How To Train A Hollow

[Ailene Haschiro]

Laying on the ground, weakened and burned, Ailene would have appeared to have crawled from the forest after a vicious battle. The flickers of reiatsu that formerly burned brightly within the Arrancar dimmed, extinguishing rapidly by the moment. With her Hollow Hole stitching itself back together and her Mask Fragment shattering, Ailene was nearly entirely indistinguishable from an ordinary human. There were traces of her reiatsu within the woman, but they were being largely suppressed by her newfound humanity that nobody bothered to verify her identity. Even as the members of the Fourth Division healed her, to them it would appear that she was just another victim of the Hollow attack. The reiatsu burns were merely assumed to be from one of the Hollows that she had encountered.

Needless to say, Ailene would be spent from the ordeal. Being brought into the nearby Manako Clinic, Ailene would quickly be processed and brought in for stabilization. The wonders of modern medicine, something that Ailene got to experience firsthand, allowed her to remain stable as she was utterly comatose. IVs, tubes and other medical equipment kept her new form alive. This would go on for days without response. The only sign of her stabilizing condition was her improving vitals. Suddenly, ten days later, Ailene finally awoke. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment as she sighed. She felt groggy and weak. Her voice would be quiet as the subtle ambience of a clinic filled the air. "Ugh..." She gently touched her forehead as it pounded from a headache. "Where the hell am I?..." 

She would be told that she had been comatose for nearly ten days. For the next few days, Ailene would be in a recovery period. Able to remove much of the equipment that had dug its way into her body, it was anything but comfortable. It was so strange, but she felt so much more sensitive now. It was as she now felt far more pain. Even gritting her teeth did her little good. Screams and winces filled the room periodically until finally, she'd be done. The woman no longer had to undergo any harrowing ordeal. There was a reason she hated hospitals and clinics. This was one of them! As she rubbed her head, one of the nurses knocked on the door, sliding it open very gently. "Miss Haschiro?" Ailene simply nodded her head. "You have a visitor..."

The first familiar face in days would be there to greet her as Amber rushed in. The red-headed woman nearly broke down upon seeing Ailene. "Ailene... I was worried sick! I heard that you were being kept here until you recovered. What the hell happened? Were you assaulted? Were y-" Ailene held her hand up, moving slowly. Everything still hurt quite a bit as she winced in light discomfort. She sighed for a moment. "Amber I'm fine. It's just..." The words stalled like rocks in her throat. She had always described her time as a Hollow in metaphor. She knew that the student was spiritually aware. After all, she had made claims of seeing ghosts. Ailene tapped her own cheek for a moment. She looked at Amber with a heartfelt look. "Amber... sit down. There's something I need to share with you..." The girl sat down in a nearby chair, looking at Ailene with some concern. The woman cleared her throat and smiled. "Tell me Amber... what do you know about spirits..."

Over the next few weeks, Ailene would discuss everything with the student. She would tell her of her time among the living. Her transformation into an Arrancar. The decades she spent as an Espada. No stone would be left unturned. However, this process took time. At first the student was shocked, disgusted even. She could not understand the things that Ailene had done in the past. At least not initially. As they talked more and more, Ambers' disposition brightened. As Ailene detailed much good over the few weeks. She did not make herself out to be a saint, but she would not focus exclusively on the monstrous things either. As a show of good faith and of her trust, Ailene even temporarily bestowed the spare keys to Rēgīna upon the student. 

Things were certainly beginning to look up. Amber no longer condemned her, and Ailene felt her strength return to her. After several days, she could finally walk again. Her appetite returned to her. She even became far more sociable with the staff that looked after her. This, however, was not the only change. Ever since the moment of her Saigo, the woman's body had been changing. Her form became shapelier, her hair grew out. Her skin became a little paler. Stranger changes such as natural changes to her hair color which now made them purple. Besides her name. the woman now appeared moderately different. While the staff noticed this, they largely chalked it up to their mind playing tricks on them. Additionally, and most notably to Ailene, unlike her other Hollow features, the imprint of a 7 still remained printed upon her waist. It was strange that it didn't fade, but she wouldn't let it bother her. After all, soon she'd feel well again...

---

Nearly a month had now passed since the loss of her power. The flicker of her reiatsu had at this point faded. While the moment could see spiritual phenomena, she had very little spiritual pressure to speak of. Just as it was described to her, she had discarded her life as an Arrancar and had been "reborn" as a human. It was finally time for her discharge. She sat in the lobby, ready to receive her personal effects. Amber had been nice enough to bring her clothing and as such, Ailene wore her work uniform. They were casual enough for everyday wear, so it didn't bother her. Soon she'd have a bag returned to her which had her belongings. As she looked into the bag, she saw a few items. Her satchel which had a few books in them, a lightly burnt obi, keys to Rēgīna and a lone senbon. She did not carry much on her at the time of her Saigo so this truly was everything she was checked in with. With a gentle bow, she'd smile brightly. "Thank you for all your help!" With that, she headed to the only home she knew she had left.

It would take about ten minutes to walk from the clinic towards Rēgīna. As she held her bag close to her, every step felt alien to her. After centuries of utilizing a body made up of reishi, a physical body that was entirely your own was strange. She had some experience due to Regresión Primigenia having been able to provide a physical body, but this felt different. It wasn't just some facade. Nor some cheap imitation. It was her body. Now, she was just as mortal as any other man. The concern and paranoia would've likely driven others nuts. They would've worried about every little event due to their newfound humanity. Not Ailene though. No. She smiled at the realization. At the understanding that she could finally lead a normal life. With that in mind, she walked towards Rēgīna with a spring in her step.

