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Post by Harmony on Mar 3, 2008 22:37:18 GMT -4
Light flooded in and Masaru winced weakly. He felt so heavy... where was he? He dared a glance about the room, and even when he saw the beds and white sheets around him it still took a few good seconds before the clouds cleared from his head... fourth squad.... why?
He pulled his arms in and struggled to sit but as he did a stab of pain shot through his abdomen and he fell back into the bed with a loud sigh, which induced yet another flash of pain in his ribs. Feeling rather helpless and frustrated, he lay motionless for a full minute, staring blankly at the speckled ceiling with a furrowed brow. What happened?
He didn't remember just yet... everything was a blur... there was a numbing weight on his brain and he couldn't seem to lift it... dust....he remembered dust and blood. He licked his lips thoughtfully. He used Bankai... he remembered that.... there was Bankai and...
He sighed again (softer this time) and turned his head to the side, his eyes closing slightly.The light was so harsh... he couldn't think like this. What happened? What happened?
He began to feel the heat from the afternoon sun on his skin, and he frowned, glaring at the open window darkly. He was so uncomfortable- Dammit! What happened?!
His hands each closed into fists. Remember... you gotta... just remember, you fool! He groaned and shifted restlessly in his sheets before it finally hit him like a bolt of lightening... GAHROK
His eyes snapped open and he sat straight up in surprise without thinking. He immediately regretted this though as a wave of pain flooded him, like all his ribs were splintering and caving. He yelped sharply before falling back yet again into his sheets which were becoming a disheveled and uncomfortable mess beneath his body.
It was all there.... the entire memory flashed through him in quick successions of movement, like a slide show that got shuffled. Gahrok... Gahrok had.... transformed - no... no it wasn't that... Gahrok had been overshadowed.
Masaru blinked a few times as he tried to piece it all together in his mind. He... he fought a creature... some sort of wolf... A shudder struck him as he heard its shrieks echoing in his ears. His ribs... his ribs had snapped.... and... He brought up a shaking hand to feel his abdomen. He felt soft bandages under them... he had used Bankai... he was forced to... it wasn't... it wasn't his fault, dammit!
He closed his eyes and lay still, wishing he could sink into the floor and disappear. Gahrok... Gahrok had won... Gahrok... he was himself again. Masaru's eyebrows came together in aggravation. What did that mean for him... and... and... where was Gahrok now?
Masaru shifted uncomfortably, the muscles in his feet tensing until his toes stuck up. "If they killed you..." Masaru whispered darkly, "If they killed you after all we did to save you... if... fuck no!" He panted heavily, his hands closing around clumps of sheets. calm down... they didn't kill him... you know they didn't. They wouldn't strike down a helpless man... he was severely weakened, there's no way he's dead... calm down.
Masaru calmed down... or tried to.
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Post by Shizuko on Mar 4, 2008 0:02:04 GMT -4
The door of the room which housed Sixth Squad Captain Takahashi Masaru quietly slid open, as a young lad checked in on the condition of Gotei Four’s highest-profile patient. His eyes searched the room for the correct bed and the patient which rested within. He had hoped that he’d only imagined the sounds emanating from within the room. Alas, it appeared that the Captain was not only awake, but in pain and possibly angry.
As fast as the boy had appeared, the door quickly slid closed and the sound of rushed footsteps disappeared down the hall. After only a few moments, a soft rap was heard at the door just before it slid open once more. Vice Captain Shimizu Atsue called out to the patient in a rather sweet tone of voice.
“Takahashi-taichou? I’m told that you’re awake now, so I’d like to take a moment to assess your condition, if I may.” She waited a moment, in case the Captain would have wanted to protest, and then stepped through the doorway to make her way to Masaru’s bedside.
The timid boy from before followed his Vice Captain inside, though anxiety was evident in his eyes at even being in the room with the now coherent leader of Gotei Six. He slid the door closed behind himself and stood not far from it, wide-eyed and still.
Atsue’s nearly silent steps led her to the man’s bedside, and a reassuring smile graced her lips as she looked him over for any particular trauma. Her passing caused the haori, bearing the symbol of the Sixth Squad, to rustle as it hung on a chair nearby.
The Vice Captain’s golden eyes scanned the man’s face and body, looking for any sign of excessive stress or shock. The bandages already wrapped about his torso showed no evidence of fresh bleeding, which was certainly a good sign. The familiar gash across his midsection would have been a particularly difficult problem to deal with had it not been Atsue herself who had been present at the scene. As it was now, the healing process had begun, though it was indeed slow and painful. The frustration and confusion of it all could be seen in the Captain’s eyes.
Atsue wasn’t sure how much Masaru remembered of the time before he’d fallen. She couldn’t be certain that he would desire to discuss the events, let alone with her, a mere healer. Therefore she remained quiet as she examined him, moving her hands over the less substantial wounds on his arms and chest, hardly more than scratches which had already begun to close.
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Post by Harmony on Mar 4, 2008 0:24:19 GMT -4
((it's a bit short. My apologies))
“Takahashi-taichou? I’m told that you’re awake now, so I’d like to take a moment to assess your condition, if I may.”
Masaru's eyes widened as the quiet girl's voice penetrated his disturbed thoughts and he nodded sheepishly, "yeah... of course..." He shifted again so he was flat on his back, cold hazel gaze directed once more at the ceiling. He recognized her easily as the fourth squads vice captain... Shimizu... He had always thought she was attractive, even though she was the type to blend in. Attractive girls always bothered him though. He hated himself for noticing them. He was still... he was still in love with Hanako. Even the long years of suffering after her death could not change that. That's why he hated them... they made him feel damn guilty. He felt the usual sick feeling in his stomach as she approached and he ignored it as best as he could, which only made him more irritable. Why did she have to come? There was a boy with her also, and Masaru smirked inwardly. The little subordinates were always very comical to him. They had this awkward shyness about them that he couldn't help but find humorous, and almost endearing. "Who's your friend?" Masaru glanced at the nervous subordinate with a cocked brow. In his mind he was being open and friendly, but in reality he looked very much like a disgruntled bulldog.
