Chapter Seven: Yuuai
There was a freshness on the breeze that morning.
Keitarou slipped his hands absently into the loose pockets of his heavy grey cloak, sauntering idly down the uneven, craggy pathway. At the end of it, he knew, was a small village – neglected and impoverished both by its position and by the cruel landscape that yielded few crops no matter how resolutely its people ploughed and harvested. It was a small settlement of no more than a hundred people at the very most – and many, he knew, would walk right by it without seeing it, so shielded was it from view by the rough stone faces of District Seven's few minor peaks.
But Keitarou was not most people, and he very rarely let an opportunity pass him by.
He had first come across the village four years ago, he remembered, when looking for a safe place in which to hide both supplies and individuals during his work for Shouichi. Then he had not known Seimaru by more than just name, nor allied with him in quite the same all-encompassing way. Seimaru's father had been, Keitarou recalled, foolish and cautious both at once – reckless one minute and unyielding the next, and the scientist had felt it wise to have a bolt-hole well away from the manor house just in case the man's mercurial moods had turned against the Urahara.
His lips twitched into a faint, humourless smile at this.
In the end it had not been Seimaru's father who had provided the obstacle, but the man who had once welcomed them with open arms. Now the enemy was his former saviour – Endou Shouichi, head of District Seven.
Well, Clan is fickle. I know that well enough not to be surprised by it. In the meantime, it just means that a little more caution has to come into play.
He reached up a finger to touch his wavy hair.
At least at first glance I'm not so easily identifiable as an Urahara, thanks to my mother's distant Kyouraku genes. Brown hair is far easier to hide in this place than blond – even pale brown, so I should be grateful for that. And the people here are loyal. They've benefited from their connections to the Urahara – they won't betray anyone because they know it will be betraying themselves.
"Keitarou-niisama!"
As he stepped over the last of the ruggedy track and into the village proper, an excited shriek made him pause, and he turned as a small, rag-clad blur flung itself on him, grasping at his sleeves with chubby, insistent fingers. At the greeting, Keitarou let out a low chuckle, gently disentangling the small child's grasp and holding her at arm's length.
"Have you missed my company that badly, Shikiki?" He asked lightly. "Or is it simply because your people are just hungry and hoping for help that you throw yourself on me like this?"
"You're mean." The child scrunched up her features, poking her tongue out at him. "You never come visit us now. It's been ages since you last came here."
"Ah, I suppose it has." Keitarou eyed her keenly, taking in the youngster's appearance with a critical, careful eye.
To call her pretty would be a mistake, although there was something strong and resolute burning in the blue-green eyes as she glared indignantly up at him. She was not tall, but nor was she tiny, for despite the village's overt poverty, she had a thick, stocky young frame. At first glance, Keitarou reflected, it would be easy to think her well-fed – but he knew that despite her solid appearance, her nails were thin and patched with the signs of neglect and malnutrition.
She was robed in the roughest of peasant dress, ripped and worn from constantly being washed in the quick-running and rock-filled stream that trickled at the back of the settlement during most of the year. Yet, as he idly rested his hand on her head, Keitarou realised that of all of his acquaintances, this child was one of the few who had never been afraid of him.
Childish innocence goes quite far, it seems, when you offer a simple helping hand.
"I've had some trouble come my way, I suppose you'd say." He told her now, patting her head absently. "And that's why I haven't been able to come here as often as I did before. But I came here to speak to my kinsfolk – I'm afraid I don't have time to play games with you today."
"You don't?" Shikiki looked disappointed, a melancholy expression touching her chubby face as she gazed at him. "But I've been working super extra hard since the last time you came. You promised me, Keitarou-nii…that if I did, next time, you would take me with you when you went away. Are you going to break your promise…?"
Keitarou sighed, shaking his head as he remembered the conversation to which the child had alluded.
So I did promise, but now things have changed. Much as I want to take you from here and use you to the best of your abilities – right now I have enough to do to guard my own interests.
"For now, I want you to stay here." He said firmly. "I'm glad you've been working hard, but right now this is the safest place for you to be."
At the child's crestfallen expression, he crouched at her level, meeting her gaze with his sombre one.
"You know that your talent makes you special." He said softly. "And I've told you before that of everyone in this village, you are the one who I want most by my side. I will not break my promise, and I will not abandon you. Haven't I made sure, for the past four years, that this village remains unmolested despite the high amount of spiritual power that flickers amongst its people? You should trust me, Shikiki. I'm the only one in whom you can, after all – there is nobody else in District Seven who would protect people like you in the current climate."
"I know that." Shikiki's voice became small and faintly plaintive. "But I miss you, Kei-nii. I want to be with you and help you and do all the amazing things you said I could do, if I came and worked with you. Everyone else has a family, but I don't have one. I only have Kei-nii and Dai-nii…and I don't like it when you go away."
"I don't like it either, believe me." Keitarou's expression became rueful. "My life has been a lot too complicated in recent months and it becomes draining after a while, having to think ahead of so many potential pitfalls. But at the moment, people from my family are in danger here, too. If you were to come with me, you might get hurt – and I promised, didn't I? I wouldn't let anyone hurt you."
"Yes, but…"
"You trust me, don't you, Shikiki?" Keitarou asked softly, and Shikiki sighed, clasping her fingers together tightly as she nodded her head. As her grip tightened, Keitarou felt a flicker of spiritual magic dance against her skin even at this faint, insignificant movement and inwardly his heart leapt, as he realised the child had been telling him the truth.
