Chapter Nine: The Hidden Hut
Rukongai was cold when the sun began to set.
Tenichi stifled a shiver, pulling the thin fabric of his shihakushou more tightly to his body in a vain attempt to shield his body from the sharp wind that had begun to pick up around the dusty tracks and pathways that surrounded him on all sides. For once, he was on his own, for the ever-attentive yet disinterested Koku had been summoned away on some other errand, and he had taken advantage of that fact to explore his surroundings, really taking in for himself the barren wasteland to which he had been forcibly brought.
The longer he was here, the less he felt like he had been abducted by force. Though he was still highly wary of Keitarou and his motives, he could not deny the truth of the poverty every way he looked. Houses with missing beams, roofs broken and decaying, dry pools and dying trees hanging like skeletal reminders of a once prosperous landscape. Though he had never been to Rukongai before, he had never thought that conditions on the other side of the Sekkiseki divide could be so wretched. Seireitei had spent so much time working on ways and means to improve the situation of the hundreds of thousands of Plus souls that apparently made their homes here - yet despite that, it was clear this area had long since been forgotten or ignored.
Had it been an oversight, or was it on purpose? Tenichi frowned, bringing his lips together tightly as he debated both trains of thought carefully to himself. He was not ignorant or naive enough to believe that all of the Seireitei Clans cared overly about the fates of those not directly in front of their noses, and he had been old enough when his family had been sent into exile to recall the long trudges knee deep in mud through frozen rainstorms and whirling winds, holding tightly to one another in fear of being separated. He remembered only too vividly walking with his eyes closed to prevent the dust and debris from the pathway blowing up and scratching at his eyeballs, and as he stood there, watching the sandy earth swirl a little on the path before him, he knew that it was a memory people in this forsaken hole might also share.
But, for them, it wouldn't end with refuge. Tenichi's family had been able to settle in District Eight and had forged a life for themselves, despite the hardships they faced. They had stuck together through everything, because they had all believed wholeheartedly that better times were to come. When Tenichi had applied and been accepted to the Shinigami Academy that was the crowning achievement of District One's most illustrious noble shinigami, those days seemed to have arrived. Ketsui had quickly followed him as soon as age and ability had allowed, and now both of them lived lives that, during their time as refugees they could only have imagined. Food was available, water too, as was the warm cameraderie of other like minded individuals with whom they shared their day.
I told Koku I hadn't forgotten what it was like to be a refugee, but maybe I have, just a little. I remember the images, but standing here, I begin to really feel it, too.
A sense of loneliness wrapped itself around his heart and he shivered, forcing it away. Keitarou had promised to release him, he reminded himself. Koku had agreed to raise the subject, too, and he wasn't fool enough to suppose they wanted him in their territory long-term. Although, he reflected, gazing up at the grey, colourless sky for any sign of either sun or moon, the more he saw of Rukongai, the more risky their gamble of bringing him here.
I could promise not to talk, and then go back and tell my Captain everything. They haven't hidden anything from me - Koku I know by face and name, and there's also Kurotsuchi, who I haven't met but whose name I could also pass on. I know where Keitarou's base of operations is, and even though I don't know precisely where I am in Rukongai, I'm sure there can't be too many valleys so utterly overlooked. It would only take one word to the right person, and then...
But what would happen to these people, then?
A soft, nagging voice poked at his thoughts, making him jump and spin around as if to see a real speaker. Even as he did, though, he knew that the voice was in his head, the gentle, reproachful tones of his long dead mother reminding him once again of the struggle she had faced to keep both her sons alive and well. As he thought of her, another memory drifted across his thoughts - one of Daisuke, dusty from a long day's research work, yet greeting them with smiles and hugs and asking them what they had done that day. Keitarou had been with him that day, he recalled with a jolt. He had brought fruit from the Endou manor, and had shared it with the children, though Irie had scolded him for taking a risk and stealing from the men who fed and clothed them all. Keitarou had dismissed her concern with amusement, his muddy-brown eyes light and amused at the suggestion of being caught, and as he relived those fleeting fragments of a past life, Tenichi remembered a feeling of security and reassurance. He hadn't known, then, what his family were involved in or how dangerous their lives would become. Back then, he had been a child who had trusted in the adults around him - and one of those adults had been Keitarou. The man who tested me on my kanji, and who always answered my questions about the things I'd seen in the village, if he was able to do so. The man who knew why trees bloomed in spring and shed leaves in autumn - and who bothered to explain to me how the birds built their nests and why the egg-shells scattered around our home were different colours depending on where I found them. He didn't come often, not often at all, but when he did...
He frowned, rubbing his temples.
That man became this man...because of Father? Because Father was murdered, Keitarou-san took revenge on the Endou and it spiralled into how things are now? But Keitarou-san hasn't come to this point unscathed, either. He moves stiffly. Perhaps whatever injury caused that lameness is part of the reason he now chooses to remain here, limiting his vigilante actions to protecting those who helped support him when he needed it most. Maybe the vengeance and spite is behind him. If I were to report this in, they'd come here in force. Raid the place. Probably people would be hurt. Maybe people who are already living in terrible conditions...and who would protect them, then? There'd be bloodshed - maybe on both sides. No. No, it's better this way. If I can do something to get supplies here in secret, then nobody need get killed on either side and everything can continue peacefully.
A rustle from the pathway ahead drew him from his thoughts and he paused, raising his head to see a dark-clad shape shift behind a nearby building. Immediately on his guard, Tenichi hastened forward, only just remembering at the last minute that his spirit power was sealed and he would not be able to use shunpo to give chase. He darted behind the building, not sure what he expected to see. A young woman was standing there, fear etched on her thin features as she stared at him uncertainly. At first, Tenichi could not work out why she had not fled, but then he caught sight of her foot, misshapen and deformed at the ankle, and he realised the odd rustling sound had been her shuffling gait, moving the only way she could between solid structures and using them as her support.
He offered her a smile, but she continued to stare at him, taking a limping step back to put distance between them. Tenichi glanced down, noticing that his fingers had curled instinctively around the hilt of his weapon, and he inwardly berated himself, pulling his hand away and raising it in the air to indicate he had no intention of attacking.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said quietly. "You surprised me too, but I'm not going to hurt you."
The girl continued to stare at him, and Tenichi noticed the heavy bucket clasped defensively in her arms.
"You're going to find water." It was a statement, not a question, and slowly and jerkily the woman nodded her head.
"There's no water around here, though," Tenichi glanced around him, seeing nothing but dry tracks, and the woman's lips trembled, but she made no attempt to speak.
"You'll have to walk a long way to find any, won't you?" Tenichi's voice softened, as inwardly he made up his mind. "Will you let me help you? I really didn't mean to hurt you, and...wait!"
As the woman tossed the bucket in his direction as a distraction, limping desperately towards the break between the next two shelters. The vessel clanged against exposed stone, and Tenichi scooped it up, hurrying forward to grasp the woman loosely around the wrist. She struggled against his hold, her fear clearly reflected in her eyes, but Tenichi merely steadied her on her feet, releasing his grip and holding the vessel out towards her.
"Keitarou-san brought me to Rukongai. He wants me to help you, and I want to help, too," he said evenly. "My name is Tenichi. Kotetsu Tenichi."
More silence.
"You don't have to tell me your name," Tenichi assured her quickly. "I told you mine so that you know who I am, and why I'm here. My father Daisuke was Keitarou-san's cousin, and so he and I are kin. You trust Keitarou-san, don't you? In that case, you can ask him about me yourself. Ask him why I've come here - he'll tell you the same as I just have."
