Chapter Forty Five: Shin Gakki
"Well, here we are again."
Shunsui dropped down on the floor of the Great Hall with a sigh, casting his companion a rueful grin as he settled himself more comfortably up against the wall. "Summer break sure flew by, didn't it? I suppose when you're having fun, that old adage about time going more quickly is true. I feel as though we've barely left before we're back again."
"Are you sure about that?" Juushirou sank down opposite him, casting him a pensive glance. "You've said nothing at all about it since we had that little chat about Riri - but you don't fool me. I know you're thinking about it - and her - and everything else we discussed with Tokutarou-sama. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were glad to be back at school because it means you're well away from all of the intrigue and investigation."
"Ah, you know me too well," Shunsui admitted with a sheepish smile. "Although I'm worried about Riri, I don't really know how else to deal with that at the moment except in the way that I have. Much as it bothers me, Chihiro's the best person to help her with the things she really needs right now. So long as Oniisama can keep her safe...I guess it's too soon to worry about anything else."
He rested his chin in his hands, tilting his head to look at his friend.
"I suppose I don't need to tell you to keep that a secret for the time being, do I?" he asked softly. "I know you'll keep everything that Oniisama told you to yourself, but we never discussed the matter of Riri. However..."
"It's not my business and I don't gossip about other people's lives or families, you know," Juushirou snorted. "I only raised it now because there's just the two of us - but I didn't intend to do so again. Whilst you know I'm here if you want to discuss it, I don't intend on prying into it any more than I already have by being Chi's brother. I understand...what it means to have siblings. But this is a different kind of situation, so..."
"She's like your mother," Shunsui mused. "She's half Clan and half not. But Raiko-dono found a happy and secure life outside of the Clan that she maybe didn't have within it, if the information Ryuu and Mitsuki found out for you is true. I can't say the same of Riri and it's just another failing of my family that I feel the need to put right. It might not be any more than that, and she might not let me even try to - but I suppose I'll keep thinking about it and doubtless come to some conclusion or other. At the very least, if I can do something to help her make life better for those two chibis of hers, it will be a step in the right direction. My family has money – it might as well be put to some material use, and Riri might accept charity for them more easily than for herself."
"Riri really does have a recogniseable amount spirit power, you know," Juushirou murmured. "Chi and the others wouldn't notice it, and she's never used it at all, probably, so whether even she realises it I'm not sure. It isn't like yours, not by a long way, but it's definitely there. Having it might also make her a target from...other things than just...you know who."
"I know." Shunsui frowned. "Thankfully it's not the same level as mine or yours, else we'd have a real problem. But yes, it's considerable enough to be noticed if she wasn't safely ensconced in a place that at a moment's notice shinigami can be called to to police. Because of his good relationship with Nii-sama, Hakubei's squad often patrols around that locale, getting rid of nasty spirit beasties. Probably that's why nothing's ever gone after Riri before. But...I did wonder about the little girl, too. Shizuka...was it? I think she might also have spirit power. It's another reason I hope I'll be able to do something to make life better for them. And…if I'm right about the kid…it might be that in future they'll need more help from me than they do now."
"Shizuka's very young to know something like that about," Juushirou reflected, "but it's all right. You know about things now, so when Eighth Squad is revived..."
"Shunsui-taichou to the rescue, huh?" Shunsui grinned. Juushirou shrugged, a wicked twinkle entering his hazel eyes.
"I was thinking more along the lines of Uncle Shunsui, since Riri considers those children like her own," he teased. "You already have Haru - one or two more won't hurt, surely?"
"Uncle Shunsui?" Shunsui's expression became rueful. "Who knows? Maybe."
He gestured towards the door.
"Meantime we have company, so change the subject," he added lazily. "Why do you suppose Yama-jii sent for us to come to the hall like this when we've only just come back? Senior Class errands again? Everyone else has a free day today - why are we hauled into the Great Hall of all places when we've barely even unpacked?"
"I don't know." Juushirou's expression became serious. "I hope it doesn't mean more bad news has come this way."
"You didn't go to meet up with Mitsuki yet, did you?" Shunsui asked, and Juushirou sighed, shaking his head.
"Haven't had time," he admitted. "Like you said, we got called here right away. But if she and Ryuu were here all break, surely they're both fine."
"You don't need to have concern for us, Ukitake. Mitsuki and I are both quite well."
Ryuu's own voice broke through the conversation at that moment, and Juushirou turned, seeing the Kuchiki, Hirata and Enishi in tow. "I have not however seen the Shihouin member of our class, so I wonder whether he managed to survive his break in the company of an angry Shadow Cat."
"Sora and Mitsuki aren't here either. Even though they should be, since they had no distance to travel." Shunsui's brows knitted together. "Did Mitsuki get Sora to help out in the Healing Bay over the holiday or something?"
"Truthfully, I am not sure," Ryuu admitted, as the trio sat down. "I spent most of the break in the library, and Hirata and I went over quite a few interesting study principles during that time. I didn't spend much time with Mitsuki - she and Sora went to the local town's market, I believe, but otherwise I've barely had a chance to see her. Girls seem to have girl things they do, and since she seemed happier doing them, I left well alone."
He shrugged.
"The stress and increased security has all been because of my presence here, not hers," he added. "I have not been allowed to leave the school all break, even if I had wanted to - but in her case, there is no such restriction and I saw no reason to try and hold her back."
