Chapter Fifty Five: Shadow Puppetry
To Juushirou, time in the grove seemed to have stopped still.
Then, as if breaking the spell, the shadowy figure raised his hand silently above his head. As if summoned by an invisible string, the weapon wrenched itself free from Keitarou's body, returning itself swiftly to its wielder's grasp. The swordsman glanced at it, tut-tutted and gave it a shake, releasing droplets of blood that scattered across the grass. Keitarou, who up to a moment before had been relaxed and almost joking clutched at his wounded arm, a string of expletives slipping from his mouth as he wheeled around on his attacker.
It was Juushirou who found the name first, disbelief in his expression.
"S..Shunsui?"
"The Kyouraku bocchan," Keitarou spat out. "So you do have a zanpakutou. I was right."
"That's me. And so I do." Shunsui glanced at his left-hand weapon again, and Juushirou was aware of the second sword silhouetted at his friend's right side, ready and waiting for its own moment to enter into the battle. "Well, would you look at that. It seems as though I have two. I wonder what could have brought that about - strange thing, spiritual energy, don't you think?"
He flicked Seibara's blade once more, the moonlight glinting off its surface with a strange, almost ghostly quality.
"Urahara Keitarou, I presume," he added pleasantly, "or maybe I should say, Aizen Keitarou. The man who insists on polluting a Kyouraku family name - among other things - in order to perpetuate his delusionary schemes."
"I knew there was a good reason I didn't like you," Keitarou glared at Shunsui like a cornered animal, and Juushirou saw genuine hate and anger flare in his eyes. "A low blow even from a Clansman - to throw a sword from behind."
"I didn't," Shunsui smiled, but there was no real warmth to his smile, and Juushirou had to stifle a shiver at the ice in his friend's normally lazy brown eyes, "it was your shadow that actually attacked you. You thought your spiritual defences were perfect, didn't you? I bet you didn't think about shielding your own silhouette. I found it remarkably easy to break into - if you're as careless as that, you should expect negative consequences."
"You..."
"I'm not the idealist Juu is," Shunsui added flatly. "I don't really like the idea of killing things, either, and I never have, but unlike Juu, I am Clan. You taught me a valuable lesson in the snows those few years ago, too. Do you know what that was, Aizen Keitarou?"
Keitarou merely stared at him in mute fury, and Shunsui's eyes narrowed.
"Sometimes there's no other option but to take life," he said softly. "Sometimes protecting the things that matter means taking life. It's no thanks to you that Juu's still here and alive, and I find it hard to forgive what you tried to do to both of us that day, but if I must thank you for something, it's teaching me that sometimes, in a dangerous situation, death is the cleaner and most logical option. It's because of you that my sword answers so readily to my call - even if that means plunging right to the depths of the darkest shadow."
"Shunsui, what are you trying to do? How did you...where..?" Juushirou was unable to finish any of his sentences, and Shunsui shot him a benign smile, the cold aura of the resolute attacker suddenly gone from his expression.
"You were taking too long and I got worried. I sensed something unpleasant in the vicinity and decided to come check on you," he said with a shrug, his tones far more the usual off-hand Shunsui Juushirou was used to. "I thought perhaps you'd been waylaid by someone the Council wouldn't approve you talking to - and I hit the jackpot."
His gaze flitted to Keitarou, and his eyes hardened once more.
"As you can see, though I really don't like shedding blood, with you I can make an exception," he said coolly. "You have no business with Juu, and you should leave now. If you're wise, you won't come back. We aren't going to play with you - so run along."
"That reiatsu..." Keitarou's eyes became slits, and Juushirou could see that the man's arm was now drenched in blood. Had Shunsui's blade broken Keitarou's shoulder? Inwardly he suppressed another shiver. This was a side of his friend he had never seen - a Shunsui who had used his weapon against another living being without a moment's hesitation.
"What about it?" Shunsui glanced at his swords, then back at Keitarou. "It's the only reiatsu I have, I'm afraid. If it offends you, sorry about that. But you know, yours offends me too. It has a nasty, bloody kind of edge to it. It's almost as though it's devoured one too many souls - or maybe made puppets out of those who've spent the last four years in sleep. It's rather like a Hollow - and I'm not really keen on them."
He shrugged, tapping the tip of Amaki's blade against the soft earth pensively.
"I didn't come here to kill you, though I'd be lying if I didn't say a part of me would like to try," he admitted honestly. "This right blade of mine holds a self-named demon's soul and he's roaring at me right now to take my chances and finish you whilst I can. I'm not going to yield to him, this time. If I'd wanted to come kill you, I would have let him have his way - but I didn't. What's more, that wound isn't as serious as you're making out. Seibara's tip may have gored you - but even if it sliced a vessel, it hasn't done you any real damage. It was a warning shot, that's all. It'll teach you, perhaps, that it's a bad idea to let your guard down so completely. You're not as invincible as you believe you are - I wanted to show you that there are people who can hurt you, and that will."
He flicked a sword in Juushirou's direction.
