Decree of the Moon [Shishiyuki, Elyss]

Shishiyuki had spent far too long considering her decision to join the Gotei, and had delayed it for a long while simply by merit of having yet to choose a division. Every one of them seemed wrong, for one reason or another. Combat was a place she had already left, and she could not in good conscience return knowing she would need to hold herself back for now. Kido and Covert Operations were both acceptable fits, but neither of them felt as if they were most appropriately putting the full scope of her abilities to use. Command would have been unpleasant, given her and Murasaki's uneasy relationship, and Realm Enforcement would have invited infinitely too much bias, both with regard to her family and her girlfriend. And Research? That was simply not something for which she was qualified.

That was why she found herself knocking at the door of the 7th Division Captain's office, having already prepared for an appointment several days in advance.

"Captain Kishimoto? Koizumi Shishiyuki, here for our appointment."

There were several factors that had led her to take this, not least of which was the ability to more freely travel and train herself. However, there was a secondary factor that she doubted most would even consider. A head of a Great Noble House choosing to join the division least affiliated with the Soul Society itself was a statement, one that the rest of her family, and likely the other families as well, would understand quite clearly. Her full support was toward this new era, where the noble houses did not rule all affairs.

The state of the office could hardly be said to match Shishiyuki's sensibilities, but that wasn't especially concerning, all things considered. She wouldn't be spending time here, after all. Then again, it did speak as to the Captain herself, but Shishiyuki had no intention of simply leaving over that. Entering and taking the seat opposite Elyss, she spoke calmly, with her typical composure.

"Thank you for having me, Captain. To cut directly to the point, I would like to discuss potentially joining your division. My previous service in the Gotei was with the combat division, but I feel the current incarnation is not suited to my character."

It was mostly a polite way of saying "I don't much care for most of the members," but even at her most direct, Shishiyuki wasn't the sort to simply be rude.

That was quite a response. Direct, to the point. Shishiyuki found that admirable, even if it was quite unlike her own way of doing things. Then again, she didn't want a captain who was simply like herself. If anything, this was exactly what she might have hoped for. She could certainly have spoken in her typical veiled terms, in the masked words the Koizumi specialized in. But no. She would, at least here, be frank. Relatively speaking, anyway.

"The Gotei? Because I feel that that I and my family have benefited a great deal from the Seireitei and the Gotei itself, and that we have done quite little to repay that debt. I wish to correct that error."

It was a message to the rest of the nobility, and perhaps even to many of the Gotei's older members. Regardless of what the rest of the nobles, or even her own family, might have believed, Shishiyuki understood perfectly well their failings.

"As for your division, it is because I am aware that the upbringing of the nobility breeds a closed-off mindset, one ill suited to progress. In the centuries of my life, precious little time has ever been dedicated to the world outside the Seireitei's walls. That, too, is something I wish to correct."

Mm. Maybe they were half-assed reasons. Shishiyuki wouldn't have used that sort of language herself, but she would be lying if she said she entirely disagreed. What did she want from the Gotei? Why had she come here, to Earth Affiliation, and not simply accepted a perfectly good position in the other divisions? Traveling to Earth could have still been perfectly achievable. Her work as a shinigami would demand carrying a zanpakuto, something she knew would already be an ample message of her defiance.

So why had she chosen to come here?

"Because I'm through simply sitting here in the Seireitei, accomplishing nothing. I wish to support my niece in her dreams, whether or not she ever intends to forgive me for what I have done to her. And I wish to see the world. I wish to have the opportunity to challenge myself. See combat again, outside the confines of a simple dojo. I am a thoroughly capable warrior, kido practitioner, and intelligence gatherer."

If the veil was down, then she had no choice but to be genuine about it in her entirety. She was through with this facade. Through with all of it. How long had she spoken to Kasha, to Makoto, to those small handful of people she could trust about her intentions? Those were all simply words. She had the ability to act, and now she would do so. Her cosmetic kido dispersed, the full network of scars on her body making themselves immediately apparent, and her expression grew far less demure, less refined. More truthful.

"I wish to join your division because yours is the one that will challenge me the most. If you doubt my resolve, then you may certainly test it."

"We're certainly in agreement in that. It seems there are plenty who might be suited to Combat that find the division distasteful in its current state."

She knew of Ayasegawa having similarly avoided returning to it, though she couldn't help but wonder if that was out of pride, or simply because of its assigned number. Regardless, she stood from her seat, all too willing to face down her prospective captain. If anything, the more she thought about it, the more she relished the idea.

After all, Shishiyuki had always longed to show off the fruits of her training.

"I'm afraid my abilities won't be in line with theirs. The blade was never my preferred approach to combat. My own body has always been the only weapon I require."

So she stepped outside, into the open air. After all, this little office tent wouldn't survive a bout between two people like them. And, besides, she had already chosen to show off. The more who saw this, the better.