Sitting Room -- Masanobu Manor

"Plan of Action":

Kin paced the length of the sitting room, his hands folded behind his back, deep in thought. The light filtering through the shoji screens created soft patterns on the floor, the shadows dancing in rhythm with the subtle breeze. He had found his three younger brothers scattered throughout the estate. Kouen had been in the dojo, his strikes sharp and focused; Shirou, with his quiet intellect, had been engrossed in a book, the pages turning lazily in the stillness of his room; and Hakuryuu, ever precise, had been practicing his calligraphy, his brush moving in fluid, deliberate strokes.

He had given them all the same message—ten minutes. Ten minutes to gather in the sitting room and discuss a matter of some importance. And now, Kin waited.

Koko entered quietly, her presence hardly noticeable except for the faint sound of the door sliding open. She moved with practiced grace, setting down a tray with a steaming pot of freshly brewed tea and four delicate cups, their designs intricate but understated, much like the estate itself. Kin acknowledged her with a nod, and she left without a word, leaving only the comforting aroma of green tea in her wake.

He took a seat, settling his thoughts as he poured a cup for himself, the action mechanical but soothing. His mind was elsewhere, however, focused on the task at hand. The young lady, Fuu Ayumu, had become a pressing topic—one that Suigetsu had insisted they address sooner rather than later. The plan was already in motion, but his brothers needed to understand the gravity of the situation. Suigetsu, always several steps ahead, had her reasons for her interest in Fuu, but Kin knew there were deeper layers yet to be revealed.

The door slid open once more, and Kouen entered first, his brow glistening from training. His fiery nature was barely concealed beneath his calm expression, the weight of his curiosity hanging in the air. Without a word, he sat down opposite Kin, his eyes sharp, waiting for an explanation.

Shirou followed shortly, book still in hand, though his eyes no longer moved across its pages. He placed it aside as he took his seat next to Kouen, his quiet demeanor betraying little of the sharp intellect Kin knew lay within. Shirou was always observing, always calculating.

Lastly, Hakuryuu entered, his hands still stained with ink, though his movements remained pristine. He took his place beside Shirou, his gaze steady and calm, as if he had just finished composing one of his elegant scripts. The three of them now sat before Kin, the unspoken tension in the air palpable.

Kin took a breath, carefully placing his teacup on the table. "Thank you for coming," he began, his voice even. "We need to talk about Fuu Ayumu and what Suigetsu has planned for her."

Kouen, ever the direct one, leaned forward slightly. "What does Suigetsu-sama want with her? Why now?"

Kin paused, considering his words. "It's more complicated than it appears. Fuu Ayumu has uncovered something—something dangerous. Suigetsu believes she can be... useful to our cause, but we need to be cautious. We can't let this slip out of our control."

Shirou spoke next, his voice quiet but firm. "And what is our role in this?"

Kin met his brother's gaze. "Our role is to ensure the plan goes smoothly. Suigetsu has already set things in motion, but she needs our support. Fuu is sharp—she'll figure things out quickly if we aren't careful. We can't afford any missteps."

Hakuryuu, who had remained silent, finally spoke, his tone thoughtful. "And what of Fuu? Does she know she's being watched?"

Kin's expression darkened slightly. "Not yet. But she will soon enough."

Kin listened to Hakuryuu and Shirou's exchange, his fingers lightly resting on the edge of his teacup. He had expected Hakuryuu's skepticism, but it was Shirou's playful jab that eased the tension in the room, if only for a moment. The lightheartedness, however, could not distract from the serious matter at hand—Suigetsu's plan and their role in it.

Setting his cup down, Kin intertwined his fingers and leaned forward, his expression calm but his tone firm. "You’re right to question it, Hakuryuu. Suigetsu often keeps her cards close to her chest, but in this case, we need to understand her plan for it to work."

Kouen, ever blunt, interrupted, his eyes sharp. "So let me guess. The dangerous thing Fuu uncovered—it’s the Masanobu Assassins, isn’t it?"

Hakuryuu and Shirou both gasped, their eyes shifting from Kouen to Kin in quick succession. The shock was evident on their faces.

"Is that true, Kin?" Hakuryuu asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and urgency.

"And Suigetsu is letting her run free with that knowledge?" Shirou added, his brows furrowed in concern.

Kin sighed and nodded, choosing his words carefully. "Yes. But when Fuu realized what she had stumbled upon, she was smart enough to approach the Koriyama family directly. That’s the only reason she isn’t already a target. Fuu started out investigating the Robin Hood group, but instead, she uncovered secrets tied to the Masanobu Assassins. It’s more than we can afford to let slip."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the room, the severity of the situation settling in. Suigetsu’s gamble was a dangerous one, but Fuu’s quick thinking had, for now, kept the chaos at bay.

"Hmmmm," Shirou hummed, placing a hand on his chin. He sighed heavily with a slow shake of his head. "Well, Suigetsu-sama has proven time and time again that her unorthodox methods have resulted in great things. She gives us born-nobles a heart attack in the process, but she always proves herself. Although she can also be cunning and sly like any born-noble I've met. I may not see her immediate vision or intention in this, but I trust her." 

Shirou turned to each of his brothers, then turned to Kin. "But I have to agree. What will the Gotei think when they learn she's snagged one of their high ranking officers for herself? What would Byakuya Kuchiki think?"

Shirou thought long and hard about Kin's words and Suigetsu's intentions, humming to himself. He took a deep breath and spoke once he had processed everything their brother was saying. "Well, if the Robin Hood clan is everything the Rukongai villagers claim they are, then perhaps they can only serve to make the Koriyama clan stronger and benefit both the Seireitei and the Rukongai even more than the two of us separately already do." 

"Until they go decide they don't like answering to Suigetsu and go rogue," Hakuryuu scoffed. "We have no reason to trust them." 

"And we're assassins," Shirou countered, shaking his head. "They have even less reason to trust us." He gestured around the room to his other brothers. "Why, I'm sure one of the three of you was contemplating the best way to kill them all just for leaving us a silly little note to poke fun at us. Far better men have been killed for far less than wounded pride."