Chapter Thirteen: Alliance
"I think that's enough for this morning."
As Juushirou drew a hoarse breath into his lungs, his companion got to her feet, offering him a gentle, sympathetic smile as she began to clear away her cloths and equipment. "There's still more to do, but that's about your limit for now, isn't it, Ukitake-kun?"
"Mm. I'm sorry." Juushirou managed, flopping back on his pillows as relief ran through his tense, aching body. It was three days and nights since their adventure into the wilderness, and for the most part his time since that fateful evening had been spent between sleeping, eating and the gruelling rounds of Kidou-based treatment that Retsu had insisted on applying to his battered chest three times each day. He had spoken to none of his classmates during those days, and had only seen the Headmaster for the briefest of moments - long enough to gain the assurance that whatever other trouble he might be in, he was not about to be sent home. Yet at the back of his mind he still worried about what had befallen his partner in crime in the time he had been isolated.
He took another breath into his lungs, steadying his racing heartbeat.
"I tried not to cry out this time - but...it's..."
"It's quite understandable." Retsu paused, setting the clothes aside as she bent to wipe the tears of pain from his dark lashes. "Inside your lungs, your air sacs are rubbed raw from all the coughing and that makes your chest tender to the touch. Your ribs ache because of all the spasms, and so it's a very delicate area of your body right now. Besides, with this being a chronic condition, I suspect your chest is often that way - isn't it? It's hardly surprising that my Kidou would make you react so much."
Her eyes softened, and she shook her head.
"But it's the best thing, if you can bear with it a day or two longer." She murmured. "I really think that this is the quickest way to heal you."
"I will." Juushirou nodded, resolution glittering in his hazel eyes. "When you're treating me, Unohana-sensei, it feels like nothing on earth - like something is clawing away at me from the inside, trying to get out, and it's hard. But I'll stick with it. Because when its over, like now, it feels...a lot better. I've never had my chest feel this clear so soon after a bad attack before. At this rate it won't be long before I can go back into school, will it? And that's what I want. That's why I'm here. So no matter how many times you want to treat me, I'll bear with it. Somehow. As much as I can."
Retsu's smile widened, and she nodded.
"You have pluck. Strength of will indeed." She said approvingly. "But then, I'm not surprised to see it. Genryuusai-sama brought you here, after all. He believes you have a lot of potential...and I understand why."
Juushirou's sallow features flushed red and he shook his head.
"I don't think so." He murmured. "I've caused people a lot of headaches because of this - I know. And though I don't regret helping Shunsui, I wish I'd had better control of myself. I was frightened by the Hollow, and I guess I panicked and lost my grip on my reiryoku. And then...I wasn't much use to anyone. I don't like being a burden, Unohana-sensei. To anyone. Especially not to people who've put some faith in me."
"But we all learn from mistakes we make, don't we?" Retsu said lightly. "Don't look so downcast, Ukitake-kun. You've lived through the experience, so you can develop and grow from it, can't you?"
She sat back down at the bedside, adjusting her haori absently as she did so.
"You might think that it's a terrible thing, having a Clan Leader come all this way to treat you." She added. "But the truth is that I'm the only one with the knowledge to do this particular kind of treatment. It's not been needed, you see, in many generations - and it takes a lot of skill and precision to perfect. In my Clan, I'm the only one who has it at a high enough level to use it to treat your disease. So Genryuusai-sama asked me, when term began, if I'd be willing to take on that responsibility as and when it arose. And I told him it would be my pleasure."
"Really?" Despite himself, Juushirou was intrigued. "Is...is my curse that rare, then, these days?"
"Among the Clans, its nonexistant." Retsu agreed evenly. "But even in the Districts, it's not like it once was. You are an unusual child, Ukitake-kun, to have been born with it and yet still have such a strong grip on life despite your body's failings. I would call you lucky, not cursed. You have life. So long as you have that, you can keep on moving forwards. Isn't that so?"
"Yes." Juushirou nodded slowly. "You're right. That is how it is."
He smiled.
"I don't always think of it as a curse. Just that's how my family always refers to it." He said evenly. "I've never met anyone else with it, though. I suppose I thought...kids died from it at birth. I just didn't, because Mother intervened. But...I'm interested, Sensei. You said that the treatment you used on me was designed for this condition? Then it must've been...once, there must've been lots of people who had it, mustn't there? And now there aren't...so...does that mean that the Clans cured it somehow, then?"
"No...not quite a cure." Retsu's expression became grave and she shook her head. "It's not a manner of remedy my Clan either endorse or practice, Ukitake-kun. But they did find a way, nonetheless, to eliminate it from their lines. There hasn't been a case of the White Plague in a Noble Clan for more than six generations - though the high cost of that achievement is not a pleasant thought."
Juushirou bit his lip.
