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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on Apr 30, 2013 19:24:32 GMT -5
The night air was crisp and clear, it stung to breathe in, but after a while one got used to the cold air. Over head the sky was covered in stars that flickered and shone, watching over the Seiretei, and holding her place as queen of the night sky was the moon, shining and full, it's light shed light on an otherwise dark scene, one of a small, open garden.
The garden was a sight to behold, having been designed explicitly for nighttime viewing, with certain plants only showing their full beauty during certain phases of the moon, and none blooming in the sun. Tonight under the light of the regal full moon the garden was strewn with bright white flowers, each giving off a subtle scent, not unlike that of the aftermath of a light shower, a scent that...cleansed. Between the flower beds and under the gates that allowed for climbing vines to live above the other flowers meanders a small stone path, each stone hand picked from a river in the Rukongai forest, the stones picked so that they fit together as if made by a master artisan while still retaining their natural appearance.
Around the garden is a wooden walkway lined with a grating for viewers to lean on. This walkway has two openings, one to a the house of the garden's artisan and keeper, and one gated entrance to the street of the Sereitei, currently the gate is open, allowing free access to view the garden.
The garden is blanketed by a complete silence, as if the area is to sacred to be disturbed by any sound. Suddenly the silence is broken by the sound of the door to the house being slid open as the owner of the garden walked out and placed a cup of tea on the railing before leaning up on it herself.
Tsubaki looked out over her garden, one of her greatest treasures beside her bonsai forest and the special pair of chopsticks she never let off her person. Slowly she raised the tea cup to her lips, breathing in the complex, sharp aromas of her latest brew. She took her time taking a sip from the cup, savoring the flavor, enjoying the sense of spring that the tea brought to mind, a gift during colder nights. Tsubaki laid the cup back down on the railing and looked up at the moon, contemplating for a moment before looking back at the tea. To sweet. In reality the tea was nearly perfect, and to anyone who hadn't spent over a century studying and attempting to perfect tea there would have been no problem, but for Tsubaki, who had devoted much of her life in the Soul Society to doing just that, the almost imperceptible hint of sweetness threw the entire flavor off. However, instead of wasting the steaming cup, she continued to drink the tea as she watched over the garden, enjoying the silent night.
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Post by Tatsuya Kazan on May 3, 2013 17:44:42 GMT -5
Another night had fallen in Soul Society. All the souls in Rukongai were sleeping already; it was so much different from the Living World... A shadow slipped through the defenses of Sereitei. It hadn't been hard for him to do it: he had once been a Shinigami and thus the ways to enter the Pure Soul District weren't unknown to him. With a swift jump he landed on a roof
-I can't believe I'm here again... it's been so much time since I left... -muttered Tatsuya to himself, as moonlight bathed his face. An exiled Shinigami penetrating the Sereitei? It was just a matter of time that everyone detected his Reiatsu. In that moment, the clear night was his worst enemy, as everything wasn't as dark as he would like it to be.
"-I don't have much time... I have to go to my old room quickly. Well, maybe what I'm looking for won't be there anymore but... I have to know..." -thought the soul, jumping from roof to roof.
Despite the Sereitei being small in comparison to Rukongai, it was pretty big, and it had been many years. If he got there quickly he would have been lucky. With each jump his hair revolved around his face and beamed with the little light the moon had to offer.
A few minutes later, he arrived at a roof from which he could see an empty garden. Tatsuya couldn't recall if it would be there, but his instinct told him what he needed to know on that instant. He had to hurry, there was no time to lose. The boy put his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto, Taiyoko.
The spirit noticed and conforted him with a few words from the boy's inner world. -Don't be afraid, man! You need to know what was written on that letter! -said the blonde spirit.
That was everything he needed to hear. The letter Minami had written before he decided to left. He hadn't even bothered on reading it, he was so resolved he didn't care. And now Tatsuya regretted it. It might have made him stay, which would've meant other Shinigami to treat him like a monster.
But, on the other hand...
