The Nun of the Ninth

In which Mashiro wants Kensei, Kensei doesn't know what he wants (yet) and Shuuhei doesn't want to be the Nun of the Ninth, but has just as much sex as a nun has.

Kensei Shuuhei story about how Shuuhei lives pretty much in celibate, pining after Kensei but thinking the grey haired man is in a relationship with Mashiro

Chapter 1: Celibate

Shuuhei prided himself in the fact that he had been able to keep the Ninth division working under him, even after they all had been betrayed by their trusted captain. Tousen-sama's betrayal had cut deep into him, into all of them, actually, and more than once Shuuhei had thought about giving up.

It had been dark times back then. Shuuhei had trusted his superior, and this trust had made him even blinder than his Captain himself was, if that was even possible. He'd strived to become a powerful Shinigami, someone who was capable of rescuing those who needed to be rescued.

Ever since the day he himself had been saved from a Hollow, back in the days when he still had been nothing but a brat with overactive lachrymal glands, he wanted to be able to do the very same thing the powerful Muguruma Kensei had done for him.

o0O0o0O0o

"Why are you here, recruit?"

Shuuhei didn't even need to think about it when the Academy teacher asked him.

"I will protect those who need protection."

"You will, hu? We'll see about that."

'Damn sure you will', Shuuhei thought, but he didn't say another word. They would see, they would see what he had seen when Muguruma-sama had saved his life. They would see awesome!

Shuuhei hadn't seen the Ninth division's captain since the day his purpose in life had changed, but the young man was determined to join his division and serve under him, so he would learn from the best.

As soon as he'd gotten the letter of acceptance from the Academy, he had gone out with his friends; they had celebrated all night long, Kanisawa and Aoga being the last ones with him. Deep bonds were forged that night, bonds of friendship and trust, bonds that made all of them promise to give their best, to ace the Academy.

The next morning would show that Shuuhei would need to work hard to be recognized for his improvement rather than his looks; even harder than the other two… The young man woke up with a splitting head ache and a strange, stinging sensation on the skin of his left cheek.

Shuuhei cautiously got up and held his stomach with one hand, his head with the other. While he made his way over to the small mirror that hung over the sink, Shuuhei's mind was busy with several things at once.

'Stop head from spinning. Now. Prevent stomach from emptying itself on the floor. Nower. And who did I fight with last night for him (or her) to give me a shiner?'

He actually managed to reach the sink without any incidents on the way, and that made him smile a little. He had been worse after a night out, so this day was a promising one. When he finally got a look at himself in the mirror, his eyes widened at what they saw and the spinning and the hurling began all over again. Maybe not that promising a day after all…

Staring at him was his own reflection, his cheek adorned by a mirror-inverted '69' proudly displayed on his face. "Would you look at that," Shuuhei whispered, his breath fogging up the mirror glass.

His skin was still tender to the touch, the outlines of the tattoo still reddened. But after the initial shock of seeing something that suggestive on his face, Shuuhei calmed down almost instantly. He knew about the meaning of that tattoo, about what – who it represented and he decided he would wear the number with pride.

o0O0o0O0o

Over the following years in the Academy, Shuuhei learned what it meant to be a Shinigami. He learned to fight with his sword, how to use shunpo, how the incantations worked so he could fight with kido, too, and he proved to be quite the talented young man. His practical skills made up for his lack in the theoretical aspects of the academical training and he soon had gained a name for himself.

And still no sign of Muguruma Kensei.

That didn't prevent Shuuhei from striving for his old goals, though. He still studied hard, trained without pause, sparred against Kanisawa and Aoga, always reaching for new heights. And one day all their work should be rewarded.

They were to supervise a class of rookies on a training trip to the World of the Living, despite still being students themselves. But they had proven their worth, had shown what they were made of, so Aizen-sama, the captain of the Fifth division, had recommended them to lead the training session.

It was a disaster, with students dying and Shuuhei once again being saved by others. He had worked so hard, had done anything to get stronger, had pushed himself harder towards his goals, and in the end it had all been for naught.

Aoga and Kanisawa were dead, as were too many of the students they had been supposed to supervise, to help. In the end, Shuuhei had practically killed them, if not by his own hands, then still by not being strong enough to save them. And when he had tried to rescue at least the rest of them, he had failed once again. Without Renji, Kira and Momo there – some of the rookies he had been supposed to protect! –, he'd have been killed just like anybody else.

Sometimes he wished he would have died that day, even now.

But fate had decided he'd live another day and the three rookie recruits had saved his ass, until Aizen-sama and Ichimaru Gin had saved the day.

