That Nostalgic Summer Rain (Bleach/Kara no Kyoukai)

[X] Perhaps it would help if someone else was there to talk to Ouji as well.

Thankfully, the two girls made it to Urahara's store without being seen by any passerbys. It had taken some time to do it, but nobody had seen Fujino's clothes stained with mud. Now that the two were approaching the store, there was some people who would inevitably see them, but they were people that Fujino could actually explain the situation to. They might initially misunderstand the situation, but once the initial awkwardness was dealt with, they wouldn't think Fujino some kind of mud-dwelling hooligan.

Tatsuki opened the door ahead of Fujino, and the purple-haired girl followed her inside the building. With Tatsuki holding the door open for her, Fujino was able to enter without taking the time to make sure the door was closed herself.

"Ah, Asagami, Arisawa." The voice recognisable as Tsukabishi's greeted. "I was wondering when the two of you would be here."

"Hello, Tsukabishi." Fujino greeted. "Is Misaya okay?"

"She woke up a while ago." Tsukabishi explained. "She hasn't done anything threatening or harmful, to herself or others. She was trying to pretend she hadn't woken when I tried to speak with her."

"I see." Fujino said. "I would like to speak with her, if I can."

"Of course." Tsukabishi replied. "Would you like a dry set of clothes, by the way? You look as if you could use some."

"That'd be nice." Tatsuki spoke up from behind Fujino. "It's really cold."

Tsukabishi was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke again, he seemed to be addressing Tatsuki.

"You hurt your arm." Tsukabishi noted. "How did that happen?"

"...We took a bit of a detour on the way here." Tatsuki admitted. "We forgot to mention while you were there, but Ouji had mentioned having a fairy controlling a Hollow in the graveyard. We took care of it."

"I see." Tsukabishi noted. "Arisawa, please, allow me to examine your arm.Even if it seems fine nw, I have noticed that it is common for the recently supernatural to ignore an injury that they can ignore with their enhanced endurance, until more pressure is put on it. A cracked bone could be ignored now, but may make it easier to break it in the future."

"I guess." Tatsuki conceded. "Feels fine, but you're the expert."

"Asagami." Tsukabishi changed topics briefly. "If you go downstairs from here, Ururu or Jinta should hear you coming down. Ask either for a fresh change of clothes, and they should help you to a room."

"Thank you." Fujino replied. "Before I go, can I ask something?"

"Go ahead."

"I need to convince Misaya to stop pursuing her friends resurrection." Fujino explained. "But I am unsure if she would be convinced by what I have to say. You and Urahara are more knowledgeable. Perhaps you could help to convince her of the impossibility of her task?"

"Kisuke would be more likely to get through to her, I believe." Tsukabishi mused. "I believe I would be too blunt with such a depressing topic, and I am unsure of how to phrase it without causing Ouji to withdraw and reject my words. Kisuke would be better suited to reasoning with her."

"Should I ask him to help me, then?" Asagami asked.

"I'll let him know that you want him to speak with Ouji with you." Tsukabishi replied. "He's downstairs as well. Arisawa, if you follow me to the free room so I can examine your arm in an isolated environment, we'll pass him on the way there."

"Sure." Tatsuki replied. "Let's go then."

Tsukabishi started moving first, and Fujino listened for his footsteps so she could make sure she followed them. Making sure to leave her umbrella leaning against a wall as she started to move again, Asagami felt around in front of her with her cane. Briefly, it touched against what Fujino presumed was a shelf, so she moved around it.

"You know." Tatsuki spoke up, suddenly. "I'm still not entirely over how the old candy shop is apparently where the experts on magic in Karakura set up shop. Like, you guys sell candy?"

"Why not a candy store?" Tsukabishi asked. "It's not as if we have reason to sell anything else as our mundane cover."

"Fair enough, I suppose." Tatsuki continued. "Just not the kind of store I'd expect to see hiding a secret room of supernatural stuff."

"So the cover is working well, then?" Tsukabishi asked.

Tatsuki stopped moving for a moment, then chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so."

"By the way, Asagami." Tsukabishi mentioned. "We're almost at the stairs."

"Thank you." Fujino replied. "You two go ahead. I can go down stairs myself, but it's slow. You two could go ahead."

"In that case." Tsukabishi continued. "I'll tell Ururu to prepare a set of clothes for you. Actually, I don't think you ever picked up the clothes you left here when they were bloodstained, so perhaps she could return those to you."

"I presume that, since you are presenting that as an option, they have been cleaned?" Fujino asked.

"They were." Tsukabishi confirmed.

"Thank you." Fujino replied, as she stopped moving. Her cane tabbed around and felt what seemed like the edge of a doorway. "This is where the stairs are?"

