters before reaching the person his step made a light sound which made this person react.
"You should have called... I would have met you down there, then you wouldn't have to walk up here..."
The shades slowly starts to retract into the same visual on his shoulders as it was usually, while that was happening he was just standing still.
"Hikage? so it was you... What is this place..."
A mild chuckle could heard from within Hikage, he turned and faced Shikuro showing the same usual appearance, a light sigh slipped Shikuro's lips having hoped to see Hikage in a diffrend way.
"Isn't that obvious? its the top of a building with the best view here...."
Shikuro tilted his head, watching Hikage closely.
"You know thats not what I meant..."
"No but its all the information you should have right now..."
Shikuro grit his teeth a bit more, this was his world why shouldn't he know about it?
"Why not?"
Hikage stepped over to Shikuro watching right into his eyes.
"You wouldn't understand, you can't see what you need to see yet... to proove it I'll ask you what do you see here?"
Shikuro stepped to the side, taking in the view as before he saw the the view amazing as it was taing a few second to figure out what he should describe.
"I see a red sun going down in the Horizon sending its last bright light out over the place, as its last say to this day..."
"Exactly you're missi...(ng)"
"And I see Shadows... at this time a day you can even see Shadows along the clouds far up in the skies"
Hikage was speechless, not knowing what to say not having expected this.

There was a long moment of silence between Shikuro and Hikage, none of them wanted to break it, Shikuro had turned, staring at Hikage, and so Hikage stared at him. to Shikuro this was proberly the longest moment he had ever felt in his entire life, beating the moments in near death even, which is commonly known as the longest moments you'll ever experience. Though this silence was almost a nervewrecking as it waskilling Shikuro Hikage's silent glare and his stubbornness not letting him take the charge and lead the conversation as that would mean a change of subject, one which he most definetly didn't want to make. He started listening, he could hear the wind passing them both by in these quiet moment, after a while could he even hear them both breath in and out, in the end he could swear he heard both their heartbeats, beating as one.

Though that was about as far as the silence was held then Hikage's voice abrubtly broke it, really not seeing it comming as you can't really see that he's talking very well.
"What is a shadow?"
Shikuro frowned lightly as it seemed, the subject had been changed without him even wanting it to be changed, his disagreement being displayed load a clear in his facial expression, though it seemed in some way that Hikage was rather serious.
"A shadow is a imitation of ourselves, its a negative to whatever the shadow reflects... and its my weapon"
he smirked lightly, thinking that was the answer he was supossed to give seeing as his shikai allowed him to use his own shadow as a weapon.
Though soon to see it wasn't the answer Hikage was looking for as he clearly shaked his head.
"The first was correct... but you went wrong in the end... your shadow is a weapon, but because you see it as a weapon you will never be more than a weapon, as the shadow is only a negative reflection of yourself"
Hikage's voice was calm all the way, his sense of tricks was gone, had been on Shikuro's mind why in a long time, though before now it haven't really been much of a problem for him seeing as that, it seemed like, it made things easier, though right now. This serious Hikage, was ten times more terifying, it seemed like he could kill him in a blink of an eye right now.

Shikuro looked down, seeing as something caught his eye, his shadow, was streching along and before he knew it a shadowy figure of himself was standing besides Hikage.
"This is the Shadow you use for a weapon... its what you called a weapon... does this look like a weapon to you..?"
Shikuro was stunned, with facts he had never even thought about, he was useing his own shadow, and his casual way of being had just marked it as his weapon, though he never really though further than that.
"Are you nothing but a weapon?"
Hikage's voice rose with the last sentence making sure Shikuro was getting what he was talking about here.
"Answer me, are you nothing but a mere weapon for people to use as they wish, to follow the hand blindly by to where ever its led?!"
Hikage's voice now having raised itself to a point of near shouting, Shkuro still frozen as to how he had thought, had actually been what he thought of himself.
"No..."

There was a silent space between them, for Shikuro it felt like eternity went through twice as they stood there, he had no answer. Even if he wanted to have one, he couldn't find one. a feeling of uselessness rised up inside of Shikuro. He was left with no demise, not reason to go on. If things he felt for and things he did was nothing more than being a weapon for others to use. He spaced out, he had been staring at the endless sunset in the horrizon, for god knows how long. He woke up, and turned back towards Hikage, he was looking as cold and arrogant as ever.
"I'm not a weapon..."
He speaked out, his voice partly gone, the arogant self beaten down, he felt like he was in the academy again, maybe even worse then that. He wasn't sure he remembered a time where he had felt so... weak.
"then why do you go about seeing you that way... one thing is what you say another is what you beleive... If you keep up mindlessly walking around taking orders, working on your power, nothing shall come of you than being a weapon... Is that what you want?!"
Hikages voice was strong as ever, Shikurow as sure if they had not been here it could have woken up half the sereitei, ad that shout came from a distance only a few feet away. His ears cryed for the sound not to come again, maybe even begged.

Shikuro closed his eyes, trying to calm his senses, that had just been violently shaken from just that one shout. He was strong yes... but compared to his own Zanpakuto he aparently had to learn a thing or two first.
Hikage was just about to rant further though Shikuro just couldn't take it anymore, he felt like the world was comming down on him, his dreams disappearing by the second. a Weapon can't do anything on it own.
"No!"
Shikuro went forward, sword pulled in hand, not sure where it had come from, nor if he even had it on him to begin with, this was as much his world as Hikages. Not only Hikage can take that to advantage. He swinged his sword forward at Hikage, blocked by a fog of shades. As they materialized he saw himself protecting the one he was trying to attack, the black blade blocking his white. This was so surreal Shikuro wasn't even sure what was happening anymore.
"Go away!!"
He cryed out swiftly bashing the blade away from him stepping the side trying to swing another time at Hikage, the black blade again interfering.
Another set of attacks where launched Shikuro moving as fast as he could, he wasn't sure if this was right or wrong, he basicly didn't care Hikage couldn't go about ranting like that. Though all try's where in vain, the black blade kept moving along with Shkuro speed, not a flinch in reaction time, almost as if he knew how he attacked.
Shikuro breath had gotten heavy, he went as fast as he could yet, he couldn't even scratch him, touch him, get even the slightest bit closer without having that shadow intervene.

