Hello Everyone, I finally got to update the story. I've had the frustrating combination of being very busy, yet when I did have time to write I had writers block. Thank you everyone who left me a review for the last chapter. I love them all. Now as for the next update, its possibly going to be a couple of weeks before its up again. This week I'm working on my final exam which I have a week to complete, starting today. I want to do well so I can become a Therapist :) Wish me luck. That's all for now and Happy Reading ^_^
Someone To Watch Over You Chapter 36
Ukitake was walking slowly and cautiously down a corridor that led in the general direction of the Head-Captains office. He felt very apprehensive about being here. He would have been perfectly happy to leave off going to the First for a bit longer. There were still so many other avenues of enquiry they could have made without having to go directly to the Head-Captain. Yet Toushiro had been insistent, and so had Unohana.
They both seemed to be under the impression that he'd been avoiding having to go to the First. That wasn't necessarily true, he was just as eager as them to find out Shunsui's whereabouts and to see that no harm had befallen him. The problem was, he just didn't know if the Head-Captain would actually tell him anything. In the Head-Captains eyes, he was after all a complete failure.
Unohana had tried to tell him differently, but he wasn't convinced. The reason being, was because of the last thing the Head-Captain had said to him. Those words had cut into him deeply. Yes Shunsui was his best friend, and like a brother to him. But had he really failed him? Yes things had been a little awkward between them at one point, but things were okay again. Yet the Head-Captain still deemed it as unforgivable.
The only reason why he was here at the moment, was because he'd finally caved in during a conversation he'd been having with Toushiro literally an hour ago in the Tenths office.
"All of it?"
"Yes, all of it."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive, their office has been completely cleared of all paperwork," Toushiro rummaged inside his pocket and pulled out the notification he'd found in the Eighths office, "Here, see what you make of that."
"The Head-Captain issued this order personally," Ukitake exclaimed a few minutes later, "That makes no sense."
"I thought it was rather odd too," Toushiro turned back to face Ukitake and folded his arms into his sleeves, "Do you have any theories?"
"Hmm," Ukitake pulled his gaze away from the note, "Why would he have it all redirected to the First? Its not like he would ask his own men to work on another Divisions back log of paperwork. Interesting."
"Do you think Shunsui could actually be locked away in a cell at the First, with the Eighths paperwork to keep him company?" Toushiro asked as he folded his arms into his sleeves.
"I suppose its reasonable to assume that," Ukitake pulled his eyes away from the notification.
"Ukitake there's one more thing," Toushiro said as he stepped back over to the older Captain who was sporting grey hair today.
Ukitake focused on him fully, "What is it?"
"More like a suggestion," Toushiro began, "From Rangiku actually. She reckons we're going about this all wrong. I don't think she's too keen on the idea of us sneaking around the Maggots Nest. She thinks the best approach is to just be direct. I think I'll have to agree with her too. Why don't we just go straight to the First, and ask the Head-Captain directly."
"Retsu seems to think the same thing too," Ukitake sighed sounding defeated, "I just don't think its a good idea."
"So what do you want to do then?" Toushiro sat back down in his chair and pulled a form towards him. He'd noticed for a few days now that Ukitake seemed rather hesitant about going to the First Division. Which in all honesty, would be the most logical place to gain answers, "Because to be honest, it seems like you've been purposefully avoiding having to go the the First for a few days now," he pointed out.
"I've been doing no such thing!" Ukitake replied with indignation.
"Really?" Toushiro decided to finally call Ukitake out on his current behaviour, "Then why do you still insist that going to the First is a bad idea, despite everyone else thinking its the right way to go about things?"
"I don't think its a bad idea at all," Ukitake protested.
Toushiro frowned, "Then what's the problem? Why are you so reluctant to go there?"
"I'm not reluctant to go anywhere Toushiro," Ukitake averted his gaze from Toushiro and returned to looking at the notification in his hand.
"Well if that's the case then," Toushiro rose to his feet and stepped away from his desk, "Lets head over there now."
"Now?" Ukitake exclaimed.
"No time like the present. Shunsui's been missing for over a week now. In all honesty, I reckon the Head-Captain will at least be expecting you," Toushiro glanced at Ukitake and noticed his sudden hesitation, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Ukitake folded the notification and handed it back to Toushiro.
Toushiro took it and placed it into a drawer inside his desk, when he glanced back at Ukitake he caught the uneasy look on his face, "Are you feeling apprehensive about having to face the Head-Captain again?"
