Stand In The Rain
Shadow Of An Echo
A/N I can Honestly say this is the second time in my posting career I have a really good excuse for the epically long break between updates. You see, I am sitting here writing this from my college dorm room, that's right, this girl is a now a college Freshmen at 24 years old. I waited six years from my high school graduation and now I'm starting fresh. It's scary and exiting, but I love it.
Chapter Twelve
Headstrong
Sweat was streaming down the faces of the young Shinigami, their trainers looking on with pride. Ichigo took a measuring look at Rikichi and heard Junichi agree with his assessment, "He can handle one more time King."
With that, Ichigo clawed his hand down his face and called his mask, joining with his Hollow, Junichi leaping into the fray of battle with a cry of delight that translated into a fear-invoking roar externally. The previous look of determination on the Sixth squad officer was replaced momentary with fear before dogged perseverance took over.
Rikichi's plain sword smacked into Tensa over and over again, not backing down from his Hollow possessed trainer despite every instinct in his mind screaming at him to do so. Junichi pressed into him ever harder with each swing and dodge, pushing him further into the corner, trapping him at the point of desperation needed to reach Shikai in a short amount of time.
If Junichi really wanted to the barely trained Soul Reaper could have been nothing but a blood splatter under his power, but that wasn't his intention. The sheer amount of control the Hollow was displaying in his ability to hold back, as he had to have been for Rikichi to still be alive after multiple rounds against him, was going a long way to reassuring the watching Rukia. She had watched Junichi fight before, when Ichigo was first learning to control his power, she knew he was far more powerful then he was displaying now. In truth he was only fighting on about a Lieutenant's level at the moment, but the fear the mask invoked, coupled with the fact Rikichi didn't even know his sword's name meant the young squad member was doing remarkably well all things considered.
After all Kisuke had pushed Ichigo with the level of a Captain yes, but lets not forget that Ichigo himself had discovered Zangetsu's name and release, Ichigo might not have known that meant he had a Shikai, but Kisuke did.
Junichi was enjoying the challenge of holding back while still terrifying his opponent. King wasn't afraid of him anymore, a necessity of their survival with their sanity intact in Heuco Mundo, but a part of him did miss the thrill of having the person he was fighting fear him. He knew he wouldn't hurt Rikichi, and by extension so did his King, but the Shinigami didn't; thus he could relish in his terror invoking strength again.
When Ichigo's mask shattered for the last time that day, Rikichi collapsed to the ground gasping for breath, his muscles screaming in protest at the pain; he had pushed himself as far as he could possibly go and it showed. Yet there was a smile on his face, and his sword was clutched protectively against his chest; despite the pain and fatigue he still felt the thrill of getting stronger.
"I heard her today," He finally managed to gasp out, explaining his smile.
"You are progressing well," Ichigo complemented, "I suspect you need one more day of this and you will hear her name." He judged. Rikichi was truly pushing himself very hard, having Hanataro right next to him also throwing himself into the training whole heartedly was doing exactly what Ichigo had suspected it would by motivating the both of them to work harder and faster.
As he turned around to check on Rukia and Hanataro, Renji having gone back to his duties with the Sixth, he felt the telltale spike of power signifying the approach of a familiar person. "Looks like the two of you are getting a break, Retsu is checking up on us today."
"Hana will be happy to see her," Rikichi noted with another tired smile, still not moving from the spot he had fallen. Ichigo was quietly thinking it might not be a bad thing to have the healing Captain do a quick check up on both his students to make sure he wasn't pushing them too hard; just because they wanted to learn that fast didn't their bodies felt the same way. Retsu had used a very effective method to pound that lesson into his skull.
The sedate Captain made her way towards him easily enough, avoiding the cloud of dust that was Hanataro training for the moment, "I came to see how things were progressing, I see you have things under control; I had faith you would." She looked at the puddle o' tired Shinigami on the ground. "This isn't entirely unexpected, the fact I don't have more patching up to do is a testament to the fact they are learning from you and not venturing into some of the more rough and rowdy squads."
She finished speaking and knelt next to Rikichi in the same breath, Ichigo getting a picture of Kenpachi in his mind when she spoke of rough and rowdy squads, "Thank you, it means a lot that you thought I could do this, but I was just thinking that it might not be a bad idea to have these two looked over to make sure I wasn't pushing them too hard. You did a very good job teaching me that."
