Meifu's Gate ::Fourth Maki::

by VraieEsprit

Juu & Shun are seniors, but already there are those who resent Juushirou's position as Anideshi. Meanwhile, a bloody murder in District Six threatens to unravel 3 generations of Kuchiki secrets - as a figure in the shadows works to bring down the Clans.

50. Hirata's Birthday

Chapter Forty Eight: Hirata's Birthday

"…And that's what he said."

Hirata dropped down onto the floor of the Senior study with a sigh, shrugging his shoulders helplessly as he raised his gaze to his companions. "He's busy studying and doesn't want to be disturbed. Not even for breakfast, and not even to discuss the Real World assignment."

"You had no luck, either?"

Shunsui chewed down on his lip, settling himself more comfortably against the window as he reflected on this information.

"He told me that I wasn't part of his group, so I should probably go speak to Yamamoto-kun if I had a problem with anything," Hirata shook his head, "which may be true, but…"

"It doesn't really sound like Juushirou – especially given that it's you asking." Shunsui's eyes narrowed. "Hrm."

It was the next morning, and despite the fact that it was some several hours since the breakfast bell had rung through the school, none of the Senior class had seen hide nor hair of their Anideshi. That he had not joined them for breakfast had been the first red flag – but as the rest had filed into the dining hall, Shunsui's sharp eyes had also noticed another absence – the seat beside Sora which was invariably Mitsuki's had also been left vacant.

"The only conclusion I can come to is that something happened between yesterday's meetings and now," he said aloud now, folding his arms across his chest with a sigh of resignation. "It's unusual for Juu to miss a meal, even if he's not feeling well. That he's studying isn't an impossibility, but he's not usually the kind to shut his door and keep everyone out. The Nest was locked when you visited it, too?"

"Yes. Locked from the inside," Hirata confirmed. "I knocked twice, and he told me that he was busy and that he didn't want to be disturbed."

He frowned, adjusting his spectacles on his nose.

"He didn't sound like Juushirou-kun," he admitted. "But I'm not quite sure why that was."

"Mitsuki-chan was also absent from breakfast." Shunsui's brows knitted together as he considered this. "She and Sora have been glued together of late, but Sora was there and Mitsuki wasn't. More, Sora looked decidedly troubled by something – but when I asked her about it, she blew me off."

"You don't think something happened between Edogawa-san and Juushirou-kun…last night?" Hirata suggested hesitantly, and Shunsui laughed, reaching over absently to ruffle the younger boy's hair.

"You look so shocked at the bare idea of that," he teased, amused by the indignant look his classmate gave him. "If it was anyone other than Juu, maybe I'd think that. His door is locked, the girl is missing, Sora doesn't want to say anything…but no. This is Juu. I don't think that he and Mitsuki would be that daring, not on school grounds."

"That wasn't what I meant." Despite himself, Hirata's cheeks reddened as he interpreted Shunsui's insinuations. "I simply meant that they'd had some kind of disagreement or something and Juushirou-kun didn't want us to see that he was upset."

"Ah. I see." Shunsui looked sheepish. "Sorry. I suppose my brain automatically reaches for the biggest scandal."

"No kidding," Hirata sighed. "But I don't think that Juushirou-kun is likely to have secluded Edogawa-san away in the Nest to do…whatever you think he could do in that situation."

His eyes narrowed, and Shunsui was aware of the hawkish intensity that pervaded the younger student's pale blue gaze.

"You might do it, I suppose – if the Nest was your room," the Endou reflected thoughtfully, "but not Juushirou-kun."

"Thanks," Shunsui said good-naturedly. "I can't really dispute that – maybe once, I would've. Not now, though. I'm a reformed character – and besides, if we're agreed that this situation has something to do with her, we might do better trying to find Mitsuki ourselves."

"You won't do that." Before Hirata could respond, the door of the study slid back to reveal Kai, a cluster of papers clutched in his sword hand and an irritated look in his golden eyes. "She and Sora have skipped off campus on some errand or other. I saw them sweet-talking their way through the gates and down towards the local town – so if you need Edogawa for something, you've missed your chance."

"Did you cross paths with them?" Shunsui looked interested. "That expression suggests you crossed paths with someone on your way here."

"Yamamoto." Kai's eyes darkened and he flicked through the sheaf of paper, splitting it in two and thrusting one half in Hirata's direction. "Here. He told me to give these to you. Apparently I've become his errand boy – you're the last member of our group I've tracked down."

"The Senior study isn't a strange place for me to be, Kai-kun," Hirata said mildly, taking the papers and glancing at them. "Are these the notes he mentioned about our camp in the Real World? I didn't think he'd put anything together as quickly as that."

"I got the feeling he'd roped in Michihashi a bunch to help him do it," Kai said with a sigh, folding his own paper and sliding it into his obi. "I only skimmed it, but it seems that way to me. Michihashi is good tactically, and I doubt Yamamoto could have written out seven copies in one night."

"You sound downright rebellious and the mission hasn't even begun," Shunsui observed. "Is Akira proving that bad a leader?"

"No…he's not." Hirata looked thoughtful. "On the contrary, I think he's probably quite a good one. He has a lot of things thought out, and he had an answer for most questions when we were discussing some final points yesterday."

"But he has a way of giving orders that make me want to gut him." Kai rubbed his temples. "I know I said I wasn't a fan of killing, but I may have to make one exception before graduation. It's not that he's bad at being in charge – like Hirata said, he knows what he's doing and he's someone who – probably – in a squad situation people would look to to take the lead. It's just…"

"He knows that we're friends of Juushirou-kun, therefore we rank at the bottom of his respect ladder," Hirata concluded with a sigh. "Me especially, because I'm the youngest and obviously he doesn't think I'm of any use to him whatsoever. Kai-kun's sword skills he's at least acknowledged, but he looks at me as though I'm just a hanger on."

"He's an idiot, then," Shunsui said reassuringly. "One who hasn't seen Tsumi no Fuuhi nor you when you've got it in hand. If he or anyone else has any doubts about your ability or your Endou blood, Hirata, make sure you put him right. You might be there to take down Hollows and protect Plus souls, but if you singe his wings a little in the process, so be it."

"My zanpakutou doesn't singe," Hirata objected. "Seizumi has nothing to do with fire, thank you – that was Seimaru's trait, and I have nothing in common with him whatsoever."

"Seimaru should count himself lucky," Kai reflected. "He died before he had to face Tsumi no Fuuhi in its released form. I know his death wasn't particularly pleasant, but I have a feeling it would've been far worse if your hawk had got its talons into him."

"Stop it," Hirata looked annoyed. "You're making me out to be some kind of bloodthirsty demon and it's not my intention to emulate that part of being an Endou. Besides, we weren't talking about that. When you came in, Kai-kun, we were talking about Juushirou-kun. He's locked himself in the Nest and neither Shunsui-kun nor I can get him to come out."

"Locked himself in?" Kai's eyes widened. "Why? What the hell for?"

"Nobody knows," Shunsui said heavily. "But probably somehow it connects to Mitsuki."

"That's why you were looking for Edogawa." Kai's expression cleared. "I see. Well, I didn't get close enough to see what kind of a mood the girl was in, but as I said, she and Sora headed off campus and into town. I'd guess that she was all right."

"They were neither of them at breakfast," Hirata pointed out.

"But nor was Houjou," Kai reasoned. "It's just as possible that Edogawa had extra training with Unohana-sensei, just like Houjou did with Kazoe. We've three days or thereabouts till we face the final assessment and are plunged into the Real World. Edogawa and Amai are both healers but Amai's had a year more training than Edogawa – probably more than that, given that she's an Unohana by birth. It makes sense that Unohana-sensei'd want to ensure Edogawa had everything straight before letting her go."

"That is true," Shunsui acknowledged. "I hadn't thought of that. But there's no other reason we can think of for Juu to closet himself away. He said he was studying – which he might be – but…"

"It's not like him to lock himself in his room. Nor is it like him to miss breakfast," Hirata said softly, "and he really sounded strange when I went to the door."

"Define strange?" Kai queried, and Hirata pursed his lips.

"I…can't," he said at length. "I just know that it didn't sound like…Juushirou-kun."

"Like he wanted us to go away?" Shunsui said thoughtfully. "As though he wanted us to think he was all right, and so was working really hard to sound as though he was…therefore making him sound completely as though he wasn't."

"Like that," Hirata agreed, offering Shunsui a grateful smile. "I suppose he seemed as though he was forcing himself to sound normal."

"Maybe he's nervous about going to the Real World." Kai looked contemplative. "It's a big big ask for him really. You have Kuchiki in your group, and Ukitake's a District boy who has the outsize in responsibility complexes. You know he'll take everything very seriously when it comes to everyone's safety – probably he's having a minor breakdown over how many things he has to remember before we leave base."

"Oddly enough, I can see that, too," Shunsui owned, a smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. "But I'm not sure…usually when he's like that, there's fallout from his freakout. In short, he usually talks to someone about it, because he knows one of us will soon tell him when he's being an idiot and taking things too much to heart. This isn't like that. That's all."

"Well, you can ask the man himself." Kai turned towards the door as it slid back to reveal the white haired boy, robed as they all were in the usual uniform of the Academy and with his lank locks secured neatly back from his face in a short tail. "Ukitake! Hirata and Kyouraku are worried about you. Apparently you locked yourself in your room this morning – something you want to share?"

"I just wanted some peace and quiet," Juushirou frowned, crossing the chamber slowly and dropping down at the edge of the group with a shrug. "I had some things I wanted to go over, and I needed to do it by myself."

"You were studying?" Hirata looked startled, and Juushirou fixed him with a quizzical look.

"Is that so surprising?" he asked softly. "We go to the Real World in a matter of days. There's a lot to get straight – of course I was studying."

"There it is, then." Kai shrugged, offering Shunsui a grin. "He was having a Real World mission pre-mission freakout. Mystery solved. And since he's let himself out now – I guess that means he's got over it and is ready to face the world again. Right?"

"Pardon?" Juushirou stared at Kai blankly, and the Shihouin boy laughed.

"You're all straight now with what's going to happen when we step through the Senkaimon?" he asked, and Juushirou shrugged.

"As much as I can be, I think. Yes."

"Then it's all good, isn't it?"

"Mm." Juushirou leant back against the wall, his expression one of preoccupation, and Shunsui gazed at him thoughtfully, taking in the faint shadowing around the hazel eyes.

"You didn't spend all night studying, did you?" he asked suspiciously, and Juushirou started, the sudden guilt in his expression giving away the fact that Shunsui had been close to the mark.

"Not all night" The white haired boy recovered himself. "I was up early – before dawn – but it wasn't all night. Look, does it really matter? I'm done now. I came out of the Nest to get some air and space, not to be interrogated on my actions. I haven't broken any rules, have I? Last I checked, Sensei didn't have any restrictions on Seniors using their private sleeping space to go over academic notes!"

"Woah there. Calm down." Shunsui held up his hands, and Juushirou sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Sorry. Maybe I'm a little more tired than I thought."

