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.

65. Kaoru's Choice

Chapter Sixty Three: Kaoru's Choice

"I think we can take it as fact now that Sensei really has left the school."

Juushirou set aside his chopsticks, pushing back his tray and casting his companions a resigned expression. "Not only Sensei, but Ryuu and Unohana-sensei too. There's gossip spreading like wildfire about it in pretty much every corner of this place, and I've been asked several times already by curious juniors what's going on. If I had something I could tell them it would be helpful – but I have nothing at all."

It was the next morning and, having risen early, the Seniors had trailed down to the dining hall only to find that their headmaster was still absent from his usual seat and, as with the night before, responsibility for keeping the younger students in line had fallen mostly to their authority. Kazoe had summarily appeared not long after the bell and his presence had helped to convince some of the more unruly junior students that playing up their seniors would be an unwise idea, but his expression had remained preoccupied and he had as yet said nothing about the previous days events.

It left a decidedly uneasy feeling in the pit of Juushirou's stomach as he gazed out across the full dining hall. As with every breakfast, the room was filled with merry chatter, banter and teasing, but there was an undertone to it as well. It was as if the students were trying extra hard to be cheerful in order to cover their uncertainty – but it was impossible to compensate for the absence of Genryuusai.

The previous evening, after dinner, the ten remaining Senior students had gathered in the study to discuss the situation, and it had been long past the general curfew bell when they had dispersed. There had been much disagreement and the occasional raising of voices, but if one good thing had come out of the tragedy of the Real World it was the underlying sense of solidarity that all ten of those students had come to understand. Liking or disliking, agreeing or disagreeing, the Senior class were now united in one respect and one respect alone.

In whatever little way they could, they would help oversee and defend the Academy until the day Genryuusai came home.

"We're also dwindling in numbers," Shunsui pointed out now, draining his mug of the last drops of tea. "Sora-chan, where's Mitsuki this morning? There are only nine of us, instead of ten."

"She went to see Naoko," Sora paused in her demolition of her morning food, casting him a wry grin. "Unohana-sensei's more or less left that to Mi-chan now, and she's taking it quite seriously. She's gone there and said she'd eat breakfast with Nao-chan if she could…so she hasn't been dragged off to District Six too."

"I was starting to wonder," Shunsui admitted. "With people disappearing left, right and centre without warning, it was a possibility she'd been sent for too."

"I wouldn't think so. Not so long as he's there," Kai jerked a finger in the direction of the staff table, where Shirogane was quietly eating his morning meal, apparently listening to something Kazoe was saying to him in low tones. "Nagoya's a higher ranking Kuchiki than Edogawa, so if he's not been called back, she won't have been either."

"I heard a rumour that Seiren-dono had been taken ill," Sora added. "Mitsuki doesn't know anything about that, but she says it's possible Kuchiki alone would be dragged back if something like that happened."

"It could be that the stress got to him," Hirata reflected.

"Maybe something else did. Something with eight legs that scuttles," Shunsui interjected darkly. "Seiren-dono might not have any spirit power, but he's still a blood member of the central ruling family within that Clan. All targets are fair game in the mind of that twisted scientist – perhaps 'taken ill' is a euphemism for 'attacked with a blunt object'."

"I don't think Keitarou'd take out Seiren-dono in a face to face confrontation," Kai looked thoughtful. "He's not very broadly built, true, but he's well known in Clan circles as being an exceptional sword fighter. Our favourite enemy is, by contrast, not good with any kind of direct combat."

"He's perfectly capable of causing damage, death and other violent d-words that don't belong at the breakfast table," Shunsui pointed out. "Even if we take him at his word and assume he can't do what he did to Juu to anyone else with reasonable spirit power, Seiren-dono doesn't fall into that category. I'd say that if you gave him a little while, he'd think of some way to win even a battle of swords."

"This is not a nice conversation," Juushirou said reproachfully. "We don't know if it's more than a rumour. Besides, Ryuu's said before that his father was sickly when he was young. Maybe the stress really has taken its toll. It can, you know, if your body isn't up to full speed from the start. Ryuu's life was threatened and Seiren-dono must have been worried about him."

"If that's the only reason Ryuu's gone, then that's fine," Shunsui said flatly. "I can't see why Yama-jii would go too, though, if that's all it is…"

"To protect Kuchiki?" Enishi suggested.

"And what about all of us?" Shunsui objected. "This school is Genryuusai-sensei's responsibility, Enishi. The Kuchiki are by contrast a Clan who don't ask for help if they can possibly avoid it. No. The only reason he'd go there is that Aizen's there and he's gone to try and flush him out. That's why I wonder about Seiren-dono's 'illness'. It just seems suspect to me."

"Well, we don't know, so we shouldn't speculate," Hirata said pragmatically. "All we can do is wait for Sensei to return."

"Your attention please, everybody," Kazoe's voice from the staff table prevented any of the other students from responding. Though he was not one who often raised his voice, each and every student from the lackadaisical Shunsui to the most timid First year knew that when Kazoe used a particular tone, it was to be obeyed immediately, and dire consequences awaited anyone who dared not to take heed. As a result, the entire dining hall, which had been a hive of activity just moments before became suddenly silent, and the Kidou instructor's lips twitched into a dry, hollow smile.

"Good," he said briskly. "If you were all always so quickly obedient, I'm sure I'd find far less uses for my cane."

He paused to eye a couple of students who squirmed under his gaze. At length he relented, letting out a sigh of resignation.

"I believe you are all probably aware by this point that Genryuusai-sensei has been called away from the school on urgent business," he said slowly. "You all know that there is an increased presence of Yamamoto shinigami in and around the school as of last night and they will continue to be here until Genryuusai-sensei's return. We trust it will not be a long absence, but in the meantime, I must ask for your cooperation in as many areas as possible. In particular the Senior Class may find themselves imposed upon – while I realise it has already been a busy time for you, your support will especially be needed over the next few days."

He turned to his right, gesturing for Shirogane to stand and the young man did so, an unreadable expression on his haughty features.

"Some of you in the upper years will also remember Nagoya Shirogane as a former Anideshi and a graduate of this school," Kazoe continued in the same efficient manner, not giving any of the younger students the chance to even exchange looks, let alone begin to whisper. "He is currently serving as Vice Captain of the Sixth Squad, but has been kindly deployed here by Kuchiki Guren-sama as further support during Genryuusai-sensei's absence."

"That's a neat way of putting it," Shunsui muttered. "I wonder if there's any kid in this school that doesn't know Nagoya was a wanted outlaw up until a few days ago."

"Shirogane has given his assent to helping out in whatever regard he can, and Genryuusai-sensei has personally requested he assist with some of the zanjutsu Sakusen training, which will begin from today," Kazoe concluded. "Fourth years, this morning this will be your class, and this afternoon, it will be the Fifth. Whilst many of you may well remember Shirogane as your senpai, you are expected to obey him as you would any of us sensei and will address him with a similar level of respect. That is all."

"Kazoe-sensei, if I may add something," Shirogane raised his hand at this point, and Kazoe inclined his head, indicating that it was all right for the young man to speak.

"I graduated this school a good few years ago now, but I remember exactly how demanding its standards are and I will not treat this responsibility lightly."

Shirogane's words were soft and even, his expression impassive as his cultured tones spread across the dining hall. "The Fourth years should assemble outside at the training ground this morning as soon as breakfast is finished. I will also require two Senior students to assist me with this morning's arrangements."

His gaze shifted to the Senior table, and for a moment Juushirou felt Shirogane's gaze bore right through him.

"Ukitake Juushirou and Kyouraku Shunsui will meet there alongside Fourth year immediately this meal is over," he added quietly, and Juushirou bristled slightly at the commanding note in his former shishou's tones. Though his voice had remained even, it had not been a suggestion or a request, and Juushirou knew it had been a clear order – the instruction of a Vice Captain who expected his words to be immediately obeyed.

"Yay for us." As Shirogane sat down and the school returned to its usual buzz of chatter, Shunsui shot Juushirou a graphic grimace. "We get to spend this morning playing with his ego. I hate to say it, Juu, but even if he and Mitsuki are buddies now, I can't say exile has improved his attitude all that much."

"Probably he chose us because he knows my sword and you're tutoring one of the class. Nagasata-san's your deshi, so it makes sense," Juushirou sighed. "I honestly wish he hadn't, though. I'm glad it's with you, and I don't mind helping the younger ones, but there was something in his eyes just now that I really didn't like."

"I thought Nagoya was fond of you, Ukitake," Enishi looked mystified. "He didn't seem very fond of anyone just then."

"He's probably feeling jilted," Shunsui mused. "Mitsuki chose you, Juu, over him."

"Don't be stupid," Juushirou reddened, shaking his head firmly. "That was my own silly misunderstanding. I read things all out of proportion, and jumped to conclusions. I suppose I was a little rude to him the last time we met, but, I mean, that was…"

"In the forest, when Mitsuki and I were trying to hide him, yes?" Sora butted in. "Mi-chan told me something about it. It sounds like you said and did some idiot things…but I don't suppose Nagoya'd care about that."

She looked pensive.

"Mind you, Shunsui's probably right in some ways," she added. "Mi-chan doesn't think so, but I'm pretty sure Nagoya likes her more than just as cousins. Let's just say if a marriage had been arranged between them, it wouldn't have been a connection of convenience in his case. I think he's really genuinely attached to her…and from the coldness in that look, I'd say he also knows that she likes you."