Upon reaching the glass door, Ailene took a deep breath. Standing in front of her own Tea House, she froze. It had been a month since she had been here. Would there be many questions? Would there be ire from her patrons? Ailene was not sure. It didn't matter though. She could not live her life in fear of what others thought of her. It was what turned her away from the lifestyle of an Arrancar. It was what prevented her from using her Saigo until Kimiko helped Ailene find her strength. With this newfound resolve, Ailene lightly pushed the door open and would be met with the familiar aroma of both tea and pastries that she had missed. 

As the bell betrayed her entrance, Ailene had a look around. Several patrons looked at her and smiled. Familiar faces. She could tell just from their look. They were happy that she was back. Most interestingly, however, was the familiar sight of the Third Seat who sat alone as usually at one of the tables near the large window. The Shinigami had visited her a few times during her stay at the hospital. Ailene was certainly grateful for her caring attitude and was more than happy to see her here. The woman simply nodded at the Shinigami, approaching the counter. As she did so, Amber smiled brightly. "Welcome back, Ailene! I'm glad to see you up on your feet again." In response, Ailene nodded and smiled back. "Yep! I feel as fit as a fiddle. Excited to get back to work." 

As she was preparing to go behind the counter, however, Amber stopped her. She'd smile briefly. "You know, Ailene, I've had some time to improve my steady hand. I'd like to make you a cup of tea." For a moment, Ailene's eyes widened. She was in shock for a moment. "Besides. I feel it'd be better if you rested. Get acclimated again." The look of shock would fade, and Ailene gave a soft sigh. "Your generation is always so willful, Amber." She spoke teasingly before grinning. "Fine. A cup of Jasmine Tea then. I better hear my gaiwan being used!" She'd chuckle as Amber nodded. For all intents and purposes, Ailene was a customer at her own store. It was rude to just be standing and as such, she walked over to Kimiko's table and asked a question that would likely be very familiar to the Shinigami. "Would you mind some company...?" 

[Nakajima Kimiko]

It was strange for Kimiko to visit a Human clinic once again. In fact, it was even a little bit distressing for her. During her younger Human days, she often had to visit her father's hospital with her mother to see how he was doing, and even back then when she had more respect for him, she did not like the place. They were loud and bothersome, and even though most patients were being treated very well, some of them were nevertheless scream from time to time either from intense pain or from some sort of reaction she could not explain. It was enough to scare her younger self quite a fair bit. Though it was much smaller in comparison to her father's workplace, the Manako Clinic was not really that much different in hindsight. Like normal hospitals, it was loud and bothersome, and the patients it held were just as noisy. The only reason why she could handle it now was because she had seen the quarters of the Fourth District more than once, and knew that this was nothing in comparison to it.

Well, that, and unlike all those previous times where she either only came to visit an employee or had to be there in order for her injuries to be treated, there was also someone amidst the injured that she wanted to see. Every week, the Shinigami would go visit the clinic in order to see how Ailene's health was faring. Given all that's happened, she felt that this was one of the lesser things she could do for the Arrancar now that the latter had made the ultimate choice of discarding her Hollow powers. She would come in to check her health with the clerks during the first ten days, and once the woman was properly awake, she would then come in and periodically talk to her to see how things were going. At times, she would even meet Amber while doing this. The Shinigami was not told by either of them about what Ailene had revealed to the employee, but judging by how she often appeared conflicted whenever she came in, she could tell that something had gone down between them. Nevertheless, Kimiko did not push to learn more about it. She didn't feel like it was her place to do so.

What she could also tell was that that the Hollow energy that was once within Ailene was truly gone. Ever since she came into the hospital on that first day, she has not once been able to sense the energy from her. It was truly as she had told that Inner Hollow: her use of Saigo no Houmen had extinguished her flame, and now, she had become Human. She could not be qualified as an Arrancar anymore. That alone was a rather strange thing to consider, especially since Kimiko had been identifying her as the Septima Espada for years now. However, what was stranger was that even her physical body had changed in order to better fit this new identity of hers. Her hair became longer and took on a color that was closer to purple, her skin became paler... even her overall shape differed in comparison to the one from before. It was an odd thing to witness even for the clerks, though Kimiko was somewhat glad that it happened. It meant that there would be less chance for the spiritual world to recognize her now, and she will be potentially left at peace.

A few weeks later, Ailene would be back to a more normal life, meaning that Kimiko wouldn't need to go the clinic anymore. Admittedly, she was glad that she was finally out of there, as she wasn't a huge fan of the place to begin with, but she was even more glad that the Arrancar - or rather, the Human - didn't have any sort of complications while she was being tended to by the people of the clinic. For all they knew, something could have gone wrong during her treatment, and she may have been subjected to some chemical or whatever it is doctors of the Living World use today. Quite frankly, much of the modern equipment they used was so out there that Kimiko hadn't really given them much attention beyond simply taking a glance at them, and when she did, it appeared so advanced to her that they looked as though they had come out of a movie. Either Japan has gone through a technological boom over the last few decades... or the Living World had evolved much further than she thought ever since she became a Shinigami.