"They...killed people, didn't they?" He murnured, and Retsu sighed, nodding her head.
"Noone really knows where the illness first came from." She murmured sadly. "You are the first case I've seen face to face with this nature of the disease, though from the things I've read, I believe your case resembles several of the cases recorded among the Clans in the distant past. There were many theories, of course - it was at the time Hollows first broke through into Soul Society, so some believed they brought it with them from the Real World. Others believed it was picked up in spiritual waves, from infected humans with high reiatsu by sensitive Shinigami who were careless and let their guard down."
She spread her hands, looking thoughtful.
"Some of the Urahara even suggested it was a natural mutation of the humans' disease." She continued. "That like beasts sometimes transfer their conditions to humans, so humans might to us. Certainly the term 'Tuberculosis' originated in the real world, even though the Urahara-ke coined the Soul Society strain as simply 'Haibyou'. However because it was so unexpected, it was voracious. The speed with which it bleached people from existence led people to adopt the other human name for it - they came to refer to it as 'The White Plague'."
Juushirou fingered his short hair pensively.
"I understand the nickname." He murmured. "It truly is a white plague, after all."
"Your hair was black, originally, wasn't it?" Retsu asked, and Juushirou nodded, surprised.
"You're the first person to ask me about that, Unohana-sensei." He told her. "I think most people assume it's naturally this way - some kind of rare gene that meant I was born with white hair...except, of course, I wasn't."
Retsu smiled.
"Your lashes and brows are so dark, it's only logical that your hair once was as well." She pointed out. "And there were cases, in our Clan's medical records, where the same thing happened. Among those who were possessed of the strongest reiatsu - sometimes, a high, persistant fever could cause the same symptom in them as it has in you."
"Really?" Juushirou's eyes widened. "Then...did they recover?"
"Mostly, yes, in some vein or form."
"And their hair...did it ever...?"
"Not so far as I know." Retsu shook her head, her expression becoming sympathetic at his sudden fall in expression. "Now, don't look at me like that, please, Ukitake-kun. As I already said, you have your life. Your hair is a very small matter, isn't it? A battle scar, perhaps, that indicates your victory against the enemy. Not your defeat. You shouldn't hang your head - there are more important things in this world than looking like everyone else."
"I know." Juushirou sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Sensei. It's not like that. Just, my hair turned the night Father lost his fight against the wounds the Hollow gave him. So the two things are in my mind together, and I thought...if my hair started to grow back black, it might..."
"Mark closure?" Retsu asked gently, and Juushirou nodded.
"I...I suppose."
"Do you need such a thing to happen, to have closure?" Retsu pressed softly, and Juushirou looked startled.
"I'm sorry, Sensei, I don't..."
"Closure implies something is over." Retsu smiled. "But your Father's love for you isn't over, is it? It's not ended because he's died. He lives within you, just as your Mother does, and all those ancestors before you. Closure is something you seek when death comes to claim you. While you're still alive, there's no need to shut any doors or bar any windows. Don't you agree?"
Juushirou's eyes widened, and Retsu nodded.
"Think on it." She advised. "And get some rest, before someone comes with your breakfast. You'll need your strength, because I want to treat you again this afternoon, and your friends will be clamouring to see you, no doubt, at some point inbetween...since I understand from Genryuusai-sama that today you'll be allowed visitors for the first time."
"Unohana-sensei..." As the Shinigami rose to leave, Juushirou called her back and she turned, eying him quizzically.
"Yes?"
"Will you...please..." Juushirou reddened, looking awkward, then, "Noone's ever talked to me about my disease before. Not like that. Will you, please? I'd like to know...whatever there is to know about it. The more I know, the less it frightens me. But if it's you...I think you know more than Father could tell me, when I was a boy. And if it's not too much of a bother, I...I'd like to know my enemy a little better."
"Even if the history is not a pretty one to hear?" Retsu questioned, and Juushirou nodded.
"Yes. Even so." He murmured. "Please. If you don't mind."
Retsu smiled, shaking his head.
"I have no objection, if that is your conviction." She agreed, sitting back down. "What is it, then, that you want to know?"
"You said the Clans eradicated the disease by eradicating sufferers." Juushirou said slowly. "But obviously that didn't happen in my family's case. Do you think...was that a mistake? Should they have? A lot of my ancestors had tragedies in their lives - children who died at birth, or sickly adults who caused the family strife by their existence. Would our family have been better, in the end, without the curse?"
"What do you think?" Retsu murmured, and Juushirou sighed.
"I want to think that it didn't matter." He admitted. "But it's not the first time I've wondered if it did. Having a sickly child was something Father always had to deal with. I took his wife from him. I had to be constantly looked after and protected from the whispers of people outside. Then he lost his life to protect me, because this weak body couldn't protect itself. It frustrates me, living with this, but it must frustrate the people around me even more. Yet they keep supporting me - regardless of those things. And sometimes, I realise what a big burden it must be."
