Chapter Twenty Two: A Test Of Faith
The forest pathway was thickly lined with vines and shrubs interspersed in gaps between the trunks, and as they drew further and further from the centre of town Juushirou found he had to watch his step, as the ground beneath their feet was a mass of ferns, branches and the occasional snake slithering across their path. At one point Hirata caught his toe on a protruding length of tree root, almost falling headlong, and it had been all Juushirou could do to catch him, steadying his friend and helping him upright.
"You're not heavy, thank goodness." He murmured, as the boy shot him a grateful look. "Come on. I'm sure she went this way. I can pick up the flicker of her reiatsu, I think - she's not far ahead."
Hirata didn't reply, but he nodded his head, and Juushirou saw the resolution in his pale eyes.
Though who knows what exactly we're going into.
Juushirou frowned, forcing away the sudden sense of uneasiness that curled into the pit of his stomach.
Shihouin Midori killed Aitori-sensei and she made a mess of him, by all accounts. Am I really doing the right thing, bringing Hirata here like this? I don't want to put him in danger, but...there's no way that I can just do nothing about it, either. Not knowing that there's a plot against Sensei's life. No, this is the only thing we can do. We need to find out what Midori-sama's aims are, before someone else gets killed.
At that moment he caught a flash of black fabric up ahead, and his heart leapt as he grabbed Hirata by the arm. They sped up their pace, moving more easily through the undergrowth now as the trees began to spread across the landscape, clearer patches of grass opening up beneath their overhanging boughs as they entered the forest proper.
So is she hiding outside of the town, then? In the form of a cat, does she not even need shelter? In which case Shunsui's idea about checking ryokan would have been futile - not if she's been out here all the time.
"That's far enough."
Almost as soon as these thoughts had crossed his mind, a voice cut across his senses and he stopped dead, taking in with consternation the object of their pursuit standing not more than two feet away. She had led them into the remote greenery, he realised with a jolt, but she had not been oblivious to their tracking, and fleetingly he wondered once more whether he had taken an unnecessary risk.
As he did so, he caught sight of the girl's features for the first time, taking in the thick black hair bound back from her face in two tails, and the clouded dark eyes that glittered with consternation and annoyance as she met his gaze. She was no taller than Mitsuki, and just as slender in her build, but she had determination rippling through her aura, and Juushirou realised in that moment that though she was as low-born as he was and had fallen on hard times, her own spiritual potential was by no means meagre.
There was no freedom in her eyes, and for some reason, Juushirou found this sad as he remembered Shunsui's heart-felt admissions. Yet even so, deep down Juushirou knew that this was his friend's old playmate. That this was indeed the girl they had seen in town, who had caused Shunsui such distress and who had now become involved in something which might yet prove all the more sinister and deadly.
He met her gaze soberly.
Was it because you got mixed up with his Clan that you lost that freedom after all? Or is it because of the Clan you're now involved with that you can close your heart and hide your true feelings?
As they stood there, facing one another, Juushirou caught sight of something glittering between her fingers and he frowned, realising that their target was armed and had been so all along. There was a fixed resolution in her dark eyes, though even as she confronted them her arm shook slightly, and Juushirou wondered whether or not she was accustomed to holding a weapon at all. Still, she stood her ground, taking a step or two towards them as she glanced at them each in turn.
"Why are you following me?" She asked softly. "If you think I'm one of the town's harlots, I'll tell you now that I'm not."
Juushirou hesitated for a moment, aware that the moment the blade had appeared, Hirata had ducked behind him, cowering in his friend's shadow as he peered nervously around at their opponent. She truly wasn't much older than they were, Juushirou realised - and her attire was no more distinctive than anyone else's in the local area. Yet the weapon she clasped between her fingers was familiar, and with a jolt he realised where he had seen it before.
There had been one like it hanging in Aitori's office, whenever he had had the misfortune to be called there.
His brows knitted together at this realisation.
Then there's no longer any room for doubt. You are connected to the Shihouin-ke after all. I hope that isn't going to make it difficult.
Out loud he said,
"Are you Etsuo Saku-san, by any chance?"
At the sound of her name the girl faltered, staring at him in alarm and consternation, and Juushirou nodded.
"I thought so." He murmured. "I thought it must be you we were looking for."
"Why do you know my name?" Saku hesitated, blade still clutched between her fingers as she struggled to work out what was going on. "I've never seen you before – in this life or any other. Why would you call me by that name, when I've never been to District One before?"
"Because I'm a friend of Shunsui's." Juushirou told her softly. "Kyouraku Shunsui. And he's told me about you. That's why."
At the sound of her old friend's name, Saku blanched, the blade slipping forgotten from her fingers as she stared at him in stricken bewilderment.
"Shun…sui?" She whispered, and Juushirou nodded.
"He and I are students together at the Academy just over the rise." He agreed.
Saku's expression went through a multitude of emotions at this, then she sighed, the tension seeming to seep from her body.
"And I was so worried, in District Eight, that I might cross Kyouraku-ke." She murmured. "When in fact it was here…he was here…all the time."
She glanced at Juushirou sharply.
"He…is he with you? Is he…?"
"No. He's back at the school and he has no idea we've come looking for you at all." Juushirou shook his head. "Though he does know you're here, Etsuo-san. He saw you, this morning, when we were in the town. And that's part of the reason I'm here now."
"This morning?" Saku swallowed hard, then, "You're here…because of him?"
"No, not exactly." Juushirou said evenly. "But you were in town, and it seemed too much of a coincidence when Shunsui said that the last time you'd met you'd been heading to District Seven. So we came to find you because we wanted to speak to the person you travelled here with. Shihouin Midori-sama."
Saku's eyes narrowed and she eyed Juushirou warily.
"Shihouin Midori-sama?" She repeated softly, and Juushirou nodded his head.
"Yes."
"And you think, because I was in District Seven, and now I'm here, that I have some connection to a Noble lady from District Two?" Saku's lips thinned. "I'm not a privileged child of connection and good blood, you know. Whoever you are, you're robed in the attire of an Academy bocchan and if Shunsui's been sent there, it just proves beyond all doubt what kind of a place this school really is. A place where people who don't understand gather. I am not Clan. I am not a part of that world."
"Nor am I." Juushirou smiled at her, taking her off guard with his sudden warmth. "Which is why I hoped you might listen to me, Etsuo-san. I'm District, just like you. My family live under the control of the Clans, just as yours do. My people aren't badly off, true, but they aren't rich and there are seven children besides me who need support and raising. So I came here to learn how to protect them. Because my family are important to me, after all. But I'm no more like Shunsui than you are, in the end."
He bowed his head slightly in her direction.
"My name is Ukitake Juushirou, from Sixth District." He said seriously. "There's nothing illustrious about my name or my kin, I assure you."
"District?" Saku's eyes showed shock for a moment, then the faintest of smiles touched her lips as she slowly shook her head.
"Shunsui hasn't changed, then, has he?" She murmured. "If he's your friend…if you call him so familiarly…he's still just as he ever was. He still doesn't care what the world thinks, so long as he can go the way he pleases. A little part of me is glad to hear it – that even now, after so much, he hasn't changed."
"He seems very fond of you. Still." Juushirou agreed. "Which is partly why we didn't tell him that we were coming this way. He didn't seem to think you'd want to see him, after all. But I do know that Shunsui's an excellent judge of character, even in the short time I've known him. And so I thought that, if you were someone he thought that highly of, you must be someone that I could speak to without fear of misunderstanding."
He smiled.
"You came to District One because you were asked to by Midori-sama, didn't you?" He added softly, and as the girl tensed, he held up his hands.
"Neither Hirata or I are here to lead people to you, or cause any trouble." He said quickly. "But even so, I think it's important. A lot of things might rest on it."
