The Inquiry [Closed|Miki]

Kiriko studied the other woman's features very carefully, her attention to detail serving her well here. Even when people disguised their expressions it was nearly impossible to hide telltale signs of emotion, micro-expressions and instantaneous twitches. Kiriko had trained long and hard to pick these up, to notice the change in the split second it appeared and mark it down in her thoughts. It had always helped her in battle, that sharp focus, but in these kinds of situations it proved almost more effective.

Sakamoto Miki was a renown figure, and arguably far stronger than Kiriko herself even if their rank should of said the opposite, but despite that, and despite the fact that Kiriko hadn't even noticed the other woman's arrival, there were things that the Second were trained in that other Divisions had never even heard of. And Kiriko had little trouble reading into those small nuances in Sakamoto's facial expressions. Even if it had been impossible it wasn't hard to realize how the other Divisions thought of the Nibantai. Kiriko knew her own reputation and that of her Division and her Captain. It was thrilling usually to carry those rumors around on her shoulders like armor to protect her standing in society. Now it just got in the way, though there were always ways of turning that distrust into something more useful.

Kiriko was a stickler for rank and protocol so she was rather surprised to hear Sakamoto try and forgo formality entirely with the wave of a hand. Were things really so lax here that the other girl didn't care who saw her acting so informally? That was a scary thought, and one better served to put aside for now and think about later. It wouldn't be hard to confirm, Kiriko knew of a few informants she could tap in the Third. They had always been the easiest to fall for the trap of trusting in the solidarity of the Gotei.

Kiriko nodded firmly, giving nothing away as she confirmed Sakamoto's hearing, “Yes, a joint endeavor.” She was so very pleased at that undisguised interest and even surprise, keeping someone like Sakamoto in shock and unfamiliar territory was the best way of staying in control of the situation here. Eying the very obvious eavesdropping of a few nearby Shinigami, Kiriko withheld a sigh. It was none of her business really how different Captains trained their subordinates, but to be so conspicuous about listening in was just... Well, stupid for one. And rude for another. Her thoughts about the other Divisions were never really dissuaded whenever she visited them, this was just one more prime example to add to the list of the reasons why the Second was so much better than everyone else. Her people at least had the decency to try and eavesdrop in secrecy.

Following the Kido Corps Lieutenant outside, Kiriko was actually somewhat relieved that the rank was more of a title now. It gave her another foothold in this conversation. When speaking with another Lieutenant she had to be careful, had to step softer, because the rank was equivalent. But with someone below her in status she had a bit more wiggle room to move around. Even if Sakamoto was clearly more powerful in many different aspects, title alone would give Kiriko the upper hand. In a hierarchical society such as Soul Society it didn't matter if someone could destroy you in battle so long as you were of a higher rank than them because order and protocol still had to be followed. That was the benefit of a military rule.

Sakamoto sat down and Kiriko spent a split-second weighing her options. She could remain standing to really force formality down Sakamoto's throat, but to do so would imply a difference in rank not in her favor. Or she could sit down and bow to informality, but remain at the very least signaling through body language her equality. The first option would be seen as more hostile for a few different reasons, and Kiriko was not here to further her image in that regard. So really what mattered more was appeasement for now, and she sat neatly beside the older Shinigami, hands placed unassumingly in her lap.

“Thank you,” Kiriko intoned seriously, knowing that there was no need for specifying the things she was thanking the other woman for. They were too obvious to be stated. It would have been terribly awkward if Sakamoto had forced Kiriko to speak inside, and probably fruitless too because she would have been unable to provide full disclosure in such a setting. Here, after a quick scan of the surrounding area, Kiriko knew for certain that the two Shinigami were alone. There were no structures within listening distance to obscure her line of sight so unless someone had managed to master turning invisible any time lately she could be certain of their secrecy.

And now it came to the hard part of this conversation. How to convince the Kidoist to help her. Kiriko wasn't the best study of humanity, but she knew how to play to strengths and her small understanding of Sakamoto indicated that curiosity was a stronger urge than plain duty or the desire to assist a fellow Gotei member. She also understood intuitively that Sakamoto was not going to like it if Kiriko lied or hedged her words, that doing so might even destroy this opportunity, so Kiriko decided to be as honest as she could given the circumstances. “Have you ever heard of anyone using Kido in close range? Hado blasts are always long range to my knowledge, but recently I have begun to imagine a new option. If someone could use Kido in close range, to augment their normal strikes... That would be quite a powerful fighting ability, wouldn't it?”

Kiriko paused long enough to allow for speculation, for the rising of interest, before she went on, “I come before you seeking your assistance. As you might know, I am rather well learned in the art of Hakuda, however my Kido knowledge is somewhat lacking. I still think there might be a way to balance the two, to use one to strengthen the other, but I am in need of your expertise. Do you think this kind of usage is possible Sakamoto-san?”

