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.

59. Nageki

Senior Fifty Seven: Nageki

Sunrise.

Eiraki sat back against the cold stone of the mountain, her vivid blue eyes taking in every change in the sky's colour as the sun forced its way through the low hanging cloud.

The morning dew soaked the ground around her, but she paid no attention to that or to the ragged hems of her kimono that told of a wild scramble through the darkness to reach this place before the dawn. They had agreed to rendezvous here after the night's work was done – but though she had refused to even let herself stop to take water from the nearby stream, her partner in crime was nowhere to be seen.

You said dawn, Kei-sama. Where are you? Why are you not here?

Panic rushed through her young heart as she considered the alternatives.

Could you have been hurt by one of Niisama's friends? Onoe was cut down by that brute with the long blade. What if you ran into similar trouble? Smart as you are, you can't fight with a sword.

Her eyes narrowed, darting across the landscape for any sign of her husband's silhouette.

For all of his intellect, Otousama was almost killed because he couldn't fight his own battles. It's a weak position to be in, Kei-sama. A man who can't hold a sword is always vulnerable to attack and your knife isn't the same as the weapon that cleaved through Onoe. Surely you can't rely just on intelligence alone? There are more of them than there are of us…and you said yourself that after last night it would be dangerous to stay here. Have they caught you already? In which case…

Her fingers crept down towards her stomach, hovering briefly against the ragged sash and then slipping away with a sigh.

I don't know it for sure, so I'm not sure whether I should even try and tell you. If there is a child growing inside of me, Kei-sama, that child must learn to fight. You must learn how to do it too…in order to defend your family in the way Father never could.

She got slowly to her feet, resting her hand against the sheer stone wall of the precipice and gazing pensively out across the Real World landscape.

Being here is not like being anywhere. I don't feel as though anything is quite real. I want to go back to Seireitei – I wish Kei-sama would hurry up and demolish the Clans so that we can live there in peace. Whilst there are folk hunting us, nowhere will ever be safe. If I have a child within me, that child shouldn't have to grow up always on the run.

"Eiraki-chan?"

She had not heard him coming, but at the sound of his voice a mixture of emotions flooded through her young body. Fear, relief and anger all competed for dominance and she turned towards him, hurrying forward to fling her arms around his slender frame. As she did so, she registered the tattered fabric of his robes and the unmistakeable darkening of blood against his skin and she faltered, resting her palm against his chest and raising anxious blue eyes to his muddy brown ones.

"You're late," she said reproachfully, "and you said you wouldn't get hurt, but you have."

"I'm all right," Keitarou glanced at his arm for a moment, flexing it a couple of times, then offering her a smile. "A few things happened that I wasn't expecting, and so it took me a little longer to return here than I anticipated. I'm glad to see you safe, Eiraki-chan."

"Don't," Eiraki pushed him back, holding him at arm's length as she fixed her gaze more firmly into his. "Kei-sama, listen to me. People in Seireitei want to hurt you and they will. I know the way they think about you – I had to live around it and I remember the last time when they tried to hunt you down. I don't want you to get hurt or killed – leaving a blood trail for people to follow will only put us in more danger."

"You were worried about me," Keitarou observed, and Eiraki sighed, sinking back against him.

"I always worry about you," she murmured. "I spend my life doing that. Ever since the first time I met you, it's been that way. You have such big ideas and you want to do such earth-shaking things that I become frightened for you every time we're apart. I didn't like that you took so long to come here, Kei-sama. I thought you might have been captured, and then…"

"I'm not going to become prey for the Council's wolves just yet," Keitarou slipped his arms more securely around her body, and Eiraki closed her eyes, comforted by his familiar scent and the warmth of his hold. "I'm sorry I worried you though. It wasn't my intention to get quite as involved in things as I seem to have done."

"Did whoever it was…get away?" Eiraki glanced up at him, and Keitarou frowned.

"Yes," he admitted, "I won't lie to you. He's a potential enemy that concerns me. He's a block in my plans to take the District shinigami and that irks me more than I'd like to admit. I had hoped that making contact with Juushirou would be a step towards bringing him back towards our side – but it seems that those protecting him have got stronger than I realised they had."

"We don't need him," Eiraki pouted. "There's no point you risking your life over someone like that. Maybe he's powerful, but that also makes him dangerous. Kei-sama, you almost lost everything the last time because of him. Why not just abandon it? There are other strong people in the Districts, isn't that what you keep saying?"

"True, but none of them are quite the same as him," Keitarou's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Juushirou has Kuchiki blood, but none of the unnecessary Clan trappings that you and I are trying to eradicate. That blood makes him very powerful, Eiraki – perhaps, with training, he could be as powerful as I am."

"Then we don't need him at all," Eiraki said decidedly, sliding her fingers into Keitarou's grip and squeezing them tightly. "Anyone as powerful as you can turn on you and hurt you. Leave the Ukitake boy alone, Kei-sama. We can do plenty of things without him – it's too dangerous if there are other people now involved."

"It's not as simple as that."

Keitarou unwound himself from the embrace, putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her away from the precipice and into the darkness of their cave beyond. "When Juushirou was in my custody before, he took the full force of my Bankai. He's the first person to have done so and then remain alive afterwards. My sword believes part of its spirit is still trapped within that boy's heart, and therefore it will not let me call Bankai on anyone else. If I had been able to do that, things might have been different – I would've been able to manipulate that idiot Seiren to kill his own son, for a start. Whilst Juushirou still remains at large, Chudokuga is hampered. I can't simply ignore him – unless you want me to turn my back on my strongest technique."

"Kill him, then," Eiraki's response came without hesitation. "When you killed my Grandfather, your sword returned to normal, didn't it? All you have to do is kill Ukitake-san. If you do that…"

"That would be a considerable waste of a very interesting test subject," Keitarou scolded her. "Besides, such ruthless judgements don't suit one so pretty. What of your brother? Isn't Juushirou a friend of his? He'd be sorely grieved, wouldn't he, if we took the District boy's life?"

"This is a war," Eiraki said flatly. "Whatever I feel or don't feel towards Nii-sama or my family, I've chosen my side and I understand that means making sacrifices. I'm not a little girl any more, Kei-sama. Please don't treat me as though I am. I've decided to come with you and I've decided to believe in the things you do. You don't have to play the gentle nobleman or try to conceal from me when you decide to take someone's life. I was raised as an Endou. I'm not as delicate as people think."

"I don't think you're delicate at all," Keitarou said ruefully, resting his hand on her head. "If I did, I would never have let you come with me, much less allowed you to see so far into my heart. Killing Juushirou might prove problematic, though. The one who flits over him is the Kyouraku bocchan…the same one he fought in the snows in District Seven, and someone of considerable spiritual power."

"Shunsui-sama?"

Eiraki frowned, her mind flitting back to a winter's morning in District Eight when she had sat across from the then Kyouraku heir, and been asked question after question about the whereabouts of a missing District shinigami. For just a brief instant the friendly, genial Clansman had disappeared, and he had spoken with resolution about the safety of his absent friend.

Juushirou's life is at risk.

Even now Shunsui's words echoed through Eiraki's thoughts, piercing through to her very core.

I won't help to protect anyone who won't help me to protect him. Understand that now, Eiraki-hime. Juushirou is important to me. Very important to me. You may think of him as just District – you might think of him as beneath your or my notice. But even so, I won't forgive you if you keep secrets that end in his death.

Slowly she nodded.

"I've met him," she said aloud now, "when you took Ukitake-san hostage and he was trying to track you both down. Shunsui-sama made it clear on that occasion that he had no mind to forgive anyone who brought harm in Ukitake-san's direction."

"I'd heard him to be a lazy individual. One of the students last night said similar things, but that much is clearly a façade," Keitarou grimaced. "Unfortunately for us the Kyouraku bocchan is not idealistic, nor foolish about the world around him. I don't suppose he'd be easy to deceive, nor would it be possible to manipulate him even with the full thrust of Chudokuga's power."

He sighed heavily.

He's only a student, so I didn't anticipate it, but at his current level he was able to do me physical harm. Chudokuga has also warned me about confronting him too rashly in the future, which confirms the fact he's an enemy not to be ignored. It's all right, Eiraki. I have no plans to approach Juushirou again at present. I'm hoping that our brief encounter in the forest last night might spark his memories of that snowy confrontation. Chudokuga thinks if that happens, it might be able to establish a connection to those severed threads of spirit power still locked away in Juushirou's heart. If I can do that, I can use the boy even without his consenting to it. If I can't…at the very least I might be able to restore my sword to its full strength."

"Don't do anything stupid," Eiraki said quietly, taking his arm in hers and examining the sealed wound that lay beneath the tatters of black fabric. "This wound has been healed – did you do that, or..?"

"No. One of Genryuusai's more foolish students stitched it for me," Keitarou shook his head. "She mistook me for a Gotei squad member and offered me her aid."

His eyes darkened.

"You shouldn't worry about her," he added. "When she'd finished healing me, I ensured that she couldn't share her story with anyone else."

Eiraki sighed.

"So where do we go now?" she asked plaintively. "Onoe was killed and I didn't have a chance to administer the poison to Ryuu the way I did to Ribari. We should've used more of the hallucinogen – but Mitsuki-neesama was with them, and…"

"You talk to me about having soft spots," Keitarou chided her lightly. Eiraki frowned.

"Not any more," she said sadly. "I realised that nobody's going to understand just by us explaining to them how wrong this world is, not even someone like Mitsuki-neesama. The only way to make them see is to do something about it."

"Yes," Keitarou became thoughtful. "So Ryuu still lives?"

"I'm not sure," Eiraki's eyes narrowed. "I think he was alive when the other students crowded around him – that brute with the big sword seemed likely to carry him away. He took in the hallucinogenic, but I don't think he took in enough for it to kill him. Probably he'll live…he might even remember the assault."

"Well, if he remembers Onoe attacking him, it does us no real damage," Keitarou rubbed his chin. "A Shihouin assassin chasing a high-born Kuchiki is nothing new. It's a little more serious that we've been placed here – if it was a trap by the Council, we've all but fallen into it. While they're looking for us here, it seems prudent to go to where they're not. We'll head back to Seireitei at once. I want to go to District Six, and speak to that fool Seiren for one last time."

"But if we didn't kill his son, what's the point in going so close to danger?" Eiraki was alarmed. "Kei-sama…"

"I have my suspicions that the Kuchiki-ke didn't give consent for their precious heir to be sent to the Real World," Keitarou said quietly. "If I was Guren – and thankfully I'm not, but if I were – I wouldn't let someone as important to the family out of Genryuusai's close protection. I think Ryuu was sent as bait to lure us in – and if so, I want to use that fact to our advantage. If Genryuusai sent that boy without permission from the main Kuchiki house, he'll probably delay reporting Ryuu's injury until he can be sure that the whelp will survive the attack. That being the case, we have a little time to create some mayhem of our own."

"You're going to tell Seiren his son is dead, aren't you?" Eiraki eyed him impassively, and Keitarou nodded.

"I am," he agreed, reaching up to tear some shreds of blood-stained fabric from his sleeve. "I'll use this as evidence of his demise. Seiren's spirit power is currently wild and out of all rational control, so he won't be able to tell the bloodstains of one shinigami from another. Shinigami operate in black, so there's every reason to suppose Ryuu might have been robed in shihakushou when he was cut down. If we can reach District Six before the truth does, there's a considerable chance of causing mayhem."

"It's a risk," Eiraki sighed heavily.

"Everything is a risk," Keitarou admitted, "but to change Soul Society and take full revenge for the people it's oppressed, risks have to be taken."

