Brick by Brick [Closed Social, PG-13]

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

OOC: This is a social between Himitsu Kasumi'Oji and Kaen Youji.

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

It was Himitsu’s second week on the job and he was still swamped. I don’t get it, he thought to himself in frustration as he authorized a stack of papers in front of him. How did Raion have so much time to party? During Himitsu’s time in Squad 9, he never did interact with his captain very much. However, he would constantly see Raion enjoying himself outside the office. The lion rarely spent a full day behind his desk, yet Himitsu had barely left his office since taking his captaincy. While some of his paperwork arose because he had replaced Kimiko as head of the seventh division, much of it was also because of the new roles Squad 7 had taken over from Squad 6. He was overseeing the transfer of resources, information, facilities, and even a few specialized officers. There was much to do.

But even during all of the chaos, Himitsu understood the atmosphere in his division as he had stepped in. Before Kimiko left, there were rumors of hostility between her and Kaen Youji, her Liuetenant. While Himitsu had never met Kaen, he had seen the man on many occasions throughout Seireitei. He had also heard tales of the legendary Vice Captain of Squad 7. Kaen was a popular war hero, one who had bested captains such as Shade Kawada in the past. Kaen had been a lieutenant since before Himitsu was a seated officer, and for Kaen’s past service and accomplishments, Himitsu had much respect for the man.

But due to his shaky relationship with Kimiko, Himitsu could foresee some suspicion directed toward him by Kaen and other squad members. He wanted to be a good leader, but Himitsu was no fool. Even though he held the title of Captain, Kaen was the one that his squad would follow blindly. Himitsu had to earn their trust and loyalty, and before he could do that, he needed Kaen’s trust first.

Himitsu’s appointment with Kaen was approaching any minute, but Himitsu continued to burn through paperwork until he heard a knock on his door. “Come in, it’s unlocked,” he’d say when Kaen arrived at his door. Himitsu would offer his Lieutenant a seat across his desk with a polite gesture of the hand. However, Kaen might be puzzled by an out-of-place sight in the room. Right beside Himitsu, on the edge of the desk, a ladybug the size of a large dog was reviwing reports and signing on Himitsu’s behalf. The over-sized insect was a creation of Himitsu’s technique, Genesis Art: Volucris. It was a helpful companion, but Himitsu couldn’t keep answering random questions regarding his pet ladybug. I need a real secretary.

[Kaen Youji]

Kaen waited outside of Himitsu's office, with a surprisingly patient look on his face. As Kaen waited, he briefly considered the reasons for his summons. There were several he could initially think of. There were more mundane reasons, of course. A new group of recruits requiring training, or introduction into the Division. An investigation into his.... lackluster paperwork. Standard reports. A mission request. These were obvious possibilities, and would constitute the majority of reasons Kaen might be summoned to the Captain's office. But there were others, as well. More sensational ideas that had also crossed Kaen's mind. It was possible it was a discussion regarding the recent invasion, and a check-up on Kaen's recovery. The aftermath of that battle had been a carnal house. By the time scouts returned to the battlefield, Kaen had lain alone, amidst a gruesome field of corpses. The Vice Captain (at least on paper) had engaged approximately two hundred enemy combatants during the invasion of Soul Society, and won. It had come at a cost however. His body had been a network of scars, burns and blunt force trauma, and his left arm had been completely shattered. With the damage to Squad 4, the Vice Captain had been forced to wear a cast, and let it heal the long way, and even now, the limb was still braced from the damage that one of the invasion's leaders had inflicted upon it. So it was possible that Himitsu was using this as a chance to reassess Kaen's current capabilities. There were other reasons as well. Having known about Kimiko, it was possible Himitsu was looking for Kaen's support to his Captaincy. Kaen was a veteran member of the division, and, despite his recent attitude adjustment, still held the position of Vice Captain, and a lot of respect. While he could be a drill sergeant when it came to actual physical training, he also had a reputation of being supportive and helpful to those he worked with. Well, until recently. Which brought Kaen's mind to the third exceptional possibility. This meeting could well be regarding the Vice Captain's attitude adjustment. Noted for being warm and helpful, Kaen's demeanor had shifted significantly since the battle. While the Vice Captain had generally been outgoing, helpful and opportunistic, he had become significantly more reserved, his instruction in training, much stricter and harsher. It was obvious that something had happened during the battle, but Kaen had remained silent on the matter, merely continuing as though nothing had changed.

