JULY 9, 2014.
Post by Gyoko Tano on Jul 7, 2014 15:43:26 GMT -5
"Finally, we've finished all the paperwork, Oriya-san." Tano said through a smile as he placed his black horse-hair brush down upon its stand. The two had burned the midnight oil to finish the paperwork for the graduating class this year. Diplomas and recommendation letters to their respective divisions were tedious and time-consuming, but part of the process and duties the two had to fill as headmaster and vice-headmistress of the Shin'ō Academy. The only thing that made it somewhat bearable was the fact that such paperwork only called to be completed once a year, before the graduation rites.
Tano looked over toward his colleague as he passed his hand over his forehead. "When do you think we should call in the students?"
Watanabe Oriya was an old shinigami, only just a few decades Tano's junior though she seemed to show her age more. She was harsh and stern where Tano was soft and nurturing--part of what made them a good team; he, a good Taichō, capable of leading his cohort and caring for them and she, a good fukutaichō capable of demanding respect from her subordinates.
She cracked a smile, however, in response to Tano's question, a very unusual thing for such a stern woman to do. Tano was taken aback, bewildered as to what could amuse this women, given all the jokes and japes he had given her in their time together to evoke the same response, all to no avail. But she wouldn't lead onto that, simply responding: "Now is as good a time as any, I would say, Tano-taichō."
"Ah. Well then, let us do so."
The students gathered before the advisory council of the Academy in the courtyard of the Southern Wing. Seated in the center of the dais was Gyoko Tano, to his right Watanabe Oriya and to his left Jojen Iga, the retainer of all of the students graduating this year. He was a dwarf of a man and so he sat atop a number of books so that he could be on equal level with his colleagues at the dais. Where the students would have laughed at him in their first days in the Academy, they knew better now than to laugh at a man who could burn their souls from existence with his formidable abilities. Even Tano never commented on his height anymore, after he'd beat him over the head with his cane. He still thought, to this day, he had a bruise from it.
"Students," Tano began, his eyes skipping from student to student. "It has been a long six years for each of you. You have made mistakes and you have learned. You all have fallen and you all have gotten back up, either by yourselves or with the help of those around you. It is with great joy and honor that I have trained you all, and it is likewise this this council of three sees you all fit to take the rites to graduate and become official Shinigami, worthy of wearing the Shihakushō."
"Indeed, the ink has dried." Oriya said, smiling. The saying causes a slight chuckle to ripple through the students, bringing a bit of confusion to Tano's face. "Both on our headmaster's forehead and on your diplomas."
Tano peeked up, as if he could see his forehead and then placed a hand to feel the dried black ink that had gotten all over his hands the night before. He sighed before he belted out a laugh from a deep hearty place, causing the students to laugh with him.
"Indeed, the ink has dried. But the swords are yet sheathed, students." Iga joined in, his maw flat as ever, drawing no amusement from the antics of the shinigami who claimed to lead them all. "It is only after the Rites that you can all hope to wear the garb and call yourselves by the name."
"Iga-san is correct, students. When the moon hangs highest in the sky, we shall dispatch you all into the Human World in groups to take your Rites. Should you pass them, we shall give you your garbs upon your return to the Seireitei. Should you fail, you will be made to watch as we burn your diploma. Prepare yourselves, and get some rest... I have to go wash my face." Tano said, through a blush and smile.
"Dismissed."
Tano looked over toward his colleague as he passed his hand over his forehead. "When do you think we should call in the students?"
Watanabe Oriya was an old shinigami, only just a few decades Tano's junior though she seemed to show her age more. She was harsh and stern where Tano was soft and nurturing--part of what made them a good team; he, a good Taichō, capable of leading his cohort and caring for them and she, a good fukutaichō capable of demanding respect from her subordinates.
She cracked a smile, however, in response to Tano's question, a very unusual thing for such a stern woman to do. Tano was taken aback, bewildered as to what could amuse this women, given all the jokes and japes he had given her in their time together to evoke the same response, all to no avail. But she wouldn't lead onto that, simply responding: "Now is as good a time as any, I would say, Tano-taichō."
"Ah. Well then, let us do so."
The students gathered before the advisory council of the Academy in the courtyard of the Southern Wing. Seated in the center of the dais was Gyoko Tano, to his right Watanabe Oriya and to his left Jojen Iga, the retainer of all of the students graduating this year. He was a dwarf of a man and so he sat atop a number of books so that he could be on equal level with his colleagues at the dais. Where the students would have laughed at him in their first days in the Academy, they knew better now than to laugh at a man who could burn their souls from existence with his formidable abilities. Even Tano never commented on his height anymore, after he'd beat him over the head with his cane. He still thought, to this day, he had a bruise from it.
"Students," Tano began, his eyes skipping from student to student. "It has been a long six years for each of you. You have made mistakes and you have learned. You all have fallen and you all have gotten back up, either by yourselves or with the help of those around you. It is with great joy and honor that I have trained you all, and it is likewise this this council of three sees you all fit to take the rites to graduate and become official Shinigami, worthy of wearing the Shihakushō."
"Indeed, the ink has dried." Oriya said, smiling. The saying causes a slight chuckle to ripple through the students, bringing a bit of confusion to Tano's face. "Both on our headmaster's forehead and on your diplomas."
Tano peeked up, as if he could see his forehead and then placed a hand to feel the dried black ink that had gotten all over his hands the night before. He sighed before he belted out a laugh from a deep hearty place, causing the students to laugh with him.
"Indeed, the ink has dried. But the swords are yet sheathed, students." Iga joined in, his maw flat as ever, drawing no amusement from the antics of the shinigami who claimed to lead them all. "It is only after the Rites that you can all hope to wear the garb and call yourselves by the name."
"Iga-san is correct, students. When the moon hangs highest in the sky, we shall dispatch you all into the Human World in groups to take your Rites. Should you pass them, we shall give you your garbs upon your return to the Seireitei. Should you fail, you will be made to watch as we burn your diploma. Prepare yourselves, and get some rest... I have to go wash my face." Tano said, through a blush and smile.
"Dismissed."
