Autumn had once again come to Soul Society. For students, that meant a new year of school—meeting new teachers and classmates, and catching up with friends after summer break. In Rukongai #10, the staff and faculty at the Academy of Healing and Medical Arts bustled to prepare for opening ceremonies. That is, all but one member of the board of directors. At the Minamoto Temple in Rukongai #15 Northeast, chief medical officer Yamada Seinousuke emerged from the master bedroom wearing a comfortable robe. After a strenuous workout, he liked to take a long shower and relax in his favorite robe, which had been a gift from his wife Yume.

"Good morning...Sei-kun," Yume welcomed him affectionately. "Excited...for new year?"

He pecked her on the cheek and poured himself some coffee. "Of course, love. I just hope this batch of freshmen shows some potential."

Their conversation was interrupted by banging on the temple entrance. "Sei-kun?" a worried Yume wondered. "Who...come here...this early?"

"Good question, love. I'll check." Tightening his robe, Seinousuke made his way to the front door. "Uh, what brings you here?"

"Is that any way to greet your teacher, Yamada?" one of the visitors blared.

"Kirinji!" the other visitor hissed.

"I'm guessing this isn't a social call?" Seinousuke prodded. Grudgingly, he showed the two guests to the temple lobby.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Yume, with Ringo close behind, had come to see what was going on. "Kirinji-san! Senjumaru-san!" she exclaimed delightedly. "You come...visit?"

"Not quite, Mistress Yume," Senjumaru replied, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, this isn't a social visit."

"Yeah, Aizen's got a wild bur up his nose. Said he wants to see Yamada right away," Kirinji added. "Wouldn't even tell us why."

Rubbing up against Yume's leg, Ringo finally let Yume pick her up and hold her. Her blue-gray eyes rested suspiciously on Kirinji.

"Uh, I was just getting ready to go to the academy," Seinousuke protested. "Opening ceremonies are today. Sousuke should know that."

Kirinji raised an eyebrow. "That'll be taken care of," he answered mysteriously, grabbing the smaller man around the waist. "Let's go. No time to waste."

"Kirinji! Put me down! Now!"

Yume and Senjumaru could only laugh as Kirinji carried an irate Seinousuke to the Royal Realm. A baffled Ringo purred contentedly in Yume's arms.

At the Academy of Healing and Medical Arts, the auditorium bustled with activity as flustered administrators tried to adjust to the sudden change in plans. Soft piano music played over the public address system as everyone came in to observe the traditional beginning to a new school year.

"Everyone, into your seats!" a voice resonated over the loudspeaker. "Opening ceremonies will now commence."

With that, students, instructors, and administrators all made their way to their seats. The auditorium, a splendid room with bright lights and plush carpeting, was punctuated with whispers. The whispers stopped, however, as a short blond man with glasses cleared his throat at the microphone. "Welcome, all, to a new academic year at the Academy of Healing and Medical Arts. I am Iemura Yasuhisa, academy president. Today is the beginning of a new journey for our first-year students. You will be trained by the very best healers in Soul Society. Open your minds, and learn what they have to teach you." He turned his head to nod to a woman on stage. "And now, a word from our special guest."

A brown-haired woman nervously stepped toward the lectern. With her blue butterfly-print yukata and matching accessories, she presented a lovely sight. "Hello...students. My name...Yume. Welcome...to medical academy. What you do...important. Experienced healers...have important job. Their job...treat wounded...and train...next generation...of healers." She paused for breath. "Apprentice healers...have...important job, too. Their job...learn...from experienced healers. Their job...also...to figure out...why...want to be healers. That mean...experienced healers...apprentice healers...all...work hard." Bowing to her audience, she returned to her seat.

President Iemura returned to the lectern and nodded at Yume. "As Her Excellency, the Queen Mother, has exhorted you, it is everyone's job to strive for excellence as healers. Our goal here at the Academy of Healing and Medical Arts is to train and evaluate healers that are passionate about helping their patients improve their quality of life. We all are constantly striving, not only to master traditional methods, but to develop innovative new methods and to improve upon old methods." He smiled faintly at the assembled students and instructors. "Take today to acquaint yourself with the campus if you haven't already done so. Then come back tomorrow, ready to learn. You are dismissed. Please file out in an orderly fashion."

