Those Just Out The Gate

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Hopping from one foot to the other one time after another, was the young soul called Furinji Madelyn. For the first time in quite a few days now though Madelyn had a smile spread across her face. Despite all the negative that had happened to her recently the princess of positivity as her friends called her, once again surfaced. At the moment she was practicing how to make the ground beneath her feet support her. something that amazed her now, it took her mind off all the bad things, all the serious things that she had to figure out. For at least a little bit she felt like herself again and that was all she could get at the moment in terms of happiness, so she was going to keep doing it until she didn't have to even think or concentrate down towards her feet. She felt like a baby learning how to walk so to her it only made sense that eventually she'd be able to do this without thinking just like walking.

Today was only the second day that she could leave the building where she was staying with Dr. Bright. She'd been hurt really bad over two weeks ago. She could remember all the blood that had covered her body and her clothes. How it happened though was a little foggy, like pieces from a book had been torn out. She hadn't been able to remember anything about it when she'd first woken up last week after Dr. Bright had saved her, but in the last week a lot of the memories had come back to her while she'd been sleeping. So, she figured that eventually she'd remember everything and figure out just how certain things made sense. In her dreams she felt good, better than even right now when she swore it was like she was a kid again playing a game.

Other things just didn't make any sense at all like an image of a sword coming out of her left arm. The lady that she'd seen on the street was also covered in blood, but the expression on her face didn't really change. It was almost like she was trying to remember scenes from a movie that she'd watched years ago. Frustrating for sure, but she was safe now so letting it upset her didn't make sense in her eyes. She'd dwelled in sorrow enough and she assumed that was what got her so hurt. So, if she had to then she was going to do everything she could to try and force herself into happy situations. Thus, she was out now practicing what let her see Karakura from up high. Walking from one roof top across the street to another after about three minutes Madelyn panting a little with a big smile on her face heard the sound of something nearby and started to look around and then saw a familiar sight. A Shinigami walking out from one of those doors again.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As part of his duty as a Shinigami, Benjiro was sent to uphold the cycle of reincarnation and be an agent of Samsara, ensuring the safe return of souls to the Soul Society before they were corrupted or eaten by Hollows. He had just arrived in the human world again, and after 70 years, he could barely recognize where he was. The vast size and rapid progress of the world left him feeling small, as if he was a relic of the past. It wasn't entirely different however, especially since he was a Buddhist monk in his life. He had never really left Kiyomizudera Temple for any of the main thoroughfares of Japan, his only knowledge about it coming from the other disciples that had joined later in life. Still, what he saw could not compare to any of the stories. 

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Benjiro found a quiet spot on the rooftop to sit and recenter himself. He held out his Asauchi and focused on his breathing, repeating a mantra for guidance and success in fulfilling his duty. The mantra he repeated was "Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō", which translated to "I devote myself to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra" and it meant to remind him of the importance of his duty and the path to enlightenment. He also offered a prayer to Buddha for guidance and strength to fulfill his duty as a Shinigami. He was always more at ease when he prayed, as if the act of it calmed him and made him feel more in tune with himself. He recalled how he felt during his training with Gestalt, the lightness of his soul as he allowed his breathing to bridge the gap between his body and spirit. Since then, he had tried to actively maintain that connection, to focus heavily on his breathing and practice mindfulness of body, mind, and soul. Once he had finished his meditation, he stood up once more and saw his surroundings with new eyes. 

With a crack of his neck and a stretch, Benjiro prepared for the day ahead of him. He took a cursory glance around the town of Karakura in Japan, keeping an eye out for any souls that were wandering and needed guidance to pass to the Soul Society. These souls would usually be identified by their spiritual pressure, but unless they had a uniquely powerful one, Benjiro wouldn't be able to tell. He still struggled at differentiating spiritual pressures, so for today he'd have to focus on his sight and his context clues. From afar, souls looked nearly identical to humans, save for their much more understandable fashion sense. Basically, the closer their clothing was to the clothing of his time period, the more likely they had passed. Modern fashion made no sense to him. He also made sure to be on high alert for any malicious energies or presences such as Hollows. He wasn't sure if he had to be fortunate or unfortunate to know that he could sense the presence of hollows due to their intensely negative spiritual pressure. Nonetheless, it was his duty, and he would fulfill it to the best of his ability.

As he took a cursory glance around, his eyes landed upon a human girl who seemed to be looking at him, but he disregarded it as a coincidence. Most humans were completely incapable of seeing the Shinigami and other spiritual beings, most likely due to the low amount of spiritual pressure within their bodies. He should know, after all, he used to be one. Not only that, but he was already a heavily spiritually inclined individual, even among the monks at the temple, yet he was still completely blind to the world of the spirits. So, knowing that, this girl couldn't have possibly seen him. Even if she did, it was none of his concern. Her clothing seemed to reflect modern dressing standards, which meant she was most likely alive. Instead, he just jumped from this rooftop to the next, making sure to be thorough in his investigation.

