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Chapter 13: Rose meets the Strawberry

World of the Living

(All abilities neutral)

Kisuke Urahara's daily life was uneventful to say the least. He ran a candy store, what level of excitement was one to expect of such an establishment? But that didn't mean he grew bored of his way of life. Well, he certainly would have if being the owner of a dinky sweet shop was all he did. Never did a day pass when he wasn't tinkering away with his tools building the next fancy gimmick (like the new portable gigai he was working on) or investigating some obscure phenomenon hoping to find the next groundbreaking discovery only for it to turn out to be something inconsequential following which her would promptly nap and laze about for the rest of the day. But even selling sweets to the occasional human that did wander into the narrow corner of the street where his store was tucked away had its perks.

It had been 93 years since he was framed, branded a traitor and exiled from the soul society. But he cared not for such labels. If anything, the only thing he missed was his lab, his equipment and his research back at the Department of Research and Development that he established. Things that couldn't compare to the box of tools and scraps that he used now to make do. But this 'dinky candy store' was the perfect cover to conduct his experiments without being impeded by anyone.

Which was also the reason why he never expected any visitors most of the time. The only ones who even knew the real purpose of this 'candy store' were the vizards, a group of soul reapers that he saved after the hollowfication experiments performed on them by Aizen, the ex-captain and soul reaper of the 10th squad of the soul society, Isshin Kurosaki and his wife, Masaki Kurosaki and finally Ryuken Ishida, a Quincy. Ryuken wanted nothing to do with him and the Vizards were content living in peace, away from the eyes of anything spiritual; be it soul reapers, quincy or hollows.

Naturally he respected their wishes. He himself would never go out of his way to get in contact with any of these aforementioned individuals. The only times that he DID go were when he needed their reishi or provide some assistance for his tests and experiments. And they too, in turn, never had any reason to turn up at his doorstep, expect to actually buy sweets and candy.

So, one could only imagine his surprise, when one of these people turns up at his doorstep carrying what appeared to be a young girl over her shoulder covered only by a thin shawl and a katana on her other hand. If the mask on the girl's head wasn't an immediate giveaway, the reaitsu coming from this girl most certainly was. Certainly not something on his agenda for the day, and definitely not something he'd marked on his calendar for the next few years at the very least.

"My my, you're the last person I expected to turn up at my store today, Masaki-san. I see you've brought along an unexpected guest as well" said the Shinigami scientist, unfurling his Japanese fan. "And I just closed up for today too" he sighed.

"Sorry about that, Urahara-san but could you please have a look at her?" asked the brown-haired woman, clearly concerned. Urahara said nothing, only looking around to make sure the coast was clear.

"Let's take this inside" he said, pointing towards the entrance to his store, and the two walked inside. A tall, muscular, lightly tan-skinned man with a long handlebar mustache and square glasses appeared, with a questioning and alert look on his face.

"Boss, what's going on, why does it feel like..?" he asked, looking at Urahara and then to the unexpected visitor.

"Ah Tessai, could you pull up something for her to lie down in? And get something for her to wear, will you?" requested the eccentric shop keeper, pointing to the masked girl.

"…..right, on it Boss" came the reply and then he was gone.

"By the way Masaki-san, how DID you avoid being seen by others? I'm sure you must've gotten more than just questioning looks. After all, if that girl is what I think she is, to onlookers it must've looked like you were holding an imaginary baby or something" asked the eccentric shop keeper as the two made their way through the stacks of unopened and opened cardboard boxes filled with various different types of merchandise and further in to a room covered with tatami mats, a few shelves and sliding doors.

"Hirenkyaku of course. Though I believe the correct term is Flugbildschritt. I must say, I've gone rusty. I had to stop twice in between" replied the quincy.

"I see you're still as humble as ever, Masaki-san. Just put her down there, I'll have a look" replied Urahara, lowering his hat a bit. While Masaki lay the injured arrancar and her sword in the place Kisuke pointed to, a slender young woman with purple hair tied in a ponytail, golden eyes and dark skin entered the room with a tall muscular man with spiky black hair, brown eyes and thin facial hair. He was wearing a doctor's lab coat over casuals. Yoruichi Shihouin and Isshin Kurosaki were here.

"My~Yoruichi-san, it's been a while since I've seen you like that, quite a sight for sore eyes I must sa-gwaaarrrrghghhh!"

"Stop ogling and start explaining, Kisuke! Now tell me what the hell's going on here" demanded the ex-captain of the stealth force and ex-captain of squad 2, practically shoving her foot into Kisuke's face.

"Masaki! What's with the sudden call asking me to come to this shady guy's place…..?" Isshin stopped his sentence mid-way, just noticing the odd reaitsu coming off from the place. Specifically, from where Masaki was sitting down.

"That's what I'm here to find out. Let's take a look, shall we?" said Kisuke, going over to the girl. Yoruichi and Isshin followed. Masaki moved aside to let Kisuke examine the girl.

"I'll go put on some tea" said Tessai, going inside.

There was an audible flinch when they all saw the girl, her mask and those horrible, horrible scars, that looked like she as suffering a skin disease, covering her entire body in plain view for all to see. The girl's eyes were closed in disturbed sleep as she made quiet, uncomfortable noises.

"Wh…what the hell…?!" exclaimed Isshin, eyes raised.

"What is this…..?!" said Yoruichi, her face twisted in discomfort and shock. Even Kisuke was surprised.

It wasn't that the scars were disturbing. They'd seen far worse in their long lives as soul reapers after all. Rather it was her expressions of pain and the figure of a curled up young girl along with the scars that stood out so much that was disturbing. The mere helplessness of the scene made it hard for any of them to think of that girl as anything other than human.

"This is…quite the guest you've brought along, Masaki-san" said Kisuke, the playfulness in his voice gone. He clothed the girl with the simple one-piece sleeveless gown that Tessai brought.

"What's the meaning of this, Masaki?" asked Isshin, concerned.

"Can you do something to help her, Urahara-san? I found her by the river bank collapsed just a while ago. She looks like she's hurt so I couldn't just leave her there…." Replied the brown-haired woman.

Kisuke glanced at the arrancar and then back at Masaki and sighed. Considering it was Masaki who brought the girl in, he was certain she already knew what the girl was. And knowing Masaki, he knew that it was just like her to save what could potentially be an enemy. And that she wouldn't listen to what he had to say otherwise.

