A Boring Garden Party

[Bobbie]

Lenalee #8

---

It seemed that no matter what was said, very little could console Lenalee. Entering into the hall with Ren, she walked carefully, having the added weight of Eri to carry around now as well. She wasn’t too heavy, she was quite small, but the extra luggage was hardly negligible.

Watching Ren attempt to comfort her, praising the little girl that refused to let go of her and going as far as to lower himself to her level, Lenalee raised an eyebrow. Her gaze became more of a glare than a casual glance.

“If you like her so much, why don’t you take her?” She grumbled, once their interaction was over, and Lenalee dared to look at the child’s face. She could see so many resemblances in her face to her father’s. Letting out a sigh, the short woman - though thankfully taller than little Eri - then threw her head back in a gesture of exasperation, before turning her attention back to Ren once more.

“Sure, that’s a pretty nice advantage to have, but I don’t plan to be a member of his squad, so it won’t really matter very much.” Lenalee confidently stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “I don’t care where he started before reaching the point he’s at right now, I can easily predict what would become of a new squad member - lots of babysitting. He takes her everywhere he shouldn’t just so he wouldn’t have to be away from her while training and doing other official business with his team. I’ve seen it and a new recruit will be doomed.” Pausing, she shrugged lightly, “Squad 13 is the Kido Club anyway. I’m fine with Kido and all, but I don’t want to be limited to that sort of reputation.”

As she said that, the real reason for her reluctance to join squad 13 came to mind, though she didn’t openly state it just yet. Ren put forward his question in this gap of silence and she paused to look at the two paths that would lead them to their options.

“West Wing first?” Despite her panic and outright rejection when faced with the poor girl who seemed to love her so much, Lenalee did seem to have some place somewhere in her heart for Eri. Looking at her and holding her in one arm, she gently poked one of the toddler’s chubby cheeks, “What do you say, want to go look at the branch families’ quarters? Some nice educational history lesson to look at founding families and their lineage to this day, hm?” Adjusting Eri in both her arms again - or trying to - Lenalee looked up at her tall friend once more to continue her previous thought.

“Besides, I’ll be joining my mother’s squad.”

---

Lenalee: #54d5e3
Captain Azai Saeki: #bd9ac4

[z0pu]

Ren #9

---

Ren chuckled again at Seaki's reaction and statement. "I'm sure you will do great in whichever division you land in."

The scion of the Fukumoto family then took a few steps to the side and gesture for Saeki to come along. "This way then."

The corridor opened into a large open yard with many buildings inside the walled compound of the Kurogami estate, really the sheer scale was almost a small village on its own. these builds are were the various branch families reside. My own Fukumoto family lives over in that manor house, but there are obviously many more. Shirogane, Shakusho, Enmei, Okita, Kiryu." Rne kept on enumerating the name of the various families as he pointed at the respective manors or houses that belonged to each.

"Of course the smallest one cannot afford the own household and simply live within the main house as guests, unless they become too small or two distantly related at which point they would be moved out of the estate, of they have the means they would purchase a house in the Seiretei.. if they do not however..."

The young man took pause, he never really thought such things much.

"I suppose they would simply be expelled to Rukongai."

Eventually Ren led the two ladies to an old but well maintained Shrine in the centre of the estate. A small black tiled roof building with a few stone steps leading up to it the whole structure preceded by a bright red torii gate.

"You wanted some history so... this shrine here is the oldest part of the estate. It said to contain the covenant between the Soul King and the founder of the Kurogami Clan. As you probably know the Kurogami clan is one of the Four great Noble families that founded the Seireitei for the Soul King. It is said that each of the four founders was given a proof a symbol of their duty and nobility by the Soul King, with each of them enshrining their respective ones. Within this shrine is the the Kurogami's greatest treasure."

The Ren abruptly turned away and began walking off. "Or so they say. oNly the Clan head is allowed inside so no one really knows for sure, could all be nonsense really.

---

Fukumoto Ren #27d3d3

[Bobbie]

Lenalee #9

---

Lenalee was happy to follow Ren along into the large open yard. Initially, her intention was to hear historical facts that she already knew and studied, while little Eri would be bored half to death and fall asleep. As soon as she set foot into the open space that separated the different buildings of the branch families, however, she was completely struck with awe.

Of course, this wasn’t an area that she was ever allowed to visit - it was clearly private property and only open to select few on occasions such as this one when she was able to tag along. Still, this was like the backstage, a VIP area, in the books of somebody as fascinated by it as Lenalee.

“Wow…” she quietly breathed, her gaze gliding across the different housing of all the families that Ren listed off and pointed toward. She recognised some names, but not others. Her knowledge on most, if not all, was limited at best, and the explanation that related to the politics of the family was clearly of great interest to her.

“Expelled to Rukongai…” she repeated after him, glancing up at Ren as she locked her arms underneath Eri like a bar for the young girl to be secure and comfortable. She thought it was quite harsh the way family members would be expelled from the estate. Of course, she could understand that expectations had to be met and a dwindling relationship would make it easier to sever those ties, but she could only imagine how heartbreaking it must be to have a family divided in such a way. Deciding it best not to interrupt the history lesson with her thoughts, she followed her guide, little Eri on her hip.

Next came the magnificent story of the so-called ‘greatest treasure’ within the shrine that marked not only the estate’s antiquity and all of its heritage, but also the legendary bond between the Soul King and the Seireitei’s founders. Staring into the shrine, the young shinigami was entirely drawn in, Ren’s words needing no more than a few seconds to sink in. Like a sponge, she was soaking it all up, engrossed.

Her trance shattered with Ren’s abrupt turn.

“Hey, wait! What do you mean nobody knows for sure?” She hurried after him, a slight skip in her step. “Shouldn’t you-” as her tone grew louder, she quickly stopped and glanced at Captain Adachi’s daughter. The toddler was fast asleep and she hoped to keep it that way, so she lowered her voice.

“Shouldn’t you be able to find out? With all your fancy connections to the family?” Lena’s was speaking in a whisper now, her legs working twice as hard to keep up with him in a gentle manner that wouldn’t rock Eri and waken her. “Don’t you want to find out if it is all ‘nonsense’, as you put it? Everybody’s busy right now and it will only take a second to pop in and right back out.” The desire in her tone was further reflected in her pleading eyes.

Lenalee regretted putting forward such a question so bluntly in fear of it coming across as disrespectful, but the curiosity was eating away at her, and perhaps more than that... her mother dragged her over here, and this was really the only way to make it worth her while.

---

Lenalee: #54d5e3
Captain Azai Saeki: #bd9ac4