Not really understanding the voices gabbling around him, Renji attempted to stand anyway, only to come crashing back down to his knees. He gasped out a mouthful of blood, curling in around himself as the pain continued to burn through him. "Shoulda... shoulda watched out for that snake," he said, wheezing out a chuckle. With nothing else making sense, he simply settled on the first memory that seemed to fit what was going on, the feeling of poison. "Sorry, Rukia. Shoulda watched out better." He gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound of pain. He didn't want to make anyone worry.

He fell slowly onto his side, arms clutched so tightly against his chest that his muscles shuddered. He squinted at the blurry shapes he could make out between strands of loose hair. "Taichou? Where's..."

But no, she was gone. That was right, gone. He let out a harsh cough. "Gotta find her," he mumbled.