Like Moving Pictures In My Head

[Academy] Not Here to Traits

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:22:02 GMT

|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae has connected.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori waves.;
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae says, "You..."
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae says, "...didn't see me just now."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "...;"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "Yeah we did."
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae says, "ssssshhhhhh"
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae says, "i'll pay you off later, just..."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ...
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae zoom!
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "Oh OH. Okay."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ...looks at Katoji.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :D?
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, ".....(oh goodness)."
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi has connected.
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae ohsnap
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi bows, "Evening, Masayume-sensei!
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi says, "Good evening~"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "Oh, hi Masayume-sensei~"
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi says, "Chihara~"
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae has disconnected.
|||Academy||| I IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER Masa has disconnected.
|||Academy||| Grand Theft Yae has connected.
|||Academy||| Fione has disconnected.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku has connected.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "'toku~"
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku rolls his food dish across the floor
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku posted an RP log and expects rewards
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "..."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji oohs! Hrmmms and looks around...
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku is getting impatient.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji offers left over fried piggies and a pony burger on the side.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku SNATCH
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku climbs a tree and feasts in safety
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :D
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori thinks leopard.;;
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku begins folding a paper airplane
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku throws his plane at Mitzy's eye.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji grabs it. c_-;
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi says, "A paper cut on the eye would suck."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku tosses this out
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :O :D
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku doesn't like colouring so if you want that you're on your own.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji doesn't like coloring either but wouldn't wanna mess it up anyway.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku thinks it was messed up the second he started drawing /you/.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji thinks that just means you're messed up for doing it then.
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi says, "When are you going to draw me, Antoku?"
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku speaking of why i'm messed up-
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi says, "You could draw me naked. I know that's probably how you remember me best."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "When I feel like it."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "..."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "..."
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi says, "... Are you sure you want that going around, Masayume-sensei..?"
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi says, "No disrespect, of course. I'm sure you look-..."
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi glares at Tenshi.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori bites his lip. "Oh, too late."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji hands Tenshi a shovel.
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi doesn't make a move and says nothing.
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi appears satisfied.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Oh Christ, just say it. What's the worst that could happen"
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Maybe you'll get free sex out of it, who knows."
|||Academy||| Masayume Nozomi says, "Antoku."
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi says, "I know... but some people don't like compliments..."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori would say there's a thing called tact, but people don't believe in it here.
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi says, "Tact? What's that?"
|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi beams.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ...
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori makes sure there's a free plot of land out in the back.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "holy shit ito"
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "do you realise who you sound like when you say crap like that?"
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "Please don't tell me."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "you need to stop hanging around him before it's too late."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji o_o;

Tenshi goes home.
Tenshi has left.

|||Academy||| SLAM Tenshi has disconnected.

[Log] 21 -

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:45:33 GMT

Characters: Katoji, Yoshinori
Summary: After things have settled down, Katoji misses a day of classes. But why?

=======

     Even though things have settled around the Academy Grounds and a semblance of the usual solace began to return to Seireitei, the memory of that explosive day's events were never far from anyone's mind. It's taken some concentration to get back into the normal routine, and it is only minor relief to know that the originators of the terrifying reiatsu were now gone. Katoji can't forget what he had seen that day, when he and Yoshinori had been brought along by Hitohiko to further investigate the madness that had erupted in the form of arrancar invasion. Hitohiko's abilities had been the only thing keeping the two from faltering in the presence of such power, and even then it had been so immense that the boy had been sure if he blinked at the wrong time he would collapse.
     That was then. This is now.
     It has scarcely been a week since the invasion, but it seems a time long enough that the boy has not ceased to scold himself for not noticing sooner. He'd found the scarf sitting almost innocently there in the closet, folded neatly and tucked away in a manner that made it seem that it had only tried to be inconspicuous as an afterthought. It hadn't taken him long to recognize it, and though he had puzzled over the little card that had been pinned at its end before stuffing it into a pocket, he spent not a moment longer in the room, hastily stuffing the pale yellow scarf with the black criss-crossed lines under an arm as he dashed out into the hall.
     He'd combed the school grounds eagerly at first, the roof first, but he was able to tell even before he reached the end of the second floor's hall that Antoku was not up there. The neutrality that bored happy soon began to wind down to a mildly frantic concern the longer he looked. The library, the classroom halls and dojos, the garden, the archive building. Not. There. Not anywhere. He couldn't feel that reiatsu anywhere on campus, and a part of him wondered that perhaps the wayward upperclassman had gone off Academy Grounds.
     So here he sits now, under the big tree where he and Umeko had first felt the oppressive reiatsu of the arrancar intruders. He'd found one of his crayons poking out of the grass, one of the several he'd dropped in his haste to get inside that day. Umeko's shamisen was gone and he hoped that she had been the one to reclaim it. These however, are not things he dwells on for very long. Perched upon one of the higher gnarls of the thick roots of the ancient tree, Katoji sits with his back against the trunk, a knee bent with his foot resting against another twist of wood. The yellowy scarf hangs half across an arm and bundled so as not to drag on the ground. The boy looks up at the leaves that shift and filter light with the breeze, thinking.

     It was rather hard to go about the normal routine after all of the chaos passed. To go with Hitohiko in the first place was something he wouldn't usually do. It just felt...so surreal. But soon after all of it ended, he relapsed back into his usual state. Maybe not all the way back into it, however; the noble has been silent, but he hasn't shown much of his usual apprehension as he walks down the halls. Crimson eyes hold a semi-vacant look to them, staring through the other students as he makes his way around the Academy. A little strange, but no one else tried to talk to him.
     Once he gets away from the crowded areas, he takes a moment to stop. In fact, he doesn't really know if he suffered from mental trauma or not. Yoshinori remembers everything that happened that day, and he stayed awake and alert the whole time. Every word said, every action taken, all of it is still fresh in his memory. He shudders, taking a deep breath and exhaling before continuing. No use mulling over it now. It happened, and that's how it went.
     Going outside made things a little better. Without the excess reiatsu flow, the air is light. Not being weighed down by anything helps. The noble walks onward, using the time to unwind a little more. As much as he can, anyway. As he makes his way past Keiei-Ue, he pauses. "Eh?" Yoshinori's head swivels slightly, squinting as he tries looking at the figure who sits underneath the tree's shade. "...Chihara-san? What are you doing out here?"

     The weather is nice, especially hidden in the cool shade of the great tree. Katoji's thoughts had taken every tangent that presented itself, his eyes becoming lidded as his weariness from running all over the Academy Grounds has finally caught up with him.
     And then a voice- a familiar one that speaks his name. "Huh-AH!" Amber eyes widen, and for a split second the boy forgets where he is, worrying that he's dozed off in class or something. He twitches into a more rigid stance, and then finds his balance severely compromised. Arms flailing, Katoji goes sprawling over the limb of the tree with a yelp, legs flipping right after as hits the grass on the other side. The scarf has managed to land over his head, and somehow or another the kid lies on his stomach rather than his back. "...."

     Oh, he didn't mean to do that. Yoshinori pauses, watching the boy flip over after the initial reaction. "Ahh!" The noble hurries over to the roots, stepping over one of them and leaning over the other, dark bangs falling in front of his face. "Chihara-san?? I'm so sorry!" Ah, he's back. Somewhat. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to..."
     He shuts up, climbing over to check on Katoji. With a grunt, he crouches next to him, a hand reaching over to move the scarf from his head. "..." The other hand extends, offering the first year some support.

     "...ite....." comes the whimper of a response from under the scarf. His eyes squeezed shut, Katoji finally opens them once he's sure that things won't be spinning when he does so. He lifts his head just as the black lines are removed from his immediate line of vision, blinking at the hand and then the student who extends it.
     "Ah... Ito-senpai..!" he says with a mild grin, and he lifts a hand to accept the help up, pushing himself up with the other.

     There's just something about the grin that makes Yoshinori smile back. A normal, involuntary thing, that's all. He really should smile more often, but a faint one is all he can return at the moment. Katoji's grin isn't as bright as it usually is, however. Was it his imagination?
     The noble's grip maintains the balance as the other gets back up, holding on without squeezing too tightly. At least, this was the idea. There is a noticeable amount of pressure wavering from it. His eyes remain on the scarf a while longer before switching back to Katoji. "...You went to your classes, right?" he asks softly, tilting his head.

     The lack of a verbal response is made up for with the look on his face, an obvious enough answer for the question Yoshinori asked. "...oh crap..!" Katoji gasps, running a hand down his face. He'd gotten so caught up in looking for Antoku that he'd completely forgotten how much time had gone by- wait, what time is it now anyway?
     The boy drops his head with a groan, looking down at the ground, following the trailing edge of the worn scarf before he throws it over a shoulder. Wrapping it around his waist would still have it dangling past his feet, even if he wound it about several times.

     "..." That answers everything. If he was a stickler for rules, Yoshinori would be lecturing him about the importance of going to class and getting past the first year. But it isn't like that. Instead, he shakes his head, a small chuckle slipping out as some sort of consolation. "Just as long as it doesn't continue like this," he says, knees unbending from the squat.
     He straightens his back, rolling a shoulder as he watches Katoji put the scarf on and over his small body. It is definitely a long scarf, and it only dwarfs the boy more with it still hanging off of him. Yoshinori blinks. "...Where did you get the scarf from?"

     "I didn't mean to! I just... forgot..." he finishes lamely, scratching the back of his head as a wibbly, sheepish smile pulls across his face. Katoji forces himself to meet Yoshinori's eyes rather than study the second year's feet.
     He should have been expecting the question, and yet it almost seems to surprise him all the same once it is asked. "Oh- this...." The boy fingers the edge of it. "From An... Sadakata." There's no doubt in his mind that it's the very same that Antoku usually kept about his person.

     He was sort of hoping for a different answer. The pattern doesn't lie. Although he's only seen it twice, he remembers it well. Of course, Sadakata was never the most pleasant person he's met briefly during those classes. And there is a difference between seeing someone and actually speaking to them.
     "He's...quite generous, isn't he? To leave you his scarf." Especially when he couldn't be approached. Yoshinori pauses, his face showing quiet concern. He did catch part of the 'An' coming out before it turned into 'Sadakata,' and it just makes him wonder. "...I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm prying, Chihara-san," the noble speaks, crimson eyes glancing back into Katoji's, "but why are you out here? What's the matter?"

     "...." Katoji looks down again, his eyes spying another of his missing crayons there just a little ways from his right toe, but he doesn't hurry to pick it up. It isn't a very distraught look on the boy's face, one would realize after careful observation. A faint, sad smile is there though.
     "...he's not here. I looked all over the schoolgrounds, but he's not around anywhere..." he says quietly. It's possible that he could be outside, but the reiatsu traces on the scarf were next to non-existant- it had obviously been sitting in his closet for some time, and that was what bothered him more than anything. If Antoku has left that long ago... Katoji fell into his own thoughts on that.

     Seeing his small friend go silent is unsettling. He is worried, after all, and it is normal for anyone to worry about someone they cared about. Yoshinori gets a rough idea of how long Katoji actually knew Antoku; the time spent is something on another level. "But why would he leave," he adds quietly, fingers touching his chin in thought.
     Personal matters come into play. Selfish reasoning. Maybe it was a random, spur-of-the-moment type of deal. But Antoku's presence was something different. If he actually knew about the relationships he's kept with Matsuhiro and Katoji, then it would make more sense to him. Being out of the loop does have its advantages and disadvantages. Yoshinori looks off in another direction, his eyes staring off into the distance before returning to the younger student. "He'll be all right..." He tries to encourage, but his tone is weak. Uncertainty. Antoku is the type that seems to be able to take care of himself, isn't he? "...Others might be looking for him. I-If they noticed..."

     "He knows how to take care of himself," Katoji finds himself saying, and he lifts his eyes towards Yoshinori again. "I'm sure he's okay. It wasn't that..." That he hasn't expected it to happen? Maybe. That would explain why he isn't as bothered by it as he would have thought himself to be. If Antoku's really left, really, -really- left, then that's good, right? Then Katoji should hope for the older boy's success in being able to stay away this time. It's what he'd wanted after all, right?
     Yoshinori's words do nag at him though. The sad smile is gone from his face, the more usual expression settling, now into one of subtle concern with the slight furrow of his brow, the tiny quirk of his mouth. "....they probably will notice eventually if they haven't already..." he says, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Should I hope that they don't find him..?

     Thinking that Katoji supported the idea of Antoku escaping without a trace never came up in his mind. Seeing the boy's expression change makes him feel a little more curious about things, but he's not really sure how relaxed he should be at the moment. Nothing else is going wrong. Still, he reminds himself to keep from going in too deeply. "Whatever happens, happens," the noble says with a small sigh, pursing his lips afterward.
     The other thing Yoshinori does is eye the scarf and how it's wrapped around the first year. It's like it's bothering him to see it drag. Probably a habit from his mother whenever he had long articles of clothing on when he was younger. "Chihara-san, the material is dragging," he chides gently, gathering the end that dangles.

     "Huh? Oh-" Katoji blinks, watching as Yoshinori picks up the end of the scarf. "It's really long," he says, fingers plucking at the material as he tries to figure out how to better drape it so it won't get any more worn out. Its edges are already frayed, but it's still a good scarf. A good scarf with secrets of its own...
     His thoughts go back to the matter that had been presented, and he looks at the second year student quietly for a moment before reaching out with his hand to grasp Yoshinori's sleeve. "Ito-senpai, don't tell anyone that Antoku's missing, okay?" he says firmly, amber eyes looking at the taller boy imploringly.

     Winding the end of the scarf up stops when the other grabs the wide sleeve, eyelids fluttering with a start. "Eh?" His hands stay wrapped in the material as he flicks his gaze back at Katoji, slightly puzzled about the request. Keep a secret? Yoshinori can tell he's serious about it, however, his tone and look adding to it.
     The noble closes his eyes for the moment before nodding. "...I won't," he answers. That's about all he can say. Hands move again, one arm moving more than the other while unwrapping the scarf and resetting the way it drapes on Katoji. Just as long as it doesn't trip the boy as he's moving, he'll be fine.

     Katoji holds on for a second or two longer before letting his grip relax, and with it, the look on his face. He nods his head, a silent thank you, not only for agreeing, but for not asking for any explanations that he wasn't sure he could give. It takes a few tugs and rewrapping to ensure that the length of the scarf doesn't go any further past his knees, and after Yoshinori appears satisfied with the arrangement, the boy looks at it and grins.

     Learning how to wrap and wear things through observation made it easier for him to do things when he was at home. Of course, with all of the fuss in trying -not- to get Yoshinori to do everything himself made it a little more challenging. The satisfied 'there' completes the task as hands and arms fold over each other loosely near his own body, a faint smile reappearing on his features. Yoshinori is fine without having to know everything; if he did, it would get him more involved in it. Sometimes it was better to let things go as they're suppose to. However, it wouldn't hurt to ask one more thing. "...So, are you going to continue looking?"

     His fingers toy with the loose ends of the scarf as he shakes his head slowly. "No... if he doesn't want to be found then I won't try to..." Katoji says, having well made up his mind, it seems. Besides, the students were still advised to stay around the Academy grounds for the time being anyway, just to be on the safe side.

     Ah. "All right, then," Yoshinori nods slowly, saying nothing more about the topic. His right hand dips into his left sleeve, taking out a small bag of senbei. He then holds it out for Katoji to take, a smile added for some sort of encouragement. "You should get back to doing whatever you need to do. Or rest a little longer."

     Perk! Katoji is thankful for the subject change, and he smiles brightly at Yoshinori, brighter still with the offering of treats as he accepts it. "Ah, yeah, I guess so. I... probably missed all my classes for today though... well, maybe Uemiya can tell me what I missed." He steps back and offers a small bow. "Thanks for listening, Ito-senpai."

     The noble bows back, chuckling a little at the sudden shift. Just as long as he can be of some help. "Not a problem," he says, not going hazy on the freshman like he usually would. Yoshinori gives Katoji one last nod before turning, picking his way over the unleveled ground and twisted roots effortlessly to go back to his room.

     Ito-senpai really is nice... Katoji watches as the upper-classman leaves, still clutching the bag of senbei. Finally he steps forward to return to the dormitory halls as well, but he hears a quiet snap underfoot, and jumping back, he flails at the broken crayon lying there on the grass. He picks up the stick of blue that now hangs halved at an angle. Scanning the grass below, he picks out a couple more crayons before giving up and making way back to his room.

[Log] 20 -

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:52:31 GMT

Characters: Hitohiko, Katoji, Yoshinori
Summary: The day is far from over. For Hitohiko, it had just begun. Might as well take these two students with him.

=======

     Instead of help, they get something a little better than a wild lion. However unlikely it may seem to a student who has in the past found him or herself pinned firmly beneath the thumb of Hitohiko's Interest (the capital letters are altogether necessary,) in something quite like a crisis, Hitohiko's first move is to, shockingly, protect his Interests.
     And so he came swinging around the corner at the hallway's far end, one hand on the pommel of the zanpakutou he was wearing at his hip. It was illegal to wear one's zanpakutou in the city, and surely permission could not have been granted already. Nevertheless. There was no over-excited cat following him, and his right hand was black as pitch, right up to the sleeve of his shihakushou. Unbothered by the massive thundercloud of threatening reiatsu, Hitohiko fixed his tilted eyes on Yoshinori the moment he sighted the boys piled beneath the roof's ladder.
     "Ito. It's time to get off your belly for a day. We're going to have a look at our visitors." It was almost as if, unfortunately, Katoji was a table, or a rug.

     That voice. "Ah!" Yoshinori turned abruptly to see that it was indeed his Favorite Teacher, Hitohiko-sensei. It might not be exactly what he had in mind, but it worked. The idea of actually being protected was far from his mind; it was probably for the best, however, seeing how every time he met with the teacher only brough more pain. Formalities had been forgotten the whole time the man spoke, eyes blinking quizzically as he fought against the strain of the muted reiatsu.
     It took another moment to think about what he just said "H-Hitohiko-sensei! What...we're going to take a closer look!?" he balked, shaking his head a little. He knew the answer, but he just needed clarification. "Ooooh dear..."

     Someone was coming! And from the uniform they were clothed in, it had to be one of the teachers if not quite obviously, a shinigami. Katoji blinked, first up at the new face - Hitohiko? He was sure he heard the name before, but this would be the first time he'd have an image to place with it. The boy then glanced at Yoshinori, cocking his head before outright wincing at the older student's slip on handling his nerves. "Huh? Wait-"
     He straightened, still well aware of the heavy presence in the air. His eyes slid over the man's right hand- why was it black like that? Katoji wasn't so much put off by the presence of the zanpakutou readied at Hitohiko's side- even Fione had grabbed hers earlier as some small gesture of comfort. Kind of made him wish he had something as well, but his pockets were empty of even his crayons- not that they would have done him any good if the situation became dire.
     "You're going back out there?" Weren't they supposed to stay inside though? Not that those were official orders of course! It just seemed more sensible a thing to do...

     Hitohiko had a way of staring wide-eyed at anyone who was being foolish or making mistakes, as if he truly could not believe it was happening. He came to a stop half a dozen feet from the boys and simply tilted his head to the side as he stared at Yoshinori, eyebrows raised in little surprised commas on the sentence of that moment. When the boy began to moan to himself, the shinigami blinked several times rapidly and diverted his attention to Katoji.
     This one was pathetic, too, but in a different (somewhat sadder) way. He made no attempt to hide the fact that he was looking the child over from head to foot, because lack of manners bought you absolutely no favours with Hitohiko. "Yes." He sounded startled and amazed that he was being questioned. Hadn't he said it loud enough? Were the words too complicated? Or was the child just addled? "This gibbering fool will come with me." And at that, he gestured absently to Yoshinori with his black hand. A drop of ink fell from his fingers as he did so, and left a tiny black explosion on the floor.

     Wh...

     Yoshinori set his teeth together slowly as he stared back at Hitohiko, definitely seeing through the act of...whatever it was he called it. If it was all honest emotions, then that was surprising. This was no time to be annoyed! Or insulted. He'll just have to take it. Poor Katoji was being forgotten, but the noble got back to him, giving the boy a glance. "Don't mind him, he's always like that," he murmured, squaring his shoulders rigidly.
     The ink droplet exploding on impact made him shut up. It also made him wonder what exactly Hitohiko planned to do with such, but the idea was there. "I suppose I can," he answered, sighing. A hand went up to rub his temple, crimson eyes looking back at the teacher. "I should get my asauchi," he thought aloud, sort of wavering upon whether or not he should take it. Still, he managed to keep his breathing even against the pressure, mood switching and all.

     That look he was being given was just a little unsettling. It was like the man was trying to look hard enough to see clear through to his bones. Katoji swallowed, shifting uneasily where he stood, but he kept his wide-eyed gaze upon Hitohiko, unable to keep from looking the man over as well. There was decidedly something different about him, but then most of the teachers at the Academy were rather unique. This one just happened to be a little more obvious for his almost exotic appearance.
     The hand easily drew the boy's attention again; he looked at it as it was moved, throwing a glance at Yoshinori as he was indicated, but not for more than a second since he already knew who Hitohiko was implying, and the little drop of black was watched all the way until it completed its kamikaze drop onto the floor boards. He was taking Yoshinori with him? And... even more amazing, Yoshinori was agreeing to it! Just what sort of relationship did these two have? Katoji realized that his senpai definitely had more of an edge to his tone and demeanor once Hitohiko had come and addressed them.
     "...can I come too?" His mouth moved before his brain could finish working out if that was really a good thing to ask, but it was too late to retract the question now, and neither was there much uncertainty for asking it reflected in his amber eyes. No one was telling them what was happening, and if the teacher here was going to look then he very well didn't know what was going on either. It made perfect sense. Mostly. And if Hitohiko was dragging along Yoshinori, well, why couldn't Katoji come along? If only to make sure the young noble wouldn't completely lose it, although he had to admit, this was certainly a different Yoshinori than he was used to.

     Hitohiko's almond-shaped eyes slid to the side and re-affixed on Yoshinori. "And what will you do with that toy sword? Where I'm taking you, you won't even be able to kill yourself with it. Unfortunately. On your knees; I don't have time for you and your endless yipping." The boy was like a Maltese pup, always barking and yipping and snapping whenever he wasn't cowering, as if that alone would convince onlookers that he was fierce. It wasn't cute even when Soul Society wasn't keeling over.
     To the miniature student Hitohiko gave a brief second glance and a dry, humorless agreement. "You may come, but if you can't keep up, I will leave you behind to die. Kneel."

     A terrible relationship, that's what it was. Yoshinori narrowed his gaze at the teacher, knowing that even if it was an insult to his usefulness, the man was right: they were only students. Going against a Hollow at their level was suicide.
     And yet here they were, being told to go and observe these monstrocities up close.
     The noble huffed, the look he cast downward saying 'fine.' He knelt in one fluid motion, hands balled up into fists on his lap as he stared ahead, looking back at Hitohiko. There was a twinge when Katoji was told the last sentence with such frankness, but he said nothing.

     "Wakatta," the boy said with a curt nod, unflinching despite Hitohiko's bluntness. He had no intentions of trying to take on something as big as this on his own, but nor was he wanting to be left in the dark about it. Someone had to go find out, and even if Yoshinori seemed at odds with this teacher, that he was actually agreeing to the man's whims spoke much for...something. Katoji wasn't sure if it was out of respect or oppression. He decided not to jump to conclusions- after all, he'd only met the man just now, but then first impressions are always the strongest.
     It was easy for him to kneel at a word, his legs having wanted to give out earlier, but the break from running around had certainly helped, at least a little. He didn't ask questions- the more questions, the more time wasted, and in such instances, time was not something to be wasted.

     "Your manners," Hitohiko told Yoshinori as the young man sank down in assent, "Are unforgivable. How do you live with yourself?" Yet despite the words he said, there was an airy, casual quality to the tone that implied that although what he said was true, no particular animosity was attached to it. He raised his right arm and drew back the sleeve with his left hand while Katoji knelt as well.
     Ink ran like blood down the inside of his arm, and Hitohiko had a complexion as pale as chilled milk, whiter and brighter than even the silver crown of horns that sat above his brow. With pinkie and index fingers holding back his sleeve, Hitohiko seized Yoshinori's chin and yanked his head up straight using the thumb, fore and middle fingers of the same hand. With the wet fingers of his right hand raised, he leaned over the boy's head and began to trace a symbol across the center of his forehead in quick, precise strokes. The ink proved to be much colder than the skin it was on.
     "Whatever you do, do not touch it. Don't even touch your face. Nothing happens to this mark until I remove it myself. Can you handle that one, simple order?" Hitohiko pushed Yoshinori's face away briskly and turned on the younger student, reaching out to do the same.

     His manners were fine. He could stand to behave a little more properly with Hitohiko, but the last time he tried, it didn't work out. None of that was important right now, not when the words had no exact tone to them.
     Whatever Hitohiko was now doing just made Yoshinori stop. It was an eerie feeling, but it also made him wonder what the teacher had in mind. The young noble barely had time to react when he felt the ink's coolness touch him. Wait - didn't this stuff just explode and sizzle earlier?! He froze in place, eyes staying wide open as each stroke was written skillfully. The order was simple, yes; as Yoshinori was pushed back, he nodded curtly, his skin prickling.

     Not knowing what to expect, Katoji kept still and waited, watching. He also listened, which only made him wonder more what was up between the two. He'd never heard anyone speak to Yoshinori so, much less ever see the young noble act in such a tense, annoyed manner. It was nice to see him gain something of a backbone rather than be so easily flustered. Perhaps Chitaka would even be proud! Of course, she'd likely also be upset at Hitohiko for treating her master like he had. Katoji kept from saying anything on Yoshinori's behalf, quite simply because he didn't know what to say. As he had decided earlier, drawing things out here would get them to where they wanted to go no quicker.
     Where was that ink coming from? ...was it even ink? Katoji watched the contrasting tones as black trailed down that pale arm, and out of reflex he squinted as Hitohiko traced out a symbol upon his forehead in like manner as he had to Yoshinori. If this was some sort of kidou, it was sure a strange method, but then the boy supposed he could hardly say for certain when he was only a beginner in learning the demon arts. "Yes sir," he murmured, balling his hands into fists at his sides so he wouldn't absently have them brushing at his face.

     "He spends his free time with a murderer, but see how he flinches away from me," commented Hitohiko dryly. He squeezed his fist around his sleeve as he stepped back and wrung a dark puddle of ink out on the ground, carelessly stepping in it a moment later. As the toes of his tabi slowly turned black and as their foreheads began to bleed out cold, thin rivulets of ink, Hitohiko drew the sword he wore at his hip, held it up high and then brought it down sharply over the stone head of a statue that stood beside a window. "Kenka shinaide, Oroboros." The blade shattered like brittle ice, sent a rain of mirrored fragments smoking to the ground. They bounced, steaming, scattering, dissolving.
     The shinigami carelessly abandoned even the hilt of his sword as that, too, fell away in ice and smoke. Without alarm for the zanpakutou he'd just destroyed, he reached out with his fingertips to touch the image he'd painted on their faces. "These will come with us," he said. "Break them."

     This....this was extraordinarily creepy. The second year student gasped as the ink ran from the seals, the cold running through his body. No, he can't scream now, either - it wouldn't be good. Instead, he bit onto his lower lip, his brow furrowing as he tried to concentrate on what was going on.
     "..." He didn't move from his spot, disoriented by the shards and smoke. Break them? That didn't sound good at all.

     Hardened amber, the type that trapped insects in their yellow prison for years and years. The look wasn't quite a glare, but it carried with it a spark as though ignited by flint. The boy bit down on any comment, but neither did he look away from the man. The coolness of the ink on his skin ate away at whatever flush of a temper might have appeared, and in the next instant Hitohiko had released his zanpakutou- and promptly struck it to smithereens.
     Katoji was unable to hold back a small gasp at that, watching the shining bits cascade to the floor in that glassy, glimmery sound. And then he found himself staring, nearly cross-eyed as Hitohiko placed a finger at the symbol on his forehead. /Break/?? The boy held his breath...

     When Hitohiko called on his zanpakutou and asked it not to fight, it was so simple for him to take along any inanimate objects he was touching, should he want to, that he no longer had to think about it. Taking living things along was much more difficult and had taken him an uncountable number of years to accomplish. The zanpakutou took a solid, cohesive spiritual body and broke it into billions of tiny, separate segments: harmless to other spiritual bodies of the same type at this stage should anyone happen to run into them, but an incredibly unsettling sensation for the person it was happening to. There was no pain, he was sure, but everyone who had been willing to speak to him about it afterwards had described the sensation differently than the last, so eventually he'd stopped bothering to warn others; he never knew what to warn them about.
     "I appreciate that you may feel sick or unpleasant right now," he said, which was only half untrue. "But please recover quickly. Keeping both of you together is going to give me a headache before long." Hitohiko would rather leave a student behind than return with a student whose leg or elbow he'd let fall off somewhere.

     Whatever he just did right now was still very confusing to the noble. However, it also brought a strange sense of awe. Of course, Hitohiko's concern came up soon after all of it finished, Yoshinori's gaze flickering as he quietly follows the odd commands. It wouldn't do to lag behind anyway.
     Mentioning the sickness and unpleasantness made the second year feel off; power of suggestion? He shook his head, giving a glance over at Katoji to see if he fared any better.

     This was new. It was also unexpected, and with it came uneasiness for this unique mode of transportation. That was what Katoji supposed he could liken it to, although he wasn't quite certain what was taking place. He said nothing and was reluctant to try moving lest he make Hitohiko's task any more complicated than it was. The boy felt dizzy, but it felt like he hadn't moved at all. Trying to work out how that contradiction even made sense only made his head hurt, and it wasn't like the thick reiatsu that plagued the air had gotten any lesser. It was a bit late to realize that if they were going to its source, the feeling would only get much, much worse.

     Hitohiko stretched both of his arms over his head like a child waking from a heavy nap while the boys got their bearings. For him, this fragmented state was much lighter, so much more liberating, than the paltry, every day flesh he clumped around in. He felt a little younger each time, and as those who had known him two or three hundred years ago could attest, the clock seemed to be ticking backwards, not forward, for Hitohiko. (Although not far enough back to excuse taking children into an un-scouted battleground.)
     "The roof," he ordered, dropping his hands back to his sides and sweeping past both students. This would be fun, even! He'd never felt so much heavy, blood-thirsty reiatsu in Soul Society before, and although it would be over far too soon to relish and study, he was certain there'd be more than enough time to record a whole library's worth. Although he wasn't humming when he siezed the lowest rung of the ladder, there was so much enthusiasm in the way he pattered up to the roof that his ponytail /bounced/. "Concentrate, brats. Which direction is the worst of it coming from?" he called down as he pulled himself out on to the roof.

     Back up to the roof? Back into an open area of crazed reiatsu that felt like it was crushing the very bones inside of them? Yoshinori opened his mouth, closing after two seconds when he thought better of saying anything questioning that order. He stood up slowly, still feeling the weight of the first, but also now feeling the effect of the second. It was very hard to manage, but it made moving a little easier.
     And then Hitohiko went on ahead filled with some sort of boundless energy.

     "....."

     Again, he was at a loss for words. Yoshinori grabbed onto the rung of the ladder, climbing up slower than he usually would.

     But... we just came from up there... Katoji would have said as much, but he didn't want to sound like he was complaining, especially to this teacher that seemed to enjoy needling Yoshinori into being pushed over his limits. His legs felt numb from kneeling- probably more because of Hitohiko's doing - it felt weird once he started to actually try following the two. He would have been more amused at the latter's eagerness and haste in making way to the roof if it wasn't for the feeling that his head and stomach were at odds with seeing how long one would outlast the other before giving into motion sickness.
     Katoji valiantly pushed the thoughts from his mind as he clambered up to the roof. He paled at the question- he did that already and it hadn't been very fun. Still, he -had- asked to come along... Closing his eyes to help gather his bearings, the boy tried to open his senses again, prepared to be hit by the worst of it. It felt muffled somehow, but he could still tell that it was there, even if he didn't feel it as much as he had in his earlier attempts. A glance was thrown Yoshinori's way before Katoji looked out towards the edge of the roof. "....it's..." Too much. He shook his head, looking again before pointing out a direction. "-or... maybe... agh, I can't tell- but it seems like there's more concentrated that way..."

     All of Hitohiko's questions were rhetorical unless he happened to get an answer that interested him or unless he was asking uncomfortable questions for the sake of making the person he was asking them of squirm. Dealing with him effectively took a certain measure of practise, skill and timing. Already he had tuned the boys' voices out, and by the time they were both up on the roof, he was standing at the edge with one foot up on the railing and his eyes fixed on something far away in the horizon.
     The more he reached for it, the more certain he was that all of the students should remain indoors, with the instructors preparing them for evacuation on stand-by. In fact, he was absolutely certain that was the wisest choice Satsue could make at this time. Hitohiko turned to look over his shoulder, eyes gone foxy with amusement.
     "A hundred lives were just extinguished to the West. Get up, hurry! We'll see none of it if we stay here." And he raised his hands, left and right, white and black, turned palm-up for them to take. They wouldn't be able to keep up at all if he didn't help them rush in.

