Life and breath
pt 4
"It's the worst of all situations," he stared off into space, "I'm now head of the family."
Ukitake wasn't sure he had heard that correctly, "That's not funny, Kyoraku"
"I'm not laughing."
"It must be some kind of joke,"
Shunsui shuttered, "Yeah! The jokes on me, one big fat, fucking cosmic joke" he decided to tell the whole tale to his 'captive' audience.
(Days earlier)
Most times, if one were to take the lazy way, it took maybe five large shunpo steps to get to his family's home, if one had to rush it could take three to make the trip, that day Shunsui made it in half that time.
The family compound was unusually quiet for the time of day that he arrived. The courtyard utterly void of the everyday hustle and bustle.
Upon entering the main building the silence was beginning to creep him out. Even the servants were subdued.
"Oh Shunsui," the whisper of clothe was the only notice he got of his mother's arrival, as she threw herself into his arms, "I'm so grateful that you made it." he was taken back by her appearance. Dark smudges under her eyes, and an over all haggard look was uncommon for his beautiful mother.
"Mom? What's going on?" he grew quite concerned when she began to sob against his chest.
"So glad you're home safe," she repeated that phrase several times.
Trying to be very gentle, he shook her shoulders, "Mom, where's dad? And my brother? Please tell me what's going on?"
Gulping down a few huge breaths, "Your brother...oh heavens above, Shunsui your brother's gone, he's gone."
"No," he said with a hushed gasp. "How can that be?"
"And your father," the sobbing started to overtake her once more, "He'll never walk again," her voice failed at that point. Shunsui scooped her into his arms, intent on carrying her to her room.
He nodded to the maid who opened the bedroom door, and with the utmost care lay his mother on the huge bed his parents had always shared. He was puzzled as to why his father wasn't there, if the man was no longer able to walk wouldn't this be the one place he would be?
He sat on the bed next to his mother and rubbed her back in a comforting manner, after awhile she seemed to cry herself out and fell into a fitful slumber. He leaned over and kissed her temple, then stood to leave.
The life force of all the inhabitants seemed dramatically muted. He grabbed the nearest servant and demanded to be taken to see his father, the boy flinched, and would have passed out if Shunsui hadn't been holding him upright, staring right into those frightened eyes.
"Ye...ye...yes sir," he stuttered. The boy lead him to his brother's room. "He's in here sir," Shunsui chuckled as the lad sped away.
He pushed the door open to find near total darkness, "Dad?" a small trimmed back lamp showed a lump on the bed. "Dad? What the hell are you doing in here?"
"Shunsui?"
"Yeah it's me, why aren't you in your own bed? This is ridiculous." he approached the bed, "You've never left mom's side."
"I don't want to burden her with this." his father's voice sounded sullen.
Sighing Shunsui sat on the side of the bed. "Dad tell me what happened."
"Your brother's gone,"
"Yeah mom said," he reached out to raise the flame on the lamp. "Why is it so dark in here? It's not night."
"I hadn't noticed."
"Dad?" Shunsui waved a hand in front of his father's face. "Have you gone blind?"
"Almost, well near enough that it doesn't matter, I'll never get out of this bed again,"
"So you're just gonna give up? That's not like you at all."
"Why shouldn't I?" it was a petulant question. "I've done enough, let someone else do it."
"Dad, that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Shunsui sighed and crossed his arms. "Tell me what happened."
"Your brother's gone." he repeated,
"So you've said," he was actually losing patience with his injured and petulant father. "Now! Please dad tell me what happened?"
"A stray, wild hollow caught him by surprise," he reached out a hand to grab Shunsui's arm. "It ate him, that creature ate my son."
Shunsui sighed heavily as his father drifted off into babbling incoherence. Realizing he'd get no further information from the man his once strong father had become, he left the room, vowing to get the details from the one other person who he was sure would be able to fill in the blanks sufficiently.
He hated seeing his strong, confident parents turned into blubbering lumps.
The door he stopped in front of was polished to a mirror shine, one of the very few western style doors in the whole huge manor. He tapped politely and received an answer to enter.
"Ah Master Shunsui, it's wonderful to see you." the man stood quickly and bowed deeply, "From the look on your face you have questions."
"You could always tell, Ryu-san." he bowed back to the man, "I see you're still the one who really runs things around here."
"I strive to keep things on an even keel sir."
"Always the consummate estate manager," Shunsui sat in one of the overstuffed chairs with an exhausted sigh. "So tell me, what the hell happened here?"
"You've seen your parents,Yes?" Shunsui nodded.
"I knew I could get a straight answer from you,"
"It was completely a random attack, your brother was...occupied with something and not paying attention to his surroundings, when the thing caught him," he paused to sip some tea, "Dear me I'm remiss in my manners, would you care for some tea also?"
"Got anything stronger?"
"Would you care to try some imported wine I just received?"
"What ever you have that has a kick to it, I really don't care at this point, I just need that cushion."
The conversation came to a stand still for several minutes as the manager busied himself with getting the wine for his young master.
"So what the hell had my brother so entranced that he didn't feel a hollow coming up on him?"
"As I said he was occupied," for some reason the man seemed reluctant to explain fully.
"Meaning he was screwing someone and wasn't paying attention." that got a nod from Ryu. "And he didn't bother to set up any kind of barrier or warning system, 'cause he was too fucking horny." again the nod. "So how did dad get so hurt? And please for the love of all the gods and goddess's don't tell me they were together, I would have to throw up then kill myself,"
The old estate manager nearly choked on his tea, "No of course not, your father is not like that." he continued to clear his throat. "We were out hunting, there were reports of some spectacular deer in the highlands and we wanted to bag several for your parents anniversary party."
"I noticed how you said dad's not like that but you left out my brother, so who was he with? Or is that something I'm better off not knowing?"
"Lets leave it with that shall we Master Shunsui," they nodded at each other. "We were close to where your brother was when we felt the power flair, your father took; off leaving me to follow. By the time we got there it was already too late, that abomination had already absorbed them, your father went wild."
"Yeah of course he would," the old bitter feelings crept into his voice.
"Your father loves both of you, young man, you know that very well."
"Yeah but..." Ryu held up his hand. Shunsui sighed, "He has a funny way of showing it, he always did, especially since I wasn't the heir,"
"You are now."
"What?"
"With your brother gone and your father the way he is, it leaves you in charge of the family now, Master Kyoraku"
Shuttering visibly Shunsui returned to the previous question, "So how did dad get hurt then, he's one of the strongest fighters I've ever seen."
"Even the strongest have a weakness."
"You're not gonna tell me the details are you?" Shunsui drained yet another glass of wine.
"Do you really want to know?"
"I think I'd better so I know how to deal with him."
"He tried to take the monster out barehanded."
"What? That's stupid and irresponsible."
"It begged him to kill it, Master Shunsui, do you know what that means?"
A look of horror crossed Shunsui's face. "My brother was still conscious."
Ryu nodded, "Hence the reason your father went a bit crazy, to put it bluntly he lost control of himself, and it cost him dearly."
Pushing up from the chair Shunsui moaned when he felt the headache starting. "There's not enough booze around here to make this head stop hurting, make sure to have a lot brought up to my room, I've got loads to think about. And thanks Ryu-san."
They bowed to each other again.
"As you wish Master Kyoraku" Ryu added as a parting shot.
Shunsui felt like running and screaming in disbelief. First it was the possible leadership in the Seireitei now this. It was too much for his head to wrap around.
He wanted to get very drunk, and he badly wanted to wrap himself around Jyuushiro, to have that familiar comforting presence. His world just suddenly blew up in his face and he couldn't help feel completely and utterly helpless.
