And I'm back! With a bit of a shorter one, though. And rather a sadder one, with Retsu's abilities not being enough. An unfortunate time for this to be so, considering just who she has failed to save.

Title: Beyond Limitations
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Byakuya
Prompt: #022 – Unforgiven
Word Count: 731
Rating: PG
Summary: People often remember what you can't do more than what you can.
Warnings: None

( But Retsu could feel the pain in his reiatsu that he refused to give weight. Rage was so much easier to deal with, after all. )

And now we come back to a younger Retsu again, when she was still a little girl. It took some doing to work with this prompt, but I rather like the idea that I was able to come up with. And with her young childhood, I bring along her big brother Takahiro, who I haven't had cause to include since the very first ficlet. It's just amusing to think of Retsu as somebody's little sister.

Title: Trivial Things
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana
Prompt: #001 – Worms
Word Count: 988
Rating: PG
Summary: Some might say the lives of such creatures are insignificant. Retsu disagrees.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite
 
( Poor creatures. Perhaps she could help. )

Okay, I think it's a slight bit of a reach on the theme here, but it's the closest I could come up with. And it's also the first of these that is a "missing scene" fic, where Unohana saves the lives of Hitsugaya and Hinamori after discovering Aizen's betrayal. I guess I don't really have anything more to say than that. On with the fic!

Title: In Winter's Care
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Hitsugaya
Prompt: #048 – December
Word Count: 761
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Some see winter as a season of death. But to Retsu, it has always been a season that preserves life.
Warnings: Little bit of bloody description
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.

( She knelt beside Hitsugaya at this urging, noting that while his eyes were still clouded, there was a spark of lucidity still in their depths. )

There! I'm on a bit of a better pace, now. And for the second fic in a row, we get to see Isane. She's still doubting if she deserves to be the Fourth's vice-captain, but this time for different reasons. Retsu to the rescue once again.

Title: Suitability
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Isane
Prompt: #015 – Question
Word Count: 1,154
Rating: PG
Summary: After a sword training session, Isane asks Retsu if her blade is truly suited to an officer of the Fourth.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.

( But her view of the situation was too naïve, too narrow. )

And so we move away from battle again. This time, we finally get to see Isane in more than a bit part. I really can't believe that it took me this long to have a story with these two interacting; I mean, a captain and her vice-captain. You'd think something like this would come along more easily. In any case, we get to see Retsu being maternal here, showing us why she earned the nickname of Captain Mom.

Title: Housewarming
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Isane
Prompt: #012 – Iris
Wordcount: 1,023
Rating: G
Summary: Retsu helps Isane settle into her new position as vice-captain.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
 
( Isane was clearly nervous enough as it was, and Retsu did not want to give her the impression that she was doing something wrong. )

*rubs back of head sheepishly* Been quite some time, hasn't it? Got distracted between roleplaying and computer troubles and lost my fic groove. So, to celebrate getting it back, here's scary Retsu with a sword!

Title: Preventive Care
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Shunsui, Ukitake
Prompt: #006 – Violence
Word Count: 999
Rating: PG-13
Summary: For the first time, Shunsui and Ukitake have borne witness to Retsu's combat abilities.
Warnings: I think the prompt speaks for itself on this one.
 

( She occasionally frightened subordinates without intending such, but scaring a pair of captains was something special. )

*blinks* Wow, two weeks? I've really slowed down. Anyway, we get to see a pre-Gotei Retsu again this time, working to impress Yamamoto with her abilities. And we all know that Yamamoto can be tough on people; thus he insists on using real swords for this test. None of that silly bokutou stuff once you know what you're doing with a weapon . . .

Title: The Hopeful
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Yamamoto
Prompt: #004 – Sore
Word Count: 1,099
Rating: PG
Summary: Yamamoto visits the Unohana estate to evaluate their young prodigy.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
 
( Had she not known better, she would have sworn that he was trying to kill her. )

With the computer back only temporarily, I guess I ought to get one of these out while I still can. In keeping with the creepiness, we get to have a quick little visit with Gin. The guy makes me smile and want to strangle him at the same time. Luckily, Retsu isn't quite so inclined to succumb to that impulse.

Title: Until Proven Guilty
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Gin, Kira
Prompt: #010 – Writer's Choice (Mistrust)
Word Count: 1,050
Rating: PG
Summary: Retsu goes to the Third Division to discuss some rather suspicious patients with Gin.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite. 

( Ichimaru loved to tease, and she planned to give him as little as possible to work with. This was not a game. )

There we go; much quicker this time! I figured I'd better get this posted before my internet connection decides to desert me yet again. And we've gone into the creepy end of the spectrum, what with Mayuri being involved. One of the few people that could manage to get under Retsu's skin, I think; it's rather difficult not to find him disturbing.

Title: Philosophical Differences
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana, Kurotsuchi Mayuri
Prompt: #034 – Encounter
Word Count: 1,037
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A need to check up on new medical technology leads a reluctant Retsu to a conversation with the new Twelfth Division captain.
Warnings: Disturbing imagery (hey, it's Mayuri; what do you expect?)
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
 
( When Kurotsuchi had made it known that he was seeking leadership of the Twelfth, Retsu had been vocally opposed to the idea. )

Yeesh, this one took a while, didn't it? Partially because of some internet issues I had -- stupid connection problems! But more than that, I'd spent most of the past week working on a roleplay application. (Why yes Kel, I have applied for Unohana . . . :P)


Title: Absolution
Author: flowingmists
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Unohana
Prompt: #005 – Redeemer
Word Count: 1,086
Rating: PG
Summary: It wasn't death; it was purification.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: All characters and settings of Bleach are the property of Kubo Tite.
 
( And she could only find pity in her heart once she could see again, at the tragedy that greeted her. )