Chapter Twenty One: Hunting The Shadow
"Are you really sure we should be doing this?"
As Juushirou and Hirata crept through the suburbs of the small town, Hirata cast his companion an apprehensive look. "I know we've got passes and we're well before curfew, but it's not as if we can pretend we didn't know what had happened, and I'm sure Sensei wouldn't want us to go back here. Minabe-sensei will be at Aitori-sensei's house, most probably, and..."
"We're not going back to Aitori-sensei's house." Juushirou paused, turning to cast him a grin. "I'm not that reckless, and I don't think Midori-sama is, either. It's not that I want to do. And it's not that I want to cause any trouble, either. You said we needed to find out Midori-sama's motives, so that's what we're doing. You're Endou-ke, so even if I'm beneath her notice, you might not be. And it's better than doing nothing."
"She killed someone already today." Hirata whispered. "And I don't think my being an Endou will matter, if she left Seimaru's property of her own accord and then slew the man Seimaru had been working with."
"Maybe not." Juushirou admitted. "But I'm hoping that what people have said about the Shihouin is true. That they don't kill unless they deem it necessary to kill."
"Knowing about this might make it necessary." Hirata sighed, but nevertheless kept pace with his friend. "I hope that she's in a good mood."
"Maybe I shouldn't have brought you with me." Juushirou looked doubtful. "But it's just, this is your family's problem as well as it is hers. So if we can't talk to Sensei because of what might happen if we do, this is the only thing we can try. Isn't it?"
"I suppose so." Hirata acknowledged. "I'm sorry. You're doing this to help me, too, I know. And because I didn't want to go see Sensei. But..."
"Shunsui says that her reiatsu is totally concealed when she's in the form of a cat." Juushirou reflected, as they reached the market square. "And even though we felt the sword release, we won't feel that again, most likely. You said you saw the cat leaving Aitori-sensei's house, so it's for sure that it is her, right?"
"Yes. I think so. It must be." Hirata agreed. "Only one Shihouin is the Shadow Cat at any one time. And I'm pretty sure that would be Midori-dono."
He sighed.
"But we can't trace someone we can't sense, and she's a lot more experienced than us." He added morosely. "So how are we going to find her?"
"I had a thought about that." Juushirou admitted, pausing and leaning up against the wall of a building as he gazed out across the busy market square. "It's a long shot - a really really long shot. But I'm trying to think about this from a Clan's perspective as well as from my own. Because if I wanted to speak to someone about things, I'd go up to them and ask them, most probably. I might be subtle about it, but I probably would do it myself. But...if a Clanswoman did it, in a District not her own, it would be different, wouldn't it? People would talk about it. It might put her in a difficult position, which is why she's concealing herself as a cat. So people don't see her and comment on it. Right?"
"Yes." Hirata agreed. "That makes sense. I'm sure she would think that way."
"Shunsui said she brought a servant with her." Juushirou shrugged his shoulders. "A girl who she was travelling with. A girl who must have left Seventh District with her, and helped her on her way to First District whilst she was still disguised. Does that seem logical to you?"
"Of course." Hirata smiled ruefully. "Even in escape, I can't imagine a lady like Midori-dono would leave without at least one trusted servant. Every Noble of any standing has at least one retainer or servant who's theirs body and soul and who they can trust to lay down their own life before betraying their master or mistress. I'm sure it's the same for Midori-dono, too."
He frowned.
"Oh...except..."
"Except?"
"Well, I didn't meet Midori-dono properly, before I was sent here. She'd only just arrived, after all." Hirata said slowly. "But I remember one thing quite clearly, because it was unusual. The Shihouin-ke didn't send any of Midori-sama's own people with her when they finalised the arrangement. And I think that was on Seimaru's insistence. He said that it would seem like our family could not provide for her, if she had to bring her own staff. So she didn't. She came alone. And staff were assigned her from the main household."
"And that's unusual?"
"Very. Almost unheard of." Hirata agreed. "I'm surprised that the Shihouin-ke allowed it. Though with Midori-dono being able to take care of herself - maybe they thought it was a show of goodwill towards their new allies."
"Then whoever she brought with her was someone she met while in Seventh District?"
