Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you yet another chapter of "The Death and Life of Erza Scarlet!" I think it's best I just let the chapter speak for itself. So go on, read, and have fun!

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy Tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and Weekly Shounen Magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun!

Uryu had expected there to be some kind of quick ceremony, some sort of pledge of allegiance to the knights, some sort of welcoming initiation: anything. An organization as severe and august as an order of knights with mystical powers, he had believed, would merit that sort of thing.

Instead it had been hard work from the first morning after the first night he'd spent in their keep. Knightly drill instructors had tested his physical capabilities in the extreme, and it was a week before they even started testing his skills as a quincy. Life as a recruit was harsh, even for somebody of his standing, and more than once he had been reminded that although he wasn't unfit physically, he could have been much fitter.

But, Uryu had pushed through. He had endured long marches at dawn before breakfast, gruelling endurance programs, and ruthless gym routines. And, just two weeks into his new training, he was starting to feel like he was being made anew, moulded like clay. He would collapse into his bed exhausted every night, and force himself to get up at dawn to do it all over again every day, and he could feel himself getting stronger, more fit. Every day, he could go a little longer, a little farther. And, every time his mind started to feel like he had had enough, like he should reconsider, he thought of Karakura and kept going. The image of the city in ruins, civilians dead by the thousand…

He was going to get stronger here, no matter what.

No, there had been no oath or pledge or welcoming ceremony, but the knights had still made him feel as one with their fraternity—and sorority, strictly speaking—of warriors. He would eat with the other group of recruits, the furthest down the hall, and the knights would jeer at him jokingly, cheer and make merry. Uryu, who had been a lone wolf most of his life, had found this hard to adjust to—but not necessarily unwelcome.

It was in the third week, after proving decisively that he had no trouble whatsoever meeting and beating any and all of the initial accuracy challenges with a bow, that he was finally introduced to Paladin Robert Accutrone, an older man with a stern, dignified expression. With his glasses, short hair and moustache, he looked more like somebody's old father than a knight, but the respect he commanded was unmistakable. Uryu had not expected the summons, being taken right out of another endurance test to come see the master-at-arms. Uryu was not sure what the title entailed, but it was not hard to imagine.

As he stepped inside the chamber he had been directed to, still red with the exertion of the five-mile run he had just completed, sweat running down his forehead, Uryu started to get a clearer idea. The room's walls was covered in weapons of all kinds, most of them Western in style but with many more oriental blades. Save for one large, open area, the room was filled with rack after rack of swords, most of them longswords or broadswords.

"Initiate," said Accutrone. Uryu stood to attention, chest out and arms flattened to his sides.

"Sir Paladin. Reporting as ordered, sir!" Uryu said, loudly and firmly.

Accutrone nodded. There was a strict formality of rank observed for anyone who had agreed to become a member, permanently or temporarily, and to breach it was to risk one's status in the order.

"Tell me, initiate, how does your training progress?"

"The initiate runs, lifts weights, and does all that is requested of him, sir paladin," Uryu said, an uncertainty underneath the firmness of his voice. He had not expected to be questioned. "The initiate believes it is fair to say he is making progress."

"It would be a great disgrace if you did not," said Accutrone, giving Uryu a grim look. "You do not chafe at having to do this training? You are, after all, far more capable than any other initiate in our castle. You could likely defeat almost any of our knights. It does not displease you to have to do these mundane exercises?"

"The initiate understands that all members of the Wandenritter must meet all qualifications required by the order. Particular skill in one area does not privilege the initiate out of having to perform adequately in another, sir. Power notwithstanding, these challenges are only fair, sir paladin!"

Accutrone nodded. "A textbook answer. We shall see how sincere it is."

He turned around to face a table behind him. Uryu had barely paid any attention to it until now, but laid upon it were a selection of fine blades; a traditional longsword, a heavier broadsword, a curved scimitar, a greatsword…

"Your marksmanship is excellent, I must acknowledge," the paladin continued, "but I am told your skill with a blade is non-existent. Is this correct?"

"Sir, the initiate's skills are extremely rudimentary, sir!" Uryu agreed.

"Your grandfather did not train you in this art?"

"Sir… the initiate's grandfather passed before he could teach any such skills," Uryu said, swallowing.

"Damn shame about Souken," Accutrone said, turning to give Uryu a look. "I knew him well. He was never a master swordsman, but he took well to the blade all the same. Proof positive that men with no experience can climb far if they simply choose to apply themselves. Ah, what I would give to see my old friend again…"

Accutrone shook his head.

"I will not engage in sentimentality any further. However, the time has come for you to learn this art. You must master at least the fundamentals of swordplay to become a knight. Our strongest weapon—for many, at least—is the bow, but we must never forget the sharpened blade our order was built upon. Choose," he said, gesturing to the table.

Deliberating for some time, Uryu picked up one blade after another, feeling their weight in his hand, testing their swing. The greatsword was straight out: too heavy and impractical. The longsword was well balanced, but felt… too heavy still. Carefully he tested the scimitar; it fit better in his hand, but never quite spoke to him. Finally he picked up a straight sabre, shorter than the longsword, with an elegantly curved guard protecting the hand. He gave it a testing swing, then another, finally nodding to the paladin.

"This seems right, sir paladin."

"A cavalry sabre. Capital choice," Accutrone said, nodding approvingly. "An agile blade, well suited to your style. This sword was worn by one of Napoleon Bonaparte's cavalry officers, lost at the battle of Leipzig. Carry it well and with pride, for it bears a fragment of greatness."

Uryu's eyes widened a little. Such an artefact was… quite something.

"Sir paladin, the initiate has a question."

"You may ask."

"This may seem foolish, sir, but… such a blade would snap in a heartbeat against the overwhelming power of a strong hollow or shinigami, would it not?"

Accutrone's lips curved into a slight smile. "You get ahead of yourself, initiate. But since you asked, the theory may as well be laid out: the blade is but a conduit for the spiritual energy we pour into it. Unlike the bow, which can easily be materialized or dismissed and then reformed, it pays to have a solid weapon through which our power can flow. We could make blades the same way as we make bows, but it would be harder to maintain and more stressful—and the moment it takes to reform a blade is all the time that's needed to kill you, oftentimes. And, of course, there is the traditional aspect of it. We are knights, after all."

Uryu nodded. "The initiate understands, sir paladin."

"Not even halfway," Accutrone chuckled. "But from today, we will scale down your physical training to focus on the blade. Six hours every day until you get the basics down, then down to four. This area is a weakness to you, my lad, and a weakness must be compensated for. Go—report to brother Guilbèrt down the hall. He will know how to handle a sabre, and he will train you well."

"Sir!" said Uryu, standing to attention.

"Dismissed," said Accutrone. Uryu turned around, holding on to the sabre, and marched out. Accutrone watched him leave, his eyes fixed on the recruit with interest. Much greatness would come from him; of that, the old paladin was sure.

Just before lunch, Erza headed out to the new safe house to check on Rurichiyo. The location was secret, and she had to don a reiatsu-suppressing cloak—one of only a handful available, whose very existence was a secret—to go there. Soifon took no chances this time, and although it was fairly subtle, Erza thought she spotted more than one team of Stealth Corps operatives in the vicinity. There would be no repeat of yesterday.

The new place was a virtual bunker, built under a very unassuming shack, and she had to enter through a narrow tunnel some thirty yards away to even get inside. Once that hassle was done with, she came into a fairly comfortable, if rather narrow set of rooms. Rurichiyo was seated on a couch in the small space that passed for a living room, and she lit up when she saw Erza enter.

"Captain Scarlet!" she said enthusiastically, although she did not get up.

"Erza," Erza corrected. "I get enough formality and rank from my subordinates."

"It's not exactly customary—but sure," Rurichiyo agreed. She seemed a little less spirited than before, a little brow-beaten, and Erza had to remind herself that this was a child, after all, a child taken from her home and all she knew and shunted off to a hole in the ground, with nobody to rely on, knowing people were out to kill her. That was a lot for any kid to deal with.

Erza approached the couch. "May I?" she said, gesturing to the piece of furniture.

"Please," said Rurichiyo eagerly. Erza sat down, not far from the young clan head.

