Chapter Thirty Two: Proditio
It was a hot, claustrophobic day, despite the encroaching autumn season.
Misashi cast a fleeting glance towards the window of the meeting hall, where for generations the Endou elders had come together to discuss - or perhaps more correctly, cajole and threaten - their views on politics with one another. It was a dark chamber, and one Misashi had always hated, since its closed in layout meant that if a fight broke out it was difficult for anyone to uninvolve themselves and slip away.
He had first been banished from this place when he had been seventeen, after a dispute with his older brother had turned violent and blood had been spilled between them on the cold marble floor. He had won that fight - for it had been little more than a wrestling match of one against the other and his brother and father had not forgiven him for humiliating Mibune so completely.
He had broken his brother's arm that day, he reflected grimly, and blackened his eye so that it swelled itself shut, yet despite his mother's anger, he had not regretted it. In fact, he had welcomed the ban - much preferring to be as far from his older brother's occasionally violent outbursts as possible. Of the two of them, he had always been the strongest and cleverest in a fight, and he had bested Mibune many times. But Mibune's unpredictability - Misashi preferred to think of it as insanity - had often given him an additional boost of ruthless strength that had seen many opponents felled and maimed on the end of his sword.
Inwardly Misashi suppressed a shudder at the occasions he had seen his brother in one of his psychotic moods, tearing and ripping at the corpse of a prisoner with the hooked end of his zanpakutou, disfiguring them in death like a vulture hunting for food.
Yes, it had been insanity. While others had called it warrior instinct, to Misashi it had never been anything else. And now Mibune's son was an adult too - and Misashi had wondered if and when the same streak of mental instability would surface in Seimaru's already aggressive behaviour.
He would rather be anywhere than at the centre of the Endou administration in such an uncertain atmosphere. Yet, so many years on he was now back and more, compelled to attend each session - or risk displeasing the man who had surprisingly shielded him since Yayoi's death.
Even so, however, discussions were still now as they were then - hot-tempered debates where both swords and blood could fly and order was seldom kept in hand. Only Shouichi had firm hold over his council - and Misashi's lips thinned as he judged whereabouts the sun was in the sky outside.
It was unlike the Lord to be so late to a session he had himself organised, yet Misashi knew that neither he nor the antagonistic, prowling Seimaru had the authority to call it off in Shouichi's absence. Such an act would be seen as treasonous, and Shouichi was fond of testing his kin. Perhaps this was another such test. Misashi did not know, and had long since decided it was best not to ask too many questions.
The date and time had been arranged, and so he had arrived - and despite his reluctance, he would remain until the allotted time for the meeting to finish, no matter what.
"The sanctions must be lifted." An older man was speaking now - one of Shouichi's generations but a second cousin and barely on the fringes of Endou society. Despite this, he was an opinionated man who had never yet been cowed out of giving his views, and as Misashi listened to him complain, he felt a deep, resentful dislike for his family as a whole. It was not an uncommon sensation, he mused ruefully. But one which he had been seeing with increasing frequency over the past few months.
"There are no Urahara residing in my tenants' lands and the trade drop is causing problems in raising revenue." The old man continued. "These revenues will affect the income of the Clan as a whole if my peasants can't be drilled back into their normal routine."
"Then kill the peasants and start again." Seimaru suggested sardonically. "Peasants have an uncanny knack of reproducing themselves, Raiden-dono, whether or not they can afford to do so. The loss of a few insubordinate ones is no loss to this District - and no problem of ours to resolve. They are your tenants and it is your land - you govern it as you see fit."
"There are scarce any peasants anywhere in Seventh since Shouichi-sama started his purge." Raiden muttered. "It's not simply in my territories, either...but in others, too. We hold this land of our kinsfolk and we contribute to the riches and success of the whole Clan by doing so. How can we raise military personnel or keep a harvest without people to do the menial tasks that this world deems so necessary?"
He turned, sending Misashi a beseeching glance.
"Misashi-sama, you understand, do you not? That this is not just a matter for an individual Lord to settle, but one for the whole Clan to address?"
Misashi sighed, aware that Seimaru's beady gaze was boring into him as he pulled his attention firmly back to the matter in hand.
