Continued from: Truth. Does It Hurt You Too?
His second riddle was rather easy to solve:
What has wings,
But can not fly.
Is enclosed,
But can outside also lie.
Can open itself up,
Or close itself away.
Is the place of kings and queens,
And doggerel of every means.
What is it upon which I stand?
Which can lead us to different lands.
It was, of course, a stage. His only problem was finding this stage, and what would lie in wait for him there. Once Toshiro found his room again, he opened the Garganta and traveled to the realm of humans.
While in the Garganta he retrieved a Hell Butterfly deep from within his jacket. He had to hurry and deliver his message because he could feel his mind slipping away. He relayed the information on the identity of the Seraph to the butterfly. He also stated that the human Orihime Inoue was also in Aizen's captivity, and instructed it to be delivered once outside the the enclosed space he was in.
After he was sure his message was complete he opened the Garganta to the human realm. His task was to find the nearest theater, but he did not know this town well enough for that. He needed a local to help him.
Stepping from the gate Kita looked around the park. She knew where she was headed, but in taking her first step she felt a familiar reiatsu surround her.
“Zeshin?” Kita questioned to herself looking around her.
Off in the distance Kita spotted his blood red and black hair. “What is he doing in the human realm?”
She sonidoed to where he was, stopping a few yards away. She was not sure of his frame of mind and they did not need a repeat of what happen a few days ago between them if he was not in the right mind.
“Toshiro,” Kita spoke his true name softly so only to catch his attention.
He turned in the direction of someone calling a name he vaguely remembered and saw a somewhat familiar face. but where did he know her? "You--who are you?"
"I am Kita," she sighed and swallowed hard, “Las Noches. Remember. Ulquiorra’s fraction…” she paused for only a second and spoke even softer then the wind, “The seraph you seek.” But he heard what she said.
"A seraph? Why do you think I search for a seraph. Those things are just bedtime stories. I am looking for my zanpakuto." How the hell did she know, he thought to himself.
Kita nodded, "The same reason why I am here. I seek for my zanpakuto, but I saw you and I wanted to warn you."
"Warn me of what," he questioned.
"Aizen knows who you are," Kita told him, "He only waits for you to make a move in trying to remove me from Las Noches. Then he will make sure you breath no more."
"You plan to escape?"
"At the risk of my masters life. No, nor would I leave with you willingly." Kita explained to him.
"Leave with me willingly? What makes you think I want to go anywhere," he smirked.
Kita nodded knowing not to take the conversation too much farther. Even though Aizen, her master and Szayel knew she was not sure how many more in Las Noches did. She did not want to risk his life anymore than it already was.
“I understand. I will explain to Kisuke your situation.” Kita turned looking over her shoulder at him, “that is if I can get the chance to stop by and see him.” Kita started walking away from him to go the waterfall.
"Wait! ......." He reached after her.
Kita stopped, not turning to look at him, "What do you need of me?"
He awkwardly scratched his cheek, "You seem to know this place....by chance do you know where a stage is?"
Kita smiled with a soft laugh, "There are only two. The High School and the Bunraku on main street."
"Show me the way?" he questioned her.
"Which one would you like to see first?" Kita asked him.
"The closest one," he blinked
"That would be the Bunraku on main street then. It is this way." Kita said pointing north of where they stood.
"I'll follow your lead"
Nodding she walked north to the center of town. Zeshin following more than a few paces behind her. She looked over her shoulder at him. "Am I your master?"
"No, I have not been assigned one yet."
"Then why do you walk behind me?" Kita asked him.
He picked up his pace to match hers. "Happy?"
"Maybe," She matched his sarcastic tone as she looked over to him.
"So, why did you join Lord Aizen's army?"
"I did not join. I was forced." Kita said.
"Forced? Why?"
"Because Aizen wanted to use me as another one of his tools."
"And you were assigned under Lord Ulquiorra?"
"No, Ulquiorra requested me as his fraction." Kita pointed to their left letting Zeshin know she was going his direction.
He turned in the direction she pointed, and continued to listen to her story. "Why did he request you?"
"I am not sure. I am not strong by any means. At least to what standards you think the fourth Espada may have." Kita looked to Zeshin, “Nothing like your powers. You would be more to my masters liking for a fraction."
"My powers? I don't know what you mean." He looked at her curiously.
"He don't remember," Kita said to herself as she looked at him once more. "Your strong. You can't deny that."
"I don't think so," he laughed
Kita smiled and looked in front of them, "Why did you join Aizen's army?"
She quickly looked to him, "No lies this time."
"To grow stronger."
Kita sighed, "Fine I will play it your way." She looked ahead of them once more, "You know you are being used in a cruel game that will cost you your life. Right?"
"If my life is required, then I will give it gladly."
Kita shook her head, "A fool like my master. Sheep being led to slaughter by the cunning wolf.”
"And who do you think is doing the slaughtering?"
Kita paused in walking, "The slaughtering will be done by the unless fighting between two realms. The hollows and the soul reapers."
"You are a fool if you think that will stop. Those two realms have been fighting since the dawn of time. It is their purpose. Their job."
"Not this type of fighting!"
"Lives must be given to maintain a perfect balance."
"You speak as if I do not know this! But throwing your life away..." Kita shook her head and started walking again, "forget it. I may as well be talking to my master. Come on we are almost there."
He followed her, curious as to what her thoughts were.
This time Kita walked in front of him not saying a word one to him. The arrancar way of thinking was strange to her and she was glad that Kisuke gave her the new collar to stop that. She reached up touching the bell with her fingertips causing it to ring. They rounded another corner, Kita stopped and looked across the street.
"There," was all she said to him as she pointed at the theater.
He bumped into her.
He looked in the direction of her pointing and saw the stage. "Awesome! Come on you can help me look!" He grabbed her hand to drag her along, and no sooner than he did he got a rush of strange, head pounding visions.
He gripped his head and fell to one knee in lots of pain. "!!!!"
Kita knelled down next to him touching his shoulder, "Are you alright?!" She was truly concerned from him, “You need help."
Physical contact made things much worse, more images appeared ancient times, faces long gone, and of battles that never seemed to end.
Kita stood, she knew she could not help him. Only one person could, Kisuke Urahara. She looked to him, "I am going to get you help."
He just cringed away from her touch.
She drew back her hand and looked at him as she thought. "Why is he doing this? Why is he risking his life for something he believes to be a fairy tail? Why would he do this?” Kita was frozen in place. She knew what he was the day he released his reiatsu in Hueco Mundo. The Prodigy. The same prodigy she sought out as a human. Still he knelt to the ground holding his head.
“I have to get you help. I will be back in a flash.”
As soon as she left the pain subsided and the images stopped coming to him. He knew he didn't want to be around when she came back and quickly ceroed the stage away, revealing his precious zanpakuto. He grabbed it and fled the area as quickly as he could.
"What was that," he questioned to himself.
When Kita returned she was empty handed. Kisuke was not at his shop so she returned quickly back to Zeshin, which was also missing. Kita sighed shaking her head. "I should have told him no and went on to find my zanpakuto. I would be done and back to Las Noches by now."
With a huff Kita walked off on her way to the river.
Continued to: Opposite Ends
