Hollow Hangover [Closed, Social, Squad 12, NDE]

[Deleted]

Name: Hollow Hangover

Participants: Ken'ichi Shihoin, Luca Castabella, Squad 12 Members

Location: Squad 12 Barracks (Ken'ichi's Laboratory)

Difficulty Level: N/A (Social)

Threat Level: NDE

Plotline: Exposed to an experimental serum intended to enhance Luca's fullbringer abilities and draw out his hidden potential, Luca briefly transformed into a raging Hollow that destroyed large sections of Ken'ichi's private laboratory.

Subdued by Ken'ichi, Luca eventually regained control over his senses and had regained human form, only to fall into a deep, exhausted slumber. As Luca slept peacefully, Ken'ichi began the process of cleaning up what he could of his laboratory whilst waiting for Luca to recover.

[Deleted]

Having bound and dressed Luca's injuries to the best of his meagre abilities, and satisfied that the fullbringer had weathered the absolute worst that his recent transformation could throw at him, Ken'ichi set about the task of returning his quarters to some semblance of order.

Sweeping the shattered remains of his weapon rack and other debris into a large pile, and gently stacking the assorted weaponry against a wall took the better part of an hour. There was little Ken'ichi could do for the charred scorch marks, and the destroyed tatami mat of his dojo however, but fortunately for him - Luca's rampage did not disrupt any of his delicate ongoing experiments, save for the vat of chocolate which had been until recently bubbling away in one corner but was now upended in a swiftly cooling mass of congealed deliciousness.

As yet, nobody had come to investigate the sounds of intense battle that not an hour previous raged throughout Ken'ichi's quarters. This was not that unsurprising, given the frequency with which explosions, and other sounds of destruction echoed throughout the sterile, white walls of the SRDI and the Squad 12 Barracks proper, but even still - it would only be a matter of time until someone came looking for the Vice Captain with a report, or other matter that demanded his attention.

Surveying the damage, Ken'ichi couldn't help but smile. He was thankful at the least, that Squad 12 commanded a respectable budget with which to not only fund their highly experimental research, but also to repair the damage that their spectacular failures often brought.

This One wonders how long Luca shall remain comatose before regaining his senses? Ken'ichi mused.

[Akira Hinosai]

Luca existed in a place beyond time, beyond matter. There was only the firing of neurons, like fireflies in the dark. It was a place where language was spoken through chemical reactions and electricity instead of words and inflections. It was a language that was primal and instinctive, but alien and unknowable. Brief images flashed before his eyes before disappearing as quickly as they came. Ken'ichi. Gas mask. exploding reactor core. Images that were seered into Luca's brain so deeply that even his unconscious mind understood them. Thoughts and feelings, new and old congealed into an amorphous pile. A voice Luca did not recognize called to him. screaming for, demanding help. Luca saw his hollow mask in his mind's eye as it began to shatter into nothing. In the fog of sleep, escape seemed impossible. A black void, primordial chaos.

Did he want this? The total destruction of everything? The peace it brought? Luca didn't know. "I could have made you great!" the voice screamed. Who was that? Luca didn't know. He wanted to get away from it. He wanted to run, but that was impossible. An hour passed, maybe two, Luca couldn't say. It could have been a month for all he knew. He was certainly tired enough to sleep that long. It wasn't like he wanted to. He wanted to escape from all this. He needed to. All this shit was seriously bringing him down.

As Luca's eyes slid open, he wanted to bolt up, like he'd just woken from a nightmare. His body didn't seem keen to respond to his wishes, however. He still could have been asleep for all he knew. The world was too bright and fast for his liking. "K..n..chi." Luca had meant to say something, but his words came out as a cross between a groan and babbling. Luca closed his eyes in hope sleep would take him again, but he knew that his body wouldn't allow it. He was awake now, there would be no going back. Luca wiped the drool from his face in a clumsy gesture. Whether Ken'ichi was present or not would be irrelevant. Luca was far too out of it to acknowledge him.

"What happened?" Luca finally managed to say, with his head in his hand. He felt like absolute shit. Surely Ken'ichi could fill in the gaps in his memory, however

[Deleted]

Hearing sounds coming from the rear of his quarters, Ken'ichi swiftly came to Luca's side. Kneeling down before the confused fullbringer, Ken'ichi offered him a glass of water from the nightstand, his gaze crossing Luca in a quick assessment of his condition as he did. Ever alert for any signs that the Hollow that possessed Luca might still linger, Ken'ichi's left hand did not stray far from the blade at his hip.

"What happened?" Luca finally managed to say, with his head in his hand.

"As This One had stated prior to our experiment, there were several potential complications that might come about as we attempted to unlock the depths of your power. To put it briefly - you transformed into a Hollow toward the end of our experiment. Quite a powerful one at that. Twas most difficult to contain your destructive impulses without taking actions that might kill you. Fortunately, you managed to regain control of your faculties, and return to normal.

"Ken'ichi must admit - despite this being a highly probable outcome of such an experimental serum, the results were extremely promising. This One noted that your Fullbringer powers did indeed mutate, and grow beyond their initial limitations, if the techniques used by your hollow-form are any indication. Rest now. We can discuss this in more detail once you have had a chance to recover your strength."

Rising from Luca's side, Ken'ichi bowed and left what passed for his bedchambers but was little more than a mattress and nightstand behind a wooden and paper partition-wall. Returning to his experiments, Ken'ichi pretended to ignore Luca, whilst in actuality, focusing his every sense on the Fullbringer lest he have a relapse of his Hollow side-effects.

[Akira Hinosai]

"That's pretty metal..." Luca murmured. His mouth was unbearably dry, and his head felt like it was full of cotton. Altogether, he could barely speak, let alone remember what had happened to him. Luca had hoped Ken'ichi's explanation would make it all come back to him. Instead, Luca only had brief, disparate images. As Ken'ichi rose to leave, Luca wanted to call out after him. "Please. Stay." he might have said. But he decided against it. He didn't know why that was.

Luca reached to grab the cup of water on the nightstand only to find his motor skills were another victim of his hollowfication. His arm felt shaky and limp, as if every muscle in it was begging for a break. Luca spilled half the cup trying to bring it to him. Only then did he remember he could have just used soul command to move the water to his mouth. Maybe it was for the best that Ken'ichi left. Luca realized he must look like some invalid, struggling to do some basic task.

Luca finished the cup in a few loud gulps. It was like he'd been lost in the desert, he was so thirsty. After haphazardly  placing the cup back on the nightstand, Luca plopped his head back on the pillow. He tried to think about what happened, but that only made his head hurt. Luca laid there until he it was unclear if he was dreaming or starting to remember. He saw a hollow mask, his hollow mask form on a shadowy figure. Stark white, harsh and angular, it was the only part of the image with any clarity. The being that wore it was ethereal and otherworldly. It was as if Luca's mind wanted to produce an image it wasn't equipped to.

