With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
Hitomi smiled at his answer. It made sense to her, it was a place that they could come to where they wouldn't be hunted or persecuted. She noticed that Tok was getting a little nervous and it made her giggle. "Theres no need to be nervous Tok, we're just having a talk." Hitomi let out a soft laugh. Then Tok asked if she would like to see his mask. She couldn't help but giggle at the random question. "Oh I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh. It was just. . .well. . .a pretty random question. But if you want to show it to me, who am I to say no? Lets see it!"
Tok smiled down at Hitomi. He knew his request was strange, but he had a comfort with his mask, it made him feel a little more complete. Tok smiled down at her and then took a step away from her. <<Okay here it goes>> With that Tok put his hands together roughly in the middle of his face, he pulled his hands apart as he did so, removing the cloth covering his face expertly as he did so. The white mask began to form around his head reaching to halfway down the back of his skull. The chin and bottom part were squared, merging into the contours of his face. The mouth was a small set of sharp teeth with four fangs protruding, two up and two down. Two large tusks protruded under the eyes curving to each side, reminiscent of an elephant. the mask was pure white except for a single black stripe going over his right eye. Tok stared out from his mask down at Hitomi.
<<This is part of who I am, part of my power, part of my being. This is why we are outcast. We have to accept it. Now what would you like to do?>>
Hitomi watched as the mask slowly appeared over Tok's face. The mask was very consistent with Tok's overall look. For some reason Hitomi was half expecting to see a comically girly mask appear on the manly figure. Hitomi listened to Tok's assessment of his mask with a serious expression. She had never though of her mask as that. In fact she had thought of it as the opposite of that. Of course it gave her exceptional power, but she didn't think the extra power was worth it. A boost in power at what cost? Life long persecution? Life long hiding? In her mind it wasn't worth it.
"What would I like to do?" Hitomi put her finger on her chin and folded her arms. "Hmmm....." As Hitomi sat there thinking a large grumble roared through the quiet theater. Hitomi's eyes went wide and she looked shocked. Her hand slid down and she put it on her stomach. "Hehe..." She smiled and rubbed the back of her head. "I guess my stomach has spoken for me. Lets go hit up the buffet!" Hitomi tried to hide her embarrassment as the crowd's eyes shot her way.
Tok smiled politely down at Hitomi, holding out his arm towards her. As she took it he smiled and eyed the others around him, as if daring someone to say something. Tok lead her over to the buffet laying her down her arm and taking up a plate he began to fill it with all the delightful things around him. His mask still on Tok seemed utterly at ease, as if he wasn't wearing it at all. He actually enjoyed his mask, the feel the familiarity. Many did not want this thrust upon them, but Tok was past all of that. It was his and it wasn't going anywhere, why not embrace the relationship, like that of a zanpakuto? Tok filled his plate then sat down. He sighed pulling out the cloth and as his mask disappeared he seamlessly retied the mask. However, Hitomi caught a brief glimpse of what lay beneath as he tied it. His jaw was mangled, torn, down to the bone. Tok made sure the cloth was tight, and the sight was only the briefest of seconds. Tok began to eat, waiting on Hitomi to sit down.
Hitomi grinned as she looked at the giant buffet. There was everything she could have ever wanted. Chicken, pasta, salads, beef, lamb, burgers, noodles, duck, rice, everything! She quickly grabbed up two plates and hopped around the table grabbing a little bit of everything. When she was down she had a tower of food on each of her plates. It was almost comical when comparing the size of her plates to the size of her body, it was as if she was going to do the clown car act but instead of clowns in a car, it was going to be food in her stomach.
Just as they sat down Hitomi looked up at the moment Tok's mask disappeared to reveal a badly scared and mangled jaw. Hitomi stopped smiling, but didn't seem shocked. She slowly reached her hand up towards Tok's face as if to say "Don't worry, it doesn't bother me." She slowly slid her hand under the cloth and ran her gentle fingers along Tok's jaw line. "You shouldn't have to hide your face behind a mask. THIS is who you are. And you're beautiful the way you are." Hitomi's lips crept up into a smile. "Besides, your real face is much more pretty than that ugly rag you hide it with." Hitomi picked up her fork and began devouring her food at an inhuman rate. Tok was prepared to jump in and perform a Heimlich maneuver at any moment.
Tok smiled down at Hitomi as she devoured her food. She was a machine, devouring the twin towers of food as if they were peanuts in stead of mounds. Her comments had touched him, but she didnt understand, at least not completely. He accepted himself, his life, how he looks is only part of that. His cloth, his hiding was for others' benefit. She can say she understood, but how would she have reacted had he not had it? <<Hitomi, you are very sweet, you have made this night marvelous, but this cloth is more for others, than myself.>> Tok sat quietly his plate cleared his silverware sitting carefully on the side, everything about Tok was controlled, his posture his awareness everything was perfect control. He continued to watch Hitomi, waiting to make sure she didnt choke.
Hitomi sat back with a smile on her looking as though she were seconds away from giving birth. "That was deliiiicious!" As she sat back she listened to Tok's explanation of the cloth. She understood, but she couldn't grasp why he would use such an ugly cloth! "I see what you're saying Tok. Others may not be as mature and understanding as me. But let me help you out a little." Hitomi began tearing at the bottom of her blue dress. "If you have to wear something, it may as well be something beautiful and artful." She pulled up a piece of royal blue cloth that had white lacing on the bottom. She politely handed it to Tok with a smile on her face. "There, thats my gift to you for giving me a terrific night."
Tok smiled, fingering the cloth around his eye as he took the royal blue cloth from Hitomi. Tok felt honored that she had done this for him. He smiled though at her, she obviously hadn't been paying careful attention to his cloth, it was true it was a gray color, but it was made from expensive silk. Tok laughed as he removed the mask and tied the royal blue one around his face. <<I appreciate this, but here take a look at this, I also have different ones, but this *touches his face* is my new favorite. So this is for you *hands her silk cloth* consider it my gift to you.>> Tok handed over the cloth, it swam easily through his fingers, shimmering in the light. His hand touched lightly on Hitomi's as he handed her the cloth, and he wasn't sure, but he thought he felt a jump of electricity.
Hitomi smiled as Tok handed her the cloth that had covered his face. It felt incredibly soft in her hands, "Wow! This is real silk huh? It feels soooo much softer than it looks. Thanks a lot Tok!" Hitomi stood on her tip toes and put her arms around Tok's neck. Well, really it was just her hands as she couldn't actually reach. "So now what do you want to do?"
Tok once again smiled down at Hitomi. He had been doing that alot tonight, his face sombered as he rose to his feet removing Hitomi's hands from around his neck as did so. He put on his coat, and buttoned the middle of the three buttons. He looked down at Hitomi, his body relaxing a little as he did so. <<I have no idea, i was about to leave. I think the evening is drawing to a close.>> Sure enough, looking around there were small smatterings of Vaisards around but the hall had cleared out, the music was gone, the buffet taken away. Everything had gone quiet, small talk could barely be heard. Tok looked at Hitomi, wondering what was going to happen now.
