"Wow," Ichigo breathed, eyes widening. "All those fairy tales are true."
"For the most part, yes."
"Huh," Ichigo said before letting the air between them fall into a comfortable silence.
What a revelation. He spent over a year fighting for what he thought was for the fate of the world when in reality, the world didn't need him at all. Actually, it might have been worth it to let Aizen do whatever the hell he pleased only to watch as he got his ass handed to him by higher powers. 'Damn…I trained and got stronger so I could protect them all…to protect them from Aizen when, in reality, neither of us knew just how low we were on the ladder.'
"Well Ichigo-kun" Sirzechs said, breaking Ichigo away from his thoughts. "I'd say our business is concluded but I wanted to extend an offer to you."
His attention fully returning to the legendary being of evil before him, Ichigo quirked an eyebrow at him. "An offer?" He repeated.
"How would you like to work for me?" Sirzechs said with a dangerous smile.
"Work for you," Ichigo said in surprise. "What could a useless human like me do for you?"
"Useless?" Sirzechs mirrored Ichigo's look of puzzlement. "I can assure you, Ichigo-kun, you are far from useless. And as for human, well, I could make you into a Devil."
That's exactly when Ichigo knew to back out. "Sorry Sirzechs-san, but I don't plan on giving up my humanity for anything."
Now Ichigo could staunchly believe that this man was the Devil of legend. Sirzechs's eyes flashed and gained a predatory glint. "I can give you anything you want you know?"
"Sorry Sirzechs-san but I have to refuse your kind offer." Yeah, Ichigo was actually being tempted by the Prince of Hell himself. Screw every hollow in existence. This was infinitely more terrifying and, strangely enough, exhilarating.
"Not even for riches?" Sirzechs tempted. "For all the women in the world? A chance to cure your illness? A chance to conquer a nation or to even become immortal?"
Ichigo shook his head. "No, no and…wait a minute…what? What do you mean illness?"
Sirzechs smirked at him. "Give me some credit, Ichigo-kun. Do you honestly believe that I, the Ruler of the Underworld, wouldn't notice your sickness when the source of it is my own realm?"
Ichigo looked flabbergasted. "What are you talking about!?"
Smirk faltering, Sirzechs said, "You…you don't know?"
"Know what!?" Ichigo nearly yelled.
Sirzechs looked absolutely horrified and Ichigo knew right away that, when the Devil makes that kind of expression, shit's about to hit the proverbial fan.
"Ichigo-kun…you're dying." He whispered.
His words took some time to sink in but, Ichigo heard them loud and clear. He would've denied the assumption. He would've raged at the absurdity. But deep down, through that intuition which developed in countless life and death moments, Ichigo knew that Sirzechs's words rang true.
The random spasms of pain made all too clear to him.
Eyes horrifically wide, fingers numb with cold reality, Ichigo's hand trembled as he slowly brought it over his chest. He felt the dull beat against his ribs and wondered how long he been dying without him even realizing it.
He asked the only question that he could think of. "How?" His voice barely above a whisper.
Sirzech's eyes had a shadow creep over them and Ichigo recognized, that despite his almost childlike demeanor, this man was old. "When you entered Hell," Sirzechs began softly. "You were given power by the Kushanada. You accepted the energies of Hell into your soul. The kind that leave a permanent mark and don't go away."
'That long huh..,' Ichigo thought wistfully.
"While you remained a Shinigami, your powers contained the dormant particles of Hell. However, the moment you returned to being human…"
"I never stood a chance," Ichigo finished for him.
Sirzechs nodded sadly.
"How long do I have left?" Ichigo asked solemnly.
Sirzechs shrugged. "I can't be sure but I'd say anywhere from a year to three."
"And the chance of a cure?" Ichigo asked but not getting his hopes up. His eyes slowly dimming and a dark mirth settling in at the irony of his situation. Killed by sickness of all things.
"Early on, perhaps, it could have been possible to quarantine Hell's power within a small portion of your soul or even purify it but now, its spread too far. For all intents and purposes, Hell has claimed your soul."
"You said that you could cure me," Ichigo suddenly asked sharply.
Sirzechs gave him a piercing look. "Are you sure? You seemed pretty adamant about remaining human."
Carefully, going over his words in his mind before speaking them, Ichigo said, "What would change if I became a devil?"
"Your physical capabilities would be greatly enhanced." Sirzechs hummed. "You'd gain the capacity to learn magic. Certain humans have also exhibited an increase in comprehensive capabilities. You're life span will increase to a Devil's natural one"
"That…doesn't sound all that bad." Ichigo said in wonder.
"Admittedly, anything even remotely holy would bring about a great deal of pain by association or touch. If you plan on getting married in a church then please throw those plans away. Hmm," Sirzechs hummed to himself.
"Ah yes, Angels and Fallen will generally attack you on sight. And every reincarnated devil has experienced an increased desire to…uh, well…sin."
"Will I be able to see my family again?" Ichigo asked quickly.
"Of course," Sirzechs said. "On your days off that is."
Ichigo's brow furrowed in confusion. "Days off?"
"As I said, you'll be working for me. Think of me as your employer."
"Oh."
Sirzechs tapped the table with a single finger and a chess board appeared. Ichigo looked down in curiosity as he noted that one side of the board was empty of any pieces while the other side had a full set that glowed an ominous red.
Then he noted that the pawn piece all the way at the right end of the board was pure black and looked like a twisted spire of metal.
"These are what are known as Evil Pieces." Sirzechs smirked.
"Evil Pieces?" Ichigo asked.
"It's how Devils reincarnate other species." Sirzechs explained. "After the Great War, where the original Satans died, our numbers were severely lacking and our race on the verge of extinction."
"You're not the only one?"
"Patience, we'll get there soon enough." Sirzechs said, holding up his hand. "Now, one of my fellow Satans came up with this method. The King, refers to the leader of the Peerage. That would be me, by the way. Now each piece has a unique characteristics."
Ichigo nodded.
Sirzechs placed a finger on a piece. "A Knight will be gifted with the ability to move at extreme speeds and is generally very agile."
'Fast and agile…pretty much Yoruichi.'
Moving his finger, he touched another piece. "The Bishop is granted an augment towards is magical abilities and arcane arts."
"Tessai-san or even Hahchi,' Ichigo equated in his mind.
"The Rook," he gestured to the end piece in the last row. "Is a powerhouse. Capable of taking and dishing out extreme punishment."
'…Kenpachi.'