CaptainCaptainCaptainCaptainCaptainCaptainCaptain

Aoi hopped, positively hopped down the hallway. Waving at a few of the familiar servants, they gave her happy smiles and hellos as she ran down the hallway. Masaru was in serious need of bothering, plus she had some rather important questions for him.

Very important.

Utterly important.

And a few not so important ones.

If only she could FIND that dumb noble in his stupid house... Wearing her off work outfit of a short vest like kimono garb and oddly enough no longer that thin body suit, she pranced through the halls. "Captain~ Caaaptain~"

She had hopped over the wall in her usual spot earlier, waving to the guards who smiled back.

Masaru had been outside, tending to the fish before taking a seat on the wooden platform to sit and relax. The door to his room behind him was still open, just in case Nozomi or one of the servants came to his door and needed him; with the door shut he wouldn't hear them.

It wasn't long though, before he felt a familiar presence nearby...on the clan grounds? It seemed like it.

One of the servants would probably inform her, if they hadn't already, that he was in his room, but in case they hadn't he let his reiatsu up just slightly so she'd have an easier time finding him.

"Captaincaptaincaptaincaptain!" It wasn't long, Aoi having felt the powerlevel raise up moreso. She should have used it in the first place, but she had been enjoying her adventure through the maze of a mansion. That rush of sound though as Aoi found her captain and big brother figure. She had grown rather attached to him and when she saw the back of his head on the wooden platform, she rushed forward and slid to a halt.

Wrapping her arms around him, she gave Masabutt a hug. "Hi Captain~"

He turned to Aoi at the sound of her addressing him...rather repeatedly, giving a small chuckle as she moved to hug him once she'd arrived at his side.

"It's nice to see you, Aoi. Doing alright?" He asked, "and you don't have to stick to formalities here, I'm off, so it's fine."

"I'm doing just fine! Well I like the way Captain rolls off of my tongue like that." Aoi laughed and nuzzled Masa's head with hers before pulling back. She moved to sit next to him, smiling and in a rather chipper mood.

"I shall just use Masabutt then. You are a man of many names~ How are you doing? Alone today? I figured you'd have your shadow."

"That's good." Masaru replied, happy Aoi was doing well, though at the nickname there was an obvious eye twitch. That...damn nickname.

It was spreading like a damn virus. Why...?

He didn't have much time to ponder over that, and be mildly irked about it, before Aoi brought up Mia, causing his face to earn a light tint. They...They weren't always together...She had work too, so...Not that he minded the shadowing...it was cute in a sense...

"Y-yes, I'm alone today." Masaru replied, "I'm doing well."

Aoi's mouth quirked in a small smile as she tried not to laugh. That reaction made her happy~ So happy~

Masabutt was a gift to the world, she was glad she had stolen it. Whoever came up with that was a genius.

Watching the blushing face of her captain, she poked his cheek and smiled more. "Ohoho~ I seee. Masabutt, you are so cute. I was right you know. You and Mia are cute together."

Laughing she fell back on the wooden platform, her arms went under her head as she crossed her legs. "Still though thats not what I am here for! I have things I need help with and you are the best person to ask."

"M-Mhmm." Masaru gave a small nod at Aoi's compliment, but as she mentioned needing help he regained his composure. Something she needed help with...that he was the best person to ask?

"I see, what's wrong?"

"I told you you liked her." Aoi said that softly, smiling widely as she raised an eyebrow. Neither of them had come forth and thanked her! She was still miffed by that.

Thinking of how to word her worries... Aoi's face turned rather serious for once. "Mm, I don't think I'll be allowed to stay your Lieutenant much longer. I'm too strong now Masabutt."

Masaru gave a small laugh; so...so he had, Aoi had been right...

His expression became serious as Aoi's did, sensing they were getting to what she'd come here to talk to him about. At her words, he offered a smile, even if she was using that nickname.

"Then you're in line for a promotion; if that's the case then I can only offer a congratulations, Aoi." Masaru replied.