"It would have had to have been." Hirata acknowledged. "Second District and Seventh are far apart, after all. It wouldn't have been easy to slip someone in afterwards. And I'm quite certain she arrived there alone."
"Then I'm even more sure my whim is right." Juushirou's eyes clouded slightly. "And I was hoping not, but this time, I'm going to be the one doing the protecting. Hirata, this morning in town Shunsui saw someone he knew from when he was a boy - an old friend of his that he parted with when they were teenagers. She wasn't Clan, and he told me that his family had stopped them being friends because of it. So she'd gone to Seventh District, and that was the last he saw of her."
"But..." Hirata's eyes widened, and Juushirou nodded.
"To get to District One from District Seven, you need to cross District Eight." He said simply. "What better person to take with you into foreign territory than someone who knows it backwards? Yes, Hirata. That's what I'm thinking. That it's not a coincidence this former friend of Shunsui's is suddenly in District One just when Midori-sama commits a grisly murder from the shadows. I think that's the girl who Shunsui's brother mentioned in his letter - the one who helped Midori-sama reach this place to begin with."
Hirata looked uneasy.
"A friend of Kyouraku-kun's?" He murmured. "That makes it difficult. But you...you might be right, Ukitake-kun. Because...the border between our land and District Eight is heavily fortified, mostly on their side. Tokutarou-dono doesn't trust Seimaru or Grandfather and it's been like that a long time. When I came here I had to get all kinds of paperwork signed beforehand just so that I could pass through to come to school – that's how strict it is. It would be difficult for anyone to slip over from one into the other. Unless..."
"Unless they were born in District Eight and could say they were returning home." Juushirou finished. "Which is what, I think, probably happened."
"So you think if we find that girl, we'll find Midori-sama?"
"Yes." Juushirou agreed. "I only got a glimpse of her, but I think I'd know her again if I saw her. And it's a starting point, at the very least."
"If she's someone who worked for my family, I might recognise her too." Hirata admitted. "Though honestly, I don't remember many of the household staff. Especially if they mostly work for Seimaru's family. Even though we're more or less all one estate, it's a big estate and each division of the family has its own wing and separate servants. So I might never have seen her anyway, if she came from Seimaru's staff."
He shivered.
"I hope we're not going to make it worse."
"Me too." Juushirou admitted. "But we can't just leave things the way that they are. Aitori-sensei's dead and if someone's putting Sensei's life in danger, we have to do something about it. Even if we're breaking rules and we wind up punished. Shunsui said it to me, when Kyouko-san came and asked us to help Megumi-san. That even if he was punished or sent away, her life might be in danger and that was worse. So if Sensei's life is in danger…and we know something about it…"
He trailed off, and Hirata nodded.
"I know." He admitted reluctantly. "I sort of envy it, too. How you and Kyouraku-kun can think like that."
"What do you mean?" Juushirou stared at him, and Hirata sighed.
"I always hide. I never have any confidence to do anything on my own, and I usually end up running away." He murmured. "I would have done it now, too, probably – even though I know you're right. I'm a coward and I'm useless – just like Shihouin-kun's said."
"But you're here with me now." Juushirou pointed out, and Hirata looked startled.
"Yes, but…that's only because you…"
"But you're here." Juushirou grinned at him. "And you could have said no."
"I couldn't." Hirata looked rueful. "I'm not good at being forceful or making big decisions – it was easier to just come along. Besides, when you went after Kyouraku-kun the last time, you got hurt. And I was worried and frightened that because I'd said nothing I'd made it worse. So this time I needed to come. It's less horrible that way, not being left behind. And it's for my family's sake too, so I ought to."
His brows knitted together.
"If Seimaru's capable of this kind of thing, I need to get stronger faster." He added. "So I can stop him before more people get hurt. That's why Father sent me to school in the first place – now I understand more than I did then."
"We both do." Juushirou said grimly. "But we're only going to talk, if we can, this time. We're not fit opponents for someone with a zanpakutou – so talk is all we can do."
He paused, as a flash of purple and black caught his attention and he turned, pursing his lips as he tried to work out where it had gone.
"Ukitake-kun?" At his sudden hesitation, Hirata looked startled, and Juushirou grasped his friend by the sleeve.
