My pain is real!

Reaching a hand upward to grab the loose ponytail trailing down her back, Arazia made a quick notion of twisting it into a bun as she watched the gunslinger move across the room and reseal the entrance. She was beginning to feel the room's heat now, mostly impart to its bright lighting and her zipped up track jacket, but she dared not allow the discomfort to show. Outwardly, she ignored the other woman's comment about killing her right there without drawing anyone's attention; after all, it wasn't as if the thought had not occurred to her long before entering the bat-less, bat cave. What she did visually recognize however, by narrowing her eyes ever so slightly, was the mention of the Quincy Council.

"Ahhh..." was all she said before moving towards a spare bit of wall and bracing against it. Despite the woman telling her to relax, she was not about to fully do so given the circumstance. Folding her arms as she made herself comfortable in her chosen stance, she thought about the Human Council. It had been two years since the Organization fell apart, since then a majority of the spiritual humans had formed their own groups...so to speak. The same went for the Quincy, so if her temporary host had traveled from far just to see them, well, she was fresh out of luck.

"Quincy Council eh..." she finally broke out after a few passing moments of silence between them, "You're two years too late I'm afraid, it no longer exists, which is why you couldn't find them." Training her gaze on the woman as she spoke, Arazia couldn't help but wonder how it was possible for a Quincy to not know much about the events that led to the split of their own leaders. Unlike other spiritual humans, the Quincy powers were hereditary, and most families gifted with them tended to be quite traditional...so, how was it that this specific Quincy seemed to know absolutely nothing about one of the biggest events to hit her kind.

"After the council fell apart, different Clans sprang up among the Quincy," she added after awhile, her gaze now intent on finding any meaningful reaction from its target. "You could probably find members of the main clans around this City, but as for where exactly..." she shrugged, " I wouldn't know, your best bet would be to ask an actual Quincy."

'I guess your best bet would be to ask another Quincy...' the words rang like a shot through Ryder's mind, sending it spinning into chaos. It was only the familiar cold, hard steel of the rifle she was maintaining in her hands that held the woman together and kept her from revealing her surprise. That single statement revealed something to Ryder that she hadn't known, hell hadn't even suspected. That there were other living beings with Spiritual Powers other than Quincy- well, either that or this was a Shinigami with a peculiarly strong sense of personal style who had a small Zanpakuto she kept concealed, by far the less likely of the two possibilities.

"Barrie..." she answered coolly, offering only her first name just as the other woman had done. Her task of cleaning and polishing at last finished, Ryder reached into one of the drawers and withdrew an additional 7.62 millimeter cartridge. "So tell me, Arazia..." she inquired, popping the clip out and topping it off, ensuring the bullets were sitting smoothly before returning it to position, flicking the safety off. "If you AREN'T 'another Quincy,' then just what are you?"

What was to follow was the most fascinating, yet frightening thing Ryder had learned since coming to this god forsaken country. According to Arazia, there were many, MANY humans of various creeds and communities the world over. Here in Japan, there were three main houses so to speak of, in the manner used by the Yakuza as followed: the Hanjou, the Jundo, and the Kosa.

From what Ryder was able to gather, it seemed that the Hanjou and Kosa were both reasonable and open to communication of various sorts, but the Jundo should be avoided if at all possible. Those had a vendetta against the spiritually aware community as a whole, and had shown themselves quite aggressive over the past two years since the councils had split up.

The council her grandfather had told her of, the noble council of Quincies of which he had spoken so highly, was no more. From infighting within it's ranks, as well as disagreements with the allied human council, the entire organization had shattered like so much glass, breaking into the three aforementioned human houses, and the Quincy returning to their OLD way of clans, from prior to the Meiji Restoration, though Arazia had no more information for her than that.

"Thank you for your time, you've been very helpful" Ryder told her kindly, while opening the stone barricade for her. "I tend to patrol this city at night, if you have need of my help, you'll know where to find me.

Northern Karakura, Kitawase District, Karasu Riverbed; the night seemed a bit calmer, a bit softer in this part of the city: fewer street lights, fewer houses. It was never silent here, however, as the shallow washing of water over rocks was ever present in the distance, where the Karasu and Onose rivers came together. At the water’s edge, a young human, or perhaps, the spirit of a human, gazed pensively out over the dim sky, his own features made indistinguishable by the shadows that hung around him. Not far away, however, the space above the earth began to twitch and churn within itself, smudging the image of the horizon in the distance.