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

This was something that she hadn’t seen before, well not exactly this at least. Last time she’d seen a Shinigami had been Kazuhiko and she’d managed to follow him just enough that she saw him walk through the same rice paper doorway. She could only assume the doorway led to this place called the Soul Society. Madelyn had a few brief flashes of a different place, somewhere that was very dirty, and no one really looked happy. She wasn’t sure but based on what she had learned so far from the few Shinigami she’d met and Dr. Bright, it seemed like soul society wasn’t all that amazing of an afterlife.

Some of the questions running throughout her kind at the moment were very common about most situations. Was this Shinigami going to be as nice as Kazuhiko and Amon? She had to wonder if he knew something that he’d be willing to teach her like Kazuhiko had with walking on the air. After he got out of the doorway though Madelyn watched as it closed and then just like that disappeared again. Something she really still didn’t get was how the doorway worked when she could see it appearing all over, yet it wasn’t really there was it?

Either way though, that's when she saw the Shinigami get down on the top of the roof and from the look of things start to pray. Madelyn could tell as her grandfather was very faith driven, constantly praying to all sorts of deities in the Japanese pantheon. This was a shock though as Madelyn had started to believe that such deities weren’t real. Shinigami seemed to be the enforcers of the afterlife but was she just overlooking the possibility. Could all the deities exist as something else? Could she meet them? A thought that she couldn’t really comprehend and one that gave her a strange feeling all the same.

Just like that though the Shinigami got up onto his feet and then looked right at her. Despite the distance between them Madelyn was sure that he saw her, he was looking her right in the eyes. Then without even a wave or a smile he just turned and started to make his way somewhere else. Madelyn wasn’t sure why, but this gave her a bit of anger. It was rude what he had just done when she was so excited to meet someone new! So, wasting no time she’d start to walk across the air doing her best to catch up to the Shinigami so she could give him a piece of her mind.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro leapt from rooftop to rooftop, he felt a sense of disorientation wash over him. The modern world had changed so much since he had last walked among the living, the veritable concrete jungle a stark contrast to the mountainous forests of his home. It didn't even resemble the familiar architecture of the Rukongai or the Seireitei, it was strange really. Most buildings here looked like big boxes, giving him a small sense of claustrophobia. Being stuck inside a box as opposed to the open air of the Kiyomizudera Temple or the Squad 10 Courtyard or Barracks seemed so limiting for him. Anyways, he had a duty to accomplish. As such, he knew that he needed a better vantage point to properly survey the area and keep an eye out for any sign of trouble or any spirits in need. He scanned the area, searching for a building that would give him a clear view of the surrounding area. That was when he spotted it, a building that was slightly taller than the others, surrounded by open space and greenery. Whatever this building was, it had multiple glass panes to look into as well as a multitude of people going in and out of it. It was perfect for him to use as a vantage point, with the abundance of life around so he could properly account for who was and who was not living. With that, he quickly made his way towards it.

SPOILER: Click to show

{The Hospital}

Looking from where he stood, that tall building was likely 12 or so rooftops away. He sighed, not looking forward to traveling any of that distance. Still, he felt like he needed to. With his poor perception and energy sensing, it was nigh impossible to tell souls from living beings. All he had to work off of were his traditional senses, and even then, he wasn't the greatest at it. Having a vantage point to gather his bearings and serve as a focus would help him greatly in navigating this urban landscape. Still... 12 rooftops was a ways away and it seemed like a lot of running. He immediately thought about using Shunpo as a shortcut, even if it would tire him out immensely, already thinking back to the running match he had with Gestalt. Unfortunately, his heart told him that that wasn't right, especially considering his duty as a Shinigami. 

It seemed as if slow and steady won the race after all, as Benjiro decided to take the longer, more exhaustive route to the hospital rooftop and decided to thoroughly investigate along the way, just in case there were souls that he would have missed would he have used the Shunpo technique. He needed to focus, leaping from rooftop to rooftop was not so easy for a Shinigami of his size. Standing at 7'3 with the weight to match, this veritable behemoth struggled to move quickly and quietly, and every step he took took a toll on his legs. He remembered what Kazuo said when he was alive, every time he landed on his feet, his legs would take the toll of double or triple his weight. If his former rival was correct, then Benjiro would be taking 750 pounds of weight with every running step. It hurt like hell, but he needed to do it. It was his duty after all, he just needed to support his weight better. 

Getting into the proper stance, Benjiro sprung forward with force and grace as he ran across the even rooftop and leapt off of it, rolling and landing on the next one. As he did, he refused to stay down for long, knowing that a lot of long term running and cardio involved the upkeep of momentum and energy, so she sprung up again and repeated the process. He was beginning to slow down as he reached the third roof, but he wanted to make one more leap. Inhaling deeply and fully, Benjiro crouched down and quickly burst forward to the fourth roof, rolling and landing harshly as he laid on his back, breathing very heavily. 

