Scary New World

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

What was going on? Why was everybody no matter who it was ignoring her? Madelyn ran throughout the town streets not even realizing that the feeling of the pavements and cement on her feet was so different now than before. She just couldn’t understand, couldn’t comprehend that all the people moving throughout the town like her weren't giving her the time of day. She’d woken back up in Karakura, where she and her grandfather had moved to several years ago, but now something was just different.

Going over to a middle aged man that looked like he was on his way either from or to work, asking him what time it was, but he didn’t even look nor answer her. It was strange enough that she’d fallen asleep on the street, it was scary enough that that had happened. She’d had such a vivid dream about a truck and then being in feudal Japan. It didn’t really make a lot of sense when she thought back on it, but at least in her dream she’d had a friend and someone to speak with who had nice bright pink hair.

Normally all bubbly Maddie was starting to feel the pressure in her heart get unbearable, her breathing getting rapid as panic sets in. She’d rushed throughout the town for over an hour now trying to figure out what was going on. The constant unease and just panic brought Maddie to the point she hadn’t even bothered to try and run one to her grandfather instead she just couldn’t handle what was going on to her right now. Leaning up against the side of a building she slides down the wall, her legs tucked in against her chest as tears begin to stream down her face.

[Kiera Bright]

Keira Bright was taking an unusual walk out of her lab. It was unusual to see the young looking scientist out on the streets of Karakura Town, unless it was in search for coffee, or more specimens. But today, she just wanted a change of pace from the usual. Her long pink hair was put up out of her face, and her lab coat pockets were stuffed with various snacks she thought to bring on this excursion. She even decided to walk on her feet like a normal person for once, though the lack of strength in her legs was telling. She could already start to feel the strain from exercise. Keira pushed on anyway making sure not to bump into anyone and risk an explosion killing the hapless people of the town.

Keira's pink eyes scanned the area in front of her and when she started feeling the tell tale signs of a shinigami nearby. She sighed bitterly. She really didn't want to have to deal with one of them right now. She followed her senses to the shinigami like signal she was getting only to see the normal people milling about, and a rather panic stricken girl leaning on the side of a building. Keira sighed again. What did she just stumble upon? The girl didn't seem like any shinigami on patrol. She lacked the uniform and weapon. Did a random soul just manage to come through? She thought approaching the young woman. Keira stopped a distance away to not startle her.

"Hey," Keira called out to the girl looking down at her softening her stern expression. Keira would reach into her pocket and take out a piece of sour candy and pop it into her mouth moving it to one of her cheeks. "You seem lost. Are you ok?" She asked simply.

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Leaning up against the wall of the building Maddie felt like everything was just crashing down around her, this didn’t make any sense why didn’t anyone answer her, why was everyone ignoring her? She hadn’t ever really thought about it, but why did it matter so much? She would have told anyone that being seen or being ignored was no big deal yet apparently that was completely wrong. It hurt, it felt like she wasn’t really here and no one cared, it was so much worse than she would have ever believed, enough that tears were already filling her eyes as she struggled to keep them from pouring down her cheeks.

That’s when she heard a voice, it sounded like it came from in front of her, from a girl around her own age. Looking up from the universal pose of struggle Maddie saw a girl that looked around her own age, one that was pretty but had a very hardship look to her eyes. Maddie didn’t know why, but it almost felt like an adult had just found her stealing something. Sniffling for a moment by relaxing Turing to hide that she was sad Maddie looked at this girl for a moment and then realization clicked for her.

“Wait, you can see me!”

Maddie shouted getting up to her feet as fast as she could, almost like an adult that realized they were late for work on an important day. What was going on here though? Who was this girl with pink hair and why could she see her? Maddie had no clue what was going on still, but at least she wasn’t being ignored now. At least she knew she wasn’t crazy right? She wasn’t invisible or something so maybe this girl could explain why everyone else was acting like she was or at least treating her that way.