Even though most of the students had been rescued and Captain Aizen had even praised Shuuhei for having saved as many of the younger Shinigami as he had, the words felt like lies.

"Many lives were protected today, Hisagi-kun. You did a good job."

Shuuhei nodded, blood still seeping down his face from the three deep cuts he had gained in the fight, where a Hollow had nearly scraped his right eyeball out. But inside his head, none of Aizen-taichou's words reached him. All he could think was of all the lives he hadn't been able to protect.

Back in Soul Society Tousen-taichou had awaited the return of Aizen, Ichimaru, Shuuhei and the three rookies who had stayed behind. A few words were exchanged between Aizen-taichou and the dark skinned Shinigami before the man turned to Shuuhei, motioning for the injured man to follow him.

Of course Shuuhei had heard of the blind Captain of the Ninth division. Students wondered how it was possible for a blind man to become powerful enough to be a captain while trained Shinigami marveled about his keen senses – Tousen Kaname was said to be the most skillful Shinigami when it came to sensing other beings, be they human, Hollow or Shinigami.

Right now he was almost frightening in his silence, slowly walking in front of Shuuhei, every single one of his steps sure and unfaltering. He led the student to a silent hill in Seireitei, where he stopped under a tall tree. The sun was rising in the East, the first rays enlightening the dark night sky above them.

"Isn't it beautiful," he suddenly asked, facing the slowly rising sun. Shuuhei felt uncomfortable, not knowing what to say to that, so he remained silent and fidgeted in his insecurity. "I can feel the sun on my skin, Hisagi-kun, even without having to see it. Can't you?"

"Yes, I can, Tousen-taichou." What else was there to say? He really couldn't, not this early in the morning, and even less so since his nerves still had to calm down from the loss of his friends, from the failed mission. He felt miserable and as far away from the sun as was possible.

"No, you can't, Hisagi-kun. But you will, when the time comes. Not only can I feel the sun, I can feel that you're upset, too. And it's not surprising, knowing what happened tonight." Eventually Tousen turned around to Shuuhei and his bandaged eyes came to rest on the younger man. "Sit down with me, Hisagi-kun."

Both men sank into the damp grass beneath their feet, sitting under the tree in silence. Shuuhei used the time to think about where he had failed to have his friends killed, what he could have done better, and what he needed to do to finally become strong enough to save people instead of dooming them to their death.

And why couldn't he find Muguruma-sama? He knew he wasn't a captain anymore, Tousen-taichou held that title by now, but what had happened to Muguruma?

"Hisagi-kun, listen to me. I know you suffered a great loss tonight, and nothing I can say will lessen the pain. But I need you to know this wasn't your fault."

"How wasn't this my fault, Tousen-taichou?" Shuuhei didn't really expect an answer to that, but he didn't want to hear more bad excuses for his failure, either. "I wasn't strong enough. I was scared of the Hollows, was scared out of my mind and couldn't operate like I should have. In the end it cost a lot of people's lives, because I was too scared to do what had to be done."

"And once again, this wasn't your fault," Tousen interrupted Shuuhei's self accusations. "Being strong doesn't mean not to be afraid, not to be scared. It means to overcome his fears and face them head on. Those who do not know fear are not qualified to fight."

Shuuhei's eyes widened at that and he stared at his superior. "I… I don't think I understand…"

"You will, once the time comes. Up until then I want you to join my division. I know you failed the exams, but I see much potential in you, Hisagi-kun. You will learn to face your fear and use it to your advantage."

Shuuhei had taken Tousen up on his offer and had joined the Ninth division, just like he had planned years ago. He didn't serve under Muguruma-sama, but it was as close as he would get to it.

He learned to trust Tousen-taichou, learned to learn from the blind man, and soon found himself absorbing the man's knowledge and ideals. But every day he found himself in bed, thinking back all those years, to when a creepily smiling man told him words that echoed in his head even now.

"You're alive, be happy! Smile!"

Until, one day, this trust was thrown in his face, and Shuuhei found himself doubting himself once again. Where had he failed this time, what could he have done better to not make his Captain turn his back on him, on Soul Society?

Tousen-taichou's betrayal was the horribly failed mission in his Academy days, all over again; only this time, the pain was multiplied. Shuuhei was alive, but he didn't smile anymore.

o0O0o0O0o

The days, weeks, and finally months of the Winter War hardened Shuuhei. He had a division to keep running, even without their captain to guide them, and on top of that he still worked as the chief editor of the Seireitei Communication magazine. It ate away on both his free time and his energy reserves, but that was exactly what he needed. Or so he thought.