So she has been working at it. I see. Perhaps the timing is bad – perhaps it could not be better. Whichever is the case, I don't know how much longer I can leave her here. Hidden she may be now, but as her strength grows…I will not allow this one to become one of Shouichi's martyrs. She's mine and has been from the moment I saw her. I will have to take steps to ensure that nobody else can intervene before I've brought her to her full potential.
"Keitarou."
A man stepped out from one of the ramshackle houses at that point, bowing his head towards the scientist with a faint, rueful smile on his worn features. He wore a heavy hood and cloak, but straggling threads of straw-blond hair gave away his true bloodline as a member of the exiled Urahara, and at the sight of him, Keitarou's lips twitched into a proper smile.
Of all the Urahara in hiding in District Seven, this was the one he trusted most of all. As cousins, both had lost their fathers in the bloodbath in District Three – and as cousins, they had bonded and worked together ever since. Keitarou knew that most of the puppet strings were in his hands, but even so, behind the scenes he had always had Daisuke. And although his spiritual talents were not in Keitarou's league, his sharp brain and absolute loyalty made him an ally that was, in all senses, indispensable.
"Well, so you are still here, after all, Daisuke." Keitarou remarked now. "You haven't fled this place, then? Even though Shouichi-sama has decided we're no longer worth his time or protection?"
"I waited for your message, as I said I would." The man shook his head. "But the others are all gone. I saw to it myself, just as you told me. My wife and sons have fled for the border of District Eight two days ago and I pray that they managed to reach it without interception. There is only me here, now…and, of course, the few remaining village people who are willing to risk their safety to shield me."
"This village is loyal, even where Lords are not." Keitarou said simply, glancing down at the eager Shikiki as he did so. "Very well. Then you have information for me? To stay here even in light of such danger, you must have something to tell me."
"Mm. Something, I suppose." The man nodded, slipping his hand into his obi and pulling out a folded piece of parchment. "Here."
Keitarou took the sheet, unfolding it and gazing at the contents. At length he smiled, nodding his head approvingly.
"You've done well. And this is a full list? All of the people hereabouts with high spirit power that Shouichi-sama has failed to locate?"
"Yes. As promised, I've done my job properly." The other man inclined his head slightly. "After all, that's why you sent me here…to find people to continue your work – didn't you?"
"I did." Keitarou agreed, nodding his head. "And it's surprising what poor families will accept in the way of trade for their relatives when money is tight and food is scarce."
"Very true." Daisuke's expression became serious. "In this climate, too, most families would sooner sell a powerful relative to your science and make some financial gain from it than risk them being found and slaughtered indiscriminately – and them too by association. Many have fled over the border to the Kyouraku and so subjects for your experiments are not as easy to come by as they were before. But even so, Keitarou – there are still families willing to sell their blood to feed themselves over the harsher months."
"Well, that is the nature of men, Daisuke." Keitarou said frankly, a faint flicker of coldness in his pale brown eyes. "They sell each other to improve their own lot. Do we not do the same? Where the Endou-ke is concerned – haven't we always acted that way?"
"And now they act against us." Daisuke said darkly. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But you shouldn't ever doubt my loyalty that way, Keitarou. I may betray everyone and anyone else I come into contact with – but I don't betray the kin who were betrayed alongside me, all those years ago."
"I know that. Better than anyone else, I know that." Keitarou nodded his head, indicating Shikiki. "That's why I entrusted this one to you to keep an eye on. I don't want anyone else taking her anywhere – her gift is a special one, and I intend to teach her fully how to use it."
"Is my magic special, Keitarou-nii?" Shikiki asked him, her eyes wide with curiosity, and Keitarou smiled.
"Very special. And unique. Like nothing I have ever found before." He agreed, ruffling her tousled wavy hair with his fingers as he did so. "Do as I say, Shikiki, and I will make sure you grow into someone who will never be hurt or downtrodden in any way again. The power that you have is a very important one…and I want to make sure you learn completely how to use it."
"Then can I come with you, Keitarou-nii?" Shikiki looked hopeful, and Keitarou nodded.
"For now, I have work I need to do." He agreed. "Daisuke's list is just as urgent and I have to act quickly if I'm to find the right people to help me in my current study. But I haven't forgotten my promise to you, Shikiki. Trust in my word. I will not break it."
Daisuke eyed his cousin for a moment, then,
"I will stay here." He said quietly. "In case you have further need for me."
"No…you should leave District Seven now." Keitarou shook his head. "Your usefulness ends with this list, Daisuke – you're now a target and I don't want to see you killed. Follow Irie and the children - and go."
"Careful, now. You almost sounded sentimental, then." Daisuke sounded amused. "But it's all right. Don't worry about me. I'll stain my hair black and cut it short – and I'll keep out of the limelight. Irie knows, after all. She realises that there's danger in me staying - if something happens, she'll understand and do the best where the boys are concerned. I can't let go of this any more than you can - more than anyone else, Irie knows that. You shouldn't be left to tackle the Endou-ke alone – not now Shouichi-dono has his armies out hunting the Urahara down. If he finds you…captures you…then it's over. We all know that. If you're caught…then we're all done for. ."
