Hello everybody ;) this is my first fic, so don't be too hard on me, please ^^ Though I do appreciate comments and constructive criticism.
This fic is set around the time of the "turn back the pendulum" arc, but at some point we will come to the time skip and the fic will continue after the war against Aizen (attention, potential spoilers ^^)
Jūshirō Ukitake sat in his usual spot, overlooking the long abandoned training field, which was surrounded by a small forest. The trees left an opening to one side so that one could see the horizon, making this a perfect spot for watching the sunset. It would maybe take fifteen more minutes until the blazing red star would have completely vanished behind the mountains in the distance, to only leave behind some faintly orange and pink coloured clouds.
Ukitake allowed himself a small sigh as he took in the scenery, then he closed his eyes, savouring the last rays of sunlight that fell warmly on his skin. Sometimes he needed to remind himself that life was actually beautiful – and watching the sunset from this spot usually did the job quite well. He hadn't felt too great all day and had barely been able to make it through the daily squad training without having anyone notice his weak condition. But if the day continued as calm as it was right now, he would get a good night's sleep, and in the morning he'd feel much better again. Probably.
He continued to sit still for a while, listening to some birds singing in the distance and the wind rustling through the leaves above his head, when he suddenly felt a weak but fast moving reiatsu at the periphery of his perception. It didn't seem to directly approach him, but it definitely came closer. As the distance between them decreased, he noticed that this was actually a quite powerful soul, which had been concealed quite skilfully, yet not completely, by it's owner.
A little alarmed, he closed his eyes and searched the area for more unexpected company, but he could only sense this one weak reiatsu, which had changed direction by now, and was heading directly towards him. It was very fast; the owner of it must have been using flashstep, which was quite a risky task in the densely wooded area. Something about the feel of this reiatsu seemed familiar, though...
Two seconds before the person arrived behind him from the woods, Ukitake recognised him and smiled.
"Good afternoon, Muguruma-taichou", he said aloud, but without turning around. Behind him, he heard a displeased sounding laugh.
"So you've recognised me", responded the deep voice of Kensei Muguruma, the captain of Squad 9.
"Yes. Although you concealed yourself quite skilfully", said Ukitake, now turning his head to smile at the younger man. Muguruma didn't answer, instead he slumped himself on the ground right next to Ukitake and took a deep breath. He was wearing only his wide shihakusho without his captain's haori and had a white towel hung around his neck; little droplets of sweat covered every inch of his exposed chest, trickling down over the tattooed "69" that decorated his muscled stomach.
"Watching the sunset?", he said after a moment.
"Yes", Ukitake answered, "it is a beautiful spot."
"True", the younger man mumbled. "You come here often?"
"From time to time, if the weather is nice."
"It's been quite long since I took the time to watch the sunset..."
"I find that it puts my mind at ease", Ukitake smiled, "you should stay and watch it with me."
"Hm", was Muguruma's only response.
For a while they sat together in silence, watching the sun approach the horizon very slowly, immersing the sky in the most beautiful red, orange, yellow and pink colour shades.
Ukitake observed the other man from the corner of his eye; the young man's usually stern face had smoothened as he seemed to be lost in deep thoughts, his gaze locked on to something in the distance. Without realising it, Ukitake smiled. He really didn't mind the other captain's company; in fact, he quite enjoyed it. Although they never talked much – and didn't really know each other, for that matter - they had somehow, without words, established some kind of a mutual liking.
A few minutes later, the sun had completely disappeared behind the horizon, and the air felt considerably cooler. Just when Muguruma wanted to get up and excuse himself to continue his training, Ukitake cleared his throat, and his hand flew hastily up to his mouth as he tried to suppress some heavy coughing.
"I'm sorry", he managed to rasp with a hoarse voice, when Muguruma gave him a questioning look.
But the coughing didn't seem to get better, quite the contrary. Ukitake's whole body seemed to cramp as he tried to fight back the coughing reflex.
"Ukitake-taichou?", Muguruma said, concerned.
"Don't worry", the white-haired captain answered with some effort, in the attempt to normalize his heavy breathing, "it will pass..."
Please no please no please no, he thought as he tried to hold his breath in order to smother the coughing, which was a quite painful thing to do, not in front of him...
