Black and Blue Eyes [CLOSED]

Night was on its way as the sun set over the forests of the Rukongai. The cool breeze left a tranquil atmosphere, calm and relaxing. There wasn't much going on for Lilith Antonovich. Having once again, yet unofficially, left the Gotei "United", Lilith was wondering the Rukongai. Bored, tired, and depressed, she found a spot under a large oak tree to watch nothing. There was no one around and nothing she wanted to do. She had ended her repeated search for her son today, so her daily disappointment had come and gone. Settled comfortably under the tree, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ready to take a nap or just fall out for the rest of the day. She wasn't exactly enjoying her time awake, so sleeping days away really just felt... right.

Sitting serenely beneath the tree, Lilith was almost able to fall into her slumber when a loud crash woke her up. She had sensed it coming, but hoped it would turn another way. She opened her eyes and looked in its general direction, sighing in annoyance as she pushed herself to her feet and began making her way through the trees to see what she was going to have to deal with. The thing wasn't that powerful, and obviously stupid and unskilled. Anyone who could sense her in the area wasn't exactly dumb enough to stay, let alone start a fight.

Lilith made her way into the area that the hollow was rampaging and just watched. Her expression showed nothing more than boredom as the thing came into sight. She wasn't going to move in. There was someone else here, likely someone apart of the Gotei "United." What a stupid title. Lilith didn't like change and that was a big change in her mind. In fact, it's one of the reasons she "unofficially" left. She was part of the Gotei Thirteen, not the Gotei "United."

Pretentious.

Lilith's attention fell upon the young girl in the area that had pulled her sword. She sized the girl up rather quickly and new the little thing wasn't going to be able to take the hollow. However, maybe she'd be surprised? Lilith decided to stay back and watch, but was ready to move the moment she was needed.

Lilith had her curiosity momentarily piqued when she heard the girl's battle cry. The girl had managed to harm the hollow, but then she checked the weapon for blood over keeping her eye on the enemy. Foolish. Lilith noticed that smile as well. Idiot. Was the girl proud of drawing blood? It may seem hypocritical coming from Lilith, but Lilith enjoyed battle, not harming another being. She enjoyed challenge and dueling. Killing, however, was not something she enjoyed.

The hollow tried to disarm the girl, but apparently her grip was almost too strong. The girl tumbled with the hit and ended up on her ass. Impressive, but another limit the girl was going to have to learn. Sometimes letting go of your blade can save your life. In this case, it would have saved Lilith the trouble of stepping in. The girl's grip was strong, but not strong enough to keep the blade in hand, but only to put herself on the ground from the hit. Now, Lilith had to step in.

Lilith charged and ended up above the hollow within a mere fraction of a moment. Fist clenched and arm pulled back, Lilith slammed her knuckled down into the bone of the hollows mask. The mask easily cracked beneath the masterful strength behind the attack. Upon impact, Lilith's energy practically caused the hollow's body to explode. It was weak in comparison to her and its body could not hold up to the power behind her strike. Lilith landed as the hollow vanished and dusted her hands off by rubbing them on her pants.

"Mm." Lilith looked back to the girl on the ground and stared at her. Lilith's initial gaze was hard, but there wasn't any judgement behind it. She looked the girl up and down, then back to the girl's eyes. "You should be more careful." was all she said before turning away to walk off toward the direction she had come.

The encounter with the weak little lady quickly turned into a new game. Lilith knew the girl was following her and let it happen. She figured the girl would give up and talk to her or decide just to go home. It's not like the girl could fight her, unless it was suicide by red-head. The first few minutes, Lilith turned back toward the girl casually, acting as if she didn't know the girl was there. She'd shrug it off and continue on walking. She even made sure to keep in the trees to allow the child to have her hiding spots. She could have exited the forest, but this was much more entertaining than leaving would have been.

After a bit longer, Lilith turned around a tree and shunpo'd. Since Lilith wasn't one to hide herself, there'd be a rush of energy and then she reappeared behind the girl. "Yo." she said in her mature, calm voice. Once the girl turned around, Lilith would be half-bent over, leaning down to be at eye level with the frightened little mouse. "Is there a reason you're following me around, child? Shouldn't you be getting back to your squad? Or were you out here all alone?" Lilith doubted the girl was out all alone, but who knows? She didn't seem like the type to be out on her own, but Lilith has been wrong before...

Amazing. Lilith watched this girl fear her by the weight of her spiritual pressure alone. She had to hold back what would have been a bellowing laugh as the child fell. Since she succeeded at that, she just stared the girl down as she got this half-assed excuse of a lie from her. "Mm... Liar." Lilith called her out and then grabbed the girl by the back of her shirt, lifting her like a cat by the scruff, and then setting her on her feet. "At least on the report bullshit. If you want to thank someone, just thank 'em. You always this shy? Or is the big red devil monster that scary?" Lilith raised an eyebrow as she let the girl go, showing a small smile.

"Look, child. Calm down." Lilith motioned back toward the way they came, "The moment I saw you weren't gonna kill the thing, I had to step in. I am not the type to sit back and watch someone die. Oh... And when it comes to my name, keep it out of your report. I don't need the Gotei United trying to bother me. Can you do that?" Lilith gave Kei a moment to answer. Once the girl agreed, she nodded. "Okay then. My name's Lilith." she left it at that, assuming the bright red hair, eye-patch, and name would pretty much give it away to who she is.

That was a change that Lilith did not like. The moment the girl learned her name, there was a shift that hardened Lilith's expression. She stared down at the girl, watching her fumble, shake, and barely be able to speak. Lilith said nothing for a moment, her demeanor as strong as before, but something was happening. Lilith closed her eyes and took a deep breath and did her best, literally her best, to pull in the extra reiatsu she was releasing to calm the girl down. It may have lightened the load on Kei only a little, but it was all Lilith could do. Her eye-patch only held back so much, so sometimes Lilith had to do it herself.

"You're welcome, Kei." Lilith put one hand on her hip and the other on Kei's shoulder. When she realized what touching the girl could do, she quickly pulled her hand away, remembering that contact could cause problems. "A little fear and nervousness I can understand, but that terror you were feeling isn't needed. I know the pressure of being around my reiatsu can be a frightening, but there isn't much I can do about it. I'm not going to hurt you, you know? What kind of stories are they telling about me back there? I'm not a monster..." Lilith glanced off and rubbed the back of her head, trying to imagine what people said about her. It probably wasn't the best, especially since she did kind of abandon the Gotei without warning. Guess she's a deserter too? She chuckled and looked back to Kei. She poked the girl's forehead and smiled a calm, motherly smile.

"Don't go sayin' that about yourself. It wasn't foolish, it was brave. The only way to get stronger is to keep trying..." Lilith sat down next to a tree and looked up to the girl that she normally towered over, "Look... I wasn't tryin' to insult you. It may have come out wrong. I watched for a bit and you did get a nice hit off. It's just that a mistake was made, you dropped your sword, and I wasn't going to let you die. You've got a lot of potential and just need more training and experience. Next time, you'll defeat the hollow that comes at you easily. Just continue learning and definitely learn not to drop your weapon, silly girl."