Chapter Thirty Six: Nazo no Hime
The foreigner would be arriving in District Six any time now.
Nanaki fidgeted against the harsh fabric of her maid's uniform, fingering the pendant that hung around her neck with an amount of suppressed frustration as she waited for her sign.
It had been too good to be true, she mused resentfully, gazing up at the almost full white haze of the moon shining down on her from its vantage point behind the wisps of cloud. For a very short time she had thought them to be rid of the voiceless, emotionless shadow that had dogged them ever since Masaki had had the bright idea of opening up his puppetry experiment. It had never been said for sure, but Nanaki had confidently believed that with his capture and incarceration, their paths would no longer cross.
She had not anticipated that her conversation with Seiren in the dark woods of the Kuchiki manor some nights before would lead them down this path - or that Masaki would have made the decision to retrieve the golden eyed killer from his prison.
I don't see why it matters if a Shihouin sees him, though.
Nanaki sighed, folding her arms petulantly across her chest as she paced up and down on the worn patch of grass.
That was the point, wasn't it, in taking a blood Shihouin and manipulating him against the Kuchiki Clan? The whole purpose of having that creature tagging along with us was for this reason - to make the Shihouin top of the Kuchiki suspicion list. And it must have worked, since now a high ranking Shihouin is coming here. Surely it would be more benefit to us if we tried to kill that Shihouin on Kuchiki land, and let that boy fester in the dungeons. We don't need him any longer, not now he's known to the Kuchiki guards. And if this...Yanagi-dono...if he was killed here, then...so what? Surely that would just play into everyone's hands, and it would have the same result.
She slipped her fingers beneath the sash of her uniform, pulling out the small vial of toxic solution and glancing at it with a sigh.
I could manage something like that, but orders are orders and I promised not to disobey him when it came to things like this. I don't understand it, but I'll go along with it. I just wish that it didn't mean we had to take that creature back. I was starting to enjoy having time alone again, just us.
She slipped the solution back into her sash, raising her gaze to the horizon for any sight of the carriage that she knew would soon be coming over the rise towards the Kuchiki manor. From the shadows she had stalked the estate on and off during the day, and she had realised that security would be especially tight during the visit of the foreign noble - so the soldiers who would usually patrol the forecourt would doubtless be redeployed to the gates to ensure that no harm could befall their unusual visitor. There were plenty of Kuchiki whose feathers had been ruffled by Guren's sudden decision to bring someone that most of the Clan perceived as an enemy into the heart of their estate, so Nanaki surmised that they would have their hands full preventing any conflict from breaking out between dissatisfied Kuchiki Lords and a trained Shihouin assassin.
As she had expected, the guards posted to the prison had been reduced that evening, for the prisoner had not shown any sign of wanting to escape, and the door of his cage had been securely fastened to hold him until the formalities had been dispensed with and the guest could come and make his formal identification.
In that brief period of time, when attention would be away from the cell, Nanaki would act.
And she would need all of the tricks and shortcuts she had learnt during her time in service for the Kuchiki, for her face was also known to the Clan.
Hopefully I won't be seen, though.
Nanaki pulled the hood of her cloak up to shield her face, as she caught sight of the distinctive outline of a carriage cresting the ridge ahead. That was her signal - the approach of the black and gold vehicle would send the manor into a frenzy of activity and during the confusion she had perhaps two or three minutes to cross the main courtyard and slip down the back steps to the prison.
Letting out her breath in a heavy sigh, she turned on her heel, slipping carefully down the grassy slope and darting nimbly between the trees as she watched the Clan retainers preparing to receive their important guest. As she had expected, the attention was entirely focused on the approaching carriage, and with her black cloak and careful knowledge of the estate, she found it was not difficult to slip into the grounds and between the old stone buildings towards the innermost part of what was for the most part more a castle than a manor house.
Pressing up against the wall of the kitchens, she pricked her ears, listening carefully for the rumble of carriage wheels and the calls of the guards as they got into position. She could not make any further move until the Shihouin had stepped down onto the cobbles, for it would be at that moment that the men guarding the entrance to the prison would likely be sent for as further back up and then - and only then - would she have an opening to reach her destination unmolested.
She was not really interested in Shihouin, but as the elaborate vehicle jerked to a stop, the black horses drawing it snorting and pawing at the ground impatiently as the figure descended, the clouds shifted from their position across the moon, illuminating the courtyard more clearly and highlighting the features of the visitor at the same time.
As she caught sight of the golden eyes, Nanaki's heart constricted in her chest.
Shihouin Yanagi.
She had not known his name, but as she gazed at the young man, she realised with a jolt of fear that he was not a stranger to her. On the contrary, he had visited her family on at least one occasion in the dim, distant past and she remembered distinctly having been presented to him as he and his kinsman had shared an evening meal with her and hers. She had not spoken one word to him - and for the most part had not raised her gaze from her meal as the conversation had darted on around her, but even so, she knew.
Shihouin Yanagi was someone she had met.
Her eyes became slits as she ducked back into the shadows to consider this.
Is that why he doesn't want me to risk encountering this man face to face? Yanagi-dono's trained as an assassin - now I realise who he is, I know that only too well. He was one of those...one of the tainted men of that silly old Shihouin fool who got wrapped up in plans they couldn't control. I thought they'd all been killed or locked up, but I guess they missed one.
She closed her eyes.
That means he'd not only recognise me, but...he'd also know...perhaps that's why we're taking what's ours and running with it, instead of risking a confrontation. To kill a trained assassin would be difficult for me to do. If Yanagi-dono were to see me...and were to live long enough to raise the alarm, the whole game would be up. I'm taking enough of a risk breaking that creature out of his cell - but at least if I stick to the plan, the chances of me being seen and identified are minimal.