"Hirata?" Saku's eyes widened, her gaze darting to the huddled figure behind Juushirou's body as she took in his features for the first time. She let out a little gasp, her hand flying to her mouth as recognition crossed her features, and she hurriedly bowed her head, taking a step backwards as she did so.
"H…Hirata-sama?" She whispered. "And I drew a blade…but…I…"
"It's all right." Hirata emerged from his hiding place, offering her a rueful look of his own. "Nothing happened, after all."
"But you are…Endou Hirata-sama." Saku bit her lip. "And…then they've sent you to find…is that why? Is that what this is about? Because Midori-sama is no longer in District Seven…?"
Hirata frowned, then shook his head.
"If you worked at my cousin's command, you know there is no communication of that kind between his side of the family and mine. Not if it can be avoided." He said quietly, a faint edge to his tones. "I'm not here to do Seimaru's bidding, nor retrieve Midori-dono or try and force her to return to District Seven."
"We came to speak to her for the opposite reason, in fact." Juushirou admitted. "About what happened this morning, and about what it means for her Clan and Hirata's. Because Hirata's worried about his family, and Midori-sama's brother has been fretting about her absence, too."
"Some would say it was safer to stay out of Clan politics, District boy."
A fresh voice joined the conversation at that moment, its tones low and throaty, and instinctively Saku glanced up, Juushirou's gaze following hers up into the branches of a nearby tree. As he did so, he let out an exclamation, making out the curled up figure of a black cat nestled between the leafy boughs as she watched them with piercing, golden eyes. Her tail swished pensively from side to side as she observed them, and Juushirou bit his lip, realising that despite her innocent appearance, he was now face to face with the elusive Shadow Cat of the Shihouin.
"Well?" As the silence seemed to draw on, the cat raised herself to her feet, stretching her claws out against the branch. "You wanted to speak to me, didn't you? Here I am. Have you changed your mind? Or are you just so troubled at a talking cat that you've lost your wits?"
"I…I'm sorry." Juushirou gathered his composure, bowing his head towards her hurriedly. "It's not that."
"Well, it's an inconvenient appearance in one way, and a convenient one in others." Midori sighed, leaping down neatly onto Saku's shoulders and curling herself up pensively against her servant's neck with a soft purr. "Well? You've sought me out, haven't you? I have to admit, it takes some guts to deliberately seek out a daughter of a Clan like mine, even for one with Noble blood. But I've heard about you. You're the District boy who Seimaru's so worried about, aren't you? The one whose powers defy his logic. Not that his logic skills are very extensive, but even so – I've heard. You're Ukitake Juushirou. The one that believes he can compete with us Clan on an equal level."
"I…I don't think I ever…" Juushirou faltered, and Midori let out an amused laugh.
"Oh, now isn't the time to be shy." She scolded. "It's an admirable attitude, to have courage and confidence. Besides, even from this distance, I can understand why you might think that way. You might be concealing it, but you do have a considerable reiatsu. Maybe there's good reason for Seimaru's concerns, after all."
Her gaze flitted to Hirata, the golden eyes narrowing slightly as she took in his quivering appearance.
"Endou Hirata-kun, I think." She murmured, and Hirata's head jerked up, eying her in consternation.
"It's quite all right." Midori flexed and un-flexed her claws lazily, her paws toying absently against the curls of Saku's long dark hair. "I'm not inclined to hurt you. On the contrary, as it happens. I think rather to make you my ally than my foe."
"Your…ally?" Hirata gaped, and Midori nodded her head.
"Your father was the one who helped me to escape District Seven." She said softly. "He was the one who laid out for me clearly what it was the Endou-ke were planning, and more, gave me ample chance to hear it from Seimaru's own lips. He knew that both our Clans are likely to fall if this alliance is allowed to continue, and the dark plot unfold. But they're not far from succeeding, now. Seimaru is quite serious, I think, when he seeks to kill Genryuusai-sama."
She tilted her head on one side, eying Juushirou thoughtfully.
"Your place in this world rather depends on him at the moment, doesn't it?" She mused. "Well, that's fine. That might make you my ally also, in the long run. I suppose we'll see."
"Does being your ally involve killing people, Midori-sama?" Juushirou asked quietly, and Midori stared at him for a moment. Then she laughed.
"I see." She murmured, amusement in her low tones. "So you don't like my way of dispatching problems, then? It's written all over your face, your idealistic naivety. Aitori's death was at my hand, yes. You know that, I think, and so, probably, does Genryuusai-sama. He ratified my weapon, after all, when I first summoned it. You won't know, I suppose, that all zanpakutou have to be registered with the Council? And often Genryuusai-sama is the one who does it – so I had no doubts that he'd recognise Akekage's work as a definite sign of my having been here."
"Was Aitori really that bad a man, then, that you killed him for it?" Juushirou asked softly, and Midori twitched her tail pensively.
"The Shihouin are an assassin's Clan." She murmured. "But we're a Clan who kill when there's a need, not for fun. Aitori sought to sell his Clan's pride and cause its collapse. You won't understand this, because you've never had cause to see it – but I can tell that Hirata-kun knows, for it's in his eyes. If one person betrays a Clan, then the consequences for that Clan can be devastating. His was one life, but he sought to use it to destroy countless others. Lives including my Father, my brother, and others. In this case, one death to prevent many seems a small price to pay. I won't expect you to understand, District boy. But that is sometimes how it has to be."
"Midori-dono is right." Hirata murmured. "If Aitori had betrayed the Clan…it's why I kept Seimaru's letter, rather than taking it to Sensei. Because of the consequences for my family."
"These are the things Clans do that Shunsui so dislikes, aren't they?" Juushirou looked pained, and Saku flinched, even as Midori shot him a surprised look.
"Shunsui?" She murmured. "Surely not Kyouraku Shunsui, the oft-mentioned heir of the Kyouraku-ke? Is one such as he in such close proximity to this place? A student of Genryuusai-sama's, also?"
"Yes." Juushirou agreed. "He is."
"Well." Midori looked thoughtful. "Considering the trouble we had entering District Eight, I can imagine the Kyouraku-ke aren't sympathetic to Seimaru, either. Perhaps I might find another ally, then, in the Kyouraku-ke heir."
"With respect, Mistress, I don't believe Shunsui-sama would involve himself in anything that involved definite bloodshed." Saku said softly. "He's well known in District Eight for disliking violent confrontations."
"Is he now?" Midori twitched her tail again. "That's interesting. I had thought the Kyouraku-ke to be a military family, and I was under the impression that the vacant Gotei position was being kept open for this Shunsui to fill when he came of age. Have I, then, been misled as to the boy's potential and ability?"
"Kyouraku-kun is top of the class." Hirata said slowly. "But Etsuo-san is right. He doesn't like bloodshed."
"He doesn't believe Clan should kill one another." Juushirou added. "And so if you wanted to ask him to do that, Midori-sama, you'll fail before you begin."
"With any luck, I don't seek to kill anyone. Not now." Midori shook her head. "Aitori's death is a message – to Genryuusai-sama to watch his back. To my Clan that I know what is in play and will not support it. To my fiancé, that I'm not to be messed with. To everyone to say that there is no destroying Shihouin Clan pride, not even with large amounts of blood-money."
Juushirou was silent for a moment, then,
"So you…don't support the idea to kill Sensei?" He asked softly, and Midori laughed.
"You have a lot of guts, to ask a Clan maiden such questions, given your status in this world." She mused. "And before I left District Two, I believe I would have pushed you aside in derision for even raising your voice to me. But things have changed. The one ally I've truly had since I was sent into Seimaru's custody was not my family nor his, but Saku alone, after all."