"I don't think there's a chance of me being caught that easily." A calculating look crossed Keitarou's face, and he shook his head. "For a start, Endou Shouichi may have betrayed us, but Endou Seimaru's greed is malleable and I can continue to work with it. That being the case, I have an alliance I intend to exploit so far as I can to finish Father's work and perfect the Reidoku into what it was originally meant to be. Whilst that potential exists – I don't think Seimaru will let me die."
He shrugged.
"And besides, I wouldn't let that old fool kill me, either." He said dismissively. "He is not my equal, Daisuke. Remember that now."
"I'll remember it, but I'd find it easier to believe if you knew how to fight with a sword." Daisuke looked doubtful. "I trust your sense and your skill, Kei – but even so…"
"You can trust me, then, to survive." Keitarou cut across him.
"Does someone want to kill you, Keitarou-nii?" Shikiki asked anxiously, and Keitarou nodded.
"Yes, but you shouldn't worry about it. Since I was four years old, that's been the case. I've lived this long in this world – I'm not going to leave it just at the moment."
"You can believe him, Shikiki." Daisuke assured her. "Keitarou has the luck of the devil – or maybe he is half one. Sometimes I wonder. Either way…"
"Either way, for the time being I have confidence in my ability to keep going." Keitarou said simply. "But I won't meet with you again, Daisuke. I'll contact you by Hell Butterfly if I need to pass on any instruction – your being in my company for the time being could put both of us in difficult situations."
"All right." Daisuke nodded. "And the girl?"
"Keep Shikiki with you." Keitarou decided. "I'll send for her when I'm ready."
"Keitarou-nii…" Shikiki looked crestfallen, and Keitarou shook his head.
"Do as I tell you and everything will be fine." He said quietly. "I will keep my word. Believe in me."
Shikiki nodded defeatedly.
"I understand." She said softly. "I'll do as you and Daisuke say and I'll keep practicing my spell."
"Yes. You do that. It's the best thing you can do." Keitarou agreed. "Until the next time we see each other. Now run along, all right? I wish to speak to my kinsman alone for a moment, since I won't see him again for some time."
"All right." Shikiki sighed heavily, but obediently trotted off back up towards the centre of the village, and Daisuke frowned, taking his companion by the arm and leading him across to a more sheltered part of the track.
"Are you serious about training that child? She has talent, true enough, but if you were to be detected…"
"Shikiki has a unique power and as an Urahara it makes me curious." Keitarou smiled. "I think she will be useful to me, so I intend on making myself useful to her, too."
"I know that, but even so…in this climate…"
"Seimaru-sama has expressed the wish to remove his Grandfather from the family equation." Keitarou said softly. "Right now, I am working hard towards helping him achieve that end. I am also continuing my studies in Reidoku – and I will complete them with his support and his help. You realise, don't you, what potential that would create? To finally have a solution to boost weak reiryoku – to bring out true potential and even up the disparities between individuals? Where would that put us, then, to hold that power in our hands? I will use it and I will make Seimaru head of the Endou-ke. I will use him as my chief test subject, and I will strengthen his position to a place where nobody can break it down. It may take time, but time is something that I have plenty of. When I do so, everyone will see what Father was trying to do, all those years ago. And those who betrayed our people will be forced to swallow the bitter pill – that now that power they could have embraced will be used to overthrow and destroy them…their naivety and betrayal will trample them all in the dust."
"As usual, your fanaticism breeds dangerous ambition." Daisuke sighed. "Are you sure that's wise? To take on the Endou-ke…?"
"I am not taking on anyone. Shouichi-sama is an old man, and can be removed." Keitarou said simply. "Seimaru is eager and open to my ideas. I am sure, with a few more tests, I will stabilise Reidoku to a point where it can be administered more or less safely – at least, in regulated doses."
"Regulated…" Daisuke's brows knitted together. "In order to keep him dependent on your help in the future?"
"This is the start of it. Only the start." Keitarou shrugged. "Killing one old Clansman and experimenting on a young and foolish one are only first steps, really."
"You intend to take on the Urahara-ke – don't you?" Daisuke's eyes widened, and Keitarou smiled humourlessly.
"With Seimaru's help, I believe I can take on all of Seireitei." He said blithely. "And lay waste to the hierarchy and infrastructure that destroyed our lives and our families. It isn't just the Urahara-ke who are guilty of spilling innocent blood – all the Clans had a hand in it."
"And the girl?" Daisuke's brows knitted together. "Shikiki – she'll be a part of this?"
"Shikiki's power is an invaluable one to a scientist when working on limited materials." Keitarou said matter-of-factly. "And young and naïve as she is, I have won her loyalty and therefore her acceptance. Her spells are immature yet, but they are strengthening each time I come here. I picked out potential in her when she was just four years old, after all. In the four years since, she has come on in leaps and bounds even without my intensive training program to fall back on. Don't underestimate the power of that little one, Daisuke. Shouichi and Seimaru have no use for her. Better she belongs to us."
"When you put it that way, perhaps you're right." Daisuke sighed. "All right. I'll do as you say and take her with me. And I'll do my best not to get caught. So you do the same, all right? I expect to speak to you again, after all."
"You have my guarantee." Keitarou agreed solemnly. "But for now, I must go. I have to track down these individuals you've identified and negotiate with their loved ones a price for their souls. My experiments need them, after all – I have to find them before Shouichi eliminates them completely."
