tampered | Log; Ongoing

Log; Ongoing

When; Monday, January 21st, evening
Rating; PG?
Characters; Ukitake Jyuushirou [

floating_bamboo], Kyouraku Shunsui [

pink_hurricane], Kotetsu Kiyone [

better_third], Kotsubaki Sentarou [

bearded_monkey]
Summary; The 13th division captain finally opens his eyes.
Log;

He had been dreaming, during all this time. He dreamt of still pond waters and blossoming sakura trees, of raging oceans and clouded skies, all mixed into one long dream that never seemed to end. Sometimes it was soothing, other times frightening, and Jyuushirou found himself lost so deeply in it that he never thought he'd find his way out. The only thing protecting him from getting further lost was two very well-known fins…

He'd been so sick, and the cold underground and the boiler room with its dirty air had not helped, even if it had provided shelter. He did not really remember when he lost track of his surroundings, his world full of that never-ending pain, blood and the struggle to breathe. Under all that, the worry for everyone out in this sudden war, and the guilt of not being able to help lingered - even when he was dreaming.

Curse this body.

The first thing he noticed, even before he could open his eyes, was a familiar reiatsu in the room. He was not surprised – it was that reiatsu that had dragged him out of his unconscious state. It was soothing to feel, and gave him some more strength to fight completely awake. Jyuushirou‘s chest ached slightly, feeling rather raw, but it was much better now – no blood, no jabbing pain or fever. Moving a few fingers, just to make sure he could still feel them, Jyuushirou then slowly opened his eyes.

Thankful that the light in the room was rather dim, he blinked slightly, feeling a bit dizzy. He was in the hospital – he’d figured he was, after all this. The mask on his face was a dead giveaway too, of course, and it was obscuring his vision slightly as he tried to look at the man in the chair next to the bed.

How long have you been waiting, this time?

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The window to the world outside the hospital room had been a sudden point of interest in the past few days. It was harder now to look at his lover in the bed…the mask and tubes and beeping equipment all served as an unwelcome reminder of just how dangerous the situation was.

There had been no change in days…stable, they called it; a stable condition.

In reality, nothing seemed so unstable. Juushirou’s health was uncertain in the best of times – and this certainly seemed like the worst. The last time he had been this sick was right after the death of one Shiba Kaien…and at the time Shunsui had been sure his lover was going to follow where his vice captain went.

They were lucky then.

Just lucky.

Could they be lucky again? Shunsui wasn’t sure how much luck the ill man had left in him…they had discussed it. His days were numbered.

For now, there was nothing he could do but wait, and stare out that damned window, lost in his own thoughts.

Please…not here…not when you can’t--

His thoughts were cut off abruptly…something was different. The room had changed somehow, and it took him a moment to realize what it was. Trying not to become too hopeful at the tiny change in Juushirou’s reiatsu, he turned to face the bed slowly.

Shunsui had never seen a more beautiful sight. His lover’s eyes had opened, and the dark haired man rushed to his side, and took one hand ever so gently with his own.

“Juushirou?” he asked softly, his tired face hovering above the other man’s line of vision, studying him worriedly.

Do you understand me?

There was the face he knew so well. Jyuushirou smiled weakly at Shunsui, fingers wrapping around the hand that had taken his. He didn’t speak yet, not really sure if his voice would carry right now, and the mask was still in the way.

Shunsui looked tired, and that made Jyuushirou somewhat concerned. How long had he really been out? Had something happened...?
His worry escalated as he remembered more about what had happened. What about the war, the invaders? Was it over?

Carefully reaching up his free hand, frowning a bit as he felt how weak he was, he tried to move the mask a little.

"Sh...n?" He mumbled, rather annoyed as he couldn’t get the words out. He hated being this weak, but he also knew it was no use fighting it. All he wanted to know was that everything was okay.

Seeing the recognition in Juushirou’s eyes, Shunsui nearly laughed in relief, but he was too tired. Instead a wild smile crept onto his features. He could see the life behind those eyes, a spark that told him that his lover was there with him.

“Hey there…”

But at that moment the ill man’s face changed, and Shunsui became concerned. Are you in pain?

Eyebrows furrowed in concern he watched as the other man tried to speak and remove the mask. Without thinking he took it off for him and put it aside – anything he wanted would be given just then.

“You want this off?...I got it.”

But the expression didn’t change. It took Shunsui a moment in his fatigue to realize what was concerning the other man.

Never can put yourself first, can you?

Giving a small reassuring smile, Shunsui nodded slightly. “We’re okay. Everyone’s okay. It’s over now.” A kiss on his forehead sealed the statement as a promise. “Just rest. You’re in the hospital.”

