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SPOILER: Click to show

note
This thread takes place in the year of 603 of the n.w. It's early spring o.o

He dared not venture any closer. No, it would attract far too much unwanted attention, he simply could not afford the danger it would pose to not only himself, but to others as well whom could very well be caught up in the mess Malik's presence could cause. So instead, he searched elsewhere looking for somewhere fitting to honor the occasion. Eventually he found just what he was looking for.

Bending down next to a random grave, he set down a pair of lotuses of different shades of purple. He remained crouched there for a moment, both wondering who's grave this belonged to and if the graves he had dug all those years ago were still there. He doubted it of course, more than likely they had been smashed by a skirmish or like other things, were just buried in time. Eventually, he rose and gave a sad smile to the mound of earth. he was standing over ignoring the scratches on the stones to say just who indeed had been laid to rest here.

"It's been a long time." He said to, well himself really. "Sorry I haven't been able to come any sooner. I've been busy, you'd be proud of me I think. I've done a lot in your memories. I only hope that everything I've done, so far, has been enough."

"They call me the Smiling Man. I guess that's what I am." Ryuu happily thought to himself as he sat on a bench. Making a mental note of that phrase (it seemed like it would work very well as the chorus for a song), Ryuu surveyed the graveyard. Now most people would see a graveyard as a solemn place for mourning. However Ryuu wasn't most people (in fact according to some he wasn't technically a person). Anway Ryuu didn't see a graveyard as a place of mourning but instead he used it to keep score. Reflecting on how many people had gravestones because of him, Ryuu could honestly say that he had no idea (although he knew it was a lot).

Deciding to stretch his legs a bit, Ryuu went for a leisurely stroll around the graveyard. Enjoying the nice spring morning, Ryuu's attention soon shifted when he caught sight of a Shinigami. Noticing from his body language that the man seemed heisitant about something before he laid the flowers down, Ryuu began to grow a bit curious about him. Was he finally coming to terms with a death? Or perhaps there was something that he was ashamed of? Either way this mystery looked like a job for RYUU ACE DETECTIVE. Even though Ryuu wasn't interested in investigation that much and was just doing it on a whim.

Having procured a cloak and some gauze in order to cover part of his face, Ryuu had found that this was sufficient to hide part of his hollow mask (although not too many had even managed to recognize what the slivers on his face were). As a result of his disguise, Ryuu appeared to be a mere Rukon Citizen who had sustained some facial injuries. Thus Ryuu knew that he was safe in the knowledge that the shinigami wouldn't be able to recognize what he was.

Approaching Malik, Ryuu heard him talking to himself (very suspicious if you asked him). Making a mental note of what he was saying in case he could use it to rub the Shinigami's face in it later on, Ryuu then said to Malik, "Hello. Nice day out isn't it?"

[bgcolor=000000]He stared at the ground a bit longer, his eyes clouded by memories not forgotten, just put off to the side. There were happy moments in his childhood, so few that those were precious memories once he wouldn't and couldn't allow himself to forget. It were the other times he tried to, his parent's constant fight with both illness and the plague that the world itself caused which took the shape of monstrous beings.

He smiled, thinking back only to be interrupted. He frowned as he turned his head, his braid of hair being pulled up and over his shoulder which allowed it to thud gently atop Malik's chest. He wasn't wearing his haori, something he had recently come up with to distinguish himself from the army in which he oversaw, as he did not wish to be known by the younger members of the Rukongai, anyone else would most certainly know his face if not by reputation alone, which in itself could cause himself unwanted trouble if they saw him here.

His eyes took in the sight of the cloaked man, a cloak hmm he liked the look of it, he would need to have one himself someday. Aside from his chin, Malik could see very little of the stranger's face nor could he make out if he were friend or foe by the stance he was making, it was no secret that some of the further out Rukongai rather disliked those in the Gotei. His frown turned into a smile as he gestured with a wave of a hand to their surroundings.

"And peaceful." He responded, his free hand falling upon the twin zanpakuto blades at his left hip. A gesture to show that he was quite capable of defending himself, though did not wish it to come to that. But one could easily misunderstand it he assumed. "As it should be, don't you agree?" He asked, the smile upon his face remaining pleasant and warm. Were it not for the swords at his hip one would not and could not judge his actions as questioning nor hostile, but alas... Tough times called for such things and this was certainly an era of tough times.