"But nothing has happened," Hirata added, pushing his glasses further up his nose. "It's been completely quiet on all fronts here."
"Nothing's happened in other parts of District One, either," Enishi sighed, lounging back on his hands as he tried to squeeze his broad frame more comfortably into the group. "Budge up, Kyouraku. Some of us aren't midgets like Hirata."
"If you ask me, you stole some of his share of body mass," Shunsui retorted neatly, but obediently shuffled up to allow his companion more breathing space. "There. How's that?"
"Better." Unperturbed, Enishi flashed him a grin. "Anyhow, like I was saying, I stopped at Aneue's house this break, since it's closer than going right back home. My brother in law is involved in the security for this District, and they've been on heightened alert. But nothing's happened, and Hashihiko-sama relaxed the guard a few days back. It's as though things are beginning to settle. I wonder if it means the Council have leads. We won't know about those things, of course - but it might mean you guys aren't in danger any more, Kuchiki."
"That would be nice," Ryuu's expression became haunted. "But I somehow have my doubts."
"There's every possibility the opposite is true," Shunsui agreed. "The Yamamoto guards may have been reduced on purpose because it's so quiet."
"In order to lure the culprits in and then ambush them?" Hirata looked thoughtful, and Shunsui nodded.
"It's not impossible," he agreed. "If you were on better terms with Akira, Juu, we might ask him if he's heard anything, since he's so fond of telling us about being Hashihiko-sama's son – but I don't suppose he'd tell us those details even if he knew."
"I'd say that was a vain hope," Juushirou stole a look across the chamber to where Akira and Kanshi were sitting a good distance away from them. "If we never speak to each other, then that's probably as promising as it gets. Even if I asked him nicely, he wouldn't tell me things concerning his family's arrangements."
"Akira doesn't know anything, though," Enishi shook his head. "I asked him this morning, since as it worked out his family's carriage brought me back to the school. He told me that his Father's been in a lot of meetings, but hasn't spoken to anyone outside about them. Oh, and he'd had communication from Genryuusai-sensei – but what about, nobody seems sure. Still, he didn't seem that worried about it. He said the guards had been pulled back by Hashihiko-sama's direct order, so that must mean they have leads and things will soon be resolved."
"I forgot that you and he were on decent terms," Shunsui acknowledged, shooting Enishi a rueful grin. "I suppose if it's something top secret, the head of the Yamamoto might not even tell his nearest and dearest."
"It depends on the nature of that secret," Hirata pursed his lips. "Some secrets are more dangerous the more people know about them. Maybe Hashihiko-sama wants to protect Yamamoto-kun and his other close kinsmen and expects it to be handled directly by the Council. It's not the job of the Yamamoto to arrest people molesting the Kuchiki, so perhaps that's the real reason why."
Juushirou shot his bespectacled friend a troubled look, unable to read the expression in his friend's clever pale eyes.
Did Hirata know already the things that Tokutarou and the Council suspected? He did not often mention his missing sister, but somehow Juushirou knew that it was not that he did not think about her. Just remembering her was painful for his parents who believed her dead, and so to protect them he had not raised the subject more than was necessary. Still, Hirata was smart, and though he didn't always say the things he reasoned out, Juushirou was certain this didn't mean he hadn't considered them.
Eiraki-hime might be working with Keitarou-san, if it really is him who is behind this. Or she might be being manipulated…which means her life is in danger. I wonder if Hirata's made that connection – or if Misashi-sama has told him all the things that the Council suspect. He didn't go home to District Seven for the break, which suggests that Misashi-sama wants to keep him away from trouble as much as possible. But is that because of Eiraki-hime, or has that connection only been made so far by Shunsui and I?
His brows knitted together.
We didn't even raise that thought with Tokutarou-sama, since it was he who let Eiraki-hime go back to District Seven without charge after Keitarou-san took me prisoner two and a half years ago. I wonder if that was the right or the wrong thing to do – but without any real evidence that the mysterious hime in District Six was or wasn't Eiraki-hime, what else could we do?
"More likely the culprits just aren't in District One," Ryuu said categorically now. "There is therefore no point in wasting time and effort on men trying to locate them here. Such things could be better served elsewhere - perhaps through different methods completely."
"That sounds like someone who knows something we don't know!" Kai descended on them at that moment, putting an arm unexpectedly around Ryuu's shoulders and almost pulling him off balance. "Wow, your guard was completely down. You should be more aware of danger, Kuchiki - I might not be a friendly Shihouin."
"You might be a dead one if you don't stop horsing around." Ryuu shook himself free, shooting his roommate a glare. "Just because I can tolerate your company more these days doesn't mean that you can touch me at will."
Shunsui smirked.
"So you survived Midori-sama's rage?" he asked Kai, who groaned, nodding his head.
"By keeping mostly out of her way and taking over the lion's share of the training regimes," he said heavily, settling down between Ryuu and Hirata and folding his arms thoughtfully across his chest. "I've never seen her like that. Something happened close to the border with District One during the break and you should've seen the speed with which she dispatched people to investigate. Someone made a report of an unauthorised zanpakutou release but when they reached the scene, everything was inconclusive and none of the local people had seen or heard anything. Now she has District Two swarming with spies and undercover people, looking for anyone who might be out to sabotage our Clan…even though most probably this was just one of Second practicing new techniques in secret without proper authorisation."