The mask was off, and that made him relax a little. Jyuushirou paused for a moment to take a few free breaths. Looking up at Shunsui as the other man spoke, the worried expression in his brown eyes eased and he smiled faintly again. Thank the heavens for that.

At ease, he closed his eyes for a moment, collecting himself before he met Shunsui’s gaze.

"Thank you…" Jyuushirou said softly, though he was not sure what he was thanking him for. Removing the mask? Telling him everything was okay? Staying by his side, as always?

"How long…?" He then asked, eyes wandering from Shunsui’s face, glancing at the window. Was there still snow outside? He felt like he’d been dreaming for years… there had been sakura in his dream, but that didn’t mean it was spring. It could just as well mean he was missing someone.

Too long.

How long?

He looked away in thought, trying to remember. In truth, Shunsui hadn’t been keeping track of the days…any amount of time with Juushirou being that sick was far too long.

“A…week, I think? …ten days, maybe…” He shook his head. That didn’t matter…it didn’t matter how long he was unconscious so long as he was awake now.

Sitting now carefully on the edge of the bed beside of him, Shunsui rubbed his thumb across the knuckles of the hand he was holding affectionately. “How do you feel?"

A week? Ten days?

A long time, but not as long as he had feared… not months missed, battles fought, new people come and gone without a chance to say hello… just a week, even if just a week was still too long. It took the last shards of worry out of him, knowing this, and he gave a relieved sigh, smiling once more. Everything was okay…

Looking up at Shunsui, he took some time to actually feel how he was doing. His chest still felt rather raw, and he was tired and a bit stiff in the muscles. At least he did not feel as weak as he had when just waking up, and he could even move one hand to reach up and give Shunsui’s loose strand of hair an affectionate tug.

"I’m hungry." He said with a smile, brown eyes somewhat amused, smile breaking into a tired grin. Now that the fear and worry was gone, he could joke. "I’m okay… just tired and a bit sore…"

Who had healed him? Unohana-taichou?

Are you really hungry or are you just saying that? Despite his doubts, Shunsui couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

He was okay. Shunsui could hear it in his voice and see it in his face…that told volumes more than his words ever did when it came to his condition.

“I’ll get you whatever you like when you’re ready for it. Anything.”

Taking hold of the hand that had so tenderly tugged on his hair, he kissed it, then put it down to rest on Juushirou’s midsection.

“Yare yare…you had us worried,” he said, though he was still smiling. “Those two kids of yours have been coming to see you at least once a day, you know.”

He was laughing. That made everything so much better. Jyuushirou was a bit too tired to laugh, but he continued to smile, listening as Shunsui spoke. Anything he wanted, hmm? That was a dangerous promise when it came to food and Ukitake Jyuushirou. Right now, however, he really was not hungry. Shunsui had read him right – but after ten days on only IV, Jyuushirou sure could need some food. Perhaps tomorrow.

"I’m sorry I worried you, and everyone else. It just… got rather bad… I don’t think I remember much after we got underground…" He paused for a moment, then smiled again.

"They’ve been here…?" Of course they had, that was a stupid question. They were always there, two steps behind. It was nice to know they had been visiting, but he hoped they had not worried too much. His division was his family, after all, and he hated to see the 'kids' unhappy.

"…what about the City…? Is everything back to normal?"

Shunsui nodded. “Everything’s back the way it was,” he said, right now not able to call anything the city did ‘normal.’

Brushing some hair out of Juushirou’s face he said; “…Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you’re okay…so glad…”

His words spoke of relief and happiness, but his face had turned a little serious again. It was too close this time. Far too close.

He stayed quiet for a bit, fussing with the blanket and making sure everything was in place. One hand on the discarded breathing masked he hesitated.

“Do you want this back on? It has medicine in it…or are you okay for now?”

So he had probably missed some curses, then. But since Shunsui said that everything was alright, he supposed they could not have been too bad. Jyuushirou was just happy that things were back to normal. No matter how much he hated this place, it was better then some kind of alien war.

Looking at Shunsui, he realized how much he must have had on his shoulders. Jyuushirou was still amazed, after all these centuries, that the lazy man he knew could be so reliable when it really mattered. "I’m all right, Shun." He said softly, to reassure him. For now, he was okay, and hopefully it would take a while until next time.

Giving the mask a glance, he sighed. He didn’t like the somewhat trapped feeling, but he knew it was needed. Nodding softly, he waited for Shunsui to put it back on.

Good. Breathe in the medicine, please…

Shunsui wasn’t sure how it helped but he didn’t question it…the mask was on for a reason. He had long since learned not to question Unohana or anyone from the fourth when it came to things like that.

