Chapter Sixty Eight: Fool's Gambit

For a moment, silence fell across the Great Hall, as if everyone present had been somehow hushed by Shirogane's anxious exclamation.

It was Shunsui who reacted first, his eyes widening first with surprise and then with dismay as his quick brain reasoned out the implications of his senior's words.

"Not there?" he murmured. "He's gone to fight? You mean...Aizen?"

"I didn't say that!" Shirogane seemed to become aware of Shunsui for the first time, his tones snappish and impatient. "Don't look at me as though this concerns you. It doesn't. I was reporting to Kazoe-sensei, and eavesdropping is rude, even for First Degree Clansmen."

"But Juu..." Shunsui's mind was racing now, Shirogane's sharp tones barely even registering in the whirl of thoughts that suddenly flooded his mind.

"If Aizen is there, it's Juu he's come for. If Aizen's in District One, then..."

"Kyouraku, calm down," Kazoe's brisk tones broke through his student's daze, and Shunsui was aware of thin fingers clasping his shoulders, giving him a short, sharp shake. "There's no indication that Aizen Keitarou is here at all. Kinnya-sama might have left the office, and he might have taken his blade with him. However, we are not going to panic. Understand? Genryuusai-sensei left the school under Kinnya-sama's protection, but his presence here is meant to be low key. Now that the students are mostly out of harm's way, I imagine he's gone to meet the Vice Captain of First in order to explain precisely what went on here. Our job - and yours, too - is to make sure everyone here remains calm. Ukitake will return shortly, with, I hope, Yamamoto and the others. I'm not about to sanction any more of you going running about the school grounds and giving First Squad the idea that there's no discipline when Genryuusai-sensei is away."

"But Sensei..."

"Kyouraku, I won't say it again." Kazoe's eyes glittered with a warning. "You are a Senior and your duty is here, not roaming around the school grounds."

"I'm sorry, Kazoe-sensei," Shirogane sighed, running his fingers through his thick dark hair. "I didn't intend to create a panic - I had forgotten that First Squad's Vice Captain was coming here. It seems perfectly logical that Kinnya-sama would meet with him directly...especially given the situation."

"Precisely," Kazoe inclined his head. "Shirogane, take Kyouraku and do something with him, please. For some unknown reason, he seems quite popular with the juniors, and some of them are still very shaken up."

"With pleasure." Before Shunsui knew what was happening, Shirogane had grabbed him by the arm, hauling him off across the Hall.

"You don't have to marshall me, you know. I'm not a First year." As they reached the far wall, Shunsui wrenched himself free of his companion's grip, rubbing his arm absently.

"I know how you're thinking," Shirogane said disparagingly. "You're thinking about dashing out there when nobody's looking, aren't you? Sensei's made it clear, though, and I will too. We wait here. We're not going out there. It wouldn't be a good idea."

"You think Aizen's coming here too, don't you?" Shunsui's eyes narrowed. "You lied before, but I'm not that easy to fool. You think he has come here - and so does Kazoe-sensei, doesn't he?"

Shirogane sighed heavily.

"I don't sense anything out of the ordinary or untoward in the vicinity," he said at length. "It troubles me that Kinnya-sama disappeared without a word, but it may well be he's gone to meet with First's Vice Captain and explain the situation. Nobody else here has the rank to do that. I might do it, I suppose, being that we are of equal rank but...no, this is First District and in Genryuusai-sensei's absence, to send a senior Clansman shows a level of respect. We have blooded and battered the division members - I think it most politic that Kinnya-sama takes on the explanations."

"And if he hasn't gone for that reason? If he's gone because of something else?"

Shirogane did not answer for a moment. Then he frowned, meeting Shunsui's gaze with a troubled one.

"I don't know what kind of sword Kinnya-sama uses," he said slowly. "I have no idea what level of strength he has, but I do know that it surpasses Guren-sama's and therefore is nothing to be tangled with. The reason he has not yet involved himself in matters here is because he fears causing damage to the students by releasing his sword. If he has left the school and if he does pursue Aizen, it is better he does it with nobody else nearby."

"But what about Juu and the others?"

"You should not need me to tell you that Kinnya-sama is the last person who would allow harm to befall that wretched boy," Shirogane said simply. "Besides, even if Aizen was there, if Kinnya-sama has left the school it implies Aizen too is not on campus. Ukitake, on the other hand, is. Don't you think it unlikely they will cross paths?"

"No. I think it very likely," Shunsui retorted, not caring whether or not his tones seemed rude. "It doesn't matter that we can't sense them. Sora said she and Mitsuki couldn't sense Naoko even when they were right on top of her, because the air here is so messed up with fragments of released spirit power. Aizen is good at sneaking around, even if he's useless in direct combat. Perhaps because he's useless in that regard, he knows all the best ways to stay hidden. He also uses Bankai, and I've no doubt that he could conceal himself from all of us if he so chose. Senpai, I know Aizen and I know Juu. I think it's very likely indeed that he's here. If Kinnya-sama has left the school grounds to seek out Aizen, it might just be a decoy or a trap which lays all of the rest of us open to danger all the more. Starting with Juushirou."

