The Toryōseiku Edge [Cont] [Closed]

Okay, even he had to admit the cheek puff was kinda cute. It made her look like a baby pufferfish trying to stand up to a shark. If it hadn't have been so funny, his mood would have continued to sour. Instead, this little girl had actually lightened him up. Tsubine only would say "little" because of her height. Something about the way she held herself, plus what she had been through just now... she wasn't little anymore. He continued to stare daggers... then sighed with a chuckle. "I really should learn how to mutter to myself quieter, shouldn't I?"

"Lilith Blake of the Eleventh Division" Tsubine motioned for her to lean in. If she didn't, he'd roll his eyes and lean in towards her. "I'll let you in on a little secret. She's not just my Captain—I'm her Lieutenant." He pulled away, winking proudly. It was meant to be reassuring—to know that of all people, she had a Lieutenant protecting her right now. Even the 12th Division's Lieutenant would be a boon, but to have the 11th's? It was like using a jackhammer to nail some planks together.

Tsubine motioned for her to follow him. "Let's get you out of these woods." He tried to be as reassuring as possible, and if she refused to budge, he'd just turn around with his hands on his hips, tapping his foot impatiently. He wasn't going to make her follow him, but he'd feel more comfortable if she did. As they walked, Tsubine didn't speak much until he turned to her—narrowly avoiding a tree—and spoke a bit less jovially. "I'd like to take to you to someone I know to make sure you're not hurt." Before she could protest, Tsubine continued after turning his head back forward. "I'm no doctor, and you sure don't seem like one either, so I don't know if ya are or aren't, and well, I'm a guy. I can understand not wanting to tell me if you're hurt or not. Wouldn't want to appear weak. Person I'm takin' ya to isn't a guy, and I know they won't mention anything. ...And don't worry, it ain't my Captain."

"Yep." Tsubine replied quite simply and without hesitation. There was pride in his voice, because damn was that a challenge he overcame. His armband was one of his most prized possessions, and the only two things that superceded it preceeded Lilith. "And she's scary, but I wouldn't say the scariest... Head-Captain Saionji and Captain Fujisaki are both scary in a similar way to my Captain. Then Captain Fujino... she's just creepy." Tsubine shivered a bit when thinking of her. She might have the face of a seductress, but her eyes spelled "black widow" in big, bold letters. Not to mention those arms... "It's completely different than with L—Captain Blake." He caught himself before he presented himself as being too informal with Lilith. That would start all the wrong kinds of rumors.

Tsubine didn't want to say much as they walked along. He didn't know what to say to a girl who was almost violently violated, let alone what to talk about with a civilian. He didn't know what District she was from, let alone her name. Tsubine thought for a moment, then decided that the best way to handle this was to see someone he trusted. There were many people he did trust, but only one was fit for this job. The girl didn't seem to appreciate the idea, but Tsubine was going to push. He wouldn't force her, no. He would just strongly suggest. She seemed to interrupt herself with a thought.

Tsubine thought for a moment before letting out a couple of quick barks of laughter. "Never let her hear you say that." He calmed down, but still smiled broadly. "I guess 'Captain Blake' does sound pretty masculine, haha. But yeah, she's most definitely a woman." Tsubine continued to lead her along. Soon, they had made it back to the sights of buildings, which was a welcome sight for him. "So, what's your name? I believe the person who rescued you is owed at least that much." He gave a playful smirk towards her. As long as she was kept in good spirits, Tsubine thought this wouldn't be a half-bad trip.

"Well, you're welcome, but most of us are decent folk. It's not just me." Tsubine scratched his head absently. He had known of some of the rumors about the Gotei's stronger people. Not all of them were good. In fact, most of them weren't. He felt both good and bad that he was basically being called one of the good ones. Captains Saionji and Fujisaki were good people, as was Lilith. They just happened to be terrifying. That's how it was, in his mind, when it came to every rumor about the Captains. He wondered if he'd ever get a rumor like that. He'd have to become a Captain first, he supposed.