Letting out her breath in a rush she opened her eyes, re-focusing her thoughts.
And that's more important. If I was to be named, the game would be up. I suppose I owe him an apology. He thought this all out beyond my comprehension - so I won't disobey his instructions. While the Kuchiki are busy with their visitor - I'm going to go and do my job and then get out of here. The Senkaimon will be open outside the back of the manor when the moon is highest in the sky, that's what he said. So long as that brat and I are there then, all should be fine. Another mysterious disappearance by the phantom killer of the Kuchiki Clan.
A grim smile crossed her lips as she slipped through the dark shadows towards the servants' stairs that led down into the bowels of the manor prison. Seiren had been indiscreet enough in his words to give her a good idea of where she was going, and so she did not falter, approaching the door that led to the cells with extreme caution. Most of those posted on duty in this area were men belonging to Futsuki, Guren's older half brother, and not the more gullible Seiren - but Nanaki had no way of knowing how much the two brothers compared notes and whether the soldiers here would recognise her as a maidservant or an exiled hime of a foreign Clan.
Neither one of which should be inside a Clan prison on a night like this.
Peering around the edge of the door, she saw that there were only two men on duty at the present time, sitting in the corner of the chamber and playing a game of dice. Beyond that, in the cell behind them, Nanaki could make out the object of her mission and her lip curled in disdain as she met the blank gaze and realised that he had probably been sitting in the same corner in the same position since the day he had been put into the cell.
But as their eyes met, the gold eyed boy suddenly got to his feet, and Nanaki froze, realising that even though Masaki was not with them, he was able to reach his puppet closely enough to acknowledge her arrival.
"Hey, you want to play dice too, huh?" One of the guards cast the Shihouin an amused glance as the boy moved slowly and purposefully to the edge of the cage, resting his hands against the bars. "We'll roll you in, if you like - you'll have to tell us your name though, first. Can't play a friendly game of dice without knowing who you're playing against."
"He's not going to answer you, idiot." His companion snorted. "He's simple. You've seen him as much as me. This is as much as he does. Whether he even really attacked Guren-sama or not...well, who knows. But you can't waste good dice on him. He'll probably think they're food and try to eat them."
"Haha, probably." The first guard laughed. "I'm tempted to give him them, though, just to see."
"It'd be a problem if he choked, mind you." His friend cautioned him. "That bigwig Shihouin is coming here this evening. We want a live prisoner to show him, don't we?"
"I s'pose." The first soldier got to his feet, moving across to the cage and reaching between the bars to flick the prisoner across the brow. "But you're not going to tell anyone anything of any use, are you? Sheesh. The Shihouin have really fallen, sending a poor simple boy like this to do dirty work for them. It's cruel is what it is - he's not gonna understand what he's being told to do, and...hey, what are you..."
For in the split second the guard had come close, a gloved black hand had shot out through the bars, clamping itself without hesitation around the retainer's neck. With no expression in his golden eyes, the Shihouin boy tightened his hold, and the retainer's eyes bulged as he struggled to unclasp the determined claws that dug into his throat.
"Hey...get...stop..."
"Stop messing around with him, leave him be." His friend got to his feet, then let out an exclamation of his own as the second gloved hand came through the other side of the bars to close the hold around the retainer's throat more firmly. There was a sickening 'crack', then the guard slumped to the floor, his neck kinked at an odd angle.
"What did you..." The second guard stared at his friend, then at the prisoner, meeting the blank eyes as his own fingers closed around the blade of his sword. "You're not as innocent as you look, are you?"
"No, but he is surprisingly obedient when he wants to be." Nanaki slipped into the chamber, pausing to bend down beside the dead retainer, and at the sound of her voice, the remaining guard swung around, weapon still drawn.
Nanaki stared at him, a faint smile playing around the corner of her mouth.
"Are you going to kill me?" She asked softly. "A maid servant and protected favourite of Lord Seiren? I don't think you'd find your life went much beyond your friend's if you did something like that to me."
"Who are you?" The retainer gazed at her warily. "Speak your name and your purpose, wench - if you're something to do with this miscreant..."
"I wish I could say otherwise." Nanaki found what she was looking for, pulling the cell keys from the dead guard's sash and getting to her feet, calmly walking across to the cell door and sliding the longest key into the rusting lock. The gold-eyed boy did not react, waiting patiently for her to release him, but the retainer lunged forward to grab her by the shoulder, trying to pull her forcibly away from the cage.
"You're a traitor to the Kuchiki! I'll have your head!" He threatened, and Nanaki ducked away from his grasp, turning to stare at him, her gaze completely cold.
"You really don't want to hang on to your life, do you?" She asked softly, as the cage door creaked open and a black-clad blur shot out of it, knocking the remaining retainer off his feet before he had realised what was happening and pinning him to the ground. Those determined black-gloved fingers closed just as firmly around this man's neck as they had around his comrade's, and Nanaki's nose wrinkled in disgust at the second faint 'crack'.
"You really are the most unpleasant creature to be around." She told her companion disdainfully, reaching over to pat him on the shoulder, and at her touch, the golden-eyed boy raised his head, slowly getting off his prey and gazing at her blankly. "But at least you're being a little bit useful in your own escape. Now comes the hard bit, though. Above ground is a kinsman of yours and someone I don't want to see me. We have to get out of here before he's brought to this place. And the only way of doing that...is to take those stairs and hope for the best."
She gestured, and her companion turned his head in the direction she had pointed.
"You should obey my instructions. He told me that you would, so do what I say." Nanaki said quietly. "Anyone who sees us, kill them. Understood? Anyone. No matter who they are. Nobody must remember me being here."