He replaced the mask, but left the strap loose, not wanting Juushirou to feel stifled by it and knowing he never much liked masks.

“There now…let me know if it gets uncomfortable, okay?”

Standing now, carefully so as not to move the bed too much, he gave Juushirou’s head another affectionate pat, before turning the chair he had been occupying to face the bed, drawing it closer and sitting in it. It was best to give the ill man a chance to rest, even now.

“Do you need anything else? I can get a nurse if you need me to…”

Jyuushirou nodded softly, and then looked up in the ceiling for a moment as he breathed slowly, wondering how large part of his life he’d really spent at the 4th division and in hospitals like these. It was a rather depressing thought and he tried to shake it away, looking at Shunsui again.

When the other man spoke, Jyuushirou smiled a little. "No, that’s okay. I’m fine… just feeling like I’ve slept far too long." Which, in reality, he had. "The twins were looking after me." He then added, somewhat randomly, remembering his endless dreams.

Studying Shunsui a bit more seriously, he frowned at his overgrown beard and tired expression. Was he withering away while Jyuushirou was unconscious? "Are you okay…? Have you gotten some sleep?" I know you haven’t gotten enough, at least – it’s written all over your face.

Good boys Shunsui directed that thought to Juushirou’s zanpakutou. Ever thankful that they were there to guide him and keep him from going too far.

He blinked a little in surprise at the ill man’s next question, then smiled and shook his head. “…I’ve gotten some. Don’t worry about me.”

Worry about yourself please.

In retrospect, perhaps he should have spent more time keeping up his appearance, but he had been so afraid of what might happen that he didn’t want to spend much time away from the other man’s side.

He leaned back in the chair, settling into it to get more comfortable. “It’s not the best of things to sleep in, but I’ve done worse.”

Liar… and of course I’ll worry about you.

Jyuushirou sighed slightly. That chair really did not look comfortable, and Shunsui really was a terrible liar – but he didn’t push it any further. Would he act any differently if it had been Shunsui in the bed? He doubted it.

"Good… I’m glad. Hopefully I’ll get out of here soon, and we can go back to the temple and get you a futon instead of a chair to sleep in." He frowned again and shook his head gently, careful to not drop the loose mask. "I never thought I’d think of that place as 'home'…"

Jyuushirou became quiet for a while, just resting but keeping awake, looking at Shunsui now and then, giving him reassuring smiles underneath the mask. The reiatsu in the room was comforting, even if Shunsui’s was completely overshadowing his own at the moment. He could only hope he’d regain his strength quickly – this was a dangerous place, after all.

Kiyone sighed as she leaned against the wall outside her captain's room. How many days had it been now? Nine, ten... She'd almost begun to lose count; the days spent in the hospital visiting taichou blurred together.

She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the hospital. The ringing of telephones, pages over the intercom, and the sqeaking wheels of nurses' carts formed a familiar ambient noise she'd become used to over the past week. Every now and then she could hear Kyouraku-taichou's voice through the cracked door, as he spoke to her unconscious captain. She could hear him now, even over the crackling intercom. She focused her hearing on his voice. Even if it was eavesdropping, it was comforting to her, the thought that taichou might be able to hear what Kyouraku-taichou was saying, even though he was unconscious.

Kyouraku-taichou's voice was soft; Kiyone couldn't pick out exactly what he was saying, but she kept listening anyways. She stood up with a start when she heard another voice answer the captain's. It couldn't be a doctor; she'd been keeping guard at that door all morning, keeping track of who went in and out of taichou's room. It must be...

She knocked softly on the door, pushing it open when there was no protest within. Her heart jumped at the sight of taichou with his eyes open. She moved to the side of her captain's bed and reached for his hand, but stopped short when she noticed all the wires and IV tubes surrounding it. The doctor had explained to her once what each was for, and though she couldn't remember at the moment their purpose, she knew that it was best if she didn't disturb them. Instead Kiyone rested her hand beside his on the bed.

"Taichou."

The gentle knock on the door made Jyuushirou turn his head towards the sound. It was a well-known rhythm and he was not surprised to see Kiyone enter. His tired features brightened up a lot and he smiled at her as she walked over to his bed.

When she reached out her hand towards his, Jyuushirou noticed her hesitation. Damn tubes and wires, they always seemed to be in the way. If it was not the mask, it was other things. It made him feel like he was tied to the bed with ropes rather then things to keep him alive. When she put her hand next to his instead, he carefully moved his own over hers to encourage her that everything was alright.

"Good morning~!" He said, his voice still a bit muffled by the mask, but much stronger now then when he had just woken up. It had a happy tone – he’d do anything to assure her he was just fine. Even crack silly jokes if he had to.