"A little is probably an understatement," Shunsui observed. "You look like you didn't sleep at all last night, if you want the honest truth. I know you want to do the right thing in the Real World, Juu, but we'll back you up. All of us. We're all friends, and even if someone comes after Ryuu, we'll not let anything happen to him. We'll be a team and we'll follow through on everything we're supposed to. None of us are weak, and Mitsuki's around to patch up bruises and bumps if and when we need her to."

His eyes narrowed slightly, taking in his friend's reaction to the casual mention of the healer's name. Juushirou did not visibly react, but Shunsui's perception was sharp and he felt the faint fluctuation in the District boy's aura.

Right then. I wasn't wrong. Mitsuki is at the centre of this somehow.

He sighed.

Juu, when are you going to learn? You can't solve matters of the heart by internalising them and angsting over them in private. Your aura is all over the place now I poke at it – but you're really not going to talk to us, are you? Whatever happened last night, for some reason you don't intend on speaking about it. Which leads me to wonder what did – and whether it has anything to do with the strange expression Mitsuki had on her face during that meditation class.

His eyes became near slits as he put the fragments together.

It was as though Mitsuki knew something about the missing food and items, and the way Sora reacted to it suggests she might do too – otherwise she'd be the first person to be giving wild theories on why things have disappeared. Today they've scuttled out of campus – and the first day of term they came back late for the meeting with bits of tree all over their uniform and hair. Now Juu has that look in his eye – I wonder if he's realised it as well. There's a chance that Mitsuki's sudden odd behaviour has something to do with the missing Kuchiki exile, and if Nagoya appeared in District One, she'd probably be the one who'd discover it the most quickly. Ryuu's behaviour hasn't changed particularly, so I don't suppose he knows anything about it. But if Juu stumbled onto a secret like that…

"Why are you looking at me that way?" Juushirou's voice broke through his musings, and he grinned, shrugging his shoulders.

"No reason particularly," he said casually. "I was just envying your ability to look neat and tidy – just as a proper Anideshi should."

"Liar." Juushirou's brows knitted together. "Now tell me the real reason. I know you – the way you think, and…"

"Ukitake, calm down." Kai's eyes widened, and Shunsui laughed, holding up his hands.

"All right. You got me," he said glibly, reaching across to tap Hirata on the arm as another idea surfaced in his mind. "I was actually trying to work out the best way of suggesting this to you without you dismissing it out of hand. See, you might've forgotten, but tomorrow is Hirata's birthday, isn't it? And it's not just any birthday, but his important one – his coming of age."

"Shunsui-kun?" At the sudden change in topic, Hirata cast Shunsui an uncertain look, and Shunsui offered him a benign grin.

"I was thinking, seeing as we'll be going to the Real World soon, we ought to at least celebrate before we go," he said nonchalantly, "but with your current study blitz, I was wondering what it would take to convince Anideshi that it'd be a good idea."

"Celebrate?" Juushirou was taken aback. "Hirata's birthday? In what way?"

"In the usual way you celebrate an important birthday," Shunsui said blithely, "with friends gathered together around a jug of good sake and a merry ambience."

"You mean, sneak out?" Juushirou's brows furrowed, and Hirata shook his head.

"We'll get into trouble, and then we won't be sent to the Real World," he said quietly. "It's all right, Shunsui-kun. My birthday doesn't matter very much at all to me. I've been heir to the Endou since Seimaru died, and I won't actually inherit it right after graduation. Father and I still have a lot of things to go through together before I reach that point, and Seventh Squad is still on hiatus for another good few years, so I don't even know what kind of shinigami placement I might have come the spring. In that respect, my turning twenty really isn't important."

"Nonsense," Kai snorted, reaching over to clap his hands down on the slim boy's thin shoulders. "Kyouraku's right. We ought to do something to mark it. This is the last year we'll be all together like this, isn't it? This time next year we'll be split between the Gotei, and it'll be much more difficult to get us all together."

"I'm not endorsing anything that means us breaking rules," Juushirou said emphatically. "I'm not going to do anything that'll put any of us at risk of missing this mission. Hirata's right – we can't risk slipping off campus like First years when something as important as that is right in front of us."

"I didn't say anything about sneaking out," Shunsui said calmly. "I don't think that would be a good idea, either."

"Then…?" Juushirou shot his friend a questioning look.

"I'm going to ask Sensei," Shunsui responded levelly. "And see whether – since it's such a special occasion – he might let us have one night."

"Right before a big expedition?" Hirata looked sceptical, but Shunsui shrugged.

"For that reason," he said easily. "We've all been working flat out. Besides, not that I want to focus on the macabre, but Sensei said that the Real World is dangerous. If we go there, there's a minimal chance one of us might not come back. Therefore…"

"Don't say things like that," Juushirou's eyes darkened. "With Ryuu playing decoy, I really don't think you should tempt fate."

"But exactly because he is, I want us to do this," Shunsui got to his feet. "Well? It might be the last chance we all have to spend time together. If Ryuu is put in danger in the Real World, even if he comes back in one piece there's a good chance that the Kuchiki will take fright and hoick him out of school. Just in case it comes to that…don't you think we should give Hirata's coming of age a proper moment of celebration?"

"I'm all for it," Kai nodded. "Hirata? You're not going to shy away, are you, when Kyouraku puts it like that?"

"If Sensei is all right with it, then no," Hirata said cautiously. "So long as we're not breaking rules and doing anything we shouldn't be. I want to graduate properly, not be sent home in disgrace."

"That goes for me too," Juushirou sighed, "and I can't see Sensei agreeing. Besides, Shunsui, who do you mean when you say 'all'? Are you planning on inviting the whole of Senior class?"

Shunsui eyed his friend carefully for a moment, reading the motives behind this vague question.

You mean, am I asking Mitsuki, don't you? You'll have to do better if you want to conceal things like that from me.

Out loud he said,

"Of course not. Why would I want Yamamoto along? He doesn't appreciate Hirata and he'd be no fun to have at a birthday party. Besides, Sensei will want some of his Seniors here, won't he? I thought I'd ask just for the six of us. A dorm reunion, if you want – all guys together."

"How's it a reunion when we see each other every day?" Kai looked amused.

"Anything's possible when it's Team Stupid we're talking about, Kai-kun." Shunsui was unfazed, and the Shihouin boy leaned over to thwack him on the arm.

"Less of that, thank you! You can call yourself stupid if you like, but leave me out of it."

"Just the six of us, huh?" Some of the tension dissipated from Juushirou's aura at this, and he nodded slowly. "All right. If Sensei gives us permission…then I don't mind. Since it's Hirata's coming of age birthday…if we have permission, it should be all right."

"It's decided, then," Shunsui said cheerfully. "Good. I'll go and speak to Sensei now. You people tackle Enishi and Ryuu with the idea, all right? If you do it while Sora's off-campus, she won't know about it and try to invite herself, so now seems as good a time as any."

"Houjou's at the training range doing a basic workout. Kuchiki's in the library," Kai said frankly. "Two places I didn't find Souryou or Amai this morning when looking for them to give them their share of the notes."

"Yamamoto-kun really was working you hard, wasn't he?" Hirata looked sympathetic. "If Juushirou-kun goes to the training grounds and I go to the library, you can stay here and catch your breath."

"If a Shihouin was tired out by that, Aneue would probably have him strung up," Kai said ruefully. "All right. I don't mind. I hope Sensei can be persuaded, Kyouraku – we have been working hard and everyone deserves a break sometime, even Seniors."

"Amen to that!" Shunsui winked, saluting his Shihouin classmate playfully then withdrawing from the study, walking briskly along the hallways towards the main block of the old manor house.

I had forgotten about Hirata's birthday till then too, but even though it was a spur of the moment thing, I might have hit on something. Juu's angst might or might not be girl related – my bets are still that it is – but we've all been working flat out since we came back to school. Not only that, there's been that odd kind of aura of anticipation hanging over us waiting for the hammer to fall. Yama-jii presumably would know if Aizen Keitarou came to District One, therefore the local area is probably safe. The more I think about it, the more I like it. I just wonder if I can convince the old guy to go for it. Juu won't agree if he doesn't – that was clear enough from the expression on his face. Therefore there's no choice but to get permission for the six of us to go off campus tomorrow night.

At that juncture he reached his destination and, taking a deep breath into his lungs, he raised his hand to knock sharply three times against the polished wood.

Genryuusai's voice called him in, and as he slid the divide back on its runners, Shunsui was gratified to find that the old man was currently alone. At his entrance, Genryuusai set down his brush, casting his student a questioning look as he gestured for him to approach the desk.

"Yes, Shunsui? Something amiss?"

"Not amiss, sir. At least, I don't think so."

Shunsui carefully closed the door, moving to stand before the other's desk. "I actually came on a frivolous errand – if such things are permitted Senior class members."

"That depends on the errand," Genryuusai said evenly, "and on the one asking."

"Well, unfortunately the one asking is me," Shunsui pursed his lips wryly, "but that aside, I hope you'll hear me out anyway."

"I have some time," Genryuusai nodded. "This has nothing to do with the Senior Class's assignment to the Real World, I trust?"

"Not really, but I suppose it has some bearing on it." Shunsui paused, formulating carefully the way in which he wanted to begin the next sentence. There was a moment of silence, and then he sighed, shrugging his shoulders.

"I wanted to ask permission for six of us to leave the school grounds tomorrow night," he said at length. "The six being Juu, Enishi, Kai, Ryuu, Hirata and myself."

"To leave the school grounds?" Genryuusai arched an eyebrow. "On what errand?"

"To celebrate Hirata's twentieth birthday, sir."

"To celebrate…" Genryuusai's eyes became thoughtful. "Just that?"

"Yes, sir," Shunsui pursed his lips for a moment, "but the fact you're asking me that question implies that there's another reason we might want to leave the school grounds. If that has something to do with the whereabouts of Nagoya Shirogane-senpai, you have my word that I know nothing about it and even if I did, I have absolutely no reason to get myself or anyone else involved."

"I see." Genryuusai's moustache twitched. "Interesting. Why would you think about Nagoya when asking about celebrating Hirata's birthday?"

"Because I think he's probably here – somewhere – and I think that if he is, you'd know about it the moment he arrived," Shunsui said honestly. "I don't know where, and I haven't gone looking – it's really not something I'm interested in pursuing. Truthfully, I don't really like Nagoya enough to bother about trying to track him down. Just that…this is the most logical place for him to have come to. Also, I think that since he hasn't been arrested, you probably don't mind that he's here and are letting him lie low until things in District Six die down. That means that there'd be nothing for us to do even if we wanted to – and so even if he is here, my motive really is for us to go to celebrate Hirata's birthday and nothing else."

"You are far too smart, sometimes," Genryuusai sighed, but Shunsui could tell that it was more of a compliment than a criticism. "All right. Then let me ask you this. Do you think it wise for me to allow a person of Kuchiki Ryuu's current standing and situation to run without supervision after dark, away from the school grounds?"

"If you're willing to let him go to the Real World, sir, I don't see the problem," Shunsui said candidly. "Here is within reach of your Clan and you would know if any danger threatened. I don't suppose Aizen…"

He faltered, his hand flying to his mouth, but it was too late. Genryuusai was on him in a second, his expression one of consternation.