"Over there, by the trees." He murmured. "I can't see her now, but I'm almost certain she was there a moment ago. There must be a pathway through there that's hidden in the undergrowth. From here it doesn't look that way, but even so…"
"Maybe it's a narrow track. One people might use to smuggle things or hide." Hirata suggested.
"Maybe." Juushirou agreed. "But neither of us are particularly wide, and I can duck my head beneath any branches if need be. Come on. Let's check it out."
"It does seem like you've got yourselves the makings of a plot of intrigue right here, doesn't it?"
The tall, well-featured woman turned from the window of her companion's study, a pensive look in her vivid green eyes as she surveyed her junior thoughtfully. "I can understand why you sent word to me. It's not quite concrete enough to grasp your fingers around, is it? But even so…"
"It bothered me." Tokutarou leant up against the book-shelf, eying the older woman with a shred of relief in his dark brown eyes.
Even though it was now some time since he had been a child under the protection and discipline of the infamous Shiba-ke matriarch, he still felt comforted by her presence. From the moment he had arrived, motherless and confused in District Five, she had swept him into the family, making him a part of it even while always reminding him that his Kyouraku roots were infinitely more important to his future than anything in his immediate surrounds. Her firm yet fair guidance had helped him, he knew, in putting back together the pieces of fragmented District Eight, and more than once since he had left her care had he realised how much he owed the Shiba-ke relatives that had so readily taken him in.
Father had known it, and I know it, too. That you can put your faith in them, no matter what. And this is one of those times.
For many, Kyouki was formidable – an incomprehensible whirlwind who had left more than one illustrious Clan leader gaping in her wake. She had blown apart on her accession the popularly held convention of several magnates that women made weak leaders, and had ruled her Clan with a will of iron since the death of her father some fifty years before. Yet despite this she did not seem in the least bit old enough to have three children grown, and her vitality and spirit were among the things that had made her so successful in her role.
She was tall – though not as tall as Tokutarou himself – with black curls of hair wound up at the back of her head in a wispy knot. It was a compromise between a woman's hairstyle and a warrior's coiff, Tokutarou thought, with not even the faintest streak of grey marring the ebony locks, and her vivid emerald eyes were full of life. Though she wore the robes her position merited, there was a certain informality to her demeanour, and it was almost as though the white haori of the Gotei had been slung casually over her shoulders rather than placed there with pride.
At her waist, the understated hilt of her sword, Gekkoushin was tucked into the folds of her silk white obi, half hidden and apparently insignificant to anyone who happened to see it. Yet Tokutarou knew that appearances could be deceptive, and despite her laid back, relaxed appearance, if she chose to be, Kyouki could be an indomitable opponent who very rarely lost a fight. That sword had given him bruises enough even in its sealed form when he had been a young boy training – and even now he remembered every one with startling, almost nostalgic clarity.
Uncle feared her. And with good reason. She would never have tolerated his idiocies for one moment, after all.
He frowned now, shaking his head with a sigh.
"I appreciate that you came so quickly, Kyouki-sama. It's no mean distance from Fifth to Eighth on a boy's whim – but I'm not sure how best to deal with it. Military problems along my borders or insurrection in my ranks I can handle. Holding the Kyouraku in hand is more than within my abilities. But when it comes to the subtle things, that's not my talent. And I haven't enough years experience to know best what to do."
"I can't fault your judgement so far." Kyouki grinned, crossing the chamber towards him and resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I told you, didn't I? When you first rode from our manor back towards your own. That if you needed allies, the Shiba-ke were yours by blood and obligation and we'd always be there to back you up. You've done a good job so far, making your Father's land strong and creating a reputation around you as a fair, even-handed judge and leader. But I'm glad it hasn't gone to your head. Not that I ever thought it would, Tokkun. Not knowing the disposition you have as well as I do."
"I seem to be asking a lot of favours of you of late." Tokutarou acknowledged with a rueful smile. "First Shunsui, now this, too."
"It's to be expected when you put such a young man in charge of so many things." Kyouki dismissed it with a flick of her fingers. "Besides, your younger brother is an enigma all of his own. You say he's had his own involvement in this, too? If that's so he's said nothing of it to Sora, because she's not one for keeping secrets and I've heard nothing of it in her own letters."