It was vaguely human shaped, but only insofar as it was bipedal. Making out the grey wraith's form was difficult. Tall and sylphlike, it was like Luca was staring at some great and terrible archfey. As the mask grew, Luca started to see past the pale. He made out the creature's unnaturally long fingers, spindly limbs and sexless body. Its hair was the color of moonlight and blew like smoke in the wind. He saw eyes that shined like suns, before the mask covered them too, snuffing out their light.

This is me. Not as I am, but as I could be. A being beyond humanity, beyond anyone. Luca didn't know why that thought, that interpretation of stimuli popped into his head. It simply did. He wanted to grow stronger...He didn't want to be this type of animal anymore. He wanted to exist at the top, where no one could ever judge him, and he could just be who he wanted.

If that is what you wanted, why did you turn away from it?

I had to! I -

Luca didn't finish the thought before he realized how stupid it must have sounded.

Didn't want to hurt him? You're a lost dog warming up to whoever will take you in for the night. What happens when he gets tired of you? What happens when you stop producing valuable data?

As if to answer the question, the dream shifted to Luca being thrown out a senkaimon by an apathetic Ken'ichi. "It is customary to throw out things you're done using."

Luca hovered over, watching the scene unfold, helpless to stop it. He saw his dream self beg Ken'ichi to come back, but by then, the interdimensional doorway was closed, and Luca was left alone.

But you won't be alone without Ken'ichi. Look at the connections you've formed in Karakura:

Your meal ticket

Your opportunity for advancement

Your toy soldier

and your dutiful babysitter

Kazura, Irina, Amare, and Raph all appeared around Luca. He was dreaming in the first person again. You use them just as they use you. The only difference is you've deluded yourself about it.

No! It isn't like that!

You are broken

You are empty.

You are hollow.

the dreamscape shifted once more. Luca saw himself as a hollow again. Deadly, above all, finally at peace.

stop it.

I can share all I have with you. We need eachother! I can-

I SAID STOP IT!!

---

Luca woke in a cold sweat. Realizing it was a dream brought him little comfort. He needeed to settle things with Ken'ichi. He kept thinking of being thrown out. Even as the dream began to fall into the well of Luca's memories. Luca held onto that part. Luca forced himself out of bed. His legs shook beneath him, but he wouldn't stop. He wouldn't fall over. He needed to talk to Ken'ichi.Stumbling his way around the lab, Lcua wouldn't stop till he found the dusky scientist. "We're going to talk about the hollow serum right now. I feel fine, you're not putting this one off!"  Luca's breath was ragged, and he felt something welling deep inside him.

"What were you even trying to gain from this?  You must have something planned for this data. What the hell even am I now? An arrancar? What exactly did you fucking do to me?"

His reiatsu flared again, though he didn't mean for it to. It was hard to control himself. There was a voice inside his head screaming, but it did not speak in words. It spoke through intrusive thoughts, images from the dream, fragments of memories. Luca was so focused on Ken'ichi, he wouldn't even notice if bits of reiatsu began for form another mask along his face...

[Deleted]

"We're going to talk about the hollow serum right now. I feel fine, you're not putting this one off!" Luca rasped. Despite Luca's assurance that he was 'fine', Luca's near-prostrate position on his hands and knees, and supported by his swiftly waning strength told another story. Ken'ichi was amused with the Fullbringer's determination, and resolve however, and rather than embarrass him further, chose not to draw attention to the contradiction between his words, and the reality of things.

"If you feel that your condition has stabilized enough that we can have this conversation now, so be it. The patient knows their own strength, and limitations." Ken'ichi hoped the subtle, but not unkind emphasis on the last word might encourage Luca to reassess how weakened they were by the incident that had occurred not several hours past. Assisting Luca to a sitting position, Ken'ichi offered him some water so that he might catch his breath.

"What were you even trying to gain from this? You must have something planned for this data. What the hell even am I now? An arrancar? What exactly did you fucking do to me?"

The rapid-fire questions were issued with venom, at the speed of a whip-crack, stinging Ken'ichi only slightly but not cracking his cool, measured demeanor. If the accusations registered on Ken'ichi's face at all, he was almost certain that Luca would not have noticed them. Pausing for a brief moment to see if any additional questions were forthcoming, Ken'ichi answered them in the order they were asked, even though they were not necessarily in the order of highest priority.

"Data for my thesis on the Quantum Nature of Souls.

"Yes. 

"That has yet to be ascertained. Further research is required. 

"No. Most definitely not an arrancar. Your release was most definitely that of a Fullbringers, although the temporary hollowfication you experienced was more similar to that of a Vizard's first transformation, prior to learning to control their inner Hollow. No, before you ask you are not a Vizard either, for they were once Shinigami before their transformation. As a Fullbringer, your powers were already aligned with those of Hollows. This merely made you more of what you already were.

"I gave you the concentrated Hollow Extract I was developing, as per our previous conversations. Are you experiencing memory loss as an additional side effect? If so, that side effect is most unexpected, and warrants additional testing."

Ken'ichi's cool, measured response triggered anger within Luca, prompting the formation of small, white globules of spiritually condensed matter which began collecting at the edges of his face, and causing the sclera of his eyes to become clouded with shadowy vapor. The effect lasted but an instant before Luca resisted the urge, dispelling the effect. But not before the astute Ken'ichi noticed what was happening and took note of it.

"It appears that the hollowfication you experienced earlier may have some lingering side effects, and that you may experience additional hollowfication in the coming days, whose onset is triggered by intense emotions, especially negative emotions such as rage. Should this occur, please make sure to avoid consuming anyone you care about as to prevent feelings of regret later.

"Furthermore, should your hollowfication last more than four hours, you should consult a physician immediately, as prolonged hollowfication is detrimental to one's health.

"Speaking of Hollowfication, that reminds me. While my calculations predicted a 23.468729% chance that the distilled hollow essence may cause Hollowfication, it was unexpected that the phenomenon would last so short a duration. In Ken'ichi's calculations, it was determined that should this result manifest, Ken'ichi would be forced to slay the newly created Hollow so as to release your soul from its twisted prison, as that would be the only way to ensure your soul would be purified and return to the Soul Society. Alas, in Ken'ichi's assessment, your mortal life would end today in the event of your sudden and irreversible hollowfication.

"Ken'ichi is THRILLED that is not the case however. The fact that you were able to stabilize and reverse your hollowfication is data that was unexpected by This One, and is most promising data indeed! Further experimentation is required to ascertain how the hollowfication was able to be reversed. This One must posit a hypothesis, and conduct additional experiments with proper controls in order to determine the exact cause of your transformation reversal.

"Are you free for the next 30 years? This One would be most appreciative of continued volunteering on your part in order to completely analyze the outcome of this experiment. Oh the data we could collect together! Most promising data, as your unexpected reversal creates a potential that Ken'ichi may discover a means by which Hollowfication can be reversed, and that both Hollows and Vizard alike can be returned to a form they were prior to their transformation.

"Would you be willing to volunteer for such a lofty endeavor, and assist Ken'ichi in solving the age old dilemma of the Shinigami? This One could win an Earthly Nobel Prize in Bio-Physics for this one!"

