Kotou Garou, Captain of Seventh Division
Giving his own congratulations to the newest Captain, though he didn’t remember her being appointed, Kotou gave his best approximation of a grin. It didn’t work quite as well as he would have hoped, but then again, wolves just weren’t made to smile. He was, however, doing his best to be polite, since that was just who Kotou was. The Captain of Seventh Division had always been a polite and respectful being, even if his appearance was the epitome of unorthodox, only the second Shinigami like himself that he knew of after Komamura.
Despite his urge to be quiet and listen to the Captain-Commander and the other Captains, his nose began to twitch, sniffing once. Again he sucked in a quick breath through his nose, eyes narrowing and brows knitting together just slightly. His head turned towards the doorway that he had entered not long before, seeing nothing with his eyes, however. His eyes could deceive him, but his nose never lied. There was someone out there and Kotou would find out just who it was.
The enormous Captain cleared his throat, not wanting to attract too much attention to himself, but he did have to excuse himself. He bowed his head just slightly, then addressed the Captain-Commander and the other Captains in attendance. Before speaking, however, he did raise his head so that it would be easier to hear him, not that it had ever been a problem to hear Kotou speak.
“I do apologize quite profusely for my interruption, but something has come up. If you will excuse me, I must see to this matter. I’ll have one of our Captains brief me upon the situation upon my return if the meeting is already over.”
With that, Kotou turned towards the door once more, his right hand rising to place on the frame as he ducked beneath it. He had to scoot sideways just a bit, using the frame to pull his massive bulk through the portal, then standing tall on the other side once more. Almost immediately upon entering the hall, his nose twitched again, the scent stronger. That fact was mostly because the origin of that scent stood around the corner from the door to the Captain’s meeting. How none of the other Captains had seen this, he did not know.
He placed his hands before himself at the moment, one elbow resting on the hilt of his huge zanpakutou. That arm supported his other arm, his palms lying just in front of the crook of his elbow on his forearms. He cleared his throat once, though he had no doubt been noticed due to his large size and the fact that he mostly filled the hall. It was merely a formality, a habit that Kotou had developed long ago of which he could not rid himself.
“Well hello there. And exactly who are you, small one? How did you happen to come here without anyone noticing your presence sooner? If I ask too many questions, it is just because I must. Now don’t try to run, please. I’d rather not have to chase you down.”
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Kogarashi Houmatsu, Rukongai Dweller
Old man Kogarashi paused at one of the market stalls in the Rukon district, browsing the selection, then turning his head. He stroked his beard with one hand, smiling down at the children who’d come up beside him. He fished around in his pocket for a moment, coming up with a bit of money, giving each of the four some of it, but giving a bit more to the little gap-toothed young boy with the dirty face and chubby cheeks. Despite his dislike of people in general, he had a soft spot for children.
He reached down and patted the child on the head, though he snatched his hand away when he felt someone rifle through his pocket. His crook slid from the curve of his elbow into the palm of his hand, turning and extending it at arm’s length. Despite his seemingly advanced age, he still had the reflexes of a Shinigami half his age. The hook at the end of the staff caught the teenager by the throat, Kogarashi reeling him back with a tug.
“Now that’s just rude. Stealing from an old man like that, shame on you.”
He hooked his hand into the boy’s collar, bonking him on top of the head with the wooden crook, then snatching back the pouch in the boy’s hand. It wasn’t his money pouch to begin with. The boy had only managed to snitch Kogarashi’s tobacco pouch. The old man tucked it back into his pocket, bonking the boy once more, then letting his collar go.
“Now run along before I decide to teach you a better lesson than that.”
He did not yet turn away, waiting for the young man to back up, then run off. He smirked slightly, stroking his beard once more, then turning to the market stall before him. He pulled his glasses down his nose, eyes narrowing in thought once more. He stabbed at a little trinket with one finger, inquiring on how much it would cost him. Since it was rather inexpensive, he forked over the money for it, tucking it into a fold of his clothes. As he turned away to move through the Rukon district once more, he paused at yet another stall for only a few moments, paying the little bit of money it took to buy the young girl before the stall the rag doll that she seemed to desire so much.