literature

A Very Ukitake Christmas

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It was well known throughout the Soul Society that Ukitake had a knack for giving out strange gifts. This years gifts had included a padded "Santa suit" for Yamamoto, a pair of elbow length red & white striped fingerless gloves for Soi Fong, an oversized fruit basket and a box of assorted flavored teas for Unohana, a basket full of hair-care products and skin moisterisers for Byakuya, a fasionable rinestone dog collar for Komamura, a new straw hat with hanging mistletoe all around the brim for Shunsui, a life sized statue of Hitsugaya carved of solid white chocolate for Hitsugaya, red and green light-up bells for Kenpachi, and a childrens chemistry set for Mayuri (which he laughed at and angrilly threw away) -Of corse in addition to equally silly gifts he gave to all the members of his squad and the luetenents of the afformentioned squads- As with most Christmas' Ukitake had given all the afformentioned gifts out early, incases he should fall prey to anothe bought of illness; which he often did this time of year.

However this year things were "different".

After Ukitake woke from his sleep, he tossed off heavy blankets then stretched and yawned; and was pleased to feel that his lungs easily excepted the air. "ahh.. what I great day! And Christmas as well. This is the perfect day to enjoy and forget about my illness." he thought before mentally cursing himself for mentioning it.

After rising from his bed, he slid open the door and spotted his two subordenents. "Hey Kiyone, Sentaro! A good moring and Merry Christmas to you!" He called from acroosed the room.

"A good morning to you to captain!" shouted Sentaro. "And a Merry Christmas to you too!" Blurted Kiyone. "Hey, I was gonna say that!" growled Sentaro under his breath, as he glared at Kiyone. "Um, would you like some breakfast captain?" Asked Kyone, in a chipper mood.

"um.. sure." said Ukitake with a smile.

"Yes sir I will get it right away captain!" yelled Sentaro. "and so will I captain!" yelled Kyone. Ukitake rubbed his temples as the two of them ran off bickering as usual. "They never take a holiday from that.." sighed Ukitake.

A few minutes and some broken dishes later, Ukitake was allowed into the kitchen to eat his breakfast. A bowl of rice pudding mixed with whipped cream, almonds, and vanilla, along with a strawberry shortcake, and a large cup of tea with lemon and honey. He ate his meal quickly eager to open his presents.

"Kio-a Senaro mao bow mff giffs" he mumbled, talking while still chewing a large mouth full of food. "Huh?!" they asked, cocking their heads to the side. "I seh-" Ukitake choked. Kiyone and Sentaro gasped.

"Captain! Captain! Are you alright captain!" yelled Sentaro sounding thoroughly freaked out. "I'll go get Unohana immediately!" cried Kiyone sounding equally terrified. "mmf mmf!" cried Ukitake waving his arms franticly as if to tell them not to. Sentaro slapped Ukitake on the back dislodging a whole almond from his throat. Ukitake then gulped down some of his tea and exhaled deeply, glad that his airways were once again clear.

"I'm.. I'm alright.." he reassured them, sighing & drinking some more tea to sooth his now somewhat irritated throat. "Now how 'bought my gifts?" he finaly asked clearly.

"Right! We'll the get them right away captain!" said Kiyone and Sentaro in unisen, before running off. Ukitake shook his head as he watched the two of them get stuck in the doorway momentarily.

Sentaro came out first carrying a medium-sized box sloppily wrapped in crumpled looking green paper, with a mushed looking red stick-on bow stuck off center. Ukitake carelessly tore off and tossed aside the paper then opened the box to find... a cloth ice-pack for his head, decorated with a snowflake and snowman print. "Oh, how... ..nice." he said plopping it back into the box, with a strained smile on his face.

Next came Kiyone with a little white box that was much wider then it was tall. It had been carefully tied shut with a glossy red ribbon, which Ukitake took special care to remove in tact. Opening the little box he found a small neatly folded piece of white cloth with reindeer, holly, and candy canes printed on it. "It's a handkerchief." said Kiyone, with cheer. "my.. how.. lovely!" said Ukitake, giving her a smile as he refolded it and placed it back. "I know, isn't it much too pretty to use?" asked Kyone. "uh huh" nodded Ukitake before getting up.