But.... This meeting was good. Kaen had been meaning to discuss certain matters with the Captain as well. If anyone had the information... the confirmation that Kaen was seeking, it would obviously be Squad 7's Captain. It was possible, of course, that Enma had never made record of the events that Kaen was pursuing information on. But if there was a record of it... He knew that Himitsu would have it. He heard Himitsu admit him entry, and Kaen didn't wait to enter his office. It was one of the first times Kaen had been in here, to be honest. Enma had been a recluse. Only Rin had ever really met with him. Even Kaen had never had a chance to properly meet with the former Captain of Squad 7. And Kimiko had been content to let Kaen do his own thing, until their match. So... This was new. And.... so was the ladybug at Himitsu's desk. "Has that always been here?" The Vice Captain asked, regarding Himitsu's unusual "secretary" and took a seat in the offered spot. "...I'm glad you summoned me today, Himitsu-taichou." Kaen said, granting Himitsu the honorific of Captain, for the time being. Himitsu had beaten Kimiko, and for all his grievances, Kaen had respected Kimiko's strength. Had considered it worthy of the rank of Captain. To defeat Kimiko, it was clear to Kaen that Himitsu must have extremely potent power, worthy of of a Captain's rank as well. Whether it was enough to be Captain of Squad 7 was another matter entirely, but recent events had put a damper on Kaen's desire to protect that position so fiercely. But that was one of the reasons he was here. "But I assume there is a reason for it." He added, looking around the room for a moment, before allowing his eyes to fix on Himitsu. Dark eyes, not filled with exuberance and enthusiasm, but rather a worrisome determination.

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

”Has that always been here?” Kaen wasted no time with small talk. There was no ‘Hello, how are you?’ or ‘Nice to formally meet you.’ He dove right into conversation, addressing the unusual presence of the ladybug. “Uh, no, haha,” Himitsu chuckled awkwardly, debating whether or not to explain what the overgrown insect was. He decided that an explanation wasn’t worth the time for effort. “That wasn’t here before.” That was all Kaen would get for the time being.

”I’m glad you summoned me today, Himitsu-taichou.” Himitsu had been a bit disappointed that his first meeting with his lieutenant was two weeks after he had already taken the job, but the delay couldn’t be helped. Kaen didn’t seem to mind, and if he did, he wouldn’t show any signs of disappointment. Kaen didn’t beat around the bush at all. “But I assume there’s a reason for it.”

Himitsu nodded in response, taking a moment to shift the stack of papers in front of him to the side of the desk as he spoke. “First of all, no need for formalities and honorifics. Feel free to speak casually. I prefer it that way.” Kaen been a Vice Captain since before Himitsu was a seated officer, and to pretend like a recent promotion should prevail over their histories in the Gotei 13 felt silly. While Himitsu was higher on the chain of command, he respected Kaen far too much to assume authority over the lieutenant. Honorifics like ‘taichou’ were out of place between that pair, and Himitsu was never one for those types of suffixes anyway.

“As for business matters, I was hoping to reach out to you for help. I have never served in Squad 7 before, and while I interacted with your members on many occasions throughout my years here, I can’t say I understand what this division was like under Captains Enma or Kimiko. Enma was known for his strength and Kimiko led with strict discipline, and while both were very capable, I’m sure they each had their short-comings. What successfully strategies did the previous captains employ, and, even more importantly, in what areas do you believe this division is lacking?”

Kaen had more experience than any member of squad 7, and Himitsu naturally wanted his take on past leadership. He wanted to be the best captain of the seventh division, and in order to do that, he had to retain effective practices and patch holes in the squad. The Kasumi’Oji had his own vision and direction for the division, but going in blindly wasn’t going to help anybody. He preferred to learn from history. Himitsu’s friendly, hazel gaze contrasted heavily with Kaen’s sober eyes. However, Himitsu recognized the same steel will in Kaen that he himself carried. Regardless of whether their philosophies on how the squad should be run were in line with one another or not, Himitsu admired Kaen’s resolve. He took a moment to appreciate how capable his second-in-command was. The lieutenant just might be able to help Himitsu make a difference in the world.

[Kaen Youji]

As Himitsu asked Kaen to speak informally if he wished, Kaen gave a shrug and a nod in agreement. That was fine with him. Truth be told, Squad Seven had been.... interesting, when it came to meetings with its Captain. Enma had been a complete recluse, and had only ever communicated with Rin. Kaen had not been provided the same benefits as the Empress, and after his promotion had scarce seen Enma. Kimiko herself, had been content to leave Kaen to his own devices, and permitted the Vice Captain immense freedom, and it had been nearly over a year before she had actually brought him in for their sparring match and properly met him. So in short, two weeks was nothing. If anything this made Himitsu the most proactive of his predecessors when it came to meeting with Kaen. Something Kaen would admit as much shortly. Kaen had a certain measure of Himitsu. He was a kido and reiatsu specialist, like Enma, in stark contrast to Kimiko's heavy focus on hand to hand combat. With regards to that, Kaen had no opinion or judgement. Unlike Kimiko, he believed both were valid answers to the purposes of Squad 7. His own ineptitude with kido aside, Kaen did acknowledge the value of kido and the reiatsu arts, and he could concede that Binding Kido certainly had value in restraining convicts and traitors to be brought to trial just as effectively as any joint lock or sleeper hold. That didn't mean he disagreed with Kimiko's either. As a hand to hand specialist himself, he had an inherent preference towards doing things "the old fashioned way". With his bare hands. But in effect, Himitsu's preference towards kido over close quarters combat did not affect Kaen one way or the other. Himitsu had fought evenly with Kimiko. Kaen had tested Kimiko's strength firsthand and had indeed considered it worthy of the title of Captain, and so he expected the same of Himitsu.

