>>1348164
“It appears to be a white stoat,” Tenkotsuki muses quietly, “a mostly silent killer known for hunting much larger species and engaging in excess killing.”

“Thank you, Tenkotsuki,” you sigh, not really appreciating the additional knowledge that your gift features a cute little murderweasel. “That will be all for now.”

“Are you sure? I could translate the runes...”

“Fine,” you grumble, “since you seem excited about it, feel free. Regale me.”

“To many good hunts and safe returns.”

That's... actually enough to soften your glare somewhat. Now that you look at it, the stoat on the inside of the sake cup does seem to be frolicking rather than murdering.

“Thanks,” you nod quietly before turning to Tenri. “Thanks for bringing this to me.”

“Of course, Lady Kusajishi. Though I must wonder what you intend to do?”

Honestly you're left with a few reasonable options, the first of which is to arrange a meeting with Head Captain Kyōraku to report on your fight with Captain Zaraki... lord knows everyone with any stake in that situation is going to demand a full report at some point, since any time two Captains end up fighting is by definition a serious incident. Or you could continue your own kidō training, develop your proficiency in the “less useful” spells in preparation for the 99th Hadō.

Or... you could do something cultural. It's been ages since you had the opportunity.

>Meet with Captain Kyōraku over a drink or two.
>Practice kidō until someone absolutely HAS to see you about something.
>Try and find something non work-related to do for once, like a real person.
>Visit Urahara?
>Other?

>>1348168
>Meet with Captain Kyōraku over a drink or two.
A drink sounds good about now.

>>1348168
>>Meet with Captain Kyōraku over a drink or two.

>>1348168
>Try and find something non work-related to do for once, like a real person.
Riku seems too strung up. although drinking with Shunsui seems a reasonable way to relax, it's mixing business with pleasure and that's not what we want. We want to have others see Riku as a person instead of some workaholic with a frightening temper.

>>1348184
we could always do something after the report and a few drinks, thats the way i look at it anyways.

>>1348168
>>Try and find something non work-related to do for once, like a real person.
Calligraphy, maybe? Added bonus of leaving some "encouraging" words for the training Lieutenants without our direct presence.

Then maybe go for the meet and drink with the Head Captain.

Alright then, a brief artistic diversion and then drinking.
>dice+3d10, DC 17, crit 20
>Best of four because Tenkotsuki is helping

Rolled 5, 6, 1 = 12 (3d10)

>>1348214

Rolled 9, 1, 7 = 17 (3d10)

>>1348214

>>1348168
>>Meet with Captain Kyōraku over a drink or two.
It wouldn't surprise me if part of the reason Kyoraku and Ukitake act(ed) the way they do(did) was to help keep everyone else at ease around them. He'll probably have some advice for us in that respect, or just commiserations if nothing else.

someone else roll the dice, rolling twice feels wrong.

Rolled 9, 4, 7 = 20 (3d10)

>>1348214
First actual roll for the quest.

>>1348231
winner winner lil white weasel gets a chicken for dinner. A crit.

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>>1348231
Fuck yeah. Have some Ichiruki.

Rolled 7, 9, 9 = 25 (3d10)

>>1348214
fk it. rolling last fourth roll because no one else is doing it and we already got the crit threshold.

>writing

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>>1348246
Aaaayyyy, arnt we luck that it was a best out of 4. Not that it matters if its 20 or 25 but its still nice to overkill it once in a while

Fuck yeah, shinigami savant!
and i'm only 40 some odd minutes late

>>1348262
Your response to Tenri is a polite nod and a smile. “I'm sure I can find a way to keep myself entertained.”

Tucking the sake cup into your sash you leap to the far wall of the officers' precinct, then take a second leap down to the Seireitei Bulletin's printing office. A few shinigami briefly acknowledge you as you walk into your rarely-used office space here. Retrieving an inkstone, a fine brush, and a scroll, you find a small room where you can kneel and focus on practicing some calligraphy. Not your favorite form of artistry, but especially with Tenkotsuki's guidance you've learned to be capable at it.

Plus you have no sleeves to hold out of the way.

The words of Yūgao, written in the Tale of Genji, come to mind...

Indeed!
I also wonder what I've glimpsed
In the twilight,
Seen so faintly
Is a moonflower blossom...

“Finely written,” Tenkotsuki muses as the characters flow from brush onto paper, “even more so than usual. In fact I must confess I find it surprising given your mental state.”

“What can I say?” you muse. “Seems I've suddenly remembered how to relax.”

A few of your subordinates seem to have gathered, appreciating the rare moment where their Captain appears to have totally relaxed. One offers to take the writing implements as you stand.

“What should we do with this, Captain?” he asks thoughtfully. “Seems a waste to simply roll it back up and stick it on a shelf to sit there for who knows how long.”

“I don't particularly care,” you admit frankly, stepping off the tatami and sliding on your shoes. “I did it simply to relax a little, not to make some sort of heirloom piece or anything.”

“Then do you mind if we include it in an edition of the Bulletin?” he presses, as if suddenly coming up with an idea. “Captain Kyōraku's submission is late again, so some of us were thinking about printing calligraphy done by Captains... sadly most of what we could find was Aizen.”

“I mean if you think it's good enough,” you shrug. “Happy to help I guess.”

With your mind somewhat calmed by the act of putting pen to paper, you return to your quarters for a bottle of strong awamori and head for the First Division. This was going to have to happen at some point regardless of your intentions in the matter, so you might as well do so on your own terms.
>1/2

>>1348279
Wonder if Shunsui and Ukitake ever got matching tattoos when they were younger?

>>1348291
I doubt old man Yamamoto would've approved. Most likely the boys would get harsh reprimands out of it. or have those tattoos literally burned off their skin.

Poor Riku, ain't much that really bothers her, but this bullshit sure did.
I hope kyoraku and some fine sake can cheer us up a little.

You know what might be funny?

We hate monk, but kicking his ass wouldn't go over well, and at the same time simply doing nothing makes us look weak and won't do much for our mood.
So what if we filed a formal complaint regarding his behavior towards us

>>1348303
we'll have to take said complaint to the shinto gods, they appointed the Guards in the first place.

>>1348310
It's not really too serious. Yet. But It might actually be a good idea.
And it'd be funny as hell, if you ask me.

>>1348303
File a complaint with whom, exactly? The pantheom who sent him to make Riku's life miserable, the people who think Riku is a loose cannon who doesn't play by the rules and thus make Riku's life miserable, or his own colleagues, who are terrified of showing any divisiveness and thus him to make Riku's life miserable.

Or maybe the Soul King, who is literally incapable of acting.

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“Come in!” Shunsui greets you, exhaustion clear in his voice. Then he sees the bottle in your hand, and glances nervously about for his Lieutenant. “She's not here right now, is she?”

“Doesn't seem so,” you shake your head.

Shunsui pulls a cup from his desk drawer and sets it down in front of him. “Well then, it seems like I've just gone on break.”

You retrieve your own cup and pour some for yourself and for the Head Captain, then take a sip. “It's good aged stuff.”

“It's pretty good, yeah,” he admits with a satisfied grin. “So, I hear you had an interesting encounter with young Captain Zaraki earlier?”

“Who told you that?” you ask calmly.

Shunsui simply shrugs. “Nobody. I literally heard it from here.”

“Ah. Well, nothing gets by you sir.”

“And what happened, really?” he asks.

“We had a disagreement,” you explain. “He wanted to kill me, I wanted him to not do that.”

“I see,” Shunsui nods sagely, stroking his chin. “And so I gather you were angry about that?”

“Extremely,” you frown.

“And why, precisely?” he continues. “If you had to pick the single most compelling reason?”

>I got sick of his bullshit. He's wanted to kill me for years.
>Because he doesn't seem to comprehend the word “ally”.
>Because he neglects his duties to indulge his love of fighting.
>Because it felt like he was being used as a pawn by the Monk.
>Other.

>>1348325
>Because he neglects his duties to indulge his love of fighting.

>>1348325
>Because it felt like he was being used as a pawn by the Monk.

>>1348325

>I got sick of his bullshit. He's wanted to kill me for years.
>Because it felt like he was being used as a pawn by the Monk
>Because he has no fucking clue when it comes to the correct time and place for shit like that. We have so much to deal with and he wants to waste time and energy, potentially weakening the sereitei by killing a captain. He's a goddamn idiot. He could do so much good if fighting wasn't literally all he thinks about.

>I'll admit, i don't know him that well, so i'm not entirely sure why he turned out like that. Maybe i could help him somehow if we were closer.

>>1348325
>>I got sick of his bullshit. He's wanted to kill me for years.

>>1348325
>>Because he neglects his duties to indulge his love of fighting.
And having his compass for said indulgence steered into an unproductive direction. If it had been aimed towards, say, any stray and uncooperative reigai remnants, or pretty much anyone in Aizen's camp, that'd have been dandy.