"Shunsui's not exactly prone to confiding either secrets or suspicions." Tokutarou ran his fingers through his long brown hair. "That's the one thing I've learnt most strongly in the four years since I took over responsibility for my brother's well-being. But this one he contacted me about, and not just that. He sent the town wench then asked about the Shihouin girl…it worries me that he's tied himself up in something sinister."
"It's not impossible." Kyouki admitted. "But I don't think panicking now is a good idea. May I see Shunsui's correspondence to you? I'd like to know precisely what he said."
"Yes. One moment, and I'll find it." Tokutarou looked relieved, rummaging amongst the papers on his desk and pulling out the right one. "Here. This is the last one – the one regarding Shihouin Midori. What do you make of it? Since then I've learned that it's almost for certain the girl did pass through District Eight on her way West. Do you think I should have stopped her?"
"Hrm." Kyouki looked thoughtful, skimming over the letter then setting it aside. "You're too young to remember this – Shunsui is too – but the Shihouin had a violent uprising and civil war within themselves about forty or fifty years ago. It was then that the current leader Kamuki-sama took hold, and he's been able to quiet most of the factions since then because he is strong – one of the strongest Shihouin to lead that messy family of cutthroats in the past few centuries."
She smiled.
"I was only just inaugurated as head of the Shiba myself at that time." She said nostalgically. "He made a good impression on the Council, and he's continued to keep control when before him leaders were changing almost on an annual basis. However…"
"However?"
"Are you old enough to remember Urahara Rikaya?" Kyouki pursed her lips, and Tokutarou frowned, shaking his head.
"I've heard the name, but…"
"Urahara Rikaya was the previous head of Third District." Kyouki said simply. "A grumpy, cantankerous old fossil if ever there was one. He and Shihouin Kamuki hated one another quite vociferously, and Rikaya had actually provided support to one of Kamuki's rivals during the conflict within District Two. There was an area of land between the two Districts which had become in dispute as a result of that conflict – whether it was Urahara land or Shihouin land was argued fiercely in Council sessions on many occasions. Eventually it became a military matter, and Kamuki sent his forces to the disputed land to defend it. Both his eldest children were deployed to fight in the battle, since they were the best Shihouin fighters at that time."
She sighed.
"In the end Kamuki-dono won his battle." She said frankly. "But lost both his elder children in the process. It was a war which, quite frankly, no one truly won. Since then the Shihouin Clan's inheritance has been the subject of gossip and debate in many quarters both in and outside of District Two."
"Both his children." Tokutarou frowned. "But surely…Kamuki-sama's heir is his son…?"
"Yes. His one surviving son." Kyouki nodded. "I believe he's now about twelve or thirteen years old. He's a bright boy – academically intelligent and capable with sticks and swords. But there are many who doubt he'll ever be able to lead the Clan. He isn't spiritually gifted, after all."
"Some might say the same about me." Tokutarou looked rueful. "Yet in the end, here I am."
"No…it's different with you." Kyouki smiled, touching his cheek affectionately. "My husband and I took very seriously the charge of having you in our family, after all. And you may pale in comparison to your poor Father when it comes to reiatsu, but you're by no means insignificant. You could do very well with that sword of yours, if you devoted more time to working with it."
"That's not my destiny." Tokutarou grinned, shaking his head even as he brushed his fingers against the hilt of his sleeping blade. "It and I, we get on fine, but I have real people to see to and it has to take second place to those. I've never been interested in the Gotei, Kyouki-sama. And even if the Shiba-ke do things one way – in this I intend to follow the traditions of my other family."
"Which means giving it over to Shunsui, if and when he puts all that potential into actual skill?" Kyouki asked lightly, and Tokutarou nodded.
"That's why I sent him to District One in the first place." He agreed. "His letters concerned me, because I wondered if he was even paying any attention to his studies at all. I don't even want to know how he became acquainted with girls in the local town, to tell you the truth."
Kyouki laughed.
"He has a natural interest in the opposite sex that makes him just a touch more curious than decorum permits." She said frankly. "But I like the boy, Tokkun. I like him a lot. You're right to put faith in him, I think – probably it's what he needs, since no one else ever seems to have bothered."
She sighed, shaking her head.
