question of existence, apart from reality

[unburden]

Urahara Kisuke had always been something of a fleeting presence in Rukia's life. From the stories people told while she was in the Academy, no two of which matched exactly, to the time when they were arguably friends and acquaintances, and he still couldn't be found unless absolutely needed. He's woven in and out of Rukia's life more times than she can count, and not always in innocuous ways. Urahara had a way of trampling into one's world, his steps bending blades of grass, and sending ripples skirting across water.

His absence leaves just as much crumbling around her.

She wakes an instant after it happens. While Urahara may be good at masking his spiritual energy, his absence is still notable, as though someone removed a shade or two of color. Making her way over to his store, Rukia half expects to find Un Chat Gris disappeared as well, perhaps taken with Urahara down the proverbial rabbit hole.

Yet it remains there, cats softly mewling as they walk up to greet Rukia as she enters through the back. Raking her fingers through her hair, Rukia steps inside, eyes tracing the panels of the walls and seeking out boxes of materials that Urahara has hidden throughout the store. Spiritual tools, some to suppress power and others to amplify it. A few false bodies, empty vessels for souls to inhabit. She spends a few hours organizing it all, putting it into a system she can easily navigate.

There are good reasons not to shut down Urahara's back door business, even if there might be different rules regarding the wares from here on out.

But inventory isn't the only loose end that Urahara's left behind as his legacy, and Rukia closes her eyes, seeking out a couple of the souls she needs to speak with immediately on the matter. One is far easier to find, and she gives his soul a little tug — a request, rather than a summon.

"Hope you can spare a few minutes," she murmurs under her breath, standing up and preparing for her guest to arrive.

Comments

[godless_son]

Unless there has been some sort of extenuating circumstance, Castiel does not generally required more than two to three nights worth of sleep in a week. As it stands, he's had none in almost six days. It's not just the losses, although they are difficult to bear, but the disturbance to his grace that keeps him awake. The more powerful live tremors in their absence and he'd known that someone powerful had been taken.

He is glad, when he hears her prayer, that it was not Rukia.

"Hello Rukia," he says, wings fluttering as he lands next to her, brow furrowing at the energy of this place.

[unburden]

"Hello, Castiel," Rukia echoes back in return, her shoulders pulled back straight in formality. Only, a second later, she feels a touch ridiculous for it. Like a child trying to wear shoes too big for her feet, stumbling around uncertainly. It's not that Rukia can't keep up formalities when the occasion calls for it — if there's anything that her adoptive family drilled into her, it was that — but Castiel is something different to her. A friend and a peer.

More importantly, there's no proper way to go about dealing with a disappearance.

"Please, come in. Have a seat and make yourself comfortable," Rukia adds, waving towards the flat cushions on the ground. "I wanted to invite you over to let you know that Urahara Kisuke has left the city. And, to start talking about what may need to be done now that he's left."

[godless_son]

Castiel frowns down at the cushions, uncertain how he is to arrange himself on a pillow then up at the walls, running a hand along as he feels the strange mix of energies still stored in this place. These things could be dangerous if not properly stored and he suspects that is part of the reason he is here.

"I felt a shift when I woke up this morning, I'm sorry for your loss," he says, fixing her with wide eyes. His own opinions aside, he knows that he meant something to her. He stands, waiting for her to sit in case that is the polite thing to do, as it is in restaurants.

[unburden]

Seeing Castiel's hesitation, Rukia easily takes the lead, seating herself down on one of the cushions, knees first. She smiles, appreciative for the sympathy, but also not wanting to mislead Castiel into thinking that she's grieving the loss of Urahara Kisuke. She isn't.

The city may be a touch more lonely without his presence, but his is not a loss she mourns.


"I appreciate that. But, to be honest, Urahara-san and I were never the fastest of friends, and it won't be hard for me to return to a city that lacks his presence," Rukia admits, tilting her head as she looks up at Castiel. "Most of all, I simply wanted to point out the spiritual shift in the city, now that he's gone. It may have some implications. Some Hollows may be more willing to come out of the shadows than ever before, now that his strength no longer permeates the streets. I wasn't sure how best to bring that up to Dean, but I may need his help more often in the near future."

Reaching forward, Rukia turns over a small, hidden panel in the table, revealing a small stove. "Would you like some tea?"

[godless_son]

Castiel nods, carefully lowering himself onto his knees as he mulls over this not entirely unanticipated news. Feared but not anticipated.

"Dean will want to help keep the city safe in any way he can," he murmurs, chest tightening at even the idea of the threat of anything that can affect Dean so cruelly. "I think you know that I hold back my power much of the time as it is dangerous in such a small place and I have a...difficult history with losing control. However, I want to help as well. I don't want those things getting to Dean or anyone else, again. Come to us both," he finishes, the air vibrating with more of his Grace than he would like.

