Giant in the ghost town [Benjiro | JT]

[Deleted]

Danny had been "enjoying" yet another day of her soul-crushing ordinary life, and was preparing to head back home already. Her job search had proved fruitful, quite fruitful in fact. Despite her missing combat skills, she could still make herself pretty damn useful, and even with a paltry, slightly falsified resume, she had managed to land herself a job behind a desk, crunching numbers on a spreadsheet program that she enjoyed. It should've been enough, the final piece that would complete her facade and make her invisible to the world. And precisely because of that, she felt like she was going to implode. It was at one of these moments that her attention was called out again... by someone that wasn't even touching the ground.

It looked human, it sounded human, and Danny had been around this god-forsaken town for long enough to know that it was human. A human soul, that was. This woman had first made a comment, and then approached the moment that she had realized Danny could actually hear her. There was some sort of strange chain connected to her chest--that was a new one--, and said chain was slowly... eating itself apart? What in the actual fuck was wrong with everyone in this place? As the aggressive Plus approached, perhaps in the beginning stages of Hollowfication, Danica put her hand right where her X12 was, and took a deep breath.

Without a thought, Danny turned--painfully slowly, to boot--toward the poor soul that had just tried to approach her, unaware of her bad state of mind. She already felt like she was slipping and going out of her mind, what with the having to live cooped up in that apartment without a job suited for her skills, having to reinsert as a civilian who could barely do anything anymore. Her body failing her, her skills lost to her injury against the being that, unbeknownst to her, was a powerful Akki, and being stripped of her rank and position in the czechian army because of them labeling her as unfit to continue carrying her duties. She didn't give a shit about severance, support, or anything else that the civilian life had to offer, and that anger had reached its breaking point by now.

Of course, by 'breaking point', it just meant that she directed a deathly, absolute-zero cold stare at the Plus, and quickly pointed her X12 at the spirit's forehead. She was right, she knew she was right. She was not crazy. The encounters with that strange, green haired lady that had turned out to be far from harmless, and the other woman who was able to easily thwart a threat that even six shots to the head hadn't been able to put a scratch on, all but proved that she was not. They hadn't been attacked by an enemy and she had hallucinated it. She hadn't dreamed it while she was unconscious.

Inevitably, all that bubbled into her incredible hostility toward this innocent Plus, showing only on her expression, not in any words or threats. She had been fighting long enough to know that vocal threats were empty, and it was actions that truly mattered. Exhibit A, the Plus with a gun to her forehead, who had gotten quiet really quickly. She raised her hands up while Danny kept her aim perfectly still, though she was making an effort not to show the shake in her fingers. Damn her failing strength, and damn her injury. This really was an awful fate for an action oriented woman like her. Just condemned to sit back at a corporate job, because blue collar work was out of the question with her current physical abilities.

Just thinking about that made her finger caress the trigger. She had really had it with these damned "ghost" people in this damned "ghost" town. She could blow its brains out right there, if it even had those, and then go about with her day. Nobody would give a shit about that ghost, she had soon learned, and she was not in the mood to deal with a crazy being like that one. Still, she had never intended to kill civilians. That, coupled with her ability to maintain a calm mind, was the only thing that had kept her from putting three rounds in the ghost's head. Perhaps someone may arrive, break the stalemate. If not, the first one to drop and submit would be the loser.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

A rare day of free time had finally come for Benjiro, a moment he believed he should dedicate to training or meditation to prepare for the impending missions. The mysteries surrounding Miss Mio and the impending attack on Karakura, along with Furinji's monstrous transformation, weighed heavily on his mind. However, in the midst of this contemplation, an unexpected curiosity arose. The confluence of events in Karakura town caught his attention—Furinji's transformation, his encounter with the Okami Butsu—did it all mean something significant about this spiritually potent town?

Unable to resist his inquisitive nature, Benjiro decided to spend his day off patrolling Karakura. Despite the moment of respite he had earned after mission after mission, he decided to go on a personal mission. Akira would call him a Workaholic if he told him about his recent week. Stepping through the Senkaimon, he felt a renewed sense of awareness, as if his senses had grown sharper since his last visit. The world of the living now appeared to him with fresh eyes and an enlightened soul. As he moved through the town, he noticed numerous lost souls in need of guidance, and one by one, he offered them purification and passage to the Soul Society.