"I’m happy to see you, Kiyone." What he said was true – it was a blessing to see familiar faces. To actually wake up and he able to see them again. Family.

The presence of those who Ukitake Juushirou thought of as family were needed in times like these. The Eight Division captain had not been surprised, but pleased none the less to see her and her counterpart come to visit, day after day.

Watching as Juushirou placed his hand on top of hers, he understood her hesitation. In the early days of tubes and things, he was quite nervous too. Over the years he’d learned that it was better to offer a bit of comfort than to worry so much.

Shunsui gave a lopsided grin and a small sigh. “Yare, yare,” he said, directing his statement to the third seat. “And how long have you been at the door this time?”

He had thought he felt her reiatsu earlier, but he was rather tired and he had a suspicion that she was rather good at hiding it now. All for her captain’s sake, of course.

Edited 2008-01-23 20:32 (UTC)

"Tachou, we-" Kiyone cut herself off. 'We didn't think you'd make it.' No, she couldn't say that.

She swallowed. "We knew you'd be okay. I though you'd be okay the most. Sentarou wasn't so sure and even though I tried to tell him so, well. You know stupid he is, and-" More than taichou didn't need to hear that they feared he wouldn't bounce back from his illness as he had every other time, he certainly didn't need to hear Kiyone whine about Sentarou. "And I'm just glad you're okay, taichou," she said, smiling.

"I've been here all day. Or at least, most of the day. I tried to come earlier this morning, but they wouldn't let me in because visiting hours hadn't started yet. So I went and sat outside the hospital until they let me back in."

Jyuushirou stayed quiet as Kiyone spoke, giving her a calm look and a slightly amused smile. He was very happy to see her and to hear her speak – that she could whine at Sentarou only told the captain that she was okay and well, and that was what was important to him. As she finished speaking, saying she was glad he was okay, he chuckled a little.

"Thank you, Kiyone. I’m glad to be okay, as well, so I could see you all again. I really had not planned to stay asleep for that long." He gave her hand another pat, then moved it so they would not accidentally get tangled up.

Listening as she answered Shunsui, Jyuushirou once again felt worried about his subordinates. She’d been sitting outside the hospital, waiting? Even if he was deeply touched by her devotion, he was also concerned. Shunsui seemed to do nothing but wait when Jyuushirou was this sick, and so did his third-seats and most of the division as well. What would happen, the day he did not wake up again?

Sentarou had been walking slower the past few days as he left work, making the walk from the building where his new boss and her people lived to the hospital. A walk that was starting to become routine – but an unwelcome one.

He hesitated at the doorway, as always, since the sight of his Taichou laid up in a hospital bed, with all the funny tubes and beeping equipment always made his heart feel like it fell into his stomach. But he knocks anyway, quietly in case Kyouraku-taichou had fallen asleep in the chair, and enters.

It took him a moment to register the sight before him. Kyouraku-taichou and Kiyone were…smiling? But Ukitake-Taichou was…

…AWAKE?!

“TAICHOU!”

Dammit, that was way too loud, wasn’t it?

“Uh…I mean…taichou…”

Kiyone's slight smile fell into a frown at the sound of her least favourite voice. What an idiot, screaming like that when taichou was trying to rest.

She resisted the urge to yell at him, tell him how stupid he was. There'd be plenty of time for that later, though. There wasn't a day that went by that Kiyone didn't feel he deserved to hear that. There was a time and place for everything, and unfortunately for her (but fortunately for him), this wasn't it.

She settled for turning around and glaring at the other third seat. What was the saying? If looks could kill... Yeah, if only.

Sentarou returned the glare with equal dislike. He didn't mean to be so loud, it just happened sometimes. He knew to be quite, he really did. Why the gears in his head always turned so slowly he didn't understand or like very much.

In any case, he was ecstatic to see the ill man awake and pointedly ignored Kiyone's harsh look after a moment.

Speaking much softer now, he spoke to his captain, face both concerned but unable to contain his joy as well.

"Taichou...are you okay now?"

Jyuushirou raised a brow a bit in surprise at Sentarou's loud voice. While he was used to the third-seat's vocal enthusiasm, he was still a bit startled, since the room had been fairly quiet. Smiling brightly, he nodded to his other third-seat, happy to see him as well.

"Hello, Sentarou." It even felt good to speak their names, to know he was not floating away in some dream-land, far away from the people he loved. "Yes, I'm better now. I've missed you all."

Ignoring the look the two third-seats gave each other - that was probably best - he let his eyes wander from Shunsui to his subordinates, and back again. It was touching, in a way... his little family, all here to say good morning to a silly old man.

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Log; Ongoing

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