A Promise is a Promise

A loud shriek ripped into the air as Happy Child cackled, twirling the still sparking prod in his hand. This kind of thing, the screaming did not bother him. He could remember countless times when he had been the one screaming or crying out in pain, but no one ever took pity on him, so why should he not pay the favor forward? No one ever helped him or showed him mercy! The little monkey girl was a freak just like he was but she still had a life and he hated her for that. Her siblings still loved her. She had friends in the real world that cared for her. No one but the Crusaders cared about him and they never had!

His gleaming blue eyes turned toward Duke, seeking further direction. The youngest alien was a mess of sobbing and incoherent begging at the leader's feet. Duke gave a slight nod, hiding a smile behind the mask, giving the go ahead for another round, which the blond swiftly delivered. He jabbed to rod into the small girl's side, blue sparks sliding all over her at the connection. She threw her head back, eyes wide, mouth open in a silent scream before crumpling to the floor, held up only slightly by the chains. The electric current left burns around her wrists where the shackles served as conductors to amplify the shocks. She was mainly staying quiet through this no matter how much it clearly hurt. He could guess why she was taking it with such a stubborn face. As brave and kind as she was stupid, that monkey girl was.

"Stop!" Taruto's desperation filled, shrill voice pulled the youth from his observations as he glanced at the alien now clutching at Duke's ankle, "I'm begging you!" He sobbed, head falling in a droop to rest against Duke's knee.

"I told you what you have to do to make it stop." The leader crooned, clearly enjoying himself.

"I-I can't give you that. . . Please, name something else!" Tear filled orange eyes stared up in pleading need.

Utamaro was given the signal for another hit. Taruto made a lung to grab the staff but Duke stopped him short by stepping on the chain attached to the collar. The brown haired youth toppled hard to the floor but still managed to catch hold of the other boy's leg, tugging with all he had. He was desperate, holding tightly even after receiving a few harsh kicks to the face. Happy Child kicked again, snarling in anger as he planted his free foot on the back of Taruto's neck to drive him down. He had never been fond of being grabbed, it stirred memories he liked better forgotten. He hated people so much!

"Let go of me now!" He hissed, infuriated that he could not use the rod on him in case it might short the collar.

Instead of pulling them apart, Duke stepped up wordlessly, taking the rod from his hand and moving past them. The girl screamed in agony as it was placed first at her wrists, then to her side, and finally across her chest. Round blue eyes studied that careful way his leader moved, picking her weakest points so easily. Even he had not dared touch her chest out of concern it would damage her heart, not to mention she was female, so he did not typically go near such areas. The grip on his leg tightened but he paid no attention this time. Duke was harsh when he did not get his way. The blue lighting danced across her frame far longer this time, drawing violent spasms from her frame. It was obvious she was struggling to catch her breath as her head lolled to the side. A few quiet whimpers escaped her as she hung in place, eyes flitting open whenever Duke so much as took a breath. She was brave for such a young thing, trying so hard to fight, trying not to scream and make it harder for the alien. That was one thing about the Mews, they were tough, no one could say otherwise. They were also loyal and painfully stupid!

"Tell me, Taruto. . . would you really rather deny my request or would you rather keep her alive?" The voice even sounded frightening to Happy Child, and he was used to it. "Watching her die this way... would be quite a nasty memory."

Pudding looked at the alien, lips moving just slightly in a voice so weak it hardly caught his attention, "Don't, Taru-" It ended in a splitting, agonized scream she could not hide no matter how much she might have wanted to as another shock hit her.

Finally, Taruto's last shred of control was broken, turning to ugly sobs as he shook his head, "I'll do it, I'll do anything you say! Please, just stop!" The tear cracked voice made him hard to understand but it was clear enough if you listened.

The chuckle echoed off the stone walls as Duke turned off the rod, "You see how easy that was?"

The tiny frame at his side gave a slight shiver in her slumber. The hot bath helped her quite a bit, but nothing seemed to be quite enough. Duke's treatment of her paired with her treatment of herself in the time before he arrived was taking its revenge on her body. Whatever was in the bottle he had been given did make a drastic improvement on her though. Her eyes, when they were open, were bright again after taking it. Her skin had a bit of the pink glow back in it and she seemed stronger, if only a little. At least. . . she no longer looked like she would slip away from him at any moment. It eased him just a little.