"The Shihouin are innocent," Ryuu murmured, more than half to himself, and Juushirou shot him a quizzical glance.
"You still feel that way, huh?" he asked, and Ryuu nodded.
"I am quite certain of it," he agreed. "Midori-sama should not be so panicked. This is not the same as when Senaya-sama died."
"Sensei's here," Hirata observed at that point. "So I suppose we'll find out soon why we've been called here."
He cast Ryuu a glance.
"Do you think it's to do with whatever it was he spoke to you about the other day?" he asked curiously. "You said that we'd all know about it soon enough, so maybe…?"
"Hey, you know what this is about?" Shunsui arched an eyebrow in Ryuu's direction, and the Kuchiki nodded.
"Possibly," he agreed, "but Sensei told me that it was something I should not speak of to anyone until he had everybody together. He didn't want rumours to start, I suppose."
"This is relating to the Kuchiki?" Kai asked, and Ryuu shook his head.
"No. It's relating to us," he said frankly, "as Seniors. It is nothing to do with my Clan – but you will see the reasons why he spoke to me of it first when he explains. Pipe down and have patience, Shihouin. You will all know soon enough."
"Mitsuki and Sora still aren't here," Juushirou frowned. "Shikibu-san is though, which suggests she and Mitsuki still haven't made up their fight."
"Mitsuki doesn't seem to have any intention of doing that," Ryuu sighed. "If you want my advice, I'd stay out of it, Ukitake. Girls fight in illogical ways and trying to understand their reasoning will only make you more confused in the long run."
"Good advice," Shunsui murmured. "But it's not like them to be late for a meeting. Everyone else is here, and it's not as though either of them went home this summer break."
At that moment the door of the hall was flung back and a breathless Sora, an equally dishevelled Mitsuki in tow scrambled into the hall, Mitsuki flushing bright red as she registered the fact they were late and that now all eyes were on them.
"We're sorry we were late, Sensei," Sora gasped out, as both girls bowed hastily towards their teacher. "We lost track of…of time and then lost our…our way back to the school."
"I see," Genryuusai gazed at them for a moment, as if taking in their unusually haphazard and flustered appearances. Then he nodded, gesturing for them to sit down. "Now you're all here, I can begin."
"He didn't say anything," Shunsui murmured, pursing his lips. "They both look like scarecrows – Sora even has leaves in her hair – and yet ol' Yama just waved them by. He must be in a good mood."
"Maybe what he has to say is more important," Juushirou frowned, his gaze darting to Mitsuki and then to Sora as the two girls sank down sheepishly against the far wall, exchanging guilty looks with one another. Shunsui was right, he realised, and as he thought on it more, it perturbed him. Though it wasn't uncommon for Sora to be rushing around like a mad thing, nor for her to appear a little worse for wear, Mitsuki was another matter – yet wherever they had been, they had obviously been there together.
He sighed.
"Perhaps he's being lenient since it's first day back."
"But being first day back, and presumably knowing we have a meeting, do you normally go wandering in the forests on a whim?" Shunsui was sceptical. "I don't think you do."
"Silence, please, everyone."
Genryuusai's voice prevented Juushirou from responding, and instead the white haired boy turned his attention to the dais. As the hum of chatter ceased, the old man's moustache twitched to indicate a smile, and he slowly nodded his head.
"Welcome back, Seniors," he said softly. "I trust that you all had a relaxing summer break."
The students exchanged confused looks, and Genryuusai's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"You're wondering why I've called you here just to ask you that, I can see," he reflected, "but it's important to me that you've all come back with the will and enthusiasm for the term ahead. Some of you may already have realised the reason you've been called here – for others, it may come as a complete surprise. But what I have to discuss with you now is something that is the province of all Senior Classes at this Academy. Completing this exercise is fundamental to being able to graduate as a shinigami and join a squad. Therefore this unit – perhaps above all others – is vital for your development and your awareness as young zanpakutou users."
He paused, and despite himself, Juushirou forgot about the other things that had been troubling him, curiosity and anticipation burning in his heart.
"It's traditional for members of the Senior Class to be dispatched to the Real World for a period of time," Genryuusai's voice was soft in a room in which you could have heard a pin drop. "Your year especially are promising candidates for this, since all of you have a zanpakutou at a good enough stage to be considered ready."
"The Real World?" Enishi's eyes became huge. "You're really going to send us out there, Sensei? All…all of us?"
"I am." Genryuusai nodded his head. "Over the break I've spoken to my colleagues and already arrangements are being made. In approximately three or four weeks from now, you will be sent to the Real World, and so all preparation for the trip must be completed to my satisfaction before that time. Any student whose preparation is considered lacking will not go – and consequently, will not graduate from the Academy this spring."
"What kind of preparation, Sensei?" Aoi asked curiously, and Genryuusai smiled.
"This is not like the camping that some of you did as Second years," he said evenly. "There is no protective shield to keep danger at bay, and we will not be there to guard you. Your protection will be in your own skills and in each other – your ability to function in teams will be extremely important if you are to complete your errand successfully. Therefore over the next few weeks, as well as honing your individual abilities, I will expect you to do a lot of strategic planning on how best to face the challenges the Real World offers. As well as your usual Sakusen classes, I will be holding lectures one evening each week relating specifically to Real World conditions and situations, and the other staff will also tailor their teaching to help you be as ready as possible for what you might encounter on the other side."
