She jumped slightly as Malik fired off a kidou at the retreating Zane, staring like a deer in the headlights, "Tanaka-sama... W-was that really necessary?" Instead of a reply to her question, she got the most dreaded news one could ever get about paperwork, "Ah, shit..."

Eyes widening and hands scrambling for the papers, Chishio let out a stream of curses, mainly at her own stupidity at not looking at the surface of the desk before setting down the paperwork. She'd quickly separate the soaked pages from the ones still somewhat dry, grumbling about having to redo most of the reports. No matter how far you've come along, you still manage to mess everything up. Bravo, Chishio. Stupid...

He paused his stride, his gaze flicked over his shoulder at the cursing and panicking Chishio. He simply shook his head and did not allow his laughter to leave his throat. He had to remain professional, yes yes he did. His attention moved back toward Zane and he took another step.

"You do have a choice, I presented you with two. Which do you decide?"

A short and to the point answer to his questionable statement.. Which was a question of his own, one Zane did not truthfully give an answer to.

SPOILER: Click to show

Much like this post..

Zane huffed a little, finding that his current predicament would bring an obvious answer to his Taicho's question. Mal had bounded him so easily that it wouldn't be hard for the man to dispose of him should Zane act out again. So, with a low sigh, Zane dropped his head, "Fine. I'll sit in silence. Not a movement or a peep out of me.", He answered, knowing Malik was right. That and Zane was now curious about the whole situation, what with him calling Malik out on his crap and being at least partly correct.

Still working on separating the pile of papers, Chishio tilted her head towards the two men. Her eyes stayed focused on her current job, slowing down slightly so she could take in the words being exchanged. I wonder what Tana-chan asked me here for, especially when there's an obvious fight going on. Trouble keeps finding me. She let out a sigh at that last thought, shaking her head before placing the somewhat dry reports on the chair next to her, the sopping wet reports in a soggy pile on the floor.

Standing from her spot on the floor, Chishio would brush off her skirt, picking up the mess of papers as she straightened out. "Tanaka-chan, if I may interrupt real quick. Where can I throw these away?" As she asked her superior, her eyes would flick over to the lower seat, bright green eyes taking in his features. Hmm... I don't remember if I've seen him around. Then again.. I've been cooped up in my office for a while.

"Good man." He snapped his fingers and dismissed the kido, the golden rods shattering and disappearing into nothingness a moment before they would strike the floor. He would then half turn and flicker back into his office with a use of shunpo. Unnecessary, most likely but something he chose to do all the same. He would be standing before Chishio then, and would take the soggy papers from her hands.

"I'll see to these, Chio-chan. Please take a seat." Moving over to a windowsill, he plopped the papers down and spread them out, so that they might be able to dry a bit in the sun's warm embrace. Without turning, his voice adopted his serious one again. "Yakanami-chan, this Tenth Seat Grinpiers Zane, Grinpiers-san, this is Sixth seat Yakanami Chishio." He was unsure if they had known each other previously, although he would like to say every member of his division knew one another personally. That being true was another thing altogether. "Yakanami-chan, I called you here because of him."

He turned then and moved back to his chair, sitting upon it's leathery cushions. "Zane was given an assignment which he did not bother attempting and instead of being able to accept a form of punishment, lashed out at me a moment before you arrived, deciding to resign from our division. I stopped him from leaving without thinking things through.

"Now Zane believes the task I gave him, one which involves gathering members of the Rukongai district and bringing them here for discussion on how to improve our relations would not be required had I done my job, properly. Something to do with, cleaning up my messes. Isn't that right, Zane?" He gave the man a look before returning his gaze to Chishio. "In truth, he's not entirely incorrect.

"I have allowed things to get a little further down the road than I should have and for that, I will bare the weight of those failures both inside and out." He lifted his scarred hands to show the pair of them, turning his wrists so they may see the extent of the damage. Burn scars, running from the tips of his fingers down below the gauntlets he wore and less than an inch sigh of his elbow. "I received these during the hollow raid. From a Rukongai citizen as I attempted to save his life. A cruel irony, but one with meaning I think." He lowered his hands back to his lap and took a breathe before continuing.

