Collective Introspection

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The barracks of the Eleventh Division were known to be amongst the noisiest places in the entirety of the holy city of Seireitei. In a way, it was said to be so noisy that it carried the noise of a whole city all on its own. The offices, though conceptualized for the quietest of activities by design, were filled with the sound of endless scribbling and annoyed sighing; the many halls and the rooms connected to them were filled with loud chatter and laughter, with the dining room being the loudest of them all due to the television that was installed there for entertainment purposes; the training grounds that were located right outside the main installations were ringing with shouting, ranting, and complaining; and finally, the great Colosseum boomed with various battle cries and roars of encouragement. For the members of the Eleventh, this was something that they had gotten used to a long time ago, so much so that they now began to enjoy it. For those who remained outside of them, however... Well, it was a terrible hassle.

It would not be difficult for one to believe the barracks of the most infamous squad of the Gotei 13 to always be noisy, no matter the time of the day. Quite frankly, at times, it almost seems as though they are, as afternoons tend to constantly explode with the noises of training, and evenings would instead be filled to the brim with cheers aimed right towards the television in the dining room. It really was no wonder a bunch of the civilians who have the misfortune to often pass by these barracks tend to consider the people inside as savages. There was, however, one time of the day in which the barracks remained at their quietest outside of after the general curfew. Indeed, for a very brief moment during the day, the base of operations for this squad of loud-mouthed individuals would grow almost completely quiet to the point that barely anything could be heard from it during then. That time of the day was early morning... and after all that's happened lately within the Soul Society, Kimiko was somewhat thankful for that.

 

The life of the Third Seat of the Eleventh Division has been quite eventful lately, to say the least. From the elimination of a criminal who had somehow successfully escaped from the Seireitei to the Living World to a literal demonic invasion during which many Souls of Rukongai have perished, it seemed as though many disasters had happened all at once, and in so doing, she was slightly more exhausted than usual. There was so much work to do, so many papers to fill. Just yesterday, she had filled a great amount of different sheets detailing a plethora of activities to fulfill. There had been so many of these papers that she had lost all count of them, and quite frankly, she was shocked that she even had the mental strength to properly complete every single one of them without accidentally messing up somewhere during their redaction. Hell, maybe she had actually messed up and she just didn't know about it yet. Who knows.

At the very least, the amount of work she had completed yesterday allowed her to have a moment of respite. Indeed, for what appeared to be a moment of a lifetime, she had absolutely no paperwork to complete today. She didn't have any sheet to fill or any report that demanded her attention. It was honestly a bit of a miracle, and even Kimiko had a bit of a hard time properly realizing that, given that she was used to having her mornings just packed with a great amount of paperwork. In a way, it gave her some time off until the inevitable training sessions she would have to follow with Shizukakane and Taishokukane during the rest of the day, something which she was for once not quite excited for. It took her some time off of her early morning to properly lay down what she was about to do during that time. She didn't want to go train earlier, she wasn't particularly hungrier than usual after breakfast, and she didn't want to read any of her books. Eventually, however, she would be able to figure it all out. Once she did, she would find herself exiting her quarters, then start wandering around the barracks.

For an hour, the scarlet-eyed woman would simply wander around the halls rather aimlessly. She did so quietly, enjoying the sights that have become quite familiar to her over the years in silence, contemplating. Since it was rather early, there wasn't a whole lot of people in the halls yet, and so it gave her an unique look of this place that she has come to call home. She passed by the officers and the dining hall, closing the television that had somehow been left opened on mute before curfew yesterday, and she eventually found herself wandering outside in the training grounds. After a time, she even reached the main gates of the Colosseum. All of this had been accomplished without really meeting anyone along the way aside for one blue-eyed officer who gave her a nod of acknowledgement, mainly out of obligation than anything else. It was odd, especially given that this was meant to be one of the louder areas of Seireitei... and yet, it was also oddly cathartic.

At the gates of the great ancient edifice, she found herself simply watching them with a bit of a tired look. To think that what appeared to be such an inconsequential place would become so significant to her. It was here that she first faced Shawn and Tsukuyomi in combat. It was here that she has had countless spars with her fellow brethren, proving to them how powerful she was. It was here that she was able to hold countless sessions with Shizukakane, and eventually find out his name. It was even here that she has met Wynne and trained her for the first time. However... it was also here that she held other sessions with Taishokukane, and consequently ended up pushing people away from the monument due to the energy she released during them. She couldn't remember the last time she has seen anyone enter this place while she was training within it. They would always end up staying away from it for as long as she was in there, and eventually find themselves never coming back.

And now... she has yet another power that she believed will push people away from her.

Her gaze trailed from the Colosseum to the blades at her hips. She could hear them speak. Though his voice was a bit fainter, Shizukakane was trying to convince her that she shouldn't feel ashamed about her new ability and that she should be proud to have mastered it, especially given what she will have to face later. Taishokukane, for once, would say something along the same lines, though his tone was less reassuring and instead more so begrudging. It was rare for them to actually share the same opinion on something, seeing as they typically tended to always have opposite views on things. Hell, it was even a little bit shocking for Kimiko; after all, she heard them speak to her literally every single day of her life. However, she was not impressed by their words. Instead, she simply stared at them both with an unconvinced gaze before she letting out a sigh. "If you guys say so..." she could only say in response to their words, with a hand resting upon the hilt of the white blade.

She wanted to be proud of what she had achieved. There hasn't been a sizeable amount Shinigami who could reach the state of Bankai with their Zanpakuto, and this amount was even lesser when it came to the Shinigami who happened to somehow possess two Zanpakuto spirits by their side. Moreover, the fact that she even possessed that new ability theoretically made her a much more powerful warrior. Nonetheless, she couldn't bring it out of her. Even after two whole months have passed since she was able to take control of that terrible weapon, she still couldn't find any satisfaction in her from the act. It was still, in her eyes, a shameful weapon to be bestowed, something that should not be shown to anyone. Worse yet, its existence has not chased away the being in her dreams. It has not deterred her approach; if anything, it has somehow made her even bolder. She was still there, watching her, tormenting her. In fact... she could have sworn, at times, that she had seen her observing her from afar within her Inner World, in the horizon.

For many years now, she firmly believed that she could handle this matter on her own. She was able to unlock her Shikai, find out how to generate a second blade, and even achieved Bankai all without the help of others. The spirits of her blades of course gave their aid to her from time to time - or rather, Shizukakane did - but they always attempt to push her to do things alone in their own way. However, now that she has gone so far, she wasn't sure of what to do on her own anymore. She wasn't sure of how she was going to stop the being from killing Shizukakane, especially given that her Bankai was such a dangerous tool, and she still wasn't sure if she should be allowed to become a Captain. Hell, she didn't even know how to keep Taishokukane in check, and he has been even worse lately now that he has been made aware of that being's existence. She really needed help from someone, anyone... someone that she felt she could trust absolutely without fault.

After a time of pondering, the woman would turn her back to the Colosseum and leave the barracks to head towards the headquarters of the Tenth Division.

---

Geographically, the distance between the barracks of the Tenth and Eleventh Divisions is rather small. They are both located in western Seireitei, and the territories surrounding the both of them that are each under their care cover approximately close to half of that section of the holy city. In so doing, it did not take very long for Kimiko to actually reach her destination. She would pass by various buildings, both residential and industrial, and some of the citizens of the city as she did so. A few were lower nobles heading to work towards their businesses, while the rest were other officers like her who had awoken more early than their brethren, and so they were all able to recognize her; after all, it was rather difficult to not have heard about her these days. She was still being talked about to a degree at the Academy, and her achievements in both the latest zombie and demonic invasions were able to spread her name every now and there across Seireitei. The reputation was appreciated... even if a part of it was more negative.

Eventually, she would reach the gates of the Tenth Division. Knowing that she couldn't really just get in without any invitation, she would reach for any of the soldiers nearest to it. "Uh, hey. Can you please tell your Captain that I'm here? I wanna speak to her," she would tell them. It was told casually without form of aggression, as a plain and rather informal request. In normal cases, she would have sent a proper message to the Captain, though she was not in the mood to do so right now, to say the very least.

[Celes Castellanos]

The halls of the Tenth Division were quiet. Occasional shifting could be heard as Officers leisurely down the long halls. Overall, it was quite unusual. Normally the halls would be filled with countless Shinigami, rushing back and forth for various reasons. Idle conversation typically filled air as pairs of Officers could share anything from their last missions...to experiences...to wisdom. It was something that Celes encouraged, but today would be different. Today, she'd shake up the status quo a little. She had given the majority of her more experienced Unseated Officers the day off. Most of them could not believe it. They'd be exempt from any work unless contacted by the Captain Commander himself which normally went through Celes anyway. 

That begged the question. Who was left to oversee the vast stretches of Soul Society? To stand guard over offices and the homes of the Rukongai? This is where the catch came in. The Shinigami had assigned all of her newer members to such jobs. To most this would seem idiotic. In some ways, Celes would agree. It compromised the safety of everyone involved, the whole Soul Society along with accentuating the danger towards the newbies. This was the plan though. That's what would make it work. The Captain of the Tenth Division believed that experience and real-world responsibilities built character. They reinforced teachings in a very real setting and it would allow them to become more experienced.

Celes knew that practical field experience was invaluable. She did not desire a few talented officers while the others lagged behind. Quite the opposite. She wished to round out her Division as much as possible. The Tenth stood as the Primary Defense Division, the shield of the Soul Society. Celes took that duty very seriously. The last great invasion in which she had participated in defense of Soul Society against the nefarious Akki, Orobas and Alastor, proved one thing to Celes. They were caught unprepared. Previous invasions she had read reports on from the Thirteenth Division Captain, Ludwig, had shown the occasional trouble maker such as Kitai wishing to cause chaos. This invasion was, at first, similar, but it soon showed itself to be an entirely different beast.

Millions of demons had swarmed into the Rukongai. Every Division was called into action. Among the Tenth Division, Celes had a selection of great defenders. Despite that, Celes quickly realized one thing. It was such a small list. A list of elite. The upper echelon. The crème de la crème. While she could send other officers to provide relief and support to other Divisions, Celes desired her Division to stand among them. To have a Division of able-bodied Shinigami that she could send into battle with confidence that they could prevail. This is why she erected this little program of hers. She'd attempt to this every now and then, allowing one experienced Officer to counsel and mentor a group of 3 or 4 Shinigami. Not only would this serve a boost in morale, but Celes had a feeling that her Officers could also learn more about leadership. 

Large double-wooden doors stood just before Celes' office. Before it, two Shinigami, both female, stood as their hands were slightly shaken. They'd look at each other every now and then, wondering if they could do this. If they could effectively stand security and guard Celes' office while the Captain tended to a few things. Both of them were practically fresh out of the Academy. Feeling inspired to take up arms in defense of Soul Society, they eagerly joined the Division, but they were not prepared for so much responsibility. Of course Celes knew that it would be difficult to adjust. There would be tension. There would be mistakes. The Captain knew that this was okay though. She wanted them to make mistakes if they could learn something from it.

As they stood, their postures somewhat slouched, Celes room was equally as quiet. Only a light breeze blew through slightly ajar windows. The Captain would be sitting in her chair, her legs crossed, eyes closed and her blade rested carefully across her lap. Any experienced Shinigami worth their salt could immediately recognize it if they saw it. It was Jinzen. The manner in which a Shinigami communed with their Zanpakutou. A conversation that lasted hours in the Inner World would only seem to pass for a few minutes at most to anyone outside. This time would be no different. Celes had been inside of her Inner World for nearly three hours. 

Inside of her Inner World, she'd stand just on the outskirts of a barren wasteland. Next to her was a seemingly younger tan girl with whitened hair. Both of them gazed out in the blood-stained battlefield. Weapons were lodged into the ground, relics of a terrible battle. Blood stained the discolored dirt, barely any grass growing to give the battlefield some diversity. As they both sat their, the Yunorashi spoke in an annoyed tone. Her voice was clearly strained, yelling for a few moments. "I don't care Celes! I told you that I don't need to be protected! What?! You think just because you survived a close encounter with that thing while I got beaten to near death that you are better than me?! Let me remind who taught you how to use me...how to use your Shikai and even your Bankai!" Her pitch was high and she was clearly incensed. Celes roared back. "Don't put words in my mouth, Yunorashi. All I said is that it may be better for me to find a way to keep you out of his reach. He brutalized you! I don't want that to happen again!" The squabbling would continue for a moment until Yunorashi turned her back to the Captain. "You don't trust me anymore, do you..? You think I'm weak. Able to be hidden away." She'd turn her head to look into Celes' eyes. Her voice was melancholy, hurt by how she interpreted her partners' words. "I won't run, Celes. I won't be a coward to a bully..." 

