A Will and a Mind [Social, Closed, PG-13]

[Zeich Yajuu]

“What am I doing, Haiiro...?”

It was a clear night, Zeich thought, though he couldn't be sure as his eyes stared into the darkness, pointed up towards the night sky yet seeing nothing. Blindness was still so foreign to him, but he was slowly becoming used to it, becoming used to missing out on all the things that he had once taken for granted. Seeing the stars in the sky, the moon, or being able to tell if it was overcast or clear, all of those things had seemed so simple back before everything had happened, so inconsequential. Now that they were gone, it just felt... empty. Zeich felt as though a large portion of his world, the world that his eyes had revealed to him, had been ripped away, gone forever thanks to the darkness in which Tsukikage had cursed him to exist.

Thoughts like this constantly plagued Zeich, even on his nightly walks where he stepped out into the cool evening air to clear his head and relax a little. He wasn't sure what he was doing, where he was going, how to move forward; everything from his past had simply been ripped away with his banishment from Soul Society, leaving him lost and confused. He had no purpose, and no place he belonged, so the question came again: now what? The Vizard sighed and stopped, crossing his arms as he let his empty gaze fall to the ground again, trying to clear his head; he had gone through this loop of self-doubt and questioning time and time again, and it was getting him nowhere. In a way, he was probably hoping that something would make the decision for him, determine a path and allow him to begin walking forward again. But in his head, he knew that it would have to be a path he forged himself.

It didn't help that he had a strange sort of premonition going on, either; Zeich was always a paranoid person to begin with, and expected the worst at all times, but this was a different sort of feeling. Ominous wasn't the right word for it, but maybe something... fateful. Something sent a shiver down his spine, a sense of something lurking, about to happen... but he wasn't sure what. Of course, it was just a feeling; Zeich couldn't actually determine if something could happen by just imagining it, but he also trusted his instincts. Something told him to be alert, not that he needed to be told, and as a result, he felt tense and uneasy. It was an uncomfortable feeling that gave Zeich a lack of security, something he definitely did not like.

Haiiro noticed as Zeich paused, voicing his concern mentally. Master, please summon me to your side. Uneasy as you are, it'll help to have a friendly set of eyes around so that you can see, even without your sight.” The Vizard absently nodded, and used the Spiritual Projection technique, summoning his former Zanpaktou Spirit into existence. The air shimmered briefly, and in a moment a large, ashen-gray wolf stood where nothing had been only a moment prior. Haiiro, Zeich's closest companion, immediately started casting his gaze about in order to assuage his master's worries. Golden eyes scanned the immediate area, spotting nothing, and he conveyed that quickly in order to calm Zeich's worries.

“Don't worry, master. It seems that all is clear. Perhaps the night air is just getting to you; should we head back?” Zeich shook his head in response. “No. Let's... just keep walking for a bit. I'm not ready to head back just yet...” With that, the Vizard resumed his walk, keeping to the back roads rather than heading to the main streets. The unlit walkways did nothing to deter him, as darkness did nothing for his lack of vision; rather, he preferred the back roads because there was less chance of encountering other people whom he did not wish to associate with. That, and he was walking with a wolf; being spotted was just asking for an annoying end to his already troubling evening. No, Zeich was happy remaining in the shadows, and staying away from other people. Hopefully, he could continue his walk in silence...

[Kazura Uzaki]

The night was indeed clear, which required a great sense of secrecy and urgency from a shadowy figure darting across an empty street. The cloth hood of a warm sweatshirt was pulled over this figures head as to not reveal any of the face. While this limited the view to only the immediate ground at its feet, the figure surely had a reason for it. The tall, lanky figure could only be a male, unless this particular girl liked to bind her chest extremely close to her body. He kept looking behind him, expecting to be found out, expecting to be discovered, but no alarm came. The streets were silent, save for the occasional patter of a stray dog or the footsteps the man himself was leaving.

The man ducked into an alley way, confident that he had gained enough distance between himself and whatever he was afraid of. He took back his hood to reveal his face, the face of a famous CEO here in Karakura Town! Just what was Kazura doing so late at night so secretively? It couldn't be hunting hollows or protecting anything, as he didn't have any of his gear with him save for his fullbring which never left his body. No, he wasn't out here for philanthropic reasons, he was here because he was selfish. Selfish and addicted to one small vice.