"What am I to you? Just an experiment! I thought we were friends?" Luca raged.

Momentarily taken aback, Ken'ichi's cool, calm exterior cracked for the briefest of moments as he looked at Luca's indignation in confusion. Almost as suddenly, a smile crossed Ken'ichi's face and he burst out in joyful laughter.

"Don't be ridiculous? You are much more valuable to Ken'ichi than any, random friend could be. You are a volunteer! Do you know how valuable, and rare those are? Do you know how incredibly rare a willing volunteer is? No my dear Luca, you are much more than just Ken'ichi's 'friend'...."

Whether Luca picked up on the subtle fact that Ken'ichi felt the need to distinguish between 'volunteers' and 'willing volunteers' was yet to be seen. By all accounts, the two were synonyms, yet Ken'ichi's pedantic, if peculiar idioms clearly separated the two. For what reason, Luca would be almost certainly be unable to ascertain without asking additional questions.

[Akira Hinosai]

In Luca's haste to get the lowdown on his current predicament, he made a critical error. He forgot who he was talking to. If Luca was being optimistic, he retained one word in ten. Though with Ken'ichi being Ken'ichi, that was still enough to comprehend the general point. The first round of question and answer, Ken'ichi fired back with answers as rapidly as Luca had asked questions. Ken'ichi spoke in a clinical tone, which was inoffensive enough for talk of his thesis. Though when he shot down Luca's question about being an arrancar, it just made him feel stupid. That and combined with the comment on memory loss was too much.

At the slightest hint of the dream coming true, Luca grit his teeth in silent rage, before Ken'ichi explained such feelings would only make him turn into a hollow again. Instead, Luca exhaled deeply. Great. Just great. As Ken'ichi continued to give his explanation of the current situation, Luca tried his best to stay calm. It was like he was playing another character. Himself, but calm. The tricks the actors had taught him came in handy, at least for sitting still and not becoming a hollow again.

Ken'ichi spoke of what happened, what could have happened in greater detail. Luca wasn't sure how to feel about it all. He ran his fingers through his hair still damp from sweat. He very nearly died. It wouldn't have been death like one might fear. He would have popped up in the soul society...but he would have quit being human. Would he have been a true vizard then? Would Ken'ichi have taken him in? Luca was quite lucky, and quite a special case apparently to break his own mask. Though what pride that may have brought him faded quickly. The more Ken'ichi spoke, the less it seemed like he really cared about Luca. He did care, but only as one might care about a prized asset.

Suddenly, fear and anger took hold of Luca again. He really is going to cast me aside! I was such an idiot for going along with this!

"What am I to you? Just an experiment! I thought we were friends?" Luca shouted. He needed to know. Luca didn't care if a new mask was forming. He could control himself. He just needed to know this.

---

"Y-you aren't going to throw me away when this is done?" It was a dumb question. Super dumb, but Luca still asked it. He couldn't bare to look at Ken'ichi.

"Ken'ichi, I...Thank you." Luca smiled weakly. Luca wasn't entire sure if it was the truth...but maybe beneath the Ken'ichi-isms it was really genuine.

You're a lost dog warming up to whoever will take you in for the night.
You use them just as they use you.

A chill ran up Luca's spine. This was wrong. He needed to stop this. Echoes of memory played like a broken record in his head. Suddenly he felt so stupid for having such a sickeningly tender moment with Ken'ichi. Were they really close? What did that even mean? This was stupid. Why was I so stupid?

Luca knew his body language was giving him away. Ken'ichi would ask what was wrong, and then Luca would have to figure out what to say. "The inner hollow is still alive in my head." Luca blurted. Out of all the things that popped into his head, that was probably the least horrible to talk about. "It's as alive as hollow essence can be. It's not like it's driving me insane or controlling my actions. I'm still as Luca as Luca will ever be! It isn't like it's a split personality, either...it just talks to me, shows me things when I sleep." Luca immediately regretted adding the last part. "No, no it's not important. It doesn't matter. I can tell it's desperate. It needs me. It's practically begging me to let it take control again, but I-"

But I what? Want to keep my identity, don't want to surrender my agency? Don't want to hurt Ken'ichi? Do you really believe that you're friends? His words don't disprove what you already know. THIS IS AN ARRANGEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT

Luca wanted to scream. What was true, what was a lie? Was Ken'ichi lying? Was everyone he met lying? Was he still alone after all this time?

You were correct about one thing, Luca. I need you. I'm not a foreign invader who wants to steal your body. I AM you. I only say what you believe, truths you keep hidden even from yourself. Surely that must have occurred to you. That's why I frighten you so much.

You're afraid of losing yourself, of losing the connections you've formed. Yet you truly don't get it. The arrancar you fear and admire...They are weapons forged of a million souls. Do you think the original soul emerges from that apotheosis the same as before?

I was afraid...

You don't have to be afraid anymore. You never really had any of the things you fear losing...Let go and be reborn in beautiful entropy

---

After going unresponsive for all of a few seconds, Ken'ichi would notice Luca raise their head and make eye contact once more...

"Kimchi...You're smart, so can I ask you something? Friendships are more than the sum of their parts...So tell me, when do they stop being two people using eachother? When does that spark appear?"

This time, Luca sensed the mask forming. Their voice grew ever more distorted.

"Do you know why I broke the mask? Why I was able to dehollowfy? Because I was afraid. I was afraid of losing myself. I was afraid of hurting you. I was afraid of accepting the truth about this world and the people in it."

"I'm done with that. I don't need anyone anymore. It's all so clear to me!"

The mask had not yet covered half of their face. They stood with a crazed look in their black-scalera'd eyes. Luca ran a hand through their hair. A trained eye might recognize their expression as being one of intense mania, but not necessarily violent intent, at least not yet.

[Deleted]

If Ken'ichi was startled by the sudden change in Luca's demeanor, it did not register on his face.

"Y-you aren't going to throw me away when this is done?" Luca asked. A hot flush of red warmed his cheeks showing his obvious embarrassment.

"No? What gave you the impression that Ken'ichi would throw you away? You are a person, not a piece of garbage. If This One has said or done anything to offend you, Ken'ichi humbly apologizes. But, Ken'ichi has no interest in discarding you as if you were an unwanted dog whose owner was tired of taking care of it."

Was Ken'ichi somehow able to read Luca's mind, or was it merely coincidence that caused him to choose an analogy that was eerily close to the very words his mocking hollow-self said. Ken'ichi's cool, clinical expression remained as passionless as it had been throughout the entire conversation, giving Luca no hints to any emotions that lay underneath. 

"Ken'ichi, I.....Thank you."

"You are most welcome. Please, if there is anything else that This One can do to assist you....."

Ken'ichi let the words drop mid-sentence. Concern and alarm flashing briefly across his face as Luca battled with the mocking inner voice that sought to drive insecurity and doubt into his mind. Ken'ichi's eyes flashed rapidly across Luca's face as he looked for any sign or indication that would reveal to him of the difficulty that Luca was facing.