Celes sighed and put her hands to her cheeks in annoyance. Throwing them up into their air, she'd shout out at the topic of her lungs. "ARGGHHH!!!" Yunorashi had her stubborn moments, but this was beyond anything else. Celes had tried to work out a way to protect her from Yukito. A place for her beside Celes out of harms way. The Spirit would not hear any of it though. She would want to stay and fight. She was not one to have her battles fought for her. This caused a lot of unnecessary tension between the two. Celes wanted Yunorashi's best interests and yet the Zanpakutou Spirit saw it as cowardly. Pathetic. Unlike anything that Celes had ever proposed.

The Captain absentmindedly kicked at the dirt, not minding her own strength. Crack! The dirt rose up violently and flew into the sky, descending and landing somewhere far in the distance. She'd sigh as she brought her hands from her cheeks further down to her waist. She'd shake her head. "Can you...at least give it some thought? I just want to make sure that you are preserved Yunorashi...." No response from the Zanpakutou Spirit. The Captain was at a loss. She needed to find some way to convince Yunorashi to not give her life for something so foolish. Was it right of her? Celes was not sure, but in her heart she knew that she needed to do this. Before she had another chance to say anything, Yunorashi waved her hand. "Just..go for now, Celes. I have a lot to think about..." The Captain was about to give her dissent, but Celes would oblige anyway. She'd sigh and return to a sitting position again. Decades of practice had practically rendered the transition between Inner World and reality virtually seamless. 

Her eyes came to see the familiar sight of her office. Perfect timing too. One of the Shinigami women gingerly opened Celes' office doors. Establishing rather poor eye contact, Celes smiled. "Yes Nadia?" The woman spoke, obviously anxious. "There is a woman here who says that she'd like an audience with you..." Celes blinked for a moment, not knowing who it could be. She'd wave her hand towards herself ever so gently. "Allow her in." Nadia would nod and just as quickly as she was stopped, so would Kimiko be permitted to enter the office doors. Assuming that Kimiko went inside, the doors would close behind her and Celes perked up a smile. "Oh Kimiko! What a pleasant surprise!" The presence of her disciple was unexpected, but welcome. It would likely allow her to move away from the conversation with Yunorashi for a moment. "Please. Pull out a chair and sit.." She'd giggle, waiting for Kimiko to sit. If the scarlet eyed swordswoman decided to take her up on her offer or even if not, Celes would speak in a soft tone. "So then. To what do I owe this visit. Normally you send me a confirmation that you're attending, but this is certainly new. Is everything okay?"

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The officers of the Tenth Division had interacted with Kimiko before. A long time ago, one of them - a young man, if she could recall correctly - had personally brought her to Celes after interrupting a spar between herself and her comrade Charles, and during other times, she was introduced to Celes by a few other officers. However, during most of those times, she was not an officer who held much recognition in the Gotei 13. She was known amongst those who had evaluated her during her examination, yes, and those within her squad were all very much aware of who she was supposed to be, but aside from them and Celes herself, none really knew much about her. As much she may have been a bit of a celebrity while she was still but a mere student of the Academy, as a student is not typically capable of reaching the level of swordsmanship she showcased then, it did not mean that she would be just as known within the rest of Seireitei.

In so doing, it was not surprising that these same officers of the Tenth had apparently forgot about Kimiko altogether. The one officer she interacted with did not recognize her nor her relationship with the Captain, and so at first tried to stick to pure protocol. "You can't go have an audience with our Captain just like that! She might be busy!" She would tell the Third Seat in an anxious tone, almost as if she was scared of somehow offending her interlocutor. It was a bit of a pain for Kimiko, especially since she didn't feel as though she really needed to do any of that in order to meet her friend, but she found no harm in what was told to her. All things considered, she was indeed used to sending confirmations to Celes so as to inform her of a visit, and so what she was doing now was rather unconventional. The recent demonic invasion also most likely put the entirety of the Tenth Division on edge, as it was their responsibility to protect the Soul Society from such attacks.

Fortunately, no more problems were had with the lower officer. Though Kimiko could still tell that her presence bothered her, the officer decided to make an exception once she realized that there was a friendship between the visitor and Celes, and so decided to guide her inside. The trip they took together was rather short, yet for Kimiko, it was informative enough. They would pass by countless halls that looked rather similar to the ones seen within the barracks of the Eleventh Division, with each possessing their own folding doors. A few key differences would be noticeable to her, such as how a few vases or other furniture were set about. There were also a painting or two here and there depicting Rukongai from a bird's eye view. It showed a clear interest in the geography of the place for optimal defense, unlike the Eleventh who instead preferred showcasing weaponry and depictions of past achievements. Not that Kimiko was going to complain about that: she personally enjoyed blades and definitely admired a few of the leaders of her division that have long since perished in battle.

The trip would go on for a bit longer until the both of them would reach an impressive pair of wooden doors. The sight of them caused the dual swordswoman to raise her scarlet eyes towards them in slight surprise. She knew what was behind those doors; after all, it would be unfitting for them to be positioned in front of any other room. However, she found it odd that it had been so long since she last saw them. To those memories of hers, visiting her friend's office felt only like yesterday, and yet her mind would immediately remind her that it had been a whole year since she last saw them, and before that, almost a whole decade. Maybe it was because she typically met Celes in other places than her quarters or even the edifice of her own division; after all, for as much as she could recall, they often met elsewhere like at the training grounds or a totally different place of the Soul Society. Either way, she had to admit that she was not quite sure of how to feel about that piece of information. 

Kimiko would patiently wait for the lower officer to do her job. As she waited, it would be clear to the guards who remained near the doors that the professionalism of the whole process was still a bit bothersome for her. At this point, it would have perhaps been better to just reach for a window or something. You know, like all of those ninjas from the Second Division tend to do whenever they have to personally deliver a message to someone. However, now that she was so far ahead in this whole process, bothering it all would only cause issues, and she honestly had absolutely no motivation of dealing with any of them in the time being. So, with that in mind, she'd watch the one who by now had been named Nadia open the doors, speak to the one who stood far behind them, then turn back towards her so as to let her inside. She would do so without a word, making sure to not bother her in any way possible. After it was done, she would give her a thankful nod and head inside. 

Upon her entry within her mentor's office, the Third Seat was almost immediately welcomed. Seeing her friend act seemingly as cheerfully as usual made Kimiko immediately feel more at ease than how she was before. In fact, she now felt so at ease that it brought a smile on her face. It was as if her whole mood had changed for the better. "Hey Celes... I know it's a bit early. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything," she would tell her friend as she brought herself towards the chair that was offered to her near the main desk. She would sit upon the piece of furniture with a brief sigh, setting her swords so that Shizukakane's guard would be positioned next to her right ear as she held it firmly while Taishokukane would instead simply be left bending against the left arm of the chair. It did not really take much to be able to recognize that she still valued the brighter blade at a great level in comparison to its darker counterpart, though at the very least, she wasn't showing any anger about that particular subject just yet.

After she sat on the chair, Kimiko would find herself casually observing the office for a moment. It did not seem as though anything about the office itself had changed since she last saw it before the demonic invasion. Well, nothing about its furniture or memorabilia, that is. There was, however, a larger pile of papers on the office in comparison to the one she tended do alongside Celes back then. That demonic invasion was probably responsible for it being so big. In any case, after her observations were made and she heard her friend's question, she would turn her head towards Celes. "Oh, it's... not much, really. I just wanted to say hi," she would at first say with a bit of a sheepish smile. As she did so, she would look over her shoulder towards the folding doors. Should they be opened, she would await their full closure, making sure that she could not be heard. If they were already closed to begin with, she would look back towards Celes and let out a deep sigh. 

"Celes, I... think I just... I need your help with something." Her words had an exhausted tone that was unfitting, yet reminiscent to how she behaved herself back when they both visited the Sanctuary resort before the invasion. The fake smile she sported vanished in an instant, and her posture took on a more slouched look, as though it was being pressed down by an invisible force. "I've been dealing with so much stuff lately, and it's just been... so damn much." She would take a moment to fully reveal how exhausted she was to Celes, with rapid blinks and a left hand pressed against the side of her head. After she felt like she was a bit better, she would try to speak again. "I haven't been sleeping much lately. There's been so many of these... nightmares I told you about... and they've been getting just so much worse."

[Celes Castellanos]

As Kimiko came into sight, the Captain quickly shift her weight. She'd bring her legs down and with a quick movement, she'd set her Zapakutou into her sheath. It would occur so seamlessly that Kimiko would've had to see the Captain move in that moment. Normally her conversations with Yunorashi were rather positive. She'd often share sentimental times and moments of friendship with her. This time was completely different, however. For once, they had gotten into a genuine argument. Celes sought to try to protect Yunorashi from Yukito and yet... the Zanpakutou Spirit was not hearing any of it. She believed that Celes felt that she was weak. That she couldn't defend herself. It annoyed her. For once, Yunorashi would be the one to break off the communication willingly. Naturally, Celes had a bit of an irritated look on her face, but she tried to mask it as much as possible as Kimiko stepped into her office. She'd happily welcome her in to try and get her mind off of the conversation...

"Hey Celes... I know it's a bit early. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything," Gliding her hands through her blonde hair, Celes absentmindedly pretended that she was working on the paperwork in front of her. Many different sheets with different titles and designations and form numbers printed on the top of the forms. Tapping her fingers against the table, Celes spoke softly. "O-oh. Not at all!" She'd smile for a moment. "Y'know just the usual. Paperwork dealing with group training...assignments of my personnel and other.... stuff.." Celes, in truth, had little idea if what she was saying what actually accurate with what was represented on the table. She tried her best to simply lie about what she was doing, but it'd show that she was rather poor at it. It could be believable, but it was dubious for sure. 

Offering her a seat, Celes watched as her disciple rested in the chair before her. As she did, two blades rested by the Shinigami. One shone bright as day while the other felt black as night. The Captain tilted her head and gave them a good glance. "So...these are the fables blades of my disciples. Shizukakane, a Spirit that received Kimiko's highest praise. Her first Spirit. Taishokukane, a Spirit that receives her greatest spite.." Her eyes suddenly returned back to Kimiko as the Captain smiled brightly. Rather courteously, she'd ask her disciple as to why she was given a surprise visit. In truth, it was unlike Kimiko to do so. Normally, she'd drop let her know in some way that she was visiting. Her answer at first was simple...too simple. "Oh, it's... not much, really. I just wanted to say hi," Celes looked up at Nadia who still peeked in through the door. Her voice gentle yet firm, she'd address her officer. "Nadia. Be a dear and please give us the room. I'd like for you and Maya to take a break." She'd grin as the two Shinigami stood there, speechless. Both of them nodded wordlessly, closing the door and walking off to tend to the freetime that they were granted.

After a few moments, Celes looked at Kimiko and raised an eyebrow. It spoke volumes as if to ask Kimiko if she was satisfied with the circumstances to truly speak her mind. It seemed that message would get across quite well. Whereas her tone before was filled with light, this time, she'd sound exhausted. As if she spent the entire day training. No. It was more than that. Her posture slouched. Her demeanor darkened. Something was definitely on her mind. "Celes, I... think I just... I need your help with something." The Captain nodded briefly, giving her the floor. "I've been dealing with so much stuff lately, and it's just been... so damn much."
 
Her exhausted appearance did not change one bit. Celes' brow furrowed and a small sympathetic pout touched her lips. Celes was no medical expert, but Kimiko did indeed look like a wreck. The Captain would stand up, walking over to a kettle as she gently put out some cups. Gingerly, she'd pour some water for herself and her disciple. Picking up each of the cups by their handle, Celes spun on her heel and walked back to the desk. The disciple's hand rested on her head, clearly overwhelmed by all that was ailing her. Having returned, Celes wordlessly placed a cup of water before her disciple and before herself. Kimiko opened up once more. "I haven't been sleeping much lately. There's been so many of these... nightmares I told you about... and they've been getting just so much worse."

Celes nodded. The sadness in her eyes did not disappear. She felt her for student. "I see. The one involving the woman? The one that taunts and harms you?" She'd take a sip of her water, trying to urge the Shinigami before her to try and relax as much as she could. If Kimiko took a sip, she'd likely find that the cup of water was rather soothing and may do a little to calm her nerves, but there was no guarantee. After all, Celes could tell that the Shinigami was incredibly shaken up. The Captain sighed for a moment. "I've had similar nightmares in the past, but these seem much more severe. Camila once spoke of a similar torment.." Celes took another sip as she continued to ruminate. "Camila...I could use your guidance now. You understood this far better than I ever could. One of many things I concede to you.." As she set the cup of water down, Celes spoke in as comforting a tone as she could. "Would you like to talk about it at all? Would that help soothe the pain?" In truth, Celes felt powerless. She couldn't help her disciple in meaningful ways. Anyone could listen. Celes was a woman of action. She took the initiative and made bad situations good. But... how could she improve this?! She was furious with herself.