Konso after Konso could prove to be tedious for many, but not for Benjiro. He actually found the process to be quite soothing and good for his soul, if only because it assured him that these souls were brought to haven in the Soul Society. His Zanpakuto, Futan Juzemasu, hummed brilliantly with every Konso as well, as if humming a wondrous tune. However, his sense of serenity was interrupted when he came across an unsettling sight. A lost soul stood with a gun pointed at her head, while her assailant exuded a peculiar blend of hollow and human energy. Benjiro's heart leaped in alarm, for this was a dangerous anomaly. Swiftly, he intervened, positioning himself between the two figures.

Reiatsu surged like a torrential downpour, a rain of energy that coursed through his legs and feet, allowing him to Flash forward at incredible speed. With practiced precision, one hand deftly pushed the gun away, while the other firmly pressed the pommel of his Zanpakuto to the lost soul's forehead, purifying her in a seamless motion. His steady gaze then fell upon the assailant, his towering presence demanding attention. "Who are you, and what business do you have with this lost soul?" he inquired, his voice carrying a mixture of authority and concern.

As he awaited a response, his mind raced with questions. This peculiar energy signature and the evident aggression towards a lost soul puzzled him. A deep sense of protectiveness welled within him, ready to fight against whatever threat lurked in Karakura. Thankfully, he managed to save the Plus before it was destroyed. As he thought of fighting this woman, Futan Juzemasu began to restrict around his wrist. "Easy now, Benjiro. Calm your mind before rushing into action." He was right. Benjiro slowed his breathing as he held a resolute stare at this armed woman. Depending on her answer, perhaps he could figure out what was happening here.

[Deleted]

The stalemate hadn't been going on for more than a few seconds before a giant of a man arrived, saving the Plus from a rather gruesome fate. Danica was already a tall woman, but even her fell incredibly short in front of this humongous beast. She may have spared a glance, if she was not in the situation she was in. "Jdi do píči..." Danny cursed under her breath in Czech the moment Benjiro stepped in front of her, getting the Plus out of her line of fire. She instinctively jumped back, but the lack of strength in her legs made her feel wobbly for a second, making it painfully clear to everyone involved that the Fullbringer was far from at her physical best. Benjiro should be able to see that she could barely do what the average, untrained human being was capable of.

Truth be told, she was not that annoyed at the ghost samurai that had just intervened, but at the fact that this damned, inane, uneventful life was wearing down on her soul so much that she would pull her X12 on someone, ghost person or not, with so little provocation. It seemed that it was not just her body and martial skills; even her ability to keep her calm and composure even in the most dire of situations had suffered a brutal hit after the Hellion attack. She'd need to ponder on that, but for the time being, it'd be best to keep an eye out for this one.

Strange clothing that surely did not belong anywhere but in one of those 'cosplay conventions' she had taken notice of before, check. Carrying a sword in the freaking 21st century, check. Not minding his own business, double check. It seems Danica was running into these types lately, and from the way he'd unhesitantly put himself on the way of a firearm, he probably had the same strange abilities to boot. Nevermind the fact that he had appeared out of thin air, although she was convinced it was her senses having suffered a hit that allowed that to happen, not that he had any sort of super speed. That was definitely impossible.

"I have no business with this... person. But it seems she does with me", she hesitantly added that last part with a rather thick accent, but she did lower her gun in an attempt to further calm herself down. Danny would then attempt to circle Benjiro and take a better look at the woman with the broken soul chain, slowly suffering from encroachment. Unbeknownst to Danny, it was at a stage that she may end up turning into a Hollow soon, and it seemed that Benjiro had still yet to pick up on this fact. Instead of telling him to ask the Plus, Danny took the lead herself.

"Who are you? Why are you have here?", Danny asked, her voice ice cold, without an iota of mercy and compassion in it. She did not hate her, but at the same time she felt no empathy, unlike she did toward normal civilians. Her concepts of what was normal and what was not was wearing thinner by the day, and that blurry line only added to her already frail state of mind. At that moment, a possibility flashed through her brain, one that was unlikely, but that could very well be happening. "Were you sent to finish me off? Tell me, and I will not kill you", she said in the same chilling, eyes still shooting daggers toward her.