"How will we get there?" Naoko raised her hand. "Will we be using a Senkaimon, Sensei?"
"Yes," Genryuusai agreed. "I'm already arranging for one to be set up and stabilised so as to allow you access to the Real World as smoothly and quickly as possible. It will also act as an escape route in the case of extreme danger – I will make sure each one of you knows how to use it before you go and you will be tested on these emergency procedures also before you are allowed to leave. Though none of you yet have swords developed enough to open a modern Senkaimon, this gate will be adapted for student use and so you needn't worry about your skills not being enough."
His gaze fell on Ryuu as he spoke, and Juushirou was aware of a flicker of resolution in the Kuchiki boy's grey eyes.
"What will we be expected to do in the Real World, Sensei?" That was Akira, his smooth, slightly arrogant tones ringing out around the high-ceilinged chamber. "Do we have a specified plan of action, or…?"
"For a period of about a week - perhaps two weeks, depending on activity – you will be assigned in groups to patrol a particular region of the Real World in just the same way as a normal squad group would," Genryuusai said gravely. "It's an area with low to moderate Hollow activity and there should be nothing beyond your capabilities. How you organise yourselves will largely be up to you. Although I will be appointing two people to act as immediate group leaders, I will expect you to discuss and reason out your activities and to listen to one another, since you all have different talents to offer. The people in the Real World are not like the people in Seireitei – and your job will not simply be to destroy Hollows. You may even for the first time carry out konsou, or 'soul burial' – something which I know none of you have ever done before."
"Soul burial?" Sora shivered. "That doesn't sound very nice, Sensei."
"It's the method by which souls are sent from the Real World to Rukongai, and it's the most humane method of transferring them there," Genryuusai explained. "It's not currently safe to let students roam in Rukongai – especially since the Sekkiseki wall between Seireitei and Rukongai is still being renovated – but souls left in the Real World without konsou almost inevitably become Hollow at some point. Therefore it's as important for a shinigami to be able to send souls to Rukongai before they make that transition as well as being able to purify them afterwards."
His fingers tightened around the wood of his cane, and Juushirou wondered if he was remembering expeditions of his own to do just that very thing.
"You'll have a lecture on soul burial tomorrow afternoon in your usual Sakusen chamber, and another one at the beginning of next week in the Kidou theory classroom," he concluded. "I won't waste time on the science of it now. Your final examinations will require a written report to be done of your time in the Real World and a two thousand word summary of the applications of konsou on top of all the other things you are already studying – so bear it in mind that although they are not officially timetabled on your normal schedule, these lectures are not optional. Even if they eat into your free study time – you will find them of use."
His eyes narrowed for a moment, then,
"Within your groups you will also be assigned a partner for the duration of the exercise and that partner will be your 'buddy' in the respect that you are responsible for one another's safety," he said quietly, "whilst I'm sure some of you are seeing this as an adventure, let me be blunt. Students have died undertaking this exercise before. Those who are careless and who don't take their duties seriously are the most at risk. Your year are a particularly exceptional one, and so I have hopes of all of you graduating. But you mustn't rest on your laurels and assume it will be easy. This is a test of everything, not just your academic ability. Please don't let me down."
"That makes it sound really appealing, Sensei," Shunsui observed, and Genryuusai nodded.
"You especially should take note of this," he said acerbically, "because your responsibilities come the spring may involve the lives of many people, not just yourself."
He gestured to the board behind him.
"You've already been assigned your partners – there is an odd number, so there will be one group of three and the rest pairs. You will of course operate in the bigger groups – but for safety's sake these are the people you must not easily lose sight of. Changing partners will cause inconvenience to everyone, so I've done my best to assign pairs which I believe will work successfully. You are now free to talk and to check the lists – I expect to see you all at the lecture tomorrow."
"It's not safe to let students roam in Rukongai, but casting us out into the Real World is fine." As the old man left the dais, Shunsui rolled his eyes, casting Juushirou a wry smile. "I had a bad feeling this year was going to result in work – and it looks like I was right."
"I think it sounds exciting," Juushirou admitted. "Even if it is dangerous, it's a taste of how things really will be if we make it into squads."
"Will you go?" Kai shot Ryuu a questioning look, and Ryuu nodded his head.
"I've already told Sensei I will," he said quietly.
"That's why he spoke to you in advance," Hirata realised. "Did he contact the Kuchiki and ask…"
"No. He asked me to make the decision, and I made it," Ryuu said simply. "As the highest ranking Kuchiki in District One, my decision will be upheld. Sensei said so – that it was entirely up to me to choose what I should do."
"If you don't go, you can't graduate," Enishi murmured. "It's a harsh choice."
"It would probably not matter to my Clan if I did or didn't. I have my sword," Ryuu reflected, "but I want to graduate. Besides, Sensei didn't expressly tell me that if I didn't go, I would not graduate. What he said was that if things became complicated my Clan might choose to remove me from the school anyway. I'm not willing to accept that."
"And so you'll go to the Real World without asking them?" Shunsui's eyes became slits. "How do those two things connect?"
"I am taking initiative, because I want to bring things to a head," Ryuu stretched out his hands pensively in front of him. "I am tired of existing in this limbo."
"So?"
