Playing With Fire [PRIVATE]

[Lil' Ame]

‘Our home…’ Ame repeated in her mind a few times. This guy was surely making it difficult to use sound reasoning when it came to the predicament she placed herself in. What she should have done was turn Kisho’s offer down instantly. No thinking about it. Though, this is not what she did, on the contrary, she is now standing on his pagoda. There was absolutely no turning back now. Even if she was dumb enough to fight him in a feeble attempt to escape she was on his turf and such circumstances didn’t allow such a thing to happen. At the same time she kind of didn't want to turn back in the first place

Taking a step back she began to trail off in thought. Things like family and companionship raced through her mind as she tried to place her “job” as a Shinigami into the mix. Protecting people was work, was it not? After closer examination, feeling almost completely stupid for only just realizing, she came to the conclusion that protecting people shouldn’t be something you clock in and clock out from. Being a Soul Reaper wasn’t simply a job and she was beginning to see that the Soul Society had made her feel that way for so long without even noticing. Ame shook her head and said in the lowest of tones, “It’s not safe for me to think like this, is it?”

She once again raised her head to Kisho, posed with a question. Pulling her bangs away from her face, tucking them back she answered, “I have no clue why I followed you through that thing. I have no clue why I’m questioning what I’ve been taught for so many years. I have no clue why I think I can have something like a family with a simple joining of an enemy organization. I have no clue why I’m even considering leaving the Seireitei in the first place.” She paused and looked down as if she was trailing off in thought. Shaking her head, snapping out of her internal thoughts she continued, “I’m sorry. To answer you simply, yes. Yes I am considering it. That is why I’m so frustrated. As in enemy I shouldn’t place so much trust in you.”

Letting out a sigh, raising her hand to her forehead, she concluded, “I wish I turned you down like the good little girl I am.”

[Bear]

[maroon]He stayed silent and allowed the girl to pace and collect her thoughts, he had no need to rush her by any means. If she accepted then she would become one of his family members, if she refused then fine. They would most likely meet again sometime in the future, whether it was to destroy Aizen, or by some other means. Of course he would prefer the latter and have her as a friend and not seen as a enemy, or a simple ally. No, family was much better. He tilted his head slightly the moment she spoke about whether it was safe or not to even consider this type of thing, tch, Soul Society sure knows how to 'train' them.

"Soul Society brainwashes their Shinigami, takes away your free will. Your ability to think for yourself. That is why you fear it."

It was a straight forward answer, but true. He realized this long ago and sure he had been the victim of it for quite some time, he now had his own path. He could choose which road to take and when to turn, no one guided him. He was free. That's all he wished to do with Hidenseido, allow his family to be free and do as they please, as long as they protected and cared for one another. They fought and died together. Not because they were told, but because they loved.

But the mentioning of how she still considered him an enemy, that caught his full attention. Somewhere during this whole conversation his words did not quite reach her, still looked at as an enemy after extending his hand for something better? Odd. But then again it didn't surprise him too much, Soul Society did a hell of a job to make sure they did not leave their Divisions. Rogues were always criminals, even if they did not commit an actual crime.

"Interesting, you still see me as the enemy? Why? Is it because I am a Vizard? Or perhaps because I no longer reside in Soul Society? Just because I have built Hidenseido and recruit rogues and other beings does not make me the enemy. If that was the case I would have killed you long ago, no, I am no enemy."

What would be the correct term here? What exactly was he? The symbol for Hidenseido meant life, so perhaps he could be called the lifesaver. As lame as it may have sounded.

"I am a lifesaver, Ame. I offer people such as yourself a chance to have a family, to acquire freedom they did not have. I give them a life of their own. I may ask for loyalty and honor in return, but I do not condemn those that wish to do as they please. And I certainly do not condemn others because they are of another race. Even the Hollow are family here, Vizard too."

So it was the moment of truth.

"What do you say, Ame? Is this something you desire? A family? Freedom? Love? Room to grow? If so, then I offer you a place here. Simply say the word."

That was it.

[/maroon][/justify]

[Lil' Ame]

What he said in essence made perfect sense to a girl like Ame. She slowly yet thoroughly examined the concept of “brainwashing.” Even the most knowledgeable people were susceptible to influence, her being no exception. Ame took a few steps back, dropping her head to the thought and let out a small sigh. “I realize that,” she responded in an exasperated voice.

It’s not like what he said didn’t make sense. It was also not like he was lying in anyway. She would have been dumb to not take what he said into consideration. Ame was that type of girl. Unfortunately, Amaya was still sleeping within her body so Amaya was unable to add her input on the matter. Everything was happening so quickly she really didn’t have time to wait for her to wake up. Amaya would have said that something as big as this was up to her anyways. Sighing once more she thought, ‘This is nerve wrecking.’

Then he continued with even more questions. Questions that Ame saw in such a way that made her feel like she had offended him. The moment he asked if she still saw him as an enemy because he was a Vizard she began to deny, waving her arms back and forth at the waist, “No… no… no…” Yet he still continued and she allowed him too, feeling embarrassed for ever letting him feel that way about her. When Kisho took a pause she took consideration of his last words, ‘I would be dead, wouldn’t I?’ The thought of that sent chills down her spine and her palms began to sweat with the ever so familiar fear creeping back up on her.

“I am a lifesaver, Ame”

Ame was back. Fear fading away, like memories do after countless years, being replaced with questions and reflections of every word he spoke. Did her life need saving? Simply put, yes. Had she realize that before this moment? No. Amaya had always reasoned with her that she was too distant from people, being unhealthy to rely solely on her help. However, it was time for her to make a decision alone, a big one. It was time that she sought after relationships, bonds, and family. Something she missed ever so dearly. A single memory popped in her head, the day of her death and when she and her sister were walking through the shopping district together. How happy she was eating a warm, delicate pastry. Her favorite. That simple relocation was the deal breaker.

“Yes,” looking firmly into his eyes. These eyes showed no waver, no second thoughts. “What must I do? Surely there is some kind of induction?” Raising her sleeved hand to her mouth, looking up into the sky, then to the houses below she continued, “How do things work here? If I’m to give up what I see to be everything, then I will give nothing less than 100% to you and your cause.”

Giving up everything... Yes, she was prepared for a new life.