"District children with high spiritual power, huh." Daisuke rubbed his chin. "They're certainly becoming scarce in District Seven."
"Yes, in District Seven." Keitarou nodded. "But there are Eight Districts, Daisuke. Don't worry. I have it all in hand."
He slid the list of names into his obi, then,
"Right now I can be indiscriminate with who I take, but as I perfect my solution, I will need more and more specific types of individual on whom to experiment." He added. "So keep your eyes and ears open for me. If you hear about anything – I want to know."
"Understood." Daisuke bowed his head. "As ever, Keitarou – you can rely on me."
With that he withdrew back towards the village, and Keitarou's lips thinned as he watched his cousin go.
Yes, I know. Of all people, probably you are the only one in whom I have complete trust. Stay safe, Daisuke. Do your duty and meet with me again. Of all the unforgivable crimes committed against my people of late – I would find it hardest of all to overlook the taking of your life, after all.
He turned on his heel, making his way slowly back up the way he had come.
For now, though, I have work to do. Time is ticking…Seimaru is impatient. And for the time being, I need to pander to that impatience. I need him to see me taking action – so the sooner I snare some of these gifted people, the better!
Juushirou pushed back the flaps of the tent, gazing out at the dew-drenched landscape that stretched out before him in the early morning gloom. On the horizon, the first vague rays of morning sunlight were beginning to creep across the ground, little by little bringing light into the campsite, and a faint smile touched Juushirou's lips as he realised that their first full day of camp was about to begin.
In a short while, he knew, he would have to raise his companions and see that each of them was ready and dressed before breakfast was served. His duty as Captain would begin the moment the sun was fully in the sky – but for that moment he was simply revelling in the fresh air and clear atmosphere that the District One terrain had to offer.
It was fortunate, he mused absently, that he had sent Kira to arrange bathing schedules the night before. As he had suspected from their trip across the districts together at the start of term, the skittish neighbour whose spiritual power paled in comparison to his Clan peers had a genuine gift for absorbing and relaying important information. He had returned to the tent excited and flustered with the news that there would be an impromptu inspection of the squad first thing that morning – and as a result, Juushirou had primed his companions as well as possible, knowing that this was likely to be just the first test of many.
Sensei left the clue there for us to find, I'm sure. Kira's done his job in finding and relaying that information back to us. As Captain, I'm not going to let the side down.
Stifling a yawn, he stretched his hands over his head, turning his attention back towards the sleeping inhabitants of Toutai's tent. In the end, he reasoned, there had proven to be plenty of room for all of them, and as a result the two girls had managed to claim a corner for themselves without any risk of awkwardness. Juushirou had been relieved by the way all of his companions had agreed to the sleeping arrangements without incident, and he sighed now, folding his arms across his chest as he wondered whether this was luck or good judgement on his own part.
"You appear to have risen early this morning, Taichou."
A voice made him start, and he turned, seeing Ryuu sitting up, unusually tousled black hair straggling over his shoulders as he rubbed his eyes free of the night's lingering sleep. "You should have woken me sooner – surely it must be time to raise everyone else."
"I was about to start thinking about that." Juushirou nodded his head. "Just, the morning is clear and fresh, and I liked the feel of being out here in the open air. I've never done it, you know – slept out in a tent before like this. So it's a sort of a novelty for me."
"I have never done so, either." Ryuu's expression became one of censure. "It is not, after all, the normal province of Clan to spend time in such basic accommodation."
"Does it bother you?" Juushirou looked surprised, and Ryuu sighed, shaking his head.
"I am training to become a Gotei warrior, and therefore must endure hardship to attain that goal." He said quietly. "I am not used to such an environment, but I am capable of bearing it for the greater good of my training. My Uncle would be most cross, after all, if he thought I had become a coward and run away from my duties simply because I was unused to them."
"I suppose that was a silly question, then, wasn't it?" Juushirou looked rueful. "I'm sorry, Ryuu-kun. I didn't mean to offend you."
"Your ignorance does not offend me." Ryuu got to his feet, reaching for the Vice Captain's armband as he did so. "You are, after all, different from us and there are things even now I do not expect you to fully understand."
He smiled, despite the dismissive harshness of his words, and Juushirou returned the smile with a grin.
From anyone else, he reflected, such words might be considered offensive or patronising. But Ryuu was Ryuu, and Juushirou knew only too well by now that however badly his Kuchiki-ke classmate may phrase things, there was very seldom any true malice meant in his words. On the contrary, Juushirou knew that Ryuu was fiercely loyal behind his often stiff and awkward front, and once more he counted his lucky stars that the young Kuchiki had been chosen as his second-in-command.
"You're right. There are still a lot of things I'm not used to." He agreed frankly now. "But I intend to do my best, Ryuu-kun. I don't want to let anyone down."
"Well, naturally." Ryuu shrugged his shoulders, as though his companion had said something obvious. "You have Kuchiki blood, therefore you have pride in your work. It is quite natural you should feel that way. Like me, you put your duty first."
"I suppose that's true." Juushirou agreed. "And speaking of which, we need to be getting people up. If Kira is right about there being an inspection first thing…"
"Yes. We cannot risk assuming he heard mistakenly." Ryuu's expression became serious, and he pulled on his armband. "It would not do to take a black mark so early in our assignment."
