Inevitability [Hakuyou/Rukia]

Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:06 am

Rukia Kuchiki

Shiba.

That was a name Rukia had not expected to hear among the Gotei's ranks ever again, truth be told. It was one she had long since come to terms with, which held no sway over her beyond the understanding of past failures and struggles. Yet, this wasn't just someone who shared that name. The woman had heard the rumors, that the former heir to the Shiba name had finally returned from the journey he disappeared on centuries ago. Most, she imagined, might have thought she would be worried about meeting with him, or expected her to fear such an encounter. But Rukia was not the girl she had been once upon a time. If she did not speak with this man, she would only do disservice to him, and to Kaien's memory.

To that end, she made her way to the First Division's barracks with relative haste, though not with such speed that it broke the poise she always maintained. After all, to simply sprint along to the man would surely start all manner of rumors, even if they were baseless. That never mattered to people, she knew. When she arrived at Realm Enforcement, she looked for the officers' quarters, and asked only for the briefest assistance before she finally arrived at the door she had sought. With a single breath to collect herself, Rukia knocked on the door before her. On the door of Hakuyou Shiba.

Sun Jan 26, 2020 4:55 am

Inevitability [Hakuyou/Rukia] Banner-shiba

Hakuyou Shiba | Shinigami of the Silk Road

A black box awaited him when he finally arrived to his room, situated squarely on the center of his bed. As amber eyes fell upon it he knew what was inside of it, a relic of his past. He approached it, striding across the room as his head lifted it's self up. Whatever heistation he felt was thrown out the window, cast into the sun to be destroyed as fingers gripped the edges of the box. Undoing the straps he was greeted by what he expected: The black uniform of the Gotei.

He stripped his clothes, the englishman outfit he had grown to somewhat adore. Another relic of the past, having to be shed so he could resume a mantle he had abandon'd. A duty he passed onto his brother, and a duty both of them had failed. As he began to place the clothing on, finally trying to sash around his waist he looked in the mirror. For a moment, he saw himself younger. But such a thing was broken as a knock was heard, securing his rifle and katana he'd go to open the door. Opening it the giant would be greeted by.. no one. Until he looked down.

He knew of her already. In his search for answers, he had come across her. Rukia Kuchiki. A friend of Kaien's. A child of the a great noble family. And perhaps one of the reasons his brother no longer drew breath.

"How may I help, Kuchiki-San?"

His baritone didn't falter, his japanese seemed to revert off the walls. He may be the son of a fallen great noble family, but he carried himself with all the trappings of a man who didn't know such a thing. He carried himself, like a Shiba.

END POST | SHIBA RESTORATION

Sun Jan 26, 2020 5:21 am

Rukia Kuchiki

The nature of propriety normally meant that Rukia would talk circles around this topic for a few minutes until they "just happened" to find themselves talking about Kaien. But Rukia wasn't someone that prioritized that over everything else. Composure, poise, those were vital parts of carrying oneself as a matter of manners, but the high society method of just ignoring the truth didn't sit well with Rukia very well these days. Maybe it was just how often she saw it used to avoid taking any responsibility, and that was the last thing she intended to do today.

"I've come to talk about your family, Shiba-san. About Kaien."

Her tone was soft, and though her demeanor gave nothing away in itself, she also made no attempt to hide the fact that she quite cared about having this conversation. What had happened 400 years ago was something she had long since come to terms with, but now it seemed she had a little bit more to address. Even if she had grown, had moved on and didn't think about Kaien often, she owed this man that much, at the very least.

Sun Jan 26, 2020 5:33 am

Hakuyou Shiba | Shinigami of the Silk Road

"May I invite your inside, Kuchiki-san?"

The man replied in kind, his voice having no change in inflection which may cause concern. The intense look on his features seemed to be permanently etched into his face, caused by whatever events have happened for over five hundred years. He step off to the side to allow her to enter should say accept his invitation. Whatever needed to be said, whatever he had to say, was best to not be said outside. The wayward son of the Shiba didn't need anything else to be said.

Once she stepped inside he closed his door with some level of courtsey, despite his rough appearance he moved with a supreme grace. Not the grace which seemed to be involved in the dance of nobility, but one which was borne of knowing his body. Knowing exactly how to step to never be out of position, carried with a purpose. Nothing he did, was not done without purpose. Finally, his gaze would come to rest upon her- Amber eyes which sought only to understand.

"What happened?"

Perhaps in this moment, the facade broke. His voice was still firm, but the lack of formality showcased it all. He wanted only the truth, and perhaps to come to grips with it. A small, brief, hint of pleadingness entered his voice. He loved his brother, and with him gone..

He felt he has lost a part of himself.

END POST | SHIBA RESTORATION

Sun Jan 26, 2020 5:50 am

Rukia Kuchiki

Rukia didn't know exactly how to answer that question at first. For a few reasons, admittedly, and one of them was how nebulous it was. But, of course, there was simply a lot to explain. It was a story that encapsulated...well, over a hundred years, if one really thought about the context.

"It's a very long story. I'm sorry if it seems long-winded, but I won't do his memory the dishonor of cutting it short."

And so she explained it all, every detail she knew from the very beginning. It was, indeed, a very long tale.

Sun Jan 26, 2020 6:03 am

Hakuyou Shiba | Shinigami of the Silk Road

He had to sit down, at some to listen to all this.

As she relied the entirety of the story to him, as he began to learn about things like 'Aizen, Vizard's, and Hogyoku's'. It was a lot to take in admittedly, learning the events which led to his younger brother's death was in fact not entirely this young woman's fault. He was.. glad in that regard. He wouldn't know how to truly interact with her if such was true. Learning that MOST of his family had survived their disgrace was good at least, and that he even had a cousin! Ichigo Kurosaki. He may try to reach out perhaps.

