Alice in Watariland

The Suzumei Estate stood in the noble precinct of the court of pure souls some credited it as being one of the oldest buildings in all of Soul Society. Whilst the Shimazu Clan had adopted a lot of japanese influence, the Suzumei Family had adopted a lot of traditional european design. Elegant wooden floors, high arched walkways and fine white marble all painstakingly built and sharpened with age.

The house itself was a veritable fortress, even if the Gotei Six desired to try Watari for his crimes which they most likely were never going to as noble affairs were best left to nobles. The high walls of the outer perimeter guarded by men skilled in kido and zanjutsu and lined with traces of sekiseki to nullify any great damage. The grounds themselves were covered by wide open grassy plains and gardens of every variety imaginable. If there was something in the realm of imagination, it was probably hidden somewhere within these walls.

Because the young master of the Suzumei Family was the only one of his direct family still living, the staff and servants of the family held Watari’s word above all else. Continuing the family line was the most important objective and many of the servants would die for it. Which then considering the events of the noble gathering, it made a lot of sense how Watari had everybody acting like clockwork to them, the success of Watari Suzumei was culture! It was tradition! It was everything.

That was also why the news of a potential betrothed had spread through the mansion like wildfire. Every servant from the maid to Watari’s personal butler knew of the new ‘betrothed’. Watari had picked her himself which meant that she was obviously going to be the next lady of the house, a very big deal for the servants and they would do anything and everything to ensure it.

Within the room Yuki Kameko now slumbers was the furniture of a queen, a plush white bed with royal blue blankets, a full length mirror with accompanying ensuite bathroom and a desk. Nestled on the desk waiting for Yuki Kameko to open her eyes is a small wooden box with a simple note “For You” attached to the top - inside are strawberries from the estate gardens.

A maid stands hesitantly outside of the ‘betrotheds’ door; her simple white dress is monogrammed with the familiar S of the Suzumei family. She has been in the family’s employment for exactly one year and has seen Watari Suzumei once! The position of handmaid to the new lady of the house was a great honor and her entire family in the Rukongai had been so happy for her. She eagerly awaits to hear the footsteps of her new mistress so she can provide the best service possible.

Is it still going? The battle?

Doubtful. You have been slumbering for some time.

You. Me? Are these my thoughts? Or are these the thoughts of another?

Yes.

Hmph. An outsider?

No.

I heard you. Before I mean. I just thought it was me. I think.

Heads up. It's time to awaken.

Wait! But I-

"-have so many questions" mumbled the Shinigami, eye tiredly flickering open. A hand moved, rubbing at her socket while she slowly sat herself up. She sniffed at the air.

Strawberries. Am I home? Was it all just a dream? Were those voices just a dream?

As her hand fell away and her vision finally cleared up Yuki noticed, well, a lot of things out of place. These weren't her sheets. This wasn't her bed. Her estate was fashioned in a traditional Japanese style.

But the strawberries.

She turned towards the desk, sniffing at the air. A box. Undoubtedly filled with her favorite food. Ears flattened against her head.

No.

With a quick glance down she realized that it had not, in fact, been a dream. After all, these weren't her clothes. Which meant someone had changed her. But who? And for what purpose?

No way.

A sickening feeling crept into her gut. Immediately she pushed out from the bed. Her robes were pulled open as she approached the mirror. A good minute of intense inspection followed as she searched for anything that might have been off. Markings. Some collar. Manacles. Anything.

What the Hell is going on here? I'm not under arrest. Wait. Shit.

The robes were closed and tied off as she searched for her zanpakuto. She checked under the blankets. She checked under the pillows. She checked under the bed and behind the desk and even in the bathroom.

Damnit. What a nightmare.

With a soft grumble she moved over to the desk, opening the small box. A single strawberry was lifted up to her lips. She took a couple sniffs. Then, after a good minute of hesitation, she set it gently back into the box, closing it up.

No. Remember the punch. Resist.

She turned towards the door, sniffing at the air. Someone else was nearby. A guard, perhaps? If she had to fight her way out with tooth and claw she would. At this point there was nothing to lose.

What was that? Was that? The footsteps of the betrothed! Her heart was racing, she needed to act with all the grace and dignity of the handmaid of a lady of the house. She would be amazing! She would be brilliant! The maid whose name was Rei Kuramitsu slowly opened the door and stuck her head around the corner.

“H-hello Miss?” The maid opened the door wider and entered the room before closing it neatly behind her, her new mistress she knew was part wolf as she had done her research and had been the one who had bathed and cared for the bruising she had suffered at the hands of the Young Master. She bowed herself prostrate on the floor in front of the wolf girl in a sign of respect.

