Chapter Twenty Four: The Kyouraku Hime
The sun was streaming through the window of the small chamber as Nanaki opened her eyes, blinking and lifting a heavy arm to shield her gaze from the glare.
For a moment she could not place where she was, and a brief wave of panic washed over her as she struggled into a sitting position, struggling to bring her surroundings into clear focus.
The room was somehow familiar, and as she leant up against the cold panel wall, she realised that it was one of the small servant chambers that flanked Seiren's own rooms when he was staying at the heart of the main estate. As a maidservant, she had been here to dust many times, but it was the first time she had absorbed its appearance with any seriousness, and she was quite surprised to discover that though it was quite simply furnished for a Kuchiki bedchamber, it was pretty and allowed a good deal of light in. Arched windows ran along the one wall, interspersed with wood panels stained a delicate green, but there was no sign of the distinctive Kuchiki swan carved into any of them, and Nanaki found that she was glad.
Kicking the blankets away, she got to her feet, resting a hand briefly against the wall to steady herself as a giddy sensation rushed over her.
How had she got here?
Instinctively her hand went to her throat, and she frowned, realising that the pendant was gone. Had she given it to someone? Her memory was hazy, but she seemed to recall that she had – that the night before she had done something, and her being here was all part of that plan.
But I'm stiff and bruised all over, so whatever it was didn't come without a little pain.
She sighed, moving cautiously to the window and resting her hands on the sill.
I wonder if the door is locked. I'm not chained or bound, so I suppose what happened yesterday went well. I wish I could remember it more clearly though. I remember talking to Shirogane, and to Seiren…but what was said is a blur and I don't know how it ended.
"Nanaki-dono?"
A voice from the door startled her and she swung around, almost losing her balance as her head swam once more with sudden giddiness. Her fingers closed hurriedly around the window catch, preventing her from falling headlong, and she raised her head more cautiously, meeting the concerned gaze of the intruder with an impassive one of her own.
"Nanaki-dono, you are awake."
The man bowed his head slightly.
"Please forgive my interruption, especially into a lady's chamber. But Seiren-sama entrusted you to my care and mine alone, to ensure your continued safety following the events of last night."
The events of last night.
Nanaki's eyes became slits as slowly but surely she dredged the missing memories out of the depths of her subconscious.
That's right. I spoke to Shirogane and warned him…then I went to Seiren in order to put the fear of God into him, too. But before that…
She touched a hand to her head, wincing as she felt the bruises that had begun to form beneath her thick dark hair.
To make sure that Seiren took pity on me, I threw myself down stairs to generate a bruising. No wonder I feel groggy this morning. I expect I banged my head and became concussed – and that's why I don't remember coming here. Still, I remember the rest clearly enough now. Who I'm supposed to be – and why.
She inclined her head slowly.
"Shibata-dono." She murmured. "Thank you. For helping me. I feel…that maybe I am safe."
"You are quite safe, I promise you." Shibata seemed relieved at her meek reply, for he closed the door behind him, leaning up against the wood as he surveyed her pensively. "I am a soldier, Nanaki-hime, but I am not the kind who wages war on women or on children. I will not hurt you – you need not be afraid of me."
"You have honour about you. I believe you." Nanaki managed a tiny smile, fixing him with tragic blue eyes. "You don't look at me how he did…so I know…you won't harm me."
She injected as much tragedy into her bright blue eyes as possible as she looked at him, searching his expression for any sign of doubt or suspicion. There was none, however, and she fought to keep the triumph from her voice.
"I'm sorry that I've inconvenienced Lord Seiren more than I intended to."
She had always been good at looking scared, pitiful or helpless, and in the past two years that fact had frustrated her more than once. But now she realised that that in itself was a talent – that people rarely suspected the meek and would not see the blood that now stained her pretty hime's hands.
"Seiren-sama has gone to report events to Guren-sama directly. I expect he will want to call on you too, to explain your part in what happened last evening."
Shibata looked suddenly weary.
"You must not stray from the protection of myself and my guardsmen, Nanaki-dono. Last night an attempt was made to arrest Shirogane-dono, but it met with failure. As a shinigami, he easily slipped away from us – attacked my men and I and disappeared into the night. His whereabouts is still unknown – but using his kidou skills, it is possible he is in the local area and keeping himself concealed."
"Shirogane-dono?" Nanaki started, hoping that her face had gone white to match her frightened expression. She sank down on her bed, clutching at her discarded blankets and hugging them instinctively to her chest. "But…Shibata-dono…"
"You should not worry." Shibata assured her. "As I said, Seiren-sama has charged me with your safety. And I'm sure once Guren-sama hears what you have to say, he will dispatch men who can see through Shirogane-dono's demon arts and locate his whereabouts."
