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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 11, 2016 9:54:00 GMT -6
"Chapter and Verse": (continued) When they entered the room Byakuya walked across the floor to the kitchen with the bag in his arms. Makino following him so she could put her things away. Sitting the bag to the table Byakuya looked to Makino as she stepped up on the other side of him reaching for the bag. He placed his hand to hers looking into her eyes when she looked up at him.
“Are there perishable items in the bag?” She shook her head. “No, it will keep.”
“Then fix some tea so we can sit and talk about what happened this afternoon.” Makino nodded doing as he ask has Byakuya returned back into the main room and took a seat in the chair across from the couch, as she fixed the tea Byakuya explained to her that he wanted to hear everything that happened, not a single detail left out. The more information he could gather the quicker he could put this threat behind her so she could return to a normal life. Though the captain could not see it she nodded her head to what he was telling her, but deep within she was preparing herself for the up and coming talk they were about to have.
When Makino entered the room, she seemed more at easy, and with the look on Byakuya’s face that pleased him. He gave her a small smile as she sat the tray with the tea and their cups to the table. Pouring them both a cup she handed the captain his cup first, pick up hers then took a seat across from him to the couch.
“I am sorry I have been such a pain as of late. I don’t know what happened.” She looked down into her cup of tea as the hot liquid swirled in the cup. “But when I saw him and then he bowed to me in that mocking way.” Her head shook quickly as her eyes closed trying to push the image out of her mind, but she could not. “As he looked at me, his smile. His actions. It was like he knew. Like he was watching. I panicked.” Her eyes opened moments later as she looked up from her tea to Byakuya.
“I am sorry. I know that goes against all my training. This is the first time I have ever been so unnerved by someone. I keep telling myself it is because now I am the hunted and not the hunter, but that sounds so foolish.” She sighed and took a sip of her tea to try and calm herself once more.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 11, 2016 19:41:02 GMT -6
Byakuya sipped at his tea again. “We all have fears that will not be silenced through normal training, but these same fears can destroy us until we acknowledge and devise a way to deal with them. In order to do that, you must first examine every detail of what happened. And then, I want you to compare those details to similar occurrences. The fact of the matter is that you were just as scared by them the first time than you were at this glimpse which was probably a test to garner how vulnerable you were. But you stood your ground the first time. This time, you lost track of where you were and then ran blindly. You may not get another chance to correct that.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 12, 2016 14:16:02 GMT -6
"Similar occurrences?" Makino repeated his words. "Kuchiki-sama, I have never been in a situation like this. Ever. And the reason I was so sure of myself the first time was because I had Hachidori on my person."
She took a deep breath and lowered her eyes from Byakuya's. "Also, their faces have been haunting my dreams. I don't know anything about these men, but my dreams have taken my imagination to its fullest of what they could or might be. I don't know why I spooked like I did. Maybe it was because of what Hiro's mother told me about her daughter. It just..." Her body trembled causing her teacup to rattle against the saucer it sat against.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 12, 2016 14:25:48 GMT -6
Byakuya’s eyes sharpened at her continued distress. “Straighten up and control yourself, Masanobu,” he ordered. Automatically she breathed in and stood straighter. “Your first mistake was leaving Hachidori behind on this trip.” She opened her mouth to explain herself but he silenced her with another look. “Your second mistake was forgetting your training. Are you or are you not trained in more than just zanjutsu?” She gave a muted nod.
“Now, who is Hiro and what happened to his sister?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 12, 2016 14:36:47 GMT -6
Makino took another deep breath. "Hiro is the young boy I found in the market place. He was lost and I helped him find his mother. When we found her or... she found us... You could clearly see she was distressed. She thanked me then went on to explain as she continued she told me that her daughter and one of her girlfriends had disappeared. Both on the same night. I ask her if she had reported this. She said she had. Just being curious I ask her if any of her other friends that were with them saw anything."
Makino stopped short her hands started to shake once more. She closed her eyes to calm herself taking another deep breath.
"What did they see Makino?" Byakuya's smooth tone washed over her.
"A white...a white Persian...kitten." Makino told him as she opened her eyes and looked at him.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 12, 2016 15:00:31 GMT -6
Captain Kuchiki’s eyes narrowed. “Is that what set you off?” he demanded.
“Yes, it reminded me of the kitten the thugs offered us…." Her hands lowered from her warm cup and pooled in her lap, her head lowered. "If we had fallen for it, would we - would we-"
"You were in the Noble district. I don't believe they could have succeeded at such an abduction in that area in the daylight. Or near your house." She nodded absently. Byakuya finished his cup of tea and folded his arms. “What were your thoughts when you wandered into the Red Light District? Did you panic or did you have a plan?"