[unburden]

"There's a reason why I singled him out as the person to help, even though I know that you carry a greater amount of spiritual power," Rukia points out, tilting her head gently, hoping not to offend Castiel in the process. She readies the water, setting it to a boil and warming the cups so that they can best receive the tea. "I know that things are different in your system, and perhaps different in the greater world that you live in. But the practice which my kind keeps carefully to is the notion that there is a balance that must be maintained between the living and the dead. Souls cycle through the world, reborn constantly, unless otherwise interfered with. My world was put in grave danger before in the past, when malevolent spirits were simply expunged. Completely destroyed. If the world can be likened to a scale, that brought things away from their necessary balance. Dean has been through the training to manage this, and his tools are the kind that purify spirits, as opposed to ridding of them entirely."

Gray eyes flicker up to meet Castiel's gaze.

"I could try to teach you to do the same. But I want for you to go through that training first. None of us can afford to be rash, especially since Darrow is such a small, enclosed space. One where none of us truly understand all the rules at play."

[godless_son]

"I do not know if my Grace could be made to do such a thing," he murmurs, not quite able to meet her gaze. "I was made to be a weapon of God's destruction, it tends to be a very extreme sort of power. I can heal, though, so perhaps..."

He trails off, feeling more off center than he would have expected at the idea that his power could be changed in such a way. That he would not have to be quite so dangerous to those around him.

[unburden]

"A fire can warm a person as well as it can destroy one. A sword's sharp edge may cut, but there is the blunt end as well, used to guide and stall. Rarely can a power or a weapon only be used in one way," Rukia points out, one of her eyebrows lifting. She doesn't blame Castiel for having a narrower point of view, but neither does she let him languish in it.

If there's anything she's learned since knowing Ichigo, it's that possibilities are always nearly endless.

"I can at least help you see if there's something that can be done. I can't promise results, but I can promise another perspective and pair of eyes."

[godless_son]

"I would like to take you up on that," Castiel says, straightening up with a decisive nod. "Besides which, with Ishiah and Urahara both gone, I think someone else needs to be more familiar with what my power entails, just in case. I would hope you would be willing."

He takes a deep breath, looking around the room, different points of power and magic all around them. "Then there is the question of what to do with this place."

[unburden]

"Of course I'm willing," Rukia says, bowing deeply while still seated. Even though she's about to enter a situation where she might be more of the teacher than Castiel, he's still significantly older than she is, and deserving of her full respect. Already, her chest feels tight with the challenge, hoping that she'll be of some use to Castiel.

"As for this place, I plan on keeping it open. I may not necessarily keep manufacturing the same items as Urahara-san did, but there is a market for such tools, and unless their use gets out of hand, I think it'd be better to continue supplying," Rukia admits. "Urahara-san used to provide me with tools that helped keep my vessel working well. It allowed me to continue working in the living world, at the time. I wouldn't want to leave those like myself stranded."

[godless_son]

"Such a sudden void will attract many creatures more than willing to fill it. It's certainly best that it is you," Castiel agrees with a nod, closing his eyes as he senses the power around them and just beyond. "His absence has not gone unnoticed, which I am sure you feel. If you need any assistance with protecting this place, please do not hesitate. As blunt an object as I can be, it can be useful."

He opens his eyes and fixes Rukia with a small smile. "I have not, before Darrow, been exposed to many types of power other than Angel and Demon. Aside from the healing, the power is very similar. I am glad to learn from you."

[unburden]

"I also had limited experience, myself, mostly confined to those who came in direct contact with shinigami out of choice or circumstance," Rukia says modestly, watching carefully as Castiel feels the lingering power in the room. It's good to know that she's not the only one who senses the shift; the leftover reiatsu fluctuates, almost as though trying to breathe through inconstant fog.

The fact that Urahara Kisuke would leave behind such a legacy is almost poetic.

"I think we'll learn much from each other, as we already have. I will certainly keep your generous offer in mind. Is there a way that you prefer for me to reach you? I requested your presence a little ungracefully today, I admit."

[godless_son]

"I quite enjoy being summoned through prayer," Castiel assures her. "It is a positive reminder of what I used to be and still am, sometimes. I would very much like to arrange a time for us to work together. I suspect I have only seen a glimpse of what your power entails."

And he is as always, deeply grateful she does not resent having to use it against him.

[unburden]

"To be fair, I only recently got a glimpse at some of my powers, myself," Rukia says with a small smile, her shoulders pulling back proudly. She's glad that she's been able to work towards unlocking more of her powers while in Darrow. These days, she carries a confidence about her that she hadn't always been able to summon at home.

If nothing else, Urahara Kisuke helped in that respect.

"But, that sounds fine. I'll summon you much in the same way that I did today, provide it isn't too intrusive. You are free to ignore my summons, should you need. I'll try to make it clear if I'm reaching out in an emergency."