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.

67. Guardian of Darkness

Chapter Sixty Five: Guardian of Darkness

"There was a really funny atmosphere this morning, at breakfast."

Kai tapped his writing brush absently against the wood of the table, scanning over the notes he had just written with a critical eye. "Maybe it's Sensei being away or maybe it's because Nagoya looked at Ukitake as though he'd like to strike him dead, but something definitely feels wrong with everything today."

"Everything's been wrong for a while, starting with our trip," Kanshi cast him a resigned glance from across the table. "I know what you mean, though. It's hard to concentrate on anything vaguely academic when there's such an odd prickle of…something…in the atmosphere."

"Genryuusai-sensei shouldn't have left," Akira said abruptly, shooting his friend a glare. "That's all there is to it – when he gets back, all will settle down."

"Do you really think so?" Aoi looked pensive. "I wonder about that."

"Michihashi?" Kai shot the fair haired Urahara a surprised glance. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing is going to erase what happened in the Real World and the impact of it will be felt for some time," Aoi's gaze flitted to Akira briefly, then he sighed. "Even now we're sitting here, the five of us, writing up notes as though nothing major happened – but Shikibu isn't here, and nor is…nor is Suzuno."

"Shikibu-san is supposedly doing better, though, now." The final member of the group adjusted his spectacles, setting his brush down as he joined in the discussion. "Whilst we all know that Amai-san can't be helped, at least Shikibu-san is recovering."

"She's a pretty tough cookie, though," Kai said ruefully. "She'll be fine, Hirata. We all know that, once she's got over the immediate shock."

"At least she had a chance to land her sword on that creature," Akira muttered. "If we'd have got there a few moments earlier…"

"Aizen Keitarou isn't somebody you want to cross swords with," Hirata said quietly. "You haven't met him, Yamamoto-kun, and your family would probably prefer it if you didn't."

"We're not going to go looking for him if we can avoid it," Aoi reflected. "I know you have reservations about what we discussed the other day, Endou, but…"

"My reservations relate to Juushirou-kun's safety," Hirata admitted. "And also, for Shunsui-kun's. He's more likely to do stupid things if Juushirou-kun is in danger, and I remember very clearly the state of both of them after they encountered Aizen in District Seven."

"Seven is your family's territory, isn't it?" Kanshi eyed the younger boy thoughtfully, and Hirata nodded. "Aizen was hiding out there…doing what, exactly?"

"Experimenting on the local population, from all accounts," a note of bitterness entered Hirata's tones. "The Council didn't find any evidence connected to that, but that is the general belief. He certainly used his zanpakutou to make my grandfather kill himself, and he also used it on Juushirou-kun to make him fight Shunsui-kun in the snow. Other than that, it's hard to be sure."

"And your sister? This Eiraki girl?"

"Eiraki-chan…" Hirata sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "Eiraki chose to go with him, after all the chaos died down. She and mother sheltered for a while in District Eight, but a few weeks after they returned home, my sister disappeared. She left a letter saying that she'd chosen to go and that nobody was to look for her…but my parents don't know about that. They think Aizen took her and killed her – and I thought it was better they believed that than that she'd joined him and become our enemy."

"A decision that may yet come back to bite you," Aoi said gravely, and Hirata shrugged.

"Not really," he reflected. "I may have hid information from my family, but it doesn't change whether or not Eiraki killed Kuchiki Ribari or whether she tried to kill Kuchiki-kun in the Real World. Those things were decisions she made. Even though I said nothing, there were still searches for her…they just came up blank."

"Well, I'm hoping Aizen doesn't decide to come here," Kai said grimly. "Knowing the kind of person we're dealing with doesn't make it any easier to prepare for. Our job is to look after the juniors and help out the staff – it isn't to fight wanted scientists or put ourselves in harm's way."

"You're worried about Ukitake, too?" Akira's gaze held a challenge, and Kai shrugged.

"I'm not against what we've planned out," he said evenly. "Michihashi's strategy is a logical one and we do have to do something – if Aizen appears here, there are a lot of people less able than us to protect ourselves. If we can find out where he's hiding and get word to the right people, it's worth taking the gamble. It's just that I know Ukitake and I know he can be stupid when it comes to putting himself out for other people. Hopefully though recent events have taught him enough about that and if it comes to it, he'll be careful."

"It all depends on Ukitake, really," Aoi admitted. "I was surprised he was so willing to take my suggestions on board."

"It was Kyouraku who did most of the protesting," Kanshi agreed. "Mind you, I understand his logic too."

His gaze flitted to Akira.

"Hot-headed people with a grievance or an ideal are much harder to deploy rationally."

"Meaning what?" Akira arched an eyebrow, and Kanshi sighed.

"I'm not all that keen on you getting near to this Aizen person either," he admitted. "Ukitake at least has some prior knowledge of the person and what he's dealing with. If the worst happens, he can probably cope. You, on the other hand…"

"I don't need you fussing over me any more than Ukitake needs Kyouraku," Akira cut across his friend, shooting him a dark glare. "I'll do what's necessary depending on the situation. We don't know he's coming, yet. He may not have the courage to show his face so deep into foreign land."

"He invaded District Seven and he's been using District Six and Eight," Hirata pointed out pensively. "I don't think he has any problem with appropriating Clan land."

"What was that?"

At that moment there was as loud crash from outside, and Kai got to his feet, hurrying to the window. Resting his hands on the sill, his golden eyes widened as he took in the scene of devastation below, for what had once been the outermost kidou classroom was now lying mostly in rubble. To one side he could make out Kazoe and a huddle of obviously frightened First year students, and he bit his lip, interpreting the cocktail of spiritual residue piece by piece.

Kazoe's sword, I think – and a bunch of kidou spells, too. Hell, what happened down there? Did one of the First years get too frisky or…?

"What the…" Kanshi joined him, gazing out at the chaos in disbelief. "Don't tell me that one of the kids misfired a spell and that was the result? What the hell kind of First years are we fostering if they can blow up a whole classroom?"

"That room's used for theory, not practical," Kai shook his head, and Kanshi snorted.

"Even more reason to be alarmed, then," he said decidedly. "Akira, Aoi, come look at this. It doesn't look like we'll be doing any kidou classes in the first floor kidou chamber for a while – or, in fact, ever."

"Kazoe's taking the kids inside," Kai observed, leaning up against the stone wall. "There's a lot of kidou residue floating around, though. Hirata, what do you think? Can you sense it too?"

"I can sense Seidoiki," Hirata said quietly, as the remaining trio came to observe the panic for themselves. "That's what you mean, isn't it, Kai-kun? It isn't just kidou, but something else."

"Seidoiki?" Akira looked quizzical, and Kai nodded.

"Kazoe-sensei's zanpakutou," he agreed.

"Kazoe has a zanpakutou?" Kanshi blinked. "His sword releases – it doesn't just sit there looking pretty?"

"It's a proper zanpakutou," Hirata nodded. "He doesn't like to release it often, if at all, but he did it once when we were camping in the second year. Our camp got invaded by a Hollow and though we fired shakkahou at it, it wasn't really enough to drive it off. We were still only juniors at the time. Kazoe-sensei was there and he released Seidoiki to destroy the Hollow. It's the only time I've seen or sensed it, but it has a distinctive reiatsu. I'm pretty sure I'm right."

"So Ukitake was telling the truth about fighting off real Hollows during camp," Akira pursed his lips. "I thought he was trying to sound clever."

"It wasn't planned," Kai looked rueful. "Because of it, we were recalled back to school early, since the protective barrier had somehow got broken. Hirata's right, though. I'd forgotten its exact name, but it's Kazoe's sword all right."

"If he used his sword, that means it's a little more than just a kidou experiment gone wrong, doesn't it?" Aoi looked grim. "Especially if Kazoe only ever uses it in an emergency."

"Meaning what?" Kai gazed at his fair classmate sharply. "That there's an emergency? The school is under some kind of attack?"

"Aizen," Akira growled, making towards the door, but Kanshi grabbed him, hauling him back.

"Kazoe's dealt with it, whatever it was," he said quietly. "There was kidou and there was something else – his sword, from what Shihouin and Endou said – but it's just vapour on the wind now. There's nobody there and nothing to go down and challenge over, Akira."

"Part of the school didn't fall down on its own," Akira muttered. "Maybe it was or maybe it wasn't sabotage, but it's suspicious, don't you think? Bits of the building don't collapse when Sensei is here. It's damn odd that it happens when he's not."

"True enough," Aoi looked grim. "Kanshi's right though, Akira. There's nothing there now except fragments of scattered reiatsu. I can't even distinguish what spells were used and I've no idea what happened…but if Kazoe got all of the kids out safely and the drama is over, we should get back to work."

"I don't like this." Hirata's gaze flitted across to the doorway, and Kai frowned, following his friend's line of sight.

"Hirata? What's up?"

"I don't know," Hirata admitted, moving slowly back towards his seat, but Kai noticed that his classmate's eyes did not leave the library entrance. "I just had this feeling something was coming this way. I'm not sure what – just…well…something."

"Something bad?" Akira's hand was already closed around the hilt of his sword, and Hirata hesitated, indecision in his pale blue eyes.

"Sometimes I can think too deeply into things," he owned. "Sometimes I see more danger in situations than is there, and especially when everything is on edge. I just…something doesn't feel right. I can't even explain what it is – it's just there."

"Air pollution from the explosion?" Aoi suggested, and Hirata shook his head.

"No. Not that. There's that too, but it's not…"

He trailed off, as the door of the library slid back, and Kai caught sight of a flash of black hakama followed a glint of silver sword.

The next moment the shinigami were among them, Kanshi falling back with an exclamation as the swinging weapon sliced through his upper arm and shoulder, sending blood spilling from the wound. He stumbled, putting out his uninjured arm to steady himself against the wall as he tried to process what had happened, but his assailant had once more slipped in and out of shunpo, re-appearing on the other side of the chamber and launching an attack towards Aoi's throat. Aoi cursed, fumbling for his sword, but the silver blade came down once more, once, twice, then a third time slicing through his white hakamashita to the flesh and bone beneath. He fell to the floor with a cry of pain, the front of his hakamashita a spreading pool of sticky red as blood poured forth from the wounds.

"Aoi! Kanshi!" Before the assailant could strike again, Akira had his sword drawn, clashing the blade against the invader's and pushing the man back. To his right, Kai already had Meimei Anshi drawn whilst Hirata, Tsumi no Fuuhi loosed from its scabbard had paused at Aoi's side, anxiety burning in his pale gaze as he assessed his classmate's injury.

The shinigami was fully visible now, his eyes gleaming with an empty intensity, and as he raised his head to meet Akira's gaze, the Yamamoto let out a gasp of surprise.

"Tetsu?"

"Tetsu?" Kai sent him a quizzical glance. "You know this guy, Yamamoto?"

Akira's lips thinned, his weapon coming up again to parry the opponent's weapon away. He nodded, a grim expression entering his dark gaze.

"Gujihara Tetsu. He's a cousin of mine and a member of my Father's squad," he spoke quietly, but there was a forced note in his words and Kai knew he was only just holding back his temper. "He was a student here, several years ago – Father ranks him at fourth seat because he's strong, swift and powerful, especially when it comes to using shunpo."

"We noticed," Kanshi grimaced, grasping his bloody arm in his good one and examining the damage with a critical eye. "Some warning would have been nice – Endou, was this what…?"

"I guess so," Hirata agreed, a troubled look on his face. "Michihashi-kun's taken a slash to the chest. I'm not a medic but I don't think it's gone through any organs – it's bleeding, though, and I'm not sure but I think the blade might have gone through a rib."

"We don't have time to nanny anyone at present, so he'll just have to bleed," Akira spoke dismissively, but Kai could see from his classmate's brown eyes that his feelings on the matter were nowhere near as casual. "What's more important is why Tetsu's here and what the hell he thinks he's doing."

