"But how will we convince her to help us?" Hikone insisted.

A devious grin came across Tsunayashiro's serpentine features. "We simply must remove...certain obstacles."

"I don't understand."

"In due time, child. In due time. That woman...is an easy target in the right situation."

Now content after a satisfying meal, Yume's group took the short walk back to the academy garden. Ringo jumped onto a bench next to Yume and curled up to sleep.

"That was good," Hisagi groaned, rubbing his midsection. "I'm stuffed."

"Did you get enough for your story, Hisagi-san?" Hanatarou wondered. "You didn't get to interview my brother."

"I have to make another trip anyway," Hisagi winced. "There's still...Lord Tsunayashiro to interview."

Yume lowered her eyebrows with concern. "Read...back issues...Soul Society Monthly," she advised. "That family...focus...on image. Research...first."

"Thanks for the warning, Lady Yume." He sighed resignedly. "I have so many reasons to hate...Lord Tsunayashiro. I've heard a lot about him, and none of it's good. He...had a lot to do with hurting someone important to me."

Hanatarou's clear blue eyes widened. "Do you mean...?"

"Yes. Captain Tousen."

Yume knitted her brows. "My Sousuke...said to me...Kaname...good cook. I...not know him."

Hisagi nodded quietly. "Lady Yume, would you let Yamada-san—His Grace—know that I came to interview him? We've got to get going."

Hanatarou put a hand out to stroke Ringo. "Thanks again for lunch, Yume-san. It was nice to spend time with you and Ringo."

Ringo purred contentedly as the two lieutenants left. Yume picked her up and headed back to their office to prepare for the spring semester. "You...excited, Ringo?" Yume murmured gently. "You...I...have important job. We...help Sei-kun...my Sousuke." With renewed excitement, the newly appointed academy ambassadors set to work reviewing the job description and adding some finishing touches to the decor. The office was finally started to look just right. Yume was glad to spend more time with her husband, but she hoped she would be up to the task.

The market square in Rukongai #1 Southwest seemed almost foreign to Seinousuke. Tall white buildings, extravagant fountains, and overpriced merchandise were the norm here, and much of the goods lacked the appeal of the homemade artisan items so easily found in Rukongai #15 Northeast. Still, this area was useful for hands-on research into the mindset of the ridiculously wealthy.

The one thing Seinousuke liked about the market square was the bookstore, which also housed one of Soul Society's most famed coffeehouses. A soft rumbling reminded him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. Fortunately, the coffeehouse did have good lunch fare to go along with plenty of magazines and newspapers to read. It was settled, then. He'd eat and then purchase something for Yume and Ringo before heading back. He raised an eyebrow as he noticed Yume's photo on the cover of Soul Society Monthly and his own photo on the cover of Medical Moments.

Grabbing a copy of each magazine, he moved to a back corner to read while he enjoyed his coffee and vegetable soup. This "power lunch" was interrupted by a haggard-looking woman with a gleam in her eye. Noticing the copy of Medical Moments, the woman sat down in front of Seinousuke and stared at him. "Still need your ego stroked, huh?" she sneered.

Seinousuke met her gaze and said nothing as he adjusted his scarf and took another sip of coffee. This was Fumiko, the cousin he had paid to take care of Yume at the hospital in Rukongai #10. Wishing to put the past behind him, he had decided to convert that facility to the practice clinic for seniors at the Academy of Healing and Medical Arts. Still, he had no regrets about anything that had happened between him and Fumiko.

"You never did know how to let go of a grudge, did you?" the woman prodded. "You know, I could sue you for mental anguish after the humiliation you put me through. It's your fault our grandmother disowned me."

"Leave. Now." His face was expressionless as he blew once more on his soup.

"You're still mad about Yume, aren't you?" Fumiko persisted. "I had every right to tell Heitarou-san his wife was having an affair with you." She huffed defiantly at him, just waiting for him to respond.

"I won't say it again. Leave."

"And if I don't?" she smirked. "What'll you do to a defenseless old woman, Seinousuke?"