Her softly glowing healing Kido was moving over Rikichi now, and she refrained from responding until she had the spell settled into a steady pattern, "Judging by Rikichi you are pushing them at a fast but reasonable pace for your goal. His body is strained, but he is young and strong enough to handle it, neither Rikichi nor Hanataro had any outstanding health concerns prior to this that would make this kind of stress dangerous for them or I wouldn't have cleared them for training. You seemed to have survived your own first rounds of training without a great deal of harm, they will be just as fine or possibly better since they have someone teaching them that has been through all the stages before."
"How do you feel Rikichi? It's the third day, by the end of today Hanataro will have his Bankai, and tomorrow you will have your Shikai one way or the other; do you still fell the same way about this that you did when we started?" Ichigo asked switching focus back to his student now that Retsu cleared him health wise, trusting her judgment above all others; not sure if he was referring to only healing with that.
"Absolutely," He responded without hesitation, the healing already showing with the steadying of his voice. "I want to be able to protect us, all of us, I will never let something like that happen again!" He stated firmly.
"Good attitude, just, don't let it consume you or you'll burn out." Ichigo warned, all too familiar with the feeling. "Remember that sometimes it's okay to ask for help, and you have friends and support for the moments when you can't be strong anymore."
"I take it that's a new attitude," Rikichi noticed.
"Very new," Ichigo admitted, "But it is a much better way to live than the way I used to. You can't carry the burden of everyone else's safety on your shoulders completely alone or you will not be able to forgive yourself if something happens to you. By making yourself the only protector, you inadvertently make yourself the weak link in the chain."
"You should listen to him," Retsu added calmly, "Some lessons are not worth the price of learning in person."
Rikichi was beginning to nod when the three of them noticed the lack of dust in the air, and there was a collective stopping of hearts when they realized what that meant. The trio set off with Rikichi in the lead towards where Rukia and Hanataro had been training, the raven haired squad Thirteen Lieutenant was standing next to Kisuke's invention looking intently at a spot several yard's away in the clearing dust; Hanataro at the center of it clutching a much changed weapon.
"Hana! Oh, Hana you better be alright," Rikichi shouted as he ran up to the stunned Shinigami trailing the others.
"Riki, look, I found him; my Bankai Heika Hisagomaru." Hanataro replied in a dazed tone staring down at his weapon; Ichigo approaching the pair carefully to get a better look.
Hanataro's Bankai presented itself more like Tensa than most others he had seen, in that the blade was relatively small for being a second release; it was a double ended glaive. The main edge of the weapon was long and wickedly curved, the blade itself as long as Ichigo's arm; while the smaller edge was double sided and came to a point like a dagger after approximately six inches. The entire length of Heika Hisagomaru was about a foot longer than Hanataro if he stood up straight. It looked cruel and dangerous, but essentially, to the unsuspecting observer it appeared to be a Shikai.
Hanataro stared down at his Bankai, "I can attack now, that's what the bigger side is for, but the small side is for healing. If I pierce or cut a wounded soul with that side it will heal instantly, no wait time or fill limit."
"That's great Hana, you will still be able to help people no matter which level you are at," Rikichi hugged him tightly, kissing his brow swiftly, before pulling away to ask, "So did your Zanpakuto spirit tell you how the attack would work?"
"I can't attack an already injured opponent, Heika will not allow me to kick a dog while their down, but the more pain an opponent has caused to others, the more damage Heika can cause. He can measure and determine our strike limit in an instant. The attack is an amplified version of my strike in Shikai when the gage is full." He explained slowly, as Retsu unobstructively checked him over for any problems the intense three days of training may have caused him. It seemed to Ichigo's still mostly untrained eyes that he had managed to come through alright, aside from a few singe marks.
"I was right then, it sounds like your Bankai is a lot like my Tensa," Ichigo evaluated.
"I guess," Hanataro responded uncertainly.
"Yes," Retsu confirmed, "They both use the same type of energy condensation and manipulation, an unusual but useful type of Bankai, it typically lasts longer than the flashier ones in battle."
"Now I really can't wait to see my Shikai, I'm so close, I can hear her voice speaking to me, but her name is still hidden from me." Rikichi frustration bled into his voice as he spoke.