"Aizen..?"

"I shouldn't have…that was…"

"Finish your sentence please."

"But Sensei, I…"

"If you want me to consider your request, I'd like to hear the rest of your sentence, Shunsui."

Genryuusai's words were quiet, but the piercing look in his gaze told the hapless Clansman that he wasn't to be dissuaded. Shunsui chewed on his lip, then, reluctantly, he sighed.

"I don't suppose Aizen Keitarou will dare to venture here whilst you're watching over us," he said slowly.

"I see." Genryuusai's eyes became slits. "Tokutarou has shared things with you of a considerably delicate nature, it seems."

"No…no." Shunsui shook his head hurriedly. "I worked it out myself, so Nii-sama had to fill me in on the details, mostly to keep me out of mischief. I'm sorry, Sensei. I didn't mean to say something that was beyond my level of authority. Just…I don't think he's going to come here while you are. If he was, he would have already. Ryuu thinks that whoever's hunting him is in the Real World, and that's the place Aizen Keitarou most likely could hide, too. I've been expecting him to come back sooner or later. When all this started happening and so many things seemed strange about it, I was afraid that this was that time."

"Do you know this man by sight, Shunsui?"

"I've never met him," Shunsui responded, "but I'd know him, Sensei. I am absolutely sure about that."

"And you've realised, I suppose, that he might not just be after Ryuu?"

"Yes. I know."

"I thought so." Genryuusai's expression became thoughtful. "For that end you've spent nights training with Katen Kyoukotsu and incurring the wrath of your teachers by dropping grades and falling asleep in at least one class?"

"I…"

"I'm not oblivious," Genryuusai smiled, "and I don't disapprove. I would simply caution you on this. Your skills are great but still very rough. You have a long way to go before I would be happy seeing you face a man like that in open combat, and so I recommend you don't try it for a while to come yet."

"For a while to come…but not never?" Shunsui's eyes narrowed. "That sounds dangerously like an incitement to violence, Sensei."

"Perhaps it is, for one who will soon wear the haori of District Eight." Genryuusai got pensively to his feet. "If it is, it's a future incitement that you can take at present as a warning. Of all the Seniors, you are the hardest one to fool with sleight of hand, and that skill is one you should nurture and encourage at all times both now and as you go on. For that reason, I won't try and deceive you now with excuses and alternative explanations. The fact remains that Aizen Keitarou is a dangerous man who has talents which are not to be underestimated. There are very few people with the skill or intelligence to match him – but that you have so easily expected and anticipated his involvement suggests to me you might have that ability and that therefore your path and Aizen's will probably cross at some point in the future."

"I would be happy enough if the Council stopped him, Sensei," Shunsui said soberly. "I don't really want to face him. If I did, I might do something reckless."

"Because of how he treated Juushirou?"

"Not just that." Shunsui shook his head. "It's something that Nii-sama won't talk about, because he's preferring to consider it outside of his jurisdiction. But there was a kinswoman of mine in Eighth District whose life was threatened by someone Nii-sama believes strongly to be associated with Aizen Keitarou. That person stole something from her which belonged to my Father, and tried to use it to muddy the waters between us and the Kuchiki. At best, my kinswoman might have died…and I don't consider that something I can forgive easily. At worst, our whole Clan might have been drawn into war. Fortunately Guren-sama is not so easily provoked – but I'm not young or naïve enough to believe it couldn't have happened if everything had worked out differently."

"Ah." Genryuusai seemed to be digesting this. "I believe I know a little of this – but I had not realised a family member of yours had been threatened in the meantime. That would of course change things for the Kyouraku – and I understand why Tokutarou has allowed you to know as much as you do."

"I promised to do what I could to make sure that nobody gets another chance to hurt her, nor those she's looking after," Shunsui said grimly. "And I promised myself that I won't let any harm befall Juu. Those are promises I intend to keep, if I can…so it would be better all round if I didn't cross paths with Aizen and he didn't try and cross paths with Juu."

"I haven't forgotten that Aizen is a Kyouraku name at its root."

"Me either," Shunsui admitted. "Clan pride isn't something that's characteristic of me, but when it's someone like that…"

"I see," Genryuusai sighed. "I don't know if I should be glad or dismayed that your sense of self and kin has risen to the point you've singled out an enemy who can provoke you to real anger and resolve. I was aware of your spirit during training, Shunsui. You did it covertly so that your comrades didn't realise it, I know – but I felt it all the same. There was something dark and determined in your release – and so I'll say this again. Any skill you may have to face and defeat that man is a future consideration. As you are now, I would be worried for you. As your teacher, I would advise you to keep training and leave men like Aizen to the Council to track down."

He reached for his cane.

"There is no firm assurance that he is involved in this business, but a strong possibility that he is," He continued. "You don't need me to tell you that – clearly you already know as much or more than some of the Gotei, since by your own admission Tokutarou has taken you into his confidence. Shunsui, tell me – what does Juushirou know of this?"

"Some." Shunsui looked thoughtful. "He came back to District Eight last break to help Nii-sama with a puzzle and he learnt about it then."

"Aizen is a very real danger to Juushirou," Genryuusai said softly. "As much now as he was before - you realise that, don't you?"

"I do," Shunsui nodded. "That's why you assigned us together in the Real World, isn't it? Because you know that if it's Juu, I won't sit back and let things happen to him. Even if it puts me in danger."

"He has the most successful method of motivating you, it's true," Genryuusai agreed. "But I'm not asking you to put yourself in danger. More, I'm asking you to keep him out of it if you can. Juushirou is not like the rest of you – he doesn't have Clan protection, and for that reason, there's a possibility Aizen is still interested in him. I need him and you both to be on your guard but without creating panic to the rest. If you know this much, hopefully that will be possible."

"That's another reason I came to ask for permission for the six of us to leave campus." Shunsui's expression became serious. "Something's bothering him, and he won't talk about it. I don't think it's Aizen, but I don't know, and it doesn't seem a good idea to me for us to go gallivanting into the wilderness if our group leader is distracted. He's been working stupidly hard since term began – no, before – and this might be the only chance we have to do something like this with the six of us together. If Ryuu's family find out that you've used him as a scapegoat, even if things don't go wrong, there's a chance they'll pull him out of the Academy and back to District Six, isn't there? Especially when they find out that Nagoya is here. I said it was frivolous – and it really is. But these are my friends. So…I hoped you'd understand."

"These are your friends." Genryuusai rubbed his beard with a wizened hand. "Tokutarou would be very happy to hear you say that, now wouldn't he?"

"Sensei." Shunsui looked embarrassed, and the old man smiled.

"Very well," he said evenly. "You have my permission. The six of you may leave the school grounds tomorrow night. I expect you back in your beds by midnight, however – and I expect you to make sure that any duties you have tomorrow evening are rearranged with your classmates so that nothing is left undone. Those of you who have classes or meetings the next morning will be expected to attend them in an alert and punctual manner – this is not an excuse to go drinking yourself into a stupor."

"I can't think why you'd need to tell me that." Shunsui adopted an innocent expression, and despite himself, Genryuusai laughed.

"I am fond of you, cheek and all," He reflected, "but that doesn't mean I'll be any more lenient on your bad behaviour should you let me down. I know you dropped places in the last ranking – but because of your night training, I've said nothing about it. Don't consider that leniency an excuse for you to let yourself slip any lower. One night's grace is all you'll get – understood?"

"Yes, sir." Shunsui bowed his head. "I understand…and Sensei?"

"Mm?"

"I won't divulge anything of the other matters – Aizen or Nagoya – to anyone."

"That should go without saying," Genryuusai said reprovingly. "Careless words make bigger troubles. I'll trust you to keep those thoughts to yourself – in particular when you reach the Real World. That goes for Juushirou too – I expect both of you to come back from the Real World in one piece and I won't accept any excuses."

"Nor will I," Shunsui said seriously. "I won't accept it if any of us get hurt or don't come back, Sensei – so I'll do my best to back Juu up all the way."

---

"Are you going to tell me about it?"

As the two girls ducked through the overhanging vines and branches that led to their destination, Sora fixed Mitsuki with a quizzical look. "I might not be a healer, Mi-chan, but I can tell. You didn't come to breakfast this morning, and I know you're upset about something, even if you haven't said what. Since it's just us here, do you want to share?"

"Men," Mitsuki said frankly, shrugging her shoulders. "That's all. I overestimated…or underestimated…or both."

"Juushirou or Nagoya?" Sora paused, reaching out to swing back a particularly tricky bough that crossed their path. "Or Kuchiki? You're juggling a few of them in one way or another right now."

"Thankfully it's nothing to do with Ryuu," Mitsuki sighed, leaning against the trunk of the tree with a grimace. "Juushirou followed me out to the cave last night, Sora-chan – and you were right. He saw Senpai and jumped to the conclusions you thought he would about what was going on."

"Juushirou saw you? Both of you?" Sora bit her lip. "Well? What happened?"

"At least I know he's honourable enough not to tell anyone that we're shielding Senpai in the forest like this," Mitsuki said pensively, "but it wasn't good. I guess…there were some cross words spoken."

"If they were like the ones you flung at Naoko, I'm wondering what kind of state Juushirou's in now," Sora reflected, and Mitsuki pulled a graphic face.

"I wasn't in the wrong with Naoko – and besides, this is partly her fault," she said darkly. "She put ideas into Juushirou's head about Senpai, so of course he saw us together and jumped to the immediate conclusion there was more going on between us than just a cousin protecting her kin."

"Well, he would, I suppose." Sora shrugged her shoulders, slipping nimbly past and allowing the bough to fall back into its natural place. "Mi-chan, trust me on this. There are a lot of things I don't know about, but one thing I do is how it feels to see someone you care about with someone else. In my case, there wasn't anything to be done about it. I knew Tokutarou-nii would marry Rae-hime and I accepted it. But it doesn't hurt any less when you accept it – you just find a way to deal with it and you move on."

"But I'm not going to marry Shirogane-senpai." Mitsuki looked frustrated.

"Maybe not," Sora said simply. "You know that. Question is – does Juushirou?"

"I would've thought it should be obvious," Mitsuki snapped, and Sora laughed.

"Only to you," she scolded lightly, reaching over to tap her friend on the head, "because you can sense things the rest of us can't about stuff like emotions and all of that."

"I…suppose so," Mitsuki frowned, digesting this, and Sora laughed.

"Well? What happened? Did he get cross?"

"He…did," Mitsuki agreed. "But…is it wrong to say that I wish he'd got…more cross?"

"More…cross?" Sora was flummoxed, and Mitsuki glanced embarrassedly at her hands.

"He said that he had no rights to claim me and that as just friends he'd always said he'd accept it, if something else came along for me," she said helplessly. "I didn't like how easily he said that. He was hurting and I thought he was going to cry – or maybe that was just me. But it was also as though he was resigned. I think when he saw Senpai he saw it as a confirmation of his fears rather than as a shock. Maybe it was because of what Naoko said, or maybe…because that's what he's always thought where I'm concerned. We have no future, so he'll let me go."

