⠀
the kuragane ichizoku possess a comprehensive curriculum. they are scholars ; custodians of a society governed by moral discipline, where diplomacy wins over sword ( but the sword is no less sharp ).
they believe mastery must be preceded by knowledge. truth be it—it does.
⠀
⠀
there is a reason why the 5th is so deceptively exclusive in all its peace.
from the captain that was before him to his final return , hirako shinji knew all along that the 5th’s peace was a product of necessity for the greats of their time.
⠀
紅鋼椿. 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈
𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐊𝐎 .
⠀
⠀⠀⠀lashes flicker over scarlet, lips part, breath lingering just a fraction too long. an untrained eye would miss it—the infinitesimal flicker of hesitation, of consideration—of 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆.
but hirako shinji’s gaze is anything but untrained. illusion was mundane. he saw the beast beneath ceremony…
⠀
紅鋼椿. 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈
⠀
“ oya , 𝘰𝘺𝘢 , kuragane! ” comes hearty laughter —— there seems to be nothing but mirth coming from his person , and true mirth it proves to be. “ that's some comeback ; you've gotten much wittier , eh? i like that! ”
⠀
𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐊𝐎 .
⠀
⠀⠀⠀the food of her fancy is simple—more snack than meal. it’s the wine list she gives most attention.
calculated demeanour fails to show it, but the captain’s words stir something in her: an echo of doubt, long accepted but never wholly escaped. you never do. not when the doubt precedes a…
⠀
紅鋼椿. 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈
⠀
” ain't it! it's always something new when ya' learn the name of yer' zanpakuto, ” he grins , letting her take her time to order her food. ” when things are upside-down , ya' can see a whole new point-of-view. ”
⠀
𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐊𝐎 .
⠀
the truth of it ; the pleasure of the repartee. it pulls a laugh from her, a soft sound as she slips through the offered doorway—out from the staccato of rain & into the low hum of rhythm. a brief nod says ‘thank you’.
when she sits & digests his question, her chin finds rest atop fingers, ...
…
紅鋼椿. 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈
⠀
” that's how ya' can sift out a good man among the bastards, ” comes his amused chuckle , and when they finally reach the obscure jazz bar within the crossroads of the living and the dead , shinji holds the door open for her.
⠀
𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐊𝐎 .
⠀
the smile curves slowly, equal parts impish and contrite.
“ when we find a gentleman, I'll be sure to let him know he's footing the bill. ”
a soft laugh follows, apologetic. so does the smallest bow of her head ; that familiar tension between mischief and decorum…
[…]
紅鋼椿. 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈
⠀
the thing about kuragane tsubaki is that she's always been extremely astute.
her time in the 5th was a breath of fresh air , solely because she wasn't like the rest of the new recruits , tiptoeing around the true nature of the division.
⠀
𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐊𝐎 .
she hesitates. it had been a while, hadn't it? an absence filled with many stories.
a small shift—shoulders eased, her weight trades hips. when she looks at him, it's with that cunning conviction of a woman who has an 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚.
“ you know, there's a jazz bar not too far. if you want to catch up? “
