Updated 7/24/16: Minor edits for phrasing and OC dialogue (accent)

Jushiro lay with his eyes closed. Though he has little choice in the matter, he decides to think of it as his own decision. It feels less depressing that way.

His co-third seat officers had brought him to the Squad 4 barracks a few days ago, after he had collapsed during a training exercise. He only became aware of this fact yesterday when he overheard Captain Unohana discussing his situation with (he assumed) a nurse. Prior to that, the last thing he remembered was setting his men into lines and everything going dark.

After an indeterminate amount of time drifting through the murky levels of near-consciousness, he hears footsteps approaching. Eager for information, and a bit of company, Jushiro musters what energy he can and forces his eyelids to open. It takes more effort than he would care to admit, but the darkness soon fades into the airy brightness of the Squad 4 barracks' ceiling.

Success.

From above his head, he sees a familiar, if upside-down face.

"Well, if it isn't the sexiest white-haired captain in the Seretei. Aren't I a lucky girl?" purrs the husky alto voice.

After a beat, and a fair bit of coughing, Jushiro replies.

"You know that joke doesn't work any more. I'm no longer the only captain with white hair."

"Who said it was a joke? I was flirting." the inverted face says with a slightly lop-sided smile. "Now shu' up. You're too sick to talk. Can you drink some water?"

He makes a small noise which the woman takes to mean 'yes'. A moment later, she appears at his side, lifts his head and puts a glass of cool water to his lips. Jushiro drinks eagerly, but carefully. When he's had his fill, he gives her a signal with his eyes. Though they haven't seen each other for decades, this non-verbal communication has existed between them for centuries, and each falls into it without a thought.

She places the glass somewhere outside his field of vision, and begins to examine him. Though hardly a proper medical asessment, the woman's hands move over his face, arms and chest in a practiced manner.

"You feel a bit cool. When was the last time they brought you some warm blankets?"

Jushiro makes another small noise and eye signal, to say he has no idea. The woman sighs in an irritated manner and disappears. As soon as she leaves his field of vision, he lets his eyes close again. They feel hot, and the effort of maintaining consciousness only makes it worse. In what seems like an instant, he hears footsteps and a rustle of fabric.

Weight.

Then another rustle.

Weight.

A third rustle.

Cold air hits his right side, followed by the warmth of a body.

"Nashi."

"Didn't I tell ye tae shu' up, sickie? Even after all this time, you still never listen. No wonder Captain Unohana called me in to look after ye. So stubborn."

He feels her shifting closer. Her hands manuver him onto his side and pull him in to her. He doesn't resist. As if he could. Soon, the heat from her body, combined with the added blankets warm him up considerably. He begins to breathe more deeply, bringing on a fresh coughing spell. S lets her grip on him slack until it passes, and pulls him closer again when his breathing normalizes..

"Are you really here, Nashi? Or am I just hallucinating from the treatments?"

"No hallucinations. They stopped all treatments after you took a nasty turn on the second day. At which point, they called me. You haven't gotten this bad for a while. Had me worried."

Despite her casual tone, Jushiro can hear the concern in her voice. He can't burden himself with that now. Nashi has come, and though he knows what that meant for the state of his health, he feels comforted.