"Ukitake might be your friend, Kyouraku, and no doubt he's a good friend in whom you trust," Shirogane responded, "but even though they haven't met, he's become something more to my Great Uncle. Blood is a strong binding potion, even when it spans classes and generations. I didn't really consider it so before, but of late, I have learned it to be true. Kinnya-sama will not put the boy at risk. I am fairly certain of that - he is here to ensure his grandson lives as much as he is to protect everything else."

"Has Kinnya-sama met Aizen?" Shunsui asked quietly, and Shirogane shook his head.

"I imagine not. Why?"

"How will he know, then, if danger is about?" Shunsui bit his lip, tasting blood. "We're talking about an enemy who is a genius at deception and illusion."

"You make no sense," Shirogane said wearily. "Surely what you are saying is that Kinnya-sama must have gone to look for Aizen because he sensed danger. If he has no idea of Aizen's reiatsu or if he lacks a way of tracing him, why would he have then left Sensei's study? Aizen may use Bankai, but so does Kinnya-sama - he is on a level above all of us and his judgement must be trusted. It's a good thing Genryuusai-sensei isn't here. He would tear his beard at your lack of rationale."

"Look, Senpai, I know you think it's crazy," Shunsui sighed. "I realise that it's far beyond my position or training to act rashly in a situation like this, but my sword can hurt him. More, it's already hurt him. Genryuusai-sensei said that it had the potential to kill him, in the future, and having drawn blood from him in the Real World, I think maybe he's right. I made a promise, too, the last time I saw him. I told him that where Juu was, I'd not be far behind. If I'm not there..."

"Do you believe Ukitake to be helpless?" Shirogane asked sharply, his words cutting through Shunsui's fear like a knife. The Kyouraku boy shook his head, frustration in his brown eyes.

"No. No I don't," he muttered. "His health aside, there's nothing really between us in terms of strength or potential. Only...he believes in things more than I do. He thinks better of people than I do. He's easier to fool and quicker to trust than I've ever been. I'm still not sure he fully understands how dangerous Aizen is, not even now."

"Then he's a fool," Shirogane said dismissively, "and the only way fools learn is through experience. Still, Ukitake knows Aizen and should well understand the danger. Is he really going to throw himself into that man's path, knowing he may well be a target?"

"It's not just that." Shunsui hesitated, then, "The others will probably kill me for mentioning this, but as Seniors, we sort of made a pact. We...we had an agreement between us that if Aizen came here, we'd do our best to protect the school and the people here. None of us want to fight Aizen - me least of all, having already done it. Knowing what he did to Naoko-chan only makes it a more obnoxious prospect. But part of what we agreed...what they agreed...involved Juu. He's the only one who has any chance of getting close to Aizen...because he has something that guy wants."

"What?" Shirogane paled despite himself, and Shunsui swallowed hard.

"It was Michihashi's idea," he whispered. "I didn't like it, but I thought, if Kinnya-sama was here, there'd be little chance of Juu getting near to danger. I don't know if Aizen is out there or not. I can't sense him, either, but I have a bad feeling in my stomach and I'm afraid that he is. If he is, because of that pact, Juu will act like the idiot he is and go off after him. And if he does that...this time...I'm very afraid Aizen might decide to kill him."

His right hand brushed against Amaki's hilt.

"I'll do as much confinement time as you like after this is over," he added, "but whether you or Kazoe-sensei like it or not, I'm going to find Juu."

Shirogane frowned, his gaze darting across the room to where Kazoe was now talking to Uebashi about something. Then, slowly, he nodded his head.

"In that case," he said frankly, "I'm coming too."

"Senpai?" Shunsui stared at the older man as though he had lost his wits, and a wry, humourless smile touched Shirogane's lips.

"I've been charged especially with Ukitake's safety," he said simply. "Your additional information changes things, and I realise that to go with you is part of my job, too."

"I suppose it is." Despite himself, Shunsui found he was returning the smile. "I'll blame you later, then, when I'm having to explain to whichever sensei why I took off without asking. You really are a terrible example to me, Senpai."

"I might be coming with you, but that does not mean I'm about to tolerate your unfortunate sense of humour," was Shirogane's scathing response. "We find Ukitake and we bring him -and any others - back here. That is the extent of it - nothing more, nothing less. Understand? If Aizen is here, we are not going to face him. You may have made a fluke hit once before, but we do not need a reprise."