"You…believe me?" Nanaki injected just the right note of hesitation into her voice, and Shibata nodded his head.
"By his own words, Shirogane-dono confessed to having met with you." He said gravely. "More than that, though, I saw the rage and insanity in his eyes as he released his zanpakutou on my men. He did not care whether he caused harm – even death – he simply hacked and slashed at them as though he was willing to cut through them to be able to escape. It reminded me of the terrible events in the stableyard with far too much clarity."
"Shirogane-dono did not do that." Nanaki whispered, and Shibata nodded his head once more.
"I know. But from your testimony, it seems that he had some connection to the one who did." He said darkly. "That is what you told Seiren-sama, isn't it? That the one who killed those in the stableyard was seen by you before he escaped?"
"Yes." Nanaki's expression became haunted. "And you're right. It's not someone I'd easily forget."
She shivered.
"Those golden eyes…looking right through me. Like the devil's own eyes." She added.
"Then you must tell all of this to Guren-sama." Shibata said seriously. "And trust in him to protect us all from the insurgence lurking in the shadows around this Clan."
Nanaki was silent for a moment, her fingers once more going to her throat where the pendant had originally hung. Then she smiled slightly, nodding her head.
"I understand." She agreed softly. "And I will."
"Seiren, I want a clear explanation for your conduct last night."
Across the other side of the Kuchiki manor, a quite different conversation was taking place, and as Guren banged his hands down on his desk, he cast an angry glare at his brother who stood silent and vaguely defiant across the other side of the well-appointed, formally decorated study.
Years before, this had been Senaya's domain, and Guren could still remember his father pacing around it in restless annoyance, struggling to pull together the different aspects and angles of dealing with the Clan.
He had been young then – he and Seiren both had been – but even so he recalled the arguments that would often fill this room. His Uncle Kinnya had often raised his voice to his father behind the closed doors of the study, and as a small boy Guren remembered hearing the angry exchanges of words between the two men drifting across the grass towards where he and his nurses had been playing.
At the time he had not understood how two men who seemed so close could shout at each other so readily and still retain their trust for one another. And now he found himself remembering that feeling again as he gazed at his own brother's defiance and realised that despite their mutual efforts to work together for so long as they had, they had never been close enough to really argue.
To argue with someone in the way Kinnya-sama and Father argued implies implicit trust and an understanding that goes beyond the ties of office. Seiren and I have never had that level of anything – as I said to Retsu, cracks lie just beneath the surface.
"I came to report to you, Oniisama." Seiren's own words were calm and somewhat cool, further strengthening Guren's opinion that the conversation that would follow would touch on dangerous territory. He remembered with only too much clarity how much the twins had hated one another as children, and though that hatred had been set aside in the pursuit of a common goal, at that moment Guren felt those emotions flickering and flaring once again, frustrating his rationality and making him struggle to keep his temper under wraps.
He could not say the things he wanted to say out loud, for fear of generating a greater rift in Kuchiki administration than already existed. But deep down, he was angry in a way he had not been in some years. Since Masane's death, he had looked out for Shirogane not only out of duty to her but also with genuine affection – and with his emotions already raw from the loss of Ribari, he felt now that in the space of a short time a second son had been stolen from him. He did not like the helplessness of being the bereft father – and that Seiren had acted so without his direct agreement had only served to stoke his annoyance further.
"I understand that without my authority you sent men to arrest our nephew Shirogane last evening." Somehow he kept his words even and calm. "Although I had already assured you that I intended on keeping an eye on Shirogane myself. As a result, I believe that not only are men of yours now nursing injuries and the archive is somewhat in disarray, the boy himself has disappeared from the immediate vicinity. And, more than that, Seiren…you waited until this morning to report any of this business to me. In fact, I learnt of the entire episode by accident – not from the brother I am supposed to consider my right hand man."
"If you'll allow me to speak, Guren-sama, I'll explain to you clearly the events of last night." Seiren's words were once more chilly, and Guren recognised an old obstinacy rising in his dark gaze. "As for not reporting to you sooner, I am sorry. But I – and my men – spent the majority of last night trying to track down Shirogane's whereabouts with the intention of bringing him before you in person to explain his conduct properly."
"Yet you failed to locate him."
"His whereabouts remain unknown."
"Seiren, what were you doing?" Guren asked softly. "Even if you felt strongly that he was somehow disturbed from the events recently, surely…"
"Further evidence came before me late last night, Oniisama." Seiren spoke evenly and calmly, his gaze fixed right in front of him as though he too was fighting to hold down a violent burst of temper. "It was not my intention to cause Shirogane harm – but the new evidence I discovered meant that I did not with all conscience leave matters to themselves."