What did not ease him was what he had seen on her body. All those many cuts, bruises, bite marks... and even his name carved into her skin to spite him. When he saw that he nearly went into orbit, honestly. Just to keep her from seeing him slip into a rage, he was forced to leave the bathroom long enough to break a few items in what was serving as their room. It was all he could do not the smash in every door in the house in order to get to the leader. He knew who had done it, or most of it. These humans were nothing but animals, sick and twisted as they ever came! They did not deserve to breathe and take up space in the universe. What they deserved was getting back a hundred times what they had given. A shiver of anger ran through him but he ignored it, focusing on steadying his breaths to relax, holding her just a little closer.

Any other time of seeing Ichigo in a tub might have been enough to make him forget himself. . . even with the towel to cover her vital parts. However, seeing all those cuts and all that blood was enough to kill any lechery he thought he had. Though, what was more interesting was that she had not even been concerned when he helped her undress and get into the water. Normally, she would have made more than a few protests. It either spoke to how weak she was or to how she had grown to trust him over time. He hoped for the latter.

It gave him comfort to think she trusted him more than anyone else. If he focused on that and on holding her safely in his arms, he was more calm. He needed to focus on her and forget everything else if he wanted to keep his sanity. Carefully, he raked her damp hair with his fingers, splaying it over the pillow. His own tired, aching eyes slipped closed as he moved to snuggled close with her. It might have been considered pitiful or silly, but she could not stop touching her. He had to feel her, even if it was just to touch her face. He had to feel her, be as close as he could get to her at all times. It did not matter if she was awake or asleep, he just had to be here. He could not really sleep out of the fear that something would happen if he did. So much had already happened to her that he could not stand the thought of even one more thing. The need to protect her was as strong if not worse than it ever had been in his life.

It might not have been true but he thought that as long as he held her close she would be safe. As long as he could keep a tight hold on her he could shield her from anything else. He wanted to be her shield. Human stories always told of a strong knight that saved the princess and he desperately wanted to be that knight for her and slay her dragons.

"Kisshu..." A weak but beautiful voice greeted his ears.

He pulled away again, propping himself up on one elbow to look at her, "Sorry, Koneko-chan, I did not mean to wake you."

Her eyes were barely even open at all as she looked at him, "What did you promise Duke that he valued enough to let us stay here untouched?"

Golden eyes widened and his jaw tightened, "Whatever are you talking about, honey?"

That was unexpected, her hitting him with that question so suddenly. He had not even had the time to stop her from asking but that might have been why she asked it this way. He had been able to cut her off every time before this. There was no way he could tell her the truth, tell her what he intended to do for her sake. It would be a burden to her knowing such dark things were related to her. She had so much to carry already, he did not want this to be another thing to add. It was his choice to make and he made it.

"When you came here, you both spoke of a promise." She spoke with such flatness in her voice, "I want to know what he made you promise to do."

That silky red hair slipped through his fingers as he stroked her head, "It's nothing for you to worry over. I just promised to do a few tiny jobs for him, but nothing too big."

Her chocolate eyes opened further to stare undetured at him, "Kisshu, I won't have you doing things for him because of me."

A smile tipped his expression into the ironic, "I know. Whatever I do is my choice."

For her, no, if he was honest, he made those promises for himself. He simply could not bare to lose her. Saying it was a grandly heroic choice would have been a nicer way to think of it but really, he was a knight that just wanted to keep the princess no matter what. Given the choice between the kingdom or the girl he cherished more than life, it was no contest. Making a deal with a dragon was not above a man in love. The second he saw her so long ago, he had always known she would be important to him, time only made her his world, his breath and life. Those promises were selfishly made because he could never live without her!

"I will not allow it, Kisshu. You will not become his puppet in my place!" She scoffed, grabbing his wrist, the most spunk she had shown to him since he saw her with Duke, "I know what that is like already and I refuse to let you fall to him!"

"Ichigo," His eyelids fluttered closed, "I already made my choice, it's not in your hands anymore. I don't mind playing these kinds of games. I've played them before."

Those big eyes widened and her fingers slipped away, seeming to have caught more of that statement than he ever wanted her to, "Then... you do plan to help him destroy everything... like you did last time?"

He touched some deep nerve in her, he could see it in her face. Bringing those days up, their battles, his service to Deep Blue... was a poor choice he would have left unsaid if he had thought it over. That was never in his plan to say. He never wanted her to know very much about any of this. The things he intended to do to her planet were not things she needed to think about right now. It was a path he already walked once and never expected to walk again, but to keep her alive, walk it he would. Once an enemy to earth, always an enemy to earth, maybe. He was a traitor to everything and everyone but he just did not have it in him to care. God help him if things turned out the same way they did before!

