Alright, Let's Get This Started...

Mayumi followed Kham-sama here to the observatory, casually having Lucifer look around. He jumped from her arms, sniffing around a bit. May let his sight become his own, and switched easily back to her Shadow-sight, looking over to Kham-sama. She was a bit nervous, but fought her emotions and sighed quietly.

"So... Should I walk you through what I'm about to do, so you can know what to watch for...?"

-*Kham shut the door behind them that seemed to mold out of empty space itself. The observatory was a place where Kham's soft side showed. Plants of all shapes and sizes were collected here, from across the cosmos. This is Kham's and Gaia's garden. He inhaled the fresh aromas of the different plants and such and crossed his arms.*-

"Sure... let's get this underway."

She hardly noticed the plantlife in it's wide array, for she was already thinking through the exact process that this part of her training would have to follow.

"What I'm about to do is a sort of centering technique, used by all those who practice Shinjistu... It's hard to explain, but basically, it's a state of meditation that allows for the development of kekkei genkai and such techniques. I'll be working on furthering shadow-type techniques as well."

Pausing, she sighed quietly,

"The things you'll have to look out for... Vital signs decreasing to next to null, though both my heartrate and breathing will slow. You should also be wary of any shadow-like energy... I doubt I harbor enough to harm you, Kham-sama, but I'll ask you to be careful. If I don't come back to consciousness within three weeks, I'll have to ask you to pull me back by force... Interpret that as you will."

-*Kham nodded in agreement as he simply stood there and watched. As far as the whole 'shadow jargon' that was being thrown around. He trained one of the best shadow users on the entire planet... that was Atra Nara. Maybe Kham should summon him for this... he would ask Mayumi later.*-

"Commence..."

(Terribly sorry for how late this is..)

Slowing her breathing, Mayumi shrugged out of her outer layer of clothing, beneath the loose robes being a close-fitting series of black bandages that seemed to shift constantly, never once lying still. Raising her arms above her head, she stretched, but kept her feet flat to the floor while she breathed in, closing her eyes. Breathing out, she stretched downwards, touching her elbows to the floor while her legs remained perfectly straight.

After the basics, she launched into set of more complex stretches, limbering her body in preparation of the long period of time it would have to remain immobile. Finally returning to her original position, she sat cross-legged where she was, her breathing running on counts of seven. Seven seconds to breath in, seven second to breath out. Her mind was carefully blank as a shadow-like energy started to wrap around her, weaving tattoos around her skin. Her snow-white hair turned the shade of a raven's wing, and her eyes, previously completely white, darkened severally to a stormy grey. They remained open, even as her heartbeat slowed marginally.

Ba-dumph... Ba-dumph... Ba... Dumph... Ba..... Dumph...

The rhythm remained steady, easily sending Mayumi into a completely relaxed state. Her muscles visibly relaxed, and she seemed almost to shrink, her eyes still staring straight ahead. Her skin was died black (actual black... An unnatural black.) but for the bandages, which had turned a blinding white. Now it was only a matter of time.

To play the waiting game, patience was key.

((Bump?))

-*Kham took note of the heartrate slowing, but he figured that she knew what she was doing. In all his rather expansive knowledge about the world this kekkei genkai was unfamiliar to him. so it was best for him to sit back and observe for now, which is what he did.*-

And now the clock was ticking. From what Mayumi had gathered from training with her grandmother, time was different here. Already, though it had been only seconds here within her mind, it could have been hours back with Kham-sama. She appreciated the fact that he had consented to watching her during this process at all.

She opened her eyes in this realm within her mind, her astral body quite the same as it was on the other plane, but for the fact that she could once again see. Beside her, a shadowy shape began to take form.

"Lucifer...?" She called out to this shape, as it took form. She had seen through the supposed cat's eyes, and she knew he was more than that.

"Don't call me that name, here, Mayumi-chan." His voice, silky and smooth, echoed all around her as the shadowy shape gained it's form. It straightened, this humanoid of sorts. Black as pitch from head to toe, his brilliantly white smile contrasted his form starkly,

"Here, call me Tyyg. (Tee-g)"

"Tyyg...? Uhm, alright... Can you help me find Grandmother?"

