Choice is the freedom that binds us the greatest

Its consequences shackle people

Stronger than the thickest rope

Or the heaviest chain.

It cannot be cast off, because it endures forever.

Choice.

Redemption or Curse?

The first thing Tatsuke noticed was the dark. As she swam into consciousness the smell of the damp room assaulted her nose. Soon after she noticed her hands were uncomfortably tied behind her, and her tiny body was bound to a metal chair. Rain water leaked from above and matted her hair

She raised her head ever so slightly to view her surroundings. Immediately through the dim light she saw the figure of a man. His face was shadowed by the darkness and he possessed a cane which was angled to his side. Too late, Tatsuke realized the man had seen her wake up.

"Ahh…So the fabled henchman's daughter awakens." He seemed to lean in closer, "How are you princess?"

Tatsuke instinctively pulled back. The man was old and she recognized him as none other than an old adversary of the underground.

"Princess, you are so quiet. Why is that? Why don't you tell me about -"

"I won't tell you a thing!" Tatsuke spat at the man. Her face contorted in anger.

"Oh. Looks like our friend here has quite a bite." The group's leader exclaimed. "How unusual, and here I thought that Arisawa had manners." He smiled, and his yellowed teeth shown in the dark. "Guess I'll have to teach you a lesson"

Tatsuke didn't even see it coming. The man hit her with iron knuckles straight across her face. She screamed and tasted blood as it pooled in her mouth.

She could scream, but she wouldn't allow herself to cry. Crying was admission of weakness. It was something that she could never do. "…Fucke-"

He pummeled her face. "What was that? Eh – sweet thing?"

She couldn't respond. The punches kept coming. Knocking the air out of her, beating her until her body burned.

"Stop."

The man froze. Tatsuke dully noted that the punches stopped. She raised her head slowly as she slunk to the ground – out of the leader's reach- looking in the direction of the voice.

"And what is a little shit like yourself going to do about it?" The leader questioned mockingly. "Do yourself a favor kid and - "

"Stop." The voice was cold, just like the first time. It sent shivers down Tatsuke's spine.

The silence was immediately broken by a single solemn sound:

Click.

One of the stranger's feet slid forward into the light. "I didn't think I needed to tell you this," his body followed his foot into the dim light, "But what you've done can't be forgiven." The voice was colder, so distant, and so filled with bloodlust.

"Oh, it must be my lucky day," the leader said laughing, "Could you be him? Seriously? Kurosaki Ichigo? - This is just too good to be true! If I kill you, the underground practically becomes mine!"

"…Ichigo.." Tatsuke breathed slowly. Her eyes following him and his every movement.

And then, it happened. With speed beyond his years Ichigo had covered five feet of ground. The gun snapped from his side and jammed into the leader's shoulder. The gun fired less than a second later, and blood exploded from the hole.

"AHH!" The leader yelled stumbling back.

Ichigo wasted no time, he roughly shoved his thumb into the bleeding wound and ripped at it. The leader continued his screaming.

Without wasting a second, the small boy moved his gun over the older man's heart. Without remorse or any look of concern he fired.

Ichigo stood up and looked around. "Tatsuke?" His hands lowered, seeing that all the leader's henchman had made a run for it. "So that's what they call loyalty these days…" Spotting Tatsuke he ran over and knelt by her, quickly untying the bonds.

Ichigo then began helping her up. Her body- specifically, her face- was bashed and bloodied. "Tatsuke, we need to get you to a hospital."

BANG!

The world seemed to spin in slow motion for her. Tatsuke heard the bang and smelled metal. She turned to her friend who had saved her, watching as blood spilled from his head. The boy went limp in her arms and he fell backwards. She fell with him. She whipped her head back to see the dying leader drop his gun. It had been his last act before dying.

Someone screamed. Only seconds later did Tatsuke realize it was her. She ripped off a piece of clothing from her shirt and wound it tightly over the hole. It was situated at the top of his head angled on the side. Reacting spontaneously she furiously dug into both his and her pockets in search of a mobile phone. Upon finding none, she wrenched his limp body from the ground and ran.

She ran faster than she knew she was able. Her feet pounding in the rain puddles. Rain soaking her cloths and his. After a block, she began knocking on doors, pounding furiously.

"Someone! Please! Answer!"

To her luck the first door opened. "Ishida Ryuken, how can I help you." The man froze, door ajar. His face staring at the bloody bundle in Tatsuke's arms.

Quickly and quietly, the older man ushered them in, shouting instructions to the scared young girl. Tatsuke was scared for good reason. Her only and best friend was shot in the head, and bleeding to death on a stranger's table. Only in such a moment of complete despair did Tatsuke allow her face to fill with tears that ran down her face, and mixed with the multitude of rain water as it dripped onto the stranger's floor.

"Please live, Ichigo." Tatsuke pleaded. "Please. Please! Please!"