Cough 052 - [Accidental Video]

[haori]

[The PCD turns on to show a figure wrapped up in a blanket, long white hair spilling over his shoulders.  Ukitake is on the roof, though it isn't apparent as to why, but that's not important.  All he's doing is staring out over the city, the chill in the air tinging his pale cheeks pink.  And when he speaks, whether it's to himself or an unseen person is unknown, his voice is soft, quiet.]

Just a captain without his soldiers.

[He goes silent again for a few moments, but then chuckles to himself, a hand reaching out to the sword resting beside him, his fingers lightly trailing over the scabbard.]

That's silly of me to say.  Kuchiki-san is here and others could show up any day, though I wouldn't wish this curse upon them.

[He sighs and places his palm flat against the scabbard now.]

I need a goal, Sougyo no Kotowari.  I can only sit back and watch for so much longer.

[He looks back out across the expanse before the PCD shuts off.]

Comments

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[mere_shopkeeper]

For what?

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[haori]

[He almost answers with, "Spoiling me," but decides against it.]

This.

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[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[There's another chuckle as Urahara refills their cups.]}

You're welcome then.

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[haori]

[He nods in thanks again and sips the tea silently.]

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[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[Urahara lets the silence hang in the air between them before shifting and then looking up at Ukitake, serious.]}

I'll need you to keep your eyes open later tonight. Or rather, early tomorrow morning.

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[haori]

[Urahara is hard to read, but Ukitake knows seriousness right away. His brow furrows in concern.]

What's going on?

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[mere_shopkeeper]

Maa... Just a little field trip~ If everything goes according to plan, I'll have worried you for nothing!

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[haori]

[He's not convinced, not with the tone you just took, Urahara.]

And what am I looking out for, exactly?

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[mere_shopkeeper]

Attacks escaping the Inner City.

_{[It's amazing how quickly Urahara could switch between carefree teasing and joking to completely seriousness.]}

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[haori]

[...What.]

Urahara-san, tell me you're joking.

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[mere_shopkeeper]

Do I seem like I am~?

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[haori]

What are you trying to accomplish?

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[mere_shopkeeper]

Knowledge is always nice, but I believe my role this time is the protector.

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[haori]

Protector...

[The implications there were obvious. You don't label yourself as a protector if you're going in alone.]

There are others involved.

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[mere_shopkeeper]

Maa... Did you really think I'd do such a thing by myself, Ukitake-taichou~?

_{[Okay, so maybe he would have.]}

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[haori]

Do you want me to answer that truthfully?

[Even so, the maternal protective side of Ukitake can't help but ask something.]

Who else is going? Or is this an occasion I would be better off not knowing about?

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[mere_shopkeeper]

_{[There's another chuckle in answer to the first question, and a fan waving through the air to dismiss the second.]}

Suffice to say, they are of the type that even if you knew who they were and tried to stop them, they'd just try again another time.

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[haori]

[Sigh. Figures.]

That doesn't surprise me. Most people here are like that.

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[mere_shopkeeper]

Maa... Most people at home are like that as well! You happen to be one of them~

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[haori]

When I consider it to be prudent.

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[mere_shopkeeper]

And what is prudent in this case?

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[haori]

You told me to keep my eyes open, did you not?

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[mere_shopkeeper]

Yes, tomorrow morning though.

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[haori]

I'll keep watch.

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[mere_shopkeeper]

I'm just asking you to be prepared to defend the city and keep people here safe should anything happen, Ukitake-taichou... I'm not asking you to keep a vigil.

_{[Insert significant look.]}