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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 7, 2016 22:12:54 GMT -6
She giggled softly nodding her head. “They can be pretty bad at times. Especially with the one that is courting me now. The eldest of them his not happy with him at all.”
“But the other three are?” Mitsunari asked her.
“Mhm, he is a really good guy, but because of his family name and their past history he is frowned upon.” Makino explained.
“Hm,” Mitsunaru hummed as he nodded his head. “So he is not of noble blood, and your family allows this.”
His words more of a statement than a question as Makino looked to him. “Yes, when my father married my mother in their arranged marriage he did away with it in our family clan. Though, he did love our mother with all his heart. He wanted his children to marry for love. Not because they were of a better bloodline or good family name or they had more money. He wanted his children to know what true love was, ‘And forcing you into a marriage with someone you did not know or barely knew was not the way to find it’ he always told us.”
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Post by Mitsunari Ono on Nov 7, 2016 22:14:08 GMT -6
“Your father was a wise man.” Mitsunari told her as he looked over to her again. “So I am guessing your suitor is a classmate of yours?”
Makino giggled, “it seems he is not the only one that is wise. How would you know that?”
Mitsunari shrugged his shoulders. “Remember I was a student and a noble as well. I know there is no time for outside fundamentals as such. For the two of you to have any time together to bond, and grow together he would have to be a student as well.”
Makino smiled shaking her head as she looked to the ground before them. “You’re right in that area. The life of a student and trying to stay on top of my affairs as a noble are very hard.”
Mitsunari nodded as they turned to journey down another street to where she had left her friends. “So tell me. That is if you can. I heard there was quite a scare floating about. Something about Espada, and that monster Aizen Sousuke.”
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Nov 7, 2016 22:33:43 GMT -6
Gin watched from his place on a nearby rooftop, his reiatsu concealed and a cloak covering his hair. It glinted from underneath ominously, but from his position where the sunlight cast a long shadow from a nearby pleasure house, he could see much.
Without being seen.
That was the purpose of this excursion. To observe Makino's movements and attempt to catch a piece of shadow.
And though he had really not enjoyed the look that the shopkeeper had given him for the fight with Kita, he had decided to do this favor - even if it had involved a certain noble. Sojiro was one of the few important things he had left, and this underground threat to his happiness was just too close. He really just couldn't ignore it.
Which was a good thing when his son’s girlfriend tore down the main avenue as in a daze. Eyes narrowing, he pursued her, watching for signs of what had distressed her. After a few more feet, he decided to intercept her before someone took advantage of her disarray.
But another got there first.
Dressed richly, the sight of the tall man seemed to calm her. He offered her a hand after exchanging greetings, and then he started escorting her. Not further into the maze of the Red District but back towards the Market District, where she had been shopping. Gin followed them. It wouldn’t do to let her out of his sight if she really was a target for someone in this area. Not until she was back at the Academy.
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 7, 2016 22:48:05 GMT -6
Unaware of many things around her because of the company she was with, Makino shook her head. “I don’t think I could share that with you, but I will tell you to stay alert. I am sure not all the rumors are facts. However, if you have heard that Aizen and his Ayakashi are paying us a visit. It is true.”
He nodded looking ahead of them once more. “Ayakashi? So that is what the new ones are called?”
“Yes. You did not know that?” He shook his head slightly as he glance over to her then forward once more.
“I tried to deal with them as little as possible during the Takeover. My manor has an underground fortress I lock myself, my servants loved ones and friends into when it all took place. The only time we ventured out was when we were in need of substances. At those times we mostly dealt with the normal Hollows of Hueco Mundo.”
Makino nodded looked ahead of them as well. “That would be nice if they were still the only ones we had to deal with.”
She heard Mitsunari hum in agreement as she kept her eyes forward and let him lead her back to her fellow students. As they walked along in a comfortable silence, Makino looked around her not remembering passing any of what they walked past. It did not worry her that Mitsunari might be taking her somewhere else because he was not. She knew where she was, and they were going in the right direction. What worried her was she was in such a daze she don’t remember any of it. A dangerous place for her mind to be with what was going on in her life at the moment as she looking away from one of the merchants that had caught her eye. She looked ahead of them once more.
From around a corner in front of them, out of an alleyway, a tall red head with a flame pattern haori had stepped. It was the same man that stopped her and Allura on their way to her family manor. He had two other men with him. Two men Makino had never seen before. When he turned their direction Makino’s heart leapt into her throat when he looked directly at her.