BGM: A Requiem for Innocence - Seething Darkness

"…Nnh…"

The sound of the girl rustling and waking up alerted those in the room to the interruption, their attention now on the girl. Masaki inched closer to her.

"…..Aaagh….aaaagh…ggh…haah…..haaahh…."

"A-are you ok sweetie? What's the matter..?" asked Masaki with a troubled expression.

"Rgh…! Ngh….! N-no..!...Please, don't…I'm begging you…! Help…..!" cried out the girl.

"Wh-what's…?" started Isshin.

The girl began writhing, putting her arms around her chest. Masaki, seeing this, reached out to her.

"!"

Just then, the girl's eyes flew wide open. Those sharp, silver eyes stared right through the onlookers of the room. No, that didn't do it justice. It felt like they were all stabbed straight through with a sword. They looked so horribly out of place on the girl's disfigured face. The dark patches of flesh in fact accentuated her eyes, the contrast between the two giving them a sort of magnetism. Fragility and unwavering resolve. Madness and understanding. They were so human, and yet, so inhuman. A morbid beauty that arose as a result of her being in shambles, both physically and mentally.

"Urahara-san! Could you please do some-!"

"….Ngh….!"

"…Wh- Ah…!" As Masaki tried to move aside to let Urahara have a closer look, the girl abruptly lurched forward, hugging Masaki tightly.

"Oy..! Get off her..!" shouted Isshin. But Masaki signaled at her husband to not interfere.

"…Ghhh…! Ngh…! N..no…! Let….Mom go..! Mom….! Please….stop…!" cried out the girl, continuing to hug Masaki. The latter hugged her back in a calming motion, gently and slowly stroking her head.

"It's alright, sweetie. Its alright" she said in a gentle voice. "Calm down, everything is alright"

The girl continued to hug her tighter and tighter, almost as if she was afraid, afraid that she would lose her mother if she let go.

"What…..is this….?! I can feel pain, sorrow, terror,….helplessness…anger…." thought Masaki, as burning emotions poured into her. She squinted her eyes in discomfort but those emotions made her all the more determined not to let go of the girl.

"Masaki-san, do you want me to.." asked Yoruichi, but the brown haired woman nodded her head. The girl was emaciated and Masaki could've easily knocked her away. Which is precisely why she didn't. Instead, she only hugged her back, gentle words of assurance whispered slowly at her ears.

"I won't go anywhere. I'll stay with you as long as you like. You don't need to fear anymore. I'll always be with you" she said slowly, smiling at the girl. "It's ok…..it's ok…"

After some time, the girl finally relaxed her hold, taking and deep breath and pulled away. The emotions pouring into Masaki also faded. She then surveyed the room with her silvery eyes. Eyes that were no longer hostile or panicked, but clear and lucid. Human.

"Have you finally calmed down?" asked Masaki smiling. The girl only narrowed her eyes, backing away from her.

"Stay back!" she said.

"No need to worry. See, I won't come closer or do anything to make you uncomfortable" said Masaki, slowly backing away, putting her hands away. "Let's try again. Have you calmed down?"

The girl, though disoriented, gave her a nod.

End BGM

"Okay, good. Try not to move around too much, you're wounded. We won't do anything to hurt you. You'll be safe" said Masaki.

"Where….am….I?" she asked. Her furor had subdued, turning her voice much softer than when she was screaming out earlier.

"Hmm….I suppose 'Japan' isn't what you're looking for, correct? What's the last thing you remember?" asked Masaki. The girl narrowed her eyes, lost deep in thought.

"….Ngh…..aagh…!" the girl then gasped, rubbing her head. "No…!"

"Shh….it's alright. Don't force yourself. Let's do this then. Let's start with names. I'm Masaki Kurosaki, what's yours?" she asked.

"….Ruby….Ruby Rose" replied the girl.

"Ruby, would you understand if we said you are in the World of the Living?" said Masaki. Ruby raised her eyes in understanding and disbelief.

"I can sense you're all….soul reapers and you're a…..Quincy..?" asked Ruby. Three reaitsu signatures were as clear as day. The reaitsu of the man in the lab coat was strange. It was both like a soul reaper and a human. The woman on the other hand, had reaitsu she'd never felt before. Not Togabito, not soul reaper, not hollow or human. It was a stark contrast to her own reaitsu. So, it could only mean that she was a Quincy. "If this is the World of the Living, why are there so many soul reapers…?"

"I know it's not something you'd expect to see when someone tells you that. But this really is the World of the Living. Seeing as how well you can sense reaitsu, why don't you try feeling the reaitsu in the air or outside?" suggested Masaki. Ruby looked at her, and then closed her eyes and then slowly opening them.

"….True, I could sense some humans outside. And the air doesn't feel as dense with reishi" noted Ruby.

"More importantly Ruby, will you let us tend to your injuries? Don't worry, we only want to help you. Once you're feeling better, we can talk more ok?" asked Masaki.

"Injuries?" asked Ruby, confused. "But I feel alright, though my head hurts a bit. What do you mean…?" she said, looking at her body. "!"

It was difficult to gauge her expressions through the patches of dark flesh, but the look of horror that spread across her face was clear as day.

"…..What….Why….how…?!" she asked, breathing heavily. And that wasn't all. She didn't remember her body looking so….human. No claws, no tail, no fur and more importantly, no chain. She then touched her face, feeling it with her fingers. No mask either. No, there was a mask….or what was left of it.

"Tessai, get her a mirror, will you?" asked Kisuke and within minutes, he was back with one. Ruby spent a good minute thoroughly looking at her own face, the expression of shock never completely leaving her face.

"I…why do I look like an arrancar…..? And why do I have these scars….?" she asked herself. That made no sense to her. She always healed up no matter how severe her injuries were and none of them ever left her with any lasting scars.

"You don't just 'look' like one, you 'are' an arrancar" answered Kisuke. "That's your Zanpakuto right there" he said, pointing to the maroon sheathed sword.

"But that's…..how…?" asked Ruby.

"Why don't you begin by telling us what you remember? Maybe we can help you find some answers? Both about your scars and about your arrancar appearance. Just relax and take your time, sweetie" suggested Masaki.

Breathe in, 1,2,3,4 and the breathe out, 1,2,3,4. She did this a couple of times, and her expression softened, and mind properly calmed down. Her mind raced back, recollecting all of the events that happened so far before she found herself here. The final layer. Left Leg of the Soul King. Finding her Mom. A bright light. Chains breaking. And then, she found herself in front of these people with this body. And then she gasped.

