Answers and Plans
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After a quick meal and tea, the questions begin. "So, ask away." Yoruichi states with a lazy wave of her paw.
(OK, down to business.) "Right, first up, what is the place you found me in called, what was I doing when you were observing me and what is a Zanpakutō?"
Kitty nods. "Expected questions. All right, you were found in district 5 of the Western Rukongai. That areas name is Day Spa or Supahi as the locals call it. With what kind of clothes you have on, it's possible you came here from a lower numbered district since the very beginning. You were travelling and randomly searching for information. I don't know on what as I never got close enough, but I can only assume you didn't have all your memories when I first saw you. With that, maybe you were asking around for information on what memories you had lost. Animals are scarce in this world, except for birds, and seeing a cat would only cause unnecessary attention to me, so I kept at a safe distance and out of sight. I noticed the release of stronger than average spiritual pressure nearing about three of your blackouts ago. You seemed to get worse control over your spiritual powers when you slept or when you passed-out. So here we are, conversing to help you out for the greater good."
Nodding her head and absorbing the information like a damp sponge, Yoichi listens with intensity trying to trigger a memory. She feels a little familiar with the information but nothing solid. It is as if someone is telling her a dream that she had already long forgotten. She grasps at its slivers coaxing her mind to recall anything, but they are just out of reach. Yoichi frowns at the sensation but goes back to listening regardless as she figures she can ponder further on these issues later when she is left alone again.
"So now on to the Zanpakutō's. This is what the spirit of a Soul Reapers weapon is called. Every Zanpakutō is unique to each Soul Reaper and to become an official Reaper you must have one. They appear to you through dreams and/or visions to let you know when you are ready to wield them. When your spiritual pressure reaches a certain level, a Zanpakutō soul will bond with your own to be your companion on your journey as a Soul Reaper. They allow you access to their full potential and your own within due time, so you can be an effective Shinigami against Hollows."
"Through meditation, or Jinzen as it is also known, they help you eventually learn their name and access their release form to increase each other's powers. They only tell you their name though when they feel you are ready to handle their powers. You seemed to know your Zanpakutō, before your last blackout. I bet it's not happy about your amnesia now. To help your amnesia, first off you are going to find out its name. Whatever else it may tell you will help you find out more about yourself, as I doubt the amnesia will affect the semi-separate soul of your Zanpakutō. Hopefully this will stop your spirit energy fluctuating so much and get you back to normal."
"If I knew my Zanpakutō well before my previous black-outs wouldn't that mean knowing it again now wouldn't really make a difference and that the memory loss has affected it too?"
"Not necessarily. Your Zanpakutō now knows that the danger you are in is serious and may tell you something it was holding back beforehand." Yoruichi's petite shoulders shrug nonchalantly at the vagueness of her guess. "Perhaps to protect you or something."
Yoichi scoffs. "Right, and I would need protecting from what?" (I feel as if I can take care of myself.)
Yoruichi raises, an almost invisible, dark ash eyebrow at her attitude. "Only you and your Zanpakutō can discover that missing puzzle piece, as it was the one sheltering you."
"I guess talking with it will be imperative then. I do look forward to it. It seems intriguing. But it's kind of strange to get use to the idea that another soul is inside of me and that it possesses powers released through the form of a sword." (Though I guess that is just how things work around here.)
"I must agree that it does sound odd when you say it like that, although you are sort of new to all this information." (Interesting perspective.)
Eager for progress, Yoichi smiles with a burst of energy running through her. "So how do I get in contact with my Zanpakutō?"
"It is easy. Have it unsheathed near you and sit comfortably while concentrating on its' spirit energy. It's like meditating except with a lucid dream attached. That's why it's preferably called it Jinzen instead."
"To be honest lucid dreaming sounds awesome, but before I try I want all my questions answered from you."
"Of course. Of course. Just remember that the embodiment of your Zanpakutō may not look like you may imagine, and that no elemental thing can hurt you in your mind. Also, you can sense if something foreign is in your mind so don't worry when you get there if anything looks different from what you expect."
Yoichi is intrigued to what her Zanpakutō will look like. "Riiiiiiight, I will keep that in mind when going there." After a bit more thought Yoichi asks, "What will we do once my memory resurfaces?"
