A Rock, and a Hollow Place (Social/Joint Trainin, PG13, NDE)

[Marcelius]

(OoC:The following events are to take place between Ohtomo Yuuma (Marcelius Despres) and Kazuko Shiba. This is to be a Social Thread in with the goal of solving any, and all, Emotional issues currently troubling Kazuko. This will take place in a recently acquired office within Squad 1. There is a chance that some form of training and growth might come from this experience, so that opportunity is being left open. Also, in the event of such a thing, the setting may change...but eh, that's how threads go sometimes! Either way, Shiba will not be the only one under mental duress during this thread, to say the least! Let's begin!)

The Shiba Household, was to receive a letter. Upon stationary parchment, in bold calligraphy, the name of Shiba Kazuko laid inscribed. Very clearly, the letter had been marked with the insignia of Squad 1. This was to appear as an official document, and to solidify such a claim, stamped across the seal were the defiant letters "Confidential". It was to be for the Vice Captains eyes only, and all other's should do well to simply insure it's speedy arrival. Once handed to the intended recipient, the contents of the summons would read.

-

Greetings, Kazuko Shiba; Vice Captain of Squad 9

Your presence is hereby requested. A meeting has been arranged for the 21th, September. You are to report to the Squad 1 Barracks; Bdg. 4, Floor 7, Room 702. This meeting will be regarding your recent, joint task, assignment. This is appointment has been scheduled for your convince; however, you may reschedule if you wish. To reschedule, simply contact the Office of Joint Tasking. This meeting is not mandatory; as such, failure to attended or supply sufficient reason for absence will result in the appointment's cancellation. I hope to speak with you soon.

From the desk of, Ohtomo Yuuma; Squad 1

[Deleted]

For a third time, the boy scanned the intricate print of the letter within his hand, his forehead furrowed in thought. His other hand during this time had developed a rhythmic tap against the top of the desk in front of him, but he did not pay it any notice. The desk itself was quite grand for someone as small as the boy, with intricate leaf carvings that ended with elegant spirals. Unlike the desk back at his office, this one was not used for business or work, and instead saw to the leisure end of purposes someone could have, like reading for instance. Likewise, instead of a hardback chair that the boy found himself in most times of the day, the one he sat on was plush, curving with his spine, and was not something that someone would find themselves uncomfortable on, even if they sat on it for long periods of time. If the furniture was designed to be elegant and comfortable, then it only made sense for the room to be the same. There were mats on the dark wood floor with pieces of puzzles and board games strewn about, and amidst this assortment of entertainment, there were also more modern and electronic contraptions as well. A few hand held games were on a counter at the corner of the room, and near those, there were also a stack of comic books stacked from the floor all the way to the height of the counter itself. Taken in its entirety, the room seemed to be one that was used for relaxing and leisure, all while being pleasant to look at, all at the same time. Why then, was there a piece of business in a space reserved for personal entertainment and leisure?


Letting out a sigh, the boy reclined back on the chair and placed the letter on the desk; he used the very same hand to retrieve a steaming cup that had been abandoned while he had been reading. The boy then sipped at the hot and bitter liquid within, his eyes, for a brief moment, settling on the two jugs sitting on the corner of the desk. For that brief moment, his eyes were filled with a sort of longing; it seemed that he was tempted with whatever was inside those containers. Regardless, the moment passed, and there was a knock at the door. “You can come in.” He said, glancing up, his brown eyes meeting those of the servant who had just opened the door. “Master Kazuko, your parents have requested your presence for dinner today. What should I tell them?” She said, her voice orderly. Kazuko ran a hand through his oaken brown hair, combing it back with his fingers, and took another swig from the cup. “Tell them that my stay back home will have to be cut short. Something has come up, and my presence is needed back in the Seireitei. After that, I need my things prepared for the trip back.” The servant nodded and asked, her voice less formal, “Should I tell them anything else, Master? You know how worried your parents can get with these types of matters.” At this, the boy made an effort to smile, and said, “Tell them I love them, and I’ll be safe for them.”


