The weeks following were amazing, long hours lazy relaxing and non stop nausea. Not the Ideal paradise but good enough for the two of them…
The days were warm and long until they fought…
"You need to take care of yourself… You can't keep pushing yourself like this" Shunsui's concerned voice echoed through the hallway
"You don't understand, you just wouldn't"
"Yes I do, don't Ignore me"
Hands wrapped around Shunsui's waist pulling him into a kiss, he just smiled softly, eyes tired and tight.
"You're sick, you need to take care of yourself instead of ignoring yourself"
"I know, but I can't help but work and worry for you" Shunsui's voice was cracking as he spoke "it's just a little nausea nothing in comparison to your illness"
"But you're still sick," mumbled Jushiro "At least schedule a visit with the fourth"
"You're probably right Juu, but it doesn't really seem all that necessary"
"You're being stubborn, after work i'll drag you there myself" threatened Jushiro
—
The hours felt agonisingly long today, the clock ticked slowly and the only other things breaking the soft silence were the occasional laboured breathing and coughs that came from Jushiro's lips. Kiyone observed him from afar, noting the way he seemed to be a little distracted whilst doing paperwork. He was working slower than usual; side effects of worrying all day. He often glanced at the clock impatiently waiting for lunch to arrive, that was usually the time Shunsui would meet him. Once the clock hit noon he had bursted out of his office faster than he'd ever had in a while, the only thing Kione saw was a trail of dust, and Rukia just shrugged her shoulders softly.
—
Rukia peeked her head out of the office doors, only to be met by Nanao's stunned and flustered face. Nanao adjusted her glasses before speaking softly.
"I was…just arriving…to deliver…a few papers from…my…Captain." she whispered
She stepped inside the office to see a few mounds of fully done papers scribbled into like there was no tomorrow coming. The lines were thick and rough big enough to see yet somehow extremely messy, it looked like someone who couldn't wait to bolt out the door had written on them. It was clear that Captain Ukitake had been extremely stressed or ill this morning; more likely the latter often than not.
"Did something uhh…happen in here" she remarked softly "the room looks a bit shaken up"
Rukia looked at her with a glazed glare
"Honestly,"she sighed "We're not even sure"
"Ohh…Okay…Ill, Just leave these here and be on my way"
"That would be lovely, just put it next to that pile of books in the corner"
Nanao stepped near the books as they wobbled slightly, as she placed the papers down the books tumbled; each one landing on her body and sliding to the wooden floor. She yelped as they pelted her body before finally ending, most of the books were either unread or halfway to nearly done. She picked up a book with a shimmery silver spine before adjusting her glasses, Rukia rushed to her side to help her pick up the scattered books.
"I think I found out why your captain's been off lately"
"Huh I didn't think he would be reading this kind of stuff"
—
Shunsui sat in his office sipping on soft ginger tea, he was enjoying the quiet while signing papers; something he rarely ever did voluntarily. Nanao hadn't even had to nag him this morning; the constant nausea had woken him up early. He sipped at the tea softly before pondering what could possibly be making him sick, honestly he couldn't think of a single illness that lined up with his symptoms; so he had just decided to say it was the flu. He thought back on his and Jushiro's interaction earlier that morning…
—
He had just decided to get up early since he was already up that day, he shuffled his legs out of bed awkwardly cursing his will to not wake Jushiro's sleeping form. As he entered the bathroom he was met with what looked like one of his sleep paralysis demons staring back at him, he realized that he probably didn't sleep well. He noted the sunken look of his eyes and how tangled and matted his hair was, he brushed his teeth softly before entering the bedroom again. Jushiro was awake and stretching softly, he turned his head slowly in Shunsui's direction, clearly surprised to see him awake so early.
"Whatcha doing up so early" he breathed "Aren't you usually still slee-"
"I'm just up Juu, nothing else" he looked at Jushiro and the blood that stained his hands and fingers "If anything the real question is if you're okay… Are you having a nasty fit?"
He cringed as he spoke, man was his voice raspy; he sounded terrifying.
"Nothing but the usual I guess" his voice was weary strained like it hurt from coughing
—
A sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, he turned towards the door eyes locking on the creaking wood. Jushiro's pale and worried expression caught his attention he turned his head towards him.