She reached his bedside and he looked at her breifly, a rather dark frown distorting his features before returning his gaze to the ceiling. "That bad huh?" He laughed hoarsely to himself, wincing the whole while as the pain in his ribs stung his sides. Despite this however, a bit of a grin had spread across his features. It was his way of covering things up, his way of keeping her unburdened. No one wanted to hear about dead history... no one wanted to hear about ghosts from the goddamn past... "I must be pretty shitty lookin' right now for them to think they need you to help me... I haven't stayed in one of these damned beds for a year at least!" His voice faded as he again touched the area on his abdomen, his false joviality ebbing. Shadows of his former self were surfacing, if only slightly.
He felt her hands on his arms and he cleared his throat, forcing back the dry lump that had formed, "Were you there, Shimizu, when I was taken here?" He asked suddenly, "Tell me, was there a man with me?"His voice was flat as he spoke, flat and almost sad. He hadn't wanted to bring up Gahrok, but he had to know what happened to him... he had to know if he was still alive. So much had happened... so much shit... he needed to see Gahrok again.
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Post by Shizuko on Mar 5, 2008 0:12:58 GMT -4
Atsue was surprisingly calm as she examined her rather intimidating patient. Many of the others in her squad would have been likely to buckle under the pressure of treating a Captain of the Gotei 13, so rarely did they find themselves in need of medical aid. Her hands remained steady, however, as she considered him as important a patient in her care as any other. She glanced into Masaru’s face for a moment when he inquired about her timid counterpart standing, petrified, at the door.
“Oh… my apologies. This is Takeo-san. He’s one of our more recent squad additions,” she replied with a grin. Atsue glanced over her shoulder at the boy, noting the trepidation apparent on his face. She gave him a reassuring smile, though it obviously did little to calm his nerves.
Turning her attention back to Masaru, she observed carefully the way the man spoke, taking special note of his tone and body language. It was apparent that he was in quite a bit of pain, and that some of his ribs had been broken. He continued to attempt to cover the discomfort with a smile, a move that wasn’t common in these halls. This would be nothing life-threatening if treated properly, of course, so there was rather little worry displayed across Atsue’s features.
“No, no. It’s not that bad,” she answered Masaru. She gave a soft chuckle as she continued. “Believe me, I’ve seen worse.”
It was Atsue considered treatment options that her train of thought was interrupted by the Captain’s inquiry about her knowledge of what had happened around the time he’d been brought to Gotei Four. She thought for a moment about the best way to answer his question. Her mind worked quickly to determine how much she should reveal with her answer. She didn’t want to cause Masaru any more stress with her reply, as it certainly wouldn’t help him heal any faster.
She withdrew her hands and folded them in front of herself as she prepared to answer the man who seemed so concerned about someone who had apparently attacked him and killed another shinigami without a second thought. She sighed softly as her golden gaze drifted to the face of Masaru.
“I was there. There was indeed another man, though I’m afraid he was in no better shape than you were when I stepped in.” Atsue paused for a moment, unsure if she really wanted to reveal the fact that Masaru’s opponent had survived. She wasn’t sure if he’d be angry that the Fourth had been obligated to assist them both, as they were instructed to render aid to any who needed it. She was prepared to stand by her work, though she would have preferred to avoid any possible confrontation or argument about saving a criminal.
Yet, it had seemed like the two opponents knew each other somehow, though they appeared so dissimilar. Still, it was obvious that the Captain wished to know the truth, and she wasn’t one to hide such a thing. She continued, though her tone of voice was rather quiet. “He lives, though he awaits trial for his crimes, including the murder of another shinigami not far from where you two fought.”
Atsue paused in the examination of her patient while he digested what little information she’d yielded. If he wished to hear more, she was willing to share what she knew of his situation. She would wait until he asked to hear it, however.
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Post by Harmony on Mar 6, 2008 11:13:20 GMT -4
Masaru gave a bit of a nod in greeting to Shimizu's comrade, laughing inwardly at the boy's apparent trauma. Squad four always intrigued him; they had the most variety of personality he had ever seen in a division from member to member. There was the timid, the enthusiastic, the bitter, the nurturing... all these people wrapped up into one division. He liked it, and at the same time he was amused by it. As a captain however, he felt most became reserved around him, which he understood. His appearance alone was intimidating enough to some. Most people associate scars and burns with people who are unaware of the feelings of others, people that take for themselves and push others away. At one time, Masaru possessed a kind and youthful, even attractive face, but over the years that face was destroyed by the various scars and burns that riddled it. He could even recall the very day that people stopped coming to him on their own, the day that his face told a different story. He didn't mind so much now; he had changed a lot over the past ten years. It was ok to be alone... in fact he relished in his solitude the way one might relish in wearing their least favorite shirt for the rest of their life.
“No, no. It’s not that bad, Believe me, I’ve seen worse.”
Masaru began to laugh again, and he turned his face away from her, looking out the window with squinting eyes. The sun was giving him such a damn headache! But, for now, the window was a good distraction. It felt so surreal... laying there on that bed in those white sheets, looking out at the sun... Only hours before his adrenaline was pumping so hard he thought it would never stop, he was covered in dust and his own blood, and he could feel the constant spray of earth as the wind whipped around him.... how does one reach peace after such a day? He smirked a little, You get beat up enough and end up in here, he thought to himself in answer, They force you to find peace when you're here.... physical peace at least Though Masaru was collected in his actions, the battled still raged within him.
"Yeah," he murmured in answer, "I've seen worse too." His voice had grown serious, though he still did not turn his head to face her again until the moment she answered him about Gahrok, and he glanced back at her, his hazel eyes seeking hers. He needed eye contact from her. He wanted to know everything. As she told him that Gahrok awaited his punishment, Masaru's lips formed a tight line. He had forgotten about the murder of the shinigami, and he felt a pang of guilt. His loyalties were still with soul society: he felt compassion for each person within the looming walls of Seireitei. Harsh and lonely as he was, Masaru cared inwardly for everyone, and he knew the affect a single death had on others. That boy had friends. With this thought however, Masaru felt another more selfish feeling... if he died or left, no one would be affected at all. As awful and ridiculous as that sounded, Masaru knew that as a Captain, he did not offer much of anything to Seireitei. He was probably the weakest of the captains, having a rather underdeveloped Bankai; he lacked in leadership skills, and he had grown cold to others around him. It was easier after all to shut out others. He had no friends despite the care he felt towards everyone.