Now done with his soup, he gave her one last warning glare. "You're violating a restraining order. And I'm 'Your Grace' to you." The title seemed pretentious to Seinousuke, and most people didn't address him that way anyway. In Seireitei and in the more affluent districts, though, the title seemed to confer a certain amount of grudging respect. He hoped it would work with Fumiko.

"Pulling rank on me now?"

Rather than responding, Seinousuke left the table and went to the register to pay for the magazines. Calling the manager, he warned, "I have a restraining order against that woman. You don't really want the word to get out that you let a customer harass His Grace, the Prince Consort, do you?" With that, he left and sought out the fish vendor. Fortunately, that experience went far more smoothly. After picking out the freshest tuna and having it packaged, he gave a faint yet satisfied smile and headed back to the academy in Rukongai #10.

"Back already, you two?" Nanao asked, showing them to Kyoraku's office. "That didn't take long."

Hanatarou shook his head apologetically. "My brother wasn't at the academy when we got there."

"So it was a wasted trip?" Kyoraku interrupted, beckoning his visitors to sit down. Nanao left to bring tea.

"Not quite," Hisagi answered. "I still got a good story out of it."

"That's good. Anything else you want to tell me?" he wondered as Nanao joined the discussion.

"The Queen Mother was there. Seems she's starting a new role at the academy," Hisagi explained. "And...she treated us to lunch."

"I didn't know Yume-san used to be married to someone from the Tsunayashiro family," Hanatarou added. "She told us we should research first before we go to interview this Tsunayashiro person."

"Good advice," Nanao nodded. "That guy knows how to provoke people."

"Yume-san just said the whole family's evil and very image-conscious," Hanatarou remarked. "But it upset her to talk about them. So we didn't ask her a lot."

"That about sums them up," Kyoraku answered.

"What do you all think about running the story about the Queen Mother's new role as a special exclusive?" Hisagi asked. "We got some good pictures of the campus. Never mind that it's unheard of for someone like that to live and work in the civilian districts."

"Are you sure it wouldn't provoke Tsunayashiro?" Nanao responded. "If he demanded an exclusive, and even offered to pay publication costs, wouldn't he be angry if you did another special edition first?"

"Nanao-chan's right," Kyoraku agreed. "I still think you need to talk with Lieutenant Omaeda and get as much background information as you can."

"Our family estate's in Rukongai #1," Hanatarou reminded the group. "My brother's still getting everything squared away with the family clinic there."

"Interesting," Nanao pondered. "Once that clinic's open for business, your brother's name recognition could be a selling point. Tsunayashiro might decide to seek out His Grace on his own."

"Hold on to that story about Mistress Minamoto, though," Kyoraku advised. "We don't want to provoke Tsunayashiro. He could take it out on her."

With that warning in mind, Hisagi and Hanatarou went their own ways.

Pensively, Aizen locked his doors and drew the curtains on all the windows. After using Way of Binding #58 to locate his target, he drew the sigil for Way of Binding #77 in the air. "Kuchiki Byakuya, respond, please. This is Aizen Sousuke speaking."

The voice at the other end of the transmission responded with ill-concealed surprise. "Aizen? What could be your business with me?"

"Consider this official business," Aizen responded flatly. "Present yourself before me first thing tomorrow morning."

"Might I ask what this is about?"

"I need your insight as to the workings of the nobility," Aizen told him. "We...will discuss more tomorrow."

"Very well, then." With that, the transmission ended. He had one more urgent message to send.

Now exhausted, Seinousuke plopped down on a bench in the lush gardens of the Academy of Healing and Medical Arts. Although he prided himself on his stamina, he felt drained after his dealings with Fumiko and the long trip from Rukongai #1. He just hoped Yume wouldn't be too upset with him.

Catching his breath, he meandered out of the garden and headed to the elevators. At this hour, he didn't expect most people to still be there.

"Yamada-sensei!" President Iemura called out. "Her Excellency was just asking about you."