A quick spark of a lighter later, and Kazura's cigar was lit. His drags were slow, and he kept that smoke in his lungs for as long as he could before letting it slowly roll off his tongue and towards the ground. With a sigh, he released the tension that he was feeling. He didn't want to be caught and found out, for he had been so publicly against tobacco use and alcohol abuse. His father had died an alcoholic, not from the alcohol, but still his life had gone downhill from substance abuse. One of his charity organizations was known as Tobacco Free Japan, which focused their political power on raising taxes as much as they could on cigarettes and other tobacco products in an attempt to keep people from using them.

But Kazura himself was addicted to the stuff. So he indulged in secret, away from any cameras and hopefully away from any late night walkers. The latter of his hopes was dashed as he heard three sets of footsteps coming. He used Soul Command to gather up all of the smoke and push it under a drain, then extinguished his cigar with another use of the technique and tucked it back into his hoodie. There was no time to get out of this alley, so he would just need to hide his vice and put his hood back up in a hurry. Movement could have helped him get out quick enough, but he was panicking and not thinking too clearly.

Kazura was confused when he saw only two figures come into his section of the alley, but quickly realized that the three sets of footsteps he heard was just a two legged human and a four legged animal. Animal footsteps sound different than shoed human steps, so why didn't he identify that before? Probably was his panic. If Kazura wasn't used to seeing strange and weird things, he probably would have panicked more as the animal was a large kind of Wolf. Making sure that he sounded perfectly calm, Kazura addressed the pair as they walked by him. "Lovely night for a walk, isn't it? A walk with one's pet is always a nice time."

[Zeich Yajuu]

“Person ahead, Master.” Haiiro murmured as the two of them continued their walk, the wolf's sharp eyes catching the figure lurking in the darkness. Zeich couldn't see the man, but he had a general idea as to where he was simply by using his nose. Though faint, the smell of smoke was in the air and, if the Vizard wasn't mistaken, it was tobacco smoke. He had no issues with another person's vices, of course, but that smell was a keen identifier, as such scents tended to stick to clothing and hair quite easily until both were washed. “Bleh, I hate that smell... can we go around him? It's not that strong but still... it makes my nose wrinkle.”

Zeich was about to give an agreement in response, but the stranger decided to speak up first; hopefully he had been out of earshot during Haiiro's complaints. Most people were disconcerted by a wolf in the first place, let alone a talking one, and that tended to lead to awkward scenarios that Zeich had difficulty getting out of. Of course, he had to first address the man who able to see him; the Vizard rarely went around in a Gigai, though he did have one that he could use as necessary, and as a result he had been walking in his normal spiritual form when the stranger had spotted him. That meant that the person viewing him was at least spiritually aware, if not more; indeed, as Zeich let his senses search out, his ability to sense spiritual energy picked up the man's signature. It didn't seem that this individual, whomever he was, was attempting to conceal his spiritual presence, but at the same time, it wasn't flaring either. This was just your average person with some degree of spiritual power—a very moderate amount, according to Zeich's senses—who happened to be out at night.

Zeich let his body relax very slightly, though his paranoia did not back down so easily. He was in Karakura Town, where spiritually aware people were somewhat common, still a minority but far less of one than elsewhere in the world. The town was referred to as a spiritual hub, an area of highly concentrated energy, and as a result, it tended to be inhabited by a large number of people who were aware of the world's other side. That was probably all this man was; some individual who could see spirits, and either wasn't fazed by it, or didn't realize that he could. His spiritual power wasn't enough to be a threat without some form of warning, either. So why did Zeich maintain his paranoia, continuing to watch and analyze even as he approached, as though he expected some kind of threat?

Almost a century of time as a member of Squad 7, the Internal Affairs squad, had built these instincts up, and Zeich had come to rely on them as a safeguard against those who would harm him. Even in the most innocent of situations, his guard was almost always up, and such was the case now. Sure, this man had not yet made a threatening move, but he could. After all, he could be concealing a weapon, or perhaps he was the type whose Release enabled his true power, leaving a weaker facade in the meantime. There were a thousand possibilities and a thousand reasons to suspect any of them, and it was because of that train of thought that Zeich never let himself relax. All it took was one slip, and he would die.