With that, the assembly dispersed, and students found friends to tour the classrooms and dormitories. President Iemura bowed to Yume as the administrators made their way to the elevators. "Your Excellency, I can't thank you enough for coming on such short notice. We were all quite surprised when we heard that Yamada-san had been summoned by the Soul King."

Yume nodded. "Surprise me...too. Sei-kun...not tell me...why my Sousuke...summon him."

Iemura lowered his eyebrows with some worry. "That is suspicious," he answered quietly. Then his expression brightened. "But the students enjoyed being able to hear a word from Your Excellency. You will visit again, I hope."

A twinkle came to Yume's brown eyes as she and Iemura climbed into the elevator. "I...enroll...in Sei-kun's class...for advanced healers. Sei-kun...have other things...planned...for joint teaching sessions."

"I can hardly wait to see what Your Excellency has planned," Iemura told her. "Shall I guide you to Yamada-san's office?

"Thank you...Iemura-san. I...visit Sei-kun's office." She studied him curiously. "Not necessary...call me...'Your Excellency.' Like...'Yume-san' better."

"But...Yamada-san would never go for that," Iemura insisted. "He already sent out a memo to all faculty and staff instructing us to treat you as an honored guest." He looked her in the eye. "He's still pretty put out about...your introduction to my son.."

Yume sighed with some amusement. "Sei-kun...protective." Nodding good-bye to Iemura, she stepped out of the elevator and followed the signs to her husband's office. "Sei-kun...not understand...why you leave," she murmured.

Meanwhile, in the Royal Realm

"Kirinji, I didn't need you to carry me," a miffed Seinousuke huffed as Kirinji set him down in front of Aizen's cottage. "Were you trying to break my ribs or something?"

Kirinji shrugged, once again taking secret delight in provoking his former student. "He just said to get you here 'with all haste.' So I did." Still smirking, he tapped on the door and bellowed, "Yo, Aizen! Yamada's here." The door opened, and Aizen beckoned the two to enter.

"Kirinji Tenjirou, you will drop that insubordinate tone," Aizen warned, a slight bit of irritation evident in his soft baritone. "I am 'Great Soul King' to you."

"In any case, Yamada's here. Yume doesn't know what's going on."

"You are dismissed, Kirinji. Have Hikifune bring tea for us." He cocked his head toward the door. "Furthermore, it was...unnecessary...to bring Yamada here in his robe. Bring him some...appropriate attire...at once." As Kirinji left, Aizen murmured, "Yamada, thank you for coming here on such short notice."

"So what's this important situation?" Seinousuke insisted. "And why's it so hush-hush?"

Aizen cleared his throat, a mixture of concern and anger on his face. "It has come to my attention that...a certain member of the great noble houses...is in the midst of a plot to overthrow me."

Hikifune knocked on the door. "Sousuke-kun? I have tea," she announced.

Aizen sighed imperceptibly as he let his former love interest in. "Very well. Come in, and join this discussion."

"Uh, all right," she answered quizzically. "Why is Yamada-kun here?"

"This discussion involves him and my mother," Aizen told her. Once all three of them had tea and were seated at the coffee table, Aizen once again began his explanation. "As I mentioned to Yamada, I have become aware of a plot that could throw Soul Society into turmoil."

"Go on," Hikifune nodded. "Is this about the letter I showed you?"

"Yes." He turned to Seinousuke. "The...suspected mastermind...of this plot to overthrow me is known to all of us here."

"You said this person's a noble? Don't tell me..."

"Tsunayashiro Tokinada," Hikifune confirmed. "Unsavory character, from all accounts."

"Indeed," Aizen agreed, his brown eyes clouding over. "I...am connected to him far more than I would like."