In any case, the Shinigami felt it would be customary of her to visit the tea shop now that Ailene had back on her feet. Ironically, it seemed as though the owner's trip to the hospital had caused more customers to appear, as there were several more patrons than usual for what should have been an empty Sunday. This was something that Kimiko appreciated. It meant that this place, for as young as it was, had already began cultivating a loyal clientele. Not only was it admirable on Ailene's end, but it was also quite kind from the clientele's end, as it meant that they cared for the owner's well-being. It also meant that whatever was being talked about between the owner and her employee Amber while Ailene was still in the hospital had not spilled out while the redhead was on the job, and so no negative rumors had started to spread around the tea shop. In a way, the Third Seat was thankful that that did not happen. The last thing the Human needed right now was a reputation problem.

These opinions Kimiko held about the customers only accentuated once Ailene finally entered the store. Not a single one of them glared at her or immediately began asking questions to her. Not a single one. There were a few who said nothing, but the grand majority of them looked up at her and smiled. The overwhelming feeling of familiar warmth was almost contagious. Hell, even Kimiko smiled at the head barista when the customers did so. It was a heartwarming moment that she was sure Ailene was not going to forget in a long time, and it showed once she turned towards Amber at the counter and exclaimed her eagerness to work. The sight was enough to make the Shinigami feel simply happy.  Well, I guess that's that... She's just a Human now,  her thoughts would conclude as she looked on towards the window again. To think that all she really needed was just... someone to push her in the right direction...

It was strange for her to repeat those words in her head. They seemed negative when she thought of them right away, but whenever she would look at the tea shop, its patrons, and the way Ailene seemed so happy while being surrounded by them, they would become much less negative and instead more so positive. Sure, what the once-Arrancar had done was something that was incredibly reckless and drastic. Sure, if she would have perhaps directed her life towards another direction altogether, she wouldn't have had to do something so stupidly sacrificial. However, what she had wanted out of everything in this world was peace, and from the looks of it, it seemed as though she had gotten it. No more would she have to bend to the customs of Las Noches, and no more would she have to fight. She will just live here, serving tea for the remainder of her days. Perhaps, in the end of it all, power was not really what mattered. Rather, perhaps it was only happiness that did. Kimiko would need to think it over once she comes back to the Soul Society. 

As the off-duty officer would continue to wait for her order to come to her table, she would hear someone walking towards her table. Naturally, this would cause her to turn her head away from the window and instead towards the source of the noise. Unsurprisingly, it was Ailene. Just like last time, the barista wanted to speak to her, and again, the Shinigami saw no wrong in that. "Not at all," she would tell the Human before moving a few things on the table so as to make space for their trays. She had heard what Ailene had told to Amber at the counter, so the table was going to hold two trays just like before. After the barista sat down, the scarlet-eyed woman would make herself more comfortable on the chair before smiling at her friend. "It looks like everyone is happy to see you again... They were pretty worried last time I spoke to them. Then again... given the news Squad 9 has been distributing lately, I can't say I wouldn't have been worried either if I was in their place."

For the safety of the people of Karakura Town, the officers of the Gotei 13 had made sure to not have any Humans wander near the forest by the cemetery for the time being. This could be notably noticed via a newspaper one of the customers of the tea shop was reading at another table. The front page of the issue was showcasing the massive hole Ailene had left behind while she was in her dragon form, and how it was apparently the work of an underground toxic waste pipeline that had finally burst after having been abandoned for several years. From the looks of it, there were many environmental groups that were horrified by what happened and outraged at the local political group within Karakura Town for having allowed such a thing to happen in the first place, though there was nothing the politicians could do in this case. Kimiko wasn't sure she liked the headline, but it was better than simply staying quiet and hope that no one was going to notice.

[Ailene Haschiro]

The reception at Rēgīna was indeed warm. Ailene had been somewhat worried that she'd be bombarded with question as to her absence. Thankfully, those who came to the Tea House had for more tact than that. Information given to them by Amber satiated their curiosities for the time being and for now, they merely wanted to give the owner her much needed space. After all, she had woken up from a coma not more than a three or so weeks ago. The reception from Amber was also surprisingly warm. Ailene expected the girl to be utterly repulsed by her past and at first, she was. She hadn't made it a secret. However, the red-headed girl saw Ailene as a friend. They had shared many long nights of conversation after hours before. This wasn't going to change based on who she used to be.

As Ailene looked around Rēgīna, it seemed that Amber was handling the Tea House quite well in her absence. There were no nearby grumbles of complaints. No idle remarks. The aura at Rēgīna would be as Ailene had always intended it to be. A calm and soothing environment where everyone, no matter their background, was welcome. Wanting to get back into the swing of things, Ailene was going to prepare for work, but it seemed that Amber would not let her. She was effectively told to sit down. Most would've likely seen this as a challenge to her authority. She was the owner after all. The head barista. Ailene, however, simply smiled in response. It would give her some time to relax and acclimate to being outside a hospital bed. Turning around, Ailene would find herself drawn to Kimiko's table, offering the Third Seat her presence. 

"Not at all," An absolute joy to her ears. As Kimiko made some space for Ailene, the woman took her seat at the opposite end of the table. She sighed comfortably. She always did love just sitting in her Tea House into the long hours of night. It was just a relaxing environment. She briefly looked out the window though her attention would be diverted as Kimiko spoke. "It looks like everyone is happy to see you again... They were pretty worried last time I spoke to them. Then again... given the news Squad 9 has been distributing lately, I can't say I wouldn't have been worried either if I was in their place." Ailene simply smiled, but it was the mention of the Ninth Division that amused her a little.

