Jinzen Exploration

The black cat comes to wake up Yoichi early, as she thinks to recommend for her to focus more on her Zanpakutō today. Wondering if she had made any progress, Yoruichi opens the blinds and cheerfully says, "Wakey, wakey rise and shining~."

Seeing what the brightness in her dream was, Yoichi groans. "Again, with the early wakeup call." Not really feeling tired, as she went to bed early, Yoichi still complains because she had wanted to talk with her Zanpakutō more in the nice weathered type of mind-space.

The cat jumps on the side table and leans forward. "Did you get anywhere talking to your Zanpakutō yesterday?"

Yoichi sits up with a bounce squeaking the beds old springs and wipes at her rough eyes. "I don't really think so. It was intense. I will talk to you about it over breakfast though, it is quite a long story. By the way, is it normal to spend around an hour and a half of real time in your soul space when you are not asleep?"

Yoruichi hesitates before she says, "…. To be honest no. No, it's not. It's common to stay for maybe half an hour max, but never one and a half. Although I do know, that time goes much faster in your mind then in the real world. A lot must have happened. If my math is correct, I think it has been proven that an hour and a half in reality is around two hours and twenty minutes in the mind. How did you feel after your long discussion?"

"Considering I fell off a cliff before I woke up, I'd say I will be more confident that I will be able to handle my minds weirdness a lot better next time." Yoichi pauses to see Yoruichi's fuzzy face contort in confusion and concern. She giggles at her reaction. "I also had a dream about him last night, but I will tell you later. Wait upstairs, k?"

Giving a roll of her eyes Yoruichi complies and strolls outside.

After Yoruichi's tail disappears through the doorway, Yoichi hops out of bed to get ready. Getting dressed she feels excited that she will be conversing so much more frequently with her Zanpakutō now that the first contact has been tackled. Running up the stairs she remembers to ask Yoruichi about possibly learning flash step.

Puffing Yoichi wobbles towards Yoruichi as she had rushed too eagerly when climbing the Ever-Long Stairs. Yoruichi is already lounged on the kitchen table enjoying a bowl of milk.

Sitting down in a chair in front of Yoruichi, Yoichi gives a quick ponder to how she must have fetched the milk very quickly and in the nude. She shakes her head to stop herself from thinking about Yoruichi naked again. "Before I tell you allllll about my experience I must ask; can you teach me Shunpō?"

"Yes, I will, but only when we have deemed your spiritual pressure safe enough to control it properly. Even now it's fluctuating badly, but I assume you cannot feel it?"

Shrugging Yoichi says. "No, I can't." She waves her hand flaccidly in reference to the spiritual side of her powers then sheepishly she admits, "I really just take your word for it when it comes to the spiritual stuff."

Yoruichi sighs with a paw to her forehead, as if a headache is coming on. "Fukashigi you got to at least try to sense it otherwise you might not know how to use your powers properly when they come back to you. Also, you are made of spirit particles, everything here is. It is crucial you learn these things."

"I will try, I guess…." (It has only been a day or two since I have started training. Give me a break.) Not really knowing how to even start doing that though, Yoichi decides that the issue of her mind-scape adventures would be a more pressing matter right now. Ignoring further distracting thoughts, Yoichi explains her meditation vision and lucid dream.

Yoruichi had remained unspoken during the explanation, merely nodding for when Yoichi took pauses so that she would continue. After everything was clarified, Yoichi is dying from Yoruichi's pondering silence, so she impatiently asks, "Have any questions?"

After another small pause Yoruichi says, "No questions, only advice. You will have to keep trying, as I know you will. Ask to get a closer look at him and possibly his name. To have his name is very important because when you have it we can start progress on helping your amnesia. You may wonder what the hurry is, but we are rushing because we do not know when you will lose more memory next. Also, your description of your mindscape is very interesting."

"What does yours look like?"

"Since I am no longer with the Seireitei I do not consider myself a soul reaper and therefore rarely converse or use my Zanpakutō. But I prefer using my Kidō and Hakudō anyway."

(What she said did not even answer my question. Great more secrets. Hmph.) Yoichi speaks with a formal tone regardless of her thoughts, "I understand and shall go into Jinzen to try and get more information out of my Zanpakutō. I think he will be up for a good chat. Also, I have to ask; where the hell do you go every afternoon and night?"

"I go to Kisuke Urahara's shop to ask him about your condition and how to solve it and since he has room I mostly sleep there. Not that I take up much space but when I sleep I turn back into a human, which I am trying to fix. Funnily enough it does not happen when I am unconscious though. It is good that you keep trying rather than vanishing after the deterring events in your soul-scape. You will progress a lot more with your Zanpakutō if you are persistent with him. Maybe even before you go there prepare what you want to ask him."

