Bleach: Of Fate and Phoenix 45

Chapter Forty-Five:
Interrogating the Truth

Beat these lies from me
Before I beat you with the truth


Renji Abarai had never been in the Kamaguchi Manor, but had heard of its splendors. Good to know every once and a while the rumors are true, he thought as Leta led him through the corridors of the mansion, his eyes trailing across the paneling, rugs, and decorative vases and art surrounding them.

"Like what you see?" Leta turned, offering to him in a flirty voice, her crocodile smile gleaming against the unfiltered sunlight that was streaming in through the windows in the hall.

Renji's mouth cupped into a small frown, "It's amazingly well-decorated," His eyes lingered on some of the artwork on the paneling. "But to be honest, it only reminds me of my past in the Rukongai," He paused, "We didn't exactly have a set up like this." We didn't really have a set up at all actually...


Leta's smile faded, "I see. Well, I can honestly tell you I wasn't part of the decorating committee," He smile returned with a laugh, "But I can't say I understand how you feel."

"It's alright," Renji sighed, realizing she, of course, wouldn't, "Just where are we going-?"

"The Red Room," Leta bounced ahead of him, landing next to a large dark cherry oak door, "All our rooms are named after the color they're decorated in," She rolled her eyes, "Our mother was a stickler for things like that."

Renji cocked his head to the side, curious, as Leta opened the door and ushered him in, "And just who is in here-" He looked ahead and his eyes widened, "Oh. Captain!"

Captain Byakuya Kuchiki stood in front of him, behind a large red velvet armchair. Leta had been correct; everything in this room was in some way red or a shade close to it. Even the wood in the room had a red hue. Renji raised his hand and touched his crimson hair, feeling for the first time as if it wasn't out of place with the world.

"Hello, Captain Kuchiki," Leta grinned, nodding her head curtly.

"I see you brought my Lieutenant into this," Byakuya's voice was as smooth as silk, but ever icy.

Leta's grin turned sly, slightly annoyed that the captain hadn't greeted her properly, "He's more in the loop than you are, Captain Kuchiki."

"Captain," Renji finally managed to speak, "If I can be so bold, I didn't expect you to help solve Karin's disappearance." His brown eyes looked sincerely towards the captain, "I'm grateful you are though."

The captain's eyes turned instantly cold, and Renji gulped with the realization that perhaps he'd spoken out of turn.

"When were you under the impression that I volunteered to be a part of this interrogation?" Byakuya Kuchiki stood with his arms crossed diligently at his chest, his purple eyes flashing over his subordinate, who looked puzzled at the Captain.

"Captain, I just-," Renji was trying to locate the words to answer him, but Leta already seemed well equipped vocally,

"I informed him of your cooperation with my elder sister," Her hazel eyes dancing in the sunlight pouring into the room, "And he assumed it was fully voluntary on your part." Her eyes lingered playfully on the taller captain, "Was it not?"

Byakuya sneered, "Don't toy with me, Madame Kamaguchi." He spun in his step and elegantly marched towards the exit of the door, "I assume you've not contacted either her or Captain Kyoraku, correct?"

"She's notified me," Shunsui Kyoraku moved from outside the doorway into the room, scratching his shadowed chin. He tipped his head to Byakuya and Renji, then dipped his upper body low to bow at Leta, grasping her hand in his. He pecked the top of her hand and eyed her with glinting irises, "Madame."

Leta withdrew her hand, smiling serenely, "Thank you for coming, Captain." Her eyes traveled to the other captain, "My sister should be in the Tangerine Room," her smile broadened, almost out of habit, "It'd be best if we hurry there to start this interrogation." We haven't the time to fiddle around while Karin is out there...She stopped her thoughts and left the Red Room.

The Tangerine Room was directly down the hall, located at the end of the other rooms, next to one titled 'The Onyx Room.'

"Why not the Black Room?" Renji asked Leta, his eyes curiosly glancing at the black oak door.

