Author's note: Well here is my second chapter! How exciting! I have to say I got really side tracked while writing this, I mean this story gives me such inspiration for art I could create :) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Bleach is property of Tite Kubo, I do NOT own any of the Bleach characters. Ai Ukitake and Yumi Ukitake are MY creation (c) do not steal! happy reading :)
Ai and Shinji lay beneath the overgrown cherry blossom tree, holding hands, until the sun was at the highest point in the sky. Ai relished in the warmth of the suns rays escaping between the cherry blossoms, and the warmth of Shinji's hand holding hers. Then they were interrupted in their moment of piece by a fiery spirit pressure racing towards them. With a sigh Ai regrettably let go of Shinji and stood, with him following behind.
"I may as well come with you, you know, to keep that feisty fire ball under control…" Shinji said with the faintest hint of amusement in his voice. Ai sensed it right away.
"You mean you'll come along with me so you have a chance to antagonize Hiyori", she said, returning back to her cool, controlled manner.
"Don't yah have any faith in me Ai?" he said with a smile.
"No I don't," she said shortly before flash stepping to the front of the barracks to meet her older sister.
Shinji chuckled and followed after her; unable to resist temptation that is Hiyori. She was his daily amusement.
They arrived to their destination with Hiyori already waiting for them. Ai noticed the small lieutenant had a look of concern on her face, but before she could see to her sister,
"The irrational brat returns" Shinji immediately stated, trying mock seriousness. And was immediately kicked in the nose in reply.
As Hiyori held Shinji down, slightly blocking his airways, on purpose, she shouted to Ai, "Ai you should go see your father," she didn't have time to say anything else as she was quickly thrown off by a still amused Shinji, trying to hide his gasping after Hiyori's death grip.
Ai who had been standing on the sidelines calmly watching the scene unfold, and the daily winner takes all, quickly left at Hiyori's statement, shunpoing to her sick father. Leaving the bickering cloud of dust that was Shinji and Hiyori behind her.
"Get off me midget!"
"Shut up you big mouthed dimwit!"
Ai was outside her father's room in a flash. She knocked to signal her arrival, and opened the door. Her heart sank as she saw the sight before her. She should be used to this by now. She shouldn't let it bother her so. But it does. She can't help it. It's been like this since she was only a child, after her mother had been killed in battle. With her mother gone Ai made it her duty to look after her father, even when it wasn't one of his bad days. That was why she had become a Shinigami; she wanted to be where her father was, so she could keep an eye on him. She knew she didn't need to; he had his best friend to help him, and his squad members. He wasn't alone, but she just wanted to be close to him. It wasn't just his illness. After her mother died, Ai was scared of being alone, she stayed with her father in his squad barracks, and as she grew, she joined the Academy and became a Shinigami, all the while she had hoped she would enter her father's squad, instead she got the 12th division, she had been disappointed about this, until she met Hiyori, and then her time in the division had never been so bad. When she had been an unseated member, she never had a huge workload, and so she had more time to visit her father. Even now as a third seat, she gets all her work done on time, that way she has at least some free time to spend with her dad.
Jyuushiro's skin was more pale than usual; he had dark rings around his eyes signalling lack of sleep, not surprisingly, as he suffers from harsher coughing fits on his dark days, and he still held his sweet, fatherly smile for his daughter. Ai walked over to his bed, sat down and immediately took a hold of one of his hands. It was ice cold, and felt so fragile, as if it would crack if she held it too hard. Her wall of ice had cracked, and the smallest of concerned frowns was on her brow.
"Ai, you need to attend to your duties," Jyuushiro scolded his daughter.
"I completed them this morning, my afternoon is free," her father should know by now that Ai is capable of completing paperwork and other such duties in record time.
"I guessed as much, you know you don't need to waste your time with your withering father and let this beautiful afternoon go to waste,"
"I'm staying, you know I cant leave you like this, I worry about you," Ai was allowing her concern to show through her voice, and face, Ai rarely stayed cool around her father, bad days or not.
"You worry too much, I'll admit, it's nice to spend some time my only daughter, since I haven't seen her in quite a while," he said this still in his fatherly tone, without a trace of resentment, she knew he hadn't said it out of bitterness. He would never feel that way towards her, just like he was all she had, she was all he had.