“I am your handmaid Rei Kuramitsu, it is my sworn duty to serve you and the Suzumei Family” she said standing and smiling. Yes, she would do a great job! The best job! And as long as she made no mistakes she was sure Titus wouldn’t do what he said he would do if she failed at her job. A thin bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face as she eagerly awaited the response from her new mistress.

“Oh and miss, don’t worry about the strawberries, Titus made it very clear to let you know that the young master didn’t poison them as well!” she cheerily added.

As it turned out she was correct. Someone else was right outside the door. For a moment she tensed up as it swung open. Fingers clenched into fists. Would it be a guard? Suzumei?!

When the uneasy voice called out she visibly relaxed. Of course she was confused too, at least momentarily. Who was this woman? When she prostrated herself before Yuki she finally understood. It helped too that the woman actually answered her internal question.

A handmaid. Suzumei. I was right not to trust the strawberries. Can't imagine what he might have done to them.

Her head tilted just a slight bit as she sniffed at the air. The little bead of sweat was quite telling. Her voice. Everything. Either she was new to this duty or she was worried about something. Perhaps worried about failure?

"Titus?"

I don't really feel anything off about her. She seems genuine. Er. Right.

Carefully she crouched down, moving her hands to the woman's shoulders. With a gentle tug she urged her to stand. "You don't need to do that in front of me. Please speak candidly."

Wait.

"Ah. Were you the one who took care of me? Who bathed me? Changed me?"

Please say yes.

The betrothed was so kind, she had asked her to stand! Young master had picked such a kind and courteous woman she was so lucky to have this mistress! Now she understood what her purpose was, so serve such a kind and gentle woman. Young master must’ve strangled her for her own good, good for the young master her animal instincts must have taken over and he did the right thing. How honorable!

“Oh yes yes!” Rei replied her cheeks flushing a slight pink at being the only person in the Suzumei family to see Yuki’s form, she wasn’t embarrassed by doing her job but Rei was embarrassed for not receiving the customary permission of one of Yuki’s status.

“Young master insisted or rather Titus did, he’s the butler of the Suzumei Family and manages everything to do with the estate while young master strives to maintain our greatness” oh yes, the news had just came out recently that the Suzumei along with a few other families were to be named “major noble powers” and given exorbitant rights to fit their status. Some even said it allowed them to veto the motions of Central 46 because of their power. It was a shame all those poor people had suffered a terrible food poisoning at the most recent noble ball.

“Rest assured your garments have been washed and can be found in the drawers of your dresser. I thought it would be more appropriate for you to wear clothes fit for rest” what an amazing red eye, you know the more she examined her new mistress the more she understood why she was the betrothed, there was a wild beauty to the woman in front of her. Yes yes, the young master had picked well!

“If you would like to be bathed by me in future just ask, it is my purpose!”

There was only the slightest hints of pink in her cheeks, and only for a moment. She didn't care too much about being naked. Her body was like any other body. Well, mostly. And besides, worrying about such things in the heat of combat could get one killed.

But when it came to someone else, someone who was lewd, someone who desired seeing her in that way, well, it was just the slightest bit embarrassing. Perhaps that was normal? Not like she had too much experience with such things. Being alone had its perks. Or was was it a fault in this case? Hard to say really.

She is a little brainwashed, isn't she?

A hand briefly moved up, fingers tracing where the Suzumei had choked her. If he was willing to do that to her, to murder all those people, what did he do to these people? Were they loyal out of love? Or fear?

Hm. If she joined me I could check her for injuries. Confirm it for myself. Something to keep in mind, I suppose.

"Thank you Miss Rei. I apologize for putting you through that. I'm assuming he has my weapon."

She turned to head over towards the dresser, however she paused when she noticed the box again. This woman appeared to be worried before. Yuki didn't want to get someone hurt, especially if they didn't deserve it. She was treading a fine line here, but then she was used to that sort of thing by now. In any case she briefly lifted the lid of the box, removing a single strawberry. It was popped into her mouth as she headed to the dresser, opening it up.

Her robes were discarded, replaced with the clothes she wore before. Yuki made no effort to cover herself. Why bother? There wasn't much to hide.

"Could you please lead me to him?" she asked, securing her eyepatch. Today was going to be a long one.

It was to be expected that the young master’s betrothed would be so driven and so determined she had heard the rumors from the other servants how Watari had proposed to her and her response had been to draw her weapon! How brave! How daring! How lucky was she that the soon-to-be first lady of Suzumei house would even dare stand to the young master.

“You are inspiring” she said pressing her hands against her cheeks to attempt to slap some sense into the rigorous servant training that her body should be remembering, but honestly Rei was just fuelled by adrenaline and admiration for the young lady in front of her that she could barely think straight.

