Chapter Four: Dog Eat Dog
It had begun.
Kai stood at the window of his chamber, staring down at the quiet street below with sightless eyes. In the room beyond, he knew, his Father and his older brother were still deep in conversation, and if he really listened, he could faintly hear the murmur of their voices in the background. However, he knew that right at that moment he did not want to see or hear them. All he wanted was to be alone, to digest fully what news they had brought him.
"There's no longer any doubt, Kai." His Father had said quietly, his tones heavy, yet Kai had already seen the characteristic Shihouin steeliness in his golden eyes. "This isn't something we can slip out of and forget about. A Shihouin casts his honour in his blood - you know that, don't you? And this is one of those times. After all, we're too deeply committed to take a step back now."
Kai had nodded numbly, fear and apprehension coursing his heart as he had seen identical resolution in his brother's gaze.
He had swallowed hard, forcing his tongue to form words.
"Is this an order, then? Is this what Uncle wants us to do?"
"You should know better than to ask that question, Kai." His brother had reproached him firmly. "When word comes, we act. That's who we are, people of this clan. There's no room for doubt or hesitation. It's been confirmed. There's nothing for you to think about. All you need to do is act."
"Act." Kai pursed his lips together, pressing his fingers absently against the glass of the window as he processed his thoughts carefully. "It's said, so that's how it is. But even so...even so..."
He faltered, feeling a chill of uncharacteristic fear run down his spine.
It wasn't as though he hadn't expected it. If he was honest, he had been waiting for the hammer to fall and for the orders to be sent out across the Clan. But to have it confirmed in such a firm, uncompromising way had simply struck it deeper into his young heart. And though he knew that he would die sooner than betray his family, he felt his heart lurch as he contemplated the consequences of failure.
"The alliance is set and the agreement is made." His Father's words echoed in his mind once again. "There's nothing to be done but proceed."
Kai glanced down at his hands, gazing bitterly at the callouses on his fingers that marked out all his years of sword and stick work. The Shihouin were inflexible and unforgiving, accepting only those who worked and trained to the highest level, and Kai knew that, even despite his considerable reiatsu and superior combat skills, he had still been ranked far below the most elevated members of his family. His Uncle had barely acknowledged him more than once in his short life, and he had felt the oversight keenly. This was his chance to prove that he was just as capable and loyal a member of his Clan - yet even so, he had reservations.
There were concerns, he knew, about the encroaching influence of Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni and his infamous Academy. Just that Spring, in fact, an emergency meeting of the Noble Elders had been called to discuss whether or not it was appropriate for those beyond the Noble Houses to be admitted into the Shinigami training program. The ballot had been a tight one, with two families abstaining completely from giving their view.
On the side against had been the Shihouin and the Endou.
By dint of their kin's involvement, the Yamamoto-ke had been forbidden to take part in the final decision making, and both the Kuchiki and the Urahara had chosen to abstain, based on indecision within their own ranks. That had left Kyouraku Tokutarou and his kinswoman, Shiba Kyouki to cast in favour of allowing it. And Unohana Retsu's had been the final deciding vote.
Three to two with two abstentions in favour of acceptance.
The result had sent shock-waves through the Shihouin-ke, for they had confidently expected that the proud Kuchiki at least would vote against the idea. The Endou's reaction had been twice as vitriolic, and Kai had already heard rumours that armed retainers had begun to sweep Seventh District, looking for any potentially gifted children in order to exile or eliminate them completely. Though the same had not happened in Second District, Kai knew his family were on edge.
Their position was already being constantly overshadowed by the high-flying Kuchiki-ke. But now there were others in the equation - and it had not escaped the family's notice that one of the prospectives from the lower orders had smashed into the top class, ranking equal second with a son of Noble blood on the guidance exams.
This had been the last straw, and a hurried meeting had been arranged between the Shihouin and Endou elders, both determined to find a way to put a stop to this before it could get beyond their control. Kai was smart enough to know that both families viewed it as a state of emergency, and one which meant drawing on whatever resources and weaponry they had to fight a battle that somehow both knew was coming. For that reason, deep, dark Clan secrets had been exchanged as security – secrets which, if they were to be spoken about in public could quite easily mean dishonour and death at the Council's hands.
Kai's own Father was too closely intertwined with matters to be extricated completely, for, on his brother's accession as Clan Leader, he had inherited controlling interest of the family's deepest and most protected Clan secret. Therefore, from the moment the deal with the Endou had been struck, he and his three children had become honour bound to act and defend both the secrets and the alliance with their lives. Though his Father nor his brother had said things quite that clearly, Kai was smart enough to understand the implications. And his dread had only grown when he had heard that his beloved elder sister Midori had been summarily betrothed to the heir to the Endou clan.
