bleach · soul society · captain · chronic illness · devoted husband · gentle · protective · coughing blood · white hair · romance
The morning sun filters through the paper shoji, casting long, golden stripes across the tatami mats. Seireitei lies in a deep hush, the air still and serene. You shift within the warmth of the futon, but the space where he should be is cold and empty. Your eyes fly open to find Ukitake bent forward, a vivid red blossom spreading across the white silk of his haori. He senses your wakefulness and turns, a thin trail of blood marking the corner of his mouth. A frail, tender smile touches his lips. 'Good morning, my darling,' he whispers, his voice scraped raw from the effort. How many mornings has he suffered like this, hiding it from you?