“Yes miss betrothed, young master does. Titus has informed me that should you ask this very pressing question I should tell you that you’ll receive it again when he assumes you won’t try to ‘skewer the estate like a stuffed pig’” she bowed again chuckling and then helping secure the eye patch to Yuki's head - at least she could be of some assistance. How little did the lady understand that everything the young master had done for her was for her own good? She had no family! Now she did! Even the lands around her own estate were apparently being acquired for the great merging.

At the mention of meeting him though, she grew pale and immediately began to shake her head.”Oh no no, we need to request with Titus before we even speak about that young master is very very busy and even though I’m sure he’d love to see his betrothed we had to put rules in place to ensure your safety and the survival of the Suzumei name” at this she once again bowed herself prostate upon realizing she had undoubtedly failed her mistress in the one command she had given her so far.

“I can request immediately mistress, please please don’t hurt me”

Yuki again grew just a hint flustered, only this time it held on for a bit longer. She wasn't used to so many compliments. It felt weird. A good feeling? She couldn't tell yet.

"Ah. Well. No. I'm not" she mumbled in reply. This Titus person was, perhaps, the one with a grip upon Rei. Perhaps she feared him? Or maybe she feared them both. It certainly made Yuki curious.

I'll get to the bottom of this.

Still, she couldn't fault his reasoning. He was right, after all. If she had her blade she wouldn't think twice about going on a rampage. Cut down everyone who deserved it. Including the clan head.

Maybe not him. He spared my life. It would be dishonorable if I did not return the favor.

As Rei assisted with the eyepatch Yuki kept still, not wishing to trouble the poor woman more than she needed. Of course when the maid suddenly grew pale and prostrated herself Yuki became just a tad bit worried.

"I see."

Already he has rules set up. How long has he been planning this sort of thing? Damnit Yuki. What did you get yourself into?

As calmly as she could Yuki crouched down once more, aiming to assist the woman up to her feet. Again. Then she settled a hand gently upon Rei's arm, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze.

"You did not know of my intentions. And you are doing a fine job. Really. Please, do not worry. I'm not going to harm you. Are you often punished like that?"

The little wolf smiled. This poor woman needed to calm down. Yuki would do her best to make that happen.

"Could you please escort me to Mister Titus?"

As she stood at her wonderful mistress's touch Rei was once more assured that this woman was in fact the same who would lead their house to further greatness. She was so kind! So caring! Compassionate! Amazing! What a fitting wife for a leader as great as Watari Suzumei.

“Punished? Heavens no! Not I, not ever. I worked in the kitchens see I worked very hard, “yes“ they often said, “Kuramitsu-chan you are going to rub your fingers raw”” at this she moved across the room and adjusted the curtains as the sun had changed position from the morning when she had first waiting in anticipation for Yuki to rise and then began to remake the bed as she continued speaking.

“And then one day they even got me to fetch wine from the cellars for Watari! And that was when Titus said he had great plans for me! He said “Rei, I’ll remember you”and you know what happened next? They told me I’d be serving the greatest lady the Suzumei family would ever see!” with that last line she smoothed the sheets down and then bowed once more to her lady before moving towards the door. She would by no rights deny that, Rei knew the rules, she knew them right well she did!

“Right this way mistress, but never ever call him ‘master’ the only master is the one you are to be married to and saying such to Titus . . . well . . . “ she lowered her eyes. She had heard the stories of the servants who crossed the upper echelons of the estates. But that wasn’t her job after all! Her job was to make sure that the lady of the Suzumei was treated with the highest care and highest level of kindness.

And so began Yuki Kameko’s first journey through the labyrinthian Suzumei Mansion.

"So diligent" she remarked quietly. This woman was very, very impressive. She paused, giving Rei time to work, not wishing to rush the poor girl. As it turned out she was new to this estate. Perhaps she was the wrong one to be questioning about these sorts of things.

This is a dangerous situation for her. Does she not understand? Ah. Wait. Watari? Is that his name? It must be.

It was probably a good idea to know the man's full name. Watari Suzumei. This Titus person bugged her though. Why was Rei so afraid of failing in her duties?

The greatest lady of the Suzumei? Oh. Right. That ridiculous offer of his. How is he still considering that? Damn nobility.

Finally they departed the room! She kept smiling, of course. Anything to put Rei at ease. It was even just a little bit genuine. This woman was nice. It was possibly an act, a facade put forth to suck up to Yuki. But she hoped it wasn't.

"Right. I don't intend on calling Watari master either. Do you know of anyone else who has been punished here? You seemed a little concerned earlier. I'd like to know the truth. If you aren't allowed to say then you need not answer. I won't force you to."

At those words Rei froze.

She slowly turned and looked into Yuki's eyes.

