A/N: This is just a little Ukihara one-shot I wrote one day in first period (I think that shows). It's set soon after episode 49 (the one where Kaien dies). I seem to harp on this conflict of Ukitake's a lot XD. Ah well, it's fun. Enjoy, and please review!!

Nightmare

Dawn crept through a crack in the curtains, rousing Kisuke gently. He sat up and stretched, yawning widely. Looking beside him, he saw that Juushiro still slept. Kisuke smiled softly down at the white head; lying back down beside the captain to watch him sleep.

After a few minutes, Kisuke noticed Juushiro's eyes were moving rapidly under closed lids and his jaw was clenched. Kisuke stroked the pale cheekbone, trying yo calm his sleep. Juushiro opened his eyes sharply and gasped not remembering where he was for a moment. When he did, he gave Kisuke a strained smile. "Thank you for waking me," the captain murmured.

"Are you okay?" Kisuke asked concernedly.

"Yeah." That strained smile again. "Just a nightmare."

"It wasn't real." Kisuke murmured, wrapping his arms around Juushiro. The lean man moved closer, resting his forehead on Kisuke's bare chest. He closed his eyes, trying to lose the nightmare in the hand stroking his hair and the warmth of the person holding him. He didn't realize he was still trembling from the adrenaline rush the bad dream had caused.

"Did something happen in Soul Society? You seem sad.." Kisuke asked softly.

Juushiro sighed; a long, shaky exhalation. "I... I lost my lieutenant," he whispered.

"Kaien?" Kisuke confirmed, surprised.

Juushiro nodded and told the whole harrowing story. When he had finished he whispered; "It was my fault. If I hadn't let him fight alone, or if I'd been strong enough to kill him myself-"

"Stop," Kisuke said gently, "You did everything you could. If this is the way it was meant to turn out, there's nothing you could have done."

"But it's not fair." Juushiro said in frustration.

"Not much is."

"I know that." He sighed. "It just bothers me that I can't make it fair."

"Hm." Kisuke said softly. "I think I know what you mean." He pulled Juushiro closer and rubbed his back gently. "Still, you did everything possible."

Juushiro nodded and closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Kisuke tightly. "It's made me afraid," he whispered, "I'm afraid I'll lose you, too."

Kisuke tilted his face up gently. "You won't lose me. I'll always be right here." He kissed the tip of the strong nose quickly. "Don't worry."

Juushiro blushed sightly and smiled. "Thank you." Kisuke smiled back kindly.

As the sun continued to leak through the curtains, they held each other tightly. An unwanted thought drifted through Kisuke's still-sleepy mind. You will be the one to leave me. As always, the shopkeeper pushed it aside and refused to think about the day when Juushiro would no longer be able to visit him.