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Post by Fuwa Ito on Nov 7, 2016 23:15:09 GMT -6
Fuwa paused, not sure if he should believe his eyes, the sight of their precious noble daughter on the hand of his leader. But the terror that flashed in her brilliant eyes and the beautiful hand-painted kimono, in a riot of reds and oranges this time, decided him. It was quite a view, the innocent, elegance broken by the flickering of fear in her jewel studded eyes, compared to calm aloofness of his master, clothed in dark silk. Mistsunari was appearance of a gentleman, the disguised predator. She was the fragile bird caught in his talons. Or scales. Whichever analysis you preferred.
Fuwa grinned to himself and decided to run a little experiment. Turning to his companions for a moment, he then returned his gaze to Makino Tori-Masanobu. She was still standing transfixed. A slow smoldering smirk curled up his lips and he bowed.
The prey bolted.
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 7, 2016 23:29:25 GMT -6
Makino ripped her arm from Mitsunari, turning as she pulled up her kimono and ran with all of her being as she heard Mitsunari call out to her, his footsteps sounding behind her.
"Makino?! What's wrong!?" He called out to her as he went after her. "Makino! Stop its not safe that way!"
Her head shook she did not care. She had to get away. Hearing Mitsunari's footsteps still behind her, another step and she pushed off. In a flash she was gone. Now escaping down another street, she had finally lost Mitsunari.
And she did not care where her feet where taking her, she did not care if it was back to the Red District. She did not care if was to the blood thirsty part of the Rukongai. All she knew was she had to get as far away from that man as her feet could get her, but before the thought could drift from her mind a set of thin nimble hands grabbed her around the waist and stopped her in her tracks.
She screamed struggling against him when he pushed her against the wall beside them.
"Damn it, girl," he hissed. "Stop screaming and flaring your reiatsu like that. You'll get my son scared and attract more attention," he told her in a hurried whisper. She kicked his shin. "Makino Masanobu, shut up now and open your eyes! You know who I am."
When she saw who it was she pushed forward wrapping her arms tightly around his torso and cried into his chest. "Take me home! Please take me home! Please! I just want to go home!"
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Nov 8, 2016 11:01:10 GMT -6
Gin blinked as Sojiro's girlfriend started bawling on his chest, clutching his kimono and not really letting him pull back. Slowly, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, eyes narrowing at how badly she was shaking. He doubted she would be able to tell him what had happened, but he knew that what had started as a spook had morphed into terror.
Was it the instinctive danger of the matter that had set her off? Or was she not ready for enemies period? If so, he worried about Sojiro's state.
Speaking of Sojiro, he sensed his son's energy moving towards them from the Academy. Too much time in Las Noches. Once on alert, his son wasn't going to be missing much. If Sojiro was reacting, someone better at hiding his reiatsu would also be around.
Gin flared his reiatsu in order to reassure and order his son back to the Academy as well as inform the captain of the sixth division. Byakuya responded in the same manner, though in a more muted display.
Leaning against the wall with the woman-child in his arms, Gin waited. A deserted section of the Rukon would be better for this kind of thing.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 8, 2016 22:52:49 GMT -6
Byakuya appeared shortly after the Fox alerted him, though his schooled expression nearly broke at the state of Makino. In all truth, it was some of the hardest days of training with his grandfather that kept his reiatsu in check. In control. His hand tightened around his zanpakuto.
He needed this problem, this threat in the shadows, dealt with.
The steely eyes met the slivers of blue, and for once, the captain believe he was in agreement with Gotei’s slippery ally.
His eyes turned back to his future step-daughter as he considered which reaction to take. At least for their current atmosphere. The question remained on what this group knew about her. But he didn’t want to push her deeper into hysteria, either.
Closing his eyes to say a prayer to the gods, he walked over to her.
“Tori-san, if we move this discussion to another location, will you be able to speak of what happened?”
“She said she wishes to return home.”
Byakuya nodded. “We can arrange for an escort to that effect,” he agreed.
One I will personally head.
But first, this was a situation he had lead in a certain way.
“Tori, you are distressed in a dangerous area. Are you able to call on your noble heritage to move to another location in calm manner?”
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Post by Makino Tori on Nov 8, 2016 23:09:48 GMT -6
At the sound of Byakuya's voice Makino's fear settle some. She pulled from Gin and looked up at Byakuya nodding her head slowly. Hanging her head seconds later to dry her tears. As Sojiro's father stood he helped her to her feet. She smoother her kimono, dusting any dirt from it from where she was sitting on it. She pushed any hair back out of her face and patted her cheeks softly drying a few more tear that escaped at the last minute.
