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Post by Lilith on Jan 3, 2010 21:38:43 GMT 1
Lilith gave a sigh as she looked out over the water of the river. The area here was open and free, unlike the crowded city. There were people about, picnicking and out for a walk and such, but the serene atmosphere that presented itself about the river seemed to effect people. Or perhaps it was just that these types of people avoided the streets and came here.
Either way, the people were completely different here. It was unfortunate that these people weren't the ones that took up so much space. Lilith glanced back at the town before her mind returned to the river and its people. Something had been scratching at Lilith's mind--why were some Hollows able to retain their individuality? Able to resist the insatiable desire to devour souls that they had?
The pale-haired girl threw a few empty punches and kicks into the air as she pondered this. Were they simply stronger souls? What denotes someone's soul as stronger? The kicks and punches continued to fly more out of habit than out of will, while she found that she had no answers.
She realized as she stopped, her leg still risen completely vertically, that she was here in hopes of encountering something. A Hollow, a Shinigami. Another Quincy. Perhaps a spiritually strong Human. Anything that could tell her more.
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 3, 2010 22:56:49 GMT 1
Akimoto had been watching over the river park, watching people come and go, families and friends alike came, even individuals seemed to find pleasure in being here. She understood why, sharing the same pleasure of comfort and relaxation the area offered. She herself just being an observer enjoyed watching others enjoy themselves. Though curiously the number of people that glanced at her direction seemed higher than normal. She couldn’t explain it but it was like more people here with spiritually developed even to sense her, even if only a fraction. It was a growing feeling that she felt should be of concern, but was able to shrug it off.
Currently she was watching a girl training, she observed how she was in deep thought, as her eyes seemed to see nothing, looking past it all and everything into infinity. Akimoto had to admit, the girl had some moves. Her stance was flawless, her punches, and kicked fast and well balanced. It was almost intimidating to behold.
She sighed and looked down at her own hands. She was light years off such perfection in hand to hand.
“Wait, light years is distance isn’t it?” she pondered mentally, before blinking in confusion. She quinted and frowned a little, Human terms were confusing sometimes.
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Post by Lilith on Jan 3, 2010 23:15:50 GMT 1
Lilith fell still and gave another sigh as she looked out over the river once more. The sun cast its gaze down over the park, looming, watching. The water sparkled and reflected the light in grizzled patterns, creating rainbows and glories off of its surface. A small grin crept onto Lilith's face as her golden orbs darted this way and that, catching all of the splendor of the scene.
Suddenly, Lilith's eyes became wide and she turned with great speed. Her hair flipped a bit as she did so, and she strained to see through the strands that enveloped her face. How hadn't she noticed it before? The presence of another spiritual being. The sensation came upon her suddenly for some reason, and she was inexperienced in dealings with reiatsu. Finally, as she settled from her surprise, she could feel that the reiatsu belonged to a Shinigami, not something foreign and hostile.
Immediately she began her trek towards the black-robed woman. Lilith was dying to know more. Suddenly, however, she realized that she had no idea how to approach a Shinigami, really. Her master had always done it before . . .
She had never been alone. Not until that time with the Hollow, but that was all very different. Rushed. Panicked. Now it was simply . . . casual? She wasn't sure if that was how she would explain it, but it all made her a little nervous. She finally reached the Shinigami and hesitantly spoke:
"Um . . . Excuse me?"
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 3, 2010 23:25:22 GMT 1
Akimoto jumped a little. She blinked at the girl she’d been watching before realising she was talking to her.
“Oh!” she gasp, her eyes widening momentarily with surprise. She blinked, closing her eyes to the normal size. “Hi!” she said with a bright big smile. She paused and blinked flashing another confused look.
“Wait, you can see me?” she said dumbly. It took a few seconds to click “Oh I see, you’re a… a umm…. Whats it called…” she said, looking up down and all around, as though the answer might be written somewhere in sight. “Well yeah. Hi” she said shaking her head and smiling again. She felt a awkward silence coming so decided to intercept it
“I’m a resident Shinigami to this area, 7th squad’s Ayumu Akimoto!” she announced proudly and friendly. She bowed from where she sat on the stone wall, behind her there were some flowers. She looked back up at the person whom had approached her “Er, and who might I have the pleasure of addressing?” she asked still wearing a smile.
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Post by Lilith on Jan 3, 2010 23:36:29 GMT 1
Lilith stood awkwardly for a moment as the Shinigami seemed to fumble with her thoughts. Failing to find the word to describe Lilith, she introduced herself as Ayumu Akimoto, a resident Shinigami.