"I know," Eiraki's fingers drifted to her waist again. "I know that, and I'm not running away. But…Kei-sama…"

She trailed off, meeting his eyes with soulful blue ones, and Keitarou sighed, patting her on the head.

"If you think I haven't realised, I have," he murmured. "I know what you want to tell me, but are not quite sure how. That fact alone makes me more determined to work hard, Eiraki-chan. Our future – and the future of our children – needs to be on more solid ground. Daisuke took risks for his children to survive, and so will I for mine."

He bent to kiss her on the forehead.

"Your duty in this is now over. I won't ask you to kill for me again," he murmured. "Your task now is more significant than stalking through the night hunting down those who might want to hurt us. The child is important, Eiraki. The child must live."

"It will," Eiraki's eyes blazed with determination. "It will, and I'll make sure of it."

"Good," Keitarou smiled, "then we go to District Six. It seems to me that if they're so keen to hunt me down and lure me into a trap, I'll create a scenario in which they can entrap me."

"What?" Eiraki's eyes registered shock, but Keitarou chuckled.

"Distraction is as important a weapon as direct attack," he told her playfully. "If I'm in District Six, causing chaos there, why would you look for me anywhere else?"

"Meaning…?"

"I need Juushirou, or at the very least, the power that lives within him," Keitarou said matter-of-factly. "In Seireitei, Juushirou's in a place surrounded by other potential weaponry. That school is training people from the Districts to take up arms and believe themselves equal to the Gotei and the Clans that rule over them. Genryuusai's doing our job for us – all that's left for us to do is take them."

"You're going to annexe the school?" Eiraki stared. "But…hang on…what? How? If you're in District Six…and that old man, what about…?"

"I told you. Distraction is as important a weapon as direct attack," Keitarou's eyes danced with amusement. "Last night I stumbled on something very interesting. It's something I can use without needing my Bankai…something I believe I can have a certain amount of influence over even at a considerable distance. I'll go to District Six and make myself so conspicuously troublesome that the Council will doubtless call the old man to help deal with my mischief-making. When I do, that Academy will be open for the taking. They'll be so busy trying to hunt me down that they won't realise until it's too late."

"What if those students don't want to come with us? What if they're brainwashed by the Clans?"

"Eiraki, whether they come or not isn't important, not yet," Keitarou said frankly. "We can't fight this war yet because our army isn't trained and we don't have the facilities or the allies to build it in time to fight the Council as it currently is. I'm not thinking of recruiting Genryuusai's young ones – not for now."

"Then…?"

"The Academy is full of Clan students and District ones," Keitarou's voice became cold, and Eiraki bit her lip, seeing the glimmer of hatred surface in her companion's gaze. "The Clan ones are superfluous to our needs and so we'll work to eliminate them; the District ones we'll preserve. Think of it as a lesson that Clan children who claim superiority have no real power and can be killed very easily indeed. The Clans cannot protect them, but we can help them to protect themselves and gain that equality Genryuusai is fond of pretending he can give them. In time the Districts will become the powerful ones…and little by little, our allies to change this world."

He stretched out a hand towards Eiraki's stomach.

"I risk my life as much as Daisuke risked his, but if I have children of my own, the fight can continue beyond my existence," he said matter-of-factly. "This is only the very beginning, Eiraki-chan. It will take a mixture of time, patience and willpower in order to bring the whole of Seireitei to the brink of active war."

"I wish you wouldn't talk of your life like it's expendable. It isn't," Eiraki scolded. "Without you, there is no cause – you're needed and important and you ought to realise it more. If I have your children, those children need you to guide them and make them understand what their duty is. There's nobody to guide Daisuke-san's children because he gave his life – you have to be here to guide yours, regardless of what you do now."

"I see," Keitarou's eyes softened, and he nodded his head. "That's true. But I also have you, Eiraki-chan, to act in my absence. Besides, I don't intend on dying just yet. I do have other things to do. I'll escape District Six and we'll take cover in Rukongai. I've discovered that large swathes of it are ignored by Seireitei's people, so it seems to be the perfect place for us to hide."

"Rukongai, huh." Eiraki let out a sigh of resignation. "And I thought living in a cave in this world was bad enough. Still, I suppose Rukongai will be easier. Shinigami never go there…while the Council search Seireitei and the Real World for us, they'll never think of a place with no resources."

"Exactly." Keitarou tapped her gently on the nose. "It's decided, then. We'll go to District Six before the Council's troops start breaking through the Senkaimon to investigate this world. Let them draw what evidence they can from our encounters – they'll soon learn that we're far from beaten yet."

---

"Genryuusai-sama?"

"Come in, Retsu."

The old man glanced up from his desk, a sober expression in his dark eyes as he gestured for his young companion to enter his office. She did so in silence, and as she came to stand before his desk, Genryuusai's sharp gaze took in the fact that in the place of the white Clan haori she wore a simple black robe over her shoulders – a sign of mourning for the young girl whose life had been stolen on the other side of the divide.

At the sight of it, his lips thinned.

It was the morning after the night before, and very few of the school's staff had got any sleep for the chaos that had suddenly descended on the school. The instant the Senkaimon had been activated, Genryuusai had known that the trap had been sprung – but even he had not anticipated the tragedy that had presented itself through the open spirit door.

Akira's expression was still firmly etched into Genryuusai's memory as the student had gently placed Suzuno's lifeless body down onto a snow white pallet, his eyes a mixture of anger and guilt. He had taken painstaking care to ensure that, despite the blood, his classmate was laid out as neatly as he could manage – a mark of final respect for one he had known since the very First year. Akira's uncharacteristic gentleness towards Suzuno's final remains told Genryuusai that in the wilderness his arrogant kinsman had finally crossed from petulant boy to shinigami man – and the white strapping that covered one of his arms had not escaped the old man's keen attention.

There had been no time to ask questions about it, however, for Kanshi and Enishi, bearing Naoko and Ryuu respectively had not been far behind him and at the realisation both were still alive, the Healing Bay had sprung into immediate activity. Once clear that Naoko had suffered no obvious physical injury but had just passed out from grief and terror, Retsu had ordered her to be taken, bathed and put to bed in a quiet room at the back of the Bay, and then had turned her attention to Ryuu's pale form, listening all the while to Mitsuki's hurried explanations of what had happened.

Genryuusai had been quick to dismiss all of the other students to bath and bed, though he knew none of them would sleep any more than the school's staff would, and only Mitsuki had insisted on remaining behind. Knowing that her skills would likely be of some good, Genryuusai had allowed it – and as a consequence Mitsuki was currently keeping a careful watch over Naoko in case the girl should wake.

Before he had left, Akira had paused at Genryuusai's side, and he had spoken in tones so low nobody else in the room could hear. His tones were flat and emotionless, his eyes clouded and strained, but he had met Genryuusai's gaze head on.

"Shikibu said Keitarou," he had said softly. "The one who hurt Suzuno was called Keitarou."

That was all, but it had been enough to confirm the worst of Genryuusai's fears and more.

Once all had fallen quiet, a slim shape had slipped out of the shadows of the Healing Bay, pushing through Retsu's various assistants to reach Ryuu's side. Genryuusai had held out a hand to hold him back, but Shirogane was not to be dissuaded so easily, and in the end the old Sensei had allowed him his way.

"Ryuu's life may again come into danger," he had told his former student. "In the chaos that's to come, you must not leave his side. This is your duty as a shinigami, Shirogane. Protect your cousin from danger and ensure that he is all right."

Shirogane had acquiesced immediately, relief burning in his slate grey eyes, and Genryuusai had reflected once more on how much he too had grown through the hardships he had had to face.

But some hardships were worse to bear than others.

He raised his gaze now to Retsu's once more.

"I am sorry," he said quietly, and Retsu inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement of his words.

"Suzuno-san had no active involvement in any of the recent intrigues," she said softly. "There was no reason to suspect her life to be in any danger, therefore you owe me no apology."

"I made the decision for them to go," Genryuusai shook his head. "Any lives lost are my responsibility."

He rested his hands on the surface of the desk, pushing aside the sheaves of parchment paper on which he had begun writing out a full report of the previous night's events.

"I have made preliminary examinations of my kinswoman's body," Retsu's voice was almost as calm and gentle as normal, but there was a slight waver in it that told Genryuusai it was an effort for her to maintain her cool composure. "The attack was made by a zanpakutou of unclear origin, and she suffered several wounds in what I believe was a single attack. These wounds, coupled with the tremendous loss of blood are what took her life. I think that had another healer been on hand the moment she was hurt, her blood-loss might have been stemmed – but the wound at her throat would likely have caused permanent disfigurement and I cannot be certain her life could have been saved. I will release her remains with your permission to my family and her immediate kin to take proper care of, but I felt that there was some need for me to report my findings to you in order that you are able to pass them to the Council on my behalf."

She paused for a moment, then,

"I am not sure whether I will attend the hearing of this evidence," she admitted. "It may be easier for me if I do not."

"Indeed," Genryuusai nodded gravely. "You have my consent to send Suzuno home to the people who loved her. I appreciate your loyalty to my students and your attention to the things that need to be done even in a time such as this."

"I am a shinigami," Retsu said heavily. "I believe in life, but to do so does not make you oblivious to the reality of death. Suzuno-san's passing troubles me most because I know that she felt pain. Naoko-san has reported the same to me…Suzuno-san did not die immediately, but lingered some minutes before losing her life."

"Shikibu has regained consciousness?" Genryuusai was alert at this, but Retsu held up her hands.

"She has, but I will not permit anyone to question her at present," she said firmly. "Naoko-san was close to Suzuno-san and is very very upset by last night's events. She took some kind of hit herself, though the bulk of her distress seems to be emotional, and I will not have her troubled further by insensitive interrogators from the Council of Elders or from First Squad."

"The evidence she has may be of importance," Genryuusai frowned. "If Akira's words about Suzuno's killer are true, she may have witnessed something of significance."

"It may be, but for now Naoko-san's respite is more important," Retsu's eyes were suddenly like steel. "I have left her in Mitsuki-san's immediate care and perhaps she will speak to her friend where she might not speak to uniformed men and women armed with swords. It will be up to Naoko-san to decide what needs to be said – I intend on keeping her quiet for the next couple of days until she herself feels ready to face anybody else."

"If things are that way, I will see Edogawa Mitsuki in my office when it is convenient to do so," Genryuusai said quietly. "I presume Kuchiki Ryuu still remains asleep?"

"I have ensured that it is so, yes, though I think he will probably soon rise."

"Ensured that…?"

"Kuchiki-kun was assaulted with the same hallucinogenic that Nagoya-dono and his peers inhaled when Ribari-sama met his death," Retsu said frankly. "Such a drug is quite distressing to the nerves and has no clear antidote. It appears to be a chemical created for this exact purpose, and we do not yet have a way to reverse its effects. Unlike in Nagoya-dono's case, not much of the poison appears to have entered Kuchiki-kun's blood stream and his life is probably not in any danger. Therefore on his arrival here I sedated him as deeply as I dared to with a Kidou-based anaesthesia and with luck he will be over the worst by the time he opens his eyes."

"Shirogane?"

"He remains at Kuchiki-kun's side, by his own request. Given your instruction to him last night, I assumed you would not object to his being left alone with his cousin."

"No. I would have commanded him to remain there, so that he's done so of his own accord is one less thing to concern me," Genryuusai glanced down at the parchment, then sighed.

"Thank you, Retsu. I will take on board what you have said…you may return to your patients now."

