Meals of Fate...

"Well... I wasn't really planning to spend my night here." Shiro shuddered at the concept of spending anymore time in this house. She dreaded it, somehow feared it. It felt strange, like a lingering sensation of foreboding that wouldn't leave her be. "I know I lived most of my life here but... it just gives me the creeps now..." A chill ran over Shiro as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I got us both something to eat. It should still be warm. Shiro lifted the unopened meal set out of the convenience bag, placing it on Theocelese's side of the table along with the wrapped set of silverware.

"So... Mr. Rose... Maybe we could find a hotel to sleep in for the night?" Shiro's faculties were in order, that is until the instant she realized how wrong her suggestion had just sounded. "N-no! Forget that...!" The girl suddenly realized what she'd just done. Even the remote idea of spending a night together with a man she'd just met was outrageous. Shiro tried desperately to hide her face. She could feel the heat from her embarrassment flooding up over her temple, turning it a deep shade of red.

"T-t-that is to say! Maybe we could find someplace..." Shiro's eyes sought recovery, drifting to the hole in the living room wall. "Someplace...Less open." Shiro relaxed slightly but then realized her recovery statement hadn't sounded any better than the first. "I-I-I Mean!?" Shiro's eyes shook with sheer embarrassment. She wasn't doing any good for herself by talking right now. Sure she felt lonely but it wasn't the kind of loneliness where she would want to prompt any kind of intimate comforts from another person.

Shiro sat down across the table from Theocelese, opting to remain silent while he ate rather than risk embarrassing herself further.

Shiro relaxed, a sigh of relief escaping her when Theocelese showed her his wedding band. He was kind and gentle toward her overreaction and she appreciated that. Most boys her age would likely have reacted with equal or greater embarrassment but thanks to the man's calm demeanor, she too calmed down. The blush in her complexion returning to normal. "I would appreciate a place to sleep for the night... but I'm not sure if I am ready to take up residence in one of your homes just yet..." Shiro stated hesitantly. Having a room to herself in a hostel sounded like the better idea for now. She would sleep knowing he was nearby should anything  happen while she were there.

Shiro tilted her head. "Hueco Mundo? I've never heard of a place called that... Is it part of the Spirit World?" If it was then of course Shiro was interested. Everything up until now that involved spirits had been dangerous. She wondered if it were even possible to be truly safe from these mysterious beasts called Hollow, and yet despite the obvious dangers, the girl felt strangely attracted to the prospects of an otherworldly existence.

In any case, if the spirit world rated people by their spiritual powers, then she couldn't even conceive of how to begin comparing Her own strength to that of Theocelese'. But he offered to protect and train her which had to mean he was at least several times stronger than she was in her current state. "My father trained me in the art of using a sword." Shiro stated, noting to Theocelese the used Kendo Sword leaning against the wall by her backpack. "And I somehow used lightning earlier... Shiro paused. It still sounded too fantastical in her mind to properly put into words. "I-if you'll have me, I'd really like to become your P-pupil...!

The girl nodded. "I often sparred with my father each afternoon following school. He taught me everything I know." Shiro yawned, the routine fatigue of her sleep cycle was beginning to weigh upon her consciousness. "So then... Soul Society and Hueco Mundo are kind of like the Christian's philosophy of Heaven and Hell?" She shook her head. It confused the girl to think of these places as either strictly good or evil, it didn't really make sense to think of it that way. If Theocelese was from Hueco Mundo, then what would that make Senta if he was from Soul Society?

Shiro was growing too tired to think about the finer details and nodded her agreement at Mr. Rose's suggestion of packing her bags. She had a couple of extra Kendo Swords she could bring with her for training still in her room, and looking down at her attire Shiro also noted, to her dismay, that she still wore her school uniform. She would need to bring a change of clothes and her toiletries if she didn't want to start smelling like a street bum...

Grabbing her bag and ascending the stairs to her room, Shiro dumped its contents onto her bed. In her haste to leave the house earlier, all she'd managed to pack were canned foods. No wonder she'd felt heavy carrying the bag around with her all day. Pulling open her dresser drawers and closet, The teen pulled out three sets of clothes and stuffed them into the bag. She then entered the bathroom, retrieving her toothbrush and other toiletries before stuffing them into the bag as well. "I probably won't need to bring the food with me..." Shiro hoisted up her bag onto her shoulder, staring at the pile of cans now scattered on top of her bed-sheets.

With everything she needed (or wanted) to bring with her Shiro grabbed two extra Kendo Swords from her closet before heading back down the stairs, Accompanying Mr. Rose to a place where she could get a proper shower and some sleep for the night.

Shiro was surprised. Sure she'd figured the man wasn't like any of the normal people she'd come across since no one else could see him, but how could his appearance have changed so drastically just from going up to her room for a few minutes...? His accent and demeanor reassured her that it was still Mr. Rose, but she remained confused all the same.