>>1348325

Also king, i already asked this on askfm, but what would the casualties have been like if the oin had assumed direct control of riku?
It was done on 9th division grounds, the onmitsukido was there, mirai was handling the barrier IIRC...

I can't even begin imagine what would have happened if we'd just gone on a rampage among our own men...
I wonder if they'd ever be able to forgive us.

>>1348325
>I'll be honest Shunsui, there's so many reasons I can choose from that would justify my anger Shunsui, from stress of dealing with Seireitei home security, to keeping my mortal nephew and friends safe, to choice members from the C-46 and Royal Guard having bones to pick with, to just general bullshit situations.
>I'm already stretched thin of time and responsibilities.
>Kenny goading me for a fight was frankly the final straw on top of the giant mess.
>Because he neglects his duties to indulge his love of fighting.

>>1348325
>>Because it felt like he was being used as a pawn by the Monk.

He just asked for the single reason, and for me it's the Monk's meddling. Zaraki wanting a fight doesn't make me as angry (and it was sad crushing his dreams when we healed him), but the Monk's issues with demi-divines needs to be dealt with.

There's also everyone's reactions to us fighting that we need advice with, but that can be next in the conversation.

>>1348353
If it just absolutely had to be one single reason, i guess it'd have to be that.
But the situation is more complex than that.

>>1348353
Also, crushing zaraki's dream really was major bad feels.
I took more issue with that than anything. If it was just the monk being a dick, that'd be bad enough, but goddamn.

>writing

Really kinda feels like riku's reaching her limit, emotionally.
Overstressed, overworked. Never allowed to look weak, constantly having to stand tall as a pillar for the rest.
Just can't do everything ourselves. Feels like that's been hinted at a lot more recently, we're going to have to rely on our allies.

>>1348325
>Because it felt like he was being used as a pawn by the Monk.

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>>1348374
“Honestly, the single most enraging thing about it was how obvious it was that he was being used,” you sigh, taking another sip of awamori. “It absolutely defies belief that he could simply slip away from the Royal Guard, meaning someone was okay with this happening. Best guess is that the Monk figured either I die or Zaraki dies, so he's down one pain in the ass, or Zaraki learns something from getting beaten again.”

“It seems logical when you say it that way,” Shunsui muses quietly.

“Yeah, the main problem is it totally disregards the people involved,” you explain your thoughts more clearly. “He was definitely using Captain Zaraki, though it's not like a brutal killer is going to care about being used so long as he gets what he wants. But by extension the Monk treated me as a tool for his own scheme.”

“Disposable for that matter,” you conclude. “Because honestly whether I lived or died was irrelevant in the end, and to treat Captains that way especially just before a war for the future of the Soul Society itself... it's repulsive.”

“Assuming that was his intent,” Shunsui observes, taking a sip of his own drink.

“Shutara presented herself immediately afterward,” you inform him in response. “She basically confirmed my line of reasoning had merit.”

“Then that changes things,” Shunsui sighs. “I can't very well ignore the situation, especially if this played out directly as the result of the Royal Guard's influence. Which is why I'd like to ask you what you would do were it left entirely in your hands.”

“Well, it's no secret now that Tenkotsuki and Rosa would both gladly kill the Monk if there was no chance of backlash,” you shrug, “but that's not helpful, because there would be backlash. That and I have no idea what the Royal Guard's role in things is going to be. As much as I hate to admit it we may need them in the future.”

“So your choice would be to ignore this?” Shunsui muses. “The more I think about it the more it does sound like what you'd say. After all you sat on Aizen's defection for a century when it seemed imprudent to simply attack him over it.”

>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.
>Both Aizen and the Monk will have to answer for their decisions.
>It's ultimately not my place to decide either of their punishments.
>Other?

>>1348405
>>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.

>>1348405
>Both Aizen and the Monk will have to answer for their decisions.

One day the little shits will pay.

>>1348405
>>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.

>>1348405
>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.
>As for the monk, i'm not entirely sure what i COULD do given the situation and his unique powers. maybe file a complaint?

>>1348405
>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.

>>1348405
>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.

>>1348405
>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.
>Other: Who employs the Royal Guards? I would like to file a complaint to their boss.

>>1348405
>>I still intend to kill Aizen eventually, so that's a different situation.

Fuck the smug of keikaku.

>>1348405
Ignore? No. Im just waiting for when I'm able to do something.

“I still intend to kill Aizen at some point,” you observe between sips at the booze. “So it's a different situation. Even if I did kill the Monk he has the ability to reconstitute himself... I'd need to kill everyone who knows his name or else find a way to seal him, and I doubt either of those things are happening.”

“So it's not like lashing out at him would even accomplish anything.”

“He can reconstitute himself?” Shunsui asks, clearly confused. “What do you mean?”

“Apparently if someone says his name he can come back to life,” you shrug. “I don't know exactly how that would work.”

“Well that makes it hard to actually hold him accountable,” Shunsui sighs. “I mean unless you wanted to deal with the Central 46.”

“No,” you declare flatly.

“So we move on from there I guess,” Shunsui shakes his head, setting the cup aside. “So how are the Lieutenants dealing with your training methods?”

“It's a mixed bag,” you sigh, settling back in your own seat and pouring another cup of awamori. “Can't do anything about it now though, they're too shaken by the fight with Zaraki to focus properly.”

“Shaken?” he asks. “What do you mean?”

“Well Kobara no Tachi's reiatsu is pretty unsettling if I get angry while she's released,” you explain carefully, “and I don't think anyone here has felt it before.”

“So they responded so badly that you can't even train them?” Shunsui frowns, clearly not approving. “I'll have to have a talk with them about that. We can't have a bunch of our Lieutenants living in fear of one of our Captains, especially when she was fighting in clear self-defense.”

>Talking to them myself would relieve the image some people have of me as being inhuman.
>Go easy on them. It'd be better that way, not to associate me with punishment.
>They know it's stupid. I think it's best that we just move on instead.
>Other?

>>1348506

>Talking to them myself would relieve the image some people have of me as being inhuman.

>>1348506
>Talking to them myself would relieve the image some people have of me as being inhuman.
>Why don't we go speak to them together?

>Talking to them myself would relieve the image some people have of me as being inhuman.

Just like the old times.

>>1348506
>They know it's stupid. I think it's best that we just move on instead.
>>Other?
Alternatively, they might respond more favorably if peers within their level were able to relate. Having it come from a Captain would just have them react that it's part of their duty and orders. Unless, y'know, that's what we're actually shooting for here, in which case this is a moot point.

>>1348506
>>Go easy on them. It'd be better that way, not to associate me with punishment.

>>1348519
>Just like the old times.
You need to link to king's post.

>>1348506 #
>Talking to them myself would relieve the image some people have of me as being inhuman.
>Why don't we go speak to them together?

"Fear isn't rational. They know it's foolish, but they can't help it. But knowledge counters fear, always has. Talking to them on a personal level should be enough. Care to join us?"

>>1348506
>Talking to them myself would relieve the image some people have of me as being inhuman.
>Besides, relaxing time now.

>>1348506
>Talking to them myself would relieve the image some people have of me as being inhuman.
>Just like old times back in the World Wars
>Other: Hey Shunsui, lets have one more cup. For Jushiro's sake? A toast in prayer that he'll somehow recover.

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“Honestly, I think I should talk to them about it myself,” you admit rather calmly. “For quite a while now there's been something of a popular image of me that I've been aware of, that I'm something... somehow at the same time more and less of a person. For my abilities, for my allegiances, for the way I carry myself.”

“It's served me in some well in some regards and ill in others,” you conclude, “and so I tolerated it. In some cases I even encouraged it a little here and there. But I can't have the Lieutenants buying into it any longer.”

After thinking about it for a moment, Shunsui nods in agreement. “Okay. Assuming this isn't the drink talking, you've made a fairly good case. I'll let you handle this... it does concern you after all.”

“You can come in at any time, Nanao,” he announces over his shoulder towards where his Lieutenant has been standing outside the door pretending not to listen in.

“If I cared whether you eavesdropped I'd have called you out sooner,” you add.

A few moments later, during which the head of the Ise clan is forced to collect herself, she makes an appearance. “Have you been drinking in the afternoon again, Captain?”

“I was taking a break to deal with some... personnel issues,” Shunsui replies with an easy smile, setting his sake cup back in the drawer. “I'll get back to work now Nanao, I promise!”

Lieutenant Ise shakes her head in disbelief. “You say that now...”

Excusing yourself, you head straight back to the Ninth Division where you find the Lieutenants exchanging carefully controlled blows, each thinking through their responses and individual movements in great detail before committing.

Hinamori is the first to notice your arrival, and breaks off with her partner to approach you with a determined look in her eyes.

>Say only what comes to mind (write-in)
>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.
>Focus solely on what you all have to prepare to do.
>Offer some anecdote that makes you seem more... normal.

>>1348582
>>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.

>>1348582
>>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.