She didn't actually know whether it was possible to kill the ghost, but the threat seemed effective. The Plus woman bared her teeth at her, more rabid animal than human, despite controlling herself for the time being. It was as if the encroachment of her soul chain was already affecting her mind, and that had led the Plus into the beginning stages of Hollowfication. Needless to say, Danny had no idea about these concepts, and she hadn't had them explained either, so instead she remained with her gun loaded, safety off. She at least trusted herself with not accidentally shooting anything or anyone.

Was it that Danny was an aggressive individual, seeking battle like an idiot? Far from it. But she was now in unknown, apparently hostile territory, and protocol dictated she took precautions to protect herself. Weakened as she was, this abrasiveness had sprouted forth as another layer of protection, the only one she had other than her X12. Would this escalate any further?

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As the confrontation came to an abrupt halt, Benjiro found himself caught in the midst of an unusual situation. The strange human with a gun stood there, hostile and defensive, while the Plus soul lingered before him. Despite his efforts to purify her soul and send her to the Soul Society, it remained stubbornly intact, signaling a deeper issue. Yet, the immediate danger lay with the human, whose behavior and hostility seemed to imply that she was irritated and angered. At the very least, she didn't seem homicidal.

Her sharp and harsh tone betrayed her unease, claiming that she had no business with the Plus, but the Plus had business with her. Benjiro, ever calm and composed, tried to defuse the tension and reassure her. "Relax, she's not specifically after you, she simply..." he spoke, stepping forward to intervene. However, as he observed the soul chain of the plus rapidly disintegrating, he realized the gravity of the situation. The woman was on the verge of becoming a hollow—a creature born from the corruption of a lost soul.

"Hold on..." He muttered under his breath. Moving with practiced precision, Benjiro gently pushed the bangs out of the Plus's forehead and offered a solemn prayer to soother her soul. At the same time, he sent out waves of gentle and soothing spiritual pressure out of his own soul, hoping that the warmth within him would be enough for the Plus to regain reason. "May your soul find peace." With the butt of his Zanpakuto, he guided the lost soul to the Soul Society, providing her with a chance for a new beginning.

Focusing back on the gun-wielding woman. "That woman was a lost soul about to turn into a Hollow. Hollows are masked souls that became corrupted by their misery, turning into monsters that like to eat those with spiritual power." Benjiro recognized her exceptional spiritual power. Not only could she see spirits, but she could interact with them—an ability rare among humans. His curiosity piqued, he inquired, "You seem to be one of those exceptional few, but who exactly are you?" Despite the situation, his demeanor remained free of hostility, understanding that she might be driven by her own fears and struggles.

Benjiro then sheathed his Zanpakuto slowly. He was still wary of her gun, but he felt confident enough to be able to defend himself against her. "It seems as if this was a misunderstanding, so I see no need for us to fight her. I mean you no harm, so I hope you feel the same towards me." He shared before bowing deeply. It was always good to keep one's manners about them when meeting with new people. He had an inkling feeling that he was about to learn something that would help him in days to come. Perhaps her situation was similar to that of Furinji's?

[Deleted]

Witnessing Konso being performed on the encroaching soul only served to make Danica even more concerned. This man really wished that the lost soul would find peace, but he had just killed it, right? Even if what he had done did not seem to be fatal in any way. Who was to say that he would not be trying the exact same thing on her the moment she lowered her guard? Only when he mentioned a term that had begun to be familiar to her fairly recently, did Danica actually decide to not shoot at Benjiro just yet.

"Hollow?", she repeated.

Danny thought back to her first lessons with Shizuka. The monster that they had fought then was nothing like the human that had tried to harass her. Sure, the woman may have been a complete asshole, but that was far from enough to meet the equivalence that Danny had in her head regarding Hollows. So far, it was 'big monster that eats people'. "But this was a human. No mask", she tentatively said, attempting to extract some extra information from the man before her. She could have played the helpless woman to try and honeypot him, but Danica had never been that kind of girl. No, she'd much rather put the gun to his forehead and demand her answers... if not for the fact that Shizuka had also told her that it would be useless against people like her. Which, of course, she could only assume Benjiro was.