"Erm... Okay then..." Shiro stepped off the stairs, trying not to give the situation more thought than she was presently capable of handling. A lot of weird things were happening lately, she could only imagine that these things would continue for as long as she remained spiritually aware.

Remembering to pick up the Kendo sword she'd left in the kitchen, Shiro gave chase, catching up to Mr. Rose as he exited the property. She didn't question it when he casually handed her more money. Shiro let out a small squeak and her heart skipped a beat, almost leaping into her mouth as she quickly fumbled to push the money into her pockets. The amount he was giving her to spend for herself was insane! How rich was he to give her so much without so much as a second thought!? The girl didn't feel comfortable with it. She would need to spend carefully in order to avoid people thinking she stole it from someone.

"Um... well..." Shiro searched for something to talk about, something to ask about. The options were plentiful. She could spend hours upon hours asking him questions and he'd probably have good answers for everything she wanted to ask. "If I train under you... Will I... be able to change my appearance like you can?" The girl asked, looking to Theocelese, sounding more casual than she'd intended.

"Thank you. Goodnight Mr. Rose. I'll see you in the morning then." Shiro bowed her head, thanking Theocelese for his help. She went up to the receptionist, booking a room on the second floor.

"Nnnh...!" Shiro sighed, her face hitting the soft down pillow, body visibly sinking into the padded comforter atop the box-spring bed. She felt refreshed. A warm shower had done well to wash away the day's stress. Her hair even smelled clean from the more than generous amount of shampoo and conditioner she'd poured over it while she was in the shower. The girl's favorite spotted pink and red pajamas now adorned her body from head to toe, even housing her feet inside their built in slippers. Rolling over to the side of the bed, Shiro glanced over to where she'd hurriedly discarded her school uniform before jumping into the bath. The uniform was tattered around the hem and almost seemed to be singed. "Lightning..." Shiro hummed to herself. Rolling over onto her back, Shiro stared at her hands, remembering the moment she'd shouted out the name of her first ability. She blushed slightly, wondering if the words she'd shouted had even been necessary to begin with.

Shiro closed her eyes while focusing on her hand. She could remember the feeling, but was it something she could just call upon at any time she wanted? She decided to focus on just the feeling, picturing the lightning in her mind. Forming the image within her mind, Shiro pointed her finger at the ceiling light, whispering as she lazily opened her eyes. "White Dragon's Fang..."

A bolt of static lightning shot forth from Shiro's outstretched hand, striking the ceiling light and instantly shattering its bulb. An audible scream escaped the surprised girl as she quickly covered her face. Dust and fragments from the light flew all over the room as it fell into darkness. Once the dust settled, Shiro cautiously looked around, assessing the damages. Only the screw of the bulb remained in the lighting fixture, while pieces of bulb had landed at various places throughout the room. "Should. Not do that inside..." Shiro assured herself, heart still thumping loudly from the surprise as she stared at her guilty hand. Sparks seemed to be etching themselves across her arm and any other part of herself she could see. The spectacle looked like static but didn't feel anything remotely like it. The teen closed her eyes, willing away the feeling that had brought upon the strange light show. Opening one eye, Shiro confirmed the dismissal. The electrical display was gone.

Testing first to make sure she wouldn't light up anything else into a spectacle of electricity, Shiro set the alarm on the nightstand before curling up under the covers. She was exhausted. Exhausted from the fight, all of the strange things that were happening to and around her, and now with the need to contend with a power she possessed and wasn't sure she could properly control.

Shiro wasn't sure when it was that she had fallen asleep. Her dream was restless, strangely real, and felt more like a nightmare. Running down an endless corridor, the feeling of something sinister chasing her snapped dangerously at her heals as she ran. She feared looking back lest she realize how close she was to being consumed by whatever was chasing her down the unending hallway.

Shiro's eyes shot open with a gasp. Her breath lay heavy on her chest as she stared up at the ceiling, sweat pouring profusely down her brow. Sitting up she noted her entire body was drenched in sweat. "Ugh... Gross..." Shiro moaned, shifting over to the side of the bed. She sighed, noticing the time on the alarm clock read 3:05AM.

Pulling herself off the bed, Shiro grabbed a yellow short sleeve shirt, pair of blue-jean shorts and a fresh pair of underwear out of her backpack. Drying herself off with a new towel, Shiro dressed herself, draping her sweat-soaked clothes over the shower curtain-rod to let them dry.

It didn't feel right, Shiro thought, checking the alarm by the bed to make sure it was set correctly. Or rather, nothing had felt right after she'd awoken from the nightmare. The air felt strangely heavy and cold, sending a shiver down the girl's back. Maybe she should have chosen heavier clothes... Replacing the alarm on its stand, Shiro made to get back into bed but stopped midway. Though the door appeared to still be shut, someone was obviously standing there in the doorway. Shiro struggled to focus her eyes in the pale moonlight that filtered through the closed window curtains.