The chaos of the day passed. Damaged once more, the town of Karakura was mostly at peace again. The season of winter had finally made it's entrance. The skies were dark, dusk having settled over that part of the globe. Certain bars and shops still illuminating the city with their ever-present lights. The traffic had also slowed, but some cars were still there. People walking around here and there. It was rare to see such peace in a town quite like this. So late, no one noticed a little event happening above the skies of the town. A ripple of darkness opening in the obscure skies. From there appeared a single person, taking a peaceful look over the town. His face obscured by the hood of his large coat. Dressed in matching jeans, and a white shirt of black outlines. It was hard to tell what kind of a person it was. Especially since his spiritual influence was kept tightly in check. The person left out an amused snicker, allowing himself to fall down from the sky. Eventually making a clean landing on one of the higher apartments of the town. He took a quick look around, making sure no one was following him. Leaving out but a peaceful sigh.

"Hunh... I expected this town to be more hectic. Like it always is. Guess a little bit of peace is good every now and then", his sound was calm and peaceful, almost aloof. Full of charisma like it always was. But there wasn't anyone there to hear him. You could say it was a bit of a relief. There were times when he desired company, and times when he relished solitude. That was just the kind of person this being was. The faintest of smiles on his face, he began running forward, hands inserted in the pockets of his coat. It was obvious that he was no ordinary human. Having survived such a fall with ease, and now jumping from rooftop to rooftop. He was taking a look around the entire town systematically. As though he knew all the corners from before. Well, that wasn't too far off from the truth. This being had actually spent many years observing the events of this town in the past. Giving him a small momentary rush of nostalgia. Thoughts that he decided to set aside. He was searching for new experiences after all. Trying to cast away his usual boredom with the world.

The sprint of the male bringing him to the rooftop of the highest building of the outskirts of Karakura. It was rare to see high multi-story buildings so far out from the center of the town. Yawning, the moody one had walked to the edge of the building. Still keeping a hidden interest on events of the world below of him. There still were some people running around, hanging out and gradually returning to their homes. It was sleeping time for most after all. But this person in question was more of a night-time person himself. Now crouching down, the tips of his shoes almost reaching empty air. The wind was being quite harsh, and chilly too. Tugging at his coat. The loose edges flowing alongside of it. He brought his right hand up to his hood, trying to keep it in place. For some reason he always felt like keeping his face hidden. The faint smile on his face having turned into his usual frown. "It's always the same. Nothing ever seems to change. Now then, what should I do tonight", he spoke with a silent tone and a slightly ironic tone, pondering what he could do to keep himself in good moods. The way these worlds always seemed so unchanging always managed to bore this male.

The sprint of the male bringing him to the rooftop of the highest building of the outskirts of Karakura. It was rare to see high multi-story buildings so far out from the center of the town. Yawning, the moody one had walked to the edge of the building. Still keeping a hidden interest on events of the world below of him. There still were some people running around, hanging out and gradually returning to their homes. It was sleeping time for most after all. But this person in question was more of a night-time person himself. Now crouching down, the tips of his shoes almost reaching empty air. The wind was being quite harsh, and chilly too. Tugging at his coat. The loose edges flowing alongside of it. He brought his right hand up to his hood, trying to keep it in place. For some reason he always felt like keeping his face hidden. The faint smile on his face having turned into his usual frown. "It's always the same. Nothing ever seems to change. Now then, what should I do tonight", he spoke with a silent tone and a slightly ironic tone, pondering what he could do to keep himself in good moods. The way these worlds always seemed so unchanging always managed to bore this male.

Kemiko stopped in front of the glass door leading out to the almost lifeless street, a few humans and cars passing by now and then. She looked at the mirror and observed herself, the twelve division had gotten better in making artificial bodies over the decades, it looked identical to her own body. Kemiko had smooth skin with a neutral pale look to it, a soft formed face with some sharp features the right places, and finally a curvy body and a well formed chest. Kemiko didn`t put much of an effort into her looks, but she had managed to maintain her some-what attractive figure over the years. She was wearing some gray sneakers, black jeans that allowed movement, a red belt, a gray sweatshirt with a black tank top under it, and finaly a knee long coat that was closed from the neck to the hips, allowing her free movement with her legs. She was wearing some black gloves that hugged her lower arm, meaning she easily could grab around things. Her blood red hair was pulled into a low, loose ponytail that reached a few inches under her knees, the chest long bangs being left loose in order to frame her face. As she pushed the glass door open, the chilly wind blew in and caused her long hair and coat to whirl around her in a little "dance", something it would do every time even the slightest movement of wind came.