"Sousuke-kun?"

"Sousuke's...a distant relative of Tsunayashiro Tokinada," Seinousuke explained. "His...birth father...was part of one of the branch families."

"Yamada!" an incredulous Aizen exclaimed. "Why have you never told me this?"

"I'm telling you now. That family's dangerous. Period." He looked Aizen in the eye. "Why do you think your Aunt Mitsuko changed your family name?"

Aizen sighed. "You are impossible, Yamada."

Hikifune cleared her throat. "From what I understand, this Tokinada character might be the most dangerous and unstable member of the Tsunayashiro family. He...was suspected of assassinating his father and brother, for the sole purpose of assuming headship."

Seinousuke closed his black eyes. With concern, he remarked, "It's weird. He didn't even think Heitarou was worth killing. That...woman...paraded Yume around like a status symbol. You don't think this Tokinada remembers Yume, do you?"

Aizen sighed deeply. "Tsunayashiro has a protege—a young child, from my understanding. It would be simple for him to use that child to appeal to my mother's kind nature in order to provoke me."

"So what exactly did this letter say?"

Aizen pulled out the letter and read it aloud. "As is Tsunayashiro's habit, nothing is stated directly. You will note, however, his remark that 'an usurper was not meant to be king.' Ironic, considering how he became head of his own family."

"Sousuke-kun...you're not going to let him come up here for an audience with you, are you?"

"Absolutely not. At this point, we do not know what Tsunayashiro or his protege is capable of. Furthermore, if Niimaiya's suspicion is correct, his missing sword could be in Tsunayashiro's hands as we speak."

"So what do we do?" Seinousuke prodded. "I'm not going to sit around and wait for him to target Yume."

"Yamada...I called you here to assign you an important task."

In Seinousuke's office at the Academy of Healing and Medical Arts, Senjumaru lounged in a guest chair. She had never liked cats, but this cat was starting to grow on her. "How'd I end up being a cat sitter?" she muttered.

The cat purred calmly and tried to go to sleep in the corner.

"Senjumaru-san! Ringo!" Yume exclaimed delightedly, bending down to scratch Ringo between the ears. "Ringo...you behave...for Senjumaru-san?"

"She's a good cat," Senjumaru grudgingly admitted. "I was just surprised when you wanted to bring her along."

"Not leave her...alone...at temple. Ringo...part of family."

"She wanted to run up on stage when you were talking. Maybe..."

"Ringo...do that?" Yume marveled lovingly, picking the cat up. "Ringo...finally think...you my cat?" Purring contentedly, Ringo rested her head against Yume's chest and fell asleep.

"Guess this is our cue to get back to the temple," Senjumaru suggested. Soon, the small group traveled back to Rukongai #15 Northeast just as they had left. Stroking Ringo one last time, Senjumaru excused herself and returned to the Royal Realm.

In the wealthiest section of Soul Society, one mansion stood taller than its surroundings. It was a starkly elegant building, with a colorless rock garden adorning the walkways. Like the sun, this mansion was surrounded by several smaller "satellite" houses. None dared enter that property without a written invitation. Such was the reputation of the Tsunayashiro mansion and its inhabitants.

Within those walls, the newly honored head, Tsunayashiro Tokinada, lounged carelessly on a comfortable plush sofa. As he slept, an eerie smile crossed his snakelike face. "Yes, yes," he murmured almost imperceptibly. "Destruction is beautiful indeed."

"Lord Tokinada?" a youthful voice inquired curiously. "Are you having a nightmare?"

To this, Tsunayashiro nonchalantly turned his head to face the voice. Sweeping a stray hair out of his eye, he shook his head and responded. "No, not at all, Hikone. I...am merely taking delight in the future I see."

Hikone, an enigmatic youth with androgynous features and an innocent face, studied Tsunayashiro with confusion. "I don't understand, Lord Tokinada."

"It's all right," Tsunayashiro told him calmly. "You, however, will assist me in bringing forth the future I wish for." With that, he rolled over and went back to sleep.