The woman eyed him uncertainly, but at the mention of the name Keitarou, some of the tension had slipped from her skinny body, and she nodded her head.
"Natsuko," she said softly, her voice barely above a murmur. "I've seen you...with Koku-dono. By the...by the river."
"Yes, that's right," Tenichi nodded eagerly. "I was with Koku, and also with Keitarou-san. You believe me, don't you? I know I'm dressed like this," he gestured to his grimy shihakushou, "but even though I have a sword, I'm not here to hurt you. I learned to hold this to protect people - people like you and people like my kin back in Seireitei. I would never draw my sword on an innocent soul."
He bowed his head towards her sombrely.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Natsuko-san," he added. "Will you let me help you find water? It's a long walk, and your foot...it looks quite sore."
"It's always been this way," Natsuko glanced dispassionately at her leg, then shrugged. "I don't know why. I don't remember. It was from before...when I came here, it was like that."
From the Real World?
Despite himself, Tenichi's curiosity piqued. He had never spoken to a proper Plus soul before - an entity from the Real World who had been reaped to Seireitei space yet who did not fully belong in this world. A place-marker soul, bringing reishi back to Seireitei before dissipating into dust and reforming to provide new life and stability. In his studies at the Academy, Tenichi had learned that some Plus souls endured for a century or more without any reiatsu to speak of, but he recalled Keitarou telling him that the souls here were contaminated - tainted with spirit power and therefore gifted or cursed with a lifespan that could potentially equal his own.
"There's water underground," Natsuko was speaking again, clearly having no interest in the past she could not remember, and Tenichi turned his attention back to the conversation, not wanting to unsettle the woman by asking her awkward questions. "Sometimes, people manage to dig through to it. There's not much, and it's deep, but it's here. Yesterday, someone from the village broke a rock and water came from it. It's near here. I want to find it."
"I'll help," Tenichi decided. "I might be able to split the rock better with my sword - we can try, at least."
"I suppose so," Natsuko looked doubtful. "Don't you want the water, though?"
"I'm fine," Tenichi dismissed her concern with a flick of his hand. "I won't steal it from you, Natsuko-san. Keitarou-san wouldn't like it if I did that - and he might not be so keen to let me linger around here, if I was bullying you all."
"Keitarou-sama would not," Natsuko said with certainty, "and Eiraki-sama would curse you and hunt you down herself."
She laughed, a strange, brittle laugh, and Tenichi felt a chill at the implied threat in her words. Almost certainly it was not a threat from the woman herself but something she was repeating, something she had heard, something she had been told...
Eiraki-hime, the sister of my Captain who took off with Keitarou-san and abandoned the Endou. The stories say she was the one who killed Guren-sama's son and heir in cold blood before she was even an adult. Perhaps she's more frightening a prospect than Keitarou-san. If she spoke those words...
Out loud he said,
"Eiraki-sama is protective of you all, isn't she?"
"She is kind to us, yes," Natsuko's smile became a touch more genuine and she nodded, her hard eyes softening slightly. "She always has been. Well, and so it should be. We're kind to her, too. She's like one of us, except strong in ways most of us are not. She wouldn't allow anyone to hurt us - she'd slit their throats first."
"Well, it's a good thing I don't want to do harm, then," Tenichi said ruefully. "I've no intention of crossing Eiraki-sama, believe me."
"I do," Natsuko agreed slowly. "All right. I'll show you where the water reserve is. If you help me, I'll tell Eiraki-sama, and then she'll look well on you. Is that fair?"
"Yes, that's fair," Tenichi confirmed. "Can you manage to walk there, or..."
"It's the only way to get around, so I'll manage," Natsuko said simply, turning awkwardly on her good leg and beginning to shuffle off towards a narrow pathway that led towards the centre of a crop of long-dead trees. "If you can't move, you can't survive."
"Even with Keitarou-sama and Eiraki-sama's help, it's hard, isn't it? Living here." Tenichi fell into step with her, walking at a pace so slow it chafed him, but forcing him to keep alongside his companion so as not to demean her determination. Natsuko sighed, looking weary, and Tenichi wondered briefly if she was older than she had first appeared.
"There are so many of us, and more all the time," she reflected. "There are so few of them. Of course it's hard."
"I guess that was a stupid question," Tenichi acknowledged. "I'm sorry. I'm learning about it all the time - I haven't spent a lot of time in Rukongai, not yet, but I do want to help. When I go back to where I come from, I need to know what I can do to help make life better here."
"You probably can't," Natsuko said frankly, "but...at least you want to try."
She offered him a faint smile.
"Shinigami aren't usually so helpful when we're like this," she added, "but if Keitarou-sama brought you here, and you're kin to him, I guess you're different."
She limped to a stop, gesturing towards a cluster of rocks just beyond a dip in the road, and Tenichi's gaze strayed to where she pointed, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out what was the tiniest trickle of muddy brown water between the two jagged fragments of grey stone.
"There?" he asked, and Natsuko nodded.
"Can you split it further?" she asked doubtfully, and Tenichi nodded, pulling his weapon from its hilt and stepping forward to examine the problem more closely. As he did so, he caught a glimpse of a pathway just beyond where they had halted, half-hidden by a thicket of what must once have been thriving bush and shrub but what was now a skeleton of white-bleached sticks intertwined together like a natural fence, sharp and splintered and warning people against approaching. A tiny gap between the thicket and the wall of a nearby ruined shack indicated that access was there, but as Tenichi tried to work out what lay beyond, he felt a hand on his arm.
"You can't go there," Natsuko's voice was barely above a murmur, and, glancing at her, Tenichi saw apprehension in her tired eyes. "Even if you are here because Keitarou-sama brought you...we don't go through there. None of us do. It's not allowed."
"Not allowed?" Tenichi's brow creased in confusion. "Why not? What lies beyond there?"
Natsuko hesitated, glancing around her, then shaking her head.
"We don't go there," she repeated. "You mustn't either. Keitarou-sama would be cross. We're not supposed to disturb him...we're not allowed."
"Him?" Tenichi latched onto this, and horror flooded Natsuko's gaze. Her hands flew to her mouth, and she visibly paled, realising she had let something slip. Tenichi sighed, gently patting her shoulder.
"I won't tell Keitarou-san you said anything. I promise," he said softly. "I just want to know what's dangerous. I want to keep safe while I'm here, so it's important I know...isn't it?"
Natsuko eyed him uncertainly, then,
"You promise not to tell?" she asked anxiously. "We're not supposed to...especially not to people from outside."
"People from outside have been here before?"
"Mm. When this place was evacuated, they came," Natsuko agreed bitterly. "We didn't tell them, though. We never tell them. I shouldn't tell you, either. You're from outside, even if you are Keitarou-sama's kin."
"Natsuko, if you don't tell me, I'll have to ask Keitarou-san," Tenichi said sensibly, and Natsuko shook her head frantically.
"No! No, please don't! He'll be cross - we're not allowed to..."
"Then you tell me?" Tenichi beseeched. "What's beyond those briars? What's so dangerous it needs to be avoided at all costs?"
Natsuko looked uncomfortable, but slowly she inclined her head.
"Not what. Who," she whispered, her eyes darting around her all the time as if looking for unseen eavesdroppers. "That's where he is. Kohaku-sama. He's there."
"Ko...haku-sama?"
"Mm," Natsuko nodded agitatedly. "We're not to disturb him. It's bad, if we do. Sometimes there are screams...Keitarou-san told us...stay away, because if we don't...bad things could happen."
She swallowed hard.
