Fresh and dressed the two Zanpakutō Spirits made their way back up to the shop. Once they pushed the trapdoor open their senses were assaulted with a multitude of Spiritual Pressures of various power. Some they recognised, most were unfamiliar, but the ones that had their attention were the few signatures in their direct vicinity. Of two captains and their dual Zanpakutō, of a shady shopkeeper and his closest friend, of their wielder and his son.

Getsu opened up the trapdoor completely with a strong push and was the first to climb out. With a lazy smirk did he reach back down with his left arm, 'Need a hand, Hime-chan?'

Tensa wasn't amused. While Getsu had been able to wear Ichigo's spare clothing—which were still a size too big on him—Tensa hadn't been as lucky. He had to do with one of the summer dresses of their wielder's wife and a hoodie that he almost drowned in. Still, he did accept the hand and allowed Getsu to pull him up.

'Call me that again and I'll gauge your eyes out during our next spar', he hissed.

'Oh, don't threaten me with a good time', Getsu said, putting a hand on Tensa's hood covered head and rubbing it to mess up his hair underneath. 'It may surprise ya, but that doesn't work'.

Tensa slapped his hand away, 'Stop that or I won't spar with you for the next two years'.

Getsu pouted, 'Yer just no fun'.

'I never claimed to be'. Tensa took him by the wrist and started to pull him along. Getsu didn't object and followed, letting the other guide him to a room they both knew to be empty. They didn't bother to make a brief appearance in the tearoom, everyone should have sensed Getsu's Pressure by now and it was too crowded there anyways.

Sliding the door aside they entered the guestroom Kazui had been sleeping in maybe half an hour prior. It was clean and still had some of Ichigo's signature lingering inside making it all the more comfortable for them to stay in. Getsu retrieved his wrist and slipped past Tensa to claim the futon, dragging it to the right side of the room where he settled down with his back facing the wall. He brought his hands to the back of his neck and under his hair, intertwining his fingers he lifted the long tresses out from where they had been trapped between his back and vest. As he moved it over his left shoulder his nails caught a few tangles, making him flinch.

'Would you like me to make a brush for you?' Tensa offered after sliding the door shut behind him, the special material out of which it was made filtering the intensity of the Pressures outside.

Silver found blue, hands carefully searching for any strands he might have missed, 'What for?'

'To brush out the tangles?'

Getsu made a face at the offer and turned to the white mess hanging over his left. 'It's fine, I don't need that'.

Tensa didn't believe that for a second, he could see the knots and tangles from where he stood. 'You never brush your hair, do you?'

'So what if I don't?' Getsu snapped. 'It's only gonna get tangled up again so why the fuck should I bother?'

Why bother? Why bother combing and brushing hair that reached all the way down to your thighs? No, it was probably even longer than that which was exactly the reason why it should be combed and brushed to begin with. Tensa couldn't even imagine not taking care of his own hair for more than a day, the amount of tangles and knots that it could tie itself in overnight was nothing short of a nightmare to deal with.

He wondered if—no, he feared that he knew the reason as to why Getsu was so opposed to having anything or anyone touch his hair. If his hunch was correct—and he truly hoped it wasn't—he would never be able to forgive himself. The mere idea made his core ache with guilt. He had to know. Even if he dreaded the answer, he had to know if he—

A tap on the door startled Tensa from his thoughts, his attention shifting to whoever was standing on the other side. He heard small knuckles slide down against the door till it reached the height of his hip, betraying the identity of their visitor. For a second it didn't move, staying pressed against the reinforced fusuma before knocking three times; one quiet, one soft, and one normal.

Tensa frowned, he recognised the knocking. Ichigo must have told Kazui to do that, meaning he was here for a reason. Sparing a moment to give Getsu a "I will come back to that" look, Tensa turned around and slid the door open.

'What can I help you with, Kazui?'

Kazui was looked up at him with a big smile, hands curling into fist to keep himself from hugging his uncle. 'Hi, jii-san. Uhm... the lady with the purple hair and cool eyepatch wants to speak with you', he relayed. 'Is that okay?'

Purple hair and eyepatch? 'You mean Katen?'

'Is she the one with the spiral pigtails?'

'Yes, she is'.

'Then yes!', Kazui said with a big smile.

'Do you happen to know why she wants to talk with us? Or what she wants to talk about?'

Grey strayed from Tensa's face to look at something at the floor, small fingertips pressing together with uncertainty. 'Uhm... I wasn't paying much attention to that', Kazui admitted. 'I think she said something about only her being better than everyone at once'.

