I would like to briefly thank wenduo for having left a review of both of my previous chapters thus far, and I'd also like to extend those thanks to all the others who have given me feedback on these stories. I very much appreciate it! Reviews are what keep my tiny hands a'typin'.
The acquiring of an asauchi - a nameless zanpakuto - was a prestigious thing. This, Yamamoto had drilled into both of their heads. He had droned on and on about how they were his most promising young students and how they were certainly going to be incredible shinigami someday. The most Shunsui was concerned about was trying out his new weapon. Jushiro was quite wrapped up in ol' Yama's speech, but he was more than ready to run out into the training fields and give it a try.
"You two are dismissed," rumbled the deep voice of Shigekuni Yamamoto. Shunsui's head shot up - he hadn't been paying a lick of attention until that moment.
"Freedom!" Shunsui shouted the moment they exited the room.
"He can still hear you, Shunsui. Especially with you shouting so loud." Jushiro chuckled. He was used to his friend's antics, and therefore unconcerned about any consequences they might bring about.
"Shit- Right-" Shunsui stooped over, leaning closely towards Jushiro as if to whisper something, and the white-haired man bent his ear towards his friend.
"Freedom!" He shouted once again, even louder than the first time. Jushiro grimaced, immediately pressing a hand to his now aching ear.
"You're awfully excited," he muttered.
"Sure," Shunsui said with a shrug. "I mean, this is a pretty big deal and all. Plus, it's finally something new to do."
"Maybe this will manage to keep your attention for more than five minutes, hm?"
"No promises," Shunsui chuckled. "Hey, y'know what? Let's go out into the fields and train tomorrow. I can't wait to use this thing."
Jushiro let out a soft hum. It probably wasn't the best idea, since they'd hardly even learned how to use them, but he couldn't deny that he was eager to try out his own weapon as well.
"Alright, tomorrow, then. Can we meet before classes? I have some things to do later in the day."
"Ugh, Jushiro," Shunsui whined. "You just love making me get up early, don't you?"
"You'll survive," his pale friend chuckled. "And like I said, there are things I have to do after classes. If you want to train together, it'll have to be before."
"Fine," Shunsui relented, running a hand through his shaggy hair to scratch the back of his head. "I guess we'll meet up in the morning, then…"
Jushiro gave him a consoling pat on the shoulder. "I look forward to it. Until then, Shunsui."
The next morning was utterly awful. Waking up even earlier than usual was bad enough, but having to drag himself all the way out to the training fields while simultaneously trying to wake himself up and, well, look somewhat alive was even worse. At the very least, he could hope that some of Jushiro's energy would wash off onto him. His friend was always cheerfully energetic, even early in the morning. He smiled, thinking of the man's happy expression.
The smile fell from his face when he finally caught sight of his friend. He was- He was nothing like himself. Jushiro was even paler than usual, and the sheen of sweat that glimmered on his brow was also unusual. The fact that he was sitting on the ground was significantly more concerning, so much so that Shunsui found himself rushing towards his friend.
"Jushiro! Hey, are you okay? You don't look so great, buddy!"
"Oh...Shunsui. Don't worry, I'm alright. It's just the early hour, I'm sure you understand."
Shunsui kept frowning. That was an utter lie, and they both knew it. Jushiro's voice was thin and scratchy, even moreso than usual. His voice was so quiet that he had barely heard the lie slip from his friend's lips.
"Jushiro, I don't wanna fight you if you're sick or something. We can always wait."
"No. No, I'm fine, Shunsui. Really, I promise, I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well."
Shunsui still doubted the man, but it was clear that he was determined to spar with him. Why, though? He knew that Jushiro was smart enough to avoid a fight if he needed to, so why was he so hell-bent on sparring just this one time? Were zanpakuto that big of a deal to him?
No...that couldn't be it, either. That wasn't like him at all.
"Are you sure? We really don't have to do this."
"Shunsui, I'm sure." Jushiro smiled as he stood, facing his friend. "I've already told you, I'm fine. So, shall we?"
"If- If you're sure, I guess."
He was nervous, but he slowly drew his zanpakuto. Jushiro did the same, looking slightly more energetic now that they were about to duel. Immediately, the tension between them was palpable. Both were ready to strike - it was only a matter of who would do it first.
Still, worry for his friend lingered in the back of Shunsui's mind. He would try to take it easy today.
Jushiro ended up being the first to strike. Both hands gripping tightly to his zanpakuto, he brought the sword down upon his opponent. Shunsui was quick to block his attack, and they both ended up in deadlock.