"What you did to Juu and I last time was unforgiveable," he added bluntly, "and when I'd recovered, I told myself then that I wouldn't forget it - or forgive it. Juu doesn't remember any of it - and he doesn't need to remember. I remember and that's enough for both of us. So long as he doesn't remember, your power won't work on him - isn't that what you just said? And, as long as I do remember, I'll be there in the shadows ready to defend him from you. Bear it in mind, Keitarou-san. Juushirou is one of us - he belongs with us. Clan or District, it doesn't matter. Juu is part of the Academy, and he'll be part of the Gotei come the spring. Whatever tricks you try and however you want to twist things, he's not like you and he never will be."
"Is that all you came here to say, with your fancy swords and your shadow tricks?" Keitarou demanded. Shunsui nodded, and there was a faint haze around each zanpakutou blade as he sealed his weapons, returning them to their rest position at his side.
"You can't ever escape from your shadow," he responded evenly, "and you probably can't protect it, even with the kind of magic you have. That being the case, you'll never know where Katen's blade might come from or where it might hit. Just keep in mind that if you're in Juushirou's vicinity, there's an increased chance of it hitting you - understood? Where he is is often where I am, too."
"Shunsui!" Juushirou's eyes became huge, but Shunsui ignored him, his gaze trained on Keitarou.
"You ought to see to that injury before it gets infected," he added blithely. "Seibara's blade is quite clean, fortunately, so I'm sure a man of your scientific calibre can do something with it."
Keitarou shot Shunsui a look of dislike, but he did not try to reply, slipping into shunpo and disappearing into the dark forest beyond.
Now alone, Juushirou faltered, staring at his classmate in disbelief, and Shunsui sighed.
"You don't think I should've done that? Or you think I should've done it sooner? I'm not sure which expression that is, but I don't think it's a good one," he reflected ruefully. "I get the feeling you're about to tell me off - so if you'd fill me in on what for, I'll try and have the right apology waiting."
"What on earth did you do?" Now Juushirou found his voice, grabbing his friend by the shoulders and giving him a faint shake. "Aside from the fact Keitarou-san isn't the kind of enemy you want to make, where did you even come from? You weren't behind him and there was no way...and then..."
"I was on your tail," Shunsui agreed. "I didn't hear all of your conversation, but enough of it to get the gist. And my attack.."
He patted his sealed sword hilts.
"They taught me that. It's a technique called Kageoni. If there's shadow, I can use it. Any shadow - even yours, you know, if I wanted to."
"What?" Instinctively Juushirou swung around to stare at his moonlit silhouette, and Shunsui grinned.
"I wouldn't. Not against you. Don't worry," he said frankly. "It's still quite a new technique, but one that I thought I might need to use when we came here, so I worked to master it as best I could. Whatever I cast into the shadow comes out wherever there's another shadow. If that shadow belongs to a person, I can attack them via that method. That's what I did here. I used Keitarou's own shadow to attack him from behind - and then followed my blade through the trees' silhouettes so I could retrieve it more easily. Whether he understood my technique or not, I don't know - but no sense in giving him more pointers than he needs."
"It's not a very nice technique," Juushirou said slowly, "but I think I understand. I guess...talking would have been a waste of time anyway. There are times you can't save people from themselves."
"Mm." Shunsui nodded regretfully. "I'm glad it's taken you this long to really embrace that concept though - because I like the way you don't give up trying."
"Your shadow magic scared me a little. I wasn't sure I even knew who you were for a moment," Juushirou admitted, "but you sound like Shunsui more now. Like...you really didn't intend to kill him. Just scare him away."
"I did, and I succeeded," Shunsui agreed, "but I wasn't kidding about one thing, Juu. I haven't forgotten what happened in District Seven and I never will. I learned from it, and probably, got stronger because of it. Doubtless I raised my sword because of it - but I don't like it all the same. I haven't forgiven him and I won't. So long as he keeps his distance, I don't have any interest in causing him harm, but if he tries to bother you again - or make you his puppet again - I will act. Even if I regret it for the rest of my life, I have a feeling that taking that one life would save many millions of others - and so it's a burden I could live with."
"I wish I could disagree with you." Juushirou rubbed his temples. "But you're probably right."
"We're growing up in a rather nasty way, aren't we?" Shunsui observed, and Juushirou nodded.
"We are, but I suppose there's no choice," he said wearily. "Shunsui, Keitarou's objective isn't just me. He'd like me - he's said that he hasn't given up, because he thinks my sword has the potential to go all the way to Bankai and he wants to use me as part of his plan. I'm not going to listen, don't worry," As Shunsui opened his mouth to speak, "but from what he's said just now, and what I know he said to me those years ago, I think his objective is the Clans. It's not just avenging himself on the Urahara for his Father's death any more - if it ever even was just that. He wants to bring down all of the Clans. He wants to take power from weak and greedy landholders and give it to powerful people in the Districts who he sees as being the future of Seireitei. Probably he intends on bringing them under his direct control."
"Powerful District people like you and like Shikiki?" Shunsui asked. Juushirou nodded.