The Kazan shook his head and lowered his Reiatsu in order to remain undetected. He was about to jump to the grass, when he noticed another presence and a sound of a door opening. Blaming his luck, he went to the other side of the roof, the one inclined towards the street, and watched from there.
Tatsuya damned his luck when he saw a figure coming out of the building. It appeared to be a female soul, who sat and looked at the garden while seemengly enjoying a cup of tea. How much time would pass until she detected his presence?
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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on May 6, 2013 14:13:17 GMT -5
Tsubaki took another few moments to sip her tea, savoring the flavor before she reluctantly put down the mug. She turned her head up to the moon, the great celestial body reflecting in her eyes. Slowly, she lowered her head and sighed, she had been hoping to enjoy a night alone, but apparently the person on the other roof had other plans. Tsubaki's nails began to click as she tapped the side of her tea mug, the only sign of her annoyance. You know...Tsubaki spoke out into the seemingly empty night...Sneaking around inside the Seireitei, especially at night. In an instant Tsubaki had shunpo'd up onto the roof behind a black figure, with a knife in her right hand, pointing at the intruder, and her left hand in her sleeve, gripping the hilt of her zanpakutou, and especially..not here..
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Post by Tatsuya Kazan on May 6, 2013 15:44:08 GMT -5
Tatsuya was getting nervous. She was just there, sipping tea and looking to the moon! How long would it take for her to move? It had been a few seconds, when the woman spoke. -You know... sneaking around inside the Sereitei... and not specially here... -she had said to the apparently empty night. The Kazan smiled slightly, yet again insulting his fortune. He was thinking about what to do at that moment, when she appeared behind him. Shunpo, without a doubt.
The Kazan had been expecting that, though. He was also a Shinigami, after all. Imitating the girl's actions, he also used his own Shunpo and advanced four metres to the right, hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto and standing in a laid-back pose. That level of Shunpo... she was not an ordinary, low ranked Shinigami.
With a swift movement of his hand, his old robes of Shinigami appeared, subsituting his casual attire with something he hadn't worn in ages. For a moment he felt somewhat... unconfortable with the Shihakusho. Tied around his waist, an indigo strap held his sheathed, three-metre-long Zanpakutō, Taiyōkō.
The silver haired wasn't unsure whether wearing those clothes would make a difference or not, but it was better than appearing a simple soul. Besides, if someone saw him besides that female standing on the left, they would suspect a little less...
-Sneaking around in the Sereitei? Can returning to your old home for a while be called sneaking? -he said, smiling a bit, holding grip of Taiyōkō. He didn't want to get involved in unnecessary fights...
-I just came here to get something important to me... Then, I'll leave. Believe me, right now the Sereitei and Gotei 13 only bring back bad memories. So, please... step aside -he explained.
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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on May 7, 2013 17:53:08 GMT -5
Tsubaki stood up from her crouched position, pulling her arm back to herself, quickly placing the small knife in a hidden compartment of her clothes, making it seem to vanish as if it hadn’t been there in the first place. Slowly she relaxed her grip on her Zanpakutou as she watched the intruder. She admitted to herself that she hadn’t been expecting the man to use Shunpo, but on the same note, once he had she wasn’t surprised by his change into a Shihakusho, though she was a bit insulted. Take that off, if you were granted the right to wear that uniform you wouldn’t be sneaking around at night like a common thief.
Tsubaki retrieved her arm from inside her sleeve, where she had been keeping it ever since she had let go of her sword, in her hands there was a pair of very finely crafted metal chopsticks, viciously pointed at the small ends. She began to twirl the seemingly innocent objects in her hands as she watched the intruders face, her own showing no emotion whatsoever. In truth, she was testing him to see how observant he was, to many the action she had just taken would be seen as no more than a nervous tick, but to anyone who paid sufficient attention, the two chopsticks were very obviously being handled as weapons.