Perhaps it was this that led him to feel as he did about Gahrok. They had talked at the end. As they lay dying together in the dust and grime of Rukongai, Gahrok treated him as a friend. He took pity on Masaru even.... which was admittedly very comforting. It was a feeling Masaru hadn't felt in ages... and... to hear the news that Gahrok awaited judgment... it didn't sit right with him.
"So it's come to this." Masaru looked hard into the soft golden pools of Shimizu, hoping that in his gaze he revealed nothing of his turmoil. He needed it though, he needed a face to look into, "They'll kill him."
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Post by Shizuko on Mar 6, 2008 18:58:28 GMT -4
Atsue was a little surprised to meet the Captain’s gaze, as it seemed that up until this point he’d been somewhat uncomfortable with her company. It was possible that the man felt a bit ashamed about his presence within these halls. It was rare for one of high rank to fall in battle and wind up here, as they often fought with the intention of winning or dying. It was then that Atsue herself began to feel a pang of guilt well up inside her as she considered the fact that she may have taken his glorious death in combat from him. Though Masaru masked the inner turmoil well, Atsue couldn’t help but sense a mix of sadness and anger about him. She hated to think that she may have been one of the causes of such feelings, but she certainly wasn’t one to allow a comrade to bleed to death on the battlefield when she could stop it from happening. Indeed, she would have made the same actions if given the chance once more. It was her job, after all.
Masaru’s response to Atsue’s update on the state of his opponent was both peculiar and intriguing to the woman. It seemed, given his inflection and choice of words, that he actually cared whether or not this enemy would die as a result of judgment. His eyes locking with hers as he spoke served to reinforce the idea that he was unhappy with the thought of justice taking its course as he knew it should. Atsue cocked her head slightly as she gazed upon the conflicted man before her. She’d never known Takahashi Masaru to show much feeling for other people, let alone someone who he’d attempted to defeat in battle. He’d always sought solitude and often worked on his own, showing precious little concern in general. This opposing side of the Division Six Captain was rather unexpected.
As much as Atsue worked to heal the body, she often tried to also tend to the mind as best she could. It was likely this desire to ease his concern that drove her to quietly speak further on the subject at hand. After all, she was rather curious about the events which had led to Masaru’s admittance to her halls, and it seemed he was willing and able to discuss it.
“I’m sure it is a possibility. We both know how the laws work here. I can’t help but wonder if he has an explanation, however. The man that fell before you went through quite a transformation in the last moments of the battle. It seemed to me that he may not have been in control of himself.”
Atsue had drifted far into her own musings for a moment and suddenly realized that she may have offered a bit too much of her opinion. Her cheeks quickly flushed pink in response. She was aware that he was likely uninterested in the views of the Vice Captain of Gotei Four.
The woman hoped that the Captain would not become upset with her continued talk of a dangerous situation. While Masaru hadn’t come across as a particularly angry or vengeful person, he also hadn’t given her the impression of an overly friendly man, either. Given his current situation and recent trauma, it was hard to say how he would react.
Thus, Atsue decided to focus more on her assigned tasks rather than the sociological conundrum at hand. After a moment’s silence on her part, she cleared her throat and brought her attention back to Masaru’s physical condition. She would speak to the Captain again of his battle with the intruder if he wished, though she wasn’t quite comfortable with injecting so much of her own observations and opinions as she’d just done.
Atsue’s eyes slowly began to move across the man’s body once more. His injuries would certainly heal given proper care and time, though she had the ability to speed up the process. As uncomfortable as the Captain might have been, Atsue determined that it would be a good option to use her skills to have him back on his feet again as soon as possible.
“Takahashi-taichou, I’d like to give you an option for the care of your injuries. They are no longer life threatening and will heal in time, so there’s no need to worry about that. I do have a rather… unconventional… method of quickening the process, however. It’s a unique tactic which really goes above and beyond anything our more traditional methods can accomplish in short time, though I’ll confess that it can be a little… startling. I’ll leave that decision up to you.”
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Post by Harmony on Mar 6, 2008 19:34:15 GMT -4
“I’m sure it is a possibility. We both know how the laws work here. I can’t help but wonder if he has an explanation, however. The man that fell before you went through quite a transformation in the last moments of the battle. It seemed to me that he may not have been in control of himself.”
Masaru nodded at first slowly, until his eyes snapped open in the sudden realization that she had witnessed the battle... or at least a portion of it, "You were there?!" He jerked as though he were about to sit up again, but quickly thought better of it and sank back into the sheets, though the veins in his neck bulged slightly in his desire to sit upright, "How much of it did you see?" A new light entered the captain's eyes and he felt his hand again straying to the scar on his abdomen. His throat ran dry and formed a lump. She... saw. He knew she had. He always trained alone. There was a reason for that. He hated for people to see his bankai. He despised it. His activation in particular was unorthodox and admittedly disturbing, and then coupled with the nature of his powers... the sting of his acid, the thirst for death in his eyes...
A shudder hit him square in the chest and he looked away from her in disdain, his cheeks growing red in shame. He feebly sought a level of balance. He couldn't be so affected in front of others... what would they think of him? He had to be a model, a neutral unaffected statue of strength... not some inferior emotional train wreck. What kind of shitty captain was he anyways? He swallowed hard in a physical attempt to choke down all of his annoying deficiencies in one nasty gulp. What did she - the thoughtful healer - think of him? He didn't want to know. He was painfully aware by this time how ridiculous he must seem to her. His Captain position had been under close surveillance ever since he took it for himself. His youth, his inexperience, his emotional tendencies... all of those things made others nervous.
"You're right, Shimizu-" Masaru paused for a moment before correcting himself, "-Atsue," suddenly, calling her by her family name seemed wrong to him... perhaps it was because he suspected she had witnessed that so carefully guarded secret of his, "He wasn't himself... I..." He brought his hand to his face, pressing his fingertips into his forehead, "There's a demon inside that man, Atsue... and if you knew him a little over 10 years ago, you'd know what a terrible injustice this was to him." He smiled painfully, "He's become the very thing that he so desperately fought..." He wanted to say more but his voice faded with the realization that Atsue probably didn't give a shit. It felt good to share a bit of himself with another person, but that was risky business. No one wanted to listen anymore. Atsue's quiet, soft-spoken attitude unnerved him as well: it was harder to tell how she truly felt about something. She seemed the sort that would do what it took to please someone, even if it meant listening to a disenchanted captain ramble. It was this thought that silenced him.