"Exactly." Juushirou nodded. "Ryuu-kun, will you wake Edogawa-san and Saitani-san for me? I'll raise everyone else."
"I…should raise the girls?" Ryuu looked startled despite himself, and Juushirou nodded his head.
"If you don't mind." He agreed. "Edogawa-san is your cousin, after all – and Saitani-san is a Clan hime, even if she seems quite down to earth. I don't know yet whether or not these things will matter - so it seems more appropriate that you do it than me."
"I see." Ryuu's brows knitted together as he considered this, then he nodded. "Yes, I see your point. Very well. I suppose your words make sense. I will do as you suggest."
He paused, then,
"Although even born of the Districts, you have honour." He added. "I am sure both Mitsuki and Saitani know that you are not the kind of Captain that would cause them unnecessary awkwardness."
At the boy's expression, Juushirou laughed.
"Unlike Shunsui?" He teased, and Ryuu shrugged his shoulders.
"I am much happier being your Vice Captain than I would be being his." He said evenly. "Kyouraku is undeniably a talented student and he scores highly on assessments and exams. But he is lazy, indolent and frequently lacking in basic manners and respect towards those around him. I have learnt to overlook such things since first we met – but I would be very frustrated if I had to respond to his orders as opposed to working with yours."
"Even though he's Clan and I'm District?"
"Ukitake, if I did not know your bloodlines, I would consider you the other way about." Ryuu said frankly. "You behave far more like a man of Clan honour than Kyouraku ever has – or probably ever will. Much as I consider him my ally – I feel some amount of sympathy for Tokutarou-sama that that is the best he can find in terms of an heir."
"Shunsui's just Shunsui. He's unique. There's no other way of putting it." Juushirou picked up the black haori, shaking it out to get rid of stray leaf litter before slipping it over his loose night robes. "And now, I'm on duty and so should you be. I'm leaving the girls to you, Ryuu-kun. Let's make sure we're dressed and ready to go just in case someone comes to peer at us before they let us eat."
Within a half an hour, thanks to Ryuu's chivvying and Juushirou's gentle reminders about a potential inspection, the eight members of Toutai were all dressed and ready for the day ahead. Not that it had been an easy or an immediate thing to haul six fellow students from their beds so early in the morning. Aki was still stifling yawns behind his hand even now, and a hurried hunt around the tent for Hirata's glasses had resulted in the young boy's hakama becoming coated with specks of dry earth dust. Kamitani had promptly volunteered to help him get the marks off, and had proceeded to dust his legs down with much enthusiasm and mixed success – and as a result it was a slightly battered, dazed and still faintly dusty Hirata that scrambled into the line for breakfast.
Still, they had succeeded in getting ready before the gong had sounded to summon them to the mess hall. Inwardly Juushirou was proud of this fact, very conscious of the black haori flittering across his shoulders as he pushed back the tent flap, gesturing for his companions to follow him out into the morning sunshine.
"Good morning, Ukitake-taichou."
Kazoe's voice caused him to stop dead, hurriedly turning and offering a hasty salute as he felt the remainder of his companions scramble and scurry to stand in a straighter line.
"Kazoe-sensei!"
At their reaction, Kazoe smiled faintly, his eyes glittering behind his glasses.
"I believe for the duration of this exercise, whether it be Genryuusai-sensei or I, you are to consider us 'Sou-taichou'." He said lightly, and Juushirou bit his lip, realising that the older man was right. "Attempt to remember that fact – we are on a Gotei exercise, not a classroom one after all."
"Yes, Sou-taichou. I'm sorry." Juushirou murmured, and Kazoe nodded.
"Toutai are up and ready early, I see." He said frankly, his gaze flitting from individual to individual as he passed down the line. "All properly dressed and presentable, ready for this morning's activities. Very convenient of you. Almost as if you expected an inspection first thing this morning."
He paused, eying Hirata for a moment, then,
"Endou, you have dust on your hakama." He observed, reaching his thin cane across to tap it against the young boy's right leg. "For this morning I'll let it go, but I expect you to present more cleanly the next time I come to inspect you. Remember, you are Toutai's Third Seat. Therefore you have five subordinate officers for whom you should be setting a positive example. Understood?"
"Y…yes, Kazoe-Soutaichou."
Hirata reddened, exchanging looks with Kamitani, who offered him a resigned, faintly sheepish grin.
"Ukitake, you may take your squad to the mess hall and arrange for breakfast to be served to them." Kazoe turned his attention back to the apprehensive Captain. "Food is basic rations, but we do not expect it to be wasted. Once all your squad has finished eating, you may send a messenger to me and I will give them instructions for the remainder of the day. It is also your responsibility to see that your tent is secure and your belongings safely stowed before you embark on any duty I might give you. Understand?"
"Yes, sir." Juushirou swallowed hard, managing another salute, and Kazoe smiled faintly.
"Toutai are therefore dismissed." He said softly. "For this morning, you have passed my inspection."
"Yes sir. Thank you." Juushirou bowed his head, and as his companions followed suit, Kazoe's smile widened. He gestured towards the mess tent, before heading off towards Katai's sleeping quarters with a resolute spring to his stride.
"I wonder if Kyouraku will get a scolding for not being up and about early." Kamitani murmured once the teacher was out of earshot, and Juushirou shrugged.
"Shunsui is the worst person I know at early starts." He reflected. "Kai-kun has his work cut out for him, that's for sure."