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Kimiko found herself biting her lip a bit as she heard Celes speak of her paperwork. As much as the Captain wanted to reassure her by telling her she was not interrupting anything important... it did seem like she did. There was an ample amount of sheets on the higher officer's desk - many of which appeared to have not even been tackled just yet - and they all appeared to be fairly important. Just a brief look towards them allowed the scarlet-eyed woman to very quickly skim over rather important inquiries, such as daily status reports of the Seireitei gates and inquiries about defensive installations to be potentially set up around them . Needless to say, seeing them was already making the Third Seat feel a bit guilty. She's right in the middle of it, huh... That's probably enough to keep her working all day, she would find herself concluding a bit disappointingly as she eventually returned her tired gaze back towards her mentor.  Maybe I should've come later.

Regardless of the prospect of that particular matter, the Captain was ready to allot her time to her student. Really, that was all Kimiko was counting on at the moment. She could have gone to Siegfried, Binita, or even Tsukuyomi, but she felt as though the person that has guided ever since her Academy days was the most-suited to respond to her woes; after all, none of them had been made aware of what she had gone through during her sleep. Her troubles with Taishokukane was one thing that mostly everyone in her division was aware about due to the time she spends at the Colosseum, but the being within her dreams and the torment she instills upon her during the course of every night was another matter entirely. She didn't feel like she could discuss something like that with the others. They would just think of her as a weakling, or worse, someone with some kind of mental damage; after all, it's not really normal to constantly dream about something that wants to harm you.

After the doors would be closed by the soldier who has led her here, Kimiko would begin to open up. She would tell them of her lack of sleep, of the nightmares. It was admittedly not a lot of information for Celes to process, but she couldn't really go further in this conversation just yet. It felt necessary for the Captain to understand a part of her problem first, or at least it felt like it to her. "Yeah... The ones with the woman." Her words would be followed by a light nod of her head, one that appeared to be fairly weak and exhausted. "Plural." With a brief sigh, she would bring her left arm forward before grabbing the cup of water that was offered to her, then taking a sip. The temperate taste of the liquid trailed down her throat rather quietly before she then put the cup back down on the desk. She would have honestly preferred it to be a bit colder, but given the circumstances of her surprise visit, she didn't mind it being this way.   

She would let Celes ask her questions quietly, not really responding to them at first. At first, she had to admit that she didn't like what was said to her, as it become instantly clear to her that Celes had no solution to her problem. In other words, she wouldn't really help her at all; rather, she would just give her a medium to express herself. That latter part was admittedly not a bad thing. It could lead the both of them to something that would eventually become what would eventually become a solution. However, she admittedly wished for more. It was selfish, of course. The Captain was very clear here to listen to her and provide her with as much help as she needs in her own way. However, with all that's happened lately with the being in question, her blades, and even herself to an extent, she just wanted some kind of personal victory that she could claim for herself, and so far, it did not seem as though the Captain was going to grant any sort of victory.

This selfishness would cause Kimiko to remain quiet for a bit longer. It would cause her to look towards the floor with a bit of a frown, and hold Shizukakane closer to her. At a certain point, she would even find herself looking back over her shoulder to gaze at the doors that had long since been closed by the officers outside. Eventually, though, she would feel compelled to speak further. It did not make sense for her to remain this quiet. "I... Yeah, I came here for that," she began again as she pushed herself into the chair. There seemed to be a bit of a struggle in her emotions, one that was rather intense, judging by the darkness in her eyes. It ranged from anger to disappointment to fear, all of which caused her to move her head somewhat haphazardly. It was very clear that whatever she wanted to convey was not coming out right, or rather, she was actually a bit afraid of letting it out. "I just wanted to talk about... about a lot of things."  

She would look over her shoulder once again towards the door. It was a long stare this time. She kept this stare up for a good moment, trying to sense if the people outside were listening. Eventually, she would turn her head back towards Celes and let out a heavy sigh. "Let me just tell you everything."

And from that point onward, she spoke. She would go on to tell Celes everything about what has happened in her life since the last time they have met. She would tell her about what took place before the demonic invasion between herself and Taishokukane, about how she wildly excited she felt during it, and how many demons she just wished to kill without stop. Then, she would tell her about how the being in her nightmares having took shape as a mirrored version of herself and threatened Shizukakane's very life, and then what was done thereafter in an attempt to mitigate the threat. She would even go to speak in detail about how she acquired her Bankai within her Inner World, about what it had done to her surroundings when came out of her Inner World, and what she believed to be its main purpose as a defensive tool against the being. It all came out like an unending flood, a sheer torrent of information that sounded almost unbelievable to be considered as fact.

By the time she had finished speaking, Kimiko would grow silent for a moment as she continued to stare at the floor. Even though she just spoke of herself unlocking her Bankai, there was barely any interest in the matter. In fact, she did not appear to be happy about its obtention in the slightest. After a few seconds would pass, she would let out a quiet chuckle of disbelief. "I... Heh, I'm sorry. Everything I've said is just stupid." She would look away from Celes as she said those words, shaking her head as her hold around Shizukakane tightened. "I must sound so crazy while talking about this shit..." Though it was not obvious in hindsight, what resided behind her words was very clear. Despite her almost casual yet tired facade, those were words were meant to be a cry for help. A quiet and almost mute cry, yet a cry nonetheless.

[Celes Castellanos]

As the room was cleared and the two Shinigami sat face to face, Celes was curious to hear what was ailing the Third Seat. She had her suspicions, of course. As Kimiko spoke of her lack of sleep recently and the nightmares that persisted, the Captain placed the cup of water before her disciple. Hearing her take a sip put the Captain at ease. After all, Kimiko looked like a wreck. Sure, Kimiko wasn't prim and proper, but she dignified. This time was completely different. Bags under her eyes. Exhaustion wracking her body. Emotional distress that was clear as day. It truly ached the Captain's heart. To see her disciple in a condition like this. Thankfully, it seemed that Kimiko would be forward and would be open to talking about everything in detail. 

"Yeah... The ones with the woman." Celes nodded as Kimiko added on a little bit more. "Plural." Celes sighed. This was not going to be an easy topic to discuss. After all, Celes had a feeling as to what this woman was. What she represented. It was the same ailment that Camila had. What Celes has. Now Kimiko seemed to demonstrate extremely similar experiences and the Captain bit her lip, gently grinding her teeth together. "Why you too. Why does everyone I'm close to have to have this damn problem..." To Celes, it was infuriating. After all, she could handle herself. She knew her own ability. She could deal with the consequences. Could Kimiko though? If she truly did have an Inner Hollow then the only two things that awaited her were expulsion... or death. Neither were appealing to the Captain as she became visibly angry about the situation. 

Regardless, she'd listen to her disciple in full. "I just wanted to talk about... about a lot of things." Celes nodded and leaned forward, taking occasional sips from the water that stood before her. The Captain's eyes would perk up as Kimiko seemed to stare at the door for a moment. She'd do this for a few more moments. It would not be hard for Celes to tell what she was doing. After all, she had been cautious of others in the room and as such, Celes could understand that she'd make sure that there were no prying ears to listen in on the conversation. Turning back to Celes, Kimiko spoke and Celes had to admit. She was surprised. "Let me just tell you everything."

The Captain simply nodded, tapping the glass of water. Suddenly, the Captain was filled in on all the details over the next few minutes. How Kimiko felt excited to cut through the demons during the last great invasion. How this woman had appeared in her Inner World and her dreams, threatening and taunting her. How she threated to kill Shizukakane. Even how she had recently been able to achieve the fabled Bankai and the effect that it had on the world around her. Celes had to admit. It was a lot. Yet it came in such vivid descriptions and detail that the Captain had to take it as truth. Hell, she'd never call Kimiko a liar, especially if the disciple came all this way to tell her what had happened. After Kimiko finished with her descriptions, Celes tapped the table. Gripping the cup, she'd quickly down the rest of the water in one gulp, sighing shortly after.

"I've to admit, that is certainly something to be stressed out about. I am happy, no...ecstatic to hear that you were able to achieve Bankai, Kimiko..." She sighed for a moment. "I just wish that it was under better circumstances." There would be no deception in her voice. In fact, her voice was more melancholy even as she congratulated her disciple in her achievement. It was truly a momentous occasion and yet there was something about it that troubled the Captain. The circumstances in which she had to obtain it. It turned a great achievement into one that Celes secretly hoped wouldn't happen, especially after hearing how the Bankai seemed to affect the world. How it drained the vitality of those around it. Even plants and animals...the very ground itself was not safe. 

As the two sat in silence, Celes had much to think about it. With the growing nightmares, it became clear to the Captain that this separate entity could be only one thing. And yet...she did not wish to believe it. She did not want Kimiko to experience that same pain. Suddenly, the silence was broken by Kimiko who gave a light chuckle. "I... Heh, I'm sorry. Everything I've said is just stupid." The Captain raised an eyebrow. She blinked briefly as Kimiko continued to seemingly invalidate her own worries and fears. "I must sound so crazy while talking about this shit..." The Captain's brow furrowed for a moment. Her cheeks flushed red. Not with embarrassment, but with a slight tinge of anger. She gritted her teeth. "I won't lie. It is a lot. It sounds delusional..." Celes stood up and rose to her feet, stepping to the window that allowed the Captain to look out into the nearby woods. She'd place her hand on the hilt of her blade, looking out the window. "And yet I know that it's not." She'd turn her head towards Kimiko. "You're hurting. You're aimless. You don't know who you can trust with it. I know because I felt as you did. Camila felt as we did." She'd sigh.

With a turn of her heel, the Captain returned to her seat, easing back into it. She'd clasp her hands together, pondering for a moment. Her voice would have little warmth to it as she spoke briefly. "Tell me something. Have you ever had a lapse in your memory? A time when you felt like when you weren't in control of yourself. More than that. Have you ever felt as though someone was puppeteering your body for you? Finally, as you wake, all that's left is untold destruction and your energy quickly slipping away from you." As she spoke, it would be clear that the vividness was not just from inspiration. Quite the opposite. Celes had gone through this. It would be clear as day as she described it. If Kimiko confirmed or mentioned a fairly similar experience, the Captain would give a heartfelt sigh. This was her student. Someone she cared for deeply and she was suffering. 

She closed her eyes for a moment. She needed more information. She ruminated on it, staying as silent as she could be. After a dozen or so seconds, she tapped her fingers on the table. "I fear that we need to approach this situation surgically..." She'd pause for a moment. "Do you remember that technique that we used to visit Yunorashi together?" She'd give Kimiko a moment though she felt that an experience such as that was rather difficult to simply forget. "This time, I think we should visit yours. Talk to your Zanpakutou Spirits together..." Celes knew the gravity of her request. To the Captain, an Inner World was a sacred place. One could not simply impose themselves on the Inner World of another. Yet she'd hope that Kimiko trusted her enough to take a deep-dive into her very soul. 

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Kimiko tried her best to recount everything that has happened to her in front of Celes. She was aware that it was a lot of information to take in and that it sounded quite ridiculous from an outsider's point of view, and so she made sure to not to explain it all too quickly. Nevertheless, she went fast enough, and it was enough for anyone to get lost in it or, worse, think of it all as some crazy fairy tale not worth listening to. In all honesty, she wouldn't even have blamed Celes for thinking that it all sounded like utter nonsense. If she would have been in her place, she would have most definitely thought that the whole story was something that someone had cooked up from some fantasy manga from the Living World that they found in a general store of Rukongai, or something that they decided to make up to tell others about. She had seen a few people who specialized in the domain of storytelling in the poorer districts beyond the gates, after all.

Judging by the expression she showed after everything was told, the Captain unsurprisingly did appear to think that it was a lot. However, the overwhelming nature of the information received didn't deter her from actually listening to it all, as was noticed while she spoke of Kimiko's Bankai. The dual swordswoman was not very happy to see how melancholic her mentor appeared to be about that particular side of the events she recounted. She knew that her friend had always wished to see her unlock her Bankai in one way or another back when she was a student of the Academy, and that she was actually fairly excited to eventually see it unfold before her eyes in the near future. To see this expectation turn from something positive to a disturbing reality was nothing short of saddening. If only they had known of the threat that compelled Kimiko to learn it, and of the terrible effects it carries along with it. At the very least, Shizukakane had the wisdom to bring Kimiko away from everyone when she activated it for the first time.