When he mentioned that she was one of the 'exceptional few', her cold expression shifted ever so slightly. Special few? Shizuka had also used the phrase 'people who aren't like you and me'. But all Danny was, was a human. She'd been born human. She'd lived all her life normally, or as normally as a black ops operative could live. Her existence had always been teetering on the brink of the ethical and the unethical, the right and the wrong, even if she had been just following orders. But now? Now these people were saying that she was exceptional, different, but in a way that she still could not fully grasp.

Unfortunaltely, despite previous explanations, Danica would need a few more weeks to break it in. That, coupled with the training engraved into every fiber of her being, caused her to carefully shift her stance to point at Benjiro with the gun, finger right on the trigger. Even if the gun turned out to be useless again here, she could still try to bluff. It was her only realistic option, to be fair. She had no idea that he could move far faster than the naked eye would ever be able to percieve. Her first order of business had to be that sword. With a firearm, she should have a range advantage, and she was positive that Benjiro required it to disintegrate her just as the almost-Hollowed soul had been turned into nothingness.

"You first. Drop your sword to the ground. Then, tell me who you are, and why you're here", she asked still in the same cold tone. Danny was not one who made friends easily. She'd rather keep people at arms length, and handle her issues on her own. Benjiro was incapable of hurting a fly if said fly did not truly deserve it, but to her, he was just a potentially dangerous stranger. She'd been taught never to trust someone without a deep, thorough study of their character first--and even then, there should always be room for doubt.

If Benjiro complied, Danny would give the ghost samurai a name to address her by in turn. She chose to use her alias from her time in the czechian army: 'vrabec', meaning 'sparrow'. She didn't see any harm in it, considering that these people appeared to operate outside of the public eye... literally. She doubted any of them would be able to use her codename to expose her relocation cover. Still, just to be absolutely sure, she would not be giving Benjiro any other information regarding her identity. Not that

"You can call me Vrabec."

If the Shinigami had a keen eye, he would be able to see the same name engraved on her dogtag, which even to that day she always carried on herself, hanging from her neck. Even if it could be a potential whistleblower on her status, Danica could never bring herself to part with it. It was just about the only thing she had left from her found family, before that... monster destroyed them. Which reminded her, she needed to get more information on them.

"That woman had no chains on her arms. A man that killed my..." she hesitated for just a moment before recomposing herself "-friends, had chains around his limbs. No mask, not a Hollow. What was it?" Danny asked, her accent thickening on that last part for a bit.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Amidst the tension and confusion, Benjiro remained steadfast and calm. He had initially tried to explain that the Plus she was threatening was about to transform into a hollow, but that only further confused the woman. He understood that the living often lacked knowledge of the spiritual realm and the intricacies of the Cycle of Souls. Thus, he realized that he needed to explain the intricacies of the spiritual world. After all, not even the Buddhists, who Benjiro considered to be the most spiritual of the living, got all of it right. 

This woman seemed to be of little faith, and of little trust, as she pointed the gun at Benjiro's head and threatened him to put down his Zanpakuto. "Easy now, I mean you no harm." The gentle giant complied, placing his Zanpakuto carefully on the ground with a soft apology. "I'm sorry Futan Juzemasu." The blade shimmered softly as he did so, understanding his plight. His bond with Futan Juzemasu was one of mutual trust and understanding, after all. Benjiro felt a sense of camaraderie with his spiritual partner as the prayer beads gently squeezed his wrist.

She asked him who he was and why he was there. Did she mean in the World of the Living? In Karakura Town perhaps? Maybe she even meant why he happened to be there with her? There were too many variables that were unknown to him, so he simply decided to try to answer her as best he could. "My name is Benjiro Hiroto, I am a Shinigami or a Soul Reaper. I guide the spirits of the dead to the other side, as I did with the woman you nearly shot. I understand you must be confused, it is a lot to wrap your head around."

