All Work And No Play [Hono, Makoto]

With her promotion to vice-captain the actual time that she'd spent within the Rukongai was diminished greatly but that didn't mean that she was completely devoid of making trips out here. She was a brat from the Rukongai before one of the stuffy nobles that were born and sheltered in the Seireitei after all.

She could've gone out of her way to make the trip by herself but she had opted to bring along a couple of unseated shinigami and sent them to make investigations on their own.

Hono Kaen had remained with her. She was off the warning from the captain so in way that meant that she was under some supervision. She just begrudged that she had chosen to venture to the Sabitsura District for this one and the odd looks that were shot her way but Makoto avoided meeting anyone's eyes.

It was just a routine assessment of the progress on the Rukongai's developments, monitor the crime rates and ensure that everything was progressing well.

"The tenth district? Is it the Eastern Tenth? Right now you stand in the 64th District of the Eastern Rukongai."

She wasn't opposed accompanying Hono there, frankly the shinigami was free to go there herself after they were done if she wanted. If it wasn't in this quandrant of the Rukongai then she wasn't going to spare her time to accompany Hono on a personal matter.

They were getting into some of the rougher territories but the district had come quite well, receptive to the attempts to build the Rukongai districts into being more sustainable.

"The role of a shinigami, especially under our own division is Realm Enforcement. We work with the Sakutaiso and operate independently in the defence and stability of the Soul Society. That involves developing good rapport and leading investigations when required. You're with me to observe, learn and assist where required."

She explained to Hono that she was pretty much just here to be taught and passively assessed for her work quality after the captain's own assessment of Hono.

"I roamed the Rukongai with a bunch of other kids. District to district before joining the Gotei."

Makoto explained with her attention elsewhere, hoping to satisfy her companion's curiousity enough to deter pushing for more details. Makoto was not the type who liked to divulge details of her life--especially not to strangers.

"The Sakutaiso reported a murder a couple of days ago, go and fish for details from that merchant over there and report back to me when you're done. I'll be over there."

She pointed towards the merchant that she'd assigned Hono to talk to and then where she would be. It was a good chance to assess Hono's abilities.

The merchant to the side of the road had noticed the two shinigami lasses, going 'bout their day. Saw more of them kind 'round here over the last couple years. The ol' man had been 'ere quite a bit y'see and could 'member the days where the lil' village in ol' Sabitsura was a bit more rough 'n tumble.

"Eh? Murder, weird thing fer a girlie like yaself to be intrested 'n. Heard it ain't much or nuthin. Guy gotta lil' bit deep inta his gamblin'. Couldn't pay up probbably. Bad fer it he was."

The rough looking ol' geezer reachin' up to take a couple strokes of his beard. Teeny lookin' lass wasn't she? Them shinigami always be a bit peculiar, eh?

"Ye actin' little strange there, girlie."

A rough and tumble man who'd seen plenty in his time 'round these parts. He was a smart enough old dog to know what a shinigami was capable of and this here lass would surely be more than met the eye. What's all this crocodile tears he was seein' or did the Gotei really keep a bunch of little girls in their ranks?

Eh. Wasn't his problem anyway. Out here he was more or less concerned with just making it through the next day than get fed up on the little details like a murder here or a robbery there.

"Ah wha'ever. Ain't nothun special. Name was just Jiro or somethin'. Got in trouble with them local gang, like to wear some bandanas or somethin'. Dun' really care much to get involved in stuff that ain't muh business, is how ya keep ya head 'round these parts."