"That's right…..Mom! Did you see my mom with me?! She looks like me but older with a shinigami's outfit! She also had a white cloak" she asked the group of people with a questioning look.

"Wait, your mother? A Shinigami? You mean to tell me your mother was a Shinigami? What was her name?" asked Yoruichi.

"Summer Rose" she replied. Yoruichi, Urahara, Isshin and Tessai thought for a bit, but didn't come up with anything.

"I can't recollect anyone in the Soul Society with that name" replied Urahara. "Well, maybe if we had access to the archives in the Soul Society, but that's impossible now. Even so, a white cloak? That would mean she's a captain. That makes it stranger still that none of us know who she is"

"But to answer your question, no. The only one I found lying in the river bed was you along with your Zanpakuto" answered Masaki.

"…"

"Ruby…..?" called out Masaki.

"….I would…..I would like to be alone for a while. Is that alright?" she asked. Masaki remained silent for a while and then smiled at her reassuringly.

"Of course, sweetie. We'll be right outside. Feel free to talk to us whenever you feel like it"

"But…!" called out Isshin, but Masaki nodded.

"It's alright…..if you're worried that I'll attack or escape, I have no intention of doing that. I know you helped me out and want to help me, if anything. And I also need a few answers, which you may be able to give me. I just need…a few minutes to process a few things. I won't be long" replied Ruby.

"But of course. Please, help yourself to some tea Ruby-chan, it might help calm your nerves" offered Urahara, lowering his hat. The soul reapers and the quincy promptly left the room, sliding the door shut.

BGM: The House in Fata Morgana OST - The Past (Harp Ver.)

And so Ruby was left alone with her thoughts. The silence was deafening and she could practically hear her own heartbeat. She placed her palm on her face, gritting her teeth and letting out a breath of air. She stayed that way for several minutes, just absorbing everything that just happened. Not to mention all of the memories of her early life that came flooding back to her when she regained consciousness. It was all just too much to take in all at once.

She remembered so much more than the vague memories she had of her companions and family. Yang. Blake. Weiss. Uncle Qrow. Jaune. Pyrrha. Nora. Ren. Ozpin. Her days at the academy. Her dad, Taiyang. Even memories of her mom, Summer. She remembered her forgotten childhood, those blissful, peaceful times when their little family of 4 spent their days content in their little house. She remembered the warm, delicious cookies her mom baked, which she and Yang would wolf down almost immediately, earning Summer's 'motherly love and wrath'. She recalled all of those times her sister would read to her, those long-forgotten tales of heroes and heroines long gone. And how she would always picture herself in those tales, as one of the legends, slaying giant monsters and saving mankind from the Grimm. Just like her Uncle Qrow. Just like her mom. And like her Dad. And who could forget, her own personal heroine, her sister Yang herself.

"Aah…I wanted to be a hero too" she said chuckling, leaning her head against her shoulder as if recalling a fond memory. Dreams and aspirations that felt so foreign to her that she could hardly believe they belonged to her at some point in her life. Feelings from a time so long begone. It sounded so odd now, when she spoke those words aloud. The words and dreams of a child, she thought to herself with a sad but tender smile. She remembered her own face, a bone white mask covering everything save for her eyes, oh those same eyes, which scared even her. Sharp as steel, cold as ice and yet a gentleness in madness. Such a stark contrast to that little girl's innocent, gentle eyes she remembered looking at in the mirror within her memories. She could hardly believe, that those were her own eyes not so long ago.

How ironic, she thought to herself again. Dreaming of becoming a hero and yet, here I am, looking more like Grimm than a heroine. She looked at her face using the mirror again. Could she even face them, as she was now? Was she even allowed to pursue her childish dreams, even in the state she was in now? Did she even want Yang and the others to look at her, the way she was now? Would they…..even want to? A devourer of human souls, something worse than a Grimm could ever be? The illusion of Yang assaulting her, accusing her of killing her little sister and calling her a Grimm came rushing to her mind. Her heart twinged painfully. Perhaps in a sense, that wasn't too far off. Her old self…..was dead. Replaced by the mess that she currently was. And, there was no denying she was as closer to being a Grimm than a human being, even if her appearance was now closer to that of a human being. Hell, even her 'human' appearance was hideous.

She picked up the maroon sheathed katana, hugging it tighter. She felt an odd sense of familiarity and comfort from the sword clasped in her hands. For an equally odd reason, she didn't miss her Crescent Rose. Holding this katana gave her the same sensation of holding Crescent Rose. No, that wasn't quite right. Holding this weapon felt so right. Like she was holding a part of herself. A level of familiarity that even surpassed Crescent Rose, though it had been a part and parcel of her battles and her life till now.

She drew the blade from its sheath, examining every inch of it. It was a splendid weapon. Black wrappings with pale, rose-red ornaments on the handle. The pommel had the engraving of a cheetah's face, with its eyes silver in colour. The guard was shaped like a rose, with the tips shaped like flames and coloured the same pale-rose red colour as the ornaments on the handle. The same as the emblem she remembered seeing on her cloak. The silvery blade was shaped like a traditional katana. The scabbard on the other hand, was a deep maroon colour. It was a beautiful weapon. And it was hers. She could feel power emanating from it and a presence, one that felt part of her soul and yet, did not. But a comforting and homely presence it was all the same. She had a feeling the weapon had a name, one that she couldn't recollect no matter what she tried. 'Crescent Rose' sounded wrong. Embracing her sword however, drove away some of the depressing thoughts that were flooding her mind earlier. As if, the sword was comforting her. Like a mother would comfort her daughter.

She thought about her current situation. She was finally out of Hell. Though not Hueco Mundo, The World of The Living was a much better place to be than where she came from. This was where she'd planned to come to in the first place when she jumped into that garganta. Now, all that was left was to figure out a way to…

Her mind went blank. Somehow, the thought of seeing her big-sis, Nel, Grimmjow, Starrk and the others no longer enticed her as it did earlier. The same questions she had earlier came rushing back to her. Would they even recognize her like this? And even if they did, would things ever go back to the way they were? In her mind, she already knew the answer to that. So, could she even face them? She could imagine the pained looks on the faces of her friends and family when she imagined them looking at her as she was now. Her scarred body, her sharp, dull silvery eyes and her scarred mind. She had seen and even destroyed beings that took on the forms of her friends with her own hands. And yet, the thought of seeing the real thing in pain because of her mental and physical trauma pained her even more. Even so, the desire to see them remained, if only in a corner of her heart.