That didn't entirely mean that he considered Himitsu a Captain worthy of this particular squad however. But Himitsu's meeting at least meant he would likely get an explanation for that. And he would.

Himitsu was asking for Kaen's general review of the division, and its history. Kaen nodded, and contemplated that. This... this was hard. Not for difficulty in remembering but in the bittersweet and melancholy feelings that rose inside him, which were smothered by the deep anger and rage the Vice Captain had been feeling lately. "Your assessment isn't wrong." He began. "Under Enma, we were considered the most powerful division in Soul Society. Enma was generally regarded as one of the most powerful Captains in Soul Society, and my Vice Captain Rin Minamimoto..." Kaen paused in saying her name, before continuing. "Was the strongest of the Vice Captains. Even while I was climbing the ranks of Squad seven, we had a reputation for power and strength. Respect. By the time I made Third Seat of this division, even some of our Unseated officers were considered viable candidates to attempt assignments that, in any other squad, would have required Captains and Vice Captains." Kaen told Himitsu, remembering the likes of Brock Manabu who had assisted himself and Captain Akashi Benkei in an assault against one of the high ranking members of the Escudo, at a time Kaen had only been a third seat. At that time, a third seat and unseated officer of Squad Seven, were considered powerful enough to assist a Captain in a battle with an Escudo! "....However, in truth, Enma did little direct administration. He was a figurehead, but he was a recluse, and virtually nobody except my Vice Captain ever saw or spoke with him. Whether he did his work behind the scenes, or passed it on to Rin-fukutaichou, I do not know. What I do know is that I, and the rest of the division besides our Vice Captain, never received an order from Enma directly." Kaen said. "Even so. There was pride in being a member of Squad 7, because of the respect we carried."

Kaen fell into a brief silence, choosing his next words very carefully. "That.... didn't change entirely when Rin....." He stopped himself, unable to actually say the words "died". "But it started to. One of the lynchpins of Squad Seven's strength was gone. I took the position of Vice Captain and have done my best to uphold it with the respect and strength that Rin commanded, and I have tried to live up to her example." Indeed, Kaen had ONLY taken the position because he did not want anyone else to have it. He had not wanted that position to go to someone who would besmirch the memory of Rin Minimimoto. "...And then Enma disappeared shortly thereafter, and Kimiko took over." Kaen concluded. Another pause, as he then considered Kimiko's reign as Captain.

"As far as Kimiko's administration went, she did her job. You are right that she emphasized strict discipline in the Division, and placed a heavy emphasis on us developing our hand to hand fighting skills. She believed these were important for our purpose. Truth be told, I didn't meet with her much. I had my own issues to deal with, and she saw no need to discuss matters with me, until over a year into her Captaincy." Kaen told Himitsu. "She took me out for a sparring match, to test my abilities, and I heard. You might have heard about that." Kaen said, but did not go into further detail unless prompted. "Kimiko would have been an adequate Captain for any other division. You and I can both attest that her strength is genuine. I had no qualms with how she actually ran the division. But her greatest failing was one she had no control over." Kaen admitted. "It is to be your greatest obstacle too I think." He added.

"Kimiko Shihoin was not Enma."

"With the loss of both Enma and Rin, and many of our original officers perishing or leaving the division, Squad Seven lost their figureheads. The reason for their pride. If you ask me why so many members of this Division followed me when I decried Kimiko in our match, why they've remained loyal even now, it's because I'm the last of what some might consider Squad Seven's golden age. When we were the most respected Division in Soul Society. I'm one of the last remnants of that time, that respect. Without the lynchpins that were Enma and Rin, along with Sozen Kuchiki's rise to power in Squad 6, this division is seen by others as a has-been. This isn't Kimiko's fault, I don't doubt she did what she could. But she cannot fill the void that Enma left in this division." Kaen said. "She could not command the power and respect he did. So for all her discipline, strength and administrative skills, she was not deserving of the mantle of Captain of Squad Seven." Kaen admitted. "The fact that she willingly left the division to pursue the Captaincy of another squad further proves she did not deserved the position in the first place."

