Tales of Seireitei: Celes & Kimiko [Social]

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Kimiko always believed prior to her eventual recruitment into the Gotei 13 that any military organizations must, in essence, function as such. Higher officers must speak to one another on an at least bi-daily basis so as to make sure they can figure out their tasks and schedules and what-not, and lower officers must obey them to a degree. In other words, all of those officers must uphold some level of respect and camaraderie to each other so as to make sure the organization's flow - and consequently, the quality of its operations - remains at a reasonable level. Since the Gotei 13 is a military organization on a fundamental level, she thus believed that this respect would be assured in some way or another. Well, at least assured like how her own country of origin's army tended to assure it from an outsider's point of view. Even someone like her who literally had no wish to join the Japanese Self-Defense Forces had to admit that they looked very professional.

However, judging by Celes' own apparent history and how it was rather clear that a few Captains barely even attempt to communicate with the rest of their peers, the Third Seat was having a harder and harder time in believing in those notions. Unresponsive Vice-Captains, absent Captains, a Captain-Commander who barely interacted with anyone unless in a time of crisis... and that was not even mentioning whatever is above him. Obviously, neither Kimiko or Celes were going to meet all of those people face-to-face, but it definitely wasn't normal for them both to not even have met a few of these people. It just made the Gotei 13 disorderly and shockingly disorganized, which was rather worrisome considering that the organization was supposed to be made of the strongest people the Soul Society can send to protect the living and the dead from the forces of Hueco Mundo. It was made even more ridiculous by the fact that she, of all people, was noticing this. Yes, she, a member of the Eleventh Division. It would be comical if it wasn't so frustrating.

In a way, she knew that she shouldn't really get that much frustrated about such things. Though the Gotei 13 is indeed a military organization, it isn't really an army per say; rather, it is more so a collection of guardians. As the Captains have showcased so well over the course of years Kimiko has passed within the organization, the hierarchy and the ranks are both only there to keep people in line. That wasn't to say that all Captains were guilty of this; after all, Celes was quite the responsible woman, and so was Kyomei even if his magical skills certify his lameness until the end of times. However, the one individual that was currently on the forefront of this subject was perhaps the best personification of this problem. "Well, at least Tsukuyomi is there..." she said in an attempt to better position the Vice-Captain against the other person she was supposed to serve under. She couldn't hide her criticism of the man's attitude anymore. "I prefer that over someone who doesn't even bother showing up from time to time."

The two women would fortunately not dawdle on the subject for much longer, as soon enough, they would speak of Wynne. Kimiko was very glad to see that Celes shared the enthusiasm that she herself had for this new apprenticeship. It was enough to make her quietly chuckle along with her mentor. "Even if I try to do something like that, It's gonna take a while for me to surpass you." Her reply would hold a very honest tone as she spoke it out directly to Celes. It was clear that she still very much appreciated what the Captain has done for her over the time they have spent together while she was at the Academy, enough so that just recalling her own position as her friend's disciple was enough to make her smile softly. It was also clear that she was putting her teachings on a pedestal and that she was being inspired by them. If they can shape her into the warrior that she is now, then naturally, they will be able to shape Wynne as well.

But as they spoke, the dual swordswoman would grow quiet as Celes would turn towards her and actually admit something that quite sentimental. Hearing them would briefly stun her, as though she wasn't exactly sure of what she was supposed to say in return. It wasn't the first time she had heard something in the same vein from the Captain, and it has always been pretty obvious that her mentor treated her as being quite close to her, but hearing them now in a place like this was harder for Kimiko to take in than usual. Maybe it was because she hadn't heard something like that from her friend in a while, or maybe it was because she wasn't expecting to hear it here amidst the steam of the sauna, but it was making her feel somewhat... embarrassed? She wasn't quite sure, but it was something close to that. "... I... uh..." she stammered for a moment, struck by a moment of awkwardness in what appeared to be the worst of times, then quieted down with a blush. "Yeah... Same..." 

A few seconds of silence would pass before they would go on to speak of something else, which was a turn of events that Kimiko felt quite thankful for. She couldn't bear the terribleness of her lacking social skills in that moment any more so than it had gone on. Unfortunately, she couldn't really say that what they spoke of next was much more pleasant in comparison. Tsukuyomi's matters visibly bothered Celes, and the comment that she then made about nobles made her stance about them clear. Kimiko was glad to see that they shared a similar view, at the very least. "It's fine... Everyone in the Eleventh more or less think that anyway, even when Tsukuyomi's around." She would let out a brief sigh as the steam was pushed quietly away from her mouth, positioning herself differently on the bench as she would do so by putting her left leg over her right leg, then pressing her back against the wall behind them. "I don't know much about the nobles here, but... a bunch of them are definitely assholes. Kawada, Kuchiki, Shihōin... It feels like the most of them don't care about anyone but themselves." 

Perhaps her opinion was a bit heavy, and in truth, it was. However, she didn't mind speaking them to Celes. Although it was indeed true that there are nobles that she can trust, there are others that she'd rather prefer to never meet again. She could still remember how much disdain Sakura - the very first person that she has met in the Soul Society after she was assigned to a home in Rukongai - showed to her after they spoke that one day she had been brought by Siegfried to the Academy for an event. Back then, when she had first met her and the girl held the Ito name, Kimiko thought that they had a lot in common. They both had an interest in books and fighting, and on top of that, she was very kind. In a way, her past self reminded her of Celes. However, this Kuchiki Sakura she has met during that event might as well have been a completely different person. She had become so terribly arrogant, so overly-confident and full of herself, that it scared Kimiko. She couldn't believe what the time in that clan had done to her, and now that she has witnessed it first hand, her opinion of nobles has lessened significantly.

The subject would go on to change once more in this dynamic conversation. This time, the subject tackled was admittedly a bit more lighthearted at a first glance. In fact, it surprised Kimiko. Ironically, she had never really thought about becoming a Captain before. It wasn't that surprising; after all, in her mind, an officer can't become a Captain without having achieved Bankai once. She herself has never actually done such a thing yet, and so she didn't think it would make sense for her to be considered a potential candidate for now. However, even if she does unlock it... On one hand, she had to admit that hearing Celes would attempt to get her the position of Captain of one of the squads was a very flattering thing to hear from her. Moreover, she has already shown the ability to lead others before, and it would potentially allow her to teach more people how to use the blade. On the other hand... it meant that greater expectations would be set onto her, not to mention that she would also receive huge amounts of paperwork. Just imagining it was starting to make her a bit depressed.

