Runaway [JT]

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

"Arise god of thunder! Awake mother of storms! Unleash the lighting on the sinners! Hadō #4: Byakurai!"

Shouting as she fired off a Kidō into the abdomen of a Hollow, Yui continued to slide underneath the beast, followed by a frustrated roar in what sounded to be anguish and frustration. Finding her way on the other side of the beast she'd been fighting, Yui took the opportunity to roll out of the way as the beast let forth a stomp where she had originally found herself. She'd managed to narrowly dodge out of the way of an incoming impromptu attack.

Doing what she could to quickly take to her feet, Yui took a moment to address the situation at hand; the last of a small pack of Hollows had stood before her, arguably larger than the rest of them. This one had looked similar to what one might've expected from some kind of cockatrice; certainly not like those that she'd seen before. Furrowing her brow, she continued to stare down the monster.

"Give up, Shinigami!" The beast shouted back, their voice deep and raspy, "for I can take your attacks all day! Your attempts are pitiful at best, and wasted at worst!" With a cacophonous laughter thereafter, the Hollow adopted a rather low stance. The girl brandished her blade, holding it down toward her side. In her head, a pair of voices began to speak.

"Careful, child. This one is-" "Don't you talk like that! She can handle herself, now! Ain't that right, Yui~?"

Smirking softly, Yui found herself getting rather confident. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but the man within her spirit seemed to talk her up quite a bit! While their initial meeting felt rather ominous, all things considered, it seemed that he had her back. Surely that'd remain the case! After all, why else was he treating her this well? "You know what to do; use that power of yours, friend! Purify this one~!" She nodded her head. She was going to need it!

Turning the edge of her Zanpakutō to face the Hollow, Yui called aloud, "Weave, Kori no Itto!" As she did, a flash of blue light shined outward, transforming her weapon into the sewing needle it was in Shikai. Lord, how she enjoyed being able to utilize these powers! It was quite the wonderful feeling, all things considered; one she could get used to!

Tapping the ground in front of her, Yui took the opportunity to sprint in toward the Hollow, whom had let out another shout in anger, before sprinting toward her as well. As it utilized its beak to try and strike the girl, she simply went underneath the beast once more, before this time running around its legs and planting a strike on the side of the beast. A thread had been sewn.

Shortly thereafter, another strike found itself against the creature's abdomen, before planting another on the other leg. Pulling her Zanpakutō from there, each strand of this thread quickly tightened, causing the beat to fall over with another agonized cry. Exhaling as though she'd been holding her breath, Yui stopped for a moment to catch her own. If nothing else, this work seemed to wind the girl pretty quickly!

---

After purifying the last Hollow in the immediate area, Yui took the opportunity to sit down on a nearby bench, looking to catch her breath if nothing else. Such was quite the work for the "substitute Shinigami" she happened to be, even if she wasn't affiliated with the Gotei. "You handled that well," Yuki started, "seems your training's paying off~! Great things will come soon~" Chuckling softly to herself at those words, Yui simply nodded her head. If nothing else, she was certainly starting to gain a bit of confidence, thanks to two rather important individuals.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Yui's Stats & Skills}
Type: Soldier, Version 2

Stats & Skills:

Strength: 65 [45]
Speed: 150 [150]
Reiatsu Strength: 400 [600]
Spiritual Pressure: 300 [300]
Instinct: 100 [100]
Senses: 40 [40]
Energy Sensory: 40 [40]
Healing Expertise: 0 [0]

Light Aura: 100
Dark Aura: 0

----------

Weapons - Swords: 2
Kido: 2
Mental Incantations: 2
Cold Tolerance: 2
Battle Analysis: 2
Crafting: 2
Pain Tolerance: 2

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu Pool: 2,745/3,000}
-25 for Byakurai.
-200 for Shikai.
-30 for thread sewing.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

In Karakura town, the day had been eventful for Benjiro, filled with the solemn task of guiding lost souls to the Soul Society. The weight of their accumulated sorrow and losses pressed upon his heart, yet he carried out his duty with unwavering dedication. There was something that soothed his soul when he managed to purify the lost souls scattered about. They usually faced immense loss, tragedy, and agony. Giving them this ritual was akin to freeing them of their burdens and granting them a second chance at life. He wondered if that was what the Shinigami who purified his soul felt, all those years ago. 