"I am not my Father and cannot speak for him." He said softly. "Decisions must be made by him and not by me. I am sorry, Raiden-dono. You must petition our Lord if you wish to make it a full Clan matter."
"Or you could give an opinion of your own, Misashi-sama." A second lord spoke up now. "Raiden-dono is right, after all - the cost of these purges has become higher than the benefit and we need to know where it will end. District children with spiritual power may well be abhorrent, but spiritual power or otherwise, they can still work fields and sell at market. They can do so shackled, if it so pleases Shouichi-sama - but that level of labour is one we need."
"Jinkei-dono raises a good point." A third man put in. "It would be a humiliation if we were forced, with winter approaching and harvest upon us, to beg help from either of our neighbours. We have never had good links with the Kuchiki, and as for the Kyouraku..."
"We do not need links with such people." Seimaru snorted. "And what do you mean, with winter coming? Winter is a season that kills common folk. It doesn't kill nobility. You sound as though you have concern for your tenants - surely you don't expect my Lord Grandfather to repeal his laws regarding District children and high level reiatsu? Or do you pathetic men who wield only asauchi not mind if your peasant class rise up against you wielding zanpakutou and casting spells?"
"None of us wish for that, Seimaru-sama." Jinkei bowed his head in acknowledgement of the young man's views. "As you say, such a matter has been much discussed and would prove dangerous to many. But even so, to shackle them at least if not as anything else...rather than decimating the villages, is there no way of enslaving them so as they can still be of use to us without providing us with danger?"
"Such things cannot be ratified without Father's approval." Misashi interjected, then he sighed. "But if it is so wished, I will speak of it to him."
"You have no position to do anything of the sort." Seimaru glared at his Uncle. "You are not his advisor and sit here merely as a token of our apparent peace. When Grandfather is not here, the decisions are mine to make. Do not think to usurp my power, Ojisama. I will not forgive it if you do."
"Where is Shouichi-sama, anyhow?" Raiden demanded, gazing around him. "It is unlike him to be so late without prior notice - surely he remembers that he summoned us to meet here this day?"
"Since he sent the summons, I would imagine so." Seimaru snapped back. "But since he is your Clan Leader, you should not question his decisions or his authority. It is not for any of you to speak so about those who rank above you...unless you want to make it a matter for swords, in which case..."
His fingers hovered over the hilt of Yojinmozu, but Misashi held up his hands.
"Seimaru, such things are not helpful here." He said quietly. "You are, after all, entirely correct and nobody disputes that fact. Father is the Lord of this District. He is the only one who can make decisions or cast down the judgements people are desiring. So I suggest we move to a different subject - since you are no better placed than I at present to give a firm word to our noble kin."
"What are you saying?" Seimaru was clearly riled by this, getting to his feet and striding across to where Misashi sat. "Do you seek to challenge my authority too, Ojisama? I am not Grandfather and I will not pander to your pathetic attempts to seek his favour. You were banished from this room once and if I had my way you would be so again. Nobody requires your presence here, after all."
"Nobody except Father." Misashi met Seimaru's gaze with an even one of his own. "I am not afraid of you, Seimaru. You do not hold the keys to this Clan yet, after all."
He gestured to the assembled nobles.
"For the time being, we cannot make a firm decision on the requests of Raiden-dono and his companions." He added calmly. "So as that is the case, we should try and move on. I doubt Father would appreciate us fighting in this place - and even if he has been delayed by some business, since he arranged this meeting I am sure he will be here soon."
"Then we should perhaps discuss fiscality in other areas." A man of about Misashi's years got to his feet, casting Seimaru an apprehensive glance and bowing his head towards the young and impatient heir. "With Seimaru-sama's permission, I would give the quarterly review on taxation within the District...would that be acceptable, Seimaru-sama?"
Seimaru pursed his lips, swinging around to stare at the speaker for a moment, but something in the other's deference seemed to mollify his temper and he nodded, gesturing towards him as he returned to his own seat at the front of the room. Shouichi's seat remained empty, Misashi knew, but in his absence, Seimaru would glean all the power that he could and, most likely, force through any decisions he thought were to his benefit.
