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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 16, 2024 22:24:19 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: RejectionEpisode 494 "Prodding an Oni": The afternoon son shone down on the commander as he walked up to the Fifth Division. He’d just returned from eating ramen in a food stand in the Rukongai, the first time the commander had been by that area on his own since the Takeover, although, this outing wasn’t just for sustenance. He needed to listen to people react to the article on the vessel. It seemed, however, that for just as many people used the interview to defend her, an equal amount of people used it to raise questions or doubts. After discussing the interview with his old friend, Shunsui had hoped for a stronger, more tolerant reception, but the scars of the past remained fresh to all. It seemed that the true judgement for Kita would await her return to Soul Society after they had heard her story — an unknown result that would be delayed by her latest disappearance. The commander sighed. He did not need more variables appearing in front of him. He needed some to disappear and others to return to his control or at least to the order they were meant to fall into. But somehow, Shunsui Kyoraku felt he wouldn’t achieve that wish anytime soon. That seemed all the more true when he spied his small lieutenant, stumbling through the doors of the Fifth Division, trying to secure the falling paperwork in its folder. He lengthened his stride to get to her side, steadying her before jumping back as she swung on him on instinct. |
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Post by Lt. Nanao Ise on Aug 16, 2024 22:29:39 GMT -6
“Sorry, Captain,” Nanao murmured. She didn't think he was a threat, but dealing with tempers made her instincts take over after the time in the Pillars. She extinguished the kido that appeared in her hand the instant before and moved on.
“Let me guess,” Shunsui sighed. “Our favorite problem captain is still being a pain in the neck and throwing you out as soon as you enter.”
“Not quite,” Nanao replied, pushing her glasses up. She then turned back to the file under her arm, tucking pieces of papers back into their place. Satisfied that none would fly out, she turned to her superior. “It was a little different this time. He tricked me into thinking he was considering it by taking the file this time before I could talk about the laws. However, he soon threw everything in my face after naming several flaws for a handful of candidates.”
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 16, 2024 22:35:03 GMT -6
The commander reached up and rubbed at the muscles behind his eyes, feeling the tension building there. Ever since their return from the Takeover, after realizing that so few of his comrades and his division had survived, Shinji Hirako had adamantly refused to take on a lieutenant, promote remaining officers, or recruit new people to the Fifth Division until he had found a cure for the “curse” of the position.
It was such a ridiculous notion, but unfortunately, his reasoning stuck. Fifth Division was blackened by their former captain, Sousuke Aizen. For a while, before the new war, rumors and warnings had faded with the iron but steadfast control of Hirako and the gentle resolution of their Lieutenant Hinamori. Both had been affected by Aizen and both had risen up. Now, the hopeful countenance of Hinamori was gone and their captain was longer the same, scarred on the inside and outside. The old curses were resurging. People around and in the division believed their surly captain. At any other time, Shunsui would be tempted to remove Hirako either permanently or temporarily with his violent rejection of seeking progress, but taking the man away from his crippled division would break the whole heart of the operation. So he had tried to push him into the light.
It was not easy.
“He’s persistent at least, making sure it’s for their sake he’s rejecting them and not his.”
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Post by Lt. Nanao Ise on Aug 16, 2024 22:35:52 GMT -6
Nanao looked up at her captain. It hadn’t even been a month since their return from Las Noches, but he looked exhausted. After the memorial, he said what he needed to do would be finished soon. But after that, the earthquakes had struck Soul Society in tandem with difficulties in Karakura. The break she had hoped for hadn’t arrived, and he hadn’t slowed down. Each night, after he sent her away, she knew he stayed up, pondering and problem solving.
Any other time, she’d be proud of his work ethic, but now, it worried her. She didn’t know how to assist him when he took the weight of the realms upon his shoulders like this.
She had hoped that visiting Rukongai would help, but perhaps with the goal ahead of him, it hadn’t been enough.
She looked to the doggy bag in his great hand, resisting the urge to cover it up. “That smells different than his favorite.”
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Aug 16, 2024 22:38:04 GMT -6
He followed her gaze and shrugged. “I tried to find something similar but I stayed away from that on purpose. He rarely picked up his own meals, but he made a game of others picking it up for him. Specifically Hinamori or her best friend, if I’ve listened to others right.”
“I know," his lieutenant murmured. "I used to help her sometimes. Do you think the food will help?”
Shunsui shrugged. “He needs to eat. I need to break that hard shell enough to get a moment of his time when he’s not snarling. If that’s all that happens today, that is enough for now.”
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Post by Lt. Nanao Ise on Aug 16, 2024 22:39:44 GMT -6
Nanao nodded slowly, standing straight in an effort to appear taller. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay behind and wait for you? I’m still faster at paperwork than you even when you’re working hard.”
Her expression stilled at letting that last part slip. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself now. Nonetheless, Shunsui lifted his eyes up to her, settling a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Nanao-chan. You’ll have more paperwork than you’ll know what to do with when the Soul King stops testing our return like this. And it’s too chaotic for me to lose any blood to an Oni’s temper.” “Nonetheless, please be careful.” “I will be.” He released her and walked forward. Her eyes followed him through the gate.
Moved
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