3. Flu season

Kotetsu Isane really cursed her luck today. What in the world had she done to deserve that?

It was Friday, a very cold and rainy Friday and that meant three things. First, this evening she would meet with Unohana again. Second, more people were sure to come in for flu treatment. Since the beginning of this week, shinigami have constantly shown up with running noses, coughing and scratching inflamed throats. And third, Unohana-taicho and her would be busy until late that night as it has been for the past five days.

So when Isane felt a headache and a sore throat coming up while tending to the 20th patient today, she had to work really hard not to mourn loudly about her current condition. No, she had to stay calm, pretending that everything was alright and in order. Otherwise, Unohana-taicho would send her home and continue working alone. An option, Isane dismissed the moment seeing the masses coming into the squad's care unit. Oh no, she would not let her taicho continue working on her own with all these cranky and grumpy patients.

However, she had to do something about her current state. Otherwise Unohana would find out. Being the fuku-taicho of the medical unit, she knew of course, what to do. So she got to the storage and grabbed some energy pills. After all, even if somebody saw her looting the medical supplies, nobody would dare to question her actions. Nobody but Hanataro Yamada that is.

"Kotetsu-fuku-taicho, what are you doing here?"

"Hanataro, since when do I have to explain myself to you?", Isane snapped back.

Yamada immediately winced at these harsh words and bowed very low before her. Normally, Isane-san, was very easy going and never cross with him. Even when he got in trouble, she would always be kind to him. The only times she had been grim before were when feeling under the weather.

"I am sorry, fuku-taicho. I was just surprised to see you here. Usually, I am the only one here getting supplies as everyone else seems too busy to make the refills in the treatment rooms."

Hearing his scared voice, Isane instantly regretted her attitude towards Hanataro. After all, he was just caring for everybody and giving his best to be of assistance.

"Hanataro-kun, I did not mean to be harsh. You just startled me. I apologize. About me being here - I saw we ran out on some cough medicine in the main treatment room and thought, I could do the refill. After all, it is not your duty to refill the supplements alone."

While saying that, Isane tried to put on her most gentle smile. Fortunately, Hanataro seemed to believe her, because he nodded his head, took what he needed and left the room. Isane sighed when he left the room, took one energy pill and returned to her 21th patient of the day, being completely unaware that Hanataro never believed her.

The seventh seat was lost in thought and totally unaware of his surroundings, while on his way back to the main treatment room. He could not believe what just happened and was very worried for Kotetsu-san. Only when he bumped into another shinigami, he was pulled back into reality.

"Careful, Yamada-kun. Otherwise you get hurt."

"Unohana-taicho! I am very sorry. I did not look, where I was going. Did I hurt you?", Hanataro asked in his usual panicked voiced, whenever something seemed amiss.

"No, you did not hurt me. Though you might want to tell me, what is going on in your mind. You seem to be very worried."

Yamada was not quite sure, how to respond to that. Should he really share his suspicion of the fuku-taicho being sick with Unohana-sama? After all, he was sure, Isane-san wouldn't appreciate that at all. On the other hand, she really looked ill, and if he was right, nobody was better to get her to rest than the taicho. Making up his mind, he looked up to Unohana and responded in a very controlled and serious tone:

"I am worried about Isane-fuku-taicho, Unohana-sama. She seems to be ill."

Unohana's eyebrows narrowed at his words. Even though, she had helped Isane with her studies for the past six weeks, she had had her suspicions, that Isane still did not get enough rest. On the contrary, she even seemed to sleep less and work more. And now Hanataro was confirming her surmise.

"What makes you think, that she is sick?"

"Well, there are several signs. First of all, she has been looking very tired for the past month or so, as if constantly being stressed out. Then today I met her in the storage. She was very pale and her voice sounded really rough. And when I asked her, what she was doing there, she lied to me."

"She lied to you?"

That piece of information was indeed unusual. Isane was a person, who preferred sticking to the truth and would only lie when desperate. Then again, this seems also to have changed over the past several weeks, Unohana reminded herself.

"Yes. She told me, the supplies in the main treatment room were empty and she wanted to refill them. Only, I had refilled them an hour before and she had completely different medical pills in her hand than those used in the treatment room."

"Which kind of medication, do you think, she took?"

"I believe, she took some energy pills. Those, that restore your spiritual energy for another 24 hours."

"I see. Thank you, Hanataro-kun for bringing that matter to my attention. I will take care of it as soon as possible. Now please return to your work and do not worry anymore about it", Unahana told Yamada and gave him a genuine smile.

Seeing the seventh seat leave, Unohana returned to her office, thinking about the information, she just got. Isane was not feeling well, yet she refused to seek help. Neither from her not from any other medical shinigami in her squad. Instead she tried to hide it from everybody. But why?

And what was it, that kept her fuku-taicho from sleeping? It had been almost ten weeks ago, that she had to send her to bed the last time. It was the day of the menos grande attacks and Zaraki's special training session. Another three weeks later, Isane admitted to studying in her free time some old cases.

Unohana knew, that back then Isane did not tell the full story, but went along with it anyway and offered her help. So for the past six weeks, they both came together for tea twice a week, discussing Isane's findings and thoughts. And as expected, Isane had always been well prepared and they both had learned something new out of their fruitful conversations every time.

Nevertheless, Isane always looked worn out at their meetings. When asked about it, she denied that anything was wrong and refused to let Unohana take a closer look at her. She would always find some excuses for her looks, like she had to do some additional paperwork, or some other shinigami asked her for help and thus she had to stay up late. Again, Unohana knew these were rather lies, but still being unsure about what was going on in Isane's mind, she let her have her will and did not order an examination.

Now however, seeing that Isane was putting her health to risk on purpose, the situation had changed. Unohana was determined to put an end to this destructive behavior of her fuku-taicho right now.

Leaving the office and searching for her fuku-taicho, she found Isane in one of the smaller treatment rooms. Isane was just talking to a seated officer of the 8th devision, when Unohana entered the room.

"Please, take these pills twice a day and rest for the next days. This way, you should get rid of that cold. If you are not feeling better in three days time, please return here."

"Hai, Kotetsu-fuku-taicho. Thank you." The officer bowed and was about to leave the room when seeing Unohana.

"Good day, Unohana-taicho", the young shinigami greeted, bowing his head before leaving the room.

Unohana just nodded and smiled at him. Isane on the other hand, who so far had her back turned to the door, immediately spun around in surprise. What was Unohana-taicho doing here? Suddenly she felt a very oppressive feeling in her stomach, seeing the expression on her superior's face - somehow it looked like a mix of anger and worry. She gulped very hard before smiling weakly.

"Taicho-sama, what can I do for you? Do you need my assistance with another patient?"

"No Isane, but there is an urgend matter I have to discuss with you right now. Please follow me", Unohana responded in such a strict tone that Isane did not even try to protest.

"Hai, Unohana-taicho."