Life's Flow

[madimpossibledreamer]

Could be friendship or pre-relationship.  I love these two Captains.  Of course, it's kind of along the lines of a lot of the fanfiction out there on these two, but /em shrug.  Catharsis.

Main Points:
Bleach universe optional
Summary: Shunsui doesn't react to Ukitake's illness as expected.
Word Count: 486
Rating: Gen

            “Why do you do this to yourself?”  It’s rare to see the usually good-natured drunk truly angry, but the white-haired student notes that this is one such instance.  He’d imagined disgust when his ever-missing roommate finally found out about his health, but certainly not to this extent.  Avoidance, perhaps.

            He blinks, about to make a mild remark in reply, but he’s interrupted by his papers scattering in the wake of a stormy hand.  Instantly, all words are snatched from him, and his careful world in the wake of his illness begins to crumble again.

            “The teachers would understand!  No one would be surprised if you took a sick day, never mind a sick week, so why are you doing this?  What are you trying to prove?”  The dark-haired individual sees his much-beloved classmate instinctually flinch and immediately withdraws.

            He sits facing his roommate, fists carefully placed on his lap, hat pulled low over his eyes.  “Tell me this, Jūshirō-kun.  Just tell me why.”

            It’s strong emotion, sure, but it’s not rage.  If there’s any training to read others, it’s having seven siblings, and he’s no stranger to anger prompted by something else.  That’s anguish in those grey eyes.  He’d never had an idea that Kyōraku cared about him, but it seemed that perhaps this was the case at all.  Perhaps they were more than mere strangers.

            He manages a smile even as he fights back the tears.  He’s stronger than this.  Always has been, always will be.  He just needs to show the same to the world.  “Then tell me, Shunsui-kun, what would happen if I took your advice.  If I locked myself in a room every time I was feeling even slightly poorly.”  He waits a moment before explaining.  “I don’t want to stop living simply for the fear that it will end.  I’ll be the living dead.  I can’t push myself like you can, but I can push my limits.  I can live.  There is no greater gift, and I intend to enjoy it.”

            For the first time, Shunsui actually meets his eyes, then snorts and smiles.  “Seize the moment, huh?  Here I’ve been trying to do that for years, and you’ve got the market cornered.  Will you take on a poor, ignorant student and teach him your ways?”

            Jūshirō can’t stop the slight smile from creeping over his lips.  “If you’re as poor a student as you’ve demonstrated in class, I fear it might be a monumental task.”

            “But one you’re up to, right?”  The smile is actually genuine as the man lazily gets up and begins picking up papers as if nothing had happened.

            It might be a ruse to keep an eye on the ailing student, but no one had understood so simply.  Ukitake could appreciate a subtle approach, of concern but not hovering panic.  And a new friendship—well, that was a challenge he was always willing to take on.