Everything you recognize? Yeah, it's not mine, says Disclaimer.

... Yeah, I'll just let you all read the story now, though if you want to know, this chapter was brought to you by food poisoning.

Saguru POV

When people usually do good things, they do it for their own profit or are actually that nice (dying breed there).

I would be part of the former; my profit is the looks on people's faces.

(And the occasional scream of agony from the Eleventh. Soothes my soul.)

Though this time, it's to pay back for a failure.

"The Council is now in session. Shiba Kukaku standing for the defense of the Noble Family, Shiba, for the offense of Shiba Kaien has done to Aizen Sosuke." Is announced to the room at large, Kukaku gritting her teeth at my brother's name.

I start to whistle cheerfully from my seat from the pews, making her (and a few others) give me a sour look, but go back to looking professional again.

I'm amazed she even let me near her, as I know she hates, no loathes, my brother.

Then again, she trusted Miyako.

-Flashback

"Miyako-neechan always defended you, not even letting Kaien say a word against you; she really valued your friendship." Kakuka told me, making me smile sadly, "She wouldn't want you beating yourself up about it, as it wasn't your fault."

"You sure about that?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at her, wondering about her confidence in me. After all, I am the 'evil twin'.

"You wouldn't let anything happen willingly to the woman you love." I can't help but gape at the dark-haired woman at those words, who merely raises an eyebrow at me.

"Oh, you were good at hiding it, real good, but a woman knows these things. In fact, that was really the only reason why Kaien didn't like you; he was slightly jealous. Me and Ganju teased him about it all the time." She said, her turn to smile sadly this time.

"There was nothing to be jealous of; Miyako was loyal through harassment and harm from other woman wanting Kaien, and I refuse to become a home wrecker." Those two words make me just want to puke when I say them.

Bad feelings are associated with those words. Murderous feelings.

"Which is why no one minded you two being friends; otherwise you might not be welcomed as much as you were in our clan." Kukaku told me, grinning with the promise of pain.

Huh, that was actually kind of hot.

Okay, lets focus on something else.

"So, how many people knew how I… Felt…" I coughed, getting a snicker from Kaien's sister.

What followed was an interesting conversation, filled with embarrassment, drunkenness, and mourning for lost loved one.

-Flashback end.

So, apparently getting drunk with a high ranking member of Nobility (no matter how informal they are) gives me valuable information.

Mostly a heads up about a certain trial; the punishment of the Shiba Clan for the attempted thief of Research by said Clan's Head.

I never thought the hours I spent in the Archive/Library would be so useful as it was now.

(Go Fourth Division gopher duties!)

Convincing Kukaku to let me help took a bit, especially with Issin-san being MIA and all, but she let me come in the end to help with the defense, which mostly involved me shoving information down the woman's throat.

"Permission to take the floor for a moment, Honorable Council." the new Shiba Head asked, bowing her head resepctifully as she waited for a reply during the short silence where everyone is gathering themselves.

"Permission granted." Is announced, letting Kukaku raise her head again.

"If the most Honorable Council will grant us this, we who represent the Shiba-clan would like to use the interrogation reports that the Shiba family gave as part of the evidence for their innocence." I can't help but mouth along to her reply, though making sure no one sees my silent mocking.

(Lucky that Tomom, Sen, or Sosuke are not here, (especially my brother) as the would probably either smack him or maybe laugh.)

The silence in response to her words is rather telling, I'm even sure I can hear a cricket or two chirping.

"Could you explain yourself and your words, Shiba-san?" The Judge asks, looking rather confused.

Falsifying a look of confusion on her face in reply, I watch as she takes the papers that I copied from the Archive.

"Do you not have the reports all ready? If not, I'm surprised you're having a trial, as when trying a family/clan as a whole, the members of said group must go through a interrogation, where a report will be made about the person's loyalties, mind set, and personality." She explain, acting rather troubled.

(Huh, who would have thought she was such a good actor?)