"Yes," he agreed grimly, "like us. I don't know how he intends to do it - but I'm fairly sure that that's what he wants. And if we assume he was using Onoe-kun to frame the Shihouin and make the Kuchiki think the past was repeating, it's not hard to believe that he's serious."
"He's good at illusions, isn't he?" Shunsui muttered. "As well as planting false leads and trails all over the shop."
"But he made a mistake when he let Riri-dono live," Juushirou pointed out. "Because we realised about Eiraki, then."
"True," Shunsui agreed, "though we still haven't found her."
"He did confirm that she was with him, if that helps."
"Not really, since we already expected that. Without finding her, Juu, our hunt today has been pretty much a waste of time."
"I thought I felt Katen Kyoukotsu release."
Before Juushirou could find a suitable rejoinder, a weary looking Sora broke into the clearing, resting her hand on a nearby tree trunk as she fought to catch her last wind. "Yeesh, you people really do get all over the place. If it wasn't for Hotarue…I wouldn't have…found you at all."
"What's up, Sora-chan?" Shunsui cast the girl an apprehensive look, and Sora's eyes darkened.
"I've been sent to drag you back to camp," she said solemnly. "Kuchiki's been attacked."
"What?" Horror flooded Juushirou's senses as he realised then the purpose of Keitarou's conversation. "You mean he was distracting me? Of all the…"
"Who was distracting you?" Sora looked flummoxed, and Shunsui held up his hand to prevent Juushirou from responding.
"What happened?" he said quietly, and Sora sighed.
"The guy's alive. It's all right, Juushirou – Houjou and Mitsuki were there and they've made sure he's not killed," she said frankly, "but it's all…I don't even know where to begin. Onoe Tomoyuki dropped out of the trees – or something – and tried to kill Kuchiki, but Houjou took him down. Only it wasn't Onoe Tomoyuki, just a shell…or something. I'm not sure, since I wasn't expecting to see him…and then…"
"Onoe the puppet," Juushirou said blackly, "exactly as we thought. He was able to manipulate that poor boy's soul even while he was taunting me."
"He…?" Sora's eyes became wide, and Shunsui nodded.
"Aizen Keitarou," he agreed grimly, "the person behind all of the chaos in the Kuchiki Clan of late. Including this little episode – correct?"
"That's what Mitsuki said," Sora confirmed, her eyes big with surprise. "She said that there was something in Onoe's spirit that reminded her of Eiraki-hime after she tried to kill Hirata that time. And that was the other thing. Apparently she's here too – Eiraki-hime, I mean. Mitsuki and Houjou saw her. She came after Onoe, so she's been acting with the Aizen guy all the time."
Juushirou and Shunsui exchanged looks.
"Then there's no choice, is there?" Shunsui's eyes darkened. "Listen, Juu. You're group leader, so I can't overrule you, but if possible, we should be going back to school tonight. As soon as we can, in fact. If Ryuu is alive and his life is not in danger, we don't want to let anyone have a second shot."
"He's out cold, but he's breathing fine and Mitsuki says he'll come through it." Sora nodded, dropping down on the grass with a sigh. "I think that's what she and Houjou wanted too."
She shivered.
"Houjou killed Onoe, you know – or what was left of Onoe. He looked…it was horrible. Lots of blood…just horrible."
"Maybe Onoe-kun's finally at peace," Juushirou murmured sadly. "I can't imagine there was much of him to kill, once Keitarou-san's magic had been at work inside him. Horrible as it sounds, death was probably a step up."
"It was what Onoe wanted," Shunsui pointed out. "Ironically, his desire to die is what prolonged his life in this wasted way. He was caught in the middle – not one thing and not the other after he took that drug. Enishi really only finished off what Onoe'd already begun when he took Eiminyaku. There wasn't anything to do to save him, Sora, not after that – in all ways but physically, he was already dead."
"I guess so," Sora groaned, "but I don't like it. I don't like any of it! All this conspiracy stuff isn't why we came to the Real World, right? I'm fed up with it, if you want to know the truth."
"What exactly do you know about Ryuu's injuries, Sora?" Shunsui asked. "Was he hit over the head, or…?"
"No…I think Onoe managed to drug him, but nobody was able to deliver the finishing blow." Sora shook her head. "Houjou got to him before that could happen. Mitsuki saw it – she said Houjou saved Kuchiki's life."
"Enishi would," Juushirou realised, "even if it meant staining his blade, he was assigned with Ryuu. He'd feel responsible – and he would sooner die than let anything happen to his comrade in a situation like that."
"We need to make contact with the other group." Shunsui's brain was clearly working now. "Sensei will want us all back, in a situation like this. Plus, if Eiraki's on the loose…it's possibly better she doesn't meet face to face with Hirata."
"You guys really don't seem as surprised by this as anyone else," Sora said plaintively, and Juushirou sighed.
