The Perfect Recipe [Training Thread: Asmoskon/Kaijin]

[Kaijin "Quinn" Cole]

The sounds of the tiny heartbeat could be felt clinging to her finger through the small digits. A gentle warmth that was soft to the touch as it brought about a swelling variety of emotions. Having the image of that small face being cast into her eyes was something that Kaijin could not bring up into words as she would leave such a sight in the care of the father. Days such as that were like vivid dreams that she believed to have been made up. Moments of joy that the Fullbringer could have imagined after several months of force induced sickness. She was happy as she was in the previous life among the Shinigami. "The Shinigami...." There was no mistake but the one that Kaijin left to pursue the captivating sensation that gave birth to the newest member to their family. The sin that Kaijin could not be left unchecked as she rejoiced while others remained buried.

Kaijin did not have the strength that she once held as the Captain of Squad Two. A faint trace of what was before lingered in the confinds of what is Kaijin's body. Years of acculumated skills that were forged through conflict and battle, what now serves the Fullbringer to combat the shadows that remain in Karakura. Hollows. Shinigami. Entities that the eye could not see remained visible to the French girl's eyes that she could only handle to a degree. Before, what must have been seen as a minor nuisance at the time have now become dangerous creatures once again. The Hollows that she combats now, despite being a lower rank than what she had dealt with before, were now a tremendous danger to her. Her fingers would swing back to grasp at the Zanpakutou that was no longer there out of instinct. But nothing was taken hold of. Only air.

The Fullbringers natural abilities would have surpassed those of an average Human. A mindset that was molded into that of a trained olympic martial artist despite appearing to be in her late twenties to early thirties. An ordinary Human girl was what presented itself on the outside for all to see, but nevertheless to be a killer of spirits within. Pulling back the strands of blonde hair away from her view Kaijin spent the majority of her time now to regain her strength, rebuilding the individual to who she once was for fulfilling her goal. She sighed heavily as hunting Hollows proved to be more difficult than before. As stated before, Kaijin was no longer a spiritual being, nor capable of pressing her limits as she did before. No. Her body was of blood and limited to the World of the Living as the majority were. A sense of relief came, but so too did she feel grief and distain.

Her arm and legs were fatigued from the strain of fighting. Not like from before. Her heart rate was flailing about in her chest to compensate for the rush of actions being taken. Not like how things were before. Kaijin glanced back down at the missing left arm that caused her sleeve to be taken by the wind so easily as she walked down the morning sidewalk. The cotton white turtle neck kept her body snug, and tightly fitted to reassure her surroundings as she could act without needing to fight off indecent eyes. The fitted jeans were admittedly more comfortable than what she had use to don while serving as a Shinigami overall, but at the same time not alienated as she utilized this form of clothing when in a Gigai. She was now nearly an ordinary girl taking a simple walk into town. It felt wrong in a sense as though she was not...

A gentle aroma basked the air with a hint of fragrance. The scent of a simple, yet warm brewed broth came to ease the nerves. A quick turn about had directed the Fullbringers attention toward that of the origin of the scent. Salty in nature with a blend of vegetables and meat. A gentle swoft of her hand to brush the hanging curtains aside as she stepped through the open bamboo door-way to the welcome of a simple restaruant. "One Tofu Ramen please..." Kaijin seated herself after reviewing the menu for but a moment. Taking an open spot in the dinning area's bar set did the Fullbringer place an order, looking to savor something warm before looking for the next target.

Clothing Reference

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

Standing within the confines of an elevator, a sensation that Asmoskon dreaded, one that had always given him a sensation of near hopelessness. It felt as if he were giving a foe the perfect opportunity to strike him down while he was forced to be immobile. Even now, moving up from the depths below Karakura in an elevator of his own design, Asmoskon felt the same sensation. Doing his best to make the more than a minute long transit between the world he’d formed below the surface to Karakura above, Asmoskon chooses to dwell on images of the past that still ignited the happy sparks inside his soul. Images of his wife and the family that at one point he’d been trying to start.

