Chapter Forty One: Summer Break
They would likely be here soon.
Chihiro rested her arms on the sill, gazing absently down the road towards the shadow of the great Kyouraku manor house that lay within view of the military village. Even from this distance it was an impressive sight, imposing its position and status on the surrounding landscape, but for Chihiro it was not a source of intimidation and fear. On the contrary, she reflected pensively, at the present time it was a case for anticipation, for she knew that in a short space of time she would see the carriages come over the hills to announce the arrival of the Clan leader's young brother and his guest to the estate.
I wonder if Juu-nii knows anything about what's been going on here – or whether he's just coming because Shunsui asked him to.
She sighed, turning away from the view to cast her gaze on the room's other occupant. Curled up in the corner, ostensibly working on her stitching, but really gazing off into space was Riri, her pretty features drawn and troubled by recent events. She was still very pale, Chihiro noted, and though she had made sure that both Inori and Shizuka had eaten well since their arrival, her own appetite had been sporadic at best.
Chihiro knew from Takeshi's reports that the prostitute's presence in their home had been the cause of some speculation. That Tokutarou had accepted it as a form of witness protection had taken some of the pressure off them both, but Chihiro knew that it was only a matter of time before more probing questions were asked. Takeshi had told her that the Clan leader had already requisitioned the reports on the incidents in Teika – the fire at Momiji's house and the murder of Gaugen and his wife – and Chihiro was too smart not to realise that Tokutarou was probably investigating the mysterious Masaki.
That Riri would become a part of that investigation sooner or later was probably inevitable – and though for now she had been more or less left alone, Chihiro realised that it was only Tokutarou's good nature that had made it that way. If he ordered the girl to be brought before him in chains, it could be done with amazing and disconcerting speed – so more than anything Chihiro had been relieved by the arrival of Juushirou's letter telling her that he was coming to spend the summer week in District Eight.
Perhaps Riri would speak to her brother where she would not speak to the Clan.
"Riri, when Juu-nii comes, you will let me introduce you to him too, won't you?" She asked out loud now, and Riri raised her head, setting aside the barely touched sewing as if glad of something to distract her mind.
"Juushirou-san? Why? I can't imagine he'd have any reason to visit a prostitute like me. Surely he's coming to Eighth to see you most of all, Chihiro?"
"Yes, I think so." Chihiro nodded. "But you are a friend of mine, and so it wouldn't be good manners not to, especially since at the moment you're making this your home."
"That is a temporary state of affairs, though." Riri's expression darkened. "I don't intend on staying here like this forever. If not for the children, I would already have left – but…"
"If you did that, probably you'd be arrested." Chihiro decided to take the direct route, and Riri flinched, eying her friend warily. "You know that Tokutarou-sama knows you're here and he's only letting it alone because you're under the care of someone he trusts. That he's been looking into things more closely of late means that before too long he'll want to speak to you too. And if you really have no intention of doing that, then…probably he'll have you arrested and taken by force. You can't pretend you don't know that."
"I know, but it has nothing to do with your brother's coming." Riri shrugged her shoulders. "And I don't intend to be arrested by anyone. It'd do no good for Tokutarou-sama or the Clan to interrogate me – I'm not going to talk to them about anything, no matter what they ask me. It would've been better if they hadn't known about me at all."
"And have Takeshi disciplined for insubordination by refusing to report when rumours were placed before him?" Despite herself, Chihiro was frustrated. "That's not fair, Riri. He had to answer those questions – you should be happy that he didn't answer more of them."
"I'm already causing you trouble by being here." Riri frowned. "Perhaps it would be better if I left before your brother arrived."
"Like I'm going to let you go and fend for yourself when someone might be waiting to take your life." Chihiro got to her feet, coming to rest her hands gently on the other girl's shoulders. "If you were gone, who'd take care of Shizuka and Inori? Who'd fight so hard for them to have a proper future, and who'd feed, clothe and defend them in the way you do? They've already lost one mother – do you want them to lose another?"
"That's why I've stayed." Riri admitted. "Although it brings trouble to you and to Takeshi-dono, I've swallowed my pride and I've stayed. Those children were entrusted to me by someone dear – and I can't even take off and leave them for that reason. They are like my children, now – and so there's nothing for me to do but hide and hope that sooner or later Tokutarou-sama loses interest."
"I don't think he will." Chihiro admitted. "He's a fair man, Riri, and a kind one. But he's also a determined one. I don't think he'll give up till he gets what he wants to know. And probably if that's the case there's a reason for it. Maybe other people have been attacked – what you know might help save them."
"But I don't know those people." Riri said matter-of-factly. "Whereas Shizuka and Inori I know. And it's as you say. If I get into trouble, they suffer. And if Tokutarou-sama knew who I was, then I'd definitely be in trouble. There's no choice in the matter. I know you like this Clan – trust them, even. But that's because you have no direct tie to them. I'm something they can't acknowledge – and life is easier with them not knowing about me."
Chihiro sighed, settling herself down at Riri's feet and reaching up to take her friend's thin fingers in her own.
"You're losing weight, and you're pale. You'll become unwell." She said softly. "You're worried about Momiji and what happened to her, and you're worried about everything else. You need to talk to someone, Riri, and I think that you should. I understand that you can't talk directly to the Clan – but maybe…there's someone else who might be able to help."
"Someone else?" Riri's eyes narrowed. "Of what nature, someone else?"
"Juu-nii." Chihiro said frankly, and Riri frowned.
"Your brother? What on earth does he have to do with it?"
"Nothing. Which is why he's the best choice." Chihiro bit back her impatience, focusing her gaze intently on the other girl's tired features. "He's not a Kyouraku – just like me. But he is on very close terms with Tokutarou-sama's brother Shunsui. And because of that…"
"No."
"Riri, you're not even hearing me out."
"He's close to Shunsui-sama, which means that…"
"He's close to me, too." Chihiro cut across her friend, shaking her head in frustration. "Juu-nii is someone I trust with my life, Riri – beyond my life, in fact. I know him – I know the kind of person he is. I know he'd want to help. And listen to me, Riri. Listen. Juu-nii is not a Kyouraku. You could tell him everything and he'd be able to give you an objective view. But he is close friends with Shunsui, and he might be able to do something that you or I can't. It might be possible for Juu-nii to take your statement about the attack that night without the Kyouraku needing to meet you directly. And even if they did, if Juu-nii was involved, you nor the children would get hurt. Juu-nii would not allow it."
"You're suggesting your District brother can dictate the actions of Clans." Riri said, a humourless smile touching her lips, and Chihiro shrugged.
"No, but he and Shunsui are very good friends." She said reflectively. "And Shunsui listens to Juu-nii a lot. If Juu-nii protected you, Shunsui wouldn't act against you. And Tokutarou-sama wouldn't act against Shunsui. It's no secret that he thinks the world of his brother. Besides, Shunsui doesn't stand on ceremony. He might even understand…if you told him…all of it."
"All of it?" Riri slipped her fingers into the sash of her gown, pulling out the sword ornament with a sigh. "You mean…this?"
"Yes." Chihiro agreed. "I won't force you. I won't make you do anything. But think about it, Riri. At the very least, I'd like you to meet my brother. And if you could talk to him – then…"
"I'll think about it." Riri sighed again, but nodded her head in resignation. "I won't promise you anything, Chihiro – but I'll think it over."