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Himitsu waited until Kaen had finished before speaking. “I understand.” And he meant it. Himitsu couldn’t say that Kimiko was his favorite person, although he did respect her, but now he was grateful for the example that she set. The same stern, strict leadership Kimiko applied was not the way to do things in Squad 7. Tasks such as training and conditioning would have to be handled by individuals themselves. He would attempt to be more like Enma was, leading the squad by example and representing the Seventh Division with his own strength.

Although Kaen spoke with nostalgia of Squad 7’s golden age, Himitsu still didn’t want to imitate Enma in his captaincy. Enma was charismatic, but he was also disconnected. He led by his example, but he failed to teach. Himitsu wanted to be a more active leader and find a balance between Kimiko and Enma’s styles. He might be criticized for not living up to Enma’s legacy at first, and that’s fine. But in time, Himitsu hoped to carry the squad beyond its former glory.

The one thing Himitsu didn’t understand was the brief break in Kaen’s rhythm when he mentioned his former lieutenant, Rin. “I’m sorry to trouble you with this question, but what happened to Rin?” Himitsu had several reasons to inquire on this personal matter. Firstly, he wanted to understand the history of the squad. Secondly, he had to understand Kaen’s emotional state if he were going to trust the Vice Captain. If the memory of Rin brings Kaen pain, Himitsu should know why. Loss can often imbed seeds of hatred in peoples’ hearts. It was better to know what grudges Kaen may hold.

[Kaen Youji]

Kaen studied Himitsu for a moment. "....That's unfortunate." He said after a long pause. "To be frank... That was part of why I also wanted to meet with you." He admitted. Then he was silent a short moment longer. "....She died." He answered curtly. "I never heard much of it. Just that she had been killed." He admitted. ".....I took the position of this squad's Vice Captain because I don't want anyone to sully her memory, by letting someone unworthy take the post." He told Himitsu. "And I've trained every day to make sure that I don't either. That I continue to represent the strength she possessed." Despite the painful topic, Kaen's voice was even and unbroken. When talking about Rin like this... he had to keep his emotions buried deep, so that there was a general "matter of fact" tone to his voice. "Which brings me to my question, I guess." He admitted. Himitsu's own ignorance regarding the matter was disconcerting, but Kaen noted that it was possible he simply hadn't looked into that information. His own revelation, however, needed to be kept secret. During the attack on Soul Society, one of the Mod Souls that had fought Kaen had conjured a phantasm of Rin. The Mod Soul had told Kaen his ability was to reveal the most painful truths that could hurt a person. It had been revealed to Kaen, through the visions the Mod Soul induced, that it had not been some mission or any ordinary enemy that had killed Rin. He had shown a vision of Rin slain by the hand of Enma, her own Captain, and the man whose strength she had idolized.

Kaen was not so foolish as to take an enemy at his word, however. Much as Kaen wanted to believe the best in people he was acutely aware of the power of lying. His enemy could very well have been lying about his power. Plaguing Kaen with illusions, or attacking him with his worst fears, rather than actually revealing the truth. That's why Kaen was here now, and looking for answers. Looking for information. "Painful as it was, I've moved on. Or I thought I did. But... recently, something's changed." He informed the Captain. "During the most recent attack on Soul Society, one of the enemies, I fought.... He either knew something about it, or his power revealed something about it. I defeated him, yes, but what he showed me was disconcerting. I wanted to ask if there are any records, available only to the Captain of this division about what happened. That Mod Soul may have pointed me to the person who murdered her." Kaen said. "...But I do not want to act on my conclusions without evidence, a confession or further proof of it." Kaen fully expected Himitsu to press for further information on that cryptic comment. Kaen had obviously just revealed that he had a lead. But he wouldn't say who it was specifically. Technically, it would be completely within Himitsu's power to require additional information. The question would be how cooperative Kaen would be.

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

"....She died." Himitsu responded with a solemn nod. “I’m sorry to hear that.” There wasn’t much else he could do but offer his condolences. Himitsu had never known of Rin, so he could only assume that she passed before he had become a seated officer. Yet Kaen appeared to mourn her loss as if it was far more recent. Himitsu wasn’t sure if this was simply due to his close relationship with Rin or another reason, but it helped explain Kaen’s unwavering devotion to the 7th division. ".....I took the position of this squad's Vice Captain because I don't want anyone to sully her memory, by letting someone unworthy take the post. And I've trained every day to make sure that I don't either. That I continue to represent the strength she possessed."

"Painful as it was, I've moved on. Or I thought I did. But... recently, something's changed." This piqued Himitsu’s attention and reaffirming his theory that Kaen appeared unusually pained by Rin’s memory despite the amount of time that had elapsed since her passing. "During the most recent attack on Soul Society, one of the enemies, I fought.... He either knew something about it, or his power revealed something about it. I defeated him, yes, but what he showed me was disconcerting.” The Captain’s brow furrowed, but he continued to listen, unsure where Kaen was going with this.

