PLAYER
This is what it's like being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.
Koshou
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Post by Koshou on Dec 19, 2022 7:29:43 GMT -5
OUT OF THE PAN, INTO THE FIRE
Type: Custom Escort (PVE) Level: 2 Description: Escort a group of inexperienced Shinigami and/or students into the deeper Rukon districts on patrol. - Protect the students at all costs.
- Resolve any incidents that arise.
Another day, another mission. Sometimes Koshou took in the moments like these in the quiet times to wonder if he’d really been set on the right course in joining Division Eleven. They only ever lasted a moment of course, the sheer nature of the way combat seems to overtake him in the moment couldn’t lend itself to any other squad but .. Some days he sure did wish their duties to Seireitei were a little more comprehensive. He knew he wasn’t the only one who often spent their extra time picking up extra assignments for the other Squads, but nobody really speaks about it much, among themselves. ‘ Geh, don’t worry about that too much. As much as ask for some disaster just so you can see some real action? Could you even hack it, shoulder to shoulder with your squad mates?’ The introspection seems to be coming more often to Koshou these days, but as usual he tries to set it aside in favor of focusing on the moment at hand, the job at hand. This time, he’d put in for an assignment and got the draw end of the stick. A training exercise in part, but also a live patrol around the deeper districts of the Rukongai that surround the circular boundaries of the Seireitei as far as the eye can see in each of the cardinal directions. Still, thinking about his own little agenda on the docket as he prepares himself to leave Eleven’s barracks. The man is dressed in his Shihakusho, although in rare sense of holiday fashion or spirit, Koshou has wrapped a bit of green garland or tinsel string around the right arm of his kimono where a Vice-Captain would normally wear their badge of office to keep some sense of uniformed tradition. Finally, he snags up a dirty-looking jute sack by bunching up the open end and slinging the sack and its contents over his shoulder before heading out toward the White Road Gate where he was scheduled to meet up with whomever had been assigned to the patrol today. [392]
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PLAYER
I have nothing to say.
Steve
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Post by Steve on Dec 20, 2022 9:24:02 GMT -5
Walking down the road comes a Shinigami wearing the traditional black garb. But with an armband that sticks out, they are wearing the armband of a medic from 4'th division.
Carrying a handbag on his left shoulder, and slung across his right one is a non-distinct potato sack, seemingly well filled. But standing out even more is the Santa hat he is wearing, bright red with white fluff at the rims and a white fluff of yarn at the end of the tail. It wiggles from side to side as he walks.
The Shinigami approaches, revealing the light brown hair and the face of a foreigner.
By his side his blade moves from side to side in it's scabbard, almost in rythm with the hats tail? Who could say for sure.
"Back in Rukon? This brings back memories. Hope everybody that are still here are doing well."
With a passive smile on his face, the male shinigami scratches his head, wondering out loud.
"But why would they need a medic to be on this mission? Not like I can afford to shirk work though."
With a shrug he makes his way to the White Road Gate. Standing there and greeting everyone that came by.
"Hello have a good day, Hi enjoy your day, Take care now, Don't worry the Gotei 13 are here, any problems lately? Thank you for your hard work."
Nodding, waving, smiling. This man gave no indication of pride.
"Now, I hope I made the right choice, I'm gonna miss these things, but I have more at home."
He pats the potato sack, thinking back on his trip to Italy through the Garganta and just takes a moment to appreicate the fact that nobody in the gotei 13 has the power to read minds.
He mutters with no context: "Thank Odin for that."
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PLAYER
This is what it's like being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.
Koshou
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Post by Koshou on Dec 21, 2022 7:15:10 GMT -5
He lacks the hat, and a little bit of the santa-like swagger of the Soul Reaper that's coming down the path that leads out of the White Road Gate, and into the districts of the West Rukongai from this side of the Seireitei. Koshou grins to himself though all the same, seeing the jute sack likewise slung over this other Shinigami's soulder. The broad-shouldered man from Squad Eleven lifts his free hand up into the air, waving it around to get the man from Fourth's attention and waves him over. The areas just outside of the Seireitei are often peaceful, the residents finding casual but usually friendly and amicable relationships with the Shinigami that pass through on their way out on or back from patrols and things like that. This wasn't there overall destination today, though. While not a mandate of the patrol they were out running today, Koshou knew that this time of year often brought the deeper districts a sense of morose and melancholy with little to be grateful for that far from the safety and alleged generosity of the Gotei Thirteen. He'd lived it, back then.