"Then that's all I ask." Chihiro got to her feet, relief in her dark eyes. "All right. Then for now I'm going to start making lunch. I'm sure the carriages will arrive at the main house soon – and I intend on running up there to greet Juu-nii as soon as possible. I won't bring him back with me today, or anything. But if you decide you want to meet him, then I will make sure I invite him to visit us here at least once. All right?"
Riri was silent for a moment, then she nodded a second time.
"All right." She agreed pensively. "Then I suppose we'll see how things go."
"It seems a long time since I was last here."
Juushirou stepped down from the carriage, reaching up to stretch his arms over his head. "Perhaps not since Chi got married – but it doesn't look as though a lot has changed."
"No, although the place is somewhat noisier now Haru's on the move." Shunsui said with a grin, leaping deftly down from the carriage and Juushirou returned the grin as he saw the looks of dismay that the accompanying retainers exchanged. Shunsui had never been particularly concerned by etiquette, and normally it was Tokutarou's right hand man Yasuhiro who took the job of escorting the young shinigami, since the broad-built Sasakibe was very seldom ruffled by any of Shunsui's behaviour. Today it had been junior ranking officers, however, and from their reactions, Juushirou could tell that they had not had much to do with the former heir to the Kyouraku Clan.
"Shunsui-kun!"
The doors of the manor opened, revealing an attractive young woman in her early twenties, her thick dark hair bound back in the traditional style of a married Kyouraku lady and her robes in rich pinks and greys. In her arms was clutched a small boy – Juushirou estimated that he was about a year and a half old – robed in soft grey play kimono with a fuzz of chestnutty curls scattered across his head and two inquisitive brown eyes that stared out at everything with intensity and interest.
"Shunsui-kun! Juushirou-kun! You made good time – Tokutarou's been expecting you."
"Rae-chan." Shunsui strode across the cobbles, and to Juushirou's amusement the young boy started to squeal, clapping his hands in excitement at his uncle's approach. At the reaction, Shunsui laughed, skipping up the steps two at a time and reaching out to ruffle the young boy's already messy hair with a warm grin.
"And Haru-kun, too." He said playfully. "Well, were you waiting for me as well, trouble? Or are you just here because your nurses are trying to untangle your latest mess and Rae-chan finds it easier to have you where she can see you?"
"More or less all of the above." Rae looked rueful, turning her gaze to Juushirou. "Juushirou-kun, we're glad to have you stay with us again. I know Chihiro's looking forward to seeing you – and I think Tokutarou is as well. Though he's been closeted in his office for the last week or so, so I wouldn't like to guess what today's mood is."
"Things are busy here, huh?" Juushirou hurried to join them, not at all intimidated by the young woman's fine robes or the imposing nature of the manor house into which she was now welcoming them. The first time he had visited, it had blown his mind, but after a long and protracted convalescence in District Eight following their last encounter with Aizen Keitarou, Juushirou had learnt his way around, and in that short space of time had broken down any barriers that still existed between him and the ruling Clan. These days, despite his District roots, most of the Kyouraku retainers who knew him automatically referred to him as "Juushirou-sama", and though Juushirou had no real liking for all the pomp and finery of noble living, that this was his closest friend's home made all those kinds of things easy to overlook.
In short, when he was here, he was made to feel like an honorary member of the family.
"Tokutarou's been busy since his meeting with Guren-sama in Inner Seireitei, but he hasn't spoken to me much about that." Rae grimaced now, shifting the wriggling Haru into a more comfortable hold. "Shunsui, maybe you do – I know he came to speak to you not long afterwards."
"He did." Shunsui nodded, and Juushirou cast him a quizzical glance.
"Guren-sama met with Tokutarou-sama?" He asked curiously. "You didn't mention anything about that."
"I know, because school wasn't the place." Shunsui looked guilty. "You can yell at me if you like, Juu – but not too loudly, because you don't want to start Haru screeching, believe me. But part of the reason I invited you here this break was to do with that – or no, not so much to do with it as we hoped…you and Chihiro might be able to help us with a delicate area of investigation."
"A delicate area of…" Juushirou looked nonplussed, and Shunsui nodded.
"It's Nii-sama's idea, and I'll let him explain." He said hurriedly. "Before you get mad at me. I'm happy to have you here just for your company and for Chi-chan's sake, but…"
"It's all right." Juushirou shrugged. "You don't have to be cloak and dagger about it. If I can help Tokutarou-sama I don't mind – he's more than done enough for me in the past, and if you know about it, I doubt it's going to be something dangerous. But I don't know anything much about the Kuchiki situation, so I might be useless. Mitsuki and Ryuu have tried to keep me out of it, I think – in any case, I don't know a lot. Probably if he met with Guren-sama already, he knows more than I do."
"It's not to do with the Kuchiki, exactly." Shunsui shook his head. "Ah, you'll see. Nii-sama will explain it. For now, let's get in and settle."
"Ji-ue! Ji-ue!" Haru clapped his hands together again as they made to step past Rae and into the hall beyond, and Juushirou saw tiny fingers suddenly stretch out, grabbing Shunsui firmly by the sleeve of his white school hakamashita and tugging on it resolutely. Shunsui paused, eying his nephew pensively, and Haru giggled, reaching out his other hand to grab for Shunsui's growing hair.
"Ah-ah. No you don't." Shunsui was too quick for the infant, however, grasping his fingers loosely around the boy's wrists and offering him a conspiratorial grin. "You be nice, now, since we have a visitor. It's about time you outgrew hair-pulling – you'll never make girls like you if you greet folk like that."
"I don't know. I imagine quite a lot of girls would fawn around him quite easily." Juushirou laughed despite himself, reaching out to touch Haru's tiny fingers. "Hello, Haru-kun. I'm Juushirou and I'm a friend of your Uncle's. I'm going to be visiting with your family for a few days – I hope that's all right?"
Haru withdrew his fingers, placing them in his mouth and chewing on them, his eyes big as he took in Juushirou's unfamiliar features. Then he beamed, and Juushirou laughed.
"I think he looks like you, Shunsui." He teased. "He's got the same mischief in his eyes as you have when you're plotting something you shouldn't be."
"And when do I do that, these days?" Shunsui adopted a hurt look. "Stop misrepresenting me to my sister-in-law!"
"I already know you quite well enough, Shunsui-kun. Such a thing is not possible." Rae said lightly. "Since we've been expecting you, Kyouko's been instructed to have tea prepared in the day parlour and if you want to go on through to there, I'll make sure the servants see to your belongings. Tokutarou will send for you when he's ready, Shunsui – something's really bothering him at present, so I can't give you an idea of when that'll be, but it'll be sooner rather than later I imagine. In the meantime, try to relax and make yourself at home. Oh, one other thing."
She lifted her son up, holding him out to her bemused brother in law, who stared at her for a moment.
"Will you take Haru and give him to one of his nurses? It's about time for him to take a nap, and if I'm going to run around after these poor starstruck retainers for you, it'll be more difficult with a baby in my arms."
"And just like that, I'm roped in as babysitter." Shunsui sighed. "You know full well I don't know how to hold him when he's wriggling, Rae-chan – and besides, you should leave him with his nurse maids if that's the case. I swear I'd suspect you of bringing him here just so you could dump him on me – and just so you could enjoy the reaction when you did."