Dark clouds pervaded her mind once more.

"….Aaah, this isnt the time to get all depressed, Ruby" she told herself, clapping her cheeks tightly a few times. She wasn't going to start regretting all that she'd gone through and survived just because most of her memories returned. She did what she needed to do to survive, and it was undeniable that each ordeal made her stronger, either physically or mentally. She literally got out of actual Hell. A task she'd worked so hard to achieve. And luckily for her, she was found by some fairly decent people. First, she would find get some much-needed answers. Then, I guess I'll…well, I can think about what to do next afterwards. Alright, let's go see them. Oh, I should probably bring the tea along.

End BGM

"So…what did you make of her, Kisuke?" asked Yoruichi, sipping her tea.

"Hard to say, unless I have a closer look" said Kisuke casually sipping his own cup of tea. "But I'm sure even you could feel her odd reaitsu. Not unlike an arrancar, vizard, Shinigami or even hollow…..something, most likely only soul reapers would know"

"Yeah, I could've sworn I've sensed such reaitsu somewhere, it's just on the tip of my tongue" said Isshin. "Urgh, how the hell do you even drink this crap?" he said, putting his cup down. "So bitter!"

"You're being rude, dear. It's not like they needed to serve tea for us you know? Perhaps we should ask Urahara-san to get you some milk and sugar instead?" asked Masaki smiling dangerously. The soul reaper human hybrid gulped.

"No…I think I'm good" he said deadpanned. Urahara and Yoruichi snickered.

"Anyways, correct me if I'm wrong Boss, but the reaitsu on that girl…..is Hell reaitsu right…?" asked Tessai, sweating a bit.

"Bingo!" chimed Urahara, unfurling his fan, imaginary confetti and whistles going off near him.

"And why the hell are you so happy about it?!" said Yoruichi, almost knocking Urahara over "And Hell reaitsu?! How's that even possible?!"

"Damn, so that's what it was. Now I remember" said Isshin, taking a deep sip "You don't come across them often but the occasional nasty hollow that led a life of sin as a human does pop every now and then. The reaitsu coming off from the gates of hell is indeed identical to what I sensed on the girl earlier. But I thought no one could escape Hell?"

"Indeed!" chimed Urahara again in his sing song voice. "I'm sure there must be more to it, but somehow, we now have an arrancar that possesses Hell reaitsu. This already implies a lot of things. For one, I'm happy to say we can safely rule out the possibility that Ruby-chan is affiliated with Aizen"

"And how would that be?" asked Isshin.

"Think about it. It is said Hell's chains that bind down sinners are unbreakable. Period. Aizen may be formidable, but in the end, he's still a Soul Reaper all the same. Not someone capable of breaking the chains of hell. Breaking them would require one to break the very laws that make up this world itself. Even I can't think of a way to enter Hell, let alone break the chains that bind its inhabitants. Certainly not something a mere soul reaper could do" answered the eccentric shopkeeper. "But the question is, HOW does she have hell reaitsu in the first place? Was it through devouring another soul with such reaitsu? She is/was a hollow after all, absorbing reishi is what they do best. Or, did she manage to do the unthinkable, escaping from Hell itself? I can't wait to find out!"

"Wait just a minute Boss…..you just mentioned that there is a possibility she might have escaped from Hell. Wouldn't that mean we need to keep a closer eye on her? After all, it takes a special kind of filth to end up in that demented place.." asked Tessai.

"Is that really what you all think? What you saw in her?" asked Masaki, her tone serious. "An arrancar? A sinner from Hell?"

"Masa.." said Isshin. "Well, now that you mention it, the way she was screaming and calling out for 'Mom'…."

"All I saw back there was a child that suffered more pain than any of us could possibly imagine. A child that probably lost her mother too. Not an arrancar, and most certainly not a sinner from Hell. Tell me Urahara-san, did that panicked and injured little girl calling out and begging for her mother really look like a sinner of Hell to you?" asked Masaki.

"No need to get so worked up Masaki-san. I was just stating the possibilities. It's just my nature as a scientist to consider all possible options. As I said earlier, she might have just devoured a being possessing such reaitsu. But, rather than speculation, why don't we just ask Ruby-chan?" he said, opening the sliding door. The scarred arrancar girl was standing right behind the door, holding her hands as if she was about to knock.

"Ruby!" called out Masaki. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, I just needed to collect my thoughts, its just that…a lot happened recently and I was just a bit confused. Thank you for asking" she replied with a smile.

"Well, don't just stand there, come on in and have a seat Ruby-chan! I'm sure you have a lot to ask as well, and I can see you brought your tea along!" said Urahara. "But I do believe apart from Masaki-san here, we haven't been introduced. I'm Kisuke Urahara, pleasure to meet you" he said, extending his hand and Ruby returned the greeting. The others introduced themselves as well. Ruby took a seat alongside Masaki.

"Now that you're feeling better, would you mind telling us what happened?" asked the Quincy. Ruby looked at her and gave a small nod.

"Where do I start? Perhaps it would be best if I started from when I entered Hueco Mundo…." She started and for the next few minutes, she briefly went over all the events of her life since that point but without stressing too much on the details and covering the main points. The adults in the room listened without saying a word, paying close attention to what she had to say.

"….after the final guardian forced the memories of my mom into my head, I could only remember seeing a flash of bright white light. The chains on me and mom were breaking, and I remember hugging mom close to me as well. The next thing I remember is waking up here. And the rest of it you kn-" before she could finish, she found herself in Masaki's warm embrace. Ruby gasped slightly.

"You've been through a lot, haven't you?" she asked softly, her voice quivering. She could feel Masaki's concern and her worry for Ruby, genuinely shocking Ruby.

"Thank you, Masaki. I really appreciate it" replied Ruby. "But it's alright, I feel alright now" she assured. The latter let go of the arrancar.

"Wow…its just….." started Isshin, the surprised look on his face still present. "It's a lot to take in….but this is just way too messed up" There was an uncomfortable silence in the room, with expressions of pity, disbelief, sadness and sympathy on everyone's faces, not to mention shock.

"No Plus should ever have to go through all this….." said Yoruichi with a pained expression.

"Please, it's alright. You don't have to feel sorry for me" assured Ruby, smiling a bit. "If anything, I consider myself lucky. I just seem to meet the right people no matter where I ended up so far"

"Ruby-chan….that reminds me, if I may ask, this soul reaper master of yours that you mentioned, do you know anything more about him?" asked Kisuke, changing the subject so that the mood in the room improved a bit.