"Colors like red, white, green; those all suited room names according to our mother," Leta said without looking at the Lieutenant or the black door, "But she thought orange was too tacky a name, and black too gloomy, so she named them Tangerine and Onyx."

"I can't imagine anyone wanting to stay in the Onyx one," Renji frowned.

"Oh, it's not for any guest to stay in," Leta rebutted, her face showing the barest ghost of a grin, "It's Layla's room."

"What? Really? I can't imagine-" Renji started with a raised eyebrow, but his sentence was cut off by the door of the Tangerine Room opening.

The four looked as Layla Kamaguchi slowly walked out of the doorway, her long dark green hair in a braid similar to Leta's. Her silvery eyes looked weary, as if she hadn't slept in the last three days. She gave a glance to the three men, then down to her sisters, shutting the orange maple door behind her.

"Well?" Leta crossed her arms at her stomach, looking up at her sister.

"Just as much of a tangle of information as at the Summit Hall," Layla sighed, wiping her brow with her delicate, pale hand. "It's all vital, but nothing we haven't heard."

"Do you think he's hiding something?" Leta frowned.

"Certainly," Layla said with a disheartened voice, "Either that, or the Kido Corps and Council are witholding information from him."

"That seems unlikely, Madame Layla," Shunsui cut in, a smile slapped onto his face, "Captain Lyall Kamaguchi not know something within his own organization?"

"It seems irrational," Layla's voice was hesitant, "But with all that's happened," She ran a hand along the top of her head, "I cannot say it would be a shocking revelation."

There was a moment of pause between them, as if all were contemplating what to do next, before Byakuya finally raised his voice, "Let me discuss matters with him myself."

All eyes immediately drew to him, Shunsui's wideneed in bewilderment. Leta and Renji glanced at each other wordlessly. "Uhm, Captain," Renji started in a stammer, "I'm not sure that's a good-"

"You'll interrogate Lyall?" Layla's voice carried a hint of both shock and amusement, eyeing the captain with apprehension. "Alone?"

"Not to worry, Madame Kamaguchi, I think I'll join Captain Kuchiki," Shunsui politely answered. "I'd hate to tell Nanao I took off duties as Captain today for nothing."

"Very well; I believe I'd better return with you two," Layla smiled at Byakuya, the amusement in her voice turning to endearment, "To make sure he cooperates. Leta," Her eyes glanced down at her sister, "Perhaps you and Lieutenant Abarai should stay out here as back up. If we have too many in the room at once, Lyall may be less inclined to discuss anything." Her voice carried the sincerity of a request, but the firmness of an order.

"That would be a wise decision," Byakuya glanced to Layla, his eyes gleaming in an almost triumphant fashion; one that made Leta grit her teeth in frustration at his sudden control of power over her through Layla.

"You have quite a temper when questioning others," Leta addressed Byakuya, her eyebrow raised significantly, "Why should we let you go in with our only brother to question him?"

Byakuya was now glaring down at Leta, his purple eyes steel, "As of the moment," His eyes flickered to Layla, then back down to her sister, "Lyall Kamaguchi is my brother as well."

"Oh, that's right!" Shunsui laughed out loud, as if suddenly catching on, "You two are engaged." He smiled at Layla, ignoring the vicious stare Byakuya had just shot him.

"If you hurt him, expect the same returned," Leta snapped quietly, her biting voice bringing Captain Kuchiki's eyes back to her, "future Brother-in-law or not."

Layla was about to object to Leta's statement, but Byakuya stopped her with a slow nod of his head, walking forward to the doorway, "Do not worry, I shall leave him in one piece." The door shut with a creek, as Shunsui Kyoraku and Layla Kamaguchi trailing behind him inside.

Leta groaned in frustration and slid down onto the floor, her back against the corridor wall. Renji sat down joining her, trying not to smile; she seemed like such a child when she was upset.

"What a waste of time," Leta glanced at the ceiling, irritated, "I put together this entire interrogation, and in the end, I'm the one who doesn't even get to be a part of it. What irony!" She shook her head angrily.