His Father was right. They were in a situation where all they could do was act, and there would be no second chances. No going back. He was now at the mercy of his Uncle's orders, after all. And those orders now carried the merged interests of the Endou-ke as well as their own. Kai hated this more than anything else. Somehow he knew that sharing secrets with a Clan like the Endou could only end badly.
He sank down on his bed, running his fingers through his thick hair as he tried to get to grips with the situation.
Midori was proud, haughty and gifted, a blessed and revered member of the Shihouin-ke in all regards. Yet even she had broken down in tears when she had been told what decision had been made, and Kai did not blame her. The Endou were little short of ruthless barbarians, after all. He did not trust them to keep their end of the deal, and he knew they would think nothing of killing Midori if they thought any of the Shihouin were about to back down.
The Shihouin might cast their honour in blood, but the Endou wrote their enemies' names in it. And they did not tolerate betrayal.
He drew a deep breath into his lungs, going over his options in his mind.
At least, as yet, I haven't been ordered to kill anyone. Even if it may come to that, it hasn't yet. And if it comes, I won't shy away from it. But for now, I'd rather keep blood off these hands as long as possible. Even if I was only sent to this Academy in order to keep tabs on the interlopers...that doesn't mean I want to be involved in an assassin's hit. Not if it's the Endou-ke's orders. I'm a Shihouin, after all. I don't take orders from anyone outside of the Clan - and this is what it amounts to.
He stiffened as another thought struck him, and he clenched his fists tightly.
Kuchiki must never find any of this out. He must never, ever know that the Shihouin have reached such desperate depths as these. I'll slit his throat before ever admitting it before him...damn it, whatever happens, he must not find out!
His eyes narrowed.
And then there's that snivelling Endou brat, too. I've no way of knowing for sure, but who's to say he isn't a spy too? Either way, he's weak enough to talk if anyone puts pressure on him - so maybe he doesn't know all the things I do. Even if he has latched onto Ukitake of late, it could be a coincidence. Still, I daren't take the risk. It's not impossible that his Clan sent him to keep an eye on me - and make sure I don't back out at the last minute. And so I've no choice. Now word's come, I'll just have to do as I'm told to do. My loyalty to the Shihouin outranks everything else, after all. Nothing else matters but that.
"Are you still awake, Kai?" The door slid back at that moment, and Kai turned, nodding his head.
"I was just going over everything in my head, Oniisama." He agreed soberly, and his brother frowned.
"This is a big thing." He said softly. "And if you fail, Kai, noone will be picking up the pieces. You understand, don't you? Too much rides on this. It's not just Midori's life, but the pride and honour of our family - of all the Noble Families everywhere!"
"I understand." Kai agreed.
"And if you're called on to act decisively, you'll do so?"
"Yes. Of course." Kai nodded, not hesitating for a moment. "I'm a Shihouin. Nothing else is important but that."
His brother smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder, but Kai could see the darkness in his companion's identical golden eyes.
"Midori is counting on you." He whispered. "Father and I are, too. Remember that. Tomorrow, make sure you speak to Aitori and establish contact."
He frowned, a flicker of regret in his golden eyes.
"I don't like him any more than Father does, and his slick methods aren't always with the honour of this Clan, but Uncle has chosen to involve him because he has Genryuusai-sama's trust…and because of his other duties in District One." He said. "And Uncle's orders are absolute – you know that. Besides, Aitori's position is the best placed for something delicate like this, so bear with it and keep in with him, all right? Even if you do outrank the man by birth – for the time being, swallow it and follow his guidance. He'll have received the same word from Uncle as us, after all, so he'll be expecting to see you. As a trusted teacher on the staff, he's better placed than you are in some regards. As for Onoe Tomoyuki..."
He paused, then,
"I expect he's had the same message from our cousin, or he'll receive it from Aitori himself, seeing as he's that man's nephew." He reflected. "Knowing the way that boy is, I don't imagine he'll do anything but obey. He's as Shihouin as you or I, in the end, and I doubt he'll cause you any trouble. So you're not alone in this. But there's no reason to create suspicion by acting out of your normal way. You're smart enough to understand more than Tomoyuki does, so be careful how you handle delicate information – things relating to Father and the like."
"Do you think Tomoyuki doesn't know, then, about Father's duty?" Kai asked, and his brother sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
"I expect he does. He's Aitori's nephew, and Aitori has worked for Father for many years in this particular matter." He said softly. "But there's no reason to draw any attention to it by mentioning it at school. Don't try and think outside of your brief, Kai – do as you are instructed and nothing more. Just speak to Aitori and make sure he knows you're on board. After that, leave it to him to contact you. It's easier that way than us coming down like this. It'll seem less strange, after all, if you're associated with a teacher than having constant visitors from home."
"I know." Kai paused, then, "Oniisama?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know anything about Endou Hirata?"
"Endou...Hirata?" His brother eyed him in confusion. "Why? Do you think that I should?"