The rest of that short-lived evening was spent preparing his robes and gear, and setting out back toward the walls of the Seireitei. The mood was somber, of course, as Kazuko had only had the opportunity to spend a day or so back home before he had to venture back to work. It was tiresome. Despite that, he soldiered on in every sense of the word, not for his sake, but for the sake of others. He had a duty to uphold, both to his family and to the Gotei itself. There would be shame if he chose to forsake his mandates. As it was, Kazuko was always under a great deal of pressure; being the only member of the Shiba household to have made it so far in the Gotei in decades, if not more, it was up to him to uphold their honor and place in the Soul Society. It did not make it any easier to be an adopted member at that, but he could not curse his upbringing with the stress and repressed emotions he had now. Regardless, the boy traveled back on foot, spending less than a few minutes at the outer walls since he had his badge on this time. Back when the boy had first attained his rank, he had made the mistake of leaving his Vice-Captains’ Badge at his office when he returned to his household. When it was time to return, it took hours for the boy to convince the guards at the wall to believe he was a Shinigami, let alone a Vice-Captain. For the most part, when people saw the boy, their first impressions were that he was playing pretend or some sort of game. It made proving his worth that much more difficult.


The first place he stopped by, of course, was the Squad Nine Barracks. The Vice-Captain had a habit of calling a meeting every time he returned with his officers to make sure that the squad was running properly. With Captain Raion often predisposed with other matters, what with his new business and all, it was left to the Vice-Captain to run things in his stead. Often, this involved taking his place in the occasional Captains’ Meetings, seeing that the finances were secure, along with a monopoly of other mattes that often left the boy feeling swamped and overworked. The meeting lasted a little more than ten minutes, with everything appearing to be in order, and the boy, the shortest person there – actually, in his whole squad – found himself looking up to salute back at his subordinates. It was only now, after a few years at his position, that he finally earned the respect of his officers. With the amount of laughing and snickering he had faced when he had first been promoted, someone might have thought he was some sort of comedy show. And maybe he was, what with his long and draping robe, a zanpakuto that was about half as long as his body, and age of appearance that made people think he was still learning how to read. Nonetheless, he returned late in the day back at the Barracks, so he spent the night there before he would present himself at the summons over at Headquarters. Like a prickling feeling, the boy was very unnerved to find out what the whole matter was about to seek his presence while he was on leave.


Night turned to day, and with it, the Vice-Captain set out again after a brief bite of breakfast. His black robe was oversized and far too big for his small body; event the white sash around his waist did little to hold the uniform in place. At his back, he wore his zanpakuto, Gagoiru, strapped diagonally and secure. Despite how much the boy despised his partner, he nonetheless knew how big of a portion of his power came from the old man, so he put up with his griping and complaining, and took him out with him on occasions like these. If he left him at the barracks, the old man would likely through a fit and refuse to release any of his strength. Strapped to his waist, the boy wore two decent sized jugs, with some unknown liquid swaying with the movement. Obviously, these were the very same jugs that he had in his office back at the Shiba Household. When the Vice-Captain arrived at Squad One, he made his way past dozens of milling Shinigami, some Seated and Unseated, returning bows and salutes in turn. Eventually, he found his way up one of the buildings, to the seventh floor, and in front of an office door with the name “Ohtomo Yuuma” etched deeply in the wood. Knock. Knock. After a moments pause, the Vice-Captain called through the door, “I’m coming in.” The door creaked open, and in stepped the boy, his eyes a bit narrow and his mouth flat. He had his "serious" face on, apparently. Inside the office, he continued, “Forgive my intrusion, but I was requested to come here by a Ohtomo Yuuma, if I remember correctly. My name is Vice-Captain Kazuko Shiba, and I just arrived yesterday from my leave.”

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats/Skills}

Kazuko Shiba: Level 2, Spiritual Genius

Strength – [100] (50)
Speed – [400]
Spiritual Pressure – [200] (400)
Reiatsu Strength – [400] (800)
Light Aura – [75]
Dark Aura – [25]
Instinct – [150]
Senses – [100]
Energy Sensory – [50] (150)
Healing Expertise – [0]

Total SP: 1400


Abilities

Weapons: Sword {3}
Hakuda {3}
Battle Analysis {3}
Mental Incantation {3}
Calm Mind {2}
Pain Tolerance {1}
Learning {1}

Total SKP: 16

[Marcelius]

(OoC: Super sorry for the delay! I had a monstrously difficult post to write up recently, that sapped me of all my mojo! XD Hopefully it won't happen again!)