She bent to pick up the sword of the dead retainer, handing it to her companion.
"You can use this. I don't like you snapping necks - it makes me feel sick." She added. "And at least with that you can pretend you're a proper fighter, even though you're clearly not. Now come on. Follow me - and don't forget what I said."
She turned to hurry up the stairs, not turning to make sure that he was following her, for despite the lack of response, she knew that he was. Masaki had been very clear before she had left their hiding place - that that night he would answer to her commands, because he had strengthened his spell of control to enough of a degree that he would be able to hear clearly her instructions and force the puppet to obey. The swift way in which he had dispatched the guards in his way had given Nanaki fresh hope that this time there would be nothing amiss about the experiment - for she knew that maintaining full control over such a dead specimen was a patchy process at the best of times.
But he didn't try to hurt me. Only them. So he's progressed. He can distinguish ally from foe, which proves that he's more under our control right now than he has been before. I suppose I should be glad for small mercies.
They reached the top level at that juncture, and Nanaki could hear the sound of boots on cobbles as soldiers rushed to obey the orders of their captains and commanders. Yanagi had been ushered inside the manor by this point, but there was still a sizeable guard loitering in the vicinity, and Nanaki clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, gauging the best route to take to the Senkaimon and safety that waited just beyond the rear gate.
The soldiers were mostly in the front courtyard, but Nanaki had spent enough time at the Kuchiki manor to know that with recent events, the military personnel had more than doubled and that the chances of them escaping the notice of every retainer was unlikely.
But they couldn't loiter. The risk of being caught grew with every second they hesitated, and so in the end she sighed, grabbing her companion by the wrist and pulling him forward towards the cluster of trees that framed the rear exit of the grounds.
"Hey!"
The sound of a soldier's voice cut through her soul to the bone but she did not falter, aware that they had caught the attention of a stray handful of retainers and that if they paused for even the briefest moment, they would probably be captured. There would be no fooling Seiren a second time - not if she was in the company of the Shihouin boy, and Nanaki felt fear race through her blood as she realised the well-trained men were gaining on her and her companion.
"Move!" She hissed, but it was to no avail, for out of the blackness hands reached to grab her, holding her firm even as she struggled against her grip.
"We've got them, Taichou!" A man shouted exuberantly. "Skulking around the grounds!"
"One of them...it's the gold eyed demon, sir!" A second soldier exclaimed. "He's escaped...this wench has set him free!"
"Let me go!" Nanaki struggled to wrench herself free, but it was to no avail, for the man who held her was brawny and strong and determined not to let her slip his grasp.
"You're not going anywhere." He told her firmly, then, "Someone go alert Futsuki-dono! We'll get them down to the cells, and then..."
Before he could finish his sentence, though, his expression changed, and as though he had seen a ghost, his entire body stiffened. Nanaki felt the grip around her arms loosen, and she tugged herself free, glancing around her for any sign of her gold-eyed companion.
He was not where he had been a split second before, and a cold chill prickled down her spine as she saw the man who had moments earlier been holding her crumple in a pool of blood on the floor, his spine sliced through by the still dripping blade of the empty-eyed assassin.
"Grab him! Don't let them escape!" Immediately there was a frenzy around them, but Nanaki was not about to let herself get caught again. As one of the men grabbed around her throat, she felt the already weak clasp of the Kyouraku pendant give way beneath the pressure, but she had no intention of stopping. From the corner of her eye, she saw the blooded weapon swing down again, sending a spray of red out across the cobbles as a second guard fell and then a third, a fourth, a fifth groaning and writhing on the stones.
"Come on. Enough." Nanaki could hear the sound of reinforcements, and she grabbed her blood-splattered companion by the sleeve, yanking him forcibly towards the back gate and the safety of the Senkaimon.
Relief almost brought tears streaming down her cheek as she registered the gaping hole of nothingness between the two trees and she tightened her hold on the Shihouin's arm, pulling him forcibly into the tunnel behind her. In the black, she was aware faintly of the fluttering of the guiding butterfly, and as the gateway closed behind them, she let out her breath in a rush.
"You did as I told you." She murmured, casting her companion a glance, and he met her gaze with a flat one of his own.
She sighed.
"But because of you, my cover is probably up in smoke now." She added ruefully. "Still, we both got away with it. Come on. I have a report to make, even if you don't...I suspect we'll be disappearing into the black for a little while now, whilst the Kuchiki recover from this latest blow to their pride."
So they had out-thought him again.
Guren clenched and unclenched his fists, struggling to control the flare of rage and indignation that threatened to sear through him as he gazed down at the crumpled bodies of the two guards lying abandoned and discarded on the cold stone floor of the prison. Behind them, the door to the cell creaked freely in the night breeze, swinging slightly open and shut as if to taunt him all the more for the night's events. Somehow even here the people he sought had managed to elude him.
Above ground, the remaining men of Futsuki's rear guard were conducting searches in the surrounding area for the two figures who had been sighted fleeing into the night, but somehow Guren knew that they were already long gone. Soldiers lay bleeding and dead on the cobbles outside, too – more sacrifices that should have been prevented, more lives that should have been saved.
Futsuki would investigate this latest happening as thoroughly as he had investigated the last, but Guren still felt empty at the lack of evidence that they had to go on. It was a hollowing, sobering thought when he faced it, but of all of those who his enemies had targeted, he alone had escaped the confrontation unscathed.
What kind of a Clan leader am I, if I can protect my own life but not anybody else's?
He rested his hand against the wall of the prison.