"Yes sir," Retsu bowed her head before him, then withdrew from the office and Genryuusai fingered the ends of his long moustache absently, reminded of the days when she had been a much younger student following his commands with just such polite obedience.

Retsu is not often emotional, but she cares deeply for each member of her Clan. Losing Suzuno is an unexpected blow – but whilst I must allow her the time she needs to deal with the aftermath, I must not delay in my own duties either as Headmaster of this school or as a Clansman of Seireitei.

He reached across to pick up his brush once more, but as his fingers touched against the worn instrument's scratched veneer, he paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. The next moment there was a soft knock at the door, and he drew back his hands, folding them together beneath his chin.

"Come in," he called, and the door slid back to reveal first Juushirou and then, behind him, Enishi and Shunsui, all three wearing looks of deep consternation.

"We're sorry to bother you, Sensei," It was Juushirou who spoke, approaching the desk and bowing his head respectfully before his teacher. "As Anideshi, I realise that this is probably an intrusion and that you'd rather we stayed well away…but…I wanted to speak to you, and so did Shunsui and Enishi. We decided to come here anyway, just in case you had time to see us and, well, discuss…last night."

"I would have sent for all of you sooner or later," Genryuusai assured them, gesturing for the boys to settle themselves more comfortably before his desk. "Perhaps not all together, but I have no objections if you feel happier discussing events as a group. I understand that the mood of the Senior Class is extremely subdued at present – you are all aware of the death of Amai Suzuno, I think."

"Yes, sir," This time it was Shunsui who spoke. "We are."

"What doesn't make sense to us is why Amai-san was hurt, Sensei," Juushirou murmured. "She wasn't anything to do with…well…anything."

"That's a mystery to us as well," Genryuusai said blackly. "When we're able to investigate it further, you have my word that we shall. In the meantime, I imagine the reason you three are here relates to another matter – you've come to speak to me about Kuchiki Ryuu, haven't you?"

"Yes sir," Now Enishi raised his voice, and Genryuusai could see the conflicting emotions in his kinsman's eyes. "Please, is Kuchiki going to be all right? We've not been allowed to see him since last night, and…"

"Ryuu will probably make a full recovery. Unohana Retsu-dono has just made a report to me and you can consider that the latest medical information on your friend," Genryuusai assured them. "He's sleeping at the current time, but the poison in his bloodstream should lessen and dissipate of its own accord."

"Thank goodness," Enishi let out a heavy sigh of relief, then he covered his mouth, as if realising his emotion was inappropriate in the aftermath of a girl's murder. "I'm sorry, Sensei. I didn't mean it like…just, Kuchiki and I were assigned together, and so…"

"I have it on good evidence that we have you to thank for Ryuu's likely recovery, Enishi," Genryuusai looked his student straight in the face, watching carefully for any signs of strain or guilt in the tall boy's expression. "Edogawa Mitsuki has reported to me the circumstances of Ryuu's collapse and your involvement in the following events. Some men from First Division retrieved Onoe Tomoyuki's corpse from the glen she described, and it also bore distinctive signs of Kyoshingeki's reiatsu. This seems to back up her account of what happened, though I'd like to hear anything you have to say on the matter as well."

Enishi's eyes flickered for a moment, then hardened with resolve and he nodded his head.

"I'm sorry, sir," he said earnestly. "I know cutting people open isn't really a good thing, and I realise I might be disciplined for it. Perhaps you'll even decide to send me home, and I'm all right with that, if that's what you want to do. Kuchiki's alive and that's what matters – I didn't want to let him down, so as long as he'll recover…"

"Enishi…" Juushirou shot him a concerned glance, and Genryuusai shook his head.

"Send you away?" he asked softly. "Don't be foolish. I don't believe I trained you to think in such idiotic terms – please tell me on what grounds I might want to exclude you?"

"Well…Sensei…I sort of…gutted Onoe," Enishi reddened. "It wasn't…very pretty."

"And in doing so, you prevented him from taking Kuchiki Ryuu's life," Genryuusai said softly. "The world is a violent place, Enishi. You understood what you were doing and I'm glad you haven't made any excuses for it, because there are none to be made. You took a decision to act and in doing so saved your friend's life. That fight also cost another person their life. You've accepted that, haven't you?"

"Yes, sir," Enishi straightened in his seat, nodding his head firmly. "I don't really like it, but I'm not ashamed of having done it. I don't like gutting folks or anything like that – my sword's not there for those kinds of things and I don't want you to think I want to swing it around slashing people into pieces for the fun of it. Onoe had his sword right over Kuchiki's spine, though. When it's a situation like that, there's not really any thinking to be done. I thought afterwards you might be cross that I killed him and didn't bring him back for evidence…but it was a bit late then to worry about it."

"Indeed," Genryuusai nodded soberly. "Juushirou, Shunsui, do you have anything to add to your friend's account?"

"Neither one of us were present for any of it," Shunsui met Juushirou's guilty glance with a resigned one of his own. "The first we knew about it was when Sora came hurtling through the trees to fill us in on everything. We really came to give Enishi some support – and to talk to you about something else when that was done."

"We didn't think you'd send Enishi away," Juushirou added honestly. "Onoe-kun was beyond help and being controlled by someone else. He would've killed Ryuu, and so…"

"Taking a life is taking a life. Enishi hasn't tried to justify it as anything else, so you two needn't do so either," Genryuusai said quietly. "His decision was an immediate one – either he took a life and saved a life, or stood back and let someone die. I don't believe that was much of a choice for you, was it Enishi? I assigned you to Ryuu because I was certain if that kind of a decision had to be made, you were the one best capable of making it. It seems as though you haven't let me down."

"…Sensei?" Enishi looked blank, and Genryuusai sighed.

"You have little enough faith in your ability that sometimes I wonder what kind of a shinigami you believe yourself to be," he said bluntly. "Your adventures in the Real World are proof for you as well as for everyone else that your vocation is the right one. When you leave this school it will be as one of my graduating officers, not in any form of disgrace. Last night you acted like a squad shinigami defending one of his division from external attack. Those are the ones that the Gotei seek most of all…they are the kind of people who become leaders and who gain the admiration and the support of those they lead. Hold that and take it with you, Enishi. Last night you saved the life of someone whose death might easily have prompted civil war in District Six."

"Last night…last night I…I saved a friend, Sensei," Enishi looked dumbstruck, but somehow he managed to find words, shaking his head and holding up his hands in hasty protest. "I never thought of anything else – squads or whatever, or being thought of as a leader, or…any of that. I wasn't trying to be clever. I just thought that I didn't want Kuchiki getting killed. He's my friend and I was assigned with him – I didn't want to be the one who let him get killed."

Genryuusai gazed at his kinsman for a moment, and slowly Enishi turned a deep shade of red.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "That was…sort of cheeky, wasn't it?"

"Sensei's telling you to be proud of yourself, Enishi," Shunsui reached over to tap him on the arm. "You should be. We all are."

Enishi was silent for a long while, and Genryuusai could tell that his student was turning over this information in his brain. At length he sighed, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know about the politics of it all," he admitted. "Kuchiki is my friend and I'm glad he'll be all right. Whether he's heir to District Six or just another shinigami, I'm glad he'll come through this. I promise not to gut anybody else while I'm a student here, though, Sensei. It wouldn't give you very good press if I did."

Genryuusai nodded solemnly, knowing that in any other circumstances his kinsman's honest words would have been some cause for amusement.

"Then is that all?" he asked quietly. "There's nothing else I need to know about what happened to Kuchiki Ryuu?"

"Mm," Enishi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Onoe was definitely not the one fighting me. I know you know that, but from fighting him I could tell that it wasn't the way he used to fight when he was himself. Edogawa said she sensed something dark from his body when he fell and it was something she'd sensed before. Oh yes…and one other thing."

His expression became clouded.

"Endou Eiraki-hime was also in the Real World last night. She claimed to be the one who killed Ribari-sama, and Edogawa and I think she was coming to repeat the same attack on Kuchiki."

"I see," Genryuusai's expression became grave, his lips pursing together as he took in the identical gravity in both Juushirou and Shunsui's expressions. "Mitsuki omitted to pass on that information in the quick appraisal she gave me of Ryuu's situation, so thank you. I shall add that to my report. You are dismissed, Enishi. Thank you for your hard work."

"Yes sir," Enishi got to his feet, then paused, eying Genryuusai doubtfully.

"You've not let anyone see him," he said slowly, "but I wondered…might I visit Kuchiki and see for myself how he is? I won't wake him if he's sleeping, or cause the nurses any trouble. It would just put my mind at rest to know that he's really all right."

"I suppose I can't refuse you that," Genryuusai's eyes softened slightly. "All right. I'll allow you alone to visit him for a brief time – on the understanding that if you do, anything you see or hear whilst within that room is not to be repeated outside its walls. Understand? The Council are involved in this affair and Ryuu is a significant political figure at present. For his sake and the sake of the investigation, everything must be kept completely secret."

"I understand," Enishi's eyes became big, but he nodded his head. "I won't even tell anyone else I've been there."

"Then you may go," Genryuusai gestured towards the door, "and Ukitake and Kyouraku can share with me whatever other concerns they feel they have to add to the conversation we've just had."

"Thank you, Sensei," Enishi bowed his head, then left the office, shutting the door behind him with a characteristic bang. Shunsui let out his breath in a rush, casting a slightly envious look in the direction of the divide.

"I wish I could see the world how he does," he murmured, more than half to himself. "To Enishi he did his job and nobody's angry, so it's all all right. He doesn't let things eat away at him. It must be a very peaceful existence, to be able to look at things that way."

"I gave Enishi the task of guarding Ryuu because if something occurred, he'd be the one least likely to take deep harm from it," Genryuusai agreed. "He doesn't realise it yet, but there are already people within the Yamamoto Clan looking at him very carefully based on my recommendations of his skill. This matter will probably raise his profile considerably among the other Clans, too. I imagine that when he graduates, there will be a position of rank and responsibility awaiting him – it just remains to be seen exactly where."

"Can I have him?" Shunsui looked plaintive, and despite himself, Genryuusai laughed, shaking his head.

"If I gave someone as hard-working as Enishi to a lazy student like you, you'd never do any work of your own," he said bluntly. "No. Enishi will find his own niche, just as the pair of you will have yours."

He frowned, suddenly serious once more.

"You have more to say to me, don't you?" he murmured. "You weren't with the others last night, and you knew nothing of their fight. That means something else happened to distract you both – I trust you'll now tell me what that something was."

The two students exchanged looks, then Juushirou let out a heavy sigh.

"Shunsui and I both saw him, Sensei," Hhe said reluctantly. "Aizen Keitarou."

"I see," Genryuusai's heart clenched in his chest, but he kept his voice even. "And?"

"He's still after Juu," Shunsui said flatly. "I told him that he'd do better to give that up."

"You...told him?" Genryuusai's eyes became slits, and Shunsui looked sheepish.

"I may have released my sword," he admitted. "I know what you said to me about it being a future consideration...but he was there, and he was taunting Juu, and..."

"I see," Genryuusai let out a heavy sigh. "Why is it that the only time you become motivated is when one of your peers is in some kind of danger?"

"I don't think I was in danger," Juushirou looked pensive. "I don't think Keitarou-san means me harm...exactly."

"No. He just wants to string you up as his puppet again and make you turn on more people," Shunsui said acidly. "That's not trying to hurt you at all."

"I've no intention of letting him do that," Juushirou objected. "Besides, he told me he couldn't use his Bankai at the present, so it's not as though..."

"He said he couldn't use that because it was still trapped inside of you!"