"Ugh. Sora, don't say things like that," Shunsui tugged at his hair agitatedly. "I was half-joking, but if even you see it that way, I have to consider it as a real possibility. I don't want to take a class with lovesick rivals – do you think I can call in sick?"

"Oh, shut up." Juushirou sent him a long-suffering look. "Whatever's bothering Senpai, I don't think it's likely to be Mitsuki and I'm not going to let you two wind me up. I'm done, and I'm going – are you coming or are you going to trail behind and risk getting scolded for being late? We have no timetabled lessons this morning, so you can't duck out of Senpai's orders now the whole school has heard them."

"I know," Shunsui groaned. "All right, I'm coming. If he really is harbouring pent up wrath towards you, I ought to be there to diffuse it and protect Kaoru-chan and her friends from harm. Besides, we agreed it yesterday, didn't we? If I'm to accept all of this crazy Senior alliance set-up, one of the conditions is that I stick to you like glue till Yama-jii comes back."

"I know," Juushirou sighed, shaking his head in resignation as the two boys returned their trays, making their way across the busy hall to the door. "I sometimes wish you wouldn't make such a fuss, though. I said it yesterday in the study with the others and I'll say it again now. I'm not going to let him take me for a fool again and you don't need to watch over me every second of the day, just in case!"

"It's not for your sake, it's for mine," Shunsui said grimly. "Just humour me and pipe down, okay? You want me to put the fight in the snow behind us and I'm trying, but I can't help but feel like this with that man in the equation. The common sense bit of me knows you don't need my protection - unfortunately the non-common sense bit of me is bigger, and it's concerned about you as your friend."

"Yeah..." Juushirou ran his fingers through his lank white hair. "I know that, too. All right, all ready. It's like you said. If things happen here, we'll all have our parts to play. I don't really understand about that fight, either, and my trying to will only bother you more, because you don't want me to remember. That being the case, there's not a lot of choice. I don't like it, but I'll tolerate your fussing until Sensei gets back."

"Good boy." Shunsui looked rueful. "I'm a tad selfish when it comes to things like this, so I'm glad you're willing to be the bigger person here."

"Juushirou-kun!"

As they left the dining hall, Mitsuki came hurrying down the hall towards them, grabbing Juushirou by the wrists and sending him an anxious look. "Juushirou, have you seen Naoko-chan?"

"Mitsuki?" Juushirou gathered his wits hurriedly, staring at his classmate in surprise. "Shikibu-san? Weren't you with her? Sora said you'd gone to see her this morning, and were having breakfast there."

"I know. I did, but when I got there she wasn't there," Mitsuki looked agitated. "I've hunted all over the places I thought she might be, but I can't find any sign of her and I'm really worried. She's not in any state to wander around the school or come back to class, and Retsu-sama left her in my care, so I need to find her before she gets herself hurt!"

"Clearly I'm invisible," Shunsui said dryly. "But in case my words somehow penetrate through the shield of Juu-haze that's obviously engulfing this hallway at the present moment, Mitsuki-chan, you should probably calm down. Most likely Naoko-chan went for some air, and you missed each other half-way – did you check outside as well as within the school grounds?"

"Kyouraku-kun?" Mitsuki reddened. "I'm sorry. It's not that I didn't see you, it's just…and yes, I did look outside. I've been looking all over the place, but none of the assistants that work in the Healing Bay have seen her and I can't imagine where she'd have gone."

"Perhaps she was feeling better," Juushirou suggested. "She has recovered a lot, hasn't she?"

"Yes…she has," Mitsuki looked doubtful. "Physically at least. Emotionally, I'm not sure. She's very unsettled still and once or twice she's said things that worry me. Things like she should have died instead of Amai-san, or things like she's useless to her Clan and has no future with them. It's all been a big shock on her nerves."

"You don't think she'd do something to hurt herself?" Shunsui's amusement was gone in an instant, and Mitsuki chewed on her lip, shrugging her shoulders helplessly.

"Normally I would say not. Naoko's not that type," she said uneasily. "Right now, though, it's hard to be sure. She saw Amai-san die and she wasn't able to do anything to help her. I know that's taken its toll and she's not one who finds it easy to talk about things wholesale."

"We should help Mitsuki look," Juushirou suggested. "The more of us who split up and search, the quicker we'll find her. She can't have gotten far, and…"

"We're not going to be able to," Shunsui said darkly. "We have a prior errand, don't forget."

"A prior…errand?" Mitsuki looked blank, and Juushirou sighed heavily.

"Nagoya-senpai has asked…no, ordered…Shunsui and I to help him teach the Fourth years zanjutsu this morning," he admitted reluctantly. "I'm sorry, Mitsuki-chan. Shunsui's right. I want to help you but Nagoya-senpai doesn't seem to be in a very good mood with me for some reason at the moment."

"I think he's worried about things at home," Mitsuki murmured. "I haven't spoken to him since we went to the Real World, but I can't imagine his thoughts are far from District Six, especially now."

"Shikibu-san is important too, though," Juushirou pointed out. "Last night when we gathered up together in the Senior study we all agreed we were going to work together and look out for each other as much as possible, personal differences aside. She's one of us, even though she wasn't there last night. That being the case…"

"It's all right. I'll ask Sora to help, and I'll keep looking," Mitsuki shook her head. "Maybe some of the others will help out too, when they understand. I don't want you to get into trouble, and I know you'd help if you could."

"This doesn't seem to be the training ground, now does it?"

A cold voice from the hallway beyond made Juushirou jump and he swung around, instinctively pulling his hands free of Mitsuki's loose grasp as he met the clouded gaze of his former shishou. Unlike the half-dressed, bedraggled figure he had encountered in the forest, this Shirogane was every bit the Vice Captain, his uniform missing the official insignia but his bearing and his expression in keeping with one who had already graduated in life as well as in his studies and who considered himself on a level far above those who now surrounded him.

"I trust you're not going to try and disobey my instructions, Ukitake, by sneaking out of the dining room before the rest of your fellows," Shirogane continued in the same cutting tones, his eyes conveying a challenge to his old student. "I seem to remember you liked doing your own thing and following your own endeavours – and I'm not liable to tolerate them any more now than I did back then."

"One of the Senior class has gone missing, Senpai," Before Juushirou could speak, Shunsui raised his voice, offering Nagoya a cursory bow of the head. "She's been quite sick since a traumatic event in the Real World and we're worried about her. Mitsuki asked if we'd seen her, and we were trying to work out where she might have gone."

"A Senior class student?" Shirogane's gaze flitted to Mitsuki, who nodded.

"I'm sorry, Senpai. I've distracted them," she said softly. "I'll ask someone else to help me look for Naoko – I didn't know you needed Juushirou or Kyouraku-kun for your class."

Shirogane sighed, running his fingers through his dark hair and with a jolt of surprise Juushirou realised that with that short exchange the aura of the austere Vice Captain had begun to crack.

Is Sora right? Where Mitsuki is concerned, I trust her. We've talked about things and I understand. But what are Nagoya-senpai's feelings? Sora and Shunsui were teasing me, but as soon as she spoke, his attitude changed.

"Shikibu Naoko, huh?" the Vice Captain murmured, more than half talking to himself. "When I left the Healing Bay and took proper quarters in the school, she was being kept quiet and very few people were being allowed to see her. Now you say she's disappeared? I thought Retsu-sama said you'd be watching over her while they were away – how come you don't know where she is now?"

"I'm not sure. She was sleeping when I left her last evening and she'd taken a draught Retsu-sama had given her to make her rest the whole night through," Mitsuki looked crestfallen. "I saw her drink it, so I know that she did. By rights she should still be in bed now, but obviously she isn't. I will find her though, Senpai, I promise. I won't let anything happen to her."

"Do so." Shirogane pressed his lips together, then, "I can't spare Ukitake nor will I spare Kyouraku since I have need of both. However, I would make finding Shikibu your priority this morning – Genryuusai-sensei is very keen to ensure all of his students are in good and healthy shape when he returns from District Six."

He turned his gaze to Juushirou and Shunsui.

"You both have your swords already about your person?" he asked quietly, and the two exchanged glances, nodding their heads. "Good. In that case, follow me. The Fourth years will be soon be on our tails and I have no intention of causing them further delay."

"Senpai, why is it us that you need so specifically this morning?" As they walked through the halls of the school, Juushirou decided to venture the question that had been nagging away at the back of his thoughts. "You didn't seem to really want us, and I'm sure we could have been of help to Mitsuki in finding Shikibu-san."

"Genryuusai-sensei's orders," Shirogane replied succinctly. "If you have a problem with it, you should take it up with him when he returns. Though, knowing how your mind works, I imagine if you do have an objection you won't hesitate to raise it at the highest possible level."

"I have no objection," Juushirou said hurriedly. "I was just surprised."

"Yama-jii ordered you to use us as your lackeys?" Shunsui arched an eyebrow. "With all respect, Senpai, does he think you can't handle a class on your own?"

