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.
"I wish I could say the same. I'm better then some, but I fear that is a quality I've yet to master."
As Alexei sat there and thought about this man had said. Frankly, Alexei had never been considered a master of anything before. He didn't believe that he had really mastered an art of thinking about things and being calm. However, apparently it was a lot harder to do than he had believed beforehand. Oh well.
"I don't consider myself a master Shinigami-san. I've just had a lot of practice in the subject. It just takes a little while and you'll get there Shinigami-san," he said with a smile.
"I don't think you would understand. If you'll pardon my saying so, you act as if you are above emotional plights. I would hate to ruin your peace."
A small frown crossed the face of Alexei as he heard this. It wasn't good for someone to keep their emotions to themselves and if he could be there for someone, he would like to be. He decided that he would tell this young man that he could share if he wanted to. After all, Alexei was polite like that; he had been raised that way.
"Shinigami-san, you can tell me your troubles if need be. It is no disservice to me to hear what is troubling you friend. If I can be here for you to talk you, I would like to be."
"You have done me a service though. It's likely I would have rashly found some enemies to combat this night, had I not run into you. What should I call you?"
Post by Mikhail Rost on Dec 17, 2012 1:17:26 GMT -5
Alexei smiled, "I don't consider myself a master Shinigami-san. I've just had a lot of practice in the subject. It just takes a little while and you'll get there Shinigami-san."
"Maybe, maybe someday." Hisashi knew he could have a short fuse especially when it came to things he thought he deserved. His greedy zanpakuto spirit was no help in this matter, nudging him toward anger.
"Shinigami-san, you can tell me your troubles if need be. It is no disservice to me to hear what is troubling you friend. If I can be here for you to talk you, I would like to be."
Geez, this guy really was something... A more persistant, calmer, and possibly less accident prone version of his one true friend. Hisashi had a hard time trusting new people though, maybe it was time to try...
"Alexei Romanov." The stranger gave his name and Hisashi regarded him silently for a moment.
He sighed, "Tsk, alright already, didn't know I would meet up with some kind of spiritual guru tonight." Hisashi rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortable with talking about his feelings. "I'm gonna give this a try, since you are eager to listen."
"So, where should I begin? Should I be laying on a couch or something?" Hisashi made light of it because of not wanting to talk about things. If Alexei could get though to him he'd be the second person to know why Hisashi acted the way he did.
Mikhail Rost - Human - ML:S Sobek Kurokawa -Arrancar - HL:W Kimiko Kaneko - Shinigami - ML:A Ikkaku Madarame - Shinigami - HL:S Don Kan'onji - Human - LL:A
Alexei offered a reassuring smile to his new friend in his time of need. He certainly needed encouragement in his ordeals it seemed and the young Vizard was very willing to give it to him if need be. After all, what were friends for other than people who helped you out when you needed it? Alexei was glad to be the friend that was needed...that's how the Russian operated.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you will Shinigami-sama."
"Tsk, alright already, didn't know I would meet up with some kind of spiritual guru tonight. I'm gonna give this a try, since you are eager to listen. So, where should I begin? Should I be laying on a couch or something?"
Alexei looked around the beach. He didn't have any furniture for his friend to lay upon. A small frown crossed the Vizard's face at this. It really put a damper on things now didn't it? He looked at his new friend with his small little frown and a pair of puppy dog eyes. He really hated to disappoint people.
"I'm sorry Shinigami-sama, I don't seem to have any kind of furniture for you to lay upon. I could try to find some but I don't know how comfortable it would be. If you want me to I can go look but if you're alright we can just talk on the beach. You could lay down here, if you don't mind the sand and all."
Post by Mikhail Rost on Dec 22, 2012 20:45:05 GMT -5
"I'm sorry Shinigami-sama, I don't seem to have any kind of furniture for you to lay upon. I could try to find some but I don't know how comfortable it would be. If you want me to, I can go look but if you're alright we can just talk on the beach. You could lay down here, if you don't mind the sand and all."
Now, he was starting to sound like Masanori, oddly comforting that nieveity.
"Nevermind Alexei, that's not important. My name is Hisashi, Hisashi Hashimoto." Hisashi tried to think of a way to talk about his problems that he hoped didn't just sound like whining. "How cliche is it that my troubles start with a woman?" Hisashi started tracing marks in the sand with his fingers. "It was some time ago that my friend and I joined the academy. It was our goal to become great shinigami, but back then, what harm was there in using our immenient status to turn a few heads?"