"He probably thinks he's doing the best thing for you," Sora observed. "I can understand his feelings. If I'd said anything to Tokutarou-nii, it would've made his situation awkward and our relationship untenable, probably. Perhaps Juushirou thinks how I did – this is the only way he might keep any kind of connection to you, so he'll settle for it, even if it's not the thing he wants."

"He has no idea about anything, then, if that's the case," Mitsuki muttered. "It's not the same as you and Tokutarou-sama. No matter how much you try and paint a parallel, it's not."

"Not the same, but there are similarities. And besides, jumping to conclusions is Juushirou all over," Sora said wisely. "You know that. He was an idiot right from the start when it came to his feelings for you, wasn't he? Not to mention yours for him. You should know by now what to expect. He's a chief idiot and a half – I thought that was one of the things you liked about him."

"It is," Mitsuki admitted. "I just…would have liked him to have fought a little harder over me. That's all."

"You're acting as though this is a fight you can't go back on." Sora sent her a sidelong glance. "First Naoko, then Juushirou – am I next?"

"Don't be stupid," Mitsuki said acidly. "Unless you want to be, of course…"

"Of course not." Sora grabbed her friend by the shoulders, giving her a little shake. "But you said that Juushirou didn't fight back over you…if you're not willing to fight either, what happens then?"

"I…" Mitsuki looked stricken, and Sora nodded.

"Think about that," she ordered. "Let the dust settle a little on last night, maybe – for now we're here to see your fugitive, so let's drop this topic till later on. But before we go to the Real World, I want you to fix things with him. It will make our task there harder if our team leader and our healer aren't on speaking terms – and I don't want to be in the middle of painful silences."

"Fix things? How, exactly?"

"Like I said, think on it," Sora said bluntly, "and come on. You got into that fight for Nagoya's sake – let's at least make sure he's all right."

"I suppose so." Mitsuki's brow wrinkled in consternation, but she nodded. "All right. I'll think on it and I'll try. I'm not sure it's as simple as you think…but I'll try."

"Juushirou is as simple as I think, so the rest shouldn't be too hard to figure out," Sora grinned, linking her arm in her friend's. "Come on. We'll need to be back by lunch, since you haven't eaten this morning and you need to keep your strength up if you're going to make sure we all get back to Seireitei in one piece."

"That's true, too," Mitsuki agreed. "Okay. Then we should pick up our pace – because I'm not going to leave Senpai today until I've seen him drink the bitter fever medicine I've got for him and that might take some persuading time."

"If need be, I'll hold him down and you can force feed it to him," Sora suggested.

"That's not really how healers usually work, you know."

"It's all right. I'm not a healer," Sora was unrepentant. "Nagoya's a badly behaved patient – so for once it'd be forgivable, right?"

"I'm glad you're with me on this," Mitsuki shot her friend a warm glance, "and for the record, I don't think you could make me angry enough to make us break ties."

"I'm happy to hear it," Sora said seriously. "Even if you are going to skip off to Rukongai or some other distant place come graduation, it doesn't mean you have to sever the friendships you've made here."

"It will hurt more in the long run, though, maybe," Mitsuki reflected.

"Only if you leave things messed up because of misunderstandings," Sora said wisely. "Okaasama always says that nothing lasts forever, but proper friendship lasts till death. I believe her, so I'm your friend for keeps – no matter where we are or what we're doing. I think that's how it should be – so don't throw away things that you might want and need again in the future."

She looked resigned.

"Even with all your empathic power, you're still a Kuchiki, so I guess you weren't taught about things like that."

"Now you're getting all Clan superior," Mitsuki objected, but there was a faint twinkle in her grey eyes, and Sora laughed.

"That's what a best friend is for," she said frankly. "Now come on – dawdling here is doing nobody any good. I want to see you make Nagoya drink that horrible smelling concoction of yours and I want to see the look on his face when he does – so let's not waste any more time!"

---

"I'm glad we came out like this."

Ryuu sat back on his heels, gazing at his sakazuki thoughtfully. "It seems surprising, perhaps, but I believe I was badly in need of some time away."

It was the next evening and, having successfully obtained not only permission but gate tokens from Genryuusai, Shunsui and his fellows had traded their duties off on their classmates and had headed down into the local town – for once safe in the knowledge that any curfew patrol would not hoick them back to school in disgrace.

They had left before the evening meal, choosing instead to take food at a local tavern Shunsui had been fond of since the first year, and though Ryuu had been hesitant about the venue, he had not objected as vociferously as once he might have done. On the contrary, as the evening had progressed, Shunsui had realised that his Kuchiki classmate had little by little begun to relax. By the time they had begun to wind their way back, stopping at a second tavern for warm sake and the lure of a local performer's comic routines and quirky musical displays, Shunsui had realised just how good his idea had been.

I might have wanted to do this to snap Juu out of his funk, and I don't know if it has. But it's taken some of the preoccupation out of Ryuu's gaze, and that in itself is a positive. He's not looked totally relaxed since he and Mitsuki came back to District One at the start of the year, but tonight he's laughed and made comments as though nothing's on his mind.

He sat back with a satisfied grin.

I wonder if Sensei wanted that too. Oh well. I won't question it. The fact is that it might be a long time before we have this kind of an opportunity again – and getting permission to go out for a drink – even if we are all of age – is probably about as common as a blue moon.

The performances for the evening had ended to rowdy applause and cheering from the gathered audience, and Shunsui had been entertained to see other flashes of white and colour among their number. Though a few of them had sent their senpai wary glances as the group had made their arrival, once they had realised the Seniors weren't there to flush them out, they had relaxed and joined in with gusto. It had helped to add to the ambience, and though now the tavern had quietened down, Shunsui felt satisfied.

There's nowhere better than a District tavern for spending good time together with friends. Clan parties have nothing on this, even despite the expensive food and drink they provide.

"I don't think you were the only one who welcomed it, Kuchiki," Kai put in now, bringing the Kyouraku back to the conversation at hand. "There's been a lot of work at school and a lot of politics out of it. Whilst our Clans might not approve if they knew, I'm glad we came, too. It's a nice night, as well – no sign of rain on the horizon, even though we're into autumn now."

"We can walk back without getting soaked," Enishi agreed. "That means that we won't get slated for creating extra laundry – I'll drink to that."

"We'd have come even if it rained," Shunsui said firmly. "We had to celebrate Hirata's coming of age somehow. You agree, don't you, Hirata? Since you're the last of us - but now you've joined the ranks."

"I don't know how I feel about it," Hirata said honestly. "I really don't think it has much bearing on me, to be honest – I don't feel any older or younger for it. Like I said before – the meaning has got somewhat blurred by events. But if it means everyone has a chance to relax before we go into danger – I don't mind being the reason."

He smiled slightly.

"It's nice to have people to do that with," he admitted. "It makes whatever's to come seem less intimidating."

He paused, sending Kai a sidelong glance.

"By the way, Kai-kun, now you can't call me a kid any more."

"I probably will, though." Kai set down his sakazuki with a sheepish shrug. "It's force of habit now, Hirata. Sorry about that, but ever since you spent a year or so with my people, you've been like my kid brother. No matter how old we both are - I doubt I'll think of you any other way."

"That'll be fun, when he has the Seventh haori floating out around him," Shunsui laughed, "and you're there calling him 'kid'."

"Like I said, it's instinctive," Kai responded, "but I don't mean anything bad by it. I'm fond of him. That's all."

"It seems like we've known each other forever." Enishi reached across for the sake jug, refilling his sakazuki with a reflective expression on his face. "Even though it's only been a few years, I can't imagine what I did before I knew you people. Next year will be strange, when we're all split into squads."

"So let's not worry about next year," Shunsui suggested, "let's focus on this one instead. It's too soon to talk about sweet partings - and besides, even if we are all scattered across the Gotei, it doesn't mean we'll lose touch."

"Kyouraku is right," Ryuu nodded, "I didn't anticipate that I would make friendships at the Academy of which I would become so truly fond - but I do believe that we will still be friends ten years from now, no matter where we are in Seireitei. When that ten year anniversary comes, we should try and make time to meet again – whatever our circumstances may prove to be."

"I'll drink to that, too!" Enishi raised his sakazuki in a mock toast. "We should definitely do as Kuchiki says - no matter what happens."

"That applies to me too, does it?" Kai sent Ryuu a mischievous glance, and Ryuu sighed, shrugging his shoulders.

"I can't imagine why I think this, but I believe it does," he acknowledged heavily, "the Shihouin may not be my most preferred of Clans to associate with, even now - but of late I've learned that I do not mind spending time in your company."

"That's some concession, coming from you," Kai was amused, "but I agree. Whatever stances our Clans take, this Shihouin is not interested in feuding with the Kuchiki. Certainly I'm fed up with feuding with you – though teasing you is another matter, being that we're roommates and there's just too much room for opportunity."

"I can return that just as easily, you realise?" Ryuu sent him a disparaging glance. "You shouldn't think you can get the better of me, whether you call yourself my ally or otherwise."

"Fair enough," Kai tipped his empty sakazuki in Ryuu's direction. "I look forward to it."

"You two really have buried the hatchet of late, though," Enishi reflected. "I like that you have. It makes it easier that way."

"Well, when you're stuck sharing a room, either you fight all the time or you call it quits and actually try to pass your classes instead," Kai said matter-of-factly. "Probably recent events won't bring our Clans into permanent alignment or any such thing like that – but Kuchiki and I aren't our Clans, we're ourselves."

"That was surprisingly well said," Ryuu nodded sagely. "I concur. Shihouin and I are adults – and perfectly able to decide for ourselves who is friend and who is foe. Besides, it appears I will have far too much to concern me after graduation. There will be no time for petty rivalry, regardless of the outcome of my family's current strife."

"It's probably true we'll all be far too busy once we leave here, like it or not," Shunsui's eyes fell on the final member of the group at that moment, and a frown touched his features as he realised that despite the merry atmosphere, one individual was still decidedly shrouded in gloom. "Juu? What about you? You're very quiet this evening and you barely ate anything at dinner, which is really not like you. Don't you have anything you want to say about our future pacts of alliance?"

"Mm?" Juushirou raised his head, casting Shunsui a blank look.

"He's on another planet," Enishi observed, draining his sakazuki and dropping it back down on the table with a clatter. "What's up, Ukitake? You're not usually this quiet - something on your mind?"

"On my mind?" Juushirou frowned, then he shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing important. I just don't like it - all this splitting up stuff. Like Shunsui said...we're not splitting up anywhere yet, so let's not spend time tal...talking about it."

He stumbled over the last part of his sentence slightly, and Shunsui's eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure?" he asked quietly, and Juushirou nodded impatiently.

"This is Hirata's birthday outing. Not a grad...graduation cel...celebration," he said firmly, reaching for his own sakazuki and refilling it with a shaking hand. "So we should talk about other things."

"Well, I don't mind." Hirata shrugged his shoulders, offering Juushirou a smile. "I really am just happy to be spending my birthday with friends. It does make me nostalgic...I can hardly believe that to start with I could barely say anything to any of you."

"And now you're quite happy putting us all in our places if the need arises." Kai cast him a rueful grin. "The Endou-ke will not know what hits them, when you take over."