[Kiera Bright]

Keira watched the young girl carefully. She didn't seem much younger than herself, late teens, early twenties at most. Keria couldn't fault the girl for trying to hide her distress, but it was plain as day for the pink haired scientist to see. Keira would look over the girl some more noting that there wasn't any exterior injuries to her, so at least she seemed physically ok, for a spirit at least. Something kept nagging at her though. Keira had been around normal spirits enough to know them at a glance, but she seems different. A feeling that there was more to her than meets the eye. Maybe she should examine her back at the lab just to be sure.

Keira was sort of surprised at the emotional 180 that the girl pulled figuring out that Keira could see her. It took Keira some effort not to face palm. Of course she can see her, Keira was talking to her. She just moved the candy in her mouth a bit. "Easy there kiddo, I can see you clear as day." She said raising her arms to calm her down. "You must be a recent spirit if you are this confused on what's going on." Keira said more to herself than the girl. Still what is this feeling I'm getting from her? She wondered.

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Now up on her feet Maddie could see that despite looking so young this girl was actually a bit taller than her, not only that but what she said to her had Maddie confused even more than she had been already. She had gone from sorrowful to excited and happy and now standing there in front of this lady Maddie’s expression would turn into puzzlement. “What do you mean spirit? I’m fine, see I’m not hurt. Everyone just keeps ignoring me except you.” While she spoke Maddie's volume began to shrink as worry began to settle back in through the veil of hope.

Maddie in all the excitement hadn’t even really looked over this lady, only truly seeing her pretty face and her beautiful pink hair. She hadn’t noticed that she was wearing what looked like a doctor’s coat. At the recognition of the clothing Maddie thought she had it figured out now. “Oh that’s why you can’t ignore me right? Being a doctor you’ve gotta help out anyone in trouble like a police officer. Right?” Maddie really wasn’t sure about anything right now and thus she was in truth just trying to grab at everything and hope something turned out to be right.

[Kiera Bright]

Good lord what did I get myself into? Was Keira's first thought when the girl replied to Keira's remark. There was no way someone was this naïve. Right? Keira would somehow explain that they are dead, explain what that all entails, and keep them calm and rational doing it. What was she, some sort of spiritual therapist? Then there was the fact that Keira would need to explain she isn't THAT kind of doctor, and hope this girl gets it. And all this was being told to a girl she didn't even know the name of. This was quickly becoming a pain in the ass. Keira set her determined face, she started this interaction, and this girl wouldn't get anywhere on her own.

"OK, before we go any further on these topics," Keira raised her hand to the shorter girl. "My name is Doctor Keira Bright, Spiritual Science Specialist." Keira figured that it would be best to get introductions out of the way fist so they can call each other by name. "Tell me, have you had anything traumatic happen in your life recently?" Keira would ask once she got the girl's name.

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Maddie really wasn't sure what she could do at the moment and because of that was latching onto this lady the first person that was actively speaking to her or even looking at her. It was because of all that was going on that Maddie didn't even register the looks on this lady's face and the emotions that she must have been experiencing with all the trouble that Maddie was putting on her plate. All she could look like was some desperate little animal like a puppy because in truth at the moment that's all she really was in this new world she knew nothing about.

She was met with the hand of the lady who introduced herself by Keira Bright, a name that brought a smile to Maddie's face along with a soft giggle. Maddie hadn't meant to laugh, but the moment she found that this lady's last name was Bright all she could think about was her pink hair and how it suited her now more than anything else. Her smile didn't fade though when she was confirmed to be correct about the fact that Keira was indeed a doctor, instead it just made the smile bigger like she was going to be able to fix all of her problems right away. "What do you mean Spiritual Science? Like a religious scientist?"

Although Maddie was happier for sure that she now had someone to talk with and perhaps someone that could help her figure out how to just get back to her normal life, one thing was eating at the back of her mind. Her left hand more specifically her left wrist, it was starting to hurt. It felt like a bug bite from a decent sized bug right now and it was starting to get itchy. Itchy enough that she subconsciously had started to scratch at it while asking Keira questions. Although she didn't know it yet the Bakkoto in her wrist was already starting to affect her.