"Regardless of those events and for the failures on all our parts during that time, Zane's claims that his mission was unnecessary and the fault lies all on me. He's wrong on both counts. Without constant communication, we cannot keep up a peaceful co-existence with our kin outside the wall. Regardless of how things are at this moment, such a mission no matter how redundant is important to not just my life, or either of yours.. But everyone's, something Zane clearly did not consider.

"The situation we find ourselves in right now is due to the failure on ALL of our parts. The failure to communicate with each other, not just outside the wall, but within it. I am not all seeing or all knowing. I cannot know the details of lives of those citizens out there if I am in here dealing with mundane issues that are brought to my attention, when the important ones are not simply due to one's inability to act.

"That, is why I am so upset with you Zane. Your inability to act could cost countless more's suffering, when it could have been avoided. Simply because you chose to fulfill your personal desires instead of what was for the good of all of us." He took a breath and allowed his gaze to float from Zane to Chishio and then back to Zane, his faced turned softer then, one full of shame and disappointment.

"We are all to blame."

Zane mirrored his Taicho's actions and used a Shunpo to make his way back to the man's office, moving his way over to take a seat. His eyes cast over toward Chishio, but quickly moved away without so much as a greeting to the woman. He really just wanted to get this blame game over with so he could go somewhere else and screw up. His mental state had began to sink down to a pessimistic place that Zane frequently visited in his mind. Zane remained quite as Malik spoke, his mind wandering as he mulled over the words of the SouTaichou.

Why in the hell was he going to worry about the suffering of others when he couldn't even cope with his own! He was.. alone in the world with the exception of the one little arrancar girl in his life who looked up to him as her big brother. Zane waited a few minutes after Malik finished before he spoke, "Whatever. I already admitted that I messed up and agreed with your assessment that I am unfit to do my duties. You're the one who dragged my ass back here.", He replied to Malik. With the words the man just spoke to him, he was now more convinced that his failure should not allow him to remain as a Tenth Seat if at all in the Gotei. Maybe it was just his mind's dark thoughts dragging him back down. "As for the matters I attended to, I did what was best for my little sister, not myself. She's a mere child, but excuse me for not putting the Gotei above my own family.. or what's left of it.."

Moving the papers from the chair she had placed them on, Chishio made sure to look for a dry, clear space on the Soutaicho's desk, promptly sitting in the chair afterwards. Her eyes glanced over Zane once again, raising a hand in a form of greeting. Not receiving a similar greeting made the sixth's lips turn down into a small frown. How rude... Her focus returned to her Soutaicho, not saying a word as she took in all the information. She wanted both sides of the story before she came to her own conclusion.

Upon Malik showing off his new scars, Chishio's stomach dropped, her features struggling to stay composed as her eyes took them in. It's worse than I thought it was... I should have been there. Her hands clenched into fists, wrinkling the skirt of her uniform to keep them in place.

At the end of the Soutaicho's speech, Chishio leaned back in her seat, resting her chin in her palm. "You're right, Tanaka-dono. Every single member of the Gotei is at fault here, letting disharmony come between the Rukon Citizens and Shinigami. Our role was to protect the Rukon from hollows, but we obviously failed with that mess a few days ago. We do, however, have to fix that wedge between us two factions, especially if we want to eradicate the hollows. It may not be great, but it has to be done."

Chishio took a breath of air, twirling the end of her ponytail around her forefinger, "And Grinpiers-san. Your little sister, is she a Rukon? If so, why not ask your father to come back with you? You could have fulfilled your mission and not be in the mess to begin with. I'm not trying to be rude about it, even though you may take it that way if you want, but I feel like that would have been the best idea."

The woman shrugged then, sitting up from her slouching as her eyes went from one man to the next, "Now, why don't we all kiss and make up?

As it was his turn to listen now, he did just that. Nodding as each spoke in turn to show them he was listening to what they were saying without verbally interrupting them. Chishio saw what he was saying, when Zane whom was still clouded by his own demons clearly did not. He sighed and spoke when it was his turn. "Zane-san, you misunderstand me. I do not blame you for attending to your family, I have been known to do the same now and then. I am upset as you never tried, when the opportunity was in front of you the entire time.