"I came to see how you were doing," she started tentatively. "I know you've been through a whole lot recently, and very suddenly, too. I… I know what it's like to lose things. I'm sure you must feel terrible right now, but trust me, you'll make it through this."

She felt a bit awkward. Erza had never been all that good with kids—had never been good with people, period.

"Thank you," said Rurichiyo quietly. "It's… it's a lot to take in, yes. I've spent a lot of time just thinking about who would want to kill me, and…" She shook her head. "Things feel a lot different when you start thinking that way. People I used to trust suddenly do not feel so trustworthy, and suddenly I wonder if anyone can be trusted. And, then I feel like this is going to be my entire life, and I'm only just now seeing it."

Erza's heart ached. What could she even say to that? Yes, that's probably true because you're a noble? Sometimes… sometimes the truth just wasn't what people needed.

"It might feel bad now," Erza said quietly, "but you will find people you can trust. It's not all backstabbing and politics out there."

"I'm starting to wonder," Rurichiyo said contemplatively. She gave Erza a look. "I know you need something from me. I'm still grateful for all you did, but… it's not all charity, is it? You saved me, and I should repay you. That's fair. That's… business."

"Rurichiyo," said Erza, her voice tensing, "I need you to know that I am not here because I want something from you. I would be here if you were a little peasant girl from the Rukon. I decided to help you because I think it's the right thing to do. There are a lot of difficult things in this world, and a lot of politics and 'you scratch my back, I scratch yours' type of deals, but that's not all there is. It's never what you'll get with me. I am here because some scumbag monster decided to try to kill you, and because I care about what that does to you. I'm going to find and punish that person, and I'd do it whether I needed your help or not."

Her voice had grown louder, impassioned, and she worried she might have scared the poor girl.

"I believe you," Rurichiyo said, breathlessly. "I—I believe you when you say that. Thank you. It's just…"

Tears formed at the edge of her eyes, and she choked down a sob.

"I'm sorry, I—I know it's undignified for a clan head to… to…" she started, her voice breaking.

Erza had run out of words, and did the only thing she could think to do. She shuffled toward Rurichiyo, wrapping her arms around the girl and catching her in a bear hug. The little clan head resisted at first, but quickly broke down, wrapping her arms around Erza. She wept, her tears staining Erza's coat. Erza held her tightly, rocking her back and forth, rubbing her back, and stroking her hair.

"It's okay. It's okay," she whispered. "It's all going to be okay. I promise it will."

For some time, Rurichiyo simply cried into Erza's chest, trembling and shaking in her arms. Her little arms clasped her tightly, desperately, like she was afraid of what would happen if she let go.

"I—I was just so scared," she whimpered, her words muffled by Erza's coat. "I thought they'd kill me. I thought it was over. I thought they'd kill Vice-captain Hinamori…"

"You're safe," Erza assured her. "I won't let anyone touch you, I promise."

"You promise?"

"I promise. I swear on the graves of my friends," Erza said. Perhaps that last part had been a bit too dark, but it had simply come to her. She held Rurichiyo like that for ages—or at least half an hour—consoling her, reassuring her. Eventually Rurichiyo untangled herself from Erza, her eyes red.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Don't mention it," said Erza, a little choked up herself at this point.

"So," said Rurichiyo, wiping her eyes. "So, um… why don't you tell me a bit about this thing you need. Kumoi never told me any details, just that it was some kind of political agreement."

"Well," said Erza, taking a moment to think, "there are… a lot of poor people out there, without a home or even clothes on their backs, and I think that's bad. I want to do something about it."

"Like what?"

"Well… I'd start by strengthening the place they live by establishing order. Make sure they don't have to worry about bandits or warlords. From there, we'd see how it turned out."

"Can you get more specific?"

Erza blinked. She hadn't expected this much interrogation from a girl Rurichiyo's age. Served her right for assuming, she figured.

"Well," said Erza, "the proposal would involve…"

And just like that, she started laying out her plans. In Rurichiyo she found an attentive and surprisingly knowledgeable listener. Here, at least, she had a vote secured.

Hopefully, before too long, she would have a criminal apprehended.

After having spent an hour—valuable time, she knew, but she couldn't help herself—in Rurichiyo's company, she departed for her next appointment: the Feng estate, Soifon's family home. They were on the list, and she would need every vote she could get—this was an uphill battle, and none could be discarded.

She did not know what to expect. She was on quite good terms with Soifon, but Soifon was not on good terms with her family. She would have no real edge or inroad here; it would hinge entirely on her ability to reason and persuade—neither things she was renowned for her skill at. Sighing, Erza walked down toward the house.

Once ushered inside, Erza was struck by the luxury of it. It was far less ostentatious and far more practical than the Shihoin manor, yes, but there was nothing in here that was not well made, that did not radiate dignity and wealth in one form or another. The wall decorations were more likely to be weapons than paintings, but those, too, were of excellent make. It was easy to forget that Soifon was of noble origins; hardworking and down-to-earth, the captain was hard-headed and proud but never arrogant or haughty the way somebody like Kuchiki Byakuya could be. And, here Erza was, in Soifon's home…

No, not her home. Home was where a person lived, and the division would be Soifon's home more than this—that, and the place she shared with Yoruichi. But, it had been her home once. Standing around in the vestibule she had been shown into, Erza inspected one of the blades mounted on the wall: a polearm with a relatively short handle and a long, curved blade. It was well kept, gleaming in the light, and it looked like it had been polished recently. It looked sharp and deadly, and something told Erza the weapons were not made for display.

"I can see you are a woman of culture."

The voice came from the end of the room, and a woman in the garb of a clan leader. Black with gold thread; subdued but nevertheless communicating wealth and status. Consistent with the house, then. She looked old, grey in her hair, and her wrinkled face had a look of minor disdain to it, as if the world was something of a disappointment to her. In one hand she carried a long, thin smoking pipe.

"I am here to see clan head Yua Feng," said Erza, a little bit surprised. "Are you…"

"The very same," the old woman said, sauntering over toward Erza.

"Clan head, I thank you for taking your time—" Erza said, giving a clumsy bow, but Yua waved her off.

"Spare the courtesies. We're both women of action, albeit in different ways. Let us speak plainly to one another."

"I… oh. Well, good. That… suits me," said Erza, taken aback. She had expected to have to do a bit of grovelling, in the same official setting as the other noble houses she had visited, but the Fengs seemed different. Perhaps not too surprising, given their profession and their status.

"This blade," said Yua, reaching for the polearm, "has taken many a life. It was forged in my great-grandfather's time, by the smith Tokumatsu, a master artisan of the Shihoin clan's employ. It was gifted to my great-grandfather for his service, as a token of gratitude. A tool that he may better defend them. Would you feel its weight?" She extended a hand, offering the weapon to Erza.

Hesitantly, Erza replied, "Well… I wouldn't want to… I mean, if it's an artefact of your clan…"

"Go on. Take it. Feel its weight, its purpose," Yua insisted. Erza, unwilling to offend her, took the weapon in both hands, moving it tentatively up and down.

"It is excellently balanced," she commented.

"No need to restrain yourself, warrior. See how its thrust suits you. I would very much like to see how the fabled Captain Scarlet handles a blade as fine as this."

Erza shrugged, took a few steps out into the room, and thrust forward. She set into a series of slashes and thrusts, going through an attack routine against an imagined enemy. All throughout, the blade held up excellently.

"A fine weapon," she said as she finished, standing up straight, planting the hilt into the floor. "Halberds are not my specialty, but it's quite something still. Just a little short for me, but it holds up well. Your ancestors can be proud."

"So they are," said Yua, extending a hand to take back the blade. She carefully placed it back on its spot on the wall. "It probably is a bit short for you, but my great-grandfather was at least a head shorter than you, not much bigger than my Soifon."

"I see," said Erza diplomatically.

"Having seen this, do you understand the purity of such a tool?"

"The… purity?"

"A tool made for one purpose, made well and with passion. A tool well loved and cared for, perfect for its purpose when wielded by a strong and able hand. Yet, left alone and uncared for, what would happen to it?"

"…I assume the blade would rust," Erza said hesitantly. "The wood would go bad over time. It might crack, or rot. The strings and pins holding the blade to the hilt might break."

Yua nodded. "Exactly. It would fall into decay, and eventually become something nobody would consider a worthwhile tool."