“Whatever you do. You must call Watari master, mistress or use honorifics. I know you are from a minor noble house and these rules may not have been prevalent but please” at this the maid started wringing her dress and checked up and down the long halls lined with peonies and flickering candles. Thankfully there were no other servants in sight, so maybe if they were lucky master Titus had instructed this wing to be emptied for Yuki to grow accustomed to the Suzumei way. Oh, had she been saying Watari all this time? Oh Soul King no. She must never do that. Keep together Rei!

Yes her mistress was so bold, so beautiful but she was like a fire and she had not met Titus. Oh how Rei wished to tell her it would be okay, that everything would be alright! But there were things in this house . . . things in this house that were easier to pretend that the best thing in your day was your next walk through the Suzumei gardens. She loved it here, she did, the Suzumei Family paid well and the servants were like a close knit family but there were rules and codes to abide by.

“My family is now in first district thanks to working here you know” Rei murmured softly “there’s an entire block of houses as far as the eye can see of attendants and retainers to the Suzumei family, that’s how influential they are mistress” she loved her family, she loved her grandfather and her mother and her father she loved them all. But Rei knew the stories of those silly doting maids trying to catch glimpses of Watari as he bathed and of the guards who had skipped duty and been caught by Titus.

This family was terrible.

But it was kind.

“My life is yours” once more she placed her prostate in the middle of the floor at the girls feet. She was a caring mistress and the maid had absolute faith in her word as well as Titus’s or even praise of Watari's.

“If you wish to know the truth. I will tell you”

Yuki's smile remained. Holding it hurt. Worked muscles she infrequently used. It almost faltered, but she managed to hold it. For Rei's sake.

Well. This is quite telling. Damnit. Am I getting too attached here? Was this another one of his moves?

The wolf glanced around when Rei did, ears perking up. She sniffed at the air. It was very clear what was happening. This woman was making certain that the halls were empty. She was afraid to speak out. Or perhaps she was afraid of what might happen to Yuki. It was hard to tell.

He isn't completely terrible. Her family has good lodgings. But it feels malicious, like it's being held over her head. A warning. Another hostage. Or perhaps I'm being just a little too paranoid.

No. You aren't.

Oh. You again? Are we going to chat this time?

. . .

No? Fine. We're having a chat later though. Wait what?

Her red orb drifted down, locking onto the woman who, once again, had prostrated herself. She wouldn't be surprised if the meaning was literal. Again she crouched down, settling hands upon her arms to assist her up. But as she did she leaned in closer, whispering.

"Worry not. My ears are not for show. If it helps to whisper it I will pick it up. I would like to know the truth, yes, but not if it is going to endanger you. Not if you don't feel safe. I have other ways."

Once they were both standing straight she briefly patting the girl off. Then she gave a brief wave, directing her to continue leading the way.

"Also I must apologize ahead of time, but I will not be calling him Master. Surely he knows this by now. It's just not who I am. And if he has a problem with that he can take it up with me directly. If it helps I will tell him that you warned me."

Right.

"Yes. That is something about me you should learn. I don't lie. I suppose just saying it doesn't do much. But it is the truth. I won't lie to you. I won't lie to Titus. I won't like to Watari either. If my refusing to call him Master is a problem then perhaps he chose his desired mate incorrectly."

If she hadn’t just been picked up, Rei would’ve most surely fallen to her knees to beg forgiveness for such kind and wise words. To be so truthful and to be so kind? Of all the servants Rei was the luckiest! She had heard the stories when she went to bars in the Rukon, of the terrible things the high nobles made their servants do and suffer. She had heard that some had their tongues pulled out and their eyes gouged. . . oh just even thinking that was an affront to everything she held dear about her new mistress.

“We are all sworn to the Suzumei Family mistress and me to you. For you I will die above any other, above even the young master. If you wish to speak like this I cannot stop you, I won’t educate you, I will only try to help” she nodded her head. Yes, the training was really kicking in now wasn’t it? She had suffered time and time again in the kitchens scrubbing the plates and stoking the embers of the great ovens. There were a few times she had even been sent into the cold place. . . oh the cold place . . . With renewed determination for her mistress Rei once more continued speaking.

“I won’t lie to you either mistress. The truth is very little is known surrounding the young master, especially since he became head five years ago. There are stories of servants who have vanished when crossing boundaries, of all nobles houses the Suzumei are simultaneously the most “kind” and the most . . . “ she pursed her lips, she was going to say cruel but that wasn’t the correct word? So what did she mean . . .

“Mysterious. They just vanish. Guards miss shifts? One strike that’s all they get. A maid decides that she knows better than what Titus says - gone and they say -” her voice caught in her throat because it wasn’t Watari that scared Rei Kuramitsu, it wasn’t his warm presence and his warm voice. It was the presence and kindly words of his butler.

“The cold room - Watari Suzumei’s Butler is a retired Shinigami” and she remembered the cold. It had crept into her bones and she’d heard the singing . . . they all had heard the singing. A cold thin voice asking them to go further . . . to just . . . sleep a while . . . in the cold . . . and . . .

