haori | Cough 059 - [Accidental Video]

[The sun is setting in the distance amidst the drizzle of rain as Ukitake's normal song continues playing for him. All week, Rick Astley has been serenading him and anyone else who's been close enough to hear, and yet the Shinigami hasn't seemed to get too tired of it yet. Yes, it's possible he's insane. But when he approaches the pond out front with the intention of feeding the fish, the song ends.

Ukitake pauses and looks around, his hand held out mid-act. Where's...the music?

And then, softly, a new song starts up. Ukitake doesn't move at first, but as the singer tells his story, he quickly sprinkles the food over the water's surface and then slips his hands inside his haori sleeves.

If one watches closely, they can see that his expression saddens. What a note to end the week on. But is he sad because of the song itself and the man involved in all the pain? Or is it because the lyrics can apply to himself?

The feed times out after a few moments of watching Ukitake stand there in the rain, the sun slipping quickly behind the clouds and horizon.]

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Think about something else.

[And then he's quiet for a moment, obviously looking down at something. It's another moment, before he finally finishes whatever it is and tosses it into the pile he's forming next to him.]

Ever folded paper cranes before, Ukitake?

A few thousand in my day. Some of the wishes came true.

Me and a friend are trying to get to a thousand. Think you could help us out?

[They'd already made a thousand. Now they had to give Galahad his.]

As long as you don't feel I were interfering.

I'm not folding a thousand by myself.

[He holds up the one he had been working on, showing it to the other, the paper a deep sky blue.]

It's a good way to spend a rainy day though.

[He grins at Riku's accomplishment, silently encouraging him to continue.]

It is. I've spent many a day folding origami.

[Because being sick gets old really quickly.]

Then you won't mind spending this one with me.

[And he sends the coordinates to his house, privately, of course.]

I'll be in my room, second door on the right. There's tea in the kitchen if you want any.

Not at all.

I'll be over shortly, Riku-san.

[He just smiles softly before cutting off the feed, getting up to get more paper ready for the other's arrival.]

[True to his word, Ukitake arrives not long after and knocks on Riku's door.]

[It doesn't take him long to unlock the door and pull it open, standing back with it to allow Ukitake into the room. Which was surprisingly brightly lit for such a deary day, but it was nice and warm.]

Hey.

[Ukitake bows his head in greeting and walks in.]

Hello, Riku-san.

You can just call me Riku, Ukitake.

Ah. Then Riku it is.

[He smiles softly, before gesturing the other towards the floor, where there's plenty of paper already laid out.]

Make yourself at home.

Thank you.

[He does just that, kneeling down and taking a piece of paper in hand before immediately starting to fold it. He's quick about it, too, but then he's had centuries of practice.]

How many do you have so far?

[He takes his place across from the other, folding his legs under him before taking a piece of paper and getting to work, not nearly as fast as Ukitake, but still considerable for someone who's only just learned.]

About two hundred. [Plus a thousand that had already been wished upon.]

You said before that sometimes the wishes come true.

[One done, he sets it beside him, the paper bird sitting upright perfectly. Ukitake stars making another.]

Some have in my experience. Not all of them, but I still hold out hope that those haven't come true just yet.

Then maybe Hanna was right.

[He finishes his own a moment later, sitting it beside Ukitake's.]

We made a thousand earlier in the week. He let me make a wish on them.

I hope it comes true for you, if it hasn't already.

It won't until I go home.

...I see.

[And another crane finished.]

I've told you about my friend Sora, right?

[He keeps folding the one he's working on, trying to make sure the lines are perfect even while he speaks.]