"I'd like to know that too," Kai swung Meimei Anshi's ebony black blade up to meet the angry swipe of their opponent, his brow creasing in concentration as he felt the strength rippling through the sword. "I remember this guy now, Yamamoto. He was a senior the first year we were here. I remember him being quite calm and quiet, pretty level and not the kind of person who'd randomly attack his juniors without good reason. That being the case, I'd like an explanation for this as well. First squad are meant to be protecting us, but right now that doesn't seem to be on his agenda."

"His…sword," Aoi gasped out, clutching his chest with his left arm and struggling to pull himself into a more upright position with his right. "He's not…acting…right. Look…at his…sword."

"Don't talk if you can't breathe properly!" Kanshi dropped down beside his friend, his own superficial wound forgotten in light of his companion's struggles. "There are five of us and one of him – even with you out for the count and me on half-capacity, things will be okay."

"Will they?" Kai's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. "Yamamoto, you said that he's ranked at fourth seat? Considering the age and provenance of First Division, that's one heck of a promotion for someone who graduated only a few years ago. Plus, he got himself in here and took two of us down before we even realised what was happening. If he can move that fast…"

"Michihashi-kun's right, though, about his blade," With Aoi left in Kanshi's care, Hirata got to his feet, paying no attention to the blood which now spattered his own spotless hakamashita. "Look at it, Kai-kun. Yamamoto-kun, you know Gujihara-senpai better than us. Does his sword always look like that, or…"

"It looks green!" Akira's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait a minute, are you saying…this isn't…"

"Something's probably controlling him," Hirata said grimly, and a cold hand gripped Kai's heart as he interpreted the hidden message in his classmate's words.

"Green?" he murmured. "Hell, you're kidding. Hirata, you can't be serious…that would be crazy!"

"Being attacked by a ranked member of First squad within school grounds is already pretty crazy." As Gujihara swung his weapon at them once more, Akira slipped into the gap, using his own sword to force his kinsman back. "I'm game to listen to any explanations you guys have going, but please stop talking in cryptic code. Are you saying that this is to do with Aizen Keitarou? He's here after all and poisoning members of my family with his sword?"

"Turning the blade green isn't a characteristic I've heard mentioned before," Kai shook his head, unease in his expression. "Aizen's sword does damage, but Kyouraku's never mentioned anything like this. Hirata's right, though. Something's definitely manipulating this guy. His eyes are empty – there's nothing there. Just like…"

He shivered involuntarily, remembering the fleeting encounter with his cousin in the mountains of the Real World.

"Like Tomoyuki," he admitted. "The body's moving, but there's nobody home."

"Meaning we can't snap him out of it?" Akira demanded sharply, swearing under his breath as Gujihara's next swing swiped through the ends of his hair, sending fragments of black to the floor. "Dammit, he's faster than me. If this was as normal bout, I might know how to fight him, but if it's not Tetsu calling the shots…"

"It's not Gujihara-senpai. Count on that," Kai said bleakly. "Listen, Yamamoto – between the two of us, maybe we can counter? He's fast, but he's relying on remote instruction and that's bound to slow him down at least a little bit. That ought to give us enough opening to take him down, and if there's you, me, and Hirata…"

He turned to his friend, but there was no sign of the young Endou, and dismay touched his golden eyes as he registered the library door sliding to a close.

"He's gone," Akira said blackly. "Kanshi, take care of Aoi, all right? If Endou's fled ship, Shihouin, it's down to you and I. Tell me what your idea is – I don't know if I'll work with it, but two ideas are better than one and you still owe me for the Real World."

"If I'm right about what's behind this, that's probably where Hirata's gone," Kai turned his attention back to the attacking shinigami, only just managing to meet Gujihara's blade as the older man slipped in and out of shunpo, aiming his wide blade for Kai's skull. "In the meantime, I'm hoping two of us can do this. He really is quick, isn't he? We need a way to even the score."

"We've wounded people, too," Akira cast a troubled glance towards his friends. "Bringing them into the crossfire is not part of the plan, all right?"

"Maybe that's what happened in the kidou classroom," Kai suggested grimly. "Perhaps that's why it blew up. Friends of Gujihara decided to gatecrash the lesson in the same way as this."

"What you're suggesting is the whole of First squad are under Aizen's spell," Akira objected. "Dammit, Tetsu! Snap out of it, will you?" as their blades met again, Akira having to spring neatly backwards to avoid losing a good portion of his right ear. "It's me, you silly idiot. Akira! Your Captain isn't going to forgive you if you slash up one of his sons – get a grip and realise it already!"

"It's no good. He's not listening," Kai said, using the flat of Meimei Anshi to divert Gujihara's determined thrust and pushing forward, attempting a reverse swing to try and knock the weapon from the shinigami's hand. Gujihara was too quick, however, slipping in and out of shunpo and lunging for Akira who muttered a string of curses, only just managing to meet the attack with his own gleaming weapon. A shower of black hair strands fell to the floor, and Kai bit his lip, realising that even with two of them, their opponent was getting too close for comfort.

"He's too quick, even like this," Akira seemed to be thinking along the same lines, brushing what was left of his fringe out of his face. "Shihouin, what did you mean about the blade? Where has Endou gone? What do you think's happened?"

"I can't explain it entirely, but there's only one person I know whose blade reflects that particularly eerie tint of green," Kai said grimly, stabbing his weapon forward and forcing Gujihara to take a half-step back to avoid Meimei Anshi's razor sharp tip. "It's not Aizen, though. It's Shikibu Naoko."

"Shikibu?" Akira froze, surprise crossing his features, and Kai gave him a rough shove as Gujihara's blade seared in towards his kinsman's torso, narrowly missing ripping through both fabric and guts.

"Pay attention," he snapped. "Right now that's neither here nor there. The problem right in front of us is disarming and overpowering First squad's fourth seated officer and if we're not concentrating, we won't manage it. We'll worry about hows and whys later on. This is more important right now."

"I suppose that's true," Akira recovered his wits, inclining his head in a grudging nod. "Kanshi! How's Aoi doing?"

"He's all right. There's blood and it's still coming, but slower if he doesn't move or try to shout." Kanshi responded. "As for me, it's a flesh wound and he got a lucky hit but it's not going to cripple me. It's already stopping bleeding. Don't worry about us, Akira. We're tougher than that, and he wasn't properly aiming. I'm pretty sure even if Aoi's not able, I can fire kidou if the need arises, so leave us to defend ourselves."

"I'll…manage," Aoi added. "I'm…not…that…out of it."

"Then we can focus our full attention on Gujihara," Kai said grimly. "Yamamoto, I haven't seen your zanpakutou. If you were to release it, what kind of odds would you have in this sort of a fight?"

"Release it? In here?" Akira looked stunned, then he shook his head. "You don't want me to do that. Believe me, in a confined space…it's not the best kind of sword to swing about. Yamamoto don't have quiet blades – hell, you've met Enishi's, so you already know that."

"True, but Houjou's doesn't do anything unexpected. There's no exploding, melting, freezing, or anything like that. He just cuts and uses his strength." Kai dodged nimbly beneath Gujihara's determined swing, twisting his body around to meet Meimei Anshi's blade once more to the shinigami's. "You make yours sound a lot more dangerous – are you saying if you release, we'll be at a disadvantage?"

"I couldn't guarantee you – or Kanshi or Aoi – not getting wrapped up in it," Akira admitted.

"Don't let him release it, for goodness' sake!" Kanshi interjected, pausing in where he had been shunting himself and his blood-stained friend into a corner out of the way. "You don't want to send us all sky high, do you? Akira's sword is rather fond of blowing things apart...so unless you want to send the library the same way as the kidou classroom…"

"It's not an option," Akira added blackly. "What about you?"

"Mm," Kai did not answer immediately, focusing his attention on countering the ever quickening sequence of strikes and lunges that proved Gujihara was only just getting into his combat stride. "I know the Yamamoto are renowned for combat technique, but even under some kind of control, it's not easy to keep pace with him. If this was a fair match and for fun, I'd be relishing the chance to pit my blade against his but in the circumstances…"

"Answer the damn question!" Akira snapped. "If you release your sword, what happens then?"

"Nothing, much," Kai admitted, sliding his body between two library desks to avoid Gujihara's next swing and Akira grimaced, leaping over the wood and meeting his kinsman's blade with a bold strike of his own. The sound of metal on metal resounded through the chamber, and Kai sighed, glancing at his zanpakutou's ebony blade.

"Nothing much?" Akira pushed Gujihara back, sending him an accusing look. "You're telling me that you're the heir to the Shihouin with a fancy black sword and it doesn't actually do anything?"

"Oh, it does stuff," Kai nodded. "The trouble is, I can only apply it to one person – either you or I, not both. There'll be no explosions, though. It's not that kind of sword."

He smiled hollowly.

"I'm a Shihouin, like you said. Stealth is in our blood like combat is in yours."

"Then?" Akira was losing patience. "Look, Shihouin. We've already ruled out the idea that my sword, strong as it is is going to be of any use to us right now. You were the one who brought up zanpakutou - I say that whatever that black blade can do, if it isn't likely to blow the library apart, you should risk releasing it. One zanpakutou is better than none and we need to bring Tetsu down before he hurts anyone else and without causing him harm, either. The longer we fight this battle, the less we can do about other parts of the school...and it's not impossible to think that other parts of the school are affected. We all agreed it's our job to protect our juniors, right? Then let's damn well get this under control!"

Kai cast his companion a glance, then he nodded.

"Sugata o keshite, Meimei Anshi," he murmured, feeling the prickle of energy run through his entire body as his sword glimmered with an eerie ebony haze. Little by little the sword's blade disappeared into fragments of dust that surrounded his entire body, and he closed his eyes, focusing his reiatsu to guide each tiny particle into its correct location. An answering flicker from his sword's spirit told him that the release had been successful, and he glanced down at his right hand, taking in the thick black glove-like sheath that covered it, extending out towards a guardless kodachi of pure black hue. The tip curved around smoothly, tapering into a sharp point which would have no trouble piercing through bones and armour to the flesh and organs beneath.

"Shihouin?"

Akira gazed around him, confused. "What the heck did you do? Where…what…how…?"

"Meimei Anshi," Kai slipped into shunpo, re-materialising between Akira and Gujihara and swiping his zanpakutou against the shinigami's own drawn sword, causing the tall Yamamoto to stumble back in surprise. "Can you hear me speak, Yamamoto?"

"I can hear you, but I can't damn well see you," Akira took a step backwards. "Where did you go? Is that kidou?"

"My sword," Kai pressed his advantage, forcing Gujihara onto the back foot as the squad shinigami struggled to work out what was going on. "Meimei Anshi can render me invisible, and suppress any trace of my spirit power. Like I said, it only works on me or on someone I choose to cast it over. I can't extend it to you, nor can I let you see me whilst my sword is released into shikai. However, whoever is pulling Gujihara's strings also can't see me. They can hear my voice, maybe, but they won't be able to pinpoint my location. It's harder for him to attack me now – but I don't want to get you hurt by mistake."

"In other words, leave him to you?" Akira sounded dissatisfied, and Kai sighed.

"Take it as repayment for the Real World," he said softly. "Meimei also makes me faster, when I'm cloaked in it's haze. I can keep up with his speed better now. If I can knock him off balance, Yamamoto, you should take your chance to disarm him and bring him down."

"Hard to do when I can't see you or sense you, but I suppose I'll just have to roll with it," Akira sighed bad-temperedly, but to Kai's relief he raised his own weapon once more, his lithe body tensing as he prepared to re-enter the fray. "I'll watch and judge as I see fit – hopefully you'll not lose a limb or two if I accidentally swing right through you."

Kai did not answer, focusing instead on using shunpo to dart between the streams of spiritual energy that flowed through the enclosed school room. He could see them more clearly now, Meimei Anshi's shadowy abilities enhancing his senses to compensate for his lack of physical presence, and he gritted his teeth, pulling together his reiryoku and tightening his grip on his sword.

Meimei Anshi's cloak was perfect, but it would not last indefinitely. Little by little as his focus waned, his sword's disguise would begin to fragment and slip away, creating leaks that could be traced by the enemy. Once that happened, he opened himself up once more to attacks, and therefore he knew that his window of opportunity was now or not at all.