He did notice a pattern though. From the many souls he had performed Konso on that day, a large majority of them seemed to be from the school. The school's tragedy had left its mark on the town, with countless lost souls resembling high school students wandering the streets. Was there an attack on the school? Come to think of it, he remembered Aoshi bringing up one of his only solo patrols, when he had taken quite a beating from a hollow that hunted within the halls of the school. It was heartwrenching. Benjiro fervently hoped that they would find peace and prosperity in their new lives in the Soul Society.

Among the solemnity, however, another unsettling presence had made itself known—an unusual surge of weaker hollows that seemed to appear more frequently lately. It was a concerning trend, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was a hidden reason behind the increase in hollow activity. Just that day alone, he noticed quite a few insect based hollows. The first one he slew and purified was a beetle hollow, its thick hide crashed against its prey before trying to devour it. The second was a millipede, its many appendages creeping the experienced Shinigami out. After that were a pack of ant hollows, small but plentiful. Each of them fell to Benjiro and Futan Juzemasu's might.

Overall, while quite a few things happened in Karakura today, Benjiro felt as if he had no further answers to the mysteries he aimed to solve. He wanted to look for any sign of Furinji or what had become of her, as well as any possible links to Miss Mio and those that had created the living bombs. Yet, to no avail. It seemed like the patrol was a bust. The Twelfth Seat was just about ready to return when suddenly, Benjiro sensed a burst of Spiritual Pressure nearby. It wasn't the presence of a Menos or an unidentified type of reiatsu, it was clearly and distinctly a Shinigami. 

Alarmed, he hastened to the source, hand firmly on his Zanpakuto, prepared to lend aid. It was quite strange, as his presence in Karakura that day had allowed the few Unseated Officers a chance at respite as opposed to their usual patrol. From Benjiro's understanding, he should have been the only Shinigami here at this time, at least the only one with a Shikai. Since discovering his own release, Benjiro had learned that Shinigami unleash a very large burst of spiritual pressure upon revealing their Zanpakuto's name, and this was quite familiar.

As he reached the local park, he saw the seated Shinigami on a bench, surrounded by an aura of power. It seemed there was no immediate threat, only a fellow soul reaper. Approaching with a warm smile, Benjiro spoke in a tone both friendly and inquisitive. "Quite a battle, I take it? I could feel your Shikai from the other side of town!" he remarked, genuinely curious about the circumstances that led to such a display of spiritual energy. As he approached, he noticed her appearance. She seemed quite young, but the power he felt was very impressive. "I had learned the name of mine not too long ago, so I am rather curious about the Zanpakuto of others I meet!"

In this moment, he felt a sense of camaraderie with this fellow Shinigami, like two kindred spirits crossing paths. "Oh yes," He said before standing up straight and tall, his height of above seven feet easily towering over most. From that imposing stature, he quickly jerked forward into a deep bow, alarmingly and even comically deep. It was as if the seven foot man folded in half. Yet, despite this comical display, his voice still boomed with warmth and exuberance. "Hiroto Benjiro, Twelfth Seat of the Tenth Division! It is a pleasure to meet you!" 

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Stats and Skills}
Strength: 200 (300)
Speed: 200 (100)
RS: 220 (330)
SPPR: 180
Instinct: 100
Senses: 100 (50)
ES: 100
HE: 0
LA: 75
DA: 25

---

Learning - 1
Calm Mind - 1
Strength of Will - 2
Weapons: Swords - 1
Pain Tolerance - 2
Bleeding Tolerance - 2
Damage Recovery - 2
Mental Incantation - 2
Kido Mastery - 2

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

Taking the time to calm herself from the battle that had just occurred, Yui began softly humming to herself. She was glad to finally have the opportunity to relax after today! At least, for a little bit. She definitely enjoyed keeping Karakura as peaceful as she could, but if one thing was certain, it was tiring work. So, she was glad to be-

"Quite a battle, I take it? I could feel your Shikai from the other side of town!"

The voice in question pulled her from her own thoughts, as her head snapped toward him. She picked up almost immediately that this individual was a Shinigami; his shihakkushō had done enough to give that away. Though, he similarly wore a haori. Granted, not the signature white ones worn by Captains, rather a green one. It wasn't often she'd seen Shinigami stylize like that.

