Tatsuki narrowed her eyes and watched Rerugen interact with her boys, searching for any hint of deception or ill will. She wanted to like him, wanted to trust him, but she’d yet to meet a Quincy outside their own pack that was worth the time of day.

And this would be worse. At least the Wandenreich hadn’t pretended friendship before ridiculing her boys.

(At least Ryuuken had never pretended to be a mentor.)

“Were they all truly so terrible?”

Tatsuki tore her gaze from Rerugen and turned to look at Ren as the soul approached her. She was tempted to play coy and ask what they meant, but Ren had a look about them that had her swallowing her words. “Yes,” Tatsuki settled on, turning away and crossing her arms over her chest. “The Quincy we fought a few weeks ago considered the Change a sign of inferiority.”

Uryuu had been thrilled at the discovery of more Quincy at first, convinced that Ichigo could work his magic and sway at least some of them. Instead, they’d found only hard-heads unwilling to listen and a singular potential who burned inferno-bright with a need for revenge.

(Who burnt and faded and lay still as death in Urahara’s guest room, alive and breathing but at what cost.)

Ren hummed and glanced in the direction of Seireitei. “I see. Even their parents?”

She grimaced, though couldn’t blame Ren for asking. It was a reasonable question, just… not one that held any meaning for anyone in their group beyond her. “No idea how Ichigo’s mom would have acted, but Uryuu’s family…”

“Ah. I understand.”

Silence settled between them and Tatsuki forced herself to remain at ease. In the yard, Rerugen and Ichigo were wrestling with a level of violence that should have concerned her. Except it didn’t. Not when their ears were back but not back, not when their tails were wagging and their bites never broke skin.

Not when she could sense the enjoyment in Ichigo’s reiatsu and catch hints of Rerugen’s wistful hope.

(Maybe she had nothing to fear from Rerugen after all.)

(Oh, she could hope…)

“What would you like to know?”

“What— pardon?” Tatsuki glanced at Ren in confusion, wondering where the sudden question had come from. “I don’t understand.”

“About this. About him, or us, or anything.” Ren smiled, soft and kind, and inclined their head. “I know you have questions. Ask, and I will try to answer.”

She drummed her fingers against her upper arm and considered her options. There were so many things she had questions about, from the way Rerugen clearly deferred to Ren and Mami to a blanket plea of ’how do we help them’. There was only so much she could learn from the — terrible, biased, wrong — books and papers on wolf behavior, and she didn’t even know how much of that held true anyway.

Ichigo kept his mind in his wolf form and Uryuu never became a true wolf; could information written about the animal be of any use to them?

(She didn’t know.)

Ren must have read something in her expression because their own expression turned fond. “Then I will begin. You have a solid pack already and appear to have a grasp on your position in it, which is good. The family pack is the basis of their identity, and the more solid it is the more stable they are.”

Tatsuki chewed on her lower lip and considered Ren’s words. Ichigo and Uryuu had become calmer the more their group gelled, and even more after she stepped up to match Ichigo as a leader. “Did he tell you why they let… people like you and I lead them?”

“Personality, mostly. Just like any reason for someone to become a leader of a group.” Ren cast a thoughtful look at where Rerugen and Ichigo were tussling. “In our case, Rerugen-san defers to us because, in his words, he joined an established family. He leads when his experiences and skills are more of use, but in day to day life he still views Mami and I as the family head.”

“As family head…” Tatsuki watched Ichigo lunge at Uryuu. Watched Uryuu leap backwards with a laugh, only to trip over Rerugen and fall to the ground. Ichigo lunged again, expecting an easy victory, only to yelp as Uryuu rolled aside and shoved him away with a flicker of hardened reishi. Rerugen barked a laugh and pounced, starting a new wrestling match. “He said he’d been that, once.”

Ren hummed in agreement. “Yes.”

She wondered if that would be trouble. If Rerugen would attempt to set himself as their leader.

(Wondered if she would truly mind.)

(He seemed the sort to care for those under him. Seemed the sort to be kind even in the face of disagreement.)

In the house behind her, she could sense Orihime’s fascination and Chad’s quiet interest in whatever Mami was telling them. Ren was a calm, steady presence at her side.

(She would have gladly killed for this a year ago. For someone, anyone, who knew what they were going through.)

(Dare she hope for that now..?)

Tatsuki wet her lips and debated her options. She needed to speak with Ichigo about his read on Rerugen. Her own instincts were telling her that he was trustworthy, but Ichigo had a way about him that exposed the truth of people.

“Do you know what happens when packs combine?” Tatsuki asked before she could help herself.

Ren shot her a shrewd look, a knowing glint in their eyes. “Depends on the packs,” Ren answered. “Packs like ours… hmm.” They looked back at the tussling wolves and smiled softly. “I believe it would be simple enough. We are all old enough to be considered pack elders,” they paused and shot Tatsuki another shrewd look, “teachers, if you will.”

“Teachers, huh?” Tatsuki mused. It was almost like a dream. A promise of everything she and the others had wished for so many times. Except Rerugen, Ren, and Mami lived in Soul Society and they lived in the Living World. “You realize we can’t stay here.”

“I have no doubt Rerugen-san would follow you back to the Living World if you gave him the option.”

She narrowed her eyes at Ren’s quick response. “And yourself and Mami-san?”

“There is little enough to hold us here,” Ren admitted with a shrug.

“You would just… leave? For people you don’t even know?”

“You all seem like good people, and there is little we wouldn’t do for Rerugen-san’s happiness.”

Tatsuki frowned and looked away. She understood the sentiment and appreciated the boon Ren was offering, but it still felt… wrong to ask it of them. But it was their choice, wasn’t it. If she offered — if they offered — then it was up to the other three to decide.

“I’ll… need to speak with Ichigo,” she murmured. “This… isn’t something for me to decide on my own.”

“Good.” At Tatsuki’s questioning look, Ren inclined their head and continued, “You recognize when you cannot do something on your own. That is a good quality to see in any leader.”

She blew out a breath and gave an awkward shrug. “I try my best. It isn’t easy with this group, but… none of the others can really balance Ichigo out.”

Ren’s hand settled on her shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. “I have only just met you, but I believe you are doing quite well.”

“I… thank you, Ren-san.” Tatsuki swallowed and tried to gather herself. “I will let you know when I’ve spoken with Ichigo.”

“Thank you, Arisawa-san.”

She hoped Ichigo agreed with her. Hoped Urahara didn’t raise a fuss.

They could all benefit from this. She knew they could.

(She hoped she wasn’t reading them wrong…)