Main POV
I found myself being greeted with the aftermath of my handiwork yesterday. Bright and early Ichigo and I had woken, packed a new bag of essentials and headed to Urahara ShÅten or rather Urahara Rubble. There was no roof, no exterior walls on the upper level and holes in the floor or the upper level. The ground floor entrance was blown open, there we broken walls inside from the fireworks I'd lit in the hallway while Kon and I were hiding in the closet. And that was just what I could see from a distance. I was sure if I explored the inside, which it was currently unsafe to do so, I'd find more.
Urahara wandered over to me amidst all the packing chaos and stared up at his home in silence. I still felt guilty, even though I knew none of this was my fault. I sighed, turning away from the building.
"Again, I'm really sorry about your shop," I said. I looked at the new site that greeted me. Ichigo was still helping Renji with the wagon someone had managed to get ahold of and they were busy arguing and physically fighting over who's stuff should go where. I wondered if everyone else could hear the Bleach OST when different situations happened or if I was even really hearing it. Maybe I was an obsessed fangirl.
"It's only stuff Uo," he said. "And I'm glad to know it wasn't revenge regarding the state of your apartment."
"So what were the fireworks really for?" I asked. I was sad now I wouldn't get to be apart of whatever he had planned for them.
"A customer came up a little short on paying for an order and I let it slide," he shrugged. "Next order came with a thank you."
"That only raises more questions," I smiled, amused.
"I had hoped we'd use them to celebrate your apartment's repairs having finished, but you use them all before that could happen,' he said. "Although I know you didn't have much of a choice. And I am very impressed with your resourcefulness."
"When Ikkaku was training me, he made a point that I didn't have much in the way of skill or strength," I explained. "So I used what I did have."
"And what was that?" Urahara smirked behind his fan.
"Plucky attitude and a bucket of fireworks," I shrugged. I reached into my pockets. "Which reminds me," I said. "This, I believe is yours."
"Of all the things I thought I'd lost in the explosion," he smiled. I handed him the lighter and he ran his thumb over the metal as he stared at it for a little while. "This was given to me by a very dear friend a long time ago. I'm glad it still exists."
"I'm glad to whoever gave it to you," I said. "It was what I used to light the fuses. Thanks to them I'm still alive."
"I'll be sure to praise them on their superior gift giving skills then," he chuckled. He slipped the lighter into a pocket in his robe and nodded to me. I smiled one last time and headed over to Ichigo, who was now wrestling with Renji. No way I was going to interject now it had come to physical blows. This was worse than when they helped me move into my apartment.
There was a jingle and a sudden, bright white light to my left and I held a hand up to shield my eyes. The familiar rice paper doors slid open to reveal more harsh light. A figure stepped out. I was a little taken aback. Renji and Ichigo hadn't noticed yet. I jogged over to them, grabbing Ichigo's shoulder. The two of them looked up at me. I pointed to the senkaimon and approaching Captain. The glanced his way.
"That time already, huh?" Ichigo said, pushing himself up from the dirt. He reached for me and put an arm around me."Took them long enough."
"Captain," Hisagi greeted, coming around the other side of the wagon.
"You're very excited all of a sudden," Ichigo commented, slight smirk.
"Are you kidding me? Kensei Muguruma is like, one of my favourite captains, of all time," I replied.
"It's strange hearing you talk like that," Hisagi said. "It's like you're from some other world or something."
"You get used to it," Ichigo replied.
"I was just really taken by Ichigo's story.." I said. I saw the corner of Ichigo's mouth turn up to a smirk.
"So this is the girlfriend I've heard so much about," Kensei said when he finally reached us.
"Oh god, what did Hitsugaya say," I put a hand up to my face, a little embarrassed thinking of all the possibilities.
"Don't worry, he said you were very clever," Kensei assured. "Not sure how true that can be though, considering anyone that would date young Ichigo would have to be dumb as rocks. Especially with all the trouble that comes with him."
"I bring my own trouble to the table too," I replied with a light shrug. Ichigo pulled me closer to him and wrapped both his hands around my middle. He rested his chin on my shoulder, having to bend down to do so because of the significant height difference.
"I can see that," he replied. "Last time I was in the world of the living that building was still standing." He pointed to Urahara Rubble. I blushed.
"Maybe it's part of the allure," I joked. Kensei burst out laughing.