”I wanted to ask if there are any records, available only to the Captain of this division about what happened. That Mod Soul may have pointed me to the person who murdered her." Kaen had always been perceived as a heroic warrior and spirit of the Seventh Division, but in that moment, Himitsu could only see the pain that ate away at his Lieutenant, and at the core of that pain was the dark drive for vengeance. I can’t tell if he wants revenge or justice, Himitsu worried to himself. The two were very different. Justice stemmed from an obligation to Soul Society – to the world. Revenge, on the other hand, was self-motivated. It yielded violence and agony with no benefit other than personal satisfaction. He is walking down a dangerous path…

Kaen’s hesitance to share more information with Himitsu was painfully obvious, and although the Captain gave Kaen the benefit of the doubt, he could not avoid probing for more necessary details to address his personal concerns. “I’ll look through the classified information Captain Enma left behind and contact Squad 1 for any archived reports regarding Rin’s death. If I find anything, I’ll let you know. Still, I have to ask. Was Captain Enma the only one present when Rin died? I don’t know what the mod soul showed you, but what motivation did Enma have for hiding information from you? It’s possible that this same motivation would cause him to lie in any official reports, even those that are classified.”

Himitsu understood the gravity of the situation. Lying, especially about the death of a Lieutenant, was a serious matter. That didn’t necessarily mean that Enma was guilty of any crimes. Perhaps he had moral reasons for lying, but the possibility that the legendary Enma was corruptible was concerning. Himitsu’s primary objective was purging corruption from Seireitei. He was already aware that he was fighting an uphill battle, but a set-back like this would be detrimental to his mission.

[Kaen Youji]

Kaen could tell by the look in Himitsu's eyes, the thought he was thinking. "I know what you're thinking." He said. "I've also considered if what I'm doing is revenge or justice. I don't deny this is emotionally charging for me. But also wonder.... can't it be both? Regardless of who she was to me, a Vice Captain of Soul Society was killed." The Strongest Vice Captain of the Strongest Squad Kaen added mentally, in his own biased mind. "Even if I have a personal investment in this, regardless of who it was, that killer should be brought to justice." True, the fine difference was that in many cases, unless the charge was explicit, Squad 7 would be expected to take in the killer if it was one of their own.... Alive if at all possible. As Kaen suspected it was now.

"As far as I know, he is the only one that had knowledge of all the details. I have so little concrete knowledge about how she died, and this has been my first lead in a very long time." Kaen said. "As for motivation...?" The truth was, even if Enma was indeed innocent, the man had been so secretive. And besides... "...Enma was a secretive man. And as far as I know, the former Vice Captain was one of his only friends. If he did indeed know more details than than I do, he might have considered them too personal. Or perhaps, at the very least that the rest of the squads didn't need to know." Kaen sighed.

"On that note, Himitsu-taichou, I understand Squad 7 is taking on new duties? While this case is of great personal importance to me, I won't allow it to prevent me from carrying out my duties as an officer of this squad. Are there training drills or methods, I should be familiarizing myself with, or beginning to instruct the squad so we can carry out our new assignments to our fullest capabilities?" Kaen, anger filled as he was, would never allow himself to push so far into his personal quest for revenge that he'd allow the squad to falter in their duties. Kaen was getting harsher in his methods, but he always intended to bring out the best of his division. Just that now, he was somewhat more worried about their ability to survive in battle, after the most recent attack.

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

"I've also considered if what I'm doing is revenge or justice. I don't deny this is emotionally charging for me. But also wonder.... can't it be both? Regardless of who she was to me, a Vice Captain of Soul Society was killed." Himitsu bit his lip in thought. He disagreed with Kaen. It couldn’t be both. There was a difference between revenge and justice. Any overlap would corrupt their intentions, and intentions mattered. If he were talking to anyone other than Kaen, Himitsu would have immediately ordered them to abandon this matter. But not this time.

“Very well.” Himitsu would have to trust Kaen, but his trust could only go so far. “But I have one condition if you’re committed to pursuing this. We’re in this together. Don’t act alone. Keep me in the loop. In exchange, I’ll dig through files and find out what I can. Once any information arises, I’ll notify you and we’ll discuss how best to act. Deal?” Himitsu felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He hoped his gut was wrong, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling that they were going to dig into dangerous territory.

"On that note, Himitsu-taichou, I understand Squad 7 is taking on new duties? While this case is of great personal importance to me, I won't allow it to prevent me from carrying out my duties as an officer of this squad. Are there training drills or methods, I should be familiarizing myself with, or beginning to instruct the squad so we can carry out our new assignments to our fullest capabilities?" The Captain nodded in response. That was another topic he wanted to address with Kaen.

