Tama smiled as she took the cup from Sojun, setting it on the tray she'd brought in with her. She had slept in her room alone the previous night, and woke up determined to do something to feel useful today. The nobleman seemed aware of something weighing on her as he rested his hand over his lower ribcage while he advised her, "you don't need to do this for me."
"It's the least I can do," Tama countered. Sojun observed her keenly for a few moments before asking, "did something happen?"
"It's nothing," she dismissed the concern, however the Sixth division Lieutenant raised an eyebrow at her dismissal, silently pressing her for certainty.
She sighed heavily as she admitted, "I am grateful for all you and Byakuya have done for me, but I feel like all I'm doing is taking. I don't like it. I feel like I'm taking advantage of your hospitality and I—I just-"
She glanced downwards, hoping her hair would hide her face, but it was impossible to hide the tears that dropped onto the futon sheets. Sojun gently brought a hand up to cup the side of her face, and wipe at a stray tear with his thumb. As he did this he asked her, "did Byakuya tell you that my wife and daughter died in childbirth?"
Tama looked up to meet Lieutenant Kuchiki's eyes, and shook her head 'no'. He smiled as he added, "You may feel that you're taking advantage, but although it's only been a short time since we've met, I feel that I have a sense of what having a daughter is like now. That's thanks to you. You're a child without a parent, and I'm a parent who lost a daughter. Perhaps it's fate that brought us together that day. Whatever the future brings, although I cannot legally adopt you, my father would never permit it, I can't deny that I worry when you're absent from my sight, the same as I worry for Byakuya. So if there is something that I can do, even covertly to keep you safe, I will. You have a noble heart, Tama. That much was exposed when you risked yourself to protect that boy."
From outside of the room, Byakuya closed his eyes and lowered his head. His father thought of her as a daughter, which would mean that anything beyond a friendship with her would be complicated by not only his family's rules, but also his father's paternal feelings towards her.
She was worth enduring for. That much he was certain of. He looked to the book in his hands, debating on whether or not he should include her when telling his father about his discovery. She'd find out sooner or later, and frankly the more she knew, the safer she'd be.
He deeply inhaled before knocking on the door to his father's room, and waited for permission before entering.
"Father, Tama-chan, I wanted to discuss something with you," Byakuya stated as he entered the room. Sojun chuckled as he pressed, "something so important, a simple civil greeting is too much? I hope this is an important discussion."
"Unfortunately I believe it is—if what I've found is accurate. I think I can name something else that's happened to Tama. Something that allowed her to survive everything to date," he added as he sat next to his father and Tama. He handed the book to Sojun, who noted that a feather had been placed between two pages. Opening the book at that page, his eyes skimmed through the book before he stated, "This book was entrusted to us by the founding Kido Chief, Byakuya. How did you get a hold of it?"
"Grandfather told me to study it," Byakuya explained.
"Hmm," Sojun stated. His son pointed to one of the spells, and Sojun's eyes grew wide as he read it, he looked to Tama and asked, "you have trouble with your memory?"
"I don't know. I mean—my first memory is waking up in that village with a piece of paper that said 'Tama Shimizu 12/28'. So I've been introducing myself as Tama Shimizu since," she answered.
Sojun's eyes grew to the size of saucers upon hearing this. Normally a soul just wakes up in Rukongai and remembers nothing, with little more than the clothes on their back. For someone to wake up in Rukongai with a note like that—it definitely wasn't right.
"When the second division interviewed you, did you mention that to them?"
Tama averted his eyes, and became silent. He noticed her clutching at the plain sky blue kimono she was wearing. Gingerly he reached his hand out, placing it over hers and assured her, "you're not in trouble. I'm not angry with you. I am concerned, this could be something more than we originally thought."
She shook her head from side to side and answered, "I didn't mention it. Or the other attacks."
Sojun was now sitting up as he inquired, "other attacks?"
