Tripping Wire [Social, Closed, R]

[Nakazawa Meian]

(OOC: Social between Nakazawa Meian, Third Squad Unseated officer, and Katrina Kawada, Second Squad Fifth Seat officer.)

[Nakazawa Meian]

Sometimes, it is the most casual of events that proves to be the most meaningful. Sometimes, a single outcome becomes the turning point toward something greater, something of importance. Today was one of such days as Meian came to the districts of West Rukongai, districts he knew just too well. The motive behind his presence there? To simply serve as a resting place on the road to the Wilderness. Indeed, Meian was on his way to this place he once called home, a location he didn’t visit for a good century or so. Once there, his goal was simple; to scout the region in order to pinpoint some of the key survival features the ecosystem still had to offer.

He wasn’t on Shinigami business, though, and that was clearly demonstrated by the outfit he wore. Unlike normal days, the young man had no Shihakusho on him, rather wearing clothes similar to those of a traveller. With a long gray cowl and light blue clothes, the only thing that truly set him apart from others in the district was the Zanpakutou he carried on his left and on which he kept a hand at all times. Aside from that, everything else, from the large wooden stick he used to walk around to the fairly numerous pockets on his belt, were mundane enough to go unnoticed in the flow of people that walked these roads. Given the length of his journey, the only change he made to his usual travelling kit was a few additional supplies, including water canisters and a few dried food packages. Better be prepared for any eventuality, right?

And so he departed, moving toward this nostalgic location he hadn’t seen in forever. Taking the road, he got to see some of those places he had spent good time at in the past, like the building that previously contained his dojo, or a few of those numerous pilgrimage paths he commonly followed. Ohhh, the good old days… For a while, his trip went quite smoothly, but quite soon he was forced to make a stop. Why, might you ask? Simply because night was starting to fall, and anyone wise would avoid walking in the far districts of the Rukongai alone at night. He had to take refuge somewhere for the night, and the young Shinigami knew the ideal place for that… a small inn, right at the corner of this street, where he had slept a few times in the past and therefore deemed it to be a secure location.

As a result, in the 28th District of West Rukongai, a passing-by Samurai had taken a night in one of the local inns. Entering the building, Meian went directly to the innkeeper, ignoring anyone who might already be in the central hall. Approaching the tall woman, he carefully made sure that his face would be hidden from any source of light by his cowl, ensuring that his identity would be kept secret. ”I’d like a room, please.” Even though the man had placed a few coins on the desk, the girl sent a few glare his way, likely because of his suspicious behavior. Having to do this didn’t please Meian, but he sadly had no choice; many thought he was dead in the region, and he had no wish to prove them wrong, not yet. After a time which seemed like eternity, the young man finally received the key to his room, leading him to hurry upstairs and inside his new rent.

A sigh of relief quickly escaped his lungs as he closed the door behind him; at least, he wouldn’t have to worry about being discovered for the night, and he’d even have a place to sleep. Taking a look around, Meian investigated what he had to accommodate his needs; a bed with a few ragged blankets, a bunch of chairs and a table, a small couch and an even smaller stove… clearly not the best, but still better than nothing. The young man also had access to a small balcony, something he decided to benefit from immediately. Once outside, he took a deep breath before sitting on the stool already located there. Given the moonlight, he could clearly see what was in front of him; the main street, the alleys ahead and even the roofs. It was on its way to be a peaceful night… or, at least, that’s what he first thought.

[Deleted]

It's been forty years.

Specifically, forty years, three months, two weeks, and three days since she had last set foot in this particular district. She tended to avoid it, as one would avoid a plague-infested monkey. The memories were still too fresh, even after all these years. Her father made sure of that of that. Waking up every day bore witness to his broken frame, the shell of what he once was. He kept the memories fresh. Try as she might, she couldn't forget it.