Eventually, as they both thought about this over, the scarlet-eyed woman found herself chuckling it away. It did sound ridiculous, maybe even downright stupid, and so a part of herself tried to save face before Celes like she was not sure the Captain was believing her. To her surprise, the response that she received from her friend was actually what she had been wanting to hear for a while. She believed her words wholeheartedly without a shred of a doubt, treating them incredibly seriously. Hearing her say such things about what she went through and also how she felt in this moment caused her to stare intently at her friend, as though her hopes were finally being realized after such a long time of individual struggle. It was a very nice thing to hear, especially since it seemed like Celes had dealt with something similar before with someone named Camila. Hell, it even seemed like she has experience with the matter her... self?

Wait, why was Celes speaking this way? The more the conversation went on, the more the Captain appeared to very acquainted with the problem she was facing. It was like she was very experienced with it, enough so that she can recognize the symptoms and immediately recognize the danger that could stem from them. This particular aspect was further put into light when she started asking questions, something which caused Kimiko to stare at her in a bit of shock. "I... not the puppet thing, but..." she would stammer quietly as she slowly started to realize something about her mentor. She wasn't quite sure if it was true, and so she didn't bother asking her directly, but it sounded as though Celes was in the exact same predicament as she was. Somehow, she too was dealing with an unknown dangerous being that only she appeared to be able to interact with, and somehow, she appeared to have great experience with it. 

The silence that followed allowed Kimiko to quietly ponder on the matter a bit further. It all came abruptly, but now, it was getting increasingly clear that she had a very obvious person she could depend on while dealing with this threat. If Celes has experience with these beings, then it means that she knows what they are specifically and so potentially has knowledge they could use against them. Moreover, once they know what those beings are supposed to be, they can then potentially study them at the library that remains at the Academy for more information, assuming that information is publicly available. If all else fails... they could maybe even ask Ailene at that tea shop she mentioned way back then. Sure, she was an Arrancar, but she was on good terms with the dual swordswoman (or at least she was assuming she was), and she was an avid bookworm. Someone like that will definitely have information about anything, even the most obscure and confidential of historical cases.

Either way, after the moment of silence would pass, Celes would eventually propose the both of them to do something that could alleviate the situation at hand. To put it shortly, she wanted to access Kimiko's Inner World with that Jinzen technique they used to both access her own at once. The prospect, at first, caused Kimiko to hesitate. Although her Inner World was definitely among the safest places she could confine herself to in times of need - or well, at least half of it could be considered as such - she was not sure of how her spirits were going to react to this. More specifically, she wasn't sure how Taishokukane was going to react to this. Then, there's the matter of the being herself, who she could still swear was watching her in the distance whenever she was there. If she sees Celes... she might be compelled to become more than just a simple illusion and actually appear before them, and if that happens... Well, Kimiko wasn't sure of what would happen if it does.

After pondering on these matters for a bit longer, the dual swordswoman would eventually come to the conclusion that it might be a good idea to go along with the idea anyway. Despite the fact that her Zanpakuto spirits are on edge ever since she acquired her Bankai, Shizukakane is at least welcoming enough. He only said good things about Celes, and he has told Kimiko about the prospect of potentially meeting her one day in purpose, be it in the Inner World itself or otherwise, so he most likely won't have any issues with Celes. As for Taishokukane and that being... They will have to manage them accordingly. Together, they will most definitely be able to face them without any issues, right? "If you think it's a good idea... then alright," she would let out as a sigh, then raise herself from the chair which was given to her. Though she was still visibly exhausted, the Captain's suggestion did make her feel a bit better. "Where do you want to do this...?"

[Celes Castellanos]

"I... not the puppet thing, but..." Celes heard the soft mutter as she began to describe her own problems with Yukito. There had been several occasions in which her emotions had gotten the better of her. She had become unstable and filled with the urge to kill. To maim. To dismember. It was at these points when her Inner Hollow thrived. He thought she was weak. That her caring attitude made her a liability. Yet it was during this moments of extreme anger that Yukito truly related to Celes. It would be during those times that her strong emotional response allowed the Inner Hollow to creep to the surface, possessing her body and suppressing her personality. After each instance... she felt drained. Not to mention the occasional lapses of memory. Things that she could recall in the moment would simply vanish, never to be seen or heard again. 

A moment of silence suddenly came upon them and Celes pondered. She thought of how much her disciple had grown. How much she had learnt. It was this very fact that also made her a liability. The Inner Hollow, once emerged, took full control of her body. It would ravage everyone and everything around them. Nothing was safe from the cruelty. This was further compounded by how Kimiko had described the nature of her Bankai. The amount of untold destruction that could be caused by someone of Celes' or Kimiko's caliber was too great to imagine. Celes bit her lip and sighed for a moment. Her mind raced on one particular thought. One thought that haunted her. "If she did have such an episode...could I bring myself to cut her down? ...Nay. The question is, could I even cut her down?" She shook her head for the moment, not wanting to think about such things. 

With a greater understanding and fear of this potential outcome, Celes was growing desperate. Soon, she'd bring up the technique that Kimiko and her had used to visit Yunorashi. A skill that allowed others to access the Inner World of another others. "Perhaps her Zanpakutou Spirits have some insight to provide? Shizukakane seems wise enough. It's the other one that I'm worried about... Well. No reason to trouble her with that concern." As she finished, it seemed that Kimiko had to give it a moment of though. Celes couldn't blame her. It was a privilege that she did not believe that she could really ask of another and yet... the circumstances demanded it. It seemed that Kimiko would agree. "If you think it's a good idea... then alright," Celes nodded and smiled. She was relieved to see that Kimiko still trusted her enough. Especially after the Captain continued to keep the true nature of her affliction a secret. "Where do you want to do this...?" 

Celes though about it for a moment. If even the smallest error occurred, the consequences could be devastating. She could not risk the danger to Soul Society or her Division. Tapping her chin, she spoke quietly, rising out of her chair as well. "You remember the clearing I showed you? Where we first performed the technique? I believe that it may be a good idea to do it there. Away from prying eyes, you know." Hopefully the reasoning would be sufficient to the disciple. If it wasn't she would be open to another spot that Kimiko recommended. If it agreed with her, however, Celes would nod and begin to make her way to the doors of the Barracks. Thankfully, the free time that she had given her Division allowed the two of them to not encounter very many of the Tenth. Regardless, as she'd reach the main gate with Kimiko hopefully in tow, Celes turned her head to look at Kimiko. Normally the journey through the forest wouldn't be a big deal. Yet.. Kimiko was clearly exhausted. The Captain spoke briefly. "Follow me." With that, Celes began to dash into the woods.

The Captain would purposefully move at a much slower speed to allow Kimiko to keep up. She did not want to be patronizing, but she had to be cognizant of the Third Seat's deteriorating condition. As such she'd take simpler paths around trees and through the occasional brush. It would take a little longer, but soon the Captain and hopefully Kimiko would find themselves in the clearing. There would be a few changes since the last time Kimiko was there, however. The rock that Celes typically sat on had several depressions. The stone was chipped into. The splinters of tree bark covered the ground and even one large tree was entirely missing, the twisted remains of the tree growing solemnly from the ground. Celes would not give any heed to the mess, even if Kimiko asked. Regardless of the condition, it simply had to do. 

The Captain would make her way over to the rock that she normally sat upon for regular Jinzen, making enough room for Kimiko to join her. Celes turned towards Kimiko, speaking in a fairly soft tone, hoping that the Shinigami would join her atop the boulder. "Now then. Just like before. We have to harmonize our soul resonances. We've done it before so it shouldn't take as long, but I've to admit, I'm out of a little practice..." As she was preparing to do so, something suddenly crossed Celes' mind. The process would leave the two of them in Kimiko's Inner World. While their bodies would continue to exist in Soul Society, Celes' consciousness would largely be transferred into Kimiko's Inner World. That's when it hit her. Yunorashi would be left alone with Yukito! The Inner Hollow was likely aware of what they were trying to do even if he remained silent. Could she risk it? Celes thought about it for a moment and made up her mind rather quickly.

She'd quickly detach from Kimiko if the Third Seat attempted to latch on. As she spoke, there'd be some urgency in her voice. "Wait! There's something that crossed my mind. I know this is a lot to ask, but would you mind if Yunorashi joins us?" As she asked it, Celes was quite aware of the insanity of her request. Implementing Shinigami into the technique was difficult enough. Taking something as foreign as a Zanpakutou Spirit would likely be even more difficult. Regardless, Celes would persist. "Sorry... I'd just feel more... comfortable if she was with us." Celes bit her her lip, waiting for Kimiko's answer. Part of her believed that even a request like this from her would be impossible. Despite that, she would hope that Kimiko would oblige. 

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Before she experienced the brunt of her recent troubles, Kimiko never has had an issue regarding where she would conduct Jinzen. In her eyes, it had always been a very simple and reliably-portable ritual that could be accomplished anywhere, or well, at least in a place that was theoretically safe. This meant that she would usually accomplish the ritual in a multitude of different areas, like the noisy training grounds of her division, the Colosseum that she had grown so accustomed to whenever it was being reserved for training, and some of the rooms that composed the barracks of her squad. She would also conduct the ritual in her private quarters as well whenever the need arose, though those instances were admittedly a bit rarer in comparison to others, seeing as she preferred to see her quarters as a place solely meant for resting rather than training. Not that her communications with the spirits in her blade always revolved around training... but they unsurprisingly often did, which was somewhat to be expected from a swordswoman like her.

However, the introduction of her Bankai has caused several issues with the placement of the ritual. As she explained to Celes earlier, her ability had spilled out of her Inner World when she first unleashed it, which caused it to absorb everything in her vicinity. She could still remember the devastation left by that initial release. What was once only but a quiet little corner of a vast forest of Rukongai had turned into a dead crater from which life had been siphoned until it could no longer exist. The trauma she experienced that day has prevented her from returning to the spot, though for all she knows, life has yet to return to the crater. Her Bankai has not spilled out of her Inner World since then, but even so, she has been trying her damnedest to choose locations that would prevent others from being harmed by it should it ever do so once again while she is training with it. At times, she even personally went in remote locations of the Living World above the ground to make sure she would not hurt anyone. Needless to say, she has been fortunate to not have been attacked by a Stray Hollow during those moments.

Celes did not suggest that they go to the Living World to conduct this simultaneous Jinzen. In fact, it didn't seem as though it even crossed her mind, which caused Kimiko to hesitate again. However, given Kimiko's current mood and tiredness, it was probably for the better. Instead, what was suggested was the training grounds of the Tenth Division, more specifically the location which they've used during their last concurrent session. Even though it has been quite some time since she has gone to that place herself, the swordswoman could faintly recall it. It was an enclosed area located away from the main installations of the Tenth, a quiet peace of nature where they will probably never be disturbed. Admittedly, even after pondering on it for a bit, she found it doubtful that even an accidental activation of Kimiko's Bankai would cause anything any harm should the ritual be conducted there. The area would be lost, but at the very least, no one would be hurt or worse. In so doing, she would eventually nod quietly. "Yeah... Let's go there."

And so, once a conclusion was reached, they would do just that. The Captain and the Third Seat would leave the office and head over to the training grounds with a calm step at first. They would pass a few of the officers of the Tenth who were steadily waking from their slumber and readying themselves for the day, and also a few others who were apparently coming back from their nightly duties. Once the both of them would find themselves out of the main building of the barracks, they would then proceed into the training grounds. They would do so quickly, dashing from path to path between multiple bushes and trees with surprising speed. Kimiko may have been mentally exhausted by all that's happened, but it was very clear that she was still very efficient on a physical level. In fact, if Celes ever reached her full speed during this dash, she would be able to realize that her speed would almost be equal to the Third's Seat. It was quite the feat, especially given the lessened time Kimiko has spent as a Shinigami compared to the norm.

A minute or so later, they would finally arrive to the clearing which they previously used so long ago. Upon noticing it, the scarlet-eyed woman would slow down, then inspect her surroundings. She had been admittedly expecting the place to have not changed in the slightest despite the passing of time, and given the natural beauty of the area, she was hoping that it had remained untouched. However, upon their arrival, she would very quickly realize that something had happened to it. The rocks which populated the area had somehow shrunk, now appearing smaller than their previous incarnation, and they showed signs of damage. These changes were already strange enough, but what was even stranger still was the condition of one of the nearby trees. Somehow, it had been completely destroyed down to its very roots, and now, only splinters remained which lied on the grass below. "... Did someone come here earlier...?" She found herself asking to Celes, unsure of what to feel about this. No response would be given to her question, however, and so she would move on feeling just disappointed about the matter.

