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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 30, 2016 10:45:05 GMT -6
Byakuya stayed silent until they had passed a couple more portraits. “That is because Kita Miyamoto is not a soul reaper at all. She was abducted by one of Aizen’s espada while living in Karakura Town and spending much of her time in the company of Urahara and Ichimaru. She would have wasted away in Las Noches as his possession if she hadn’t revealed that she possessed something that interested Aizen.”
He paused and then spoke on as someone else had in her defense before his demise. “That discovery may have saved her from the espada’s constant abuse, where she was nothing but the lowest of creations, allowed only to live for his entertainment, but it also condemned her to be entrenched in the middle of the war.”
Ukitake’s voice echoed in his head.
“That should never have happened to her, and perhaps that is why the gods let Sumi give Kita so much power and eventually wreak havoc on Soul Society when we couldn’t correct what she had lost from our war.”
Byakuya looked to Makino. “She was the vessel for a goddess of history, a seraph, an unseen witness of the ages. Sumi revealed herself soon after to save her vessel when no one else could, but that, in turn, meant giving her vessel more access to her godly powers. In Las Noches. The goddess protected Miyamoto’s family, especially the wellbeing of two conceived children, as well as she could from the festering evil there and Aizen’s reach. And eventually, Kita Miyamoto became her own agent with her own agenda.”
Byakuya halted. “To end Aizen no matter what the cost. She made that choice after Aizen had threatened to end her son’s life not only while he was in her womb, but after he had kidnapped Sojiro when he was only eight years old. A time the boy does not remember. The Soul King took his memories from that time.” He looked to Makino. “It was Teruo who kidnapped Sojiro and nearly killed Kenji, who was only a few years older, in the process. Miyamoto and Ichimaru told no one any details of what further happened.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 30, 2016 21:40:40 GMT -6
Makino remained silent, even after Byakuya had finished explaining. The Goddess. The Goddess was her boyfriends mother. Sojiro's mother was the Goddess. The same Goddess that had killed her father. Her jaw clenched and her hands tightened into fists at her side as she closed her eyes and hung her head. Three years of wondering why. Why did the Goddess kill her father and so many others? The Gods were supposed to be on the Soul Society's side. Not Las Noches. Not some mere human that was a vessel. Why was this allowed to happen?
Her head shook again as she stopped walking and turned away from Byakuya. Her firsts still clenched and her head hung. She was angered. Angered to the point she could not even speak. Her tears would not even flow. Suddenly she stiffened as she heard the voice of Hachidori, the spirit of her zanpakuto.
"How can you stand there and judge this woman after what the Captain just told you?"
"SHE KILLED MY FATHER!!" Makino screamed at her.
"And she killed hundreds more along with him. Do you think you are the only one that suffered lose here? The Captain told you that Aizen was using her by way of her family. She did what she had to to protect the ones she loved, and I am sure many more along with them. This is something you would never understand, Makino, unless you have lived it. People do things out of character. Out of what are their beliefs to protect what they love and care about."
Hachidori grew silent for a brief second. "Your mother would have done the same thing if she were in this woman's place, and you know that. She would have never allowed a man as wretched as Aizen to harm her loved ones. Because you know from what you have heard and what you have been taught and read about Aizen, he would have never outright killed them. They would have suffered in ways you could never dream of. You may think what this woman did was pure evil, but if you look at it from another side. It was a mercy killing in her eyes. By killing the ones she did, they did not have to suffer what the others suffered for seven years."
Her head hung lower as silence fell between them. Makino's thoughts then went to the things she had heard from Sojiro about being in Las Noches. How the, many, times he thought he had lost his mother and his father, the ones he called family and friends, and about the ones he did lose to this cursed war they called the 'Takeover'. The ones he has lost recently with Aizen's return and the story he told her about his abduction over a certain key. Her mind churned over and over and her emotions flipped between rage, heartbreak and actually being thankful.
Suddenly the silence was broken as she turned and looked to Byakuya a single tear rolling down her cheek, her hands and jaw finally relaxed. She had one more question to ask him.
"You lost comrades and I am sure friends with what Miyamoto did..." She paused for a second and looked into his eyes. "Why did you forgive her?"
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 30, 2016 22:55:59 GMT -6
Byakuya wiped the tear away as he gazed back at her, pleased by her grasp of the difficulties in the situation. And in the past. It was not easy to accept the fact that justice would not always lead to avenging those harmed or lost. "I will answer that question, but before I do, Makino, I want you to tell me your thoughts about the path set out for you through your heritage. Before you joined the Gotei, you were raised to become an assassin, a killer before a protector. Why did you accept this?"
Makino frowned and looked downwards, considering her words. Byakuya watched her closely.
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 30, 2016 23:20:55 GMT -6
She thought for a few seconds then looked back up at Byakuya. Like him before her. He took a vow when he became a Soul Reaper. The same vow she will indeed take when the time came. She cleared her throat and looked him in the eyes. She knew it was not what he wanted to hear, but it was what she was taught. Just like he was trained to protect the humans. She was trained to protect him and any others that graced the Seireitei.
"We do not determine the guilty; we do not decide the punishment; we are merely the cold instrument of the Notabilities vengeance. There is no form of death unknown to us; there is no form of terror beyond our means; there is no enemy outside our reach. We are the blade that hovers over the throat of the traitor; we are the bullet that awaits the heretic's skull; we are the poison in the throat of the alien."