"Once, when there were really loud screams from that place, a man went to see what was happening," she whispered, eyes huge now as she recounted the story. "When we found him, he was wandering around the place, gibbering to himself about things that made no sense. If anyone went near him, he started yelling and fighting against them. It was like he'd gone crazy - jerking and foaming at the mouth and yelling curses. Then...then he died...and...and Keitarou-san told us that we should stay away from that place, just in case."
"Really," Tenichi's eyes narrowed, glancing back towards the gap in the hedge. "You've never seen this Kohaku-sama?"
"No...no, we haven't," Natsuko agreed nervously. "We've heard him, but not seen him. Keitarou-san said he didn't want anyone else hurt, and so we stay away. The man who died, Keitarou-san was worried by it. He made us all promise one by one, and we did. We swore. Nobody's crossed the boundary since."
"Does Keitarou-sama?"
"Sometimes," Natsuko agreed. "But not often, not these days. The screams come less, too. We try to forget it. It's nothing to do with us."
She inched towards the water source, eying him with pleading eyes.
"The water, Tenichi-dono. Please."
"Yes. Yes, of course," Tenichi cast the dim pathway a final glance, then nodded, tightening his grip on the sword and turning his attention back to the task at hand. "I'm sorry to have put you so on edge, Natsuko-san. I won't go there, and I won't ask again. I appreciate the warning...now I'll repay it by getting you some water."
He crouched to his knees, putting his weight behind the hilt of his zanpakutou as he used the blade like a chisel to split the rock apart, allowing the thin trickle of water to gush into a small pool around his feet. Natsuko let out an exclamation, hurrying to catch the water in her tarnished vessel, but all the time Tenichi was working, his mind was on the woman's story and the genuine fear he had seen in her eyes.
Kohaku-sama...huh?
He pressed his lips together.
That wasn't part of what Keitarou-san mentioned to me. I wonder what...or who...is through those briars. I thought I could just make out the walls of a hut - but if there's something in it, with my spirit power cuffed, I can't sense anything at all. Whoever it is, obviously they pose some danger to Plus souls, and so Keitarou's kept them away. To protect them? In which case, why keep something like that so close to them? Unless it's one of them - a Plus soul so tainted that it can taint others and drive them to madness.
A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. My priority is getting back to Seireitei alive. Anything else can happen from that point on.
When I get a chance, I'll try and ask Keitarou-san about this. I want to see his reaction - I'm sure I can find out without implicating Natsuko or getting anyone into trouble. The way she talked makes me think something really dangerous is lurking in this valley, and if I'm here, I need to know what it is. It's risky...especially since I want to go back to Seireitei and get on with my life. The more I know, the more dangerous it becomes - Koku was right about that and I ought to listen, but some questions need answering no matter what the risks might be. I'm a hostage in a place nobody's going to rescue me, and I have to look out for my own safety. That means knowing the risks of this environment, since I don't know when I might be leaving.
"It's such a damned nusiance."
Juushirou pulled his blankets more tightly around his shoulders, gritting his teeth in frustration as a shiver ran through his thin body. "I've been fine for such a span of time together, and now, when everything is starting to kick off, this happens."
He glared mutinously at the blue fabric pouch that lay on the floor beside him, faint dribbles of clear liquid soaking through to the tatami mat floor as the ice gathered by one of his lower ranking officers began to melt in the warmth within Ugendou's four walls. On the floor, scattered around him were a number of books, some from his own shelves and others from the division's substantial, if compact library chamber, but all had been discarded barely read. A fresh ink brush lay beside the ink tray on his desk, but the parchment that lay there was clean and white, testament to the fact very little of purpose had been done in that room that day.
The tension, however, was moving ever closer to boiling point.
"I really thought that I was starting to get over this frequent propensity to random fevers, but I guess not."
It was the same day, afternoon shifting towards evening deep within Thirteenth Division, and all around the bustling barracks shinigami were getting on with their late tasks, each hoping to scrape together a few spare minutes in which to enjoy themselves after work hours were done. All, that is, except for the Captain. Holed up in Ugendou since waking at dawn with one of his persistent, chronic fevers, Juushirou was about reaching the end of his patience tether, and even the fresh icepack that Kirio had brought him a half hour earlier had gone little way to soothe the heat of his frustrated temper. Though he had lived with the lung condition haibyou all his life, he had never quite resigned himself to the times when the disease had the upper hand over his frail body, and, as most who knew him could testify, whilst he might be a great Captain, he was a horrendously poor patient.
"You poor soul," from the doorway, Shunsui cast him an amused smile, lounging up against the wooden runners as he surveyed his friend. "I had come here with the hope of discussing some of that annoying "everything" with you, but from the looks, I'd do better putting it on hold and letting you rant off your fever, wouldn't I? We both know that if you rest and let it do its thing, it'll pass, and it's not as though you're needed out in the field this morning, is it?"
"No, but I was going to go myself into Seireitei proper and see what I could pick up about the Hollow attacks in the local vicinity," Juushirou grabbed up the blue pouch with very bad grace, putting it to his brow with a sigh and leaning back against the wood panels that made up Ugendou's walls. "I know, I know, I'm like this every time, but really, I had been feeling so much better of late. I've been taking the new remedies Unohana-taichou sends over by way of Shiki-chan each week and I thought they were beginning to have an impact."
"Mm, probably they are, but you're worrying about Tenichi-kun," Shunsui pressed his lips together, sauntering across the chamber and dropping down with a light thud opposite his friend. "Yes, I know about it," as Juushirou sent him a startled look, "at least, bits and pieces. I knew that there had been some incidents, and I'm sorry for not discussing it with you sooner, but you were already on one crusade and it seemed unlikely to be something that would affect you or your squad. Just some District idiots getting political, nothing more serious. However...according to Sora-chan's summary of this morning's Vice Captain's meeting..." he shrugged. "Maybe not. Tenichi might not be yours any more, but I know you haven't fully let go of him. And, from what Souja-kun told Sora, the circumstances of this one are messed up."
"It makes no sense, and you're right, I am bothered by it," Juushirou groaned, closing his eyes briefly as he allowed the cool liquid from the ice bag to trickle over his hot brow and down his cheeks. "I didn't sleep so very well last night trying to puzzle out how he was taken, and I didn't get very far. Probably that explains this," he gestured to his body, "but it's a nusiance all the same."
"Did Enishi talk to you about their meeting?" Shunsui asked, and Juushirou shrugged.
"The bare bones," he replied. "He took over my share of the drill duties as well as his own, so there wasn't time for more. He's priceless, because he never complains, but it leaves me sitting here feeling highly useless."
"That's what a Vice Captain is for. Doing your work when you can't or don't want to," Shunsui grinned. "Call it training. One day he'll benefit from all this experience."
"Yeah," Juushirou shot his friend a rueful look. "So? What was this 'everything' you planned on discussing with me?"
"Like this?" Shunsui arched an eyebrow, looking sceptical, and Juushirou nodded.
"I'm bored," he said plaintively. "I'm not having an attack, Shunsui. I did cough a little, last night, but not very much since this morning, and no blood. I have a headache and I'm hot and bothered, but quite in my wits and perfectly able to talk, even if I'm not in such a good shape to wield a sword. At least make me feel as though I'm doing something worthwhile. Tell me what you know about the abductions - or the Hollows - or anything, so I can pretend I'm doing useful work this afternoon instead of wasting time holed up in bed."