"Kyouraku-taichou. Shihouin-fukutaichou." Ryuu hissed, sending Juushirou a glare. "We are on duty, and outside the tent. Nobody may hear us, but even so…"
"You're right." Juushirou sent his companion an apologetic look. "It's easy to build bad habits and we're meant to be taking this authority thing seriously."
"I guess that goes for me too." Kamitani bowed his head slightly in Ryuu's direction. "My apologies, Kuchiki-fukutaichou. It was an oversight and it won't happen again."
"For now, we should see about breakfast." Somewhat mollified by this, Ryuu shrugged his shoulders. "Even if rations are basic, there is something in fresh air that sparks an appetite and we did a lot of walking yesterday."
"Kira, we've you to thank for the advance warning about the inspection." Juushirou shot the startled Kira a warm grin. "That was good work."
"Thank you, Ukitake-taichou." Kira reddened, beaming at the praise. "I just like to pay attention to things. That's all. And I think…Sen…Sou-taichou wanted us to hear them, so I thought it would be okay to pass the message on."
"They were testing us, huh?" Aki frowned. "We're really going to be on our toes a lot while we're here, aren't we?"
"We are, and we need to make sure we're equal to it." Juushirou said firmly, stepping into the mess tent and glancing around them. There was nobody within, but a large cooking vessel stood on a stone plinth at the front of the room, with a pile of ceramic bowls and wooden spoons on a separate shelf beside it. There was steam coming from the vessel, and as Juushirou drew closer, he could see that it was full of a thick, rice porridge, a large ladle-like serving implement balanced tentatively against the pot's wide rim. Behind it was a similarly large vessel set up over a still flickering fire, and from the smell, Juushirou realised that this was filled with tea.
"Does anybody see any tea mugs?" He asked. "We've porridge and tea but…I only see bowls and spoons."
"Maybe we're meant to use the bowls for the tea and the porridge. Like chazuke." Kamitani suggested, and Juushirou frowned.
"Last night we had tea mugs." He said, shaking his head. "Yesterday morning, too. They were out and clearly labelled in groups for each squad."
"Ukitake-taichou's right." Mitsuki murmured. "Fujiwara-kun went and fetched them especially."
"Yes, I did." Aki agreed. "Carrying them all across to our tent last night was a nightmare – I almost fell flat on my face once or twice trying to juggle all eight of them at once. Awkward, annoying things."
"Well, last night they couldn't have been easier to find." Juushirou sighed. "I find it strange…now they're not. Surely they must be here somewhere."
He looked pensive for a moment, then,
"Kuchiki, will you see to making sure everyone has a serving of rice porridge?" He said at length. "I'll be back in a minute. I'm going to look and see if I can find the mugs."
"What about your breakfast, Taichou?" Ryuu looked startled, and Juushirou shrugged.
"I'll see to it when I get back. I won't be long." He responded.
"But if Katai get here, they might eat all of it before you do." Aki pointed out. Juushirou grinned.
"Maybe. But I know how Shunsui is in the morning. And if they've Sou-taichou's attention, they won't be here for a little while. It'll be fine. You begin. Kuchiki is in charge. I'll be right back."
With that he ducked back out of the tent, glancing around him for any sign of the missing vessels.
Kamitani is right. We could drink tea from the bowls or make proper chazuke with it, and maybe that is what we're supposed to do. But even so, I know we had proper vessels last night…so if we had them then, where are they now?
He pushed back the overhanging branch of a tree, stepping beyond it and gazing around him at the unevenly strewn rocks, boulders and fern matter that covered the forest floor. To delve too deep into the trees would be a mistake, he knew – but even so, the missing vessels nagged at the back of his mind.
This may be me being paranoid, but I can't help but thinking they're missing on purpose. And if they're missing on purpose, it's because we're meant to notice their absence and look for them. At least, either that or I'm thinking way too much into this. But why give us something one day and label it so clearly then…but take it away the next day without leaving a clue or a trace? True enough, rations and resources can change and run out, but…
"You've walked some way from the mess tent, Ukitake."
A voice from the path ahead startled him, and he paused, gazing around him hastily for any sign of the speaker.
"M…Minabe-sensei?"
"Your wits are about you, even if your sense of direction is not." Minabe emerged from the trees, an amused look on her harsh features. "Well? Why are you here? You are, I think, supposed to be eating breakfast?"
"I…I'm sorry. I didn't realise…Minabe-sensei…was here too." Juushirou gathered his wits, and Minabe let out a chuckle.
"That's because I'm not." She said simply. "I'm here to carry out an errand…that is all. But you haven't answered my question, boy – what brings you into the forest and away from your squad?"
"I'm looking for the missing tea mugs, Sensei." Even as he said it, Juushirou realised how stupid he sounded, and Minabe's eyes twinkled with mirth, her humour as terrifying as ever as she thumped heavy hands down on his unsuspecting shoulders.
"Ah." She said softly. "So you're missing mugs, are you? And such a thing is worth leaving your subordinates unprotected – because you can't drink your tea from a bowl?"
Juushirou faltered for a moment, then he shook his head.
"No, Sensei. That's not it." He said firmly. "Kuchiki-fukutaichou is in charge and I trust him…I trust him to make sure everyone has their breakfast while I'm not there. And it's not that I mind if we don't have tea mugs. It's just…they were there yesterday, and now they're gone. And I think…well…that it's strange that they should be, since nobody but us is here."
