The New Era 10 [Flashback; Mei]

He watched her as she made her way to the seat, her snake-like eyes darting from the corners of rooms surveying their quarters with nerves. He almost knew what she was going to say before she said it. The situation wasn't lost on him, he knew this would have likely come out of the blue for the girl, much like his own promotion had for him--something else they both had in common now. In this feeling the young Taicho could sympathize; nerves, frustration, confusion, anger. All of this he felt when he was told about his promotion, there was no one to guide him towards the right decision, he had been thrown into the deep and inescapable blue of leadership without so much as a word.

So when her lips curled, forming words of bewilderment, a slight smile formed on his face. An inescapable habit, his expressions often looked cold and gloomy the way his mouth arched downward every-time he spoke. So when a truly angular smile shaped itself--it was testament to the bond and glee he got from the situation. As he had gathered, she was well-aware of the little interaction they had up until this point, her face expressed as much; the slight twitching of her fingers on the chair, the shuffling of feet, the plain look of someone who genuinely didn't know, but wanted too, no, needed to know. So he would speak, just after she spoke her words, his timing fluid and comforting.

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"Why you? Why not?" He paused with that same smile. "Better you than that old fat-man Yuuchiro, right?" He said in an attempt to lighten the situation and calm her nerves.

But as he leaned forward in his chair he moved closer to the girl, fixing his teal eyes on hers, his expression shifting back to its normal rested position. He wanted her to feel easy, comfortable, in this uncomfortable situation. But he could see that there was too much she needed to know to make light of the situation--so he progressed to the truth of it all.

"The truth is, I can see things that others simply cannot. This is likely the reason I was promoted to the position of Taicho in the way I was.." He spoke almost in a rush before his words slowed. "I see something in you. Something the others in this Division do not possess. I am willing to place my complete trust in you--if you are willing to do the same for me?"

His gaze articulated a hauntingly mature expression, something well beyond his years. His eyes wouldn't leave hers until she herself willed it. She came into the room wanting answers so he would attempt to give them to her, but they would not fall on her lap all at once. There was something else too. He knew of her deeper connection to her past-life, a connection rare for Shinigami, and a connection he too shared.