"But of course. I spent a lot of time with master training after all. His name is Reiji Ouzumi. He said that he was the founding captain of the 5th squad of the soul society and that he died during the war with the Quincy"

"What?!" exclaimed Tessai.

"The founding captain?! That would mean he was one of the original Shinigami that founded the Soul Society! From more than 2000 years ago! Not to mention, the war with the Quincy took place 1000 years ago! If he died back then, that would mean he's been in Hell for a 1000 years!" said Yoruichi.

"You mean to tell me someone like him was your master?" questioned Isshin

"Huh, so master is over 2000 years old? That's surprising! He certainly didn't speak or behave like someone of his age. I definitely need to call him 'old man' atleast once when we meet again!" grinned Ruby.

"But wait, does that mean she was in Hell for a 1000 years?!" asked Masaki worried. "But no, that can't be, considering the time when you entered Hell…"

"Not quite" answered Ruby. "Master mentioned that time runs differently in Hell. He said Sinners often need to spend hundreds if not thousands of years serving time before they're reintroduced into the cycle of rebirth and reincarnation. That's why, in order to account for the long times needed for souls in Hell to finally keep up with the souls on the outside, time runs much much slower in Hell compared to the outside. He said you could spend a 1000 years here and compared to that barely any time would've passed on the outside world. I still can't say how much time has passed since I fell in the garganta. Neither my home nor Hell have any means of tracking time after all"

"How interesting!" exclaimed Urahara "I thought that might be the case. Logically that would make sense. But….you mentioned falling into the garganta correct? I'm afraid things might be a bit complex, Ruby-chan"

"How do you mean?" asked Ruby, sipping her cup for the first time since she had it. Her eyes gleamed. "Wow this is really good! It's my first time since coming here that I've tasted something other than hollow flesh and blood! Is this really just tea?!" she asked as she took another sip.

"Eh…ehhhhhhhhh…."

"When you put it that way, I really feel like an ass for complaining about it earlier" commented Isshin, sweatdropping.

"Hehe well, glad you like it. So, the garganta isn't just an empty void with torrents of reishi. Well, it certainly doesn't just contain torrents of reishi for one. It is literally the space between dimensions, the means to travel to other realms. Space and time are just as warped and twisted as the reishi is. I'm not sure how long you spent in that abyss, Ruby-chan, but I would expect some time dilation at the very least. To put it in perspective, a few years may have passed when you only spent a few moments being pushed about by the reishi in the garganta. It's not something you'll know unless you go back to Hueco Mundo. But once again, luckily for you, time isn't as prominent a concept as it is here in the World of the Living. So maybe nothing has changed"

"I see…." Said Ruby. "If I may ask, I remember being with mom till I blacked out. You said you found me in the river bank with no one else around, in this form. Do you…..know what could've happened? Do you think Mom is still back at.." She couldn't finish her sentence. She didn't want to. She was afraid that if she did, she would be acknowledging the possibility that she left her mom behind.

"Hmm…" said Urahara, putting his hand to his chin, observing her. "Ruby-chan, if I may, can I borrow your Zanpakuto? Don't worry, I just want to have a closer look. I already have a hunch, but once I take a closer look, I'll be sure to have an answer". Ruby hesitated initially, looking at her sword and back at Urahara. But Masaki put her hand on her shoulder, nodding assuringly. Ruby then turned over her zanpakuto to the eccentric shopkeeper. He then spent a few minutes observing and gauging the sword, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Then he gave it back to her.

"It seems I was right. Ruby-chan, you said you were still a vasto lorde back in Hell, before you blacked out correct? Along with your mother who was a Shinigami? ". The arrancar nodded with a 'yes'. Kisuke then sighed heavily. He was lost in thought, as if unsure how to word what he wanted to say.

"What's wrong, Kisuke?" asked Yoruichi.

"Well, how do I say this? Perhaps its best to start by saying that your mother is no longer in Hell. You needn't worry about that" he said. "In fact, I'd even say that you saved her Ruby-chan, from all the pain she would have no doubt gone through otherwise" Ruby could already guess where this was going. She had a feeling earlier, back when she examined her Zanpakuto.

"Your mother….is right there" he said, pointing to her Zanpakuto.

"You don't mean….!" Exclaimed the Isshin.

"Indeed. It would appear that as Ruby-chan escaped Hell when the 'bright flash of light' hit, on instinct, she also took in her mother's Shinigami self into herself. That's how natural arrancars are born after all, when a Hollow integrates a Shinigami's soul into itself. That's where the name 'to tear off' comes from, when the boundary between two opposite beings is torn off, allowing the two to coexist as a single entity. Not because a hollow breaks off its mask as common misconception would have you believe. In case of Soul Reapers or Arrancars, the zanpakuto is merely an extension of their own souls, of their own powers. That's why the two are indistinguishable from each other. However, Ruby-chan's zanpakuto has a different presence than her own self and yet, their reaitsu's feel the same. In fact, this is similar to the way the vasto lorde created by Aizen, White, attached to Masaki-san's soul all those years ago. Once young Ichigo was born, White transferred over to him, merging with his already existing Shinigami powers and becoming his Zanpakuto. I'm sure once young ichigo awakens his powers, it'll be clear to see. But since young ichigo is naturally a Shinigami, he is closer to a Vizard whereas Ruby-chan, who was initially a hollow, evolved to an arrancar"

So that's what it was, Ruby thought to herself. That was the familiar feeling she got from her Zanpakuto.

"You're much calmer about this than I thought" said Urahara.

"You think so? Well, maybe you are right. Its just that I already had a hunch when I held my Zanpakuto earlier. It IS a part of me after all" replied the arrancar "Or maybe…..I'm just relieved to know mom isn't back in Hell suffering. That she's here with me". She gripped her Zanpakuto tighter.

"What about these scars?" asked Ruby. "Till now, I've always been able to heal up any injury without so much as a single mark. These scars don't even hurt and I don't remember getting this injured either"

"Hmm…I cant say for sure, to be honest. Perhaps something happened when that flash of light hit you and caused these scars. Or perhaps its something else entirely. I can't say for sure" replied the scientist. "I'm sorry"

"No….it's alright…." Ruby sat there in silence, until it was broken by Masaki.