Though, Yui couldn't exactly bring herself to say much of anything at the moment. Simply analyzing the situation, and softly beginning to snap her fingers, she listened to what he had to say. Talk about Shikai, learning the names of Zanpakutō, and his own progress on the matter only further put the girl on edge. Had Seireitei been keeping watch of her, or something? Had they sent someone on her level to deal with her? Had they found out? Granted, this wasn't her first time meeting a Shinigami out in the 'wild', unbeknownst to her, but this whole thing didn't sit well with her.

"I-I just learned mine too, yeah," she squeaked out, giving an awkward, almost forced smile. And, as if on queue? It seemed that someone else had decided to pipe in. "Would you look at this~!" A voice from within her own mind had echoed, "seems that Yui's made a friend; how will this play out~?" For as helpful as he could be, Yuki seemed to have a knack for discomforting the girl.

Though, before she could bring herself to speak any further, it seemed that Benjiro had more to say. Standing up tall, before almost entirely folding over, Yui couldn't help but chuckle to herself as he gave his introduction. There was something about it that felt... Genuine. Friendly. While not completely erasing her worries, it helped to take the edge off the situation for her.

"Pleasure to m-meet you too, Benjiro!" She spoke, giving a brief bow of her head as well, "Tsumugi Yui~!" She contemplated falsifying information about her, whether her name or giving a fake seat and squad number to the Shinigami, but there didn't seem to be a need to do that. Not when Benjiro was being rather nice.

Though, she was curious; wasn't the Tenth Division supposed to be the Defense Squad? She thought back to her time at Shin'ō; Captain Celes was there relatively frequently. That left her a good bit curious. "I-if you don't mind my asking," she started, "what brings you to Karakura? Out on patrol, I take it?"

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro approached the lone Shinigami sitting in the peaceful park of Karakura, he moved with a warm and gentle aura, mindful not to startle her. Observing the remnants of her Shikai's release, he admired her achievement, knowing well the dedication it took to master one's Zanpakuto. It was a feat that most Shinigami ever get to experience, as their soul reveals its true name and allows their users to draw out the true power within themselves. It wasn't even a matter of training, as Futan Juzemasu revealed itself once Benjiro confessed his feelings to Akira. 

He then wondered what Miss Yui had gone through to learn the name of her Zanpakuto. Still, as he looked at her in this moment, it amused him to find that power within the spiritual realm was not confined by physical appearance. Here he stood, a massive figure honed by diligent training and a build akin to that of a giant, yet equally matched in strength with this young girl who seemed no more than an adolescent. It reminded him of how Captain Celes's appearance betrayed the sheer strength she held. She was a Young Genius after all. 

Introductions were then exchanged, and she revealed her name to be Tsumugi Yui. Benjiro's genuine smile grew, especially after hearing her amusement from his bow. He then replied, "It is a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Yui." He recognized the significance of encountering another Shinigami of this level of power. Even standing here, he could feel her spiritual pressure overpowered his. That wasn't new though, ever since he was in the Shino Academy, he had a relatively weak spiritual pressure. He felt no jealousy or envy, just curiosity.

She then inquired about the reason for his presence in Karakura, and Benjiro explained that he had a day off. "I'm partly here on patrol! As you know, the Tenth rarely sends officers to the World of the Living, especially Seated Officers, but I had free time and I wanted to do a few rounds. A lot of strange occurrences have been happening in Karakura as of late, though I'm sure you're already aware." He said, his tone shifting to become more serious. His mind flitted back towards the reason he had come here, worried about signs of the oncoming invasion from the people that had kidnapped Miss Mio in Shibuya.

He then thought to ask the Shinigami who had been here far longer than he had. "Forgive me for presuming, but you've been here for quite a while now, haven't you? Have you noticed anything strange, people with alabaster skin and overwhelming spiritual pressures?" He asked for a moment, trying to ascertain whether she knew anything about it or not. He needed as much help as he could get, but then he realized it may have been rude for him to do that. After all, a stranger approaching her and then interrogating her was improper manners.

"Sorry, I let my curiosity get the best of me. I should not have questioned you so suddenly. Still, it was a surprise to see you here. Since I came down, I was allowed to relieve some of the usual patrol here. Would you like to return to the Soul Society, Miss Yui? I plan on staying for the rest of the day and night, after all." He offered kindly. A town as small as Karakura wouldn't need more than one Seated Officer to patrol after all. It was different if an attack was happening or if enough forces gathered within the town, but in this moment, one of them was enough. 

