Nyu

He was never one to want to do as much as the other captains- he wasn't some hardcore upholder of the law like Kuchiki, nor was he a war mongering, violent warrior like Zaraki. He prefered being who he really was and had always been- the same woman chasing, sake drinking, almost good for nothing lay about Captain.

Shunsui lay on the rooftop of the 8th Company main building, hat brim pulled down over his eyes, his pink flowered kimono spread out below him like a blanket. Beside him, perched precariously on the slanted tile, was an empty bottle of sake and one empty cup. It was high noon in the Seireitei, and any smart person would be spending it like he was- napping the heat away. He was sure somewhere lurking in the shadows was his Vice Captain, Nanao-Chan, scowling at him through her glasses like she always did, or scribbling who knows what in that black book she carried. He was sure it might be full of dates, times, meetings and other such work related things, but it might not. That was the one thing about women he most enjoyeed- their mysterious secrets.

Below him he heard the usual people milling about, the greetings of one vice captain to another, one squad member to another. He was sure once or twice he heard someone asking for him, and was satisfied as always to hear the usual response of "I really don't know!". None of the voices, he was glad to hear, belonged to Nanao-chan. He was good at ignoring, for the most part, the unessential news, such as the latest drama between Matsumoto and her Kid Captain, Hitsugaya, because she one again failed to do paperwork, or the too-drunk-off-sake-to-notice-what-they-were-doing-escipades of Izuru and Hisagi. He never could figure out just what they were to each other, but it wasnt his job to know, so he left it at that. He only perked to attention at one name he hadn't heard floating around the Seireitei- "Sakura-chan".

Shunsui lifted the brim of his hat a bit, paying closer attention to the two women talking below. A woman he hadn't met, wooed, dined and possibly even bedded living here, in the Seireitei? Impossible.

"Is she new?"

"Hai, hai! She was just brought in last night!"

Brought in? What was she, just a whore? He lay back down again- he had no time for whores.

"And she's really cute!"

Shunsui sat back up at that.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! She's got this curly, really long and dark brown hair, and these pretty eyes, and she's always smiling. I heard she wasn't even supposed to be allowed in the Seireitei, but Unohana-Taicho and Yamamoto-Sama both said she could stay because of Ukitake-Taicho."

He sat all the way up at that, even tempted to join in on the conversation. Ukitake? HIS Ukitake?

"So she's living with Ukitake-Taicho? That's good, maybe now he wont be so lonely, since he won't be living by himself anymore."

"That's what I thought. I heard he's already got a place and everything set up for her."

"Mmmm...ah! We have to go, Suri-chan, we're late!"

Shunsui heard the gasp of the other girl, and then hurried footsteps as they ran off, and he sank back down to the roof and stared at the inside of his hat in thought. So, Ukitake had someone, a woman someone, staying with him at his place? Shushui's mind raced through his mental little black book to see if the name Sakura-chan was in there anywhere, and he frowned a bit as the name wasn't found. Shunsui thought a few more minutes, lay back down and shrugged. Ukitake did have a sister, maybe she was just visiting. He had just settled back down to resume his nap when he heard someone impatiently clearing thier throat, and he looked up at Nanao-chan scowling down at him from where his feet were. "Ah, my lovely Nanao-chan! The day has grown so late since I've been waiting for your pretty face!"

Nanao throughly resisted rolling her eyes. "Kyoraku-Taicho, the paperwork that was supposed to be filled out by one o'clock is complete, it just awaits your seal. Also, new paperwork for the budget of this year is on your desk for you to read through and approve."

Shunsui sighed. "Ah, you come to bother me and my nap about work. And here I thought my lovely Nanao-chan was finally going to accept my invitations."

"Gomen, Taicho, but never."

He sighed again, a long, drawn out and overly dramatic one as he slowly stood and reajusted his kimono, obi and zanpaktuto. "Ah, oh well, maybe one day." He smiled up at her, thinking for a moment before speaking. "Ay, Nanao-chan, maybe you can tell me something?"

"To the best of my abilities."

He took time readjusting his straw hat and hairpins. "I heard there's a new girl in the Seireitei, named Sakura-chan." He sucessfully pulled off a casually interested tone. "Heard about her?"

Nanao nodded. "Hai, she is currently living with Ukitake-Taicho. Height and weight unknown, hair color brown, eye color brown. She started living in the Seireitei last night."

Shunsui blinked. "You and your knowledge of what goes on always amazes me, Nanao-chan. So, have you met her yet?"

"No, not yet. So far only Unohana-Taicho, Ukitake-Taicho and his two third seats Kiyone and Sentaro have seen her." Nanao was smart- she didn't for a second not notice the even faint curiousity on her captain's face. "WHY?"