"I did not say that at all." He shook his head to alleviate her worry even though his fingers had inexplicably begun to shake.

Kisshu rested his head into her neck carefully to avoid looking at her any further. Silently, he begged her not to hate him for what he would do in the future. For her, to keep her with him, he would walk even the darkest paths or stain his blade with the blood of every human on earth - As long as Ichigo was with him he would still be happy. He wanted to protect her the same way he wanted to last time, but oh, he wanted this time to go differently. He did not want to make her watch such a thing ever again, did not want to fight a battle with that same result this time. Duke and the orders did not frighten him but he was so very afraid. He was terrified he would fail her again, terrified she would slip away from him again! He could not endure another time of that loss and agony of failing to protect her! No matter what, he would protect her! She had to know that.

The loss of his own life, earth, even his own world did not matter, he would give them all away, but the loss of Ichigo did matter. He had seen her lifeless body in the arms of another before. Thinking back to that day was not painful because of his own death but because of hers and knowing he could not save her. She saved his life and he had never felt so desperately powerless or empty as when he could not do the same for her. He knew she believed herself to be weak but she had never been weak. The world rested on her shoulders and she carried it bravely and never stopped walking. Were it not for her, they would all be dead. This small girl saved the world... but he, the man that longed to protect her, never could save her even one moment of suffering! He could not believe-

"K-Kisshu..."

Her finger traced a line of moisture down his cheek and he jerked back, more shocked than anything else. He swiped at his eye with the back of his hand quickly, a blush of stress and humiliation blooming in his cheeks. What the hell was he doing? He never cried, never! It was only a single tear but how pathetic was he for not noticing it before she did? Crying was not for warriors! He was... he just... it just hurt so much to watch her suffer. Watching her in pain hurt more than if it were done to him instead. Gladly, he would have taken every bit of it for her, but he could not. He would set the world on fire before he let them hurt her again.

Ichigo wriggled her body over to look him in the eye, nose to nose. He stayed perfectly still, unsure what she was doing until her lips brushed the soft skin under his eye, tracing slowly to his jaw. The touch was so tender is sent chills down his arms. His lips parted in a wane smile before he gently guided her head back onto the pillow, following her down. She erased his tear with her kisses, that was really such an Ichigo sort of thing to do - One of the many things that made her his life.

Kisshu kissed her again and again, tasting those soft lips, not daring to think of anything else. He needed to focus on her right here and right now. The past did not even matter as long as he had her now and could have her forever. His kisses were soft, not wishing to cause her any pain but he just could not stop himself. It felt so good to press his lips to her lush set and willfully forget all else. When it was like this all his pain was healed, as long as he was at her side. His world, his past, their past; that did not matter at all when he held her close to his heart. When he could feel the rhythm of her heart dancing with the one in his own chest, creating a beat all their own, everything was perfect. For this, he would destroy anything that could keep her from him.

Maybe he was out of his mind, he had always been obsessive over her. Others would call him a fool, still more would call him a monster for what he would later do, but it just did not matter. He loved her, needed her, and that would never change! Her world and his could fall to that man and it just did not matter as long as she was safe in his arms.

Gleaming blue eyes watched the singular sway of a candle flame as it danced in the darkness. He had no idea how long he watched it dance as he thought over his plans but when the tap on the door came, he could still see the flame when he looked away. The flame continued to prance before his eyes over Royal Highness as he entered the room soundlessly. It took some blinking to make it go away. Duke always let them come and go from his room as they wished. He always told them he had nothing to hide. There were things he hide from them but nothing they would find in his room.

"To what do I owe this visit?"

Yuzen's grey eyes lifted to him slowly and hesitantly, "Well, I was curious about your intent with the older alien. Are you not worried about letting him spend so much time with the cat?"

"Worried?" Duke shifted slowly in his chair and folded his hands neatly in his lap, "No, not really."

"Why are you letting them be together when you cut all the others apart?" The way the boy sat was so tense, he just could not relax.

"Many reasons." Duke mused, "For one, love can make you foolish and careless; love defies all reason and loyalty, turning the most wise into the greatest fool. Love takes away your ability to truly be reasonable and think with anything other than your heart. People are the most blind of all when blinded by love."

Grey eyes blinked closed as he nodded, "You're letting them grow closer so that you can use their feelings against them later, holding it over their heads. It is like the fake rabbit on a dog racing track, always kept close but never in reach."

Duke chuckled darkly, tenting his fingers, "Exactly."