"I will, thanks Yoruichi. If you sleep at Urahara's what were you doing in the Soul Society when you found me?"

"No problems Fukashigi. I was getting some high-tech information for Kisuke's research. It was very important, so while you slept yesterday I quickly completed my mission/favour to him. I do not do these things often, but he said he owes me one, so it was worth it."

"Oh, well, thank you for putting your curiosity in me first. I guess I will get back to practicing Jinzen soon. And I will ask you about this 'important high-tech information' that you collected later. I am way too excited to find out more about myself, so I will see you tomorrow then."

"Set an alarm so you remember to eat this time. It is important that you do considering your condition. You will need all the strength you can get."

"I would, but I don't have a way to do so. Do you have a way I can do this?"

After a big meal and Yoruichi explaining how to use the simple analogue clock and its' alarm, Yoichi goes back down stairs to prepare questions and practice Jinzen. Sitting on her bed once again and setting the alarm, she feels more determined to find out further information about her Zanpakutō and herself.

With her unsheathed Zanpakutō's on her lap, Fukashigi psychologically prepares herself for the cliffs and calmly drifts towards her inner world. Once more among the blizzard and on the mountain tops, Yoichi immediately focuses on wanting to create a platform just as her Zanpakutō told her she could do last night.

Slowly she feels control taking hold over her balance and she feels as if she is standing on a flat and stable surface. Despite the freezing cold whipping around her face, Yoichi almost squeals aloud, delighted that she has accomplished something spiritually in her mind. She then timidly hops on the spot, amazed at the invisible flooring she had created so easily. When she did this, she felt warmth and realises the sun has come out a little more between the clouds and mountains from the storm. She now comprehends that depending on her mood she can make subtle changes to the weather just as she did last night in mourning her lost memories.

With new found excitement, Yoichi yells through the storm, "Hey Zanpakutō, you out there?"

All he says is, "Yes." Although Yoichi can tell that he is just as happy and proud that she has accomplish this small feat with only a little direction. She found the feeling instinctual.

"Well come on then, I want to see you."

Warily he asks, "Are you sure?"

"Yes of course I am. Please I will not be scared. I know with whatever you look like I will not be scared. Besides, you have saved me once already. I have nothing to fear from someone who lives to protect me." As she searches the mountains edge, a hooded figure cloaked in black appears on a mountain nearby. Knowing now that she can create invisible walkways, Fukashigi tiptoes above the rapids, mountains and against the strong winds towards her Zanpakutō.

Three meters away and she can see, by her Zanpakutō's slightly concave posture, that he is uneasy about revealing his appearance even at this distance. "I cannot and do not want you to force yourself to show me what you look like, but if you won't do that will you at least tell me your name? If you can't, I must say that I am running out of patience because I do not know when more amnesia will take you away from me again."

"I know you do not know this but asking for my name is an even bigger request then simply looking at my appearance. I will show you my form soon, just not this instant." Being this close to her Zanpakutō Yoichi can now hear his light and deep tones of expression, whereas before at the very large distance, he seemed to sound monotonous.

A bit disheartened Yoichi asks. "Why can you not tell me your name? Am I not worthy of knowing it anymore?" She tightens her hold around her body in futility as the weather seems to increase its freezing nature. (Probably because of the constantly falling slushy snow.)

He straightens his posture but not enough for Fukashigi to see his face from under the heavy hood. Rain trickles off it in beads and frosts around him. She can see that he is only a centimetre or two taller than herself. "You were worthy with the experience and knowledge you had before your amnesia. Your hidden powers that you have, had become too much for you to handle alone in the beginning, so deeming you worthy at that moment, I helped. Now I fear without the knowledge of my name, your powers are overwhelming your body and are desperately searching for a form of release and causing even more memory loss from the original cause. But I can't tell you it no matter how much I wish to. It is an unspoken rule with all Zanpakutō that you must be at an assured point before it can be revealed." Pause. "Your first amnesia attack came during a day without a blackout, but because we did not have anyone to help us or any idea how to deal with them you became worse. Eventually this led to weeks of knowledge locked away and now many years. Because you lost knowledge of me, I assume the blackout before last, seemingly your whole life except your name has now been forgotten. I am allowing myself an educated guess of this because that day I felt extreme pain through my entire being. Although at the time I did not know specifically what had happened. Knowing of your severe amnesia now, it all makes sense."

"Good guess but interestingly enough I do remember how I died and a bit of my living life."

