Though it had only been two days, waking up in her little apartment felt strange. She had quickly gotten used to the people who called Uruhara's shop home. It was almost too quiet now. She rose and went through her morning routine. She had a small breakfast and then quickly made her way to campus. Like most students, she rode a bike. After locking the bike to one of the stands, she made her way to class.

Thankfully, she hadn't missed too much. There had only been a few people who inquired about her absence and she merely replied that she hadn't been feeling well and had thought it best to rest rather than to push herself and get sicker. No one questioned her response. After classes, she made her way to the campus bookstore for her shift. Since it was slow, she made use of the time to get a head start on her homework.

Tessai was waiting for her when she emerged from work. She greeted him and they made their way to the shop. She worked on her homework more while they waited on dinner. She had to finish it before they started the tests after all. In all honesty, she didn't really understand what sorts of tests they were supposed to be doing, but she intended to do as she was instructed.

After dinner they made their way to the underground part of the shop and Erisia was certainly taken aback by the appearance. "How is this possible?" She marveled. Uruhara only beamed in response. He set up the tests and soon she found herself amid some strange looking machines that were supposed to measure her reiatsu and those sorts of things. The results however, remained inconclusive. Things carried on in much this same manner for the next two weeks.

Uruhara was clearly getting frustrated. "I just do not understand it. There should be at least some readings and yet still nothing. It makes no sense." He muttered. With all the facts he had compiled all of the anomalous things that had happened in her life, all the readings from before the Hollow attacked her... all of it added up to something and yet here she was and there was nothing.

Erisia was momentarily distracted. She felt a chill go up and down her spine and she got the impression that they were no longer alone... ~ Forgive my absence. I was trying to let you properly recover from being attacked and having to process all of this. I thought it would be easier for you if you did not also have me around.~ Came the familiar purring voice of the shadow panther.

~It's all right. But Uruhara-san is getting frustrated that he cannot get a reading on my reiatsu - do you know anything about that?~ She asks in her mind. She then got the distinct impression that the panther was smirking.

~That would be my fault. I did it for your protection after all you did not need to become Hollow bait while I was giving you time.~ It explains. ~Do you trust me, Erisia?~ The shadow panther inquires.

~Yes.~ The word was past her lips before she could even think about it. It didn't feel wrong to say it, in fact it felt all too right. Why shouldn't she trust the shadow panther?

~Good. Then tell Uruhara-san to reset the tests. Once he has I will end my protective barriers.~ It explains...

~Alright~ Erisia responds before letting her focus go back to the world around herself once more.

"Uruhara-san, the shadow panther suggests that you reset the tests. He intends to drop the barriers he had put up in order to protect me so I could recover." She explains. Uruhara regarded her with deep curiosity for a moment and then quickly went to resetting the machines.

~ Close your eyes and relax, Erisia.~ The panther suggested. Once she did so, it dropped the barriers. While the machines were not destroyed as they might have been had she been Ichigo, it did suddenly sound like someone hit several jackpots. The machines were beeping and making all sorts of racket as they processed the sudden spike in her reiatsu.

"Incredible." Came the somewhat awed sounding statement from Uruhara. While he had figured something was hiding her energy, he hadn't imagined that it would be quite like this. He forced himself to stop blinking in surprise and to calm down. He quieted the machines down and approached Erisia.

"Since your shadow panther has returned, might I inquire as to whether or not it is an awakened zanpakuto spirit as we've surmised?" He asks.

Erisia looks at him and then asks the question in her head.

~ I heard him... I hear everything Erisia. However I will not answer his question now. He has enough evidence to prove that you need to be trained... Other than you, there is only one other person that I will reveal myself to. For he has already seen me.~

She listens and then looks up to Uruhara. "The shadow panther says that you have enough evidence to prove that I should be trained. As for any more information about him... aside from myself, there is only one other person he will reveal himself to in any way right now... And that is the only other person who has seen him already." She explains.

"Byakuya Kuchiki." Uruhara comments. "Fair enough I suppose. He'll be arriving in a few days to check on the progress anyway... and we do actually have enough information for him to present it to the Captain Commander. Until that time, your shadow panther friend should return to hiding your reiatsu, Eri-chan... until we know what the Captain Commander wants you to learn, it is safer to not put you at risk." Uruhara says and he sounded a bit disappointed. He couldn't help it... he was so close to the answer and had been denied.

"Might I ask if there is any reason other than the fact that our dear Captain has already seen the shadow panther that it will not at this time speak to anyone but you or him?" Uruhara asks. Always the scientist...

Erisia nods and waits for the shadow panther to answer... She again got the feeling of smirking... ~ Though it might annoy the Captain that this information has been revealed... I do know just a little bit of information from being in close proximity to his zanpakuto... He had been having dreams of the symbol that is on your back days before he met you... and I know for certain that you had dreams of his family crest... So tell Uruhara-san this: That fate conspires in strange ways and two seemingly unrelated souls were already intertwined days before they met in reality.~ It was cryptic but not so much so that a man of Uruhara's intelligence wouldn't quickly figure it out.

"The shadow panther says only this in response to your question. That fate conspires in strange ways and two seemingly unrelated souls were already intertwined days before they met in reality." She answers...

Uruhara ponders these words for a few moments... So something had foreseen the meeting of Eri-chan and Byakuya... what else would that entail? He couldn't help but be curious... His watch beeped and pulled him out of his mental reverie. "My my, look at the time... Let's get you home Eri-chan." He says as he leads her out of the training area and walks her back home. Before returning to his shop, he stopped to speak with Isshin to let him know that Erisia was alright...