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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Jun 4, 2016 15:56:06 GMT -6
Byakuya nodded. “That would be acceptable,” he murmured. He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he was starting to get uncomfortable in the spotlight and the crowd. He would much prefer the quiet and the peace tea would offer. And perhaps he would find a solution to his search. He did not have the time nor the patience to look for most of the day. But he would not settle. His pride would not allow it.
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Jun 4, 2016 16:23:27 GMT -6
Saya returned his nod adjusting her bundle in her arms, only to have Byakuya reach over and take more than half of it. Saya smiled warmly shaking her head. "You do not have to do that. I can manage."
“You could,” he agreed, “but it is only proper for me to assist you since it is I who changed your schedule for the day, Lady Saya.” He settled the items in his arm. “And as it is, we both won’t be carrying them for long. If we are going for tea.”
Saya chuckled softly as Byakuya gestured for them to move on to their next location. "I am glad you did." Saya informed him as she turned and they walked away from the merchants table. "I enjoy your company very much. It is very pleasant." As she looked ahead of them a very soft sigh escaped her. "My life don't allow me to make many friends outside of the home."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Jun 4, 2016 21:07:17 GMT -6
Byakuya paused at the tone in her voice, the melancholy whisper underneath the mask of etiquette. He hesitated and then, looking at the lavender ribbon drifting in the breeze trying to escape, turned around. “You are not alone with that burden, Lady Saya,” he murmured, loud enough for her to hear but not for others to eavesdrop. “But the smile you wear does disguise it better.”
He continued on his way to the tea shop, the last words barely above a whisper. “It’s envious...."
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Jun 4, 2016 21:23:51 GMT -6
Saya looked to him shaking her head slightly. "Please. Do not envy me, Kuchiki-sama. I was taught from a very young age how to conceal all emotion." She looked ahead of them again and motioned with her head to the Tea Shop coming into view as she continued.
"But since the loss of my--" she hesitated realizing she may say too much telling him about her family. Sure he was a one of the high ranked Noble families, but only the Noble family she served knew of her true identity. That was how she stayed alive for so many centuries. She looked back to Byakuya. "Forgive me. I should not be hindering you with my personal issues." She smiled brightly looking ahead of them once more.
"Back to that gift of yours..."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Jun 4, 2016 21:47:13 GMT -6
Byakuya nodded, accepting her rebuff. “If you insist.” He continued into the tea shop. As the waiter bowed and scraped, praising and defending his place, he closed his eyes and let it continue until the owner replaced the boy. Waving away the apology, the noble let the man take the items, watching closely as he gave them to another with express orders to be careful.
“A table for two,” he whispered, “facing away from the street.”
“I believe I may have an appropriate seating arrangement overlooking the garden, if it would please you, my lord. I do know Lady Saya has enjoyed it before."
“That will do,” Kuchiki acquiesced, shortly.
As the owner got his grand guests seated, he bowed once again, leaving them alone again. Byakuya felt a spike of irritation rise but concealed it, folding his arms in his kimono and looking down. "What is you preferred taste here?"
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Jun 4, 2016 22:38:18 GMT -6
Sitting across from Byakuya at the table Saya smiled sweetly at him. "I am a lover of the spiced teas. Chai being one of my favorite. Matsuda has mastered the perfect blend." She giggled so softly it almost was not heard.
"I think he knows when I am overly stressed because he makes it a little stronger then on most days I come to visit h--" Seeing Byakuya's look transform into a daunted look, Saya paused in mid-sentence.
Looking the way of the garden she took a deep breath as her eyes closed and her head lowered ever so slightly. She felt like a fool now, here she sat with the head of the Kuchiki Clan, a handsome and highly respect man of the Seireitei and she was chatting with him like a long time friend, like he was one of the Koriyama's she had know all her life.
"I apologize, Kuchiki-sama." She looked back to him eyes open and another bright smile. "It seems I am very comfortable around you."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Jun 4, 2016 22:48:38 GMT -6
“I do not believe there is a need to apologize,” the Kuchiki head murmured, raising his cup as it was brought out. He paused, unused to the strong flavor, but he did not find it unpleasant. “I am the one who approached you for my own purposes, and I have not found your source of amusement irritating.” He lowered his cup, eyes lifting to her own. “I may purchase some of this blend. It is more calming than what I usually take. I wonder if it is the cinnamon.”
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Jun 4, 2016 23:02:16 GMT -6
Saya's smile softened, her normal practiced smile fading as he spoke to her. Her head nodded slowly. "I was told the calming effect comes from the mixture of the ingredients. Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pepper." Her head lifted slightly as she lifted her cup taking in the aroma. Her eyes closed as she let the spicy sweet warm scent wrap around her calming her very soul. She took a sip letting her cup rest back to the saucer.
Her head cocked slightly. "A nice arrangement of teas could always prove to be a nice gift if given to a tea drinker."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Jun 5, 2016 13:09:51 GMT -6
Byakuya nodded. “That could work,” he admitted. He bowed his head. "Thank you." There were enough flavors favored among all nobles that it wouldn’t take much to find a pleasing combination for any kind of gift. And... his eyes narrowed down at the teacup in his hand. “There is also a simple but elegant way to upgrade such present if needed. It should suit my situation very well."
He lifted his cup to his lips again, considering colors and scents available to him. Both at home and those shops his clan favored. “Is this your only favored taste here?” he asked.
