Sisters & Soliloquy [Chidori x Rio]

Fate had certainly developed a penchant for its deliberate attempt at overwhelming Rio. Each event that transpired since she spoke with her sister had been of no small note. Hakuyou lost his life at the hands of Kanae Nagoshi, who claimed he was a traitor who attempted to take her life. She ended a relationship with someone she still considered a genuine friend, precisely because of her inability to find closure regarding her feelings about the now-deceased captain. Murasaki was nowhere to be seen. Byakuya would now be assuming the role of Captain Commander under a different banner.

In a word, it was pure chaos. But Rio had always, time and again, proved that she could stand tall and unmoving in the face of adversity, no matter what occurred. In truth, she knew there was a limit to how much the mind could take, but her will had been honed far too much to falter now. It wasn't an ideal practice, nor was it healthy, but many responsibilities still lie on her shoulders.

After all, upholding the Shihoin's name was her topmost priority. Even without a Gotei, that part of her soul would never falter. And, above all, she wanted to ensure everyone in her family could still prosper, ensure that all of them would be alright no matter what transpired. Chidori, despite their differences, was no exception.

To be certain, they'd learned to look past their differences in ideologies and grow closer after Yushiro's death. As long as she needed her, she would continue to be her sister's Shield, and the same undoubtedly applied to her children. Summoned by Chidori, Rio expediently made haste to the Shihoin estate, entering the meeting room with a polite wave of the hand as she sat across from her older sister.

"Long time no see, Chidori. Since I've been summoned here, I take you to have something important to speak with me about?"

Rio hadn't intended to make that same as though she were cutting straight to business. There could be any number of reasons why she called her here, she wouldn't dare make assumptions, but she felt she knew her sister well enough to know she wasn't the type to summon her without some level of importance or urgency at play.

"Of course you can. But since we're in this meeting room, I'm sure there's something important you'd like to tell me. Whenever time affords it, I'll gladly check in on my niece and nephew. I've been meaning to tell them about my experiences on Earth. I'd like to vacation."

Rio chortled softly at the end of that statement. She was well within her right to request her presence, and Rio wouldn't have held any particular issue even if she was summoned here for a drink and a moment of reprieve with her sister. If anything, she would have welcomed it on account of all the current circumstances. As it stood, she possessed enough awareness, observing her expression and body language, to know that there was more at play than catching up on lost time.

Much to her expectation, as she sat down at her sister's instruction, Chidori revealed her intention. Her revelation left no room for misunderstanding, and the conviction in her tone established that this choice was final, leaving little room for discussion. Such a sheer disregard might've offended her if she had made a decision that ran counter to what was being decided, but that wasn't the case here.

Fortunately, no choice had been made regarding her future just yet. Presenting the plan of action as she did, accompanied by the urgency in her voice, Rio supposed she understood why circumstances needed to play out this way. As one of the Captains of the Gotei Thirteen, Rio held some form of respect for the man and his contributions. For the sake of the Shihoin clan, she held little issue in fighting under his banner, as long as he honored his word, especially with so many resources being granted to her all at once.

"There aren't any issues on my end. I'm impressed you were able to capitalize on so much within a short frame of time. First things first, though. I'd like to hear your vision for this division before I offer my input. From there, I can start thinking about who I'll be recruiting over the next few months."