"Funny and dumb as rocks, you've picked a good one, Ichigo," Kensei said. "Anyway, I'll catch up with the two of you later, Hisagi and I need to chat with Captain Hitsugaya for a moment."
Ichigo lifted his chin off my shoulder and kissed my cheek, letting me go to meet up with Ikkaku and Yumichika who'd just arrived. I looked back at Kensei and Shuhei who were talking inaudibly with Rangiku and Toshiro. They were being very serious whatever it was about. I wandered over to Izuru who had been standing on alert since we'd arrived at the shop.
"How come the Head Captain sent Kensei anyway?" I asked him. "I mean, there's already an armed escort around me, two captains, five lieutenants and a third seat, plus Ichigo. What difference would on Captain make, and why now, just to pass through the senkaimon? You can't argue it was to open the senkaimon for us, because, isn't that one of the purposes of hell butterflies?"
"Uhh.." Izuru said.
"Guess your girlfriend isn't so dumb after all, Ichigo," Kensei said. I handn't noticed that he'd finished talkign with Hitsugaya and had started walking over with them.
"You have to watch Uotani," Hitsugaya said. "She's as observant as she is clever."
"She's basically a female hat-n-clogs," Ichigo grumbled, tuning in from his conversation.
"Careful," I smirked. "What does that say about you?"
"Shut up," he rolled his eyes.
"Maderame, Ayasegawa, are your things in the wagon?" Hitsugaya asked. They nodded. "Good. You along with Kira and Matsumoto will go on ahead with Kurosaki and Uotani."
"Captains Muguruma and Hitsugaya, Lieutenants Hisag and Abarai will be staying behind with me for a bit longer," Rukia explained, joining the group of captains. She wore a smile on her face, she seemed eerily calm and collected, like she did when she first talked to the spirit in Ichigo's room when they first met. It gave me the chills. I raised a brow, sending us ahead? Why? What did they all need to do so suddenly. What had Kensei said to them? And how did Rukia know what was going on. I looked at Hitsugaya for some kind of reasoning or reassurance. He just stared back blankly at me. I narrowed my eyes at him and although his expression never changed the aura around him seemed almost smug.
Ichigo walked over with Ikkaku and Yumichika, standing in the now, much larger group. He dropped his arm around my shoulders again, hanging it limply. I reached up to grab his hand, intertwining our fingers. He squeezed back, leaning down to place a kiss on top of my crown. Something didn't feel right. I started looking around for Urahara, getting no real reassurance from the people I usually looked to.
"Hey, can you buy me a minute or two?" I whispered quietly to Ichigo who nodded, but still looked like he had questions. "I'm just going to say goodbye to Kisuke," I said louder, letting go of Ichigo's hand and pulling away. I pushed myself out of the group and headed over to my friend in a robe. I reached him and looked back at the group, who had now dispersed. They were milling around in their various places, getting all their last minute tasks done before we set off. Renji was securing the wagon, Shuhei taking Ichigo's place in helping him with it. Ikkaku and Yumichika were stood by the gate with Ichigo, chatting quietly. Izuru and Rangiku were looking just as concerned, speaking far enough away that any and all conversation was again, inaudible. I looked to Urahara desperately, he nodded to me once, something was up.
I'd been a little suspicious of Kisuke in the past but I could be sure that he was on my side, at least for now. I nodded towards the house. He watched me, waving his fan a little in front of his face while he thought for a moment before nodding. We walked over to the rubble and stepped inside. It wasn't exactly safe to be wandering the battle site like this but I needed to speak with him privately.
"They're being secretive about something," I said, facing into the building. I turned around in the dust and stared him down. "Do you think I should be worried?"
"What are your theories?" he asked me instead of answering. He fanned himself lightly. "What are you thinking based on what just happened?"
"They put everyone who was more loyal to Ichigo than the seireitei in the tunnel with us," I said.
"Did they?" he asked. I folded my arms over my chest. Wanting to lean against the wall beside me but worried it would come down if I touched it. I brought my fist to my face and rested my chin on it.
"Maybe that's just Ikkaku and Yumichika," I said really thinking about it. There was so much swirling around in my head. "Izuru and Rangiku are coming too.. and Renji stayed behind.."
"Why do you think that is?" he asked and I frowned.