As for retrieving an item that is ‘important’ to you, that remains to be seen as I don’t recognize you as either fugitive, spy, or shinigami, though your comment about returning to your ‘old’ home makes you seem quite suspicious, since a job in the Sereitei is generally life long, unless of course, you’ve been exiled, in which case…well I’m sure you know what happens. After saying her piece Tsubaki just watched the other person, waiting for him to make a move…
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Post by Tatsuya Kazan on May 8, 2013 15:50:10 GMT -5
The silver haired watched the Shinigami standing in front of him closely. The way she was moving the chopsticks she had just dragged out of her Shihakusho... What would she do with them? Tatsuya decided to be careful, as Shinigami can make a weapon almost out of anything with enough practice with it.
Then the woman spoke again. She commanded him to take off his own robe, as, in her opinion, the Kazan didn't have the right to wear it, and then completing her statement with the following words: -As for retrieving an item that is ‘important’ to you, that remains to be seen as I don’t recognize you as either fugitive, spy, or shinigami, though your comment about returning to your ‘old’ home makes you seem quite suspicious, since a job in the Sereitei is generally life long, unless of course, you’ve been exiled, in which case…well I’m sure you know what happens.
The boy watched the woman, and then laughed for a mere five seconds. It was obvious that she didn't know his case at all. He decided to reveal a bit more details in order to see the following reaction of the female. -Well... for this robe, you could guess I'm a Shinigami... I also have a Zanpakuto, and just used the Shunpo. With all these details, I think you know that I'm a Soul Reaper. But then... exiled? I think you are wrong... I didn't even have a trial, because I left on my own!
Tatsuya felt a bit enraged, he did not like talking about the painful events that occured after his Hollowification. It made him revive so many memories...
-So, what are you going to do? Will you let me pass to avoid any conflicts? You could scort me to where I want to go, if it makes you feel better. Or will you rather think of me as a renegade monster, just as many others did? -he completed, in his mind ringing the words "even my friends..."
The boy then held the grip of his Zanpakuto, ready to unsheath at any given time. Tatsuya didn't like fighting without a good reason, but that letter proved to be one. Now, the choice was up to her... Whether to resolve things peacefully... or not.
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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on May 8, 2013 17:56:46 GMT -5
Tsubaki sighed inwardly at the mans tirade, though outwardly she gave no sign of her exasperation. I never stated that you were a monster, frankly, I don't have a reason to as I have never observed you act in a way that would lead me to form that opinion, though you are probably referring to the fact that you seem to be a visored, and yes, I noticed.
Tsubaki sighed again, though this time outwardly, and please, take your hand off the sword, I have no reason to fight you, in fact I never said I would prevent you from going for the item you're searching for, just that I need to check whether or not you can be here, and to that end, since it's late, you could make this easier for both of us and come down to the veranda, and don't try to run please, because I guarantee that you won't be able to get very far. With that Tsubaki jumped off the porch onto the garden veranda, and please wait while I get some tea. Tsubaki walked into her house to get the tea, listening to make sure the intruder didn't run off.
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Post by Tatsuya Kazan on May 9, 2013 11:48:56 GMT -5
Tatsuya awaited for her answer while evaluating the woman. She seemed to be quite calmed and cold, contrasting with his own personality. Also, as he continued observing, he could now tell that those chopsticks were weapons, something that would make him have troubles if a fight occured. However, and much to his surprise, the woman did not decided to fight him. She, instead, said: I never stated that you were a monster, frankly, I don't have a reason to as I have never observed you act in a way that would lead me to form that opinion, though you are probably referring to the fact that you seem to be a visored, and yes, I noticed.
The boy was a bit shocked, but he then realized that there was only a chance a Shinigami could be exiled from the Gotei 13 if no crimes were committed. He was about to speak but then more words could be heard from the woman's mouth. She only wanted to check whether he was dangerous or not, and asked him to come down to the veranda and wait for her until she got some more tea.