Just as the sensation of panic and dread were overpowered by the hopes that still burned within his soul, the ding of the elevator awoke his attention, pulling it back from the warmth while tossing it into the cold embrace of reality. Stepping out front he elevator into the dark tunnel, designed to give no light, no comfort nor any sort of direction. A tunnel that although short in reality was meant to make anyone entering it feel as if it were ever stretching. Having been the maker of the tunnel he knew the truth although he could feel the effects all the same, a fact that made him close his left eye and continue to walk forward knowing that was all he had to do to reach the doorway.

It’d only take a little bit more and then a simple door that didn’t feel much different than any other made of metal. The two slabs of metal gave way to what felt like a sun on the other side as light poured in washing over Asmoskon. Light wouldn’t be the only thing welcoming him back to Karakura though as all the noise in the area seemed to greet him as well. His developed ears picking up on words being spoken, not just by those inside The Perfect Broth, but on the street outside. Stepping out of the fridge located in the back of the ramen shop and making sure to close the doors behind him, Asmoskon sighs knowing that soon it’d be the day he so dreaded and he’d have to make his trip.

Moving out from the back of the shop Asmoskon nods his head with a smile towards Ren and Rin, the two Quincy Siblings that run the ramen shop. Neither of them possessed all that much talent as Quincy nor did they really want to pursue the natural gifts they’d been born with for the simple reason they’d been born with other gifts as well. Asmoskon couldn’t imagine any pair of better cooks nor anyone that wished to find the perfect bowl of broth. A constant source of enjoyment for someone so lost in loneliness. As he moved to the front of the shop Asmoskon stopped suddenly as he felt a source of reiatsu, a source that felt familiar to something.

It’d take only a moment to locate the pretty blonde female sitting at the countertop. A Fullbringer it would seem or rather Asmoskon would guess. In truth he couldn’t tell what race she belonged to, only that she was spiritual. Nevertheless, Asmoskon didn’t have problems with the other races that called the World of the Living home. Her race didn’t matter though, only that she felt familiar and now looking at her from her left side at the end of the countertop he could see her face. She truly looked familiar as if he’d seen her before, as if they’d spoken to one another, but something was off like a piece was missing that kept it all from clicking for him. All he could do was approach her and ask.

“Miss, do I know you?”

[Kaijin "Quinn" Cole]

The taste of warm broth that was delicate to the palette, and to the soul. A flavor that was not rich as its mellow fragrance could be utilized as its own incense. The hint of seaweed washed over the Fullbringer's taste buds, enlightening them to the mixture of ingredients that the eye could not see in the clear soup. Soothing to the soul was what Kaijin needed at the moment to help carry her on towards the next objective that she needed to pursue: greater strength. Her eyes wandered towards the left of her figure, looking at the weightless sleeve that resided against her side as though it clung to her. The feeling of only using a single arm was being slowly accustomed, gradually removing the thought of the phantom pain that was brought upon the arm that she no longer had.

The patrons of the small restaurant mingled like any other day with only their eyes kept within the realm that was around them, and not what resided beside them. Kaijin could feel the lingering sensations of reiatsu in the air. Nostalgic in its embrace, yet distant as well. The Fullbringer could no longer hear the voices that once aided in the silent times. Her senses only occupied by what was beside her and not farther beyond. What was in front of her, of the Fullbringer, was that of objects that she could easily pass through if she so desired, wielded great strength to change the outcome of dangerous scenarios. But now she could not.

“Miss, do I know you?”

A voice called to her in a soft, mumbled tone. A volume that befitted the interior of the restaurant's inner monologue between patrons as the bangs of blonde hair shifted with pearls of sapphire beamed at the voice's origin. Kaijin shifted to glance over to her left to see a stout man standing close, with only a gap between the counter stools. The whipping tail of a single noodle slithering into the Fullbringer's mouth, with nothing more but a curious gaze before switching from eating to speaking. She swallowed. "Zorry, ar' you zpeaking to me monsieur?" Kaijin answered back with a pondering question of her own. The light tone of the French woman's voice obviously made it clear that she was curious, confused pertaining to this encounter. A moment went on as Kaijin felt a bit unease. A voice that was directed towards her believing that someone from Soul Society was calling out to her. Her heart skipped for but a moment. If that was the case....