>>1348582
>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.
want to write-in but i'm very sleepy and nothing's coming to mind
I guess i'd just tell them what we told Shunsui. Be honest about it, tell them how we feel.
We have emotions too, so... just open up. Actually BE normal instead of just acting normal.

>>1348582
>>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.

>>1348582
>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.

>>1348582
>>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.

>>1348582
>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.
As a frequent goer to a psychologist, letting people speak their minds is one of the best ways to relieve stress and stop a festering problem between people.
>Lets go for a walk. A normal walk at mortal human walking speed. Go visit the Rukongai districts. Take in the sights to remember your origins and what not.
>What would Old Man Yamamoto do?

>>1348582
>>Allow Hinamori to speak her mind.

>>1348582
>Write-in: care to go on a walk with me Hinamori? It's just a normal walk no need to use shunpo or anything.

>>1348582
"Is kind of funny that I am more feared than the Captain who only cares about killing just because I released a bit of 'yelling' reiatsu it is? Yes Captains are monsters, but one would think that all if you should know me better than that."

“Hinamori, you look like you have something to say,” you muse, having noted her expression. “Go on, speak your mind.”

She almost seems surprised at your candor, so you roll your eyes. “Are you about to try to kill me or someone I love?”

“No,” she shakes her head in confusion. “No I'm not.”

“Then I'm not going to take offense ore anything,” you shrug at her. “Honestly, those are the only things that stand much of a chance of setting me off. So feel free to say what you feel. I really, really don't mind.”

“Then I guess I should go ahead and say it,” she sighs. “Look, Captain... I apologize for our reaction to your fight with Captain Zaraki. It was inappropriate in any event, but if it makes you feel any better about the situation it wasn't because of anything you did.”

“Oh?” you ask, raising an eyebrow. “Then what... again, feel free. I'm not angry, I'm honestly just curious.”

Lieutenant Hinamori takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly. “I was upset because you've learned how to wield that aspect of yourself... it reminded me of how far I have to go.”

“In what way?”

“Captain Ichimaru took great pains to keep me as uninvolved with Aizen's scheming as he could manage,” she explains carefully, “at great risk to himself and the Seireitei. For fifty years I was trying to grow strong enough to protect... someone...”

You think you see her blush for a moment.

“... but all the while I was the one being protected. That was what feeling the anger in your zanpakuto's reiatsu reminded me of. And that was why I was so upset: not at you, but at myself.”

“I apologize for allowing you to think that was directed at you. I was careless.”

>So... anyone else have anything to get off their chests?
>... who do you want to protect? Acknowledging that is important.
>Write in?

>Sorry things have been going slowly, I was trying to do something with milliput in between updates and it got all over the place

>>1348638
>... who do you want to protect? Acknowledging that is important.

>>1348638
>... who do you want to protect? Acknowledging that is important.
>Thank you. I'm glad you're not mad at me, momo.

>>1348638
>... who do you want to protect? Acknowledging that is important.
>"For a shinigami self knowledge is important, denying that is limiting your potential. Also, everyone knows anyway so its pretty pointless."
Teasing is important.

>>1348638
>>... who do you want to protect? Acknowledging that is important.

>>1348638
>... who do you want to protect? Acknowledging that is important.
>Write-in: So who's the lucky boy?
>does anyone else have anything to get off their chests?

>>1348582
oooooooo new Gin
>>1348638
>... who do you want to protect? Acknowledging that is important.

>>1348641
All good, makes following it easier for me since I tend to do the same.

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“So who's the lucky boy?”

Hinamori blushes furiously at the question. “And here I thought you were going to be nice, Captain!”

“It's important to acknowledge how we truly feel,” you reply calmly. “How can we be truthful with others if we lie to ourselves?”

“I guess...”

“And besides,” you smirk, “anyone with half a brain knows already.”

“I don't think I like what you're implying, Captain,” Omaeda huffs indignantly.

“It's Captain Hitsugaya, okay!?” she snaps briefly at Omaeda before quickly covering her mouth.

Omaeda bursts out laughing. “Captain Hitsugaya, really? Like that guy's ever gonna need protecting first of all, and second I think a Captain's kind of outta your league, Hinamori!”

Before you can reprimand him, Renji of all people beats you to it. “And what the hell would you know about it?”

“Not you too, Abarai?”

“You're a noble-born,” Renji snarls, “you didn't grow up like Momo and I did... like Captain Hitsugaya did. Sure they were from one of the inner districts, but they grew up together. That bonds you closer than you might think.”

“Renji...” Hinamori mutters, gazing at her friend almost teary-eyed in appreciation.

Renji glances over and notices that gaze, then immediately sets out trying to correct his image. “D-don't look at me like that, you're getting the wrong idea! I just don't like it when nobles talk down to people like that. That's all!”

You snort, trying your best to suppress your laughter. “Bullshit! You may be fooling these three, but I know better.”

“Speaking of aiming above your station...” you whisper dangerously as Renji sweats bullets.
>1/2

>>1348689
“Anyway...” Kira interrupts, noticing his friend's growing discomfort. “You're a new Lieutenant, Omaeda. So what is it that made you take the promotion?”

“I accepted the promotion because Lady Shihōin asked,” he replies stoically.

Yeah, you're not buying that for one damn minute. The Omaedas think highly of themselves, sure, but at least in your opinion his father's the real go-getter in the family. The thought that he accepted just that easily definitely strains credulity.

“What are you staring at, Captain?” Omaeda asks nervously as you narrow your eyes.

>So was it the pay raise that did it?
>... your old man made you do it.
>You did it to prove yourself against... who?
>Other?

>>1348695
>>You did it to prove yourself against... who?

>>1348695
>... your old man made you do it.

>>1348695
Didn't we beat the crap out of his dad back in the day?
Yoruichi said if he could make his son as strong as we were at the time, she'd take him for sure.

Or maybe i'm misremembering.
>... your old man made you do it.
>But there's no way you'd make it this far just because your old man pushed you. There's gotta be something else to it.
>You did it to prove yourself against... who?

>>1348695
>you did it to prove yourself that you're as good as me didn't you?

>>1348695
>>You did it to prove yourself against... who?

>>1348695
>>... your old man made you do it.
Good odds his littlest sis made him cave-in eventually though.

>>1348695
>... your old man made you do it.
>But there's no way you'd make it this far just because your old man pushed you. There's gotta be something else to it.
>You did it to prove yourself against... who?

>>1348695
>3d10, DC 16, Crit 19
>best of 3

Rolled 7, 1, 2 = 10 (3d10)

>>1348762

Rolled 10, 8, 2 = 20 (3d10)

>>1348762

Rolled 9, 6, 7 = 22 (3d10)

>>1348762

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>>1348773

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>>1348771
>>1348773

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>>1348787

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>>1348781
>>1348787
>>1348793

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>>1348787
Uhhh, Queen do you need help? Anything you want to talk about?

“So you accepted because of that deal your old man made with Yoruichi, right?” you muse, watching Omaeda's eyes widen. “What, you thought I'd forgotten that? He said that some day he'd make sure his son was strong enough to take the position of Patrol Unit Commander, same as when I took it from him.”

“But then you got promoted to Captain,” he replies, continuing the train of thought.

“And Suí Fēng became Lieutenant,” you continue.

“And then she got promoted to Captain.”

“So not only did the first person you were meant to replace as Lieutenant get promoted before you were ready, the person Yoruichi did replace me with got promoted too,” you sigh, “leaving you to just try and get into the position at all.”

“But that's not all, is it?”

Kira cocks an eyebrow. “It gets worse?”

“It definitely did,” you nod sternly, “because Omaeda here kept thinking that one day he could surpass me... didn't you?”

“Until today,” Omaeda grumbles. “How the hell am I gonna match that? I almost peed myself a little even kilometers away.”

“I don't think anyone expects you to be stronger than a Captain, Omaeda,” Kira sighs, shaking his head. “Let alone a Captain who's kind of... excuse me for saying it, Captain Kusajishi...”

“You're preemptively excused,” you shut your eyes, waiting to here where this goes.

“... someone who's so unreasonably powerful. You may as well try to beat Captain Shihōin at hakuda, or Captain Shiba at kidō.”

“You sure have a way of making people feel better, Kira,” Omaeda replies with a bitter sarcasm.

“He has a point though,” you shrug. “No way in hell you're going to catch up to me or Suí Fēng... like at anything. Ever.”

“Thanks, Captain...”

“We just have too much of a lead,” you continue, clarifying your thoughts. “But that doesn't mean you can't improve a lot. It doesn't even mean you can't be on the same level as I am now at some point.”

“Gee... you really mean that?”

He seems skeptical.

>Yes. I believe that.
>Well, maybe not the same level. Like around my ankles.
>I mean like making Captain. Kira's right, I'm total bullshit.
>Other?

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>>1348787
Here's a cute image to make you feel better.

>>1348851
>I mean like making Captain. Kira's right, I'm total bullshit.