"What evidence?" Guren demanded, and Seiren's eyes narrowed.
"A young girl among the menial staff of this manor was assaulted last night." He said flatly. "You will remember, of course, that low level staff of this estate were also targeted by an unknown assassin only a day before, so I thought it prudent to listen to what she had to say. She claimed to have been assaulted by Shirogane himself – after having overheard conversations between him and some unknown other party planning the removal of my son and, if I may say so, your only legitimate Clan heir."
"A serving girl said so?" Guren was sceptical. "On which evidence, your men invaded the library, created a scene of chaos and drove your blood nephew into hiding without asking for his own side of the story?"
"Shibata was dispatched to bring Shirogane to speak to me." Seiren said matter-of-factly. "To me, and then to you, for you to decide on matters directly. Shirogane was the one who became violent – he released his zanpakutou and used Kidou on men who have no spiritual ability or training and he did so, so my men tell me, without hesitation or mercy. Then he fled the manor – which is surely not the act of an innocent man."
"If you are right about his unsettled mental state, Seiren, you realise such an action might have done him damage rather than anything else?" Guren somehow managed to keep the impatience out of his tones. "If he is still suffering paranoid delusions of some kind from that night, your attack will have driven him into hiding and maybe into danger. Besides, all on the word of a serving wench with nothing further to back up your actions? You've let your personal bias go too far this time. I want him found and brought back here – and I will hear what he says before I consider any idea of arresting him."
"The maidservant is an exile from District Eight, sir." Seiren's eyes were flinty as he met his brother's gaze. "A child of a former Kyouraku lord who took shelter here when her father died and Tokutarou-sama took control. Shirogane admitted to Shibata that he met with her – and immediately after he did so, she was found in a bloody, bruised state and near hysterical with fear and shock. She is currently in the care of some of my people, and she will be brought before you to explain her story to you herself."
"A…Kyouraku exile? A hime, among our serving staff?" Guren arched an eyebrow. "Seiren, what stories are you believing now? Maybe you're the one who's having the delusions, and not Shirogane at all! Since when have you acted so rashly based on the words of a servant? No matter how I look at this, it seems…"
"She carried the crest of District Eight, Oniisama." Seiren cut across him bluntly. "A genuine crest which identifies her as a descendant of the main house of the Kyouraku Clan. I have verified for myself the crest's authenticity – not only is its craftsmanship obviously superior, it matches identically to the crest held by the former lord Matsuhara when he sat on the Council of Elders."
His eyes became unpleasant.
"Strangely that was easy enough to discover." He added coldly. "Because Shirogane was looking through those exact books when my men apprehended him. He too was matching the crest of the Kyouraku – further proof he met the girl, and probably, that he knew who she was. Maybe even, if I might suggest it, with the purpose of selling her over to less than savoury allies in return for some unknown deed. Certainly I can't imagine given the state of the wench when I found her that he meant her anything but harm."
Despite himself, Guren's heart lurched momentarily in his chest.
"A Clan crest?" He murmured, and Seiren nodded, slipping his fingers into his rich emerald obi and producing the pendant which sparkled in the morning light. He set it down carefully on the wood of Guren's desk, and the other man picked it up tentatively, turning it over in his hands. At once he could see that his brother was right – that it was a genuine Clan crest, and more, that the family insignia was one he had seen before.
"Matsuhara-dono's crest indeed." He murmured, more than half to himself, and Seiren nodded his head, the faintest glimmer of triumph in his grey eyes.
"What else did this girl say?" Guren set the pendant down, fixing his brother with a searching look. "I am loath to believe that Shirogane is an enemy of mine or of Ryuu's – or that he would plot with anyone behind anyone's back. But I will hear everything first, if I may."
"She said that she fled here because the Kyouraku had allied with Shihouin assassins and that such people had been hunting her down behind the scenes since her father's suicide." Seiren said quietly. "She knew that the Kuchiki would not enter into such a pact, being that we have a long enmity with the Shihouin, and so felt here was a safe place where she could hide. But the day before yesterday, she was at the stables. She said that she witnessed the attack on the men and that it was carried out by a man dressed all in black – a man with golden eyes. She recognised him as one of the assassins for hire that the Kyouraku had drawn on to hunt down and destroy her family, and so she fled in fear. And she claimed Shirogane to be involved in this in some way."
"I see." Guren's eyes narrowed. "I must speak to this girl. You say she is in your custody?"
"Yes, but I have not tried to rouse her from her sleep. She was badly battered in yesterday's attack and it was enough to try and keep that matter quiet from the other servants."
"Still, I will speak to her and without delay. Send a man to rouse her, Seiren – or perhaps a woman, if you feel that to be more appropriate."
Guren grimaced.
