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Shunsui Kyōraku was bored. He didn’t want to be here, but his parents had made him come. He wasn’t sure what the event was – maybe a midsummer festival or something? But he was simply the wrong age. He was too old to be playing with the other kids. They were playing some kid’s game, and he wasn’t interested. He’d tried joining the adults, but they were only talking about stupid things, like the current Academy curriculum or recent fashion trends.
So here he sat on the edge of the porch. His feet swung as he waited for this torture to end. He’d managed to swipe some of the fruit from the table, so he was amusing himself for now seeing how far he could toss the rinds.
Across the courtyard, one of the doors suddenly slid open. Shunsui only caught the quickest glimpse – a white-haired boy about his age in bed – as the servant hastily exited, door firmly shutting behind her. He crept towards the door; his previous boredom forgotten for the moment. He wanted to know about the boy in the room. When he got there, he was annoyed to find the door locked. Frowning, he stepped back, trying to figure out his next steps.
Shunsui had just formulated his plan when several adults he didn’t recognize came up. They shooed him off, telling him that he wasn’t allowed in the room. One of them suggested that he should go “join the other kids”.
Shunsui walked off like he was going to comply. But they clearly knew nothing of him. The moment he was told he couldn’t go somewhere, he determined that he absolutely had to go there. For the next few hours, he watched the door, hoping to see the boy again – or anything that would help him get inside.
Finally, he had a plan. During dinner, he used a second story window to sneak out onto the roof. Carefully, the brunet made his way over to where the other boy was. As he balanced on the roof, he realized the flaw in his plan. He thought there was a window here , but it was smaller than he expected. At least he could look inside.
Hanging off the edge, he peered inside. There, below him, was the white-haired boy, sleeping. Shunsui tilted his head, confused. Was the boy sick? If he was sick, why was he here and not at home, until he got better?
There was a flutter of wings as several birds took flight. Distracted, Shunsui lost his hold and he slipped. As he slid off the roof, he flailed, trying to stop his fall. He managed to catch the edge of the window, his foot hitting (and going through) one of the door panels.
“Who’s there?!” a young voice called, nervously.
“No one worth remembering!” Shunsui called back, trying to clamber back on the roof. He looked through the window, storm gray meeting emerald green. “Uh, hi,” he said, realizing he’d been seen.
“Hello,” the other responded, timidly. He started to say something else, but he ended up coughing instead, holding a cloth up.
Shunsui winced, catching sight of red on the cloth. “My name’s Shunsui Kyōraku,” he stated, proudly. “What’s yours?”
“Jūshirō Ukitake.”
“Why’re you here?”
“I’m sick, so I have to stay in bed.” Jūshirō dropped his gaze to his lap. One hand idly picked at the blanket covering him.
“But shouldn’t you be at home?” Shunsui finally managed to get back up on the roof, but he lay on his stomach, still looking through the window.
“Is there a difference? A room with four walls is the same everywhere. I think my parents were hoping the air here would help.”
Shunsui could detect the loneliness in the boy’s voice. But before he could say anything else, he heard someone calling for him. “Then I’m going to come see you again,” he declared, before taking off.
Jūshirō looked up, surprised. Someone actually wanted to spend time with him. A non-Ukitake non-adult? But the boy, Shunsui Kyōraku, was gone. Was this just a fever dream? Or maybe the other boy had told him that to make him feel better. Either way, he tried not to let his hopes get up that Shunsui would return. He lay back down again to sleep.
🌸🍵
It took a couple of days before Shunsui was able to sneak away again. He lay on the roof, peering once more into Jūshirō’s room.
Inside, Jūshirō was sitting up, eating soup from a bowl while an adult fussed over him. “But I really want to go out!” Jūshirō was complaining.
“I know you do, sweetheart, but you can’t. You’re still recovering, and we couldn’t bear it if something happened to you while you were outside.”
“Please?” Jūshirō begged.
“Just rest, little one. Once you’re strong enough, you can go out as much as you want.” She fondly ruffled Jūshirō’s hair. “I’ve got to go look after your siblings. Finish your soup and I’ll be back in a little while and we can read together then, alright?”
“Alright, Mother,” the boy responded, dejected.
Shunsui waited until the woman had left before he spoke. “Hey! Jūshirō!”
The white-haired boy started, almost spilling his soup. “You came back!” he cried, happily, then coughed.
