Two months had passed since the war against the Quincies.
Nanao was running down the halls of the 1st division to the captain's office, she had really important news to tell him.
"What's the hurry lieutenant Ise?"
Nanao looked up and saw that she had run past her co-lieutenant, Genshirō Okikiba.
"I just got news from the 4th that I need to tell the captain"
"Is it what I think?"
"Yes, he is finally awake"
"Come on then"
Both of them ran down the hallway and opened the doors to the office were both lieutenants quickly entered and bowed in front of their captain.
"Sir, I just received word from captain Kotetsu of the 4th division"
Both saw how Shunsui's eyes widened and started to fill with hope.
"Is it..."
"He's finally awake"
"Nanao and I can handle all the work for a few hours. So go"
"Thanks both of you"
Shunsui quickly got up from his desk and put on his hat before he Flash Stepped towards the 4th division.
He walked inside and made his way to were he felt Isane's spiritual pressure.
"Captain Kotetsu"
"Head-captain you're here.
-I guess Nanao got my message"
"Is it true?"
"Yes, I was checking on him earlier and he woke up.
-You can say he was confused at first at how he still can be here"
"Did you tell him?"
"All I said was that somehow he survived Mimihagi and that with some help from Tenjirō Kirinji of the Royal Guard we managed to heal him so he could live"
"I see"
Isane looked at him and smiled.
"Go in. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you"
Shunsui nodded, walked in and knelt next to the bed were tired hazel eyes looked up at him before smiling.
"Hi Shun..."
Hearing his voice again made tears sting Shunsui's eyes as he embraced his dearest friend in a gentle hug. He was so relieved that Jūshirō was okay and that he hadn't followed the same fate as their teacher.
"Welcome back Juu-chan"
The tears then made their way down Shunsui's cheeks as he felt Jūshirō put his arms around him.
After a while he released the hug and Jūshirō notice something about his friend.
"Your eye"
"Orihime was kind enough to heal it before they returned to the world of the living"
"I see"
Shunsui smiled and Jūshirō could see that relief and happiness were present in his eyes. His friend then dried his tears.
"You had me really worried you know. I don't think I could bear losing you so soon after Old-Man Yama.
-I was so relieved to hear that they had managed to save your life by using Tenjirō Kirinji's healing hot spring at the Royal Palace. But then you decided to worry me again by slipping into a coma for two months"
"Two months?!"
"Yeah, that's how long it's been since the war ended and how long you've been asleep.
-I recieved the news that you had woken up just a few minutes ago and hurried here"
"I'm so sorry Shunsui. I didn't mean to worry you or anyone else"
Shunsui let a smile cross his face before he got up from his kneeling position and sat down on a chair.
"There's no need to be sorry Juu-chan. You did what you believed was right to do. I was worried of course but seeing you alive and awake is more than enough to make up for it
-Even though this is the third time you scare me like this"
"Sorry"
"Just go easy on me in the future. I can't take as much of these things as you think"
A smile spread across the white-haired man's face.
For a moment there was silence, the two friends just enjoying each other's company.
"How's my division doing, Jūshirō asked"
"Rukia has everything under control. But they were worried about you and some was about to lose hope for a while so they had to be reminded..."
"That the snowdrop, our division flower, stands for hope"
"That's exactly what Rukia told them. She never let go of her hope about you returning one day.
-She has also been getting a lot of help with work from the members of the Female Soul Reapers Association"
"All of them. Even SoiFon?"
"Even her. They've helped Rukia with so many things. Captain Hitsugaya and I also helped out with a few things"
"Thanks Shunsui. I guess I have a lot of people to thank when I'm well enough to leave"
"You do. But for now, focus on resting and getting your strength back"
"I will"
"Good. I don't know how often I can come with the rebuilding and all other work that needs to be done.
-But I promise that I will try to come by at least once a day"
"You never fail to keep your promises"
"Then there's no need to start now"
Shunsui did keep his promise of visiting Jūshirō and five days later, Isane gave them permission to walk outside to the 4th division garden.
"Ready Juu"
"Yes"
Jūshirō slowly stood up and they walked out of the room. Since he was still weak, he couldn't walk that far on his own yet. So Shunsui walked really close to him and when Jūshirō's legs started to give up, he wrapped an arm around him to keep him steady.
Soon they were sitting on the porch and looked out over the garden.
"This is the first time you're outside your room right?"
"Yes. But it feels good sitting outside like this"
"I'm sure it does and it will probably feel even better once you can leave...
-Speaking of which, does captain Kotetsu know when you can leave?"
"About a month or so. It depends on how much of my strength I've regained by then"
"I see"
The two sat there for a while until Shunsui noticed the tired look in Jūshirō's eye.
"Tired?"
"A little. Even thought I was asleep for two months, I get tired quickly"
"Well that's something else that will get better as your strength returns"
Shunsui stood up and held out his hand.
"Let's get you back to your room. I need to leave soon anyway"
Jūshirō grabbed Shunsui's hand and stood up. They then made their way back inside and down the halls to his room.
(A few weeks later)
A little over a month had passed since Jūshirō woke up from his coma and he was almost fully recovered.
He was allowed to leave the 4th division on Isane's orders that he took two or three days of extra rest before returning to his division. So since his family estate hadn't been rebuilt yet, it was decided that he would stay with his best friend at the 1st division.
As Jūshirō walked out of the 4th division, he saw Shunsui and Nanao stand there.
"You didn't have to come and get me"
"But we wanted to Juu-chan. Besides, you may find it a little hard to find your way around here with all the rebuilding going on"
"He's right captain Ukitake. Everyone is having trouble getting around the Seireitei"
Jūshirō looked at them before he nodded understanding. The rebuilding had come a long way during those two months he had been asleep and the one month he had spent recovering but he didn't want to get lost first thing he did.
The trio then started to walk down a very empty road and after a while, Shunsui turned to his lieutenant.
"Nanao, do you think you and Okikiba can handle work for a little while? I wanna take Jūshirō to see you know who"
"Of course captain"
She then disappeared and Jūshirō looked at his friend with confusion before they started to Flash Step in another direction.
"Were are we going Shunsui?"
"You'll see"
After a while, Shunsui stopped and Jūshirō did the same before following his best friend through some trees.
"Isn't this the place master Genryūsai used to take us when we were still in the academy?"
"It sure is"
They then reached the place were the trees ended and there on the grass stood a stone with a smaller structure around it.
Jūshirō walked closer and saw that Yamamoto's name was engraved in the stone.
"Okikiba and I made this for old-man Yama a while back.
-There is an official one not far from the 1st division but I wanted a place were I could be alone and remember our old master... and hoping that I could bring you here someday"
Jūshirō looked up at his best friend and saw the look in his eyes.
"Shun, I must have worried you so much... I'm sorry"
The white-haired man walked over to his best friend and embraced him.
"I'm so sorry Shun"
"For what?"
"For worrying you with what I did. I thought my plan to save the Soul King was the right thing to do but I never thought of how it would hurt you.
-We lost Master Genryūsai and Retsu during the war and if it hadn't been for Kirinji, then you would have been the only one left out of the four of us"
Shunsui closed his eyes and took a deep breath before putting his arms around Jūshirō.
"There's nothing to be sorry for. You did what you thought was the right thing to do.
-But I am grateful for what Kirinji did. He truly is the greatest healer in all of the Soul Society"
The two friends then sat down in front of their master's grave and they talked as if he was still there with them.
After a while, they left with the promise that they would come back soon, together.