Tina returned to her room and dramatically flopped face down on her bed.

"Rough day?" came the voice of her roommate.

"Ugh, Ginger, you and Pip need to be more careful" said Tina, her voice muffled by the fluffy pillows on her bed.

Ginger looked down from her perpendicularly lofted bed and asked, "About what?" Ginger's short pigtails were an orangey red and her freckled face expressed confusion . "About what?"

Tina rolled over spread her arms "The thing. It got into the hands of captains. THE captains."

Ginger's face went white. "What?" she asked disbelieving. Her mouth gaped open at the implications. She had no idea what to say other than "…how…?"

"I don't know" said Tina thoughtfully. "I was called to Captain Kuchiki's office and questioned. Kyoraku was clever, but he didn't trip me up."

"I thought you said Kuchiki's office?"

"Yes, he was there too. Uki too."

Ginger dropped her book and gripped the side of her bed in shock. "Gods, Tina. I would've killed to be there!"

"No, Ginger, it was horrible. They were convinced I wrote all these stories then threatened me with legal and disciplinary action."

Ginger freely laughed loud and hard. "HAhahahah, you? Obviously, that didn't work, right?"

Tina took a deep breath. "They tried to pin it all on me Ginge. They said they found it here, and knew I was responsible. You're my roommate, why didn't they ask you? They should have had both of us questioned."

"Oh my god, Tina, what if they ask me?" Ginger gasped.

"Just plead silence. Don't say a word. At all. Do not accept any offers, do not for a moment respond to anything. Nothing. Just zip it" instructed Tina. She sat up and slid to the floor, hugging her knees. "As I said, Kyoraku was close. He kept laying these traps. I know he was insightful but what a…" Tina sighed and decided against defamatory language. "They still have the thing. I just…" Tina shook her head thinking she couldn't trust Ginger or Pip with secrets. She came frighteningly close to being held legally responsible. If she had not been taught so thoroughly she would have ended her career right there. Over silly stories and captain's personal pride. It was her turn to lose some color in her cheeks. "Where's Pip?"

"I dunno". Ginger rested her little chin on her hands and said "I haven't looked at the thing in a long time."

"Three Days isn't a long time. Nothing new had been written anyway" replied Tina.

"Now it's gone!"

"I asked they return it to wherever they found it. I took no chances. I didn't deny anything, but I just avoided answering questions. I didn't mention either of you. Or even mention or admit any knowledge to where they could've found it. Neither should you."

Ginger nodded. "Yes, silence. I know."

"If they pull you in for questioning don't bother. Call for legal counsel. These men are NOT joking around." Tina stood up and said "We've got to find Pip and fill her in. We shouldn't discuss the thing until this blows over."

Ginger nodded in agreement. Tina's eyes darted to their door and back to Ginger. She cupped her ear with her hand to signal she thought someone was listening.

Ginger understood. "So Ginge, did you get a chance to talk to him today?"

"Uh…who?"

"You know" said Tina with a sly smile. "Mini?"

"Don't call him that." Tina laughed and Ginger threw a pillow at her. "No" admitted the red head. "His family is all going to some flower viewing party."

Just then the door slammed open with a clack. Tina blurted "PIP!" they both yelped.

Pip stood in the door frame out of breath and tears streaming down her face. She staggered in and dropped to her knees. Tina flashstepped over and closed the door gently, then locked it.

Ginger leapt down from the bed and landed softly next to her crying friend with the trained grace of a proper Shinigami. The three black clad friends were reunited.

"It can't be true! I won't accept it! I can't, I can't!" wept Pip. Her long dirty blonde braid dangled behind her.

"Did they question you too?" asked Ginger, placing his her hands on Pips shoulders.

"huh?" mumbled Pip, uninterested.

Tina looked at Ginger and they spoke gently to Pip. "Kuchiki, Kyoraku, and my and Ginger's captain Ukitake, pulled me into an office today and questioned me about, um…something."

Pip burst into tears again. "Wait, what? What about you? You got…" She calmed a bit…"to…" she sniffled "To be in the room with all of them?" Her tears dried somewhat and she wiped her nose.

"It didn't sound all that pleasant, Pip" added Ginger, then whispered into Pips ear.