Atsue shifted the conversation to his physical condition, and he looked at her again, slightly thankful for the relief it gave him. He was beginning to feel awkward as hell, let alone unprofessional. She was suggesting a different healing technique, and Masaru listened in mild interest before nodding with a slight bob of his head, "You're the doctor, you do what you think is best," he let his head fall back into the the cushions, "I mean what do I know? I just melt things."
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Post by Shizuko on Mar 6, 2008 22:25:29 GMT -4
Alas, Atsue realized that her slip of the tongue had caught the Captain’s attention. She was quite relieved that he hadn’t reacted as though he were irritated by her statements, though there certainly was a growing feeling of guilt in the pit of her stomach as he asked her numerous questions about her involvement, or rather, observation of his fight with the mysterious stranger. She could clearly see his concern as he searched his memory for what the woman may have witnessed. It was clear to the lieutenant that the more she said, the more likely Masaru was to further injure himself as he heard the answers to his many inquiries.
It wasn’t only the Captain who ran through not-so-distant memories. Atsue recalled the horror of watching Masaru plunge his own zanpakuto into his gut. Though the results were powerful, a healer could not deny that the activation itself was a terrible sight to witness. It was what could have been the main factor in Masaru losing his life right then and there had she not stepped in when she did.
She was again intrigued when the Captain agreed with her speculation that his opponent had been under the influence of some other force when the two had fought. As she had guessed, Masaru did indeed know the man from a time beyond their confrontation in the streets. In fact, they’d known one another for a number of years. She suddenly began to wonder if she knew the identity of this man, though she had only momentarily caught a glimpse of his face. Her attention had been focused upon the ailing Captain, after all.
Atsue didn’t really want to change the subject, though it was clear to her that things had grown tense within the room. She did have work to do, of course, so it was about time that she had gotten around to it. She gave a soft chuckle at Masaru’s final comment. Indeed, she may have known more about how to mend his injured body, though she felt it was only fair that she give him an option before springing an unorthodox healing method upon him.
“Very well. I think I will opt for the quick method. We won’t make you stay in here any longer than necessary.”
She stood and placed her hand on the hilt of the zanpakuto at her side. The chain dangling from its pommel jingled softly with the movement of her fingers. She turned her gaze to the petrified boy who had gone nearly forgotten at the door. She motioned for him to come closer to give her a hand.
“Takeo-san, if you would, please help Takahashi-taichou sit upright. Be very careful of his ribs,” she said just before she closed her eyes and dropped her head.
Takeo, while still apprehensive about what he should do, obediently moved to the Captain’s bed. His hands began to shake slightly as he carefully helped the man into an upright sitting position. He struggled to keep them still enough to avoid further discomfort to the patient, though it was obvious there was only so much he could do to stop the quaking. It was a rather slow and arduous effort, but Takeo managed to aid the Captain into the desired position and he waited patiently for the lieutenant’s next move.
Within the confines of Atsue’s mind, a voice softly whispered. It sounded astoundingly similar to her own, though it was that of another entity.
Interesting situation we have here. I’m interested in hearing more about this man he fought in the streets. I suppose we should fix him up so that he can tell us all about it, hmm?
The usual soft smile crossed Atsue’s lips as she lifted her head once more and checked to see that her patient was indeed prepared for the procedure. She drew the sword from its scabbard on her hip and placed it in front of her body, the blade pointing down at the floor.
“Unravel, Moroha,” she said aloud, albeit in a hushed tone.
The zanpakuto in her hand immediately responded, changing, growing, and shifting into its released form. After a moment, what she held in her hands was no longer a katana but a large, gleaming, silver spiked chain. A small charm dangled from the center ring of the chain bearing a symbol meaning ‘temperance.’
Atsue moved towards the bed once the change had taken place, though she couldn’t help but chuckle at the bewildered look upon her subordinate’s face as he helped Masaru.
“Relax, Takeo-san,” she said calmly, giving him a friendly smile. He nodded absently in response, though the expression on his face did not change. She continued anyway, knowing that the patient was her primary concern at this point. “Please help me wrap this around his torso,” holding up the chain. His eyes widened, but he did as he was told, slowly wrapping the large chain around Masaru. Its sharp, pointed edges threatened to slice into the injured man’s skin, though careful placement by the medics ensured that it didn’t happen.
Around and around the chain went, and Atsue was aware that it would be a tight wrap once completed. The spikes would apply enough pressure to make the patient think that they would indeed puncture the skin, which was often the source of the apprehension caused by the technique that the Vice Captain was about to employ.
Once the chain had been placed, Atsue positioned her hands upon it and carefully channeled her reiatsu through it. It wouldn’t be long before Masaru would find his pain lessened as the dangerous spikes served as a bridge for the woman’s reiatsu. His cells would be stimulated to regenerate and heal, quickly mending broken bones and lacerations.
After a few moments of silent concentration she spoke again, this time to Masaru. “This should help you heal quickly, as strange as it may seem. It’s possible that you’ll still be a little sore, as the nerves take a bit longer to recover from trauma of this sort.”
She gave him a gentle grin, as usual, and continued with her work.
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Post by Harmony on Mar 7, 2008 19:01:07 GMT -4
Masau heard her chuckle at his jest and he felt the corners of his lips pull up in a slight smile despite himself. This expression was of course rather minuscule, but it was enough for him to notice it in himself and he quickly reverted back to the familiar frown he was rather famous for. He saw movement in the corner of his eye and he glanced over, watching in interest as she stood, the chain on her Zanapkuto jingling. This caught his attention in particular, and he wondered for a moment if this so-called unorthodox treatment had anything to do with her Zanpakutou. He racked his brain briefly to see if he could recall the nature of her Zanpakuto's power and he cursed himself inwardly with the realization that he needed to better memorize these sorts of things.
