Author's Note: It's been a while. I found a couple stories that have a similar start but were unfinished. So I wrote my own. Second chapter coming soon (sorry homework comes first). Also, I don't own Bleach.
Mai walked home, enjoying the warm spring day. In one hand she carried home a lunch pail, in the other a viola in its case. She avoided teaching night classes this semester, but still left the college late in the afternoon. She continued on the empty sidewalk, the street just as lonely. Mai did not mind the quiet. After a day of teaching classes and rehearsals, the simple sounds of the city winding down comforted her.
Behind her, something crashed. She turned around to a man with his back her to her. He stood from a crouching position, snow white hair covering the symbol on the back of his haori. A hand reached out to the wall, gaining support as he started to cough. Mai set her case down and gently reached out to his shoulder. Green eyes met her brown ones, wide with panic.
"You can see me?" He asked, voice raw.
"Of course. Are you alright? We should get you to a doctor," Mai said, pointing to his hand, stained red.
He shook his head, attempting to hold back a cough, "No, I'm a -"
"You really should see someone."
Another man came over the hill, quickly approaching them on his way home. The white haired man stepped forward, blocking his path, but the stranger passed straight through him, not bothering to stop. Mai gasped, watching him closely. He looked over his shoulder to her.
"C-can I help you?" She asked.
He coughed again, leaning heavily against the wooden fence. Mai picked up her case in the same hand as her lunch pail and slipped an arm around his waist.
"My apartment is at the bottom of the hill."
The man stood much taller than Mai. His loose fitting clothes hid his thin frame. He attempted not to lean on Mai, though she assured him it was no bother. They hobbled together, making it to the apartment complex, through the lobby, up the elevator and to her apartment. The man seemed out of breath, but his coughing had stopped for the moment.
"My name is Sasaki Mai. Please, take your haori off," She said, setting her case in the corner. She reached into a small closet and took out a pillow and blanket.
"Ukitake Jushiro," he replied, taking off his captain's haori and hanging it on a hook.
"You're so tall, I'm not sure if you'll fit on the couch."
"It will be fine," he said with a smile.
Mai placed the pillow and blanket down. She glanced up, noticing the sword at his side. "If you feel better with it, you can put your katana on the coffee table. Do..you fight spirits with it?"
"Yes, that's part of it." He sat down on the couch. He held it for moment, then set it gently on the wood table. With hesitation, Mai reached out to feel his forehead. It felt warm with fever.
"I assume you shouldn't be this warm."
He shook his head, laying down on the couch. Mai left for a moment, returning with a bowl of water and two washcloths. She set one on his forehead and used the other to clean his hands.
"Do not worry, Mr. Ukitake. You're no trouble. Can you eat human food?" Mai said as he opened his mouth to apologize.
Again, he shook his head.
"Oh," she frowned, "I will grab you a bell you can ring if you need anything. Is there anything I can get for you?"
"No. Thank you for your help."
She smiled. She found a small bell and set it on the coffee table, then made herself a small dinner. After eating Mai returned to the living room, grabbing a stack of homework to grade and turning on a CD player. The inviting sound of dancing strings came to great her, a familiar tune. She sat down next to the couch, pile of papers and red pencil beside her. She reached out, pushing Mr. Ukitake's sword further away. As her fingers graced the sheath, the sound of laughing children filled her ears. She whirled around to green eyes lazily looking up to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I...I heard children laughing, but no one has kids here…"
He smiled, "This piece is very nice, what is it?"
Mai paused, glancing back to the sword, then her guest, "Beethoven's 6th symphony, The Pastoral."
"Is there a story to it? It sounds like there ought to be."
"Yes. It's about taking a walk outside, probably on a nice day like today, then getting caught in a thunderstorm. There's a rainbow at the end."
"Hmm," he said, closing his eyes with a satisfied smile.
Mai watched him for a moment as he fell back asleep. She began grading papers as the sun set and street lights came on. The quiet night rolled in, seemingly putting the world at peace. Every so many papers, Mai would look over to Mr. Ukitake, occasionally wetting the cloth on his forehead. He slept, only a quiet hum as a response.