"I wish we were, but both Shunsui and I picked up some bits and pieces of information we didn't necessarily want to have," he admitted. "Also, Keitarou-san…he doesn't seem to have completely lost interest in me. He was just here, Sora - Shunsui took him off guard and forced him to retreat, but he was here. I thought he would have discarded me as a failed experiment – but it doesn't look that way."
"He's not going to get you, though," Shunsui said flatly. "Katen Kyoukotsu and I will swear to that, Juu."
"Sougyo no Kotowari will have something to say about it too," Juushirou shot back. "I'm not as silly as I was back then – I have no intention of going anywhere. Especially not if he sent Onoe-kun to kill Ryuu and to torment members of Ryuu and Mitsuki's family."
"Like Sora and Mitsuki's refugee, Nagoya," Shunsui interjected, and Sora reddened.
"So you know about that?" she said sheepishly, scratching her head, and Shunsui grinned.
"I'm starting to think it was well done," he admitted. "I hadn't thought of it before, but Sensei almost certainly knew when Nagoya crossed into District One. He definitely knew about it when I spoke to him the day before Hirata's birthday. But he did nothing about it, then. I bet he was waiting for this – for us to go to the Real World. Ryuu said he was going to act as 'bait' – well, we now know, don't we? There are witnesses that can prove Nagoya innocent and can implicate others in the crime. Onoe may be dead, but Juu and I both definitely saw Aizen Keitarou. There's no doubt who's behind all of this – and it's not a Kuchiki at all."
"Onoe probably killed Ribari-sama, too, on Keitarou-san's instruction," Juushirou said wearily. "It gets uglier the more you think about it. Well? What do we do about Hirata's sister? If Keitarou-san sent her after Onoe-kun, but she's now disappeared…are we just going to leave her here? She wasn't with Keitarou-san, and if he's still dealing with what Katen did to his shoulder…"
"I imagine that we'll leave her be," Shunsui said grimly. "I think it's pretty apparent that we're not looking for Eiraki any more."
"But..." Juushirou was startled, and Shunsui pulled a face.
"Did you not hear what Sora said about it? Eiraki is no longer someone we can save."
"Eiraki is Hirata's sister," Juushirou's brows knitted together, "and Keitarou-san is a persuasive, manipulative person who'd easily prey on someone as gullible as her, even if he didn't use his sword to control her. I still think we ought to find her - and he might have lied. He might be controlling her with his sword after all."
"No...that's not it," Sora shook her head. "Mitsuki and Houjou said she was in her own mind. She chose to do this stuff."
"Then…?" Juushirou looked quizzical, and Shunsui sighed.
"Sora said it. You just did as well. Eiraki came after Onoe. What do you suppose she did that for? She clearly didn't come to rescue him, if he was about to cut Ryuu to ribbons. What other reason had she for being there?"
"You mean Eiraki-hime…was going to…" Juushirou whitened, and Shunsui nodded.
"Ribari-sama was poisoned," he said quietly. "I wonder if a puppet could administer poison in a neat and effective way."
"Mitsuki said that too," Sora agreed. "Houjou was sure in that state Onoe was nothing more than a clumsy puppet. You don't need strength to poison someone who's already down. Eiraki-hime also apparently said that she did it, and she didn't show even the slightest bit of remorse. I think probably she was coming to do the same to Kuchiki, but people got in the way. Onoe was just the distraction."
"Oh boy." Juushirou chewed on his lip. "I admit, I never even thought of that as a possibility."
"Me either," Shunsui agreed grimly, "not till just now."
"There's something else." Sora looked troubled. "Mitsuki also thought the girl might be pregnant."
"Pregnant?"
Juushirou paled once more. "You mean...with Keitarou-san's..."
"Most likely." Shunsui nodded. "She's made her choice, Juu. Whether we like it or not, or even understand it – it's clear neither Mitsuki – who probably understood the kid best - nor Enishi thought Eiraki was under any kind of manipulation. Of her own free will this time she tried to take a life - and succeeded. Her attack on Hirata was not her will but Ribari-sama died by her hand and she meant to do it. What's more, she would have easily killed again without even a shadow of emotion. She is an Endou - one warped and twisted perhaps by the events in her family not so long ago. But that killer spirit has risen within her - there's no way to save her now."
He rubbed his temples.
"If the Kuchiki got hold of her, she'd be dead fairly quickly," he concluded. "Missing in the wilds of the Real World is probably the best option for her and for Hirata right at the moment. Even if it means Keitarou escapes justice again."
Damn.
Keitarou darted through the undergrowth, his hand clutched to his bleeding shoulder as he inwardly cursed the young Kyouraku with every name he could draw to mind. He had shunpoed away from the scene in fits and starts, but now the pain radiating from the wound was too great for him to focus his spiritual wits on moving through the barren Real World atmosphere, and at length he had given up, deploying instead all of his knowledge of stealth and concealment to keep himself out of sight.
He had miscalculated.
Finally he reached the edge of the mountain land, finding a secure spot where an overhang cast even blacker shadow over his surrounds. It was not ideal, but he could no longer afford to leave his wound untended – every drop of blood he shed was a potential fingerprint to who and where he was, and though at present the Real World contingent consisted only of students, it was likely a matter of time before more significant foes would emerge.