He was already feeling tired and he still had 7 rooftops to go. He needed to push himself more, especially so he could fulfill his duty. Thankfully, with a little help from mindful breathing and slowing his heart rate, he managed to stand up and look around. He looked down below at the busy streets leading up to the hospital, seeing a handful of people going about their day and running errands. Most of them looked human enough, aside from the one leaning against the concrete tree. It seemed like a child from this distance, but it was very possible they were just waiting for their friends or their parents. If only he had a faster way to check. For now, he'd make note of that and looked around some more, just to be thorough. From a cursory glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Humans were inside metal carriages called cars, some were playing in a playground, one was running on air towards him, and a couple were walking up and down the street. 

Wait a minute...

Benjiro did a double take as his eyes met the girl he had seen just minutes before, the one that he had made eye contact with. Or...was she a human? How was she able to see him? Could she see him? She must have been able to, considering that she continued to give chase and even run on air to do so. Benjiro had to prepare himself just in case, his non dominant hand being placed on the hilt of his Asauchi. Despite his training with Gestalt, he still wasn't the most confident in his Zanjutsu ability, nor was he confident he could peacefully restrain her with a weapon of war. Instead, the hand served as a precaution, with his dominant hand poised and ready to grab at any threat that would come his way. His mind was clear, the incantation of Bakudo number 1 ready to be chanted at any moment. Still, he'd prefer to settle this as peacefully as possible, though Gestalt's lesson to always be cautious and prepared rung through his mind. 

With a cautious yet gentle smile, the gentle giant bowed comically deep as he announced his presence to the girl running towards him. "Good morning! I apologize for not greeting you sooner, I had thought you were human! I am a Shinigami from Squad 10, may I ask who you are?" He proclaimed, trying to keep his name and rank a secret, but were he to meet a fellow Shinigami, he wanted to ensure them that he was an active officer in the Gotei 13. He had hoped this wouldn't lead to confrontation. 

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Chasing after the shinigami that had just come to Karakura Town sounded much easier than Madelyn was now experiencing. One thing she knew for certain though was that she was both happy and thankful she had been practicing how to walk on the air, while also now knowing that she had a lot of practice left to do. The shinigami was literally leaving her behind as the distance between them kept increasing. Her inexperience with the ability made her slow while her lack of confidence kept her scared to a degree. UIt’d take quite a few minutes of time before she managed to catch up to the shinigami who in truth had stopped moving and seen her before she saw him again.

By the time the two got close enough to talk with one another Madelyn was hunched over with her pants placed just above her knees as she does her best to catch her breath. That’s when she’d hear the shinigami speak, raising herself up enough that she could give a formal bow like he had done. Something that her grandfather had been very very serious about teaching her was respect and this was just something she did for anyone that didn’t prove to her they didn’t deserve any. The two of them were about ten feet apart now and with the distance much closer Madelyn could really see the shinigami now. All she could express though about him was his insane height!

“Good morning, Mr. Shinigami. My name is Furinji, nice to meet you.” Madelyn wasn’t sure why, but the implication of her not being human still hurt quite a bit. In her eyes that was what she still was and she was determined to find some way of returning to the life she had before dying. She wasn’t going to let herself crumble down though in front of someone new. Grandfather wouldn’t condone such things, in order to get what you want you have to stand firm and push onward. Her inexperience saved her once again as Madelyn, not noticing the physical stance of the shinigami, wasn't able to feel threatened or scared by the possibilities of combat. To her all she saw was a male shinigami of incredible height with nice hair.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro watched the young girl run towards him through the air, he couldn't help but feel confused. It was unusual for a human to possess such strong spiritual energy and walk on air like that. He wondered if she was truly a human or if she was a fellow Shinigami in disguise. He had heard of such methods being used before, where Shinigami would take on human form to blend in and better protect the living world. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed that this girl was not just an ordinary human. He couldn't help but feel curious about her true identity and what her presence in the human world meant. The only reason an exceptionally strong spiritual being would have in the human world was most likely to cause harm and strife to humanity. Unless of course, she was a Shinigami after all, then the point of the disguise could be mundane. Perhaps it was just a way to better investigate the human world, or a long term assignment to perform Konso on the souls that passed through. 

As the girl ran towards him, Benjiro couldn't help but notice her struggling to maintain her footing, stumbling and falling over frequently. Despite her exceptional control over her spiritual energy, allowing her to run through the air, she was quite slow. He couldn't help but question her level of skill and experience, was she an inexperienced Shinigami? Maybe she was conducting an experiment for her squad? Her abilities and demeanor left him confused and curious. He tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but the unknown was often where true threats laid. Given that, his hand remained on the hilt of his blade, but he relaxed his posture a little. He didn't feel like he needed to unleash his Kido now, there were no visible threats after all. 

