|
|
Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Apr 26, 2024 15:11:59 GMT -6
Toshiro gave a soft hum and a light smile. "Well... If you insist, then maybe it is for the best." He paused then nodded, reaching for a handful of his amanatto. "I will then. I leave the division in your hands then, Lieutenant Kugo. Effective tomorrow."
"Well," started Kogu. "That was easy. I thought that would have been harder. Prior to my transfer, I was told that you could be as stubborn as Captain Kuchiki. I am glad that you're taking time. But, something tells me that you won't be resting."
"You didn't suggest anything I was not already considering myself," Toshiro shook his head. He finished off his amanatto and took a drink of his green tea. "What I do with that time, however, is my concern."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lt. Korin Kugo on Apr 26, 2024 15:43:24 GMT -6
"Fair enough." answered Kugo. He took advantage of the few quiet minutes between them and ate most of his ramen. "Question," he said, wiping a bit of broth from his mouth. "Captain Hirabayashi has changed the rules of her facility. Members of the Gotei ranked Lieutenant or lower must have permission from their Captains to train there. I'd like your permission."
"Do what you must to keep your skills sharp," Toshiro gave a firm nod. "If that means training with your former Division, then feel free to train wherever works best for you. Division Nine is welcome to use the Tenth's training grounds and dojo as well." He finished his tea and collected the dishes, setting them on the bartop for the owner to collect. "Does she require written permission?"
"She does. But, you've been to Hirabayashi's facilities. You know they're nothing like ours. Or any other division, I think. My former Captain loves developing people and their abilities. 'Watching you grow is as much a pleasure as watching my own children.' She said that to us quite a bit before...Well, you know." Kugo sighed. "Plus I think with the training of her new squad going on she's trying to limit the amount of people there." Falling silent for a moment, Kugo shook his head. "I must sound like I want to leave your division and return to the Ninth." he gave a nervous chuckle.
|
|
|
|
Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Apr 26, 2024 16:02:47 GMT -6
Toshiro shook his head and paid his and Kugo's bill before turning and standing. "If I thought you would not be invested in this Division, I would not have made you my lieutenant. You have close bonds with those in the Ninth. I have no desire to break them. I have faith that you know where your responsibilities lie." Kugo nodded. "Of course, sir." He stood and bowed to his Captain. "Thank you, sir." Kugo adjusted his headband then the strap across his chest. "Uh, another thing, Captain. Lieutenant Matsumoto would be proud of you." A white hot knife of pain sliced through his chest as Toshiro pushed back the curtains to step out of the izakaya. He paused, letting the curtain lower slightly so it partly covered his face. He felt his shoulders quiver with the effort it took to hold back his emotions. Rangiku's smiling face flashed through his mind and along with it Momo's. He grit his teeth through tightly pursed lips. He exhaled heavily, letting his shoulders relax.
"... Thank you..." he responded barely loud enough for his new lieutenant to hear. He stepped through the curtains and disappeared before either of them could say another word. END RP "Kinzo"
|
|
|
|
Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Oct 15, 2024 16:20:31 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: The ChaosEpisode 548 "Reunion and Reflection": Haku stood outside of one of his favorite izakaya restaurants that served mostly finger foods or any other foods that were acceptable to eat without chopsticks. Chopsticks had proven to be the bane of his existence since the incident with his reiatsu. His hand was still bandaged, though now it was in a better-fitting sleeve rather than the white linen wrap the Fourth Division had placed him in. Thankfully, Sasakibe had plenty of forks to eat with at his manor. Eating out, however, was sometimes a hassle. So he stuck to places like this where it was "chopsticks optional".
He was waiting for Makino. When he returned to Sasakibe's after his talk with Hisagi, she had already left but left him a note asking him to please come see her when he was doing better. This morning he sent her a letter delivered by one of Sasakibe's housekeepers asking her to meet him here. The housekeeper returned with a letter in response agreeing to meet him just after noon when her morning training was finished.
So Haku waited, picking at one of the seams on the wristband of the bandage he wore on his hand. He thought about what he'd say to her. There were a lot of things. First and foremost being "I'm sorry." He knew she wouldn't be mad, but he was still upset and disappointed in himself. He probably would be until he set things right, even after the talk with Hisagi.
Still, one step at a time. |
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Oct 15, 2024 18:06:50 GMT -6
Makino hurried down the bustling street, her heart picking up pace with each step. She was excited—genuinely excited—to see Haku. It had only been a few hours since they last had seen one another, she was curious as to how he was doing since that night, nothing eased her concern quite like seeing him in person. He’d been through a lot, but he was strong—stronger than he gave himself credit for.
She remembered the first time they met. Haku had been so serious, so intense, that it had made her smile even then. She admired his dedication and the quiet determination he always carried with him. Yet today, her heart ached knowing that his own struggles were weighing him down.
As she neared the izakaya, a familiar warmth blossomed inside her chest. There he was, standing just outside the door, looking a bit distracted as he fiddled with the seam on his wristband. The sight of him brought an unbidden smile to her lips.
