36th step: Triumph

[favorthebold]

Hah. And I had feared that things had blown over.

Are you at last happy, you Shinigami, now that more blood's been spilled? And you men of Konoha? I suppose it doesn't matter. You've done nothing to stop this, and won't be doing anything different in the future, I wager.

And that's true for all you madmen of this city, make no mistake. None of you are safe. Take care who you look up to as your healers and guardians.

My regards to your brother, dome Izuna. Sometimes it seems a shame that we must be enemies.



This has gone well, and better than well... but it will take a subtler hand than mine, now, and one less known, to truly make the notch in doma Unohana's reputation. In case you desire the pleasure.

Comments

[bunny_flower]

Why would we be happy, Saul-san ?

Why would we rejoice ?

What do you expect us to do ? What do you expect from this pointless provocation ?

[favorthebold.livejournal.com]

I expect answers, doma. If you are so powerful, and if you are so good and kind, then why did it come to this?

[bunny_flower]

Then you should ask the right questions, Saul-san.

I am neither omnipotent, nor omniscient. And I gave a very detailed warning about Aizen Sousuke, detailing why we could not act preventively ourselves.

We are trying, and doing our best, which is more than I can say for some people. We most certainly have failed in several occasions, and we will fail again. But our failure is a testimony to the fact that we are trying and fighting.

[favorthebold.livejournal.com]

What help has your trying been to that poor girl? What help has your warning been? Trying and fighting are fine to speak of, maybe, but who knows better than you that it is only success that counts, in life and death? You cannot expect this city to bear the brunt of your people's trial and error.

[bunny_flower]

[This hits far too close to what happened the last time with Aizen, at home, back when Hinamori was injured for the first time.

But Unohana does not lash out. She just looks ...tired, like the weight of her years is catching up up with her. She closes her eyes. Takes a deep breath. Then opens her eyes again and smiles. Gently.]

By all means, Saul-san, please, tell me what you would have done in our place, then.

[favorthebold.livejournal.com]

[He sees the marks he is making, and smiles - it's a frightening smile because his pleasure is so obviously genuine. This is what he lives for. Bit by bit he'll unmake her, however small the bits must be.]

But I am not in your place. No one looks to me for protection.

[bunny_flower]

[She looks at him then, not as a person to another but as a shinigami examining a human soul. As an entity so close and yet so different, whose mission it is to protect him no matter what ... and to watch the Gates of Hell open before him if it is so judged by others higher than her.]

Precisely, Saul-san. And there must be good reason for that, do you not think ?