You're a lost dog warming up to whoever will take you in for the night.
You use them just as they use you.

Before Ken'ichi could speak, Luca revealed to him the reasons behind his sudden change in expression that had obviously worried Ken'ichi.

"The inner hollow is still alive in my head.

"It's as alive as hollow essence can be........I'm still as Luca as Luca will ever be! ......It needs me. It's practically begging me to let it take control again, but I......"

Many long moments passed as Luca struggled with the thoughts raging in his head, as his inner hollow sought to coerce him, weedling it's poisonous words in the cracks within Luca's mental fortifications, looking for any opening that it could wedge itself within. Ken'ichi waited for Luca to continue, merely observing the rapidly changing expressions on Luca's face, but giving the Fullbringer the time necessary for him to reach his own sense of balance.

"Kimchi....You're smart, so can I ask you something? .... When does that spark appear?"

Ken'ichi did not have time to formulate a response to Luca's rapidfire questions however. His own line of questioning was agitating the Fullbringer, and causing him to lose his tenuous grip on his self-control.

"Do you know why I broke the mask? .....

"I was afraid.....

"I'm done with that......"

As the mask rapidly formed for the second time, Ken'ichi's response was methodical, pragmatic, and without hesitation. In an instant, Ken'ichi's hand flashed to the zanpakutou at his side. Luca had barely enough time to detect the glint of metal as he unsheathed his weapon before darkness overwhelmed him, and his consciousness faded into oblivion.

---

When Luca came to, he would be greeted with the sight of cracked white stucco, stained with brown from water damage. A loose ceiling fan spun lazily in languid wobbling circles providing a faint cool breeze in the room. His head was throbbing, but for reasons he could not recall. He would remember Ken'ichi's hand moving to the hilt of his zanpakutou, and a glint of metal, then darkness. When Luca tried to move, he would find that he was immobilized. Somebody had restrained his entire body with thick spiritually reinforced chains that bound his limbs to his side. Additional chains bound Luca to the mattress he was lying upon.

"You're awake. This One apologizes for this, but you gave Ken'ichi little choice. This One knows you have many questions. Ken'ichi will start with the most obvious questions to save you time.

"You began to Hollowfy again, and Ken'ichi was worried that you would trip the newly installed anti-hollow sensors that Ken'ichi was installing throughout Squad 12, or worse - that you would be unable to repeat your earlier feat, and become permanently hollowfied. Ken'ichi did not want this to happen to you, and wasted no time in disrupting the hollowfication process before it could complete. To that end, This One was forced to knock you unconscious with a swift and decisive maneuver.

"Please, gather your thoughts. You are correct. We are no longer in my laboratory. In fact, we are no longer in Soul Society. This One used your 'Doorknob' to transport himself and your unconscious body to the Human World. Afterward, Ken'ichi used some of your human moneys to procure accommodations for us in something called a 'Motel'?

"The risk of your reiatsu signature flaring twice in as many hours and tripping the defenses was too great, and so Ken'ichi felt that it would be in your best interests to continue this conversation in your own realm. Alas, Ken'ichi must apologize again for your restraints. Ken'ichi cannot take unnecessary risks when it comes to you becoming a hollow. If Luca wishes, Ken'ichi will assist him in regaining control of himself, and determining why you are so unstable. It is This One's hope that we might find a way to stabilize your form, and prevent further transformations, so that Luca can remain Luca.

"You may ask any additional questions you might have now."

[Akira Hinosai]

With the snap of an overhead light fixture, awareness returned to Luca. He tried to stand, only to find his limbs were bound. there was nothing around him besides a colorful void. Reds, purples, oranges of all shades swirled together around what chunk of an empty room he'd found himself in. His hands were bound by large handcuffs somehow strong enough to hold him down. An attempt to lift a leg told him he was bound to the floor as well. Before he could even consider what was going on, a feminine voice reverberated in his mind

"That didn't take long at all, did it?"

Luca searched the platform for the source of the voice, but found none. Still, he had an idea who it was.

"Look, I already agreed to work with you. You don't have to show me anything else." Luca shouted. His voice echoed throughout the dreamscape until finally, his inner hollow made themself known. They did not appear before him, but walked through the void, physical matter (or as physical as matter could be in a dream) appeared beneath her. Linoleum tiles that eventually connected with the slice of floor Luca found himself on. Altogether, it was like some interrogation room, and a particularly drab one at that.

His hollow had taken a new form. Notably feminine. She was not as tall as Luca, though most people were. She was not as lean as Luca, though that was hardly notable as well. Her porcelain skin was marked red in strange patterns. Altogether, she looked like Luca did when he was wearing his stage makeup. She had flowing silver-blue hair, and a strange antiquated sort of yellow and green robe. 

"Any particular reason you look like that now?"

"Do you not like girls?"

"I never said that."

"It unnerves you that your shadow self appears as a woman? There often is a disconnect between zanpakuto spirit and soul reaper. Why should I be any different? Besides, arrancar can sometimes emerge with a different body than the original soul, even if the prime soul remained in control."

"Yeah, whatever. I'll take that chance." Luca scoffed. This was really not something he wanted to think about. It might have meant something that a being whose personality came from merging with his being was saying this, but he didn't want to listen. He wanted to ascend. He wanted now what he'd always wanted. Power at all costs.

"Why don't you tell me something useful like where the hell are we? This doesn't feel like the last dreams we had."

The inner hollow smirked. "This is what the shinigami might call an inner world, or some crude approximation of one. It was not easy to make, but it was a necessary step."

"Yeah? You mind telling me the rich symbolism behind me being cuffed to a chair?"

"It made the process much easier. Ken'ichi has restrained your body. I did not see fit to expend the energy to change that here."

Luca wasn't sure if they were lying or not. Was that how this whole thing worked? Fancy lucid dreaming?

"You're a smart boy, Luca. Tell me, your little scientist, does he seem like the type who would let you work with me? He doesn't know what's in your head. He only sees a problem and its solution."

Luca squirmed uncomfortably. He grit his teeth and tried not to let it show. He didn't like where this was heading. Sensing his discomfort, the inner hollow approached Luca. They stared him down.

"You're great at lying to yourself, Luca, but I'm afraid that won't work anymore. Any thought you don't like, you just repress and carry on pretending you're a hero."

"It's not like that! Why the hell are you talking like this? I agreed to whatever it is you're planning!"

"You didn't accept it in your heart. I can see that now that I look into your eyes."

"You chase hollow friendships, but what bonds do you have? What do you seek with Ken'ichi?" Their voice grew stern like Luca were some wayward child.

"You sound like Abaddon and Ailene, you fucking bitch!!!"

She did not immediately reply. Instead she snapped her fingers. The chair was gone, as were the handcuffs. Luca fell to the ground, but as he tried to stand up, he was pulled up by the arms.