"Not quite." Rae grinned. "I did want you to see him, though. He's growing so fast and I want him to have good bonds with his father and his uncle. You're both good at escaping in one way or another – and that's no way to build future Clan bonds, now is it?"
"I can't argue with that." Shunsui groaned, casting Juushirou a resigned look and Juushirou grinned, shrugging his shoulders.
"Small children are something I'm more used to than you." He reflected. "I know how to hold him if you don't, Shunsui. We'll take him, Rae-hime. You can count on us."
"At least one of you is of some use." Rae carefully deposited her precious burden into Juushirou's waiting grip, and Juushirou eyed him thoughtfully, waiting to see if the youngster would cry. Haru did not seem in the least perturbed at being held by a stranger, however, and Shunsui offered him a sheepish smile.
"You're the one with all the experience." He admitted. "You make me look a terrible Uncle in comparison."
"You have a lot of younger siblings, don't you?" Rae eyed Juushirou thoughtfully, and Juushirou nodded.
"Seven, plus one adopted one these days." He agreed.
"Chihiro's mentioned them." Rae pursed her lips. "And you hold him as well as any of the senior nursemaids Yoshiko-sama recommended when Haru was born. I might have to remember that fact while you're here – make sure you teach Shunsui some of those skills, Juushirou-kun."
"I'll try." Juushirou laughed, and Shunsui grimaced, shaking his head.
"We're going inside." He said firmly, tapping Juushirou on the arm and gesturing towards the door. "Before Rae-chan thinks of something else for us to do."
"It's nice, though." As they walked through the hallways, Juushirou shot Shunsui a smile. "That she came out to meet you like she did. I'm sure she did it on purpose, you know."
"Mm. Probably." Shunsui looked rueful, nodding his head. "We're about the same age, though since Haru was born, you wouldn't know it. She's a lot more grown up than I am in a lot of ways, I suppose. But since she found out from Tokutarou-nii – well, to be honest, since that winter when you were ferried here to convalesce and she heard the whole story – she's been a bit like that. I think Nii-sama told her that I didn't have much of a warm family background growing up because of Uncle – or maybe it was something she and Mother talked about, I don't know. But since then she's made it her mission to make sure that this place is more of a home than just an estate where I happen to live. Nii-sama and I have a close bond, but Rae-chan's really settled into the role of lady of the house, and that includes fussing over me at times too. Or getting me to run errands. That's why she wants me to bond with Haru – because she's determined that her son's going to grow up in a different kind of household than the one I did."
"And Tokutarou-sama doesn't mind all of this?"
"He grew up in a pretty chaotic family in District Five, and Sora's people are warm and welcoming types." Shunsui responded simply. "It's just here…Father's indiscretions and Uncle's ambition created a void. But…I do kind of like it, though. Even though it means she catches me out or does things like this…it is nice. To have someone there to welcome us home like that…without political motivation to guide them. It's more informal than Clan manors are usually – and I find it better like that."
He cast a glance at Haru.
"You should be careful, by the way. The little one's not normally so quiet as this – you should watch where his fingers are going, because I don't think he's encountered anyone with white hair before. Yours is getting long now – and just because I thwarted him before doesn't mean anything at all."
"Thanks for the warning." Juushirou adjusted his grip, tucking his lank tail of white hair over his shoulder and out of Haru's immediate reach. "Where are we taking him to, anyway? He's not that heavy, but…"
"Just through here." Shunsui pushed back a divide, stepping over the threshold into the room beyond, and Juushirou followed suit, stopping as he registered the scene of semi-chaos that greeted him. Towels were strewn all across the floor, several of them soaked with water. Two young women were hard at work trying to clear up the mess and as Juushirou's gaze drifted to the overturned pail that lay against the far wall, a faint smile touched his lips.
"You've been busy, haven't you." He murmured, casting Haru a grin. "No wonder Rae-hime brought you to meet Shunsui. You must have inherited the family's mischievous gene."
"Shunsui-sama! Haru-sama!" At their entrance, the two servants set aside their implements, one of them hurrying to take the young boy from Juushirou's arms, and Juushirou relinquished him willingly, grinning as the young girl bowed her head towards him.
"Okyaku-sama, thank you for bringing him." She said very properly.
"It seems as though this room's been hit by a Haru hurricane." Shunsui surveyed the scene. "Let me guess – he found the bucket and thought he wanted to play at swimming?"
"He did." The second nursemaid sighed. "He was soaked, and the whole nursery too. The pails were waiting for us to take them to give him his bath, and there were originally three, but…"
"It seems he gave himself his bath." Juushirou laughed, and Haru cast him an innocent smile from the safety of his carer's grasp. "Rae-hime said that it was time for his nap, though – so we should bring him back to you."
"We'll leave you to it." Shunsui added. "You don't need us giving you any more work, so we'll go find Kyouko in the day parlour. Come on, Juu. Mission accomplished – let's go."
"Your nephew really is like you, somehow." Juushirou observed as they left the chamber, Shunsui pulling the door shut behind them. Through the divide the muffled sound of the nurse scolding the young boy in affectionate tones drifted through, and Shunsui sighed, spreading his hands.
"I take no responsibility." He said evenly. "But…maybe you're right. Well, never mind. I'm sure with Rae-chan, Tokutarou-nii and an army of nursemaids they'll manage to school him into someone presentable. So long as I don't teach him bad habits in the meantime."
"It's a little nostalgic, though, to walk in on a scene of baby bedlam." Juushirou reflected. "My youngest brother is ten now, so those kinds of scenes are a long time past. It'd be nice if Chi-chan had children of her own – or Hiro-kun when he and Hikari are finally married. I'd quite like to be an Uncle, I think – it seems like a job I'd be quite good at."
"Doubtless better at it than me." Shunsui pulled a graphic face. "But…I am fond of the kid. Just he's a little small for me to really know what to do with him yet."
He shrugged.
"You'd be a good father too, most probably." He reflected. "Haibyou or otherwise – you know that, right?"
"There's no sense in dwelling on the impossible." Juushirou said matter-of-factly, but there was a slight twinge inside of him as he spoke the words. "And who knows? Maybe I'll find another like Shikiki who needs someone to protect them. But really, Shunsui, it's all right. I've made up my mind to the Gotei and that future now. It's why it's so important to me that I find a squad and become part of that squad in every way I can. Like we are at the Academy – I'd like it to be like that. Of course, maybe it won't be right away but…I want to belong to one squad, not be chopped and changed around if I can help it. And then that'll be like a family – and I won't be able to be lonely, will I?"
"You have a far too romanticised view of the Gotei, but I can't pretend I don't like it." Shunsui said ruefully. "Come on. Through here. Kyouko's probably aware the carriage has arrived, so she'll be waiting and ready."
As he spoke, he pushed open the door of the day parlour, ushering his companion inside. As Shunsui had surmised, a young woman of about their own age was waiting for them, neat and trim in the uniform of the Kyouraku household, and an excited glitter in her dark eyes. This was Kyouko, once a refugee from District One whose life had been saved by Shunsui some several years earlier. It was a standing joke among the Kyouraku staff that Kyouko idolised the young nobleman – a fact of which Shunsui was not oblivious – but to Juushirou, as he took in the healthy flush of colour in her cheeks and the eager way in which she greeted them, it was only too clear that her life in District Eight had become a happy one.