“I understand that Kimiko established many new policies when she headed the Seventh Division, but as I was digging around, I found some rules from Enma’s era. I was hoping to bring these back, with some additions and modifications.” Himitsu placed a sheet of paper in front of Kaen.

The Laws of Former Captain Enma (with amendments):[/div]
There are only three rules.

1. Above all, uphold Justice and The Law within the Soul Society.

2. Respect your comrades and remain loyal to them, do nothing that would ever betray your comrades, or you will be executed imprisoned in the name of Justice.

3. Never lose yourself. Squad 7 will not allow people that have lost their own soul. If you lose yourself, call out to your comrades to rediscover yourself.

The Laws Introduced by Captain Himitsu Kasumi’Oji:

4. Life is precious and must be safeguarded. Protect the innocent and detain the guilty without killing. All deaths that occur during missions will be investigated personally by Captain Himitsu.

5. Good deeds cause ripples. Leave a positive impression wherever you venture, for you represent not only Squad 7 but the Gotei 13. Friends of the Gotei 13 may aid us against our enemies.

6. There is no peace without compassion. Do not rush to judgement on your enemies. When your judgement is clouded by rage, recover your wit before acting. Rely on your comrades for strength. Be wary of evil temptations as you enforce the principles of justice or you may succumb to darkness.

7. Side rule made by the Vice Captain: Nothing even remotely resembling a bunny is allowed in the barracks.

“I have already sent out a memo with these rules before our meeting, so the entire squad should receive them shortly. Although, I have to ask, what’s the story behind the rule regarding bunnies?” A half-amused, half-uncertain smile lit up the Captain’s face. Himitsu was genuinely curious. He felt that the rule was harmless enough to keep, but he was just dying to know its origin.

[Kaen Youji]

Kaen nodded. "Understood, Himitsu-taichou." He replied. "If anything comes up on my end I'll notify you." Granted. Kaen wanted to do this himself. As proof to himself, and because of its personal nature. With Rin gone, Kaen could never surpass her. Save one method. Defeating Enma-- the one Rin herself had perceived as invincible. But if this was how it was going to be, then so be it. Kaen would deal with it as it came. Besides, if Kaen had been completely enraptured by revenge, he'd have never brought it up. He was wounded, but conflicted, as his duty and what was right fought against his hatred and rage. But that the conflict existed at all was evidence that Kaen wasn't completely lost to the idea of revenge just yet, and there was hope that he could step back off that path before it became too late.

Fortunately, Himitsu allowed Kaen to quickly transition off that topic onto a different one, regarding squad policies. "Yes, a handful, as I recall." He mentioned as he looked at the sheet of paper before him. Detain without killing.... Kaen examined that one closely. The old Kaen would have agreed with the spirit of the message, although he might have criticized the realism of it. Current Kaen... Well. He'd come to that in a few moments. Suffice to say he disagreed. #5 seemed solid though, and even in his cynical mindset Kaen absolutely agreed. Promoting and improving Squad 7's image could only lead to good things in the world, and help push the Squad back towards the top. And #6 as well. It was a solid rulings. Overall, pretty solid, in Kaen's opinion. Except for a few misgivings on #4, but that was beside the point. Himitsu was asking a question and after all this, Kaen decided it was only fair to answer back first before he gave his own thoughts on the Code of the Squad.

"Oh... That was..." Kaen actually smiled at the memory. "That was a rule introduced by Rin-Fukutaichou." He mentioned. "She had a terrible fear of rabbits. She couldn't stand them." He said, with a small chuckle of amusement. "So she banned them from the barracks. ....Not that it necessarily stopped me." He admitted. "Personally I found it pretty cute." He added with a broad grin, restored to his old self for a moment by that particular memory. At least for the moment. "As for these additions, I like them. I admire the spirit of them, but I'm concerned about item number four." He said, in a much more relaxed tone than before. "I put faith in our division, but there's times that killing our enemy is unavoidable. We both know that. Sometimes an enemy will have an ability that makes capture almost impossible, or sometimes they will be so dangerous that it's all someone can do just to survive against them, let alone differentiate between killing or not killing them. I'm concerned with this ruling, that an officer caught in such a situation could hesitate in such a situation, and get himself killed because of it. For what it's worth, I agree with the spirit of this rule, and think it suits our division, but after...." The images of his dead subordinates during Kuroi's attack on Soul Society flashed through Kaen's mind. "After the recent battle.... I don't want to see anymore of our squad die for avoidable reasons."

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

So it seemed that Rin was behind the strange bunny rule, not Kaen. For some reason, Enma had humored her and crafted his official Squad 7 policy to accommodate Rin. Interesting. This was the same terrifying, intimidating, heroic Enma. Yet he appeared to have a whimsical side. It was either that or he was unusually concerned with Rin’s unique fear of bunnies. "So she banned them from the barracks. ....Not that it necessarily stopped me." Himitsu tilted his head to the side, a half-smile on his face. “So… you brought rabbits to the barracks anyway? Haha, interesting.”

