What is a Sword? [Pvt | Misato]

While Aien would love to say that he's surprised to find Misato here shortly after Captain Jushiro departed, honestly the young man isn't surprised anymore at this point. With his world twisting and molding at every second of his life. It's to no surprise if Aien just accepted the abnormal part of his life now. Granted it might not be much compared to someone who's living in the supernatural life like Misato for example. But least to say is that he's versatile to accept what happens before him.

Aien had just gotten up to wake his legs up and was actually tenderly massaging his right side. It hurts a lot to his mind, but at the same time it was almost soothing like he's sore. He wasn't doing much to where whatever is holding that piece up would fall out. Since he is being careful in case of stitches which most likely is the situation the young human is currently in. Then almost he's facing Deja Vu, Aien sees a familiar hair color as Misato's iconic features that was obviously seen was strikingly familiar since Aien can now recall that fight in almost clear detail. Immediately Aien thought he was in for round 2 that would be an even more sorry excuse of a fight on Aien's end since he doesn't have a weapon and he can't get in contact with his soul.

However, instead of Aien's fear coming true which thank the Soul King for that, Misato simply sat down with a brown bag in hand where she basically pulled out a gourd. "This will help you heal." Aien couldn't help but feel that the liquid was somehow poisoned and while yes he can clearly see Misato taking a sip of it herself. Paranoia ensues his mind into believing that Misato could always be resistant to this particular poison, or hell it could even contain some kind of Truth Serum in it. Aien can't help but feel a little paranoid right now considering that he's aware of the situation he is in. However Aien sighs as he sits back down on the floor and with his only usable hand reaches over to his cup. Where he'll bring it up to his lips to blow the steam across the brim before taking a sip of it.

"I'm sure everything is hard to stomach right now." As much as Aien is feeling a lot of pain because of Misato, he can't really hate her for it. Aien had it coming when that talisman chose him and was even warned before that the Soul Society will be hunting him down. He just didn't think it would so soon though. "At least I can swallow whatever is coming at my way. Though to be honest after talking with Jushiro I feel like a newborn child compared to them." Aien took another sip of the tea before he realized he forgot the 'Captain' part of that name. "Apologies, I meant Captain Jushiro." Honestly Aien isn't sure if anyone takes offense to casually calling one of their top authorities by their first name alone. His tone isn't quite casual as Aien is having to stifle his humor because he doesn't want to risk laughing due to his side. On the plus side, Aien can balance his cup of tea on his cast on his left hand. Aien can barely feel the heat coming from the cup and it was almost perfectly balanced.

"Well, I'm sure you've got a bunch of questions. Most of which I won't be able to answer and I'm sure Captain Jushiro already told you some." Aien would nod his head in agreement as he was keeping himself amused by trying different angles on the cup to balance on his cast. The moment the cup looked like it was about to fall Aien would quickly grab the cup. It's been a while since he's been able to really do anything other than sitting in this cell by himself mostly. "Rather than someone else asking you questions, I pulled some strings and ended up here." Perhaps Aien is reading too much, but why is it that he gets the feeling that Misato is displaying concern for him when she was the one who apprehended him in the first place? Additionally, he noticed that familiar hilt on her sash, and in truth Aien had this instinct to get it back nagging at him. Still he seemed confused as he was certain that the Soul Society would've confiscated it or worse destroy the Zanpakutou entirely.

"When I asked you what is a sword I never imagined this." Aien chuckled on that part as well since he didn't expect this outcome either. Though that chuckle didn't last longer than a second as he was wincing and had to put the cup down so that he could place his warm right hand on his side for the pain to subside. "In truth neither did I, and in truth I'm still trying to understand it all. Though I can already tell you the answer and it's not that Zanpakutou you have at your waist." Once the pain had subside Aien pointed at himself. "My soul is my sword, and my soul is my armor. Without my soul no matter what I am; I am both powerless and defenseless against the challenges that come my way. Well, I guess what little obstacles there is now since I'm sure my path is set in stone right now." Honestly Aien is almost certain that this is the only route he has left and if anything his words would probably fall on deaf ears for the longest time.

"So lets play a game. I'll ask a question then you ask one. Starting off, how did you get Shinigami powers?" That was a tricky question to answer since honestly Aien doesn't have much to tell on that part. "That medallion thing chose me. I don't really know much and I couldn't tell you what I saw because I was blindfolded and tormented for god knows how long. I think he was sapping my reishi from my body and even punctured my heart once for the purest reishi. All I could hear was a robotic voice speaking to me, but that was it because I was trying to stay alive during that time." Aien tried to answer as best as he could, but in all honesty that's about the extent of it. Of course Aien did manage to get a look at the mask, but that was it so he couldn't use that even if he tried. "As for my question... Hm... Do you collect anything?"

From his previous experience even if Aien somehow managed to grab ahold of his Zanpakutou, Misato could've easily chopped his arm and from the strength he felt from her before she could break his arm just like that too. It was something that Aien doesn't even want to attempt right now because he likes being able to use one arm. Additionally he's in no condition whatsoever to call for a rematch since all anyone has to do is poke him and Aien would've fallen down. However with Aien being a teenager with a bunch of hormones and etc. going. It's of no surprise that Misato's tease had an effect on him as Aien blushed before looking over to the side.