What kind of a Clan leader does that make me, Otousama, when that's as much as I'm able to do? More common born families have loved ones to grieve now – and we're no closer to putting the lid on this affair. Worse too, now the inadequacies of my Clan are open for all to see. You would not forgive me for that, I don't think, would you? You would never have let things get to a point like this.
"Someone is playing games with your family, Guren-sama." Yanagi's voice brought him back to the immediate problem, and the Kuchiki turned, meeting the golden eyes with a clouded look that almost bordered on resentment. The Shihouin's own amber gaze was grave, and at Guren's accusatory look, he bowed his head slightly.
"I can assure you that whoever that is, it is not the work of my family." He added softly. "My sister dispatched me here to identify the boy in your cells – but if I cannot do that, at least allow me to do what I can to help you in your enquiries."
There was a moment of silence, and then Guren sighed.
"Two fugitives were seen running from this place." He said wearily. "Soldiers gave chase but some were killed and others badly wounded. The rest did not clearly see who they were – but one of them must have been the boy we had secured here in this cell. My brother Futsuki is taking care of matters there and will report to me presently, but I imagine I know what he will say. That these people knew where he was and when to come and get that boy – in order to do that, they must have been aware that you were coming here tonight."
"Mm. Perhaps." Yanagi's lips thinned and he slowly nodded his head. "But that does not suggest guilt on the part of my family. On the contrary, Guren-sama…there is no benefit to us so long as the Kuchiki believe we had a hand in the assassination of their family's chief heir. My Clan are not strong enough to face yours in any kind of battle – even if we called on our allies, we would take grievous harm from it. Please accept my assurances that this was not my family's doing. We are not a Clan who seeks aggression with any other – but particularly not with yours."
"I wish I knew what to believe." Guren admitted. "I feel as though there are enemies in every corner, and I don't know who I should trust. People among my own retinue, or people from outside – any one of them could be conspiring against me and those I consider closest to me. You understand, Yanagi-dono – the position in which I find myself. I had hoped that tonight I could at least lay one question to rest. Instead I've opened up several others."
"Mm. Perhaps not."
Guren saw the younger man's gaze flit to the still corpses, then, slowly and carefully he bent at the side of the nearest, turning the body over with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"What are you doing?" The Kuchiki demanded, and Yanagi raised his head, an apologetic look crossing his features.
"I am trained as an assassin." He said honestly. "And I understand the methods of murder probably more clearly than a man of your standing would when faced with an assault like this. I probably can't tell you beyond all doubt who killed your men, or who set your captive free. But there may still be things I can tell you – and if you will let me, I would like to try."
Guren stared at the young Shihouin in surprise, and Yanagi's lips twitched into a faint smile.
"A Shihouin's honour is an odd thing." He admitted, resting his hand against the cooling body of the guardsman. "I haven't forgotten that it was you who brought before the Council the suggestion of my release. Even despite the things I was undoubtedly involved in, you saw to forgiving me my crimes in order that I might support my sister and my Clan as they supported allies of their own. It's said that a Shihouin never forgets a grievance and kills silently to avenge it, even many years after the fact. Perhaps that is true. But it's also the case that we never forget a kindness – and that should also be repaid with just as much resolution as a slight."
"Meaning that you seek to repay a debt?" Guren was taken aback. "My suggestion was made for the good of the Endou and for the stability of District Seven. It wasn't…"
"I understand the reasons." Yanagi inclined his head. "But the fact is that my freedom was given by you. I do not consider you my enemy, nor an enemy of my family. And if I can help you, I will do so. I understand as well how it feels to see your family manipulated and destroyed by a force in the shadows. Midori has raised with me the possibility that this may have connections to those incidents some years ago. That is also why I'm here, as opposed to a more respectable member of the Shihouin Clan. I have knowledge of the darkness, shall we say – and my assassin wits are more potent than many others among my generation."
"Then whatever you can tell me, please, tell me." Guren gestured towards the corpse helplessly, and Yanagi nodded.
"Whoever killed them took them by surprise." He said thoughtfully. "And probably it wasn't a planned attack. There's no sign of a weapon having been used – the life was throttled out of them by someone's hands but there are no nail marks in the skin, so I would think whoever killed this man probably wore gloves."
"The assassin boy wore gloves. Black ones, made of common cloth." Guren interjected. "Go on."
"Whoever did it had strength, too. I'd wager the one that killed them was a man, probably of their height or thereabouts – no less, and of reasonably fit build." Yanagi extended a finger to push the dead man's face from one side to the other, as if absorbing every bruise and lesion that the corpse's cooling had brought to the surface. "He has not been dead very long, either. The body is cooling, but has not stiffened nor begun to break down into spirit particles yet. And there is no foreign reiatsu to be found near this one's body."
He raised his gaze.
"I would say that the one who killed them was probably your captive." He admitted with a sigh, running his hand along the dead man's shoulders and then to his wrists. Carefully he lifted the left arm, examining the fingers of the hand carefully, then nodding his head.
"Scuffed, as though he fought for his life against something – his nails are broken, so maybe the door of the cage was involved in this. That said, though, he has some black fibres caught in his nails…"
His eyes narrowed and he drew his distinctive Shihouin dagger from his belt, using the tip to prise free what was caught in the broken nail. Dropping it onto the palm of his hand, he raised it so that Guren could see it.
"Black cloth – cheap, so easily torn." He said frankly. "And something else. Something that troubles me most of all, Guren-sama. A single hair...of deep violet hue."
"You acknowledge, then, that the one who killed my men was a Shihouin?" Guren asked acidly, and Yanagi nodded his head.