"But might she not cause us problems with him? She is stubbornly against us and she has defied you before."

"He will do anything, betray anyone, or kill everyone if it means keeping that girl. She is the lighter I will use to ignite the dynamite traps all around the universe." He chuckled lowly, "She has always been my tool."

Duke was going to use Ichigo to kill Taruto as a trigger to start the second battles but after her betrayal, that had changed a bit, but only a bit. Kisshu was always a tool of destruction as well because it was obvious what side he would have taken when the aliens came for her head. He intended to lure the creatures to him, then use her awakened power to fight them at the face, but use Kisshu to infiltrate and sabotage the ships, take them from the inside as well. She would have fought for her world and Kisshu would have fought for her life. Once the ship was down and the mass chaose over earth had begun, it would be simple matters. All those unsuspecting minds and a downed ship left the knowledge of their world to defeat civilization and take over. The war would begin and only the best of both worlds would be left alive.

Following that, a new breed of superiority would emerge. The mix of two races would develop all sorts of interesting things. They might have any number of powers unearthed, and all for his study. A new race would form and he would rule that new race, the most powerful world of all. There might be a few weak newborns in the bunch but those could be killed to ensure the new race stayed strong and perfect for his use. He could think of all numbers of possibilities. They would rule the universe and any other alien race out there with their might. He would no longer be limited to a few powerful youths, no, he would have them all! He could mold them into exactly what he wanted, the perfect puppets from the moment they were born.

And it all started with Ichigo and the alien that fell in love with her.

He tipped his head back against the chair, musing aloud, "It's strange... for such a rebellious girl, she plays the part of a sacrifice so well. In all her struggles to save everyone, she ends up not only dooming herself further, but also helping me achieve what I want."

The boy before him swallowed thickly, obviously struggling for words he would never find, eyes turned to the floor.

"It all begins, the final chapters of our story. We are making history, my dear child."

"What are you going to do with the younger alien? What use is he now?"

Duke's eyes lit up at the mention, pleased with his own brilliance, "He will play quite the roll. I wish I had though of using him in this way before. It was a lack of understanding on my part, I admit. He has a brilliant little mind, young, but perfect to use against his own people. He knows more than Kisshu does about the inner workings of those ships, a keen observer in his thirst to grow up. Taruto knows their technology and will be immensely useful once I have picked his mind apart."

"Will you kill him after you have taken the information?" The poor boy seemed almost worried, as if he saw that one as being similar to Happy Child.

"No, not for the time being. He is ten times more useful alive because he can create some wonderful tools for us to use." Duke rubbed the am of the chair, "He is already at work on my assignments."

Once again a silence fell upon them and Duke allowed it for quite a while, letting the poison of fear permeate the younger bones. Fear was the very greatest tool. Fear could stall even the strongest of men. This type of terror was the best of all. This kind could mold a mind and make it his. It was gleeful to watch the delicious ways a mind could break.

The older man studied his face, a brief wolfish grin appearing before he pushed it away, "Are you still worried things will go wrong?"

Yuzen tensed but shook his head, only looking up when he heard Duke stand from the chair.

Slow steps and the intensity of his icy stare brought a momentary flash of panic into those grey eyes and it took all he had not to laugh as he circled the teen's chair a minute, "Just think of our future and all that is soon to be in our grasp." He stopped behind Akizuki, resting his hands on the back of the chair, "We are days away from everything falling into place." He reached over to lay a warm hand over Royal Highness' cool cheek, "All that power we will have, you and the others finally taking your rightful places above them all. This is what we have been working for all this time."

"I know." He leaned into the touch, relaxing, "No one will ever look down on us again. We will be free from the weak minds of fools that fear what they do not understand."

"And you will stand at my side, won't you, Akizuki?"

"Always," he whispered, "I promise."

Of course he would. He knew no other way but that. Loyalty of this kind could not be broken, it formed the mind to its will. This boy needed him to validate his very life, depending on him to the unhealthy degree that even Kisshu might not understand. Other than Happy Child, Yuzen was the most dependent of them all, not even quite knowing how to think on his own without Duke. It had taken a long time and a lot of work to get his puppet this well trained. He was far too dangerous not to be controlled lest he ever turned on him, but he never would.

He gently drew his hand away, "There is still much to do today." No more resting.