"Heh, piece of cake. But you shouldn't be here to see her..."

To Mayumi's other side, a blinding light came forth. Her eyes widened, watching it in astonishment. She never knew she contained anything but shadows and fire. It slowly took form, as a woman with silvery hair and ice blue eyes. Her skin was oh so fair, wrapped loosely in the lightest of linens. Even Mayumi couldn't help but think the woman was beautiful.

"Don't be so slack-jawed, child. I am Procyon."

"Pr-procyon..."

"Yes, that's right. Now, I'm here to teach you. Are you ready to learn?"

"Uh-uh..."

"Of course she is, lady." Tyyg scoffed, rolling his eyes. He nudged Mayumi with an elbow, "Hey, Mayumi-chan? Don't let Procyon push ya around. She's aaaall looks. She's got no fiiiiight~ -- OW, HEY!" He jumped about a foot in the air, having been zapped in the butt by a stray ray of light.

"Oops, was that me? Dreadfully sorry. Now, If you'll excuse us, good sir, your services will not be needed for this." Procyon smiled serenely as Tyyg waddled off, rubbing his sore ass while grumbling. He flipped her the bird, but she seemed not to notice.

(~Continued in Next Post~)

"Now, child. Are you up to learning about the light?"

"Can you get any more cheesy?" Tyyg called, then yelped as another stray bolt hit him. Procyon hadn't even turned around. He mumbled profanities as he hopped around, rubbing his other sore butt-cheek.

"Y-yes, I am..." Mayumi was a little frightened to admit that she wasn't ready at all, but all it took was a brief mental image of Grave for her resolve to solidify. She hadn't been strong enough for him; she hadn't been there. She needed to get stronger. For her mother, still working as a medic, for her family back at Bellriver... Ayaka was gone, Grave was... Lost to her. Her eyes started to tear then, and Procyon frowned.

"Mayumi..." She said softly, bending slightly to be the girl's height. She smoothed a bit of hair that was was almost the shade of her own from Mayumi's forehead. "You must stay strong, child. Loss is something that hangs heavy in the hearts of loved ones long after someone has passed. But I need you to let go of all sorrow, of all grief."

Mayumi shook her head, feeling her tears slip down her cheeks, "N-no, I ca---"

"Listen to me!" Procyon interrupted, gripping the girl's upper arms. May's eyes widened a little more, her tears stopping. "I need you to. The light can cleanse you. Envision it."

"Wh-what is this going to help--"

"Do it!"

"Yes, m'aam..." Mayumi closed her eyes, imagining a soft light, much like the one she had seen around Sadako all that time ago. Sadako... Poor thing... Yet another victim taken while she was away. No, no, can't think about that. Focus.

It took a moment, but finally Mayumi was calm enough for a soft light to start to surround her. Procyon smiled,

"Yes, yes. That's it, kid. Imagine it sinking into you now, seeking out all those negative feelings from your memories. Allow it to lift that burden."

The change was visible to Kham as Mayumi did this... She almost seemed to glow from the inside. As in, literally. As fair as she was, though, it seemed like a soft white light from within her.

Mayumi could feel a sudden peace within her as the light sank into her, then gradually dimmed. Her eyes opened again to Procyon, and the older woman smiled.

"And that's it. You're ready for the next stage." She gestured for Mayumi to follow her. "Let's go see your grandmother, shall we?"

-*The white light surprsied Kham because it reminded him of reiatsu... and if May wanted Zanpakuto training all she had to do was ask. But where is her Zanpakuto? all Kham could do was sit and wonder about the coming events. They had been in here for 3 hours which is 3 days in real time.*-

Mayumi smiled as a bright light enveloped her for a moment, lifting her to a higher plane of her awareness. She could feel a trickle of energy leaving her now, since it took more to remain attached to her body, yet apart from it. Procyon murmured words of encouragement as they went up but one more plane... The energy-drain was intense, but Mayumi knew she could stand it for a little while yet.