It was then that the woman introduced herself, Vrabec. It was short, but it proved a few things to the Twelfth Seat. Firstly, this woman was a foreigner, which was probably the source of even more confusion on the nature of Eastern Spirituality. Secondly, Vrabec was possibly beginning to trust him, at least enough to give him some semblance of her name. Communication was definitely on the table, which was more than enough for the gentle giant. Now all he had to do was wait and be patient, impulsivity when there was a weapon pointed at him would only cause further conflict.

When Vrabec shared the tragic loss of her friends, Benjiro's heart went out to her. He listened attentively, acknowledging her grief with a resounding empathy from the depths of his soul. If she had the ability to sense energy, she would feel a concerned warmth oozing from Benjiro's aura. The description of a monster covered in chains but without a mask worried him, and he surmised that it might have been a soul that had escaped from Hell—a realm reserved for the most remorseless and wicked souls. 

"That was not a hollow nor a lost soul. If I were to guess, it was a soul that escaped from Hell. Souls that are truly deplorable and unremorseful end up in Hell, it is no surprise that they would be harmful to others. I am truly sorry for your loss, Miss Vrabec." He said in a sympathetic tone. He would then sigh, realizing that her threats and her response to both the Plus and to Benjiro himself was a result of her confusion and her trauma. How long had she been aware of the spirit world?

Whatever the answer may be, she clearly needed both help and guidance in this matter. "I am not your enemy, Vrabec" he reassured her, "but rather a guardian of the living and shepherd of the dead. As such, I can teach you how to defend yourself from such threats, should they arise again." His words carried the weight of sincerity, as he saw it as his duty to safeguard those who were vulnerable to the dangers of the spiritual realm. The exceptional few humans who were blessed and cursed to interact with the dead had no organization or community to back them, after all. 

"I will be your guide to the Spirit Realm. If you have any questions, you may ask me. I'll answer you to the best of my ability." Benjiro's commitment to his role as a protector was unwavering, and he was determined to aid Vrabec in any way he could. With a reassuring smile, he awaited her response, willing to lend his knowledge and strength to help her navigate the complexities of the spiritual world and ensure her safety. 

[Deleted]

Danny was pleased, not to mention relieved, that her bluffing had worked, making Benjiro drop down the sword he was carrying. She picked up on the fact that he was... speaking to his weapon? What the hell was he even talking about? Who the hell was this Futan Juzemasu? The still undiscovered Fullbringer quickly looked to the sides, scanning the terrain. Damn her and her blurry senses, also a result of that damned battle--or so it seemed. If Benjiro had any reinforcements around, then she was unable to pinpoint their exact location. As such, she decided not to drop the gun for the time being. Who knew; the moment she did, one of them might try to take a shot at her head.

Danica would then listen intently to everything Benjiro had to say. He first explained that he was a Shinigami. A literal Shinigami, as in spirits that guided others to the afterlife, like the ones found in Japanese mythology. She had always thought of such things as mere fairy tales for those weak of mind to cope... but it may turn out that there was more truth behind them than she had initially considered. Furthermore, his existence, as well as that of Hollows, fell in line with things she had already heard from some other people, like Shizuka and Celes Shindazu.

See, Danny was a rather cautious person. She'd rather get as much information from as many different sources as she could on the same topic to be able to begin forming an opinion of it. After all, there was no telling when a single stranger might lie to her. However, cross-referencing the words of a stranger with the words of two more? That turned a potential lie into truth. And if not truth, then at the very least a widely spread belief. Given that in this case the masked monsters named Hollows were tangible--Danny should know, having tried to put over six bullets on one of their heads--, then Benjiro Hiroto's version of the state of affairs in the world was most likely true. He was even using the same strange terms to refer to those beasts, after all.

Then, he struck a chord when he gave her an answer about the man with chains wrapped around his limbs, the figure that still haunted her dreams to this day. It was almost impossible for Danica to believe it, but... it seemed to be the truth. Hell was real. Her gaze shifted ever so slightly upon hearing Benjiro say that. She wondered whether the sins of her teammates would've been enough to warrant a one-way trip to the fire and brimstone, or if they would have been sent to Heaven instead, if there was such a thing as well. She truly had no idea, but she figured she'd find out eventually, given that she had shared the same experiences as them, followed the same orders, and worked to kill the same people. There was blood on her hands, that much was undeniable, but as long as she could put a bullet through the head of the monster that had killed her found family, she'd gladly burn for the rest of eternity.

