"Unohana-senpai?" Jushiro Ukitake asked as he walked into the 4th division.

"Ukitake-san," Retsu Unohana smiled, "do you need something?"

Jushiro nodded, "I'm a little bit confused about something and...I was wondering if you could help me"

Retsu smiled, "of course, what is it?"

Jushiro blushed, "well...it's uh..."

Retsu smiled softly, understanding in her eyes, "oh, that kind of problem," Jushiro nodded and Retsu smiled, "well, just sit down and tell me what's going on"

Jushiro sat down and sighed, "I think I may be in love"

Retsu smiled, "with Kushira?" Jushiro blushed and nodded, "then what's the problem?" Jushiro sighed.

"Well there's a couple of problems"

"Okay...what's the biggest one?" Retsu asked kindly.

Jushiro sighed, "I think she may like Rose"

Retsu shook her head, "why do you say that?"

Jushiro shrugged, "because she spends so much time with him," Retsu smiled gently.

"Well she and Otoribashi-san were very close to begin with and when the news reached her she was devastated. I wouldn't worry about it"

He sighed again, "still...I-I don't like seeing them together even though I know I shouldn't feel like this and I know she's happy being with him and she likes spending time with him and now she seems to be avoiding me and-" Retsu held a finger to his lips.

"Breathe". Jushiro obeyed. "You love her, jealousy is only natural"

His green eyes widened, "but I shouldn't be! I feel like a horrible person"

He looked so miserable Retsu nearly giggled. "Ukitake-san," she said, calming her internal laughter, "why don't you tell her how you feel?"

Jushiro blinked, "because if she doesn't feel the same way then I might destroy our friendship,"

Retsu sighed, "over a hundred years of friendship will not break so easily...besides. You may be surprised" the elderly captain thought back to a similar conversation she had with the current topic of conversation.

The door to her office blew open and Kushira stumbled in. Retsu was on her feet immediately. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Kushira bowed her head, "feelings happened," she grumbled sinking onto the couch. Retsu smiled to herself. She had seen this coming.

"What kind of feelings Hikamara-san?" she asked, knowing full well the response.

"I don't know!" Well that was not what she expected. Redirect.

"What are the feelings like?"

Kushira sighed, "well at first I thought I was getting sick but it was sporadic and sudden"

"What were the symptoms?"

Kushira listed using her fingers, "my palms get clammy, my heart starts to race, my stomach feels fluttery and I can't focus!" she was frustrated.

Retsu was smiling to herself, "and do these things happen around a specific person?"

Kushira blinked and nodded, "h-how-?" Retsu couldn't contain her laughter. A soft, ladylike giggle escaped her lips.

"And who is this person Hikamara-san?" she asked even though she knew the answer.

"Jushiro..." Kushira mumbled.

Retsu had been right. "Kushira," she said taking the darker hand in hers. The redhead looked up at the sudden familiarity, "have you ever considered the fact you may be in love with Jushiro Ukitake?"

Kushira yelped, "wh-what? In...love?" she squeaked and Retsu smiled softly,

"He is a very attractive man," the redhead blushed darker.

"R-really? I...uh...I hadn't noticed"

Retsu sighed, "had it ever crossed your mind?"

Kushira bit her lip and nodded, "I entertained the thought during a meeting...but it's impossible!" Retsu was becoming increasingly amused.

"Why is that?" Kushira bit her lip

"We've known each other for years! He's my best friend...he's like a brother to me...being in love with him sounds..." she blinked, confused, "it should sound so wrong but it doesn't! It makes sense..."the redhead dropped her head in her hands. "Oh my word...I'm in love with my oldest best friend"

Retsu smiled gently, "so tell him"

Kushira widened her eyes, "heck no! That would be a disaster!" Retsu sighed. She had known this would happen. Kushira and Jushiro were highly perceptive, incredibly keen Shinigami but when it came to their own feelings the feelings could be doing the tango naked in front of them and they STILL wouldn't notice.

"Everything will work out," Retsu tried to reassure her but she found the redhead too worried,

"Things will never be the same!" she looked at Retsu with wide, green eyes, "how do I make this go away?"

Retsu sighed again, "you can't," she said, "they'll go away on their own if they're not serious feelings otherwise the only thing you can do is tell him"

Kushira blinked, "I know! I'll just avoid him until they go away. They can't possibly be serious feelings because I've never felt this way about him before"

Retsu had the suspicion that the feelings had been there for a very long time, she was just dismissing them as the love one would have for a sibling. "Avoiding him is going to hurt both of you," she said softly, "you'll be confusing him and your feelings probably won't go away,"

"But you just said-!"

"I know what I said...I believe you have been in love with him longer than you think, you are just now realizing the extent"

Kushira sat in silence, "I'm so afraid of screwing up our friendship..." she said quietly. Retsu sighed.

"The best thing you can do is tell him"

Retsu looked across the table. The same expression of regret, fear and complete heartbreak crossing his features. Retsu sighed, "Jushiro," he looked up at the sudden informality, "tell her. You'll only be miserable until you do," he hesitated

"I don't know if I can..." she fixed him with stern but caring blue eyes.

"You slay Hollows, you are captain of a division, you have seen comrades die and be injured, you are fighting against a devastating illness and you're afraid of confessing your feelings to the woman you love?"

A heartbeat. A nod. Retsu sighed. She'd been doing that a lot lately, especially when it came to these two. She idly wondered whether it had been this difficult for Zaraki to tell her of his feelings. Probably not. Her lips tingled in memory of the rough and passionate kiss he had attacked her with. "You won't be happy until you tell her"

Jushiro frowned, "I don't think I can..." his tone held a hint of despair