Exile - The resistance
Going into exile after losing the battle of Soul Society wasn't something he was proud of doing bask then, but Byakuya had convinced him that it was the only way to get Soul Society back.
After all, who would fight Aizen if not them?
That was 20 years ago.
Ukitake tied his long white hair back into a loose pony tail, letting it drape over his left shoulder.
His crisp tailor made white suit was left unbuttoned, exposing the green silk vest underneath.
The real world suited him appearance wise, he decided checking his reflection in the mirror.
It was just every other aspect of this world that didn't agree with him; the fast life style in Tokyo, the impersonal relations at work, and the never ending hunt for market shares.
20 years ago he and Byakuya had decided that it was best that they went their separate ways and working on setting up the resistance in order to conquer Soul Society back.
Ukitake had soon realised that without any money you wouldn't get anywhere in the real world.
After a struggle that damn well nearly killed him, he managed to set a business up; a financial advisory. After all he knew quite a bit about economy after having done paper work for 2 divisions for 2000 years.
As it turned out he started the business at just the right time. I grew quickly and "Shiro Consult" as the company was named now employed over 2000 people in 4 of Japan's major cities.
Just managing a business of that magnitude was a lot of hard work and besides that he was also trying to organize a resistance.
Just 2 years ago Hitsugaya-taichou turned up at his doorstep. Rarely had he been so happy to see anyone before.
Hitsugaya has grown in those 20 years - in many ways.
He was almost as tall as Byakuya now, but still about a head shorter than Ukitake.
Hitsugaya had truly come as though sent from above. Ukitake had immediately hired him as assisting director and he also lifted an incredible amount of work load in the resistance work.
So far they had round up Ichigo, Ishida, Inoue, Soi Fong, Yoruichi, Shuuhei and Kira.
Kenpachi, Yamamoto, and Shunsui had been confirmed dead. They all perished in the battle.
Unohana, Matsumoto, and Rukia was unaccounted for, but after 20 years of silence there was little hope. Ukitake had also tried to find Byakuya for the last 2 year, but with no luck. It was seriously beginning to worry him.
Ukitake's gaze focused on his own reflection again. He had to get going otherwise he wouldn't make his first meeting in time.
Just as put on his black cashmere jacket, he coughed hard for the third time this morning. He noted that his chest was sounding increasingly terrible. He wouldn't be able to withstand too many of those calibre attacks.
With Unohana gone and never ending work days and irregular sleep patterns, his health had deteriorated even further over the last 20 years.
He was forced to hide it though as best as to his abilities. If it slipped out that the director was white haired and weak chested it would only be a matter of time before Aizen would pick up on it.
Ukitake still took the stairs down from the penthouse apartment - he absolutely refused to take the elevator, but as a result of his stubbornness he was wheezing badly when he got into his car.
Shiro Consult's head quarters in Tokyo was an imposing building with it's glass façade and a lobby with an indoor lake, designer furniture, and bonsai trees; every interior decorators dream.
Of course the director's office was on the top floor.
And that meant elevators.
If he were to take the stairs his poor lung capacity would not be a secret much longer had Hitsugaya argued.
The boy was of course right.
Hitsugaya greeted Ukitake when the dreaded elevator reached it's destination. Hitsugaya was looking impeccable as ever in his crisp black suit and his fine black hair neatly combed back. They had designed his gigai with black hair to avoid suspicion.
"Ohayo Shiro-sama," Hitsugaya started and bowed. Ukitake hated when he did that - too formal.
"Ohayo to you too," Ukitake answered.
Hitsugaya handed him a bounch of papers.
"What's this?"
"Board meeting in 15 minutes," Hitsugaya explained.
"What? The next board meeting isn't until next week, you're mistaking," Ukitake exclaimed and then coughed again.
"Did you not check your e-mail last night?" Hitsugaya asked when Ukitake quieted down.
"No, I didn't have the chance." Hitsugaya studied the older man he had probably worked on a lead on Byakuya unto the wee hours of the night. Or so he looked with the dark circles under his eyes. It was becoming clear that Ukitake needed Byakuya to come home soon. Hitsugaya had noticed that the ex captain seemed lonely and slightly depressed. Ukitake had even stopped given him candy.
"Extraordinary board meeting," Hitsugaya explained, "we have received the offer from the Souma Enterprices."
"Oh," Ukitake took in the information and quickly skimmed through some of the papers, " is the offer any good?"
"Not really, but there's some favourable points in it as well that should be taken into consideration," Hitsugaya answered truthfully.
Ukitake sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Couldn't you just take this meeting?" he asked knowing that it wasn't really a possibility.
"I could, but I'm not allowed… how's your health, Ukitake-taichou?" he whispered the ex captains real name.
"Not cooperating," he summed a long story short
"Can you suppress it?" Hitsugaya hated to ask such a thing from a man that clearly should have stayed in bed.
"I'm going to have to. At least a dozen people saw me coming up here… to disappear would be suspicious,"
Hitsugaya nodded then remembered something.
"By the way I received a special call last night," he whispered, " from Kyoto… Ichigo and Ishida have a lead on Rukia."
"Really?"
"Yes, they are pursuing the matter as we speak and I expect an update from them some time after noon."
"Good… good," Ukitake commented, but then his face contorted and his hand flew to his chest as his hunched over.
Hitsugaya saw the signs and all but yanked Ukitake into his office where all hell broke lose..
Ukitake broke down coughing horribly a fit so bad that he was struggling to stay on his feet. Hitsugaya tried to steady the ailing man and handed him a handkerchief.
Ukitake took it and continued to cough relentlessly.
It tore at Hitsugaya's very core to see how much pain Ukitake was in and even more o when the handkerchief came away bloodied.
"We're switching," Hitsugaya dictated.
"What?" Ukitake croaked out in a weak voice
"Gigais! We are switching gigais. Then I'll take the board meeting and you'll be free to go home sick"
Ukitake was desperately trying his best to stop coughing and limited himself to a nod in confirmation.
Switching felt so strange. Hitsugaya's gigai was much to tight for Ukitake even with Hitsugaya's substantial growth.
However, Hitsugaya had to suffer the taste of blood in Ukitake's gigai and a sore rib cage.
Hitsugaya clutched his sides.
"Bloody hell! How much did you cough last night?"
"Sorry about that," Ukitake whispered and broke down coughing again. Hitsugaya couldn't get his head around seeing his own body coughing like that, see blood on his own lips.
"Hey, don't break my gigai!" Hitsugaya commented playfully, but maybe he shouldn't have. Ukitake struggled even harder with laughing and coughing at the same time.
"Sorry…" he wheezed, " I'll take it off as soon as I get home," he dapped his bloodied lips, "I think I'll take a cap."
"Good idea," Hitsugaya approved with a sad face. The man didn't need a cab - he needed an ambulance and yet they could do nothing for him. How he wished that Unohana was here, " I'll come home and help you as soon as I can."