Again, his ailing friend was the first to make a move. He raised his sword again and swung it at Shunsui, but the dark-skinned man was ready for his next move. He tilted his sword to the right, effectively cutting off Jushiro's swing. Jushiro, in turn, attacked from the other side. They continued on like this for some time, swinging and blocking, swinging and blocking, over and over again, until finally Shunsui decided it was time for a change.
He allowed Jushiro to swing at him again. Their swords met, and Shunsui pressed hard against his friend, pushing him back ever so slightly. The one step he took backwards was Shunsui's opportunity, and he used it. He quickly swept his leg beneath Jushiro's feet, effectively slamming his friend to the ground. A triumphant smile spread across his lips.
...Until intense coughing suddenly ravaged his friend. His expression then quickly turned to one of utter fear and concern.
He was immediately by Jushiro's side, sitting the man up with as much care as he could manage.
"I'm so sorry, Jushiro. This was a horrible idea, I never should'a let you spar with me."
"It's not- It's not your fault," he managed out. "I was a fool. I knew better than to spar today, but I refused to back down. I'm…"
He broke out into another fit of coughs, leaning heavily against Shunsui now. He could tell that his friend was getting worse by the moment - he had to do something, and quickly.
"Hush, Jushiro. It's fine. I'll kick your ass later for this, but for now, let's get you to the infirmary, okay?"
"No, no...don't. Please, Shunsui, don't. I'll be fine, so please don't."
"Jushiro, you're hacking up a lung here. I can't just leave you be."
"The last place I want to be in is the infirmary. Please, I…"
Again, his friend broke out into a horrid coughing fit. Shunsui pulled him closer, confused and fearful. He didn't know what was happening, but he didn't dare move the man while he was coughing. He could only rub gentle circles into Jushiro's back and pray that the spell would end soon. As if granting his wish, the hacking slowly abated, and Jushiro pulled away from him. His friend's movements were slow, but at the very least, he was moving.
Seeing Jushiro's face, however, Shunsui found himself again growing afraid. There was blood everywhere, covering Jushiro's mouth and chin, some of it even soaked into his uniform and covered his hands. Shunsui realized it was painted upon his own uniform just as well as Jushiro's.
"H-Holy shit, Jushiro! We've gotta get you to infirmary, look at all of that blood…"
The pale man tried desperately to refuse, but he could hardly seem to form words. Blood continued to pour from his mouth.
"Yeah...c'mon." Carefully, he lifted Jushiro up, hooking an arm underneath him for added support. "I've got you, buddy. Let's get goin'."
"Sh-Shunsui-" Jushiro didn't have even a moment to get a word in edgewise before his friend cut him off.
"-Unless you're about to thank me for being such a great friend, I don't wanna hear it."
"B-But Shunsui, I…"
"Jushiro, I know I'm making jokes and all, but I'm secretly kinda pissed about all this, and maybe kinda terrified. We'll talk later, okay? For now, let's just keep you from getting any more blood on your uniform."
They were both silent for the rest of the arduous trek. By the time they reached the infirmary, which was thankfully close to the training grounds, Jushiro was exhausted nearly to the point of unconsciousness. Shunsui wasn't faring so well himself, having had to practically carry his friend the whole way there.
"Just a few more steps, Jushiro," he mumbled.
Nearly the moment they entered the infirmary, different attendants surrounded them. In seconds Ukitake was taken from his arms, and though he was still worried, he knew it was for the best.
He would see his friend soon.
Shunsui, in the meantime, decided to take a seat in the infirmary hallway, just outside of the room he had seen them drag Ukitake into. He'd gotten a few strange looks from various patients and nurses, but nothing was going to move him. He would leave when Jushiro did.
It was some hours before a tall woman with long, dark hair opened the room's door. She looked down at Shunsui, a kind smile on her face. He noticed immediately that she was wearing an academy uniform.
"Uh…?" Shunsui wasn't sure what to say, but thankfully the unfamiliar woman spoke first.
"You're his friend, aren't you? Ah...Shunsui, was it? He was mumbling your name over and over again. I should have known that you would be waiting out here."
She stepped out of the room and held the door open, motioning for the sitting man to enter.
"Go on. Normally, I'm not allowed to let you in, but...you seem awfully determined to stay. So I'll make an exception, but only just this once."
Shunsui smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you so much!"