"Your actions did not put the Gotei before your family, nor did I expect them to. I had expected your actions to benefit everyone, not just the Gotei. Something you appear to be blind to." He gave his head a shake. "You seem to believe I only care about the people inside this wall, when you could be no further away from the truth. I work with what I have, what I am told, to do what I can for everyone. And when I give an order like I did to you, it is on that same premise.

"As for my so-called belief that you're unfit to do your duties, I do not believe that to be true." He sighed again and slouched in his chair a bit. "Zane, you got distracted. It happens to the best of us, but you could have continued on with your assignment the moment you realized your blunder.

"This is why, if you decide to stay, something I am hoping for. I am assigning you to Chishio-chan. She too has had troubles in the past, but has come back from those and has risen up in our ranks. As you saw before, she still makes the odd error now and then, but works to improve upon her self. I believe with her guidance she can assist you in doing the same.

"Not to just improve your performance here as a Shinigami, but as a man. Not just for yourself, and certainly not for me. But for sister." He sat up then and crossed his arms over his chest. "Think upon it, that is all I ask before you possibly make a grave mistake."

Zane visibly wrinkled his nose as he grew silent and took in the words of his two superiors, certain words they were saying not sitting so well with him. He would wait though, not having the desire or the energy to create yet another outburst in the office. A grave mistake? Really? As far as I know, leaving could be better for me and everyone else. Well.. Zane waited quietly until Malik had finished before he cleared his throat and began to speak once more.

"Where do I begin..? Alright, first I shall address Yakamani-sama.", Zane turned in his chair and drops his stare on the woman, stern and piercing as if he was annoyed with the woman. This wasn't actually the case however as he had found himself quite suddenly stunned by the woman's, albeit revealing, appearance. As to hide this fact, he appeared annoyed, "I believe I have confused a part of this somewhere along the lines. The man who fathers my sister and, my sister herself, are indeed Rukon citizens, but there is a slight issue in this and it's actually the reason I never asked the man to join me. The man is not my father as my father died while I was still young and, from past encounters I have had with the man, he is not exactly friendly toward the Shinigami, but also tends to claim memory loss. I'm not sure how much he can actually be trusted."

Zane's gaze then drifted back toward the Sixth Seat and then to the SouTaichou. He had decided not to address most of what the man said, aside from his new assignment to follow under the woman's orders, "As for me following under Yakamani-Sama.. If that is the decision of our SouTaichou, I cannot argue it.", He ended with. He had apparently let go of the idea of stepping away from his position, for the time being.

Chishio stood from her chair, straightening her skirt before holding out a hand for Zane, "It's good to see you didn't do anything too hasty and leave. I'll make sure you're back to being respected as a tenth seat should." If Zane had taken her hand in a shake, the woman's hand would squeeze tightly on his, her fingers turning white. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as a smirk appeared on her full lips.

"And it's Yakanami, not Yakamani. For your first job as my underling, you will write my name one hundred and twenty times." The woman turned away from the tenth, crossing her arms over her chest as her face became her lazy mask once again. "I expect that paper done as soon as you finish it, you may go."

She then turned her eyes to her superior, "I would like a word with you Tanaka-sama, if you don't mind."

Malik smiled upon hearing Zane's choice, ignoring the bit about his sister's adoptive father. Someone not keen on the Shinigami is exactly who he'd want to speak with, a kiss ass would not solve the issues they had with their kin beyond the wall. As for Chishio's first assignment for Zane, he could only shake his head and try not to laugh. "While I can understand the importance of getting one's name correct, that won't be necessary. Zane-san is to assist you in your duties, Chishio-chan. Treating him like a child won't make him feel any better about his capabilities.

"Zane-san, you're to remain in your current station until I say otherwise. Assist Chishio-chan in her duties, watch and learn. In time you'll be back on your feet and using your station to better all of our lives." He smirked then and glanced from one to the other. "And who knows, you may be Chishio's superior by the end of it all."

Rising from his seat he placed a fist upon his chest and gave Zane a small bow. "Thank you, my boy for your choice to stay. If there is nothing further you're dismissed until Chishio-chan has need of you."