Noting that the man seemed to be sizing him up, Ryuu knew that he wouldn't see much at first glance. Other than the cloak, his blade and the gauze over his face, Ryuu didn't have anything on him that was noticeable. He had on a simple set of black pants and a black tunic. While they were far from ragged it was obvious upon first glance that they were used. All in all Ryuu's appearance would be that of a standard rukon citizen who just happened to have a few facial injuries.

Observing the man, Ryuu noticed the shinigami place his hands upon his own blade in addition to the not so subtle warning. However unlike some who might see the gesture as more of a threat, Ryuu could tell based off of the man's smile and body language that it was merely a warning that he could defend himself. Giving Malik a warm smile in response, Ryuu put his hands up a small bit to show that he wasn't going to cause trouble. Well at least not yet.

Deciding that it would be funny to attempt to fluster the shinigami, Ryuu put his hands back down then said, "Of course it should. What could possibly disturb the peace on a day like today?" The answer of course was Ryuu. However for now he would content himself with the shinigami instead of running around killing people. Besides there was always tomorrow for that.

SPOILER: Click to show

Edited in a better description of what Ryuu is wearing to make rp easier.

[bgcolor=000000]His eyes fell to the blade at the man's side (assuming it is at your side), if only for a moment. His attire told him that he wasn't a Shinigami, but those could be off duty clothes so he couldn't be sure. He couldn't place his face, but he couldn't say he knew every Shinigami beneath him by name, there was just too many. The gesture returned from the man told Malik he wasn't going to start anything, this allowed the Taicho to lower his defenses a tad and turn back to the grave, his eyes glancing at the names scratches into the surface. I wonder who this person was..

"A great many things, sadly." He responded in kind, his hands moving to fumble with a pouch upon his belt. He opened it and took out a two piece pipe which he screwed together, and then began to stuff it with the ground leaves he would soon need to burn. "I do hope you don't mind, an old man has his habits after all." Truth be told, he had only started smoking within the last decade or so. He couldn't say he enjoyed the taste, but he did enjoy the smell and the blowing smoke from his nose part had it's perks too.

"Did you know," his eyes reread the name, a woman. "Her as well?" He didn't wish to impose himself upon this man's privacy, however if he was visiting an old friend or a family member he would take his leave out of respect.

As he wasn't even there to pay respects to her.. It made him feel a bit guilty, really. But again, the risk. He couldn't afford to make it, no.. It could be far too costly.

Noticing that the man seemed to relax his guard a bit, Ryuu figured that was progress. At the very least this allowed Ryuu to continue the game of subterfuge that he was playing with the shinigami. "How much will he tell me about himself? And how much of it can I use against him?" Ryuu thought to himself.

Raising an eyebrow as the man fumbled for something, Ryuu wondered what he was taking out. Realizing that it was a pipe, Ryuu gave a shrug in response to the statement and said, "I don't mind at all." Ryuu could now add smoking to the list of things that he knew about the shinigami. While it might not seem to be extremely useful, Ryuu knew that even something that was inconsequential would be useful if used at the right time and place. The only problem was finding and identifying the right time and place.

Hearing Malik ask the question, Ryuu could sense that something was off. He could taste it in the air and that made things a little bit more interesting. But what was it? What was it about Malik's statement that added something to the air? The answer was that Malik was telling a little lie. Ryuu could see that he seemed heisitant about something. Plus he had glanced at the names on the gravestone twice in the past few minutes. However despite appearing to be uncertain about the corpses, Malik phrased his question as if he knew her.

While it was definitely possible that there was another explantion for Malik's behavoir, Ryuu decided to keep a closer watch on Malik to see what else could tip him off. "I can't say that I did. May I ask how you knew her?" Ryuu asked. The way Ryuu saw it, his statement would be able to put Malik at a bit more ease about his story. Or it might tell Ryuu something a bit more about who the shinigami truly was. Either way as long as it was interesting than Ryuu wouldn't complain.

