Chapter 11 – Confessions and Aftermath
"Ukitake," Unohana finally said. She was silenced when Ukitake led her to the bench. He made a gesture, telling her to sit. She obeyed and finally listened to that musical voice she so longed for to hear.
"Happy Birthday Unohana," Ukitake said.
"You did not have to bring me here just to greet me, Ukitake-taichou," she said, looking at him meaningfully.
"I have to tell you the truth," Ukitake said. "I was a fool for not telling you this a long time ago."
"I am sorry for being such a narrow-minded bastard. I should have known that an intelligent and kind woman like you should not be caged in a commitment to a sickly man like me. I knew from the very start that I couldn't protect you," he started.
"No. It was my fault," Unohana said. "I should have been honest with my feelings."
"Listen to me first," Ukitake insisted. "At first, I was simply afraid. I was afraid of rejection because I never experienced such a thing. But I knew from the very beginning that it wasn't simple gratitude that I felt. I loved your simplicity, kindness, elegance, independence… everything about you. I couldn't tell exactly how to define what I felt. And I was afraid to admit. I was also unsure of what I was saying. I was just hurt that night. I should not have said such spiteful words to you, knowing you were not the one to blame."
"You had every right to be angry," Unohana said. She was starting to cry again. Ukitake wiped her tears with a finger and embraced her gently, then letting go again.
"Don't do this to yourself. We both had something to do with this. We chose to remain silent and go on with our dreams," Ukitake continued, looking into her eyes. "Do you know why I talked to Hiyori-san this afternoon?"
Unohana shook her head. She knew she was afraid to know.
"I cancelled our engagement. I already talked to Yamamoto-dono about it and I explained you are the woman I truly love," he said.
"Oh… I love you too," Unohana said and broke down again. "You do not know how much I regretted the time I rejected you. I strived hard to be captain to be good enough for you and see you more. But when I found out that you were already engaged, I gave up."
"Now I don't and you don't need to worry anymore. I won't run away this time too. I will make sure to make you mine. Even if Byakuya says no," Ukitake said and laughed. Unohana asked him about the swap and Ukitake confessed. He earned a glare from her and they both laughed again.
As they watched the sunset, Ukitake wound his arm around Unohana and kissed her with all the hope, love and desire he had felt for her. She responded soundly. They held onto each other as if they were never letting go.
Ukitake Joshirou and Unohana Retsu were married after a year. They, as most stories go, lived happily ever after in Seretei.
Nobody expected that this peculiar love story and pairing would exist and come true. But everything's possible… and Unohana Retsu gave Ukitake Joshirou the will to live despite the challenges and disease he has.