This is the first chapter of a story with Shunsui and little Nanao. This story is sweet and sad at the same time. I wrote this awhile ago. In this story Shunsui is thinking about the memories he has of her. It sets place in the world of living.
Shunsui is laying in bed and thinking about the first time he met Nanao. It wasn't under the best circumstances.
It was a busy day in the emergency room of the Seireitei hospital. This hospital is divided in 13 divisions. He was a doctor and head of the 8th division (the emergency division). Shunsui's shift just ended when he spotted a little girl alone in the waiting room.
"What are you doing here all by yourself?" He asked the girl.
The girl looked up to face him. That's when he saw she is covered in blood. She didn't answer him.
"You need a doctor?" Shunsui asked her.
The girl looked him in the eye and then studied him. She wasn't sure whether or whether not to answer him. Then she looked down at her feet again.
Shunsui bend through his knees to met her on eye-level "You can answer me, I'm a doctor."
The child looked confused and Shunsui figured out why. He doesn't wear his white coat and he looks like how some people describe it messy. He doesn't look like a doctor.
"What's your name?"
"Nanao Ise." She said.
"That's a beautiful name, Nanao-chan. I'm Shunsui Kyoraku" Ise.. Where did he hear that name before? That's when it hit him. There was a car accident with a child and a couple named Ise. That's why she is here. He couldn't help but feel pity for the girl. The couple are most likely not to survive it. "How old are you Nanao-chan?"
"I'm eight."
"Eight huh. Come, let's check if you're injured." Shunsui stood up and offered the girl a hand.
Nanao held her arm up "Already got stitches."
"Then why are you still not cleaned up?" Shunsui asked confused.
"I wanted to wait." Nanao said looking down.
Shunsui sighed. He could understand why she wanted wait. She just wanted to hear if her parents were still alive. "Nanao-chan, you need to take a shower. It will make you feel better."
"I have to wait." Nanao said biting her lip. She didn't like to disobey a doctor, but she wanted to know what's going on with her parents.
"I understand. But what if you take a shower and I'll ask what's going on with your parents. When you're done I can tell you if the condition of your parents had changed." He said hoping she will take a shower.
After a moment of silence she finally said okay and went with a nurse to the bathroom.
Shunsui found out that Nanao's mother slipped into a coma and was most likely to never wake up again. Her father's condition hasn't changed much.
Nanao didn't take long to took that shower which wasn't a surprise to Shunsui. At least she wasn't covered in blood anymore.
"Your father's condition is still the same Nanao-chan." Shunsui said.
"And my mother's?" Nanao asked. Shunsui didn't like to answer that question.
"Nanao-chan, you know you sleep at night right.. But your mother is in a very deep sleep." Shunsui tried to explain.
"Is she dead?" Nanao asked horrified.
"No." Shunsui said quickly. His explanation didn't go really well. He doesn't know how to say these things to a kid. "She's in a coma."
"Do you think she will wake up again or..?" Nanao asked.
Another question Shunsui didn't like to answer. But he knows he has to be honest. "I don't think she will." He said finally. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. Are you allright?"
Nanao cracked a smile "I'm fine."
"You're a tough one, huh?" Shunsui asked.
"I guess." Nanao said not looking at him.
Shunsui thought some distraction will do her some good. She needs to think about something else. "Will you come with me, Nanao-chan?"
"Where to?" She asked.
"To the children's ward. Maybe you can play with some other kids." Shunsui said. His best friend Jushiro Ukitake is head of the 13th division and the 13th division is the children's ward.
"Play?" She asked "No, thank you."
"But Nanao-chan. I'll inform the doctors to tell you immediately if something has changed."
"You promise?" She asked. And he could see she doesn't believe him completely.
"I promise Nanao-chan."
Nanao got up from her seat and followed him. She saw a doctor running around but everything else seemed calm. Shunsui saw her look around.
It was a 5 minute walk to the children's ward. Shunsui walked to a white haired man and greeted him.
"Juu!" Shunsui said.
"Hi Shun. I thought your shift ended 20 minutes ago?" The man asked.
"Yeah, but then I found her." He said looking at Nanao. "Juu, this is Nanao-chan. Nanao-chan this is Juu."
"Nice to meet you Nanao." Jushiro said and gave her a smile.
"Can Nanao-chan stay here?" Shunsui asked Jushiro
"Is there something wrong with her?" Jushiro asked.
"She was in a car accident with her parents. Her parents are still fighting for their lives. I thought she could use some distraction."
Jushiro looked at the child "Ofcourse she can stay here."
"I'm going home now. It was a long day." Shunsui said goodbye and went to his own home.
Shunsui got up from his bed and took a shower. He met her that day in the hospital. He prayed for her parents. Unfortunately they didn't make it. He wanted to tell her.
"Hi Juu! Where is Nanao-chan?"
"Hi Shun. Nanao is still sleeping. Do you know something about her parents?"
"They both died this morning." Shunsui and Jushiro both sighed.
"Are you going to tell her now?" Jushiro asked.
"Yes, I promised she would know it immediately if something changed."
"Nanao-chan?" Shunsui said softly. He didn't get a response. "Nanao-chan." Shunsui said a little harder. Her eyes flickered open.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"Nanao-chan.. Your parents died this morning." He said softly. "I'm sorry."
Nanao's eyes widened a little and he saw she tried to hold back tears. Nanao quickly looked to the floor. Shunsui gave her a reassuring squeeze and then he left.
"How is she?" Jushiro asked him.
"She's pretending to be allright." Shunsui said. "I left her alone. I think she needed some alone time."
"Poor girl."
Shunsui hummed in agreement.
Thanks for reading this chapter. I always love little Nanao and Shunsui interactions.
XXX~Flowerly