Finally, she got close enough to talk to, and she immediately crouched to catch her breath. If she was a threat, she was exceptional at hiding it. For now though, it seemed like she was as harmless as a fly. He bowed deeply and comically as he introduced himself, leaving enough hints for a Shinigami to know his duties and to further question him, but keeping it vague enough that those who weren't Shinigami wouldn't know who he truly was. To his surprise, she bowed back in a similarly respectful way. She quickly introduced herself as Furinji, before looking down as if he had said something wrong. He removed his hand from his hilt completely at this point, furrowing his brows to show his compassion. "I'm sorry, is there something wrong Furinji?" He knelt down to look her in the eyes, a gentle and empathetic smile on his face. From this close, she would be able to see two distinct features, one being his complete lack of irises and the other being his horizontal scar across his forehead. 

"I know it may not be my place to ask, but if I may be of assistance, I would be glad to do anything in my power to assist you. Are you... human, Furinji?" He asked, genuinely curious as to what she was and what she was capable of doing. He glanced down to the street though, just to make sure the soul remained there so he could properly perform Konso. From a momentary glance, he saw the child still resting against the large glowing tree. "I apologize, I have a feeling there is a lost soul down there that I need to guide. Hahh, if only I could walk on air like you did, right?" He said with a serene smile and a small laugh.  

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

The physical appearance of this shinigami couldn’t be anymore opposite of Kazuhiko and although he towered over her Madelyn didn’t really feel any sense of danger coming from him. Although she was doing her best to catch her breath so she could actually speak with him at a normal pace, when he asked her if everything was alright that’s when she got her first real look. It was surprising yet she was certain that she wasn’t just seeing things. This shinigami, his eyes were different, they seemed strange although Madelyn wouldn’t voice what she felt and knew that it didn’t matter. He was being a decent person with his actions.

That’s when the shinigami asked the question that she’d been getting time after time since she had awoken back in Karakura Town. It’d take her about three more full seconds of deep breathing to get everything under control to the point she could stand straight back up and look the shinigami in his eyes. The height difference so vast that she almost felt like if she kept this up for very long her neck was going to start hurting. “I believe I’m still human although I know I died. I guess I’m just kind of here trying to figure out things.” Madelyn knew there wasn’t any point in hiding such things. There wasn’t anything bad that could happen to her that she could think of which meant only something positive could be the result.

The shinigami would have a clear view of Madelyn’s torso though and likely would have immediately picked up on the fact that Madelyn didn’t have her soul chain visible. Something that would seem more than just a little strange. If she were just a deceased soul then her chain would be there. That’s when the shinigami mentioned the soul down below and Madelyn turned to look down, spotting them after a few moments. Although her confusion in the next moment wasn’t from the poor soul. Turning her head back up at the shinigami Madelyn would ask. “Wait can’t all Shinigami? Isn’t that something you all know?” She’d been taught how to do it only a few days ago by Kazuhiko who was a shinigami and had told her he wasn’t very strong. How could this one not know such a thing then when he appeared way more powerful?

[Benjiro Hiroto]

With each and every passing moment, Benjiro's judgement of this little girl had only gotten better. She went from a possible threat to a uniquely gifted individual that seemed, at the very least, aware of the existence of Shinigami. After yet another 3 seconds of deeper breathing to try and gather her bearings, Benjiro listened as she gave him an answer to his question. Somehow, by some miracle, she seemed to be human, at least according to her, and her fashion sense hinted towards that. Aside from that, she was a very exceptional human considering her reiatsu control and the techniques she knew. The thing that caught his attention though, was that she had apparently died but... not anymore? She said that she was just trying to figure things out... What did that mean? She suddenly went from a living human to a possible soul that he had to perform Konso on. 

"Hold on, if you are sure you passed away and you are lost, do you perhaps require guidance to the Soul Society?" At this point, Benjiro found no reason not to trust her or be forthright with her. She wasn't an enemy, and if he was right, she possibly fit the bill for a lost soul, and a uniquely powerful one considering her youthfulness. Should she say yes or at least allow him to attempt then Benjiro would pull out his Asauchi and would say a quick prayer. "May the souls of the departed find peace and enlightenment in the next life. On Mani Hōmyō" It was a very powerful Mantra that invoked the blessings of the Buddha of compassion and was meant to help guide the souls to peace and enlightenment in their next life through the cycle of souls, or Samsara. Once that was done, Benjiro stamped the bottom of his Asauchi on her forehead, hoping to purify and send Furinji into the Soul Society, but to no avail. 

This was a conundrum. Still, he had no time to deal with it since there was another possible soul to Konso. He made a comment about how he could not run on air like she did, hoping to seem nicer and more relatable. However, the words he spoke suddenly shocked her, as if he had said something incredulous. Benjiro just blinked, because the way she spoke sounded as if she had met another Shinigami and possibly learned that technique from them. It actually made him wonder if he had missed a lesson or two, because he genuinely didn't know what she meant when she said that all Shinigami knew how to do that. "If they do, then I must have missed the lesson. I'm usually very proficient if not skilled in the use of reiatsu and Kido, so I should be able to pick it up relatively quickly. Do you think you could teach me?" 

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

“Hold on, if you are sure you passed away and you are lost, do you perhaps require guidance to the Soul Society?"