“I told you I would!” Shunsui returned. He once again lay on his stomach so he could see into the room. He enjoyed watching the other.
“I know, but others have told me that too. Most kids don’t want to spend time with me.” With a loser like me, who has to stay in bed.
“Then they’re missing out!” Shunsui considered what he’d heard the boy complain about. “Want to hear about this place?” After seeing the other boy nod, Shunsui went on to describe the layout and the various rooms and gardens of the estate.
Jūshirō lay back, looking up at Shunsui with wide-eyed wonder. He peppered the other boy with questions – did the ponds have fish? What about the fountains? Were there really seven courtyards?
Shunsui enjoyed answering the questions – and he was probably showing off a little bit. Maybe he was glad that someone was happy to see him? He suddenly had an idea. “You want to go see the waterfall fountain?” he asked.
Jūshirō’s eyes shown, but he shook his head. “I have to stay here and rest.”
“I know you want to go outside, so why don’t we go together? Promise not to let anything happen. And I can carry you if you feel weak.” Shunsui had a mischievous glint in his eye. He was never one to let the rules of others slow him down.
“I can’t disobey my parents.”
“We’ll be there and back before they even know it!” Shunsui tempted. He studied the window; he could probably squeeze through? His shoulders would be the trickiest part.
“But I…”
“I mean, if you don’t want to go, you can always just say so.”
“No! I do want to go, I just… Fine. Let’s go, Kyōraku-kun.”
“Call me Shunsui, and I’m going to call you Jūshirō. Because we’re friends!” With a bit of effort, Shunsui made it through the window, though his landing on the floor was hardly graceful. Jūshirō had enough sense to move out of the way, at least. Shunsui stood, then held out his hand to the sickly youth. “Come on.”
Jūshirō hesitatingly took his hand. He’d never gone against his parents before. But Shunsui grasp his hand and pulled him to his feet. Leading the way, Shunsui brought Jūshirō to the courtyard with the waterfall and pond full of fish.
All of his anxiety and trepidation vanished as he beheld the garden. He walked towards the pond, feeling the grass on his bare feet. He looked back at Shunsui, delighted. “It’s prettier than I imagined.” He giggled as he sat at the pond’s edge, entranced by the fish.
Shunsui settled down in the grass beneath a tree, watching the other. He should probably take the other back, but Jūshirō looked like he was having so much fun. There was a warm glow in the younger boy’s face that Shunsui hadn’t seen before. And he loved it. He never wanted Jūshirō to lose that look; Shunsui silently swore to himself that he’d protect that smile.
Jūshirō watched the fish with delight. He’d always loved the way they moved through the water, the way their scales glinted, their dazzling colours. He stretched out next to the pond, watching them.
🌸🍵
More time passed than Shunsui had intended. Both boys had fallen asleep, and the sun was now beginning to set. As he woke, he could make out the clatter and calls of some kind of panic. He sighed, wondering what had happened now, then his gaze fell upon the sleeping Jūshirō. Oh, right.
Shunsui got up and went over to gently wake Jūshirō. “We need to go.”
Jūshirō coughed, speckling the rocks with blood. “’M cold,” he murmured.
Shunsui carefully lifted the other onto his back. “Sorry. We should’ve gone back earlier. But you looked like you were enjoying yourself.”
Jūshirō smiled. “I got to see the fish. Sorry I’m so weak.”
Shunsui didn’t say anything, but he wasn’t that sorry. He enjoyed the warmth of the other boy on his back. He smiled to himself as he recalled the pure joy on Jūshirō’s face at the water’s edge. He wanted to see that look again. He tried to sneak them back into Jūshirō’s room, but both of Jūshirō’s parents were there. They sprang on the boys, at first fussing over Jūshirō and getting him back into bed. Shunsui attempted to slip out, but he was stopped by Jūshirō’s father.
“Just where do you think you’re going, young man?”
“I was leaving? This looks like a private family moment, and I really don’t belong here,” Shunsui responded, trying to play innocent.
“Where did you take our son?! What did you do??” Jūshirō’s mother demanded.
“I took him out to one of the courtyards, and—”
“Aaahh!” she cried. “Jūshirō, my son, we’ll get the doctor; you’ll be okay.”
“How could you take a sick child out? How dare you?” Jūshirō’s father snapped at Shunsui.
“No, Okaasan, Otousan. I asked him to take me.” Jūshirō struggled to sit up, coughing again. “Please don’t yell at him.”