Retsu rested her hand on his head, eying him thoughtfully as she did so.
"I believe in life." She said at length. "And I believe in people being given the chance to live that life. You are proof, I think, that even a child born with this cursed illness can prevail and find a purpose in this world. You have a future ahead of you that is as bright and as significant as any of your peers, I think. You have that resolve of will to keep going and that's what will define you, as time goes on. You are not weak. And looking at you makes me wonder how many like souls were slain in error or fear - how many like you might've been on the verge of changing this world, but never got the chance."
She shrugged, removing her hand and offering him a smile.
"No, Ukitake-kun. I don't think your family were wrong." She said evenly. "And from all I've heard, they don't think so, either. So don't you worry about it. Okay? The only one living with the burden is you. Everyone else close to you lives with something else - they live with the gift of having you in their lives. And nothing - not even purity of blood - can replace that. Your Mother knew it, and I'm sure your Father did too. I'm sure they'd never have regretted knowing you - so don't you start to regret being here to know. All right?"
Juushirou's eyes widened with wonder as he digested this, and a faint smile touched his lips.
"I won't." He murmured. "Thank you, Sensei. I never thought of it that way before, but...but even just by talking to you, I feel...less uncertain. And better. Much better. Even if I did a silly thing - that's all it was, in the end. And even if I do silly things in the future and wind up sick again - well, that's just how I am."
His eyes glinted with humour suddenly.
"I'm not going to let it kill me until I've had a chance to look into all the potential ways of dying this life has to offer, after all." He said resolutely, and as Retsu stared at him, he laughed.
"Something my brother Hiro said to me once." He explained, looking rueful. "That I couldn't let this curse kill me until I'd at least sampled the other options on the market. He said it's no fun to just curl up and die from one thing when there might be a much more exciting way to leave this world than just coughing myself to death."
He shrugged.
"I think it was his idea of being comforting, when I was feeling low." He added. "At the time I think I threw things at him - but right now it's struck me as funny for the first time."
Retsu chuckled.
"I see." She responded. "Yes, Genryuusai-sama has mentioned to me your surprising and close-knit family. I'm sure your brother would be glad his words were finally being understood."
"Yes." Juushirou agreed. "He's not good at expressing it right, but I know he worries. He and his twin sister are right after me, you see, in age, so I think - even though they don't say it to my face - that they take it as their job to look out for me. Even though I'm the oldest - it's always been sort of that way."
"Do you miss them?"
"A lot." Juushirou agreed. "But I'm glad they can't see me this way - they'd only worry, if they did."
"Speaking of people worrying, it seems you have a young visitor even this early." Retsu's eyes twinkled, gesturing to the entrance, and Juushirou looked startled, shifting his gaze to take in the apprehensive form of his classmate standing in the doorway.
"Juu-kun?"
"Shunsui." Juushirou faltered, then, as he registered his friend's term of address. "I thought that...Juu-kun..."
"Ah, sorry." Shunsui looked sheepish. "I'm bad at remembering things like that. You just...right now you look like Juu-kun. So it kind of just slipped out."
He glanced at Retsu questioningly.
"Is it all right for me to come in and see him, Unohana-san?"
"I'll let you boys speak together for a while." Retsu nodded. "So long as you make sure you're not late for your morning class, Kyouraku-kun."
"Believe me, I wouldn't dare." Shunsui said ruefully, and Retsu's smile widened. She bowed her head to them, withdrawing from the chamber and pulling the door shut softly behind her, leaving the two boys alone.
"You look mangled." Shunsui observed, and Juushirou shrugged.
"Kidou treatment hurts." He said simply. "Even though it works."
"You're not mad at me...because I slipped and called you Juu-kun again?" Shunsui looked apprehensive. "I didn't mean to, only really, right now I couldn't call you anything else. And I guess...in my head...I've started thinking of you as Juu-kun, even though you told me why you didn't like it. So..."
Juushirou smiled wryly at his classmate's casual explanation, shaking his head.
"It's all right." he managed. "I suppose it's okay...if you're calling me that. If it's just you who is, I suppose...I don't mind. After all, Father wouldn't want me to be clinging on to bad memories forever, especially not when I have good ones to call on too."
Shunsui looked startled, then he returned the smile.
"Hopefully your father'd forgive me." He said evenly. "For stealing his pet name."
"I think he would." Juushirou agreed pensively. "He was...a pretty understanding person."
"How are you feeling, anyhow?" Shunsui settled himself on the edge of the bunk, casting his companion a quizzical look as he reached across to brush the other boy's forehead. "You don't feel as hot as you did, but..."
