Cough 057 - [Accidental Video//Forward dated to Midnight]

[taichou_tb]

[When the feed flickers on, it shows a sight that has been showcased a few times recently.

Ukitake, paler than normal and as still as the room he's in, is still dead in the dark.  His hands at his sides do not move and the sheet over his chest does not rise with any of his breath.  It is surreal to still see such a man with such a passion for life

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[mere_shopkeeper]

[Urahara had finally fallen asleep while sitting with the dead man, his head resting next to Ukitake's hand on the bed. It's a sign of how tired he is that the first twitch goes unnoticed, but then it's a sign of how tightly strung together he is that the intake of breath has him jerking awake, eyes darting around the clinic before landing on Ukitake.]

Retsu-san!

[He grabs a nearby container and places it in front of Ukitake, his hands gently gathering the man's long hair out of the way as he quietly tries to do what he can, one hand already glowing with diagnostic kidou.]

[taichou_tb]

[He barely even notices who is with him, but when the bowl is in front of him, he gathers up some strength to grip it himself, taking some of the responsibility from his companion. Ukitake coughs a few more times, blood spattering the bowl, and he closes his eyes, feeling the first bout end. He catches his breath and then spits excess blood from his mouth into the bowl.

That was exhausting.

His head drops back onto the pillow. Slowly, he raises his watery eyes to the person near him and whispers the familiar name.]

Kisuke-san...

[mere_shopkeeper]

[Leaning over Ukitake, Urahara concentrates on making sure that the injuries don't get worse and does what he can to heal them while they wait for Unohana to arrive. His other hand gently brushes white hair out of Ukitake's eyes as he smiles down at him. And this smile finally real and unforced.]

Welcome back, Jyuushirou... You've been missed.

[taichou_tb]

[That simple touch calms Ukitake and he closes his eyes for a moment. He can feel again. He can feel again.]

How long?

[mere_shopkeeper]

Five days. People will be happy to see you're back.

[taichou_tb]

...Five days.

[He's quiet for a few moments, but then opens his eyes.]

I missed...Unohana-taichou's birthay.

[mere_shopkeeper]

Yes.

[He's absently stroking Ukitake's hair.]

So now I won't be the only one in trouble~! Though last week wasn't exactly a week for celebrations anyway.

[taichou_tb]

[It's a pleasant feeling.]

...And Hitsugaya-taichou?

[mere_shopkeeper]

Alive.

[There's a glance over at the softly glowing kidou cage around the bed one over from Ukitake's.]

But... It's the week after an event.

[taichou_tb]

[Ukitake sighs in relief, even if he is sad once he thinks about Urahara's words.]

He'll need support.

[mere_shopkeeper]

He always has it.

[Nothing said that better than this event where people were determined to protect him despite what he did.]

It is rather a question of whether or not he'll accept it, isn't it?

[taichou_tb]

He is a stubborn one.

[Ukitake chuckles, but then regrets it as it sets off some more coughing.]

[mere_shopkeeper]

[There's a sigh as Urahara holds the bowl out in front of Ukitake again.]

Much like someone else I know.

[Have a look, Ukitake, have a look.]

[taichou_tb]

[Can't answer that, hacking up a lung.]

[mere_shopkeeper]

[Can't really do anything about it, busying trying to soothe that hacked up lung.]

[taichou_tb]

[Okay, okay. Under control again.]

...My apologies.