With slow, deliberate movements, she sat back into her chair as she gently tapped her own cheek. Ailene had a general idea of the operations of most Divisions within the Gotei 13. These ideas were largely restricted to common knowledge though. She never tried to make an enemy out of Soul Society and as such, she never looked much deeper than that. Moving her fingers towards the table, the woman chuckled. "Oh? You mean the reported pipeline rupture that I've heard a couple of hushed rumors about?" She couldn't help, but grin for a moment as her tone was hushed. "I'm sometimes surprised with how much influence that the Gotei has. Well... it's a clever way of keeping people out of that forest for the time being while I assume they investigate. Unless, of course, they have everything they need." 

She looked out the window for a moment as her brow furrowed. She thought back to the moment of her Saigo. She had a memory of all of it. The Hollows who flooded into the Human World, the way that the forest look after her miasma, the bloodlust she felt in the moment. A lot of it was overwhelming and she felt much regret. Part of her felt disgusted with herself. What she had done to her fellow Hollow. She may have possessed reirykou now, but she couldn't simply forget her time among them. Sure, she had little love for Hollows as companions, but she was sympathetic towards them. Many of them didn't know better. Many were bound to the eternal hunger as Ailene once liked to call it. She was aware of what she had done. She had eradicated thousands of Hollows, destroying their souls in the process. There would be no solace for them. No hope for a better future. 

She gave a soft sigh. Her voice was soft and a little melancholy. "You know... I don't regret the result." She'd turn her head towards the Kimiko. "Regaining my humanity that is. I just regret what it took to get there. The countless souls I've damned. They will never find peace. Not in Hueco Mundo. Not in Soul Society. They are simply... gone." This fact weighed heavier and heavier on her mind. Who could've foreseen that to rid herself of her accursed life, she had to become that which she had sworn to turn her back on. Before she had much of a chance to go on about her grievances though, Amber would arrved with the tea.

She looked down at the two cups along with the small plate that were brought to them. Kimiko had ordered the same thing as the first time she had come. Saemidori tea with a slice of cheesecake. Ailene had opted for her usual. A cup of Jasmine tea. Ailene looked at the cup and then at Amber who anxiously smiled at her before talking. "I hope that both of you enjoy your tea. I daresay that this is my best yet." Ailene chuckled for a moment as she took the cup of tea into her hand. The warmth that touched her hand was mesmerizing. It was so different from anything that she had felt. After all, this was a physical body after all. She didn't need to mimic one.

Gently blowing onto the cup of tea, she gently took a sip. First the positives. The tea was at an appropriate temperature. Not too hot and she felt the warmth radiate throughout her body. It had been rather soothing. An appropriate amount of tea leaves had been used as it wasn't too bitter. The one negative though that Ailene had noticed right away was the way it was prepared. Small fragments of sizzling leaves were left in the cup. Ailene hummed softly as she took her sip. She'd set it down before looking at Amber. "Well. It certainly is an improvement." The red-headed girl smiled brightly. "...but, we're gonna have to work on your steep. I can feel some leftover leaves in the cup." She chuckled softly as Amber gave a nervous laugh. "Well, no worries. You'll have a surgeon's steady hand by the time I'm done with you." She'd give Amber a small wink as the girl excused herself. "Well, if there is anything else I can get you, please let me know." She'd check by the other tables periodically as needed.

[Nakajima Kimiko]

The Shinigami found no harm in revealing some bits of information to the once-Arrancar when it came to the operations of each squadron. Though it was arguably riskier to do so prior to the girl's transformation into a Human, as it could have led to take advantage of the Soul Society in one way or another for the people of Las Noches, it was quite clear now that any kind of information about the Gotei 13 which was not really confidential wouldn't be of any use to the girl. Well, it didn't seem as though any kind of information about the Gotei 13 would be useful to her, be they confidential or not. The Humans of the Living World barely interact with the heavenly realm and those who reside within it, after all, so it's not like they can really use this knowledge to a great advantage. Moreover, with Ailene now fully invested in her future as the owner of a tea shop in Karakura Town, it wasn't as though she knowing anything about the Soul Society was going to hurt anyone. At least, Kimiko thought it wouldn't.

"Well, the Gotei 13's job is to protect the Living World, among other things... so we do kinda have to have some kind of influence. If we didn't, everyone around would be freaking out about seeing ghosts everywhere all the time. Apparently, it was kinda like that back in like... before the 1600s," she would thus explain to the best of her ability as she pressed her back against her chair, thinking a little about what kind of operations the other officers of Seireitei did from time to time. The world was indeed a more dangerous place back then, not just socially and technologically, but also spiritually. The Soul Society wasn't as organized, the Gotei 13 did not have absolutely everything under control in the Living World, and overall, it was just harder to keep Hollows from attacking Humans. Naturally, this created a lot of superstition back then, which ultimately led to many movements which revolved around faith in various deities and who-knows how many mythological monsters. "Anyway, that kinda stuff isn't really my job... Lying just isn't my thing." 

