Thinking Out Loud (Hana/Elyss)

Hana was not strong enough to help with anything important, yet. She felt useless during the Africa situation. Well, she did not just feel useless. She was useless. She could do nothing against such abominations, so her regular duties and training were all she kept up with. Since she normally trained away from her own Division, the fact that she was wandering around the Seventh was a strange sight. She was rumored to spend most of her time in the Sixth or the Eighth.

It had been a long time since she interacted with her Captain, so when the red-headed woman walked by Hana, she immediately recognized her. Her expression hardened, but her eyes locked onto Captain Kishimoto and followed her along as the woman walked. Anyone watching could see Hana was staring quite intently at her Captain, almost as if she had something to say, but held that back.

The only reason her Captain passed her by was the height difference. Hana was much shorter, so her gait didn’t get her as far. Hana wasn’t intentionally just following this woman; they happened to be going similar directions. She had no interest in a foot race, so staying behind a Captain was smarter than rushing in front of them, especially someone who had proven to have a bad attitude…

Hana stopped. She was watching close enough; she just didn’t realize Elyss had eyes in the back of her head. Looking up into the eyes of her Captain, she continued her stare, but without much expression in it. “Can I help you, Captain?”

Hana was surprised Elyss just stepped aside to let her go ahead. It was a gesture she was unfamiliar with too, especially since she was taught to stand behind those in authority. However, it was her Captain’s words that caught her attention.

“Interesting.” Hana said, vitriol edging her tone. She could feel anger rising. She closed her eyes and she continued walking, but still spoke clearly. “Captains are normally so busy, I assumed you all must always have somewhere to be.”

Hana stopped a few feet passed her Captain and looked back over her shoulder, her indifferent expression still holding. “How have things been going with the situation in Africa? Have things settled enough for you to…” Hana stopped, realizing the words that were about to leave her would never be unsaid. She cleared her throat and calmed herself down. “…reconsider helping me, or at least advise my training?”

“What a sad mindset one must have to assume guiding a member of their own Division would automatically be a waste of their time.” Hana sighed. So, the last time they interacted wasn’t a fluke. Captain Kishimoto was just not an approachable person. Hana could have understood the negativity in tense times, but if things were “going okay,” that kind of hateful mindset wasn’t needed.

Hana turned back to face Elyss. “I can understanding, and can even agree with, requiring a reason to train someone, but your method of communicating that is insulting. Is that purposeful, or are you just lacking any positive form of charisma?”

“Actually, if you could recall, what I said was that I assumed Captains were always busy, and I came to that assumption the first time we met, when you so rudely called me a waste of time for daring to ask for some assistance.”

Hana knew her words were borderline disrespectful, but technically she had only asked a question, one she did intend to listen to an actual answer for. She did not call her Captain out of her name, nor did she threaten her. No rule, unless the Gotei was returning to more tyrannical means, had been broken. In fact, it may have been that Hana was intentionally walking that line and refusing to cross it.

"Well, firstly, from what I have been able to observe, the rank and file rarely approach someone of your caliber in order to better themselves; they are content with their current skills and seem to be okay with mediocrity. I can guess the increased level of danger that comes with strength and authority also disincentivizes their advancement. As for myself, I merely looked to my Captain for help, not because I felt I deserved it more, but because I wanted to be better. At the time, I was uncertain of... certain things in my life; I was at a loss. I thought someone who had gotten to where you are in life might have had the wisdom to point me in a healthier direction. Back then, that was all I hoped for."