[Kiera Bright]

Now that Keira thought about it, she wasn't too far off the mark with that assessment, but it was still far from the actual truth. Sadly there was only so much that Keira wouldn't be able to explain to her without the aid of her equipment from the lab. It would seem that she would need to start from square one with the girl. Keira would need to move this to her lab. She was starting to get odd looks from the "normal" folk who thought thought that she was either talking to herself, or on some kind of headset. It was getting annoying. Keira finished the candy that she had in her mouth and it was time to move this conversation along. 

"You are not entirely wrong, but there is more to it than that." Keira said putting her hands in her pockets. "If you want, we can take this conversation to my lab where I can explain everything in greater detail." Keira hoped that she just goes along with it. It wouldn't be the first time that she kidnapped a spiritual entity, but she was such an innocent soul that it would make her feel bad about doing something like that. 

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Hearing that she wasn’t entirely wrong by calling it a religious science was soemthing in wrong for Maddie. Although her grandfather was big on the religion of Japan, she honestly didn’t follow him in that regard to closely. She actually stopped for a moment and realized that she didn’t know if her mother had shared the same beliefs as her grandfather either. The thought of her grandfather was now right at the front of her mind and Maddie felt a swelling wave of sorrow building in her chest. She had to figure this out so she could get back to him.

It would be for this reason above all others that she nods her head a few times. She didn’t know anything really about this lady with pink hair, but going with her had to be better than containing to just stay here in the street hoping that someone else would come along who could see her. “My name’s Maddie, thank you for helping me.” Maddie just had to hope that was the real goal here and not something else, talking and trusting strangers wasn’t something she ever did and now in order to figure out what was going on she’d have to do the opposite. So she’d follow this lady to wherever her lab was and hopefully when they got there she’d be able to help her fix whatever happened.

[Kiera Bright]

Keira nodded when Maddie decided to follow her to her lab. Good, she thought. Things are going the easy way. "Follow me." Keira said before she started back the way that she had come. As they walked, the foot traffic would slowly start to thin until sidewalks were nearly deserted. An eerie feeling could be felt as a cold, harsh breeze blew past the two girls. The eerie feeling would increase as the two got closer and closer to the abandoned asylum that Keira called a home and laboratory. Keira wasn't sure what Maddie would think about the foreboding atmosphere, but Keira had long grown accustomed to it, and even used it to her advantage when it came to keeping intruders out. 

"Its not much, but its home." Keira said as she opened the front gate. She would lead them into the large main room and up a set of stairs to the second floor. The building was well maintained despite being mostly abandoned, but the same eerieness could still be felt inside. Keira wouldn't be surprised for one of her various hollows to start acting up as soon as they had entered. Down several halls and past a pair of large doors would be Keira's main computer room where most of her equipment, and general living area was set up. Wrappers and empty chip bags littered the ground, and coffee cups made their homes on any flat surface they could find. 

"Sorry for the mess, I wasn't expecting company today." Keira said moving over to a black board cleaning some half written scientific equations off it. "Find a place to sit" she said motioning to some high backed chairs before moving to a coffee machine. "Want some?" She would inquire pouring herself a cup. "And help yourself to any of the snacks, and relax, we might be here a while." 

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Following the pink haired lady was all she could do at the moment although Maddie couldn’t hide the fact she was confused and a bit disappointed. She had no clue what was going on and despite how open she’d been she still didn’t know this lady’s name. She’d been hoping to learn it when she told her her own name, but maybe she just needed a bit more time. Maddie kept quiet following intently behind although she knew the area pretty well since she lived in Karakura.

She was still surprised all the same though when they came upon the old asylum. Maddie wouldn’t have ever thought someone was living inside such a building, especially not a girl as pretty as the one who seemed to know how to help her. Maddie, while she’d been following, had done whatever she could to keep her attention out of her own mind, knowing that it could only lead to her thinking about things she had no clue about and that was never a good time. So instead she kept her eyes forward and saw the pink hair was actually very pretty although she got the feeling this lady wouldn’t admit to taking care of it.

