Bleach and all its characters belongs to Tite Kubo and not me
Shunsui was sitting on the roof of his division and looked out over the Seireitei. He was in very deep thoughts and everyone could see that this wasn't the normal behavor of the eight division captain.
So why was he like that?
Well, about two weeks earlier, Shunsui's best friend Jūshirō had gotten really sick. Normally he would recover within a week but this time was different. Shunsui didn't want to believe it when Retsu had told him that this might be the time when Jūshirō can't fight against his illness anymore.
Shunsui sighed and put down the still full cup he had in his hand. Not even Sake would get him on other thoughts.
He then heard footsteps behind him and turned around to see his lieutenant, Nanao standing there.
"Captain there you are?"
"Something wrong Nanao?"
"I just got word from Rukia. Captain Ukitake has gotten worse and captain Unohana told her that he won't make it through the night"
Nanao saw how her captain's eyes got filled with pain and horror before he quickly disappeared using Flash Step.
When he arrived at the 13th division, Shunsui made his way to his best friend's room were he found Rukia outside.
"Thank god you're here captain Kyōraku"
"Is he really that bad?"
"I'm afraid so"
Shunsui saw a few tears appear in Rukia's eyes. He knew how close she was to Jūshirō since he was one of the first to treat her like a normal person rather than a noble.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a forced smile before he walked inside the room were his best friend was.
"Shun you're here"
"Of course. I couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye"
Jūshirō gave him a very weak smile and tried to sit up but instead, Shunsui sat down behind him and pulled his friend onto his lap so his head rested against his chest.
The white-haired man relaxed against him before looking up at Shunsui's face.
"Do you remember the first time we meet?"
"Of course I do. At the academy over thousand years ago. We had our first day to ourselves to learn how to navigate the school ground but I..."
"Was to busy chasing girls to care about that"
"Maybe so...
-I soon stopped going after those girls and saw you sit alone under a tree. I thought you looked like an interesting guy so I went up to you and introduced myself"
"Not long after that we grew closer and soon we were best friends"
"I remember Old-man Yama calling us each other's opposites"
"Well he was right about that"
"True"
They sat there in silence after that. Shunsui stroke his fingers gently through Jūshirō's long hair but soon he felt something wet on his chest were Jūshirō had his face.
"Juu are you crying?"
He didn't get any answer until Jūshirō looked up at him with slightly red eyes and tears on his cheeks. It was the first time he'd seen him like this, not even after the death of Kaien, his lieutenant, had the white-haired man cried.
"I'm sorry Shun. I just don't want this to be the last time we spend together. I want to stay with you and fulfill our promise of dying in battle together"
Hearing that made tears sting Shunsui's eyes but he kept them in, he needed to be strong at this moment.
"Shhh it's okay Jūshirō, I'm not blaming you
-And who said we won't see each other again. Maybe we'll become friends in the lives we get after we die here"
Shunsui then moved slightly and placed his hands on Jūshirō's cheeks, using his thumbs to dry his tears.
"Believe me Juu-chan, our friendship is to strong to break. No matter what life we live in we will always find each other"
Jūshirō managed a smile before Shunsui helped him lay down. The dark-haired man then took off his hat and placed his pink kimono over his friend before laying down next to him and placed his arm around him.
Shunsui barely got any sleep that night. Every time he was close, he would see Jūshirō disappear before his eyes. So instead he laid there and in his head, he prayed for the first time in his life. He prayed that Jūshirō somehow would make it through the night and that he would get better so he could live some more centuries.
When Shunsui opened his eyes the next morning he looked at his friend and his eyes widened slightly. Jūshirō's breathing was stronger and more even than the day before. He slowly sat up and sent a Hell Butterfly to Retsu who came very quickly. She examined Jūshirō before waving to Shunsui to come with her outside.
"What happened Retsu?"
"It seems that he's getting better"
"How? Yesterday you said..."
"I know what I said Shunsui. I don't understand it either, but what I do understand is that this is a miracle"
"A miracle huh"
"I would want to take him to the 4th and monitor him for a few days just to make sure this isn't temporary"
"I can take him there if you want. He's sleeping so heavily that he won't notice if I carried him"
"Then please do. I'll go back to my division and make sure a room is prepared"
"Right"
Retsu then went back to the 4th while Shunsui walked back into Jūshirō's room. He put on his hat and placed his kimono over his shoulders before carefully lifting up Jūshirō and Flash Stepped to the 4th division.
When he got there the division lieutenant, Isane showed him to a room were Retsu waited. Shunsui gently placed Jūshirō on the bed and Retsu tucked the quilt around him.
"Do you mind staying with him until he wakes up Shunsui?"
"Retsu you should know that I will not leave his side until he's fully recovered"
"I knew you'd say that.
-I'll be back in a while but if he happens to wake up before that please come find me"
"Of course"
Retsu gave him a smile before she left the room.
Shunsui then sat down in the chair next to the bed and not long after that, he fell asleep with his arms and head on the bedside.
He didn't know how long he'd been asleep when he felt Jūshirō's spirtual pressure spike, a sign that he was waking up. He sat up and watched as his best friend opened his eyes and looked and him.
Tears started to sting the corners of Shunsui's eyes as he lifted his hand and brushed away some hair from Jūshirō's face.
"Looks like someone thought it wasn't your time yet"
Some tears then slided down his cheeks as Jūshirō smiled at him before he lifted a hand to his face.