"How much of our conversation were you actually listening to?"

"Enough of it! I told you, I wasn't going to let him get anywhere near you, even if it meant blooding Katen's blade in the process!"

"And I told you that I didn't need to be protected!"

"Both of you seem to have forgotten where you are."

Genryuusai did not raise his voice, but at the slight flickering of his reiatsu the two boys faltered, both turning to send him a look of contrition.

"I'm sorry," Juushirou rubbed his hands through his lank white hair with a groan. "What happened last night is still bothering both of us a fair bit. We didn't come here to dispute things in front of you, Sensei - we came to report about Keitarou-san."

"I wish you wouldn't still call him ~san. It makes him sound like someone respectable," Shunsui muttered.

"Stop it," Juushirou sent him a reproachful glance. "We didn't come to Sensei for that."

"Shunsui, you seem considerably distressed," Genryuusai observed. "Would you like to explain to me why exactly you're so concerned about Keitarou's intentions? What did you mean when you said that his Bankai was still inside Juushirou?"

"I don't know if it is," Shunsui said unwillingly. "Keitarou believes it is, though. He told Juu he couldn't release his Bankai and he thought that threads of his spirit power were still inside Juu's body somewhere."

"Keitarou-sa...Keitarou's Bankai works on one person at a time," Juushirou murmured. "He said everyone else he'd ever used it on had died, so he had never had a situation like this before. I'm still alive, and he thinks...because he didn't withdraw his sword's magic from me, some of it may still be locked away inside of me."

"What do you think?" Genryuusai sent Juushirou a piercing glance, and Juushirou spread his hands.

"I don't think it's there," he admitted. "Sougyo no Kotowari has protected me, I know that - but I think that if there was any of Chudokuga still inside of me, I'd have been more aware of it when he was there in front of me. Perhaps the way I was defeated in the snows damaged his sword, or maybe he was lying. I don't feel as though anything alien is still stuck anywhere inside of me."

Genryuusai's gaze rested thoughtfully on Shunsui for a moment. He had noticed, though Juushirou had not, the involuntary flinch that the Clan Senior had made at the mention of the snow battle, and his expression became grave.

That fight caused you to raise your sword, but it left its scars. I suppose it's little wonder you still want to protect your friend from harm, with the memory of that still vivid in your mind.

Out loud he said,

"Neither Retsu-dono nor I were able to detect any residual sign of foreign reiatsu around Juushirou's body once he started to really recover from his injuries. Your own lingered there longer than any other, Shunsui - but Juushirou has worked a lot with his sword since then and at no time have I ever sensed anything that shouldn't be in his aura."

"I don't suppose that's important," Shunsui's gaze flitted to Juushirou, and he chewed his lip. "I think Sougyo no Kotowari might have been the one who sealed it away so that Juu - and you, and Unohana-sensei, and I - weren't aware that it was still there. If it was a part of Juu that did that, it wouldn't show up in his reiatsu so easily, would it?"

"Now you're just being stupid," Juushirou's expression became one of exasperation, and Genryuusai held up his hand to prevent another spat beginning.

"You are both clearly very tired and last night brought considerable stress on you," he said lightly. "Juushirou, you have no memories of that encounter in the snow, do you?"

"No, sir," Juushirou said firmly.

"You can talk about it freely because of that fact," Genryuusai reflected. "Please remember that there are others who have more vivid recollections, and bringing up the subject might do them more harm than it does you."

Juushirou's eyes opened wide with realisation, and he turned, sending Shunsui a stricken look. The other boy met it with a rueful one of his own, then let out a heavy sigh.

"I won't ever forget, but that doesn't mean you ought to remember - or tiptoe around it," he said softly. "It happened and there's no way of changing it. I'm glad you don't remember it, Juu - so please don't try."

"Keitarou-s...Keitarou thought that if I did start to remember, it would mean that his power inside of me would be unsealed," Juushirou remembered, his expression becoming grave. "He said Sougyo no Kotowari had been clever...but that now we'd met up, maybe I'd start to recall those things."

"And have you?"

"No sir," Juushirou shook his head. "If Sougyo no Kotowari did lock the memories away and it wasn't from the trauma or Keitarou's control then it did it for my benefit. I trust my sword, Sensei, and I won't question its actions. It's obviously something I don't need to remember - and I don't intend on trying."

"Tell Sensei about the dream, Juu," Shunsui nudged his friend's arm, and Juushirou's eyes clouded slightly.

"I'm not sure it meant anything except that I was on edge," he said reluctantly. "The night before last, I had a dream about a spider who shot its web out of the sea and wrapped itself around my arm. When I woke up, it was as though something really had touched my arm - but that's all. If it was anything, I think it was Keitarou spying on us...he said he'd overheard a conversation of Shunsui and mine, so that would make sense."

"Shunsui, what exactly did you do with Katen Kyoukotsu?" Genryuusai asked.

"I threw my blade at him from the shadows," Shunsui's answer was quick and concise. "I didn't aim to kill, but I wanted him to know that if he kept stalking Juu, he'd find himself missing limbs."

"I really don't like it when you talk like that," Juushirou shivered. "It makes you creepy. That shadow trick of yours was bad enough without you suddenly talking about doing people physical harm. It doesn't sound like you. No matter how traumatic the fight in the snow was for you - that kind of attitude really isn't Kyouraku Shunsui."

"Mm," Shunsui ran his fingers over the hilts of his weapons. "Katen Kyoukotsu contains a demon and a goddess. Light and shadow - I can go either way."

He smiled sheepishly.

"I don't intend on falling to the dark side, though," He added, his eyes lighting up momentarily. "Keitarou makes me angry, and I find it difficult to be rational around him because I do remember the things that you don't. It's him and only him who can make me react like this."

"I think it's an understandable feeling for one who will become a Gotei Captain," Genryuusai observed, "but we're moving off the point. Keitarou withdrew from your presence after you wounded him, Shunsui?"

"He did,"

Shunsui faltered, then,

"Sensei, was it that...was that why Amai-san was..."

"Amai-san?" Juushirou stared at him. "What are you talking about now?"

"I injured Keitarou," Shunsui said bleakly. "Amai-san was a healer. She wouldn't have known anything. Did she stumble into danger because I lost my temper?"

"The reason Amai Suzuno died is still not clear, even to me," Genryuusai said firmly, his eyes boring into Shunsui's troubled brown ones. "The only thing that is known for sure is that the one who killed her did so without reason or conscience. You have no blame in the equation, Shunsui. If Suzuno approached a stranger without care for her safety, she is at fault. If the stranger killed her, he is at fault. You are not. As I said to Enishi, you made a decision. Part of being an adult is accepting all parts of that decision."

"I'm not as much of an adult as Enishi is," Shunsui admitted. "He has two years or more on me, Sensei, and an attitude to the world I'd really love to have."

"Sensei, just suppose...Keitarou and Shunsui are right," Juushirou bit his lip. "I don't know that they are, but just suppose there is some of Keitarou's sword inside of me. If Shunsui hadn't interrupted our conversation...might he have found a way to reactivate it there and then?"

"If that supposition has any basis in truth, then I imagine that was his purpose for meeting with you," Genryuusai said grimly. "I know you've spent time with him in the past, and it's possible he doesn't mean you any harm, but Juushirou, don't be deceived into thinking that means he has a level that can be reasoned with. The Council already know him to be guilty of many crimes - with the cooperation of the Endou and the Shihouin, we've established that the catalogue of innocent lives sacrificed to his reidoku experiments is a long one. There are probably many more victims who remain unlisted and unnamed. If he doesn't mean you harm, you are probably part of a minority. Shunsui understands - as I do - the danger this man poses to you and to all of your companions. He was undoubtedly the one who killed Amai Suzuno - almost certainly without motive. Don't underestimate his intentions, however innocent his way of speaking to you might have been."

"Y...yes sir," Juushirou looked suitable cowed by this, and Genryuusai nodded.

"Then let us address the matter of Endou Eiraki," he said quietly. "Did either one of you happen to see her in the Real World?"

"No, sir," Shunsui shook his head. "Mitsuki and Enishi did, but nobody else seems to have done. We...we thought she might be around, and we were looking...kind of. We didn't find her, though."

"Judging by what Enishi and Mitsuki found out, it's probably a good thing," Juushirou muttered. "She was probably carrying a lethal poison, and I don't suppose she'd have hesitated to use it on someone who launched their sword at Keitarou's shoulder."

"Probably it hasn't done much for her opinion of me," Shunsui acknowledged.

"Keitarou made it clear Eiraki was with him and he said by her own choice," Juushirou added. "I didn't believe him, but I guess that was true."

"It seems that way," Genryuusai agreed. "It will be distressing evidence for the Council and particularly for Misashi-dono and Sumire-dono, but it cannot be concealed. If the killer of Kuchiki Ribari is a young girl, then that's what it is. Clearing the names of those who are innocent is more important a task at present, and that lies with me to do."

"By innocent...do you mean...Nagoya-senpai?" Juushirou;s question was tentative, and Genryuusai saw Shunsui's eyebrow arch, his brown eyes flickering in his friend's direction as if to say, 'shut up!'".

"It will be a means of exonerating all of the Kuchiki Clan who might have come under suspicion, as well as the Shihouin Clan for any part in the conspiracy," he said evenly. "I cannot disclose more information to those who are simply students. I am grateful for your information, both of you - unless there's more you need to tell me, you can consider yourself dismissed."

The two students exchanged glances, slowly getting to their feet.

"Juushirou, one last thing," Genryuusai called them back, and the white-haired boy paused, turning to eye his teacher with trepidation.

"If you have anything which may be construed a flashback or memory about that fight in District Seven, I want you to report to me," Genryuusai's words were quiet, but they rang through the room nonetheless. "If there is any element of that man's magic still inside of you, I will be the one ensuring it is properly expunged."

"Yes sir," Juushirou paled slightly, but nodded his head, and, a wry smile on his lips, Shunsui grabbed his companion by the arm, pulling him physically from the study and closing the door behind them.

Once more alone, Genryuusai let out his breath in a rush.

Their trial is over, but maybe for Seireitei it's only just begun.

He reached for the brush, dipping it pensively in the ink.

Unpleasant as it may be, I have a report to write. The Council of Elders must know with all expediency the circumstances of my gamble...the good and the bad. More pressing than that, though, I have a message I must send to District Six and it cannot wait. If Aizen is widening his web to bring innocent students into danger, there's only one course of action I can take short of contacting Guren directly. It's another risk, but a calculated one. Given what Ryuu has said in the past, and Shirogane too, I can only assume that now that rogue's attentions will move back to his other targets...and if what I believe to be the case is true, there is no time to waste at all.

He pulled across a fresh sheet of parchment, carefully inscribing two characters at the top of the page and pausing to re-read them with a sigh.

It's been a long time since our last meeting, but distant though we have become, I trust I know your nature well enough to judge your will from afar. More lives are undoubtedly in danger and Guren may be too close to that danger to see it clearly with his own eyes. I hope my assumptions of your viewpoint are correct. With this attack having failed, I think it almost certain that Keitarou's next target will be Ryuu's father Seiren.

I must do whatever I can to prevent that meeting from taking place.

---

The forest was cloaked in mist.

Breathing hard, Ryuu pushed the branches aside, breaking some and almost tripping over others in his haste to get away. All around him the woodland was dark and every path looked the same, an endless string of tall, forbidding trunks and dark roots that snaked across his path trying to slow his progress.

Something silver glittered from the right, and with a sudden burst of adrenalin Ryuu managed to dodge it, swinging around to see two glowing golden eyes gleaming out of the hazy black.

