|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 14:57:58 GMT -6
"The Darkness around the Rose":
Yumiko's head spun in confusion at the first bit of information Vale had imparted to her before disappearing to chase Kita. Again. What did he mean by saying he "was' the Captain of the Seventh? As far as she knew, only the Eleventh division elected leaders through a combat system separate from the usual election through the captain commander. What had he done to lose the position?
Yumiko shook her head, removing the multiple questions from her mind. She was done with crying and sitting. Rising, she went over to her desk and closed her healing book, pulling out another book from the drawer underneath, her Kido book. It didn't matter what side of the war she was trapped on. Studying could still help her. Besides, if she could remember her teacher better, she might feel less empty without her ties to Aizen.
She ran her hand over the hand-drawn descriptions of the Kido moves and chuckled. Maybe she should say teachers. She turned the book backwards to page one and closed her eyes. Reaching into her mind...... Before long, she started awake and nearly dropped her book. Blinking away her budding headache and the lingering haze, it took her a moment to realize why. Then, setting a hand on Mizue, she placed it. Azayaka had returned. Pushing a lock behind her ear, she frowned slightly. What was Azayaka's true nature? Had she been honest with her?
Another question slipped free before she could suppress it. Was her disappearance why Aizen had been so harsh with her?
Lips firming, looking to her door to check if it was locked, she closed her eyes again.
|
|
|
Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 6, 2015 17:10:49 GMT -6
Vale appeared at Yumiko's door, as he did the day before. He knocked, this time, instead of reaching for the doorknob. He bit the inside of his lip as he waited for Yumiko to answer.
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 17:22:02 GMT -6
After a few moments, the door opened. Yumiko chuckled. "Still have an unfinished conversation with me, I see," she murmured, stepping aside to let him in. She walked over to her bed, closed her Kido book, and placed it back in its drawer. She sat in the chair next to her desk this time. "Did you see Kita?"
|
|
|
Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 6, 2015 17:46:23 GMT -6
"No." He answered taking a seat on the floor a few feet away from her. "She was gone before I arrived at the shopkeeper's place. I was able to returm with Azayaka, though." He shrugged his shoulders. "Better than nothing, I suppose." He ran his fingers through his hair before leaning back on his elbows. "So, where were we?"
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 17:57:46 GMT -6
"Former Seventh Division Captain?" she inquired lightly. Then she looked down at her hands, once again folded in her lap. As Vale remained quiet, sorting his thoughts, she sighed. "Do you think she's still running? And will the others help her if she's carrying the enemy's child?"
|
|
|
Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 6, 2015 18:11:40 GMT -6
Vale frown at the question. "Former Captain of the Seventh Division. Yes, I was a Captain in another time." he answered her first question and ignored her second question. He let a small smile glide across his lips. "Are you sure you want to inquire about me, Yumi? My past is quite gruesome."
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 18:22:37 GMT -6
For a moment, she considered telling him off for using the nickname against her permission again, but then decided against it. She chuckled at his warning grin and smiled grimly herself. "I think I can handle it," she stated firmly. "And you're the one who started this."
|
|
|
Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 6, 2015 18:35:44 GMT -6
Vale nodded and continued. "Fine then. For crimes I committed, I was sentenced to be exiled by execution. This, of course, was not going to happen."
"You escaped." said Yumiko.
"Clearly. But, my escape didn't go according to plan. And, my escape nearly ended in my capture. Or death, if your former teacher hadn't struck ill."
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 18:49:32 GMT -6
Yumiko kept her face clear of emotions as he spoke, though her hands fiddled with the ends of her obi. "What crimes did you commit?"
|
|
|
Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 6, 2015 18:54:44 GMT -6
Vale looked away from her. "I ended the lives of my men. Most of them anyway. The ones who lived, were the ones who ran." For a moment, he felt a sense of shame - Something he hoped she wouldn't see. "They called what I did heinous. I called it necessary."
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 20:14:23 GMT -6
Yumiko was silent for a few minutes, digesting what he had said and the tone behind it. "What did they do to warrant death?" she asked quietly.
|
|
|
Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 6, 2015 20:44:23 GMT -6
Vale looked to Yumiko and smiled. "They preached of moral obligation and compassion. Living life to its fullest while not being consumed by pretentiousness. And, I hated it!" Yumiko's face remained still, showing no form of reaction to Vale's words. "Why should I exhaust myself showing compassion and keeping the obligation to protect those who can not protect themselves?! Why should I fight for those who placed themselves above other claiming it was for their own good?"
"You follow Aizen." said Yumiko. "If that is how you feel, then you don't belong here any more than I do."
"Aizen places himself above others, because that is where he belongs. There are no false claims about of his strength. Not one thing he has ever told myself, you or anyone else has been a lie. We follow him because we want to. You follow him because you want to."
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 21:01:25 GMT -6
Yumiko’s hands clenched. “No, Vale, that’s not true,” she said evenly. “You may follow him because you want to - because you can do what you want - but it is not the same for me,” she continued, blue violet eyes flashing. “I came back with him because I refused to be trapped. That meant facing him and finding out the truth. Now, I stay, not because I am loyal to him but because I will not endanger others when I have weathered a cage before.” She finally lowered her eyes. “Even if the freedom afterwards wasn’t all I had hoped.”
"Even if that statement may have held truth before, it doesn't now. Not anymore."
And not ever again.
She unlocked the grip over her hands. "I will be free again. It's only a matter of time."
|
|
|
Post by Seto Tetsuya on Jan 6, 2015 21:12:13 GMT -6
"Why not consider what you have here freedom? he asked. "You have free reign here. And, you can do whatever you want, without having to worry about retaliation from anyone but Aizen." Vale sat up and grinned. "And me. I still owe you, Yumi."
|
|
|
Post by Yumiko Ryouma on Jan 6, 2015 21:26:07 GMT -6
Yumiko’s eyes narrowed. “Yumiko, Vale, and I told you I am not afraid of you,” she stated, rising to her feet. “And freedom doesn’t mean selling my soul to the devil,” she continued, a bitter tone in her voice. She took a breath. “Just because I have more freedom here than I did does not mean I am any different than Kita, power in a cage.” She chuckled. “In a way, nothing has changed. If only I had opened my eyes sooner, I would have seen that.”
|
|