Makino hoped he would open up today. She wanted to know how he was, not just physically but emotionally, too. She wanted to tell him how much she believed in him no matter what challenges he was facing. It had always been easy to talk to Haku, but today she could feel a weight in the air—a weight she was determined to help him lift.
Taking a deep breath, she approached, her voice light and teasing as she called out to him.
"You're not already bored waiting for me, are you?" she smiled, her eyes soft as they met his.
|
|
|
|
Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Oct 15, 2024 20:03:14 GMT -6
Haku's gaze flew up as he heard Makino's voice. Seeing her excited and maybe slightly worried expression eased him just a bit. At least she wasn't mad at him. That was a relief. He smiled at her as she approached him and shook his head.
"Nope, not bored. Just spacing out." His smile faltered just a bit and he cleared his throat, wringing his hands together. "I'm... I'm glad to see you. I was worried about you after I came home and saw the note. I was worried you might be upset with me."
He blinked and shook his head at her, holding his hands up. "But we can talk over lunch. No need to stand here and chat. I don't know about you but I'm starving."
|
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Oct 15, 2024 20:17:07 GMT -6
Makino’s eyes softened as she saw the hint of hesitation in Haku’s smile. She stepped closer and placed a gentle hand on his arm, offering a reassuring squeeze.
“Haku, I could never be upset with you," she said, her voice calm and kind. "I’m just glad you’re doing better. That’s what matters to me.”
She could see that he was still carrying some of his worries, but she wasn’t about to push. He would open up when he was ready, and for now, she was just happy to spend time with him.
"Lunch sounds wonderful," she added with a smile, her stomach giving a small rumble as if to agree. "Let’s sit, relax, and take our time. We’ll talk about whatever you want, whenever you’re ready."
Makino gestured toward the entrance, her eyes twinkling with a mix of warmth and anticipation. "And besides, I’m starving too." She chuckled softly, feeling lighter as she walked beside him into the restaurant.
|
|
|
|
Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Oct 15, 2024 20:46:12 GMT -6
Haku smiled warmly at her and gently took her hand, tugging her towards the door. "Then let's eat!"
They walked into the small restaurant and were seated at a table towards the back. There were a few other patrons besides them, but not enough to make the izakaya seem packed. Haku and Makino sat in their seats and ordered green tea to drink. The waitress teased them by asking them if they were sure they didn't want something alcoholic when she realized their age. Once the waitress had trotted off to assist other tables and let them decide what they wanted to order, Haku turned back to Makino.
"So... first I wanted to apologize to you," Haku took a deep breath, looking down at the empty saucers that sat on the table for when their food came. "I put you in a lot of danger and that danger could have been prevented. This is twice now that you've almost gotten hurt because of me, and I wanted you to know how sorry I am for that."
|
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Oct 15, 2024 20:55:49 GMT -6
Makino listened to Haku carefully, watching the way he averted his gaze as he spoke. She could see the weight he was carrying, and her heart ached to take some of that burden from him. When he finished, she leaned forward slightly, her expression soft but resolute.
“Haku, no harm was done,” she said gently, her tone firm with reassurance. “You don’t need to apologize to me. If anyone knows I can take care of myself, it’s you.”
Her gaze softened further, and she gave him a small smile. “I understand you worry, and I appreciate it, but you’re not responsible for everything. We face danger all the time in our line of work, and you’ve never treated me like someone who needed protecting. That’s one of the reasons I respect you so much."
Makino took a moment to let her words sink in, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of her teacup. “And besides, if there’s anyone I’d trust to have my back, it’s you. You don’t need to carry this alone, Haku.” She looked into his eyes, hoping he would feel the truth in her words.
A playful glint returned to her eyes as she added, "Now, let’s focus on something more important—like what we’re going to about this? I am here to help. I hope you know that."
|
|
|
|
Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Oct 15, 2024 21:19:50 GMT -6
Haku felt like some of the weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. Makino really was a pure soul, despite her family's profession. She genuinely cared about people and tried to help them. Friends or not. And if a friend was in trouble, only the gods could stop her from coming to their aid. It was what he respected and admired most about her. Makino was beautiful on the outside, but on the inside was where she shined the most.
"Well," Haku sighed heavily, thinking of his broken asauchi. He tapped the fingers of his bad hand against the table absent mindedly, then winced. He laid his hand gently on the table instead. "I'm not able to get another asauchi until I enter the academy. Apparently the dean thinks that because I willfully broke my sword, I should have to wait like everyone else. I can't say I blame him. Sasakibe used his position at the academy to convince the dean to let me have one before going into the academy in the first place. So for right now I'm without a sword. I'm not really sure what performing jinzen without an asauchi will achieve, and I'm worried about what would happen if I happen to prove to my zanpakuto spirit that I'm ready to wield its power without holding an asauchi. I don't know where that energy goes. So I'd like to do some research on zanpakuto just to get a better sense of what I'm up against."
|
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Oct 15, 2024 22:32:36 GMT -6
Makino listened quietly as Haku spoke, sensing the frustration and uncertainty beneath his words. She could tell how much this weighed on him, but she also knew his strength—and that his patience would see him through this difficult time.