The two of them would proceed towards one of the depressed rocks to adopt their ritualistic positions. Celes was the first to set herself up on the rock, while Kimiko would follow suit to the best of her ability on the rock. She still was visibly hesitant on letting the Captain access her Inner World, though by the time she was properly set near her mentor on the rock, she felt they had gone too far enough to stop now. Doing so would just cause her to come back to square one, or maybe even worse depending on how her friend or even the beings in her Inner World will react to it all. "Yeah, same... I've never really had the time to learn the technique myself..." she would admit as she placed the both of her swords side-by-side onto her lap. Her spiritual energy already felt a bit charged, though not dark. It was lighter, more palatable for the person that was sitting right across her. "Just gimme a moment... It shouldn't take me too long."

After this was said, she would try to begin the synchronous ritual. She would close her eye and attempt to feel Celes' soul for optimal resonance. However, right as she was about to achieve contact, she would be interrupted, causing her to frown confusingly and open her eyes towards the Captain as she spoke of Yunorashi. At first, the Third Seat was somehow reluctant. It had been a long time since she had even met the younger spirit in-person, and the last time they had done so, she had grown terribly excited during a spar against her. She really didn't need that to happen again, not while they had better things to do. Still, upon hearing that Celes felt more comfortable in her presence, she couldn't help but feel bad about pushing Yunorashi away. Even prior to this conversation, she knew that the spirit has always been important to her mentor. "... Alright, fine." A brief sigh followed her as she gave her approval. "I don't know if letting her in will make the ritual work... but we'll try."

The Third Seat would then take a deep breath and attempt to focus once again. Now that Celes was actually conducting the technique, she could use her mentor's soul as an anchor once again. Her soul would pulse rapidly during the beginning of the process, a sign of the stress she has suffered in recent times, but soon enough, it would lessen until it would mimic the beat of Celes' own soul. Once again, she would experience the alien feeling that came with the experience. She would be able to feel Celes, her being and her person, and the connection that was established between the both of them. It was a kind of personal enlightenment that Kimiko had not felt in more than an entire decade, and feeling it once again felt... relieving. She felt protected, safe under her mentor's veterancy, and the further this connection was established, the more she started to believed that everything would be alright. Perhaps she will find the answers that she believed she deserved today.

And then, finally, their unified consciousness left this reality.

---

Kimiko would feel it again as she has now felt it countless times before. She would experience the separation of her soul from her main body as it descended into another plane of reality. The air became nothing but the void, the rock below them lost all manner of physicality, and eventually, she found herself floating in the darkness. All she could feel in this moment was the slight vertigo that usually came from the transferring process of the Jinzen ritual, and the connection that she still felt between herself and Celes. Eventually, of course, this alien feeling of non-being would eventually come to an end, and by the time, she would be able to feel the familiarity of her Inner World. She could feel the temperature reach a comfortable level, the wind brush up against her self, and the rays of a sun shining above. Once the vertigo would truly cease to be, she would open her eyes, and upon seeing it, she would let out a sigh of relief.

Standing before them were the Fields of Tranquility. The grass which had once been ripped from the grounds below back at the clearing now sprawled infinitely into the horizon, waving quietly against the pleasant breeze, and the cloudy skies were bright. It was a stark contrast to the darkened morning the Soul Society offered to them today, a picturesque that couldn't be any more pleasant to witness with one's own eyes. Kimiko herself would simply stare at them for a moment with an almost-nostalgic smile, not saying a thing in the moment before she would eventually remember that she was not standing alone in the greenery. "Here we are," she would say as she turned her gaze over shoulder towards Celes. "Well... at least on Shizukakane's side. I thought we would end up elsewhere, but... this is better." 

There were a few more things that could be noted from this environment. Though the green plains and their beautiful skies sprawled so far that they almost appeared endless on one end of the horizon, there were several enormous trees that stood on the other. They were enormous and dark, enough so that they appeared quite large even from where they stood. Additionally, there was another detail in the far distance. Far, far away, so far that it could barely be properly described from this spot... the skies appeared to be completely white. This whiteness was so thick too that it caused a sort of shadow to appear on the ground below. It was quite ominous, yet somehow, Kimiko paid no attention of it. Who could blame her? After all, it was incredibly far away, almost so much that it might as well be invisible.

[Celes Castellanos]

The Captain stared at Kimiko with a pleading look as she was practically begging her disciple to allow Yunorashi into the latter's' inner world. Celes knew the difficulty that this would present, but it was a risk that she had to take. The Captain was initially worried as she read Kimiko's body language. She seemed somewhat displeased. Then again, Celes could not blame her. The Captain, after all, offered no explanation... no reasoning for why she wanted her Zanpakutou Spirit to accompany them. She understood that it must have been frustrating and yet she saw no other way. Thankfully, Kimiko would seemingly oblige. "... Alright, fine." A brief smile arose on Celes' face. "I don't know if letting her in will make the ritual work... but we'll try." Keeping her smile, she'd speak in a warm tone. "No worries, I'll handle Yunorashi. You just worry about attuning to me." Once again, her words would be somewhat cryptic, but Celes had to admit to herself. She had never tried this before!

Hearing Kimiko take a deep breath, Celes would join her as she did her best to harmonize her soul with that of her disciple. She had done it before... she could do it again! Celes honed her physical strength past peak physical fitness. What she had in incredible physical prowess, she lacked in spiritual proficiency. Her reiatsu was far less dense than that of her disciple. As such, Celes had to simply focus to maintain her reiatsu stable enough so that Kimiko could harmonize. After all, she'd have to lower her own resonance to properly harmonize. It would take a few moments, but soon, the two Shinigami would replicate the maneuver that they had pulled off years ago. It was then that she felt Kimiko's soul mesh with her own.

The Captain had to admit that she had forgot the feeling. The confidence that radiated within Kimiko's soul. Unwavering honor that guided her move. The Captain smiled as she concentrated further on her disciple. Suddenly she felt herself flicker. She could feel her spirit be drawn into Kimiko's. It felt different from when she entered her own Inner World. It felt... foreign. Yet she also felt safety similar to her own. Unfortunately, the Captain could not fully indulge in the feeling. As her vision blurred and she felt herself transition into the Inner World of her disciple, Celes held back just a little. "Not all. Keep just a small fragment behind..." As she did this, her vision finally went dark and her consciousness transcended.

As Kimiko arose within her Inner World, so would Celes' body materialize beside her. "Here we are," the student spoke as Celes remained kneeling, her eyes closed. Even as Kimiko addressed Celes with her next comment, "Well... at least on Shizukakane's side. I thought we would end up elsewhere, but... this is better.", there would be no response from her mentor. Celes' body would continue kneeling there, seemingly undisturbed by any noise or stimuli. At a closer glance, it even seemed that the Captain was barely breathing. She'd just kneel there, statuesque in appearance, not responding to anyone's voice or action. For part of her consciousness, her very soul, temporarily resided in a different place.

---

Celes opened her eyes, but she would not find herself in an unfamiliar place. Quite the opposite. The sight of a dense forest with giant crowns of leaves, the Acropolis able to be seen looming in the background, instantly made her recognize her Inner World. As Celes stood, she felt herself briefly stumble. As she did, she looked down at her body as her eyes widened. Her skin, the clothes she wore. They were all hazy... distorted even. Her body occasionally flickered in minor ways as she called out to her Zanpakutou Spirit. "Y̷̫͊ù̷͚n̵͉͆õ̶̺ṛ̷̐a̵̺̓s̵͔͗h̶̻̋í̸̥.̸̹̇ ̵͖̿W̴͔̓h̴̡̍ě̶̮r̶͝ͅȇ̸̦ ̸̱̑a̸͙̋ṟ̵̈́e̵͎̓ ̸͖͝ỹ̶͓ó̴̝u̸̗̓?̷̦͊ ̵̥̈Y̷̩͒u̵̞̍n̵̘̽o̷̢̽r̴̖͛ả̵̰ṣ̷͌ḧ̷̦́i̴̢̅!̵͓̽" The Captain paused for a moment. Even her voice sounded distorted with this fragment of her present in her Inner World. Suddenly, she heard rustling in the crown of a nearby tree. She braced herself. As she tried to move, she'd fall to one knee again, obviously weakened. If it was Yukito... she'd be at the Inner Hollow's mercy. Thankfully, fate would not be so unkind.

From the treetops leapt the Zanpakutou Spirit, Yunorashi. As she gazed upon Celes, her eyes widened. She saw the Captain, her partner, in a moment of weakness. She could not help, but take advantage of the situation as she smirked briefly. "Well then. Look who it is. Especially in such a sorry state. Just what did you to yourself this time, Celes?" She'd grin playfully. Celes merely huffed and rolled her eyes. "Ḑ̴̾r̶͉͗ọ̵̒p̶͈̂ ̷̦̑t̴̏͜h̵̳̐é̸̖ ̷͇͝s̸̠͆a̸̹͊r̸̳̉c̵̣̋a̸̤̅s̴̜̄m̷͉͋ ̶͓̚Y̸̫̓u̸͛͜n̶̩̐o̷͝ͅr̶̜͊a̸̫͑s̷̡̎h̴͘ͅi̶̾͜!̸̮͝ ̴̗̍Y̴͇͊ó̵̺ȗ̷͔ ̵͙̊k̸͔̚n̵͂͜ō̶̤w̴̙̅ ̴͇͂e̸̤͗x̴̯͑a̷̝̓c̶͚̀t̸̢̄l̶̹͊ỵ̸̂ ̸̧̃w̶̹͆h̶̨̆ý̴̳ ̷̥̉I̸̜͋'̶̣̅m̴̐ͅ ̷͚̍h̴̡̛e̸͔͠r̴̺̾e̸̍͜!̴͈́ ̴̫̆" Even as she spoke in the same distorted tone, Yunorashi listened absentmindedly. She'd keep grinning, clearly understanding Celes perfectly or damn near perfectly. "Yeah I know. But why should I help? You've done nothing, but disrespect me when you here not a few moments ago. I know when your being patronizing, Celes. Remember. I know you better than you know yourself." The Captain simply groaned in response to this. Turns out that fragmenting her soul like this, aiming to coexist in three places at once was far more difficult and painful than it seemed. Regardless, Celes gritted her teeth and persevered.

"̵͉̾L̷̖̾o̶̩͠o̶̔͜k̸̝͂.̷͇͝.̶͚̈́.̷̢̛ ̴͙̌Ḭ̷̄'̷̩̉ḿ̵͔ ̴̯͝s̵̪̃ó̴̮r̸̡̋ṛ̸͋y̸͙̚ ̴͖̃f̴͔̊ọ̵̀ȑ̴̭ ̷̰̚h̴̫́ö̶͍ẅ̶̧́ ̴͙͒I̵̝̋ ̵̱̆c̷͙̿á̵̗m̸̡͑e̵̻͐ ̷̜̕ą̶͝ċ̶͈ȓ̶͍ō̴̳s̷͇̑s̵̹͂.̵̞͆ ̴̹͌I̴̝̓ ̷̛͜c̴̛̝a̴̤͝r̶̳͌e̷̙͝ ̸͍̋f̸̫̏o̷̝͊r̸͉̾ ̷͈̿ẏ̶̱o̵͎̚u̷͖͆ ̴͎͒Ỳ̵̙ṷ̸̄n̷̨͠o̵̬̚r̴̊͜ḁ̶͐s̴͙͠h̴̳͋i̶͚͑.̷̺̄.̴̦͆.̷̻̌ ̸̪͝I̷̙̅ ̸͔͐n̵͕̆ě̸͜v̵̝̈́e̷͋ͅr̵̮̐ ̴̟̚m̶̦̃e̷̖̊a̸͚̚n̷̨͝t̷̖̊ ̸̞̊t̵͇́ó̷͔ ̸̜͘h̶̘̊u̷͉̎ŗ̵͒ṱ̶̄ ̸̬̋y̸̬͌ỏ̷̺ü̷̹.̴̖̉ ̸͠ͅI̸͚̓'̴̼̌m̷̤̾ ̷̣̀j̴̤̓u̴͖̿s̸͈̈́t̷̞͑.̵̧̍.̵̫̇.̶̟̆ ̷͎͝I̷͖͐'̶̙̈m̵̐͜ ̸̣͝s̶̡͂c̵̟͋ȁ̶͍r̴̼̚é̵̞d̸̂͜ ̶͕̌ö̴̻́f̶̖̌ ̵̤͌l̷̦̄o̴͇̚s̶͕̋i̴͙͋n̸̛̙g̷̰̀ ̸̻̑ÿ̶̗́ȏ̸̳u̸͕̒.̸͙͝ ̸͓̈́P̵͓̐l̵̦͠ȅ̶̯ȁ̴̡s̶͖̈́e̶̺̒ ̵̳̍č̸̳ǫ̵̋ḿ̷͉e̸͍͐ ̴̡̈́w̷̝͠ḯ̶͓t̵̪̅h̷̭̾ ̷̰̍m̷̜̚e̵͚̓.̵̻̔ ̷̧͊J̷͕̚ű̵̼s̴̖͝t̴̞̾ ̸͎̏t̴̘͠h̵̭͑i̸̞̎ş̵̇ ̴̝̃ọ̴̓n̷̺̈c̴̰̈́ë̷̞?̷̗̂ ̸̤͊F̷̭͛o̵̯̽r̷̞͋ ̵̻͌m̵̝̍ÿ̴̨ ̸͈̋o̴̪͒w̸͈͌n̶̞̽ ̶̪͑p̴̳͑é̴͖a̶͖̎c̴̗̍e̴̦͑ ̷̖̐o̵̘͆f̸̞͌ ̶̬͠ḿ̷̘ȋ̵̖n̷̍͜d̸̨͠.̵̠̌.̶̩̅.̸̚͜"̴͍̽  As Celes knelt there, trying to hold on with whatever ounce of willpower she had, Yunorashi looked down at her. With a shake of her head, she'd sigh. "Oh.. you really are hopeless sometimes, Celes. Of course, I know you care about me." She'd begin to approach the hazy phantom of her Shinigami partner, kneeling down and looking into her eyes. "Let go. Allow yourself to fully integrate into her Inner World. I'll follow.." Celes nodded and Yunorashi placed her hand upon the phantom before her. In what felt like an instant, Yunorashi's reiatsu would immediately resonate with Celes' own as if it was second nature. With that familiar feeling, Celes' phantom flickered out of existence as Yunorashi began to glow. Her body would slowly dissipate, a radiant smile plastered on her face as she disappeared with her partner.