"Firstly, you will not refer to your headmaster in such a disgraceful manner while in my company, not unless you wish to be disciplined for insubordination," Shirogane said acidly. "At present I hold the rank of sensei, however temporarily, and that does allow me to punish even members of the most Senior class. Secondly, Genryuusai-sensei advised me that Ukitake might be in particular danger if the school was to be left unattended and that I should therefore ensure that his safety was made a priority whilst I was here in District One. He also intimated to me that, despite your obvious lack of decorum and general manners, Kyouraku, your sword is potentially a strong one. I am of the understanding both of you have faced and already know the enemy who has been stalking my family. If there is an attack here, there is a good possibility either of you may be targeted. I am aware that Aizen has an accomplice and I know all too well who she is. She may or may not be primed to attack the school – it is hard to be sure."

"Sensei ordered such a thing for my sake?" Juushirou was stricken. "Senpai, really, I'm not in that much danger!"

"You might be," Shunsui shook his head. "We went over this again last night, so don't treat it like it's done with. All right, you haven't recovered the memories Aizen wants you to, and I grant so far it doesn't look like you're going to be his puppet again, but you still have something he wants. Maybe Sensei's right – though Nagoya-senpai, the Senior class this year aren't weak. We can and will take care of ourselves and of each other. We're resolved on that count and we don't need someone else nannying us."

"I have no intention of nannying anyone," Shirogane said pragmatically. "I have seen what kind of person this Aizen is, and it is my desire to make sure he cannot do further damage. You forget he is responsible for the death of my cousin and I have a score to settle in that regard."

"Senpai, you know what's happening in District Six, don't you?" Juushirou said softly, and Shirogane nodded his head.

"I do, but it is no business of yours."

"On the contrary, my family are there. If there's danger there, it affects them," Juushirou responded. To his surprise, the older man stopped, turning to eye him carefully, then slowly nodding his head.

"I suppose that's true," he admitted evenly. "Your family have no control over what the Clan decide to do, but they have to live with it all the same. If raids are ordered to find traitors or conspirators, ordinary people may also be made unwitting victims. I am sorry, Ukitake. Your family are as involved in this as mine, albeit not by their active choosing."

"Well, that's a turnaround," Shunsui observed. "I thought you were of the opinion that District people were a disease best eradicated, Senpai."

"Your attitude is something which could use eradication," Shirogane shot back scathingly. "As it happens, I have spent time in the Districts in the past few months. I probably know more about them and their ways of life now than you do – or am I wrong to imagine that the brother of the Kyouraku Clan Leader lives in a manor of similar size and grandeur to most other Clan families?"

"If you remember that, you'll remember that I still outrank you," Shunsui returned calmly. "I might no longer be heir to my Clan, but I am still first degree."

"I couldn't care less what rank you hold," Shirogane's sudden and blunt turn of speech made Juushirou stare, blinking as if unable to believe what he had just heard. "You're younger than me and right now, lacking in training and experience by comparison. You might be strong. One day you'll be stronger than me if you believe the rumours circulating around Seireitei. I don't really care if that's true – it doesn't matter to me as I am right now. What you don't understand is the impact all this has had on District Six – and no amount of smart-alec behaviour is going to change that."

"Senpai…" Juushirou swallowed hard, then, "Please, what is happening…back there?"

"Genryuusai-sensei won't let your family come to harm," Shirogane avoided the question, turning to rest his hand on the other's arm. "I've asked it of him, and so have other people. The coast is a relatively quiet place as a rule, and your kin will be kept safe, I promise."

"You seem pretty interested in them all of a sudden," Shunsui said suspiciously. "I wouldn't have thought you'd know Juushirou has family, let alone that they're coastal people."

"Ukitake's siblings saved my life," Shirogane said succinctly. "I was attacked and almost killed, but they took me in and nursed me back to health. The young girl – Shikiki – her powers healed my wounds and I recovered. I learned then what it was that you were fighting for, Ukitake, and I understood it. Annoying as you might have been at times when my student, I find I understand better now what your reasons were. I intend not to let harm befall you for their sake. They care for you, foolish though you can be, and it would be selfish of you to let yourself get killed when so many young ones would cry."

"My family…did?" Juushirou's eyes were huge. "But…how is it I didn't know about this? Does Mitsuki know? Sensei? Everyone else but me?"

"I asked Mitsuki to keep you out of my predicament because I did not want it to have repercussions for those to whom I was indebted," Shirogane said gravely. "I didn't know what kind of punishment might befall people accused of sheltering a suspected traitor, so until my name was cleared, I could not have you know. I would sooner keep you out of it now – but at the very least I can follow Sensei's instructions and keep watch over you."

"And I thought you were glaring at Juu because he stole Mitsuki's heart away," Shunsui sighed heavily. "Turns out you're just having a typically Kuchiki overdose on duty."

"Mitsuki's heart?" Shirogane turned, and the look he gave Shunsui could have frozen him on the spot. "What foolish things are you saying now, Kyouraku?"

"I suppose the romantic inside of me imagined you were a rival for her affections," Shunsui said blithely. "Juushirou got there first, so I wondered if there'd be a duel over it with Kuchiki pride heading off against District honour."

"Shunsui, stop saying silly things!" Juushirou flushed beetroot red, and Shirogane offered Shunsui a withering smile.

"You are obviously confused by unsubstantiated rumours of a wedding alliance between Edogawa Mitsuki and I," he said quietly. "For my part, Mitsuki is my kinswoman and my friend, but no more. Let me state clearly now that I am not interested in the heart – as you so commonly put it – of a woman who can fall indiscriminately in love with a boy of District blood. Such a person would not suit me – and I am not inclined to romantic imagination anyway."

"It really is all pride and honour with you lot, isn't it?" Shunsui looked resigned, and Shirogane inclined his head.

"As you say," he replied simply. "I trust with that you can let this particular fancy of yours drop and focus for a time on this morning's class? Other motives aside, I do intend on utilising both of you where I can today. I know how Sougyo no Kotowari operates, and Kazoe advised me that you have been training one of the Fourth years already, Kyouraku."

"Nagasata Kaoru," Shunsui agreed. "She's come on quite a long way since we began – I don't suppose she's got much further to go before her sword tells her its name."

"Most Fourth years begin active zanpakutou training in the latter half of the year," Shirogane looked pensive. "I can only imagine this child must have some particular potential that you've begun with her at once."

"Yes. I think she has," Shunsui acknowledged. "I don't know that it's any thanks to my training, but I think she's going to make a good shinigami if she keeps on the way she is now."

"Another District student?" Shirogane asked, and Shunsui shrugged.

"There are quite a few of them popping up all over the place these days," he said cheerfully. "The school's taken some steps forward in that regard since your time, Senpai."

"I imagine it couldn't help but do so." Despite himself, a wry smile touched Shirogane's lips. "Between Genryuusai-sensei's determination and Ukitake's inability to keep himself to himself, it can be no secret anywhere in Seireitei that indiscriminate training is available here for all."

"That's a good thing for the future of Seireitei, though," Juushirou pointed out. "The more shinigami the better. Isn't that how it is?"

"The more shinigami. Perhaps," Shirogane acknowledged. "I suppose I have come to shift my own views a little since meeting Shikiki. I had thought you to be an enigma – or that your Kuchiki blood dictated your ability. She cannot be so easily explained that way, though – and I owe my life to her unique skills. People like that are needed in Seireitei, I concede. Perhaps one day they will even stand as equals to members of the Clans."

"Though perhaps not to the Kuchiki?" Shunsui asked mischievously. Shirogane snorted.

"There will never be anyone who stands equal to the Kuchiki," he said frankly, "but I don't expect one such as you to really comprehend that."

He pushed back the door, ushering his companions through.

"From this point, our focus is the Fourth years," he added. "Between now and the end of this lesson I will tolerate no other discussion than that."

---

A chill wind was blowing across the school grounds that morning, and most of the leaves had already been scattered from the nearby trees, a plethora of browns and reds adorning the remaining branches as they swayed and bowed in the breeze. The sky was overcast, with only the faintest glitter of light against the edge of a cloud to show that the sun had bothered to rise, and though it was still autumn, it was clear that there was not much longer before District One's fierce winter season began.

A bird perched on one of the bare branches, singing defiantly against the cooling weather, and as Kaoru and her friends crossed the grass towards the far-flung training arena, the determined song was only broken by the whoosh and howl of the wind. The grass beneath their feet was damp from more than just dew, for the rain had fallen heavily the night before, leaving a gleaming veneer over what surviving greenery remained. Despite the coldness, there was something fresh in the atmosphere, and as the icy wind stung her cheeks, Kaoru raised her head, casting the lone bird a grin.

"It's almost winter time," she observed. "This year has gone by so quickly."

"We're the first people here." Akaya reached out to tug on the training ground gate, surprise glittering in her pale eyes as she realised it had been left unlocked. "I suppose we're meant to go right in? Kaoru, you're the only one who ever comes here usually, so...?"

"Senpai is usually here when I get here, but I suppose so," Kaoru nodded. "Or wait...Nagoya-senpai said we should assemble outside the training ground, didn't he? Maybe we ought to wait here. I don't want to get into trouble."

"We needn't have hurried, since they're not here yet," Akaya sighed, leaning back against the high wooden fence. "It's cold. We could have taken our time."

"It's possibly the first time Sakura-san ever hurried to a class, though," Kaoru's eyes twinkled with amusement. "You never run off to Sensei's lessons, Sakura-san."

"Well, this is a special occasion. I wanted to make sure we weren't late," Sakura dimpled. "Nagoya-senpai is handsome and I don't mind being taught by him."