"Mistress?" Saku started, staring at her companion in surprise, and Midori nodded.
"My Uncle is a desperate man taking desperate courses of action to try and prevent his Clan from falling into disrepair and civil strife after his death." She said quietly, and despite himself Juushirou could hear the anger and bitterness in her words. "He lost his eldest children and seeks to place his coronet on the head of a boy who will never be able to wear it. We all know this, him most of all. For that reason he sold my life away and sent me undefended into foreign territory as a wedding trophy rather than appreciating my true purpose within the Clan. He's also barely acknowledged my brother Kai, because it's well known that Kai has all the potential a Shihouin-ke heir should possess and he fears my brother as a future threat. Our family have suffered from factions in the past and though Uncle is strong enough to suppress them and Father is loyal to him, unrest exists still beneath the surface. It is an unenviable position, and it leads those in charge to make mistakes."
She sighed, swishing her tail absently as she did so.
"Yet even though the situation is on a knife edge, he has broken a law set down by all eight Clans on one of the rare occasions that the Noble families were unanimously in accord with each other." She continued. "What's more, he has done so in such a way that now our family are tied up with the dark ambitions of the Endou-ke's leaders. There is no recourse for rescue – that path is already walked. I know it. Misashi-sama knew it. So he let me hear what I needed to know, and helped me to escape from Seimaru's clutches. I came here to silence Aitori, but also to seek Genryuusai-sama's help. Because there is only one way forward for the Shihouin-ke now. And I must take it. No matter what that means."
"One way forward." Hirata murmured, raising his gaze to the cat's, his expression sober as he took in her words. "You seek to depose your Uncle, don't you?"
"If things continue, he will be arraigned and killed for his actions. His death is assured, should it ever come to light that his desperation drove him to make blood pacts with the Endou-ke." Midori nodded. "And I don't think that it can be fully suppressed, now. No matter how much I seek to conceal it, I believe the information is already too far out of my control. Uncle is foolish, but I don't want to see him disgraced and put to death before the Council. My cousin will grow to be a strong fighter but he has little spiritual skill."
She eyed Juushirou critically, and despite himself, the boy tensed at the sudden attention, his cheeks reddening in discomfort.
"Yes. Even this District boy alone has ten times the potential of the Shihouin-ke heir." She said sadly. "So it's well known that that child'll never raise a zanpakutou's spirit or wear District Two's Gotei haori."
She sighed again.
"My Father and my elder brother have been involved with my Uncle's plans from the start, and I fear for their lives too." She murmured. "I am not just an assassin, you see, District boy. I have family and I love them very much, despite their mistakes. So even though all I might be able to do in the end is damage limitation, I decided on this course of action. As the Shadow Cat of the Shihouin, I intend to take control of the Clan."
"But isn't it…dangerous?" Hirata asked hesitantly. "I mean…for a woman…"
He faltered, reddening at the sharp look the black cat suddenly sent his way, and for a moment Juushirou wondered if he might have to grab his companion and run while their opponent was still in her feline form. Then Midori relaxed, slowly shaking her head.
"As an Endou you can't understand the importance of women in the Shihouin-ke hierarchy." She reflected, a faint note of condescension in her tones as she gazed down at him. "As it happens, though there is a past precedent for a Shadow Cat to take control even if she is not the obvious heir. I mean to invoke that precedent and stake my claim. Besides, with my kin so tied up in illicit dealings, I probably am the only option left.
Seimaru said it himself – that with my kin disposed of, he could marry me and claim my family's territory through me. But I have no intention of marrying that foolish boy, now or ever. And since I'm the only one who can save the Shihouin from destruction – I came here to do that. I don't know, in the end, if it will be enough to prevent those I love being arraigned and executed. But at least if I act, there's a chance I might be able to plead clemency. And even if it means my Father is put under house arrest, or my Uncle's spirit power contained…at least it wouldn't mean them being killed and the Shihouin being taken over, their land governed by other Council officials."
"Then that's why you haven't communicated with your family." Juushirou murmured. "Even Shihouin-kun, who's been so worried about you all this time."
"Kai…" Midori's eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head slightly as if considering this point. "He's probably had the heaviest burden to bear. But I love my little brother a good deal, you see. He is a weakness of mine – a great weakness in many ways. And I don't want him to come to harm if I can help it. So by removing Aitori, I've removed the risk of Kai being involved in this dark plot. And by not telling him my plans, if it backfires on me, he's also not pulled into the aftermath. Because I don't think my Uncle's position can be saved, now. And mine may yet be precarious if I can't obtain enough support to be acknowledged by my own Clan and the others. So that being the case…the future of the Shihouin may yet fall on his head."
Juushirou stared at the black cat for a moment, taking this all in carefully, and at length he sighed.
"As I thought, being Clan isn't so much a benefit as a burden." He murmured softly. "I don't like what you did to Aitori-sensei, Midori-sama. I'm naïve, maybe, and those things still upset me. But I do…begin to understand why you did it. And…and now I know you're not here to kill Genryuusai-sensei…"
He faltered, and Midori eyed him quizzically.
"What do you intend to do?" She asked softly. "You know, after all, the identity of my travel companion. You know her by name, even. And I'm too fond of her to discard her – as I said, I've come to rely on her a good deal since I decided to leave District Seven. Can I rely on you too, Ukitake Juushirou-kun from Sixth District? What about you, cousin of Seimaru? Will you help me, or will you try to bring me to justice for the murder of your teacher?"
"If my Father helped you, that means he believes in you." Hirata murmured. "And if he made that decision, I won't stand against him, Midori-dono. The Shihouin and the Endou are meant to be allies, and I already told Shihouin-kun that I wanted to help to find you, if I could, because he was worried for your safety. I'm too tied into this to stand aside – so I suppose that makes me your ally. So long as you don't intend to kill anyone else…and most of all so long as you don't intend to kill Ukitake-kun."
"Kill the District boy?" Midori looked startled, and Juushirou frowned, casting Hirata a pensive glance.
"Hirata-kun, I'm the last thing you should be worrying about!"
"I don't think so." Hirata shook his head. "Because I understand, you see, what Midori-dono said. About Etsuo-san being the one person she could rely on, even though Etsuo-san wasn't born Clan. It's the same for me. Since I came here, you're the one who's always stood up for me, no matter what the situation. Even if you've had a hard time from people, you've still always made sure I'm all right. And I don't want any part of an alliance that means to stop you from doing the things you want to do. You should be at the Academy, after all. More than I should, probably. So as long as Midori-dono doesn't want to hurt you or stop you from studying with us, I…I'll be her ally. Because Father would want that, I think. And I support my Father's decisions."
"Well, you're less of a mouse than Seimaru believes you to be, which is heart-warming." Midori sounded amused. "You needn't worry, though, Hirata-kun. I'm more intrigued than irritated by this District phenomenon you've adopted as your own. Saku is mine by blood bond now – and I know I can trust her with my life. If you say you can do the same with Ukitake Juushirou, then I'll respect that fact. The last couple of weeks has taught me, after all, that there's something to be said for District loyalty. It's given without agendas or ulterior motives, unlike the agreements of Clans. And in the months to come, it's that loyalty I'm going to be looking to secure."
"Then the people of District Two are the ones who need to accept you." Juushirou said quietly. "They're the ones who need to recognise you as leader of the Shihouin-ke. Because most Clans don't pay a lot of attention to what happens in their regions. My family are lucky, in that my Father was able to manage our affairs enough to keep us well provided, but since I've been here in District One I've seen people who have been forgotten – and one of them was murdered, even though no one's trying to bring anyone to justice for it. I don't think that's the right way to be Leader of a Clan, when people's birth level comes before protecting their lives."
