There ain't no journey that won't change you some [Laskt/Hana]

The Big Woman

Hanako Yamada

Hanako could see that Laskt had changed. Grown. It probably was to be expected. Time did that to you, even if you didn’t actively seek the change. It had a way of finding you, as Hanako herself had experienced. Also, Laskt hadn’t been idle during his sabbatical, as she could see. It would be interesting to see what was new.

“Well, I hoped they would also be your future subordinates when I reinstated you to the Division.” Hanako said with a smile.

However, the smile faded quickly, changed into a frown and Hanako’s expression became stern. She had no idea if Laskt knew about the recent developments. She hadn’t thought about what she said when the words had already left her mouth. It was probably a bad way to greet someone after he had been completely off the grid for months. But to Hanako it was the daily business she had to deal with and for a moment she was angry at herself that she slipped up. It really wasn’t the welcome she had wanted to give to an old colleague. Well, since the damage was now done…

“Walk with me.” she said and beckoned Laskt to follow her, while she sauntered away from the yard into an alley that was less crowded.

“A lot has changed.” She began. She wasn’t really sure how to go at it like a bull at a gate, but it seemed like there was no use in beating around the bush anymore.

“You know, I did the reinstating, because at the moment I am the Acting Captain of our Division. Captain Kobayashi was…recently killed in a duel.”

There, it was out now.

“I apologise, I didn’t want to throw that at you the first time we talked since your return, but since I slipped up earlier… Oh, and please don’t ask me about the details. I don’t really know them myself and Realm Enforcement is still conducting an investigation.”

She shrugged. Maybe it was better to be pragmatic about this, keep emotions out. It made it easier. Although there was no way around the fact that the strongest of the Fighting Fourth was gone.

“Also, I was ordered to a mission tomorrow, so I think it’s probably for the best if we talked now.”

There were a few moments of silence. Hanako felt some of her old insecurities about social situations like this arise again and tried to fight them down.

“The Division itself is it’s shining self, as usual. Maybe even better than when you left it. We kept up the work, always sought out ways to improve. But I still meant what I said: I had hoped your former subordinates could be your subordinates again. If command doesn’t object I would like to reinstate you as Third Seat and Commander of the Vanguard Unit.”

It wasn’t something she would openly discuss with just any member of the Division. In fact only a few, like Amon and Saera knew her thoughts about the matter. But fact was that the Fighting Fourth was severely weakened, and not only because of the disruption of their chain of command. However, if Laskt was to assume his old position he would effectively be her second in command as long as no new captain was chosen, so he needed to know.

“Honestly, you couldn’t have chosen a better time to return. The Captain’s death has been a heavy blow for us. It will take some time to recover from that, even with everything else being in top shape.”

The Big Woman

Hanako Yamada

Hanako looked away for a moment and a small, sad smile flickered over her face, before she returned her eyes to Laskt. Talking about someone succeeding the Captain was…it didn’t feel right. Talking about her succeeding him even less. She would be honoured, should she be chosen, but as with her position as Lieutenant it would at first feel like she didn’t deserve it. Back when Captain Kobayashi first asked her to join him, the feeling of inadequacy on her part was so overwhelming that she worked harder than ever before to earn the spot she was so freely given. On the height of it she barely left her office, except for training, even sleeping there some nights. And then, without realising it at first, they had the Division running smoothly, the daily workload went down and everything settled into it’s space. And Hanako, equally without realising, had also changed. For the better. What had been a conscious and sometimes exhausting effort, and in the beginning more than once a game of pretend, had become a habit and eventually part of her. At least professionally she was now sure where her place was, what her duty was. Privately…that was a different story, though.

Hanako could tell from Laskt’s reaction and his expression that the Captain’s death hit him hard as well. Once again she was reminded how many Division members owed the Captain, saw him as a friend. It occurred to Hanako that the loyalty the Division members showed wasn’t towards her, but to the memory of their Captain. Well, that was okay. She wasn’t all that different and could only hope to lead on in this spirit.

“It…isn’t decided yet who will succeed the Captain. The First Division is investigating the case. If the duel in which he died is ruled as official and orderly…the other one might make a claim. I am just doing my duties as Vice Captain right now.”