“I’m not really lost. I know this is Karakura. I grew up here so I’m trying to figure out how I can return to my normal life. It’s mostly just blurs, but I think I was in Soul Society already. I don’t know how or why but I woke up back in Karakura a few weeks ago.”

What happened next Madelyn just went along with hoping that it would if nothing else get this Shinigami to take her more seriously. Well seriously wasn’t really the right word, but she didn’t know how else to phrase it. Allowing him to speak his words and stamp the end of his sword’s hilt on her forehead. Despite it all though Madelyn felt nothing out of the ordinary. The only thing that she felt which had gotten fairly common was the sharp pain in her left wrist. The moment his sword touched her forearm it felt like something was trying to rip right out from her.

"If they do, then I must have missed the lesson. I'm usually very proficient if not skilled in the use of reiatsu and Kido, so I should be able to pick it up relatively quickly. Do you think you could teach me?"

This was something that Madelyn hadn’t expected yet all the same she couldn’t hide the immense smile that spread across her youthful face. She’d never really been able to teach anyone anything being an average student. She was fresh to all the spiritual aspects, only picking up a few things from others around her like Dr. Bright. Shaking her head several times like an excited child. “Absolutely! I’m sure you’ll get it right away. I’m curious though, what's kido?” Madelyn knew this Shinigami wanted to get down to the young soul on the ground and thus made her way to the edge of the building knowing that it was the quickest way to get down.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro sat in confusion as he conversed with Furinji, trying to make sense of the situation. She was sure that she had passed away, yet there was no sign of her being a lost soul. There was no soul chain attached to her chest, but there was also no sign of a hollow hole. As he asked her if she was a lost soul, Furinji simply stated that she knew exactly where she was, in Karakura town. To add to the confusion, she even claimed to have already visited the Soul Society. How could this be possible? How could someone who had already passed away and visited the Soul Society end up back in the living world? The questions swirled in Benjiro's mind as he struggled to understand the situation.

In a semi-desperate attempt to try and make sense of everything, he had performed Konso on her, hoping that it was some glitch in the system that allowed Benjiro to send her back to the Soul Society. Unfortunately, after stamping his Asauchi on her forehead, nothing happened. Had she truly been resurrected? Was that even a possibility? What did that mean for the cycle of souls for someone to be brought back to life? That was when it hit him, he had been basing death from life purely through sight as opposed to sensing reiatsu, an overt weakness that he needed to correct when he had the time. "I apologize, Furinji, but may I ask you another question? Have other humans been able to interact with you?" He asked, sincerely confused, but trying his best to remain calm, collected, and friendly. 

Afterwards, while trying his hardest to recall what he had learned at the Academy for any possible scenario even remotely similar to this, his eyes darted back to the actual soul he could Konso. He made some small talk in the meanwhile, detailing his lack of knowledge on airwalking, to which she seemed shocked. Furinji explained that every Shinigami knew how to run on the air, and he furrowed his brow, utterly confused. He didn't know how or when he could have missed a lesson as vital as that, but he had, and there was nothing to do about it anymore. It was in the past after all. He recalled the teachings of Eshin, remembering that the mistakes of the past were unchanging, so corrections must be made in the present. It just so happened that Buddha had blessed him with a second chance to learn such a technique, as Furinji seemed fairly adept at it. He had asked her if he could be taught by the young girl, human or otherwise. After all, anyone can be learned from.

As Benjiro conversed with Furinji, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasant surprise as she suddenly shifted her demeanor, becoming much more animated and excited at the prospect of sharing her knowledge of walking on air. Her head nodding rapidly, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and eagerness to share her expertise. Without hesitation, she walked over to the edge of the rooftop and gazed out towards the location of the lost soul. However, there was one question she had asked that he had yet to answer, and that was the question about what exactly Kido was. Benjiro blinked, unsure of how to answer exactly, as he didn't know what the human equivalent would have been, especially in his life. The closest thing he could imagine was prayer, so that was how he described it. "Kido is similar to a prayer, an earnest prayer that required focus, will, and a mantra to channel that will. However, due to the spiritual nature of beings like me, or us, we can channel reiatsu and manipulate it. Through this, we can create light for example. Oh, and Kido is specifically the kind of prayers that Shinigami use!" He explained, trying his best to simplify the complex concepts that detailed and defined Kido as a whole. 

Once he was done, he'd walk on over to the edge of the roof with her. He'd look over to the lost soul as well, who was now quivering next to the concrete tree, and frowned. His heart panged for the little one, hoping to ease and soothe whatever ailed them. "It is truly a shame when one dies so young. I only wish I can help bring them peace in the Soul Society." He said earnestly before turning his attention back to Furinji. "Shall we begin?"  

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Madelyn possessed as little knowledge about the situation as Benjiro, her own existence more than a mystery that she could only hope would be figured out by those with vastly more knowledge. In truth Madelyn had been hoping that Dr. Bright would be able to figure things out, although she was patient especially for her age and situation Madelyn was starting to wish that the good doctor would focus a bit more on her situation and less on the countless experiments.