"Of course not," Ukitake answered a little too quickly.
"Its understandable if you are," Toushiro kept his face neutral.
"Its not like that Toushiro," Ukitake snapped back.
"Then what is it?"
Ukitake remained stubbornly quiet.
Noticing this Toushiro decided to press his point further, feeling pretty sure that he was getting to the bottom of Ukitake's reluctance, "The Head-Captain was livid," Toushiro pointed out, "Its only natural if you feel sca-"
"Your best friend and brother needed you, but you've failed him. In my eyes that is unforgivable," Ukitake suddenly spat out. Seeing Toushiro's look of confusion he quickly added, "Thats the last thing the Head-Captain said to me before kicking me out of the office. It was also the last time I saw Shunsui."
An awkward silence descended between them and Toushiro finally understood why Ukitake was feeling so apprehensive about having to face the Head-Captain. He'd really taken the Head-Captains words to heart. He probably also felt guilty at having to leave Shunsui to face Yamamoto alone, and even more so since Shunsui's disappearance.
After a few agonisingly long minutes of silence, Toushiro decided it was safe to speak up, "Ukitake-"
"I am not scared to face the Head-Captain, Toushiro," Ukitake interrupted, "I want to find out what's happened to Shunsui," Ukitake pinched the bridge of his nose, "But at the same time I'm just worried about what I'll find out."
Toushiro surveyed Ukitake for a few seconds before sighing, "Look. We both know the only person who can get the Head-Captain to tell us anything, is you. The only way we're going to find anything out at this point is if you ask him directly. I'll come along with you to the First, but we both know that will be pointless. He will only speak to you, if you go alone. We need answers Ukitake. Answers that only you can get at this point."
"Yes but the question is Toushiro," Ukitake cleared his throat, "Will he actually listen to me? You thought he was angry when you saw him, well that was nothing compared to how angry he was with me and Retsu. As for Shunsui, well it doesn't bare thinking about."
"The only way you'll know, or, if we're going to find anything out, is by asking him," Toushiro answered coolly, "Yes the Head-Captain was angry, but I bet he'll be much more inclined to talk to you now that he's had a bit of time to cool off."
"Fine then!" He replied feeling oddly angry,"I will go to the First."
It was shortly after then, that he'd set out for the First. As much as he hated to admit it, Toushiro had been right. He was the only person other then Retsu, who could actually approach the Head-Captain and find out what they needed to know. Just as Toushiro had said, its highly likely that the Head-Captain would be expecting him too.
Ukitake paused in his walking when he realised he'd reached the last turn off. Here was where he carried straight on if he wanted the Head-Captains office. However, the reason why he stopped was because this last turn off actually led away to where the Firsts holding cells were situated.
Glancing down that corridor at the end he noticed the absence of any guards. He was pretty sure if someone was being held there, then there would be guards posted outside. It was obvious now that Shunsui couldn't be in there. Yet Ukitake had a nagging feeling to go and look anyway.
His feet began moving of their own accord and started carrying down that corridor. In no time he was hovering outside the door that let down to the cells. After a quick glance over his shoulder, he opened the door, stepped inside and started descending the stairs.
Once he'd reached the level where the cells were, he slowed to a stop and took a few moments to listen. He couldn't hear anything or feel anyone's energy, so he started walking down the wide passage that had cells lining each side.
He took the time to glance in each cell as he passed. He could tell from the feel of some of them, that they hadn't held anyone for decades. He was about to glance in the next cell when he felt a lingering trace of Shunsui's energy. It felt as though it came from the last cell on the right. He hurried over to it and peered inside.
His heart dropped slightly when he realised this cell, like the others before it, was empty too.
Yet Shunsui had definitely been here at some point.
Ukitake stepped inside the cell and closed his eyes as he concentrated on the lingering trace of Shunsui's energy. It'd grown quite faint, so Ukitake estimated that the cell had been empty for about a week. Yet amongst the faint trace of energy Ukitake felt a small and strong concentration of Shunsui's energy. It almost felt like a splinter in his finger. It was coming from the simple bed that'd been attached to the opposite wall.
Ukitake stepped over to the bed and ran his eyes over it. Everything appeared to be in place. So he began stripping the bed, pulling off the thin sheets and the pillows. He wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for, but he knew Shunsui had left something behind to be found.