---

A few short moments, in the time of Kimiko's Inner World, after the Captain sat lifeless for a few moments, Kimiko would likely see Celes' chest rise and fall as normal. Her eyes would flutter for a moment. Suddenly, the Captain's body glowed a vibrant hue for a moment. As it did, Kimiko would likely feel a new sensation wash over her. A new reiatsu meshed with both her and Celes' though it felt very similar to that of the Captain's. Her reiatsu glowed. It was proud, if not more proud than Celes' ever was. Behind it upon closer inspection, however, was a childlike glee. A curiosity of a child. Suddenly, the glow began to dissipate from Celes' body. The spiritual particles would disperse and then consolidate. In a few moments, they'd start to form a body. After a few more moments, Yunorashi sat next to the Shinigami Captain, her eyes opening and a giggle filling the air. "Hehe~"

Celes' body, meanwhile, lost its sudden glow and returned to her normal skin tone. Suddenly, the Captain's joints began to crack. She'd stretch and groan gently. It felt so weird to have full control over her body after the experience that she just had. It was as though she had to relearn how to move for a moment. She'd sigh and look over, yawning, before smiling at Yunorashi. The Zanpakutou Spirit locked eyes with her and tilted her head, smiling back. Celes then looked over to hopefully see her disciple standing there. As she spoke, she'd seem slightly groggy. "Well then. It seems that we three are all accounted for. I'm glad that it worked without much of a hitch!" As she grinned, she held her side defensively as a modicum of pain shot through her. It seemed that her experience would leave her in a small amount of phantom pain for a moment, but she was fine. She could endure it.

Rising to her feet along with Yunorashi, the two would move their heads, giving Kimiko's Inner World a good look. They'd both smile at its natural beauty. It was so... freeing to see white open plains of grasslands. It was more akin to a optimistic reflection of half of Celes' Inner World. A plains not marred by the grisly art of war. Regardless, the pair would approach Kimiko closer. Before Celes could speak up, Yunorashi exclaimed loudly, her eyes dazzling. "Wow! This is absolutely incredible! I'm actually in someone else's Inner World... and it's so GORGEOUS!~" She could not hold back her excitement. Meanwhile, Celes shook her head and chuckled. "Well Kimiko, when it comes to your Inner World, I am the student. You are the expert in this scenario. Lead the way." She'd speak warmly, attempting to encourage Kimiko. Sure, she was dazzled by the nature of the Inner World, but Celes was more proud of how far Kimiko had come. She wanted to make that clear as she spoke to her disciple.

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Kimiko had to admit that it was a rather strange feeling to welcome another in her Inner World. In essence, this place is meant to be the one in which she could confine herself to without worry. It was here she could be always at peace away from the outside world, on her own with only but her Zanpakuto spirits to accompany her. Well, at least the Fields made her feel this way. Their vast greenery truly allowed for great retrospection and the development of an inner peace of sorts, something which theoretically would not be easily accomplished with another person by her side. But... Celes felt like the right person to bring here. She was the person she trusted most above all who she had become acquainted with over her career as a Shinigami, and she was one of the only people out there who she could verily refer to as a real friend. If anything, with that kind of description tagged to her within her mind, it was only natural that the Jinzen process would proceed well-enough without an hitch.

Only, it did have an hitch. A most shocking and terrible hitch.

Upon their arrival to the Fields, the swordswoman would rapidly realize that her first words would not be responded to, which was odd; after all, Celes was quite the talkative person, and she usually answers her. By the time she fully turned her head over her shoulder, however, she would realize that there was something wrong with her friend. She was kneeling on the ground, immobile, unresponsive. At first, the Shinigami did nothing, a bit too bewildered by the sight of the almost statuesque Captain.  "... Celes?" She'd call, trying to see if her voice would cause a reaction from her friend. However, in response to her calling, she would get nothing but the sound of the wind blowing around them and the brushing of the grass below. The lack of an actual response caused her, by then, to fully turn towards her friend and slowly approach her with widened eyes. "Celes? Celes, are you alright?" She would call again as she would find herself closer to her friend. Unfortunately, once again, she would get nothing... and this time, the Third Seat would start to feel worried.

This was not normal. She definitely could tell that it wasn't, as the last time they executed this technique, the both of them had arrived in Celes' Inner World without experiencing any issues of the sort. Did something go wrong while they were going through the soul resonance process? No, she could still feel the connection between herself and Celes. So, in a way, she was here... but also definitely not here. So then, have they missed a step? Was this because they tried to bring Yunorashi here as well? More importantly, was Celes alright? The more the questions piled up, the more Kimiko felt like her chest was about to burst. If this would have been any other technique, she would have perhaps been less worried, but this was one that required the transposing of their soul from one place to another. If something went wrong during this process, then there was a definite possibility that, somehow, only a portion of Celes' soul was able to reach her Inner World. If that is what happened, then the soul may have been damaged irreparably.

"Oh, no, no." A quiet mutter of utter shock would come out of Kimiko as she stood there under skies which started becoming darker with more clouds casting shadows below. This was not supposed to happen. This was never meant to happen! Why did it have to happen? Why now?! Again, the questions came, and their weight now started to press onto her shoulders. They were making her feel helpless, hopeless, powerless. She wanted to do something about this, to fix this so that whatever was happening to Celes could be repaired in one way or another. However, she did not have any tools at her disposal to really fix this problem, nor the knowledge that could allow her to come up with a solution to it all. All she really had was her current spiritual connection to Celes, and she had a feeling that interacting with it any further than they have now may cause the problem to be aggravated, or worse, to somehow affect her as well.

The further this went on, the darker the clouds above became. They brewed with the worry of their creator, taking away the brightness of the sun and instead replacing it with stormy greys. Noticing this, Kimiko would attempt to calm down. She would try to breathe in and out, to bring about a rhythm within her mind that would forcefully put her fears to rest for the time being. Yet it was clear that it wasn't working in the slightest. She couldn't quell the panic that was starting to be born within her heart, not even in the slightest. Fearful for her mentor's life, her eyes would immediately attempt to look around towards the horizons of the Plains so as to find Shizukakane. She wanted him to come here as soon as possible, to grant her his great knowledge and wisdom now so that they could a solution together. In her panic, she almost even turned her head towards the great trees in the distance to find Taishokukane, despite knowing he would perhaps leave Celes to her suffering.

It was just as she was about to scream for help that Kimiko would then witness the sudden rise of spiritual energy that came from Celes. Surprised by the happening, the swordswoman would find herself almost instinctively backing off from the Captain. "What...?" The word came out automatically as she witnessed the event occur. There was no way for her to explain it at that point in time, and for a moment, she believed that something wrong was happening to her mentor's soul. However, the negativity of the situation would eventually be swept away as the Third Seat suddenly felt a new connection latch onto her own soul. She wasn't sure of what this connection was supposed to be at first, and in all honesty, it felt quite odd to experience it all of a sudden. It was only once she felt the emotional elements of this link that she began to feel relieved. Pride and wisdom, both mixed in with the carelessness of youth. She was being linked to Yunorashi... and sure enough, the glowing would then transform into a liberation of particles that would lead to the spirit's manifestation.

Once the childish spirit and the Captain both awakened, Kimiko could only stand there staring incredulously at them both. It was very clear that she was confused about what happened and still wanted answers. Hell, she admittedly was even a bit angry about the fact that what had just happened to Celes was so very quickly being brushed under the rug. "But... But Celes, you..." she tried to babble out as an attempt to formulate what she felt about all that's happened. Unfortunately, she was not listened by either of them. By the time she was on the verge of forming something, Yunorashi was already openly stating her admiration for her Inner World, and Celes was trying to push Kimiko to lead them onward. This would cause the Third Seat to simply continue standing there completely bewildered and taken aback by everything, but eventually, she would give up to the feeling of relief that had been steadily building up within her. Whatever. Celes was alright. That was all that mattered. "... Yeah," she would sigh awkwardly as she dealt with the emotions she felt. "Just... follow me." 

For what appeared to be many minutes on end, Kimiko would lead the group forward through the ample greenery of the Fields. Although some may have believed this activity to be rather boring and uneventful, the beauty offered by the Inner World allowed the experience to at the very least be quite peaceful. It truly felt as though the three had been whisked into a painting turned life-like. Now that Celes' soul was confirmed to be unharmed, the skies had returned to the cloudy and sunny form they previously took, allowing the grass below to become vibrant again. It was as if the upcoming storm which once loomed over Kimiko and the previously-unresponsive state of the Captain had never passed to begin with. They would pass by a numerous amount of hills, each of which were of different sizes. Some would be small and almost imperceptible, while others would almost tower over even the Third Seat herself. At times, they would even see in the distance the presence of various sakura trees whose petals slowly fell down to the earth.

For someone who was meant to be quite emotionally troubled, Kimiko possessed quite the beautiful Inner World. It was as if none of her turmoil had affected it in any way. On one hand, this was good. It allowed her to seek refuge in a place that appeared to be quite reliable when searching for inner peace. On the other hand... this beauty was somewhat unnatural. An Inner World's appearance is meant to reflect one's psyche to a tee. For instance, a Shinigami is sad or lost, then the Inner World will react in accordance to this to an intense fashion. This is to provide a tangible input to the Shinigami, a plea to become better, so to speak. However, here, the clouds were the only elements that appeared to have been created by the Shinigami's woes. There was also the strange whiteness in the far, far distance and the forest where Taishokukane, but aside from those, the clouds were really the only troubling things here. It was odd, maybe even a bit worrisome.

Either way, Kimiko herself would not worry about this. It wasn't her main problem at the moment, and quite frankly, she much preferred seeing the Fields as is then under a storm, especially when Celes and Yunorashi were both here at her side. Instead, she would continue further onward until the three of them eventually reached a particular location. Situated onto a flat surface of grass was a single chabudai. It was large, enough to welcome at least four individuals, and currently held an iron teapot and four cups. Seated at the table was a gray-haired, scarred old man who wore ancient, bright white robes. His silver eyes were seemingly closed before the arrival of the women and the girl, though once they were near the table, he would allow them to open and stare at the new arrivals. He did all of this in silence for a moment, causing a bit of tension to briefly arise between himself and the foreign individuals before he would smile softly. "Ah.... You must be Shindazu-san... and you, her companion Yunorashi," his kind voice rose as he finished his analysis. "Welcome. Please, take a seat. Kimiko-chan has told me many things about you two."

Seeing the old man appear so welcoming to the new arrivals brought great relief to the Third Seat. She was very glad to see that he did not take their presence here badly, unlike a certain other individual. Who knows what would have happened if they had ended up appearing near the forest. Nevertheless, hearing him use that specific honorific made her feel a bit embarrassed.  Ugh... I feel like a kid all of a sudden,  her thoughts would complain lightheartedly for a brief moment before she herself sat at the table, hoping the others will be in tow. "Good morning. You look pretty good today."

