"Big sis! He's on our side!"
"..."
Yuko suddenly felt Suzumebachi was being a little dramatic. With a Zanpakuto like her, how much better could her wielder be?
People who looked cold on the outside really did keep a lot bottled up.
There was one right here, in fact.
"I thought you wanted to free Koga and conquer Soul Society together," Yuko teased. "After all, I heard he was framed back then."
Yuko didn't know whether Urahara had told her the truth about Koga, but given his nature, his information was probably sound.
Byakuya lowered his gaze and fell silent for a moment. "...Perhaps he was framed at first. But after he killed the Soul Reapers guarding him and escaped, he brutally murdered others as well."
"Is that so? Then the rumors were true."
Byakuya had still been young back then, but as the next head of the family, he must have known something, even if Ginrei Kuchiki had tried to hide what happened with Koga.
Byakuya said nothing more. He simply stood beneath the tree.
Yuko sighed. "For the sake of so-called family honor, you'd rather be branded a traitor than let anyone else deal with Koga Kuchiki? Byakuya, you're a good kid, but you take things too seriously. You're exactly like old man Ginrei."
"But how many things in this world are really black and white? Besides, do you think Muramachi can't see through your little plan?"
Byakuya was silent for a moment. His gaze passed over Yuko's shoulder toward the dark woods beyond.
"I never intended to hide it. Muramasa needs my strength against the Seireitei, and I need him to lead me to Koga. It is merely a transaction." Byakuya's voice was perfectly level; he had clearly anticipated her question. "As for being branded a