As he lifted the old, lumpy futon up and tossed it to one side his eyes landed on a carefully concealed scrap of paper that Shunsui had folded and tucked between the bed and the wall of the cell. Ukitake reached for it and tugged it out of its hiding place.
A quick glance showed him that it was in fact, an envelope that'd been addressed to him. It was Shunsui's handwriting for sure. He was about to open it when he heard movement from behind him and instead, he quickly stashed the envelope inside his haori. If Shunsui felt the need to hide it in the first place, then he wasn't going to flash it around in plain sight.
He'd literally just hidden the envelope when he felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder, "Are you quite done snooping around down here?"
Ukitake whipped around, "Sensei!"
"You wont find him down here," Yamamoto stated before turning on his heel and walking away, "Now come with me," he ordered.
Up in the Head-Captains office Ukitake hovered awkwardly near the door as the Head-Captain stepped over to his desk and sat down. Once Yamamoto settled down he then levelled his heavy gaze on Ukitake, "I know why you're here Juushiro, you're trying to find out what has become of Shunsui," Yamamoto stated in his gravelly voice, "Correct?"
Ukitake gave a curt nod but remained quiet.
The Head-Captain harrumphed, "Its been well over a week, why has it taken you this long to actually come to me? Usually you'd have banged my door down and demanded answers by now."
For once Ukitake felt at a bit of a loss on what to say in this situation. It was true. Back in their academy days if Shunsui had gotten into a spot of bother and he hadn't heard anything from him after the Head-Captain had punished him, he would always without fail approach the Head-Captain to find out what had happened to him. Most of the time Yamamoto had let him off with a light telling off, and usually Shunsui would then be found passed out drunk somewhere. However this time was different. A lot different.
He'd been torn between wanting to help Shunsui and not wanting to irritate the Head-Captain any further. It hadn't just been Shunsui in the line of fire this time. They all had.
"Well?" The Head-Captain suddenly boomed, "Are you going to say something or just stand there?"
Ukitake snapped his head up and met the Head-Captains gaze.
Yamamoto then kicked a stool out from under his desk, "Have a seat."
Ukitake stepped over towards the desk and after a quick glance at the stool, he sat himself down on it.
"I know what's wrong with you Juushiro, and why you've been avoiding me," Yamamoto stated bluntly, "I can read both you and Shunsui like a book. My words from that night have cut into you deeply," the Head-Captain paused and glanced out over the Seireitei, "Emotions were running high that night, there was much stress and anger on both sides. Everyone at some point says something out of anger that they don't necessarily mean. Myself included. Incidentally, I don't see you as a complete failure, so stop seeing yourself as such."
Ukitake quirked an eyebrow, "Is that your way of apologising?" He asked warily.
"Its as good as you're going to get," Yamamoto grumbled, "Take it or leave it."
Ukitake suppressed a grin. Shunsui was right about the Head-Captain, he really did suck at apologising. No wonder he rarely apologised about anything. Maybe that's why he was so bad at it, because he hadn't had much practise.
"Wipe that grin off your face!" Yamamoto's voice suddenly boomed, "I thought you came here because you wanted answers."
"Yes Sensei," Ukitake immediately straightened his face, and in a much more serious tone he asked, "So what's the situation with Shunsui? Why has nobody seen or heard from him for over a week?"
Yamamoto was quiet for a few moments before answering, "The reason why nobody has seen Shunsui for awhile, is because he isn't here in the Soul Society. As for nobody hearing from him, that's untrue. He's been reporting into me daily as ordered. As a matter of fact, he should be reporting in any time soon."
"Not in the Soul Society!" Ukitake exclaimed loudly, "Then where is he?"
"I sent him away on a special mission," Yamamoto stated unconcerned, "I was hoping the time away would do him some good and give him some time to decide what is important to him."
"I see and where did you send him?" Ukitake asked.
The Head-Captain ignored him and continued on, "I'm not happy with him Juushiro, I'm not happy one bit. He's been away for a week and I just cant seem to get the damn message into that thick skull of his."
"What message?" Ukitake asked curiously.
The Head-Captain rose from his seat and marched across the room to the opposite wall, where a concealed closet opened. The Head-Captain pulled a white haori out of it and came back over to his desk. He then tossed the Captains haori onto his desk for Ukitake to see. The kanji on the back was in plain sight, "That's Shunsui's haori."
"Yes it is!" The Head-Captain barked slightly irritated.