Erza nodded again, unsure where this was going.

"A tool in disrepair must be mended. Do you understand where I am going, Captain Scarlet, or are metaphors not your forte?"

"…You're talking about your clan, right?" said Erza, realization finally dawning on her. "I know very little about that affair, and I did not want to assume."

"Commendable. But, yes, that is my family: a tool in disrepair."

"You think of yourselves merely as tools?"

Yua took a puff on her pipe, blowing out a wisp of smoke. "You can be forgiven, unlike my ingrate granddaughter, for not understanding. You are from a different place, with different ideas. We Feng are servants. There is a purity to that, to knowing our place is secure. It is what we were raised to do. It is, more importantly, what we want."

What your clan wants, or what you want? Erza thought.

"You truly desire… what, exactly? I do not understand what has happened."

"What do you know of my granddaughter?" said Yua.

"She is… extremely hardworking, principled, and stubborn—and powerful, both as an individual and as a part of the Gotei's power structure. She is a large part of why we're holding together as things stand. If not for this grievance of yours, I believe she would make you proud."

"If," said Yua bitterly. "That is quite a large if, but yes. In all other respects, she is an exemplary individual. Then again, that is rather like saying that if Aizen had not betrayed you and started this disastrous war, he would be an excellent captain."

Erza's eyes narrowed. "Mind your words, clan head," she said sharply. "You are comparing a good friend of mine to the worst kind of traitor."

"Not at all," said Yua, "but do forgive me if I caused offense. I believe you understand my point, though."

Erza nodded, restraining herself. She was not here to start a fight. "Explain, then. This… grievance of yours."

"The short of it… well, as you may know, little Soifon was once chosen to become Lady Yoruichi's personal bodyguard. A prized position, one that would in time propel her to the very top of our clan, place her close to the Shihoin power structure, and at the top of shinigami power as well. She would live for her and only her, devote herself to her master in all things. I see the look on your face, captain, but it is as great an honour as anyone in our clan could expect.

"But, of course, it was not to be. You know the story. Little Soifon took it… poorly. I never quite appreciated how poorly, and that was my mistake. She gained power… oh, she was always my best pupil, the strongest of us all…"

Yua sounded odd, wistful, like she held some pride for her granddaughter as she once had been.

"But, she fostered a deep resentment within her, a burning hatred and bitterness. With Yoruichi gone, her hate for the lady who had betrayed her spilled over to our beloved Shihoins. She seized power as a captain, usurping the Shihoin clan head in doing so. She unseated their hold over Second Division and the corps, and gleefully alienated her entire clan from them. Now we must prostitute our services to other houses on an ad hoc basis, without security or comfort. We are lost, and adrift. Worst of all, whenever we seek to make amends, my ingrate granddaughter undermines us. Our last overture? Within a week, a Shihoin officer was inexplicably fired. She gives every impression to speak for the clan, and they will not believe us when we contradict her. They see her acting, and believe she stands for our entire house.

"I could tolerate her becoming captain. It is audacious and disrespectful, and it embarrasses the Shihoins, but I could live with it. But this?"

Erza had, until now, felt entirely unsympathetic. But… "She deliberately blocks your attempts to reconcile?"

"So she does. She started out devoted to her lady, and her hate ruined us. Now she is devoted to her in a whole other way. She has everything she wants, and she refuses to let us have what we want."

"…Does it bother you that she is with Yoruichi?"

Yua shrugged. "It is not for me to question the tastes of a noble lady like herself, estranged or not. What the Shihoin want, they may have. All I want is for us to have the prosperity and purpose she denies us."

"I assume that is your price, then."

"Isn't it lovely to be able to speak plainly?" said Yua sardonically. "You assume correctly. Find a way to reconcile with the Shihoin. Reason with Soifon. Do that, and we will support whatever initiative you have, now and forever."

"…That is a tall order," Erza said hesitantly. "Soifon is quite stubborn, even if Yoruichi is taking some of the edge off. And, it's not like I have wonderful relations with the Shihoin. I do with Yoruichi, but she is… estranged."

"Her brother desires to see her back. That is your angle," Yua retorted quickly.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you know that," Erza muttered. "So, all I have to do is convince one of my best friends to change course on something she's held on to for most of her life, and also the second biggest clan to forget, what… a hundred years' worth of obstruction?"

"Yes."

Erza sighed. "Alright. Fine. I'll ask. Then I have your support?"

"As agreed. I swear upon our honour as a clan, and upon our dignity as servants to the Shihoin."

"And if a member of your clan would not want this service?"

Yua shrugged. "As you can see, our rule can be defied. We are not slaves; we choose our servitude. Those who wish not to can do as they see fit."

But at what cost? Erza wondered. She sighed again. "You have a bargain. I can promise nothing, but I'll make the attempt."

"I'll await your results eagerly, Captain Scarlet. Do not be intimidated: you may find yourself a stranger in this world, but you are a forceful and convincing personality. Your honesty and frankness may seem naïve and blunt to some, but it is not a useless quality. It makes you reliable, honourable. Simplicity has its uses, as do the many connections you have made through these qualities."

"…Thank you," said Erza, a little surprised. The notion that she, as she was, had qualities that could help rather than hinder her was new to her, and to hear it from the head of a clan of spies…

Well, she'd know, wouldn't she?

Rukia carried a stack of papers—request forms for leave, dispatches from the frontline patrols, reports of recent operations; it was absurd how quickly these piled up—almost as big as she was to the captain's office. As she stepped inside her toes struck the doorstep and she stumbled forward. She managed to regain her footing before she actually fell and made a complete ass of herself in front of her captain, but the stack of papers went flying.

"Damn it!" Rukia swore, quickly getting on her knees to pick them up. "So sorry, Captain Kuna, a thousand apologies…"

She felt a little mortified. She had sworn in front of her captain, just after making a very visible mistake. What would her brother have said? Such a thing would be unthinkable for the clan leader.

"Please, relax," said Mashiro, kneeling down next to Rukia.

"Oh please, captain, there's no need," Rukia protested. "I'll take care of this in—in just a minute, I swear. Again, I am so sorry—"

"Shush," said Mashiro, joining Rukia in her frantic grab for the scattered documents. "Take it easy. We're both under a ton of pressure. Nobody reasonable is going to demand an apology for just tripping. I definitely won't."

"…Oh. Er…"

"Now, come on. We've got papers to gather, don't we?"

"…Yes," said Rukia, still a little awkward. It was weird to be down here, on her knees, her captain right next to her, doing menial work that was, strictly speaking, beneath the both of them.

"It's, er, the reports…" Rukia muttered embarrassedly, "and… a ton of other things. You know how it is…"

"I said relax," Mashiro said, rolling her eyes. "We're only human, you know."

"Huh?"

"Oh. Oh, right. Technically, I guess we're not," Mashiro laughed. "I've spent so much time in the world of the living, it leaves an imprint on you."

"I… get that. Sort of," Rukia said, finally gathering up the last of the paperwork.

"And, now we have to sort them. Fun, isn't it?" Mashiro said, standing up, getting behind her desk.

"Again, I'm sorry—"

"Stop it with that, will you?" Mashiro said, waving dismissively at her vice-captain.

"I—yes, captain. Um."

"You're acting strangely, Rukia," Mashiro said, casually flicking through the papers. She had the strangest ability to take in the contents of a page at a glance; without barely even looking, she started sorting the messy stack she'd picked up. As quickly as she could, Rukia followed up on it, starting to sort through the stack. "You seem tightly wound. You're normally pretty professional, which is good—at least one of us needs to be."

"Captain, you're not—"

"Again, stop," Mashiro said. "I was never meant to be a captain, anyway. Let's not get hung up on you defending me from me, yes?"

"…Yes, captain."

"Anyway, you seem a bit… different. Want to tell me what's going on?"

"Oh, you know… being a vice-captain is…"

"A lot more than you bargained for?"

Rukia nodded, sighing. "It's, uh—it's a lot. Stepping into the shoes of a great man, that's one hang-up, and then there's the work…"

"I hear you on that. Pass me the forms, if you have any?"

Rukia obediently shuffled over the forms she'd sorted out so far.

"And… well, it's a personal matter. I should not trouble you with such things."

"If it's affecting my vice-captain, you can and will," Mashiro said firmly.