Tsubine did his best to keep the girl calm, but he only had his wits and some humor to try. It seemed like it was only partly working. He couldn't do much more than that. By a sheer coincidence, she did something to lighten the mood on her own. Tsubine listened to each of the rumors about Lilith with consideration. When she finished, Tsubine sighed. "...You know unfortunately most of those are true. The Captain only has one eye, but it's as red as blood. She's one of the tallest women in the Gotei from what I can tell as well. And that last bit... yeah it's true, but it's no spell. It's just raw strength and Reiatsu."

"Tsubine." Tsubine was glad to have her name finally. She spoke up about needing a bath. He understood why, but he didn't follow her next logic train. "One? ...Oh." Tsubine realized not long after he asked. "Oh. Forget I asked." He shook his head, embarrassed and a bit ashamed of himself.

As they neared the gates leading to the Seireitei, Tsubine began checking mental notes. He was going in the right direction. "Stay close to me and you'll be fine." Tsubine lead Kaminari through the imposing gates. As he did, he reached into his shirt to pull out his armband. He wrapped it around his left arm. Anyone who would have stopped him, now didn't. As he neared the 4th Division barracks, he removed it again and whispered to Kaminari. "Almost there, just gotta be a bit quiet from here on out." Eventually, they made it to the officer's quarters. Throughout all of this, he was tiptoe-ing about until he reached a familiar door. He knocked lightly. "Midori, please tell me you're in there... I kinda need your help..." He paused. "Again."

Any guy would have loved to see what Tsubine saw. Man, anyone who got Midori was a lucky son-of-a-bitch. Unfortunately, Midori was a little too close of a friend for him to see her like that. Okay that's a lie. She was too close of a friend for him to pursue her like that. Instead, he'd just enjoy these brief glimpses of an attractive woman. He blushed a little at her date comment. "It's nothing like that. This is a professional visit." This was his way of saying "this isn't me hurting myself—I really need your help on something[/i].

"She's someone I helped tonight..." Noticing that Kaminari was almost directly behind him now, he gave an almost-pleading look to Midori. "Can we speak inside? I think it'd be best for all of us." With her agreement, Tsubine ushered Kaminari inside. He didn't sit, but remained standing. He let Midori guide Kaminari where she needed to go before speaking. His tone was level, but there was frustration buried there. He wished that she hadn't been accosted, or that he had helped sooner. "Kaminari... was... attacked tonight," Tsubine put a certain emphasis on the word so Midori might get the secondary meaning. "Before things got too rough, I was able to rescue her, but... I just thought it'd be good for her to have a woman around and to get checked out by a medic. You fit both, and I know you'll be discreet about this."

Tsubine was glad that Midori took Kaminari away. As soon as the door shut, he let out a shaky breath. He slumped against a wall, trying to relax as much as he could. He'd either be late for or be grouchy through the next day's morning routines. Either way, it wasn't going to be good for him or the rest of the Division. It was something he at least had a good excuse for.

When Midori began to open the door, Tsubine stopped slumping and tried to stand more rigidly. "How is she?" He asked as soon as the door was closed once more. Midori confirmed she was fine, at least physically. It was another relief for Tsubine. He had gotten there just in time. "I didn't, actually..." He sighed and shook his head. "I guess I was tuning her out on the way here, focusing on other sources of Reiatsu."

There was a moment of silence before he continued. "I found her past Zaraki, Midori. It's a miracle I even found her, honestly. I don't think it's wise to send her back out there. I think... I might return the favor someone did for me and put in a recommendation for her at the academy. Though, I think for her jioning might end up just being learning the formalities and how to control her Reiatsu. She knows how to wield that sword she carries. I can tell just by the way she tucked it in her obi. But... Midori is that a good idea?"