Nevertheless, Madelyn was sure that eventually she would find answers that explain why she was for some reason different. Benjiro was acting the same as almost everyone else that Madelyn had met since she had died. The only exceptions so far both being female, at least one was female. The other Madelyn believed to be female yet in truth was a doll. So many things that Madelyn would have never believed to be real that her own situation just seem mundane to her sometimes now.

Madelyn wasn’t really a fan of being tapped on the forehead with Benjiro’s sword. She understood though that such a thing was going to put his mind at ease. The only thing that really started to be a problem though came the moment his zanpakuto touched her body. Right away she could feel that same painful sting emanating from her left wrist. Always as if a blade was put right inside of her and trying to wiggle its way out through her body. Painful although it may be Madelyn was happy that was all she felt this time as it subsided before it could get overbearing.

"I apologize, Furinji, but may I ask you another question? Have other humans been able to interact with you?"

Madleyn brought her right hand up under her chin pondering over everyone that she’d met and whether or not she would really call them human. If they were human would they be normal? “That’s hard to say I think. I’ve met a few people that could see and talk with me that weren’t Shinigami like you. They weren’t normal humans either though. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone just turn and look at me while I’m walking down a street though.” Madelyn for a moment would experience a brief flash of the lady with gray hair flinging her hand out at her. So much of that night had been forgotten so why was she now remembering pieces.

The height difference between the both of them was something that Madelyn almost couldn’t keep herself from smiling about. Benjiro almost made her feel like a little kid again, looking up at her grandpa when she was just a little girl. Of course, she wasn’t sure if it was just the height difference or the fact her grandfather was also very attuned with religion. Either way this was turning out to be a very happy afternoon. Moving over to the edge of the roof Madelyn with a smile would begin to explain knowing Benjiro was eager to get his job done.

“Alright the way I think it goes is simple. You focus on the bottom of your feet and picture something below. The focusing thing is the important part, but I feel like picturing a sheet of glass or the surface of a lake helps me out a lot. You’ve got to keep it steady though and don’t lose focus on either foot.”

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro couldn't help but feel more and more confused as Furinji spoke. She seemed to possess knowledge and understanding of the afterlife and the nature of souls, but her existence seemed to defy the laws and rules that governed the afterlife. It was as if she was existing in a realm beyond the grasp of the Shinigami, but how was that possible? Was she truly a lost soul, or was she something else entirely? Escaping the cycle of Samsara was no mere feat, but here she was escaping it by leaving the Soul Society before due process. He was confused, reflecting upon the philosophies of Buddhism for any semblance of an answer until he came across one that could have fit the bill, Nirvana itself. Benjiro's eyes widened in surprise as he considered what she had told him, that she was an individual that had somehow escaped Samsara and returned to the world of the living without risk of becoming a hollow, as if she was already whole in and of herself. Perhaps...she had already become one of the Buddhas!?



Benjiro's shock turned into wonder, curiosity, and awe at the possibility of speaking with one of the Enlightened Ones. Then, what she had said afterwards, about the other individuals that had spoken to her and had not been Shinigami, could they have been Enlightened Ones as well? Benjiro's mind had been left reeling with questions and possibilities. The concept of someone like Furinji, who had achieved Nirvana and transcended the cycle of death and rebirth, was something that he had only read about in texts and heard about in teachings, the ultimate goal on his spiritual journey. He had never thought that he would have the opportunity to speak with someone who had accomplished such a feat, but here she was offering to give her guidance. He couldn't help but think of the implications of her existence and what it could mean for the understanding of the afterlife and the nature of souls. Still, he needed to be sure, so he asked her a question. "Furinji, were these other individuals...wise? Or perhaps did they have an innate understanding of the world, beyond comprehension?" He spoke with a curious intensity, obviously holding back his inner excitement like a child trembling inside of a candy shop. The thought of meeting a group of people who had transcended and been enlightened was both humbling and awe-inspiring, and Benjiro felt a newfound sense of purpose and determination to continue on his own spiritual journey.

After his final question was answered, Furinji began her demonstration of air walking. She had walked to the edge of the rooftop to demonstrate for him, and how could Benjiro deny the tutelage of someone akin to Buddha themself? He walked over behind her, each step filled with profound respect and devotion towards the young-looking girl. That was when she began to instruct him, admitting that the process in and of itself was simple, undoubtedly simplifying the concept for Benjiro to better understand, truly a sign of her infinite wisdom and kindness. She continued by explaining that one had to focus on the bottom of their feet, most likely channeling their reiatsu to the soles similar to a Shunpo. The next part was what shocked him, as she said that he had to imagine a foothold beneath the sole, as if there was a platform such as a pane of glass or a still lake. She further emphasized the importance of concentration during this moment, and Benjiro bowed down in respect once more. "I graciously accept your teachings, Furinji-sama. You have blessed me this day!" With that, Benjiro would stand on the edge and, with full faith and trust, took a deep breath and channeled his reiatsu all-throughout his body. 

