Chapter 9: Questions from the Sinners, Honest Advice
Szayelapporo and Nnoitora followed her form, "What do you mean place us where he will?" Szayelapporo asked plainly. "Szayelapporo former status: Lost Soul, class: Arrancar, Rank: Octava Espada, you haven't been here very long have you. Neither you, nor your companion, Nnoitora former 5th Espada have been here long. Has no on explain how this realm works?"
Nnoitora shrugged, "Like you said we haven't been here long," Karin's disguise nodded, "Sinners are in Hell to be punished for their sins. They must be punished until their soul forgets its sin." She turned to them her disguise had gentle green eyes, "Does this make sense to you so far?"
Szayel gestured for her to continue and she nodded the chains attached jingling as she did so, "Once the soul has been punished enough that the soul truly forgets its sin. Then the soul is cleansed in the purifying pools by the Kushinada chosen to retrieve them. These Kushinada have a human shape and then send the cleansed soul to the Soul King."
"What does the Soul King do with them?" Nnoitora was curious now and paying rapt attention. "He returns them either to Soul Society to start a new life or he has them reincarnated to live again as humans." She looked at both of them seriously, "I've seen the souls being cleansed I'll even show you where it happens."
Karin moved and she heard the light sonido of the two following her as she perched above the cleansing pools. She saw her partner cleansing a soul as she nodded to them, "Watch and learn…only the human Kushinada can complete the ritual."
Karin allowed the two to be enthralled by the process as she continued to explain, "The more attempts at escape the worse the punishment and the longer it takes. It's better to take the punishment now and wait it out. You get a whole new life, a new identity, you never know where it will take you but, it's gotta be better than here. Ask the guy yourself if you don't believe me." Karin moved to disappear and returned herself to her Kushinada form. She approached the cleansing pool and nodded to her partner before taking over the cleansing process.
She heard the two Espada speaking lightly with the Kushinada male. She even heard the rare chuckle here and there and smiled beneath her mask. She gently swept the soul skyward and watched peacefully as the soul moved to the Soul King's realm through the gate.
"You seem to enjoy your job Kushinada-san," Szayel was standing behind her again. Her voice out of her disguise was much lighter. "I certainly enjoy this part of my job." Szayel looked curious, "There is a part of the job you hate?"
Karin nodded, "Yes, I can show you but…it's not for the faint of heart. If you want to see and only if you're sure you can handle it you can follow me." Karin moved from the pool and Nnoitora remained with the other Kushinada who nodded in acknowledgement. She led Szayel to the highest perch in Hell right by the gate.
She gestured down towards the sinners, "Watch what happens when they try to escape. This is the part of the job I hate…" Szayelapporo braced himself against the tower as he carefully watched the attempted escapes and how the gigantic Kushinada would impale them on swords or devour the souls repeatedly. He shook before looking to the girl and saw her shuttered gaze which held nothing but sympathy.
"These souls have lost faith in their redemption…some of their sins are so dark and depraved that they are desperate to escape for any form of reprieve. Their impatience is costing them their limited freedom and their chance at being cleansed."
"Any advice from a Kushinada?" Szayelapporo asked quietly. Karin turned to him removing her focus from the sinners. "You want an honest piece of advice?" Szayel nodded.
Karin gave him a gentle smile, "Avoid Hokuto and his ilk like the plague. Keep your head down and never try to escape. Serve your sentence quietly and you will be out of here much faster than you might expect." She guided him back to the cleansing pool and allowed the two Espada to leave peacefully.
"Feeling generous Karin?" The Kushinada asked calmly with a friendly tone. Karin smirked back at him, "Just giving new sinners some good advice Mizuiro. The Sinners are planning on trying to abduct me to escape Hell. Mainly Hokuto and his recruits…the new guys needed a warning to avoid him."
"You do know they tried to kill your brother's friends right? Do they really need to be helped?" Mizuiro asked in curiosity. Karin gave him a look, "Everyone needs help sometimes…no one helped them escape Aizen. Might as well give them the knowledge and see what they do with it."
Mizuiro shrugged, "Fair enough, we have been sending more souls to the big guy lately. How did it go at the gate?" Karin winced, "He understands what's at stake now…what he does with that is up to him."
Mizuiro, "So, how did the meet and greet at the house go?" Karin smirked, "I adore Yachiru…you should come stay with me." Mizuiro flirted, "Trying to get me in bed already Karin, I thought it would take me longer to win you over."
Karin smirked and gently ran her fingers up from his navel to his chest before twisting his nipple painfully, "Oh no, I can take you anytime…the question is can you take me?" She then released him and opened a portal to the World of the Living.
Mizuiro sighed pleasantly, "I love it when she does that…" his hand brushed over his chest as he winced. "I hate the feeling after though…damn that hurts!" He sighed and checked for no additional souls to be cleansed before returning himself to the World of the Living.
He smirked and rubbed his chest, "Maybe I should go to her to nurse this injury she gave me…I think I will." Mizuiro never could have imagined the kind of welcome he would receive once he arrived at Karin's new home since he hadn't had a chance to visit.