But he already felt it coming. A metallic taste spread in his mouth, and the burning pain in his chest became even more acute. He wouldn't be spared this last humiliation... Muguruma's eyes widened in shock as he saw the bright red blood drip from the other captain's pale fingers. The man was shaking, but he didn't seem to be surprised, or even shocked. Obviously, he had experienced this kind of fit before. Which didn't make this situation any less scary.
With every rattling cough, more blood spilled from his mouth, dripping down from his fingers and re-colouring the grass beneath him. Ukitake didn't know which was worse, the pain or the humiliation. He only knew that both added up to him just wanting to cease to exist right there. But suddenly, he felt Muguruma's body close to his, soothingly stroking his back with a strong, calloused hand. A white towel moved into his field of view. Gratefully, Ukitake took it and pressed it to his mouth.
After a few minutes, which seemed to both of them like an eternity, Ukitake managed to calm down again. Muguruma stayed close to him, continuing to gently rub his back, until his breathing had returned to normal. By now, the older man was leaning heavily against him; the towel, which he held limply in his hands, was stained in bright red.
"I'm so sorry", Ukitake whispered, his voice completely gone.
"Don't speak", Muguruma said decisively, "I'll go and get someone from the 4th. You should lie down in the meant-"
"No", Ukitake interrupted him, "there's no need..."
"No need?! You just coughed out half of your lungs!"
"There's nothing they can do", Ukitake insisted. "It will be best if I just go home and lie down."
"Damn sure you should lie down. But you won't 'go' anywhere. I'll take you to your living quarters – do you think you can get up?"
"Yes", Ukitake said, and they carefully got to their feet. "But you really don't have to-"
"Quiet now", Muguruma snapped, and without further hesitation he lifted the other man, who was even taller than himself, effortlessly off the ground, holding him like a child to his muscled chest. "Stay still, I'll try a shunpo."
Ukitake didn't even have time to respond. He felt Muguruma accelerate very quickly, until he reached a speed at which he still could manoeuvre safely through the woods. The sight of the trees flying past them in a blur gave him a feeling of nausea, and so he closed his eyes and concentrated on his breathing. Additionally to the well-known burn inside his chest he felt his stomach churn, and he wearily allowed himself to lean his spinning head against Muguruma's shoulder.
As he dodged another thick branch that appeared before him, the captain of the 9th felt the shaky fingers that were coiled loosely around the seam of his kosode tighten notably. Concerned, he slowed down his speed and inclined his head a little to check on the man he was carrying. Just then, Ukitake raised his head and Muguruma felt his lips brush the silky, white bangs right above the man's temple. Like freshly washed sheets... Startled by the unexpected closeness, Muguruma almost didn't dodge the next branch.
"Please accept my apology, Muguruma-taichou", Ukitake whispered, his eyes still closed, oblivious to the younger man's near stumble, "you shouldn't have to be in this situation..."
"I thought I told you not to talk", Muguruma said firmly, but showing some kind of crooked grin. "Neither one of us should be in this situation, and besides, it's not your fault."
"That's not entirely true", Ukitake replied, but his voice was too low for Muguruma to catch. What the young man did get, though, was Ukitake's breath that brushed over his neck.
Thank god they were out of the forest already.
Ukitake was grateful that Muguruma slowed down his speed smoothly instead of simply jerking to a halt when they finally reached the the 13th division's headquarters, which also contained his office and living quarters. They stopped right in front of the big entrance gates, and Muguruma carefully let the other man get back on his feet.
"Do you want me to go inside with you?", he asked, observing him closely.
"That won't be necessary", Ukitake answered and gave him a weak smile, "I'm feeling much better already. Thank you, Muguruma-taichou, I'm in your debt."
"Not at all", Muguruma answered and opened the heavy door for his fellow captain, watching him slowly make his way inside, before he turned around and left.
"... that kid seriously needs to chill out", Shunsui Kyōraku finished the newest story about how Byakuya, the young heir of the Kuchiki-Clan, had – again – tried to pick a fight with him over nothing. As if to illustrate the concept of "chilling out", he took a sip from the small sake cup he held in his hand, as he sat back comfortably against the wooden pillar behind him and suppressed a yawn.
Ukitake gave a soft chuckle as he pictured his friend trying to calm down the said boy, who was indeed quick with pointing the wooden blade of his bokken, his training sword, at anyone who looked at him funny. The two of them sat on the veranda of Ukitake's living quarters, overlooking the spacious garden, both leaning comfortably against one of the pillars that supported the wooden roof of the building. Kyōraku's ever present sakkat, a triangular reed hat, sat on the porch between them, next to a bottle of sake and a teapot.