"Hey! Oy! Over here!" Calls out the tallish man as he moves toward the other Soul Reaper. "They sent one of you guys today, huh? Well, more the merrier!" There's something on the big man's face as he spies that sack slung over the other's shoulder. "You came from out there too, eh?" The question is blunt, but approving. It seems to say, 'Only one of us would think to give back to them'.
[265]
Steve
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PLAYER
I have nothing to say.
Steve
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Post by Steve on Dec 22, 2022 14:32:51 GMT -5
Noticing the other shinigami waving at him, Steve waves back approaching him as he inspects this fellow.
Tall, Broad, He looks... Strong, different.. Even if he was trying to hold back his Reiatsu, all it took was a glance to tell he had alot hidden under the surface.
Steve catches a glance at the symbol on Koshou's garb, he carries the symbol of the 11'th Division. The overly strong, the combat specialists, the loud ones.
Steve smiles as he comes to a halt 2 meters away from Koshou.
"Hello there, my name is Steven Svennström. I am from the 4th division. I applied to this mission because I didn't want to stand idle."
Steve pauses for a moment, scratching the top left part of his hat, before resuming his sentence.
"Yes.. I also came from here, sometimes I come back just to walk it. You seem strong though."
Another pause, as he eyes Koshou's sword if visible.
The soft toft at the end of his hat swaying left to right as if to make up for the lack of movement his head is making during the pause.
"I'm glad to see strong and good representation in Gotei 13. Glad to be working with you."
Steve raises his sack a bit higher, so to make it give out a small rustle sound.
He grins and points back at his sack with a thumb.
"Say.. Are we expecting any trouble? I'll back you up if anything happens, but I'm just looking forward to getting to see some smiles today." His grin takes the shape of a genuine smile.
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PLAYER
This is what it's like being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.
Koshou
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Post by Koshou on Dec 26, 2022 5:24:12 GMT -5
As the smaller man approaches, Koshou catches the question that comes next and he gives a brief shake of his head. "Nah, I wouldn't expect so. Things are usually quiet this time, but you never know." Hoisting his own sack a little bit her turns shoulder and waits for the other Soul Reaper to catch up and falls into pace with the man side by side. "Mostly I took the assignment as an excuse to get out there during the holiday, .. do my part to balance out my time there." With that, the Squad Eleven Shinigami is happy to let a little bit of time pass by between them in silence as they continue down the road that leads past the initial living settlements that sit just outside the gates of the Seireitei and let their feet carry them onward and outward. Soon, there are larger patches and stretches of empty or unclaimed land and space between the houses, or small pockets of population.
"Oh!" Koshou suddenly exclaims, giving a short bark of laughter as his free hand comes up to brush through his hair. "Sorry, I'm Hattori Koshou. It's nice to make your acquaintance, Steven." As they walk, the other Soul Reaper will have plenty of opportunity to look at the man's blade. Like all Squad Eleven members, his Zanpakuto is at his hip and never far from his reach. As they walk, Koshou's free hand often rests at the hilt of the blade through habit or memory, thumb resting easily on the guard of the blade as if ready to slide it free at a moment's notice. He doesn't set a particularly strenuous pace as they walk, but rather taking the time to enjoy the light exercise as they traverse the path. Now the road starts to see less maintenance efforts here and there, the white packed clay and dirt of the ground here that gives the road it's name more rough-hewn and showing signs of overgrowth from the lands that surround it. The further away from the Seireitei they get, the more alert and sharp Koshou's eyes and attention seem to become, despite his dismissal of Steven's concerns.
[361]
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PLAYER
I have nothing to say.
Steve
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Post by Steve on Dec 28, 2022 6:38:27 GMT -5
Steve nods at Koshou's explanation, it having satisfied his curiosity. Steadily walking down the road, he notices the amount of people thinning out. Fewer and fewer people are out and about during this time, and especially the in the poorer sections of this town.