"So long as everyone is safe, I'm happy to leave that to Juu's Grandpa." Shunsui assured him. "All right. Sensei's not looking this way - if we're going to shunpo out of here, I guess the time is now."

The flare of reiatsu that greeted Keitarou's callous instruction seared across Kai's senses like scalding water, and he frowned, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sudden rigidity in his classmate's stance. Sougyo no Kotowari's single sealed katana was already beginning to glow with light, and the Shihouin watched the weapon morph and split into the two distinctive blades, the fins jutting back towards the hilt and the thin ribbon of energy that connected them humming with untapped reiryoku.

He sighed heavily, gathering his own spirit power as he prepared to release his sword to meet his classmate's. Alongside him, Akira was clearly debating whether releasing his own explosive weapon inside the school grounds would be a wise decision or not. Kai's mind was drawn to the nature of Sougyo no Kotowari's attacks, and he winced, inwardly hoping that the proud Yamamoto would refrain.

Before the District boy could attack, however, Keitarou's entire demeanour changed and he muttered a curse under his breath, holding up his hand.

"Wait," he said sharply, and Juushirou halted, his weapons still glittering in the pale sunlight.

"The Kyouraku bocchan," Kai heard Keitarou mutter under his breath, then, aloud, "It's a pity, but it looks as though our party is going to have to be halted. Juushirou, bring your swords and follow me. Leave them. They're no longer important."

With that he disappeared into shunpo, the place where he had been standing flickering slightly with discarded energy. For the briefest of instants, Kai caught Juushirou's hazel gaze, then the District boy was gone too, and he let out a heavy sigh, sinking to the ground.

"Do you think he bought it?" he asked softly, and Akira cast him a glance, pursing his lips thoughtfully.

"I don't know," he admitted, glancing at his sword and then sheathing it. "I guess it's up to Ukitake, now. If he fouls up, well, there's not much we can do about it."

"At least we didn't have to release swords," Kai observed. "If yours is as explosive as Souryou seemed to think, it would've been a pretty bad combination against Ukitake's shikai."

"I suppose we'd have found out then how seriously he intended to take it," Akira said reflectively. "I won't pretend I like doing it this way, Shihouin. I do still have issues with that man, for Suzuno's sake as well as the honour of my family in what happened here today. We had no preparation and Ukitake descended on us like he did - who knows if he was following the plan or if he was acting on his own odd impulses?"

"I think he improvised on the spot, when he saw what was going on,." Kai mused.

"You're sure he wasn't taken in by Aizen's spell?" Akira looked doubtful. "He did glow a fair bit beforehand..."

"No, I'm sure," Kai nodded his head firmly. "Ukitake was in his own mind when he left. I'm certain of it, Yamamoto. I can't explain the silver - I don't know if it was Aizen or if it was Ukitake himself, but whatever caused it, Ukitake released his sword himself, and left here of his own accord."

"Well, you know him better than me," Akira sighed, rubbing his temples. "If you say so."

"I'm sure," Kai assured him.

"I still want to avenge Suzuno, though," Akira grimaced. "I don't like being left behind, or leaving everything to someone else. Ukitake said some damn irritating things and waved that wretched sword of his at me. He'd better have been acting, I swear, because...ah, to hell with it! If this hadn't all been Aoi's brainchild..."

He reached out a hand to pull the Shihouin to his feet, and Kai offered him a grateful grin, dusting down his hakamashita.

"Whether he was playing up the part or not, Ukitake was right, though," he responded. "Amai wouldn't have wanted you killed over her. You're too good a shinigami for that."

"Well, Ukitake's no pal of mine, but I'm not real keen on him getting killed over it, either," Akira admitted. "I guess it's that old saying about the enemy of your enemy is your friend - something like that."

"Yeah," Kai inclined his head, "I know what you mean. Kuchiki and I have had a similar kind of school year, with one thing or another. It's amazing what you can tolerate when you're up against it."

"Juu!"

At that moment, Shunsui materialised at the edge of the school grounds, Shirogane not far behind him and both hurried across the grass to where the two Senior students were standing. "Kai...Akira? Where the hell is Juu? He was here a moment ago, I felt Sougyo, and..."

"He was here, with us," Kai nodded, reaching across to pat Shunsui on the shoulder. "We had a visitor, Kyouraku. I guess from the look on your face you already know that."

"Aizen Keitarou," Shunsui's eyes darkened. "What happened? Did he hurt anyone? Hurt Juu? What did he say?"

"More pressingly, where is Ukitake?" Shirogane added. "If Aizen is truly here, getting everybody back inside the school becomes paramount. A kinsman of mine is almost certainly on Aizen's trail, so the best thing we can do is get out of his way."

"Ukitake went with Aizen," Akira said simply.

