[RL with Shiro ] ( Because I have no idea what else to call it? :|;;; )

[savior_n_black]

The impact of white blade on black jarred Ichigo all the way up his arms into his chest.
The Hollow snarled in his face, but was the first to break away again.

"...How...long we gonna do this, huh?!" Ichigo called to his darker self nemesis.
The Hollow didn't answer for once, and that alone made Ichigo give a tight smirk. Finally, after a day, and a half of solidly fighting, "Shiro" was getting tired.

A twist of his wrist, and the young shinigami flicked his black Zangetsu in his hand to get a better grip...then felt a chill creep up his spine as the Hollow mirrored the move perfectly.
Ichigo tried not to let anything show on his face, and hoped he was pressing an advantage, here, and not falling into a trap...

"Come on. We've been doing this same song, and dance for months! How long do you want to waste time fighting over who's 'King' when any day now the next attack could come? You say you want to take over so you won't end up dead, right? So how productive is--this!"
On the last word the boy, and the monster closed again, and again it was will against will as both fought their other half, and both refused to give in.

But the Hollow was actually panting, and for the first time in all the long months since Ichigo first heard that mocking voice, the Hollow...sounded tired.

"And...what do you...suggest...Aibo? I play nice for...a few...measly mental perks!"
On that last word, the Hollow likewise threw more strength behind his blade, and the mirrored Zanpakuto threw sparks against one another.
Ichigo sensed his advantage, then, and sidestepped. The weight distribution was immediately thrown off, and the Hollow stumbled forward.
...That was wrong. The Hollow had never, never fallen for such a ploy before?

"...What's the matter with you?" Ichigo asked cautiously, angling his Tensa Zangetsu across his body to defend just in case.
...But it was unnecessary. The Hollow...didn't bother to stand back up? Ichigo was more unnerved by that than anything 'Shiro' had done thus far.

"...I'm fucking hungry, Aibo...so here's your chance, eh?--" Those mad eyes, usually so full of hateful fire looked up at Ichigo...oddly lifeless.
"--Your chance to take my head, take the crown, and put us right back at square one."
Unknown to Ichigo, the Hollow ( who much preferred 'Damiano' to that stupid 'Shiro ) held his white Tensa Zangetsu at just such an angle that if Ichigo's bleeding heart dared try to offer him a hand up, the Hollow would gut his other.

Ichigo, however, did no such thing.
Instead, he smiled.
...Now it was the Hollow's turn to be surprised.

"You're right. I could beat you, and you would go back to being so much closer to winning than you are even right now."
The Hollow's eyes narrowed. So the redhead wasn't as dumb as he looked.

Ichigo let his black blade point at the ground, a little less threatening.
"So, here's what I think; I think that we're a hell of a lot more formidable working together than we are fighting each other."
Even though it's my goddamn body, Ichigo thought, but kept that to himself.

The Hollow eyed Ichigo in silence for a bit.

"....What the fuck are you trying to get at?"

Ichigo had to resist breaking into a grin. At least the crazy bastard was listening now!

"I'm saying that I--.....That I can't win this war without you-" The Hollow snorted, but Ichigo went on without letting a snide remark get in-"--And you can't win without me! You think you feel hungry right now? Imagine what it'll feel like if I was gone. Imagine how that hunger would eat you up, and--"

"I know what being a hollow means, you little shit." 'Shiro' interjected with a snarl.
....But...as much as he hated to admit it; Ichigo was right.
The Hollow remembered that brief time when he had almost, almost taken control. It had been glorious, and mindless in the same breath.
...So very, very hungry. And not the kind of hunger that any amount of human food could ever assuage. No...this was the hunger that had more to do with an integral piece of the soul missing. When one would do almost anything just to fill that void...to feel something.

After a time of nothing but Tatarus' shifting sands, the Hollow glanced up at Ichigo.
"....One condition. Non-negotiable."

A pale brow rose in challenge to brandy-brown eyes narrowed.
"....What?"

The Hollow grinned unpleasantly.
"...More of this. Three days, my own body, my own wants...For as long as this war lasts."

Ichigo bridled at the counter offer. There was no way he wanted to trust a deal like that. It had "BAD IDEA!" written all over it...but...it was also the most the redhead had ever thought he would get by way of an agreement.
Ichigo took a deep breath, then let it out in a gusty sigh. He would just have to figure out how to get Eris to keep that collar.

Offering his hand with an almost challenging tilt of his chin, Ichigo grit his teeth briefly.
"...Deal."

The Hollow grinned, and reached for Ichigo's hand, as they touched the same cinders that the young shinigami had seen his Hollow disappear into starting to smolder his pale reflection into nothingness.
...But, just as the burning reached the Hollow's face, Ichigo's mirror image winked at him deviously.
See you around...Aibo..."


((OOC: THIS IS NOT LATE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? ....orz....sorry guyz! ))