A Reluctant Memory [Tsubine/Kaminari]

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine could remember each and every person that ever asked to see Kanna after she had passed. Most had never gotten the news. Others were trying to provoke him. In the past two years, only two people had brought her up, and neither were there for casual chatting. Which is why Tsubine forgot about his standing order that anyone asking about Kanna was to be brought to his attention. In the time immediately after her passing, they were brought directly to him at the Shirazumi manor. He couldn't venture out to speak to anyone, nor did he want to. Nowadays, he'd just find the person in question without inviting them in. It usually worked.

It was odd, then, when Tsubine got a report of someone asking about a "Kanna" in his district. He dismissed the first one. When two more reported the same woman—and that it was a Shinigami, Tsubine knew he had to act. It was common knowledge within Shōjin that speaking of Kanna was an omen that Tsubine himself was going to arrive. And after the last few blatant mentions of her name resulting in violence, it was highly frowned-upon. Tsubine took his standard retinue—as well as his Zanpakutō. After the encounter with Kanae, he was never unarmed.

It took some time to locate the inquisitive woman. Shinigami did visit the Shōjin more often than many realized. The entertainment scene was a big draw for the bored and the overworked alike. Tsubine was surprised not to find her at any of those, but the hole-in-the-wall tea shop that he had bought out years ago because it had been Kanna's favorite. The family that ran it had long since been direct employees of his—not the Shirazumi-rengokai's. A sign, perhaps? "Not many people ask about Kanna anymore." Tsubine spoke as he pulled out a chair across from Kaminari without warning nor invitation. "Most people who wanted to speak with her made their peace long ago. So what do you want to speak with her about?"

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine let out a small chuckle. The woman was intriguing to him. She definitely acted like she knew Kanna and that Kanna would know her. Although Tsubine didn't think he knew her, something was trying to catch his attention. Although unlike Kaminari, it was more like someone angrily flipping a lightswitch off and on. "I'm afraid that will be quite impossible, and she's definitely not hiding from you."

"My wife's been dead for seven years." Tsubine steepled his hands. He needed the answer to his earlier question. "So I ask again, what is it you want with her? And... how did you know her?"

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine was at least convinced that Kaminari was genuine in her desire to see Kanna. This wasn't a ploy like others before—or if it was, he didn't see through it. There wasn't much else that he could have said, honestly, but as she stood with tears, Tsubine heard his late wife's voice. You really thought that was the best way to go about that? Tsubine sighed and stood, putting a hand on Kaminari's shoulder, guiding her gently back towards her chair. "C'mon, sit back down. At least wait until you can see a bit better. Don't want you tripping and hurting yourself on the way back to the Seireitei."

One of the bodyguards walked up, handed Tsubine a rag, then walked away again after a quick nonverbal dismissal. "Kanna said I had a habit of making women cry." Tsubine began to wipe up the spilled tea. "I used to be pretty insensitive. She helped with that. She helped a lot of people with a lot of problems. Caused a few herself, but always helping more than she harmed..." Tsubine was staring only at the table as he spoke. "How did you know her?"

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine thought for a moment. This woman might not be right in the head. However, he still trusted that she at least thought she knew Kanna. "Kanna never mentioned a sister, nor a large family. Her folks passed away long before we met each other." He shook his head. "So not a sister. Did you know Kanna from far enough back that it's just a fuzzy memory? Or did you hit your head or get sick and lose your memory?" The memory of his wife hit him there. Not as in a memory returned. No, it just punched him in the gut for being an asshole. This was a woman, not one of the "guys." "...That's probably one of those insensitive things, huh? Again, sorry about that."

"I know Kanna was in the Gotei a while back... It's possible you two served together..." Tsubine rested his chin on his hands. "Do you know what Divisions you've all been in?" The question was getting a bit into left field, and he couldn't figure out how to steer the con—. Duh. "Hey, so what's your name? That might help." Though not much because I forget names all the time. It didn't matter how close they were either. Tsubine had once called J "K" shortly after meeting him. It took a stern "I am not my sister" from J to correct him, and Tsubine still to this day thinks that Kei Saionji's name is actually "K Saionji."

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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"Who am I going to tell? I'm under no obligation to tell the Gotei anything... Well, unless it's going to cause another Demon Incursion or the like. Then I think I'll go make a report." Tsubine chuckled and sighed again. The flickering light in his head was going crazy, and he still could not place her by face or name. "You know, your name is familiar..." He made a thinking sound as he tried very hard to concentrate.

"I feel like you came up in one of Kanna's stories... She didn't actually make it into the Gotei, but was kicked out of the academy... It wasn't really her fault, per se..." It was then he noticed her Zanpakutō. And finally, the light stayed on. "She punched you!" Tsubine spoke with an excitement only the solving of a brain teaser could bring. "She punched you in the academy, almost got expelled from that, but then dropped out."

Tsubine continued, not giving Kaminari time to interject. "While we were engaged, Kanna sought to make amends. She tracked you down and invited you over to our house. We had dinner, and I tried to goad you into a sparring match, but Kanna stopped me. You two became quick friends, but Kanna was always going to meet you instead of you coming out this way. She planned on inviting you to the wedding, but I think that was during a time where the Gotei needed more people on standby. And you had short hair then, and that's why I didn't recognize you." Tsubine pointed down to the Zanpakutō. "But THAT I do remember. I may not remember names that well, but I always remember a sword." Tsubine sighed. He was glad to have that problem solved.