Part of it was also the constant wariness that came with being a Vizard. Though he had been assured that his victory over Tsukikage would enable him to remain in control without the need for excessive vigilance, Zeich had suffered under the Hollow's presence enough to have his doubts. As a result, he worked to keep a disciplined mind and a wariness for any threat that could trigger a reaction from Tsukikage. The Hollow was drawn to violence, anger, and fear; those negative emotions tended to draw out an aggressive reaction from him, while calm, or even positive emotions tended to keep him at bay. Zeich had little experience with the latter and frankly felt awkward even trying; smiling and laughing were not something he was accustomed to. Haiiro was trying to help him to that extent, but with little luck; it seemed that Zeich would always be a serious and somber fellow.

But back to the situation at hand, and the individual addressing him. Haiiro growled at the term “pet,” because he was a free spirit, but Zeich mentally hushed him, reminding the wolf that a misconception such as that would mean that the stranger would be underestimating them. The Zanpaktou spirit relented, though he didn't let the comment go, giving the stranger a flat look that was almost eerily human, one that said “I am not amused.” Zeich, however, was busy listening to the man's motions, the rustle of his clothing. He wasn't shifting much, suggesting either calm or preparedness—both results were ones that Zeich did not like, as it meant that the man felt confident about the presence of a man with a wolf. Strange things may occur in the world, but not so casually, and for one to take such a thing lightly made the Vizard suspicious.

Master, everything makes you suspicious. I'm surprised I don't make you suspicious from time to time. Haiiro's comment didn't draw the smile he had hoped for, but the wolf continued as if he had said nothing; he knew better than to push the matter. The man is a little shorter than you, probably about 5'10” or so. You'll want to lower your gaze to meet his face, though it's sort of hard to see; he's wearing a sweatshirt with the hood down. The smell of tobacco isn't strong, but it's coming from his pocket; he probably put out his cancer stick or something and tucked it away. I don't know how these things work. But he seems relaxed, not all that active, though he does look a little jittery. Perhaps nervous?

Zeich picked up the information in a moment, his gaze lowering slightly so that he'd stare at the man's face instead of over his head; part of the reason he tried to have Haiiro around during meetings was that it made it far easier for him to conceal his blindness, as the wolf acted as his eyes in a way. Zeich saw his blindness as a weakness, and though in low-pressure situations he could make due with just his sense of hearing with no difficulty, he was still learning to compensate for his lack of sight and the visual cues that had once alerted him. Anyone who knew about his blindness knew about his liability, and thus, the Vizard could be exploited. Zeich was not one to allow himself to be exploited, and so he lowered his golden-eyed gaze to stare into the stranger's face directly, his stare intense as those almost glowing irises seemed to pierce the man. It helped that there was no cloudiness to mark his lack of vision; for most, Zeich could keep up the illusion that he could see.

“...What I do on my evenings is my own business. What do you want?” Zeich was not the most amicable person, and to say that he was blunt and to the point when speaking was an understatement. If someone talked to him, then they usually had a reason. If they addressed him, it was with a purpose. Though he was familiar with the concept of smalltalk, the Vizard's duties as a Shinigami had caused the majority of his conversations to be a series of objectives and points rather than casual talk. Conversation was not something he was practiced at, as a result. “Most people do not walk in unlit alleys, after all, and fewer still speak to the strangers they find in the darkness.”

[Kazura Uzaki]

The first clue that something was different than normal was the way the wolf growled at the word pet. Either the animal was conditioned to hate that specific word for some reason, or that this animal had a bit of sentience. That was something that you don't see every day, even in Karakura town. The curt reply to Kazura's question was only natural, seeing as the night was late and those walking tended to do so in order to not be disturbed, but the fullbringer just couldn't let it all go like that.

"Ah yes, few people may speak to the strangers in the darkness, but there are yet some of us who do. And I'm of the rarer lot that make it my business to know what's going on in my town." That answer could be completely offensive to the wrong ears, and Zeich was quite possibly the wrong ears. Kazura was basically saying that he was going to keep pestering the blind man and his wolf, even though his initial greeting was pretty casual. That would probably -not- go very well with the Vizard.

OOC: Sorry bad post. Not really sure how Kazura would react besides being nosy.