"Yes, but it won't be right away." Hirata shook his head. "After I graduate, I know Father will want to approach the Endou council to withdraw his control and pass it to me, but I'm still not fully abreast of the politics. I'm sure there will be some time while things are handed over. Father intends to support me as much as he can - and he knows a lot more about the Clan and how to run it than I do. I'd prefer him to keep the leadership until he passes on, but he doesn't have the spiritual force to keep control long-term, so that's that. Tsumi no Fuuhi and I will have to be on our guard a little to begin with - but I think it will probably be all right. Father's made a difference - he's calmed down a lot of the bad things Seimaru and Ojiisama put into play, and I intend to work hard to keep it that way. I won't let myself fall into their traps."

He glanced at Shunsui.

"It's sort of a relief to me that Seventh Division is still under interdict," he added. "I won't get plunged into the same stress as you over taking the haori just yet. I'll have to face the Council when that time expires for them to review whether or not to lift the sanctions and grant us our own Shinigami squad again - but luckily it'll all come in bits and pieces and I prefer it that way."

"Why are we still talking about the future?" Juushirou put in irritably at that juncture, dropping his drained sakazuki down onto the table with a pointed glare. "I jus' said, didn't I? We should be talking about the things that we're doing now, not when we're all split into diffelant places."

"Diffelant?" Shunsui shot Juushirou a sharp look, and Juushirou glowered back at him.

"What?"

"You just said diffelant."

"I did not!"

"Hrm." Shunsui narrowed his gaze, taking in his friend's appearance more carefully with his clever brown eyes. Juushirou's normally pale skin was faintly flushed around the cheeks, and his hazel eyes, usually so sharp and full of life seemed somehow clouded and indistinct, as though someone had muddied the waters. His frown deepened.

"Are you all right?"

"Why wouldn't I be all right?" Juushirou demanded. "Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?"

"Because you're kicking off at him and at us with no good reason?" Kai asked succinctly. "Come on, Ukitake. Spit it out. Whatever it is that's bugging you - let's hear it, huh?"

"Nothing is botheling me." Juushirou folded his arms obstinately across his chest, and Ryuu's eyes widened slightly.

"Botheling," he murmured, and Shunsui nodded, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Juu, exactly how much have you had to drink tonight?" he asked quietly, and Juushirou started, then stared back defiantly.

"I don't know. Not much. Just as much as anyone," he said flatly, and Enishi frowned, reaching to pick up the sake jug.

"Maybe you shouldn't have any more," he suggested. "Kuchiki and Kyouraku are right - your words sound pretty damn funny."

"You're just not hearing me corr...corr...corr...properly!" Juushirou stumbled over his sentence once again, reaching out to take the jug from Enishi's hands. "And I'm not a child, so you don't have to take that. I'm fine. Just fed up with talking about people splitting up."

He poured more sake into his sakazuki, lifting it defiantly to his lips and draining it in one go.

"So we should talk about something else," he concluded, setting his dish down a little clumsily. "That's all."

"Juushirou-kun?" Hirata sent him a concerned look, and Shunsui sighed.

"Okay. Out with it," he instructed. "Even if you haven't told us what yet, we all know that something is bugging you. From how you're talking, I figure we're all as convinced as each other that it involves Mitsuki-chan."

"Why?" Juushirou was defiant, and Shunsui shrugged his shoulders.

"Because she's generally the only one who can get you riled up and stupid like this."

"Mitsuki has nothing to do with anything!" Juushirou raised his voice, and a few customers nearby turned to stare at him in surprise. "She's not even here, so leave her out of it!"

"Shh!" Ryuu's expression became one of alarm. "Ukitake, stop shouting! Everyone will look at us - and even if we are allowed to come out tonight, we don't want to get into trouble for it!"

"I wasn't shouting," Juushirou said bad-temperedly, reaching for the sake jug once more. "I was jus' making my point."

"You're done with this for the evening," Shunsui said succinctly, reaching to take the jug out of his friend's reach and passing it to Hirata, who set it down carefully at the far end of the table. "You've obviously had enough of it, and I would like us to be able to walk back to school if at all possible. Since you didn't eat much at dinner, it's twice as risky to let you keep drinking and I don't think you can handle any more – so we'll put an end to it before it gets to the point you flop over."

"Shunsui!" Juushirou looked indignant, but Ryuu rested a hand gently on his arm.

"Let's not argue about silly things," he said evenly. "Whatever has troubled you this evening, let's not bring it here, all right?"

"Ryuu..." Juushirou stared at him for a moment, then he groaned, burying his head in his hands.

"I just don't like all this talk of leaving," he said softly, his voice somewhat muffled. "Talking about separating is depressing. I don't know yet what's going to happen when we graduate. We don't know whether we'll see each other again, or whether I'll even be allowed to enter a squad or anything like that. I don't know if it will be all right or if it won't - if dangerous things will happen or if we'll be in trouble. I don't know any of those things...and I don't like it."

"That's how life is, though, Ukitake," Enishi said matter-of-factly, reaching over to pat his friend sympathetically on the back. "People meet and people part. It's not as though we'll really lose touch, I'm certain of that. Don't take it so hard, all right? It has to come sooner or later, but have faith in Genryuusai-sama. He'll see things right - for you especially."

"Enishi's right," Shunsui nodded. "He hasn't trained you for this long not to let you get a squad placement. I've told you a million times that if worst comes to it I'll have you in Eighth – I wish for once you'd remember it. It makes me feel unwanted, you know, when you don't."

"It does?" Juushirou raised his gaze, meeting his friend's look with one of surprise, and Shunsui nodded.

"I know you would rather work your way through and earn your place on merit, so if that's how you can do it, you should," he said seriously. "But if that option fails, you can fall back on the old Clan way of doing things - who you know and all of that. I know what you're capable of, so I wouldn't let you be cut out of anything. So for the final time and for clarity in front of reliable, upstanding witnesses -if nothing else works out, Juu - you'll always be welcome in Eighth."

"There, so that's settled," Enishi nodded approvingly. "See, Ukitake? You don't need to be so glum after all. We're not going to leave you behind."

"Mmm," Juushirou sighed. "I s'pose not. I s'pose it will be all right...when we gradulate..."

"Graduate," Shunsui corrected firmly, a faint smile touching his lips. "You really are a little bit tipsy, aren't you? I've never heard you mess up so many words before."

"I'm all right," Juushirou shrugged, "and it's not that much. Really."

"Well, no more. All right?" Kai said firmly. "A little tipsy is one thing, but full scale drunk is a complete other."

"It is a little amusing, however." Ryuu rested his chin in his hands pensively, and Shunsui shot him a startled look.

"Ryuu? That's the last thing I'd expect to hear from you."

"I know," Ryuu smiled sheepishly. "It is very unlike me to think or feel such views, isn't it? But truthfully I am quite sick of keeping up appearances. Tonight I am resolved to forget my Clan and its troubles and simply enjoy the evening - and I find it somewhat humorous that Ukitake - who I would never imagine in an intoxicated state - is beginning to create his own words."

"You have an evil streak, for sure." Kai shot Ryuu a glance, then he laughed. "But I know what you mean. It is unlikely, isn't it? Ukitake being tipsy."

"I'm not tipsy," Juushirou protested, sweeping his hand across the table as if to emphasise his point, and Enishi let out a yelp, only just managing to catch his friend's sakazuki as the white-haired boy cast it flying across the wood.

"Stop throwing your sakazuki at Enishi, then!" Shunsui scolded. "Honestly...assault with a sake dish is probably still a crime, even in a drinking house like this one!"

"You've drunk more than I have!" Juushirou was put out. "I saw you, so don't deny it."

"Probably," Shunsui agreed. "But I made a good meal, and anyway, my tolerance to alcohol and your tolerance to it are two different things. Sit quietly and calm down a little. We won't talk about splitting up any more - not if you don't want us to - but be careful or you're going to cause a scene."

"Hrmph." Juushirou looked dissatisfied, but he said no more, for at that moment a waitress came across towards them, smiling prettily as she reached their table. From the look on her face, Shunsui felt sure that she was just as much checking to make sure that they were not about to turn into rowdy bar-brawlers, and he offered her a wry smile.

"Can I bring you anything?" she asked lightly, and Shunsui sent her an apologetic look.

"We're fine. Thank you," he said decidedly, and the girl bowed her head, withdrawing to speak to another group of customers. Juushirou's gaze seemed to follow her as she left, however, and at length he let out a heavy sigh.

"She's pretty," Shunsui observed. "But I didn't think she was to your taste, Juu."

"Huh?" Juushirou looked bemused, staring at his friend in confusion.

"The serving girl, Kyouraku means," Kai put in. "You were watching her quite intently then - and that was a big sigh."

"Was I?" Juushirou seemed genuinely surprised. "I didn't realise. I wasn't really thinking about it...or her...or anything like that."

"She is damn pretty, though. Even if you were watching her, you probably wouldn't be the only one," Enishi said frankly. He grinned. "Though I think my father'd have something to say about it, if I started chasing after a tavern girl."

"There's nothing wrong with tavern girls...quite the opposite, in fact," Shunsui reflected pensively. "They can be highly surprising in a lot of good ways...shall we say."

He offered an impish smile.

"Buuut I guess you're probably right - and I know my brother would feel exactly the same way."

"Don't you already have a young satellite shadowing you this year, anyway?" Kai teased. "She'd be heartbroken if she thought you were having lewd thoughts about tavern wenches like this."

"A satellite? You mean Kaoru?" Shunsui laughed. "She's my deshi, that's all. Stop being mean, Kai."

"I think you ought to tell her that." Kai rested his chin in his hands pensively. "If you ask me, she's found herself an idol. She has that way of looking at you whenever she comes hunting around the Senior landing to arrange her next training session."

He opened his eyes wide, clasping his hands together and cocking his head slightly to one side.

"Kyouraku-senpai, please teach me how to use my sword right!" He mimicked, raising his voice a pitch, amid laughter from his friends.

"She's just attentive and obedient," Shunsui objected, reaching across to swipe Kai lightly across the back of the head. "Stop that. I've done nothing to encourage her in any other direction, so don't tease me."

"She does seem keen, though." Mischief glittered in Hirata's gaze. "Once she came right to our bedroom, Shunsui-kun – and she looked most disappointed that you weren't there."

"She went so far as that?" Ryuu looked stunned, and Shunsui sighed.

"She went as far as Juu's room, too, when she rescued Sougyo," he pointed out, "but there's a difference between reaching the door and knocking and actually going inside. She's just keen on her sword and wants to do her best in raising it. There's nothing else between Kaoru-chan and I. I'm deliberately keeping it that way because Sensei will skin me if I don't."

"But you'd like there to be?" Kai arched an eyebrow. "I see."

"I didn't say that!" Despite himself, Shunsui burst out laughing. "Okay, enough! You Shihouin are supposed to be my Clan allies – interrogating me under the influence of alcohol is not a fair tactic!"

"Nobody ever said the Shihouin were fair," Kai said composedly, "and you said yourself that you weren't drunk. You're perfectly clear-headed – I've no idea why you'd be getting so worked up."

