Daydream interrupted
~ When you care about someone you think you will never forget about them. But what if it happens without realising it? ~
Summary: No one remembers Nanao, even Shunsui. When Shunsui realises his own memory betrays him he's determined to find out who the woman in his dreams is. But he wonders if he will be able to handle the truth. A story about loneliness, hurt, struggle and friendship.
Warning: Contains spoilers Bleach anime/manga, but no spoilers for the newest arc (1000 year blood war arc).
Chapter 1: back to normal
It's not the best way waking up someone yanking your butt.
"Get up, you idiot. We have a meeting."
I groaned. "Five more minutes, Lisa-chan." The moment she pulled my covers away I felt the loss of warmth. Shivering from a chilling cold breeze making its way over my body. When I opened my eyes I had barely time to register she kicking me out of bed. I let out an 'oompf' the minute my face made impact with the solid floor.
"We have a meeting." Lisa repeated. "And Yamamoto soutaicho wants to speak with you, Zaraki and Kuchiki privately."
"Why would he want to do that?"
She just shrugged and walked through the door. Giving me the chance to have a good look at her butt.
I am glad things turned back to normal. I have my Lisa-chan back . Not having her around and running the division on my own was hard. But it was even harder not even knowing how she was coping with all this.
It hurt her too. She doesn't say it, but it is obvious. I still partly blame myself for what happened back then. I was so sure she would be back by dawn. As a shinigami you need to get over it. But you never get over something like that, you only learn to live with it.
No time to dwell on that now. The war is over, the vizords are back, Aizen is locked away and it's a beautiful day. Too bad I have to waste some of it at the first division. Time to make my way over there.
"Good morning, Kyoraku. I'm surprised you're not even that late." I am greeted by Ukitake at the first division entrance.
"I had to kick him out of his bed this morning. Not even grabbing his butt woke him up." Lisa retorted and I told her not to tell these things in front of the other captains. Not that losing face worries me.
"How are your injuries, Ukitake?" I wondered. Wonderweiss gave him a nasty wound. He seems fine but you never know.
He waved me off. "They're all fine now. Come, let's go inside."
A boring meeting. I wonder why I still go to these things, I only hear the half of it. But it's all a good. Finding these ordinary things dull means peaceful times returned. We only have to deal with the aftermath now. I inwardly sighed when Yama-jij told me, Kenpachi and Byakuya to wait. Laying in the grass to enjoy the beautiful sun is probably not going to happen today.
"All three of you lost your taicho haori. There's no excuse for that!" Yama-jij barked. Ah, it's good to see he's back to his old self. Even at my expense. "What do you think a taicho haori is?!"
"A fashionable item?" I answered after Kenpachi and Byakuya. I can't understand the worry about a piece of garment. Especially since it is so easy to replace.
"You're all idiots!" He shouted and I thought I would lose my ears. "If this happens again I am not this relenting. Understood?"
"Did you enjoy that, Ukitake?" I asked the white-haired taicho sitting outside.
"It was quite amusing." He replied. "But it's good to see Yamamoto back in his old spirits, don't you agree?"
"Absolutely. Only next time let it be at your expense." I grinned down at him and he rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"Come, let's have some tea."
"Then we have to go to my division. Yours' only has that filthy green powdered stuff." I said making a face at him. I can't wrap my mind about how popular that tea is. To me it tastes like cat pee.
"Only you can dislike such a delicious treat. Oh wait, wasn't there someone else in your division who disliked it too?"
"I don't think so. I would definitely remember that." If only there was someone like that. That would be a person to my heart.
"How is Lisa-san coping with all this?" Ukitake suddenly asked. He had always been fond of Lisa too.
"It's still not the same, but it's getting better." I said honestly. "Do you think she blames me for what happened?"
"She doesn't blame you for what happened. And you already know that." I already could tell by his face he already knows that wasn't the question. He knows me too well. "I believe you meant to say if she blames you for not searching for her in the world living once you knew she was there. I think she knows you couldn't abandon your post. On top of that you didn't even know where on earth she was or if she was even alive."
"Do you think I did the right thing?" Only with Ukitake I voice my doubts. Maybe I should have searched for her, but I didn't even know where to look. Would it have made any difference?
"If I didn't think you did the right thing I would have told you back then. You had no choice. You can't abandon your division for a long time. Besides you didn't know where to look for her. I'm sure Lisa knows that, you could always ask her."
"I had a good look at her butt this morning."
"What?" I threw him off by the topic change.
"She kicked me on the floor. The best view from that place."
"Really, Kyoraku." Ukitake scolded but didn't comment on our earlier conversation anymore, like expected. He never did.
We fell into a comfortable silence. Enjoying the peace while it lasts. It's a somber thought, but when you live this long you should take pleasure in small moments like this. Enjoying the sun, sakura petals and peace.
"Ah, I knew you had to have it somewhere." Ukitake said picking up green powdered tea. He searched through the cabinets after we arrived and even though I said it was futile he succeeded in finding it.
"It's even a surprise to me. I never buy that stuff."
"Lisa-san probably did. Really Kyoraku, you can't only buy what you like."
I shrugged. "It's just tea."
"I'm thinking about making Kuchiki-san my vice-captain." He suddenly said.
"I think Rukia-chan will do a wonderful job. But what will Byakuya say?" Byakuya had proven being difficult in the past when Ukitake tried to give Rukia a seated position.
"She brings herself in dangerous situations with Kurosaki-san and his gang regardless. Even he can see that." Ukitake said with laugh. "Besides she's ready for it. Her battle skills were already great but her attitude changed a lot over the past few months."
"You're right about that." Whenever I saw Rukia-chan in the past she appeared lonely and quiet. Since she met Ichigo and his friends she became more open and confident about herself.
"I'm glad she made such good friends." I hummed in agreement. He was probably thinking the same thing.
"When will you tell her?" I asked.
"I will probably wait another month or so. At least until everything settles down. This war has taken its toll on everyone."
I agree with him on that one. It certainly did. "What if she doesn't accept the position? You know, because of what happened?" I said carefully. Kaien was, is and will always be a sensitive subject. It could be a possibility Rukia-chan doesn't want the position because it used to be his.
He looked lost for a second before he schooled his features. I noticed already of course. "I thought about that too. I will just ask her, if she says no I will try to convince her to take the job." He shrugged. "I can't do more than that."
"No, you're right. It will probably be fine though."
"Yeah."
We talked for another hour or so before I went home to get a well deserved nap.
Writing Shunsui in first person was really hard for me to do. It's not easy to determine what's going on in his head.. I wanted him to come off as slightly perverted, wise but not invincible. I hope y'all think he is in character. I like the challenge of writing this.
Thanks for reading,
Life is to long.