Kairi went rigid in Renji’s lap when he spoke about not only Rukia, but the fact that he had spent the rest of the night sleeping. Hadn’t he said he was tired before? Turning her head as far as it could so it was out of Renji’s line of vision, Kairi lifted her hand to cover her face as if she were scratching at her nose.

Suddenly, another man entered the room and made his way towards the little group. Kairi blinked in surprise when the man called Renji’s name, and all at once hopped off of her friend’s lap, as if she expected him to get up and go and talk to this newcomer.

Moving to sit back in her new seat, Kairi couldn’t help but feel as if a weird air had settled into the room. Something was up with this man, and she just couldn’t put it. Perhaps it was the fact he seemed so … regal even without speaking?