"Because Sensei really will have me on a spit over Ryuujinjakka's fire if he thinks I'm soliciting the younger students." Shunsui recovered himself, offering a dry smile. "I like Kaoru, she's very pretty and she's fun to be around. Training her is enjoyable and I look forward to seeing how much she's progressed. But that's as far as it goes with me, I'm afraid. Much as if the circumstances were different, I might flirt with her – I'm not of a mind to corrupt her innocence with my bad ways."

"I wonder what bad ways those might be." Ryuu eyed him speculatively, and Shunsui held up his hands.

"All right, already! If even Ryuu's getting in on the act, I'm going to surrender. But I really haven't said or done anything inappropriate with Kaoru-chan. She's honestly far too naïve for me to try it – I think probably I would damage her, and I don't want to do that."

"And the tavern girls are another matter?" Enishi looked genuinely interested, and Shunsui sighed.

"I suppose so," he agreed cautiously. "It's only a case of looking – and as a rule, they're not as naïve. Besides, lewd thoughts are fine. You can have those as much as you like without anyone intervening. It's normal, isn't it? The kind of thing men do – it's how we are."

"I never have!" Ryuu looked affronted, and Shunsui offered him a rueful grin.

"Ryuu excepted," he amended. "I don't think lewdness is permitted in the Kuchiki Clan, so he's excused."

"Not all of us are like you, you know," Kai scolded. "Some of us are far too busy with other things to worry about girls."

"What about you and Shikibu, then?" Enishi said surprisingly, and Kai started, staring at his friend in abject horror. "You yell at her a lot and she yells at you."

"That's generally interpreted as dislike, Houjou. Dislike, or you know, general irritation," Kai said dryly.

"My sister says that men and women who have chemistry fight." Enishi seemed untroubled. "My brother and his wife can deafen the house-staff sometimes with their disagreements, but they always seem to knock along fine when I see them, so I guess it's true."

"Well, in the case of Shikibu and I, it's not," Kai said emphatically. "I can't stand the girl and her fussiness. You can put that one to bed right now."

"You can't be like that forever, though," Shunsui pointed out. "You're Clan heir. That means one day you might be Clan leader. That also means one day you'll have to get married. So even if you don't care about it now…"

"I'll worry about it when I do have to," Kai said neatly, "and it's not just me who'll face that problem."

"I won't," Enishi said with self-effacing honestly. "I don't really get on well with girls, and I don't have a clue how to make them want to marry me. I'll stick to the whole shinigami thing, I think. Nothing in my family will fall to me, because I've a sister and a brother older than I am…I don't figure it matters if I get hitched or not."

"Ryuu, what about you?" Shunsui eyed the young Kuchiki keenly. "If you do become heir to the Clan…"

"Guren-sama has asked me to accept his guidance in my choice of suitor, should that horrific eventuality come to pass," Ryuu said, his voice full of foreboding. "I suppose that is better than having my father or mother dictate my future bride. I have seen the matches they have made for my sisters – I am not eager to follow suit."

"I think your sisters probably put you off the idea," Kai said succinctly. "Having met three of them, I could see how that would be."

"I think that my sisters put me off women, and my parents off marriage," Ryuu agreed. "I will hold onto my independence for as long as I am able."

"That's why it's so important to allow yourself to think naughtily from time to time," Shunsui reasoned. "If nothing else, it relieves stress. You don't get into any trouble for just looking and appreciating what's on show around you. Even Clan people can't be slated for doing that. It's only when you act on that naughtiness that you start causing problems. I'm like Enishi in that I don't have to get married any time soon. So that being the case, I'll just stick to the thinking."

"You already did your fair share of the acting," Juushirou murmured, and Shunsui shot his friend a sharp glance. For a moment he had almost forgotten his white-haired friend was there, but the strange expression in the boy's eyes put him momentarily on his guard. Was that…the faintest flicker of resentment, deep in that hazel gaze?

"Juu? What was that supposed to mean?"

"Huh?" Juushirou frowned, then, "did I say something out loud?"

"You did." Hirata nodded. "You said that Shunsui-kun already did his fair share of the acting where girls were concerned."

"Oh." Juushirou reddened slightly, then, "I didn't realise I actually said it. But I guess it's still true anyway. What about Saku? Did you forget about her already?"

"Forget about her?" Shunsui looked stricken, then he shook his head.

"I'm probably still in love with Saku," he said matter-of-factly, "but Saku is also miles away from here, and married into the bargain. I've let her go. There's nothing to be done about it, so there's no point dragging that up right now, is there?"

"That was a tad cruel, Ukitake," Ryuu murmured reproachfully. "Even if you didn't mean to say it out loud, there's no reason to harp on Kyouraku's past in such a way. Teasing is one thing, but you should know better than to raise a subject matter of that nature in such a situation as this."

"I just don't understand how someone can look at things like that. That's all." Juushirou sighed heavily, running his fingers absently against the seams of wood on the table's surface. "Can you forget about someone if you love them - walk away from them...like that? Because if you do, doesn't it mean you didn't love them so much after all? If you let them go and marry someone else, maybe it seems like it's for their sake but doesn't it mean that really you don't love them enough?"

"Juushirou-kun?" Hirata's eyes became big, then, "Something really has happened with Edogawa-san."

"I never said that!" Juushirou protested quickly. "I was jus' observing and that's what it seemed like...and..."

He trailed off, and Ryuu sighed, slowly shaking his head.

"Kyouraku's viewpoint is a perfectly logical one," he said quietly. "When two people meet of completely opposing classes, a relationship between them causes nothing but pain."

"But..." Juushirou murmured, and Shunsui nodded.

"Where Saku and I were concerned, it was like that," he agreed. "We both accepted that we had to part, and I'm all right with that. But I don't think this is about Saku and I really. It's about you and Mitsuki - and what's going to happen to the both of you after we graduate. Isn't it?"

Juushirou stared at him for a moment, and much to Shunsui's horror, tears glittered on his friend's lashes.

"I don't understand what's going on," he whispered, helplessness in his tones. "Surely I've accepted that too? That Mitsuki is Clan and I'm not...that things are..."

He clenched and unclenched his fists, unable to continue, and Shunsui sighed.

"We keep telling you," he said bluntly, "that you can't keep on this just friends kick forever."

"But they have no real choice, Kyouraku," Ryuu said with a sigh. "It's how it is. I would not object to it, if anything occurred - no matter how untoward - because I know Ukitake and I know Mitsuki. But the Clan...my Clan is an old one with old traditions. And when that boundary between Clan and District is broken, it brings forth nothing but pain."

"Based on what evidence?" Kai looked curious, and Ryuu shook his head.

"It doesn't matter," he said simply. "Just take my words as true and do not ask me what I will not answer."

"Either way, there's no use crying about it. Especially not here." Shunsui eyed Juushirou pensively. "That's obviously what's been bothering you, and we'll talk about it a whole lot more in the morning. At the moment you're being a little bit unpredictable, and I'd rather give you advice you're going to remember clearly."

"I told you before, I'm not drunk," Juushirou bristled. "I'm fine. I've not drunk more than anyone else."

He dashed away his tears.

"And I'm not 'motional, either," he added indignantly. "I'm fine."

He got to his feet, and Enishi gazed up at him in surprise.

"Ukitake? Where are you going?"

"To ask for more sake," Juushirou said frankly, "since you won't let me share any of yours."

"Sit down and stop being stupid," Shunsui scolded, but Juushirou turned back towards him, crossing his eyes and poking out his tongue. The grimace was so out of character that Shunsui simply stared at him, and Juushirou turned on his heel, marching purposely across the floor to speak to the waitress.

"He's definitely not quite himself." Ryuu stifled a smile. "Somehow I don't think we're going to get much reason out of him this evening."

"I'll go after him," Kai volunteered, standing up from his seat. "I'll bring him back before he causes a disturbance. He's not walking in a straight line, so whatever he says, he's had too much. We should probably think about calling it a night - before he makes it worse."

"It's Hirata's night, though..." Shunsui cast Hirata a quizzical look, but the younger boy shook his head.

"I agree. It's getting late and we should go," he responded. "Sensei said we had to be back by midnight, didn't he? It must be getting towards that now. If Kai-kun goes to get Juushirou-kun, we can wait for them outside."

"Good plan." Enishi nodded. "Do you need help, Shihouin?"

"No...I'll bring him back. Don't worry - I'll see you out the front." Kai's eyes twinkled, then he disappeared in the direction Juushirou had gone, and Shunsui got to his feet, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Who would've thought Juu would be such a troublesome drunk," he said helplessly. "Seriously, how much did he drink? I wasn't paying attention to it."

"I don't think any of us were. It's so out of character for him, so nobody even thought about it." Enishi looked pensive. "Till he started to mess his words up, I didn't even realise something was wrong."

"Probably he hasn't drunk that much," Ryuu mused. "But he is not as used to sake as you are, Kyouraku. The rest of us are accustomed to drinking fine and expensive alcohol at certain social events - so we might be said to have a mild tolerance for such things. But I don't believe the same applies for Ukitake - given his background, I think it highly unlikely he encounters sake often, if at all."

"No, I think that's true," Shunsui rubbed his temples. "Come on. Let's get outside and out of people's way. I remember him saying to me once that his father hadn't let him drink sake because he was afraid of the effect it might have on his body. It seems a bit late to be thinking about that now, but I suppose it wouldn't take much to affect him, given that that's the case. It's easy to forget sometimes that he's not like us in a lot of respects - I just hope Hidenobu-dono's fears were unfounded."

"I doubt a little sake could bring on a haibyou episode," Enishi said evenly. "It's not as though he's inhaling the stuff, and his sickness is in his lungs, isn't it?"

"Yes...it is...but..." Shunsui spread his hands. "Probably you're right. I have a habit of worrying about him too much when he's being an idiot, but he is a lot stronger than he was."

"I wonder what did happen with Edogawa-san," Hirata murmured. "Kuchiki-kun, do you know?"

"No...nothing specific." Ryuu shook his head. "We have both been busy and have spoken little since summer recess. If I was to hazard a guess, though, Mitsuki has spent much time focusing on the fate of Shirogane-senpai since we left District Six. Since she saved his life the night Ribari-sama was killed, they have forged a connection. I believe it to be nothing more than simple friendship...but I suppose..."

"Juu's read more into it and is jealous," Shunsui groaned. "He's even spoken to me about Mitsuki a few times, but since he's shied away from broaching the subject with her, I guess it's got worse and they argued."

He frowned.

"No, I bet I know what he's done. Being the idiot he is, I bet he's gone and told her to go be happy with Nagoya or some such fool thing and now he's breaking his heart over it because it's not what he wants her to do at all. You know what he's like. He'd try and think of her feelings first - as he thinks they are - and so in the end he'd make a bigger mess of it than he started out with."

"That sounds like a good analysis to me," Ryuu agreed with a sigh. "Ukitake certainly would assume Mitsuki would be happier with someone else because their own situation is so hazy. The sad truth of it is, though, in the long run he may be right. I don't know...whether they can be just friends forever. And if they can...what else they might have to sacrifice to keep it that way."