     Hitohiko was really scaring him now. He's never seen the teacher like this. It was weird. Staggering a little, Yoshinori swallowed, his voice sounding strained. "What?!" Really?!? Crimson eyes dart over at the horizon before fixing back on the hands of the one who called them over.
     This was no time to turn back now. Yoshinori's brow furrowed, the second year moving closer to where Hitohiko stood. What other choice was there? They certainly couldn't go back inside with the rest of them. The noble's hand reached out toward the upturned palm, grasping when he probably wouldn't. A strange concept, but it was best to figure it out much later.

     And he wants to -go- there??? Katoji once again threw a look at Yoshinori, an inquiring one that clearly asked: Is he okay? He didn't have time to wait for a reply as Hitohiko was clearly in a hurry to get them all killed. A hundred lives? Really? The boy swallowed as he stepped forward and lifted his own hand, hesitantly at first before finally taking hold of that which had been extended towards him.

     "Can't you hear me when I speak?" Hitohiko wondered. He grasped first Yoshinori's thin, bird-like hand, then gripped Katoji's round, hard little hand. He compared them briefly, but when he realised what he was doing, he said, "I wonder what Satsue was worried about?" He lurched over the railing with both boys in tow and not a word of warning.
     Hitohiko's flashsteps turned out to be shockingly normal. He took them in great, leopard-like bounds, pouncing from gable to chimney to drain spout in a staggered, pattern-less zig-zag. Once, while passing near the 4th Gotei house, it became obvious that he was dodging the panicked squads of shinigami being dispatched to the city's gates. A thing like that could easily give one the impression that he was knowingly breaking the law, but instead of giving an excuse or explanation as he hurried beneath a broad bridge with both boys in his grasp, he laughed a little beneath his breath and ducked beneath a low copse of trees to shield them from the eyes of the shinigami passing close by.
     By the time the West Gate came into view, Hitohiko was possessed by a kind of cheerful, drunken abandon. "Deep breaths, then hold them," he called merrily. His hard, smooth fingers dug into their hands with surprisingly strength, his feet hit the road once, and then his bounding flashsteps become one bright, blinding blur of colour.
     For his passengers, leaving Seireitei was just ten long, terrifying seconds glaring lights, with no air, no gravity, no sound except a huge, drawn-out cracking, as if a great sheet of ice were splitting painfully in half.
     When gravity and oxygen came flooding back, the feeling of his white-hot grip was the first thing that felt solid, followed closely by the hard ground beneath their feet. He released them both at the same time, raising his hands with a magician's flourish and turning around to survey the landscape he stood on. To the south and north stretched a black and gnarled forest. Behind them, a dusty, stone-filled road, and to the west, a wide, low city, smoke rising from its heart in a grey-black plume. Hitohiko raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun so that he could stare in the direction of the smoke, and when he lowered his hand, the shadow remained beneath his eyes, like tar.
     "Devastating, isn't it? Have you figured out what they're trying to accomplish by sending monsters of this level into Rukongai yet?"

     The words will have to be disregarded for now. He can hear them just fine, but the comments Yoshinori comes up with are stuck in his throat. Everything he says is usually thrown back at him anyway, so it's no use trying. Seriously - Hitohiko will be the death of him. Or worse.
     The thoughts continue to reel with what has been stated, his own feet stepping forward when the teacher moves, a short stumble taking place before catching himself in order to keep up. Shunpo isn't a problem at all at this speed, and Yoshinori does well enough. Crimson eyes do take in whatever action is going on around them, but nothing can be done to actually see how well each squad is doing to keep the situation under control. The noble then ducks his head once they reach the trees, feeling the brush of stray branches and whatnot in passing.
     Strange how things suddenly start to speed up. Yoshinori glances sideways at Hitohiko, mouth gaping a little before he does whatever the crazed person says. The breath is taken too quickly. With his heart racing, he squints, light and speed overwhelming. Seconds never seem like seconds, but once it's over the noble coughs, shuddering as he is released. The new venue brings him to focus away from staring at his hand, the burning sensation fading from his mind as the question is posed. "...Not exactly," he starts, but he pauses. "Still, it is strange to have something of this size happening all at once. It's...distracting..." Wrong or right, Yoshinori will just have to wait for the verdict as the veil of worry hovers overhead.

     He hadn't even had time to yelp as he found himself yanked up and over the stubborn railing that tried so hard to prevent people from leaving its feeble perimeter of protection from the gravity and the ground below. Automatically his feet began to move in some effort to maybe make himself less of a burden, although it seemed as though Hitohiko had no problem towing the both of them along. Katoji watched as things passed them by in a blur, not due to terribly great speed, but the erratic path of movement the shinigami chose to take them. The boy jerked a look towards Hitohiko with the laugh, the questions that had been jostled off the tracks of his train of earlier thought slowly being replaced: Just who was this teacher, one who was able to make Yoshinori act so differently, one who eagerly sought out this new danger, one who was making it quite apparent that he didn't want to get caught doing it!
     Katoji didn't take the time to wonder, having learned by then that with Hitohiko there was no time for hesitation. Obediently he inhaled, nearly blurting it right back out with the sudden shift of... everything. What, what, what..?! His head was filled with a whirl of questions once again, but even more so, he was beginning to feel dizzy and being unable to take a fresh breath was not going to help.
     Soon enough- or perhaps much too soon, everything around them settled again, and Katoji gasped for air as though he'd been previously submerged underwater. He looked down at his hand where Hitohiko had held them, half expecting to see the teacher's handprint there yet. Absently he rubbed his wrist as he looked around to see where they were. That tell-tale feeling of the unnamed presence felt much closer now, and the boy wondered how they managed to still be standing at all. His eyes grew wide as he saw the smoke from the city. "...how terrible..." he murmured as he continued to stare. Hitohiko's question did not go unheard, nor did Yoshinori's reply. Slowly, Katoji shook his head. "...well... I guess that'd work if they wanted to draw the shinigami away from Seireitei... unless they just took a wrong turn..."

     "Strange? This is guerilla warfare. I suppose you think it would make more sense for them to attack slowly, perhaps send us a 'repondez s'il vois plait?' Naturally, Ito, well done. A born strategist." The boy couldn't think his way out of a paper bag.
     Hitohiko looked down at Katoji. "A wrong turn? Don't correct yourself, you're smarter when you don't try to think." He turned and pointed to the horizon in the East, where the white walls of Seireitei were just barely visible, like foam on the hem of the sky. "This far away is still not quite a threat. They will dispatch a few select shinigami to deal with the major threats far away from the city, which is ideal for Seireitei. This destruction?" He gave a careless wave of the hand to indicate the flames. "It means nothing to us. Only inconvenient for the wandering souls here. The shinigami will do damage control and then withdraw. We are only being prodded. Would you like to see the hollows this is all attracting? This is a feast for them."

     Of course. Yoshinori feels a jab, but he doesn't need to reply. Strategizing was never a strongpoint and choosing to say this much already proves he needs to work on that. And to say that to Katoji deserves protest, but there's just something about the teacher that makes one shut up and listen. His brow creases, nodding slowly as Hitohiko expands on the rest of the tactics and explanations are made, his eyes wandering over the scene twice more. Well, it's not very hard to think about at all. Simplicity in planning. Then why doesn't the mind work like that all of the time?
     Thus the reason why there are those in charge of Seireitei on the whole.
     Yoshinori swallows. "Prodded," he murmurs, taking the residents of this particular section into quiet consideration. "...Just as long as they're all right..."
     His gaze flickers with the mention of seeing the actual Hollows causing the ruckus. Usually it's something that should set off a red light. However, Yoshinori straightens instead of cowering. Like we have much of a choice, he thinks, quickly ridding himself of the somewhat defiant thought. "...Yes," he answers, his head tilting down an inch.

     Rather than say anything to Hitohiko's response regarding his own observations, Katoji held his tongue, instead looking where the man pointed out, and then back in silent consideration. The following words didn't sit well with him. "...it means nothing to us.....? But... the people...." There were still people that lived there. This was farther out than he had ever been before within the Rukongai, and he knew that there was still farther districts, but all the same...
     The boy swallowed, looking back at Hitohiko. "Wait... are the ones out there not hollows?" Such an immense reiatsu, whatever they were had to be big! Katoji glanced at Yoshinori, nodding weakly in turn. They were out this far to see what was going on, no use in turning back now.

[Log] 19 -

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:07:46 GMT

Characters: Katoji, Yoshinori
Summary: Something is amiss in Soul Society. Yoshinori isn't the only one who felt it.

=======

What.

It was the first word that came to mind when it happened. Everything else after that started to mentally collapse as the unseen pressure changed.
He was minding his own business, as usual. Academic work and other activities needed to be done, and Yoshinori wasn't going to start failing those classes. Nothing was touched or had been picked up after the moment passed, a couple of the items stored among the shelves and inside the small cabinets shaken or knocked over. Two of the vases are broken, but it has yet to be noticed.
Although everything else seems all right, the extra blankets and pillows have fallen onto the bedding, some of the cushions spilling over and ending at the low table. A minor fix. And yet, it looks like the pile of softness is still sort of shaking.

"Ito-senpai..!" The first shout comes from just outside the door. Katoji steadies himself by the wall as he tries to use his senses to worm past the heavy feeling of the impressive reiatsu that still threatens to overwhelm him. Vaguely he feels it, or believe he does. It's enough, and without further hesitation the boy throws open the door. "Ito-senpai, are you here...?" he says as he steps into the room. His amber eyes scan the cushion-ridden floor after sweeping the room at eye-level. He blinks, then starts towards the unusual pile. "...is that you...?"

The pile moves slightly as a voice is heard, jolting again when the door bangs against the other cabinet sitting behind it. And although sitting under a pile of soft things makes everything else sound mute, the voice is clear enough to recognize. "...Chihara-san...?" comes a muffled response between a blanket and an ornate cushion. He opens an eye and peeks through to see that it is, indeed, the first year.
"Ch-Chihara-san!" Ito's head breaks the makeshift fort, the pillow on top of his head sliding off to the side as everything else 'crumbles' around him. "You felt it too? Oh, so I wasn't going crazy!" The young noble has an extreme look of worry and panic written all over his face, his lower lip now being bitten.

Katoji isn't sure how he'd look right now, but he hopes it's better than he had earlier when he and Umeko had first felt the spike of reiatsu outside. He's managed to get over his trembling, or at least so long as he wasn't standing still for long, but the smile he grants Yoshinori seems strained all the same. "Y-yeah. I'm not sure what it is... except that it's not -here-." He wants to make that part clear at least. For now they are safe... he hopes.
"You okay, Ito-senpai? I left Yukieda-san and some of the others downstairs cuz I wanted to see if you were here..." His legs wanted to fold beneath him. He'd run inside with Umeko, and then he'd gone and run upstairs after departing from his other classmates' company. A mistep is all it takes for him to give in to his exhaustion, his foot setting down on the edge of another cushion, resulting in him falling forward. Well, at least his landing would be soft.

He breathes a ragged sigh of relief, trying to return the smile in his overwhelmed state of mind. "I, I-I'm okay. Now. Sort of." Hearing that some of the others are gathered in one place is good. Yoshinori really didn't think that Katoji would go through all that much trouble to see if he's all right. However, he's glad that the boy did. "I-I hope the others are okay too, you know? The, the teachers an-"
Crimson eyes widen as Katoji goes down, the pillow pile breaking as Yoshinori goes to catch the first year. "Chihara-san!!" He aims the boy's head from hitting the cushions with the same amount of force, but there is still enough padding to keep from any real injuries. The noble just landed roughly, too.

It is a rather dizzying split-second of not being able to tell which side is up and which is down, but it ends with Katoji finding himself on the floor, held by the older student. "A-ah! I'm sorry Ito-senpai!" he stammers, trying to sit back up so he can see if Yoshinori is all right. A lot of good coming up to check on him would do if Katoji ends up being the one at fault for him needing a check-up!

"It's fine, it's fine," Yoshinori repeats softly, still worried about his small friend. It's dangerous to run that much and not have the stamina for it! At least Katoji is responding, thankfully. After helping the younger student sit upright, he breathes a little easier. Closing his eyes, the noble frowns slightly. "Let's...let's try this again. W-who else is there with Yukieda-san?"

The boy nods, finding it not to have been all that great an idea as his he squeezes his eyes shut for a moment to stave off the dizziness. "Uemiya-san... and Kierre-san," he replies, amber eyes opening again once he's certain he can do so without sprawling over. "I... haven't seen anyone else, but hopefully they're still on campus..." Where is Antoku? He isn't in this building, otherwise Katoji would have been aware by now. It still felt as though something was trying to sit on his head, and he wonders how long the presence of whatever it is would linger. Absently he wondered if the buildings would collapse beneath it if it lasted any longer.

The Academy never really did practice drills, did they? Surely they've had some sort of verbal warnings, at least. Yoshinori nods, furrowing his brow. Regathering his thoughts is harder this time around, but he manages to get some of them together. "Were you going to try finding the teachers? I'm sure everyone has enough sense around here to some sort of head count..." It does make more sense to to outside if something like this keeps happening. "Ah..."

Blink. "Ah... well, we would have gotten around to that eventually..." Katoji says, scratching the back of his head in the way he usually does when he's nervous. "You'd think they'd be over to tell us what happened by now..." But no one's told them anything yet. Maybe no one really knows what's going on, and that thought worries him. The boy frowns and gets to his feet, hands squishing into cushions as he does so. No point in hiding in a room as if the answer will come to them.
"...come on, Ito-senpai," he says. He knows he can't very well go out to investigate the thing at its source, not when it is able to floor him at this range, but if there's any other way to find answers that he can think of, he'll certainly try the alternatives.

The young noble stays silent for a while, thinking about whatever Katoji hammers out. Still kneeling, he nods curtly, his expression sobering. In a rare situation such as this, he would have gone straight to his parents. Toshiaki-san was the next best person to go to since he probably was use to it. None of the candidates listed were present, however. If he only had a bit more courage, Yoshinori would be fine. Well, it's a good thing he can work with his current mindset.
The second year gets up moments after the first year does, smoothing out his uniform briefly before speaking. "Where exactly are we going first?"

The boy is already picking his way through the cushions and towards the door. "The roof," he says, not even sparing Yoshinori a glance back- he doesn't want to end up on the floor again, no matter how soft a landing would be provided. He reaches the doorway and turns, waiting for the upper classman to follow.

He says nothing else, accepting Katoji's resolve for the time being. It's quesitonable, but he can see that the younger student knows something he does not. Yoshinori follows in silence, trying to maintain his calm.

No, not really. Katoji isn't even sure that they'll be able to see anything from the roof, but it's someplace that's still on campus and yet gave something of a view of Seireitei. At the very least perhaps they'd be able to see some of the teachers and other students from there.
Katoji steps outside and makes his way down the hall towards the ladder. It feels like it takes forever to cross the hall, the air still thick that the boy half expects it to turn visible. His hand sets upon the rungs in front of him, and he glances over his shoulder for Yoshinori before he begins to pull himself up.

Yoshinori gives the boy more credit than he should, but that's how it works. He can also feel something intangible weighing down on him, his senses starting to overwhelm again. This will not end good if he can't stay focused. Drawing in a sharp breath, he strides down the hall as fast as he could, still feeling the pressure.
Once he gets to the ladder, he pauses, head hanging down in order to recollect his bearings. The noble then looks up, giving Chihara a small smile for reassurance. He'll get on the ladder after Katoji has gone up some more.

A part of him wonders if the feeling will be worse again once he gets outside. He doesn't stop climbing until he's reached the outside, and once there he all but collapses down on the roof. It had been more tiring than he thought, going up, but he felt that if he stopped in the middle of it, he wouldn't be able to continue.
The floor of the roof isn't the cleanest place to lie on, and knowing this, Katoji forces himself to stand again. He lifts his head, half-heartedly dusting his uniform off as he looks towards the railing and past to see if he can get a glimpse of... well, anything, really.

Maybe climbing up wasn't such a good idea, after all. Yoshinori feels like there is more weight added onto him every time he passes the previous rung. Eventually, it settles heavily upon him when he reaches the top, forcing the noble stay crouched. As if being on his knees is anything new.
It feels like his chest is going to cave in. Hopefully, it doesn't. "Chihara-san," he says hastily, gasping and glancing over at the other student. Here, he tries to move, crawling before getting back up on his feet. "...Anything?"

Somehow or another Katoji has made it over to the railing. He doesn't go too close, not trusting it to hold up his weight if the atmospheric effects added to it. He stares into the distance, looking around slowly from his vantage point. And when his eyes fail to show him anything more than the scenery he is familiar with, he closes them to risk trying to use his reiatsu senses again.
It's like opening a flood gate. Even though he expects it, the feeling is an overwhelming one that causes him to stagger. It's as if not trying to concentrate as much on the already nearly palpable presence that hangs around them acts like an automatic buffer. He gains a vague sense of a large spread of whatever it is that's out there- multiple points of origin? No wonder it feels so strong...!
He feels his hand on the railing, grasping it tightly. It takes some effort to try blocking it out again, a feeling that wants to bring him to his knees. Gasping, Katoji forces himself to remain standing, and he looks back out at the grounds of the Academy that sprawl out beneath them. No one is in sight. He's hoping that means everyone's inside.

"Chihara-san?" He's not answering. The noble's cry isn't as clear as he thought it was with all of the interference. What is the boy trying to do?
Yoshinori struggles, taking a few more steps before he stops again. Shoulders slump forward as he rests his hands near hs knees, his head barely lifting to keep an eye on the other student. His timing couldn't be better. "Chihara! Stop!" Stay standing, /please/, Yoshinori thinks, stepping forward. If he tried to do what Katoji did just now, it probably would have been the same. He doesn't want the boy to do too much in one sitting. "Let's go back. It's too intense up here!"

Are his brains leaking out of his ears yet? He wouldn't be surprised if it is at this point. The boy is barely aware that Yoshinori is there. The words sound so far away, but the flicker of a familiar reiatsu is something much appreciated, much needed to be felt. He grasped for it, held onto it. Slowly Katoji backed away from the edge of the roof and towards Yoshinori. He's shaking again, reaching a hand back to try grabbing for the other student's. His body simply wants to fall and curl in upon itself. Not here. He can't. A rough gesture is all he can manage. Back to the ladder!

Hopefully there isn't any of that. That would be bad, and adding that onto the matter at hand will make it worse. Pushing himself, Yoshinori reaches for Katoji, a hand grabbing for the boy's wrist as the other tries to keep him from falling over. He does see the motion, glancing at the scenery and then over toward the ladder. Now, to get back over there with a person in tow...
With a grunt, the noble moves rigidly, making sure Katoji is still able to follow along. A step, three steps. He pauses to take a breath, knees bending under the invisible force. No, they can't be overtaken by this. Yoshinori pushes off the roof, lifting Katoji the best he can to /run/ over to the ladder. He also yells, but again, it's distorted by the reiatsu. This goes fairly well, each step staggering up to where the ladder stood quietly. Grabbing the rung, the noble kneels roughly, ushering the other student to go down first.

Although he's thankful for the help, the sudden extra assistance in moving does not help for his stomach suddenly feeling about ready to hurl. Everything's moving both too much and not at all. He feels them stopping, he opens his eyes even though he hasn't realized when he'd shut them. Now, if only he can manage without falling. Katoji slips past Yoshinori and takes hold of the top rung, lowering his foot down until he can feel another rung beneath it. The going is slow, but he doesn't want to miss a step. Down, one hand, one foot, other hand, other foot, one hand, one fo-
He misses, the sudden drag of his own weight pulling his hands free from the rung. It's... a short fall since he'd at least made it little more than half way down. He lands on his back, groaning for a moment before he forces himself to roll to the side in case Yoshinori should step on him.

Everything looks good now that Katoji clambers do-
Oh shoot, he fell. Yoshinori gasps as he lowers himself down, the invisible weight lifting a little from his body. He touches down carefully on the floor, dropping into a kneeling position next to the poor boy. "Chihara, are you okay?" the noble asks, sounding exhausted and worried. His head bows for a moment, but he brings it back up again, dark bangs fluttering with the movement. "I...I'm sorry, not warning you about that. But...b-but you shouldn't have strained yourself up there! That...it was too much." He extends a hand, offering to help Katoji up.

Still lying on his side, the boy shook his head. At least it's easier for him to hear Yoshinori's words now. The fall managed to help clear his head a bit. The general feeling of the heavy atmosphere hasn't gone away with it though, unfortunately. "...I...think I'll be okay. ...shouldn'ta done that..." Katoji attempts a laugh. Slowly he sets a hand flat on the floor to begin trying to push himself up, and only then does he reach for Yoshinori's extended hand to help get to his feet. "Ow, ow...."

"Let's at least run by the clinic later, just to check," the second year adds, letting go when Katoji finds his balance. He also stands up, tilting his head. "And...maybe there are some people over there, too," he murmurs, thinking about it some more. Groups of students shouldn't be too hard to find if they're in large numbers. That would just leave their friends, but they should be checked up on, too. He looks at Katoji again, blinking. "Are you sure you're okay?" Concerned, that's all.

Katoji smiles wearily, giving a small nod. Anything bigger would have caused him to stumble again. "I'm fine- I'll be a lot better once... whatever that is goes away. It's... spread out though, from what I could tell. Which isn't very much..." he admits. "Didn't see anyone else out on campus so I'm hoping they're all inside..."

More than one source. It only makes sense. The noble nods, making a concerned noise. "That's good. The others being inside, anyway," he says softly, running a hand over his head. Just as long as it passes, and as long as it's taken care of by the Shinigami...
"I suppose we should move, then," he proposes, still a little shaky from all that has happened.

Better than one giant source. Now -that- would be terrifying. Katoji's only heard about how strong captain class levels are, and could only imagine what their reiatsu felt like. He has the feeling he doesn't want to experience this up close, especially if it might be like this.
"...yeah... let's go..." His steps still uneasy, the boy makes his way along the hall at Yoshinori's suggestion, keeping along the wall in case his legs decide to give out.

[Log] 18 - It Started With Sparring

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:41:23 GMT

Characters: Katoji, Yoshinori, Fione, Ryuujin, Tenshi
Summary: A simple sparring session starts. With other additions, things break down easily.

=======

     Although he's brought his broom, it sits off to the side, propped against the wall as if playing the part of an audience. The dojo is otherwise empty, the weekly break from schooling obviously taken advantage of by the most others. Katoji feels he's doing the same, just in a different way. He's been helped by his roommate in bettering his sword kata, but Matsuhiro has his own things to take care of, so the kid will do what he can on the side. He has to get strong after all, if he intends to be of any help to his friends.
     Occupying one corner of the dojo, Katoji stands facing the wall, swinging the practice sword in front of him, a downwards strike, repeating this for several times, a small shout paired with each. He pauses, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, then shifts his stance a bit and tries again. He really hates doing this sort of thing because its so repetitive, but no one else is around to ask for a spar.

     The idea of practicing alone seems to have been taken by the first year without much hassle. Usually it was the young noble left to his own devices in situations like this, but he had other things to finish. School time just eats away at everything.
     Yoshinori stops at the entrance of the first dojo, resting a hand against the wall as he watches Katoji in the middle of his run. It would be considered rude to enter without warning him. Of course, does knocking really work within this place? A firm, hollow knock on the outer frame is tested, followed by a quick bow. "Chihara-san, it's good to see you're working on your kata," he greets, somewhat calmly with a small smile.

     There's that...tingle of a sensation that someone is coming, but Katoji can only say that it's someone he knows, but also not his roommate nor Antoku. That really doesn't narrow things down very much. He follows through with another two strikes, deciding he'll look after the third, but apparently his perception for reiatsu isn't as honed as he'd like it to be yet.
     "Ahh!" he yelps, his hands fumbling for a grip on the bokken that has suddenly leapt from his hands. He fails. It clatters to the ground, and he stares down at it. Oops. Dismissing it for now, Katoji spins around to face the doorway and the older student. "Oh hi Ito-senpai!" he says brightly, tossing his hand up to wave across the empty room, a sheepish grin on his face. "Err, yeah... ahahah...." A look is cast down at the weapon on the floor.

     "Oh dear," Yoshinori says with a gasp, shoulders hunching as the bokken fell. The sounds echoing off of the wooden panels fade as he walks over. "I-I'm sorry about that!" He really is. The noble never thought he'd surprise anyone in that manner. With one fluid motion, the practice weapon is picked up and offered back to Katoji. "Here," he says softly, tilting his head downward at the younger student. "I...I was actually planning to do the same. I didn't think anyone else would be here at the time, however."

     Goes to show how much Katoji had really been concentrating on his sword forms. He scratches the back of his head, accepting the sword from Yoshinori. "You didn't ha-.... thanks, Ito-senpai." He smiles brightly then. "Oh, well hey! Since you're here and I'm here, wanna spar? I feel stupid swinging at the air all the time, and anyways, it'd be better to go against a real opponent, na?"

     He blinks. The last time he sparred was....when was that? During classes, it was mandatory. But he did spar with Chitaka...and Masayume-sensei some time ago. Katoji brings up some good points, and he seems capable of holding his own in a fight. At least, to some degree.
     "...I don't see why not," the noble chuckles, nodding with approval. "Sure." He goes over to the racks, picking out another bokken. After testing its weight, Yoshinori returns, stopping short and bowing toward the first year. "Let's see how this goes, then," he smiles briefly, settling into the basic sword stance.

     Katoji salutes the older student and steps back, watching as Yoshinori heads over to select his weapon. For a moment the boy looks back to his broom, then gives the bokken in his hand a good swing or two before he walks towards the center of the room. He bows back towards the other boy, giving him a nod as he slips a foot back and adjusts his grip on the smooth wooden handle of the practice sword. "Okay..." He lets his weight shift from his right foot to his left, then to the other again, and after the third silent count he makes his move, pulling up the bokken as he gives a large step and a small hop before bringing it down towards Yoshinori. "HA!"

     It's a good start. The bokken clacks roughly against the other bokken, abruptly stopping its intended path before drawing back. Yoshinori steps away, the wooden sword returning to mid-stance for a few seconds. Another wide step is taken, the blade angling as he seems to thrust it at Katoji. However, it swings in an upward arc at the student at the last moment; Yoshinori grunts, keeping himself from all of the yelling he's suppose to do in sparring. His left-handedness also makes things awkard all the while, but he figures his opponent can work with it.

     The boy pulls back his blade as well, keeping an eye on Yoshinori's movement before fixing the positioning of his bokken as the other student comes towards him to strike. Whoa, surprise! Katoji can't help but grin as he abruptly has to reangle his blade, thankful that he's got a better grip on the thing lest it be sent to the floor again. He moves the bokken against Yoshinori's, almost rolling it beneath the other before nudging it upwards. He then cuts downwards with his sword. If he comes too close to his senpai that it would count for a hit, he pulls it short, but if it's avoided, he'll let it come all the way down before drawing it up again.

     Yoshinori keeps his grip firm as well, his blade going up and around as Katoji makes the next move. He takes the hit with a jolt, but it's nothing serious. He's been hit harder in other cases to the point in which he couldn't hold back tears. Ah, class memories. Horrible times.
     The bokken makes it back to its original position with a slight twitch. It's in place held before the noble moves forward again, Yoshinori suddenly aiming with a low strike at Katoji's leg. He doesn't mean to injure Katoji, either - although he tries to tap, it probably wouldn't work, dodged or not.

     The boy swallows an apology- this is a spar, and Yoshinori seems all right for it as he resumes manuevering. Katoji's blade is too slow as he tries to divert it to the low-aimed strike, but it's an awkward position to work with, and belatedly he realizes he doesn't have to try blocking everything. He drops his stance completely, something Matsuhiro might yell at him for were he there to watch, and he swings that leg back to avoid the other student's sword. He chops down at the already low-angled blade to make it go all the way towards the floor before he jerks his bokken up to stop its point by his taller opponent's face.

     Well, this is interesting. One moment, Yoshinori was crouching low. The next, Katoji's bokken is right there in front of him. It was such a simple move, too. The noble stays perplexed, blinking several times at the wooden blade, glancing at the first year at every other moment. After a minute and a half, he gets back up again, the wooden blade sliding away and brought back to his side. "You win," he shrugs, wearing a weak smile.

     The serious look that had been on Katoji's face slips, and he steps back, lowering his bokken. "Ah, we can go for another round if you want," he smiles. "I'm still trying to remember what Uemiya-san's told me, oh, and I apologize if I start looking scary like him cuz that's how I remember how to do the moves," he admits.

     Not a bad idea, considering how fast the spar ended. He looks at his bokken, thinking about it. "We can do that," Yoshinori nods. He has no problem with this.
     Again, another pause is drawn out after Katoji explains his facial expressions during the spar, causing the noble to raise his eyebrows slightly. "...I see," he replies, his faint laughter awkward. Time to move back into the normal fighting stances. Yoshinori eases into the form, waiting for Katoji to get ready. As soon as he does, the noble moves first, raising the bokken and aiming to hit somewhere around the boy's right shoulder.

     The first year student can't help but laugh as well. It does sound like a silly thing. He's hoping he grows out of the face-making habit, but if he can be as intimidating as Matsuhiro in a fight then maybe it'll be worth it! Rar!
     "Okay!" he pipes, hopping back a few paces and settling into position. Eyes widen as Yoshinori takes the first move this time, and clumsily he jerks his sword to the side to knock his senpai's weapon away from him.

     A good move, but the first year will have to do better than that. The noble's own features become somber, eyes narrowing a bit as he concentrates. The weapon shifts, swaying and moving back quickly to make another attack. Yoshinori swings the blade across the middle, adding a jab to the end of the sidelong arc. Speed is being put to good use in these moves, but there is always a chance that one (or both) may miss depending on how much reaction time is left.

     These manuevers are more of what Katoji's used to seeing, and now that he's getting back into the swing of things (haha!), he seems more confident in the placement of his bokken, and he bats away the first swipe, wooden blades clattering at the second. He keeps them locked as long as he can, angling Yoshinori's downward. The look of determination flickers, and then he looks thoughtful as if he's trying to figure out what to do next.

     Maybe the combination was read too easily. It was a standard exercise, after all. Seeing how Katoji catches him off-guard makes the second year jerk his head back some. This causes a brief moment of panic, the bokken still in place as he struggles to move away. Surely he's been through this before, but Yoshinori still needs to brush up on some of the actions. Katoji is doing a whole lot better on his front.
     He does manage to get the blade out of the lock, but what exactly does Katoji have planned?

     Planned? You're supposed to plan these things out? Katoji's plan is to not get hit, and so far he's doing a bit better at that. He lets Yoshinori pull away from him, but not for very long, instead taking a step towards him, bringing his blade upwards, angled from side to shoulder.

     Well, it /seems/ that way. Stepping back is just a part of something improvised. His bokken follows the strike, but it only slides against it roughly. He doesn't do a good job at blocking it fully, apparently. Or is it another point?
     Yoshinori takes a couple of steps back, unsure of what to do now. Stop or go on? He keeps his gaze on the younger student, breathing slowly, evenly.

     Katoji seems to take notice, tilting his head with a brow quirked in silent inquiry. He lowers his blade to mid-stance, not pressing another attack. "...do you want to stop after all...?" he asks.

     The noble closes his eyes, the thought mulling over and over in his mind. He can stop, but they barely started. It was sort of bad to see sparring sessions cut short due to reluctance. Yoshinori shakes his head, crimson eyes fluttering open. "N-no, we can go on," he responds, squaring his shoulders. "I...I need to get back into it."
     Refocus and concentrate on what is going on, that's what he needs to do. The bokken falls into a low stance, his mind mentally preparing him to continue. "Ready," Yoshinori says lowly, stepping forward while the blade arcs up at the boy cleanly. Two more steps around the youth and the blade comes back down, each strike depending on Katoji's own responses.

     Looking concerned about the decision to continue, Katoji nevertheless indulges Yoshinori by bringing his blade level again. He nods, preparing. He meets the first strike easily, stepping back and to the side as the upperclassman drives the offense, parrying neatly and then moving to counter with a thrust before pulling his blade up again. That determined look of his has once again settled upon his face.

     Matsuhiro has taught Katoji well. Or is that all coming from the boy himself? Yoshinori is impressed. As the blade is blocked, the noble takes his time to recover, sidestepping to aim another blow at the boy's chest. Of course, timing is everything, and it may be off.

     It's a combination of what he's learned from class and Matsuhiro, but when it comes to application and style developed from said manuevers, it all falls upon the person that ends up wielding them.
     Katoji raises his blade perpendicular to Yoshinori's, taking a step back as he does so. He braces the back of his bokken with his other hand, feeling the force of the other as it clacks against it. He tries to feel if the weight is there behind it, and if so he moves to shove back with both hands, having a more solid push with his both hands supporting the blade at either end. If he's successful he tries to shove it upwards, and then he'll turn the blade ninety degrees so that it's horizontal now, and he pushes the line of the bokken straight towards Yoshinori's own chest granted he's given that opening. Wait, that -can't- be a sword move.