"Oh my god!" said Pip. She cleared her throat and said "Well, I think they'll be less concerned about that now."

Tina said "About what? Why are you so upset?"

"My Kyo-kyo…" Pip used her pet name for the captain whom she admired from a far for years. "He's…he's been accused of assaulting and raping one of his Shinigami."

Tina and Ginger gaped. Ginger stuttered and said "I'm…I'm sure it's not true. It' cant…It's not…."

"Vivian. Vivian Volfgang" sputtered Pip.

The young women were shaken. They had known that Vivan and the captain had an intimate relationship, but that it had ended weeks earlier. They both had the thought But did the captain want it to end? Maybe his passions got away from him and he did the crime.

Tina said nothing as usual, preferring to keep her opinions to herself. She simply hugged her friend and tried to reassure her without words.

Ukitake sat in the office at his desk and rubbed his temples. "Kyoraku…shouldn't you be taking this more seriously?"

"Who says I'm not, old friend?" he replied taking a sip from a cup of his favorite sake. "The charges are what they are. Whether I worry or not makes no difference. Either I will be found innocent or I will be found guilty." Another small plate went down.

Ukitake sat back in his chair and asked "Shunsui…Did you do it?"

Kyoraku sat on the floor with his back against the side of his friend's desk.

"I'm surprised you'd ask me that" he said, saddened. "Perhaps it was more complicated than a simple yes or no."

"NO, it's not" said Ukitake. "You either beat and forced that woman, or you didn't" he replied as frustration strained his voice.

"She was a lover" said Kyoraku, quietly. "I have not been with her for weeks."

Ukitake did not respond. In part because he was still full of doubts, but also he felt a bit of betrayal. The silence was heavy and weighted on the two friends. "I…I had always thought you were all talk" said Ukitake, haltingly, trying to understand where and when Shunsui could have hidden this from him. Kyoraku took two more drinks in a row getting progressively drunker but no more relieved. "I don't know why she would say this." He said into the bottom of his bottle. "We haven't been together for so long."

"But assault?" pressed Ukitake, still in a stage of disbelief.

"No…well…I never…we…but I was never violent. That's not my way." He said beginning to slur his speech. He picked up the jug and took a few gulps of his rice wine. He folded his arms and rested them on his bent knees, still holding the jug. "Ukitake, old friend, this is bad. I know how this looks and this is very bad."

"Ah" said Ukitake, in agreement. He was uncertain of what else he didn't know about his oldest and best friend.

The next day Tina sat in the administrative offices of the the 13th squad reviewing financial invoices for typos and errors before they were submitted for approval. She heard the voices of Ukitake and Kyoraku approaching. She assumed they had better things to do than chat with her, but she was wrong. When the captains entered her office she stood and bowed. Ukitake was again very stern and Kyoraku smelled of sake, and appeared as relaxed as usual. "Have you heard Tina-san?"

She looked awkwardly at Kyoraku and wordlessly nodded. She swallowed out of nerves and cast her eyes downward.

Kyoraku said "It seems the victim is an acquaintance of yours."

"Yes, sir. We were classmates. We weren't really too friendly, but there was no bad blood between us." She waited for either more questions or an at ease order. Ukitake folded his arms and sighed "Tina-san…"

"I can tell you right now, Ukitake, she didn't" said Kyoraku, his speech just slightly slurred.

Tina's brow knit with worry. Didn't what? Ran through her mind, but rather than break procedure she simply didn't say anything.

Ukitake continued "Did you coerce the victim to make up the story? To say these things?"

She was shocked, but managed to take a deep breath, and looked him straight in the eye and said "No, sir. I did no such thing. Nor would I even consider it."

"See?" said Kyoraku, gesturing with his hand as though it were obvious.

"How are you so sure?" Ukitake asked Kyoraku. "It only makes sense. She's clever enough to make it happen."

Kyoraku was sobering and with a bit of admiration for Tina said "She's clever, not mischievous or vindictive. If she were guilty of it she wouldn't flat out deny the action. Legally" he nodded his large straw hat in her direction as a gesture of acknowledgement "she knows better. If she denied it then we caught it would be much worse than if she straight up told the truth, or simply withheld. If it was her doing she wouldn't lie straight out, but she also wouldn't give us any information. She just gave us everything she knew. They were classmates, not friends, and there's no more connection between her or any of their other classmates."