He put his hand to his waist for Shizurugi, but his sword was not there, and try as he might he could not remember the release command for his weapon. As he groped futilely at thin air, he felt a thin, knotted branch curl itself tightly around his arm, then another and another, the warped lengths of wood tugging him backwards until he fell into a heap on the dew-sodden grass.

The sky swirled round and round, mottled by shadows that might have been more branches or maybe the predators of the night circling overhead as they prepared to swoop in for the kill. Unable to wriggle free, and Ryuu struggled to control his rising panic, realising that he had been abandoned and was now completely alone in a place he didn't know. The heavily laden boughs creaked and leaned in over him, blocking the heavens from view. The trees seemed to be moving closer together now, trying to shut off any hope he had of escaping their grasp he let out a faint murmur of fear, clawing himself up onto his hands and knees and forcing his uncooperative body one inch at a time towards the closing gap between the trunks.

Aruji.

The voice was so quietly spoken that at first Ryuu thought he must have imagined it, but the next instant through the mist came a searing shard of violet light, striking through the nearest tree and splintering it completely in two. Forced back, the other trees started to waver and bend, and as the light grew stronger, Ryuu saw for the first time that it was highlighting a pathway through the forest.

It was showing him the way out.

Ryuu scrambled forwards, his body trembling so hard with each movement that he felt certain he would not be able to go any further, and yet he forced himself to keep moving, not wanting to be left alone again. His thoughts were strange and disconnected, the swirling world around him scattering his memories of why he had even come to a place such as this. The clothes he wore, the empty scabbard at his waist, even his own name were all a blur in his frightened thoughts, yet he clung onto the one thing of which he could be sure.

If he could only reach the light, he would somehow find a way out. If he could only reach the light, he would somehow be all right.

Aruji.

The voice was stronger this time, and Ryuu stretched out a shaking hand to brush against the edge of the purple glow, feeling a sudden warmth flood through his whole body. The trees around him began to fragment and disappear as the light engulfed him more and more, and Ryuu dropped his defences, trusting implicitly in the sensation of comfort and strength that now flooded through his terrified body.

All is well now, Aruji. You are safe.

Shizurugi.

Ryuu opened his eyes, the last of the mist slipping away into the recesses of his brain. Instead of dark woodland, he found himself surrounded by white. He was lying down on something firm yet comfortably familiar, and his surrounds were a bright, clean chamber, sunlight streaming in through the window and piercing through the murky fog that had filled his mind.

"You've returned to us, then, Kuchiki-kun?"

The voice was soft and reassuring, and Ryuu blinked, bringing the figure of the Unohana's calm Clan leader into focus. At his movement, the woman smiled, touching a pale white finger to his brow and nodding approvingly.

"Yes, you seem to have calmed down considerably. I'm glad."

"Unohana...sensei?" Ryuu wetted his lips, then, "Where...am I...back at school?"

"You and your comrades returned here late last night," Retsu nodded her head. "You've been asleep for much of the day, but I believe you have risen in time for afternoon repas."

"Food?"

As Ryuu tried to bring his body into a sitting position, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and someone put out a hand to stop him, pushing him firmly back down onto the white pallet.

"You don't want to do that. Trust me."

The voice was brusque but familiar, and Ryuu's eyes opened wide.

"S...Shirogane...senpai?"

"I'll leave the boy to your care, then, Nagoya-dono," Retsu got to her feet. "As you know, I have another patient to whom I must attend. I trust he will be quite all right in your hands?"

"He will, Unohana-taichou. You have my word," Shirogane's words were quiet but resolute, and Retsu bowed her head, withdrawing from the small chamber and pulling the divide shut behind her with the softest of clicks. Though she had said nothing of it, Ryuu realised that the healer had understood only too well the dull ache that pervaded his brain and he was grateful for this small kindness.

"You should stay where you are and not do too much moving," Shirogane was now at his side, and Ryuu shifted his gaze across to look at his companion, taking in the older boy's features with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

His cousin was robed simply in the plain black of a shinigami, a white obi at his waist and the sheathed sword at his side indicating that although he was far from his home and in disgrace, he still considered himself an active member of Sixth Division. His thick curly dark hair was pulled back from his face in a long tail, tied not by a Clan clasp but a simple knot of white ribbon, and as Ryuu ran his gaze over his companion more carefully, he registered the complete lack of unnecessary adornment in his kinsman's apparel. The badge of a Vice Captain was noticeably absent from his arm, and Ryuu's eyes narrowed as he remembered the reports he and Mitsuki had received from their home District.

"Senpai," he murmured. "But why...?"

"Why am I here and not in a prison cell?" Shirogane arched an eyebrow, fixing Ryuu with searching grey eyes. "Or why am I sitting guard over you like this when there are other things to be done? You probably don't remember a whole lot about what happened to you last night, so we'll leave that till the last and focus on the first if it's all right with you."

"Did Guren-sama..."

"Guren-sama's not yet been informed that I'm here," A faint, yet hollow smile twitched at Shirogane's pale lips. "Right now, Genryuusai-sama is preparing a detailed statement for the Council and for our Clan which - he hopes - will go some way to exonerating me of any blame or conspiracy. Until then, my orders are to stay here and ensure no harm befalls you - and whether you like it or not, those orders I intend on following through."

"To...protect me?" Ryuu was rapidly regaining his wits, and he raised his arm, gazing at the thick bandage that swathed half of it in white.

"I was fighting in the forest," he murmured. "An assassin who had no soul attempted to take my life. Something was on his blade, and I...everything went strange. Then...nothing."

He lowered his arm.

"Please, Senpai, I'd like to sit up. Even if it makes me feel dizzy, I feel more vulnerable lying flat like this, and I should like to be able to converse more comfortably. It seems we have much to discuss, and there may not be a lot of time in which to do it."

"All right," Shirogane sounded reluctant, but he nodded, leaning forward to help his cousin into a more upright position. "There. But really, don't make any sudden movements. What's swirling through your body isn't as potent a dose as I took, so Unohana-taichou thinks you'll sleep the thing off in a day or two and probably that'll be that. In the meantime, though, there's no sense in making yourself feel worse than you have to."

"I was drugged."

Ryuu's lips thinned.

"A hallucinogenic - the same as that used to strike down Sixth Squad?"

"Unohana-taichou confirmed it, but Mitsuki already thought that to be the case," Shirogane nodded, and Ryuu saw a sober look come into his companion's grey eyes. Although there was barely a year of age between them, Ryuu was struck by how much older his cousin now seemed, and he processed this realisation carefully, wondering what exactly his companion had been through in the time since they had last met. Stripped of everything that he had ever understood, Shirogane had been forced to find his own way to safe ground. Probably he had suffered hardship and injury, his safety under threat at each juncture. Yet, as he looked at his cousin, Ryuu realised that in the few moments since he had returned to consciousness Shirogane had not made a single complaint, nor cast any judgement on the plain nature of his clothing and situation. Instead his words had been matter of fact, his overriding concern for his companion's condition rather than his own.

As he digested this, Ryuu's gaze became thoughtful.

"Senpai seems...different somehow," he murmured, and Shirogane offered him a dry smile.

"Do I? Because I'm not dressed in fancy Clan fabrics? Or because I'm not currently throwing my weight around with inflated opinions of my own position within this world? It's hardly surprising - I have no position, so there's very little to say. That being the case, I thought to save time."

Ryuu winced at the direct matter-of-factness of his companion's words.

"I didn't mean..."

"A lot has happened," Shirogane held up a hand, "but we're both alive, and that's what matters most. The last few weeks have taught me that my life is the most precious thing I have and that it's something that can't be easily taken from me, no matter what else can. At present both of our positions are complex - you are the heir apparent to the Kuchiki Clan whose life was threatened last evening by assassins - and I am the exiled shinigami whose presence is not welcome even within the boundaries of my home District. I am assigned to be your bodyguard - I have no other purpose here than that, so anything else is superfluous."

"You're not guilty of conspiracy or treason," Ryuu said stolidly. "If you're asking me whether or not I've changed my stance towards you, the answer is no. You are my cousin and my Senpai - the one who trusted me with Ribari-sama's final words in the hope I might be able to find out something to bring him justice. I have never suspected you of anything, Shirogane-senpai. Please do not speak to me as though I do."

Shirogane eyed him for a moment, then a faint smile touched the older boy's lips.

"My orders are to protect your life," he said softly. "They're orders from Genryuusai-sama and Unohana-taichou, since I can't currently receive orders from my own Clan leader. I'll carry out those orders to the greatest of my ability, Ryuu. I won't let another heir have his life taken right in front of me - so you should resign yourself to that."

"Senpai...were you worried about me?"

"Worried?" Shirogane sat back, eying Ryuu pensively. "When I saw them bring you in here quite unconscious and white as a sheet, I was terrified."

"Terrified?" Ryuu stared.

"I thought it had happened again," Shirogane's grey eyes darkened, and Ryuu could see the faint signs of a storm brewing in their depths. "I thought that the people who took Ribari-sama had been allowed to strike a second time, and had taken another of my kin away. These past several days I have been making my home here in the recesses of the Healing Bay, and last night in all the chaos, Genryuusai-sama instructed me to watch over you. This morning I spoke to Unohana-taichou about remaining here and making my lodgings in this chamber instead. She understood my wishes and agreed that it would be a good place for me to be until things were more settled. She expressed a need for someone she could trust to watch over you until you awoke, and therefore here I am. I can't heal you, but at least if I was watching over you, I could report quickly any change or deterioration in your health. Unlike with Ribari-sama, there are healers easily on hand here and I would not have hesitated in summoning them if the need had arisen."

"Mitsuki and I worried about you too," Ryuu let out a heavy sigh, somehow comforted by the honesty in his cousin's normally austere tones. "Neither one of us were quite sure what had happened when you left District Six, and whether or not you would be able to make it here in safety. There was the risk you might be arrested on sight, if people in other places thought you guilty of treason."

Shirogane's eyes softened, the storm fading to a more pensive cloudy grey.

"You and she have kept faith with me, and I won't forget that," he said quietly. "I have lived my life thus far making many assumptions and I have been taught in recent weeks how several of those assumptions have been mistaken. Throughout it all, however, I believed that if I came here, you and she would not have forsaken me. I had no other hope to hold on to but that when I reached District One, I would have support. So I find it now. I am nothing to the Kuchiki Clan at the present time - I don't even bear the family's name, and I am quite sure there are still plenty of people there who would like rid of me thanks to Seiren-dono's misapprehensions. But in two kinsfolk I had never paid much attention to before Ribari-sama's death I have found two loyal allies - and I wish to be able to repay that loyalty, in whatever way I am able."

"I'll speak to Guren-sama. Things will be straightened out," Ryuu promised. "Father too, if need be. I've stood up to him once and I shall do so again if he persists in being obstinate about your standing in the Clan. I have no desire for you to remain exiled and I shall make sure he knows that. If I must become heir to the Kuchiki, I am certainly of no mind to do it without your situation being resolved to my exact satisfaction."

"You intend on making conditions on your accepting such a position?" Shirogane was taken aback, and Ryuu's expression became resolute.

"If it becomes a necessary evil, I shall do all I can to temper the damage," he said acerbically, "but first of all, I want to see justice for Ribari-sama. Nothing else matters until that is laid to rest."

"Agreed," Shirogane nodded his head, closing his fist around Ginkyoujiki's hilt for a moment before releasing it with a sigh. "In the meantime, whilst there are Council agents moving into the Real World, I'll uphold my duty here. They wasted their one chance to kill you and they won't be allowed to get another."