"Well sweetie…what will you do now?" asked Masaki. "Do you want to go back to Hueco Mundo?"

The others were visibly uncomfortable when Masaki asked that question. Perhaps it was because as soul reapers, allowing a hollow to go back to Hueco Mundo seemed like an odd thing to do rather than purifying it with their Zanpakuto.

"I…I don't know….for one, I'm not even sure how to go back to Hueco Mundo….." said Ruby, looking to her side.

"In that case-" started Kisuke.

"In that case sweetie, why don't you stay with me till then?" asked Masaki, thoroughly shocking Isshin, Yoruichi, Tessai and even Kisuke. "If you're still unsure about what you want to do, you can stay with me and my family! I'm sure Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu would love to have you around!"

"Yo…you want a hollow like me to stay…" began Ruby but Masaki shushed her.

"I'm asking the girl called Ruby Rose to stay with me. Not a hollow and not an arrancar. From the way I see it, you're no different than me, my kids or anyone else present here. After hearing a story like yours, I can't just pretend like it never happened, now can I? That would just be heartless" she answered. Hearing those words sent a shiver throughout her entire being. She looked at Masaki's face with a vivid expression. One filled with surprise and gratitude.

"Ahaha you took the words right out of my mouth, Masaki-san! I was thinking about the same thing myself!" chimed Urahara, fanning himself "I could build a device to open a garganta to Hueco Mundo, but it would take me time to do it. And seeing as how Ruby-chan can't open one herself right now, it's best she stays with one of us until she decides to leave. The Soul Society for one won't take kindly to an arrancar roaming around freely in The World of the Living"

"I'm really thankful for the offer Masaki, but I really don't want to inconvenience those who helped me out" replied Ruby, but Yoruichi nodded her head.

"Actually, you'll be more at risk getting detected by the Soul Society if you go out there all on your own. What do you even plan on doing? Soul Reapers patrol this town on a regular basis, how long can you continue hiding yourself with no clue as to what you want to do?"

"That's…"

"You don't have to worry about a single thing, Ruby-chan! After all, once you're in a Gigai, you'll be no different than your average human! That way, you can stay with Masaki-san and Isshin-san till you change your mind and I can work on getting you back to Hueco Mundo all while avoiding any prying eyes. How's that sound?" asked Urahara.

"…"

"What's wrong, Ruby?" asked Masaki.

"I'm sorry to ask this to someone who helped me out but….I just have to know….the way you were talking…..you wouldn't happen to be a scientist would you…?" asked Ruby with a hint of caution.

"Ah….." Urahara looked at Ruby, with a mixture of understanding and assurance "Indeed I am and after hearing your story, I can understand why you would be on guard. But rest assured, I won't do anything to make you uncomfortable, least of all experimentation like the arrancar scientist you mentioned. I give you my word"

"Don't worry Ruby, you can take his word for it" assured Masaki as well. "So, what do you say? Now will you come along?"

"…..well, alright….." replied Ruby, still hesitant but willing to stay with Masaki until she decided to go back Hueco Mundo. Back to her family and friends. But she still wanted some time to sort out the uncertainties and doubts clouding her mind.

"Alright!" chimed Urahara. "In that case, without further ado, let's get started on that gigai of yours! It might take me a while since I haven't had an arrancar inhabit a gigai before, but I should be able to get one ready in a few hours. Masaki-san, I'll need your reishi as well as your reishi, Yoruichi-san. Mind giving me a hand?"

And so, while Urahara made the Gigai, Yoruichi and Masaki would help out in making it every now and then while Ruby and the other waited.

"Um, when he said Gigai, what did he mean?" asked Ruby.

"An artificial body. Usually, we soul reapers use it to blend in amongst humans during missions in the World of the Living. I myself am in a Gigai you know, as you can probably tell" explained Isshin.

"So that's why you have the reishi of a human….but when you say artificial body, isn't that the same as reviving a person? If a soul can be made to enter a body and live as a normal person then…..wouldnt that count as being revived, in a sense?" she asked.

"Not quite. A gigai, no matter the variation is usually made from spiritual matter. Therefore, a gigai by itself isn't technically 'living'. That's why it doesn't count as revival" answered Tessai. "That's why he needed Yoruichi-dono's and Masaki-dono's reishi to make your gigai"

And then things were silent again, until Urahara emerged a couple of hours later, holding a humanoid looking body.

"It's done!~~" said Urahara with a lopsided smile. "Now all you need to do is to put your hands and place some reishi into it, and you'll automatically enter the gigai~~ I've also left some spare clothes for you. Though of course, if you need some help getting dressed, I can always-kwarrrgghhhh" went the perverted scientist as Yoruichi's foot launched him into the wall, catching the gigai as she sent him flying.

"You should probably get changed before this perverted shopkeeper tries something else" recommended the dark skinned beauty.

"Ahahahaha…yeah sure!" replied Ruby, sweatdropping, grabbing the gigai and the spare clothes. The door slid shut behind them.

Yoruichi made sure Ruby was out of hearing range before turning serious again.

"Spill the beans, Kisuke. You wouldn't just send her away without a reason" The shopkeeper dusted himself, whipping out his fan. "Not to mention your enthusiasm in keeping her here within our sights. Though knowing you, I can already tell where you're going with this"

"My~~you really do know me well, Yoruichi-san" he replied in a dreamy voice "First thing I wanted to talk about was Ruby-chan's scars. I'm fairly certain at this point that they're psychosomatic"

"…..Given what she's gone through, I don't find that hard to believe. I've seen some cases like that in my clinic as well, people who turn up with ailments due to mental trauma. And honestly, I'm surprised she's of sound mind after everything she's seen and experienced. If you ask me, better to have those scars physically than mentally being scarred for life" replied Isshin.

"Is there something we can do?" asked Masaki.

"Hard to say. Psychosomatic injuries depend on the person's state of mind. It will all depend on young Ruby's mental condition. It could very well be that being your care with a family could help her recover, both mentally and physically. Which is one of the reasons I was about to suggest that she stay with you"

"And the other? I'm assuming it has to do with Aizen" added Yoruichi.

"Think about it. We have a vasto lorde arrancar with Hell Reishi, someone capable of breaking the very laws of the world itself who isn't on Aizen's side. Vasto lorde are hollows that are stronger than Shinigami captains in terms of combat ability. Therefore, even you can understand the power a vasto lorde level arrancar would possess. As luck would have it, she's also one that appears to be more humane as opposed to the nature of typical hollows. She could very well be…..our trump card against Aizen's plans, whatever they may be. One that even he hasn't seen coming. The biggest unknown in his schemes"

"Sigh…..I thought you'd say that. But I do have to agree with you there" replied Yoruichi.