"That's the trouble, when men are allowed to dominate a Clan." She added regretfully. "They really don't have the finer touches when dealing with their children."
"Far be it from me to dare comment on that." Tokutarou said wryly. "But either way, that's how this family operates and how things will be. I hope."
"Well, according to the reports I've received, your brother's topping his class at the present time." Kyouki said carelessly. "My husband's position on the board means quick access to anything like that. Of course, it was Sora's standing I was interested in – and she's improving too, so it looks like Shunsui's not having a bad influence on her."
"Perhaps the opposite is true and Sora-chan's having a good one on him." Tokutarou looked relieved. "But if it's that way, I can stop worrying. Maybe you are right. Maybe it is just a case of needing people to have belief in him to do something. And if he's starting to apply himself in school, it means I can give full credence to his other observations, too. He's no fool, even if he pretends to be. And this obviously is bothering him. So it bothers me."
"Me too." Kyouki admitted. "The Shihouin are a secretive Clan when it comes to a lot of things, and they're not our neighbours so finding out accurate information is difficult. All I really know are the things that have been made public…and one other. About the girl. Shihouin Midori."
"What about her?"
"She was born the same month as my second son, so I know she's come of age this year just as he has." Kyouki responded. "You may or may not know it, but her Uncle once approached me to ask about the possibility of her being betrothed to you – and I had the fortune to meet the child then. She was only fifteen, I think – well before the normal age for women to be officially presented – but she held herself with the bearing and wit of a young adult even then."
"To marry me?" Tokutarou was floored, and Kyouki nodded.
"It wasn't our decision to make, as I told Kamuki." She responded. "You were to be leader of your own Clan within a short period of time, and it would, in the end, be up to you to decide what kind of wife you wanted. But I promised that she would not be forgotten – that when you started looking, I would put her name forward to you. Only then this alliance between the Shihouin and Endou happened, and Midori was betrothed to that young idiot Seimaru. And so it never really came to anything more."
"I haven't given a thought to a wife since I've been here." Tokutarou admitted sheepishly. "With so many problems my Uncle and Father both left me to clear up, and with Shunsui's acting out, there just hasn't been time."
"With Shunsui away you should maybe start thinking of it." Kyouki advised. "But that's beside the point for now. In terms of the girl…I think it was a good thing nothing was arranged then. It's not that I dislike her in any way – but with the instability of the Kyouraku up until recently, you don't need another unstable Clan's problems to iron out."
"To think I might've arrested a girl that a few years ago I could've courted." Tokutarou grinned despite himself. "How times change."
"Well, I'm glad you didn't arrest her." Kyouki said frankly. "While I'm not sure whether acting in her favour is or isn't a good thing yet, at least you weren't pandering to that loathsome brat Seimaru and his spoiled demands."
"So long as I'm here, that's never going to happen." Tokutarou's gaze darkened. "I still haven't forgotten how sticky his Father tried to make it for me when I first took over as Lord here, supporting Uncle and making trouble along the border. I don't like that family or their way of doing anything – there's no way I'd go soft on the Endou, not in a million years."
"I think you're quite amused, then, by the fact his fiancée escaped." Kyouki observed, and Tokutarou nodded.
"It's the biggest reason for me doing nothing." He admitted. "Is that wrong?"
"Probably, but I won't tell anyone." Kyouki laughed. "Still, though, I don't think the girl should be underestimated. Girls often are in this world and it's a mistake every time it happens. Midori is a very intelligent young woman, very proud and most of all, very decisive. She's the image of a Shihouin lady in all respects. And she's far from afraid when it comes to shedding blood to support her principles."
She pursed her lips.
"Four years ago, in fact, she killed her brother's Kenjitsu instructor in an outright bout." She added casually. "A girl of sixteen against a hulk of a man considerably older – yet she didn't hesitate for one moment. She acted and he was dead before he hit the ground. That is the kind of person we're talking about."
"Her brother's…?" Tokutarou's eyes widened. "I'm starting to be even more relieved that I didn't enter into marriage negotiations! What kind of woman…no, girl, even, kills an instructor just like that?"