Need gave urgency to his movements, and he pushed his body into shunpo once more, this time dropping out of it to Gujihara's right to cast a swing at his sword arm and then flash-stepping to the shinigami's left, bringing his weapon down across the other's broad arm and slicing through the sleeve of his shihakushou. As Kai had expected, Gujihara reacted as if stung, the controlling influence that flooded his body seemingly unsettled by these sudden, unexplained attacks, but Kai was not finished yet.

If I can distract him and confuse him enough, Yamamoto's got the force to knock his weapon free. With Meimei released, I'm not sure I have that. Sacrificing physical impact for stealth and speed is my sword's down side – so this time it's not so bad to be working as a team.

He slipped back into shunpo, redoubling his focus on his reiryoku as the first strands threatened to slip away. Forcibly he drew them back in, determined to maintain his cloak for as long as he could in order to buy a little extra time. He smashed his blade into Gujihara's, wincing involuntarily as the impact juddered through the whole of his body, and he grimaced, glancing down at his right hand and seeing the first trickle of blood begin to seep through the black glove. Releasing his weapon was not an option, even if his fingers were smashed to pulp and his palm cut to ribbons, and Kai knew that in a battle of strength, his body was not a match for the First division's fourth seat.

Akira, however, was another matter. As Gujihara reeled back once again from the unexpected collision, he saw his opening and with a yell lunged forward, bringing his own weapon across in a decisive, ruthless swing from left to right. It rammed into the green-tinged zanpakutou, knocking it flying from Gujihara's grip and, as the shinigami's weapon embedded itself deep into the top shelf of a nearby bookcase, Akira's fingers glittered with golden light.

"Bakudou no Yon! Hainawa!" he exclaimed, a long ribbon of glittering energy shooting out towards his disarmed kinsman and looping itself like a snake around the man's upper body. Jerking his hand back to release the spell, the momentum pulled Gujihara's body off balance and he crashed to the floor, apparently knocked unconscious by the force of the assault.

Just in time.

Kai felt the edges of his zanpakutou release beginning to fragment and drift away and he sighed, allowing his sword to revert to its normal sealed form. He drew a heavy breath of air into his lungs, crouching down on the ground as he re-assessed his sense of balance. He released his grip on his sword, allowing it to drop onto the mat floor with a soft thud, and Akira stepped over Gujihara's body, approaching him cautiously.

"You look half dead," he said bluntly. "Your sword makes you invisible, but at what cost?"

"Physical strength," Kai admitted, offering his classmate a wan smile. "I'm all right. I just need a minute to catch my breath. I pushed myself to use shunpo more than I ever have in shikai before, just so I could get him off guard. Fighting a squad shinigami isn't much fun, Yamamoto. Remind me not to do it again."

"It's not recommended for anyone," Akira sighed, then held out a hand to haul his classmate to his feet. "Here. Get up. In a fight situation there's not usually leeway for catching breath."

"No kidding," Kai agreed, accepting the help gratefully. "Gujihara's down – is he out?"

"He looks it. Whatever was controlling him seems to have been severed," Akira nodded. Kai crossed the room, reaching up to pull the embedded sword from the bookshelf and glancing at it thoughtfully.

"It's not green any more," he agreed, setting it down on the top of the shelf. "Your kidou is pretty good, so I think that'll hold him."

He turned.

"Souryou and Michihashi should go to the Healing Bay," he said pensively. "We should take them, but I want to find out what's at the bottom of this. It's bothering me, Yamamoto – if that really was the effect of Shikibu's zanpakutou…"

"Shikibu's not an enemy, surely?" Kanshi asked, and Kai shook his head.

"I didn't think so, either," he admitted. "This is making me wonder what's going on, though. It may be coincidental, but it reminded me of Dokusou Houshi."

"Her sword was greenish when we rescued her, now I think of it," Akira's gaze darkened. "I can't believe it though. Why? Has she lost her mind?"

"Maybe she has," Kanshi pursed his lips. "She broke down. We all saw that. Perhaps this is her emotional reaction to what happened to Suzuno."

"More likely it's something else," Aoi said quietly, reaching out an unsteady hand for the nearest table and hauling himself slowly to his feet. "No, Kanshi, I'm okay. The bleeding's stopping – and this is important."

"Are you sure? You're ghost pale," Kanshi looked concerned. "Mine's a flesh wound, but yours is more than that."

"I think he took out a rib, but it hasn't pierced my lung," Aoi spoke calmly, though Kai could see the preoccupation mingled with pain in his pale eyes. "I'll go to the Healing Bay, don't worry. You should come with me, even if just to clean your wound and rest. Before we do, though, something occurred to me."

"Something?" Kai turned inquisitive eyes on the Urahara, who inclined his head in a painful nod.

"Mm," he agreed. "Shihouin, what…what exactly does Shikibu's blade do?"

"Dokusou Houshi?" Kai grimaced. "It's an unpleasant snake of a sword, if you want my opinion – it wouldn't be out of place in my Clan, to tell the truth. I think the closest thing you can associate it with is a spore of some kind – her zanpakutou releases fragments of spirit power that can affect how the opponent behaves. I've not had the misfortune to fight against it, but I do know something about it from our zanjutsu classes last year. She can use her sword's reiryoku as a soporific or a poison – or she can make it act as a leech, withdrawing power from an opponent to weaken their attack."

"Sounds delightful," Kanshi shuddered. "So how does that tie in to what we have here?"

"I thought so," Aoi looked grave. "She fought Aizen. We know she did. What if she tried to absorb his spirit power? What if she succeeded?"

"You mean…what if he let her absorb his spirit power?" Akira blanched, and Aoi nodded his head again.

"Yes, in order to utilise her power to control members of First squad," he agreed softly. "Shihouin, you just said she was capable of…of poisoning with her sword, didn't you? And that it could be used as a soporific. What if Aizen is…is channelling his power through her and through her zanpakutou?"

"I was under the impression he couldn't control multiple people at once, but if he was hijacking Shikibu, he might," Kai's eyes became grim. "I see. When you put it like that, Michihashi, it makes a creepy kind of sense. Edogawa was flapping around everyone this morning saying that Shikibu wasn't in the Healing Bay any longer, and Houjou volunteered to help look for her. From what Edogawa and Sora were saying, they thought she'd got upset and run off - and they wanted to track her down. I didn't even think of something like this - but now you raise it, it's obvious."

"Then that's why he let Shikibu live," Akira clenched and unclenched his fists in anger. "He killed Suzuno because he couldn't manipulate her, but he saw something he could use in Shikibu and so spared her life."

"He's also using now as his chance to do just that, isn't he?" Kanshi looked thoughtful. "Sensei's away and probably Aizen's lured him there."

"When everything happened before, it was apparent that Aizen needed to be within a reasonable distance of who he was manipulating in order for his sword's aura to work," Kai chewed on his lip. "I wonder if that applies in this case, too."

"You mean he is in District One?" Akira shot him a sharp look, and Kai shrugged.

"Maybe," he admitted. "If we accept he's somehow using Shikibu's unpleasant sword to do his dirty work, it's hard to know if he needs to be here or not. She's the one doing the controlling, effectively - not him. However, he still has to impose his will into hers...I wonder if he can do that just from her absorbing his spirit power, or if he has to be on site in order for it to work."

"In that case, we're going looking," Akira said bluntly. "I have scores to settle with Aizen Keitarou."

"It's dangerous," Aoi warned. "Unless it's Ukitake, Akira, there's too much risk involved."

"There might be risk for Ukitake, too," Kai pointed out, a look of consternation entering his golden eyes as he realised with a jolt where exactly Hirata had gone.

It's not to find Shikibu, is it? That's not what's on your mind. If Aizen is here, so is Eiraki - that's who you've gone to find.

Out loud he said,

"At the very least we should scour the grounds. We might find more First Squad officers in a state of confusion, and if we can find Shikibu and bring her out of whatever hypnosis Aizen's used on her, we might prevent the damage from getting worse. Souryou, can you get Michihashi to the Healing Bay without our help? Yamamoto's clearly got killing stuff on his mind and I think I ought to go with him - two swords are better than one and Meimei's cloak might be of use a second time."

"We can manage," Kanshi assured him, glancing at Aoi who nodded his head. "Go."

"I could go alone, you know," Akira protested, but Kai shook his head.

"This time the Senior Class are working together," he said matter-of-factly. "Teamwork is the only strength we have over Aizen and his companions and if there's a chance of him being around, we should be careful. If we're right and he took control of Shikibu, the reason we've only just realised it is because she was alone when they fought. Nobody else was there, nobody else knew exactly what happened and nobody's really been allowed to talk to Shikibu since it did. If we operate in pairs, even if something happens to one of us, there's someone else on hand."

"I suppose your logic makes sense, though you should have drummed that into Endou before he skipped out of here," Akira sighed.

"I wish he hadn't gone," Kai admitted. "You're right...it would have better if he'd stuck with us, but where his family are concerned, the grievances run pretty deep. Besides, even if we go looking, we likely won't find him. Hirata's greatest skill is concealing himself and he doesn't need to use his sword to do it. If he's suppressed his reiatsu, we won't find him now. He'll have used kyokkou and he's already got time and distance on us."

"If he went after Shikibu, she might hurt him," Kanshi warned.

"I'm not worried about Hirata against Shikibu. He out-ranks her and he has the advantage of being in his own wits," Kai shook his head. "For the time being, there's nothing we can do about that. Souryou, if there's anyone at the Healing Bay, report what's happened, okay? Yamamoto and I might not have time if we're going hunting for people behaving oddly."

"Understood," Kanshi agreed. "Don't do anything stupid, either of you - you can leave the rest to us."

---

Time had stopped still for Ryuu in the instant his father had broken through the wall of the manor, and as the dust cleared around them, the young student could feel the swirling waves of feral energy beginning to intensify across the estate grounds.

For a moment their eyes met, those sinister yellow orbs probing deep into Ryuu's stricken grey gaze, then with a blur of light and energy, Seiren disappeared. Shockwaves rippled through the heavy atmosphere, making it appear as though the whole environment was bending and buckling under the fresh onslaught of spiritual pressure. An instant later there was a second implosion of reiryoku and Ryuu tensed, sweat beading across his brow and fear coursing through his veins as the apparition materialised mere inches away from where Keitarou still held the student firmly in his grip.

There was no sanity in Seiren's eyes this time, nor weariness. All Ryuu could see was malevolence and the impure whiteish aura that lingered around the man's thin frame seemed to smoulder with killing intent. There was no apparent recognition in that cold gaze, and despite the blade at his throat, Ryuu shrank back, half convinced his father was about to put an end to him. The memory of their argument at the Academy flitted unbidden through Ryuu's jumbled thoughts, but there was no comparison between Seiren's anger then and his demeanour right now. Even given their uneasy relationship, Ryuu had never seen his father as a violent man, but he found himself hurriedly reassessing that judgement as a clawed hand shot out towards them, ragged nails aiming directly for Ryuu's throat.

Ryuu's heart almost stopped in his chest, and though he could feel the prickle of Shizurugi's spirit attempting to protect him, in the face of this level of dark energy he knew it to be futile. When he had seen Seiren the previous day, it had been under the restraint of spirit draining cuffs and Kinnya's neutralising kidou barrier – but clearly neither one of those had been strong enough to hold his father's toxic spirit for long. The melted remains of the broken chain jangled eerily in the wintry air as those thin fingers grasped out greedily for Ryuu's pale neck. Despite himself the young shinigami closed his eyes, saying a brief and incoherent prayer to any random spiritual deity that might be watching over him.

It was probably the first fervent prayer of any kind he had ever said, and he had an uneasy feeling it would be his last.

Perhaps it was fear that had addled his senses, or perhaps it was the dark morass of energy emitting from his father's body, but the next few moments passed in a jumbled mess of colours, lights and sounds. The next thing he was clearly aware of was being huddled on the ground, his body dragging laboured breaths of air into reluctant lungs, and the touch of Keitarou's weapon at his throat was gone.

