Ven was close behind, letting Rukia keep the lead. After she called out, there was a long moment of silence, although the P.K.E. meter's blips continued to give the presence away. Right as Ven was considering breaking out his flashlight, a narrow space of air in front of the shop wavered and condensed -- and slowly took shape until it was recognizable as human.

Now at Rukia's side, Ven tensed as the details filled in, much like watching a fog clear -- adult, male, garbed in what looked like tattered armor...?

And then Ven actually started slightly, nothing subtle in the movement, and out of old reflex his grip tightened on his Keyblade until his knuckles were white. That was Imperial armor -- he'd fought and killed enough soldiers wearing it to be able to identify it anywhere, and memories of those nights were coming back faster and harder than Ven could immediately handle.

"One of the Empire's soldiers," he said quietly. His face was grim, his tone devoid of its usual friendly cheer. The spirit didn't speak or even move; it simply stared at them, which made Ven all the more suspicious. Without looking away, he asked Rukia -- loud enough for the spirit to hear -- "Have you seen these ones before?"