“Takeo-san, if you would, please help Takahashi-taichou sit upright. Be very careful of his ribs,”
Masaru watched with a cocked brow as the silent shinigami made his way over and he could not help but wonder if this Takeo character had strength enough to move him on his own. Somehow he doubted it. He felt the boy's shaking hands on his skin and as he was pulled, Masaru winced at the way he was being twisted, but he could tell Takeo was struggling some, and the Captain aided him by pushing against the mattress with his hand. "You're ok, kid," he said with a quirky smile, obviously in an effort to calm the boy's nerves. Eventually he did manage to push himself upright all the way, and he groaned with the shift of weight, putting a hand to one of his sides gingerly.
There was the muted sound of a sword being drawn and Masaru looked up blankly, knowing that he had been right in his estimation. He couldn't help but watch in interest, his eyes actually taking on an honest and almost innocent light of a child. He had always been curious. As a child he was constantly exploring all the little cracks and crevices of his world, and now as an adult, Masaru's love of observation transformed into an immense appreciation for the powers contained in soul slayers. Some may think this to be an intellectual pastime, but on the contrary, Masaru was always simply caught up in the aesthetics of release. It pleased him to watch as an outsider the bond a shinigami made with his or her partner. What a wonder that he didn't have them all memorized!
“Unravel, Moroha,”
As with most releases, Atsue's zanpakuto went through a physical transformation, and Masaru's eyes narrowed at the sight of the spiked chain. It was rather intimidating, looking more suited for torture than for healing, and Masaru wondered with an inward laugh if he had perhaps ended up in the wrong place. He heard Atsue's attempt to again calm her subordinate and he saw with some amusement the horror written across the boy's face. His amusement was short lived however, swiftly halting at the instructing for the chain to be wrapped around his torso. His face now adopted (very briefly) an expression similar to Takeo's but it was quickly replaced with the most vacant and unimpressed expression he could conjure. He really wasn't frightened. Shocked may have been a better word, and Masaru was never one to show discomfort or apprehension if he could help it.
He lifted his arms so the pair could wrap the chain around him easier, wincing slightly as the spikes raked his skin. There was an increase in pressure and Masaru clenched his jaw a little in slight discomfort, though he remained unafraid. He couldn't help but wonder if the spikes were meant to penetrate his skin but despite this he remained pretty calm. He even dared a glance at Takeo, who still seemed mildly petrified. He didn't flinch at Atsue's touch, though he was taken off guard, having had his attention on the subordinate at the time. He remained motionless as she concentrated, even as she spoke to him to explain how her powers worked. He nodded in answer, and noticed that he could actually feel his body changing, almost morphing under the influence of Moroha.
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Post by Shizuko on Mar 7, 2008 20:03:20 GMT -4
Atsue’s hands shifted slightly along the chain wrapped around Masaru’s torso as she worked. Her eyes closed for a moment as she used the weapon as a tool to better gauge her patient’s progress. She could almost sense the areas which would require more focus and reiatsu to mend the damage sustained. This was the unusual power of her zanpakuto. While it was indeed a unique weapon, it served to allow the woman to put her reiatsu to better use. In this case, she was able to directly stimulate a person’s body to heal itself, using her reiatsu as fuel.
The few individuals who had actually witnessed Atsue use her zanpakuto had always found it amusing to see the mild-mannered woman holding a weapon that seemed more fitting of a wild berserker. While this was Moroha’s most common use, it was not beyond Atsue to use it as the weapon it was intended to be, though fewer still had ever seen that type of scenario. It was one of the woman’s closely moderated secrets.
When Atsue’s eyes opened again, she found Takeo staring in disbelief as the self-inflicted gash could be seen beginning to close through the gaps of the chain. Though the obvious freshness of the wound began to diminish, the scarring remained as a result of the injury apparently reoccurring over many years. The young man’s head tilted to the side somewhat as he witnessed the changes rapidly occurring to Masaru’s wounded body. It was almost as though he was watching time fast forward before his eyes.
The Captain appeared rather unaffected (at least mentally) by the strange treatment, unlike the few other patients Atsue had cared for in such a manner. She didn’t often offer to mend injuries with this technique, as it was more likely to scare than it was to relieve. Typically, the lieutenant used this ability on the battlefield, where there was dire need of fast action. Otherwise, it was only employed on those who were unconscious and in danger of dying, as those who weren’t aware of what was happening around them were less likely to be frightened by the intimidating spikes threatening to slice their skin.
“I should have known that you wouldn’t be intimidated by this treatment,” she mused aloud in a jovial tone. “I hope the discomfort of your injuries is beginning to subside.”
She continued radiating her reiatsu through the chain and into Masaru’s body, much to the fascination of her subordinate who had become so enthralled with the treatment that he seemed to have forgotten his nervousness over holding the Captain upright. His hands had finally stopped shaking as his eyes locked on Masaru’s diminishing injuries.
Atsue chuckled softly at the situation and added, “This is so much easier when I don’t have to fight with my patient to hold still!”
Though the bulk of her concentration remained on controlling her reiatsu for the task at hand, in the back of Atsue’s mind, she continued to mull over the small bit of conversation that had happened between her and the Captain only minutes ago. Curiosity over the identity of Masaru’s opponent still nagged at her, and she began to hope that once his body was in better condition, they could continue answering one another’s questions.
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Post by Harmony on Mar 7, 2008 22:20:40 GMT -4
((If this post sucks hardcore, i apologize. People were talking to me and writing is difficult enough for me as is, and they were sorta dissolving any remaining muse i had left))
Masaru, like Takeo, was rather enthralled by the image of his own body healing itself and the childlike light entered his eyes again as he speculated happily that it reminded him of a zipper, the way his skin and torn muscle seemed to lace back together so rapidly. The pain did diminish slowly, though Masaru barely noticed at the moment. He hardly noticed anything at all, not even the awkward silence that fell over the three.
“I should have known that you wouldn’t be intimidated by this treatment,I hope the discomfort of your injuries is beginning to subside.”
Masaru looked up with a rather subdued expression as Atsue broke the silence, "Hmm? Oh! yeah... I'm sort of used to this shit... I mean..." His voice faded with the realization that he was referring to his Bankai and he looked away, avoiding her gaze. He still was not certain that she knew his secret, and so he wanted, if possible, to avoid giving any incriminating details about it. Though, if she did know, his statement now felt so painfully obvious that he regretted it entirely.