He blinked, shuffling his body into a more upright position. What had happened? How had he got here? He racked his memory, but other than a swirl of energy and the sensation of something pulling roughly at his body, he could remember nothing. From somewhere nearby he could hear voices, but he could not make sense of the disjointed sounds, and his vision blurred and swam like he had been immersed in water. Something hard and cold was clutched in his grip, more by instinct than by conscious effort, and as he registered its presence he realised it was his zanpakutou, though at some point it had reverted to its sealed form. Had he lost consciousness? He wasn't sure, but gradually awareness filtered back to his confused psyche and he remembered his father's ghost-pale fingers stretching out towards him, that look of evil in Seiren's eyes. He put an absent hand to his neck, finding with some surprise that, aside from the prick-point scratch inflicted by Keitarou's tantou knife, he was unharmed.

A deathly, spine-chilling shriek rattled through the whole area, causing the dilapidated building to judder and tremble, cracks running up the walls of the central portion of the building. It shuddered again, then the outer walls began to crumble as though they had given up trying to stay upright and had decided to join their western brothers in crashing down towards the ground. The air was thick and cloying, the particles mutating and clumped together under the fallout of Seiren's spiritual pressure, and though Ryuu wanted to stand, he found that it was all he could do to sit there, gazing around him as he tried to work out what had happened.

And then he saw them.

Some few feet away was his father, black hair flying loose and unfettered around his masked face and his body resonating with an ominous white aura. There was madness in those yellow eyes, and Ryuu shuddered as he read the depths of the hatred and bloodlust that glittered there. In the whole of his childhood, he had never known the man to act in a reckless, destructive manner, yet there was no hesitation now in either the creature's expression or its body language, and as Ryuu's brain tried to come to terms with what his eyes were seeing, he registered that the half-hollow figure was not alone.

Seiren's pale fingers had reached out for something, but it had not been for Ryuu.

Instead, those ghostly digits had wrapped themselves around the sharp edge of Keitarou's short blade, gripping it tightly enough for blood to trickle down his hand and drip at steady intervals onto the cold ground. He had wrenched the weapon forcibly from the scientist's grip as though it was nothing more significant than a writing brush or piece of wood, seemingly unconcerned that the blade was biting through his flesh. As Ryuu watched, Seiren lifted the knife to gaze at it for a moment, gauging whether or not it was of any use or interest to him. At length he seemed to decide it wasn't, for he discarded it without a second glance, turning his beady gaze on the scientist instead.

Ryuu's eyes widened.

Had Seiren…come to his aid?

For a moment Keitarou too had been taken off guard by the suddenness of the assault, but now he recovered himself, spreading his fingers as though to cast a kidou spell. Seiren's movements were once more too fast for him, however, for with a blur of energy he disappeared, re-appearing in much the same way Keitarou had crept up on Ryuu. That ambush seemed a lifetime ago now, though in truth it had only been a matter of moments before. Keitarou had been startled by his own technique, but in contrast, Seiren's aims were clearly not to buy time or act as a diversion. Cold fingers clamped around the scientist's throat, and Seiren let out a screech that could only be interpreted as a battle cry – an announcement of his intention to kill.

Struck off guard, Keitarou own fingers clawed at the creature's arms as though trying to pull himself free, and with a strange detachment Ryuu watched as the scientist's face became red, his eyes bulging as he struggled to gasp in air. A few moments more and Keitarou would lose consciousness, and then Guren and Genryuusai would no doubt be able to take him into Council custody…

Although Seiren really did not look as though he intended to let his prey go. In fact, Ryuu's heart stilled a second time as he realised his father seemed to be enjoying the suffocation of his prey. There was a gleam of something else in those amber eyes, and Ryuu had a sudden, horrible thought that it might not end with strangulation. Seiren seemed hostile enough to rip Keitarou's head from his shoulders and then continue, tearing limbs from the man's body until his prey was rendered little more than a bloody, shredded mess.

A cold prickle crept up the student's spine.

Aizen is his target at the moment, but if he tires of Aizen, who will be next? This isn't Father, it's the creature who attacked Guren-sama without recognising that he was fighting his brother. What if the only reason he's gone for Aizen is because right now he thinks the scientist is the strongest?

"Ryuu, get out of the line of fire!" Guren's voice penetrated his hazy consciousness and he turned, seeing his Uncle striding towards him, his own retrieved sword clutched in his half-gloved right hand. "Seiren is dangerous like this and there's no saving him. Get back out of the way – this isn't a fight you should try and continue to participate in!"

At the sound of the Clan Leader's voice, Seiren also turned, a strange look flitting across his gaze before he let out a shriek, tossing Aizen aside as though he were no more than a rag doll and lunging towards his brother. Keitarou crouched on the ground, coughing and spluttering as oxygen was returned to him, but Seiren's attention was fixed on Guren now, and the Clan leader faltered, then raised his sword as if preparing to fight.

This is wrong.

Alarm coursed through Ryuu's body, and before he realised what he was about to do he had somehow pulled himself to his feet, spreading his hands out like a shield and fixing his father with a look of desperation.

"Otousama! No! Please, don't attack your kin!"

He did not know where he had found the strength to shout so loudly or so clearly, but at his cry Seiren stopped dead in his tracks, staring at his son in obvious confusion. Slowly he lowered his hands, and Guren let out an exclamation of surprise.

"Seiren? Can you hear us? Can you hear Ryuu's voice?"

Seiren swivelled his gaze to his brother, but there was nothing but cold emptiness in his stare, and Guren frowned, moving to put a hand on Ryuu's shoulder.

"He's not in his wits. It's dangerous and I will not see you sacrificed to protect my life," he said softly. "This is clearly something between my brother and I, and…"

"No. No, Guren-sama. Please, don't raise your sword," Ryuu shook his head, aware that the moment Guren's fingers had touched his hakamashita, Seiren's body had flared with tension and anger once again. "Please, it's all right. It's all right. You shouldn't fight against Otousama – brothers shouldn't fight!"

"As he is now, I'm not sure you should even call him Otousama," Guren said gravely. "I know you want to help him, but Ryuu, you have to realise…"

"Aizen!" Genryuusai's yell from across the grounds broke through the conversation, and both Kuchiki turned just in time to see a pale-faced Keitarou grab his zanpakutou from the rubble before disappearing into shunpo and out of range. Guren let out a curse, but before he could do anything, Seiren was once more at close quarters, pushing Guren bodily away from his son's side. Guren stumbled but kept his footing, readying weapon a second time as though preparing to release it, but the next instant someone else was between the twins, his white beard fluttering in the cold breeze and his dark eyes grave. Instead of his familiar cane, a gleaming katana was now clutched in his gnarled grip, but Seireitei's most powerful and infamous fire sword was not emitting even slightest flicker of spiritual energy, and although Genryuusai had removed its usual wooden seal, there was nothing confrontational in the way the old man held his zanpakutou.

"Ryuu is right. There is no need to fight," he said calmly, his aging body apparently unaffected by the intense waves of Seiren's toxic reiatsu or the dark expression of resolve in Guren's slate-grey eyes. "Guren-dono, please, lower your sword. Ryuu does not want to see you kill his father, and nor does he want to see his father kill you."

"I don't want to kill anyone, either," Reluctantly Guren lowered his zanpakutou, casting the still-masked Seiren a wary look. "He wouldn't want me to let harm come to Ryuu, though, and he wouldn't want to act against the Clan like this. That isn't my brother, Genryuusai-sama. It isn't Seiren."

"Is Seiren-dono acting against the Clan?" Genryuusai's voice remained level, and something in the calm nature of his tones helped to disperse the tension in the atmosphere. "From where I was standing, it appeared he came to rescue Ryuu from Aizen's clutches. You saw it as clearly as I did, I imagine – how he took Aizen's sword from him and pulled Ryuu free of his grasp."

So that was how it had happened.

Ryuu frowned, struggling again to recall those few moments of memory, but in vain.

Otousama touched me and scrambled my senses, knocking me off-kilter and accidentally sealing my sword. But he did it to help me…to free me from Aizen's blade.

"Yes…yes, maybe he did, but his reasons…just now, he came after me…" Guren trailed off, and Genryuusai smiled, holding up a wizened hand

"Seiren-dono is protecting his son," he murmured. "Whether he can understand at the moment that you're his brother, I'm not sure. Probably he sees you as he saw Aizen – a man with a sword trying to get close to Ryuu. Undoubtedly he unleashed a great and indiscriminate amount of violence against you the last time you crossed weapons, but you should not let that prejudice you. This time Seiren-dono's actions were not haphazard but very clear and deliberate. You noticed yourself that he listened when Ryuu stepped between you. I don't believe he's acting without direction, Guren-dono. His impulses are limited at present, but he is a father trying to defend his son. This is not a power over which anyone can maintain control – yet for Ryuu's sake, Seiren-dono is trying to control it."

His gaze flitted back towards the still silent Seiren, and Ryuu noticed that the golden eyes had dulled slightly with the cessation of hostilities. With a jolt he realised the truth in Genryuusai's words. Seiren had reacted to a perceived threat from both Keitarou's and Guren's swords, but now that the confrontation was at an end, he too had quieted. The noxious flare of spiritual energy that had blanketed the entire atmosphere had begun to dissipate, and though the air was still heavy and prickling with unstable reiatsu, it was no longer as full of killing intent as it had been a short time before.

Ryuu's eyes took on a look of sober comprehension.

Sudden movements. Swords. Angry words and violence. They all act as triggers to Father's condition. It isn't that he wants to attack us – but in this state…

"Otousama is frightened, isn't he?" Ryuu only half-knew he'd spoken aloud until Genryuusai nodded, offering him a pensive look.

"This is spirit power beyond any rationalisation," he said gravely. "It is too raw and deformed for a normal soul to manage, yet in a haphazard way Seiren-dono is managing it. Perhaps the breakthrough was yesterday, when he saw you and said your name. From what I've been told, your Father's collapse was brought about by despair, but if seeing you gave him some shred of hope to cling to, it means he hasn't quite stopped fighting it yet."

"What do you mean?" Guren pursed his lips. "Seiren can…still be saved?"

"I'm not sure," Genryuusai shrugged his shoulders. "His body might have taken too much damage for it to ever recover – that will be for Retsu-dono to assess when she is able. For the time being, though, there is one thing I can do. I think we'd all rather get rid of what doesn't belong here."

He lifted Ryuujinjakka, and in one sweeping movement brought the blade across Seiren's mask, shattering it into thousands of chalky pieces. As the white shell gave way, Seiren stumbled, and almost instinctively Ryuu darted forward to catch his father's falling body, neither knowing nor caring now whether the man he held was dangerous or whether he was not. Tears glittered on his lashes, but he forced them back, absorbing what Genryuusai had said and turning it over in his mind.

Father was trying to protect me. He didn't want to hurt me. He took on Aizen because Aizen was trying to hurt me, and he thought Guren-sama might do the same. Half-hollow or not, damaged or not, he knew who I was. Yesterday, too, he called me by name. Is it because of Shizurugi's power of purification? Or is it more than that?

"Seiren-dono?"

Genryuusai knelt down on the dusty turf, setting his sword down at his side and reaching out a hand to touch Seiren's greyish brow. The man's eyelids twitched at the contact, then fluttered open, revealing dazed grey eyes. "No, don't try to get up. Your son is safe and here at your side – all is well."

"Ryuu?" Seiren's lips parted, the word only the faintest breath of sound dispersing quickly into the cold air.

"I'm here, Otousama," Ryuu got a grip on his emotions, offering his father a faint smile. "I told you yesterday that I would not let Aizen kill you, or I, or Guren-sama. I have kept my promise. We are all still alive."

"Seiren?" Guren lingered a few paces back, uncertainty still clear in his expression, and Genryuusai nodded.

"His wits are returned, at least for now," he said softly. "But Aizen has escaped once more, Guren-dono. I believe finding him is of some importance."