"It seems so to me." He agreed heavily. "But the hair also bears no reiatsu, not even the faintest trace. A proper assassin can suppress his spirit power to an infinitesimal degree, it's true. But that suppression doesn't spread to lost hairs or broken nails. For that reason a Shihouin assassin is trained not to leave a trace at the scene of a crime to which they do not want to be connected."
He clicked his tongue pensively against the roof of his mouth, then,
"Whoever committed this crime was careless, and left traces of himself behind. This hair should bear the life print of the one from whom it came – but it does not. From this hair alone I cannot identify your killer – but because I cannot read the reiatsu, I suspect…that it was probably Onoe Tomoyuki who was held in your cells here. Misashi-dono's hypothesis may be founded in some truth – your men were killed by a puppet corpse dancing to someone else's commands."
"The command of Aizen Keitarou?" Guren asked softly. Yanagi nodded, getting to his feet and moving across to where the second man lay flat on his back, his eyes staring up in sightless fear towards the ceiling.
"There's no evidence to back up that idea." He agreed. "But you should keep the possibility in mind."
He cast his gaze over the second corpse, then bent to close the man's glassy eyes.
"This one died in much the same way, though he put up less of a fight." He said with a frown. "Neither of them were killed with a weapon, but you said that your soldiers outside were cut down?"
"Yes. Two dead, and I believe another four took serious injury." Guren nodded.
"Then probably they took a sword from here." Yanagi nudged his foot against the scabbard of the nearest soldier. "This is empty. The murder weapon there was probably the sword missing from this soldier's sheath. I don't suppose you'll catch them now, Guren-sama. I suspect that they achieved their aim and are long gone."
Before Guren could respond, there was a knock at the door of the chamber, and it slid back to reveal Futsuki, a grim look in his dark grey eyes.
"Guren-sama, calm has been restored to the inner and outer courtyard and physicians are tending to the wounded men." He said quietly, his uncharacteristic formality telling the Clan leader just how severely his kinsman viewed this situation. "The dead have been removed to a quiet location and their families will be informed. The same with these two, with your permission. That makes a total of four dead and four who may yet lose their lives – though all is being done to try and save them, at least one will probably not take active service again."
He slipped his fingers into his obi, pulling out something that glinted in the light.
"One of my soldiers retrieved this from one of the fleeing figures before they managed to escape the Kuchiki grounds." He added softly, holding it out and Guren reached out his hand, allowing his companion to drop the object into his palm. "He told me quite clearly and coherently before he lost consciousness that he had taken that from 'the serving wench'. I'm sure when you see it you won't need me to tell you who that might be."
Guren gazed at the pendant, anger and dismay welling up in equal measure inside his heart as he took in what it was.
"Kyouraku Nanaki." He whispered, and Yanagi started, casting the Clan leader a quizzical look.
"Kyouraku…Nanaki?" He repeated. "Who…may I ask, who is that?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Guren's hand tightened around the pendant as rage threatened to override common sense. For a brief moment, reiatsu flickered dangerously from his aura, then he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"It seems that we have taken a viper and sheltered it when we should have hunted it with swords." He said grimly. "The girl is involved in this business – there is now no doubt in my mind about that. I will take this and speak to Tokutarou-dono about his kin – I will find out once and for all what this pendant means and who it belongs to. Yanagi-dono, I may ask you to accompany me when I do…from your assessment of this scene tonight, I believe your insight may be of further use to me."
"I'm at your service. My sister has given me instruction to do whatever I can to assist you in resolving things so that the Shihouin's name is cleared." Yanagi acquiesced. "But from the sounds of it, you have another line of enquiry."
"For tonight, I suggest you withdraw to your quarters and rest." Guren said evenly. "You've had a long journey and my family will ensure that you are well fed and provided with all you might need with no harm to your person. Believe me, Yanagi-dono – I take that duty very seriously, and even more so because of tonight. My men will personally see to your security."
A wry smile touched Yanagi's lips.
"I imagine I'd be quite difficult to kill." He said simply. "But I appreciate the gesture all the same. Thank you, Guren-sama. I won't refuse your hospitality."
He bowed his head, withdrawing from the room, and Guren gestured for the soldiers that had followed Futsuki to the prison chamber to escort him to the upper part of the manor complex. Soon Futsuki and Guren were left alone, and a heavy silence fell over the brothers as Futsuki cast his gaze over the dead guards.
"I want to know where Shirogane is." Guren was the first to speak. "More than anything now, I want to know what information he fled with and where he might have gone. If he did attack the girl, I imagine that he did so only because he saw what she really was – a true motive that his disappearance has so far concealed. The fact he doesn't seem to have crossed borders troubles me – that he might have fallen foul of someone or something and it may already be too late to hear his evidence."
"Seiren has been searching and will doubtless continue to do so." Futsuki sighed. "But in the circumstances, Guren, do you think that it's wise to bring Shirogane back here? If he knows something, his life is doubtless in danger. If he doesn't, who knows what kind of a reception Seiren will give him."
"Seiren's witness is no longer credible." Guren said blackly, holding up the pendant so that it glittered in the light, and Futsuki nodded.
"Agreed." He said grimly. "But Seiren is not an easy man to persuade when he's got his mind set on something. He will probably interpret it as the girl being kidnapped by your attacker – and without anything clearer to give him as proof, he will still connect the business to Shirogane."
"You said you had a witness?"
"Yes, but the man who took the pendant is the most severely injured of my men." Futsuki ran his fingers through his thick dark hair, loosening the tie that held the black locks in place. "Whilst his life may be saved, it will probably be some time before he is fit enough to give evidence before the court. Without going into great graphic detail, Guren, he was lucky not to be killed outright."
A hollow smile touched his lips.