There was also the matter of whatever was inside of her. The nightmares and the being that resides within them still haunt her at every occasion, and she isn't sure a Captain experiencing such things would be well-suited for the job. For all she knows, the stress of her new position is somehow going to make them worse, and if they do, Taishokukane will most likely treat her even harsher. The more she thought about it, the more hesitant her gaze would become. Her eyes would become tired again, losing their previous shine until she would eventually let out a sigh.  "I don't know," she would mumble with a rub of the back of her head, unsure of what to think about the matter before she would attempt to show a smile to Celes, as though she was trying to hide her tiredness. Unfortunately, by that point, the Captain would already be able to realize she wasn't going as well as she thought she was. "Maybe once Shizukakane decides to let me use my Bankai, I'll think about it."

[Celes Castellanos]

"Even if I try to do something like that, It's gonna take a while for me to surpass you." A brief smile touched the Captain's lips as the her disciple made the comment about their gap in strength. While she found it to be flattering, Celes also believed that Kimiko was being modest about her own abilities. Sure, it had been a while since the two of them trained in more one-on-one sessions, but the Captain knew her disciple well. She had tried to keep a close eye on her achievements though Celes knew that she had partially failed in that effort. Regardless, she understood that Kimiko was no slouch in combat. A little immature and hotheaded, but Celes knew herself to also share those traits at such a young age.

The nature of their conversation changed again and again as Kimiko made her thoughts about Tsukuyomi and nobility clear. "I don't know much about the nobles here, but... a bunch of them are definitely assholes. Kawada, Kuchiki, Shihōin... It feels like the most of them don't care about anyone but themselves." Celes had her fair share of bad run-ins with the "upper class" and this had soon led her to begin resenting them. Regardless, Kimiko's points were valid. Though Celes had found a pleasant surprise in the Vice-Captain, Kaen. A member of the Youji family. Despite his status, Celes actually liked Kaen fairly well. The Vice-Captain had chosen to listen to her and offer her comfort over Camila's death and Celes had even gone so far to entrust Kaen with her future...very possibly her life. Either Kaen was different or it was because his family did not stand among the great Shinobi noble households. Celes really was not sure, but it didn't matter. He had done well in her book. 

Among all that they had talked about so far, Celes knew that the next few moments would be among the most influential. While the Eleventh Division had Tsukuyomi who was a Vice Captain, she still felt that the group was...aimless. Celes tried to assist wherever she could, but for as much as she preached the kinship she feels with the Eleventh, it was still not her Division. It was not hers to run. The Tenth belonged to her and she had her hands full with it at times. Someone needed to lead. Someone needed to step up just like how she did with the Tenth Division. In her heart, Celes knew that Kimiko could be the one to do it. Besides, it would teach her much about responsibility and the Captain believed that it could even help her practice temperance. Unfortunately it would be this very aspect that seemed to scare the Third Seat away. Celes could see it clearly. She was unsure. Furthermore, she'd confirm it. "I don't know," Celes sat there and listened, her smile unwavering.

"Maybe once Shizukakane decides to let me use my Bankai, I'll think about it." Celes narrowed her eyes for a moment. Their conversation had truly flourished and perhaps now it was time to bring up something that concerned the Captain. Something that she did not want to bring up until she felt that it would create as little backlash as possible. She'd bite her lip as she spoke, her voice somewhat low. "Shizukakane. Your Zanpakutou Spirit if I'm not mistaken..." Celes tilted her head for a moment, tapping her own arm as she pondered. "More specifically...one of a pair. Am I correct in that assumption?" Assuming that Kimiko confirmed this, Celes would nod once more. 

Celes knew that this conversation would likely be a little harder for Kimiko. After all, she had shown distress already. Anger. Her relationship with this other Spirit was disharmonious. It was not unlike how Yunorashi and Celes had trouble harmonizing due to Yukito's influence. Perhaps something similar would be the case for Kimiko? "If you truly possess two Zanpakutou spirits...then one might not be enough to achieve Bankai. It may be necesarry to harmonize with both. Yet..." Celes looked at Kimiko, a small frown forming on her lips. "What exactly have you and second Zanpakutou Spirit done? Based on your descriptions, it appears that you bump heads alot. Have they harmed you in any way, Kimiko...?" It'd be tough, but something deep down told Celes that they needed to talk about this. She'd try to approach it as carefully as possible, but she also needed to be assertive. She'd carefully lean back a little as the steam rose, her eyes still upon Kimiko amidst the sizzling sounds.

[Nakajima Kimiko]

As much as Kimiko attempted to remain happy enough in front of Celes to not make her worry about what was going on in her life, even she knew that it was only a matter of time before the Captain would start asking questions. Although she is able to lie to an extent and can fake a semblance of well-being before others, the tole that the nightmares have had on her ever since they began to become more fearsome and painful. Even now, despite being in this place of peace and tranquility, she could still recall the vague silhouette of the being within them mocking the malnourished self she had become in one of the dreams. She could still remember the kicking, the grinning, the arrogant bantering, and it wielding Shizukakane as a form of mockery. She wanted to admit that she could live with that imagery without being bothered... but that was a lie. Just thinking about it now was almost enough to cause her right hand to tightly grip the bench and not let go.

But the figure wasn't the most bothersome thing she has had to deal with lately. It wasn't what drained her of her energy and only left behind great anger and frustration. That honor would go to the second Zanpakuto spirit she has had the displeasure to recently bring forth, the silver shade who haunts the forest which was just recently born within her Inner World. Like the nightmares, she didn't want to bring him up to Celes either. Given that he was like Shizukakane and therefore a part of herself manifested into another being, she thought that it ultimately was her responsibility to fix that problem somehow without requiring the aid of others. She was a member of the Eleventh Division, a person whose expertise lies within blades, and so the duty of handling her own blades is intrinsically one of the main duties she must accomplish. However, the Captain's interest in the matter left her somewhat open and vulnerable. Better yet, it almost left her a little bit hopeful.