It was a quaint little cottage that Procyon gently set Mayumi down in on this astral plane. Stone walls and cozy furniture made up the place, and Mayumi couldn't help but think...

"This is just like Grandma's Cottage back at BellRiver!"

"Of course it is, my Mayumi-san. Did you think that I would just completely leave my home?"

Spoiler:

May's Grandma

"Soba!" May cried, flinging herself at her grandmother. The elder woman was a tad disapproving, but gently hugged the astral body of her granddaughter back. "Is it really you???"

"Yes, silly girl. Now up you get. Stop with this nonsense."

"Y-yes, Obaasan." Suddenly serious, yet shy, Mayumi dropped her arms and bowed her head respectfully. Now this was the Grandmother she knew.

"I know why you're here, and I'm disappointed that you didn't learn any more of Shinjistu on your own. I handed you all the tools," She paused, tidying up a few things from the coffee table. Namely, a puzzle book, pen and a sketching pad. "and you didn't stop to use them. However, with what you already had, you utilized every bit of your knowledge in creative ways. Therefore, I am not ashamed to call you my granddaughter."

Mayumi's head was still bowed as she listened, and her Grandmother settled into an armchair. Her piercing, wise old eyes regarded Mayumi as if examining an animal like a horse, or something of that sort. Something who's worth was purely as great as the training given to it.

"I taught you quite a bit of Shinjistu while I was alive, and I've taught you control. And above all, I've given you focus." The older woman narrowed her eyes, then reached for something behind her armchair. "Come here."

Mayumi hesitated, but then quickly stepped towards her Grandmother. The elderly woman had a knife clutched in her hands, and gave her granddaughter but a moment to ponder what it was for... Before slashing a cut in her wrists. Whatever Mayumi knew of the truths in blood were nothing compared to this. It was the very essence of her grandmother she was reading now, and it was MUCH more potent. May staggered, falling to her knees. Her eyes were unfocused as she watched thoughts, memories... Felt the very emotions her grandmother had felt, both in life and since coming here. It was ever so draining, and the bond to her body a few planes below was starting to fray.

"Focus, child! I want for you to experience just my death. Overcome this silly fear of it." Right, right, Grandmother's death... It was a swirl of emotion, a sea of memories. But, somehow, Mayumi managed to find just that scene. She, herself, remembered it well. It was odd, seeing herself as a little child through her grandmother's eyes. Not so much so as that final emotion, though. As she collapsed, Mayumi's grandmother had felt a surge of affection for her granddaughter.

Then everything was cold. Dark... Not like that frightened Mayumi... No, not that itself... Just. How far the dark went on... It was amazing. She couldn't see anything in it. Not with her Shadow-Vision, nor could she feel any end to the shadows. Then, this cottage.

No one had ever come to visit her, and she was so alone --

"Enough. You witnessed my death." She seemed almost bitter, her eyes sharp. It snapped Mayumi out of her haze. "There. You controlled it. Once you can, you can always do it again, and for blood it's much easier. Now, I want you to memorize the feelings of this plane. This is how you'll see the aura for someone. You'll have to figure out the colours on your own."

Mayumi nodded. It was easy, feeling this plane. It was like an electronic hum, and settled over everything neatly. But colours...? She hadn't the slightest clue as to what her grandma was talking about.

"This is the last time you'll see me, Mayumi-san. We won't have these little visits anymore. But I want you to have something." She got up, then went into a little room off the side to the main cottage area. It was her bedroom. "All the TruthSeers of our family have had it... It increases our powers tenfold. We can project images of what we see, we can delve into someone's mind, and make them see truth..." She came back, holding a couple needles, and a couple jars of ink. "Lay there, child. But do not pass out while I do this, else it will not work."

Mayumi knew this was going to hurt... Needles and ink? That meant a tattoo... Her skin, unmarred by a single scar, mutilated in this way?? It was going to be terrible. But, she did as she was told. Her grandmother was soon above her, gently brushing a pattern with ink over Mayumi's skin, not yet pricking it. She felt the tug of her body below, and tried her best to ignore it, and think of something... Anything else.