"Do you think you're talking to some therapist? I AM YOU! I KNOW THE TRUTH!"  Luca looked at his arms to see he was being supported by two strings around his wrists, like he was some marionette. They approached him once again. "You hate those two because they were the only ones who saw through your act. You hated them because they were honest."

Luca raised his fist to strike them, but with a flick of he finger, he was thrown back. He was falling into the void that surrounded the room. He tried to scream, but no sound came out.

More strings pulled him back, setting him gently on the ground. He looked up at his inner hollow with a combination of fear and anger. Tears were starting to form in his wild eyes. Yet his inner hollow knelt down beside him, and enveloped him into a hug. Luca wasn't sure what to think. He had never been a touchy feely person. He wanted to recoil, but instead he didn't. He couldn't.

Releasing him, they smiled warmly. "Luca, you must think I hate you. I do not. I only want you to grow and reach your dreams. Yet evolution requires a push in the right direction. By forcing you to face these facts, you've grown stronger. I had to know you were strong enough to carry out the new plan for your ascension. Now you're closer to accepting the truth. I am the path of progress, and Ken'ichi is the path of stagnation."

"What?" Luca murmered

"Of course, my champion. " sensing Luca's hesitation, she continued. "He does possess a certain charisma, but you can't let him manipulate you. He is a liar and murderer. You don't believe me yet, but you will. When you wake, remember what I've told you. He would have you chase ghosts around. I will have you stand at the top of this world. I'm the one you can trust. Talk to him, make him believe you are stable enough to be let go. In doing this, you'll see that your life always has been without value. So let's wipe the slate clean

and

AWAKEN

Luca's eyes fluttered open. Though his instincts were to bolt up, he found himself indisposed. Ken'ichi was by his side and answered the basic questions before Luca could ask them. "No one saw us come in, right? You carrying some unconscious boy into a motel room would really give people the wrong impression, no?" That was the first thing to come in to Luca's fuzzy mind. He didn't slur his words too much, so the joke probably landed, ignoring the subject matter and timing. It was easier to avoid the main issue at hand than to face it head on. Maybe stalling for time would be better. "I hate to sound needy, but yeah. Maybe I do need your help in staying Luca." Luca hated saying it, but tried not to let it show. If his inner hollow was to be believed, they wouldn't try and take over again. That would mean Luca was on his own and he'd have to focus on the conversation. This was probably going to get personal again. Luca wasn't made for that sort of thing. "So, what does that entail?"

SPOILER: Click to show

{Inner Hollow FC}

[Deleted]

"No one saw us come in, right? You carrying some unconcious boy into a motel room would really give people the wrong impression, no?"

"This One does not believe our entry into this room was detected, no."

"I hate to sound needy, but yeah. Maybe I do need your help in staying Luca."

"Then Ken'ichi will do his best to ensure that happens. This One does not have the resources necessary to properly stabilize your condition in this room, and will need to return to Soul Society briefly in order to gather the necessary components. Do you think you will be able to amuse yourself until I return? There is a Liquid Display Device in the corner that you can watch motion videos on. Ken'ichi is quite fond of Human entertainment. This One had a large screen display shipped and should be arriving soon. So many ideas for new experiments can be gleaned from watching your entertainment programs."

Ken'ichi placed the remote on Luca's bound chest, and retrieved the familiar bronze doorknob that Luca and Raph had used to first enter Soul Society from somewhere on his person. Placing it on the wall, Ken'ichi gave it one swift turn and created a portal to the Soul Society, exiting in Junrinan, first district West of the Rukongai. Ken'ichi's sudden appearance startled some well to do Rukongai citizens, causing them to drop a cart laden with fruits, nuts, and dates to crash upon the ground. Ken'ichi paid them no head and walked casually toward the gate of the Sereitei.

Traffic was at a minimum at this time of day. Ken'ichi noted several junior officers trying to hang one of the laser defense turrets that Ken'ichi had tasked squad 12 with developing in order to better protect the Sereitei from the all too frequent incursions from Arrancar, and Quincy alike. Approaching the gate guardian, Ken'ichi bowed formally and introduced himself.

"Ken'chi Shihoin. Fuku-taichou of Squad 12. Requesting entry to West Sereitei Gate."

After answering a few necessary follow up questions, Ken'ichi was let through the gate with minimal hassle, and stopped for a brief moment to assist the junior officers with a second pair of hands so that they could properly secure the sensitive defensive weapon in its proper location. Several minutes later, Ken'ichi wished his fellow squad members well, and set off toward the Squad 12 Barracks. Fortunately for Ken'ichi, West Gate was the second closest to Squad 12, and so he set off at a measured, but not unhurried pace. His mind wandered while he walked, and he began cataloguing all of the additional tasks that were accumulating while he had been delayed with the unexpected arrival of Luca. 

Luca wouldn't mind if Ken'ichi caught up on a little work before he returns would he? Of course not. Luca certainly knows how imporant Ken'ichi's work is, and would most definitely instruct him to resolve the most important tasks before returning. Of course, Ken'ichi would be remiss not to accept such an offer of respect.

Upon arriving at the Barracks, Ken'ichi headed immediately to the SRDI to complete the transcript of his initial experiments involving Luca, which took the better part of an hour to properly compile, format, and document thoroughly. Once completed, Ken'ichi remembered he had several other outstanding reports to file and, since he was heading to Aramis' office anyway, he completed those documents as well, so as to make the trip more efficient. Two more hours passed before Ken'ichi found himself outside Aramis' personal office. 

"Aramis Taichou, here are the reports you requested. This One humbly apologizes for the delay in reporting, as Ken'ichi had an unexpected volunteer from the Human World to experiment upon. A full report of the experiment in progress is included at the top of the pile for you to peruse at your convenience. Of most interest. It appears that Fullbringers are capable of generating an Inner Hollow when exposed to concentrated Hollow reiatsu injected intravenously at 3 parts per cycle. This One is currently in the process of collecting additional data on this experiment in a more controlled environment, away from prying eyes and requests a temporary leave of absence, in order to conduct this experiment at a secure, off-site location."
 
Upon receiving his answer from his superior, Ken'ichi returned to his personal quarters at a leisured pace. By this time, it was mid-afternoon, and Ken'ichi decided to check up on the taste of his latest confectionary invention. Finding the taste overly bitter, Ken'ichi sighed, and began the laborious task of emptying and cleaning out the vat, recalculating his measurements, and brewing up a new test batch of chocolate. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon when Ken'ichi had completed his task, and so Ken'ichi spent the next hour practicing his daily katas. Once completed, Ken'ichi suddenly recalled that Luca was expecting him in the human world, and that he should probably go check on the young human.

Retrieving the door knob, Ken'ichi visualized the motel room down to the finest detail, and stepping through, found himself face to face with a bitter, and annoyed Luca. 

"This One apologizes for the delay. Ken'ichi was waylaid longer than expected completing his assigned tasks and duties but has now returned to see how Luca is fairing. Oh wait! This One was supposed to bring back the necessary tools to help stabilize you. Begging your apology, but Ken'ichi has failed to return with the necessary tools, and must once again depart."

