A/N: Greetings everyone! Back again after a bit of a hiatus. I've been using the time to get ahead of the story somewhat, and to give some space for my other stories (and their spin-offs). Apologies to any of my 'Ultimate Heroics' readers - that story needs more tweaking till I'm satisfied to post another chapter. As for my 'Matris Cordis' readers, expect an update soon-ish. I'll also look at posting these to other fanfic writing platforms - like AO3 and Wattpad.

As for this story:

This chapter might be a little controversial, and definitely goes into some head canon territory for the human world Quincy. However, since the Quincy are very much based on real world nobility and had a thing for pure bloodlines, I figured this was a realistic chapter. Still...happy to hear your thoughts. The next chapter leads on a little form this one. At least from Masaki and Uryu's perspective.

Chapter 15: Burden of the Quincy

"Again Uryu!"

"R-Right Aunty!" Gotta...push...through the...pain!

Uryu felt like he had finally hit his limit. The last couple of days of training were brutal for the young Quincy. He thought the training to attain the Sanrei Glove was tough...but this was...well clearly he couldn't gauge difficulty that well, if his Aunty called this 'a bit more than standard.'

Masaki was thoroughly impressed by Uryu. After safely removing the Sanrei Glove (something which took the better part of a day), she let her nephew rest for a bit before she put him through his paces. Since they only had up until Ichigo attained bankai, she didn't have long to train him up to a sufficient level to combat lieutenant and higher Soul Reapers. He was clearly above a regular seated officers power (thanks to the training with the Sanrei Glove), but for what she knew they would face, he needed...more. So she adjusted the typical schedule and pushed him to his limit. When he was clearly at his limit, she forced him to go a little beyond, before she could tell he was about to collapse. It wouldn't do him good to go further...yet. Besides she had a plan to broaden his skill set a bit more!

"Enough!" The senior Quincy held her left palm out – signalling for the boy to stop.

Uryu gingerly rotated his head towards Masaki. The boy had a haggered appearance, and was dripping with sweat. Masaki knew he was just a bit over his limit, which meant she had a fair idea on where to take the training now. Masaki's grin grew wide.

"Well done Uryu! I'm impressed. Sorry for pushing you so hard, but this was needed for the next step in your training. You know..." Masaki disappeared from Uryu's sight and in a split second reappeared with what looked like...water bottles!? "...me and your father, as well as your mother used to train together. Back then your father was the better marksman, while I excelled more in close quarters combat." She handed Uryu a bottle. "Your mother – Kanae – was only allowed to observe, seeing as she was a Gemischt – or a mixed blood Quincy. Do you know of those traditions?" Masaki wasn't sure if Uryu knew about some of the absurd traditions of their forefathers. For example: she was supposed to marry Ryūken and keep their Quincy line Echt (or pure). From her research about her Kurosaki ancestry, her and the Ishida families were so connected, it wouldn't've been out of the question to call Ryūken her 'brother.' Certainly they were first cousins (bare minimum). When she thought about it, it made her stomach churn, worse than morning sickness. She was glad that the events with that hollow had happened, otherwise she likely would've kept that tradition going (even if begrudgingly).

Uryu nodded in affirmation, but again he only had a cursory knowledge of some of their more obscure traditions. His grandfather didn't really tell him too much about that, and his...Ryūken...didn't say much either. Preferring for Uryu to focus on his schoolwork and good grades for a solid job.

"Hmmm...by your light nod I can tell that you sort of do, but aren't sure about specifics right?"

"Yes Aunty. Grandfather and...father didn't tell me much. What I could find, was pretty general. I think I read somewhere about bloodlines but that's it."

"Well...since we've stopped for a bit, I guess I can tell you some of those specifics right? Let's head over to the seats." Masaki pointed over to the rest area and directed Uryu to follow.

When they got to the rest area Masaki let out a sigh and her head dropped. 'This could be a tough pill to swallow for Uryu.'

"What's wrong Aunty?"

"Well...one of the traditions us Quincy practiced was that of arranged marriages. That is where the notions of Echt and Gemischt Quincy came about. I'm what is known as an Echt Quincy – from a pure blood lineage unbroken since the first of the Quincy. Your father is also an Echt, but your mother was a Gemischt – a Mixed Blood Quincy." Masaki could see that Uryu was excited by this part of the story. For how long that would last? Well likely only till she started to dive into the sordid details.

"When I was young, Gemischt Quincy were treated as near disposable pawns for us Echt to use. They were the ones we sent out first when any disturbances happened. This was a custom to protect pure bloods from being killed. Even though we were by and large stronger than most Gemischt. Cannon fodder – if you will."

Uryu couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. He knew Quincy were traditionalists and some of their practices were...archaic, but this was...!

"I know what you might be thinking: does that make me and Ichigo, Gemischt too? Why yes you are, but those traditions were thrown out the window when I was a teenager. I was always disgusted by the practice of disposing of Gemischt to protect us Echt. They were fellow Quincy too, why should they be treated like mere servants? Besides, with how few of us remained at that time, it was high time we abolished that custom to keep our people alive!"

She raised her right hand, clenching it into a fist. She was always passionate about liberating the conservative traditions of the Quincy. From what she could remember, the Kurosaki family were of a similar mindset – until she was the only one left.

"Anyway...arranged marriages between Echt Quincy were what we used to keep bloodlines pure. Since I was the last of the Kurosaki line, I was integrated into the Ishida household on the condition that I would marry your father. Your mother at the time was of course smitten with Ryū, but her place as a Gemischt made it near impossible for her to court an Echt. I wasn't overly keen about the arrangement either, but my duty as Echt dictated my path. Around this time...a certain incident happened and that was when I met Isshin."

She smiled with fondness over those memories. Back then Isshin looked pretty young, even though he was likely over 100 years old at that point. Ryū was the same age as her and looked almost exactly like what Uryu does now – except he had silver hair. It was a wild time for sure, but one she wouldn't change for the world. She was in despair at that time, and Isshin and that incident gave her a way out – albeit in an unconventional manner. Even Ryū and Kanae became closer – which was a huge plus in her book!

"So...when you said we were like 'sibling families' what did you mean by that?" Uryu needed to know now. His Aunt had told him too much already, and his heart and mind were racing.

"Well...I only found out through my own research into the Kurosaki lineage. Apparently our two families are so connected with each other, that..."

Uryu's eyes widened with the realisation, "...that we might as well be sibling families, Aunty?"

Masaki's head snapped towards Uryu. Her eyes were wide and glistening, realising her nephew had already put the pieces together.

"...Yes. As far as I know, me and Ryū are first cousins, but due to how interconnected our bloodlines are...we're probably a little more than that. That was another reason why I was so opposed to my arranged marriage to your father. I already treated him like a brother, and it made me sick to think I..." She didn't want to say it. Even after 20 years, it still made her stomach churn. Tears began to streak down her face.

Uryu was taking this news relatively well. He was used to hearing about arranged marriages between first cousins, but to think his people took it a few steps further! This revelation almost crushed his image of the Pride of a Quincy. He comforted his Aunt, by putting his hand on her shoulder.

Masaki realised Uryu was trying to make her feel better. She knew as the adult she had to shape up and stop the waterworks! She clapped her face and put on a determined look.

"Well...enough of that. I shouldn't be crying in front of you, especially when I was the one to tell you about this former custom of ours." She smiled warmly at her bespectacled nephew.

"Thank you for comforting me nephew...I appreciate that. You really do remind me of your mother, especially with that heart of yours. Regardless of how serious you act."

Uryu blushed, but turned his head away to avoid further embarrassment. Masaki couldn't help but laugh.