With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
It really was a unique sight for the most part, a member of 2nd Division leaving the 2nd Division barracks for nothing more than seemingly idol socializing, and no less with someone she barely knew. Only a few times while walking around Seireitei has she crossed with the Vice-Captain, and never really exchanging more than an honorific in greeting before moving on - their worlds simply did not clash. However, Sayuri was still trying to adjust to a more important roll within her Division, and out of her desire to serve her Captain better, she figured she best turn somewhere for insight.
The reputation of Nanao Ise as an organizer and delegater well known amongst the Seated members of Seireitei. While 3rd Seat not precisely as lofty or burden bearing as Vice-Captain, nevertheless it was still a position of responsibility; and within a Division where the majority of its Seated members are scattered off doing their own thing rather working cohesively - Sayuri figured she best learn from someone some skills in delegation. After all, she cannot continuously keep turning to her Captain for everything, she is a very busy woman after all and Sayuri did not want to start becoming a pest to her; especially with all that has happened since the destruction of the Rukongai with Aizen's return.
While the whole social concept is an alien arena to her, she is also willing to adapt, and if she wants to learn more on as to how definitively help her Captain run the Division outside of merely barking orders and reigning in unseated members, she will need to learn from someone. Nanao with her lauded reputation, despite barely even knowing her, seemed like the next best person to turn to for advice or insight.
Standing before the Vice-Captain's quarters door within the 8th Division barracks, Sayuri lightly knocked at the door with the back of her hand before uttering aloud but with a soft tone trying not to be too intrusive, "Vice-Captain Nanao Ise, it's Sayuri Sasaki, 3rd Seat of 2nd Division, I was wondering if you have a moment to spare - it's nothing pressing."
Nanao had, as usual, been making up for her Captain's laziness--she might as well be running the division, only needing Shunsui for his signature. He was truly hopeless, having tried all she could think of to rewire his attitude toward paperwork she reached no satisfactory end. All he did was lay around, irking her incessantly with his lackadaisical attitude toward life in general. And then there was how he treated her. She rolled her eyes in disgruntlement, a small part of her trying to admit that she actually did...like it...
Coming away from her thoughts for a moment and looking down at the current paper on her desk, she quickly read it: Financial Budget for Squad Banquet.
The number at the end of the sheet attracted her eyes in a malicious nature, taunting her with its ridiculous number. How the HELL did this bill end up so high?! She looked back at the list of expenses: Sake, Sake, Sake... More Sake, Sake Bowls, Sake, SakeSakeSake... She went down the column, finally seeing an article unrelated to alcohol: Rose Petals.
Sighing to herself, she put the paper aside, making a mental note to bring it up directly with the Captain and see if they couldn't modify the bill a bit. It was a banquet after all, not an open bar.
The next paper was a complaint from some of the members about the rather blandly endowed eighth squad barracks. Again, she squinted her eyes at the requests for tables, flowers, chairs, and many more frivolous aspects of furniture. The number at the end was rather reasonable, but still rather large. Evidently, the unseated members of this squad weren't afraid of the higher-ups enough... Nanao pushed up her glasses; Shunsui ruined the cold visage of the 8th division she always so vigilantly maintained. She put this paper as well on top of the budget for the banquet, writing a small note on the corner that the squad members needed to be disciplined more harshly.
Just as she was moving onto the next paper, she heard a light knocking at the doorway of her office.
>>"Vice-Captain Nanao Ise, it's Sayuri Sasaki, 3rd Seat of 2nd Division, I was wondering if you have a moment to spare - it's nothing pressing." <<
Nanao looked up at the third seat with a completely stoic expression. "What a pleasant surprise..." She looked out of the corner of her eyes at the paper she hadn't had a chance to scan, and, noticing it was something of little importance, she placed her pen down and directed her arm to a chair by the doorway, rather uncomfortable and simple looking. "Take a seat. To what do I owe the presence of a 2nd Division seated member?" She brought her hands together, putting on a face of complete patience and an aura of stony silence coating the small, orderly room.