Getting inside the asylum was chilling, Maddie didn’t know why beyond it just feeling like a scary movie, but something felt off. It felt like other things were inside here, things that felt like dogs. Maddie for a moment thought she heard the sound of growling or screaming, but instead of jumping in fright she winced in pain clutching at her left wrist. Looking at it Maddie noticed a scar that hadn’t been there this morning, a thick line that went across her wrist as if she had cut it with a knife. It burned almost like the scar was ablaze. The lady might realize what was going on but she was going through her room and getting coffee ready so maybe not either way though the pain stopped almost right away.

“Yes please.”

[Kiera Bright]

Keira nodded and handed the girl a cup of hot coffee. "Here you go, cream and sugar are over there." She said nodding to a nearby table. Keira didn't particularly use the stuff with her coffee, but she kept it around for when one of her very few guests want it. "Now to start off, what is it you think of when you hear the word spirit." She askes the girl leaning against the black board. She wanted to know what exactly she was working with before she lays the scientific truth bombs down on the unsuspecting girl. Keira took a sip of her coffee listening intently to her answer.

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Maddie didn’t waste any time walking the little distance from where she had been standing over to the drink supplies. One thing was for certain, at least that she could tell already and that was that this lady wasn’t the best when it came to keeping things tidy. Maddie though didn’t really mind it wasn’t something to hold against her, she was willing to help her which meant she was a good person. If she wasn’t the cleanest that was just something about her which Maddie was happy to learn. While she made her coffee with what many would consider a large portion of sugar, Maddie felt the pain in her worst disappear.

Something wasn’t right, she couldn’t ever remember experiencing pain the way it had felt just now and for it to just vanish all of a sudden right after it started? How did that make any sense? Maddie thought for a moment though about the question asked of her, taking a sip of the coffee although getting basically none of it into her mouth as the heat prevented her from achieving that much. “I guess like a ghost. Someone that’s dead but can still see what’s going on in the area. I’m not sure about all the stuff they can do in movies though.”

[Kiera Bright]

Keira listened to Maddie's description nodding her head, as she sipped her own black coffee. Her assessment was an adequate place to start at. "That's a good start." Keira picked up a piece of chalk and started drawing a diagram of a person and another one labeling one as a body and the other the soul. "In short a spirit is a soul of a person that for one reason or another stays behind in our world. Physically they appear like you or me, but normal living people cannot see, or hear them. One interesting aspect of a spirit, is that they have a chain on their chests called a soul chain, more on that later." Keira said taking a quick breath.

"Now since these souls haven't moved on on their own, usually a shinigami is needed to guild the soul over to the other side. These shinigami have an important job in keeping the balance of the number of souls and the cycle of rebirth or some jazz like that." She said rather dismissively. "You can tell a shinigami in their normal appearance as they wear black robes, and carry a sword with them at all times. When they use gigais however they are more difficult to spot since they are using shells to look like normal living people. Understand everything so far?" Keira asked turning back to Maddie after drawing all the diagrams of the topics that she has covered. She was attempting to keep things simple for the girl's sake, but she was no teacher despite her intellect. 

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Maddie listened as best she could while following along with what Keira was telling her. Although some of the words she told her Maddie hadn’t actually heard before or at least didn’t connect what they meant. She knew about Shinigami or at least what she thought they were. Although she had been born in America she knew quite a bit of Japan’s culture and religion, but gigai was something that made her pause along with whatever this soul chain was that she mentioned.

“I think I get most of it. Shinigami ferry the souls of the dead over to . . . Heaven? But rebirth is also a possibility? Gigai sounds like a suit or costume for them to blend in. I don’t get what a soul chain is though sorry.” Maddie was trying her best, but despite getting at least some of what Keira was telling her, she felt lost on a good portion and that wasn’t anything to be proud of. One major question that now moved throughout her mind though was if Shinigami hid in plain sight often in these gigai.