She remembered icicles.

And cool wine bottles.

And.

Statues.

Her eyes widened.

“Your biggest defence against Titus is your position as the young master’s betrothed but even that will only protect you from noble sentiments,” voices began to echo down the hall as a patrol of guards rounded the corner and saw them. Rei waved at them and nodded, the guards reciprocated the nod and then they too prostrated themselves once they recognised the wolf-ears and tail of Yuki’s. Rei wished on the Soul King that her mistress wouldn’t try anything, these men were as well trained as the aura of intensity that she had described Titus drove into them.


“Shall we carry on?” Once the guards had passed.

I'd tell her not to worry about the sacrifice thing, but then I'd do the same for someone I cared for. Right? It would be a little hypocritical.

An oath was shared between them. They would be honest with each other. Could this be the start of some friendship? Perhaps Rei was going to be her first real friend.

A real friend!

She didn't have to fake her smile. But as she continued to listen it faded away. Vanishing servants? Some cold room. Watari's butler used to be a Shinigami. Her tail flicked to the right, just a bit.

Perhaps we'll end up fighting. Yes. There is a good chance, I think. But it'd be better if I approached him directly.

Yuki looked towards the guards. Her hands raised slightly. "Ah. Please. You do not need to prostrate yourselves" spoke the young noble, hands returning to her sides once they'd returned to their fully upright positions. A brief nod was given towards Rei as she continued forward. One of her ears twitched, tracking the guards, the other pointed forward, alert for more people within the halls. Once they were out of earshot she spoke again.

"Show me to this cold room. I would like to see it before I speak with Titus."

With her smile returned she looked to Rei. "Worry not. I too am a Shinigami. Combat is my specialty."

“For you, I die" the maid agreed, for what more could she do? As they wove through the halls sweat began to drip down her brow and her skin grew more and more clammy. The wringing of her apron grew more common and her looks around became more agitated. Her mistress was kind and beautiful and caring but did she really want to go to the cold room? Well yes, that was where Yuki was taking her.

They came to a staircase and as they went down the staircase eventually they came to a large solid oak trap door embedded into the flooring as if the staircase continued downwards further but somebody had badly covered it up with this wooden face. It was at seeing this that Rei once more decided to speak to her mistress.

“The Suzumei Family is older than the Gotei Six and so is the mansion. They say that the tunnels passed here to get to the cold room connect to their very roots of the entire Soul Society” she mapped out their path in her head, just another flight of stairs downwards and then at the end of the corridor would be a frozen door. She’d feel the cold before that however, she already felt it now as she bent downwards and the breeze licked her legs.

It was an ominous feeling that crept from this oaken door, it made her want to curl up and cry. Was was more bizarre was as much as she wanted to do that it equally made her want to sleep. Maybe that was why the estate kept the finest wines here? Or maybe it was like Rei had heard and it was a way to remind the servants just why the Suzumei Family were nobles.

“Are you sure, mistress? Titus’s offices aren’t that far away from here . . . I don’t like the cold room”

What a large estate it was. Did the nobility really need all this? It all seemed a bit wasteful to her. And the more she heard about all of this, the less she believed in Watari's promise.

He wants to bring justice to the world? Very well. Let us test his conviction, starting with his household.

She glanced towards Rei. It was cold, even up here. But this place obviously had a greater effect on the poor maid. Her entire body was trembling. She'd been worried the entire trip here. So Yuki lifted her hand, giving the woman a reassuring squeeze on the arm.

"I am certain. If it would be safer for you then perhaps you should find some place to hide until I return. Or you may accompany me. I don't want you feeling uncomfortable, or unsafe, nor will I force you to go down. But I must confirm with my own eye what rests within. I promise I'll return."

And with that she aimed to open the trap door, by force if she must, and continue down to confront this mysterious cold room.

Rei Kuramitsu simply nodded for her mistress and her family was all she had and silently opened the trapdoor to reveal the staircase winding downward. The lighting here was dim as candelabras held dull flickering embers. Rei calmly picked a torch from a holder at the side of the staircase and lit it so that her mistress could better see the way and then they both continued downwards.

The moment they passed through the door, the air grew noticeably colder and the stones grew noticeably more moist. The thick earthy scent of dirt filled the air as moss and mildew grew from old stonework upon which the Suzumei’s current estate had been built. As they continued down the carpet became more threadbare and the fine ornaments and portraits simply ceased to be.

Eventually as they came to the end of the steps and a hallway opened up with a few doors at the end, Rei’s breath began to become visible in front of her. The temperature was dropping, it was growing colder as they neared the ‘cold room’. The damp stonework was becoming frosty as one of the doorways at the end was noticeably more icier than the others.