Ukitake reluctantly agreed. "If you're comfortable with that answer…"

"I am, friend" he said with finality.

Ukitake, sighed, grimaced and nodded. "If you are, then I am."

Tina looked at her captain incredulously. He thinks I'd do that?

"Well" Ukitake said "I'll leave you to your work, Tina-san"

Tina looked back at her desk and picked up a folder. "Sir! Actually" she scampered up to Ukitake with the folder. "All it needs is your seal and signature, sir."

He took the manila folder from her and opened it, assuming it was just another budget related invoice and found he was wrong. "Tina-san…"

"I've put little sticky flags where your signature is required" she pointed to the small red tabs hanging off the forms. "The blue ones are your seal."

Ukitake was surprised "These are transfer requests."

"Yes sir" she replied.

He looked at her with hesitation and a disappointed grimace. She raised her chin in response to his looking down at her, a habit she had developed in response to people trying to stare her down. It was a bit defiant, and made Kyoraku chuckle yet again. Ukitake looked at the applications and commented "7 and 10?"

"You forgot eight" said Kyoraku.

When she looked at him he winked at her. "Some friendly, free, legal advice, sir?"

"I'm all ears" he said with a smile.

"Cool that flirting crap until all this blows over. For, real" she said with emphasis.

"I'm not flirting, I'm serious" he said. "I would be honored to have you in my squad. I think you have a lot to contribute and that you have the temperament and outlook."

She eyed him critically. He was dressed flamboyantly as usual with his pink kimono and large hat which had become his signature style. She had to confess she had admired the hair pins he wore, but didn't quite understand the ensemble. Regardless she knew he was shrewd and powerful. He had been pushing to get her since they met the other day. Is he still trying to trap me? "Okay" she said. "I'll add it to the list and draft up the documents." If he means it, I don't think he knows what he's in for.

"I'll fight them for you" he said with humor.

I'll take said "Tina-san, I'm sorry. I did not mean to drive you away. You will be missed here."

She said "Thank you, sir." Yes, clearly you will miss someone to clean out the closets. Tina closed her eyes to save from rolling them. She nodded and the captains left. She went back to her desk and continued to fill out her paperwork.

…..

Kyoraku-taicho received notice that it was his time to appear before a court of select members of the 46th chamber. He arrived on time and stood in the spotlight being peppered with personal questions about the nature of his relationship with the accused. "I have not seen her in private for some time. I please innocent."

A faceless voice echoed through the tall dark room. "Where were you I the date of the incident?"

Kyoraku looked at the document he was provided and said "I was with two other captains discussing an incident with one of their Shinigami. We were considering disciplinary actions for a minor incident."

"Who were these captain's?"

Kyoraku sighed. He did not want to drag his colleagues and friends into this mess. He had no choice. "Ukitake Jyushirou and Kuchiki Byakuya." Originally, it was only You take, but when they got to the grey section of Tina's work they called on him to join the discussion. Kyoraku was glad they did. If it had been just You take there that night it would not have been as credible. Everyone knew they were old friends. With Kuchiki there, the straightest arrow that ever flew, he had a chance to prove it wasn't him. But who was it? Why would Viv-chan say that? Who really hurt her?

Kyoraku's inner musings were interrupted by more questions from the panel. "Are you willing to have the other captain's questioned and to stand by their answers?"

"Yes, sir" replied Kyoraku, as casually as anyone dared to in that company.

There was some muttering in the dark then "We will send for the captain's right away. In the meantime we will have to keep you in custody."

Kyoraku stated calm and extended his hands our in front of him, palms up to receive his shackles. He was a true pacifist by nature, so the violence of the crime did not fit. He had a solid alibi, and in the worst case scenario he had friends in powerful places. But he was worried. He was worried about little Vivian. He was worried about other young women being hurt or violated. He was worried there was someone posing as him doing these crimes.

The click of the shackles brought him back to his senses. He was then walked off to a feel deep within the ground away from everyone and everything except his thoughts.

Kuchiki watched the investigators as they left his estate, more convinced that Kyoraku was not to blame for this crime. Kuchiki too wondered who had done such a thing and why did she believe it was Shunsui who did it to her.