As the conversation shifted to Himitsu’s new rules, the Captain wasn’t surprised to hear that Kaen had a concern. And, of course, it was with the most controversial of his new rules. ”I'm concerned with this ruling, that an officer caught in such a situation could hesitate in such a situation, and get himself killed because of it.” Himitsu simply nodded his head. He understood where Kaen was coming from, and he had thought about that.

“I also believe in our division, Kaen. And I’ll make sure that the training our soul reapers endure will prepare them both physically and mentally for their responsibilities. In my opinion, judgement is just as important as battle strength, and it is because of poor judgement that Soul Society has created its greatest enemies: the Bount, Mod Souls, the Vandenreich, etc.

“There are times when the only way to save lives in immediate danger is by taking the lives of aggressors, and that is okay. But answer this for me. If you were on a mission and killing an aggressor was the only way to save a life and ensure the protection of innocent souls and yourself, would you truly hesitate because of this rule? I believe our Shinigami are better than that. I appreciate you voicing your conern, but my decision on these new guidelines is final.

“If you have any other suggestions on new rules or other ideas on how to improve the Squad, I would love to hear them.”

[Kaen Youji]

(ooc: Not gonna lie, I thought I'd posted in this thread already. My bad)

Kaen grinned a little in response to Himitsu's accusation. "Only to mess with her a little bit." Talking about Rin like this... It was definitely easing the weight on Kaen's soul. But of course, the topic at hand was being brought back to the subject of dead and dying officers. Himitsu made a solid argument regarding the importance of good judgement. "I see." Kaen said, considering Himitsu's words. He didn't disagree. Kaen had long held the stance that the differences in these races could be patched and amended, and that an arrangement could be reached. At least with the Bount and the Mod Souls. Xcution. The like. The Vandenreich and Las Noches.... The Hollow.... While Kaen had once wanted to extend to those races the benefit of the doubt and address the matter on a case by case basis, even then he had acknowledged that an arrancar or Vandenreich Quincy seeking peace with Soul Society was the exception, not the rule. It was in the nature of the Hollow to have predatory hunger, and prey on the weak. Only rare examples like the Noveno Espada, Asuka, had been able to subsume that part of themselves. While Kaen certainly wished more arrancar were like Asuka, he knew it was not necessarily a practical hope. And as for the Vandenreich... well.... While Kaen himself had encountered some damn charismatic Vandenreich and some who were even quite affable, like Malik (may he rest in peace... and in pieces), the majority were as like to kill Shinigami on sight.

"I'd like to believe our squad is better than that too. But some of them have never been in real combat before. Until that moment, it might be hard to judge what sort of person they really are. Some people freeze up. Some will hesitate. It's just Shinigami nature sometimes." Kaen admitted. "There are Shinigami I've known that excelled in the Academy, and sparring, but that broke under the pressure of someone actually trying to kill them." He continued. "This squad is my family, and I both worry for and care for them, no matter how much pride I may take in their abilities." He stated, assuring Himitsu that it was not the squad's skills he was inherently concerned about. "But you're the Captain, so I'll accept your judgement. As I said, I don't entirely disagree with it."

But when Himitsu asked if Kaen had any suggestions he had one ready. "That being the case, I'd like to suggest that if we're going by that standard, that we pair inexperienced officers up with more experienced ones for assignments where such situations might come up. Even if it seems like only one officer should be able to handle it. Worst case scenario, it gives our less experienced officers a chance to see where they're lacking, and for their weaknesses to come to light in a scenario where they have someone else to cover for them. And it might also give our more experienced officers a slight edge in a situation that might otherwise have been a coin flip scenario." He proposed. "We've got some promising candidates in this squad, and I don't want to see them plucked before they have a chance to bloom."

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Himitsu agreed in part with Kaen, but he had weighed the pros and cons of this new policy prior to introducing it. Kaen’s concerns were certainly valid, but it was more advantageous to the division and to Soul Society as a whole to limit collateral damage as much as possible. Yes, there were risks involved, but Himitsu ultimately decided that those risks were overshadowed by the long-term benefit. He respected Kaen’s ability to voice an opposing opinion while simultaneously accepting the Captain’s decision. One of Himitsu’s greatest flaws was his idealism, and he had a feeling that Kaen would certainly challenge him to keep his expectations realistic.