[bgcolor=000000]With his pipe stuffed with a just enough of leaves, he stuck the pipe in his mouth, clenching it in his teeth as he did so and fumbled with another pouch and pulled out a small knife, some flint and a thin stick with a blackened tip. "Thank you, helps me think."

Caught in his own tale of deceit, damn. He didn't overly enjoy telling false tales, but as this man seemed not to know her either he simple played along. Though first he struck the flint enough with the knife to cause several sparks, one of which caught and lite the corky stick in his hand causing it's tip to burst into flames. Poking the flame into the ground up leaves and puffed the pipe until the leaves started to burn and smoke started to waft from it's crevice. Waving the stick out he tossed it away and put away his lighting equipment and began to answer the man.

"To be honest, I'd rather not say. Long story." Good answer, and a truthful one at that. He didn't wish to say that he didn't know her and more so it was a bit of a long story that he was using this grave as a scapegoat for his long gone parents. "Every man has a right to his secrets.

"I'm sure you agree." He added, gesturing to the marks partially hidden upon the stranger's face. Marks that earned a second look as smoke billowed out like twisting whiskers from Malik's nostrils.

Watching the man light up the pipe, Ryuu waited for the man to finish before he would get an answer. Sadly the answer that he got was rather disappointing. There was no bigger lie, nor was there a lot that the answer could actually tell him. Well actually that last part wasn't exactly true. If Ryuu's theory about him lying was correct then his answer would tell him that the shinigami was cautious. But even if it did tell Ryuu a lot, Malik's answer still felt anti-climactic. At the very least he could have given a story that involved pirates or something.

"Fair enough." Ryuu said with a relaxed shrug of the shoulders. "Although I can't really say this is a secret. Was just a hollow that moved a bit too quickly." Ryuu said as he pointed to the gauze wrappings that covered his face.

[bgcolor=000000]He eyed the wrappings as the stranger pointed them out, from what he could see they didn't seem to be soiled. So, either they were completely fresh on an old injury, or he was telling Malik tales. Only fair really since the Taicho was telling them himself, was time to find out which, just in case. The Shinigami smiled in response and took the pipe out of his mouth if only for a moment to point toward the Wastelands.

"They no doubt think we're crowding their land having set up shops and homes this close to their territory. No wonder they're so aggressive really, when you think about it. First they are transformed into the creatures they are, which give birth to more and more as we are born being quite normal in both appearance and let's not forget, smell.

"We make a grand city far out of their reach, only to have many decide they are too good for a few rules and order and come out to set roots up here and call it the Rukongai. Within a stones throw of their dried up, steaming pile of dung they call home. They see what they're missing, become jealous. That jealousy leads to madness, madness to rage and soon enough we have Hollows waddling into our homes, killing our families and stealing our things.

"Tragic really." Mouthing the pipe again he watched for any signs of reaction, as he had been throughout his little speech. Was he sure of what he was saying, not exactly he had never bothered to ask Hollow why they kill or do what they do. However, he said what he said with a degree of certainty that it would be quite difficult to gauge if he was indeed making shit up. Though to be quite honest, having been born on what could be considered the border between the Wasteland and the Rukongai, he did believe the pile of dung bit.

And as he watched the stranger mull over the words said just a moment ago, he chimed in with a quick question in an attempt to take him off guard. "So, fresh injury?"

Looking out onto his home as Malik pointed it out, Ryuu managed to keep his expression the same as he made his speech. Ryuu had to admit that it was a new theory. However it was hilariously wrong. Well it was for Ryuu at least. While he had to admit that the standard of living in any part of the rukongai was better than the wasteland by far, it wasn't jealousy that fueled Ryuu's actions. It was simply one whim or another. He might slit a throat because they had a bad shirt on. Or he might help someone because they were funny. It didn't matter to Ryuu as long as he found it entertaining...although that comment about the dung pile was pretty accurate.

"The one that attacked me just seemed to be hungry." Ryuu said in response to Malik's speech. While that might fluster the shinigami a bit, Ryuu was in fact telling the truth about the hollows. Most of them that he had encountered were just focused on getting their next meal.

