026 || Not running away

[third_winter]

Aaroniero of the Espada. It would be to your benefit if you would remove yourself from the presence of my friends.

I'm here. I'm not hiding from you. If you have something to say, say it to me.

Comments

[Private]

[two_facedliar]

I never said you were, Rukia-san.

I do very much like talking with your friends and will continue to do so. What I want most however is to see you again, not in a combat setting; just a quiet little meeting. Kaien-dono would very much like to see you again as well, won't you let these eyes set sight on you once again?

[Private]

[third_winter]

Agreed.

Do not expect to walk away from this meeting.

[Private]

[two_facedliar]

Now now, Rukia-san. I can be very amiable, but not when I'm threatened.

Please meet me here~ [coordinates: x,y]

[third_winter]

[She doesn't come right away. It's partly hesitation-is this really the right thing to do? Should she tell someone? In the end, she takes the burden on her shoulders as she always has-and partly calculated to throw him off. It's not much of a gesture, but he probably expects her to be there immediately. She's not, but eventually she does come.]

Espada. Show yourself.

[two_facedliar]

[Excepting her immediately, he is indeed thrown off. At her beckon he emerges from a building a little hurriedly. In a twisted insult to the shinigami as he wears a black hakama and kimono while retaining his personal coat and white gloves. He holds up a large prepared tray of food and smiles.]
I am here, Rukia-san, would you care for something?

[third_winter]

You actually did bring food. Ridiculous. You know I'm not here for that, Espada.

[Her hand is on her sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice; the only thing that keeps her from doing so is her desire not to be a straightforward opponent. She'd nearly died The last time they'd fought. She was willing to take the risk that she could die this time, but she refused to be stupid about it.]

[two_facedliar]

[Setting the tray down, he shrugs off the coat and pulls off the gloves, somehow not reintroducing her to the twisted sight of his Glotonería; but instead two normal looking hands. He sits and readies plate.]

I am here to dine with you, Rukia-san. Not to fight. Now please, sit and join me, across the table if you please.

[The fact of the matter was, he was very uninterested in receiving a sword through his face again, so perhaps she at least had him on equal footing with reluctance.]

[third_winter]

And if I do? What precisely is in this for me?

[It doesn't escape her notice that physically, he's perfected his imitation of Kaien this time, even if his behavioral one has slipped. She knows it's a lie, and he knows she knows it, yet he acts as if such a falsehood is a minor one. As if that could be true.]

[two_facedliar]

Honoring your station, Rukia Kuchiki, and allowing me the grace of being in your company for a rare quiet moment.

[He offered her a plate. For just a split second, he appeared perfectly genuine in his offer and his talk. Quickly it was buried beneath the tension of a possible fight looming over the shoulders of both. He smiled again, being amiable as he claimed he was.]

[third_winter]

A quiet moment. I see.

[Slowly and smoothly she draws her sword, but instead of pointing it at his throat as she'd very much like to, she holds it beside her and sits before him. The position will allow her to spring to her feet at a moment's notice, and she doesn't let go of Shirayuki for an instant.

Only then does she accept the plate. Not that she intends to eat anything on it.]

Say what it is you intend to.

[two_facedliar]

Myself? Enjoy the moment. Long-term items are left up to Aizen-sama, who has disappeared.

Hmm...All I have here is time, I am the only Espada here; hardly favorable to make bold claims of dominance. Spend time with you perhaps? I'd enjoy that a lot.

[Hardly having finished the speech, he froze, his fork just short of his mouth. Debating on whether it was something to recover he continued eating, perhaps it might put her off even more than it had him, or it would just rregister as another act. Either way it wasn't something to concern himself with.]

[third_winter]

[She wondered for a moment why he bothered to try and eat. Perhaps he wasn't getting the proper amount of nutrients from eating souls. Good.]

If you're the only one left here, why interfere with the lives of my friend and me at all? What purpose is there in bothering us? You can't possibly want to fulfill Aizen's aims when the man is not here and the world he seeks to conquer doesn't exist in this place.

[two_facedliar]

Precisely! I can be myself! I said I find your friends interesting, and I will talk with them whenever I please. I have the memories and they torment me, so I fulfill them by keeping in contact with you all.

[He wondered why she wouldn't at least try a small bit of acting on her part. Perhaps being here was the best she could manage. A pity. He mentally checked himself, perhaps his excitement was overriding his commonsense.]

[third_winter]

Yourself. Really. How can you even know who "yourself" really is, Espada? You, who've consumed thousands of Hollows? There's no reason I should trust that the voice coming out of your mouth has any more weight than the voices crying out in your own soul.

Leave us be. Your stolen memories won't fester if you let the wound close.

[Her hand closes around Shirayuki's hilt in a stronger grip.]

Or let me take care of it for you.

[two_facedliar]

[A cold glare crossed his face. How could she, who only had to deal with herself have the nerve to presume she knew how to advise him! He reached down, slowly raising into a view a familiar sword as his face twisted into a snarl.]

You dare to tell me it's so simple. When you yourself know better. How can you still hang by your own neck over precious Kaien-dono when he died long ago! This is my body now! I made it mine! THESE MEMORIES! I NEVER ASKED FOR, YET CANNOT BE RID OF!!! MINE!! ALL MINE!!

[third_winter]

[She springs to her feet, snapping Sode no Shirayuki to a guard position. His madness was pre-assumed; now it's simply self-evident.]

This is over. Dance, Shirayuki!