"All right," Shunsui grinned, but relented, reaching an arm across to shut the sliding door, then shuffling around to face his friend once more. "What I know comes from Kaoru-chan, whose friend Sakura is in Ninth. The girl that was taken from there remembers nothing at all about the incident, and from what Sora said, Anabomi's been covering it up so even Shirogane-dono and Guren-sama didn't know it happened. Anyway, the M.O is pretty classic. Shinigami is of low rank. Shinigami is patrolling in some area away from Inner Seireitei. Shinigami is seized by unknown individuals who cuff them and take them to a secure location. Ransom note is sent. Ransom is paid, shinigami is returned. Most likely they're knocked unconscious on abduction, and so remember nothing when they're returned. I also heard that Anabomi did a spiritual scan of the girl when she was brought back, for traces of foreign reiryoku, but found nothing of any use to their inquiries."
"The same happened in Eleventh?"
"Ikata is very outspoken. Sora said he's not tried to keep it a secret, and has complained about Minachi's high-handed dealing with it for good measure to anyone who'd listen," Shunsui nodded. "From what she said, yes. The two in Eleventh were taken, held, and returned in the same way."
"Away from Inner Seireitei," Juushirou murmured. "Yet Tenichi was taken here - in a place where there are no easy access points for District, but plenty for shinigami."
"You think it's an inside job?" Shunsui's eyes became slits, and Juushirou shrugged.
"Its possible, though I'm trying to think otherwise," he said wearily. "Nobody saw anything. Souja has been investigating, so has Kikyue, but nothing has come of it. How can a shinigami of Tenichi's rank and level just disappear into nothing in the midst of what's meant to be a safe location unless someone was paid to look the other way? The trouble is pinpointing who, where and why. I don't have any of the above, just a vague sense of unease about the whole thing - certainly not enough to build a case on. And, if I'm wrong, I don't want to make unfounded accusations."
"Have you told Ketsui that his brother is missing yet?" Shunsui asked, and Juushirou shook his head.
"No, but I must," he responded darkly. "Another thing preying on my mind. I was hoping we'd have more news sooner than this, even a note or a ransom demand so we could confirm where he is. From what Enishi said, though, Souja hadn't had any note by the time they had their meeting this morning."
He pulled the blanket more firmly around him, dumping the ice pack back onto the tatami mat floor and stifling a dry cough. "It makes me wonder what the delay is. Maybe it isn't like the others, but someone is trying to make it look as though it's connected to throw us off the scent."
"You think he was taken for other reasons?" Shunsui asked quietly, and Juushirou shrugged.
"It worries me," he said gravely. "That's all."
"It worries you, and you make yourself sick in the process, so we all end up worrying about you," Shunsui sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, delegate this one to me, all right? I don't pretend I know the lad as well as you, nor have I been his Captain, so I can't say I've that kind of bond with him. Maybe that's better, though, considering. Let me look into it. I'll deploy some of Eighth and see what I can find out. I'm sure Souja would be glad of some help, and you have enough on your plate investigating the Hollow activity."
"I appreciate what you're saying, but I can't," Juushirou shook his head. "Tenichi and Ketsui are my recruits, Shunsui. Even if Tenichi belongs to Hirata now, he's still one of mine. I can't shake that - I have a responsibility to him and his safety."
"You have no such thing," Shunsui shook his head firmly. "You take the world onto those skinny shoulders of yours and they're just not big enough to carry it all. Tenichi is a grown man. He's not your recruit any more, he's Hirata's Eighth Seat and it's up to Seventh to do the legwork and track him down. Ketsui is your concern, true enough, but if it comes to it, you can get Kirio-chan to talk to him, set him straight and explain. They're not children and you can't protect them, even if you want to. This is the problem with making your squad your family - sometimes you blur the line and see your siblings instead of your subordinates."
"Maybe," Juushirou let out a heavy sigh. "It's the only way I know how to do it, though. It's how I am, and it won't change. Whatever squad he's in now, I still feel I have a duty to help if Tenichi is in trouble."
"Right now you have a duty to your Division to get well," Shunsui said firmly. "You know it and so do I. I'm glad you were sensible enough to stay in bed today, at the very least."
"Naoko told me that she'd send a message to Fourth Division if I thought about getting up and taking my training drills, and have someone come and sedate me," a faint, sheepish smile touched Juushirou's pale lips. "She's very forceful, sometimes, and she takes my health even more seriously than Enishi does. I didn't feel up to arguing with her, so I let her have her way and sent her off to take charge of the recruits Enishi was meant to oversee doing their various chores."
"You weren't brave enough to defy her, though," Shunsui pursed his lips, letting out a low whistle. "I underestimated Naoko-chan's ability to emulate Unohana-taichou, but I guess it's there deep down, even if the healing side isn't."
"That probably makes Naoko a touch more frightening," Juushirou murmured, and Shunsui laughed appreciatively.
"Perhaps, but she was right, and I'm glad she spoke up and told you what she thought," he responded evenly. "If you're less fevered tomorrow, we'll both go and look into this - how's that? I'll offer my personal services as your side-kick, and that's a rare thing I don't give many people, so be honoured. If you think there's someone on the inside playing devils, the more people we have investigating it the better."
"All right," Juushirou looked relieved. "Thank you, Shunsui. If we both tackle it, maybe we'll make up for lost time. Hirata will be back too, soon, and..."
"Unless I miss my guess, he's already back," Shunsui turned, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced towards the door. "In fact, I have this strong feeling he's heading this way. Call it a hunch if you like, but I think I just heard a bird of prey flap its spiritual wings."
"Souja's told Hirata about Tenichi," Juushirou deduced, and Shunsui nodded.
"That would be my first guess, too," he agreed with a sigh. "And when you're all bundled up like this as well, but never mind. I think he's coming here, and doubtless Souja's told him you've been helping in their search. Some old habits die hard - I guess we'll have to hear him out."
"Taichou?"
At that moment there was a light knock at the door, followed by the voice of Kira Hideharu, one of Juushirou's seated officers. "Taichou, Endou-taichou is here. He wants to see you. I told him you weren't feeling well, but he says it's important and...well...can I let him in?"
There was an edge of nervousness to the man's tones, and Juushirou pressed his lips together, glancing at his friend.
"I can feel it too, now," he murmured. "I'm trying not to use my spiritual senses much while my temperature's unsteady, but it's hard to ignore it."
"Hirata's not happy, and he's put the wind up Kira when Kira tried to dissuade him," Shunsui agreed grimly. "I wonder just what exactly Souja said."
"Taichou?" Kira's voice sounded anxious, even pleading. "Please, if you're awake, will you answer me? I'm really sorry to be disturbing you, but Endou-taichou..."
"It's all right, Kira. Let him come in," Juushirou raised his voice, his hoarse tones carrying across the small chamber. "I'm awake, and S...Kyouraku-taichou is with me, so he won't be disturbing me at all."
There was a faintly audible sigh of relief, followed by the murmur of words on the other side of the divide, and Shunsui grinned despite himself.
"Kira's sword work might be better than it was and he's probably a solid member of your squad these days," he reflected, "but his courage and deference when faced with senior officers, even ones he went to school with, still leaves something to be desired."
"He does his best," Juushirou responded simply, and Shunsui let out a chuckle.
"I see. You won't let me criticise one of your own? I suppose that makes sense. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply a slight against Thirteenth."
Before Juushirou could respond, there was the sound of the door sliding back, and both men turned to see their comrade and old school friend step over the threshold, entering the chamber and pulling the sliding door shut with a snap behind him. He was still dressed in Clan robes, his red Endou cloak flapping around his shoulders, and one look at his expression told Juushirou that his former classmate was not here to ask after anyone's health.