"What about Souryou-senpai?" Akaya arched an eyebrow. "Are you so fickle you've gone off him now in favour of someone of higher rank?"

"No-o," Sakura shook her head. "I'd rather have Souryou-senpai come train with us, of course. I'm just saying that Nagoya-senpai is good looking as well, so it will be fun having him train us today."

"You've got a one track mind," Kaoru giggled, patting her friend playfully on the arm. "I thought he seemed a lo-o-ong way above all of us, though, in terms of position and stuff. Maybe it's because he's a Kuchiki, or perhaps it's because he's a squad Vice Captain, but he seemed a little bit scary and distant to me when he spoke in the dining hall just now."

"Do you remember Nagoya-senpai when he was Anideshi?" Sakura asked, and Kaoru shook her head.

"No. Why?"

"Kaoru-chan wouldn't, Sakura," Ayaka said impatiently. "She only joined our year at the start of last term, remember? Nagoya-senpai was only here for half of our first year and then he was claimed by the Kuchiki."

"Half way through a school year?" Kaoru's eyes became wide. "Is that normal?"

"I don't think so," Akaya shook her head. "I think Nagoya-senpai had already completed all the exams and stuff the year before, but because he hadn't turned twenty yet, he couldn't go join his squad or something. That's what I heard it was, anyway. He was like you, Kaoru-chan – he got promoted quickly and so was a lot younger than the rest of his class."

"Hrm," Sakura began counting on her fingers. "I'm nineteen, and if you're right, Aka-chan, that makes him about twenty four? Maybe he's twenty five at the very outside. I think that's an eligible match – don't you?"

"You are impossible," Akaya groaned. "Stop setting Kaoru a bad impression, for goodness sake!"

"I think it's funny," Kaoru dimpled, "but if you look at it that way, Sakura-san, Souryou-senpai is even closer to your age. He's what, about twenty two or twenty three now?"

"True," Sakura looked pensive. "There's never any harm in having a back up plan, though."

"You're going to make a Kuchiki Vice Captain your 'back up plan'?" Akaya rolled her eyes. "Heaven save us. You do realise what 'out of your league' means, don't you?"

"But I'm a Sakura," Sakura said playfully. "Don't the Kuchiki worship the sakura every spring? I'm already a cherry blossom, so it's not quite as impossible as you think."

"I give up," Akaya grimaced, but there was amusement in her eyes too. "You're a lost cause."

"Thank you," Sakura was undaunted. "What about you, Kaoru-chan? You're very bright and sparky this morning, too – could it be anything to do with the fact Kyouraku-senpai's coming to help teach our class as well?"

Kaoru reddened, dropping her gaze to the ground.

"It's not like that," she protested. "He's my shishou and my senpai. He's taught me a lot of stuff, and…"

"And you went running after Anideshi to make sure he was all right because you were worried he looked sad," Sakura pursed her lips. "You shouldn't lie to your girlfriends, Kaoru. It's not nice and you're not fooling anyone. You like Kyouraku-senpai as much as I like Souryou-senpai. You're just a lot less honest with your feelings."

She grabbed her friend by the hand.

"Embrace it," she advised with a grin. "You're seventeen and there's nothing abnormal about having a crush. A Senior is a good first target and he is quite handsome so you could have chosen worse. He seems kind, too, and people say he's smart. You ought to be proud of it – a girl's first crush is a sign of coming of age."

"Who made up that rule?" Akaya demanded. "Stop feeding the girl foolish tidbits of your own warped perspective! She already told you that she admires Kyouraku-senpai but it doesn't mean she's in love with him. It's all romantic nonsense with you sometimes, but a girl can like a guy in other ways, you know."

"I know," Sakura was not to be so easily squashed. "I also know when it's a crush. I don't care if you agree or disagree, Aka-chan. Kaoru's found her first love."

"I'm not sure if it's that," Kaoru's cheeks were still flushed pink and she kicked idly at the ground beneath her feet. "He's been very kind to me, but I know he's…a long way out of my league. He's Clan. I'm not. Even though he has District friends and he isn't a snob, it's not as though…I could never tell him, so I don't suppose if it matters what exactly I think of him, does it? I won't ever say anything about it, and I'd really rather he didn't know."

"It's kinda weird having all these shinigami flitting around the place." Akaya cast her gaze across the school grounds to where the deployed members of First squad were making their temporary barracks. "I know it's because Sensei isn't here and it should make us feel safe, but somehow I'm more on edge when there are so many uniformed officers stationed here."

"It makes you wonder what they're trying to protect us from, doesn't it?" Kaoru's expression became thoughtful. "Nobody's said anything about the Seniors' trip to the Real World, have they? When I asked Anideshi about it, he said he wasn't going to discuss it with me - but I've been thinking about it and I think that...if the rumours weren't true, he would have told me. I think someone did die in the Real World, and well, that's why all of this security now."

"Some of the Senior class haven't been at meals lately," Akaya agreed.

"You actually asked Anideshi right out if someone died?" Sakura looked surprised, and Kaoru pinkened again.

"I was worried about Kyouraku-senpai," she defended herself, "so yes, I did. Anideshi is kind, so he didn't shout at me. He did say it wasn't something that we should be talking about though. I'm not sure, maybe there's no connection, or perhaps some folk were just hurt by Hollows or something like that. The Real World is a scary place, apparently...it's not impossible. Just, I'm not sure why he wouldn't tell me anything if there was nothing to tell."

"It really isn't our business, though," Akaya sighed. "If nobody wants us to know, then they must think it's better that we don't."

She shivered.

"I wonder why we're meeting out here. Sensei doesn't usually teach us zanjutsu outside."

"Sensei isn't training us today. Nagoya-senpai is," Sakura reminded her. "Maybe Vice Captains do things differently. If he was a Senior here, probably he's helped train other students before, too - and nobody would've asked him to do this if he didn't know what he was doing."

"Maybe there's been a change in plans," Kaoru pushed the stray wisps of her dark hair out of her face, squinting into the wind. "Look, aren't those two of the Yamamoto squad coming this way? There's no sign yet of Nagoya-senpai or the others, and the rest of our class aren't here yet either. I know we were early out, but surely someone else should have come here by now?"

"Perhaps something happened," Akaya looked anxious. "Come on. We ought to go and find out if it's us they want. We're supposed to obey orders if the shinigami think there's danger, so..."

She grabbed Sakura by the sleeve, reaching out for Kaoru's arm too.

"It's cold and if we're going to be inside, the sooner we go the less late we'll be," she added. "I bet Nagoya-senpai realised how cold it was and then decided to change the venue. Or someone told him that we hadn't reached the level of outside class yet."

"No, because look. Over there," Sakura flung out her hand towards the main school building, pulling free of Akaya's hold as she did so. "That's the rest of our class. They're heading this way too - we're meant to be here, Aka-chan. I'm not going to tick off someone as hot as Nagoya-senpai just because of a little cold. Maybe the shinigami are just coming to pass on a message."

"Something's wrong." A sudden prickle ran down Kaoru's spine, and she took a step back, anxiety flaring in her eyes. "Don't you feel it? Something's wrong. Why does it take two shinigami just to pass on a message? Surely if it was something like that, Nagoya-senpai would have sent one of the Seniors to tell us."

"Well, maybe, but if there's something dangerous, the squad might have been dispatched," Sakura pointed out. "What's eating you, Kaoru? You look like you saw a ghost."

"No...like I felt one," Kaoru shivered, somehow knowing that it had not been caused by the cold wind but the deep feeling of unease that now gripped her body. Slowly her fingers moved to her waist for the asauchi she had collected from the gymnasium before coming to the training ground, and Akaya gazed at her in dismay.

"Kaoru, are you crazy? You can't draw your sword on a squad shinigami!"

"They're going to draw theirs on us," Kaoru's words were little more than a whisper, her left hand tightening around the hilt of the weapon. "Can't you tell? I can. I can't see it, but I can feel it. There's something badly wrong with them...and they're not coming to give us a message."

"Kaoru, you're scaring me!" Sakura took a step away from her friend. "What are you talking about?"

"Because of my eyesight, Senpai's been training me to focus on spiritual signatures more than simply what's right before my gaze." Kaoru drew the asauchi from its sheath, her expression flooding with determination. "Because of that, he's had me focus on the changes in people's aura, and I can feel it now. There's something not right about those shinigami. They're coming to do something to us, and it's not give a message."

"Kaoru's right!" Akaya whitened. "One of them has his hand around his sword, too. We should get out of here! Senpai...we need to get Nagoya-senpai, and..."

"They're shinigami. They'll out-shunpo us in a heartbeat." Kaoru's normally playful tones were gone now, and her body was rigid with a mixture of fear and tension. "There are two of them, and three of us. Akaya-san, you should run to the others...tell them not to come any closer. Tell them to go back into the school and wait there. If they see a Senpai, anyone, tell them to get help. Sakura-san and I will try and distract these two."

"We will?" Sakura looked aghast. "You might be training for your shikai, Kaoru-chan, but I'm nowhere near that level yet!"

"You're the highest rank of the three of us in Kidou." Kaoru's stance did not shift for an instance, her good eye focusing on the closest Shinigami. "Akaya-san is the highest rank when it comes to shunpo, so she can move the most quickly. I didn't say we were going to fight them. We're going to distract them and then we're going to run for help. We're just going to give it enough time to let Akaya-san get the others away...you can do that, can't you? I can't see as well as you, but between us..."