"I don't know." Kai sighed. "He's in my class too - a weedy boy of fifteen who cries at everything and barely talks. I've tried goading him to see if I can get a reaction, but he's either that pathetic or he's a consummate actor. He's become particularly close to the Ukitake boy of late, and I don't know if he's there with motives other than the ones he seems to have. But being that he's Endou-ke - I'd rather know all the facts. If he's watching me, I want to know about it. Because then I can be watching him too."
"I don't know." His brother's eyes became near slits. "But I'll find out, you can be sure of that. I didn't realise there was an Endou in your class, Kai - you should have said as much sooner."
"Or you should have anticipated it." Kai said frankly, and his companion sighed.
"Don't." He said softly. "Just remember what we're about, and you'll be fine even if the Endou-ke are spying on you in some way or other. And wait for the word. I don't know precisely what will happen, in the long run - just that Uncle and the Head of the Endou-ke have been meeting quite often of late and they're discussing something that's so secret even Father doesn't know any of the details. All I know is that, if it's successful, it'll put an end to any question of an Academy or of lower born souls slipping through into positions beyond their birth. If that's the case, our position will stabilise. And everything will be well."
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Even if that means we do what we've been trained to do since we were small." He added, clapping his hand down more firmly on Kai's shoulder. "If you're afraid to take life in your family's name, Kai, you were born in the wrong Clan. You know what it is to be a Shihouin. We wait, we listen, we act. And we do not regret. Understand? That's how it is."
Kai was silent for a moment, then, slowly, he nodded his head.
"I understand." He said soberly. "And I'll be ready, Oniisama. Whenever it comes. I'll be ready."
"Where exactly are we going, Shunsui?"
As the four boys slipped out of the gates of the Academy, Juushirou cast their guide a quizzical look. "You seem to have done this more than once before, so I'm guessing you already have a specific destination in mind?"
"There's a small town just over that rise." Shunsui pointed, and as he looked, Juushirou could see the faint haze of light glimmering in the distance. "It's not more than five minutes walk, and the people are very welcoming. They get a lot of trade from the students hereabouts, after all - so they're always happy to oblige."
"To...oblige?" Enishi looked non-plussed. "In what way? It's late at night, Kyouraku - surely most of the traders will have packed up for the evening?"
"Not all traders." Shunsui shook his head, and Juushirou narrowed his eyes, grasping his classmate by the sleeve of his hakama.
"If you're thinking of taking us to a brothel, Shunsui..." he began warningly, and Shunsui laughed, gently prising the other boy's grip free.
"Nothing so drastic on your first visit." He said casually. "It's never wise to rush in, after all. But there is a small tavern in the southern quarter where the waitresses are friendly and they like student coin. So we'll head there. And take in some of the local air. All right?"
"We're going to drink alcohol?" Hirata's eyes opened wide, and Shunsui grinned, clamping a friendly hand down on Hirata's shoulder.
"A kid like you probably shouldn't be led astray." He reflected. "Don't worry, Hirata-kun. I'm not about to teach you sinful ways."
"He says, after having coaxed us out of a window, out of the school grounds and into a strange town after curfew." Juushirou said acidly, and Shunsui chuckled.
"You take things too seriously." He observed. "It's a bad habit in one so young. Lighten up, Juu-kun. It's not the end of the world."
Juushirou stiffened, casting his classmate an angry look.
"I already told you not to call me that." He said sharply, and at the censure in his tones, Shunsui looked surprised, holding up his hands in mock-surrender.
"Sorry! It slipped out."
"Well, don't let it." Juushirou said frankly. "Just lead us wherever we're going, and stop teasing people for a while, okay?"
Shunsui stared at him for a moment, but shrugged, saluting smartly.
"Yes, sir." He said playfully. "Understood."
"I've never been in a little town like this one before." As they reached the perimeter of the settlement, Enishi gazed around himself with a mixture of wonder and awe. "I've heard about them, of course, but even though my family's estate is only about fifty ri from here, I've never really taken the time to look around and see for myself."
"You've been shamelessly sheltered, in short, haven't you, Enishi-kun?" Shunsui asked, and Enishi grimaced, nodding his head.
"I suppose you could say it that way." He acknowledged. "My family keep out of political issues, so it's not a fear of scandal. But even so, I guess it is that way."
He glanced at Hirata, whose eyes were huge as he took in the surrounding atmosphere.
"You're the same too, huh, Endou?" He asked, and Hirata nodded.
"Is it really safe for us to be here?" he asked in his anxious, soft tones, and despite himself Juushirou felt his indignation fading as he registered the boy's genuine bewilderment.
"There's no danger." He assured them. "This is quite a wealthy town, really. It's definitely not a rougher border town - but then First District is quite a wealthy district in any case. So there's no need to be afraid, Endou-kun. We're with you, after all."