She very much doubted that she would get any good answers from her, as every subjects regarding Zanpakuto blades tend to be complicated and extremely personal. Though the Captain has always had good intentions, she never really was able to reach her very well in previous times of need, and so the answers that she gave often rang hollow to Kimiko. For instance, back when she was still at the Academy, she tried to bring her worries to Celes about her lack of care for that tour guide's death during one of their training sessions, and the Captain missed the mark, instead going on about the responsibility of Shinigami and what-not. At another time, she showed that terribly-excited part of herself to both Celes and Yunorashi when she was having a spar with the latter, and it was brushed away like it was nothing much to worry about. Hell, she didn't even say anything to her back then during the last invasion, and that was arguably when her excitement had brought her to her lowest point yet.

Even so, despite all of her mentor's misses, she still thought that she could at least get some relief from whatever she will say about her current predicament. She still hoped that the Captain could somehow bring her out of that pit she somehow has dug for herself. So, when the subject of her Zanpakuto were finally about to be tackled proper, she would let out a sigh and ready herself for the conversation to come. "Yeah... Shizukakane is my original Zanpakuto... He's the one in the white sword. I... He's really not the one I have any problems with right now. I don't think I ever will have problems with him," she said somewhat slowly, hesitantly, confirming Celes' assumption as the fake smile that she had been trying to sport before her friend would dissipate rather rapidly. As she spoke, her posture grew slightly more tense, and her gaze quietly descended from the ceiling towards the floor. "It's the one in the black sword that bothers me... Taishokukane..."  

She would let Celes speak then, letting her figure things out on her own to a degree as she somewhat always appears to do whenever they're talking about problems like this. Kimiko had to admit that there was truth in what she was talking about, and she appreciated her worry about her well-being... but the Bankai talk was not that relevant in this conversation. It wasn't the Shinigami's focus and she didn't really want to talk about that specifically. If anything, now that they were visibly going to talk about about what has been bothering her, how she was going to get her Bankai was really the least of her concerns. "He... How do I explain this...?" She would let out yet another sigh as she would attempt to find a way to voice her opinion of the spirit, though this time, it was one of frustration. It was getting progressively clearer that the more they were tackling this subject, the more annoyed she was becoming. "He... He's just..."

This inability to express herself would go on for a bit longer, and as it went on, her gaze would become darker. The steam which surrounded her would be slightly pressed down as her spiritual energy lightly rose, and her posture became tenser, more angry. Eventually, she would frown and finally let her true feelings pour out. "He's a piece of shit. All he does whenever I'm with him is push me to train. That's all we do. We train, we spar, we just do it non-stop until I can't take it anymore... and once we're done, he always thinks I haven't done enough and that I'm weaker than "her", whoever the hell that's supposed to be." Her words were shamelessly cold, almost uncharacteristically so. They were rough and insulting, more so than any other words Kimiko has spoken to Celes during their many conversations they have had thus far, and the more she spoke them, the colder it felt around her. "He's... not... He's not fair either! He always fights like a dishonorable bitch! He attacks me from behind, tries to ambush me whenever he can, and he... he's just...!"

By that point, her visage had been twisted into one of anger and hate. Her eyes had started growing wide, and her teeth were starting to be visible, clenched against one another in deep frustration. Celes would almost recognize this face, or well, she would at least recognize the cold that stemmed from it, for they were both elements Kimiko had shown during the last invasion. For a moment, it almost seemed as though the Third Seat was going to explode even further. However, eventually, she would realize she was being overtly emotional and so would force herself to calm down via a deep breath. The darkness would leave, the cold would cease, and her expression would instead simply take the form of a frustrated frown. "I'm sorry, Celes, I just... I just really hate him. I really do."

[Celes Castellanos]

As the two Shinigami sat in momentary silence, Celes was preparing herself to hear her student out. Whatever ailed her, the Captain would try to offer not only comfort, but also advice. That is, if she could even understand what Kimiko was going through. She seemed distraught. Soon, it'd poor out. The name of her second Zanpakutou Spirit. "Yeah... Shizukakane is my original Zanpakuto... He's the one in the white sword. I... He's really not the one I have any problems with right now. I don't think I ever will have problems with him," Celes nodded her head, not saying a word and allowing Kimiko time to collect her thoughts. "It's the one in the black sword that bothers me... Taishokukane..."

Celes' eyes narrowed for a moment as she looked at Kimiko. Kimiko had spelled it out for her rather well already, but Celes truly wondered why this Taishohukane was giving her student so much trouble. She knew that Zanpakutou Spirits need not agree with their Shinigami partner. Hell, they need not even respond to them at times. They were a living spirit. They had their own views on the world, but ultimately a Shinigami had to recognize their differences. This is how Shikai worked. Harmonization between Spirit and Soul Reaper. Yet it seemed that the relationship between the two had become strained. As Kimiko's demeanor deteriorated, Celes' growing concern for her became visible. "He... How do I explain this...?" Soon Kimiko's expression seemed to be marred by anger. Frustration. "He... He's just..."

It had finally reached the boiling point. Celes recognized an outburst when she saw one. Camila had gone through them many times. Kimiko's growing pressure started to press down the steam that initially swirled around her until she began speaking her mind. "He's a piece of shit. All he does whenever I'm with him is push me to train. That's all we do. We train, we spar, we just do it non-stop until I can't take it anymore... and once we're done, he always thinks I haven't done enough and that I'm weaker than "her", whoever the hell that's supposed to be." Celes paused for a moment, the mention of "her" catching her interest. She'd narrow her eyes as she pondered for a moment. "Her? This Zanpakutou Spirit is pushing Kimiko to be stronger than someone else? Just who though..." Celes bit her lip very gently as she'd listen, the conversation growing very uneasy in tone as Kimiko's expression starting to twist to anger and hatred. "He's... not... He's not fair either! He always fights like a dishonorable bitch! He attacks me from behind, tries to ambush me whenever he can, and he... he's just...!" It all crescendo'd before finally dying down. No longer would she appear angry. Merely frustrated. She seemed exhausted. "I'm sorry, Celes, I just... I just really hate him. I really do."