"Would that Teitou's daughter was still here. With her healing wits and gentle manner, she would have been the ideal choice to gain this girl's trust – but never mind. We must do as we can. Tired or battered or not, if she can walk and can speak I will have her here and as soon as possible."
"Yes, Oniisama."
Seiren inclined his head slightly, moving to the door and opening it to speak to the guards posted outside. Guren did not hear their exchange, but the next moment his brother had returned to the chamber, closing the divide once more behind him.
"She will be brought here as soon as is possible." He said quietly, his tones full of deference yet still with a certain edge that Guren did not quite like. "Shibata has been stood guard at her door since I left to report to you, so you need not worry about any delay."
"Good." Guren sighed, drumming his fingers absently on the desk as he ran his mind over the things he had already heard. "Because I don't like this, Seiren. This girl may or may not be a Kyouraku hime – I certainly cannot dispute the crest you've shown me, and I also know that the Kyouraku Clan have not always enjoyed the stability they enjoy now. But even though that is the case…for Shirogane to plot against his family in any regard…"
"There is one other thing, Oniisama." Seiren cut across him softly, his words not disrespectful yet somehow demanding to be heard. "I knew you would not simply take my or anyone's word for it, since you are far too fond of Masane's boy for common sense, even when an innocent girl has been beaten within inches of her life. So I had Shibata conduct a search of Shirogane's chambers in a hunt for evidence linking him with any conspiracy."
"And?"
"Mm." Seiren hesitated for a moment, then slipped his hand back into his obi, pulling out two folded pieces of parchment which he dropped down onto the desk. Guren picked up the more scrunched up piece of paper, unravelling it and then staring at it blankly before raising his gaze to his companion in confusion.
"But this is…?"
"A fragment taken from Father's nikki." Seiren agreed grimly. "And when I say a fragment, I mean a fragment. There is only a few lines of text here, but it looks like it has been recently torn across. Perhaps by accident, perhaps by design. The page is old and faded – it may have been separated from the nikki for some time. But the tear across the middle is a fresh one."
"How can you be sure?" Guren squinted at the faded script. "Certainly, it is Father's writing, Seiren, but that this is from his nikki…? Why would you be so certain of that? It says nothing of particular significance."
"The style and paper appears the same to me." Was it Guren's imagination, or was there some hesitation in Seiren's eyes as he answered that question. "I have recently had cause to scan through Father's diary, and so the style and appearance is fresh in my mind. Perhaps I am wrong – but that is how it appears to me."
"At that time, Kinnya was also summoned and a course of action was chosen for the greater benefit of the Kuchiki Clan." Guren frowned, reading the text slowly out loud. "On this occasion, it seemed that…"
He paused, raising his head.
"That is all it says." He added. "Perhaps it is from the nikki, but I would have noticed any pages that had been so damaged or vandalised. Why Shirogane would have this is a mystery to me. It contains nothing of any worth."
"Perhaps the rest of the page did."
"But there is no rest of page." Guren said sensibly. "Seiren, unless you know with certainty where this comes from and what its significance is, I'm afraid that…"
"Shirogane took my son to see the nikki a few days before all of this occurred." Seiren said softly. "It troubles me, that's all. That coincidence."
"It may be nothing more than coincidence." Guren pointed out, setting the scrap aside. "And this? This second sheet? This is newer paper, surely?"
"It is."
Seiren faltered again, and Guren could see consternation in his brother's eyes.
"I have received twice letters from an unknown individual in recent days." At length the man spoke, and Guren was certain now that his brother was revealing information he did not want to disclose. "They are written in a fine hand in expensive ink – the kind of ink you use yourself, and on parchment such as that Masane used to use. Though most of the paper in Shirogane's chamber was blank, there was one which was not."
He tapped the second piece of paper with his index finger.
"Please, Guren-sama. Read this and see what you think."
Slowly Guren unfolded the piece of paper, then his eyes widened in surprise.
"Leader of the Clan you may be, but leader of the Clan you are not." He murmured. "Seiren…what is the meaning of this?"
He turned it over, recognising with a chill the neatly printed kanji for his name on the outside of the paper.
"That one was meant for you, it seems." Seiren said blackly. "The letters I received I burnt – but I believe they were intended to threaten Ryuu and his position. Maybe even his life. I had not wanted to concern you with them, but on finding this one, I thought…I could no longer keep silent about the ones I had received."
"You believe Shirogane wrote this – and the others you burnt?" Guren demanded, and Seiren nodded his head.
"That is my conjecture. Yes."
"It is a serious allegation." Guren sighed, setting the paper down on the desk and rubbing his temples as a sudden sense of weary heaviness washed over him. "And it is impossible to tell from the writing whether a particular individual wrote it. I know Shirogane's hand and I admit, the characters are not entirely dissimilar to his style. But then again, they are not similar enough for me to say they are his, either. Many young nobles are trained to write in similar form and pattern – all I can say from this is that they were written by someone with a recent education, not a classical one like yours or mine."