"Tokutarou-sama said that when you've taken tea, he would like to speak to you in his study." As Kyouko carefully poured the piping green liquid into expensive mugs, she cast Shunsui a shy smile. "I told him I'd tell you as soon as I could – I think he's been waiting for your return."
"He did? All right." Shunsui accepted the tea with a grin, settling himself more comfortably on the cushions by the window to drink it. "At least he's let me catch my breath first this time – which is unusual for him. How does he seem, Kyouko-chan? In a good mood or a bad one?"
"He seems…very busy with many things." Kyouko's expression became startled. "But to comment on the temper of the Lord is not my place to do, Shunsui-sama."
Her gaze flitted to Juushirou.
"Juushirou-sama should go to the study too, if you don't mind." She added softly. "Tokutarou-sama said that he wanted to see both of you – if it wasn't inconvenient."
"Me too, huh?" Juushirou's expression became pensive. "All right. I suppose this is whatever his motives are for bringing me here coming out, aren't they?"
"Sounds that way." Shunsui set his mug down with a resigned smile. "Thank you, Kyouko-chan. I know you've other things to get on with, so we'll try and leave things tidy for you here when we're done."
"Yes, sir." Kyouko bowed her head, withdrawing from the room with a second shy smile, and as she closed the door behind her, Juushirou picked up his own mug of tea, taking a sip. It was good quality, warm and rich in flavour, and he smiled, acknowledging to himself that the one thing the Clans really did do well was serve good tea.
"Oniisama is a Clan leader and Clan leaders often like ulterior motives." Shunsui was speaking again now, a pensive look on his face. "I really don't want you to think that I wanted you here just because of his whim, though, Juu. I genuinely wanted you to visit – if it was up to me, you'd visit much more of the time - so whatever he says to you, don't take it out on me."
"I already said I didn't mind." Juushirou grinned. "You're acting guilty, so I'm wondering now what to expect."
"At least if we're talking about that stuff, it won't be to do with class rankings."
Shunsui sent Juushirou a sheepish look. "I don't know if he knows anything about exam results yet, or if he even cares with everything else on his plate. But I won't raise the subject if you don't."
"I see." Juushirou laughed. "That's it, is it? Well, you don't need to worry about me. It's not my place to inform him of such things – so I won't be getting involved in that discussion."
"Good." Shunsui looked relieved. "I don't suppose he'd go completely ape about it, but he might have some things to say being that it's the last year before graduation. I told you though, didn't I? There's no guarantee I'm always going to rank top."
"True." Juushirou agreed, pursing his lips as he remembered the reactions the previous day. Assessment results had been posted late on this time, with most of the students already packing to go home with friends or to the homes of local relatives. For the most part thoughts had been turned towards the break, and so it had been with some surprise that the Senior Class had seen the little white sheet of paper pinned up between their timetable schedule and the various other duty lists. Unlike the other students, Senior rankings were never posted outside of the Senior annexe, for Genryuusai did not want to undermine the position of his oldest students by allowing the rest of the school to see their grades openly, and so it had been Sora who had first noticed the addition, letting out a shriek of surprise that had quickly alerted the others to its presence.
Juushirou had stared at it for a long while, a mixture of disbelief, excitement and regret all swirling through his head. For there, at the very top of the list had been not the name of his close friend, but his own name, written clearly and concisely in Genryuusai's familiar old fashioned script.
1st Rank: Ukitake Juushirou.
2nd Rank: Yamamoto Akira
3rd Rank: Shihouin Kai
4th Rank: Kyouraku Shunsui
5th Rank: Kuchiki Ryuu
Juushirou had not read much beyond that point, doubting his eyes as he had re-read the ranks over and over again.
I was top for the first time since we began at this school. All the hard work I've put in lately – even though it was a matter of a mark and a half, I still managed to beat Yamamoto-kun. But I only intended to take back my 2nd place. I didn't intend for Shunsui to be…and for him to slip down to fourth…
Juushirou sighed, taking a sip of his tea.
"Your lack of sleep has taken its toll on your work." He murmured. "Falling asleep in Kidou class, too. You can't get complacent, Shunsui. If you don't sort your sleeping patterns out, you're going to lose more ground. Slipping three ranks when you've always been top is a big thing – Kai jumped right up over you, and Ryuu wasn't far behind. If he hadn't been still catching up with so much, it might've been worse. Hirata and Souryou-kun were each only a couple of marks below you, and Sora wasn't far off too."
"I don't mind not finishing top." Shunsui said matter-of-factly. "Providing I graduate with you all, and I will. But I have to admit, probably you're the only person I'm happy giving that top rank to. If it had been Yamamoto, maybe it would've jarred a little more. Because I know I joke about it, but I didn't drop marks on purpose. I did the best papers I could at the time."
He sighed, stretching his hands over his head.
"I suppose you might be right." He acknowledged. "I need to sleep better if I'm to respond at my usual level. It just goes to show that it's sleeping and not studying that's the key to getting good grades at the Academy! I have studied about as much as usual, but on less sleep."
"That only works in your case." Juushirou grinned. "I have mixed feelings about it, though. Taking your top spot…I feel like I cheated you somehow."
"No…it just says that you just worked harder. And you have." Shunsui observed. "But part of that's been because of avoiding having meaningful conversations with Mitsuki, and the other part is trying to overtake Akira. In the end you overshot your target – but it's fitting for Anideshi to be top of the school. That's what it means, Juu – and he'll rant and rage and gnash his teeth about it all summer break, most probably. But you pipped him by merit this time…game set and match to you."
"If only it was so easy." Juushirou finished his tea, letting out a sigh. "All right. Shall we go see your brother? Whatever he has to say, we shouldn't keep him waiting too long."
"Mm." Shunsui drained his own mug, getting to his feet. "If he's been locked in his office most of the week, it means he's probably got plenty he needs to say. Besides, I imagine Chi will come here too once she's aware that we've arrived. I don't expect her to hold back and wait if her adored older brother is in town."
"Adored may be an exaggeration." Juushirou laughed. "I am looking forward to seeing her, mind you. It's strange at home when she's not there. I've always been close especially to her and to Hiro, so I notice when she's gone."
"Just like they notice when you are, presumably." Shunsui's eyes twinkled and Juushirou nodded.
"They'll have to get used to that, though." He said frankly. "Since I don't know where I might be stationed come the end of this year."
"According to Sora, who probably found out from Kyouki-sama, there's some talk of squads having official base grounds in Inner Seireitei as well as in Districts." Shunsui reflected as they made their way down the hallway that led to Tokutarou's study. "It's something to do with having the non-Council squads in a place closer to the Council for ease of mobilisation. I don't know how long that will take to pan out, but if it happens, I won't be against it. I'm expecting us to be scattered across the various District squads come the end of this year, and it would be nicer if there was one home base ground for all of them rather than us all being flung miles apart."
"I suppose we'll see how that pans out." Juushirou said thoughtfully. "I don't imagine there'll be objections, though. The squads whose Captains aren't in the Council at the moment are still Clan connected, so it'll just mean reassigning some of each Clan's territory to make it happen. Right?"