A deep chuckle broke the chain of heavy breathing, Hikage seemed to be amused for some reason, like he could feel high and mighty, compared to Shikuro at the moment. Oe step ahead... always, that was what Shikuro weren't, not this time. He usually was on top of things, but this time it just weren't his game.
"How predictable, the weapon lashes out... but without a master... pityfull"
Shikuro had never noticed Hikage being this evil? yeah that had to be it. Evil as hell he wasn't sure why he haven't noticed before, maybe he had just hidden it away for some reason, though he wasn't sure why he needed the deception, why be nice only to go evil on Shikuro later.
He wasn't left this time to talk, he had to defend himself, the Shadow had gone to retaliate, tired of having to be on defence. Now it was Shikuro's turn. And he had to keep up, the slashesh came fast but for some reason predictable, like he had known it all along. He realized, should the fight keep up, it would never end... Or it would end with his own demise... Shadows don't have stamina to watch they can keep going for as long as where light. and there will always be some light.
Shikuro made a daring move, that left a cut over his chest only to be able to throw a strong kick into the Shadows "gut" or what was supussed to be his gut. By then he was atleast left knocked down for a bit, Shikuro had to act fast, he dashed forwards, stabbing right after Hikage with all his might, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

Shikuro ran, it felt like the run lasted enternity before he could thrust his blade forward, and so he did Hikage kept standing there arrogant as ever, or so it would seem from Shikuro's point of view, he didn't even act upon Shikuro charging against him. He couldn't keep his eyes open due to water swelling up into his eyes, though where he though he should feel the blade running through Hikage, it was left unchallenged. no resistance what so ever, it wasn't before long he realized his missed, though he was so certain he would have hit, so sure he felt the tip of the blade scrape Hikage's skin, though he was so uncertain, his could just feel the tears hindering his vision.

He fell, flat forward, almost loosing the grip of his Zanpakuto in the process of protecting his head. He could head the sound of drops hitting the ground, he wasn't sure what made them, at first his thought he had started crying, but those drops he could hear. He pushed himself up, looking down of himself. There was a big wound, right where he stabbed his shadow. The blood dripping hitting the floor, sounding a drums to Shikuro. "How?" Shikuro was baffled, he didn't know what was up and what was down. He was so sure he didn't get hit, he started thinking he had been so full of adrenelin he didn't even notice the stab, no that was just stupid. He Was still on his knee's barely keeping himself up by his arms. Tears started filling up his eyes harder, he felt weak alike there was no options left, no matter what he did it was all useless. He felt useless, like his life didn't matter anymore, he had been living a lie, and he was finally realizing that all along he haven't really truely been moving forward, or so it seemed.
"why..?"
His voice was incredibly low, his throat swelling up due to the fact he was crying a thing he had never done before, his voice wouldn't come out as strong as he wanted it, he wanted to ask why he was even alive if only to be a weapon. But his voice wouldn't let him. He closed his eyes, tears dropping down.

He started punching into the the floor, the normal pain he thought it would bring out brought none, he figured that pain might make him able of bringing out some voice. Though he couldn't make the pain come fourth, he made his voice present to himself.
"WHYYY!!!???"
He stepped up, having lost his cool he had forgot to even note on the people present, though they had been pleasant enough to just sit by as he had gone down to self pity. Hikage stood as if he haven't moved all along. Shikuro felt his body being staggered, the wound was as close to fatal as it could get, he was sure that had he not been in this dream world of his Shikuro would surely be dying right now, though he wasn't exactly dying felt as good as doing just that. His steps heavy as he walked forward.
"Why am I alive..? if only to be a weapon, a tool for others to use, what meaning is there in such a life!?"
He could feel the tears resting in his eyes, he was somewhat angry, not sure weather it was himself he was angry on or Hikage anymore.

Shikuro got a tight hold of the hilt ready to swing his sword at Hikage another time, it was most likely pointless but felt like there was nothing else he could do, besides it seemed like it was what he was supossed to do. Hikage still just stood there he had been silent for some time now, not even throwing his taunts at him anymore, Shikuro wasn't sure weather it was cause he felt like like Shkuro had been pushed to far, that this wasn't even the point of all this. It was either that or Hikage didn't feel like it wouldn't be neccesary to taunt Shikuro further.
"Cause I say so... and untill I feel like there's no hope for change its going to stay that way"
Shikuro was speechless, the pain he was looking for just a few moment ago it was suddenly appearing, His eyes looked down, only to see the blood stained tip of the black blade that before was blocking his way. The pain was unbeleiveable, it was a mirakle that he wasn't screaming due to it.
"Got it?"
The Sword was pulled out of him, with a pain that he was sure would make him scream, but no sound was heard, the next thing Shikuro was aware of was himself, waking up to his own office first thought that come to mind was that he had worked far too long.
"crazy dream..."
Shikuro wiped off the sweat on his forehead, and took a step away from his chair slowly heading to bed, though he called it a dream he couldn't help but wonder if it had been true. Though he wouldn't put that much into it. Not tonight anyway, that was definetly for another day, now he would get a good nights sleep.