"I'm gone." Akaya's eyes became serious and she nodded. "I'll move quickly, so you don't have to stay here long. I don't know what's happened, but I can feel it too, now. There's something dark in their auras, and I really think they're going to draw their swords."

Sakura gulped, but slowly nodded her head, and as Akaya slipped into shunpo, hurrying off across the field towards the remainder of the Fourth year top class, the two remaining girls turned to face the oncoming shinigami.

Now they were much closer, even Kaoru's damaged vision could make out what she had felt from much further away. Both men were moving slowly and methodically, as though in some kind of a trance, and as she met the gaze of the nearest, Kaoru's heart clenched in her chest at the emptiness she saw there. As though commanded at the exact same instant, both men drew their swords, an odd greenish light glittering against the blade of each weapon as they prepared to make their charge into battle. Kaoru swallowed hard, trying to remember everything that Shunsui had taught her about facing an enemy. This was not training, but something much more serious.

Till Akaya-san can send help, there's only Sakura-san and I. If we let them get away from us, they might hurt someone younger and less experienced than we are. If we stay here, we might get hurt ourselves. I can't just rush into this. What would Kyouraku-senpai say? He'd tell me to assess everything carefully, and try and read their strengths and weaknesses before trying to make an attack. The thing is, can I? These are squad shinigami, with proper swords and proper training. In comparison, we're just...

"Hadou no Sanjuu Ichi. Shakkahou!"

The words cut crisp and clearly through the winterish atmosphere, slicing through Kaoru's fear like a knife. The next moment a blaze of perfectly formed crimson energy exploded in the space between the two students and their shinigami opponents, making Kaoru jump almost out of her skin from the noise of the blast. She stumbled backwards, only for two strong arms to catch her and haul her back to her feet.

"You shouldn't be so easily startled by spells at your age, Kaoru-chan." The voice was teasing and reassuringly familiar, and relief flooded Kaoru's young heart as she turned to meet the dark eyes of her sword shishou. His expression was uncharacteristically grave, but he offered her a smile, patting her on the shoulder.

"Fighting trained shinigami is also not really in the Fourth year syllabus," he added. "Stand back. Whatever's going on here, it's not for you to raise your blade."

"What is happening?" That was Anideshi's voice, and Kaoru turned her head to see the familiar white haired figure putting himself bodily in front of Sakura, his hand clasped around the hilt of his own sword. Between them stood a third figure, the one who had fired the blast of magic in the first instance, and as he strode forward, Kaoru could feel the indignation prickling against the young man's aura.

"Nagoya...senpai," she whispered, and Shunsui nodded.

"Where are the rest of your class?" he asked quietly. "You were all meant to meet out here - but there's only you and one playmate."

"Akaya-san...took them inside." Now the tension was off, Kaoru felt faintly giddy. "Senpai, I don't know what happened. I just felt that they weren't...weren't right. Sakura-san and I weren't really going to fight them, but we wanted to give Akaya-san time to get the others back to school and to...to go get help."

"Help has arrived," Juushirou said darkly, drawing his weapon from its sheath. "Nagoya-senpai, Nagasata-san is right. There's something not right with these two shinigami."

"I don't need a former student of mine pointing out things I can see with my own eyes," Shirogane's words were cutting, and Kaoru realised he too held his sword in his hands. "We can worry about the reasons why later. For the time being, you and Kyouraku are as much students as the girls are - you should put your attention to keeping them safe."

"You can't fight two shinigami at once!" Juushirou protested, and Shirogane shot him a cold look.

"I am a Vice Captain," he said blackly. "On the other hand, students who haven't yet graduated should not be trying to get themselves killed. I told you once already, that way of thinking is a selfish one."

"Then you shouldn't be following it either!" To Kaoru's astonishment, Juushirou did not seem at all cowed by the expression in his senior's gaze. "If Shunsui and I help, there'll be three of us and two of them. There's no reason for you to put yourself in danger on our behalves."

"Something's wrong with their swords." Shunsui gestured for Sakura to come to join him and Kaoru before drawing his own weapons, the wakizashi and the katana both glittering faintly in the light. "I don't think they can release, Senpai. There's an odd aura coming off those blades - if it's simply a matter of sword on sword, we might be able to disarm them without doing them too much harm."

His eyes narrowed.

"It looks to me like someone made puppets out of them," he said grimly. "If that's the case, we shouldn't look to hurt them for something that isn't their own will."

"Puppets?" Kaoru saw the colour drain from Juushirou's features, then the older student nodded. "Right. Senpai, I'm with Shunsui. If we can knock them out, between the three of us, something can probably be done about this. There are only two of them...it should be possible."

"Two?" Shirogane's voice became grim. "Make that four."

He gestured his weapon towards the direction of the First division barracks, and Kaoru's heart skipped a beat as she realised two more shinigami were now heading their way, their gazes apparently intent on the trio of zanpakutou wielding shinigami now in their midst. "They seem a little interested in us - I wonder if that's because of me, or if it's you, Ukitake."

"It could be any of us," Shunsui clicked his tongue against teeth. "I guess that rules out any idea of going it solo. Kaoru, you and your friend should take cover and follow the first opportunity you have to flee, understood? Sensei wouldn't forgive us if you got hurt, and probably reinforcements will come from the school sooner rather than later if your classmates already went for help."

"We will." Sakura grabbed Kaoru by the arm, pulling her down behind a nearby bush. "We'll keep out of it. Don't worry."

"We can't leave them to fight on their own," Kaoru murmured, casting Sakura a plaintive look, and Sakura sighed, giving her a little shake.

"Look, I know you want to look cool in front of Kyouraku-senpai, but this is out of our league." She scolded. "There's no use in you getting bloody or killed."

"But..." Kaoru faltered, unsure how to put what she was feeling into words. From the moment Shunsui had appeared on the scene, she had felt that they would be saved, yet her heart still pounded in her chest and her blood still raced around her body as though building up for a big confrontation.

Sakura-san is right, and so is Senpai. So why do I feel this way? In the moment that those two appeared, I wanted to stand my ground and fight. I didn't even think of running away, no matter how afraid I was. I felt as though all my training was beginning to come to a head, and then...

She shook her head in frustration, trying to clear it.

Maybe it is what Sakura-san said. Perhaps I do just want to look cool for Kyouraku-senpai, or show him how much I've learned from training with him.

Calm yourself, Kaoru.

The voice was soft, and at first Kaoru thought she had imagined it, but as she gazed around her in confusion, she heard a soft peal of laughter.

Three on four isn't a very fair battle, is it? Listen carefully to me. We might wind up evening the score.

---

Keitarou's plan was working.

Checking the coast was clear, Eiraki stepped carefully across the damp grass, picking her way through the most sheltered stretch of the school grounds until she reached the rear of the makeshift barracks that currently housed the First Division members. There had been nobody on guard on the gate, and, as she reached the back entrance she realised that it too had been completely abandoned.

A faint smile touched her pale lips and she pulled her heavy cloak more firmly around her body, checking that no one was observing her before darting inside the empty building.

It had clearly been lived in until a short time before, but whatever the shinigami had been doing had apparently stopped with some abruptness, for there were still half drunk mugs of cold tea on the table and in the corner lay a half-played game of shougi with the pieces somewhat scattered about. At first glance it looked as though the officers had just been called from their duty, but as Eiraki took a couple of steps forward, she caught sight of an arm sprawled across the entrance to a back chamber, a sticky pool of something dark and red seeping across the tatami mat floor.

So there had been a struggle after all. Well well.

But I'm not here to count corpses.

Turning her back on the unfortunate victim, she bent to pick up one of the displaced shougi pieces, turning it over in her hands. The smooth flat surface bore the character for 'pawn', and a wry smile touched Eiraki's lips. Pocketing the piece as a memento, she got to her feet, dusting down her rough peasant's clothes.

Though she had no real spiritual ability, Eiraki had not been raised as an Endou for nothing, and as she made to leave, she paused, feeling the sense of someone's gaze boring into her back. Turning, she met a pair of empty greenish eyes with her own vivid blue ones, her lips twitching into a faint smile as she absorbed the blank expression that crossed the stranger's features. A sword was gripped between pale fingers, but though Eiraki was clearly trespassing, this silent newcomer had made no attempt to apprehend her.

She was pretty, she reflected absently, and probably only a few years older than Eiraki was herself, but with a cursitory glance the young Endou decided this new recruit was not attractive enough for Keitarou to see as anything more than a piece in his plan. The girl's gaze was also as flat as Onoe's had been, and Eiraki was reassured by the level of her husband's control even from such a vast distance away.

"It looks as though his gamble has paid off. I suppose that makes you my ally, then - for now," she chuckled, darting forward to pat the girl condescendingly on the shoulder. "Don't let down our expectations. My husband is not a foolish man and he won't give you back your life unless you do exactly as he tells you."

The girl made no attempt at response, and Eiraki smirked.

Everything is going according to plan. Good. That means I shouldn't have to use this horrible poison or put myself any more at risk by lingering so close to the heart of that old man's school.

She tightened her hold on the rough fabric.

I'll watch and wait, just as he told me. I'll report back on everything and I won't put myself in danger. I'll hide where he told me and I'll make sure nobody crosses my path.

She made her way cautiously across the empty guardhouse, peering pensively back out across the school grounds.