After only a few seconds Masaru managed to recover and instead of returning his attention to his wounds, he dared a glance at Takeo, who's grip seemed to be failing slowly. What he saw was rather comical to him and it was reinforced by Atsue's chuckle, though he couldn't be certain if she was laughing at her subordinate or not. The boy reminded Masaru of himself as a younger aspiring shinigami and he could not help but feel increasingly protective, if not, very watchful, even if the boy was not from his squad.
“It's really not that bad,” he answered with a shrug, “Though I suppose the prospect of havin' these things against you like this can be slightly unnerving.” He glanced down as she moved her hands along the chain, his head tilting to the side. He marveled at her work; it was so intriguing to him. He hated when outside divisions looked down on squad four. These guys had the most interesting Zanpakutou... they all had character and he couldn't help but be held in awe over them. He could feel his bones lacing together now in fragments and he shuddered at the uncomfortable feeling of his insides reorganizing themselves. He squinted a little, his hands clutching at the sheets, but after a few short moments the pain had again subsided and Masaru suddenly found himself able to breathe much freer than before. A relieved smile spread across his face, and he released the sheets with a grateful sigh.
“Damn that was pretty fast!”
He laughed, and with the absence of pain, this laughter turned into a rather uncharacteristic outburst, which made the spikes dig into him a little, but he didn't care at all... he could sit on his own again!
Consequently, Masaru felt his mind clearing with the absence of his injuries and a sense of peace returned to him that he was severely lacking in only moments before.
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Post by Shizuko on Mar 7, 2008 23:54:27 GMT -4
Atsue began to grimace just slightly almost as though she could feel Masaru’s discomfort as his wounds were mending. She knew very well that it wasn’t exactly pleasant to feel bones move back into place and organs burst with newly regenerated cells in an effort to fast forward to normality. As a healer it was her goal to remove pain and uneasiness like this, though at times it was indeed a necessary evil. Still, the woman’s empathetic side had begun to show ever so slightly in her features.
In the midst of the treatment, the Captain had spoken up, saying he was used to this type of thing. He quickly cut himself off in mid-sentence, as though he hadn’t really intended to say what he had. Atsue found his response rather interesting, as she just then realized that it was obvious that he had to have experienced quite a bit of medical treatment if for no other reason than his unusual bankai activation. The lieutenant felt a little foolish for not recognizing that fact before, and she suddenly recognized how silly she must have sounded.
“Of course. I suppose you have experienced something like this before, given your zanpakuto’s abilities,” she said quietly with her usual smile as her eyes drifted to that now nearly completely closed gash on his abdomen. She hadn’t realized that she was one of the few who had ever seen the man release his bankai. She was under the impression that she was one of the only shinigami in Soul Society who did not openly flaunt, discuss, or activate certain abilities of their weapons.
The Vice Captain was quite pleased to hear Masaru take his first fully functional and deep breath, unlike the shallow breathing he’d been forced into with broken ribs. It seemed her unusual technique was again a success. Moroha had proven invaluable once more. The woman couldn’t help but be thankful to have such a unique and remarkable zanpakuto, as she wasn’t the only one to have benefited from the abilities of the weapon. Her skills as a healer or fighter would not have been nearly so extraordinary without Moroha’s aid.
Though Takeo had loosened his hold upon the Captain due to his fascination with the woman’s technique, it seemed that Masaru was better able to hold himself up as his broken bones were made whole once more. His attention was brought back to reality when the Captain laughed, an action which startled him and made him realized he’d all but released the man from his hands. Realizing that he’d completely lost his focus for a few minutes, the lad’s face flushed bright red. He pulled his hands back to his sides as he realized that Masaru was really just sitting upright on his own now without his aid anyway.
The Captain’s laughter was a welcome sound to Atsue’s ears. It was a sign that he was feeling much better than he was moments ago. Indeed, her reiatsu had fueled just about all of the healing that it could. The relief in the man’s face and body language was already quite apparent. It would have been a rather long recovery time if she hadn’t taken matters into her own hands.
Once she’d finished, she began to unravel the great chain from the man’s torso. While the tight wrap of it had left red pressure marks upon the Captain’s newly-healed skin, there was no further damage to the tissues apparent. He might have been a little sore, but his bones were no longer broken nor was he at risk of bleeding to death from lacerations. Takeo gave her a hand in removing the chain, and after a few moments, it dangled freely from the woman’s hands once more. As quickly as it had transformed, Moroha was again sealed away, appearing as nothing more than a plain katana with an insubstantial little silver chain dangling from its hilt. After sliding the weapon into its sheath on her side once more, Atsue turned her golden gaze upon the Captain, allowing a small satisfied sigh to escape her lips. He appeared much more comfortable and happy than he had when she’d first entered his room after he awoke… though perhaps “happy” was not the proper term.
The Vice Captain called out to her subordinate, who had taken a step back from the bedside and stood by, looking out of place and confused as to what he should be doing.
“Takeo-san. Please inform the Captain that Takahashi-taichou’s treatment is complete, and that he is to be released as soon as possible.”
At the mention of his name, Takeo snapped to attention, and dashed out of the room to complete his newest order. In his haste to leave, he nearly forgot his manners. Thus, just as he was sliding the door closed behind him, he opened it again to give a deep bow. He then closed the door and took off down the hall. The sounds of a collision and supplies being scattered across the floor could be heard at the end of the hall as he’d apparently caught another Division Four member off guard in his rush to find the Captain.
Atsue merely smiled, almost amused at her fellow Division Four members. So often they seemed awkward, though they were indeed some of the most loyal and considerate residents of Soul Society. Despite their reputation of weakness and inadequacy, she regarded all of them as precious and wouldn’t change any of their quirkiness for anything in the world.
The lieutenant stepped over to a small table near the window to write a few notes on a tablet lying on its surface. Though she dearly desired to talk to Masaru further of his demon-plagued acquaintance, she thought it only fair that she at least offer him a few moments of peace after she’d forced a fast recovery upon him.
