Their walk continued. They had adopted an almost lazy pace. It was still early in the day after all... It was a little strange for Eri - this being in spirit form thing. Of course she imagined it must be more comfortable for him. A quiet had fallen between them but it wasn't uncomfortable silence. Though Erisia was caught ever so slightly off guard when the silence was broken.

"I am sorry I was unable to get there sooner." His words were softly spoken but carefully measured. The tone though mostly neutral was deeply sincere. Eri had a fleeting thought that it was a shame he did not speak more often and with a bit less neutrality. The timber of his voice was something she could imagine as quite pleasant...

"It is not your fault, Captain Kuchiki-san. I knew the risk in asking the panther to drop the barrier. While I had hoped that someone would be close enough to get there before anything bad could happen, I knew that there was a better chance that such a wish was not to be." She assures him.

"Though noble, most people would not have taken that risk, Nakayama-san. It speaks highly of your character."

"Thank you." She says softly blushing at the compliment. "You cmay call me Erisia if you like." She offers. While she was always polite, perhaps it was how drawn to him she felt that made her wish for less formality to exist between them.

"It must be strange for you calling me by a title you have no familiarity with." He muses.

"It is a little. I always try to be polite in my language, but aside from what knowledge has been imparted to me by yourself and the others at the shop I have nothing with which to connect such formality to. Still even before I knew you had a title, I knew you were someone who deserved formality. Not just because it is polite but because it is appropriate in regards to you... if that makes sense." She explains. She was being honest. The very air around him seemed to just demand respect and that level of formality. Coming to learn that he was a noble had made that compulsion easier to understand.

He thought over her words. He wondered how he would feel were he in such an unfamiliar situation. He was not immune to feeling awkward, it was just a very rare thing for him to experience. "While it is only us, you may call me Byakuya." He offers.

Erisia cannot help the smile that comes to her lips at that. "Thank you, Byakuya." She says softly... testing how it feels to say his name aloud... He inclines his head to acknowledge her thanks. He decided that he did not mind her speaking his name and since she had not asked for permission to do so even after offering the use of her name more casually, he did not mind extending the offer to her. Unlike some people he knew, she seemed to understand and appreciate such a thing.

"What is Soul Society like?" Erisia inquires.

Byakuya ponders the question. It deserved thought after all. He was not one to just carelessly answer even the most inane seeming of questions. "While I could speak of the Soul Society I know... While I could tell you of the place where I grew up... The truth of Soul Society I think is something better experienced for oneself than to be explained by another person." He says in a tone that could almost, almost be considered warm - at least for him.

She nods at that explanation. It made sense. No matter what he would tell her, she would likely see things differently when she got there. Still it would have been nice to at least know something of what to expect. Of course she supposed that she could ask Uruhara-san later and he'd likely paint wild pictures for her which she would only take with a grain of salt really... but it was amusing to listen to Kisuke's exuberant manner of story telling.

She pauses, biting her lower lip in thought for a heartbeat, maybe two... She had a question she wanted to ask and she was not certain how he would receive it... Still the worst he could say was no and that wasn't all that bad really... It was a simple request... though part of her had a feeling he'd probably say no. She turns to look up at him. "I know that when I do go to Soul Society, I will end up going to the Academy... But when I get there..." Her voice trails off for a moment as she tries to actually get up the courage to say the next part. "Would you please show me around Soul Society... I mean if it is not too much trouble."

She could not help herself, though he was stoic and though he was quiet, she did not mind his company. If she was ever going to figure out the mystery that was Byakuya Kuchiki or even have hope enough to do so, she was going to have to spend time with him. If her question caught him off guard he did not show it. Though he was a little surprised that she would ask such a thing of him. While she did not yet know any of the other people within Soul Society that might be considered more... approachable than he was, that she would not even think to ask him if someone else could show her around... Well it was a little strange for him.

There was really no harm in doing so... Everyone knew that it was the kind of person he was to extend... certain hospitalities towards people he felt he was responsible for... And in this he could not help but feel responsible for this young woman. Her company was pleasant enough as well. He did not mind walking with her. She was not overly talkative. Her questions were all asked politely. She was always respectful. Which was worlds better than most of the people he was forced to interact with on a daily basis. Strange that this young woman was almost like a breath of fresh air... not that he had realized the air around him had grown stale.

"So long as there is nothing pressing that requires my attention... I will." He says simply. He felt it was the least he could do... especially considering her current state. He could not help but feel responsible for that. Had he been faster, he could have gotten there in time to keep the Hollow from killing her. It bothered him that an innocent was involved. Whether she had abilities or not... whether she wanted to help people or not - she was still an innocent. It was his duty as a shinigami to protect that. He made a silent promise that if it were possible, he would not fail to protect her again.

"We should start back... before it grows late. Better to enjoy the walk than be forced to rush... Do you not agree, Erisia?" He asks.

A little shiver went up and down her spine at hearing her name said by him. It wasn't that he was trying to elicit such a reaction. It was just the nature of his voice... She decided she rather liked it... "You are right. It is too nice a day to waste with hurrying if there is no need to." She says with a small smile as they begin to walk back to Uruhara's.