Rukia sighed again, much more deeply. "Something has… occupied my mind as of late. Invasively. It eats up most of my time. It's all I can think about."

"Find yourself a nice boy?" Mashiro snickered. Seeing Rukia's expression, she added, "Or girl. That works too, you know."

"It's not… that," Rukia said, shaking her head. "That's the last thing on my mind, really. I wonder if I'll even be able to choose that."

"Now you really have me curious. Spill it, vice-captain."

Rukia, who so far had been faithfully tight-lipped, found herself eager to share. "Swear you will say nothing, captain. This is important."

"On my honour as a respectable officer," said Mashiro, so formally and officiously that Rukia wondered if she was being mocked.

"I… later this week, I am being announced as the heir to the Kuchiki clan."

Mashiro whistled. "That is quite a gig. Congratulations."

Seeing Rukia's expression, she gave her vice-captain a look.

"Or, should I say, 'You have my sympathies?'"

"I—I don't know. There is apparently nobody better suited, which is scary because I'm not that well suited to begin with. I am being educated in clan affairs, but…" She shook her head. "My brother believes in me, and that has to count for something. Clearly he sees something in me that I do not. Or… or maybe the situation is just desperate. It came out of nowhere and… it hit me like a truck, to use one of those living-world sayings. Like several trucks. Can you imagine handling that kind of responsibility? I mean, of course you can, you're a captain, but just a few months back I was an unseated officer and now I'm a vice-captain and now I'm supposed to be head of clan one day and—"

"Shush," said Mashiro and Rukia, relieved to hear an order, instantly closed her mouth. "Did you find any of the dispatches yet? I think I'm about done sorting."

"Here," said Rukia, numbly handing Mashiro a smaller stack of papers. Carefully, the captain shuffled it into her own pile.

"Listen," she said, looking Rukia in the eye. "You're clan heir, right? And Byakuya is not stepping down?"

"No. God, no. No, that'd be…" Rukia felt weak just imagining it.

"Then that's a problem for well down the line, isn't it? Not much changes, except that you're being prepared for that role, well ahead of time. And, that's good. Right?"

"…Yeah," Rukia said, nodding hesitantly.

"And, you're not ready right now. Big whoop. You have years to get ready. Byakuya's hung on for a long time now, and he's not exactly growing old. He survived this war: he'll survive anything. He has time, and so do you.

"As for being suited… I mean, you say you don't have any experience, but you're basically holding this whole division together. No, don't give me that look—it's been ages since I was in command, and I couldn't have done this whole thing without you, not for a second. You stepped up, big time. You've got what it takes."

"I just… did what I've seen others do," Rukia murmured embarrassedly, "what makes sense. A lot of things I'm still figuring out. It… is working for now. I guess. I just keep expecting it all to come down, like a house of cards."

"If we're honest, I feel the exact same way. But, I know that's me being stupid. We both have to rise above it. We need to believe in ourselves, and not in that feel-good kind of way, but because if we don't we can't do this job. Look at yourself. You're doing well, and you have all the time in the world to learn to do better. So… don't worry about it."

"…Thank you, captain," said Rukia, feeling strangely relieved. It felt like a weight had just been lifted from her shoulders. She hadn't expected this out of her happy-go-lucky captain…

"Anyway," said Mashiro, as if nothing had really happened, "do you have the reports? I don't look forward to going through them."

"Here," said Rukia, quickly handing out the papers. "We'll do them together."

"Together it is," Mashiro said, nodding approvingly.

Paperwork had never felt so tolerable as it did in that moment.

On her way back, Erza took a detour by Second Division. She had to find Soifon and talk to her, after all, and now was as good a time as any to take the bull by the horns and get it done. However, after being shown inside, she was disappointed. It was the vice-captain who received her, seated behind his desk.

"Erza," said Rod, barely looking up from his paperwork. "Still kicking about, I see."

"As are you. I was wondering what happened to you. I haven't seen you since…"

"Since before the battle?"

"I'm sorry about that," said Erza, a pang of guilt running through her. She had not meant to neglect her old friend.

"Please," said Rod, rolling his eyes. "I know better than almost anyone how much pressure everyone has been under. If I can survive the shit I went through in Karakura, I can survive a few weeks of not socializing."

"What… happened to you?"

Rod shrugged. "Was in charge of a bunch of reserve teams. We killed a ton of hollows out at the flanks until a dozen or so arrancar jumped my team. They all died fighting, except me. I returned the favour, but I was pretty sure I'd never wake up again. Real fucked up, like severed spine, pierced lungs, most of my blood lost, severe skull fracture... when I woke up, I really wished I hadn't."

"I'm so sorry," Erza whispered.

He rolled his eyes again. "I'm a soldier, dumbass. Pain is part of what you sign up for. But, my case was bad enough I was a priority for Unohana herself, apparently. I only returned to duty a week ago, after some intensive physical therapy, enough drugs to kill several cows, and some of the most advanced medical kido known to man. I'm due for follow-ups at Fourth for months. But, I'm okay, more or less. As okay as you are, considering." He shrugged.

"I didn't know—"

"Scarlet, enough," he said sharply. "Neither of us have the time to sit down, hold hands, and sing sappy songs about how this makes us feel. I'll be fine. Now, you came here for a reason, didn't you?"

"Oh," said Erza, a bit taken aback. "Uh, yeah. I was looking for Soifon."

"Out doing whatever," Rod said, shrugging. "Even I don't get to know."

"Or, you do know, but it's classified."

"If I did, would I tell you?"

Erza chuckled. "Sure, I hear you. Where do I find her?"

"At her girlfriend's, most likely, when the working day is done. Funny, that: she's actually working less than before, and she's still outdoing most captains. At least she's not going to work herself to death, I guess."

Erza nodded. "In that case, I was wondering if there is anything new on the Kasumiouji case. Unless that is classified too?"

"Not too classified for a captain," Rod said dismissively, "but there's not much to tell, really. It's too early to tell anything concrete. The team of hired goons were our best lead, but they covered their tracks well, and with them dead, so is our lead."

"Nothing, huh?" said Erza, shaking her head.

"It's not nothing. The ability to cover your tracks well requires skills that narrow the pool of suspects considerably. But, as-is, no real progress is being made."

"The whole business irritates me," Erza muttered. "We know who it is. I wish we could just…"

"Just what? Go in there and kill him because we're sure?"

"I mean…"

"If that's the kind of society we want, then you get anarchy and blood feuds galore. Protocol matters. Evidence matters. You know the alternative to law and order."

Erza sighed. "I know, I know. I just wish the world was… more just, I guess."

"Don't we all," said Rod dispassionately.

"Er, Captain Scarlet?"

From the doorway leading to Rod's office, an officer of second stepped in.

"What?" Rod snapped.

"A message for Captain Scarlet, sir!" the officer said nervously, quickly saluting.

"What is it?" Erza said.

"There is a messenger outside, captain," the officer said quickly. "They represent the Shihoin. They say they want to talk to you, at your leisure—but soon."

"Good thing my captain isn't here, then," Rod muttered. "Her mood would be worse than normal…"

At your leisure, but within no less than two days, the note had read. It had been signed not by a functionary or high-ranking family member, but by Shihoin Yuushirou himself. Erza had meant to go right back to the division to catch up on her mounting mound of paperwork, but she saw no reason to delay. It would give her an opportunity to present the Fengs' pitch, and the sooner she wrapped this up, the better.

With more than a little guilt, she realized that this whole political foray had started eating into her time quite seriously. It had been naïve to think of it merely as a part time activity. Already, she had to delegate a lot of her work; several of her subordinates were effectively just secretaries, and a lot of her paperwork was just putting her signature to something others had prepared for her.

But, at the same time, taking a step back would mean abandoning her initiative, and giving up just because it was hard would be anathema to everything she stood for. It was a very different kind of hard—she knew how to sleep out in the field, or how to fight and bleed; it was hard but also second nature to her. Having to talk, talk, and talk, offer this for that…

She wasn't keeling over just yet, but a large part of her simply did not want to do it. Overcoming this aversion was the hardest part, forcing herself to do something she neither was good at nor wanted to do. It wore at her. Mentally, she felt tired the way her body might feel after a whole day of nonstop training.

I need a vacation, she thought.