Steve reaches a hand over and shakes Koshou's hand, it is easy to tell from an experienced view, that Steve has very little power in his hands. But the trained eye could also tell by the position of the hand, it is cleverly holding in way that would allow it to be quickly and easily pulled back.
"Good to make your acquaintance, if you need a healers backup, consider me in the future."
On the way, Steve waves one of the kids walking by themselves over.
The kid is wearing clothing that has been sewn together a few times. And they seem to be wandering aimlessly, so Steve strikes up a conversation.
"Hello there, My name is Steve, what might yours be?"
"Himotsu.." The kid answered timidly.
Steve didn't want to keep the kid in suspense or make them uncomfortable for too long with unnecessary words. So he pulled out one of the presents at random and handed it to Himotsu.
"This one is for you, Gotei 13 hasn't forgotten you, nor has Saint Nicholas."
With a smile on his face, he passes the kid by, not giving them time to thank him. Even though he does catch a 'Thank you' on the wind behind him.
A smile across his face, as he keeps walking by Koshou.
"Say.. Koshou.. Did you know? Saint Nicholas is a Nordic Shinigami. Or atleast he became one, once he was sent to Soul Society."
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PLAYER
This is what it's like being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.
Koshou
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Post by Koshou on Dec 31, 2022 4:58:20 GMT -5
The look on Koshou's face in comparison is unusual in that it's not its usually mellow expression or friendly smile. the further they go in this direction, the more on guard the stockier Soul Reaper seems to become. He blinks, almost missing the question as Steven asks something of him. "Hrm? Oh! No, I didn't ... that must be quite a strange thing. The original, hrm? I wonder what he makes of the legends that were born out of his generosity?" He does crack a grin at that, before offering a brief sigh of breath that sees that show of humor short-lived.
"Listen ... pretty soon we're going to be entering my old stomping grounds you might say. Before I found a reason for my sword, before I joined up with the thirteen Court Guard squads. If there's any issue .. don't panic and keep your head. You should be fine, with me." With that bit of a warning there does seem to be a bit of weight that lifts off of the larger man's shoulders and his expression eases up somewhat. "Honestly, I could be worried about nothing. But ..." He shifts the bag that he himself carries over his shoulder. He hasn't passed out any gifts yet, abstaining all the while as Steven passes those out here and there.
"These gifts are for .. penance? Restitution maybe" Koshou says, taking a moment to try and define exactly what he's hoping to achieve with his own trek out here, since it's clearly more than just the patrol. "And .. if I happen to run into some of my old gang ..." His lips press together a little bit, and that scowl comes back for just a moment - looking as fierce as it ever does. "Like I said, just don't panic and keep your head. I got your back." With another adjustment of the weight of that bag, Koshou seems a little lighter in the step and he moves with a little more pep as they drag their way into the deepest districts of the Rukongai .. Sixty and beyond.
[343]
Steve
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PLAYER
This is what it's like being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.
Koshou
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Post by Koshou on Jan 25, 2023 5:45:24 GMT -5
Farther and farther, they walk. As they pass, Steve might continue to pass out gifts here and there, introducing himself to the people as they pass but it soon fades to the background of Koshou’s conscious thought. His expression has only continued to grow more serious and severe, his lips pulling tighter and his eyes narrowed and darting this way and that as he keeps a sharper and sharper eye more and more noticeably .. and then there’s a significant change in the stocky Soul Reaper’s demeanor as they cross some invisible line that leaves them heading into District Seventy Four.
Out here was about as far as someone could get from the relative safety and protection that that closeness of the Seireitei provides. As they begin to pass the ramshackle buildings and huts that account as homes and shelter for the raggedy citizens this far out, it’s clear that people begin to recognize Koshou. The farther they walk, the more people start to filter around. They never come too close, eyes not quite rising to meet those of the passing Shinigami but casting glaring looks toward the taller and stockier of the two with definite recognition. Eventually, the growing trail of people that seem to be lining up to stare daggers at Koshou becomes too much for the pair of them to really ignore any further, but that seems to be as the man expects, based on his expression.