"Iz zhere zomesing zhat I could 'elp zu with monsieur?" Kaijin smiled softly, pressing the situation as a stranger rather than someone who would know. "Maybe you may have zeen me zomew'ere aound 'ere. I do zome zhooping around here time to time." Kaijin needed information, and possibly avoided connections to Soul Society.

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

The moment that the blonde female turned her head Asmoskon could peer into her eyes, familiar orbs that contained to evade identification. An eerie feeling grew within him as if he were right on the cusp of realization. The eyes were something that normally people didn’t bother to change, they didn’t hide them and Asmoskon made sure to always look at anyone he could respect in any way directly in the eyes. Then came the response from the girl in her French accent which only further stirred the sensation infinitely more than it was already present.

“My apologies. I’d like to ask for your feedback on the bowl.”

A simple question that would give him just a bit more time for his mind to come upon the answer. This girl was someone he’d seen before that Asmoskon was certain of now however the actual identity of her was beyond him. Perhaps one of the worst possibilities were happening right now, an individual of familiarity inside the Perfect Broth couldn’t be ignored. This place was too important and Asmoskon knew his list of enemies to be vastly more developed than those he could call allies. It’d be mainly for this very reason that he couldn’t let this go, he had to figure out why this one looked so familiar to him.

[Kaijin "Quinn" Cole]

My apologies. I’d like to ask for your feedback on the bowl.”

Blinking, the Fullbringer nuzzled the ridge of her nose as the new train of thoughts that came to mind in response to what the man had inquired. One linked onto another as the two conversed, bringing another inquiry as to what she was partaking. "Oh, it iz delizous, monsieur." the French woman responded softly as glancing back at the clear flavored broth swirling along with her chopsticks. Puzzling, this is what Kaijin did considered it as someone was asking about her food after approaching her. Not many people would approach another to discuss what they were having, let alone how was their dish unless they operated in establishment, or looking for something else. The clothing that the man dorned was well tailored, leaning towards business than that of casual. Her eyes did catch a glimpse at from where the man would have possibly entered from as she did not recongnize in earlier within the dinning room. From the back area?

"It iz very good monsieur. Kai...I hazz been zome time zince I eaten zomething whizz zhis combination befoe~ It hazz..a familiar flavor to it I zhould zay." she chuckled looking up at Asmoken. "Excuses, I did not introduce mizelf. My name iz Harl....Harleen." The girl naturally went with what she was referred to before as a cover. A name that she associated herself with in Soul Society before applying her birth name. Yet, as natural as it was to give people a false name, what was given was something that she quickly had to gather herself before finishing with the provided label. She could not recall it as it slipped from her lips, although........"Harleen iz my name, what iz yourzz Monsieur?" .... she could still improvise with something else despite being a bit cliche with its formation.

The brewed soup in the ceramic bowl between her hands seeped its hot contents, and fragrance, into the immediate area before simmering away, chimming with a quick vibration that coursed through its rippling surface. Kaijin's face whipped away for the moment, returning it to the opening in which she had entered the Noodle Shop. A faint ping in her sensory as something wrestled with the reiatsu outside the establishment. The patrons within the restaurant continued with their discussions, partaking of their meals as blindsided by what occurred beyond their reality. Something was approaching from the distance.

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

The French accent was something that still felt like a clue, something that was integral to figuring this out. Even hearing it once more with her answer about how the taste of the ramen was acceptable, he could tell he was right on the edge of something clicking together. Still though, even if he personally loved the taste of Ren and Rin’s cooking it was always nice to hear others opinions. At the rate things were going he wasn’t just looking at a success at the real purpose, but as the owner of a restaurant.

“Harle . . Harle . . .”

Just like that a missing piece had been given to him, the memory that he’d been searching for rushed back to the forefront of his mind. A meme Ody that triggered something along his face that only Quincy normally were privy to witnessing. A big smile right across his face right at Harle. “Now it makes more sense. I didn’t recognize you since I’d heard you were dead. You’re still very pretty without your makeup, Harle.” Asmoskon in the way that he spoke was confident now with who was sitting in front of him. The Former Captain of Squad Two, Clown of Seireitei, Harle.