Ah, Tensa could understand the logic behind that. He even agreed with it. Needing to answer the questions of multiple strangers, surrounded by fourteen eyes (excluding their wielder and Kazui) wasn't something they would willing agree to.

'Then I think I know what she wants to discuss', Tensa mused. 'I don't mind to speak with her'. He looked over his shoulder at his other half, 'What about you?'

'I mind', Getsu grumbled. He spotted Kazui leaning to the side to look at him past Tensa, smiling brightly and giving a wave in greeting. He bared his teeth at the child in return, causing Kazui's smile to become nervous as he shrank back behind Tensa. 'But sure, whatever. They probably won't leave without talkin' ta us anyway'.

'So it's okay?' Kazui asked quietly.

'Yes, Kazui. We are fine with it'.

'Okay, then I will tell tou-san', Kazui said with a smile before dashing off again to the tearoom.

'Weird kid', Getsu huffed as he adjusted the hood of his vest to be more comfortable and neat. 'Don't get why he likes us so much'.

Tensa hummed as he closed the door again. He turned around and leaned with his back against the sliding door, watching his other half for a moment while he gathered the courage to ask the question he didn't want to know the answer to. 'Is it my fault?'

'Hm?' Getsu paused his battle with the zipper to look at his other half, 'What is?'

'That you're so...careful while in Bankai', Tensa elaborated with a pointed look at the white tresses. 'Is that my fault?' A bit of gold crept into the silver surrounding the irises at his question. 'So it is'.

'Don't put words inta my mouth', Getsu growled. 'I haven't said anything'.

'You don't have to'.

'Clearly I do cuz yer wrong! It ain't yer fault! If it were, I wouldn't let ya touch it when it's short, now would I?' The voice of instinct chanted protect-protect-protect for he knew that if he didn't stop the other right now he would continue to hurt himself. 'You ain't the problem, ya got that? I wouldn't even let our aibō touch it. So stop feelin' guilty for something that ain't yer fault and—'

A knock on the door interrupted them once more. Getsu attention shifted, his shoulders tensing and lips curling up to show teeth at the presence behind the door.

'Tensa Zangetsu?' Katen's voice called out from the other side of the door. 'May I come in?'

'One moment, please', Tensa replied quick. Their game of blame could wait. If Katen were to enter now while he was standing right in front of the door Getsu might do something stupid and they couldn't afford that. He went to the other's side and sat down with him. Getsu calmed down at his close proximity though the tension never left his frame.

'Can she come in?'

Getsu grumbled something illegible, eyes going down. He grabbed the ends of the vest and jammed the metal pin into the groove and gave a quick tug on the zipper to close it up to his solar plexus, trapping his hair underneath the vest.

'You may enter'.

The door was opened and Katen stepped inside.

'Where is your other half?' Tensa asked.

'We didn't know if you would mind her presence as you agreed to talk to me alone', Katen told. 'That aside, she preferred to stay with Shun-kun. As you can imagine, holding a conversation isn't exactly her field of expertise'. She gestured to the door, 'Would you prefer to keep it open?'

'You may close it', Tensa told, knowing full well the question was merely out of courtesy. If a fight were to break out a door wouldn't hinder anyone in their exit or entrance of the room.

'Very well'. Katen slid the door closed and took place at the other side of the room, close enough to hold conversation but far enough to not be in one another direct space.

'What do you want to speak with us about?' Tensa questioned.

'Straight to it, huh?'

'After the day we've had, ya expect anything else?'

'You speak as if I forced you to agree', Katen said. 'May I remind you that you agreed to this'.

'Agreed ta talk, so talk', Getsu snapped. 'And make it quick if ya can'.

'Very well'. The polite smile vanished from her face. 'I want to get to know your character so we can evaluate how much more of a danger you pose compared to the other Zanpakutō'.

'Figured', Getsu said.

'I would not worry too much about it', Katen assured. 'Shun-kun and I already have an idea of how the two of you play so consider this a required formality'.

'Then just ask yer stupid questions so we can get this over with'.

Tensa elbowed Getsu in the side, not hard but firm enough to be felt and draw his attention.

'What?' Getsu hissed.

'At least pretend to have some manners', Tensa scolded. 'Antagonising her won't do you any favours'.

'It is alright, I understand today has been very trying for you', Katen said. 'That is why I want to suggest something that will benefit the two of you as well. You have more than deserved it'.

Getsu eyed her with suspicion, 'What'cha mean?'