The light rap upon the porte, was enough to stir the aged man from deep contemplation. Before the second knock's echo could pour through the wood, the his eyes had opened. Starring towards the egress, he sat with an eager expression upon his face. While the excitement which gleamed through his smile was quite genuine, built up from his core; the reasoning for it was quite far from the norm. A normal host would wait with bated breath to great the stranger who drummed at their door. Another person might be surprised at the mere face of the visitor, unsuspecting of a visit from such a soul. For the gentelmean waiting calmly, this was not the case. For without seeing the young man's face, he knew the soul which stepped within his domain today.

Shiba Kazuko, Vice Captain of the Ninth Division, heir to the Shiba name, and quite possibly the most fascinating youth within the Soul Society to date. This information, easily collected from the Seireitei records, was not what fascinated him most. Such facts were only the surface of the individual. What lay beneath these most notable achievements, was a psyche built for outstanding achievement. Something about the mind of the exceptional Shinigami, was the secret to success. That was what first lead him to call upon the boy. To learn how his mind worked, and why it worked that way. To know such secrets; would open up worlds of possibilities...for the right people.

Uncovering the mentality behind the triumph would not be so easy as coveting it. Revealing why the Taichou-han was so successful would require examination and study. It would take a close inspection and a long line of questioning. The difficulty would be completing this line of questioning without raising alarm or invoking discourse. Their were rumors which swirled around the infamously young Vice Captain of Squad 9. Many said he was wise beyond his years, but others claimed this maturity complete. There were those who had seen an angry side of the young officer, and who dared to mention it due to it's severity. These were naught but rumors; however, hearsay which could be more fiction than fact. Ah, but the senior was not unfamiliar with such personalities.

Having such a fancy for reading the feelings and expressions of others; the clerk was quite adept at peering through the social veil. Having the training of mind to examine beyond the apparent and explore the more subtle details which a soul might convey. Already, before their first words could be exchanged, his experienced mind was hard at work. Listening and feeling the energy which filled the air as this spirit made it's presence known. From the knock on the for, to the tone of his greeting...even the way that his body language spoke. All of it was a fountain of knowledge for the elderly host. Everything he would need to make their time together as informative as possible. With hope, this knowledge would make their conversation as pleasant as possible too.

The sight before Kazuko's eyes would be quite simple. The room itself showed very few signs that it was lived in. Being an elongated frame, it placed the waiting soul on the far side. He sat, legs crossed, on a worn cushion. His body, garbed in the same blackened cloth as the Vice Captain, was bathed in light. The one window in the room, raised high up along the wall, allowed sunshine to peek inside. The positioning was such that it gave light without blinding the occupants inside. Still, this limited the amount of space in the room where someone could rest and receive the full effect of the heating rays. Infact, as the day went by it might be necessary to move if one wishes to stay in the warming glow. As such, the cushion he sat upon was all the Yuuma had to call a desk. Without some large, wooden thing blocking his movement, he was free to chase the sunshine throughout the room at his liesure.

So, the officer would see that his host now sat just a bit off center from the symetrical median. For those with issues of ordern, structure, and measurement...this can sometimes be rather infuriating. Ah, but there was some comfort for those of the more compulsive mindset. A second cushion, far less worn and exceedingly more comfy, positioned in front of the elder. This would undoubtedly be the Vice Captain's offered seat, as the room possessed no other place to lounge. As it were, the only other items in the room were a calligrapher's tray and kit...along with several cubby shelves. The shelves were the standard in any record keeper or accountant's office, and should come as no surprise to Master Shiba.

It would seem, with the few scrolls that had been given a home along the walls, that this clerk was still determining his organizing system. If the boy was especially perceptive, then he would realize there was a scarcity of paperwork and scrolls within this office. So...assuming the child was truly quick with deduction, he could determine that Yuuma was either new to this location...or new to this job. Either were likely. On lookout was the clerk, eager to see if Kazuko would try and make an assertion based of an early examination. But! Before that pleasantry could commence, there was respect to be paid.

This man, this First Division clerk, had a smile which felt like summer. It was bright, and it was warm...it nurtured the joy in those who saw it. A practiced expression, one which fit perfectly with the wrinkles of his cheeks. With such a wholesome show of kindness, the Vice Captain should find no trouble in feeling welcome. Truly, his company was desired here. With a hurried speech, as though he were afraid he had paused to long, "Greetings, greetings. It is a pleasure to have you here..." If his smile was summer, then his words were its longest day. Comforting and concerned, it seemed this soul felt compelled to speak politely and affectionately. What was not such an amenity was the senior's movements. As the officer entered, and he spoke his greeting; Yuuma did his best to come to his feet in a show of respect. Working with a cane, the older fellow had to wobble quite painfully before he could hoist himself up.