Shunsui smiled and walked over to her, gently petting her hair back and making his best kissy face. "Because you know I have to know if she's as cute and sweet as my Nanao-chan!" He was rewarded for his flattery by the smacking of his hands by her black book, and he gave his usual resigned sigh and retreated. "Hai, hai, paperwork it is." He followed her off the rooftop to the ground below, and walked into his office; the sake bottle and cup he just left up there- he'd be back later. Sitting on his desk in the usual depressing manner was a fairly decent stack of papers, and he begrudgingly pulled out his ink and captain's stamp. Without even bothering to read them he began to seal them off one by one, his mind wandering back to the thought of Ukitake and his new, female visitor. Well, then, he figured, he would just have to find a way to slip out of Nanao's sight for a while and go see his long time friend.
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Ukitake sat in his office for the first time in a good while, actually in a good state of health and a happy state of mind. He'd fallen asleep last night to the sound of Sakura-chan, happily sleeping beside him on his futon, and her deep purring. He had woken up that morning to the same thing, the cat having moved to his chest in the middle of the night, and smiled as she gently nuzzled him awake with her tickling whiskers and soft meow. He had shared with her the breakfast Kiyone and Sentaro had brought him, and made sure to give her extra loving pets before he had to leave for the office. It was nearing two o'clock now, and he was just finishing up the seals for the remainder of his paperwork. He had one other report to make to Yamamoto-Sensei after this, then he could go home for the rest of the day, relax, drink plenty of tea, and love on Sakura-chan. He smiled at the thought as he put down his last seal, neatly rearranged the large stack of papers, and wrote a note for Kiyone and Sentaro to take them to the records office before it closed. He stood and put his ink and seal away before he walked out of his stuffy office and into the cool, windy air of the Seireitei. It was nearing spring now, that wonderful, windy time when he could actually do something before summer and the sickly days to follow set in. He wasn't looking foreward to his inevitable relapse, but at least this time he wouldn't have to stay in that house alone. After all, now he had Sakura-chan.

He smiled and said his hellos to others as he passed, making polite excuses as to why he couldn't stay and talk. "Gomen, I have to report to Yamamoto-Sama right away, and I would hate to make him wait." He smiled politly as he made his way to the head office, wondering if Yamamoto-Sensei would even be there. He was halfway when he heard a familiar and warm welcome behind him, and he turned towards it with a smile. He watched as the comforting reistsu of his best friend walked towards him, and the casual brunette that followed. "Ah, good morning, Kyoraku-Taicho!"

"Ah ah ah." Shunsui waved a finger. "No need for formalities with me, is there, Juu-kun?" Shunsui smiled down at the slightly shorter man in front of him. He was glad to see Juushiro in such a good state of health, some color actually in his cheeks instead of the washed out palor of sickness. Despite his illness and all of the bad tidings that came with it, Ukitake Juushiro had always been the most beautiful man he'd ever seen, in body and soul. Shunsui had always thought so, even during thier academy days together. Althought it was almost two thousand years ago, he still remembered in crystal clear detail every day he had spent in the same company as this wonderful white haired man who was smiling up at him. His presence was as calming as ocean waves, his gently flaming reistsu as soft as an ocean breeze and as light as gull wings on a calm day. His voice could be as dark and ominous as thunder and as quick as lighting, and all of these features conveniantly matched those of his zanpaktuto. Shunsui had always felt in his calmest and sharpest state of mind around Juushiro, and he sought him and it out whenever he could. "I'm glad to see you looking so healthy. Have those two kids been taking extra care of you?"

Ukitake smiled. "Hai, they always take good care of me. Have your lady friends been taking good care of you?"

"Not nearly as good as you do, Juu-kun."

Ukitake scoffed a bit, still smiling. "Heh, I doubt that. Nanao isnt with you again, I see. Where did you leave her behind this time?"

"In the office. I distracted her with the papers on my desk all fluttering out of the window from a timely breeze and came to find you."

"Skipping out on paperwork to come see me...I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

"Probably not. " He sided up next to Ukitake and stared down at the folder in his hands. "Going to go see Yama-Ji, enh?"

"Hai, I have to make one last report, then I'll be going back to my place and relaxing."

Shunsui reached down and easily plucked the folder out of Ukitake's hand, ignoring his small frown of protest. "I can take this to Yama-Ji for you, Juu-kun. Seeing you happy and healthy is more important than this. Besides," Shunsui smirked a bit, "I can easily handle Yama-Ji's lecturing. I can practice how to nap with my eyes open some more."

Ukitake paused for a few moments before smiling, laughing a bit at Shunsui's smirk and wink. "Hai, hai, alright. But you can't blame me if you get hurt."

"I don't think I could ever blame you for anything, Juu-kun."

Ukitake smiled up at him, the blatent affection for the other man unmasked in his eyes. "Arigatou, then, Shu-kun." He lay a hand on the brunette's arm for a few seconds before he walked off towards his house, a noticeable spring in his step.

Shunsui smiled and watched him walk off, some of the calming waves of Ukitake still lingering behind. A warm feeling stayed in his heart long after Ukitake left, and as he walked towards the main building it lingered, despite the fact he really would have to listen to a lecture from Yama-Ji. He had meant to bring up the subject of the mystery woman who had come to live with him, but thought better of it after seeing his friend in such a good mood and health. Besides, he mused as he walked inside the central building, if he really wanted to know, all he had to do was ask around.
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AN- chapters edited after receiving some info.