"Yes." Tsukabishi replied. Fujino stepped aside to let Tatsuki by easier, and waited until she heard the sounds of footsteps on the stairs.

"I will see you soon." Fujino said.

"Same." Tatsuki replied. "Uh, I think I'll sit out the Ouji talk, I don't think she likes me. But I'll see you after that at the latest. Probably before the talk, unless it turns out my arm really is hurt."

Fujino nodded, and listened as the two sets of footsteps continued downstairs. Technically, she could have just walked at the back of the group, but for a moment, she waited.

Misaya was down those stairs. Likely in a room by herself, and Fujino wouldn't run into her the instant she went downstairs, but Misaya was still down there. The last two times Fujino had been around Misaya, someone had been hurt when Misaya panicked and tried to get away.

It wasn't a very well founded fear that suddenly struck Fujino, but it was one she wanted to consider. How well could Misaya hear from inside the room she was in? Would she hear Fujino or Tatsuki if they started talking? If she did, would she panic again? Would she try to escape again, or hurt herself in the attempt?

It took Fujino a moment to calm her nerves. Perhaps it was possible, but it wasn't likely. Misaya had awoken before Fujino arrived and hadn't attempted to escape, and Tsukabishi would presumably be sure not to let the situation continue on for much longer. Wherever Misaya was, it was likely a room meant to keep her from escaping easily, or perhaps wouldn't let her hear much of the outside.

Even if there was the possibility, Fujino shouldn't have to worry about it.

Testing the area in front of her again, Fujino felt around to find the exact point the stairs began, and measured how large the steps were, before she started making her way down.

At the bottom of the chair, Tsumugiya Ururu was waiting, and escorted Fujino to a room with a towel and her clothes. The rain had made her hair wet enough that she wasn't able to dry it completely, but the rest of Fujino was dry enough after a moment, and she wanted to speak with Misaya quickly. Once she was in clothes that weren't soaked with the rain, Fujino stepped out of the room.

"Ah, you're done." The voice that Fujino recognised as Urahara's spoke. "Tessai said you wanted me to talk to your classmate? Hoping she'll listen to her elders?"

"Something like that." Fujino replied. "It's good to speak with you again, Urahara."

"Wow, it's rare to hear that." Urahara noted. "These days, kids your age tend to be so disrespectful, y'know? Always mocking me for the hat or acting like delinquents."

"My sympathies." Fujino noted.

"My thanks, Fujino." Urahara quipped back, a tad too familiar for Fujino's liking. "Tatsuki's friend Ichigo's probably the worst, you know. I mean, he was under a lot of stress, but you'd think he'd be a bit more grateful for the help I provided him. Maybe he'll get around to it when he gets back, but more kids need to be like you. All nice and polite and all."

"Thank you." Fujino muttered, trying not to show that faint embarrassment she was feeling from the praise."

"Anyway, Ouji." Urahara refocused the conversation. "I'll let you take the lead on the conversation. I'm a stranger so I'll just chime in when you want me to. Or if it looks like it's working. That sound good?"

"It does." Fujino accepted.

"Great!" Urahara continued. "Now follow me, I'll show you to Ouji."

Fujino followed his footsteps, as far as they went. As the footsteps ended, Fujino heard Urahara tap against the wall, and heard the sound of the tapping shift as if the material itself was changing.

"In here." Urahara said, opening the door. Fujino waited for him to enter, and followed.

"Misaya." Fujino began. "Are you awake?"

There wasn't a reply.

"She's awake." Urahara noted, after a moment. "We gave her food a little bit before you arrived, and some of its gone now. She's just faking."

"...Go away." Misaya muttered softly.

"Misaya." Fujino tried again. "Please. Talk to me."

The silence hung for what felt like a long time, before Misaya muttered something under her breath.

"Where am I?"

"Underneath a candy store." Urahara replied.

"...That place" Misaya continued weakly. "Fairies could never get in."

"Misaya." Fujino tried to control the focus of the conversation more. "Are you okay? You ate some of the food, but have you had enough?"

"...I stabbed you." Misaya continued. "Why do you…"

She trailed off again, but Fujino gathered the meaning well enough.

"You need help." She explained. "I want to help you."

"Don't need help." Misaya muttered.

"Don't lie to me. How long would you have gone without food, if someone didn't literally put it in front of you?"

Misaya refused to reply once again.

"Please." Fujino continued. "I'm worried about you, Misaya. Talk to me. I want to help you."

Again, there was no reply. As she stood in the silence, Fujino turned her head towards Urahara, hoping he would have some idea of what to do.

"Alright then, let's just get to the point." Urahara sighed. "Ouji. Trying for resurrection, I hear?"

Misaya inhaled sharply, before falling silent for a moment. Composing herself, perhaps?