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

Chuckling to herself, Yui nodded her head at Benjiro's words. While she hadn't been able to relate to his situation in its entirety, she knew full well what it was like to be helping about in Karakura Town during her free-time! In fact, that's more-or-less what she'd been doing. Checking down to the watch on her wrist, Yui smiled softly. Seems her shift at Rēgīna hadn't started for another couple of hours. Awesome!

"C-can't say I'm unfamiliar with them," she spoke, chuckling nervously, "seems there's been quite a spike in Hollow activity as of late! N-not to mention, a number of districts within the town seem to be constantly rebuilding, aha~" She scratched the back of her head. While not something that involved her most of the time, Yui did feel a level of frustration over the fact that she hadn't stepped in on... whatever had occurred. Almost guilty, even.

In truth, that had her wondering; what could be done in situations like that? She wasn't exactly in a position where she could handle large-scale threats on her own quite yet, which left the girl in a rather rough situation. How could she call for assistance in those situations that needed it? It certainly left her with a bit of worry, though this wasn't the time to think on such things! Especially after she'd just been asked a rather interesting question.

Placing her thumb and index finger to her chin, Yui looked down toward the ground in thought. "Alabaster skin~?" Yuki asked, once again within her mind, "Hm, interesting indeed; perhaps he means you~?" As the inner spirit's words finished, he burst out into laughter. She wanted to speak back, comment on his rather rude words, but now wasn't the time nor place for such reactions! Not while she left Benjiro without an answer.

"I... can't say I have," she spoke, "nothing like that comes to mind off the top of my head!" While that was the case, she couldn't help but worry just what he'd been talking about. Perhaps she'd ask on that a little later? If nothing else, it'd be good for her to have some information like that while doing her own thing in Karakura!

Though, quickly being drawn from her thoughts, Yui found herself letting out a soft sigh from Benjiro's words. If nothing else, it seemed that she hadn't been recognized; something that had been confirmed especially through their friendly interaction not a moment before. "You're perfectly okay~" she spoke in a rather singsong tone, "even if out of the blue, you've given me something to look out for~! For that, I think you!" Flashing a simple smile, she continued on with her words.

"As for heading back to Soul Society, I... d-don't exactly have that option." Placing her hands into her lap, and keeping her eyes on the Shinigami the whole time, she did what she could to gauge a reaction as she continued on. "I left a while ago. I'm a r-renegade, of sorts, aha~. While I don't work with Soul Society though, I d-do work to keep balance with the Cycle of Souls!" Her words took on an almost pleading tone. "P-please don't mention me in your reports!"

As if on queue, Yuki spoke in her mind once more. "Playing your whole hand~? My, that's quite the risky move! Let's see what he says~" in truth? He was right. Confiding in a stranger on the matter was quite the dangerous choice of action. Worst case scenario, she'd just criminalized herself. Though, was that to happen? It was rather difficult to say, but she'd still have to live with that. Presuming he was still willing to talk to her, she'd be soon to ask on just what he'd seen in the area.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As the conversation with Miss Yui unfolded, Benjiro found himself caught between conflicting emotions. He had been too preoccupied in his thoughts about the mysteries assailing Karakura town that he spoke without thinking, asking her for leads before truly knowing if it was safe to share. Unfortunately, Benjiro's report about the attack in Shibuya had not yet reached Captain Celes's ears due to how busy she was, so he was unsure as to whether or not this topic was confidential. Still, doing some investigation on his own time should have sufficed when it came to gathering information on the Albino-skinned victims and their assailants.

He did not want more individuals to be abducted and tortured as Miss Mio did. She was only a student, still preparing for the life ahead of her when it was all taken away to transform her into a living weapon, and explosive conduit of spiritual energy. It was torturous, sickening, and inhumane. Whoever had done this to her, to all of them, were more monstrous than the hollows themselves. Even hollows followed natural order, devouring souls were in their own nature after all. This was unforgiveable, but he knew he could do nothing as he was. He was far too weak to be able to go against that organization.

It was due to that that Benjiro felt relieved to learn that Miss Yui hadn't seen the mysterious assailants. That meant there was time, time he sorely needed. It was this time that would allow him to train, as well as for Aoshi to train, and for the Gotei 13 to come up with a response for the oncoming threat. Until then, he was forced to keep a wary eye on the situation in the World of the Living, though he was pleased to see Miss Yui was just as dedicated in her endeavors to protect the town. 