"If we're attacked on the journey, Ikkaku, Yumichika and Ichigo at my side and I stand a very good chance at survival. But whatever Kensei had to talk to Toshiro about, can't be a popular decision because the loudest objectors are being kept away, and I'm being removed from the equation too, which means, that whatever it is is about me. If it was simply something they didn't want to discuss around a non shinigami, they'd just move away from me, rather than separate us by a while plane of existence. And it can't be about making an attack, because they wouldn't have sent the squad 11 members away."
"You're right about that I suspect, Uo-chan," he said. "They're making sure you definitely aren't around for whatever they're up to."
"Rangiku's loyalties are to those she has respect for. She's a good soldier, she can follow orders and clearly cares a fair amount for the gotei 13, but her true loyalties are to her Captain first, she's been known to go against the order of things for the right reasons, or for her Captain. So I'm willing to bet he's sent her with us for that exact reason. I'm just not sure exactly what it is he wants her to do. And as far as Izuru goes I'm not sure if they're sending him along because he's known me the least amount of time and therefor has the least attachment or because they know fine Renji would never leave Rukia without asking at least a few questions..." I trailed off before another idea popped into my head. "Or it's so there's not too many people loyal to Ichigo with us. Renji's a rule breaker too. If he'd come we'd only have to overpower Rangiku or convince her otherwise."
"I suspect it's a combination of both, Uo," he said. "Be very careful while you're there. While I don't have any doubt part of the reason you're being moved to the seireitei is so you'll stop having attacks mounted on you by those men from the other side of the rift, but I'm not so naive as to think there's not a little more to it than that. Especially because Hitsugaya still hasn't accepted your story on what happened that night. You're safe while he thinks you're frightened because you were attacked, but should he have any reason to doubt that, he'll get to the bottom of the situation quickly. The young Captain is ambitious, and like a dog with a bone, he'll never stop working until whatever he's doing is complete."
"He's at least honourable, I know that much, I stand a better chance the more honest I am with him, even if I can't make mention of where I'm from," I said. "If he respects me, while he'll still do what he has to, he'll at least get straight to it."
"Planning for your death already, Uo, for shame," he tutted at me. "You should know better, anyone who gives up hope will be proven right."
"You think I can trust in Kukaku and Ganju?" I asked. "I've asked Ichigo to take me to see them. I hadn't intended on using them as allies, just to have Ganju assist me on all the spiritual stuff. Despite what you may think of him, something he said to Ichigo about concentrating spiritual energy, it made sense. I want to learn how to feel it, understand how it really works, but it being so foreign to me, I think I need to be taught by an idiot."
"Work your way up Uo," he said. "Ganju is pretty good with visualising techniques, and there will be other people you can trust to teach you the more complicated. I'll send a message to Kukaku, to expect you. I'll explain you're a dear friend of mine, have her keep you safe, even from your friends if need be." He gestured out to the others. "And I'll send the paperwork you were going to work on through to her. Miraculously it managed to survive all the damage you caused."
"Small mercies I guess," I sighed. "Better send through that special computer and a scanner too."
"Can do my dear," he said. "Now, we'd better get you back out there before we make your new friends more suspicious."
"Are you ready to go now?" Ichigo asked when I came out of the wreckage and approached him. I nodded. "Well alright then," he said, nodding.
He reached behind him, resting a hand on the hilt of his zanpakuto. Ikkaku and Yumichika were doing the same with the swords at their waist. Izuru and Rangiku stood behind us while Yumichika and Ikkaku stepped towards the senkaimon. Yumichika opened the doors and then stepped through, their hell butterflies flutteirng by their heads as they made there way along. Two flew by me and Ichigo who followed them in and the same for Rangiku and Izuru. I looked back at the human world one last time before the doors shut.
I reached for Ichigo's free hand and gripped it tightly. He squeezed it reassuringly. He knew my theories about coming here. He thought I was nuts, but he at least knew I was worried and wanted to comfort me.
"My Captain was right, you are paranoid," Rangiku said from behind us. I glanced back at her and she gestured to the tight grip I had on Ichigo's hand. "We're in the dangai now, no one can get to you here."
"Are you kidding me? Was Orehime not kidnapped in this very tunnel when Aizen wanted to fuck with Ichigo?" I said. "I'm not going to relax until all those old geezers are dealt with."
"You really are convinced you're going to die at every moment, aren't you?" Izuru chuckled.