There it was. Kimiko's opinion on this Zanpakutou Spirit. Saying that they were negative would be an understatement. Kimiko loathed this Spirit unlike her first which based on her initial tone she had a sense of respect for. This one, however, was entirely different. He lacked honor. He pushed her too far in Kimiko's mind. Despite that all that they had talked about, Celes could strangely relate to this. Her own experiences were at times less than ideal. The Inner Hollow that lurked with her, Yukito. How he had brutalized Yunorashi. How he hated her positive spirit. Rarely, if ever, praised her character. It was completely unlike the warmth that Yunorashi provided her. It seemed that this was very similar to how Kimiko felt and yet... Taishokukane was a Zanpakutou Spirit. Yukito was an Inner Hollow. Yukito leeched off of her pain and misery in an attempt to use Celes like a puppet. 

It was so much to consider. So much to discuss. Something else required her more immediate attention. Kimiko seemed defeated. Broken. Celes couldn't just sit there. She rose to her feet and walked over to Kimiko. As she sat down next to her, staring into her disciple's eyes, she grabbed her hand and held it tight. She then spoke in a sympathetic tone, trying to be as understanding as she could muster. "Don't ever be sorry about this. It is your right to feel conflicted. I've to admit that...I wish I knew a definitive way to help. If I did then we'd hop to it right away! Unfortunately, I'm a little lost too." Celes spoke softly and carefully as to not make Kimiko feel like she was at fault. It seemed that there was something more to this. Something that her Zanpakutou Spirit was pushing her to do. Something that he knew that she didn't. Just what was it?! Celes didn't know and it infuriated her. 

She'd sigh, still holding the Shinigami's hand to comfort her. "Do I tell her? Would it make her feel better if she knew that she was not alone? That someone, in a way, understood?" Celes was not sure. She told Kaen, but those circumstances were different. Kaen already knew about Camila's malady. She knew she could trust Kimiko, but...how would she react? Celes bit her lip and nodded her head for a moment. She looked back at Kimiko, no longer obviously lost in thought. "While I'm not sure what we can do, I can promise you that you aren't alone... I've been...having some strange problems myself. Someone, who like Taishokukane haunts me and wishes me harm." Celes sighed for a moment, her grip on Kimiko getting a little stronger. It wouldn't be painful, but it would not nearly be as comforting as the Captain grew angry. "He hurt Yunorashi. Brutalized her when I wasn't performing to his expectations. A two-faced bastard who cares only about himself!" 

At this point, Celes would put more strength into her grip before she caught herself. She'd quickly let go of Kimiko's hand, a bit of a guilty look on her face. "I'm...I'm sorry. My anger got the better of me..." She looked at the floor for a moment before closing her eyes to recollect herself. "One thing at a time..." She'd mutter softly. "You mentioned that he pushes you and is dissatisfied because you are allegedly weaker than someone to whom he refers to as "her". Do you have any idea who this is? Maybe it will help get to the bottom of why he sounds like he pushes you so hard. I'm not saying that his methods or attitude are right, but...it may be worth exploring the why." Celes truly was at a loss. Perhaps she could help more if Kimiko had more to work with. No matter what, Celes wanted to help her disciple get through this. Through any means necesarry.

[Nakajima Kimiko]

As she finished her outburst, Kimiko would maintain her gaze away from Celes and have it aimed towards the floor in silence. The positiveness of the sanctuary, the soothing of the steam which surrounded them both, and the relaxation that they have both granted to her were all gone. Instead, they were replaced by everything that she had sought to eliminate by coming here to this place with the Captain. The anger, the frustration, the hatred, the tiredness... Once again, she could feel their dark hands grasp at her mind, body and soul, and it felt terrible. But of course, now that she had spoken in such a way, it wasn't just them that were now piling their weight on top of her weakened shoulders. There was a new feeling that had burst forth from their wretched hide, another negative emotion to add to to the pile right beside the ones filled with the many questions that are still haunting her to this very day. That emotion was guilt. 

She knew it was unlike her to speak in such a way, that she typically doesn't talk with such bile in her voice. Usually, she always tries to appear calm and rational in a conversation, or at least to the best of her abilities. The most terrible of obscenities would be avoided, and the contempt she holds for a few will be kept at bay. The way she spoke of the nobles they discussed earlier were a testament to that. And yet, here, she became the radical opposite of the image that she had constructed around herself. Worse, she revealed this side of herself right in front of the person that she trusted most right after Shizukakane, the one being that has always seen her as this quiet and reserved student of the Academy. It was one thing to express her opinion a bit loudly with the people of the Eleventh Division who are themselves brasher and more emotional, as they themselves somewhat shaped her to become similar to them. Even she was aware of that. It was another thing entirely to do so in front of someone who she considered to be her dearest friend.

In so doing, for a moment, the swordswoman felt as though she had taken a step too far in the wrong direction. She had thought that, in her outburst, she inadvertently scared Celes and she would now see her as a different person than she really was. It was hard not to blame her for feeling this way; after all, the darkened energy that she had expelled from her body still lingered in the colder air. Not even the bench she sat upon was truly spared from it, as it now sported a crack or two left from the weight of her spiritual pressure. Even if the Captain was... well, a Captain, seeing such spiritual power affect her surroundings could have easily branded her as a potential enemy in the eyes of other officers of the law. Hell, some of the people in Squad 12 might have even been interested in studying her energy so as to perhaps find why it was so dark to begin with... though then again, that studying would most likely take the form of dissecting.

Fortunately for her, Celes did not actually react negatively to the lower officer's outburst. In fact, her reaction was not negative at all. She approached Kimiko, held her hand, and basically told her that expressing her feelings in such a way was not a bad thing in the slightest and that she shouldn't feel terrible about it. To this, though, the Third Seat simply stared back quietly with a tired gaze without muttering a single word. She didn't dislike what the Captain was trying to convey to her, and in a way, she had been expecting her to react this way. Motherliness was, after all, one of her mentor's main traits, and so Kimiko was not going to blame her for reacting in such a way to her woes. However, at the same time, it didn't feel like it was enough. There was no answer to be taken from her words, no solution. If anything, all they did was just assert the problem as being genuinely hurtful, which in turn ironically just made it more hurtful than it already was. In a way, it was worse than a negative response. At least, if it would have been negative, she would have gotten more than just blind acceptance.