When one fell asleep as soon as their head hit the cushions, they couldn't think too much about things they didn't want to think about. So Shuuhei edited, Shuuhei led the Ninth division, Shuuhei trained and sparred and fought. And nothing else, not even think about the man who had made him becoming a Shinigami in the first place.

There was no place for childish wishes and naïve dreams in the new Shuuhei's life anymore.

Until the war reached a new level and the Gotei 13 found themselves fighting in the replica of Karakura town.

The Arrancar and Espada they had to fight were formidable opponents, strong, skilled and equipped with terrifying abilities. Despite disliking his Shikai's form – and his Zanpakutou's spirit in general – Shuuhei found himself forced to use Kazeshini's released form more often than not.

A new low was reached for him when he had to kill his former Captain. Seeing the noble man being reduced to what he had become had torn at Shuuhei, old wounds had been touched and scarred memories had started to bleed again.

Never before had it been as hard as this time, but his voice didn't falter when he whispered "Reap, Kazeshini" and the double edged scythe had slaughtered Tousen Kaname.

And for the first time since they fought together rather than against each other, Kazeshini hadn't screamed in triumph when his blades cut through one of his Shinigami's opponents. He felt Shuuhei's agony and shared it.

o0O0o0O0o

When Shuuhei came back to, he found himself in the Fourth division's barracks, lying on a stretcher in one of the many rooms in the infirmary. His whole body hurt and he could still feel where Tousen had impaled him, but the dullness in his stomach told him he had already been healed.

He turned his head to the side and realized he wasn't the only one lying in this room; there was another bed in the room, being occupied by a man with an impressive build. The blankets were fixed by two muscular arms lying on top of them and stretched over a broad chest, but that was all Shuuhei was able to see from this angle.

When he tried to move a blaring alarm cut through the formerly quiet room and not a second later the door shot open, revealing Kotetsu Isane. "You're not to move until Unohana-taichou has examined you!", she bellowed, pushing Shuuhei back onto the mattress. "You suffered a severe injury, Hisagi-fukutaichou."

As if he needed to be reminded of that! Of course he hadn't forgotten about how his former Captain had pierced him with his sword, how he hadn't only been betrayed by words and actions against Soul Society, but a physical attack against himself, too. Isane didn't need to hold him down any longer; all of Shuuhei's strength left him with a heavy sigh and he sank even deeper into the mattress.

Isane watched him worriedly, but didn't say anything when she turned around and left the room again, searching for Unohana-taichou.

Not moving an inch, Shuuhei stared up at the ceiling and reminisced about how far he had come to be forced to kill his superior, even though he had changed sides. A humorless chuckle fought to get out, but was stuck in his throat, making it come out like he was suffocating.

"Come on, man, you're alive, be happy! Smile!"

'What a strange time to remember those words!' Shuuhei was losing it, and he could actually feel his sanity slowly fading away. It had some twisted irony to it. First he'd thought he'd seen Muguruma Kensei on the battlefield, now he heard the same words he had said to cheer him up. It was a sad way to go nuts, even more so for someone who had tried to become the man who now was eating away at his sanity.

"That isn't exactly smiling, you kn-" The words had gotten louder as the other occupant of the room had turned his head to Shuuhei, but his words stopped as soon as the man was able to see the injured lieutenant. "What's that number on your face?!"

Shuuhei, who had closed his eyes to fully concentrate on observing his sanity slip from his grip, let a grin crawl over his face. It looked like a grimace, twisted and bitter. "It's a reminder of what I once wanted to become."

"And now?"

"Now it's just a stupid joke for my friends and the reason for way too many indecent proposals." He didn't bother to open his eyes. Let that strange person with the strangely familiar voice judge him unseen, it didn't matter. What mattered was to either lose his sanity for good or recover fast enough to save what was left of his division.

A grunt answered his words and then there was blissful silence again. Until: "You know, it really isn't a joke, and indecent even less, once you know about where the number comes from."

That had Shuuhei peek one eye open and he got a blurry picture of the man lying with him in the room. A blob of silver hair, sharp facial features and still the impressive build, but nothing more than that. Not with one eye and still high on pain meds.

"How'd you know?" the lieutenant asked nonetheless. Maybe talking could help him get back to his senses and back to his division as well. And there still was a magazine to edit…

"Why do you have it, kid?" the other man asked instead, his voice tingling pleasantly in Shuuhei's subconscious, but not ringing any bells in the fuzzy fog that had embraced his brain.

"Back when I was still a kid, there was someone who saved my life. I had been attacked by a Hollow out in the outskirts of Rukongai and there was this guy. My friends had been killed, but before that monster could kill me as well, he interfered and totally crushed it. It was amazing –he was amazing! And I knew then and there that I would become a Shinigami. That I would save people, too.