"In Shirogane's room, written by such a person, using the ink you gave him and parchment favoured by Masane?" Seiren arched an eyebrow. "I know you are fond of the boy, Guren-nii, but even so…you must see…"
"Circumstantial evidence is only that without the testimony of the person himself." Guren said quietly. "I wish Shirogane to be found, Seiren. Whatever the truth, I want to know it."
"Even if it proves that he was plotting against you, against Ryuu – even Ribari-sama?" Seiren asked, and Guren nodded.
"I know Shirogane." He said simply. "I want to believe in him. Until I hear his own account, I can't do that – or pass any kind of judgement. Your men were hasty last night. Whether they frightened a guilty man or chased out an innocent one is something I still can't be sure of. But for now…I want him found."
"I think there's a good chance he might leave Six." Seiren admitted, and Guren nodded.
"If he is innocent or he is guilty, the chances are he'll head for familiar ground." He agreed tiredly. "If he means Ryuu harm, or if he seeks Genryuusai-sama's shelter, I think there's a good possibility that he'll make for the border with Seventh and then beyond that towards District One. In which case, we will deploy what we can to find him before he reaches that divide. Shinigami, if need be – his concealment kidou skill is high and will probably fox most of the ordinary retainers."
A shadow crossed his features.
"I will deploy Sixth squad, such as they are, along with your men." He decided. "In the meantime, Seiren, I must speak to your Kyouraku hime about this apparent golden eyed assassin she saw cut down members of my household staff."
His eyes darkened.
"That is one area on which I have experience and will not hesitate." He added soberly, his fingers brushing the hilt of his zanpakutou. "If I find there is good evidence of Shihouin involvement in my son's death, Seiren, I will cleave that Clan apart myself. The blood they owe us is already far too high – if I find they took my son from me as well, I will not rest until they are trampled out of existence completely."
Before Seiren could respond, there was a knock at the door.
"Seiren-sama, Guren-sama, I beg pardon for the intrusion." The voice was Shibata's. "But I have brought Nanaki-hime for an audience with Guren-sama as requested. She is quite risen and ready to speak to you – please allow her to enter."
"Send her in, Shibata." Guren raised his voice, and the door slid back to reveal the retainer, a young girl in his slipstream.
Guren's eyes rested on her thoughtfully, taking in the soft bruising to her face and hands. She was robed in a soft, simple white and cream kimono, yet from the slightly tentative way in which she moved, Guren could tell that the pure fabric concealed other injuries and that whatever his suspicions regarding Shirogane's guilt, he could not avoid the fact this stranger had come to harm.
She was younger than Mitsuki, he reflected, perhaps no older than seventeen at the most, with thick dark hair pulled neatly back from her face and bright, apprehensive blue eyes that gave her the appearance of a startled animal struck by a sudden gleam of moonlight through the trees. As she reached the desk, she paused, bowing low towards the Clan leader with a solemn formality to her air, and Guren realised with a jolt that his brother had been right. This was not a serving girl, thrust into the spotlight and uncertain of her manners. This was someone of Clan birth who for whatever reasons had fallen to the level of menial maidservant in a foreign family's home.
"Your name is Nanaki, is that right?" At length he broke the silence, and the girl raised her head, nodding slowly.
"Yes, sir. That's my name."
"Will you tell me please, Nanaki, how you came to be in District Six, and why you have been acting as a servant when from your very bearing I can tell that you were raised a different way?"
"I am an exile, Guren-sama." Nanaki's eyes took on a melancholy look. "Since my father died. I was born Kyouraku Nanaki, in District Eight. Kyouraku Sadehira was my father, and the uncle of the current Lord, Tokutarou-sama. But he and my Uncle Matsuhara had a great feud, and when Matsuhara-sama died, my Father claimed control of District Eight."
"I see." Guren's lips thinned. "I knew Sadehira – briefly – during his short time in command of Eighth District's Clan. A military man – a soldier with a ruthless edge to his blade, but not a Shinigami. Yet that he had children – this I did not know."
"For the sake of our safety, Guren-sama, we were mostly hidden away from public view." Nanaki did not falter at the question, merely offering him a small smile. "My mother and my brother and I, because my Father's life had been targeted by Matsuhara-sama's agents in the past. Matsuhara-sama…was not mentally stable. He…I believe he killed his first wife, and some time after, brought the Clan into such disfavour with his behaviour that my Father was forced to use his own weapon to take hold of the Clan by force. But because of that…and because my cousin Tokutarou-sama was always in the care of his Shiba allies, we were never safe. We didn't know if we might be killed. And so Father would often move us around the District."
