'Over the Centuries' Contest Entry

Shunsui looked at the door. He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock. "Come in Shunsui." Said a familiar voice. Shunsui opened the door.  Jushiro looked over and coughed into his hand. "Hello, it's good to see a friendly face."  Jushiro said as Shunsui sat next to him. "Yes, how are you feeling?" Shunsui asked.  "You even spent a good part of New Year's here because you were sick." Jushiro smiled. "Well I'm not feeling any worse…but I'm also not well enough yet." Shunsui removed his hat and placed it down next to him. "I've been having the same dreams over and over." Jushiro said. "Some good, some bad..." he trailed off looking at his hands.

"Like what?"  Shunsui asked. "For example, I dream of our time at the academy. How we were popular and despite our flaws, we were seen as the best students." Shunsui nodded. "Yeah, old man Yama was strict with us because he knew we could handle it." He put his head on Jushiro's shoulder. "I was also having nightmares." Jushiro said. "mostly about Kaien and what happened to him and his wife…" Shunsui sighed.

He remembered that. He remembered how Jushiro had beat himself up over it.  Despite understanding Kaien's reasons to fight alone and allowed Kaien to keep his pride as a warrior, Kaien Shiba still lost his life and for days Shunsui could see Jushiro's guilt. He didn't smile the same way, his laugh was forced and worse when they were alone, Jushiro's eyes held guilt and he didn't want Shunsui to see it. Shunsui held Jushiro's hand. "And before that…what happened to the captains and even your lieutenant." Jushiro said. Shunsui nodded. Losing his lieutenant Lisa Yadomaru had been difficult for him. He had sent her on the mission thinking it'd be good for her, however it ended in tragedy. He sometimes wondered in the back of his mind if she ever blamed him. But judging by their help during the winter war, they didn't blame their superiors, only Aizen.

Shunsui put his other hand on Jushiro's cheek. "But there is one thing that hasn't changed." He said to Jushiro. "I have never stopped loving you." Jushiro's face turned bright red. "Shunsui…" "And you know what else will never change?" Shunsui asked.  "What?" Jushiro asked. "Our relationship. You will always be my favorite." He put his head on Jushiro's shoulder. Jushiro put his arm around his lover. "Is that so?" he asked.  "Will your feelings ever change for me?" Shunsui asked looking at him with his famous puppy eyes. "No, they'll never change." Jushiro said.