Byakuya didn't seem to hear, staring into his teacup with a stormy gaze. "You always have been one to treat everyone around you with honor and equality. In your reasoning, I'm sure you don't believe there's any difference with this instance."
"This instance?" Juushiro repeated, slightly confused if he should ask at this point. "Is this about Rukia?" he asked a moment later.
"No." Byakuya looked up again. "I met the Seraph and she says you know her and what she is," he stated with a hint of steel in his voice.
Captain Ukitake blinked in surprise before composing himself once more. "I do," he acquiesced, taking a slow drink of his tea.
"You aren't denying it."
"I have no reason to deny it," Juushiro replied without a hint of unease. "I discovered her secret before the Captain Commander had ordered her capture, and I still believe that Kisuke Urahara has a better chance at knowing how to free her than anyone in Soul Society." Another fleeting look of sorrow passed in his green eyes. "I haven't seen her since my second visit. I hope she was well when you saw her?" he inquired quietly.
"Your kindness and generosity serve no purpose if you are to capture her," Byakuya retorted, hedging the question.
Juushiro sighed. "Kindness know no bounds, and anything we can give her will be better than leaving her in the hands of Sousuke Aizen," he elaborated in the same weary voice. "Your own words reveal that you did not take her either."
Byakuya's eyebrow twitched. "She fled before I could attempt to do my duty as such," he stated firmly.
"I doubt Kisuke would have let you," Juushiro grinned slightly.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "I can handle a shopkeeper. And your kindness in this matter will only come back to haunt you later. You can't save her from her fate."
"I can do my best to lighten it, and I will. You can't change my mind, Byakuya," Juushiro declared, dropping into the informal for emphasis. "I am who I am and others have tried to warm me and failed. I accept any consequences of helping and protecting all I can." Assailed by more coughs, he picked up his tea again.
Allowing a sliver of a smile to form on his lips while his companion was thus distracted, the Kuchiki heir closed his eyes, "And that kind of courage is the reason Rukia still lives. The brat couldn't have stopped the Sokyoko a second time."
Juushiro chuckled into his tea. "Without that 'brat', I wouldn't have arrived in time. I'm glad he attempted something that reckless and foolish-"
"Tsukiro Ashimitsu, you've been showing an interest in him?"
Juushiro's brow furrowed in confusion. "Yes, I have, but what does that..." His eyes narrowed. "Aizen."
Byakuya nodded. "Due to your interest or the boy's unknown merits, Aizen has ordered Hitsugaya to kill him," he reported. "It might be good to hide him away."
Juushiro sighed. "I planned to do something along those lines myself, but I had hoped for more time."
"There is another thing you should be aware of. Hitsugaya has been troubled in Las Noches, conflicted between his true self and a Hollow-Juushiro!"
Juushiro sprang to his feet. "Toshiro is Tsukiro's captain. There is no way he would leave his captain alone after seeing him in that state! This changes everything."
Byakuya's eyes widened; but before he could say his piece, footsteps echoed out and Juushiro's door was flung open. "Captain," a young man huffed, falling to his knees, "I can't stop her. She wouldn't listen-"
"Kairo!" Juushiro knelt beside the youth, setting a hand on his shoulder and ordering sternly "Calm down and tell me."
"It- It's Rukia. There's a strange hollow at the market- doesn't seem solid - I told her to wait to attack it until we had help - it pulled out a child from within itself - the poor thing wouldn't stop crying - Rukia-san, she-she lost it. She's chasing it, and it- there's something different about it. I told the others with us to watch the market for others. I'd go," he gasped, "for the captain. Captain!"
Juushiro's eyes narrowed and face became grim. "Stay here until you can breathe better. You did the right thing. I'll find Rukia." He paused.
Tsukiro could be in danger at this very moment.
Captain!
"Don't worry, Kairo. I'll find her. Kuchiki-san, I'm sorry." Closing his eyes to mask his acute worry, Juushiro shunpoed away.
Byakuya stood up, face schooled to indifference only through sheer will power.
Next Part(s): Betrayal...?
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