“No, Jūshirō, I volunteered to take you,” Shunsui stated, defiantly. “You were hesitant to leave, even.”
Jūshirō shook his head, trying to defend Shunsui. But his father had already dragged the other boy out of the room, leaving Jūshirō with his mother.
🌸🍵
Shunsui was given a stern talking to and forbidden from seeing Jūshirō again. He was also put in charge of looking after some of the younger children in an attempt to keep him busy. But the boy’s mind kept going back to the white-haired boy. Jūshirō Ukitake. Jūshirō had seemed so lonely, yet also gentle and kind. And the way that his smile had lit everything up. Shunsui wanted to see that smile again. But he couldn’t; he was being watched more carefully.
Finally, late one night, Shunsui was able to slip out of his room while everyone was sleeping. He once more made his way across the rooftops to Jūshirō’s room. The way the moonlight shone in Jūshirō’s hair stole his breath. Shunsui moved to go in through the window but was stopped by something. Someone had put up a kidō barrier to prevent his entry. He frowned. He peered into the room, attempting to see if there was anyone else there, but Jūshirō appeared to be alone.
“Jūshirō! Hey, Jūshirō!” Shunsui whispered loudly, trying to wake the sleeping boy – and only the sleeping boy. Jūshirō stirred, but he didn’t awaken. Shunsui perched on the roof, considering his options. There had to be another way in. Carefully, he walked about the roof, inspecting it. He returned to the skylight, examining the room. He suddenly grinned as he figured out a way in. He picked his way off the roof.
A few minutes later, Shunsui wriggled his way into the room. He went over and sat beside Jūshirō, then hesitatingly touched the white hair. It was soft and silky. Shunsui just wished it was longer so he could more easily run his fingers through it. Finally, he shook Jūshirō. “Jūshirō! Wake up!”
Jūshirō blinked and yawned. “Kyōraku-kun?” He rubbed his eyes as he sat up. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you, of course!” Shunsui retorted. “And I told you, I’m Shunsui!”
“I don’t think you’re supposed to be in here,” Jūshirō warned. Not that he wanted Shunsui to go. He liked having someone near his age visiting. It almost made him feel normal.
“No, probably not,” Shunsui agreed, cheerfully. “They put up a ward on the skylight to keep me out.”
“Then how…?”
Shunsui grinned. “They should’ve talked to Yama-jii. No one can keep me out of somewhere I want to be.”
Jūshirō laughed at that. “So, now what? My parents have taken to locking the doors.”
Shunsui went over to each door, testing them. There was the way he got in, but it would be hard to go out and back that way. Especially if something happened to Jūshirō. “Huh. I was going to show you the moon pool, but that’s not an option now.” He flopped down on the bed next to Jūshirō. “At least you have a nice view of the sky.”
Jūshirō looked up. “Yes. There’s Winnowing Basket of the Azure Dragon, coming into view.” He pointed out the constellation. “Over there is the Ghost of the Vermillion Bird.”
Shunsui blinked. “You know a lot about the stars?”
Jūshirō nodded. “I read many different books. Including some scrolls on astronomy. Sometimes, my father and I would go out and look at the stars. Or I’d have a room like this one, where I could see the sky.”
Shunsui could hear the loneliness in Jūshirō’s voice. He’d read the books because he was always indoors, in bed. “Tell me more about the stars. The Ghost Bird? Some sort of Dragon basket?”
Jūshirō laughed, dropping his gaze back down to Shunsui. “The Ghost is a group withing the Vermillion Bird’s quadrant. And the Winnowing Basket is in the Azure Dragon’s.” He looked back up and pointed out the parts of the sky. He began to explain the four quadrants and the other parts of the sky.
Shunsui stretched out next to Jūshirō, watching him (not the sky. The sky was boring). The other boy looked so animated as he explained the celestial sphere. Shunsui smiled, letting his eyes close as he listened to Jūshirō’s voice. He didn’t mean to drift off, but the voice was so soothing that Shunsui couldn’t help but to relax.
Jūshirō stopped when he realized he had lost his audience. He finally looked over at Shunsui. His turn to admire the other. Someone who didn’t seem to care he was sick, who didn’t treat him like he might break or fall over at any moment. It was refreshing. He yawned, then settled down to sleep himself, resting his head near Shunsui’s. His new friend. His new best friend.