A/N: Okane is the female owner of an establishment, in this case the chuukai house that traffic girl-servants. Standard disclaimers apply.
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"Okane-san. I apologize for disrupting your busy schedule and thank you for coming in such short notice."
"I am most humbled."
We sit in seiza (A/N: proper sitting), this beldame of the Chuukai and I, following ritualistic etiquette and speaking in careful undertones. Like this:
"I'll be frank, Okane-san." Translation: I'll be anything but frank. "It appears that the papers of the latest batch of girls were not transferred in its entirety." Translation: I don't give a damn about the papers, but I need something from you and you're not getting outta here until you nod consent.
"Is that so?"
Of course that is not so, dammit. "Yes." This is annoying.
"For all the girls?"
I calculate. This belle dame sans merci is reputably competent, but I can't afford to take chances. "All of them. It may be that Rinka-kun failed to pick up the compilation of the entire thread." God knows how she organizes the papers, or if she organizes them at all, but now the ball's on her side.
"Oh? Which thread?" The old woman finally seems a little more attentive.
"Familial relations, ma'am."
She ponders that. I can see her itching for her opium pipe, and you bet your ass I want to get outta here as much as she does. A moment ago I pondered the existence of pins and needles on the tatami; by now I'm questioning the existence of my own legs.
"I will see to that," she declares, still unmoved. After a correct length of silence she starts again, casually: "I hear that Hisana was picked up by the Royal Shihouin Princess?"
I smile silently. The beldame is sharp; no wonder she's still in business. "Yes. She caught the eye of Shihouin-dono on their first meeting."
The old Okami flares her nostrils in amusement, but keeps quiet on her thoughts. Much of the information pertaining to Shihouin Yoruichi is classified to those outside the Gotei 13, and neither of us is one to pull our own legs.
"Lucky girl, isn't she?" she sets down her tea cup. "The papers will take some time to prepare again, I do sincerely apologize. Please expect it in 3 days."
"I understand." It's no easy feat, after all. In three days her House, and the entire Rukongai if she could help it, is to remember nothing of Hisana.
The old woman nods. "I will send it over with a girl to replace Rinka."
I raise my eyebrows at that, and she gives me a faint flicker of reiatsu. She really is sharp, the old fox; the intricate undercurrents and subtle power struggles within a Royal House is like an open book to her. "I need a replacement for Hisana," I toss out my objection nonetheless. Rinka can't exactly leave the grounds, anyhow, she knows that.
Okami-san smiled a smile that exposed great gums. "As you see fit, Shitsuji-san," and with that she left the Kuchiki grounds with her escorts.