     ...No, no it's not. That isn't...
     Yoshinori's eyes widen at this, the previous counter doing what it was suppose to. And then /this/. It throws Yoshinori off completely, his own blade hitting him since he makes no effort to stop it. He's too busy trying to think of what just happened.
     He stumbles back, crouching before sitting promptly upon the wooden floor. The noble still looks puzzled, but he's all right.

     There had been another approach that stopped outside, still in the hallway, watching through the doorframe. Seeing the fight ended, the blond first year pushes off the far wall she was leaned against with her rear, walking forward as she claps gently.
     "Well done match Ito-san, Chihara-san. Oh, I didn't mean to spy or anything, I was just coming to train and saw you both here..."
     She trails off, getting a bit red in the face before she drops into a quick curtsey in greeting. Her Zanpakutou's actually at her side, since she was coming to train.
     She looks to the two, still blushing lightly from the realization that she was technically spying, "So um... that was a most unusual way to end the match Chihara-san... You're both pretty skilled though, I'm not that good at basic swordplay."

     "...ah..." Katoji blinks down at Yoshinori. "AH! I'm sorry!" he flails. "I didn't mean to- I mean, well, it was out of reflex- Oh wow! I sure hope I don't do that with a real blade!" He looks at the bokken in his hand, then moves to offer his other to help Yoshinori up. A glance is cast at Fione as she steps in, and the boy smiles at her weakly. "Oh, hey Kierre-san..! Um.... yeah, it was kinda of accidental... Effective, I guess..." He tilts his head at the girl. "You come to practice too?"

     It's hard to tell just how long the grim spectre of Ryuujin Sasaki has been observing the events. Being quiet and subtle is hardly a defining characteristic of the senior student, yet his reiatsu would have been carefully compressed, settled cross legged in a corner out of the way -- and not immediately visible from the door, as well. Crooked within one arm is a bokken of his own, stooping forward with a tsk-tsk cracking through the air like a whip. "That was interesting!" he offers, languidly flowing to a stand and brushing at the base of his hakama. With a flourishing gesture he rests his own wooden blade across a lean shoulder, march towards those assembled nearly a swagger. Fingers rake through the bleach tips of his hair, suddenly advancing upon Katoji in a blur of motion. An arm swoops like a noose, trying to pull him within a headlock so a vicious noogie can be applied. "Ya ought to be more gentle to classmates!" is admonished, but the tone is completely teasing and, were the attempt successful, he'd be all but immediately released. "You're not bad, though." To Yoshi, "That was terrible." Attention returns to Katoji, apparently not bothering to say anything more to the noble. Ouch.

     The second year makes a feeble attempt at calming Katoji down, waving his hands limply at the boy. "N-no, I'm all right, I'm all right! Chi-Chihara-san..." Oh dear. This is very similar to how Chitaka acts whenever Yoshinori is pushed around or hurt.
     As the hand is taken, Ito pushes himself back up onto his feet. And suddenly - people! "Ah?" He looks at Fione, surprised to see her here. "K-kierre-san..." Of course, before he's able to say anything else, Ryuujin appears. He stares at the upperclassman, his surprise level going up. "S-Sasaki-senpai..." He blinks, registering what was just said. "EH?!"

     Fione catches her breath slightly at the (to her) sudden appearance of a fast moving apparently senior student she hadn't seen before. She stares a bit as he grabs Katoji like that, watching.
     Then about when Yoshinori speaks up she realizes what was said to him.
     "Hey! Ito-san did well! I don't think I could have bested him! There's no reason to tell him he was terrible just because Chihara-san did something odd and caught him offguard!" The indignant blonde freshman calls out, a bit huffily.
     Shortly after that she actually realizes Katoji asked her a question, "Hm? Oh! Sorry, yes... Ommy gets grouchy if I don't train for a bit at least every other day..." Though she's not entirely certain if Katoji's even in a position to listen to her thanks to the headlock, even if it is released now.

     "Wha- Sasaki-senp-AAgGk!" Katoji's bokken falls on the ground, his hands grasping at the thick arms of the upper-upperclassman. "Owowowo-" Dropped. Thud. "Grk." The boy rubs his head and tries to return his hair to some semblance of order before he winces as he tries to get up again. Really, was that really necessary? He grabs his bokken from the floor as he stands, in time to jump to Yoshinori's defense along with Fione. "Yeah! I- well, okay, yeah." It was an odd move, but he's always felt better using a staff (or rather his broom). "...Onmy?" he blinks, glancing at the girl again then.

     Of course it wasn't. Unnecessary force? Why, that's Ryuujin all over. When Fione interjects, she's given a sort of hard sidelong appraisal, like some kind of bug who's opted to begin buzzing around his head. "Who's she?" Katoji's further backup elicits a dismissive wave of the hand, and a 'Bah!' "I didn't mean to shatter his fragile feelings. But if a single freaky move from a student a year beneath you results in that... What if that had been a hollow, Yoshinori?" He leans forward, brows raising. "And you had lost your head? You ought to expect the unexpected at every turn. I won't coddle you for failure! Think fast!" He snaps out his bokken, and attempts to whap Yoshi right atop the head with it. ...Before trying the same on Katoji. "You too!!" Thereafter, it would rest on his shoulder.

     Noharu Tenshi was just walking around looking for some space to do some sword training, solo, it seemed; but only because he hadn't really found anyone else beside Ranmaru to spar with. Now, even that's put to a hault because of that assassin attack a while back. It was really making him regret agreeing to let Haru give up his life to get him into the academy. Tenshi sighed and and altough he seemed to travel so flowingly, to him, each step was weighted with guilt and his academy issued asauchi bounching light at...
     Upon entering the First Practice Dojo, Tenshi is immediately greeted with some strange blurry something crossing right in front of him, he couldn't help but check out what was going on. There were mostly people he had met before; Kierre-san... probably still mad at him for that whole trap thing. He sighed with regret, but quickly shook the thought off. There was also Chihara-san who he had only seen a couple nights ago on the roof with Minamoto-senpai. Ito-san was also present, getting back on his feet from being knocked down it seemed... Tenshi thought he remembered hearing he was a second year student. Katoji must be a good combatant. That all said, he couldn't recall who the older student was, but he had heard his name being called, 'Sasaki-senpai', he figured he might get by. Finally, he approached the group gathered as Katoji pulled his head free.
     "Greetings, All." Tenshi said with a slight nod to each gathered briefly, doing his best not to look at Fione. That wasn't hard however as he found himself focusing on the someone known as Sasaki-senpai. He was kind of cool, though he'd never say it.

     Oooh, he's not making a good impression here, not at all. However, both Chihara and Kierre are standing up /for/ him. They are Chitaka's replacements, each having the same aure of boldness in the face of their senpai.

     The idea of saying something else in his own defense is shelved for the time being.

     When Ryuujin does address him, Yoshinori feels more tired than he should be. Maybe even crushed. His eyes do snap open when the senpai's bokken comes flying at him, having enough sense in him to take a flash step away from the danger. However, he falls short of completely dodging it, feeling part of the blunt object run past the side of his head. It's...not a good feeling. Not at all. Yoshinori pauses, gaping at the older student in disbelief. "S-Sasaki-senpai?! You're insane!!" Tenshi is not noticed right away, but he does hear the boy greet everyone. What timing.

     Fione frowns, eyeing the new 'intruder', but since he asked Katoji she'll let him answer.
     Tenshi's arrival gets a brief look before she turns away, not bothering to reply, walking over to help Yoshinori stand back up.
     "Are you alright Ito-san?"
     Katoji's question is noted, but she'll get to him when things calm down. Making sure Ryuujin's not going to keep assaulting Yoshinori and helping the tall upperclassman and making sure he's okay has priority for the moment.

     Amber eyes practically bug out at the older student's actions. "Sasaki-senp-AH!" Katoji pulls up his bokken up, bracing it between his hands as he hears Ryuujin's crack against it. He'd jump right in with Yoshinori's protests, but he looks more startled from the near strike to his head. He's already been cracked in the skull one, he doesn't really want a repeat visit to the 4th, thanks! The boy looks pale as he lowers his bokken. He plasters a smile on his face nevertheless, stepping back from them. "I should... I needa go... oh, Noharu-san," he bobs his head distractedly towards the smaller student and then turns and bows to Yoshinori- they hadn't formally concluded their fight. "...thanks... sorry, I just..." It's strange for him to suddenly be so awkward about things, but he turns to quickly replace the practice weapon on its rack before dashing over to reclaim his broom and then making a run- perhaps even a shunpo dash towards the door. It's not that he wanted to leave so quickly, but he isn't sure what he'd do with all the anxiety that suddenly built up within him. Scared?

     "Insanity is good!! If you don't know what I'll do, you'll stay on your toes, and you might live a day longer! Haaaahahahah!!" That laugh can hardly be stable, one hand upon his hip and head thrown back. But this fades away almost immediately, glancing towards Tenshi and offering a salute with his bokken. "Fine, get outta here!" is offered towards Katoji, making a shoo-shoo motion with his free hand. Anything peculiar does not visibly register upon his face, but empathy is probably near the bottom of his personal traits.

     Taking Fione's silence as a good thing, Tenshi breaths a sigh of relief and then turns his attention to Yoshinori who appeared to have some condition right now. "Is he-" But before he can fully ask that question, out walks Katoji in a manner that sends shivers down his spine. Looking back at Ryuujin, he bows for a moment keeping his eyes on him, uncertain due to the recent crazy moment. "My name is Noharu Tenshi and it's an honor to meet you, Sasaki-senpai." Having said that, he stands back up and looks back over at Yoshinori. "What happened over there? He looks dazed..."

     Everything builds up. Emotions, reactions, thoughts. All of these are kept in check as Yoshinori still keeps his eyes on Ryuujin, his mind still reeling. Sure, he's suppose to be helpful, but really...
     "I...I'm fine, Kierre-san," he says quietly toward the girl, thankful for her support. It's about all he says, his gaze falling on Katoji as he makes a hasty exit. "Y...oh..." he sighs, watching the boy go. He is concerned, but he cannot do anything right now.
     He gives Tenshi a longer look, acknowledging his presence now that he's been in the dojo for a period of time. Of course, he's not really in the mood for chatting as he usually would. "...I'm sorry," he apologizes to the three, bowing curtly. "...I need to clear my head." He then turns to exit the building, his thoughts overlapping as he goes.

[Log] 17 - Dirt

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:40:40 GMT

Characters: Hitohiko, Yoshinori
Summary: Did the dirt have anything to do with learning?

=======

     He judged them on a variety of scales, because he believes that there are no absolutes. It's true that he keeps notes, but they are primarily for the dull children, who are to him like a seasonal, ever-renewing crop of insects: quick to hatch, reproduce, and then die. The interesting ones he keeps up with on his own. They see him several times a week, whether they're aware of it or not. It may be no more than watching playground chatter from a window, passing them in the hallway, or quietly sitting in the back of another teacher's classroom for a short while before moving on. As far as Hitohiko is concerned, everything is always a test.
     An optimistic person had to hope that that was why he had, in the middle of the first day of the week, put on gloves, protective rubber gardening boots, and wheeled a wheelbarrow through the students' dorms, where he'd proceeded to shovel the wheelbarrow's contents into Yoshinori's room. The best potting dirt, usually a rich, dark kind of thick loam, had been piled high in the middle of the floor. Some had rolled under the desk and the bed, some had crumbled over on top of a wayward book, but for the most part it was a magnificently-shaped mountain. Satisfied, he'd pushed the wheelbarrow and shovel back out to the groundskeeper's shed, returned the gloves and the boots, having never bothered at any point to conceal what he'd done or who he was from the puzzled students wandering past.
     And then, he returned to the school's basement library to do paperwork and wait.

     The books hit the floor just as soon as he made it to the open doorway.

     Yoshinori's eyes stayed wide open, his mouth gaping at the neatly piled dirt mound taking up most of the space in his room. Unfortunately, the dirt also sat atop some of the cushions, hints of color showing through the shallow parts of the mountain's sides. Just as long as there were still things to salvage, it was fine. Of course, this thought was far from his mind.
     All of the time spent staring wasn't helping his situation. The students passing through the hallway just gave curious and surprised looks, some chattering away once they've moved far enough from the scene.
     He didn't know what to do first. Clean up...or ask questions?

     It didn't take long to get over to the place Hitohiko resided. Striding without shunpo worked just as well. A good, strong knock on the doorframe gave a warning, Yoshinori bowing his head curtly afterward. "Hitohiko-sensei," he half-greeted, eyes darting back up to look at the teacher. "Excuse me for interrupting, but there has been some kind of...incident."

     Hitohiko was standing on a ladder set against one of the endless bookshelves when Yoshinori skulked his way in. He put back the book he'd been examining, a few more tucked in the other arm, and peered down. "It's nearly impossible for you to be any more vague and pointless than that," he said, trying to decide why Yoshinori hadn't killed himself yet, or if he'd tried and failed. (That was likely.)
     "Could I convince you to specify, or was that all you required? I'm not busy, but, still...." He'd rather be bored than be subjected to a teenager's dithering, inspecific gloominess.

     If he ever had the time to think everything through, he would have done everyone a favor by now. Of course, that wasn't the case. Yoshinori craned his neck once he stands normally, still keeping a hand on the wooden framework. Although he looked incredulous, he might as well give details. Hitohiko's frankness helps.
     "There is....a hill of dirt in my room," he said slowly. "And it isn't all over the place. It looks like it was pre-planned." His brow furrowed, but the usual look of concern was played down. "I mean...it's a clean pile. Nothing's spread around, nor is anything completely covered in it." Save for those poor cushions.
     He then sighed, his right hand reaching up to hold the side of his head. "And I'm really hoping this has nothing to do with the class sessions," he murmured.

     Pre-planned? "Of course. A person expects spontaneous dirt, but planned dirt? My word." Hitohiko smoothed a dimpled hand backwards over his hair as he descended the ladder. He radiated a sense of disapproval so well, so classically, that an ignorant person could have easily believed that he was the victim.
     "Well, come in. I hope you have a better idea of why you're here than what you've said." This kind of vague interruption was exactly the kind of thing that could evoke revenge--as if simply dealing with him on a normal basis wasn't punishment enough.

     The second year student took a step forward, the reluctance fading with every other step following. "There would be no reason to place a pile of dirt within the confines of my room unless there was something wrong. Something that I wasn't aware of." Did he really do something to upset someone? No, not quite - just existing is something debatable, but not the very foundation for why he gets treated like this here. "I know that the students who do have problems with me do not have the tendency or skill to pull such a prank," Yoshinori reasoned. "And I know coming here is just....odd, but..." He hesitated. Should he really try putting a teacher on the spot?

     "Skill?" Hitohiko repeated, eyebrows arched and eyelashes low. He was very good at making things he reviled sound delightful. It was possibly one of the reasons Satsue hadn't murdered him yet.
     The books thumped as they were dumped on the solitary table that stood in the middle of the wide, reflective floor. "All right, Ito-chan, you walk through your door and find a pile of dirt in your dorm room. Your first impulse is to come and report this to me." He was examining his already well-polished fingernails with great care but not, obviously, deeply concerned about the state of Yoshinori's bedroom floor.

     This just became more of a challenge with just a few simple sentences. Of course, seeing how questionable the teacher is didn't help but make sense. Ito balked when Hitohiko decided to use 'chan' at the end of his family name, but he recovered. "Y-yes, coming over here is strange," the youth continued, his thoughts gathering and falling apart quickly before regathering what he could say next. "But, but I was at a loss of what to do at the time. I know, I could have tried cleaning up, but I didn't." He'll try doing that later.
     Tired crimson eyes look up at Hitohiko. "I don't know who else would do this." Yes, the noble can see how much Hitohiko cared about the subject. Maybe it was a mistake to come over here in the first place.

     The pause that followed was long and painful.
     Then, suddenly, Hitohiko inhaled sharply, dropped his hand to his side, and turned on Yoshinori. "Let me tell you what your problem is." He took a step forward, and although he was shorter than the student he was advancing on, and although he wasn't wearing his zanpakutou, there was something inherently threatening about it. "You're too pathetic to rationalize your way through anything you do. It's as if you're such a coward, you're even afraid of yourself." He took another step, head tilted quizzically to one side. "You knew it was me because I'm the only person you know who dislikes you enough to abuse you. The reasons for my dislike are as illogical as the decision to pour a giant mound of the Academy's flower garden on your dorm room floor. And I'm the only person you know who would do something that illogical for such petty reasons without having to fear repercussions. But you couldn't even walk yourself through such a simple, infantile thought process."
     He took a third step and peered up at the young man with his wide, fearless eyes and wrinkled up his nose as he asked, "Are you afraid to think?"

     He didn't move away when the teacher comes closer, his shoulders tensing when the man spoke. The corners of his mouth twitch, the words weighted as they hit each point brought up. He knew he should have said this. "I...I didn't..." Yoshinori shut up, squinting as Hitohiko observed him.
     He was right. All of it is illogically done. There weren't any clear reasons for a teacher to dislike or hate a student. Maybe there were. The rules are skewed.
     The young noble glanced back at Hitohiko, staring back into his eyes. "A...afraid?" No, he didn't sound afraid. He's falling between curiosity and confusion. A hand clenched, relaxing after a few seconds. "W-well.....yes," he responded quietly. Living in a noble household does have its disadvantages when it came to subjects like this.

     In a spirit of warm companionship, Hitohiko's hands darted out and gripped the boy's wrists as he leaned forward. Gently, he whispered, "Then go. Home. You're a walking corpse, and that's un-hygienic. Take your empty, mindless, weak shell home, and leave us real people to do our work. Okay?"
     He patted Yoshinori's shoulder as he leaned away.

     The suddenness of the motion makes Yoshinori gasp. He heard Hitohiko very clearly, his skin prickling at the soft, errie tone of his voice. It all contradicted, all of it. His mind went blank again in the middle of this, only to find himself patted at the end of it.
     The youth still looked at the teacher in shock, but it changed into something else. "...That's it?" Yoshinori asked quietly. "That's all? Just...go home?" Tempting. Very tempting. "After all of that...random, dirt piling?"

     "Should there be more?" Hitohiko narrowed his eyes contemplatively. "Did you think that was my idea of cruelty? That was just to prove a point. If I felt like hurting you, I'd lock you-" He half-turned sharply and pointed across the room, opposite the door Yoshinori had come through, where the little circle of light cast by the lamp over the table could not reach. "-in the vault room and pour a half inch of acid on the floor, then let you walk across it or die slowly from the fumes. Your feet would leave footprints burned into this floor if you actually made it out. They'd be there forever."
     He looked back up to Yoshinori. "That's what I would do, if I felt like being cruel. Dirt in your room? Hmnh."

     "...." For some reason, Hitohiko was really good at pushing his buttons. "Proving...right, there couldn't have been a better way of doing that," Yoshinori replied while fixing his sleeves. He stopped to give the teacher a long, hard stare about the room with acid idea. "...Seriously?" Goodness, where did Satsue find these teachers?! Without waiting for an 'obvious' answer, the youth sighed, shaking his head. "Fine," he said, some annoyance making its way through the politeness he could still muster. "I'm going."

     "You're so smart. I wish I knew everything, like you do. It must make life so easy." With a smile so fake it shouldn't have counted as a real expression, Hitohiko turned away and made his way back to his improvised desk. "The truth is that you can tell a person the truth, but until they feel the logic, they seldom believe it." He picked up a book with a faded red cover up from the table, turning it over in his hands.
     "And no. I don't murder students in a room lined with acid. That's ridiculous. It would ruin my floors." Paging through his book, he added, "It happened in Illinois about one hundred and fifty years ago. World's Fair. They never found out how many girls he killed that way. Interesting read if you have the resources to look it up; a boy as fan-tastically intelligent as yourself should have no trouble, hm? Shut the door on your way out."

     Nothing was said back, the noble only pausing to watch Hitohiko go about his business without skipping a beat. Sure, there were insults, but he really didn't feel like arguing. If there were points to argue, anyway.

     And that smile.

     He seriously never felt this annoyed before. Shaking his head, Yoshinori walked out, the door shutting heavily behind him as he left. He had other things to take care of. The dirt didn't disappear on its own.

[Log] 16 - Umeko

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:11:00 GMT

Characters: Umeko, Yoshinori
Summary: Shamisen players unite! Sort of.

=======

     It was such a pity that she rarely had the time to practice anymore. Twisting the pegs, strumming lightly at the strings, and softly humming to herself, Umeko narrowly focused as she tuned. Having left her shamisen in a chest in her room for such a long time had allowed the strings to lose pitch, and she feared that she'd have to replace them soon. Oh, how her mother would scold her for letting her shamisen get this out of shape!
     But, it was a blessing that she was relatively isolated underneath her favorite tree in the grounds. No one would have to hear tuning this way. The weather quite pleasant for midday, Umeko had been out there for sometime, just tuning. When she believed she had found the right note for the last string, she let out a sigh. "Finally..." She softly muttered to herself.
     Bringing the shamisen into position in her lap, she fixed her posture and then took a deep breath before starting to strum at the strings to assure everything was alright. Having been concentrating so hard, she hardly noticed the passage of time and the movement of the sun overhead, let alone anyone who had happened to wander by. She could only hope those bullies would not come back and throw her shamisen into the tree again...

     Lately he's been finding himself coming back to this area. The more time spent outside of class and his room is probably good for the young noble, anyway. Everything feels good under these conditions, and wandering off alone is nothing new to Yoshinori. He saw Chitaka earlier in one of the hallways, and seeing her happy as always made him feel a little better.
     The bullying comes and goes, but it has been relaxed of late. It's shunpo conserved, at least. As of now, Yoshinori is not as tense as he usually is, walking calmly through the grounds. He also holds his own shamisen carefully, still sort of dusty from sitting on its stand, but it looks fine. A quick tuning and all will be well.
     Of course, it seems he isn't the only one with the idea of playing outside. Ito catches a few faint notes floating about in the air, blinking curiously. "Is that..." He eventually arrives at the tree where Umeko sits, staring in awe of the way she controlled the tones and pitches. Moving slowly, he sits a foot and a half away from the girl, continuing to watch and listen.

     How great it was to play again! Having been so busy with her school work and training, she had almost forgotten how it felt while playing. It eased her tensions and worries, and was comforting and almost nostalgic. Her facial expression was almost blank as she stared inwardly.
     The song she played was a somber sort of melody, one that she heard her mother play often. She had no idea what the name of the song was, but it was a song she was rather fond of. There was one difficult part, however, and a simple slip of her finger was all it took to make it sound a little off. All at once, she seemed to snap out of it, her eyes casting towards the misplaced fingers.
     She sighed softly, but after a moment, she felt the familiar feeling of hairs sticking up on the back of her neck. Someone was watching ... "Eh...?" She looked to the other side of her, and sure enough, there was someone, sitting very closely indeed.
     Blushing a bright shade of pink, Umeko tensed up and took in a brief, sharp gasp before managing to blurt out clumsily. "A-ah, I'm sorry...!" She lowered her head in humility. What exactly she was sorry for, she did not make clear, but it would appear to the other student that she was sincere.

     Ah? She stopped playing. The note's tone was noticeable, however, Yoshinori's eyelids fluttering open from their half-lidded state of wonder. He also found himself staring back at the girl, his reaction going slower than usual. "Ah-" He bit his lip, a hint of pink appearing on his face as well. He held up a hand, weakly waving it. "...N-no, it's, it's fine. I'm...sorry for just sitting here without announcing myself," the noble smiled awkwardly.
     Fingers plucked the strings of the shamisen to keep busy while he recollected his thoughts. "Y-you play very well, Yukieda-san," Yoshinori said after a pause. The strings are continually plucked under the sound of his voice, hands reaching for the pegs each time it sounded off. "Chihara-san only mentioned this to me before." He also mentioned something about dueling shamisen, but...it's Katoji.

     She peered up, face not quite as pink but she still retained a little shame. Playing in front of her seniors was hard enough, but to get a note like that wrong and stop was just embarrassing. Sitting up straight, she shook her head and dismissed his response, smiling just a little. "That's okay, it was just a little shocking..." The older student had a gentle sort of countenance, and it was relatively easily to calm down around him.
     It was then when she noticed that he had his shamisen with him as well. She stared at it in wonder for a few moments, as she had never known another shamisen player besides her mother. It also seemed that it was a very well-crafted shamisen, much more elaborate and expensive in design than her own. It was very pretty, and Umeko was quite captivated with it almost immediately.
     "Katoji-kun told me that you played as well, but I never got the chance to see you play..." She looked up at him for a moment, her smile becoming a little brighter before she looked down towards the shamisen again. It made hers look like a toy. "That is a beautiful shamisen, and I bet you play so well..."

     "A-ah. All right," Yoshinori said softly, still fiddling with one peg. It wasn't cooperating with him, and it was the only one that made things difficult before staying put. "I didn't think anyone would be out here, at the time. Looks like I was wrong." He chuckled, letting the shamisen rest in his lap after finally setting the strings properly.
     To him, a shamisen was just a shamisen. His family just liked getting him the better ones, being wealthy and all. Plus, the lessons he took didn't all go to waste. More or less. "Oh, thank you," the second year replied, glancing between his instrument and Umeko's. "Yours looks fine, too. It's much simpler. I like that." He then smiled back, a little off-guard. "Chihara-san said that? Oh..." That happy little boy. He didn't have to! "Well, he did catch me playing that one time...but...we're both here now, a-and what you were playing earlier sounded great."

     Umeko softly chuckled as well, as she considered the coincidence that two shamisen players preferred the same spot in the large expanse of the grounds. It seemed as if Katoji had known that they'd be playing together eventually. He would have to come watch them play one day to see a duet.
     Looking down at her own shamisen, which was much more plain and simple, she tilted her head a little. "My father gave it to my mother years ago, but she gave it to me when I came here. It's very old, but it has a lot of memories." Umeko figured she would play it until it turned into dust in her lap, but one day she hoped to also buy a new one and give the old one back to her mother before it did actually fall apart.
     "Thank you..." She nodded and smiled at his compliment, then after falling silent for a few moments, her expression became subtly inquisitive. "If you want... I could teach you how to play that song. It's a bit difficult at points but I'm sure you could manage..."

     He nodded silently at the history behind Umeko's shamisen. It must be nice to have something like that to keep some kind of connection with family. Like an heirloom of sorts, maybe. Hopefully, she can do as she planned.
     Crimson eyes blinked, his attention coming back to the girl. "...I wouldn't mind at all," he said. "It does seem difficult, but...we'll see." Well, he's up for a challenge for once. The shamisen is brought up into playing position, his back straight. All of this was unintentionally poised, but not too intimidating.

     She nodded, glad to hear his response. "I'm sure you'll be able to do it...! I'll play a few notes at a time and then wait for you to do the same..." Seeing that he was getting ready to play, she repositioned herself as well, steadying the plectrum in her hand and stretching her fingers at the neck momentarily before setting them in position.
     After a short silence, Umeko played a few notes, a little slower in tempo than before, but only because she wanted Ito-senpai to be able to mimick the same notes. It was the way that she had learned the song from her mother, and hopefully it would be the same for him. She still did worry about the finger placement during the difficult parts, and her eyes darted from her fingers to his to compare.

     It should be similar to how he was taught; he had done some exercises like that before, and it was always good to hear how a tune is played before attempting to go with it. The second year student mentally kept the same tempo as Umeko drew out the first few notes, his hand faltering before actually strumming any of the strings with the plectrum.
     Steady....
     Each note is mimicked clearly. It might sound a little sharper, but it's not painful to listen to. Yoshinori fidgeted, glancing sheepishly back at Umeko after he stopped.

     When she caught him glancing up at her, she gave him the most reassuring smile and nodded. "That was good, just repeat that over and over and you'll get a hang of it, I'm sure..." She looked down to her hands, and then sighed as she continued. "This one part is supposed to be played pretty quickly, and I can't even get it right..." She performed this said part, playing a few notes before the tempo sped up sharply for a series of notes. A couple of the beats were irregular as changing the notes so quickly was hard.
     "Who taught you how to play?" She was a little curious, as she had been taught by her own mother. She had no idea if there were any formal shamisen teachers around. At any rate, her family wouldn't have been able to afford anything like that.

     "Okay..." Sounded simple enough. The same notes are plucked lightly as he watched for the next set. Although he was keeping time, he also sped up with her playing. At this, he tilted his head. "Hm...let's see..."
     The beat was reset, and the slur of notes were being picked apart from whatever he remembered hearing earlier. "Well...he was a friend of the family, but they still paid him for the lessons I took. It wasn't too much of a problem, really - my parents wanted to do it." Again, he repeated the notes, still wondering if he was missing one or two from the string. He went a little faster after doing that twice. "She was patient with me. She said I did better than some of her other students." It's something he should be proud of, but he shook his head. The notes slightly danced the next time he played them, still having some trouble with it.

     She listened intently to him. A whole class of shamisen students... it was something she could only imagine. The nobles really did lead such different lives than the people in Rukongai. She did not doubt in the least that her adoptive mother was a good teacher, but she would have liked to have been around other students as well. Her brother had never been interested in it at all.
     Smiling at his progress, her voice picked up a little in excitement. "Well I would certainly say that you're learning very quickly...! You do have a natural talent for the shamisen, Ito-senpai." She played along with him for a little bit, noticing the different sounds that their shamisen produced. The structures and wood gave off slightly varied sounds that sounded nice together.

     Yes, it was strange attending those classes when he was younger. The home visits made things a little more comforting for him, however, but it only went on whenever the teacher decided to do so. "T-thank you," Yoshinori grinned slightly, feeling sort of embarrassed with the compliment.
     So they both were playing, now. Umeko had a very good teacher, too. He strummed, moving his fingers up and down the strings. Single, double, beat. "You're doing very well, yourself, Yukieda-san," he commented softly, closing his eyes.

     "Oh, I'm still learning, but thank you..." She continued to play, even throwing in a few knocks on her shamisen's body almost like it were a drum. It was a technique she was still learning, and she wished that visiting her adoptive mother was possible. She'd be so excited to learn that she had made a friend that played as well!
     "I haven't been able to really play like this for a long time, not since classes started..." Between training, being in the sick ward for injuries, and studying for tests, she had wondered if her shamisen playing had become really rusty. "... It's sad that we have to stop our hobbies, but if we want to become Shinigami, we have to sacrifice a lot of things..." Her voice drifted off a little, and her smile died down a little.

     The plectrum flicked against one string three times, each pluck sounding different with the fingering. The young noble nodded, also starting to think about home. All he had been doing was writing and sending some of the more impractical items back to the household. In return, he got more letters, another vase, and another package of snacks. It was a tricky game.
     His eyes opened partially when Umeko spoke some more. "I sort of had that problem, too," he said, "except...I sort of forgot I had this up on one of my shelves. B-but...yes, the academy does that." Becoming busy, adding stress through schoolwork and social situations, office visits...First years do have it tough, and although it seemed to get better after that, there were still lots to do before graduating on time.
     Ito said nothing in response to the last thing the girl talked about, the tone of his shamisen sounding sharp again. The song he was playing earlier transitioned into another song, or just a few notes with drawn out pauses. "...Work hard, stay focused..." Yoshinori smiled sadly to himself, a repetition of words he had heard over and over again.

     She watched his attitude suddenly change, her expression becoming coming a bit concerned. Had she said something wrong? Listening to the new song quietly, Umeko had noticed that Ito-senpai had suddenly become a little sad. Lying her shamisen gently on her lap, the hand that had been formerly holding the neck came up to her chin thoughtfully.
     After watching him play for a little while longer, she softly spoke out. "Ito-senpai, are you alright?"

     It wasn't anything new to him, unfortunately. Yoshinori was easily upset by things, but he's gotten better at dealing with it. However, there was alway a chance to relapse somehow. Thoughts, memories, friends, family, the academy...
     The notes rang throughout the grounds, almost haunting. There were still a few sharp hints, but all of it stayed consistent. The young man stared at the ground in front of him now, eyes half-lidded. His mouth opened after a while, shutting for a moment, and then parting once more to respond. "...I...I can't really say I-I'm fine, can I?" He tried to smile, but it came out lopsided.
     One last note was strummed. "....I'm sorry. I...just have a lot on my mind."

     Having then dropped her plectrum as well, Umeko gently set her shamisen to the side, only leaving the cloth she was using to set on her lap in its place. She kept her honey-colored eyes lowered, only glancing up at him momentarily. She couldn't help but feel as if she had made him feel that way.
     "...I'm sorry, Ito-senpai, I must have said something to upset you." Her hands folded tightly in her lap. Taking in a breath, she tried to think of something to say, wondering if anything she might say might make him feel worse. But she couldn't just sit there, she was about to burst! "...There's not anything I can do, is there...?" Though she doubted she could, she wanted to at least be a supportive junior.

     "N-no...you don't have to apologize," Yoshinori replied quietly, lifting his head a little. His shamisen is laid across his lap during this, his hands folding over its front. "This happens a lot. Please, don't worry about me." The noble happened to go through this many times.
     Sighing, he glanced back at Umeko. He really wished he hadn't upset her, either. She was such a nice young lady. She was willing to help. Most were, unless they were the bullies. "...Well....not exactly," he answered sincerely with a limp shrug of one shoulder. "But...playing the shamisen is good enough." He'd talk, but he felt it'd be too much to added to Umeko's problems.