"I'm healing." Juushirou assured him. "Unohana-sensei's been treating me and she's used various kinds of complicated Kidou to help repair the damage in my chest. It isn't very pleasant, because my lungs are still so sensitive - but when she's done, it feels much better. So I think I'll be healed more quickly for it. She's very kind, too - so I'm in safe hands."
"Unohana Retsu has that kind of reputation." Shunsui's eyes twinkled. "She's the youngest ever head of the Unohana-ke to wear the haori, but she's also the most powerful healer for generations. You know that they're a healing clan, the Unohana? Well, the rumours go that she was able to use various types of healing Kidou even as a child - and Yama-jii trained her for a time, too. So she's probably the best of the best, Juu-kun - you should be honoured."
"I know the Unohana are healers. And Genryuusai-sensei did say that she was a former student." Juushirou remembered. "Besides, she told me herself that she was the only one in her family who knew the technique to treat my condition like this."
"I guess it makes her our senpai." Shunsui reflected. "It's a pity Naoko-chan doesn't have the same serenity about her, don't you think? Naoko's pretty enough, after all. But Unohana-san is something else."
"Shunsui! She's as good as being a teacher, when she's here like this!" Juushirou stared. "You can't flirt with her!"
"I can't." Shunsui agreed regretfully. "I'm not in the right position to do it, either. I'm just the irresponsible boy from the Kyouraku-ke. But you're in a much better position, if you ask me. The wounded soldier in the arms of his devoted nurse - that could work, you know, if you played it properly."
"Shunsui!" Juushirou's cheeks flushed red, and Shunsui chuckled with amusement.
"So you think she's pretty too, obviously." He teased. "Well, you are a normal teenage boy after all."
"Shunsui, stop it." Juushirou looked indignant. "It's not like that!"
"Why not?" Shunsui looked innocent. "She's not that much older than we are, surely? You can't tell me you don't have even a tiny crush on her. She's been tending to you night and day, after all. Even with all her busy workload - for shame!"
Juushirou tensed for a moment, then he sighed, smiling in resignation as he sank back against his pillows.
"You never give up, do you?" He murmured softly, and Shunsui shook his head, eyes twinkling.
"Nope." He agreed cheerfully.
"I don't have a crush on Unohana-sensei." Juushirou shook his head. "But I think she's kind and friendly and I like her very much. She has a way of smoothing things over so that they don't worry me so much any more - that's all. It's nothing else than that. I'm just not like you in that respect, Shunsui. I don't look at all girls as that kind of challenge."
"It wouldn't hurt to look at one or two." Shunsui pointed out, and Juushirou shrugged.
"You and I are different." He repeated. "Besides..."
"Besides?"
"I told my family when I agreed to come here that I wasn't going to accept a wife who'd marry me because of how well Father's left the Ukitake-ke - or because she feels sorry for my condition and wants to take care of me." Juushirou said frankly. "I'm not interested in being profit or pity, and with a situation like mine, there's few other reasons any girl would ever show an interest in me."
"You really like to do yourself down, you know that?"
"No. I'm just realistic." Juushirou smiled. "I know how things work, Shunsui-kun. Besides I'm not at the Academy for that kind of thing. And I'd only want a girl that I was really in love with. Not one to pass the time - or whose affection was a mirage."
"They're simpler that way, sometimes." Shunsui said pensively, and Juushirou frowned, seeing the clouding in his companion's brown eyes.
"Shunsui?"
"No. Nothing." Shunsui shook his head, offering him a lazy grin, and in a moment the look was gone. "Though I guess if you've never been in love, you don't know how overrated it is. Having your heart broken is painful, you know - you might find its better not to delve that deeply."
"You sound like the man of experience."
"I've had many experiences." Shunsui winked. "Most of which would probably shock you. And you're in a frail, delicate medical state at the moment, so I won't put your recovery in jeopardy by sharing them."
He eyed his friend keenly.
"After all, we've all been worried as hell about you - noone's let us near you for three days straight, and I'm half afraid Hirata's going to lose his wits and attack me if it goes on much longer."
"Hirata?" Juushirou looked surprised, and Shunsui nodded.
"He's been beside himself without you there." He agreed. "And I'm his prime target for blame. Not that he's wrong about that - but I think it'd be a good thing if he saw for himself you were in one piece."
"I hadn't thought about that." Juushirou frowned. "I'm sorry, Shunsui. I didn't mean people to blame you for my stupidity."
"It was Team Stupidity, lets leave it at that." Shunsui grinned, his dark eyes lighting up with humour. "It's fine. He'll probably be mad that I'm the first one to see you, but that can't be helped - I made a special effort and got up extra-early so I'd have time between breakfast and class, after all. You should be honoured, Juu-kun. I don't get up that early for everyone, after all."
"The sun is up." Juushirou's gaze flitted to the window. "And high in the sky already. Shunsui, that's not early!"