But then, just as the dual swordswoman was about to find a sort of response to Celes, something unexpected happened. All so suddenly, seemingly completely out of the blue, the Captain started talking about someone. Kimiko was at first confused, concerned yet confused as to what this had to do with anything, but as it went on... her confusion would turn into shock. Even as her friend's hand would squeeze hard around hers, the Third Seat would stare at her with widening eyes as she spoke about the being. A being who resembled Taishokukane that hurt Yunorashi somehow and treated both her and Celes like trash. A being who, therefore, resided within the Inner World. "W... What?" She would mutter as she took all of the information in and the pile of questions would become greater once again. Did Celes have a second spirit within her Zanpakuto? Has he - for he was definitely a man, judging by how Celes referred to him - always been there? If so, how come she has not seen him while they were both in the Captain' Inner World?

The higher officer attempted to change the subject to a degree, have it pivot away from that being and instead towards the person Taishokukane was so obsessed about. Given how hurtful that being seemed to be and how angry the Captain was at the mere mention of him, it was not at all surprising that she didn't want to talk about him. However, now that Kimiko was told about his existence, she couldn't help but feel as though she had gotten the portion of an answer that she had been searching for regarding her nightmares, or more specifically, the being that resides within them. Whoever he was, there was a possibility that he was somehow related to that being in a certain way. They both apparently had decided to torment the Shinigami, and they both appeared to be unnatural in one way or another, so it would make sense for them to be of a similar origin, right? If Kimiko can find out about what that being is supposed to be, maybe she could find a way to put a definitive end to the nightmares for good. 

With this hope in mind, the scarlet-eyed woman would at least attempt to answer Celes' questions with a slightly better mood compared to before. Despite the fact that she was still visibly tired and exhausted from all the challenges she has had lately, the little bit of selfish hope she gained from her Captain's own troubles was enough to push her forward. "I... I don't know who she is... He keeps talking about her, but I've never seen her... He hasn't even told me how she looks like," she answered somewhat hesitantly as she tried to muster probable answers out of herself. "Though... there is one person that I think he is talking about. I've been having a lot of nightmares for a while now... and every now and then, there would be this... thing inside of them." Her hesitation grew as she became slightly more open about her issues, but with a deep frown, she held on. "I don't know how she looks like, really... She's always blurry, but... she always says awful things and hurts me..."

[Celes Castellanos]

Talking about how Yunorashi was tormented by Yukito was something that enraged the Shinigami. She held Yunorashi very near and dear to her heart. To have someone threaten that safety was likely to piss of the Captain if not send her into a rage. That's exactly what happened in that scenario, but as Celes thought about it, that's exactly what Yukito wanted. He wanted her to lose control. To give into her instincts. To finally fight as if her or another's life was on the line. It's the one thing that Yukito loathed about Celes. Her attitude when it came to fighting. She treated it all like a game. An avenue to make companions. It would be the one thing that would always keep them at odds.

As her grip grew stronger and she finally recognized how she was treating Kimiko's hand, Celes withdrew and looked at her disciple. She looked worried. Concern was plastered all over her expression and was punctuated with worry. "W... What?" Any other time Celes would have been more open to talk it over with Kimiko. Just as she tried to show the Third Seat that she could trust the Captain so did Celes try to trust Kimiko, but she did not feel that this moment was the right time. After all, Kimiko had expressed her concerns first. The only reason that Celes put hers out was to try and show the Third Seat that she was not alone. Something inside of Celes hoped that this was the case as she began to switch subjects to the mysterious figure that was briefly mentioned by Kimiko.

Recovering from talking about her experience with Yukito, Celes would listen carefully to Kimiko as she spoke about what she knew of this woman. "I... I don't know who she is... He keeps talking about her, but I've never seen her... He hasn't even told me how she looks like," She simply nodded, taking in any information that Kimiko shared with her. Among all of it though, the next comment would be the one to shake her the most. "Though... there is one person that I think he is talking about. I've been having a lot of nightmares for a while now... and every now and then, there would be this... thing inside of it." She blinked as her eyes widened ever so slightly. Kimiko's movements seemed to slow to a crawl as her thoughts raced. "Nightmares involving this figure...didn't Camila say that her Inner Hollow..err..Albin used to cause nightmares? Yukito has certainly tormented be before as well...Could it be...?"

"... she always says awful things and hurt me..." As Celes returned back to reality, this was the last thing she heard as she stared at Kimiko, somewhat dumfounded. The Captain, realizing how she must be appearing at the moment simply shook her head and reoriented herself. "If this is what I think it is, then this could be bad. What if it-...what if she decides to rampage? Can I stop her?" Celes had an inkling that Kimiko was describing an Inner Hollow. Yet despite her concern, the Captain was at a crossroads. Does she reveal one of many identities that may be associated with this woman? Do she remain vague? Do she simply write it off? All these questions swirled within Celes and she was overwhelmed.

She sighed briefly and took in a quick breath of hot steam. She'd gently bring her finger up to her arm as she thought about how to formulate her next sentence. After a few moments, she'd speak up in a surprisingly stoic voice. She did not wish to invoke unnecessary concern in her disciple even though she believed that they had already crossed that bridge a while ago. Regardless, she had to try. "Listen here Kimiko. I think that our problems may be of a similar nature. I'm not sure how, but they may be linked somehow.." A half-truth. Celes had a pretty good idea of what was ailing Kimiko. In fact, she was fairly sure based on the description, but she needed a surefire way to tell. More than that, there was also the problem with her second Zanpakutou Spirit...

Moving away from the stoicism, Celes would return to her regular demeanor as she looked up. "Excuse my pondering... I just didn't think that we had so similar an issue..." Celes sighed for a moment, leaning back into bench, enjoying the rising steam for yet another moment. "For now, I'd say that we finish that we came here to enjoy." She'd smile for a moment, getting herself comfortable. "We can always tackle this situation after and unnecessary stress is likely to make us act irrationally..." As Celes continued leaning into the bench, she would remain largely quiet for the rest of the time in the Sauna. She had much on her mind after all and she was sure that Kimiko felt the same way. 

As time seemed to pass faster with the self-imposed silence by Celes, the pair would likely start hearing a knocking on the door. Rising to her feet, Celes would open the translucent door and be greeted by both the comparatively cold chill of the air outside of the sauna and the familiar woman who was the member of the staff that had corresponded with them all this time. "Ladies. Your time in the Sauna has expired. Please follow me so you may be taken to the last activity of your package~" She'd smile, speaking in a somewhat singy-song voice. She was obviously excited to introduce the ladies to the meals that would be presented. Assuming that Kimiko also left the Sauna, the two Shinigami would be lead to an impressive hall.