He nodded in agreement with her observation about the increased hollow activity and the continuous efforts to rebuild the districts of Karakura, the town was seemingly a hotspot for spiritual activity at the moment. One such hotspot and district that had been attacked recently was the school, at least from the reports he had heard. "It truly is unfortunate. My junior had been bested by a hollow in the High School. Unfortunately, I worry that an even greater threat than hollows is approaching the town, but that is just a hunch. Perhaps I'm taking meaningless threats too seriously." He felt a sense of camaraderie with her, understanding the weight of loss and the desire to protect lives.

However, what followed was both unexpected and unsettling. Miss Yui confessed to being a renegade, a rebel who did not abide by the rules of the Gotei 13. The news of this struck the gentle giant like a bolt of lightning. Benjiro was taken aback, his mind racing to comprehend the implications of her revelation. Desertion was a grave offense in the Soul Society, and he knew the consequences that awaited those who defied their duties. The thought of a kind Shinigami like her, who fought to protect Karakura of her own will, being executed? It was too much for the Twelfth Seat to make a call like that.

He sank onto the park bench, contemplating her words and grappling with the complex situation before him. He was shocked and stunned silent for quite a while. Her assertion that she still served the Cycle of Souls offered some consolation, but it did not alleviate the gravity of her decision to leave the Gotei 13. From what he understood, those who left the Gotei did so out of malice or fear. Those who left out of malice cared not for the duties of the Shinigami, and those who left from fear did something to possibly deserve it. What had she done?

"Why did you leave?" he asked softly, his cloudless eyes reflecting both concern and understanding. As a Shinigami, Benjiro was no stranger to the burdens of duty and the struggles of the soul. His pacifistic nature had long since been quieted by the realities of violence and the weight of his duties. His soul knew that burden well. Despite how he had stubbornly clung to those beliefs throughout the Shino Academy, he had more blood on his hands than he could ever forgive. 

Still, his learnings from the Okami Butsu in this very town had given him some hope, some guidance in his path. That even if he chased an unattainable goal, every step towards it was still growth. That was why his commitment to protecting lives extended not only to the living but also to his fellow Shinigami, even those who had chosen a different path. He had no context as to why she had left, but he tried to hold no biases against her. "I struggle to understand why someone with a sense of duty and purpose such as yourself would leave the Soul Society, especially when you continue to work in its interest."

As he waited for her response, he offered a silent prayer, seeking guidance and wisdom in navigating the complexities of their encounter. It seemed that every day that passed presented itself with more oddities and wrinkles that had changed his world view. More mysteries presented themselves as time passed, and Benjiro neither had the time nor the strength to solve them all. At least not alone. "You aren't alone, Benji~ We share this burden together." Futan Juzemasu spoke, the prayer beads tightening around his wrist like a comforting embrace. Benjiro nodded, turning back to Miss Yui with a concerned expression. 

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

Hearing Benjiro's words on his situation, Yui couldn't help but feel awful on the matter. "Oh, no!" She exclaimed, "I'm so, so sorry to hear that!! Hopefully your comrade is in a stable condition now? Or, at least recovering?" Her eyes remained focused on the Shinigami.

If nothing else, she'd felt terrible that someone had to go through something like that. She thought back to her fight with that chameleon hollow not long ago; such was one of the most stressful situations that she'd ever been in. Even thinking back to her meeting with Kabuto! Both them and Ailene were friends that she couldn't possibly fathom losing; hopefully the loss that Benjiro might've been feeling wasn't anywhere close to that.

"I-If it's any consolation," she started, turning toward the Shinigami, "I'm not sure how you feel about tea, but I know a great tea house not too far from here! When you or your friend are feeling a little better, and might want some time to relax off-duty, I could probably see what I can do to get both of you free drinks~!"

Clapping her hands together, Yui did what she could in order to help cheer up the situation. If he wanted to go more into detail on the matter, by no means was she going to stop him! Especially not as the conversation seemed to take a rather morbid turn. One that left the girl with an almost saddened expression across her face after the fact.

"O-Oh..." she trailed off, thinking on the situation. "J-Just how bad a threat are we talking here~?" A nervous chuckle followed from her. Such was certainly a scary bit of information to drop on her, but she needed to be tough! She needed to be brave! There were too many people counting on her to not be! Taking a deep breath, she faced Benjiro on the matter once more. "N-No matter what that threat is, I'll be ready for it! I swear~!"