“My name's Asmoskon. We met quite a few years ago.”

[Kaijin "Quinn" Cole]

Kaijin's eyes widened. The train of thought that the French woman did not wish to come to light eventually came. The chatter that filled the small space around them became silent. Sound did not exist in this space as if the concept of it ceased to exist to the woman. The pearls of azure irises refused to look away from the man as the spirit of the past came forth. It was like staring at death itself with no means to shield herself from it. There were not many individuals that knew Kaijin without her makeup, let alone could really speak of differientating her without it. It was a rare sight to see when the girl had none of her face cover to mask her natural appearance, though there were the few regardless of the effort. This man, Asmoskon, was one of them.

Asmoskon Kuichiki, or rather that, Asmoskon Masurao from what Kaijin could recall was the partner to that of a Hotaru Kuichiki; a member of the Noble Kuichiki Household. Kuichiki, whether title or in name held a great significance within Soul Society as one of the origin families that helped develop the Gotei Thirteen. At least from what she could find during her time as Captain. Great in social society and in power whether it be in finances or in overall strength as they were not to be taken lightly. This was thanks to the name that led the family during the time. Souzen Kuichiki. A reminder of that name sent chilled shivers down the girl's spine even as the warm broth was ingested. The same name that was in partial orchestrating the trechery that resides in Soul Society now, among the other targets that were branded onto her list of targets.

Yes, the great darkness that currently resides within Soul Society, and looking to seep out from the shadows to engulf the light was those that stood on top of Soul Society's leadership. Central Forty-Six. The Kawada Family. The Kuichiki Family. Kaijin only knew of the two families that had the potential that laid in wait for the moment to strike, resulting in a complete Dictatorship of the Seireitei. An shadow army within the Kawada. A twist of politics and control from the Kuichiki Family. And lastly, the unbridled greed and lust from the members of Central Fourty-Six. Three major powers that were far too dangerous to be allowed to wander about freely as they do now, which was the reason for the ex-Captain's actions. The said result was that of her execution to its discovery, and to her self-imposed exile.

"I'm...I'm zorry monsieur, but I thinkz zhat you have me confuzed wizz zomeone elze, no?" Kaijin chuckled nervously as one would with a potential threat. "My name iz Harleen, but I do getz zhat from everyone zhat I look like zomeone hahaa. And zhank you for zee compliment too monsieur. I am very flattered." another sheepish chuckle came out as the chopsticks were laid down paralleled to her half empty bowl. Running into a relative of the Kuichiki family was dangerous, regardless of where they were in terms of plane of existance. Her notice of death was meant to remain, allowing for better movement among the shadows. Despite no longer being a member of Squad Two secrecy was still a habit of hers to a degree. Her dress straightened as she stood with a few motions to set the money needed to pay. "I am zorry zhat I can not ztay fo long, but I need to get going ya? But it was a pleazurrr to meet you again."

She had to rush. She had to run. This place was not safe despite pulling her reiatsu inward. She had to pull more back. She had to get away until there was nothing left to sense. She had too...

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

This wasn’t really the reaction that Asmoskon had been expecting, the moment everything became clear he could see in the eyes of Harle that she perceived everything as wrong. Asmoskon had been uncover, hiding in dangerous places and the thing he saw on her face and in her eyes right now was fear. She was terrified that she’d been discovered that much was clear in his left eye now. He’d seen her and figured out her real identity when she didn’t want anyone to know it. The only thing he couldn’t figure out though was why he'd heard rumors that she’d died, when she was here in Karakura and why did she feel like a human and not a shinigami?

"I am zorry zhat I can not ztay fo long, but I need to get going ya? But it was a pleazurrr to meet you again."

“Again? Wasn’t this our first meeting?”

