title: sniffles
author: turntable aurora
anime: bleach
pairing: verrry light ukitake x shunsui
warnings: none, except mindless fluff.

xXxXxXxXxXx

When most of us get a cold, we shrug it off, buy a box of Kleenex and hope that it'll pass in a week or two.

However, when Ukitake happened to catch one after being caught in the rain during morning maneuvers with his division, Shunsui panicked and turned into a cross between an overbearing mother and a paranoid psychopath.

And it was starting to get to Jyuushirou. That, and he was just a tiny bit scared.

One sniffle, and suddenly Kyoraku had his arms around him, offering him tissues and asking if he was cold, did he need another blanket, should he get Unohana-taichou?

"Really, I'm alright." Jyuushirou pleaded, caught in Shunsui's death grip once more after he had let a sneeze escape. What a mistake.

"Jyuu-chan, you have to be careful. Who knows what this thing could do to you?" Shunsui replied cheerfully, and Jyuushirou had a hard time deciding whether he was just egging him on or whether he was genuinely concerned. One way or another, he managed to wriggle his way out of Kyoraku's bear hug and snatched at a tissue from the box next to his boring white futon.

"It's. Just. A. Cold. There's no need to worry." Ukitake remarked tiredly, his voice muffled by the tissue he was using to blow his nose. After a second, he finished and looked up at his friend. "I'm fine."

Kyoraku sat back for a minute and watched 'Jyuu-chan' throw the tissue into the nearby wastebasket and sigh, running a hand through his long white hair. Perhaps he was being a little overbearing. But who could blame him?

This, coupled with Ukitake's already poor health, gave him cause to worry- his body could only take so much abuse, and they both knew it- though neither dared say such a thing.

"... are you sure? ♥" Shunsui asked finally, and Ukitake looked at him with those familiar yet fatigued hazel eyes. Their gazes locked for a second, before Jyuushirou nodded lethargically.

"I'm sure. I... just need rest." He said reluctantly, shifting his eyes down to the quilted futon blanket that was lying across his lap. There wasn't anyone in the Gotei Thirteen that hated admitting their blatant flaws more than Ukitake did- and he was getting tired of giving in to his sickness all the time. There was, however, some comfort in saying this to such a close friend.

The brown haired devil sitting next to him was really the only one he would talk about it with in such a manner, because he knew that he would appreciate his situation.

Said devil shifted slightly and grinned that silly grin he always did. "Understood."

Of course he knew Jyuushirou hated taking time off his work. But despite the valiant soul he was, he knew his limits, and despite his frustration, wouldn't pass them. It was one of those things in life you just hated to tolerate.

Slowly, Ukitake laid back down, and was about to pull the covers back over himself when Shunsui reached over and did it for him, tucking him in in a childish manner.

"I can do that myself!" Jyuushirou exclaimed exasperatedly to the other, cheeks slightly pink at the prospect of being babied so much. Kyoraku just smirked knowingly and leaned forward, giving his Jyuu-chan a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"I know. But I do it anyway."

And with that, Shunsui blew the lamp that was (barely) lighting the room out and made himself comfortable, leaning against the wall with his giant gaudy haori tugged close to himself as Ukitake mumbled something incoherent in embarrassment and shifted on his futon.

After all, he had to watch over his friend tonight- overbearing mother, right?