"There's a chance my going with you could create further danger," Ryuu admitted. "We do not know how seriously I am targeted, and if I leave Genryuusai-sensei's protection, then…"
"I see. Without Sensei watching over you, someone might take a chance to strike at you?" Juushirou looked thoughtful, and Ryuu nodded.
"Both Sensei and I see a benefit in that fact," he replied evenly.
"You might lure the assassins out?" Shunsui looked worried. "Steady on, Ryuu. You – we – nobody knows who we're messing with, but whoever the enemy really is, it's someone who's smart enough to kill in front of witnesses and still escape without leaving a clue."
"Sensei told me not to risk my life foolishly. He expects and wants me to return in one piece," Ryuu said calmly. "I have no intention of being killed, either. But on the other hand, if I can help to break the stalemate, then that is also my duty. Whether as heir to the Clan or simply as a Kuchiki, I have a responsibility to my family. I should not simply sit back and be protected. My position means I should be someone who protects – and so that means I must go to the Real World. Whatever the danger, that is my choice."
He paused, eying his friends doubtfully.
"Unless…you would rather not be with me, given that situation exists?"
"It will be dangerous anyway." Juushirou offered him a grin. "You shouldn't worry about things like that, Ryuu."
"We're a team, aren't we?" Enishi got to his feet, hauling the startled Kuchiki up with him and clapping him warmly on the back. "So stop thinking and saying stupid things and instead let's go find out what Sensei's got in mind for us. Akira and the others are already crowding the lists – but I reckon I can see over them, if need be."
"Then it's settled." Hirata pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Let's do that. Sensei said we should be able to work in these pairs, so I don't suppose Yamamoto-kun will be paired with Juushirou-kun or anything like that."
"Shunsui! Mitsuki and I are with you guys!" As they approached the board, Sora descended on them, excitement in her green eyes. "Sensei's split us into the two groups already, and Mi-chan and I are with you!"
"You have leaves in your hair, Sora." Shunsui reached across to pluck the stray greenery from his friend's muzzy curls. "Here. You should try brushing that before you come to class meetings. Or maybe you should try sleeping in the dorm instead of in the forest."
"We went for a walk early this morning." Sora pinkened, glancing at the leaf with a shrug. "And we lost track of time. It's really beautiful at this time of year, District One – but I'd totally forgotten about this and then Mitsuki yelped and so we ran back."
She shrugged, dismissing it with a grin.
"In any case, that's not important," she said briskly. "What is is that we're going to the Real World!"
"Did you know about this before?" Juushirou asked, and Sora pursed her lips.
"I sort of thought we might, but I didn't know for certain," she admitted. "Father did mention it over the spring break, before we came back to school but…nobody said anything since then so I wasn't sure."
"Looks like it's a sure thing now though," Shunsui reflected, hopping nimbly up onto the dais, squinting at the list. "And she's right, Juu. You and I are pairs, and Mitsuki and Sora are with us."
"Let's see." Juushirou clambered up beside him, pausing to scan his gaze across the lists of names.
The board read as follows:
Group One
Edogawa Mitsuki – Shiba Sora
Kuchiki Ryuu – Houjou Enishi
Kyouraku Shunsui – Ukitake Juushirou
Group Two
Shihouin Kai – Endou Hirata
Amai Suzuno – Shikibu Naoko
Yamamoto Akira – Michihashi Aoi – Souryou Kanshi.
"He really was playing to keep the peace, wasn't he?" Kai's voice from behind him made him start and he turned, nodding his head.
"Yamamoto-kun and I are apart," he agreed, "and so are Mitsuki and Shikibu-san. Plus you and Ryuu – if that even matters any more."
"Probably it's by design, so that there's nobody connected with the Shihouin in my immediate vicinity," Ryuu said acidly, turning his own grey gaze on the board. "Having Mitsuki and I together also makes sense, and there is no political implication I can see of having a Shiba or a Kyouraku among my fellows. Ukitake's kin is an irrelevance in this – and Houjou is a Yamamoto, so also not a risk."
"Mm." Juushirou glanced at the list again.
Even though a Kyouraku hime allegedly appeared in District Six, Shunsui's with Ryuu. But Hirata isn't. Is that because other people suspect Eiraki-hime might be involved in this somewhere? I can't imagine Sensei doesn't know that Keitarou-san could be involved. Does he even know that far as well?
"I guess assigning Enishi to work with you is an extension of the Yamamoto's promise to keep you safe," Shunsui said now, his own dark eyes thoughtful. "I think he's made the best choice, too. As bodyguards go, it'd take some to mess with Enishi."
"Houjou is my partner, he is not my bodyguard," Ryuu said stiffly, "and I have not asked him or anybody for specific protection."
"But Shunsui's right," Kai's eyes twinkled. "You won't let anything happen to Kuchiki, will you, Houjou?"
"Damn right I won't," Enishi said frankly. "Sensei said that we were responsible for each other, so that means I'll be paying attention. I'm not your bodyguard, Kuchiki – you outrank me in class in all ways and so that'd be stupid. But they might think twice about killing a Yamamoto if they want to keep Sensei out of their business. So if I'm with you, probably you're less in danger than you would be with Edogawa or someone else like Shihouin."
"I suppose that's true," Ryuu let out a heavy sigh. "All right. I did not mean to be rude, in any case. I have no objections to partnering you, Houjou – nor do I consider your abilities deficient when it comes to practical assignments. I just did not want people to think I intended to either rely on you for my safety, or put you in jeopardy on my behalf. It would be irresponsible of me and I would not do it."