Zane snorted rather loudly as he rose from his chair and listened to the two of them. What ridiculous things they had said at the end. Writing the woman's name multiple times and Zane ending up as her superior in time? Ha! Zane had taken forever dragging his ass to get to where he was, let alone climbing higher than a tenth seat. He had decided to play along with the two though and shook the woman's hand, returning the unpleasant grip that she had given him, "Pardon me, Yakanami-sama. I simply misheard your name prior to now.", He apologized, releasing the grip. He then turned and bowed to Malik before raising his mask back over his mouth, "I believe I'll be off then. Good bye for now.", he said as he turned and walked out of Malik's office once again.

[Zane exits unless otherwise asked to stay]

She stood silent for a few seconds, almost a minute until she felt assured that the tenth seat was gone. Her eyes were fixed to the Tanaka's desk, arms crossing over her chest before she finally spoke. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. To make sure you didn't get hurt, that is." She gave him a sorry excuse of a smile. "If I were there, you wouldn't have gotten those burns." She grew silent once again, fingers clenching into fists before holding out a hand to him.

"Can I see 'em?" Her voiced wavered slightly as she saw the flash of scars on his arms. The image made her swallow back the bile that threatened to come up. My fault. I wasn't there for my Soutaicho.

He watched Zane go and sat back down, placing a knee lazily upon his knee. He was done being strict for the time being, done being professional. Now, now was time to be comfortable. There, in his comfy chair in his comfy way of sitting he looked at Chishio, waiting for her to speak. The silence of that minute seemed to linger like a thick fog, but finally she cut through it with her voice. He wondered if those who were used to him doing the same felt like he did just now, it was something he was very unused to dealing with on this side of the conversation.

He cocked his head to one side as she started, confused at first by what she meant. It didn't take long for him to come to his senses and glance down at his hands, the first time he saw the results of his folly it nearly made him gag. The first time he tried using them after the Second division patched him up, he did and worse. The pain caused him to bring up more than he thought was in him. His gaze moved back up to hers. "Don't be daft, woman." He stated bluntly, an eyebrow arching up above his eye. "Nothing you or anyone could have done would have stopped this from happening. It was my choice, mine alone. Were I in the same situation all over again, I'd do it again for it was the right thing to do.

"Sometimes the right thing to do, is the most painful." He smiled then and slipped off the wrist guards he wore, fully exposing the scared tissue and held his arms out to her. "Not the prettiest things in the world now, but I could myself lucky. The man was a walking inferno, I'm lucky I wasn't burned alive."

The only hint of expression Malik got out of Chishio was a small up-turn of a corner of her lips. Her small hand cupped his much larger one as the fingers on her other hand traced over the burn markings, eyes following.  "I guess they aren't that bad looking. Adds to your charms." Chishio let out a small chuckle at her terrible joke, but at least she was still her old self.

She'd gently slip her hands away from his, unconsciously wiping them on her uniform as her usual lazy mask reappeared, "so, can you feel anything with your hands still or are all the nerves dead?" She had to admit, feeling the scars was different, nothing at all like the scars her cousin had on his arms. She had never seen how burns scarred. 

He gave his hands a rub for a moment once Chishio had released them and chuckled softly along with her, at which point he began to slip on his wrist accessories again. "No, I guess not. But they aren't much of an improvement over what they were before." He smiled then and tightened the bracer over his left arm before reaching for the right. "Ya know, most people want to know if they hurt still..

"But yes, I can still feel with them, not as well as I used to be able to mind you but there is still a sense of touch." He quirked his face as he tugged the band over his arm, giving the binds a small yank to tighten it just enough so the bladed arm attachments wouldn't fumble about upon his arm and possibly cut himself. "Were I to put it into words, I would say the sense of feeling I have remaining is almost numb, similar to my hands falling to sleep. Only without the pins and needles. Not the most accurate explanation, but there it is." He chuckled again and crossed his arms over his chest, unsure as to what to say next.

Chishio nodded at the information, giving him a smile. "That's good to know. I would have hated to halt my pranks." The woman gave a smirk to her superior, "and I know just how much you love my pranks." Chishio sat down on the arm of the chair behind her, crossing her legs as she tapped her fingers against her knees.

"Quick question before I disappear, if you don't mind." She waited a few seconds before asking, waiting for an answer. "I'm looking for a training partner who can stand my.... well, my strength. Do you know anyone who can take a punch without bruising easily?"

