Bridge Across a Fissure [Yuuto, Shuten]

Shuten had kept Yuuto waiting thanks to the time she had been spending at the second division. While the Gotei may be disbanded, and Shuten was technically no longer a part of the squad, she was still doing her best to help treat the wounded. She may not know Kaido very well, but her healing sake was excellent and helpful for all. Once Shuten had finally arrived back in her old barracks, she had knocked upon the office door before she opened it.

Upon entering, she saw Yuuto... He looked just as tired as she was, perhaps even more so. Shuten meanwhile seemed to have accumulated bags under her eyes from a lack of sleep due to her desire to help everyone she could. However, her face brightened as she saw the man before her. Frankly speaking, Shuten hadn't realized how much she had missed Yuuto until this very moment. The once half-demon was someone Shuten had an honest amount of care for, much like family.

As if to show how comfortable Shuten was with Yuuto, once she arrived in the office Shuten had moved to the man and gave him a huge hug. It wasn't a really intimate thing, but it was evident Shuten was happy to see Yuuto. Eventually, however, the Suika had to relent her grip and carefully step back. Appropriate or not, it's what she wanted to do. Afterwards, Shuten carefully moved to place Suidomaru upon whatever nearby surface would best hold her. Once that was sorted, the Suika looked towards Yuuto and gave him a gentle smile.

"Yuuto... It's good to see you~ Why did you want to talk to me about?"

Once their embrace was over, albeit Shuten did give Yuuto one hell of a squeeze, Shuten moved around to the other side of Yuuto's desk. She uncorked her sake, pulled out her sake dish, and gladly partook of the alcohol. As a Suika, she could drink far more than most other beings. However, the Suika did pour a bit of sake for Yuuto to partake in as well if he desired, if not that was perfectly acceptable. Business or no business, the woman would still drink the sake she made on the daily. However, drinking her sake also provided the Shinigami an opportunity to turn what Yuuto proposed to her over in her head.

"Maybe one day, I could return. My hands are still too bloody for the work I do, but it still fulfills me to help others with my sake."

Shuten reached out with her free hand towards the paper that Yuuto extended towards her. She didn't set her sake down to look at the paper, instead she looked at the paper in between drinks. The Daimeikantai... From this look alone, it appeared to be a successor to the Gotei that was now gone. Once Yuuto was done tapping the healing division, Shuten gently slipped the paper off the desk so she could look at it in full. It was basic, sure, but it got the point across of the divisions; and especially where Yuuto tapped.

She... She honestly wasn't sure what to do about this. She could indeed join, but she didn't wish to interrupt her work with Rukia and what used to be the second division. Shuten had no particular problem in joining... But if the spread was really so bare, Shuten had a feeling she would be put in a higher position again. While that wasn't bad in itself, Shuten did wonder how things would work out in the long run.

Once Yuuto had finished speaking, Shuten took a good chunk of time to consider her options. Frankly speaking, given where she was, the Suika wasn't sure what to do. She did want to join this new take on the Gotei, because it meant helping restore that much more balance to the world again. Even if they were currently hindered by the lack of transport in and out of the Soul Society, it would be good to have that overarching hierarchy. However, Shuten's desire to help those whom were still injured dragged at her consciousness.

A piece of what Yuuto said came back to her as she considered her options, that she would continue this work after the dust has settled. Shuten took a long, long drink from her dish of sake before she carefully replaced the paper back onto Yuuto's desk. She then drained the dish of sake before she placed it on Yuuto's desk with a quiet 'clack'.

"Very well... I agree, Yuuto. Since it won't interfere in my work with the injured, I see no reason to refuse. Like you suggested, I could always ask Unohana for Kaido lessons if it becomes a concern. Thank you, Yuuto."

She figured she may only ask Unohana for lessons on Kaido if her lessons with Toki didn't pan out.... But that was besides the point for now. Shuten gave Yuuto a warm smile, a smile that showed a bit more of Shuten's face without all the exhaustion of many days of work and too little sleep. However, the Suika soon poured a bit more sake into her sake dish and began to take small sips of the fine liquor. Truly, it was quite tasty... Even if Shuten was used to the flavor, she still adored it. If Yuuto had any, Shuten poured more into the dish he had as well; just to top him off.

"Is there anything else you wanted to talk about, Yuuto? I would like to talk to you if you have the time."

Frankly speaking, the only reason Shuten would return to the stealth division at this point would be to help Yuuto. There was no other reason for her to be there. While she was good at what she does, and it did fill her with a certain thrill in the moment, it was bloody work… Nothing but death. What she was doing now was also filled with death, but it also had the potential of life. Not to mention, Shuten was glad Yuuto paid special attention to the woman occupying her position after the dust had settled. There were still many injured that needed taking care of and while those numbers were shrinking, it remained a vast undertaking.

Shuten was quite glad to be once more allied with Yuuto. They had a bond from working together for so long and, while they weren’t working together so directly they still could depend on each other. Shuten was also quite glad that Yuuto was partaking of her sake. While he may not drink as much as Shuten inevitably would, it gladdened her to see him drink it.