Without so much as another thought, he ran into the room. The sight of his friend lying in the bed, covered in blankets and with medical equipment surrounding him on all sides was terrifying. Jushiro was a proud man - he rarely allowed others to see him falter, even his close friends. Now he was utterly incapacitated and unresponsive in an infirmary bed.
Silently, Shunsui pulled up a chair next to his friend's bed. "I'm not gonna leave you, Jushiro," he whispered. "Even if they try to kick me out, I won't leave. I promise."
Of course, there was no response. Silently, he mulled over the circumstances that had brought them to this moment. It was all his fault, really. He should have been more firm in calling off the match when he saw how weak Jushiro looked. Even worse, he had considered it a good idea to knock the poor guy onto his back.
Damnit. Why had he been so stupid?
"I'm sorry, Jushiro. I...I was such an idiot, and I'm sorry."
"Stop blaming yourself, Shunsui."
His eyes widened at the sound of Jushiro's weak voice speaking ot him.
"You're awake!"
"Yes...I am. Though I can tell I've been asleep for some time."
Shunsui could hear the subtle wheezing behind every word that escaped Ukitake's lips. It was this quiet, nearly imperceptible noise, that kept him from being truly happy that his friend was awake. He knew that things were still bad for the man.
"Say...Shunsui." He was snapped out of his thoughts by Jushiro's voice calling for him. "Beside my bed, there should be a cup of tea. Will you help me sit up so that I can drink it? It's medicine, I think."
Jushiro's voice faded as he struggled to finish his sentence. Regardless, Shunsui carefully placed a hand on the man's back and lifted him up into a sitting position. He'd been lifting Jushiro so much in the past few hours, he was starting to realize that his friend was incredibly light. Concerningly light. Regardless, Jushiro was sitting with little difficulty, so that was something to be happy about, at least.
Quietly, he handed over the steaming cup of tea.
"Shunsui-"
"Jushiro-"
They both stopped, looking at each other in vague amusement.
"Go ahead, Jushiro. Whatever you've got to say, I'll listen."
"It's just that, I...I wanted to thank you. I was being a stubborn fool earlier, and you certainly saved my skin by dragging me here." After taking a few sips of the tea, he set it down beside him. It clearly didn't have a particularly pleasant taste, but Shunsui ignored his friend's disgusted face. Making fun of his friend could come later, he supposed.
"It's no big deal, but will you at least tell me what the hell's going on with you? It's not normal for anyone to just randomly cough up blood."
"You are correct. This particular ailment is unique to me and me alone. It doesn't even have a name, but…"
He breathed a soft sigh. "It will affect me for the rest of my existence."
"Wait, what? There's no- There's no cure? How can you be so sure there never will be? Jushiro, you can't be serious!" Shunsui slammed a hand upon the hospital's bedside table.
"Shunsui. I assure you, I will remain this way for as long as I live. However, I vowed long ago that I wouldn't let my illness stop me from becoming a shinigami. I should hope…" He trailed off for a brief moment, his eyes averting from Shunsui's. "I should hope that this won't change the nature of our relationship."
"The nature of our relationship? What the hell are you talking about?"
"There aren't many people who know about my illness. I keep it a secret because, most often, when people learn of it they are quick to distance themselves. They aren't particularly eager to spend their time around a dying man. If they stay, then they treat me like a fragile being in constant need of protecting. That, I honestly believe, is worse."
"I suppose what I'm asking from you is that you either treat me as you always have, or...do what the others did."
Kyoraku stared at him in stunned silence for a few moments. He could see the way his friend's trembling hands gripped the bedsheets so tightly - this was not an easy thing for him to beg of Shunsui. He had never realized the burden that Ukitake was carrying, nor had he expected to be forced to make such a decision.
Still, his only choice was clear to him.
"I'm not goin' anywhere, Jushiro," he declared, taking hold of the man's shaking hands. All he wanted was for Jushiro's fears to be abated. "I swore it before, and I'll swear it again. I am not leaving you."
Jushiro watched him, his wide eyes slowly filling to the brim with tears. As soon as he noticed this, he bowed his head, but the subtle trembling of his shoulders showed Shunsui what he was trying desperately to hide.
Without a word, he moved himself closer to the bed, his hand gripping Jushiro's even tighter.
"I didn't think you were such a crybaby, Jushiro."
"Hush, Kyoraku. They're tears of joy, so it doesn't matter."
Some hours later, a dark haired, uniform-clad nurse would find herself draping a light blanket over a brown-skinned, sleeping man. As she tucked in her patient - his equally-asleep companion - she would chuckle to find their hands clasped tightly together.