Kemiko had just come out of the building when she saw a cloaked figure jumping onto the top of the roof she had just walked out of. No one seemed to notice him, despite some was looking in the direction that he had jumped in, meaning that regular human`s could`t see him. Kemiko noticed he was looking down at the street, was he planning a attack, resting or simply observing? The artificial body was masking her reaitsu, which was already limited to 20% of its normal strength due to the restriction that was put on anyone of lieutenant rank or higher whenever they entered the human world, even if he looked down at her and noticed she could see him, he would most likely think she was just an regular spiritual aware human, which wasen`t rare in this town.

With a light sigh, she buried her hands into the pockets in the coat, lowered her head slightly and began to walk down the street. She turned left and entered one of the nearby ally ways, lifting her "cellphone", out from her inner pocket. [i]"..This is Hijami Kemiko, lieutenant of the eight division...i have spotted a spiritual being with human form near district 47...i will investigate the being, it could be harmless..", "understood, Hijami-sama". Kemiko closed the phone again and looked up at the roof of her building, narrowing her yellow eyes at the hooded figure.

Ah. Such a silent night it was turning out to be. Was it really peace that he had been looking for after all? Just being all alone minding his business without ever doing anything worth mention really was a bore. At the very least he would have to find something to keep him occupied. Or perhaps a person he could share the loneliness with. A silent snicker escaped through his lips, covered up by the winds. The thought proved amusing. He wasn't a very romantic person despite his hidden depths, that was for sure. This thought managed to keep him amused for a short while, as he swayed around a little on the roof. Humming a certain song that he had performed earlier that day. Yet, all of his sounds were constantly covered up by the winter winds. Soon enough he grew bored of this. The town really seemed uneventful now. Perhaps he should start looking for something different. Taking a quick look around. Up and down, and to his sides. Observing all the possibilities. Noticing two strange things that caught his eyes. His frown turning into the faintest of smiles.

First off, he noticed the most eye-catching of people. A woman down on the streets, talking on her cellphone. He had no idea who or what she was, he just knew that blood red hair was not something you would see every day with people. Sure, there were cosplayers around. But only rarely did they have such an attractive body. Something that caught his curiosity. But there was something else. Hiding in the shadows of the street opposite to her. He could see it faintly, one of those stronger standard hollows that plagued Karakura. Hiding through a bare invisibility spell. Hollows like that were hard to track down, even by pros. But his eyes always caught on to hidden treasures. Smirking, the male now stood up. Stretching around, his knuckles now cracking loudly. Perhaps barely alarming the female below. Hands inserted into the pockets of his coat once more. The male jumped off, right towards the Hollow. It wasn't apparent to others yet, but the situation was quite amusing. An Arrancar, taking down one of those who were directly below of him, Hollows. Alarmed, the howling beast turned visible. Too late, as the foot of the fighter already smashed through its head. Twisting around in the air, the male had roundhouse kicked the beast. His reiatsu still tightly suppressed, yet his own power completely overwhelming it. Somersaulting once or twice while still in the air, the male now landed, hood still hiding his face, and hands inserted into his pockets.

It was dangerous to stand around on the road, but he didn't mind. There were no cars passing through anymore. His disposition showed contempt with the beast that was taken care of so easily. Standing up straight while shaking his head, a barely audible sigh heard. His trail of thought remaining hidden for now. He did have a motivation for doing what he did, a motivation which remained unexplained. Now then. His interest shifted once more, the cloaked head turning around. The male took a look towards the red haired female around his shoulder. Showing a faint amount of curiosity, yet an aura of aloofness. His face remained mostly shadowed, apart from his lips. Showing his usual look. While he was anything but sad in the inside, the look on his face was mostly a negative one. His face now barely down to the usual frown. Turning on his heels, he began returning towards the building. A car passed by the place where he once stood. Now on the road. He was making plans for leaving. Silent, without yet speaking, preparing to turn around. Yet a certain suspense kept him from leaving the area just yet. Perhaps he was waiting for something?