"Those things are future things and they shouldn't be worried about right now," Shunsui said pragmatically, as they stepped out into the moonlight. "Even if it is inappropriate, Ryuu, we know that they're stupid and crazy about each other. Also, it's not really the same as Saku and I. We were separated a long time ago - there was no going back on that divide once it had opened up between us. The best we could hope for was closure and that's what I think we both got. But Juu is different from Saku. He's District, but he's also going to be a shinigami. He spends most of his time with Clan people - he has dilute Clan blood himself. Therefore..."

"Having that Clan blood makes his situation more tentative," Ryuu said flatly. "At present, it would be better all round if he did not have such a blood claim to my people, since of all the Clans it is the Kuchiki who are least likely to be forgiving of anything that might compromise their honour."

"You really are fed up with them at the moment, aren't you?" Enishi was startled, and Ryuu nodded.

"Surprising it may be, but yes," he said heavily. "I am quite tired of all of it."

He offered a rueful smile.

"If I did not have such a sense of responsibility weighing me down, I might have been tempted to take to the hills and flee from it entirely," he admitted. "The Academy is the only place anything seems normal at present. Ukitake should be glad his connections to my Clan are so tenuous. I believe he is more fortunate that way than he would be trying to tie himself into the family in any regard."

"But if he and Edogawa-san like each other, it should be up to them what they want to do," Hirata said softly. "Juushirou-kun will be a shinigami. Well, technically he already is one, so Shunsui-kun is right. It's different where they're concerned."

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" At that moment Kai's voice broke through the conversation, and the four turned to see the Shihouin boy, a clearly unhappy Juushirou in tow. "Mission accomplished - let's go."

"Let go of me now, huh?" Juushirou wrenched his arm free of Kai's grip, sending him a dark look. "You're not my mother - why did you come and grab me anyway? I was only going to ask..."

"You were trying to obtain sake, which is a bad idea for you right now." Kai said unrepentantly. He chuckled, patting his companion on the shoulder. "Besides, if I hadn't been there you would've tripped over a cushion and gone flying across some poor soul's table. You're worse on your feet than you were sitting down - a tactical withdrawal seemed the best idea and I didn't think you'd want to discuss it."

"We're going back to school," Shunsui added. "We have to be back by midnight, and it's getting later, so it's time for the fun to end anyway. Are you all right walking, Juu?"

"I've been doing it since I was a kid, so I don't know why you'd think otherwise." A sullen expression crossed Juushirou's clever features. "Fine then. We'll go back to school. I don't care."

And with that he stalked off in high dudgeon ahead of them.

"Juu, watch out for the tree!" Shunsui darted forward, grabbing his friend just in time to steer him around the trunk of a substantial old elm tree. "Good grief. No walking off on your own - not if you can't steer. Stick with us, all right?"

"I don't need a nursemaid!" Juushirou pulled himself free, sending Shunsui what could only be described as a childish pout. "I know the way back. I don't need your help."

"Then why are you trying to go left when the road we want is right?" Shunsui asked sensibly. "We're not going into the mountains – that'd mean you sleeping in an entirely different nest than the one we're aiming for. Come on and stop complaining. You'll wake the local townspeople's children - and if you get back to school and start causing a fuss, it will be Sensei who'll want to know why. He might have given us permission to go out tonight, but he didn't give us consent to be reckless. I don't suppose he'd be very amused that his Anideshi is wobbling all over the place - so pipe down and behave for a while, all right?"

"Hrmph." Juushirou folded his arms once more across his chest, but to Shunsui's relief he did not storm ahead again, and for a while the group walked on in silence, Kai having taken Juushirou's other side to ensure that he did not waver too much from the path.

"It's a really pretty night tonight." Enishi raised his gaze to the stars. "Clear as anything. You wouldn't know autumn was upon us."

"I like it when the stars are visible," Hirata agreed. "It sounds stupid, maybe, but it feels like they're watching us. And maybe protecting us too - I don't know."

"Protecting us?" Juushirou glanced up, then let out a yelp as he lost his balance, flailing desperately as he tried to keep his footing. He landed with a thump on the ground, gazing around him in bewilderment, and Kai laughed, holding out a hand to haul him back up.

"Sudden movements aren't a good idea," he scolded. "Are you hurt?"

"There seem to be more stars than usual." As Juushirou allowed the Shihouin to pull him upright, he frowned, staring up at the sky pensively. "I don't know why...but there seem to be a lot of them. Swirling around and twinkling and...stuff..."

He stumbled over his own feet, and this time it was Ryuu's quick thinking that prevented him from going headlong.

"Swirling stars are a key symptom of too much sake." Shunsui came to his other side with a grin. "It's all right, Juu. Tomorrow there will be the same number as always. I promise. Tonight is just...special."

"I suppose that's because it's Hirata's bir...birth...birthday party," Juushirou mumbled, blinking a couple of times and then reaching up to rub his eyes. "Is it just me, though, or did there used to only be one row of trees on this path?"

"As I said, tomorrow it will be back to normal," Shunsui laughed, slipping his arm through his friend's. "Hirata's birthday magic is far reaching, isn't it?"

"Mm." Juushirou frowned, then he stopped dead, almost causing his companion to lose his own footing with the suddenness of the action.

"Juu?" Somehow Shunsui regained his balance, casting his friend a curious look. "What's up? Why have you stopped? We're not far from school now - at the end of this path we'll reach the gates and then from there it's only a little way further."

Juushirou swallowed hard, taking a deep breath. Then,

"I don't feel...very good," he whispered, and Shunsui's eyes widened in alarm as he interpreted the expression in his friend's murky eyes.

"Are you going to be sick?" He demanded urgently, and Juushirou did not answer straight away. Then he sighed, shrugging his shoulders.

"M...Maybe," he admitted unsteadily. "I just...suddenly like...a boat was..."

That was as far as he got and Shunsui acted quickly, getting his companion off the path and into the hedgerow before the full violence of Juushirou's nausea could overtake him.

"Ukitake!" Enishi hurried down at his other side. "He's a funny colour - maybe he shouldn't have tried walking at all."

"I think this might've happened anyway." Shunsui rubbed his hand absently up and down his friend's back, letting out a heavy sigh. "All right, Juu - probably it's better out of you than in, if you really drank as much as you seem to have done. We should have paid better attention – if you'd at least eaten a proper meal…"

"We can stop for a moment and let him gather himself," Kai suggested. "Probably the falling over just now was the last straw. That and he did say he was seeing double."

"Stars swirling in the sky," Ryuu sighed, sitting himself down on a nearby tree stump. "Shihouin is correct. We can wait a while, until he is able to walk."

"I'm all right," Juushirou himself spoke up at that moment, wiping his mouth on the handkerchief Shunsui had thrust his way. "I...I just...I don't know what...it just..."

"Just sit for a moment," Hirata told him anxiously. "We don't have any water with us - else you could drink that."

"Probably right now it would just make him throw up more," Shunsui said wisely. "It's all right, Hirata. It isn't a very nice thing to see, but I half expected it would happen, and if he's drunk that much then chucking some of it up is probably a good thing."

He cast his friend an apologetic look.

"I shouldn't have let you sit so near the sake jug," he said guiltily.

"Mm." Juushirou sat back against the trunk of a nearby tree, rubbing his temples. There was a long silence, then,

"Maybe…I did drink a little too much tonight."

The words were blurry and a little unclear and Shunsui sighed, reaching across to ruffle his fingers through the lank white hair.

"I think you did too," he said resignedly, "but it's my fault as much as it is yours. Town sake isn't as refined as Clan stuff – and since you didn't eat very much, it would've affected you much more quickly. Probably you didn't drink as much as all that – but you're really not used to it, and this is the result."

"I didn't mean to." Juushirou offered him a penitent look. "I wasn't really thinking. I just…everything…"

He held his hand up before his face.

"I have too many fingers," he added unexpectedly. "Does sake make your hands grow new ones, or is there something wrong with my eyes?"

"…I'm not going to even try and answer that," Shunsui groaned, getting to his feet. "We need to get you back to school. Do you think you can stand up and walk any further, Juu? If it's going to make you ill, then tell us – if need be, someone will help you."

"Sensei will be cross with me again, won't he?" Juushirou bit his lip. "I did another stupid thing. Even though I'm Anideshi, I still need you to rescue me."

"I'll carry him back to the school," Enishi offered. "I can shunpo back to the nest and nobody else will see him. He looks pale but less green than he did, Kyouraku – probably he'll be all right after he's had a chance to sleep it off."

"Well, the morning might be interesting, but perhaps." Shunsui cast Juushirou a glance. "Is that all right with you? If Enishi takes you back to school, the rest of us will follow on behind."

"I…suppose so." Juushirou seemed to have lost all of his earlier fight, and Kai nodded.

"That's the best idea," he agreed. "Sensei needn't know anything about it, if we do that."

"Don't underestimate him. He'll know," Shunsui said darkly, "but so long as Juu's in one piece and attends his meetings tomorrow, we might be all right."

"Sit still then, Ukitake," Enishi instructed, looping his arms around the boy's shoulders and beneath the legs, lifting him as though he was carrying one of the first years. Juushirou didn't resist, and the tall boy cast his companions a grin.

"See you back at school," he said briefly, then was gone into the night, and Ryuu let out a heavy sigh.

"I wonder if Sensei will overlook it. Indulging in alcohol is frowned on during term time, and the fact it was for Hirata's birthday will probably not be seen as an excuse."

"I don't suppose he'll do much about it." Shunsui shook his head. "Juu was with us, and he didn't do anything particularly to cause inconvenience at the tavern. We've got him back safely – at least, I trust Enishi to do that without a problem – so I don't expect it'll matter. I feel bad about it anyway, mind you. I knew he was down, and I hoped tonight would cheer him up. Instead…"

"But we do know now what it is that's bothering him," Hirata said thoughtfully. "Edogawa-san is at the root of it, and not the Real World trip at all."

"Going there in two days will become a problem if we can't reconcile the other," Shunsui pointed out. "For now, though, let's just get back to school. Tomorrow I'll try and drum sense into him, but tonight I doubt I'll have much luck."

"Not while he has too many fingers." Despite himself, Kai grinned. "All things considered, Ukitake's quite an amusing drunk, isn't he?"

"That really isn't the point." Ryuu scolded, but Kai shrugged.

"Ukitake's sickness aside, we had a good time tonight," He said frankly, "without Clan hassles or anything threatening us. Just as friends, Kuchiki – all six of us together. That's something important, isn't it? Whatever Clans we come from or politics we're buried under, we six are still friends."

"As friends." Ryuu's brows knitted together, and he nodded.

"Yes. I suppose that's true. As Academy students we are classmates. All six of us from the start have been brothers in arms," he said solemnly. "The Real World is a dangerous place. Being in my company is also dangerous at present, yet none of you have shied from me. Even Shihouin…"

He paused, then offered the dark-skinned boy a smile.

"Sensei has manipulated us both beautifully into this position," he said honestly, "but if a Kuchiki can call a Shihouin his ally…perhaps that will somehow make for a more peaceful Seireitei future."

"That's something worth drinking to," Shunsui said gravely.

And something outside of Aizen Keitarou's twisted calculations, I bet.

