Don't Look Back [Shishiyuki, Kasha]

It had been a long while since Shishiyuki last spoke with her nephew, and considering all that had occurred since that last time, it felt long overdue. Kasha was, after all, one of her closest confidants, someone she felt she could trust far more than many of the family's elders.

"Kasha, I hope I've not requested your company at an inopportune time."

She'd sent a letter to the Ho'oh Kanmuri Ken dojo stating that she would be visiting, and she'd arrived at the exact minute she stated in the letter. After all, the story of Kasha's unexpected visitor had made its way to her, and she didn't imagine he had appreciated that even from a friend. This was, after all, supposed to be a pleasant meeting for the two of them to speak, and she didn't intend to start off on a bad foot by coming unannounced.

"Ah, I certainly would enjoy tea, yes."

It was only courteous to accept tea offered in hospitality, naturally, and Shishiyuki knew that Kasha cared about maintaining those appearances. Of course, that was part of why she had come here, as that had sat in her mind for a while now. The two of them had spoken on the topic of maintaining this facade before, and now she felt it almost obligatory to follow up on that matter in his life.

"Have you been well? I heard talk of your transfer to the 8th Division. Has work there been to your taste?"

In truth, Shishiyuki had found the division fairly respectable from her own view of it, but then again, she'd not properly interacted with the captain in any particular capacity. The two had been in the same division, briefly, but even then it had been little more than professional interaction.

"I imagine the 5th was not exactly to your liking."

"I am indeed. I've cast aside those days of maintaining illusions of myself. That isn't any way to live."

Glancing at Kasha as she took her seat, she had a distinct feeling that he likely wasn't taking his own advice any time soon. Then again, she supposed that might not be entirely true. She'd kept up enough to know that friend of his had gone over to the 8th Division as well, after all, but Shishiyuki wasn't the sort to simply pry into Kasha's affairs behind his back.

"This is a new age for not only the Seireitei, but for the Koizumi as a house, Kasha. Hiding ourselves behind veils of secrecy has created a rather grave atmosphere around us. I hope that the younger generations will grasp that opportunity."

It was a relatively pointed comment, but there was a difference between the multifaceted, needlessly obtuse words of the traditional nobility, and simple tact. After all, there was no doubt as to what Shishiyuki had meant with her comment. She simply didn't wish to press him outright.

"I have."

Shishiyuki certainly could have waxed poetic on the happiness she'd found in her life, in how much more rewarding her time with Makoto had become, but that all felt as though it would add rather little to the conversation at hand. It was quite personal, after all, and while she wasn't opposed to sharing it necessarily, it felt selfish to speak on.

"I ought to ask what you will do from here on. I will naturally support you in whatever endeavors you wish to pursue."

It was the least that she could do for him, really, but she would have done it regardless. After all, it wasn't as if Shishiyuki had done all of this simply to overthrow her family's order. It had been specifically for the good of the house, and Kasha was a part of the Koizumi. But he had been quite helpful to her, someone she could earnestly trust. It would have been wrong of her not to do what she could for him in turn.

If she were a harsher woman, Shishiyuki might have thought ill of Kasha for that answer. After all, he'd seemed rather sure in this path when they'd spoken. But she knew that he was still young, and that this entire change had ultimately been unexpected. She could hardly dare to think that he ought to have been fully prepared for such a radical shift.

"No? Well, it is certainly worth thinking about. And, if I may, speaking on the matter may help to elucidate things for you. Even if not with me, perhaps with one of your friends."

Asking any of the Koizumi to simply "open up" was a fairly tall order, and Shishiyuki knew that perfectly well. It was why she had made a point to suggest that he have that deeper conversation with someone else, if he felt more comfortable with that.

"I know that it is not easy to simply declare new direction for oneself, but that is why I wish to help however I may. You, after all, were the one who advised me on this. It would be simply inconceivable that I not ensure you flourish."