Passing the time until the meeting was spent in relative quiet. Of course Erisia was not the kind of girl that had to talk. She could enjoy the silence and the things left unspoken. She sipped her tea and took in the sounds of brush against paper and the sounds of the world outside the office. It was a different world for her after all. No sounds of horns honking or children playing...

Byakuya worked on some of the paper work that had accumulated in his brief absence. He kept a watchful eye on the passage of time and occasionally looked towards Erisia. He wondered if she were bored, but she seemed content in the stillness. Of course he knew that she lived alone so perhaps this was a comfortable thing for her, this silence...

Renji observed his captain and the young woman casually while still working on his own paperwork. He noticed the way his captain looked to the girl every now and then. He mentally chuckled at the fact that almost every time Byakuya looked back to his paperwork the girl looked at him. Were they purposely missing each other? Or did they just not realize? It was amusing to say the least... to see an almost human interaction taking place involving his captain. Of course he knew the merits of not speaking his thoughts aloud. He really didn't want to meet Senbonzakura again.

Soon it was time for the meeting. Eri naturally fell into step behind him... she wasn't even paying attention to notice that she'd done it.. but she was just two steps behind him... Renji might not have understood it but there were a few other people who had the knowledge necessary to make the connection. She might not have been doing it consciously but that did not change the meaning of it.

Luckily they did not run into anyone else that thought to delay them with distractions. While there were observers, they were far more cautious and would inquire not directly as some had already. These observers would merely watch and talk amongst themselves to try and make sense of the scene.

She hadn't known what to expect upon meeting the lieutenant of the first squad. Of course she hadn't really known what to expect for since learning anything of this Soul Society and she really should be getting used to it by now. Of course since everyone around seemed to be clad in a more traditional Japanese manner, she figured Lieutenant Sasakibe would be much the same...

So imagine her surprise when he turned out to be of a more... Western mindset. It was strange and yet oddly comforting at the same time, after all she was used to a more modern setting. While she was comfortable in a kimono and with such formal, traditional things... She could not help that she was born a modern girl. So this throw back to days far gone was a bit strange for her.

She gave a polite bow. She took in everything. Though more Western in preferences the fact that Erisia had thought to dress in a nice kimono was not lost on the Lieutenant. Such a formality was something he had not truly thought a girl from the real world would have considered. He might prefer more Western things but he still appreciated things from the history of the culture he had been born into. It was part of the reason why he attended the Captain Commander's monthly tea ceremonies - not just merely respect for his Captain.

"Welcome Erisia Nakayama-san." Comes the greeting. His tone was not as neutral as Byakuya's often was but it was certainly formal.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Sasakibe-san." She says with a small smile and another polite bow before she takes her seat.

A far more direct line of questioning followed. It was all spoken politely... and there was the slightest explanation as to the reason for this need for such questions to be answered. Learning that these people had been betrayed by their own was a slightly startling revelation for her. She could not imagine why someone would do such a thing.

She answered the questions truthfully, not that she was ever purposely deceptive if she could help it. She went through the story of what happened to bring her to this point and how she'd come to the decision to continue pursuing this despite having been killed by a Hollow. She could have turned her back on it, she could have accepted Uruhara's offer of a gigai and the ability to return to her former life and to never have to hear of such things again... But it did not feel right to her.

She had after all, given her life to protect people. Returning to her other life would not have kept her from seeing Hollows and spirits. She would still have seen and every time she did she would be reminded. NO, she could not live life like that. She had been raised better than that and she did not want to dishonor the memory of her mother and how hard her mother had worked to raise her properly despite the trouble that came from her father. She felt it was her duty to use the gifts she had been given... and she believed that to truly do so, she would have to attend the Academy to learn to use what abilities she had.

"Yes, I am scared. I would be silly if I were not. This has all been quite overwhelming in a number of ways and on many levels, Sir. However, if everyone stopped because something was scary or because they were overwhelmed, how much would people really have accomplished? I cannot say whether or not I will succeed in my endeavors... I have been going through some rudimentary tests and exercises at the Uruhara Shop... and I do not feel shame in admitting that there are some aspects of it that I find quite difficult. I was never taught self defense of any real kind. I know how to perform formal tea ceremonies, I know traditional calligraphy... my mother's pride in her heritage was passed to me. The only experience I had with anything remotely self defense in nature was whatever our gym teachers threw into those classes... I cannot feel shame in not knowing something I really was not exposed to. That aspect of the training has given me the most trouble. But I am willing to face that challenge. I will never know what I can truly do if I never try." Erisia explains.

Lieutenant Sasakibe smiled at her words. "You have a noble heart, Nakayama-san. In our lives we have all had to face things that were difficult for us. What sets us apart from other people is that despite that difficulty, we met that challenge head on. Some will not pass that test and others will pass nearly every test set before them. You are correct in thinking that you will never know if you never try. No one would fault you for wanting a simpler life. That you have decided to face the knowledge you have gained and use it for the betterment of yourself and those around you speaks very highly of you." He says with that smile that was not a normal, warm sort of smile... it was more a formal, pleased one... but he did show even that at least more than Byakuya did.