While they spoke of this matter, Ailene would briefly mention the investigation that was accomplished in the forest by the people of the Soul Society. Judging by the fact that Kimiko was even allowed to continue pursuing her vacation, it would be understandable to presume that the investigation was over, seeing as she was involved in it to a degree. This presumption would be correct, and the Third Seat didn't want the barista to worry about it. In so doing, she would adjust herself on her chair once again. "They more or less got everything they needed, yeah. There... wasn't much to look into anyway," she would explain as she looked on over to the window, more specifically the forest in the distance. Its outskirts could still be seen from here. The last time she had checked, there were still a few warnings that had been set up on the road beside it to tell the people of Karakura Town to seek another path to Yokohama if they wanted to reach it by car. It was a rather sad sight for what was once a very pretty forest, all things considered. The Third Seat will definitely miss the place.

Unsurprisingly, she wasn't the one who was going to do so. It did not take long for the barista to express some of her regrets regarding what had happened, and Kimiko could hardly blame her for feeling this way. In normal circumstances, what she had accomplished was an affront to what every being in this world ultimately stood for, whether they wanted it or not, which was the balance of souls. By using her ability after having executed Saigo no Houmen, the attack that she had used was so powerful that it caused everything composed of organic matter to melt. The investigators from the Sixth and Seventh Divisions were shaken to the core upon making that discovery, and had concluded that the Shinigami had made the right choice when she fled the scene shortly before dealing a final blow to the Arrancar. Well, that was what they believed, at the very least. Regardless, the disappearance of all of these souls - even if they were Hollows - was most likely going to have an effect on the balance. They could only hope that this effect won't be too impactful.

Still, the officer didn't want Ailene to think about such things. Yes, the price of her return to Humanity was heavy, and it was a shame that all of those souls had effectively been erased from existence itself all for her own sake, but at the very least, she was able to escape the cycle of violence that each and every Arrancar was condemned to. That, in the end, was all that should matter to the once-Arrancar. Besides, not only was this probably not one of Ailene's most gruesome actions she has done in her life, given that she was a Hollow just a month prior, but it was also far too late for them to go back. It wasn't like there was anything in this world that was ludicrously powerful enough to allow them to actually reverse what happened, like time travel. That, even if there was, Kimiko doubted that the barista would really want to do such a thing now that she had her tea shop and what appears to be quite the peaceful future ahead of her.

With that said, before she could tell her any of those things, Amber would then appear by the table to give them their orders. Kimiko would receive the saemidori tea cup she had asked for alongside a plate of cheesecake, while Ailene would instead receive a cup of Jasmine tea. It was ironically the exact same trays they had ordered the last time they have actually eaten together, with the only difference being that the barista had this time decided not to take ice cream on the side. Upon receiving her order, Kimiko would nod approvingly at Amber before taking a sip of her tea. Once again, she would feel the warmth of the soothing liquid progressively trail down her body. It wasn't as good as the cup Ailene had given to her when she first came to this place, as the barista pointed out in regards to her own, but it was pretty good nonetheless. "I think you're really on the right track," she would tell the redhead with a friendly smile. "Keep it up and your tea's going to be as good as hers."

The waitress would eventually walk away, leaving the two other women once again on their own at their table. Kimiko would remain quiet during the first few moments, enjoying her tea and taking bits of cheesecake whenever she could. Since the cheesecake was imported from another store, it was just as good as the many others she had purchased in the weeks before. She would munch onto her food quietly, letting its family creamy taste fill her mouth again before she would gulp down her bite. Once she finished doing so, she would let out a quiet sigh, then take on a more serious look as she put an elbow on the table, then a hand on the left side of her forehead. "I'm sorry for... what happened back at the forest. I should've told you about my condition," she would take on a quieter tone as she spoke. There was a hint of regret in her words, maybe even shame as she briefly looked away from the barista towards the window. "I just didn't think that she was going to show up..."

It would be clear to Ailene that Kimiko was talking about her Inner Hollow, and how it ultimately meant that she was not quite like most of the Shinigami who resided within the Soul Society. She was less so bothered by the fact that she had an Inner Hollow in this conversation and instead more so ashamed by the fact that it could have attacked Ailene. Considering that Ailene's personality had changed with the execution of her Saigo no Houmen technique, and that the being within her dreams was at best better described as an eccentric thing, the once-Arrancar's return to Humanity could have ended not in the way it did, but instead as a complete disaster. For all they knew, that jester could have literally taunted Ailene into pursuing her into the city, which would have caused a great disaster. If not, one of them could have died, with Kimiko partly believing that she herself would have been a casualty should her possessor had gone too far. Either way, the fact that nothing of the sort happened was nothing short of a miracle in of itself.

[Ailene Haschiro]

"I think you're really on the right track," Ailene looked at Kimiko with a soft smile as she continued to try and assure the redhead. "Keep it up and your tea's going to be as good as hers." Unlike Ailene, Kimiko would not seem very critical of Amber. It was very indicative of Kimiko's teaching style. The way she had presented the sword techniques to Ailene seemed have little room for improvisation. It's what made them fundamentals. Fancier and more specialized techniques required an understanding of those basics. Yet even as Ailene, a woman with no formal training, attempted it, Kimiko had proven to be nurturing and encouraging. Ailene chuckled for a moment. It seemed that this did not extend strictly to the studies of others.

By comparison, Ailene was much blunter. While capable of great compassion, the woman clearly did not take to nurturing as much. It was largely a combination of her background and experiences. The life of an Arrancar did not offer many opportunities for calm and diligent attempts. This attitude that she had developed along with her unnaturally long life gave Ailene a different perspective on teaching. She had several decades to perfect the craft of brewing tea. While she had only recently adapted the use of a gaiwan in favor of loose-leaf tea instead of traditional tea bags, the woman had developed a calm and steady hand that was unusual among many seasoned baristas. 