"You really are a strange one." Midori reflected, and Juushirou flushed red as he realised his temerity.
"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I…It's not my place to tell you things like that, I know. And I don't intend on interfering in your plans – so long as you don't intend to kill anyone else, like Hirata said, I won't try and get in your way. I just…sometimes things seem so unfair. That's all."
"Things often are." Midori agreed. "But so long as there are souls in Soul Society, that will probably always be the case."
She flexed her claws, offering him a feline smile.
"But I will keep it in mind, your advice." She murmured. "Providing I live to return to District Two, I'll remember it well."
She leapt down from Saku's shoulders, turning to cast her servant a glance.
"I want you to go back to the school with them, Saku." She said softly. "And I want you to demand an audience with Genryuusai-sama on my behalf. Tell him I wish to speak to him and will come to him if he will receive me in private. I do not wish a confrontation with him and will leave my zanpakutou behind – on the understanding he will not bring his, either. Tell him this, and that I come with the interests of the Shihouin-ke foremost in my mind. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Midori-sama." Saku nodded her head, though Juushirou saw consternation in her dark eyes. "I'll do as you say."
"See that she gets there safely, please, Hirata-kun." Midori offered the younger boy a smile. "I hear this area can be dangerous for girls travelling on their own, and I still have a lot to do in training Saku to properly bear a weapon."
She raised her gaze to Juushirou.
"For the time being, I would rather you didn't mention to anyone that I had spoken to you. Either of you." She said softly. "I doubt it would be to your benefit, after all, if that was known. If anyone asks about your escorting Saku, you can tell them you met her in the town and she asked you to bring her back to the school to convey her message as she had lost her way. Do you understand?"
"Now it seems I'm the one keeping a secret." Juushirou bit his lip, and Midori nodded.
"For the time being, yes. From my brother especially. I don't want him to come seeking me until I know where I stand with Genryuusai-sama." She said pragmatically.
"What about Shunsui-sama, Mistress?" Saku's tones were full of hesitation, and Midori sent her a long, hard look.
"Is he important?" She asked lightly. "If he dislikes violence, he is unlikely to become my ally, is he? After I've slain his instructor in such a violent way."
"I think Shunsui would support what you wanted to do, though, even if he didn't support your way of doing it." Juushirou said slowly. "I think he'd appreciate that you wanted to protect the people you loved, and prevent them from making a huge mistake."
"Kyouraku-kun's more concerned with the fact Megumi-san was murdered and no one's done anything to solve it." Hirata said sadly, and Midori snorted.
"The wench from the local town?" She asked. "Of course not. What Clan would muddy their paws on a case like that when it obviously came with orders high up? No, there'll be no justice for that girl. No matter how hard he tries, he will never succeed in making the right people care about a town wench's murder."
She hesitated, then raised her gaze once more to Juushirou.
"But that won't do by you either, I can tell." She said with a sigh. "And to be truthful, the case vexes me also. The blame laid clumsily at the door of our Clan – when the murder was nothing to do with us whatsoever. I cannot promise that even if I succeed, there will be justice for that girl. It's not in my power, because it wasn't committed by a member of my Clan. But I don't intend on letting her killer escape unscathed. Even though I have little interest in avenging a town girl's death, I have my own reasons for wanting to inflict suffering on the one who ordered it. And so in that respect, perhaps, our aims overlap. Still, for now, I don't know that boy's mind. And it can wait, I think, until after I have tried to speak to Genryuusai-sama."
"Then it was Seimaru who killed Megumi-san." Hirata murmured, and Midori nodded.
"I heard him say so with my own ears." She agreed, and Juushirou sighed.
"Poor Megumi-san." He reflected. "She really did get involved in more than she could handle. Playing with Clan is like playing with fire, that's for sure."
"Are you playing with fire, then, District boy, in keeping my presence a secret?" Midori asked, and Juushirou nodded.
"I've been playing with it since the moment I came to the Academy. I just didn't realise it fully." He replied gravely. "But I won't disclose our conversation to anyone. Not even Shunsui, and not even Shihouin-kun. So long as you keep your promise not to kill anyone else, I'll keep mine."
"That seems fair to me." Midori nodded approvingly. "Then it's decided. Go quickly, then, before it becomes dark."
Before any of them could respond, she had leapt nimbly back up into the tree branches, disappearing back among the shadows and leaving them alone.
For a moment there was an awkward silence, then Saku sighed.
"If Midori-sama sees you as allies, so must I." She murmured. "Will you take me to this Academy? I will not disobey her instructions, even if I have no wish to go to that place."
"We will. Won't we, Ukitake-kun?" Hirata cast Juushirou a questioning look, and Juushirou hesitated, then nodded his head.
"That much we can do, at least." He agreed. "If Midori-sama wants to speak to Genryuusai-sensei and wants to do it without that death-sword of hers, then that must be all right, I think. And I didn't…even knowing that she killed Aitori-sensei, I didn't disbelieve her. Even if I don't understand all this Clan hierarchy stuff, I think she means only to discuss her situation with him in peace."
"Midori-sama is not a liar." Saku said quietly, as they began to make their way back towards the town centre. "If she says something is one way, then so it is."
"She was right, then, when she said you were bound to her by blood?" Juushirou cast Saku a glance, and Saku nodded.
"Yes." She said simply. "Does that surprise you?"
"A little bit." Juushirou admitted. "Shunsui…when he described you, he said you were a girl who had freedom in your eyes. He felt that being associated with a Clan family had helped to take some of that away. It seems a bit strange to me that if he's right, you're willingly associating with another Clan like this."
"You may be District, but I don't think you really understand what it is to be alone in the world." Saku said evenly. "Nor does Shunsui, although he thinks he does. Even though he's felt, many times, that no one was watching over him – someone always was. Even if it wasn't always with love, someone was always there. He was important, after all. But after my Father died, there really was no one else for me to rely on. Even when he was alive, after we left Kyouraku land, life was hard. I was never as free as Shunsui believed me to be, in the end. That's all."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Even if we had stayed where we were, I was going to go into service at the Kyouraku manor when I reached eighteen." She added. "That's the normal age for a young woman in Eighth District to be offered for marriage – or whatever you want to call it. I wasn't going to be offered for marriage. I was going to be bound in service. I was never really free. It just seemed that way at the time."
"So you and Shunsui both had an imaginary freedom." Juushirou looked sad. "I'm sorry that it was that way. I can see now, a little more clearly, why you made the choices you did. You met Midori-sama in District Seven and were of use to her – so you allied with her when she came here."
"I didn't have an easy time as a servant of the Endou-ke." Saku shot Hirata an apologetic look. "I never served Misashi-sama's family, so I don't mean to be rude, Hirata-sama. But…"
"You don't need to justify it." Hirata said flatly. "Seimaru is a bully and a brute and Grandfather is twice as bad. You were beaten and picked on, no doubt, for being foreign and different and for having no one who'd care if you were. You were given the worst jobs, the longest hours and treated like you were worth nothing at all. Am I right?"
"Hirata!" Juushirou's eyes widened, but Saku nodded.
"You…understand." She murmured, and Hirata offered her a faint smile.
"That's the way Seimaru treats anyone he disdains." He said matter-of-factly. "The long hours may not apply to me, but he and Grandfather treat my Father in much the same way. There have been threats of violence and intimidation so long as I can remember. Against me, my sister, my mother and my Father himself. I'm not surprised you wanted to leave District Seven, Etsuo-san. If I didn't have family there to worry about, I'm starting to feel like I would never go back myself."
Juushirou sighed, rubbing his temples.
"The longer this goes on, the less I understand about the Clan system." He murmured.
