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[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

[Ukitake is waiting on the porch outside the 13th division headquarters, pack on the ground beside him, and, typically cup of tea in hand. There's an extra cup and a small pot on the other side of him, waiting for his companion. He's his usual calm, cheerful self, although he's not wearing his captain's haori at the moment, and this morning is hair is pulled back into a ponytail.]

Comments

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"Well, maybe you should think about telling them to us young-ins," Kensei waded over towards Ukitake, following a fish.

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Ukitake spotted the fish Kensei was following, as it swam towards his dangling feet, and reached out to snatch at it. He barely managed to touch it, and then it darted away, further down the river, and he sighed. "Like I said...rusty." He glanced up at the other man and grinned. "And I've got two millenia of stories - you're probably better off just asking me questions."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"I will decide if I wanted questions or stories, thank you very much," Kensei shook his finger at the other - then darted, snagging a new fish and proceeding to waggle that at Ukitake. "Pick one and start there. We have time out here."

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Jyuushirou laughed warmly at Kensei's command. "Well, let's see - I suppose I ought to start at the beginning, then. I was born into Soul Society, rather than having been born in the Living World first. I have seven siblings, five brothers, two sisters - the youngest two are twins."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

He whistles. "That's a lot of brothers and sisters. You the oldest or somewhere in the middle?"

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Ukitake grinned in return. "Oldest. And most of them had similarly large families - our clan has grown large, over the last two thousand years."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"I'll bet!" he shook his head. "Do you see any of them anymore? Being Captain doesn't leave you with much personal time."

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

"I see some of my younger nieces and nephews - though half the time it's because I'm on sick leave again. Most of my siblings and my parents moved on to the Living World centuries ago, although two became shinigami as well - my youngest sister is in Fourth, and my second-youngest brother in Second," he replied.

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"Seriously? I had no idea. But then I don't run either squad so..." he shrugged.

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

"Not so surprising you don't know them, yes. They joined when they were older - I started right when the academy was founded."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

He just stares at that, not quite agape, but his eyes are wide in astonishment.

"S-seriously?" he squeaked. He hadn't thought Ukitake was that old!

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Ukitake couldn't help but laugh at the utter shock and surprise on Kensei's face. "It's been a long time, I know. I'm not the only one, though - Captain Kyouraku and Captain Unohana have been here since the beginning, too. And of course Yamamoto-sensei."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"Well, everyone knows about Yamamoto-sensei!" Kensei snorted. "I didn't know about the others, though it makes sense. I mean, you guys are.... amazing."

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

"More just stubborn in my case, I think," Ukitake replied with a smile. "Unohana-san is a few years older than Kyouraku and me, though."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"Now now, one should not reveal a ladie's age," he wagged an admonishing finger at Ukitake.

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Ukitake raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Well, she's not here to chew me out for it - but I'll say no more!"

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"And I thought our elders were suppose to have manners," he chuckled, tossing the fish onto a strip of dried leather on the bank.

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Ukitake grinned in return. "No, we're old. We're allowed to be rude. One of the benefits of age and all."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"If you start waving a cane at me and telling me to get off your lawn I will forcibly cart you back to the compound," he teased, splashing water at the other with his foot.

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

He laughed, raising his hands to block the attack. "My health isn't quite that bad yet, thank you. Though if you trample my garden I /will/ show you why I'm still a captain." He reached down sweeping his arm to send q wave of water back in Kensei's direction as he spoke.

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"Oooh, so threatening," he rolled his eyes and splashed back with a laugh.

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Ukitake raised an eyebrow in amusement as he blocked the wave of water with his arm. "We can spar later, if you doubt me. Though we still haven't finished on dinner, yet."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"A spar would be good!" he brightened at that thought, and then grinned sheepishly, reminded that they needed a fire and something to fill their bellies.

"Right. Um, why don't you go get the fire built up and I'll see if I can't find some wild veggies to go with the fish."

[piscestruth.livejournal.com]

Ukitake grinned in return, pulling his feet out of the river and grabbing his sandals and tabi. "Sounds good - I'll try not to burn the forest down, and you can try not to poison us."

[the-original-69.livejournal.com]

"Seems like a fair trade," he laughed, hopping out of the water and heading for the woods to search out said veggies.