Having not taken more then a few steps, he was met by Rukia. "Hey captain I got a present for you!" she said as she happily held up a jar. It was glass and had a red ribbon tied around the lid, but what exited him most was the contents. It appeared to be filled to the top with little red and green candies! "Rukia-chan! You- you shouldn't have!" he said wiping the drool from his mouth, then trying to screw the lid off.

"Oh I knew you'd like them!" she said with a smile. "But wait captain! Don't eat them all at once!" she cried out, seeing him grab a handful. "Why shouldn't I?" asked Ukitake about to throw a handful in his mouth. "Because." She said. "They are strawberry and kiwi-apple flavors of cough-drops" she continued. "oh.." said Ukitake dropping them back in. "Thank you Rukia!" He said, somewhat cheerfully with a big smile on his face. "You're welcome captain!" She said before she dashed off elsewhere. "at least she remembered my two favorite flavors" he thought to himself.

Well, I'm going out for a bit said Ukitake, putting on a heavy coat over his haori, and sliding open the door. Much to his surprise, he was met by a familiar face...

-No not Santa Clause you silly goose!- "Oh Hi, Captain Unohana, nice to see you and merry Christmas too you!" He said with cheer. "Oh no, the pleasure is mine." said Unohana. "Merry Christmas to you too Ukitake, and may I ask how your feeling?" she said. "oh.. um.. I'd rather you not." he said rubbing the back of his head. "Oh dear, I hope your not feeling ill!" she said placing a hand on his forehead. "Oh, no I'm fine!" said Ukitake. "That's good to hear" she said. "I brought you a gift" she added, holding up a box of tea. "It's a special herbal tea made just for coughs and it's enriched with plenty of vitamins to boost your health" she said with a smile. "Oh, how thoughtful!" Said Ukitake, handing the box to Sentaro to put away.

"I was just about to go out and wish all the captains a Merry Christmas!" said Ukitake with a smile. "Not dressed like that you aren't." lectured Unonhana. "Why not? I've got on two coats." said Ukitake looking puzzled. "You have no scarf!" Said Unohana, pulling out a red and green knitted scarf from her sleave. "Why you've got to have a scarf Ukitake. It's wheezin' season!" she said, wrapping it around Ukitake's neck and covering his nose and mouth with it. "Wheezin' season?" asked Ukitake through his scarf. "Yes" said Unohana. "cold air can make your airways constict causing you to wheeze and have coughing spazms, which is why we need to protect thouse bronchial tubes and lungs!" she said, making sure his scarf was on tight enough.

Ukitake thanked her, and said goodbye. His first stop was at squad 12. "I do hope Mayuri isn't still mad at me." he thought, shuddering alittle at the thought of it. He knocked on the door, and was met by angry yelling. "Go away! Get out of here! I'm busy!" Yelled Mayuri. "I just came to wish you a Merry Christmas!" called Ukitake. "Yeah, well.. Bah Humbug! Go away you numbskull! Or I'll use you as a test subject for my expirements!" Ukitake cringed and ran away.

His next stop was at squad 11. "Hey How you doin' Jushiro!" greeted Kenpachi, with a big bear hug. "I-I'm fine.. thankyou..but..I.. can't..brea-" he managed. "Why didn't you say so?" said Kenpachi, letting him go. "thanks for the gift, I love it!!" yelled Kenpachi, laughing and shacking his head to jingle the bells. "I thought you would" said Ukitake, watching as Yachiro gazed at his blinking red and green light up bells with wonderment.

"Sorry to say, but I blew all my shoppin' money on new trainin' dummies for my squad and a new bike for Yachiro." said Kenpachi. "Oh that's quite alright" said Ukitake. "Nah, I gotta give ya somethin'!" said Kenpachi reaching into his sleeves. "ah perfect! Here's some old fortune cookies left over from our last Chinese take-out! I think they're still good." he said, handing them to Ukitake. Ukitake thanked him then cracked one open.

After eating the cookie he read the note he'd removed. Side one: "Your body is a temple, take care of it." Side two: Learn Chinese - To have a fever (fa) (shao). Ukitake crumpled it and tossed it down, then started on the next cookie. After eating that cookie he read the note he'd removed. Side one: "Enjoy yourself while you can." Side two: "Learn Chinese - To cough (ke) (sou)" Ukitake gritted his teeth, crumpled the paper, then tossed it down and stomped on it.