"Midori-sama's people are assassins and she hasn't hidden that. In fact, she's proud of it." Saku said frankly. "She killed Aitori Hideaki and she also killed his associate, Fujima, who was smuggling the drugs to the backstreets of this town and others. I don't think she regrets either of these things. But even though she can act with ruthlessness, at heart she's kind. She treats me with respect, praises me when I do well, and has never raised her hand to me in violence. She says she can tell when someone will serve her properly, and that I'm one such person she can trust. So because she's given me that trust, I can give her mine. She's strong and decisive, and I know that if it came to it, she'd be able to protect me. It might be selfish, but in the end, I only have myself to settle. So my life can be better as Midori-sama's servant than it would ever have been in District Seven or Eight. That's why. No other reason. Just logistics, in the end. Everyone needs security, after all."
"And Shunsui?" Juushirou asked quietly, seeing the flicker of pain enter Saku's eyes.
"I'd rather you didn't speak about it to him." She admitted. "Our friendship was a long time ago. We were children. And we're not any longer. Both of us know it…there's nothing more to be said between us. Nothing can change it, after all. The difference in our status."
"But I'm District, and Shunsui doesn't look at me any differently than anyone else." Juushirou objected. Saku smiled, shaking her head slowly.
"But you're his friend." She said quietly. "His classmate and his fellow – perhaps his equal in skill, too. I was…different. We were friends, yes. But it was more than that. It crossed lines it shouldn't have crossed and they can't be crossed back. And I have my pride, too. For all his ability and cheeky cleverness, in that way perhaps Shunsui's still naive, even now. He thinks that he can protect everyone, but he can't."
She shrugged.
"There were always those two years between us." She added. "Perhaps I have finally made them count."
"I think you were in love with him, too." Juushirou murmured. Saku closed her eyes briefly, then nodded her head.
"Children do foolish things that stay with them for the rest of their lives." She said at length. "This was mine, and I'll never lose that scar so long as I live."
"You…and Kyouraku-kun…were…?" Hirata's eyes widened, and Saku sighed.
"We were children. There was nothing sinister or lewd to it." She said honestly. "The furthest it ever went was one kiss – the kiss of teenagers discovering the opposite sex for the first time. But a lot of things happened because of that kiss. And they can't be undone, no matter what."
"Shunsui blames himself for it." Juushirou said frankly. "For you being sent away from Kyouraku land. He hates it – and he blames himself."
"I don't blame him." Saku shook her head. "I don't hate him, either. I couldn't, I don't think, not when I remember all the things we used to do together around his Uncle's estate. Climbing onto old outbuildings, fishing in the lake, fixing his torn clothing when he ripped it in a tree…things kids do, anywhere else in the world. But even if it wasn't his fault, the barrier was always there. It will always be there, Ukitake-san. Even for you, probably, I expect. Because even if Shunsui doesn't care that you're not Clan – in the end it will catch up with you. You can't change how you're born. You can only work with it and do the best you can."
Juushirou was silent for a moment, contemplating this. Then, at length, he shook his head.
"I don't agree with you." He said evenly. "Because if that was the case, there'd be no reason to strive to get better. I'm not here because I want to match up to any of the Clans – I'm here because I want to be able to protect my family from the dangers this world throws up. But even so, I'm on equal terms with Clan members. And even if they don't take me seriously yet – they will. I don't intend to be intimidated or patronised by anyone who tells me what I can and can't do. I didn't come here for that, after all."
"And that's how you can speak to Midori-sama with such censure, yet escape her anger." Saku looked rueful. "Perhaps you are different, after all. Or maybe you just have more courage than I do. It's hard to be sure, really, whether you're the fool or I am, right now."
"Maybe time will prove neither of us fools." Juushirou offered her a smile. "If you support a mistress who'll trust you and give you opportunities, and I gain the ability to protect those I care for in the end."
Saku's expression became startled, and then she returned the smile.
"I understand, I think, why Shunsui values you and calls you friend." She said softly. "Because that's the kind of thing he might say, I think."
"Really?" Now it was Juushirou's turn to be surprised. "I've always thought Shunsui a lot more cynical than I am, to be honest."
"Without a doubt." Hirata nodded his head, and Saku spread her hands.
"Maybe." She acknowledged. "But even so, there's something else there too. A person who wants things to be peaceful and settled for everyone. And so hopes for it. But I don't think he's in the right world to find it, and it's dented those hopes little by little. He wants to protect people, but there's never been anyone who's really reached out with those feelings to truly protect him - from himself most of all."
She sighed.
"The last time I saw him, I saw real pain in his eyes." She admitted. "He's never been as strong as he seems, and I think maybe I hurt him more than any of the things he'd been through with his family. So for that reason, it's not a good idea for us to meet again. But I must go to the Academy, and convey Midori-sama's message. So...there it is."
"He already knows you're here." Juushirou said quietly. "So I suppose it depends whether he wants to see you or not."
"Hopefully he has enough sense to realise that any conversation we have will only reopen old wounds." Saku said pragmatically. "But then, knowing Shunsui, I'm not sure he has that kind of common sense. I suppose we'll see, won't we, what happens next."
"Well, we'll see sooner rather than later." Hirata murmured at that juncture, and Juushirou shot him a quizzical look, taking in the troubled expression on his young face.
"Hirata-kun?"
"Look." Hirata gestured to the path ahead of them, and as he followed his friend's line of sight, Juushirou bit his lip, muttering a curse under his breath as he realised they were no longer alone.
"Shunsui." He murmured. "He must've realised that you and I headed out again, after all - and come looking."
"Kuchiki-kun and Houjou-kun are with him." Hirata added unnecessarily. "What are we going to tell them, Ukitake-kun? Are we going to keep our word to Midori-dono and pretend we met Etsuo-san in the town? After all, she did ask it of us...but..."
Ukitake hesitated for a moment, then he sighed, nodding his head.
"After what I said this morning, it makes me a hypocrite and I can't stand that." He murmured. "But there's nothing else for it. Crossing her would be dangerous for all of us, after all. You in particular, I think, given what we've discovered about your Clan. And after everything she said - there's no choice. For the time being, Hirata, we'll have to do as she says. She asked us to make sure Etsuo-san got to the school, after all. And that's as much as we need to discuss right now."
He bit his lip.
And I just hope that I made the right judgement. I only have Etsuo-san's word for it that Midori-sama is an honest person, and I'm only trusting in her based on the fact Shunsui was once her close friend. I hope I haven't dived into something dangerous without looking...no matter what happens now, Hirata and I are involved. And maybe I'm starting to see why it was Shunsui didn't tell me exactly why we were going looking this morning. But I can't even apologise for that, or for what I might say or do until this is resolved. I'll just have to hope, eventually, that he'll understand...and forgive me for this little thing.
"Ukitake!" Completely oblivious to any of his classmates' inner concerns or the apprehensive, tense way in which a distressed Saku and a perturbed Shunsui were now eying one another, Ryuu stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at them, hands on hips.
"What are you playing at? A teacher gets slain and you want to go visit the scene a second time? Genryuusai-sensei will likely be cross when he discovers it - and that we came out without clearance to find you!"
"I'm sorry." Juushirou looked guilty. "But it wasn't like that. Hirata and I went to run another errand, that's all. We haven't been near Aitori-sensei's house at all."
"No?" Shunsui's gaze rested on Saku a moment longer, then he sighed, rubbing his temples. "Though I think I'm going to regret asking this, what exactly was this errand of yours, Juu? You disappeared into the town on a whim after reading me the riot act, and now you're here...with..."