Resident Shinigami? Lilith was a bit uninformed. The meaning could be assumed, but . . . she decided to ignore it.
"I'm Lilith Summerset." Lilith mimicked the girls bow as she introduced herself, "A Quincy." The pale-haired girl beamed as she introduced herself, "Er . . ."
These sudden realizations were happening a lot lately. This time, Lilith realized she wasn't exactly sure where to start with her questions or anything. And that she didn't want to just fire off questions. The recent events seemed like a good place to start.
"Um . . . I recently encountered a Hollow. A large one--a strong one. I just want to--need to know, why do some Hollows gain individuality? Or, perhaps, retain it."
It seemed to bother Lilith because it felt as if she was killing another human being. The individuality that the Hollow had troubled the Quincy. Hollows were once Human . . . for a Hollow to revert back to a state of Human-like individualism created a problem for Lilith.
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 0:01:47 GMT 1
“Quincy?!” Akimoto thought, alarmed, She resisted the reaction and simply hoped internally she wasn’t looking for trouble. She knew all about the relationship between the two. A relationship that had caused deaths on either side, which was something she had no intention of getting caught up in. She however waited, and listened to what the girl whom had introduced herself Lilith had to say.
She blinked but nodded in understanding as Lilith explained a recent event and followed it with a question. Initially Akimoto was surprised to be sure. Frankly this was one of the last things she could have expected. She sort of had assumed the Quincy and the Shinigami kept to their own. Still they were by no means enemies. In fact she liked to think she was merely a person who happened to be a part of the Gotei 13. The only beings she had any intention of killing were Hollows. If they weren’t hollow, to Akimoto, they were alright with her. At least that’s what she liked to think.
“Hmm, Interesting question” she said beaming “I’m at least glad to see you made it away intact” She moved over, in indication she was offering a seat next to her if she so wished.
“As to your question…” she said pausing, she leant back, arms behind her supporting her as she looked up to the sky “Well, textbook answer is that a hollows strength, comes from it’s ability to control itself, and it’s reiatsu. So a personality is a given if the hollow has a rare level of intelligence.” She looked at the Quincy. “You say it was bigger and stronger than normal hollows?”
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Post by Lilith on Jan 4, 2010 0:20:53 GMT 1
Due to Lilith's nature as a spiritually-aware-human-turned-Quincy, Lilith hadn't been raised as a traditional Quincy. She hadn't any clue about the tensions created between the Quincy and Shinigami, and therefore went on in ignorant bliss as the woman before he answered her question.
Lilith hopped up onto the wall next to the Shinigami and grinned a bit, "Thanks." She replied, thankful that the Shinigami was happy to see her "intact".
The youth listened to the Shingami's explanation, nodding as she did so. It was as she figured--a rare level of strength and intelligence. Perhaps Lilith was a bit too headstrong, taking on such a Hollow alone . . .
Still, it was to protect that Shinigami. Lilith shook the thoughts of what could have been from her head, "Oh, yes. Absolutely. It was large and much more powerful than any Hollow I've yet to encounter. It was also extremely fast, especially for its size. I couldn't keep up . . ." She brought her gaze to the ground below as she regretted her inability to fight against the Hollow well.
"I guess I just need to train more!" Lilith declared, raising her left arm as a fist and slapping her other arm against her bicep as she beamed.
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 0:43:51 GMT 1
“Hmm, I see” Akimoto said with a thoughtful nod, “Well to tell you the truth, I’ve encountered hollows woth ‘personalities’ before, and though that is a text-book answer, I’d have to disagree” She said looking forward, kicking her legs up “I’d say it’s will power you know. Some of them have been smart, no doubt about that, but others haven’t. In fact some of the ones with ‘personalities’ have been really quite stupid.”
She considered stopping, as adding all this information on to someone who was only just learning such things might just be plain confusing. But still, she thought, turning to the Quincy. She seemed smart enough not to get tangled up in the mass of explanation.
“It’s been a mystery forever I think. Exactly what is the defining characteristics of the hollows that make it and evolve, and which don’t. I think Intelligence is the simple answer to save a whole mess of explanation.” She mused aloud “It’s got to be more than that. It’s like saying only the smartest Shinigami live long. If you’ve seen some of the 11th squad…” she trailed off with a soft laugh to herself “Well, I mean I think it’s not as simply as intelligence. I think for a hollow to maintain character, it takes a willpower of iron. Luck and skill to survive to become a strong hollow.” She finished, deciding to leave it there. She had the habit of rambling. Once she started talking, she found it difficult to stop, but on rare occasion she could. Like now.