[Zeich Yajuu]

Zeich's eyes narrowed at the man's reply, a direct challenge hidden in those words. It seemed that this man, whoever he was, was not an ordinary human. “Know what's going on in my town” was a powerful phrase that stated much about him. For one, this stranger had a high opinion of himself, by his use of the word “my.” This did not mean that he was unimportant or arrogant, however; often it tended to refer to a person's position and self-worth gained by that position. Zeich would guess that this individual was a powerful figure, in fact, given his ability to remain relatively calm and show little reaction, especially to a spiritual figure with a wolf at his side. He was used to the unusual, simple enough.

But there was more to the man's statement, and as Zeich read into it, his posture shifted slightly. His hands were concealed in the pockets of his jacket at the time, but despite being in a poor position to grab at the hilt of either sword that hung freely at his side, Zanpaktou that most spiritually-aware people would learn to recognize from their encounters with Shinigami, he was far from unarmed. Three options presented themselves at this moment: the first was simply the ability to release Tsukikage with a mental command, and deal with this stranger through the use of the Zanpaktou's suppressive abilities before he could act offensively. The second was far more subtle, and of the three, the more likely to be employed. A small metal sphere was tucked in Zeich's pocket, and at a command it could instantly shift into any sort of weapon he needed. In a heartbeat the Vizard could immediately draw a sword from a small pocket and have it at ready. Finally, his other hand bore a concealed blade within his glove, powered by a simple orb that would deliver a devestating electrical shock to its victim. Three options, all available in the space of a moment, should the man act unfavorably.

Yet Zeich's stance didn't seem to actively shift. His hands remained in his pockets, and his body language had been guarded from the start of this encounter, a signal that said that he was ready and capable of defending himself should it come to blows. Why was he so aggressive, however? That was simple. This man had stated that it was his business to know what was going on. It wasn't just his town, but his business—or rather, his duty or intent—to know everything about what was going on. It was a statement that demanded information in a backhanded manner, seeming innocuous enough yet indicating that this man intended to learn more. Zeich had no intention of sharing more about himself, not when he was still considered a wanted criminal in Soul Society due to the fact that his “body” was never found. The less people who knew about the latest Vizard, the better.

Worse yet, Zeich had gone out without donning his mask, hoping that the cool night air would discourage anyone from being about. With his face on full display, the golden eyes framed by dark hair and an almost predatory expression were an immediate giveaway as to his identity. Few had eyes like his, after all. Fortunately, no new bounty had gone up for him yet, or the Vizard would have been forced to kill this stranger immediately to protect himself. As it was, the situation was tense for him; after all, this man had information now, and as a former member of the Internal Affairs unit of the Thirteen Squads, Zeich knew the value of information. A face, a description, a time of day in which they had met and the place at which they had done so, Zeich's companion... all of that was very valuable information if placed in the right hands. There was no guarantee that this man could make use of the information, but there was no such proof that he could not, either. For now, it seemed that Zeich would have to remain long enough to make himself forgotten.

Haiiro. Walk a short distance down the road and ensure that no one is coming from ahead. When you come back, stop behind this man. No need to look or act threatening; your presence will make it clear enough. Be ready to act and kill if necessary. Quick commands, simple orders; Zeich worked on a system of efficiency that required little energy and maximized effectiveness. Haiiro didn't even nod or look at his master, who continued to stare directly at the man in front of him with eyes that were too clear to indicate the blindness that obscured his vision. The wolf just padded down the alleyway without any indication that the two of them had spoken, passing the man in the hoodie without looking at him as he went to make the round requested.

Now, it was time to talk. “And who are you that makes it his business to know the city so well? For all I know you're just some punk mugger looking for an easy target, and I certainly don't have time to waste with a nameless nobody.”

[Kazura Uzaki]

Zeich's posture shifted and the wolf simply walked towards the end of the alley without any form of verbal or physical communication between the two of them. Kazura would have paid more attention to the wolf, but his eyes were fixed on the swords that had been brought to his attention by the shifting movement of the Vizard. Of course the fullbringer recognized them, there had been a few too many interactions between him and hostile Shinigami. He would recognize a Zanpakutou, though he never had seen a Shinigami with more than one, so that could be explained by a rogue like Iwamichi, or any other manner of beings capable of stealing Zanpakutou from a corpse.

For now, Zeich's hands were still in his pocket, so Kazura didn't need to get defensive at all. His mental processing speed was great enough to react to any offensive motion by the alley walker, and the conversation was more and more starting to gravitate towards hostilities. Keeping track of the wolf and of Zeich wasn't too difficult, but it did keep the fullbringer's attention divided between his front and back. He leaned up against the alley wall to give himself a little bit of a better defensive position before responding to Zeich's comment.

