This is a christmas present (early one) for my super beta VioTanequil who wanted a story with Unohana, Shunsui or Ukitake. So I threw in all three but the main one is Unohana and I personally am a sucker for Unohana/Ukitake so there's the barest hint of that in this too.

Here you go!

Retsu Unohana licked her dry lips as her eyes went to her Zanpakto.

This was what she had trained for. This was the last thing she had to do before she was able to graduate the Academy. Taking a deep breath she drew her sword and held it in front of her to enact her shikai for the first time.

"Purify the Flesh, Minazuki."

The high pitched scream that echoed down the hallway stopped Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake in their tracks. The two men traded glances before taking off in the direction of the scream. Their feet took them to one of the training courtyards used for Kido practice. Both men halted in their tracks.

Ukitake's eyes widened as he wondered if the medicine he recently had been prescribed had an unexpected side effect of hallucinations. Shikai's were supposed to be used for fighting, they were supposed to be weapons, the were not supposed to be massive one eyed manta rays that took up entire courtyards. While he knew better than to say anything Shunsui had already started on his daily sake and opened his big mouth.

"What the hell is that?!" he cried pointing at the thing.

"Shunsui, no!" Unohana cried but it was too late.

Minazuki screwed up his braced himself for an attack but the creature's lip trembled and his one eye filled with tears. Before their shocked eyes he began to bawl. Unohana gasped and ran over, petting the creature almost frantically but Minazuki was inconsolable as he continued to wail. As if having the massive creature in a training courtyard wasn't bad enough, having the massive creature sobbing in a courtyard was ten times worse.

"Shh, he didn't mean it," Unohana soothed the wailing creature, "he's just being an idiot, its okay," she continued to sooth the creature.

"I think you'd better go over there an apologize," Ukitake said.

"Are you kidding me? That thing'll eat me!" Shunsui cried.

"Yeah but if it keeps crying I think Retsu's gonna kill you first," he said glancing over at Unohana. Shunsui realized he was probably right.

"Fine," he huffed over to the sobbing creature.

"Pet him, Unohana hissed.

"Pet h--" she glared, "fine!" he reached out petted the creature awkwardly, "I'm sorry I said that."

Minazuki turned his one big eye to Shusui. He gulped. He was going to be swallowed by a massive one eyed creature. What a way to go. Suddenly Shunsui found himself dripping as the creature licked him. It warbled happily as Shunsui wiped the spit from his eyes. His eyes widened as the long scratch that had been on the back of his hand knitted seamlessly before his warbled happily as every ache Shunsui had vanished.

"Healing spit?" he looked at Unohana with disbelief, "that's pretty cool."

If it was possible the creature grinned before dousing him once again.

"I'm already hea--" Unohana glared, "thank you Minazuki."

The creature warbled happily.

"I'm going to go and shower now," he said. walking off.

"Interesting shiaki," Ukitake commented walking over, "I knew you'd probably get a healing one but still," he touched a hand to Minazuki who warbled, "this is impressive."

"How did you know?" she asked.

"Because unlike the rest of us you," he said with a smile, "don't need a zanpakto to intimidate people."

Unohana felt her cheeks warm and she ducked her head to examine her shikai. Before their shocked eyes Minazuki knelt down. Unohana's eyes widened as the creature obviously was waiting for her to get on. When she made no move to do so his lip began to tremble once again.

"Oh no, no, don't cry, here," she quickly pulled herself onto his back, "Jushiro get on."

"Huh?! But--" Unohana looked at him, her eyes pleading. Ukitakue sighed, he could never say 'no' to her, honestly he doubted he ever would be able too. With a bit of difficulty he got onto the thing's back, "alright what--"

Smoothly the creature took off and suddenly they were air born. Unohana let out a very undignified shriek and buried her face in Ukitake's chest as he tried to find something to hold onto with his free arm. Much to his surprise Minazuki provided a very smooth ride, their bodies barely shifted at all. Still Unohana kept her eyes screwed shut, her arms tightly around his waist, not that Ukitake was complaining. It was actually, it was actually very nice really being alone with her and having her willingly in his arms.

