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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 23, 2016 0:32:47 GMT -6
Byakuya looked to Shiro. “She will be watched until we have dealt with these men. That is not up for debate. It is what is safe and smart when dealing with the unknown, and I would be a fool to believe that at least two of you won’t be at the festival to do your own observing.” Kouen and Shiro exchanged matching grins, accepting that fact.
Hakuryuu lifted his teacup for a drink.
Byakuya then looked back to his step-daughter. “I am glad to hear that your fear has become manageable, Makino, but I need no debt of gratitude. It was my pleasure. And it is enough that I was able to aid you. Do not let your blade dull again.”
He raised his cup to her, his eyes softening. In all honesty, he had gained as much as she had from their sessions.
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 23, 2016 0:43:02 GMT -6
Her head lowered again in a slightly bow. "It will not. I promise you that." She looked over to Sojiro as his eyes urged her to her next question. She got a little nervous as Sojiro looked away from her to Byakuya.
"Captain Kuchiki, sir. While Maki-chan gathers her thoughts on how to approach her next question. I have one that bothered me when I ask Maki-chan what the theme was."
"And what is the theme this year?"
"Ayako is making it a Masquerade Festival."
Makino looked from Sojiro to Byakuya. He was lifting his cup to take a sip, but changed his mind and lowered it back again to the table looking at her.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 23, 2016 1:03:20 GMT -6
Byakuya was silent for a few moments before he responded. “I apologize, Makino, but I will not give those men or any other nefarious person an advantage by allowing them to cover their face. Too many of those masks would allow them to cover their distinctive hair and tattoos too.” She lowered her head, and Saya squeezed his hand. Looking to his lady, he elaborated. “I believe there could be a way to compromise though.”
Makino’s head came back up. “Allura had one, if you don’t mind me saying it,” she murmured. When he nodded, she continued. “She suggested that we could use the masks that are on poles, and in that way, you couldn’t keep it covered the whole time. You have to hold it up.”
“That would limit their use for enemies,” the captain of the sixth division allowed, “but I am not the only one who has to approve of the final plan. However, that option as well as adjusting more details, such as half face masks or limited use may make your theme a possibility." He lowered his head. "There are many reasons that this festival must succeed."
And the past commander would have been thrilled with the masks. And their perchance for mischief.
Saya squeezed his hand, sensing his lapse.
Byakuya lifted his cup, savoring the spiced warmth. He let Makino digest his words as he regulated his continued melancholy on that matter to the back of his mind. “Was there more, Makino?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 23, 2016 1:14:57 GMT -6
Makino hesitated and nodded slowly. She looked to her mother still nervous about the question, she had never ask her mother for money she had always just given it to her, and even then it was never in the amount she was getting ready to ask for.
"Mother," she addressed her. "I..." Sojiro squeezed her hand from under the table for moral support. "Could I borrow ten thousand yen," Makino hesitated again with the look on her mothers face. Sojiro urged her to continue with the look in his eyes.
"Its for the Festival. We are out of funds." Makino took a deep breath after finishing in asking her.
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Post by Shirou Masanobu on Nov 23, 2016 1:28:17 GMT -6
With the mention of money, Shirou looked to his brother Kouen and tried to hold back his mischievous smirk, though it reached his eyes easily. Kouen nodded and the two of them stood up. They bowed to the others at the table.
"Kuchiki-sama. Mother. Everyone. Please excuse Kouen and I."
"And Sojiro too," Kouen added. "We'd like to take him with us."
Shirou nearly guffawed as he watched Sojiro's eyes bulge and he attempted to not choke on his tea. Shirou and Kouen moved around the table and lifted the silver haired boy out of his chair by his arms. "Upsey daisey, Soji-kun. Let's leave the money matters to those above our heads. How about a nice evening stroll?"
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Post by Kouen Masanobu on Nov 23, 2016 17:03:08 GMT -6
Kouen grinned at his baby sister as she looked back at them as they lead Sojiro out of the room arm in arm. "Don't worry Maki-chan. We will take good care of him. Even educate him a little on life and the nobles.""That's what worries me." Makino replied as she looked to Sojiro. "I will see you in a little bit." Sojiro nodded slowly as he looked between her brothers on either side of him.
Kouen and Shirou chuckled as they slid the door open and disappeared from the room with their new friend, Sojiro Ichimaru.
Meanwhile: "Birds and the Bees":
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Nov 23, 2016 19:40:24 GMT -6
After Kouen and Shirou left with Sojiro, Hakuryuu himself lifted from the table and excused himself as well. Once the room was empty Saya looked back to her daughter. "Makino." Her mother spoke to get her attention. Makino turned her attention back to her mother.
"That is a lot of money, dear. Are you sure you have that amount correct?"
She looked to Byakuya as he to had a pondering look in his eyes. She was sure he had the same though as she was having over this.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 23, 2016 20:43:26 GMT -6
“It would appear that this woman and her fellows are idiots and have no idea how to use the funds given them,” he murmured.
Makino ducked her head. “I apologize, but I will not let this money go to waste.”
“It is not something you are responsible for,” Saya reassured her, “though it does cause me to wonder what they spent the generous amount on thus far.”