Was this the Council's trap, then?
He sank back against the cool stone, reaching into his black robes with his good, bloodstained hand for the remainder of his flint. Loath to use Kidou to draw anyone to his location, he somehow managed to spark the dry substance, tossing it against a haphazard pile of old twigs and watching with irritation as it flared up into light. It would be safer to remain in darkness, but he knew he had to tend to the wound, and time was of the essence.
Grabbing at the blood-soaked fabric with his good hand, he tore the cheap cloth apart, anger giving strength to his pain hazed body. With an inward flinch of discomfort, he manoeuvred himself into a better position towards the flame in order to see the damage, and his brows knitted together as he judged what Shunsui's sword had done.
It had not shattered his bone, but how it had not was a mystery. Putting a tentative finger to his injury, Keitarou realised that the hole was deep and that it was unlikely to stop bleeding easily on its own. Gritting his teeth, he fumbled once more at his sash, discarding Chudokuga to one side as he struggled to pull his other weapon free from his belt. It was a common knife, fashioned in the same way as the weapon Onoe had carried and something he normally used to cut food, but today he was glad of it for another reason and he thrust the blade of the knife into the flickering flame, holding it there for a few moments until the metal glowed hot.
Swinging it around, he gathered his composure once again, then pressed the tip of the scalding implement inside the sword wound, biting his lip hard so as to prevent him from crying out in pain. Agony shot through his injured limb like a bolt of lightning, but still he forced himself to leave the knife in place, only pulling it away when he was sure that the bleeding had been stopped.
At length the knife slipped from his fingers, falling with a clatter onto the cold stone and he drew heavy, ragged breaths into his lungs, relief crashing over him as the waves of pain began to ease.
Fortunately I know how to cauterise a wound.
He sank back once more, closing his eyes.
This is not good. I can't go back like this. Eiraki will worry and fuss and in the worst case, go after them in order to try and take some kind of vengeance. Nor can I leave her to her own devices. Juushirou might have sought her and he might have believed she was still someone he could reach – but that Kyouraku bocchan is different. I saw in his eyes that he knew exactly how things were.
His eyes opened slowly, and he sighed.
He didn't kill me, but it's not because he wasn't able. In that moment, I let my guard down. Since when did I become so careless? Was it because they were all just students in my eyes? Did I think them all as gullible and naïve as Juushirou? Perhaps I did. But then, for a student level shinigami to not only catch me off guard but wound me...
His expression darkened.
I knew that there was something troublesome about that one. He's not a fool. He might be young, he might lack experience, and he may not have had the conviction to use his sword to run me through. I won't be so naïve about him again, that's for sure. He wasted his chance to kill me – and he won't ever get another. I've not met anyone in a long time who could look at me with eyes like those – perhaps I'd become complacent that there never would be anyone who could really pose me a threat. Men with power like Genryuusai or Guren can be held back or manipulated by threatening things around them. The Kyouraku bocchan is obviously different…one who is provoked into action by manipulation or threats? That's why he was able to take Juushirou down and break my hold over him in the snows of District Seven. I underestimated the bond those two boys shared…but that's something else.
He shuffled closer to the fire.
When I first asked Juushirou if he knew about another twin sword, he told me he did not. That was a lie.
His eyes became calculating.
The Kyouraku bocchan has two swords as well. Juushirou was protecting him. That means that he's as important to Juushirou as Juushirou is to him – and that means that if I want Juushirou, I will have to kill the Kyouraku boy and do it without Juushirou knowing. The trouble is…the trouble is…I'm not sure that I can. I didn't have a chance to assess the nature of his sword – it all happened too quickly – but a blade that can come from the shadows is an enemy who always has the advantage of surprise. What's more, his reiatsu is just as potent as Juushirou's, but far more refined and under control. There's a Bankai in his sword too.
Are you giving up, Keitarou?
Chudokuga's derisive tones slipped through his senses and Keitarou scowled, shaking his head.
I never give up. Didn't you learn that? I wait and bide my time and then I strike.
But you can't take the District boy, can you? Not so long as his guardian is waiting in the shadows.
Are you afraid of his sword?
No, but you should be.
Keitarou felt something spectral scuttle across his thoughts, followed by,
His blade can cut flesh and blood and you don't currently have a way of countering it. Without your Bankai you can't manipulate him to suicide – perhaps even if you had it, with that one, you might fail.
Why?
Keitarou's eyes widened slightly with alarm.
Why if I had my Bankai would I fail to control him? You said that your spirit power had the ability to manipulate anybody of high spiritual level – why not that boy?
Because he is stronger than you are.
Chudokuga's words were matter-of-fact, as though he was already bored with the conversation, and Keitarou could almost see the tiny spider's eyes boring into him as the arachnid spoke.
He is stronger than you are now. That is the material difference.
Stronger than me? With a sword which hasn't yet been raised beyond shikai level?
Keitarou was disbelieving.