"No need to cry then Shunsui"
"You're right but these are tears of joy... joy that you're going to be okay"
Shunsui then dried the tears right before the door opened and Retsu came in.
"Ah captain Ukitake you're awake
-How are you feeling?"
"Better than in a long time"
"That's very good"
Shunsui moved aside as Retsu walked up to them and placed a hand glowing with Reiatsu over Jūshirō's chest.
"It's really a miracle how you lungs managed to recover from that state they were in yesterday"
"I don't understand it myself. I was sure that yesterday was going to be it for me"
"Well, no matter how it happened, the important thing is that you're going to recover."
She then removed her hand and smiled at the two friend before she walked to the door.
"I'll ask Hanatarō to bring you something light to eat"
Retsu then left the room and Jūshirō turned to his best friend.
"I'm sorry if I had you worried or sad yesterday Shunsui"
"It's okay. Sure I was worried that I was going to lose you but you've more than made up for it with this miracle of a recovery"
A moment later, Hanatarō came in carrying a tray.
"Captain Unohana wanted me to bring this for you captain Ukitake"
"Thank you Hanatarō"
Hanatarō placed the tray on the table next to the bed and bowed before he left the room. Shunsui then helped Jūshirō sit up and placed some pillows behind his back for him to lean against before placing the tray in his lap.
Shunsui was happy to see that his friend had regained most of his appetite. For four days he barely eaten anything because, at least according to Shunsui, the illness was stronger than him.
The next day.
Shunsui and Jūshirō was talking when Retsu came.
"How are you today Ukitake"
"Better that yesterday"
"That's good. Do you think you can handle a few visitors? It seems news has spread about your recovery so there are some people who want to see you"
"You can let them in"
"Right"
Retsu left the room and soon the door opened again, there stood Byakuya and Rukia. Rukia looked like she was about to cry when she saw her captain but kept it in since Byakuya was present.
"It's good to see that you're better Ukitake"
"Thank you Byakuya"
The noble gave a slight nod and looked down at his sister, he could see that she held back her emotions.
"Rukia this is a moment when it's okay to show emotion"
Rukia looked at her brother and a few tears fell as she walked closer to her captain and Byakuya walked out.
"We were all so worried about you captain.
-We really thought that you were going to..."
Jūshirō smiled at Rukia and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm okay now Rukia and soon, I'll be back up on my feet again.
-But until then, can you do something for me?"
"What is it?"
"Can you look after the division? You're more capable than Kiyone and Sentarō seeing how they argue all the time"
"Of course. You can trust me sir"
"Thank you"
Rukia smiled as her captain dried a tear from her cheek. She bowed, wished him a swift recovery and then left.
The next person to come was Tōshirō and it looked like he was carrying a small box.
"Glad to see that you're okay Ukitake"
"Thank you Tōshirō"
The young captain just ignored that he had been called by his first name and actually let a slight smile appear on his face. Even though he would never admit it to anyone, he did see the older captain as a father figure and was happy to see him pretty much back to normal.
He then handed Jūshirō the box he was holding and he opened it. In it was pieces of candy.
"Rangiku and I thought that I could be the one giving you candy for a change.
-I didn't really knew what you like the most so I just bought some of those you usually give me"
"Thank you
-Tell lieutenant Matsumoto that I said thank you to her as well"
"I will
-Get well soon Ukitake"
Tōshirō then left and a few others came after him.
One of the last to come was Nanao and she gave Jūshirō a book.
"I thought you may want something to cure your boredom while you're here"
"Thank you Nanao. I actually just finished the previous book in the series so this is perfect"
"I'm glad you like it"
She then bowed and left so the last person, Yamamoto could come in.
"Hi master Genryūsai"
Yamamoto nodded at him and made his way to sit on the chair next to his student's bed.
"I'm glad you're still with us Jūshirō. There have been many times that you've worried me with your illness but I believe I've never been as worried as I was the other day
-The thought of losing an old student that I also see as a son is a thought that even I can't bear"
"I'm sorry to have worried you master"
"It's okay. The important is that you are on the road to recovery"
Something close to a smile then appeared on the old man's face as he stood up and patted Jūshirō's shoulder.
"Get well soon"
"Thank you master"
Yamamoto nodded at him before he walked out of the room and Shunsui took the chance to sit down on the bedside. He then looked out the window at the sunset
"You had visitors for longer time than I thought"
"You're right"
"But it's good to see how many people cares about you"
"Yeah"
Shunsui smiled and Jūshirō smiled back. The two then sat there and talked for a short while before Jūshirō started to get tired and Shunsui helped him lay down.
"Get some rest. You deserve it after all those visits"
"Will you stay here Shun?"
"You should know that I won't leave until you can.
-Unless Nanao forces me back to the office"
That earned him a slight chuckle from his friend before the white-haired man fell asleep.
Days passed and every day Jūshirō got better and better. A week and a half after his miraculous recovery, Retsu finally allowed him to leave the 4th division on the orders that he took it easy for the first three days. Shunsui of course was gonna make sure his friend followed those orders.
On the day Jūshirō was released from the 4th, Shunsui accompanied him back to his division where they were meet by a bunch of Soul Reapers that was happy to see their captain back on his feet again.
Shunsui tipped his hat and looked up at the sky as Jūshirō's division surrounded their captain.
"Since that day I've wondered... was it my prayers that somehow helped him or was it someone up there.
-I guess it doesn't matter. Juu-chan is okay and will live to see a few more centuries according to Retsu"
