Lifted Up

by Tomas the Betrayer

Sequel to 'Hammered Down'. Under the shadow of a heaven ruled by monsters, Rukia Kuchiki continues to fulfill her duties with new lives and hearts added to the mix. And above all, there is a mother's love.

16. Rebirth: Ghosts of the Past

Ryuken Ishida did not dream often. However when he did, they were memorable for their horror.

This was the case now. He found himself a child once more, walking through the snow-covered forests of his youth at night. A brand held aloft illuminated the otherwise darkened woods. The bare boughs of trees came into view only to recede behind him.

"You are not alone."

A dog walked at his side. He glanced at it to determine if it had spoken. The point-eared canine looked back without breaking pace. Its eyes were those of a man, yet when its jaws opened only a small woof came out along with misty breath.

They continued on. Now mounds of snow were visible on all sides. They were small, like boulders, spread out at random. Ryuken stopped beside one. A part of him wanted to break the icy shell and see what might be inside, yet the monkey on his shoulder poked its head in his face and bared its teeth warningly. "You know," it informed him.

And he did. Beneath these mounds lay the bodies of the Quincy killed in these woods so long ago.

Faintly he could hear their screams echoing across the snowbound landscape as they ran in terror from an enemy that would not die. His family and friends were hunted down here and torn apart by monsters. The white-haired boy did not dare look up for fear of seeing those giant black shadows outlined screaming against the dark gray clouds. They must be waiting for him to make the slightest sound, at which point they would attack. So he kept silent, and slipped through a cemetery of grave markers all around, terrified.

While pondering this, the blue bird fluttered down before him. "I found it. Follow me, Momotaro."

He considered telling it that wasn't his name. Instead Ishida decided it didn't matter and so chose to let the little bird guide him, accompanied by his two other companions. They walked for a long time. He felt no cold. The light of his torch was bright, and he had three strong friends. Yet all the same, should the monsters catch wind of them, they would all be dead.

Suddenly the light of his brand illuminated a mound of snow directly in his path. The bluebird alighted upon this white hill. "Here," was all it said.

Ryuken approached and dropped to his knees before this lump. He breathed in and out raggedly as though the journey here had taken more from him than he had initially realized.

My mother is in there. I know it.

Without hesitation Ryuken placed the torch down beside him. It lay there without going out. Reverently the little boy then began to scoop away handfuls of snow, placing them off to the side in an ever-growing pile.

We never had a chance to bury her. The ground was frozen. She's just bones now, pecked clean by carrion birds and other scavengers. But if I dig her out, then she can be laid to rest properly. My mother, who loved me and died protecting me. It's not like in the storybooks. A mother's love has no magic to defend you after death. That's just fantasy.

At his next touch, the snow cocoon broke apart. And there in its glowing depths lay curled Rukia Kuchiki.

"Oh," Ryuken whispered as he gazed upon the pregnant girl.

Not my mother. I couldn't do anything to save her. Maybe I can protect this mother, though.

A loud snarl came from the dog at his side, and he whirled about with bow drawn.

Behind them stood a huge stag. Its horned head was denuded of flesh to reveal smooth bone beneath. It had no lower jaw, no eyes. Yet still it saw them.

The dog dropped low to begin barking furiously. The bird swooped overhead as though to ward them. The monkey hopped down and picked up a stick which it brandished in a threatening manner.

The stag paid them no mind. It remained there watching Ryuken with its hollow eye sockets, silent as death. He could see shreds of flesh hanging black and dry where they peeled off from that bare skull, like an animal's corpse left to rot by the side of the road.

We've come for you.

From behind the beast, dark forms emerged, the size of wild dogs or boars, their shape impossible to make out. More appeared until they were completely surrounded. Barking, keening, chittering, sobbing, and then howling, as the stag sprang forward at the head of its pack, bearing down upon them like a tsunami.

The wave surged upon that tiny band as they encircled the doomed Quincy child. Beneath him glowed a five-pointed star that dripped red with blood. For although he wept, he did not run, standing firm to protect the helpless victim behind him.

---

Ryuken's eyes blinked open. He carefully peered around the office to reassure himself it was only a dream. Once satisfied that this was so, the diligent medic returned to work. A brief nap was all he could allow himself. This whole experience was proving almost as draining for him as it was for her.

The Quincy looked over to where his patient slept nestled amongst carefully arranged cushions on the couch in his office. Rukia Kuchiki had fallen asleep following the examination. She complained of never being able to find a comfortable position to rest in for long, causing her to constantly come awake. He had fielded similar complaints from women in her condition, his own wife not being an exception. Yet even now, her hands were draped protectively around her swollen stomach. Six months along, and there was no hiding the signs of her pregnancy. For all he knew it was a fallacy, he couldn't help but view her as simply an unwed teenage girl, one faced with the sort of decision their parents often warned them would ruin their futures.

I can only do so much in this situation.

He took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes tiredly. Rukia's bloodwork at the very start would have been enough to baffle any other doctor. Rather than blood cells, platelets and hemoglobin, a gigai possessed what could generously be called plasma, in that it was mainly water and salt with little else. Even the coloring defied explanation. However, there were indications by which a corporeal shinigami's health could be identified long-term. Isshin in particular had to flush out his system at least once a month or risk seeing a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. Exercise helped, but that only went so far. This was only one of the issues they had discovered in long-term gigai habitation. 'Encroachment' was the preferred term. It sounded less drastic than 'pollution'.

Oddly enough, precious little of his experience in faux bodies had proven relevant in this case. By all indications, the Kuchiki girl was as healthy as a woman in her situation could hope to be. The child was growing and responding exactly as one would expect for a normal human. She displayed no ill symptoms whatsoever. A more perverse man would be disappointed; was there really nothing to differentiate a living person and a possessed gigai in terms of medicine when it came to pregnancy? Or could it have something to do with the father? It was true they had never seen significant complications in either of Masaki's pregnancies. In fact, the data he had compiled on her was proving far more helpful in sorting out Rukia's case. Mayhap a human parent contributed a disproportionately greater extent to keeping the rules of the mundane world satisfied in such a situation. Or perhaps the gigai in question had something to do with it? They were both created by geniuses, if one believed the accounts. Certainly explained how they could be adaptable.

Focusing on the medical aspects kept him from lingering on certain other issues. Namely, the question of privacy. Any busybodies in this neighborhood knew better than to pry into his affairs. He had sicked lawyers on people in the past, and made no secret of it. Still, a young woman making repeated visits to his home could easily be misinterpreted. Especially after she began to show. Her dignity notwithstanding, it did no good to allow the spread of rumors. Of course there was only one person he need truly concern himself with. So after the third month, when it could no longer be kept under wraps, he had taken his son Uryu aside and explained the situation to him.

The boy's startled exclamation of, "I never peeked!" still left him suspicious.

At first he wondered if his son might have romantic inclinations towards the female spirit, a disturbing enough prospect on its own. However Uryu had hotly denied this being the case. He refused to go into further detail on the topic, which was par for the course. It was over half a year now since his son had started dating the Ohgawa girl, and there had still been no effort made to introduce them. She apparently invited Uryu to meet her own parents. They went out together on a regular basis. His casual attempt to inquire if the boy was sufficiently aware of contraceptives led to them not speaking for an even longer period than usual.

Truly, being a parent involved pitfalls and booby-traps the likes of which could never be imagined.

Relationships amongst teenagers often didn't last this long. One of them would say or do something that ended it. And yet they appeared to be proceeding along, from what he could tell by second-hand reports. At the very least he had been able to put Misato Ochi's unhealthy stalking tendencies to some good use. She was remarkably up to date on her students' activities. It left him slightly guilty about wishing for her to be eaten by a Hollow on the way to school one day. But only slightly.

Behind him his patient moved about restlessly in her sleep. The blanket he had draped over her legs spilled onto the floor, and Ryuken moved to replace it. For a time he remained crouched by the sleeping shinigami's side. Did she have parents in the afterlife who worried over her? He had never bothered to ask. For all his knowledge on the subject and how it related to this world, he still knew precious little about what existence beyond the veil of life entailed. And yet there must certainly be a resemblance to what they experienced here.

Strange when you thought of it; how the worries of those in the world of the living so closely mirrored that of the afterlife. They were all 'living', in one sense of the word. Just striving to do the best they could with what they had been given. We're all looking to make futures for ourselves.

The dream came back to him then. Resolutely he pushed it aside and got back to work. That would never happen. Such terrors could not be allowed in this day and age. The world would not permit it.

Or at the very least, I will not.

This reminded him to pay a visit to the local animal shelter. The hospital could afford a few more care animals. Little guys needed protection too.

---

'Meet on the bench at the halfway point of the jogging path at noon. Await further instructions.'

It sounded like something you would find in a bad spy novel. Nonetheless, Kisuke Urahara found himself doing just that: sitting on a bench in a pleasant wooded park in one of Japan's northern provinces. He had donned nondescript apparel that would catch no one's eye in the modern mortal world. He did, however, allow himself to keep the hat, explaining it away that they might not recognize him otherwise. It was difficult resisting the temptation to show up in a trenchcoat and fedora complete with a newspaper to read.

The weather today wasn't suitable for it anyway. Spring had turned out to be mild this year, offering a clemency that made suspicious old gabbers promise ruination in the future. The way some of his old clients talked, one might think the world was coming to an end. True, there had been an earthquake recently, but this was Japan. Nothing remarkable about that. Give me a decent eclipse or a cat born with two heads and I'll lend credence to any apocalyptic possibilities. As it was, he tilted his head back and allowed himself to enjoy the small comfort offered by such a sunny day.

Twenty-to-one the bastard brought me back here just to make me relive old pains.

A middle-aged man in a jogging suit passed by, grim of face and making a point not to look at him, concentrating solely on his cardio. Acting on a whim, Urahara cupped a hand to his mouth and called, "Ganbate!" The jogger flinched but did not look back. With a grin worthy of the person he happened to be waiting on, the corporeal captain resumed his vigil with no sign of anxiety.

Considering Gin might try to murder him, this took a fair amount of effort. He consoled himself with the assurance that he had not come alone.

So where is our grinning master of illusion, anyway?

"Cover me when I run/…"

What the…?

"… on't you know you've gotta/ Shock the Monkey!…"

Kisuke twisted around to look behind the bench. Sure enough, there was a cellphone resting on the lip of the stone leg support, tucked out of sight so that no one might stumble across it by accident. With an ironic twist of his lips he reached down and picked up the buzzing box. After quickly verifying that there was nothing magical about this item in any way, he finally answered it.

"Been watching spy movies in your retirement, Gin?"

"Didn'tcha like the ringtone I picked out for ya? It was a tough choice between that and 'Weird Science!'"

"Seems I contacted you just in time," he responded evenly, "if you've got nothing better to do than rifle through the radio dial. Is this why it took you three months to get back to me?"

"'Wheels keep turnin'/Something's burnin'…' c'mon, you don't gotta be a genius to see the connection. Right?"

And just like that he found himself thinking about Ichigo Kurosaki. Watch the monkey get hurt…

Sitting there on this beautiful day, Urahara reflected on how he was dealing with a person who lived to inflict pain. To say nothing of the fact that Gin Ichimaru was an expert at it. Never underestimate someone hand-picked by Aizen Sosuke to be his lieutenant, in every sense of the word. Not for the first time it occurred to him that if he didn't kill this man, eventually he might deeply regret it.

So as to give no inkling of how badly he had already been rattled, Kisuke dropped neatly into his time-tested persona. "While we're on the topic, where did you find a flippy phone, anyway? I just so happen to still have a whole box of these things back at the shop. If you're in the market, I could be convinced to part with them for a low, low price. And if money happens to be tight for you, we can work out a payment plan of…"

"There's a public bus arrivin' at the west end of the park at a quarter past 3. You'll find another phone taped under the third seat from the back on the starboard side. If you don't answer when I call, consider this conversation over'n done."

Kisuke performed some quick calculations. "That's a fair hike, Gin."

"And not a shunpo in sight. Better get crackin', Cracker Jack."

The phone went dead before he could frame further objections.

Pocketing it just in case, the agent of Soul Society stood up swiftly. He looked into the woods for a moment, then took off down the lane. Urahara was resolved to catch up to that self-obsessed jogger from before and leave him in the dust by way of petty maliciousness. Man's got to have some vices, after all. We're none of us saints here.

As he ran, a tiny shadow leapt down from a tree and moved to keep pace with him.

In her feline form, Yoruichi Shihoin maintained a safe distance just in case they were being watched. She had heard everything, and it came as no surprise that Ichimaru meant to run them ragged for a bit. He always did enjoy misleading people. Nice to know some things never changed.

The black cat stole soundlessly through the trees without losing sight of her partner. Fast as he might be, Kisuke had to stay on the path, which allowed her to move at a more sedate pace on account of the track looping back upon itself a ways ahead. She debated whether or not to surreptitiously join him on the bus. Probably no one would object, much less notice. However they had both agreed whatever happened, their unscrupulous contact would no doubt be watching Urahara. Revealing herself to have tagged along so blatantly when Gin insisted he come alone probably precluded any chance of meeting with him. This conversation was long in the making, and missing it could put them at a severe disadvantage what with everything happening lately. That being said, she wasn't about to leave a loved one alone with that bloodthirsty nutter, not even for a second.

A few birds took off into the air as she pounced into a bright patch of sunlight. Dappled shadows served to hide her form for the most part. Alert to the possibility of danger, Yoruichi kept her ears pricked and senses stretching out. No point getting careless and running right into a trap. A smell of putrefaction reached her sensitive nose then, along with the buzzing of flies. Drawing near a small depression she came across the body of a fox. Flies swarmed and crawled around the half-rotted remains. It must have been dead for at least a few days by the look of things. Probably felt its time coming and crawled into this spot to die.

As she looked into its eyes, the fox lifted its head and grinned. "Welcome back!"

Yoruichi sprang instinctively away with a hiss, fur standing on end from shock. There came a noise from below the rise, and the decomposing creature crawled up to join her. It shook its muddy red coat, sending bits of flesh flying in the process, then began to walk towards her in a distressingly smooth gait.

"Ho there, Lady Shi-hoin!" the zombie canine clicked its teeth together. "Been a while since we had a chance to chat, eh?"

Yoruichi cast about nervously. Should have expected him to do something unexpected. Damn this man. Already she knew that Kisuke would be well on his way by this stage. They had agreed not to contact one another unless absolutely necessary. Which meant she must face Ichimaru alone. Unprepared. Exactly as he wanted. Damn this man!

While she debated her situation, the dead fox had taken to prowling around her. Its eyes shone with an eerie blue light. No spiritual power came off it whatsoever. Once again Gin displayed an unnerving ability to hide himself, even more so than someone of her lineage and capability. He'd make a fine assassin, if you could stand not knowing when he might slit your throat.

"You truck with some pretty unsavory magic, Ichimaru-san," she spoke at last, turning to keep him in sight.

The fox chuckled. "Can't live among the Hollows as long as we did and not pick up a few tricks. And yer one to talk, neko-chan." Its jaw moved when he spoke, but clearly the voice being produced did not emanate from those degraded vocal cords. He sounded exactly like she remembered.

Between one turn and the next Yoruichi bolted towards a tree. Instantly he gave chase. Her claws dug into the bark and she scrambled up the trunk as his jaws snapped a whisker short from her hind legs. Upon reaching the lowest branch she settled down to watch the zombie fox below. It had settled back on its haunches and was regarding her intently, tail swishing back and forth through the loam.

"Was it somethin' I said?" he leered up at her through that cadaverous face.

"No, it's your breath, Gin." Yoruichi licked a paw in regal disdain without bothering to look at him. "Smells like you've been chewing on dead mice. Was that before or after you inhabited the fox?"

"I'm not a picky eater." He clicked his teeth together. "So. You called this meeting. What's on yer mind, lil' lady?"

Feeling a bit more in control, she left off her ministrations. "I'm looking to trade."

"We already did! I toldja about the Wild Hunt sniffin' around for somebody special, and you gave me an extra gigai. Works great, too."

"I seem to recall a report that another wanted criminal had equipped the last untraceable gigai she wore to self-destruct if caught." The aloof feline looked down her snub pink nose at him. "Can't imagine someone like Rangiku Matsumoto being able to conceal herself for long unless she had a spare handy."

"Hmmm… Mat-su-mo-to." The way he said her name made Yoruichi's skin itch as though she was being bitten by fleas. Even with everything they suspected, there was something disturbing at the thought of him being around any woman. "Toshiro's ex-lieutenant. How is the little guy, anyway? Haven't seen him since that brouhaha in Hueco Mundo last year. Looked half dead at the time. You should take better care of yer kids, Shihoin-san."

To her surprise, the cat nearly leapt down with the intention of murdering him, dead or not.

Relax, would you? He wasn't talking about Noboru.

He was. Look at him. Little bastard's relishing this.

Don't give him too much credit. He's a wild animal, that's all.

"Gin Ichimaru," she stated with deceptive mildness, "if I find you had a hand in sending the Wild Hunt after my son, I will deploy all my resources to hunt you down and kill you."

"Who, me?" His tone dripped mockery. "Whatever the case, it sure was a lucky thing you had a search party ready to retrieve the kid. But y'know…" His scabrous skull twisted to one side in a curious fashion. "Some suspicious people, not me, mind ya, but some people might wonder if'n maybe you actually did that to get yer boy to reveal himself, thereby allowin' the Hunt to draw a bead on him."

The cat watched the fox silently.

"I know, don't make much sense. Pardon me for even mentioning it. I mean, it ain't like you were trying to get a certain someone to possibly show their hand and reveal themselves to be a traitor, right?"

A breeze rustled the leaves, their soft susurrus the only sound.

"Well, I'm guessing it wouldn't have worked out anyway. Nobody got hurt, in any case. Everybody's fine." Gin settled down and closed his eyes as though asleep. The effect was disturbing, because you could still see the glow through those necrotic eyelids. "Maybe I'll just take a catnap while you think about yer next move. Nighty-night."

The wind died.

Before the leaves could even settle, the fox had already leapt aside as the black cat came hurtling down on the spot he had previously occupied. They circled one another now, two predators out for blood.

"Yeowch," the zombie canine sneered. "Guess the claws came out. Momma lion's on the prowl."

Yoruichi was through playing games. "Who is directing the Wild Hunt?"

"Not me, if that's what yer thinkin'." He managed to make himself sound offended. As if that was fooling anyone. The black omen left off prowling and started to walk straight towards him.

"Who, then?"

Gin grinned the way only a fox could, baring his molars while keeping the front of his decaying lips shut. "Somebody a lot more worried about you than I am."

"Boy, if you knew me as well as you think, you wouldn't have dared to meet me alone." She continued to draw ever closer, unconcerned now with any threat this psychotic kit might represent to her.

"That so?" the fox drawled carelessly.

He's bluffing. Trying to get you to slip up and reveal something to him.

I know. Just keep an eye out for surprises.

Can do. If push comes to shove, we can take this clown.

Are you sure?

Before Yoruichi could react, the woods went dark.

She stood on two legs, naked and in human guise. Shock at this transformation kept her from thinking for a moment. What the hell…?!

The Shihoin monarch whirled about. No sun gleamed in the sky to warm her; only black trees towered all around, lifeless and bereft of any foliage. Their limbs clattered together faintly though no wind moved them. A carpet of dead leaves crunched underfoot with every step, announcing her presence.

Tezcat! Where are you?!

Her guardian spirit did not answer back.

Yoruichi's heart beat so hard it might burst with every labored breath she took. She scanned this inhospitable environment for some sign to guide her.

Through the surrounding shadows, something stared back.

It moved through the trees, vanishing from sight only to reappear a short ways off, its shape indiscernible. Low to the ground, like a wolf. Or a fox. This thing drew slowly closer by the moment.

I'm being hunted, she realized with frightening certainty.

The continued rattling of branches unnerved her. She was sweating and cold, shivering in this forsaken domain. There was no sound or sense of what the enemy might be, nor where it would attack from. Never had Yoruichi Shihoin felt this utterly alienated. It was as if she were dropped into another world, one which resented her very existence. With no idea where this was or how she even got here, her eyes cast about for a branch or rock that she could turn into a weapon, but nothing of the sort could be found.

A large shadow leapt quietly between a break in the trees.

Run.

Yoruichi fought a surge of instinctive panic.

The watcher passed behind another stark bough. This time, though, it did not reappear.

RUN!

Yoruichi turned to sprint, but as she did something came leaping at her, huge jaws opened wide, darkness and teeth and blazing eyes. She screamed.

The smell of dirt hit full blast as she found herself slammed roughly into the ground. Light blazed so brightly it dazzled her for a few moments. Then came another smell, the unwholesome reek of a corpse, and the cat felt the weight of the dead fox pressing down atop her small feline body, keeping her pinned with its superior weight.

"Well, well," Gin exulted into her pointed ear. "Seems we know each other a little better after all."

Beneath him, Yoruichi had gone still. She did not struggle. That primeval experience, whatever it might be, had lifted, allowing her access to every bit of power she had available. But unlike before, she no longer felt certain about her chances.

Yoruichi! What was that?! Are you alright?

Yes.

That's it, I've had enough of this! Let's get him!

No, don't! I need you to stay calm. This might be dangerous for both of us. Just let me handle it.

"Hope nobody's watchin' right now. They might get the wrong idea." He shifted slightly atop her. Flies still buzzed over his corpse.