Ichigo was asleep, deeply into the world of dreams. She heard nothing as the door to the room opened, the light from the hallway cutting through the darkness of the room like a knife. Kisshu's eyes turned slowly to the masked figure waiting silently at the door. Had he not been wearing the cursed collar he could have simply flown, but instead he rose quietly and padded to the door. Neither one of them spoke until the door was shut securely. It was deathly quiet outside and a shiver of discomfort ran up the alien's spine.

He disliked being near this unpredictable human, the dark creature that wore a mask. The unpleasant memories of his time knowing this man were far from soothing and a large part of him wanted to run away every time those cold eyes looked at him through the mask. There was no life in those eyes, only icy indifference. He was reminded very much of Deep Blue when he stared too long. Even the long dark hair was a little similar. Life had a way of tying him to the darkest of allies, bringing him inevitably to his knees before the darker monsters of the universe.

It had surprised him to find that every world seemed to have these figures of evil. The darkness and light always battled, and he tended to find himself between the two - Loyal to one side but forever linked to the other. He would always be in service to these kinds of beings as long as he lived. Might as well accept the fate of it.

Duke sighed contentedly, "Have you been enjoying your time with her?"

Kisshu glared, not fully looking upon him, refusing to answer. He could not help flinching when the older man reached up and traced a finger over his pointed ears but he stayed rooted in place. He would never back down to foolish intimidation.

"I do wonder what a child by you and that girl would be like." He cocked his head to one side, judging Kisshu carefully for any reactions, "Do you think they would have your ears... perhaps her eyes. I would be so curious to know if a child would take from her any of the cat traits mixed with the human ones."

Knowing perfectly well giving a reaction would do him a disservice, he pointedly kept his face blank, "What do you wish me to do?"

Duke dropped his hand, the cloying friendliness gone from his voice, "You must begin to stir trouble on earth once again. Strike fear into the hearts of the people once more." He chuckled softly, "It is my kindness to them to prepare them for what is to come. If they are wise, they will find ways to survive and if not they will die as they should. Only the worthy should live."

Kisshu pushed down a chill of disgust, "Very well, but I wish to return before she awakens."

The dark hair spilled over his shoulder as he nodded amiably, "Of course! Just be sure to visit and destroy the places I tell you."

"I am quite able to follow such orders. You know as well as I that this is not the first time." Golden eyes finally lifted to glare directly at him.

"No indeed... but this must be the first time you succeed, my little friend!" Duke countered pointedly, causing the alien to bristle.

"Of course." His glare deepened the wrinkles between his brows.

Duke held up a finger and waved it at him, "What do we say when addressing me? You keep forgetting."

Jaw set in a determined line, Kisshu tapped his fist to his chest as he once did for Deep Blue, "Yes, master. It will be done as you say." Hate surged in his belly but he refused to let it show.

With a nod, the masked man turned to leave.

"You will leave her alone and not do anything to hurt her. If I do this, follow you, you have to take care of Ichigo, like you said." Golden eyes drilled into him in search of any confirmation at all.

Duke turned back slowly, "Of course, Kisshu. As long as the promises made to me are kept, I always keep my word. It is all about give and take in this world."

With that, the dark creature walked away. He did not even bother to watch his own back. It was insulting not to be considered a threat when he had once brought the planet to its knees. There were few insults greater to a warrior such as himself than a total lack of respect or fear of their power. Duke did not fear him, he knew he was in control. Loathed to admit it as he was, it was true. There was nothing he would do to endanger that girl, so he would bow and murmer words of servitude, he would drench his hand in the blood of humans and shower before he returned. He would go where he was told, too afraid not to, but he was equally afraid of how well the promise would be kept in his absence.

There was no choice though. He did not trust that man but he was left with no options save total obedience.

In all honesty, he did not want to do this. He lost the desire to kill humans once he finally understood what they meant to Ichigo. Having watched them while he stayed with her on earth made his see them as something less than insects. Most of them really did not deserve to die. They were just innocent, stupid, but innocent of this punishment. Ichigo might hate him when she eventually discovered his roll in all this. Some of her friends might even die tonight, which she would also hate him for.

Perhaps she would understand one day.

AN: Let me just say to all of my readers that I am sorry for my criminal slowness in updates. I'm also sorry for how dark this fic has become. I did not mean to make it quite this dark but my mind would just start whipping it out and turning it progressively darker and I just went with it. Even if I tried to stop it I'm pretty sure I couldn't anymore. The sweetness turned darker than planned but I tried to give you back a little fluff with Kisshu and Ichigo again. More fluff from them will happen later too.

Duke uses a lot of manipulation and mind-controlly-ness. He's a horrible guy and