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Post by Miyuki Asuhara on Nov 12, 2024 21:18:07 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: The ChaosEpisode 577 "Asuhara’s 4": (continued) Miyuki sat in the sitting room of the Hojo manor, Minako stood next to her, standing by the arm of the couch with her hands folded neatly in front of her. Miyuki delicately sipped from her teacup but not before dipping a small tab of paper into the liquid while the servant wasn’t looking. The paper came out clean, indicating the tea was safe. She wasn’t taking any chances with Nobuyuki Hojo. The last thing she needed was for the man to murder her thinking that he could take her money and keep his valuables. “Everything should be ready,” Minako said quietly in her thrown voice. “All preparations have been made. We’re right on schedule.” “Good,” Miyuki nodded, sounding effortlessly bored. She raised the teacup to her lips. “No mistakes. I mean it. I want this to go perfectly.” “Yes, my Lady,” Minako bowed her head, hiding her small smirk. Suddenly the door to the sitting room opened and in walked a handsome, middle aged blonde man wearing a mint green kosode, a black hakama, and a black haori walked in, giving the two young women a smile that made Miyuki’s skin crawl. He held his arms out at his sides. “Miss Kobayashi! Welcome! It’s good to see you again. I see you have brought company this time,” Hojo said to her. Miyuki sat her teacup down on the tea table. “That’s Lady Kobayashi to you, Hojo-san. And tell your assistant that the tea was marginally better this time.” |
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Post by Minako Asuhara on Nov 12, 2024 21:19:43 GMT -6
Minako watched blank faced as she saw a vein pop in Hojo’s temple. He smiled through his irritation, however. She did not give the man a chance to respond. “You confirmed that you have the rest of the collection, correct? I am Tanaka, Lady Kobayashi’s assistant and appraiser. She has brought me along to confirm the legitimacy of the pieces you have agreed to sell.”
Hojo’s gaze snapped to Miyuki and his face tightened as he frowned. “Legitimacy? You doubt that they are real?”
“I doubt that any piece is real until Tanaka confirms with her own eyes that they are in fact real,” Miyuki said sharply, folding her hands daintily on her lap and sitting with her back straight. “I am not a difficult woman to understand, Hojo-san. I like perfection. If the pieces are not perfect, as you have promised, then there is no deal. Understand?”
Hojo’s jaw flexed as he replied tightly and with gritted teeth. “My lady, I have already secured the pieces you requested. They are in my gallery with the rest of the collection as we speak.”
“Good. Then I will have no issues viewing the pieces to confirm their legitimacy,” Minako nodded firmly, clasping her hands once more.
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Post by Miyuki Asuhara on Nov 12, 2024 21:20:04 GMT -6
Miyuki watched as Hojo debated with himself before ultimately deciding to side with his better judgement. He sighed and nodded. Miyuki smiled and reached out for Minako who took her hand to help her stand. “Excellent. Let us be on our way then.” Miyuki made her way forward slowly, leisurely. As if she had all the time in the world. As she passed Hojo she said, “I do hope for your sake that these pieces are what you say they are. I have already cleared space in my home to display them. It would be most unfortunate were I to return home empty handed.” “Th-the pieces are all real and in mint condition, my Lady. I assure you,” Hojo stammered as he followed the two young women out into the hallway. “Tanaka will see to it that they are,” Miyuki said firmly. Nothing else was said as they made their way to the gallery towards the back of the manor. Moved |
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Post by Yorusuke Nagano on Nov 20, 2024 23:59:47 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: The ChaosEpisode 582 "Double The Trouble": (continued) Yorusuke and Renji arrived at the Hojo estate just before midday, the sun casting long shadows across the meticulously maintained grounds. The estate was grand, its traditional architecture speaking to centuries of wealth and influence. The two officers were led through the front gates by a quiet servant and into a formal receiving room. The space was tastefully adorned, its decor a testament to Hojo’s love of relics and fine art: tapestries, scrolls, and paintings lined the walls, while shelves held ornate vases and carved figurines. Renji stretched as he lowered himself onto one of the cushions set out for