"What's it to you?" Misaya spat out.

"Well, recently, we had this Magus going around ripping memories out of people's heads while trying to resurrect someone." Urahara replied. "And that's not exactly something I like to hear about. I live here. It's a problem. I'd rather head it off before it happens again."

"...Fine." Misaya muttered. "Doesn't matter. I already have my…"

She trailed off, before speaking again in a panicked voice.

"Where is it?" Misaya asked. "My last fairy? I can't feel it. It should be…"

"I dealt with it." Fujino interrupted. "Someone was going to get hurt, Misaya. You left it attacking everything in sight in a graveyard. It could have hurt someone."

"I needed that." Misaya's voice faltered as she spoke, quickly descending from a shout to a mutter. "I… You destroyed all my baselines… That was the last fairy I had. If I make another, it won't… I can't…"

She trailed off again, failing to complete her sentence.

"I'm sorry, Misaya." Fujino said. "But you're going to hurt people, and yourself, if you keep doing this."

"Don't care." Misaya muttered. "I want to see her again…"

"Do you really think you could have done it?" Fujino asked. "That making a powerful enough Hollow could have, somehow, brought Tachibana back?"

"Something has to work." Misaya replied. "Maybe that would have."

Again, Fujino turned towards Urahara, giving him his cue to speak.

"Why does something have to work, again?" Urahara asked. "I'm curious, here. Do you have a reason for this, or do you just want it to be true?"

"...It has to work." Misaya repeated. She hadn't answered the question at all, and yet the answer was still clear.

"I see." Urahara mused. "So then, follow up question. How much do you know about how the afterlife actually works?"

Once more, Misaya didn't respond. Fujino had to admit, she found it frustrating. Still, perhaps it was a sign. Misaya still wasn't opening up enough, if she kept refusing to answer. If Misaya was going to reject the conversation whenever she didn't want to answer a question, Fujino wasn't going to be able to convince her of anything.

"Misaya." Fujino took over the conversation again. "I know you don't want help. But this isn't going to be any easier if you don't talk."

"Just let me leave." Ouji muttered.

"So you can keep starving yourself?" Fujino asked. "So you can refuse to look after yourself? So you can suffer and die alone?"

"Don't pretend to care." Misaya muttered. "You're only here because you want to feel better about what you've done. I could be anyone doing anything and you'd be trying to help."

"You know." Urahara spoke up. "This is the first time I've heard 'You'd help anyone with anything' be used as criticism of a person's character. That's usually considered a virtue, isn't it?"

"Asagami." Misaya ignored Urahara as she continued. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"Because I don't want to." Fujino responded. "I don't want people to fall apart and hurt themselves and hurt others if I can do something about it. Why is it so wrong that I want you to be okay?"

"I don't need to be okay." Misaya said. "I need to bring Kaori back. She's the one who needs help."

"And why don't you need help?" Fujino asked. If she could get Misaya to talk more about her reasoning, it would be easier to convince her to stop.

"You know why." Misaya continued. "I'm a murderer."

"It was an accident." Fujino countered quickly, before Urahara could get the wrong idea from what little information he had of the situation.

"I tried to kill an entire class of people."

"You needed help, and the only person who knew didn't give you any help." Fujino reasoned.

Closing her eyes, Fujino took another moment to think. Urahara didn't know anything, so how much could she say without saying something that gave too much away?

"Looking at what you've done, I can't see anything wrong." Fujino said. "I've done worse. If I was allowed to be forgiven, then why can't you?"

"It's not the same." Misaya muttered again.

"How?" Fujino asked. "I need you to talk to me, Misaya. I want to resolve the situation, and I need you to talk if we do this."

When enough time had passed for Fujino to realise Misaya had gone quiet again, Asagami decided to take an educated guess. She hoped she was understanding this right.

"It's because you're the one deciding what can be forgiven, isn't it?" Fujino asked. "You won't accept my help because you don't think you deserve it. You wanted to bring Tachibana back to life because you feel guilty, you said that yourself. So the reason you keep rejecting my help is because I want you to stop hurting yourself, and you don't want to stop."

"Shut up." Misaya bit out. "So what?

"What are you going to change by working until you die?" Fujino asked.

"I'll bring Kaori back." Misaya muttered back.

And once again, the conversation had returned to the point where Urahara would be useful. Misaya had clammed up briefly there, but hopefully, she would have opened up a bit more since last time.

Urahara took his cue, as he spoke up.

"Are we so sure about that?" Urahara began. "We kinda got sidetracked there, so I've been waiting for a while now to give the big exposition dump I was all prepared to say five minutes ago."

"What are you talking about?" Misaya asked.