"That guy had a tattoo on his chest, a 69. That's why I have it, too."

Telling someone about what had happened over 100 years ago felt liberating, as if a weight had been taken from his chest. No one had seen what had happened back then, other than Muguruma-sama and himself, everyone else was dead. Well, who wasn't nowadays? Even Muguruma-sama had disappeared all those years ago.

Just as the other man was about to reply the door opened again and Unohana Retsu entered the room. "You're awake, I see."

Shuuhei turned to the door and finally managed to open both eyes. His sight was still somewhat blurred, but the telltale braid and the calm voice were dead giveaways to who had come to see them. "Good to have you back, Hisagi-fukutaichou," she added, then turned to the other bed. "And I'm glad you are with us again, too, Muguruma-san."

Shuuhei heard the words, heard the name, but couldn't quite grasp what they meant. When the soothingly familiar voice from his childhood answered the Fourth division's Captain, all the pieces came together and Shuuhei paled.

That was Muguruma Kensei in the bed next to him. The man who was like a god to him – divine and unreachable –, the man he owed his life to, the man who he wanted to become.

His blood, just having abandoned his brain, flooded back with a vengeance and Shuuhei blushed furiously. He couldn't believe what just had happened. For over a hundred years he wanted nothing more than seeing his idol once again; now he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

"Hisagi-fukutaichou, are you-" Shuuhei never heard the rest of the question.

o0O0o0O0o

"Poor guy! He's lost more blood than we initially thought."

The voice was strangely muffled, as if he were padded in wool. When he tried to move he felt shifting wetness around him, then a crack of light opened up and he sank out of his sanctum. Lying in a puddle of sticky goo, he looked up to see Unohana-taichou's Zanpakutou Minazuki in its released state. The manta-ray looked down at him with his single eye and seemed to smile before turning into gas to return into its sheath.

Now it was Unohana-taichou's face hovering over him and nudging him with probing fingers. The wounds that had covered his body the first time he had come to had vanished now, being nothing more than unpleasant memories and scars after his stay in the healing manta-ray.

"Welcome back, Hisagi-fukutaichou," the polite woman greeted him with a smile, helping him up from where he lay on the floor. Panicked eyes searched the room for a second, but Unohana calmed him down. "We're alone."

"Thank you, Unohana-taichou," Shuuhei said with a shy smile. It was hard to feel embarrassed in the presence of Unohana Retsu; she'd seen nearly every single Shinigami in the ranks of the Gotei 13, had seen them bleed, cry and yell, sometimes at the same time. She wasn't a person to judge others, she healed both their bodies, and their souls.

She smiled at him again, then motioned him over to the bed he had fallen out who knew how long ago. "Do you feel better now?" Shuuhei nodded. "Had I known you would react that way to the information on who your bed neighbor was, I wouldn't have put you two in the same room. We just thought it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass it up."

Shuuhei looked up at that. "So I wasn't hallucinating? It really was him?" He didn't dare hope…

"Yes, it was the one and only Muguruma Kensei, former Captain of the Ninth division and the man with the infamous tattoo on his chest. Though, by now, it's you who's famous for that tattoo rather than him." The lieutenant sitting on the mattress could only stare at her. "Anyway, I'm glad you're back with us. You are free to go now, I'm sure there are reports to be written."

o0O0o0O0o

Shuuhei didn't return to the Ninth' barracks just yet, he didn't feel like filing reports and doing paperwork. Actually, he didn't know how he felt, but his plans didn't include anything division related right now.

Muguruma Kensei was alive. He was alive! And not only was he alive, he was in Seireitei, too! Somewhere in the labyrinthine streets of Seireitei, the one and only Muguruma Kensei was, doing whatever childhood heroes were supposed to do, and Shuuhei didn't know what to do with himself.

Should he look for the other man? Search him and talk to him, even after the embarrassing scene he just had pulled? Maybe it was better to lay low and hide somewhere…

Just as he took the next turn to the right to return to his quarters, his gait came to a sudden halt. He stumbled against the broad expanse of a back simply standing there, while the man the back belonged to was talking to someone in front of him.

Out of all people Shuuhei could literally run into, it just had to be Muguruma-sama…

"Hey there, Hisagi-fukutaichou, right?" Muguruma-sama asked as he turned around. "So you're up and about again."

"Yes, I was just released from the infirmary, Muguruma-sama," Shuuhei answered in the most military tone of voice he could manage. He almost had to grab his own hand so he wouldn't salute.

"Why so stiff, Hisagi?"

"Wait, Kensei… Isn't that your tattoo on his cheek?!" Only now did Shuuhei see who Muguruma-sama had been talking to. A young woman with green hair, huge eyes and a skin tight body suit was standing there, ogling his face. "Are you related or something?"