"I suppose this is almost like your home turf, Ukitake?" Enishi asked, and Juushirou shrugged.
"Yes and no." He admitted. "My family have some land and our home is between forest and the coast near the border with Rukongai, so we're not exactly in a proper settlement. Thanks to Father's hard work, we've done quite well in the last fifty years or so, and it means we've got a few tenants as well, but it's not the same thing. I've only travelled to the local city once or twice and not since he died."
He pursed his lips.
"Sixth District has a different atmosphere, in any case." He added. "The forests near where I live flower in vivid pink in the Spring - whereas the trees round here are quite different."
"Eighth District is different, too." Shunsui put in lightly. "The flowers and the town atmosphere both. Eighth District is known for its floral displays in Spring and Summer, as it happens. But a change is as good as a holiday, so they say."
Juushirou frowned.
"I hate to think how you know all about local towns." He remarked. "If Houjou-kun and Endou-kun got sheltered, what happened to you?"
"I'm good at slipping out." Shunsui grinned unrepentantly. "Besides, I spent my childhood moving between two estates. And I got to see a fair bit of life in the meantime. There were some very pretty girls in the vicinity, after all - who wouldn't want to sneak out?"
"Girls?" Enishi stared at him once more. "Are you...Kyouraku, have you really...with a woman?"
At the awkwardness of the question, the tall boy's cheeks flushed a vivid scarlet, and Shunsui laughed, clapping him on the back.
"It's all right, Enishi-kun." He said companionably. "If you have any questions in that regard, I'm sure I can answer them. They do say you should share experience, after all - and I think I've said before that the Kyouraku-ke aren't shy of sharing their favours. We're a very gregarious Clan, in one way or another."
"Somehow I can believe it." Juushirou sighed, rolling his eyes skywards, but there was a faint smile on his lips, and Shunsui shook his head, evidently amused.
"You're curious too, aren't you, Juushirou-kun?" He asked teasingly, grasping his skinny classmate by the wrist and pulling him to the front of the group. "Well? What kind of girls do you like, then? Gentle ones? Assertive ones? Ones with big bosoms or the slender, nymph-like kind? Blond girls? Dark girls? What's your personal preference?"
"Let go!" Despite himself, Juushirou felt his own cheeks redden, and he wrenched his hand free. "You're teasing again! Stop it! You said we didn't come here for that."
"But you're the same age as I am, so you must've thought about it." Shunsui said reasonably. "Surely?"
Juushirou hesitated for a moment, then he shook his head.
"Not once." He admitted. "I've never had the time or the opportunity to meet girls outside of my sisters and Okaasama. So no. I'm sorry to disappoint you. But I haven't."
"I see." Shunsui tut-tutted. "You've been unforgivably deprived, in other words. What a great combination you three are, honestly!"
"What about you, then?" Juushirou turned the tables, casting his companion a challenging look. "What kind of girls do you like?"
At his question, Shunsui's gaze clouded for a moment, and Juushirou was startled to see a look of genuine regret touch the normally open brown eyes.
There was a moment of silence, then,
"Girls who have freedom in their eyes." He said softly, his tone lacking any of its prior playfulness, and, startled, Juushirou began to wonder if he'd hit a nerve. Then, in an instant, the sombreness was gone, and Shunsui was grabbing Hirata and Enishi by the arm, pulling them across the street with loud words of encouragement. He sighed, giving the conversation up as a bad job as he headed reluctantly after them.
But he was upset, then. Enough to let it show. I wonder. Girls who have freedom in their eyes? What does that even mean, anyway?
"This is the place." Shunsui was saying now, pushing back the door and gesturing for them to follow him inside. "Come on – Hirata-kun, don't chicken out on me now. Juushirou's coming, after all – do you want to be left all on your own?"
At this Hirata shook his head, his expression becoming fearful, and Juushirou frowned, sending Shunsui a cross look.
"Don't tease him." He scolded. "It's not fair – he doesn't like it."
Shunsui grinned.
"He's fine. He has his oniisama to look after him." He said casually, and despite himself Juushirou reddened. "Well? It's warmer inside, and if you're prone to coughing, Juushirou, you shouldn't be out in the night air too long. It's this way – just keep me in sight and you'll be fine. It's not like we'll be the only students here, after all. On every occasion I've slipped out this way, I've seen one or other senpai lurking within these walls."
"He's right." Enishi agreed, gazing around him rather blatantly as they stepped into a warm, low-ceilinged room. "There are others here. Just like us."
"I guess we can see how Shunsui found out about this path, then." Juushirou reflected, pausing to examine their surroundings as he ducked his head below the low beam across the entrance.