>>1348851
>I mean like making Captain. Kira's right, I'm total bullshit. I've got a god-being living inside me that became part of my soul after I died as well as having memories from when I died as a Quincy Sternritter who also happens to be a Hollow to boot after you know who's bullshit. But you can definitely become a powerhouse in your own right, just not like I did specifically.

>>1348851
>>I mean like making Captain. Kira's right, I'm total bullshit.

>>1348851
>other
>We shinigami can live a long time, Omaeda. It may take you centuries, maybe a millennium, who knows, but i think the only real limits are the ones you set for yourself. With the right training, it won't take you as long as you think to make yourself captain class. Don't expect it to be easy, though. You'll have to dedicate yourself to it, to throw yourself into the crucible in your entirety. You're not alone, either. I'm here to guide you. That goes for all of you.

>>1348851
>>1348879
But also this:
>>I mean like making Captain. Kira's right, I'm total bullshit.

>>1348851
>Yes, I believe that.
>Other: The only real limits are ones that you set for yourself. You can become a powerhouse in your own right, but you have to improve in your own way, not just imitate others.

>>1348851
>Yes... Wait, no.
Then assure him that he can still become a captain or something.

>>1348879
This mixed with
>>Also Kira's is right, I'm total bullshit

Cheesy grin optional

>>1348879
Also,
>you're already a lieutenant, that much alone proves you're not normal.
And
>I'm centuries old myself, I didn't get to where i am in a day. I also had help from some of the greatest warriors in seireitei and beyond.
And
>I also had great motivation. I fight for the land and people i love. I've taken plenty of shots that i couldn't have gotten back up from if there was nothing at stake, but i can't do everything on my own. I'm just one woman, and i won't live forever. All of this is going to fall on you one day. What will you do when i'm not around to protect you anymore? Are you going to lay down and die, or will you take up arms to protect your little sis?
And
>And don't forget, you can rely on eachother, too. There's always going to be someone stronger, and in those moments, you need to be able to trust in the strength of your friends. I made many allies throughout the years for just that reason, and it's saved my life more than once.

>I'm still writing, I'll be back in a bit

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>>1348911
“Well, that's not the point...” you frown. “Listen, the only limits we shinigami have are the ones we set for ourselves... any other limits we'll overcome in time. If you really stick with it, I mean throw yourself wholeheartedly into the crucible every day for a hundred years or more, you're gonna get stupidly strong. Sure, I have the shadow of a goddess fused to my soul, and after Aizen's nonsense I've got a second distinct zanpakuto and enough soul to spread around between them. That's bullshit any way you slice it.”

“But the fact of the matter is I've spent almost two hundred years working fanatically to grow stronger in all the shinigami arts. I'd have ended up strong even without those things... and without it I couldn't have turned the things that've happened to me to my advantage.”

“So are you gonna end up like me?” you muse, reaching a conclusion. “I honestly hope not, the world isn't prepared for another one like me and Captain Shihōin. But you can sure as hell be powerhouses in your own right.”

“So... was that a yes or a no?” Omaeda frowns, trying to work out if what you've said works out to be encouraging on balance.

“That's up to you,” you shrug. “I've said my piece.”

“I think the rest of us understand,” Renji nods. “So... are we going to get back to training, or are you kind of done for the day?”

“I hadn't really planned any further than this,” you admit, “though I have a few other things I could be doing since I'd basically written training off for the day.”

“Also, you were doing fine when I got here.”

>Stick around and join in on their training exercise.
>You still need to speak with someone... specifically the Monk.
>You had kind of hoped to spend some time with your wife and sister.
>Other?

>>1348993
>You still need to speak with someone... specifically the Monk.
>"Quit being a meanie, Monk!"

>>1348993
>You still need to speak with someone... specifically the Monk.
Much as I don't like him, we gotta have a sit down and come to some kinda ceasefire, this shit is gettin ridiculous.

>>1348993
>>You still need to speak with someone... specifically the Monk.

>>1348993
>Stick around and join in on their training exercise.

>>1349005
This.
I mean fuck, if we just sit down and talk this out, there's gotta be some way to resolve this issue he has with us peacefully.

>>1348993
>>1349004
Could work, maybe capitalize on how we were in sync with her when we crushed Kenpachi?

>>1348993
>>You still need to speak with someone... specifically the Monk.

>>1349013
Actually, that may be the only...
>the monk
>he has power over words
>trying to defeat him in battle is pointless
>all we can really do it talk it out

I'm getting vibes all of a sudden.
I think just talking with him might get us farther than i originally thought.
is it possible he's been trying to teach us a lesson, too?

>>1348993
>You still need to speak with someone... specifically the Monk.
>Other: Send a "formal" letter of complaint to the Monk... using the Kukkaku cannon to blast a fireworks message.
>>1349018
sorry about that. I deleted the option, but since you're in support, I'll put it in as well
>Other: Train with Rosa in Jinzen. She said she has a few tricks she could teach.

>>1349031
if he's trying to teach us a lesson, then what's the seed of truth to take away?

>>1349044
Maybe something along the lines of "Not everything can be solved with your fists"

He's trying to keep everything in balance, right?
A demi-goddess that solves almost everything with brutal murder is pretty unbalanced.
Maybe he's trying to... train us, in a way. Diplomatic training.
Make us more likely to try and talk things out first.

>>1348993
>Send a message
or
>Speak face to face

>>1349060
Well, i'd like to speak face to face, but i don't mean by forcing our way in.
They'll probably let us go talk to him if we send a formal request, right?

Either that or he'll come meet us.

>>1349060
>Speak face to face
>Speak Ichibe's Name.
Speak of the devil and he'll appear right?

>>1349060
>>Speak face to face

I see no reason not to do it face to face.

>>1349053
I see your thinking, but his latest action sort of goes directly against that. He sent Zaraki after Riku, and the only real way that situation was going to be resolved was using extreme violence.

>>1349066
Oh, I like that, as well.

>>1349076
Different lessons for different people in different situations.

>>1349076
Well the Monk takes after Buddhist teachings right? so he's likely trying to invoke a enlightenment through suffering lesson just to be a dick as well as a teacher.

>>1349066
Like what, just say to the air "I'd like to speak with you, Hyousube Ichibei"

>>1349060
if we can without incident, face to face, if not send a message.

>dice3d10, DC 18, Crit 20
>best of three

Rolled 7, 9, 4 = 20 (3d10)

>>1349131
Here we go!
brace for fail

Rolled 8, 6, 9 = 23 (3d10)

>>1349131

Rolled 4, 9, 6 = 19 (3d10)

>>1349131
least my roll wont matter no mo

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>>1349140
>>1349135
>>1349134
Dice be Riku's bitch today

Rolled 10, 2, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>1349134
You did good.
>>1349135
You did better.

>>1349144
Enjoy it while it lasts for one day the dice god will take it all away and at the last opportune moment

“If you'll pardon me, I need to shout at someone in another dimension,” you muse, taking a few steps away from the pack of Lieutenants.

“You go to all the trouble to seem normal and approachable, then you say something like that,” Kira muses quietly, shaking his head. “The craziest thing is that it doesn't sound crazy anymore.”

“You're getting the hang of it,” Renji nods sagely.

Ignoring them, you go about summoning your least favorite monk the only way you can think to do so.

“Hyōsube Ichibē!” you bellow, voice echoing loudly around the Division grounds. “Get down here, we've gotta talk!”

For a few minutes, you hear nothing but silence. Then Omaeda speaks.

“Did it work?”

You glare at him quietly for a few moments before you speak up. “I'm sure he heard me. The only question is whether he has the decency to respond.”

About five minutes pass before you hear a sound: distant first, that quickly grows into castrophony. There are no screams. There is no time. However you did have time to take a step backwards to avoid Ichibē as he falls, and to quickly cast Tsuriboshi. The kidō web anchors itself to the solid buildings of your heavily fortified Division grounds, only to be all but shredded by the force of the impact. However the spell did its job, minimizing the effects of a strike that would normally have left quite a hefty crater.

Out of the net steps the Monk.

“An excellent catch, Captain,” Ichibē nods appreciatively.

The Lieutenants all seem to lose their minds a little at the sight of one of the Royal Guard suddenly appearing, literally falling from the sky. Not a single one of them is able to offer anything coherent in terms of commentary.

Good.

“So, I take it that you have summoned me with particular regards to that Zaraki problem,” he muses. “Very well. Speak your mind, Captain. You should have no trouble.”

>Did you expect one of us to die or was I just doing your dirty work?
>Who really dropped the ball and allowed Zaraki to escape?
>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.
>Next time you try and kill me, you'll have to do it yourself.
>Other?

>>1349231
>Who really dropped the ball and allowed Zaraki to escape?
>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.

All we need now is a monkey with fire coming out of its head.

>>1349231
>>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.
>I don't go out of my way to cause trouble, I play nice all the time and hide my pain and anger with a smile. The sheer casualness and stupidity of what you did should be readily apparent to you. Next time you decide to try and get me killed by proxy, remember that I don't have to fight you to make your life more miserable than what it already is.

>>1349231
>>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.