"As it is, I cannot hide you forever. I have been hiding for 110 years but only avoiding imprisonment because of my training for two centuries as squad 2's stealth captain and staying in the World of the Living." With an insignificant movement of her paw, symbolising the brushing away for the past events Yoruichi continues, "You will go through a three-year training program for beginner Soul Reapers and then at the final exam join one of the 13 court guard squads based on your strengths. In the Seireitei the training and learning never really ends because we exist for so long."
Getting over how old Yoruichi might be, in a body of a twenty-three-year-old fairly quickly, Yoichi's mind wonders yet again to other questions. "How long do souls live and will I ever see you again once I leave here?" She felt sick thinking that the first person who she might remember helping her, would never be seen again, after who knows how much longer in her company. It could be days, weeks or even months, but even so, Yoichi hopes to see the sassy cat-woman again. Even with her teasing she has been very helpful and kind in allowing her to stay here.
"You will find me somewhere sometime. As a sprite, or reaper, time means little in age as you grow older much, much slower than when you were alive. Souls that are not Shinigami often live to be more than 2000 years old. Although Soul Reapers have the same life span, many are lost before their time from fighting Hollows. When you are young, you age faster but when you get to around the physical age of 22 you pretty much stop aging unless you are dead for around seven hundred years and above. As you can guess I am physically much younger than I appear. I am actually, and don't tell anyone this, five hundred and twenty something. It'll be our little secret." She gives a playful wink. (I don't remember exactly how old I am. It has been so long since I had even thought about it.)
Once again Yoichi completely misses Yoruichi's flirtation and says in all seriousness, "Wow you must be very experienced. I wonder how old I am….." It bothers her not knowing something as simple as her death age, yet she can remember her name and how she died.
"We can't tell until you get your memories back because you could have died looking around 17 or younger. Who knows?" (Mayuri would probably know, but there is no way we are going to ask him. Maybe Kisuke could find out if things get desperate.) "Oh, and don't worry about when you get into the Seireitei. It's more like a military school than anything else and we can meet up on your days off. We could possibly meet in the world of the living at Urahara's shop sometime too."
"Yes, who is Urahara anyways and why can we not meet them here?
"He's my scientist friend I mentioned yesterday. We met while working at the Seireitei together. He sure is something…. This cave is for emergencies only. Having anyone risk being followed here is not ideal for its purposes." After a brief pause. "So, anything else you want to ask me?"
Once again suspicious of Yoruichi's seemingly good-natured intentions Yoichi wonders, (If she is no longer with the Seireitei and it is like the military for souls and she has been in hiding for so long then does this mean she is like a criminal? Does it really matter though? I should just focus on getting better than I can worry about these things.) With gleaming eyes Yoichi exclaims as if it were so obvious, "Of course. How did you teleport and leap so far today?"
The sleek cat straightens her posture as if preparing to give a lecture. "Soul Reapers can perform what they call a flash step or Shunpō. This is where you focus a certain amount of spiritual energy into the balls if your feet and legs and sprint. You can also use your spirit energy as a platform to stand in mid-air. Because this world has a high Reishi content you can do this easier here than in the world of the living, but the difference is not too great. Reishi, or spirit particles, are the main component material of souls and all spiritual matter. It is also what connects all living and spiritual things including the dimensions of Hueco Mundo, Hell, the Soul Society and the world of the living. It only seems like I 'teleported' because your spirit energy is not high enough to be able to follow my movements."
(I can fly with this?) "How come humans aren't aware of Reishi if it is around us all the time?"
"Only those with higher spirit energy can see or sense Reishi therefore not many of the living can see it because their mortal bodies weaken their spiritual powers."
"What happens to someone in the Soul Society if they die?
"They are reincarnated back to the World of The Living with no recollection of their soul state."
Feeling a little overwhelmed with all this knowledge Yoichi leans back in her chair with a hand on her forehead and huffs. "Wow, this is so much to take in."
"You'll be fine as long as you remember most of it."
Yoichi sighs. "Well, I cannot promise anything as I do not know when my next amnesia attack will be." Realising the truth of her statement briefly saddens her eyes, but Yoichi brushes the depression aside and continues. "Anyways, now we can get to the less important questions I suppose…. Where did the kitchen and doors come from? I swear they were not there yesterday."
"Because this is a secret hideout a rock wall rotates to conceal and reveal the kitchen and storage doors. The entrance leading to the stairs underground can also seal shut."