Shihoin dignity demanded he be disemboweled for even suggesting such a thing. However Yoruichi restrained herself. It seemed there was far more to Gin Ichimaru than anyone had previously suspected.

"Looks like you have me at a disadvantage, Gin."

"Aw, listen to you, actin' all defeated," the vulpine vermin sang merrily. "Does this mean you wanna ask for my help?"

"Yes."

He was silent for a few moments, as if considering this blunt admission. "Well, I might be convinced to lend a hand. Truth be told, I got nothing against you lot. Ya did do good by me." Ichimaru bent down to nip playfully at her ear, an act that caused her to choke back a hiss. "So how's about this? I'll let you ask three questions. And we'll say you owe me in return. Sound good?"

Yoruichi remained unmoving beneath him, though the effort to not leap up and rip his rotting carcass to pieces cost her dearly. "Deal."

"Ask away."

He did not leave his place atop her, and she was not about to request he remove his loathsome bulk. So the polymorphed feline fielded her first query. "Did Aizen learn about my son through you?"

"Other way around. He told me."

No point in asking why. That one had been to satisfy a personal suspicion. This man would gladly be her son's executioner if given the chance. But Gin was not about to rely on others to do his killing. Not when he could get away with it himself. "Why did they want him dead?"

"Good question. Could have something to do with the rumor going around that yer kid is a deadly enemy to the Wild Hunt. Like he's destined to destroy them for good. Or something along those lines. Don't ask me how it got started, not like I'm one to put stock in that sorta thing."

Her heart clenched at these words. Byakuya had told her a prophecy along similar lines, but never to her knowledge had the Hunt been mentioned in the final message left by his grandfather Ginrei. She had always assumed the old man died fighting to protect her from Unohana. Could Aizen and his cabal have taken Ginrei Kuchiki prisoner and wrested the information from him?

One left. Have to make it count, while he's still disposed to answer.

"Who is directing the Wild Hunt from outside Nirvana?"

"Oh, yer asking about which of the Vaizard was on our side, eh?"

At his words, a shiver stole through her. He could be lying. Just another way to turn us against each other. But at this point, such arguments seemed distressingly half-hearted. She knew in her soul that it was true.

"Heard about what happened in Hueco Mundo. Poor ol' Hachi. I'll bet you've been having a devil of a time trying to root 'em out. Can't be easy, learnin' somebody you put your trust in for so long was just waiting for the right time to stab ya in the back."

This guy truly is a piece of shit.

"Still, no matter what name I tell you, it ain't gonna do any good. After all, I could be lying. So maybe you should ask the person that actually saw it happen?"

She felt Gin move off her. After a moment of remaining perfectly still, Yoruichi turned to look at him.

The animated carcass actually winked. "Ya didn't know? There's an eyewitness to Hachi's murder. A Hollow. Saw the whole thing go down."

He then explained everything.

After a while, Yoruichi declared gruffly, "I see."

"And that's #3. So on that note…"

With a whoosh, blue flames suddenly engulfed the fox's body. It crumbled with no more resistance than were it made of dry leaves. Yoruichi sat unmoving less than a foot away from it, the blaze tinting her dark form azure as she watched the conflagration burn away any trace of this sad abused creature. It was not a pleasant sight. For a few seconds she saw the skull still retaining its shape, and those fleshless jaws moved. "Now ya owe me, Yoruichi-san!" Then it broke apart, leaving only a slightly disturbed patch of earth, like a cairn.

Half an hour later she finally caught up with Urahara. He wasn't pleased about being misled, and Yoruichi couldn't blame him. After filling him in on what had transpired during her contact with Ichimaru, the two of them sat on the side of the road as the bus went by.

"I guess we know what we have to do next," Kisuke supplied airily. He dangled his hat between his knees, turning the striped cap round and around as though in search of something.

"We'll see how good this information is." His old leader hadn't bothered to slip out of her cat façade. She remained beside him, tail twitching as she stared up at the sky. "There's a good chance the guy's already dead by now. But I doubt Gin would have told us if that were the case."

"Agreed. Well," the shaggy-headed mastermind stood up, dusting off his pants. "Shall we head home, milady?"

"Promise me something, Kisuke."

He looked down thoughtfully, noting his mistress' unease which only someone who had known her forever could pick up on. "Whatever you say."

"If you ever find yourself within striking distance of Gin again…"

She ducked her head, remembering that horrible place she had found herself in, and the thing that ruled there.

"… kill him," Yoruichi declared flatly.

His face remained calm, and he did not ask why. Instead the Ibis Company captain merely bowed. "As you wish."

They left that idyllic public space then. They knew what to do, and how to carry it out. Their quarry's name was Rudobon Chereute, leader of the Exequias and former member of Aizen's Hollow army.

---

He had only been gone long enough to get a limited edition juice box from the cafeteria, yet Rin Tsubokura had a very unpleasant sensation something was different upon his return.

The spindly scientist closed and locked the door securely behind him, keeping a suspicious eye open for anything out of place. An intruder entering his room would have been hard-pressed to make out any sort of order considering the absolute mess. There were boxes everywhere containing samples and unread research journals he had been meaning to get to but never quite found the time. Towers of haphazardly stacked papers appeared to sway ever so minutely from side to side under their own ever-shifting weight. Magazines and junk mail from the mortal realm poked out in odd places, the hard-won results of his negotiations with other division members more likely to see the sun than himself. And everywhere there were empty packages of snacks, a veritable cornucopia attesting to the resident's expansive palate and inquisitive nature. You never knew how good something was until you tasted it.

A mess? Certainly. But the architect of this chaos knew precisely where everything belonged. Rin was not a member of the most peerless collection of researchers in any plane of existence simply owing to his encyclopedic knowledge of foodstuffs. That was just a hobby.

And yet for all his prodigious memory, he could detect nothing out of place. Maybe I'm just being paranoid? Good to know I'm not getting lax. That sort of thing could see you eaten alive in the R&D Bureau. Quite literally, in some cases.

Having assured himself of the room's sanctity, he dropped his purchases on a copy of 'Seireitei Monthly' and called up his assignment once more. In the center of the room where a space had been cleared there now appeared a glowing 3-dimensional matrix of such density it almost appeared solid. Nodes and vertices representing treatises and clauses connected in so many different arrangements there didn't seem to be a single aspect of the data that wasn't bound to every other in some small way. He had never seen anything so needlessly and expertly complicated. The marriage proposal between Lady Rukia Kuchiki and Lord Katsurou Arashi was a body of law unto itself. For not the first time, he found himself gazing spellbound upon this massive socio-legal affair. I could make three doctoral dissertations out of just half this material. It was awesome.

"Wow. Looks like a dictionary with dyslexia."

Rin spun about with a frantic, "BAAA!"

The boy sitting on a crate behind him grinned and saluted. "Yo."

For a moment Tsubokura could only stare openmouthed. He knew this person, of course. Not that he was particularly up to date on the names and faces of people outside his division. But he had been engrossed in the history and lineage of the royal families for a few months now. As a result, he could safely conclude that he was in the presence of Noboru Kuchiki, son and heir to two of the most powerful families in all the Seireitei.

"Er," he began a trifle uncertainly. "Hello… that is, um… how did you… get in here?"

His unexpected guest hopped down to join him. "Aunt Rukia gave me clearance."

"Oh. I see." Rin gave a nervous twitch of his head in the direction of his research effort. This room was sealed to prevent unauthorized entry while he was working. For the kid to have waltzed in undetected, his security clearance must be even higher than Rin's own. The thought left him a tad dismayed. Although it was the Patroness herself who had tasked him with this highly sensitive matter, there was something disconcerting about having a person approved by her come snooping about. Could he be a spy, sent to observe and report back on his performance?

"Well, ah, Lord Noboru… sama… as you can see, I have gone back through twenty-two generations of noble arbitration in order to discern whether there might be a matter which is not readily obvious regarding this marriage contract. It's a complicated undertaking involving a great deal of care so if you could please not poke THAT!"

Noboru's finger stilled a scant slip away from its intended target, a very sensitive mass of solidified information whose creation could conceivably be described as giving birth. At least this would explain the level of panic Rin felt at the prospect of seeing it come to harm. His royal visitor glanced quickly at the glowing web, then back to the shaken academic with an utterly devious expression of mischief written all over his face. He's a demon, Rin thought to himself.

Instead the young lord withdrew his finger with deliberate slowness, causing Tsubokura to visibly deflate from relief. He sagged back into a chair and peeled open a package of sakura-flavored snacks to help him calm down. The first one was halfway to his mouth when manners returned, at which Rin offered it to the boy. "Want one?"

Noboru shook his head. "No, thanks."

While Rin proceeded to munch away like a nervous chipmunk, the young inspector made his rounds. Truth be told, Ba-san hadn't expressly given him permission to be here. But word through the grapevine had it this guy was working on something top secret for her. At least that's what the younger Kotetsu sister had led him to believe. If it had to do with the upcoming marriage, Noboru definitely wanted to know more. Nothing was set in stone yet. He hadn't missed his opportunity.

Upon examining the colossal glowing web for a while longer, however, he found himself already bored. The whole thing looked as if a bull had run wild through a yarn store. There was information contained within each strand that you could read upon closer examination, but after just a few seconds it left him tremendously confused. Nothing but legalese and names and dates. Qué aburrido.

Another glowing construct separate from the larger mass caught his eye then. Skipping nimbly over Noboru examined this new web of intel, which glowed a neon orange. It was composed almost entirely of names, one of which happened to be his own, as he had initially noticed. Upon closer inspection it appeared to be a family tree.

"Hey," he called back to the little guy. "What's this thing?"

Rin left off dipping a pockey stick into a bag. "Eh? Oh, that's your family tree. At least, on your father's side. The Kuchiki, I mean. I had to comb back several thousand years to verify certain familial claims. It was necessary to…"

The sound of his explanation receded as Noboru tuned out the rest. It was pleasing to find himself listed right at the top of this spreading structure. He noted that it did not behave in the same way as the bigger web, meaning that touching it did not alter the fabric whatsoever. Makes sense. These are all marriage and birth certificates; not like they can be played with. He wandered into the orange pyramid, scanning slowly around in search of names he recognized.

There's Aunt Rukia, right where she belongs. Adopted into the family over fifty years ago. Connected to her was Hisana Kuchiki, Dad's first wife, who died of an illness before her long-lost sister could be found and brought to the Court. Noboru reflected on how things would be different if this lady he never met had survived to this day, and felt a bit sorry this wasn't the case, oddly enough. His father loved her dearly, which was the only reason Aunt Rukia even existed in both their lives. He owed this woman a debt of thanks for increasing his family.

Listed also were his grandparents, only one of whom was classified as a shinigami. Deceased. Great-grandfather Ginrei had a date of death as well, though family lore had it there may be some doubt on that score. I wonder if there's anybody close to my age?

He trailed a finger down and around in search of family relations. Here's a kid on Dad's mother's sister's side of the family. That would make them my… second cousin, I think. But ugh, over 300 years old and married? No chance of a playdate there. There was a Yumichika Kuchiki listed without any record of a birthdate. Weird. Oh, she was adopted into the family just like Aunt Rukia, but only in the last few years. Unfortunately the death date was plain as day. Two years ago… must have happened during the Autumn War. I wonder if she was somebody Ba-san knew?

Deeper and farther back his investigation went. Aunts and cousins, grandparents and siblings, in most cases bearing additional information about their birth clans. The Five Great Houses had intermingled through their branch families for ages of the world. Here a Kuchiki had married a Shihoin, there a Kotetsu; Shiba with Arashi, Arashi with Shihoin. At a certain point the name 'Takuiyoku' started to appear with greater regularity. That was around 500 years back. Before Dad was even born…

I wonder what was going on in those days?

---

Yudai Shiba looked up from his desk. "What is this?"

"Hmm?" Across from him Kyōraku Shunsui, eternal captain of the Eighth Division, paused with a cup halfway to his lips. "It's a transfer order… isn't it?" He blinked in drunken confusion, peering down at the neat stack of papers, then over to his subordinate waiting patiently at the back of the room. "Daji-chan, did you bring the wrong forms?"

"No, Captain," the young woman insisted.

"Ah, me…" Her inebriated superior appeared quite distressed to hear this. At last he turned to Yudai again. An abashed smile flitted over his handsome face, and Shunsui chugged down the liquor, giving a hearty sigh before continuing. "Now I know this is… uhhh… maybe a little premature. Your Third Seat's not even in the ground yet and here I am offering a replacement. Oh…"

Apparently even Shunshui's current state of intoxication could not prevent him from noticing how Shiba stiffened at this statement. Hastily the pink-robed god strove to correct his error. "Beg pardon… didn't mean to speak ill of the dead… er… the recently departed… I mean…" The big man threw a pleading look back at Daji, only to be met with tight-lipped silence. She, at least, knew when to keep her mouth shut.

Right then Captain Shiba picked up the documents and stood. He strode on over to where the young woman from the Eighth stood pale-faced and intimidated by his reiatsu that permeated the air. However all he did was hand the transfer orders back to her. "Fifth Seat Daji Shinoko, I must refuse your transfer to my command. You have my sincerest regrets for being placed in such a position by your own captain."

"Hold on…"

Cloth rustled as Kyōraku Shunsui sought to clamber upright. He almost lost his balance, catching himself on the desk before lurching to his full height. For all this display of diminished faculties, his face had lost that happy drunken stupor and now might almost be angry. "Captain Shiba, this isn't a joke. Your squad needs a Third Seat, and Daji-chan here is one of the most capable officers I've got. She volunteered for it! You'd have to be blind not to recognize her worth. And since your division was missing two seated officers already, I don't understand why you would reject a candidate as qualified as her."

"You need not understand, Taichou." The Shiba Lord turned with regal slowness to address his fellow captain. At the same time, Yudai's throat was tight with suppressed anger. How dare he…! "I mean no disrespect to the young lady, but the fact remains you have overstepped your bounds. It is not your place to determine the selection of seated candidates in another division. Even with Commander-General Yamamoto's approval, lacking the express consent of the First Seat of the Seventh, this transfer will not take place. The rules are clear. And even you must respect them."

The wine-soaked fool regarded him with a measure of disbelief. "We're trying to help you, man."

His voice was distressed, even a trifle sad. This more than anything made Yudai so livid. "That is not the issue here. I will select the appropriate replacements in due time. If there is nothing else, I wish you both a safe trip back to your division grounds."

Shinoko might have been halfway there already if her captain had only given the word. Instead Kyōraku sighed and scratched his head, causing that ridiculous straw hat to tilt downwards. Despite this, those deep brown eyes glared with sober intensity at the other man from beneath its brim.

"Shiba-taichou, unless I'm gravely mistaken, you don't have a surplus of qualified officer material in your ranks at this time. We all accept transfers from other divisions. It's nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, it helps promote camaraderie between the divisions." The older shinigami crossed over and laid a firm hand on Shiba's shoulder without regard for the trembling muscles under his touch. "You have a responsibility to the men and women under your command." Reaching over, Shunsui plucked the transfer orders from his clearly distressed Fifth Seat. "I know how badly you need help. It's not a question of pride. This is your path to recovery."

He held the sheaf before Yudai's face. There was no longer even a trace of frivolity in his tone when he spoke next. "It's in your best interest to accept. Don't make your situation any worse than it already is."

Enraged and affronted though he might be, even Yudai Shiba could not discount the force confronting him now. With almost mechanical slowness he accepted the documents. Captain Kyōraku said not another word. He merely nodded to Daji and she immediately took up step behind him as he left the office, still a trifle unsteady on his feet.

Sweat dripping cold down his ribs, Yudai stared at the orders he held. For a moment he strongly felt the compulsion to sign them and just be done with it. What Shunsui said was true; there was nothing wrong with accepting this offer. Shinigami switched divisions when the leading hierarchy deemed it necessary to maintain division strength. It in no way constituted a reprimand to him or his unit.

He also remembered the face of the officer whose death in the field had opened this position in the first place. Could her soul rest easy knowing that her cherished post had been carelessly handed off to an outsider who would never even remember the previous incumbent? All her achievements and sacrifices swept away to make way for another?

No. I will not permit it. Shunsui and all the others will not profit from our losses! No outsider will be permitted into my company's ranks from this day forth!

Yudai strove over to a brazier and thrust the transfer orders into it. He watched them catch fire and crumple down to glowing ash. Then the Seventh Division captain drafted a notice of immediate graduation for three affiliates of the Shiba clan who held the highest marks at the Shinigami Academy, along with immediate entry into his squad. He had no doubt they would do their families proud.

The slight jitteriness in his limbs had not died down, but he chose to ignore it. So long as he lived, there must not be a single trace of weakness shown. His pride as a Shiba would not permit it.

---

"Good job today, Kurosaki-san!"

Several of his teammates waved goodbye on their way home after practice, and Ichigo Kurosaki smiled back while stowing his gear. They had a match next weekend with a rival school from the next district over that everyone was looking forward to, himself included, he had to admit.

After setting the bulky armor into its locker Ichigo wiped an arm across his sweating brow. It was late May, the middle of spring, which meant the temperature hadn't really started to climb yet. You could work up quite a sweat in this sport considering all the equipment needed, so summer was a really rough time for kendo enthusiasts. For now things weren't quite as bad. Far harder to deal with some of the more… social aspects.

A few members of the girls' kendo team had made little secret of their admiration for his form. This was not entirely limited to the sporting aspect. Being an object of female ardor did not come naturally to him. Fortunately he had an invaluable resource in the form of Mizuiro, who used his powers to subtly inform all those concerned that Kurosaki Ichigo was spoken for by a certain mystery woman. Unfortunately, that only made him an even more alluring prospect, as it turned out. He had a sneaking suspicion this had been Mizuiro's intention all along when he offered his services. Perhaps the school lothario felt it was best for his friend to keep his options open, considering the woman Ichigo loved was… well, dead.

Friends are nice. The best part about them was you could kick their asses and not feel bad about it afterwards. Yeah, friends sure were great.

School and its attendant activities had never seemed such a panacea as they had for the past few months. Ever since he joined the kendo club of Karakura High, their school's ranking had only been climbing. Sensei claimed that he had never seen a novice progress so quickly in such a short time. He also said Ichigo approached each match as though he were going to war. It was only partially meant as a compliment. There had been some question of 'overzealousness' at the start of his athletic career. But it wasn't his first foray into the world of competitive martial arts. As such the learning curve didn't take long to adjust to him.

Swinging a shinai over one shoulder, the high school senior made his way out of the training hall. As he left the schoolyard it almost seemed as if the scent of cherry blossoms still lingered. It teased his nose as he made his way down the lanes on his way home. The season ended about a month ago, yet one half expected to turn a corner and find pink petals adorning the trees even now.

Instead as he rounded the bend bordering the canal, he saw a person waiting for him.

This initial impression, while creepy enough, was not the most disturbing aspect of their encounter. Ichigo couldn't say what it was about this man that caused him such automatic antipathy. There was an odd feeling of familiarity, despite feeling absolutely certain he had never met the guy before. He looked to be about the same age, dressed in slacks and a dress shirt with a jacket draped over one shoulder. The man was bald, had a strong build and, oddly enough, what looked like a set of prayer beads wrapped around one wrist. A red tassel with a silver chime dangled off one end. He wasn't doing anything; just standing there in the middle of the walkway running beside the canal.

A sense of foreboding stole up Ichigo's spine. In spite of this he continued to approach, keeping a close eye on this customer. The strange youth made no move. Clearly this was intentional, as his gaze rested on Ichigo. He seemed a bit jumpy by the way he held himself, shifting the coat restlessly and moving from one foot to the other. But his somewhat homely face remained calm.

Okay, this doesn't look good. Is he somebody I used to fight? Maybe a shinigami in a gigai? He looks uncomfortable in his own skin.

They were almost upon each other. As he drew to within a few paces, the man opened his mouth, hesitated for just a second, and finally said, "Hi."

"Hey," Ichigo grunted back, glowering at this stranger suspiciously.

They passed, and as they did a weird electric tension passed between them.

Ichigo continued walking without looking back.

After a bit, however, he slowed to a halt, debating. Upon turning around it was to find the other fellow had done the same and continued to regard him. The red-haired pugilist felt the secure weight of the shinai on his shoulder and the tube of gikongai pills in his pocket, offering him options in what might turn out to be a deadly serious encounter.

"I see you still go home by the same route."

Kurosaki squinted upon hearing the voice. It sounded like… when you hear an anime voice actor you know from a different program appearing in a new one. But he still couldn't place it.

"I figured as much, so I was waiting for you here."

Alright, that tears it. Something is definitely up. "What do you want with me?" Ichigo demanded.

Water flowed quietly by in the stream beside them as the two teens faced off. The sun still rode high even at this time of day as it descended past its zenith.

"Uhhh… Ichigo? It's me."

Huh?

The guy reached up to rub his bald head abashedly. "Man… I mean, I've changed, sure, but… you really don't remember people's faces, do you?" At this he settled both hands on his hips and lowered his head with a sigh. "Okay, how about this?"

The face came up, now shrunken into an ugly narrow-eyed bulging-lipped version.

"You's remember me now, punk?"

Recognition hit so fast it felt like a sword through his gut.

"O… OUSHIMA?!"

Oushima Reichi, former delinquent of Karakura High, lapsed his face into its previous non-menacing cast and grinned. "Good to see you, Ichigo."