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Jun 5, 2016 13:51:22 GMT -6
"Hmm," Saya hummed lowering her cup from her lips sitting it back to the saucer. "You could say I am kind of a connoisseur of teas. Though the spice tea's are one of my favorites there are others that will turn my head quickly. The White tea for one. With its gentle, subtly sweet, mellow, nectar-like flavor and the unique floral, wood and honey notes. Its defiantly a stand alone tea."
She smiled at Byakuya as he raised a brow nodding in agreement.
"There is also the Oolong tea. A nice balance between Green tea and Black tea if you're not looking for either of those. I think the thing I like best about the Oolong tea is it balances well with any flavor you wish to add to it. I have found my favorites with this specific tea to be the fruits. A touch of blackberry or pomegranate in the Oolong is wonderful with breakfast. I have just recently tried Cherry Blossom's with it. The taste is amazing and lingers on the palate in a wonderful way."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Jun 5, 2016 15:23:07 GMT -6
“I admit I haven’t tried adding pomegranate to another tea, though I, too, have enjoyed a hint of blackberry with my breakfast tea,” Byakuya murmured. Setting his cup down, he reached for his spoon and twirled a hint of sugar in his tea. “Though I admit I am more partial to the herbal and floral blends than most of the fruit. My focus on my duties is strengthened with their gentle bouquet. Though lemon is the exception. The soothing effect of mint, rose, and jasmine with a hint of lemon is poetic in its completeness.” He raised his cup again. “Fruit teas can be…. too potent for my purposes.”
Though Hisana had preferred fruit. A sweet tangy flavor of freedom. How it seemed to make most smile after tasting it. Perhaps that was why he still kept the blackberry in his collection. Though it did have a fuller flavor than her favorite…
“Considering what my family surrounds itself in cherry blossoms, too, have always been a partiality of mine.”
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Jun 5, 2016 15:40:01 GMT -6
Watching Byakuya speak to her then pause going into thought she saw in his eyes the distance that grew between them as his thoughts went deeper and further. Finally pulling himself back to reality and looking back at her she smiled warmly at him. She knew where his thoughts wondered.
"You miss her very much don't you?" When Byakuya oped to remain silent she continued. "I know the feeling very well. Even though our marriage was arranged. There was a certain amount of love I had for him before he was taken from me." Her smile faded slightly as she braved the encounter and reached across the table and patted his hand gently.
"They say your first love is always the hardest to move past no matter the reason for the separation." She nodded as a silence fell between them and she drew her hand slowly back to her cup of tea.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Jun 5, 2016 16:10:54 GMT -6
Byakuya sighed and decided to breach their respective silences. “I appreciate your sentiments and add my condolences to your own loss. I did not know you were a widower.” He turned his gaze to the garden and found himself speaking again. “Some things lose all their appeal to you and you wonder why others are still just that…. beautiful.” He closed his eyes, composing himself and restraining the pain that wanted to break free. “It’s hard to find another because of your blood.” He rose from his seat.
“I apologize if I-”
Byakuya didn’t let Saya finish. “If I had found your words bothersome, I wouldn’t have spoken further…. But I did.” He fixed his blade. “It is I who should apologize to you. This one has lost track of time.” His dark eyes regarded her own. “And now I must return my duties. Your assistance in finding a certain present is greatly appreciated. You do your family credit." He bowed his head to her.
“Have a bountiful afternoon, Lady Saya.” Kuchiki turned and exited the peaceful establishment.
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Post by Saya Masanobu on Jun 5, 2016 16:33:03 GMT -6
Saya bowed her head to the man before he turned and left the table as she watched him exit she sighed heavily. "Such paths we must walk because of our blood.""Can I get you another cup of tea, Lady Saya?" Their server ask standing beside the table. Saya looked over to him and nodded slightly. "That would be nice, thank you."
As the server picked up her cup and scurried away she looked down at her hand resting to the tabletop. The indention of her wedding ring was gone, even the pale tone of her skin had darkened from removing it only a few months ago. How times had changed for not only her family but her as well. If ask three years go if she would survive she would have been doubtful, but today. Today was a new day blessed upon her like the many others that had past since that terrible day.
She looked up again seeing Byakuya off in the distance as he walked the street back to his place at the Gotei 13. His stride was smooth and his head held high. The true manor of a Noble. No matter the situation they had been placed in. This was their life. Their destiny. No matter what life through at them. They of all people had to push forward for the sake of their Clan.
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Post by Kita Miyamoto on Jul 28, 2016 16:55:13 GMT -6
" A Stroll": (continued) Before leaving the campus Kita calmed Sojiro a little more reassuring him that with her scarf over her head no one would know it was her. She told him to step back from being so 'on guard' and 'over protective'. In the state he was in he would draw unwanted attention, he just needed to act causal and relax. No one would be any the wiser, and they would be just like all the other and blend in. Once he relaxed they head on their oath to see Kisuke. Kita picking up Kadaj so they would not have to walk too slowly for him to keep up.
Once in the mists of the merchant district they walked as quickly as they could, without drawing attention, down the street toward the Gotei to see Kisuke. Many things crossed Kita's mind. One of them what she was going to tell Kisuke if and when he ask her why she did what she did and ran off with Vale. The other. What Vale had told her about Sada and now Sojiro was telling her he was alive and what he had done to Juushiro and Kyoraku. The further they walked the more Kadaj wiggled in her arms to get down. Before long Sojiro had his mother stop and he took Kadaj from her letting him ride on his back if he would promise to hold still and be good.
Kadaj agreed and they headed on their way again until they reached the gates of the Gotei 13. It was here they found the most problems.Moved |
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