"But since our adventure, I have extra cleaning and tidying duties in the Kitchen before breakfast." Shunsui pulled a graphic face. "So today I got up super-early and did them before it was properly light, just so I'd have a chance to snatch my food before the rush and make time to come talk to you. Sensei told us last night that we could see you from today - and I was determined I was going to be the first person that did."
Juushirou eyed him in surprise, and a sheepish expression crossed his companion's features.
"You're going to be stuck with me from now on." He added. "Sorry about that."
Despite himself, Juushirou grinned.
"I have seven siblings and I'm used to crazy and unpredictable" He reflected. "No matter how much you try, Shunsui, you can't scare me."
He settled his blankets more firmly over his body, then,
"Are you in a lot of trouble, by the way, for what happened? You mentioned Kitchen duty, but..."
"Trouble?" Shunsui looked surprised, then shook his head. "No. Considering what happened, I'm surprisingly off the hook, in fact."
He grimaced.
"Yama-jii and I had a long chat, in which I accidentally called him that to his face and survived." He added. "But I think...we came to an understanding. So it's all right. I'm not being sent home. He says I have too much potential to waste it that early on...and if things are the way he explained them, maybe I can see a point in, well, staying and looking at things again. It's not like I don't like the old dude, after all. He's pretty fair, really, even if he is right on the ball."
He sighed.
"I don't know how I feel about being a Shinigami or any of that, yet." He murmured. "But I'm relieved, in a way, he didn't throw me out. So I guess on some levels I must want to be here - as time goes on, I suppose I'll find out what those levels are."
He tilted his head on one side.
"And you?"
"All Sensei said to me was that my body's current state was enough of a reminder of why there are rules." Juushirou said ruefully. "And he's right. Next time I'll go for help. Or maybe I'll leave you to be eaten by the Hollow - what do you think?"
"No you won't." Shunsui said comfortably. "Of all the people in this school, Juu-kun, you're the one person who'd never let anyone be eaten by a Hollow if you could stop it."
"What about you?" Juushirou objected. "You went after Megumi-san, sure enough."
Shunsui's eyes clouded again, and he sighed.
"Yes." He murmured. "Fat lot of use it was."
"Did you find her, then? Or...?"
"Yama-jii didn't tell you?"
"Sensei?" Juushirou looked surprised. "No. Not one word - why?"
"I did find her." Shunsui's lips thinned. "And I didn't. And then the Hollow got in my way."
"You did and you didn't?" Juushirou frowned. "Meaning?"
"Meaning I found her, but she wasn't there when I did." Shunsui said grimly, and slowly Juushirou's eyes widened as he digested his friend's meaning.
"She was dead." He whispered, and Shunsui nodded.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too. I wanted to help the girl, silly as she was." Shunsui rubbed his temples. "But right now, you're not to worry about that either. It's done, after all. I'll just get Niisama to afford Kyouko whatever protection he can when she crosses the border. It's out of our hands."
"Mm." Juushirou sighed, then, "Shunsui?"
"Yes?"
"Why don't you ever say that someone has died?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"When you told Sora about my Father, you said he'd taken a long journey." Juushirou reflected. "Just now, too, you said Megumi wasn't there. It's like...you euphemise it, whenever it comes up. I've been meaning to ask you about this for a while, actually - but whenever my Father's mentioned, or yours, you get a funny look in your eye. And I guess...I wondered if maybe it was something that you were upset about."
Shunsui stared at him, stricken, and at the older boy's discomfiture, Juushirou reddened.
"I'm sorry." He said quickly, holding up his hands. "I said something I shouldn't...I'm prying into things that you don't want to talk about, aren't I?"
"Yes." Shunsui admitted. "You are, rather. But I hadn't realised I was so obvious - so it's my fault, I suppose."
"If you don't want to talk about it..."
"It's not that." Shunsui shrugged. "Truth is, I don't talk about things a lot. It's just how I am. I'm not a confiding person."
"I see."
"I don't generally have many people to confide in, either." Shunsui continued. "I get on with my brother, mostly. But he's older than me, and we didn't grow up together. So he was a stranger until I was fourteen. I didn't grow up with Mother, really, either. Not after Father died. So...they're people I care about. But they're not people I burden with things. If that makes sense."
"Then I'm sorry I asked. I won't ask again - not if it's that way." Juushirou said seriously. "It's just...you seem sad about something, sometimes. And I wondered if I could help. That's all."
Shunsui eyed him keenly for a moment, then he nodded, a faint smile touching his lips.
"I think you might be someone I can talk to about things." He said, with a frankness that took his companion off guard. "But not right at the moment. I have to order my thoughts first...and besides, you scared me half to death with your little performance in that cave. I need to calm my nerves before I delve into the darkness and pull out sleeping skeletons."
