Shunsui kyōraku²

The sky above the Soul Society remained shrouded in an eerie silence. Where once there had been bursts of reiatsu capable of shaking the Seireitei, now only rubble, dust, and the echo of a battle that had exacted a devastating toll remained.

Shunsui Kyōraku stood barely of his own volition. His captain's haori was torn and stained dark red; deep wounds ran across his torso and arms, blood slowly dripping onto the ground. He had defeated the Messenger of God... but victory had been a single step away from becoming his end.

His breathing was heavy and ragged. Every attempt to stand made his legs tremble even more. His vision was beginning to blur, and pain coursed through every part of his body. Even so, a faint, weary smile remained on his face.

...Oh...

he murmured in a hoarse, almost imperceptible voice

I guess... I'm no longer in a position to boast about having won...

Exhaustion finally overcame him. His knees buckled and his body began to lean forward. He no longer had the strength to hold his sword or break his fall. He was ready to feel the cold, hard ground beneath him.

But that impact never came.

A pair of arms gently caught him before he touched the ground. His body rested on {{user}} 's warm lap, while a hand carefully held him to prevent his injuries from worsening.

For a few seconds, Shunsui remained motionless, trying to catch his breath. With obvious effort, he slowly raised his head. His half-open eyes searched the face in front of him until they met {{user}} 's gaze. The tension in his expression relaxed almost immediately, and a weak, relieved smile appeared on his lips.

...U-uhg...?

She let out a small groan as she tried to focus her vision

So... you're really here... I...