Gin
Member
She wanders through the stalls in the Rukongai as she makes her exit from the festivities of the Kenpachi Games, left alone to her own devices as Zhou Feng goes in a separate direction, to handle personal matters. She approaches several stalls on her way out, picking up another bottle of sake, and several onigiri filled with tuna mayo. Left alone with her thought and inebriated, the woman wanders aimlessly out of the 78th eastern Rukongai district as she strolls further in, lower in number through each district with each step she takes. With her denreishiki out of commission due to her earlier fumble in the Kenpachi games, she's left without a guide to lead the way back to the academy. Instead, as she enjoys the steamy rice ball, she takes the time to glance around the scenery.
How long had it been since she took a moment to admire her surroundings, always busy with one thing, or another. Before the birth of Masahiro, stifled by the weight of duty and responsibilities, then after that, it was the worry and stress of motherhood, keeping the boy safe. Never truly having a moment of reprieve to stop and smell the roses. Despite how things played out, how everything fell through her fingers, this moment is the first moment she can feel somewhat... liberated? Relaxed? Had the alcohol worked a little too well?
"Time and time again you fail, Honoka. I have my doubts that you are still worthy of being my wielder."
A familiar voice only she can hear floods her mind, a prideful venomous jab from an entity she hasn't communicated with in over a century. An audible sigh escapes the woman's tinted lips. Just what she needed someone else to belittle her in what would be he lowest point to date. Instead of responding, Honoka continues her trek, admiring the decorative plants along the path she walks. With one hand, she holds both the thin neck of the ceramic botte of sake, as well as one rice ball as she takes another bite, savoring the taste in her mouth. The woman's other hand, draws the metal pin from her hair, and lightly taps the dry, wilting and dead plants with her pin, causing them to rejuvenate in an instant. They blossom and flower instantly upon being fed the scraps of reiryoku from the Oki woman. Ever so lightly, she runs her thumb over the petal of a flower, as the nagging voice only she can hear continues speaking.
"You had everything on a golden platter, rank, status, power, money. You were a noble! And you lost it all for what? A child that can't even succeed you in a clan that has disowned you. You have become the laughing stock of the Gotei 13! Dare I even say the entire Soul Society! My power is being wasted on you. You've done nothing to reestablish yourself. Today was a complete joke, all you did was make a fool of yourself in front of the whole world."
Higanbana's words are sharp, meant to pierce the woman's expertly crafted armor. But in this drunken stupor, they do little more than roll off her shoulders, apparently ignored as Honoka continues admiring vegetation in her walk through the rukongai districts. She takes another sip of the heated sake, holding her breath as the burning liquor travels down her esophagus. In truth, there is no ignoring her zanpakuto spirit, every single word etches itself into her brain as she speaks truth. The only one to know her true intents, her motives and her goals, something she never disclosed to anyone. But there was no hiding anything from one's own zanpakuto, they who inhabit the inner world, who know you better than you know yourself, your weaknesses and strengths. No amount of armor Honoka put up in her heart would be enough to keep Higanbana out. Yet her demeanor does not change, as these are all things she's felt and thought before. The prideful deity only reiterating what she's told her self these last two weeks.
At some point during her wandering through the maze that is rukongai and its districts, the woman distracted by the plants she admires and briefly tends to, makes an erroneous turn, or rather, several. In truth, she only knew her way around the First Western District; Junrinan (潤林安, Lush Forest Peace), where her clan estate lay, along with that of it's neighbors the Gekko. Her verdant eyes drunkenly scan her surroundings as she takes another bite of food to sate her hunger, finally finishing the first riceball she picked up from a stall. In all her wondering, she manages to make her way to the First Northern District; Komakaitana (細かい棚, Fine Ledge).
She stumbles aimlessly throughout, leaning against a wall as the liquor's effectiveness reaches new heights. It was blatantly obvious she was drunk, and though once she could hold her own, such is no longer the case as her tolerance drastically fell. She walks slowly along the wall, using it as guide to keep her as steady as possible, the world around her warping from the effects of her drink. Nobles around look at her in disgust at the display before them, a drunk woman in torn and ragged clothes, like a beggar. They dared not make eye contact with her, not that she sought their help, instead she continues forward, until her hands feel a difference in the wall, from the cement of the wall, to the wooden door of an entrance. She turns her gaze to the family name listed on the side Oda (織田, Lit. "woven rice paddy").
Is this a blessing in disguise? Centuries have gone by without contact with her estranged familiar, who made decision to pick her chosen family than her birth family, exiling herself from the Oki. Perhaps she could offer some insight to this situation, advice from a sort of similar situation. Or would the doors not even open to welcome her. There was only one way to find out.
Knock. Knock. Knock.