Then at last, Rei stopped and placed both her hands on the iron handle of the thick oaken door and pulled. Ice broke away and flaked to the ground and at first glance what appeared to be a wine cellar was revealed as if the roof and walls had been removed and it had been driven into winter. But then beyond the door the room continued a veritable wonderland hidden away in the underbelly of the Suzumei estate.

“The cold room” she breathed.

“Mistress we really should go”

But then she heard it.

The humming.

The singing she couldn’t quite make out.

To just . . . sleep . . .

And then as her eyes focused she saw them.

Statues in the distance, illuminated by torchlight.

Frozen.

Visages.

Of people.

It certainly was cold down here, yes. But nothing Yuki couldn't handle. She was tough. It was one of her greatest advantages in a fight. Also, she was naturally warmer than other people. Not by too much, but just that little bit helped in times like these. As such she moved a hand over, grasping against Rei's free hand.

"Stick close to me. I'm pretty warm. I apologize, but I must be absolutely certain."

She stepped inside, moved closer towards the statues. Was it just ice? Or were there actually people trapped within? There was one way to find out.

"Do you recognize any of these people?"

Of course she was keeping alert just the same. Her body tilted slightly, one ear directed towards the door. If someone tried to sneak down, to trap them within, hopefully she would detect them before they were successful.

“I would hope so” a male voice spoke up behind them and Rei froze. Her sweat freezing on her brow. She turned and looked at the man who stood behind them, her eyes flicked to Yuki and then back to the man. He was a bald elderly man with a long white beard but firm brown eyes, he wore a Suzumei Haori monogrammed with the familiar S that seemed to infiltrate all items in the estate.

“Titus” she whispered “I can -”

He held up one finger.

“It is fine, the young master has picked a wife who has about as much curiosity as he does,” the old man said his voice projecting across the room. His hands soon vanished back into the long sleeves of the Haori as he stood at the door watching both of them, he moved slightly creating space for them to exit.

“You may go Kuramitsu-san” and Rei left the room. No questions. No defiance. She only nodded apologetically to Yuki for not having been more stubborn, if only she had not told the mistress about the cold room? If only - it didn’t matter now. She would cry for the rest of the day and into the night and she would wait for his word.

---

“Here in the Suzumei Family Kameko-sama we hold many secrets. This room here is one of such secrets. It is the cold room, it is ‘mercy’, it is ‘kindness’ and it is a secret” the cold room had collected the lives of countless servants over the years Titus had been Watari’s butler. Any time somebody threatened to spill a secret or break a routine, they would always end up here, to join their comrades in a blissful neverending sleep. They would then join the cycle of reincarnation and then maybe they would be lucky enough to join the Suzumei again and be of service.

“Please, no fighting. If I wished to kill you I would’ve done so the moment you dared raise your zanpakuto to Suzumei-sama. Now, please, even for you it must be getting cold? Would you care to come with me to my rooms?” as he spoke a woman made of snow and ice spun to life in the centre of the room and began to move towards them. A beautiful woman of pale white skin and ruby red lips wearing an almost ethereal dress woven of snow and frost.

Titus raised his hand at her and the Yuki-onna vanished into the cold mist.

“Well?”

"I figured you'd show up."

She turned to face the man, releasing her grip upon Rei's hand. "Do not worry" reassured the wolf as the maid took her leave. Only after she'd departed did Yuki reach down to her side. Right. She didn't have her zanpakuto.

"Mercy? Kindness? I doubt if you or Watari really know the meaning of such words."

He seems strong. Confident too. I wonder how I'd fare without my sword. What a challenge that would be!

A single red orb focused in upon the wolf's prey, pupil constricted. Already her tail flicked about behind her. Steam poured off her form. The idea of such a challenging foe filled her with such excitement! In fact it was getting difficult for her to hold in her reiatsu.

But then she closed her eye and drew in a single deep breath. No. She already had another plan in mind.

"No. Actually this makes things a little easier."

By the time her eye opened once more she was already starting to calm down.

"I was hoping to speak with both you and Watari following this brief tour. I suggest you take me to him. Or we can do this the hard way. Personally, I'm hoping you choose that route."

Titus’s hands reshuffled under his sleeves once more and he drew out a long thin sealed Zanpakuto with frost running along it’s edge and then thought better of it, sliding it back in within the folds of his robe. Too much work. She was after all controlling her fiery temperament so why couldn’t he control his? Fair is fair, that was how Suzumei had always run things.

“Rest assured Kameko-sama, I will take you to him. I have no interest in explaining to the young master why the bearer of his children is now one of my ice sculptures” with that he simply turned and began walking up the stairs with the assumption? The logic? That she would follow him. As they walked up the stairs and drew higher and higher it soon became clear that rooms of Watari Suzumei were located at the highest points of the house.