"Did you strip him of his rank and confiscate it?" Ukitake glanced at Yamamoto as he asked this, and saw the tick in his eyebrow, "Or did Shunsui..?"
"Did you know that he offered to resign from his post as Captain of the Eighth?" Yamamoto barked again, "That he was willing to throw everything away, his entire Shinigami career. That he was willing to walk away from everything, all for the sake of Miss Ise and the unborn child."
"Shunsui has always cared deeply for Nanao," Ukitake defended, "He genuinely loves her. Sensei its not just a fling this time around. Of course he would throw everything away to be with her. He loves her."
Yamamoto slammed his fist down on his desk, "Well I wont let him throw everything away. To be frank his decision was rash and idiotic. Clearly he wasn't thinking straight at the time. Its just as well that I've sent him away for a bit. That boy needs to get his damn head straightened out. You cant just walk away from the Gotei 13, especially not as a Captain. You cant just waltz off with your Lieutenant as you see fit either. Think of the mess it would leave behind. Does he really think for a minute that I'd let either of my boys go as easily as that!"
Ukitake thought it was for the best to stay quiet for a bit. Yamamoto paced around for a bit before returning to his seat. When the silence grew unbearable Ukitake broke it by asking, "This mission that you've sent him on, what's the nature of it and how long will he be away for?"
"The mission is to protect an area from Hollow invasion. As for how long he'll be away. Well that will depend on how long it takes for him to figure things out," Yamamoto replied off handedly, "Once I'm satisfied that he's making the right decisions regarding his future, I'll allow him to return."
"And what do you consider the right decisions to be Sensei?"
"I think Captain Hitsugaya is a prime example of what I deem to be the right decision," Yamamoto opened his eyes slightly, "Despite the fact that he married his Lieutenant and had a child too. He's still able to run his Division as effectively as ever."
Ukitake smiled fondly at the mention of Toushiro, Rangiku and Kotaro.
"We both know who really runs the Eighth Division Juushiro. Miss Ise's done a wonderful job of keeping things running over the years. What I need Shunsui to understand is that, he cant keep carrying on and expecting her to run things for him. I understand she's been ill the last few weeks, and we've both seen the mess the office has fallen into. He couldn't even cope with that paperwork. How the hell does he expect to cope once Miss Ise becomes the Mother to his child? Have they even discussed that between them?"
"To be fair Head-Captain," Ukitake cleared his throat, "Shunsui had only found out that Nanao was pregnant, literally half an hour before he came to see you that night. I think its safe to say that he and Nanao haven't been able to discuss the matter. So how can you expect either of them to know how its going to work out between running the Division and raising a child? I can see why you've decided to ship Shunsui off to think things over, but this thing is a joint decision between Shunsui and Nanao. Its only those two who will know and can decide what's best for them."
"Exactly, which is why I've separated the two of them for now. So they can both take the time needed to think things over individually. Then when I feel the time is right to allow Shunsui to return, hopefully they can talk things through and know exactly how things are going to work."
Ukitake sighed and looked away from Yamamoto, his gaze was riveted to the view of the Seireitei instead, "So where exactly have you sent Shunsui then?"
"I'll let him tell you that himself," Yamamoto replied.
Ukitake returned his attention to the Head-Captain and saw him rooting around in a drawer. The next thing he knew, Yamamoto had placed something on his desk and had pushed it over to him. The small device slid across the desk and came to a stop in front of him. Ukitake picked it up and recognized it as one of Kurotsuchi's ear pieces that Toushiro and Rangiku had tested out whilst away on their mission.
"Like I said Juushiro," Yamamoto began, "He should be reporting in any time soon."
The device in Ukitake's hand began beeping, he glanced at the Head-Captain who gave him a little nod. Ukitake fitted the device to his ear and pressed the button to receive the call, "Hello?"
There was a long pause on the other end until, "JUU!" Shunsui's voice sounded throughout the office, apparently the device seemed to be on loudspeaker.
Ukitake winced and pulled the device away from his ear, "Yes Shunsui, its me."
"What are you... Are you in the Head-Captains office?" Shunsui asked cautiously.
"Yes I am," Ukitake felt a small smile creep onto his face.
"Is the Head-Captain there?" He asked warily.
Ukitake glanced at the Head-Captain, who then shook his head from side to side, "Err not at the moment Shunsui."