"I guess I know that," Enishi grinned, reaching out to clasp Ryuu's hand in his and shaking it firmly. "Well? I look forward to working with you – and us both coming back safe and sound with our mission complete."
"Houjou has a way of making everything sound simple," Sora reflected with a sigh, "but I can't pretend I'm not glad it's this way. Mitsuki and Naoko…that isn't a good combination at the moment."
"I'm glad too," Mitsuki herself joined them at that moment, offering them a smile, though Juushirou was quick to notice the preoccupation in her grey eyes. "I'm with Sora and with Ryuu, so that suits me fine."
"And with Juushirou," Shunsui said wickedly. Mitsuki raised her gaze to his, and there was a moment of hesitation before she nodded.
"That's true too," She agreed cautiously. "I don't suppose that's anything more than accidental on Sensei's behalf. Each group needs a healer and so it's got one – Amai-san is in the other group and I'm in this. That's all."
"You sound as though you'd rather not be teamed up with me at all," Juushirou had not meant to say it out loud, but the words slipped from his lips before he could stop them. At this Mitsuki looked stricken, but before she could speak, Sora rested a hand on her arm.
"Mitsuki doesn't want you put in danger, idiot," she said disparagingly, casting Juushirou a long-suffering look. "Whichever group Kuchiki's in is obviously going to be the one that has the most risk attached. It's fine for folk like us who aren't connected, but you're part Kuchiki and someone might see to involving you because of that."
Mitsuki shot her friend a grateful look, nodding her head.
"The last thing I want to do is bring you into our mess, Juushirou," she said softly. "That's the truth of it. It's not that I don't want to be with you – but I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened and you got killed."
"Then I'll echo what Ryuu said earlier." Despite himself, something about this rankled against Juushirou's pride. "I don't need a bodyguard either. If Anideshi needs protecting then surely he's not fit to be Anideshi and I should resign my rank immediately."
"Juu…" Shunsui frowned, and Mitsuki let out a heavy sigh.
"You're not Clan," she said quietly, "and you don't need to be. Remember that's true, all right? It's not about protecting you as a person, but about protecting what you're here to do. Whether you like it or not, a lot of us care whether you get hurt. And just because the Clan world might shudder and react if Ryuu were to be killed, please try and remember that your death would be just as devastating for each one of us as losing him would be."
She reached out to take his hands in hers, and despite himself Juushirou felt a little guilty as he saw the emotion in her soft grey eyes.
"Protecting something means you think it's valuable, not that you think it's weak," she added gently. "A healer's job is to protect life. So whether you like it or not, it's my duty to protect you and everyone else when we go to the Real World. Retsu-sama's said this before – that a healer must be able to protect herself and those around her because she's the only one who can give life to those near death. When we're on assignment, there'll be no Retsu-sama to fall back on. So you'll have to let me do my job too, Juushirou."
"I suppose so." With a sigh, Juushirou slipped his hands free of her hold. "I'm sorry, Mitsuki. Just it sounded odd, how you said it. I suppose when you put it that way…"
"Anideshi sometimes has too much pride for his own good." Shunsui ruffled his fingers playfully through the lank white hair, causing his friend to push him away with an exclamation of protest. "But Sensei wants us to think of this as a team effort, so that means we all look out for each other. I'm your buddy, buddy. I'm licensed to protect you whether you like it or not."
"I wonder if that means I'm licensed to batter you over the head with Sougyo no Kotowari if you refuse to wake up in the morning." Juushirou eyed him speculatively, and Shunsui laughed.
"Ask Hirata. He's a professional at getting me out of bed now," he said lazily, and Hirata pulled a graphic face.
"I never knew anyone so good at going back to sleep," he agreed wearily. "I've even tipped cups of water over him before and he's just pulled the covers over his head and settled back down."
"That's why it was raining in my dream one night…and why I woke up with damp blankets." Shunsui looked pensive. "Another mystery solved."
"Kyouraku…" Kai let out a snort of amusement. "Poor Hirata. I guess he's had a quiet time with you away back home."
"In District Eight, Shunsui was getting up quite early," Juushirou reflected.
"That's because Haru's chamber is near enough to mine that I hear him shrieking when they try to get him up," Shunsui sighed heavily. "I come back to school for a lie in – but I still have training with Kaoru to rearrange and now this too. More work."
"You weren't sleeping right before the break, though," Hirata remembered. "Are you now?"
"Mm. I think so," Shunsui nodded. "I think I just needed to go home and unwind for a few days – so far as that goes in a house with a renegade infant on the loose."
"Haru-kun is very sweet and just like his Uncle. Full of trouble and mischief," Juushirou laughed, his spirits lightening at the memory. "Plus he has a bright, innocent smile he reserves especially for his naughtiest adventures. I think something certainly got passed down there – the little mite's constantly keeping his nurses busy."
"I probably did the same." Shunsui rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Ah well. It's a sign of good Kyouraku breeding, I suppose, if you can fluster a few womenfolk before breakfast."
"I'll have to write to Tokutarou-niisama and send him my condolences, if it's like that," Sora teased, and Shunsui chuckled.
"Good plan," he said good-naturedly. "I'm sure he'd appreciate your kind thoughts, Sora-chan. Or maybe next break you can come back to District Eight instead – and help with the babysitting."