If one of the Yamamoto shinigami killed Ukitake-san for us, though, it would make everything much easier. Kei-sama wouldn't have to come back here in person and we could just slip away. If Ukitake-san died, Kei-sama's sword would be whole again. Then maybe we could be a family - even if it's only for a little while. I have such a bad feeling about him coming here...I know he really shouldn't. If the Yamamoto kill Ukitake-san, he won't have to, so all I can do is hope Kei-sama's hold over that girl is strong enough to set Chudokuga's power free!

---

"Don't just stand there! If you're both so confident you can fight, you take care of these two and I'll deal with the others!"

Before either of the Seniors could move, Shirogane had shot forward, the fingers of his left hand once more glittering with light as he charged across the slick ground. The next minute there was a second explosion of crimson flame, and the two Yamamoto who had been approaching from the barracks stumbled back, apparently stunned by the unexpected flare of magic.

Shirogane was on them in a moment, Ginkyoujiki clasped tightly in his right fist and even without seeing his senpai's face, Juushirou could tell that there was neither hesitation nor mercy in the Kuchiki's grey eyes. The spell had hit neither man, but that had never been the intention, for Shirogane had judged his angle of fire to perfection, flaring it just close enough to the damp ground to send up steam and create a drifting fog in which he could more easily conceal his moments. As the embers of his spell clung to the heavy air, Shirogane's silver blade sliced through the middle, driving at the first shinigami and then parrying the swing of the second, darting between them and causing them to almost collide as he put his greater speed and nimbleness to effect.

In that instant, Juushirou understood.

Shirogane was strong, and he had always known that to be the case. He had been a prodigy promoted long before his time by skills that had been honed to perfection before he had even reached adulthood. Now, though, Juushirou saw his senpai with new eyes. Right then Shirogane was not the Senior who had trained him so harshly a few years earlier but a squad officer, his mind as much on protecting those who ranked beneath him as it was on winning his fight. Instead of his own squad, Juushirou knew that this time it was not just Sakura and Kaoru but Shunsui and himself that Shirogane was looking to shield, and as the distinctive silver weapon cut through the air once more like a knife Juushirou felt a swell of reluctant admiration curl up inside of his body.

Clinical as his movements were, they were not movements intended to kill. Had it been Sixth District, these men would have ranked as Shirogane's immediate subordinates. Under outside control or not, they were not to be summarily sacrificed just because it might prove the easiest path to victory.

One of the men, the bigger built of the two steadied himself first, lunging towards Shirogane with his sword drawn, but the Vice Captain was too quick for him, parrying his blow and still having time to meet the blade of the second as it stabbed towards the thick black of his shinigami uniform. It was impossible for Juushirou to know what rank the officers were, or how much they were able to move under the control of whatever had made them into puppets, but Shirogane clearly had no doubts that he could handle them both without breaking a sweat.

"Juu, watch out! This isn't a spectator sport!" Shunsui's yell came just in the nick of time and Juushirou swung around to see a large Yamamoto bearing down on him, a wide sweep of silver metal carving through the air towards his throat. He muttered a curse, jerking backwards at the last minute and somehow managing to parry the blow, his feet slipping slightly on the damp surface that the previous night's rain had caused. Sougyo no Kotowari's blade slid against the enemy weapon with an unpleasant grating sound, and Juushirou saw faint fragments of the other sword's odd green aura fleck away and disperse into the atmosphere.

Where had he seen a technique like that before?

Not that this is the time to wonder about that.

Juushirou gritted his teeth, swinging his katana up to meet the driving blade of his opponent and forcibly pushing him back. His sandalled feet slid once more against the muddy grass, and as the Yamamoto bore down on him, Juushirou was aware of the empty glint in the man's brown eyes. The next moment, the shinigami's sword tip tore against the sleeve of his hakamashita, faint fragments of green reiatsu once more breaking free and dissipating in the heavy morning air. Despite himself, the Senior student began to doubt his own first impressions.

If this was really Keitarou's zanpakutou, then he'd definitely changed his approach.

Juushirou's heart clenched at the implications of this.

What if he had another technique all along, and he just chose not to reveal it? Or are we dealing with another enemy...one we haven't yet seen?

The Yamamoto was not in the mood to hesitate, and Juushirou hurriedly steadied his balance against the fence of the training ground, all too aware that two fourth year students were still far too close to the centre of battle for him to lose his focus. Shirogane had led by example, and, remembering his shishou's decisive surge forwards, Juushirou hardened his own resolve, his quick hazel eyes sizing up his opponent for any sign of a particular weak point. Though he was widely built and somewhat heavy on his feet, he had not so far proven to be slow and Juushirou was reminded of the few times he'd sparred Enishi - times when he had almost invariably come off second best.

This isn't the same as fighting Enishi, but there are similarities.

Twisting his wrist slightly so that his weapon came round at an angle, Juushirou slashed his blade forward, parrying the enemy's attempts to disarm him. Flickers of white light glittered at the tips of his fingers, and as he and his opponent exchanged a short, sharp sequence of strikes, he muttered the words to the kidou spell, allowing the flare of bright white lightning to carve space through the air between them. The magic glanced off his blade, illuminating Sougyo no Kotowari for a brief moment in the damp autumn haze, and the force of the blast caused the Yamamoto to draw back as though confused by the sudden flare of energy. Juushirou felt his blade judder slightly at the unexpected jolt, In'you's spirit surging inside of him as the two fish instinctively willed their master to release their power and let it fly free into the fray.

We're not here to kill them, though. This isn't that kind of fight.

Juushirou shook his head, his gaze once more drawn to the broad side of his opponent's weapon as it cleaved in towards his ribs, and instinctively he brought his zanpakutou back to protect his vulnerable chest, swinging around and clashing the length of his zanpakutou against the green-ghosted blade. There was another unpleasant grating sound, and more flecks of green energy danced off into the ether, but Juushirou did not have time to worry about their significance for the Yamamoto's own fingers were now glittering with vibrant blue energy.

An explosion of blue fire confirmed Juushirou's worst suspicions - the First Division squad members may not have been able to release their blades, but they were perfectly able to throw out kidou.

Juushirou cast a hurried glance towards the bush where he knew Sakura and Kaoru were still crouching, a troubled look creasing his pale features. A battle of swords was one thing, but if there was a risk of them being caught in kidou crossfire, the matter was a completely different one. Though it had only been a few minutes since they had begun to fight, Juushirou felt as though time had stopped still. What had caused this to happen and why was still beyond him, but that was secondary in his mind to his desire to protect the two younger girls from harm's way. Surely help could not be too far away? But even if it wasn't, Juushirou realised only too clearly that in a crisis situation, you could not always just hold out for backup.

He stole a glance across to his side, seeing Shunsui neatly parry a blow from his opponent and slip into shunpo, re-materialising a short distance away and using his crossed swords to deflect a low level yet resolute burst of Shakkahou. Now Shunsui was facing the opposite direction, his back to the barracks and the school beyond, and Juushirou knew that he had also thought first of Kaoru and Sakura's safety huddled behind their clutch of shrub.

Shirogane was still somehow managing to keep pace with the two shinigami he had driven forward to challenge at the start of the confrontation, and though Juushirou thought that his senpai was tiring slightly, he had made no attempt to release his zanpakutou's shikai. Juushirou remembered only too well the searing ruthlessness of Ginkyoujiki as its fragmented blades spun like falling petals out into the atmosphere, and secretly he was glad that the Vice Captain had chosen not to use that attack today.

It was another sign that Shirogane was fighting to disarm and not to kill, and Juushirou gazed at his own sword, debating whether or not he could justifying releasing Sougyo no Kotowari's one blade into two in order to absorb and deflect the enemy's kidou out of harm's way.

A wave of spirit power such as that needed to release his sword was something he could not afford to sacrifice carelessly, and the memory of the fight against the Hollow in the forest that stormy night reminded him of the risk to his juniors if he was to allow his spirit power to surge.

Senpai's not using his shikai, and nor is Shunsui using his. I shouldn't need mine just to disarm someone, should I?

Juushirou's brows knitted together in concentration.

I can use Kidou too. If I can take his blade from him, maybe I'll have an opening to use a weak binding Kidou just to keep him still while I gather together the spirit power to cast something stronger. It doesn't have to be spectacular - no doubt someone will come to our aid sooner rather than later. I don't want to cause anyone any harm, so surely I can...

His eyes widened slightly as images of the spar against Akira flashed into his head.

I wonder...could that really work again?

He twitched the fingers of his left hand, gauging the angle of his opponent's next strike. The shinigami was a good head and a bit taller than Juushirou and at least twice as broadly built, but then so had Akira been.

Yamamoto-kun was also fighting me in his own wits and with his own skills. This might be this shinigami's native skill, but it's been dulled and overwritten by something or someone. Maybe Keitarou, maybe not - it's hard to know at the moment how he could do something like this. If it isn't Keitarou, but someone else, I may be taking a huge gamble. Keitarou's not a sword fighter, and for his will to supersede someone else's, he'd have to override some of that person's natural instincts the way he did with me when I fought Shunsui. There's no way I would ever have drawn a blade on Shunsui in normal circumstances, and even if I don't remember how that happened, I don't need to to think this through logically. If Keitarou's will is driving this person, he's probably a little slower than he would be normally. If it's not Keitarou's technique, I might be putting myself in danger - but I have to take the risk.