>>1349231
>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.
>This passive aggressive treatment needs to stop. For all the "subtle" inconveniences we caused each other, I apologize on my behalf.

>>1349231
>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.
>Who really dropped the ball and allowed Zaraki to escape?

>>1349231
>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.
It's just not in Soul Society's best interest to leave the Gotei 13 short-handed by pulling that stunt is all.

>>1349231
>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.
>I care about the seireitei and it's people just as much, if not more than you. By your judgement i may have a bit of a heavy hand, but i've been doing everything in my power to keep things stable with what knowledge and support i've had over the years. I don't want to be so heavily restrained by the title of royal guard, which is why i declined your offer, but that doesn't mean i don't respect the guard or their duty. What i'm trying to say is, i want to be your ally, just not necessarily one OF you. The royal guard mean well, but i believe they are too disconnected from the rest of the world, and that more than just one perspective is needed to truly protect it, else we may be blinded. Please, stop this unnecessary hostility, and let us work together to keep the world in balance. For everyone's sake.

>>1349231
>Ichibē... I'm no more of an enemy to you than what you make of me.
>Who really dropped the ball and allowed Zaraki to escape?

No need to start too aggressive. We can build up to that if needs be.

>>1349231
Was this just about teaching Zaraki a lesson in perspective, or did you want to see what I'd do if I lost my temper?

>>1349255
I'm not sure about this, on the one hand it seems to go against our pride, on the other with Gin especially we didn't do much to defuse the situation

>>1349302
But we'll swallow our pride if we have to. Rosa sacrificed her pride for a new lease on life, why shouldn't we do the same as well?

>>1349307
We're not rosa.
We have our own pride.

>>1349307
True enough

>>1349312
But we're not too proud to beg or ask for help. That's the key thing to remember. We have our pride, but we're not above asking.

>>1349321
I just don't think it's something that should be done so easily.
Tenkotsuki might not like it.

>writing

Was OMG the strongest "normal" shinigami ever? Like he didn't have some weird bullshit as to why he was strong, he just was? I mean apparently lacking any divine power himself he killed a godling hard enough that it couldn't even regenerate itself.

>>1349307
>But we'll swallow our pride

I don't think Oetsu approves of sword-swallowing.

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You sigh immediately, unwilling to even present the pretense of being happy at the situation you've found yourself in.

“I don't want to be your enemy, Ichibē,” you insist sternly, “but if we keep going the way we're going we'll end up in a confrontation for sure. While I respect your opinion I can't help but think that your position is one of self-fulfillment.”

“Then you seem to not understand my position so well,” he counters. “For me there can be no negotiation, there is no room for doubt or sympathy. When I determine that a thing threatens the very foundations of the Soul Society that thing must be erased. No exceptions may be permitted.”

“See, that's another thing I disagree with,” you scowl. “Your approach is a lofty one from a distanced perspective, while I'm more passionately and personally engaged with the world we both want to protect and serve. I care as much if not more than you do.”

“And that makes you all the more dangerous,” Ichibē returns, frowning back at you from beneath his bushy beard. “If in your zeal to protect what you profess to love the balance of the Soul Society is upset then your intention ceases to matter.”

“And do you believe I've already upset that balance?”

He nods sternly in reply. “I do. As soon as your soul partnered with a fragment of Inari you became a living, breathing imbalance.”

“Again, I disagree,” you cross your arms defensively, visibly holding your ground. “What have I done that's so bad other than give the nobles something to complain about and serve whatever Division I counted myself a part of with my whole being?”

“You colluded with arrancar.”

“You kept knowledge of Aizen's plots to yourselves.”

“You released Arturo from his prison.”

“You only arrived after he and Yamamoto basically killed each other.”

“You forged a second zanpakuto, breaking centuries worth of norms.”

“One of you showed me how to do it.”

"You married a noble and upset the balance between Clans."

"... jealous much?"

“This could go on forever,” he grumbles.

“And I'd win every exchange,” you snarl. “But that's not my point.”
>1/2

>>1349388
“My point is we've been wasting so much effort on each other when our goals are basically identical,” you continue. “Sending Zaraki to do your dirty work was just about the last straw for me. It crossed more lines than I even realized I'd drawn in the first place, and had it worked any differently the entire Soul Society would have suffered the loss of one perfectly good if sometimes frustrating Captain.”

“This little war of yours, it has to stop.”

“And what happens when I refuse?” Ichibē grins menacingly. “What power do you think you have to invoke your own law when mine is higher?”

>Then one of these days we'll end up fighting, and it won't be pretty.
>Then for the sake of the Soul Society, I'll find a way to kill you.
>The power of having more of your Division on my side than you have on yours.
>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.

>>1349423
>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.
I'M GONNA FUCKING TELL ON YOU

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>>1349430
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

>>1349423
>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.
>I'm sure all the gods will be SO pleased that you're so intent on having a dick measuring contest woman you're not actually doing your job and preparing for an actual threat. Or did you forget Aizen is trying to take HIS place and control of his creations? He's not nearly as nice or as moral as I.

What happens if a hollow eats Ichibe? Does he still regen if he gets absorbed so to speak?

>>1349423
>Then one of these days we'll end up fighting, and it won't be pretty.

Oh fuck this guy. He's literally just putting his hands over his ears and insisting that he's right. If he hadn't made himself literally impossible to kill I'd actually be in favour of ganking his ass since I think he's going to prove to be a liability more than he's going to be an asset.

>>1349423
>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.

Seriously, if he's just going to be fucking childish about it to the point that he himself is a threat to the balance of the seireitei, the gods need to know about it, and he needs to get demoted.

He literally even has an everything-proof shield.

>>1349430
>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.
This sounds so childish, yet it's a good way to turn the Monk's bureaucracy on him. If his duty is to deal with rogue half-divines and keeping the divine separate from the mortal, then who gave him the job in the first place?

>>1349423
>>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.

>“What power do you think you have to invoke your own law when mine is higher?”
Didn't the protocol when Artemis visited put Riku (and Tenri) higher in the totem pole?

>>1349423
What the actual fuck is your goddamn problem Ichibei? All I want is to make sure Aizen doesn't become ruler of the universe and then I want to go home to my wife and relax for the rest of my afterlife.
>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.
Seriously fuck this fat fuck, why he was ever put in this position will be interesting to learn, although at this point im willing to bet he is some how the BBEG at the end of all this.

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>>1349423
>I'll have a chat with Inari, first of all.

>3d10, DC reduced to 16, Crit reduced to 20, best of four

Rolled 10, 1, 10 = 21 (3d10)

>>1349500

Rolled 7, 10, 2 = 19 (3d10)

>>1349500
Do the thing.

Rolled 2, 5, 9 = 16 (3d10)

>>1349500

Rolled 9, 10, 8 = 27 (3d10)

>>1349500

Rolled 7, 3, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>1349500

>>1349504
nice

>>1349511
NICE rolling for luz now

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>>1349511

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>>1349511
Oh fuck yes nigger

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>>1349511

>>1349500
So what factors reduced the DC? can you give a breakdown?

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>>1349511
JUSTICE IS REAL
SOMEBODY CALL KOMAMURA

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“Your law is higher, you say?” you muse, an almost cruel smile playing across your lips. “If I recall correctly Artemis' understanding of divine protocol placed me above you... and like the Central 46 you can only rule and make statements as proxies of the divine. So technically I outrank you.”

“And our role is in part to ensure that does not go to your head,” Ichibē reminds you.

“And if other Deities disagree with your assessment that I've somehow abused my position?” you swiftly counter. “Shall we ask Inari to weigh in? Or would you prefer to raise the issue with Raiden, or Susano'o? Would you have to abide by their assessments if you disagreed with mine, or do you even pretend to act in anyone's name but your own anymore?”

For a few moments Tenkotsuki's understanding of the situation bleeds over with your own... there is no counterargument to be made. Everything about how a divine bureaucracy works suggests that your direct assessment or that of another deity takes precedent, and that acting against that is a breach of protocol. Which isn't to say that he can't do it anyway, just that he has no legitimate support to fall back to.

By now he also knows who you are, and who Tenkotsuki is: if you tried to ask Inari to offer her assessment she almost certainly would, and Ichibē knows it.

“A very interesting response,” Ichibē nods thoughtfully. “I was not expecting to be out-bureaucracied... perhaps threatened sincerely, or even attacked, but not this. Most impressive, I must actually abandon my plan.”

“Your plan?” you ask blankly. “Which plan? The hell are you talking about?”

“My plans to test you of course,” Ichibē replies carefully. “I could not have said for certain what your presence meant for the future of the Soul Society, and my duty was clear in this case. That much was truth. However enacting an actual response has always been a rather... “tailored” effort. With insufficient understanding of your own intentions...”

“Wait, you mean this was a test!?”