Regardless, she would not harp on it too much. Amber was new to this. It would also provide Ailene a chance to get accustomed to her new life. The new perspective she had to adapt. She was no longer timeless. She could not pursue any number of arts that she wished to pursue. Eventually her life would come to an end once more. What happened after that... well. That had yet to be written. For all she knew, she would be lucky to go to Soul Society. Continuing to live a peaceful life in what was effectively heaven. On the other hand, perhaps she would be fated to become a Hollow once more. Even more sinisterly, perhaps her dark deeds would catch up with her and she would be offered a place in Hell.

She'd take a deep breath. One to clear her mind. It would be clear that the woman was unsettled though. Something that weighed on her mind. After a few moments, after several deep breaths, Ailene decided to refocus. She took gentle sips of her Jasmine tea as she truly let it soothe her. Thankfully, Kimiko would provide a new topic to discuss. Unfortunately, it was one that Ailene sensed a hint of discomfort from the Shinigami as she spoke. "I'm sorry for... what happened back at the forest. I should've told you about my condition," Even as Kimiko looked out the window, there was an unusual strain in her voice. "I just didn't think that she was going to show up..."

Ailene sighed briefly. She took a moment to collect her thoughts. Strangely though, there would be no hint of concern or judgement on her face. Instead, she'd appear to be smiling brightly. "Oh, that's okay. Trust me, you aren't the first one I have come across." She chuckled briefly as she dug up an old memory, but one she remembered quite vividly. "A Rouge Shinigami of the Thirteenth, a Camila Adaronde, possessed one as well." She took a sip of her tea, still smiling a little. "I actually came to blows with the Hollow in a fight between myself and Camila." She tapped her fingers along the table. "Trust me, compared to that vulgar piece of work, I can appreciate one with some decent manners. Even if she is all mysterious and playful." 

Ailene meant little offense with her comments. In fact, she tried to use it to make the Shinigami before her feel less guilty. She'd take another sip of her Jasmine Tea which was beginning to grow on her as she set it down calmly. Her features sharpened for a moment as she took the discussion a little more seriously. "All fun and games aside though, I can identify a wicked soul when I see one. Yours is... well. She's something alright. A bloodlust and ferocity that matched that of my other half." As she said this, she frowned a little. In the last three weeks, she had no visions. No encounters with the other soul that once resided in her Zanpakutō. Whether it was destroyed along with her spiritual weapon was unclear, but her missing presence both put Ailene at ease, but also saddened her. For all their disagreements. For all their different views, Ailene knew that she was never alone. It was now, more than ever, that she yearned for such a connection again.

That was in the past though and Kimiko certainly seemed to have her own troubles. The woman leaned forward for a moment. "I won't pretend to know much about your... condition" There was a slight emphasis. "I will simply caution you. If I still had my powers, I'd do what I can to help, but I am afraid that I won't be of much help besides friendly support," Ailene seemed visibly distraught over this. She could provide little assistance due to her newfound limitations. As a result of this though, she had grown closer to Kimiko and in some ways, she was thankful for the recent chain of events. She gently tapped the cup of her tea. "I do know that Soul Society doesn't look favorably upon others with your problem. Refer to Camila for a prime example..." Her tone brightened for a moment. "However, should you ever need a place to reflect or find your strength, Rēgīna will always welcome you."

[Nakajima Kimiko]

Amber was not a student of the martial arts. That would be obvious to anyone. It was clear that she did not seek to better her offensive or her defensive capabilities against a foe that wished to do battle with her in the near future, and it was also clear that she would hardly require capabilities for the time being. Yet, though she was not and could practically not even be referred to as a student, Kimiko felt as though she could still theoretically consider her as such. Like the people who visit the dojo of the 40th western district of Rukongai, this redhead seeks to work under a "master" in order to better her skills in one art so that she can get some sort of gain out of it. The only difference that the Shinigami could see here was that the foreigner sought monetary compensation so that she could supposedly continue her main studies here in Karakura Town, while her own students instead sought a better understanding of the blade and the art of swordsmanship.

In so doing, the scarlet-eyed woman treated her like she would treat any student: with encouragement and understanding. She was very well-aware that making tea was not an easy task, and that it could easily lead to mistakes. However, she preferred not to see these mistakes as such. Instead, she saw them as imperfections, which in turn made these tea quite unique. Sure, they were not as refined as Ailene's or even perfect for that matter. As the once-Arrancar described by her lonesome, this concoction still held the taste of leaves that were left over in the cup, thus giving it a sort of strange taste that was a bit... too natural for the time being. However, where the head barista saw in error, Kimiko instead saw something in the taste that could potentially become something new. If properly guided onto the right track with the right basics, this could lead Amber to create her own tea cups. At the very least, the teacher believed that was something Ailene should push Amber towards, not away from.

Nevertheless, she was not going to bring herself too far into this conversation. This was the barista's business, not hers. If she believed that Amber's work should remain similar to hers until it becomes an exact replica, then there was nothing Kimiko could do in that regard. She may have shown to Ailene how she taught others how to do things, but that did not mean that she wanted the girl to completely copy her either. In other words, she was not Amber's master in this institution: Ailene was. Either way, she simply hoped that whatever is going to come out of this teaching is going to be good enough for her to perhaps think about coming to the tea shop on a regular basis. The tea served by Shizukakane may be very good and so may be several concoctions prepared within the Soul Society, but there is a difference between what is made there and what is made here in the Living World. It is nice to sometimes add more variety to one's life.