"I'm sorry." Juushirou looked sheepish, though he felt a sense of warmth at Shunsui's honest words. "Especially since you weren't prepared for it to happen. Thank you for helping me like you did. I was...more than a little bit messed up. With the Hollow, and then the thrust of reiryoku, and the fever - I probably acted like an idiot, to be truthful. And said things...maybe..."
"You did look like you were going to go weepy on me at one point." Shunsui grinned. "But it's fine. And better I know about these kinds of things now, surely? After all, we are friends, aren't we? I was being serious when I said you were stuck with me now. I know it's been undefined to this point, and you've spent most of your time with Houjou and Hirata-kun - but there's a reason I ghost in and out of your group from time to time. I like them okay, but I meant what I said in the cave. You're the one who's been fascinating since the first day."
"Fascinating?" Juushirou stared, taken off guard a second time, and Shunsui chuckled.
"No, not in that way." He said playfully. "Though you're not unattractive, and you shouldn't underestimate that wounded soldier appeal. No. it's because you really do have a totally different viewpoint to anyone else I've ever met. It's straight forward. Looking ahead. No ulterior motives. No Clan agendas. And I've never known anyone to be like that. Everyone's always wanted something. But you don't. You're just Ukitake Juushirou. And like I've said before - it's one of your charms."
He winked, shrugging his shoulders.
"Of course, it helps that you're the kind of guy to come into danger and fire Kidou to save a classmate's life." He added casually. "But that's a bonus, I suppose."
"Consider it an optional extra." Juushirou grimaced. "No charge."
"You really have those attacks a lot, then?"
"Not so much in the last couple of years, but after Father died, I was pretty much confined to my room with them." Juushirou responded. "I lost my way a bit then. My body's always weak - but losing Otousama made my mind weak, too. It took a while for me to get past it and move on."
Shunsui pursed his lips.
"See...that's why I think maybe I can tell you about things and have you understand them." He reflected. "Because you tell me things so openly, without worrying about what will happen if you do. You trust in people, and I like that you do. Even if it's dangerous, maybe, to trust in everyone - its not a bad way to see the world."
"I can trust you, though, so there's no risk." Juushirou grinned. "After our adventure, I don't think I'd have any doubts. You might be a flake and a flirt, but you're not completely unreliable or irresponsible. If you were, you'd have abandoned me in the forest or in that cave - but instead you did everything you could to help me even though I freaked you out so wholeheartedly by collapsing and coughing blood."
"Welcome." Shunsui winked, and Juushirou's grin widened.
"You've often said things that have made me think, and they've made me do so all the more since we got stuck out there like that." He added. "I think...Genryuusai-sensei knew what he was doing when he let you into the Academy."
"Perhaps more than I did, to be honest." Shunsui nodded.
"Tell me something, though?" Juushirou asked, and Shunsui looked surprised.
"Mm? What's up? You're a little old to need to know the facts of life, surely? Especially coming from such a big family."
"Shunsui! I'm being serious." Juushirou scolded, and Shunsui chuckled.
"Even hoarse and croaky, you can scold me." He said, holding up his hands in surrender. "Well? Go ahead. I'm open. What's on your mind?"
"Did your brother really sweet-talk Genryuusai-sensei into taking you into his Academy?"
"Is it important?"
"No, but I'm curious. Between friends. Did he?"
"What do you think?" Shunsui raised an eyebrow, and Juushirou frowned.
"I don't think it sounds like something that Sensei would do." He admitted. "I haven't from the start. But..."
"Absolutely." Shunsui agreed. "He's not a bribeable man."
"So...how did you get to come here?"
"Same way you did, I imagine." Shunsui shrugged. "I took the test."
"But..." Juushirou frowned, digesting this. "Sora said you hated being taught and had to be locked in to your classroom if your tutor wanted to keep you put. Surely..."
"I took the exam of my own volition, Juu-kun. Well, in a manner of speaking." Shunsui looked rueful. "The alternative was that, if I didn't go to Yama-jii's loony camp, I'd be found the most strict and unfriendly bride candidate and forced into a marriage of politics. Oniisama got the best of me, and I knew he meant it. I'm not ready to marry - not now, maybe not ever. So this seemed like the safer option."
"So you came here, and sat the test because of it. Even though you've let everyone believe otherwise." Juushirou's eyes became slits. "But you must've ranked. To have been in top class, you must've..."
He paused.
"I was second...and Shihouin-kun was fourth." He murmured, counting people off on his fingers as he did so. "Sora's told me she was fifth, and Shikibu-san was sixth. Hirata said he was seventh, and Edogawa-san was eighth. I know Houjou-kun scraped into ninth. So...that leaves..."
His eyes widened, staring at Shunsui in sudden realisation.
"Either you came joint second with me, or you came top." He whispered.
Shunsui didn't respond, and Juushirou's heart skipped a beat.