     She smiled a little, but like his smile, it was a little sad. Softly sighing, she looked away and stared out a little. "Playing the shamisen does help to keep my mind off of things a bit, too... but, I'm always a little disappointed to see things go back to normal afterwards. It's a normal feeling, I think..." She laughed a little, albeit weakly.
     "... I'm really glad that I found someone else to play shamisen with. That is, if you don't mind, Ito-senpai?" Umeko had suddenly changed topics, but she decided that it was probably best that Ito-senpai didn't linger on such a depressing subject. It would have been rude of her to pry on his personal business, too. She just hoped that she hadn't somehow discouraged and scared off a potential shamisen partner!

     She meant well. She just wasn't as sunshiney happy as Chitaka and Katoji, but it was nice. He chuckled, shaking his head. "Yes, it does seem that way, doesn't it?" he asked, not expecting an answer to the question. His eyes wandered over toward the other trees, his mind starting to wander....
     And then, Yoshinori visibly perked a little. "Eh?" His gaze went back to Umeko, the shamisen making prickly noises when his hands moved over the strings accidentally. It took him a while to process the idea. "...I am too. A-and, no, I wouldn't mind at all!" He sounded a tone lighter, at least. It's a welcome change to his routine, anyway. "I...I really like how this ended up, actually. Playing, and all."

     She brightened up almost immediately when Ito-senpai agreed to the proposal. Smiling, she expressed her excitement by gently clapping her hands together. "I'm glad...! We can help each other become better players, and one day, we'll be able to show Katoji-kun and the others how impressive we are...!" Though Umeko was a naturally shy person, she became excited by the thought of performing for others.
     "What do you think?" She tilted her head as she looked at him in a curious gesture, her fingers curling about the tiny cloth on her lap. Although he had already agreed, she wanted to spur a little excitement in him.

     Yoshinori smiled warmly. "I, I think it's a good idea," he responded with a small laugh. Not a bad idea, at all. Performing for others was fine with him. "And Chihara-san can have that...dueling shamisen thing put to rest whenever that happens," he mused, tilting his head a few degrees.
     He could see that the girl was really up for it. It'd be a good thing altogether. Fun, even.

[Log] 14 - Fione

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:17:28 GMT

Characters: Fione, Yoshinori
Summary: A short break from overall Academy business brings another random meeting.

=======

With all of the current bustling about the Academy, students were already busy studying and preparing themselves for tomorrow's classes. Work needs to be done and met on time or else they'd have added earfuls along with the lectures the teachers gave for each session.
Yoshinori sighs, getting away from the noise brought about the halls and into the quiet of the shaded grounds. He's only been through such an experience once before, being a second year and all, but it wasn't as pleasant as it was now. Yes, he does have some other classes to attend, but the break is definitely a must for him. The tall noble leans against one of the trees, staring up at its thick foliage. Within seconds, he starts to zone out while thinking about other things.

And turn a left to find yourself... ...outdoors?
Fione pauses as she steps out the door, staring down at the crudely scrawled 'map' she managed to obtain, studying it for several moments, before looking skyward. ...Then looking back to the map, incredulously. After several moments, she shrugs, and begins to walk again, eyes on the map.
The young woman's gentle footfalls may catch the tall male's ears, as she approaches his direction, eyes drifting from the sheet of rumpled paper in her hands to the path before her as she walks, looking increasingly uncertain and skittish as she walks. By the way her mouth's moving she's probably muttering to herself, but her voice is kept so silent even her own ears can barely hear the gentle murmur she's making.

If it were his servant, Chitaka, she would have come crashing through the area with a cheerful greeting. However, he sounds indeed do catch his attention, crimson eyes fluttering back into the present time frame. His head turns slightly to look at the girl, eyebrows rising with some curiosity. No, he hasn't seen this student before. Or maybe he missed her. One of those. She does seem very engulfed in finding her way around, but it looks like she can use some help.
Moving fluidly away from the tree, he reaches out with a hand to try tapping her on the shoulder. He also tries to speak while doing this in order to lessen the surprise level. "U-um...excuse me....?"

The girl jumps ever so slightly as she looks up, "Oh! Um, sorry, am I not supposed to be here?"
She sounds genuinely like she's had issues like that come up more then once here lately. Her eyes have a hint of apologetic worry to them, and indeed, her body seems slightly tensed up.
She turns, slowly, with a trained grace to her step, to face the man. Once she sees he's another student she does relax a little. At least if she's in the wrong place she (probably) won't get scolded or face penalties from another student.

His own hand jerks back the instant she jumps, also causing him to panic a little. "A-ah!! N-no, I just, was wondering...if you were, ah..." His words trail off, standing in a rigid pose before slumping his shoulders. Yoshinori bobs his head, his longer right side of his dark hair swaying with the practiced movement. "I-I'm sorry. I w-was wondering if you needed any help. This place is open to anyone, so there's no worry about that." He gives a weak smile, still feeling sort of awkward.

The girl lets out a slight relieved sigh, relaxing visibly for a moment. Afterwards she draws herself back upright and smiles softly, "Thankyou... Actually no, I'm just looking around... I found this map, but it doesn't seem to help. I'm a new student so I still don't really know my way around... I'm sorry if I bothered you."
She lowers her hand, allowing the map to come into view. Its very crudely scrawled, not to scale, and the text is actually written upside down, so you have to hold it upside down for the floor plan to be right side up. In short, it'd probably do anyone more harm then good to try to use.

"Oh, don't be, please," Yoshinori waves his hands, letting them fall back into a loose, clasped position in front of him. "I-I'm fine with it." New student. That explains why she has a map....a found map. "Found?" he murmurs, tilting his head. Well, if that works for her, then...actually, it doesn't look like it's helping at all. Just eying the details briefly makes him wonder who can get away with drawing something like that.
"I'm....I'm sure there are better maps," he says thoughtfully. "Where exactly did you find this...?"

A glance is cast at the map from the girl as she lifts it briefly, "It was on a small table in the front lobby. It was the only one there, I just figured it was the last one for new students, but I guess its not really official." Or at least, she hopes not.
"Oh! Sorry, where are my manners this evening? My name is Fione, of the Kierre family." She speaks of her family name as if its nobility, but its no noble family you've ever heard of. In fact, being nobility yourself, you may actually recognize the name as a upstart merchant that's been trying to inch his way into the prestige of nobility, without the blood.

That explains so much more. Usually if something is left out like that in the lobby, it is either official or just some random prank one of the other students felt like pulling. He isn't too sure; he had less of the pranking and more of the bullying.
The second year nods, chuckling softly. "Ito, Yoshinori. It's all right - I don't mind." His name alone has made some impact on other students, more or less. It is the combination of this name and his personality that made things line up oddly. "N-no need to be formal." Ito may have heard of the name being thrown around during late evening conversations when he was back at home, his mind still wide awake while his room stayed dark. The adults were still heard through the thin paneled walls, each having their own opinion on the most recent news within the noble realm. He feels like he should comment, but he thinks better of it.

The girl was starting to curtsy when the no need to be formal comment is made, she pauses in mid-movement, blinking before she straightens back up. Its a conditioned response, its the way she's been trained to greet. In all honesty, she doesn't even recognize the family name offhand.
"Um, alright Ito-san. I don't recall seeing you so far... I'm guessing you aren't a first year?" Her posture's still fairly formal, and her tone still soft-spoken. But for her, acting fully casual around people is still something to get used to, thanks to her sheltered upbringing.

Maybe it's better that way. There are plenty of other big names out there, and the Ito clan just happens to blend into the mess. "Well, y-yes, I'm just a second year student," he says with a small smile. Too bad Yoshinori isn't shorter. He can't make himself any smaller, unfortunately, but at least he doesn't try to do it. His tone is relaxed, but he still holds to the polite standard, as well. "The first year is sort of tough, transitioning into it and all. You should be all right adapting to the atmosphere. And making friends, too. It's...pretty nice." Just as long as there isn't any trouble made or anything. Thankfully, the students are well-behaved. For the most part, anyway.

The girl nods slowly. She's not very tall at all herself, standing at a mere 5'2". She offers a slightly warmer smile, "There is a lot to adapt to, admittedly... This is really different from back home."
She looks around before sighing softly, inhaling the fresh air deeply. Apparently she just really noticed how tranquil the outdoors seem compared to the mad crowds and rushing that tend to be going on indoors.
"Do things still feel so... rushed, after a while? Or do you just get used to that?"

Yoshinori shrugs idly, slowly. "Yes, they are," he nods, not being a stranger to home-sickness. He should be able to visit, but it was more of a test given to see if he can stay on or within campus grounds. "Sometimes....it is better to have a change of scenery. We all cannot stay in one place for the rest of our lives, even if we wanted to." His uncle certainly would agree with this.
He blinks, pondering her question about how hectic things have become lately. "...I think it only gets like this whenever there are mid-terms or finals. A-any form of testing or special event, anyway. It's almost impossible to get use to it." He laughs softly at the thought. "If anyone is use to it, then I'd think that person is doing well."

The girl nods, slowly. She walks over to a tree, gently touching it, "I guess things will just continue like this until I'm finally done then... Maybe I'll be used to it by then, at least in some way." She certainly sounds uncertain about that happening.
"Do you at least get used to the academy's physical design? I'd hate to think I'll still be getting lost in five years."

He doesn't mean to put a damper on the thought, but that's how it came out. At least Fione doesn't sound like she's deep in depression. The young noble crosses his arms, hands clasping onto his elbows. "You'll find your way around soon enough, Kierre-san. It takes time, but it won't take five years." He got use to things and only got lost twice. Still, nothing to be proud of, really.

That seems to make her feel a bit relieved as she nods, "I'm really paranoid about being late to a class right now... I get turned around so easily. I can't use Shunpo or anything to get around faster right now..."
She grins, before turning back to face the taller man, "I'll probably get better at that though now that I'm here. My teacher back at home wasn't very good at it, at least not in his old age."

"I suppose it's a common feeling," Yoshinori smiles, nodding. "Some teachers will be a little lenient about tardiness, but yes, it's still good to be on time." In his own experience, he's never really been yelled at inside a classroom. Maybe lectured, but that isn't yelling. And the shunpo thing is something he's familiar with, considering he has abused its use over and over again. "I'm sure you will, Kierre-san. That's what we're all here for: learning and training."

The girl nods, smiling ever so slightly, "I got taught a lot by a old friend of my Grandfather's... But I never learned too well... I can't keep on my feet after using Shunpo. My Kidou's a nightmare. Still, I've got time to learn now I guess. Lots of it. And get other-wise adapted to life here."
She examines the taller man, briefly, "It's weird actually meeting people like this so readily. I've always just had to settle for watching everyone pass by outside through a window. I never got to get out much, until my father sent me here."

The noble chuckles, but there's nothing rude or mean about its tone. It's a nice memory. At least, it sounds like a nice memory. But the part about being inside most of the time seems to strike a cord with him. Yoshinori likes being indoors, but her perspective just makes him wonder about the girl. He barely met her, after all.
"I...suppose I can tell you what others have told me," he says softly, closing his eyes for a moment, "You'll be fine. Don't worry too much about it. B-but it's sort of hard not to." There is some warmth in his smile, reassuring Fione. "...Don't let everything overwhelm you, either." He pauses, laughing sadly after thinking about it. "I should really take my own advice."

The girl hms thoughtfully, musing over the advise for a few moments before she nods, "Sound advice but it does seem like something that's hard to follow, no matter how simple it seems. I'll keep it in mind though, thankyou."
With that she offers another smile, reassuring in her own way. She does feel a bit better having had a chance to just talk to someone again, other perspectives help a bit.

Oh good, Yoshinori is being helpful. That boosts his confidence a little more. It's good to bring other views in on a topic; everything becomes more open to interpretation. "You're welcome," he simply replies, having another thought slip in while being reminded that he also had other things to be doing. He reaches into his right sleeve, bigger than the normal uniform's standard, pulling out some wrapped candies. "Ah - I'm, uh, here," he says, giving them to Fione. "I f-forgot I had these. A-and I need to go for now. Studying. All of the fun stuff," he smiles meekly.

The girl blinks as she accepts them, "Are you sure? Thankyou... And thanks again for your help Ito-san. Good luck with your studying. I should probably get back to wandering around, I want to try to become a bit more accustomed to the academy before curfew time."
She smiles, holding the candies in her hand, offering a curtsy fully before she remembers he asked her not to be so formal, bringing a slight embarrassed smile to the girl's face, "Good evening, and I'll see you around."

"No problem - I have too much," the young man says, waving a hand. "Thank you for the well wishes! A-and I hope you find your way around! And a g-good night, as well." He bows, something he can't shake off either, gracefully turning and going off, back toward the halls.

[Art] OC/Stuff

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:38:45 GMT

^Umeko Yukieda

^Chitaka Masuda

^Antoku Sadakata

^President Antoku

^Takemaru Nakamori

^Matsuhiro Uemiya

^Seimei Kondo

^Joint effort - sketched by chihara_katoji, outlined and shaded by me.

^How Antoku wears a yukata.

^?!?!?!

[OIC?] Alphabet Meme Answers

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:42:37 GMT

My answers.

Birds - Birds aren't too bad. They can fly, have a display of many brilliantly color feathers, different skills useful to their livelihood...I-in a way you can compare them to people, almost. Every bird is different, and every person is, too. In a good way. But...birds can fly. The can go as high as they please. People can do that, but....it always seems like only a small percentage can reach that goal while the others, the ones who cannot, look on. It's almost...envious.

Chitaka - She's a part of the household no matter how much time has passed. Although she's small, Masuda-san can pull her own weight. All of the energy she has stored up can be a little overwhelming, but it's nice to see how enthusiastic she can become over certain events. Masuda-san is always willing to help out, but I don't want to burden her too much. There's a lot of devotion coming from her, and I do appreciate it, but...I should also be able to do some things on my own. I know she cannot be around all the time. I want her to do what she needs to so she can succeed here. And I know she'll protest against my thoughts...

Dogs - I...cannot really say what I think about dogs. I'm sure I have seen them, but never too close. My mother had this...fear whenever there was one around, so I suppose that explains why I never saw any within the estate. Masuda-san likes dogs, I think. Maybe some of the other students do, too, I don't really know. Maybe....

Family - My family. I love them very much. My parents can sometimes be a little too caring in my opinion. They always send food and other parcels to the academy just to make sure I'm comfortable in my dorm. Home away from home. I don't have much space left inside...however, they have been sending me less, and that is a welcomed change. If not items, letters concerning my health, studies, and life on a near-daily basis. Most of the time I have to write 'things are still the same' just to assure I'm all right. I sometimes wonder about my aunts, uncles, and cousins, how they are all doing. I...I still don't talk to many of them, and I cannot be too sure if all are still happy for me being here....Toshiaki-san is suppose to come over soon, but I never know when; he drops by unexpectedly. Every month. I do hope he's all right.

Koi Fish - Every time I see a koi pond, I instantly wonder if any were spared from being hit by stones. Y-yes, there's a reason behind this! A long time ago, m-my cousin - well, one of them - would go up to the pond in the garden and start throwing stones into the water. If he hit a fish, he'd laugh out of amusement and self-accomplishment. Um....i-in fact, I also had a hand in throwing stones at fish. I didn't know any better; I was too young to fully understand what was going on. And...even if I did understand, I still threw stones. BUT, koi are beautifully patterned...and voracious little things.

Music - Whenever I could, I play the shamisen. It helps deal with stress, and it also helps me to remember how to play such a wonderful instrument. It was one of those things you learn growing up within a noble household, something to spend time on perfecting. Of course, all do not play one single instrument. Everyone has their own style and expression when it comes down to music in general. I think there are many talented players, as well. I still have to talk to Yukieda-san about Chihara-san's suggestion....dueling shamisen? Hm. And...it may sound strange, but sometimes....sometimes I hear faint strains of music. But it doesn't last long. Lately, there has been nothing of the sort. I don't know...

Nike - Nike? What? 'Victory'? Those...shoe things? Masuda-san, what did you mean by this? Oh dear....um....or is it something else? Eh?

Sharp Pointy Objects (Swords) - Oh. Swords. To tell the truth, I did have some training before I got into the academy. I'm still in the process of learning how to wield it, but...I don't know, I feel like I haven't reached the level I'm suppose to be at. Or...maybe I am. Either way, I can learn much more with p-practice, even if it is sort of tricky. Masuda-san didn't have to use 'sharp pointy objects'....oh well. Other than that, I think it would be better if I didn't have these at all. I'm not clumsy at holding them, but....well....the sharpness and pointiness come into play, and...I suppose I'll just make do with it. I cannot go about being useless with weapons. Not anymore, anyway.

[OIC?] Alphabet Meme

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:50:21 GMT

H-here, have something to tide you over until I gather all of my drawings together.;;;

♡. it begins with a list of all 26 letters of the alphabet.
♡. comment with something you want me to talk about that starts with one of those letters.
mostly anything goes, but please nothing controversial like abortion or the death penalty
because LMFAO. just don't do it. ♥
♡. one topic per letter but you can grab as many letters as you want.
♡. i'll update this post with the answers, hurrah.

A ;
B ; Birds
C ; Chitaka
D ; Dogs
E ;
F ; Family
G ;
H ;
I ;
J ;
K ; Koi Fish
L ;
M ; Music
N ; Nike
O ;
P ;
Q ;
R ;
S ; Sharp Pointy Objects (Swords)
T ;
U ;
V ;
W ;
X ;
Y ;
Z ;

[Log] 13 - Toward The Sick Ward

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:13:09 GMT

Characters: Katoji, Miyo, Yoshinori
Summary: A visit to the Fourth Division's Sick Ward.

=======

Again he's lost track of the time, but surely it couldn't have been too much longer than when he'd first woken up and talked to Antoku. The rest had been much welcome for him, and despite his worries about the consequences of what would happen, Katoji found sleep grasped at him easily. He would have thought himself fine if not for the pain that twinged through his skull when he woke up.
Oh yeah. He's not in his dorm, that's right. Light stabs at his eyes as he opens them, and out of reflex he lifts his hand to rub at them, only to bring a fresh bout of pain as his fist brushed the tender area that he'd gotten socked. "Owww..."

"You shouldn't rub at it." The chastising words come from a gentle but pleasant voice inside the room and when Katoji looks over he'll spot the red haired girl standing at a table where a basin of water is sitting. Judging from the armband she wears it's obvious she's one of the 4th division's officers and probably the new shift nurse for the afternoon and evening hours.

A cloth is dipped into the cool water of the basin and then wrung out carefully with both slender hands to drain the excess. Once that's finished, Miyo walks over to the bedside and offers the cool compress to the patient. "How are you feeling, Chihara-san? You slept right through lunch." Again she smiles a little. "Would you like something to eat?" Because she'd be happy to get him a meal. Miyo figures he must be pretty hungry.

That voice... is definitely not Antoku's. Katoji can tell without looking that the other boy's not around the room. He only hopes things don't get out of hand. Deciding it probably better not to think about it, the boy instead lets his hand fall to the side, and he glances at the red-haired shinigami that comes over. The cool compress is quite welcome, and he whispers a quiet thanks for it. "I... thought I felt better... and then I woke up," he says, smiling faintly. "Ah- I missed lunch?" Katoji looks somewhat disappointed at this, but Miyo's inquiry makes him feel all the better. "Oh, I'd like that very much!" he pipes. "...if ... it's not too much trouble."

Miyo shakes her head, some of her bangs swishing in the process. "No trouble at all." That's what she's here for! To take care of the people who need taking care of. Even if other shinigami don't consider the 4th's position very seriously, some do see just how important they are. If it weren't for the 4th, how would anyone be able to get back to their regular duties once something has happened? Because of this, she is full of pride when it comes to her work. "I'll be right back." So he shouldn't go anywhere. Miyo walks over toward the door for the short departure. "Oh, and please don't sit up too quickly, it'll make your head spin." If he really wants to he can test it out but then he'll just see that she's right! The girl slips out quietly. The kitchen isn't far so she'll be back soon enough with a lunch box for him.

How can he go anywhere? Well, okay, Katoji probably could go somewhere if he really wanted to, and if he didn't know any better- but he does, and he also remembers the las time he tried to get up, everything was sent off kilter so badly that he probably would have fallen right out of bed. "Okay." He can only force a wry grin at Miyo's warning. A little late, but a welcome reminder should he have forgotten the second time around. For the moment, Katoji decides to remain lying there, resting a hand over the damp cloth on his face.

Down the corridors of the Fourth Division's sick ward, another student travels, his steps fleeting past a couple of the members going about their business. The second year turns the next corner with ease, swiveling around another Shinigami carrying medical supplies.
How did he not notice it? After all of the stressful things going on at the academy for Yoshinori, his mind was in a flurry. One simple moment in passing by Sazaeno Uegami set it, a brief sentence about Katoji's reiatsu missing from the school's grounds. With that, the second year hurried over, his other two classes skipped for the day.
Asking the right questions and his overall politeness gets him over to the assigned room in good time. The young noble knocks, his head peering around the doorframe. "Ch-Chihara-san?"

Oh? Another voice- and one he knows this time! "Ito-senpai!" the first year student says, pleasantly surprised as he turns his head a bit to try getting a glimpse of him. This really isn't the most ideal of positions to see the doorway, so Katoji decides to attempt sitting up, making a point to do so slowly. Despite the obviously swollen and bruised side of his face, the boy wears a bright smile as he can now see Yoshinori's head. "Ah- what are you doing here?"

Although he's smiling, it immediately stings Yoshinori to see the youth so...injured. The look on the second year's face also reflects that, eyes starting to tear up. "I-I was told," he stammers, stepping closer while managing to keep the tears at bay, "...U-Uegami-sensei said he didn't feel your presence anywhere on campus..." His head tilts slightly as his right hand reaches out a little. "...oh goodness, what happened...." Yoshinori murmurs after a while, shaking his head.

"Ah..." Katoji's smile falters at the ends. Yoshinori's explanation is enough though- their reiatsu class teacher certainly proved an expert for the subject he taught in, so it doesn't surprise the boy that he of all people would have noticed something amiss. Wait, so does that mean he keeps an active track of everyone's coming and going, or...?
His thoughts are effectively derailed as he sees the young noble looking as if he would cry soon. "I- it was just an accident...!" the boy hurriedly assures the second year student, patting the air with a hand in a reassuring gesture. He grasps for an explanation- one that's believable but at the same time doesn't involve Antoku. "I ...just had a little trouble with shunpo breaks again..." he says, laughing weakly as he scratches the back of his neck.

Returning with the tray of food, Miyo pauses in the doorway. Shunpo breaks? That's not what the bruise looks like to her, but she doesn't correct Katoji as he's trying to explain his accident to his friend. No doubt there are some notes on the medical chart about Katoji's injury and just who brought him in here as well. "I have your meal." She says softly, not really wanting to interrupt. If it looks like no one minds, the girl walks over to the bedside and carefully sets the tray down on Katoji's blanket-covered lap. "If you don't like this I might be able to find something else." But a traditional bento lunch should be sufficient, along with the tea she brought for him.

Well, that covers all of the bases. A nod and a quick sleeve-dabbing at his crimson eyes shows Yoshinori accepts this reason. He does know how bad Katoji is with stopping, but still. The teen's head is the only thing bandaged visibly, so it's still consistent with the story. The noble blinks when Miyo comes back into the room, taking a step back to let her get the bento to Katoji. He nods, smiling weakly.

Katoji feels horrible for having to lie to his friend, but feels it would be better this way, for everyone. And he had promised Antoku he'd say nothing about what had happened otherwise. He freezes slightly when Miyo returns, but he recovers with a sincere smile and a nod. "Thanks, ah... I didn't get your name.." The boy looks over the food, and certainly isn't going to be one to complain. It looks delicious- even more so considering he hasn't eaten since... whenever Antoku had brought him food last... which.. would be whenever he last woke up. It's easier not to try figuring it out, so Katoji instead turns his attention to his food. With an eager "Itadakimasu~!" he digs right in.

Miyo blinks and smiles when her name is asked. "Mikazuki Miyo. I'm an officer of the 4th division. Mostly I work here in the clinic." But sometimes she goes out with patrols or does work in the city as well. Wherever she's needed, that's where she goes. She's pleased that he asked her name. Some shinigami don't even do that much! But she can tell this pair of friends are nice people. Miyo knows Katoji's name since she read his chart, but a curious look is given to the other young man. "And you're a friend of Chihara-san's? It's great that you would come to visit."

Chihara's lunch habits bring a little relief to his mood. Sometimes he wonders how the boy can keep up his pleasantries. "I-Ito, Yoshinori," the tall student stutters, bowing his head in a belated greeting. "I...w-well, y-yes, I thought it would be good..." Yoshinori's brain sort of malfunctions, but he's able to bring it back. "Th-thank you for taking care of Chihara-san, Mikazuki-san."

The boy gives a small nod of his head, because a big one would make his head hurt again. "Nice to meet you, Mikazuki-san! Thank you again for everything," he says after swallowing a mouthful of food. Katoji takes a sip of tea, unconsciously trying to mimic the elegant way he'd seen Yoshinori hold it times before when they took tea in his room.
"Thanks for coming to visit too, Ito-senpai." Yoshinori is one of the last ones Katoji wants to be overly-concerned about him. Poor noble has enough things on his plate!

What a nervous young man, Ito-san is! Miyo tries to calm his nerves as best she can with her friendly expression. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable and stay awhile? There's a chair right here." She walks over to one side of the bed and brings the chair out a little for him. "Please, have a seat." Her eyes look from one of the students to the other. "You two must be good friends." Is she right? After all, Ito came all the way over here to visit and he appeared very concerned, too.

Yoshinori waves his hand, probably in response to both Katoji's and Miyo's words. "A-ah, really, there's-" He pauses, blinking several times at Miyo. "I shouldn't...." Well, she does let him stay, and tells him to get comfortable. "....O-okay..." The young noble sits himself down before he does anything else, folding his hands in his lap. A weak chuckle escapes his lips. "I just met Chihara-san this year, but...yes, he is a good friend." He says this calmly, shrugging. Actually, he's made more friends than last year, sadly. But, all in good time.

After he's come all the way from the Academy, it would be a shame for Yoshinori to head off again so soon. Setting down his tea, Katoji resumes finishing the last of his bento. "Ito-senpai's been very nice! Na, Ito-senpai- I haven't missed too much, have I?" he asks, glancing at the second year student as he seats himself in the chair Miyo brings for him. "I hope I haven't been away too long- I don't even know what time it is right now..."

Miyo smiles a little when Ito takes his seat. "I'll pour you some tea." That she has handy in the room so she won't have to go to the kitchen to fetch it. At the table, a fresh cup is poured and a cup and saucer are carried over and offered to Yoshinori. "Oh, so you're his senpai." That's great! It's nice to have someone older to watch over you. She's sure Katoji really appreciates all of Yoshinori's consideration.

"I-I don't think so," Yoshinori thinks, leaning back a little. He doesn't mention skipping his own classes, seeing that he'll be able to catch up with the workload easily. "It should be mostly review, more or less. I have notes..." The noble nods at Miyo with a faint smile. "Thank you," he says softly, the teacup and its saucer taken gingerly, sipping its contents gracefully.

"Review..? Oh yeah- we're supposed to have finals soon too, huh..." Katoji looks slightly worried at that, but he's pretty sure getting the information he needs will be hard, once he gets back. That would mean dealing with Matsuhiro and possibly his brother, and undoubtedly they would barrage him with questions. He...does not look forward to this.
The bento box set aside as he's finished, the boy picks up his tea, taking a sip before he glances at Miyo again. "Mikazuki-san? Do you think I'll be able to go back to the Academy soon?"

Miyo reaches for the tray with the empty bento and sets that away on the table so it's out of reach. She'll return that to the kitchen later. At the question, Miyo walks back over to the bedside and leans forward toward Katoji. Don't flinch! The girl's hand lifts to touch his forehead gently, mostly to keep any stray hair away while she looks at the injury and then into his eyes to examine the pupils. "Hm, we'll see how you feel tomorrow, okay?" Maybe he'll recover enough overnight. But she doesn't want him to wobble and fall over on his way back to the academy, just because he's eager. He might injure himself all over again.

The teacup clinks lightly against its plate, Yoshinori watching Miyo tend to Katoji. For now, he remains silent, only agreeing with Miyo's suggestion mentally. He does want to see that his friend is well enough to go back to school, but he also wonders how some of the others will react. Mulling over it distracts him, his eyes having the distant, far-off look to them.

Having long set aside the cloth since it was no longer cool anyway, Katoji sits patiently (not a pun!) and waits as Miyo moves to check his injuries. He tries very hard not to flinch as the woman moves her hands along his face, but she's practised enough to not cause him any additional pain. The boy looks a little disappointed at her decision, but he supposes that it might be for the best, and as soon as he can expect since the day's likely almost over anyway. "Okay..." he sighs.

Miyo smiles sympathetically to Katoji as she leans back again. "I know it's hard to wait, but really you're better off. I'm sure you know that." So she doesn't really need to tell him. Besides, if he isn't fully recovered it'll just be harder for him to study and do well on his exams. "I can request that your teachers send you some material if you'd really like it, but your rest is more important right now." Miyo flushes slightly at all the words. "I mean, that's what I think." But some people are more stubborn about things.

At this, Yoshinori comes back from la-la land. This is record time, too. "Oh. That's very thoughtful, Mikazuki-san." Yes, that might work. Keeping Katoji focused on his studies shouldn't be too much of a hassle, either. Maybe. "I-I'm sure the teachers wouldn't have a problem with that...besides, it's important to keep up."

"N-no!" Katoji blurts, surprising even himself with it. He grins, shaking his head, noting that he is able to do so without suffering as much of a headache as he had when he tried the other day. "I mean... well, if I'm going to go back tomorrow, I don't think it'll be worth the trouble. Besides, I can just ask my roommate or my brother." He especially doesn't want to draw unnecessary attention to what happened to him, as who knows what his teachers would think if they found out he was in the 4th's medical ward?

Miyo has a feeling he just doesn't want his teachers to know about it, but Miyo just nods at his request once she lowers her fingers from her lips after his outburst. "If that's what you really want." No sense in arguing it. "But don't try to push yourself, alright? Please stay another day if you really have to." Otherwise he could just end up back in here and then even more people would know about it. Not to mention that shiner he has probably isn't going to be gone overnight no matter how much he wills himself out of bed.

The teacup is still held within his grasp, the shout making his heart race in surprise. Yoshinori blinks rapidly at the boy, the cup and saucer pulling closer to him just in case. Added security? "....Well....all right." If Katoji is uncomfortable with facing the teachers, why push him into it? It wouldn't be good. With Miyo's response, he nods in accordance to what is said. Poor Katoji, almost bored out of his mind, probably.

Katoji smiles gratefully at the two for their understanding. "Okay, Mikazuki-san. I promise I won't. I'll let you know right away if something happens, too," he says. He's really hoping that doesn't turn out to be the case, but he figures it's better to be safe than sorry. However, he's pretty sure his absence has been noticed already since he's been pretty good at attending his classes. If he were to be out any longer, people would definitely start to wonder. The boy also wants to know what all's happened with Antoku, if he's already gone and informed Satsue of what he did. The tea cup in his hands is all but forgotten, resting there on his lap over the blankets.

Miyo looks relieved to hear that he's going to keep her informed. At least she won't have to worry about him personally that way. Not to mention, the less staff who knows about this the better kept his secret is, right? She won't gossip, not even to the others in the 4th division about his strange behavior. Getting out of the sick ward.. well, that she understands. No one really wants to stay in bed all day. "Thank you." Miyo just hopes he won't push himself too hard. "I know Ito-san definitely won't let you over do it." A light smile is passed in the older student's direction. "Since you're awake now, why don't we medicate that bruise? It'll help it to heal faster." And he definitely wants that, she's sure. Miyo walks over to the cabinet to look for the correct cream to use on the mark.

How strangely easy it is to read Yoshinori's mind. Again, the second year nods, his own expression thoughtful. His thumb runs over the ceramic cup's surface. Surely there were some students that usually forget to attend the required classes, but for those who do attend daily can use a break once in a while. Of course, in his case, he should be working on doing his best. The motivation is there now, more or less. Crimson eyes glance between the 4th Division member and the first year, his mouth twisting.

The boy follows Miyo's glance towards Yoshinori, and he smiles apologetically. Sorry for making you so concerned! Oh... don't make that face! Katoji looks down at the tea cup again, swallowing another sigh. It's a welcome interruption from Miyo- the suggestion to treat his bruise. That sounds like a fine idea indeed! "I'd like that, please," he says, and adds another "Thank you..."