"Uh-uh. Not a chance," Sora shook her head determinedly. "I don't do small children."
She sighed, reaching up to touch the ends of her hair absently.
"I suppose Mi-chan and I should go make ourselves look less like we've been climbing trees," she added. "Since we're Seniors and all, I suppose it matters."
"Retsu-sama will scold me if I turn up to the Healing Bay like this," Mitsuki agreed. "Now we've heard Sensei's talk, we should be okay to go back and change."
"Will you eat dinner with us?" Juushirou asked hesitantly, and Mitsuki started, staring at him in surprise. Slowly she nodded.
"That should be all right," she agreed, "if you want us to."
"It would be nice since we're all back together again," Shunsui reflected. "So it's decided then. We'll see you girls at dinner time?"
"You will." Sora winked, slipping her arm through her companion's. "Come on, Mi-chan. Let's go make ourselves pretty."
With that they were gone, and Juushirou sighed, leaning up against the wall.
"She didn't sound very much like she wanted to spend time with me, did she?" he murmured, and Shunsui frowned, resting his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Juu…"
"No, don't. Whatever it is, don't." Juushirou shook his head. "I saw it…the hesitation in her eyes. It wasn't like that before Summer Break."
"Though even before the break you both seemed to spend less time together," Hirata murmured. Juushirou nodded.
"I know," he admitted, "but this is even more than before. It's as though she doesn't want to go to the Real World, or with me, or anything like that. And then all those things about being a healer and whatever…it sounded…like she was trying to tell me something else."
"Like what?" Enishi looked blank, and Juushirou rubbed his temples.
"Like we're too far apart," he said at length, "and growing further that way all the time. Since things went wrong at the Kuchiki manor, since Guren-sama acknowledged her…I don't really know what the future holds. And I don't like the gap between us – but I can't pretend it isn't there."
"Maybe the Real World will change that," Hirata said thoughtfully. "But if you feel like that, you should just talk it out with her, shouldn't you?"
"Probably I'm afraid of what she'll say," Juushirou groaned. "Besides, for now I have other things to do. I need to unpack everything I took to District Eight and then go see about the schedules for this term's duties. For the time being, Mitsuki can wait."
"That was a close call."
As they reached their chamber, Sora let out a heavy sigh, sliding the door of the small room firmly shut behind them. "Juushirou's not stupid, Mi-chan. He's going to work out that something's up and he'll do it where you're concerned quickest of all."
"I know," Mitsuki groaned, dropping down onto her bed and burying her face in the blankets. "But I'm not really good at lying to people I care about. He looked…sort of hurt, didn't he? I felt so guilty."
"Well, I think he accepted what you said," Sora sat down beside her, reaching over to pat her companion on the back. "But seriously, Mi-chan, what are you going to do? We're keeping a pretty big secret and in holiday time it's one thing but with all these extra lectures and all…"
"I can't abandon Senpai." Mitsuki turned her face to meet her friend's gaze. "I promised and I won't. Without our help he doesn't have anything, and right at the moment I'm the only member of the Clan he knows is his ally. I daren't even tell Ryuu in case it brings him into danger, and so for the time being, there's nothing I can do but try and help."
She sighed, rolling over onto her back.
"But if you don't want to go to the cave again, I won't blame you," She added. "It's not your problem."
"It became my problem when it started being yours." Sora shook her head. "We're friends, so that's par for the course. Besides, he's a miserable creature at the moment, your cousin. Feeding him and bringing him better bedding is really a long way from the kind of thing he's used to. I will give him credit for one thing, however. He hasn't complained once about any of what we've managed to beg, borrow or steal for him."
"Yeah, I know." Mitsuki pursed her lips. "But he's a graduate of Sensei's school too, and I suppose he's had the same survival training we've had, so it's not so surprising. Plus I'm not quite sure how he made the journey to District One, and I don't want to ask too many questions of how he ended up with Juushirou's family, really – but I get the impression it wasn't the normal noble storming of the borders technique."
"Much more like he slipped by the divides incognito," Sora agreed. "I didn't know he had it in him. Though it's tricky for us too. Getting hold of things without attracting suspicion of smart people like Shunsui is going to be difficult to do."
"Nabbing something warm for him to use as bedding was the hardest," Mitsuki grimaced. "I'd hoped we could pinch some clothing too, but I think that would have been too risky. Stealing from the school supplies and hoping nobody notices us is a bad thing for Seniors right off the bat – if we didn't have such good school records I don't suppose we'd ever get away with it."
"True enough," Sora mused. "Compared with Juushirou and the others, I suppose we both have pretty blameless records. It's lucky for Nagoya that we found him – I guess people will be less suspicious of us. Especially of you – you still look far too innocent to be concealing wanted fugitives."
"I really thought that Sensei was going to ask us why we were late to the meeting, too," Mitsuki sighed. "He didn't, though, so apparently we made it in time to avoid his suspicions. Food is easier to come by because money isn't a problem and we can buy things in the local town rather than take things from here – but you're right, classes and other duties mean that might get harder as well."
"You're going to break curfew, aren't you?"
"It'll probably come to that." Mitsuki rubbed her temples. "Although he hasn't complained, Sora, I'm worried about him being in that cold draughty cave. Even with the blankets we brought, it's not good at night – and I feel I have to check on him each day to make sure he's okay. He didn't let me check, but I think this morning he had the signs of a slight fever. This evening I'll take him some medicine to stave it off, and hopefully a night's sleep will see to the rest. I'd like to take him something else to do – books and the like, so he stays put and doesn't venture out too much. But it's not that bright in there without Kidou, even during the day. Using his magic would be risky – so I'm not sure I will."