It was in this ambiguous, anxious mood that she arrived at the Shihoin manor. Unlike her prior visit, where it had been all pomp and officiousness, she was shown inside the compound, into the Shihoin gardens. It was well kept, with hedges, kempt lawns, an artfully arranged space of round small pebbles, a pond with ducks and fish… all the appeal of nature, carefully trimmed to fit human desires. Just standing inside it made her feel awkward, like she had planted her feet on a frail work of art. Feeling like she was about to ruin something with every step, she walked up to the edge of the pond, where the Shihoin head stood. His robes were relatively casual, if only compared to the gaudiness of his official attire. He carried a small bag of seeds, and the ducks were gathered just past his feet in a feeding frenzy.

"Pleasant, isn't it?" he said, throwing another handful of seeds. "I like to come here when the responsibilities of rulership become too much. It is important to have a space for peace of mind, don't you agree?"

It helps if you can afford your own massive private garden, Erza avoided saying. Instead she said,

"Your garden is quite something, Lord Shihoin. Your gardeners are a credit to your clan."

"Lord Yuushirou will do," the young—or rather, young-looking—lord said. He sounded like he was in a good mood. Emptying the last of the seeds at his feet, he tucked the empty bag into his robes and turned around. "Will you take a stroll through my gardens with me, captain?"

"It'd be my pleasure," Erza said, more stiffly than she had meant to.

"You are so tense," Yuushirou laughed, as they started walking. "Is it my extravagant wealth that offends you? I am told you have strong feelings about this matter."

"Forgive me, lord," Erza sighed. "I am… experiencing a lot of stress from my work. More than usual. No offense was meant."

"I'll say. You've been in politics for less than a week, and you've already managed to strike several bargains and get yourself entangled in a murder investigation," Yuushirou said amusedly.

"Is there anybody who doesn't know my business?" Erza grumbled.

Yuushirou laughed, a clean sound without a trace of mockery. "Captain, you are not the subtle type—and these things are practically public knowledge at this point. It does not take a crack team of investigators to find this out."

Erza sighed, again.

"Best get used to it," the clan head continued. "You are a celebrity, after all. Your every move will be scrutinized, and every action, however innocuous, will be examined and taken one way or the other. And, the pressure will never go away. The process will sharpen you or break you, simple as that."

"Your lordship sounds… strangely cheerful, despite the pessimistic tone of your words," Erza said, confusedly.

"It is what it is. No sense in resenting it. We can only work with what we have."

"Enough chit-chat. I was called here for a reason, no?"

"Fair enough. Both of our time is precious, after all. After serious discussion with senior members of my house, I have a proposal ready. In exchange for our support, you will convince Captain Soifon to accept… five Shihoin officers into her Stealth Corps. All qualified," he added quickly. "We know she would accept no less."

"Five officers? From the sound of it, I doubt she'd accept one. If it comes directly from the House Shihoin…"

"Believe me, I talked my council down," Shihoin said, giving her a smile. He seemed different to her here: easy-going, approachable. It reminded her of Yoruichi's natural charm—but polished, deliberately played up. "They wanted a hundred at the start. When I laughed that one off, they wanted twenty, absolutely no less, no matter what. It took days of hard handling mixed with pleading, with experts weighing in, before I sold them on five officers… as a starting point."

"A starting point?" Erza's eyes narrowed.

"That's how I sold it. Naturally, Captain Soifon can put a stop to anything I want in that area at any time. She has ensured her position strongly enough that no amount of political manoeuvring can force her hand. But, five officers? That should be doable. All we want is a little more influence in an institution we once held total sway over. Merited influence, from a clan whose expertise is well suited for it."

"You don't need to sell me on it," Erza said slowly. "It's Soifon… and I doubt she'd ever agree."

"Not if it came from us, no."

"You need me to convince her."

"You are friends. She has precious few of those."

"You expect me to leverage that against her?"

"How you do it is entirely up to you. I can tell you that this is the final offer; it won't go down. Without it, no support."

Erza hesitated.

"Come now, captain," Yuushirou said with a smile. "This is no dirty deal. All we ask is that you ask a friend a favour. If she says no, then nothing changes."

"Except I have none of your votes."

"Exactly so."

"If I do this…" Erza said hesitantly, "then will you consider mending the rift with the Feng clan? They have their price too, and all they want is to restore service as it once was."

"They have a strange way of showing it, with how they undermine us."

"According to the clan head, that is Soifon's will at play. They have taken no action against you, or so they say."

"There are… voices in the family who still feel quite betrayed," said Yuushirou hesitantly. "Voices with influence. Although, it is true that we have not looked into the matter deeply for some time."

"If I can ask a friend a favour, you can bring the Feng to the table for a talk as well."

"A reasonable request," Yuushirou nodded. "Although, with that favour added to the deal, I would ask one of my own."

"What, then?"

"Bring my sister here."

"…What?"

"Just for a visit. I want her to come here, to my mansion, to… talk, I suppose. She keeps dodging my invitations. Convince her to come."

"What… do you want with her?" said Erza, confused and a little suspicious.

Yuushirou sighed. "Not all of us took her leaving quite as poorly as Captain Soifon, but… I used to look up to her, growing up. She was the elder one, the star of the family. The calm, collected clan head. The one who made everything look easy, running the whole family and still enjoying life, having… fun with it. I've run it since, and it's still a mystery to me how she did it. I… I'd like for her to be formally readmitted into the clan. If she refuses that, then I want to at least have her in my life again. I missed her. She is family. It's not all crass, callous, cynical quid pro quo, Captain Scarlet.

"She is my sister, the one I always wanted to be like, and it hurt to see her go. When it came out that she had been framed, that she was innocent, it made me happier than I have been… well, ever since she left. I had thought that with the war done, things could go back to… not to normal, not like how things were, but that we could at least be family again. So far, she seems determined to avoid that."

His voice hardened.

"If she wants nothing to do with me, I want to at least know that, so I do not have to live with the uncertainty of it. So, convince her to come here, to see me, to set the record straight."

His voice trembled a little toward the end, and Erza felt strangely moved.

"We have an agreement," she said, nodding. "I'll talk to them both. I'll see what I can do. They're both… stubborn, in their own ways, but…"

"Captain Soifon is like a hard oak, unbending and inflexible. My sister is like a reed, never where you want her, always moving with the wind."

"You're not wrong," Erza said, nodding. "I'll try. And, when it's done…"

"You'll have my support. I swear it, on the honour of my clan."

"So be it, then."

Erza had not expected it, but much now hinged on Soifon—and making the most inflexible mind she'd known move on something it had not moved on for a century.

The next evening was the big night, and Erza headed out with Momo in tow. Having no finery of her own, Erza had settled for her uniform but left her plate armour at home. The Kuchiki mansion's main hall was filled to the brim with the Gotei's social elite. Most of them were Kuchiki nobles in their most elaborate, gaudy robes—Erza felt more than a little out of place in her simple uniform—but she spotted more than a few officers as well. She saw Kyouraku in the distance, to her surprise, and Unohana Retsu, as well.

Most nobles wore the Kuchiki crest, but she could see representatives of every major clan, and more than a few of the lesser houses whose crests she did not recognize. With Momo at her arm she carefully navigated through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries as she went. She had caused a stir just coming there, and people had flocked to her to wish her well, congratulate her on her great victory… the dismissive tone made her uncomfortable. She was relieved to finally reach the back of the room, where Byakuya, Rukia, and an assembly of clan elders stood to greet their guests.

Rukia looked strange wearing a white, formal dress with the Kuchiki crest emblazoned on both shoulders in gold thread, her hair done up in a strange manner, held up with a hair pin similar to Byakuya's kenseikan. She looked out of place in her clothes, almost as much as Erza felt.

"Captain Scarlet, Vice-captain Hinamori," Byakuya said, his tone as even as ever, "the house of Kuchiki welcomes you inside its walls, and extends its hospitality."

"We gratefully accept this hospitality, Lord Kuchiki," Erza said, giving a formal bow. She would never catch up to noble etiquette, but she knew at least how to give a basic greeting. "May fortune smile upon your house."

"As it may smile upon yours," Byakuya said, giving her a nod. Taking her cue to move on and let him greet the next guest, Erza walked away, hoping to find a nice, quiet spot near the wall. She had come here to make friends with the nobles, but it had turned out the problem wasn't in approaching them but in how many of them would try to approach her.

