Shun
New Member
Takes place after A Clockwork's Minute to Midnight
[ 1024 ]
One of life's biggest issue is making the right choices. No matter what one may choose, it always has its benefits and also its limitations. How did the saying even go? The best intentions invite the worst kinds of trouble? Or some such like that? Whatever it was, for a particular soul reaper, choices had become almost problematic as of late. Although the options were clear enough, it was another story figuring out which one would lead to the best course of action, which one would result in the least amount of casualties, and which one would make him look less like a fool than he already was.
Ah the life of an officer, Ryoujin thought dryly, as the growing number of murmurs of medics could be heard. Peering closely enough, he noticed that they were intently trying to patch up Manzo and keep him stable for as long as they could before the Charon's Road could be used to bring him to a more suitable environment. A moment ago, the ebony-haired man was doing what he could to report the message that Sayis had instructed him to convey back to headquarters, and now, he was faced with a whole 'nother circumstance.
With the message having been delivered to the Kidou Chief, now only one more thing remained. Staying here and making sure that Gorou didn't wind up killing someone or even himself through his fit of rage, or heading back and helping Nana, Tsubaki, and Ishin forge a way into the final corridor that would most likely lead them towards where Raifuku truly was. If he were to choose either one, he was pretty sure that he wouldn't hear the end of it from the larger Herald, who's aggression towards him was still almost palpable in the air. For some reason or another when the rare instances occurred where he tried to talk some sense into others, they ironically enough usually winded up holding a grudge against him.
Had the others not intervened, a fight would have probably escalated, and to be quite honest, if Gorou was truly intent on spilling blood, then he would not have shown any mercy, ally or not. After all, now that they were on the other side and Manzo was seeping in and out of consciousness, there was nothing obstructing the two shinigami from bearing arms. For the time being though, it looked like things had settled down somewhat, at least enough for Ryoujin to finally start thinking things through for once.
Although it was quite evident that he too was intent on heading back instead of remaining put back in Soul Society, things weren't so simple. It was not hesitation that stopped him though; in fact, that sort of feeling had almost become nonexistent to him. Rather, it was a sense of duty that bound him to remain in Seiretei for at least a while longer before trying to so much as to even return back to Dunan to help out in the cause.
Having already removed himself from both Gorou and Manzo although he was still nearby in case the larger of the two decided to pull something, the pink-haired Templar turned his gaze towards the looming white walls of Seireitei. He didn't even know how long it had been since they had first passed through the portal to Dunan, but it felt like it had been almost months since he had last been in Soul Society. The home that he had come to call almost strangely felt foreign to him, perhaps one of many side-effects just waiting to be discovered from the mind games that Raifuku was putting them through in his maze.
It was definitely strange. After all, hadn't he expected for there to be a more grim setting awaiting him back at Seireitei? Any regular villiain would have tried to attack the homefront while everyone else was deployed elsewhere, so why was it that he could only see clear skies and bright sunlight beaming down?
It wasn't until this realization when he truly started to feel the staggering effects that had accumulated up to this point. Although his injuries were present, they were nowhere near in comparison to what Manzo was enduring. Still, if this continued on for any longer, he might find himself in a situation similar to that of his friend's or possibly even worse with his renowned track record and penchant for being susceptible to injury.
"Gah, make up your mind already," Ryoujin muttered to himself, ruffling his pink hair in frustration. It was far from easy though, but hadn't his fight with the former captain of the Sixth and Second Division, Taiken Yuusuke, taught him just how far individuals can sink after making the wrong choice? While the man had noble intentions, he had inevitably lost sight of what made him a shinigami in the first place. Ending up like that made Ryoujin think twice about what was considered to be the right thing.
Surely, if it was back when he had first graduated from the Academy and joined the Eleventh's ranks, he would have made the decision within a heart beat, but now, there were just too many factors playing a role in something that should have been simple. Did this mean that he was growing as an officer, that possibly the Eleventh had tested him through many trials and tribulations just like Tsubaki had predicted since appointing him a seat over two years ago?
Nah. He was still, more or less, the same vagrant that had somehow kept himself alive up to this point although he had faced a number of situations where he was close to the brink of death.
"Arashi-san, we're going to need an answer soon. Are you heading back or waiting to see what happens?" a voice called from nearby.
Tilting his head slightly to glance briefly at the operator that had addressed him, Ryoujin only gave him an apathetic smile, showing no hint of what his decision was although it soon became readily apparent as the Tsukanoma No Kishi armor clinked into place.