"I think so too," Guren's eyes narrowed, and he gazed at his fallen brother thoughtfully. "Sixth District is sealed, and there are no particular routes of escape for a fugitive. I trust my squad will not let up their vigil over the Senkaimon, and shortly I will go to join the effort. In the meantime, I must leave instructions for the situation here. If Seiren can be saved, Genryuusai-sama, I should like to find a way to save him. Ryuu is right – brothers should not fight in this way, and enough lives have been lost already."

He frowned.

"Speaking of which, where is Retsu-dono? She was at Seiren's side…surely his break for freedom hasn't caused her harm?"

"I appreciate your concern, Guren-sama, but I am quite well."

A slim figure stepped calmly through the gaping hole in the manor wall, pausing to bow her head respectfully towards the head of the Kuchiki Clan. Despite the dust and debris that surrounded her, her attire was spotless, and Ryuu saw amusement flicker briefly in Genryuusai's dark gaze.

I suppose it takes more than a collapsing building or a flare of spiritual power like Father's to ruffle Unohana-sensei.

"Seiren-sama expressed a strong desire to go help his son," she added evenly now, stepping neatly over the blocks of stone and wood towards the gathered shinigami. "I did not think that it would have a negative result, if he did. Admittedly, his way of joining the battle was a little violent and there is additional damage…but that aside…"

"You let him come out here?" Guren stared at her, and Retsu shook her head.

"This is Seiren-dono's land," she said mildly. "I am merely a visiting Clan leader here on your hospitality. I am in no position to give orders to your noble kin."

"Unohana-sensei, can you do anything for Father?" Ryuu asked quietly, and Retsu's gaze softened.

"That is difficult," she admitted, clambering up over a large chunk of ceiling beam with surprising agility and dropping down at Seiren's other side. "I imagine that he was internalising this problem for some time before it actually overpowered him. It is hard to do a full assessment when there is so much negative energy swirling around, but I can tell that there is significant damage to several parts of Seiren-sama's body."

"There's also the matter of this spirit power," Genryuusai said grimly. "It will return, Ryuu. Each time it does, it will sap a little more of your father's strength and even more of his sanity. Once the boundary between plus soul and hollow has been broken, it is very difficult to reverse. For one born in Seireitei with all the hallmarks of a native shinigami, it is even harder."

"Father isn't a shinigami, though," Ryuu objected, his voice shaking slightly. "He's never been one, so it shouldn't matter, should it?"

"On the contrary, it matters," Genryuusai responded slowly. "Seiren-dono was born here, in District Six. His spirit power was clearly sealed, not severed, because life in spirit-enriched land is difficult for a soul with no spiritual soulprint of his own. Your father has reiatsu, however feeble, and he is native to Seireitei. More, though, this power has not been thrust upon him. This is his native spirit power – it is something he was born with and it is part of his soul. Severing it is probably no different from severing his life."

"Then…" Ryuu trailed off. "Then what does that mean, Sensei? Does that mean Father's life is beyond saving?"

Genryuusai glanced at Retsu, whose expression became sombre.

"Whilst this level of spirit power runs rampant around his body, I cannot use kidou to treat him," she said levelly. "The quantity of spiritual matter in this area now has massed to a level where even healing kidou is not likely to be safe. Whilst I don't believe there would be any particular fallout beyond this manor area, you must realise that using kidou would put other lives in danger and would most likely kill Seiren-sama as well. The same is true for my zanpakutou. She has healing qualities, but I do not believe using her in this location would be beneficial."

She turned her gaze on Seiren, slipping slim fingers around his thin wrist to gauge his pulse.

"Your heart is beating quite strongly still, despite the effort you've been to," she said gently, addressing the injured man directly now. "A decision cannot be made here without your input, Seiren-sama. What is your wish? You understand, do you not, the severity of your condition? I imagine that is why you chose not to summon a doctor, and why you pulled away from your brother's court. You felt your life was tapering to a close and you did not wish to cause anyone any inconvenience – correct?"

"I…I didn't want Ryuu…to…" Seiren was unable to finish his sentence, and Ryuu grasped his father's other hand, squeezing it tightly.

"I am sorry I was defiant, and I am sorry I went to the Real World without permission," he said gravely. "I did not mean to alarm you, Otousama. This is in some way my fault – if I had not been so reckless in my judgement, you would not have been persuaded of my death."

Seiren shook his head slightly, and to Ryuu's surprise, there was a flicker of relief in the man's tired grey eyes.

"You're alive," he whispered. "It's enough."

Retsu was silent for a moment, deliberating, and Genryuusai cast her a quizzical glance.

"You have a suggestion, don't you?" he pressed gently. "Make it, please, Retsu. Even if you feel it's unwise, or dangerous, or might fail, I want you to voice it anyway. The Kuchiki have suffered much in the past few months, but it was a faint shred of hope that allowed Seiren-dono to fight to help his son today. If you have any such shred of hope to offer now, please offer it."

"I do," Retsu sighed, reluctance in her expression. "As a healer, it is not my wish to allow a patient to die unnecessarily, but I am also bound not to provoke further suffering. Seiren-sama's injuries are serious, and whilst this spirit power remains, I cannot treat them. They are severe enough to steal his life without my interference – and there is grave risk involved with the suggestion I can make."

"Please share your suggestion anyway, Retsu-dono," Guren requested. "You said already that this is Kuchiki land – this should be a decision for the Kuchiki to make."

"Very well," Retsu inclined her head. "Seiren-sama's spirit power is too far unleashed to be re-sealed. Unless it is removed in almost its entirety, he will continue to have episodes of this nature. As Genryuusai-sama has said, severing it is also not an option – to do so would probably now also sever Seiren-sama's life completely. In Seireitei, complete absence of reiatsu is not compatible with meaningful life."

She reached up to tuck a stray wisp of dark hair back behind her ear.

"As far as my knowledge goes, there is currently no cure for hollowfication," she added. "Since Seiren-sama has manifested a mask on two occasions, there is little doubt that it is in that direction his body is heading. I do not know whether he has crossed over the line too far or whether there is still something to be done. However, if we were to follow the example of the reidoku casualties and administer Eiminyaku…"

"Eiminyaku?" Guren's expression changed, and he shook his head emphatically. "You mean, turn my brother into a memoryless, soulless zombie? Take away from him all life and function and make him as that Shihouin wretch was in his final days? You wish to give Seiren the same drug that was used to kill my Father? Retsu-dono, even in these desperate times…"

"Do it," Seiren's words were quiet, but firm, and Guren stopped mid-flow, turning to stare at his brother in disbelief.

"Seiren? Do you even understand what she said? Eiminyaku is what killed Father! It's destroyed thousands of lives and souls and who knows what kind of person you'll be when it's done eating away at you? This is too dangerous – there must be another way?" He looked at Retsu desperately, and the healer shook her head.

"There is no other way," she said soberly. "Eiminyaku is the only chemical that can reduce Seiren-sama's spirit power on a gradual enough scale that his weak body won't be sent into shock. Even using it, I cannot guarantee he will survive. I would measure quantities very carefully, but I can also not guarantee what the end result would be of using such a drug. It is reviled by most healers and I personally do not sanction its use – but in a situation like this, there is no other choice. If we do nothing, Guren-sama, your brother will lose what wits and strength he has remaining to him and he will die. More, he will probably hurt those close to him before he does."

"Retsu is saying that your choices are Eiminyaku or death," Genryuusai said quietly, "and if your choice be death, it would be kinder to take your blade and do it now, even if it means spilling your brother's blood."

"No!" Ryuu held up his hands, the tears now beginning to spill down his cheeks. "That's not fair, Sensei. Father hasn't said…"

He paused, feeling Seiren's fingers twitch weakly against his own.

"Otousama?" he murmured. "What is it…you want to do?"

Seiren was silent for a moment, his gaze pained, and Ryuu saw his eyes flit briefly to Guren. The Clan leader was tense, his eyes stricken and his mind obviously struggling with what he had been told, yet something in his brother's demeanour gave the injured man new strength. Slowly he inclined his head.

"This is…my life," he whispered. "The decision…is mine."

"Seiren…" Guren faltered, and Ryuu saw Seiren's eyes harden.

"If it kills me, so be it." he said, a little more presence in his voice this time, despite the fluctuating of his aura. "Please, Retsu-sama. If you…can preserve…"

He closed his eyes briefly, then,

"I will take…responsibility for my decision," he added. "But Father…gave me this life…to support my brother. Guren…is still here. So…must I...fight to be."

"Seiren?" Guren's eyes opened wide at this, and Ryuu's heart skipped a beat as he too registered the way in which his father had addressed his brother. For the first time there had been no honorific – no indication that Guren was Clan leader, nor pretence that he was the older twin. From the expression in Seiren's eyes, Ryuu suddenly understood.

Father knew. The secret I discovered in the archive that day was something Father already knew...and more, he's known far longer than I. Perhaps Senaya-sama even told him, before he died, how things were supposed to be, yet instead of getting angry and rebelling, he chose to accept how things were and move on. He's supported Guren-sama from the shadows all the time knowing this...and he swore allegiance to Ribari-sama even though by doing so he knew it reduced the chances of my inheriting. If Father had truly wanted rid of Ribari-sama, he would have killed him much sooner, wouldn't he? On the contrary, though, he put Guren-sama's son first, even though he knew it was all Senaya-sama's manipulations that left things this way.

My claim may have overreached Ribari-sama's on a technicality, but so long as my cousin lived, Father saw him and only him as the next Lord of the Kuchiki Clan.

He swallowed hard, glancing at his father's weak, crumpled form and his heart lurched suddenly in his chest as he began to see the strict Clansman in a new light.

Father does not express well his feelings for anything, and it is a habit I have inherited in its entirety, so I should have seen it sooner. Father may or may not have resented Guren-sama when they were young, but right now, things have changed. The people Father cares for most strongly are his brother the Clan leader and me, his only son. They are words not said and so easily misunderstood...but right now I understand them more clearly than if he had shouted them from the rooftops.

Guren-sama has always been strong, formidable, distant and impressive. To me and to all the other Kuchiki, he is a great Lord and a leader above our level. But to Father, Guren-sama is his twin brother. His younger twin brother.

Ryuu's gaze flitted again to Guren, his sharp eyes absorbing the unsettled, indecisive aura that pervaded the Clan leader's body. It was not an expression Ryuu was used to seeing on his uncle's face, but in that moment he realised how human Guren was under all the Kuchiki finery. He had always striven to match and overreach his legendary father and outside of District Six, his name was synonymous with great power, authority and honour. Yet here, dishevilled from the fallout of battle and with his brother's broken body lying mere inches from his feet he seemed a different man - a man remembering the loss of his beloved wife and only son, and perhaps a man wondering whether he was about to lose yet another of his close blood kin to enemy intrigue. That was the weight Senaya had bequeathed him, and Ryuu saw with startling clarity how hard a burden it truly was. The lives and futures of every soul in District Six depended on this one person to choose rightly and lead them to safety.

Ryuu's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, digesting this with all his usual logical precision.

Maybe this is the only time Father can play the older brother and assume responsibility for a difficult decision, and so he will. It may be the first and last time he can take such a role, but by doing so, if it should go badly, he lifts the blame from Guren-sama's shoulders.

Maybe I've been wrong about everything from the very beginning. Perhaps it's never been about status at all. Maybe it's deeper than that. What if the reason Father's always been so loyal is because, even if they fight, older brothers are meant to look after younger ones? What if that's what Father's been doing from the shadows ever since Senaya-sama died? I have no brothers of my own, and I have never reached out much to my sisters, nor have they towards me. But those I have met at the Academy have taught me that different perspectives exist. The bond Ukitake has with his siblings, or Kyouraku with Tokutarou-sama...even Kai's relationship with his older siblings is of a different nature from my own broken family bonds.

He reached up to touch his throat once more, realising that the bleeding had stopped.

More than anything now I understand what I must do. The things I don't know are so numerous they frighten me, and I must face that fact. Father and I may be alike in many ways, but not in the way that matters most significantly right now. I am still far too naive, and far too ignorant of the people who immediately surround me. I have made such horrendous misjudgements since Ribari-sama's death, and probably, since long before. This is a flaw and a weakness in myself, and I must face it. More, I must settle the future of the Clan. Events today have taught me what it is I need to do - and I must shortly find the courage to do it in full.