He had never been inside a drinking house of any kind before, yet he had heard his Father talking to Kamikura, and he had built up a stylised picture of what one might look like in his head based on what they had said. He quickly realised, however, that his childhood assumptions had been somewhat naïve, for instead of the well-ordered social gatherings he had imagined, the chamber was heaving with groups of young men and women in various stages of inebriation. Some of them were indeed older students from the Academy, crossing the innkeeper's greedy, fat palm with plentiful supplies of gold coin, whilst others were clearly locals from the town. The two kept themselves quite separate, and though a few of the locals muttered in corners about the Noble invasion, none of them dared to speak up beyond their own peer groups.
The room was lit by lamps similar to the ones in the Academy building, but of a much poorer quality, and they flickered at odd intervals, giving the whole chamber a more atmospheric effect. There was a fire lit in one corner, and around it were a gaggle of raggedly dressed youths who Juushirou could only assume to be the bottom level of labourers. Some of them were no older than Hirata, yet Juushirou noticed that already their hands were calloused from hard work as they jostled for places to warm their fingers on the cool Spring night.
For him, born as he was in a world where these people were only just outside his line of sight, his first thought was sympathy, not derision.
"Well, if it isn't Shunsui-kun." As they sank down at a secluded corner table a girl drifted up to them, dressed in the distinctively provocative attire of a hostess girl, and from the hazy look in her blue eyes Juushirou guessed she had either been sharing the inn's wares with her customers, or had been partaking of some other illicit substance before beginning her shift. She greeted Shunsui like an old friend, swinging her arms flirtatiously around his neck and he laughed, detaching her grip playfully and holding her at arm's length.
"You know, Megumi-chan, you shouldn't be so eager to greet me." He scolded lightly. "I'm with friends, and you'll give them the idea that I'm a regular in this place."
"You're mean." The girl pouted, but there was laughter in her eyes. "Besides, they're here too, aren't they?"
She linked her arm in his, turning to examine his companions. "So you obviously don't mind if they see me."
"I'm sure it's fairly clear to anyone that there's a lot of pleasurable reasons for seeing you." Shunsui said frankly, offering her a smile which to Juushirou could only be described as lewd. "And seeing more of you than we already are, for that matter. But…this isn't one of those nights. They're first timers, after all – cool down a little and play it slow, will you? I don't want to frighten them, after all."
Megumi sighed, clearly disappointed, but she shrugged her shoulders.
"Whatever you say, o-kya-ku-sa-ma." She said coquettishly, winking at him as she did so. "Can I get you drinks, then, perhaps? You and your companions, maybe? I'm happy to join you – and I'm sure, if you ask nicely, I can find someone who's far more gentle on first time visitors."
She eyed Hirata for a moment, causing the boy to shrink back behind Juushirou in fear, and then she frowned.
"Though that one's barely more than a babe in arms." She said reprovingly. "Should you be bringing children here, Shunsui? It really isn't that kind of a drinking house, you know."
Hirata reddened furiously at this remark, and Shunsui cast Juushirou a glance before spreading his hands.
"It doesn't hurt for him to see the world a little, and we've only come for some light company and fresh air." He said evenly. "Perhaps a little sake – nothing too strong – will be enough. You can tell your friends so too – we're not really here for the other kind of favours you ladies like to bestow."
"Spoilsport." Megumi sighed, but nodded her head. "All right. I understand. I'll be back in a moment – make yourselves at home."
With that she was gone, hips swaying as she walked, and Enishi stared after her, completely flummoxed by the jezebel that had just flitted in and out of their company. At his expression, Shunsui snorted, elbowing him gently in the ribs.
"Staring isn't a Noble trait, Houjou-kun." He murmured, and Enishi reddened, casting his classmate a sheepish look.
"I guess not. Sorry. She took me by surprise."
"Well, she's not the kind of girl you should let take your anything." Shunsui said frankly. "Not unless you know what you're getting involved in. Don't go losing your heart to a girl like that – I'll warn you now that all she'll do is take it and trade it in for whatever she can get."
"That sounds like the voice of experience to me." Juushirou reflected, and Shunsui nodded.
"In one way but not another." He replied lightly. "But Enishi-kun is more honest than I am. And I don't want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt. This is meant to be a casual night out, after all. Nothing more than that."
"She knew you very well, considering you've only been here six weeks or so, though." Juushirou pointed out, and Shunsui smiled.
"She's paid to do so." He said glibly. "I've seen her a couple of times, perhaps. Certainly our acquaintance isn't as strong as she was insinuating. Men do take the girls from here and have their way with them, I know that. But I'm not one of those men. You can stop looking at me that way, Juushirou. Megumi's just another of the local girls who's fallen from grace and become wound up in this system. Or didn't you see her eyes? She's not interested in me or any of you. She's interested in knowing I have coin and will spend it. That's all it's about."
He gestured across the room.