"The secret of redemption lies in rememberance, huh?"
[ 1024 ]
Ah the life of an officer, Ryoujin thought dryly, as the growing number of murmurs of medics could be heard. Peering closely enough, he noticed that they were intently trying to patch up Manzo and keep him stable for as long as they could before the Charon's Road could be used to bring him to a more suitable environment. A moment ago, the ebony-haired man was doing what he could to report the message that Sayis had instructed him to convey back to headquarters, and now, he was faced with a whole 'nother circumstance.
With the message having been delivered to the Kidou Chief, now only one more thing remained. Staying here and making sure that Gorou didn't wind up killing someone or even himself through his fit of rage, or heading back and helping Nana, Tsubaki, and Ishin forge a way into the final corridor that would most likely lead them towards where Raifuku truly was. If he were to choose either one, he was pretty sure that he wouldn't hear the end of it from the larger Herald, who's aggression towards him was still almost palpable in the air. For some reason or another when the rare instances occurred where he tried to talk some sense into others, they ironically enough usually winded up holding a grudge against him.
“Not today,” he snorted gutturally, “but I won’t forget.”'
Had the others not intervened, a fight would have probably escalated, and to be quite honest, if Gorou was truly intent on spilling blood, then he would not have shown any mercy, ally or not. After all, now that they were on the other side and Manzo was seeping in and out of consciousness, there was nothing obstructing the two shinigami from bearing arms. For the time being though, it looked like things had settled down somewhat, at least enough for Ryoujin to finally start thinking things through for once.
“You can come back to help us out in getting into the final corridor, but do make sure you’re one hundred percent sure, okay? If you come back with even the slightest hint of hesitation, I will personally throw you back out, understood?”
Although it was quite evident that he too was intent on heading back instead of remaining put back in Soul Society, things weren't so simple. It was not hesitation that stopped him though; in fact, that sort of feeling had almost become nonexistent to him. Rather, it was a sense of duty that bound him to remain in Seiretei for at least a while longer before trying to so much as to even return back to Dunan to help out in the cause.
Having already removed himself from both Gorou and Manzo although he was still nearby in case the larger of the two decided to pull something, the pink-haired Templar turned his gaze towards the looming white walls of Seireitei. He didn't even know how long it had been since they had first passed through the portal to Dunan, but it felt like it had been almost months since he had last been in Soul Society. The home that he had come to call almost strangely felt foreign to him, perhaps one of many side-effects just waiting to be discovered from the mind games that Raifuku was putting them through in his maze.
It was definitely strange. After all, hadn't he expected for there to be a more grim setting awaiting him back at Seireitei? Any regular villiain would have tried to attack the homefront while everyone else was deployed elsewhere, so why was it that he could only see clear skies and bright sunlight beaming down?
It wasn't until this realization when he truly started to feel the staggering effects that had accumulated up to this point. Although his injuries were present, they were nowhere near in comparison to what Manzo was enduring. Still, if this continued on for any longer, he might find himself in a situation similar to that of his friend's or possibly even worse with his renowned track record and penchant for being susceptible to injury.
"Gah, make up your mind already," Ryoujin muttered to himself, ruffling his pink hair in frustration. It was far from easy though, but hadn't his fight with the former captain of the Sixth and Second Division, Taiken Yuusuke, taught him just how far individuals can sink after making the wrong choice? While the man had noble intentions, he had inevitably lost sight of what made him a shinigami in the first place. Ending up like that made Ryoujin think twice about what was considered to be the right thing.
Surely, if it was back when he had first graduated from the Academy and joined the Eleventh's ranks, he would have made the decision within a heart beat, but now, there were just too many factors playing a role in something that should have been simple. Did this mean that he was growing as an officer, that possibly the Eleventh had tested him through many trials and tribulations just like Tsubaki had predicted since appointing him a seat over two years ago?
Nah. He was still, more or less, the same vagrant that had somehow kept himself alive up to this point although he had faced a number of situations where he was close to the brink of death.
"Arashi-san, we're going to need an answer soon. Are you heading back or waiting to see what happens?" a voice called from nearby.
Tilting his head slightly to glance briefly at the operator that had addressed him, Ryoujin only gave him an apathetic smile, showing no hint of what his decision was although it soon became readily apparent as the Tsukanoma No Kishi armor clinked into place.
"The secret of redemption lies in rememberance, huh?"
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