Part of him was relieved, part disappointed as the conversation took a turn. Was that it? Would she trust him now? Or had he only succeeded in pushing her further away? The way she'd returned his tease made his blood race a little faster. Ran had always been blessed when it came to sensuality and she was skilled at using it to her advantage. Any man would find it difficult to resist her.

He was inclined not to believe the other part, though he knew many things that weren't Hollows could be dangerous. And after all the other insanity of the morning, that seemed just another brick in the wall. Ran didn't have it in her to lie, not like he did. And not about something important. So the people here wanted them to fight monsters, yet refused to let them keep their Zanpakutou? Was it a test of Demon Arts? Reiatsu? Nothing seemed to make sense, and for one who relied heavily on logic, it was troubling indeed.

"So you're as new t'this place as I am? Don't s'pose they're nice 'nough t'give us our Zanpakutou back at night?"