"I can protect my own life," Ryuu frowned, and Shirogane snorted derisively, shaking his head with a hint of his usual impatience.

"If you had been left to do that in the Real World, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation now," he said flatly. "One of your classmates came to your rescue and cut down the Shihouin boy - Onoe, was it? Whatever his name was, he's quite dead. Genryuusai-sama sent some members of First Division to recover the remains from the forest, and it was a thoroughly done job. I saw the corpse myself."

"Onoe Tomoyuki," Ryuu swallowed hard, feeling faintly nauseous. "One of my classmates?"

"Mm. I heard it was a Yamamoto - I don't recall his name," Shirogane agreed.

"Houjou?" Ryuu's eyes widened, and Shirogane shrugged.

"That sounds familiar," he agreed. "I think it was something like that. It seems you should be glad of his intervention - not all of your party were so fortunate to return here with just a morning after headache."

"What do you mean?" Ryuu's heart stilled in his chest as he realised who was most significantly absent from his side. "Mitsuki! Senpai, where is..."

"She's safe. Relax. She's all right," Shirogane put a hand on his shoulder. "She's tending to another of your year - a Shikibu Naoko, who passed out from shock or some such thing. One girl was killed out there - she was a mess of blood too when I saw her. I think she was an Unohana - but I don't really understand what happened. All I know is that the one who killed her was involved in the death of Ribari-sama...and I'd dearly like to sharpen my blade on him, if ever I get that chance."

"Amai Suzuno," Ryuu murmured the name numbly, his blood running cold as ice through his veins as he stared at his companion in consternation. "Amai-san was killed?"

"Amai Suzuno. Yes. That was what Genryuusai-sama called her," Shirogane nodded soberly. "I've never seen Unohana-taichou visibly shaken by anything before, but I could tell when she examined the girl's body that she was genuinely upset. I didn't ask, but I imagine they had some kind of significant blood connection - perhaps a niece or a first cousin, something of that nature."

"I don't know. I didn't meet Amai-san till this year," Ryuu said unsteadily. "She had nothing to do with any of this - nothing to do with the Kuchiki and nothing to do with me. Why on earth would anyone kill her? What purpose would that serve?"

"The other girl - the one who fainted - seems to be the only one who'd know the answer to that," Shirogane said matter-of-factly, "but she's being kept quiet and nobody's allowed to speak to her. Nobody except Mitsuki and Unohana-taichou herself, that is. I suppose it'll be reported to the Council - but all the school will be told is that Amai Suzuno was killed in the Real World and that's that. Probably they'll make out she was attacked by a Hollow - though that's blatantly not the case. Before she collapsed, the other girl apparently said the name Keitarou - and that's been reported back to Genryuusai-sama too. It seems pretty certain the mastermind behind Ribari-sama's death is the exiled scientist Aizen Keitarou and those who share his political values."

"Aizen Keitarou," Ryuu's eyes became slits. "I know that name."

Shirogane nodded.

"I thought you might," he agreed levelly. "He's the man behind the assassination of Endou Shouichi a few years ago and the main participant in the creation and distribution of illegal reidoku chemicals. He's a highly wanted individual in the eyes of the Council – I suppose you'd call him a radical. Following the chaos surrounding the Endou-ke some years back, Sixth Squad were involved in the search for him and the young girl he was supposed to have taken prisoner, but no trace of either was ever found. It's a story that most Clan folk know something of – I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard about him."

"No. No, that's not why," Ryuu shook his head. "Aizen Keitarou is the one who abducted Ukitake and made such a mess of him in the snows that winter. He's the reason Ukitake didn't return to the school with us for the third term of Second year. We all knew the reasons why, and I don't suppose we'd ever really forget."

"Ukitake, huh?" Shirogane's expression became contemplative. "Wherever I go, his name keeps on coming up. I wonder what it is about that District brat that can get so many people so worked up about his safety."

"Senpai?" Ryuu looked confused, and Shirogane shot him a resigned smile.

"I trained him, so I take some credit for his fighting skill," he reflected. "Now you mention it, I also remember the boy's disappearance that winter and the Council's attempts to retrieve him at the same time as trying to bring Endou Seimaru and the scientist to justice. Seimaru was killed in battle, Aizen disappeared. Ukitake was injured but he was located and he made a full recovery from his wounds – correct?"

"Yes," Ryuu's expression became grave, "and now that man is acting against our family?"

"So it would seem."

"His motive?"

"Unknown, though it's been mooted that he's a true extremist who wants to see the destruction of all of the Eight Clans," Shirogane shrugged helplessly. "I'm out of the loop now, so what new information has surfaced I cannot tell you."

"Of course," Ryuu looked guilty. "I'm sorry. You must have had a difficult time escaping District Six without trying to discover information on your way."

"Mm," Shirogane was silent for a moment, a thoughtful look in his grey eyes. Slowly he nodded, offering his cousin a faint smile.

"I have been very lucky," he said at length. "I've also learned a lot of things about myself and this world that I did not know before. Perhaps in time this experience will be of overall benefit to me – at present it is too soon to tell, but I want to make sure I don't forget about it anytime soon."

He pulled something from the folds of his obi, and Ryuu saw it was a cheap and simply crafted flute. His eyebrows disappeared into his fringe, and Shirogane inclined his head.

"This was given me by a young girl who is currently in the custody of the Ukitake family," he said softly. "My own flute is still at home, so when she realised I could play, she lent this to me in order that I might make my passage here in the guise of a travelling musician. I owe my life to his kin, Ryuu. I was hurt by your father's soldiers, but they found me wounded and took me in. They first helped me because I had been Ukitake's shishou, but my debt to them is greater than simply that. It's hard to put into words what I mean, but the week I spent in their company has made me think about the Districts a good deal more. Suffice it to say I understand what Ukitake is fighting to protect a good deal better now than I did when we were training."

"Ukitake's family…" Ryuu's brows knitted together thoughtfully. "I have not had the fortune to meet more than one sister, but I understand from Kyouraku that their manner is much as his is. They are welcoming people, and so is he. I am somehow not surprised they showed you kindness – though it must have put them at considerable risk."

"Yes," Shirogane's lips thinned. "I don't think the Clan has learned their role in my escape yet and I trust that they won't – it could be unpleasant for them if Seiren-dono found that out."

"No…I don't think so," Ryuu's tired brain flitted back to his meeting with the Lord of the Coastal Province, and he shook his head. "Ukitake's family has someone to watch over them and I don't suppose Father would be able to cross him."

"Someone to…?"

"Ukitake's grandfather makes his home there, Senpai," Ryuu explained. "Kinnya-sama – or had you forgotten? You were the one who helped us to look out those files."

"I've never met him," Shirogane frowned. "I did encounter retainers of his, true enough, but I was under the impression Kinnya-sama was a hermit who never left his manor."

"Possibly," Ryuu acknowledged. "I have only had the fortune of meeting him once."

"Which was when?" Shirogane's eyes became suspicious. "If I've not met him, and I'm older than you and closer to the heart of Clan politics, why…"

"Before I returned to school, I rode there to speak to him about something I discovered in the archives," Ryuu admitted. "Since the document had disappeared, I felt that he was the only other person who may have known its contents at the time of writing, and so I made the decision to go."

"The day the stablehands were murdered!" Shirogane breathed, and Ryuu nodded.

"That day indeed."

"No wonder we couldn't find you," Shirogane clicked his tongue against his teeth, then, "Well? While there are only the two of us alone, will you tell me now what you wouldn't then? What had the old man to say about it? I can't imagine he was expecting you to call."

"No. He had no apprehension of my coming whatsoever, and perhaps suspected me of trying to curry favour with him at first, on account of my Father's letter about the inheritance," Ryuu sighed. "Once I made it clear to him that my motives lay elsewhere, I found him an interesting person with whom to speak. He is a man of frail health, or so it appears – but his memory and intelligence are intact and I did not dislike meeting him. He assured me that he had no intention of publicly discussing the matter I had unwittingly uncovered, and then invited me to stay for the midday meal. I could not rightly refuse him when he had been so accommodating of my visit, so all in all I spent some hours visiting his manor."

"That's why you came back so late."

"I confess so," Ryuu agreed. "During the course of our meeting, the name of his daughter entered the conversation, and I soon discovered he had no knowledge that Ukitake was alive. The expression on his face when I told him was something I remember only too clearly. I think my being invited to dinner was more a chance for him to ask me questions about his grandson than it was anything to do with Kuchiki politics. Perhaps there was nobody actively interested in that family before I rode there, but I am fairly sure there is someone who is interested now."

Shirogane's eyes became like slits.

"He sent his retainers out to disperse Seiren-dono's men and to tell me to leave the area because he didn't want the peasant folk disturbed," he murmured, more than half to himself. "One such retainer told me that Kinnya-sama wished to have his land left in peace. He must have known that Seiren-dono would resort to having houses searched for me…now I understand the reason for his active concern."

"As I said, his intelligence is quite intact," Ryuu nodded. "I am not the best judge of a man's character or personality, Senpai, so I may be in error with this judgement, but it seemed to me as though my disclosure of Ukitake's being alive brought life back to his expression. Perhaps he has begun to show a keener interest in the Coastal Province than he was previously inclined to do."

"And the other matter?" Shirogane eyed his cousin keenly. "The matter you refused to speak to me about some months ago – can you tell me about it now?"

"I will," Ryuu nodded his head. "It might sound strange, but the fact I was targeted does give me a little measure of relief. If my life is in danger, it absolves Father once and for all from my suspicions. I found it hard to completely eradicate that thought before."

"What you found in the archive relates to Seiren-dono, doesn't it?"

"It does," Ryuu agreed. "It was a piece of paper from Senaya-sama's nikki – I am quite certain of that. How it came to be in the archive I am not aware – nor the reason for its disappearance soon after I saw it. What it contained were details of my father and Guren-sama's birth…something which has been kept a closely guarded secret for a long, long time."

"About Seiren-dono and Guren-sama…" Shirogane said thoughtfully. "This has a connection to Seiren-dono's power being removed?"

"Somewhat, though that is a well known fact."

"It is," Shirogane conceded. "Very well. What other information did it contain, then? If it was something so secretive I wonder that Senaya-sama made note of it at all."

"I am not sure, but I have the impression that Senaya-sama may have originally used his nikki for wider purposes than political legacy," Ryuu said thoughtfully. "At one point it may have been genuinely a diary of sorts, but on his death, records were removed. You suggested it yourself – what if that was done on Senaya-sama's own command, in order that the impression left to posterity was of a calm and reasoned leader whose flaws and doubts were nowhere in sight?"

"That would imply Senaya-sama did know he was going to die and made arrangements accordingly," Shirogane pointed out. Ryuu nodded.

"I think there to be a good amount of possibility in that theory of yours," He agreed. "Kinnya-sama warned me off the topic of Senaya-sama's death, which implies to me not only that there was something irregular in what happened but that Kinnya-sama was probably cognisant of those events and may even have been involved. However, setting that aside for the time being, if Senaya-sama's nikki was indeed used to record Senaya-sama's inner thoughts and hesitations, the sheet of paper I saw would have been from the original but soon after removed. Perhaps it was written, but he thought better of it and concealed it among some other papers which were meant to be destroyed. For some reason it never was – and now is in unknown hands."

"It may be in the hands of Aizen Keitarou," Shirogane pointed out.

