The bakery was two stories tall and classy looking, but not expensive looking. In the window were displays of multilayered cakes, platters filled with cookies, and boxes of pastries. Through the windows of the top floor Tsukiro could see tables and chairs, some with people sitting in them, eating deserts and drinking beverages. Through the glass door of the bakery he could see other people standing in line to order. Others were heading up the stairs to the second level. Tsukiro’s stomach growled as he gazed at the glass counters filled with even more goodies. This time he was the one to tug on Kita’s hand as he pulled her inside.
Kita giggled as she felt Tsukiro tug her forward into the shop. Once inside the smells filled Kita’s senses making her head spin. It was pure heaven to her. This place always reminded her of her human grandmother’s home. It always smelled so yummy. She walked to the counter with Tsukiro looking at all the goodies.
The counter was filled with way more sweets than Tsukiro could name, and even more than his stomach would allow him to eat. They all looked so mouth-wateringly delicious, he couldn’t pick which one he wanted to try first. There was cake, cookies, fudge, caramel apples that were so packed with toppings he didn’t know where the toppings ended and the apple started. Every item looked exquisitely prepared, yet they weren’t all that expensive.
“What are you going to have?”
“A warm Apple Tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.” Kita let escape her lips as she eyed the baker as he was placing them in the display case.
Tsukiro eyed all of the sweets and pastries over again, looking at all of their name tags and toppings. “I think maybe I’ll have…” He hung his head. “I have no idea what I want.” He turned to Kita. “You pick for me.”
She quickly looked to him. “Are you sure?”
Tsukiro nodded. “I can’t choose.”
Kita nodded and looked to the counter help.
“What can I get for you?” He asked her.
“I need one of your warm Apple Tarts with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and…” She paused looking at Tsukiro. “One of your chocolate drizzled Cream Puffs.” Kita pointed at it through the glass. It was a huge pastry crammed full with a thick fluffy white cream and a milk chocolate drizzled over the top of it.
“And some hot chocolate!” Tsukiro blurted out as the clerk reached below the glass. “And and apple turnover!”
Tsukiro turned to Kita, embarrassedly.
Kita looked at him and smiled with a soft laugh. “Make that two hot chocolates.” She told the guy still looking at Tsukiro.
The guy nodded and filled their order handing it to them over the counter. They took their goodies and ventured upstairs to the dining room. Once there Kita saw a table open next to a large window that overlooked the park near by. She motioned with her head for him to follow as the two of them took their seats and started to eat. Kita was looking out the window as the area kids and parents where in the park ice skating, having snowball fights and building snowmen. She giggled a few times and pointed out the window for Tsukiro to look as someone was plowed in the face by a snowball or fell to their bottom while skating.
Tsukiro laughed. “Poor kid.” He put his head in his hand as he sipped his hot chocolate. “I love it here. The humans are so oblivious to what actually goes on around them. I wish I were like that. Like they say, ‘ignorance is bliss.’”
Kita looked his way with a half smile. “I guess I was not so lucky as the human’s then. I was always aware of everything. I guess that is why I never really cared if they lived or died.”
She lowered her head waiting for the worse from Tsukiro with what she told him. She was sure it come as a shock to him. After all, it was not something she led on for people to know how she really felt for the humans. She truly hate them. She blamed them for all the deaths, wars. illness and heartache that plagued the world. Without them things would be so much better. She looked back out the window.
“Why do they have to exist?” She spoke softly.
Tsukiro didn't challenge her opinion. Instead he matched it.
"Why do hollows and arrancars have to exist? All they do is feed on innocent lives and destroy. Aizen himself is using them for their destructive nature.
"All hollows were at one point human. And one day they will be reborn as humans again. They are not the best race, but neither are hollows and arrancars or even soul reapers and gods.
"No one is perfect, but every one deserves life. Even the evil souls. And answer me this: are the humans worse than Aizen?"
“I judge by what I have seen. I know not all humans are bad. Just as I know not all hollows are bad. I have lived the life of human, god and soul. Not one life any the better than the other. We are all pawns in someway. Never will we be triumphant in our endeavors.” She looked back at Tsukiro. “Not unless you're on top and willing to crush the one beneath you.”
Tsukiro shrugged, deciding not to try and change her ideas. "Then we're all doomed. And so is Aizen, he's just too stupid to realize it."
He bit into his cream puff and instantly his eyes lit up. "Wow! This is amazing!"
Kita smiled warmly at him and nodded. “Yes this place is amazing for their bakewares.” She looked on at him as a bright smile came across her face. “I can truly say you have wavered my thoughts and ideas about the humans. Not just today, but since we have first met. Your uplifting outlook on them as made me see them in a different light.”
She took a bite of her tart and tilted her head. “I doubt it will ever completely change. I have lived and seen far too much. But my view are a little less harsh on them.”
"It's fine. To each their own and I never want you to change anyway. Plus, I understand. You're the seraph, and you literally have the weight of the world on your shoulders."
“Something I wish I could lose… Forever.” Kita said in a solemn tone.
Tsukiro reached over and placed his hand on hers. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Everything will be okay. I promise."
She smiled at Tsukiro turning her hand under his and gently grasp on to his. “As long as I have you as my best friend… I know it will be.”
He winked at her, still smiling. "And you know it." He stood up, picking up his cup of hot chocolate and throwing away his empty plate. "Come on. Let's go shopping."
Kita did the same after she stood, following him from the Bakery.