Miyo walks to the bedside again once she's found the appropriate medicine. "Please close your eye." If she were to somehow make a mistake she wouldn't want to hurt his eye by getting stuff in it. Once that's done she dabs a fingertip into the cream and then begins to apply it to the bruise very carefully. It has a cool and easing sensation so she's sure Katoji will appreciate it being on such a tender area. There's a little smile at a thought. "If you really wanted to hide it, I have some make-up you can use." A soft giggle is held back. "I've noticed it's a big trend now." For guys to wear eye-makeup and such. But that's to look intimidating, isn't it? Not to cover up their marks.

Yoshinori gives Katoji a return look. I'm sorry! I'm only concerned...Ohhh dear.
He sighs softly, quirking an eyebrow when Miyo mentions wearing makeup. It easily throws off his current train of thought. "Makeup? R-Really? That's...something new." For him anyway. He doesn't recall seeing many men with makeup on. "Huh..."

Obediently, Katoji closes his eye at Miyo's request. The medication spread over his bruise does feel nice, and the boy figures the less it hurts, the better it'll look. Naturally, he can't help but open his eye again to stare at the shinigami medic at her suggestion. "Wh- huh?" Make-up? That's girly stuff! Unless you were a goth, anyway, or something... Oh wait, there are some weird shinigami that wear eye make-up in the ranks, aren't there? So he's heard, anyway. "...make-up makes them look intimidating...?" he asks, his tone dubious.

Miyo dabs some more cool cream against Katoji's eye and nods. "That's right, I saw them in here just the other day. They were hurt in some goofing around.." She's not exactly sure what those academy students were doing. "I think they were trying to emulate someone." They must've really looked up to whoever it was. "Because they had make-up on, just like this." Some of the cream is dabbed with each finger and she makes a mark on each side of her eye, then knits her forehead and puckers out her lips to look tough. Grrrr. "Of course, it was in color." Not white like the medicine, which won't do any harm to her even if she plays with it. "Sure it can look intimdating! It's like... war paint." They know about that, right? "Isn't that sort of.. the way of the warrior?" Miyo doesn't know a lot about that kind of thing but she does read a book or two! "Uhm.. not that I'm suggesting you should wear stuff like that! I only meant we could hide your bruise with something to make it disappear." Not make it stand out of course. She's sure they shouldn't be emulating a person like those guys were anyway.

Yoshinori blinks. His facial expression is a mix between something of curiosity, wariness, and amusement. Miyo's descriptions are quite entertaining. "I...I see," he responds, holding a hand up to hide the lower half of his face. No, he's not laughing, really.

For a moment or two, Katoji blinks as Miyo tries to show them how the make-up had looked, staring blankly. Seriously? "...pfft!" Even if Yoshinori is trying to cover his laughter, not so the first year student, but he has nothing to hide. He laughs, and even though it brings with it a small poke of pain as his cheek bunches up, it's nothing terribly uncomfortable that would keep him from continuing.
"Ahahah! Wow... yeah, I've heard of war paint, but somehow that doesn't strike me as very intimidating..." Or perhaps it's just how silly Miyo had looked with her attempt. It was still amusing, and Katoji appreciates her all the more for it. "But..." he says, once he gets his snickers down. "...if there's a way to make this less...um... obvious...? Then I'd be up for trying it..."

If they do laugh it's fine. It's the effect she was going for! And laughter does heal wounds too, just in a different way. Normally she wouldn't consider herself funny, but Miyo does get a small boost of confidence thanks to the way they receive her impression. "I guess it's not really the same thing." There's some lingering embarrassment at being the center of attention for the moment. Miyo walks over to the mirror that's hanging on the medicine cabinet door and reaches for a tissue to carefully wipe the cream away, closing one eye each time it's brushed at. Once that's finished she tosses the tissues away into the trash and turns around again, clasping her hands in front of her. "I can come in before you leave tomorrow for classes." Then she can dab some of that makeup there to lessen the impact of the bruise.

Okay, so it is good. Yoshinori doesn't get to laugh all of the time. Still hiding his mouth, he peeks over his cupped hand. "I-it's a good idea, though," he says with a hint of laughter. And then he stays quiet again, shoulders shaking.

Katoji grins over at Yoshinori. He probably looks an interesting sight with the cream over his bruised face. "Oh, you will? Thanks Mikazuki-san! I appreciate it!" he says, beaming at the woman. He has no doubts he'll feel well enough to go back by tomorrow.

Seeing Katoji revitalized with such energy also makes Miyo think that he'll be well enough to go back to the academy tomorrow. In the end that is best, since she remembers perfectly well just how much hard work must be put into academy work in order to graduate. Then they might find a division that's perfect for them, just as she did. She can only hope they manage to fall into the division they can call home, just as Miyo loves the 4th division. "Well, I should let you get your rest." Her face, still somewhat pink under the freckles, does smile as she gives a light bow of her head.

Rest does sound like a good idea, and Katoji does need it if he's going to attempt going back to the academy tomorrow. The second year also gets up, the cup and saucer still in hand as he clears his throat. That's enough laughing for now. "Maybe I should go as well," Yoshinori adds, bowing his head at Miyo as she goes. He looks back at the first year for a moment after he says this. "If that's okay with you, Chihara-san?" He doesn't want to be too much of a bother visiting.

The boy feels much better after all this. Friends certainly helped for his mood, as did making new ones, and undoubtedly he certainly considers Miyo such, even if they'd only just met. "Okay. Thanks again, Mikazuki-san!" How many times has he said that already? He doesn't care. "See you tomorrow!" Katoji then looks to Yoshinori and grins at him. "Oh, go right ahead, Ito-senpai! You probably have a lot to do, but thanks a lot for coming!" He grins. "I'll see you tomorrow too, yeah?"

Miyo smiles a little and nods, lifting one hand to tuck some of her red hair behind one ear before collecting the dishes that need to be cleaned and leaving the room with them. She'll continue her duties with checking on any other patients and tidying up before the end of her nursing hours. After that, it's back to her room for some rest. Tomorrow she'll be back early to keep her promise and do what she can to conceal Katoji's bruise.

Yoshinori nods, the faint smile returning. "All right, then. Take care, Chihara-san, Mikazuki-san." The cup and saucer set is handed back to Miyo without much effort on his part, and as Miyo leaves, he follows after, turning to look over his shoulder briefly as if to make sure Katoji is staying put. And within seconds, he's gone. Back to the academy with him.

He waves at them both, since his hand, unlike his head, doesn't hurt at all. With Yoshinori's extra glance back, Katoji can't help but laugh a bit, and he waves his senpai off before settling down in the bed again. It's quiet again, and although he doesn't feel all that tired, he knows he'll be anxious for tomorrow that he should best at least -try- to get some extra rest.

[Log] 12 - The Office Visit

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:17:39 GMT

Characters: Satsue, Yoshinori
Summary: Hitohiko's note got to Satsue, and she calls Yoshinori in for a talk.

=======

He's never been called out of a class before. The lecture came to a halt abruptly in the middle of it, everyone staring at the doorway where Shiori stood, her own dark gaze staring straight at Yoshinori. A simple gesture, a clear point with coaxing, made all eyes fall back upon him. The teacher urged him to go when Yoshinori glanced at the man in a quiet panic, reluctantly standing after a lengthy stretch of time.
The second year doesn't even remember going to the Dean's office before. However, this was not a first. He had trouble thinking clearly, following Shiori silently as they went along. When the girl stops, he does also in order not to run into her. Silent eyes glance over toward the door, a subtle nod. Go on ahead. The noble looks back at her, bowing his own head, heading inside. He knocks on the outer doorframe of the office, something he remembers from Hitohiko, bowing from the waist. "G...Good afternoon, Iesada-san...."

"Well at least you're capable of learning something," was the bored comment from behind the desk, the Iesada woman currently leaning to the side, one elbow on her desk, the other arm stretched out in front of her with a letter in hand. She was reading it, less boredly than she sounded. The comment was in regards to the knock, though she did not clarify and he was left to his own devices to reach such a conclusion.
It was a letter from Hitohiko she read, expression flat. A few seconds passed, and then she tossed the letter aside, straightening and lacing her fingers together on top of the desk. There was no cigarette in sight, but the smell of coffee and spice was strong. (By now her window had been fixed, and the office was, in short order, back to smelling like a coffee mill.) "Thank you, Shiori," she said with a brief, dismissive glance aside from the boy. Once the door was shut by her secretary, she arched a brow and surveyed him from head to toe critically. "Congratulations on your first visit to my office; pray there isn't a repeat. Do you have any idea why you're here?"

Yoshinori stands straight, almost rigid in place. As calm as he looks on the outside, he cannot hide his apprehension completely. His hands trembles slightly at his sides as crimson eyes stay focused on the desk. "...M-maybe," the noble replies softly. "Does...does this have to do with my most recent class sessions?"

"Look at me when I'm speaking to you, boy. My desk doesn't need your attention." She was beginning to see why Hitohiko's letter contained what it did, and she couldn't help but wonder how this child had managed to pass the entrace exams if he was this soon out of his mother's womb. She stared right into him and through him, unlacing her hands to pick up the steaming mug of coffee off to the side of her desk. "Just one class, although I'm wondering if I shouldn't be expecting reports from your other teachers as well, soon, based on Hitohiko's report. Care to explain?"

His gaze quickly comes up, his facade faltering more. "Y-yes ma'am," he stammers, looking more concerned about the situation. The heat from her eyes are piercing, maybe even more so since she's the head of the academy and all. She already had so much practice preceding this, something Yoshinori would have to wonder about later. Right now is not a good time to be distracted.
As he opens his mouth to reply, he feels parched. Breathe. /Breathe./ "I-it was an unexpected class, Iesada-san. Most of it was just questions, getting straight to a-a point. I didn't know what exactly he wrote on there, but...it's..." It's not helping his standing. The second year pauses, his right hand resting on his uniform top a bit under his chest. "H-hitohiko-sensei's the only one who took notes. Every o-other teacher hasn't. I've been fine...."

She stared at the boy in front of her for a long, long time. One could even say it was in disbelief; the amount of incredulity it normally required for Satsue to show any expression at all was indeed quite large--
This is ridiculous, she thought. Utterly ridiculous.
No wonder.
Be sure to locate and speak to the examiner, she added on the side.
"...... keep going," she said after several minutes, expression pained.

"...Apparently..." What else was there to say about the random invite? "Hitohiko-sensei told me at the end of the interview to pack everything up by ten the next morning. I'm guessing this alludes to whatever he wrote down." Yoshinori feels frazzled, but he speaks again. "But...he...he gave me a choice. I could either go home, away from this place, or I can stay and continue with my training." The youth seems a little more serious as he says this, his brow knitting.

"A choice, did he," she stated dryly. "Are you aware that his report of you indicates that you are not only useless, but a threat to yourself and your fellow shinigami as well? More or less--he put it more succinctly." She set aside her coffee, pushing her chair back to stand and lean over her desk, palms flat. "Any student I deem to be a threat to his comrades is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it. Tell me why I should give you a choice at all."

The silence settling in is probably the best answer Yoshinori can give her, his eyes wide. Shock?

How does one become a threat to everyone when he doesn't even display any signs leading to it at all? Or is that just it? Being reluctant to join, facing and trying to adapt to new surroundings, and then breaking out when the pressure got too high.

Just one year ago.

The noble shuts his eyes tightly, chest heaving as he struggles to find the right words. How do you persuade someone who looks like she can veto anything? His voice is low, taut. "...I'll work harder. I can learn from my mistakes. And I can strive to do better in areas that I'm failing at. I won't just base everything according to my own priorities. Everyone's input is valuable to some extent." Again, he finds himself staring straight at Satsue, his gaze a little hardened.

"Or attempt to run away again?" she asked, flatly. "Because if you attempt again, you better hope it is not as half-hearted as the last, because if *I* catch you the second time around, you will regret every minute spent with me thereafter."

"I won't!" He shouts, drawing back as soon as the words escaped his mouth. He stays quiet, blinking rapidly in astonishment. No, he's heard himself like this before. It shouldn't be a surprise to him. The other thing is, she's never seen him run. However, the noble couldn't argue with her words, each weighing heavily upon him.
".....Yes, ma'am," comes a tired response, going back to the weak tone he began with.

She arched a brow at his shout, but otherwise gave no other indication of reaction. "I see. Why did you come to the Academy?" was all she asked, after, glancing past him briefly before refocusing on him. It was, perhaps, the third time she'd done so in the last five minutes, but it was such an offhanded gesture that he could safely assume turning to see what she was looking at would not be looked upon kindly. She refocused on his face. "I reassure you, I've had my share of nobles' rich brats at my Academy, pedigree won't save you from being a failure. If you're incapable of being a shinigami, I /will/ send you home. There is no graduation "just because" or for "family honor." You /earn/ it, do you understand?"

"Toshiaki-san." Wait, there's more. "He's a part of our clan, an uncle, w-working as a Shinigami. He...never told me what division he worked in, but, ah, I don't really get to see him as often. Busy." Yoshinori sighs, crossing his arms loosely over his chest. "He helped train me. Toshiaki-san saw potential, something different from the other members of my family...." He was sure his cousin also had the same sort of potential, but...he hasn't heard of what exactly happened to the guy.
At this, Yoshinori flinches, nodding somberly. "Y-yes, I do, ma'am," the youth answers hastily.

She was silent, glancing past him again towards the door. Or more specifically, the bottom of it.
Palmberry was laying on her side and had wiggled the door open on its tracks again, her head poked inside and paws reachy-reaching, toes splayed, to push a peace offering of wrapped hard candy across the floor. She'd been doing so for several minutes, looking happily hopeful in a drawstring hoodie jacket.
"............ tch," she said, brow twitching, abruptly ignoring Yoshinori and looking down at her desk for something to throw. She settled for the metal tin that housed all of her pens and pencils on her desk, emptying it out without hesitation and HURLING it past Yoshinori at the door. "OUT, you little twit! AND STOP LEAVING ME CANDY," she yelled angrily as the cup missed, Palmberry already squirming for freedom and peeling off down the hallway with a high-pitched squeak.
"And YOU," she snarled, looking back at Yoshinori. "Out. If I have to listen to more of your life's story, I'll lose my appetite. I expect improvement by the end of the year."

"Hu-"
Yoshinori yelps, arms rising up as a natural reaction to anyone who throws projectiles in his direction. The long part of his dark hair falls in front of his right eye, jumping again when Satsue does direct her 'wrath' at him. "Ahh! Okay, okay! I-I-I-you, YES." He promptly ends his panic with a deep bow, still being flighty.

There was a brief pause, before Satsue's eyes narrowed.
"May I inquire as to what YOU ARE WAITING FOR? I SAID GET OUT. Your inability to follow instructions is astounding! Would you like a formal guide out the door? By all means!" She came around the desk, grabbing him by the back of the collar before he could effectively flee for his life. The door was shoved open with her free hand, and she dropped him past the threshhold irritably. She didn't have time for gawking dawdlers! "Get what little brain you have off the floor, boy! Back to class! MOVE."

...No breaks. Yoshinori gasps, backing out of the office without hesitation. Of course, being grabbed by the collar helps more, the teenager being half-dragged outside into the hallway. The shove ends it, the noble whirling into the far wall with a resounding thud.
Shaken, Yoshinori sputters, tripping before shunpoing off to where he came from. Gone in a flash.

[OIC?/Academy] 06/14/08

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:13:31 GMT

All of this happening after Log 11.

=======

His back straightens again, gracefully returning to his normal postured state. The rings around his eyes seem a little worse than before, blinking slowly, silently. "Yes," he says quietly, not really answering directly to the question posed, but it sums it up all the same.
A baleful look stays within his expression for a moment, neutrality sinking in once more. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, too, Hitohiko-sensei." Again, he bows, but it's a shorter version of the ones he does normally, taking two steps back before turning fully. He then makes his way out of the library, quiet, indescribable.

<OOC> Hitohiko says, "It's good for you!"
<OOC> Yoshinori T__T
<OOC> Yoshinori hugs Palmberry.
<OOC> Hitohiko says, "Nothing stimulates effort like the threat of immediate elimination."
<OOC> Yoshinori ....it does, doesn't it.
<OOC> Hitohiko says, "And trust me, you need more effort and less suck."
<OOC> Yoshinori ....
<OOC> Yoshinori does not suck!
<OOC> Hitohiko says, "..."
<OOC> Yoshinori says, ".....okay, maybe a little."
<OOC> Hitohiko has written a -S on all of your papers.
<OOC> Hitohiko couldn't even justify an F.
<OOC> Yoshinori ...SOB
<OOC> Hitohiko says, "Now get out of my sight and hang yourself."
<OOC> Yoshinori says, "Yessir."

|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori goes to his room to hang.
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "Well that saved us all some trouble."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji D:!!
|||Academy||| Hitohiko says, "I pride myself in eliminating the extras."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori gets the noose ready.
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "Ah, Hitohiko."
|||Academy||| Satsue expected no less.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji takes the noose away. :|
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Palmberry says, "o/` Noose rhymes with moose~!"
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "I'm sure I'll remember to give you a raise."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "Chihara-san..."
|||Academy||| Hitohiko has disconnected.
+WATCH: Hitohiko has disconnected.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji straightens out the rope. >(
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "He tied it wrong anyway."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "What a loser."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "That was a slip knot. :O"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "Nooses go like..."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "Wait. Why am I telling you."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ..............
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Yeah, it won't break your neck like it's supposed to."
|||Academy||| Iki gathers up Yoshinori.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori sobbles.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku takes the rope and shows Mitzy how.
|||Academy||| Iki rubs back.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ._.;
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji knows how.. ;
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "..."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku lassos Matsuhiro with it.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Here, play tug of war."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku will give you a dollar if you win.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji 6_6
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ...tug.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Do you mind!"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji sorries. ;;
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has left this channel.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Funny how they get more and more the higher up the social ladder you go."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "We're probably lucky that one still wears his clothes in public."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "...What."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ...tugs experimentally again. 6.6
|||Academy||| Satsue has left this channel.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro GLARE
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "IT's MAGIC!"
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "...."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :D
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori takes the rope away from Katoji.;
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji D:
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori leaves it there.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Look, he's making his angry 'Yukon Trail' face."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "In noble-ese that must mean joy."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :|a
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has left this channel.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Or he's just a queer."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ...reeeaches for the rope...
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori taps Katoji's hand. No.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji D:
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori u.u
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :(
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori was going to kill himself with it earlier. No touch.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji Q_Q
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ;;;
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori eeeurgh
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ...hands Katoji the rope. WEAK.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku puts down the knife.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori ;;;;
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :D!
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ...tugtug. :3
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "WHAT"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "Uh..uuuuh....."
|||Academy||| Satsue has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "HI! :D"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ;;;
|||Academy||| Satsue backhands Matsuhiro.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "alkdjgkla"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji O_o
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori !
|||Academy||| Satsue points at Katoji. "No." Scowls.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "sorry, ma'am."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :(
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has left this channel.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji :'(
|||Academy||| Satsue has left this channel.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori takes the rope elsewhere. And off of Matsuhiro.;
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "...just do it in 20 minutes. She won't remember that long."
|||Academy||| Iki gathers up Yoshinori and gives milk and cookies.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ... :(
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori happy ~*
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji eyes the cookies.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori shares with Katoji. :I
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji !
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku puts down the knife again.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori eyes Antoku.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji noms happily. :I
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Problem?"
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "No.;"
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori stays near Iki on the other side of Katoji.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji continues to nom. :I
|||Academy||| Iki says, "Antoku-kun. Be nice."
|||Academy||| Haineko read "Katoji continues to mom." and didn't doubletake.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku gets nagged about his sleeping habits now; you wouldn't be far off.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "Oh yeah. Sleep."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "..."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji says, "What is this sleep!"
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "I....don't know..."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku is off the hook, in that case.
|||Academy||| Iki says, "growing boys need their rest."
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori is tall. But this sleep does sound good.
|||Academy||| Iki tucks Yoshinori into bed.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "Weak."
|||Academy||| Yuichirou has connected.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori shush
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori thanks Iki-san.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji dusts off cookie crumbs.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku bets a tattoo of a cookie would be even better, you should get one.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji thinks that'd be silly.
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku will talk you into it some day.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji nos. ._.
|||Academy||| Yuichirou says, "a tattoo of a cookie? Oh come on..."
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku knows it sucks, just wants Mitzy to get /a/ tattoo.
|||Academy||| Yuichirou almost got a tattoo once.
|||Academy||| Yuichirou was really drunk at the time.
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji D:
|||Academy||| Yuichirou says, "Glad I didn't, though."
|||Academy||| Yuichirou says, "was gonna get it on the left leg. Woulda been a waste of money."
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji ;
|||Academy||| Yuichirou says, "What?"
|||Academy||| tldr. Antoku says, "That's wrong, man."
|||Academy||| Yuichirou says, "Huh?"
|||Academy||| Yuichirou says, "What's the matter?"
|||Academy||| Steel Sunshine Katoji goes to burrow under the blankets.
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori z.z
|||Academy||| Un-Noble Yoshinori says, "Night, all."

[Log] 11 - Library Depths

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 06:42:35 GMT

Characters: Hitohiko, Yoshinori
Summary: An Invitation. Another special session?

=======

Classtime came in the form of an invitation instead of a schedule. An invitation in a plain, smooth off-white envelope, with a time and a date already assigned. It said the class was required, but that he could choose not to go. It said that it did not matter if he had another class scheduled for the same time; the other class could be discarded and he would not be punished: It was absolutely up to him. There were directions that indicated a room off of a hallway that was likewise off of the back of the library. The class itself was unnamed, but the instructor had scribbled his name down at the bottom.
A small calico cat wearing a tiny blue jacket had delivered the envelope to Yoshinori's door, where she had rattled the door on its hinges until it had been opened, and then run off.

The hallway had ended up being very, very long, which the invitation had not mentioned. The doorway with the small crescent moon painted on it had been one in ten other nearly-identical doors, which had also not been mentioned. But it had also been the only door with four tiny yellow rubber galoshes lined up on the floor beside it. It was unlocked.

First of all, he didn't know what to think of this invitation. The noise outside of his door made him wary of actually opening it, but the second year gathered himself to go ahead and see what all the fuss was about.
His classes were, in a way, sporadic; this particular session did not collide with anything else, and Yoshinori is mostly done with the work he has due for later dates. While walking, he flips the envelope over in his hand, reflipping it twice more. Nothing else is stated except for the main message.
Eyes lift to see the marked doorway, falling slowly upon the little shoes in puzzlement. Huh. The young noble blinks as his eyes go back to the door. Hesitantly, Yoshinori opens it, his head peering in with a nod. "H-hello? I....I don't mean to intrude..."

The door had the kind of creak so well-developed that it suggested hours of work with hot water and a welding torch. It was still creaking after it came to a halt.
The research library was much, much larger than the Academy's main library. Bookshelves climbed up the walls and disappeared in darkness where they eventually, one had to assume, encountered a ceiling. There was a table set in the middle of the floor not very far away from the door, illuminated by the only circle of light in the entire place. A man worked under the harsh light, pen in his left hand, papers spilling off of the table, books piled up on the floor around the table so high that one of the stacks was currently being used as an end table for a mug of cold coffee and a dish of cookie crumbs.
The writing didn't stop when the door squealed open on its tortured hinges, but the man's right hand lifted, fingers beckoned in a roll. "Enter. Name?"

Cringing at the sound, Yoshinori squints. Maybe he should have stopped it earlier to save some of his hearing. Of course, his attention is now geared in the direction of the library. It certainly is a sight to behold. Trying to read all of these books would probably take months, maybe even years. That is, if one likes to read, anyway. The second year has no problem with the idea, but it won't happen any time soon.
Yoshinori's mouth hangs open as he enters cautiously, closing it quickly when he finally notices why his jaw feels loose. His gaze comes back from the distraction of such a huge room, settling upon the lit area. The voice shakes him from his thoughts, expecting an answer. "Ito," the noble stammers, "m-my name is Yoshinori Ito."

For a moment, the pen paused.
"Ito? ...Ito...Ito.... I believe your great-aunt once had me hung until dead. Come here." Papers shuffled across table, some of them shifting to the floor and adding to the drift of them already collecting there. When he found the thick, clip-bound stack he was looking for, he licked the side of his thumb and turned to Ha - Iz. "You're seven minutes late."
This was absolutely, absolutely not one of the regular instructors. His shihakushou was heavily modified with something like pieces of a long, narrow white scarf, and even in the dark room with severe overhead lighting, his elfish ears were obvious--the kind of things a person didn't accidentally over-look. "And you didn't knock. Your family isn't rich enough to be that rude, when last I checked."

Silence. As each issue is stated, Yoshinori makes small noises accordingly, only to stop every time the teacher moved onto the next subject. At least he moves forward, stopping about two and a half feet from the table. Questions arose and dispersed, leaving the young noble confused and maybe a little more paranoid than usual. His great-aunt.....what. How is he to know he is late? Did he overlook the time? And he does notice the ears - he just doesn't say anything about them. His expression falters at the last fact, visibly hitting him. "I'm sorry," he bows, dark hair falling in front of his face.

The bow summons the full attention, at last, of the shinigami seated behind the table. His eyes lift from the papers and take full stock of what he has been given to work with. There's no end to the line of children the noble families sling at the Academy, as if knowing who your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather was also entitled you to reiatsu worth notice. Hitohiko categorizes the boy's posture automatically, assigns the associated stereotype, and sighs loudly so that everyone could have the benefit of knowing exactly what he thought.
The clipboard hits the desk with a sharp THKLACK as its dropped, and Yoshinori's name crossed off of a list with a sharp-pointed red pen. "Yes, yes, we can see that. From now on I would appreciate it if you could summon a sense of urgency when you're here." Might as well get on with it, farce though it was.
The clipboard is pushed to the side and a manila folder picked up and moved center, opened, the contents paged through. "I don't like to waste time, so let's get to the point. Do you have a destination in mind? A Gotei, an occupation?"

The clipboard's sound startles him, posture straightening to his full height. "Y-yes, sir," he answers, head nodding. "I'll be sure to do so next time." His responses are quiet, but quick.
Yoshinori steps a little closer, stopping again for spatial reasons. "I...I do." But it's not really mine, he thinks. "I was thinking the Fourth Division....or the Third. It's hard to decide, sir." He's being honest about it.

"Is it?" The hands that rearrange everything on the desk for the occasion of Yoshinori's visit are artful, neat, and do not like to waste effort. There is no mark nor scar on them to allude to past combat or injury, and in general, despite the shadows and the stark lighting, his host is incredibly youthful in appearance. If it weren't for the strangeness of his features and the forcefulness of his attitude, he might have even been one of Yoshinori's peers. But then again, the eyes glancing up at him now and then are as yellow as a lion and just as casually dangerous. He isn't looking at the boy as if he's a /person/.
"I suggest you get a goal sometime before graduation, if you can bother to take the time to think about it." A black pen is selected, and a note added to the bottom of a page in Yoshinori's folder. "Why are you in the Academy? Allow me to caution you against replying with 'to become a shinigami' or anything of that ilk."

The second year was still nervous, but has managed to keep it at a minimum. He nods, understanding how important it was to choose one from the start. Unlike the other students, he didn't really think about it much, barely starting to consider it when the time came. That would be a mistake in Hitohiko's eyes.
Those eyes. Just the calmness being a veil over something deeper made him wonder what the 'teacher' was really thinking. A single bead of sweat managed to escape and run down the side of his neck, but he didn't move.
Another question, another subject. These are fired out quickly. "A-ah, well," he stammered, looking down before looking up again. "N-no, my reason isn't like that. It...was more of a suggestion by a family member. Toshiaki-san noticed something about me, the reiatsu." Again, the noble paused, pursing his lips for a moment. "But I didn't really want to come..."

'LIABILITY' is written in large black letters on the page as Yoshinori speaks. By the time he's on 'didn't really want to come,' 'DANGER TO OTHERS' is already jotted down, too.
"All right," the interrupt is as smooth as it is off-handed. "When you're doing getting your friends killed, what do you plan to do?"

Crimson eyes lift, his ears barely catching Hitohiko's fluid sentences. Did he just hear right? Killed? The expression on his face showed how he felt clearly about the choice of words, but he continued, swallowing. "...I-I do not want my friends dying," he said calmly, the apprehension underneath its surface. "Even if I-I do not have many, I plan to help them out as much as they help me." Finding the right way to say things was harder than he thought. "If...if they do die, it's my fault."

"How /fair/ of you," observes the instructor, turning the bottom corner of the top sheet and rapidly jotting down something on the sheet below. "You are prepared to assist those who are your friends and have helped you. No doubt your supervisor will make an effort to only team you with those you personally value."
With a final scratch of the pen, he straightens up and leans back. The manilla folder is swept shut, pen dropped on top. "You may leave. Have your things packed and your room cleaned out by ten A.M.."

...What?
Yoshinori looked stunned. All of it was said simply, none of it vague and cryptic. A hand briefly came up to fix the longer wavy part of his dark hair, eyes still blinking from the suddeness of it all. Did he really mean it?
"....Ex...excuse me?" The tone had no attitude. It was more of concern.

"Nothing I said was unclear. You don't even want to be here, and on top of that, you offer concern only to the people you've decided are worthy of living. Please, for the sake of the other students here, leave and never come back." Fingers folding together in a posture of placid patience, the instructor looks up at the young man in front of him as if waiting for Yoshinori to evaporate like a mirage. "Or, can you prove that you deserve to stay despite that?"

He was caught between responses, each having their own specific desires, needs, and expectations. The corners of his mouth tick subtly, brow furrowing deeper.
Yoshinori could go home. He could see his parents again, and stay inside the estate as long as he wanted. Back to his old routines, his place of security. It would not bring honor to his family, but his parents could care less about that.
Or did they change their minds?
He had heard of some things within his clan, but he ignored most of it. Ideas clashed. They still clashed.
But...Yoshinori was also given another option. Or. If he was able to survive one year, he could go the rest of the remaining semesters until graduation, becoming a Shinigami. The students on their part have either treated him with respect or didn't, each having their own expectations about him as well. He was doing fine in his classes. Why stop now?
Closing his eyes, the noble bowed, his voice low. "....I can do this. I'll prove myself. Please."

Hitohiko rises from his seat, as inevitable as the moon, and sets his spread fingertips against the desktop as he leans forward. His fair, mild smile never goes as high as his yellow-afternoon eyes. "You're going to fail," he promises gently, a hundred layers of intimate confidentiality in his tone. "But you may try if you like. Perhaps you'll feel better about yourself if you actually put forth a little effort before quitting?"
Fingertips still on the table, he leans back ever so slightly and watches Yoshinori from beneath the long droop of his black eyelashes. "My name is Hitohiko. I'm going to see to it that you don't last long enough to kill off your peers. It's a pleasure to meet you, Yoshinori."

His back straightens again, gracefully returning to his normal postured state. The rings around his eyes seem a little worse than before, blinking slowly, silently. "Yes," he says quietly, not really answering directly to the question posed, but it sums it up all the same.
A baleful look stays within his expression for a moment, neutrality sinking in once more. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, too, Hitohiko-sensei." Again, he bows, but it's a shorter version of the ones he does normally, taking two steps back before turning fully. He then makes his way out of the library, quiet, indescribable.

[Log] 10 - Confidence

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 06:37:03 GMT

Characters: Nozomi, Yoshinori
Summary: The first of Nozomi's Confidence Lessons.

=======

The place in which Yoshinori had been asked to meet Nozomi for his first unofficial tutoring session was nowhere more intimidating than the sensei's office. Granted, for some students, this is still an intimidating place, mostly because they aren't allowed to come in. Sometimes detentions or stern talks happen here, as well. But those are for petty offenses. The real troublemakers get active detentions, and their stern talks are delivered by Iesada-san.
Overall, the place is what one might expect. The floor is bare wood; the only rugs are those certain teachers may have brought in to make their designated spaces more homey and welcoming. Several desks are spaced throughout the room, and from the looks of them, most are shared by two teachers. Some are ordered and neat on one side and scattered with papers and old cups of tea on the other. Others are simply decorated with obviously vastly different tastes.
As for Nozomi's desk, there is not only a tasteful rug spread out beneath and around it, but a small pile of silk pillows to lounge on. Since the person she'd have shared her desk with - Kondo Seimei - has seniority, he has his own desk, and no one cares to come near hers. That is due to her choice of decoration. Apart from her roster and files and notes, the only personal item on her desk is a medium-sized tank containing an abnormally large scorpion. There is a handwritten note taped to the glass that reads: At your own risk.
As for the teacher herself, she has prepared tea for the occasion, and sets one of the silk pillows across from herself in expectation of her student's arrival.

He feels strange coming towards the office. Being a good student, he didn't have to visit the area for anything, really. Maybe if he had a message to hand over or something small like that, then it would have been fine.
However, things don't always go over like that.
The noble stands at the doorway, staring at the sign which confirms the office is what it is. The right side of his dark hair decides to fall near his line of sight as he tilts his head forward, quietly stepping inside of the large room. To Yoshinori, finding Masayume's desk takes some time, being distracted by the other vacant territories set along the empty wooden path. From afar, spotting him should be easy due to his awkward height. He does get there eventually, hands clasping together in front of him as he bows. "M-Masayume-sensei," he greets softly, still carrying a small aire of nobility with it.