"Hello, stranger."

The voice sounded strangely amused, and Erza jumped.

"Yoruichi?"

It was indeed her, but she was hardly recognizable. She wore an elaborate robe of black and gold, smooth, silken, and tasteful, her hair done up in style.

"You look… you look…" Erza stuttered, in between shocked and impressed.

"Stunning? Elegant? Really kind of hot, in the 'I-wish-I-was-single' kind of way?" Yoruichi laughed, doing a little twirl on the spot.

"Noble," Erza blurted out.

"Ugh, you just have to ruin it, don't you?" Yoruichi said, dramatically rolling her eyes. "Yes, this is an old thing I used to have. Never thought I'd have use for it again, but here we are."

"You look lovely," Momo reassured her sweetly, although Erza noticed that Momo clasped her arm more tightly.

"You were… invited? I didn't think you and Byakuya were on good terms."

"Well, 'invited' is a strong word. I decided to come here, and looking like I have every right to be here, who is to know?"

"I would."

It was Byakuya, and for a second time, Erza jumped.

Apparently done greeting his guests, Byakuya had come over to their corner. He was accompanied by Rukia and… Ichigo? As well as, of course, the great tail of Kuchiki hangers-on, following him like little fish trailing after a shark.

"Why, if it isn't the great Lord Byakuya," said Yoruichi, a broad grin on her face. "I am so very deeply honoured to have been invited to your fancy shindig."

She gave a bow, so exaggeratedly deep that even Erza could tell it wasn't sincere.

"I do not recall having invited you," said Byakuya, his voice cool.

"Must be some kind of mistake. You know how these affairs get: so many things to keep track of. Things get lost, people forget things. You know what they say: it's so hard to get good help these days. It was true in my day, and I'm sure it's true now."

The smile never left Yoruichi's face, and Erza groaned inwardly. The woman had no shame, just none at all.

"I would hate to find out that you were trespassing, Shihoin Yoruichi."

"Oh, I'd hate that, too. It would just devastate me. I would be so beside myself, I wouldn't know what I was doing. I'd hate to end up making a scene on Rukia's big day. You'd want people to be talking about her tomorrow, not the scandalous estranged Shihoin making a ruckus."

Byakuya was hard to read, but there was no mistaking the twitch that passed his left eyebrow. His self-control was extraordinary, Erza would grant him.

"Upon further reflection, there must be some kind of mistake. I am sure you were given a proper invitation after all," he said, his voice perfectly even. "The house of Kuchiki welcomes you to its halls, and extends to you its hospitality."

"Much obliged. May fortune smile upon its walls, and all that jazz," Yoruichi said irreverently. "Hey, do you guys serve any liquor in this place? It has to have some kind of fun."

"Refreshments, including celebratory wine, will be served after the announcement," Byakuya said. His tone betrayed nothing, but there was hate in the subtle stare he gave her. "Forgive me, but I must attend to my other guests."

"Oh, you are forgiven," Yoruichi chuckled.

As Byakuya passed her he paused, and Erza heard a quick, whispered exchange.

"You will behave," Byakuya hissed. "You will not sour this sacrosanct event."

"Only here for the booze, I swear," Yoruichi replied. "I'll be a good girl, I promise."

Byakuya gave her a deeply skeptical look, but moved on. Rukia and Ichigo lingered, though.

"Rukia, you look just radiant," Momo said, the first to break the awkward silence. "Congratulations on your big day."

"Oh, thank you," said Rukia, sounding a bit awkward. "I mean, it's not official until it's official, but…" A smile crawled over her face.

Erza nodded. "Your brother is trusting you with something pretty big. More than he's trusting anyone in his whole clan, even. How's it feel?"

"Scary. Very, very scary. And… exciting," Rukia admitted.

"She's got this," Ichigo said, giving her a healthy slap to the back.

Rukia stumbled, and snapped, "You oaf, I'm trying to be official here—" Catching herself, she took a deep breath, and in a less angry tone, she said, "I would much appreciate it if you were to show this event the respect it is due, Mr. Kurosaki."

"Sheesh, she hit me with the mister," Ichigo snorted. "You know you don't have to grow a huge stick up your ass just because you'll lead a clan, right? It's optional. Not required."

"You—" Rukia started. Before it got out of hand, Erza cut in.

"Ichigo, what are you doing here? And in… those clothes?"

He indeed looked different, wearing white silken robes similar to Rukia's. Awkwardly, he scratched his head.

"Yeah, I didn't see it coming either, but Byakuya invited me, and it's for Rukia, so… how could I say no? They lent me these, and it's like, they look ridiculous but 'when in Rome,' you know?"

"Why would he invite you?" Erza asked, a little incredulous.

"My revered elder brother has seen fit to correct this oaf's behaviour following the war and teach him just a hint of class," Rukia said haughtily, "and so he has been teaching him proper swordplay in his spare time. Another sign of his superior character, of course."

"Yeah, yeah, superior character, sure," Ichigo said, rolling his eyes.

"…He's been teaching you?" Erza said, blinking.

"Oh. Yeah, I'd have mentioned it, but it's been pretty busy for us both, hasn't it? But, I'm getting pretty good, yeah. Even if it involves him showing me over and over how much I suck, no matter what. Nothing's good enough, and the closest you get to encouragement is him not scolding you. If you're really lucky you get yourself a really small nod."

"Extremely high praise, for which you should be proud," Rukia said, haughty as before.

"Yeah, yeah. But… yeah, I'm getting pretty good at the fundamentals. We should spar some time. I wanna see how far I've come with somebody who isn't a chronically pedantic perfectionist."

"…We should, yeah," said Erza, feeling a pang of guilt for having neglected him. The idea of Ichigo actually getting good, really good at this was both exciting and a little frightening, and Byakuya was as fine a swordsman as they came. Before they could continue, though, a bowing, black-clad servant approached Rukia.

"Yes?" she said.

"Begging your forgiveness, Mistress Kuchiki, but the lord wishes for you to come to his side. I am to inform you the pronouncement is about to commence."

"Oh shi—I mean, yes, of course," said Rukia, suddenly looking nervous. "I'll be there, uh, presently."

The servant bowed, and walked away.

"Damn it, already?" Rukia muttered, under her teeth.

"Knock 'em dead," Ichigo said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I don't even have to do anything, but…" Rukia started.

"Then get going. It's not going to not happen," Erza said, smiling reassuringly at her.

"…You're right. Okay. Er… here I go, then."

"You have my condolences," Yoruichi half-shouted after her, as the heir-to-be waddled through the crowd, nearly tripping on her way there.

The ceremony went off without a hitch, thankfully. Byakuya started with a long-winded speech about the importance of their clan and securing its future, and Erza found herself shifting, wanting to be elsewhere. All eyes were on him, though, so it was not like she could go anywhere else. Yoruichi prodded her with an elbow, quietly offering her a drink, apparently pilfered from the serving table.

"Come on. If you're going to endure little Byakuya droning on like this, you're gonna need it," she whispered. Erza rolled her eyes, sighed, and took the drink. She downed it in an instant, swallowing down a grunt as it burned her throat on the way down. Hiding the cup in her sleeve for the time being, she listened to the rest of the speech. If anybody else found it dull, nobody gave any sign of it, seeming enthralled by it.

If this is what noble life is like, then I'm out, she thought, half serious. Conquering negotiations, haggling and diplomacy, even dirty back alley deals, that was one thing, but having to sit through formal events like this?

"See why I bailed?" Yoruichi whispered, grinning at her. Erza resisted the urge to speak back, just nodding. Finally it seemed to wrap up, as Rukia took a knee in front of her brother, lowering her head.

"…and do you pledge to respect our clan's values and traditions, to protect it on all fields, to bring it strength and glory with all your actions?"

"I do," Rukia said, her voice a little shaky.

"Then rise, Kuchiki Rukia, heir to Clan Kuchiki. May your ascension be long in coming, and may you lead the family to greatness when your time comes."

"I so swear," Rukia said, a little pale.

"So it is done," Byakuya replied.

Erza would have expected applause, but instead there was a solemn silence, lasting for some time—enough to make it feel awkward again; hadn't she seen the light of the tunnel by now?—until suddenly Rukia smoothly made her way through the crowds to address the Kuchikis one by one, the silence suddenly replaced by animated chatter.