"He had been beating the boy." Kyouki said simply. "Not just when he did things wrong, but whenever his mood turned bad. Once he beat the child to within an inch of his life, and no one else did anything to prevent it. Midori took exception to this and snapped. She took her sword, faced the instructor and taught him a lesson he wouldn't have a chance to forget. That's the kind of girl she is."
Tokutarou frowned, memory of the last confrontation against his Uncle surfacing in his mind, and Kyouki nodded.
"You do understand, I think, what it means to protect a younger sibling." She murmured softly. "You would have shed blood yourself for Shunsui's sake a few years ago, would you not?"
"Yes." Tokutarou admitted. "But…even so, to challenge him in such a way…"
"She has principles, and Shihouin ruthlessness to back them up." Kyouki responded. "I don't know how happy a marriage it would have been for either of you, if she had come here, in truth. That she's acting alone like this suggests she has a particular goal in mind, and her brother is also a student with yours at the Academy, so protecting him may be the root cause of all this. But it may not. Midori and her younger brother are particularly strong in terms of reiatsu. Kamuki knows it as well as anyone. He trained Midori, after all – but has shunned Kai since the death of his own children because he's afraid of letting him progress too far. He might prove a figurehead, after all. Midori also. If rebels decided they didn't like the status quo."
Tokutarou frowned.
"Then why is he at the Academy, if his Uncle doesn't want him to be trained to a high level?" He asked softly. "That doesn't make any sense."
"No, it doesn't." Kyouki agreed. "But it's something worth thinking on nonetheless."
"I think, then, my mind is made up." Tokutarou let out a sigh, reaching to grab his cape from its hook beside the study door. "I'll go to District One myself, and speak to Genryuusai-sensei face to face. Maybe to Shunsui, too – and see what's going on. Because what you've said and what the girl Kyouko said is bothering me. And I think its something that I shouldn't stay out of. She's crossed my land, so I've a reason to go."
"Meaning I should go home and stay out of it?" Kyouki pouted. "You are mean, Tokkun. Children grow up and suddenly they think they can solve it all themselves."
"It might be better that way." Tokutarou told her honestly. "Right now there's no reason for anyone else to get involved. But if I suspect a Shihouin crossed my land without reason to do so, I have a legitimate reason to raise my concerns. Yours too, perhaps. It doesn't need the Shiba-ke being dragged in – not when we don't know what's going on."
"True. We don't know." Kyouki said pensively, her eyes becoming thoughtful as she looked at him. "But be careful, Tokkun. For Midori to act how she's acted, and considering what else you've told me about the girl who fled here on Shunsui's advice, I have a feeling this is a big one and it won't stay out of the Council's attention very long. I have a bad feeling old skeletons are about to traipse through some very new and expensive closets – if you catch my drift."
"I do." Tokutarou nodded. "Which is why I want to go there. Before Shunsui gets himself in too far over his head to climb out!"
The library was quiet that afternoon, with most students out enjoying the sunshine, and as Shunsui and Enishi made their way between the high-stacked shelves of dusty old volumes, they realised it would not be hard to locate their missing classmate. Sure enough, in a sun-lit alcove at the rear of the biggest chamber they found him, surrounded by a pile of books on Kidou theory. He appeared engrossed in his work but, as they approached he glanced up, setting the nearest tome aside with a sigh as he registered their expressions.
"I suppose there's a reason other than study that you two have come to the library today?" He said softly. "I can't imagine you'd either of you step through those doors voluntarily to revise your class-work, so it must be something else."
"Good afternoon to you too, Ryuu-kun." Despite himself a rueful smile touched Shunsui's lips. "And you're right. We're not here to study. It's a free day, after all – and we get enough of classes during the rest of the week. We actually came to find you – if you can spare us a minute."
Ryuu frowned, obediently shutting the open book as he regarded them expectantly.
"This has some correlation to Aitori, then, I presume?" He murmured, and Enishi stared at him.
"You know already?"
"Of course." Ryuu said categorically. "People have been whispering about it and disturbing my reading for the past twenty minutes. Besides, I've almost been expecting it, in fact."
"Expecting it?" Shunsui's brows knitted together, and Ryuu offered him a faint smile.