“I’m sorry I don’t mean to over complicate a simple question” she said with a nervous smile. “Anyway, that hollow was probably as fast and strong due to age and experience. Frankly I don’t like to openly call any hollows ‘intelligent’” she said with a cheeky smile and a wink.
“Training you say?” she said with obvious interest “You look pretty on form already to me” she said with a slight surprise. She couldn’t help but secretly wonder how strong the young woman really was. She smiled broadly. Humans were such amazing creatures. Able to become so strong in such a short period of time. Something that had never ceased to amaze her.
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Post by Lilith on Jan 4, 2010 1:01:40 GMT 1
Lilith turned to the Shinigami and looked a bit confused. Disagree? It seemed odd, so Lilith was content to sit and listen. She found herself nodding along as the Shinigami explained herself. Lilith couldn't say she had encountered unintelligent Hollows with a personality, but she supposed it made sense.
Then the Shinigami began explaining a lot of things that she thought. Lilith kept up, though, and continued to subconsciously nod along.
"No, no," Lilith responded, "It's hard not to complicate that question. The question is simple, but the topic is rather complicated. And I followed along fine, so don't worry."
Lilith pushed herself from the wall and landed on the soft ground, "Right! Training. Technique isn't everything, after all. That Hollow made me realize I have a lot to work on. Speed, strength . . ."
She looked away and brought her right hand up, creating a fist. A pale-blue glow began to emanate from the air about her hand, and suddenly moved inward to condense in the shape of her reibuki, a brass knuckle.
"I have to work on everything! I need to become stronger!"
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 1:17:57 GMT 1
Akitmoto smiled at the raw enthusiasm the girl had. She had the energy, that for was for certain, and after seeing her moves previously it was obvious the girl had talents. Though like herself, with excelling in one area likely meant previously skipping and less focus on other areas. Still it was worth it if you knew how your area of expertise countered another’s. She learn that from training with her closer friends from squad seven. She has so far been able to counter Hanabi’s raw speed, and Akito’s raw strength with her superior skill at arms.
“Yes, training helps improves ones combat attributes. But it is experience which gives you skill, which I have found to be more useful to me than any of my abilities” she said wisely and a secret smile. “Experience is the tool one needs to be a step ahead of your enemy. And that, especially against a speed based enemy, whom very often move too fast to realise that you’ve already countered their new position or attack”
“I can’t in good consciousness advise you to go out and look for trouble” she said with a wincing expression “But should trouble find you, remember to pay careful attention to the moves of your enemy. Most being, hollows especially have a pattern of attack. If decipher it you can, defeat them you will” she said, fumbling up the last sentence completely.
“I’ve seen enough of you to know you are gifted in both body and mind, anyone who can keep up with my babbling is a genius for sure” she said with a small nervous laugh “Would you mind If I watch you train sometime? I’m afraid my hand to hand skills are… well let’s just say I normally don’t refer to them as ‘skills’” she said with flustered grin
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Post by Lilith on Jan 4, 2010 1:36:17 GMT 1
Lilith knew the woman's advice to be true. Many people had upheld the same beliefs before--people she trusted. Lilith glanced at the woman a little oddly as she worded a sentence oddly--it was correct, Lilith supposed, simply odd.
The youthful girl chuckled a little to hear the Shinigami's explanation of her hand-to-hand skills. Lilith didn't figure that many Shinigami were skilled in hand-to-hand combat, not when they wielded kido and zanpaktou.
"Well, I'm sure you're no pushover with that zanpaktou of yours." Lilith only knew the name of the sword, but no real details about it, "Or perhaps you're the spiritual type? Kido? I can't say I know to much about how you Shinigami fight . . ."
She threw a few quick jabs at the air, "At any rate, you're right. I've been physically trained my whole life, but I grow much faster when I experience a real fight." She glanced out towards the river as her reibuki faded into nothingness, leaving her hand bare, "I feel bad. Sometimes, I almost hope to encounter a Hollow."
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 2:04:46 GMT 1
Akimoto laugh softly, she pulled up her shealthed blade and rested it on her lap.
“I suppose you’re right. Still, I can’t help but feel bad” she said her tone become a little sad and disappointed “We’ve fought for a long time together, but I’ve yet to learn her name” she said, gently touching the hilt. At the mention of Kido she looked up. She made a unsure expression at Lilith before holding up her hand flat, then shaking it slightly
“My kido abilities are also a bit limited. To be honest the only thing I have any real talent at is…” she looked back at her sword. How she longed to refer to it by it’s name. Still, she knew if she kept faith in herself, and in her weapon it would respond to her calls eventually. She had to continue being patient.