"W-who are you!" Shiro demanded, her voice shaking with fear as she reached unsteadily for one of the wooden swords she'd leaned near the wall by the bed.

"You've matured nicely! I'm so glad I waited for you to awaken!" The strange figure stepped closer to the bed. A sliver of moonlight played across his features, revealing a deformed humanoid appearance, long brutish arms, and the unmistakable skull-like mask that seemed to cover the entirety of the monster's head.

"H-hollow...! Shiro managed to squeak out in a terrified wide-eyed whisper. The beast's glowing red eyes seemed to beam gloriously at the girl's realization and terror as he took another step closer. This feeling... It was unmistakably the same as that time. This was the hollow that had attacked her before. Shiro raised her sword into a defensive stance, but try as she might, she couldn't shake the uneasiness and fear that rocked through her like an earthquake. "S-stay back! I don't want to have to use this!" Shiro threatened.

The beast threw back his head in a boisterous laugh that only the spiritually aware could hear "Gyahahah! Do you think a mere stick can harm me!?" The beast, much to Shiro's surprise and horror, took a standing leap onto the bed, simultaneously grabbing the girl's kendo sword with his left hand. "Thanks for the meal." The monster leaned over Shiro's shaking body, whispering like a snake into her ear.

The attack landed before Shiro noticed it coming. Being held by fear had dulled her senses as the monster's right fist rapidly closed in, slamming into her chest. The attack sent Shiro flying across the room, smashing through the window and out the second story window of the hotel. Intense pain split her ears and rang throughout her body, but she somehow managed to remain conscious. Never had she felt pain like this before. It was about to get even worse for she was not prepared for the fall to come and she was falling like a rock.

Shiro couldn't tell which was more amazing. The fact she'd somehow landed on her feet, that she couldn't see Mr. Rose but could hear him speaking in her ears, or the fact that she now somehow possessed his weapon. She couldn't tell what was real anymore, everything seemed visibly fantastical. A sharp pain brought the girl back to the reality she faced. The Hollow had almost certainly cracked one or more of her ribs with his attack, The searing pain in her chest whenever she breathed in was proof of that.

The Hollow appeared at the newly formed hole before jumping down into the lot below. Having let go of her sword and with no way to retrieve the spares she had, Shiro was grateful for the weapon bestowed upon her by Theocelese. Wherever he may be, he was right. This monster had stolen her family and her future from her. He deserved to pay for it with his own. Fear be damned, it wouldn't help her now to be afraid.

The Hollow calmly approached, a wicked smile playing across his grotesque features. "Oh-hoh! where might this weapon have been hiding." his voice slithered like a rattle, looking around jokingly as if he were looking for the location of a secret hiding place.

Shiro gripped the hilt of her newfound weapon, grimacing from the constant pain that wracked her body. She would show this Hollow, show him she wasn't afraid of him anymore even if she had to lie to her own feelings. She needed to focus on what was important. The real pain was her lost family. The real enemy was her weakness and inability to stop this monster at the time. Shiro glared at the beast, eyes flaring. He was the reason her family was dead and all he cared about was eating! Eating her mom, her dad, even trying to eat Shiro herself! It had to stop. He had to stop. She wouldn't let him eat anyone else.

"It seems you're still paralyzed with fear. Oh you poor thing, I'll solve all of your problems, don't you worry... The Hollow smirked sadistically, bracing both hands firmly onto the ground. "Because you'll be dead soon enough! Gyahahaha!!" he shrieked, leaping into the air above Shiro, his feral visage coming crashing down on top of her.

Shiro blocked. Or rather her power blocked the Hollow's attack, causing the monster to react by flinging himself off to the side as a large burst of electricity exploded outward from the Girl's body. Shiro could feel the energy she was emitting, and unlike last time, a sword made of lightning didn't appear in her hands. Perhaps it was because she held Mr Rose's weapon instead of a regular wooden sword. Regardless, Shiro's aura seemed to include it, sparks of electricity played over its surface as if accepting it as a part of herself.

"Keh... Maybe I let you mature too much..." The hollow grumbled, watching Shiro's lightning display. Without further delay, he lunged at Shiro. Lightning or no lightning, he would have his meal.

Shiro blocked. This time with the sword in her hands. The Hollow's blows bore tremendously heavy pressure, and each time they connected with the blade she held Shiro could feel her injured ribs screaming. One sword vs two fists that were seemingly unaffected by the blade's edge. This was not good, Shiro could feel herself being pushed back. Even if she were powered by rage or hatred, she could only manage to block the onslaught of incoming punches. If she didn't do something about his relentless assault and quick she was bound to lose consciousness from the pain caused by his earlier surprise attack.

