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When the duo got back to Rei's place, Tsuneo couldn't help but take in the organized clutter that it was. He could easily tell Rei liked to put things down but in a manner that made sense probably at the time of putting the object there. Strewed around a seat near the window were paints, pencils, brushes, and cups that had water at one point or another. At another spot in the room close to the door were books and references as if Rei was studying something. There were even some flowers both in vases and laying about on the few tables that were about. Tsuneo took a que and sat down on the couch with a surprisingly soft cushion.

"Ah yes, homemade is fine. Black with lump of sugar, maybe honey. You seem like to type to have honey on you."

While Tsuneo waited for the tea, he picked up a book close by and started to read. The book was about gardening and when to plant certain plants. The pictures in the pages depicted the flowers mentioned, and he put together that some of the marked pages were plants being grown or waiting to be grown. Some of the flowers on the table looked like the ones from the book as well. 'An avid hobbyist I see. Must keep her mind busy.'

[225*2.5+2744 = 3307]

The thought of creamer in his team made Tsuneo gag internally but on the outside he just kept his usual calm face.He was a guest after all When Rei returned with cookies and tea Tsuneo was put on guard just a bit. Not even a few hours ago, he pulled a gun on this girl thinking she was going to cause harm to others or summon a demon spirit thing. Now she was offering him a peaceful spot with refreshments.

Tsuneo put the book down as Rei explain it was her journal to keep track of what to grow as she helped her family. 'How thoughtful of her.' Tsuneo thought. Rei put the tray down and Tsuneo went for one of the waffer cookies.

"Let's get to know one another a bit better? Maybe?

Tsuneo froze with the cookie right in front of his lips. His mind buzzed with actions and scenes of what could or did happen already. 'This girl seriously is un-phased or super forgetful.'

"Well you're question implies I speak first so I share a bit. As I said, I am a professor of Battle History at the local university. I live a bit away from here but still close enough to bike to and from. I carry the weapon of my forefathers in order to destroy evil spirits just like my father and his father. I like to read. And that's it. How about you Rei-chan?"

[162*1.5+3307 = 3550]

"Thank you." Tsuneo took the tea cautiously. He subtly inspected it for poisons or toxins, but it was hard to tell with the tea infusing. He opted to put in the honey and let it all brew up slowly. Tsuneo thought over Rei's response slowly and carefully. It seemed to him she was already well versed with these hollows, and if the hollows were what his aunt said were Oni, then the two of them might be able to collaborate from time to time. Especially since Rei's shop was close to his reading spot in the woods.

"I am a little taken aback you forgave me that fast. However the weapon of my forefathers is special. I have been told it only kills Oni, or as you call them, hollows. I have never tested it on a human or other spirit, so I was hoping to get you with my bluff. That seems to have not worked. Tsuneo ate some of the wafer cookie and looked to Rei. There was something about her that suddenly caught his eye. The appearance of her white hair and red eyes caught Tsuneo before but he shrugged it off. Now he was able to take in the whole girl and appreciate her form, if from afar. Then Tsuneo placed his thoughts; her cross.

"So what is a quincy? I have never heard of it before. Is it a title?

[238*1.5+3550 = 3907]

'Damn this girl doesn't want to talk much about the better things.' Tsuneo thought as Rei dodged around talking about the attacks. He really had no interest in talking about himself, but the girl really did know a lot, tipping her hat to the spirits, what a Quincy was, and maybe more if Tsuneo was tactful.

"Oh, no. I lived in Tokyo proper for when I was in school. I moved out here when I got my position at the university some four years ago, almost five now. Scary how time goes by when you study it." He sipped quietly on his tea letting the bit of philosophy linger on their minds.

Thinking how he would use the small talk to gain more information, Tsuneo prepared a few questions before starting in with a simple one. "How about you? I gather your family was in that town, and you mention training like you've stayed in one spot or relatively close studying your... arts." Tsuneo's eyes looked around the room a bit with the mention of the art. He sipped slowly on the tea staring Rei down a bit from behind the cup.

[198*1.5+3907 = 4204]

Tsuneo smiled gently at the girl and replied with a simple, "You already told me enough to figure it out."

Then with a little more consideration, Tsuneo added, "If your job as a quency is to defeat the oni, then why come out this far when the enemy is in the town? Seems rather inconvenient to have to run all the way into town every time there is an attack."