She paused again. "I do this to bring justice to my people."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 30, 2016 23:54:00 GMT -6
“And my duty is to follow the Commander and trust the Gods. Miyamoto was not mine to judge, and what she did do, she did in her own defense and in honor of her family.” The captain looked ahead of them.
It was not the whole truth - he had not told her that a select few, including himself, had started her on that path in order to defeat the greater enemy. That sometimes someone had to be sacrificed. However, Makino had only spoken her vow.
That conversation would wait another day. She didn’t have to see the whole picture now.
No, that was not why they were discussing the past.
"Do you understand why I have asked about your knowledge in this matter?"
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Post by Makino Tori on Dec 1, 2016 0:05:48 GMT -6
She shook her head not really sure why, but she took a shot at it anyway. "to better understand the path Sojiro is on?" She then sighed heavily realizing what this was all about. "To understand my own vengeance against the Goddess or Miyamoto will not undo the things that have been done. Only cause more pain and suffering in the end."
She hung her head as they walked along again. "I am not allowed to judge. I am a tool and I went against my own vows as an assassin and judged another without the facts to back up what I thought was truth. I let my emotions guide me in this instead."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Dec 1, 2016 0:40:04 GMT -6
The captain sighed and decided to speak plainly. “Makino Tori- Masanobu, you are still considering this night to be a failure or a disgrace to your image and your family. It is not.” He looked over his shoulder, seeing her elder brother in the entrance way. “Your emotions took control of you. This is the truth. But you also have grown a great deal because of those emotions, from your desire for justice and your feelings for Sojiro.”
He turned around. “For now, focus on your family and halt your ridiculous urge to punish yourself and others because tonight has become a lesson not a moment of passion. Later, consider your family and the history you have learned about Sojiro’s. That will give you a closer answer to why he has not said the words you wish to hear.”
He walked over to Kin, waved away his apology, and left the siblings alone.
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Post by Kin Masanobu on Dec 1, 2016 8:05:27 GMT -6
Kin looked to his baby sister as Byakuya swept past him. “I guess he does not want to hear another apology.”
“Can you blame him? Ever since he and mother have started courting, you have done nothing but apologize to him. Maybe once if you just meant it.”
Kin gave her a confused look as he walked toward her. “I do mean it.”
“Do you? Because they seem pretty empty to me. Every time he comes to visit, your temper flares and the two of you get into it. By the time it is all over you end up apologizing. If you truly meant your apology, you would correct the problem. Then maybe Byakuya-sama might see your apologies as heartfelt and not empty like I do.”
Kin sighed as he stopped in front of her lifting his hands to her shoulders he tugged her forward into him until her forehead rested to his chest. His hand lifted again resting to the back of her head as his head tipped forward and he kissed the top of her head.
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Post by Makino Tori on Dec 1, 2016 8:07:18 GMT -6
Makino felt a tremble course through her eldest brother’s body as he whispered softly to her.
“I am sorry Maki-chan.”
“Why do you hate him so much, Nii-sama? He loves mother and makes her very happy, and he has shown great concern for this family. Even you, with you being difficult with him.”
Kin shook his head. “I don’t hate him. He just… reminds me of someone very dear to me and it hurts to think he could be replaced in this family so easily.” Kin grunted as his feet shifted and he stepped back from her, taking her hands in his as he keeled in front of his baby sister. “I am not here to talk about that.”
Makino’s head tilted as she looked at him with him on his knees.
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Post by Kin Masanobu on Dec 1, 2016 8:08:36 GMT -6
“I am sorry what I said to you in the sitting room. I did not mean for our conversation to get out of hand like that. I just wanted to speak to the two of you. One thing lead to another and the next thing I know you were renouncing your heritage as a Masanobu.” He wrapped his arms around her waist resting his head to her stomach.
“I don’t want to separate you and Sojiro. I don’t want to take you from the Academy. I just want this year to slow down. You’re growing up so fast. Things are changing so quickly this year. I feel as if I will never catch up.”
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Post by Makino Tori on Dec 1, 2016 8:09:58 GMT -6
“But they’re good things that are happening.” Makino told him as she let her fingertips comb through his long coco colored hair.
“Are they? You will be a Soul Reaper next year. Mother has found a new love in a good man.” He looked up at his baby sister. “As have you. Sojiro may be a good man as well, but his path is a long and dangerous one.” He rested his forehead against her stomach. “I just wish the two of you would take it a little slower. I don’t want to see you end up getting hurt, or worse…” even though she could not see it his eyes closed tightly his jaw clinching tightly, “dead.”
Makino did not know what to say, so she just stood there silent, finally taking a deep breath causing her eldest brother to look up at her. She looked down at him and smiled warmly and nodded. “We will. No more rushing things.”
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Post by Kin Masanobu on Dec 1, 2016 8:11:52 GMT -6
Kin stood and wrapped his arms around his baby sister. “Thank you, you will be happy you did. Even if nothing bad happens between the two of you and in time you do get married. You will be thankful you did this.”Makino smiled at him nodding her head slowly as she then yawned widely. “Are we done here? I am tired and I still need to talk to Soji-kun again.”
Kin nodded as he stood, kissing her forehead then stepped out of her way so she could pass. “Good night Nii-sama. I will see you in the morning.” Makino told him as she passed by him to the exit.
“Good night Maki-chan and pleasant dreams.”
Once she was gone Kin turned and went to his father. He knelled in front of the shrine, his hands folding together as he lowered his head closing his eyes. “Help me father. Help me understand why I have the feelings toward such a good man.”
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