Benjiro's pity on her loss didn't do much to comfort her. Those feelings would not be bringing anyone back, and there was no reason for him to concern himself about her--other than the fact that this giant of a man seemed to be a good person. If anything, that made Danny lower her gun ever so slightly. She was still too closed off to the outside world to display any sort of vulnerability, something that would not be happening any time soon. Instead, she did her best to remain as stoic as ever, and ask the question that had to inevitably follow the revelation that the Akki was a denizen of Hell.

"If that monster was from Hell", she said, accent slipping again, "then how could I be able to kill it?" Her voice, once again, had the same edge as a razor-sharp blade. Her question was not a rethorical one, lamenting that it would be impossible to achieve such a feat. Oh, no. She was asking, straight and to the point, how it was possible to delete a denizen of Hell from existence for good, to make sure it would never come back. There was no hint of mercy to be found behind it, unlike the way Benjiro spoke: it was clear she held nothing but contempt toward the creature.

Benjiro mention that, if she wanted, he could be her guide to the Spirit Realm as he called it. He could teach her to defend herself from such threats: in other words, he could guide her towards the power she needed to claim her revenge. But would he want to guide such a soul towards a greater power? And besides, even if that deal sweetened the pot for Danica, all traps were honeyed to attract idiotic prey. In her world, nothing ever came for free, and nothing ever came easily. This was rising an alarm in her, even if she was not right to feel that way. "Let us say I accept that proposal. What would you get out of that, mister Hiroto?"

[Benjiro Hiroto]

In the ghostly silence of this seemingly abandoned part of town, Benjiro found himself immersed in the encounter with Vrabec, a woman whose heart bore the burden of profound loss and deep suspicion. Her guarded stance spoke volumes, and the gun still trained on him indicated the fear that had taken root in her soul. The dutiful Shinigami, seasoned by experience and wearied by the passage of time, recognized the weight of her emotions, knowing that such pain could lead one to question the trustworthiness of others.

He attempted to exude sincerity and openness, hoping to ease her doubts, his hands raised as if in surrender to show his intentions were not malevolent. As she posed her questions, he could feel her desperation to understand, her thirst for knowledge and protection in this unfamiliar world of spirits. There were undoubtedly many questions that plagued her, but Benjiro had offered his breadth of knowledge to her in its entirety, she need only ask. She inquired about how to vanquish a soul from Hell, and Benjiro's frown revealed the gravity of the challenge.

"In all honesty, the souls from Hell are powerful," he began, speaking with wisdom earned through experience. "The unforgiving nature of the realm culminates in powerful souls, but the chains on the arms are reminiscent of a creature called an Akki. I've never met one personally, thankfully, but they are quite deadly." He had read many of the reports on the invasion of the Soul Society, the denizens of Hell causing the deaths of many of his comrades. Back then, Benjiro wasn't even a Shinigami, he was far too weak to even try to protect the citizens there. A regret that carried his resolve through the Shino Academy. 

"I am not sure of how to destroy a soul from hell permanently, but to even have a chance of it, you need to be far stronger than you are now. The strength I speak of is more than the physical and spiritual, but a combination of both. Suffice to say, you need to surpass the limits of humanity and then some." He continued, expressing the necessity of surpassing all forms of mortal limitations, a fusion of physical and spiritual strength required to even stand a chance against such malevolent entities. If they held more power than Shinigami as well, then she had a long way to go. As he shared his knowledge, he assumed the role of a teacher, guiding her through the complexities of the spirit world.

But despite his earnest explanations, Vrabec's doubts persisted. Her next question inquired about his motives, what he stood to gain from helping her. Benjiro's gentle smile remained intact as he responded, "I am a simple man. Teaching you to fight and defend yourself is one less soul to defend, one more ally to fight against those who threaten the living, and it is simply a good deed. I am a Buddhist, after all, and to deny one a chance at learning and improving themselves is as close to a sin as I can manage. I hope that suffices for you."