"Can you really blame me?" I replied. "Most people have a handful of near death experiences their whole lives. I've had I've had three in the last two weeks. And more before that."
"We'll kill them, Uo, don't worry," Ikkaku assured me, looking back at me for a moment before going back to leading us through the gates. There was a few more minutes of silence before Ichigo looked down at me.
"Why are you walking so quickly?" he asked.
"I have no desire to be in this creepy ass tunnel any longer than absolutely necessary. In fact I may just move to the seireitei permanently if it means I don't have to pass through it a second time," I said.
"Even if everyone is trying to murder you?" Ichigo chuckled.
"I'm smart, I'll figure something out," I shrugged and he laughed some more.
We reached the end of the seemingly never ending tunnel and the doors opened to more blinding white light. I shielded my eyes with my free hand and almost smacked into the back of Ikkaku who stopped dead in front of me. Peering around him I spotted Shinji Hiraku and Momo Hinamori. I raised an eyebrow. Rangiku and Izuru stepped out behind me and the senkaimon closed.
"Ichigo you bum, the Head Captain sent me to escort your girlfriend safely to First Division and you're not even going to introduce me?" Shinji playfully scolded. I poked my head around Ikkaku more. I swallowed a little before letting go of Ichigo's hand. I stepped around and reached out a hand.
"Allow me," I said. "I'm Hikaru Uotani, nice to meet you."
He took my hand. He didn't squeeze my fingers to the point of pain in some stupid over the top power play like a lot of strong males did, instead he held a firm handshake for a few moments before releasing me and dropping his hand to his side. I stepped back to stand beside Ichigo again, who put an arm around me.
"And how is the lovely lady? Feeling safe already?" He showing his big teeth to me in the form of a smile.
"Suspicious," I replied honestly. "I'm a little suspicious."
"Oh?" he grinned wolfishly at me. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Why's that?"
"Why didn't everyone come at the same time? Why send Kensei? What secret business do they all have in the world of the living?"
"You really do over analyse everything," Ichigo shook his head as he still held one hand firmly on the hilt of his sword.
"Name one time I've been wrong," I said.
"All questions I'm sure will be answered when you meet the Head Captain," Shinji dismissed. "Hinamori, come along," he said, gesturing to his Lieutenant he hadn't bothered introducing. Ikkaku and Yumichika stayed behind I noticed, whereas Izuru and Rangiku followed along behind us.
It'd been a good fifteen minutes since we'd started walking and we were still no closer. And I remembered there was usually stairs to get to where we were going. The longer we walked, the more annoyed I got. I knew the seireitei was a big place from watching the anime, but I'd never been the one that had to walk it. Ichigo looked down at my sour expression and chuckled.
"Not much longer, shortie," he said.
"Shut up," I grumbled.
Another five minutes and we reached the stairs. They were pretty daunting looking when I'd seen them through my screen, now, I wanted to turn back and go home. It was bad enough I had to climb them, it was worse knowing I'd have to be doing it huffing and puffing beside all these super fit shinigami. I frowned, turning to Ichigo.
"We have to go back," I said. He snorted.
"You're being dramatic," he said.
"Says you superman," I replied. "This is insanity."
"You want me to carry you," he smirked.
"What are you gonna do if I say yes, huh?" I smirked right back, hands on my hips.
"Exactly that," he said, moving forward in a flash, grabbing me by my waist and throwing me over his shoulder. I let out a squeal and he laughed, running up the stairs with me starring the opposite way at them.
"You prick!" I yelled and beat my fists on his back jokingly. In minutes we were a few flights up and he slid me off his shoulder, fun having been had. He held me in his arms in front of him instead of just putting me down. He looked back at the others who were keeping pace with him but kept a courteous few steps behind. They caught up and we started up the next flight.
"You know I really was kidding about the whole carrying thing," I said as he held me close to his chest.
"I know," he said. "It just really doesn't make sense for all of us to have such high power and stamina to be dawdling beside you. And it's going to be a long day, so I don't want you getting tired out by the stairs."
"Thanks," I replied sarcastically. "I feel great now with your pep talk."
"Oh come on," he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah I know, you're all captain and lieutenant level strength," I replied. "I just, I don't mind people are stronger than me I just hate feeling useless. Everyone has been risking their lives for me and I can't even take a few measly flights of stairs without assistance."