Once Yuuto had finished speaking, the Suika rolled over his words in her head. Who would she like to recommend…? At first, Shuten thought of Toki, but she didn’t think he was fit for that specific division. Perhaps he would join of his own accord, or perhaps not. She didn’t wish to make choices for others in a situation like this. Additionally, Shuten didn’t honestly know Toki well enough to properly recommend him.

After Shuten took a rather large drink from her purely oversized sake dish, the Suika hummed softly as she enjoyed the sensations and taste of the alcohol.

“I can’t think of anyone to recommend at the moment… But if I think of anyone, I will let you know.”

Shuten continued to sip her alcohol as she carefully considered what she desired to say to Yuuto. Maybe she was sorry? Perhaps how he was? Dammit all, after asking to talk to him without worrying about positions or such things she had nothing within her mind. After a few moments, the Suika finally lowered her sake dish. Her purple eyes took in Yuuto as she stared at the man, considering him before she finally broke what felt like an overly lengthy silence.

“I… I wanted to apologize for suddenly leaving the Stealth Division so suddenly. I’m sorry I didn’t give any warning. I’ve been needing change, and saving lives instead of taking them seems to be it. While I won’t say I’ll never fight again, I know I have to. But the numbing reality of the stealth force weighs on a person. I wanted to thank you for being so accepting of my decision to leave, no matter how sudden it was.”

It was gladdening to hear that Yuuto didn’t blame Shuten for wanting to leave. There were many reasons for her desire to leave the stealth division. Paramount among those desires were her desires for something more fulfilling in life. To help others instead of senseless killing… To save life instead of taking it. Shuten found these much more appealing to her than everything else, especially as reasons why she left for the second division.

“I’m glad you don’t feel the apology was necessary, even so I felt it was. There’s much more than just words behind the gesture, it was simply something I had to do.”

Shuten drank her sake after she gently pushed those words out. In the silence that followed, Shuten reflected upon all that she had heard in the past few days. What she had heard regarding the state of the seireitei, why Erika disbanded the Gotei… And who was leading the Deimeikantai.

It was then that it struck Shuten that she had asked little questions, just simply said she would join. She didn’t ask for real things, she didn’t even try to question anything she had been looking at. Curse her sluggish tired mind. She didn’t wish to stumble into a situation without knowing what she was getting herself into.

“Yuuto… Who are the backers of the Deimei?”

The question was innocent enough, but the answer may throw a wrench into things. Shuten herself was no fan of Central 46 as much as any other Shinigami who came from the Rukongai. Suika were forced to grow up in those harsh streets or die. She had no love for nobles and Central 46… But she still held respect for Yuuto and wanted to give him a proper answer. She just didn’t know now if it would be the one he wanted now that her sluggish mind had caught up to the situation.

Even if Yuuto didn’t show his annoyance with the situation, in which Shuten went from acceptance to asking questions, the Suika had a vague feeling that she wasn’t doing exactly what he wanted. Why should she…? She was no captain, nor lieutenant, or really anyone with immense standing, but she was still her own person and would do as she chose AFTER she properly informed herself.

Shuten listened closely to what Yuuto said about the Daimei. It was led by Byakuya Kuchiki, who was a formidable man in his own right. However, it was funded by Central 46 and the nobles. That wasn’t surprising in the end. Central 46 had to give their funding to someone when it came to this. It wasn’t surprising they were sticking their noses in where they don’t belong. Frankly speaking, Shuten would like it if Central 46 stuck to funding and kept their noses out of Shinigami business… But perhaps it was unavoidable.

After Yuuto had finished speaking, with that hardness coloring his vision, Shuten remained as calm as could be. She looked tired, felt tired, and overall wanted to return home and take a 12 hour nap; but she was still attentive. Eventually, Shuten placed her sake dish down and smiled gently at Yuuto. It was somewhat apologetic. Not because she was going to turn around and refuse his offer, but because she was apologizing for her tired state. It made her… Rash and hasty.

“I’m sorry, Yuuto. Not because I desire to refuse. No, I must apologize for making a hasty decision on my acceptance. You have given me time to finish my business helping out those who are injured. I also wish to use that time to properly think about where I wish to stand, what I wish to do with myself. I’ve had a life in the Gotei for a long time, and now… I find myself lost. More lost than ever before.”

Shuten smiled sheepishly at Yuuto before she straightened her spine to sit up straight, gained a much more stoic demeanor, and looked Yuuto straight in the eye. Perhaps Yuuto saw a tiny bit of the woman who was once a Captain herself; even if it was a temporary position.

“Please allow me that time to be one to make my decision as well.” Shuten spoke firmly, and bowed to make her request that much more respectful. “Please give me that time to give you a proper answer that both of us can be comfortable with. I want to give you a proper answer, not one borne from my exhaustion.”

After the appropriate amount of time, Shuten straightened from her seated bow. Whatever Yuuto’s answer was, she would hear it. Whether it was an ultimatum, or an acceptance, she would hear it and answer. However, she did have one more question for Yuuto. In the situation they were in now, it was best that Shuten knew about everything that was going on outside of her healing barracks information bubble. She wanted to inform herself if she was truly going to side with Yuuto, like her heart somewhat desired, or if she was going to set herself up as a neutral party. A healer willing to accept any and all to treat their injuries.

“Yuuto… What do you know of the other factions that have been cropping up in the wake of the Gotei’s dissolution?”