[Nanao stayed a bit longer to pass on a few details, but then she left. After Retsu checked on Jyuushiko one more time, she turned to send Rukia in, squeezing her friend's shoulder sympathetically on the way out.]

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[Rukia came into the room silently. She wasn't wearing her fukutaichou badge, and she was drawn and pale with dark circles under her eyes. She looked as though she hadn't slept in days. Her expression was closely guarded, as good a poker face as Byakuya ever produced.

In sum, she looked eerily as she had in the wake of Kaien's death.]

Taichou.