Numerous tables and pairs of chairs sat a comfortable distance apart as the entire hall was surrounded by a glass barrier that gave a beautiful outlook into the garden of The Sancutary. It was just the type of view that reminded the clients of the quality of the spa. As they were presumably sat down, the woman smiled once more. "We have a wonderful selection prepared for you two today. Let me start you off with the main course and a side dish." She'd bow, walking off as Celes continued to sit down quietly. She sighed, still lost in thought. Over the next dozen or so minutes, time seemed to move much faster. Idle conversation among other clients took place at other tables and soon the woman returned with a set of four plates, setting them down before Kimiko and Celes. Before them sat two plates of greens including cabbage, iceberg lettuce and a side of small cherry tomatoes, all covered in a creamy white champagne sauce. The second pair of the two plates contained a wonderfully-prepared slice of veal topped with parsley and surrounded by an assortment of sliced deli meat and fine cheeses.

To top off the wonderful display of culinary art, the woman set down four cups. She filled two of them with a clear mineral water and in the other two, she poured a teal-colored wine. She'd smile and take a step back, admiring the handiwork. "I do hope that you two enjoy. If you have any requests or concerns, do let me know." With that she walked away. Celes looked down at the plates and began to sample each one of her dishes. As she did, the expression on her face was clear. Her expression was more than content. For the first time in almost half an hour, Celes spoke. "This...this is some quality food. Wonderfully prepared!" Without more warning, but still slightly dignified, Celes ate as her expressions responded to the extravagant taste of the meals. 

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The many looks Celes gave to Kimiko as she spoke of the being within her nightmares were making the swordswoman grow progressively more hopeful about what was going on here. Those looks were not just of mere caring concern or plain understanding that the officer had come to expect from the Captain at this point. No, they were looks of astonishment, almost as if Celes hadn't been expecting Kimiko to even speak of such a matter at all. For someone like the dual swordswoman who firmly believed that she was all alone in this matter, this was the greatest thing that has happened to her in a long time. She wasn't quite sure if her mentor had any real solutions to give to her problem just yet, but seeing her react in such a way was most definitely a noteworthy development. It meant that the Captain potentially knew what this was all about, and if she did know about it, then it meant that they could both together find an answer somehow. It would be better to do so rather than alone as she is now.

But just as the officer's hope was about to turn into something more positive, her friend would then suddenly lose all of the warmth she had shown to her thus far. Instantly, the smile would leave and the simple worry would disappear, instead making way for something that was much less expressive. Her eyes lost their usual shine, her features became more firm, and eventually, all emotions would die. In other words, she became completely stoic. What came out of Celes' mouth during this moment was reassuring for Kimiko, as it indeed confirmed that she was going to perhaps accompany the lower officer in the times to come. However, the way the information was delivered deeply unsettled the dual swordswoman, enough so that she found herself briefly recoiling from the mere sight of it. She wasn't used to seeing her mentor act in such a way. Hell, as far as she can recall, she didn't even see her act like this during the zombie invasion. If whatever is haunting them both are enough to bring all emotions within an expressive person like Celes to a standstill...

The Captain would go on to return to her usual self shortly after and proclaim the end of this brief conversation. To put it bluntly, it was something that she didn't want worry about at this point in time. Kimiko was not going to argue about this; after all, they did not come here to speak about serious matters. Rather, they had come here to relax, and besides, she could not have been more thankful to see her friend retreat from her deeply-serious self. That sight was just too unsettling for her to witness for too long. "Uh, yeah... sure," she would simply let out as she would then focus on what they were previously doing upon their entry in the sauna, this time without muttering another word. She would not attempt to engage another subject of conversation with Celes for the time being, and instead would try to allow the steam to run its course through her system once again.

For a moment, it almost seemed to work. Her body would become a bit less tense, permitting to adopt a more casual position on the slightly-damaged bench, and she would be able to take a mental breather, so to speak. She could almost appreciate the silence between herself and Celes, even if breaking that silence was previously her main goal once they had entered this place. However, as this aforementioned moment would go on for a bit longer, Kimiko would find herself frowning as she stared at the wall in front of her. Unlike back when they had just entered the place, she couldn't become totally relaxed anymore. Her thoughts kept giving her brief visions of the many nightmares she has experienced, and her body would ache every now and then, reminding her of the places which Taishokukane struck. It was not a very pleasant experience to be reminded of such terrible things, but she just couldn't stop herself, not after what they have just discussed.

By the time Kimiko felt the ache of a particular wound that Taishokukane had delivered to her chest during training, one that was so painful that she had coerced to heal it right away with Shizukakane's abilities, she would find herself sighing to herself. She knew why this was happening, of course. The simplest reason why she felt this way was because it didn't feel right fo her to be here anymore, not after having discussed such an unconventional and heavy subject. It felt wrong to not talk about this further, to get more answers from it, and eventually find a solution from it. At the very least, they should have formed some kind of plan, or Celes should have outright told her what she believed these beings that haunt them really were. If she had, she could have found a way to learn more about them in some way or another. But no... she didn't get everything. What she instead got was nothing more than a vague piece of information that - although hopeful as it now tied her to Celes - wasn't useful on the long run.

A part of her wanted to be angry at Celes for doing this to her. It was accusing her of hiding something to her, of telling her only a half-truth so that it would prevent her from further knowing about what's going on. However, she herself couldn't be bothered to become angry at the Captain. For one, she didn't think this was the right time to do so, seeing as they had come here to enjoy their time together rather than in spite of one another, and for two, she was just too tired to become angry at her. Getting angry about Taishokukane while talking about him was extremely easy because every single thing he has done to her was profoundly insulting in her eyes. In comparison, getting angry at Celes just because of something that she wasn't even sure she was doing to begin with was much more difficult. For all she knows, Celes really did not know what was going on necessarily, and she was really only treating it seriously because she thought of it as a threat. It was maybe a way for her to defend Kimiko.