"Oh, it would be inhospitable of me to not appear as such. We do have guests today, after all." It was a light jest, though the way he said it made it feel fairly heartwarming. For someone who looked like he had gone through a thousand wars, he didn't really act the part. Not at a first glance, at least.

[Celes Castellanos]

Having brought both herself and Yunorashi into Kimiko's Inner World was an astounding feat. In truth, it was an opportunity that Celes was not even sure they could achieve and yet... here they were. It felt marvelous and even as Yunorashi let her admiration run loose, Celes maintained her calm appearance. It was with this, that she would proclaim that it had seemed to work rather well. That it was time for the trio to move with Kimiko leading the way. Yet something felt off. Kimiko stood there, dumfounded as she stared at the pair. "But... But Celes, you..." The Captain merely tilted her head in confusion. Was her babbling a product of the technique? Surprised that it even worked? Celes was not, but she did notice something else. To contrast the beauty of the open field, the skies swirled with ominous clouds. She looked at Kimiko with a bit of worry until the Third Seat relented. "... Yeah,"

Turning away lead their trek, the Third Seat would continue. "Just... follow me." Celes nodded and began to follow her. Yunorashi, meanwhile, kept close by, but was acting much like the child she appeared to be. Running though the fields at much slower speeds, she'd definitely would seem to be enjoying herself. Celes gave a slight facepalm as she chose to ignore it for now. As they walked through greenery, the skis would change again. The one blackened and ominous clouds that swirled began to disperse. In their stead was the sun shining upon them, reflecting off of the grass which simply became even more vibrant because of them. This only encouraged Yunorashi more who was, at this point, skipping within arms reach of the group. She'd be having a splendid time regardless. 

Celes knew her disciple well. She had begun training her some time ago. Even now as they shared their very soul with one another, Celes was surprised by the appearance of the Inner World. Despite the troubles that Kimiko had... despite the stress that was piling up... besides the darkness that she knew loomed about somewhere, Kimiko's Inner World seemed rather carefree. The grass field was beyond beautiful and yet Celes was expecting something akin to her own. Some indication that there was trouble afoot. She looked around, sharpening her senses. As they walked for minutes upon minutes... Celes was defeated. She could not find anything of note. Anything that spoke of the turmoil that apparently raged within the Third Seat. In fact, the only thing that she really noticed was the occasional cloud, slightly more somber than the rest. Could they even root it out? Or, and Celes hated to think it, was there anything to even worry about in the first place? 

As they had walked across undulating elevations that dotted parts of their journey, Celes and Yunorashi would both see something peculiar. The ground itself began to even out. The air seemed to become more still... orderly. Much to the pairs amazement, a chabudai decorated a small part of the beautiful landscape. Four beautifully crafted cups with an iron teapot resting atop it. Unsurprisingly, there would already be someone residing there. The Captain would be on edge. She'd not recognize anyone here besides Kimiko and Yunorashi. As such, she felt that she needed to be extra careful. Approaching closer, Celes would get a closer look at him.

He was aged. Gray hair covered his head, scars stretched across his face, his skin was clearly subject to the test of time. She knew this was a Zanpakutou Spirit and as such, he may not have been what he seemed, but this was surprising for Celes. Yunorashi appeared to be a child. Yukito seemed to be a young adult. This one was an elder. Regardless, she knew that Zanpakutou Spirits did typically act according to appearance. As such, she would treat him with respect and look for wisdom in his words. His eyes originally closed, the Spirit began to move, acknowledging the guests that he was about to receive. The Captain tensed up in that moment. It would not be clearly visible, but she'd certainly be on her guard. She knew that the technique that linked them could be volatile. Yunorashi and Celes were foreigners. The Zanpakutou Spirits could be hostile. They could attack. They had to be ready!

Yet as Shizukakane looked up and greeted the trio with a smile, the tension that had built in Celes' body simply washed away. His voice seemed to rise just above the gentle breeze. It was... soothing. "Ah.... You must be Shindazu-san... and you, her companion Yunorashi," Celes blinked for a moment. "Shindazu-san? That's... certainly a new one. I barely like Captain Celes... much less Captain Shindazu. Should I say something? Would it be disrespectful?" Celes wanted to manuever around this very carefully. After all, she intended to give no disrespect. Meanwhile, Yunorashi was beside herself. Her eyes dazzled and she was clearly very excited. It was her first opportunity to meet someone like her. A Zanpakutou Spirit of another Shinigami. As soon the child-like Spirit met eyes with Shizukakane, she'd feel a familiarity even if they were completely different beings. The Spirit would continue his politeness. "Welcome. Please, take a seat. Kimiko-chan has told me many things about you two." 

Celes' cheeks flushed for a moment as she looked at Kimiko, a bit flustered by the fact that her disciple spoke about her. There would be no disappointment in her eyes, but she'd simply look away bashfully. Yunorashi gave a slight giggle at Celes' reaction. The Captain nodded and began to lower herself, somewhat ungracefully, unto the seat as her student spoke. "Good morning. You look pretty good today." This seemed to draw a response from the Spirit. "Oh, it would be inhospitable of me to not appear as such. We do have guests today, after all." Celes looked at Shizukakane and inspected him. Now that Kimiko mentioned, Celes had to admit that the Spirit was dressed rather formally as if he already expecting Celes and Yunorashi to attend today. 

She didn't wish to be rude and stare. Instead, her eyes would drift up to his and she'd speak. "Well, you certainly know how to receive guests. I am impressed." She'd smile briefly and leaning forward a little, she'd pause and then continue. "I mean no disrespect, but judging from how you are greeting us and with how Kimiko is acting..." She'd look at her disciple quickly before darting her eyes back. "You must be Shizukakane? If so, consider the honor of meeting, mine." She'd bow her head respectfully. "Kimiko has spoke of you with great respect. As her mentor, you've mine as well for guiding her where I could not." Celes' voice would sound a little sentimental though it'd be the least of everyone's worries. As the Captain spoke on ceremony, Yunorashi instead moved closer and closer to Shizukakane until she was, but a foot away. She'd stare at the elderly Zanpakutou Spirit with curiosity. Tilting her head, she'd grin. "This is so exciting! So this is what other Zanpakutou Spirits look like!" She'd briefly giggle. "I'm sorry! With the way that Kimiko described one of her Spirits, I was half expecting us to run into the one with HORNS and a MEAN LOOK!" She'd place her fingers behind her head, emulating devils horns as she wiggled them a little, breaking out into more laughter. All the while, Celes flushed more with embarrassment over how Yunorashi was acting.  

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Kimiko could tell that the conversation that they would have with Shizukakane was not going to be chaotic in any way. It wasn't going to be brash, bring about any form of disrespect, or somehow conclude into some kind of battle. Instead, it was going to be calm and soothing, just like how their own conversations have gone many times before, and she was quite happy about that. A part of her had believed that he would have definitely been offended by the idea of bringing unexpected guests into her Inner World. This heaven of green, white and blue may be hers in essence, but it was also her spirit's. In fact, to Shizukakane, it was more than just a world within Kimiko: it was his home. So long as she didn't call him forth with some kind of technique, he remained here. It would have been totally understandable of him to negatively react to this sudden intrusion in one way or another. Hell, she would have perhaps actually been bothered about this if she was in his place.

But no, he wasn't bothered at all. Well, at least he didn't seem like he was. The elder still acted like his usual calm and polite self. He patiently awaited the seating of the three girls without a word, smiling to them with that calm smile of his upon seeing them accept his request. As they sat, he would grab the teapot that was resting on the chabudai, and go on to bring it to the cups. Though the process was definitely accomplished by the hands of an old and seemingly-feeble man, there was something about his manners that made it all feel graceful rather than clumsy. His hands were affected by the weight of the teapot, but they handled it with great care and expertise, almost as if he had done so hundreds, if not thousands of time before. There was very clear heat coming from the teapot with steam surging from its top that clouded his view, but he was completely unaffected by it. It was such a simple process, and yet allowing him to accomplish it felt very impressive.

By the time he finished filling the cups, he would allot them to the three. The first would be given to Celes, the second to Yunorashi, and the third to Kimiko. It was clear that he valued the guests quite extensively. "Here, have some tea. I have made it myself," he would tell the Captain and her companion with a soft smile as his gaze turned towards the latter. For a moment, he would find himself pausing as they simply stared at one another. Yunorashi would definitely be able to feel that there was a connection to them. Functionally, even if they look and behave extremely different, they occupy the same duties as counsels to their masters. However, she would feel that there was something off with the spirit. It was hard to say, but it was as though there was something unusual with his spiritual composition. He was a spirit in nature, yet he did not feel... natural. Perhaps it was a detail without explanation. Maybe his age was what made him feel this way.

Once tea was properly served to all, his head would raise itself towards Celes' direction. The Captain's words made his smile widen a bit. "I am indeed Shizukakane, spirit of the quiet blade and wanderer of these tranquil plains," he introduced himself more formally with a curious greeting that even Kimiko has not heard before. From an outsider's point of view, it sounded like how a samurai of old would introduce himself in times now long gone. Despite the fact that the titles he named were not really of any merit themselves, seeing as they held no rank or even so much as a legacy, they both made him appear almost surreal. Kimiko's obsession with the feudal era truly was put into perspective here, and it showed. With that said, what came out of him next was less serious and instead more lighthearted as he chuckled. "Oh, I have been of the impression that she has spoken of me for as long as we have met. You need not tell me about it."

This would cause Kimiko to blush embarrassingly in the moment before simply grabbing her cup of tea and putting it near her mouth. Damn it, she really felt like a kid now! Between Celes' eternal pandering and the spirit's little quips, it was like she was the prestigious elder child in some kind of super special family. Hell, there was even a little sister at the table too. It was a really odd feeling, and she wasn't really sure of if she liked it at first... though as it went on, she had to admit that it was somewhat soothing. It even felt a little bit nostalgic, bringing her back to her very early childhood where her life was less worrisome and instead more carefree. A father, a mother and a little sister, huh...  Well... at least it was better than what she ended up with in the Living World. They may all be supernatural warriors, and two of them are technically not even real people, but they at least cared, even if they didn't always understand what she was going through.

After speaking to Celes, Shizukakane would find himself turning his head back towards Yunorashi after she moved closer. He didn't seem to be troubled by this movement; if anything, he was more curious than anything. It was clear that he wasn't really used to actually having people being so close to him, especially what was more or less the equivalent of a child, though he wasn't really against the idea. This feeling was accentuated when he heard her speak so excitedly about meeting other spirits. "So this is the first time you have met another spirit as well, ojou-san? I myself have also never had the chance to meet another of our brethren prior to this moment." He would ask the little girl before humming quietly with his hand nearing his chin as he spoke more honestly. "I must say, however, I was not expecting you to appear to be so young. Kimiko-chan has told me of your appearance, but the sight still surprises me." 

Kimiko took another sip of her tea cup once she heard the spirit use that honorific again. Ugh, she... just wanted him to stop. It was one thing to call her that while they were both on their own, but now, it felt just embarrassing. The last thing she needs right is Celes starting to call her like that, or worse, Yunorashi. However, as she would drink, she would notice that his calm yet joyful demeanor would very briefly change as Taishokukane was mentioned. His smile would lessen, his eyes would appear sharper, and the atmosphere around him would grow a bit tenser. "As disappointing as it may be, he does not possess such demonic features... but he is indeed difficult, to say the least," he spoke more seriously, which rid him of the sweet elderly tones he previously used and instead surrounded him with what could only be described as great power. The air felt a bit heavier, and the grass around them almost appeared to wave faster against the rising wind.

The climate would eventually return as it was after a moment of silence, though by then, the elder would have not returned to his previous antics. Instead, he would let out a sigh and stare at Celes. "I have heard of the reasons behind your visit. You seek knowledge about what afflicts her soul," he would speak with a more tired tone as he gave a glance to Kimiko, who had gone quieter still, and then the forest in the distance. The enormous trees stood like great pillars of dark which breached the skies above. They stood so tall that their summits could not be seen from where they stood. Frankly, it was a miracle that the sun still shone so bright in these plains even when these massive natural monuments existed in this plane. "You may ask away. However, I must warn you that I do not possess many answers that you may find to be relevant." 

[Celes Castellanos]

Being able to sit down and having tea offered to them by the elderly Zanpakutou Spirit certainly eased the Captains' nerves. Looking over at Kimiko, it seemed that the Third Seat had relaxed as well. How could she tell? The darkened swirls of clouds had begun to lessen. Celes recognized the Inner World for what it was; a reflection of her student's very being. Her interests... personality... even her very emotions were able to be laid bare before anything who had the privilege of attending. Naturally, being able to recognize them was one thing. Being able to interpret them was an entirely different beast. The clouds were simple enough, but the rest would likely be much harder. Regardless, it would offer Celes some incredible insight into Kimiko.