(Fascinating. What could this all mean?) "You better wake up. Your alarm is going off."

Making a note to ask how he does that, Yoichi quickly jumps from her bed and heads off to get something to eat. Coming back to her shed as fast as she can, Yoichi thought ahead and brings food for her dinner so that she will not have to make an extra trip with the next alarm. Going into her trance again Yoichi sees her Zanpakutō standing in mid-air and closer to her than compared to where he was before.

Still not accustomed to the blizzard continuously whirling around her, Yoichi shivers violently. Pushing past the extreme cold Fukashigi stutters a little as she begins with asking, "H..How ddo you n..know when I am going to wake up before I do? (Gosh it is so damn freezing. Get over the cold Yoichi. Come on.) (That's it. I know.) Face lighting up with the idea, Yoichi tries to control different platforms all at once so that she can stop the cold tornado of stinging ice needles surrounding her.

He explains in monotone, "I know because your subconscious tells me these things before it tells you." All the while, with curious eyes he examines Yoichi's face of concentration. He is proud that she can figure something like this out. Not to mention that he expects her to achieve this small feat. (She has always had strong determination to get what she wants.)

Succeeding in creating a large invisible and curved platform in front of her, where the wind and hail is coming from, Yoichi happily says to her Zanpakutō. "Can you feel that Zanpakutō? I stopped the wind and hail. I am getting the hang of this place after all. Maybe one day I will even be able to forcibly change the environment to what it was before all this amnesia stuff." While waving her hand about her state of mind, Yoichi spots the glittering orange of her Zanpakutō's slitted eyes. She stares, entranced by the flashes of orange and yellow until her Zanpakutō sneakily lifts his hand to cover more of his face with his hood. Continuing Yoichi says encouragingly. "Right…. So, you ready to show me what you look like? You honestly have nothing to fear from me, we cannot separate even if I find your form scary. Please will you trust me?"

With a pain scattered voice he says. "You have lost your memories therefore what you were like. How can I trust someone who cannot even trust themselves?" (You are not the same. We have been through so much and now all that is GONE. What if with who you are now you reject me?)

"Well the only way to find out is to try. I am pretty sure I didn't trust you the first time we met yet look how that turned out." She smiles for an attempt at positivity.

Having his resolve weaken the Zanpakutō says. "That….that is a very good point. Ok, fine I will trust you. Do not disappoint me Yoichi-chan." (What the hell does he mean by that? Does he honestly expect me to run away?) As he said this, he commences to undo the black ribbon holding the long cloak on his shoulders and releases it. The heavy robe falls and sinks down into the rapids below, but he seems unperturbed by losing it.

Distracted by being a mother hen, Yoichi follows the clothing's descent as it quickly submerges into the dark blue rapids. "Won't you be cold losing your cloak?"

"This world's weather does not affect me harshly, as I currently have more control over it than you. Do not worry about me. I worry for you though. You may have created a barrier between us and the storm, but it is still around minus three as of now. Look up."

Following the direction, he discreetly points to, Yoichi sees his coat drifting through the storm clouds towards her. As it lands on her shoulders, Yoichi feels the love that her Zanpakutō has for her and sees more of the clouds above disappear and the hail become lighter. In examining the material, Yoichi sees that it lined with deep purple velvet and has small yet sturdy black and blue snake scales covering its exterior.

Not being able to see him too well in the dark grey sky except for his shining eyes, Yoichi walks closer on her invisible platforms feeling both confident and comfortable. Only a meter away, she sees that he is wearing long black pants, has no top on and a large snake-like tattoo wrapped around his right arm and torso. He is slim and toned with unnaturally porcelain white skin and very sharp and long deep blood red nails which look like claws. His layered and jagged jet-black hair is set in loosely scattered braids.

Despite having had his hooded cloak his hair sticks to his face and shoulders due to the environments almost constant rain. Yoichi also sees that his pants are like hers except they are not as over-sized and look more like a skirt when he stands with his legs together. A white belt holds up his pants and come up to just below his navel. Movement behind her Zanpakutō catches her studious eye and she is surprised to see that it is a light grey wolf tail lazily swishing back and forth. (So, my Zanpakutō is a dog themed creature…with a snake tattoo? I wonder what other Zanpakutō look like to their masters.)

With narrowed vibrant ginger snake eyes, he studies Yoichi's expression as she continues to examine his appearance. He subtly shifts from one foot to the other just like his soaked tail. Although he I obviously uncomfortable with being the centre of attention for so long he does not move away. Yoichi continues studying his appearance, not noticing his discomfort but pauses when she thinks she sees the tattoo move. Yoichi mumbles, "It's just the storm getting in the way of my observations."

