Well here it is, chapter five. Hmm...oh yeah! A shout out to Akai-Miko for reviewing every chapter I've posted! Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Not the Best Future
By the time they returned to the tavern they stayed at the night before, the sun had begun to set, all noticed subtle changes in each other's appearance. No one commented on the smudges of dirt that had appeared on Gin's and Rangiku's clothing, nor the slight trembling in Unohana's hands as they climbed the stairs to their rooms.
Glaring at the other two, Nanao said nothing only allowed the two to figure out the lucky one that would share the room with one of the men for tonight.
"I'll do it."
"I volunteer for this night." Both looked, surprised at the other's willingness as they were startled out of their contemplation. A twinkle of mischief had entered Kyouraku's eyes as he caught hold of an intriguing notion created from the day's earlier events.
"Retsu-Chan can go with Juushirou, and Rangiku-Chan can go with Ichimaru-Kun! Problem solved!" Pushing the four towards their respective rooms, Kyouraku smiled and completely forgot about Nanao as he mumbled under his breath,
"Ah, I always did love matchmaking and besides Retsu-Chan and Juushirou have always had a spark."
Feeling a shiver go up his spine, he slowly turned to meet the suddenly ice blue eyes of one ANGRY Nanao Ise,
"What have you done? First of all, I'm stuck with you tonight again and second of all, by doing this, you could've dredged up horrible memories for-"
"Yare, yare, Nanao-Chan, what's done is done, there's no need to be so angry, and there's no way to reverse it. No-" He was cut off by the large book that came hurtling from the hands of an angry Nanao. Grumbling, she dragged the unconscious Kyouraku into the room while she let out a groan, this was going to be a long night.
Heaving his inert body onto one of the beds, Nanao flopped down on the second one as she looked at the man's slack face, as he slept, unconscious. Tilting her head to one side, Nanao gave a small smile as she gazed at the man who seemed like a lazy, womanizing drunkard at first glance. After a bit of time spent with the fool however, anyone could tell that he was intelligent and a very caring man.
Sighing, Nanao slumped down at the second bed pondering past choices and some of the difficult decisions that she had had to make. Quietly she muttered to herself,
"Should I tell him that I was the one betrothed to him all those years ago? I do not wish for things to change between us." Musing the choice she had made, she did not notice the open eyes of Shunsui,
"Why did you not tell me Nanao?" For once his voice was quiet and serious rather than the loud and boisterous yelling he usually used. Startled by the question, Nanao stammered out an answer,
"I-I-I didn't wish to make things any different between us, it seems that I am the one that dragged you to the life of a pirate." An uncharacteristically bitter laugh escaped Kyouraku's lips,
"Do not worry sweet Nanao-Chan, it is not you, it was my parents who did not understand my free spirit. Actually I thank you for ridding me of the noble life." Staring at the confusing man, Nanao pushed her glasses up her nose and brushed aside a stray piece of hair as she contemplated his answer.
Laughing softly at her expression, Kyouraku twisted his face in thought to think of a way to explain more clearly,
"Well, I suppose I knew that I would grow shaped by my parents, because of our betrothal that pushed me over the edge I would grow freely and by my will. Do you understand?" Nodding thoughtfully at his words, Nanao gave a small smile at the lift of her heavy thoughts. Tackling her, Shunsui landed on her saying,
"My Nanao-Chan looks SO cute when she smiles like that!" Closing her shaking fist, Nanao calmed and let go if only for a second to enjoy the smell of sakura petals and sake on the man before whacking him calmly with her fan. Allowing herself a secret smile she looked at the whimpering man who was currently hovering in a corner, drinking sake for his "cruel Nanao-Chan" where she saw not the drunkard that everyone else saw but underneath the role he played.
The two most surprised by the push were Unohana and Ukitake even when they had known the man for several years prior, were still surprised by their flamboyant and rambunctious friend after twenty years. Than realizing that they were in the same room, Ukitake's face flushed red as he turned to exit the room mumbling,
"I'll leave you here to your room while I go get Shun. Be right back." Grabbing hold of the handle, he turned only to find it unyielding. Silently cursing at his best friend and promising his long death, he turned to Unohana's peaceful face,"It appears Shun has locked the doors on us. I apologize Retsu it appears we must share our quarters tonight." Muttering all of this, Ukitake kept the flush on his cheeks before he began to cough.
A white handkerchief covered his mouth as he coughed,
"So your cough continues to ail you even twenty years after you had received it." Holding the red stained cloth to his lips, Ukitake spoke with muffled words,
" Yes Retsu, and I'm fine though every doctor I have seen has told me that I would die an early death." Quietly thinking if only for a minute, Unohana replied,
"Not every doctor for I have not diagnosed you yet." Looking at the woman in surprise, Ukitake's eyes widened as he flushed a bright red,
"Oh no, I am sure to die after seeing so many doctors, please do not trouble yourself." Waving the handkerchief around, Ukitake tried to emphasize his point before collapsing with the exertion. Abruptly changing the subject, Unohana spoke,
"Is that the handkerchief I gave you when we were 13?" Glancing at the piece of cloth in his hands, Ukitake closed his eyes as if in shame before speaking,
"Yes, I've kept it all these years while we traveled the world." A soft smile graced Unohana's face,
"I thank you for keeping it in such well condition all these years. I also must thank you for this morning." The deep, hacking cough, stopped long enough for Ukitake to reply in between his coughing,
"It…was no…problem. I couldn't just…let that g-" Before he managed to finish his sentence, Ukitake collapsed to the floor coughing.
Sitting him up, Unohana made him swallow some of the medicine he had bought only that morning before letting him lie down as he silently coughed. Stroking some of the hair from his forehead, Unohana sat up throughout the night, trying to calm Ukitake's violent cough.
In the room of Rangiku and Gin however, they each sat on a bed as Rangiku listened carefully to Gin's words,
"So ya knew me to be a street urchin when ya saw me last, didn't ya Ran?" Nodding, Rangiku beckoned for him to continue,
"I wasn't an actual street urchin, I escaped my parents when I was five and had lived on the streets only a month before I met you. Than I decided I would remain an urchin forever just to stay next to you, but after you moved, I was packing my meager belongings to follow but suddenly a bunch of men took me off back to my parents. I kept trying to run away but they wouldn't leave me alone! It wasn't until Kyouraku's ball before I could run off. Even than I couldn't find you. I'm sorry Ran, I couldn't protect you nor keep my promise." Rangiku's eyes were glittering with unshed tears, as she leapt at Gin,
"Thank you for being there for me when you could. I should've known you wouldn't leave me." Her words were all said through glittering tears that trailed down her cheeks. Saying nothing, his ever present smile still there as he wiped tears from her face,
"It's alright Ran we've made it, come on don't cry on me! Ya know I can't stand ya crying!"
Their past cleared and the present mended, all that was left was the future. All expected a smooth future, no bumps, no problems that they would need to clear. They were wrong because even as all fell asleep in the arms of another, a dark shadow crept in on their dreams.
Smiling as he darted in the darkened room, a man with cold brown eyes and a scheming smile entered the room of Nanao and Kyouraku. As he clapped his hand over Nanao's mouth to muffle her screams, she cursed the silver bracelets that took away her defense. Drawing her wakizashi from her sleeve, she slashed out at the man, cutting his cheek and distracting him for a precious second. Growling, the man grabbed her wrists and carried her out while her fists tried to inflict as much damage as possible. Throughout the silent battle, Kyouraku slept deeply, unknowing of Nanao's fate.