A gesture towards the prayer beads encircling his Zanpakuto emphasized his spiritual devotion, an embodiment of compassion and guidance. In fact, recognizing this gesture from Benjiro, the silver blade began to shimmer a soft golden hue, courtesy of Futan Juzemasu's intervention. Benjiro's Zanpakuto spirit had quite a dramatic nature. He loved to put on a spectacle, and this was no different! He offered her the opportunity to seek understanding, to embrace the teachings and embark on a path of self-improvement.

"Should you have any questions, you may ask them now. Else, we should begin with your training," Benjiro suggested, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, hoping that through knowledge and training, he could help Vrabec find a measure of peace amidst the chaos of the ghost town and the complexities of the spirit world. While vengeance was her prime directive in this moment, he knew many men that sought the same before finding inner peace through their journey of self improvement. He called those men his brothers in the Kiyomizudera temple, and the men and women from the Shino Academy became his family. 

[Deleted]

So, the creature that had killed Danica's friends was an Akki, a soul that had come straight out of Hell.Throughout their lives Danny and her squad had sent many people to an early grave, some of which would have undoubtedly go there after death. She herself had personally ended one too many pieces of shit. How ironic that one of them might have actually clawed its way out from there to return the favor! If that was true, then all Danica could do was laugh. Was this the way the world had to restore some semblance of order, or was this just someone who was so rotten that not even literal Hell could contain them for eternity? "A soul form Hell..."

Whatever the case, she was thankful to Benjiro. It was one thing to stumble blindly, not knowing what her target looked like, or what it was. Now, she at least had a lead that she could pursue. But before she could ever do that, Benjiro mentioned that she would need to be far, far stronger than she currently was, but she was not speaking about her lost physicality, or her talents for marksmanship. No, what Benjiro was referring to was a whole different kind of strength, one that came from the spirit--and not in the sense of the human will. She was going to need to rise beyond the limits of humanity, like Shizuka had done. She had mentioned that Danny was a 'Fullbringer' of sorts, but she was not about to disclose this information to Benjiro. She still did not trust him fully to do so.

When asked why he would go for such lengths for a complete stranger, the Soul Reaper said that he was just a simple man who enjoyed helping others, since he was a Buddhist. Danica had not had too many dealings with them in the past; Buddhism was not that widespread in Europe as opposed to Christianism, and her line of work didn't lend itself to such conversations. Nobody in her old squadron had held religious beliefs of any sort. They had long since cast them away if that was the case. But back to the topic at hand, Benjiro said that he saw this as a chance to prepare someone to help in the fight against the forces of evil.

Immediately, Danny understood he had the wrong idea about her. She was no saint, no hero, nothing of the sort. She was just a soldier, a soldier seeking for revenge. That was not the most noble of motivations, but she was not going to shoot herself in the foot by convincing him of that fact. No, if she needed that power, then she was going to do whatever she had to to acquire it. And, if this man was going to help her get on that path... she was not going to complain about it. He was a good man, but she was not a good woman. At least, she was on the darker side in a scale of grays, even if she was no criminal. She'd done things that would horrify Benjiro... or maybe not, given that he was fighting monsters in a daily basis?

For the time being, Danica lowered her weapon ever so slightly. Nobody shot at her or attempted to take her down. She lowered it a bit more to confirm. Still, nothing. Once she stopped aiming at Benjiro, she was not attacked in any way, meaning that he had no reinforcements... or that they didn't dare show up yet. She would keep her guard up, but for the time being, she needed him to cooperate and teach her more about this spiritual world. If she had to sacrifice her holding him hostage, then that was what she would do.

"It does suffice. I suppose", she said, still being clear that she did not fully trust him. "How should we begin, then? Do I meditate? Do I try to attack something? Or must I fight one of these Hollows? What is it that makes a human gain spiritual strength?", she asked, rather curious about it. It wasn't often that one got to delve deeper into a new world, and a human's natural curiosity won over her more cautious instincts.

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

60 paragraphs counted, meaning 300 TP for both participants ^-^