You know yourself that bankai and shikai are relative to individual blades, not a set level that follows for all shinigami.
Chudokuga was derisive.
You're a scientist, so don't give me such naïve arguments. You know it yourself, deep down inside. The sword that attacked you today manipulated shadow to fight you. Did you not realise that? His sword manipulates, just as yours does – but in a different way. It casts a curse over its opponents in the form of a game – a game of life and death that only ends when one is thoroughly defeated. In terms of spirit power, Keitarou, you are not weak. In terms of experience you surpass him. But he is a fighter. You are not. How would you presume to win, trapped in his games and forced to fight by his rules?
I see.
Anger flickered in Keitarou's mud-slurried eyes.
That's why he could stop Juushirou in the snows. That's why he could take me by surprise. That's the reason why…his sword manipulates just as mine does. He can take control…therefore he cannot easily be controlled.
He is one who can kill you, Keitarou. Keep that in mind. When his sword pierced you I felt his determination – he's not resolved to do it yet, but if you try to snare the District boy again, I believe he might try harder to succeed. His is a soul that fought off that fiery idiot's flame curse by willpower alone and survived, even before his sword had properly awoken.
Seimaru's?
Keitarou's brows knitted together in consternation.
Seimaru's power may have been mediocre, but to fight it off without a raised zanpakutou spirit is some feat indeed. All right, Chudokuga. I get your message. The Kyouraku boy is someone I should treat with cautious attention in future – especially whilst I lack the power to manipulate anyone who could hurt him.
Don't forget that some part of my spirit power is still locked away inside that District boy.
Chudokuga said lightly.
I felt it, even if you didn't. It's there, sealed deep within his soul. More, meeting you has unsettled him. Perhaps he will begin to remember, and then things will change. Probably that boy is the only one who will ever be able to kill the Kyouraku, Keitarou.
That failed once.
Yes, but the District boy is the Kyouraku bocchan's weakness. Listen. As he is now, the Kyouraku is dangerous. He is still growing, and will become more dangerous. Do not underestimate that danger – remember that as some Kyouraku blood runs weakly through your body, it also runs through his and far more strongly. Your spirit power is not all thanks to the Urahara – keep that in mind when you plan what next you do.
With that the spider's presence was gone, and Keitarou clenched and unclenched his fists, frustration surging through his tired and blood-spattered body.
This is becoming more complicated by the second. Onoe is dead. Eiraki's whereabouts are unknown. The fate of the Kuchiki boy is also a mystery. Onoe inflicted poison, but then was cut down and our connection severed – I have no way of knowing how much drug was administered and whether Eiraki was able to reach him and see to finishing things off. If she was caught…but Eiraki's learned enough not to get caught. Probably she saw whoever it was who took out Onoe and decided to stay hidden – so whether Seiren's son is dead or not depends on Onoe's initial assault.
He touched a finger tentatively to his shoulder, then,
I'm wounded, and even with the injury sealed like that, there's no way I'll keep it from Eiraki. It might become infected, and who knows whether there was anything else on that boy's blade. Still, wasting time here also isn't an option. Whether the Kuchiki boy is or isn't dead, I need to get to District Six before that information can be confirmed. I need to be the first one to see Seiren…if I have any hope of salvaging anything from this, I now know that I must use him. Maybe it will be as a distraction, or maybe it will be something more. If I can't risk us staying here, the only other option is to leave. I…
He froze, as something flitted aross his senses and he realised that he was no longer alone in his hiding place.
Turning slowly towards the entrance of his hideaway with a hunted, wary gaze, he took in the silhouette of a young woman, her features partially illuminated by the flicker of the still-glowing flame.
Even without seeing her clearly, Keitarou knew that she was not Eiraki, and he reached for his discarded zanpakutou, his instincts telling him to fight and flee before his identity was uncovered.
"Are you all right?"
The woman's voice was soft and gentle, and Keitarou was momentarily taken off guard. As the girl took a hesitant step forward, he saw her clearly for the first time, and he frowned, realising that she was robed in the white and red colours of an Academy student.
One of them. Another part of Genryuusai's trap?
His blood-caked fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"Who are you?" he hissed. "Tell me before I slit your throat."
"You're hurt." The girl did not seem particularly afraid of his threat, instead offering him a sympathetic smile as she moved closer. "I'm not here to make your injury worse, I promise. I sensed your pain and so I came here. I'm a healer. I'm not here to harm."
"A…healer?" Keitarou's brows knitted together, and he did not relax his grip on his weapon. "Why? Why would a healer come to help me?"
"A healer helps all who are injured, do they not?" the girl said matter-of-factly, and before Keitarou knew what was going on, she was kneeling at his side, her delicate fingers stretching out towards his wounded shoulder. "You must have taken this wound in a fight – perhaps a fight with a Hollow? Something dark pierced you here – but though it's deep, it's already stopped bleeding."
"Cauterising it at least is something I can do." Keitarou fidgeted back from her touch, glaring at her with what could only be described as feral eyes. He was cornered and unsettled, and her approach had confused him, but at his reaction she only smiled, drawing back her hands and folding them in her lap.
