Page 141 of Mercy Written in Blood

"I do."

"I didn't believe you then either."

Renji looked at him. Haruki stood in Renji's home, newly aware that the man before him was not human, and somehow considered Renji the vulnerable one. It was unreasonable. It was also close enough to the truth that Renji wanted him gone.

"You should leave," he said.

Haruki nodded once.

"All right."

The agreement came too easily. He reached for his coat. Renji felt the room empty before Haruki had moved. It was immediate — a return to order. Two bowls to wash. A record to put away. The second glass removed. By morning, no sign another person had been present. That was what Renji wanted.

Haruki pulled one sleeve of the coat over his arm.

"Why did you become Boss?"

The question stopped him. Haruki looked over his shoulder.

"I didn't."

"You lead the Ishida Family."

"Yes."

"So you became its head."

"Not because I wanted to."

Renji said nothing. Haruki let the coat slide from his shoulder again. He stared down at the fabric in his hands. The admission had changed his expression. Not shame. Something older.

"I said if you answered honestly, I would too," he said.

"You did not."

"I intended to."

"That is not the same."

"No."

Haruki returned the coat to the chair. Then he walked to the window and stood beside Renji. Not close enough to touch. Close enough that their reflections shared the same pane of glass.

"My father was supposed to lead the Family for another twenty years," Haruki said. "Perhaps longer."

"He died when you were twenty-four."

"Yes."

"An aneurysm."

Haruki glanced at him.

"You remember."

"Yes."

The answer seemed to matter. Haruki turned back to the window.