"Well for now the two of you are making amazing progress, so I want you to take tonight off to relax and remember why you are doing this. Have some time together, get yourself back in shape for tomorrow, because there won't be anything holding us back after this," Ichigo advised.
"If we are doing so well, why are we stopping?" Rikichi ground out in frustration.
"Because this will be the last good opportunity for a break we will have before we need to be done with training, so take advantage of it, if it makes you feel better tomorrow I am bringing Jyuushiro and Shunsui with me. You will be ready for them then." He wanted them motivated, but not so exhausted they couldn't get anything out of the lessons anymore.
"Come on Riki, spend some time with me," Hanataro encouraged, slipping his hand into Rikichi's and both Retsu and Ichigo had to hide smiles as the Sixth squad officer melted at the words and gestures, submitting to his desire.
"If that's what you want," Rikichi conceded, following him to the back of the cavern and the waiting hot spring.
"Such good boys, they will make fine Shinigami," Retsu commented, "You are doing a very good job with them. I see you are applying your new lessons equally as well as your old ones."
"I can only try, I don't want to see them make the same mistakes," Ichigo responded softly; humbled by her words.
"Now you know what the rest of us felt when we saw you falling apart and you fought so hard against letting any of us in to help you." She pointed out.
He rubbed the back of his neck guiltily, "I guess I owe you guys an apology."
Soft laughter, "Oh you are more than merely apologizing for that grief by doing this for Hanataro and Rikichi. In passing on the lessons we taught you, it shows us how much our gift to you was appreciated." Retsu assured.
"It was very much appreciated," Ichigo rushed to respond, hoping the rise of red onto his face wouldn't be spotted for what it was, but of course Retsu was too quick to be fooled.
"I knew they would be good for you, now why don't you go take your own advice and enjoy a night off? Those two will be too distracted to notice your absence I suspect." Retsu teased.
Ichigo's blush spread rapidly hearing that, but he attempted to keep himself from reacting too badly beyond that, "You're probably right, I could use a break."
"So what are you waiting for?" Retsu urged, her slight smile sending him on his way, blush growing ever darker.
Any residual embarrassment left him however when he arrived back at the Thirteenth to find Jyuushiro in his office going over a roll of parchment, training reports if Ichigo was judging it correctly, the white haired Captain's brow was furrowed in concentration and his shoulders were hunched as he read.
"You know if you keep going like that, you will work yourself sick and Retsu will be after all of our hides, again," Jyuushiro actually jumped a bit, he must have been truly absorbed in the reports for him not to feel Ichigo's approach at all, and that immediately put the younger man on high alert. "Is everything alright."
His lover looked torn, debating whether to answer, before eventually erring on the side of informing Ichigo, "No everything is not alright, we are getting reports of Arrancar being spotted in the Living World. No Humans have been injured, but more than the typical number of plus souls have been coming under attack by Hollows, we assume it is the work of Aizen's army. The reports of higher numbers of attacks on plus souls make sense, but the fact they are not attacking even those living humans with high spirit energy, we just don't know what is going through his head; it is causing stress for all of the Captains."
Ichigo thought over the report, and once he thought he had it understood checked his assumptions, "So Aizen has gotten over the setback of losing me as a pawn, and is starting a new plan, whatever it is. He is sending Arrancar into the living world, but they are only touching souls, not humans." At Jyuushiro's nod, he continued on. "Is there any chance the Arrancar are some kind of scout or spy, and by not attacking living humans they are attempting to stay under the Soul Society's radar?"
"Possibly, but I doubt it, we track all spirits. No, this is far more calculated than that. It's like they are trying to track and preserve the people for something, I can't help thinking whatever that is can't possibly be a good thing." Jyuushiro admitted candidly.
"Remember me asking if Yamamoto might allow a few of the Espada to stay here if they needed a place away from Aizen?" Another nod, "Now might be a good time to start working on that. We need to know what's going on, and who better to know than the people who know Aizen best?"
"I have to ask, how do you plan on getting in touch with the Espada again?" The worry came through louder than a scream in his voice.