She then jumped down and entered the building, warning him not to run away as he wouldn't get far. Tatsuya stayed still for a while. What if it was a trap? How could that affect to him? He honestly did not want to face a lieutenant's Bankai, as he would prove completely useless against it. On the other way, that was also the only thing he could to to avoid fighting.
He sighed slightly, calming down, and did as asked, jumping from the roof to the garden. He then went to the veranda and sat there, awaiting the woman. He was ready, though: if that was a trap, he was ready to unseath at any given time, even if his hand wasn't holding the hilt of his sword.
While sat, he thought about the past times. He tried finding at least a pleasant thought about the years he spent serving as a Shinigami, but all his thoughts were derived to his inner Hollow. He remembered the Hollowfication process, and how he had stood against it, gaining powers beyond an average Shinigami... or did he?
When the Hollow took control and fought Minami, Ken and the other Shinigami... Well, the first to made it alive to the Sereitei. However, the vision of the bloody corpse of a Shinigami on the ground would haunt him forever.
He shook his head, trying to eliminate that vision, the one that made him clear why many Shinigami considered him a monster. Well, as long as the woman looking for tea didn't know he tore another Soul Reaper to pieces, he would make it safe and sound.
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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on May 10, 2013 7:22:19 GMT -5
Tsubaki stood at the counter of her small kitchen, surrounded by enough herbs and measuring instruments to make it look as though she were in an apothecary. Almost absentmindedly she was taking small pinches of herbs and adding them to the two tea cups she was standing over. While Tsubaki would never violate tea by making it halfheartedly, her mind was still on the man standing on the veranda outside. Who was he? Why was he here? Why was he so wary of the Gotei if he hadn't actually been exiled? While pondering these questions she poured some hot water into one of the cups and took a sip. A little ginseng…then it should be acceptable as a quick batch. Tsubaki reached behind her and grabbed a small amount of the aforementioned herb and added it to the tea cups, then filled them both with water, and making sure she walked slowly enough for the teas to come to their full flavors, walked out to the veranda.
She handed the stranger a cup before taking a drink of her own, allowing herself just the slightest smile as she looked over her garden while sipping her tea, her features softening for just an instant as the flavors of the tea mingled together to create a taste subtly reminiscent of spring, which fit the beautiful garden scene before her, then she remembered who was standing beside her. Suddenly her face was expressionless again.
Try the tea, and then we’ll get this figured out. Now, I don’t have a problem with you here in the first place if you aren’t breaking any laws or edicts by being here, and if you aren’t and you convince me that you mean no harm, then I will have no issue with you getting what you came for, as long as what you’re after is within reason. So my first question is this, if you weren’t exiled and left of your own accord, what business do you have in the Sereitei?
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Post by Tatsuya Kazan on May 10, 2013 10:52:23 GMT -5
After a little while, the Shinigami returned from the building, holding two cups of tea. Tatsuya looked at the woman, who had offered him one of the cups, and silently took it and sipped a little bit of the hot drink. Meanwhile, the female seemed to be smiling, but her features quickly turned emotionless again. Then, the interrogatory begun.
Now, I don’t have a problem with you here in the first place if you aren’t breaking any laws or edicts by being here, and if you aren’t and you convince me that you mean no harm, then I will have no issue with you getting what you came for, as long as what you’re after is within reason. So my first question is this, if you weren’t exiled and left of your own accord, what business do you have in the Sereitei? -she asked him.
The Kazan sighed. So, in the end, he would have to answer questions, and that would probably take a long time. He needed to be careful on what he said, as it could be used against him. The male felt like if he was in a human court and he was the judged. He drank a little more of the delicious tea -it was obvious the female Shinigami had a lot of practise on making the drink- and checked other ways to get out of there. There was answering, fighting, or running, which would lead to the second way, something he did not want to.
Thus, he decided to answer all of the questions, one by one. First, I think I should introduce myself. My name is Kazan Tatsuya, and as you have already guessed, yes, I am a Visored, a Shinigami with Hollow powers... -he made a pause, sipped more tea into his mouth, swallowed and continued - -...and to answer your question: I already told you, I came to get something important to me that was in my old room, when I served Soul Society as a Death God. That is the only business, if you can call it that way, with the Sereitei. In fact, I would never return here without a good reason... Bad memories.