She sighed, glancing at her hands.
"When Tokutarou-sama tried to take back the District, and Father took his own life, assassins were dispatched to kill my brother and my mother." She whispered, and Guren was almost sure he saw the glitter of tears on the girl's lashes. "I alone was able to reach District Seven in safety and appeal there to my Father's allies, the Endou – but in the purge of spiritually gifted people, several of those sent to protect me were killed and I became once more under threat by assassins sent by Tokutarou-sama to remove all traces of my family's line. I only saw those killers once…but when I did, they had…the same golden eyes as…as…"
She faltered, her words breaking down mid-sentence, and Guren pursed his lips.
"We'll come to that in a minute." He said gravely. "But I'm curious to know why you came here? Surely you know that the Kuchiki have no political treaties with any other Clan beyond trade – and that here you would have nothing."
"I had my life." Nanaki faced him bravely. "And I came here because first the Endou and the Shihouin, then the Kyouraku and the Shihouin allied. But the Kuchiki hate the Shihouin. So I supposed that Shihouin assassins could not come here…and I would be safe. Even if I had to live at the lowest level to survive…I would be safe."
"But last night something happened to change that, didn't it?" Seiren said quietly, and Nanaki started, as if seeing the other nobleman for the first time. She nodded her head, and Guren thought he saw her tremble slightly as if remembering something terrible.
"I saw the man who killed the stable men." She said unevenly. "He was robed in black with gold eyes, just like the assassins who came and took my mother and my brother. The ones who were hunting me down. And when he looked at me, I knew…I remembered…and I was frightened."
"You are quite sure of that?" Guren asked sharply, and Nanaki nodded fervently.
"Quite sure. Sure enough to stake my life on it." She agreed. "That the one who killed those men was a Shihouin. I thought he had come for me…but with Ribari-sama…I…I don't know any more what's going on. I'm just…frightened. Because…what if they come back?"
"And Shirogane?" Guren pressed. "You spoke to him yesterday, also?"
Nanaki swallowed hard, and Guren saw her hand move unconsciously to touch her brow where a faintly purplish bruise was just visible beyond the line of her hair.
"Shirogane-sama…is missing, isn't he?" She whispered, and Guren sighed.
"We will find him." He said firmly. "For now I want to know what passed between you and my nephew last night."
"I…he was talking…to someone." Nanaki said quietly. "I didn't see who…he was. Just…someone in the shadows. About…getting rid of…the other Kuchiki heir. Not Ribari-sama. Ryuu…Ryuu-sama. That was what they said. That it wasn't enough – that they had to get rid of the other claimant too. I wanted to run away and report it, but he saw me, and he followed me. He d…dragged me to his r…room, and then he…he…"
"Nanaki, show Guren-sama your arms." Seiren instructed, and slowly and tearfully the young girl drew back the heavy folds of cream fabric to reveal the barely healing scrapes and bruises that mottled her fair skin. Despite himself, Guren let out an exclamation of dismay.
"Those injuries…!"
"I thought he was going to kill me himself." Nanaki swallowed hard. "I don't even know how I m…managed to get away. I think he r…ripped my uniform, and somehow I…so I ran and ran to S…Seiren-dono. Because Seiren-dono is…strong. And…I thought…he wouldn't let me get h…hurt any more. If I told him everything, he would…"
"Nanaki collapsed from the shock of her injuries in my study, and my people took care of her." Seiren said quietly. "My own daughter Murasaki cleaned and robed her for bed, and said that her body was bruised all over beyond her maid's uniform. Hence I have had her guarded, in case of a second attempt on the girl's life. Now you have heard everything that I have, Guren-niisama. Do you still maintain that Shirogane is an innocent party?"
Guren was silent for a moment, running his gaze once more over the young girl who stood before him.
The things she says are true. About the Kyouraku…and the unsettled nature of the Clan. Her story is plausible, her crest is genuine. Her bearing is that of a hime, and still…there is something that makes me uncomfortable. Is it my partiality for Shirogane, clouding my judgement? But without him here to give his side of things, what should I believe?
His brows knitted together in consternation.
For now, there are two things I must do. First, I must find my nephew and hear from his own lips what has occurred. Even if I have to condemn him, I want to hear it all the same. And second…I must pursue this Shihouin clue. Because even if I cannot believe my nephew to be a traitor, I…I can believe that Clan to be involved in an assassination. Midori-dono is a reasonable person, but I mustn't forget she is also a ruthless one. And that Shihouin paid killers are a deep-rooted tradition. If this goes back to a time before she took over the Clan, it may be that it is beyond her control or her knowledge.