Ichigo's smirk became tinged with darkness as Junichi came to the forefront, "I won't find them, they will find us. I have a feeling the Espada are at the center of the trouble in the Living World, Aizen wouldn't leave the execution of one of his plans in the hands of a nobody. If it is not Grimmjow behind it, all I have to do is goad the one it is by saying I'm looking to challenge the Sexta in another battle. I know how the Espada work now, they will not be able to resist grumbling about the insult during the meetings meaning Grimmjow will hear and understand that I need to talk to him. We'll probably end up fighting before the conversation is over, but at least the message will get passed."
"I don't know, sounds like a lot to pin on a chance that a single person will gossip in the right place." Jyuushiro wasn't used to plans with such a large basis resting on faith.
"It's only a small chance if you don't know the people, I do, and these people will talk. Trust me, if you want to anger an Espada, tell them you would prefer fighting a different one in the middle of a battle; it is a serious blow to their egos especially if Grimmjow would happen to be lower in rank then the person I was goading." Ichigo reassured, going up and hugging Jyuushiro from behind, kissing his neck softly, unknowingly mirroring a move Shunsui loved to do.
"I trust you," Jyuushiro relaxed back against him, "I just don't want you dealing with more than you should have to. Some Espada are working against Aizen, the fact you are here safe with us proves that, but there are still some loyal to that traitor; it is you coming against one of those Espada that I fear. There is nothing holding them back from killing you."
"If you consider Junichi and Zangetsu nothing, than sure there is nothing protecting me, and now I have you and Shunsui. I think it is safe to say I am in a much more defensible position that I was before, even if I am not in Soul Society. I can't imagine Yamamoto is going to stall much longer before deploying some of us to deal with the rising threat in the Living World, since I am the only one that is still technically alive, it really should be me don't you think?" Ichigo pointed out.
"Okay fine, you win, we do this your way," Jyuushiro caved. Partly from the words, and the rest because Ichigo had started to massage a particularly tense knot of muscle in the middle of shoulders, right along the spine, that was nearly impossible to work out by himself. He was melting into a puddle of sighing goo in the hands of the substitute with the caring ministrations. "Now that's just not fair," He had the presence of mind to say as his eyes started to slide closed.
"I warned you that you were going to work yourself sick, I'm just trying to make sure that doesn't happen." Ichigo's smirk was heard in his mischievous voice as well as seen on his face.
A new voice startled the both of them, "Alright just what are you trying to get away with now Ichi?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, he was working himself too hard again, I was just getting him to relax a bit." Ichigo turned to look at Shunsui, flashing him a grin, without stopping his work on Jyuushiro's tense muscles; he really had worked himself into a painful mess.
Shunsui's laughter rang through the room, and soon Ichigo's shoulder were draped with pink silk, as well as the additional but welcome weight of a familiar arm, "Oh, why do I not quite believe that? You see I am a bit familiar with are Jyuu's weak spots, and you seem to have found them rather quickly. So what is it? What little favor did you have to use the ultimate persuasion a la backrub to get your way?" He teased, leaning more and more of his weight onto Ichigo as he spoke to make his point.
"Nothing, it was nothing," Ichigo was quick to defend, too quick, more weight pressed down, and a heavy silence descended until he let out a sigh. "Fine, I have a plan to contact Grimmjow and get started on my idea to bring the Espada to Soul Society, or at least have enough contact with them to exchange information. We need to know what is going on with Aizen that he is sending Arrancar into the Living World."
"Seems reasonable," Shunsui allowed, "So what part don't you like Jyuu?" He redirected, knowing Jyuushiro didn't panic over nothing.
"He wants to goad an Espada and rely on chance that the message actually gets through to the right person," Jyuushiro clarified the plan.
"Yeah that could be a problem," Shunsui nodded along, "We don't typically try to make our enemies even more angry than they already are, and I know you don't care for him not having a clear plan for what follows."
Ichigo felt he had to break in, "But it is clear, I know it will work." He defended yet again.
Shunsui shot him a searching look, and after a few moments, "Alright I'm willing to side with him on that point, I think he knows what he is doing there Jyuu. To me the more difficult point will be the goading of the Espada, which one are you trying to tangle with?" During their time together Ichigo had slowly informed them of the different Espada, all of them had some nasty abilities it wouldn't be a good idea to provoke, but the truly powerful ones were definitely a bad idea.