"What?" Shirogane's eyes became huge, and Shunsui let out a sigh of frustration. "Why did you let him do that? I thought you two were meant to be Seniors - if you knew who this intruder was, why would you let him take one of your class?"

"Because we agreed it that way," Kai glanced at Shunsui, shrugging his shoulders. "All of us, before any of this chaos even began."

"This is the bright idea you were telling me about?" Shirogane arched an eyebrow at Shunsui, who groaned, running his fingers agitatedly through his brown hair.

"I was banking on the fact Kinnya-sama was here. I was hoping that it would render anything we planned unnecessary, else I would never have agreed," He said miserably.

"What exactly was this great scheme of yours?" Shirogane demanded. "Ukitake may well be in grave danger - even if my kinsman does find Aizen, if Ukitake is with him, the whole business may be further hampered."

"Aizen was looking for Ukitake," Kai said slowly. "We thought that...if we played him at his own game a little, we might be able to find out where he was making his base. We thought that...if Ukitake pretended to be under Aizen's spell...well, then he'd get taken back to wherever it was Aizen was camping. Then when Aizen wasn't looking he could slip back and report it all, and the Council could go and track him down."

"That seems dependent on a lot of variables," Shirogane said bluntly, "especially if left in the hands of a bunch of idiot students. Besides, what if Aizen's sword is still capable of taking hold of Ukitake? Moreover, what if he was to be discovered? Even if you only wanted to seek Aizen's base out..."

"It's not just Aizen, but the girl, too. Endou's sister," Akira said matter-of-factly. "Aoi had the idea because Ukitake was talking about spending time with Aizen and how he's only violent towards people who aren't useful to them. Aizen is interested in Ukitake. I have no clue why, but he obviously is. Whatever his motives, he didn't try to attack Ukitake when he appeared on the scene. He threatened Shihouin and I both, but Ukitake was different. It wasn't like he intended to hurt him. It was something else."

"In the Real World, too, he only waylaid Juu to talk to him," Shunsui said heavily. "He killed Amai-san without a second thought, but even if I hadn't intervened, I'm not sure he would have attacked Juu. He might've tried to claim him, but...I don't think he was going to try causing him harm. I don't trust that scientist, though. I don't think it's that simple. Juu's made it plenty clear on several occasions that he doesn't want a part in Aizen's plans. Besides, we really don't know what those pieces of Chudokuga inside him are doing. It was a bad idea all round, really, but I was bullied into agreeing. I wish I hadn't."

"Ukitake would have done the same regardless," Kai said acidly. "That's why you agreed, Kyouraku - you know it as well as I do."

He stretched his hands over his head.

"Aizen tried to control him, you know," he added. "Ukitake glowed all silver and everything. In fact, if you hadn't happened along, Yamamoto and I might have had a battle on our hands."

"He tried to control Ukitake? But he did not succeed?" Shirogane asked sharply. Kai nodded.

"He played it up real well. I think Aizen bought it," he agreed, exchanging looks with Akira, who nodded his head. "Even Yamamoto wasn't totally sure whether he was acting the part or not. I caught his gaze, though, before he disappeared. He was definitely still Ukitake, Senpai. I saw Tomoyuki's eyes, and the First Divisioners were the same, all empty and soulless. Ukitake's were just resolved. He knew what he was doing and he wasn't afraid of it - but Aizen didn't manage to take control of his body this time. Ukitake released his sword because Aizen told him to - but he did it of his own accord."

"The trouble is, where is he?" Shunsui bit his lip. "Right now I can't sense his reiatsu. Can any of you?"

"No." Shirogane looked troubled. "This heavy atmosphere doesn't make it easy - doubtless that was another of Aizen's party tricks, in order to confuse our senses by overloading them."

"Naoko-chan's sword really did pump out some nasty stuff, on top of the residue of all of our fighting," Shunsui agreed morosely. "It doesn't solve the problem of finding Juu, though. We can't rely on Aizen being fooled the whole time. Juu's not a great liar, and Keitarou isn't an idiot."

"True," Shirogane acknowledged, "and there's also the matter of your classmate. We've found Shihouin and Yamamoto, but we're still two Senior Class members down."

"Two?" Kai looked apprehensive. "Hirata still hasn't come back?"

"We haven't seen anything of him." Shunsui shook his head. "He was with you...wasn't he?"

"He took off," Akira answered, shaking his head, "right in the middle of the chaos in the library. We thought he'd gone to find Shikibu, but since Shikibu's sword's no longer doing any damage, I figured he'd have returned to the school."

"Or he's gone looking for Eiraki," Shunsui murmured. Kai nodded.

"I thought that too," he admitted. "I don't know whether he wants to save her, or stop her, or warn her - or what he wants to do, to be honest. But whatever it is, I think it's a bad idea. Hirata's not the same kind of shinigami he was when we first came to the Academy. I don't know that I like the idea of him facing off to her at the moment, whatever she's done."