"Who am I? I'm the one that Karakura needs, but doesn't know it. The silent protector, the hidden knight. My agents are all over this town, keeping Hollow attacks to minimal casualties by directing them away from population centers while the Shinigami take their time arriving. And so I keep my eye out for possible threats. And while a punk mugger isn't my usual tier of criminal, punk muggers don't usually walk around brazenly with Zanpakutou. Or am I mistaken as to the nature of your armaments?"

[Zeich Yajuu]

More information, more danger. The stranger had accurately denoted the make of Zeich's weapons as Zanpaktou, both of them; though they looked as if they were any other katana, who casually carried katanas around in the modern world, especially among spiritual beings? No, it was obvious that the two weapons were Zanpaktou, yet Zeich's posture remained unchanged: ever wary, ever cautious, ever alert. Those golden eyes would seem to glare at the man, though that was the Vizard's normal expression; an ever-present attempt at minor intimidation, those eyes would make most flinch under their presence. Whether or not this stranger did was no matter, as Zeich had grown to use that expression out of habit more than out of choice.

But Zeich wasn't sure of what to make of the rest of the stranger's spiel, about a hero and a protector. A hero that “Karakura needed”? That was arrogance, pure and simple. The Shingiami had their job to protect the area from Hollows, and according to the intel from Squads 7 and 9, at least last Zeich checked before being driven out less than a month ago, they were doing a good job of it. With an 80% success rate on exterminating Hollows before they were even spotted by humans, only the more elusive or wily ones made an appearance before being eliminated, creating a “delay” for Shinigami deployment. There were times that a Hollow's influence was subtle, and as a result, they managed to get past, but rarely did anything above the lowest level of Hollows make it to the humans.

“I see, you fancy yourself a hero...” There was obvious disdain in Zeich's voice; there was no room in this world for “heroes.” Heroes were just people of overinflated tales that were meant to bolster morale; if this man thought of himself as a hero, it was because his ego was far out of proportion to him. He stopped Hollows, but at what cost? If he delayed them, then he caused collateral damage, wasting money and damaging homes and businesses. If he killed them, then as a human and not a Shinigami, he was no better than the Quincies simply due to the fact that only Shinigami could purify souls. Anyone else attempting to destroyed the soul, removing it from existence for eternity. And if he didn't act at all, people died. Heroics was just an attempt at denying the consequences of one's actions.

But Zeich said none of that, and instead shook his head. “Give it up; leave Hollows to the Shinigami. You can do nothing in the long run except unbalance a cycle of souls whose nature was created by the Spirit King himself. All humans can do is destroy, and when you destroy one Hollow, you destroy anywhere from one to dozens of souls, depending on how many people said Hollow has eaten.” His glare was unwavering as Haiiro remained on the stranger's opposite side, the wolf's gaze just as intent. “Heroes do not exist in this world, stranger, no matter what you think. Nor do they exist in any of them. A hero is a person who dies making the ignorant believe they've done something good. That is all they are, no more, and no less.”

[Kazura Uzaki]

In Zeich's last speech, his hate filled, passionate speech, Kazura heard a clue. It may have been something false, something that he was reading too much into, but something curious nonetheless. The way that Zeich said "leave Hollows to the Shinigami", well... It was just curious. But Kazura had to listen to the message as a whole, not just bits and pieces. Zeich was condemning heroics, something that the Fullbringer just didn't agree with. Yeah, Kazura could understand the imbalance of the soul cycle, he'd heard that one before. So he tended to avoid killing the hollows, instead containing them and keeping collateral damage to a minimum. He'd already been through that before with Kazuko.

The last statement, though, is what got Kazura's attention the most. “Heroes do not exist in this world, stranger, no matter what you think. Nor do they exist in any of them. A hero is a person who dies making the ignorant believe they've done something good. That is all they are, no more, and no less.” Kazura had to laugh at that one. It wasn't a loud laugh, as he was still trying to keep himself a little bit on the undercover side, what with his vice potentially open to exposure, but he was amused regardless. "Your outlook on life is just peachy, isn't it, stranger? I have to say that I disagree with you completely."

