Load Up (Enmei)

“Good Morning Aikiyama-Fukutaicho!” 

Their voices loud and their heads lowered respectfully once his doors opened and he stood before them. This was the scene he’d seen nearly every morning since the first incident involving lady Hinaai. At first he secretly found it to be bothersome considering they were loud… he could hear their feet shuffling through the halls and outside to the courtyard where he appeared every morning to take in the view of the sun, now instead he took in the sight of the back of their heads.

“Ah…Morning.” He said softly while forming a smile. His forced expression seemed to be enough for the handful of them that carried on this new tradition, after all it wasn’t like Take ordered anyone to do it and was a bit relieved that every single member in the division tried to squeeze into the courtyard. Thankfully afterwards the elder members would take lead and escort the new members to morning practice, and he would spend his mornings alone in self meditation, strengthening his resolve and preparing to lead through the day, but today was different since he was granted a day off in the first time since the incident. He already planned his day out days before and prepared to set off first thing. 

The City was full of shops where Shinigami could inquire a wide variety of materials however since the trouble that left half of the city in despair and various stores in reconstruction, Take dared not venture in, in his own way he decided to spend his time making sure that no one else in his division was planning to follow in the terrorist footsteps and at the same time in his own way protecting them. 

“Welcome~!”

The voice of the shop master called out to him as he stepped through the door. Takehiko’s eyes raised from the burned floorboards to the tired brown eyes of the shop keeper. He was thin, pale and had short spiked hair that stood straight up. Unlike Take who was garbed in a deep blue haori and white hakama the shop keeper was dressed in a brown kimono that had been patched up repeatedly. All he could do was simply flash a weak smile and bow his head before turning and moving down the aisle. The store was a general one known for having everything from wooden toys to some rather mediocre gadgets and everyday goods.