She smiled gently at him, her eyes warm. “We’ll just be patient, Haku. When the time comes, I’ll still be here to help you through it.”
Her words were simple, but she meant them with all her heart. She knew how hard it must be for him to be without his asauchi, and the worry that came with not knowing what would happen with his zanpakuto. But she also believed in his ability to handle it, no matter how long it took.
“And researching zanpakuto sounds like a good plan,” she continued. “The more you know, the better prepared you'll be when the time comes. We’ll figure it out together, and I’m sure you’ll be more than ready by then.”
She reached across the table and placed her hand lightly over his, offering silent support. “You’re not facing this alone, Haku. And until you get your asauchi back, we’ll find other ways to make sure you're still growing stronger.”
Her smile brightened, and she added with a playful glint, “Besides, knowing you, you’ll be more than prepared when that time comes. I’m just lucky I’ll get to witness it.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Oct 16, 2024 12:01:05 GMT -6
Haku chuckled and shrugged, his cheeks warming. "Well, I try. I have big shoes to fill. The biggest even. I mean, I know I'll never be my grandfather--no one ever will--but I want to be a shinigami he would be proud of. Not just in strength but in values. Helping souls, maintaining the balance, protecting against our enemies."
He looked down at his bandaged hand, carefully flexing the muscles like he was told to so they wouldn't get stiff. "If my zanpakuto has no safe zone for using my powers without worrying about harming myself, then I need to figure out how to protect myself against it. When I'm able to use my powers freely, I need to be able to wield them without holding back. Otherwise I might end up destroying myself in the process."
|
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Oct 16, 2024 13:27:08 GMT -6
Makino’s expression softened as she listened to Haku, her admiration for him growing even deeper. She could see how much he cared—not just about his strength but about doing what was right, upholding the values his grandfather had instilled in him.
“You’re already someone to be proud of, Haku,” she said quietly, her voice filled with sincerity. “Your grandfather’s legacy may be big, but you’re building your own—one that’s just as important. It’s not about being him; it’s about being the best version of you. And you’re doing that every day.”
She glanced at his hand, watching as he carefully flexed it, and her brow furrowed slightly with concern. “And you’ll figure it out,” she continued, her tone growing more determined. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll find a way to help you control your powers safely, and you’ll come out of this stronger for it.”
Makino leaned forward a little, her eyes locking with his. “You don’t have to carry the weight of that fear alone. When the time comes for you to wield your powers fully, you’ll do it with control and confidence. And I’ll be right there with you—through every step of it.”
Her smile brightened, a mix of encouragement and faith in him. "So, no holding back. We're in this together."
|
|
|
|
Post by Haku "Katsumi" Yamamoto on Oct 16, 2024 13:41:25 GMT -6
Haku smiled and reached over the table to take Makino's hands in his, giving hers a squeeze with his good hand. "Thanks Maki-chan. You've always had my back. On big and small things. I hope you know how much I appreciate it. And you. I don't know how I would have gotten this far without you to support me."
"I have two best friends, you were my first then Jiro came into my life. You guys are family to me and always will be, and family always has one anothers backs." She smiled warmly at him her hand turning over and squeezing the his hand that was over hers. "I love you guys, so if you hurt I hurt."
"I feel the same," Haku nodded, his face feeling warm again. He pulled his hands away then looked down at his bandaged hand again. "You know, I... had the opportunity to have my Shikai already by now. He was going to tell me and I refused to listen. I left and broke the connection. If I had stayed and listened and accepted his name, none of this would have happened. But now... I think I'm ready to listen. Problem is, I doubt he'll want to tell me now. I'll probably have to spend a long time gaining his favor again."
|
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Oct 16, 2024 15:15:46 GMT -6
Makino listened, her gaze thoughtful and understanding. She could hear the regret in Haku’s voice, and while she didn’t want him to dwell on what could have been, she knew how hard it was to let go of those feelings.
“People get scared or upset when things don’t turn out the way they expect,” she said softly, agreeing with him. “It’s only natural. And sometimes, in those moments, we make decisions that don’t seem right in hindsight. But that’s part of the process—working through it, figuring out how to move forward.”
Her eyes met his, filled with reassurance. “You’ll get there, Haku. I know you will. And your zanpakutō spirit will understand. It might take time, but you’re ready now, and that’s what matters most. When you’re patient with yourself and your journey, everything else falls into place.”
She smiled gently, her voice steady but encouraging. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You made the choice you needed to at that time, and now you’re making the choice to move forward. That’s the important part. You’ll gain his favor again, step by step. And when you do, I’m sure your bond will be stronger than ever.”
|
|