He took a deep breath into his lungs, then,
If I find her or her people complicit in my son's death, though, God help me I will not forgive, no matter what the circumstances.
Out loud he said,
"You need not be afraid, Nanaki. We will continue to protect you and I will investigate these matters directly. It seems they have a close tie to the death of my only son – and so you can be assured that I will treat everything you've said as being of the utmost importance."
Well, so it was morning now.
Juushirou opened his eyes, gazing up at the ceiling of his chamber with a mixture of weariness and resignation. Though rays of sunlight had begun to pour through the window, he did not feel as though he had had much sleep, and with a groan he dragged his heavy body into a sitting position.
All too clearly he remembered the storm, the trek through the mud and the fight with the Hollow that, in hindsight, could easily have cost both him and Tsunemori their lives.
Yet I'm here and awake and still alive, so I should be grateful for that fact at least.
Juushirou rubbed his chest absently, stifling the urge to cough.
Mitsuki's remedy has helped a little, too. I felt much more raw and ripped about when I crawled in here last evening, but the herbs have taken the edge off it. I suspect I still have a fever – but it's not enough to keep me tied to my bed, thank goodness.
He sighed, his gaze falling on the sheathed blade that lay beside his bed.
"The last thing I want to do is sit around here and dwell on things." He murmured aloud, half to the sword and half to himself. "I'm sorry, Sougyo."
Why are you so apologetic?
You's voice cut suddenly through his thoughts and he jumped, only just suppressing the urge to swing round and look for a speaker.
And on edge – that's not like you.
In's words were laced with concern, and Juushirou sighed, sinking back against the wall of the room.
I suppose not. In'you, did I do the right thing last night?
"That's a foolish question." You snorted, flicking his tail against Juushirou's consciousness in his derision. "The boy is alive who would have been dead. You carry a sword – if you are afraid to use it to protect your juniors, why exactly do you have it?"
I don't know.
Juushirou reddened.
I suppose when you say it like that, you're right. I just feel as though…
"Are you going to go off on another rampage of self-doubt and criticism because you got scolded last night for not reporting the matter to Genryuusai-sensei?" You demanded, and Juushirou buried his head in his hands.
It isn't that. It's the whole thing. If you're just going to lecture and poke at me, You, you might as well shut up and let me think things through for myself. It isn't about protecting Tsukabishi from the Hollow. It was that things got to that point. They should not have done. That's all.
"You didn't summon the Hollow, Juushirou." In said gently. "There was no way to prevent that circumstance. You acted as a shinigami should. Don't regret it. You were right."
No…not that.
Juushirou's eyes became frustrated.
I suppose I can't expect you two to understand what I mean, because you are my sword and everything you see and do connects to that part of me – my spiritual self. But I'm bothered about other things. About…about…
"That was quite insulting." You snorted. "As though you think we don't know all aspects of you and your personality. Juu-kun, we are parts of you. You can't keep things a secret and you can't assume we don't know all the things you think are unconnected to Sougyo no Kotowari."
"You doubt your right to be Anideshi, don't you?" In asked, and Juushirou frowned, shrugging his shoulders.
"I broke the law last night." He said out loud, reaching over to pick up the sheathed sword and pulling the silver blade carefully from its resting place, laying it across his knees as he ran his fingers across the smooth metal surface. "Sensei was lenient on me, but I'm not sure he was right. To you it might not seem a big deal, but it was my fault – it's still my fault – Tsukabishi got hurt. If I'm right, and it was what I said to Kamaki that started all of this…then what Sensei said to me in the First Year is starting to come true."
"Which was that you're a leader, and yet…?"
No. It was that if I'm not careful about how I lead, I can cause harm.
Juushirou returned the sword to its sheath with a sigh.
Everything that I do this year is like that. I upset Kamaki. Maybe that was enough to make him hate me. And perhaps because of that…
"That's superfluous and you know it. You're not responsible for another's immature reaction." You cut across him once again. "Be honest with yourself, Juushirou. What upsets you isn't that on its own. What upsets you is the fact that someone hates you. That people hate you enough to hurt you. And even though you should know that's part of life…you're too idealistic. You can't accept it…you believe you've done something wrong."
Surely if I'm hated by someone, that's because I did?
"Not necessarily."
But…
"Juushirou, you've faced discrimination since you came here." In pointed out. "You've never let that cut holes in you like this, so why now?"
Because Kamaki is a Shiba. He's not like the others.
Juushirou pushed back the covers, getting to his feet and moving across the room to where his clean uniform was neatly laid out.
He doesn't hate District people. It's not about that.
"So you can't deal with it, then, if someone dislikes you because you're you?" You demanded.
Maybe.
Juushirou grimaced.