"It's not like you to jump to conclusions, Shunsui-kun." Saku spoke in low tones, though Juushirou could feel the consternation rippling through her aura. "Ukitake-san and Hirata-sama are merely my escorts to the Academy gates. I have a message to convey to your Headmaster, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni-sama. And I must convey it as soon as possible. The roads are apparently dangerous in these parts of late, so they are providing me with protection. That is all."
"You know this girl, Kyouraku?" Enishi looked startled, and Shunsui nodded, pain once more in his eyes.
"At least, a long time ago I did." He murmured. "Though I'm not sure, any more. It's been some time, after all. And this isn't the place I expected we'd ever meet again."
"Likewise." Saku smiled humourlessly. "But fate has an odd way of casting its dice."
"Indeed." Shunsui's gaze flitted to Juushirou's, and his friend saw genuine reserve in the brown eyes.
"We'll talk about it later, however." He added. "For the time being, we need to get back to the school."
"With Etsuo-san." Juushirou said quietly. "Because I gave my word, and I don't intend on breaking it. Hirata too. We're to take her to the school so that she can safely convey her message to Genryuusai-sensei."
Shunsui's eyes narrowed at this, but he shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine." He said dismissively, the nonchalance in his tones sounding more than a little forced. "If it's a promise, then I suppose it's all right. Providing, of course, that you know who the message is from...and you're not just leading bats in the dark because you think they can't see their way."
"What the hell is that meant to mean?" Enishi stared at his companion, nonplussed, but Juushirou frowned, reading his classmate's implication perfectly.
"We're almost at the school." Was all he said, however. "Hirata-kun, I think it would be best if you took Etsuo-san to meet Genryuusai-sensei. It might seem better, coming from you than from me. Given the situation."
Hirata faltered, then nodded his head.
"I understand." He agreed, though there was consternation in his eyes. "Etsuo-san, please, follow me. I have a gate pass, and I'll be able to get you through more easily than Ukitake-kun can, since you're officially an employee of my family's estate. The staff will probably have stepped up security since this morning, so it's the best way to get you in."
"What?" As Hirata and Saku disappeared across the grounds, Shunsui stopped dead, wheeling on Juushirou with a look of alarm. "Wait a minute. Did he just say...Saku is...what the hell did you go out to do, Juushirou? That she's working for the Endou-ke...what part of them being dangerous don't you understand?"
"I trust Hirata." Juushirou said levelly. "And Etsuo-san is your childhood friend, so I thought it was all right to trust her too."
"And you wonder why sometimes I don't tell you everything." Shunsui said heavily. "I knew Saku last four years ago, and when we met two years back she was almost a stranger to me. Besides, even if we were friends then, it doesn't mean that she's someone you can trust. She was beholden to my Clan when I was a child, and that's a whole different situation. And we're not children now. We're not playing games. You shouldn't be so easy to trust everyone."
"Trust is important to me." Juushirou's eyes became steely and he folded his arms across his chest as his native, stubborn temper began to rise over his normal genial manner. "And so is making my own judgements. Even if they happen to be the wrong ones, Shunsui, sometimes I have to make them for myself."
"Even though she's working for the Endou-ke?" Shunsui looked incredulous. "Hirata is one thing, but you heard how he spoke of them! Do you understand what they could do to you, if they wanted to?"
"Etsuo-san isn't working for the Endou-ke." Juushirou said lightly, and Shunsui froze, dismay entering his brown eyes.
"You know whose message she carries, after all." He murmured, and his friend sighed, running his fingers through his lank white hair.
"Yes." He said softly. "I know whose message she brings, Shunsui. And I've agreed to help her find her way. Because she's your old friend, and so I want to trust her."
"And that's all?" Shunsui's expression became unreadable. "You suddenly go into town after calling me on my honesty, and now...this? You happened to meet a girl that I was none to keen to meet face to face, and more, bring her back to the school on an errand that could have any number of implications? If she's not working for the Endou-ke, there's only one other she could be working for. If she was an employee of Hirata's family, and yet she's here now, that means she's left her post. And that means she must have fled here. With Shihouin Midori. The girl who blasted the life out of our Hohou instructor just this morning."
Juushirou's eyes became flinty, and he nodded his head.
"Perhaps that's so." He said evenly. "But even if it is, I'm going to make my own judgements. You can't make them for me, Shunsui. If I'm wrong, I'll pay the price for them. Myself. I don't need to be protected."
"If you're stupid enough to take people at their word, you do." Shunsui groaned, and Juushirou felt a ripple of anger stir inside of him.
"No." He said flatly. "I won't have it that way. Listen to me, Shunsui. Listen well, because I don't intend repeating it. You had a District friend as a child, and you sought to protect her, but in all ways you failed. You told me so yourself. But in the end, that was because she wasn't yours to protect. And nor am I. Etsuo-san is a stranger to me, but I believe what she says. And I understand more than you ever will the way she feels. She has pride and wants to use it to choose her own life, regardless of how fond she is of you deep down inside. And so do I. That's why I came here, after all. And you need to understand it, too. That District children have their own pride, too. And we can stand up for ourselves and form our own opinions, even if we don't have all the inside information."
With that he was gone across the grass, anger bubbling up inside of him as he made his way purposefully towards the dorm. Flickers of spiritual energy seared and danced across his chest, and he sighed, stifling the urge to cough as he fought to bring his temper back under his control.
I'm angry with myself too, Shunsui, for criticising you for your deceit and then doing the same thing. But having heard Etsuo-san and Midori-sama speak, I think I believe in this. What Etsuo-san said resonated with me, too. I don't want to be a friend you only seek to protect, just like she didn't want it, either. I understand her feelings. She didn't want to be beholden to you any more. And even if she had reached out to you after her Father died, she would have always felt that way.
I didn't come here for any reason except to polish my own skill and learn to protect my family. And I want to do things on those terms. It's my life, in the end, after all. And rather than have people tell me, all the time, what I do and don't understand, I want to understand things for myself.
His eyes narrowed.
Which means that this time, I'm helping someone I know to be a killer, and I don't know what I feel about that, yet. But I also remember the look in Shihouin-kun's eyes when he was worried, and the look in Midori-sama's gold cat-eyes when her brother was mentioned. I'm putting my faith in that emotion. In that family affection and bond. And I'm hoping that I haven't made things worse by agreeing to keep her secret a little longer. Because Shunsui's right, in the end. This isn't a game. And I don't know if he'd understand why I've chosen to do things this way. Even if it was partly for Hirata's sake, too.
He reached the dorm, pushing back the door and slipping inside, dropping down onto his bed with a heavy sigh.
I suppose the test really begins from here on in, doesn't it. In whether I can stand up for myself and have my own views in this Clan-infested world I've chosen to invade.
"Do you think that Genryuusai-sama will see me, after all?"
As they hurried through the grounds of the school, Saku cast her companion an anxious glance, taking in the consternation that clouded his own pale eyes as she did so. Hirata did not answer straight away, then he sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
"You really do know Kyouraku-kun." He murmured. "And if that was true, everything else you've said to Ukitake-kun and I has been true too, hasn't it?"
"Yes." Saku frowned. "But I didn't ask that. Hirata-sama, I wanted..."
"If it's that way, I think Sensei will see you." Hirata offered her a faint smile. "He doesn't like people lying to him. But if you're not going to deceive him, I think he'll listen. It won't matter if you're not Clan...he's not like that, after all."
"Oh." Saku pursed her lips. "Well, then I suppose that's a good thing. Because this place is easily as big as the Endou-ke estate. And I was rather worried...this Genryuusai-sama person is very important, isn't he? I wondered if he'd believe it, if someone like me told him that there'd been a plot to end his life."
"Are you going to tell him that?" Hirata stopped dead, eying her in consternation, and Saku nodded.