Tsuneo took another cookie and dunked it in his tea before taking a bite. He found he was looking Rei in her red eyes, realizing how strong they were. He would never admit such a thing as he was not one to give off superficial comments out loud, but he appreciated someone who was dedicated for a majority of their life and that shown through Rei's eyes. Tsuneo was next drawn to her facial structure and her subtle movements. Rei did not betray any thoughts yet, but she gave away that she was amused by Tsuneo's comment. In fact, it looked as though she was rather enjoying Tsuneo's company and curiosity. He would make sure to be polite and thank her later.

Tsuneo sipped on his tea once more and sighed slowly. When he opened his eyes again he stared the little woman down and watched her motions rather than her words.

[224*2.5+4204 = 4764]

"Hmm, I see. Tsuneo said slowly. I finished his tea and stood up, moving about the room now. His eyes wandered at the art in the room, the way the furniture was arranged, the way Rei sat. Her whole life was art, framed the the medium she was given.

"Mind taking me through your garden? I bet it looks at beautiful as your quaint home." Tsuneo looked out the window as he asked, staring off to the forest a bit. "And more tea please, you brewed a good pot."

[92*3.5+4764 = 5086]

Tsuneo followed and looked around the garden. Each of the flowers he had seen in the notebook were present in the garden, now fresh and vibrant. Tsuneo thanked Rei as she went to get more tea and he took a moment to survey more.

Tsuneo pulled out his weapon and pointed it at the flowers. Everything was still and no sounds or light came forth. He shot once at a flower, then leaned in close to inspect the damage. He was taken aback, clearly aware that he shot a bullet at the flower. But there was no trace of it on the flower, no hole, no smoke. Not even the ground underneath had any indication a bullet was fired. Yet when Tsuneo checked the cartridge, there was a bullet missing. He noted of more evidence to gather about his weapon.

Grabbing a seat, Tsuneo, breathed in the fresh air and really took in the site of the forest. It was perfect to sit and draw if you had the skill, and certainly had an air of mystery to it. He hoped he could leverage his way into being invited back to go explore the forest in the back more, or to learn of this quiency fighting.

"Ah yes, more tea. Great, now then I have a proposal. Let's go hunt some oni right now. I know we just got to the garden but I am rather energized to do something."

[241*2.5+5086 = 5687]

Ran had been following Tanji but had lost track him and started exploring. Eventually she found herself in the forest. Jessica liked the forest it was a great play area. Ran however knew the pros and cons of roaming the forest. Ran thought suddenly as she walked along the path that it was a little odd that she thought of herself as Jessica. The seemingly young Mod-soul suddenly grins broadly and shoots off through the trees. The cat beast girl bounds nearly recklessly from tree to tree "Hehe this is so much fun" All of a sudden the girl stops "Wait what." Ran says Staring blankly in front of her. She could not remember speaking in a separate voice in the past. Though admittedly there was a lot that Ran could not remember. Also their seemed to be memories that were not hers. Or at least she did not think that they were hers. While it seemed that she was fighting with herself and she was distracted she was being hunted. A hollow that liked young girls was watching Ran as she seemed to have some kind of internal argument. The Hollow showed itself a few minutes later. Jessica screamed and started to run. She only made it a few steps before Ran regained full control."That right sweetie no need to run." "Not running hollow what do you want? I think I am suppose to kill you." She says smiling at the hollow. "No run it will kill us." "I would not hurt you lets just play a game." Ran's feet shuffle a little as she narrows her eyes at the Hollow. "Not running shut up" she says to the strange childish voice that she keeps hearing. She hears the girl whimper. As she turns her attention to the hollow. "A game? what kind of game?" She asks not trusting the hollow. She trusts it even less when it laughs. "Jess trust me and sleep." She whispers. "Dodge ball." The hollow suddenly spits some kind of substance at Ran. She swiftly dodges the attack and while running in a circle uses finger gun on the hollow she also activates iron body to raise her defenses. Ran was doing good right up to the point Jessica panics again and causes her to trip which causes the hollow to be able to land a clean hit on her. Ran silently gets back up an goes back on the offense. she can hear Jessica crying in her head as she continues to fight. It was not long before the hollow lands a second solid hit. This time ran curses and attacks again. The cries of the girl sharing her head with her brings back a memory of an older shinigami who had tinkered on her while Mama was out. And had insisted on being called "Uncle Hax." she says A few more attacks later and the hollow was defeated. But Ran had taken some damage. She sits in a tree looking at the sky. "Uncle Kirukoto Hi I need you." After Ran says this an alarm in her head goes off. Heard by only her and Hax.