[Job] A Perfectly Normal Patrol

[Tala Selao]

Tala was surprised to be going on an actual patrol for once. Since being assigned as the secondary team leader of an expeditionary team, he's only been going on scouting and investigation missions, meant to gather intel and help out or lead the teams in accomplishing their goals. However today was different. Today he was going to go on a normal, regular patrol through the Rukongai. This was something he hadn't done in a while and it was quite refreshing to actually be able to just stroll through the districts and check in on some people he hadn't spoken to in quite some time.

He was also somewhat excited to be meeting a new member of Squad Ten who'd be accompanying him on this patrol. Of course he was a little worried about them since from what he understood, they were straight from the academy. He was certain that someone paired him up with a new recruit so he could get more experience as a leader yet he wasn't sure who that could of been or why they would think he'd be a great mentor or leader of any type.

However he wouldn't complain as he was always happy to meet a new face. If the worse comes to pass and they run into a threat that is too much for the both of them then he can always just send them away to retrieve backup and if something happens to him then his ocular lens would record any and all data to be used to against whatever threat they encountered. Still that was just if the worse scenario happened and he really expected this to be a quite and easy patrol.

He pulls out the rather poorly hand-drawn map of the routes they were to take. Judging from this, it seems they'd be going through just about every district in the Northern side of the Rukongai. He was a little sad they weren't assigned his home section of the Eastern wing but he still knew a few friendly faces there and was sure that they'd be happy to see them pass through. He was even a little optimistic about having to pass through the rougher districts and exploring the edges of the wilds.

As he approached the assigned meeting spot by the gate, his thoughts wondered to what his partner for this patrol would be like. If they were a subordinate of Captain Shindazu then odds are they were likely a strong combatant, even as a new join. This thought made him even more hopeful for the odds of this patrol going off without a hitch of any kind. After all he was a lot more confident in his Bakudo than he was his combat capabilities, even when compared to newer members. Hopefully this wouldn't leave a poor opinion of him and his squad in his partner's mind. That and the fact that he was running a little behind on the set meeting time.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

"May we all be well, happy and peaceful, May no harm come to us, May we all also have patience, courage, understanding, and determination to meet and overcome inevitable difficulties, problems, and failures in life."

Benjiro opened his irisless eyes, having finished his final prayer for the day as he donned his Shinigami robes for his first assignment. A part of him wished for the chance to meet the esteemed Captain of Squad 10, but unfortunately, he had no opportunity to. It was inevitable, however, due to the busy nature of a Squad Captain. In fact, Benjiro felt pride in the busy nature of Squad 10, as expected from a squad dedicated to the defense and peace of the entirety of the Soul Society. So there he was, even though he had yet to meet his superiors, he had already received duties on his first day on the job. He was in charge of patrolling the Northern Districts of the Rukongai with a senior member in Squad 3.

Benjiro scratched his head, wondering what the duty of Squad 3 was. In all honesty, during his time at the Academy, as soon as he heard the duties of Squad 10, he had already wholeheartedly decided on joining that squad. The duties of every other squad, while equally important in his eyes, were not meant for him, and as such he cleared his mind of their specific roles in the function of the Soul Society. Now, however, as he had achieved his goal and now yearns to best serve the Soul Society, which sparked his curiosity and promptness to learn about all of it. All in due time, of course, as Benjiro believed in the right time and place for everything.

Today, that time and place was right now at the Northern Gate to the First District of Northern Rukongai. The barrel-chested gentle giant of a Shinigami waited for his assigned partner to arrive, and as soon as his eyes met his senior's, he approached the only other Shinigami that was undoubtedly his partner. He was much shorter than him but he had an innate fierceness and kindness to him, with sharp eyes like a katana. It was a stark contrast to Benjiro himself who, despite a height of 7 foot 3, had a meek and mild-mannered sense about him. As he approached his senior Shinigami, Benjiro suddenly came to a stop.

"Greetings sir! I am Benjiro Hiroto, Squad 10! It is an honor to meet you sir!" He dutifully exclaimed before bowing deeply...as in really deeply. It was strange seeing this bulky man fold entirely in half, from someone taller than Tala to someone much shorter. His bow ended with his head almost being between his legs before he stood back to his full height. Once he did though, Tala would be able to see a much more relaxed posture, with rounded shoulders and a slight hunch as he looked down with utmost respect.