Though the Urahara have scarce been mentioned...and I'm loath to mention it myself. Father said he had things to discuss at this meeting, when he arrived home from the Council. Things that were important - yet he's so late as this? It's unlike him - whatever business took him from his study must have been urgent. Perhaps relating to what he wanted to talk about...
Misashi clicked his tongue softly against his teeth.
Not that he tells me anything in particular, but still...
"Seimaru-sama! Misashi-sama!"
At that moment the door of the meeting hall burst open to reveal a young man, robed in the black and white of a low level Shinigami and with his hair pulled back from his face in a neat tail. He seemed anxious and out of breath, yet what chilled Misashi most was not the fear and apprehension in the newcomer's eyes but rather something else...the distinct tint of red that stained his skin.
"What is the meaning of this?" Seimaru was on him in a second, fury in his pale eyes, and the shinigami gulped, dropping to the floor in a grovelling obeisance as he registered the sudden wave of angry, fiery reiatsu that flooded the chamber.
"My apologies, sir. I did not...I didn't mean to...I wasn't intending to be impolite." he gabbled. "Only...I...I...I..."
He faltered, and Misashi's dread grew as he slowly got to his feet, moving past the angry Seimaru and pausing in front of the cowering figure.
"What have you to report to us, then, Shinigami?" He asked softly. "That is of such import that you come here, like this, in view of your betters without ceremony or consideration?"
The shinigami swallowed hard, raising his gaze to Misashi's impassive one.
"Please, Misashi-sama, I meant no offence." He whispered. "Only...only...I was told to come report to you. To Seimaru-sama. That...that something's happened. Something...serious."
"Something that could not wait until my Grandfather's return? Or until we had at least finished our conversation?" Seimaru kicked at the boy's shoulder, putting his hands on his hips, and at Shouichi's name the youngster paled, shaking his head slowly.
"No, sir. It could not." He said softly. "I...I was sent...with the order...to...to tell you..."
"To tell us what?" Misashi was frightened himself now. "Speak."
The shinigami swallowed hard, then,
"My sincerest apologies for the interruption, Seimaru-sama." He said soberly. "But I have come to r...report to you that...that L..Lord Shouichi...has...been...found...dead."
Immediately a commotion filled the whole room for, although the intruder's words were soft-spoken, silence had fallen the moment Seimaru had challenged his appearance. Misashi felt a cold hand slip around his heart as he digested the boy's words - unable to believe them yet somehow knowing they were true all the same. His gaze slid across to his nephew - was this Seimaru's doing? Had Seimaru engineered something? But he could find nothing on the boy's face that did not comprise shock or anger, and as he struggled to gather his own wits, he heard the younger man speak.
"Explain yourself." Seimaru's tones sounded odd, as though he too was having trouble himself in absorbing what he had been told. "What do you mean, has been found dead? Do you know of whom you speak? My Grandfather is one of the strongest Shinigami in Seireitei. Nobody in this District would dare lay a finger on him! Explain yourself, or I will kill you here and now!"
He grabbed the terrified Shinigami by the collar of his shihakushou, giving him a shake before bringing the trembling youngster's face close to his own.
"What happened." He murmured. "I'm giving you one chance to tell me, and if you fail, I slit your throat."
"Let him go, Seimaru." Misashi could not let this continue, and he held up his hands. "The boy is terrified. He can't speak any further than he already has, thanks to you yelling at him."
"And you think it acceptable that someone come into our chamber and report such ridiculous things as this?" Seimaru demanded, though he loosed his grasp and the young shinigami fell to the floor with a thud. "Or is it something else? Do you believe his report to be the truth?"
"He has blood on his hands." It was Raiden who spoke now, gesturing to the Shinigami's stained fingers, and Seimaru wheeled on him, incredulous.
"Are you suggesting a runt like this one could have felled my Grandfather?" There was a rising hysteria in the young heir's voice, and Misashi gazed at him apprehensively, unsure whether the shock had unbalanced Seimaru's mercurial temperament once and for all. "Has everyone gone mad? Don't be foolish! Nobody could do that! Nobody at all!"
