[Under normal circumstances, the faint blush and the smile would only serve to encourage him further. There's little that Kyouraku enjoys more than prompting a reaction, and especially from a beautiful woman. But today he lacks both the energy and the will for extravagant words or gestures and besides, there is nothing about this conversation that is not entirely serious.]

Much as I prefer to avoid being in Retsu's bad books - and especially when I'm stranded in Fourth - I think she'd forgive me this time.

[He avoids her eyes, closing his own and pressing another kiss to her forehead. He doesn't pull back, murmuring the words quietly against her skin.]

I already failed to protect too many people, Ukitake. I won't make the same mistake again.

...how is Lisa-chan?