guests, his zanpakutō resting against his leg. “Man, these places always feel so stiff. You’d think with all this money, they could spring for chairs once in a while.”Yorusuke remained standing, his hands clasped behind his back as he studied the room. His sharp eyes swept across the artifacts on display, lingering on a scroll mounted behind glass. It was an exquisite piece, its delicate ink strokes forming an ancient poem. “Chairs wouldn’t match the aesthetic,” Yorusuke said absently, his tone calm as always. Renji smirked, leaning back slightly. “Yeah, well, the aesthetic could use a little comfort.” He gestured toward the scroll Yorusuke had been looking at. “So, what do you think? Any of this stuff look familiar from the lock-up?”Yorusuke stepped closer to the scroll, tilting his head slightly as he examined the intricate script. “Not exactly. But the style is similar to some of the relics we saw. It’s possible this belonged to the same collection or era as the confiscated pieces.” Renji huffed. “Figures. Guy’s got half the Soul Society’s history on display, and he’s still not happy.”Before Yorusuke could respond, the shoji door at the far end of the room slid open, and another servant entered, bowing deeply. “Hojo-sama will join you shortly,” the servant announced. Yorusuke inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, while Renji gave a casual wave. As the servant disappeared, the room fell silent again, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the garden outside. Renji broke the silence after a moment, his tone quieter but tinged with frustration. “You know, I get that we’ve got to be all polite and proper here, but this guy’s wasting our time. If he really wanted help, he’d have met us at the door.”Yorusuke finally took a seat, his posture straight but relaxed. “Hojo isn’t just asking for help—he’s making a statement. By keeping us waiting, he’s reminding us of his status and influence. To him, this is about more than stolen relics. It’s about control.” Renji scowled, his fingers tapping against the hilt of his zanpakutō. “Control, huh? Well, let’s see how much control he’s got when we start asking the hard questions.”Yorusuke allowed himself a faint smile. “Patience, Renji. The truth has a way of revealing itself when you let people talk long enough.” Renji shook his head with a chuckle. “Yeah, yeah. You’re the master of cool and collected. Me? I just want to get this over with so we can figure out who’s really behind all this.”Yorusuke’s expression sobered slightly, his gaze shifting back to the scroll on the wall. “So do I. But rushing won’t help us get there any faster. Let Hojo play his games—for now. The more he underestimates us, the more likely he is to slip.” Renji gave a begrudging nod, leaning back on his hands. “Fine. But the second he starts dodging questions, I’m stepping in.”“Fair enough,” Yorusuke said, his tone neutral but laced with a quiet confidence. The two fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they waited. Outside, the gentle rustling of the garden continued, a serene backdrop to the tension building within the room. Whatever Hojo had to say, Yorusuke and Renji were ready to hear it—and ready to push back if the noble thought he could keep them in the dark. |
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on Nov 21, 2024 11:24:05 GMT -6
Renji picked impatiently at the wrap on Zabimaru's hilt until the chimera spirit hissed at him to stop. He tossed out a silent apology to the back of his mind and leaned forward to scrutinize the small bonsai on the table instead. Was it pine? Hell, he really was impatient if he was trying to guess what species of tiny tree this noble had sitting on his table.
He was about ready to throw decency to the wind and stomp out of the room to find Hojo himself when the man of the hour finally walked into the room.
"I appreciate your patience, officers. I had business to attend to," Hojo said as he walked into the room. He took a seat at the head of the table. "My goods may have been stolen, but I still have clients to tend to. You know how it goes."
Renji glanced over at Yorusuke, giving him a dull look and resisting the urge to roll his eyes into the back of his skull. Was he serious? He was wasting their time and yet they were the ones doing him a favor? Yorusuke pretended to shift his weight and reached out with his foot to kick Renji under the table, silently urging him to bite his tongue. Renji held in his wince and turned to Hojo. "We understand," Renji forced out, "but the longer we wait to investigate, the less likely it is that we will be able to retrieve your stolen goods."