He drew his blade back a little, allowing the Yamamoto to lunge towards him once more, sword drawn and aimed right for his heart. Unlike Akira, whose only aim had been to take Juushirou's katana from his grip, this puppet was clearly designed to kill whoever was in his way, and Juushirou gathered his resolve, hesitating until the last possible minute before switching the hilt of his weapon from his right to his left grip and bringing the blade up sharply, catching the underside of the Yamamoto's weapon and forcing it upwards.

As he had expected, the shinigami's reactions were too slow to adjust to his opponent's sudden shift in hold and attack, and with a flood of relief Juushirou felt the enemy blade dislodge from the man's grip, spinning up into the air and dropping down with some force against the soft ground.

"Bakudou no Yon! Hainawa!" Golden cord shot forth from Juushirou's left hand, wrapping itself around the arms and torso of the dazed shinigami before he could react to having lost his sword. The shinigami crumpled to his knees, falling forwards as though the strings holding him up had been severed through, and as the man's body tumbled onto the turf, Juushirou drew a hoarse breath into his lungs, allowing himself to cough only now that the immediate danger had abated.

It was still not over yet, though. A flare of light from the direction of the barracks soon told Juushirou that one of Shirogane's opponents had also begun firing kidou in a steady stream of red bullet like flares whilst his companion focused on pinning down the Vice Captain's quick moving blade. Swift as he was, Juushirou realised with a jolt of alarm that it would not be possible for his shishou to fend off all of the spells and defend his own body at the same time. With a sidelong glance at his fallen opponent, and then across at Shunsui who was still easily in control, he made up his mind, preparing to dive into the fray once more. His chest felt raw from the spirit power he had stifled deep down inside of his body, but, ever mindful of the two girls still cowering behind the bush, Juushirou knew this was no time to stop and tend his wounds. Checking a second time that his downed foe was really out for the count, he lifted his zanpakutou once more, slipping into shunpo and re-materialising at Shirogane's side just in time to parry a burst of condensed red spirit magic.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sweat beading his brow, Shirogane turned to glare at his former deshi, irritation clear in his grey eyes. "Nobody told you to come help me - if you've so much free time, get those damn girls out of here and back to safety!"

"Nobody is safe unless these people are made to stop," Juushirou shot back, narrowly managing to duck the swinging blade of the other shinigami. "You must realise it too, Senpai? There were more than four shinigami stationed here at the school, and so far nobody has come to help us. That means the others are probably just like this and there may well be danger in other places than just this one. I can't just leave you and Shunsui here, not even to get Nagasata-san and her friend out of the line of fire."

"I told you I wasn't putting you in harm's way!" Shirogane snapped back, his own fingers glimmering with light and there was another loud explosion as the Vice Captain's blue soukatsui smashed into the Yamamoto's shakkahou, sending out a rainstorm of burning purplish shards. "Think some of the family who are left behind worrying about you and learn to respect your rank for once, will you? There are people to cry for you - remember them for once and stand down!"

"There are probably people to cry for you too!" Juushirou was not to be deterred. "Mitsuki and Ryuu would certainly be sad if you were killed, and you said you had no intention of dying. Besides, these people aren't doing this because they want to. It's not fair to let them be used like this - stopping them is part of protecting the school and as Anideshi that's my duty too!"

"Watch out!" Shirogane's shoulder cannoned into Juushirou's upper body, shoving him bodily out of the way and sending the two men tumbling to the ground, Juushirou's grip on Sougyo no Kotowari loosening from the unexpected impact. Before he could react to what had happened, however, there was a scarlet blaze of flame bare inches from where he had been standing, and he swallowed hard, realising that Shirogane's quick movement had probably saved him from a nasty injury.

"I told you. You're not ready for this," Shirogane's words were flat and Juushirou could see his companion already pulling himself to his feet, the sleeve of his hakamashita singed through to the flesh below and the Senior realised to his dismay that the Vice Captain had blocked the flare of the spell with his own body in order to ensure Juushirou was not harmed. "You're still a student and you're green. You're far too naive, Ukitake. Naivety kills people. Understand that and obey my orders for once, will you? If you want to go home to that family of yours, do as you're damn told!"

The second Yamamoto's blade came down towards them again at that moment and Shirogane was already on his feet, the injured arm apparently forgotten as Ginkyoujiki's smooth silver surface clashed against the opponent's glittering green one. Juushirou stared at him for a moment, then scrabbled for his own sword hilt, a mixture of pride and shame swirling inside his chest at his companion's harsh words. Shirogane had been right in all respects, yet Juushirou knew that it was just as impossible for him to step back from this fight and run away. Just as Shirogane had protected him, he was not going to let Shirogane get hurt either.

Two on two is a fair fight and I believe in fighting fair. I'm sorry, Senpai. I understand what you just said, but yet again I'm going to have to disobey.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shunsui's glinting silver wakizashi swipe through the air, knocking his opponent's weapon free from his grip and sending it careening across the grass. The next moment the Kyouraku's long katana was at the Yamamoto's throat, a binding kidou spell already glittering around Shunsui's fingers as he worked to bring the enemy down.

His friend seemed to have everything under control, but as Juushirou prepared to launch back into the battle, a movement caught his attention and he turned, his eyes widening in alarm as from within the ties of his Hainawa spell the man he had thought to be knocked unconscious began to twitch his fingers, an unmistakeable aura of golden light humming around the tips.

He was still being manipulated? I should have used a more powerful binding spell when I had the opening to do so!

Juushirou was about to slip into shunpo and return to his original opponent's side but a shadow fell across his body and something silver seared down towards him, forcing his attention back to the matter at hand. Just in time he managed to meet the blow with Sougyo no Kotowari's blade, but the empty resolution in the Yamamoto's eye told him that he was not going to slip away so easily this time.

The still-bound Yamamoto had finished casting his spell, the Hainawabonds weakening with every passing second, and Juushirou's eyes almost bulged out of his head as he registered the direction in which the man was aiming. Shunsui was still focused on binding up his own opponent, apparently oblivious to what was going on around him, and Juushirou struck desperately back at his new opponent's weapon, wanting to cover the ground between him and his friend yet unable to break through.

"Shunsui!" He exclaimed, his voice hoarse and indistinct above the noise of the battle. "Shunsui, look out! Look out!"

The next few moments passed in a blur, for even as Juushirou struggled to cast aside the weapon of the man blocking his path, the area lit up with golden light. Shunsui seemed to realise belatedly what kind of danger he was in, but the spell was almost upon him and though he drew his weapons up together to try and deflect it, the frantic Juushirou realised that without the time needed to release his zanpakutou, he would probably not be able to push back all of the power of this spell. It was the first time Juushirou had ever seen Oukasen used in combat before, and at once he understood why they had not learned it until so late on, for whilst Shakkahou was easy to keep re-firing and Soukatsui was a potent form of attack, there was a density to the golden flame which made it stand apart from its fellows. Juushirou felt sick to his stomach, not wanting to watch yet being unable not to as the flare of magic engulfed the spot where his friend was standing.

For a moment there was nothing but golden light, then, as the light began to fade, Juushirou's eyes almost fell out of his head.

Where Shunsui had been standing there was now a thick, dense wall of something - to Juushirou's confused eyes it looked something like a mass of branches, yet logic told him that it could be no such thing, and absently he wondered whether this was another of his friend's sword's secret tricks. The next instant his heart stilled in his chest, for standing a short distance away from the bush which had been her hiding place was Kaoru, her body bathed in soft golden light and her asauchiclutched tightly in her left hand.

No, it wasn't an asauchi. It was...

The last of the Hainawaspell faded away from around the shinigami's body and with a shudder the fallen giant drew his heavy body back into an upright position, turning its attention towards this new and unexpected interloper. Even as he did so, though, the golden haze around Kaoru's body faltered and faded, the thickly woven wall of - whatever it had been - drawing back and wilting as though even that faint burst of spiritual energy had sucked dry the entirety of her resources. She dropped to her knees, breathing heavily, and her sword fell unattended at her side as she struggled to retain consciousness.

Juushirou berated himself once again on his carelessness. He had left his job half done, and now his junior was in danger.

I have to get back there. Now.

Parrying his opponent's sweeping blow, Juushirou's determination gave him an extra drive and he brought the flat of his weapon down firmly across the back of the shinigami's head, knocking him to the ground. Even before the man had fallen, a haze of kidou had engulfed him, and Juushirou realised that Shirogane had acted even quicker than he had, binding both of their opponents in a bright glow of red Geki.

Leaving his senpai to deal with the aftermath, Juushirou ran back towards where Kaoru was hunched on the ground, already preparing to release his shikai if need be to protect her from attack.

"Hanakaze midarete kashin naki."

The sound of his friend's voice made the District boy falter in his tracks, the all too familiar words followed by a distinctive but perfectly controlled ripple of spirit power that drifted around the training arena like a gust of autumn wind.

"Tenpuu midarete tenma warau. Katen Kyoukotsu!"

The breeze whipped more strongly around the gathered shinigami, then, as soon as it had come it was gone, and Juushirou's brows knitted together as he interpreted the expression on his classmate's face.

It was the same expression he had seen in the Real World the day that Shunsui had used his blade to slice through Keitarou's shoulder.

A face that was cast in shadow.