Hisashi grinned devilishly. "It was around that time we met Kimiko, she had the most beautiful voice. It was like a siren's entrancing call, drawing men towards their doom,... figuratively speaking. In the beginning, Masanori and I competed for her attention, but she's rather independant." The only word he could think of right off hand to describe her playing hard to get. Would he to speak more honestly that quality only made her more desirable.
"Together, Masanori and I persuaded her to join the academy, for a time we were inseperable. Kimiko was brilliant, she quickly rose up in rank after the academy. Masanori gave up the chase and seems content to be her friend. If that's what he wants then that's fine, but..." but Hisashi still desired her, with his greedy zanpakuto spirit mirroring and adding to those feelings. Keeping those desires in check frustrated Hisashi to no end. He reached up and rubbed his forehead suddenly.
"Anyway, I've looked after her and helped her for years now it seems. Still she hardly seems to notice me, and then this other guy shows up in her life. He acts the fool, and has gained her trust, but I feel like it's nothing but a ploy to get closer to her. Just tonight he invited her out drinking, absolutely sloshed! When I confronted him on it he confidently sent her away so she wouldn't see,...there was no slurring or stagger to his step. He's an absolute fraud, a cad,... and there's no way I could convince her of it if I tried." Hisashi sighed heavilly awaiting the sagely Alexei's advice, maybe some kind of encouragement...
Mikhail Rost - Human - ML:S Sobek Kurokawa -Arrancar - HL:W Kimiko Kaneko - Shinigami - ML:A Ikkaku Madarame - Shinigami - HL:S Don Kan'onji - Human - LL:A
Alexei sat there was a very passive smile as he listened to Hisashi's story. He listened to the first part about Hisashi and his friend. It seemed like those two had used the fact that they were about to be Shinigami to get things from others. Alexei didn't much like the idea of using things like that to get stuff from other people because you really didn't deserve it. However, Alexei was sure that Hisashi had his reasons for doing that sort of things...but he needed to know what exactly he had done with this title.
"What exactly did you do with your status Hisashi-kun?"
Then Alexei listened as Hisashi's story became obsessed with a woman by the name of "Kimiko". It seemed that Hisashi and his friend, Masanori, were involved in some sort of love triangle with her. It seemed that Hisashi had put a lot of importance into this woman and her romantic interest. Alexei wondered what he had been thinking as he competed with his friend over her love. Had he wished ill upon his friend in hopes that he'd get further with Kimiko?
The more Alexei thought about it, the less it made sense to him. He was friends with Masanori, why did it matter which one of them Kimiko liked? Albeit, Alexei had never been involved with a woman nor had he ever been completely obsessed with one. He didn't understand the lengths some men were willing to go to impress women. He figured he might ask about this; he really didn't understand.
"What lengths were you willing to go to obtain Kimiko's affection. You said you were competing with your friend? Were you hoping for something bad to happen to him so you could possibly gain an upper hand? I won't lie, I can't understand what you were feeling at that time. Were you willing to do anything to win?"
Then he heard Hisashi talked about what really bothered him. There was somebody else that was competing for Kimiko's affection. It seemed that Hisashi was only really mad that he was having to share Kimiko's time and affection with someone else. He figured that he might have a point being how much he'd done for Kimiko. But, it still seemed the Hisashi's problems were because he gave Kimiko too much importance in his life.
"I feel like you have a valid point Hisashi-sama. It seems that this other guy is being dishonest and that's not right for anything. But I feel you are giving Kimiko too much importance in your life. You feel threatened by this guy so you're upset. The guy being a liar shouldn't upset you this much Hisashi-sama."
Post by Mikhail Rost on Dec 24, 2012 1:00:58 GMT -5
Alexei seemed troubled by Hisashi using his title to turn a head or two. "What exactly did you do with your status Hisashi-kun?"
Hisashi broke from his story and searched Alexei's troubled expression a moment. He smirked mischieviously because again it felt like talking with Masanori, having to explain the way things sometimes worked to the ones who trusted that there was nothing but good in the world. "Hm? Oh, heh, nothing so dastardly as you may be lead to believe. Big difference between abusing your title to get favors and gifts, then to just let slip that you'll be putting your life on the line for the safety of all to turn a pretty girl's head."