"I'm sorry, you must have misunderstood me," Hojo said tightly, his lips thinning as he clenched his jaw. He folded his hands under his chin arrogantly. "Retrieving these stolen goods is not a matter of 'if'. I need them back. My business depends on it. You see, I am not just a collecter. I am a broker. I find rare things no one else can."
"I see..." Renji said nonchalantly, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Yorusuke was taking notes. He glanced over at him and Yorusuke nodded. Renji turned back to Hojo. "Then let's start with some housekeeping questions. Take us through the moment you discovered the theft."
"I woke up this morning and had my breakfast and my morning tea..." Hojo began recounting his day in a way that irked Renji. It was as if he were beating around the bush. "... And then when I finally made my way to my store room, I discovered that I had been nearly wiped clean. Not everything was taken, but every thing that was taken was of considerable value. Irreplaceable!"
"And about what time was this that you discovered this?" Renji asked.
"Around 9:15."
"Anything suspicious last night, yesterday or in the past week? Unexpected visitors, suspicious clients, or trespassers?"
"No," Hojo responded a little too quickly, shaking his head firmly. He hesitated then winced. "Well... yes. Yes actually. There was... a... a client."
"Tell us about them," Renji requested sternly. "Name, age, sex, distinguishing features." He watched as Hojo seemed to chew the thought over, like he didn't want to say anything. "If you're hesitating because of client confidentiality, I'd like to remind you that you told us that it is of the utmost importance that we get these goods back for you, Hojo-sama." Renji had to bite his tongue to keep from spitting out the honorific in the man's face.
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Post by Yorusuke Nagano on Nov 21, 2024 15:52:31 GMT -6
Yorusuke set his pen down deliberately, the faint click of it against the table breaking the tension in the room. His calm, measured gaze fixed on Hojo, who shifted uncomfortably where he stood.
“Hojo-sama,” Yorusuke began, his tone polite but sharp enough to command attention, “you’ve emphasized how vital these items are to your business and reputation. If that’s true, withholding information—whether out of loyalty to a client or fear of exposure—only hampers our ability to assist you. Surely, you understand the stakes.”
Hojo visibly flinched, the weight of Yorusuke’s words settling heavily on him. Renji crossed his arms, leaning back slightly, his sharp eyes trained on the noble.
“I…” Hojo began, then sighed, his haughty demeanor faltering. “Fine. There was a client—though I use the term loosely. They were... peculiar.”
“Peculiar how?” Yorusuke pressed, leaning forward slightly.
Hojo hesitated again, his gaze flickering between the two officers. “They weren’t any of my usual clientele. I have a lot of repeat clients. This these people weren't any of them. They appeared to be nobles, carried themselves as such. One was young, perhaps mid-twenties. The other was much older. At least she appeared to be. Her face looked older and she had salt and pepper hair. The older one was the younger's assistant, or so she said. Thing is, now that I think of it, I didn't recognize the girl's family name. But she knew things. She knew how to act like a noble. Not sure if that means she gave me a fake name and she really is a noble, or if she's really from Rukongai and they both were better actresses than I've seen in some plays recently."
“Did they give you a name?” Yorusuke asked, his pen, once again, poised over his notepad.
Hojo’s lips pressed into a thin line. “They called themselves 'Sakura Kobayashi and Tanaka' but I doubt it was their real names.”
Renji’s brow furrowed. “Sakura Kobayashi and Tanaka? That’s not exactly the most inconspicuous alias. What did they want?”
“They were inquiring about several artifacts,” Hojo admitted, his voice tight. “Specifically, items connected to Nanna Amano. Paintings and the collarbated kimonos-feat Tori Saya, things of that nature. They were... insistent.”
“Insistent how?” Yorusuke asked, his tone growing sharper.
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Post by Lt. Renji Abarai on Nov 21, 2024 16:19:25 GMT -6
Renji studied Hojo's expression as the man explained.
"Well, for one, I thought for a second that she was just going to take them from me without bothering to pay. She acted like she had a right to my belongings," Hojo's face twisted in contempt. He squeezed his hands together on the table. "And then... her assistant told us that the kimonos--The Shiki Quartet by Nanna Amano and Saya Tori--she convinced me that they were fakes. Said they were missing their authenticity marks. She even showed me."