At this time of day, certain classes are ending and other one-on-one sessions are beginning, so for the time being the office is empty of other teachers. The room sees activity like the coast sees the ocean: in even waves, spread out through the day.
Masayume is aware of his entry as soon as he opens the door, but to spare him the awkwardness, she pretends to be busy pouring the tea. But then, anyone shrewd enough would know that it's not proper to pour tea before your guest arrives, or else it gets cold too quickly. Nozomi smiles to herself and decides to do this from now on, just to see how long it takes him to notice.
Once he enters her peripheral vision, she does look up at him, but waits for him to speak first. She bows in reply from her seat then gestures for him to sit. "Punctual as usual, Ito-san," she compliments with a small but friendly smile. "I hope you will have tea with me before we begin?"

Strange how the smallest of details are indeed noticeable. "Th-thank you," he replies, seating himself promptly after. He's either really eager to go along with these lessons, or he is still acting on his nervousness; sitting shouldn't have been such a fast move. It doesn't end roughly, at least.
Crimson eyes fall onto the cup of tea present, flickering back over toward the teacher. "...I'm guessing you already saw me over there at the door," Yoshinori half-smiles, hands wringing before relaxing in his lap. Hesitating, the noble reaches out for the cup, thanking Nozomi again before bringing it near his lips.

Nozomi's dark chocolate eyes narrow in pleasure as he gets it in one. And here she thought he'd be too nervous to notice such a tiny detail. He truly does have promise. "So you did notice. Very good. I must apologize for testing your mental reflexes like that. It's a bad habit of mine." She smiles good-naturedly as she lifts her own cup. Pausing, she glances at him as though she'd make a toast, but instead she says nothing and takes a sip. Whatever she'd have said, she thinks instead. "I'm pleased that you don't seem to be afraid of my most cherished pet," she comments after carefully setting down her cup. Gesturing airily to the tank on the further edge, she talks about the monster within as though it were her child. "I call him Kenpachi, because he is the strongest, largest, and most powerful of his breed."

Yoshinori blinks mid-sip, finishing without any disturbance. The secret testing is something he keeps in mind, connecting it with the one sparring match he had some time before with Nozomi. The tea cup is returned to the tabletop, the noble now glancing over at the glass tank. He doesn't consider himself afraid of scorpions, but it does look dangerous. As long as Kenpachi stays within closed space, it's fine. The name has a familiar tone to it. "Kenpachi? I-is that a reference to the Eleventh Division Captain? Zaraki Kenpachi?"

Tilting her head, Nozomi considers the possibility. "I suppose so. Every captain of the 11th Division has been a Kenpachi, due to this naming ritual. The strongest and the most powerful, you see. I don't expect my Kenpachi to become a taichou, but I followed that pattern when I named him. So I suppose in a way, it could be a reference to the current captain, if you look at it in a certain light." Picking up her cup, she takes another sip of tea and sets it down again.
"Would you like a closer look? He is truly magnificent." Sliding open the top of the tank, she dips her hand confidently inside. The scorpion raises its pincers like a child lifts its arms to its mother and crawls into her palm. She has to spread her fingers to contain him, and even then most of 'Kenpachi' droops over the sides of her hand. Lifting him out slowly, she withdraws her arm and holds him in front of her, now with both hands. Glancing up, she takes in Yoshinori's state to make sure he's still calm.

"Ah," the noble nods, his right hand still set near the cup he drank from. Well, he learns something new every day, good or bad. This fell into the 'good' category, right up until the point where Nozomi offers a live and up-close look at her pet scorpion.
His view is set on Kenpachi for the longest time, on each graceful movement the teacher does in order to take the carnivorous anthropod out of its tank. Yoshinori never thought that it would go with this so willingly, not even doing anything to harm Nozomi in the process. When she holds the pet out toward him, the noble stays unnervingly quiet. His tired eyes have opened a bit more than usual to gaze over the scorpion and maybe scrutinize every detail upon its body. All the while, the fingers near the tea cup twitch briefly, bending and unbending in place.

There is plenty of space between Yoshinori and the scorpion. As an instructor, Nozomi would not knowingly place her student at risk. "You're doing very well," she says in a gentle, almost sweet voice. It's hard to tell whether she's speaking to Ito or to her pet. As for Kenpachi the scorpion, he sits comfortably, looking relaxed as one can imagine a scorpion to look. One of his large pincers fist a bit of Nozomi's sleeve. "He must be in his own tank," she explains. "He began killing the others." Her statements are matter of fact, said in that same gentle voice, so that the grisliness of her words are softened somewhat. It's strange that the creature she's holding like an infant is the same one she speaks of.
"The secret," she explains, meeting Yoshinori's gaze, "Lies in your calm. A scorpion will attack when he senses great fear and panic. It is the same with many enemies. Fear is a sign of weakness. To overcome it, is to overcome the worst of ourselves."

Yoshinori raises his eyes from the scorpion to look at Nozomi, eyebrows furrowing slightly at her words. Kenpachi is pretty big for a scorpion, and it would make sense if there were any signs of leftover shelled carcasses still within his tank as proof, morbid thought as it is. The noble's ears can pick up on the strange contrast between the woman's choice sentences and her tone altogether, making the effect a little more creepy than usual. For him, anyway.
So this is lesson one, more or less. Yoshinori nods slowly, eyes wandering back over to the scorpion. Yes, Kenpachi still looks the same to him. It's a good thing the second year isn't falling over cold from this. He swallows, fluidly drawing his right hand back into his lap. "...and this goes for anyone?"

The lack of evidence in the tank is merely clue to how fastidiously Nozomi cares for her pets. Not only that, but such a thing would not be very seemly in a place where many people come and go. If Nozomi wishes to portray her pet as the magnificent creature she says he is, rather than the violent killer he could be, it is indeed wise of her to clean up after his spree.
With just as much care and gentleness as before, she eases Kenpachi back into his tank. With all the obedience of a well-trained dog, he climbs down into the sand of his home when her hand takes a certain angle. Once she slides the lid closed, she answers his question.
"Anyone. Everyone." Pausing a moment to let this assertion sink in, she goes on. "There is no one who does not have a weakness. Strong fighters may only have one. The key to making yourself even stronger after that is ensuring that your weakness is difficult to find. We all become afraid when someone stumbles upon our weaknesses. However, if we can train ourselves not to let that fear show, then our enemies may not realize they have found a weakness. Fear is deadly to us, but luckily the same can be said for our foes. Whoever masters his fear is the stronger warrior."

She makes all of it sound simple. And it probably is as it is stated. Knowing Kenpachi is safely back in his tank, Yoshinori relaxes, resting his gaze on Masayume once more.
Anyone. Everyone. All have weaknesses. The noble thinks about this, closing his eyes. Being himself, he easily shows his character at the start. A good number of people have seen how he is, and some used it as an advantage whenever he wasn't shunpoing to escape from them. For all he knows, Chitaka has a better grip on this concept since she is always there to protect him.
In fact, Yoshinori isn't sure how long people can be there to keep him safe. His parents have done so until he came to the academy, and Chitaka wanted to continue doing it. But she's not here now. The noble is sitting here with Masayume, alone, with her pet scorpion. Very comforting.
He has no ready response to this. Yoshinori opens his mouth partially, only to close it again. Eyes reopen, lowering to settle on the desk.

All the while that Yoshinori has his eyes closed, Nozomi remains silent. She allows him this time to think these things through, uninterrupted. Meanwhile, she quietly drinks her tea and waits patiently for his thoughts to lead either to conclusion, or to a brick wall. Either way, she is confident he will gain something from what she has said.
Fortunately for Ito's noble son, Masayume means him no harm. Indeed, it is out of a desire to teach him to protect himself that she wishes to teach him all these things. It's like the saying about teaching a man to fish. It's one thing to protect Yoshinori from one dangerous situation. It's entirely different to teach him the things that will aid him in protecting himself for the rest of his life.
When his eyes open, Nozomi sets down her empty cup. After a few more breaths of silence, she speaks. "Perhaps one of the things that is troubling you is the question of 'how.' Truly, this is not something that can be attained in one day. Someone like you, whose emotions are so clear and easy to read, may never master the ability to mask your emotions. But I can guide you, and teach you the principles needed to hide your fear. For you, Ito-san, I would change nothing else. Some would have you be as cold and heartless as Uemiya. But I think your depth of emotion sets you apart as a noble. My goal for you: Keep it, but know how to subdue it when needed."

Yoshinori frowns, more at himself than at Nozomi. How. Exactly. He doesn't see Uemiya as cold and heartless - at least, not when he talked to him last. Just uncomfortable with the situations he's faced with. All of that was hidden very well, actually, and the noble doesn't see it as much of an issue. Maybe he just wishes the first year could relax a little more...
"All of these should have been controlled a long time ago," he says, a weak smirk appearing afterward. Lifting his gaze toward Nozomi, he adds, "...as long as it stays the same way you have stated it, I'll go with it." The smirk falls just as easily as it came up. "I cannot guarantee I'll continue doing so through the rest the years spent here."

Considering his words, Nozomi looks disapproving for a moment, but almost at once gives him a small smile. "Ah, but that's troublesome. You see, the more I get to know you, my goals for you may change. For example, what manner of noble are you, Ito-san? Will you lead one day, or are you a member of your branch family?"
Though she sits with her hands folded properly in her lap, she leans forward in such a way as to suggest that she is very engaged in the conversation. A noblewoman would not do such a thing; preferring to stay aloof. Engaging one's companion by appearing engaged is a trick of the geisha, and is clearly retained in her muscle memory, or perhaps simply exists in her personality. To get him talking, to draw him out of his shyness. She knows she won't learn the secret to doing these things today, but eventually she will. It's just a matter of time.

Sadly, he does not know how to go about conversing with a woman who has geisha training levels high in carrying on conversation. "W-well....if it comes to that..." he starts, only to have the thought flutter away when she leans forward. His initial reaction is to lean back a few inches, expression perplexed. He loses some of the calm he had earlier, but manages to swing back into it, clearing his throat. "I...I am an only child. I think my family branches from another grouping, but...I've always had trouble trying to link everything together." He pauses, holding up a finger. "Wh-What I do know is that we're known. To an extent." From his experience, people do seem to react strangely whenever they hear his surname. After another moment, the finger lowers. "Ah....okay, so not just to a certain extent." Yoshinori doesn't like putting his rank out there like some nobles.

Arching her eyebrow, Nozomi doesn't realize immediately what has changed to make him so suddenly nervous. She hears him out despite his anxiety, her mind puzzling through what he /doesn't/ say. He doesn't exactly answer her question, but he gives her a lot of information. "So, you are likely to lead your clan someday," she deduces outloud. "In that case, the way you fight is important, but attaining tact is crucial."
Without realizing that she's solving the problem of his anxiety, Nozomi leans back and reclines against her small mountain of cushions. It's easier to think in this position. She goes on to admit, "Originally, I thought the biggest challenge would be to give you the confidence to make you into a true noble. But now I see an even greater hurdle lies before us. We must make you a leader, Ito-san. Do you believe this lies within you?"

[OIC?] 06/13/08

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:46:20 GMT

Four-coma material right there.

=======

Satsue has arrived.

Satsue pauses. Head swivel.
Yoshinori ah!;
Yoshinori bow.
Satsue inspects critically with narrowed eyes.
Yoshinori ;;;;;
Satsue says, "You'll die before you graduate."
Yoshinori O_O
Satsue dismisses and continues on her way.
Yoshinori says, "HA?!"

Satsue has left.

[Academy] From Sunglasses to Homework.

Tue, 20 May 2008 03:18:17 GMT

Or: How Takemaru fails in the second half.

|||Academy||| Katoji has connected.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro greets roomie.
|||Academy||| Katoji ^O^/
|||Academy||| Yoshinori gives goodie bags to both.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro is wearing shades.
|||Academy||| Katoji wai's!
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro offers a hi-five.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Katoji ^5s!
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Oh oh, I got more banana popsicals! Want some? :D :D :D"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro learned this trick from Ukitake-taichou.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "...."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro ......
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "No thank you."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori :|a
|||Academy||| Katoji ...aws ._.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko has connected.
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Ah! 'meko-meko! Want a banana popsical? :D :D :D"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Sure...! :D"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori also hands a goodie bag to Umeko. ^^
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Oh, how thoughtful!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori feels happy now.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "^-^ Thank you"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "You're welcome. =.= ~*"
|||Academy||| Katoji hands Umeko a popsical. Gives one to Yoshinori too. :D
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Thank you, these are so delicious!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori eats it in his happy hazy world.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro wears his shades. B|
|||Academy||| Katoji x)
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Man, I wish I had a camera."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "D: ah..."
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Ooh! I know"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Are your eyes sensitive?"
|||Academy||| Katoji grabs his crayons.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Ukitake-taichou gave me these."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Oh, I see..."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro offers a hi-five to Umeko-chan. B]
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko D:
|||Academy||| Katoji doodles. Glances at Matsuhiro. Doodle.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko .. high fives, albeit a little weakly;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori breaks out of his haze. Areh?
|||Academy||| Yoshinori aw, no more popsical.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro B|
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko licks at her popsicle.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro hopes you're getting my good side, Katoji.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru has connected.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori gives a goodie bag to Takemaru, too. :>
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Nakamori. B|"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru takes, thanks Ito.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...Uemiya. e__e"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro got shades from Ukitake-taichou.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru .__.
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "DONE!"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Here :D"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "...Uemiya-san is too cool. ^^;"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori in awe of how Chihara-san can pull that off in crayon.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro turns red.
|||Academy||| Katoji :O?
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro :]
|||Academy||| Katoji :D
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "He looks lame."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "He does not!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Yes he does."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "You're just jealous!"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "...."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "......."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "PFFT"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko >:(
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "R-really now..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I can't even look that lame on my worse of days."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "worst"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Man, he just looks lame."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko >:(!!!
|||Academy||| Seimei uwa~ *3*
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "... You're the lame one! DX"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko has left this channel.
|||Academy||| Seimei hugs Matsuhirosan
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "Sugoi da~"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "Na Seimei-kun"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Thank you, sensei...;;;"
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "Ara?"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa gestures how they are a bit too close
|||Academy||| Seimei :<
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "But Masasan, he looks so cool. :<"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "Yeah th' glasses are pretty spiffy"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori araaa... "I hope she'll be all right..."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro is glad everyone likes it.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru hmph
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei :<
|||Academy||| Katoji ^-^
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru goes back to watching bloody videos.
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "I hope ya like watchin' those alone kiddo"
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei D8
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei confiscates Takemaru's videos.
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei burns them.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru D:
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Sensei!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru .__. likes them.
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa points at Takemaru, shakes his finger. "You should be doin' somethin' else more important"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "DO YOU HAPPEN T' KNOW WHAT THAT IS"
|||Academy||| Iki has connected.
|||Academy||| Iki says, "It's no use, aibou."
|||Academy||| Hitohiko has connected.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Oh, I already did it. :)"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru thumbs up.
|||Academy||| Iki says, "....... you what?"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Oh! I already got yer homework done."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru thinks he made Ishamoto-sensei faint or something...
|||Academy||| Iki has indeed fainted.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ....
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa DX AIBOU
|||Academy||| Yoshinori fans Iki. ;;
|||Academy||| Iki says, "huh... wha...."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;;;
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "Aibou D8 Are you okay?"
|||Academy||| Iki says, "I think I was halucinating. Did he say he'd done his homework?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Ah....I think so."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Yes, sir. I did my homework. :)"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I did it all b'fore anythin' t'day."
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei holds up Takemaru's homework. =A=
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei says, "Takemaru-kun. :<"
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei says, "..You drew bears on this. Nothing else. :<"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "....."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru .__.;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I still did it."
|||Academy||| Katoji ...;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "...."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...I'm showin' my art skills!"
|||Academy||| Katoji wants to see!
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Mama Seimei hands the paper to Ikisan, steps out of blast radius. ._.
|||Academy||| Iki says, ".............."
|||Academy||| Katoji unwittingly gravitates towards Iki to see the pictures~
|||Academy||| Iki hands it to Katoji.
|||Academy||| Katoji :D
|||Academy||| Katoji looks.
|||Academy||| Katoji ...
|||Academy||| Iki goes back to the sewers.
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "AW, these are cute!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru :D
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "....I'm sure that wasn't what he had in mind, Nakamori-san..."
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "But... you shouldn't draw on your homework, Nakamori-san... ^-^;"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...why not?"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Cuz, well... bears don't seem to be part of this subject... 6_6;"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I didn't know the answers, but I knew I couldn't leave th' paper bare..."
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "..."
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa ....
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru 9__9
|||Academy||| Iki never returns... ever.
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa doesn't like it when people make Aibou so angry he goes to the sewers
|||Academy||| Katoji ...edges away.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru D:
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "b-but I did my homework!"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko ...
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Where is it?"
|||Academy||| Katoji hands it over to Umeko. :O
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko takes it, looks.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko ........
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "......."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori frozen.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Takemaru-kun"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Dont'cha like'em?"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko crunches the paper DX
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko has snapped
|||Academy||| Katoji O_o
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Umeko-chan.... are you all right?"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru .......
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "...'meko-meko...? ;;"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE DX
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Ah..."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori eek
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...I guess ya don't like'em. :<"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Um....um, um, Yukieda-san!!! ;;;"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori bows Takemaru's head down fast. "He's sorry! Really!"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Umeko-chan...."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko has so much stress already without him doing things like this! DX;;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru D:
|||Academy||| Katoji hugs Umeko! >O<
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "VERY sorry."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Wh-what'm I sorry 'bout?..."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori looks at Takemaru.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori eyes.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "What?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori bows Takemaru's head LOWER.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko hugs Katoji-kun T__T
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Don't let it get to you, 'meko-meko! It's okay!!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru bows, owowow;
|||Academy||| Iki is not returning.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I DUNNO WHAT I'M SORRY FO'!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "They were just bears..."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "FOR YOUR HOMEWORK AND HOW YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW DIRECTIONS."
|||Academy||| Katoji O_O
|||Academy||| Yoshinori stares down.
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa weeps at the nearest sewer entrance
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Ito-sama....."
|||Academy||| Katoji says, ".... go Ito-senpai! I knew you could do it! See, you have confidence, you just needa be motivated!"
|||Academy||| Katoji >:D fistpump
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Ito-senpai..."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Mmyes?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori blinks.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko is amazed D:
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ...heh?
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro is impressed!
|||Academy||| Yoshinori '_'
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Ito-sama is so cool!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru;;;;;;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, ".........ohmygoodnesswhat"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori lets go of Takemaru.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori shrinks back.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru stays down;;;
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro sits with Ito-sama. :)
|||Academy||| Katoji bounces! "he's smiling!" :D
|||Academy||| Iki isn't coming out, aibou.
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa nooooooooooooooooo
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ah. o_o;;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I-I'm... sorry fo' not followin' ...directions?"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro :|
|||Academy||| Katoji ..aws
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru peeks towards Umeko;
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko ... .__.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori looks back at Takemaru. "Yes. That's right. And you'll do the assignment over again."
|||Academy||| Katoji ... hugs Umeko again. Nuoooo, no sads~
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...but I dunno ...the answers."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Read. The. Book."
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa DX AIBOU COME BACK TO MEEEEEEE
|||Academy||| Iki NO
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru leans up, "We got books? :o"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa didn't do anything wrong!!!!
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ...........
|||Academy||| Yoshinori goes back toward Takemaru.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro admires Ito-sama!
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa WILL COMMIT HARAKIRI
|||Academy||| Yoshinori shakes.
|||Academy||| Iki crawls out of the sewer.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "wh-wh-what?"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...I didn't know!"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "...."
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa bubu face
|||Academy||| Yoshinori SHAKES.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko ... >__<
|||Academy||| Iki smells like sewer.
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa doesn't care <33
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "DX GO AHEAD AND FAIL THE CLASS FOR ALL I CARE, YOU'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT ANYWAY"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko has left this channel.
|||Academy||| Katoji sprawls! @_@
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Wah, 'meko...!"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "She only ever gets like that around you, Nakamori"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "You made such a sweet girl int' such an angry lil' thing"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "He made Ito-senpai Super Noble too. D:"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori .......lets go.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori doesn't know anymore.... T__T
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro Ito-sama.... *_*
|||Academy||| Katoji ...;>.>
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru sulks.
|||Academy||| Katoji scratches his head. '.';
|||Academy||| Iki sulks.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori sits down. ;;;
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro sits with Ito-sama. "That was very impressive, Ito-sama."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "T-thank you, Uemiya-san. ;"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I'm sorry."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru goes to bed early...
|||Academy||| Yoshinori waves. ;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru has left this channel.

And later....

Takemaru climbs here from the first floor below.
Takemaru has arrived.
Takemaru .__.;
Yoshinori ^^;
Yoshinori pats.
Takemaru cowers;
Yoshinori ah. Whoops.
Yoshinori >_>a;;
Takemaru clambors down the stairs to the first floor.
Takemaru has left.

[Log] 9 - Ryuujin

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:29:44 GMT

Characters: Ryuujin
Summary: Ryuujin - a person Yoshinori easily forgot about. Until now.

Classes have passed once again. The usual schedule for today left the young noble enough room to study and practice a couple of things. He put most of his training into swordplay lately, leaving little time to actually sharpen his kidou skills. And as much as he wondered where Chitaka went, he thought that practicing by himself will go just as well. Of course, it may be worse since he's alone and there is nobody else around to go get help if he suddenly gets a mental kick in the head.
Yoshinori is still, his gaze focused on the floorboards a foot away from where he stands. He takes a deep breath, slowly exhaling. How is this suppose to go again, he thinks. The kidou class didn't leave a very good impression on him the last time, and he sort of hesitates on trying to do the ocean thing again. So he frowns, still looking worried.

This is a building that Ryuujin is intimately familiar with. There is a loud whistling sound heard somewhere in the distance, a straightforward approach that grows consistently louder. There's plenty of time to be prepared for the arrival, but even now the 5th year student is anything but subtle. He enters the room with an almost swagger, thumbing through a book in his hand while finishing off the last of an oniyaki. It takes him a split moment to notice Yoshinori; eyebrows raising in surprise, before he offers a broad grin. "Well! I expected it to be empty!" Arms raise up in a sudden motion that would doubtless spook even the most domesticated of animals. "You're an early year, aren't ya? Working hard all on your own, I like that!" The title of his book, if appraised, seems to be techniques on optimalizing incantationless kidou. He approaches suddenly, hand seeking the nobles in an aggressive fashion, completely heedless of any attempt to keep distance between; he'd back the other man into a wall, smiling in a beaming fashion all the while. "Ryuujin Sasaki! You can call me Ryuujin! But not Ryu, or I'll put you on the ground! I'm proud of my mother's name!"

Crimson eyes flicker in surprise, his body turning to see Ryuujin make his grand entrance to an audience of one. The sound of the older student's voice makes him feel terribly nervous, causing his ability to find the right words and parsed sentences to drop a couple of notches. While stuttering, his hand is taken in the other's, the shake strong enough to run throughout Yoshinori's being. At least it tells him he's really here...and alive still. In a matter of speaking, anyway. The height also adds to the unintentional intimidation Ryuujin has surrounding him, making the noble swallow audibly. "Ah...R-Ryuujin-sempai. R-right...m-my name is, is Y-yoshin-nori Ito. S-second year," he gasps, trying to smile in light of his apprehension. "A-and that's nice to know!!" he adds with a squeak.

"Ito!" Ryuujin proclaims, looking to be suddenly interested. "Wow! A noble! This is a real honor!!" He redoubles the handshake, gripping over his own hand for added force and emphasis. "I heard the houses had the purest Shinigami blood around! Oh, the things I've heard of the Kuchiki's alone! That Byakuya is supposed to be a genius with kidou..." An almost longing look, but he refocuses on this fragment of his reality rather quick. "I've never met one of you before. Only seen." His book, clamped beneath an armpit, is shifted to his hand once more as he lets go. But doesn't step back. "So what's an Ito doing here, all alone? I'd suspect you to have high class tutors. Trouble with Kidou?" There's a disturbing and almost foreboding perk to him now, as if he's deeply hoping the answer is ‘yes'.

Oh, so his name is known after all. Although the second year had acknowledged this before, he still has a hard time believing it. "I-I see," he says awkwardly, blinking all the while. Such a firm, strong handshake. And Yoshinori is still standing. Amazing. "W-w....Well..." He clears his throat, trying to regain some sense of normalcy in order to function properly, shaking his hand out to see if he can still feel it. "...I-I would have come alone. But my servant, Masuda-san, came with me here. S-she didn't want to be left behind at home." Yoshinori leaves out the extra stuff about her being overprotective and pretty rough if he finds himself in harm's way; it's nothing to be talked about unless his other status was mentioned from his peers. And since Ryuujin doesn't step back, the noble does just a little bit. "B-besides...it was more of a forced option instead of an actual choice." His head tilts back, smiling nervously at the taller student. "Ahhh, k-kidou trouble! Well, y-yes, I suppose you can say that..."

"What're you stuttering for!" Ryuujin offers, shifting to give a playful sock in the shoulder. In the best of cases it's painless, but someone like Yoshinori is probably not used to being jostled in such a fashion. "A man from a noble family should be well spoken, with smooth diction and resolve!" Eyes are furrowed in a judging fashion, obviously admonishing. But his face cracks, and he bursts out laughing. "I'M KIDDING!" is offered, regardless of how it is received. "You're not what I expected, though... Mmm. Kidou, you say?" He thrusts out a thumb, dazzling smile offered with a look quite mischievous. Katoji would be familiar with this. "That's where I happen to be a whiz. I've too much time in my independent studies; I don't mind helping you wrap your head around it. What's the problem?"

It's simliar to how he's treated by some of the random bullies he runs into from time to time - just a little more friendly, in this case. "Ow, ahaha," the second year freezes shortly after the oddness, only to jump at Ryuujin's loud, lively laughter. He happens to fool a lot of people with the way nobles are suppose to act. It's not on purpose, either.
Rubbing his shoulder, Yoshinori nods. Should he be worried about that look as well? Maybe later. "T-the last time I did kidou, I had a problem manifesting a form during class time. Masayume-sensei said something about focus and control, but I...well," he shrugs, clasping his hands together. "It...led to an early dismissal on my part." He mostly reads about the subject, which also adds to his lack of actual practice. Eyes glance downward prior to looking back at Ryuujin, mouth twisting slightly.

"Is that so?" Ryuujin ponders, stroking his chin in a thoughtful manner. "I assume you tried the ocean thing." he offers, seeming to not be putting a large amount of emphasis on the concept. "To be honest, that didn't work for me either." he whispers, leaning forward with his hand beside his mouth as if it's a secret he wishes the walls not to overhear. "I mean the concept is good, but it was too simple! It presented the idea, without explaining why or how it actually worked in depth, when I looked at it. Sure, if you want baby steps it's something, but I'm the kind who likes to dive into the deep end." Another smile. He's had a sort of rough amiable nature that's not changed since his arrival; in fact, Yoshinori would likely be able to tell he's not much changed a bit since the revelation of his house. "Have you tried studying the theory and principals? I did that, and just managed my own method. I won't bore you with it, it's a little weird..." From the sounds of it, this is not something a person might want to be privy to.

"Y-yes," comes a soft reply with another nod. Slender hands have stopped wringing when Ryuujin lowers his voice to tell him such; he doesn't even take another step backward. Actually...come to think of it, Yoshinori is a bit more at ease with this now. The fifth year isn't showing any sort of contempt or over-exaggerated formalities with him - the taller one is only setting things as they are within academic rankings. "A-as much as I'd like to delve into things quickly, I think it's best that I start slow," Yoshinori blinks, hands wringing some more. "However, I did read something about that, but it was a while ago. And...Masuda-san was also trying to teach me how to take control of things..." Taking back the taiyaki was sort of gratifying, but odd at the same time. Ryuujin's personal theories seem to make the noble perk. His curiosity gets the best of him. "Um...I wouldn't mind hearing about your thoughts on this," he responds, hands dropping loosely to his sides.

"Aw, c'mon. That's no way to get through life. Isn't it better to shoot too high and have to lower the bar, then to never see just what you are capable of? For all you know, you might be walking a mile beneath your real potential!" As for the following part, this seems to incite a bit of polite confusion. "Assert yourself?" But he somewhat waves it aside, letting out a deep breath while furrowing his brow in intent concentration. "It's not a good example, trust me. I kinda started using it as a joke to see if visualization mattered. But I dunno... Maybe this will help. You could try picturing a black void. Then there is a balloon. ‘Blow' it up; that is, building the spirit energy... then you can make a balloon. It takes a lot of twists and turns that seem initially pointless to make a balloon animal, as you might know." Of course, he pauses to think if a Shinigami born noble would have experience with it, and sees no reason to believe clowns lack here. "The incantation is the substitute for hands. Then, you finish it. Since it's just a base form, you have to ‘name' it; look, I made a dog! Then you just let it fly. That's how you do a Kidou!" ...It's probably a bizarre explanation. Which might make one wonder just what he does in his OWN mind.

He can probably go into the how self-assertion thing, but he may bore Ryuujin to tears. At least, this is what he thinks will happen. Yoshinori doesn't want to trouble an upperclassman with his problems, but seeing how the fifth year is willing to help out...
The whole explanation is taken in, but the noble keeps the perplexed expression on his face all the way through it. Balloon animal? "...So...basically just keeping the energy consistent without going overboard, maybe? And keeping the control during the build up....You make it sound so simple," he lets out a weak laugh, trying to gesture the movements described. Yoshinori purses his lips, hands pausing in midair. "...Should I try it?" he asks Ryuujin, glancing upward.

" Well... look. The main thing you have to realize is in my example. Here." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. It's somewhat crumpled, but he smoothes it out a fair amount. "It's just a piece of paper, right? Plain and simple. But it can be anything, if you know how to work it. Observe!" Ryuujin then begins to fold it. Indeed, the action might seem bizarre, as at the onset it's just random actions. Only when he flips it inside down and makes the last two folds is the origami hawk easily apparent. "What's the difference between kidou and this crane, or a balloon animal? Nothing. You gotta understand why every fold or twist is done, Yoshinori! If you treat the words as just words, of course your kidou's going to fizzle. Know every nuance of it. Control and strength comes from understanding." He then flicks the bird towards the younger student. "And that's my advice. How you get that understanding is up to you. It's different for each person. Make sense?" And then he gestures towards Yoshinori, nodding. "Try something out!"

Catching the paper bird isn't difficult; Yoshinori almost drops it before holding it close to his chest. The swift folds are neat where the paper is not, crisp and balanced. The noble marvels at Ryuujin's work for a bit, nodding firmly this time. "All right," he replies, making some room between the fifth year and himself so that he wouldn't accidentally explode or something. The paper crane/hawk is still in his hand.
Crimson eyes lower as Yoshinori takes in a breath, arms raising halfway in front of him. Exhaling softly, he focuses on gathering his spiritual energy. The new venue his mind envisions is dark and empty, soundless. Is this any better than the ocean he saw before?

There's no comment from Ryuujin at the moment; he's unsure what is going through the youth's mind, and for all his gung-ho antics he is a few hundred miles from impatient. Wasted time is different then time carefully spent! Arms fold before his chest, stance becoming more loose. No particularly careful measures are taken in the case of catastrophe, either ignorance or confidence, be it in himself or the noble...

In the confines of his mind, the second year started to pick out shreds of spiritual energy. He still wonders where they are coming from, but maintains the focus on collecting them into one sphere. Each float slowly, picking up speed when they come closer in range with the youth.
On the outside, closed eyes flinch while something starts to form around the folded paper shape. Letting the bird go, it sways in place inches above his hand, the rounded form pulsating slightly as Yoshinori continues.

Still nothing is coming from Ryuujin, having at best an apprehensive confidence that something meaningful might come of this. Telling him not to mess up will probably startle him and cause the paper bird to explode, killing hundreds. Well, at the very least it'd sock him in the confidence. Silent, silent. For now at least, Yoshinori is indeed alone in that void, until things go haywire or he leaves of his own accord!

Exploding is the last thing he wants to do, and probably the farthest thing from his thoughts in general. The paper bird wavers as the form becomes stable with a few gaping holes. Within his mind, Yoshinori sees this structure larger than it physically. If he tried, he can hold the oddly-shaped glowing ball it in both arms. Each breath is silent and evenly paced while the small barrier surrounding the folded bird stays the way it is, rotating gradually.
Now....how to get out of this.
The noble's eyes dart around in the dark, his mouth forming a thin line of worry. "Ah...let's see..." The moment he starts to unravel the spirit ball, it goes faster than he expects it. In the real world, the little ball 'pops,' sending the paper hawk off to the side. Yoshinori's eyes snap open, stepping forward to steady himself.