"You've never met Shihouin Midori, have you?" He asked softly. "I have. She's an assassin from that den of shadow killers who ascribes to the principles of her Clan wholeheartedly. She is no damsel in distress, no matter what Shihouin may say about it. Once I knew she'd left District Seven, it was obvious she would come here. To protect her little brother once again, no doubt, because he lacks the strength to protect himself."
"Then you knew she was coming to kill Aitori?" Shunsui's brows knitted together. "If so, why didn't you say so earlier? I didn't like the guy, but even so…no one deserves that to happen to them! And you made Hirata see something horrible, too – for heaven's sake, Kuchiki, for someone who's smart sometimes you really don't seem to tick all the boxes!"
"Hirata?" Ryuu looked surprised, and Shunsui nodded.
"He found the body." He said frankly. "And it upset him. Quite a lot, actually."
"Interesting." Ryuu pursed his lips. "I wonder what he was doing there. He didn't leave the school with you, after all – and when I came here, he said he was going to take a walk in the grounds. I wonder why he would deceive me."
"He probably went looking for Ukitake. You know how he is." Enishi said frankly, though Shunsui's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered this fact. "In any case, that's not the point. Kyouraku's right, Kuchiki. If you knew Aitori was going to be murdered…"
"I didn't know that." Ryuu shook his head. "I realised when it happened what it was I was sensing, that is all. I know Shihouin Midori's blade, you see. And I recognised Aitori's reaitsu flaring as he died."
He spread his hands. "I expected her to come here, that is all. Aitori must have crossed Kai in some manner, I think – because I have only ever heard of Midori shedding blood with the full force of her sword once before."
"To defend her brother?" Enishi looked startled, and Ryuu nodded.
"As you say." He agreed lightly. "So? What is it you wish from me? Obviously Aitori is beyond help, and Sensei wouldn't thank us for trying to interfere in what is already quite a messy case of Shihouin vs Shihouin. It has no connection to any of us."
"That's not strictly true." Shunsui sighed, rubbing his temples. "Listen, Kuchiki. Juu was with me when Hirata came haring out of Aitori's house screaming murder. And he was with me till we got back to school. But then we split up – I went with Shihouin to report what we'd found to Yama-jii and Juu took Hirata to the dorm because he was pale. Except they're not there now, and I'm sure I felt Juushirou's reiatsu heading towards the school gates. I think they went back into the town – and maybe back to the scene of the crime."
"Why would Ukitake do something so foolish as that?" Despite himself, anxiety flickered in Ryuu's slate grey eyes and Shunsui shrugged.
"He seemed to be upset by Aitori's death." He owned. "He wasn't too pleased with me either, I don't think – one way or another. In any case, he's not where I expected him to be and Houjou hasn't seen him either. We don't know where that Shadow Cat is hiding, but I can't imagine she'd care a whole lot about a District boy and an Endou, especially if she's just left District Seven of her own accord. I'm worried about them – both of them. I think we should go and drag them back."
"And you need my help for this?"
"Your senses are sharper than mine." Enishi said honestly. "I can't pick up anything at all, but if you and Kyouraku are both there, we might be able to track them down. Kyouraku said that Ukitake doesn't always suppress his reiatsu completely – it flares a little from time to time. If both of you really focused, maybe you could work out where he'd gone."
Ryuu's eyes became clouded and he nodded, slowly getting to his feet as he piled his books up against the wall.
"I see your reasoning. It has logic." He murmured, letting out a sigh. "And you are correct, Kyouraku. Ukitake is fool enough to face that woman and ask her directly what her motivation is. He does not know the lengths to which the Shihouin will go to protect their own…and it may put the both of them in danger."
"You'd think that seeing a teacher murdered would've given him a few clues." Shunsui said darkly. "But that's the trouble, in the end. Juu's straight-forward and honest and he doesn't like deceit. He wants everything to be clear and laid out and he wants to believe the best in people. It's a strength but it's also a weakness. And right now, dammit, it's a full blown liability."
"We don't have any gate passes, and Sensei will probably order a lock-down once he knows more about what happened to Aitori." Enishi added. "We'll have to sneak out, Kuchiki, and hope for the best. If we find them, with any luck they'll still have their passes and getting back might not be such a problem – but we don't know how long it might take, or what might happen in the meantime."
"Then we should waste no more time here." Ryuu said categorically. "If things are of that nature, we should go."