Juushirou hadn't seen his friend move, but somehow between the start of his sword release and the final parting of the two scmitar like blades he had put himself in front of the shaking Kaoru, his weapons raised like a shield protecting him and her both from the next attack. Kaoru lifted her head slightly, staring up at her shishouwith wide, frightened eyes, but Shunsui gave no indication that he was aware of it or even of her beyond the need to keep her safe.

The reason for Shunsui's focus was soon all too clear. To his horror, Juushirou realised that although he had thought the shinigami to be worn down by their battle, another spell was forming between the man's hands as he lurched giddily forward towards where Shunsui was standing. His entire body prickled with energy, the fragments of light drawing tighter and tighter together, weaving themselves into a second ball of golden flame. Even from this distance Juushirou could tell that the man's spirit power was being pushed to its limits, fragmenting at the edges and unravelling like a piece of tapestry whose final thread had come undone.

Whoever was controlling him obviously didn't care if the man's life was sacrificed in the course of fighting this battle, and rage began to stir deep within Juushirou's heart.

Maybe we can still stop this. Perhaps there's a way to bring him down before he fires off the last of his spirit power. If I...

"Ukitake, get down!"

That was Shirogane, his voice crisp and like a jolt of electricity through the Senior student's taut nerves, and Juushirou felt a firm hand grab him around the wrist. "Get down, dammit, and stay down! You're not stupid enough to not feel it, are you? The moment he fires that spell..."

"We have to stop him!"

Juushirou struggled to pull free of his shishou's hold, but Shirogane's grip did not falter for a moment, a grim expression in his slate grey eyes.

"I won't let you make people cry for you," he said darkly. "Hell, I won't go back and tell Mitsuki that I let you get killed. If you think I'll accept anyone making my kinswoman cry, you stupid District boy, then you should think again."

"Senpai..." Before Juushirou could get another word out, he found himself forcibly pinioned to the ground, Shirogane's upper body and right arm hooked over him like a vice in order to prevent him from getting away.

"Try and wriggle free and it'll be Bakudou for you, too," he said grimly. "I'm not kidding. There's nothing you can do down there. If you have faith in that idiot Kyouraku, trust him."

"But if we don't stop it, that man's power will explode!"

"It's already beyond our capabilities to stop it," Shirogane said heavily. "You know that too, don't you? He had already reached his limit when he fired that last spell. He's acting on someone else's orders, sure enough, even to the point of sacrificing his life...by rights he shouldn't have been able to break out of your Hainawa, let alone summon the strength to fire off a single Oukasenblast. Right now he's acting on someone's irrationality, and that irrationality isn't directed this way."

"At...Shunsui?" Juushirou's eyes widened with horror, and Shirogane jerked his head into a curt nod.

"It's clearly been decided that killing us isn't of immediate importance," he said softly. "I bound those two men in Gekiand there wasn't a single shred of fight left in them. Whoever's fighting through these people, though, they have an issue with your friend there that's made them push one puppet to extremes."

Juushirou's eyes narrowed as he remembered Keitarou's expression and tone of voice when Shunsui had interrupted their conversation, and he sighed.

"I suppose that's probably true," he murmured, "although it only happened on my account. Still, though, it's not just Shunsui. The girls too - if that explodes..."

"Shinigami have to trust other shinigami else things don't get done," Shirogane was cutting. "Your problem is you think you're put here to save the world single-handedly. This is your wake up call - you're not, and nor will you save it if you keep acting on your own reckless impulses all the time. If you trust your friend as much as you think, you'll realise he's got it in hand. Annoying as he is to talk to, Sensei's clearly right about his spirit power. His reiryoku's calm and steady - he's not frightened. Yours on the other hand...if you cough blood up all over me, I will not overlook it."

Juushirou bristled indignantly at the derisive note in his shishou's words, but before he could muster a retort a second dazzling burst of golden flame blazed out across the training ground, this time denser and brighter than the last. To Juushirou's eyes, it looked almost like an exploding star, yet as it detonated, sending sparks flying far and wide, he was aware of another, darker sensation snaking across his senses. He had felt it before, in the moments before Katen Kyoukotsu had pierced through Keitarou's shoulder, and instinctively Juushirou turned his head, his gaze falling on the stretch of ground that lay in front of the makeshift barracks.

Though it was not a sunny day, the bright blaze of Kidou had created a heavy shadow that spread for a few moments across the grass like an invading wave of deep black.

At first he saw nothing, but then the blades of grass rippled faintly and from the depths of the darkness something began to emerge, at first more shadow than person but with each passing second becoming more and more recogniseable as a crouching human form.

No, Juushirou corrected himself, it was three human forms, for huddled in Shunsui's arms were the exhausted Kaoru and the shellshocked Sakura, both wide-eyed and pale faced as they struggled to understand what had just happened.

No sooner had they emerged from the ebony expanse than the bright light faded, and as the silhouette around him faded to a dull grey Shunsui let out a sigh, thrusting the tips of his released blades into the soft, muddy ground and reaching out his charcoal-dusted hands to pat each of the shivering Fourth year girls on the head.

"Sorry about that," he said off-handedly. "I didn't have time to warn you, really, but I figured you'd rather come shadow walking with me than be blown up by some mad man's spiritual explosion."

"He's completely gone." As Shirogane released his hold on his junior, Juushirou turned his gaze back down to where the shinigami had been standing, taking in the scorched grass with a troubled look in his hazel eyes. "It destroyed him completely, firing off that last spell. Shunsui, I'm sorry. I thought I had him pinned, but obviously..."

"I think we know for sure who we're dealing with, and it isn't your fault," Shunsui shook his head. "That was definitely aimed my way - which leaves me in no doubt at all about the person responsible."

"Kyouraku-senpai, is someone trying to kill you?" Sakura somehow found her tongue, and Shunsui grinned, casting her a rueful look.

"You can only go through life being lazy, annoying and rude for so long before someone tries to put an end to you," he said lightly. "It's nothing for you to worry about, either of you."

"But...what happened to them?" Sakura turned to gaze at the still bound shinigami. "They're proper shinigami, aren't they? They're here to protect us, Kazoe-sensei said so. Why did they attack us? And Kaoru-chan...what did you do?"

Kaoru raised her gaze at the sound of her name, moistening her lips before answering. Then,

"He wanted to hurt Kyouraku-senpai," she whispered. "I didn't want that. I didn't want it, and so...I had to stop it. I had to..."

She trailed off, her body swaying slightly, and Shunsui wrapped his arm more firmly around her shoulders.

"You decided to raise your sword at an opportune moment, but you shouldn't push yourself any further," he said gently. "I'm grateful, Kaoru-chan. You helped me and I helped you - that's how shinigami are supposed to work. Also, you've seen Katen Kyoukotsu released now."

He reached across to pat the hilt of his nearest sword with his free hand, and Juushirou saw the weapons shimmer and return to their sealed form at his touch. "I admit, I didn't really intend on showing it to you like that, but at least now you know, don't you?"

"Nagasata-san's sword," Juushirou murmured. "That shield...that's what that was. Nagasata-san's sword spoke to her, and let her help you when Senpai and I couldn't."

"I don't know how, not really," Kaoru admitted softly. "Just...I felt like I needed to. My sword...told me what to do. I think...it was like something came to life inside of me. Does that sound strange?"

She put a hand to her chest.

"It was like something growing, here."

"It was very brave," Shunsui nodded, "but it takes a lot of energy the first time around, doesn't it, Kaoru-chan?"

Kaoru managed a faint smile, nodding her head slightly.

"I'm glad," she managed, "that I could help Senpai, and that S...Senpai is all right."

"We'll talk about this some more when you're less tired," Shunsui suggested. "From what I saw, it looked like you manipulated the tree branches to shield me, but neither of us really expected it then, did we? We'll have to think it over carefully when things are less manic."

"All right."

"This is all very nice, but it doesn't resolve the bigger problem." Shirogane pulled himself into a standing position, moving to examine the fallen forms of the two shinigami he had clashed blades with. "We have four shinigami who were obviously possessed by something unusual attacking school students with no apparent motivation. One of them even died trying to carry out this mission."

"Right," Juushirou looked grim. "Like I said before, it might not be just them. If these four were like this, who knows how many others there are roaming around the school?"

"Akaya-chan!" Sakura's eyes became frightened. "She went with the others inside, what if...?"

"It's a possibility," Shirogane said grimly. "This isn't quite the kind of class I intended on teaching this morning, but it looks like outdoor zanjutsu is abandoned. Can you girls stand? I'd like to get you to a safe location, but I'm not quite sure right at the moment where that might be."

"I can," Sakura nodded. "I'll help Kaoru-chan, if she needs me to. She's used a lot of her strength up, but she's not heavy and I can support her."

She faltered, then Juushirou saw resolve flare in her eyes.

"I'll take her to the Healing Bay," she said firmly. "Unohana-sensei might not be there, but we can lock the door and keep very quiet. Besides, those people...they didn't seem to care about Kaoru or I when you all arrived. I think they want to attack the strongest people, and so..."

"Ukitake, if you can stand, go with them and make sure they get there safely. Providing there's no imminent danger in that vicinity, come back and find us," Shirogane said briskly. "Kyouraku, I want to talk to you about this Aizen enemy a little more."

Juushirou glanced at Shunsui for a moment, then he sighed, nodding his head.

"I understand." he said softly. "Come on, you two. Let's go."