Renji stared down at her with a sympathetic smile, "If it makes you feel better, I'm no longer in the loop either."

Leta gave him a warm smile, but Renji could tell it was for show. "It's just...we're the ones that care about Karin the most," She closed her eyes with a furrowed brow, "Yet we're the ones that are the least of help...I hate feeling this helpless."

The Lieutenant looked at her in silence for a moment, then placed a hand on her head, Feeling helpless... "I hate it too."

It was a sensation he was well acquainted with.

********


Byakuya, Layla, and Shunsui stood side by side; Shunsui looking mildly amused, Layla no longer appearing amused, and Byakuya looking thoroughly peeved. The figure in front of them sat in a burnt orange velvet armchair, sitting behind a large lightly grained desk, the wood having faint traces of tangerine color through it. He bore a dark blue jacket with an upturned collar and black slacks, looking less regal than usual, but still elegant despite his prison attire.

"Oho," Lyall Kamaguchi smirked from behind the hardwood desk, his face resting in the crook of his palm, "So the calvary has finally arrived," his eyes gleamed evilly, "Will this be like the Real World police interrogations? Who's going to be the bad cop?"

Layla's hand came across his face so hard that it was knocked from his palm and twisted to the left. Byakuya and Shunsui stiffened uncomfortably, as Layla placed a hand on her hip, sneering down at her brother.

"You'd do well to silence that worm of a mouth," She stated coolly, her eyes vicious. "Know your place, Lyall Kamaguchi."

Shunsui leaned toward Byakuya and whispered into his ear, "I see why you're marrying her now."

Byakuya didn't give him any reply, but eyed him with an angry raised eyebrow. He apparently did not approve of commentary on his forced relationship.

"I suppose you'll be the bad cop then," Lyall rubbed his right cheek, giving his sister a slightly agitated look out of the corner of his eye.

"I will be no such thing," Layla had calmed down, breathing deeply and slowly, and turning from her brother. "It was simply shameful that you treat our guests with such disgusting ingenuine filth spewing from your mouth."

"Point well taken," Lyall adjusted in his seat, leaning back, "But isn't it shameful of you, sister? To bring in reinforcements to interrogate me? Just because you couldn't get the job don-"

"Enough," It was Byakuya's turn to assault Lyall, only this time he had gripped the Kido Captain by the collar of his shirt and hoisted him out of the velvet armchair. "Enough games, Kamaguchi. You will not insult her."

"Who left it to you to tell me what I can and cannot say to my sister?" Lyall leered at the captain.

"The duty was left to me the moment I agreed to marry her," Byakuya leered back just as menacingly.

There was an air of silence, before Lyall turned to sneer at his sister, whose back was turned to him. "You asked him to marry you again?" Lyall's voice was full of disgust.

"I think we're getting off topic," Shunsui placed a hand on Byakuya's wrist, "I'd appreciate it if you'd lower Captain Kamaguchi, Captain Byakuya-San. I'm sure he'd be more inclined to cooperate if you did," Shunsui gave a glance to Lyall, and the Kido Captain was sure he winked at him.

Byakuya slowly lowered Lyall back into his seat. Lyall quickly brushed off his shoulders and the front of his jacket, "Thank you, Captain Kyoraku, for being so reasonable." He huffed quietly. "So two bad cops, huh?" He murmured mostly to himself.

"Lyall," Layla turned to face him, her gray eyes softer than before; back to their normal appearance, "You must tell us what you're holding back. I know from when we talked there was something you wanted to say, but couldn't. You must tell them now."

"Or what, sister?" Lyall's eyes widened incredulously, "You'll have your fiance' and Captain-friend man-handle me? No thank you, sister. I've told you all I know."

"You told us that Karin was taken by the Vasto Lorde," Shunsui began, obviously trying to worm out information, "And that it was because the Vasto Lordes are trying to lure Ichigo to their cause for some reason," He glanced at Lyall, hoping he'd elaborate.