She was the only reminder of his wife left, apart from the frame next to his bed. a young man with ebony hair that fell just past his chin, and a healthy flush to his cheeks, his bright, green eyes flashing excitement, and his arm around a surreally beautiful young woman, she had long wavy locks of pink candy, her eyes were the darkest midnight blue, that seemed to shine, she was about an inch or two taller than her husband, her face glowing with glee and adoration for her new found family, and in her arms was what should've looked like a newborn baby, only she was a few feet longer, obviously inheriting her mother's height, their daughter clearly thrilled, the action shot caught her laughing.
Ai was a splitting image of Yumi, but with his green eyes (and a hint of Yumi's blue ones in the flecks) but with more brightness, and his black hair. Ai had Yumi's full lips, bright, square shaped eyes, smooth features, tall and slender figure, and most of her personality traits. Ai had always been a happy child, laughing and smiling all the time, able to see the fun in everything she did (hard to believe now, I know).
That all vanished when her mother had died though, she suddenly became serious all the time, and seeing fun and games as childish. She excelled in her all of her studies, as all she did was study. She took to looking after her father, and was constantly worried about him. Still, some of the traits that were vocal when she was a young and happy child remain, she is able to see good in anyone, she hates violence (preferring words), although she even hated arguing with someone, but then, no one picked a fight with Ai, her cool and icy demeanour for the most part scared people off, and everyone knew how intelligent she was, half the words she said they never knew existed.
"I know it's been a while, I've been busy setting up the squad for the new captain, as Hiyori weren't much help" the mention of her captain made her coolness return, disguising her fluttering over him.
"Ah, yes, I met him this morning in the captain's ceremony, a very nice young man, he'll make a fine captain," he made eye contact with Ai, knowing that there was something behind her detached manner, he knew her too well. His dark green eyes, once brighter with more life, were looking into the bright sea green eyes with hints of blue in them, that belonged to his daughter. Trying to decipher the sudden change in temperature at her words.
"He will, he managed to dodge Hiyori's high kick at least," recalling how Kisuke had, faster than the blink of an eye, no one to notice, but Ai, and she was sure Hiyori had seen it, moved his head to the side, out of the way of her kick, winked, and moved his head back in place.
"Yes, I've heard about that, Hiyori visited just before you had arrived," the white haired captains voice was becoming more hoarse by the minute; this conversation was too much for him.
"I thought she had, while she was attacking Shinji she managed to get a sentence out, between kicks and punches," she said with a fondness she felt for her sister and best friend.
The ill man chuckled softly, which quickly turned into a harsh coughing fit, Ai's grip on his hand tightened with panic, and her other quickly tended to his back, stroking gently, trying to help him calm his breathing, which when the coughing had stopped, became raspy and gravelly.
"Father, you need to rest," Ai ordered him, she could see how much this conversation had exhausted him, he had dark rings around his eyes, his face was paling, and shining with sweat.
"Very well then, I have become quite tired," that was an understatement, he always played down what he was really feeling, he didn't want Ai to worry anymore than she needed to, she would end up greying prematurely like he had.
He lay down on the bed, with Ai's help, and his eyes closed as soon as his head hit the pillow. His breathing still sounded as if each and every breath was agony, and he looked in pain even in sleep. Ai stayed with him the rest of the day as he rested, he'd wake up frequently, coughing hard, her hand never leaving his grip.
Ai alternated her focus between her sick father, and the photo. She always looked at the photo in the golden frame when she visited her father. They just looked so young and happy back then, her father was still prone to illness, but not nearly as bad as now. This photo had been taken only a few weeks before her father's illness took a turn for the worst and his lustrous midnight hair turned snow white, it lasted three days, bedridden and coughing his hardest. Her mother from that moment on had to alternate between her care for her child to the care for her ill husband, she never let this bother her though, she loved them both with a passion, and would never let anything harm them. She was a sweet and charming woman, but she had fierce temper and was highly protective of her small family. She was a warrior. Something Yumi shared with her young ebony beauty.
Ai had only been 8 (in human years, but in soul years, considerably older) when her mother had died, she didn't remember much of that night, only seeing her white haired father walk out of the kitchen, where he had the phone call, with tears streaking down his face, that was the first and only time she had seen her father cry.
