The Demon Inside

Byakuya stares into the eyes of Kuroi. He can see the hatred that exudes from them. He can feel the anger that exudes from Kuroi's body. This is no longer the same Kuroi that he was fighting a few minutes ago. This is someone or something completely different. This is a demon that has marked Byakuya for death. Byakuya stumbles back, scared of whatever lies before him.

"Answer me. What are you?" said Byakuya.

Kuroi stands up and grabs his Zanpakuto. The mask on his face expands to the edge of his smile. A wicked smile can be seen through half of his uncovered face.

"We are nobody. Our only objective is to kill you," said Kuroi.

"Are you a Hollow?" asked Byakuya.

"No, but you don't need to know that. You will die by our blade," said Kuroi.

"You continuously speak as if someone is controlling you.

What's going on in that head of yours?" said Byakuya.

"Shut up and fight!" exclaimed Kuroi.

Kuroi flash steps towards the captain of squad six. Byakuya expects the attack to be slower, but it's not. Byakuya looks down and sees a large gash across his chest. Before he can look up, he feels a cut on his back.

"He's fast," thought Byakuya.

"Captain Kuchiki, it looks like you've gotten slower in your old age. You may still look like a member of a boy band, but we can tell that you won't last through this fight," said Kuroi.

"You're cocky," said Byakuya.

"We will show you why I should be cocky. Jigoku Piensa!" said Kuroi.

Kuroi holds his blade over his head and charges his attack. He brings his blade down and releases a hell cutter, but this hell cutter isn't just black. It has a red outline.

"Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi," said Byakuya.

Multiple large swords appear around Kuroi and his attack. The large blades turn into thousands of flower petals and consume the attack. Before Byakuya can recover his Zanpakuto, he's kicked in the cheek by Kuroi. Byakuya flies into a wall.

"We knew that you would only focus on one attack, so we used the old two-front strategy. It's time to die," said Kuroi.

Byakuya tries to stand up, but he just falls back down. He's too weak to continue to fight. Kuroi starts to charge at Byakuya. Inches away from Byakuya's nearly unconscious body, Kuroi holds his blade above his head.

"Any last words?" asked Kuroi.

Byakuya doesn't respond.

"Well, don't say that we didn't give you a chance. Here comes the airplane," said Kuroi.

Kuroi starts to bring his blade down until he stops. Byakuya is visibly confused by this action.

"What are you doing! We're so close to saving Rukia! You can't wuss out at the last moment!" exclaimed Seishin.

Kuroi grabs the Hollow mask and starts to rip it off.

"I'm sorry Seishin, but I can't kill a captain!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"Wait!" exclaimed Seishin.

Kuroi rips the Hollow mask off of his face. His eyes and voice return to normal.

"I apologize. I allowed my emotions to get in the way," said Kuroi.

"What just happened?" asked Byakuya.

Kuroi points his blade at Byakuya's neck.

"You lose," said Kuroi.

"I'm not done yet," said Byakuya.

"You were always the captain that could never accept defeat," said Kuroi.

Before Byakuya and Kuroi can continue to fight, Ichigo's spiritual pressure explodes. Kuroi and Byakuya turn their heads to see Ichigo standing up, but he's not normal. His eyes are black with yellow pupils. Half of his face is covered by a Hollow mask.

"It looks like your student has the same power that you have," said Byakuya.

"I'll talk to him. Just stay here," said Kuroi.

Kuroi walks towards his friend.

"Ichigo, are you there?" asked Kuroi.

"Ichigo isn't here right now. I would advise you to prepare to die!" said Hollow Ichigo.

"I don't want to fight you, Ichigo. Overpower the demon that is controlling you," said Kuroi.

"Ichigo can't hear your pathetic words, so pick up your blade and fight me," said Hollow Ichigo.

"I refuse," said Kuroi.

"Fine. You can just die pathetically!" said Hollow Ichigo.

Ichigo charges Kuroi. Instead of picking up his blade, Kuroi just stands there and closes his eyes. Ichigo prepares to cut down Kuroi until he hears a familiar voice.

"Stop it, Ichigo!" exclaimed Rukia.

Ichigo stops moving his blade and freezes.

"What are you doing! You're getting in the way! Let me be in control and we'll win! Stop it, you idiot!" exclaimed Hollow Ichigo.

Ichigo doesn't care and just rips the Hollow mask off of his face.

"Phew! That was close," said Ichigo.

"I'm glad that you overpowered it. I would've died if we fought," said Kuroi.

"So, what do we do now?" asked Ichigo.

"Rukia's here, so we have to get her out of here. The Soul Society will send stronger soldiers to come and grab her. I just know it," said Kuroi.

"Let's just-," said Ichigo.

Before Ichigo can finish talking, he feels a blade in his stomach. He looks down and confirms that a blade is in his stomach. Kuroi looks down and sees that Ichigo has been stabbed.

"Ichigo!" exclaimed Kuroi.

The mysterious assailant removes his blade from Ichigo's stomach and Ichigo falls to the ground. Before Kuroi can react, he is sliced across the chest and falls as well.

"Kuroi! Ichigo!' exclaimed Rukia.

Rukia tries to run toward her fallen friends, but the assailant extends his arm. Rukia looks up and sees the captain of squad five looking at her.

"Good evening, Rukia," said Aizen.

"Captain Aizen?" asked Rukia.

"Your brother asked me to come after him if he hadn't returned in ten minutes. It's been eleven, so I was kind of late," said Aizen.

"Why did you-," said Rukia.

"It was necessary. They nearly killed a lieutenant and a captain. You should be glad that I didn't kill them," said Aizen.

"Can I-," said Rukia.

"No. Head Captain Yamamoto ordered me to bring you to the Soul Society and I won't not follow his orders," said Aizen.

"But-," said Rukia.

"Twenty years will be added if you go check up on them. Do you want to be locked away in an empty cell forever," said Aizen.

Rukia doesn't respond.

"I'll take your silence as a no," said Aizen.

Aizen grabs Rukia's hand and starts to walk away.

"Don't you grab her with your filthy hands, Aizen!" exclaimed Kuroi.

Aizen stops walking and turns his head.

"It looks like you haven't fallen unconscious. I'm surprised," said Aizen.

"Don't you pretend to be a nice guy. I know the monster that you truly are," said Kuroi.

"I don't understand what you're talking about," said Aizen.

"Don't play dumb, you bastard! I won't let you take her!" exclaimed Kuroi.

Kuroi starts to crawl towards Aizen.

"I refuse to give up! You're going to have to kill me if you want to stop me from saving Rukia!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"Goodbye, Kuroi. Tell your father that I said hi," said Aizen.

"Rukia!" exclaimed Kuroi.

Kuroi stops moving and tries to stick out his hand, but it just drops.

"Goodbye, Kuroi," said Rukia.

On the brink of passing out from his injuries, just stares at the ground as the July rain hits his body. He closes his eyes, but he still finds a way to cry.

"It hurts, but I deserve it. Failures deserve to be hurt," thought Kuroi.

"Do we have to do this again?" asked Seishin.

Kuroi opens his eyes and sees that he has woken up in his inner world once again. He stands up and angrily walks towards Seishin.

"Tell me what you are! You're not just part of my psyche! I know it! You took over my body and gave me a power boost! I'm tired of hearing your lies over and over! Just tell me!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"Your father can-," said Seishin.

"Forget him! Tell me, please! I'm begging you!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"If you want to know, I'll tell you. I am your inner Hollow," said Seishin.