Checking the Eighth [Rei/Hana]

"Well, being born here seems to mean you also age the same as a normal spirit. Things like do you stay with your family until you can become the head, what do you eat, what do Soul Society children who were born here do for fun. Do you go to school or is the shinigami academy what replaces school here. I don't mean to pry, but I've always been interested that people are actually born here in the soul society."

Rei would admit as she noticed the woman's guard went up. She really didn't mean for it to come off as her trying to be nosy, but her interest was genuine. She also had someone who could answer these types of questions right in front of her, so why not roll the dice and see if she would or not.

"If ya don't want to share that's fine. I know that we just met and all."

Rei would listen attentively to the answer as she would nod. She knew that some people in the rukongai would go out of their way to offer to teach some of the children running around, but as a majority the children weren't treated the best. Many were without family and had to get into groups with each other to make sure that they could eat. The best thing that could happen to them is getting scouted into the gotei by a shinigami who happened to be walking through. Or managing to get yourself into the academy.

"Well, I like to cook alot. Its one of my favorite things to do in my free time. I actually go out into the rukongai and cook giving some food to anyone who wants a bowl or plate. I suppose some would consider it work, but I love doing it."

She would speak about her cooking with a smile. She enjoyed cooking for shinigami as well, but to her that wasn't as satisfying as cooking for the people of the rukongai. The ones who are less fortunate. She even had a rule that children got their food first. Since sometimes it's hard to know how long it's been since they had a proper meal out their. The rukongai can be a rough place.

"No reason to be ashamed of a privileged life, but yeah usually illl try to go once or twice a week to do it. Souls don't rely on food as much as living creatures in the world of the living do."

She'd speak letting the other shinigami know how often she tries to get out there. She wishes she could do more, but with her shinigami work and trying to spend time with her sister and help her prepare for the academy she was kind of spread thin. She also had to find time for her own training, but most of the time she would do that while she's figuratively on the clock.

"It is rougher in the rukongai for sure, but there's nothing we can really do but try to make it better individually. I like to think im doing my part, but I'm only one person unfortunately. However, I'd love some help if you wanna come with me one day? I could invite you out and introduce you to an old shop keep I know who let's me use his building for my cooking."

She would add as she would enjoy some help. Just having Bambietta the last time she was out helped her greatly. Just having someone to converse with was such a nice feeling it was hard to fight off.

Rei would think about the issue she had as she landed on it. Had she not dresses like a shinigami it was easy to stand out in the rukongai. Many of them wore very old worn clothes that didn't exactly have much to them. Which would lead anyone wearing anything else to stick out like a sore thumb. Then they would become targeted by hatred or sometimes actually become targeted by violent people trying to make it. Rei would sigh as she would speak out.

"They won't fully trust you the first couple times if you go alone. Especially if you dress up a little but. Gotta remember out there colored clothing itself is rare. Forget anything very clean or that looks new. It's much easier to just go dressed in uniform."

Rei would explain to the other kind soul as she thought about it. She knew that they would give Hana a chance If she brought her out there with her though. She had already earned the reputation of some of the people who actually own bars and what not out there. Doing that helped her secure places for her to cook and allow people to eat.

"If you come with me though, you won't have any issues. Atleast we shouldn't. Occasionally I'll get some older soul who gets annoyed I'm feeding the kid first, but it's easy enough to explain away. The important thing is to not get mad at them. They didn't choose to live in the rukongai. Just like I didn't choose to die when I did, and you didn't choose to be born in a royal family."

Rei would nod as she would offer to take the wooden sword. Not minding cleaning back up since they got done. As she watched the woman leave she would sigh. Alone again huh? However she would go around making sure the training hall was clean for whoever was next. Making sure the wooden swords bin was straight, and there was no sweat left on the mat. Once she was done doing that she would find herself walking back towards the barracks. She was gonna make herself a lunch before she had to go on her duties.