The Inevitable End – chapter 4
The first division's fukutaichou Sasakibe was surprised when it seemed he released a breath, he didn't know he was holding when Ukitake arrived at the office that morning with white hair again. He had been rather intimidated by the black haired personality, he honest to God didn't know that Ukitake had it in him. He was therefore extremely relieved, he had sensed the tension between the captains, but his propriety forbade him to ask the white haired captain how he did it.
Sasakibe fukutaichou treated him as he had so far; handing the captain his papers and informing him about the day's duties.
Ukitake quietly took it and listened, but only gave a nod in acknowledgement and then disappeared behind the Soutaichou's office doors.
However, even if the rest of Soul Society was relieved, Ukitake certainly was not. It had barely been two hours since he woke up drenched in his garden and he was already beginning to feel the physical effect of what he had put his body through the last couple of weeks; The 18-hour days he had been putting in, his unevenly sleep schedule, and the pressure of the general worry that filled his mind with the task they tried to overcome; there were still residents that didn't have a dry place to sleep at night in Soul Society.
He was sore all over from the physical abuse that the wave spirit had inflicted on him and above all, he was tired, but he needed to get to work. With the large replacement of captains all the captain's duties had to be redefined. This was not a small task, but since he was one of the oldest he was the right man for the job, he could practically recall every incidence they had been challenged with since he was made captain.
He also had to prepare a set of bills to be presented to the Central 46 Chambers, which also just had been restored after the Aizen massacre. Their role had also been redefined as the legislating power, not just as an instance that judges captains and regular Shinigami. Their laws had hardly been modified for 2000 years and Ukitake found that the time was right at the moment for such changes, with the public mistrusting the Gotei for having brought war to their homes and families. Lives had been lost.
That trust was something they had to work on to regain. Seireitei was nothing without the public's support.
Last but not least there was a slight political crisis about the royalty wanting greater influence in electing the civil servants. This could not be allowed, but the matter had to be dealt with with extreme caution and discretion. This was something that could result in mass demonstrations and general chaos if this information ever reached the public.
At that moment Kiyone walked through the door with a steaming cup of tea in her hands.
"Ukitake-taichou, I thought you might like some tea," she exclaimed in her usual enthusiastic voice and put the cup down on the table. Ukitake looked at her; she had become a little more mature after the war and it also help that he had separated her from Kotsubaki, whom still resided in the 13th division under Rukia's keen eye. She was actually starting to look more like her sister, Isane.
"Thank you, Kiyone," he smiled and took a sip of the hot tea. He definitely needed the warmth.
"May I be the first to say how pleased I am to see you back to your normal self," she began over enthusiastically again, seemingly forgetting that Kotsubaki wasn't there to compete with her.
Ukitake merely smiled and Kiyone, satisfied with the reaction was about to leave when Ukitake stopped her.
"Kiyone, could you see to that Kuchiki-taichou comes by my office later? It's important," Ukitake asked with seriousness written all over his face.
"Yes, sir! I shall! When?"
"Just when he can see time off, but it must be today!"
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Later that day Shunsui damn well nearly knocked the door off and in the same time nearly causing Ukitake to suffer a heart attack.
"Shirou-chan!" he yelled, clearly drunk, but Ukitake couldn't help but to laugh at the happy statement. But then Shunsui stumbled and the smile that had graced his lips dissipated.
"Isn't it a little early in the day to be drinking?"
"Ah, Jyuu!" Shunsui yelled and sat down in the chair in front of the desk, "-It's never too early to drink good sake. You should try some."
Ukitake was shocked! Had his best friend's alcohol consumption developed before his very eyes.
"So what are you doing?" Shunsui asked.
"What you should be doing as well," Ukitake answered.
"Oh, what's that?"
"Paperwork," Ukitake replied. Shunsui laughed hard, and sarcastically, Ukitake noted. He seemed sad. How could he not have noticed that?
"Can I help?" Shunsui asked and ripped Ukitake from his chain of thought.
"With what?" Ukitake asked bewildered. Shunsui suddenly appeared sober again.
"Paperwork, silly!"
"I, I suppose," Ukitake began, "-you're as old as I am, so you should be able to remember most of it too."
"Remember what?
"I'm defining each division's focus field based on what the Gotei has been through."
"Just write it down?" Shunsui asked in confunsion.
"Yes."
"Sure! Well, at the very least I know my own. Hand me a piece of paper," Shunsui demanded and Ukitake obeyed, surprised at Shunsui's eager to help out. When Shunsui fell silent and started writing then Ukitake followed suit.
"Done!" yelled Shunsui and proudly placed the paper in front of Ukitake.
"What?! You haven't spent 20 seconds on it!" but Shunsui seemed undeterred. Ukitake read it out loud.
"The 8th division shall be in charge of the general sake purchasing and consumption thereof. Furthermore the 8th division is the best and can totally beat the crap out of 11th,"
Shunsui laughed so hard he could hardly stay on the chair.
"What is this? Ukitake asked
"It's funny," Shunsui answered, wiping the smirk of his face.
"Get out, Shunsui! Some of us have work to do," Ukitake whispered, hiding his visage in his hand, massaging his temples. He just didn't have time for this.
"Are you angry, old friend?" Shunsui asked, still with humour in his tone.
Ukitake slammed his fist on the table and rose in an instant.
"No, Shunsui! I'm frustrated. Here I am putting 18 hours in a day, considering all that needs to be done. No, not just me! Every captain is working themselves half to death and here you are, Shunsui; drunk of your face. Not only are you wasting your own time that could have been used on something productive, but you are wasting mine as well! How can you do it? You've seen how the outer districts are struggling. How can you sleep at night?!"
Ukitake immediately regretted it, but he knew it was too late to take it back. Shunsui face was practically grey when he rose, bowed and left the office. Ukitake slumped back against the chair and sighed. Now he had done it. He considered for a moment running after Shunsui, but he reasoned that it would get him nowhere.
He made himself get back to work and close everything out. The sun was setting when it knocked on the door.
"Come in," Ukitake answered and coughed. It wasn't until then that he noticed that his chest was uncomfortably tight.
Byakuya came in.
"Ukitake Soutaichou," he greeted.
"Kuchiki-taichou," Ukitake replied, mimicking Byakuya's tone, "- please, have a sit." The black haired taichou obeyed and waited for Ukitake to state his purpose for the meeting. Uncomfortable silence was apparently not a phenomenon that Byakuya was familiar with, Ukitake noted.
"I'm sure that you are familiar with the situation about the royalty," Ukitake began and continued when Kuchiki nodded, "-It's in our interest to avoid a mass riot, especially now when the Gotei is still so weak."
Ukitake sighed; he knew what he was asking was in the grey area, "-You are the one that's closest to the higher society."
"I've never met the royal family nor have I any connections to them," Byakuya interrupted. Ukitake nodded.
"I know. You see, I don't think that it's the royal family that's behind the demand," Ukitake explained. Realization dawned upon Kuchiki.
"I shall look into it," he replied.