Bowing her head gratefully for Nanao's allowing her inside, her brow furrowed a little in response to the seat, she was not really used to using western style chairs. But Sayuri wanted to remain polite, especially with Nanao having agreed to see her, so she took a seat in the chair offered to her, "Thank you, Vice-Captain.", she softly replied.
Her eyes glanced about the room briefly - serene, orderly, well-kept - just as what one would expect from Nanao's legendary managerial sensibility. Once Nanao asked what she owed the pleasure of Sayuri's visit, the tiny kunoichi's head snapped right back to Nanao attentively, "Insight.", she replied simply, "I'm surprised I have gotten this far within 2nd Division, and I do not wish to be a burden to my Captain, and as many know - our last 3rd Seat was a disgrace. I have a lot make up for because of it. I'm good at keeping myself organized and within routine, but doing so for others... is a somewhat new field to me. Contributing to Division wide organization and delegation is something I'm still learning how to do. Yourself however have much experience in such matters, and quite well-known for such skills. If you are willing to do so and have the time, I would appreciate any advice you have to offer in maintaining a well organized operating, cohesive Division. If not, I more than understand."
Staring off a little she remarked idly, "All I wish to do is learn how I can help my Captain keep her Division running smoothly.", turning her eyes back to Nanao, "Your ability to do so with 8th Division is highly regarded, so I thought you to be a natural choice to turn to for gaining some insight."
Listening to Sayuri's request, Nanao kept her hands grasped together in a commanding manner. She stayed quiet as the third seat talked of her managerial difficulties. It took her a moment to consider the speech, and exactly how she would respond to such a thing.
She pursed her lips and looked at the girl firmly; this was something unlike anything Nanao had dealt with before. There was only so much a 3rd seat could do with the management of a squad--although this woman was incredibly intelligent and honest, able to firstly, tell her weakness to someone unknown to her, and secondly know what would be required of her were she to assume the seat of vice-captaincy. It wouldn't do the girl well to assume the seat and bumble her way through aiding in the management, after all.
"I can understand your concerns; however there is only so much I can teach you in this department. Perhaps I am renown for my ability as a result of the equally-renowned lazy nature of the captain of this division, and as a result I end up doing a great majority of the work required in maintaining the 8th Division." Nanao kept looking at the face of this Sayuri, "And what could you expect to do as a third seat? Is this in preparation for the point in time, if it should so arise, that you should assume the role of lieutenant?" Nanao pushed a lock of hair behind her ear that was annoyingly appearing in the corner of her vision. "If so, I believe I could hand off some managerial tips to you. From the look on your face, the respect in your tone, and the keen look in your eyes, I can predict that my aid will not go unused or be forgotten."
As if to add a formal flourish to her response, she concluded "I would be willing to help you in this area, third seat Sayuri Sasaki."
The girl looked to Nanao in a little bit of surprise, she was uncertain whether or not she would agree to help Sayuri in the first place. The little kunoichi bowed her head humbly to Nanao as she quickly replied with a grateful tone, "Thank you, Vice-Captain Nanao! Any guidance you are willing to give I will heed."
Though she did revisit Nanao's earlier questioning with a little bit of clarification, "To be candid, whether or not I make Vice-Captain is honestly superfluous to me. My sole intention is to serve Captain Soifon to the fullest of my ability and capacity. The reputation of 2nd Division of being 'loner assassins' is not without its being well-earned. The unseated members for the most part, I'm slowly learning how to delegate efficiently, but the Seated members as fulfilling the cliche to 'loner assassin' motif are... scattered... doing their own thing.
"My goal being to attempt to forge a more cohesive Division, something that runs more smoothly for my Captain. A Division that relies solely upon their Captain makes for a poor Division bent on dependency. A Division should be able to work within itself without solely being dependent upon the Captain's leadership - that is what the Seated members are for and stand for; otherwise they become a burden to the Captain leading them having to hold everyone's hand through everything.
"I...", Sayuri paused right there before continuing, "Just... don't know how to do it... or even where to begin."