As he was about to turn around, the light sound of feet hitting the ground softly was heard, followed by a female voice speaking in a direct manner with a soft undertone to it. "Fast movements you have there....". The woman with the blood red hair had appeared in front of him, her hands still buried in the pockets of her jacket. Even through there was around 10 feet between them, it was clear that he was around a half head taller than her, it didn´t mean she was small, actually she seemed to have the height of a 19-20 year old. Her face, unlike her voice, was devoided of emotiones, her lips being firmly closed. There was two ways that the woman had gotten over to him on mere seconds, either she was a quinzy or a shinigami, due to her apperance the last was most likely. Since her reaitsu was fully masked, it was impossibol to say what rank she was...she could be a low seated officer or maybe a captain?

Emiko observed the hooded male with a raised eyebrow, taking in the few feautues of his face she could see. Due to his body structure and clothing style, he appeared to be early in his twenties. As the wind began to pick up, her bangs begang to blow around her face once more. Kemiko reached up and held a hand against the left side of her hair, keeping the left bang from blocking her view, the other hand remainning in the pocket. He didn`t seem to be in the mood to fight, and he had taken out the hollow who Kemiko had heard the roar of as he disposed of it.

"All alone out here in the middle of the night..makes you appear suspicious ya know..". Kemiko never took her eyes of him, in fact she looked directly into the darkness of the hood, hoping that she could get more of his face to see. Kemiko didn`t really know why she had chosen to talk to him, he seemed like he was about to leave..or thinking about it at least. The wind around them began to settle down a bit, only for a brief time through.

The male hidden under the coat had kept his head down, looking towards the ground. Certain voices gathering his attention once more. He knew the voice of that swift step, having heard it a couple of times before. Now lifting his head up once more, showing that he was focused on the female once more. Underneath the shadow of the hood, he took a moment to analyze her form closer. The jeans, coat and all, it was fairly normal stuff, though still quite stylish in his opinion. His interest focused on two of her features. That unusual red hair of his, so well taken care of too. And a familiar looking sword she held. A little amused by this, he himself held quite a long sword by his side as well. Currently hidden by that long coat of his. Judging by her features, she wasn't an Arrancar. And since it was obvious that she could see him... There really were only two options for the answer of this mystery. His mind already having settled on the most likely answer. Now this was an amusing situation. Seems like he had made contact with one of those many of his kind preferred calling enemies. Of course. There were other options too. He could always be sadly mistaken.

Never once did he flinch, despite his surprise at the fact she decided to appear right in front of him. It was a part of his hidden depths. Instead, his frown turned up to a small smirk once more. Such an uncaring face, yet a voice that showed him certain emotions. It would be only polite to provide her with some answers. So, he stayed still, instead keeping eye contact with her from behind the darkness of his hood. "Well thank you for the compliment. I'm just your average spirit passing by. And who might you be, my fair lady?" his voice, while deep, had a certain tone of gentleness to it as well. This time coming off as warm and charismatic. It showed that he was completely comfortable with this situation. He didn't mind getting his way cut off by the female. Most likely a Shinigami, perhaps something else. He had no way of knowing unless she told him herself, or did something characteristic of such a being. In his past, he had met these beings before. Mostly on the run from them, and at certain times, having some secret conversations.

He really didn't feel like bothering himself with further fighting that day. He only disposed of the Hollow earlier because he got bad vibes from it. Judging by its body language, the being was about to go on a rampage. And that was something he didn't want at the moment, quite uncharacteristic of a being such as himself. You could say that he was a different one. There exist all kinds of people in a world as vast as this after all. Now then. It seems like he made contact with someone he hadn't seen before. Perhaps this could be a chance to get to know other people better. Up until now he had been quite a solitary person after all. "Mind I ask, how about you? What could someone like you be doing out on a silent night such as this?" his voice remained unchanged from before. An odd sense of familiarity contained within it. His eyes were locked into hers that whole time. He knew that it was a part of polite conversation. Letting the others around of you know you were paying attention to them. His hands were no longer inserted into his pockets. But he still kept his hood on. A sense of mystery over the being. Then again, he felt a similar aura of mystery around of her as well.