Her own disability too forced the memories on her. Even now, after the short walk from the fifteenth, her legs cried out in pain, fire once again tracing the three vertical lines across her thighs. The young Kawada grimaced in pain and shifted to a more comfortable temporarily comfortable position. She was half hidden in the shadow of an alley, her blue eyes trained on a spot in front of the inn. Unbidden, memories flooded through her.

She was ten, and filled with sadness. A small pack lay on the ground where she sat, her knees pulled up to her chin. Tears swam in her icy orbs as she stared at nothing, her gaze fixed on a point somewhere in her memories. The reason for her sadness has been lost to time, but she was. Then, an animalistic roar split the air.

She pulled out of her memories by a presence, one both familiar and unfamiliar. Katrina didn't know him specifically, but be was, unmistakably, a Shinigami. Which was odd. Unless they were on patrol, Shinigami rarely travel beyond the tenth district, and almost never stay in cheap inns such as this one. What could he possibly be up to? For it was unmistakably a male; her highly trained senses could see that, illuminated as he was by the light of his room. And an attractive one, too.

Suspicion immediately shot through her. An attractive, young Shinigami, staying the night in a seedy motel by himself? Something dubious was going on. She didn't sense anyone else around, so it was unlikely he was hiring a prostitute. Can't rule it out, though. Regardless of what it was, he was obviously up to no good; that is the only time attractive people sleep alone.

Her curiosity aroused, she stood up, brushing the dirt off her clothes with a practiced hand. The tight fitting outfit, the arms and back bare, was the staple of her uniform, and marked her as one of Squad 2. Her customary golden haori was left at home, as nobles weren't looked at too kindly in the Rukongai. But her belt was there, along with the myriad of weaponry. Her badge, meanwhile, was as the buckle of the belt, adapted to be so.

Scaling the walls of the inn wasn't even close to difficult for the agile girl. Her head, black hair kept pin straight, peeked over the railing, intent on seeing what this strange Soul Reaper was really up to. Of course, in her haste, she forgot to hide herself ...

[Nakazawa Meian]

The streets were calm… or, well, as calm as such a Rukongai District could be. Under the haze of the moon, a few persons passed once in a while; mostly drunk guys, intoxicated by a tavern’s local specialty. Some had a girl at their arm, others seemingly had not been struck with such luck. However, any of this was a normal sight in such a District of the Rukongai, and it was one Meian was already accustomed to. The same could be said of the uproar and occasional laughs or screams he could hear nearby. All in all, nothing was odd in the region… well, nothing except for maybe one thing; there was a girl on the other side of the road, in the alleys, a girl that clearly didn’t fit with the rest of the scenery. Not that Meian gave it much thought, though; strange things commonly occurred through the Rukongai, and he had no reason to bother about it…

This again...

At least, not until her face showed up barely a few feet away from him, her eyes peeking over the balcony. ”Woah! Umm… hello?” The young man almost fell from his stool, not expecting a visit anytime soon. However, nearly immediately he took his cowl down, trying to conceal his face; a useless behavior, given that the girl had likely already seen his face from afar, but one that would certainly increase her suspicions toward him… that is, until he noticed what she wore, clothes that wouldn’t belong to any commoner from the region. ”…Wait, you’re part of Edo too, aren’t you?” His defensive attitude fell almost instantly, leaving only two Shinigamis dumbfounded by one another’s presence.

Standing up, Meian gave her a hand to help her ascension. ”Here. Next time, simply use the door, alright?” Taking a look at his guest, she physically appeared as nothing more than a small young girl at first glance; an estimation that easily proved to be incorrect. Indeed, the man spotted several outlines of weapon at around her waist. Oh? She’s cautious, it seems… Whoever she was, it was obvious she understood what unarmed meant in the Rukongai; suicide. ”I’m Nakazawa Meian, unseated Samurai from the 3rd Dynasty; a pleasure to meet you. Who are you? Why are you so far in Outer-Edo and, more importantly, at my doorstep?” Opening the door to his room, he then went inside, motioning her to follow him if she wanted to. The young man was fairly happy from this unexpected encounter, in fact; discussions were a rare pleasure, when he was travelling…