Others might have boasted about the ‘promotion’ to Acting Captain. To Hanako, however, it seemed wrong. Even though she was de facto leader of the Division for now, with the title of ‘Acting Captain’ that came with the responsibility, she didn’t want any rumours of her striving for Captaincy to arise, at least not while the investigation was ongoing. It was better to stay with the facts as everyone knew it and wait humbly. Not that Hanako could do anything else, even if she wanted, after the Captain Commander herself had promised an investigation by Realm Enforcement.
Also Hanako hoped that Laskt hadn’t noticed the small pause in her speech, where she almost let slip the name of the Captain’s killer. Alleged killer, that was. And there was the problem. As far as Hanako knew, nothing was certain, because there were no witnesses present. And as long as that was the case, it seemed prudent that no one, except the three members of the Division that already knew, learned her name yet. However, as Hanako would learn in the not so distant future, the precaution was fairly unnecessary*.

“The Vanguard performed quite well in the past. Lead them as you see fit. As long as the Vanguard Unit fulfils its duty and I don’t have to bother with any paperwork from personnel complaints you can use whatever methods work.”

It was an honest assessment from Hanako. She could think of several incidents from the top of her head where Laskt’s Vanguard had deployed basically on a moment’s notice and performed extremely well. If this had been because of Laskt’s policies and methods she’d fully agree with him: no reason to change anything.

“A good idea.” Hanako said and nodded when Laskt suggested an open training session.
Funnily enough, such an open ‘training’ session had been the reason she left the Fourth after first joining it, reapplying for the First. However, somehow she had a hunch that this wouldn’t go down as the session back then had. She couldn’t imagine Laskt actively trying to kill new recruits.

“I would like you to be mainly responsible for this. I am to attend a mission briefing tomorrow and frankly have no idea what mission this will be or how long it will take. I would very much like to be present, but just in case it takes longer than I hope…”

She shrugged. It was, aside from everything else, one of the occupational hazards of being a Shinigami. There were long periods when nothing happened and everyone went on about their daily business, strictly 9 to 5. But every once in a while one would be called into a briefing without so much as a hint on what it was about and no way to plan. Yet another reason Hanako was glad Laskt had chosen this exact time to come back and retake his Third Seat.


*From hanako’s point of view this thread is before her fight against Elyss.

The Big Woman

Hanako Yamada

From the corner of her eye she watched Laskt and and amused and, as usual, crooked grin grew on Hanako’s face.

“Be careful what you’re offering, Laskt, I might take you up on your offer. You have no idea how much administrative work a Captain and Vice Captain have on their plates. We maybe even more than others, because our people keep damaging and destroying stuff in training.”

She hesitated a moment, wondering how serious Laskt’s remark had been.

“Say…what do you know about accounting?”

In a slow motion she shook her head while becoming serious again.

“In all honesty, the administrative work aside, I think the Division will be fine if we seated officers all pull together. If anything I feel like our people have moved closer together because of it. We are still weakened, yes, severely so. But I don’t think we will fall apart just yet.”

While there were a few moments of silence Laskt and Hanako coincidental both thought about the prestige that came with the rank of a Captain. While the rank in itself didn’t mean much to Hanako, she couldn’t say that prestige wasn’t still alluring. At times she could almost forget that when she started out as a Shinigami she was single mindedly set on a goal to become so strong that the prestige of her power would live on forever, creating a legacy where a past was missing. Even if her goals had changed, quite drastically even, she realised in that very moment that the position of Captain came with it’s own reputation. Captain’s were figures that stood above everyone else, except maybe the Captain Commander. Hanako could feel the temptation to lose herself in old thought patterns and strive for the position just to leave a mark no one could erase. Power for the sake of power. But that was an old Hanako, a Hanako who didn’t know where she fit in and what her purpose was. A Hanako that struggled so much with herself she could barely cope with the existence of others around her. That Hanako was the Hanako of the past, even though the Hanako of the present could still recognise the other one’s face every now and then when she looked into a mirror.
One thing, though, that could definitely be said about the prestige a Captain held was the ability to unite the Division behind her or him. She didn’t know if it was attached to the person or to the Haori. Could she, as Acting Captain, really keep the Division together? Even after the feeling of belonging after the Captain’s death faded?

“I think the new members would be a good idea. New seated officers especially. I also agree that we should first gauge their abilities and strength first.”

Memories on Hanako’s first day in the old Fourth Division came up and flashed before her inner eye. The Captain back then seemed hell-bent on killing his new Division members. In the case of Hanako he indeed almost succeeded.
Laskt had also been present on that day if she remembered correctly, though he fared a lot better than herself. They met for the first time then, but parted ways soon after, when the Hanako of the past couldn’t bear the shame and frustration and transferred to First Division. It wasn’t a time Hanako liked to remember.

“I also wouldn’t mind to spar with you. I can’t remember when we have done this the last time. Clear sign that it has been far too long.”