Standing erect she took another deep breath and exhaled slowly. As she was about to say something the sound of rushing footsteps fell upon their ears. Makino quickly stepped behind the Captain as both Sojiro's father and Byakuya readied themselves for what might be approaching. When all of a sudden Mitsunari rounded the corner into the alley they were standing. Seeing who it was Makino stepped out from behind Byakuya, her eyes wide as she spoke to him in hoarse voice.
"Mitsunari-sama, w...what are you...doing here?"
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Post by Mitsunari Ono on Nov 8, 2016 23:20:00 GMT -6
Footsteps still sounded in the street, coming closer to them as Mitsunari smiled kindly at the young girl. "You worried me, Maki-chan. You pulled away from me like the devil himself was after you and you ran. Are you alright? I did not do anything did I?"
He looked to the silvered haired reaper and the Captain, bowing slightly. "Forgive me please. I am Mitsunari Ono. I was escorting the young lady back to her friends when she ran away from me. I was worried she might come across trouble if left unattended. I am so glad she found you." He smiled warmly. "Or that you found her." As he spoke the young girl that had Makino's things came around the corner. She bowed to her master, then to the others.
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Post by Gin Ichimaru on Nov 8, 2016 23:51:44 GMT -6
Gin stayed quiet and examined Ono from a closer perspective. The young girl was nondescript and quiet. Ono was assertive but friendly. And he was saying all the right things. Was that something that he should worry about? Was his experience with another coloring his view? In addition, Ono was also a man that seemed at ease in the Red District. Most nobility would disguise themselves in that area. Yet those were small discrepancies. An interesting find. Gin’s smirk grew to disguise his internal views.
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 9, 2016 0:13:40 GMT -6
Kuchiki's eyes narrowed slightly, taking notice of the silk kimono and the friendly stance, an unusual trait for a noble, if he were one. Walking over, he nodded curtly to the man as Makino walked over to the servant following him. “You have the gratitude of the Gotei and her family, Ono,” he stated plainly. “Did you see anything when you found her?”
Mitsunari's head shook. "Only her. She was deep in thought when she and I found one another. Not shaken like this at all. When she ran away way from me I looked around quickly to see if there was anything out of the ordinary that could have frightened her." His head shook again. "I saw nothing, but without knowing the facts. I guess I would be blind to that sort of thing. I apologize that I could not be of more help."
Byakuya nodded again, taking the explanation at face value and moving on. "Very well. Where can you be reached if there is anything that my officer needs to talk to you if anything comes to light? We need to return the students to the Academy and should not linger."
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Post by Mitsunari Ono on Nov 9, 2016 0:44:49 GMT -6
"The Ono manor is nestled in the middle of Kuroyama Village. I am only here visiting on business. I should be in the area for another few days and can be found at the Inn." He looked to Makino and smiled warmly. "I will be happy to help out anyway I can. Maki-chan is a fine young lady and to know I can help her out brings ease to my heart."
He heard the silver haired reaper scoff as Mitsunari looked his way. "And what kind of business might that be?"
Mitsunari smiled hearing the questioning tone of the man's voice about him being in the red district. "Guilty as charged there, sir. However, all work and no play makes any man a beast. In not being a married man I do not get the luxury that most have in that area."
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Post by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki on Nov 9, 2016 23:00:31 GMT -6
Byakuya closed his eyes for a moment. “Very well. Then if there is a need for your assistance again, I will send a representative to your inn or home manor,” he murmured. He had no reason to address Ono further. In spite of his attempts to ingratiate himself to either the noble woman - his future stepdaughter - or his himself. They were on different levels, and he did not appreciate the way the man was describing Makino as if she were someone he knew when they had only met on the road.
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Post by Mitsunari Ono on Nov 9, 2016 23:28:39 GMT -6
Mitsunari nodded with smiled as he looked to Makino. "I will be around." He stepped toward Makino to bid her farewell as the captain took a nonchalant step between them. Mitsunari looked to the captain from the corner of his eyes and gave a silent chuckle to himself. His eyes then focused on Makino once more as he bowed to her.
"It was an honor to meet you, Maki-chan. I do hope the next time we meet it will be under better circumstances."
She smiled warmly at him and offered her hand to him. Before he could take it the captain placed a hand to her shoulder and turned her slightly from him causing her hand to lower.
"We should be on our way. This is no place for you Tori-san." the captain replied as he nodded slightly to the silver haired reaper.
Mitsunari nodded as he stood and watched the three turn and leave.
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