"It very well may," Ryuu reflected. "I think it unlikely that he has not had a spy within our family's walls. The poison I took in last night has odd effects so I cannot be sure I have recalled correctly, but on hearing Aizen's name, something has clicked inside my head. There was a young maid who I occasionally saw at the manor and on reflection, there was something familiar about her. I was foolish not to see it sooner – but I believe it possible she was Endou Eiraki."

"I think that's almost a certainty," Shirogane said grimly. "I had a face to face conversation with her calling herself something else and I believe it's probably her testimony that caused me to be cast out like I have been. But you're digressing. Though it's possible that wench stole this document, you read its contents and now you know Seiren-dono is only guilty of being easily fooled, you can disclose what it contained."

"Mm," Ryuu bit his lip. "Mitsuki does not know of this, Senpai, and I should prefer to keep it a secret between ourselves, since it remains dangerous information. You know I was looking for reasons why I should not inherit the Clan – but instead I found the opposite. You didn't understand my words then – now I will try to explain them. I do not believe Guren-sama is cognisant of these facts – for the sake of the Clan, I believe them better kept hidden."

"All right. I understand," Shirogane nodded. "If you trust me that far, I'll not share them with anyone else – not even Mitsuki."

"I trust you," Ryuu assured him. "I did before, only it was hard to explain with so many things rushing through my head."

He paused for a moment, smoothing the blankets out absently as he considered the best way to explain.

"Father was born with overwhelming spiritual power," He began softly. "It was not simply powerful, but toxic and extremely dangerous. His life was in danger, and therefore that power was sealed. Since I was small, I have been told Father's power was severed, but Senaya-sama's nikki implies that not to be the case. Senaya-sama did not want to render his son no better than someone from Rukongai, and I believe an individual with no reiatsu whatsoever might struggle to live in Seireitei with its rich level of spiritual energy. Having visited the Real World and knowing that Sekkiseki is used in Rukongai to protect against spirit levels becoming too high, this decision seems to be a logical one. The end result was that the offending strength was sealed away with powerful spells instead. The Kuchiki court may also have been told that it was severed completely. Apparently it is unusual and considered ill luck to let the twin brother of a future Kuchiki Clan leader survive, so probably Father's complete absence of spiritual power was the reason the Kuchiki court allowed him to live. From Senaya-sama's way of writing, my impression was that he wanted to keep both of his sons, and so meddled in politics to ensure that he could. He intended Father to grow up to support Guren-sama when he came to power – a hope that eventually became reality."

"After some more meddling and possibly the sacrifice of his own life," Shirogane muttered, and Ryuu inclined his head, twisting his fingers together pensively against the smooth covers.

"What most people do not know is that Father's spirit power being removed was only the surface controversy," He murmured. "Guren-sama was the stronger twin, and it is an almost assumed fact that the stronger twin is always born first. The Kuchiki court does not appear to have even questioned this state of affairs. In this instance, however, that was another deception. Guren-sama was indeed the stronger twin – but it was Father who was born first."

"What?"

Shirogane's eyes almost fell out of his head, colour draining from his face, and Ryuu nodded.

"Father is the older brother," He whispered. "Making me…"

"The rightful Head of the Clan," Shirogane swallowed hard. "At least, if the Kuchiki court discovered it in an unsteady situation like this one, a claim for that could very likely arise. Ribari-sama is dead, and some of the more suspiciously traditional Clansfolk might see that as a judgement on Senaya-sama's line for tampering with the inheritance so badly."

"I'm not sure it goes that far. I wasn't born when Guren-sama inherited, but with Father's spirit power sealed, there's no questioning my rank as rightful heir," Ryuu said heavily. "I thought that if Father knew that, it might be a motive, because whilst Ribari-sama was alive, pushing that claim would be a difficult thing to do."

"Possession being nine tenths of the law," Shirogane said grimly. "Does Seiren-dono know?"

"I'm not sure. I couldn't find a way to ask him, just in case he did not," Ryuu confessed. "I am quite certain Guren-sama has no idea of it, and did not wish to cause upset. I have no aspiration for the Clan, so to voice this would not be in my own interests."

"No kidding," Shirogane ran his fingers through his thick black hair, loosening the white tie in his agitation. "I understand why you were so reluctant to talk about it. Without paper proof, a rumour is just a rumour, but a dangerous one could cause rifts in the Clan."

"Indeed," Ryuu nodded. "I have kept my silence, and hoped for a sign that my worst fears were not true. I believe now Father has probably been manipulated into hunting you down, but is likely also innocent. We exchanged cross words some weeks back, but I do not believe him capable of plotting my death since without me he has nothing to pursue at all. Knowing that gives me some comfort, and since we are here, in neutral territory, I feel less risk of telling you the truth."

"What if that document is in enemy hands, though?" Shirogane's brain was clearly working at speed now. "You aren't going to talk about it and nor will I – clearly Kinnya-sama has his reasons for keeping quiet about it too. If this remained a Kuchiki internal matter it could probably be well suppressed – but if you believe this document to be in the hands of rebels…"

"Senaya-sama's tone when writing it was one of someone looking for some kind of forgiveness. I think he felt he'd gone too far somehow in putting his own wishes ahead of the Clan," Ryuu said pensively. "He must have realised as soon as he'd done it that writing about it was a mistake, and so he took the page out. For whatever reason, it never got destroyed. I expect anything else removed from the nikki – political meetings or references to Kinnya-sama – were done at a different time, and might well have been burnt. This one sheet is still outstanding, but it's the most damning of them all."

"It's a very dangerous piece of ammunition that could do serious damage to the structure of our Clan," Shirogane said darkly. "Their attempt to kill you implies they know your significance as the most likely next heir, but maybe they know more than that."

"It cannot be ruled out," Ryuu said solemnly. "If they have such evidence, the only reason I can think for them concealing it thus far is that they wanted to eradicate other heirs before going for the core of Clan leadership. They cannot kill Guren-sama, I don't imagine, but maybe they don't have to."

"Not if they can topple him," Shirogane's expression was bleak. "I have been driven away, Seiren-dono has also been manipulated and Guren-sama's only son is dead. Again I realise I should not have been so easily coaxed into fleeing. My place as Vice Captain was at Guren-sama's side, and yet I am not there."

Ryuu was silent for a moment, digesting this. Then he let out a heavy sigh.

"My loyalty is to Guren-sama," he said firmly. "He is Head of the Clan as anointed and accepted by the Kuchiki court. I will denounce any claim to the contrary as slander and lies, and if I am asked to, will swear my allegiance to him before the Kuchiki court."

"There's a good reason for these rebels to kill you, then," Shirogane said acidly. "You're loyal to Guren-sama, and therefore can't be used as any kind of pawn in their plans."

"What are you thinking?" Ryuu gazed at his companion quizzically, and Shirogane sighed.

"I don't know. I don't know, but there's something in this that remains outstanding," he murmured, rubbing his temples. "I have spent much time ruminating on every possibility regarding the Clan and I feel I am still very much in the dark."

"Do you think you and I are still in danger?"

"You? Certainly. Me? It depends," Shirogane grimaced. "Sensei thinks that if something happened to you, my safety is important. He believes Seiren-dono's paranoia has been manipulated that way, too. Apparently there is a long past precedent in the Kuchiki Clan for a Clan leader to adopt a nephew in order for him to inherit. Guren-sama and I haven't thought of this, but Seiren-dono clearly has. Sensei has too – he's openly told me that his reason for protecting me is as a back-up plan should anything happen to you."

"Clinical, but somehow comforting," Ryuu's expression became thoughtful. "I had not thought of such a thing, either, but if Sensei says so, it must be true."

"I have no aspirations that way, Ryuu. You have my word that if you are named Guren-sama's heir, I will be the first to swear allegiance to you."

"That is Guren-sama's decision," Ryuu said simply, "not yours nor mine. In the meantime…"

"Since the attack on you failed, it's probably a case of waiting till the next clue surfaces," Shirogane sighed. "I have doubts that the Council's people will find anything in the Real World, since this has been an organised operation from the start. I had heard Aizen Keitarou was a genius and I believe he probably is, to be able to stay so far ahead of so many people with so little effort and resource behind him."

"What will you do?"

"Aside from protect you?"

"I mean after that. You're only guarding me because I am not fit for purpose, but that will wear off and if you insist on seeing me as the next Clan heir, I must be able to fight my own battles," Ryuu said frankly. "I meant in the long-term – till your name is cleared, what then?"

"Remain here, I suppose, in secret and under Sensei's command."

Shirogane shrugged.

"It's more comfortable than sleeping in the forest, though a little less free. I quite liked sleeping with the moon watching over me…but I am a Clansman at heart and there are certain comforts it is hard to live without."

Before Ryuu could respond, there was a brisk knock at the door, and the two cousins exchanged glances, surprise mirrored in each.

"I thought you were to have no visitors," Shirogane's brows knitted together, his fingers twitching once more towards Ginkyoujiki's hilt, but Ryuu held out a hand to stop him, shaking his head.

"It's all right," he said evenly. "Come in, Houjou. I am awake."

"Kuchiki?"

The next instant the divide was flung back to reveal the broad-shouldered Yamamoto, his brown eyes eager and full of anxiety as he strode into the room. At the sight of Shirogane he stopped dead, his jaw literally dropping, and despite the severity of the situation Ryuu grinned, gesturing to his friend to close the door.

"I'm to be kept quiet," he said lightly. "I advise you to keep your voice down, Houjou, otherwise Unohana-sensei will likely evict you."

"Oh. Right. The door. Right," Enishi gathered his wits, hurriedly pushing the sliding divide shut behind him with an exaggerated amount of care and then turning back towards the bed. "I'm sorry. Sensei said it would be all right for me to come, but I didn't think…I didn't realise you weren't alone. I mean, Nagoya-senpai…"

He trailed off, and Shirogane pursed his lips, glancing at Ryuu and arching a quizzical eyebrow.

"This is Houjou?"

There was a note of clear incredulity in his cousin's tones, and Ryuu's expression became rueful.

It's easy to see Houjou as someone awkward or boisterous or unreliable until you know him and realise he's none of those things at all. I had those same thoughts about him once, Senpai – but now he's someone to whom I owe my life.

"It is," was all he said, however, indicating for his sturdy friend to come sit down. "Houjou, I believe I owe you my thanks. Your quick actions in the forest appear to be the main reason I am suffering little more than a dizzy headache following last night's events."

"I was assigned with you," Enishi's expression became grave and he dropped heavily down at the opposite side of the pallet bed with a sigh. "I shouldn't have let you take off in the first place, so it's partly my bad you're feeling rough now. Still, Sensei said you'd be all right, and you look a heck of a lot better than you did when I hauled you in here last evening, so I guess I needn't worry too much about you any more."

His gaze flitted to Shirogane.

"That's why Sensei said I had to keep what was said in this room a secret," he realised. "Nobody knows you're here, Senpai…everyone thinks you're hiding out somewhere in the wilds of the Districts."

"For the time being, Senpai's being here has to be kept quiet," Ryuu said evenly. "His name isn't cleared yet, and that will take a little time to achieve. Even though we all know what the reality of this situation is, Clans do not always move with lightning speed."

"No. True," Enishi nodded his head. "It's all right. I promised Sensei I wouldn't say anything or even tell people I came here, so if they don't know that, they can't know I saw Nagoya-senpai at all."

"I'm going to assume there was logic in that explanation, although it appears to have passed me by."

Shirogane sighed, stretching his hands over his head.

"I can, however, believe that you were the one who gored that unfortunate Shihouin into his component parts. You look capable of doing that - your sword must be something of a brute too, judging by what was left of that boy's body."