"That's the theory." Shunsui agreed. "But in practice the Clans have a habit of making things far more complicated than they need to be. At the moment only the highest ranking Clan members are permitted to use the toll roads through Inner Seireitei and there are strict status regulations about other things too – for example, I couldn't go there and stay in Niisama's Council quarters without his being there or at the very least, his written authorisation. But it is a good idea, and I hope it becomes more than just talk."
At that moment they reached their destination, and Shunsui raised his hand, knocking sharply on the carved panel door. The next moment it swung back to reveal the broad-built Yasuhiro, and Juushirou realised that the reason he had not accompanied them from District One had been because he had been at Tokutarou's side, helping with whatever it was preoccupying the Clan leader's attention. The normally tidy desk was piled high with old books and sheafs of paper, and in the middle of it sat the young leader himself, writing brush in hand as he flicked through the never ending collection.
"Shunsui?" As they stepped into the room, Tokutarou glanced up from his desk, relief flickering in his clouded brown eyes as he set down his brush. "And Juushirou too. Good. I'm sorry to greet you like this – as you can see, I've been a little busy with all kinds of things of late."
"This looks scary." Shunsui gazed at the paperwork warily. "I'm going to remind you first and foremost that I'm on summer break, Nii-sama – please don't send any of this my way."
"You already know I have a job for you." Tokutarou sat back, gesturing to Yasuhiro to close the door and the tall retainer did so without comment. "Now you're both here, we can talk properly – Juushirou, has Shunsui told you anything about the reasons behind your sudden invitation to District Eight this summer?"
"No, only that you wanted my help with something." Juushirou settled himself down on one of the proffered cushions, watching as Shunsui dropped down onto the one beside him. "But more than that I've not heard. I don't know how I can be of use to you, Tokutarou-sama – but if I can, then…"
"Ah, he's so much more helpful than you are, Shunsui." Tokutarou shot his brother a wry smile, and Shunsui offered him a benign one in return. "Very well. How much are you aware of relating to the Kuchiki situation? I imagine with your family being in District Six, you can't be entirely oblivious."
"Ribari-sama was murdered and Nagoya-senpai has been sent into exile." Juushirou said gravely. "Ryuu and Mitsuki have indicated that other bad things have happened in District Six as well, but what exactly I'm not sure. They don't seem happy to disclose too many details – Ryuu in particular has been very closed up about it. I know there's a chance he'll be named as Guren-sama's heir, and we've all been notified that he might be a target for a future assassination. Also that the Shihouin…no, a Shihouin, but not the Clan as a whole – has been linked to this. That's about the most of my information. It's fleeting at best."
"But a good outline." Tokutarou reflected. "And enough that I don't have to do too much background explaining. Then another question – you're familiar I think with the Clan tradition of carrying the family emblem in the form of a chain, or ring, or something like that?"
"Yes." Juushirou's brows knitted together. "Shunsui has one – Hirata as well. In fact, I think probably most of them do at school – though I've never seen Ryuu's, now that I think of it."
"The Kuchiki tend to expect their status to be implicit, without the need for such things." Shunsui said dryly, and Tokutarou nodded.
"So I've heard it said, too." Tokutarou agreed. "But all things aside, you're familiar with the habit. In which case, if I was to show you this…you'd know what it was?"
He pulled out an old chain with a broken clasp, setting it down on top of one of the piles of paper so that Juushirou could see the pendant. The District boy gazed at it for a moment, then nodded his head.
"It belongs to your family." He said promptly. "It matches the crest held by Shunsui."
"Yes. It matches exactly, in fact." Tokutarou nodded. "If you were to put them side by side, you'd see that. But this chain belonged to our Father Matsuhara-sama – rather than to one of us. Shunsui carries an identical crest to his – which is why you're probably so easily familiar with it."
"To Matsuhara-sama." Juushirou reached out a finger to touch it. "I see. And this is important somehow?"
"A young girl who helped the Shihouin escape the prison in District Six carried this about her person." Tokutarou said grimly. "Guren-sama gave it to me, and when I saw it, I promised to look into it. Well, you can understand why, I'm sure. This was Father's – and so any slight to his name is a slight to Shunsui and I too."
"By the person who helped the Shihouin escape?" Juushirou stared at Tokutarou in dismay. "But…a Kyouraku is involved in that business?"
"No. One is not." Shunsui said categorically. "But someone is doing a good job of pretending to be and had the Kuchiki well fooled. Ryuu's Pa in particular, from what I understand. Whoever this girl is, she claimed to be a daughter of my Uncle and an exile. Uncle had no children, and that's not his crest – so Guren-sama's believed Niisama's explanations and has given it over to us to investigate. However…"
He faltered, meeting Tokutarou's gaze, and Tokutarou nodded.
"Without putting too much detail on it, some strange things have been unearthed here, too." He said quietly. "A murdered trader in precious metals, a missing prostitute whose family were also connected to that trade…and one who bore some resemblance to the girl in District Six, though we're fairly sure they're not the same. A Clansman who doesn't exist made an appearance and then disappeared at around the same time, carrying a lesser crest than the one carried by this so called 'Nanaki-hime'. And another prostitute was attacked – one who seemed to know the missing girl fairly well."
"And that's where you and I come in." Shunsui interjected.
"With a prostitute?" Juushirou was floored, and Shunsui chuckled.
"That face suits you." He teased. "But no, it's not that."
"This prostitute is currently in witness protection, shall we say." Tokutarou said evenly. "The people who are protecting her are known to you."
At his expression, Juushirou suddenly felt a cold chill sweep through his body.
"Chi-chan?" He whispered, and Tokutarou nodded.
"This girl – I don't recall her name – was a student of your sister's of some kind before all of this happened." He agreed quietly. "And so when she was attacked, she fled to Chihiro and Takeshi for protection. They've given it, but either the girl isn't giving up her secrets, or Takeshi isn't telling me them in full. Being that she's a prostitute, it's difficult for me to openly order her to be brought here. You can imagine how the Clan would view that and in any case, I get the feeling that if she doesn't want to talk, she won't. However, she may talk to Chihiro. And…"
"Chi might talk to me." Juushirou chewed down on his lip. "You want me to spy for you, in short, with my own sister?"
"The courtesan was attacked by a Shihouin, allegedly." Tokutarou nodded with a sigh. "But without her statement about what happened, it's difficult to know what really occurred and whether this is connected to the Kuchiki matter. My instinct tells me it is – but…"
"Lives are in danger so long as there are questions without answers." Shunsui sent Juushirou an apologetic look. "That's why I agreed to it – to you coming here like this and for this purpose. You'll probably be angry with me, but…there are still folk wanting to kill Ryuu and maybe other people too. And…Juu…both Tokutarou-nii and I are worried about the overall implications of this business. Because we think…the Shihouin that attacked this prostitute was Onoe Tomoyuki. The Council think that the one who attacked Guren-sama and who may have killed Ribari-sama was him, too. And that should be impossible…but…there's one way in which it wouldn't be. And if that way is the truth, then…"
"Keitarou-san's zanpakutou." Juushirou's features whitened, and Tokutarou's brows knitted together.
"Yes." He agreed. "So you've thought about this too?"