"He's a loyal man, so he held on to his wits as long as he could in order to report to me and give me the chain." He added. "But that was sheer force of will alone. I doubt he'll fight for me again – if he does, it will be some months together before he'll be considered fit enough to hold a sword."
"And the other men?"
"Several saw the boy clearly, but only that one man was able to identify his companion. The other men saw a second figure – but none of them saw her face. At least, the others who did were killed for what they saw. As I said – this man's injuries mean he's fortunate not to have died."
"I see." Guren groaned. "So while we do have a witness, in such circumstances…"
"It really does make me wonder what Shirogane may have discovered." Futsuki agreed grimly. "Whether they targeted him because they thought he knew too much – or whether he was just a convenient scapegoat. Though while I agree he needs to be found, that risk makes me hesitate. If he is found…it may be better for him not to be here. For his own safety as well as for the safety of people here."
"I see. And I understand." Guren rubbed his temples. "All right. So you think that for now this should be kept from Seiren completely?"
"Tonight's events cannot be." Futsuki shook his head. "But the involvement of the hime – yes. I heard from the chatter of his men with mine that he slipped out of the manor without retinue to meet with someone a few days past. I think it was very likely he met with the girl, and perhaps during their conversation, he…"
"Told her where the prisoner was held." Guren's head snapped up, and Futsuki sighed.
"I don't suspect Seiren of treason." He said frankly. "But I do think he's unreasonable at times, and stubborn even when it comes to being his mistake. He believes the girl was a victim, assaulted by Shirogane and he has his reasons for doing so. But because he clearly trusts her…and he knows that both you and I favour Shirogane in more than one regard…"
"Better not to create more trouble than we must." Guren murmured. "If Seiren did tell the girl where that boy was held, then he probably did so by accident. But his behaviour…he's focused so much on Shirogane's erratic actions, but Futsuki, of all people don't you think that Seiren himself has acted the most strangely since my son was killed?"
"Yes, but in the circumstances, it's understandable." Futsuki sank back against the wall, folding his arms across his chest. "Seiren's one focus and pride in this world has always been that son of his – and now he sees the chance for Ryuu to achieve all the things he hoped for. Ryuu was born to be the heir to the Clan, don't forget. Ribari-sama was a good few years younger, so for three or four years Ryuu was unofficially considered to be your future heir. Seiren's just reverting to how he felt then – he'll probably believe anything that will help him push Ryuu to the forefront of this family once again."
"At present I feel…my twin brother to be very far from me in all things, Futsuki." Guren grimaced. "This is the first time since Otousama died that I have considered keeping matters of state from him – even considered his actions to be putting the family at risk. We exchanged heated words when I told him of Yanagi-dono's coming, even though he understood my reasons why - and I felt old barriers go back into place. And more than that..."
He frowned, remembering the conversation about Senaya's nikki.
As though Seiren knew pages had been taken from it at a time when I did not - and yet never once has he said anything regarding it, not even after that letter was found.
"I feel…as though there are things he is holding back from me, too." He concluded with a sigh. "It's as though things are slipping back towards a time when we did not talk and we did not share. I do not know what he is thinking, and it makes me hesitate."
"Senaya-sama would be grieved if he thought that was true." Futsuki said lightly, and Guren nodded.
"He would, but you cannot force friendship between foes." He said tiredly. "And the bonds between Seiren and I were forged in adversity, not in family affection. On this matter we are divided – and for now we will probably remain so. Very well. I will see Tokutarou-dono as soon as I am able and we will go from there. In the meantime, ensure that Seiren's men understand if Shirogane is found, he is to be brought back alive to face my questions. I can trust you to do that, I think, and he'll take it easier from you than he will if I give him a command."
"You can, and I will." Futsuki nodded. "But if he has any wisdom about him, Guren – that boy will keep his head down and stay in hiding until this whole matter is resolved. When Shirogane re-emerges into the light, a lot of truths might become exposed. But that might also be the time his life is really targeted – and I don't want to see more young Kuchiki blood spilt."
"Nor I." Guren agreed. "Ribari is already too great a sacrifice. I won't allow it to happen again, Futsuki – for the sake of this Clan, I will not!"
"There. I'm almost done now."
Miyabi sat back on her heels, setting the rough-bristle brush aside as she eyed her handiwork with a critical eye. It was the next evening in District Six, and despite the young girl's intentions to groom the dust and straw from their visitor's hair, Shirogane's need to sleep and replenish his energy reserves had taken priority. Miyabi had not given up on her task, however, and that afternoon had seen her taking her own brush to the nobleman's curly dark hair, her work only broken by the need for an evening meal. To Shirogane's surprise, Miyabi had chosen to take her food with him in the sick room, rather than downstairs with her family, and the nobleman had realised with a jolt that Hiroyuki's words had been true – the Ukitake family had broken down their barriers and had almost adopted their patient as one of their own.
Proud as he was and disdainful as he had always been of the 'common folk', Shirogane had found himself enjoying this sudden attention. It was not like being fawned over by servants who kept their respectful distance and followed his every command, nor was it like being looked up to and followed by the shinigami of Sixth Squad, but there was a warmth to the Ukitake family's informality that was entirely new to him. Though many of the youngsters had now dropped the polite turns of speech that his status as a Clan member merited, Shirogane was surprised to find that he liked it better that way. They had made him belong – and in a world where he had lost all his bearings, to have allies was a very precious thing.
They may be allies with no power or influence and they can do little to really protect me should I come under threat from home. But their company helps my spirits…and perhaps their kindness makes me more able to focus on the path I face ahead.