'It wouldn't be fair if only I will be asking questions, would it? Why not, instead of only one party profiting of this conversation, we share information to make it more equal? We can even make a game out of it to make it a bit more fun' Katen proposed. 'In my experience, playing is a fast way to get to know one another. Aside from fighting, of course'.

'I am afraid we're not in the mood to play games'.

'You don't even know what game I have in mind', Katen said. 'At least hear me out, it may prove beneficial to you as well'.

Getsu was ready to snap at her again but Tensa stopped him. 'What kind of game do you have in mind, then?'

'It is a very simple one, all that is required is honesty. I call it "twenty questions". We each ask one another a question that must be answered honestly. The first to ask twenty wins', she explained. 'However, to make it less drawn out we can settle for five questions instead'.

'I assume there is a caveat?'

'If one cannot give an answer, they have to answer an additional question before they can have their turn', Katen explained. 'Of course, it is forbidden to ask similar questions as that would be considered cheating and will result in an instant loss'.

'What if someone lies?' Getsu questioned. 'How do we know we can trust anything that comes outa yer mouth?'

Katen smiled in a way that was anything but reassuring. 'I have the perfect solution for that. However, I do need your permission'.

'Whatever for?'

'To use my Shikai', Katen informed casually, ignoring how tense both spirits got at the word. 'By activating it the rules of the game will become law. Those who do not follow them will be punished. I am no exception to that'.

'You want to use your Shikai for a game?' Tensa asked dumbfounded.

'Only to make sure it is fair', Katen assured. 'We can play without it if you are not comfortable with it but it would be in everyone's best interest if we were all certain the information we share is truthful'.

It was very tempting to agree. They had been prepared to answer some questions without anything in return, to get an offer where they would be trading information—information that was guaranteed to be truthful—was an amazing deal. Maybe a little too amazing.

'If we were to agree', Tensa began carefully, 'And someone were to lie, what would happen to them?'

Katen put a finger to the side of her chin, 'Hmm...nothing fatal, that would be a little overboard for a friendly game. Perhaps a little bit of humiliation would be enough of a punishment, something like...the kanji for "liar" will appear on your face in bold red strokes'.

Tensa Zangetsu slowly blinked at her in unison.

'You can just decide that?'

'Why would I not be? It is my Shikai is it not?'

'Prove it', Getsu demanded. 'Prove ya Shikai works like that and we'll consider it'.

Katen smiled, a hint of insanity in her eyes. 'But of course'. With a twirl of her wrist a blade appeared in her hands. She didn't miss how silver turned to gold. 'The flowery winds become disturbed, the Kami of flowers sings; the heavenly winds become disturbed, the Akuma of heaven sneers'. With every word she spoke the blade brightened, the glowing shape of the weapon changing with every syllable. It grew in length and width, becoming more like a Chinese scimitar with silver edge. The tsuba didn't change compared to the sealed form but it now had long, red tassels dangling from the head.

Tensa and Getsu noticed the shadows around them began to move.

'Well then, ask me any question you like', Katen instructed.

'What's the colour of your hair at this moment', Tensa asked without hesitation.

'Green'. As the word left her throat, bold red strokes appeared on her face to form the kanji for "liar" to lay her dishonesty bare for all to see. 'My hair colour is purple' and with the honesty the kanji faded away. 'See? Aside from a little bit of a burning sensation it is completely harmless. Just as I said it would be'. She gave the two a look that bordered on challenging, 'So, will you play now?'

Tensa looked at Getsu, leaving the choice to him.

'Fine'.

'Then I will give you a proper explanation of the rules before we start so we are on equal footing', Katen said. 'Lying in response to a question is prohibited and will be punished as agreed upon. You are not required to elaborate on your answers unless it is vital for the understanding of the answer, other details do not need to be disclosed. For example, if you ask "what colour is the sky?" and the answer given is "blue" then the follow-up question "why is the sky blue?" must also be answered.

'When refusing or unable to answer, the questioning party may ask two more questions—one to replace the unanswered question and another as punishment for the answering party. Asking similar questions to take advantage of this rule will result in immediate loss.

'Once five questions have been answered to one party's satisfaction they will be declared victorious and the game will end. Lastly, violence is prohibited and will also result in immediate loss'. Katen looked at the two across, 'Are the rules clear?' The two nodded and she smiled. 'Then I believe the stage is set and we may begin. As the challenger I would like to give you the first turn. You may ask me anything you desire'.

#

To Be Continued