"Huh? Oh this. No it isn't fresh. Although it left a nasty mark." Ryuu said as an explanation for Malik's question.

[bgcolor=000000]'Must've been hungry.' He snorted and laughed a loud for the briefest of times whilst nodding his head a bit. Hollows always did seem the hungry type, though wasn't everything now and then? Even the trees feed in their own special way.

His answer to Malik's query was an expected one, to be honest. He didn't think he would surprise an answer he was truly seeking him so easily, but it was worth a shot regardless. "A man should not be ashamed by his appearance, natural look or no." Malik answered puffing away on his pipe. "A man should wear his scars proudly, without dishonor. Each scar is a man's way of showing they lived to fight and defend another day. That's my opinion anyway, same as my father's. And there was a man who had a wicked scar or two. Was missing his left eye because of a hollow's attack, nearly tore off that entire side of his face. Made looking at him straight on quite difficult if you didn't know him.

"Was a good man." The memory of his disfigured and sickly father brought a sad, small, smile to the Shinigami's lips. While at the same time his hand moved to the scar upon his chest which he never fully covered.

Why was he telling this man these things? Oh, right right. He wanted a peek at what was under those bandages. He was curious, and he quite frankly didn't like the taste of the words this man was trying to have Malik swallow.

Chuckling a bit with Malik, as the man gave a brief laugh at the comment, Ryuu made a mental note to remember that retort. It was a pretty decent one.

Having his attention drawn away from his amazing wit (insert coughing here), Ryuu listened to Malik's story. Taking note of the past tense that Malik used, Ryuu had a feeling that may have been who the shinigami was visiting. Although that did conflict with the person who's grave they were standing by. Of course Ryuu's thoughts then went into thinking of his previous battles. Was he responsible for the man's injuries. The answer of course was a no. If it had been Ryuu he would have taken more than simply an eye. Possibly a kidney or a lung would have been closer to the mark.

"Well I would rather keep the bandages on. Just a personal preference." Ryuu said in response to Malik's comment. Finding himself a bit curious about the man's father Ryuu then asked, "So your father. Was he also a shinigami?"

[bgcolor=000000]"To each their own." Malik responded with a simple nod. The stranger's next question made Malik's left brow arch up a bit. Surely he was misinformed, or quite honestly had no idea who he was indeed. Either or, the question tickled his fancy a bit.

"No, we have only been around shy six hundred years. He was gone quite awhile before the city was built." The truth, if a bit vague. It had been quite along time since his father passed, whom died shortly after his mother succumb to her sickly state. "Though, were he alive then, he would have made a fine Shinigami and would be buried within our white wall.

"And if I'm honest, he would be a foundation stone for what we as a people stand for. Or, at least how I see us Shinigami anyways. Others among us have different views, which of course led to the split to begin with.

"But I'm sure someone like yourself knows all about that." He added on, gesturing to the sword at the stranger's hip again.

Giving a brief nod of understanding as Malik talked about his father, Ryuu filed that information under 'possibly useful'. However when Malik talked about what the shinigami stood for, Ryuu would have to confess that at best, he had a slight grasp on what the shinigami stood for. Outside of being quite tasty. Half of the time they were like meals plus a free toothpick.

"May I ask how you see the shinigami?" Ryuu asked Malik. While he didn't know much about the shinigami's core values, Malik's opinion on them would be useful for getting some type of picture on what they were.

[bgcolor=000000]What a curious fellow this was indeed. All the questions while not giving much at all in return. Terribly rude, hell he had yet to even introduce himself and he was asking Malik what his core beliefs were. Terribly rude, just terrible. Though it did rise suspicions, which in turn made Malik's defenses resurface.

"You sure do ask a lot of questions, stranger." The shinigami turned and began to wander away from the grave in which he had used as a scapegoat. "Which raises a lot of questions. There I was, minding my own business while respecting the dead and up you come, asking your questions and admitting you did not know the person in the grave whom you stand over." He turned sharply, a few feet separating the pair now. "But why? I have a guess as to the why to be sure. But only you can answer the question honestly.

"So tell me stranger, why so interested in the Shinigami, or to be more forward. Me?"

