At War with Pride [Hisana, Byakuya]

She had taken.... surprisingly well to the transition. Having spent so much time in the Sereitei, it was a little bizarre. Mostly being in the academy, and a few other outtings had certainly lent themselves to some experiences. Teaching so many students meant that... of all things, she had people in the gotei who admired her. Especially after her performance in the Arena on Earth, it seemed that niche had expanded a little as well. And so, transitioning into being a member of the Seventh was surprisingly smooth. Especially since some of her freshly graduated students wound up there. She had people to talk to, people that respected her.

But there also were other things she became more aware of. Namely some...puzzling information. Apparently, the Lord of the Kuchiki family had been seen around the Gotei, there was even a rumor that he had a student or two. And so, Hisana, despite herself, found herself pausing when she noticed that familiar reiatsu. And instinctively, began to head in it's direction. Her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Lord Kuchiki." The greeting may have come as a bit of a surprise, but it was better to announce herself than to accidentally sneak up on the man. Not that she imagined there WERE such a thing as sneaking up on a former Captain.

None the less, Byakuya would find himself confronted with quite the sight. The very Arrancar that he had spoken to half a year ago, once garbed in rags, seeking a place to belong, was now standing before him, garbed in Seventh Divisions' uniform, stopped just a short distance away from the Noble Head.

"I'm a bit surprised, I ... had heard you'd been around the Sereitei as of late. But still, it's a bit of a surprise seeing it. If I'm not interrupting anything. I was hoping I could have a word with you." She noted calmly, offering a soft bow at the waist, respectfully asking for some of the man's time first and foremost.

She couldn't help but smile just a little at that response. Ah, very old memories bubbled up to the surface, and she couldn't help but tense to keep a soft chuckle from escaping her as a wistful look crossed her features. Things had been so tense before, but now that it was so much less....dire. To see an old habit she recognized was a bit startling. To once again hear that voice masked with seriousness and responsibility. He sounded just as serious as when she had been in an interrogation room.

"We can walk as we talk if need be. I don't want to delay you." She pointed out, and if he started to walk, she would walk alongise, and slightly behind him.

"I'd heard that you'd been visiting the Gotei, among other things. And well...seeing that you are. I admit, I'm a little surprised. I'd learned that after the more recent wars and incursions, you'd decided to distance yourself from the Gotei. So I was a bit ....perplexed to see you re-associating. IF you don't mind me asking, I was curious as to why that is." There was no real way to tip toe about it. The truth of the matter was that she was, more or less, prying into his reasonings for once again involving himself in the affairs of the Gotei. And so she decided to be direct about it.

Her brows furrowed ever so slightly as she listened to his reasoning. So he'd been looking after the family? She had heard a fair ammount about the nobles position in soul society. She admitted she didn't get the deeper implications of the move, but she knew quite well from the other staff in the academy that the Nobles had been severed essentially from influencing the Gotei by Commander Kyoraku. It had led to, alongside many other changes at the time, a fair number of previous officers either resigning or vanishing from the limelight. But even so...

His question caught her a bit off guard, and she paused to ...consider what he was asking her. "I admit I'm not really someone with a firm sense of that. The Gotei United operating under Commander Murasaki, has grown considerably in strength. The Academy has been producing a fair number of exceptional students. One of our students in fact became the Captain of the Seventh Division. In sofar as Leadership, and Success rates. I'm afraid I don't really have much to go by. Having only just come to the place, I only really have the records to go by, same as anyone else would. But I would not have sought to put this uniform on if I didn't trust the people behind it. I will admit, that I owe a debt to the Gotei which my color my opinions. But my desire to be a part of it is not solely spawned from that debt. Though nobody has enforced it upon me, I've felt compelled regardless. I ....FEEL an obligation to the soul society, one that I feel inclined to fulfill by joining it. Though some of my fellow shinigami may hold reservations, others do not. Some of the very students I taught in the Academy now feel safe because of my presence. They stand beside me, without shame." She noted calmly, pausing for a moment before glancing back up to Byakuya.

"And I admit. That is ...why I've been a bit surprised to see you here. Do you plan on rejoining the Gotei?" she asked firmly. After all, she had been a bit perplexed to understand Byakuya and Rukia's current relationship. She knew she was missing a lot of information regarding the past, but even so, thinking back to all she'd heard. Just what was it that he valued? If not his sister. IF not his family that apparently he was no longer stepping back to focus on. If he was reaching out now, it meant that what was valuable to him didn't lie solely within the Kuchiki family, what WAS it he valued?

A slight look of confusion swept across Hisana's features. Success? Hadn't the separation been because of how the Gotei was being run beforehand? Or was he stating that he knew the Gotei would eventually reach the point it was now? But even more than that, she didn't understand fully. The happiness of the family, was that really what this was about?

"Your....plan?" She furrowed her brows a little. What plan was he talking about? Did it have to do with the students he'd taken on? Some sort of aftermath of the issues currently going on in soul society? "Lord Kuchiki. I'm afraid I don't understand that answer. I confess, that the actions of the Soul society Nobility have seemed nothing short of baffling." She noted quietly, a small smile on her lips. Honestly, at this point perhaps it was a blessing to not understand their behaviors.