Even after he managed to rise, his stance would be troubled. Having to support himself on the cane almost entirely, bowing was all but impossible. Dipping his head was the most he could offer, but he did so with the utmost sincerity. Holding the lowered position of his head, to show continued gratitude, "Vice Captain Shiba. Please..." The hand not burdened with the cane, extended to the cushion. Palm up, the clerk offered his best cushion for the likes of his guest. "Make yourself comfortable." It would only be after the honorable guest chose to take a seat, that Ohtomo would be able to do the same. Something his sore back dearly hoped for. Were they to begin their conversation while still standing, then the oldster would have to brace himself for the long haul.

If the boy were to move to the cushion and take his seat without hesitation or comment, then his tired bones could drop back to comfort. It would be a careful process, one that was as practiced as his smile. Slipping back into the comfortable posture on the floor, his cane being set back down to his side. Either way, sitting or no, Yuuma would continue to smile rather pleased with the situation. "I must first apologize for the lack of tea, I had fully intended to have some brewing for when you arrived." With an embarrassed flush crossing his face, "Unfortunately I have seemed to have damaged my pot recently, without realizing it. So again, sumimasen." Though there was accuracy to these claims, there were agendas that were less precise. The lack of refreshment, especially one so expected, was often a met with diverse responses. Depending on the one given by the boy, Ohtomo would know how best to continue their conversation. Add to that...was the stirred thought of something unknowingly broken. In this case it was a pot, but oh how useful the simple imagery could still be.

[Deleted]

When Kazuko entered the room, he found the space to be straightforward in its design, with little to know actual furniture within. There were cushions on the floor, one of which already occupied the host, along with a few cubby shelves and calligrapher tools off on the side. There was not much sustenance there, which made it look irregular and different. Why would an officer in the Gotei choose not to embellish his or her own business quarters? It did not make much sense when thought in a materialistic view that was sure. Regardless, upon first inspection, the boy could feel a ball of anxious congregate at the pit of his stomach. Kazuko was not nervous, per say, but was merely upset at what he was looking at. There was nothing really that interesting to hold his attention in that room, which meant he was up for one boring experience. It did not help appease his childish mind that his host was also ancient and crippled. Not that he let it known, of course; on the outside, the boy wore that flat mask of reproach that signaled a seriousness or focus beyond his years. In reality, Kazuko found it a little difficult not just yawn right there, and give the man a clue as to how he felt about the whole thing. Nothing close to a reason was given to the ranking officer about why exactly he was there, so he had to assume for the time being that everything was routine, and this was another one of those evaluations.


The host offered the boy a seat, and so he complied. They sat off to the side, away from the centerline of the room, which made sense to him considering the chose of lighting used. You couldn’t expect the sun to stay in one place all year, so it was necessary to move furniture – or in this case cushions – when you wanted something to bask in sunlight. Before he sat on the cushion, however, the boy made sure to remove the strap that bound his zanpakuto to his back, and place the weapon at his side once he sat down. The whole gesture was not really threatening and was more practical than anything else. Kazuko was very short, and since he wore his zanpakuto at his back, sitting down on the floor would pose problems for him in terms of the strap digging into his shoulder uncomfortably. The Vice-Captain sat with his legs crossed, watching the man with sharp eyes. On instinct, the boy had crossed his eyes all over his figure as he sat down, taking in details and features. Yuuma had a kind expression on his face, and seemed to be analyzing the boy just as well. The cane, of course, had attracted his attention at first, but he put those thoughts away. Whoever this man was, and whatever his purpose exactly, Kazuko did not feel like delving too much into things. He was there because he was requested to be there, and that was it.


“It is a pleasure to meet you as well,” Kazuko addressed the old man finally after sitting down. He put as much conviction into those words as was courtesy. It was the same when meeting with noblemen of both major and minor houses; you did not have to mean what you said to get along with people. Regardless, he continued, “As for the tea, that’s quite alright.” Kazuko brief and did not delve into that whatsoever. Of course, he could have offered more in the way of small talk and conversation, but what was the point? He was there for a reason, and judging by the way the old man watched him, it seemed that he was being critiqued for whatever purpose. So why then would he stoke any fires against him by offering him fuel with his words? That seemed pessimistic of Kazuko, but then again, the boy was still a bit flustered that he left his family home and traveled all the way there just for this. The Vice-Captain spent most of his time in the Gotei anyway, so it bothered him that he did not spend more time with his family. He was still a kid, so why did he have to give so much more than all those pretentious adults? For now, Yuuma was the firing post for his frayed emotions.