It’s only now that his expression seems to soften any from the hard-lined demeanor of alert and patrol-ready. Amber eyes scan across the crowd slowly, and now Koshou takes the sack he’s been carrying this entire time from across his shoulder to slowly rest down at his feet. Slowly, he lifts a hand in preamble before his voice begins to cut through the silence that’s filled with a tension that seems like it could explode at any moment. As his hand comes up, there’s a pause of breath, waiting for the spark of the match that could set it all aflame.
“There isn’t much that I can say.” Koshou’s voice cuts through the quiet, now. “But I wanted to come in penance, and I’ve brought gifts to help with that.” He doesn’t speak very long, and soon after his words fade into quiet once more. A low, angry murmur begins to ripple its way through the crowd as the natural pride of these people warred with the likely need for the things that this man comes bearing. Just when it seems as though things may quiet down without a powder keg of explosion, a new voice cuts through the murmur to rise above the rest of the crowd.
“Gifts? You killed my friend! How are you going to pay for that!”
The words all but quiet the murmur of the people that sort of surround Koshou and Steve, one figure stepping forward to separate themselves from the rest. The man has the look of youth, slender and almost familiar in features to Koshou himself. Their hair seems similar, the structure of their faces make it seem as though the pair of them could be related even if they don’t seem to be treating each other as family. The words bring a more troubled look to the stocky Shinigami’s face, as he watches the speaker emerge.
“It’s a debt that can’t be repaid, so I’m not even gonna try. And you know it’s not that simple, Kyuri. But, if there is something I can do .. then you only have to ask. You know where you can find me.” The words are calm, and soft-spoken. Lacking that kind of quiet that often speaks of danger, still the words seem to carry an underlying sense of challenge if not threat. The large sack still lying at Koshou’s feet, the Soul Reaper slowly crouches to open the end that lies flopped over the side of the burlap and start to take out the items he’d stuffed into it; eyes never moving an inch from Kyuri as he stands there trying to murder the man with his eyes. “You can at least let me repay the debts that I can make amends for.”
A long moment ensues, as the pair of men watch each other but finally the one that Koshou has addressed as Kyuri gives a reluctant and curt nod of his chin before turning and stalking off back through the crowd of people. Soon, the sight of the man is lost amongst the rest of the gathered citizens of the Seventy-fourth district. More now have straggled in than before, some curious about what’s going on, others having heard of Koshou’s presence perhaps as the whispers pass along the grapevine. Standing, the things that he starts to reveal and setting in piles aren’t flashy or glamorous but rather functional and things often missed when one comes this far away from the protective shadow of the Seireitei.
Shikibuton, and tatami mats are brought out. Socks, sandals, simple but clean clothing. Small, tight bundles of non-perishable foodstuffs and a dozen other things that seem small and inconsequential until you don’t really have them. They get piled up by the bundles and pairs and dozens, until it seems like the Soul Reaper couldn’t possibly fit another single thing into that sack. As he unpacks and piles, the people begin to gather around a little more closely. Slowly at first, but then with more confidence as the man finally stands up and steps away from the pile of valuable belongings.
“I don’t have much use for the pay that I make working for the Seireitei .. so I’ve arranged for more shipments like this to be brought to this district. For better or worse this was my home .. I don’t care about fairness, but I care about trying in some small way to make amends for the suffering I brought to you people, back then.” The words reach a quiet audience, at least as much to do with the promise of these goods of quality and comfort as any genuine interest in the emotions that Koshou expresses, but it seems that some in the crowd hear him, again a small murmur beginning to spread - this time of reluctant approval.
As Koshou steps away, he turns to give the Soul Reaper with him a reassuring look and a silent thumbs up as he sees the first people in the front of the crowd begin to hover in and take something here, or pass something back through the crowd there. Many might think that simply offering up these supplies in a free-for-all might result in a bedlam among these people, but they’ve been living on shared poverty and resources for far too long. It’s almost a sight to see, the efficiency with which these things soon begin to vanish and be distributed out amongst the people and every bit going to someone who seems to need it most. The activity stops again though, as once again a voice rises above the general murmur of the crowd to make itself heard.