Ten minutes later saw them sitting side-by-side on a bench along the street. Ichigo stole cautious peeks at this ghost from the past. It was true he never paid much attention to Reichi's face outside of solidly connecting his fist with it. But holy cow…that really was him! Small wonder he hadn't recognized him at first. Even he could tell there was something profoundly different about this new figure that went far beyond physical appearance. An almost palpable aura of peace had settled in where before there was only simmering anger looking to lash out at any available target.

He knew he was staring, which was incredibly rude. But at the same time Ichigo found himself quite unable to stop. Could this really be the same Oushima Reichi who had singled him out in middle school as his avowed nemesis and made it his life's goal to destroy Ichigo and all he held dear? The very idea threw his world for a loop far more surely than ghastly Hollows and all-powerful death gods ever had. Yet here was living breathing proof right beside him.

"… for sure Arisawa came up there on your request." Reichi had finished a long explanation for his whereabouts the past year. The shaven-headed revenant toyed with the loop of rosary beads on his wrist before glancing quickly over. "She never mentioned it?"

Ichigo jerked his head away. "Nope. Never came up." Any peculiar implications about that fact were unconsciously discarded in favor of the much more perplexing riddle that asked it.

"Hmm." His old adversary looked out over the canal with a thoughtful expression. "I don't know why she would have kept it secret. But whatever…" Rather than commenting on this further, Oushima continued his story. "So after the priestess gave me a clean bill of health spiritually speaking, I stayed on until I could finish my apprenticeship. I'm an official neophyte monk now. Old Meri-rin helped set me up with a temple job here in Karakura 'cause she knew it's my hometown. I stopped by there to get myself settled in before coming to see you. I've been taking night classes to complete my high school diploma. Pretty sure I can graduate with the rest of you next term." Reichi took a deep breath. "And there's one other reason for my wanting to come back here. That spirit… the one who started all this… I intend to find it and help lay it to rest so we can both be at peace."

From what he had heard, Ichigo felt confident the ghost Reichi met had been one of Aizen's vasto lorde, most likely the one called Stark. His own brief experience with that phantom left him highly doubtful it would appreciate any attempts to save its soul.

"That's… great… I guess."

"Yeah." Reichi then turned and gave him a searching look of his own before inquiring, "Are you all right?"

To be asked this by someone he only knew as a dimwitted bully had never even crossed his mind. Ichigo could give no response.

"You're studying for college entrance exams, right? That would make anybody stressed out, but… you look as if you're burning the candle at both ends. Is everything okay with you, Kurosaki?"

They stared at one another for several seconds. There were so many things in his life that seemed overwhelming at the moment. A bloodthirsty madman within his own body looking to usurp it. The threat posed by any number of afterlife gods whom he had made his enemy. Losing the woman he loved to a man he had never met, coupled with a very strong fear that he might be losing control of his future.

"I'm going to be a father."

Saying this helped him realize which was the most overwhelming prospect he faced.

His admission caused Oushima's eyes to slowly widen. "Wha…? But… who…?"

"Rukia." Saying her name felt a little strange. "Rukia Kuchiki."

"Kuchiki? Wait… the transfer student? The one you hung out with in our freshman year?" Dumbfounded, the other youth shook his head and turned to stare out across the sluggish river coursing through its concrete bed. "I never… I mean… what happened with Inoue?"

"Orihime? What do you mean? She's fine."

"Yeah, but…" Now Reichi gave him a sharp look. "You know, right? She was heavy-duty into you. Like she could smell you coming or something. You never picked up on that?"

"No, I found out."

"And you turned her down?"

"Yeah. I guess."

The way Oushima looked now made him think even if he had confessed to all the spiritual stuff, none of it would have shocked him more than this. The former delinquent blew out his breath, then gave a half-hearted laugh. "Wow… never did take the easy way out, did you? If it was anybody else, I'd think you were joking. But that sounds… right up your alley, man."

For some reason his remark about jokes got Ichigo thinking of that comment Mayuri made when they were adrift inside his mind. About him having no sense of humor. It had been bugging him for a while. Does everyone have that impression of me?

"But hey, I mean… congratulations, Kurosaki. Really. You're going to have a baby. This is wonderful news."

Reichi held out his hand. Looking down at it, Ichigo had to force himself to raise his arm, which felt as though it was resisting more with every second. "Thanks," he coughed and hastily ended the handshake, lapsing into a slouch with elbows resting on his knees.

Beside him Oushima leaned back to drape an arm over the bench. "I can tell there's more, and if you don't want to go into it, that's cool. You've got more to deal with than most guys our age, that's for sure. Still, I think it's safe to say you have a lot of people in your corner in terms of friends and family. The kind that are willing to fight for your salvation if need be. This is a huge boost to your karma, believe me. Building support for your spiritual center is key to achieving positive balance. Anybody else ought to be worried, but in your case, I can see this working out great. Seriously, no joke."

"Yeah? Well, thanks." Ichigo heaved a desultory sigh. Hard to believe he needed a pep talk from Oushima Reichi, of all people. Still, it was appreciated. "It's just something like this never even occurred to me might happen. I mean, what kind of parent am I going to be? Assuming she even wants me to be one," he added disparagingly.

"Pretty sure a woman doesn't tell a guy she's pregnant unless she wants him to be involved."

"Maybe." He had to agree that was a good point, but damned if he'd say so out loud. Ichigo stirred restlessly, rubbing his eyes before going back to watching the sun go down. The other man did the same. "Somebody told me recently that I never laugh," he confessed abruptly.

Oushima hesitated, then in a cautious tone he said, "Well… I personally can't recall a time when you did, that's for sure. What does that have to do with it?"

"Nothing, I guess. Just…" The troubled teen continued to gaze out over the water. "What kind of person never laughs? Would a kid raised by that kind of guy turn out normal? Or would they be a sociopath." This idea sprang on him from out of nowhere and settled like swift-growing cancer in his brain. It made him cringe. I know so many monsters; what would I do if it turned out I raised one?

"I don't think you're incapable of laughing," Reichi sounded desperate to try and lift his mood at this point. "You just tend to focus on miserable stuff and overlook the benevolent aspects of existence. I admit, you've got good reason. Heck, I used to be a negative aspect you had to deal with. But right now, here you are, watching a sunset! That's good positive focus, man. In the temple, they teach us that suffering can help bring clarity and purpose, but holding on to suffering only brings calamity."

A bitter smile curled Ichigo's lip. "It's weird you should say that. The guy I talked to? He also said that all humor derives from suffering. That it's all about misery and pain and laughing at things that are cruel and hurtful to others so we're able to deal with the junk in our own lives. We never laugh at good stuff happening. And when I gave it some thought, he was right. TV shows, stand-up comics… they all make fun of bad things to get folks to laugh. Something I used to think was good, or at least healthy… it's just about taking pleasure in misery. All laughter is the result of misfortune and pain. Really bummed me out to realize it."

Ichigo had been expecting to get another treatise about karma and cleansing the soul again or some such. Instead…

"That's bullshit."

He sat up straight upon hearing this. "Huh?"

Sitting beside him, Oushima turned to a gaping Ichigo and proceeded to say, "Yeah. I mean, think about it: babies laugh all the time, right? They don't know about all that screwy crap you mentioned. My little nephew, he's only about eight months old, he cracks up when I play peekaboo with him! It was one of the greatest feelings in the world to see him laughing like that after everything I had been through. It made me… happy!"

Reichi appeared to grow more heated as he spoke. Ichigo noticed his fists had clenched in what might have been an unconscious belligerent reaction. For some reason, he felt threatened for the first time since meeting him again.

"And it's not 'cause he's… reflecting on the cosmic absurdity of it all, but just 'cause it's fun!" The bulky monk bolted to his feet and stood there breathing angrily and looking at Ichigo with twitching eyes and flaring nostrils. "You really expect me to believe it's because my little nephew's… what did you say, 'taking pleasure in misery' or some shit like that? Like that innocent little baby with love in his heart could ever want to hurt someone?! That is some straight up bullshit, Kurosaki! Don't you…!"

His words trailed off as he started to pant wildly. Without warning Oushima hauled off and clocked the redhead right in the jaw.

"DON'T YOU EVER TALK BAD ABOUT MY NEPHEW, KUROSAKI ICHIGO!"

They remained frozen in the same position for several seconds. In that time it slowly dawned on Oushima Reichi just what he had done, and as it did, his face melted into horror.

Meanwhile, Kurosaki's brows knit together in thought even as his head remained twisted at an uncomfortable angle. He digested these points for a while, and as he did, his face slowly cleared.

"I guess you're right," he finally said in a wondering tone of voice, then rotated his neck back into a more natural position and added, "I never knew you could hit so hard, Oushima."

"Uh… me, neither," the shocked monk mumbled lamely.

"Thanks."

Ichigo smiled.

And to the surprise of both, he did not punch Reichi back. No form of retaliation manifested, in truth. Instead he just remained sitting there.

Eventually Oushima reached the conclusion that what he did might not have been taken unkindly, despite all evidence to the contrary. So he settled back down on the bench with a rather astonished expression at this turn of events.

Ichigo reflected on his realization. Come to think of it, I remember Yuzu and Karin both laughing a lot when they were babies. Funny how I forgot about that. Not that they laugh much nowadays. Wonder when they stopped?

Around the time Mom died, I guess.

Ichigo…

No, it's alright, Old Man Zangetsu. I'm fine. Really.

He felt tears come to his eyes. Rising hastily, he took advantage of the move to wipe them away before Reichi saw and came to the wrong conclusion. "Thanks a lot, Oushima," Ichigo said as he looked down on this person who, if not quite an ally, was someone he no longer considered an enemy. "You helped clear up a few things for me. I really appreciate it." Now it was he who proffered his hand in friendship. "Good luck in your temple work. I hope you can graduate with us next year."

Reichi remained at a loss. Still, he reached up to accept the gesture. "You're welcome." Then quickly, "Are you sure you don't wanna punch me back to make us even?"

"Nah." Ichigo shook his head and smiled in a friendly manner the other youth had never witnessed before in all their time together. "I think it's safe to say we're square." Picking up his shinai and bookbag, he then turned on the way home. "I'm heading out. See you around, man. Stay safe."

And with that he walked away.

Reichi watched him leave. He couldn't say for certain if his actions had done any real good for either of them. His intentions… had been noble. That much seemed clear. Could it be even in a moment of anger, he had not strayed from the path of the Buddha? Mortals such as himself could not discern everything about the workings of the world around them. Perhaps this, too, was for the best.

Also, I think I broke a few fingers hitting him, so we're definitely square.

"Good luck to you too," he whispered sincerely, and then went off in search of some friends who were good at first aid.

---

While preparing to close up shop for the day, the door of the Usagi Shoten slid open, and Ganju Shiba spun around to be confronted by Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Hey," the mortal teen greeted him.

In response his adversary leapt back and cocked both fists in readiness. "You won't blindside me again, you bastard!" he roared. "BRING IT ON, ICHIGO! I'M READY!"

"I need to talk to you about nobility."

Ganju paused. This was not the way he had imagined their altercation proceeding. Could it be a trap? He eyed the tall human warily. No trace of hostility came off him. Maybe he really does just want to talk. "How come?" the son of Shiba finally demanded.

"In case Rukia needs my help."

Well, that settles that. He wouldn't bring up the Boss unless he was serious. Satisfied, Ganju relaxed and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "What do you want to know?"

A glower cast its familiar shadow over Kurosaki's face. "Anything you can tell me about Katsurou Arashi."

Now the same look settled on Ganju. "My father killed his sister and cut his arm off."

"Nice," Ichigo declared flatly, and proceeded to follow him inside where they continued the lesson over eggs and strong black tea.

---

The members of the Fourth Division hovering nearby did not dare approach any closer as Yudai Shiba continued to hold the hand of his division member until she fell asleep. Her face remained taut with pain even now, and she shifted restlessly on her cot in the convalescence chambers. He had not shared with her the diagnosis: aid on the battlefield had come too late, and while her life had been saved, her career as a shinigami was undoubtedly over.

Benefits would be awarded to her family by the Gotei 13 all the same. Small recompense, but perhaps enough to allow them to live comfortably for a few decades. Their daughter had earned that much at the very least. She smiled after he complimented her performance against the Hollows. It was heartening to know vassals of his clan could still hold themselves with pride. They all owed her more than this world could give.

Finally the grief-stricken captain released her fingers and rose to depart. His arm had begun to twitch towards the end, and he wished to leave before anyone could comment on it. This had been occurring more frequently of late. He must not linger. The Fourth Division would take a very immediate interest in any perceived deterioration to his condition. While talking to Unohana earlier, he had been seized by dread that she might inquire about his health. The leader of the Fourth was a remarkably prescient person, especially when it came to her chosen profession. As he left the room the medics moved in to continue their work. For all she had excoriated him in private, Retsu Unohana would never dream of showing anything but the most strident attention to this valiant young woman.

"Captain Shiba! If I may have a word?"

The white-robed warrior paused. Healers and clerical staff moved by him in the corridor, giving their superior a respectful berth. As such it was not difficult for his pursuer to catch up. Yudai turned at his approach. "Ukitake-taichou. I trust you are well."

Jūshiro Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division came striding briskly up. His normally cheerful features were now set in a purposeful scowl, and he wasted no time in clarifying the reason behind this meeting. "I've come to speak with you about your squad's casualty rate."

"A topic I am more than familiar with by this point." Yudai flicked his gaze around the confines in which they now stood. "As I have spent the last hour being lectured by Captain Unohana, I will tell you the same thing as I did her." He faced the older officer head on. "How I conduct my command is entirely up to me, and no matter how senior your history, it does not afford you the right to interfere in the leadership of another division. I trust it will not take another hour to explain this simple concept to you as well, Ukitake-taichou. If you will excuse me…"

As he began to turn away, a deceptively strong hand grasped his arm at the elbow. "We are not finished!"

Yudai halted, shaking. Thankfully any trembling on his part could easily be ascribed to anger. Behind him, however, Jūshiro aimed a look whose meaning was quite clear at all those present. In just a few seconds the hallway was completely cleared, allowing the two elite soldiers of the Seireitei privacy to continue their argument.

"I believe there is little point in playing games with you at this stage, Shiba." Ukitake's blunt tones were sharpened by the sheer ice in his voice, a far cry from the charming persona he usually affected. "You and I both know your House is in an untenable position in terms of status and influence. And your behavior regarding Squad Seven is treading close to sufficiently warrant judicial scrutiny, if not a court martial."

Lord Shiba regarded him from narrowed eyes that fairly dripped venom. "And have you been reporting to your whelp of a master on this? Does he take petty delight in seeing another high Family forced into such conditions?"

"Don't flatter yourself." Scorn was visible in every line of the ancient hero's face. "Your name has not been mentioned by Lord Arashi in my hearing for some time. He has quite firmly written your house out of existence. But that is nothing compared to the damage you are doing to yourself!"

"I do only what is necessary to prevent the Shiba from falling into further ruin! Is it without precedent for nobility to gain acclaim on the battlefield?"

"You are pushing them too hard!" Ukitake coughed once, but his body remained tense with restrained wrath and his gleaming gaze did not flicker. "This attempt to win status through martial methods carries unnecessary risk. You have placed shinigami fresh from the Academy into officer positions they have neither the training nor temperament for, and the results have been appalling! Eight sons and daughters from three of your branch houses have perished in under a century! Two of them firstborn heirs to their family titles! If these statistics ever got out it would be a disaster! To say nothing of unseated officers dead. At this rate those lines might find themselves utterly devoid of an entire generation that was meant to carry on their names! Having lost so many already–!"

Yudai whipped his arm free angrily. "LOST?!" he demanded in a ragged voice, almost letting the despair show through fully. "We Shiba have indeed lost much thanks to the greed of the other Houses. Even if you are not aware how many lives we sacrificed to Takuiyoku's ambition, I will never forget! Yet when the dust of that travesty settled, who among the other Houses stepped forward to help us rebuild? Not yours, for certain, Thirteenth Squad Captain. And yet here you stand reviling me all the same. In our darkest hour, we were forsaken! So it falls to me to bear the Shiba name with pride. And I am proud! For all those who gave their lives, then and now!"

The expression of disgust on the white-haired legend's face showed clear. "Is this how you envisioned restoring your clan? Through military funerals and combat death benefits? You are crippling the Shiba and weakening the Seventh with such tactics. If this continues, it may even cost you your command."

Shame and loathing made the back of Yudai's throat burn. "Tell Yamamoto he has nothing to fear. I will fulfill my duty as both clan head and captain. You can be sure of it."

Without waiting for a response he spun on his heel and stalked off.

"My congratulations on your new wife, Yudai," Ukitake called out behind him.

Captain Shiba did not rise to the bait. The anger he felt at seeing more of his family come to harm had not even begun to die down, and now that diseased shell emerges to parrot his master's words! Yamamoto's sickly dog, coughing and hacking like a disgusting reminder of mortality; his very presence was an affront to shinigami dignity. And yet this minor nobleman seeks to control me and mine in the same way his drunken counterpart did in the past!

Ukitake was not wrong in his assessment of the Shiba's condition, however. Another one of his family's lesser houses had broken from the main body just the other day. Citing financial difficulties and other inexcusable reasons, they begged leave to withdraw from the protection of the Shiba which he was only too happy to grant. His domain was better off without such weaklings. All the same, it didn't take the Shihoin and Kuchiki long to snap up this latest turncoat. With any luck the greedy vultures would choke on their rotten catch together. Picking away at his disintegrating estate day by day with their demands for payment and notices of surety… it was enough to make him sick! He had even been forced to sell parts of the main Shiba grounds to cover the costs. Thankfully the creditors from the Kotetsu were always willing to defer payment a little longer. At the very least he could still depend upon Lady Isane to behave in a manner befitting her station. She alone had not taken part in this gruesome deathwatch they all seemed intent upon.

At times Yudai felt like a fly caught in a web. The more he struggled, the more tightly he became bound. Could this truly be the end of the Shiba?

Yet that was impossible. How could he countenance being the Lord who oversaw the twilight of their Noble House, one whose achievements and glories were the stuff of legend? Such a fate was too much to bear. All was not lost. Arrangements were already underway for him to marry a young noblewoman from one of the outlier houses. This would serve to stabilize matters to some degree. It would not be presumptuous for him to request some of his smaller debts be cancelled as a form of wedding gift from the other Great Houses. These things were considered meet and proper. And the prospect of an heir would open up other potential avenues of benefit to the Shiba.

No, there would be no talk of his heritage being permitted to fade away. The honored dead would never suffer such a disgrace, far less the living. Given time, their society would aright itself as it always had, and the Shiba would rise in prominence once more. It was simply the way the world worked.

Not for the first time, Yudai cursed the Takuiyoku for their misdeeds. No hell would be dire enough to encompass such villainy. May their worthless souls be reborn long after I am gone.

---

When a knock sounded on the back door, Saijin Komamura wiped his large hands on a dishcloth and went to answer it.

"Yo, Jefe! Here she is, like I promised!"

There stood Noboru Kuchiki, accompanied by his aunt Rukia Kuchiki.

THE LITTLE MONKEY ACTUALLY BROUGHT HER!

Saijin saw red. His pulse beat very hard as the world seemed to spin before his eyes. Then panic swooped in, and he found himself hurriedly stepping to one side. "Pray, enter. I bid you both welcome to my home."

"Don't mind if we do! Here, Ba-san, let me help you up. Careful now!"

"Noboru, I can manage on my own," she chided him warmly. Nonetheless the youth insisted on holding his pregnant guardian's shoulder as Rukia slipped out of her shoes and attempted the step into the kitchen. To his relief their entry went off without a hitch. Then the hulking giant blanched beneath his fur as another thought occurred to him: I have nothing to serve them! Why didn't I go shopping yesterday?! Then I could have started cooking long before and it might even be done now! I knew I was running out of rice and meat for days, curse my eyes!

"You okay? Not dizzy or anything? Bueno." Noboru rounded on their distraught host. "Here, Jefe. A little something from us to you." He then held forth a small box. Mechanically Komamura accepted, still mentally castigating himself for any number of faults and insecurities. "It's a bunch of spices and mushrooms. The fancy kind, perfect for meat dishes, your favorite. Did you know they use pigs to hunt for truffles in the mortal realm? Nothing funnier than watching folks chase after puerco pursuing fungus. Do you think they serve the swine with the shrooms? Like as a way of saying 'job well done'? Cruel if you ask me. So how's it going?"

"Wa…" Komamura found himself tongue-tied. At last he managed to utter, "Won't you… come in?"

They looked at him as if he had begun to shed all over the furniture. Fortunately the cogworks inside his head managed to slip back into alignment by this point, and he followed this up with, "Please have a seat." Their host indicated towards a low table with cushions in a nook connected to the kitchen. "I will get you to repast… I mean, something to repast… to dine upon… rapacious… excuse me."

On instinct Saijin had set a kettle of water to boil earlier, for which he was glad. Tea would not take long to make. He then dashed like a panicked chipmunk over to the cupboards. Snacks, snacks, where are the blessed snacks! Kashima cakes… when did I purchase these? Turkish delights, a gift from Kyōraku-sama on his last visit. Those should be good. And… pickled spiced vegetables? Why do I even have these? Were they an ingredient for a recipe? You're taking too long, they've already sat down, just pick something!

"I hope these will tide you over until I can… locate more suitable cuisine," he hastily strove to embody good manners while avoiding the topic of his larder. Rather too much meat in there for an expecting mother, one would imagine. The frazzled cook laid the least suspicious foodstuffs on the table before his guests. "Is there anything in particular you might wish to dine upon right now?"