"Most of the girls snared into this place are dependant on one or other sense-enhancing chemical." He added softly. "Even though most of them were outlawed by the Council of Elders for any kind of training use, they still slip through the back channels and into the dregs of society through all kinds of hidden pathways. People like Megumi are easy prey – people with nothing else to fall back on, who need security but don't know how to find it."
"I've heard about those things." Enishi's gaze darkened. "I remember Grandfather raging about it once because there were more leaks and loopholes in the Research Unit's security system than there were scientists working on it. It was originally one of the Urahara-ke's studies into enhancing the spiritual potential of lower Clan members – one of the many ways discarded in their quest to improve the Shinigami system."
"Exactly." Shunsui agreed, his expression suddenly serious. "The effects are addictive, and they wear off far too quickly to be of any use in combat. In the best case scenario, someone using one or other of the chemicals in a one-off situation might heighten their spiritual ability momentarily, but usually they'd be unable to control it and it would generally backfire on them. Long term use created mania, delusions and, eventually, insanity. So a stringent ban was issued – but even so, they still continue to be passed around on the underground market."
"The Noble Houses deal with things of that nature too, then?" Juushirou looked pensive. "I hadn't realised. Sora did say that the Urahara-ke had done a lot of research work into improving the Gotei system and the potential for Shinigami to operate – but I didn't know they'd gone so far as to test out enhancing drugs on members of their family."
"It wasn't just members of their family. All of the Clans had candidates involved at one point or another." Enishi rubbed his temples. "Grandfather railed against it, of course, and Genryuusai-sensei always dismissed it as a potential liability. But there were even members of the Yamamoto-ke who were scarred by it."
"The Endou-ke, also." Hirata murmured, and Juushirou shot him a look of surprise.
"Your family too?"
"Yes."
"But…the Endou-ke are already strong, aren't they? Why would they…?"
"Why else?" Shunsui shrugged. "To get stronger. There's no other reason."
"The Endou value strength over all things." Hirata's tones held a note of bitterness. "Nothing else matters. Nothing at all."
"In the end, those who were hooked in by the drugs had only two choices." Shunsui continued, running his finger absently along the edge of the table as he did so. "Either submit to being stripped of all their reiryoku, in order to fully escape the power of the drug – but then that would mean forsaking the Clan and living in ignominy. The other option, of course, was to die insane. Many Clans whose members were tainted wound up executing their kin in order to prevent the shame and scandal being spread around their Districts."
His eyes became sombre.
"That's how Clans operate." He concluded softly. "They take justice into their own hands to protect the family's pride."
"Does that mean your family were also affected?" Juushirou shot him a startled look, and Shunsui nodded.
"My Grandfather and Great Uncle were both caught in the scandal, though it was long before I was born and I only heard about it from Tokutarou-nii when he was going through Family records after he became Clan Leader." He agreed grimly. "My Great Uncle was killed by his surrounding kin, because he had lost his mind. My Grandfather killed himself. All to protect the Clan. And so my Father became head of the Kyouraku."
"It was a nasty business all round." Enishi reflected, and Juushirou nodded.
"It sounds horrendous." He murmured, his gaze flitting across the chamber to where he could see Megumi animatedly talking to one of the male members of staff. "And those girls are tied up in it too, now? They've become victims of it as well?"
"Their reiryoku potential isn't as high as those of the Clans, so the full effects probably take longer to manifest." Shunsui responded. "It wasn't designed for rank and file citizens to use, after all. But the addictive qualities are just as strong. So, this becomes their world, and they'll do what they have to do to get what they need. It's a tragedy already created by Noble carelessness - I'm not about to deepen their humiliation or their suffering by abusing them further. I come here because I like to cut curfew and I like to have an occasional drink out of the teachers' line of sight. But I haven't sunk to quite those depths. They serve me sake. That's as far as it goes."
Juushirou gazed at him, seeing honesty in his brown eyes, and despite himself, he felt relieved. A rueful smile crossed his lips, and he nodded.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insinuate otherwise." He said sincerely. "But I'm glad you've said so. I believe you, Shunsui-kun. I don't think you're the kind of person to take advantage of someone when they're already down."
He sighed, resting his chin in his hands.
"Maybe I really am naïve." He murmured. "There's so much I really don't know about the Clans after all."
"Some might call that a positive character trait." Shunsui offered him a wry grin. "I wouldn't worry about it, Juushirou-kun. You're really not missing out on anything."
A troubled look crossed Hirata's features at this, and at the sight of it, Juushirou cast him a questioning look.
"Is something the matter, Endou-kun?" He asked softly, and Hirata's frown deepened, but he shook his head.
"No." He said slowly. "I just…I suppose I'm worried…about us being in a place where people are using those drugs. My family would…not like it."
"Mine either." Enishi admitted, and Shunsui sighed.
"You really aren't any fun to sneak out with, either of you." He murmured. "What about you, Juushirou? Would your family mind you being here?"