The boy stretched himself and looked at his Zanpakuto, Taiyoko, who talked to the boy. -Do you think it will be alright with that little information? You will have to confess that, and you know it. I know you are scared of yourself but... you can't let fear control you.
The Kazan nodded unperceptibly, and tilted his head towards the female Shinigami, awaiting for her new question. However, he talked again, before remaining silent. -I guess... Now that I've introduced myself, why don't you do the same? -he said with a sad smile on his face.
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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on May 10, 2013 16:48:11 GMT -5
As Tsubaki listened to the man, he said his name was Kazan, she had to admit to herself that she was a little curious about his story, not that she would ever mention it out loud. While Kazan was talking she looked up at the moon again, it's silver light playing on her smooth skin.
She noticed that Kazan was being very indirect about both the reason that he was here, and the reason he left. Tsubaki was no stranger to people trying to talk in a roundabout way to get themselves out of trouble or to avoid divulging facts that were particularly problematic, but it was late and she wasn't really in the mood for a long interrogation, but she also didn't want to have this devolve into a fight, especially not near her garden, not to mention for once she had met a person who wasn't getting on her nerves with idiotic and pointless 'small talk'.
Tsubaki took another sip and turned her eyes on Kazan. Well, since you did tell me yours, My name is Tsubaki Tasori, and since you were willing to endorse my assumption by telling me that you're a visored I guess it's only fair that I tell you that I'm the Lieutenant of squad 2. Tsubaki's eyes seemed to sharpen in the moonlight as she thought about the slight slip Kazan had made, it was nothing more than a murmer, but for a moment he seemed to be arguing with himself about one of those things he was trying to avoid talking about. So in short, I'm used to waiting, so we can stand here all night if you want to talk in circles some more, or, you can start off by telling me what exactly made you leave. The way Tsubaki spoke was rather blunt, but then, that was how she normally spoke to people, whether or not she knew them well. Tsubaki eyed Kazan, watching his body language as she waited for him to speak.
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Post by Tatsuya Kazan on May 10, 2013 18:18:42 GMT -5
While looking at the sky, focusing his gaze nowhere, the woman talked to him, this time to reveal her name and position. My name is Tsubaki Tasori, and since you were willing to endorse my assumption by telling me that you're a visored I guess it's only fair that I tell you that I'm the Lieutenant of Squad 2.
So her name was Tasori... he wouldn't call her by the surname even if they weren't close to each other; Tatsuya hated following etiquette, too bored, too stiff, and too serious. However, he narrowed his eyes when he heard the words "Lieutenant of Squad 2". So she was a powerful one, after all. The boy would need to keep his speech from going too far or else...
So in short, I'm used to waiting, so we can stand here all night if you want to talk in circles some more, or, you can start off by telling me what exactly made you leave -Tasori said, interrupting his thoughts.
Tatsuya stretched himself again, and laid on the veranda's wooden floor, putting his hands behind his neck to provide a better rest point than the hard planks. After all, his story was long... something he expected her not to comprehend.
-Only telling you why I left wouldn't make any difference. After that, another question would come about myself, trying to uncover more information about me, am I wrong, Tasori-chan? -the Kazan told the woman. -So... I suppose I should start to tell you my story... After all, you just said you were good in waiting. Oh, well, here I go...
"Everything started when I was rescued from the hands of Hollow by Toshiro Hitsugaya, captain of Squad 10. It was a quick fight, and, after that, he applied the soul burial to me... When I arrived to Soul Society, Captain Toshiro invited me to join the Shinigami Academy, and later, his Squad. I must say I spent a good time those months... I liked the class, the people, everything. The rythm life took here quickly made me forgot about my family, which was still crying my death.
