Author's note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is AU and draws inspiration from The West Wing. Some of the dialogue is almost directly quoted from the show.


You Got to Have Heart

Shunsui could hear the TV droning from his seat in the waiting are. The news was covering their success.

"...very happy Bartlet Supporters. We are told the candidate is in the suite,

refining his remarks. He's due to be down here at any moment. Just over an hour ago..."

It didn't really sink in though. Shunsui was just sort of numb. His father was dead. After everything had been going so well, after the chemo seemed to be working, his father was dead. A man in a dark suit crossed his field of vision. Shunsui didn't really do more than think it was odd that he was standing there in the waiting area when there were plenty of chairs free. Another man in the same suit came and stood on his other side. What weird people.

"Shunsui?"

He immediately recognized the voice and jumped his feet. "Governor!"

Kisuke Urahara stood there with his hands shoved in his pockets and a look of gentle compassion. "Your father died, Shunsui. I can't believe it."

Shock overrode his numbness. Urahara should be getting ready to make his speech, not checking up on him. "Yeah. Uh, Governor, you, you shouldn't be here."

"What happened?" Urahara ignored him, taking the seat next to Shunsui's.

Shunsui awkwardly sat down again. He wasn't really sure how to deal with this. He really didn't know Urahara that well.

"He went for his chemotherapy, and he unexpectedly developed a pulmonary embolism." Shunsui struggled to explain. "It's a--"

"It's a blood clot." Urahara spoke with understanding.

"Yeah. It went to his heart and there was cardiac arrest." Somehow saying it made it more real.

"Yeah." The governor's tone was supportive, understanding. "Yeah."

Shunsui took a deep breath, trying to focus. "Governor, you should really get back to the ballroom, so that you can get on a plane and get to California."

"He was a lawyer?" Urahara asked.

"Yes, a litigator." Not the best ever, but a good one.

"Did he like that you were in politics?"

Shunsui smiled wryly. "I think he would have liked grandchildren more."

Urahara chuckled; he had become a grandfather three years ago. "He would've."

"He liked that I was working for you. He liked that we were starting to do well. He would've liked tonight. At least his friends and neighbors will be spared all the…you know…" his voice trailed off.

"He'd have been doing some bragging?"

Shunsui smiled, thinking of his dad. "Yeah, and your name wouldn't have come up by the way. 'My son won the Illinois primary tonight.' Three more hours, and he would have been able to say that. He'd have been proud."

Urahara put a hand on his should. "He was already. Trust me, Shunsui, I'm a father. He was already."

"I appreciate that, Governor. You should really get back to the hotel."

"No, I'm okay."

What was with this man? "Sir, not that I don't appreciate you coming down here, but there's a ballroom full of people waiting for a victory speech."
"They'll wait."

But waiting could lose the campaign its momentum. "Yes, they will, but the people watching television won't."

True to form so far, Urahara changed the subject. "I've been a real jackass to you, Shunsui. To everybody: Toushiro Hitsugaya, Rangiku Matsumoto, Gin Ichimaru."

If he was admitting to the fact, it wouldn't hurt to agree with him. "Yeah."

"Don't think I don't know what you gave up to work on this campaign, and don't think that I don't know your value. And I'll never make you think I don't again." He grinned. "You got to be a little impressed that I got all those names right just now."

Shunsui chuckled.

"Delta Airlines Flight 175 to Kennedy International now boarding."

"They're calling my flight." He rose to his feet.

Urahara followed suit. "You want me to go with you?"

Shunsui stopped short. This man had just won his party's primary race and stead of going to make his victory speech, he was offering to go home with Shunsui. "Go with me?"

"Maybe you want some company on the plane." Urahara was checking his pockets for a wallet. "I could get a ticket and come with you."

Shunsui smiled and shook his head. "Governor! California. You have to go the ballroom and give a victory speech in primetime and go to California."

He smiled, sticking his hands in his pockets again. "I guess you're right."

Shunsui laughed; Urahara really was a good man. "You guess I'm right? Listen to me, Governor, if you don't lose this election, it isn't going to be because you didn't try hard enough. But it was nice of you to ask. Thank you, I appreciate it."

Urahara nodded and spoke softly. "They're calling your flight."

Shunsui nodded, taking once last glance at the man before heading for his gate. Kisuke Urahara really was the right man to be president, and they were going to win the election.