"Kazoe-sensei is going to be pretty cross with me whatever I do now, so I'm not going back until I know people are safe," Shunsui said decidedly. "There may or may not be a very powerful Kuchiki shinigami lurking in the background to be our guardian angel, but I'd rather know we were all in one piece before I put my faith in the unknown."

"I'd like to show Aizen a thing or two," Akira said regretfully. "This is my family's land - I ought to at least do that much."

"No."

Shirogane's gaze flitted to the horizon, a frown touching his features.

"Senpai?"

"We're going back to the school."

"But Senpai..." Shunsui's eyes widened, and Shirogane pursed his lips, raising an elegant hand to indicate the darkening sky over the valley.

"A storm is coming," he said darkly, and Shunsui and Kai exchanged looks.

"Ukitake's storm?" Kai ventured softly, and Shirogane shook his head.

"No," he responded flatly. "No, not Ukitake's. He and Endou will have to take their chances for the time being. Right now, we're going back."

Even as his classmates were gathering at the school perimeter, anxious and unsettled, Juushirou had found himself led at speed through the streams of light and spiritual matter that composed Seireitei's atmosphere, pushing his skill to its limits in an attempt to keep up with Keitarou's darting movements.

So far, so good.

The young shinigami furrowed his brows in concentration, forcing his body to follow Keitarou's at the highest speed he could manage. His swords, still released, hummed and buzzed in his grasp, but for once he ignored their concern, instead fixing his attention on Keitarou's movements ahead. The scientist had stopped, he realised with some measure of relief, and, as he dropped out of the flash-step, it was all he could do not to draw a heavy gulp of air into his lungs.

There was soft grass beneath his feet, and as he steadied his reiatsu, he cast a furtive glance around him, realising with some surprise that he recognised his surroundings. During their second year camping expedition they had been camped near here, and not far away was the cave in which Shirogane had spent an uneasy few weeks of hiding. Juushirou found himself secretly glad that his shishou was no longer making his hideout in this part of District One, but he remembered that the whole region was full of mountain shelves and caves – an ideal vicinity for someone who wanted a quick and easy place to make their base.

Keitarou was probably not looking to remain in District One long. In fact, Juushirou reasoned with a jolt, perhaps he intended on leaving very soon indeed. If the only piece missing from his puzzle had been Juushirou himself…the young student pushed this thought out of his mind, for he knew that if he didn't, the alarm swirling in his heart would begin to reflect within his hazel eyes. He had been lured from District to District by Keitarou's manipulations before – this time he would learn from the errors of that one, and somehow he would manage to stay behind.

Was Eiraki there too? He could not see her, nor could he sense the faint traces of her own feeble reiatsu anywhere about. He could not let down his guard, however. Keitarou may or may not have brought Eiraki to District One, but Juushirou felt that he would not easily put the young hime in danger – especially if Mitsuki's suppositions were correct and Eiraki really was carrying Keitarou's unborn child.

He turned his attention back to his abductor's reiatsu. It was relaxed and unhurried, and there was a slight edge of amusement in the scientist's demeanour which grated against Juushirou's raw senses. It was the aura of someone who believed they had already won, and that everything else was a matter of formality.

Perhaps it was. The school had been laid waste by shinigami, and in the confusion, Keitarou had come and stolen him away. Of course, this time Keitarou believed him to be under Chudokuga's spell, but now they were alone in the mountains, Juushirou found that to be a faint comfort. Keitarou was dangerous and he was once more at the man's mercy.

He tried to control me at the school, but it failed. Does that mean he can't control me, or does he already know I'm pretending? Was it all a hoax of some kind – has he seen through our plans already?

Juushirou felt the flicker of his companion's approach from behind him and he unfocused his eyes, forcing all tension from his skinny frame as he heard the footsteps draw closer. It would not be any good to show fear or surprise, he told himself fiercely.

If I remembered what it was like the last time he controlled me, maybe it would be easier. If I knew how I behaved then, I'd better be able to imitate that now. If he tries to leave the District with me, I'm going to have to fight back. I promised I'd not get myself into more trouble than was necessary…but if he flees here, nobody will ever track him down. I have to keep him here in District One at least tonight. If there's going to be any chance for anyone to find him and take him back for Council justice, I have…I have to keep him here and I have to do so without making him suspicious of me.

He swallowed hard.

No pressure, then. Maybe Shunsui was right. Perhaps this is a step too far. Maybe I've taken another stupid risk – but in some ways, it's become my risk to take. If it is my fault he attacked the school, and if it's really me he wants…so long as he's here with me, nobody else is getting hurt.

"Well, so here we are."

Keitarou's words were light, and Juushirou felt the scientist's hand rest against his own briefly, a finger brushing against the hilt of the left hand blade.