But there is a limit to how many differences the Third Seat could tolerate, and it was why the topic of conversation they eventually swerved to was considered. The fact that her life was still influenced by the existence of her Inner Hollow to some capacity bothered her, and it showed. Simply bringing it up in front of Ailene was not something that she enjoyed doing. Unfortunately, she felt that that was a necessity. The new Human had seen what happened when the thing had taken over her senses, and though it did not seem as though she had any desire to learn more about it or even so much as report it to somebody, Kimiko felt as though she did need to, at the very least, explain to her how and why it even happened in the first place. After all, though the barista was once Hollow herself, it was doubtful that she had actually seen someone who somehow appeared to be a mixture of both Shinigami and Hollow. Hell, the officer still had some trouble simply understanding that fact after all this time.

Shockingly, however, it would seem as though the officer was proven wrong, as Ailene would then reveal to her that she was actually not the first of these mixtures she had seen. No, in fact, she had seen somebody else harbor similar features, which was something that caused Kimiko to blink and just sit there, confused. Eventually, the identity of this other officer would be revealed to her: Camila Adaronde, soldier of the Thirteenth Division. The Third Seat had heard about her before, mainly from Celes. She was someone who worked for the Gotei 13 until she was compelled to leave the Soul Society at one point due to feeling isolated from the rest of it. To hear about her yet again was enough to bring a sigh out of her. "A friend of mine told me about what happened to her... Well, not the whole story, but I got the picture," she would admit, though making sure not to directly speak of Celes in this matter. It was probably for the best that she at least keeps the Captain's secret hidden for now. "I didn't know she fought you, though..."

At the very least, like the once-Arrancar said, it seemed as though Kimiko's own Inner Hollow was not as difficult to manage as Camila's. Apparently, that girl's possessing spirit was vulgar and supposedly quite violent, which most likely caused significant issues when it came to communicating with it. If anything, the fact that it had such a problematic personality was most likely what pushed the poor woman to eventually decide to leave the Soul Society, as it could have potentially endangered several people. The Third Seat felt as though her own was sickeningly violent too; after all, all those terrible nightmares were created by the Inner Hollow, and she could still remember some of the things she has done to her. Even now, she could recall how she made her believe she was starving on the path towards Seireitei. It was a horrid memory. She could admit, however, that it had some manners. Emphasis on "some". That was most likely one of the only positives that she could even name off this awful being.

It would seem that, despite this, Ailene too could notice the many negative characteristics the being possessed. She saw the same things Kimiko saw in her, namely her wickedness, her blood lust, and the ferocity that she carried along with her whenever she acted. The off-duty officer personally believed that she held two of those things whenever she found herself fighting someone or something, and so she found herself being somewhat embarrassed by the fact that she had a few similarities with the being that she had not quite noticed before. If anything, it made her once again believe that the being had changed her to a degree over the course of her career as a Shinigami. Nevertheless, she only held those things during battle, not outside of it. She had boundaries, limits that the Inner Hollow did not seem to possess. Consequently, combining those things with the being's playful nature makes for a dangerous mix that easily threatened the safety of anything that surrounds it.

Kimiko was not surprised to hear that the barista wasn't really going to help her in this regard. As a Human, her lacking spiritual abilities were most likely only going to allow her to see her at best, and even if she had remained as an Arrancar, her knowledge over the matter would have been at best limited. Despite this, the Third Seat was not annoyed by this. She had not wanted to implicate her into her problems back then, and if the matter would have never arisen, she would have not wanted her to even know about it now. This was partly because of what happened to Camila, as Ailene herself precised shortly after she spoke her opinions about the matter. With that said, now that the cat was out of the bag, Kimiko was... somewhat glad that somebody else other than Celes knew about this and still was willing to accept her not as a nuisance, but still as at least an ally who was willing to give her shelter should she ever need it. It was a comforting thought.

As such, once the matter was settled, the Shinigami would give her a soft smile. It was a very honest one, something that appeared out of sheer gratitude. "Thanks, Ailene," she would tell her then with a tone that almost seemed gentle as she found relief that she perhaps needed in this moment. It only strengthened her resolve to go on even further down this path. When she finished speaking, she took another sip of her tea, letting the liquid trail down her throat and into her stomach once again before she would settle down into her chair and move away from the subject of conversation. "So... I know you just came out of this hospital and all, but if you still have your sword... I'm free to give you a few more lessons. I got a few more weeks before I go back to the Soul Society." Her tone was brighter and more energetic. "Now that you're a Human, I'm sure you won't want to ditch that sword anymore in favor of those laser beams."

Whatever the existence of her Inner Hollow is going to mean for her future, Kimiko is not going to worry about it now. She still had many things to do, many things to see, and once again, she was not going to allow some spirit to have a say in what she was going to become.

For better or worse.

[Ailene Haschiro]

Talking about Camila, however brief, certainly brought about some old memories in the woman. After all, it was it her Garganta that got her in trouble with Soul Society, but the Rogue Shinigami had also deferred to her when arriving in Hueco Mundo. When meeting with Lord Kouhai, the King of Las Noches had thrust Camila onto her. In a way, Ailene had been responsible for the Rogue Shinigami. It wasn't too long after that Camila had gone off to prove herself and get herself killed. Fate had always led the Shinigami to her. The woman sighed for a moment as she took more idle sips of her tea. She was not quite sure how Kimiko would react to her light teasing and her knowledge of Camila. Shinigami with Inner Hollow were exceptionally rare after all.