When Captain Kyoraku (of the 8th Division) came by to keep watch on the withered captain for the night so she could get some sleep, she got up, the sudden thought of sleep having her crave for her warm bed.
"You need to get some sleep young lady, I'll take care of the old man for you," he said this in his gravelly and pleasant voice, with a hidden a concern that Ai noticed.
She left with one last glance at her un-well father, and a "Goodnight Uncle"
He said, "Sleep well, honey," softly in reply, and took her spot in the chair.
It was only 5 o'clock, and early evening, but it could have been midnight for how exhausted Ai felt. It had been a long and stressful day. She needed sleep now. Her stomach growled angrily. Damn. She had to eat something first.
Ai made her way to the dining hall, knowing she was early for dinner, which would start in half an hour, but she just wanted to get back to her room in the barracks that were next to furthest away from the dining hall. They had the food already out, Ai helped her self to four rice balls, a plate of sushi, a bowl of noodles, a side of stir fry, and a big lump of beef. She had a bigger appetite than most women, but about the same as a man, well since she was taller than average, and worked out most of the day, it was understandable. She also had a soft spot for beef. She had to have it at least twice a day. Sometimes three.
She wolfed down her dinner for two down in her usual record time, lugged a litre of water down her throat, and made her way back to her quarters, all before anyone had even thought to make their way to dinner.
The sun was starting to set over the horizon, causing a pinkish orange glow to everything the light touched. Ai's favourite time of the day was always dawn and dusk; it made the whole place look so beautiful, like something from a fairytale. The beauty was suddenly dimmed however, as she felt a certain someone's spirit pressure suddenly rise with a burning anger.
Ai shunpoed to the barracks, as she arrived to the scene of disturbance, she saw a long line of what looked like luggage, being carried into the captain's quarters by all the squad members, with the petite lieutenant standing rigid in front of the giant, compared to Hiyori, standing before her, with a baffled look on his face. He seemed to be saying something with a look on his face that showed to be pointing out the obvious. Hiyori suddenly jumped, about to punch her captain square in the face, but was quickly blocked by the black beauty.
"Ai! What do you think your doing?" Ai was holding Hiyori's small fist in her colossal sized hand, Hiyori had a look of utter annoyance, anger, frustration, any horrible emotion you can think of, it was their for all to see. Ai hated seeing Hiyori so distressed, and she hated herself equally for what she was about to say.
"Lieutenant Sarugaki, hitting a senior officer, a Captain, is utterly disappointing, and highly disrespectful. Captain Urahara is your captain; you will show him the respect he deserves and stop acting so childish." She said all this in her icy voice, her face devoid of all emotion.
"How dare you try telling me what to do? Your just a third seat, I'm your lieutenant!" that's all she could think to say, no point denying her comment when she knew it was true, Ai was always right. Right now that fact was making her angrier.
"You are my Lieutenant, but right now your showing the attitude of a seat lower than any third seat, I suggest you think before you act, and live up to your title", with that she was soccer punched in the face, by a small but mighty fist, and sent flying into Kisuke, who had watched the scene unfold behind Ai, his reflexes quick enough that he didn't go flying himself, but caught Ai gently in his arms, looking up to a cloud of dust, with the echo of a scream of frustration in its wake.
Ai had expected that to happen, and knew Hiyori wouldn't really try to hurt her; she didn't put enough force behind it to cause a fracture or a broken bone. Not even a bruise will form, although she may look slightly discoloured. She felt the wind knocked out of her, and she suddenly in someone's strong arms. She felt dizzy and light-headed after that punch, and felt as if she was being carried somewhere, she tried opening her eyes only to see the world distorted and swirling around, it gave her sense of car sickness (not that she'd ever been in a car, maybe shunpo sickness was a better term, when she was little she had ridden the back of her father as he shunpoed around Seireitei, she loved the ride, but the first time she tried it, she felt sick with the sudden speed), she groaned, and decided it was best to close her eyes.
From her exhaustion she fell asleep soundly, in the strong but gentle arms of the man she knew to be her captain.
Hope you liked this chapter, I was trying to get Ai's history in here, along with Yumi :) Review! Only if you wanna, I'm not one of those author's thats like "you better review or I wont write another chapter", I'll keep writing even with now reviews! This is for my own creativity, and for people to enjoy :)
See you in the next chapter! :D