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Post by Harmony on Mar 8, 2008 19:36:54 GMT -4
Masaru could not help but feel a little cheer with the presence of the other two Shinigami, Atsue and Takeo. Even as his bones shifted within him, he felt them beside him and it made him happier perhaps than he'd care to admit. There was a certain warmth they brought, a certain... he didn't really know what it was, perhaps because he hadn't experienced it for a very long time. He felt truly cared for. Some healers were not as sincere as Atsue seemed to be and he liked that about her. Takeo was a good kid, too. Scared as he was, the young shinigami was devoted to his work and most notably to Atsue. He was loyal to her, and loyalty was something Masaru could respect in a person... especially after... that time. Masaru winced, this time not because of the pain, but because of an unpleasant memory from ten years ago... when... he left. Gahrok.
A seriousness fell over Masaru then and he allowed himself to be reminded briefly, almost as a way to personally punish himself. Never again. He... needed to keep things straight. He looked down at his feet, his eyes going blank in his thoughtfulness. He would never again allow himself to abandon that which he cared for.
He had been so wrapped up his haunting memories that he nearly jumped when Atsue's voice shattered his reverie, and he looked up at her, his eyes growing wide. She DID know. He swallowed hard and winced at the dryness of his throat. It was rough as sandpaper. “Yeah?” his voice cracked a little, but that was all he managed to say for a moment, before adding, “So you did see then?” He fought to keep his voice level, but this proved difficult with his escalating apprehension. He pointed at the scar on his abdomen, “You saw what made this?” His eyes narrowed as he peered into her gentle face, his harsh hazel eyes seeking hers. His stare was deep and intense, but despite this, he found himself increasingly relieved. She knew, and she hadn't made a big deal out of it. She wasn't afraid, she wasn't disturbed... she was just carrying on with her work like she was completely unaffected, and Masaru found this to be a breath of fresh air. He had kept it so heavily guarded all this time...
As a captain, his Bankai was of course well known, but so few had seen him use it that hardly anyone knew about his activation. Masaru also refrained from using Bankai in most battles not because of the pain, but because of his pride. The use of Bankai felt like a failure to him, to be forced into a corner. He saved it always as a last resort, relying on it only when all other cards had been played. To allow the enemy the satisfaction of forcing him to activate Bankai injured his already fragile pride. As stated before, he always trained alone, struggling in solitude to gain some form of control. Alone. A bit of a smile found it's way to his lips, though it held little joy. For the past ten years... he was nothing but alone. No one experienced anything with him, no one talked to him... worst of all he knew this was his own fault. He never let anyone in. After Hanako...died... he was inconsolable and he pushed away all that was familiar. So why now... after ten lonely years, why the fuck did he suddenly feel comforted by sharing a single secret with another person?
He stopped thinking about this however when he felt Takeo let go entirely and Masaru shifted a little on the bed before leaning slightly to the side, his weight supported by his right hand. A few moments later, Masaru realized he was probably making things more difficult for Atsue in his change of position, and was about to sit upright again when he saw that she had finished. Already?
He again lifted his arms as the chain was removed from his torso. He could feel each of the spikes lifting individually, and he looked down with wonder, marveling at the extent of Atsue's ability. Her talents were even more apparent now that the chain had been removed and he could see himself entirely. It seemed so flawless. “You really deserve your position, you know,” he said quietly, his voice free of the usual biting quality, “I haven't seen anything like this...” he chuckled “...and with how much they have to stitch me up, I've seen a lot.” He looked up and offered her a crooked smile as he struggled to maintain this level of friendliness that he managed to conjure.
Her Zanpakuto reverted back to its sealed state and his smile faded a little, though the kind quality remained in his eyes.
“Takeo-san. Please inform the Captain that Takahashi-taichou’s treatment is complete, and that he is to be released as soon as possible.”
Masaru watched with a returning smile as Takeo charged out of the room only to burst back in to bow before taking off. What a good kid. Despite his awkwardness he was so eager to please. Shortly following this there was a bit of a crash at the end of the hallway and Masaru chuckled aloud as he pulled himself to his feet. “Interesting fellow... Woops...” Masaru had sat back down again with a hand to his head, which seemed to be swimming. Maybe standing up at the moment wasn't the best of ideas.
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Post by Shizuko on Mar 9, 2008 21:10:04 GMT -4
The manner in which Masaru spoke, the way he looked at Atsue in that brief moment, the intensity of his gaze… it all suggested the man’s discomfort with someone knowing of his bankai abilities. Pondering it for a moment, Atsue thought it odd for a Captain to be secretive about his or her bankai. The leaders of the Gotei 13 were known for their substantial prowess in all manner of shinigami skills, and this included their bankai. Indeed, it was one of the few very specific requirements of becoming a Captain-class shinigami. Why would this man be so reserved about his zanpakuto’s ultimate released form?
While she apparently didn’t share the same reasoning for choosing to hide her bankai, Atsue could easily recognize the guarded behavior surrounding it. As quickly as the woman had asked the question in her mind, she’d begun to formulate an answer. It was rather common knowledge that the Captain’s zanpakuto was based in the formation and use of acid, though now that she thought about it, Atsue had never heard about the actual activation of its bankai. Given her position and abilities in the Fourth Division, the observations of many shinigami in the heat of battle were openly shared as they recovered from injuries. It was almost as a contest to see who had been involved with the most substantial battle. At one time or another the woman had received very detailed accounts about nearly every Captain’s bankai and how it had been used in combat from those who had witnessed it (and in some cases, landed in the healers’ hands as a result). She hadn’t realized it earlier, but in retrospect the woman found that she had no such report of this man’s bankai. She was suddenly feeling quite humbled to be one of the only people in Soul Society who had ever seen Masaru’s last stand.
In answer to the Captain’s inquiry about her knowledge of the scar on his abdomen, the medic’s eyes merely darted to the man’s zanpakuto which accompanied his haori on the chair nearby. The Vice Captain felt it unnecessary to speak of the topic at hand any further for the moment, as Masaru had made it relatively clear that he didn’t intend for the sensitive information regarding his zanpakuto to spread. While Takeo was an obedient and trustworthy young man, Atsue deemed it better to save such discussion for another time. There was no need for him to witness a conversation like that and have the lad act more nervous and awkward around others simply because he had a secret that he couldn’t share.
