"My illness." The captain carefully set his tea aside and stood, his movement jerky and uncomfortable. Kaien had knelt before him and reached to rest a hand on him. Ukitake did his best to avoid seeing the other man's face, though he caught the clear impression of black shihakusho and black hair.
"Exertion can cause an attack, and Kaien was one of the most gifted Soul Reapers ever to graduate from the Academy. Even possessed by a Hollow, his skill was unquestionable. My strength failed me. There was nothing I could do but tell Kuchiki to run. I couldn't allow him to kill her." Ukitake shook his head. "I should have known better, that her heart would not allow her to stay away. It should have been my duty to kill Kaien, to return his body to his family, to explain."