“Of course not,” Ichibē waves his hand dismissively. “Each step of the way was indeed meant to kill you or at least remove you as a threat, however with each failure I learned more about you. It is now my belief, after having seen you resolve the issue with Zaraki, that your power can be harnessed towards our own ends.”
>1/2

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>>1349563
>“Each step of the way was indeed meant to kill you or at least remove you as a threat, however with each failure I learned more about you. It is now my belief, after having seen you resolve the issue with Zaraki, that your power can be harnessed towards our own ends.”
I don't like where this is going....

>>1349563
“And now,” he concludes, drawing his oversized brush, “comes the final act, what I had wished would become a confrontation between the two of us. I need to learn what you are capable of in combat.”

>I need to call it here for now, I'm literally in and out of sleeping
>Archive is up, thanks for showing!
>Hope you had fun, and check @QMKingofHearts for scheduling updates.

>>1349577
I do.
I think he's going to stop being a dick now.

>>1349581
tomorrow y/n?
i'm at half-mast my friend

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>>1349582

>>1349581
"I refuse"

>>1349577
Well its better then having to constantly walk on eggshells and dealing with his passive aggressive bullshit, hopefully this stops now.

>>1349586
At some point yes. But for now, I sleep the sleep of the dead.

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>1349582
And just as you say that.

>>1349581
Ey, thanks for the run and g'night.

>>1349563
>It is now my belief, after having seen you resolve the issue with Zaraki, that your power can be harnessed towards our own ends.
That's some thick Aizening being slathered right there.

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>>1349581
>IT'S HAPPENING
Thanks for the session Queen, I Can't wait to beat the ink out of this "testing" fuck.

>>1349589
This is just sparring, same as we just did with neliel.
He's not trying to kill us anymore.

>>1349597
i love you
sleep well

>>1349597
Goodnight Queen, you've more than earned a good nights rest, sleep well!

>>1349581
>I need to learn what you are capable of in combat.”
>>1349582
Uhhhh. Sorry anon.
And damn King, nice cliffhanger. Thanks for running.

>>1349621
>>1349603

Sparring, not murder.

Ooh, one neat thing about this sparring session.
We can really go all out, since it doesn't matter if we kill him.

We can use literally anything that won't kill us.
Including *THAT*
And *THOSE*
But maybe not *IT* depending on how his powers work.

>>1349638
Yeah I fully expect using Goryūtenmetsu would just deep six him regardless of any contractual immortality bullshit.

>>1349671
We're not even close to being able to control it yet, though.
Using it outside of our inner world would be a bad idea.

We might could have tenkotsuki demonstrate it for him at the end, though.

>>1349581
Thanks for the run Queen. And just when Riku's day couldn't get any worse...

Questions:
>Will there be pastebins?
>How loud was Riku when she yelled the monk's name?
Artemis:
>favorite quarry to hunt?
>Why a white stoat?
>Do you think Riku would look "cute" as a white stoat?
Ichibē:
>Honestly, how amused were you being able to hear Riku's voice yelling for your name across another dimension?
>You're really fond of those Buddhist methods of "Enlightenment through suffering" thing aren't you?

>>1349626
Oh, I know it's not murder. He's still a dick.
>>1349638
Hado 99 is out simply because we can't actually use it yet.
Ura Hado is also out as that's the only thing we have which has a chance of actually killing him permanently.

>>1349740
Goryutenmetsu is currently in the "will kill us" catagory, yes.
And ura hado was what i meant by "IT"

>>1349752
What about Bankai: Akirashi Shunkō and our ressurecion abilities like Cero Tirador and Estgmas Reversion? Especially Cero Tirador. Like that Cero hasn't been used at all.

>>1349765
Akirashi shunko is a little iffy, but if we can do it without hurting ourselves, i'm all for it.

>>1349771
So then what's our battle plan in successfully fighting Monk? What I'm assuming is that it will be a spar, but will intentionally try to kill Riku under the guise of a "test of enlightenment through suffering". And he has the power of naming, to take away or grant names to techniques, skills, or any sort of entity. Yes, we have to dodge the brush and ink, but what happens if we call out spell names and techniques verbally? He'll be able to take away that as well.

I'm thinking we fight without speaking a single word or mentally. All the spells and techniques that we use, we do so non-verbally while keeping in mind of it's true meaning, like how the hado spell series was designed. Saying words and names just gives him more words to play with using his brush and power.

>>1349797
What do you mean, successfully fight the monk?
He just told us, he wants to see what we can do.

So we go all out, fight like we always do.
Maybe we kick his ass, maybe we get our shit pushed in.
Either way, at least it's on... mostly friendly terms.

>>1349808
>going all out

>"All right, Riku, let's begin."
>"Atom Bomb."

>>1350208
Half power atom bomb.
You know, so we keep our arm.

>>1349563
>I needed to kill you because muh divine balance
>Doesn't even bother to deny anything when we point out he's a massive hypocrite and his reasoning is total bullshit
>"Congrats on pointing that out, I think you're useful enough to warrant openly manipulating you now"

Holy fuck if we do not kill or permanently imprison this arrogant pile of garbage by the end of the quest I will be extremely disappointed.

>be laying in bed re-reading the last couple threads
>mfw i was so right

So since we're sparring anyways, can we go back to the original plan and try really really hard to kick him in the dick with the force of a thousand suns?
Because he still deserves it.

>>1349563
>Raiden
HOW CAN WE MAKE HIM APPEAR WE MUST MAKE HIM APPEAR

>>1349597

To King
>Do you like it when players remember really old shit like yoruichi's promise to omaeda's father from early in the quest?
>What did you expect the players to do when monk was being childish there?
>Were you laughing internally at player speculation that was actually pretty close to hitting the nail on the head?

To Monk
>Did you ever think in a million years that it was even in riku's personality to do something like that instead of just talking with her fists?

To Shunsui
>What exactly did you expect to go down when riku came to talk to you? Everything seemed pretty passive and easygoing.

To Apacci/Halibel
>Have you ever felt riku get mad like that while released before? How did feeling that... feel? It's not like her, after all.

To everyone
>What are the rumors like regarding the fight between captain riku and captain zaraki? Did you hear what happened to him?

To Lt. Kotetsu
>Did you see the damage to zaraki, after riku had finished healing him for 30 minutes? What sort of attack did the damage seem to suggest?

I’m sure we’ve all noticed it, but I think it bears repeating:
>Each step of the way was indeed meant to kill you or at least remove you as a threat
He just straight up admitted that he’s been trying to get us killed. I think we need to go talk to Kyoraku again soon.

>>1351944
As you seem not to have noticed, the only people to complain to are the other gods.
If you think it's a big enough issue to take it to them and be able to convince them to do something about him, that'd be what you'd have to do.
I don't think you'd get very far on that alone, though. Probably.

>>1349797

How about refusing and just running away while on Bankai mode? He most likely didn't made a plan for that.

And one of said gods is technically our mother, I am quite sure she would punish the damn monk if we asked. Coyote also likes us as does Artemis.

>>1352203
As you seem not to have noticed, that was laid out very clearly in the very same post I was quoting.

>>1352228
If you understand that, why are you suggesting that we report back to kyoraku about it, when he can't really do anything?

>>1352236
Because I think our boss would probably like confirmation that, yes, one of the royal guard has been trying to get one of his subordinates killed.
Sure, he can’t really do anything other then maybe file a complaint, but I imagine this is the sort of thing that superiors like to be kept in the loop on.
Besides, we don’t have to go as soon as we can, just bring it up at the next captains meeting.

>>1352259
Extra confirmation, you mean.

Uh, Shunsui is already on board, guys. Because of Shutara's verification. So maybe let's not waste quest time on that redundant, boring shit.

So I feel kinda like I've got a nail stuck in my skull right now. and combined with a later than anticipated start and the fact that for once I called it on a genuine cliffhanger I don't think it wise to continue tonight. Sorry to disappoint.

I will however double down on omakes this week, so hit me with your ideas.

>>1353047
1) Tenkotsuki and/or Rosa manifest and get blind drunk. Riku has to clean up after them.
2) Riku and Yoruichi's proposal - who proposed first, how did it go down (I think this was suggested before, but it's worth a revote).

Hope your head feels better soon King.

>>1353047
Question:
To Tenkotsuki & Rosa:
>What do you think of Bob Ross and the Joy of Painting?

Omake ideas:

Unohana visits a brooding Kenny. Kenny ponders what to do with his newfound ambition.

Artemis returns to Valhalla and gets asked questions by the Valhallan soldiers what is life like in Seireitei.

Momo goes to confess to Toshiro. Lots of spaghetti spilled from both sides.

In a rare surprise gesture, Bambietta gets invited by Uryu's family (Kanae insisted) to a Quincy family/community dinner in Kurakara Town.

>>1353047
A pair of subordinates from 9th and 2nd division take on the most dangerous training yet in their curriculum: Steal a pair of sandals from the Head Captain

>>1353156
>Artemis returns to Valhalla and gets asked questions by the Valhallan soldiers what is life like in Seireitei.

Replace "soldiers" with "gods" and you got me.
I love it when those guys bicker, and i totally want to hear their reaction to how FUBAR'd the situation was when they didn't even realize it, too.