"If that is your decision, Seiren-sama, then I will accept it and take you at your word," Retsu's expression was resigned, but she inclined her head in agreement. "In your current state, taking you far from this place would be unwise and dangerous, but I believe the far portion of the east wing is still stable enough and will suffice as a sick room. It will take me an hour or two to prepare the Eiminyaku solution - in the meantime, Kuchiki-kun, will you help me to bring your father safely inside?"

"Of course," Ryuu nodded immediately. "I should...if possible, if there is anything I can do to help, I should like to remain here at Father's side."

"I believe Seiren-sama would find that a reassurance," Retsu bestowed a gentle smile on the young student. "I am glad you feel the same way."

"In the meantime, Guren-dono, you and I must consider the reason for which Retsu and I first came," Genryuusai said matter-of-factly. "Aizen has a head start on us...we must not waste any more time in tracking him down. We should return to the main manor and find out what your men have discovered - and more, give warning of the threat now loosed once more on your land."

"Seiren, are you sure about this?" Guren murmured, a question in his grey eyes, and Seiren smiled.

"Father...always said...my life was...for your sake," he responded softly. "I will...not disappoint...his expectations."

"Then I suppose there's nothing more for me to do but accompany you, Genryuusai-sama," Guren sighed, but there was resignation in his tones. "My duty is indeed to track down Aizen and take him either alive or dead. Till that is done, nobody can rightfully consider the threat to this District at an end - and as Head of the Kuchiki, I also have Father's expectations weighing over me."

---

It was a long shot, but he had to be sure.

Kazoe hurried along the halls of the school, his senses reaching out across the manor grounds in an attempt to locate a particular, familiar reiatsu. Though it seemed far-fetched, he could not shake it from his mind - the green haze of the First squad members' swords and then Enishi, telling him that Naoko was missing from the Healing Bay.

It surely couldn't be coincidence that he could no longer detect her presence within the school grounds.

He reached the Healing Bay, resting a hand on the door before pushing it back and stepping inside. Dearly he wished that his calm and rational Clan leader was there waiting for him, for he had never felt more bereft of her advice or guidance, but he knew that she was still far away in District Six and, as the most senior staff member and most thoroughly trained healing shinigami still based at the school, it was up to him to get to the bottom of things alone.

"Kazoe-sensei!"

A girl's voice made him pause, turning to see two of the Fourth years huddled in a corner of the main chamber, one of them with her arm firmly around the other's shoulders. Kazoe's eyes narrowed behind his glasses as he remembered Akaya's frantic report, and his gaze fell momentarily on Kaoru's pale features. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, but as far as he could tell, she was not hurt, and relief flooded his heart.

"Did you come here to find us?" It was Sakura who spoke, and Kazoe shook his head, crossing the room towards them.

"If you can walk, go to the Great Hall and stay there," he said quietly. "The rest of your class are there, including your young Urahara friend. I've put a secure barrier around it but it should let you enter. Houjou Enishi is in charge and will be on hand if you need help."

"Kaoru's still kinda shaken up, sir," Sakura hugged her friend tightly. "Did Akaya tell you what happened out at the training ground?"

"Yes. For that reason I want you to go," Kazoe agreed. "Nagasata, do you think you can stand?"

"If Sakura-san helps me, I'll manage," Kaoru's eyes were big and shadowy, but she nodded her head. "Sensei, is everyone all right? Akaya and everyone else...are they okay?"

"Everyone is fine," Kazoe agreed. "You should hurry along to join them as soon as possible. Oh, one moment," As Sakura got to her feet, reaching out a hand to help Kaoru up. "Have either of you spoken to Shikibu Naoko since you've been here? I imagine you may not know her by name, but a Senior girl with long auburn red hair and grey-green eyes?"

"We haven't seen anyone here," Kaoru shook her head. "Anideshi brought us here but there was nobody else on duty and no other patients."

"Ukitake did?" Kazoe frowned. "He's not still here?"

"He isn't," Sakura confirmed. "He didn't want to leave us here alone, but Nagoya-senpai gave him an instruction to go back and so he did."

Kazoe's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Nagoya's taking seriously Genryuusai-sama's instructions regarding Ukitake, then. Good. If there's something suspicious afoot, that wretched District boy is almost certain to get dragged into it, but if Nagoya really does have a hand on him, I can probably rest assured he's safe and out of trouble.

"Why should we have spoken to Shikibu-senpai?" Sakura was curious. "Is she in danger too?"

"She has been resting here for a few days with a lingering sickness, but it seems she is well enough to leave her bed," Kazoe spoke vaguely. "If you have not seen her, then it does not matter. I merely wanted to ensure all those who were currently within the Healing Bay's care were given the evacuation message. If she's not here, then I will look for her elsewhere."

"Oh," Sakura's face cleared and she shrugged. "I'm sorry, sir. We've definitely not seen any Senior girls since Anideshi left."

"Very well. Most likely she has rejoined her classmates, then, and I will speak to her later," Kazoe reflected. "That is all. You girls may go to the Great Hall now."

"Yes, sir," Sakura slipped her arm once more around Kaoru's diminuitive form, leading her gently towards the door of the Healing Bay when it slid back, revealing two blood-spattered figures. At the sight of them, Sakura let out a cry of dismay.

"Souryou-senpai? What happened? What happened?"

"Souryou...Michihashi?" Alarm glittered in Kazoe's clever eyes as he surveyed the state of the two Seniors. "Explain - Souryou, make Michihashi sit down before he loses any more blood than he already has. No, Michihashi, I don't want to hear a report from you. Souryou, you're a better colour - tell me what happened."

"We got attacked by one of the First Division," Kanshi cast Sakura a rueful smile, touching his wounded arm gingerly with a blood-smeared finger. "He came at us at speed and took both Aoi and I out before either of us realised what was going on. My injury isn't that bad, though, Sensei. Aoi's is worse, but he's doing all right, I think. Honestly, I'm glad you're here - we felt you ought to know, but then, judging by the state of the kidou classroom..."

"You are aware of that?" Kazoe's eyebrow twitched up, and Kanshi nodded.

"We heard it and saw it from the library window," he agreed. "That's where the Yamamoto - Gujihara, was that what Akira said? - attacked us."

"Gujihara Tetsu," Aoi confirmed, his words soft and careful as he manoeuvred his wounded body onto one of the pallets.

"You weren't alone? Others were with you?" Worst case scenarios flitted though Kazoe's mind, and Kanshi nodded.

"Shihouin, Endou and Akira," he agreed. "We don't know where Endou is - he hared off, and Shihouin thinks he might have gone looking for Shikibu. There's something up with her sword and the way Gujihara-senpai attacked us, and the next thing we knew, Endou was gone. Shihouin and Akira have also gone looking for Shikibu now. They think she might be in trouble."

"Shikibu-senpai?" Kaoru murmured softly. "Sensei, wasn't that the Senior you were looking for?"

"Yes," Inwardly Kazoe berated Kanshi's loose tongue, but there was no helping it now. "But that isn't a concern of yours. I've already given you a clear instruction, and I expect you to obey it."

"But if Souryou-senpai and Michihashi-senpai are hurt, can't we help them?" Sakura begged, genuine anxiety in her eyes as she surveyed their blooded clothing. "There's nobody on duty here, and Unohana-sensei's still away."

Kazoe sighed, sliding his hand once more around the hilt of his sword and pulling it from its sheath.

"Souryou, you said yours is a flesh wound," he said categorically, using the weapon to indicate a box of cleaning poultices and bandages on a nearby shelf. "Take that and clean yourself up. Takaoka and Nagasata can help you if they're so keen to. When you're done, take the two of them to the Great Hall to join their classmates. Houjou is already there and he'll explain to you what I've already told him. Michihashi can be left to me for now - do as I say and don't waste time."

"Yes, sir," Kanshi's normally playful gaze became serious and he nodded, moving to the far side of the chamber and loosening the ties on his damaged hakamashita. "You heard him, kids - over here, out of his way. I think Sensei's going to release his sword, and it's probably better you don't interfere."

"But should we really be helping to undress a Senior student who's a boy?" Kaoru was recovering her colour now, eying Kanshi doubtfully. "Isn't that against rules, to do something like that?"

"I think we can safely call these emergency conditions," Kanshi laughed, slipping off his hakamashita and flexing his damaged arm ruefully. "I'm covered in blood and I may need your help to reach all of it. I realise it's an imposition, but since you girls are here..."

"I'll help," Sakura said quickly, her cheeks flushed red and her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Kaoru-chan, you should sit quietly and get your strength back. It only takes one of us to help Souryou-senpai, and you're still not fully fit."

"Kazoe-sensei?" As Kazoe turned his attention back to the Urahara boy, Aoi spoke, his eyes full of consternation.

"You shouldn't bother speaking till I've done something basic about this injury," Kazoe spoke briskly, using the sharp end of his sword to cut through the ties of the wrecked hakamashita and peeling the blood-stained layers back to reveal the damage below. "You're lucky. It's a more serious blow than Souryou's, but mostly glancing all the same. It's cut a rib, but it hasn't broken right through it. I can't heal bone and my sword isn't designed to do the things some other healers' swords are, but I can still do something about the bleeding. Suikonde, Seidoiki."

The weapon hummed and glittered once more with light, and Kazoe hovered the shining blade a few inches above Aoi's red-splotched chest, spreading his left hand over it to draw together his reiryokuwith the healing spells he had studied as a young boy in District Four. A soft glow spread out around Aoi's body, engulfing the split skin in its aura and dispersing the blood into harmless specks of dust as it sterilised the wound against infection. Aoi flinched slightly at the sudden warm sensation that coursed across his cold skin.

"It will sting a little, but not for long," Kazoe spoke evenly. "Take your mind off it and tell me - quietly, please - what you believe happened in the library. You're a smart boy and not given to drama or exaggeration, so I'll consider your words exact."

"Gujihara-senpai attacked us unexpectedly," Aoi fidgeted his body into a more comfortable position. "Kazoe-sensei, I might be wrong but I think that he was being controlled by Shikibu's zanpakutou. Shihouin told us about it - what it can do - and it seems logical to me. Shikibu faced Aizen Keitarou alone in the Real World and yet he left her alive. We think he did something to her then and this is the result."

"Mm," Kazoe's eyes darkened.

Yes. I believe I feel the same.

Out loud he said,

"And Shihouin and Yamamoto went to find Shikibu because of this?"

"Yes," Aoi nodded slightly. "We figured that it might not just have been Gujihara-senpai affected, especially since something obviously happened in the kidou classroom. They thought that if they found Shikibu and stopped her, then things might calm down."

Houjou said Edogawa and Shiba are also looking for Shikibu.

Kazoe processed this carefully, then,

"When I've finished patching you up, you're to go to the Great Hall too," he said quietly. "Take it slowly. This injury is not life threatening, but in your current condition I would not recommend you enter into any strenuous physical activity. You're not mistaken - there have been other like incidents in both the Fourth and First year classes. The Great Hall has been secured and I hope it will be safe. My intention is for all students to gather there...you can leave the matter of Shikibu to me."

"Yes, sir," Aoi looked relieved, Kazoe thought, and another idea crossed his mind.

"Michihashi, Yamamoto and Shihouin were only looking for Shikibu, correct?"

"I'm not sure," Aoi admitted. "I mean, that's what they were saying but...we weren't sure if it meant that the exile was also in this area. Akira's pretty mad on finding Aizen Keitarou, because of what happened to Suzuno. I think Shihouin is tagging along with him to prevent him doing anything rash, but...I think it would be much better if you found Shikibu, Sensei, and sent the two of them to the Hall as well."

"Agreed," Kazoe said grimly, lifting his hand from his blade and the glow of kidou slowly disappeared. "That's as much as I can do with the skills I have, but I don't think you'll harm from this encounter."

He turned, taking one of the white robes down from a peg and tossing it in his student's direction.

"Souryou and the girls have gone," he observed. "Can you manage on your own or shall I take you to join them?"