"Great, another person wants to perform experiments on me. Here I was, minding my own business, spray painting one of my best art work pieces, and then next thing I know I get pricked on the neck and I wake up bound from head to toe on a cold table. Blindfolded and gagged before I got shocked or whichever by some damn machine." In truth he just summed up the events that had happened in literally just like that. For that was the entire time between passing out and waking up only to be having his soul drained again. Honestly Aien wouldn't be surprise that the whole reason he even made it this far is by pure luck. Aien reached for his cup and takes another sip of his tea before answering once more.

"The medallion is a mystery to me. All I know is that it lifted itself and went straight towards me. When that guy punctured my rib cage the medallion ripped itself out of its own container and thus made me... into this whatever the hell I am. At this point I don't know anymore." Aien showed signs of being tired, though when it has been from one cell to the next and one beat down to the next. Yeah he kind of wished he was back into his human life. However the very distant howls in his mind warned Aien that he couldn't afford being human. If he was to take care of the Hollows then he needs a Zanpakutou for all he knows.

Aien grew a bit cautious when Misato told him to come closer to her. With him being a teenager and from Misato's earlier attempt of seduction naivete would say that things might escalate. However Aien's vague sense of paranoia warned him not to get too close. Mostly because the familiar feeling of Misato literally punching a hole in his body was still fresh and he honestly did not want to feel his organs falling out again. That was way too weird and scary for his mind to handle mostly because his body was so numb from pain that he barely felt any pain. Still it was a wonder of how in the world Aien was still able to stand back up on his feet, activate the next stage of his power, use the same stepping technique twice, and yet when he could've at least get a scratch or even a graze on Misato he instead redirected his strength on two mere Hollows.

Still Aien reluctantly got a bit closer which was obviously a mistake on his part as Misato snatched the medallion away from him. However he just raised a brow before shrugging his shoulders. "It's only for me getting into whatever form I am right now. Other than that it's just decoration I guess." Aien commented before he started to massage his right side again. Which he actually took the moment to look under his robe and noticed that there was indeed a fresh scar, or at least a red mark visible where Misato had punched at. It certainly felt different based on touch from his smooth chest to the rough healed mark. "Seven days? I... well hell I guess I might as well start figuring out how to keep my mind occupied until then. Though in truth I find the trial a bit of a formality since I'm sure they're set on executing me anyways." Being treated with hospitality probably is like giving him seven pleasant more days before the hammer of judgment slams on his head. Which Aien suppose he could appreciate since he's had his fill of pain.

Though now that Aien thinks about it he likes pain because it reminds him that he's alive, and as much as he believes in his philosophy to never give up since giving up means Aien is already dead in his mind. "Well... from my standing point at the moment you guys would technically be considered as my enemy. After all you guys did scout me out, knocked me almost dead, and now I'm your prisoner. I think most people would be under the impression that you guys loathe me in my situation..." Then it donned on him that perhaps he wasn't the only one who got transformed into a Shinigami. At least from the sound of both Jushiro's and Misato's tone along with their choice of words Aien doesn't seem to be the first one they encountered. So doesn't that mean there has been many like Aien ending up in this exact situation? Were they all executed by trial like Aien believes he's going to be? "To ensure the era of peace one must snip the chaos by the stem before it can bloom... everyone has that one kind of plant that they don't want in their garden and thus use whatever effective method to purge it the moment it raises no matter how early it is to tell for certain." Aien more or less spoke to himself as he was a bit stunned on what he just discovered. Aien pictures himself being this chaos of the Soul Society's order, and the Soul Society must persevere their order by eliminating the chaos before it ensnares their society.

Honestly things were mostly a blur to Aien during the experimentation. It was a bit shorter compared to the last time he was experimented on and even Aien looked confused when he was escorted back to the cell after only several hours had passed. But he just shrugged his shoulders and didn't question it. Aien didn't feel much pain from the needles poking him which was a bit surprising as that Mayuri character seemed like he wanted to dissect Aien down to a single cell. Which thankfully that didn't happen at least not yet because Aien did not want to see what he looks like as a cell. Well, that's only if he can see or really feel anything at that point.

It was roughly midday already when he got back and was immediately greeted by Misato who basically made a scan for injuries he's assuming. The cast that was on his left hand is now gone and instead his left hand is only wrapped with cloth to still cover up whatever wound he still has from breaking his wrist. However he's now able to move it a bit without feeling like he's being restricted. "Well, given that was just a physical exam I hope you are feeling better." The pain at his side is still apparent which would probably be seen as a scar tissue from where she punched him beforehand. Unlike yesterday however, Aien wasn't hesitant to laugh as long as he's not dropping to the floor kind of laughter. "You owe me for that." This brought a smirk on Aien's face as he's having to do some mild stretching to get his body active. After being on a table and being poked at by needles his body felt a bit stiff if not irritated from being restrained. "I would treat you to some udon noodles with miso, but frankly I don't know how in the world I can udon until then." It was a terrible way to joke around with the word udon, but he had to do something to liven up the atmosphere.