Renji raised his eyebrows at Hojo. "The kimonos you have are fake?"
"There's no way they could be!" Hojo slammed his fist on the table. He glared at the two of them. "I know my art! I am no fool! I knew those kimonos were real the moment I spotted them!"
"Where did you get them?" Renji asked, tilting his head. "Who sold them to you?"
Hojo's face paled. "S-sold them to me? Ah, no, they... they were a gift. Yes. A gift."
"From who?" Renji insisted.
"A... friend. A person I consider a business partner..." Hojo seemed to think for a moment then cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes. They were a gift from him. He owns a gallery. He gave them to me not too long ago. The other day in fact. And then the girl, Kobayashi or whatever her name is, demanded I sell her the kimonos as part of the collection."
"And do you know where he got them?"
"I'm telling you, I know they're real! I wouldn't make a mistake like that! I especially would not make the mistake of obtaining an entire collection of Amano fakes!" Hojo snarled at them.
"An entire collection?" Renji wanted to smirk, but refrained. "You're saying they told you your whole collection of Nanna Amano artwork is fake?"
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Post by Yorusuke Nagano on Nov 21, 2024 16:26:19 GMT -6
Yorusuke's calm, precise voice cut through Hojo’s mounting frustration like a blade through silk. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Hojo-sama. If your collection was called into question, it’s crucial we address it methodically. You said the assistant showed you that the kimonos were missing authenticity marks. Could you describe exactly what they pointed out?” "Yes, the assistant pulled us aside and showed us the inside of the collar of each kimono. She said there was supposed to be a seal and a signature that served as confirmation that both Nanna Amano and Saya Tori worked on the kimonos together. Those marks were not there when she showed me the collar," Hojo explained, his tone laced with venom. He pounded the table with his fist again. "But I know those kimonos were real! I was told they were! We're not driveling fools! We've been doing this a long time! We know the difference between fakes and the genuine article! All our fortune would be dust in the wind if we couldn't!" Renji tried his best to not look bored or uninterested as he listened to Hojo rant about his damaged reputation and wealth. He really couldn't care less about the man's fortune, but the theft was something that fell under Sixth Division's jurisdiction, and so it was his job to care about that. "I'm sure you know your stuff, but no one is perfect. Some people are great at making convincing fakes, unfortunately." Yorusuke gave Renji a quick sidelong glance, a subtle signal to ease the tension. Turning back to Hojo, his tone remained calm but firm. “Hojo-sama, if we’re going to determine the truth of this matter, we’ll need to see the rest of your Amano collection.” Hojo hesitated, his fingers twitching as he gripped the edge of the table. “The rest of the collection? Why? The theft was limited to the historic artifacts. The rest of the artwork is still in my possession.” “And that’s exactly why we need to see it,” Yorusuke said smoothly. “We’ll need to assess its condition and security.” Renji crossed his arms and nodded. “He’s right. Thieves don’t usually stop at one item when there’s more to gain. They might have been testing you with the artifacts, seeing how far they could push. If they decide to come back, they might not leave anything behind next time.”Hojo glared at them both, his jaw tightening. “You think I can’t protect my own property?” “We think it’s better to be prepared than regretful,” Yorusuke countered gently but firmly. “And if your collection is as valuable as you claim, I’m sure you’d rather not take unnecessary risks. Allow us to evaluate it and ensure nothing else is compromised.” After a long moment, Hojo let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. But don’t touch anything, and don’t take any more time than necessary. This way.” Hojo stood and motioned for them to follow him. He led them through a grand hallway lined with other pieces of high-value artwork, though none as rare or prestigious as the Amano collection. At the end of the hall, they stopped before a set of ornate double doors. Hojo produced a key from his pocket and unlocked them, pushing the doors open to reveal a room bathed in soft, filtered light. The Amano collection was displayed on intricate stands and carefully mounted frames. Paintings of serene landscapes, delicately embroidered tapestries, and scrolls adorned with calligraphy were laid out meticulously, each piece accompanied by a small plaque detailing its origin and significance. Moved |
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