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 12, 2016 15:09:09 GMT -6
Makino shook her head. "I was deep in thought. I did not realize I took a wrong turn. Thankfully I bumped into someone nice enough to help me out."
"And what if you hadn't?" His tone demanded to know.
Makino looked at Byakuya and sighed. "I don't know, but at the time I bumped into to Ono-sama. I was calm enough my training may have kicked in if I were threatened. I was not rattled when Hiro's mom told me what she did. I did not get rattled until I saw the redhead me and Allura had that run in with." She shook her head. "I did not see any of the others. Only him."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 12, 2016 16:08:35 GMT -6
“Considering the description Ichimaru gave, you were than rattled by his appearance.” Again she sighed and lowered her head. He sighed himself. “Go prepare more tea, Makino. Yours is getting cold.” She agreed and rose, leaving the captain to think. And when she returned and poured themselves more tea, he put another question to her. “Consider this closely and then explain: why do these four men scare you more than the threat Aizen poses to you as Sojiro’s girlfriend? When he is the greatest threat that looms over us all?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 12, 2016 16:20:17 GMT -6
Makino hung her head. "The though of Aizen does scare me. More than you know. I have heard the stories about him and what he has done and what he is capable of. I lived through the Takeover." She looked up to him again. "But he does not haunt my dreams."
"Why is that?" Byakuya pressed, taking a sip from his cup.
"I guess because I know him or at least about him. He is an enemy I have been studying, training and learning about. These four men I know nothing about. Not even their names. The feeling I have inside whenever they enter my thoughts is an empty feeling. And that scares me. Because I don't know what to expect with them."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 12, 2016 19:41:29 GMT -6
Byakuya was torn at how to reply to this. He could do no more than vow to deal with them, but that would still take time. Time to give the nightmares, and therefore, those men more power over her. And it wasn’t his place to offer her the reassuring presence of a father. He was walking a fine line already there with Kin’s position and scaring her at that time. He lowered his cup.
“Perhaps that is something you need to remedy,” he stated. She looked up. “You do know some things about them. You may not know their names but your experience and training gave you some insights to their character and perhaps even more if you would stop to consider that. Would it help if you were to put that information together? To prove that you aren’t as blind and innocent as they wish to see you as?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 12, 2016 19:59:52 GMT -6
Makino nodded slowly. "There were so many times I have wanted to get dressed in my assassins gear and go look for them. I just want to know what they are up to. Find out if they are truly a threat or just good talkers."
"You will not do that," Byakuya ordered in a curt voice. "I forbid it!"
Makino nodded lowering her eyes from Byakuya. "I know this. That is why I have not done it. I knew it would upset you. I am really not trying to cause issues for you Kuchiki-sama. It just seems to be happening that way."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 12, 2016 20:22:32 GMT -6
Byakuya sighed and lowered his head. “I do not believe you are, Makino, and I apologize if it has seemed that I feel that way.” He rose from the table, motioning with his hand for her to remain seated. “You are exhausted, whether you believe yourself to be or not. I request that you listen but remain where you are.”
When she nodded, he walked to the window and looked out at the scenery the closed curtain allowed him. ‘You have been threatened and through association, so has your family. It would give a bad appearance if I am unable to protect the family of she whom I am courting. It is even more unforgivable if you have already suffered loss.” He closed his eyes. “And I do not wish you it to happen.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 12, 2016 20:51:18 GMT -6
"Yes, I understand that, and I know you have your hands full enough with the Gotei." She hung her head a sinking feeling washing over her. "May I ask you a question?"
Byakuya looked her way nodding slightly then back out the window. "I will answer to the best of my abilities."
"Have they figured out a way to stop Aizen over this key he wants?" She looked over to him. "Or are we all still in dangers path?"
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 12, 2016 20:57:00 GMT -6
"There is a plan in place, but I do not know how final it is," the captain replied. He sighed again and left the window, daring to set his hand over hers. "But we know that the day is coming. With or without a certain plan - which is difficult with a man like Sousuke - we have a better chance of prevailing."
"But the casualties?" Makino interjected.
"No one wants the academy to suffer as did in the past. And I will not leave you or your family unprotected."
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 12, 2016 22:08:04 GMT -6
She let him comfort her as his hand rested over hers. "I just worry for Sojiro and his family. I know they are strong, but that is still a lot to face and deal with. I just wish I could understand the mans way of thinking and why he feels the need to torment us."
She leaned forward her forehead resting to his arm. "Why can't he find a different way to entertain himself?"
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