He felt the stream of energy flow between his limbs, circulating up and down to better get a feel for his body. The experiences he had with Gestalt had allowed him to better use his reiatsu and channel it more efficiently. He had to do his absolute best to demonstrate his worthiness to an enlightened one such as Furinji after all. Pooling all of the reiatsu to the soles of his feet, he allowed it to settle and relax before lifting his leg and taking a step off of the roof. He began to visualize a still lake, the serenity and harmony of the undisturbed water washing over his soul and keeping him calm and relaxed. As he did so, he gently expelled the reiatsu from the bottom of his foot, imagining the energy spreading down deep into the lake, adding to its infinite depth and falling far below what could be gleamed with sight alone. With his eyes closed, he imagined the endless wealth of wisdom and knowledge that lied within the lake, urging him to explore and submerge himself deeper. On the outside however, things were not looking so good. As Benjiro put his complete trust in the surface level understanding of this technique, he took a step forward and began to fall as his foot found perches on nothing but air, but his body was still unaware of what was happening. Thankfully, his calmness had allowed him to fall forward very slowly as he slowly shifted weight from one foot to the other, but if nobody acted soon, Benjiro was about to plummet to the lower rooftop...

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Madelyn wasn’t really sure what this Shinigami was doing or really why he was starting to act so much differently now. One moment he had been just a typical person and then now he had a weird look to his already strange eyes. Had she said something wrong? That didn’t really fit though she was certain that if she were wrong about something he would know about it and correct her. So what had changed and how could she fix it so he went back to how he was acting before.

“Umm I’m not really sure. All I know I’ve been told by Dr. Bright and some other Shinigami that I’ve come across.” Things didn’t get any less strange for Madelyn though as she explained and gave Benjiro a demonstration of how to execute air ground. Although she was just telling him how she went about using what she’d been taught by Kazuhiko it felt different. Benjiro wasn’t acting like someone being given advice. “I graciously accept your teachings, Furinji-sama. You have blessed me this day!" Raising her hands up in front of her chest, Madelyn quicks does her best to wave off what Benjiro had just said. “Wait what. Mr. Shinigami I’m nothing special. I’m just a normal girl that’s stuck in a weird situation.”

Madelyn was going to try and continue explaining things so Benjiro could understand better when she heard the sound of someone shouting in terror. Turning around she didn’t even control her own sight as her eyes locked on the form of a monster with a white mask. The pain in her left wrist burning hot! Almost like a red hot piece of metal was placed right on her wrist. “What is that thing?” Madelyn fights to say through gritted teeth. She’d heard the name but never seen a Hollow. This one shaped like a big dog with massive hands rushing right at the young soul down in the park.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro thanked the Enlightened Furinji for the blessings she had given him for the knowledge of airwalking that she had imparted upon him, he took the first step off of the roof and began to focus, attempting to visualize the stillness of a lake as he was told to. His reiatsu was pooling at the soles of his feet as he heard Furinji say that she was just a normal girl stuck in a strange situation. Two possibilities immediately came to mind, the first was that she truly was normal but this situation was anything but, leaving behind more mysteries than answers in its entirety. If she wasn't enlightened then perhaps she was taken by someone, though who would try to take a random soul outside of the Soul Society and for what purpose. It was then that he thought that the Dr. Bright fellow that she had mentioned frequently was perhaps the key to understanding all of this. Of course, his mind wandered to the other possibility, that being she was an unintentional Enlightened One. Perhaps enlightenment and wisdom was not necessarily the same for everyone, and that, in her innocence, she had reached enlightenment on her own merit as opposed to the path of the Buddhist. It was an interesting proposition, and one he'd try to put more thought into soon, but for now, he had to recenter and focus his energy into taking the first step off of the roof. 

Benjiro was focusing intently on circulating his reiatsu at this point, the pools of energy already filled to the brim in his relatively shallow reservoir of reiatsu. He had been honing and refining his control over the reiatsu that flowed through his body ever since that sparring session with Gestalt, knowing that he needed to do better, and quickly. He was in a state of Zen-like focus, completely absorbed in the challenge that was learning an entirely new way of movement through the use of reiatsu. That was, until he heard an ear-shattering shriek that broke through his concentration like a hot knife through butter. His head snapped around as he searched for the source of the noise, and that's when he saw it. A hollow, its grotesque, saddening form already swinging its claws at Furinji. In an instant, Benjiro's mind shifted from deep meditation to battle-ready mode, the tranquility he had been feeling was replaced by an adrenaline rush and a sense of urgency. He saw Furinji was in danger and he knew he had to act fast.