After offering her respect to Shizakakune, it seemed that they could be on amicable terms at the bare minimum. "Oh, I have been of the impression that she has spoken of me for as long as we have met. You need not tell me about it." Celes simply chuckled and nodded, giving a curt bow of her head. Afterwards, her eyes instinctively darted towards Kimiko. There, out of the corner of her eye, she'd be able to see the tiniest blush emerged on the cheeks of her disciple. The Captain merely smiled brightly and turned her attention back to Shizakakune. Though it was not the elderly spirit that had caught her attention. No. Instead her eyes were fixated on Yunorashi who was approaching the Zanpakutou Spirit instead of sitting down.

As Yunorashi interacted with Shizakakune, Celes would join in Kimiko's bashfullness. A crimson blush touched Celes' cheeks as her Zanpakatou Spirit acted well... like a child. It was befitting her appearance, but Celes knew that Yunorashi was only putting on the show. In fact, the Captain was well aware that while her Zanpakutou Spirit had her child-like manner, she had an assertiveness to her that many others lacked. Her initial reaction aside, it seemed that Shizakakune would not take offense to it. No. Instead Celes sensed... intrigue? "So this is the first time you have met another spirit as well, ojou-san? I myself have also never had the chance to meet another of our brethren prior to this moment."

As a small pause formed between the two Zanpakutou Spirit, Yunorashi gleefully called out. "Yep! First time!" To contrast her loud tone, Shizakakune seemed to speak much quieter. "I must say, however, I was not expecting you to appear to be so young. Kimiko-chan has told me of your appearance, but the sight still surprises me." Yunorashi's lips curled into a small grin as she spoke eagerly. "Well.. I suppose I can see that. When people meet Celes, they typically expect her Spirit to be this..." She took a step back and flex her small frame in a theatrical manner, imitating how body builders showed off their well-toned bodies. "Militant and strict type! But that would be boring, wouldn't it?" She'd keep grinning. "I like to think that I'm much more interesting than those boorish military types. I'm a lot more fun, for example!" She'd giggle childishly.

Celes raised her cup and gingerly took a sip from the tea as Yunorashi spoke. As she did, all worries and concerns quickly left her. The tea... "This... this is wonderfully crafted. Much better than any tea that I've been able to make." She'd momentarily look back at Shizakakune. "Well.. he certainly does play into the whole ol' Samurai whose a calm gentle spirit trope doesn't he?" Celes kept taking idle drinks from her tea as Yunorashi began to describe someone. She'd use overly demonstrative gestures that, to her credit, played up the negative aspects of Kimiko's second Zanpakutou Spirit. While Celes chuckled for a moment, it seemed that Shizakakune did not share in the humor. At all. "As disappointing as it may be, he does not possess such demonic features... but he is indeed difficult, to say the least," His voice had grown rather serious as he addressed it.

In that moment, the atmosphere changed entirely. The air felt heavy. The grass almost seemed to tear itself from the ground as a great wind accelerated. Celes' eyes widened as she realized the epicenter of the sudden change. It was Shizakakune. The tension that had washed away was back in full force. She tensed up a little. Yunorashi, meanwhile, was having the time of her life. She felt the brunt of the spiritual pressure that was being exerted from the fellow Zanpakutou Spirit and she was impressed to say the least. After a few moments of silence to observe the brutal winds, the climate eased up once more. Sunshine began to return. Grass flew idly in the ambient breeze. She'd need a few moments, but Celes began to relax again. She'd have little time to relax entirely as the Zanpakutou Spirit turned to her. "I have heard of the reasons behind your visit. You seek knowledge about what afflicts her soul," An idle glance towards Kimiko made it clear that he was well aware of their reasoning for coming. 

There would be a brief pause. The joy and curiosity that laced the conversation not mere moments prior had been expent. "You may ask away. However, I must warn you that I do not possess many answers that you may find to be relevant." Celes nodded silently and thought about it for a moment. Could she really ask questions that would be of help to Kimiko? Even then... what could she ask? The Captain sat there for a moment, tapping her fingers on the chabudai before them. Finally, as she began to speak, her voice would be a little soft. There would be little playfulness behind it. She recognized that the time for fun and games was over. They'd need to tackle this next topic seriously.

"Well.. I guess to begin with, just so we have a clear understanding of what we are dealing with..." Celes paused for a moment and sighed as she turned her head towards Kimiko. "I'm sorry for keeping my suspicions a big mystery." With that, she'd return her gaze back to the elderly Zanpakutou Spirit. "We are dealing with an Inner Hollow here? Are we not?" As Celes asked, even Yunorashi remained quiet for a moment. She groaned softly, holding her side almost in a protective manner. After all... it had not been too long ago that she had been assaulted by Celes' own Inner Hollow, Yukito. Regardless of whether Shizakakune had any information on the subject, Celes would continue with another question. "Have you ever felt a time when Kimiko had lost control... and I'm not just talking in anger or rage. A time when she had quite literally been taken over? If so... do you know what the circumstances were? Wounds? Grief? Anger? Something of the like?" 

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Kimiko remained quiet as Shizukakane quietly showcased what he thought of Taishokukane, drinking her tea without a word. She was not surprised to see that the old man still did not appreciate the silver shade. For as long as she could remember, he has never once showed any appreciation for what the one who remains in the forest is. He has always disliked the loudness of the leaves over there, so much so that he never entertained the thought of heading there on his own, and it was needless to say that he absolutely despised the way he treats the Third Seat on a daily basis. Perhaps one day, they will find the strength to tolerate each other, especially now that they both face a common foe. However, a part of the female officer simply believed that was never going to happen. They were just too radically different, too stupendously separated from one another. Really, only the most drastic of solutions would permit them to unite as one. Given that it was a combination of the two beings... it was absolutely no wonder her Bankai was so ugly.

Her scarlet eyes would briefly gaze towards Celes and Yunorashi to study their reactions to his opinion. It looked like the softer side of the old man had been somewhat overshadowed by his serious side. If it wasn't that, then it was the spiritual pressure that he had released from his body in the moment, which Kimiko could still feel the effects off as she drank. Seeing Celes becoming so tense as she witnessed the power that the old man hid in plain sight was, in a way, rather disappointing. Drinking together at this table while conversing about things that were casual and ultimately not dramatic in the slightest was nice and peaceful, and she believed that it could have gone on for much longer if they would have attempted to prolong it. Unfortunately, the nature of their conversation couldn't be peaceful forever. The nature of their visit and the questions she and Celes both held were, after all, everything but peaceful. Well, at least Yunorashi seemed pretty happy about the spiritual spectacle.

Though the elderly one expressed his desire to answer their questions, there would be a moment of pause before any one of them would be told. The Third Seat herself couldn't think of any at this point of time that she found to be useful to ask now. The ones that were at the forefront of her mind had been discussed in length with the spirit while they were both alone in the fields, and none of those discussions were able to conclude satisfyingly. All they would accomplish is generate an even greater number of questions, which would always end in Kimiko simply giving up on pursuing the conversation. She didn't need any more of those damned questions: she had more than enough of them constantly filling her thoughts as is. So, instead of asking any questions on her own and potentially gain nothing out of it, she waited for Celes to do so for her. If she can't get any answers to her own questions, then maybe her mentor will be able to do so in her stead via other questions.

With that said, she had not at all expected what would come out of Celes once she decided to go ahead.

"Inner Hollow...?" At first, Kimiko found herself simply sitting there, confused. It was the very first time she had ever heard of the term - or at least the first time she's actually heard of it in such a long while that she simply forgot about its existence - and so she had no idea of what it was supposed to mean. She knew what a Hollow was, of course, much like every officer who followed the courses offered by the Shin'ō Academy. She could even still vaguely remember the phrase that was written in the first manual that was given to her upon her entry in the institution. A Hollow is a Plus which was corrupted by the complete destruction of their Chain of Fate, and in so doing, they are compelled to fill the hole that was left behind by the process with souls until they are slain by a Shinigami. It was as simple as that. In comparison, she couldn't even fathom what an Inner Hollow was meant to be. All it took to completely destroy her comprehension of a being is to add a single word to it.

Shizukakane, him, remained quiet as he listened to the questions that were told to him. His sharp eyes gazed onward towards Celes as she spoke, taking into account the tone that she held while she did so. Though his demeanor did not change at a first glance, the three women would be able to tell that he was being both attentive and thoughtful, as though he was trying to find an answer to give to the Captain. He would silently note the experience that she appeared to have with the phenomenon, as well as the physical conflict that may have arisen between it and Yunorashi. Moreover, he would also seem to ponder onto the term itself. After the higher officer would finish, he would take a quiet sip of his tea, then hum lowly. "I cannot say that I ever felt something taking control of her, no... but there have indeed been times in which I felt a great turmoil within her," he said as he held his cup while it remained on the chabudai. "I can still remember braving the storms which formed in these plains while she experienced them. Each and every one of them."

There would be a pause from the spirit himself after he spoke, namely once his gaze met Kimiko's. There was a sense of troubled thoughts in his grey eyes, as though he held ample worry for the person that was deemed his master. Despite this, there was also a form of... resolution, as though he was not telling the whole truth. It was somewhat hidden, enough so that Celes and her apprentice would both be unable to perceive it easily. Only a being who could clearly see through his intentions could do so, someone who held similar duties to him. This feeling would become more pronounced once he answered the Captain's very first question. "I must admit that, like Kimiko, I am not aware of the term you have given me. As far as my memories take me, the Hollows that we have slain did not have the ability to situate themselves somewhere they should never be," he admitted with a tone that at least appeared honest and truthful. "Nevertheless... I am inclined to believe that the being which seeks my demise may be related to such a creature."

Kimiko found herself almost sighing disappointingly upon being told such a thing. "Inclined to believe", "may be related"... In other words, Shizukakane did not know. Even if the being within her dreams has indeed expressed her wish to kill, it was very clear that he did not know what she was and that this whole Inner Hollow talk was not really something that he was considering as fact just yet. If anything, it was just a theory to him, nothing more, nothing less. How frustrating. If this would have been a normal person, the Third Seat would have perhaps tolerated the elderly one's lack of knowledge on the matter; after all, she had never really heard anyone within her division even mention the term while she was near them. However, this was a Zanpakuto spirit. Now that he had the term proper, he should have been able to know about it to a degree. He should have been able to, for he was her counselor, her advisor, the one being that is meant to know everything. "So... you don't know what she is," she found herself letting out, all the while a large cloud above would cover the ground below in brief shadow. "Alright."

It was a simple and short answer, though it was enough to cause Shizukakane to turn his head towards her direction and gave her a look that seemed almost exhausted as she looked away in frustration. It was easy to tell that he did not like his answer either and that he would have preferred to give her something that was more concrete and useful to her cause. Unfortunately, he had no answer that would be satisfying for both parties. With that said, though it is quite regrettable that it is the case, he is not the only person who resides within this world. "I suppose that you have both taken note of the shade's domain," he told Celes and Yunorashi of the forest of giant trees as he stared at them more seriously. Even now, the trees in the distance stood ominously, breaching the skies still as the clouds formed above. "Kimiko and I both loathe him, but he holds as many answers as I do. Perhaps speaking to him will grant you what I cannot give you."

The dual swordswoman's grip around her cup tightened a bit upon hearing that. It made sense. She had two Zanpakuto spirits, both of which had their own separate domains, and so it was only natural that she could reach to either of them if one or the other did not have answers for her. The problem was that one of those spirits was Shizukakane and the other was Taishokukane. She did not want to go to that forest now outside of training, and she definitely did not want to bring Celes and Yunorashi along. "... No," she huffed quietly in a brief moment of rebellion. "No, that's crazy. What makes you think he's going tell us anything? He's already pissed off at me on a daily bas-"

"Kimiko!"

Shizukakane's voice rose sharply, almost as though it was done to scold the Shinigami. The spiritual pressure present in the area rose again, causing the wind to blow once more and the clouds above to darken a bit, which caused Kimiko's blood to freeze in her veins. Quiet, she'd stare at him with widened eyes, watch him give her such a long stern stare before he would then mellow down with a smile. "Remember what I have told you so long ago." Upon being told these words, the scarlet-eyed woman would just stare back almost hopelessly before she let out a sigh. The spirit would stare at her for a bit longer before he would turn his gaze towards Celes. "Please, accompany her to the forest. If the shade attacks, cooperate, and he will eventually submit to your will." Should the three decide to leave at that moment, he would then give a quick look towards Yunorashi before he would personally request to the Captain. "May I have a conversation with the young one? It will not take long."