>>1353047
I've been sitting here for like 25 minutes trying to come up with omake ideas, only to realize on re-reading them that they're all just sitcom episode templates applied to Bleach characters.
Like I could take an episode description from Friends and just swap out proper nouns and it'd be the same as what I came up with.

That moment where you finally find this thing outta archives and your too late ;-;

>>1353176
that tradition died with OMG

we steal his hat now or wine I cant remember

>>1354519
I try and do it the same time every weekend, and announce sessions and any complications on Twitter. If you want in on that delicious stream of informational goodness, my handle is @QMKingofHearts.

>>1354811
definitely stealing his alcohol
and/or Kisuke's hat and clogs

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>>1349581
>Activate evasion tactics

Screw this guy find someone else who is unreasonably strong to fight

>>1353047
Omake idea:

Skinwalker Hollows have begun bleeding into the living world from Hueco Mundo due to planar convergence. Riku, Starrk & Lilynette get sent to America to help seperate the planes.

>>1353100
>Riku and Yoruichi's proposal
This first.
>>1353156
>In a rare surprise gesture, Bambietta gets invited by Uryu's family (Kanae insisted) to a Quincy family/community dinner in Kurakara Town.
This second.
>>1353100
>Tenkotsuki and/or Rosa manifest and get blind drunk.
This third.
>>1355979
>Skinwalker Hollows have begun bleeding into the living world from Hueco Mundo due to planar convergence
Too close to future plot developments.

>>1355034
Who attended Yoruichi and Riku's wedding? I know it was a small ceremony, but was it just them and the priests. Can't remember when it was said to have happened. Kisuke found out about them during his exile, so I'm assuming he didn't attend.
Not sure who the best perspective would be for it, one of the brides, a guest (if any) or the priest.

>>1356598
Something tells me that Bel officiated

>>1356598
It was a small ceremony, with nothing more than Yoruichi, Riku, Rangiku, and Gin. Apacci was there too, heavily disguised, because she was curious to see a wedding.

This is gonna happen tomorrow by the way, since I've had to bone up on Shinto wedding practices. Too late for me to finish tonight.

>>1356611
The disguise was heavy, but was it any good?

>>1356624
The priest didn't realize what she was, so it was good enough.

>>1356635
do it from Apacci's POV. I want to know how her curious mind views the lesbian wedding.

>>1356837
>Which one do I call Mom?
>And what do I call the other one?
>And what about Lady Harribel?
>Oh God I have three mothers

>>1356837
Problem is from her perspective wouldn't get the actual proposal itself.
>7 free 4*/5* Tickets, all of them are 4* I've already maxed out
It's going to be one of those days, isn't it.

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>Omake: Summer, 1949

On a warm summer day, just over fifty years ago, you found yourself lounging on the floor of your office. The windows and doors were all flung wide to invite what little breeze exists, and you've tossed aside your haori to expose your bare back to the air in a vain attempt to keep cool.

“You look uncomfortable.”

Rolling onto your side you see that you've been joined by Yoruichi, also laying on her stomach with a cushion keeping her arms and chest up off the tatami. She too seems to be averse to the heat.

You roll back over, or at least you call it a roll. Really it was more of a flop, but you've been told flopping is undignified and that you should try to stop doing it. So you met Tenkotsuki halfway and just call it something else while continuing to do it anyway.

“Whatever gave you that impression?” you muse jokingly. “Why does the afterlife even have heat waves?”

“Makes it more believable to the average soul,” Yoruichi sighs into the floor. “And though we don't like to talk about it around here, the weather does have a tendency to kill spirits who are too weak and have lingered too long in the Soul Society. They have to get going the other way somehow.”

After a few quiet moments of contemplation, you finally work up the courage to speak. “Hey, Yoruichi?”

“Yes, Riku?”

“Be honest with me here... where does this whole thing end up?”

Yoruichi props herself up on her arms, watching you carefully from her own spot on the floor. “Which whole thing do you mean?”

“I mean, well... us?” you explain. “Let's say we've dealt with Aizen already, and we've both survived like I hope... like I believe we will. What do we do then?”

“I haven't thought that far ahead,” Yoruichi admits quietly. “You wouldn't have brought this up if you didn't have something specific on your mind, so what is it?”

“Well, you're the head of a noble Clan,” you explain carefully, trying not to sound too worried or too nonchalant. “Doesn't that come with certain... 'responsibilities'? As in the kind you're not currently performing by... you know. Not being married?”
>1?

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>>1357577
“Yushirō will probably have a kid eventually,” Yoruichi shrugs, “so really what I do in private is my own business. What, do I look like the type to retire to be a housewife?”

“Not really,” you shake your head, more than satisfied to hear the response. “I was just worried there might be politics involved at some point in the future.”

“No, I think my parents learned their lesson,” Yoruichi muses, resting her chin against her arms once more. “It was actually kind of frustrating when I was a kid... I really wanted to find someone. But there was always a problem in finding a suitor.”

“How the hell could that be true?” you ask incredulously. “I'd imagine every noble brat with a libido would've at least tried courting you at one point or another.”

“Yamato Nadeshiko,” Yoruichi responds with a frown, more disappointed than angry you'd say. “Even the term for a 'perfect woman' in our language makes reference to a frilly, undignified pink flower. It absolutely doesn't suit me, and I wouldn't want it to. Therein lies the problem of course.”

“The Seireitei is still a feudal society,” you observe.

“Exactly, it wasn't permitted for me to marry down,” she sighs, before a proud smile tugs at her lips. “And I was already damn good at hakuda, too. Could you really see a young uptight noble like Byakuya marrying a girl with greater reiryoku than his own and once-in-a-generation skills at martial arts? He'd be the laughing stock of the Seireitei, even if I ever was the obedient type.”

“Which as we all know,” you muse, “you're not. Only way to get you to do something is to convince you it was your idea.”

“Or offer a proper reward,” Yoruichi grins deviously. “Anyway, the only man who came close to ticking all the right boxes was your brother Isshin, but he and I both agreed we'd rather marry out of love than because of some old men arranging it.”

“So I threw in my candidacy for heading the Clan... which of course is its own story. But the upshot was I earned the right to marry whoever I damn well felt like. Trouble was that made possible matches even scarcer.”

“And so you doubled your odds by throwing women onto the list?” you tease.
>2/?

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>>1357578
“It wasn't exactly a conscious decision,” Yoruichi admits, “but looking back it was never like women were ever off the list in the first place. I just wanted to find someone I was happy with, and didn't really care about the other details.”

“So you were never really attracted to women as a thing?” you muse. “I guess some people really don't realize it until it comes up, or at least they're never aware of it.”

“What exactly is love anyway?” Yoruichi shrugs. “These days we don't actually think about what we mean when we say we love something, or someone. When I was younger ai was reserved for selfless love, with an almost religious connotation to it, and koi meant the love that exists between a man and a woman ranging from sexual attraction to simple kindness, tenderness, and benevolence.”

“Western contact just means the concepts are that much more muddled. In the living world Japanese people use ai for damn near everything these days... to say nothing about English loving a hamburger. It's all gotten a bit silly, so I say if you find someone you're happy with then that's good.”

“So what sort of “love” would you say we have?” you ask, encouraging Yoruichi to continue the thought. “I mean, so far as I can tell I don't even feel the full range.”

“That's right,” Yoruichi muses quietly, “with many of your memories and some of your personality separated into a distinct being... I guessed that might be the case.”

“It's definitely muddled,” Yoruichi admits. “The word “ai” is written as “accepting what the heart perceives”, and that's probably the closest thing to it. A sense of duty, of mutual respect, of compassion and selfless concern, and the admission that yes, this is an attractive person and I'm okay with admitting it. Any way you cut it, that's love... it's just not the kind that involves a courtship, or god forbid, pining.”

“So why don't we take the last step?” you muse. “Move on from admitting it to truly embracing it?”

“What, and get married?” Yoruichi asks, pondering the question. “It's more of a formality... but yeah. I think I'd like that.”

“Let's get married.”
>3/?

>>1357580
I like how one of the defining characteristics of their relationship is how chilled they are with each other. Like when Kisuke sent that murder-message and Riku walked in.

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>>1357580
Hokutan district in the Rukongai is a popular place for many shinigami with the means and inclination to take a vacation, being just far enough out into the Rukongai to be lush and green without being totally lawless and violent. In this district is Mount Koifushi, atop which is an expansive Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari Ōkami. Strangely appropriate that the ceremony should take place in her sight, amid the vermilion-painted columns and dramatic eaves of one of her many shrines.

The scent of matsu wafts over you on a warm summer breeze as you enter the sacred precinct, stopping briefly to announce your presence to your “mother” of sorts in a move that mostly serves to amuse Tenkotsuki.

An older man in a teal-colored silken kariginu and a distinctive black ebōshi hat spots you, and immediately strolls over to join you... though certainly not in any particular hurry. “A lovely warm day we're having, isn't it Captain?”