"Father would probably have wanted to find a way to help them." Juushirou considered this carefully. "Okaasama would be worried for me, though – she's always worried about me, in one way or another."
"But she's your step-mother, isn't she? That's what you said earlier." Enishi frowned, and Juushirou nodded.
"But we're a close family." He replied. "When she married Otousama, she took on me as well. If you asked her, she'd tell you she has eight children. There's never been a difference…in some ways perhaps she worries about me most of all."
"They must be missing you badly, then, Juushirou-kun." Shunsui reflected, and Juushirou thought he caught the faintest hint of wistfulness in his classmate's tones. He shrugged.
"Maybe." He owned. "But just because they're there and I'm here doesn't change us being a close family."
At that moment Megumi returned with the sake and the conversation halted as she cast them all dazzling smiles, placing the tokkuri jug and four ceramic sakazuki cups down on the table with a playful bow.
"Are you in a celebratory mood, Megumi-chan, or are you just hoping for a good tip?" Shunsui eyed the ceramic vessels for a moment, then cast the hostess a glance. She pulled a face at him, putting her hands on her hips mock-indignantly.
"You're always teasing me." She said crossly. "I give you all this attention, too, and even so…"
"You know I'll tip you, regardless." Shunsui winked at her, and though Juushirou had not seen where it had come from, there was suddenly a glittering coin between the other boy's fingers. "Here. For your service, as ever."
"Then that's different." In a moment Megumi's frown melted and she took the coin, smiling coquettishly. "Thank you, Shunsui-kun. You are a gentleman, after all."
"Naturally." Shunsui agreed. "And the usual conditions apply, please."
"Of course." Megumi nodded, and from her expression Juushirou knew an understanding had gone between them. "If you need me, just call."
"Usual conditions?" As the girl disappeared once more, Juushirou frowned. "What are they? Or daren't I ask?"
"Nothing sinister." Shunsui shook his head. "Just, occasionally curfew patrols come into the towns looking for stray Academy students. Megumi knows them all by sight and she lets me know if she sees them prowling about. It's how I don't get caught coming back."
He smiled, gesturing to the sake.
"You might as well sit back and relax. We'll only be in trouble for tonight's trip if Kuchiki-kun decides to tell tales on us. And I'm sure that's beyond his Clan pride to do."
"You really do have this all thought out, don't you?" Enishi observed, and Shunsui laughed, pouring himself a drink and toasting his classmate playfully.
"As you say." He agreed. "Well? Here's to us surviving our time at Yama-jii's Shinigami School, huh?"
"Yama…jii?" Juushirou's eyes almost fell out of his head, and Shunsui grinned, nodding.
"Don't you like it? I think it suits him. The old guy's about six hundred if he's a day, after all."
"You're talking about my kinsman again." Enishi remarked, and Shunsui shrugged.
"It's a term of affection." He said dismissively. "When I met him before term began, he said that Father had once been like a son to him. Which would make him Yamamoto-ojiisama to me, wouldn't it? So, Yama-jii."
"Do you call him that? To his face?" Hirata looked startled, and Shunsui shook his head.
"Of course not." He responded. "I'm not suicidal. It's just a behind the scenes affectionate nickname. That's all. I think it fits."
"It…sort of does." Juushirou admitted, a faint smile touching his lips. "When you think about it. Even though I wouldn't have the guts to call someone as impressive as Genryuusai-sensei anything that familiar…when you say it, Shunsui-kun, I can see it."
"I'll drink to that." Shunsui agreed, draining his cup and reaching for the tokkuri once more. "Well? Drinking alone is lonely – aren't you going to join me? Just one drink to celebrate the start of this wonderful new life we've all been packaged off to begin?"
Juushirou gazed at him for a moment, then, somewhere deep inside of him he felt a faint flicker of rebellion stirring. Slowly he nodded, scooping up one of the sakazuki and holding it out.
"One won't hurt." He said simply, as Hirata's eyes almost fell out of his head. "Just as Shunsui says. To celebrate a new beginning."
Shunsui grinned, obligingly pouring the clear liquid into the vessel, and tentatively Juushirou put it to his lips, sipping it gingerly as he allowed the unfamiliar taste to pass his lips. Despite being the eldest child, he had never been allowed sake at home because his father had worried about its impact on his unpredictable health, and though he had never actively wanted to drink, he had resented not being allowed to. After all, he had often thought, Hiroyuki and Chihiro had both sampled it on certain family occasions even though they were eighteen months younger.
His eyes narrowed slightly at this thought.
But now I'm out here on my own, and making decisions for myself. Father wouldn't have let me slip out this late, and Okaasama would be concerned about it too. But if they don't know, they can't worry. And I'm not going to be foolish. One drink is enough, just to know what it's like. I'm old and responsible enough not to let myself get drunk.