"Hmn this is a pretty cool secret base. It makes sense to have somewhere this private." (Wish I had my own, though I probably will be living here for a while. It will probably feel like home not soon after.) "Why are you always in your cat form and how do you turn into one?"
"I am in this form mostly for convenience. It conceals most of my spirit energy from Soul Reaper troops, I don't need to wear itchy clothes, I won't be accidentally recognised by anyone and it generally saves energy. The technique was taught to me by my uncle, Saito. He saw I had potential with the ability hidden throughout our genes and bestowed this knowledge upon me with high expectations to go far in the ranks of the Seireitei. As you can see I did exceptionally well but …well… I did become cast out as well. "
Sounding accepting of Yoruichi's right to keep her past from her Yoichi asks, "You won't explain what you meant by your last statement will you?"
"That story is for another time."
Pouting and crossing her arms, Yoichi accepts this and begrudgingly pleads, "Might you be able teach me to do that?"
"Well the cat form does run in our genes but maybe the technique can be accomplished with another species for you."
"Hmm I see. It is a big 'maybe' then if it only runs in your family."
"We have never tried to teach an outsider. It was forbidden. Although since I am already a disgrace. I might as well try to teach you someday."
"Really?! Thank you. Is a cat a set animal or can you choose?" She squeals in her mind. (How exciting.)
"Some of my family can turn into cats but that's limited as it is. Cats have been the only animal achievable."
"I think, if I could choose, I would like to become an eagle. They are my favourite animal." Yoichi's eyes widen, and she exclaims, "Oh, oh oh. I just said that. I remembered something. Wow. That's awesome. It feels good to know something else about myself." The buzz from remembering something excites Yoichi out if her previous sulking.
"Maybe you can start by saying the simple things like that to recover some basic memories. Possibly by writing a journal."
"Hey, maybe I will. Good suggestion." With a bow Yoichi feels like she can look forward to what she might learn in Yoruichi's care for the future.
"I will go get you a notebook when I go back to Urahara's shop."
"Thank you. And I hope I can be worthy of your teachings." Yoichi briefly thinks of what she can do if she has that ability, but snaps out of it and lifts her head as she wonders to another question. "So, here's my last listed question. What does Urahara's sell at his shop?"
Pouncing at the chance for fun Yoruichi deadpans, "Sex toys."
"Really?" Completely bewildered, Yoichi stares at Yoruichi's serious face with narrowed eyes. (Cats expressions are not something I can read.)
Yoruichi could not hold in her laughter and gasps out, "No of course not Hiō. I sleep there for goodness sake hahahaha." Her deep voice shakes the table and cave, as she laughs excessively over her joke.
Yoichi stops her gaping and gives Yoruichi an -_- look. Yoichi folds her arms and grumbles as a rock from the ceiling falls and hits her squarely on the head.
Yoruichi ignores Yoichi's seriousness and continues while still chuckling, "Nah, nah but really his shop is a candy store and where specific Soul Reapers go to get strangely engineered spiritual items that Urahara creates from time to time." (That doesn't even sound more reasonable.) Collecting herself Yoruichi adapts her usually strong tone, no longer giggling, although still smiling. "He used to specialise in the department of research division as their captain before Mayuri stepped in. So, he can't seem to stop inventing things. Although to many humans it's just an ordinary corner candy store." (Even though it is in an alley way on the edge of town.)
Yoichi's face softens. "Will we visit him if my black-outs won't stop since he is not with the Seireitei, nicer then that Kurosuchi-taichō and supposedly a brilliant scientist too?"
"Yes, but only once we have tried everything else. With your spirit energy lately, it wouldn't take long for the Seireitei to send troops to label you as a dangerous anomaly and want you captured, analysed and tested on." (Probably after the experiments she would be put forever in the Maggots Nest.)
"I hope we can avoid that at all costs," Yoichi laughs nervously. "He he he, well…. I am going to ponder on all if this and practice Jinzen so I can talk to my Zanpakutō soon. Thanks for answering all my questions and saving me Yoruichi." Yoichi rises from the kitchen chair and jogs down stairs towards the shed to think everything over. Her bare feet slap on the dusty stones below.
Yoruichi pauses at the first step of the Ever-Long Stairs and yells down with an echo, "See you when you're ready for training. You just got to be persistent with your Zanpakutō. Eventually it will connect with you."
With a curt nod in Yoruichi's direction Yoichi brims with excitement as she continues to walk down stairs to the shack.