He really did laugh aloud then. Oh yes, those pranks. He had almost forgotten.. He gave his head a shake as his laughter faded and gave his mouth and jaw a rub. "Well.. As a matter of fact I think I might now someone who could take a bit of a beating." A sly smirk crossed his features and a hint of devilish intent flicked in the darkness of his eyes. Normally, he would have pointed in Kiba's direction for such a request. In Malik's opinion no one was more blocked headed than Kiba in the Gotei, in more than one way. He knew the man could not only throw a punch, but take one too. But he was not really an option now.

"Well, as luck would have it we have a new Captain who just joined the council, he's taken over Ume-chan's former post. The former Fukutaicho of the Fifth Division, Techimaru Taisho. He's a mountain of a man, I would safely assume he could take a punch or two, while proving to be a challenge for you as well." This would also give him the opportunity to test Taisho's metal. He had no idea of the man's capabilities and Chishio would be an excellent way to find them out. "You'll have to let me know how it goes."

She jumped up from her seat, grinning from ear to ear, "thanks Tana-chan. I'll try not to beat him up too much. Now. About my new little minion. What exactly do I have to do?" Her smirk fell from her face, concern creeping into her face. 

"I really don't think I'll be able to change his mind. I'm also not too keen about babysitting him either." She crossed her arms over her chest. Even through all the years, Chishio still had a problem with controlling her sudden fluxes of anger. She just managed to keep it hidden by all the paperwork and holing herself in her office. 

The thought of her office made her eyebrows scrunch together in thought, her lips quirking, "you said he could help me with things, right? I've been meaning to rearrange and paint my office."

"Well.. According to what I told him, Zane is to shadow you. Learn from you." As he answered the question, his expression returned to his expressionless one, the business one. His body followed suit, his foot leaving his knee and finding itself firmly upon the floor. He had been expecting this question and would have been disappointed had she not asked it. "But in reality, you are to shadow him. I've been alive a long time, Chishio-chan and in that time I've seen all sorts. I do not believe or trust Zane's story. He is hiding something from us, and I want you to find out what.

"This hasn't been the first time he has just vanished for days, weeks at a time and upon returning he's more and more cold with us here. He's up to something.." His eyes narrowed a bit as he continued. "While you show him the ropes, I want you to keep him inside the city at all times, unless of course I send you beyond the wall. At that point you're to keep your eyes locked on him at all times and keep him by your side." He cleared his throat and sighed. "I'm not happy about this Chishio-chan, perhaps I'm simply being paranoid. But it's something I cannot overlook. I'm trusting you with this. Hopefully your own experiences will change his mind, or show who we are really dealing with.

"As for Taisho.. Don't hold back. It won't be a good training exercise if you weren't testing yourself after all."

She gave a small frown at his answer, her hopes of having someone help her with her office gone. Maybe Arashi-chan would like to help with that? At least with the painting bit. "So, no getting him to do some of the dirty work, like moving my desk and bookshevles?" 

She tilted her head in more thought before shrugging, "whatever. My office isn't that important after all." She bowed slightly at the hips, smile returning as she moved towards the door, "I should get headed over to the fifth to get some training in. Enjoy those pictures I drew for you~" 

Chishio let out a laugh as she raced out of the room, not waiting for the older man's reaction to said drawings. 

[Exit]

He watched her go skipping out of his office, a confused expression marking itself upon his face. "Pictures?" He frowned then and stood, cupping his chin. "What pictures?" The only thing she brought was the paper work, certainly she couldn't mean that could she? Certainly not, she was a professional after all, and was only trying to lull him into a sense that a prank was on the horizon. (For that in itself is quite professional.)

Approaching the documents he left by the window to dry, he began to flip through them. Well so far so good, everything appeared to be in order. Food supply for the garrison of troops in the division, payment records, injuries suffered over the last hollow attack, a picture of a woman bathing in the sun wearing only a.... O/////////////O "BY THE PEOPLE?!"


[end]

Rewards:

Taisho- 6 RP
Kabelja - 6 RP
Malik - 17 RP
Zane - 8 RP
Chishio - 10 RP

Thread locked, points to be added.