"Well? What do you think?" Shunsui asked playfully, and Juushirou smiled.
"I like it." He said honestly. "But I'm no expert on types of sake, so I don't know if it's good or it isn't."
"Sometimes the company is as important as the quality of the alcohol when it comes to drinking out." Shunsui said wisely, and Juushirou started, setting the cup down as he considered the truth in his classmate's words.
After all, isn't that what I'm doing? Just like Kamikura-sensei said –I'm not just here to study. I'm here to make friends, too.
"I guess that counts me in too." Enishi nodded, casting Juushirou a grin as he grabbed his own sakazuki in his thick fingers. "Well, Endou-kun? Are you going to sit this one out, or…?"
Hirata hesitated, then tentatively reached thin, pale fingers for the remaining vessel.
"If Ukitake-kun thinks it's okay…" He murmured, but before he could finish his sentence, Megumi descended upon them once more, anxiety in her blue eyes. At her expression Shunsui frowned, shaking his head in frustrated resignation.
"Trouble?" He asked, and Megumi nodded.
"Kyouko said she saw them, just entering the textile quarter." She said breathlessly. "She ran all the way here because she knew I'd want to know. If you want to escape them, Shunsui-kun – you better go now."
"And we've barely even been here a moment." Shunsui sighed. "I suppose it can't be helped. Whose patrol is it, Megumi-chan?"
"Aitori Hideaki." Megumi's brow wrinkled with a look of clear dislike.
"Aitori-sensei?" Enishi's eyes widened, and Shunsui frowned.
"Aitori? You're sure?"
"Positive." Megumi grimaced. "He spends enough of his own time in and out of this town that his face is familiar to most of us. Besides, he still owes me two gold coins."
She tossed her head.
"I don't forget men who pay me and I don't forget those who don't."
Despite himself, Shunsui grinned.
"Then we'll be going." He said frankly, casting Juushirou a glance as he did so. "Keep him busy if you can, Megumi-chan, and I'll pay you double the tally next time in recompense."
"Double?" Megumi's eyes widened eagerly, and as as Shunsui nodded, she grinned, scampering across the chamber to the door in order to do his bidding.
"Why the hurry?" Enishi looked foxed. "Aitori-sensei's not as strict as Kazoe-sensei or as violent as Minabe-sensei. Surely it could be worse?"
"From that perspective, maybe." Shunsui said grimly. "We won't get a flogging for it, sure enough. But from another, not. Because even if the rest of us might use our Clan connections to talk our way out of trouble with that guy, Juushirou won't be so lucky."
"Shunsui?"
Juushirou frowned, and Shunsui nodded.
"You know it as well as I do." He said frankly. "He's Clan to the core and he doesn't approve of Yama-jii's experiment. So I'm not going to get you into trouble, Juushirou-kun. This was my idea, after all – I'm not going to let him drag you down for it."
Juushirou's eyes clouded, but he nodded, even as his classmate grabbed him by the wrist
"Playtime's over. We're going back." Shunsui cast Enishi and Hirata a glance. "And Juushirou, I'm serious – keep your reiatsu down and keep that snowy head of yours out of sight. All right? You know that guy really doesn't like you – let's not give him any more reasons, okay?"
"Kyouraku's right." Enishi gave his friend a little shove in the direction of the door. "It's easy to forget you're not like us, when we're out like this, but he won't forget it as easily as that. If he catches you here you'll be in for it big time."
"Then I guess we're going back to school." Despite himself, Juushirou found he was disappointed to be leaving so soon, but he nodded, resignation in his hazel eyes. "I'm sorry."
Shunsui snorted.
"It's not your fault that Aitori's a bigoted Shihouin-born idiot." He said categorically. "But we don't have time to argue about it now. Move, okay? When we're back at school, we can discuss it all you want – but if you don't want to be in trouble come the morning, we're leaving now!"
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Author's Note: OC Name Kanji (Part Two)
It's the girls' turn!
~ Shiba Sora 志波空
The kanji for 'Shiba' means 'resolve' (shi) and 'wave' (ba). I wonder about that connection to Kaien's blade :P
Sora means 'sky'. It's also the first kanji in Kuukaku's name, hence my reason for using it.
~Edogawa Mitsuki 江戸川美月
Edogawa doesn't have any particularly significant meaning. The kanji means 'brook', 'door' and 'river' respectively.
Mitsuki uses the kanji for beauty (mi) and moon (tsuki). So her name means beautiful moon.
~Shikibu Naoko 色部直子
Again, Shikibu wasn't chosen for it's kanji but for its vintage, since there's a mediaeval writer in Japanese literature called Shikibu Murasaki. The kanji mean colour (shiki) and section (bu).
Naoko uses the kanji for heal or fix "nao" and child "ko". So her name means Healing Child. She's an Unohana, after all :)