"You can, I just didn't want to wait," he replied. "And you're not that different in strength, remember what Urahara said, you've the strength of a 3rd seat you just don't have any skill yet."
"I know you think you're being sweet..." I started.
"That didn't come out how I wanted it to..." he admitted and I started laughing. Seemed he wasn't as good at motivational speeches as I thought.
"I wanna go see Kukaku and Ganju sooner rather than later," I said. "The stairs are making me want to even more so."
"You know they have stairs at their place too," he said. "And it's a long walk to get there."
"No one said you had to come," I replied.
"Yes I do," he sighed. "I can't send my girlfriend by herself to introduce them to you, can I?"
"As much as you grumble, they've helped you a lot over the years, you owe it to them to visit when you don't need a favour," I said.
"I know," he sighed again. It was then we finally reached the top of the stairs and to the large open space where Momo had found Aizen's body back when it all began. He put me down. He looked like he hadn't even broken a sweat. I looked back at all the stairs we'd just climbed and then up at the horizon, seeing how far we'd come and the gates we'd entered the seireitei through looked like they were for ants.
"And so we'e reached first division," Shinji announced.
"I really hope I have very little business here," I said. He chuckled. "Or if I do I'd better make camp, I'm not doing that everyday."
"You didn't even climb the stairs yourself!" Ichigo yelled. I laughed.
"Laying around doing nothing is very taxing you know," I said and he rolled his eyes at me.
We walked the rest of the way to the Captains' hall in under ten minutes for my relief. Once we rounded the final corner I was annoyed. Like, really annoyed. Homicidal annoyed. Gathered around the door with all of the other waiting captains were Toshiro and Kensei. I glared right at him, making no effort to hide how pissed I was. He looked a little taken aback by how harsh my glare was.
Before he could say anything, the doors opened up and allowed everyone inside. The surrounding captains filed into the room, leaving Hitsugaya no choice but to follow. I spotted Momo, Izuru and Rangiku split off from behind us to go to a room a few rooms back around the corner. Must be a lieutenants meeting simultaneously. Odd.
"Ichigo, why is it every time you visit there's trouble?" Shunsui greeted as soon as we stepped through the door.
"Because no one would let me in if there wasn't," he replied, making the older man laugh. "That might have to change my young friend. I'd prefer to keep good relationships with our substitutes from now on. And is this the lovely girlfriend I've heard so much about."
"Nah, she's still at the bottom of the stairs, complaining about the sheer number of them. Said something about the architect smoking crack when he designed this place," I replied sarcastically. "How did Hitsugaya stay later in the world of the living and still manage to beat us here?"
"I wondered why you were so annoyed," Toshiro said smiling to himself, clearly the only one who found this situation amusing. "For a moment I had worried I'd offended you some home."
"You have!" I threw my arms out. "You could have at least pretended it took you a while, shown up a minute or two after us, pretend you were out of breath from rushing."
"I'll keep that in mind for next time, save your feelings," he chuckled.
"That's all I ask," I replied. I still wondered what they were up to earlier, but it couldn't be more than talk if he was here before us. I eyed Rukia and Kensei subtly as Shunsui took over the formalities of the meeting.
"I'd like to hear from Ichigo, what he saw that first night," Shunsui said after everyone else had given their various reports.
"I really didn't see much," Ichigo said. "I arrived just in time to see Uo hit the deck."
"You might not think you saw anything," Shunsui said. "But maybe you did, maybe it seems like nothing. Take me back to that night, what were you doing?"
"I was staying late at school, trying to catch up on some work, mostly avoiding my dad. That psychopath is always randomly attacking me whenever I'm home," Ichigo said. I heard chuckling from behind us.
"Nah, he's just testing your reflexes Ichigo, you should thank him," Kenpachi said. "Maybe I should thank him, you should be razor sharp next time we spar." I spotted a bead of sweat slide down the side of Ichigo's neck. I smirked slightly. I had to cover my mouth to stop myself from laughing.