“That being the case, I'd like to suggest that if we're going by that standard, that we pair inexperienced officers up with more experienced ones for assignments where such situations might come up. Even if it seems like only one officer should be able to handle it.” Himitsu nodded in agreement. Kaen was right. There was a lot of uncertainty as of late, and there were no such thing as simple, easy missions anymore. There were too many unpredictable complications that could escalate a situation beyond what less experienced soul reapers were capable of handling. Furthermore, it would provide a training experience in the field. And lastly, and possibly most importantly, it would help to hold Shinigami accountable. Squad 7 was meant to be the pinnacle of justice, and any crooked soul reapers would threaten the integrity of the squad. An assigned partner system might mitigate any temptations Shinigami may have to engage in corrupt dealings or leave their posts, as Himitsu had seen occur in the past.

“I’m on board. I’ll start pairing up members based on experience in my next round of assignments. Since you know the members of the division better than I do, I’ll allocate some assignments for you to make as well.” Himitsu scribbled a couple of words on a notepad as a reminder before his eyes returned to Kaen. “On the topic of training, I understand that Kimiko prioritize combat ability. While I think that is important, I don’t want that to be the most important aspect of our squad. I’d like to integrate skills training focused primarily on capture techniques, either bakkoto or through physical combat.

“Information analysis is also important. I spent some time as an officer in Squad 9, and their intelligence is primarily in regards to external threats. We need to be able to process our own intelligence. Rather than expecting all of our officers to develop such a skill, I’d rather select a few individuals who might have an aptitude for it and instead have them act as our division’s analysts. They’d set up an information center and act as live assistance to aid our operatives in the field, much like a control center. Would you be able to help me identify individuals who might be able to make up this control team?”

[Kaen Youji]

Kaen already understood the matter was closed, with respects to the "take prisoners if possible" policy. He certainly didn't necessarily think it was a bad policy, especially for experienced officers. As usual, his main concern rested with those not yet quite skilled or experienced enough to judge whether the situation called for it. So hopefully his pairing strategy would alleviate that. "I'll intensify training our officers to be able to carry out those instructions and judge the situation then." He ultimately agreed. "Might have to rough a few of them up a bit, but I'll make sure nothing serious." He added. Himitsu was not the only idealist in Squad 7. Well. He might be now, but some aspects of Kaen's optimistic mentality still stuck around inside that very, very depressed head of his. Well. Not so depressed presently, the earlier discussion actually having knocked Kaen out of his funk. Indeed, Kaen was now focused on how to make Himitsu's ideas work smoothly and efficiently, rather than worrying or stressing about the practicality in it in general. "Squad Seven. I've always considered it to be the greatest and most powerful squad in Soul Society. If our officers have to fight with this handicap, it'll prove it." He commented, with a small smile.

Then it was over to assignment distribution and mitigation. At least Himitsu liked Kaen's partnering idea, and it would make things easier for Kaen in training. He'd have to round up some more experienced officers in the squad to work with some newer ones. Plenty of those to go around. Teamwork exercises.... Come to think of it, Kaen opted that he might have to do that himself. He certainly was no stranger to fighting in groups or with a partner, and he'd had plenty of experience. But... looking back on his experiences... Like that raid against the Vandenreich fortress, it had been Shade and Anastasia that had spearheaded all of the proper teamwork. Anastasia who had come up with the countermeasure to Jango. Shade and Anastasia who had thought up how to bring down Malik. All Kaen had really done was exploit openings presented to him, or create them for others. Wouldn't be a bad idea for even him to go and take some lessons to pass on to the squad. Heck, he could bring some less experienced officers with him specifically for that purpose. He just had to work out which divisions worked best in pairs. Squad 3 maybe? Or maybe one of the more combat oriented squads like ten or eleven? Or a support squad? Hmm. Well. He'd cross that bridge when he came to it. That could be some of his own research and work, to find good instructors for that sort of thing. Sure, Kaen could run seminars showing how to avoid hurting your partner and working around them, but he was probably not the best person to teach them how best to exploit the advantage of numbers or having a strong comrade.

Himitsu made mention of information analysis. "Interesting..." Kaen began. "Absolutely. Be happy to find people like that." He didn't have anyone in mind off the top of his head, but he was sure he could figure something out quickly. All those reports to shuffle through though, and look for... Geeze. Well. It was what it was. Kaen would just have to bite the bullet and go to it. "As far as training to capture goes, I'll find someone to teach and help the squad practice binding kido, and I'll drill restraining techniques for hand to hand combat." He noted. Naturally, as one of the most prominent hand to hand fighters in Soul Society, Kaen felt confident that he could run those courses. All three of his martial arts of choice, Karate, Hakuda and Jiujitsu possessed a myriad of grappling techniques that could quickly subdue most humanoid opponents without killing them (though not necessarily without breaking a limb, but that could be see as acceptable damages). "Maybe grab a good sword instructor as well." He added, wondering if any of the divisions would indeed have swordsmen who specialized in non-lethal takedowns and disarms. He was sure there were, he just didn't know of any immediately. "Well. Thank you Himitsu-taichou." Kaen responded, with the appropriate honorific. "Will there be anything else?"