"I don't know," Ichigo confessed, "I'll admit that's the weak part of the plan, Jyuushiro only just now told me about the trouble in the Living World, so I couldn't pinpoint anything that might give away which Espada is babysitting the other Arrancar. I kind of doubt it would be Grimmjow, it would be nice for us if it was, but Aizen probably wouldn't trust him to not get bored and start causing mayhem. I would expect more on the lines of Ulquiorra, Harribel, Arroniero, or possibly Starrk. Harribel or Starrk might be reasoned with, Starrk hates fighting, and Harribel only does it when she has a good reason to. Ulquiorra follows orders, he is a loyal dog for the most part, and Arroniero isn't much better but he would be a good choice in babysitter considering all the lower Arrancar are terrified of him since he eats them."
"If we let you go through with this plan and you came against them in a fight, how do you think you would fair against them in a fight?" Jyuushiro asked seriously, realizing they couldn't persuade him to completely drop this somewhat foolhardy idea, so they might as well see how thorough he was thinking it through.
Ichigo slowly gave his answer, thinking it through as he replied, confirming his intelligence with forming a viable plan on the spot. Reaffirming Shunsui and Jyuushiro's assessment that Ichigo would make an excellent Captain someday. "If it did come down to combat, I would be dust against Starrk if he got serious, good thing he doesn't 99.9 percent of the time. I think he would realize that I was trying to pass a message the moment I mentioned Grimmjow though, he might be too lazy to fight, but he is anything but stupid. Harribel and I would be close, I think she would win in a completely serious fight, but like Starrk I think she would realize what I was trying to do. The problem would come when they realize it, I don't know if they are completely loyal to Aizen, or more loyal to the fact they actually have a home for once. The other two are ones I am completely sure are loyal to Aizen. Ulquiorra I think I can beat, it would be hard, but I can win if I have Zangetsu and Junichi. He is the one most likely to blow a fuse if I mention Grimmjow while fighting him, those two hate each other the most out of the Espada, although Grimmjow and Nnoitra spar the most it is more of a friendly rivalry, as much as those things exist in Las Noches. As for Aaroniero, I can honestly say I think that guy gives me the creeps more than Szayel and he has a fetish for dissecting things. I can fight him, but you have to keep in mind when fight him you are not fighting one but many, it is truly difficult despite him not being as spiritual powerful as the others. He will want to gloat that I compared him to Grimmjow, passing the message through him will be a little different, but it will still get where it needs to go."
"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but okay, I think the plan could work," Jyuushiro agreed. "And by the way, I never doubted your ability to know what was right, I just never want to see you hurt ever again."
"Same here," Shunsui seconded. "And to that end, don't think for one second we are going to let you do this by yourself."
"That's more of a relief than you know, so how do you suggest changing it so I come out with my neck intact?" Ichigo felt his body relax from tension he hadn't realized he had assumed during his planning.
"Simple, I'm coming with you," Shunsui responded with a grin.
Ichigo let out a sigh, "As much as I would love that, I have two words for you that describe what's in the way of that."
"Oh, and what are they?" Shunsui asked curiously.
Ichigo replied with a sad little smile and, "Captain Yamamoto. How do you expect him to release you from your Captain's duties just to follow me, without telling him why you want to so badly?"
The blinding grin from Shunsui was more than a little unexpected, "Oh, you see, I came over here to tell Jyuushiro here something, and when I found you here it was a happy bonus. I happen to have been given an assignment, one to the living world, Hitsugaya served well last time, but this time Yama thought my skills would serve better in the field."
Both Jyuushiro and Ichigo came to the right conclusion at the same time, but the Captain beat the Substitute in speaking, "He expects fighting this time around, and not skirmishes, real battle."
"Yes, and I wouldn't be surprised if you get a summons soon too. You will be needed for relay duty again, you are the best at it, oh and be prepared to use Squad Two members as gophers again. He is making war time preparations without being obvious about it. Only the older ones have been through one too many wars not to notice. Retsu is already adding more beds in the healing barracks and stepping up her squad's training regimen." Shunsui warned.
"Did Yamamoto say anything about when?" Ichigo was worried about keeping his promise to Hanataro and Rikichi, they still had another week left in the training.
"Two more weeks, don't worry, your training program will finish. There are a number of Captains very interested in the results, I even suspect Old Man Yama might know about it and wants to see it himself, otherwise we might have already been sent out." Shunsui reassured.