"Senpai," Ryuu cast Shirogane a sharp look, but Enishi offered a good-natured smile.

"Kyoshingeki's pretty strong when it's released. I probably did more damage than was really necessary," he said matter-of-factly. "I half thought he might get up again, though, if I wasn't thorough. I wanted to be quick so he didn't suffer - but I don't know if he could even feel anything. He seemed like a dancing corpse to me."

"Me too," Ryuu agreed. "I remember vaguely that I cut through his fingers before my vision went giddy and I collapsed. My confrontation with him is hazy in my recollections, but I had the distinct impression he was not really 'there' at all."

"Aizen's puppet," Shirogane said succinctly, and Enishi nodded grimly.

"It's a low hand, something like that," he said soberly. "I never much liked Onoe and I won't pretend otherwise. I almost broke his nose with my fist once, so that should say everything about our relationship as students. He didn't deserve that, though."

His gaze flitted to Ryuu.

"I would've taken him out whether he had been in his wits or not," he admitted evenly. "He was trying to kill you, and I wasn't having that, so it wasn't really something I stopped to think over. It wasn't a fair fight in any respect. I think that Aizen guy is a coward, if you want my honest opinion. He used Ukitake to do his dirty work once before, and now Onoe. Plus he stole away Hirata's sister and brainwashed her into believing whatever rubbish he thinks makes sense. I don't like that kind of opponent. It's all secrets, lies and intrigue - I'd rather clash blades and be done with it. It seems a fairer way of settling things that way."

"I see," Shirogane looked pensive. "Secrets, lies and intrigue make up a good part of Clan life. You're Clan, aren't you, Houjou? You don't believe in that kind of power play?"

"I'm not much for all of that," Enishi shook his head. "I don't fit great into the Clan social scene and I've given up trying to follow through on who's supposed to be allied to who and when. I know who my friends are and I stick to that. I'm cut out to be a shinigami more than a Clan lord, I think."

"I would not disagree," Shirogane's lips twitched into a smile, but this time there was no mocking note in his tones, and Ryuu knew that his cousin had understood.

"Last night they were serious about bringing death," he said quietly. "Senpai told me about Amai...that brings home to me how real this threat truly was."

"Amai was messed up pretty bad. Akira's torn up over it - feels it was his fault, though I've spent good time before I came to see you trying to shake into him that it wasn't," Enishi grimaced. "Souryou tried too, but he wasn't having it from either of us. What happened to the girl only she and Shikibu know, but Akira was nowhere nearby and couldn't have prevented it even if he had been, I s'pect. From the looks of her, she was seared right through chest and throat with some kind of garrotte wire - there was a hell of a lot of blood."

"I suppose we'll never really understand why," Ryuu pressed a finger to his brow, closing his eyes briefly against the swirling mist that still threatened to dominate his thoughts. "In the meantime, what of Shikibu? I cannot imagine her to be one who would faint easily...is it true she collapsed from hysteria?"

"Seems it from what Souryou told me, but I have no clue," Enishi shrugged his huge shoulders helplessly. "She was out cold by the time I saw her, and I don't understand girls anyway. You're asking the wrong classmate - better speak to Edogawa when you can."

He frowned.

"She's not here. I half thought she would be."

"I'm here," Shirogane said simply. "Mitsuki's needed to help the Shikibu girl, so I'm in charge of Ryuu's safety."

"You are?" Enishi eyed the other boy doubtfully. "Are you a healer too, then, as well as a Vice Captain?"

"Not as a healer," Shirogane shook his head impatiently. "Ryuu's obviously coming out of it now, so he doesn't need medical assistance. I'm here to make sure nobody else lays a finger on him - I've lost one cousin in recent months and I've no intention of losing another."

"What Senpai is trying to say, Houjou, is thank you for your help last night," Ryuu murmured wryly, and Shirogane shot him a startled look.

"Ryuu?"

"Ah, it's okay," Enishi grinned, clapping his hand down on Shirogane's shoulder as if they were equals in rank and training. "There's no need for that. I didn't really want to bring him back dead, and he didn't want to go back dead, so it worked out pretty well for both of us in the end."

"I am glad," Shirogane eyed Enishi thoughtfully, but to Ryuu's surprise, made no attempt to pull his more slender frame free from the other boy's friendly grip. "This is not a Yamamoto problem, however, and it might prove dangerous if you were to be assigned such a responsibility permanently. Ryuu may yet inherit the Kuchiki Clan and my duty is to ensure his safe recovery. I intend to do that to the best of my skill."

"In that case, I don't have to worry," Enishi sat back, folding his arms across his chest in clear satisfaction. "I'm relieved you're here, Nagoya-senpai. It means you're not dead in the forest someplace, and since Edogawa and Kuchiki believe you're not a bad guy, I'm pretty sure you're probably not. Sensei was right to bring you here - it can't hurt to have a Vice Captain ranked officer on duty when there are assassins lurking in the shadows."

"You have a very...interesting view of all of this," Shirogane observed, and Enishi looked surprised.

"Do I? I don't think I said anything all that strange - Kuchiki, what do you think?"

"I think that I'm beginning to feel better," Ryuu offered his friend a rueful smile. "Perhaps well enough to consider writing a letter home. Fuzzy as my head may still be, I don't think that I can delay doing so, given the circumstances."

"A letter? To say what?" Enishi blinked. "Nobody Kuchiki died, and nobody there knew you went to the Real World. District Six won't really be fussed over Amai, so what exactly are you going to write?"

"Aizen Keitarou is a dangerous individual, Houjou," Ryuu said blackly. "He is also a manipulator who achieves his aims by cowardly deception. You said as much yourself, didn't you? Think of all the webs he's spun since this began - creating doubt between Senpai and Father, trying to point blame at the Shihouin...using Hirata's sister as an agent to potentially incriminate the Kyouraku. He knows Onoe attacked me last night - do you think he'd delay in reporting my death back to District Six whether it be true or not?"

"Ryuu's probably right," Shirogane acknowledged darkly. "A man who likes playing games instead of tackling things directly is probably the kind of person who'd do that."

"I'll write, and I'll ask Sensei to send it by his fastest messenger," Ryuu decided. "I'll write direct to Guren-sama, and ask him to advise Father as well. That way I can hopefully prevent more misunderstanding - and use it as an opportunity to put Shirogane-senpai's innocence into words. I can tell him who is guilty of Ribari-sama's murder - so I can try to exonerate Senpai at the same time. My reason for going to the Real World was to establish the guilty parties. Now I can do so with some authority."

"Seiren-dono may listen to you," Shirogane acknowledged, and Ryuu groaned.

"Last time we spoke, I was defiant and he slapped me for my trouble," he said grimly. "He happened upon me training with a classmate of whom he clearly did not approve. I became frustrated, and we argued. I have neither seen nor heard from him since then - I wonder very much if he would consider anything I say of value at the current time, but I am willing to try regardless."

"You defied him?" Shirogane's eyes became slits. "What classmate was this, pray, that you risked Seiren-dono's paranoid wrath?"

"Shihouin Kai."

"Shihouin, huh..." Shirogane murmured the name softly. "The same Clan as the corpse in the forest."

"Shihouin is on our side. Shihouin Kai, I mean," Enishi said firmly, and Shirogane raised an eyebrow.

"I believe I just told you this was not a Yamamoto problem, Houjou. Surely there is no 'our' side in this business so far as you are concerned?"

"I'm on Kuchiki's side. Kuchiki and Shihouin are on the same side. That makes it our side," Enishi stuck to his guns, meeting Shirogane's quizzical look with a matter-of-fact one of his own. "Like I said, I don't go in for this Clan intrigue business. I'm backing my friends, so I'm involved. After last night, you can't really say otherwise. This has become Senior Class's business, and so long as Kuchiki's in danger, it'll remain that way."

He turned to Ryuu.

"Shihouin's asked for Onoe's remains to be returned to District One. He's busy writing to his sister now to explain and ask for him to be given a proper burial," he added gravely. "I think he's right. Onoe didn't choose to die how he did, nor cause the trouble he's done of late. His family ought at least to bury him right. Then it's really over for them and the Shihouin can move on. I offered to write something too, as an explanation or apology for what happened, but Shihouin thought Midori-sama would be fine without that, so I'm going to leave it alone."

"Where the Shihouin are concerned, probably wise," Ryuu reflected, "but that is a gesture I did not expect. Onoe tried to kill Shihouin in the First year, and yet..."

"Shihouin said he'd forgiven Onoe," Enishi said simply. "I forgive him too. I don't know if he forgives me, of course, but that's fine. He's not the one the Council really want, so this way seems best to me. He's got family back home in Second who are hurting, so even if he can't know all of this is happening, it'll be closure for them."

"Closure for the Shihouin," Shirogane murmured. "I'm somewhat relieved there won't be a war."

"Not yet," Ryuu said acerbically. "Houjou's right in a sense, Senpai. This isn't everyone's fight yet, but it may become so. Also, Aizen has laid down his gauntlet to the Senior Class by killing one of our number with no apparent motivation. He is everyone's enemy, not just the enemy of the Kuchiki...Ukitake, Kyouraku, Hirata, even Kai all have past scores to settle with him and we must simply add ourselves to the line. He is a foe we cannot defeat just as a Clan alone. This time the Kuchiki must look to outside help."

"Far as I understand it they have been," Enishi mused. "Nagoya wouldn't know about that, of course, being he's been wandering round forests and stuff, but it's still the case."

"Nagoya...senpai," Shirogane said pointedly, and Enishi offered him a sheepish grin.

"Sorry. I forgot," He said good-naturedly. "We're pretty much of an age, so it's easy for something like that to slip my mind. I didn't mean any disrespect."

Shirogane sighed heavily.

"Whatever," he said frankly, getting to his feet and moving to the window, and Ryuu was struck by the sudden and unexpectedly casual turn of his cousin's speech. "At the moment I don't have any status anyway, so I shouldn't bother about what you call me, should I? It's all the same in the end - Shirogane, Nagoya - they're both names that don't belong to anybody much and I've no right to expect you to use any kind of honorific towards me."

"Senpai, you sound like..." Ryuu stared, and Shirogane turned, eying his cousin with a simple, faintly bittersweet smile.

"Like I come from the Districts?" he asked softly. "Perhaps I've learned how to blend among them, but no. Now I am among Clan I am once more becoming as Clan are...my Kuchiki pride is something not easily suppressed when other Noble houses are watching."

"Nobody ever said it should be," Ryuu was taken aback.

"True," Shirogane rested his hand idly against the window glass. "This is indeed everyone's fight, not just ours. I know that, I just find it easier to slip back into old habits and declare that we can stand alone as a Clan to face down this threat. We have proven that we cannot. Aizen Keitarou is an evil individual with little respect for anything but his own radical ideals. To stop him, every person who can help should. It will not end with the Kuchiki, just as it did not end with the Endou or the Shihouin some years past. He will not rest and so nor must we. Whatever his next assault, we must be ready to face it, District and Clan alike. I suppose that includes those not yet graduated from this Academy...since they are surely the Gotei shinigami of the not too distant future."

"Well said," Enishi nodded approvingly. "If we work together, I'm sure we can nab this coward and put him where he belongs."

"Chance would be a nice thing." Ryuu sighed, but inwardly he was comforted.

Senpai is safe. Houjou is unaffected from what last night called on him to do, and they both have resolution. I must have it too. I know who the people are who have been tormenting my family now. I will write home and, once I recover my strength, I must also do my part in stopping them. That is my duty as a member of the Kuchiki Clan...whether I am named Guren-sama's heir or not.