50scenes, Prompt #023 -- Meditation
Gee, all this time between posting and I wind up with a short one. Then again, there's only so much you can write when there's just one character in the scene, I guess. I'm just glad I was able to get another one of these finished. I need to work up some ideas for more of the prompts, now. And actually get more done on my Big Bang project . . .
Title: Plait
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana
Prompt: #023 - Meditate
Word Count: 612
Rating: G
Summary: People would ask her why she kept her hair so long.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
Plait
It wasn't practical, people said. It could get in the way while fighting, could be used as a handhold by the enemy. These people would ask her why someone so focused on function as she would see fit to keep her appearance this way.
Retsu knelt on her verandah, unbound hair hanging over one shoulder as she ran a brush through it. Above her, the moon was only half-full, but still cast lovely pale light over the Fourth's gardens. It was early spring yet, so the blooms were not out in full, but they held the promise of future splendour in plain view. At least to one such as herself, who could read the signs.
She closed her eyes, and focused on the mechanical action of the brushing, the way the bristles parted the loose strands. Concentrating like this helped on evenings like this one, where she needed to re-establish peace in her mind. Evenings where she was reminded that she could not save everyone.
Three patients had died today.
A tangle here and there disturbed her flow, but she had learned not to let this break her relaxed mental state. Soon enough, all was well again with the smooth, rythmic motion of the brush down the length of her hair. The fingers of her free hand would follow it, occasionally catching the smaller tangles that had been missed. But mostly, she concentrated on the soft sliding of the strands against her fingers.
Sometimes, she just needed a small escape from the stresses of her work, and there were far worse ways to accomplish that than the nightly brushing and braiding of her hair. More sociable ones, perhaps, but though she was not shy, and enjoyed the company of others, she often preferred quiet solitude for such retreats.
Retsu set the brush aside without a look, and proceeded to section off her hair in front of her. This too, without a look; the movements were so ingrained by now that she did not need to see in order to perform this action.
She listened to the breeze as her hands began weaving the sections together, mind focused upon the task. There was nothing in her world now but the night, the breeze, and her slowly-forming braid. None of the regret about her inability to save those people, no speculation of the stresses that the next day might bring. Just the calming familiarity of a nightly ritual.
People asked her sometimes why she wore the braid in such an unconvential place. Was it a style from times long past? A family tradition? Was she trying to be different? Interesting theories, all, but none of them reflected the truth. In fact, those who questioned her on this subject might have been disappointed by how mundane the answer was.
Simply put, it was just less awkward for her than styling it down her back. She had always found it such, but now that greater ease held a more practical purpose. It had worked out rather conveniently, all things considered.
Retsu let a soft smile come over her lips as she felt the lingering tension begin to melt from her body. The less she had to think about how she moved, the easier it was for her to relax. The world would fade away for a few moments, and give her some relief.
She tied the braid off once she was through, and opened her eyes again. Nothing had changed around her. The moon still shone, the wind still blew, the day's events were not erased, and she still had no idea what the morning might bring.
But she felt more at ease all the same.
Title: Plait
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana
Prompt: #023 - Meditate
Word Count: 612
Rating: G
Summary: People would ask her why she kept her hair so long.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
Plait
It wasn't practical, people said. It could get in the way while fighting, could be used as a handhold by the enemy. These people would ask her why someone so focused on function as she would see fit to keep her appearance this way.
Retsu knelt on her verandah, unbound hair hanging over one shoulder as she ran a brush through it. Above her, the moon was only half-full, but still cast lovely pale light over the Fourth's gardens. It was early spring yet, so the blooms were not out in full, but they held the promise of future splendour in plain view. At least to one such as herself, who could read the signs.
She closed her eyes, and focused on the mechanical action of the brushing, the way the bristles parted the loose strands. Concentrating like this helped on evenings like this one, where she needed to re-establish peace in her mind. Evenings where she was reminded that she could not save everyone.
Three patients had died today.
A tangle here and there disturbed her flow, but she had learned not to let this break her relaxed mental state. Soon enough, all was well again with the smooth, rythmic motion of the brush down the length of her hair. The fingers of her free hand would follow it, occasionally catching the smaller tangles that had been missed. But mostly, she concentrated on the soft sliding of the strands against her fingers.
Sometimes, she just needed a small escape from the stresses of her work, and there were far worse ways to accomplish that than the nightly brushing and braiding of her hair. More sociable ones, perhaps, but though she was not shy, and enjoyed the company of others, she often preferred quiet solitude for such retreats.
Retsu set the brush aside without a look, and proceeded to section off her hair in front of her. This too, without a look; the movements were so ingrained by now that she did not need to see in order to perform this action.
She listened to the breeze as her hands began weaving the sections together, mind focused upon the task. There was nothing in her world now but the night, the breeze, and her slowly-forming braid. None of the regret about her inability to save those people, no speculation of the stresses that the next day might bring. Just the calming familiarity of a nightly ritual.
People asked her sometimes why she wore the braid in such an unconvential place. Was it a style from times long past? A family tradition? Was she trying to be different? Interesting theories, all, but none of them reflected the truth. In fact, those who questioned her on this subject might have been disappointed by how mundane the answer was.
Simply put, it was just less awkward for her than styling it down her back. She had always found it such, but now that greater ease held a more practical purpose. It had worked out rather conveniently, all things considered.
Retsu let a soft smile come over her lips as she felt the lingering tension begin to melt from her body. The less she had to think about how she moved, the easier it was for her to relax. The world would fade away for a few moments, and give her some relief.
She tied the braid off once she was through, and opened her eyes again. Nothing had changed around her. The moon still shone, the wind still blew, the day's events were not erased, and she still had no idea what the morning might bring.
But she felt more at ease all the same.