"I'll be all right," Aoi took the robe gratefully, slipping it around his upper body and pulling it tight over the sealed up wound. "I think it's more important to find Shikibu right now."

"Then go," Kazoe instructed. "I'll join you in the Hall later, but I also think it's a bad idea to let my kinswoman roam unchecked in a situation such as this."

If only Retsu-sama was here. She'd get to the bottom of things so much more quickly.

As he watched the fair-haired Urahara make his way slowly and gingerly down the corridor towards the passage that led to the Great Hall, Kazoe leaned up against the wall of the Healing Bay, once more attempting to spread his senses far and wide in a search for Naoko's reiatsu. It was frustrating, he realised bitterly, that though he had often been praised as a young man, his skills had always been more given over to kidou and spell-casting than they ever had the sensing of disjointed reiatsu. If the injury was presented before him, he could pick up the vibes but in a case such as this, when a second member of his Clan might be in real danger of her life, his abilities were painfully limited.

If Retsu-sama was here, she'd know where Naoko was already.

Kazoe ran his fingers through his thick dark hair.

I don't want to lose another student. More, I don't want Retsu-sama to lose another young Unohana. She's been so kind to me in the years we've known one another. If I can repay her generosity towards me by intervening and helping Naoko, I will. But can I? Michihashi's confirmed my worst fears. I thought it odd Aizen had let her go to begin with, but I never even thought that something like this could be the reason why. Given how this man works, he'll no doubt discard her as soon as he's done with her, and that might well mean losing her her life. Can it even be reversed? I wonder. If he's managing to operate through Naoko's zanpakutou, it means he's pretty deep inside her system. Maybe it's already too late to recover her - but finding her before more trouble happens is important.

It would help if I had a spiritual clue to go on, but as a healer, this is where I fail the most. My senses aren't naturally sensitive, and I lack the final training to use what little I have.

"Kazoe-sensei! Kazoe-sensei!"

As he turned towards the school grounds, he was accosted by an agitated Kira Hideharu, who grasped his wrists urgently as he struggled to draw breath. He had clearly been running, Kazoe realised, and from the unusually unkempt nature of the boy's appearance, he deduced that he had come from the direction of the gymnasium, where Minabe was currently holding a class.

"Kazoe-sensei, Minabe-sensei sent me to find you!" Kira drew gulps of air into his lungs, gazing at the Kidou teacher with an intensity that bordered between fanatical and hysterical. "First squad tried to attack the gym, and Minabe-sensei sent me to tell you!"

The gymnasium? During one of Minabe's classes? Do they have a death wish?

Kazoe disentangled Kira's fingers from his sleeve, giving the boy a short, sharp, shake.

"Calm down and speak coherently," he snapped. "What occurred? Where are these First Squad members now?"

"They're in the gym. Kamaki-kun and Kobayashi-kun are sitting on them, sir," Kira gabbled out, his cheeks unusually red from his dash through the school buildings. "Minabe-sensei took them down. She was cross, and because I'm no good at anything physical, she sent me to find you to tell you what had happened. She said that you'd want to know, and so I came to find you but you weren't in your office and the kidou classroom was in pieces and..."

"Okay, enough," Kazoe sighed, holding up his hand to stop the eager Fifth year in his tracks. "I understand the message. Minabe-sensei has the situation under control, so it seems. I want you to return there and tell her I am looking into this with top level priority. Tell her to send any members of Fifth Year not currently engaged in restraining the First squad members to the Great Hall. I'm assembling everyone there. Oh, and Kira? Tell Kamitani and Atsudane to detour to the Hohou classrooms and the Sakusen theory chamber. I want the Second and Third Years to report to the Hall as soon as possible. Tell them to tell Uebashi-sensei that this is my instruction and he's to have the Second years there as soon as possible - the Third Year should have a private reading session so make sure they also understand their orders."

He eyed Kira doubtfully.

"Did you take all of that in? Repeat it please, so I know you understood."

"Yes, sir." Kira stood up straight, tension clear in his thin frame. "I'm to tell Minabe-sensei that you want any Fifth years not involved with the First squad members to report to the Great Hall. I'm also to tell Kamitani-kun and Atsudane-kun to go to the Hohou and Sakusen rooms respectively, so that the Second and Third year can also be assembled in the Great Hall."

"Good lad." Kazoe patted him approvingly on the shoulder. "Go on then. Go as quickly as you can - you can leave everything else to the Seniors and I to take care of."

I hope.

Kira looked relieved, and he bowed his head, before turning on his heel and haring back the way he had come.

That boy is fine so long as you give him firm instructions, but I do wonder what kind of a shinigami he's going to make.

Kazoe let out his breath in a rush.

At least I can trust him to relay what I told him promptly and accurately. I should be thankful for small mercies. If the whole rest of the school are in the Great Hall, and Uebashi's also there, I shouldn't need to worry about impromptu attacks on any more of the juniors. And, since I can't find head nor tail of Naoko by myself, there's only on other place I can go.

He swung around, heading very purposefully along the halls towards the headmaster's study.

It's about time this bodyguard of Genryuusai-sensei's proved his worth to us. He's supposed to protect the students at this school - I'm going to make sure that's what he does.

---

"I know it doesn't seem possible, but Naoko really doesn't seem to be anywhere."

Sora dropped down against the school fence to catch her breath, casting her companion a hopeless look. "So much for tracking her down and taking her back safely to the Healing Bay, Mi-chan. We've been all over and not just us. If Houjou had found her, by now he'd have come to tell us, right? It's like she's disappeared into thin air."

She turned, pressing her hands absently against the slatted pieces of wood.

"I almost wonder if she's left the school completely," she added softly. "I don't know how upset she is at the moment, but if she really wanted to get away from people's scrutiny..."

"She hasn't left the school grounds." At her side, Mitsuki shook her head, a look of clear consternation in her grey eyes. "Sora-chan, something is afoot. Don't you feel it? All over the school, bursts of energy here, there, everywhere. It's as though there's a battle going on which we're not involved in - I can't explain it any more than that, but that's how it seems to me."

"A battle, huh?"

Sora turned her attention back towards the school building with a heavy sigh.

"If you can feel it too, I guess I can't pretend Hotarue's imagined it, then."

"Hotarue's sensed it?" Mitsuki's brow creased. "Why didn't you mention it sooner? I've been trying to tell myself that it's nothing, or that I'm just worrying about Naoko, but the truth is a lot of strange signals have been blocking and blurring my senses since we set out after breakfast. Always bearing in mind this is a practical school and things like zanpakutou training and magic spell casting happen all of the time, I thought I was reading too much into it, but..."

"Katen Kyoukotsu," Sora offered her friend a bleak smile. "Hotarue's tuned into Shunsui's zanpakutou like you wouldn't believe. The moment she senses its release, she's fluttering around all over my brain to tell me. I think she took more seriously than I did Okaasama and Tokutarou-nii's request to keep an eye on the idiot when we first came here - and I definitely felt Katen Kyoukotsu release."

"I did too," Mitsuki admitted. "The thing is, though, Shirogane-senpai has him and Juushirou helping with a zanjutsu class. There's just a chance that Kyouraku-kun released his weapon for that purpose, which is why I've not acted on it. It's just...I thought I felt other...things, too. Everything's flooding my mind and it's hard for me to try and track Naoko down."

"We're a long way from the school building here, and twice as far from the training grounds," Sora reflected. "We've walked the length and breadth of the Academy's perimeter looking for clues and we've not found anything. I know you don't want to worry anyone or get Nao-chan into trouble, but surely we can't keep doing this without alerting someone on the staff that she's missing. While I don't think Nao's the type to go crazy and try to hurt herself, Amai-san's death was a big deal to her, wasn't it? Probably she's not thinking too clearly, and we can't just give up."

"Mm. Especially now, while Sensei is away," Mitsuki murmured. "I can't help it, Sora, but I'm sure something is very wrong. It's not just that Sensei's gone, it's that Kinnya-sama was here, and then..."

She drew breath sharply, clamping her hand over her mouth, but her friend was on her like a shot.

"Kinnya-sama?" she demanded, grabbing her companion and giving her a little shake. "Kinnya-sama as in Juushirou's grandfather Kinnya-sama? The hermit who you and Kuchiki said never leaves his coastal manor?"

"Till this, I didn't know he did. Truthfully, till this I'd never met him," Mitsuki reddened, disentangling herself from her roommate's grip. "I'm sorry, Sora. I wasn't supposed to tell you or anyone. Sensei thought it would create panic if people knew a high-ranking member of my Clan was suddenly here. Sensei and Ryuu disappeared not long after that meeting, but Kinnya-sama and Shirogane-senpai have stayed behind and I can't help but think it's to protect the school in some way from whatever enemy might try to take advantage of Sensei's absence."

"But Sensei has members of First squad here, too," Sora pointed out. "I know we all had that talk the other night about what to do if Aizen shows his ugly mug around these parts, but I'm not seriously sure he's going to do that. What he wants is in Sixth, so I don't see that he'd come here. Still, I guess maybe Guren-sama thought it mattered...and sent his...uncle? to take care of things as insurance."

"Yes. Uncle." Mitsuki nodded. "I'm not sure. It just gave me a bad feeling that someone who hasn't involved themselves in anything suddenly travelled all this way and his doing so has been so hushed up. He's here, I know he is. I can sense his reiatsu, even though he has it suppressed to a really low level. He hasn't come to any meals, though, and I'm not sure precisely where he's staying, only that it's here, somewhere."

"In case Aizen shows?"

"Who knows?" Mitsuki shrugged helplessly. "I don't know what kind of spirit power Kinnya-sama has, or if he even has a zanpakutou any more. He didn't seem to be carrying one when we met him in the halls...so maybe he doesn't. Perhaps it's not that at all. It just put me on edge, especially since Sensei and Retsu-sama both left the school and took Ryuu as well."

"Well, unless you want to go hunt for this mysterious kinsman of yours, I vote we keep hunting for Naoko," Sora said pragmatically. "There's one place we haven't gone, and even though she's not necessarily going to be there, we might manage to get some help without alerting Kazoe to the fact a Senior is missing."

She gestured towards the makeshift First division barracks.

"The shinigami are here to protect us and help us out," she added. "Let's ask them to do just that."

"Ask...them."

Mitsuki turned her attention on the building, a strange sensation assailing her as she rested her gaze on the door. "No...Sora...I don't think...I don't think we can..."

"Why not?" Sora frowned, linking her arm in her classmate's and leading her purposefully across the grass towards the wooden structure. "They have resources we don't have and they can leave the school without getting permission, so if she's wandered beyond this line, they can go looking where we can't. It seems like the best idea to me - I know you don't want her to get in trouble and nor do I, but her safety is important too."

"There's nobody there," as they drew closer, a cold chill rippled through Mitsuki's body and she stopped, dragging Sora back with her and gazing at the building in consternation. "It's empty, Sora. Empty."

"Empty?" Sora frowned. "What, completely? No shinigami at all? What on earth are they doing, then? Even if some of them are patrolling, a few of them ought to be here."

"They're not," Mitsuki gripped Sora's arm tight enough to make her friend wince. "Sora, that place...it's wrong. Everything is wrong. There's no shinigami, just...something else."

"What are you talking about?" Sora wrenched her arm free, rubbing it with a grimace. "And that hurt. If something's bothering you, speak up and explain it to me - otherwise we're going in to see if we can find any clue to where the shinigami have got to, all right? Class or not, Shunsui's sword release is still bothering me more than a little, and I'd like to make sure everything back there is all right."

"I don't think it is," Mitsuki's skin was ash pale and she tugged on Sora's sleeve, gesturing in the direction of the building. "Look."

Sora turned, a retort fresh on her lips but it died almost as soon as she caught sight of what her friend had seen.

In the doorway of the wooden building, where moments ago there had been nobody was a figure, a strange, empty expression in her grey-green eyes and something long and sharp clutched in her right hand. An odd aura of green light prickled across the blade and around her body, and as Mitsuki stared at her missing friend, the sensation of unease in the pit of her stomach threatened to overwhelm her.