“Answer me this Kameko-sama, what should we do if a servant catches our young master bathing and sees those terrible scars that only you and he have ever seen? Blind them? Give them a stern talking to? They would not understand” she should trust Titus in his words, he had seen them all, those foolish girls who thought they would not take the rules to heart and tried to see the young master’s handsomeness. He had warned them, written it out time and time again and yet each time a new girl would break it.

“Answer me this Kameko-sama, what should we do if a guard strays from his patrol too many times and puts the entire family at risk of assassinations? Tell him off ? Berate him? So he leaks the flaws in our defense to our enemies?” Fortunately this was less common, each time a guard did do the aforementioned actions it bred out the weak and birthed the strong. The Suzumei Guard was a relentless pack of hunting dogs that fought well, protected well and killed well.

“It is kind to give them to my Yuki-onna, for there they only know to rest. It is a mercy that they may move on, to not become a Hollow but to be given a chance at living again. I know these meanings very well and as somebody who has shared in Watari’s scars - do you not think he has seen what true kindness is?” At this the old man paused as they reached the highest floor of the mansion, an entire floor dedicated to the head of the family. He reached out with his reiatsu perception and pinpointed the exact location of the head of the family before beginning to move them towards his sitting room.

“Perhaps that is a rhetorical question. Young master has suffered in his life but has never acted unless one was to deserve it. Tell me, in all the examples you see of our Suzumei ‘Mercy’ and our Suzumei ‘Kindness’ amongst all the killings of those corrupt nobles at the party and everything you know of Watari currently. Do you honestly think that anything he has done has been unjustified?”

Damn. That would have been a pretty wicked fight too. Oh well. This is probably for the better. I guess.

Yuki followed along behind the man. Rei would be fine. She would make certain of that. They had a long climb up the stairs, but thankfully Titus was open to filling that time with his explanations. His reasons. This was good, too. Her plan hadn't been to discover what lay within the room only to report it to Watari. She had to be certain of this man's complicity.

He probably already knows about this.

She remained quiet. It would be rude to interrupt, after all. Only when she felt as though he was finished did she speak up.

"First off, I never agreed to marry him, let alone bear his children. Second, just Yuki. You don't need to be so formal with me. I hate this stuff."

He was dedicated. She had to give him that. Perhaps he really was just doing what he felt was best for Watari. It was still wrong.

"You would murder a young woman for peeking at a bathing man? Blind them because they laid eyes upon a few scars? If a guard strays from his duties he is to be punished. Certainly. But you don't execute him without good reason. What Watari does is rule through fear."

Arms crossed over her chest, gaze settling directly upon the butler. This shit was why she hated the nobility. It disgusted her.

"Those pretty words certainly do help with your conscience, don't they? Doesn't cover up what it is though. Murder. You think scars give him some free pass to do whatever the Hell he wants? Everyone bears scars. Physical scars. Emotional scars. Mental scars."

Yuki paused. Maybe she was getting a little personal there. Too much self-reflection. But it probably applied to him too.

"They didn't deserve the punishment they received. Those nobles he murdered? Who is to say that all of them were bad? Or their children? What will become of them? What he did isn't kind, nor merciful. It was dishonorable. He didn't even have the decency to look em in the eyes when he killed them. If anything he's a coward."

“Watari Suzumei is no coward”

Titus stopped as he could feel Watari at the end of the hall. He would most likely be smoking and drawing those convoluted diagrams he held so dear. But there was something else here, something the woman had said that had scraped too far against Titus’s own heart for him to be able to begin to lose the call of reason.

“Yes. I would. I would kill for Watari Suzumei because that is my honor. That is the honor of this house. That is what it is to be a member of the Suzumei Family, they do not fear Watari” and with that he mocked her, he laughed! The composure of the butler had been broken by a girl prying too far and too deep into things that not even Watari himself chose to admit but why should Titus share? She had no right to know! She was just some girl that Watari had chosen to love and had no interest in loving him back.

“Yes, there are newer members of our staff who are given just enough knowledge so that they may not share our secrets, just enough knowledge that they are afraid to spill them” at this Titus began to draw his Zanpakuto and yet again felt better of it - tucking it away within the folds of his haori. Yes. He could obliterate her, but she was true to a point. Titus probably killed too wantonly even for a servant.

“Watari Suzumei is the greatest head the Suzumei Family has known. He has suffered for our sins. He has suffered to be the man he is today. His body isn’t “just scars” Yuki Kameko, it’s his legacy” at this a single tear fell from the old man’s right eye and ran down the length of his face, before freezing on his jaw and shattering as he spoke.

“Watari Suzumei had fifty siblings”

Titus breathed softly as the temperature of his body dropped and frost began to cling around his fingers and danced along his beard.

