𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑪𝒀𝑶𝑵 𝑶𝑩𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑰𝑶𝑵 •𝒃𝒙𝒃•

Black Swan ~ Age 12

Hikaru, who was probably influenced by Minato's awfully calm words, listened to Aizen and took the bed instead of the futon. To say that Aizen was glad would be an understatement.

He really didn't wish to argue with Hikaru any longer. It was close to midnight and that had its effects on Aizen. Even his eyes were slowly starting to close shut.

So, after Hikaru got into bed, Aizen laid in the futon, "Goodnight, Hikaru." He mumbled into the fabric of his pillow.

The other boy's 'goodnight' was soundless to Aizen.

Sleep already overtook him.

_

Soft humming filled the empty void around him. There was no way for him to figure out from where it was coming. The sound led him forward, but he couldn't see what he was walking over.

His eyes could only gaze ahead.

So, he did the only thing he could; He continued walking.

For as far as his eye could see, only infinite darkness awaited him. There was no colour ahead, only varying shades of black and grey. His body felt heavy, as if some kind of pressure was tearing into him from all sides.

He didn't like the feeling, but there was nothing he could do about it.

It came as a surprise when the world around him burst into complete and utter whiteness. Even as the sudden light burned his eyes, his arms went limp, not allowing him to block it out.

The ground around him gave off a matt shine, reflecting nothing but the discolouration around him.

Then, as if straight from a book, he saw a single, black swan standing still. Not a single other colour could be seen on its feathers.

There was only black.

Its beak was a deep shade of crimson, one that harshly stood out against its feathers.

Only one question repeated itself in his mind.

What was it doing there? What was it doing there? What was it doing there? What was it doing there? What was it doing there?

He took a step forward and the it immediately took notice of his movement. It slowly turned his way, scarlet irises bearing straight into his own, much different ones.

The contrast between its form and the whiteness around it was staggering.

It extended its long neck, standing up to its full height. It was then that he noticed its unnatural size. He was positive that if it stood besides him, its head would reach past his own.

Slowly, as if the act of moving was hard, the swan stepped towards him and-

He froze, eyes glued to the ground under its feet.

Crimson footprints, ones identical to the swan's feet, stained the colourless ground.

The black bird continued on its way, the slowness of its movement invoking more and more dread within him. His heart drummed against his ribs, threatening to burst out at any given moment.

Then, for no apparent reason, the bird stopped.

He didn't dare breathe as he watched its wings unfurl.

Distinctive cracks resounded through the area as the swan spread its wings, the sounds mimicking the sound of bones breaking.

The world around him started darkening, the white seeping into a light shade of grey, until everything went darker and darker. The swan's colour also changed, the black seeping into a light shade of grey, until the feathers went lighter and lighter.