"Please...Seimaru-sama." The shinigami spoke up now, clearly petrified for his life yet determined to carry forth his message. "Shouichi-sama was...found by a serving wench, out a ri and a half from the manor, in...in an old abandoned village near where the old river divided to the stream. He was alone. And...please, sir...that was all."
"Then we should go and see for ourselves what has occurred." Misashi said quietly. "Seimaru, will you take the lead? You are, after all, Grandfather's most trusted...he would want you more than anyone to get to the bottom of this."
Seimaru stared at his Uncle blankly, and Misashi realised that his nephew truly had been shaken almost out of his wits by the commotion. Then, at length, the younger man nodded.
"I will go. I will ascertain it, and if any are lying, I will have their tongues then their heads by Yojinmozu's blade." He said, his voice trembling with what Misashi realised was suppressed emotion. "Misashi-jisama will accompany me. Raiden-dono, Jinkei-dono, you also. All else are to remain here. I will not tolerate anything else. I will find out the truth for myself."
With that he swept out of the room, and Misashi cast his startled kinsfolk a glance, nodding his head.
"Seimaru-sama has given his orders." He said quietly, though there was deep unease in the pit of his stomach as he spoke. "If there is any truth in this story, Seimaru-sama is to be obeyed. He is Father's chosen heir...come."
With that he slipped into shunpo, tracking his nephew's reiatsu across the landscape until it stopped and, as he dropped out of shunpo, he saw the young man standing at the edge of the dried up river bank, staring down with soulless, empty eyes into the pit below.
Again, Misashi wondered about the impact on the boy's sanity, but there was no time to ask questions. Hurrying to join him, he soon caught sight of a still, crumpled form below, surrounded by two shinigami of similar rank to the one who had brought the message. It was clear even at this distance that the Lord who had ruled so ferociously over the Endou-ke for so many years was dead, and Misashi bit his lip, shaking his head slowly in confusion.
"Seimaru-sama!" The shinigami greeted their new Lord with respect and relief, but Seimaru did not acknowledge them, and Misashi found it impossible to know what his nephew was thinking. There was a long silence, then,
"Summon the Unohana." He said softly. "My Grandfather lies dead and the cause is not known. I wish to know what killed him, and I wish to lay his ghost to rest."
"Could he have fallen from the riverbank, Seimaru-sama?" One of the shinigami suggested, but Seimaru did not respond, and Misashi frowned, gauging the distance from where they stood to where Shouichi's crumpled body lay.
"Surely not." He murmured. "Seimaru...are you thinking he was murdered?"
"What I am thinking is not your concern. I am not your ally." Seimaru muttered. "Just...for now...I need you. Just as, for now, you need me."
He raised his opaque gaze to his uncle, and Misashi was chilled at the faint madness he saw there.
"I am Lord, now." He said impassively. "But I won't be, not until its seen that my Grandfather's death was not by my hand. So I put you in charge of it, Misashi-jisama. Of discovering why Grandfather died."
He offered a faint smile.
"After all, you of all people would not treat me with undue favour, I think." He added.
Misashi's eyes widened as he absorbed the logic in his nephew's words.
Father murdered...or dead by some other means...yet Seimaru is right. Even now, there will be those who suspect either of us of complicity. He seeks to distance himself from such a scene - and I cannot fault him for it. Did he have a little of your sense born into him after all, Okaasama? Or is it simply shock...did Seimaru love his grandfather after all? Certainly he seems more grieved than I am - am I sad for Father's passing, or merely fearful over what it means?
He bowed his head.
"I will do as you instruct me." He said softly. "I will see that the Unohana are summoned and that Father's death is investigated fully."
"Yes. I know you will." Seimaru turned away from the scene, and Misashi almost thought he saw a tear glistening in the boy's eyes...before Seimaru blinked and it was gone. "I am not a fool, Uncle. And do not think that this means we will become allied. I am not Grandfather. Keep that in mind."
And with that he was gone, cloak billowing out across the grass as he headed back to the main house.
Misashi swallowed hard.
Seimaru is not foolish, after all. He understands that Father's death means problems for him, not just the accession to a new position of power and influence. He knows that the death must be investigated and that he must be approved by the Council both as Father's successor and as the new Gotei Shinigami for Seventh District. He knows those things and until they are settled, he will not act against me. But it is coming. It will come - it must. And that means...I have a limited amount of time.