Ichigo felt guilt hit him like a punch to the gut, "So if someone gets hurt out there, it's my fault?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
"NO!" Both Captains shouted at the same time, but Jyuushiro was the one to continue, "No, it is not your fault, you may have started the training program, but you did the right thing by getting permission from the Captains of their squads and health clearances along the way. If you finish the training now it is with the full backing of the people with authority higher than your own, including Yamamoto most likely, and at the very least their personal Captains. So continue until they are withdrawn by a summons, otherwise they are exactly where they are most needed. Think about it, if we really are on the brink of war, what better place is there to be but being trained into higher levels of power? And just because you are busy doesn't mean Yamamoto couldn't have sent an advance team down to keep an eye on things until you were finished, we still have some time, so relax and give that training your all."
Ichigo took a deep breath to steady his racing heart, "Okay, sorry for panicking."
"We understand Ichigo, it means you care, it's reassuring to see actually." Shunsui complimented, drawing him in for a hug, pressing their foreheads together. "I'll let you in on a Captain's secret, we all have those moments of panic when our Squad members are hurt or missing, the guilt and worry can be nearly overwhelming, but that is what makes us worthy to lead them. A leader who doesn't get that feeling isn't going to hesitate before sending a subordinate into a situation they can't fight their way out of. Both Jyuushiro and I have lost our Lieutenants to situations we couldn't control, and we still feel the ache of their loss. My Lisa is still alive but banished, and there is not a day that goes by that I do not want to grovel at her feet and beg for forgiveness. I should have gone instead of her. She is the only Lieutenant who was banished without her Captain."
"Kaien did not want to be a Lieutenant, I talked him into it, and in the end I let him down twice. First I let his wife die, and in the end I was too weak to end it myself; Rukia had to carry the guilt of the act. That is truly the reason I believe I should hand in my Captain's haori, if I couldn't even spare my Squad members that kind of pain, I do not deserve to be called a Captain." Jyuushiro added onto Shunsui's story, joining the embrace, fitting into their arms easily, like puzzle pieces waiting to be finished.
"If you are coming to the Living World, I can bring you to Lisa Shunsui," Ichigo promised, before turning his attention fully to Jyuushiro, wrapping him up in his arms, feeling Shunsui copying him from the other side so the slim Captain was completely cocooned by them. "You listen to me Jyuushiro Ukitake, you earned that Haori so many times over, and that night was just another night you earned it again. Yes Rukia had to make the final strike that ended Kaien's life, but your illness became her strength. She pushed herself so hard after that so that she could please his memory, and look where she is now. She doesn't speak of you as weak, she only spoke of your strength, your wisdom, and she loves you as her Captain. She loves being in the Thirteenth Squad, is just as proud of this Squad as she is of the Kuchiki name. Don't you ever think you are not worthy of being a Captain."
Jyuushiro opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Shunsui, "Sorry Jyuu, it's two against one now, you are just going to have to believe us now. You earned your position."
"You two are incorrigible," He said in exasperation.
"But you love us," Shunsui teased.
Jyuushiro couldn't help but laugh, "Yes I do." And to prove it he leaned up to kiss Ichigo first, long and deep, before breaking it and leaning back to capture Shunsui's lips in a slow and sensuous kiss.
"Hmmm, your room or mine?" Shunsui asked in a husky voice.
"Mine, closer," Jyuushiro responded breathlessly, Ichigo nodding along, following the tumble of pseudo drunken limbs and kisses from Jyuushiro's office to his quarters. If Sentaro and Kiyone saw anything, they didn't say a word to anyone, respecting their precious Captain's privacy.
The moon rose, stars came out, and the cicadas' song filled the air, but the trio were too lost in each other to notice. Drinking in the feel of bodies, the whisper of breath, the sound of sweet whispers chasing away devilish memories. No need for fireworks or battle, this was a symphony just for them, but it was perfect in its composition.
Sated and satisfied they drifted off in each other's embrace, looked forward to a day of discovery and training, it had been too long for the Captains to have eager students, and to watch Ichigo teach was a different kind of perfection. Their lover was amazing in what he did, and the truly thrilling part about him was his potential was only just now being tapped, he was brimming with it. The humbling part was the sheer humility he had, a warm humanity that showed despite his power and intelligence he either didn't realize his uniqueness or didn't think it made much of a difference, people were people and that was all that mattered.