"Your hair is really quite long for a boy, Shirogane-nii." Miyabi was speaking now, and Shirogane turned to glance at her. "Do all of your family have hair as long as yours? It must be hard to keep it tidy when you're doing stuff like sword practice or fighting against Hollows."
Shirogane reached up to touch the ends of his dark hair ruefully, nodding his head.
"Long hair is customary in the Clan." He agreed. "But perhaps not quite as long as mine. My mother used to want me to keep it long, since I inherited Father's curls and it was a memento of him for her after he was killed. I suppose I kept with it even after she passed away – perhaps for the same reason, but probably out of habit more than anything else. I usually tie it back – but since I've been here, I suppose I haven't had the strength to bother."
"Well, that's no good." There was a faintly scolding note in Miyabi's tones. "You shouldn't have pretty long hair if you're not going to take good care of it. Look, I'll tie it in a ribbon for you. Then it won't get so tangled – that's all right, isn't it?"
She turned at this point, sending a doubtful glance to the figure who stood in the doorway, and at her question, Hiroyuki laughed, shrugging his shoulders.
"You shouldn't ask me, squirt. You should ask your patient." He said playfully. "If Shirogane-dono doesn't mind you playing with his hair, it's nothing to do with me."
"I have no objection." Shirogane acknowledged. "It is a warm night tonight and I grant my hair would be better out of my face, especially if I am going to manage to write something this evening."
"Ah yes. About that." Hiroyuki nodded, stepping into the chamber proper and pulling a sheaf of cheap parchment paper out from where it had been curled up in his sash. "It's not Clan quality, I'm afraid, but I spoke to Kamikura and he's willing to be your messenger – he'll take your letter for you and send it through his usual channels. It won't be there as fast as you'd probably get it if you sent it through Clan messengers – but it will get there safely enough, I'd imagine. The same people deliver most of Kamikura's letters to District One, and none have ever gone astray."
"Thank you." Shirogane held out his hand for the paper, even as he felt Miyabi's delicate hands gather up his thick mane of hair, looping a wide piece of white ribbon around it before tying it firmly in a bow. "And thank you to you too, Miyabi. Already I feel a little cooler – I didn't realise that District Six could be warm like this."
"I suppose being stuck in a stuffy chamber in bed like that doesn't help." Hiroyuki said thoughtfully. "Juu-nii's said the same thing…that he hates being confined in here when sick and he always has the window shutters pushed right back like this if it's in the summer. His favourite place to go is the coves – but we can't risk you being seen outside of the house, so…"
"I can bear it." Shirogane assured him. "I am finding myself surprisingly able to bear many things recently."
A wry smile touched his lips.
"Perhaps I lost more than blood in my conflict with my Uncle's retainers."
"I brought the ink, Hiro-nii!" Before either Hiroyuki or Miyabi could reply, fingers appeared at the window, followed by the tousled head of Shinkei and Shirogane's eyes widened as the young boy pulled himself into the chamber, flinging his legs over the sill and perching on the stone shelf, rummaging around in his clothing for the small vial of black liquid. At length he found it, setting it down on the ledge beside him with a grin of triumph.
"There it is. I knew I had it here somewhere."
"You're going to give Okaasama a heart spasm if she sees you jumping in and out of windows again." Hiroyuki scolded, crossing the chamber to tap his brother smartly across the brow. "You're too old for it now, Shin-kun, and setting the younger ones a horrible example."
"Well, I learnt from your horrible example, so there's no hope for me." Shinkei was not at all perturbed. "Besides, it was quicker that way than walking all the way down from the study and back up to Juu-nii's room. And I did bring the ink, so there's no need to hit me."
"I never clambered in and out of windows." Hiroyuki glowered, and Shirogane was amused by the grin Shinkei gave him in return.
"No, you just set fire to stuff. Chi-nee told me so." He said cheekily. His gaze flitted to Shirogane, and his grin widened.
"You look less fancy and fussy now Miyabi's done something with your hair. And less pale too, I think – don't you think so, Hiro-nii?"
"He does look better." Hiroyuki had clearly given it up as a bad job, for he allowed the subject to change, nodding his head. "Shinkei, did you remember the brush as well? Shirogane-dono can't write with his fingernails, so if you didn't…"
"I did." Shinkei pulled a face, rummaging once more inside his tattered kimono and pulling out a worn writing brush. "See? I can do as I'm told to do."
He slipped down off the sill, gathering up his prizes and setting them down on the bed beside the patient.
"Are you going to be able to write there, though?" He asked, concerned. "I can't write unless it's a flat surface – my kanji wobbles all over the place if I try."
"Your kanji does that anyway. Kamikura-sensei said so." Miyabi said smartly, shuffling off the bed and reaching to pick up Shirogane's discarded dinner tray. "But you can use this, Shirogane-nii. I'll take the plates downstairs to Anika and you can use the tray as a writing board. Then you should be able to manage, shouldn't you?"
"I'm sure I'll manage just fine." Shirogane agreed, taking the proffered board and unrolling a length of the parchment, smoothing it out over the wood with a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
Cheap paper, but of good enough quality to take ink, I imagine. Perhaps not what I'm used to – but I'm in no position to complain about that.
Out loud he said,
"Thank you. I am building up my debts to your family quite substantially."
"It's all right. You're Juu-nii's friend, and you helped protect us from the soldiers, so we should help you." Miyabi told him firmly. "Juu-nii would expect us to do that, and he'd be cross if we didn't."
"Well, I have other jobs to do, so I'll leave you to Shinkei and Miyabi's care." Hiroyuki cast Shirogane a smile. "When your letter's done, if you want to give it to one of them, they'll get it to Kamikura. He's planning to walk into town tomorrow – so he can take it then, I expect."