Realizing his next stop was squad 10 his mood brightened up. "I'm going to see Shiro-Chan" he thought to himself merrily.

Meanwhile at squad 10 Toushiro was quietly doing his paperwork when he heard a knock at the door. "Oh no! damn it! That better not be Ukitake!" he cursed to himself.

"Hey Shiro-Chan! I'm here to wish you a Merry Christmas!" he called.

Toushiro jumped up and hid under the desk, cursing that the action spilled tea on his paperwork. "augh no! F#@%! I don't want anymore gifts damnit!" groaned Toushiro, from under the desk. "Wha should I.. -hic- tell'im?" slurred Matsumoto, laying drunk on the couch.

"Hey Shiro-Chan! are you there?" called Ukitake.

"Agh! I dunno! Just! Just tell him I'm sick or something!" groaned Toushiro covering his head with his hands. "ah-kay!" said Matsumoto stumbling to the door. "Hey, I'm sorry Shiro-baby.. Toshi says you can't come in now.." said Matsumoto, leaning on the doorway and knocking back some more eggnog that smelled of "less egg than nog". "Why not, is he busy? cuz if he's busy I can come back later!" said Ukitake. "No.. he's.. sick.. Toshi's sick, he's got a bad case of the flu. We dun't wantchu ta catch it. -hic- aah.. cuz yer health's bad 'nuff as is hunny! HaHa bye shiro-chan!" laughed Matsumoto, obviously much too drunk, before closing the door.

Ukitake sighed and continued on to the 9th division were he found Hisagi and Kira singing drunkenly off key.

~I'll have a Blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same, if you're not here with me

And when those blue snowflakes start fallin'
And when those blue melodies start callin'
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white,
But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same, if you're not here with me
I'll have a Blue Christmas that's certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white,
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas~

Ukitake sighed and continued on, not wanting to bother them.

Then he went on to the 8th division in search of his old pal Shunsui. "Hey Nanao-chan, have you seen Shunsui?" he asked. "No, but when I find him he's gonna be in trouble for leaving me alone on Christmas!" she said angrily, with fire in her eyes. "ooh" Ukitake gulped, cringing at the thought of it. "I'll uh.. I'll try to find him" he said, trying not to incur her wrath. "Good and tell him to come home!" she spat.

Ukitake's next stop was at the 7th decision, where he was pleased to find Byakuya drinking tea with Komamura. "Hey may I join you?" he asked. Komamura looked to Byakuya. "of corse you may join us, Ukitake." said Byakuya calmly. "Have some tea, it will warm your lungs" said Komamura. "uh.. thanks!" said Ukitake smiling and taking a cup. He took a deep drink, then turned to his all too queit hosts. "So, I uh.. thought I'd wish you a Merry Christmas" he said, with a bit of a laugh. "Um.. thanks" said Komamura adjusting his dog collar. "but.. my applogizes Captain. You see I.." he stractched himself behind the ear.

"I forgot to get you a gift. My humblest applo-" he was irrupted. "That won't be necessary I've brought gifts enough for the both of us." said Byakuya, holding up two large bunches of bananas. "Bananas again!" thought Ukitake. "This fruit is quite nutritious and good your health. Please take them, Captain Ukitake." said Byakuya handing them out. "Oh.. healthy food. How.. practical!" said Ukitake, with a forced smile. "Don't take it personal, he gave bananas to all of us this year even I.. knowing that I dislike them." he whispered to Ukitake.

After he'd finished his tea, Ukitake left to visit Squad 2. "I figure since I've all ready seen Unohana, and Hinamori hasn't gotten over Aizen just yet.. I should go see Soi Fong. Maybe if I'm lucky Yoruichi will be there too!" he thought.

When he reached the door, he was about to knock, but stopped when he saw a note attached:

"Gone to a hot spring with Yoruichi, be back next week

-Captain Soi Fong

PS

Don't slack off training, cuz if you do I'll know it and make ALL of you train harder!"

Ukitake cringed. "I'm glad I'm not on THAT SQUAD." he thought to himself.

"Well off to see Yamijii." He said to himself.