"Mm, but where would I go? I can't leave Captain all alone, its a stressful squad and you need someone to help you." Aoi's voice was soft, but intensely serious. She knew how much work the man had, she knew very well and had taken as much of it from him as he would let her. Without her though...

He would be back to having way too much. She worried.

"There are a few division's lacking a captain...I'm sure you'd be assigned to one suitable for you." Masaru replied, but he couldn't help but suppress another small laugh, "I'll be fine; I'm accustomed to the workload, so I'll bounce back into the habit in no time. Enjoy your promotion if you're given it."

"But... I don't want to leave Captain!" Aoi's cheeks puffed up in a pout as she looked up at the sky, away from the mean captain who was sitting there. She pouted for a bit before replying in a rather grumpy voice. "Its good to know I will be missed so much. Hmph."

"...I will have to tell the Head Captain what I am. A-And I found out... about a weird custom and don't know what to do..." Aoi continued in her grumpy tone, a bit worried but still pouting over Masa's lack of sadness.

"You will be missed, I can promise that." Masaru replied, "It's not like you won't ever see anyone from the division though...It's your choice though, whether you accept a promotion or not. Do what you think is best."

He gave a small pat to her head, at her concerns...Yes, she'd need to discuss what she was with the Head Captain...but as far as he knew, Vizards weren't taboo...

"If any problems arise out of discussing what you are, I'll back you up. Don't worry." He added, though he rose a brow at her following words. "A weird custom?"

"You should show your missingness then Masabutt. I can't read minds." Aoi's eyes narrowed as she turned back to look at Masaru. Sighing, she reached up and twirled a curling end of her hair. "Well... The Seireitei needs its strongest where they can. So I guess I'll go where I am posted."

Smiling at the head pat, she did let out a happy giggle. "Well thank you! I appreciate the trust. I'm not exactly the most sane so it helps to have someone backing me up~"

Well she had wanted to know, but still trying to get the words out caused Aoi to turn beat red. She moved to sit up, shuffling lightly and playing with her hands. "...Y-Yeah. Apparently in olden times and in the Rukon... sharing from the same cup of sake was something to signify lovers were...married. I-It was like a ceremony of sorts."

"Do you think it still counts?" Aoi seemed nervous, looking over at the koi pond and twitching.

"I'll try to be more up front about it then." Masaru smiled before giving a nod at Aoi's following words. "Mm, you don't have to worry; I'll support your choice."

It was a responsible choice, going where she's needed. The Sixth would of course, miss her as he'd said, but he was sure once she grew accustomed to things as a captain once granted the promotion she'd be perfectly fine. It wasn't like it was a total goodbye, after all; she would still be able to see them if she wanted to.

As she started speaking of the custom she'd been concerned with, he couldn't help but raise a brow. That...That custom was what she was worried about?

It was still something practiced among certain places here in the Seireitei, perhaps in the modern world as well...

"W-Well, usually in a proper ceremony there are witnesses and such, so it...doesn't have to count, and there's also the lack of a marriage license claiming you are married, but...there have been people who conduct the ceremony themselves, if marriage is what they want."

"Okay... If its not a hard division I'll come back and help you out." Aoi muttered softly, Captain would overwork himself if left to his own devices. She knew Mia would keep him from doing so as much as she could, but he also needed someone to pick up work for him so he didn't try to in the first place.

Still though Aoi paled. It was a real thing!? They had...been in Rukon... and done that... According to the custom... of the place... They didn't have licenses out there. She fell back over onto her side and twitched. "I-I have to take responsibility for my actions! I...accidentally married...Rin... I-I mean I also fed him the sake from my mouth too...He liked it...oh no... oh nooooooo!"

"A-Aoi...?" Before he could even respond to her statement on helping him with the paperwork, Aoi had paled as he confirmed that the custom...did exist.

She...

Take responsibility!? What...

