The monster inside me

Face your fears head on

After a few years of being at the soul reaper academy my knowledge and abilities increased more as time went by. I just became sixteen as Aizen, Renji, Rukia, Momo, Kira and I went out to eat to celebrate my birthday yesterday. I enjoyed myself a lot and got some nice gifts from them. Renji and Rukia gave me all sorts of books ranging from fantasy to science fiction, Momo and Kira gave me more books but more about what they teach me during our classes but much more advanced so I'll defiantly read those later and finally Aizen gave me a necklace which was a dragon with its wings spread out as its claws was holding a purple sphere in the shape of a heart. I gave him a big hug as a thank you and he was happy that I loved my gift.

After the celebration, I had a strange dream like I was on another landscape like that of large mountains and volcanoes spewing out lava from its numerous peaks. After looking around my surroundings a large black figure flew over to me and roared as I woke up right after and right next to my nightstand was my own zanpaktou. It had a white hilt as the blade was near perfection as a dragon was designed into the blade where it joined the hilt.

The next day all the first years were gathered in the main auditorium as a few four year students were present as well as the principal. They all told us we'll be going in groups of five people including a fourth year student with us and that we'll be slaying demi hollows in the world of the living. My stomach just dropped as I started shaking. I haven't experienced a hollow since my parents were killed by one and I was clearly still having a fear of them and never wanting to encounter one again until now...

I was paired up with my friends as Hisagi Shuhei was our fourth year student veteran that will be helping us in case we get hurt. I had my zanpaktou on my back as it was tied across my chest for easy use. Once preparations were complete we all went through the senkaimon then traveled through the dankai and eventually made our way to Karakura Town. All the groups spilt up to be in different sections of the city as my group was in the forest area with Hisagi as a few demi hollows were up ahead.

"We'll take these demi hollows out then move to the next ones! Ready?" Hisagi mentioned to us as we all unsheathed our zanpaktou.

My hand that gripped the hilt of my blade shook as even a demi hollow can have a fearful impact on me, 'I can't do this...it brings up bad memories...'

Hmph, your pathetic...a person such as you shouldn't fear such things much less a demi hollow. Kill them!

'What...? Who was that?'

Don't act like you do not know who I am Shizuki!!

'Is that my zanpaktou spirit?'

You humans sure are slow ...catch up with your team and kill those demi hollows girl!

I shook my head as my group already took down the demi hollows ahead of us and I ran to catch up with them as one came from the trees to attack me as I side stepped to dodge its attack and I slashed it in half with my blade once I had the opportunity.

I ran over to my group, "these demi hollows aren't that bad but it seemed too easy."

"Yeah same here Shizuki. Somethings up with them like they want us to use up our energy so we're tired enough for them to get an attack on us." Renji mentioned.

"Don't relax just yet." Kira said.

A few seconds later a sudden burst of spiritual pressure was felt by everyone who was in Karakura Town including the group I was a part of as a dimension high in the sky opened up to reveal hollow like claws opening up the portal as real hollows started flooding the town in waves.

'No...no...this can't be happening! There real hollows this time not the easier ones we fought a few minutes ago!!'I thought in despair widening my eyes as my whole body shook since I couldn't move out of fear.

Snap out of it Shizuki! If you hesitate, these hollows will rip you to shreds and believe me dearie it will not be a pretty sight once your friends find your killed or half eaten corpse!

'What should I do?'

Use your instincts! FIGHT SHIZUKI! LEARN TO OVERCOME YOUR FEAR!!

My eyes widened at the amount of power I could feel rushing through my veins as a real hollow was charging at us and my friends' attempts for me to run but I didn't. I would not run away this time. I would confront my fear and fight it head on!

Once the hollow was close enough I stood my ground as it attacked me with its claws and I blocked it with my zanpaktou as it chuckled in amusement, "You're gonna be fun to fight then I'll devour you afterwards once I win!"

I smirked up at the creature, "Yeah right after I slice you in half to shut you up instead."

The hollow growled and used its tail to attack me as I saw that coming and sliced it clean off as it fell to the ground moving around a bit before it disappeared in black like ash as the hollow itself roared in pain. I jumped up and sliced it all the way down as it was cut in half and was destroyed.

Renji was the first to come over since he and the others were concerned if I would get killed, "Are you ok Shizuki?"

"Yeah, I'm just glad I can take on hollows without fearing them anymore." I replied.

"That's good news." Rukia smiled.

As we were chatting we got surrounded by a group of hollows as one managed to grab me in its clutches and threw me at a building which I had no way to slow down and thus crashed into it. I could feel trickles of blood going down the side of my face, "Ow..."

Get up Shizuki! Your friends need your help! You don't want them to die do you?

I slowly got up and jumped down to run towards my friends as more hollows blocked my path. If anything can't get any worse it'd be this right here...me not having a way to get to my friends in time and them dying before my eyes. I wouldn't allow that to happen as my spiritual pressure turned black as it made an upward spiral, "get the hell away from my friends!!" I yelled directing my outburst to the hollows in front of me and the ones surrounding my friends.

All of the hollows turned their attention towards me from the rise of spiritual pressure as they all came to surround me instead leaving my friends alive in well. If I were to die here I wouldn't be making my parents proud, I'd be letting them down in dying the same way they did. I closed my eyes and concentrated as I opened them back up as a black aura surrounded my body as the hollows attacked me and I managed to flash step out of the way taking one hollow out then the other and another one right after that. Once those groups of hollows were dead I ran to my friends just as more showed up and in larger numbers.

"We're done for!" Momo said getting a bit scarred.

Just as those hollows tried to attack us they became dead as we saw Captains Aizen and Gin killing them off one by one as the rest of the hollows retreated seeing they can't win.

"It's Captain Aizen and Captain Ichimaru who saved us from those hollows." Kira mentioned

I slightly smiled over at Aizen as I could feel myself swaying side to side as we couldn't hear anymore hollows screeching as Aizen himself came to my side holding my arm making sure I don't pass out and he smiled down at me passionately, "You need to get your wound treated Shizuki, you did a good job. I'm very proud of you."

Captain Ichimaru opened up the senkaimon aseveryone who made it through the hollow invasion went through as Gin gave me agrin then a nod meaning he was proud of me too. From the loss of blood I couldtell I was gonna faint pretty soon and gripped on to Aizen's arm as he pickedme up bridal style getting the hint and we headed into the senkaimon so mywound can be treated and I can rest my weary bones from the numerous fights I hadwith the hollows.