"Thank you, Komamura-dono. I'm fine, Noboru," Rukia reassured her nephew that the motion of sitting down had not unduly drained her before turning back to him. "Might you have any pickled daikon with hot peppers?"

"I…" He glanced between her and his cupboards perplexedly. "Yes."

Upon going to retrieve the mysterious jar, he poured its contents into a bowl and returned. The Lady of Kuchiki set to on this with all due haste, managing to look elegant and dignified while wolfing down piece after piece of blazing hot pickles. It was weirdly hypnotic.

"Have a seat, big guy!" Noboru made the offer as if it was his home they found themselves in. "We want to hear all about what you've been up to lately."

His trance broken, Komamura said, "Actually, I should…"

"Hey, you know what this table needs? Flowers." Hopping upright like a spring toy, the young prince trotted gamely towards the door. "I'll go pick some from your garden, no worries, I know the way by now. You two stay here and chat 'til I get back. Don't wait up for me!"

And with that he was gone, leaving the two of them alone together.

That sneaky little monkey…

With no other recourse available, Saijin plopped down across from Rukia. She seemed to have satisfied whatever unusual craving had developed on the way over here and looked much more comfortable. He had never had much opportunity to interact with Rukia Kuchiki, but Komamura had to admit it felt strange seeing her so obviously pregnant. She always seemed very young by spiritual standards. "How are you holding up?" he found himself asking without warning.

If his question came as a surprise, her response followed suit. "I'm tired, my back hurts, my feet are swollen, I have a pain in my neck that won't go away, and my family treats me like glass." At this point the maiden paused, as though uncertain whether to go on. But once out of the bottle this frustrated genie would not go back in. "Noboru is playing both mother hen and matchmaker, it's a hassle finding clothes that fit in the mortal realm, I find myself wanting to cry for no reason at all hours of the day, everyone I meet asks who the father is, I've been trapped in the same gigai for six months, and no one seems to know what to do with me. So I am not holding up as well as one might hope."

Rukia hid her face in both hands and gave a shudder at this point. Before he could respond in any way, she dropped them and said, "How are you?"

Komamura blinked his great yellow eyes. "I… don't know what to cook for dinner sometimes," he confessed lamely.

A chuckle escaped Rukia's lips at his admission. "Please forgive me," she wiped at her eyes. "That's been building up for a while, you were just unlucky enough to bear the brunt of it. I'm truly sorry, Komamura-dono. We've invaded your home without warning, that much is obvious. When Noboru said you knew we were coming, I rather assumed he meant today, not some time in the future which hadn't been made clear to you. I'll have a talk with him about that."

"Ah." It remained unclear if Rukia knew the reason behind this visit. He strongly suspected the boy was attempting to get them romantically involved. A fruitless endeavor, to say the least. As things stood there was enough competition for Lady Kuchiki's hand if the rumors that reached his ears were true.

He chanced a look back over his shoulder. Noboru was certainly taking his sweet time with his self-appointed task. How long did it take to pick some blasted flowers?!

"We can leave if this is not a good time."

"No!" His head whipped around, pointed ears alert. "That is… you came all the way here. And I have been told it would do me good to… associate with people more often. Rather than make a wasted trip, we might both view this as a brief interlude from our usual routine."

"That reminds me…" The dark-haired waif had apparently taken interest in the Turkish delights and was doing her best to demolish them. "We're on schedule to meet our mark of 50% housing of the remaining spirits of Soul Society in permanent dimensional residences. The celebration is tentatively scheduled for next week. Were you planning to attend the festivities?"

His canine head fell. "I do not believe… a celebration would suit me, milady. But I am cognizant of the honor. You have my thanks."

Things got quiet after this. Saijin gripped the fabric of his kimono, uncertain how to proceed. There was a tension in the air which had less to do with his social anxieties and more to do with his guest. It came as a relief when he caught sight of steam rising off the kettle. Excusing himself, he quickly rose and went to retrieve it. Only then did it dawn on him he hadn't even put out the cups, much less the teapot itself. Of all the embarrassing…

Rukia took note of his quandary. "Here, allow me to help you with that."

"Do not trouble yourself, there is no need," he frantically sought to keep her from rising.

"Please, Komamura-dono." Rukia lifted upright with the fragile slowness of a night flower unfolding in the moonlight. There was a tired, ragged edge to her voice now he hadn't noticed before. It gave the wistful half-smile she now directed at him an edge of trepidation. "I've been feeling so useless lately, it's as if no one wants me to do anything but be pregnant. I'm just like an eggplant lying on the ground, ripening in the sun. This big round useless lump. Here, at least, allow me to be of some use."

There was no arguing with such a statement under any circumstances, and so he directed her where to procure some cups and a teapot. The retired captain retook his seat and watched her bustle about from there. Finding a way to keep from feeling useless… Saijin knew that well. Oftentimes he had to force himself out of bed for the simple reason that lying there all day was even more shameful. If you could not be more of a man, at least be less of a waste. After locating a platter Rukia returned and proceeded to set out three places.

Doing so brought her rather closer to him than was his wont with women. Komamura tensed, alert and cautious as though faced with a dire peril. He didn't want to give the impression that Rukia made him uncomfortable. Or at least not specifically her. As it was, he tried not to let it show how skittish he became when she leaned close to place the cup before him. Her presence was like a piece of smoldering iron that might burn him if it got too close. The demi-Hollow could practically smell the heat coming off of her. Doubtless a result of his imagination; or maybe it had something to do with a shinigami lady bearing a child? Not that Saijin had ever been around that many pregnant women. He had no idea either way, and did not want to know.

The kettle on the stove looked ready. Feeling grateful for a chance to put some distance between them, he stood up and brought it back, pouring the hot liquid into his ceramic teapot to allow the water to cool slightly. There was a crack in the lid which he desperately hoped she hadn't noticed. It was broken when he dropped it while washing the dishes over two weeks ago, and he mended it with a bit of plaster, resolving to get a replacement eventually. Komamura feared his inept repair job might be faulty and always made sure to keep a thumb down on the lid when pouring to make certain it stayed put. If only he had gotten a new one when he had the chance! Now this indolence might serve to diminish him even further in the lady's eyes.

"This blend requires water of a specific temperature, so we will allow it to cool for a minute," he explained. "Then I shall pour the water into the cups, let it further cool there, add the leaves to the pot, and pour the water back in, where it must steep."

Great purple eyes watched him carefully through this speech, and Saijin felt himself growing hot and scratchy under their perusal. When he finished, however, a small smile greeted him.

"Ah… if that is alright with you, Lady Kuchiki," he stammered uncertainly

"No, really, I'm fine." She waved a small-boned hand as though to shoo away his concerns. The light dancing in her eyes had not gone out. "It's just… nostalgia. I haven't seen tea prepared this way in a long time. It reminds me of the shops I knew back in my youth. There was always someone who insisted on brewing it themselves. My friends and I used to watch them through the windows. It was fascinating."

"Did you ever… partake of any yourself?" he tried clumsily to join in.

"Oh, no. We were just waiting to rob them when they came out. The fussy ones always had money and rarely noticed when it went missing." Rukia stole a hand up to touch her cheek, a fond faraway look in her eyes. "Ah, memories."

Saijin felt rather clueless how one would follow that up. So he didn't bother. Having once himself been an outcast before becoming a shinigami, he knew what it was like to live off of what one could scrounge or hunt in the wild, doing the occasional Hollow extermination or protection detail to those who might offer him food in exchange. He was often starving back then. Nowadays… hunger was no longer an issue. He ate out of habit. And anyway, this would hardly make for polite conversation with a lady. The less she knew about his sordid past, the better.

"Do you think that has been about a minute?"

The big man jumped with a cough. "Oh… yes, I believe…"

"Allow me. I would love to give this a try."

"By all means…"

She reached down to grasp the handle of the teapot. There was a certain fascination in watching her perform this ritual. He found himself absorbed by the motion of her fingers. Am I really so lonely that I can be entranced by something so mundane?

Hypnotized like this, only as she lifted it did an alarm bell ring in Saijin's mind. The lid…! I forgot to tell her!

"Wait, Lady Kuchiki, allow me to…"

He reached out a hand just as she began to pour. With eyes fixed intently upon the steaming flask, there was no way for him not to see that half the lid was sliding up as though it were on a hinge. For a heartbeat he prayed nothing more would happen.

Then the steam-soaked plaster gave way, and the lid split in half to send hot water splashing out. Most of it drenched the table, but some poured straight onto his outstretched arm.

Komamura jerked away with a sharp hiss of pain. Eyes closed, he cradled it to his chest. What a disgrace… to be unmanned from a small burn. I should be trying to reassure her that I'm…

"Damn it."

The teapot settled soundlessly back on the heat plate where it sat steaming and empty. While across from him, Rukia Kuchiki had gone pale. She inhaled a deep breath through her nose.

"God… damn… it!"

Her fist swung up to come crashing down on the table, causing it to split in half with no more resistance than thin ice. Cups and the empty teapot collapsed into the center of this wreckage. Komamura gawked, forgetting his injuries. And Rukia…

… was crying.

"I've ruined everything." Tears dripped down her cheeks as she stared at the broken remains. "Everything," she repeated.

The noblewoman's face came up, and Komamura flinched from the pain he saw there, so fresh it stabbed him straight to the core. Used as he was to it by now, he immediately recognized what could only be self-loathing.

"I've shamed my family… in the eyes of the other Great Houses!" she gasped in a voice gone high and broken from a tight throat. "I placed… my brother… in a situation that… forces him to deal with a man who hates him… a man I have to marry despite knowing next to nothing about him or why he would want me! I can't even… carry out my duties as a shinigami when I'm like this! And Ichigo…"

Rukia gave a helpless gesture down at her own swollen belly. She then clapped a hand over her eyes and clenched her teeth so hard he could hear them grinding. Tears continued to spill forth without stop. "I've ruined his life. Completely. He has to deal with being a father when he's barely stopped being a child! And then by telling him about it I've made things worse, because we can never marry, never! Even if Arashi hadn't made his claim, there's no point in us trying to raise this child together! He's alive and I am most assuredly not! So my family has lost face, and my position on both fronts is forsaken, and the man I love is forced to abandon his very child. And he will have to live with that burden for the rest of his life! Heaven help me, I've made him like Hisana! Through no fault of his own! I never wanted…"

She looked up at him, her face ravaged by grief and misery.

"I never wanted to be like this… I'm such a disgrace."

Her voice cracked, and Rukia Kuchiki doubled over clutching her stomach, wracked with sobs.

Saijin sat frozen staring at her. He knew he should be doing something, but absolutely nothing came to mind.

Right then Noboru came back into the room. He took one look at his aunt in tears and dropped the bouquet to come rushing over. He slid next to her, arms wrapping about the devastated woman defensively. At the same time, his head whirled around to look up at Komamura with fury written all over it. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!" he demanded.

Numbly the giant shook his head from side to side. "Nothing," he whispered tonelessly. "I did nothing."

For a while Noboru appeared to be searching his canine features for some indication he was lying. After a while without finding anything the rage drained out of him, and he turned back to comfort his aunt. She was still crying, clutching at his arm in search of any support she could find. "I'm here," the boy murmured in a voice half reassuring and half desperate. "It's alright, whatever it is. Please don't cry, you're safe, I swear it. Everything's going to be alright, Ba-san. It'll be alright."

Saijin continued to watch them without saying a word. I did nothing. I am… nothing. Anyone with worth would have tried to help her, while I just sat here. You are not the disgrace, Rukia Kuchiki. I am.

I am nothing.

Nothing.

---

The hour was late, long past the time the rest of the household had sought their beds, yet still it found Yudai Shiba alone in his study pouring over bills and creditor's notes. He had not slept in three days, though his troubles remained undiminished. In truth, recent events only doubled them.

Their clan's sacred and cherished duty, the Binding of the Wolf, had suffered one of the most alarming mishaps in all of its history. The youngest daughter of the Umenishiko, a minor branch house chosen to make the sacrifice this time, had died of fright when brought to confront the Beast. He could not fault the poor child for this; Yudai knew how terrifying that creature was by reputation alone. But it was still a horrendous state of affairs. Her elder brother was so humiliated he insisted on performing the sacrifice in her place. He had that right, as their ancient clan laws attested, and someone had to do it in order to keep the seal intact. Only the boy was pledged to wed the third daughter of the Oden family as part of a negotiated settlement to clear away some debts. Upon learning the Umenishiko heir had lost an arm, the other party backed out, claiming the Shiba were trying to foist off 'damaged goods' on them. To hear a valiant member of his dominion referred to in such terms made Yudai so incensed he nearly thrashed the messenger responsible. Upstart Oden! He belonged to the Shihoin, and thus thought he could get away with such behavior towards a Shiba. There was a time when to offer even half as much insult would have seen their entire household put to the sword and their holdings seized as compensation!

That was before the Manor Wars. And in truth, even had he the clout to make such a decree today, Yudai doubted he would do so. Having witnessed so much ruin during that calamity, he could not find it in his heart to wish destruction on another house, no matter their poor behavior. More than status was lost during those bleak years. The world had irrevocably changed.

A knock came at the door leading into his study. "My lord?"

Something told him this did not bode well. "Come."

The panel slid open to reveal his seneschal Banchi kneeling in abeyance. "A representative of the Sassato wishes to speak with you, sir." The old man grimaced as he spoke, unable to meet his master's eye. "He claims we are in breach of contract."

"What?"

Yudai's whole body trembled with a spasm so intense he left a trail of ink across the document before him, ruining it. What is the meaning of this?! My debt to the Sassato was settled not two days ago! They were given 300 acres of the finest tea fields we own; a terrible loss to family profits, but a necessary one in order to finally end negotiations and allow him to concentrate on their other creditors. What madness could possess them to lay such a charge at his door?

The repulsive trembling had not subsided. Angrily the Shiba Lord snatched his arm and held it tightly to his chest. After a while the shaking went away. Feeling more in control of himself, he looked to where the longtime family servant waited without giving any sign that he had noticed his master's infirmity.

"Show them in."

Banchi left and returned a few moments later with the Sassato emissary, a man by the name of Ukyo. Little more than a glorified parrot in Yudai's opinion, this upstart came storming in wearing fine clothes and reeking like a brothel. Without bothering to even bow, an unforgiveable slight, the long-haired effeminate launched into his speech. "We will not meekly submit to such underhanded tactics, Lord Shiba!"

Very carefully Yudai placed both hands on the table and pushed the chair back, rising to his full height. He was grateful his condition did not manifest outwardly. It would not do to appear ill before this fop. "Explain yourself," he ordered with quiet menace.

The rising reiatsu level in the room told the emissary that he had overstepped his bounds. Swallowing, he appeared to remember himself and performed the ritual bow. However upon coming back up his face remained hard with disapproval.

"Is it the way of the Shiba now to offer compensation only to spitefully destroy it once the transaction is concluded? My master is furious at this turn of events! And I assure you he will take his dispute all the way to Central 46 if need be! These fields are worthless! Nothing will grow there!"

It was incomprehensible that he must find himself discussing agriculture with this ignorant toady like a common farmhand. "Those fields have lain fallow for a reason, boy. It is not the season for planting the tea reserved for such soil. Weather conditions must be taken into account to achieve the most pleasing crop. Had you bothered to learn even rudimentary herbcraft before coming before me to disgrace yourself like this, I–"

"Rudimentary?!" The dandy actually drew himself up with an air of offended dignity. "For your information, Lord Shiba, I am the son of a farmer! He sent me to receive training in order to serve the noble houses when I came of age, but before that, I tilled the soil like any other! And I tell you these fields are not 'fallow', they are barren!"

He then produced a small metal tube and swept forward to slam it down upon the table. That a mere emissary of a lesser house would act in such a manner before a Shiba…

Yet Yudai had to know what the source behind this complaint might be. So with only a distasteful curl of his lip he retrieved the item and proceeded to examine it. A twist of one end and he withdrew the long metal rod from within the sleeve incised with characters. At the bottom of the tube lay a small sample of soil which even to his eye appeared wrong in some fashion, dusty and crumbling. More alarming yet was the readout magically contained within those inscriptions. According to this, the sample had absolutely no potential for sustaining life. It was as if something ate up the vitality of the land itself.

Yudai's face betrayed no hint of what he might be thinking. On the inside, though, he had gone cold. What blight was this? The province under discussion had not been tilled in two years, that was true. Normally they rotated the fields out to give them three years to recuperate from a crop, but the family's hardships had forced them to increase production. Could something have happened in that time without him knowing?

A stab of fear shot through him. "How much of the land in question has been afflicted?"

"Almost two-thirds." Ukyo was watching him carefully now. "For your information, we noticed signs of similar degradation in adjacent fields which were outside the scope of our purview. Regardless of whether or not you were aware of it, the fact remains you have given us a bill of sale on egregiously damaged goods. And we–!"

Damaged…!

Before he could utter another syllable, Ukyo felt the tip of a zanpakutō at his throat.

"Shiba…"

Aghast with fear, he looked up from that deadly weapon where he beheld an even more terrifying expression on Yudai Shiba's face. The old man was shaking from head to toe, jaws clenched as though to prevent himself from stammering as he held him at sword-point.

"Shiba… are not…!" he gasped, tears gathering in his eyes. "… DAMAGED GOODS!"

"Master!"

Yudai came back to himself with shocking suddenness to find Banchi standing in the room with them, a look of horror on his face. At this the clan head realized what he was doing; assaulting an emissary invited into his home. Such a thing was unheard of. The pride of the Shiba…

In the blink of an eye he had sheathed his soul cutter and stepped back several paces. Breathing fast, Ukyo clapped a hand to his neck and brought it up to search wildly for any trace of blood. At finding none he was so relieved he would have collapsed on the spot had Banchi not been there to catch his arm.

"I will…" Yudai swallowed, aghast at what he had been about to do. The trembling in his limbs had returned full force, such that he was forced to sit down. After several seconds he managed to speak. "I will give the Sassato fou… five hundred acres of our prime growing land in recompense for this. It was not known to me beforehand, on my honor as a Shiba, I thought the holdings fertile." Silently he closed his eyes, astonished at the solution he himself had prevented. With the loss of the initial 300 acres, the legendary Shiba tea plantations would be reduced to only a fifth of their previous size. It would mean the end of any chance of profits from that quarter. There simply wasn't enough earnings from such a small expanse to make it worth the effort and upkeep necessary to hold it. Which meant soon enough this avenue of resources would be lost to him as well.

"Your proposal… will be… relayed to my superiors," Ukyo said in a reedy voice. He went on after this, but Yudai heard none of it. When it became clear the spent nobleman was not even listening, Banchi proceeded to escort the traumatized envoy from the room, sliding the door closed behind him to give his master some privacy.

Soon after they were gone, Yudai stood up and left the room. He traveled through the halls of his ancestral home, which even at this time of night seemed gloomy and deserted. There were fewer staff about than in his youth, fewer family members for them to wait upon. Why was all of this happening?

At last he came upon one room in particular. Sliding open the pane a crack, he gazed inside.

Snuggled safely in bed, Kaien Shiba slept on, unaware of the terrible blow that had been dealt his house and sire this night.

At only 150 years old, his firstborn son was a prodigy not seen in the Royal Houses for at least an age of the world. The tutors all concurred it would not be remiss to send him to the Shinigami Academy immediately, and to hear those contentious old goats agree on anything was rare indeed. This news made his father's heart feel lighter than it had in centuries, exacerbated even further by the fact that his wife was pregnant once more. One son of such superlative talent was more than he could have hoped for. Another would only cement the good prospects already available.

Truly, children were what made life worthwhile.

'If having children means you can kill another parent so cavalierly…'

Ukitake's words from long ago resounded in his mind. Yudai bit his cheek 'til it bled to keep from crying out. No… I will not let him unman me. I did what needed to be done. Blood had been shed, and only more blood could wipe it away. Otherwise the proud Shiba dead would never have found peace, not so long as one last Takuiyoku lived.

At that moment Yudai made his slumbering heir a promise. I will do everything I must to make sure you have a family worth protecting, my son. Your father will not fail you. When it comes time for you to lead us, the Shiba shall not be found wanting. Ever again.

He then left to gather some servants and inspect the fields to determine how much could be salvaged.

---

"It's not a… race!" Tatsuki Arisawa gasped.

"You can say that again!" Kon beamed gleefully and quickened to a punishing pace that left her body aching and sore in a way she had never imagined.

A minute later the national karate champion staggered to a halt outside the Usagi Shoten, out of breath and drenched in sweat. There Tatsuki bent over gulping huge breaths. Did I actually develop a stitch in my side? I haven't felt that since I was ten years old!

As for her running partner, he was hopping from one foot to another in an easy infuriating manner. "I warned you," the mod drawled, being noticeably not out of breath. "Guys like me take training seriously. I'm not going to go easy on you just 'cause you're cute."

"Oh, shut up," the girl snapped irritably, to which he just offered that insufferable smirk. Arisawa hated to admit that she had bitten off more than she could chew when asking Kon to help improve her cardio routine. Turns out the perverted fiend was a harsh taskmaster. Glutes, thighs, calves; everything burned. Initially determined to prove she could handle any regimen he dished out, it was now clear to the suffering young woman that once more her life had run straight into something beyond the bounds of normalcy. Not to mention impossible to overcome for a mere mortal. Kon could probably run the Alaskan Iditarod pulling his own sled and still win by a mile. The thought of him racing screaming across the tundra while packs of starving wolves followed hot on his trail brought a smile to her face.

