Dark Side

There's a place, that I know

Rei felt that hatred and anger seeping into her brain, the feeling she got whenever her hollow was present and wanting out. The feeling and hollow pounded against her head, giving her an immediate headache that caused her to fall to her knees. She clutched her head and cried out, drawing the attention of Renji, who was a few steps ahead of her. He turned and knelt down in front of her, trying to help her in any way. Rei panted as she saw and felt the darkness inking its way into her eyes, her straining to not allow that to happen, especially not when Renji was here. She scooted back from him and continued looking down at the ground. He looked at her in question, raising his eyebrow.

"Rei... what's wrong?" he asked, going closer to her.

It's not pretty there and few have ever gone

Rei squeezed her eyes as she felt herself slipping into the darkness, bad memories, scary ones, and painful ones all made their way into her mind, causing her to put her guard down and the hollow taking over. Rei was now trapped in a world of fear, unable to do anything. She felt her body shake from the switching and the experience it was going through. The place she was stuck in was dark and full of wreckages and things that looked demolished. She shut her eyes, trying to cut herself away and get control, but she heard the screams of her family and found herself on the ground, unable to anything because now she was reliving the memory.

If I show it to you now,

A small, sadistic laugh escaped Rei's lips as she continued looking at the ground. Her reiatsu shifted and became heavier, telling Renji something was wrong. He went over to Rei and knelt down once again, placing his hand on her shoulder, trying to be able to help her.

"Rei please tell me what's wrong so I can help you." he murmured, the girl's face still facing towards the ground. Another laugh escaped Rei again, only this time the voice was her hollow's. "Rei?" Renji asked

"She's not right now. Leave a message and she'll get back to you as soon as she can take her body back." it hissed and picked it's head up, the hollow mask taking up a part of her face.

Will it make you run away ? Or will you stay

Renji fell back when the hollow suddenly popped its head up, surprising Renji. Though he was worried and scared over what was happening, he stood and kept his kept his ground, not going to leave Rei when she needed him. The hollow dashed forward, sword already being pulled out. And Renji had to fight Rei, trying to hold back any attacks that'd hurt her. But the hollow was relentless, releasing attack after attack never giving Renji a moment to breathe.

Even if it hurts?

When Renji flashed back, he took a deep breath and took his eyes off the hollow for two seconds, and that was when he lost it. It was gone and his eyes searched the area, not finding any sign of it. He glanced around furiously, spinning in circles until he felt a blade slice against his back a few times and press through the back of his stomach, exiting in the front. He glanced back and saw the hollow, now aiming its hand at him, charging up a cero. The wound in his stomach began to hurt and he winced as she wrenched away, pulling the blade from the hollow's hand, leaving it in his body. He grabbed the hollow's hand and turned it so it'd face itself. The hollow, not expecting this, released the cero too late, now shooting itself. With a loud scream, it was blown backwards, rolling on the ground, mask shattering as it did so. When it finally came to a stop, Renji carefully pulled the blade out of his stomach and went over to Rei, seeing her front side had gashes and was bleeding. Renji gently lifter her up and opened the Senkaimon, taking them both back to the soul society.

Even if I try to push you out, will you return?

It'd been a few days since the hollow's breakout, Rei and Renji both held in the infirmary due to their wounds. Renji's torso was wrapped in medical bandages and being constantly checked up on. Rei's were worse though due to the force of what she go hurt with. Her whole front side had been wrapped in medical bandages. Stomach, chest, arms, legs, parts of her head had all been wrapped. She and Renji had been in a joint room, though they'd barely seen each other. Rei didn't want to look at him because every time she did, she felt guilty. Him being hurt was her fault, the whole reason they were here was her fault. And it's not like she was pitying herself, she was just guilty and wanted to take full responsibility. On one day they'd been in their rooms, Renji made an attempt to talk to Rei. She was standing in her room, arms crossed, obviously thinking of something. Renji walked in behind her and hesitated to give her a hug, but gently did. Rei stiffened and pulled away, not wanting to have to face him. He sighed as Rei stood there again, looking at the ground.

"Rei..." he mumbled, walking to her again.

"Renji you should leave." she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Why?" Renji asked, his tone frustrated. Rei took a deep breath, knowing this would come sooner or later.

"I hurt you Renji, so leave. I don't want you hurt anymore." she mumbled, crossing her arms and looking at the ground. Renji shook his head and gently placed his hand under her chin,

"You didn't hurt me Rei." he said to her softly, Rei looking down at his bandaged stomach. Tears filled her eyes and she shook her head, knowing she could have done something.

And remind me who I really am. Please remind me who I really am,

Renji gently placed both of his hands on either side of her face, looking at her intently. He gently wiped the years away and carefully pulled her into a hug, not wanting to hurt himself or her. Rei was careful too, keeping the hug light, though she couldn't seem to keep her tears light.

"Rei, that wasn't you who hurt me. You're not your hollow." he whispered to her softly. "That wasn't you. You know that you would never do that. You're Rei." he murmured as Rei clung to him.

Everybody's got a dark side

"Rei... hey... everybody has these types of things." he tried to reassure her but Rei only cried more and pressed her face to his chest.

"But I hurt you." she cried. "I hurt you and..." she didn't know what else to say, bu only to hold Renji more.

"Rei... please..." Renji pulled a little bit away from the embrace and cupped her cheek, Rei leaning into it and crying more. "Look at me." he said, Rei opening her eyes and looking into his. "Everybody has a darker side to them." he said, Rei sniffling and looking at him.

Do you love me? Can you love mine?

"You know no matter what I'll be with you through this Rei, through thick and thin." Renji murmured, the words catching Rei's attention. "I'll love you no matter what." Rei was speechless and any words she was about to utter were taken away when Renji gently placed his lips on hers. When they parted, Rei still looked at him, still speechless.

"Why would you though?" she asked quietly. "There's... always going to be a risk of you being hurt until it's controlled."

Nobodies a picture perfect

"Rei... it doesn't matter. I won't give up on you. I won't. It may be tough, and painful at times and I may want to quit, but I won't." once again Rei found herself speechless, a small smile crawling across her lips.

"Not even if I piss you off?" she asked, eyebrow raised

"Not even then."

But we're worth it, you know that were worth it

Rei smiled and tugged Renji closer to her, trying her best to not hurt him or herself as she got up onto her tiptoes to give him a kiss. He leaned down and returned the kiss, holding her waist softly.

"You're so worth taking care of." he murmured against her lips, Rei rolling her eyes.

"And why is that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow once again.

"Because you're just worth it."