Benjiro nearly panicked as he had to face this hollow alone for the first time, unaided by any Shinigami. This was a challenge he alone had to face, one he had to bear due to his folly. Had he only prioritized the poor lost soul that this hollow undoubtedly longed to devour, he could have prevented this attack from even happening, especially now that Furinji was in danger. Benjiro's eyes quickly scanned and adjusted as his mind began to make sense of what he was seeing, the pooled reiatsu already urging to be released from his body. The white mask of the hollow seemed to almost glow in the dim light of the rooftop, standing out starkly against the shadows it emerged from. Its body was heavily muscled and seemed almost dog-like in its appearance. Its large hands were elongated and ended in sharp claws that glinted menacingly in the moonlight. The fingers were elongated, almost as if they were fingers of a gorilla. The strange, almost oversized hands seemed perfectly suited for the task of rending flesh and bone. It was almost saddening to see a creature so perfectly created for the suffering of others, driven by an endless hunger and grief that caused a lost soul to become a hollow in the first place. Albeit harboring no love for hollows, Benjiro couldn't help but feel regret and shame upon seeing it, as Hollows represented the failure of Shinigami to save the lost souls in the first place. The hollow let out another deafening shriek as it lunged towards Furinji, its eyes locked onto its prey with a single-minded intent.

Benjiro's hand quickly glided down his large frame, wrapping his fingers around the hilt of his Asauchi. With the pool of reiatsu already gathered into the soles of his feet, he bent his knee slightly before flashing forward, aiming to intercept the blow. Through the use of Shunpo, Benjiro's form flickered out of sight for a second before reappearing between Furinji and the Hollow, aiming for the arm to slash against his massive shoulder. The cut was deep and the impact was harsh, but he knew that it was much better for him to take the pain than for Furinji. He drew his Asauchi out of its hilt, the steel singing as he unsheathed it. Despite his hesitation for violence, Benjiro knew that the protection of souls was his number one priority, and he would do his duty as a Shinigami to the best of his ability. He aligned the edge of the Asauchi with the mask of the hollow, focusing his mind and allowing his reiatsu to gather and circulate like a torrential stream, empowering his entire body. 

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, bringing one powerful leg forward to enhance the strength of his stab, but that was nothing but a distraction. In his mind, Benjiro was beginning an incantation. 'Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and tear out your own throat. Bakudo number nine, Horin.' As the incantation replayed itself clearly in his head, outwardly, Benjiro continued his skirmish with the hollow, attempting to block and parry as much as he could. His sword strokes, while seeming powerful, were basic at best. Despite his training with Gestalt and the guidance he received, he was not a skilled swordsman. If there was one thing he could count on though, it was his Kido. He was nearly done with the casting of this Kido, all he needed to do was to pool his reiatsu at the tip of his finger.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Reiatsu}
350-50 (Shunpo) = 300/350

[Madelyn Fūrinji]

Madelyn didn’t have any time to waste believing that the Hollow had found the young soul that was down on the street only for the monster to vanish and then reappear right by her. Madelyn, having virtually no training in combat or survival of any sort, was left to just stare at the mask of the Hollow rushing at her. Its mouth opened up to reveal multiple sets of jaws with rows of teeth unleashing an animalistic roar that just made her entire body feel cold. She didn’t know why or how, but this right here was when she couldn’t do anything. Her body wouldn’t respond to her cry for safety.

The next moment was one of darkness as her eyes closed in fear and then her ears were filled with the sound of liquid spraying out from something. Opening her eyes Madelyn would witness the Shinigami using his sword against this Hollow. The edging of his sword cut into its shoulder causing it enough pain that it stopped moving towards her. Stepping backwards Madelyn felt her heart beating in her mouth as the constant thumping overpowers everything else. She wouldn’t manage anything on her own though as the pain in her left wrist became searing hot, her right-hand clasping around the pain on instinct alone.

All Madelyn would be able to do now beyond squeezing with her right hand with all her might was keep her eyes focused on what was happening. The blood from this Hollow was something she could have gone her entire life without witnessing and now instinctively knew that no matter what she’d never forget it. The thrust of Benjiro’s sword forward into the palm of the Hollow was something abnormal even for her eyes which she believed had gotten fairly used to her situation. Benjiro would have to act fast though as the other arm was free to move and now moving across fast to smack him over across the roof of the building.

What Madelyn really didn’t understand was how the Shinigami moved so fast from where he had been standing to where he was now. It was like he had just appeared there without actually moving something that didn’t feel possible yet had been factual. What happened next though was just another sight Madelyn couldn’t comprehend that fueled the pain in her wrist. The battle between this Shinigami and Hollow was causing her pain, pain worse than anything she’d felt, pain like the night before . . .when she’d found that woman with white hair.

What she saw next though was unlike anything before as the Shinigami seemingly cast out a rope of light that wrapped around the Hollow. Madelyn wasn’t sure why, but the orange-colored light seemed like it would hurt almost like it was formed from lightning. Now on her knees on the roof of the building Madelyn felt a sensation she felt was familiar although she couldn’t explain or understand it. Physically now though rushing up Maddie’s left arm to her left eye was a line of pink. Something was happening now just as the Hollow snapped the rope around it and moves to punch Benjiro.