Who Did What Now? [Tsubine/J]

Mayumi was currently taken care of by the staff at J’s manor. The man himself had to get to the bottom of something he did not like hearing about. Apparently, someone in the Gotei had somehow broken the child’s nose, and this was not something J could stand for. Since Mayumi often struggled with detail, it was best to get it from her father, who was present at the time, and unable to prevent such an atrocity from happening. You'd THINK her FATHER would be more careful!!

As he normally did, J took no time to enter Tsubine's residence, ignoring anyone who dared try and stop him. This was how Tsubine entered his home, so J could behave with such disrespect too. Frankly, this was their friendship in the first place. J made it to Tsubine's office and gave a solid knock on the door. Once the door sounded like it was about to be opened, his eyes narrowed in anger.

"Someone... broke... her nose?!"

J wasn't a man whose rigid demeanor failed often, but when it came to his... thei-... Tsubine's daughter, he had a protective nature that only his little sister experienced.

J was angry alright. Mayumi had a habit of being dramatic with him, so this visit to Tsubine was both a gathering of information and a warning to not let anything happen to their little girl again. Truth be told, J dreaded the day he would have to give Mayumi back to Tsubine on a legal basis. Anyways...

"A wall?" J raised an eyebrow, his demeanor softening only some as he crossed his arms. "If everything is all and well, explain your attempts at bribing Mayumi to lie to me. I have taught that child the benefits of the truth and following rules. The day she lies to me is the day she is a teenage girl sneaking out to meet up with some boy; that is not happening for quite some time, so good luck trying that again."

Many knew J as a patient person. When it came to Mayumi, his patience was not as easily held. Though the child was not actually his, he sometimes forgot that fact. She had been with him so long, and his protective instincts were used solely for her these days. So, these excuses being made were not going to fly! J stared at Tsubine, a dull, yet irritated glare and crossed his arms as more excuses came.

J was not expecting the next bit. The shift in conversation had implications he wasn't fond of. Mayumi just got to start seeing her Father again, so what was going to hinder that now? "What trouble are you talking about?" J asked, his arms falling back at his sides. "I've learned to at least acknowledge your instincts, so elaborate."

It was no surprise to J that Tsubine had kept up with such an incident. That wasn't something that could easily be kept quiet, so rumors spreading throughout the Rukongai was expected. Besides, J probably would have told him anyway. If Mayumi had been visiting during that attack... Well, J's heart skipped a beat at the mere thought. Still, it made him wonder how much Tsubine did know.

J narrowed his eyes curiously at Tsubine's words. There were implications he wasn't liking, and Tsubine's vagueness always put him on edge. "Elaborate, now," J demanded, crossing his arms. "You know this sounds suspicious; is there really a point in keeping secrets? Does Mayumi need to stay out of the Rukongai?"

Great. Mayumi finally opened up to seeing Tsubine again, and he was being forced to change his mind. There was no doubt in J's mind that something occurred to cause this, and he wanted an explanation. Unfortunately, it was clear he was not going to receiving one today. If Tsubine refused his help, that was on him.

"No, I don't, and even if I did, I'd be obligated to keep it to myself," J said. The two of them stood on opposite sides of the path in this. J was bound by law and Tsubine bound by... whatever he was bound by. "I do not appreciate having secrets," J said, fully irritated at this point. He technically had no information to give, at least not on anything Tsubine was trying to imply right now. He sighed, "I'll let her know."