Wearing baggy gym clothes that hid his appealing physique, the supernatural speedster crouched down so he could see her face. "I know that look. It's one I've seen many times on young ladies about town." His face split in a shit-eating grin. "You're picturing me naked, aren't you?"

"I will break your dick off with my bare hands, Kon."

"Is that how the kids are doing it these days? Weird. C'mon." He hiked his thumb over one shoulder. "There's a hot bath waiting for you courtesy of Ururu."

The prospect of soaking her throbbing muscles served to animate her once more. Following along, Tatsuki limped into the store which was closed for the day and followed Kon to the bath area. True to his word, Ururu had ready a steaming tub waiting for an occupant. Having not even broken a sweat during their run, a cheeky Kon marched off as though he didn't need a good scrubbing. Ururu mumbled something that might have been directions on how to cleanse oneself before making herself scarce too.

Once she was alone the weary martial artist wasted no time in stripping off her sweatpants and t-shirt followed by lowering herself into the scalding water. A groan of contentment emerged from her throat as muscles eased from their previous death grip, allowing her to finally feel like a living person again. This was just what she needed.

Opening her eyes, Arisawa stared at the steam-clouded ceiling. Intense physical activity helped her to recuperate from the decidedly unhealthy spiritual activity she subjected herself to on a regular basis. The visits to Ulquiorra had not slackened following the revelation that he was further along in recovery than originally assumed. Just how long until he was back to full strength and didn't need her anymore? Was there even the slightest chance he wouldn't proceed to kill everyone she knew before doing the same to her? Not likely. His demand for the sustenance only she could provide remained as strong as ever, though. Tatsuki felt spent afterwards, necessitating she make excuses to family and friends. The stress of exams, shopping around to various universities, worrying about an upcoming competition; all these served to allay any fears her general lassitude and death-like pallor might engender in others. At times it felt as though her life was reduced to being nothing more than an IV for the vampire.

Why am I even still doing this?

Oh, yeah. Because of…

"… ow down, what's the difference between… and an Ikiryō?"

Ichigo?!

Her eyes flew open. Afraid to move, Tatsuki's gaze darted all around the room. Was he in here? No… sounds like it's coming from next door. He must be in the room across from this one. I can hear him through the wall.

"An Ikiryō… rarest form of yurei… might call a 'living haunting'… living person challenging a deceased… ardly ever happens, from what I've read."

Is that Ganju he's talking to? An impulse to learn more seized hold of her. With that Tatsuki rose from the bath, snagging a towel as she did to wrap around herself. She then stole over and pressed her ear against the tiled wall.

"So when you come right down to it, I have the right?" That was Ichigo.

"Theoretically." Ganju sounded stern. "The question is whether he would accept. He's under no obligation to do so. But if you can cast doubt on the proceedings, that might give Byakuya the opening he needs to challenge it officially."

A familiar grunt. "And when I beat him?"

A contemptuous snort. "Pretty confident, aren't you? Fine. You accept the position and declare your intent. I doubt anyone else would show up to challenge you for her hand afterwards."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing! I only meant… y'know, she's… uh, not exactly pure at this point, so most nobles might balk at marrying…"

"Listen, asshole, just because Rukia's pregnant doesn't make her any less of a lady!"

"I know that, you clod! A Shiba would never look down on a woman's body like that! I'm just saying there are some people who–!"

"PREGNANT?!"

The door practically exploded open, and both men sitting on the floor looked up in shock to find a dripping wet Tatsuki standing in the frame with only a towel wrapped around her. To their astonished eyes, it looked as if flames were raging around her!

Livid feminine features focused on Ichigo, who blanched at the fury he beheld. "You little CREEP, I'm gonna…!"

Something unpleasant stirred in her chest.

Cold swept over Arisawa that had nothing to do with her unclothed state. She could feel it stirring inside, a force binding them together, and he was traveling along it, alerted to her heightened activity.

Ulquiorra was approaching…

Terror subsumed righteous fury. In a panic Tatsuki forced herself to relax, taking slow deep breaths and allowing her pounding heart to subside. Stay away! Don't come here, I'm fine! I'm completely fine!

After several horrific moments she felt his presence gradually fade, perhaps placated by her thoughts somehow.

"Don't shoot! DON'T SHOOT!"

Tatsuki looked over to find Kon standing in the hallway. He had his back to her with arms outspread, wearing only the jogging pants from before. Before him down on one knee was Ururu. Half-seen through his legs, her eyes were blank, and she was hoisting a tremendous implement wrapped in warding charms on one shoulder pointed directly at the astonished Arisawa.

"What was it, what was it?" Kon gabbled, head jerking in desperation from side to side. "Uh… umm… AH! Et vividarium et intervigilium et gladiator, Ururu-chan! In the Garden Sleeps the Swordsman!"

At this Ururu lowered that anti-aircraft cannon and stood up. "Acknowledged," she sighed before ducking her head as though abashed and went shuffling off.

With a wheeze of relief Kon came around to regard her. He seemed about to speak, then stopped as though realizing something. His eyes drifted downwards, going wider in the process. Only then did it dawn on Tatsuki that the towel had slipped loose and now dangled from the fist pressed against her chest, giving them all a clear view of her body's outline from different angles. Paling even further, the humiliated warrior leapt adroitly backwards and ducked into the bathroom out of sight.

The mod soul shook himself from a nude delirium. He caught sight of Ichigo through the ruined mess of screen doors that Tatsuki had unintentionally made. "Uhh… hey."

"H-hey," his rival managed faintly, caught between two primitive conflicting urges.

"So…" Kon stuffed both hands in his pockets. It had been some time since he spoke directly to Ichigo. Not since the experience of almost killing him. "How ya doing?"

"My knee aches when it rains."

"That's rough." He couldn't quite make himself sound as if he meant it.

Fortunately for both of them Tatsuki came storming back into the hall with her running clothes hastily thrown on. "Get in here!" she snarled at Kon while brushing by to join Ichigo and Ganju. He obeyed with all due haste, and soon enough the four of them were sitting in a circle facing one another. Kon still hadn't put on a shirt, which proved somewhat distracting. He, at least, wasn't what you could call shy about his body. Probably because he had such a nice one. Dismissing these thoughts summarily, Tatsuki got right down to business.

"Rukia's pregnant?"

Her voice made this sound like a prelude to cold-blooded murder. The boys all nodded silently, staring at her with a strong dose of shivering fright.

"And who did the honors?" Like I don't already know.

Ganju and Kon pointed at Ichigo, who flinched guiltily.

"How the hell is that possible? She's a ghost, and you can't even take someone's temperature without screwing it up!"

Her chagrined classmate only gave a helpless shrug. He looked so completely and utterly lost that it served to thwart some of the justifiable anger she felt. But only by a little. Only now did it occur to Tatsuki that she hadn't seen Rukia in several months. The proprietor of the Usagi Shoten always managed to be absent during the KOPS meetings lately. Guess this explains why. She had simply assumed it was due to shinigami business or some such excuse. And the whole time, what was really going on… was…

"No way!" Tatsuki blinked in sudden realization. "You're gonna be a dad!"

To her surprise, Ichigo remained silent. His shoulders were stiff, as though tensed for combat. And his face was drawn, wan. He had actually looked that way for a while now. She just never noticed, too worried about anyone commenting on her own physical symptoms of distress. My childhood friend was suffering and I couldn't even bother to pick up on it.

The boys were surprised when all simmering hostility drained out of Tatsuki's form, leaving her calm and relaxed. She looked between them, then at Ichigo. To his surprise she slid forward and proceeded to give him a hug. After a few moments of tongue-tied bafflement he reached up to do the same. Ganju and Kon looked at one another in shock, finally deciding to wait this inexplicable occurrence out.

"Sorry about going ballistic." Tatsuki drew away. "It's just…" She groaned and scratched her scalp in an irritated manner. "Look, I can see why you didn't tell anyone. This is like learning about Hollows all over again." A thought occurred to her. "Does your family know?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Since the beginning."

"When did you two… ehrm…" The very thought made her face go red like a bashful schoolgirl. Come on, snap out of it! They're your friends and there's nothing wrong with what they did.

"Last year. At the beach party. After the talent competition. It all happened pretty fast for both of us."

Well, that makes sense. Probably half the boys in school were in heat after watching our little performance. I knew those stupid dance costumes would get us into trouble. I just didn't expect something like this!

"Hold up." It seemed like one epiphany after another kept jumping on her out of nowhere. She rounded on Ganju. "You said something about people fighting over Rukia's hand." Back to Ichigo. "And last I recall, her hot brother hated you. So who's she getting married to?"

Both hands tightened convulsively on his knees. "One of the other royal house leaders. Some guy named Arashi."

She had known Ichigo long enough to tell he was aching to punch this person in the face. "And you intend to have a word or two with him about that, huh?"

Now he sagged like a limp noodle. "I… don't know." There was a defeated edge to his voice that made her skin crawl. Ichigo should never sound so helpless. It knocked her whole worldview askew.

Uh-oh. There's another problem.

"Did you tell Orihime?"

He looked at her like she had asked if he owned a porcupine farm. "No. Why?"

"Never mind." Moron. Now what? Should I break the news to her? She's my best friend, but this… might be too much to bear. Orihime's tougher than people give her credit for. All the same, I remember how bad things got when Ichigo rejected her. And feelings that strong don't go away just because you tell them to. She might be in love with him for the rest of her life. So no… until I have a better idea what's going to happen with Rukia and the… baby… I'd better keep this to myself.

"Alright," she declared, rising smoothly to her feet. "I guess you've already told everyone who really needs to know. And I'll respect that. Nobody's going to hear about it from me unless you say otherwise."

Ichigo managed a weary smile. "Thanks."

Ever the master of words. She threw a look at Kon that brought him scrambling to his feet. "Hey. Call me a cab, will you? Not sure if I can make it home. My ass is numb after that workout you gave me."

Tatsuki proceeded to return where a hot steaming soak awaited her. Meanwhile Ichigo and Ganju leveled identical suspicious stares at Kon. Rather than explain the meaning behind that comment, her trainer beat a hasty retreat to do as she bid.

Not two minutes after sliding back into the luxurious tub, Tatsuki heard a knock at the door. Without opening her eyes she said, "Yeah?"

"Tatsuki?" Ichigo's voice came through the closed pane. "I'm glad you know. I felt bad keeping something like this from you."

Her eyelids opened a crack, and Arisawa frowned. An unpleasant prickle in her chest might stem from a combination of fear and shame. "No worries. I understand. It wasn't really your secret to tell anyway. See you later, Ichigo."

"Right." His departing footsteps diminished down the hall, leaving her alone in a zone of quiet blissful calm. Tatsuki tucked both knees to her chest and rested her forehead against them.

I might have to share a surprise with you too, Ichigo. Heaven help us both if that day comes.

Elsewhere Ganju was headed downstairs to continue with inventory when he ran into Kon coming back up. About to squeeze by, the spiritual hooligan paused upon catching the look his comrade wore. "Something wrong, Kon?"

"No." The bare-chested mod made a face, glancing over one shoulder for a moment. "Actually… could you do me a favor?"

"Of course. Name it."

Kon rubbed the back of his head uncomfortably. "I need to talk to your sister."

Ganju immediately regretted agreeing to this.

---

It was market day in the Rukongai, a time when the streets were packed with vendors and customers in search of something to improve their lot in the afterlife. From the First Ring to the 79th, where civilization hit a wall that prevented anything resembling commerce or even cooperation, the bounds of Soul Society were as lively as any bazaar in the Mortal Realm. Clothing was for sale, as well as food for those interested. Ladies in the bawdy houses bent from balconies and called out to men below, trying to entice them upstairs for a little 'light entertainment'. Local gangs came around to make their weekly collections from intimidated souls who lived in fear of them as much as members of the Gotei 13.

And of course, on days such as these, thieves and pickpockets did brisk trade as well. You had to make a living any way you could in the Outer Rings.

"Hey, Red."

A scarlet-haired urchin with the eyes of a snake took note of the lady beckoning him from an alleyway. He pushed off from the wall he had been leaning against while scanning the crowd for marks and trotted over to see what was up.

His mystery caller was a call girl judging by the kimono she had on. No one else would dress quite so salaciously. She also wore a sort of wrap that served to keep her face hidden for the most part. Intrigued, the street rat crossed his arms and eyed this potential threat, alert for the first sign of trouble. "S'up, nee-san?"

At this the woman extended an arm and pointed. "See that guy there?"

The boy turned to look where indicated before quickly coming back around. "Yeah?"

"He didn't pay."

A crafty grin stole over the urchin's face upon hearing this. He knew what those words meant. Local youths were frequently employed by ladies of the evening when a customer wouldn't pony up afterwards. The high-falutin' types thought they could run up a tab sometimes. For low-class customers, a few burly roughs could be used to see that the debt was paid. When a more privileged sort tried it, you didn't want to lose that patronage, since they might not be so stingy next visit. But at the same time, the ladies weren't about to go away empty-handed. Hence the implicit understanding with some of the local riffraff.

The boy turned and darted through the press over to where a small dark-haired girl his own age stood seemingly absorbed in watching the passersby. He came up to her and they conferred together in hushed tones. Soon the pair was lost to sight. Behind them the lady waited patiently in the shadows.

A minute later Red and his partner were back. He grinned proudly and held up a small leather satchel.

"Nice." The courtesan took it from him and held out an appropriate amount of coins for their services. She cradled the pouch and purred, "He can have it back on his next visit."

Their employer noted how the girl thief was staring at her with huge purple eyes that appeared to know more than a child that age should. As she did, however, a huge growl suddenly came from the kid's belly. Her face flushed red, feet scuffing in the dirt. The boy grinned and poked her ribs mockingly, which earned him a swift kick in the shins that made him dance on one leg. Their obvious hunger was nothing short of depressing.

"Here." The woman held out a handful of extra coins. "Get yourself something to eat."

Without hesitation the boy snatched up this offering and took off. His partner lingered for a moment, as if wanting to ask why they had been shown such generosity. Soon enough though she followed him into the clamoring crowd.

Unobtrusively the lady departed as well. Following a twisting turning route, she made her way through the hot sink of this ramshackle region, ignoring sights and smells that would have shocked a resident of the Court of Pure Souls. At last she approached a tiny rundown hut and slipped inside. There she opened the satchel, whose contents proved to be dispatches from shinigami reconnaissance units in the outer regions past the final ring of Zaraki.

It didn't take long for her to find the one in question: a request for talented members of the Eleventh Division to deal with an especially nasty batch of Large Hollows that had made a den for themselves in the Hinterlands. Well, obviously. Only the combat boys could expect to handle a force this fierce. She took note of the division recipient clearly marked on the scroll's seal. The Eleventh: two crossed lines with a separate horizontal line to the left. Picking up her tools, she slipped on a pair of glasses and got to work.

A few minutes later the job was done. Now it read the intended recipient to be the Seventh: two crossed lines with a horizontal line sprouting off from the bottom. Upon further examination, it seemed like they might not actually be touching at all. But one would have to be looking very closely to even notice this.

A clerical error. Nothing more. Or so it would seem.

These messages would be delivered, including her doctored handiwork. The dispatch member who had been robbed wasn't a problem. Those guys swore up and down as to the impeccable effectiveness of their members on a routine basis, regardless of whether or not it happened to be true. Such was the state of affairs in the Gotei 13 today; protect your own ass at all costs. Thus she could count on the truth to be conveniently covered up without any effort on her part.

Satisfied, Lisa Yadomaru packed up her things and left.

---

The greatest disaster to ever befall the Seventh Division came about as the result of a clerical error.

A number of high-ranking officers and low-tier members were mistakenly assigned to assault a fortified nest of Hollows in the outer limits of Soul Society. Unprepared for the depraved savagery of these opponents and unused to fighting in such terrain, the valorous shinigami refused to back down, determined to display the bravery of their division and the pride of its officers. Several detachments of the Ninth Division tasked with patrolling the area noticed a commotion and resolved to come to their fellow's aid. With their combined efforts the Hollows were finally put to rout or exterminated. Tragically, this fiasco still resulted in the loss of numerous personnel for both teams, including several seated officers of Squad 7 and two from the Ninth.

The captain of Squad 9, livid at this outcome, formally called upon Captain Yudai Shiba to answer for it in person. An investigation soon revealed the simple error that had caused this catastrophe. However, more damning still was the comportment of the Seventh Division officers involved, who eyewitness reports confirmed had insisted on repeatedly attacking rather than order a retreat despite the mounting loss of life against overwhelming odds. Soon further accounts came to light detailing a pattern of inexperienced, untested shinigami being given command positions in the Seventh based solely on their connection to the Shiba Clan. What had been a tragedy now threatened to metamorphose into a public loss of confidence in the Gotei 13.

This, far more than any amount of dead shinigami, served to settle the matter.

Following the investigation, the Central 46 announced that Yudai Shiba would be permitted to retire from his role as head of the Seventh Division for reasons of declining health. Many privately noted how the old man was wont to lapse into shaking fits which no one felt comfortable addressing before. Of course, now that Yudai was no longer a captain, these same people had no reason to hold back. For a while until a replacement could be found, the joke went around, especially among the unruly undisciplined Eleventh Division, that under Yudai the stalwart Squad 7 was known as Squad 'Shivering Shiba.'

Despite being a record-breaking academy graduate, Yudai's firstborn heir chose not to enter the Seventh and instead became an unseated member of the Thirteenth at his own request. Rumor had it his father made no issue of this as he was more concerned with the state of his own house.

And so for the first time in its history, command of the Seventh Division of the Gotei 13 passed out of the House of Shiba completely.

---

Having gone over the entire Kuchiki-Arashi marriage proposal and its subsidiary information more than a hundred times by now, Rin Tsubokura felt absolutely certain he knew everything important it contained.

So why haven't I gone to Lady Kuchiki?

Maybe it's because even now, I still feel like I'm missing something.

Look at things from a different angle. That's what Captain Kurotsuchi used to say. Of course this was usually in terms of examining someone's insides during open surgery. Still, it explained why Rin was currently standing on his head staring at the huge chaotic web that visualized months of patient diligent work on his part.

He had managed to integrate the genealogy of all noble families into the pertinent documents. Like a geodesic dome it hung there, centuries of alliances and births interwoven with corresponding elements of the main proposal, names of relevant figures serving to support the whole construct. If he tweaked one, it initiated a subtle shifting and reordering of the whole construct. Someone watching might be hard-pressed to tell any difference afterwards. Of course, being the one responsible for its existence, Rin had no trouble keeping track of whatever alterations his efforts might produce.

I know this project like I know the contents of my cupboards. Why can't I shake the idea it's hiding something from me?

Rin fell over to one side and sprawled on the floor before sliding up into a sitting position. With his back to the wall he watched the vibrant masterpiece lighting up the darkened confines of his office. It's right on the tip of my tongue. Some part of my brain has already figured out the problem, I'm sure of that much. I just need to coax it free. Maybe I should get a second opinion? But no… the Patroness forbade me from sharing this information with anyone. The only other person aware of it is Noboru, and I'd rather not have him back in here. Which means I'm on my own.

Wait. Hold on… there is someone I can talk to! My zanpakutō!

Elated at this brainstorm, Rin sought to communicate with his inner weapon, only to be met with silence. Probably asleep. We haven't had much to say to one another lately. Better find his outward manifestation. He glanced around the colossal mess that constituted his living quarters. Now where did I put him? Nothing more pitiful than a shinigami who can't find their own sword.

Upon standing up the small scientist swayed on his feet for a moment. Probably shouldn't have taken that 'different angle' suggestion literally. Everything's red. Rubbing his eyes, Rin stumbled into the maze of boxes stacked with sweets and papers. For a while there came the sound of things sliding and dropping into new locations on his search.

Then all noise ceased.

Ten seconds later Rin Tsubokura scrambled back into view, eyes bigger than usual and breathing fast. In no time he had found what he sought in the great marriage matrix. There was the strand detailing information on Lord Byakuya Kuchiki, head of his house and Rukia's only conceivable superior in terms of rank. This individual had such a tremendous influence on the whole construct it made him one of the top three factors in terms of importance.

Rin gazed at that neon orange filament. Reaching up a trembling hand, he slid it carefully down the thread of energy. Where his fingers passed, the color changed, until finally there now burned a scarlet skein symbolizing Lord-Commander Byakuya Kuchiki of Greyhound Company.

The color of a shinigami.

In a display reminiscent of fractals joining together, a new form of the information structure began to emerge from within itself. This was no trivial reordering. The entire overall shape of the matrix was undergoing a transformation. Aghast, Rin stumbled out of the lightshow to get a better look. Edges crossed, nodes shifted in search of more favorable positions to one another. And as it did, his fear began to grow.

In only a few moments the process was complete. What floated before him now resembled a pyramid of sorts. And at its highest point were two specific names.

Oh no.

Tsubokura sprang through the softly sinister display until he reached a wall console and slapped it on. "Locate Patroness!" he cried in a frenzy.

-Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki's current location: Afterlife #13, Mount Matsuri, recently reserved for the celebration of reaching Resident Relocation halfway point. Note: you requested to be reminded of this event scheduled for today. You are 2 hours 26 minutes overdue. Would you like to be reminded again in 4 minutes?-

Rin had gone still as he considered his options. A hell butterfly… no. There's too much complicated information for one to handle. I must go myself, and fast! Anbu's dimensional confluence project is the nearest method of reaching a Halo. I'll have her prep it and send me straight there!

