Bleach ~
Thanks my loyal reviewers Teal Eyed Dragon and Snowkid.
sorry for the late update, the heat and little to no access to a computer are the cause. Also I started with college so I need to let Nanao (Teal Eyed Dragon) arrange my schedule :)
Unohana was her usual calm and gentle self as the 1st aid department reported Shunsui's condition.
She merely nodded and thanked Sayuri, the head of the first aid department.
The medic went to stand by Shunsui's side and took off his robes.
The female shinigamis of squad 4 have been well trained and didn't bat an eyelash at the scantily clad squad 8 captain.
Unohana covered him until mid riff height with a blanket.
She checked his vital signs which were very weak.
The scent of sake could be smelled on a feet distance so she didn't even have to check what caused him to pass out like that.
Unohana proceeded to pump all contents out of his stomach.
Her subordinates quietly followed her orders. No one dared to ask if it was a suicide attempt, afraid of their captain's reaction.
She gave Shunsui 2 liter blood transfusion to clean out the alcohol in his blood.
After his vital signs were close to normal, she attached him onto a heart machine.
His heart rate was still weak but stable, there were no irregularities.
Unohana dismissed her team as Shunsui was brought to his room.
The entire room screamed Shunsui.
It was very tasteful with pink tints in it but overall very cozy for a hospital room.
Above the bed were picture frames of him with Ukitake at the academy, when they became captains, at the wedding of Ukitake and Unohana and several with the kids of Ukitake and Unohana at every stage in their lives.
Unohana smiled lightly. He was a very devoted uncle and she knew she could trust him blindly with her kids.
She wondered what made Shunsui drink so much.
A while she couldn't think of anything, then it hit her that it was yesterday a few years ago that Urahara and Yoruichi fled with the former captains and vice captains to the human world because they turned into vizords.
"Was it because of the guilt that is still eating your soul, Shunsui?" she spoke softly to the unconscious man.
Pondering she stood a while by his bed, taking in his peaceful state.
He was now in the white hospital kimono and his hair was freed from the pins and hair tie.
His curls were spread like a fan on the pillow contrasting against the white.
The usual face full of several emotions, was relaxed and appeared nearly boyish and innocent.
With a motherly gesture she tucked a curl behind his ear and left the room.
In her office she found a crying Nanao who kept whispering apologies to no one in particular.
Unohana wordlessly helped her up and held her gently.
"It's my fault, mom" she whispered.
"no dear, it isn't" Unohana soothed. "He is stable now and you can go see him"
Nanao shook her head. "I should have been there for him, to talk the guilt out of him regarding Yadomaru-san her execution"
Her mother gently pushed her down on a chair and went to make a cup of tea.
"Shunsui hides a lot behind his lazy and carefree attitude and he won't open up to anyone, especially not to you. You are still a little girl in his eyes and he would never discuss his burdens with you"
Nanao looked frustrated and fought to hide her tears.
Unohana put the tea in front of her and stroked the girl's hair.
"I shouldn't have had accepted the invitation" Nanao mumbled. "It just brought more problems than there already are"
"just drink your tea, dear and then you can visit him"
Nanao nodded. "You look tired, mom"
Unohana smiled "don't worry about me, it's just the windy days that drains most people"
Her daughter nodded but was not convinced.
She let it rest though and headed to the room of the squad 8 captain.
"Maybe it is better if I am placed at the eight, then I can watch over Shunsui" Nanao thought as she walked to the room.
After Nanao left, Unohana send a hell butterfly to her husband to explain what happened to his best friend.
With a light sigh she started filling in the forms about Shunsui's condition.
It was true that she was tired but she could cope with it.
Today however, Shunsui's situation brought her inwardly a bit out of balance and she was very worried about the man she saw as her younger brother.
She knew as no other how much pain he hides behind his attitude and she knew that Yamamoto and Ukitake knew as well.
Her thoughts traveled back to her academy days, one day specifically.
Christmas break was over and all students came back to their dorms, chattering about how they spend the holidays and wishing each other a happy new year.
She stayed at the dorms to study, she didn't have a family to go to.
Christmas eve and Christmas day she spend with Yamamoto. He was like a father to her and she enjoyed the time she spend with him.
She confided him with her hurt feelings that Shunsui didn't want her to visit him during the holidays and she had to keep his present until he came back.
Yamamoto had stared a while out of the window before speaking. "Shunsui is from a noble family, they aren't like the Kuchiki family but they still held quite some power. He is a younger son so he won't inherit much and he's not like a son of a noble family has to be. The nobles rather not mix with the peasants.
Shunsui handled this way to spare your feelings, child"
Unohana nodded understanding. "But he doesn't want Jyuushirou-kun to visit him either, he said he will stop by at Ugendo"
Yamamoto kept staring to the white blanket that covered the garden. "Jyuushirou is one of the lowest ranked noble families and his parents had to work day and night to provide their 6 kids with food and clothes. The higher ranked noble families look down at such people"
With that information, Unohana grew wiser and stronger for her two best friends.
New Year's eve and New Year's day she visited Ukitake and his siblings.
Yamamoto had given her money and she bought cakes and juice as presents.
To the Ukitake orphans she was like an angel.
The day that all students came back she also saw Ukitake and Shunsui.
With a warm smile she welcomed them back and with a shy smile and red cheeks she hugged Ukitake.
The white haired boy stumbled and stammered making his best friend grin broadly.
Unohana saw the pain in the boy's eyes though. "Jyuushirou-kun, can you get us some tea and I will give Shunsui-kun his presents.
The boy nodded and left the noble boy and Unohana alone.
"Shunsui-kun, we are best friends and there's no need to hide your tears and pain from me"
The boy's grey eyes widened and he was at loss for words.
Unohana handed him his presents and hugged him. "Happy New Year, little brother"
The boy couldn't hold his tears anymore and started crying. "they disowned me"
Unohana let him cry and when he finally calmed down he told her that his parents had arranged a marriage for him with the Shihouin heiress who was still an infant.
He had refused and said that both he and Yoruichi-san had the right to choose their own partners when the time had come.
Both clans were angry and his parents didn't want to see him anymore.
Unohana didn't even notice she was crying and neither did she notice her husband enter until she felt his arms around her.
"What's wrong, dearest?" He questioned as he tenderly kissed away her tears.
"Jyuushirou, you startled me" she said a bit out of breath. "I was just thinking back about our academy years"
"where is Nanao?" He looked around.
"She went to see him. She was very upset and thinks it's her fault"
Ukitake frowned and held his wife tightly. "Why don't you rest a bit? You look very tired"
She shook her head. "I will be fine, I promise"
The 13th division captain doubted it but kept quiet and just kept on holding her securely in his arms.
He knew deep down she was shaken by what happened to Shunsui.
After Ukitake left for Shunsui's room, Unohana took a small box out of her drawer and went to the bathroom.
She felt dizzy and drained while it was not even lunch time and she knew it was a 50-50 chance, the result would be positive.