"Naoko," she whispered.

"Nao-chan, what are you doing here?" Sora darted forwards. "We've been worried sick - have you been hiding out here with the shinigami or something? You could've given us warning!"

"Sora! No! Get away from her!" Mitsuki shrieked, grabbing hold of her friend and yanking her forcibly back. "Look at her! She's not herself, look!"

"But...Mi-chan, it's Naoko!" Sora protested. "She's our friend - right?"

"Right now I don't know what she is. Even, who she is," Mitsuki's eyes became grave as she assessed her older classmate's strange appearance. Naoko was ash pale, the odd green aura accentuating her pallor and making her appear more spectral than alive. The weapon clutched tightly in her right fist was unmistakeably Dokusou Houshi, but there was an odd silverish veneer to the blade's usual release, and no recognition had flashed into the girl's eyes at the sound of her name.

More troubling than that, though, was Naoko's reiatsu.

Mitsuki bit her lip.

I'm standing here looking right at her, but even with her sword released, I can't sense her at all. It's as though Naoko isn't really there...though I can see her, there's nothing there but Naoko's body wielding a soulless sword.

"Who she is?" Sora was confused. "Mi-chan..."

"Dokusou Houshi. Doku o."

Naoko's voice was hard and mechanical, and before Sora could finish her sentence the Unohana had brought her weapon swiftly across from left to right in a jerky movement, sending a bevy of eerie greenish spores out across the divide between them. Sora cursed, her fingers closing around her own weapon and yanking it free of its sheath, almost splitting right through the polished wood scabbard in her urgency to have her sword free. With a few slashes of her blade she dispersed the cloud of ominous green fragments, grabbing Mitsuki by the arm and pulling her back behind a nearby tree.

"Okay, so I'd say that proves you right," she muttered, glancing at Hotarue's blade and grimacing at the smudge marks the spores had left against the smooth surface. "Any bright ideas about what's going on? You said you weren't sure who Nao was right now - are you going to tell me something I don't want to hear about who she thinks she might be?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure," Mitsuki admitted, agitation in her grey eyes. "I just can't feel any trace of Naoko's spirit power, Sora. I can see her there and her sword is obviously released. More, that was definitely one of Dokusou Houshi's shikai attacks, so there's no mistaking that. Even so, though, I can't pick up the faintest hint of Naoko's reiatsu. It's as though something has burrowed right into her and consumed her from the inside...leaving just a shell and that sword."

"Aizen Keitarou?" Sora asked softly, and Mitsuki shrugged.

"I don't know who else can make people into puppets." She admitted. "The truth is, though, Sora, none of us have seen what someone looks or acts like under the influence of that man's sword. Kyouraku-kun would know, and so would Juushirou, but they're the only ones who would. If this is his work, I can't be sure about it. I only saw Onoe-kun in the Real World, and by that point he really...wasn't Onoe-kun any more anyway."

"Do you think that could have happened to Nao-chan?" Sora looked stricken, and Mitsuki shook her head.

"Eiminyaku doesn't work this quickly," she said grimly, poking her head out around the tree to gaze at the green-shaded apparition once more. "Besides, if this is Aizen's work, there's only one time he could have done this to her. It must have happened when Amai-san was killed. He let Naoko go, then. We should have realised that he hadn't really let her go at all. What he'd done was plant something inside of her. While Sensei was still here, he probably left it dormant, but if I can't sense it, maybe even Retsu-sama couldn't pick up on this either. When Aizen controlled Eiraki-chan, I couldn't feel her reiatsu until the spell had been broken. What if this is the same? Sensei's not in District One to protect us, so now the parasite has woken up and she's obeying orders we can't see or hear."

She closed her eyes, spreading out her senses across the school grounds.

"I have a bad feeling about what this means," she whispered, opening her eyes. "I'm picking up...several disjointed signals across the Academy. I think...I think that Naoko hasn't just come here to wait for us to fall across her path. There's a very good reason she's come here of all places and I think...she's probably been here since she disappeared from the Healing Bay."

"Here...as in, the First division barracks?" Sora demanded. Mitsuki nodded.

"There's fighting going on within the school proper," she said grimly. "I can't feel Naoko, but I can feel something dark here and I can feel that across the Academy, too, in fits and starts. It's like a code I can't break - I can't identify it clearly, but I know it's there all the same. I'm wondering if the reason Aizen let Naoko live wasn't so that she could run off and create a distraction. I wonder if he found another use to put Dokusou Houshi to."

Sora's brows knitted together.

"Something involving First squad?" she asked soberly. "Thinking about Nao's sword, the options are none of them pretty."

"Poison, sleep, absorption," Mitsuki agreed. "Maybe it's a combination of them all. Naoko isn't capable of using her shikai to that high a level, and I don't think on her own she'd be able to combine all of those attacks and be effective. However, if someone else is tapping into her spirit power, maybe they can see ways in which to use Naoko's skills to their own advantage. They probably don't care if they overload Naoko's body in the meantime. She's just a tool in a bigger plan."

"But Naoko could be killed!" Anger and indignation glittered in Sora's green eyes, and Mitsuki nodded.

"Very likely, and others too," she said darkly. "Sora, did you notice? When we were right in front of her, Naoko swung at us. She attacked us because we were in her line of fire – but we're not the ones she's targeting specifically and so when we pulled back, she didn't follow. It's more that she's trying to keep us out of that building, which means that we're probably right and First Squad are not their normal selves."

"If we went in there, what would we find?" Sora whispered, and Mitsuki chewed down on her lip, her gaze drifting from Naoko's stiff form to the shadowy doorway beyond. Something dark caught her eye and her heart skipped a beat, the cold sense of dread washing in waves once more over her body.

"Blood," she breathed.

"Blood?" Sora's eyes became huge. "Mi-chan, are you trying to tell me that there are…well…dead people in there?"

"I think it's a very real possibility," Mitsuki said softly, shaking her head as if to clear it. "I can't pick up the traces of anyone who's wounded, and if they were hurt, I'm sure I would. Having said that, though, I still can't find Naoko…so maybe my senses aren't as clear about this as they usually are."

"Maybe Naoko's sword is blocking you from sensing them," Sora said hopefully. "Either way, if there are people hurt inside that building, you need to get to them."

"I can't fight Naoko, though," Mitsuki looked troubled. "Yuuyugo is useless in that kind of confrontation. She's a healing sword and my skills are well below Naoko's when it comes to sealed combat. It's only made worse by the fact my sword knows Nao-chan is my friend."

"Your sword skills may be limited, but mine aren't," sora said simply. "I'll deal with Naoko. Hotarue and I will, somehow. I'll distract her attention and you get inside that building. Be careful though, all right? There might be other zombie-shinigami lurking inside there, and if there are, I won't be able to come defend you from them right away."

"You…won't hurt her, will you?" Mitsuki sent her friend a doubtful look, and Sora shook her head impatiently.

"She's my friend, too. Of course not," she said frankly. "I may try and knock her out, but that's as far as I'll take it. I want to bring her back to her senses, and I don't really intend on getting poisoned, sucked dry or put to sleep in the meantime. Hotarue isn't ideal for fighting Naoko's sword type, but in comparison to Yuuyugo, it's the best option we have going. I outrank Naoko in every subject, Mi-chan. That includes zanjutsu. I can handle this."

"This isn't Naoko as she usually is, though," Mitsuki warned. "She's almost certainly using a wider range of spiritual ability than she normally can, if she's really managing to manipulate squad shinigami through her sword."

"Maybe, but if she's doing that, she won't be able to use her full arsenal on me," Sora said sensibly. "Look, the longer we delay, the longer this goes on. We're both worried about the strain on Nao-chan's body, aren't we? And you want to know if there are injured people inside that building. The only solution is to do things my way and go at it direct."

She glanced at Hotarue, rubbing the blade clean of the spore residue, then,

"Any objections?"

"I guess not," Mitsuki sighed, rubbing her temples. "There isn't really another option, is there? You're right. Just because I can't sense it doesn't mean there isn't someone hurt in there who needs my – and Yuuyugo's help. I think you're right – Naoko's aura is blocking my senses from picking up all the things it usually does, because now we're this close to it I can't pick up as many spirit strands from the main school building as I could before. It's possible that just by breathing the air around her, both your and my spirit power is being dulled…and that means we can't risk wasting time."

"Can Naoko do that?" Sora paused, eying Mitsuki in surprise, and Mitsuki shrugged.

"Not yet," she responded. "If someone is dragging out skills that she hasn't mastered, though, all bets are off."

"Then there's even more reason why snapping her out of it quickly is a good idea," Sora grimaced, glancing at her sword then flicking it out horizontally from her body, allowing it to be bathed in a ghostly haze of light.

"Tobe, Hotarue."

Mitsuki was aware of a flutter of spiritual energy as the youngest Shiba girl's sword responded to its mistress's commands, a spectral pair of insect wings springing forth briefly from the silver blade before disappearing in a shower of iridescent rain. Several of the fragments landed on the blade, making it glitter and glow as though covered with a thousand tiny fireflies, each vying for the best place across the smooth surface. Mitsuki had seen her friend's sword release before in training, many times, but though Sora often complained about the zanpakutou's scatty spirit, at that moment every glowing fragment was perfectly in place, creating the illusion that the Shiba girl's blade was one solid beam of light.

Sora gave the weapon a little shake, then offered Mitsuki a rueful smile.

"Hopefully you won't need to patch me up when we're done, but make sure you save a bit of Yuuyugo for Nao-chan," she said flippantly. "She's never been that good at taking on my blade."

"You be careful too," Mitsuki ordered. "I don't want to patch up anyone I don't have to, so don't let knowing I'm here make you careless."

"Warning noted," Sora's expression became serious and she nodded her head. "All right. I guess this is it, then. Come on, Hotarue. It's time we reminded Nao-chan that we're friend, not foe."

---

Author's Note: OC Zanpakutous again

Meimei Anshi 冥冥暗死(or 冥々暗死)

This chapter title can refer either to Seiren or to Kai's Meimei Anshi, either is as good as the other for both are 'Guardians of Darkness'.

Meimei Anshi's name essentially means "Divine, Invisible, Dark, Death" which seemed to be an appropriate moniker for an assassin's sword. Though Kai is not a typical assassin, it made sense to me for his zanpakutou to be based around facets of stealth and concealment rather than kidou or elements of a more traditional kind.

(The reason I've given two ways to write it is a Japanese convention with double kanji - often when a kanji repeats the second character is replaced by the small diamondish shaped marker rather than being written out in full. The meaning and reading remain the same.)

As Kai explained to Akira, his sword divides its reiatsu into a cloak to conceal the user from outside sight and detection. Kai can deflect this technique over someone else if need be, but whether he or a comrade are shielded, Kai's speed is increased and his physical strength decreased to compensate. His sword's unsealed form is only visible to others if he has cloaked someone else, not if he is behind the cloak himself, therefore it is something most of his companions have never seen. Kai is still quite new to using his weapon, and so he is not able to fully exploit all of its capabilities yet. He can also only hold the cloak in place for a short period of time, though as his training intensifies, so does that ability strengthen. In released form, Meimei relies on Kai's natural skill with a sword to drive home its advantages - it is not a weapon that shoots beams of energy, but a tool most adapted to stealth warfare.

Kai's future path beyond the Academy is to be the first head of the Shihouin's Onmitsukidou, and therefore his zanpakutou has been designed with that in mind. In its sealed form, Meimei is jet black from hilt to tip with only a flash of gold across the hilt, and in released form is entirely black.

Meimei Anshi's release command is "Sugata o keshite" which means, "Conceal yourself".

Hotarue 蛍恵

More about this next chapter, but in case people are wondering, Sora's sword has some light-elements on account of her being Kyouki's daughter. Anyone who's read Third Chronicle may remember Kyouki's battle against Seimaru and her 'night moon' 'day moon' attacks…Sora's is not quite as dramatically impressive nor is it the same kind of native light-based power, but I like to link things through family lines where possible. Sora's release appearance also connects to the sword's name, which will be explained more in the next chapter's AN.