"I have no idea why they want Ichigo," Lyall sighed in a bored fashion, "The Council negotiated with the Vasto Lordes because it threatened to attack the Soul Society if they didn't."

"To think they didn't trust us to handle such a creature," Byakuya murmured under his breath, but Shunsui continued,

"So there were more than one Vasto Lorde involved?" He asked, a question that seemed to come out of the blue to Lyall. Layla glanced nervously towards the captain.

"What?" Lyall asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You said the Vasto Lordes negotiated with the Soul Society, but surely you're not referring to the one that took Karin?" Shunsui's eyes glistened, "That Vasto Lorde did not seem to want to ask anything of anyone. It appeared," he paced in front of Lyall's desk, "As if it was merely acting upon orders. Orders from-?"

"How should I know?" Lyall protested angrily.

"There was also an Arrancar," Layla added slowly, her hands folded in front of her. All eyes drew towards the woman, "An Arrancar came and distracted Madame Shihoin, but didn't appear to be with the Vasto Lorde when it escaped."

"So it's possible that the Arrancar and the Vasto Lorde were not aware of each other's presence. Perhaps there's more than one group of hollows looking for Karin," Shunsui commented calmly.

"You don't know that!" Lyall shouted, his eyes blazing.

"But neither do you, correct?" Shunsui was now positioned right in front of Lyall, staring down ominously, "Or is there something else you'd be willing to share with myself and the others in this room?"

Layla and Byakuya glanced at each other with widened eyes, both their expressions saying what each of them was too proud and noble to say aloud: Wow.

********

"They're taking forever," Leta had her knees tucked up to her chin as she sat in the floor outside the Tangerine Room, her face in a very child-like pout. Renji was finding her sudden immaturity very amusing.

"Don't sweat it. Captain Kuchiki, Captain Kyoraku, and you're sister are in there," he smiled reassuringly, "Your brother's bound to spill information."

"As if you'd know," Leta disaggreed, "My brother is likely to 'spill' information, that's true. But he's always had an alterior motive for everything he's ever done. He'll keep some information to himself."

"Eh?" Renji glanced at her curiously, expecting her to continue. Leta sighed,

"You know the reason he became a Kido Captain in the first place?" She gave the Lieutenant a disgruntled look, "If you ask any Kido Corps member they'll say that it was to carry on the Kamaguchi name and to prove that he was an able-bodied Clan Leader candidate," She snuffed her nose in a disgusted manner, "But the truth of it, is that my sister was going to nominate me as the future Captain."

"You?" Renji's eyes narrowed, "But you were never in the Kido Corps...you were in the Gotei 13."

Leta laughed lightly, a nervous fashion of a laugh, "Yeah. My sister sent me to the Soul Reaper Academy to be in the Kido Corps though...I just ended up being recruited by the Court Guards," her nervous laugh continued, "I accepted my Captain's offer and never looked back. Layla used my ambition and youth as an excuse to back up my qualifications," She paused and ran a hand through her reddish blonde hair, "But the minute she tried to reaffirm my status as a qualified person to be a Captain, my brother jumped in and had himself nominated." She gave Renji a bitter smile, "Just to keep me from becoming Captain."

"Why?" Renji looked down at her, trying to absorb all the information she'd just shared.

Leta looked at him, her eyes softening, and then looked back at the space between her tucked-in knees, "I have no idea."

********

"Captain Kyoraku," Layla had sat down into one of the tangerine velvet armchairs against the wall, her green hair making her face look washed white against the cushion. She had a hand raised slightly towards her mouth. "Are you suggesting that my brother is working with the Vasto Lordes?"

"I'm curious as to his answer to that very question," Shunsui smirked at the woman, his eyes trailing from her to Lyall, who was seething with rage, his hands balled on the desktop.

"What an outrageous accusation," Lyall spat, his dark eyes on fire, "Of course I am not, sister." He glance at Layla, who looked relieved, "As if I'd even associate with such monsters-"

"Nothing is stopping my accusation," Shunsui said in a less than light tone, "Nor me from telling the council though," His eyes were just as fiery, "Unless you tell us what you're keeping secret."