"No." Juushirou glanced at Shunsui, seeing the clouded look in his friend's gaze. "I haven't thought about it at all. But now, when you say things like that, I do. I know how Keitarou-san's sword works from my own experience – and it explains a lot. Kai-kun said that Onoe-kun's disappearance was essentially impossible – and the chances of him having left on his own are remote. But Keitarou-san's zanpakutou could do it. And it explains another thing, too. Why Shunsui's not been sleeping so well of late. Because you had that suspicion too, didn't you, Shunsui? You didn't tell me – or anyone – but you thought it. And that's…that's the reason it gave me a bad feeling, when you said things would be fine. Because I knew it meant you didn't really think so."
"Guilty." Shunsui held up his hands in apology. "But I had no proof. There is no proof. That's what we need to pin down, Juu. If this prostitute has information, then that might help the Council to do it. I don't want to face or fight Keitarou in person, but if I can help the Council nab him, then I'm happy to do that. If it is Aizen Keitarou behind all of this – it's not just Ryuu's family he's a threat to, but all kinds of other people too. Including you."
"Me?" Juushirou's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. "No…that's already something of the past. He may have bothered with me then, but I doubt he'd do so now. However, I take your point. I understand better than you how he thinks about things, I think – that his interest is in destroying the Clans and bringing them to their knees. I got the impression that he'd like to turn the world over and start a revolution if he could manage it."
"So you'll help?" Tokutarou asked softly. Juushirou nodded.
"I won't lie to Chi." He said matter-of-factly. "If I'm asking her questions, I will tell her why. But she's probably realised it, too. And hopefully, she will talk to me. I may not be able to find out what you need to know, Tokutarou-sama – but I'm willing to try. If it's Keitarou-san we're dealing with then whatever I can do to help, I will."
"That's what I hoped." Tokutarou let out his breath in a rush. "I'm sorry for it, but glad you're so quick to understand. And also…this business of Aizen Keitarou is top secret at present. Understand? From everyone outside of this room. Shunsui should not even know about it – but like you, he put the pieces together when we talked about this. No…possibly he had the pieces together before that, if I'm honest."
"Maybe I did." Shunsui admitted. "But truthfully I've been expecting him to resurface sooner or later."
A knock at the office door prevented Tokutarou from responding to his remarks, and the Clan leader cast Yasuhiro a glance. The retainer nodded, moving to pull back the divide. In the hall beyond was a young manservant, who bowed his head apologetically at the interruption.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Tokutarou-sama, but Chihiro-dono is in the entrance hall and is asking to see Juushirou-sama."
"Right on cue." Shunsui cast his friend a smile, and Juushirou nodded, eying Tokutarou quizzically.
"Shall I go now?" He asked softly, and Tokutarou nodded.
"Thank you." He said gratefully. "Whatever you can discover…even a little bit…will no doubt be of help."
"Then I guess I'm going to greet my sister." Juushirou got to his feet with a sigh. "And find out just what she's got herself into this time around."
So the Kyouraku were keeping their word.
Guren set aside the letter stamped with the distinctive seal of District Eight's Clan leader, pursing his lips pensively as he considered again the communication. It had been brief and there had been few details, but Guren was comforted by it anyhow. Tokutarou had reiterated his assurances to get to the bottom of the matter - and more than that, that he intended to open a brand new line of enquiry within a short space of time.
If Aizen Keitarou is involved, and really was using District Eight as some kind of shelter or base, I imagine that man will find him. He really is a surprisingly reliable kind of man, the head of the Kyouraku.
He got to his feet, moving to the far wall where an old tapestry hung against the wood panels, its borders decorated with the petals of the Kuchiki's sacred sakura. It was old now, having belonged to Guren's grandfather, but the image in the centre was still unmistakeable - a faceless Kuchiki leader on a black horse, the cream and green robes of state flowing out behind him. His right hand was curled around the gold hilt of a sword, and his left hand was raised, gesturing towards the far side of the tapestry, where a hoard of indistinguishable misshapen figures lurked in a haze of darkness. In the man's slipstream cowered commoners and Clansfolk alike - and Guren knew what the tapestry was meant to signify.
The protection of the Clan leader towards his family and his peasants.
Well, he was working hard towards that end. Even though so far things had been unsatisfactory...
"Oniisama." The sound of the door sliding back brought him back to the present and he turned, his gaze flitting quickly to make sure that the letter from Tokutarou was folded shut and not easily visible. That he had had such an instinctive reaction brought a troubled smile to his lips, and he sighed, sinking down behind his desk as he gestured for his twin brother to enter the study.
"What is it, Seiren?" He asked quietly. "I had heard from Futsuki that you'd left the manor - and then I received a report from Shibata that you'd returned to your own family estate unexpectedly. Even he did not seem able to give me a clear reason why - I got the impression you'd gone without speaking even to him. Are you so afraid to stand before me since the last time we spoke? Being at crossed purposes is something we're both well familiar with - I didn't think it was enough to make you run away from my presence."
"I'm not running away from you, Guren-nii." Seiren stiffened, a flicker of anger stirring in his grey eyes. It was gone almost immediately, however, and Guren frowned, taking in the tension that filled his kinsman's lean frame.
"Something is on your mind." He observed. "Something that requires you to stand before me, even though I can tell things are far from resolved between us."
"On the contrary, I have no grievance to bear against you." Seiren moved to stand before the desk, and Guren was aware of the firmness in his brother's voice as he made this declaration. "I am your shadow, or did you forget that? As Father decreed it, so I am. That's why I came back here - a shadow never really leaves a person's side, no matter how bright the light."
"What are you talking about?" Guren's brows knitted together. "I don't understand this behaviour of late, Seiren. I don't know where you've been or what you've been doing, and that's something I've not been able to say since Otousama died. That you'd suddenly take off to your own estate without a word to anyone is concerning - no, it's out of character. I've spoken to both Futsuki and your own daughter Murasaki too in the interim, but neither one of them seemed to know what you were thinking. Now you stand here to tell me a shadow doesn't leave its master's side - but you've been gone from mine for almost a fortnight, I believe."
"Yes." To Guren's surprise, Seiren did not snap back, his shoulders slumping slightly as though resigned to the criticism. "It would be about that length of time."
"And...?" Guren's eyes narrowed. "Have you come before me to explain this conduct, or to tell me once again that I am foolish in my wish to give my nephew a fair trial?"
Seiren did not answer at first, but a pained look touched his grey eyes, and slowly he slipped his fingers into his obi, pulling out two folded pieces of parchment. Without a word, he dropped them on the desk in front of his brother, and Guren frowned, reaching to pick up the nearest.
Seiren remained silent, watching in troubled silence as Guren unfolded the sheet, skimming his gaze over the contents. As he did so, his eyes widened, and he gazed up at his brother sharply.
"But these...are the same as...?"
"Yes, sir." Seiren's voice was soft, and Guren was struck by the sudden formality of his brother's words. "Just as the one we found addressed to you in Shirogane's chamber, these are the two letters I received before."
"The letters you said you'd burnt?" Guren's eyes became like slits, and Seiren inclined his head.
"Yes, sir. The same."
"You lied to me." Guren set down the letter, fixing Seiren with a searching gaze. "Why? And why bring them before me now, if I could not see them before?"
