flameandpassion | 48 [Text]

Both, sometimes. It depends.

I wonder... what was the worst event you had to go through since you arrived here?

[Rei is silent at the question.

There have been so many terrible ones -- so many. There are obvious answers and not so obvious answers. The event where she and Hitsugaya were tricked into thinking they were together -- that threatened their entire friendship. The event where Usagi was apathetic, where she didn't care, where she gave up -- that was probably the worst, if Rei were being totally honest.

But there is one obvious answer, and Rei glances away.]

There was an event where we all received memories -- and we grew older or younger to match them. That was... probably the worst. A lot of people were hurt that week, because we weren't ready to deal with what happened.

[She had spent the first night of that event making sure Hitsugaya didn't bleed to death.]

Memories of the future for example? [Raven's eyes widen a bit. This event sounds quite dreadful to her indeed. She's not sure yet that she can face hers.]

What do you mean people were hurt? There were fights then?

... there was man, named Aizen Sousuke, from Toushirou's world. He was a powerful shinigami, very dangerous -- and that event pushed him to his future, where he lost control of his powers.

I was on my way to rescue Negi, who had lost control of his own powers. I ran into Aizen instead.

[Her tone is very neutral and level.]

[That name... She heard it before. It's the name of the man who killed Killua.]

Did he... kill you?

[They died during the same fight.]

Yes.

Why?

[Because she fought back. Because Usagi got involved. Because she was powerful.

And, the worst possibility, the one she will never, ever, ever voice, is because she is Hitsugaya's friend.]

Because I was there.

You mean he would have killed just anyone who happened to be there?

That's who he is.

[Quietly.]

How long did he stay here?

I don't know.

[And she refuses to have her ask Hitsugaya.]

He never came back to life after he was killed.

But I thought... all people who died here came back. [She pales. So she'd been right. Horst could never have come back.]

The one who killed him, was it Hitsugaya?

Sometimes the price is to be returned to your own world.

[She pauses, then.]

No.

[It was Ulquiorra Cifer and Urahara Kisuke. Without them, Hitsugaya would have been added to the list of the dead.]

That's news to me. [Though whether good or bad she cannot say.]

...who did it? I must have been another shinigami, right?

[Good in that Hitsugaya isn't dead. Bad in that he didn't get his revenge. Again.]

Urahara Kisuke and Ulquiorra Cifer.

Mr Urahara... Is he a shinigami captain too? [Because it's less than obvious when you look at him.]

Don't take this wrong, I don't have anything against him, but... I wonder why Ulquiorra decided to side with the shinigami instead of siding with an ennemy of theirs. Isn't he... a hollow?

I don't know what Urahara is. [Which is the truth -- Rei has no idea of his history.] And as for Ulquiorra, not everything is so black and white.

I don't know any of them very well but... Actions speak louder than words as far as I'm concerned. So I won't judge Ulquiorra based on what he is.

I would be dead without Ulquiorra.

[Very simply and to the point. Rei will defend him to the grave.]

And he won't judge you, either.

...You mean he saved you again since that time. [Because this is kinda confusing, Rei.]

Ah. [Thanks for reminding her that you always see her demon half first when you see her.] I'll have to get to know him better before he can decide about that anyway.

Ulquiorra was with me when we went into the Inner City. I would be dead without him. I trust him with my life, regardless of what he is.

[Rei doesn't judge anyone upon seeing them, but it's a healthy reminder that Raven is in no place to judge Ulquiorra based on what he is when Raven, Rei assumes, has the same exact problem he does.]

And he won't. He holds pretty much the same opinion of everyone when you first meet him unless you prove otherwise.

[aka most people aren't really worth it.]

You don't have to give me reasons for trusting him. [Somehow it's enough for her to know that you do.]

[She doesn't need that kind of reminders. Because she never judges people on appearances. That said she knows very well that even if you can try to fight your nature, you can't help what you are. She's a half-demon and he's a hollow. They can try to do what's right, there will always be a dark side to them. And Raven is truly disgusted by that demon side of her, that's all.]

You're very protective of your friends. ...I am too.

They're very protective of me, too.

[Hitsugaya watches her energy wherever she goes. The senshi are fiercely protective of one another. Al is always there to give her advice.]

48 [Text]

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