"Now for the kill." Ryu-hime purrs, amused by the display.

"After all, these were the same measures taken place for the Noble Family Kuchiki, after their head, Kuchiki Koga, caused a rebellion. Are you saying that the Shiba Clan did not receive the same procedures?" Kukaku ask, a disapproving and shocked look on her lovely face.

(Maybe she should consider an acting job on the side, to help pay for food, drink and those terrifying fireworks she loves so much.)

And there are the looks on their faces; all horrified, anger, and shock.

Though I don't blame them looking that way, because by mentioning what I had researched for her, it implied that the Kuchiki clan were not only favored, but that politics were getting in the way of justice. And as the Shiba and Kuchiki clans have never got along…

It starts to show a rather corrupt picture.

Soon, me and Kukaku (Who looks both shocked and amused) enjoy the fireworks of the Council blowing up at each other, anger and rage coloring their faces red.

Really wished I brought some popcorn now.

Few hows later...

While getting drinks to celebrate victory sounds good and all, it's always a good idea not to drink to much.

Especially when you have work the next morning.

Kukaku does not seem to understand this.

"Come on, don't be a wuss, get some more sake! You deserve it after saving our family." The new head of the Shiba family declared, smirking at me.

"I merely gave you the information that pointed out the flaws in the investigation of the clan's innocence. A small thing, really." I point out, a little uncomfortable with the raven-haired woman's words.

After all, the family wouldn't have been in this position in the first place if not for my brother.

"Small thing nothing; the Council was already measuring the rope to hang us, and if you hadn't pointed that out to the other nobles, I shudder to think how the rest of our family would have fared." she says, giving me a rather serious look, despite how much alcohol she has already has drunk.

"I merely hinted that if they're willing to do this to one Noble family, what would they be able to do to others? Or even the lesser classes? Then hinting that the Kuchiki family is above the law pisses not only the others off, but also the Kuchiki family itself." I say with a smirk.

"That family has such poles in their asses, you'd think they'd like the favoritism. Guess being a stickler for the rules has some uses." Kukaku said thoughtfully.

"Indeed." I say, taking a sip from my cup, which is going to be my last one for tonight (I am not going to work with a hangover; those that do usually suffer Unohana-sama's wrath).

There was a comfortable silence for a while, Kukaku looking lost while I nurse my last cup.

"Me and Ganju are leaving." is suddenly said, making me blink in surprise at the raven-haired woman.

"We refuse to stay in the place that considers my brother a criminal; quite a few of our family members are also of the same mind, and will come with." She told me, a frown on her rather pretty face.

(I can't help but eye my drink carefully; this is definitely my last one.)

The unspoken 'and where a criminal like my brother thrives' hangs in the air like a rotting corpse.

"Besides," She adds in a mutter, "It'd be good to get away from some bad memories."

"…For what it's worth, I am sorry." I wish I could have done more.

"Eh, forget about it; you've done enough." It's not your fault, you know that.

Sighing, I almost finish the last drink before I notice the raised cup of my drunken companion.

"To two of the best people I know; the idiot that was my brother, and the lady who he somehow convinced to marry him. May they be at peace." She says, to which I toast with her, gently tapping my cup against hers.

"May they be at peace." I mutter as I finish the rest of my drink.

While I don't drink another drop, I wish that I did; mourning isn't the best thing to do sober.

(AN)- So yeah, I'm have problems with RL; between two jobs, family troubles and drama, and then awesome friends, I've been busy.

But then I got food poisoning. Suddenly, I have so much more time, even if I'm spending it being miserable, and the right muse for Saguru.

And so here we are.

Saguru: ... Are you saying I'm a miserable muse?

Author: ... Well, sometimes you are?

Saguru: -_-

Author: Though usually your muse is angry and sadistic. :D

Saguru: ...

Anyways, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE LOVE THIS STORY STILL RECEIVES! I don't know when the next update will come, so sorry.