It sounds arrogant and self-serving, doesn't it? But I'm not sure…how to deal with it. If I can make people hate me…see, with discrimination because of my birth level and things like that, it's different. I've done nothing wrong, then. And I've generally fought through it and proven to those people that I'm stronger than their judgement of me. I've made friends among Clansfolk that maybe it seemed impossible for me to reach – and so I suppose…maybe I am naïve. But I suppose I thought that…if I worked hard…
"That you would manage to win everyone over in the end?" In asked gently. Juushirou nodded.
"I think Sensei made me Anideshi in order to prove myself to a lot of people." He said frankly. "But I think he also did it to show me what a horrible position it is. To be a target. And…to be hated by people you don't even know."
"It sounds to me that it's not him or anyone else you have to prove yourself to, Juushirou." You said acerbically. "It sounds like you need to prove something to yourself."
"Juu-kun!"
At that moment the door of the nest was flung back, revealing Shunsui, and Juushirou turned, offering his friend a faint smile.
"Good morning."
"Morning." Shunsui grinned. "How are you? You're up, so that's a good sign, I suppose."
"I suppose." Juushirou nodded. "But I have to be up, really. I have to speak to Yamamoto-kun, and I still want to get to the bottom of Tsukabishi's situation. So…"
"You haven't spoken to Akira yet, huh?" Shunsui frowned. "I can do it, if you like. Tell him that you're postponing. Then you can focus on…"
"I'm not postponing, Shunsui." Juushirou cut across him, and Shunsui stared, eyes widening in dismay as he took in the tension in his friend's thin frame.
"Juu? But…"
"Don't." Juushirou said briskly. "Because it's not under discussion. I gave my word and I'm going to go and keep it. That's important for me to do…I'm Anideshi."
"You idiot." Shunsui grimaced, crossing the chamber in short, swift strides and putting his hand against the younger boy's brow. "And I thought so," As Juushirou shied back from his touch. "You're warm. You are better than last night, granted – much better, which is probably thanks to Mitsuki-chan's potion of love as much as it is anything else. But you are not in a fit state to spar with anyone. Not even with sealed swords."
"I gave him my word." Juushirou repeated firmly. "And I'm going. You can disapprove all you like, Shunsui. I need to do this, so I'm going to."
"Even if you beat him – or he beats you – it isn't going to change anything, you know." Shunsui said bluntly. "He wants to fight you because you annoy him. Whatever the outcome, I doubt a few slashes and parries are going to make you break down his hostility. He doesn't like you – accept it and move past it, all right? I'll help you with finding out what's bugging Tsukabishi, if you like, but this spar with Akira is…"
"Going ahead." Juushirou cut across him, his eyes steely and resolute. "And that's the end of that."
"Juu…" Shunsui bit his lip. "Do you want to bring on an attack? You're better, sure, but not one hundred percent right. And your chest…"
"This is my body. I'll thank you for letting me take care of it how I see fit." Despite himself, Juushirou could not keep the ice out of his tones, and Shunsui groaned.
"Fine, but I want it recorded officially that you are an idiot and that I told you so beforehand." He returned neatly. "I'll pick up the pieces afterwards, so there's no need to snipe at me as though I've clipped your wings or locked your bedroom door. I just think you're being foolish and you're not going to do yourself or your situation with Yamamoto any good by turning up half-dead to your battle. He might really hurt you – I'd rather that didn't happen."
"If I don't fight him, it will seem as though I'm afraid of him." Juushirou said simply. "And I'm not. So I'll spar. I'll keep my word. That's all."
"So you are up and about this morning, Ukitake." Ryuu's voice from the doorway prevented Shunsui from responding, and the Kyouraku turned, sending his classmate a helpless look.
"He's going to fight Yamamoto." He said quietly. "I can't talk him out of it."
"What?" Ryuu's eyebrows disappeared into his fringe, then, "Ukitake, are you a complete idiot? You must be running some fever indeed if you think that to be a logical action after everything that occurred last night!"
"You weren't there, so you wouldn't know anything about that." Juushirou objected, and Ryuu snorted.
"Who do you think I am?" He demanded. "I am as capable of following your – and other – reiatsu as anyone else. And besides, I have already spoken to Hirata this morning. I expected you to remain in bed today – and now you're talking about sparring?"
"Yes. I am." Juushirou picked up his uniform. "And at this rate, I'll be late."
He pursed his lips, glancing over Ryuu for a moment, then,
"You're dressed, though, so if you like, you can do me a favour." He said pensively.
"A favour?" Ryuu looked suspicious, and Juushirou nodded.
"Go find Yamamoto-kun and tell him I'll be with him as soon as possible." He replied simply. "That even if I'm a little late, I don't intend on backing out on his challenge. We'll have our spar – just as soon as I'm dressed."