He glanced back down at his Father's bloodsoaked corpse.
If he assigned me to investigate this, he does not suspect me of Father's murder. And I doubt many others will, considering that he was my last shield against Seimaru's full wrath. But then, to trust it to me...implies that Seimaru himself was not involved. Truly, I think it shocked him - I have never seen him look that way before. He was Father's chosen - he clung to Father in the absence of his own, so of course it would have been a shock. And for a time, perhaps, that shock will not fully wear off.
I must use this time wisely - and do what I can for Sumire and Eiraki before I cannot do anything else. Probably I won't leave District Seven alive - so while I investigate Father's death, I must also investigate their means of escape. District Seven and the Endou-ke are doomed...and I do not want them here when the hammer begins to fall.
"Misashi-sama!"
Raiden's tones brought him out of his reverie and he turned, seeing the two senior noblemen hurrying across the grass towards him. Their shunpo was clumsy and inaccurate, Misashi knew, and both men were red-faced, sweat streaming down their broad faces at the uncharacteristic physical effort.
He nodded curtly to acknowledge their arrival, then turned back to the ravine, shifting his body through the atmosphere and landing down in the dried river bed at the side of his father's body. The sentry shinigami stepped back automatically to allow him access, and Misashi found himself unfettered as he squatted cautiously at the old man's side.
For a moment he crouched there, not touching the corpse, but simply absorbing everything he could about his father's final resting place.
There was something in the air, he reflected, something faint and indistinct yet something that bothered him nonetheless. There had been reiatsu released here – Shouichi's own was still lingering around the silver of the discarded Hijirobaya, yet it was fragmented and unlike its usual condensed aura. He paused to hover a hand over Hijirobaya's blade more closely, trying to discern whether the weapon had been released or not, but try as he might he could not pin-point any of the key signatures that indicated a shikai attack. Perhaps reiryoku had surged through the weapon as Shouichi had died, he reflected heavily…but whatever had happened here, the old man had not released his zanpakutou.
Misashi turned his attention back to the corpse, taking in the blood spattered across the fine fabrics of his father's clothing. He was not wearing the white Gotei haori of District Seven, and so the scene was not as vividly gory as it might otherwise have been, for the browns and deep reds of the Endou livery soaked up the worst of the seeping liquid. Yet despite this small mercy Misashi was not fooled. Shouichi's body was injured – his clothing torn and his flesh shredded to ribbons on the sharp rocks against which his corpse now rested. He glanced up at the overhanging river bank, and then back down once more. Was it a far enough fall to kill a man? Somehow Misashi found it hard to believe, yet all of the evidence indicated that it was true.
Father came here for a reason – without speaking to anyone. And once here, he fell…and lay here until a serving wench found him – probably on an errand to the village.
His brows knitted together.
An odd sequence of events at the best of times. Yet I can see no other that fits.
He scooped up Hijirobaya, aware that its spiritual aura was already breaking down and that soon it would be no more than a brittle metal memento of the old Lord's long and blood-stained career.
And if you did not release this – your partner in crime for so long – then how can I believe you were threatened here? You would not be so careless as to fall…but even so…you did not fight?
"Misashi-sama?" Jinkei joined him at that moment, and Misashi turned.
"Is the Lord truly…beyond our help?" Jinkei's face was haggard and pale, and Misashi slowly nodded his head.
"My Father has left this world." He said soberly. "By what means Seimaru-sama has charged me to discover. I will do so, Jinkei-dono. You may trust my word on that."
"Was it…did someone…" Jinkei hesitated, and Misashi sighed, setting Hijirobaya down at his side.
"Father did not release his zanpakutou." He said quietly. "It's unthinkable that he would face an enemy or assassin without calling Hijirobaya to his side. I can only assume that he did not fight, Jinkei-dono. And that this – odd as it appears – was some form of accident that we don't yet understand."
"But…a man like Shouichi-sama…" Jinkei hesitated, clearly shaken, and Misashi nodded.
"We are all fallible, it seems. Even him." He said sadly. "We must now do as befits us as Endou Clansmen – as we honoured Mother, so we must honour Father. And so we must pledge our allegiance – to the man that is Father's chosen heir."