She nodded as she elaborated, "I've been stabbed through my chest, my pelvis, and my neck. Each time I woke up with the injuries healed and feeling stronger than I was before."
"I see," Sojun replied. He then looked to Byakuya and replied, "I think your suspicion is correct. Someone has in fact used Fennikusu Yokusei on her. The most troubling question from that discovery is who could have? Aside from the founding kido chief there's very few members of the Gotei 13 who even know that spell exists, let alone possesses the ability to utilize it effectively."
"So then who is the founding kido chief? Maybe they could help investigate," Tama suggested.
Sojun shook his head sadly as he replied, "No. I don't believe so. The founding kido chief was killed in the line of duty about two hundred years ago. He had a daughter, Setsuna who discharged three years ago, she was badly maimed in an attack and her ability to serve was greatly impacted. She moved to Rukongai and as I understand it, the then lieutenant of the second division went with her. They married and I believe had a child together."
He gave an exasperated sigh and squeezed his eyes shut in concentration as he struggled to recall his name. "She was Setsuna Takahashi—once an heir to the former greater noble house Takahashi—and he—he was what was his name? Rikichi? No—Rikiya-" Sojun stiffened as he recalled and looked directly to Tama as he finally recalled his name, "Second division Lieutenant, Rikiya Shimizu."
The indigo eyes were as wide, nearly bulging from their sockets and her mouth was gaping open. She seemed to be holding her breath.
Sojun shook his head as he admitted, "when I heard your name, the clan name seemed familiar but I couldn't place it."
'A Shinigami Lieutenant—and a Noble born woman, were they my parents? If so, what does that make me? Was I actually born in soul society,' Tama wondered to herself. She felt as if the air had left her lungs and she was watching herself from outside her body, rather than inhabiting it.
Gingerly a hand reached over, residing on her shoulder and gently squeezed. She sucked in a breath, blinked and looked over to see the grey eyes observing her. 'He's worried about me again,' she thought to herself as she patted his hand before standing up. His hand slid off her shoulder and she silently left the room.
"Byakuya, this just became more complicated than it already was," Sojun cautioned.
"I know, Father," he answered, unable to tear his eyes away from the door the girl had disappeared through.
"You may have to use Seikatsu Tsunagu on her," he advised.
Byakuya lowered his head for a moment before admitting, "I already did, her first day here."
"And that spell is still bonding me to you, so with that in mind, we'll keep her safe," Sojun stated. He then regarded his son as he asked, "Do you remember how to summon me to your side, Byakuya?"
A small nod of his son's head gave him all the answer he needed. Sojun looked to the door before stating, "go check on her, please."
"Yes Father," Byakuya replied as he left the room and stood still for a moment before heading towards Tama's spiritual pressure. Sojun sighed, clasping his hands together and resting his chin on them. His elbows rested on his knees while he fully processed what he'd learned. Tama was the daughter of Setsuna and Rikiya, Setsuna was exceptional with kido, unrivaled by any in their generation, Rikiya while not a captain level combatant was the furthest from a slouch you could find. He trained tirelessly for four hours every day. For them to feel they had to resort to that spell, what had they used it to protect their daughter from?
For the first time since meeting her, he worried that he wouldn't be strong enough to protect Tama in their absence, but that wouldn't stop him from giving his all to a fight if it came down to it. There was still one ace up his sleeve he could teach to Byakuya and Tama herself if they needed to resort to it. The Takahashi farm on a distant living world, one that wasn't as closely monitored as the neighbouring living worlds—perhaps that would be the safest place for her, if they couldn't uncover her attacker.
AN: Fennikusu Yokusei - a kido spell that I devised. You'll see the description of what it does soon enough. It isn't cannon, it's my invention.
Seikatsu Tsunagu - a kido that was taught to Soujun by his late wife, Byakuya's mother, with the intention of him teaching it to their son. It translates as 'life bond', Byakuya gave a description of the kido in an earlier chapter. This kido is not cannon, it's a kido I invented for use in this story.