Byakuya listened to everything that was being said. Due to his experience with people such as Ichigo and his friends, he was not surprised at the capacity to want to do such things, but he was a little surprised at her determination. Though she was under the scrutiny of the Lieutenant of the 1st squad, she was not wavering under the weight of it. She was still speaking with the same eloquent conviction she had been displaying practically since he had formally met the girl. Perhaps it was that which held his attention. That despite all of this, she was still eloquent and yet still so human. She was still admitting her fears, still being open with such things. Such an openness was non existent in the noble's world in which he lived.

~It is time Erisia.~ Came the familiar purring voice.

~Time for what?~

~Tell them you know my name.~

~Why now?~

~You will see. Trust me.~

~Of course I trust you Kumori... I will tell them when the opportunity comes up to do so.~ She answers.

"The reports have all spoken of a shadowy panther like figure. Could you tell me more about that, Nakayama-san?" The Lieutenant broaches the topic which had been a subject of much speculation among a decent enough number of people.

She cannot help but chuckle slightly. "I think perhaps that the spirit you speak of is some sort of oracle. Only moments before you asked me about him, he spoke with me and told me to tell you more about him. Forgive my chuckling... such a coinciding of topics was amusing." She says with a smile.

Lieutenant Sasakibe and Byakuya both were a little caught off guard by her words... "Sometimes these spirits have access to insights we can only dream of. So, what can you tell us about this spirit?" Sasakibe inquires.

"He has confirmed to me that he is a zanpakuto spirit. In the confusing time that came right after I was killed by the Hollow he asked me what I wanted to do. When I spoke of the conviction of still protecting people he did not seem surprised. He was quite pleased that I had not lost that desire. I did not see why I should. While I did die in order to protect my fellow students, I was not completely dead. Why should I stop wanting to protect people and to help them when I did not have to truly stop?" She asks... "Not long after that, he commented that I would become as I was meant to be... and when I asked what he meant by that he spoke the word Shinigami. Then he proceeded to follow through on a promise he made as I was trying to get away from the Hollow that did eventually kill me." She pauses...

"What promise was that?" Sasakibe asks.

"He said that if we got through that ordeal that he would tell me his name." She replies. At this both Byakuya and Sasakibe show a bit of shock, the Lieutenant more than Byakuya but it was clear that they had not expected her to know the spirit's name already. Some students went through a couple of years at the Academy before they learned the name of their zanpakuto.

"What is his name?"

"Kumori Kurohyou." She replies simply.

"Well it seems that there are forces at work that indeed intend for you to attend the Academy. After speaking with you I do not doubt your convictions and I do not question your intentions. There is only one small matter left to deal with." The lieutenant muses.

"What is that?" Erisia inquires.

"The next semester for the Academy does not start for a few months yet. It will not be until the fall. You will have to decide what you wish to do in the mean time. Will you remain in the real world or do you wish to come here and begin integrating yourself more into the life you will lead when you come here? If so, we will have to work some things out since you will not be coming here as most spirits do. You will not be starting in the Rukongai because you will be coming here through the senkai gate. This does create a few unique circumstances that we do not really have precedence for." Sasakibe explains.

Erisia looks down, trying to process all of the information she was given and what it all meant. She had to admit that this was a little out of her realm of knowledge. While Uruhara and the others had been giving her some background information and trying to familiarize her with terms and such that she was likely to come across in Soul Society, they had not been able to prepare her for everything...

"If I might interject?" Comes Byakuya's voice. He had been quite for the entire meeting up until this point.

"Of course Captain Kuchiki." The Lieutenant says with a slight inclination of his head.

"I will sponsor the girl. It is my obligation and my honor. Had I arrived on the scene sooner she might not be in this position right now. Therefore it is my duty to aid her in the transition she must face because of this unique circumstance." He says in that formal tone of his.

Lieutenant Sasakibe regards Byakuya then and nods. "You are a true noble man, Captain Kuchiki. Very well then, since you will sponsor the girl I will leave it between the two of you to decide what it is that will be done. Should she choose to come to Soul Society it would be wisest to set up a meeting with the Captain Commander and perhaps she should be exposed to the traditions it is our honor as Shinigami to uphold." Sasakibe suggests.

Byakuya nods. "Of course."

"Since all of this formality has been dealt with, please enjoy your tea. I must take my leave and return to my duties. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Nakayama-san." The Lieutenant says as he rises and offers a polite bow.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Sasakibe-san for meeting with me." Erisia responds offering a bow in return... And with that he was gone... Now... what did Captain Kuchiki mean when he said he would sponsor her?