Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Enjoy!

"Yama-jii is… Ukitake's father?" Shunsui asked himself. The picture brought him millions of questions unanswered. If it's true, then why did Yama-jii never told such to me? He knew it wasn't his business, but still…

Shunsui sat on the desk and went through the pages of the old diary. He cared no more if he was invading somebody's privacy. What he needed very much that time were answers. Answers to prove that Ukitake's family was still alive and well, and that there was still a hope and chance to free Ukitake's lost soul.

And when he found what he thought he should look at, he began to read a random passage.

June 27, 1993

My oldest son, Jushiro decided to go out in the city to earn some money for us. As much as I hate him to go, I couldn't also keep him around. My wife is pregnant with a twin, Kaien is still a toddler, and I'm sick and needed a medical attention very much. Jushiro is our only hope to survive. I wish him all the best.

Good luck with you, and we love you, my son.

-Genryuusai

Shunsui skipped to the next year.

June 23, 1994

It's almost one year since he left, but we receive no letters. I wonder what he is doing now. Well, it's only been a year yet. Maybe he's just busy with work.

-Genryuusai

Another passage caught his eyes, but this time, it was in the current year. And unlike the other passages, it was a lot shorter this time but displayed mixed emotions and different meanings.

January 12, 2013

Two decades had passed; I still heard nothing about you. Do you even miss us?

-Genryuusai

The brunette stopped reading any further, what Ukitake told him only matches the events written down on Yamamoto's diary. He would never thought that Yamamoto was also suffering with deep loneliness and longing for Ukitake just what Ukitake himself felt for his family.

But if Yamamoto was really the former's father, then Shunsui should be glad for him, right? Ukitake's spirit would finally be settled in peace when his whole family would find out about him.

But then, Shunsui didn't feel like opening the topic yet to his friend. He still have to make sure Yamamoto was really in good shape or he might stress him emotionally if he told them what really happenedwithhis beloved oldest son.

"You're here! Have you found it?"

Shunsui walked in. "Yes." Chojiro noticed that he looked more crestfallen when he came back.

"Is something wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"Nothing. It's just that…" He looked down at the worn diary he was holding. "Who would have thought that Yama-jii is actually a very lonely man, ne?"

Chojiro frowned. "You read it? You know that's…"

"Privacy invasion. Yes," he finished for him. "But I couldn't help it anymore when I saw that certain picture of him and his son named Jushiro and found out that the man never came back and God only knows what happed to him." Shunsui sighed. "He really has no idea."

"You know, he's really fond of you," Chojiro started and looked at the old man lying on the white hospital bed. "He told me you reminded him of Jushiro that was why he agreed to take care of you when you were seven years old in order to help you overcome your trauma."

Shunsui frowned on surprisingly on that. "Trauma?"

"Yes. Do you not remember? It happened twenty years ago."

Shunsui counted to himself. I'm five years old that time.

"I believe he was five years old at those times, but I didn't get to see his face since his back was turned against me." Shunsui remembered what Ukitake told him before. Why did I suddenly remember that? It's not as if… could it be… no… that's impossible. "No… Will you tell me?"

"You got involved in an accident which caused you a post-traumatic effect," the older man told him.

Shunsui looked at him incredulously. "Wha… What? What kind of accident is this really?" He could sense another anxiety on the way to hit him.

"You almost got hit with construction materials because of the workers' carelessness."

Shunsui couldn't believe his ears and shook his head disbelievingly. "That's not true! I was five years old back then, and I was living in America during those times."

Chojiro looked down. "You were sent there because of the same reason." He sighed. "After the incident, we all got worried, because you never stopped mourning and crying over something that never existed in the first place. You always asked to help this… this Angel you're saying. You were trying to get someone to save this guardian Angel of yours whom you said saved you. We thought you had gone mad, because clearly, there was no one around when that happened. You're parents brought you to different and best psychiatrists they could find just to keep your sanity, and then…"

"Please… stop. I don't wanna hear anything more, because I… I already know what happened next."

And with all dignity, Shunsui resisted the urge to punch the nearest wall right now and then. Instead, he sulked quietly to himself as he made his way out of the hospital room and outside of the hospital building.

I do not regret saving an innocent little boy. I could even imagine him having a happy life now, who ever he is. I'm even glad that he doesn't probably know me, because I might even burden him by blaming his own conscience for being saved.

Ukitake, why me?

In the passed few days his older brother was lying there lifelessly, Toshiro never dared to leave even once his brother except going to the comfort room, even their family relatives had no idea how to get the younger Hitsugaya to at least eat something to put in his stomach. Everyone knew how close the brothers were when their parents died. For Toshiro, his older brother had become both his mother and his father who was always there for him, never leaving his side in good or bad times.

Yes, Toshiro never left, even when he saw the line in his brother's heart monitor gone flat and the annoying, long beeping sound echoed through the sullen walls.

Brother, why do you have to leave me so early?

What do you think? Just don't be confused, okay?