"This is a much more peaceful place than the school, don't you think so, Juushirou?"

Juushirou did not reply, and Keitarou released his grasp, letting out a low chuckle of amusement.

"Your friend will come to look for you, I've no doubt," he murmured softly. "The Kyouraku boy…with his shadows and his double blade. I'm not really very keen on fighting him, but so long as you're here, I probably won't have to."

It was all Juushirou could do not to react to his captor's words, and Keitarou stood back, folding his arms across his chest.

"The Kyouraku bocchan is a nuisance," he admitted. "I didn't expect there to be a youngster of student rank who could cause me such a lot of trouble. Killing him now before he gets the chance to get any stronger would be an advantage, of course – but I'd rather have him come without companions. A one on one fight is fair, don't you think, Juushirou-kun? Two blades against two blades – a re-run of the battle from three years ago? Ah, but you don't remember that, do you?"

He patted Juushirou companionably on the arm, and Juushirou only just managed to keep from flinching away at the man's touch.

"Perhaps this time you'll be luckier," Keitarou reflected pensively. "I imagine you will be, since your strength has definitely improved since last time we met. Your sword seems steadier – your reiatsu isn't as raw. It's very nicely controlled, in fact…"

He swung around, his gaze suddenly hardening.

"So much so that I might have believed you were under my full control, if not for one thing," he said softly, and Juushirou's heart almost froze in his chest as he realised the scientist had not been fooled by his pretence at all. "Chudokuga is the one who manipulates my spirit power inside of you, and my sword speaks to me. I'm somewhat impressed, Juushirou, that you had the gall to try and manipulate me in return. It shows you've learned a lot since we spent a few days in District Seven together – but not enough. Sougyo no Kotowari has got much stronger, without a doubt…but Chudokuga is a Bankai level zanpakutou, and because of that, I'm not fooled."

Juushirou did not speak to begin with, and Keitarou let out a low chuckle.

"Kyouraku…Shunsui is his name, isn't it?" he asked lightly. "Your friend, I mean. The one who's so annoyingly protective of you – I wonder how long it will take for him to penetrate the shadows and come to your aid?"

"I don't need to be rescued by Shunsui!" Juushirou's words were out before he could stop them, and Keitarou looked amused.

"No, I'm sure that's an insult to your bastard Kuchiki pride," he said, his words gentle but mocking at the same time, "but I imagine he will come, because he believes he should be protecting you."

"I wouldn't have thought that would suit you at all," Juushirou snapped, all pretence of anything gone now as his fists tightened around his released sword. "If you know Sougyo no Kotowari is stronger than it was, and you know that Shunsui's sword is powerful too, I'm surprised you want to face either one of us."

"I had hoped that we would be able to speak like adults," Keitarou looked regretful. "I expected the Kyouraku boy to follow you, but you're right, I don't really seek his company. His sword is an annoyance to me – its manipulative properties make it a blade that might well be able to resist my own. I don't think his heart would be as easy to sway as yours – he lacks those principles and ethics that define you and idealism is not his weak point. I don't want to raise my sword against one like him, especially when there's a chance I could fail. Since you've offered yourself to me so easily, however, I feel that I have to take the risk. The ball is in his court and I'll play the game depending on how he does. That is his weapon's power, isn't it? His zanpakutou's skill is to make a game from death – I admit, perhaps the scientist in me is curious to learn more."

"Where's Eiraki?" Juushirou demanded, and Keitarou let out a low chuckle.

"I wouldn't tell you that, even if I thought you were under my control," he said frankly. "I'm not a fool, Juushirou. Did you forget that? I know that you want her and you see her as a way to get to me. I have no intention of leaving loose ends…which brings us to this."

He pulled Chudokuga from its hiding place beneath his obi, tapping its unsheathed blade pensively against Juushirou's hakamashita. Juushirou instinctively pulled back, and Keitarou shook his head slowly.

"Such suspicion," he said reproachfully. "My sword is sealed. I'm not going to attack you…not until we've talked, at least. I think that's fair, don't you? You believe in peaceful negotiation as much as you do violent combat, I think? Surely it would be better to speak and not spill blood between us?"

"It would, but I wonder if it's possible," Juushirou eyed his companion warily. "You won't manipulate me to do anything this time, Keitarou. I've learned from the last time. I'm not going to be your puppet a second time."

"Yet we're alone together like this, yet again," Keitarou remarked, his eyes narrowing for a moment and Juushirou could tell he was spreading his senses around the area, trying to pick up any trace of a pursuing presence. "Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe I saw too much in your friend's threats when we were in the Real World – maybe my entire perception of his spirit power was overestimated and wrong. I thought he'd always be in the shadows when you were in danger, Juushirou-kun. Was that a lie?"

