Ok, this is a little short for a chapter but I will update soon. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4
'It's just like the old days' Jushiro thought, as he sat across the table from Retsu. They were sitting at the low dining room table sipping on tea that Retsu had just brewed. Outside the wind was howling like a demon possessed while the rain battered against the thatched roof of the cabin. Thunder boomed over head at regular intervals while the fire in the hearth flickered in the wind. Light licked against Retsu's pale skin and Jushiro could not help but think about the other night they had gotten trapped in this cabin together. He looked down at his tea as memories sucked him in.
It had been a cold hard winter. Snow had covered the ground in a white blanket, up to a foot in places. But this had not stopped Retsu from seeking the solitude of her cabin one winter's night just before a storm hit. Jushiro had been worried about Retsu's tired look lately. The war with Aizen had taken a toll on everyone, but it had taken the most out of the healers of the soul society, Retsu especially. The snow had just begun to fall when Jushiro had finally decided to pay a visit to the hospital to check on Retsu. But she was not there and when he had asked her lieutenant, Isane, he had gotten a vague reply that Retsu had gone up into the mountains to get some rest and would be back in a day or two. Jushiro pressed for more details on where in the mountains but it was not until Isane had gotten a good look at the sky that she relented and gave Jushiro an exact location and description of Retsu's cabin.
Jushiro immediately took off for Retsu's cabin. It was a good days hike at a normal pace but only about an hour when using flash step. He was sure that Retsu could take care of herself but if the storm was going to be as bad as he thought it would get, Retsu would be needed in the seireitei to help take care of those who would inevitably get caught in the snow. But by the time that he got close to the cabin, the snow was already coming down so hard that he could no longer use flash step and had to stumble the rest of the way to the cabin blindly using Retsu's lingering spiritual pressure to guide him. When he got to the cabin he knocked once then collapsed on the door step.
When he woke up next, he was wrapped in a blanket on a chair by the fire. Some tea was pressed into his hand and he looked up into Retsu's worried blue eyes. 'They look like the sea during a storm' Jushiro caught himself thinking. He shook his head to clear it of the odd thought. "Thanks for the blanket and tea. I learned where you were from Isane and was going to come up here to warn you about the storm but obviously it is too late for that".
Retsu laughed, "Apparently your timing was off. I saw the storm coming only about fifteen minutes before you got here but decided to stay here since I was not sure that I could get back to the seireitei on time. It is a good thing that I did that or you would have died out there"
Jushiro smiled his appreciation and thanks. 'She has a nice laugh' Jushiro frowned at the thought. Where were these thoughts suddenly coming from? It was not that he was not attracted to Retsu, he along with half the soul society were half in love with her, but only in the way that a patient feels for a healer who saved their life. But Retsu had a strict policy about doctor patient behavior and since almost everyone in the 13 Court Guard Squads had been treated by her at some point, he figure that she was not the kind of woman who needed a man in her life. So why was he suddenly imagining Retsu as his woman? If he was honest with himself, he had imagined it before, but had always buried the thoughts in the darkest parts of his mind. But here, on this mountain with a blizzard outside, effectively sealing them off from the rest of the world, Jushiro found himself wanting the impossible: one night with Retsu Unohana, the only woman who could hold his heart.
The night worn on with no sign that the storm was going to abate. They sipped tea and talked about everything from Squad affairs to a new restaurant that had opened up in the west Rukong district. They ate dinner with some soup that Retsu cooked over the fire. At some point they found themselves sitting next to each other on the long couch by the fire. They leaned on each other and just sat in comfortable silence. The fire crackled and the storm howled but to Jushiro, it was all background noise. The flickering light gave the room an almost dream like quality as he slowly turned his head towards Retsu. She must have felt the slight change in mood since she turned her head as well. Taking this as a good sign, Jushiro leaned in and time stopped as he pressed his lips against Retsu's. In that small cabin that night they made some memories that would last a life time. Jushiro got his wish but he was wise enough to know that this night would not change anything in the long term. And he was right. In the morning the skies were clear enough to use flash step to return to the seireitei. They never spoke of that night again. They went on with their lives as if nothing had happened.
Jushiro smiled a little at the memory. He had gotten his wish, one night with Retsu Unohana, but he was still not sure if that night had been the best of his life or the worst mistake he had ever made. After that night he was no longer able to look at other women in any kind of romantic way. And while he did not pine for Retsu, neither was he able to let go of his feelings for her.
"What is that smile for?" Retsu asked.
Jushiro shook his head to clear the memories, "Oh nothing much, I was just thinking about last time we were stuck here together". Immediately he wish he had not said that. An uncomfortable silence ensued and they both sipped their tea.
"We have never spoken of that night before have we? And am I correct to assume that Shunsui is the only other person you have talked to?" Retsu asked quietly. Jushiro just nodded. "Well that is probably a good thing, we both knew what happened was a one-time thing and other people knowing would only make the whole thing more complicated." Retsu had the sudden urge to tell Jushiro of their child but the head Captains warning sounded in the back of her head so she stifled the urge and kept her mouth shut. But she wondered why the head captain had been so adamant about her not telling Jushiro. Sure the more people who knew, the better the odds that the secret would get out, but Jushiro was known for his discretion. He would be the first to agree that the secret had to be kept at all costs to them. She opened her mouth again, her resolve firm. "Jushiro, I have something important to tell you, but you must swear first that you will keep it a secret, even from Shunsui, unless it is necessary to tell him."
Jushiro looked up sharply. He had never heard Retsu use this tone before. His curiosity and wariness spiked but he did not reply immediately. What could be so important that not even his best friend and sometimes lover could be told? It had to be big, but why now? Retsu had an usually serious face on that had an edge to it that was almost…..desperate? But how could that be? Jushiro took one more look into Retsu's stormy blue eyes and then nodded his head saying "alright, I swear".
Retsu took a deep breath and on the exhale, she began to tell the story.
Sorry this one was so short. I promise to update soon. I just wanted to set up the story for the moment when Jushiro finally learns about his child and what happened on the night that she went missing. Don't forget to review!