"That's already a help," she said softly, "but it will become infected if you don't let me treat it. This place isn't at all clean, and you'll soon take an infection if you don't treat it properly."
"You haven't even asked me who I am," Keitarou muttered. "Why would you treat me without even asking that?"
"I'm a healer," the girl said again, as if it explained everything. "That's my responsibility. Besides, you're not a person from this world. You can see me, and I can tell that sword is a zanpakutou of some kind. You're from the Gotei, aren't you? Robed in black like that…only squad shinigami robe themselves all in black."
"Squad shinigami…" Keitarou's eyes opened wide with surprise, and then a faint smile touched his lips as he realised his luck had not completely run out after all. Slowly he nodded.
"I've come from District Three," he lied, "but I've become hurt and I can't return to my fellows bloody and defeated like this. For a member of the Urahara Clan to show himself in this state back among the lower born members of my family is a disgrace. I was hoping to slip back to Seireitei without drawing attention to me, but I can't open the Senkaimon in this state, and when I heard you coming I thought my plan was undone. That uniform…is Genryuusai-sama's Academy, isn't it?"
"It is," The girl smiled, and Keitarou knew that he had fooled her, "and now I look at you, I can see that you look like you come from the Urahara Clan. Very well, Urahara-dono. I am just a student, as you say – but I'll do my best to help you, if you'll allow me to. I can close the wound at the very least, and prevent it from becoming infected."
A healer, huh? Not one like Shikiki, but a true healer, with the spiritual sensitivity for the sick and the dying. Her healers wits have blinded her to the danger I might pose her – she has yet to fully complete her training, and so she sees someone hurt and moves to help them without stopping to think of who or why. Very well. I will use this to my advantage, if I can.
"You didn't tell me your name." As the young woman reached out her fingers to brush them lightly against his wound, sending a faint goldish glow up around them as he felt her spirit shift and focus in on the torn area. "I'd at least like to know who's come to my assistance – you must be of the Unohana Clan, correct?"
"I am." The girl offered him another smile. "My name is Amai. Amai Suzuno."
"Well, Amai-dono, meeting with you was certainly opportune." Keitarou eyed her pensively, feeling the pain that had burned through his body slowly beginning to ease and fade under the gentle touch of Suzuno's analgesic magic. "But it's a deep wound caused by a sharp object. It's a miracle that my shoulder wasn't pared through – as it is, I'm not sure if it can be easily healed by a student."
"Not by my spells, perhaps." Suzuno sat back, eying the injury with a critical eye. "Your bone was grazed, but it wasn't broken. If that's the case, I think I can mend it. I've tried to numb the pain, Urahara-dono, so if you can remain very still I'll use my sword and try and knit the wound back together."
"Knit…?" Keitarou blinked, and Suzuno nodded, slipping a long, narrow weapon free from its scabbard and resting it against the edge of Keitarou's skin.
"Kizu o nue, Kuwagobari," she murmured, and Keitarou watched in fascination as the girl's sword split into long slithers of silver thread. With the guidance of her hand, one by one these threads pierced through the edges of Keitarou's wound, carefully and firmly stitching the two halves of the skin together until the wound was completely closed.
"It will sting a little, I think, when the analgesic wears off," she said gently, pulling back her sword and resealing it, returning it to its sheath, "but that's simply an after effect of being in contact with my magic. The threads have knitted the wound back together from the base up – you'll have a faint scar, I think, but nothing more serious than that."
"To think I'd be saved by a healer whose sword uses thread."
Keitarou's gaze flitted to Chudokuga, his expression pensive. "It must have been some kind of fate that brought you to me, Amai-dono. My own sword also uses a type of thread – although I confess not in such a beautiful way as yours."
"Healers' swords are often the most beautiful. So I believe." Suzuno offered him a smile. "Try to move it, please – I want to make sure you can."
"I can." Keitarou nodded, obediently flexing his injured arm. "I can move it quite well, thanks to your ministerings."
Indeed I can. With my arm fixed, I am no longer at such a disadvantage. It is true that when you see only negatives, there's always something positive waiting for you to find it.
He lowered his arm, eying Suzuno contemplatively.
But what to do now? She's done me a service, and she has no idea who I am. Probably I could let her go and nothing worse would come of it. But there's always that risk that she's a part of Genryuusai's plot. If he has sent people to snare me, this Amai Suzuno might not be a student at all. Certainly the way in which she mended my arm suggests a well-honed ability, not a beginner's act. I dislike spilling unnecessary blood and making unnecessary corpses, but I also can't risk drawing attention to myself by leaving a trail of evidence behind.
He chewed down on his lip, watching as the young girl gathered herself together to leave.
I could take her with me as a prisoner or even as an ally – she seems gullible enough to be persuaded of anything, and without Shikiki it's inconvenient not having someone to heal. But then, the girl is also very pretty. Eiraki might not take well to that…she's prone to being possessive of me as it is.