Kazura didn't hesitate before launching into his own speech about what he felt Heroes were good for. "While the Spiritual World is hidden from much of the population, there still exists a large portion of people in this town who know of the threat of Hollows and are still unable to protect themselves with their own strength. My allies and I represent Hope to those people. I've seen time and time again where Shinigami were incredibly slow to a rampage or never showed up at all. Where were you all when Hell itself was running loose in our town? You weren't fast enough, and that's where we come in. We represent the people's Hope moreso than the Shinigami. All we're lacking is the technological breakthrough that I am so close to reaching."

"The purification of evil souls."

Kazura paused for a minute. He had to think for a moment. Was he really so close? Yes, he settled on yes. He knew what he needed to analyze, he just didn't know how to obtain it. He needed a badge of the Substitute Shinigami, that had allowed humans to purify Souls. He just needed to find a way to obtain one. From there, he continued his explanation of heroics and his defense of his actions. "So, while you may claim that my actions are just an attempt to make the ignorant believe that I am good... Don't forget that there is actually good left in this world, not just make believe. Heroics have a place, and that is in the hearts of the common man. The lives that are forgotten by most. But not by me."

[Zeich Yajuu]

Zeich didn't like this guy. He kept his temper level and his expression calm, but he had decided already that, whoever this stranger was, the Vizard didn't like him. “My outlook on life is a practical one. Not all of us can delude ourselves to the truth.” That being said, Zeich let the man ramble on about his ignorant views on Shinigami. What did the man know about mobilization? He quoted the time where Hell itself had opened up in Karakura, and indeed, their reaction time had been slow. When one fought multiple wars at the same time, with the Vandenreich empire on one side, and Heuco Mundo on another, forces could only be sent out so fast. This man, whoever he was, thought he knew so much about the worlds beyond his small one, yet he was more blind to the truth than Zeich was, period.

The fact that the man thought that he could unlock the secret of “purifying evil souls” was a little alarming, but Zeich knew that there was no technology to it. The spiritual arts infused in Zanpaktou was a technique known only by the one who created them, a member of the Spirit King's own court. Not even Squad 12 could fully break down the weapons to discover their secret, so what hope did this human have? However, an eye might need to be kept on him, less he discover a flawed version with effects that no one could anticipate. The Vizard was mindful of this man, and knew that he would have to find out who he was. Fortunately, Haiiro was nearby, and a mental command had him approach the stranger, eyes looking up into that raised hood.

There was one thing that Zeich decided to correct as the stranger's speech began to wind down. “I didn't say it was with the intent to make them believe you've done good... but in the end, what is heroism but a deed that people should have done regardless, as second nature? Instead, you step forward with titles such as 'the hero that Karakura needs.' It's less and less about doing the right thing, and as your fame begins to grow, so does your ego. It's the same with anyone of consequence, no matter how you deny it.” The Vizard shook his head, almost disdainfully, especially as Haiiro drew close enough to see underneath the man's hood from his lower vantage point, sending a small spark of surprise along their mental connection. He recognized the man and, when Zeich learned the name, he understood the wolf's surprise. That only multiplied his dislike of the man before him.

“You say that you represent hope, Kazura Uzaki?” Who didn't recognize the head of Uzaki Enterprises, a man whose name and face was everywhere? The irony of the man leading an anti-smoking campaign when he himself partook of such substances was not lost on Zeich, causing a very faint, sardonic smile on his lips. “Well, just remember that heroes are humans too. And even heroes die from ignoble causes, so you may want to consider less hypocrisy and follow your own campaign. It'll do you a world of good.” With that, the Vizard began to walk away, a slow, calm pace that suggested that he was at ease with the situation once more, in control. With what he had assumed to be the last words of the conversation, Zeich headed for the end of the alleyway to finish his walk. There was, however, time for Kazura to stop him, if he chose to.

[Kazura Uzaki]

Zeich said that his outlook on life was "practical". That was amusing to Kazura, who found that cynicism tended to lower morale which had a negative effect on productivity. And for Kazura, productivity was equivalent to practicality. He felt that he was the practical one, as he was "cleaning up the streets" to the point where there were fewer casualties, which led to increased assets in the form of allies. And Zeich's depressing view on Heroics as being an ego trip? Kazura disagreed with that too.