"I'm not in danger," Juushirou said stiffly, raising Sougyo no Kotowari and forcing Keitarou to take a couple of steps back. "I have weapons of my own and can defend myself against you. Shunsui isn't needed, so that's why he hasn't come. I don't want him to – I told you already that I don't need him to protect me."

"Dear dear," Keitarou tut tutted, raising his hands as if in a gesture of surrender. "I seem to have offended your pride again, haven't I? This is going badly…but if your friends really are not about to materialise around us, perhaps we can finish the conversation we began before we were so rudely interrupted in the Real World?"

"Shunsui won't come," Juushirou said quietly. "It's agreed that way. All of us, we agreed it. I'd come here with you, but nobody else. No one else is going to be put in danger, not like Amai-san was. I'm Anideshi, and your issues here are with me, not anyone else. We'll talk, Keitarou. I'm listening. But don't think you can sway me easily to your cause. You killed a classmate of mine, and tried to end the life of one of my friends. Those are hard things to forgive."

"In a war, there are casualties," Keitarou said evenly. "Sometimes they are innocent, sometimes they are not. It is a war we're fighting here, Juushirou. If you won't accept that, let me help you see it for yourself."

He leant back against the sheer stone wall of the mountain face, folding his arms once more across his chest. Chudokuga still glittered in his grip, but Juushirou felt some of the tension seep out of his body as he realised his companion really did mean to just talk.

"It isn't a war," he said now. "You're chasing after unrealistic ideals that don't mean anything to anyone other than you. You're hurting people and causing chaos, but it isn't going to make anything any better. You have to realise that – what you're doing is evil."

"Perhaps it is," Keitarou acknowledged. "I've crossed lines and I won't deny it. Sometimes there are other ways to do things, but to do them quickly, you have to take risks and act in ways that maybe are hard to explain to those outside. In the final analysis, though, whether I act or I don't, Soul Society is still going to change. You are part of that change already – you must know that by being a District shinigami, you are going to cause shockwaves through the Gotei? Probably they will continue to try and oppress you. Almost certainly they'll want to shut you out, maybe even destroy you. You threaten the Clans by existing – in your own way, you're creating this rebellion as much as me."

"It's not the same thing," Juushirou objected, but Keitarou snorted.

"Of course it is," he said derisively. "You can't tell me you're stupid enough to believe otherwise? Why was it that the Shihouin first fell into disrepute, do you remember? Why was Kamuki-sama so desperate to produce reidoku and what was it he was fighting against?"

He pulled Chudokuga forward, pointing its blade at Juushirou's chest.

"You," he said softly. "You and the other District Shinigami, but in particular…you. Why did Onoe become how he was? That was because of you, too. Why did he try to kill his cousin then take his life? Because you were upsetting the balance of Seireitei by forging ahead and threatening the Clans as they stood. Why did Seimaru drive himself to destruction? You were in his way, putting ideas into the head of his kinsman and creating a different kind of thinking which threatened the very core ideology of the Endou Clan. In a way, you have always been working for my cause. The only difference is, you refuse to admit it. You're a child of the Districts, yet you aspire to be a Gotei shinigami with that double-bladed sword…do you really think that your roots will be forgotten after you graduate? Are you naïve enough to think the fight will end when you leave District One?"

Juushirou's eyes darkened, and he shook his head.

"No," he said grimly. "I expect the fight to begin when I leave the Academy, not end. Sensei's been training me and preparing me for that all the time I've been here, and I understand that it's going to be hard. You're wrong, though, Keitarou. What happened in the Endou and the Shihouin wasn't because of me, it was because of fear. You helped feed that fear and because of your reidoku, Seimaru and Kamuki-sama died. You won't persuade me that it's my fault. I've learned to become a shinigami because, in the first instance, the Clans of Seireitei voted to allow me to do so. I've done everything I've done because I'm legally entitled to do it. The Clans made that decision, not me. It isn't a rebellion if I'm within the law."

"Passing the buck is not an attractive response tactic, you know," Keitarou said impassively. "You know and I know that none of the Clans expected a District shinigami like you from the very beginning. You are unique, and because of it, you are used by them. Those who fear you want to bring you down. Others see you as useful and a way to enhance their position by supporting you – do you think that the Kyouraku would have regained so much political standing if not for their involvement with Genryuusai-dono's precious protégé? No wonder this Shunsui bocchan wants so much to keep you safe – he and his family see benefit in keeping ties with you. In the right hands you are a weapon, and I've no doubt the intelligent heads in District Eight realise that weapon can be exploited for their Clan's benefit."

"The Kyouraku have never exploited me!" Juushirou exclaimed indignantly, and Keitarou snorted.

"Really?" he demanded. "Tokutarou-dono has never used you or your skills in any way? He's never lured you in with promises of support and assistance then utilised your knowledge or understanding to further his own cause?"