WC: 1051 | GP: 21 | Total GP: 49

Kiriko studied the woman beside her intently, making no attempt to disguise the way she hung off of each word that Sakamoto spoke. She would only look the fool if she tried to pretend this subject wasn't important to her, better to be truthful and seen as moderate rather than the other two extremes. Each twitch and frown echoed like thunder under her scrutiny and yet at the same time Kiriko found herself almost holding her breath, the suspense buffeting at her like a sharp wind. It had been a while since she had ever wanted something so badly from someone else, ever needed something from another person, and the feeling was disconcerting to say the least along with unfamiliar. Kiriko hated to ask for favors, hated to be in someone else's debt. But this was almost an equal tradeoff really, if she was weighing the situation correctly. Sakamoto got to delve into an interesting and cutting edge idea and Kiriko got the information she vitally needed to become someone strong. Sure she was getting the better side of this deal, but it remained to be seen what Sakamoto ended up with.

She frozen in cold dread as Sakamoto talked about the dangers of this kind of idea. Losing body parts? Considering she had intended to amplify her fists with Kido that was not an option! Her heart began to hammer in her chest as she worked hard to keep her expression wiped clean. She didn't want to dash their chances before Sakamoto had thought it out fully. Her few seconds of tense waiting paid off as the Kidoist frowned in deep thought, mulling up an idea that was just another indicator of the woman's incredible knowledge when it came to Kido.

Restricted books? She had never really heard about any central library, and the way Sakamoto had phrased that sentence it sounded as if she was talking about an official collection. Maybe the Kido Corps had left behind something like that and the Third Division had inherited it? Wondering if her chances were slowly trickling between her fingers Kiriko tried desperately to grasp for any opportunity. And then suddenly there was a crack in the impenetrable wall, “I can help you with Hakuda. If you're interested in this experiment and can access those books. I am willing to take the risk, if this is dangerous I am up for the challenge because the outcome would be of such great importance for the Divisions and our combat system.” Kiriko spoke, her intent words showing just how honest she was being. Kiriko wasn't hiding from the truth, there was a danger here, but if she had the chance of creating something to help herself achieve prowess in combat then she would have to take that risk. No amount of fear could keep her back from the gains. It was all about appearance, right? Kiriko couldn't hide much longer as a Lieutenant who couldn't even hold her own in battle, soon enough it would come out publicly and she would not only embarrass herself but mar the standards of the Second. That was unacceptable, she would do anything to avoid that.

The question was, was curiosity and new knowledge enough of an incentive to drive someone like Sakamoto Miki? Kiriko needed to know. Meeting the other woman's eyes directly, she asked, “Are you willing to take that risk too Sakamoto-san?” The response would tell her weather or not this discussion would go any further or would collapse into a regrettable admission. Kiriko wasn't a spiritual person, but for her own ambition's sake, she prayed that the next few seconds would be advantageous.

WC: 610 | GP: 12 | Total GP: 61

While Kiriko was disappointed and unimpressed with Sakamoto's first response, a lackadaisical supposition, the woman's next actions made it quite clear that she had dedication too. Or at least a burning curiosity. Soothed that her efforts and risks were not in vain Kiriko flashed a cold hard smile, inordinately pleased with how well this was going. Her Shunpo had never been amazing, though she was well skilled in the area as anyone in the Second had to be, and Kiriko found it difficult to keep up with Sakamoto who seemed to race across distance as if it was nothing but mere feet. Sometimes it took Kiriko two steps to take what Sakamoto made in one, but she had her wits about her and calculated distances correctly ensuring that Kiriko caught up to the Kidoist with only a few seconds pause.

Looking around the area they finally stopped in, she could feel the waves of energy that wreathed this place. It wasn't a physical sensation, but a spiritual one, the hair on her arms rising up and a shiver wracking her body. This place was... what? Powerful? Protected? Kiriko dabbled in Kido herself but had never felt anything like this before, it was awe inspiring really. To see how far one could go with the Demon Arts alone. She paid close attention, her meticulous nature at play even though she was unable to discern any real details here of the barriers in place. Despite her own forte being barriers this was so far beyond her scope of imagination that it was a bit terrifying. It showed her how far she still had to come, in yet another area of expertise.

Her breath was caught up in her throat as the two descended the spiraling stairs, a sense of vertigo momentarily sent her off guard but Kiriko recovered swiftly. Information was her currency, and the idea of there being diaries and secrets within this building was so very tantalizing that she almost jumped at this singular chance. But that was not why she was here, gossip and power plays were secondary at the moment to her quest because if she and Sakamoto were successful then it would have far higher reaching effects than simply knowing the skeletons in the closet of higher ups and Divisions.