The Zanpakutō hears her murmur but ignores troubling Yoichi so she can continue undisturbed. The tattoo is of a realistic black and grey chain-decorated snake. Although Yoichi notices that this is no ordinary snake as it has tiny light grey dog-ears and white crosses where the eyes should be. It also has a slightly rounded head with an unnaturally wide gaping mouth, as if attacking. It has yellow needle-like fangs which are each tipped with blood red liquid spiralling deep inside like some horrific blender. Amongst the needles a long misty white tongue which has a pure white split tip is whipping out, reaching to taste the next victim.

Answering her previous mutter, the Zanpakutō says with some humour, "If you were wondering why the 'tattoo' moves and why it is so detailed, it is because it is alive."

(Alive? Is he serious?) Surprised Yoichi looks into his gleaming eyes to see if he is telling the truth and sees that while he talks his light blue tongue is delicately split and that he has larger than average canine teeth.

The Zanpakutō, still looks directly at Yoichi but has his eyes glaze over as he says, " come out and play, Yoichi wants to meet you. No, no arguing, she has been patient with me and now it is your turn. No, your tattoo form is not enough, she wants to see the physically formed you." Blinking rapidly and looking away then back to Yoichi he says, "Sorry about that, but he is not named for nothing." The Zanpakutō breathes in deeply, closes his eyes and allows the dog snake or Dake to leave his body.

(I cannot understand what the thing is called. Every time the Zanpakutō speaks its name it gets all static-y for me. How strange.)

Yoichi watches in awe as the tattoo seems to grossly inflate and wriggle, breaking out of a thin layer of the Zanpakutō's flesh until it becomes a separate entity. A light shade of tanned skin and slight dip is all that remains on her Zanpakutō as proof of where the snake dog had just been.

The Dake emerges with a hiss and nod in greeting towards Yoichi. His tiny ears twitch as he 'sees' Yoichi then leans away from her. Seeing that it is tilting away, Yoichi is about to ask if he does not like her but stops short as she notices with wide eyes that he is rearing himself to attack. The Dake quickly thrusts forward.

Noticing that Yoichi is frightened and jerking away, the Zanpakutō holds onto the Dake's tail as he launches mid-air just barely stopping him from chomping into Yoichi's shoulder. The creatures bloody saliva dollops on Yoichi's shoulder but she stays frozen from adrenaline not noticing the congealing liquid.

In her petrified state the Zanpakutō explains, "He is a bit of a sadistic bastard. But that is as his power requires of him to be. So, he tends to want to bite you often."

"Wha…. what does his power have to do with him wanting to harm me?"

"Oh no, not harm you, quite the opposite in fact. His bite would do you good. You see this?" The Zanpakutō opens the Dake's mouth wide and points at the blood like liquid dripping from his jaws, which trails down his arm. Still shocked Yoichi merely nods. "Well that is his saliva. It is something that heals you very fast. So, when he senses you are injured he will instinctively try to bite you to inject some. When he bites you, it does not feel painful because of its intense healing properties, but you will feel a slight sting and tingle upon his numerous fangs entrance. Since he senses your amnesia I am guessing he wants to try and help, although I doubt it would."

"Ok, but wouldn't that be bad if he somehow bit an enemy?"

"That's the true beauty of his power. Oh, sorry times up. Goodb….." Yoichi's Zanpakutō is cut off by a loud buzzing noise next to her ear.

Sighing Yoichi sees the dusty ceiling of her wooden shack and sits up with her heart beating to get out of her chest. Even though it is the only clock she has, Yoichi thinks she might ask Yoruichi to get her a different one because waking up with such a loud buzzing scares her awake instead of pleasantly breaking her from her slumber-like Jinzen.

(What was he going to say that things poisonous saliva does?) As she becomes fully alert, she feels her stomach rumbling. Glancing at the clock she sees it is already 6:30pm and decides to eat her pre-made plain rice with buttered fish for dinner.

She thinks it is satisfying enough, but she did not eat all the bread supplied. She did not seem to think she was very keen on this type of food the Soul Society provides. (Although it's not as if I remember what the food tasted like after I died. Bloody amnesia.) Yoichi sets the alarm for in an hour's time and ponders on what remaining sword skills she has.

While washing the dishes from dinner, Yoichi thinks to what she will do later today. (I will go practice my Katana techniques and do some exercise before leaving to see my Zanpakutō again. Maybe I will have some muscle memory intact from my time in the Soul Society.)