Kurisuna was fond of the cemetery's tranquil, somber atmosphere. She harbored a profound respect for the dead, oftentimes tending to tributes, and the gardens that encompassed them, among several volunteers during periods of recreation. Horticulture was, 'side for the occasional excursions with Kaede, and the ever-rarer outings with Koichi, her motive for straying as far as the 3rd district, a neighborhood she otherwise found unsavory. As she strode down the length of a partition separating her from the duo, Kurisuna began to catch snippets of their conversation; she vaguely recognized the sound of Malik's voice, and the thin wisps of smoke ascending past the wall confirmed her suspicions.

Toying with a chrysanthemum between her fingers, the woman rounded a corner. Sure enough, there stood her Captain, as well as an unknown interlocutor; she greeted the man in question with a smile, nodded her head, then turned to look upon Malik. The ambiance was undoubtedly tense, and Kurisuna wondered whether she had interrupted anything of importance. ''Good morning,'' she spoke in velvet tones, omitting the man's status of Taichou. Her smile widened pleasantly. ''I hope I am not interrupting, Tanaka-san.''

"Well I will admit to being a bit inquisitive." Ryuu said in response to Malik's comment about the number of questions that he had asked. Listening to the rest of Malik's statement, Ryuu noted that he was being quite defensive. Perhaps he did have something to hide, although at this point that was just conjecture.

Resisting the urge to call Malik out on the hypocrisy that he was preaching, Ryuu knew that he could indeed call it hypocrisy. Ryuu was reasonably certain that the shinigami wasn't standing at the right grave either. Ryuu could certainly make a good case that doing something like that was just as disrespectful to the dead. However Ryuu held his tongue for now.

"Well if you must know, seeing a shinigami out here is an uncommon sight. So I just figured that I might find some nice conversation with you." Ryuu could safely say that much was the truth. Talking to the shinigami was proving to be somewhat interesting. Hopefully Ryuu's rather innocent answer would be somewhat embarrassing to the shinigami.

Hearing some approaching footsteps, Ryuu then noticed a young lady approach the pair. Returning the young lady's smile with his own warm smile, Ryuu took note of the sword that she had with her. Noticing that her clothes were closer to that of a rukon citizen than a shinigami, Ryuu was taken off guard when she spoke to the shinigami with recognition. Was she also a shinigami or did she just know the shinigami from somewhere else? For now Ryuu would be content to observe Malik's response to the newcomer.

[bgcolor=000000]"A nice conversation?" He questioned, this time his right brow arched and a frown spread unto his face. "Polite conversationalists tend to at least introduce themselves before asking to know one's core values. As you did the latter and not the former, I would not call that neither nice or polite.

"So if you wo-" His attention turned to the sound of an all too familiar voice rang out from behind him. His body followed and his face went from annoyed and a bit confused, to a beaming smile. He also yanked his pipe out of his mouth and hid it behind his back. "Saikokui-Nesan~ what a delight to see you this far out." A pet name, to be sure and whether it annoyed his Fukutaicho or not, he called her older sister quite often due to the slight age difference between the pair. And being an only child, he always wanted a sister. "And no, not at all. Why we were just having the most enlightening conversation.

"Your arrival will add a femininity that was very much lacking before." His gaze dropped to the flower she was carrying and his jaw dropped. "They're bloomed? So soon? Why didn't you tell me you know how much I enjoy gardening!"

''I could say the same of you,'' chuckled Kurisuna, hoping to dissolve, or otherwise lighten up the mood. She'd interjected in the middle of an argument, it seemed, and for a second the Lieutenant wondered what it had all been about. Her brows creased into a mock frown as Malik hid his pipe. ''What a foul habit. I can smell it, you know,'' she jested amicably.

Enlightening conversation... Kurisuna figured it for the best that she not ask. It was most likely none of her business. As Malik dropped his gaze to the flower in her hand, she presented it, her smile now more of a simper. ''Uncharacteristically late, more like. Come, now; must I write a full report on each of the perennials under my care?''

