Erisia looked up to Byakuya then… "What did you mean when you told the lieutenant you would be sponsoring me?" She asks softly.
His eyes found hers and he set his cup aside. "In formal terms it means I have made myself responsible for getting you settled into Soul Society and the Academy. Consider me a benefactor." He explains.
She blinks at him in shock. She knew the term benefactor…. "I will find some way to repay this kindness." She says with soft conviction.
"If you wish to repay it, then make certain you get through the Academy, Erisia-san. Graduate and become a Shinigami as you have set yourself on the path to becoming." He says simply.
"I will make certain to work as hard as I am able to bring that to reality then." She affirms.
"Will you be staying in the real world or will you be coming to Soul Society?" He asks.
"Well I am being afforded the opportunity to get settled into this very new world before I must attend the Academy. I should take the opportunity so that I do not seem so awkward when I join the rest of the students. Though I wonder how I will continue the training that I had undertaken in the real world." She muses.
"You could continue it if with different teachers perhaps. Though you could return to the shop whenever you like so long as you get a pass to use the senkai gate." He explains.
"Different teachers?"
"Yes. It could be arranged for a few of the members of the gotei 13 perhaps to continue your training. Provided you treat it with the same seriousness that you were in the real world if not more. Their time is valuable of course."
She nods. "Of course. If any would be so kind as to continue my training I would treat it with the utmost seriousness and respect." She says softly… "Would it be easier to do that or to keep training at Uruhara's shop?" She inquires.
"It would be up to you really. You have already become accustomed to the training you are getting there. It would be different training here as the people have different mentalities than those you are already working with. However if you truly wish to have the time to adjust to Soul Society than perhaps you should face the change as you have faced the rest of this experience." He suggests.
"Where will I be staying if I come here?" She asks. At least she was asking intelligent questions.
"When you attend the Academy you will stay there. When you graduate you will stay with whatever squad you are accepted to." He explains.
"That is not fully what I meant Byakuya-san. If I come to Soul Society before I am to attend the Academy, where will I be staying?" She asks again, rewording it a bit more directly.
He ponders this for only a moment. "As your sponsor it would be my honor to open my home to you until it is time for you to attend the Academy." He explains. His tone never changing, always that same neutral tone. Of course there was some small part of him that was almost pleased with the idea of her being nearer.
She blushes at this… "I could not impose." She says softly averting her gaze.
"Erisia-san, you would not be imposing. Had it been an inconvenience to me I would not have made the offer. Had I arrived sooner, had we made certain that you had someone with you when you left your apartment, as we should have you would not be in this position. You would have more time to make these choices. Time has been stolen from you, it is a modest compensation to open my home to you until you are settled in at the Academy. Though if the idea is truly unpleasant for you, other arrangements could be made. Captain Unohana seemed to take a liking to you, if you would be more comfortable with her we can always ask her. You will have to stay somewhere if you come here before you attend the Academy, Erisia-san." He explains… In truth part of him felt responsible for her situation and allowing her to stay in his home was only a small way to make up for the fact that she had died because he hadn't gotten there in time.
She ponders his words… It wasn't that she did not want to be able to see him more frequently. It wasn't that the idea of staying in a man's home was strange to her. How often had she crashed in the spare room at Uruhara's? It was just that she did not know what to make of the man before her. She did not know what was in his mind or heart and while there were times when she thought that she caught glimpses of the man behind the haori, she wasn't sure… It was her doubt that made her question. She was trying to be polite, to make it known that she did not wish to be an imposition. Still at hearing his words… that doubt began to waver. It sounded like he held himself responsible for her position…
"If you feel that you are responsible for where I have ended up… please do not. You were not the one who made the choice to have Kumori drop the barrier he had put up to protect me. I knew full well that my doing so was likely going to cause my death and I did it any way. If you wish to extend the kindness and hospitality of giving me a place to stay until I can go to the Academy I will not refuse such a kindness… But if you are only doing so because you feel you were responsible for my end then I must refuse the offer because I made the choice and I accepted the consequence of it before it came to pass. So please, consider that information before we make such a weighty decision." She says in a gentle, respectful tone.