"That's part of Midori-sama's message." She agreed. "Oh, don't worry." As Hirata bit his lip anxiously, "I don't intend on naming people that there's no tangible proof against. I won't hurt your family, Hirata-sama. Your Father helped Midori-sama, and Midori-sama is my mistress. It means you and I are on the same side. Aren't we?"
"Whatever good it does us, I suppose so." Hirata let out a heavy sigh, then, "At least where I'm concerned, that path's easy. I'm tied into this, after all. So if it's that way, I'll do what I can. Even if it's only as little a thing as this. Just...please, Etsuo-san, even though I know my family have done horrible things to you - I'd like it if you'd keep your discretion as you said. Even if you hate Seimaru - even if I do - for now it has to be that way."
"You have my word." Saku said solemnly. "And in return, if I may ask, Hirata-sama..."
She faltered, then,
"I would like it if you didn't pass on to your family my current whereabouts, either." She said softly. "I'm an absconded servant, after all. And I've seen servants who tried to run away from the Endou-ke manor be whipped and beaten to within an inch of their life. If I should get separated from Midori-sama for any reason..."
"It's a promise." Hirata smiled, his pale eyes lighting up faintly. "You're an old friend of Kyouraku-kun, and I'll trust you and keep my word too."
"Are you a friend of Shunsui's, too?" Saku asked quizzically, and Hirata looked rueful.
"Sometimes I hate him." He admitted. "Sometimes I hate him a whole lot, to be truthful."
"Hate him?" Saku frowned, and Hirata nodded.
"Because he's close to Ukitake-kun." He admitted, a sheepish look in his blue eyes. "And I know it's childish and jealous, but Ukitake-kun is the first friend I've ever really had. At home I've always had to be the older brother, and I'm not good at that. I'm a coward, honestly. I'm spiritually strong but physically and mentally weak, and I don't know what use I can be to my family. But since I've been here, I've had Ukitake-kun to rely on. And so I suppose...it's easy for me to get jealous when other people want to spend time with him. And they do, because he's the kind of person who attracts friends without even trying. But it's Kyouraku-kun most of all that bothers me, sometimes. He seems to assume that Ukitake-kun is his, when he was Houjou-kun and my friend first of all."
Saku sent him a confused look, and Hirata laughed wryly.
"I'm still a child, aren't I?" He said self-effacingly. "But even though I feel that way, I don't always hate Kyouraku-kun. Even though I envy him, sometimes - he's never been unkind to me. And he's never tried to leave me out, either. So I suppose we are friends. Though it's a strange kind of friendship."
Saku was silent for a moment, then she shrugged.
"Shunsui's a strange kind of boy." She murmured. "I wish I could say I hated him, sometimes, but I've never been able to, yet. No matter how coldly I can look at him, or how much I push him away...I haven't yet mastered the feeling to go with it. For his sake and mine, I need to. But perhaps I'm still a child, too. Or at least, I'd like to be. I'd like to turn back time, and change things somehow. Even if there wasn't any way to make it better then, either."
At that moment they reached the school building, and Hirata gazed up at the brickwork, pursing his lips.
"I'll take you right to the door." He decided. "Etsuo-san, please, listen to me. I apologise now, because I...I may address you informally once we're inside. It would be strange, after all, to say you're my family's servant and then call you with honorifics."
"It's all right." Saku grinned, despite herself. "I'm already speaking to you quite familiarly, Hirata-sama. Even though I know who you are..."
"I'm just Hirata." Hirata said softly. "Ukitake-kun was the first one to really point that out to me - that I'm not my Clan, but a person called Hirata. So I don't mind. And so long as you don't either...let's go inside. If this is, after all, the only way in which I can be useful, I'll do it."
He took her by the arm, a flush rising in his cheeks at the forwardness of his gesture.
"Forgive me." He murmured again. "But I think...this way is better."
With that he gave her a gentle pull towards the steps, leading the way up to the main archway and pushing the wood-panel door back, leading the way inside.
"Hey, kid, wait a minute." As soon as they stepped into the hall, a shadow bore down on them, and Saku's heart leapt in her chest as she registered the tall senior, a frown on his fine features. "Where are you heading? And with a town girl? Don't you know that all first years are supposed to have returned to their Dorms by order of the Headmaster?"
Hirata quailed for a moment, then he met Saku's gaze and steadied himself, resolution burning in his own eyes.
"Saku is a servant of my Clan, Gujihara-senpai." He said frankly, raising his gaze to the giant who loomed over them. "She's come with an urgent message for Genryuusai-sensei by way of my Lord Father. He wants a reply as soon as humanly possible, and so asked me to escort her here. I didn't know that the curfew had become so stiff - when I left campus earlier, I was able to do so without restraint."
He fumbled at his belt, holding out the wooden token that he had collected earlier that day.
"Sensei gave me leave to go." He added. "May I take Saku to his office? It's a very important message, after all."
Gujihara's eyes narrowed and he bent down, taking the token and turning it over. Then he peered at the boy thoughtfully.
"Endou-ke?" He asked quietly, and Hirata nodded.
"Yes." He said, surprising Saku by the strength in his voice. "That's right. My father is Endou Misashi-sama - and his message is of the utmost importance."
Gujihara sighed, rubbing his temples. Then he shrugged.
"I suppose if it's the Endou, there's no helping it." He said gruffly. "Fine. But be quick about it. And when you've done, go to your dorm. Yunosuke and some of the other seniors will be checking all students are where they should be - so don't hang around where you're not welcome. Or don't you know that there's been an incident already today?"
"Yes, senpai. I know." Hirata's expression became troubled. "I'll do as you say."
He glanced at Saku.
"Well? Come on. We don't have time to hang around." He said sharply, and Saku stared for a moment, then nodded, hurriedly bowing her head at his brusque order.
"Yes, sir. I'm coming." She murmured, bowing her head in Gujihara's direction as they passed, and then hurrying after her companion down the narrow corridor.
Once out of earshot, Hirata sighed.
"I thought someone would be on patrol." He murmured. "But Gujihara-senpai is half giant, I swear."
"But you dealt with him." Saku sent him a smile. "And I'm glad you warned me beforehand how you were going to handle it. Otherwise, when you barked that order at me, I wouldn't have known what I was doing."
"Well, Sensei's office is just along here." Hirata told her, as they rounded the corner and entered the passageway which led to Genryuusai's study door. "I don't know what he'll say, but even though I lied to Gujihara-senpai, it'll be different this time."
He paused, then reached up a tentative hand to knock on the door, and Saku glanced at him, taking in the tension in his slim frame.
He's afraid. Very afraid. For his family. For his Sensei. For his friends. But even so, he's still taking this risk for Midori-sama's sake. I'll remember to tell her, when I go back. That there is honour among the Endou, after all. And that she should put her faith in him, even though he's still just a child. After all, we were all children once. And I don't remember exactly how old Hirata-sama is - but I'm sure he's younger even than Shunsui. He can't be more than sixteen at the very most - maybe not even that.
"Enter!"
A gruff voice called them in at that moment, and Hirata swallowed hard, then slid back the door, stepping into the office and bowing his head towards the man inside.
"Endou Hirata!" Genryuusai was on his feet in a moment, a frown touching his wizened features as he crossed the room towards them. "Where have you been? I've had people looking for you all over campus since this morning!"
His gaze flitted to the young woman, and Saku faltered at the sudden attention, aware that although this man was old and not imposing in height like Gujihara, he was a hundred times more intimidating.
"Explain yourself, boy." Genryuusai's tones were low. "Where have you been and why is this girl here with you?"
"Yes, Sensei." Hirata's legs were shaking, but he nodded his head, moving to close the door behind them. "The truth is that after I returned to campus this morning, I...I went out again. To speak to someone."