"Urahara-san! Don't tell me you plan to make use of Ruby in your plans!" questioned the Quincy.

"It sounds bad when you put it that way Masaki-san, but surely even you must agree this is for the best?" argued the shopkeeper.

"After everything she's been through, an amount of suffering and pain most of us cannot even imagine, you still want to drag her in a fight completely unrelated to her?" retorted Masaki.

"But its not unrelated. Sooner or later, Aizen is bound to take control of Hueco Mundo. After all, if he's continuing to perform hollowfication experiments, he's going to need raw material. And that means, taking over Hueco Mundo" answered Urahara. "Which also happens to be her home. Where her companions stay. In fact, I predict that at some point in the future, he plans to amass an army created from his experiments for his plans. Then, it will no longer be a battle Ruby-chan can completely avoid. Who knows, maybe he already has control of Hueco Mundo. Knowing him, I'm fairly certain that's a high possibility. This is all the more reason we need to be prepared as well"

"Is that true?" asked a voice. A dull and almost threatening tone. One that seemed so out of place on the arrancar who was uttering it. Ruby came out of door, wearing the simple track suit Urahara provided for her. She looked more human than her arrancar form, with no mask and hollow hole on her belly. The scars on her body though, were still present even in her gigai, same as the markings on her face.

"Is it true that Aizen is planning to take over my home?" she asked once more, looking up.

"!"

Everyone froze on the spot. Those eyes. Those cold, sharp merciless argentine eyes. Eyes that burned with a bloodlust, one that wasn't directed at any of them and yet, sent shivers down their spines. Such a alien contrast to her soft and worn out look from earlier. And the scars and shadows on her face only emphasized the promised of death her presence delivered.

"You were right on the mark, Kisuke. She isn't someone we can treat lightly" thought Yoruichi to herself, her muscles tense, prepared to retaliate in case anything happened.

"Damn, one look and she's even got me in a cold sweat. Looks like Hat and Clogs was right on this one" he wondered if things would really be fine, keeping someone like her close to his family. Sure, Masaki was strong, but after seeing that glare, his doubts just multiplied. He glanced at his wife. Out of everyone, she was the only one who's expression was that of sympathy than apprehension. He sighed. He knew there was no convincing his wife out of this. He'd just trust her judgement.

"Yes" said Urahara calmly "That's why I hope you'll understand. I've faced Aizen before and he isn't someone I can treat lightly. I'm only doing what is necessary and there was no deception in what I told you earlier. And that includes your friends and family back at Hueco Mundo as well. However, if you wish, I can find a way for you to return back to Hueco Mundo"

Ruby's presence softened a bit, and her voice was also back to her softer tone. Her eyes however, still maintained the same glint.

"Aizen…now that I think about it, I remember my master mentioning something about how he had an apprentice before me, someone so formidable that even my master was highly impressed. And I think the name of that apprentice was Sosuke Aizen. Is he the same Aizen you're talking about?" asked Ruby.

"Your master was also Aizen's master?!" asked Kisuke surprised "The world is a small place indeed. But yes, that's the one"

"I see…I don't know about the Soul Society, Mr Shopkeeper, but if Aizen really is planning to do something with my friends, then I don't mind lending you a hand. From what I've heard from my master, after all my training, he still said I was a far cry from Aizen's level. I doubt I can take him on now either. But I will if I must. Plus, you've also helped me here" said Ruby, determined. The glint in her eyes had also dimmed considerably and the tension in the air also vanished.

"Phew, I truly am glad to hear that, Ruby-chan~~!" chimed the eccentric shopkeeper, his sing song voice back. "In any case, I can see that gigai suits you quite well! You're free to come back in case you feel anything strange or if you have any more questions. But I think we should call it a day, don't you think? I trust you'll take her back safe and sound, Masaki-san?"

"But of course!"

And with that, everyone bid their farewells, with Isshin and Masaki returning back home with the scarred arranacar by their side and the rest staying back at Urahara Store. It had gotten quite late and the roads leading back to Isshin's home were mostly empty save for a few dogs and the occasional passerby. Ruby walked in silence, looking around, observing every little thing around her from vending machines, street lamps, vehicles and the houses themselves. They looked so…..primitive compared to the memories she had of her life. Was this really the place from her past life? She couldn't find one single thing that fit in with any of the images in her memories. Maybe this is another town, she thought to herself. After all, its not like she remembered which place she lived in. The only memories she regained were of the people she knew and talked with and the events connected to them.

"We're here!" called out Masaki, bringing her focus back to reality. She was standing in front of a small 2 storey house with a large blue board above the door. She couldn't make out what it said.

"Well, don't just stand there, come on in!" said the Quincy, almost pulling her over inside. She was in a narrow space with wooden floors leading to a small hall to her left and stairs going up to her right. "Ichigo! Karin! Yuzu! Come over and say hello to the newest member of our family!"

"W..wait a minute, Masaki, what do you mean by.."

Soon, a young 8 year old boy with spiky orange hair, brown eyes and a curious look on his face appeared, followed by two even younger girls, one with short, straight black hair and dark eyes, the same as her father Isshin and the other with short, light brown hair, the same as Masaki, and soft, dark brown eyes. Both of them were taking cover behind their big brother, who himself was peeking from the wall.

"Ah, its that onee-san from before!" noted Ichigo.

"Come on now, don't be scared! Come and say hello to Ruby!" encourage Masaki to her son and daughters, pushing them from behind. The three followed closely behind. "Starting today, she's is going to be your big sister!" Ichigo and the two young girls blinked, while Ruby watched with a lopsided look on her face. Seeing Ichigo and his sisters like that, reminded her of her own family back in Hueco Mundo, and her mouth curved into a warm smile. The orange haired boy stepped forward, and asked with that same curious look on his face "You're really going to be our big sister?" asked Ichigo.

"That's right" replied Ruby, giving the same warm smile.

"Pleased to meet you, Ruby nee-chan!" replied Ichigo giving a wide smile.

And that, was how the ex-rose huntress came to live with the future orange haired substitute soul reaper.