"But I'm not keeping anything secret!" Lyall yelled angrily.

"Then why as a Captain, would you let them take Karin-chan?" Shunsui's eyes softened, and Byakuya glanced at him with an undreadable expression, "Surely the moral implications struck you?"

"Morals have nothing to do with this," Lyall sighed, his chin sitting in his hand, "The Council gave an order and I followed it. I can't help it if others," His eyes flashed for an instance to Byakuya, "tempted me to act out of turn. I can accept the punishment for that, but do not think for an instant, Captain Kyoraku, that I'm working with those creatures."

"Lyall," Layla's voice suddenly broke through the calm that the three men flinched simultaneously. "If I may be so bold as to ask; were you given orders from the Council to arrange a barrier around the Summit, allowing the Vasto Lorde an opportunity to kidnap Karin Kurosaki?"

Her brother nodded his head, "Yes."

"Before this, had you told the Council the Kido Corps would be of any assistance in the matter?"

There was a small pause, as Byakuya and Shunsui looked at each other with grim, unsure expressions. Lyall scratched his chin, not seeing the value of this question,

"No," He finally replied. "The Council first came to me and told me of their plan to use the barrier, and then explained how this girl was to be a negotiation piece to prevent the Soul Society from crumbling under a Vasto Lordes' pressure and that I had to make sure she was taken under all costs." The edge of his voice had returned, and slowly the two other Captains noticed there was a piece of this conversation that Lyall was intentionally leaving out. They looked to Layla to see if she'd noticed; she had.

"I see," Her soft lips pursed as she gave her brother a hesitant glance, "Then I must ask you...what did they threaten if you didn't cooperate?"

Lyall's face paled, "Beg pardon?"

"The Council told you to do this for them, but you could have easily refused. Yet you didn't...why? What did they threaten against you if you didn't help them?"

The Kido Captain gave her a deadly glance, his eyes narrowing slowly. His eyes traced from Byakuya's apprehensive expression to Shunsui's curious stare back to Layla, whose face showed she already had an inkling of his answer surfacing in her mind. Lyall gave a heavy sigh, his palms pressed to his forehead, and looked up at her with sober eyes,

"All I can tell you is...someone threatened to reveal the Metempsychis to the Council." His sober eyes had a ruthless lust to them as he said the foreign term. Layla looked as if she had been shot in the gut, her gray eyes filled with horror, but a horror she had expected.

Byakuya and Shunsui looked at each other with curious glances. "What," Shunsui began, "Is the Met-"

"That's enough then for now, brother," Layla cut in, standing up straight, her long green hair swishing by her side, "Thank you, Lyall. If you would, please stay here for now." Her eyes softened, "It's safer than a prison cell, no?"

Lyall leaned back in his chair, still looking angry at his last sentence, "Yes. Of course, sister," He replied distantly, as if already thinking of something else.

"Let us leave him, Captains. We've done enough questioning for now," She gripped each of their arms and led them towards the door of the room. Byakuya looked suddenly upset,

"Madame, we still have to ask him about-"

"I know enough for us now, Byakuya," Layla gave the Sixth Division Captain a look that could have killed a lesser soul. The Captain stared at her in wonder, and then let his arm limp enough for her to grip it harder and lead him from the room.

The door to the Tangerine Room creeked shut as Renji and Leta hopped up from the floor, seeming eager to hear what all had happened inside.

"Well?" Leta's hazel eyes were dancing in the unfiltered sunlight, "What happened? What did he tell us?"

"Practically nothing," Byakuya replied in a moody voice. Both Renji and Leta's eyes drooped in depression instantly. Layla gave her fiance' a trifling glance, then turned to her younger sister,

"Would you care," She started, smiling faintly, "To go with Lieutenant Abarai and run downstairs to see if an assistant could bring Lyall some food and water?"

Leta looked like she'd been slapped in the face, "Aren't we going to be debriefed as well?" She sounded insulted at the idea she was running errands.

