Disclaimer:

I do not own Bleach. Bleach is by Kubo Tite.

A/N:

2nd to the series.

I can't believe I'm actually updating as promised. A new hope for me! Haha!

Read on now!

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The Rhodonite Ball

Lines


Every friendship is defined by some sort of exclusive ties, distinct connections and smart ass lines.

Their's is no exception.


All was silent in the 8th squad headquarters. The usually rowdy division was hushed. He stood at the door of his vice-captain's office, wondering how the room learned stillness. It was particularly unnerving. Kyouraku let out an exhausted sigh.

"You did what you believed was best. There should be no regret."

"I sent her out."

"With a perfectly good reason to do so. I can repeat what you said if you wish to remember."

"I know. I remember. Quite well."

"You're overwhelmed by guilt? You regret your actions?" Ukitake shifted to look his best friend in the eye, "Our every actions may or may not end up the way we wish it would. All steps entail risks proportional to magnitude of its significance. Unless you wished you did not want to give Lisa such enormous trust, then yes, your guilt must eat you up."

"Of course not! I must have not sent her out if I did not know she could handle it. The experience would let her learn and grow." Realizing his words, Kyouraku burst out with muted amusement as he rubbed his tense neck, "You got me there pretty boy."

Ukitake placed a comforting hand at his best friend's shoulder.

"It's just sad not to have a lovely, beautiful lady next to me." Kyouraku let out a relieved sigh.


The harsh wind blew unkindly against them as they stood before the pair of gravestones. The members of the 13th squad slowly filed out, long after the rest of the crowd had left. Two hours later, Ukitake was still standing there.

"I'm pretty sure Kaien is happy taking his coveted afternoon naps somewhere." Kyouraku held his straw hat up above his head as he spoke.

"I pretty much watch him, let him, die."

"He fought. Fought well. Very well. Kaien was a prodigy."

"It pains me so much that I could not help him."

"You did what you must have done. Let me repeat yourself." Kyouraku went on with his best Ukitake-imitation voice. "'There are two kinds of fights, one to defend life and one to defend honor.' Are you telling me you regretted letting him fight for his honor? You pretty much taught that kid the philosophy."

"He died following that."

"He died for his honor, for his wife's honor, for his men's honor. For his honor, Jyuu. He died for it. For the honor he valued so much. For the honor you taught him to value even more than his Shiba blood taught him."

Ukitake gazed upon his vice-captain's grave, "His stubborn, majestic honor. As stubborn and as majestic as him."

"Yes."

"That he did not get after me - the stubborn part"

Kyouraku laughed as he patted his best friend's shoulder.

"I lost my vice-captain and my 3rd seat. Two officers at once. That pains. A lot." Ukitake's mourning expression dissolved into a small, sad smile.

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A/N:

Kyouraku calls Ukitake 'pretty boy' because of the latter's looks.

Lisa Yadoumaru was the former 8th squad vice-captain, before she fell victim to Aizen's hollowfication experiments and became a viazard. Kyouraku sent Lisa to the field during the investigation of 'disappearing shinigami' in place of Tessai, captain of the Kidou Corps.

Kaien Shiba was the former 13th squad vice-captain, member of the Shiba House, formerly one of the five great noble houses. He died after fighting the hollow that killed his wife, Miyako, 3rd seat of the same squad. Both Ukitake and Rukia were there during the fight. Kaien actually asked for permission from Ukitake to fight alone which the captain granted. And Kaien loves afternoon naps.


A/N Part II:

Yew! It was painfully hard to stay in that 500-word restriction! *sweatdrops*

I wish to clarify by the way that Ukitake's hair turned white before he went to the Shinigami Academy. Therefore long before he became a captain. In my earlier fic, I made up the time when his hair did turn white, but the reason for this was same as what is stated in the manga. :D

Two more drabbles coming for soon for The Rhodonite Ball.

Next update next week