Before his illness he probably already would have made a move on her. Ukitake had always liked girls. But his illness had come and when it became clear that the cough was not just going to go away, girls became the last thing on his mind. Unohana had just decided to become a healer when he had taken ill. Therefore the two were around each other a lot and though he had flirted with her in the beginning as his illness progressed he had stopped. He had stopped doing anything for a while really. He refused to see Shunsui, he refused to flirt with his pretty healer. When he refused to take the medicine that prevented him from coughing up blood because it also made him tired, Unohana had put her foot down and dragged Shunsui into the room. The two had beat him over the head with the fact that though his hair said otherwise, he was still a young man.

Once he agreed to work with the healers his illness had become somewhat manageable. Manageable to the point where he spent equal amounts of time resting and working with only fractions in the hospital. But his illness had changed him. Especially when his hair whitened. Suddenly he felt very self conscious. Like he had a sign on his forehead that said "I'm sick!". The glances that girls sent his way all seemed like they were looking at him out of pity and if there was one thing that Ukitake could not stand, it was pity.

"Its okay, Retsu," he said, "you can look."

Cautiously Unohana opened one eye. All she saw was the bright sky, no ground no nothing. She clamped her eyes shut again and heart Ukitake laugh above her. Unoahana felt herself blush. She knew she was being ridiculous but she had always had a fear of heights. Now since most of her time was spent healing or in the gardens growing herbs for healing, she never had to deal with it past climbing the occasional ladder. This was no ladder, this was her spit-healing, high-flying shikai.

"I think he's going to cry again if you don't look," Ukitake said dryly.

Unohana forced her eyes open. The sky was blue and the clouds were puffy. Ukitake's arm was warm around her waist even though the cooler air seemed to cut through her student robes. Cautiously Unohana peered over the edge of her shikai. Below them Soul Society looked far more like a child's play set than the place they dedicated their lives to protecting. Stretching even farther was Rukongai and beyond that she could just make out the faintest hint of something else. Unohana glanced forward. Minazuki's eye darted to her and the creature let out a happy warbling sound.

"I said I thought he was going to cry," Ukitake defended when she glanced back at him. Minazuki turned abruptly, sending the two back into each other's arms, "s-sorry," Ukitake stuttered out. Unohana blushed as well as the creature soared back to the building.

Unohana ducked her head, feeling her cheeks heat up. She had always had a sort of crush on Ukitake but since his illness he had withdrawn from their friendship. She supposed it was for some stupid, noble reason as Ukitake was prone to do but still. She knew Shunsui was hurt by it too. The two had practically staged an intervention between Ukitake and himself, making their friend see that his life was not over. Now, slowly, it seemed like they were getting their friend back. Ukitake was smiling for the first time in what seemed like forever. Unohana was happy just for that.

Minazuki landed. Ukitake slid down first and, ever the gentleman, he waited until she slid down as well, catching her easily to slow her landing. Minazuki shifted sending her off balance and strait into his chest once again.

"Minazuki!" Unohana turned to her shikai but Minazuki just made the same happy sound, "I'm sorry I--"

"Do you want to get something to eat?" he blurted out, "Sometime? I mean if you don't want to its okay--"

"I'd love to," she cut him off, feeling herself blush. His eyes widened, clearly he hadn't expected her to say yes, "tomorrow night? I've got a late class."

"Tomorrow's great," he said, "I'll pick you up at eight?"

"Eight it is," she said.

"See you tomorrow," he said turning to go, "thank you for the ride," he said petting Minazuki. The creature was obviously thrilled he remembered him, "bye Retsu."

He took off. Unohana watched him go before she felt a tug at the back of her head. Unohana turned to see Minazuki with her braid half in his mouth.

"Minazuki!" she tugged her braid free. The creature just grinned. Unoahana would have been upset but Jushiro Ukitake just asked her out so she simply smiled and petted the creature, "return, Minazuki," she said holding out the sheath of her sword. The creature dissolved into green mist, vanishing into the sheath of her blade.

Unohana went off in search of robe to create a holder for the long blade, a smile on her face the entire way.