Chapter Text
In the beginning
Pt 10
Third year started off troublesome especially for Jushiro, who still remained on the smaller side weight wise. Some of the new students would target him for teasing. He didn't say anything to anyone because he wasn't a snitch. He also thought that if he ignored them enough they'd just give up….they didn't. They seemed to know who he was, but that didn't deter them. They'd purposely bump into him or trip him when he was carrying an arm full of something.
“Go back home, Rukon trash.” They'd taunt.
He never reacted.
The final time they set out to make him miserable, Shunsui just happened to round the corner. He instantly flew into a rage.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Shunsui growled.
“Ahh go away, we're just having a little fun.”
“What clan are you?” Shunsui asked them. There times he'd use clan affiliation to his advantage even though he wasn't fond of the clans in general.
They boasted their clan name.
“Yeah, how many times removed from the main house?”
They hemmed and hawed for a bit then exclaimed they were third branch off the main house.
“Well guess what boys, I'm from the main branch of my clan and I out rank you. I guess I should introduce myself…I'm Kyoraku, Shunsui and I'm here to beat the shit out of you.”
Jushiro grabbed his arm, “Shun, no!”
Shunsui patted the hand, “Shun, yes.” He cracked his knuckles, and he was gone in a flash before Jushiro could say another word, his shunpo had improved greatly.
The bullies were spread out on the floor.
One of the instructors walked upon the scene, she looked at the boys on the floor, then at Shunsui, then back to the boys, “Kyoraku what happened here? A ranking noble should not be involved in a fist fight.”
A lopsided smirk crossed Shunsui's face, “Well it was the darndest thing, they seemed compelled to repeatedly throw themselves at my fists.”
The instructor didn't believe him, but couldn't otherwise prove his claim wrong. “I'll have to report this.”
Shunsui drew a huge breath, “I'm not worried, it was justified.”
“You know the headmaster frowns on fighting.” The instructor continued.
“I'm not worried like I said, if I get thrown in jail for defending someone, so be it.”
Days later he was called to Yamamoto’s office, but got waylaid on the way there. A messenger from home bearing news asked to join him in the Master's hearing. This shook the young Kyoraku as it most likely meant bad news.
It was the worst thing he could have imagined. He was being called home because his brother was sick and not expected to make it.
Yamamoto dismissed the charges against him for the beatings of the minor clan member and encouraged him to hurry home.
He only took the time to change and bid a hasty farewell to Jushiro, promising to explain it all later.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
Shunsui shook his head, “Not now, I'll let you know when I'd like you to be there.” He ran the pad of his thumb across Jushiro's cheekbone. “Just rest and study hard.”
Jushiro nodded, “Please be careful on the way.”
With a quick nod Kyoraku was out the door and racing to his family's estate.
It took him half the time to get there. Fear driving his feet to go faster than he had before. At dusk he skidded to a stop in front of the main door. His mother escorted him to his brother's bedside.
His skin had taken on a grayish tone, he was barely lucid. He held out his hand to Shunsui. “Take this,” it was one of the hairpins that his wife always wore. “I entrust this to you.”
Those were the last words his brother spoke. Beside him, sat his gentle wife, tears filled her eyes.
Shunsui wanted to return the hairpins to her but she waved it off. “Keep it as a promise.” She rubbed her swollen belly. They had proudly announced the pregnancy at the beginning of the new school year. Shunsui had been thrilled, but now there was just sorrow. He bowed to her and vowed to keep her and the child safe.
The brother lingered for two days before succumbing to his sudden illness. Shunsui sobbed, alone in his room. He and his brother had never been close, but this was still his brother.
Ukitake showed up out of the blue without being sent for. “I just couldn't let you face this alone, so I asked Sensei if I could come.”
Shunsui threw his arms around his friend and wept some more. Jushiro held him and rubbed his back until he had calmed down.
The day of the funeral was somber and overcast, as if the sky knew it had to weep.
The procession through town was led by their parents, Shunsui aided the young, pregnant widow. Jushiro simply hung back in the crowd as it wasn't his place to be in the procession.
A few days later the sister in law was recalled to her clan estate. As head of the family and leader of the matrichacal lineage she must return and have the child at the family estate.
Shunsui felt the loss of her gentleness and it was just another thing to grieve.
Yamamoto had sent a message for Shunsui to take some time and gather himself. He decided to stay for two weeks. Jushiro at his side the whole time. He even held Shunsui at night when the grief kept him awake and restless.
Returning to the routine of the academy seemed to help settle him more. People were kind to him and offered condolences, until one of the minor clans made an off comment about the Ise curse.
This time the beating did lead to some jail time, but Shunsui just shrugged it off saying he'd gladly do it again. No one could really blame him for it.
Upon their return from his brother's funeral, Shunsui would get depressed moods more often.
It wasn't an unusual thing for him to skip class, even from the beginning. But he'd disappear more often right now. Ukitake brought it up with Master Yamamoto who told him to just stay observant.
After the third missed class of the day Jushiro skipped his lunch to go look for the brunet. He wasn't as good as Shunsui in spotting reiatsu, but he could get a general location.
He finally found him high up on the rooftop over the kendo practice hall.
He clamored his way up. “Hey! What are you doing up here?” He asked in a sort of singsong manner.
“Oh just contemplating things.”
“Ah! Like what?” He learned you had to be direct when Shunsui was being evasive.
Sighing deeply and pausing for a moment, Shunsui finally spoke. “How far I have to jump until death catches me.”
Jushiro practically flew the last few steps and wrapped his entire body around his friend. “What got into your head?”
Another prolonged sigh left the brunet, “Some of the clan are thinking of protesting that I was named heir, they're bringing up all kinds of shit.”
“They're just jealous.”
“But what if they're right?”
“They're not, and you know they're not. Besides you're the proper heir, you were born to your mother and father, there's no contest.” A little twinkle of mischief sparked in his eyes, he knew how to break this melancholy mood. “Screw them if they can't see that you're the best.”
Hearing Jushiro curse, even mildly, usually brought a smile to Kyoraku’s face.
“You little rebel, you.” A small rumbling laugh escaped. He tugged on an arm and pulled Jushiro into his lap. “You're so cute when you curse.” Shunsui tenderly pressed his forehead to Jushiro’s.
Jushiro gently traced a line along Kyoraku's prominent jawline. “I'm glad something so small makes you happy.”
Shunsui suddenly leaned down and pressed his face into Jushiro's chest. “You've saved me more than you'll ever know.”
Ukitake felt a wetness form where Shunsui's face was, and hugged him tightly. “I'll always be here for you, as long as I'm able.”