24^_^ I'm so excited and a little bit sad my friends...We are nearing the end of our voyage...It has been fun and I've loved all of your support but *le'sigh* it has to end eventually... Hopefully you can all forgive me someday. I can only tell you that we are close to it...but at this moment in time I can't tell you how many more chapters we really have left together. I love you all, thank you for reviews and PM's. Keep them coming!
Shunsui had been in the human world for 6 months now. Not only was he burdened to guard a human but, that human is perhaps the reincarnation of the other half of his soul. He didn't see it as a burden though...He was growing to love the boy as he had Juu. It was the middle of Winter in Karakura Town, there was a foot of snow on the ground and it was still coming down in droves. Jusshin was curled up on the couch reading a book and Shunsui was standing infront of the large window looking out on the street just watching it snow...
Shunsui was in one of his most favorite spots in Jushiro's division. Jushiro's little private house where he came to get away from everything. It was snowing heavily and Jushiro was in bed, stricken with the symptoms of his disease...While he was resting quietly Shunsui had gone outside to enjoy the snow, only to have a voice interrupt his reverie as he lounged in a snow drift. "You're making me cold just watching you Shunsui." Unohana-taichou whispered softly. Shunsui glanced at her his lazy smile plastering his face, "I don't even notice it anymore...Jushiro is so cold at night...every night...I don't mind this." He said nonchalantly shrugging off what he was really implying. "How is he doing Shunsui, really...He always tells me he is doing fine." She asked. "I know you will, at least, tell me the truth..." Shunsui sighed softly at Unohana's question, "He always says that...I am afraid he has more bad days than good anymore. He always puts his brave face on for everyone...Me especially. But I know how he truly feels...In here." He puts his hand over his heart as Unohana smiles almost fondly. "You know...Zaraki-Taichou is quite correct about both you and Ukitake-Taichou..." Shunsui looks at her with a blank expression in a slightly confused way. She giggles saying, "I overheard him discussing both of you with Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi and he said I quote, 'It is unfortunate about Ukitake because you and he are Four Swords, Two Men, One Soul."
Shunsui sat quietly as he absorbed what she had told him. He raised his eyes to the sky watching the snowflakes again. Unohana turned to leave but his voice stopped her, "Thank you Retsu...I never knew how to explain what Juu and I share...Now I do...Thank you..." She nodded to him and departed, leaving his soul aching...He couldn't help but wonder;
'What happens if I lose the other half of me? No, that is not an option. Juu wants to live, if he didn't he would have withered away years ago...How could someone so full of life, be so sick?'
He was broken out of his thoughts by Jushiro's weak voice drifting through the closed door; "Shun...?" Shunsui answered, "I'm coming Juu!" He stood walking over to door shaking the excess snow off his floral kimono. He put his hand on the latch but didn't open the door instead he leaned his forehead against the cool wood closing his eyes and taking a deep breath...Readying himself...He stepped back squaring his shoulders and putting his trademark grin on his lips slowly opening the door.
Juu was propped up in bed and had the most serene smile on his face as he found Shunsui's eyes. Shunsui's heart melted and broke to see him like this.
Shunsui smiled deeply remembering the days that he thought would last forever with Juu. He turned slowly, glancing at Jusshin noticing that the boy had fallen asleep the book had tumbled to the floor. Shunsui saw the bookmark had Jusshin's chicken scratch handwriting on it and it said simply, 'Shun'. He shook his head in disbelief, it had to be his mind playing tricks on him. He turned back to the window staring out into the white abyss of snow. He lifted his hands up looking down at all the cracks, scars and minor wrinkles that had begun over the years. "Youth is wasted on the young..." He murmured shaking his head slowly. He put his hands behind his back again and clasped them tightly as his body went rigid as Jusshin began to cough thickly behind him.
Would this cycle ever end...?
Please tell me what you think...? I'm on the down side of the roller coaster and it's going to fly to the end from here on out...I'm sad :'(