“But yeah, we fight with our Zanpakutou, and Kido mainly. Though there are those of us that specialise in hand to hand too. They’re both graceful and fierce fighters. To be honest I have envy for anyone with the skills to move so elegantly.” She said longingly. She blinked and turned back to Lilith with a big smile “When I was watching you I was admiring how well balanced and formed your movements are. You know I really think you have skill.” She said with a slight blush, such a bold comment to someone she hardly knew was a bit much, but she felt it ought to be said.
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Post by Lilith on Jan 4, 2010 2:20:35 GMT 1
"Learn her name?" Lilith pondered for a moment, "Oh, oh. Your zanpaktous have a spirit right? They're like . . . living? I don't know much about it. Each zanpaktou is unique, right?" Lilith hoped what she was saying was indeed right. Frankly, she had only been taught a little bit about Shinigami. Not much other than what she had spoken. Really, she wasn't sure why. They were so intriguing . . .
Lilith turned a slight shade of crimson. She hadn't noticed that she was being watched while she was absent-mindedly training, "O-oh. Thanks." She grinned helplessly. She had never really been complimented on her martial abilities before.
"It's really my only strength, though. I'm not excruciatingly fast or anything like that. It's difficult sometimes to fight certain Hollow, without any ranged abilities whatsoever. Still, I have some useful abilities I've learned as a Quincy." Lilith's factual talk allowed her face to cool and return to its original color.
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 2:54:15 GMT 1
Akimoto smiled fondly as the looked from the girl to her sword. She lifted it off her lap and held it closer to her face, as though inspecting it as she explained.
“Yeah, that’s right, Every Zanpakutou has a name, a voice, a consciousness even an appearance and personality. I admit I’m ashamed to say I can only tell you this from learning it from others, or a book. But if the Shinigami proves themselves to the spirits within their swords, by dedication, faith and desire then they will reveal themselves to us. I’ve been waiting a little while now, but I’ve got the feeling, you know? That he or she will make themselves known to me soon” she finished lowering her sword back onto her lap. She looked back at the girl, placing her hands in her lap. She was genuinely quite interested in her. She was a Quincy that seemed to possess no resentment or grudge to her whatsoever. Akimoto was used to the cold shoulder, rudeness and even attacks from Quincy, but this was a very nice, new change to her.
She giggled a little as the girl blushed upon finding out she had been watched during her training. Akimoto was a little surprised at this since she was training in a park, but found it amusing all the same.
“Well, speed isn’t the only thing that counts on a battlefield. In fact without support speed is merely high speed shoddy moves. Easily counter able without the right skill and practice behind it. Though I suppose I’ve ranted enough about that already. I’m sure you’re already well aware of that too. Just don’t be put off by the large hollow incident. I can’t help but think it was down to your surprise of the creature that might have made he seem much stronger and faster than he really was.”
The more she spoke to the girl the more she liked her. She was quite modest and a little shy, all in all she was in Akimoto’s opinion quite sweet and cute.
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Post by Lilith on Jan 4, 2010 3:20:50 GMT 1
Lilith listened intently, throwing a few punches and kicks at the air here and there. She stopped when the Shinigami asked a rhetorical question, and murmured to herself, "That feeling, huh . . ."
Yeah, I suppose I was rather surprised. It's just--it wasn't just me fighting it. There was a Shinigami there, too, and he was injured. I tried to protect him and the Hollow ended up fleeing. Just . . . like that. As if he wanted to spare us or . . . play with us . . . or as if his appetite was no longer insatiable." Lilith looked toward the town--the market, specifically, "I don't know, but we both got out alive, and that's certainly a good thing."
She really wasn't very sure where to go from there. The Shinigami was a very kind one; Lilith found that she enjoyed her company very much.
"If you don't mind my asking . . . what's Soul Society like? You know, the other side or . . . whatever."
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 3:34:44 GMT 1
Akimoto frowned. The hollow fled when it was winning?
“Wait, it fled when it had the upper hand?” she said both concern and alarm in her voice. She’d only read of very very few circumstances for which a hollow might flee. And most times they were not good. She looked at Lilith with a look of serious and great concern and confusion.