“Now that all these pleasantries are done with, Yuuma, I’ll be franc with you. The only reason I came here was to take a supposed evaluation on my part in the invasion of Las Noches, not have tea. Even then, I have a hard time believing that my mission report of the invasion cannot answer any questions or concerns that someone like you may have. Not unless you want to know about something that both I, and my team member, Zeich Yajuu, failed put to words? In that case, it would have been more prudent to request a written overview of whatever was in question than an actual meeting.” Kazuko said, his voice a bit irritated, and his once stoic expression more hostile. The Vice-Captain did not like it when people led him off with silly pretenses and idle talk. He did not have the patience for it, and it would better for this host to realize that now than later. Even if the boy was rude and the behavior unwarranted, it did not really concern him. He was a Vice-Captain; the only people with enough authority in that squad to launch an inquisition were the Squad One Captain and Vice-Captain. Yuuma was neither. Besides, even if there were a problem with his behavior, there was no way that Central would come after him; not when the war was so one-sided against the Gotei and they needed all the manpower – or in this case, boypower – they could get their old wrinkly hands on.


The Vice-Captain expected Yuuma to take some offense at his words, or show signs of intimidation; either way, it worked toward the young officer's benefit in the end. If he took offense, then Kazuko could just as well pull rank, and have the meeting then and there end. The boy had better things to do than talk idly with some old geezer about mundane things. Well... not really, but he was a kid, so things had a tendancy to get on his nerves quicker than other things. If he chose to fel intimidated, then it would be clear who be leading the conversaton and course of events from that point on; Kazuko would turn the whole meeting around and get as much information about whatever he wanted out of the old man. Even if he was so small, when confronted with possible reprecussions, people had a tendancy to bend easily to authority. Still, if neither of the two scenarios happened, then things might be as boring as the boy initially thought. At the moment, Kazuko thought of Yuuma as an officer who only took this job as a means to fill some role in the Gotei; obviously, he had an injury which warranted the use of a cane, so it was not far off to think that he suffered it in battle or in some sort of accident. That would explain why everything in the office felt so temporary and lack-luster. Whatever happened to the Shinigami happened recently, and, in that case, the man was still coping with the change. Nonetheless, the Vice-Captain continued to hold his air of irriation around the man, unmasked. His eyes dead set on getting some sort of answer from this 'host' of his, and see how he would react from there.

[Marcelius]

Nestled on his rest, the elder did not seem to budge or fidget in the least. This could be accounted for with both terror or calm, both often produced the same result. Whether his nerve was rattled beyond the ability to function or his confidence remained unabated, were both left to conjecture. The only reality which could be appreciated, was the that of the child. The boy was quite stren, in both manner and speech. It was off putting, with no two shakes about it. To be addressed in such a course way, laced with passive aggression, was something few might appreciate. Certainly not one as well versed in the arts of subtleties as Yuuma. To him the irritation, possible arrogance, were displayed with bold intent. For one so young, he spoke rather assuredly.

Appearing as an adolescent; he did not allow himself to think as one. Everything in his demeanor pushed for maturity and fought against distinctly juvenile compulsions. Impatience, his one allowed excuse. It seems that even those who dream of the wisdom and posterity of age, may not improvise them all. This one was still a child, whether his performance was convincing or no. On the opposite end of this encounter, there was the antithetical. The wrinkled man, who embodied all the virtues of age that Kazuko found less flattering. Otomo was quite the leisurely type, never to haste, this instance was quite staged. The way he drew out his greeting and spoke with such muted softness. It was all a ploy to stimulate reaction. An exaggerated act no more falsely portrayed than Master Shiba's sophistication.

Where before he believed it to be toll for extracting the officer's character; he only languished the curiosity that gave him the idea. Though the momentary temper provided quite the map of the boy’s emotions, it seemed hardly worth the risk. An attempt to recover lost ground would need to be made. Mmm, that might present the greatest challenge of all. There was aggression in this one. A borrowed attitude from a spirit dwelling deep within, perhaps? ”Were I after the finer details of your missions, I would indeed have referred to your notary skills.” The words seemed to rush upon the Vice Captain, eager to express their intent. Joining them was a small gesture of the hand. Nothing overt or crude, the man was no thespian, salesman, or such a thing. The motion guided the onlooker to the walls.