Seiren's lips thinned, and Guren could tell that his brother was fighting a battle within himself. When he spoke, however, it was not to answer the question. Instead he tapped the letters gently with his index finger.
"I would like to know who truly wrote those, Oniisama." He said gravely. "Whether it be Shirogane or whether it be not. I would like to know. And so I entrust them to you so that you can conduct a proper investigation."
"Whether it be..." Guren stared at Seiren in surprise. "Are you saying you no longer suspect Shirogane of involvement in this business?"
"I am saying I do not know." Seiren sighed, and Guren realised how weary his brother looked. His eyes were shadowy and unusually submissive, and from the gaunt look of his features Guren wondered if the other man had been getting enough sleep. "We need more evidence. And I am giving you what evidence I have. I will no longer pursue Shirogane until the question about who wrote those can be properly answered to everyone's satisfaction."
He's pulling back.
Guren's eyes darkened suspiciously.
Why? All of a sudden, why? To be so convinced of Shirogane's guilt...back-tracking is not a trait my brother possesses. And yet this...is as though...
He paused, reading over the two short notes once again.
"Seiren, what do these mean?" He asked softly, and Seiren frowned, his brow creasing as though the question troubled him. He did not answer, however, and Guren picked them up, waving them in his brother's face.
"What do they mean?" He asked more deliberately. "I want to know the answer, Seiren. As your Clan leader I am asking you - what do they mean?"
"Perhaps the person who wrote them will be able to tell you that clearly." Seiren stepped back, bowing his head before the desk. "I no longer presume to know the answer to that question."
With that he made to leave the office, and Guren tossed the letters aside, getting to his feet and hurrying to block his brother's way, grabbing him firmly by the arms.
"Explain yourself." He said urgently, giving his companion a little shake. "This Seiren I do not know. The Seiren who shouts at me, resents me, points a sword at my throat - that Seiren I am well used to. But a Seiren who bows his head and submits to my words, this I do not. I want to know what troubles you so greatly, and how it impacts on the Clan! What do you know that I do not, Seiren? Because there is something, I am sure of it. And if you do not tell me..."
"If I do not tell you, nothing can come of it." Seiren said flatly, pulling himself free of his companion's hold and meeting Guren's gaze with a closed one of his own. In that moment, Guren was struck by the resemblance between Seiren and his son, for that same, closed up, respectful expression was the one that Ryuu generally adopted when dealing with the higher ranking members of Clan authority.
Ryuu hides his heart too, and now Seiren is hiding his.
Guren's fingers closed around the hilt of his zanpakutou.
"This is an order." He said forcefully, pulling the weapon up an inch from its sheath and gazing at Seiren with a challenge in his eyes. "Tell me what you know. To disobey the one who holds power over this Clan is treason, Seiren - twin brother or not, you know that."
Seiren stared at him for a moment, then a faint, humourless smile touched the thin lips and a pale hand came out to close around Guren's sword hand, gently pushing the weapon back into its sheath.
"There are things that should not be said." He said softly. "For the sake of this Clan, and for your sake too, Oniisama."
He glanced towards the discarded notes, then,
"If Shirogane is guilty, I will kill him with my own hands." He added. "I will not forgive anyone who betrays the leader of this Clan. Myself included."
With that he bowed his head once more, withdrawing from the study and leaving Guren staring after him in nonplussed silence.
We are strangers after all.
Slowly he released his hold on his sword hilt, letting out his breath in a rush as he turned back towards his desk. Picking up the nearest letter, he glanced at it thoughtfully.
He did not want me to see these, but he's had a change of heart. You know something, my brother - but you won't reveal it, even if I threaten you with the full power of the Clan leader's wrath. Whatever your reasons for keeping it secret...should I try and pry that apart? Doubtless it has to do with Father's nikki and the fact Seiren didn't tell me pages had been taken from it when he clearly knew they had. I sometimes wish I had a better way to understand him the same way I can Futsuki.
He chewed down on his lip, rummaging in his desk drawer for the letter that had been addressed to him and setting it down on the desk top with the other two. One by one he read them, trying to understand the cryptic nature of their words.
"If you value your son's future, pay close attention to your Father's past. All secrets are known to me. I do not bluff"
"I know your secrets. I will extinguish every enemy in this Clan, so nobody can stand in my way. You should watch out for me, for I am watching you…and I won't stay silent forever."
"Leader of the Clan you may be, but leader of the Clan you are not."
"Your son's future relates to Ryuu. Hence you thought that he was being plotted against, and perhaps you are right." Guren sank back down behind the desk. "Father's past...the nikki? Something from the..."
His gaze flitted to the place on the shelf where the old book was kept, but even without getting it down Guren was quite sure that he would not find what he was looking for between its fading pages.
There was a snippet that Seiren thought was from the nikki in with the letter left for me. This last one. Leader you may be but leader you are not...but the piece of paper meant nothing at all to me. It meant something to Seiren, though. I won't stay silent forever. Silent about what? Something to do with Father, clearly - but what? Ah, this is no good! If Seiren knows something important, he should say it clearly and we can deal with it. This cloak and dagger behaviour is annoying...whatever it is, Father's long since dead now. Why would Father - or his nikki - be able to cause Seiren to act like this?
He screwed up his gaze thoughtfully for a moment, then turned back to the desk, rummaging around for the scrap of faded, crumpled parchment that Seiren had identified as being from the nikki.
"At that time, Kinnya was also summoned and a course of action was chosen for the greater benefit of the Kuchiki Clan. On this occasion, it seemed that…"
Once more Guren read the words out loud, then,
"Kinnya-ojisama?"
If I went to the coast and spoke to Ojiue, would he be able to answer these questions that Seiren's created?
Guren pursed his lips, considering this for a moment. Then he got to his feet, gathering the letters together as he made up his mind.
I'll make a trip to visit him, I think. He knew Father better than anyone - so if I should ask someone, it should be him. I don't know if that will answer the question of who wrote these and why, but it may put me a step further forward with understanding my brother's odd behaviour. And I need to understand that because I need him in his full capacity. If this starts to become a far more serious matter, I can't have Seiren drifting off on errands of his own nor bogging himself down in past events that don't matter. That he's given these to me means he's had doubts about Shirogane's guilt - but there's still more to this than I understand. What Seiren knows may help me resolve my son's murder - and so I have no choice but to go to the coast!
"You know, when I first heard that you were coming to District Eight, I wondered if it was prophetic."
As they walked beneath the swaying willow trees that framed the Kyouraku-ke's extensive garden, Chihiro shot her brother a pensive glance. "I wasn't sure if it was a coincidence or not, Juu-nii - that you happened to come here just when I had something I needed to speak to you about."
"It's not really a coincidence, since I want to talk to you too." Juushirou sighed, shaking his head. "Tokutarou-sama invited me here for a particular purpose, it seems. Though I'm happy to be visiting Shunsui, and seeing you, I guess I didn't really expect..."
He faltered, and Chihiro frowned.
"You've come about Riri, haven't you?" She asked softly.
"Riri?" Juushirou cast her a quizzical look, and Chihiro nodded.
"Takeshi and my houseguest." She said matter-of-factly. "It's no secret that Tokutarou-sama would like to talk to her, and that he's tried to do so through various retainers, but hasn't had any luck. If he sent for you, then I'm guessing you're the next in his line of attack - because he thinks she has information he needs."