Despite himself, Juushirou faltered for the briefest of moments, and Keitarou nodded.

"You see, I'm right," he said lightly. "The Kyouraku use you by becoming your friend. Others become your enemies. That's how it is in Clan society. You can't really trust any of them – I wonder why you do."

Juushirou's brows knitted together in irritation.

"In the same way, then, I can't trust you," he snapped back. "You might've been exiled, but you're as Clan as they are deep down. Besides, I like Tokutarou-sama and I believe in Shunsui. Maybe it's true that Tokutarou-sama's called on my help before, and yes, I guess you could say he's utilised my District knowledge for his own ends on at least one occasion. The difference is, though, he talked to me about it first. He didn't lie to me…he told me the truth. You can spend your whole life being suspicious of everyone, but I guess that isn't how I work. If I have faith in someone, I'll help them. Even if they were using me, I trust them, so I wouldn't care. I'd believe there was a reason and trust it was for the best. I've made my decisions, and you won't turn me against them. District people and Clan people are both good and bad – nobody is perfect and everyone has their reasons for being the way they are."

"You can dress it up however you like," Keitarou shrugged his shoulders. "The fact of the matter is, until you came into the picture, even I was pretty helpless. Rebellion needs an ideal – something to create cracks through the established way of things. You created those cracks, and I profited from them. We are already allies – given that, will you really just turn and walk away from me?"

"I don't need you," Juushirou said coldly. "I never did, and I have no intention of working with you in any capacity. Maybe you're right when you say the Clans need to change – in some ways, they still do. Perhaps I will struggle for everything I have when I graduate, but I'll get in there and I'll fight. I've done that from the beginning, and if you're right when you say I changed the way Clans see things, it proves I can do what I need to do without resorting to violent means. I'll help the Clans to change their attitude from inside the Gotei, if I have to – but killing innocent people isn't the right answer. I'll work hard, and I'll prove to them what I can do. I promised myself that before I even began at the Academy and I still feel that way now. I'm not a revolutionary or a rebel – I'm a District boy who wants to be able to protect his family. If I can do that, and if I can help other shinigami like me to do that, then I'm content. I don't need to see other people suffer to know that I'm making changes."

"Genryuusai-dono already likes to sell you as an advertisement for his school," Keitarou said quietly. "You might think you act of your own free will, but in reality, you're no freer with them than you were when under Chudokuga's spell."

"The difference is that those people speak to me and listen to my opinions about things," Juushirou shot back. "They don't take a weapon to me to force me to act as they want me to. I can do stupid things – probably coming here was one of them – and I don't pretend I always agree with what goes on around me. That said, though, only one person has ever unleashed his zanpakutou on me in the way you did. Even if your cause did have some merit, I couldn't become a part of it. I could never side with someone who made me attack a close friend without motive or meaning. That's unforgivable and I won't forgive it. I'm not going to be swayed by you this time, Keitarou. I'm done."

"I see," Keitarou pursed his lips, and Juushirou saw a flicker of resignation on his face. "Well, in that case, I suppose I have no choice. I had hoped for better – you had so much potential and I really thought I could see a way of using it. But…I guess that's just not going to be the case. Oh well."

His eyes narrowed, and too late Juushirou saw the ominous glitter of silver light coating Chudokuga's tantou blade.

"I'll take back what's mine," Keitarou said softly, and Juushirou drew a sharp gasp of breath into his lungs as the scientist drew his weapon back, dragging the severed fragments of his sword's Bankai through Juushirou's flesh and the fabric of his hakamashita, ripping through both and causing blood to spill out across the white cloth. Pain rippled through Juushirou's body, and he struggled to breathe, falling to his knees and dropping his sword as his hands moved instinctively to the wound across his chest.

Somewhere at the back of his thoughts he could hear the voices of his fish, but the sounds were too quiet for him to make out, and the edges of his vision became fuzzy and confused as he battled to keep his consciousness. Sougyo no Kotowari's presence was jagged and unreceptive, and somewhere far away from his body he felt the sensation of the two blades returning to one, no longer able to follow his broken reiryoku. Images converged upon his shattered psyche, forcing their way into his vision and making him dizzy as the swirl of colours threatened to engulf him completely. The pain in his chest was burning now, yet it seemed almost to belong to another, not him at all, and though he thrust out a blooded hand to stop himself from falling forward, he did not manage to feel when it touched the ground.

Somewhere in the hazy world of colours and lights, he could just about make out Keitarou's presence, an ominous shadow, moving towards him with Chudokuga's blade still outstretched.

"I'm genuinely sorry to say that this is the final time we'll speak," he said sadly, his voice echoing slightly in the ghostly emptiness of the student's brain.

"Goodbye, Juushirou."