As the Captain looked over the healer’s now finished work, it seemed that he was quite pleased. Atsue was honored to hear his opinion on the quality of her healing abilities. Now that he was feeling better, the man seemed quite friendly and upbeat. This so soon after a short but intense discussion about his fight and its aftermath... it was rather surprising. She gave him a small bow in thanks while her cheeks blushed slightly at his compliments.
“Thank you, Takahashi-taichou. While I’d love to claim that I’d planned to become a great healer, I must admit that it’s more a result of having been blessed with a distinctive zanpakuto,” the woman answered with her signature friendly grin.
In truth, the Vice Captain’s zanpakuto was blessing of which she was both proud and afraid. Such was the double-bladed irony of the weapon’s abilities. Those around Atsue had really only known the woman’s zanpakuto to be that of a healing variety. She was unaware of any who knew of its destructive capabilities. As a result, the woman felt a better understanding of the Captain’s hidden burden. She, too, had always trained alone in hopes that somehow her secret would never come to light before she was prepared, if ever.
It was as Atsue had turned her attention to the tablet on the table and her subordinate had taken off down the hall that the woman quietly spoke once more, hoping to ease her patient’s mind further. She knew that she would want to hear something more if her own closely guarded secret had escaped.
“I’m sure you have your reasons and they’re none of my business, but you have my word that discussion of your bankai will not occur outside of this room unless you will it.”
It was a simple matter of confidentiality. Atsue had elected to be direct about it, yes, but she felt it important to do so, lest there be any confusion about what she had seen or what her intentions would be for such information.
She paused for a moment before adding, “… and for what it’s worth, you have nothing to be ashamed of. If I may be so bold, I’d like to say that I think it’s admirable that you don’t flaunt your most powerful techniques as some around here tend to do. Bankai is meant to be a last resort, after all.”
Atsue glanced up from the tablet to Masaru’s face, hoping that he found some peace in her words. At the very least, she hoped she hadn’t overstepped her bounds in speaking to the man further of his closely guarded secret.
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Post by Harmony on Mar 10, 2008 17:06:03 GMT -4
She said nothing. Masaru didn't know what to make of it. His stomach churned as a new sick feeling invaded it and he watched her carefully, his scrutinizing gaze scanning her graceful features for a sign of recognition. He knew what was at stake in this conversation... a sullied reputation, perhaps even people attempting to remove him from his position. If they knew... if they knew the pain inflicted upon himself, if they knew the reluctance he felt for using his Bankai, his position could be in jeopardy. How reliable was he? Truthfully, Masaru didn't know. He only knew that there was a whole slew of fellow Bankai users in the ranks of the divisions, waiting for a free spot among the captain's seats. It would not be difficult to replace him. Could he trust her? Her silence was not welcome.
As her eyes went to his Zanpakuto, Masaru's own gaze moved also to the dagger, a fire in his eyes. It was in the same chair as his white Haori and to see the two objects juxtaposed in such a fashion only reinforced Masaru's fears. How long would she permit him to keep his title... how long would that Haori remain on his back? With these questions another thought entered his mind... another unsettling truth... Hiketsu refused to talk to him. This secret he kept even more guarded than that of his Bankai's activation. He not only trained separately from fellow shinigami, but also in absence of his Zanpakuto's spirit. Hiketsu offered not a single word of praise or guidance... no acknowledgment... no companionship... without her, Masaru's Bankai was admittedly weaker than other's. Without her, Masaru had only managed to just scrape the surface of his Bankai's potential. He had nothing to gain from her. If they found out about her silence... if they knew of his shame, what would become of him? God he missed her! Hiketsu... Hiketsu... Masaru called out to her within his mind as he often did when he was reminded of her I fought without you again... how long will I continue to fight alone?
Silence was his only answer.
Not only did it dull the sting of his sword, but her silence was a spike in his heart. It hurt him. Not so long ago, she had been his closest friend and confidant. It iwas not uncommon for Shinigmi to form strong bonds with the spirits contained in their Zanpakuto, and Masaru had been no exception. What happened? A broken smile crossed his features briefly, his hands closing into fists. He needed to let it all out. He wanted to throw his head back like a hound and bay to the heavens, but Masaru was denied even of this. How much longer could he, would he carry on like this? He was a fuckin' stray dog in the guise of a king. How much longer?
She bowed to him in response to his compliment, and Masaru noted with unexpected pleasure that her cheeks were growing flush. The corners of his mouth pulled up in a small grin, joy pervading his features. “Aren't we all bound by the abilities of our swords?” He asked in response and his smile grew, bringing out a certain charm in his eyes that few had the chance to see. He gestured at the various burns crisscrossing his body with a slight wave of his hand. Years and years of working with acid had taken its toll. The abilities of his zanpakuto affected nearly every aspect of his life. “A shinigami's skill does not lie in the nature of his or her zanpakuto, but in the partnership that is formed...” he cringed inwardly as he was reminded yet again of Hiketsu, but his brightened features remained unchanged, “All of us were given strength, but few reach the level of understanding required to properly utilize that strength...You're skilled. You'll go far, Atsue.” Masaru added afterwards to himself, Farther than I. He was not unhappy however, he was glad to recognize the skills Atsue possessed. She had the makings of a captain within her.
The silence that fell over them with the absence of Takeo was suddenly broken by Atsue and Masaru went rigid with a sharp intake of breath... She... She had brought it up.
“I’m sure you have your reasons and they’re none of my business, but you have my word that discussion of your bankai will not occur outside of this room unless you will it.”
Her voice was soft as she said this, but her words lost not their power over him. Hardly daring to believe what he was hearing, Masaru looked about the room, suddenly realizing that her silence from earlier was because they were not alone until now... Takeo... that kid. She was protecting his secret better than he, and Masaru's smile faded a little with the seriousness her statement provoked within him, but he remained happy. Relief flooded him like a great cleansing wave. His secret was still safe. How lucky he was that it was her, Atsue, that found him.
As if this wasn't enough, a second statement followed, and Masaru felt his own cheeks growing warm. Admirable, she said. Seldom did he, Masaru hear such things. Her compliment was extremely encouraging; even coming from someone of lower rank, it was good to hear. He fought the grin from surfacing but it broke out across his face anyways. Even as she looked up at him Masaru was powerless against the joy he felt, no matter how he wished he could hide it. “Thank you, Atsue. You have my trust.”
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