He saved his research before leaving, of course. Considering what he was up against, Rin suspected an attempt might be made to prevent his revealing the truth. Possibly a fatal attempt. Once more he desperately wished he could locate his soul cutter, but there was no time for that. Just have to rely on my own abilities. A moment later he was out the door and racing towards Anbu's lab.

I have to tell the Patroness. She was right to be wary! This marriage… it's all a trap!

---

Lady Isane Kotetsu lifted sad eyes to Lord Yudai Shiba and said, "It is done."

A knot of dread inside his stomach vanished with just those three simple words. Sitting together on a raised platform in the main Kotetsu estates, the two nobles then shared a ceremonial toast to commemorate the occassion. Yudai hardly tasted the saké as it went down. For once his hand remained steady. After living in the shadow of dishonor for so many centuries, there was no longer a reason to fear.

He had saved the Shiba Clan. But at what price?

Servants approached to collect copies of the marriage agreement between Shiba and Kotetsu. By this binding document, Lady Isane's half-sister and current heir, Kiyone Kotetsu, would be formally betrothed to Kaien Shiba, firstborn of his house. Under the complicated stipulations included therein, the Shiba would effectively become indentured to the Kotetsu in a manner similar to a vassal domain while still being allowed to retain their nominal position as a Great House. Though common for lesser noblemen, it was unheard of for a high noble to ever submit to such a position. However by this point there was no other means by which his clan could survive. The debt to House Kotetsu was not cancelled. Rather, it was placed in remission, with no further interest being accrued. In turn, Isane's family would negotiate settlements towards Shiba's other outstanding creditors and oversee their gradual repayment. It was a magnanimous and gracious gesture on the part of Isane. Yudai knew how much he owed her.

The cost was their autonomy. He would give up the title of Lord, which would be held in trust by Lady Kotetsu until such time as she deemed it ready to return to his descendants.

They gain my cherished son, who will become a member of their line, removed from his ancestral standing and no longer able to inherit the title. My shame has cost Kaien his birthright. His sister Kukaku will assume his place as clan head after I am gone. My youngest Ganju may yet take the reins in the future conceivably. It all depends on the decrees of the woman seated before me today. We are at her mercy.

The look on his wife's face remained fresh in his mind when she sobbingly confessed that she could no longer live in this manner, penurious and hounded by debtors day and night. Her request to dissolve the marriage came with the express permission of her birth family. Of late there had been little semblance of love between them, yet up until now there remained a sense of unity. Now his misfortunes had cost him even that. In truth, it almost came as a relief. Theirs was a political marriage, done by necessity, yet Yudai could not help but feel affection towards this woman who had shared his life for so long. She bore him three healthy heirs, for which he was eternally grateful. It always galled him that she should suffer for his incompetence.

So he accepted, and soon enough their centuries-old union was dissolved. She would return to her family estate. However when she begged him to let her take the children too, a stirring of terror awoke in his heart, and he summarily refused. Even her tearful pleas to at least permit little Ganju to accompany her fell upon deaf ears. Yudai's heart was made of stone at this point. Recognizing the futility in further debate, she departed soon afterwards. The children were not present for this. Kukaku had been abed for weeks now following her willing participation in the Binding ritual. To have a member of the main house perform the sacrifice was unprecedented, yet what other choice did they have? There were no others with Shiba blood available. The loss of her arm proved far less terrible than the nightmares that plagued her since, both waking and asleep. It made him regret not volunteering himself. His valiant daughter remained half-delirious and would probably not recognize what was transpiring now even if told. Kaien was out on assignment with the Thirteenth Division at the time, and Ganju but a babe. To alert them served no purpose. Eventually they would all learn the truth.

Yudai had watched his ex-wife as she was led away from their dilapidated dwelling. He did not tell her how much this abandonment hurt him, or what it cost not to have her support any longer. All he knew was that he had failed to do his duty by her. The best he could accomplish was to not make her departure any more painful than it already was.

A few days later Lord Shiba finished the preparations for his only remaining move, the one he had purposefully avoided until there was no other recourse available. With this agreement, his most precious bargaining chip was lost. Kaien's position as successor to a Great House was no small thing in their society. Regardless of how far his family had fallen, the name Shiba still carried certain privileges and enticements which could not be ignored.

Still, had Lady Isane not proven amenable to the offer, there would have been no recourse left. Yudai knew he should be ashamed at overseeing such a damning fall from grace. Instead he felt only relief, which went to prove what many had been wont to whisper behind his back: he truly was unworthy.

"As agreed, we shall make a formal announcement at the next annual Meeting of the Great Houses," Isane declared, snapping him out of his reverie. "Until then, no one will be informed of our arrangement, not even the betrothed themselves. You have my word on this…" She hesitated, as though uncertain whether to continue, but finally Isane sucked in a deep breath and said, "… Lord Shiba."

Yudai could only nod mutely. It was kind of her to offer even this token show of respect considering they were, for all intents and purposes, no longer equal in rank. What will become of me after the announcement? Does it really matter?

He did not linger. Isane, at least, still had important matters to attend to from here on out. After making his excuses the humbled soul returned home where his family awaited. Shiroganehiko and Kuroganehiko, the family retainers and tutors to his children, informed him that Kukaku's feverish hallucinations were lessening. He took that as a good sign. Perhaps she would recover in time to attend her brother's wedding? A pleasing thought.

I have staved off ruin by offering up my son. Will he hate me for it? I robbed him of his birthright. A paltry thing at this point, but still… it is made worthwhile by the pride we hold it in. Perhaps in the future, the Shiba might rise again. I doubt I will live to see it. But Kaien at least is out of danger now. His sacrifice is no less valorous than his sister's, even if not by his choice.

No matter what befalls me from here on out, the Shiba will endure.

---

Kaien Shiba, unranked member of the Thirteenth Division, privately wondered if most of his superiors in the Gotei 13 were insane.

Take this, for example. He and a large number of officers were currently enjoying the hospitality of Kyōraku Shunsui, head of the Eighth. The captain regularly extended this invitation to anyone who might want to, in his words, 'get away from it all and just kick back'. In Shunsui's case, this necessitated an appropriately private locale, a ban on any hell butterflies not containing the words 'vasto lorde', and enough booze to float a medium-sized barge.

You couldn't help but have fun at these little shindigs. Of course, virtually everyone here was guaranteed to have an excruciating hangover come the morning, along with a fair number of humiliating escapades the mere rumor of which would be enough to have them brought up on charges and drummed out of the military. And yet here they all were, freely participating in their own assured self-destruction.

Say what you will about Captain Kyōraku, but he could talk you into doing anything.

The Shiba heir had ingested a fair amount of quality liquor and was taking the opportunity to analyze their current situation. It came as no surprise the Kenpachi hadn't come when Shunsui called, but Rojuro Otoribashi and some members of his command were freely mingling with the other guests. No sign of Love yet. Unohana Retsu wasn't present either, nor her Second Seat Isane Kotetsu. Lady Yoruichi Shihoin, captain of Squad Two, laughed merrily whilst clacking cups with some clearly star-struck shinigami from the Ninth Division.

Who else was unaccounted for? Hiroko Shoumen of the Tenth wouldn't be caught dead at such a ribald affair, and Kirio Hikifune of the Twelfth was reputed to be tied up in some kind of top-secret negotiations that left her no time for anything else. Ah, but true to form, there was her lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki engaged in a very ugly shouting match with Squad Five head Hirako Shinji. They were right up in each other's faces going at it full blast. At any moment hair would be pulled, or a punch to the breadbasket, and then it was anybody's guess. Hovering belatedly beside them, Second Seat Sosuke Aizen caught sight of him enjoying the show and shrugged, a resigned smile on his handsome face. Kaien grinned like a devil and saluted with his drink. That man is living proof why nobody should ever aspire to be a lieutenant. Too many headaches.

His own captain, Ukitake Jūshiro, had been unavoidably detained in a meeting with the Commander-General. The devious shinigami legend prevailed upon Kaien via hell butterfly to attend in his place and 'keep an eye on things', as he put it. Just another nefarious scheme to get me to take on more responsibility and agree to become his lieutenant. By now Shiba knew how his saintly-seeming superior's mind worked.

Kaien let his gaze flit around the room. They were on the grounds of a mansion owned by the party's host. This was a seriously nice place Kyōraku had here. In terms of size and grandeur, it far outstripped the current Shiba manse. Wait… was this one of our households we had to sell? The Eighth Division captain tended to host these parties in rented establishments or random houses he remembered were his when the situation warranted. Spending most of his time at the division barracks meant Shunsui probably didn't visit the dwellings of his abandoned noble past very often. Where is our dear life of the party, anyway?

"Watch your mouth, woman!"

Battle-honed instincts saw Kaien move through the throngs with the grace and speed of running water. In no time he stood at the site of this commotion, where a plump middle-aged matron who acted as head of the household staff here was cringing back from a clearly incensed man in fine clothes. She held a platter of stoppered wine flasks, one of which lay on the floor. Her attacker's face was flushed red, whether from anger or drink. A young lady dressed with equal taste as him hovered at his elbow pleading in a forcedly cheerful voice to let the matter go. Something she said caused his eyes to snap wide, and the irate fellow whirled about with his arm raised as though to backhand her. She flinched with fingers clasped tightly over her stomach in preparation for the blow.

Before he could, though, Kaien slipped up to catch the man's wrist in a strong grip. "What seems to be the problem, Sakezuki-san?"

Akio Sakezuki, a shinigami and minor dignitary in service to the Omaeda family, froze upon recognizing who held him. He was well-known amongst the divisions for his short temper and tendency to take offence at the drop of a hat. As a result of this bad behavior he was routinely denied active service and spent most of his time teaching classes at the academy. Several unsavory incidents in the past were quietly hushed up thanks to his money. Charm and good looks helped smooth over the rest. Still, there wasn't a single noble family in the Court of Pure Souls who would marry their daughters off to such a brute regardless of their status. Akio finally wound up getting wed to some poor girl at the Academy he managed to hide his true nature from long enough for her to say 'I do'.

Of course, the necessity of doing so did nothing to improve his temperament. Some people had hoped marriage would serve to gentle him. If this was the result, Kaien wished the bastard would have remained a bachelor.

What a cad. Mark me, were I there, you'd be hard-pressed to keep me in my sheath.

I appreciate the sentiment. But let me handle this, alright?

Don't bungle it, now.

"This is not your concern, Shiba!" Sakezuki hissed. He was shaking, which reminded Kaien immediately of his father. The comparison only served to make him more furious. The Omaeda were fond of thumbing their noses at his family since its fall from grace. Akio seemed to believe that applied to him as well. The fiery nobleman felt his self-control fast slipping.

"I know." His hold tightened as a result, and Sakezuki's face took on a shade of alarm as he felt the bones in his arm bend like twigs. It wouldn't take much more pressure at all, really. As good as that might feel, though, Kaien had enough presence of mind not to do anything drastic under these conditions. "Just thought I'd step in before our host got involved. You might not know this, but he's somewhat touchy about people mishandling his servants. Or any lady, for that matter. So maybe it's time you headed home," he growled.

You wouldn't be far off the mark to call that a threat. Akio certainly seemed to think so by the way blood drained from his face, leaving it pale. Twitchy eyes darted about in search of a certain pink floral kimono. After satisfying himself that this creep understood what he was saying, Kaien let go. For his part the furious nobleman rather hoped Sakezuki would have the guts to throw a punch first and give him an excuse. Instead the flustered bully collected himself sufficiently to snatch one of the saké flasks from the servant and go stalking off towards an exit. His wife took a moment to give her defender a look that clearly said, 'Thank you,' before hurrying to catch up. Kaien frowned upon noticing that some of her hair was already turning gray. Maybe someone should look into just what was going on at home with those two.

That temper will get the better of you one day.

Don't I know it.

"Thanks fer that, Kaien-kun! Beat me to it. I wuz jus' 'bout to teach that guy a thing or two 'bout manners!"

The reek of alcohol washed over him. "My pleasure, Captain." Shiba turned to find Kyōraku Shunsui materialized from out of nowhere at his side. The scruffy warrior-poet turned a lazy smile on him before going back to watching the departing couple. Why would he invite such a disreputable piece of trash as Sakezuki, anyway? It must have been a mistake.

Everyone subtly analyzing the altercation came to a similar conclusion that all was well and went back to the party. The master of the house clapped a heavy hand on the younger man's shoulder. "C'mere. Come with me! Some'dy you should meet."

He snagged a flask from the servant's tray before weaving drunkenly off with Kaien in tow. Smiling and waving at several people who called out to him, Shunsui nevertheless managed to reach his destination. A pretty young woman sitting by herself glanced up at their approach and smiled. "The hero of the hour!" she saluted Kaien, who scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Yeah, you can pin a medal on me at parade inspection tomorrow, Miyako-chan."

Miyako Mori, Third Seat of the same company as Kaien himself, laughed in turn. This only served to enhance an already lovely demeanor. Her facial features often made him think there must be nobility in Miyako's blood despite her being from the Rukongai. It wouldn't be a surprise; numerous small houses and families had been scattered into the depths of the Outer Rings during the Manor Wars where they faded into obscurity. He knew the topic well, having been rigorously schooled in history by his father since childhood.

Kyōraku looked between them in confusion. "Have you two met?"

At this Miyako made a quick face at her fellow squad member before delicately replying, "Ahhh… yes, Taichou. We're in the Thirteenth together."

"Oh." Shunsui appeared to consider this, then gave a radiant grin. "Good!"

The big lush popped the flask he held to take a drink and nearly fell over in the process. Both Miyako and Kaien rushed to catch him from either side. The bottle slipped through Shunsui's fingers, which Kaien neatly caught before it could impact with the ground. They then stood there grinning nervously at each other while that mass of deadweight sagged groaning between them in prelude to throwing up or passing out.

"Maybe we should call Lieutenant Yadomaru," Miyako stated simply.

"Yeah. Probably." Her junior in rank struggled to stay standing and craned his head around. "Do you see her anywhere? There's a lot of people about."

"Never mind, then. Let's just drop him here." Together they managed to maneuver the pink-clad lump onto the bench she had vacated where he slumped with his cheek pressed against the wall, hat askew and hiding his face from view.

Satisfied, Kaien took note of the expensive-looking wine jar he still held. Upon sniffing at the contents his eyebrows rose in appreciation. "Plum Creek Mountain stock!" he exclaimed in delight. "Seriously good stuff, that. Have you ever been there? The 15th ring of Northern Rukongai?"

"Thirteenth ring, actually," Miyako corrected him in a smug manner befitting her status as his superior officer. Not that there was anything serious to it. She loved to tease him about having a higher rank, and truth be told, he quite enjoyed the game too. Damned if he was about to let her have the last word, though.

"But can you tell me the year just by tasting it?" he challenged while waving the heady vintage below her nose.

"You might want to be careful with that," Miyako advised. "I think Captain Kyōraku has been mixing kidō in his drinks tonight. It's rare to see him this smashed so early."

"Good advice, Third Seat." Kaien accepted her assessment, and proceeded to take a long swig from the container. He then held it out to her invitingly. The young woman's mouth was opened with mild outrage and amusement at his audacity. "Not scared, are you?" he rasped in what might have been an attempt at sounding seductive. "What's the worst that could happen?"

She snorted indelicately. "From brew that you can handle? Not much." And with that she accepted his offer and took a swallow before passing it back.

An indirect kiss.

Don't read anything into it, Nejibana.

Pardon mois, oh heroic lady's man! It's just you are remarkably slow on the uptake. Half the girls in your division swoon at your approach and not so much as a flirtatious wink passes your eye in turn.

Look, Miyako and I are just friends, okay? She gets me. That's rare.

Just don't start on any childish drinking games. Remember what happened the last time you had a few too many? I can only imagine what Unohana-taichou must have thought when she found you in that tree minus your pants, to say nothing of…

Below their sightline and under the cover of his straw hat, Kyōraku Shunsui's lips moved in that bent-over position. At the same time the flask held in Kaien's hand warmed ever so slightly.

He took no more notice of this than the various songs being sung around the room. His soul cutter's admonishments diminished to a mild buzz at the back of his mind. Kaien noticed how radiant the girl in front of him looked; cheeks flushed, hair spilling out of her bun to drift over her eyes. Without thinking he reached up to tuck the stray strands back where they belonged. Miyako caught her breath at this sudden closeness, and they found themselves staring at one another. It was a very strange moment for both.

Officer Mori smiled, and the Shiba prince felt the world lurch beneath his feet from the feeling this imbued inside him.

Everything got hazy after that. The next thing he could remember properly…

"Kaien-san…?"

"Mmmph…" Hold on, almost got it…

"Kaien!"

He sat bolt upright and regretted it almost immediately. His head was pounding, and sunlight poured through the window slats of an unfamiliar room. Half-dressed in a yukata that was falling off his frame, the groggy nobleman turned to his right.

Miyako was sitting up on the other side of the futon. Her hair was down, and she wore another yutaka like they had both come from the bath. A vague memory of being in the hot springs together resurfaced. They were laughing under the moon, their robes hanging off low-hanging tree limbs as they…

Oh boy.

"Uh…" Kaien swallowed, looking all about the room. "Where… are we?"

"I think we're still at Kyōraku-sama's place." The room was empty except for them. Swift as a hare and just as silent Miyako crawled to the door and opened it a crack, peering outside. Upon closing it she darted back to the bed. "No one's there. The coast is clear. I'll leave first, and you head out a few minutes later."

The plan seemed sound. Yet there was a certain note of panic betrayed in her rapid breathing and refusal to sit still. Kaien had to admit he was edging towards a freak-out the more he woke up. Last night… don't tell me we actually…?

Oh boy.

Stay calm.

Nejibana? Do you remember what happened?

No. But that is irrelevant at this stage. You must act to keep any harm from befalling the young lady's reputation.

What do you mean?

It would not be meet for the Third Seat of your division to be seen as having an affair with one of her junior members.

Hey, not like it's all that uncommon. I mean, look at Lieutenant Arakaki over in Squad Ten! He's got himself a girlfriend under his command and nobody says anything about it.

You are being naïve. Perceptions are different when the superior officer is male. This is viewed as commendable. For a woman to engage in such practices, however… the consensus would not be so favorable.

Oh, that's horseshit.

Are you willing to bet her career on that?

I…!

Within his soul, the proud scion of royalty debated. Maybe what Nejibana said was true. He couldn't recall any female officers being involved with shinigami beneath their rank. If he and Miyako… really did do that last night, how would people take it? The guys would probably slap me on the back and congratulate me. But the women… to say nothing of Captain Ukitake… so what should I do? Just pretend like it never happened? Somebody would get wind of this, though. It was only a matter of time. Then they'd have to hush it up. The same way Sakezuki's contacts glossed over all his screw-ups. To be anything like that sack of shit… the very thought made his jaw clench.

What can I do?

Kaien? What are you thinking?

Spying her clothes spread over the floor, Miyako was just moving to retrieve them when she felt his fingers slip over her own.

"Let's get married."

For a moment the Third Seat felt certain she must have misheard. Upon turning around the expression on his face convinced her otherwise. She looked down at his tattooed arm, then back at him. "Is this one of those 'Shiba pride' things?"

"This has nothing to do with me being a Shiba," he asserted. "I'm asking on my own behalf, no one else's."

"Come on, Kaien-san." Miyako ducked her head with a small shake. "Be serious for once."

"Miyako-chan, this is me being sickeningly serious." He took her small hand in both of his. Wonder spread over her face as she realized he meant it, along with a shot of pure warmth that seemed to originate at the point of contact between them and spread everywhere. The heir to the Shiba Clan looked at her with the bright morning sun lighting up his whole body. "I want you to be my wife, starting from today."

"You're crazy," Miyako spoke wonderingly. Kaien couldn't say which of them seemed more shocked. Her, himself, or his zanpakutō.

Are you sure about this?

Like she said earlier… what's the worst that could happen?

She hasn't said yes yet.

Oh… right.

"Yes."

He blinked. "What?"

"I said yes." Standing before him, Miyako shook her head in disbelief, but the smile she wore held just as much happiness as confusion. "Heaven help us both, but… yes!"

So that settled it. With a delighted laugh he pulled her back down onto the futon with him. Unlike the previous night, the kiss they shared then was one he would never forget for as long as he lived.

What's the worst that could happen?

---

What have you done?

They were all staring at him when he entered the council chamber. Flanked by his pitifully sparse complement of retainers, Yudai would have been self-conscious even under normal circumstances. This was different, though; he could feel their cold condemning eyes upon him with every heavy listless step. He practically collapsed into the seat reserved for the Shiba. With that, the annual meeting of the Five Great Houses could commence.

No one spoke.

What have you done?

This had been the only thought running through his mind when Kaien came before him to proclaim his elopement and marriage the previous evening. Marriage to a woman with no standing in the noble community whatsoever. Yudai's whole world fell apart at these words.

What have you done?

Of course the boy couldn't have known. All preparations had been kept to utmost secrecy. A wedding between the firstborn heir of the Shiba to the second daughter of the Kotetsu. It meant the Shiba would be restored and become a force in this world once again.

What have you done?