Nodding to Iemura, Seinousuke quickened his pace. He had the elevator to himself, so he closed his dark eyes and took in the gentle piano music. Once the elevator stopped at the fourth floor, he made his way to Yume's office. Kirinji had helped her hang the signs outside her door, and a small table with pamphlets sat below the welcoming door signs. Peeking in, he affectionately read the signs. "Well hello there, Goodwill Ambassador. Do I need an appointment?"

"Sei-kun!" Yume exclaimed delightedly, leaving her seat to meet him. Soon, the couple were kissing gently. "Glad...you back. Missed you."

"I missed you too, love." He held up the package of tuna where Ringo could see it. As expected, it didn't take long for her nose to twitch and her ears to perk up. "You know what's in here, huh?"

"Hanatarou...come here...today. Other lieutenant...come too." She patted the spot next to her on the loveseat, where Ringo jumped up to be petted. Soon she was stroking the cat's soft fur. "Came...to interview you...about...new clinic."

Her husband lowered his eyebrows in thought. "Hanatarou came? Why?"

"Hisagi-kun...write article. Hanatarou...take pictures." A twinkle came to her brown eyes. "We...get lunch...at ramen stand."

"Was it good?"

She nodded. "Ringo...get rice...with tuna broth. I...get...house special."

"That's good to hear. Did Hisagi say he'd be back?"

"He said to me...try...interview you...later."

Her husband nodded and pecked her on the cheek. "Seems you had an exciting day without me."

Yume folded her arms and gave him a hurt look. "Sei-kun! Not like it...when you...leave me behind...for long time. Fish vendor...yell...at Ringo."

"I see." Then his expression brightened. "You've got the best office in the building. It's looking really good."

"I...try hard."

As the sun peeked through the clouds in Rukongai #1, Tsunayashiro rose from his chaise and stretched out. Unlike his late wife Kakyou, he hated the sun. He scowled as he picked up the mail to go indoors. Once indoors, he cleared his throat. "Hikone, I have a...training exercise...for you," he murmured.

"Of course, Lord Tokinada!" the child exclaimed.

"Very well then," the 'serpent' continued, writing down a set of coordinates. "Go here, and practice to your heart's delight."

With that, the youngster bounded out of the house, eager to be of service to the one called Lord Tokinada.

"Yeah, Urahara-san, my motorbike's starting to sound strange," Hisagi lamented, sitting at the kotatsu with Urahara and Tessai.

"Let's have a listen, then," Urahara offered, getting up to check on Hisagi's prized motorcycle. "Jinta-kun, bring our visitor a ramune, eh?"

"Coming!" Jinta muttered laconically. "How does this guy rate? Ramune ain't cheap, y'know."

Tessai cleared his throat. "Lieutenant Hisagi is, of course, a valued client. Enough complaining." Noticing Hisagi's troubled expression, he asked, "Something's bothering you?"

"You...know a lot about Soul Society's history, don't you? You and Urahara-san?"

"I suppose one could say that. Why do you ask?"

Hisagi, usually a careful editor in his office, just let the ideas tumble out one after another in this room with a kido master. "Everyone's warning me about this Tsunayashiro Tokinada, but I can't get out of interviewing him. The Queen Mother told me to research the history of Soul Society and the Tsunayashiro family before I agree to meet with him." He stopped for breath. "I don't really know where to start."

"You have, no doubt, spent time with other members of the nobility," Tessai mused aloud. "The Kuchiki family archives, in particular, would be a good place to start. Kuchiki Byakuya has always kept meticulous records."

"Well, that's done," Urahara interrupted jovially, wiping some sweat off his forehead. "Just needed an oil change."

"Master Urahara, Hisagi-kun had some questions for us about the noble houses, especially the Tsunayashiro family."

Urahara dropped his smile and looked Hisagi in the eye. "Watch yourself. And...bring your motorcycle back here in two weeks."

"Uh, all right." Not quite satisfied with this discussion, Hisagi left. The more he talked with people, the more questions he had.