[Tala Selao]

Tala was very much surprised but not for the reasons one might think. No Tala was surprised to be giving so much respect from anyone, looking slightly flustered by the deep bow and the respectful look in the taller Shinigami's eyes. It was now that he noticed that the ireless eyes of the Squad 10 member. It was an odd but interesting feature that immediately caught Tala's attention, his own steel gray eyes being fixated on them for a moment before he quickly pulls his gaze down to examine the rest of Benjiro before he ended up being rude and disrespectful.

He raised a brow at the sight of the green haori over the standard shihakusho. While it wasn't a direct violation of the uniform it was just odd to see someone other than the captains wearing a haori, especially a colored one at that. However Tala thought it looked and suited the bigger man's presence and aesthetic. Perhaps Tala would start adding some personal touches to his own shihakusho. However that was a thought that could be followed later.

He gave Benjiro a nod and, while not as deep, respectful bow. However as soon as he heard Benjiro calling him sir he laughed a little and rubbed his pendant, "Ah, please, just call me Tala. I'm not important enough to be getting called sir or anything fancy like that. Anyways, it's nice to meet you Hiroto-san.  I'm sure you know but I'm with Squad Three, specifically the team that deals with the Rukongai. I heard you'd be joining me for this patrol however I also heard that it'd be your first time on an official patrol. We shouldn't run into any trouble but do try to keep alert in case we do." 

He gives Benjiro a reassuring smile and finally moves to open the gate, leading them out and into the first district of the Rukongai that they'd be strolling through. Of course, as to be expected, there was hardly anything worth noting going on within here as well as the following forty districts. While Tala wasn't from the Northern Districts of the Rukongai, he still knew some people here and there that he'd greet with a smile as they moved through. At one point, during the lulls of silence during their patrol, Tala would break it as he speaks up, "Did you grow up in the Rukongai Hiroto-san or were you a plus from the World of the Living?"

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As soon as Benjiro introduced himself and bowed respectfully, he couldn't help but smile as his senior bowed before him as well. He had always been taught to be polite and respectful above all, and he could already tell that his senior Shinigami was a kind and warm person, just by the way he introduced himself with a humble laugh and by his name instead of a title. He could sense that this Shinigami, Tala, didn't think of himself as important enough to be called sir or any other formality. Tala continued by saying it was nice to meet him and went on to describe his duty as a member of Squad 3, the team dedicated to dealing with the Rukongai, the vast majority of the souls in the Soul Society. Benjiro found this duty to be very admirable and respectable, as they were sent to protect and assist the souls that are often out of reach for the Gotei 13, the main military force of the Soul Society. He could see the compassion in Tala's eyes as he spoke of his duty, and he knew that he had found a like-minded individual and a kindred soul in this Shinigami. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Tala." Benjiro placed his hands together as he offered thanks to the Buddha of Compassion for blessing him with a kind partner for his first patrol. 

As Tala explained that they would be on patrol in the Northern Rukongai, Benjiro felt a sense of excitement and responsibility. This was his first official patrol as a Shinigami and he was eager to prove himself. "I assure you that I will remain on high alert, especially since this is my first patrol!" He said with a bright smile, beaming with pride at his dutiful nature. He was genuinely interested in the work that Tala and Squad 3 did, and he was more than willing to go above and beyond to do what he believed was right for the benefit of all. With another reassuring smile from Tala, the senior Shinigami pushed open the gate to the first district of the Northern Rukongai, and Benjiro followed eagerly behind.

As the gates opened, Benjiro was struck by the tranquility and serenity of the first district of the Northern Rukongai. The streets were wide and well-maintained, lined with houses and shops that were in good repair. The souls that inhabited the district were well-dressed and well-fed, going about their business with purpose and contentment. The district had a village-like feel to it, with a strong sense of community and a peaceful atmosphere. Benjiro couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and inspiration as he looked around, feeling blessed to have the duty of defending harmonious homes like these. Despite knowing that he could not do much to better this place as of this moment, he was just happy to assist where he was needed. As they walked through the wide street, Tala greeted the souls that knew of him, and Benjiro did the same. "Good day, my name is Benjiro. Please feel free to call me, should you need any assistance." He offered his aid to anyone that wanted it.