"Would that that man were you." Raiden's words were soft-spoken, and Misashi started, swinging around to stare at the old man in dismay. At his reaction, Raiden nodded, spreading his hands.
"I will honour Shouichi-sama's wishes. I will do as he asked me as an Endou should." He said gravely. "But Seimaru-sama is young yet and does not understand so many things. I fear for this Clan, Misashi-sama. Would that it were you to claim in his stead…then we could all rest a little more easily."
Misashi was silent for a moment, then he shook his head.
"I am not a Shinigami. I am merely Father's younger son and I have no claim to this Clan." He said firmly. "I have acknowledged Seimaru-sama as Father's heir and I will abide by that – else Mother's ghost will come to haunt me and Father's no doubt too. I do not seek the Clan leadership – and you would both do well to remember that fact. Treason is a serious crime…and Seimaru-sama is not a forgiving soul."
"Perhaps. But I am old and I speak as I find." Raiden said frankly. "Still, if you say that, I will accept it and look to the young one with hope."
"Or perhaps, another young one." Jinkei murmured, and Misashi tensed, fear running through him at this soft-spoken suggestion.
"Have I not already made clear my position?" He said quietly. "I am Seimaru-sama's servant. To speak to me in such a way puts us all in danger unnecessarily."
"But your son still lives – does he not?" Raiden's eyes glittered with what Misashi could only interpret as hopeless desperation. "Your boy is exiled, but he still…he still lives?"
"Hirata is exiled. Therefore he is no longer a matter for the Endou council to consider." Misashi said stiffly. "I will say it once again and this time for the last time. Seimaru-sama is Father's heir. He is the only one to claim this land and we will not contest him. I am sworn to accept him and I will do what I can to obey him."
"He will kill you, then." Raiden said abruptly, and Misashi sighed, the tension seeping out of his lean frame as he nodded.
"So be it." He said resignedly. "If that is his wish, I will not prevent it."
Not so long as Hirata lives…if even a few months of my life sacrificed gives Hirata time to perfect his training, then I will give them willingly. He must be overlooked and forgotten if this Clan has any chance of recovery – for that reason, I must not show any connection to my son. And for that reason…I must do only as Seimaru commands me. I have not much time – I must try and use it well.
"Is that your true will, Misashi-sama?" Jinkei asked quietly, and Misashi nodded.
"What other will do I have than that of the Clan Leader?" he asked bitterly. "For now my duty is to investigate Father's death and that I will do to the utmost of my ability. This is an uncertain time for all – let us not make it more uncertain by whispering in shadows. If the Endou are to prevail, Seimaru-sama must have the support he needs to become head. If that does not happen…we are all finished. And I could not face my mother in death if I allowed such a thing to happen as that."
There was a moment of silence, as Raiden and Jinkei exchanged looks. Then, at length, Raiden sighed.
"It is understood." He said reluctantly. "I am sorry, Misashi-sama. We have spoken inappropriately and will not do so again."
"Then no more will be said." Misashi replied simply, turning his attention back to Shouichi's cooling corpse. "All that remains is to discover what truly happened here – and what, if anything, stole my father's final breath."
Seimaru banged shut the door of his own chamber, barring and locking it before sinking down onto his bed and burying his head in his hands.
A barrage of sensations flooded over him - guilt, despair, anxiety - then joy, triumph and relief all competing for dominance in his mind. They had engulfed him all at once as he had stared down at Shouichi's corpse - the terror of what he had done mingled with the realisation of the freedom he had now attained. How Keitarou had achieved it, he did not know. Nor did he care. It had happened...and yet, deep inside of him something lurched and span, making him feel almost queasy with the ebb and flow of his emotion.
He had not realised that he had felt affection for his Grandfather.
Even though Keitarou had told him to expect it, the shinigami's intrusion had taken him completely off guard. He had been numb, angry, disbelieving - they had all been real reactions, even though it had been on his command that the awful deed had been done. In his confusion he had found himself reaching out for the one stable element left in his immediate vicinity - the Uncle he had always reviled and yet the man who now seemed the only solid thing among a bevy of uncertainty.