"Of course you will be," Layla reassured her. "Please, run and do this, and then I will inform you what we've found out."

Renji nudged her shoulder, smiling slightly, "Come on. We'll hurry back."

Leta eyed her sister suspiciously, then spun around to walk with the Lieutenant, "Fine."

When they were out of sight, Layla turned to Shunsui and Byakuya, who were brimming with questions. The two jumped right into asking her,

"What is a Metempsychis?" Byakuya questioned in solemnity, "Why did you remove us from questioning Lyall?"

"What did your brother tell you that was extra information?" Shunsui inquired curiously, "He seemed to tell us nothing new or important; even after I tried throwing some curveballs to rile him up."

Layla gave a light, ghost of a laugh, "Oh you angered him, Capain Kyoraku. But I know my brother well; he speaks in riddles, so understanding his subtle comments is understanding him at all." She drew her voice like a whisper and huddled the Captains towards her, "Lyall told us all we need to know for now."

"Such as?" Byakuya grimly questioned.

"Lyall never suggested that the Council use the Kido Corps to create the barrier for the Summit Hall, for starters. While the Kido Corps would be more advantageous in creating a stronger barrier, I'm curious as to why the Council didn't simply ask the Twelfth Division to create one first. Captain Kurosutschi is a competent scientist; he would have been more than qualified to build such a sufficient barrier for their use. Furthermore," Layla's eyes glanced from Byakuya to Shunsui, "We know that the Twelfth Division was already looking into the Arrancar and Vasto Lordes situation, so they were in the know from the start."

"That's true," Shunsui said slowly, his eyes filling with curiosity.

"Meaning," Layla continued, "That someone that is not Lyall, but connected with the Kido Corps, suggested the council seek their guidance instead of the Twelfth Division of the Gotei 13, thus directly making my brother involved against his will."

"So someone's working behind the scenes to involve the Kido Corps with this entire incident and framing Lyall as the scapegoat," Shunsui observed, nodding his head.

"Yes," Layla sighed, "And my brother is just the type of fool to go along with it for his own image and personal gain."

"But threatening him with the revealing of a...Metempsychis," Byakuya glared, "What even is such a thing?" Shunsui looked to him and then to Layla with an equally curious stare.

The Kamaguchi clan leader stared at the two, then let her eyes draw away from them. "Metempsychis is a Latin term, a dead language expression meaning 'soul-migration.' Over a thousand years ago, the phrase was coined when a son of a noble gained the zanpakuto of his father after birth."

The eyes of both captains widened in stunned silence.

"It is a rarely used term because the instance only rarely occurs in the Soul Society, and only amongst nobles or aristocrats," Layla's eyes were closed as she spoke. "When two souls come together to reproduce, typically the new soul created takes bits and pieces of its 'parent' soul and is forged as a separate being, as would a normal human" She explained, though she knew this was nothing new for the captains to hear. "However, when Metempsychis occurs, the new soul is created by taking all of the reishi from both parent souls, not just bits and pieces."

"Meaning," Shunsui's wide eyes were boring into Layla. Her eyes remained closed,

"A soul that essentially consumes all that the parent souls offer it upon birth...including a zanpakuto, if in existence."

"I've never heard of such a thing," Byakuya said with a distant stare, as if thinking.

"That's because it is a very, very rare occurance," Layla sighed sadly.

"And Lyall knows a Metempsychis that exists now?" Shunsui asked gently.

Layla opened her eyes to somberly stare at the captain, who flinched slightly. "Yes," She said serenely, "He knows of one."

"Why does it matter if they're revealed to the Council?" Shunsui continued to carefully prod.

"It shouldn't be hard to comprehend the ramifications of a soul technically stealing from another soul, or two in this case, to be created and survive," Layla replied gravely, "The Council has always taken the same stance on the Metempsychis." Her voice dropped an octave, "If one is discovered, the penalty...is death."

********

"I wish mother hadn't designed these rooms to be soundproof," Leta Kamaguchi had her hands wrapped around the back of her head as her and the Lieutenant entered the kitchen downstairs.