Tsubine was not going to argue the "dumbass" comment. He was being a bit of a dumbass tonight. But, he was at least being a smart one. Tsubine nodded along as Midori explained her powerlevel. If he focused, he could sense it. She wasn't weak, but she wasn't strong. She was a rare find for someone with no training, sure. She was not some mythical prodigy however. The way Midori spoke did give Tsubine an idea, which he voiced as putting her into the Gotei. Midori seemed immediately apprehensive, and her logic was sound.

After a few pregnant moments of silence, Tsubine spoke up. "When you put it like that... I shouldn't trust her, no." He sighed, thinking more about how they met. "She wasn't from Zaraki, so it makes you wonder where she's from. And I know that she's not from Zaraki by the way she was dressed. She's also not from any of the closer districts either—if she's even from the Rukongai. I'm actually pretty sure she's from the Shōjintōku from how she spoke." After a few moments, Tsubine continued, this time starting quietly. His thoughts were still a jumble. "But... my gut is telling me she can be trusted. It's not even that it's because she's little and cute like a kitten. It's... I don't know, someone as scared as she was isn't going to be a traitor. That's just how I see it at least."

"There's just something about her that's... different from the rest. I don't know what it is yet though."

"It's how I find out I'm lost, honestly." Tsubine spoke with a jovial, yet matter-of-fact tone. "Once I realize how confident I am in a direction, it just sorta clicks that it's not the right direction." However, Midori's next words cut the joviality from him. It's true. She could have views that coincided with the Mikazuki. That could, and probably would, end up being a problem. However, he had no way of knowing whether it was true or not. The Second or Third Division would be the ones to know that sort of thing. He wasn't good with the sneaky stuff or trying to dig into people's pasts. Plus, that'd mean people would dig into his past. He didn't want that—for various reasons.

However, Tsubine was willing to try to shoulder this if he needed to. He was going to speak up, but Kaminari re-appeared first. The word Shikai caught his attention. He thought about it, then spoke up before she continued. "So that sword of yours, it's your Zanpakutou?" He was fascinated that this little woman had Shikai. He had only attained his Bankai recently—and secretly—so for someone like her to already have it... Tsubine would be impressed. She continued and through a mostly-true accusation at him.

"Hey, some of what I said wasn't assumptions. You had sandals, and your clothes aren't rags. You weren't from Zaraki. That's just how things are there." Tsubine shrugged. There was a chunk of the Eleventh that was from Zaraki. From the way they spoke, he knew she wasn't from there. However, she was right about one thing he said. "Now, my guess of where you're from from the rumors you heard about the Captains being from the Shōjintōku and Rukongai, that was an assumption." He spoke apologetically, since she seemed to have taken offense.

But since she wanted to be asked, he asked.

Tsubine didn't sit down. He preferred to keep standing for now. If Midori pressed, he'd sit. In actuality, Tsubine mainly just wanted to to not relax. He wanted to be on his toes a bit after what Midori said. Kaminari's story, however, depressed him. He understood that somewhat, but he had a family. But before then, Tsubine was in Kaminari's place. He got lucky. She, on the other hand... As he continued, his ears perked up. She... she wanted to join the Gotei? So that would mean...

"Ha... haha.... ahahahaha." Tsubine began laughing, which might have seemed offensive, but he quickly sat down beside Kaminari—a wide smile covering his face. "Man, this saves me a lot of convincing." Tsubine put his arms around the back of the couch. "I'm sure you heard the conversation we were having, or at least heard part of it... so I'm not going to fully explain it. But the Gotei definitely can have a place for you. You'd have to make your place a bit, but there's a spot for just about everyone."

Tsubine turned to her, his chuckling dying down. He was still smiling, but he had a more serious look about him. "No matter what Division you join, you'll make friends. At the very least, I guess you have us two." He glanced to Midori to give her some confirmation. "You'll do fine here, Kaminari. I just don't envy the hell you'll go through for exams at the Academy."