A rather anticlimactic occasion to most, but Ryuujin seems rather pleased. "Hey, not bad. It's a start, but a canyon begins with a drop of water, doesn't it?" He crouches down and plucks up the paper bird, tossing it back towards Yoshinori again. "Hope I helped... Kidou's my thing, but I've never been much of a teacher. More a source of inspiration!" A wink is offered to the noble, thoroughly teasing. "But I've got my own kidou to work on... Need anything else?" His book is hefted up for emphasis. A rather thick tomb by all accounts. Yet he still lingers, giving no impression that this is meant to be dismissive.

"Y...yes," the second year shrugs, standing properly once he regains a sense of stability. Catching the bird again, he stuffs it into his sleeve for safe-keeping. Yoshinori bows shortly after this. "Ah...I think that's all for now. T-thank you, Ryuujin-sempai." A half-smile accompanies this, but it's genuine. He doesn't know what to make of the teasing, but it's okay.

"Anytime! Don't be afraid to look me up if you ever got any trouble!" is offered, hand raises in a somewhat overly enthusiastic wave before he begins his whistle anew, striding towards one of the side doors in order to find a more private location; he is rather enthusiastic about his training after all, and the last thing he would like to do is terrify the hapless youth. Of course, a good fifteen minutes later he can be heard yelling and snarling, as well as intermittent muffled bangs. Oh, my.

Yoshinori waves, smiling, dropping his hand once the fifth year disappears. Tilting his head, the noble tries to practice some more on his own. Of course, while doing this, the snarling startles him nonetheless, his eyes trailing over to the same side. "...."

[Log] 8.5 - Shamisen Talk

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:13:35 GMT

Characters: Katoji, Yoshinori
Summary: After a brief lesson in shamisen playing, Yoshinori tells of other thoughts.

=======

Tuning the instrument is the hard part. The pitch is right, but making sure the peg stays in place doesn't always work well. Several minutes are wasted tightening the strings, but everything came together. Yoshinori sighs, staring at the shamisen for another good minute. He hasn't been practicing lately due to classes and whatnot, and there are still some things that have been on his mind. That, and the sudden absense of Chitaka. Where did that girl go? He sets the plectrum across the strings, plucking them with a sharp, twanging note.

As it happens, the dark-haired boy had been on his way to visit his friend the second-year noble, but the somewhat familiar twang of a shamisen gave him cause to stop by the Communal Lounge. Perhaps Yukieda-san's taken up practicing in here again. To his surprise, the one he finds within is none other than Yoshinori. Katoji grins and enters the room. He doesn't make his entrance too quiet, not wanting to startle the noble, and rather than greeting him out loud, the boy walks over to settle down on a nearby seat to watch and listen.

It's strange how there never seems to be anyone else around him outside of scheduled class times. More notes are played, each having a certain tone both beautiful and somewhat jolting to the listener. He seems to be a natural at this; crimson eyes are closed, his fingerings precise and subtly wavering atop the shamisen's strings. Although he isn't looking, he does feel like another person came inside the room, causing a slight flinch of his shoulders. The music still goes on, pausing and punctuating.

Katoji seems content to watch, the slight reaction to his presence not going unnoticed. Maybe he should have stayed by the doorway? At the very least Yoshinori's aware someone else is here. Maybe. Hopefully. He'll find out when the upper classman screams or not.
He's only ever heard Umeko play the shamisen before, and that had been very briefly, if not from a distance. Now that he sits in front of the player, Katoji is practically mezmorized by Yoshinori's hands as they move, the precise positioning of his fingers bringing the richest of notes that sound both dissonant and melodious at the same time.

He's had time to mull over most of these ordeals within the past few days. Apparently, he decides to go over each of them once more, just to make sure his decisions are certain. One of them seems risky, even if it didn't feel like it at the time. Another three notes, two beats, and a hard, warbling down note. His brow creases during all of this, setting up for another part of the unknown tune he plays.
In the middle of shifting his left hand's position on the neck of the shamisen, he opens his eyes to see Katoji seated /right there./ They widen. "UWAH!!" The plecturm clatters down the instrument and his side while he leans backward, falling halfway.

..... So much for that.
Katoji almost jumps clear out of his seat with Yoshinori's exclamation, but upon seeing his senpai go the other way, the boy lurches forward to try grabbing a hold of the upper classman's uniform so he won't go tumbling to the ground. "I-I'm sorry!" the first year sputters. He tried really hard not to surprise Yoshinori! Really!

Don't worry - his heart is only going a bit faster than normal now! The second year gasps, blinking in his current state of surprise. "....Ch...Chihara-san!" Leaning back up with the support from Katoji's tugging, Yoshinori smiles wearily, hands clasping around the instrument's neck. "Oh...Oh, i-it's all right. I...I knew I felt someone here...."

The other boy forces a grin, at odds with the puzzled furrowing of his brow. "I was hoping you were- I didn't mean to startle you like that," he laughs. That aside, he grins more brightly, settling back in his seat once Yoshinori is upright again.
"That was really cool though! I've never heard you play before, only saw the instrument in your room, but wow!"

Yoshinori chuckles, glancing down at the shamisen in his lap. He can see its ornate patterns detailing the dark lacquered sides clearly from this angle, along with some of the wear of age showing in spots. "Well...th-thank you. It's been a while since I last practiced, really. I...I don't know how I manage to get back on track with playing, however," he muses, looking back at the first year. With a shrug, he simply adds, "I needed to clear my head."

The boy continues to grin at him. "It's like riding a bike or something, right? Even if you take a break from it, it just comes back to you when you take it up again. Me, I've never really gotten the hang of instruments." Katoji shrugs his shoulders. "Yukieda-san plays the shamisen too. I've only heard her play briefly though. Hey! Maybe you two should meet up and play together some time!" he suggests, and abruptly he snaps his fingers. "You can do like... dueling shamisen!"

A bike? Well, that's one way to put it. Yoshinori nods, tilting his head a few degrees to the right. "Eh? I-I'm sure you can learn, Chihara-san. It's not too bad..." There are probably more students around the grounds who play different instruments, but who really knows. The next name Katoji brings up sounds familiar. "Yukieda-san...ah, I think I remember her. Is that so?" Hm. Dueling shamisens? Okay, more like accompaniment. "I see. It doesn't sound like a bad idea at all," the noble thinks, folding his arms loosely over the instrument. "But...dueling?" He adds an amused yet perplexed look with this add-on.

Katoji nods vigorously. "Yeah! Like that banjo song! Except with shamisen! I bet it'd sound really neat!" he says, seeming quite convinced of this. He settles down a little, although by the glint in his eyes it's obvious the idea of Umeko and Yoshinori going head-to-head with their shamisen hasn't completely passed. "You think I could learn? I've never tried, really... I mean, you make it look so simple..."

The noble scratches the side of his face shortly after this thought, confused about the concept Katoji is working off of. Sounds like fun, though. He may have to figure it out later. "It does take some time, but once you get the basics, it's quite easy." Yoshinori unfolds his arms to pick up the shamisen, holding it out for Katoji. "Go ahead, it's fine."

Buh? He's letting him TOUCH IT? Katoji simply looks far too excited for his own good. If his eyes could light up, they'd be glowing by now to match the big smile on his face. "Really? Ah..." He takes up the instrument gingerly, then tries to hold it in the position he'd seen Yoshinori use earlier. It's a lot harder trying to do so from his perspective. "Okay... like this?"

"A little more...bend right here," Yoshinori observes, reaching over to fix Chihara's wrists. "And sit a straighter. The shamisen responds better with a good posture." He holds up a finger, pausing for a brief second before turning to search for the dropped plecturm. Once it's found, the noble places it in Katoji's right hand. "There. Now you can start putting your fingers down in position with the left and pluck with the right."

Katoji lets Yoshinori adjust his wrists as needed, and he straightens as directed. "Oh, gotcha." He looks at the plectrum curiously, then looks at his fingers poised over the strings. "Hmmmmm...." Experimentally, he sets a finger down on one of the three strings, then plucks the corresponding one with the oddly shape pick. His expression sours at the noise. That sounds nothing like Yoshinori's playing. T__T

There is silence after that random note.

And then Yoshinori makes a face. It's not one of disgust - it's pretty blank. And then he breaks into soft laughter. "Ahah...ahahahaha! O-oh, Chihara-san," he responds, patting the younger student on the head, "Chihara-san, that's okay! A person doesn't always start off sounding wonderful." From what he can remember, he also failed the first time around. "Here," Yoshinori repositions Katoji's fingers, leaning back afterwards, "try that."

Katoji pouts as he's patted on the head, not looking too amused at the laughter from the other student, or at least, trying not to. He fails at trying to keep a straight face, especially when it's easier for him to grin.
"Okay, okay..." the boy says as he eagerly watches and fixes his fingers with Yoshinori's assistance. "Heeeere goes!" he pipes, and promptly gives the string another pluck. At least this time it sounds more like a note instead of a dead one.

His head sort of clouds up for a moment when Katoji makes that face, but he manages to keep from spacing out. The noble smiles, nodding his head. The note is right on the mark, its sound ringing vibrantly. "Much better," he says, letting Katoji do some more things on his own.

His grin returning fourfold, Katoji gives a little hop in place. Yeah, that's more like it. He eyes his finger placing again and then tries the same chord a few times. Then he shifts his hand to try another. He twitches as it sounds off, but adjusts his fingers until he gets something more pleasing to his ears. "I'll never get as good as you though," he says as he tries to shift fingers and strings. At least he doesn't sound disappointed as he says this.

"If there is time, I can teach you some more. I-if that's all right with you," Yoshinori beams lightly. He's happy to see that Katoji is willing to try things. That's always good. Time passes. "So...what exactly brings you here, Chihara-san?"

"Really?" Katoji beams right back. It's pretty obvious what his answer is to that. He gives another test pluck of a different finger configuration, wincing at the flat note that warbles from the instrument. "Huh? Oh- I was actually going to go by your room to say 'hi,' Ito-senpai," he replies.

Another nod also states the obvious response to Katoji's unspoken answer. "Ah, I see," the youth says softly, the smile disappearing slowly. He does leave the comfort of his room from time to time whenever there is something he wants to check in the library or to spend his free time elsewhere. Right now, the reason is different. Or is it reasons? "Sorry about that," Yoshinori apologizes, bowing his head slightly. "Things have been...a little crazy."

"Why're you apologizing for? I found you anyway, right?" the younger student replies, still smiling. It does sort of falter at the edges as he watches Yoshinori closely. "...what happened? Ito-senpai...?" he asks, lowering the shamisen to rest over his lap.

With his head still bowed, Yoshinori sighs. He doesn't usually want to trouble people with his thoughts, but...the first year has the tone that says he wants to know. It's much to similar to Chitaka's, more or less. "Oh...well...ah, where do I start?" He sits upright again, closing his eyes. "I don't really know where Masuda-san went. She's probably busy of late, so it's not too much of a problem. I also spoke with Uemiya-san. That was nice..." His voice falters on the next subject, his eyes opening to look at Katoji. "...I-I also talked to M-Masayume-sensei again. The other day, actually."

He listens with rapt attention as Yoshinori finally speaks again. At least Katoji doesn't have to drag it out of him. He sits quietly, nodding slowly. Come to think of it, he hasn't seen Chitaka about lately either, but he figured she was busying herself with training or something. She'd never leave Yoshinori for long, of that Katoji is certain. "Oh, you talked to my roommate? That's good to hear!" he grins, but said grin fades with the obvious look of uncertainty that crosses the upper classman's face. For some reason it feels like someone's poured ice down his back with the mentioning of their kidou sensei's name. He doesn't want to jump to conclusions though, after all, he's spoken with Nozomi himself, but he can't help but feel concerned in the way Yoshinori brings her up.
"...oh..." Katoji says slowly, trying to pick his words with care. "...so what happened?"

"Ah? He's your roommate? I didn't know that..." A small smile appears briefly at the thought, saving the information once things are confirmed. His mouth then becomes a thin line, as if he is struggling to phrase his thoughts correctly. "I-I-I was just practicing, in the primary dojo," Yoshinori stutters, his continuing as smoothly as he could. "It's what I usually do whenever there is no one else to spar with...and Masayume-sensei s-shows up at the doorway." He flexes his fingers gradually. "And then, before I knew it, we were sparring. I mean - I suppose I allowed it, since she is a teacher and all..." Maybe he'll just skip the part about her using the shikai form on him - it's easier that way. "It wasn't too bad, but she did notice how much I lack the confidence to do things properly."

See, now had Katoji not come across Nozomi in the clinic the other day, then he would certainly have been more worried about hearing this from Yoshinori. His mouth works in the obvious effort to say something, but he isn't sure what. He can't say anything about Nozomi because that give way to what he'd promised her he -wouldn't- meniton to anyone else, and he can't really give Antoku's reasons because Antoku wasn't the one that gave him them, just orders.
Maybe he is going about this all wrong. A spar's a spar, and Yoshinori seems all right physically... "...what... what'd she say...?" Katoji finally asks.

Yoshinori still keeps his gaze steady with Katoji's, each breath astonishingly even in contrast to how he sounded earlier. "...She offered lessons in retrieving this confidence," the low tone of his voice quiet. "And she wanted an answer within a few days. I know it's suppose to help..." The noble rubs his right temple in the middle of it, eyes shutting again. "...but it just feels like...I don't know..."

Lessons? Katoji doesn't have to fake the confused if still uncertain look on his face. He looks down at the floor, letting his feet kick back and forth. "Mmm... well... Ito-senpai..." Again he lifts his head, waiting until he has Yoshinori's full attention before he continues. "...do you... feel comfortable with her?"

Comfortable. The word seems to pop up everytime, almost all throughout his life in Seireitei. Comfortable. Did he, during any of those moments, ever feel completely relaxed and in control of a situation? Yoshinori stays silent for a time, crimson eyes now staring off at the distant wall. "I...I do," he answers, hesitatingly. "...and yet, I still have qualms about it."

"...then you're not really comfortable with it," Katoji says flatly, but not in a sarcastic sort of way. He carefully sets the shamisen aside so it won't fall to the floor, and he scoots towards the edge of his seat, peering at Yoshinori. "Do you think you could act like you do with Chitaka-san with her?" he asks. He realizes he's not really seen the two interact aside from when they'd all been in class, but he figures that since Chitaka's been with him the longest, well, it'd be pretty ridiculous for him not to be at ease around the girl.

Yoshinori flinches, his head drooping a little. "You're probably right," he half-smiles. "Masayume-sensei and Masuda-san are much too different from each other, however. Masuda-san means well, and she's always supportive. She doesn't like it when I'm treated badly, but sometimes she can get carried away with the whole protection thing." Not that he has a real problem with it or anything. "I can be more open with her on informal terms. Masayume-sensei is a teacher, of course. I can't just use informalities there when I have barely met her. Showing respect is the best I can do for now." Later on is just something he hasn't figured out yet.

Katoji has to nod at that. "....I guess I understand.... but..." He strokes his chin. "...what I don't get is what you mean by informalities... I mean, I know as students we have to respect the teachers and our upper classmen, but... well, if you trust yourself enough with how you interact with people, then being formal or informal depending on the situation comes naturally, na?"

Katoji says, "I hope that makes sense, my train of thought went WOOSH"
Yoshinori says, "It's okay - I think my mind is just picking through everything. ;;"

"...." Yoshinori stares at the boy, blinking several times. His mouth opens and then closes, thinking about what Katoji said once more before he replies. "Well...for nobility, formalities are usually taught along with everything else we learn normally. There are those who make this a priority over all, and it's hard to go against it when they set the bar so high." He's had many experiences with such, disappointing other nobles each and every time. "For me...I, I think I just have to spend enough time with a person so that the situation won't feel so awkward. However, I still seem to feel that way every time after...this is natural." He leans back straight, the muscles in his shoulders loosening. "You're right - I can do better than this. I really have trouble trying to do such a simple task."

There, now that's a little better! Katoji smiles as he sees Yoshinori relax, if only to a small degree. It's something at least! "Maybe you think about it too m- OH. Yeah... I wonder if it's like that!" The boy lets himself lean back in his chair, stretching out his arms over his head before letting them hang over the sides of the armrests.
"I was just reminded about this other upper classman I met yesterday. His name's Sakaki Ryuujin," he says, glancing at Yoshinori to see if the name might be familiar to him. "I ran into him on my way to class- and he gave me some pointers on shunpo. I wasn't even aware I was shunpo-ing!" Katoji laughs, smiling up at the ceiling. He can laugh at it now, even though yesterday he'd showed up pretty late to class. It isn't like he hadn't learned anything though!
"Sakaki-senpai said that if you thought about it too much, then the harder it would be to actually do it. He was talking about shunpo though, but the same can apply for lots of things, don't you think? It kinda makes sense. The more conscious you are about trying to do something, the more... uh, what's the word... critical? Yeah, I think that's it. The more critical you are about doing it and then you either choke your efforts or fail completely." Katoji blinks a few times after saying all this, and then grins broadly. "Wow. Did that sound cool or what?"

Sasaki...he doesn't think he knows anyone by that name. A look of confusion crosses his features, but he listens to the first year's spiel. What he mentions is very true; Yoshinori has been doing this a lot. And as serious as it is, a hint of a smile appears for the moment once the boy realizes how intellectual he sounds. The noble wouldn't disagree with that, either. He nods his head. "I shall remember this advice, then. And hopefully put it into practice." With this, Yoshinori bows his head. "...Thank you for the insight, Chihara-san."

Ah, it wasn't that much! Katoji sits up straight again, waving his hands in front of him. "Oh- you're welcome, Ito-senpai! I hope it helps!" He grins. "A lotta times we probably already know what we need to do, but we just forget about it when we really need to put it into practice, I think." Which is kind of pointless in the long run.
The boy sighs. "And a lot of other times it's easier said than done." He looks at Yoshinori again, then holds out a fist towards him. "But we can get through it. You can do it, Ito-senpai!" He continues to hold his fist out expectantly.

The second year nods some more, smiling warmly. He doesn't need to respond to this. When Katoji holds out his fist for a return hit with his own, Yoshinori just blinks at the gesture cluelessly. What exactly was he suppose to do? "Ah..." He brings up his own hand, patting the fist of the boy twice.

Katoji blinks at Yoshinori's return gesture, then grins as he happily leans forward to do some pointing out of his own. He cups the other's hand to make a fist, then sits back again as he brings up his own fist again to lightly bump against Yoshinori's knuckles. "Bam." He says, still grinning.

Yoshinori watches. "Ah." He grins back, amused at this new handshake.

"Hee." Katoji lowers his hand and goes to grab the shamisen from the side, carefully handing it back over to Yoshinori. "I should get going now. I have homework," he grimaces, as if it's very name causes him a stomach ache. "See you around, okay? Oh, and really think about your decision too. I can't tell you you should or shouldn't, but it's all up to you." He steps over to pat the upper classman on the shoulder. "Take care, Ito-senpai!" He flashes one more grin before he turns to head back towards the doorway and out to the hall.

He laughs a little, knowing how Katoji feels about homework. It's like Chitaka whenever she gets sick of it. "That I will," Yoshinori says, holding the shamisen in his lap after reclaiming it. Well, making the decision falls onto him again, but that's how it is. There's no going around it.
The noble calls after Katoji right when leaves. "Y-you take care of yourself, too, Chihara-san!" And there he goes. Five seconds go by before he glances away from the empty doorway, resting thoughtfully upon the body of the shamisen. He shifts back into playing position, the plectrum poised...

[Log] 8 - Fail (Unfinished)

Thu, 15 May 2008 01:08:36 GMT

Characters: Matsuhiro, Yoshinori
Summary: Noble talk. Of fail.

=======

The library is empty today. Not completely empty, but with the few stragglers hanging around, it can almost pass as normal. Exactly how many students are in here reading for fun? Seriously.
...All right, maybe one. Yoshinori flips through the pages quietly, eyes skimming over paragraphs and illustrations of the book's contents. He sat alone at one of the tables, a small stack of books he chose earlier keeping him company. He shows no problem being in this state, however.

Reading for pleasure wasn't so much Matsuhiro's thing. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy it, but simply that he didn't have the time for it between his studying, training, and other such... distractions. In fact, that was why he had made his way into the library this time. Studying. It took a lot of work to remain at the top of his class and there was no other option, even with the multitude of problems he'd had as of late.
However, he hadn't expected to find any familiar faces. Especially a face so important, or rather, important in Matsuhiro's world of formalities, important names, and family connections. He hesitated a moment, not wanting to disturb the other noble, but eventually he stepped close enough and offered a deep bow. "Ito-sama. Good afternoon."

His head tips back from being bent over the book, turning to see Matsuhiro in the middle of his bow. "Ah, Uemiya-san! G-good afternoon," Yoshinori stammers, closing the book on a finger so he wouldn't lose his page. He can't really bow back while seated, so he nods as deeply as he could, still feeling awkward about it. Sometimes he wishes that the formal stuff can be shoved aside. "I-I haven't seen you for a while. Classes must...be busy." The noble smiles, his nervousness subsiding. "How are you?"

It still baffled Matsuhiro that his fellow noble could be so... nervous. This man was not only his senior in academy rank, but in family rank as well. There was no reason for him to show any form of discomfort in regard to Matsuhiro. If anything, Matsuhiro should be the one showing his nerves.
He pushed away his own look of confusion and responded to the question with the utmost politeness. "I'm very well, senpai. I hope you are as well."

How can he hide it so well? Years of practice? Yoshinori tilts his head to the side, half-heartedly chuckling. "I, I'm glad to hear that. And yes, I am, thank you." Better than other days, he thinks. Surely there are better ways of telling how things are going to go before the day even starts.
His free hand pulls out the chair next to him, motioning afterward. "Please, sit down. It wouldn't be right for you to keep standing like that." He doesn't mind if something needs to be done before sitting down. Or if Matsuhiro decides to sit elsewhere. Anything's fine, Yoshi's not demanding it.

Not demanding it, perhaps, but it would be rude of Matsuhiro to refuse an invitation from his better. Though Yoshinori might not recognize his efforts for what they were, Matsuhiro had always kept in mind how he looked to those who had some pull. Yoshinori was a member of a much higher ranking noble house and it would have reflected poorly on the entire Uemiya family had he behaved rudely. And not to mention he was hoping that eventually Yoshinori might pass on a few positive words to the rest of his family that would raise opinion of Uemiya.
He took a seat, not bothering to find the books he'd been after, acknowledging the invitation with a nod of his head. "Thank you, senpai." Always senpai. To say less would be to show no respect. "Is there anything I can do for you while I'm here?"

That's probably the best way to go about the nobility business. All of those connections can either lead to success or ruin to a family, and disgrace, being one of many major issues, would cease to rain down on a group until there is some miraculous improvement present. Ito knows this. He just questions it from time to time.
"Eh? Ah...well..." Yoshinori blinks, placing his book hand on the table. "...I'm not really sure, Uemiya-san. Y, you don't have to do anything." Pause. "I...don't want to trouble you." Chitaka usually does it for him anyway, whether he asks or not. Speaking of which, he's not even sure where the girl went at the moment. Huh. She'll come back eventually. His brow quirks, still looking worried. "Is there something you needed? Or...maybe...we can just talk?"

"Senpai?" Matsuhiro was beginning to lose that sense of comfort that came with following formal protocol. There was always a safety in that behavior, the knowledge that he could respond to anything properly without worrying about causing offense. Yet somehow he seemed to be causing his senior a bit more discomfort than was usual...
"Is everything all right, Ito-sama? If I've disturbed your reading, I can go." The last thing he wanted was for Yoshinori to mention to his family that Matsuhiro had been bothering him in the library. Then his father would be even more displeased than he already was!

"Oh, no, nonono, it's fine!" Yoshinori grins, or he tries to, anyway. His free hand now waves a bit frantically before dropping onto his lap. He sighs, looking upward. "...I'm...my apologies. This is a bit...it's not a problem. " Crimson eyes fall on Matsuhiro again once he's calmed himself down, wrinkling his nose out of spontaniety. "I'm sorry if I did something wrong. This is how...I am...for lack of a better description. T-the book can be continued at any given time."

This was a response Matsuhiro hadn't been prepared for. It seemed that Yoshinori had been given none of the lessons that had filled Matsuhiro's childhood. Perhaps nobles of his rank didn't need to be as perfect in public as lower houses did. Yes, that seemed at least a bit logical... It somehow explained this odd behavior.
There was a moment of silence in which Matsuhiro examined the upperclassman with creased brows and a faint, thoughtful frown. Then, in an unexpected and complete breach of protocol, he asked, "Do I make you uncomfortable, senpai?"

Ahh, this always feels uncomfortable to him. Yes, his parents didn't force the unspoken noble code of conduct while he was growing up. However, he still had to face other members from the different clans, and all of them held their own opinions on how he presented himself. Yoshinori is definitely going against logic here.
He clears his throat, hunching his shoulders and relaxing them. "Y-you don't, Uemiya-san," he says quietly, straightening his posture. "But...you don't have to always be so...formal around me. I'm fine without it." Another shocker. The nobles would be yelling their heads off at him for being so reluctant about their standards.

If Matsuhiro had been another kind of man, he might have felt relief at this dismissal of conduct, however, he couldn't help but begin to feel the first hints of discomfort. He wasn't the informal type. It wasn't until he had known someone for some time that he would even call them by their given name rather than their family name. What was behind this, of course, was the irrational fear that somehow, despite all logic, his father would find out. If there was one goal Matsuhiro kept in the forefront of his mind, it was not pissing off his father.
"Are you sure, senpai?" He would have to be forgive if for a moment, he thought this was some form of test... or perhaps even a lie.

Ito isn't the type to go around giving tests to people. Others might, but he personally thinks it's strange and unnerving. It's sort of like how both students are feeling now. At this point, the noble sees that Matsuhiro has his own pleasantries as well. It's not right to go and take apart everything someone has been building up for a long time.
Yoshinori nods. "Yes, Uemiya-san. However..." Although still being himself, there's a bit more reserve put into his mannerisms. "If you're still concerned about it, I can also work with this." Another soft smile is added onto this so he doesn't look too scary-serious.

Though the change in Yoshinori's presence was quite remarkable, the only thing it did was create even more uncertainty. Now Matsuhiro had caused insult and forced the upperclassman to change simply for /his/ benefit. That was even worse! "Ah, n-no, senpai. Really, I was fine before. Whatever you would like to do..." His voice trailed away as his cheeks turned a dull shade of pink. He could feel the heat rising and the more he tried to calm himself, the warmer his cheeks became.
Finally, he released a low sigh, averting his gaze to the smooth surface of the table. "Forgive me, Ito-sama. I've made a very poor first impression."

Falter. "Ahh, no you didn't," Yoshinori manages to say with the same calm blending with his earlier actions. He knows he's doing something wrong. Matsuhiro has better control on conversations like this than he does. That, along with keeping up the politeness. And...and...
"..." The noble crumples, placing his head on top of the arm resting on the table, his tone sounding small and weary. "...I'm just making this difficult, aren't I?"

[Academy] Tangent to Tangent

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:53:49 GMT

It reads like crack at some points, but everyone was acting accordingly.

