Welcome home(Stella/Carla(Her mother)

"Stella, you...."

Carla found herself dumbfounded by her daughter's revelation, to such a degree that she almost ignored her daughter's request for a Sanrei glove by accident. The fact she had met Arrancar was already staggering enough on its own, but Ichigo Kurosaki?

Had he not been a traitor who apparently - if the news reports were anything to go by - nearly destroyed the City of Lights? An exasperated sigh accompanied her voice as she rubbed at her temples. On second thought, perhaps a visit was due sooner than she first thought.

Maintaining her composure, she posed a level-headed question, curious to know what the encounter entailed. Since she didn't appear to sport any visible wounds or bruises, Carla's base assumption amounted to two possible answers - he either ignored her or chose not to attack her.

"Before we talk about Leiden Hants, I'd like to know what this conversation was like, Stella. What happened between you two...?"

"He nearly wiped the city you live in off the map, Stella. Anyone willing to eliminate a city full of civilians is dangerous and should not be trusted. Be that as it may, he didn't lay a finger on you..."

Carla sighed softly as she quietly observed her daughter's expression during her explanation. She was thankful that she hadn't approached him directly, that their meeting was closer to a coincidence than it was something Stella planned ahead of time. There were only so many revelations she could handle at once.

Arrancar and the former hero Ichigo. It was far from easy to digest as a mother. Knowing that her child could've suffered at the hands of others bothered her, to an overwhelming degree. Even so, this was a reunion. At worst, all Carla could offer her was cautionary words and wisdom from the past.

Thankful that the bread finished baking, she temporarily rose from her chair to grab a pair of oven mitts and pull the bread from the oven. Allowing it to cool down, she removed the mitts, grabbed a knife, and slowly cut the bread into Stella's favorite portions. Left to her devices, Carla knew Stella could probably develop the whole loaf if she offered. Rummaging through the fridge for jam and butter, Carla resumed her thoughts on the matter.

"Of all my children, you have a heart of gold, Stella. Always helpful, always caring, you try to find the good in almost anyone. It's a lovely trait, and one that has its time and place, but some people, some actions, cannot be forgiven so easily - let alone excused. Perhaps he was dealt an unfair hand, but was it worth jeopardizing the lives of others? Not everyone can change their ways. Once they cross a line, there is no going back for them."

Returning with bread, jam, and butter, she plated everything and sat back at the table. Reaching over to ruffle her hair, Carla offered a warm smile as she shook her head. She understood that her daughter came from a genuine place of love and care, but the harsh truth was that few deserved such affection.

"Sorry, I don't mean to seem so harsh, but the idea you were near someone who could've hurt you is a little unsettling. All I ask is that you be careful next time, even if you didn't intend on running into him..."

"As much as I would like a peaceful resolution, exercising caution should be your first priority. Since he didn't hurt you, perhaps he isn't all that bad as all the reports have led me to believe on television. I can only hope his peaceful actions with you pour over to the City."

There were a myriad of thoughts on the matter. In truth, she didn't exactly know how to feel now. On one hand, she was extremely worried about her daughter's wellbeing. On the other, she appeared relatively unharmed. If she had hosted a conversation with him, and talked to him directly, and he listened to her... then perhaps there was some humanity that still remained in his spirit. Or, perhaps, her daughter was simply that convicing. Chuckling softly, she reached over with one hand as she sipped her tea, ruffling her daughter's hair.

"Well, Stella, think about it from their perspective. This man entered their city, nearly wiped it off the map, and disappeared without a trace. It's perfectly natural for them to be on edge as a result."

Setting her tea down, she leaned against the chair, biting into a piece of bread as she posed another question.

"Did he express regret for what he did?"

"Considering how strong and overwhelming the reports painted him, I think stopping him is easier said than done. From what I hear, their forces weren't exactly well equipped for someone of his magnitude. At the same time, if he's capable of hosting a normal conversation without displaying hostility, perhaps a peaceful resolution isn't impossible..."

Carla reflected on the conflicting reports and the flurry of information concerning the matter. In truth, she wasn't quite sure what route they ought to take, but something about her daughter's faith was reassuring. Was it somewhat misguided? Yes, but she was able to host a conversation with the man where others had failed. Surely, that meant he was capable of reflecting on his actions, if only to a lesser extent. Of course, according to Stella, he wasn't exactly keen on moving off of the path he had set for himself. When a man was determined like that, nothing could impede his path. At any rate, Stella was safe. That was all that mattered to her. Chuckling softly, lightly sipping her tea, she reached over to pat her daughter's cheek. No matter how much unease might have surfaced, simply see her back home was comforting. She was proud of how she'd grown.

"Glad to have you back home, Stella, even if it's only for a visit. Now, then, I do believe you said requested a Leiden hant, yes?"

It was time for her to take the next step.

"Ya think so? Well, I certainly look forward to it. Half of a master's pride certainly lies in watching their student surpass them."

Carla ruffled her hair even further as she bowed before finishing the rest of her tea. Rising from the table, she stretched her arms as she motioned for Stella to follow her, leaving the kitchen to travel to the other part of her house - specifically, her room. When they reached it, Carla pressed the door open, walked toward her closet, carefully unlocking it until she revealed a large box. Dusting it off with her hand and blowing on it, she slowly set it down, unlocking it to reveal a leiden hant and her old Vandenreich uniform.

Temporarily, a sense of nostalgia swept over her as she smiled. Viewing the reishi glove between the glass and the uniform she once wore with pride, a vision of Stella inheriting that filled her mind, and she found a sense of contentment. She was absolutely fine with her daughter surpassing her one day. It would let her know that all her training was well worth the effort and cost in the end. Turning to Stella, she presented the opened box before her daughter.

"Here. Try them on."