As her cheerful exclamation finished, and the conversation turned to Yui's own situation, her status as a renegade, and her desire to continue to maintain the Cycle of Souls, it seemed that for a moment, things sort of... lulled. Silence had befallen the two of them, leaving Yui in a state of contemplation, before eventually Benjiro had spoken up.

It was a rather simple question, all things considered. But, one that brought about that same voice from her inner world. "Yeah, why did you leave~?" He asked, "you know that you're wanted, right~? One slip-up, you're dead!" As Yuki finished, a giggling laughter echoed out. Yui let out a soft sigh.

"I..." She started, "I agree with what Soul Society stands for. I do work really really hard to make sure that Karakura Town stays safe, and that the Cycle of Souls is balanced! I think that Soul Society is wonderful for that! It's just..." Trailing off again, she placed her hands in her lap.

"I don't like how they maintain the balance in the Rukon districts. W-When I first arrived there, I was given the option to join the Gotei 13 after one of their... purges." Her hands quickly balled into fists, as she turned to face Benjiro. There was no hostility in her actions or words, rather the onset of tears beginning to trail down her cheeks. "Those people don't deserve that, Benjiro!! There... There has to be a better way to keep the balance!"

Tears turned to sobbing, before eventually turning into a soft cry from the girl. The whole situation left the girl with quite a lot of emotion; emotion that she wasn't exactly fit to handle all at once. Though, in time she'd be able to calm herself down. She'd become quite good at that; taking deep breaths, and snapping her fingers all the while.

"Sorry, sorry," she spoke once more, "d-didn't mean for that. Still, though; I like what the Shinigami are doing, but I can't bring myself to align with actions like that. It's just not right..."

[Benjiro Hiroto]

In the midst of the serene park, where the boundaries between the living and the spiritual realms seemed to blur, Benjiro found himself engaged in a conversation that delved far beyond the surface. Miss Yui, the renegade Shinigami before him, carried a tale laden with the weight of her convictions, her eyes harboring the truth of her experiences. Benjiro's role as a protector and guide allowed him to approach this interaction without judgment, instead choosing to understand the facets of her decision to break free from the rigid confines of the Soul Society.

He was not the type to judge or punish others without learning the truth, or at least the intentions behind their actions. He was a man that only acted on totalities as opposed to assumptions, for better or worse. Had she told him some reprehensible action or reason that only caused harm to others or benefited her selfishly, he was ready to bring her back to the Soul Society to pay for her crimes. A myriad of Bakudo came to mind as he thought of bringing her in himself, knowing that this battle would be quite difficult given the newness of both their Shikai. Thankfully, a battle did not seem to be in their cards.

As the tale unfolded, Benjiro could feel the resonance of her beliefs. She acknowledged the Soul Society's ideals, the crucial task of balancing the cycle of souls, yet her allegiance wavered when it came to the methods employed. The brutal culling of citizens in the Rukongai, a process he had only heard of in whispers in the seven decades he had lived there, was something she had endured firsthand. He couldn't help but empathize with her pain, and his heart ached as he realized the depths of her trauma. The tears that welled up in her eyes made his own heart weep, casting forth a warmth from the depths of his soul to try and comfort her.

Listening to her, Benjiro's own thoughts began to wander. The cycle of souls was, indeed, a fundamental aspect of existence, a natural order that kept both realms in equilibrium. He had learned that much in his life as a Buddhist, and it was only reinforced in his death. Death in the Soul Society was the essential counterpart to life in the World of the Living. Yet, her plea for a different solution, a less violent path, resonated deeply with him. He, too, had questioned the brutality of certain Soul Society practices, and he believed that change was necessary. But was her approach, leaving behind the very institution that needed transformation, truly the right way?

His sigh was a reflection of the complexity that enveloped his thoughts. "I will keep your secret, Miss Yui," he assured her, a genuine promise that reflected his commitment to understanding her perspective. His curiosity, however, led him to pose a question that held equal relevance for her and himself. "It must have been a horrific experience, and for that I am truly sorry, but you seem to have a purpose and a drive to find a better solution. Wouldn't leaving just limit you from making changes to the Soul Society? Would it not be better to strive for change from within?"