The kannushi bows graciously, and you briefly return the gesture. “It'd be nicer if it was going to be followed by a cool evening, but I think we both know that won't happen until October at the soonest.”

The man chuckles, an honest, good-humored sound of the sort you rarely hear from nobles or Captains. “That certainly is true, I suppose. I have not yet tired of the warm days however, so I'll enjoy it while I can. Now if you don't mind me asking, what brings you to our shrine?”

“I was looking for a place like this one, but just the right distance from the Seireitei itself,” you admit, glancing about the precinct. The gardens are quite well-kept and lovely, with the right mixture of shade trees, flowering plants, and evergreens, and there's a cleverly-designed koi pond along the left-hand side of the main shrine that seems to run around and behind it. Almost more like a temple garden in some ways.

“Well I hope you find it to your liking,” the kannushi nods thoughtfully, “though I must admit my curiosity at the reason for your search.”

“I have a friend, a noblewoman, with a rather curious problem,” you admit, walking towards a low-sling porch which wraps around the honden. Within the hall, which is open to the front as is tradition for Inari shrines, is what appears to be a finely-worked granary key. “She wishes to be married, and the arrangements may prove to have some political complications.”

“I see,” the man smiles, clapping his hands to announce his presence to the goddess. “You need look no further... I believe we can keep this marriage quiet, if it's in the couple's interests. What sort of complications, may I ask?”
>4/?

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>>1357727
“She wishes to marry another noblewoman,” you explain carefully, earning a raised eyebrow for your explanation. “One of equivalent status and exactly equal rank within the Gotei 13.”

“Exceedingly rare,” the kannushi admits, “but not unheard-of, and far from unworkable. A marriage born of a secret romance between noble onna-bugeisha... it reads like it could have been written by the hand of Lady Murasaki herself!”

“Who might I ask shall we be joining in matrimony?”

“Captain Shihōin Yoruichi,” you reply, and the kannushi's eyes widen in surprise even before you drop the second bombshell. “And myself.”

The old man takes a moment to collect himself... and it's still not quite enough. “That's... I mean, wow. I certainly wasn't expecting to hear that today... two Captains, one of them the head of a great noble House at that?”

“Will it be a problem?”

“Of course not!” the priest immediately ensures you. “I can certainly understand your desire to maintain secrecy... such a liaison would be all the Seireitei talked about for a generation. Hardly desirable when you would be the topic.”

“A Shintō wedding may take any number of forms,” the kannushi explains, “so I have to ask what sort of vows will be exchanged of course, but in your situation... normally there are clearly 'masculine' and 'feminine' roles involved which may not be wholly appropriate.”

You nod in understanding. “We've considered that. We were thinking that I would drink first, but that Lady Yoruichi would say her part of the vows first. As for exactly what the vows would be, we were planning to exchange stanzas of waka prior to simple vows, spoken in unison.”

The kannushi nods along happily, making mental notes as to the order of events. “That sounds appropriate, Captain. I appreciate that the two of you have considered such matters already. Though I must also ask, how are you to dress? And who will be in attendance?”

“My adopted son and daughter will both be present,” you explain, “as will a third guest, a subordinate of mine with an interest in Shintō ceremony. Our kimonos will be red, and we intend to wear our Captain's haori over them... but no horn-hiders, that was something Lady Yoruichi insisted on.”

“And no members of the families,” the kannushi nods. “Which is far from unusual in the Rukongai, though more so for nobility.”

“I don't actually have parents in the literal biological sense,” you shrug, “at least not here in the Soul Society. And the Shihōin clan will be kept in the dark by design, so I suppose my kids will have to make offerings for the Shihōin and Shiba families?”

“That would work just fine.”
>5/?

>>1357727
Does ninth have an Inari shrine on division grounds?
Because we totally should.

Something for Artemis, too.

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>>1357742
The day of the wedding comes far quicker than you thought... though it makes no material difference in your life it still feels like a momentous occasion, something that you can't help but anticipate. Having arrived at the shrine in secret well ahead of time and found a small room left empty for your use, you then don a sumptuous red kimono and pull your haori back on over it. Your hair is delicately arranged for the day, still relying on your almost century-old silver hairpin which Yoruichi gave you.

You meet with Yoruichi outside the prayer hall, each of you escorted down a covered walkway by a different miko in brilliant crimson hakama. Her hair is also done in an elaborate style, with golden pins and freshly-cut hydrangeas set into the arrangement. With a smile and a subtle nod, she takes the first step across the threshold.

Within stand Rangiku and Gin, both of whom are dressed formally for the occasion rather than in their typical shihakusho, and Apacci. The arrancar had to have an even more elaborate haristyle arranged to disguise her horn, which Tia cleverly managed to achieve by making it appear to be a hairpiece supporting the entire arrangement like a spire. If any of the shrine's attendants realize what Apacci actually is they don't so much as breath a word of it. They stand near the entry into the hall next to two wooden tables, each bearing rice, sake, and small fruits: including some of Gin's own specially-dried persimmons.

As you and Yoruichi requested, the ceremony is silent aside from the slow rhythmic beating of a small drum. The sound follows you as you approach the center of the room, where the old kannushi stands before a low altar, wearing a genuine attempt at a flat stare... though you can tell that he's quietly excited for this. He motions for you to kneel in seiza, and then one of two mikos at his sides pours some sake into a tiny lacquered cup. Black, with mottled red and green patches outlined in fine lines of gold, elegant but remarkably restrained. You take it from her hands, sipping half of it with the sound of a drum elsewhere in the hall, then pass it to Yoruichi. Dry and clear, but not unpleasantly so.

She accepts it in an exchange of shallow bows, and finishes the sake within before passing it to the second miko. The first woman pours a second, larger cup of sake into a cup with the same finish to it, handing it to Yoruichi this time. She drinks, then hands the rest to you, which you drink. The third vessel is a wide dish, the kind Shunsui usually drinks from, in the same style. The miko hands it to you once more, essentially repeating the process of the first drink before the cup is passed back to the mikos who silently retire with another drumbeat.

Then the drum falls silent.

Yoruichi turns in place in seiza to face you, while you do the same to face her.
>6/?

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>>1357834
Your wife-to-be slowly closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, then opens them with a new calm and determination. As if she's just stared down a moment of stage fright and forced her own nerves into submission with that one, simple breath.

She recites:
“To this love
I cannot give word, like Iwashiro's
Bound pines
Ever tangled
Is my heart.”

You recite your own response, words carefully chosen to answer Yoruichi both in style and in substance:
“Trusting her, I have come
To the overgrown plains, where
Summer lies deep;
Where can
The shrike be hiding in the grasses?”

Yoruichi proclaims:
“Spring grasses
Lush is my love;
From the broad sea
Sweep in the waves
A thousand layers deep.”

And in response, with a play on Yoruichi's name, you declare:
“So impatiently
Have I waited for the dusk, that
The heavens
Clouding over
Brings me joy!”

“Your joy will be mine, your misery my own,” you finally recite in unison, “in sickness and in health, in good fortune and in ill, for all of the days we share. So do I pledge in the sight of the gods, and with their blessing may those days be many.”

Then you each bow to one another, deeply, before rising to face the kannushi. Whether from the depth of the bow or not you can't be sure, but all the blood in your head seems to have rushed to your cheeks.

With a smile and a renewed drumbeat the kannushi offers a pine branch before the main altar of the shrine, and after being handed branches of your own by the mikos you and your wife do the same. Rangiku and Gin soon arrive, called into action by the drummer, to deliver offerings to Inari Ōkami which are placed by the branches, before you all withdraw... first your children, then you and a beaming Yoruichi, then the shrine officials.

Just like that... it's become official. Simple, elegant, and unknown to any but the shrewdest observers of social happenings in the Seireitei.
>7/?

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>>1357868
On a warm summer day, nearly fifty years later, you find yourself leaning against the wall of your home's modest courtyard garden, trying as hard as you can to avoid the heat of the afternoon sun. No paperwork to do, no distractions, too hot for training.

"You look bored."

Glancing up you see that you've been joined by Yoruichi, holding a small jug of what you guess is chilled sake. She seems like she has nothing better to do today either.

You shrug. "Afraid I don't have a cup on me."

From her sash Yoruichi produces a wide sake dish made from black lacquer, mottled with reds and greens and thin lines of gold. Old, and well-used, but still as beautiful and dignified as it was on the day you first saw it new.

Yoruichi hands you the familiar dish with a knowing grin. "Here. Why don't we share this one?"

You grin, holding it out for your wife to pour. "Yeah... I think I'd like that."
>8/8

>>1357886
Man, that was really well written and very sweet King

cheers

>>1357886
>>1357868
>>1357834
>>1357742
>>1357727
>>1357580
>>1357578
>>1357577
It's so sweet. It's got that Warm and fuzzy feeling vibe to the omake. a far cry from the writing we're used to but that makes the marriage omake all the more distinct.