|||Academy||| Seimei has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin looms!
|||Academy||| Yoshinori eep.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Get atta my sun."
|||Academy||| Masa says, "And how are you kiddos t'day?"
|||Academy||| It's the Bright One, it's the Right One, that's Takemaru says, "Great, Okazaki-sensei!"
|||Academy||| Seimei hugs Antokusan. =3=
|||Academy||| Yoshinori is fine ;;
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "HIIIIIIIIIIII!!!"
|||Academy||| It's the Bright One, it's the Right One, that's Takemaru pinkyswabs an ear, thought he was the loudest.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin is bored!!
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Bored, huh?"
|||Academy||| It's the Bright One, it's the Right One, that's Takemaru is too.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Yes!"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Yesterday I beat up Katoji at least..."
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "You did not!"
|||Academy||| Seimei :<
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "Students shouldn't fight.."
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "Iesada-san would be unhappy to hear of that. :<"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "He kicked your ass?"
|||Academy||| Katoji almost ran him over, but there wasn't any fighting otherwise. :(a
|||Academy||| Antoku goes back to sunning himself, then.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Shut up, it'll ruin my rep if they found out I helped you."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori eh?
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "What rep? :O"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Shut up!"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin bites Yoshi!
|||Academy||| Katoji was asking an honest question!!! ;;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "AHHH!"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "AH! Don't bite Ito-senpai!! :<"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "I have no rep yet. I'll make one. With an IRON FIST."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori cries silently.
|||Academy||| Katoji candies. :(
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Oi, if ya want a real match"
|||Academy||| Masa says, "I'll take ya on."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "You're a teacher!! Who I'm probably on good terms with!!"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin excels at hollow combat and kidou
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Let me do it first, Masa."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "And shunpo but whoever taught a shunpo class would have to be awful!"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Satsue said it'd be like natural selection if I ran into him in a dark alley."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;;
|||Academy||| Seimei places a hand on Ryuujin's shoulder. :<
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Well I'm th' hollow combat teacher who excels at swordplay, it might be interestin'"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Swordplay is my weakest point. :("
|||Academy||| Masa says, "And kidou's mine."
|||Academy||| Seimei is a kidou teacher! :D
|||Academy||| Ryuujin is probably your best student!!
|||Academy||| Seimei teaches Masa to set stuff on fire with his mind. :o
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Let me fight him with kidou!"
|||Academy||| Antoku begs.
|||Academy||| Katoji needs to snag you and Uemiya-san to continue scene sometime, Okazaki-sensei. xD;;;
|||Academy||| Seimei D:!
|||Academy||| Ryuujin ACCEPTS
|||Academy||| Antoku has been /so good/ lately!
|||Academy||| Katoji stares at Antoku.
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "NO SADAKATASAN"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "First I shall move point-blank to Antoku, so my kidou cannot miss!!"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Now to fire my unstable #36 hadou!"
|||Academy||| Masa yikes;;;
|||Academy||| Ryuujin starts incanting.
|||Academy||| Katoji runs. Grabs Yoshi too.
|||Academy||| Masa hits the deck
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "D8 EEEEk"
|||Academy||| Antoku puts his helmet on.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori eh-YOINKEd
|||Academy||| Katoji ...grabs Umeko too c_c
|||Academy||| Ryuujin leaves a black, smoldering crator behind.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, ".............."
|||Academy||| Seimei loses more students that way :<
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Now someone RP!"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Well, you can't have Seimei. You'll have to take the other kidou teacher."
|||Academy||| Antoku called dibs.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Unless you want /half/ of him."
|||Academy||| Seimei D:
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "What the hell is your problem Kondo."
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "I'm going to need you to calm down."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Who's the other?"
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "We have strict rules on anger management here."
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "Don't look at me in that tone of voice."
|||Academy||| Antoku hands Ryuujin a photograph of Nozomi.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "A-ah, Iesada-sensei..."
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "WHAT IS IT."
|||Academy||| Seimei buuface ;A;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "NOTHING.;;;"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori bows and apologizes profusely.
|||Academy||| Seimei sniffles;;;
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "Lower your voice, Kondo."
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "I don't know what your problem is but you're being a real bitch today."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin looks at the picture.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "The other kidou teacher. She's yours."
|||Academy||| Seimei weeps into Antokusan's sleeve.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Sold!"
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "GOD WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM"
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "I FUCKING HATE YOU"
|||Academy||| Satsue has left this channel.
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "Enjoy your crazy whore, Ryuujinsan. :<"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "...says the one who just soaked my sleeve."
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "..I'll tell Nozomi-san that you'd like to spend quality time with her tonight, then?"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "I SAID SOLD"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "...no, no, go ahead. Keep crying."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "I can just dry this shirt later."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin still needs RP!!
|||Academy||| Antoku just slapped the hell out of Nozomi, but she's not moving. Either I accidentally killed her on purpose or she passed out on you.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Slap her harder!"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "My hand hurts, dammit."
|||Academy||| Antoku yawns.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "I'd let you kick my ass, but I'm at work."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Katoji said you were terrible and he didn't like you and to stay far away."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Did he also tell you he sucks his thumb and is afraid of women?"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "I already knew that."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Bah they logged off before seeing me slander them."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "He doesn't do that!"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "He can use +recall when he comes back. Or the gossip tree."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "I haven't thought of how Ryu is around girls. I wager he's comfortable and somewhat smooth as well as a good flirt, but if a girl actually reciprocated he'd just be a tease and freak out at an advance."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ...pft.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "...oh you are going to die when Nozomi catches up with you."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Why!!"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Be...cause... She really, really loves teaching."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "...how young is Ryuujin, by the way? That will probably have an effect on it."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Looks early 20's."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Eh, you're safer than I thought."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "...And we're not?"
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "..."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "I'm not going to explain myself this time."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori :(
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "It's not my fault I waited awhile to attend!!"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Kondo."
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Do my eyes deceive me or did you really call me a 'crazy whore?' I was not aware you desired the end of your life so badly."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "........"
|||Academy||| Masa SNOOOOORE
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru slowly puts a hand over Okazaki-sensei's mouth;
|||Academy||| Nozomi appreciates that.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin thinks he did.
|||Academy||| Antoku places Nono's hand in Ryuujin's.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Man and wife."
|||Academy||| Nozomi shoves them both away. "Wait til momma's finished, honey."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "..."
|||Academy||| Nozomi grabs Seimei and slams him up against the nearest wall. "For future reference, pretty boy, I am neither insane nor promiscuous. Watch your catty tongue or it may end up in the possession of one of my scorpions."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori !;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru D:
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, ""M-masayume-sensei;;;"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin loves scorpions!
|||Academy||| Kunio o.o
|||Academy||| Nozomi drops Seimei. "Don't call a lady a whore, kids. It's not nice." There, she even gave them a lesson.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "......"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori wants to go home.
|||Academy||| Nozomi still likes you, Ito.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ...nod. ;_;
|||Academy||| Nozomi hairflicks. "Now then, about this new student."
|||Academy||| Iki ....
|||Academy||| Seimei says, "Quoth the crazy whore"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Yes, Ishamoto-kun?"
|||Academy||| Seimei :V
|||Academy||| Seimei has left this channel.
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "He really does want to die."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru likes Kondo-sensei... don't kill him.
|||Academy||| Nozomi can no longer be held accountable for her actions.
|||Academy||| Iki says, "You shouldn't act like this in front of the children."
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "And what, pray tell, would you do in such a situation?"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "You /would/ scold me in front of them, and silently condone his slandering me in front of them. But when it comes to defending my own honor, you have a problem with the children seeing this? Ishamoto, you have your priorities mixed up."
|||Academy||| Satsue has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Antoku talks around a mouthful of rice. "Careful, she's just looking for an opening."
|||Academy||| Iki says, "I never said his actions were any more correct. Now stand down."
|||Academy||| Nozomi shrugs. "I'm not standing up."
|||Academy||| Iki says, "physical violence in front of the children is inappropriate."
|||Academy||| Nozomi waves her hand. "I didn't hit him."
|||Academy||| Iki says, "you slammed him against a wall!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "But'cha did some kinda bully stuff, ma'am..."
|||Academy||| Nozomi looks at Takemaru.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru moves back;
|||Academy||| Iki steps in front of Takemaru.
|||Academy||| Masa steps in front of Iki
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Katoji '_';;
|||Academy||| Masa says, "SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI ...."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru ...;;;
|||Academy||| Nozomi laughs. "You act as though I'd ever think of harming a student."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Yeah! I'm not afraid'a her, senseis!"
|||Academy||| Iki says, "I heard that you physically shoved one during your class."
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "I don't recall shoving. I believe I was herding a group of four troublemakers toward the door."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru is used to being shoved around... wouldn't care if Masayume-sensei did that to him.
|||Academy||| Nozomi is touched, Nakamori.
|||Academy||| Katoji says, ".....;"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "D:"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori >_>
|||Academy||| Masa says, "I don't think I like this atmosphere"
|||Academy||| Iki says, "Oh, so herding is what you call shoving these days?"
|||Academy||| Masa says, "I think we all need t' loosen up a bit"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru snorts.
|||Academy||| Masa pulls his top open. "Loosen up!"
|||Academy||| Masa says, "HOOOOO~"
|||Academy||| Iki is on his high horse, aibou. Quit interfering.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru 'herds' Uemiya.
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Forgive me, Ishamoto, but I don't believe I should be placed on trial, least of all by you."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has joined this channel.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro don't touch me, Nakamori.
|||Academy||| Masa says, "SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI SEI..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru 'herds'.
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Is this any way for teachers to act in front of th' kiddos?"
|||Academy||| Iki says, "And what exactly does that mean, Masayume?"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Nakamori."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru stops herdin-..."Yes ma'am? :D"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "It means, we will finish this discussion in private."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko D8
|||Academy||| Ryuujin lalala
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Nakamori, that's quite enough."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "..............."
|||Academy||| Antoku still eating. "Can I have a backrub now oooorrr...?"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Wait, Okazaki-sensei! I'm not a kiddo!"
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Hey that's a good iea there Ryuujin-kun"
|||Academy||| Katoji ;;;
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Let's all sing"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori stares at Ryuujin.
|||Academy||| Iki says, "Are you insulting my integrity?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori stares at Masa.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru ....can't sing.
|||Academy||| Katoji ...wonders if everyone went mad while he was gone. ;;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori just pats Katoji on the shoulder. Yes. u_u;
|||Academy||| Masa says, "It don't matter, it's th' feelin' that counts Nakamori"
|||Academy||| Nozomi smiles at Iki. "Were you presenting it to be insulted?"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "....uhm... but..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru sounds like Mumble when he sings. Is loud and... loud. D:
|||Academy||| Antoku passes the rest of his rice and broccoli to Mitzy.
|||Academy||| Masa likes to be loud!
|||Academy||| Katoji 6.6 ...eats.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;;;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ...covers his ears.
|||Academy||| Iki says, "Stop playing games, woman. Were you insulting me or not?"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "......That's kinda sexist, Ishamoto-sensei. 9__9a"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko drags Takemaru-kun out of the way
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "I merely said we will discuss this later. Okazaki-kun is correct, this is not a topic to be discussed in front of the students."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru likes to be in the middle of things!
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko NO
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru D:
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko bad Takemaru-kun :(
|||Academy||| Katoji it's a wonder Nakamori-san isn't dead :O;;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru wants to!
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko stern look :|
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru ...will be in the middle over here... with the other sideliners. :<
|||Academy||| Katoji Safer that way. ^-^
|||Academy||| Yoshinori starts making tea to get his mind off of things.;
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko is fine with being out of the line of fire;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori sets up a snack table.
|||Academy||| Katoji *o*
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...where do ya get those things?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ....
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Ya always got snacks!"
|||Academy||| Iki bristles.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Um...I keep lots of things in my sleeves."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru wishes he always had snacks, otherwise he wouldn't have'ta steal from the cafet-...
|||Academy||| Yoshinori also has more in his room.
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "...."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Ah. :o Well it's nice of ya'ta share!"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "WOW! How much room do you have in there!!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ...just hands Takemaru a bag of sembei. :|
|||Academy||| Ryuujin bullies Yoshinori a little
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru thanks and munches.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori aghaghagh
|||Academy||| Yoshinori hands Ryuujin a bag, too. ;
|||Academy||| Katoji :(
|||Academy||| Yoshinori has candy for Umeko and Katoji.
|||Academy||| Katoji :D :D :D
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Huh. When I bully him he just lays on the ground and cries."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "What am I doing wrong?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori had no time to react!
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Ah, thank you!"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "It's all about presence!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori hands Antoku some rice crackers.
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "'toku! That wasn't bullying- that was breakig hsi legs! :("
|||Academy||| Masa patpats Antoku.
|||Academy||| Katoji fixes his typos c_c;
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "They gotta fear you, not fear the beatings!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Why're y'all bullyin'? That ain't right."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "That's what I said. Oh, thanks."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori nods.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "I don't see the difference."
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Ito..."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "H-hai?"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin continues his endless quest for amusement
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Ryuujin-kun come over here"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Have you made a decision regarding my lessons? It appears you need them more desperately than I originally thought."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Ah....y-yes, I have."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori looks down.;
|||Academy||| Katoji D:
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "What lessons?"
|||Academy||| Nozomi nods. "Go ahead."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro .... "Ito-sama?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori drops his voice two notches. "Lessonsinconfidence."
|||Academy||| Katoji ... D:
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "From her?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori nod.
|||Academy||| Katoji tugs on Yoshinori's arm.
|||Academy||| Nozomi arches an eyebrow at Matsuhiro.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "You don't need lessons in confidence, senpai."
|||Academy||| Ryuujin walks over to Masa
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Are you sure?"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Of course I am. You're a noble, aren't you?"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "What!! You want to learn confidence?! I'm your man!!"
|||Academy||| Masa throws him a nerf bat.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin smacks Yoshinori on the back hard enough to kill a Hollow in a chumly fashion
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Your decision, Ito."
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Uemiya-san can help you! He's a good nob- AGH WHAT ARE YOU DOING SASAKI-SENPAI!?"
|||Academy||| Masa tears his shirt off. "LET'S GO"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru has alot of confidence too...
|||Academy||| Yoshinori @_@
|||Academy||| Yoshinori KO'd
|||Academy||| Masa has a real sword.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin leaps at Masa fearlessly.
|||Academy||| Masa says, "YOSSHAAAA"
|||Academy||| Masa ducks.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin goose!
|||Academy||| Iki says, "Aibou, don't use a real sword!"
|||Academy||| Masa says, "Don't worry it gives him character"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori tries getting up again. "A...anyway..." @_@
|||Academy||| Nozomi sighs and produces smelling salts. Uses them on Ito.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin has plenty of character
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ahhh
|||Academy||| Nozomi is late but it's the thought that counts.
|||Academy||| Masa says, "NOT ENOUGH"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Th-thank you..."
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Of course."
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa gets him in a headlock.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru blindly wanders into the middle of it all.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko grabs
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru stumblejgkda
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "....I can use your help, Masayume-sensei. A-and I want help from everyone else, too. This is my decision. ;"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Okazaki-kun, not on channel! Take him to a dojo!"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa is sitting on him again by now.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I wanna go to a dojo!"
|||Academy||| HAADO GEI DE GOMEN NE~ o/` Masa says, "Huh what"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Ito-sama... I would strongly advise against that..."
|||Academy||| Katoji pats Ito-senpai. :(
|||Academy||| Yoshinori looks at Matsuhiro. ._.
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Ito! Let's go to a dojo!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Wh-what?!"
|||Academy||| Katoji c_c;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru will kick your butt and teach you confidence... or show you his.
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "Win win?!"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Ito-sama will be just fine with me, Nakamori."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "No one is fine with ya."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru herds him away.
|||Academy||| Nozomi nods to Ito. "Understood. However, you must promise me one thing. You must hold my instruction above all others'."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;;;; Hai.;;;; wWhat fkljl
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Shh, Masayume-sensei! Ya do enough teachin'!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori IS SO CONFUSED
|||Academy||| Katoji tugtugs Yoshinori's sleeve :(
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Ito-senpaaaaaaaaaai"
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "How would you know, Nakamori? You didn't attend my last class."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ahhhhhhhhhh @___@
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro stands on Ito-sama's other side. >:(
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru;;;;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "...I uh.... yeah 'bout that..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru's attention span breaks, herds Matsuhiro and Katoji away.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "We're gonna spar, back off!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori has so much support. T_T
|||Academy||| Katoji wha - huh?
|||Academy||| Ryuujin ~__~
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "Nakamori-san, where are we going? ;;"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I don't care where you two go, I'm takin' Ito though."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "You will do no such thing."
|||Academy||| Nozomi waits patiently for Ito to make up his mind.
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I do what I want!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;;;;
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Masayume-sensei. I accept."
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Nakamori. You will take Uemiya to spar."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro .....
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "So let's-wha?!"
|||Academy||| Katoji ...
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "I'm not fightin' that loser!"
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Ito-sama, please reconsider."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "..."
|||Academy||| Nozomi smiles at Yoshinori. "You won't regret your decision."
|||Academy||| Katoji ...sighs. "I'm sorry, Ito-senpai. We're just making everything crazy for you." ._.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro says, "Please trust me, Ito-sama."
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Ah..."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "No one trusts ya."
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Chihara. I'll be counting on you to help, too."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "....why not me? D:"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru wants to help!
|||Academy||| Nozomi says, "Attend my next class and I'll consider it."
|||Academy||| Katoji blinks and looks at Nozomi. "Ah.. hai!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru .__.;
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro steps over beside Katoji.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru mumbles, "I just overslept by... a day."
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro will protect you, roommate.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori feels like he's betraying people already.
|||Academy||| Katoji looks at Matsuhiro.
|||Academy||| Kunio blinks and returns. "Takemaru, do you need someone to wake you up in the morning? ;
|||Academy||| Katoji ^^
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "....no!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru doesn't wanna get up as early as you!
|||Academy||| Kunio says, "Okay, it was just a suggestion! ^^;"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko :(
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru likes to sleep in.
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Uemiya-san. Please...help me, too."
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "............"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "WHY HIM?!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "...Y-you can help too, Nakamori-san. ;;"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "Haha!"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru got your back, Ito!
|||Academy||| Yoshinori is seriously going to die from all of this. He can feel it.
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro has to protect his senpai from Nozomi.
|||Academy||| Katoji ;;;
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru has to protect a friend from a fiend like Uemiya.
|||Academy||| Katoji ....just... crawls under the snack table.
|||Academy||| Katoji ;;
|||Academy||| Kunio isn't sure what we're talking about. "Katoji?"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ....sob.
|||Academy||| Katoji crawls out on the other side of the table. Not enough room. ; Goes and leans on Kunio. :|
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro pats Ito-sama on the shoulder.
|||Academy||| Kunio says, ""...what's going on? What're you worried about? :|a"
|||Academy||| Katoji says, "...everything exploding. ._.;"
|||Academy||| Kunio says, "..."
|||Academy||| Kunio says, "Do I wanna know?"
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru is sure everything would explode if he sang...
|||Academy||| Matsuhiro is sure you're right.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko is going to bed...
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru bets you can't sing any better.
|||Academy||| Katoji waves at Umeko.
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru says, "G'night Umeko!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori waves too. T_T
|||Academy||| Trickster Takemaru gives a goodnight hug.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, ".__. Ganbatte ne, Ito-senpai"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Arigatou."
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko hug
|||Academy||| Katoji suddenly POINTs. "DUELING shamisen!
|||Academy||| Katoji SOME DAY. *_*
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "D: ah!"
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko bows. "I look forward to it, if Ito-senpai wishes to duel!"
|||Academy||| Nozomi would certainly enjoy that. n_n
|||Academy||| Yoshinori says, "Ah...hai.;"
|||Academy||| Katoji nods, satisfied.
|||Academy||| Kunio waves to Yukieda-san.
|||Academy||| Snow Branch Plum Blossom Umeko says, "Goodnight everyone!"
|||Academy||| Ryuujin says, "I couldn't tell if anyone actually wanted RP right now!!"
|||Academy||| Yoshinori ;

[Other] Fortunes from a while ago

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:38:59 GMT

The two Yoshinori got:

"You will discover an unexpected treasure."

"At this moment,someone is thinking good thoughts of you."

The one chihara_katoji got:

"You will soon be the guest of a royal host."

[OIC?] 05/05/08

Mon, 05 May 2008 07:51:01 GMT

-=[North Wing 2nd Floor - Shinigami Academy]=-----------------------------------

The second floor of the Academy's North Wing has a more secluded, heavy air than the first. First year students are never housed here, and the south entrance to the student library is not far from the stairwell. Square windows appear at the far ends of the hall, leaving ample room for the rows of oak-paneled doors that line both walls. Loud noises are few and far between, and quickly stifled.

Antoku clatters down the ladder from the roof.
Antoku has arrived.
Antoku says, "Awriiiiight."
Yoshinori eh?
Antoku tosses a blackjack from hand to hand.
Yoshinori ;
Antoku says, "I've been looking for you!"
Antoku says, "You're my new neighbor, right?"
You say, "I-in a way, yes?"
Antoku says, "You look anemic. Are you anemic?"
Antoku says, "I know a good doctor."
You say, "I'm fine!"
Antoku says, "You should have him look at your leg while he's at it."
Yoshinori ....what
Antoku breaks a leg.
Antoku yours.
Yoshinori agh!
Antoku says, "Sorry."
Antoku goes through pockets.
Antoku raids.
You say, "W-wah?!"
Antoku says, "Thanks for that, it's for the orphans."
You say, "........."
Antoku keeps everything he finds.

Antoku enters room 311.
Antoku has left.

Satsue climbs here from the first floor below.
Satsue has arrived.

Satsue /....../
Yoshinori on the floor with a broken leg. ;;;
Satsue says, "You're bleeding on--"
Satsue says, "Yes, I see that."
Yoshinori whimper.
Satsue says, "Why, exactly?"
You say, "...I've been robbed."
Satsue says, "......."
Yoshinori tries to move. Can't.
Satsue says, "A boy about so high, scraggly brown hair, wears a long, horrifically ugly scarf?"
Yoshinori nods twice.
Satsue says, "Ah. Right then."
Yoshinori holds back tears.
Satsue hauls Yoshinori up by the armpits.
Yoshinori agh.
Satsue says, "I don't suppose you can put weight on it?"
You say, "N..no..."
Yoshinori balances on the other leg.
Satsue .. sighs.
Satsue hefts him up onto a decorative table. Shoves the vase aside and off.
Yoshinori awp. ;;
Satsue shoves the hakama leg up so she can inspect.
Satsue says, "Well, it's not compounded."
Yoshinori ack. ;;;
Yoshinori feels /very/ awkward now.
Satsue feels along the bones. Press. "Tell me where it hurts."
You say, "Ow! T-There!"

Antoku leaves Antoku's horrible den of sin and pestilence.
Antoku has arrived.

Antoku leans out the door.
Satsue tch. Digs around in her sleeve for some bandaging.
Satsue says, "SADAKATA."
Antoku says, "KEEP IT DOWN OUT HERE, YOU HOOLIGANS."
Antoku says, "I AM TRYING TO SLEEP."
Antoku doorslam.

Antoku enters room 311.
Antoku has left.

You say, "Y..."
Satsue says, "... excuse me."
Yoshinori ....

Satsue enters room 311.
Satsue has left.
Satsue leaves Antoku's horrible den of sin and pestilence.
Satsue has arrived.

You say, "...I-is everything all right?"
Satsue says, "Quite."
Yoshinori hou. ;;
Satsue considers.
Satsue says, "Where's your sword."

|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Come back when you're done and finish what you started!"
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "SHUT UP, BOY."

Yoshinori ahh...takes it from his right side. "H-here."

|||Academy||| Antoku says, "God, you're so negative."
|||Academy||| Satsue says, "You like it."
|||Academy||| Antoku says, "Ah yeah, yeah I do...."

Satsue takes. Splints his leg with it. Bandages.
Satsue says, "Congratulations."
Satsue says, "You've found another use for your sword."
You say, ".....Thank you."
Yoshinori ._.;
Satsue says, "Now limp to the clinic and have Ishamoto look at that."
You say, "Y-yes, ma'am.;"

Yoro-Ritsuryo climbs here from the first floor below.
Yoro-Ritsuryo has arrived.

Yoshinori totters.
Yoro-Ritsuryo sniggers.

Yoro-Ritsuryo enters room 311.
Yoro-Ritsuryo has left.

Yoshinori eh?
Yoshinori EH??
Satsue says, "Ignore it."
Yoshinori ;;;

- And at the Clinic... -

Antoku has arrived.
Antoku breaks the other leg.
Antoku says, "THAT'S for squealing."
Yoshinori AGH
Antoku says, "Next time contract some amnesia."
Antoku walks out into the hall.
Antoku has left.
Yoshinori bites his lip.

[Log] 7 - Why Hello There. ;

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:34:24 GMT

Characters: Nozomi, Yoshinori
Summary: From observation to a sudden spar. Don.

=======

Practise Dojo 1 - Shinigami Academy

Nozomi has arrived.

Yoshinori !
Yoshinori says, "H-hello, Masayume-sensei."

Nozomi leans against the wall. "Hello, Ito. Please, carry on."

Yoshinori ...does. Practice stance is set.

Nozomi watches placidly from her distance.

Yoshinori continues where he last started, still aware of the fact he's being watched. "....Why are you here?"

Nozomi sighs, disappointed that she can't simply watch his practice in silence. Instead of telling the truth, she tells...a different truth. "I was bored."

Yoshinori just nods, asking nothing further. The practice blade is brought up again, his movements falling back into place.

Nozomi tilts her head in scrutiny.

Yoshinori swings, arcs, and draws back. Two steps forward with a strong sword thrust, fluidly transitioning into another position. There's a change of stance, the left-handed dominance showing clearly.

Nozomi crosses her arms, shifting her weight onto her other foot. Restless, restless...

Yoshinori keeps his gaze on the wall farthest from him, slashing twice. "...I...Is something wrong, sensei?"

Nozomi pauses. It's really not her area, but it's not like there's anything better to do. "Your movements are beautiful," she compliments. "But going through them, you could be meditating. I wonder what you'd do with a real opponent in front of you." Stepping forward, she slowly draws Sorahime from her right hip - with her left hand. "I notice that you are left-handed. How convenient."

Yoshinori blinks, the blade lowering. "T-thank you," he says quietly. Meditation through sword practice? Well, it's a possibility. He turns to face her, seeing that she's going to be the noble's next opponent. "...ah." Oh dear, he can't just up and run now. Swallowing his current apprehensiveness, Yoshinori nods, shifting his stance.

Nozomi was really just saying nicely that he looked asleep, but she'd never scold him for thinking positively. Who knows? Maybe it could be a beneficial form of meditation; useful for communing with one's zanpakutou. Ha, even in jest Nozomi is /brilliant./ Taking her place across from Yoshinori, Nozomi bows formally, maintaining eye contact. "Tell me. Do you yet know the name of your zanpakutou?" she appears to casually converse while settling into her own stance.

Yoshinori tilts his head a bit prior to bowing back as deeply as he can since Masayume is a teacher and all. Good thing he doesn't read into the thought, however. "Name?" He falls into position, the blade held steadily in front of him. "I...don't believe I do. Nothing has been revealed to me." But it will sometime soon, right? Unless it just likes making him guess...

Nozomi smiles. "Then I suppose I'll wait to see how advanced you are before deciding whether you're good enough to see my release." Since their bows technically signaled the beginning of the match, she moves forward, holding her wakizashi-lengthed zanpakutou at a downward angle with both hands. Assuming his year of training has taught him a basic block, her upward sweep should be caught before reaching his chest.

Yoshinori's eyes widen at the movement, doing just as she expected. The clang of metal on metal is jarring, but not enough to throw him off completely. The noble's footing pivots, sidestepping quickly, his sword sliding off of hers in order to circle around and swing at her properly. This slash is aimed at her shoulder, going down.

Nozomi begins a step turn almost the moment after the clang begins to resonate. As such, her blade is ready for his swing just in time for another ring of a well-timed block. Her movements are a carefully choreographed dance, graceful and quick. But a playful smirk never leaves her face. "How is your shunpo?" she questions, lifting her foot and disappearing in the same moment. His eyes should have trouble keeping up, at best being able to spot her at a blur. She'll wind up behind him, with her sword at his throat. Two fingertips of her right hand touch the flat of the blade, her elbows raised to show that she means no actual harm. "So, Ito. How do you get out of this?"

Yoshinori does notice how well she moves, his own footing being sure enough to keep up with the next step. The worried crease across his forehead becomes deeper when she asks such a simple question as that, his sword rising to strike in the process. As for the sudden vanishing trick, Yoshinori stays put, his motions stop abruptly once he feels the cool steel against his skin. "Ah..." How? That's a good question, actually. As harmless as Nozomi sets it up to be, there is still some tension there. For the noble, at least. After a beat, he tries to lean back and away from the blade. Maybe the teacher is too close to try dropping down and out of the hold, maybe she isn't? It's worth a shot.

Nozomi had taken a wide stance for that very reason. Most students probably would have taken advantage of the fact that she is a woman and possesses a lower physical strength by attempting to break out of the hold. That also would have worked, but it would not have earned her admiration. "Very good," she smiles, dropping her arms but continuing to hold the tip of her zanpakutou. "In your judgment, what is your weakness?"

Yoshinori whirls around after a few steps, the shunpo working fine with him. He can't help it - it's been abused during his first year and never ceased from being overused. The sword is now grasped in his left hand alone, the right staying out at his side. "My weakness...." It's another simple question. Her methods are sort of puzzling to him, but he may as well answer. "...is not being able to take care of myself. Relying on other people's words, their strength and protection." The sword is still frozen in place, no real intention of making another move soon. "The high expectations others want to see from me, evaluating what is present toward their standards....My acceptance of this without argument."

Nozomi says, "Shuuten o kunrinshiro, Sorahime." A thousand hairline fractures spiderweb along her blade's surface, gleaming light from within. Grasping the tip of the blade a little more firmly, she raises it to her face, then lets it fall. Rather than pieces of steel chittering to the floor, a hundred tiny links of chain burst forth, linking the hilt of Sorahime to another, smaller hilt of the blade she holds in her right hand which has lengthened and sharpened at the point. Dropping the dart in favor of grasping the chain a little further down, Nozomi begins to spin the blade of the surujin in her right hand. "I am both moved and grateful that you seem so willing to confide in me, Ito. However, what I meant was...what is your weakness in battle?"

Yoshinori falters some. Well, as much as he feels stupid for spilling all of that (and to a teacher he barely met the other time in class), he keeps silent. The actual transformation of her weapon surprises him. "W....well...I'm not very good with offensive maneuvers." It's sort of true; he's a little better at defense.

Nozomi feeds the dart more chain, making the circle that much bigger until she can no longer spin it at her side and must lift it above her head. "That's fine," she comments, seeming at ease with the weapon she's so practiced with. "Then let's focus on your strengths. Continue defending until you see an opening." At this point, the spinning dart has all the excess chain, a large fast circle overhead. Slowing it down, she releases it from her right hand and lets the rotation go all the way down to the hilt. It seems slower, but the blade at the end is really going quite fast. Giving him a moment to mentally prepare, Nozomi begins the attack. With a series of graceful arm movements, which she leans her body into to create another form of dance, her surujin's dart speeds toward Yoshinori five times, only needing a moment to regroup after deflection. After the fifth time, Nozomi pulls it back, needing to build up more momentum in order to attack again.

Yoshinori can scream. He can scream every time that thing is sent flying at him. Instead, he doesn't, the sword being clutched tightly to fend off the dart. The noble pulls off the first two blocks with ease, the third clipping his uniform sleeve. Careless, he thinks, dodging the fourth with a quick step, the sword now angled differently. The fifth comes and goes with another dodge, Yoshinori now crouching on one knee. He missed his chance to do a closer attack, but he tries, pushing off of the floor to rush at her.

Nozomi continues, pushing herself and Sorahime for the fifth attack. She gives Yoshinori words of praise for every successful block, a single word of encouragement for the torn sleeve. For the dodges, she says nothing. She anticipates when he will rush, as it's the intelligent time to do so. Really, it's the only time to do so. He must not allow her to get Sorahime into the air again or he'll be forced at bay with no time to attack. Holding part of the chain in her right hand, she pretends to spin the dart like she did at the beginning, but really she is waiting for his attack. The benefit of having such small links is that the chain may be used to block attacks, if held taut enough.

Yoshinori raises his sword in time to Masayume's chain-pulling, turning it sideways before letting it crash into the links. The youth gasps. Disrupting the twirling helps, but seeing how close he is and how stuck he's going to be is a clear sign he should do something to get out of it. Of course, he can be a little late in seeing it now. Doh.

Nozomi has a few options at her disposal now, but since her goal is not to harm Yoshinori in any way, she chooses merely to toss the bladed dart over his blocked sword, catching it on its swing back around. Pulling tight, she makes it clear that his moves have been drastically reduced by teasing, "Gotcha." He can still pull his sword away and out of this little trap, but then again, he can even press forward and go for a hit if he chooses. The only thing she's keeping him from doing is swinging. Is it her own foolishness that she's leaving herself wide open like this? Or is it another test?

Yoshinori grits his teeth, his face showing some level of disbelief when Nozomi teases him like that. The light blush appearing doesn't make it any better. Gah, focus! Sword is caught - take it out. With a grunt, the noble yanks it free from the linked wrapping, jumping back from the teacher to get some breathing space. He then goes back in again, hesitating for a moment before attacking at full speed.

Nozomi doesn't seem at all surprised when he chooses to move back rather than take the easy hit. "A true noble," she comments, this time a serious compliment. But before she can say more, he is already preparing to attack. But he hesitates. "Hn." That single moment gives her the time she needs to focus her reiatsu into a leap. Rather than using it to her advantage and swinging at his back, as she would a normal opponent, she teases him again by alighting briefly on the dull edge of his sword before using another small burst of shunpo to finish the jump over his shoulder. Holding the smaller hilt in her right hand, she has every intention of turning and pressing the blade into his back, to teach him a lesson. But is it a lesson he already knows?

Yoshinori is surprised yet again. And she was right there! The blur from the jumps makes him falter more, taking a few steps forward to steady himself. Shoot. The noble feels something near him, and since it's Nozomi's weapon, it may not be a good thing if he doesn't react on time. But how can he? Here goes nothing. A step to the left brings Yoshinori to round on Nozomi, reversing the sword's position in his left hand in order to hold the blade up against the teacher. Whether this hits her shikai, he'll feel it; otherwise, he'll keep the blade in midair without doing anything else to follow through.

Nozomi maintains seventh seat in the 1st division - the seat directly below Satsue - and in the past dozen years has achieved no higher for a very critical reason. She is a stubborn woman who possesses the fault of smugness when she believes she holds a sure victory. For these weaknesses, her shikai is severely limited; its secret withheld from her by Sorahime herself. In this instance, she believes Yoshinori's attack capabilities to be at their peak, and so she sacrifices her defense to hold him at bay. However, as a teacher, she ought to know better. A student's growth is never finished, and learning is never complete. His sudden attack comes as a surprise, and she only has luck to thank for the fact that her surujin's chain happens to be at the height he strikes. Or, it would be, had it been a complete strike. In that case, the wound would have been next to nothing compared to the near-fatal hit it might have been. And at that, she gives him a broad smile. "Your hit. You win."

Yoshinori pauses, staying in his current stance. Eh? The look of confusion crosses his features briefly. Just like that? In his mind, the fight should have ended with him on the floor somehow. He isn't great with his sword skills, but he's not too bad either. Just the other day, he was beaten by his servant girl in another sparring session. It takes him a while to draw his sword back from the chain it rests against, stepping back widely to bow promptly toward Nozomi. "I'm sorry!!!" he exclaims, flustered. "I...I-I...didn't think that would happen!!"

Nozomi chuckles before bowing in her turn. Of course, she'd gone rather easy on him. A seventh seat Shinigami against a second year Academy student? If she'd been fighting at her full strength, she'd have wiped the floor with him. Her goal was not to defeat Yoshinori, but to teach him. And Nozomi is confident that he gained something from their little spar. "Do not apologize," she reprimands lightly. "In that last strike, you have shed a fragment of your weakness." Passing her hand over the length of Sorahime's chain, she reduces it once more into a mere wakizashi before sheathing it at her right hip. "Your shunpo is advanced for your year. With more training, you will surpass mine. However, the most important advice I can give you is this. Never hesitate. Whether you are in the dojo or on the battle field, the slightest hesitation can be your undoing. You must trust your instincts fully, depend on them, and act without second-guessing yourself. Have faith that what you first decide is right."

Yoshinori stares at the floor beneath him, still bent over as she says all this. Ah? His head tilts upright. "I-I did?" Hou...she's right. Most likely he'll need to keep practicing at this rate. The noble sheaths his sword as well, shaking a little out of awkwardness. He gives a small uncertain chuckle during the light lecture, running a hand over his dark hair. Why does he feel so exhausted? Like she said, Yoshinori is use to moving swiftly when he needs to, whether he's evading bullies or not. While everything else is pretty average on his list, his shunpo breaks the evenly-patterned line. "Trust..." he echoes softly, glancing back at the woman. "I...I think it's going to take some time, then..."

Nozomi looks back at him squarely. "You lack self-confidence," she questions, though her tone sounds a little more like an accusation than a question. Shaking her head, she continues, "What a pointless trait for someone of a noble house such as yourself. It won't help you become a Shinigami, either. Modesty is a virtue, but too much makes you a fool. In time, the strength you gain may give you the confidence you need...but perhaps it's there already. There is a little noble in there, waiting to come out. Maybe we'll find him."

Yoshinori almost backs up farther. She hits the nail on the head, and it jabs hard. Curse the whole noble house title thing, too. It doesn't help. The look on his face shows a mix of expressions he has on hand for such a strong response, all of them failing to show up when he drops his head and sighs. "Right," he says wearily. Just as long as he doesn't sound like he's going to cry, everything is fine.

Nozomi smiles. "Don't worry. I'll help you personally. I just so happen to know quite a bit about confidence. I'll even teach you how to fake it when you don't have any. What do you say?"

Yoshinori blinks, raising his head again. Now this is unexpected. Usually the teachers tell him this and let him go figure it out on his own. He has been doing it, but there is still that iffiness present. Her offer is placed right in front of him, too. The noble stares at her blankly, maybe even cautious of the thoughts running through his mind. "Um..." His right hand clutches the sword sheath tight, but he remains quiet. "...Can I...think about that? First?"

Nozomi bows her head, perfectly aware of the rumors Antoku has likely so lovingly started about her. It's no surprise that he should be wary. "Of course. Please come tell me your answer in my office within the next few days." With that, she exits the dojo with as much preamble as she entered.

Yoshinori hasn't heard of any rumors, so that's a good thing. He just needs time, that's all. The noble ducks his head simultaneously, watching her leave with these parting words. When she's gone, he buckles down on the wooden floor, kneeling in a heap. "......Oh dear," he breathes.