"It's less and less about doing the right thing, and as your fame begins to grow, so does your ego. It's the same with anyone of consequence, no matter how you deny it.” The wolf who had been pacing from the alley entrance and back started heading back, this time slinking directly towards Kazura. He chose to ignore the wolf, not considering to be a great threat at the moment, and instead offer a rebuttal to Zeich's statement. "In part, perhaps, but not completely so. If my heroics inspire others to live their life in the same manner, then I can leave this world knowing that it was better off for me having been in it. Society is not naturally altruistic, but it can be persuaded slowly to become so."

The wolf that Kazura had not considered to be a threat got quite close to the man, close enough to be of worry, but rather than attacking, it looked up at his face under the hood, then recoiled in surprise and retreated. Confused for a moment, Kazura soon figured out that there was some sort of communication happening between the two of them, as Zeich identified him and called him out. He then proceeded to mock Kazura's vice with a smile, as if it were some sort of joke. To be fair, it was ironic that the man who pushed for the health of others would damage his own health in such a way, but Kazura wasn't going to take it sitting down.

Before Zeich could get away by simply turning his back and walking off, Kazura called out to him. "You offend me greatly, Shinigami. You seem to know me, though we've not been acquainted. At least tell me your name? That's the least you could do after this debate of our outlooks on life. Don't just insult me and walk away." Had Zeich gotten a small rise out of Kazura? Yeah, but he wasn't about to get angry about it. He was defensive after the insult, for sure, but he wouldn't do something too rash. Yet.

[Zeich Yajuu]

“You offend me greatly, Shinigami. You seem to know me, though we've not been acquainted. At least tell me your name? That's the least you could do after this debate of our outlooks on life. Don't just insult me and walk away.”

Zeich paused at those words, stopping in his stride. Even Haiiro paused, though he looked up at his master, a mix of concern and questioning flowing between their link. The wolf knew that the statement had drawn multiple reactions from the former Shinigami; regret and sorrow fought with the sardonic sarcasm that seemed prevalent as Zeich's major facade in his interactions with others. And how would he respond? The Vizard had once been a Shinigami, less than a month ago, before Tsukikage had finally broken free of his bonds and taken full control of his host's body, destroying a district of the Rukongai. In that time, though Zeich had been thought to have been killed during the incident, his survival had eventually been discovered. His status as a Vizard was made official, and he was added to the crowd of threats on Soul Society's ever growing list. Once he had been a Shinigami... but no more, no matter how he wished otherwise.

The pain was quickly masked again, however, and that pause was almost unnoticed before Zeich turned back towards Kazura, his golden eyes staring straight ahead, not focusing directly on the man. “It seems that heroes are only human after all, aren't they Mr. Uzaki? Last I checked, 'heroes' were above such petty insults.” Sarcasm and disdain were the masks that Zeich hid behind, and the Vizard was very good at both. “You may want to be careful whom you call a Shinigami; you might insult them, after all. The Shinigami, that is.” The former Shinigami still hadn't given his name yet, and he didn't intend to; such information was something that could be used against him, especially if a bounty had been put on his head. By now, he would be surprised if there wasn't.

But at the same time, omitting his name would probably make Kazura suspicious, and with the man's position he probably had a network of information he could draw upon. If their meeting ended negatively, it could be more incentive for the man to seek him out. Considering briefly, Zeich decided on a compromise, one that would work for now. “If you insist on calling me something, my name is Wolf. It shouldn't be too hard to memorize.” A pseudonym of sorts, it would allow Zeich to maintain contact without giving himself away too quickly. Kazura would hopefully be satisfied with such a name, but if not, the Vizard had an answer to that as well. “I lost my real name some time ago, so I took on one befitting my preferred company.”

Now Master, that was just rude, even if I am better company than most.

Zeich pushed Haiiro's comment aside as he spoke. “Is there anything else you want to grill me on, or may I leave? The night is getting late.” His golden eyes glowed with with a challenge in that oddly reflective way a wolf's did, and it was as if he was daring Kazura to try and delve further. Zeich had no intention of being any more forthcoming, however, and it was likely that any further effort would be wasted.

[Kazura Uzaki]

Kazura brushed aside the snide comment about heroes being above insults. That was an unrealistic expectation, one that made heroes required to be perfect paragons of humanity. Heroes may be altruistic and selfless, but perfect no human was. They could only work towards perfecting one's outward self to represent what society should be, while cursing their flaws and punishing themselves on the inside. Kazura hadn't gotten to the self-punishment stage of heroics yet, but who knows, at the rate at which he was going, his morality was quickly coming under attack frequently by his situations and actions...