As a boy, Hirata had been unimposing, but as a shinigami, that impression had changed. The weight of the Endou had demanded him to play the part of the confident Clansman, even when he had his own inward doubts, and his sword, Tsumi no Fuuhi, was renowned among the members of Inner Seireitei as one of the most ruthlessly powerful among the current Gotei. Juushirou had never seen his younger classmate as threatening or frightening in any way, but in that moment, as he absorbed the grim line of Hirata's mouth and the hard, unreadable expression in the pale blue eyes, he realised that the impression was not simply the junior officers' over-imagination. His aura prickled around his body, held in check only by what was a steely sense of will and purpose, but Juushirou could tell that Tsumi no Fuuhi was angry, and that Hirata himself was only just keeping his hunter's instinct in check.
"I'm sorry to come when you're sick," he said now, bowing his head slightly towards the Thirteenth Captain. "I didn't know, but it can't wait."
He cast Shunsui a glance, long and hard, then turned back to Juushirou.
"I need to talk to you. Alone."
"Ouch," Shunsui pretended to wince, holding up his hands in mock-surrender. "How to make an old friend feel unwelcome, Hirata-kun - the temperature in here dropped by about a hundred degrees the moment you looked my way."
"Shut up," Hirata's eyes snapped with impatience. "This isn't a time to be joking around. I need to speak to Juushirou. It's nothing to do with you, so if you don't mind..."
"Maybe I do mind, though," Shunsui said evenly, folding his arms across his chest and making no attempt to get up from the floor of the chamber. "Juushirou isn't well. He's not in any fit state to deal with you in this kind of temper, and I'm certainly not going to let him be subjected to your flaring spirit power when he's already running a fever. Get your bird back in harness and shut off the hunter, else there'll be no conversation at all."
"Shunsui..." Hirata's eyes became near slits, and Shunsui raised an eyebrow, meeting the younger Captain's gaze with an even, unhurried one of his own.
"I can beat you, if I have to, though I don't want to, because it will make Juu sad," he said evenly, his tones measured and calm despite the implication in his words. "I'll say it again. Calm down or you won't be speaking to Juu at all."
Hirata opened his lips as if to retort, but at that moment Juushirou coughed, holding up his hands as if to demand a ceasefire.
"Not...not in my chamber," he managed, between spasms. "Hirata...please...it's not making it any easier with your reiryoku flaring up l..like that."
Hirata's eyes widened, the anger dissipating from his expression as though something in the white-haired man's words had risen him from a spell, and Shunsui sighed, slowly shaking his head.
"See? Now you made him cough," he told the visitor reproachfully. "It's no good, Hirata-kun. You're old enough to do better, especially when Kira told you Juu wasn't feeling one hundred percent."
"I'm sorry," Hirata's expression glittered with guilt, and he dropped his head apologetically in his friends' direction, the flaring, predatorial reiatsu that up till a few moments before had surrounded him dissipating to a dull hum in light of his contrition. "I didn't mean...it was just..."
He trailed off, as if unsure how to continue, and Shunsui gestured for him to sit down.
"Sometimes, you know, you let it rail too easily out of hand," he said quietly, as Hirata hesitated, sending a concerned glance in Juushirou's direction. "When it's us, under normal conditions, we know how to handle it and you, if need be. With other people, though, you might easily give the wrong impression. You're the one who likes to say you're not that kind of Endou. Keep tabs on it, else you'll cross the line once too many and someone you like will get hurt."
"Something's happened, though, hasn't it?" Juushirou kept his voice to a cautious murmur, waving his bespectacled friend down to join them with a weary smile. "Sit, it's all right. You've dropped your reiatsu and I can breathe again now - my chest is a little raw and I'm running a temperature, so I'm not really up to clipping hawk wings today, that's all."
"Kira did tell me, and I'm sorry," Hirata removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if trying to relieve some of the tension physically. "I should have stopped and checked myself before I stepped inside, but I'm tired and frustrated and then I saw Shunsui was here..."
"You really want rid of me, don't you?" Shunsui feigned a hurt expression. "That's charming. I thought we were friends, Hirata-kun."
"It's not that," Hirata shook his head impatiently. "It's not me wanting rid of you, just what I have to talk to Juushirou about is something that's top secret. Even more so, right now, given everything that's happened. I don't want to discuss it with more people than I have to - particularly not with people who don't know anything to begin with."
"Hirata?" Juushirou looked concerned. "What do you mean, top secret? If this is to do with Tenichi, Shunsui knows all about that. If not..."
"It is about Tenichi," Hirata agreed, "but it's not just about that. I know Kikyue came to you, and I know Souja's been open with everyone about the boy's abduction, so it's not exactly a private matter. What I want to talk to you about, though, is."
He eyed Shunsui doubtfully for a moment.
"You don't trust me?" Shunsui asked softly, and Hirata grimaced.
"I do," he said frankly. "More than myself, a lot of the time. What you said is right - probably you or Juushirou are the only people who can face me down when my spirit power flares up and threatens to overwhelm me like it did just now. I rely on the both of you to make sure I stay the proper side of the line - but this is a special circumstance."
"Something I already know about, but that Shunsui doesn't?" Juushirou rubbed his chin pensively. "There aren't many things like that. I discuss most things with Shunsui - and I'm pretty sure you do too, as a rule."
"Yes, but this is..."
Hirata stopped mid-sentence, digging into his hand-embroidered obi and pulling the parchment from beneath its folds. "Here. Read this. Don't say anything, just read it. When you've read it, you'll understand why I want to talk to you in private. It's complicated and time is ticking away."
"All right," Juushirou was nonplussed, but he took the sheet, unfolding it and running his hazel gaze down the columns of kanji. As he was doing so, Shunsui sat back on his hands, a gesture that to anyone else would look as though he was just lounging all over the place as usual, but to the white-haired shinigami, meant he was giving his friend extra space to read in peace without fear of having the document read over his shoulder. Curious as Shunsui could be, Juushirou knew he would not try to read the letter without Hirata's express permission. It was one of the characteristics he most liked about his lazy, enigmatic friend - Shunsui was often infuriating, but it was always honourably done, underpinned by the thick vein of integrity that characterised him as a shinigami. Sword-wise, he might be one of the most powerful in the Gotei - indeed, only Juushirou and a couple of others could confidently raise a blade to his without fear of quick defeat, but as an ally, his strength was his loyalty to those who had won his trust.
As soon as he had read the contents of the letter, Juushirou understood Hirata's request for secrecy. He re-folded the sheet, passing it back with a grim expression on his thin features.
"Tenichi's ransom note came, huh?"
"It did," Hirata agreed bleakly. "It seems it was waiting particularly for me, which means that whoever sent it knew I was away and when I would be back."
"Juu thinks whoever abducted your Eighth Seat is somehow affiliated with Inner Seireitei," Shunsui put in thoughtfully. "I don't know what's in the letter or why Juu's also now looking like someone stole his favourite pet, but if you don't mind me leaving huge plotholes in the conversation, I'll try to adlib along with you both and see if I can offer my thoughts."
"An inside job?" Hirata's eyes slitted, and for a brief instant the predator glinted once more beneath hooded lids. Juushirou shrugged.
"Or someone on the inside passing information to someone else," he replied. "I don't know. It seems like they know too much about the Gotei movements, that's all. Providing this is the same people who took the other...you do know that others have been abducted and ransomed, too?"
Hirata nodded.
"Souja filled me in," he agreed briskly, "as far as he was able. To me, it sounds like Tenichi's abduction was in the style of those, but not the same modus operandi. This note almost proves it. They're similar, but not the same. What they asked of the other divisions isn't what they've asked of us...and yet..."