"I felt a pull, drawing me to come home," he said. "I thought I was just hungry.." I choked on my spit. Trying not to burst out laughing. "Shut up, you ran face first into a wall that night, so you're no genius either!" he yelled at me, throwing his arms out as I continued to laugh. "So I packed up my stuff and started walking home," he said through his teeth as I tried to calm myself down. "There was this flash coming out of the alley as I was just about on it and when I walked towards it to find out what it was, there she was. Uo looked right at me for a second and dropped straight down like a stone. She didn't stumble, or try to catch herself, she was out. I ran over and when I picked her up, she was covered in blood. I thought she's been attacked there was so much but when I looked her over for a wound there was just this one gash on her forehead."
"No wonder you didn't believe me when I told you I was fine," I said. I figured everyone was exaggerating when they said I was covered in blood. Come to think of it, I never did see my clothes again after Hitsugaya stole them.
"Your shirt was soaked through, I thought I hadn't got there in time, that you were going to die," he said. "And then you opened your eyes. You were staring up at me. You apologised for running into me, like that was the reason you were on the ground. And then you tried to walk off by yourself like a damn maniac. You didn't know where you were, or what day it was but you were so damn sure you were fine and you knew best. God damn you Uo. I had no idea who you were then and you were already giving me heart failure," he said and I felt guilty for all the shit I'd put him through. Especially from that night. I hadn't thought much on it back then, especially as it was happening because I was convinced it was a dream.
"And so I carried her home, insisted I let my dad look her over, heal her if he could," Ichigo said. "And he did a little, even used a little kido."
"Did he?" I asked, shocked. I'd had no idea.
"Enough to close the wound enough that he could work on you the human way, we didn't know who you were at the time, we couldn't just go around using shinigami stuff necessarily," he said. "And just after you were up and moving around again, these guys showed up," Ichigo said, gesturing to Hitsugaya and Rukia.
"That flash," Shunsui said. "We're assuming it was the kido barrier breaking down, did you see it too, Uo?"
"Yeah, I didn't think much of it at the time, I thought I'd just hit my head really hard," I shrugged. "Not every day you use it as a battering ram."
"And could you give us your account? I know you must have gone over it many times now, but once again, please," Shunsui told me, more than asked. But at least he was polite about it. I nodded.
"I'd just taken the train home, I forgot that they were doing street works that day and I'd have to take an alternate route home. I spotted it near the alley and instead of walking back and going the way I was supposed to, I figured I'd just cut through the alley and walk for a black and cross back over. I knew it was late at night and I should think twice about going into dark dodgy allies but this one was straight through, nothing in it for anyone to lurk behind, and it was reasonably well lit. I didn't think any of this would happen," I said. "I got about half way down when I smacked straight into what seemed like nothing. Not even like I'd accidentally walked into a glass window, I walked into nothing. There was nothing there. I thought I was delusional. I must be so tired, that I was imagining invisible walls. I know know it was kido."
"For the record, you're still delusional," Ichigo commented and I laughed, punching him in the arm.
"So I tried again, figuring, I've mastered walking, one slip up was nothing and I'd be able to go in a straight line no problem. And there it was. Except I was determined that time so I hit it a lot harder. But then I was tired and pissed off, so I ran at it, like a dumbass. And then I was on my back. But, like any good dumbass, I wasn't a quitter. I wasn't going to let a tiny setback like that keep me down, so I ran at it swearing and when i made contact this time it crumbled under my touch. It didn't really hurt at first. It was like I'd been under water, and when I was breaking through it it was like my head was breeching the water's surface. I remember the air in the alley feeling do heavy, I thought it was just humidity, but now I think about it, it was so much heavier than a bit of potential rain could have caused. I hit something hard immediately and then the next think I saw was Ichigo's big brown eyes, I assumed it was him I collided with, for me the two things were only seconds apart. What else could it have been. I didn't even remember falling or hitting the ground."
"Or remember seeing Ichigo before you hit the ground, by his account you looked at him. Which, could be a result of the concussion, or it's possible there's something else you're not remembering. I wonder if, during your time here, you'd stop by Isane's office. I believe there's a few members of Division 4 that are very good at recalling lost memories, would you be willing?"
"Sure.." I said. I was sure they wouldn't find anything, but I was worried they'd find something digging I didn't want them to. Like where I was really from.
"We have a lot to discuss, Ichigo, for now why don't you take Uo to the Lieutenant's meeting room, they'll be just finishing up and won't mind keeping you company while you're waiting for us to finish ourselves," Shunsui told him. More secrets. He agreed easily and then that was it, we were basically shoved out of the meeting hall.