Byakuya nodded. “Did this classmate speak of the money gifted the academy after Ukitake’s death?”
She shook her head. “She did not, but Sojiro mentioned that there should have been such a donation. That is all I know at the moment.”
“Deplorable.” Byakuya sighed. “If they have depleted the funds completely, that would mean that there needs to be a way to recover those funds at the festival. Something larger than the usual side games.” He looked to Makino. “It will not be a small undertaking to fix this mistake.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 23, 2016 21:00:35 GMT -6
Makino looked to them both, "I do not know what she or her fellow classmates spent the money on, but I know they spent a rather larger sum. I did tell her that if this happened I was taking charge over the festival. I was not going to let her have control of that kind of money when it was coming from my family."
Saya looked to Byakuya and nodded slowly. "Makino has always been good with money. She has never spent it frivolously. So it is not like I do not trust her with amount of money. I just find it odd that these girls could spend such a large amount for the Fall Festival. I think some research should be taken in the matter to find out."
"I could do that. I do have to look into what they have gathered for the festival. Who they have talked to for the merchants to fill the stands. I have much to do still in setting this up."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 23, 2016 21:13:10 GMT -6
Byakuya inclined his head in agreement. “If this is something that you wish to do, then the research would aid you in your preparation.” He looked to his lady. “And, Lady Saya, if you believe she is trustworthy, then as much as I appreciate you including me in this consideration, I have seen no reason to protest.” He looked back to Makino. "She has been a worthy student. There is no reason to believe she would fail in this matter either."
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 23, 2016 21:30:24 GMT -6
Makino bowed her head slowly. "Thank you both for the confidence. I will research this and if I can I will recover some of the money that was spent foolishly, and the money I receive from the family I will not let be spent like the money previously. It will be spent wisely I promise you that."
Byakuya gave a small smile. "I have no doubt about that."
"I do have a question though." She looked to Byakuya. "Do you want me to find out about the money from this fund Ukitake had set aside or will you be doing that?"
"That depends," he responded. "Do you wish to inquire into that as the leader of this event?"
"I would like to look into that, yes. If they allow me to do so since I am not truly the Event Coordinator."
"I would not see why they would not if the young lady tells the board you are heading up Fall Festival event." She looked at to Byakuya then back to her daughter. "It would seem with as foolishly as she is spending the funds they need a new Event Coordinator."
Makino nodded slowly. "I would have to agree with you, mother, but my goal with joining the Academy was not social. I wanted to attend the academy to become a Soul Reaper. Not a social butterfly."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 26, 2016 22:21:45 GMT -6
“Nevertheless,” Byakuya murmured, “it is something that you do have some experience in as a noble woman. Even if you wish to become a warrior, there are still skills from your heritage that will benefit your aspirations.” He paused and then added. “And perhaps in the right moment, the dedication will garner a muted compliment from an Oni,” he halted for a moment, “if you still wish for him to acknowledge you.”
Makino folded her arms. “As long as I receive a new nickname that’s better than a parrot. I have a feeling that is not something complimentary.”
As her mother giggled, Byakuya lifted his tea cup. “With Hirako, that it is not certain. It could be your first test. Can you survive him constantly insulting you or rise above it? He is known, after all, for his temper, and that has not improved over time. If you are to learn from him, you will have to see beyond on his appearance."
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 26, 2016 22:46:26 GMT -6
Makino smiled. "If I can handle my brother's always picking on me I think I can handle Captain Hirakos picking." She looked to her mother then Byakuya. "I know it will be a different type of picking, but I can handle him and his verbal abuse. From what information is available, I have studied up on him. I find him very admirable and very strong willed." She paused for a second.
"Him and his fellow Vizards. They are very honorable people in my eyes. They have come through a lot and are once again standing on top." She smiled warmly at Byakuya and her mother. "I know what he expects from his division members, and I will give him no less than the best of my abilities to make his division thrive." She then chuckled softly.
"I will admit our first meeting shocked me. I knew he was a screamer. A bellower. However, reading about it and it actually happening to you are two different things. Now that he and I have faced off. I am ready for our next meeting. He will find I am as bullheaded as he, and I don't give up on something I want, and it is his division I want to be in. My marks speak for them. It is just my character that I need to prove to him now."
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Nov 26, 2016 22:56:38 GMT -6
Saya rested her cup to the table once more and looked to her daughter with a bright smile. "He is a brash man, Maki-chan. We had this conversation once before when you told me what division you wanted to enter."
Makino nodded. "I remember very well, mother. However, that is not going to stop me. Nobility or not. Kido is my specialty. Sure I have excelled in other fields as well." She smiled at Byakuya nodding her head in thanks. "Thanks to a certain Captain sitting at this table, but the Kido Corps is where I want to be."
Sayo nodded her head. "And I know that is where you will be when the time comes."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 26, 2016 23:45:32 GMT -6
Byakuya nodded in agreement and then looked to Saya. She smiled, as if answering a silent question. And Byakuya turned back to Makino. “I have yet to address your brothers on this matter, but with the subsiding of danger from Aizen, there is just enough time for me to invite the family over to my estate. Is that something you would be interested in, Makino?”
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