Glancing assessingly at the renowned woman beside her, Kiriko thought deeply about her last words. Was that a threat? An indication that Kiriko now owed Sakamoto for letting her inside this place? Kiriko could be honest and humble enough to feel thankful for the chance, but she didn't yet owe Sakamoto a thing and wanted to be clear about debts. This was a mutual exchange, that had been her thinly veiled offer. Deciding to keep quiet about things and see how she ended up, where the scales were tipped, Kiriko nodded her head solemnly before asking, “Where do we start?” She was nothing if not productive and while her awe of the building had built up over the past few minutes now that she was inside it was all work to her. Work needed to be completed and she felt the fiery urge to get started, to sort and stack and read and delve. There was nothing more enjoyable than having a huge task ahead of you and the knowledge that you are fully capable of tackling it with ease. She loved that about herself, the efficiency.   

WC: 570 | GP: 11 | Total GP: 72

Kiriko stared at the pile of books to her left, neatly arranged and stacked up high. Then she shifted her body, turning her neck to stare at an identical pile of books to her right. Massaging her aching shoulders, she glanced backwards to the pile of discarded books in her wake. The information in here was massive, intimidating, intense, but it was not what she was looking for. The secret techniques and killing arts of dozens of Shinigami from the Second were now imprinted into her brain, but she was no closer to finding the information she was looking for. If anything, her attention kept wandering when she found diagrams and in depth descriptions of unconventional and sometimes ancient Hakuda techniques. She felt as if she'd attended a primer on hand to hand combat that even the most veteran fighter would have learned from, her head reeling with new concepts and even just body mechanics. Surely she should have known more of this before! Just the information on internal muscle control was incredibly useful, not to mention the genius minds that had shared their tactics in these pages.

Kiriko was not so great that she didn't consider stealing some of these books. Her intellectual mind thought that it would be so very very simple to slip things into hidden pockets, to secret them away. Especially since Sakamoto was way over in the other half of the building. But it was more than just honorable feelings that stopped her. Caution from unknown Kido had a far stronger effect on Kiriko than her peaceable thoughts towards Sakamoto. Who knew what the barriers in this place could actually detect and do? She would just have to read and commit to memory, something she had a particular knack for seeing as most of the information at the Second was read once and then destroyed. Even so, even with all of her practice, she had never put in days like this. Of non-stop research, turning dusty page after dusty page without break or cessation and her mind was reeling something awful. She almost felt off-kilter, as if her brain had turned into a sluggish machine. When she closed her eyes to rest for a few seconds, the lines of text floated there in front of her, inescapable but oh so very promising.

In spite of her tiredness, her aching eyes, her numbed brain, Kiriko couldn't help but keep reading. Her fingers fumbled at journal after journal, report after report, the lines blurring but nevertheless imprinting indelibly into her consciousness. This was a goldmine, pure and simple. What Kiriko was reading here was something she should never have had access to, something that was so concentrated that even without any practice she could already tell the information alone had made her a better fighter. A better killer. A better Lieutenant.

She consumed books like fire, reading until she had to finally admit defeat and catch a few hours of uncomfortable napping before eagerly beginning again. Perhaps it was obsession, perhaps it was arrogance, but this was the answer to everything! If only she could read a bit more, just learn a little bit more. Because Kiriko's greatest problem of all, her weakness, her inability to stand up to her peers in strength comparison, all of that would be answered here within these books. She couldn't stand her own lack of strength, the fact that she was the weakest Lieutenant of them all even though she represented the Second. The Second! It was an aberration, a chink in her image, something that needed to be eradicated and rebuilt. And she would do so. Nothing could stop Kiriko from rebuilding herself, recreating strengths where there had been none and engendering skills where before she had been barren of ability.

This was her chance! The first real one since her Captain had promoted her to the position of Lieutenant. Kiriko was tired of being weak, tired of being ineffective in combat! She devoured the information as if she had been in a mental desert her whole life, voraciously reading until her head felt as if it would explode. Never giving up, because on the next page, the next book, the next stack, there would be even more precious secrets. Something to make her stronger, faster, better.

She was in a daze, scanning the beginning of an old cracked journal when Sakamoto came racing around the corner. It took her stiff body several tries before she could lift her head and set down the book, carefully marking her place with one finger. Her eyes were ringed in dark smudges, alight with a fiendish energy as she stared at the sudden intrusion, “What...?” Her mouth croaked a dry, hoarse response, the anticlimactic ending to their escapades feeling like a slap in the face.

Sakamoto had found it? Sakamoto? Why not Kiriko? Why not? Her second sluggish thought was less petty. It's over? She pushed back her chair and stood, body protesting the movement after so long in stillness. Rushing over to the Kidoist, Kiriko felt an inane smile stretch her face. She was so tired that her normal worry about being serious felt almost humorous right now, she could have laughed if her throat wasn't so dry. “You found it!” Kiriko hovered, unable to contain herself now that that realization had sunk in to her brain. “What does it say? Is it possible? What do we need to do?” The questions rushed from her head to her mouth without a filter, but Kiriko regained herself long enough to rock back on her heels and pause, giving Sakamoto a serious look as she calmed down and found control. “Please, take your time and explain.”

WC: 952 | GP: 19 | Total GP: 91