Shiro could feel the touch of a guiding hand, could feel the flow of combat with her body. With it, she allowed her mind to focus, allowed herself to be shown the way. This was a real fight, a fight where her very life was on the line should she fail in overcoming this monster.

"Strike" The singular word rang through her head like a gunshot echoing through an open field. This was it, the moment of truth. The opening she'd needed revealed itself as the Hollow passed, it's lunge failing to catch Shiro in its grasp. Uncharacteristically, Shiro released her grip on the sword. If Mr. Rose could see her he might think she was being foolish for letting go of the precious weapon he'd lent her but it was okay. It would be less painful to her this way if she didn't need to make physical contact. Now was the time to see if she truly had the power to stop this monster.

The hollow grimaced, smiling devilishly at the sight of the girl when he noticed her dropping her sword. She held out both hands, palm first as if to graciously accept defeat. Was she accepting her fate? It mattered little to the Hollow, he would finish her off with his next attack. That's when he noticed the spiritual pressure but by then it was already too late.

Shiro took a deep breath, cringing against the pain in her chest as she held her hands in front of herself, building her spiritual force into a focus point. "White Dragon's Breath!" Shiro shouted as loud as she could.

The Hollow's realization came a fraction of a second too late. The ball of energy Shiro had built up suddenly launched itself at the monster. The bala speed energy struck the hollow with devastating force faster than he could twitch a muscle, erupting into a beam of electrically charged power. There had been no way for him to avoid Shiro's point blank attack.

Shiro stood for a moment, gasping for breath. A weak smile drew across her face as the dust cleared, revealing the hollow's scorched corpse laying mangled on the ground before her. Pain shot through the teen's entire body. The untested ability, while successful in execution, had been too much for her injured condition to handle. "I did it Mr. Rose..." Shiro muttered, the feelings of pain taking over her emotions as she quickly succumbed to the realm of unconsciousness.

Sunlight drifted in through an open window, coupled by a light breeze which gently stirred Shiro to open her eyes. She stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling, memories of last night's fight slipping back into her mind. The girl would have thought it all a dream were it not for the dull pain she still felt pulsing in her chest. Tilting her head revealed the IV drip. Just how close to failing had she been? Thinking about it, Shiro was certain she hadn't completely overcome her foe by herself. She dreaded to think what could have happened if Mr. Rose hadn't helped her out back there. She'd beaten the Hollow, of that she was certain. But if she'd been alone would she still be lying unconscious out in front of the hotel? Staring at the dripping fluid of the IV, the thought of having possibly died played its way into her mind. She painfully shook the thought out of her head. If she were dead she wouldn't be feeling this pain right now, wouldn't have needed any medicine or IV drips of any kind.

Shiro carefully pushed herself up into a sitting position on the bed, the pain from her efforts, a reminder of her continued hold on life. Looking around it became clear this was not the hotel room she'd rented the night before. She could remember bits and pieces from after her fight with the hollow but they seemed to be mixed in with her dreams, and trying to differentiate the two made her head throb.

A bell sitting near a note. She reached over, taking the it and its accompanying bell. A warm smile grew across her face as she read the lines etched onto the piece of paper. Tears, not of sadness or remorse, welled up in her eyes. She could no longer be with her family, of that she was certain. And the Hollow who'd taken them away from her was also no more thanks to Mr Rose and her own efforts. With all that had happened to her, Shiro was certain of one thing she could believe in as she rang the bell.

She was not alone.

Shiro looked on in shocked amazement at the amount of food Theocelese brought into the room. There was no humanly possible way she'd be able to finish all of it in just one sitting. "A-are you a chef...!? Shiro asked, unable to hide the awe in her voice, thanking him for the meal before tipping the pulp-free glass of orange juice to her mouth. The fruity liquid hitting the girl's lips ignited her hunger and she quickly reached for the bacon with fork in hand.

"I feel fine now, thank you Mr. Rose." Shiro lied, taking a bite of omelette. After all he'd done for her, aiding her with her injuries, and now this lavish meal set before her, Shiro didn't want to worry him. The pain she felt now thanks to the treatments and medicine was much more bearable than before. "The room is pretty cozy and I like the fresh air." Shiro answered, cutting into the chocolate chip pancakes. Pushing the sliced stack into her mouth she savored the fluffy texture of the pancakes mixed with the rich flavor of chocolate. The meal was too much to finish by herself but Shiro didn't fail in at least trying everything there was to savor.

Shiro paused her eating, looking lost in thought as she stared toward Theocelese before he left. "I know we defeated the hollow that ate my parents but... what happens now?" Vengeance for her parents had been something she sought after but in the wake of its completion the girl couldn't help but feel somewhat more empty because of it. Shiro started to wondered if revenge had really been the right choice...