"This is honestly a bit juicy," Yoruichi whispered, her tone conspiratorial. "She's not ready. It's so obvious. She is violating one social rule after another; her etiquette is terrible."

"She seems perfectly polite to me," said Erza defensively. Talking behind Rukia's back like this did not sit right with her.

"Oh, she is, but you have no idea how unreasonably specific these rules can get," Yoruichi said, shaking her head. "She just greeted Kuchiki Kantou and Kuchiki Ouji with the same nod to the head, and—"

"Wait, the same nod is inappropriate?"

"Very," Yoruichi purred, her words sounding strangely amused. "You see, Kantou is far more senior and owed much more respect. She really shouldn't be nodding at either of them, since a nod is basically a bow and she is superior to everyone here except the clan head. She ought to allow them to bow to her, with Ouji having to bow deeper and longer. By about a second or so."

"…This is bizarre," Erza muttered.

"I told you, I was glad to leave it behind," Yoruichi chuckled.

"But if—if she's being so inappropriate, why is nobody frowning at her all judgmental-like?" Erza muttered. "I get that they can't openly disapprove, but…"

"The thing about these customs is that if you're important enough, you get to skip them. Ha, I remember my grandfather. He went senile and kept mixing up phrases. Scandalous, but what were you going to do, correct the clan head? Unthinkable. It was a huge—well, moderately huge—embarrassment to the clan until he resigned."

"…You said she's not ready," Erza muttered.

"Obviously. If she were, her etiquette would not be faulty. I assume little Byakuya focused on clan relations and politics, which is honestly the right call. But, yeah, this is sudden. I'm not too surprised he'd pick her, even if she's far from the likeliest candidate, given his hang-ups and all, but this soon? I am betting his experiences in the war really shook him."

"…You seem to really enjoy this," Erza said, unsure what to make of it.

"Oh, one of the few pleasures I had was gossiping with the other noble ladies. Although, unlike them you're not a spineless sycophant, which makes you a far worse gossiping partner, even if you're a much better person."

"…Right."

"Here, she's coming our way," said Yoruichi.

"What?"

"Just follow my lead," Yoruichi said confidently. She made her way through the crowd, smoothly elbowing anyone who happened to stand in the way, clearing a path like a rod parting a sea of silk. Erza had to respect the gall on her, and the sheer skill with which she navigated the crowd. Then again, she had no status left to lose.

"Heiress Kuchiki Rukia," said Yoruichi, bowing before Rukia with a smile on her face, "may I congratulate you on your ascension? With your recent, overdue promotion, I imagine you must feel on top of the world right now."

"Oh. Well… thank you, Yoruichi," Rukia said, with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "My duties are… quite strenuous, but as my brother likes to say, leadership is an honourable burden to bear."

"As wise as I would expect from the Kuchiki clan head," Yoruichi said solemnly.

In the background, Erza could see Byakuya, a look of concern on his face. He seemed to decide not to intervene, though. Had to let her have her moment, Erza guessed.

Yoruichi continued speaking to Rukia in a calm, carefree manner, although in the strangely formal way everyone here seemed to use, and Erza could see Rukia easing up a little. Although the two of them were not exactly close friends, Yoruichi was at least a friendly face to Rukia, and being surrounded by demanding clan people undoubtedly jealous of her, that had to mean something.

"…and how are things with Ichigo and company? I hope you haven't lost touch."

"Well, if you want to ask that foolish man anything, he is right here," said Rukia with a chuckle. "As for the rest of them, I miss them but I have had no time to socialize. They conducted themselves honourably in the war. I have been thinking about inviting them here to stay for a visit, although with things being as hectic as they are…"

"Oh, I know, I know," Yoruichi laughed. "I practically have to tear Soifon from her desk. She'd live there if she could, I think."

"Oh, believe me, sometimes I feel like I sleep at the division more than here. Not that I do not want to live here," she added quickly, "but, ah, duty calls at all times."

"Of course it does. I hope you are at least in touch with your colleagues, like Erza here."

"As often as I can," Rukia nodded.

They were now at the heart of a circle, the impatient nobles all waiting to take their turn with the new clan heir. Yoruichi was taking up more than her time, it seemed.

"Tell me, have you heard of her latest idea?"

"Oh, I think I might have heard something. Feeding the poor?"

"More than that, she's aiming to not only protect and help the poor, but to use it to drive up recruitment. She's trying to bring up Gotei power and stability while also doing the right thing. Can you imagine that, a righteous soul like her turning practical all of a sudden?"

"Driving up recruitment?"

"Well," said Erza awkwardly, "I can't exactly expect the Gotei to do it for nothing, you know? So I found a way that benefits us both. It starts with building good will, and… well, you don't want me to start giving a speech in the middle of your big event."

"Isn't she something?" Yoruichi said with a grin. "I can't think of a better cause, right now. Can you?"

"No," Rukia agreed. "No, it's… very noble, actually."

Suddenly Byakuya was moving, as quickly as dignity allowed him.

"Oh, but of course," Yoruichi said. "She's the hero of the Gotei, after all. Would you expect any less?"

She fell silent, giving the crowd a triumphant look as she took a step back.

"Er… are we to take it that you support Captain Scarlet's initiative?" asked an older man, a member of the Kyourakus by the looks of it.

"Well, I don't see why not—" Rukia started, when her brother walked up, managing to look and sound completely dignified.

"What the clan heir means is that she has a great appreciation for Captain Scarlet, whose bravery has earned her a righteous and noble reputation," he said, cutting in smoothly as if he hadn't just interrupted Rukia.

"It rather sounded like…" said the old man.

"Come now, Elder Shibata," Byakuya said. "The Kuchiki clan would never lend its official support to a bill in such an informal manner, much less one that has not even been proposed yet. All I can say in speaking for the Kuchiki is that we have a great appreciation for its patriotic, charitable spirit, qualities nobody could accuse the good captain of lacking. In fact, I would propose a toast to her—to the hero of the Gotei Thirteen."

He raised his glass, and as one the crowd did the same, emptying their drinks.

"Now, clan heir, perhaps we ought to attend the rest of our guests," Byakuya said. "We have taken up enough of Shihoin Yoruichi's valuable time."

"Of course, clan head," Rukia said, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

As they walked away, Erza blinked in confusion.

"What… just happened?" she said to Yoruichi, who had remained by her side.

"I just earned you the Kuchiki vote," she said smugly.

"What… how?"

"He just expressed support for your views, very publicly. He was smooth with the damage control, I'll give him that, quickly turning it into a hero speech about you."

"He was… he gave me the cold shoulder there, clearly."

"He called it patriotic and charitable, in the most public setting possible. The Kuchikis will be seen as supporting you."

"What does that matter when they don't actually do that?" Erza said, bewildered.

"More than you think," Yoruichi said cryptically. "Whoops—he's coming our way. I'll see you later, Erza."

"Wait, what—don't—" Erza said, but Yoruichi nimbly slipped away into the sea of nobles, like a leaf blowing in the wind. Byakuya was most certainly approaching, and though his expression betrayed nothing, Erza doubted he was happy.

"Captain Scarlet," he said politely.

"Captain Kuchiki. Or, should I call you clan head?"

"As one captain to another, I prefer the rank. May I speak with you?"

"Of course."

She was ushered to the side, and the two of them stood alone in a side room before long—although, Erza noticed, he made a point of keeping his pace slow and measured.

"Tell me," he said, giving her a stern look, "how long did you plan this? It is ruthlessness of a kind I did not give you credit for, Scarlet. To use Rukia in such a manner, this publicly, at this kind of event? Were I the kind of slithering creature so common in these circles, I would admire it."

"What—what?" Erza bristled. "I barely know what just happened, and you think—you think I'd use her? I'm not that person, Kuchiki Byakuya, no matter what you may think!"

He gave her a long, scrutinizing stare. Erza did not blink or flinch.

"Were you anyone else," he said at long last, "I would not believe you, but you have proven yourself honourable in the past, and never deceitful. I can certainly believe that that conniving woman would go behind your back with this."

"…I still don't get it," Erza said, shaking her head. "She said she'd… flipped the Kuchikis, kinda sorta? But, you made yourself clear. And, like… why not just make that clear publicly? There and then?"