After a few knocks, he was told be the resounding boom of the head captain's voice "Come now! You may enter!"

"How are you Sensei? I've come to wish you a Merry Christmas this evening" he said, smiling at the man who had taught him everything he knows. "Christmas!" snapped Yamamoto. "yes." said Ukitake timidly. "Did you like the present I gave you.. cuz I see you're not wearing it now.. um also I was wondering.." he muttered meekly. "No! I did NOT like the present! Hated and resented it! In fact I outright despised it!" he yelled waving his cane in the air.

"What is it you wanted to say!? Out with it! Spit it out!" he yelled slamming his cane into the ground. "I um.. I was wondering.. if you.." his voice shrank. "had a present for me..?" he asked, feeling his throat constrict with the effort to say it. "A present!? A present! Is that why you sent me ridiculous abomination of a suit! You want gifts! You want me to play Santa Clause! Get out! I am not Santa you fool! Get Out or I'll give YOU a present alright! A present indeed! Hijin Jakka!" he yelled spilling flames out into the room.

Ukitake flash stepped half way across the Seireitei in his moment of fear. He stopped to catch his breath, but his scarf had come loose and cold air began to enter his lungs. He  choked and weezed then pulled his scarf up over his nose and mouth and took a few breaths, it felt better, but still he felt the urge to cough. He slumped down and coughed for a bit, and was heard by Shunsui who was stumbling out of a bar where he had been drinking with Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika.

"Hey Shiro-chan you okay?" asked Shunsui. "Yeah, no blood. Not havin' another bought.. just got a little chill.. in my lungs.." he said still holding his scarf over his nose and mouth. "Ah that's good Shiro, nice to see you're.. uh... well." said Shunsui.

"Yeah, sure is." said Ukitake with a smile. "I've felt pretty good today.. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Merry Christmas Shunsui!" said Ukitake, giving Shunsui a big warm hug. "Aww.. Merry Christmas to you too Shiro!" Said Shuisui, embracing him back and giving him a pat on the back.

"I got a present for you" he said, reaching into the sleeves of his haori. "hm.. now where'd I put it?" he said rummaging through both sleeves. "Ah here it is!" He said taking out a bag of little round peppermints. "Oh Shun! I know I could count on you! Thank you so much!" he said, planting a kiss on his forehead before flash stepping home.

"Hmm.. what's got into him.. must be Christmas spirit I guess." thought Shunsui to himself. "hmm no where did I put those breath mints?" he asked himself rummaging through his other sleeve. "Gotta find those things before Nanao finds I been drinking!" he muttered. "ah here they are.." he said pulling out a bag of round white and red striped candies; just like he'd gave to Ukitake.

Shunsui popped one into his mouth and sucked on it a bit. "Hey.. wait a minute.." he said to himself, before spiting it out. "These are the mentholated ones! Crap!" swore Shunui. "aww well, Juu wouldn't have liked these anyways.. I bet!" he chuckled to himself.
Me: Ukitake finally got a good day on Christmas, and this was how it turned out. *shakes head* poor guy.. :sniff:

Ukitake: you didn't have to make me choke, or get squeezed too hard, or breathe cold air you know!

Me: I'm sorry Ukitake :hug: at least I didn't make you cough up blood.

Ukitake: yes thank you for that. I don't like coughing up blood! Just try not to "abuse" me so much on my good days okay? I almost got sick again!

Me: sorry about that ^^; I'm glad your okay. Oh by the way you have this [link] Shinigami Cup Episode & :icondanelurex: 's mention of Ukitake needing bananas in her fan-fic to thank for the banananess. =D

PS

The breakfast he ate was a miss of Danish & Japanese traditions I thought I'd throw in for fun. I read that in Japan they give strawberry cakes for Christmas & that pudding :icondanelurex: mentioned sounded yummy. So with Ukitake's appitite I thought maybe he'd be interested in eating a bunch of sweets on Christmas morning & Kiyone & Sentaro would prepare them for him.
© 2008 - 2024 Okitakehyate
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AlekPixi's avatar
It was so sweet :D

Ah, rice pudding... tastes good! :D (is from Denmark and loves it... the ricepudding, that is.) It's called "Risengrød" in Danish XD