He sighed, gazing up at the bright evening sky as he was briefly reminded of the peace of his inner world.

Maybe he's overestimated the hatred between Clans – or underestimated their ability to cooperate with one another. The assassin Kamuki was replaced by the pragmatic Midori, and the ruthless Shouichi by the cautious Misashi. Both Midori-sama and Misashi-sama seek alliance and offer assistance, rather than stand alone. Now Guren-sama is asking for help from other Clans, rather than declaring a war of honour in revenge for his son. If the Council can band together enough, perhaps they can catch this man – and maybe remove him before he does worse harm. Ryuu's gamble is probably the right one…I just hope that this won't be the last time the six of us are able to spend time together in such a carefree way.

Out loud he said,

"I'm heading back. I'm worried about Juu – I want to make sure he's all right."

Before any of the others could protest, he dropped into shunpo, shifting briskly through the streams of light and spirit energy towards the sleeping school building. When he reached the Nest, Enishi was just emerging, casting his classmate a grin.

"I dumped him on his bed. I think he'll sleep now," He said by way of preamble. "The shunpo didn't make him sick again, so probably he's got that out of his system."

"Thanks, Enishi." Shunsui returned the grin with a rueful smile of his own. "I'm going to go check on him, just to be sure, since Sensei entrusted tonight to me and Anideshi's not really in a position to speak for himself."

"I'll go back to my room, then." Enishi nodded his head. "Souryou will be wondering where I am, probably, so I'll take my leave."

Shunsui nodded, stepping past his friend and sliding the door of the nest cautiously back, slipping into the dimly lit chamber and crossing the mat floor towards the bed.

"Shunsui?"

At his entrance, Juushirou raised his gaze, and Shunsui nodded, dropping down beside the pallet with a sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have let you get like this, should I?"

"It's not your fault," Juushirou snorted, shaking his head feebly. "I'm…grown. I can make my own dec…de…"

"Decisions." Shunsui reached to pick up the boy's discarded blanket, pulling it gently over his body. "Fine. I suppose that's true, too. I still feel guilty, though. Even though I never met him, I can imagine your father glaring at me for letting his son get led astray."

Despite himself, Juushirou managed a faint smile.

"You can't 'magine someone you don't know," he said softly.

"Believe me, I can." Shunsui pursed his lips. "All right, perhaps I'm imagining an older you with dark hair – but that's beside the point. The point is that I wanted to make sure you were all right."

"Mm…" Juushirou sighed. "The room is…spinning rather. But I'm tired. I think…I'll probably go to sleep soon."

"That's a good idea," Shunsui agreed. "If you can sleep it off, so much to the good."

"I suppose so." Juushirou shrugged his shoulders. "I really didn't do it on purpose though. I was just thinking about a lot of stuff – and I didn't see when my glass got filled, so I s'pose I wound up drinking without realising, and then…I've never been drunk before, so I didn't know that this was what it was like…and by that point I was already drunk, so I guess…"

"All right, shut up now," Shunsui laughed, putting a finger to his friend's lips before the other boy's rambling explanation could go any further. "Listen. You sleep. Tomorrow, I promise, we'll talk about Mitsuki and anything else you've got preying on your mind, but there's really no point in doing that tonight."

"Mitsuki." Juushirou's eyes became sad, and Shunsui half-thought his friend might cry.

"Tomorrow," He said firmly, getting to his feet. "You'll tell me everything that happened, and then we'll see what we can do to work it out. Understand?"

"I guess," Juushirou sighed, closing his eyes, "but there's probably no point. I really can't…keep her. So…there's probably no p…point at all."

With that he was asleep, and as his breathing evened out, Shunsui let out his breath in a rush, getting slowly to his feet.

Sensei will probably skin me for bringing you back drunk, but at the very least it's loosened your tongue a little. I s'pose we'll see what state you're in tomorrow morning, and hope it's something I can help to put right.

"Kyouraku-kun?"

As he left the nest to head to his own room, a soft voice assailed him and he paused, a frown crossing his features as he registered the young healer's presence. He did not turn to face her, a sudden sense of anger flaring up inside his heart as he remembered Juushirou's expression earlier that evening.

"I'm not sure I have anything to talk to you about right at the moment," he said evenly. "It's late and I need to get to bed, Mitsuki-chan. If you're going to bother Juu, I suggest you leave it till tomorrow – he's asleep and I'd like him to stay that way."

"He's drunk, isn't he?" There was the sound of footsteps, and Shunsui knew that Mitsuki was almost at his side. "What did you get him to do, Kyouraku-kun? He's not used to alcohol, not like you."

"If you're worried about him, stop and think for a moment about what you just said." Shunsui turned now, meeting her clouded gaze with a reproachful one of his own. "Maybe that will tell you the reason Juu was drinking tonight – and you'll stop using that tone with me as though I'm responsible for anything and everything that happens in his life."

"Kyouraku-kun?"

Mitsuki's expression became stricken, and despite himself Shunsui felt faintly guilty.

"You and he had a fight, didn't you?" he asked softly, leaning up against the wall and fixing her with a searching look. "Juu hasn't told me exactly what happened, but I'm not stupid. I admit, I wasn't paying attention to Juu's drinking tonight, and maybe I should have been more aware of how often his sakazuki got refilled and how much he was taking in. But if something induced him to drink, it wasn't me. On the contrary, we were the ones trying to cheer him up…after someone else upset him."

"If you don't know what happened, you shouldn't be scolding me, either." Mitsuki's Kuchiki pride flickered into life at these words, and Shunsui frowned, nodding his head.

"Tomorrow I intend on getting it out of him," he said evenly. "For now, I want him to sleep. Still, don't make any mistake about it, Mitsuki. Juu's an emotional idiot with zero understanding of the opposite sex. That means he can and does jump to the wrong conclusions and I'm well used to shaking them out of him. But I also know when something out of the ordinary is bothering him. He's not been himself at all today or yesterday, and he's definitely not been sleeping or eating right. The day before that he was fine, though, and even when haibyou's poking at him, he doesn't usually lose his appetite. The only person capable of doing that to him in such spectacular fashion is the person standing not too far away from where I am now. So if there's something you want to get off your chest, I suggest you do."

"It's none of your business." Mitsuki made to go, but Shunsui reached out to grab her arm.

"Juu's hurt. That makes it my business," he said flatly. "I want you to be clear with him and put an end to this perpetual worrying and wondering on his part. You know he's been fretting over you and your fixation with Nagoya since you came back to school at the start of the year? Whatever the truth of that is none of my business, but he at least deserves to know how he stands."

"You really don't know anything." Mitsuki shook herself free, glaring at Shunsui in tearful indignation. "I tried to tell him! I'm always trying to tell him! But he's the one who said stupid things. He's the one who said that if I was going to marry Shirogane-senpai, he'd let me go. He was the one who…"

"Nagoya's here, isn't he? Somewhere." Shunsui cut across her, and Mitsuki froze, colour draining from her cheeks. Shunsui nodded.

"I thought so. And Juu saw him? With you?"

Mitsuki's expression became obstinate, and still she did not answer.

"I thought so." Shunsui's eyes became slits. "Juu is good at jumping to the wrong conclusions, I'll give you that. I'd already realised what he'd likely said and done about it, if that kind of circumstance had presented itself. He won't talk to me because he won't betray where Nagoya is, right? But whatever you think you tried to tell him, I don't think he understood. Perhaps you need to talk to him about it – because he's not going to pick it up by psychic vibe. He isn't like you. He can't do that."

Mitsuki sighed, rubbing her temples.

"First Sora, now you, saying the same things," she whispered. "Of all people I thought Juushirou would understand how I feel. I didn't expect him to back down and surrender, either. If you love someone, you don't do that, right? You don't just give up and hand them over to someone else?"

"I suppose that depends on the scenario." Shunsui's mind flitted to Saku, and he sighed. "But either way, you need to talk to him. Openly. Honestly. In words of one syllable, or preferably less…I wouldn't even rule out drawing diagrams. Juu's the kind of idiot who can't function with people who aren't straight down the line with him. If there's something for him to misunderstand, he'll do it with enthusiasm. I've been rooting for the two of you since the start – you know that, or you should. Whatever your relationship with Nagoya is or is not, that same Baka-Juu needs to have it spelt out for him. You owe it to him to do that. All right?"

"You can be quite harsh when you want to be, can't you?" Mitsuki looked weary. "I know. I came here tonight to…but I can feel his scattered aura and I know there'd be no point."

She rubbed her temples.

"He isn't the only one who hasn't been sleeping right," she admitted. "I'm not happy about how things are either, Kyouraku-kun. It wasn't my intention to hurt anyone in this. Shirogane-senpai is my kinsman and I'm going to help him, no matter what that entails. That's my resolve and nobody – not you, not Juushirou, not even Guren-sama – can break it. That doesn't mean I'm going to marry him, nor did I ever even think of that as a possible outcome of all this. Naoko made that up from some strange fancy of her own, and it's spiralled out of all control. I came here this evening to talk things over with Juushirou, since Sora told me she doesn't want another night of me keeping her up with my tossing and turning. But you all disappeared out somewhere, and brought him back like this."

"Tomorrow, you'll talk to him?" Shunsui asked quietly, and Mitsuki nodded.

"I will," she said frankly. "Whether you asked me to or not, I need to. I want to clear the air. Being at odds with him is always miserable, and I suppose I know that there are things I can perceive that he can't because of my healer wits."

"All right. Then I s'pose I'll stop glaring at you." Shunsui offered her a rueful smile. "I can't promise what state of mind he'll be in tomorrow, though. I think we might be witnessing baby's first hangover…if you get my drift."

"Mm." Mitsuki looked thoughtful. "Then I'll bring something to help tackle the effects of too much town sake when I come tomorrow. Perhaps that'll help break the ice."

"Good plan," Shunsui agreed, "and Mitsuki?"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to pretend that we didn't have this conversation. I suggest you do too," Shunsui said lightly. "Especially in light of references to your missing cousin…"

"What conversation?" Mitsuki tilted her head on one side. "I just came to wish you goodnight. Till tomorrow, then, Kyouraku-kun."

With that she was gone, and as Shunsui made his own slow way to his chamber, a faint smile touched his lips.

I poked my nose in somewhere I don't belong and Juu will kill me if he finds out I did – but after the way he looked tonight, I had to do something. If they can talk things out tomorrow, so much to the good – then we can go back to making the final preparations for the Real World without the fear of being caught up in some emotional drama along the way.

---

Author's Note

There's the element of the omake in this chapter, and I freely admit it. Juu's night out on the town was originally written as an omake, but half of the original file got corrupted and what was left seemed to be applicable to this when I got to writing it. Whilst the events of this chapter do have some plot resonance, particularly where Juu and Mitsuki are concerned, the real reason for a chapter of frivolity is this.

Some pretty dark stuff is going to be coming up in the next few chapters. There is very likely going to be death, and there will certainly be copious amounts of blood. I figured, therefore, that it was as well to have a more lighthearted moment and an opportunity to laugh at them while you can…;)

I'm posting this early because of the omake-ish ness of it ;) Nobody kill me!