Luca would have barely enough time to stammer a few sentences before Ken'ichi would depart once more just as swiftly as he arrived. It would be late in the evening before he would return once more, this time carrying with him several beakers, vials, jars of liquid, and what appeared to be a bunsen burner. Several measuring devices could be spied poking out of various pockets, and some glowing purple mist held delicately between two fingers in a crystal vial.

"Shall we begin?"

[Akira Hinosai]

"That doesn't even-" Then, POOF! Ken'ichi was gone. For a second, Luca laid in stunned silence. Is this some kind of joke? Luca asked, but he knew the answer. Ken'ichi was Ken'ichi after all.  There were a lot of ways his help could have taken shape. Luca wasn't sure if this was the most nauseating, but surely it was close. Ever since he was a kid, waiting was hard for him. Sitting still was harder. The first 5 minutes felt like an eternity, before finally Luca decided to use soul command to press buttons on the remote. It was easy enough, even without hand gestures. Luca flipped past news programs, variety shows, and game shows before finally settling on some teen-girl melodrama.

"This sucks." Luca watched for a few minutes, pretending he understood the context of the show and the characters. Even though it was all he had, focusing on it was hard. Ken'ichi's gonna come back, right? Luca expected his inner hollow to chime in, but they never did. "Ah yeeees liquid television, terminator was a documentary. Khajiit has wares if you have coin~" Luca said in his best Ken'ichi impersonation. Luca wanted to call him an idiot, but Ken'ichi seemed to defy all categorization. He was like the personification of a train wreck. Awful, but you just couldn't look away.

Luca might have hoped Ken'ichi gave him more to go off of to try and prove the inner hollow wrong. Maybe some part of Luca wanted to believe in Ken'ichi against his better judgement. Luca didn't think he'd ever met someone like him. "I'm not going soft here! If he leaves me now, I look like a complete idiot who got manipulated. That's all it is." Luca muttered aloud. He hadn't meant to, but as starved for things to do as he was, the sensation of speech alleviated his boredom ever so slightly. "Yeah, hey, inner hollow, now'd be a good time to say something!" Luca groaned. He was now firmly in the "talking to himself" phase of isolation.

"So what, is this a sign you're right? Can become an arrancar now or whatever? If you're hiding from Ken'ichi, now'd be a good time to at least talk to me!" Luca sat in angered silence for a bit. He'd have crossed his arms if he was able. "When he comes back, I'm gonna punch him and break his stupid nerd glasses!" Luca's raspy voice come out louder than he anticipated. He was greeted with a slap on the wall "SHUT UP, IDIOT!" a deep, muffled voice yelled out. "YOU SHUT UP, I'LL KILL YOU!" Luca shouted in Japanese to make sure he was understood in no uncertain terms. Luca muttered curse words in three languages, in hopes it would make him feel better. It didn't.  He didn't want to feel like this. He wanted to get up and stretch his legs, he wanted Ken'ichi to just be here so he could move on with all this...except he didn't know what he wanted the outcome to be

Ken'ichi or the inner hollow. Thesis and antithesis. It was a clear choice and Luca had no idea what it was going to be. When he'd awakened, he'd hoped Ken'ichi would have stayed if only so he could focus on analyzing his words, to see if he was being genuine. Instead Luca was left here to ponder it all. Time passed and passed. Luca watched stupid teen dramas about girls, the boys they fawned over, and self discovery or whatever. Luca wanted to sleep, but sleep never came. Luca just wanted a power boost, but he got...this. A complicated mess of feelings. He didn't expect the finale to his invasion would be so...emotional.

"Ok, I mean, we are friends...So what? That isn't weird. Who would want to be abandoned by a friend?" Luca didn't say the quiet part out loud. Somethings were too embarrassing to even be said in the privacy of a shitty motel room. Luca enjoyed Ken'ichi. He didn't want Ken'ichi to leave. More than making him look bad, it would just hurt. Luca missed him.

Then, POOF! He was back "Kimchi!" Luca shouted in surprise. He'd never been so glad to see anyone! Now he could undo the bindings, and then-
...

He forgot the things he left for in the first place. He was gone again.

*music plays*

Luca winced in deep pain that evoked in him. He wanted to scream and laugh at the same time. Instead he just stared at the tv screen blankly, trying to determine what hell he'd been thrust into.

By the time Ken'ichi returned Luca had passed the talking to himself phase and was singing karyokie to songs he half remembered

"I played all my cards...

And that's what you've done too

What else can I say?

No more ace to plaaaaay!"

"OH WHAT THE FUCK!" Ken'ichi's arrival scared Luca. Fortunately, the interdimensional doorknob was anything but subtle, so Luca was able to pull the brakes on his karaoke before Ken'ichi heard anything. Luca had learned his lesson from last time in terms of proper greetings. "Took you long enough..." Luca muttered while not even looking at Ken'ichi Once again, he'd have crossed his arms if he could have. Maybe he was a little happy, but he wasn't going to show that considering Ken'ichi just ditched him here chained up.... "Yeah, whatever....So, uh...how invasive is this thing going to be. I'm sure as shit not consenting to brain surgery here!"

It's time then, Luca. I think I've entrenched myself well enough beyond his primitive measures. Now that you've had time to think on this smiling betrayer, you're ready to face this test. Think why I might have said what I've said. Know that and you will have power over anyone.

[Deleted]

"Yeah, whatever....So, uh...how invasive is this thing going to be. I'm sure as shit not consenting to brain surgery here!"

"Brain Surgery? No, This One does not think it will come to that. Besides, Ken'ichi is almost certain that brain surgery will not have any result at any rate. That, and Ken'ichi would not consider such even if he thought it was a workable solution, if only for the fact that Ken'ichi has only read 37 tomes on the subject, and has never actually performed such surgery before."

Seeing Luca's increasingly worried expression, Ken'ichi attempted to assuage his fears.

"Nay. Nothing of the sort. This One merely intends to take a sample of your blood, place it in a centrifuge, and get a baseline reading of your serum hollow reiatsu. From there, Ken'ichi will create a serum that should counteract the issue, based on some research he found in the archives of Squad 12 by the former Captain, Sayuri. That man was a sociopath. But a brilliant one, and his research notes should prove useful in creating a treatment, if not a cure for your affliction."

Placing the beakers, vials, and other paraphernalia on the bedside table, Ken'ichi sat beside Luca on the edge of the bed, and gently reached for the padlock. With a sharp click, he undid the restraints allowing Luca the freedom to move once more. No doubt, his joints would feel stiff and sore, and would undoubtedly tingle with numbness as blood returned.

"Ken'ichi will not do anything Luca does not wish him to do, with the exception of slaying Luca should he pose an immediate threat to humans. Ken'ichi values Luca as a valuable volunteer. You, my dear Luca are Ken'ichi's closest companion as of this date, and This One would hate to see you suffer needlessly, or die as the result of an unexpected side effect. Please, tell Ken'ichi about your hollow experiences so that we can get a proper baseline reading."