"I thought he looked a little better coloured actually, this morning," Sora admitted. "But maybe it was just a fevered flush instead. I'm not a healer so I really can't tell."
"But I'm glad you're here and that I have someone I can talk to about it." Mitsuki's expression became grateful. "You're a good friend, Sora-chan. Whatever happens after graduation, it'll always stay that way, won't it?"
"Yes, but that makes me wonder what you're planning after graduation." Sora's eyes narrowed. "Want to share that with me while we're talking?"
"I don't know, yet. It depends if I can get permission to join Fourth squad and that's not for sure." Mitsuki shrugged her shoulders. "But Retsu-sama has mentioned the possibility of a stationed post in Rukongai with a regiment from the squad. It will be a chance for me to prove my abilities without people accusing me of currying favour, and there is a lot of bad stuff in Rukongai, since Hollows are there and souls are being hurt all the time. Seireitei's done relatively little to protect those people so far, but Retsu-sama doesn't agree with that and so she's been working to get permission to deploy people there. It looks like, come the spring, she'll have the permissions she needs to do it – so if I'm able to be part of the squad, she's suggested I might go along too."
"Rukongai, huh." Sora's eyes became grave. "Does Juushirou know that?"
"No. I'm not going to tell him anything until it's definite, since it depends on my Clan too." Mitsuki shook her head. "I'm also a little afraid of it, to be honest – treating people in Seireitei is one thing, but even Sensei said that Rukongai was more dangerous for students like us than the Real World, which means it's really not a good place to be."
She spread her hands.
"In any case, right now Senpai is foremost in my thoughts," she added, "and what's going to happen to him when we go to the Real World."
"Yeah, I hadn't thought of that," Sora admitted. "We won't be able to feed him then."
"I suppose we'll have to cross that bridge when we reach it," Mitsuki grimaced. "For now, we should both get changed and then I'll see about mixing something to tackle a light fever. Hopefully if he's sensible and keeps himself warm, he shouldn't take any serious harm from it. He's not weak physically, thank goodness."
"No, he's quite good physically," Sora giggled, and Mitsuki snorted, leaning up to thwap her friend playfully on the arm.
"You're not supposed to be looking at him that way," she scolded. "He's a refugee, if you hadn't forgotten."
"But a half-dressed refugee with a nice physique is a bonus," Sora laughed. "Come on, Mi-chan. See the bright side of it. Just because you're not in love with him doesn't mean that he's not worth looking at."
"Mm. Senpai is handsome." Mitsuki pulled herself into a sitting position. "I just don't see him that way. That's all. And you can't pretend you do, since I know you still have a soft spot for Tokutarou-sama."
"True," Sora grimaced. "But that's beside the point."
She looked pensive.
"Maybe Nagoya's being so patient and accepting of everything is because he likes you, though," she suggested, and Mitsuki snorted, shaking her head.
"You sound like Naoko," Sshe scolded. "We're friends, that's all."
"You might want to tell him that." Sora's eyes twinkled mischievously. "You did save his life once, and now you're his angel of mercy once again. Men are feeble creatures when it comes to women. Okaasama's said it time and time again. It doesn't take much to lure them in, and you're plenty pretty yourself these days."
"You're an idiot," Mitsuki said frankly, but there was humour in her own grey eyes. "If you're just going to be silly, shut up, all right? I have to find some fresh clothes and then I have a remedy to prepare and I'd like to make sure I get the measurements right."
"Honestly though, Mi-chan, I think it's a good thing Juushirou doesn't know about any of this." Sora became serious, resting her chin in her hands as she watched her friend get to her feet, padding across the chamber to where her spare uniform was hanging neatly against the wall. "I'm not sure he'd understand your mercy mission in quite the same way."
"Why not?" Mitsuki eyed her friend quizzically. "Senpai was Juushirou's shishou. He'd want him to be safe too."
"Ye-e-es," Sora agreed thoughtfully. "But even so, I still don't think he'd like it very much."
"Well, it's an academic point. He isn't going to know." Mitsuki shrugged. "Senpai asked it of me and I wasn't going to drag anyone else into it in any case. Juushirou's future relies on him staying untainted by Clan intrigue a little while longer. He might not want to be protected – but this is one of those cases where doing so is for his own good."
Author's Note: An Apology...and...
With various things going on hereabouts, I'm behind on my review replies again. Please forgive me *grovels*. Work is very insane at the moment, with meetings and consultations and other stuff about redeployment on top of the normal workload, so I come home and often just 'flop' xD. I do read and appreciate every review, so please don't think otherwise. I will try to keep up, but I'll make this advance warning of my spasmodic responses over the next few weeks.
In response to one reviewer's remark last week, the thing I meant as regards to plot will probably first be highlighted in the next chapter. However, I felt it important to reassure those concerned that I've no intention of making this a shounen-ai/yaoi tale, don't worry xD.
I'm quite okay with people wanting to read it and Juu and Shun's bond that way if they want to. It doesn't particularly offend me if anyone feels that way. Personally, though, I've never had the plan to cross the line of close fraternal friendship and attempt to make their bond more than that.