A Stray Cat | [Closed|Toujou]

Kiriko glanced down at her notes once again, one hand reaching out to slide her window open to allow the soft breeze from outside to enter. It carried with it the scent of the flower beds in full bloom, a hidden sign of the beauty directly outside her window. Kiriko liked to think she was good at finding hidden signs like that, good at sussing out their meaning. With scents it was easy, but with paperwork... Well, it often took a lot more thinking to determine what individual notes and reports meant about people. Psychology was a subject she studied for her job, not necessarily out of joy. Kiriko didn't care why people worked the way they did, only that she knew how to exploit and use those trends. It was imperative after all, a fail safe. The mind and the tongue were all tools to be used not left dull tucked away.

Because of that interest Kiriko tried to gather reports on each batch of recruits that applied for entrance to the Second Division. The Academy had just had a new graduating class and she had several names waiting to be looked at today. It was fairly easy to find a picture of each person in their files, to trace grades and teacher's comments and formulate an image of the potential recruit. It wasn't often very complete of an image however. An A in your Hakuda class didn't tell her if the student was good with form or had an actual knack for battle. Didn't tell her how they would act in a deadly situation. Didn't tell her how dependable they were. What their motives were for training to get that A. It didn't tell her much of anything except that there was a basic knowledge of skill. That was why she found these reports so irksome. Kiriko didn't accept applicants just because they were good at something in the classroom. She expected more than combat skill in her subordinates. A lot more. And after reading through the records of one Yoshinaru Tojou she still wasn't sure if he had was she was looking for.

There was really only one way to find out and Kiriko was glad that she had sent him a missive asking him to come in today for an interview. She tried her best to interview every recruit, though sometimes she had to hand the duty off to another seated officer when she was too busy. This would be her first time doing this without the approval of Tsukimiya-taichou, and it felt a little strange knowing that it was only her decision that mattered now. That if she made a mistake in approving or disapproving that it was only herself to blame. That was the weight of command, and as naked as the feeling was she couldn't help but shiver in delight. The chance to make that mistake was more important than the risk, because Kiriko held confidence in herself now. She wouldn't misjudge.

Brushing to her feet she tidied herself before sweeping out of the Annex and towards the main meeting hall connected to the barracks. It was where she expected Yoshinaru to have been led now that the appropriate time for their meeting had come. Collecting her thoughts Kiriko walked with a great purpose. Welcoming and testing new entrants to the Nibantai was one of her greatest honors. To find a kindred spirit in the muck of Seireitei was such a lucky thing, and to send away the losers torn to shreds was also an enjoyable experience. The Second didn't take just anyone, and many people applied with false dreams in their heads. She would brook no arrogance or ambition towards that sort of glory. Kiriko only had skilled Shinigami in her Division, no blunted blades were allowed.

Wrapping the back of her knuckles against the shoji door she slid it open and stepped into the meeting room, casting about for the form of her target. Eying the boy impassively she clinically noted that his strange appearance would make covert operations difficult for him. “Good morning, Yoshinaru-san. I am Lieutenant Chinda Kiriko standing in as Acting Captain for Tsukimiya-taichou who is busy currently.”

WC: 700 | GP: 14 | Total GP: 14