Then came the burning. She could tell Obaasan was trying to be gentle with her... Too bad there was nothing she could do. It hurt... Burned, pitched, pulled, stabbed. Mayumi squeezed her eyes shut, and bit her lip.

It was over after but a moment of this, though, and she was glad. Kham would see as this mark seemed to be burned into her skin, a mixture of blues, purples and black. It wouldn't show up that well on her skin... Yet.

"You'll be able to see when you go back, now. Trust Procyon to guide you. But Mayumi... Please, I beg of you, don't trust that Tyyg of yours."

"Soba... You don't have to... Warn me..." Mayumi murmured, feeling oh so tired. "I have... Shadowfyre, too..." She could feel herself slipping away from the plane, and away from her grandmother...

"I know, my granddaughter, I know. Goodbye, Mayumi-san."

-*Given the circumstances, it seemed as if Mayumi's consciousness was drifting back on this plane of existence. Mahk-X, to satisfy his own curiosity was going to ask may where she had gone for he was intrigued. He took particular interest into Mayumi's sudden change of power it was if she got stronger instantly... He cracked his neck and waited for her to drift back into consciousness.*-

"Oh no you don't, Mayumi-chan~!" Tyyg grinned as he caught hold of her sleeve, halting her descent. Jerking her back to the third plane, he woke her easily with a light slap to either cheek. "Comeon, kiddo. Yer not done yet!"

Groggily, Mayumi opened her eyes to see Tyyg smirking like an idiot down at her. He was quite tall, sure, but that didn't give him the right to tower over her like that.

"Tyyg... What do you want? I'm tired... Let's go see Kham-sama..."

"Uh, no. You haven't improved your shadows yet, silly girl. You think you can go off and just ditch me like that? I don't think so, Mayumi-chan~" He tossed her, easily, and she landed sprawled. She wasn't really hurt; just bruised.

"W-what are you doing??" Mayumi demanded, attempting to stand. It took her a couple tries, but she got it. "Tyyg, I'm tired. We can do this another time."

"Nope~! NOW." Tyyg flicked his wrist, binding her up tightly in the grip of a shadow hand. He was giggling like a school girl, almost. "Learn fast or die, sweetheart!" He was constricting his grip then, slowly tightening the solid mass around her. Mayumi sighed, then mustered up just enough energy to send out a pulse of her own shadow, thereby releasing herself by forcing his grip to slacken.

"Enough. We'll do this another time..." Mayumi's eyes were becoming unfocused, the chakra drain taking its toll. She was down to next to nothing, even though her shinjitsu had intensified greatly. She needed time to fill that greatly expanded chakra pool of hers.

"I don't think you're understanding what I'm saying..." SLAM! Mayumi was tossed back to the ground, symbols glowing very faintly of blue weaved into the fabric of the shadows. They were there to strengthen and restrain, and Kham would see these symbols of an arcane nature begin to dance around Mayumi's form as her heart began to slow yet more. Her breaths came slower, and continued to gradually slow.

Tyyg leaned over Mayumi, kneeling beside her. He leaned in, fixing a stray wisp of hair for the too-weak-to-struggle girl. "You're mine. Never think I came to you by accident, girl. Now, you'll do as I say until you pass out, got it?" The petite form beneath him nodded, trembling. That gleam in his blue eyes... It was frightening.

"Good, good. Now. Study those symbols. I want them memorized." He watched with satisfaction as she studied each symbol carefully. Occasionally, she'd ask what the name of one was, and he'd tell her, having her repeat the name back to him until her pronunciation was perfect.

Over the next few hours back with Kham, Mayumi's vitals continued to drop... But just before her heart thudded into silence, she gasped, and opened her eyes. She hyperventilated for a few moments, clutching at her throat as she panicked, no longer able to see... That, and her body was starved for oxygen. Her wide eyes traveled to Kham as she gasped in great gulps of air. The shadows, symbols and others retreated to the bandages, dying them black once more as her skin returned to it's normal pallor.