"Are you sneaking around again Juushiro?" Although Shunsui wasn't joking, Ukitake thought he detected a hint of amusement in his friends voice.
"Maybe a little," Ukitake admitted.
"Did you find-"
"Yes," Ukitake cut him off aware that the Head-Captain was listening in, his tone may have come across as a bit snappy.
Shunsui was quiet for a little while, Ukitake prayed that his friend picked up the subtle hint that he needed to watch what he was saying, "Oh that's good. I'm rather attached to that hat and haori you know."
"I'm aware," Ukitake breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Shunsui had taken the hint, "You really ought to be careful where you leave your things lying around. Anyone could have found them."
"I'll take that into consideration next time," Shunsui replied lazily.
"Shunsui," Ukitake suddenly became very serious, "Where are you? Are you okay?"
"That old fart," Shunsui sighed, "He sent me away on a mission Juu. I'm to protect this island from any invading Hollows."
"Well that doesn't sound so bad, considering what other punishments he could have chosen for you."
"Juu! Its worst then that!" Shunsui whined childishly, "What the old git didn't tell me, is that its a remote island in the World of the Living! Its so remote that it has no inhabitants at all. No people, equals no Hollows. I'm so bored Juu! I'm going out of my mind!"
"Well, maybe he just wants you to have some space to think things over, and to relax a bit?"
"How can I relax here? I should be there with Nanao-chan!" Shunsui growled slightly under his breath, "She needs me. We have so much we need to discuss. I miss her Juu. I just hope she's doing okay. This place is so damn lonely."
"Well have you tried to leave at all?" Ukitake asked, "I assume you have your Zanpakuto with you?"
"I cant leave Juu," Shunsui replied sounding exasperated, "Believe me I've tried, several times in fact. That old god damn git has made sure of that. I cant open up a senkaimon from this side, its been disabled. This island is in the middle of nowhere, it has sea surrounding it on all sides. But that's not the issue here. There's a freaking isolation barrier surrounding the whole island. There's just no way I can get off this god damn lonely rock. I've tried all the ways I could think off to smash through the barrier, but its unbreakable."
"Wow that's an unusual punishment, I thought for sure that you'd been tossed in a prison cell somewhere."
"This IS a prison Juu. A very scenic prison mind you, but its still a prison all the same," Shunsui growled and Ukitake could have sworn he heard a tree or something snap in two, "I just want to be with Nanao-chan, I need to be with her so bad. I need to see with my own eyes that she's okay."
"Shunsui."
"Yes?"
"Nanao is okay," Ukitake answered honestly, "She misses you a lot. That much is obvious. But she is doing okay. Retsu discharged her from the Fourth today. We didn't want to send her home to be alone, so we've arranged it so she's staying with Toushiro and Rangiku at the Tenth. She's in good hands."
The line started to crackle with static and Ukitake failed to hear what Shunsui said in reply. Next the line had been completely cut off. He tapped the earpiece a few times to no avail, "Shunsui can you hear me?"
"Times up I'm afraid," the Head-Captain spoke up again, "Those earpieces tend to cut out after awhile."
Ukitake pulled the earpiece out of his ear and placed it on the edge of Yamamoto's desk, "I just wish I could've had a few minutes longer."
"Be grateful that I actually allowed you to speak with him," Yamamoto grumbled as he picked up his writing brush and began working on a form, "Being in isolation generally means you don't get the luxury of communicating with friends. Now be gone from here Juushiro. I have work to do."
Ukitake's eyebrows rose at the sudden dismissal, "Yes Sensei," he rose to his feet and walked over to the door. He paused and glanced back at the Head-Captain who was busy writing away and paying him no attention. Ukitake just sighed and slipped out the door.
Once outside in the fresh air, Ukitake took a moment to close his eyes and take in a deep lungful of air. To say he'd been dreading coming here, it'd actually not been as bad as he'd originally expected. He felt something rustle inside his haori and he remembered the envelope that Shunsui had addressed to him.
He pulled it out and opened the envelope. It was a bit awkward to pull the contents out because it seemed as though the envelope contained another envelope as well as a note.
The note was short and straight to the point – Juu, I need you to give this to Nanao-chan.
The second envelope was addressed to Nanao. It felt quite thick, and at the bottom Ukitake could feel something small and hard. He pocketed the envelope and started to walk.
Where he was off to first, he wasn't quite sure. He just felt that right now, he needed to walk to clear his head somewhat.