In that moment, his inquiry was as much introspection as it was addressed to her. Benjiro grappled with his own beliefs, the duty he felt towards the Soul Society, and the yearning for a more compassionate approach. For all of the flaws of the Soul Society, from its culls, its conscription, its experiments and brutality, he also saw its merits. He saw the family within the Tenth Division, the care and duty of his comrades in the Gotei 13, his beloved Akira, and more. From his perspective, there was no one to blame but the system itself, and he was far too engrossed to abandon it. He needed to bring about change, but a change without causing strife or pain.

He wracked his brain for an answer, recalling how devout and resolute he was in the face of Lucien and the Vandenreich. Could he maintain that same sense of security and duty from Miss Yui? As the park's stillness enveloped them, he awaited her response, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of his words and the depths of his contemplation.

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

Listening to the Shinigami's words, Yui found herself rather conflicted. Were they correct? Was there truth behind those words? It was awfully hard to tell truth be told, but perhaps there was. If nothing else, she'd humor the idea for a moment or two. Placing a hand to her chin while she thought, Yui stared toward the pavement.

Where it stood, Benjiro was right. There wasn't a lot that she could do from the outside when it came to changing Soul Society. In fact, it left the girl in a rather limited spot, all things considered. She'd simply have to rely on those in the organization doing good in order to hope for really anything to improve. While, sure, that was certainly an answer, it wasn't exactly the most solid nor professional of ones.

"Y-you might be right, there..." She admitted, following up with a soft chuckle, "I s-suppose I didn't exactly think this whole thing through." In truth, that was very much the case. All things considered, she left rather brashly, simply grabbing an Asauchi and booking it all those years ago. Was that truly the right answer? If nothing else, it was difficult to say.

Though, she found herself left in a position where she was lost in thought. What was the best course of action right now? A rather concerned look arose on the girl's face. "Would it be better to head back to Seireitei?" She asked, "I-I might be wanted... I'm not sure that's very safe of me to do, you know?"

In truth, she might've been right there. Being a criminal like that, and willingly returning could've very quickly led to the girl being locked up, or worse. It sent a shiver down her spine just thinking about it. But, it was true that she wasn't exactly able to do much to the organization from the outside. At least, not in terms of bringing about change like she had wanted. Just what was the right answer for this!?

[Benjiro Hiroto]

In the midst of the tranquil park, Benjiro's thoughts flowed like a steady river, navigating the complex currents of his empathy and understanding. Miss Yui's inner turmoil mirrored his own contemplations, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy as he watched her grapple with her decisions. It seemed as if she hadn't really thought her actions through when it came to leaving. She had a bleeding heart, similar to his own, but she turned and left what was immoral to her instead of staying as he did. His furrowed brow and slightly parted lips reflected the depth of his concern. 

As she wavered, Benjiro's inner turmoil swirled. The path she had chosen, one of dissent and rebellion against the Soul Society's harsh methods, had thrust her into a world of uncertainty and danger. He understood her reasons, he truly did, but to so easily turn her back on what she had chosen had only worsened things for her. Benjiro understood that doubts broke resolve, and without resolve, there could be no conviction or commitment. Still, if she wanted to return, then he could help her, even with her fear of what they would do to her. Her fears were not unfounded though; returning to the Soul Society, where she was marked as a criminal, held its own set of perils.

With a sigh, Benjiro extended his open palms towards her, a gesture of reassurance and support. His voice carried a warm and calming tone, one that sought to alleviate her concerns. "It should be alright," he began, his words imbued with a sense of conviction. "You didn't leave for immoral reasons, and it seems as if you are willingly returning. I can vouch for you as well, as a Seated Officer. I should have enough say to possibly help lighten your sentence. Besides, with the state of the Soul Society, having more Shinigami that can access their Zanpakuto's release is nothing but a boon. Trust in me, I will keep you safe."

In that moment, Benjiro's promise was a lifeline extended to a fellow soul seeking redemption and a chance to make amends. His commitment to protecting others, his enduring belief in the power of change, and his unwavering empathy for those who had walked difficult paths converged into a resolute stance. In fact, her own protective nature of Karakura made him think that she might be a good recruit for the Tenth Division. Captain Celes seemed to be the type to allow recruits from any background, so long as they had an earnest desire to help.

He awaited her response, his heart open and earnest, ready to guide her back towards the path of a Shinigami and towards a future that held the promise of a better, more compassionate world. It would be quite good for the Seireitei to have more compassionate Shinigami. Maybe then, the impossible future that they both wished to create could become that much more possible.