Regardless, his statement caused Zeich to hesitate. Full on stop walking and pause. It must have struck a chord somewhere. It was especially strong, as even the wolf looked at its master with confusion and concern. Just what had Kazura said that stung, though? “You may want to be careful whom you call a Shinigami; you might insult them, after all. The Shinigami, that is.” There it was... confirmation of the clue that Kazura had thought to be true earlier in the conversation. This man did not consider himself to be a Shinigami. They were a separate entity from himself. Whatever he was, it wasn't a Shinigami, regardless of the Zanpakutou he carried at his side.

He called himself Wolf, which was amusing, but it was a name that Kazura could roll with. He already had a contact in the Soul Society who insisted on being referred to as "P". This Wolf, however, had apparently softened slightly. He asked for permission to leave, even waiting for Kazura to get in one last question before he did so. Being called a Shinigami must have had such a profound impact on the man that he was willing to give up some of his hardened exterior. It gave Kazura a bit more respect for the man, even if they had widely differing opinions on the nature of society and the purpose of heroics and heroes.

"I have but one more thing to say. If you are ever feel the need to be a hero, and want to help out this town, or even anywhere in the world really, those with Zanpakutou would be a great asset to the First Responder fight against the monsters here. Even if they don't call themselves Shinigami any more. Just saying. You know where to find me, and easily how to get into contact." With that, Kazura let Zeich leave if he desired. The night may be late to the Vizard, but it was still young for Kazura. Maybe he'd change and go to a party. He could use a one night stand tonight to clear his mind for the following day's work. There was a lot to do, as always. There's may be no rest for the wicked, but that just means that there is far much more work for the good.

[Zeich Yajuu]

Zeich snorted, though his tone was less derisive than before. “I'm not sure a wolf among sheep is the best of ideas, and I'm certainly no hero.” Despite his words, however, his tone was quieter, less aggressive. Even the air seemed noticeably less tense, and it would be obvious that the man's wariness had manifested itself in his spiritual pressure, almost subtly pushing down on the area the entire time. With that, the former Shinigami turned to leave, and this time, Kazura had decided that he would not stop him. The Vizard was permitted to disappear into the darkness, continuing his walk as he made his way back to the hotel that he was currently staying at. The walk was carried out in silence, and even Haiiro remained quiet, respecting his master's thoughts.

Arriving back at the room, Zeich sat on his bed, staring at the wall opposite him. He wasn't looking at anything in particular, not that he could, but his thoughts were on Kazura and his offer. How did he feel about it? Certainly, the Vizard had been looking for a purpose for a long while now; after losing his place as a Shinigami, his time had been too open, and no goal had been laid out before him since then. Yet now, of all times, a path had opened up. Could he join Kazura? Zeich doubted that he'd get along well with the man's idealism, given his own cynicism, but at the same time, it would give him a direction. Likely the Vizard's role would be to purify Hollows and nothing more. It would be an easy enough task, and it would fill the days as he looked for a greater purpose to follow.

“You're giving this some serious thought, aren't you, Master?” Haiiro laid himself out next to the bed, looking up at Zeich as he settled in for the night. “Did Uzaki really make that good of an impression on you, or do you have another reason for considering it?” Zeich casually shoved one of the pillows off of his bed and onto the wolf's head, getting a muffled grumble of annoyance, but Haiiro had it coming for his teasing. The Vizard had no interest in Uzaki himself, and odds were that even if he joined up, their cooperation would be a partnership, not an employment. Haiiro knew that much, at least.

“...I'm tired of spending my days wandering, Haiiro. If this is the purpose laid out before me, it might be something to give me a goal. And perhaps from there, I'll find something more.” There it was, the truth of the matter. It wasn't so much that Zeich had any interest in Kazura's little crusade as much as he just wanted a direction, any direction. The former Shinigami was tired of his emptiness, and wanted to do... something. He wasn't sure what, yet, but this would at least get him started. That was why he was considering Kazura's offer, as much as he disliked it. “...I'll give it some more thought. For now, let's turn in. We have all the time in the world to contact Uzaki when we decide, and I doubt it will be difficult to track him down to give our response.”