"No, we aren't." Shuuhei kept his clipped tone; everything to get out of this with as much of his pride intact as possible.

"Oh, I thought you were… You seem… familiar. Have I seen you before?"

Probably not, but Shuuhei wouldn't answer her. He just wanted to get away, when-

"Actually, you have. Mashiro, this is Hisagi Shuuhei, the Ninth division's fukutaichou and the kid I saved from the Hollow over a hundred years ago while you were doing practically nothing."

"And you still remember him, his name and all?" That Mashiro person sounded doubtful.

"Ehrm, no, but Hisagi-san was so kind and told me about it when we were in the infirmary." That sounded suspiciously like Muguruma-sama was bragging…

That was more than Shuuhei could take. He turned away from the two, mumbled his apologies about how he had business to attend to and shunpo'ed away. It didn't matter where he went, as long as it was somewhere else.

Only moments later Shuuhei reached the fukutaichou office and threw the door shut behind him. Who was that skin tight clad girl and had she really been there when Muguruma-sama had saved his life? Did it even matter? He couldn't talk to the man ever again; the last hours had shown that he wasn't capable of not seeming like an idiot in the older man's presence. He didn't need a green haired grasshopper to add insult to injury.

Too bad, really. There were a thousand things Shuuhei would've loved to ask the former captain of his division. He felt like he had spent his entire life with Muguruma-sama, he had dreamt about him more often than not, had heard his voice when he fell asleep, had seen his (admittedly somewhat creepy) smile when he awoke, had strived to one day be like his hero had been.

And now that he knew that Muguruma Kensei, his hero, his dream, his idol was alive and here, he couldn't go see him.

Shuuhei couldn't help but feel like it was Karma's way of punishing him for having killed his former captain. As if his own conscience wasn't punishment enough.

"You're alive, be happy! Smile!" Kazeshini's voice cut through his musing, but the Zanpakutou's voice lacked the usual biting sarcasm.

"Would you just shut up?"

"I will do nothing of the sorts, Hisagi-fukutaichou." Shuuhei whipped around at the sound of the gravelly voice and came face to face with Yamamoto-soutaichou standing in the doorway to his office. "You are to follow me to the meeting room where I will discuss the future of the Ninth division."

Shuuhei didn't miss the carefully chosen words 'I will discuss' and 'future of the Ninth division'. Not once had his name been mentioned in those plans, and his heart sank at the prospect of losing the last thing that tied him to his life as a Shinigami – his division. His division. He would fight for it, tooth and nails if the need be.

"Yes, Yamamoto-soutaichou."

o0O0o0O0o

Never before had the hall felt as huge as it did right now, with only three men standing inside it. Yamamoto-soutaichou was standing in his usual spot, his lieutenant next to him, and Shuuhei shifted nervously in front of the powerful man, awaiting the 'discussion'.

He didn't dare turn around when the gigantic double wing door behind him opened and two sets of footsteps entered.

"There you are. Please come closer." Two pairs of feet neared and came to a halt next to Shuuhei, revealing their owner's identities: That Mashiro girl stood on Shuuhei's left side, Muguruma-sama next to her. Of course! She had been Muguruma-sama's lieutenant back when he had led the Ninth division!

Shuuhei's heart sank.

"As you all are aware, the Gotei 13 are in a desolate state. Too many lives were lost in the war and too many divisions are left without a Captain. We need to regain our strength now more than ever; who knows what schemes the traitor Aizen Sosuke still has left, how many traps were set up for us. That is why I summoned you here." The old man looked down on them, his eyes hardly open, his beard and eyebrows long and white, but there was no mistaking the power emanating from him.

"Ever since Aizen Sosuke, Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname betrayed Soul Society, Hisagi Shuuhei has been in charge of the Ninth division. While he managed to keep the division working, he still isn't fit to be a captain, not without having achieved Bankai. We can no longer tolerate the actual situation."

Shuuhei looked up at that, staring the old man straight in the eyes. "I may not have achieved Bankai yet, but I did a great job with the division! The men and women depend on me, they know what they have in me and they respect me!"

He was about to say more, but a sudden flare of Yamamoto's reiatsu put him back in place. "Silence!"

The lieutenant visibly fell together, shoulders slumping and his head lowering. "Excuse me, Yamamoto-soutaichou." There was no sense in defying the Captain of the First division.

"So, Muguruma Kensei, former captain of the Ninth division, you have proven your loyalty to the Gotei 13 in the Winter War. I am willing to offer you the position as the Captain of the Ninth division once again. You would be a great asset to the Gotei 13's troops. At the same time I offer you, Kuna Mashiro, former lieutenant of the Ninth division, your old rank."