It was a typical spring day – the sun was shining in a blue sky, but in the shade the air was still cool and damp.
"You should cut him some slack", Ukitake said, taking a sip from his still too hot tea, "as heir of the Kuchiki-Clan, he is carrying a huge burden, and reality will get to him soon enough."
"Why do you always have to be so reasonable", Kyōraku sighed, grinning. And, after a while: "Care for a walk, later?"
"I'd love to go", Ukitake answered, "but, don't you still have work to do?"
"Nah. I have a very capable Lieutenant. She is worth her own weight in gold."
"Take care that she doesn't get angry at you again, letting her do all of your work. You know what happened last time."
"Yeah, yeah I know", Kyōraku replied, grimacing at the painful memories.
"Excuse me", a deep voice said behind them. They turned around simultaneously, facing captain Muguruma, who had stepped on the veranda through the open fusuma, the sliding doors that led inside the building.
"I didn't mean to disturb you..."
"Oh, don't worry!", Ukitake hurried to assure him, "Shunsui was just about to leave."
"Was I?", the said Shunsui wondered.
"Yes, since you have lots of important work to do", Ukitake insisted, shooting a strict look at him, "remember?"
"Oh, all right." Kyōraku gave in, and got to his feet with an exaggerated sigh.
He grabbed his sakkat and his sake bottle. "S'ya later, Jyuush", he said, grinned at his friend a last time and nodded in Muguruma's direction, "Muguruma-taichou", before he disappeared inside the house.
"Please, sit down, Muguruma-taichou", Ukitake said and pointed towards the now free cushion next to him. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Yes, thank you", Muguruma answered while sitting down. "And if it's okay with you, I'd say there's no need to be so formal... Ukitake-san."
"Of course, I agree", Ukitake said, smiling, while he poured some tea into the spare cup that Kyōraku hadn't used earlier, "Muguruma-san."
Muguruma smiled back and took the cup of tea with a thanks. After he had taken a drink, he looked at the long-haired man with a stern expression.
"How are you, Ukitake-san?"
"I'm fine", Ukitake replied, smiling. "You really needn't worry about me."
"I'd really appreciate an explanation, though", Muguruma said, folding his arms in front of his chest.
The older man sighed and lowered his gaze. "Well, I guess you do deserve one... It is an illness of the lungs I have had since my childhood. So far, no one was able to find out what it is, let alone cure it. And I don't think they ever will. But I can live with it, and usually I am able to assess my bodily condition quite accurately..." He paused to take a sip of his tea. "I am sorry about what you had to witness yesterday. I should have known better... I hadn't felt well all day and should have stayed at home."
Muguruma gazed at him with an uninterpretable expression. Finally, he sighed and said:
"Well, that sure sucks", and scratched his head.
Ukitake gave a surprised laugh. "That about sums it up..."
"I'm sorry", Muguruma continued, "Don't take this the wrong way, but... How can they let you be a captain?"
Even though Ukitake had been expecting this kind of question, the choice of words took him slightly aback.
"I mean", the young man carried on, "if something like this happened to you during an important battle, you would most likely get killed... and whatever mission you were on would fail."
"I know the risk", Ukitake answered calmly, "and Head-Captain Yamamoto knows it as well. But I fear you're under the wrong impression that I'm completely defenceless when my body decides to act against me. Believe me that I can still put up a very decent fight, even when I'm in my worst condition. Surely, I would have to push myself to the absolute limit, but I wouldn't hesitate to take my enemy to the grave with me."
Muguruma just nodded. "You feel affronted, Ukitake-san", he said, "I'm sorry, that was really not my intention... I have no doubt that you would kick my ass in a serious battle."
"Me neither, Muguruma-san", Ukitake replied, smiling back at the young man with the silver hair.
"It's good that we agree in this point", Muguruma grinned and moved his legs to sit more comfortable. As he did so, they heard a "clink" sound, and Muguruma reached for the small ceramic sake cup that had been half hidden under the cushion. "Oh. It appears Kyōraku-taichou forgot something."
"He can pick it up later when he comes by", Ukitake said, "I'm sure he's already missing it dearly."