Kaien was not in attendance. Yudai forbade him to come, refusing to give an explanation for why. His beloved child was left to see to his siblings and introduce them to their new sister-in-law.

You've killed our pride, my son. My son… to protect their… pride…

Killing the girl… would have solved everything.

It could be done. There were ways available for those willing to take such drastic measures.

But not for me.

Not for a proud Shiba. We would never… disgrace ourselves by murdering a woman. The things they say about us… about me! They whisper that I mutilated my daughter when she spoke out against me. How dare they! She volunteered to make a sacrifice they know nothing about, one that serves to keep us all safe from that monster, and they choose to ridicule her courage?!

My fate is sealed.

Yudai looked up to find Katsurou Arashi gazing at him. The two men watched one another without exchanging a word. It was an old delegate of the Kotetsu who rose first. She produced documents Yudai knew all too well and passed them around the gathering. Kuchiki and Shihoin accepted them, while Arashi gave no evidence of interest in the contents. He already knew. They all did by now.

The Kotetsu spokesperson remained on her feet to address the assembly. In a clear voice she spoke. "We have been wronged by the House of Shiba."

Beside her Isane Kotetsu did not raise her head. She knew all too well that at this stage even a person of her status could not hope to prevent what came next. Her clan members, never too keen on the prospect she proposed to begin with, had risen up in outrage when news of the 'Shiba perfidy' came to light. They demanded action. And Isane must perforce obey their consensus. It was that or force her own family to endure public shame.

This too is my doing. I am sorry, Lady Isane. You are not to blame in this affair.

"The affront to our dignity is severe enough to warrant the harshest punishment," the spokeswoman continued. "You have all now seen the proof; a breach of trust, a rending of sacred bonds. Lord Shiba has slandered our most gracious Princess by permitting her betrothed to wed a commoner. There is no reparation great enough to mend such a wanton insult! And so…"

Here she turned to regard her mistress. In response Isane gave a brief nod of permission.

Her servant addressed the chamber once again. "It is settled. The marriage contract has been broken. It is null and void. No mention of its existence will endure past this moment. Kiyone-ojousama shall never be informed such an agreement took place. We ask for our honored brethren's cooperation in this matter."

Representatives from the other three Houses voiced their consent.

"You have our blessed Lady's thanks"." Sternly the gray-haired herald swung to look down her nose at a bowed Yudai. He shuddered without stop, unable or unwilling to try and hide it anymore. Her next words fell sharp as a headsman's axe. "We now beg your consideration in another matter."

Is this how it feels to die? So cold…

The spokeswoman retook her seat. It was Isane who rose in a halting, uncertain fashion to make this next proclamation. No substitute could possibly be entrusted with a pronouncement of this magnitude. Only a peer of the realm had the authority to even speak these words. Such was the utter silence surrounding them that the tall noblewoman's soft voice carried clear to all present.

"As reigning Lady of the Kotetsu, it is my solemn duty to propose that Yudai Shiba be summarily stripped of his title as Lord of a Great House and his clan stricken from the ranks of nobility. No longer shall the Shiba be permitted to hold a seat in this council." Sad dark eyes rose to take in her fellow nobles. "What say you all?"

"The Arashi agree," Katsurou asserted without further preamble. One might have expected him to show a small hint of satisfaction at this turn of events. But there was not so much as a rise in tone to betray approval on Katsurou's part. His face stayed colder than a slab of cemetery marble, though his hawk eyes never strayed from Yudai.

"The Shihoin agree."

Oh…

"The Kuchiki are in agreement."

And with that, it was done.

Yudai and his entourage got to their feet. With their master in the lead, the departing Shiba left that place of honor, having lost any right to associate with such august company.

All remaining Shiba holdings were sold to pay debts or had ownership passed over to representatives of the Kotetsu. Their last loyal servants were given a small severance fee, which they refused to a man, as well as permission to depart with honor, which they accepted even if it was no longer truly needed. Only two chose to stay and look after the ailing Kukaku and infant Ganju. Kaien Shiba was notified of the household's collapse. Upon his swift return, he and Miyako spent three days in the company of their family secluded from all outsiders.

At the end of this period Yudai Shiba made formal announcement of his intent to pass the role of clan head to his eldest son. Two days later, he retired to a secluded townhouse on a lake. The property belonged to Ukitake Jūshiro, who generously allowed its use at his subordinate's request. There, away from all witnesses and without any help, the former proud Lord of the Shiba committed ritual suicide. He left behind a name, two children who loved him, and a third who would grow up with no recollection of his parent at all.

---

Afterlife 13, Mount Matsuri, otherwise known as the Mountaintop Festival, was a curious domain. Its design derived from Japanese Shinto festivals. A realm of twilight gradually blending into night and back again, it was comprised of a forested mountain with several carved stairs twining up its leafy face. Flat terraces interspaced along the ascent were stocked with game booths and stalls selling delicious food. Paper lanterns lit the steps and fireflies glowed amidst the trees. Unlike other heavenly realms fashioned by the Gotei 7, Mt. Matsuri did not exist for the purpose of sheltering the displaced residents of Soul Society. Its main function was as a sort of retreat, similar to the temporary safe dimension the Kuchiki fashioned for Karakura Town's population during the Autumn War. Here the souls awaiting assignment to a permanent locale could leave the Halos and enjoy a bit of a getaway.

For the next two days, though, it would serve as the site of a tremendous celebration. All shinigami and their charges were permitted to attend, even those already having heavenly residences. With the construction process halfway complete, many who had questioned the Gotei 7's ability to achieve such a colossal undertaking found themselves looking forward to the next stage. There was so much left to do, but having accomplished all this in just a few years, confidence and pride in their abilities lent an air of almost assured victory.

We needed this, Rukia thought to herself as she stood gazing up at the stars.

She felt Byakuya's approach and turned to him with a smile. Her Nii-sama was dressed informally as well, though the kimono they both had on still stood out among the rest in terms of sheer grandeur. Hers was imperial yellow with beautifully styled blue tsunami waves on hem and sleeves. Rukia imagined she could hear the ocean every time she moved. Byakuya had selected a tasteful midnight indigo ensemble whose seemingly plain exterior glimmered faintly as though tiny diamonds were expertly woven just below the surface.

He held out his hand, which she took. Brother and sister walked together past cheerfully lit stalls where shinigami and plus mingled freely in pursuit of prizes or compared their views on food. Byakuya maintained an air of aloofness that served to forestall any would-be well-wishers from approaching them. She knew this was his way of looking after her. He was just as over-protective as Noboru, though not so open about it. Neither of them proved willing to believe her protestations that she felt perfectly fine.

Rukia touched the fabric covering her stomach. This dress was new, having recently been commissioned to accommodate her… increased dimensions. The swell of her belly protruded for all to see now. No more hiding. The expecting mother would never admit it, but Rukia had grown to secretly cherish the conscientious attentions of her brother and nephew. She was still unaccountably emotional of late. That episode with poor Saijin Komamura stood as embarrassing evidence. The only thing that could make things worse was the thought of people approaching and having to field their questions concerning her condition. Thankfully the boys were there to ward off all possible peril.

Too bad we're missing the one you really want to protect you.

I extended him an invitation. These festivities will proceed for two more days. He can come whenever.

How gracious of you.

Is there something on your mind, Sode no Shirayuki?

Me? Goodness, no. Say, when do you think Katsurou will show up? Sure would be terrible if the two of them ran into each other and you weren't around. No telling what might happen.

Lord Arashi, at least, can be counted on not to engage in unseemly behavior. There is little chance of Ichigo having cause to regret making an appearance.

Are you writing him off?

Don't start this line of talk again. Can't you let me enjoy myself for a little while?

Girl, I love you. But this situation is turning you into even more of an ice princess than you already were. Pun intended.

Thank you for that lovely commentary. Excuse me while I dare to live my own life.

Says the dead girl.

The soul cutter's presence departed, leaving her owner thoroughly nettled. She always has to get in the last word. It's so infuriating!

"Rukia?"

She didn't notice they had halted until Byakuya spoke. Rukia looked up at him to find concern spelled out clearly on his face, though few others would be able to find any change to that regal visage. He was worried something might be wrong. This special gigai she had been forced to inhabit for half a year was useful, but its ability to hide her spirit from enemies also applied to allies, meaning her brother could not feel if she was under real duress or not. Another annoyance couched in helpful form.

"All is well, Nii-sama," she informed him assuredly. "I merely needed a moment to collect myself."

He accepted her explanation, but opted to guide them over to a bench just in case. She couldn't refuse this precaution. There the expecting mother carefully sat down, glad that her tailor-made garment made it less awkward than most clothing she had to settle for in the Living World.

"Sore feet? I've been there, little sister."

This new voice saw the return of Yoruichi and Noboru. Bedecked in apparel of red and gold, the Lady of Shihoin outshone every source of light in the vicinity. Her son had insisted on dressing in a Stealth Forces uniform for some reason. He didn't quite look the part of ruthless shinobi right now, arms loaded down with foodstuffs and a festival mask perched atop messy black hair. While grinning upon their approach, his expression quickly took on a shade of alarm when he saw Rukia sitting down. "Are you tired?" he blurted in distress. "You didn't trip, did you?"

Sometimes remembering that Noboru was as unaccustomed to pregnancy as she was proved the only thing that kept her frayed nerves from snapping. "Just enjoying the view, Noboru," she sang.

He came over right away and sat beside her, proffering an assortment of treats. "This one's fantastic," he pointed out helpfully. "And these go great with sauce, I've got it around here somewhere." The eager youth then set about pawing through the hidden pouches of his clothes.

"Did you two have fun while we were gone?" Yoruichi rejoined her husband. The sultry shapeshifter had only a pinwheel to show for their outing, which she blew on to make it spin beneath Byakuya's chin. He permitted this, which spoke volumes to those who knew him.

"Our guests would seem to be enjoying themselves," he admitted with obvious reluctance. "We met Captains Odelschvank and Abarai on our way here."

Noboru perked up immediately. "What was she wearing?" he demanded.

His father sent him a censorious stare, but Rukia filled the knowledge gap. "They both had on appropriate attire for the current setting, Noboru." She neglected to mention Neliel's choice of a temple miko costume boasted a scandalously short skirt and a very open front. Renji simply wore one of those loud floral kimono he seemed to think looked well on him. Byakuya's ire sent his former lieutenant scuttling with Nel in tow before they could get far past exchanging pleasantries.

"Awww," Noboru pouted and chewed on a roasted squid. "That's no fun. Maybe some of the other captains will dress up?"

Doubtful. Not to be taken unawares, Byakuya had insisted through his position as Lord-Commander on a fixed schedule that would only allow two captains and lieutenants to attend the event at any given time. Zaraki remained in Hueco Mundo with his unit, and Urahara hadn't left his headquarters in weeks from what she could gather. The idea of Soifon showing up here seemed farfetched. That left only Captain Hitsugaya and her own division head, Isane Kotetsu. When or if they put in an appearance was up in the air.

Noboru deposited his goods on the bench and leapt up. "You ready to go, Ba-san? The fireworks should be starting soon. I want to be at the top of the mountain so we get the best view!"

Ever the shrewd observer, Yoruichi didn't fail to miss a slight furrowing of Rukia's brow that might have indicated trepidation. With unmatched grace she handed Byakuya the pinwheel and moved to slip an arm around her son's shoulders. "Why don't you and I race to the top together, kiddo? Let these two go at their own pace. We can save them a prime spot that way."

The prospect of a run got Noboru's attention immediately. "You're on! Ready-set-HEY!"

But the Flash Goddess had already disappeared, leaving only mocking laughter in her wake. Cursing, Noboru soon followed, causing several people nearby to jump at the sudden rush of displaced air that lifted clothes and rattled the paper lanterns on their lines.

Rukia looked to her brother. "Shall we?" He glanced back through lowered lids before extending his arm to assist her. After being hoisted to a standing position, the two of them rejoined the masses on their way to the far-off summit.

As they passed laughing souls momentarily free of any burdens, the shinigami lady pondered her situation. In a little over a month she was scheduled to wed Lord Arashi. Time certainly did fly when faced with a deadline. But why am I still attributing a negative aspect to this affair? Katsurou has displayed nothing but the highest order of courtesy to me in all our time together, far beyond what my status affords. He is a fine man, I'll freely admit. Under other circumstances there would be no question of our being happy together. I am blessed with more good fortune than I could have ever imagined.

But I'm not happy about it. And the reason is obvious. This isn't what I want.

Not for the first time she placed a hand on her stomach. The life growing within stirred. It made her smile, yet at the same time, almost cry out with frustration. My child's future will begin under a cloud. He (or she) must suffer because of my failings. As will someone else no matter what I do. Katsurou or Ichigo; one shall be forced to endure humiliation, whether accepting another man's child or losing his own. I know I'm oversimplifying things. All the same, nothing about this feels right. Was there a way out I missed? Could there still exist a chance I might protect everyone involved from harm?

These troubling thoughts stayed until they reached the tier's edge where the next flight of stairs led up. Byakuya continued to hold her arm as they began their ascent. Rukia concentrated on placing her feet with great care and maintaining her balance. The thought of falling down all these steps made sweat glide along her spine. At times she wished the childbirth could happen today and end all this anxiety. Of course, afterwards the true fear would begin. There was so much to be afraid of, in this world and beyond. Soon she must defend not only herself and her charges, but a helpless infant ill-equipped to face the demons hovering all around them. If only I could hide the babe away, just as Yoruichi did with Noboru for over a century. Then at least they would be safe. At the cost of our being together. There truly is no easy answer, is there?

The climb proved shorter than she expected. In no time the lord and lady of the Kuchiki found themselves on level ground again. Above them burned a galaxy of stars in the dead of night, while to every side spread manmade suns that served to light the grounds and uplift the hearts of those present as much as their celestial counterparts. Both nobles blended into the throngs without comment from anyone present. If their identities were known, no one took note of it. Their journey proceeded apace without incident.

That is, until they found themselves confronted by a commanding figure.

"I bid you good evening, Lady Kuchiki." Flanked by two masked guards, Katsurou Arashi bowed forth, a small black fan spreading out with a flourish of his one good arm. He came upright smiling mildly, dark eyes shining from the fire burning in large braziers close by.

He really came! I hardly dared to hope.

"Well met, Lord Arashi," she responded in kind. Could this be a mischievous side of him, surprising me like this? It certainly was a pleasant one.

Almost immediately, though, any such fanciful notions vanished when she felt Byakuya stiffen beside her. "Arashi-sama," he bowed curtly.

"Kuchiki-gozen," the other man responded with barely a glance in his direction. Rukia's heart plummeted at this. He actually chose to insult Byakuya by that diminutive honorific to his face. This served to dampen any hopes she might use this event to try and forge some type of truce between them. Clearly whatever goodwill Katsurou held for her did not extend to her brother.

"I am impressed by the quality of work your people managed in designing this locale, My Lady," the Tiger Lord turned his attention to his true prey again. He didn't comment on or even look at her stomach, for which Rukia felt relieved. "One would be hard-pressed to find a single flaw."

Maybe I can try to clear the air? "I'm pleased you find favor with our efforts. My brother has devoted great time and energy to building a brighter future for the inhabitants of Soul Society."

"Almost as much as he has put into opposing our marriage," Katsurou countered smoothly.

Ouch. He's not pulling any punches.

"We were on our way to the summit for tonight's fireworks exhibition," she interjected before anyone else could speak. "Would you care to join us?"

The Lord of the Arashi snapped shut his fan with a sharp click. "Gladly."

He took up place at her right without pause. Byakuya tensed but otherwise remained in control. The two guards joined their master, being careful not to stand behind either of the Kuchiki. Without further altercations the party set off.

It was a good thing only one more stairwell separated them from the peak. She didn't know how long she could withstand being sandwiched between these two men. It felt like two massive pressure systems colliding in prelude to unleashing a destructive storm. Many people took note of them now and backed away to a safe distance.

Hueco Mundo wouldn't be a safe distance if these guys threw down. I can't tell which of them is more cold to the other.

With any luck he will leave it at discourtesy and not provoke any further animosity.

The climb lasted several minutes. There was no way she would risk asking to stop for a rest and give them a chance to talk again. The end result might be a war. So it was with great relief that she crested the final step to reach a plateau shaped out of the mountainside. There numerous people had gathered together the better to enjoy the pyrotechnic performance. Kukaku Shiba was further up the mountain overseeing the fireworks setup. It promised to be a breathtaking display. Thankfully there was no chance she might appear beforehand and risk running into Arashi. Afterwards however…

Oh, dear. Now that would really be a bloodbath.

Agreed. But how to prevent a confrontation? Kukaku and Ganju are scheduled to meet up with us after the show. That gives us time to formulate a strategy.

"If you will excuse me now, Lady Kuchiki," Katsurou spoke beside her. "There are others I would speak with tonight. I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening."

He's leaving? There is a God!

Yeah. And He probably answers to Aizen by now.

"I am very pleased you could attend, my lord," she spoke fervently and bowed. He afforded her one in return, that long braid sliding down his shoulder to swing back and forth, before heading off into the distance. Rukia could have kissed him for showing such tact. Perhaps he too was aware of the Shiba's presence and wished to prevent any public display.

A big cuddly teddy-bear, that one. Can we just find the others already?

It didn't take long to locate Noboru and Yoruichi. No mention was made of who won their little footrace. Having secured an enviable vantage by which to view the heavens, the small family settled in to wait. Before long the last small fringe of pale sky on the horizon turned dark. Almost as if waiting for just that moment, the first firework shot squealing from higher up the peak. Its piercing cry faded. The audience held its breath in anticipation.

With a boom, a tremendous golden explosion lit the whole sky, sending streams of blazing fire showering down. These flambeaus spun and swirled, becoming blazing multicolored pinwheels that matched the one Byakuya still held. Red and green, purple and orange and colors more eclectic to boot, this initial shot heralded the start of the performance, and those watching roared and clapped with approval, Rukia included. The din of their applause was broken by a second firework, and everyone settled back to enjoy themselves.

"… jou-sam…!"

Ears ringing a little, Rukia thought she heard something, but was distracted by a volley of cannonfire that burst to reveal sparkling animals belonging to the Gotei 7 divisions. There was Greyhound, Heron, Tiger…

"Ojou-sama!"

… Ibis… and… what?

Rukia looked behind her, and was shocked to see Rin Tsubokura of all people shoving his way towards this spot. The sight of him was so unexpected she stood up without hesitation and glided over.

He came skidding to a halt upon her approach. The little fellow looked frantic, bent over with hands on his knees and eyes closed trying to catch his breath. Clearly it had been a while since he exerted himself to this extent.

"Rin-san?" she asked. "What is it?"

At this his head snapped up and he turned a wild look on her. "Ojou-sama! I… found it!"

By this point Byakuya, Noboru and Yoruichi had joined them. Oddly Rin didn't even seem to notice the head captain of the Gotei 7 and high lady of the Shihoin. This was strange in and of itself. He had eyes only for her, it seemed.

Only now did Rukia remember. Of course; I put him to work examining my marriage proposal a few months ago. Hadn't heard anything from him since, so I just assumed there was nothing to report. Could it be I was mistaken?

"Hey, macho," Noboru called. "What's got into you? Eat a bad batch of mochi?"

"What is the meaning of this?" Byakuya demanded.

"I'm not sure." Rukia sought to clarify. "Rin-san, please calm down. I need you to relax and…"

"Say, aren't you from Kisuke's company? The guy who brings snacks to meetings?"

Rin abruptly shot to his full height. "WOULD YOU ALL JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME?!"

BOOM!

A huge firework exploded overhead, causing the crowd to roar. Meanwhile, the Kuchiki family gazed in shock at this equally awesome detonation. For a moment Rin appeared to realize just what he had done. His face paled, and he gulped visibly. But then the little fellow shook his head and slapped both cheeks mightily. Now much more collected, he fixed his eyes on Rukia, who could not believe the level of intimidation coming off this normally submissive soul.

"Ojou-sama, Lord-Commander, Lady Shihoin" he spoke clearly, looking at each of them in turn. "You have all been deceived." Without waiting for further prompting he launched into his story. "I did as you asked, My Lady. I went over the whole Arashi-Kuchiki proposal with a fine-toothed comb. When nothing popped out, I tried factoring in other information, including that being related to the inter-connection of your noble families. At first it seemed like a dead end. But then…" He swallowed, glancing about nervously. "I remembered that you are not just nobility. You're also shinigami!"

"So?" Noboru was the only one of them who didn't appear spellbound by this lecture.

"It means you are officers in the Gotei 13 military!" Rin flinched as another deafening firework exploded and scooted closer to Rukia. "Ojou-sama, tell me something. In all the times you've met him, has Lord Arashi ever referred to your brother as Lord Kuchiki?"

He looked so anxious at this point despite the question being patently ridiculous on its face. "Of course," she responded. When Rin continued to stare at her with penetrating eyes, she gave it some more thought. "Well, to be honest… he addresses Nii-sama as…" It was embarrassing to admit, but she forced herself to say it out loud. "Kukichi-gozen. It's a mildly derogatory form of 'young lord' considering my brother's age, but nothing to be truly upset about."

"No." To her distress Rin drew away from her in horror. "No, no, no! My Lady!" He shot forward to grip her shoulders, heedless of propriety or even the fact that she was pregnant. "It is an insult, but there's more to it than that! The word can also be applied to female samurai! Which means it's a military honorific! He's not recognizing Lord-Commander Kuchiki as a lord, but as a warrior!"