That had Shuuhei act up once again. "You cannot remove me from my rank! The Ninth is my division! I worked hard for my division, I know the men and women, they need me! I won't stand for this… gambling!"

"I told you to keep your mouth shut, Hisagi Shuuhei!" No one in the room missed the missing title at the end of Shuuhei's name.

The young Shinigami's eyes widened at the blatant insult and he was about to shout at the old geezer for destroying him, destroying what he had built up so painfully after their former captain had left them in broken pieces.

"He has a point, Yamamoto," the newly reinstated Captain interjected. "The division was shattered back when my 'successor' turned out to be a corrupted idiot and Hisagi here managed to pull them back together, probably even tighter than before! Erasing him from the equation would lead to possible mutiny and that's not what you want right now."

The Captain commander raised one of his impressive eyebrows at that, even going as far as to open an eye. "What do you suggest then, Muguruma-taichou? Make him the third seat?"

Shuuhei felt like he wasn't even there – he was a grown up man, had just fought a war for Soul Society, and yet here they were, talking above his head, deciding what to do with him as if he were some old stuffed animal; too worn out to be displayed on the shelves, but too loved by the children to be dumped.

"Not at all! I'm thinking about keeping him right where he is." Muguruma-taichou was gesturing with his hand. "You said it yourself: Hisagi-fukutaichou did a terrific job keeping the Ninth division together, the men and women look up to him as if he were the Ninth's captain. And he would be, had he achieved his Bankai by now. Hell, he should be, even without having achieved it! You let Zaraki Kenpachi be a Captain, then why can't Hisagi-fukutaichou?"

"Zaraki-taichou," the old man emphasized, "gained his rank by killing the former Captain of the Eleventh division with two-hundred Shinigami witnessing it."

"And what did Hisagi-fukutaichou do just the other day? Didn't he kill the Captain of the Ninth division?"

"He killed a traitor!"

"Nitpicking! Details!" Muguruma-taichou had gotten louder by the second and was full out screaming by now. "He killed the former Captain of the Ninth division, killed him after he had become even stronger than he was before, and still you won't acknowledge him. If that's the way you want to be, so be it, but I will take him as my lieutenant, if he still agrees with it after everything he had to witness here."

Shuuhei couldn't quite believe his ears, nor did he trust his mouth not to say anything stupid. Not only was he prone to do that around Muguruma-taichou, now he was angered on top of that, so he opted to simply nod at the Visored standing beside the green haired woman who had stayed surprisingly quiet the whole time.

"So I'll be the third seat, right?" she asked now, turning to Muguruma-taichou with big, doe like eyes. "You wouldn't leave me behind, just because we had an argument or two, right?"

The silver haired man's eyes softened visibly and a small smile played over his lips. "Of course, Mashiro, what would I do without you? It'd be way too boring around here without you grating on my nerves."

Whatever that meant Shuuhei didn't know. He knew he didn't particularly like Mashiro, though.

A harrumphing sound cut through the air and three pairs of eyes shot forward to Yamamoto-soutaichou again. "I think we came to a conclusion. Starting now, Muguruma Kensei is reinstated as the Captain of the Ninth division with Kuna Mashiro being the Ninth's third seat. Hisagi Shuuhei-fukutaichou still is the Ninth division's lieutenant and in charge of all the tasks this rank brings with it. You are dismissed."

Shuuhei all but fled the huge room. It took all he had not to shunpo his way out of there, so he opted for a fast walk/almost run down the corridor. He needed air. And time. And several miles between him and this place. And him and Muguruma Kensei.

"Coward!" Kazeshini chided in his head. "What happened to 'face your fear' and 'fearing the opponent makes you a true warrior' and all that?"

"Shut up, Kazeshini! I'm trying to face a fear here!"

"And what fear would that be?" Why was it every time Shuuhei was running from Muguruma-taichou he was running into him? "Uff!"

"I'm sorry, Muguruma-taichou, I didn't see you there…" Shuuhei fought to get back on his feet with as much grace as possible. A fruitless undertaking in the presence of the very man that made his nights as well as his daydreams maybe more entertaining, but all the more risky as well.

"Shuuhei was it, right?"

"It's Hisagi-fukutaichou, Muguruma-taichou."

"Yeah, Shuuhei, okay." What was it with people ignoring what he had to say today? And Kazeshini was giving him a piece of his mind as well. When the young woman behind Muguruma-taichou decided she needed to have her opinion known as well, it all became too much for Shuuhei to bear.