"I could not." Byakuya sighed. "To directly contradict my heir like so would make her look foolish, and it would make me look foolish for choosing a foolish heir. All I could do was change the direction slightly. Have you 'flipped' the Kuchiki? Not quite, but I am on record speaking favourably of your initiative. It is no small endorsement, whether you gained my actual support or not. Moreover, people will think I support you, which almost forces my hand on the issue. It was a clever move on her part, ruthlessly so."

"So… because people think you support me, you have to?"

"It would look as if we were going back on an agreement if I did not. It would reflect poorly on us. That's not to say we cannot choose to withhold support, but it would hurt our reputation to do so. What people think is true in this world, unfortunately, is often worth as much or more than what is actually true."

"I… see. Well, sort of. It's…"

"If you find it confusing and needlessly complex, it would not surprise me. To an outsider, it would be."

Erza simply nodded. There was a sudden shift in Byakuya's expression then, slight and subtle, but noticeable.

"Do not let yourself be deceived about its nature, Erza Scarlet. You will have been told unkind things about it."

"The words 'snake pit' may have been used on multiple occasions, yes," Erza retorted.

"Spoken by people who loathe the system, or know nothing about it. Corruption does exist, as it always has, but that is a feature of human existence, not of the noble houses in particular. You may need to make uncomfortable bargains, or compromise on your principles at times, but do not let people like Shihoin Yoruichi lead you to think that pure cynicism and barter is all there is to this."

"Then… what is there?" said Erza, a bit taken aback.

"To be a conniving, deceitful manipulator is but one way to be. It is a trademark of the Shihoin; it's no wonder that is the only experience she would have to share with you. Consider my accusation just now: if I thought you to be just like them, would I ever have believed you when you swore ignorance? A well earned reputation for honesty is a strength. It makes you reliable, trustworthy. It limits your ability to deceive and manipulate, but it gives you credibility that the likes of Shihoin do not have. Deceit and manipulation is one way to act, not the way."

"But… it can't be that easy. I can't just be me and just expect to do well, can I?" Erza said doubtfully.

"You will need to negotiate, and sometimes accept that which is unsavoury or questionable. It is an unfortunate reality. Yet, in my time as clan head I have never taken a deal that is legally questionable or that demanded open dishonesty of me. After all this time, our status is still the highest. Mark my words: you need not be a Shihoin to make this work. You should not be a Shihoin."

"That… is good to know," said Erza, more than a little surprised.

"I must attend my guests before my presence is missed," Byakuya said curtly, "but do not forget what I have told you, Erza Scarlet."

"I will not," Erza said sincerely. The notion that it wasn't all backstabbing and dirty deals, coming from him… There might be hope yet.

Erza found her way back inside, and before long Yoruichi walked up beside her, looking pleased.

"So, how bad was it?" She smirked. "Was he very mad?"

"He was… not happy, no," Erza said distractedly. "He believed me when I said I had no idea, thankfully."

"Had to be done. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, and all that."

"I feel like it'd be bold to expect you to ask forgiveness at all," Erza muttered, giving Yoruichi a dirty look.

"You're so right," Yoruichi said with a chuckle. "Trust me, Erza. If all this costs you is Rukia getting mildly embarrassed, you get off lightly."

Erza sighed. She did not like this; she did not like putting a stain on Rukia's big day, or Yoruichi going behind her back like this…

But, she had come to Yoruichi for help. She was as much to blame. She shook her head; this was no time to take her to task for this.

"There was another thing," she said quietly. "If you don't mind."

"Shoot," Yoruichi said, shrugging.

"I've been approached by the Shihoins with a deal, for the votes."

"Well, better hope your back is stab-proof then," Yoruichi said cheerily.

"You think they'll turn on their word?"

"Nah, they'll do a quid pro quo. It's just that clan politics always seem to end up with somebody stabbed in the back, figuratively. Or literally, in some cases. What's the catch?"

Erza grimaced. "Convincing Soifon to let in five Shihoin officers to her corps."

Yoruichi whistled. "Good luck with that one. What, you need me to put a good word in?"

"Maybe," said Erza, "but that's not what I wanted to talk about."

"Then what?"

"There's a second part of it. Yuushirou wants a visit from you, in person. To discuss clan readmittance."

The cheer washed from Yoruichi's face in an instant.

"And I was in such a good mood," she said, making a face. "Sorry, but no. You can tell him it's not happening."

"It's just a meeting," Erza said entreatingly, "only to discuss it. You can still say no. All I need from you is to sit down with them, the one time."

"Look, that's… I dunno. I am not letting those elders look down on me."

"I'm sure it'll be just you and your brother. I can make sure of it, even," Erza reassured her. Yoruichi gave her a doubtful look.

"Look, your brother misses you," Erza continued. "You're family, Yoruichi. He thinks—he thinks you don't care about him at all, and he just wants to know if he's been cut out of your life completely or not."

"Easy for him to say. Bet he sold the act real well," Yoruichi muttered.

"Is that all your family was, then? Emotional manipulation and lies? Your brother didn't look up to you all this time? He… he admitted weakness to me, Yoruichi. He said he was never as good as you. A clan head, admitting that, to my face. You think that's a lie, too?"

Yoruichi was quiet for some time, looking strangely contemplative. She seemed… different from how she normally was; reserved, a wistful look about her.

"…He always did try to imitate me," she muttered, "from when he was old enough to walk."

She fell silent again.

"Why would he think I'm cutting him out of my life, like I'd never want to see him again, personally? That's—that's nonsense. It's the clan I can't stand, and he carries that around with him wherever he goes. But, he's—well I don't really know what he's like these days, but he was alright. My annoying kid brother."

"Well, the fact that you keep avoiding him and not answering his messages might be a reason why he'd think that," Erza said helpfully. Yoruichi rolled her eyes.

"Fine. I'll… I'll think about it. Erza, I am not happy about the clan, or the business it was involved in. It's…"

"Thinking about it is all I ask," Erza said quickly.

"You really have a way with words, don't you?" Yoruichi muttered irritably. "We'll talk about it later. Sure. Way to ruin the mood, I guess."

"I'm sorry I got in the way of your going behind my back to manipulate Rukia," Erza fired back.

"Ouch! Fair," Yoruichi laughed.

The affair dragged on for actual hours. Rukia went around to shake hands—well, bow politely in ways that subtly violated protocol—and speak with her new subjects-to-be and representatives from other clans. As night started to set in, though, Erza was finally able to get her alone for a second.

"…Well," Rukia started, sounding exhausted.

"Tired?"

"Not even the half of it," Rukia muttered, shaking her head.

"Drink?" said Erza, offering one she'd taken off an eager servant.

"God, yes," Rukia said, downing it in one go. She grimaced, grunting between gritted teeth. "What do they put in these?"

"I know the feeling," Erza chuckled. "Feel better?"

"Marginally," Rukia muttered. "After tonight, division work will feel like a vacation."

"But, you're alive. You made it."

"Barely. I… I mean, I already screwed up, didn't I? My brother had to step in and cover for me. I knew I'd make some faux pas, but…"

"I talked to him," Erza said reassuringly. "He chewed me out a bit, but he's mostly mad at Yoruichi. He didn't seem to blame you."

"He uh, let me know I need to be careful what I support," Rukia said awkwardly. "Figures. And I walked right into that…"

"You're good," Erza reassured her. "You're still heir. You're still the most accomplished member of your clan, excepting your brother. So, just relax, yeah?"

"I don't know if I'll ever be able to relax again," she said sullenly. "Oh well."

"Look, you did great. Nobody is expecting you to be great at this from day one. So, take it easy, however hard that may be."

Rukia nodded. "I could really use a spa day, or something…"

"I'll book us one," Erza reassured her.

"Promise?"

"No matter how tight the schedule," Erza smiled.

"I'll hold you to that, you know."

"I hope you do," Erza laughed. Finally Rukia's façade cracked, and she smiled back.

They had a long road ahead of them, both their paths hard, but they would walk it all the same.

And that's that. The game of politics continues! Will Erza be able to secure the votes she needs!? Will Erza be able to find the one who's after Rurichyio? Find out next time on "The Death and Life of Erza Scarlet!"