In a room devoid of all destractions or toys...the walls were littered with countless scrolls and twine-bundled sheets. On his face, a humble but confident expression. It was almost as if the elder reiterated something that had never been said. There was information here, in this quaint space. Plenty to spare and all within reach. ”After all, your notary skills are quite refined. Everything that your report could tell, it did." Flattery, yes...but reserved and professional. "However, this meeting is not in regards to what has been documented about the assignment. Instead, you have been called here today for everything which could not be confirmed in writing.” By now his wrinkled hand had retracted. Squared away into his posed rest as he was before, the context of his actions implied a return to matters at hand. Were his physical language not enough, the return of his flowing, pleasant tone would provide the final clarity.

”You are here, merely to talk. The letter you received was an invitation. Upon reading it, you could have declined. Even now, you are free to go when you feel you must. No one is restraining you, and more importantly...I have no expectations for you.” Though the wording of such a phrase may come off hard and hurtful, the meaning was quite the reverse. To individuals such as the officers of the Seireitei Divisions, there are untold accountability and hopes placed on their shoulders. Each day they are reminded by one means or another, that they have duties and missions to accomplish. Their failure cannot be tolerated, for it may result in immeasurable tragedy. Rare are the times when these brave men and women may put aside all of the circumstances which beakon their abilities. From the moment they leave their homes, the pressures an liability of their lives begin to crowd them.

Many respond to these difficulties with absurdity or lethargy. There are many infamous officers with the the Gotei’s ranks, whom simply ignore the stresses which should press on them. But not all. No, not all of them have such luck with their psyche. Not all of them have the ability to dismiss the importance of their positions and professionalism. Yuuma viewed this teenager as such a soul. Perhaps then, to this one, these words would strike a cord. They most certainly should, given his supposed nature. Had he not the access to countless reports made by all manners of Shinigami who have worked with or witnessed the actions of this young man, Yuuma would still know him all too well. This child knew the weight of the obligations he accepted.

It showed in his very reiatsu, which fought against all motion and tribulation that approached. His spirit was sturdy and motionless, like a stone. Or so it hoped to be. Now, as the senior gazed upon the fledgling's soul, he could see the cracks which might one day...turn a mountain to gravel. ”You have changed since you were first accepted as an officer. You are no longer the same person that was chosen to serve as Vice Captain. Especially in this time of conflict; it is important to know exactly who serves as protectors of the realm. For yourself, the conflict will never end unless you know who that person is as well. I feel that your interests, and the interests of the Gotei 13...would be best served through our conversation. I cannot promise this to be true…”

Looking up, the warmth and serenity no longer present on his face, ”But I have hope...that our discussion would yield reward. And...that if you leave, I can always send another letter.” Returning the same stern speech pattern offered by the youth just a few moments prior, Otomo asserted his faith in the success of their discussion. Just as sure as Master Shiba was, that he could better ply his time elsewhere; Yuuma was certain his could not. Their time would prosper in ways that neither of them could begin to understand. Time and effort would be needed, to cultivate such triumphs...but now Kazuko knew, that this old man saw had conviction that was not to be mocked or disrespected. Regardless of what first impressions might distort.

[Deleted]

Kazuko narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the strange calm on the man before him; had he spoken to other officers before then? Yuuma did not seem intimidated or disgruntled with his attitude, which meant that he could either see past the attitude of the boy, or had more of a backbone than he thought. Assuming the man was some sort of retired Academy Instructor may have been premature of the boy, he was realizing now. By the manner in which he spoke, and the air he carried himself with, he may have actually been an officer at one point instead of some low level set of boots. Though, that remained to be seen; both of them were doing a fair amount of evaluating of each other, or at least that was what the slight tension and quiet in the room was telling the boy. It did make a difference anyway who this man was; the Shiba had dealt with these sorts of situations before anyway. There were those of both major and minor houses that felt like they could control others with their words and speech alone. Like honey, they enticed their prey, feeding them snippets here and there, all so they could ensnare their prey, and get what they wanted. Yuuma was no different than all those high-nosed nobles that the boy had grown around. He just had to be wary of what lure he would use on him.