"I cannot give you coin with which to pay the courier." Shirogane realised with a jolt, and Hiroyuki snorted.
"Kill some Hollows for us when you're fit." He said off-handedly. "That's your job, isn't it? If you do that, then the debt's repaid and more. Hollows kill people they shouldn't kill – but we're not strong enough to fight them. They haven't come to this area for a while – but that doesn't mean the danger's gone."
"Papa was killed by a Hollow." Miyabi said softly, and Shirogane saw the genuine melancholy in her dark eyes. He frowned, reaching out to grasp and squeeze her hands instinctively.
"I'll do my duty as a shinigami, whether my Clan take me back or they do not." He said gravely. "I'll give you my word here and now, Miyabi – and to you too, Shinkei-dono, Hiroyuki-dono – so long as it is in my power to do so, I will stop Hollows ravaging the Districts and causing people distress."
"Then it's all fine with us." Hiroyuki said simply. "Get writing. It's already late, and Shiki-chan will be up here soon. She'll start fussing if she thinks you're going to stay up late."
"She is a very strict nurse – but a fair one, too." Shirogane acknowledged. "Very well. I shall follow your advice and see what I can do."
Though it will not be an easy letter to pen. But I shall persevere. I must do that. In order to be able to keep the promise I just made as much as for any other reason.
His brow creased in concentration.
A dead shinigami or a dead Clansman has no use or value in this world. All we can do we must do while we live – and so we must do what we can to ensure we keep living. Ribari-sama's death taught me that – a lesson I shall not easily forget.
"Are you still awake, Shirogane-nii?"
Shikiki pushed back the wooden divide, poking her chubby head around the door and casting him a grin. "Oh, you're writing? Anika wanted to know if she could have your dishes, but…"
"I was going to take them." Miyabi looked guilty. "I'll take them down to her now, Shikiki. Now you're here, Shirogane-nii won't be on his own."
"Hey! What about me!" Shinkei was indignant. "I'm here too, Miya-chan – or am I invisible now?"
"No, but you're no use when it comes to taking care of a sick person." Miyabi tossed her head. "Hiro-nii trusted that to Shikiki and I. You climb in and out of windows like a monkey, so of course he wouldn't ask you."
"I was only the one who found Shirogane-dono in the first place." Shinkei shot back. "So mind your manners, Miya-chibi."
"Don't call me that!" Miyabi pouted, and despite himself Shirogane began to laugh.
At the unexpected reaction, the two squabbling siblings turned to stare at him, and Shikiki sighed, dropping down on the end of her patient's bed.
"You should both shut up. You're making it hard for Shirogane-nii to write." She said reproachfully. "And he won't sleep before he's finished, so that will make it even later."
"It's all right." Shirogane shook his head. "I am not used to it – to sibling squabbles of this nature. But seeing you…reminded me of some things I had forgotten."
Of the times that Meroka and I would spat and squabble as children and the way she would fuss around after me…memories I felt were an irritation, but now I recall them with a strange kind of fondness. At that time I had a family, though it was her family and not mine. Who would have thought it…that I'd watch District children fight and feel nostalgic for that past?
"Forgotten?" Miyabi's ears pricked up, and Shirogane nodded.
"I used to have a cousin who I fought with a lot…but we played together often." He said, tapping the end of his brush idly against the tray. "I am realising that I was fond of her – and that those memories were good ones. That's all."
"Your family's kind of messed up, if you don't mind me saying." Shinkei said bluntly.
"Well, since you've said it, it hardly matters if he minds or not." Miyabi poked out her tongue. "You're an idiot, Shin-nii. You should go downstairs and help there – you can't do anything much here."
"I'm older than you, so pipe down." Shinkei was not having any of it. "You're making more fuss than I am and you're meant to be taking dishes to Anika - isn't that what you said? Take them already. Shirogane-dono doesn't belong to you, you know."
"I'm going to." Miyabi bristled. "And even if you did find him, so what? You couldn't even read his name!"
"So what? I don't know every kanji."
"I bet you can't even read what this says." Miyabi reached over to scoop up the scrap of folded paper that lay on the bedside unit, waving it in her brother's direction. "Can you?"
"I can too." Shinkei stuck out his tongue. "It says Kyouraku. That's what. And Nana. And hime. So there."
"Kyouraku Nanaki." Shirogane reached out to take the scrap from Miyabi's small fingers, running his gaze over it a second time, and Miyabi sent him an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, Shirogane-nii. I forgot it was important to you."
"Mm..no." Shirogane shook his head, raising his gaze to meet Shinkei's thoughtfully. "Please, Shinkei-dono – say again what you thought it said."
"Why?" Shinkei was confused. "You already corrected me – you know what it says, so…?"
"Yes." Shirogane agreed. "But your way of interpreting it – of reading the kanji…please, say it again."
"Kyouraku. Nana…and hime." Shinkei was nonplussed, but obediently did as he was bidden. "Like that?"
"Indeed." Shirogane placed the scrap against the rough parchment. "Kyouraku. Nana. Seven. Hime. Princess. That's what it says, is it not?"
"He only knows that because he can count to ten and because there's a hime in my name, too." Shikiki reflected. "It's not that impressive really, Shirogane-nii. Shinkei-nii is really bad at kanji."
"But on the contrary, what he's said has given me cause for thought." Shirogane's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps I am over thinking it. But those are indeed the characters for seven…and for princess."
He lifted his brush, dipping it in the ink.
"I must write." He said softly. "I cannot delay contacting what allies I may still have any longer. Perhaps there is nothing to this name, and perhaps there is everything. But I intend on sending this with my letter to Genryuusai-sensei…and perhaps he will make clearer sense of it than I can."