"They're still asking for something of benefit to them, something your squad can, theoretically, provide," Juushirou looked apprehensive. "I'm going to strengthen security around Thirteenth, just in case. The information in question belongs to you, but it's not unknown to me, either. If they know what you know, then they might...know I know too."
"Oh, good grief, that was cryptic enough to make a top rank spy have a nervous breakdown," Shunsui remarked. "If you're not going to tell me what you're talking about, at least try and vary the verb a few times so I don't get my brain tangled trying to keep up."
"Sorry," Juushirou sent his companion an apologetic look. "I suppose we were speaking in tongues."
"Whatever you were speaking in, it wasn't vernacular Japanese," Shunsui agreed ruefully, moving to get to his feet. "Maybe I ought to go and leave you boys to it. Hirata's calmed down, so I don't need to protect you from the Wind Hawk any longer - I could saunter back to Eighth and see whether Sora's done all my paperwork for me in my absence."
"Has she ever done, yet?" Juushirou asked curiously, and Shunsui laughed, shaking his head.
"You don't know Sora-chan if you think she's that easily manipulated into filing documents and signing releases," he said with a grin. "I can hope, though. That's also a part of Vice Captain training, or so I tell her whenever she complains."
He winked at Hirata.
"Keep the bird in chains and play nicely, all right? I don't want to come in here and find Juu choking up blood the next time I visit - which will be soon," this last to his white-haired friend.
"No, wait," Hirata held up his hands, and Shunsui turned, shooting the other Captain a quizzical look.
"Yes?"
"Sit," Hirata sighed, resignation in his pale blue eyes. "Sit down, and listen. I'll tell you. You're smart and you might see something I haven't - we haven't."
"It's top secret, isn't it?" Shunsui reminded him. "You don't want anyone who doesn't need to know knowing about it - right?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"If it's not my business, I don't have to be here to hear it. You don't have to pander to me - I'm not offended, not if it's like that."
"Hirata's right," Juushirou interjected. "If he's happy discussing it, I'd rather talk it out with you. I'm not fully on the ball tonight, and you're sober, which means you might stand a better chance of being rational. Besides, you can keep a secret. It's a delicate matter, but I think your input would help."
"Because I'm sober?" Amusement danced in Shunsui's brown eyes, but at a nod from Hirata, he retook his seat, folding his arms and slipping his hands into the sleeves of his haori as he gazed at them expectantly. "Well? If you feel that way, I suppose I can spare a little bit more time. Sneaking back when Sora's gone to bed usually means I escape the lecture till the morning, and first thing I'm never awake enough to absorb all her complaints, so I don't mind. If you're sure, though, Hirata - I don't want you to feel I'm forcing it out of you."
"It's not that," Hirata admitted. "I just don't want any bloodshed. You mustn't raise it with anyone, Shunsui. Anyone at all. It's not something you ought to talk to us about, either, unless it's entirely safe to do so."
"Sounds like trouble waiting to happen, but I'm all ears," Shunsui responded lazily. "Well? What is this big secret the pair of you have huddled together over?"
"It goes back to when Thirteenth Division was stationed in Seventh District," Juushirou glanced at his younger companion, who nodded his head. "That's how I know about it, and you don't. It's more Hirata's story than mine - it involves him more - but I was aware of it...of them...because I was his Captain and, well, he sought my advice a couple of times regarding them."
"Them?" Shunsui's eyebrows shot up, and Hirata inclined his head once more.
"The Kitsune," he said softly, his tones barely above a whisper. "A group of underground Urahara who fled from District Three in the weeks before Keitsune-dono was arrested and arraigned for the reidoku."
"Kitsune?" Shunsui pursed his lips. "Like, foxes?"
"Not exactly," Juushirou's expression became troubled. "At the time Urahara Keitsune was arrested, there were, apparently, rumours that some of those Keitsune had relied on for support in his work had managed to secure their safe escape by bartering information about their scientific experiments and, essentially, compounding the Council's case against their leader. In reality, it doesn't seem to have helped them any, for those who turned on Keitsune were considered despicable within their Clan, and were banished, although most of them fled before any sentence could actually be carried out. Due to Urahara pressure, the Council ultimately offered them no protection. In fact, I believe any who were alive at the time of Keitsune-dono's execution are also still technically under warrant of death by both Council and Urahara law, only none of them have ever been caught."
"Most of the Urahara didn't want Keitsune killed, but understood it had to happen once all of the evidence was open for public view, and these people were the ones who opened it up and made it impossible to ignore. Rikaya-dono had no choice but to denounce his brother and cut ties," Hirata agreed sadly. "It brought shame to the Urahara and left a lot of bad feeling in District Three - to the extent that even Nagesu-dono, with his reputation for pacificism and reconciliation, has either not wanted to or not been able to repeal the orders against these people. The exiled group were labelled "Keitsune no Uragirimono" = the ones who betrayed Keitsune. In exile, they changed the name. Keitsune became Kitsune, and that's how they call themselves - wild foxes running feral from their mother Clan rather than traitors to a long dead man."
"That's ugly, but not entirely surprising," Shunsui mused, and Juushirou could tell he was digesting every detail, mulling it over carefully. "If I bothered to read Oniisama's dusty records, I'd probably find some reference to them from the Council proceedings of the time. From how you're talking, though, these Kitsune are still very much around. More, you know far too much not to have some direct involvement with them - so you obviously don't hold such negative opinions of them as the Urahara do."
"Mm," Hirata sighed heavily. "The Kitsune are almost entirely made up of Clansfolk from the North of District Three. It's also through this strain that ancient and traditional ties with the Endou are at their strongest. Keitsune's father - the head of the Urahara before Rikaya-dono - also married a part-Endou princess, quite probably on the advice of these families. In fact, it's a very strong possibility that his wife came from the Northern regions herself. I don't know for sure. Without the Urahara records, it's hard to be certain, and the Urahara have preferred to forget they ever had any blood ties to us at all. All I can be sure of is that a large proportion of the people Keitsune relied on to help with his research and testing belonged to one or other of these northern lines...at least one of which was signifcantly high ranking to create a subsequent scandal when the arrests began."
"You've spoken about the Urahara in your blood before," Shunsui remarked. "I didn't realise it went both ways - you traded your hime to them and they to you."
"There were, once, positive trade and other links between our two Clans," Hirata laughed bitterly. "Hard to imagine now, but once, it was that way. Being so geographically distant, our land had resources Third lacked and vice versa, so it was mutually beneficial and marriages between the families helped keep the rapport amicable. By the time of the Keitsune incident, though, Grandfather was in charge and his policy was generally war rather than peace. The diplomatic arrangements with Third lapsed, but some individuals on both sides maintained ties. That's why so many Urahara fled to District Seven, even though it was a long trek. The Kitsune fled there too, and hid. They literally went underground - took over the old Sekkiseki mines that had been abandoned or exhausted and made their home in those tunnels."
"More like moles than foxes, then, though I suppose having a den of tunnels isn't entirely unlike a fox," Shunsui reflected. Juushirou nodded.
"When we were in Seventh, we encountered the Kitsune," he said slowly. "One or two of them had been working for Misashi-sama, in such a secret capacity not even Sumire-dono knew it was going on. He'd used them as a network of informants, promising them protection against Seimaru and Shouichi-sama, and therefore when the culls were taking place, the Kitsune escaped. They always knew when a hit was going to happen...and avoided it by going back underground. With the Sekkiseki residue still deep in those tunnels, they were never found."