"Kuchiki-kun has never once said he was top." He realised. "Even though everyone's assumed it, he's never said it. He doesn't tell lies, after all. But he's made plenty of noise about being top in Kidou and Hohou and so on. So if that was the case in the guidance tests, he'd..."
He swallowed.
"Kuchiki-kun and I got the same mark." He murmured. "And...Shunsui...you were top. Weren't you? It was you. You've not said it - but it was."
Shunsui was silent for a moment, then a sheepish smile touched his lips.
"Busted." He admitted. "But I didn't do it on purpose. It was just hard to concentrate on fudging answers when I had my brother staring down at me the whole time and it was a blazing hot day."
Juushirou stared at his friend in complete incredulity.
"You were top. All the time, you were top." He whispered. "And your reiryoku - the shakka-hou...everything else. You've hidden it - but that's it, isn't it? And Sensei knows it, too. Which is why he hasn't sent you home."
"Mm." Shunsui sighed. "It's a lot of hassle, when people have expectations on you. So I'd rather you didn't mention this to the others. But I guess so. See, I told you before that Father was a Shinigami. And I'm his son. I really am - in pretty much all ways, to be honest. Tokutarou-nii wants me to be the next Kyouraku to take the haori, so he sent me here."
He sighed again, shrugging his shoulders in resignation.
"My Clan are different from some in that they take seriously the original idea of the strongest Clansman or woman taking the haori. Most Clans just elect the leader, to prevent a conflict of interest. But not mine." He said softly. "Father was the last to wear the haori for Eighth District. Uncle took over until Tokutarou-nii came of age, but the Clan wouldn't recognise him as Gotei, and Tokutarou-nii has flatly refused to have anything to do with it. He's said from the start that I'm the one who inherited Father's talents that way, and it should be my role. It's one of the reasons, I think, that he brought me home and made such a thing of building a bond with me. Not that I don't think he cares about me, because he does. It's just...like I said before. Clans always have agendas, and they put up barriers between people. That's all. Even Mother's on board with this idea...I was the only one who didn't want to do it."
He offered Juushirou a wry smile.
"I'd seen enough of the Shinigami thing." He added. "But maybe...I suppose we'll see. How things go from here. Because I know what I'm not willing to do or become. And I've known that since I was six years old - there are lines I refuse to cross and burdens I refuse to bear."
"Does that mean you're not going to coast classes any more?" Juushirou asked, and Shunsui spread his hands.
"I'm not naturally good at the hard work thing." He admitted. "If I ever have worked, it's been in fits and starts. It's true that my tutors had to lock me in when I was younger, otherwise I'd escape from them and disappear. But even so, I learnt a lot of things without really trying to. I have a good memory and things stuck - whether I wanted them to or not. Like the shakka-hou spell."
He grinned.
"I know that for keeps, now. But even if I'm allowed to take practical Kidou with the rest of you from this point on, there'll doubtless be days I'm away with the fairies and days I'm not. It's just how I am. I'm not an academic or a slogger. I like an easy life."
Juushirou chuckled, shaking his head.
"Some might call that genius." He teased. "Learning without meaning to, and being able to do things first try."
"God, no. Don't use such awful words!" Shunsui looked aghast, shaking his head hurriedly. "Please, take it back - I'm lazy and incompetent and haphazard, that's all. Don't for God's sake start thinking that I'm some kind of spiritual prodigy! Can you imagine what my life would be like if people looked at me that way?"
"I was teasing." Juushirou relented. "And I won't say as much to anyone else. I won't take it back, though. Whatever you say about it, it's probably at least some way true."
He shrugged, settling more comfortably against his pillows.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to class, now." He reflected. "If you're at that level without even trying, Shunsui-kun, I want to see what happens when you do."
Shunsui did not answer for a moment, turning to glance around him, and as Juushirou watched, he got to his feet, moving to check that the two of them were quite alone in the little back-chamber of the Healing Bay. After checking the door was properly shut, he returned to his perch, shooting his companion a sober look.
"In that case, I want to ask you something." He said softly, and at the sudden change in his demeanour, Juushirou shot him a startled look.
"Sure, go ahead." He agreed. "What is it?"
"About Megumi." Shunsui hesitated, then, "I think Yama-jii wants to keep us out of it. Whatever happened to her, it's a big deal and it involves Clan. It would probably be stupid and dangerous if we got involved, after all - so I think he'll take it himself from here."
"So..?" Juushirou looked quizzical. "That seems sensible to me. What about it?"
Shunsui's expression became haunted.
"I was just too late to save her." He murmured. "And I don't like that feeling. I've felt it before - the sense of being completely useless no matter how good my intentions. So when I was out there, alone with her, I made her a promise. And even though she didn't hear it - I want to keep it all the same."
"What kind of a promise?" A wary look entered Juushirou's hazel eyes, and Shunsui's lips thinned.