In any case, she never was able to make an emotional decision about the matter. Before she could even so much as figure out how to feel about it all, the lady clad in white from before would knock on their door. Apparently, the Shinigami's time in the sauna was already completed. Hearing this somewhat surprised Kimiko as it didn't really feel as though it had lasted that long, though after all that was discussed, she wasn't really disappointed by the fact that they now needed to leave. The steam had begun to become more suffocating than alleviating, and so she could not stand it any longer. In fact, now that she was made aware of how annoying the steam had become for her bothered mind, she just wanted to get away from it as soon as possible. With that said, she would rise from her bench, then follow Celes and the lady towards their next and presumably final destination within this Sanctuary: the dinner room.

As to be expected, the dinner room had a great look to it. It was colder than the sauna, obviously, but the furniture was fancy as it could possibly be with a great look of the establishment's garden, making it already quite the pleasant experience. Beginning to feel as though her negative emotions from before were slowly being pushed away again, Kimiko would sit down on the chair opposite to her mentor's, making herself comfortable at the table. Once this was done, she would then give a quiet look towards the beautiful garden. Though the conversation that she and Celes previously had were still very much on the forefront of her thoughts, the ambiance was allowing her to at least feel somewhat relieved, maybe even somewhat at peace. The beauty of the flora and the architecture of the Sanctuary both reminded her of the Fields of Tranquility and their soothing effect they've always had on her psyche. It was nice.

Then, the food came. Two plates for each officer, both accompanied with a cup of water and another of wine. The sight of what was offered to her by the woman in white instantly caught Kimiko's attention. Although she was less interested in the vegetable-focused offering, the slice of veal paired with deli meat and cheese just looked absolutely astonishing. It was making Kimiko hungry just from looking at it, and so naturally, once the woman walked, she immediately grabbed the utensils and started tasting her meal. It took her about a few seconds to immediately look delighted. "Wow, this is just amazing...!" She found herself commenting quietly with great astonishment, almost as though she was trying her best not to bother the other customers who were occupying the tables nearby, then would start eating. Her manners were polite, which was good given where they currently were... though they were admittedly a bit fast. It was very clear that she enjoyed the food so much, she couldn't stop eating.

[Celes Castellanos]

"Wow, this is just amazing...!" Celes smiled a little whenever Kimiko gave her praise to the cooking. Even her expressions showed off her contentment as she was eating in somewhat more ladylike fashion. It was completely unlike how Kimiko normally ate when they used to go to Hakashi every other day or so. Both of them would scarf down whatever Ramen that they had. For Celes, it was primarily the spicy miso ramen. Just enough of a kick to add to the overall enjoyment. While Hakashi's Ramen was delicious, Celes had to admit that this first experience of fine dining was not a letdown either. In fact, she enjoyed it very much. The wine was excellent. The meat was soft and tender. The salad was well meshed along with the white sauce.

Once again, time seemed to move faster. Before she even realized, Celes was done with her food. Closing her eyes and merely enjoying the food made it seem to hear as if time jumped forward a dozen or so minutes. The plate was empty, a little bit of sauce and small amounts of meat left over. The Captain would simply lean backward into her chair, silently, allowing the food to settle. In the meantime, she thought a little more of the conversation that her and Kimiko just had. The Captain had a moment of passion. A moment of weakness. She inadvertently told Kimiko of the malady that she suffered from. For all she knew, Kimiko suffered from the same thing and Celes was sure that it would not be difficult for Kimiko to put two and two together. Especially now that Celes had practically spelt it out for her.

There was one thing that bothered her there. Celes knew she was a Visored. Or at least the precursor to one. An Inner Hollow laid dormant within her, tormenting and abusing her whenever he got the chance. Se accepted it. She was strong. Yet all the signs that Kimiko spoke of also implied that her disciple was also a Visored. The idea was not pleasing at all. That, among other things, drove Camila out of the Soul Society. Much like Celes, Camila had given her life to the Soul Society and she abandoned it all. Celes was a Captain. Could they really turn their back on her? And Kimiko? She was passionate. Driven. Talented. Could Soul Society really waste that much potential? More than that. Had Kimiko experienced any significant outbreaks yet? It would be something that she had to discuss with her later. Assuming that Kimiko finished, the woman clad in white returned with a smile on her face.

"Hello there ladies. I hope that the dinner was to your liking?" Celes smiled and nodded. "It was truly magnificent. My highest compliments to your chef." The woman giggled and blushed bashfully. After a moment, she'd give a bow as she took the empty plates. Leaving for a moment and then returning with her hands free, she'd speak softly. "Well. If I may guide you back to the room with your belongings, then we can send you on your way, hopefully relaxed and with peace of mind." Celes nodded and turned to Kimiko. "Any objections, Kimiko?" Assuming that she got the okay, Celes would rise and push her seat back in. Carefully walking back to the room with their belongings, the woman would depart for a few minutes, leaving Celes and Kimiko to get dressed.

Celes would quickly doff her towels after pulling the sheet around her to give her a bit of privacy. If the two Shinigami touched their respective lockers, they'd find it to emit a bright light as a circle appeared before it with the shape of a lock inside of it. The lock itself would twist and the locker, in turn, would open. All their belongings would be just where they placed them, down to the correct millimeter. It had not been touched since they dropped it off. Celes got dressed, donning both her Shihakusho and her Captain's Haori. A sash wrapped around both where she stowed both of her sheathes where her twin Zanpakutou resided. With a small sigh, she'd move the curtain almost effortlessly. With that, she returned to the lobby, hopefully with Kimiko in tow.

If they returned to the lobby, the main receptionist would smile at them brightly. "I hope you had a wondeful time at The Sanctuary. Please do come again if you can. We'd love to see you again." Celes nodded for a moment. "It was quite wonderful. I feel at ease and more relaxed than I have in decades. I will be sure to refer my fellow Shinigami here. I'm sure that they could appreciate it after a hard day's work." The woman nodded and bowed her head respectfully. With that, Celes began to head to the door, leaving The Sanctuary in the same way that they came in. Once outside, the dreary appearance of the nearby Rukongai seemed almost alien to her yet it also carried a familiarity. The Sanctuary seemed designed for the elite. For nobles. One which Celes was not. In some ways, Celes felt that her and Kimiko were foreigners in a distant land amongst the common clients that attended. Regardless, she'd turn to Kimiko, smiling as she spoke in her cheery voice again. "That was quite a pleasant experience. I was happy to share it with you. All of it~" The Captain grinned as her usual self, thinking. "Hey, how about you join me for some tea. I have some paperwork to fill out and I'd be happy to have another eye to skim over it with me!" She grinned a little, tapping her chin, hoping that they could have a little more fun even if it dealt with something as mundane as paperwork.

