Werewolves of Rukon [Tsubine/Kazu]

Tsubine knew he wouldn't be the only ones making moves in the Rukongai. He did, however, expect to be the only one in the furthest reaches—out beyond what many in the Seireitei called "civilized." Even his home district was in that classification, and that was part of what allowed him to operate for so long. It wasn't bringing in income, so the nobility paid it no mind, and the Gotei United only really responded when it was a big enough Hollow. By the time they got there, it was usually dealt with anyway.

The people out here were closer than many thought. So when someone else started to edge in from the outside, Tsubine was keenly aware of it. Such things needed to be addressed in one way or another. The horses took him deep past 66 and into the 70s. It was Tsubine, Kohaku, Sazanami, and Suzukawa along for the ride. J had Mayumi duty today. It didn't take long to find where his informants said this new group—some kind of alliance—was taking up residence.

Tsubine had worked through a variety of intermediaries to secure safe passage to meet with the leader of this alliance. He hadn't been told much about what to expect, except that she was definitely different than the other people he'd dealt with before. Was she like that Captain? Worse? Or was she more like some of the people he had heard about in the Gotei? Either way, it was set up to be a tense meeting.

The setting sun darkened most of the path, but sporadic lanterns lit most of the way. It was almost eerie how it looked out here. Tsubine was keenly aware he was being watched and possibly followed despite not seeing anyone. His gut told him to be ready for an ambush, and yet none came. Approaching the scheduled rendezvous point—an old inn set back from the main road—Tsubine called out to the seemingly-empty courtyard. "Hello there." His voice carried well out here. "I am Tsubine Shirazumi, and I represent the interests of District 66 West. I have an appointment with your leader, a Miss Kazura Yukiyama."

Tsubine totally didn't jump when the she-wolf stepped from the shadows. His horse did. He did his best to calm the beast under him while listening to her almost sing-song voice. He stepped down from his horse and passed the reins to Kohaku. "Someone who waits until winter to stock up is not someone who survives that winter." Although it may have beast-ish connotations, the fact is it was something he knew all too well. Winter was hard for anyone and everyone. Right now, he felt it to be especially true regarding the current state of things.

Tsubine took note of the various forms appearing. Although not quite a show of force, the message was clear. They weren't alone. "Well, simply put, I was actually out here to make sure that you and your... alliance here were getting along well in the outer districts. The Rukongai can be a rough place—sometimes less tolerant than even the worst of the nobility because out here? There's no face that needs to be saved."

"It's not every day that you see such a large gathering of the beast-folk." Tsubine scanned the shadowed gathering. It was a variety of forms—not all were lupine like Kazura here. "Honestly, I didn't think I'd see... such a variety of forms. I mean no offense by that." He was quick to point that out. Even if it was perhaps racist, it was the truth. "I have only met members of the Wolf clan before, and that was just when I was trading."

Tsubine nodded in response to the she-wolf's offer. "Of course. Business is best conducted where both parties can feel comfortable." He nodded to his trio, and was led to the shack. It was definitely better off than other places he had been, but it was still a shack at the end of the day.

Tsubine found something to sit on; and it may have once even been a chair. He just didn't like sitting on the ground when he could afford it. He steepled his fingers in front of him, still amicable and warm as he spoke. "You mentioned that this is a gathering of clans—and that this is your extended family. I understand that more than most. Family is more than just blood. Family is sometimes people who you respect more than others, people who you know better than anyone else, and people you know who have your best interests... And, well, family is a pain in the ass despite that. They'll annoy you, but you'll want to forgive them. You'll want to see them do better in the future, and, well, hope the best for them. And when you're not just hoping, you're doing the best for them."

Tsubine leaned in a little. Even inside, he kept his sunglasses on. His blue eyes peered over the dark rims without a hint of threat. And yet, it was like looking at naked steel—a drawn blade that was just held in one hand without an intent. "And that brings me to what I really wish to discuss. Why has your alliance moved into the Rukongai—and why is it what is 'best' for your family?"

Old-timers had spoken of the previous times the clans had tried to make a new home in the Rukongai. The stories he heard were marred with inconsistencies and biases. It wasn't just from the people who didn't want them there, but also from the ones that did. The truth was likely that, back then, there was going to be no peace or acceptance because the Gotei of that time—if there was a Gotei—was too brutal in stamping out dissident thought. And these folks from outside the realm of control of nobility would certainly have been holding those thoughts.

"Truth be told, part of what you just answered is what I wanted to know." Tsubine let out a light chuckle. "I'm admittedly ignorant of your culture and your views. Knowing such things helps me understand the people I'm around. Because if you had said something like 'we are taking a home that should have been ours long ago,' I would have thought that there was some old deal that might need to be looked at, that or you felt so entitled to believe that what others have is rightfully yours. One would have painted you in the light of a wronged party of a business deal and the other would have made you seemed like a warmonger."

"Neither of which I care to do business with." Tsubine smirked. He couldn't fix a deal from eons ago, when the parties of that time were dead and may not have any descendants. It was too murky of a situation for him to handle. At the same time, someone so self-righteous would just stab him in the back. That would invite conflict, and no one in Soul Society needed that right now. "You're right, I do have another question I want to ask you."

"Your alliance wants a home? That's something I can help with. But it's a big ask for me to do so out of just a sense of charity. I've got to think about the people who live in the same district—people who may just see you as another invading force. If the Rukongai were to be your home, how willing are you to defend it?"