Eventually, as they walked through the districts, the two Shinigami fell into lulls of silence. Tala broke the silence by asking him about his origins, whether he grew up in the Rukongai or if he was a Plus from the world of the living. Benjiro just smiled as he cheerily answered him. "Technically, both! I lived in the Kiyomizudera temple in my life as a Buddhist monk and died in an accident at 26. Since then, I spent around 7 decades as a laborer in the Southern Rukongai, District 39. After that, I was accepted into the Shinigami Academy and graduated only this year, as a youthful 104 year old!" He had no qualms about sharing details about his life. "I had heard that a lot of souls here forget their previous lives, though my memory remains clear. Is that the same with you?"



 

[Tala Selao]

Tala appreciated Benjiro's energy and sense of responsibility that he had throughout this patrol. He would occasionally watch as Benjiro talked and interacted with the residents as they moved, appreciating that he was actually friendly towards them and definitely figuring that the tall man used to be a resident here for a while as well.

He was surprised however to learn exactly how long he'd been here as well as the fact that he'd actually been among the living. Tala was aware of what Benjiro brought up, knowing it to be true. Those who stayed in the Rukongai for as long as Benjiro had or longer often do end up forgetting details and memories of their previous life. Yet that hadn't seemed to be the case with the tranquil man, which Tala had found rather intriguing.

He doesn't press on it however, instead opting to let out a light chuckle at the question that was prompted of him, scratching his cheeks as looked away, "Oh uh...no. I was actually born in the Eastern's forty second district. I've actually only been with squad three for a little over a year now." He was felt a little self-conscious of his own age, knowing many others within the Soul Society were many many years older than him. And that he was a superior to some of them only fueled his doubt in his skills and abilities.

However this wasn't the time for doubt as they finally made their way in the middle districts, where the less fortunate and more rougher characters of Soul Society resided. The houses here weren't completely shoddy and rundown however they were somewhat used and worn. There was also the fact that some of the more labor driven residents resided here. While Tala remained friendly and still interacted with the residents, he was now somewhat more on guard, having frown up near these districts and knowing that the love for the Shinigami wasn't as great here.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro walked through the Rukongai, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and contentment. It was refreshing to see people working together in harmony, despite their differences. The simple joy of lending a helping hand and seeing the gratitude in the eyes of those he assisted filled him with a sense of purpose. It was a feeling he had not experienced in a long time. Seeing the lives of these people only reaffirmed his ideals to protect them, making him feel more comfortable in his fresh role as a Shinigami.

With Tala by his side, Benjiro felt a renewed sense of camaraderie. Tala's friendly demeanor and genuine interest in his story made him feel seen and heard. He was surprised to learn that Tala was a born and bred citizen of the Soul Society, living in the East Rukongai's forty second district. It was evident that Tala had a deep connection to the Rukongai, most likely seeing it as his home, and his passion for helping its residents was infectious. Benjiro felt grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a kind and knowledgeable mentor, even if he was younger. "Oh! That's interesting, I've never met a Rukongai born soul, let alone one that became a Shinigami! Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough, but still! Have you been assigned to the World of the Living yet?"

As they continued their journey, Benjiro couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic upon reaching the middle districts. The houses began to look more used and worn, more similar to the place he lived once he was brought over to the thirty ninth district. He remembered when he met Miyuki, and how she taught him about life in the Soul Society. It was only thanks to her that he had adjusted so well, and since then, the people of the Rukongai would always be his family.

Benjiro did notice, however, that Tala seemed to be more on guard. Was he afraid of hollows? From his experience in the thirty-ninth, he had yet to see any hollows manage to make their way that deep into the Soul Society. Was the North that different from the South? "Is something wrong, Tala? Are there any hollows here?" Little did Benjiro know that Shinigami were not well loved throughout all of the Soul Society, be it by chance or by fate, the few in his community had stumbled across nothing but kind and generous Shinigami in his lifetime.