Was he Clan Leader? Would they accept him? The Council, the Endou - would they know that he had chosen to end his Grandfather's life?
Yet he had been cautious. He had followed Keitarou's advice and had acted as an innocent man would act. His shock and grief were raw and painful, but their authenticity had helped offset any risk of suspicious behaviour. He was wrenched and broken inside, wishing that he had not had to see such a strong and brave Shinigami in such a crumpled, pitiful form on the ground. Yet in the same instant he was revitalised - knowing that from hereon in, there would be no barriers to his power.
He lay back on his blankets, staring up at the curling patterns that weaved across the ceiling.
Head of the Clan. Gotei representative. At last, after so long.
He closed his eyes as tears welled up in them, a fleeting image of his father darting across his vision.
He had not remembered Mibune in ages - yet now he tried to harness that brief visualisation, bringing slowly back into focus the man who had died too soon and left him as Shouichi's chosen heir. Mibune's face soon faded, however, to be replaced with Yayoi's wizened old one, and his eyes snapped open, a slow smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.
Well, you old bat. I outsmarted you after all. You're not here any more to dictate this Clan's movements, neither in body nor in spirit. Old folk should lie down and die quietly, and leave the decisions to the young ones that follow. This is my Clan now. No more harping on at the past. Grandfather is gone. Father is long gone. And I...I will be a different kind of Endou. I will make this family great again.
He dashed away the tears that still fell, his mind flitting to Misashi who he had left near their fallen kinsman.
For now, I will be careful. For now, I will not act.
He pursed his lips, remembering Keitarou's counsel.
I must trust him. Of all men he has given me what I have asked for time and time again, and I must not doubt in him now. For the time being, Uncle, I will not touch you. For the time being, I will rely on you to make it clear that Granfather's death was some kind of horrific accident. Aizen promised that there would be no trace leading back to me on the old man's corpse...and from what I saw, there was none. It looked as though he fell...Hijirobaya still sealed and at his side. An accident...a glorious accident...but an accident manipulated to serve my ends. You should not have betrayed the Urahara, Ojiisama. You should have realised their true potential - as I have done.
He frowned.
Had Shouichi known, then, in those last moments? What had he thought, before he had died...had he realised the extent of Seimaru's betrayal?
But it doesn't matter. It's too late now for him to speak and share the things he may or may not have learnt. I don't know how Aizen achieved this, but whatever his means, they were thorough. All that remains is for me to hold it together and move forward with my claim. I can do that. I must, else all else has been in vain. And then, when I am secure...then...
He closed his eyes again.
Then I will no longer need my Uncle, or any of his kin. I will lure Hirata here, and then, when that is done, I will eliminate their bloodline completely. As Grandfather purged his kin two centuries ago...so I will purge mine and look to the future. This is my Clan now, after all. My Clan. And everything will now go according to my will.
"Tokutarou-sama! Tokutarou-sama, an urgent message!"
Tokutarou glanced up from his desk, surprise crossing his features as he registered his manservant in the doorway, his expression unusually harried as he performed his customary obeisance before the Clan leader.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir, and so late at night, but a message has been received from the borders and I thought you should know of it as soon as possible."
"Then come and relay it." Tokutarou set his brush down, gesturing for Yasuhiro to enter the study proper and shut the door behind him. "Though try not to be so loud – even an urgent message isn't justification for waking sleeping Clanswomen. Rae-hime retired to her quarters a half hour ago now, and Yoshiko-dono more than an hour. It's nearly the middle of the night – I do not wish to disturb them."
"My sincere apologies, Tokutarou-sama." Yasuhiro bowed once more, before coming to kneel before the desk. "I had not thought…but this news…it seemed of such importance that I sought…I'm sorry."
"You don't need to be as contrite as all that." Despite himself, Tokutarou smiled ruefully at his aide's guilty expression. "Raise your head and tell me what you've learnt. This is from your agents near the border, I trust? The ones who've been watching the refugees?"
"Yes, sir." Yasuhiro obediently glanced up, meeting his master's gaze with a clouded one of his own. "And it has yet to have fully official confirmation, yet I believe it all the same. The report was slipped to me via a border guard and the person who brought it to the border was the servant of Misashi-sama himself – the man who has crossed into your land in the past to convey messages to you directly. A man of District Eight birth – if you recall?"