Hisashi wondered if Alexei's life had been as sheltered as Masanori's, knowing only comfort of family or good home, and not how harsh the reality can be. Hisashi had spent many long years in the far Rukon districts fighting to get by, and before that, well, that was a story that Hisashi couldn't share just yet with a man just met. He continued his story and Alexei had another question of him.
"What lengths were you willing to go, to obtain Kimiko's affection. You said you were competeing with your friend? Were you hoping for something bad to happen to him so you could possibly gain an upper hand? I won't lie, I can't understand what you were feeling at that time. Were you willing to do anything to win?"
Hisashi chuckled again, "Ha,... My, you make it sound as if we fought tooth and nail! I'd never hurt Masanori if that's what you're asking. He's been my friend for ages. There may have been some light jostling and wrestling, friendly competition, but I hadn't wished him ill or anything. And what do you mean you can't understand what I was feeling, have you never loved?"
"I feel like you have a valid point Hisashi-sama. It seems that this other guy is being dishonest and that's not right for anything..." Finally someone seemed to understand Hisashi's feelings, or so he thought. "...But I feel you are giving Kimiko too much importance in your life. You feel threatened by this guy so you're upset. The guy being a liar shouldn't upset you this much Hisashi-sama."
Hisashi was a little frustrated by Alexei's response but maybe he hadn't experianced desire like Hisashi had. "Wha? Why shouldn't Kimiko be important? I just don't understand how she can't see him for what he is. And, threatened!? Never, I,... I have no reason to be threatened by HIM. Being upset when seeing someone you care about mistreated and lied to, is what upsets me."
Mikhail Rost - Human - ML:S Sobek Kurokawa -Arrancar - HL:W Kimiko Kaneko - Shinigami - ML:A Ikkaku Madarame - Shinigami - HL:S Don Kan'onji - Human - LL:A
"Hm? Oh, heh, nothing so dastardly as you may be lead to believe. Big difference between abusing your title to get favors and gifts, then to just let slip that you'll be putting your life on the line for the safety of all to turn a pretty girl's head."
Alexei chuckled at this. So Hisashi had used being a Shinigami to get the attention of women? Alexei was thinking that Hisashi was just obsessed with women at this point. After all, why else would he have used his status to try to get women of all things? Alexei didn't necessarily disapprove of this...at least he wasn't being a bad man with a title.
"Well, I suppose that using your status to pick up women isn't exactly a crime that's punishable. So, I guess I can forgive your use of this. It wasn't anything really bad that you did...just distasteful. You should be able to get women without that Hisashi-sama." He ended with a small little chuckle to show that he was kidding. His friend should've known that he was only joking and would never really offend him.
"Ha,... My, you make it sound as if we fought tooth and nail! I'd never hurt Masanori if that's what you're asking. He's been my friend for ages. There may have been some light jostling and wrestling, friendly competition, but I hadn't wished him ill or anything. And what do you mean you can't understand what I was feeling, have you never loved?"
A small frown made its way to the young Russian's face as he thought about things. No, he really hadn't loved and that kind of displeased him. It was normal for someone to have loved by the time they were 170? He looked over at Hisashi with a kind of puppy dog look on his face to show that he didn't understand.
"I can't say that I have loved Hisashi-sama. I can't honestly say that I understand what you were thinking or feeling. It's strange to me. It's something I've never experienced."
"Wha? Why shouldn't Kimiko be important? I just don't understand how she can't see him for what he is. And, threatened!? Never, I,... I have no reason to be threatened by HIM. Being upset when seeing someone you care about mistreated and lied to, is what upsets me."
The frown on his face deepened as he heard his friend get so defensive. Alexei knew that Hishashi wasn't being honest with him. It was very apparent that he was just upset because of Kimiko's affection being torn for. He felt threatened and was just lying to himself and Alexei to try to prove some kind of point. Lying was never good, but Hisashi probably had his reasons for it so Alexei would forgive him.
"Hisashi-sama, Kimiko should be important. But, I feel like you're giving her too much. She's consuming your life it seems and that's why you're upset. You want to be every bit as important to her as she is to you and that's a hefty order. You're upset because she's not trusting you automatically and siding with you. I'm sorry Hisashi-sama...but that's very much what it seems like."