"Misashi-dono is a sly one, isn't he," Shunsui looked grudgingly impressed. "So many tricks up his sleeve, no wonder he managed to survive living in such a dangerous environment."
"Mm," Hirata pressed his hands together absently, and Juushirou knew he was still fighting to keep Tsumi no Fuuhi's spirit from breaking its shackles and flying free. "All of those who were involved with Keitsune's case are dead now. Spiritually gifted folk have their life force stunted by being in constant contact with Sekkiseki, and so most of them succumbed before I even knew about them. Those who survive are descendents - those who were born in Seventh and they are loyal to the Endou. Where Seimaru and Grandfather abused their historic ties to the Urahara, Father protected and provided for them, and so a bond was established. The Kitsune are now Endou spies - and as such, when Keitarou first appeared on the horizon and when Eiraki disappeared, they were dispatched to gather information in an attempt to track him down."
"Keitarou," an ice chill ran down Juushirou's spine and he gazed at Hirata sharply. "Are you saying...do you think...?"
"No proof," Shunsui said firmly, before Hirata could speculate. "Go on, Hirata. Finish what you were saying. We'll come to idle speculation later."
"When I became Head of the Clan, Father handed control of the Kitsune over to me, and I've divulged it to Souja but kept it, so far, from Kikyue," Hirata continued pensively. "Nobody else in my Division or my family knows. Ai certainly knows nothing - I wouldn't involve her any more than Father involved Mother. Souja is my heir, so he needs to be abreast of things, but it's too risky to let anyone else in on the secret. The wrong careless word or command and they could be put in jeopardy. They work loyally and tirelessly and put their skills to our benefit without question - its not my intention to get any of them killed."
"Let me guess," Shunsui's eyes became thoughtful. "Your note from our friendly neighbourhood kidnapper wants information on the Kitsune in return for Tenichi's life."
"Got it in one," Hirata groaned, "and whatever I do, I'm stuck."
"What do you want to do?" Juushirou asked quizzically, and Hirata shrugged.
"The hawk in me wants to go tear shreds into people till I find the truth and get Tenichi back," he admitted, a note of shame in his voice. "The rational shinigami wants me to play it carefully and not do anything to make the situation worse. There's absolutely no question of me handing over the location of the Kitsune to anyone, whether I know their names or not. Even Juushirou doesn't know where their main base is, and I'd rather it remained that way. Still, though, there's the boy's life to consider. I can't just discard him. He's one of Seventh squad and it would be bad - no, terrible for morale if I were to do that."
"If you can't betray the Kitsune and you want to save Tenichi, what do you do?" Shunsui bit down absently on his lip. "It's a tough one. Souja knows all of this, you said?"
"He does," Hirata agreed. "He has a close friendship with one of the Kitsune boys - they played together as children, and the boy's father was one of my most trusted agents up until two or three years ago."
"When...something happened to him?"
"He died," Hirata said succinctly, "of Sekkiseki exposure. I told you. It shortens their lifespan. We've tried to find a way to overcome it, but removing the Sekkiseki removes their protection against outside interference, so they won't have it. Better to live shorter lives and die free, they say, than aim for immortality and spend it in prison. So long as the Urahara indictment against them remains, they can't risk coming out into the open. Even though these are all guiltless descendants far removed from the original incident, they still have to carry the burden all the same."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"In any case, the man's son, Joumei, is now about the same age as Souja, and effectively, the leader of the group with his father's death," he added. "He's a descendant of that most high ranking family I mentioned earlier on, and the other Kitsune hold them in high renown. I encouraged the friendship because it's important for them to have absolute trust in one another, and it helps keep the trust between us and them for another generation. For that reason, too, I've had Souja send the warning. They'll get it and Joumei will take them all underground, far from prying eyes...in the meantime...I need to find my missing squad member and I'm not confident that calling the kidnappers' bluff will do the trick."
"If they know about these Kitsune, they obviously have a deep, dark reason for wanting to find them," Shunsui said slowly. "I know now why Juu was so upset at the mention of Keitarou's name. It's been a very long time since he made any kind of move, but he'd have a motive to do this, wouldn't he? They betrayed his father and we know how dotty he is about that subject. It would be an easy leap for him to take a shinigami from your squad and turn the screw."
"But Juushirou thinks that it's an inside job," Hirata pointed out, "and with the information that they have, he might be right."
"Which leaves the Urahara?" Shunsui asked, and Juushirou grimaced.
"Nagesu-dono is too reasoned, Shiketsu-dono too level-headed," he objected.
"It doesn't have to be someone at the top of the Clan, though," Shunsui pointed out. "It might be a lower ranking officer. The Urahara have two squads - Third and Twelfth. There are a lot of Third Clansfolk dotted between the two squads. It could be any of them."
"Or we could be grasping at straws because even something as awful as an internal revolt is better than the alternative," Juushirou said grimly. "None of us want to think that Keitarou might be stirring again, but we can't entirely rule it out. Hirata, I've had Naoko investigating Hollow activity in the Districts, and we think there's something odd about it. I'm going to bring it to a Captain's meeting when I'm well enough to do so. Tenichi's abduction just makes it all the more important we do so."
"We need evidence. Hard evidence," Shunsui drummed his fingers against the tatami mat floor, unable to fully hide his agitation as the subject moved into less pleasant territory. "We have none. Wild suppositions from hysterical Captains aren't going to cut it. There are a lot of other explanations, including recalcitrant Urahara wanting to mop up a botched security job from almost a century and a half earlier. First, though, we need to find Tenichi...and hope that in the meantime he's strong enough to hold out against whatever has him."
"That's a point, you know," Juushirou observed softly. "Why Tenichi? He's a high ranking officer, much more difficult to nab than a recruit or a low seat. He's strong, potentially a leader of the future. Why take someone like that when there's easier pickings on the ground?"
"Because he's someone valuable to my squad?" Hirata suggested. "Taking someone powerful suggests a powerful opponent, and that's good enough propaganda."
"Mm, maybe," Shunsui rubbed his chin absently, "but Juu has a point. It's still a gamble...that might require more thinking, later down the line, once we've located the lad and managed to get him safely back here in one piece."
"Providing we do," Juushirou spoke ominously.
"That's the fever talking," Shunsui shot him a reproachful glance. "You're normally the one who believes in things, however small the probability of them happening. Pessimism is generally my department - lets not poach each other's jobs now, all right?"
"Unless we can think of a way to track down his abductors, though, Juushirou might be right," Hirata rubbed his temples. "We've no clues to go on. Souja says there's nothing to indicate any sign of abduction in the near vicinity, and I'd trust him and Kikyue to have checked every possibility. Souja even said he raised it with the Vice Captains this morning, but so far, nothing has come of it."
"Kirio said that Tenichi was here, but as far as she knew, he'd gone back to Seventh before curfew was called," Juushirou agreed. "You can talk to her as well, if you'd like, Hirata, but Kikyue already did and she shared whatever she knew."
He frowned.
"Now we've had a note, it's for sure he's been abducted," he added grimly. "There's no keeping it any longer from Ketsui...I ought to send for him and tell him what's happened."
"Not while Hirata's here. It'd scare him, seeing the Seventh Captain on the verge of losing his spiritual temper," Shunsui shook his head. "I know you've reined it in, Hirata, but it's still there, and if he saw that then he'd realise how serious the matter was. Talk to him in the morning, Juu - when you've had a chance to sleep off your fever. We might have had more news, then, and..."
"Ukitake-taichou! Kyouraku-taichou, Endou-taichou!"
