haori | Cough 041 - [Accidental Video]

[The feed flickers on and shows a familiar countertop and a familiar white-haired man, though his haori is nowhere to be seen. Ukitake once explained how to make ochazuke with hand gestures in that same kitchen. This time, however, there is a tea cup and steaming kettle and Ukitake slowly pours the water into the cup. He doesn't look too happy like he usually does though, and coupled with that melancholy is something else-

A very familiar cough.

The kettle is set down loudly on the counter as his free hand covers his mouth, the coughs violently shaking his body. They last for a few seconds, painful rasping sounds, and eventually thin lines of red stream through his fingers. As the coughing subsides, he pulls his hand away from his face and wipes his bloody lips with the side of his already stained hand.

Leaning against the counter, he tentatively takes a deep breath, fortunate that his lungs give him that much of a respite. Of course, everyone who knows Ukitake also knows that respite is rare and won't last long.]

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[She comes in a few minutes later, carrying her small 4th Division pouch with its flower symbol on it.

She doesn't say anything at first, just puts down her small bag and looks him up and down, eyes and reiatsu locating problems and things to be corrected.]

[He has just gotten to the couch when she arrives, pulling a blanket around his shoulders, a cup of tea sitting on the coffee table in front of him. On a good day, he'd greet her cheerfully, but this is obviously not one of those days. She gets a respectful nod instead.]

[She smiles gently and comes to sit next to him, her hands starting to glow with the familiar white greenish light. She starts moveing them around his torso, barely touching.]

You have been overdoing it, Ukitake-taichou. You have been under a lot of stress lately.

[Her presence is comforting, and as she works, his eyes close slowly. He tries to keep his breathing under control so he doesn't interrupt her.]

I have a habit of getting carried away, don't I?

And you usually call me over for a chat before it gets to that point.

[She suddenly looks a bit sad.]

I apologize, Ukitake-taichou. I have been wrapped up in my own things, and I am afraid I haven't been a very good friend lately.

Edited 2010-09-04 19:18 (UTC)

[Oh noes! A sad Unohana is much too sad for Ukitake.]

Times have been hard on both of us. You do not need to apologize to me.

[He offers her a reassuring smile.]

I hope you are doing well, since...

[He does not mention Zaraki's name, hoping she will pick up on it and save him the pain of uttering his disappearance out loud.]

I am ... alright. Not as well as I could be, but one must go on.

[The glow around her hand intensifies a little.]

Do you have a bowl, or a c ontainer in which you could spit out the blood while I work on your lungs ? Oh, and is there still some of that hot water for an infusion ?

You will get through it. I know you will.

[He gestures back toward the kitchen, not looking forward to what she spoke about.]

There are bowls and such in the first cabinet, and the kettle should have some water still.

Time will heal, as always.

[She goes to grab a bowl and reheat the water, then comes back hand hands him the bowl before moving to stand right behind him.]

You know what to do, Ukitake-taichou. Just spit it out as it comes up. I will try to be quick.

[Her hands start glowing again, more intensely, and she puts her palms on his back, against his lungs, and lets her reiatsu seep into his body. ]

Hm.

[He takes the bowl from her with a nod and takes a deep breath. This will hurt (hacking up a lung always does), but he knows he needs to clear his lungs.

As her reiatsu moves through him, he feels one of the first needs to cough arise, hunching over the bowl as he gives in to the wracking actions. Soon enough, he's spitting the bright red fluid into the bowl with a slight groan.]

[The session continues for quite some times, with Unohana alternating between cleaning up the congealing blood and making Ukitake cough up, and injecting some clean reiatsu to boost his immune system to do the rest.

Once it's over, she hands him a cloth to wipe his mouth, and then goes to fetch the hot water. Soon, a deliciously fresh, minty flavor starts filling the air, and she brings him some of the infusion in a goblet.]

Is that any better, Ukitake-taichou ?

[She knows he'll be tired after this, but he should breathe easier at least.]

[It doesn't seem to end, as always, but Ukitake knows it needs to be done. So when it's finally over, he takes the cloth and wipes his face, slowly getting his breath back to normal. He doesn't answer her right away, but nods and takes the goblet.]

Yes, thank you, Unohana-taichou.

Good.

[Her look is eloquent enough. 'Drink up']

It is not like you to be surprised in this way. You should have called me sooner ... or I should have taken action sooner. The mental stress you've been under hasn't helped matters any.

[He knows that look and doesn't delay.]

It is no fault of your own. I thought I could handle matters by myself.

[And the fact that he visited a sick Havoc? Noooot going to tell Unohana about that. Bad patient is bad.]

You haven't been listening to your body. This is crucial in your treatment, so I hope you can find it in yourself to be more receptive to your own symptoms, in spite of what occupies your mind right now.

[She smiles gently.]

Is Rinoa-san considering coming back ?

[He bows his head, knowing her words are true.]

I will try harder, Unohana-taichou.

She has mentioned it for some time, now, but I do not know when she will.

I know it is difficult, but try not to worry about it too much. If she comes back, it will be on her own terms.

Cough 041 - [Accidental Video]

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