"Well, see, I'm something of an expert when it comes to the afterlife." Urahara mused. "I've got books on it and everything. You go there when you die and all that."

"Riveting." Misaya spat.

Well, sarcastic comments was still more open than silence. Perhaps some emotional variety would stop her from just getting depressed and falling silent again? Or, at least, Fujino hoped that's what Urahara's intent was.

"Now, see, the afterlife is big on clean slates." Urahara explained. "Unless you're a terrible person. They suffer forever. Everyone else goes to get reincarnated. Usually fairly quickly. How long ago did your friend die?"

Misaya let out a brief gasp. "You…"

"Yeah, I mean it's probably too late." Urahara shrugged. "Tachibana's soul's gone now. Actually, from what I heard, it was a suicide, so it was probably too late by the time you found out she was dead.

"You're lying!" Misaya spat out.

"Nah." Urahara's tone was casual as he explained. "I mean, it takes a lot of willpower to stick around the afterlife, you know. Well, and spiritual power. Even the people who do stick around tend to forget their lives real fast without that. Someone actively escaping life? They're not sticking around."

"That can't be right." Misaya's voice was frantic as she kept speaking. "There had to be some way to linger. There has to be some way to bring her back!"

"Feel free to let me know if you find out how." Urahara replied. "I've got all the books and notes lying around. You can look at them all you like."

"Faked." Misaya dismissed immediately. "Can't be real. There has to be a way."

Her tone was desperate, and she hadn't even considered the possibility of looking at whatever Urahara had lying around. At this point, it was becoming clear that this was becoming an emotional issue again. And that, then, was Fujino's cue.

"Misaya." She brought attention back to herself again, before she continued. "I understand what you're feeling. I know what it feels like, to feel guilty, to want to make things right. So please, listen to me when I say this. I want to help you."

"If you understand, then why stop me?" Misaya asked. "And why is it okay for you to spend several days tracking me down and being stabbed, but not for me to do this?"

"Because I'm not going to kill myself to help someone else." Fujino replied. "As hard as this has been, I've at least been eating. I've slept. I've taken time to try to unwind. You haven't."

"I…" Misaya began, before trailing off again.

"But I understand." Fujino picked up as soon as she realised Misaya wasn't going anywhere with her statement. "I understand why people saying it isn't as bad as you think can be hard to handle. Earlier, I had a conversation with Tatsuki about this exact thing."

Stepping forward to approach Misaya, Fujino extended a hand. The last time Fujino had given Misaya this chance, Ouji had stabbed her. This time, Fujino was hoping Misaya would take her hand. Even if it would only be a symbolic gesture.

"You're going through a lot." Fujino said. "And Misaya, I want to help you. I want you to be safe. I want you to get through this. Even if you feel guilty, even if you feel like you have to suffer like this to try for an impossible goal, just so you can cope, there has to be a better way. There has to be something else."

"...It has to be this way." Misaya muttered again. "I…"

"Why does it have to be this way?" Fujino asked. "Why can't I help you find something else?"

"I want to see her again!" Misaya's sudden shout caught Fujino off-guard, after how weakly she had spoken thus far. "Kaori didn't deserve to die! She was suffering and couldn't do anything and nobody noticed! I…"

Misaya choked on her words, and Fujino took the opportunity to fill in the blanks.

"It's complicated, isn't it?" Fujino asked. "It's not just one thing after all. It's partly guilt and partly grief, it's the desire to feel better about yourself and the desire to fix what went wrong. You're not sure what to do, so you're grasping at straws. You saw the possibility in the notes you stole and you leapt at it. Am I right?"

Misaya seemed to struggle with words, for a moment. In the end, it was Urahara who spoke instead.

"She's nodding her head." He explained. "Think you're getting through to her, Fujino."

With a soft, hopefully reassuring smile, Fujino focused her head in Misaya's direction again.

"I know it's confusing." Fujino said. "I don't know what to do either. But I know this isn't working. Please, Misaya. Let me help you. I can find a way for you to work through this without hurting yourself. Without eternally chasing the impossible. Even if we don't know what to do now, I'm sure it'll be okay in the end."

Fujino gave Misaya time to process her words. She was getting through to her, at last. After all the effort of finding her in the first place, it wasn't even all that hard.

"...Don't want to go back to Reien." Misaya said, sounding more as if she was speaking to herself. "Too much pain. I don't want to look at that place anymore. Those people. They let her die. I almost killed them. Can't…"

Biting her lip, Fujino tried to think of a response.

[X] After everything that had happened, people would understand how hard this was on Misaya. People would be able to help her, if she came back to Reien.
[X] Before Fujino could think of how to speak, Urahara raised a suggestion of his own. "I might have an idea. It's more important to be safe than to go back, right?"