He looks at her, regarding her with more seriousness then. She was an intelligent young woman… was he doing her a disservice by feeling responsible for her death? Was it truly as she had said and she had honestly accepted that she would likely die before she asked her zanpakuto to stop shielding her? Still some part of him felt as though he had failed to protect her. "If it is your wish to take full responsibility for all that happened in regards to that last Hollow incident I will not dishonor your sacrifice… Though I will still extend the offer should you wish to come to Soul Society before you are to attend the Academy." He says in a carefully measured tone.
"Then I will humbly accept the kindness you have extended, Byakuya-san. Thank you." She says softly.
They finished tea and she spent some more time at the 6th squad barracks before returning that evening to the real world. She informed Uruhara-san and Yoruichi-san of what had transpired. She tried to ignore the large grin that graced both their faces at hearing that Byakuya had opened his home to her. She just wasn't certain what would be the best thing to do.
"Well you are certainly being afforded a rare opportunity, Eri-chan and you should take it. You can always return here perhaps for the weekends that way you can have more time to grow accustomed to what life is like in Soul Society. You will after all be there for the extent of your training and if you are accepted by a Squad then you will be obligated to stay with them unless you are sent here for missions. The sooner you come to terms with all of this the easier on you it will be." Uruhara muses.
That made sense… she could still train with Yoruichi-san and Tessai-san… she could do that on the weekends. "I suppose that seals in then… doesn't it? I should go there and take full advantage of the opportunity instead of hiding out here where it is familiar and comfortable… It will be easier to adjust if I have time rather than throwing myself into it… I have been overwhelmed enough in recent times, I think." She says with a light chuckle.
She seemed to be taking all of this in stride. She really was a remarkable young woman. Not because she had explosive reiatsu like Ichigo but that despite all she had been through in her life unto and through this point that her experiences had not broken her. She had not grown hard and harsh in the face of everything she had endured. She was still a gentle spirit but there was such a strength to her conviction. She might have trouble with the more combat oriented aspects of the training but they could not help but think that she would overcome that as well if given enough time.
One lovely thing about being a spirit was that you had far more time than did the living. The preparations were made, including giving Hana to the Kurosaki family. Yuzu seemed overjoyed to have a little cat and the cat had seemed to take a liking to the girl. Uruhara ensured Erisia that the cat was in a good home and when she had asked where, knowing that the cat was with Dr. Kurosaki had actually comforted the girl. At least she had not forgotten the man entirely.
She had given the spare key to her apartment to Uruhara and had offered to allow real world Shinigami to use her home while they were on mission so long as it was kept clean. She packed her things leaving only enough behind that should she return she wouldn't have to bring anything with her and she made her way to Uruhara's shop. All of the preparations were ready and part of Eri hoped that she was ready to meet this new change…. She thought she was, but she could not deny the nervousness in her heart.
Finally it was time and she made her way to the senkai gate. Who would have thought that she would be here now? She had been focused on graduating for so long and had never really thought much beyond that. Now, she was going to be entering into a whole new world of challenges. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. 'I am ready.' She thought to herself and felt Kumori echoing her sentiment. She might be nervous but she was ready and her zanpakuto had faith in her. It helped bolster her own faith. She stepped through the senkai gate, the bright white light enveloping her. She spared one final glance over her shoulder and made a silent promise to the world she was leaving behind that she would return to it and that she would be strong enough to protect people when she did.
That concludes Sakura Dejavu. I hope you have all enjoyed this little journey. Do not worry, I do intend to continue it. However the next phase deserves its own story in my opinion. I hope you will join me on that journey as well. Thank you for your time and your reviews.
The Sequel to Sakura Dejavu is called Another Door Opens. Enjoy!