"Would you all. Please. Shut. UP!?" His voice echoed in the long, bare hallway, soon gaining a strange, hollow quality to it. But at least it worked, everyone around him shut their mouth. "Thank you. So, if you would please excuse me now? I have paperwork to do and things to prepare."

Shuuhei didn't wait for anyone to come out of their confusion. Instead he shunpo'ed the hell out of there; he had to prepare the office and the paperwork for the new old captain, after all.

o0O0o0O0o

Back in the corridor Shuuhei had just left in a huff, Kensei and Mashiro looked at each other, similar looks of surprise on their faces. "You sure it was a good idea to keep him?" Mashiro's voice was anything but sympathetic.

"I know it was a good idea, Mashiro," Kensei insisted, turning to follow the corridor out to the busy life of Seireitei. "He really worked wonders on the division; he's cut out to be a high ranking officer and what I said back there is true: He really IS Captain material. As soon as he's reached Bankai, he will be getting prepared to become a captain. You know I like you, Mashiro, but you're not meant to be neither a Captain, nor a lieutenant, are you? Don't get me wrong, you are as strong as they come and a powerful ally, but you are childish in your manners and you lack in the 'commanding people' department as well."

Mashiro looked at him with something akin to disappointment in her eyes, but it soon changed into her usual tantrum gleam. "I'm sure I could have learned it! You should try to teach it rather than only pray it!"

One pierced eyebrow rose, the other one following soon after. "Mashiro, please. Are you serious?"

A pout was all the answer he needed before Kensei finally stepped out of the imposing building of the First division and into the sunshine. His feet led him towards the Ninth division's barracks where he expected to get his Captain's haori as well as an introduction into how the division worked nowadays.

Maybe Shuuhei tended to act a little strange sometimes, but he was a capable lieutenant, and Kensei wouldn't underestimate him.

"He's still a child, though…" his former lieutenant mumbled sulkily and followed the captain towards the Ninth division. "Probably still wet behind the ears."

"You do realize in some languages it is 'to be green behind the ears', right? Tell me what hair color did you have now?"

"Screw you, old perv!"

"That's Oldperv-taichou to you, Kuna-san." Kensei ducked the punch aimed at the back of his head and continued on, whistling a random tune he had heard in the world of the living. Things finally seemed to turn out right. With Soul Society being thrown into chaos obsolete prejudices were reassessed and the Visored had the chance to show the world why they had become what they were now. With Aizen's treason being revealed and Urahara's, Yoruichi's and Tessai's roles being explained, they finally got the chance to reclaim their positions within the Gotei 13's ranks. He was pretty sure at least some of the other Visored had had similar talks with the old man about what they were to do in the Soul Society.

He'd make sure to call a Captain's meeting soon, so they would get to know each other. He was curious as to what had changed in the Gotei 13, with Aizen's betrayal. Or betrayals, rather. Hollowfication, having his victims banned from Soul Society, playing both Yamamoto-soutaichou and the Central 46, all the death and despair he had brought down on them – and yet the Gotei 13 was alive and kicking.

And Kensei was a part of it again. Finally. And if it meant to have Mashiro clinging to him again, he would happily live through it if it meant to have a purpose again.

Having Shuuhei praising him to the skies wasn't too bad either; it helped that he wasn't bad on the eyes, too.

"You're drooling, perv. I hope it's me on your mind!" Mashiro cooed.

Shinji crossing his path made answering unnecessary and Kensei jumped the opportunity, throwing his arm around the blond man and dragging him away with him, talking animatedly about what just had happened with Yamamoto-soutaichou. The lack of surprise on Shinji's part confirmed Kensei's earlier theory about the other Visored's being reinstated in the Shinigami ranks, and both men found a lot to talk about, even after a hundred years spent together in exile.

They left Mashiro behind, none of them noticing the darkening cloud hanging above her head. The earlier childish pout was missing on her face; replaced by a look of determination and anger. Not cut out to be leading people, he had said. She'd show him what happened when she was to command people!

o0O0o0O0o

Shuuhei leapt up from his crouched position in front of his desk where he had been fighting against the stubborn drawer he kept his weekly reports in. He had known there was a new captain to come at one point, so he had written detailed reports on how he was working with the division and what changes he had made, the rosters, the training plans and everything.

"Muguruma-taichou, I didn't expect you this early."

In hindsight, Shuuhei really had to congratulate himself on bringing the sentence out without stumbling over the syllables. Muguruma-taichou stood in the door to his office, wearing the standard Shinigami uniform sans sleeves and a sleeveless Captain's haori, proudly displaying the Ninth division's insignia on the back. His skin glowed in the early morning light, highlighting his muscled build, and his piercings reflected the light of the lamps above.