Before Shunsui could finish his sentence, the door of Ugendou was flung back, revealing a breathless, red-faced Makoto, an anxious look on his face. "Houjou...I mean, Fukutaichou just received an urgent message from the Fourth Division, and he sent me to notify you at once!"
"An urgent message...from the Fourth Division?" Juushirou's eyes widened and he glanced at his two friends, who returned his gaze with equally non-plussed looks. "From Unohana-taichou, then? Something urgent, requiring the attention of Captains and Vice Captains right away?"
"Yes, sir, right away," Makoto's eyes glittered with a mixture of apprehension and urgency, and he nodded his head emphatically. "There's been a distress call...all squads are to be on urgent alert in case their services are needed!"
"A distress call?" Shunsui echoed, and Juushirou felt a sudden cold sensation begin to run through his body, sneaking up to and closing gently around his heart. Without thinking about it, his fingers drifted to his throat, where a silver pendant bearing the crest of the Kuchiki Clan hung, normally out of sight beneath his robes.
"Explain," he said now, his words more abrupt than he had intended, and Makoto bit his lip, clearly unsure how to begin his message.
"Take a breath, Atsudane, then do as your Captain commands you," Shunsui said softly, and Makoto sighed, slowly nodding his head.
"It's the Spiritless Zone, sir," he said at length, an almost apologetic look in his dark eyes, as though he personally was responsible for generating the bad news. "A distress siren was triggered from one of the protected regions, and try as they might, nobody from Fourth has been able to make contact with any of the shinigami deployed to that area. After consulting all the evidence, Unohana-taichou believes that the Zone may have come under some kind of hostile attack, perhaps from Hollows or from some other entity. She's working as quickly as she can to unlock the safety barriers to open a gateway down to that location, but in the meantime, she wanted all active military squads on alert, just in case..."
he swallowed hard, then,
"just in case when they open the gate, some kind of enemy force manages to slip into Seireitei and launch an attack there, too."
"A distress flare..." Hirata's eyes became stricken, his gaze shifting to Juushirou, whose face, despite his fever, had drained entirely of colour. "And no response?"
"Originally they thought it might be a technical glitch, but none of the shinigami on duty were able to patch through a signal, and even Unohana-taichou wasn't able to make contact," Makoto agreed anxiously. "Houjou-fukutaichou sent me to alert you. He and Naoko-san are getting the squad primed in case of attack - but he said you ought to know right away, and when Kira said Kyouraku-taichou and Endou-taichou were with you..."
"We need to go back to our own squads and issue similar orders," Hirata murmured, and Shunsui frowned, shaking his head.
"Juu, you don't know that anything bad has happened," he said softly, and Juushirou jerked his head up, hearing his name but not a lot else as his mind began to race towards horrific, unthinkable possibilities. "Hirata, I can't leave him here alone like this, not when there's a message like that and he's already sick. Atsudane, run to Eighth and tell Sora that she's to assume full command of the Division and prepare accordingly. She'll be frantic enough herself, I imagine, but she'll do as she's told because it's a direct order. Tell her I'm detained at Thirteenth and I'll be back as soon as I can...in the meantime, she doesn't need to wait for my further instructions to act."
"Yes, sir," Makoto seemed relieved at the excuse to leave, saluting Shunsui sharply before withdrawing from the chamber. Silence fell, then, slowly, Hirata got to his feet.
"I can't delegate this to Souja. Not with things as they are," he said regretfully. "I'm sorry, Juushirou. I need to go...though you have my word that if Seventh are called on and there's anything we can do, we'll do it without hesitation."
"You should go," Juushirou's words felt alien to him, even as he heard himself speak them, detached and calm as though his vocal chords had become detached from the chaos ruling his mind. "You too, Shunsui. It's an order from a senior member of the Council of Elders and we ought to follow instructions."
"Uh-uh," Shunsui shook his head, but Juushirou got to his feet, putting his hand against the wall to steady his fevered body before reaching for his shihakushou.
"Juushirou?" Hirata stared at his friend, aghast, and Shunsui was on his feet in a moment, grabbing the white-haired Captain by the shoulders and pulling him back down.
"You are not going anywhere," he said firmly, a forceful look in his brown eyes. "You're sick and there's no way you'd be able to hold together any kind of objectivity with an alert message like that going the rounds. Enishi and Naoko have Thirteenth in hand, and they'll do what's needed, so you stay here. In this state..."
"Get off me," Juushirou pushed his companion aside, grabbing the shihakushou and shooting the Eighth Captain a dark glare. "This is my division and I still make the rules here. You just commanded one of my men without even thinking about deferring to me, and I'm not having it. This is my Division. I'll do as I like, and in an emergency..."
He trailed off, as a bout of coughing racked through his thin frame, and Shunsui sighed, hitting his brow with his palm in frustration.
"Hirata, you go," he said with a grimace. "Leave this to me. I'll deal with it. Seventh need reassurance right now, and your hunting bird is it."
"All right," Hirata seemed reluctant, but he nodded, glancing at Juushirou for a moment before withdrawing from the room.
"Shunsui, you're not stopping me." Juushirou was already unknotting the tie of his nightrobe, preparing to pull on his black and white uniform. "You know you can't stop me...not with something like this. It's an alert, and an urgent one - I'm not ignoring it and nor should you."
"You're not thinking about Thirteenth Division or their deployment, though," Shunsui said softly, sitting back against the wall of the chamber, apparently realising that fighting with his friend was only more likely to bring on a fresh round of coughing. "You're thinking about Mitsuki - we both know that you are."
Juushirou faltered, gazing at Shunsui helplessly, unable to suppress completely the tears that prickled at the back of his hazel eyes.
"She promised me she'd come back," he whispered, the anger slipping from his voice as worry and anguish took over. "All those years ago, when we said goodbye, she promised. I've taken care of myself, too. I've done what I could to make sure I'd be here, and I've waited. When the others came back and she didn't, I was upset, but I set my mind to waiting a little longer, however long that might be. It was the Spiritless Zone. It wasn't dangerous. It should be all right. Now...now this..."
"We don't know what happened," Shunsui said softly, and Juushirou shook his head, swallowing hard against the bile that rose in his throat at the thought.
"That's what makes it worse," he muttered, pulling on his hakama and sliding the black hakamashita over his pale ribs. "A distress flare with no response pickup suggests something bad. Unohana-taichou is involved directly and throwing caution to the winds by releasing the safety barriers to allow access to what's been a scientifically protected site for a long long time. She would only do that if she thought her personnel were at risk of their lives."
"And you're going to do what? Race in there half-delerious and coughing up blood to run to Mitsuki's rescue?" Shunsui looked sceptical. "For a start, your reiryoku would destabilise anything they've worked to do in that zone over the past several years. And, secondly, if you think you can get past me, you won't get past Dai-senpai. She'll take one look at you and lay you out with a soporific Kidou before you can say Healing Squad. She knows your partiality for Mitsuki and she'll probably expect you to race in like an idiot to save the day. You might as well sit it out, Juu. They'll get in there and find out what's happening, but in the meantime..."
"I can't sit around here and wait," Juushirou cut across him, tying the white obi about his waist and lifting his haori from its peg, sliding it over his arms and hugging it tightly to his body as though it could somehow protect him from the chill in the evening air. "If Mitsuki is in danger, Shunsui, I can't and I won't. What you've said might be true, but it doesn't change anything. If Mitsuki's in trouble, I'm going."
"Juu..."
"I have to," Juushirou said firmly, his words shaking slightly as he reached for the chamber door. "You understand more than you want to admit, so don't try and stop me. I have to know what happened, Shunsui. I have to see for myself."