"You went out again?" Genryuusai stared at him. "Alone?"
Hirata hesitated, and Genryuusai sighed.
"All right." He said heavily. "We'll come to that later. When you said you went to meet someone...this girl? Your classmates seemed to think the shock of this morning's events had left you unwell...yet even though you had just discovered the mutilated remains of your teacher, you still....?"
"I went to find Shihouin Midori, Sensei." Hirata's voice trembled slightly, but somehow he kept his composure, raising his pale eyes to his companion's. "And that's why Etsuo-san is with me. She's Midori-dono's messenger. She's come to speak to you on Midori-dono's behalf."
"On Midori-dono's..." Genryuusai's eyes became near slits. "Are you telling me that you had some connection with this crime, Endou?"
"No, sir." Hirata shook his head hastily, his glasses sliding down his nose at the sudden movement. "I went to speak to Aitori-sensei this morning about a...a class matter, and by coincidence found him dead in his home. I thought I saw Midori-sama leaving the property, and I...I went back to look for her. That's all."
"And by coincidence, you happened to find her and her servant loitering nearby?" Genryuusai sounded incredulous, and Hirata reddened, straightening his spectacles with trembling, agitated fingers.
"I...that is..." He faltered, and Saku decided she would have to take a hand. She bowed her head, dropping down on the floor before the Headmaster as she did so.
"Please forgive Hirata-sama's presumptiousness, Yamamoto-sama." She said softly. "It was the whim of my mistress to involve him, on account of the fact there had recently been a young woman murdered in the local town hereabouts. She wanted my message to reach you safely, and I am as yet a weak associate in her company with few skills with which to act in my own defence. She felt that, if Hirata-sama was with me, I would be afforded some security. After all, since her honoured Clan are allied to Hirata-sama's, she felt she could call on him a debt of loyalty and trust him to carry out her wishes correctly."
Genryuusai shot Hirata an incredulous look, then,
"So you were acting as the girl's protector? You?"
"Y...yes, sir."
"Alone?"
"...I..."
Genryuusai rubbed his temples.
"Then I'll hazard a guess, if you won't speak up for yourself." He said softly. "You might not realise it, Hirata, but we teachers do learn things about our students and their alliances through the work we do with them in and out of class. And I'm well aware of who it would be that you'd ask to accompany you if you felt things were dangerous. Ukitake Juushirou was with you, was he not?"
Hirata reddened furiously, and Genryuusai nodded.
"I thought so."
"We both had passes to leave the grounds, Sensei." Hirata put in hurriedly. "Before you gave the order for students to return to their dorms. And we...we didn't go to Aitori-sensei's house. We weren't trying to interfere in the crime scene. It's just...Shihouin-kun's been so worried about his sister, and I wanted...we wanted...to make sure she was safe."
"You wanted to ascertain that a girl who had committed a murder was safe?" Genryuusai asked frankly, and Hirata bit his lip.
"I...I'm an Endou, Sensei." He said at length, consternation in his pale blue eyes. "As Etsuo-san says, the Endou and the Shihouin are allies. Therefore if the Shihouin-ke are in trouble, it...it's my duty to do something. I'm sorry if I broke rules, but it's my fault, not Ukitake-kun's, that we were there. Because I'm an Endou, I had to go. That's all."
"Although Midori-dono ran away from your family's home?"
Genryuusai's gaze fell on Saku once more.
"Your full name, child?"
"Etsuo Saku, sir." Saku said quietly.
"You don't look nor sound like someone from Second District."
"I confess I'm not, Yamamoto-sama." Saku lowered her head once more. "I was born in Eighth District, but left there after my Father died. I was in service with the Endou-ke for a while, but I became Midori-sama's attendant and servant whilst there. I am in her trust, and because of that fact she chose to bring me with her to District One. And now I have come to convey a message to you, sir, from her direct. Because she thought if she came herself, it might suggest she wanted to cause more violence."
"Then let me hear this message, Etsuo Saku." Genryuusai said softly, and Saku nodded.
"Midori-sama wishes me to advise you that she was responsible for the death of Aitori Hideaki this morning." She said softly. "And also of the death of Fujima Yatsuhiko on the road into the local area. Both were working against the will and benefit of the Shihouin Clan to which their loyalties were tied. Therefore the act of removing them was her duty, as the Shadow Cat of the Shihouin."
"I see." Genryuusai stroked his beard. "Even though this is District One, and essentially Aitori had the protection of the school to fall back on? Such an act is not welcome in this area, you know."
"My mistress knows this well, sir." Saku raised her head a second time, a beseeching look in her dark eyes. "She has come this distance not to anger you but to speak with you on a matter of great importance. I can say no more of her wishes - she must do so herself. But I have come to ask you to grant her safe passage to come here, without fear of arrest and persecution. She will come unarmed, and has no ill intentions towards yourself. On the contrary, Yamamoto-sama - she seeks to be your ally."
"And why should I consider her request at all, when she's killed one of my teachers?" Genryuusai asked quietly.
Saku's eyes darkened.
"Because it has come to my mistress' attention that Aitori Hideaki was involved in a plot against your life, Yamamoto-sama." She said evenly. "And she feared the repercussions for her own clan and yours if such a plot was to continue. Therefore she acted decisively to remove the immediate danger. But more she cannot do...not unless you are willing to entertain her request and speak to her face to face."
Genryuusai was silent for a moment, digesting this, and then he turned to Hirata.
"And you know about this too, do you?" He asked. Slowly Hirata nodded.
"And Ukitake?"
"Yes, sir."
"And so you thought it best to bring this girl to me right away?"
"Yes, sir." Hirata flushed again, then, "I don't want anyone to try and hurt you, Sensei. And nor does Ukitake. That...that's why we went looking for Midori-sama. Because...because we...wanted to know...why she'd come here. And if she wanted to hurt more people."
Genryuusai sighed.
"It would be nice if sometimes my students would remember that they are students and that there are a lot of things in this world besides Hollows that can cause them danger." He said heavily. "Very well. I understand the message. Hirata, you may rejoin your classmates in your dorm. I may wish to speak to you and Ukitake both again, in the near future - but for now I want you to return to where you belong and stay there until you hear otherwise. Do you understand? I will deal with Etsuo Saku from hereon in."
"Y...yes sir." Hirata bobbed his head hurriedly, then backed out of the office, shutting the door behind him as he disappeared to follow the instructions.
For a moment there was silence, then Genryuusai sighed.
"I hate to think why it is students in my first year class have involved themselves in this, or why or how they've become suspicious of their Hohou sensei, weeks before he's slain by his Clan." He said slowly. "I had already perceived from speaking to Kai that your mistress had acted in her family's name, although he had no idea of her exact motives. Yet it doesn't seem as though Midori-dono seeks to conceal those for much longer...does it?"
Saku did not respond, merely watching him warily, and Genryuusai nodded.
"A lot seems to be afoot at present." He continued. "And it seems to centre around District Two and their family in several ways. That being the case, I will not refuse your mistress's request. She may come here, unarmed, and I will speak to her. But you can tell her that I will not tolerate any underhand behaviour from her. She should be wise enough to know that even with her zanpakutou unsheathed, she is no match for Ryuujinjakka, and I will go to what lengths I need to protect my students and myself from harm. Take that message to her, girl. I will speak to her tomorrow, at sundown. If she is not here then, to explain precisely what she wants, then she may consider any and all negotiation or clemency from District One to be at an end."
"Yes, sir." Saku bowed her head again. "Thank you, sir. I will go directly and tell her of your kind words."
"Do so." Genryuusai's eyes narrowed. "And on the understanding no more like bodies will be found in the meantime, I will hear what she has to say."