Giving a smile as Malik greeted the young lady, Ryuu took a note of what he had said. Apparently she was his older sister. Although Ryuu had to say that they looked nothing alike at all and the fact that they refered to each other by different last names was a bit odd. Also taking note of the phrase 'this far out', Ryuu figured that it was a safe bet that she was also a shinigami.

Giving the two of them a warm and friendly smile Ryuu then said, "Well I suppose that I should introduce myself. My name is Kaito. And I must say that is a beautiful flower." In Ryuu's experience he knew that a little flattery towards a person's hobby and it's achievements could go a long way. Plus with this Ryuu would have satisfied Malik's curiousity at his name and he would have set the stage to learn both of their names.

[bgcolor=000000]Giving Kurisuna a hurtful look as she talked ill of his smoking he removed the pipe from behind his back and popped it between his teeth in protest. "But the smell is what I enjoy! That and it makes me look all wise and mysterious when I'm thinking." He may've struck a small, yet still silly, pose when he said that wiggling his eyebrows as he did so. "Plus, I can make smoke rings~.

"And of course you are!" He added with a tiny flail of his arms as he walked toward her, to get a better look at the flower in which she was holding. "How else am I supposed to learn how not to kill everything but my tobacco and tea leaves?!" Slipping up beside his Fukutaicho he bent his knees and closely examined the plant, all the while a puffing away on his pipe. "Mhm, mhm.. Yes most excellent, the petals aren't brown nor withered, unlike my poor garden... Perhaps I'm applying too much water and drowning them, or giving them too little and starving them." He jumped back up to his full height and looked the woman straight in the eye.

"What's your secret? Special potion in your water, or a special kind of dung?! Pig, cow..... Bat?!"

And then the stranger spoke, announcing his name. Seemed honest enough. And as such, Malik simply grunted in response and nodded in his head. Well at first. "As the lady said, I'm Tanaka. A pleasure I'm sure."

Kurisuna eyed Malik sheepishly as he approached her, her nose wrinkling at the offensive smell emanating from his pipe. Though she had never approved of such a practice, she'd long since given up on her endeavors to get the man to stop. ''It's been hundreds of years and you've not gotten any better,'' she remarked mutedly as Malik stooped before her to examine the chrysanthemum, which she almost felt bad for. ''My secret? Care and attention. I'm cautious to neither starve, nor drown them.'' She mustered up a playful smirk as Malik stared her in the eyes. ''God help us all if you were to ever get children, Tanaka-san.''

Malik turned, and Kurisuna trained her gaze onto the stranger, whom she deduced was not a Shinigami, in spite of his sword. ''Saikokui Kurisuna,'' the Lieutenant said in full; she did not pause to wonder why Malik had given his family name, understanding his skepticism, though she did not let it affect her good spirits. ''Yes, it's lovely. Are you here for the scenery as well, Kaito-san?''

Watching the two shinigami interact, Ryuu could see that they were obviously well acquainted with each other. Resisting a chuckle as Malik gave the reason for his smoking habit, Ryuu gave him points for at least being honest. Although the man's eyebrows were somewhat creepy with the way that they wiggled.

"Well I am quite pleased to meet you Kurisuna."Ryuu said after Kurisuna had introduced herself. Taking a mental note on both of their names, Ryuu also found it strange that he only gave his last name. However Ryuu only gave a first name and a fake one at that. Wondering if the man had some particular reason for not giving his first name, Ryuu put aside his wondering when Kurisuna asked him a question. "A little bit. It's too nice of a day to stay cooped up inside so I decided to take a relaxing walk." Ryuu said in response to the question.

[bgcolor=000000]So, the stranger whom revealed himself to be Kaito was just out on a nice stroll through a graveyard.. Nothing creepy about that. He also noted he was pleased to meet Kurisuna, but not Malik. Either he was a terrible flirt or just rude. "Live close by, do you?" Malik asked, inclined to ask a question of his own this time around. Seemed only fair really, Kaito had asked him so many.

"And what exactly do you mean?" He stated with a stern, yet obviously kidding or even a tone, as he nudged Kurisuna in the side with an elbow. "I'd be a great dad. Just think of all the things I could teach a boy, a girl!

"Well, aside from how to keep a flower from not dying.. But that's besides the point! I'd be a great dad, not strict at all!"