"I see." Minabe's eyes narrowed and she took a step back from him, eying the student pensively. Then she nodded.
"Missing tea mugs are not the be all and end all of a Gotei assignment." She reflected. "But noticing that something is not as it should be is a good trait for a Captain to have."
"Sensei?" Juushirou eyed her doubtfully.
"I came to bring a message to Kazoe." Minabe lifted one meaty fist, slipping her fingers into her obi and pulling out a folded sheet of parchment. "It's from Genryuusai-sensei and it's of some importance. Since you're here, you can take it to him for me. I have to hurry back – the first years will be waiting and I will not be late for their class."
"Yes, Sensei." Juushirou agreed, taking the folded sheet hesitantly. "But…Sensei…about the tea mugs…?"
"When you're on manoeuvre, the loss of supplies is sometimes the least and sometimes the most of your problems." Minabe said frankly. "Go back to your squad and report the loss through the normal channels. This forest is within a barrier – but on a normal manoeuvre it would not be. Do you understand?"
"Y…yes, Sensei." Juushirou bowed his head. "I'm sorry. I'll take your message – and…thank you for the advice."
Without waiting for the teacher to answer, he turned on his heel, hurrying back the way he had come.
Had he looked around, he would have seen the look of approval cross the Ouyoudou teacher's face as she folded her thick arms across her chest, leaning up against the trunk of a nearby old tree as she watched him disappear back towards the campsite.
However, he did not. Instead he reached the campsite as Katai were emerging from their tent, an amused Shunsui sauntering alongside them as they made their way to the mess tent. Kazoe was not far behind them, and at the sight of the Kidou teacher, he darted forward, bowing his head as he hurried to intercept them.
"Sou-taichou…I mean…Sensei…I mean…" He faltered, suddenly confused, and Kazoe shot him a startled look.
"Ukitake? Didn't Toutai already go for breakfast? There isn't time to waste running around out here."
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir." Juushirou reddened, bowing his head once more. "But…I…Minabe-sensei asked me to…"
"Minabe?" Kazoe's brows drew together, and he frowned. "Ukitake, what are you talking about? Where would you have seen Minabe? Nobody should be in the mess tent other than your fellows, and…"
"There were no tea mugs." Juushirou blurted out, and this surprising announcement caused the nearby members of Katai to stop in their walk to the mess tent, eying their rival Captain with a mixture of confusion and surprise.
"Tea mugs?" Enishi's eyebrows shot up. "Ukitake…why are you outside yelling about tea mugs? Are you running a fever? You sound half crazy."
"Ukitake-taichou, Houjou." Before Kazoe could say a word, Kai had tapped his tall classmate gently on the back of the head with his sheathed asauchi, sending him a warning glance. "We're on duty and in rank…in front of Kazoe-soutaichou. Mind your manners, huh?"
"Whoops." Enishi looked sheepish. "Sorry. I guess I forgot."
"I suppose someone shouting about tea mugs at the crack of dawn is enough to make anyone forget their place." Shunsui mused, and Juushirou reddened even further, shaking his head.
"Toutai went to the mess hall, and there was tea and rice porridge but only bowls, no tea mugs." He said slowly. "I thought it was strange that they'd disappeared…because yesterday…"
"Yesterday we had tea mugs." Shunsui frowned. "In nice little piles, too, come to think of it. Sou-taichou, is confiscating them part of our training too? Because J…Ukitake is going to run riot around this place looking for them if not…he's got that look in his eye."
"So far as I know, they've not been 'confiscated'." Kazoe said firmly. "Whether or not they are in the mess tent, however…seems a trifling matter indeed."
He glanced at Juushirou for a moment, then,
"And Minabe? How does she come to be involved in this?"
"Oh. Yes." Juushirou nodded, holding out the folded sheet of parchment. "I was looking for the mugs and I met Minabe-sensei. She said she'd brought an important message for you from Genryuusai-sensei – and I was to give it to you right away."
"A message?" Kazoe's eyes widened in surprise, and he took the sheet, unfolding it carefully and glancing at its contents. Then he smiled, nodding his head.
"I see." He murmured. "Well, if that's the case, so be it. Ukitake, return to Toutai. Your mission has been decided. Kyouraku, you and Shihouin see to feeding your troops – I will speak with you shortly about what will happen for the rest of today."
"Our…mission?" Juushirou stared, and Kazoe nodded.
"Are Toutai going to be charged with finding the missing tea mugs, Sou-taichou?" Sora asked cheekily, and Kazoe shook his head.
"The tea mugs were removed last night on Genryuusai-sensei's orders, it seems." He reflected. "Even I did not know about this – though he did tell me to expect things to change at a moment's notice."
"They were…but…why?" Naoko looked bewildered, and Kazoe shrugged.
"To see if anyone noticed they were missing." He said simply.
Juushirou's eyes became huge at this.
"You mean…it was done…so that I…and Minabe-sensei…?"
"Please finish one sentence before starting another, Ukitake." Kazoe scolded lightly. "If you pick up that habit, you'll find it afflicting your ability to cast good Kidou spells, and that I will find completely inexcusable."