She knew it was rude to ignore his other questions and speech but this took priority. Such a strange act was unheard of in her experience. Only in books had she read of such occurrences. Large, intelligent and powerful hollows retreating could never be good fortune, or it feeling merciful. It simply didn’t happen
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Post by Lilith on Jan 4, 2010 3:47:01 GMT 1
Lilith turned to the Shinigami a bit surprised.
"Yeah, it ran. It had asked me what kind of Human I was . . . perhaps it wasn't my best idea, but I told him I was simply Human. It angered him, I think." She explained, trying to remember exactly what had happened.
She paced back and forth a bit, "Ah, yes. He said that we were lucky and that we would live, and asked us how long that would last before he vanished, laughing." Lilith looked down at her own hands, "For some reason, I wasn't scared at all, even when we were losing."
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 4:07:42 GMT 1
Akimoto was mixed halfway between fascinated and disturbed at this revelation.
“It wanted to know kind of being you were?” she asked rhetorically, she looked at the floor in a confused squint. Piecing it together.
According to what she’d been told and what she had read Hollows only ever retreat for the following reasons:
The first was that they know they cannot win. Which was obviously not the case here
The second, was that something they know they cannot win against is coming. Unlikely
The third was they were being told to, by a being so powerful even the mindless hollow would heed the call. An idea that was just speculative theory among some Shinigami, but still...
It was the latter which frightened her. And which she suspected. Still, it was of little concern now, after all this was in the past. The same hollow had likely succeeded in it’s enigmatic mission or failed, and died in the process by now. Still, this would be something to report back.
As though heeding her thoughts the Hell butterfly that had accompanied her through to the human flew down from a building it had been sitting on. It landed on Akimoto’s outstretched finger, as she silently gave it the message. Within a few seconds to flew off.
“Forgive my rudeness, but this is very unusual and is something I ought to report back immediately.” She said, allowing her expression to soften. She took a few deep breaths before smiling again.
“It could be nothing, but it’s possible it was working for something. Just a tiny chance, but something I want to take a precaution to and send back.” She said reassuringly. She allowed herself to let out a laugh.
“You probably were not scared because of your Quincy blood. Your family have been fighters in an eternal war for hundreds of years, if not thousands.” She said with a smile. Though all the same not thinking of the Quincy history.
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Post by Lilith on Jan 4, 2010 5:02:34 GMT 1
Lilith watched silently as the woman seemed to contemplate something, and then a small, ethereal-looking butterfly landed on her finger before taking flight once more.
"Oh, no, you're not being rude. I thought something was up . . ." She placed her fist underneath her chin as if pondering something, then responded, "Well, I don't really have Quincy blood. You see, I wasn't raised as a Quincy because I'm not--this is why I'm as uninformed as I am. I was simply a 'spiritually aware' Human, I was told, and found by a Quincy first, not a Hollow or a Shinigami. But . . . what was that butterfly?"
Lilith gazed into the distance in which the butterfly had vanished. The sun was beginning to set and sent a hue of purples, oranges, and reds across Karakura Town; the river reflected the colors in soft pastels and deep shades of purple, blue, yellow and red. A leaf fell gracefully from a tree above, floating down on the zephyrs that picked up Lilith's hair so lightly and tossed it. The pale-haired girl sat down on the soft grass beneath her and leaned back, using her arms to support her.
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Post by EvilAngel on Jan 4, 2010 5:18:28 GMT 1
Akimoto smiled nevously, blessing the girl who was being polite whilst she had been rude.
“I see…. Advent human then” she said aloud, more to herself than Lilith. “A Quincy found you first?” She smiled in curiousity. She was barely aware of the basics of how spiritually powered humans came to be. It was so rare it was never spoken of really. She had never heard of a Quincy-based advent human. She was now, more curious than ever about the girl. She looked at her, mouth open curved slightly into a smile, her eyes in sheer fascination.
“Wow…” she uttered. Awoken from her trance-like state by her own voice she blinked and looked embrassed for a moment before bursting out in a big smile.
“I’m soryr, it’s just I’ve never encountered a Quincy advent human before. Hey I’ve only ever had the briefest of encounters with what I THINK was an advent human, nevermind a…” she stopped herself, she was being rude, she realised.
“Er, sorry” she said looking down, trying to suppress her interested. She failed and quickly resumed her bright smile and look of wonder.
“So um… how… well how do your powers work? I mean… what can you do?” she said sitting forward, like a child waiting to be told her favourite story. She blinked and shook her head, remembering Lilith’s question
“Oh, it’s a special butterfly we use for communication, and guiding us when we travel inbetween here and Soul society. But enough about that” she said, looking at Lilith again.
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