Eyeing Malik skeptically as he moved in to nudge her, Kurisuna swayed in the appropriate direction, not necessarily due to his touch, but rather her inherent desire to avoid it. ''Children need some rigor in their lives,'' she remarked good-naturedly, having retained a hint of a smirk. ''You'll see for yourself one day, Tanaka-san. Now, what sort of manners are those? One doesn't just ask where another lives.'' Of course, she was jesting still, as Malik ought to know. Truth be told, Kurisuna had several questions lingering at the back of her head, but it simply wouldn't do to ask them so brusquely.

Giving a slight chuckle at the banter between the two shinigami, Ryuu had to admit that it was entertaining to listen to. Plus it was quite informative for Ryuu. He was able to either learn a little bit from the two of them or at the very least he was able to draw some conclusions based on what they said.

"It's fine. Although to answer your question I can't really say that I live close by. But my home isn't that far from here." Ryuu said in response to Malik's question. Ryuu figured that it would be a good enough answer for the man. Plus if he asked any of the nearby citizens about a man named Kaito, there would be a good reason that no one would seem to know him.

[bgcolor=000000]"What? He has no problem with it, see." Malik responded with a dumbfounded expression, completely oblivious to just how rude he actually had been. "Though seeing as how we can all say 'my home isn't very far from here' he didn't give me much anyways." He shot Ryuu, or should I say Kaito a smirk. "All fair in love'en war right?

"And rigor is overrated, kids need to have a free spirit. Let them make mistakes, break some bones and they'll be better for it in the long run" He paused a moment, as a thought came to mind, he tapped his chin as he mulled over it.

"Well, as long as they don't break any laws. Then you bring the hammer down." He promptly followed by making a hammering gesture with his hands and a firm nod of his head.

''That so…'' she told their visitor of sorts, a little perplexed by how vague he'd kept his answer. Turning to Malik, she scowled admonishingly at how he, too, had chosen to carry himself, though she had to admit something seemed off, if a little awkward. She fiddled with the stem of her flower for a few moments, listening as her Captain advocated his own method of raising children... One she hadn't employed and didn't fully endorse, although she lacked the heart to cement her stance any further if Malik so desired to be easy-going with his own offspring.

''I see. However, for your sake and sanity of mind, I shall nonetheless pray that you never produce any child of a boisterous disposition,'' she replied, chuckling some. Or did Malik prefer a challenge?

"I guess so." Ryuu said with a shrug in response to Malik's statement. Looking at the two shinigami, Ryuu could clearly see that the two of them weren't satisfied with the vague answer that he gave. However Ryuu had to say that he was quiet suprised that two people who he had been talking to for only a few minutes expected him to give the exact place where he lived. "Maybe I should find an abandoned place to use a secondary home." Ryuu thought to himself.

Tucking that idea away for later, Ryuu's attention then shifted to Malik's statements. All of this talk about parenting reminded Ryuu of Mama and Papa Ryuu. Sure his parent gave him a pretty free reign, but even so they did have plenty of rules. No going out after dark. No going too far from them. Stop antagonizing the three eyed bear unless you want him to hang you up by your entrails. Standard rules for any child.

However the shinigami seemed to think that none of that was needed. It honestly did seem a bit foolish in Ryuu's opinion. But then again if the shinigami was fine with his hypothetical children getting killed by the three eyed bear then that was his problem. Although seeing the shinigami's reaction would be extremely entertaining to watch.

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"Laddi daddi, doo da dee-bop a-BOW, duh-boom-boom ooh whooaaaa ohh~" mumbled Andra as he struts through the graveyard with an overly confident grin plastered on his face. From head-to-toe he is bloodied and he has minor paper-cut wounds but other than that it seemed that the majority of the maroon was from some unlucky victim. As he happily marches between headstones he starts to pick-up on a small conversation just on the other side of a dividing wall. To hear better he silenced himself and crept over to the wall. As he arrived at the large stone wall he turned his back and lazily leaned against it, crossing his arms at his chest.


"Maybe I'll peek over.. if the conversation is one of an open nature.." he mulls over in his head.

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