"To try and find out what happened to her." He said softly. "And, if I could, to do something about it."
Juushirou's eyes widened.
"Are you serious?" He whispered. "Even if it means going up against who knows what kind of enemy? If Sensei's involved, why not leave it with him? Surely he'll get to the bottom of it!"
"Maybe he will, but maybe he won't." Shunsui shrugged. "Megumi was a citizen of District One, true enough, and she was murdered on land he controls. But even so, his focus is with us and I doubt he's going to spend a lot of time dwelling on it. Also, there are a few things I didn't say to him - didn't feel I could, because I don't have any evidence to back them up. Either way, I can see Megumi's death being swallowed up in political red tape and just forgotten after a while. And I don't want to let that happen. Silly and wretched as she was, she wasn't a bad person and she didn't deserve her life to be cut short like it was. I want to keep my promise, Juushirou. I want to find out what happened."
Juushirou sighed, gazing at his hands as he registered the sincerity in his companion's tones.
"Why are you telling me all of this?" He asked at length. "If you're so set on doing something, and I can't talk you out of it, why are you sharing it with me?"
"Because I hoped you might help me." Shunsui admitted, and Juushirou's head jerked up.
"Help...you?"
"Because you come from the Districts, and you know that people there are people, not just objects to be used and discarded by Clan." Shunsui nodded. "I really believe she was murdered for that reason, Juu-kun - and I don't like it. It shouldn't be that way. Her life was important too - just like yours or mine or anyone else's. And besides, so long as this remains open, Kyouko could end up in trouble, too. I don't know if she's got to District Eight and though I've sent word to my brother via Yama-jii's channels, I have no way of knowing if he'll be able to track her down in time."
Juushirou gazed at his companion for a moment, then,
"Megumi's honour aside, why are you so intent on this?" He asked softly. "What do you know - or think you know - that's driving you on?"
Shunsui's brows knitted together, and he sighed.
"It's not a knowing. More of a feeling." He said. "That nothing adds up to what it should be. And it worries me that this isn't just the murder of one town girl. There's something else she was connected with - and this is just the tip of the iceberg. And though I can't explain what I mean more clearly than that, yet - I have a strong feeling that if it gets forgotten, it'll be a bad thing. That things will get worse. For all of us. Maybe you most of all."
"Me most of..." Juushirou bit his lip, then, "Because of what you said before? About people not wanting me here in the first place?"
"Maybe." Shunsui agreed. "Look, think about it at the very least. I know you won't talk to anyone else if I ask you not to, and I know you're smart and rational and you think things through. But if you don't want to do it, I won't try and force you to."
He smiled ruefully.
"I know that, even if I promised you Kyouraku protection or help, you wouldn't take it." He added. "And I don't want to make you a target. But ..."
"It's all right." Juushirou made up his mind, meeting his friend's gaze with a slight, troubled smile. "You don't need to say any more, Shunsui. And I don't need any time to think about it. What you said about Megumi's life is right...if we ignore it, it's as though we're saying her life is less important than anyone else's lives...and that keeping promises to people like her and Kyouko is less important than keeping our word to other people. I'm not Clan, so I can't look at things that way. I don't know if I'll be much help to you, because I have no connections and I know nothing about the world you come from. But if there is something I can do - you can count me in."
"The fact you don't know about that world - the fact you don't have Clan ties - is the very reason why I think you're the right person to ask." Shunsui's expression became one of relief. "Thank you, Juu-kun."
"Don't mention it." Juushirou said wryly. "I've already realised being associated with you is high maintenance - I may as well go along for the whole ride."
Author's Note: 'Haibyou'
In Ukitake's biography in Vol 18 of the manga, it's said that he was born with a lung condition. The term used is 'haibyou'( èşç ) which literally means 'lung sickness'. The Japanese use it to describe general lung disease but also to refer directly to pulmonary tuberculosis. This is where the confusion has been over what his disease actually is â some sources say TB, others simply say a lung illness. The English manga translation played it safe and went for lung condition, but translating it as TB is far from incorrect.
Ukitake's symptomology appears to fit with the symptomology of pulmonary TB very closely â except for the fact that he is not and has never been infectious with the disease. (There's no indication of his family having it, for instance, and he wasn't prevented from mixing at the Academy, so he mustn't have posed any kind of threat to his fellows). Still, in a soul based illness, I guess the rules are slightly different.
For this reason, it seemed logical for Soul Society to officially name the disease Ukitake suffers from as 'haibyou', but I've also mentioned the terms TB and White Plague coming from the real world originally. Personally, I'm 99% sure myself that TB is probably what Kubo-sensei was implying, because it makes the most sense. But 'haibyou' is the official term used, and so 'haibyou' it will be ;)
Anything else I've said about the background of his illness is my own imagination letting loose ;)