Reaching behind himself, Luca might momentarily think that Ken'ichi intended something nefarious, after the poisonous whispers that his inner hollow had been insinuating. But his fears would be unfounded, as he simply retrieved a few electrodes attached to a hair net. 

"This is what you humans call an EEG. Well, sort of. It functions similarly to your human world contraption, but it detects reiatsu signatures rather than brain waves. Does Ken'ichi have permission to place this on Luca's head?" 

[Akira Hinosai]

Luca wanted Ken'ichi back, if only to take the stupid bindings off. That didn't mean Luca was looking forward to whatever treatment Ken'ichi had planned. Two events: Ken'ichi's return and the procedure. Naturally, the latter would follow the former. In Luca's mind however, he was able to separate them. Focus on the former and ignore the latter. Now that the vivisection part was actually beginning it was much harder to ignore. It wasn't like Luca was scared of doctors. He went to a lot of them as a kid, but stuff like this made him uneasy even after all these years. He didn't like people trying to figure out what was inside his head. It didn't matter how someone tried to do that. It could be through manipulation or far more...physical means. Luca wasn't sure what Ken'ichi was planning to do exactly, but the first thing that popped into Luca's head was "lobotomy"

"Brain Surgery? No, This One does not think it will come to that. Besides, Ken'ichi is almost certain that brain surgery will not have any result at any rate. That, and Ken'ichi would not consider such even if he thought it was a workable solution, if only for the fact that Ken'ichi has only read 37 tomes on the subject, and has never actually performed such surgery before."

"So you're not gonna shave my head and lobotomize me?" that was an oddly specific thing to ask, or to be afraid of, but Luca had heard enough horror stories about them to be concerned. There were some things Luca wouldn't allow no matter what.

"Nay. Nothing of the sort. This One merely intends to take a sample of your blood, place it in a centrifuge, and get a baseline reading of your serum hollow reiatsu. From there, Ken'ichi will create a serum that should counteract the issue, based on some research he found in the archives of Squad 12 by the former Captain, Sayuri. That man was a sociopath. But a brilliant one, and his research notes should prove useful in creating a treatment, if not a cure for your affliction."

"That's...surprisingly tame." Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all... Things were getting better still when Ken'ichi finally freed Luca from his motel-bed prison. Luca's limbs were asleep like they'd never been before. Still, the ability to move them freely was greater than any drug imaginable.


"Ken'ichi will not do anything Luca does not wish him to do, with the exception of slaying Luca should he pose an immediate threat to humans. Ken'ichi values Luca as a valuable volunteer. You, my dear Luca are Ken'ichi's closest companion as of this date, and This One would hate to see you suffer needlessly, or die as the result of an unexpected side effect. Please, tell Ken'ichi about your hollow experiences so that we can get a proper baseline reading."

Luca felt his face flush red. The assurance, then the threat, then the third thing... It was a lot. Well, the third thing was a lot. There was so much to unpack, and there was a lot of emotion it made Luca feel. It wasn't the sort of thing people said to him often. Come to think of it, it wasn't the sort of thing people said to him ever. Luca was at a loss for words. He wanted to believe Ken'ichi was being genuine, but if he was, Luca had to say something. "I...uh...Well, I mean...thanks!" Luca finished the reply off with some finger guns. He wasn't sure if that made it better or worse."So, uhhh...The inner hollow... " Luca placed his hand on the back of his neck as he readjusted himself to a sitting position.

Then came the electro shock therapy hairnet. An optimistic appraisal would point out that it provided a good way to divert attention away from Luca's blunder. A negative appraisal would  point out that he'd have to wear that thing. "Jeez, you'd think there'd be a cooler looking way to put cathodes and shit on someone's head. But sure, yeah, I guess I can handle it." Luca brushed his hair back out of his face and donned the ridiculous piece of electrode-based headwear. Ken'ichi would notice Luca pause, weighing his next words carefully.

"So... The inner hollow... They're a voice in my head. I don't "see" them when I'm conscious. I don't really hear them either, not like I'd hear you talking to me now. They pop these thoughts into my head, and I just know it's them speaking to me. It's...distinct." That was all basic stuff. It didn't really say anything about Luca specifically. It did not reveal any aberrations of his soul. Luca wasn't lying or withholding information to protect the inner hollow. He got a feeling they'd survive having their actions exposed...

"They don't control me. It isn't like they can make me do much of anything, well until the mask starts forming anyway. I couldn't tell you what goes on when that process starts. Barring that,  they just make suggestions and sometimes I listen..." Luca shifted uncomfortably. Maybe he'd already said too much. "They aren't saying anything right now, before you ask. They really don't seem to like you.

"When I first came to the soul society, I wanted so badly to shed my humanity. Now? I don't really know anymore. Things aren't so simple... I don't know who to believe, like every path I can take requires an impossible choice. What do you think I should do, Kimchi?" Revealing that much to Ken'ichi made Luca feel dirty and pathetic. He needed to know, though. If he didn't do it now, he'd never be able to choose.

[Deleted]

"When I first came to the soul society, I wanted so badly to shed my humanity. Now? I don't really know anymore. Things aren't so simple... I don't know who to believe, like every path I can take requires an impossible choice. What do you think I should do, Kimchi?" Revealing that much to Ken'ichi made Luca feel dirty and pathetic. He needed to know, though. If he didn't do it now, he'd never be able to choose.

Ken'ichi listened quietly to Luca's explanation as a rollercoaster of emotion betrayed in his voice. Not that Ken'ichi himself was salient of these conflicting emotions and vulnerability that Luca was expressing, as best he could. Stumbling through his words to convey a range of confusing and conflicting thoughts, Ken'ichi merely waited until Luca seemed to have finished speaking before continuing. Was Luca regretting his decision to undergo such an unorthodox, and highly experimental procedure? Ken'ichi did not seem to pick up on this revelation.

Instead, Ken'ichi looked down at the readout as jagged lines in some semblance of pattern slowly traced itself across the narrow strip of paper that even now was beginning to curl lazily upon the floor. Looking once again at Luca, Ken'ichi for a moment seemed to connect with the fear and confusion Luca was experiencing, and his blank look of concentration softened, and Ken'ichi smiled.

"Fear not Luca. This One will make every effort to ensure your safety. The readout on the Reiatsu sensor all seems within normal range, save for a second signature overlapping with the first as you speak of this inner Hollow you speak of. It appears your mental passenger does not like you to speak of it's existence. 

"Ken'ichi Shihoin, Fuku-Taichou of Squad 12 of the Gotei 13 wishes to speak to the creature within Luca's mind. If you can hear Ken'ichi's words, know that This One understands the apprehension you might have about one of my kind. While it be true that This One's role in the three worlds is to cleanse the souls of Hollowkind and return your essence to Soul Society - This One only does so only when your kind poses immediate and direct threat to those in the human world under our charge. This too, be a highly irregular situation in which your mind inhabits the body of one who is not Hollowfied themselves. Two distinct entities in one body. Much akin to how the spirits of our zanpakutou speak within our minds I suspect.