"It's not really a line of attack, Chi..." Juushirou began, but Chihiro smiled faintly, reaching up to take his hand in hers.
"It's all right." She assured him. "I want to talk to you about it. Only there's a lot I can't say...because I can't break promises. Riri...Riri is the one who has to make those decisions. But I think Tokutarou-sama is right. And Riri...probably does have things she could tell him that might help whatever he's looking into."
Juushirou sent her a keen glance.
"You think your friend should talk to him too?" He asked, relief in his tones, and Chihiro sighed.
"Riri is a courtesan." She said honestly. "And therefore by nature she doesn't trust authority. She's guardian to two small children, and if it wasn't for them, I don't think she'd even have come to me for help, for though she trusts me, Takeshi is...well, he's a retainer, and that's tied directly to the Clan. It's brought some confusion and complication, having her and the children staying with us, but I won't turn her out. Just...it's becoming a much bigger deal now that Tokutarou-sama is looking at the matter directly. And I worry that if she doesn't come forward of her own accord, he might try and have her arrested by force."
"Tokutarou-sama isn't really that kind of person, I don't think." Juushirou said thoughtfully. "But he does want to talk to her for good reason. He doesn't mean her harm, Chi - I'm certain of that. He just wants to know about the person who attacked her...that's all. According to him, it was someone who resembled a Shihouin. But without a clear statement from this...Riri-san? It's hard to pursue it any further."
"Mm." Chihiro fell silent, and for a while they just walked, the only sound the call of a bird wheeling high in the blue sky above their heads. Then, at length, Chihiro turned to meet her companion's gaze.
"Riri has her reasons for not wanting to go to the manor." She said gravely. "And I can't tell you what they are. Whatever you say to me, and however much we're siblings, this is something I've promised and I won't go against it. I know you understand that, Juu-nii. A promise has to be kept, even if it puts you in a situation you don't like."
"There's a chance, though, that if Riri-san doesn't come forward, people will get hurt. People may already have been." Juushirou pointed out. "This Shihouin may have killed a bunch of other people as well as attacking her - and..."
"I know. I've told her that too." Chihiro cut across him. "But Juu-nii, this is Riri's choice. Riri's secret. I can't reveal anything she hasn't given me permission to reveal. I can't. No matter what, I can't."
"I know." Juushirou sighed, dropping back against the trunk of one of the trees. "And I hate that our reunion is tied up in this kind of discussion rather than the normal kind of greetings and exchanges of news. I'm happy to see you, Chi-chan, and that you're healthy. Just..."
Chihiro pursed her lips, taking in the shadows in her brother's eyes.
"You think I'm in danger because I'm shielding Riri?" She asked quietly, and Juushirou shrugged.
"She's been attacked once, so it's possible." He admitted. "Even though you have Takeshi to protect you, I don't think that it's necessarily enough. Tokutarou-sama revealed something to me that I'm not allowed to talk about, too - but it implies that someone involved in this has a certain level of spirit power. Takeshi's sword is helpless against something like kidou or worse, a zanpakutou. And whilst I'm here, and Shunsui is, neither of us will let bad things happen to you. But we can't be here forever. They may have given up and left here, or they may be waiting for an opportunity. If they tried to kill Riri-san once, they might again. And you might be wrapped up in it too."
"I see." Chihiro dropped down onto the grass, indicating for her companion to join her. "I wondered. I thought you probably wouldn't get involved in this if you didn't have some other reason like that...and I can tell by your expression that you think this is serious. But even so, I can't break my promise to Riri. She has so few people she can trust - if I become one she doesn't, then..."
"You care a lot about this girl, don't you?" Juushirou observed, and Chihiro nodded.
"I've been teaching her letters and sewing for a while." She agreed. "Because of the children, she wanted to get out of the prostitution trade and be able to provide for them in a more stable way. But she's always seemed so self sufficient...until recently. Until Momiji disappeared. That was the moment it changed...and it hasn't really gone back. She needs someone she can trust at the moment...and I think I'm the only one who she can."
"Momiji-san." Juushirou echoed. "That's...the other prostitute, correct?"
"Yes." Chihiro picked absently at the petals of a daisy, nodding her head. "I only met her once, so I can't tell you much about her. Riri believes she's dead, because the alternative is that Momiji stole something of Riri's and fled with it, and Riri doesn't believe Momiji is capable of that. I have to admit, my impression of her was only fleeting. But I think...if Riri believes that strongly, so do I. Prostitutes form bonds, and Momiji was someone Riri considered like a sister. But she really did vanish. No body, nothing like that. Just fire damage at her home, and that's all."
"And the murder of the precious metal trader?"
"Gaugen?" Chihiro looked surprised. "You know about that too?"
"Yes." Juushirou admitted. "Tokutarou-sama thinks it's connected."
"So do I. And so does Takeshi." Chihiro agreed. "His death was suspicious in its timing. It all ties into..."
She frowned, pausing, and Juushirou shot her a searching look.
"Ties into?"
"A Clansman who claimed to be called Masaki." Chihiro looked troubled. "That's why Tokutarou-sama's become so interested, I think. Because of that. Since someone who had the crest appeared and disappeared within a few days. During the time he was in Teika, he met Momiji, and she disappeared. And he did business with Gaugen, and Gaugen died. After that, nothing. No sign, no trace, not even a whisper. None of the retainers seem to know who he is. Like a ghost, he doesn't seem to exist at all."
"He probably exists, Chi." Juushirou's expression darkened. "But that relates to something I'm not supposed to raise with you. And if you can't break your promise, nor can I break mine. So we'll have to leave that there. Only...you're probably right to connect those things together. Tokutarou-sama has too. And since Riri-san not only knew Momiji-san but was also attacked, she seems to be at the centre of it."
"I know." Chihiro ran her fingers through her thick dark hair. "And I will talk to her again. I want her to come and speak to you or Shunsui - maybe both - because I think if you knew her full story, you'd understand both her hesitation and what's been going on. More, you'd make her feel less threatened. I'll try again, when I get back. That's all I can do...but I'll try."
"Then try." Juushirou offered her a smile. "And for the time being, we'll leave it at that. If there's nothing more you can tell me, then there isn't."
"Thank you for understanding that much at least." Chihiro returned the smile. "And for understanding that I have to protect my word to my friend."
"Oh, believe me, that I understand only too well." Juushirou's expression became rueful. "It's usually the precursor for me getting myself into some trouble or other with one of the Clans."
"I guess I'm taking after you, then." Chihiro leant back on her hands, gazing up through the branches of the tree thoughtfully. "But I don't think it's a bad thing. Being like Juu-nii, I mean. If you believe in something, you should follow it through. Right?"
"Yes, but I can defend myself better than you can." Juushirou warned. "And Okaasama would cry if something happened to you."
"I know." Chihiro became serious. "But it's all right. I'll talk to Riri again, and do my best to persuade her. I think it would be better for everyone if she spoke to you, so promise me that if she does, you'll protect her rather than protecting me? Whether from Tokutarou-nii or from whatever else - make sure she's safe, all right?"
"I'll do my best to do that for both of you." Juushirou promised solemnly. "By helping Tokutarou-sama in whatever way I can to bring this business to a close."
Author's Note
This seems an ironically titled chapter given the season...