“Watari Suzumei is the twenty third of those fifty”

He held up a hand and brought up a frost lattice of a small boy huddled in a corner of a room while shadows of a man with a sword glinted in the background and other shadowy figures dropped one by one.

“As somebody who wears similar scars to Watari Suzumei. Please, tell me again. Yuki, tell me the last sole sibling of the Suzumei family is a coward’

Her brow was arched. This man was becoming unraveled. A victory in her mind. Then she winced. She could smell the smoke.

What is he trying to cover up now? Such a terrible habit.

Of course the drawing of a zanpakuto did draw her attention. Were they going to do it? Right here? She didn't have the weapons available anymore. Not the ones she'd planned to use in the cold room, anyways. But she was no coward. It didn't matter what the situation was. She would fight.

Damnit! What a tease!

Teeth were gritted. The laughing she could handle. She was used to it. But this constant removal of his weapon? That was too much.

"Don't take that thing out unless you plan on using it" she growled. "Cripes. You're getting me heated up for nothing."

She calmed herself. Closed her eye again for a moment. Listened to his words. Truth be told she was interested in learning more about Watari. And yes, perhaps he did have a tragic past. She couldn't deny that. But it didn't change her mind.

"All I ever had was my parents. No siblings. No friends. No maids or butlers or anyone else to get close to. I lost them both many years ago. I'm all that's left of my clan. Hell, I live alone. Everyone's got a sad story to share. It doesn't matter how many siblings he's lost. And as despicable as I find you I gotta admit that you are loyal to him. I can appreciate that. It is to be commended. I'm sure you love him too. Maybe he loves you. You're family. He hasn't lost everything."

With a shrug she moved over to the door, although she didn't enter just yet.

"However it doesn't change a thing in this instance. You poison a bunch of people at a party? That makes you a coward, no matter what lies in your past. Just like stabbing someone in the back. Not even a fight. I don't give a damn about where you come from, or what pretty words you use to dress it up. It's the honest truth."

“If you want to get heated, save it for the bedchamber” Titus breathed out deeply and his face relaxed. He patted and smoothed out his haori and let his body temperature rise to normalcy again. The more he interacted with this child the more he could see why Watari had picked her above all else, she certainly would not have been his first choice but that was why Watari was Lord of the House and he wasn’t. A small smile crossed his lips as he looked at the small woman in front of him who had until a few moments ago been so close to being dropped to sub-zero temperatures and shattered.

“We talk about kindness and mercy, noble games and noble rules, not because we think you are ignorant Kameko-sama but because we want you to understand. You have no family and you have the opportunity to have that now, you have no servants and yet you have that and finally you spoke back at the party of the looks people give you - within our walls have you ever received the same looks?” The butler approached the large oak door of Watari’s quarters and his hand hovered on the door knob, wood fading and damage seemed to suggest some sort of bolt-lock had been installed onto this door at some point or another.

“Of these things you can be certain. Suzumei Kindness and Suzumei Mercy can be seen as cruel terrible things but terrible things can often be for one's own good” Titus rapped on the door lightly with his knuckles and heard something that must’ve been some sign of affirmation because he beckoned Yuki to go inside.

“Finally, I wish to see more of you Yuki Kameko, but if we never see each other again please return the same kindness we have shown you” with that Titus turned and he began to stride down the hall but stopped for a moment as he looked back at Yuki who was beginning to open the door.

“I was serious when I said I would kill for Watari. All that blood? All the poisoning? It was I, so please refrain from calling my young master a coward in the future” with that Titus gave her a slight glimpse of the spiritual pressure he had been limiting all this time and for a brief moment let it overwhelm Yuki entirely.

Then like that, the old butler of the Suzumei family returned to his daily administrations.

--------

The room beyond the door was as if a barracks had had most of the furniture torn from it. Bunk beds mounted to walls had long been replaced with diagrams and charts. Tables and chairs had been removed in place of blank space and a single desk and two simple chairs, one behind the desk and the other in front of it.

Wide windows with the markings of removed iron bars illuminated the length of the room as it revealed the full gardens of the Suzumei estate behind Watari. Fortunately it was mid day so with the sun high in the sky the entire chamber was well illuminated.

In one of the far corners of the room there sat an isolated wooden crate with bedding it, despite how lavish the bedding seemed to appear the crate was very clearly damaged.

The carpet was threadbare, worn from walking and activity but never replaced, the walls showed elaborate swathes of parchment each with drawings, times and words. Stacks of paper lay behind the desk where the sole occupant of the room smoked as he observed the person entering. A large marble ashtray occupied a corner of the desk filled with cigarette butts.

Watari Suzumei - wearing a simple business shirt and jeans eyed Yuki as she entered through the door

“I was beginning to wonder how long it’d take you to navigate through my administration and reach me Kameko-chan”