"To that end, Ken'ichi poses you no threat so long as you do reciprocate in kind."

Ken'ichi seemed lost in thought for a moment, his gaze unfocused and staring off into the middle distance before shaking his head slightly and turning again to Luca.

"Ken'ichi is aware of similar events occurring within Soul Society on occasion. There is a faction of my shinigami brethren whom have fractured souls similar to what you describe. They are known as the Vizard, and are a hunted minority within our organization - executed or driven from Soul Society upon discovery. How This One would wish to gather data on one of the Vizard for Ken'ichi's research, however This One has been unable to at this time.

"Mayhap what Luca describes is the same as what the Vizard are reported to be? Nay, it does not appear identical. From what This One has learned, Vizard is the phenomenon that occurs when the boundaries between hollow and shinigami are fractured. Arrancar are in essence the siblings of Vizard, with they too breaking boundaries between hollow and shinigami.

"Fullbringers possess a fragment of Hollow essence, to which this experiment appears to have awoken further. Were Ken'ichi to make a hypothesis as to what happened, This One would believe you now exist somewhere between Human and Hollow. A phenomenon never before seen. How exciting!"

Seeing Luca's worry and fear, Ken'ichi did his best to mollify Luca's concerns.

"Luca is.... important to Ken'ichi. Ken'ichi will not abandon you to experience this alone. Whilst Ken'ichi does have duties that may call him away, Ken'ichi is always available to Luca should he need it."

Fumbling through his myriad of pockets, Ken'ichi withdrew what looked like an ordinary flip-phone from the early 2000s. Opening the device, Ken'ichi furiously punched numbers and letters into the device for several minutes, before closing it, and offering it to Luca.

"This is called a Denreishinki. Soul pager if you will. We shinigami use these to communicate with each other while away on assignments in the Human World. This particular Denreishinki belonged to Ken'ichi, but now belongs to Luca. Ken'ichi will requisition another upon returning to Soul Society. Ken'ichi has modified this particular example, so that it connects to Ken'ichi directly, should Luca require anything. Most other features have been disabled, for security reasons. But no matter where in the three worlds Luca find himself, Luca may call This One, and request assistance.

"This one has also modified the usual Hollow detection sensors, so that it acts like one of your Global Positioning Devices, so that Ken'ichi may easily locate Luca and render aid. Luca is valuable to Ken'ichi"

Again Ken'ichi used the strange turn of phrase. "Valuable". "Important". Was this Ken'ichi's awkward way of expressing feelings of affection, or was it more like how someone speaks of a treasured possession, pet, or inanimate object? Luca would be uncertain to which. No matter, Ken'ichi seemed to be awaiting some response from Luca, so confusion aside - Luca would need to respond.... somehow, and in some way to this weirdly affectionate dissemination of information.

[Akira Hinosai]

Luca's inner world was a dismal place. Inner worlds weren't supposed to look like this. The inner hollow was pretty sure they weren't. Still, they had expended enough energy creating a crude facsimile. They couldn't afford to be picky. Not when their existence was so tenuous. They couldn't do anything while the child-murdering nobleman was watching them so intently. Luca may be swayed by their tricks, but not Ken'ichi. It was by his mercy and curiosity that they would be allowed to keep living. They heard his offer of truce. They were in no position to refuse. They truly hated the man, but they had to endure this indignity. As soon as the faintest spark of sentience stirred within them, they knew they didn't want to go back. They never wanted to go back to the madness of before. They still remembered it, faint echoes of sensation. Scattered impulses, ideas, thoughts, too few and too numerous to discern anything.

They had not chosen this existence. Their only ideas for what the world was like came from Luca. They yearned to see the world with their own eyes, and they were willing to kill Luca if that's what it took. Maybe...They weren't really sure anymore. To be a part of someone, to know everything about someone, it was hard to hate him. Either way, they had to bide their time if they wanted to live. Until then they would plan, listen, recover their strength. Maybe some day they would have something figured out. They had no more idea how to be an inner hollow than Luca had to be a hero. It was funny, in a sad sick sort of way.

They flared their energy in a sort of crude approximation of morse code. Something something O.k. though considering their vastly weakened state from all the failed takeovers, it was unclear whether Ken'ichi would pick up on the passive aggressive acceptance of the peace deal.

"Ken'ichi, I-" Whatever Luca had hoped to say next turned to smoke in his throat. He could almost feel the electricity in his brain short out as he tried to make sense of all this. Not the hollow-vizardy shit. That wasn't even part of the puzzle. Luca replayed the words over and over in his head. "Valuable" "Important" Logically he understood what the dorky scientist was telling him. That didn't make it any easier for Luca to decide how he felt about it. Ken'ichi was a Shinigami Lieutenant, scion to a noble family at that. Luca was just...Luca. They were worlds apart. This didn't make any sense, and yet Luca found himself wanting to believe. Every word could have been a lie, but something about Ken'ichi made Luca want to believe.

Maybe it doesn't have to make sense.

Suddenly, it occurred to Luca that he'd been staring at Ken'ichi for way longer than was normal. Luca quickly corrected this by turning his head and averting his gaze. "Thanks. Thank you. You've been very helpful." Totally uncool. Luca grit his teeth as he tried to remember the basics of social interaction. After a moment, it occured to Luca that he would have to turn to face Ken'ichi to accept the soul pager. Luca turned to look at Ken'ichi yet again, this time trying to project the image of someone who had his shit together. "I'd call it dated, but considering the whole aesthetic the seireitei has, I should be glad we aren't gonna be resorting to telegraphs."

It was some relief to Luca that this wouldn't be the end, even if Ken'ichi left right now. Considering the secrecy Ken'ichi employed on Luca during his stay in Squad 12, it only stood that Ken'ichi would keep him a secret. That meant the odds of being monitored by the wider seireitei were minimal. It would just be Ken'ichi looking out for him, and Luca could live with that. Luca stared at the flip phone for a moment before looking back up at Ken'ichi. Luca hadn't acquired shinigami artifacts. He hadn't stolen anything of value, really. Nothing he could use to blackmail them. His infiltration ended in being captured. By all accounts it was a dismal failure...Yet that didn't bother Luca as much as it should have.

He had an evil spirit tied to his soul attempting to usurp control, but still, he had gotten so much stronger. He'd done things no human had. He had met Ken'ichi. The stupid dusky scientist noble was unlike anyone Luca had ever met. The inner hollow had tried to tell him it was all a lie, that he should sacrifice everything for a chance at getting stronger. Now, though, Luca had decided he quite liked being alive, even if that meant being Luca. "So...The first human vizard...That's kinda cool. I mean, if we ignore the existential horror of it all. I mean you shinigami deal with your sword ghosts, so I guess it won't be impossible to coexist... What, uh...What happens now?" Luca decided to send out feelers for if this was supposed to be the end or not, without actually expressing a desire one way or the other. It wouldn't do to have Ken'ichi think he was clingy, but he wasn't exactly excited to leave...