The young man laughed. "People told me that you two are joined at the hip", he said, "I always thought they were exaggerating, but, obviously, they were not."
"We certainly spend much time together", Ukitake answered, abstractedly staring at the sake cup, a faint smile on his lips.
"How long do you know each other?"
"Since my first day in the academy. Thus, for a very, very long time..."
Muguruma nodded, then put on a conspirative expression and asked in a low voice: "Are you two... well, how should I put it... maybe... more than friends?"
Ukitake almost choked on the sip of tea he was taking, repeatedly cleared his throat and put the tea cup safely back down before answering:
"No. Not at all."
"Oh."
"Honestly, you must be the first person ever thinking Shunsui was in a relationship with another man."
Muguruma laughed out loud. "Well, I do have been told that he's a real lady-killer, but... oh, never mind, I'm sorry. I didn't want to be intrusive." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, I just wanted to stop by quickly and see how you were doing. I should get going, the paperwork won't do itself."
If Ukitake was surprised by the sudden leave-taking of his fellow captain, he concealed it very well. "Tell me about it", he answered, smiling. "Thank you for your visit, Muguruma-san. I always enjoy your company."
"My pleasure", Muguruma replied and took a bow, "thank you for the tea. I guess I'll see you around." And with that, he left.
"Shun", Ukitake greeted his friend when they met for their walk in the late afternoon, "many things happened after you left!"
"Really? What did I miss?"
"Ginrei Kuchiki came to visit and-"
"Kuchiki-taichou?" Kyōraku sounded almost disappointed. "I thought this was gonna be about Muguruma-san..."
"No? Why?!" Ukitake was confused for a second, but decided to simply carry on with his story:
"To put it in a nutshell: He asked me to train his grandson in kidō."
Kyōraku gave a sympathetic laugh. "Seems like you hit the lottery, Jyuush... you gonna do it?"
"How could I refuse such a request from Kuchiki-taichou? Of course I'm going to do it."
"What does this old man think, anyway? That you don't have enough work to do as it is?"
"It's going to be only one or two days a week. Besides, I'm thinking of his request as an honour."
"Yeah... good luck training that little brat. If you want some advice, I can give you a list of things to avoid mentioning when the kid's around."
"You were teasing him on purpose, weren't you?"
"Nah, just a little bit..."
"By the way, you forgot your sake cup", Ukitake remembered and produced the said thing from somewhere deep inside his pockets.
"Gee, thanks, Jyuush", Kyōraku said, acting overly happy, as he took it back. "By the way, you forgot to tell me about Muguruma's visit", he added with a wide grin.
"What do you think there is to tell? He simply swung by to see if I was all right."
"Yeah, after he played white knight for you yesterday..."
"Stop it, Shunsui", Ukitake cut him off, seriously annoyed.
"Why so tense?" Kyōraku was not yet giving up. "Did I hit a nerve or something?"
Ukitake had been ready to hit his friend in the face, when he saw the wide, sheepish grin that spun across the other man's features, and had to laugh involuntarily. "Not at all, Shun. By the way, Muguruma was under the impression that you and I were a couple."
This statement had Kyōraku laugh out loud. "Get out! - But I bet he was glad to hear that you were still available."
"Shunsui, I swear, if you won't stop this..."
"Come on, Shiro, didn't you notice the way he looked at you?"
"I'm sure that you were imagining things. Now let's please change the topic."
"All right", Kyōraku gave in, still smiling, "but first tell me what makes you so sure."
Ukitake sighed acquiescently and and folded his arms in front of his chest.
"Well, to only name one point, I don't think that he found my blood-coughing particularly alluring."
Kyōraku rolled his eyes and sighed with mock impatience. "Jyuush, I think what you need right now is a good drink", he stated while putting an arm around Ukitake's shoulders, "how about later you join Hirako and me?"
"You and Shinji-san go out drinking again?", Ukitake asked, smiling.
"Yeah, he's a fun guy. You wanna come?"
"Thanks, Shun, but I don't think I should be out drinking already. I appreciate your invitation, though."
"It's your decision", Kyōraku said, slightly squeezing the other man's shoulders. "It'll probably be better if you get into bed soon."
"My thoughts exactly."
They stopped, and Kyōraku gave is friend a searching look. "You all right, Jūshirō?"
"Of course", the white-haired man replied with a reassuring smile.