”Were I after the finer details of your missions, I would indeed have referred to your notary skills.” His eyes grew subtly narrower; again, the man was formal, but flattering. Obviously, he wanted to wear the Vice-Captain down, until all his defenses – the bulwarks he laid out against intruders – were breached. “Is that so?" The boy said, mimicking the drawl of the man. A few moments passed, and the older man continued, his tone reminding him of every golden-toothed subordinate he’d ever had. ”After all, your notary skills are quite refined. Everything that your report could tell, it did." More flattery; it seemed this man underestimated the boy, if he expected anything to come out of pretty words. But he had to give him some leeway for at least trying; Yuuma at least valued his position, and his duties, enough to try and speak to the Vice-Captain so objectively to get him to open up. If he was younger, and the circumstances were different, there might have been some admiration for his effort. But not at the moment, or at least that was what the rolling eyes of the boy would tell him.


“You do have a point. Vice-Captains are picked after their penmanship after all.” Kazuko said, flaunting a bit of sarcasm. Passive aggressiveness was a fun thing to play with, he had learned early on. If you could not say what you really meant under the stringent watch of social etiquette, then you could at least imply what you really meant under something a bit more hostile. It seemed if this was all the man had to offer in the pursuit of unraveling his thoughts, then he was under qualified in whatever position they had him under. Or so the boy thought, until Yuuma continued speaking. ”You are here, merely to talk. The letter you received was an invitation. Upon reading it, you could have declined. Even now, you are free to go when you feel you must. No one is restraining, you and more importantly...I have no expectations for you.” For the first time then, the boy did not have a logical way of responding, verbally or not. His expression softened a bit, before he reigned it back in. Nothing was expected of him? Was Yuuma lying? Playing some sort of ploy against him? Kazuko was a Vice-Captain; something was always expected of him.


“You have changed since you were first accepted as an officer. You are no longer the same person that was chosen to serve as Vice Captain. Especially in this time of conflict; it is important to know exactly who serves as protectors of the realm. For yourself, the conflict will never end unless you know who that person is as well. I feel that your interests, and the interests of the Gotei 13...would be best served through our conversation. I cannot promise this to be true…” It took Kazuko a few moments to gather his thoughts, and his wits. After a handful of moments, most of which were spent trying to form a reply, Kazuko felt a bit vulnerable. Yuuma had rung a cord with him somehow. Slowly, and cautiously, he began, “Things have changed, you’re right about that. The Gotei needs protectors, and those who are willing to put everything on the line to serve; maybe I have forgotten to take a look at the person who shields it?” His expression hardened somewhat, and he raised his eyes from the floor where they had been left to wander back up to the man. “Though, you seem to be contradicting yourself, Yuuma. You just said that this meeting has no expectations from me, correct? But if you expect this meeting to produce results, something that hinges on my willingness to share with you, then I am expected to give.” He finished; his gaze hard and unwavering.


”But I have hope...that our discussion wield yield reward. And...that if you leave, I can always send another letter.” Yuuma finished, voicing what Kazuko thought was a joke of his. He grinned, a bit amused, and said, “Yes, I would hate to see another letter rise up on my desk. Very well, I guess I’ll stay for the time being.” As he said this, the boy uncrossed his legs, and laid them flat on the floor, relieved to get his blood circulating again. “Besides, you’re not as boring as I thought you’d be, Yuuma.” The boy admitted, throwing much of his earlier formalities out the metaphorical window. He glanced around the room of the man, an idea popping into his head that very moment. “Since we might be here a while, I want to take you up on that offer of tea, if that’s alright with you? It may not be my favorite, but it beats a dry mouth and throat any day, I suppose.” There was still some laden aggressiveness, or hostility, which ever you interpreted it in the voice of the boy, but much of it was subdued in place of complacent curiosity.


“Now then,” Kazuko continued, finding the moment to voice his thoughts as well, “Where would you like to begin with our conversation, Yuuma? It’s been quite a while since I attended one of these sorts of meetings, so I’ll let you take the reins for the time being.” The Shiba finished, smirking a bit, some message hidden within his words. Though, whatever it was, he wasn’t telling. Now it was just a matter of time and patience to see where the man wanted to drive their conversation of theirs. It may have been forced, and potentially awkward to say the least, but if it was for the good of the Gotei, one way or another, then it had to be done. That seemed to be on the forefront of his mind nowadays, anyway. The Gotei was the quintessence of all they did as Shinigami, so it made only sense for it to apply toward the individual as well.