31_days | [Nov 12] [Bleach] Little things

Title: Little things

Day/Theme: Nov. 12, 'little anodynes that deaden suffering'
Series: Bleach
Character/Pairing: Isshin/Masaki, Ichigo
Rating: PG

12. little anodynes that deaden suffering

"You know, taking those pills too often will damage your health."

She nudged him with her elbow as she gulped them down with a mug of coffee. "Well, you're not my doctor are you?"

"I'm still a professional and it is my duty to make sure you don't harm yourself."

Her drained mug was set down on the table as she clung to his side."You wouldn't want your Masaki getting sad would you?" she purred.

"I'm just worried about your health. You shouldn't need to take anti-depressants." His hand found her hair and began stroking it, the other delicately manipulating chopsticks around sliced pickle.

"They're not anti-depressants. They just make make me forgetful sometimes." Her voice was muffled as it traveled through his lime green shirt.

"Do you ever see something out the corner of your eye? A person? Or a monster?" She shuddered, fearful.
"Because I see those fragments and it seems as if I'm going mad seeing people I know had an obituary in the paper a month ago. And then," the hand that was holding the chopsticks set them down so that it could rest on her head, pulling her into a half embrace, "the skulled monsters that chase after them. It's like a loose thread, if you try to ignore it, it annoys you; if you pull it, it unravels."

"Masaki..." his voice trailed off and his expression was set grimly as he thought maybe, he hadn't made the wisest decision.
"Masaki, you know you have no need to be afraid." His hand stroked her hair repetitively.

"it's not that. It's just not knowing and not finding any answers. That's why I need to forget."
She pulled him closer, burying into the shirt.

"Forget the question, surround yourself with other things. You don't need those pills to do it for you. There's me for one," he grinned at her upwards looking face. "Ichigo's another."

"Yes," she looked to the half consumed blister pack, "I suppose I don't need those little things and that little thing," she twisted her head around to look at the sound emanating from the stairs, "is enough to make me forget."