I then met one person: Minami-chan. She was the first one to ever talk to me in the Academy, along her friend, Ken. Friendship eventually joined the three of us together, and before I knew, I was with them all the time. Then, the exams came. Sparring with Ken-kun had had its benefits, as when I was figthing my rival in the test, I managed to summon and release my own Zanpakuto, Taiyoko -he said, petting the sheathed Masamune-like blade -...and I entered the Gotei 13 as an unseated officer."
Tatsuya looked at the woman, smiled slightly and spoke once again. -Now comes the interesting part...
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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on May 11, 2013 11:36:21 GMT -5
Tsubaki sipped her tea as she listened to Kazan's story, reflecting on her own history at the same time. Kazan spoke of a family before he died, of friends from the academy, things that Tsubaki didn't have, not that she minded, she much preferred her own company, but this man, he almost made her wish she had them, it was fairly confusing. Tsubaki took another sip of tea and faded out of her reflections, she wanted to hear this 'intresting part'. ((OOC: Just letting you know, Tasori is her surname, sorry if there was confusion))
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Post by Tatsuya Kazan on May 13, 2013 9:38:43 GMT -5
OOC: It seems we have a double confusion here!! Kazan is also my character's surname xD
Back IC:
Tatsuya made a slight pause, and the look of the woman indicated him to continue a few seconds after she sipped from her tea cup. The Kazan did not lose time and started to narrate the "interesting part".
-Well... after I became a Shinigami, things started to go quite fast. I spent a few months as an unseated officer, and I was on duty until "the incident" happened. One day, I was assigned the patrol of one city in the World of the Living. I must say, they told me that it would be one of the easiest missions I had done... I couldn't know they were going to be that wrong about it.
The boy paused for a while, sipped some more of the ginseng, leaving the cup empty and lacing it next to Tsubaki. Then, he continued, after five seconds.
"That mission was a painful boredom except for the end. I had been continuedly rounding the city, from the outskirts to the center, in order to detect a Hollow or anything like that, without being successful. After that, I noticed that it was about dusk, so humans would return to their houses where Hollow attacks could be noticed much easier due to the isolation and reduced number of people in a family.
I was just about returning to the Sereitei, when I noticed a twisted Reiatsu. I tried to go to the spot as fast as I could, and I shunpo'd all the way to the park from where the signal was coming from. When I arrived, I saw a Plus, a human child Plus, sitting next to the thick shadow the trees offered. I tried to apply the soul burial, but a maniatical laughter came from the shadows as a monstruous hand grabbed the soul.
Next, a Hollow came from the shadow, licking its mask. But that was no ordinary Hollow: the fact I was able to sense his Reiatsu while being a novice proved that it was a Menos, an Adjuchas to be precise, as it wasn't a Gilian, neither a Vasto Lorde. I wondered what was it doing on the human world, and I quickly got my answer: it was trying to draw me near and transform me into a Hollow to devour me later, due to my "delicious" reiatsu.
I questioned how would he do that, and the beast told me, like reading my mind, that it beared the ability of making the chain of fate reappear from an already buried soul. I couldn't defend myself, so, in an instant, after a quick fight, my chain was eroding again, while I experimented so much pain, as it had been cut near the end.
While the Adjuchas was licking itself once again, Captain Hitsugaya sliced him from behind, and tried to rescue me, but it was too late. My reiatsu exploded... But I fought. I fought against the Hollow trying to eat my soul. After the light surrounding me dispersed, I wasn't the same person. I had a mask covering my face... But I wasn't a Hollow!
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Post by Tsubaki Tasori on May 13, 2013 9:59:16 GMT -5
Tsubaki raised an eyebrow hearing Tatsuya's story. An adjuchas? No wonder he was becoming a viosored, one of those would be way out of his leauge, and possibly hers. Unfortunately Tsubaki thought she knew where this was going, and if she was right, well, actually, it wouldn't mean much. Hold on for a moment. Tsubaki took a moment to walk back into her home, and came out with two more cups of tea, and handing one to Tatsuya said. Here, now please continue.
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