"Aoi, Aoi..." Masaru attempted to calm her, his voice hopefully reassuring...though he wasn't sure if that'd be much help. "In the Rukon they don't...necessarily have marriage licenses...but...from where Rin is from, it likely wouldn't be seen as legitimate without the license so...if you don't want to be married, you...you don't have to be.

Couples sometimes do that themselves, without an official ceremony, but...if you had no idea...?"

She was obviously extremely concerned over this ordeal, but...considering they had no idea of the custom...

"You can't just PICK to be not married! We were in Rukon! We were following their customs...we....we... Anytime we go in Rukon now we are married... A mistake made in ignorance is still a mistake! And still counts! I have to take...responsibility for such ignorance..." Aoi rolled around on his wooden platform on her back.

Rolling around in a flustered mess of a ball, Masaru was not calming her in the least.

E-Eh...

How in the world was she planning to take responsibility? This...this entire things just...

"Aoi..." Nothing he said seemed to help. No matter what Aoi was still panicked about this entire ordeal. Most...couples had witnesses though, if they were to be married. They'd apparently done this in private...

He'd said that though, and even after having said that it hadn't helped. "What...do you plan on doing?"

"I don't know! How do you take responsibility for that!? I didn't knooow what we did was like that. I was trying to turn him on and get him to sing! It worked really really well, yes but..." Aoi had no idea what to do, how WOULD she take responsibility?

"A-Am I supposed to marry him for real!? But he's a human! He's gonna die. He's gonna grow old and diiiie!" Aoi rolled more frantically. "I promised to stay by his side and I will but... Marriage!? P-People that aren't me do that. Assassins don't marry!"

"I..." If she truly felt like she needed to, how would she...take responsibility?

That thought didn't last long in his mind before shock too over. He...he didn't need to know the details! He definitely did not! "A-Aoi..."

Masaru cleared his throat, trying to pretend he hadn't heard any of that.

"Anyone can marry, Aoi. It's something lots of people do; if they feel they've found the right person, and want to share their lives with them. What you are doesn't matter...what matters is if there's love between the two of you to the extent of wanting to be with them like that."

They didn't have to be considered married, and in the modern world they wouldn't be unless there was a license to prove it. This was...definitely something that she probably needed to discuss with her lover though, even if he was human.

Aoi gave Masa a look. A look that spoke volumes. A look of... You poor sheltered child. Masa looked older, was barely older than her... and yet she looked at him like this.

"Its a lot more complicated than that! You don't just jump into stuff like that..." Aoi ruffled her hair and gave another frustrated sound as she rolled more. "I-I'll stay by his side but I don't think binding me officially to him is any good! He's a human... he'll change his mind. Ugh stupid Rukon customs! I'll just ignore it. And never give him mouth to mouth Sake again there no matter how good it felt. You should try that with Mia!"

Aoi teased lightly, shifting the topic with the excitement of someone who wanted to just stop thinking things. She knew Masa would never do that, he probably could barely kiss her in public. "Just put the sake in your mouth and act as the cup for her to drink from~ Its fuuun in beeed~"

It was still fun to poke fun at the uptight noble.

"Of course, it's not something to jump into, and it requires a lot of thought; though, are you so sure he'd change his mind?" He didn't really know the man, and had only seen little of him, so he couldn't entirely say something about him.

Aoi was choosing to ignore it though, and he supposed it was for the best considering how worried the custom had made her in the first place.

Her following words though again left him shocked, and he stared at her with widened eyes. Wi...That with...His face had tinted. N...No! He couldn't! N...No way!

"I don't know if he will. I'm scared either way." Aoi spoke softly, responding to Masabutt before dropping it entirely. She had spotted a weakness.

She smiled. Oh it was so much fun teasing him! She knew he wouldn't ever but it was just nice seeing him reaction. "Its fun~ Very intimate and bonding. Such a nice and loving thing to do, be that for them."

Maybe she could get him to splutter and freak out? Hmmm...