Bleach: A Shinigami Break 1

Chapter One: All Aboard!

Jushiro Ukitake watched as the pink blossom floated down through the air from the tall trees above him. It danced above his head like tiny butterflies caught on the wind and landed peacefully on the surface of the large pond in front of him, causing slow ripples to expand outwards. One of the colourful carps shimmered beneath the water for a moment and then disappeared back into the shadows of the reeds. The cool breeze that brushed his white hair across his face felt pleasant against his pale skin and Jushiro smiled involuntarily as his eyes drifted shut.

"CAPTAIN!"

Jushiro's eyes shot open and he jumped to his feet, swaying slightly as the blood rushed to his head. He looked around for a sign of an attack but the only person in the vicinity was Kiyone, the small, blonde-haired third seat of his division. She stood, wide-eyed, staring at her captain with an almost shocked expression,

"C- Captain Ukitake! I thought you were…" she trailed off and stared at her feet. Jushiro finally exhaled and placed his hand on Kiyone's tiny shoulder,

"What is it Kiyone? Is something wrong?"

"No Captain. Captain Kyoraku just asked me to ask you if you wanted to go with him to the world of the living."

Ukitake's dark eyebrows rose, "The world of the living you say? Did he say why he was going?"

Kiyone shook her head, "Nope. Just that he needed a little 'R and R' and thought that you might need some too!" She smiled and, just as she was about to leave the captain to his decision, Sentaro appeared between them. He saluted and shoved Kiyone out of the way as he spoke,

"I strongly recommend that you do not go on this mission Captain!" he shouted as he tried to catch his breath.

"Why ever not? And who said anything about a mission?" Ukitake started to gather his things from the grass as Sentaro continued,

"You're not in the best of health Captain! Remember last time we visited the world of the living! You passed out!"

Jushiro waved a dismissive hand at his third seat and walked towards Squad Thirteen's barracks, "Nonsense. I'll be fine!"

"But Captain-" Sentaro started to protest but Kiyone slapped his head hard,

"Will you shut up! He said he's going! And besides, we'll be there to make sure he's alright!"

"No," both Kiyone and Sentaro looked up from their argument as Jushiro spoke, "I need you both to stay here in case something happens."

"But-"

"-No buts. I'll see you both when I return." And with that Captain Ukitake entered the barracks and shut the door behind him, leaving his subordinates to squabble over who would be in charge when he was away.

~ o o O o o ~

"Come on Nanao! We're gonna be late!" Shunsui Kyoraku was banging on the wooden panel of his Lieutenant's office but she was refusing to come out. He could hear her rustling around inside as she frantically searched for the essential item she needed.

"I'm not going without it!" Nanao shouted through the door as she turned over the cushions scattering the floor, "It was bad enough last time what with Rangiku and her huge- Aha! Found it!" Nanao shoved the bikini in her bag and scrambled out of her office quickly. Shunsui cocked a dark eyebrow at her but she stormed past him, "Well come on! We don't want to be late!"

"Alright then," he straightened his hat and followed closely behind his Lieutenant, "I'll just go and get Jushiro and we can be off!"

Shunsui flash-stepped to Squad Thirteen's barracks and opened the large door slowly. It was eerily quiet inside without Ukitake's subordinates squabbling or chasing one another through the corridors but the silence didn't last long. A little way down the hall Shunsui heard the familiar coughing and spluttering of his best friend. He pushed open the door to Jushiro's office and stepped inside; Jushiro was sitting at his desk, his white hair hung limply across his face and his hand was pressed firmly across his mouth as though forcibly trying to keep his coughing fit quiet. He didn't hear Shunsui approach and so he was startled when the brown-haired man began to speak,

"Are you okay Jushiro?"

The white-haired man forced a smile and gave his oldest friend a thumbs-up before another coughing fit wracked his body.

"Right," Shunsui tipped his hat backwards so that he could get a better look at his friend, "Because you sure don't look okay." Finally the coughing began to subside and Jushiro was able to straighten up,

"I'll be fine, really. Are we leaving now?"

"'We'?" Shunsui straightened out his haori and looked at Jushiro from beneath his hat, "Are you well enough to come with us?"

"Yes," Jushiro smiled weakly and got to his feet a little shakily, "A little fresh air will do me good. Where exactly are we going?"

Shunsui smiled, "Well, as you had such a great time last time I thought we'd go to that same beach you all went to. I didn't get to go so I thought it would be fun, especially with all those lovely women going too," he winked and Jushiro couldn't help but roll his eyes at his friend, "So are you going to be okay?"

"Of course," Ukitake nodded.

Jushiro followed his friend to the Senkaimon where a small group of familiar faces was waiting: Rangiku was practically bouncing in anticipation next to a very sullen looking Toshiro. Captain Unohana and Isane were chatting quietly to Renji as Byakuya stood alone, away from the group, and Sui Feng was standing next to Toshiro, looking just as uncomfortable. Shunsui was about to open the gate when a large, dark shadow seemed to encase his entire body. He turned around and let his eyes travel upwards, only to find Kenpachi looming over him like a poised lion. Shunsui swallowed hard as Kenpachi stared down at him.

"Um, hi?" the captain in pink raised his eyebrows.

"HELLO!" A familiar youth-filled voice erupted from behind Kenpachi's spiked hair and a tiny pink dot appeared on his shoulder. Yachiru. She was smiling from ear to ear and Shunsui couldn't help but smile back,

"Yachiru! So you're coming too huh?"

She nodded vigorously, her pink hair bouncing up and down, "Yep! And Kenny too!"

Shunsui smiled, showing just a little too much teeth, "Well that's great! The more the merrier!"

"Not really," Kenpachi grumbled.

Ignoring the Eleventh captain Shunsui proceeded to open the gate. A bright light encased the group and they each stepped through to the other side, some a little more enthusiastically than others.

"Well," mumbled Ukitake, "This is going to be interesting."