A resigned look entered his expression as he picked up his sword, turning it over between his grimy fingers as he considered what he should do.
If it's a choice between a healer and Eiraki, then Eiraki it must be. If she was to be alienated from me, she knows far too much and far too many people and would be able to cause me a good deal of harm. Besides, she might not have spirit power, but she has other uses and has already been useful to me. Eiraki is the only person who is truly my ally, because she alone understands what kind of person I am and what things I look to do. She believes in me, bloodstains and all, whereas this one may be naïve enough to help a stranger in distress, but I see the same idealism burning in her eyes as I've seen in Juushirou's. Today I've learned how dangerous it is to consort with idealism. The problem remains, therefore, as to what to do about Amai Suzuno.
"Suzuno! Suzuno, good grief, where have you got to?"
A second voice came through the trees at that moment, and Keitarou frowned, realising that his young rescuer was not in the area alone.
Hunting in pairs, Eiraki said, didn't she? I may have fooled this one now, but if the other one knows who I am and reveals me to this one…I can't take the risk of facing two on one when my spirit power is still somewhat scattered and they may gain reinforcement at any time. I dislike unnecessary killing, especially when someone has been useful to me. But there is no further use in this one now. On the contrary, she might bring danger. With things as they now are, I can't afford to be soft.
"A friend of yours?" he asked quietly, and Suzuno turned to face him, nodding her head.
"A kinswoman." She agreed.
"A healer, like you?"
"No." Suzuno shook her head. "No, Naoko's not a healer. We're not all healers in the Unohana Clan."
"You do surprise me." A wry, humourless smile touched Keitarou's lips. "Well, but I suppose we're not all Gotei shinigami in the Urahara Clan."
Before his companion could respond, Chudokuga was bathed in light, and a flicker of regret surfaced in Keitarou's muddy gaze.
"Ore, Chudokuga," he intoned softly, and sharp, steel-silver barbed lengths of wire thread shot out from the tantou knife, making a beeline for Suzuno's body. The girl was taken completely off guard, the assault having come out of nowhere and as Keitarou felt his sword's shikai pierce through Suzuno's chest and throat, he saw only the faintest glimmer of surprise in the healer's gaze. She did not make a sound, blood pooling at her lips as she opened her mouth to speak, and Keitarou sighed, drawing Chudokuga back and allowing Suzuno's vandalised body to fall with a heavy thump onto the cold mountain stone.
Faint gasps of breath from the girl's crumpled form told the scientist that he had not quite managed to kill her outright, and he grimaced, realising that the blood and energy he had lost following the confrontation with Shunsui had affected the strength and range of his attack. He bent over her for a moment, debating whether to finish the job with a blast of Kidou, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before the student's comrade reached them and so he decided against it, trusting that he had done enough to silence the healer permanently.
He got to his feet, sheathing his weapon quickly as he prepared to make his escape, but he had wasted just a split-second too many and now, standing in the entrance to his sheltered hideaway was a second figure, long auburn hair flying loose around her face and cold grey-green eyes staring at him with a mixture of loathing and rage.
As she caught sight of Suzuno's fallen form, her eyes flickered for the briefest moment, then hardened into resolution, and Keitarou realised that Unohana she may be, but this was no naïve healer waiting to be led along to her death.
"What did you do to Suzuno?" Her words were soft, but there was a menacing edge to them, and Keitarou registered for the first time the weapon she held in her hand. It glittered eerily with a faintly greenish light, illuminating even the tiny particles of dust that drifted on the mountain air, and the Urahara's brows knitted together in consternation.
Too late. I shouldn't have hesitated. Now I'll have to waste more strength to silence this one too – and leave a pile of corpses for them to trace back to me. Wonderful. As if this evening wasn't already going badly enough.
Out loud he said,
"What I'll do to you, now you've made the mistake of crossing my line of sight."
Naoko's eyes narrowed, and she snorted, shaking her head.
"We'll see," she said quietly. "I don't know who you are, and I don't really care. What I care about is the insult you've just made against my family…so I'll kill you, and then take Suzuno somewhere she can get medical help."
"Your friend is already dead. You might as well give up now." Keitarou was derisive, and Naoko's eyes darkened.
"I may not be a healer, but I'm an Unohana and I know a corpse from a living person," she snapped back. "I won't let you take a second shot at my kinswoman, so prepare yourself for battle. Just because I'm a woman, don't think I'll go easy. Just because I'm an Unohana won't make me gentle, either. My sword is not a nice one, and it's got its eye on you now."
She raised the still-glimmering sword, holding the blade out so that the sharp tip pointed in Keitarou's direction.
"Inotte," she whispered, "Dokusou Houshi."
Author's Note:
Naoko and Suzuno's swords.
Suzuno's zanpakutou is "Kuwagobari", which means "Silkworm's needle." I think from the technique she used on Keitarou, it's fairly obvious what the sword's main ability is. The release comand, "Kizu o nue" means "stitch the wound".
Naoko's rather creepish sword will be properly introduced in the next chapter.