Thankfully she would not get a venomous response. "A friend of mine told me about what happened to her... Well, not the whole story, but I got the picture," Ailene nodded as she hummed ever so softly. "I didn't know she fought you, though..." Ailene chuckled and nodded briefly again. "Yep. Shortly after becoming the Septima Espada. In truth, I'm a little surprised that he didn't put up more of a fight." Her eyes darted upward thoughtfully as she did her best to recall bits and pieces. "Maybe I had already knocked Camila around enough... I'm not entirely sure." Her eyes returned to Kimiko. "Either way. He was catainly what you'd expect of a Hollow. Violent, but surprisingly vulgar..." 

Ailene had her suspicions that the topic of discussion was sensitive to the Shinigami. She understood a little about what she could be experiencing. After all, the soul residing within her Zanpakutō was an entity that Ailene had feared for much of her life. It became a power that the woman used to call upon so rarely. Resurrecciòn, a symbol of pride, became a curse for her. There was incredible power locked within it, but it came at the cost of her very soul. Each fight would become a cruel and vicious brawl. Unlike the Inner Hollow, however, it was a power that she chose to call upon. It could peer through the cracks and harass Ailene, but it could never force her into a given position. 

It was for these experiences that Ailene offered a sanctuary to Kimiko. After all, in her mind, perhaps Camila met her fate because she felt that there was nobody to rely on. She felt as though nobody trusted her and that she, in turn, couldn't rely on anyone. It was an offer that she intended to keep. After all, Rēgīna was designed to be a place of peace. A place where people could come and relax. Have their day brightened. It was a place that accepted everyone, from all walks of life. To cast Kimiko aside would spit in the face of everything that Ailene had aimed to build. Thankfully, it seemed that it had resonate warmly within the Third Seat. 

"Thanks, Ailene," Ailene simply smiled in response and went back to tapping her fingers along the edge of the table. After Kimiko had another sip of her own tea, the Shinigami made a very surprising offer. "So... I know you just came out of this hospital and all, but if you still have your sword... I'm free to give you a few more lessons. I got a few more weeks before I go back to the Soul Society." Ailene raised an eyebrow for a moment. She seemed far more energetic than before which left Ailene chuckling. She couldn't help it. This girl was so passionate, and her energy was positively infectious. She had felt this earlier in the forest.

"Now that you're a Human, I'm sure you won't want to ditch that sword anymore in favor of those laser beams." Once more, Kimiko's bias against the spiritual arts would show. Ailene gave a gentle sigh and lightly shook her head. "You know, that stings a little." She'd calmly state in a playful tone. "In truth, I will miss it a little. A Cero need not be a tool of destruction after all. I had developed such a finesse with it that I could actually mold it. I could produce things of all shapes and sizes to dazzle the eye." Her voice grew melancholy for a moment. It was clear that the loss of her powers came with some disadvantages. Some that she would come to regret after all. "After all, now it'll be a hell of a lot harder for me to visit the 40th District." She grinned gently as she looked down at the remnants of the tea. She'd twirl her cup a little, swirling the hot liquid.

Ruminating, she chuckled. "Give it a week. I need to get back into the swing of things with Rēgīna first and get accustomed to this new... existence. As for my sword... I'm afraid that my Zanpakutō was lost after my Saigo. In that moment, it had become a part of me, and it fizzled away together with my Reiryoku." Looking up from her cup, she'd smile. "I have a spare blade stashed somewhere that we can use though. It won't be as personalized, but it'll be a good base to work off again." She laughed heartily for a moment before finishing the rest of her tea. The warm radiated through her body another time, soothing as ever.

Upon finishing the cup, she'd look over at the counter. Amber was standing there, looking across the shop and waiting to tend to the customers of Rēgīna. Ailene chuckled softly and waved Amber over. Catching the woman's eye, Amber strode over. "Yes, Ailene?" The woman stood there, listening to Ailene as she spoke. "Another cup of Jasmine, please. Practice makes perfect after all." Amber bowed as Ailene looked at Kimiko thoughtfully for a moment. She hummed softly before turning to Amber again. "Actually... Amber. For my next cup of tea... I want you to surprise me. Pick any tea leaves and prepare it however you wish. I want to see your creativity at work." Giving the woman a small wink, Ambers' cheeks lit up. Ailene was finally granting her a bit of agency as she nearly stumbled upright. "Y.. yes, of course, Ailene. Right away!" As she left, there was an excitement to her voice.

Ailene would turn to Kimiko and give her a wink. Perhaps there was something more to her swordsmanship training after all. Ailene had taught Amber some of the basics of tea-making before. She had covered for her at Rēgīna before. Perhaps it was time to allow her to find her own way. To allow her own creativity to bloom. Much like how Kimiko had tried to encourage within Kimiko. As Ailene watched from a distance, seeing Amber excitedly peer across a life of options, the woman closed her eyes. She hummed softly before smiling brightly. After everything that she had to endure... after choosing to discard her powers... it was in this moment that she knew she had made the right decision. Together with Amber, they'd make Rēgīna what it was meant to be. A place where everyone was welcome. 

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Counted 142 paragraphs for page 1.

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Counted 61 paragraphs for page 3.

362 paragraphs counted total, meaning 1,810 total TP for both participants!