And that's it for now! I really wasn't planning on making this chapter so long, but I wanted to flesh out Ruby and her meeting with Masaki and Ichigo in a more natural and believable manner. That's why I decided to split this chapter into two parts. Next up, Ruby adjusts to her temporary life with the Kurosaki family, while getting some much-needed solace for her ordeals as well as bonding with her siblings. Will also focus on her return to Hueco Mundo and a much-awaited reunion. One more thing, the cloak that Ruby mentions Summer wearing is NOT a captain's haori. It's her cloak from RWBY. Urahara and the others of course are just making assumptions based on Ruby's descriptions.

Response to Reviews:

Greer123: Yup, it was about time. She ended up in a much better place as you can see.

marseldagistani: Yeah, just as a cameo though.

Leofire312: Well, now you know. If you think about it, Summer was saved by Ruby. As a mother, she would want nothing better than to be by her daughter's side, in a way protecting her.

Spellflame: Exactly. Not just that, Summer also gets to be alongside her daughter, something that she would not regret.

fightingchampion: Thanks!

Momentei: Exactly. The silver eyes will have significance later on in the plot too, connecting to the origins of both worlds.

Lucian Naruto: You can count on it. I only hope I can do it justice. I've planned something special for him.

The N0b0dy: No, as you can see, its NOT a Ichigo x Ruby pairing. I can tell you that straight. If anything, their relationship develops like siblings. And there is a reason why she landed up in front of Ichigo, one that as I mentioned, turns up much later. The same reason for a lot of other things that happens to her.

Cyan-Snake: Well, not even Ruby is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, and as someone who never has had experience fighting such things, it would've been too easy if she just breezed through it all with no trouble at all. Therefore, I had to make it appear more believable.

Firewyrm2: It does actually. Kinda. Of course there will be changes because of Ruby, but for the most part from here on, it does. Also, nice soundtrack recommendation, I liked it!

Black Magic99: Indeed. That was part of her maturation and growing process. If you noticed, a lot of the things she learns are passive skills, not raw power or battle skills. Like improved reishi detection, pain tolerance, resistance to spiritual pressure and so on. Regarding Masaki, she was showing caution, in her own way. She didn't just rush at Ruby, but rather asked Ichigo to go back home while she investigated. Considering her cannon behavior, I felt it was the storyline, well, I can assure you that I have planned out the whole thing from start to finish. This segment is only 2 chapters long, with the next chapter getting into Ruby's long awaited reunion with her comrades.

D'nnome: Yeah, kinda. This chapter revealed more about that.

The-Killer40513: Yeah, there's a reason she went to the 4th later straight rather than the 1st layer like Ruby did. Think about it. Had she gone to the 1st layer, an opportunity to make her use her silver eyes might have never come, which in turn wouldn't have imprisoned her in Hell, which is turn would not have caused Ruby to find her and use her own eyes to escape from Hell. That's why she was specifically put in the 4th layer as a means to imprison her, bypassing the 'check' that hell normally does.

TooBad69: Thanks! That was the idea, to see if I can write up something unique and interesting while augmenting Ruby's growth process. This part will conclude in the next chapter. As you suspected, it wont be long. I just felt that I needed to make it 2 chapters to really make it feel like Ruby recovered because of her interactions and relationship with the Kurosaki family. Otherwise, it would've appeared as if Ruby recovered her trauma too fast. And yes, that is the promise I make to everyone. Ruby will definitely go back to RWBY verse and meet everyone back at Remnant. You could even say that part takes place between vol 1- vol 2.

Cun: Thanks! And yes, that is the idea with these 2 chapters, to really show how Ruby recovers from a trauma so huge.

Astral Chronicles: Thanks a lot! Its not the silver eyes per say, but let's just say that there's something else that's using the silver eyes as a trigger to send her where she needs to be. That wont exactly be how she goes back to Remnant but whatever is causing her to travel between dimensions will be responsible for that.

Robbie2413: Weeel, summer wasn't exactly taught by Reiji but simply introduced to the Soul Society by him. Its more like he took people he thought had great potential to be soul reapers, since they were at war. And war needs soldiers. Summer wasn't really trained by him. And yes, Summer is Ruby's zanpakuto and good too. After all, she would be happy to be by Ruby's side, protecting and watching over her. Crescent Rose was also absorbed by her, becoming part of her powers. Thanks for pointing out that error, I'll see if I can fix it without having to re-release that chapter!

Loktar: Haha thanks, I'm really glad you liked it a lot. Don't worry, I release a new chapter every 5-7 days.

Daybit Sem Void: No, because I already have the draft for the entire story planned out and I didn't even know about BTWWest SS when I started this story.

reeeeee: When you put it that way, I can see your point. I understand some parts can appear really dark. But, to my defense, that kinda was the point. To write a story where I take an innocent and happy character like Ruby and make her go through Hell and back, literally. As for Summer, I didn't even include any descriptions of what happens to her. Ruby has seen all of it, but its left to the readers to imagine whatever they want. I always meant to write this as a 'Corrupt the Cutie' type of story and that's why this story even has a dark theme in the first place. Thanks for your support and glad to know you'll check in later.

djmegamouth: Thanks a lot! Hmm, I can see what you mean with the guns. The point I wanted to emphasize was her inexperience in fighting unknown enemies in unknown territory with its own unholy rules and laws. The reason she got pawned there was because of that and the fact that she was basically outnumbered. But you're right, I could've sold that better as a threat.

darthwolf: Don't worry, she will be. After all, that's where her big-sis and other are. Right now, she's an arrancar, but with Hell reaitsu imbued in her. Regarding segunda etapa, maybe, maybe not. Personally I don't want to make her too op without going about it gradually. I want to make the readers feel that at each stage, she really deserved the power she has and has gone through a lot for it. And regarding Ulquiorra, haven't planned on his tercera etapa so mostly not.

slyer243: well, that''s how Ruby saw Tier when she first met her. And thanks a lot!

Lordus: Thank you so much! I know I already responded via a PM, but I thought I just needed to mention it again as well.

Argorok: Thanks a lot! I will!

theshocker517: Thank you so much! As you can see, Ruby is no edgy and moody depressed soul, she's hurt and yet kinda peppy. That is how she cheers herself up even during such an ordeal. Personally, I think that is how she would be. As for her convenience, let's just say that something is responsible for it. She will end up growing further, both mentally and power wise. Thanks once more!

hmataco: But of course! I had to do it right, not taking it too far and yet making the point I wanted to make. And of course, there is a light at the end of her journey and people to help her along the way. Thanks a lot for your support!