“Well, well, well .. who do we have here? Some sorry bilge rat comes scurrying back to the Sty?”
The owner of this voice doesn’t step through the crowd, he shoves his way through it. Pushing people out of his way with rough gestures and arrogance, the man’s frame certainly seems to back up his attitude. Standing several inches over six feet in height, the shoulders of this newcomer seem to match Koshou for breadth and just overall solid feel to his entire frame. An absolute mess of hair seems to stick every which way off this man’s head and a large mustache covers his upper lip, and a little extra besides on either side of his mouth. He’s not dressed that differently from the rest of the people here, short kimono belted at the waist and as often as not nothing to wear on their feet. What separates him apart from his size, is the raggedy looking sword that he carries in one hand, resting across his shoulder as he walks. “All this for us? You shouldn’t have.” The man gestures with his other hand, and the others who have arrived with this man can be seen kind of crowding around the edges of these people who’d come. A dozen in all perhaps, not many compared to the crowd but rough and rowdy looking all, with battle scars and mean scowls aplenty.
As soon as the voice cuts through the rest of the crowd, Koshou is looking up and around with his expression shifting almost immediately from the reserved sense of relief that there wouldn’t have to be any major incident after all, to a fierce scowl that looks ready to murder whoever has spoken up. The shift of his demeanor is swift, frighteningly so, and the Soul Reaper stands up to his full height as he turns to face down the owner of that voice.
“Karasu.”
Crow. Even as Koshou names him, the beady eyes of the man narrow in recognition of the old nickname. The reaction brings the faintest sense of some satisfaction to the Shinigami’s face as he sizes up the large man who’s come before them. “Still snapping your beak at other people’s left-overs, I see. Still pretending you can be me.” The words ring harsh, and there’s no sense of the usually easy-going and mellow-mannered sense of laziness about Koshou now. His right hand rests almost with an eagerness or tension as it hovers just above the hilt of his Zanpakuto as if waiting or looking for an excuse to draw the blade.
Karasu’s face draws into a sneer, “I’m not the one who ran away, little rat. I’ve been dreaming of the day I’d see you come back here. C’mon boys … let’s finish what we started, huh?” The threat comes with a sinister chuckle as those other men start to wind and worm their way through the crowd, pushing people and rough-handling them as they work their way inward toward Karasu and Koshou. Slowly, the taller of the two lifts that raggedy looking sword off of his shoulder to let his hand drop down by his side holding the blade low, the tip pointed halfway between Koshou and the ground.
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The sun is already beginning to set as the lone figure of a shihakusho-clad man comes walking down the road that leads back toward the lower districts, and the various barracks of the thirteen court guard squads. Some tears and slashes in his kimono, Koshou lights up a cigarette and takes a weary drag from it as he slowly trudges along the road. Steve had gone before the trouble really got started, he hadn’t wanted the new officer to be caught up in his past after all. Not that kind of dirty business.
“Wait!”
The voice calls from some ways behind the Soul Reaper, back down the path from the way he’d come. Turning slowly, Koshou lets his hand drop to the hilt of his blade and takes a fresh drag of his smoke in tandem only to find the sight of the younger Kyuri running to catch up to him kicking up dirt as he dashes. “Wait!”
“What do you want, Kyuri? I’m tired, and I don’t feel like killing anyone else today.”
The boy who looks so much like Koshou gives him an angry stare, but one that’s conflicted. Matters of survival out here are never simple, and it’s clear the boy is struggling to find some sense of acceptance with that. “Karasu was bragging about finding this, for weeks. Making trouble, more than usual. Maybe you can do something about it before it brings us even more suffering!” With the words all but forced out, anger and resentment warring with the need to ask for help, Kyuri throws a wooden kind of scroll case in the Shinigami’s direction. Without evening waiting for it to land in the dirt, the boy turns and starts running back the way he came.
With a grunt, Koshou bends down to pick the thing up. With a sigh, he gives it the most cursory inspection before tucking it away and turning back toward his trek home.
I’ll turn it in with the report, someone else can deal with it.
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