"But…"
"Taking the tea mugs was an exercise in observation." Kazoe said frankly. "Just as yesterday, your people picked up the hints about an inspection – today you've picked up on this, too. Something missing might indicate that someone or something has infiltrated your camp, and as a result, that a new danger might have shown itself to you. By being aware of what's going on around you, those dangers can be minimised. That is the message Minabe-sensei was sent to bring me."
"Then…that was part of our mission?" Hanako asked faintly. "To spot that tea mugs were missing?"
"Things that go missing during a mission might not be as simple as tea mugs, Nakamura. They might be as significant as important documents, mapping devices – or, most of all, a comrade in arms." Kazoe said soberly. "If you cannot notice minor changes, you may not be able to stem the damage until it becomes a major problem. Ukitake's squad have proven they have powers of observation by noticing that something which was there last night is not there now. Therefore they have overcome this challenge."
"Not the squad, Sou-taichou. Ukitake-taichou." Iwai pointed out, and Kazoe shook his head.
"A Captain is his squad. Ukitake represents Toutai." He said evenly. "Ukitake, you may rejoin your comrades. Make sure you make a good meal of it - when Toutai have finished eating, I wish you to assemble by the forestland at the rear of the camp. Be prompt and ready with asauchi and be sure that at least one member – preferably more than one - carries a map. I am going to send you into the forest today, to complete an errand Genryuusai-sensei has apparently planned out for you to do."
He glanced at Shunsui, then,
"The contents of the mission are secret. I will tell you the rest when you are all assembled." He added. "For now, you are all dismissed."
"Then what are Katai to do today, Sou-taichou?" Kai asked, startled. "We haven't got so far as the mess tent yet – are we going to be penalised because of that fact?"
"Toutai knew there would be an inspection, therefore rose early. By rising early, they had a quicker chance to see the change, and act on it. Because of that fact, Ukitake was able to meet with Minabe-sensei before she had to return to school to carry out her other duties." Kazoe said frankly. "These are all steps in a bigger schematic – to make a mission work, all these things must be attended to."
He offered Kai a slight smile.
"Katai will have a task of their own to do, here at camp." He added. "The quicker you eat your breakfast, the sooner you'll know more. As I said – dismissed. And Shihouin…?"
"Yes, sir?" Kai looked startled.
"When you are dismissed, answering back to a senior officer is considered insubordination. Even to ask a question – understood?"
"Y…yes, sir." Kai looked sheepish, and Kazoe nodded.
"Then you are all dismissed. Hurry and eat your breakfast before it goes cold."
"I see you've started early, then."
As Ukitake and the Katai members made their way to the mess tent, Shunsui shot his friend a playful grin. "I'm going to have to sit up and pay close attention at this rate – if you're going to be quite that on the ball this early in the day."
"I don't think it's a fair way of deciding anything." Hanako complained, sending Juushirou a black look before he could respond. "We didn't know there was an inspection – how could we have done any of the things Kazoe-sensei said? It's all left to chance and luck, that's all. And if that's the case…"
"Shut up, Nakamura." Enishi cut across her before she could enter into a full blown rant. "Kazoe explained it clearly, after all. Ukitake-taichou's team…well, they must've found something out that we didn't. That's our bad – not something to moan about. Next time we'll just be quicker off the mark – that's all."
"Houjou's right." Sora nodded, casting Juushirou a pensive look. "Though how did you know there'd be an inspection? We were scrambling around like crazy when Kazoe came to our tent."
"Scrambling is the word." Naoko muttered, and Juushirou cast her a keen glance, taking in the unusually dishevelled appearance of his Unohana classmate. He smiled.
"Nakamura-san is right in one way. It was a bit of luck." He admitted. "Kira-kun was organising the bathing rota and overheard something being said about it. So, he came back and reported it to me right away – and we acted on it."
"Shikibu, you were involved in that too. How come you didn't hear that?" Kai cast the redhead a glance, and she shot him a poisonous look.
"I was sent to organise the bathing rota so it wasn't going to inconvenience the girls. I wasn't sent to eavesdrop on teachers and their conversations." She said flatly, and Juushirou raised an eyebrow at the sullen note in her tone. He cast Shunsui a quizzical glance, and Shunsui rolled his eyes, slowly shaking his head as if to indicate that the question was better off left unasked. At this Juushirou grinned, spreading his hands.
"Well, that's why I said there was luck involved. Kira happened to overhear it, that's all." He said frankly. "Besides, whatever we're going to do in the forest may not be as good as whatever you'll do here at camp. So I wouldn't worry about it too much, Nakamura-san. I'm sure whatever the secret mission is, it's going to involve us working hard."
"That, I think, goes without saying." Sora said frankly. "Though it is starting to look like the squads are competitive – isn't it?"
"I guess it is." Shunsui looked thoughtful. "Well, if that's how it is, so be it."
He dropped his hand down warmly on Juushirou's shoulder.
"If we're rivals for now, then I guess let the best man win, or something." He said teasingly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "It might be fun, after all, to play along with Sensei's ideas just for a little while longer."
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Author's Note: Yuuai
For anyone wondering, the title of this chapter means, essentially, 'friendship' or 'friendly affection'.
Aaand...this chapter introduces Daisuke and, most significantly, Shikiki! Her name is distinctly odd, I know, but there is a reason behind it.
I think it's a bit early yet, but there are cookies for anyone who can guess why she's called Shikiki and what her two connections to current canon may be...