"K-kham-sama..." She choked, trembling. Her body was in rough shape from the treatment her mind had recieved... Tyyg-- Er. Lucifer mewed innocently from the corner.

-*Kham appeared by hear side laying her down on the ground, setting her down so she can regain some oxygen before continuing.*-

"So, what the hell happened?"

-*Kham said taking a unusually casual tone with his people. Something he normally doesn't do.*-

She blinked, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Kham was a brilliant figure of light, where the colours were constantly shifting... She couldn't concentrate on yet which colours they were yet; the colours were just so mesmerizing... She remained glassy-eyed, staring, for a few moments more before she closed her eyes once more, shuddering. She launched into a brief recap, leaving out nothing but her treatment at the hands of Tyyg.

While she spoke, a blade of a most curious nature materialized not too far away from Mayumi. It glowed softly, and hummed with reiatsu... Mayumi didn't seem not notice it yet, as exhausted as she was.

"My chakra's practically drained, Kham... How long was I gone...?" Her voice was a whisper as she concluded her retelling with this, and her eyes slowly opened, looking at Kham. It might surprise him when her eyes finally focused on him, focused on his aura.

"A couple hours... which equates to 2 days on the outside."

-*Kham let her lay there and he stood up, he looked at the blade off to the side. He figured what she just did was a super creative way to receive a Zanpakuto but he wanted to know the specifics*-

Spoiler:

(May's sword. >>)

"That short of a time...?" She whispered, actually shocked. She had thought that she'd've been out for a longer time than that. However, she then felt the presence of Procyon near her, and she scrambled blindly for a moment until her fingers met the cool metal of the sword within it's sheath. "Procyon..." Mayumi smiled as she muttered the name, and the sword hummed with energy in response, a cleansing light washing over her. A bit of her strength replenished, Mayumi returned her attention to Kham-sama.

"Anything important happen while I was gone, Kham-sama?"

"Well... let me see"

-*Kham closed his eyes and they flared open again, resonating with the cosmos to scan the earth for any special happenings across the world.*-

"It seems as if the true person behind this Shinigami conflict has revealed himself."

"Wh-what??" Out for two days, and she misses something like that??! "Who is it, Kham?" Mayumi didn't dare look for her answer in his mind... One, it was rude, and two, something told her that would end badly. She stood slowly, a little uncertain on her feet, but managed to slide the katana under a bandage with ease, keeping the sword in place at her hip. She fumbled around for a bit until she found her loose robes from before, all the while listening intently for Kham's response. It was because of this nonsense that Grave was no more... Mayumi was determined to get to the bottom of this, even if she had to go to the very limits of her kekkei genkai do to it.

"Some guy named Souske Aizen, and two other guys. And Zeik's daughter is somehow involved, who knew!"

-*Kham added a sarcastic tinge to the last part, for he knew that this issue was centralized in the chaos. And they just happened to bring it over to everyone else*-

"Zeik-sama's daughter??!" She was shocked, and utterly confused. How could... But... "That's not... How could that be true?" Mayumi'd got that feeling again, the one that told her it was true, but she still couldn't believe it... Of all the people.

"Who's Aizen? Who are the other two? Shinigami?"

"If I had the answer to your other questions, don't you think I would have answered them all at once?"

-*Kham said in a more serious tone, this matter was as serious to him as anyone else. And it was quite stressful as well, he continued to scan the world for events and various happenings but to no avail*-

May shook her head, starting to pace slowly. She asked the question internally, and Kham would notice her eyes flash a sort of silver for the briefest of moments... Faces that flashed by too quickly for her to see properly, but she wasn't advanced enough to know names yet. She groaned in frustration, gritting her teeth. She had to get better at this... It would be better if she had a source -- Ah. That was it.

"Kham-sama. I'm going to see Allen Stryker."

She turned then, advancing toward a shadow there. She looked back to him for a moment, a polite smile on her lips as her eyes focused perfectly on him.

"Thank you, Kham-sama. I'll be in touch."

And with that, she melted into the shadow and disappeared.