"I do." Tokutarou's expression became grave. "Then this relates to the Urahara?"
"No, sir. Far worse, it seems." Yasuhiro shook his head. "For I have heard it reported and I believe the report…that Shouichi-sama has unexpectedly passed away."
"What?" Tokutarou only just remembered to follow his own advice about keeping the noise down, disbelief and alarm crossing his handsome features. "What do you mean, Yasuhiro – passed away? How? Why? By what means?"
"This is not known…but it seems some kind of accident befell him." Yasuhiro looked apprehensive. "My source believes that the Unohana have been summoned to examine the body, and no doubt to ascertain the truth. It seems they were sent for on Seimaru-sama's direct command, however…"
"You believe he may be complicit?"
"I believe a man like that, with so much to gain, would not summon the Unohana so swiftly unless he was complicit." Yasuhiro said darkly, and Tokutarou nodded his head.
"I think the same. To cover his tracks." He agreed grimly. "And it may well work…if the reports you have heard are true."
He sighed, rubbing his temples as he tried to digest the information.
"If Shouichi-sama is dead, Seimaru has nothing holding him back. He will want to prove very firmly that he was not involved in his Grandfather's death." He said slowly. "And that process may take a little time. Possibly he was not involved…but if he was, he must be confident in that he's covered his tracks adequately to fool those around him."
"Misashi-sama's family are in danger of their lives, now." Yasuhiro murmured. "Shunsui-sama's young friend…probably among them."
"Yes. This information must go to District One immediately." Tokutarou made up his mind. "Even unauthenticated, it's a risk that we can't take. Genryuusai-sensei must know that there may be repercussions for the young Endou boy – and Shunsui too must know that he is to be careful in what he does. He and Seimaru have clashed in the past, after all."
He bit his lip, remembering the conversation with Kyouki in Inner Seireitei such a short time before.
And Ukitake. If I tell Shunsui, surely he at least can help shield Ukitake. Someone must…since he is really in danger now. True danger, if Seimaru no longer has anything to hold him back.
"Summon a messenger, Yasuhiro, and send word to the Academy." He said at length. "It must be done immediately, regardless of the hour – you have my authority to drag a man from his bed if need be to take it. This can't wait. Even unsubstantiated…I suspect your source has told the truth. And if there's little time left…we need to act. I want you to have a message sent via Inner Seireitei to Kyouki-sama – through the official imperial channel so as it gets to her before the dawn. Take the Clan crest I trusted you with for emergencies and command them to charge the cost of using the toll passage to the Kyouraku estate – this cannot be delayed."
"Yes, sir. At once." Yasuhiro nodded. "I will see to it. And I will take the message to the Shiba-ke myself – they will admit me more quickly than a foreign messenger, after all."
"True." Tokutarou looked relieved. "Do that, then. But return as soon as you can, Yasuhiro. I have a feeling I will need you."
Author's Note: The Battle That Wasn't.
Where is the fight from the last chapter cliffhanger, I hear you ask?
Well, to be honest, I never was going to write that.
Keitarou's zanpakutou abilities are quite significant for the story to come and I'm revealing bits of it at a time so that it's not hugely spoilerish. However, from the events of this chapter, I hope it's clear that he's not someone who should be recklessly messed around with...
Bankai
Also, a quick reminder for the record. In my ancient Soul Society, only three members of the Council and three living Shinigami total are known to have Bankai. Keitarou is illegal so isn't counted in the official tally, but the only leaders in this ancient Gotei with Bankai are Genryuusai, Guren of the Kuchiki and Unohana Retsu. NONE of the others - including Shouichi - had/have reached that level of training. Byakuya makes clear in Canon that attaining Bankai is difficult and in my fic setting, training and the Academy and everything is at a basic, developmental stage. Therefore most of these Captains have not achieved Bankai...although it's probably true to say that of the Council, Kyouki is the one closest to attaining that goal.
Chapter is getting posted today (Friday) because I'm working tomorrow and don't know when I'll get a chance to stick it up - so...enjoy!