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Kimiko wasn't used to eating in what would consider to be "fine" manners, to say the least. For the most part, whenever she is offered food or she purchases a meal for herself, she tends to wolf it down rather rapidly. She never really took the time to enjoy it, so to speak, for the savor typically tended to be so overwhelmingly good that they always compelled her to eat faster. In so doing, she'd always eat fairly quickly, no matter what she ate. Ramen bowls, fish and other seafood, custom pizza slices, homemade burgers... If she could eat it quickly in some way or another, then she would do so. However, in a place as refined as this Sanctuary, eating so quickly just felt a bit wrong and impolite to her. She already didn't fit really well with all those members of the upper class, and she didn't really want to be embarrassed by any form of staring. So, she slowed her pace down to the best of her ability and tried to eat at a moderate pace.

In a way, this modicum of a strategy was a fair success. Though her pace was again still faster than the one adopted by most of the people dining at the other tables, it allowed her to better savor the food at her disposal. The veal was cooked to perfection, allowing its delicate meat to better communicate its taste to her tongue, and what accompanied it complemented its delicacy extremely well. On their own, they were definitely better than what would typically be served elsewhere, but united as one, they were nothing short of breathtaking. Somehow, this plate was even better when paired with the cup of wine that was set by its side and the other plate filled with vegetables, and Kimiko didn't even drink that much alcohol. It was truly the work of a chef who knew exactly what he was doing. For all she knows, he was most likely one of the best ones to have ever set foot in Rukongai, and he definitely deserved working here in such a refined establishment. It was all more than enough for her to totally forget about what she had discussed with Celes only but not even an hour ago.

But all good things must come to an end, and unfortunately, this beautiful meal was most definitely not infinite. About ten or so minutes later, Kimiko would finish the meal entirely, doing so before Celes. Her plates would be emptied, and so would be the cup of wine. She was a bit surprised to see that she was able to gulp down that entire thing without even so much as getting a bit buzzed. Having not a lot of experience when it comes to alcohol, she would have expected to at least be left slightly weakened by it. Perhaps all the training she has accomplished as a Shinigami has made her surpass those weaknesses a long time ago without her noticing. Once Celes finished her own meal, the lady in white would appear. As she did so and spoke to them, Kimiko would give her a bright smile. "Yeah, this was really good. Your chef is amazing," she said with admiration and respect. It was something that she said to, well, any waiter or waitress of an establishment that gave her good food, but she felt that it was very much deserved here. "I've got no objections. Let's go."

And with that, this experience was finally over, and the two Shinigami officers would be led back to the locker room. After raising the curtains around her locker, the Third Seat would remove the towel she had placed around herself with a quiet sigh of relief before retrieving her belongings. To say that they hadn't become a bit tight over the course of the day was a bit of an overstatement. All that training really has made her body develop in a certain way, huh...? She should probably be more wary of that in the near future. In any case, after she was left satisfied with the presence of the magical ward protecting her locker, she would set the towel aside, then went on to put back on the sarashi cloth. Once done, she would then fit onto herself the Shihakusho that she had carefully folded into the locker, stretching herself after doing so, then went on to pick Shizukakane before setting him between the tissue of her obi sash over her left hip.

As she picked Taishokukane from the locker, she would find herself stopping before simply staring quietly at it. She could hear his voice. He spoke in disapproval and scolds as he always did. Apparently, despite having been literally locked in a locker away from anything or anyone, he was able to become informed of what Kimiko had told to Celes about him. From the tone of his voice, she could tell that he was trying to make her feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. However, his information did not do anything of sort to the officer. Rather, all it did was embolden her words as her stare turned into a glare.  It's not my fault that I have nothing nice to say about you,  her thoughts scoffed as her grip tightened around the dark scabbard. Though her words were only thoughts and nothing properly said, they carried the same dark hatred she previously showcased in front of Celes.  If you want my respect, don't try to force it out of me. Earn it.

The blade would then go on to be set over her right hip within her obi sash, and its owner would proceed out of the locker room towards the lobby alongside the Captain. The receptionist from before would greet them again, to which Kimiko would give a thankful smile. "I'll try to do the same. It's really a nice place. Thank you for everything," she said shortly after Celes finished a speech of her own, then proceeded towards the main doors of the establishment. Shortly after, they would both find themselves returned to Rukongai. The drastic change in ambiance was immediately evident. The tenderness of the Sanctuary alongside its calm atmosphere would be instantly replaced by the noisy and dirty evening streets of Rukongai. Kimiko admittedly felt somewhat taken aback by the sharpness of this change, and for a moment, she even found herself looking back towards the establishment they just left. "... Huh..." she could only let out in response to it all.

Celes would shortly speak to her once the moment would pass. By then, she had fully returned to her usual self, as though everything that had been discussed had been completely left behind. Seeing her being so cheerful all so suddenly after she previously witnessed her being emotionally dead for a few seconds was another shock to Kimiko, and she wasn't sure she really liked that, but at this point, she still didn't really have the power to bring forth any form of negative response to it. "It was really nice, yeah... I'm not really sure we're going back there anytime soon, though..." she would find herself jesting as she gave the Sanctuary one last look. It was truly a place made by elites, for elites. No matter how big her wallet ever will be, she wasn't totally welcome there, and neither was Celes. At the very least, the prospect of drinking tea with Celes while dealing with remaining paperwork sounded nice, at least. "Oh, sure. I don't know if I'll... really be useful to you on that front, but I'm down for tea." 

And with that, they were off, returning to their usual lives as Shinigami. Kimiko couldn't quite say that the answers she has gotten from Celes in this brief conversation they've had together were really satisfactory... but they were better than nothing.

To her, that was a good start.

[ E N D ]

[Kitai Yoru]

87 paragraphs from Celes, 50% Bonus rewards towards another tread with Nakajima

98 paragraphs from Nakajima, 50% Bonus rewards towards another thread with Celes