"What are you saying?" Rukia whispered, frightened for reasons she didn't dare speak aloud.

"Ojou-sama... I don't believe your brother is the head of the Kuchiki Clan at all! I think you are!"

The statement was laughable. And yet, none of them did so.

"I'll explain." Tsubokura took a step back. "You see, while nobility is considered separate from the edicts of common law for the most part, their long association with the Gotei 13 has seen to certain specific stipulations regarding noble-born officers, especially the leaders of the Great Houses. For instance, there is a very ancient but still valid law that states during times of official warfare, clan heads are required to appoint a proxy, usually their current heir, to handle management of the family while they fulfill their roles as war leaders. It's strictly symbolic, having no permanent status once hostilities have subsided, so the lord/captain is still technically head of the clan."

"Official warfare?" Noboru strode up to him. "Aren't we always at war?"

The flustered researcher rounded on him in a panic. "Not normally! At least, not formally! But after Aizen and the other captains defected, Captain-Commander Yamamoto made an official declaration of war against the Hollow Nation which was ratified instantly since the Central 46 were all dead! And during wartime, the law I mentioned comes into effect. Ojou-sama," he whirled around to confront Rukia, "when your brother was incapacitated at the time, didn't you assume control of the Kuchiki for a while?"

"Y-yes," she admitted unwillingly. Any contribution she made to this chilling exposition seemed like a betrayal.

"I knew it! Listen," he hunkered down, and they all gathered about him. "That declaration of war was never rescinded as far as I can tell, which means it's still being enforced. On the surface nothing is different, but underneath, things are happening, legally speaking! And I think this is what Lord Arashi used to manipulate you as head of the Kuchiki, My Lady."

"You are mistaken." Byakuya's smooth, frigid words cut through the prattle like a lion's roar overpowering a chittering chipmunk. "Arashi did directly afford me the title of Lord when he approached to ask for Rukia's hand. After the Autumn War when you say this martial edict was in effect. For all his insults, he would never sully his pride by granting a lesser nobleman such honors."

Poor bug-eyed Rin looked positively stricken as he confronted the imperious overlord of the Gotei 7. "C-Commander… that may be true. But then… something new happened. You got married!"

Just like that everyone's attention turned to Yoruichi. While quite unflappable under normal circumstances, the Goddess of Flash was obviously upset by this accusation. "And this changes things how, exactly?"

"You're not a shinigami! Or rather…" The member of Ibis Company clutched his head as though it may burst. "What I mean is you have no rank in the current incarnation of the Gotei 13! You command no divisions! That means you are simply the Lady of the Shihoin. But when Byakuya-taichou wed you, that's when everything changed. Under a strict interpretation of noble law, the marriage of two Great House heads during time of war carries certain provisos when one of the intended is a military officer and the other is not!"

Rin paused to take a deep lungful of air before continuing. "Technically speaking, the officer party is in a slightly diminished capacity in terms of noble rank according to the proxy rule, which makes the non-officer noble their superior, even if just on paper! Should they wed, the officer's House would become a sort of… vassal to their new partner! Of course, no one in the officer clan would want this, so in such a situation, the law provides that if the marriage proceeds apace, the proxy head of the Great House will become the official leader of the clan once the wedding is finalized! And their former superior will then be made a sort of… honored advisor, who still retains some measure of authority in the clan and can speak in their name! It… it's all here!"

He thrust forth a small sealed scroll. Numbly Rukia accepted this, surprised at how heavy it turned out to be. She didn't bother to examine the contents.

Could this be real? Am I… the Lady of the Kuchiki in truth?

Rukia…

She shuddered. Pain flared in her abdomen, so intense she went to her knees. There were cries all around, and she felt her loved ones pressing close. No… there's no time for this. I have to know the truth.

"Rin-san…" Her voice was so low and hoarse it almost came out as a growl, making her intended target jump. "What does this mean for the marriage proposal made to me by Lord Arashi?"

The others were crouched at her side. Unmatched reiatsu burned all around them which caused many nearby to leave off watching the fireworks to take note of an even greater display of power. Standing before this quartet of angry gods, Rin appeared to shrivel in on himself. "Th… the same is true!" he whispered. "Katsurou is not a part of the Gotei 7, and you are lieutenant of a division. As acting rulers of your houses, when you are joined in marriage, the Kuchiki will become subordinate in large part to the Arashi. Only in this case, since you have no heir and there is no one in terms of blood relation who can compare to your status in the clan, the transfer of power cannot take place! Ojou-sama, you will still rule the Kuchiki… but the Arashi will rule you."

Her heart turned to ice.

Rukia stood up. Ignoring all else, she walked with deliberate steps into the crowd.

Where is he?

Rukia, hold on…!

Where IS HE?!

… Over there.

She followed her zanpakutō's lead. And as she drew closer to her target, certain things clicked inside her head. All the kindnesses, the show of respect…! Permitting me to walk beside him, even bowing so low… it wasn't because he was treating me favorably! He was behaving appropriately towards a fellow head of their clan! It was a TRAP!

Katsurou Arashi stood by himself in a cleared space with his defenders close by. His eyes were raised skyward to view the fireworks, but they dropped down when a sudden blast of cold reiatsu washed over him. Pondering this, he brought the closed fan up to tap against his chin in thought. Slowly he spread the paper screen before his mouth before turning to confront the source of this frigid force.

"Something troubles you, Lady Kuchiki?" he asked lightly.

Rukia drew within striking distance of him. "You have deceived me!" she spat with barely restrained fury.

In response one of Katsurou's eyebrows rose behind his fan. No request for an explanation was forthcoming. Then he snapped the implement shut and let it drop to his side with a look of deadly calm. They faced each other with only a few feet of space between them; him featureless, her furious. At last he spoke.

"I acted according to the law. The very thing you Kuchiki claim to hold so dear." A slight tug at the side of his mouth might have been a suppressed smirk. "Is that not so, My Lady?"

"Our marriage will never take place!" Sweat ran into Rukia's eyes, and she swayed noticeably. After wiping a sleeve across her brow she thrust out her arm to point at him. "This despicable subterfuge is ended, as of now! The Kuchiki are not now and never will be yours!"

Half-closed black eyes continued to regard her. "I must respectfully disagree," the Tiger Lord responded softly.

"Lord Arashi!"

Katsurou glanced up when Yoruichi Shihoin and Byakuya Kuchiki came striding over with their son Noboru to join Rukia. A snort of amusement emerged from his throat. "Ah, there you are, Lady Shihoin. And your husband…" He paused for a moment. "I confess, I am uncertain how to refer to you now, Byakuya Kuchiki. You claimed the rank of Captain-Commander in the Gotei 7, is it not so? Perhaps you should not have been so quick to snap up that title. Haste is not a virtue of nobility, after all."

"Your plan is foiled, Tiger Lord," the leader of the Gotei 7 swore darkly. "In the last few moments, I sent a hell butterfly rescinding the order of open warfare proclaimed by my predecessor."

"And our son Noboru Kuchiki has agreed to become heir to the Kuchiki name," Yoruichi spoke beside him. She placed a firm hand on the boy's shoulders, who glowered at the menacing lord. "So up your butt, pendejo!" Noboru mocked him without a trace of fear.

To this, Katsurou returned an easy smile that made several of the onlookers flinch, bearing a foreboding similarity as it did to that of his banished nephew. "That is all very interesting. Permit me to address your assertions." His fan descended to point at Noboru. "Since the boy's father currently holds only a ceremonial role in the House of Kuchiki at this time, he cannot nominate him as heir to that line. Furthermore, unless I am mistaken, this child is illegitimate, being born prior to his parent's wedding. Only the King of Soul Society can lift such an onus. As you must be aware."

The black lacquer shaft rose once more. "And you, Captain-Commander Kuchiki, are mistaken in two respects. Firstly, while war was indeed declared by Yamamoto, and you hold his office, you were never officially invested by a representative of the King. This means you lack the authority to declare an end to the war on legal grounds. And secondly…"

He dipped the fan one final time, letting it rest on Rukia. "The terms of our marriage that you have already agreed on prior to this point, through your elder brother and appointed representative, were stipulated under the legal conditions that had effect at the time. These terms being binding, they cannot be retroactively altered by either party without incurring severe repercussions, up to the forfeiture of half their property and sovereign alliances to the other party as recompense. The matter has proceeded past the point when anything short of high treason could absolve either side of continued cooperation with the proposal. Even should you attempt to renounce your role and station in the Kuchiki, it would have no effect, since the clan has already been bound and sworn beforehand. Our wedding would continue apace."

With a flick of the wrist Arashi Katsurou opened the fan and spread it before his lips. "That is all." And this time they could hear his smile, though they could not see it.

"There is a way."

Katsurou paused. Before him Rukia had gone still and quiet. Her face was deathly calm.

HEY! What do you think you're–?!

No more.

"I can kill myself."

Her words brought a cry from all her loved ones present, even Byakuya. Before any of them could react she held out a hand that served to forestall further protest or moves towards her. Now more than ever, she was the Lady of the Kuchiki, and Rukia faced her nemesis fully enshrined in that role.

"The marriage contract is valid only so long as I am alive," the supreme head of the Kuchiki announced in a voice clear as ice. "Should I commit ritual suicide for my crimes, the honor of my house cannot be called into question, by ancient laws. And when I die, all bonds between your clan and mine are severed." She lifted her chin with deliberate slowness. "Do you doubt my conviction, Arashi-dono?"

Lord and Lady squared off at the top of the mountain. They watched one another like duelists waiting for one to make the first move.

Katsurou's eyes drifted over to one side. "Do I believe you would die to preserve your family's honor? Yes, Lady Kuchiki. Adopted or no, you are a noble of the highest caliber, and a shinigami. There is nothing of yourself that you would not sacrifice for the sake of another. But in this case…"

And here his gaze swung around so sharply that Rukia blinked.

"… you would not be the only one to perish, would you?"

For a time they gazed at one another without speaking.

Then Rukia's face crumpled in grief, and she sank to the stone clutching her stomach, where her unborn child lay all unaware of what was taking place without.

"Yes." Katsurou nodded in satisfaction. "This was the one thing I could not control. Your death would indeed negate my plans. But fortune smiled upon us both. You cannot bring yourself to sacrifice an innocent. Such compassion is truly admirable. Motherhood… " He looked away for a moment, face grown distant and weary. Then with a small shake of his head he came back around. "It will be my greatest honor to call you my wife, Rukia Kuchiki. And that was something I did not originally foresee. In time I will make you understand that this arrangement does not truly offer harm to you or anyone you hold dear. It is simply a matter of pride." Katsurou glanced at Byakuya. "And the loss thereof."

Were Rukia not between them, the Greyhound Captain might have gone for his throat. As it was, no form of retribution emerged. Yoruichi had both arms wrapped tightly around her son to hold him back. Observing this, Katsurou performed a slow, silent bow to all present. With a last parting look at the fallen noblewoman, he moved to depart.

Rukia knelt on her knees with hands pressed against cold stone. This… can't be happening. Isn't there anything that can be done to prevent it? My child… my baby… I have shamed you too. Please forgive me.

"HEY! One-Armed Fu Manchu! Hold up a minute!"

Katsurou froze on the cusp of leaving. He turned to where this shout originated from. Rukia did the same.

Disbelief. Confusion. Grief. These things she felt strongly. But seeing the person who had joined them, the incredulous girl felt something more.

Hope.

Ichigo Kurosaki stood a few paces off with arms crossed. He had on a somewhat dated kimono reserved for festivals. The scowl he wore suited him much better, and this he trained fully on the glowering Lord Arashi. For only a second the youth's dark brown eyes broke away to focus on Rukia. He offered her a half-smile that seemed to say, 'See? You always need me to rescue you.' It was so arrogant and condescending she momentarily forgot about everything that had weighted her down only a heartbeat past. Quickly Rukia scrambled to her feet. "Ichigo!" she cried, both incensed and accusing.

Having served to bring his beloved out of yet another suicidal depression-fest (and doesn't she ever get tired of that?) he once more turned his attention to tonight's real target. "Are you the guy aiming to marry Rukia?"

The other man did not move, one arm tucked securely into the front of his robe. "I am."

Ichigo nodded thoughtfully. Then he drew himself up and declared in a loud voice, "Katsurou of the Arashi, I hereby challenge you to a yurei duel!"

Fireworks blazed overhead, lighting them all in shifting hues of purple, red and green. The oblivious spectators cheered their appreciation without regard for the confrontation happening in their midst.

Eventually Katsurou stirred. "You are not a member of a Great House, boy," he pronounced in a voice laced with scorn. "As such you have no standing to initiate a yurei."

"Think again, Baron Lopsided." He noticed a slight pursing of the lips on Arashi's part and counted that as a hit. Time to get serious. "Don't forget about the Ikiryō form of yurei: 'living haunting'! A mortal being can make a challenge if they provide sufficient cause to warrant justified intervention on the part of the individual who has been wronged!"

Katsurou regarded him with ill intent. "What is your claim, mortal?"

Ichigo pointed straight at Rukia. "I happen to be the father of Rukia's baby, and I challenge you on both their behalves, Katsurou!" His orange hair seemed to burn from the light of innumerable fireworks being launched in a grand finale. "I also say you're a creepy old man for trying to marry a knocked-up girl half your age!"

"ICHIGO!"

"YOU BIG DUMB FRESA!"

Outbursts from both Rukia and Noboru went unremarked by the others present. All eyes were on the two men engaged in a standoff. For the first time, real anger showed on Arashi's face. He peered furiously at this brash youth, who offered back a look of stone-cold defiance.

"Do you accept my challenge?" Ichigo asked in a calm, mature tone. "Or did Ganju's dad cut your balls off too?"

The two masked attendants glanced at one another behind their master's back. Katsurou paid them no heed, clearly having an interest only in Ichigo now.

"Boy," he replied in a soft silky voice, "I accept."

Lord Katsurou Arashi spun away and went stalking off.

"Cool." Ichigo blew out his breath. He then trooped on over to stand in front of his princess. "So I guess I'm fighting for your hand," he declared in an offhanded tone.

"You fool. You complete and utter fool. I love you."

She then started crying for no apparent reason, which saw Noboru tearing free of his mother's grasp and launching himself at Ichigo. The two of them wound up rolling around on the ground screaming obscenities while Yoruichi watched with a cheerful grin and Byakuya moved to interpose himself between the fight and Rukia. Eventually they pulled the two of them apart and it was decided everyone should just shut up and watch the fireworks for a while. On this they were all in agreement.

Rukia cast a furtive look at the orange-haired teen sitting beside her. He was nursing his jaw and there were deep scratches running down his neck. Yet still, he had never looked more handsome. Probably the pregnancy messing with my head again.

So I guess you're done being stupid for one day?

Yes, Sode no Shirayuki.

Good. I'm going to get some rest. Wake me up if the fighting starts again.

I will. Thank you.

Surrounded by people she loved, both within and without her soul, the girl found herself so happy she didn't care to question why.

---

"He's not coming back," Menoly asserted.

"I know that." Her ally Loly cracked an eye open as she rested against a petrified tree. "Why would you even want him to? We're better off without that psycho and his crazy pack."

They had engaged in this same conversation or some variation of it for weeks now, ever since making it back to the barren forest. A few yards off a clearing opened out to reveal Tia Halibel's pool filled to the brim with thick stinking blood. The pair of Hollows kept an eye on this menacing lagoon for any sign that it might react to their presence. So far that had not been the case. Which suited them fine.

"So what are our options?"

"Same as yesterday. We don't have any."

The presence of this gruesome pit, while nerve-wracking, served to keep any other Hollows from approaching. Not that they needed protection, of course. The two of them were hand-picked by Aizen-sama himself to serve in his Army. And regardless of how the war turned out, their loyalties remained the same. Eventually El Rey de la Luna would return and find his most devoted servants waiting. It was up to them to survive until that day.

Despite this noble goal, both girls were finding it hard to stand the quiet. And the constant duress of a vasto lorde's presence, however fractured. And each other, at times. Still, as Loly had stressed over and over again, they were notably short on options at the moment. At least here they could count on a relative measure of safety. Only a suicidal lunatic would wander into the Blood Goddess' territory.

Menoly sprang up from her seat. "Wait… did you hear that?"

"What?"

"I'm not sure. It was almost like…"

"Sit down and stop jumping at shadows. You're making me antsy."

"I'm telling you I heard something!"

"Oh, yeah? What?"

"Me."

The feminine duo looked up to find Ichigo's Hollow standing over them.

It was almost funny how they kept running into trees as they fled. Giving a sadistic chuckle, the creature shambled over to the pool. It observed its own reflection in that gelatinous red surface. Then with a bored shrug the Hollow broke a twig off from a nearby branch and dropped it into the rim of the pool.

Upon contact the gore immediately lapsed into red dust. The stick sank through this dried mass until it reached bottom. Any remaining red fluid had surged away from this disturbance with unnatural intelligence, leaving a cleared space on its edge. It soon began to churn into a bubbling morass. Moments later the bloody swamp burst upwards, and when it sank back down, Segunda Espada Tia Halibel watched the Hollow with a critical air. "What do you want?" she asked in a voice devoid of interest.

"Don't give me that shit," the Hollow snapped back. "I'm the best thing you've got going for you right now. And I need help!"

"Do tell." The undead deity settled down and rested her chin in one hand, dragging the other over the surface of her basin in lazy strokes.

Her ostensible worshipper clenched both fists to restrain a homicidal impulse before pressing on. "Grimmjow and that dickless Vaizard aren't worth a warm sack of horseshit. There's a sword dangling right over my head, and they pretend like it doesn't even exist! I need someone who can get the job done. So either tell one of them to do it or find someone who will."

Two small green stars glowed in the depths of Halibel's scarlet eyes. The sight of them inspired a disturbingly specific fear of being eaten alive in the Hollow which it could not hide. Tia smiled briefly at its discomfort before lapsing back into a composed state. "What exactly are you asking for, little one?"

The Hollow squared its shoulders and bared black teeth in a grimace. "Kill Rukia. Or the baby. Or both, I don't care. Just don't let 'em go through with it."

The sea demon's head cocked to one side. "No," she finally said.

Ichigo's Hollow gave a jerk. "YOU STINKING BITCH, you didn't even ask your boss! Get that ass-hair Aizen out here so I can talk to him, and then maybe I won't–!"

"This has nothing to do with Aizen." Tia rose up to loom over the white beast, enveloping it in her shadow. "In this matter his wishes come secondary to my own. We all have things we are looking forward to once our prison has been breached." She sank down until her hungry lips opened right in front of the Hollow. "And that girl is mine. I am the one who will eat her. No other consideration exists. So resign yourself to whatever comes next. It makes little difference to me."

With this declaration she began to sink back into the pool.

"DAMMIT, WAIT! Don't you get it?! Nobody wins if that kid gets born! It'll kill all of us, you know that! You, me, Aizen, everybody! We're all gonna die!"

"I'll be sure to pass along your prediction. And one more thing…"

Without warning a tentacle of blood shot from the pool and seized up the Hollow. As it dangled struggling in midair, another extension emerged and reached out to encircle a pale golden thread emerging from its half-open Hollow hole. A firm yank broke the line in half.

"Never return here again."

The liquid tendril drew back and launched Ichigo's Hollow towards the faraway horizon. In moments it was just a dwindling speck. Afterwards Tia rejoined her base to leave the sending pool undisturbed.

All was quiet in the forest until Loly and Menoly came slinking out of hiding. Having heard enough, they looked to one another for confirmation before departing from that place. They had a mission, now. In the name of Lord Aizen.

For several minutes nothing more happened.

Then something huge came crashing down from the sky straight into the pool. It looked like a Large Hollow's head, only filled with sand which came spilling forth from the dead monster's eyes and mouth. Halibel's blood body rose up briefly with a roar, only to swiftly succumb and go crumbling down into the dry doom that awaited her remaining holdout. In moments the whole thing was nothing more than a crucible of steaming red dust and sand.

On the edge of the petrified forest, Cernunnos drew away from the headless body still twitching before it. The Hunt Master loped off, while behind several members of the Wild Hunt fell to feasting on their catch. Once finished they rose to rejoin their master along with all the rest.

With Cernunnos at the lead, the Hunt moved out in pursuit of Ichigo's Hollow.

---

Grimmjow looked up from the bright green sphere nestled in his palm. "This is the place," he announced.

Enfain Tezima examined all about. Behind her the rest of the pack did the same. Around them horns seemingly made of white bone rose over ten feet into the air from barren soil. Nothing served to distinguish one from another. They all looked the same. "Somebody's got a sick sense of humor," she observed dryly.

"Whatever," her leader retorted. "Since those Masked Army mooks are finally off my back we can afford to waste a little time. All of you, start looking. You'll know when you find it." And he set off to begin scouting their new domain.

His lieutenant turned back to the rest. "You heard him." Ein Vogel gave her a haughty look until Albion Diega shoved him roughly in the shoulder. The two former allies glared at one another, but eventually Vogel relented and went sauntering off, tapping at the formations with his long staff.

"Hey, you," Enfain called out to one in particular. "Make yourself useful for a change. The more of us searching, the better." Without waiting for a response she set off to see what might be found in this ancient cemetery.

From behind the cracked confines of his bull-shaped mask, Rudobon Chereute inwardly cursed his fallen status. The former head of Aizen's Exequias then summoned forth his Calaveras hordes and put them to work scouring the grounds.

To be continued…