“—left them to rest in the Ugendo,” Jyuushiro ends his report with, keeping his gaze on the Soutaicho as he does; he knows better than most how his old teacher feels about powerful, unaligned strangers, and he’d rather keep things as neutral as possible at the moment.

(Like downplaying Urahara Kaito’s strength.)

(After all, he can honestly say that he didn’t see how the young man defeated the Vasto Lorde.)

Yamamoto-sensei strokes his beard thoughtfully and says, “And your thoughts on these strangers? Do you think they can be convinced to join the Gotei Thirteen?”

“With time and effort, I believe there’s a chance, and I believe they’re worth that effort,” Jyuushiro answers immediately, not wanting any hesitance on his part to create suspicion. He’s uncertain if there really is a chance to bring the three into the Gotei Thirteen — for a second time, if his suspicions on them being time travelers proves correct — but he’s absolutely certain that the three of them will be a credit to anyone who earns their loyalty.

(Loyalty that he already seems to have, due to a connection that hasn’t yet been formed.)

(…he’s not going to tell his teacher that either.)

“I see.” Yamamoto-sensei’s brows furrow slightly as he glances down, tapping his fingers against the head of his cane. “Then I urge you to spend that time and effort,” he decides upon. “Anyone who can face and defeat a Vasto Lorde without assistance is not a person we should offend without cause. Do your best to assure their loyalty to us, and if you can convince them to join our ranks, all the better.”

Jyuushiro nods in agreement and steps back into his place in the line of Captains. “I’ll do my best.”

“See that you do,” Yamamoto-sensei tells him sternly, before sweeping his gaze over the other Captains and asking, “Is there anything else that needs to be brought up?” When no one replies, Yamamoto-sensei harrumphs and taps his cane against the floor sharply. “If that’s the case, then you are all dismissed.”

Jyuushiro doesn’t relax until he’s out of the meeting hall and away from Yamamoto-sensei’s sharp gaze, and even then he doesn’t let himself relax too much; this is the largest secret he’s ever tried to keep from his teacher, and it feels… strange. Awkward. Terrifying in a way he isn’t used to.

(He knows what happens to those who threaten the peace of Seireitei.)

(He’s never agreed with it, but Yamamoto-sensei has no need of his agreement in order to enforce Seireitei’s laws.)

Shunsui knocks their shoulders together to drag him from his thoughts and says, “Come on, let’s see what mess your guests have made of the Ugendo.”

“I highly doubt they’ve done anything except clean themselves up and rest,” Jyuushiro replies with a touch of exasperation, giving his love a look as he does. “They don’t seem the type to do anything like that.”

Shunsui mutters, “Because five minutes was plenty of time to get to know them,” before sighing and reaching out with a wisp of reiatsu to brush apology-wariness-acceptance against Jyuushiro’s senses.

“They aren’t our enemy,” Jyuushiro murmurs back, even as he tangles their signatures together and lets forgiveness-acceptance-love soak through their connection. “Trust in my intuition, if you can’t yet trust them?”

“I suppose I must,” Shunsui says with an air of suffering, then tips his chin slightly towards the rooftops overhead.

Jyuushiro doesn’t need to look to know who Shunsui’s caught tailing them; Shihoin Rin is loyal-skilled-deadly like any Captain of the Second Division must be, but she’s still young and ever-so-slightly incautious while in the safety of Seireitei. He can’t sense her directly, but he can sense that there’s someone there, which, by dint of knowing the personalities and skills of all his fellow Captains, means he knows exactly who’s tailing them.

He isn’t too worried about it, though; his wards are enough to prevent spying — through reiatsu senses and through visual methods — and will alert him to anyone who crosses the boundaries. There’s no way for intruders to hide from him on his own property, so Shihoin won’t be able to follow them beyond that point and she also won’t be able to discover anything from him or his new guests.

Shihoin shadows them all the way back to the Ugendo — excellent persistence, Jyuushiro must admit — and predictably hangs back as soon as the gate comes within sight.

Jyuushiro doesn’t give her a second thought as he crosses the boundary—

And immediately has to force his stride to remain steady as something reaches out and connects to him.

He closes his eyes and breathes through the moment of disorientation, letting the new ward structure settle in his mind. It’s… it’s a strange design. Unknown. Unique.

(And completely anchored to him and him alone.)

(Who simply upgrades their hosts wards like that?)

“Jyuu-kun?” Shunsui asks as he steps a bit closer and settles his hand on the small of Jyuushiro’s back. “What’s wrong.”

Jyuushiro hesitates just long enough for them to walk well beyond Shihoin’s ability to listen in, and then murmurs, “I suppose I know what their hesitance over staying here was about, now.” At the flat, suspicious looks that earns him, he explains, “The wards are upgraded. My original structure is still there, but there’s a second woven into it now. I… didn’t notice until we crossed the boundary and it keyed itself to me.”

“Keyed itself to you,” Shunsui repeats slowly, eyes narrowed and lips thin with displeasure. “Jyuu-kun…”

“I know, I know.” Jyuushiro hums a bit and taps the heel of his hand against the hilt of Sōgyo no Kotowari, considering his words carefully; they haven’t had a moment to discuss Jyuushiro’s suspicions yet, so he needs to find some way to explain without rousing Shunsui’s protective instincts any further. “Would you believe me if I said I had a good feeling about this?” he asks idly, still thinking over his options.

The face Shunsui makes at his words is entirely worth it, as is the disgruntled expression that settles when Jyuushiro snickers at him.

“Let’s just say, I think in time everything will become clear,” Jyuushiro teases his love, then bursts into laughter at Shunsui’s groan of exasperation.

(He loves teasing Shunsui like this.)

(It’s so satisfying.)

(He’ll have to explain later, but for now…)

(For now, jokes should be more than enough to put Shunsui at ease.)

(Hopefully.)