"Soundproof? Really?" Renji stammered as he dodged a cook flying past them holding a tray of biscuits and tea.

"Oh yes," Leta sighed, "That's why we were sitting outside the rooms and couldn't hear any word of what they were saying," She crossed her arms grumpily, "For all we know they could have been playing cards and swigging sake; without a care in the world for Karin."

Renji pondered this and then shook his head at Leta, "I seriously doubt that, Leta." The shake of his head broke into a large smirk, "Captain Kuchiki's terrible at cards."

Leta stared at him for a second and then burst into a peel of laughter, as Renji smirked deeper. The door from the outside to the kitchen suddenly opened wide, halting the laughter of Leta and Renji. The two stared at the doorway.

From outside, Yoruichi Shihoin walked into the kitchen, decked out in her typical Shinigami garb of black halter-top kimono and orange jacket. She carried Shou in one arm, who was in matching robes and drooling absent-mindedly on her sleeve.

"Yoruichi! Shou," Leta grabbed the baby from Yoruichi's arms and tucked him into her own arms, rocking him slowly, "Any news from the Real World?"

"We contacted Ichigo," Yoruichi grinned a cat-like smile, "He's all set to go to Hueco Mundo."

"Excellent," Leta smiled broadly.

"Has he left yet?" Renji leaned in towards the cat woman.

"He's exchanging his gigai at Urahara's and setting things in motion so Karakura Town will be protected in his absence. Captain Hitsugaya," A small smile formed on her face, "has chosen to accompany him."

Leta gave a bark of a laugh, "Big surprise there."

"Captain Hitsugaya's accompanying him?" Renji raised an eyebrow. "Won't the Council realize he's gone if that happens?"

"I've just discussed the matter with Lieutenant Matsumoto," Yoruichi smiled, "She says things are under control, and I offered some assistance to make sure his...presence...isn't missed." Her eyes grew more serious, "Any luck with the interrogation?"

"Not that we know of," Leta replied instantly, "We actually were left out of the process and told to come down here and fetch my dear brother some food and water."

"Oh?" Yoruichi frowned, "Then who interrogated Lyall?"

"Captain Kyoraku, Captain Kuchiki, and Madame Layla," Renji answered.

"Interesting..." Yoruichi scratched her head, "Let's go and see what they've come across information-wise, shall we?" She started walking past them towards the door out of the kitchen. Leta turned to the Lieutenant,

"Get Lyall's food in order. I'm going with Yoruichi."

********

"In regards to the interrogation," Shunsui asked hesitantly, "What are we telling the two young ones?"

"We're telling Leta and Renji everything that Lyall's told us," Layla stated matter-of-factly, as she ran a hand through her green hair. "About the Kido Corps, this mysterious person using Lyall, everything we've just learned," Layla's eyes glanced nervously from Shunsui to Byakuya, "Except the business of the Metempsychis. It's best if we leave that matter alone."

"Why?" Byakuya inquired with a scanning eye at Layla, "It's important information."

Shunsui gave Byakuya a disheartened glance; Layla waved at him dismissively with her hand, "It's important to us because he let us hear it in the interrogation room; however, I believe we shouldn't let out the reason for his framing to just anyone," She stopped herself and coughed, clearing her throat, "That is to say, it doesn't affect Karin's situation now, so let's drop the matter until we learn more, shall we?"

"Drop what matter?" Leta and Yoruichi topped the stairs, Leta still carrying Shou, with Renji running to catch up behind them.

Layla smiled innocently and wide, a gesture that not only made her seem years younger, but also looked ingenuine, "Sister! And Yoruichi!"

"Hmph," Byakuya huffed, "I see you invited her here."

Layla patted Byakuya's shoulder, a gesture he seemed awkward towards, "She's involved in this as well." Her eyes glanced at Yoruichi, "I take it everything went accordingly?"

"You tell us the information you've got and I'll tell you mine," Yoruichi smirked in the most feline of smiles.