Asmoskon wasn’t sure if Harle was going to bolt out hoping to get away, but he wasn’t going to let her leave until he got some answers. He didn’t have anything against her and if she wanted to stay hidden that was fine with him. One thing he did want to know though was Karakura. If there was someone as specialized as Harle living here then she was a potential ally. A potential insight on things that he didn’t know or she knew better than him. Despite figuring out her acting the part was really quite good, if not for the little slip up at the end Asmoskon felt he could have been wrong to some extent. “You’re in no danger Harle, I have nothing against you. If you haven’t helped the Vandenreich or killed any Free Quincy then you are no enemy of mine so please come finish your bowl, otherwise I’ll never hear the end from Ren about wasting his hard work.”

[Kaijin "Quinn" Cole]

You’re in no danger Harle, I have nothing against you. If you haven’t helped the Vandenreich or killed any Free Quincy then you are no enemy of mine so please come finish your bowl, otherwise I’ll never hear the end from Ren about wasting his hard work.”

A light snicker did manage to slip through the facade that Kaijin attempted to maintain. Despite the looming threat over her head, what clung to it was some form of relief. A level of relief that was brought upon the girl through the guise of ignorance, should it be that else what. Yet, the sour taste remained as reality was cruel, and at times unforgiving. As it was said in the man's response, what Kaijin knew of was nothing to laugh at. "Zu have no idea of zhee danger zhat iz here Monsieur. Zhee danger zhat iz here, or zhat iz over all of uz." the Fullbringer shook her head. "Zhee people zhat are en danger now will be zhat of Hotaru, and zhee Kuichikis, if zhey are not whizz zhem. If zhey are, zhen zhere iz not much zhat we can do. No matter what I can zhink of, or who I can find. Zhee only thing zhat I can do now iz be forgotten." the French woman declared.

Where to even begin with the story? Would it be laughed at as others have done? When thinking about what had been lost to the actions of the Ex-Captain, was there a point to it all? The only other option that could have a possibility of changing the course, at least from what she believed that could alter Soul Society's interior was... "Zoul Zociety..... Zhee Noble Family of zhee Kawadas. Central Fourte-Six. Corrupted. Looking to control all zhat iz around zhem. Un dictatorship." The woman came to rest herself back onto the stool, running the slender fingers through the roots of blonde hair. There was so much to tell but where to begin? Too many details. Too many lives. Kaijin felt the weight once more that was pummeling down at her as it did before when at the Kawada Estate, as it did during her execution. "Zhere iz a darkness in Zoul Zociety that comes from Central Forte-Six. Looking to control, and remove zhee powers of zhee Noble Houses. All to turn Zoul Zociety into un dictatorship. Zomething zhat zhey control wizout question. Zhey will uze zhee Noble Houses people to control all of zhee afterlife." she slowly explained.

A military rule in which a select few would have total control over everything. A military state in which the greedy will only use their new found power to satisfy themselves, rather than for the people. Policing the squads and Rukongai into submission. The utilization of the Noble House's armies to maintain a eternal state of martial law. The possibilities that Central Forty-Six could have for their new found strength would be unmatched, and without opposition. Souzen Kuichiki began it all with his son Souza discovering what was transpiring. To slow his father's success Souza was implementing his own schemes to sabotage Souzen's efforts, stalling, and maintaining a form a democracy within the ruling power of Soul Society. But, Kaijin had not heard anything from him since. Everything was continuing, and left unchecked.

"I found out about zhis, and did what I could to control zhee zituation. Tried to make people zee. But...." A single glance at her left shoulder. The part of the woman that was missing, which should have lessen her weight in reality felt more heavy than ever before. She clasped at what was missing there. "And so, I was executed.... at least, zhat iz what was reported. I lost.....everything, and now I am here, living as a Human again." she chuckled softly, looking at the humor that was there for the instance. She continued to rub at the pain in her arm; in the pain that was not there. "Right now I do not know what iz happening in Zoul Zociety. Zhee only zhing zhat I know now iz zhat a war can start anytime now inside. Zhee Kawada Council memberz looking fo un signal to send zheir armies out. Zentral Forte-Six looking to remove zertain individuals from influence before zhey take control. Zo much, and I am tired..."