But as her tale wound to an end he'd sit there with his hands upon his lap, gazing at her with that same intense look. Amber eyes seemed to be processing all she said, offering a single occasionally to inform her he followed. With her finished, he'd speak.

"I see." He'd comment, pausing as if searching for the next words. "To know his death was of this nature, and that it was ultimately... avenged brings some comfort." He'd seem conflicted in his words, taking a heavy sigh the chair creaking as he leaned forward.

"I thank you, I know relaying this was not easy. I must ast forgiveness, for a part of me held you accountable. I know now that would be foolish. I may not agree with the practice of nobility skipping the academy, or circumventing such things, I cannot see those as the reason for my brother's death."

He'd stand upwards, his arms coming to his side. He'd offer a bow to her, a deep one if only to ask forgiveness. It would not be right for him to carry this against her, nor would his soul rest easy to know he did not express his remorse. Although, that horrid noble privilege was lessened from the words of the CC- he still felt a level of contempt.

It would pass.

END POST | SHIBA RESTORATION

Sun Jan 26, 2020 1:26 pm

Rukia Kuchiki

Standing herself to return the bow, Rukia felt it would be nothing short of an insult if she didn't offer her own apology. Not for the failing she had wrongfully pinned upon herself in her younger years, not for having to bring this bad news to him. None of the things that people expected of her, because she found that expectations had become unreasonable the more the years passed.

"I'm sorry that the Kuchiki haven't done more to support your family, Shiba-san."

That was the most she could offer him, in truth. She didn't have the authority to make any promises on the family's behalf, and she knew Hakuyou would know that as well. Even so, it was, to her, something that didn't sit right. It showed that the family didn't much care for learning from its mistakes, and even if that wasn't true...it was an impression she didn't want to give people.

Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:49 am

Hakuyou Shiba | Shinigami of the Silk Road

The man upright himself, a hand coming to smooth the uniform he had. A deep breath was taken by the shinigami of the silk road. The words she spoke seemed to mean something to him, but for him they rung.. hollow. This was seen on his face for a moment before he turned his back to her, his hand resting on the belt holster of his weapons. Amber eyes stared outwards towards the setting sun, as if in thought.

"I accept, of course, Kuchiki-san. But you must know that such words do not hold the same weight if they had come from Lord Kuchiki. I will fix in time the grievances and errors of my clan. All that I may hope is he does not repeat errors of the past, to do so once is error. To do so twice, is unforgivable."

The man spoke from his heart, perhaps even breaching some walls of etiquette. But he would not be a Shiba if he did not walk with his height squarely on his sleeve, perhaps in some similar to Kaien. In some ways, the connections between the two was clear. A small smile came onto his lips, shifting ambers eyes to look at her with a smile.

"You have a piece of his heart, so he is not truly gone. Thank you, once more, Rukia-san."

Kaien and his philosophy. He believed somewhere, Kaien would smile at this.

END POST | SHIBA RESTORATION

Mon Jan 27, 2020 7:02 am

Rukia Kuchiki

To do so twice is unforgiveable. The faintest touch of a frown danced around Rukia's lips, but disappeared just as quickly, scarcely even noticeable given her natural composure. It was not irritation with him that drew her displeasure, however, but rather the degree to which she agreed with him. The fact that she had been rushed past the Academy was not lost on her in these days, and she knew that it had certainly contributed to her inability to help Kaien, even if, realistically, she never could have prevented what occurred. To know that it had been done again still did not sit well with her, and in her private moments she wondered what Byakuya had been thinking to allow it.

"I understand. My brother has been indisposed lately, so matters like this have fallen to me."

While it was a perfectly cordial thing to say, she hoped that he would understand its true meaning. That she had said her brother was indisposed, not busy. The implication of choice was clear there, but she had also simply stated that "matters like this" had fallen to her. It was not intended to be dismissive, of course. They both knew how much this meant. It was all, in the end, a subtle manner of indicating to Hakuyo that she, too, was aware of how egregious it was that her brother had not come to speak with the man.

"Kaien was a good man, Hakuyo-san. It's my honor to carry that piece of him with me."

She returned his smile with a gentle one of her own. It was small, mild in its appearance. But it was also quite genuine, far removed from the picturesque smiles of most noblewomen in situations like this.

Mon Jan 27, 2020 7:12 pm

Hakuyou Shiba | Shinigami of the Silk Road

The man gave a small nod to what she all said, all of it valid in it's own right. The subtleness of her statement did not go on fallen ears, he was after all to be the heir to the Shiba. While he was not one for the subtlety of the families, he was more than capable of noticing such things. His hand would squeeze the edge of his window tightly for a moment, as if a cold anger was beginning to pass into him- replacing the warmth he felt. It was not meant to be a slight to her, but that hot blooded anger seemed to flow through him. He spoke, perhaps boldly, in these next words.

"Rukia-san, I once ran away from injustice I believed. I have come to believe that when injustice becomes rule of law, resistance becomes duty.." The man voice trailed off as he turned to face her, for the briefest moment he may have seemed similar to a strawberry individual. That raised chest, those eyes with all the defiance within the world within them. A voice which carried with it the weight of conviction. "And I have finished running."

He knew not what to expect of this new age, but the fact was things had changed for the better at times. But if the errors of the past rear'd their head, he would forego customs to address it. He would not carry regret within his soul, instead he would become like the tides of the sea. To ask him to abide injustice once more, would be akin to asking the tides to not break. Such was impossible.

"I have taken enough of your time, Rukia-san. Should you require my presence, you may always reach out."

END POST | SHIBA RESTORATION

Inevitability [Hakuyou/Rukia]

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