Gotei 13 captains weren't supposed to look like this, were they? They should be as aristocratic as Kuchiki Byakuya, as reserved as Hitsugaya Toshiro or as calm as Ukitake Jyuushiro. Even the flamboyant air of Kyouraku Shunsui had something awe-inspiring about him. But Muguruma-taichou only made Shuuhei drool inwardly. In awe, though.

On the other hand, he wasn't in any condition to fight his sexy 'opponent' like this, so maybe it actually was some sort of twisted strategy…

"I said I'm sure there's a lot to catch up on," Muguruma-taichou said in a tone that indicated it hadn't been the first time he had said those words.

"Oh, yes, sorry. Actually, there is, right there in the top drawer. Sheets. With words on them. Plans."

"Way to go, warrior!" Kazeshini so wasn't what he needed right now. He needed words and grammar, and fast.

"I… I wrote reports. On what I did. My way with the division."

"Then let's have a look at'em!" The muscular man rounded the desk and came to stand next to Shuuhei, his overwhelming presence surrounding him. The younger Shinigami crouched down and began to fiddle with the drawer once again, his fingers trembling with excitement. Excitement soon gave way to agitation, than to embarrassment. What was it with that stupid drawer?

His captain stood next to him and didn't even raise an eyebrow. He simply waited for him to either win his fight against the furniture or give up. Like hell would he give up! Shuuhei was proud of his reports, was proud of having come up with them in the first place. When he had mentioned them in one of the lieutenants' meetings everyone was pretty impressed with the idea and some decided they'd give it a try as well.

Kira and Momo in particular, but even Renji had been willing to give it a try. "To give Kuchiki-taichou and idea of what I'm doin' with the guys. Can't all be drinkin' tea all day long!"

Rangiku hadn't been too enthusiastic, unsurprisingly…

And now those blasted reports were out of reach, hidden in a stupid drawer in a stupid desk.

"I'm sorry, Muguruma-taichou. It seems you need to wait for those repo-" And before he had the chance to finish his sentence his superior had gripped the handle of the drawer and pulled it out of its slide rails.

"There we go. Are these the reports?" And together they went through months' worth of reports, discussing possible improvements and ways to continue the work in the future.

The older Shinigami complimented Shuuhei more than once on his way of organizing the division and how he had handled the difficult situation without breaking under the responsibility weighing down on his shoulders.

When the door bust open none of the men looked up to see who had come in without even bothering to knock. Shuuhei had an idea, though. The grating voice disturbing the busy silence in the room proved him right.

"Kensei, what are you doing huddled together in here with the kid?"

"That's Hisagi-fukutaichou to you, Mashiro! He's a superior officer and you are to address him accordingly!" Captain Muguruma seemed really upset with the grasshopper girl sitting on Shuuhei's desk, but she was unfazed.

"Whatever. So, what are you doing with him then?"

"Work. He's doing the job you were supposed to do back then, so you could at least start doing your job now! Go out, gather the division in the sparring hall, we need to introduce ourselves!"

A poisonous glare later the Kuna girl was gone, slamming the door shut behind her. Shuuhei sensed trouble in paradise, but he wouldn't say a thing. It wasn't his place to fiddle with his superior's relationship, no matter how much he wanted to. That his superior happened to be his longtime crush didn't make things easier, though. And over one-hundred years of crushing sure qualified as a longtime crush, right?

Smile, Shuuhei, you're alive…

When the other man kindly suggested to actually get going to the meeting with the division, Shuuhei had once again to be told twice before the words reached his brain.

As cute as it was to have a crush on someone from his past, it shouldn't be affecting his work. And right now it was affecting how he functioned, and that had to change. Now.

When they entered the hall where the Ninth's members were assembled, Mashiro immediately threw herself at the new Captain, dragging him onto the stage with her where she seemed to try and merge with him, she pushed herself that close in her Shinigami uniform. She needed to stop that. Nower.

Because it would lead to the men and women talking among themselves, of course. It had nothing to do with Shuuhei being jealous or anything…

Shuuhei grumbled under his breath and stepped onto the small podium as well, his arrival silencing the crowd immediately. Not even the Captain's haori adorning Muguruma-taichou's body had had that effect.

"Friends, comrades, proud Shinigami of the Ninth division, please calm down," Shuuhei began, even though the audience had been silent from the start. "We all know about our situation. Without a captain to represent us in the Captains' meetings, without a captain to stand up for us when decisions were made, we were ignored."

"We had you, Hisagi-fukutaichou!" someone yelled from within the masses of black and white, and Shuuhei smiled at that.

"Yes, you did, but we need more than that. More than I can give, we need a captain worthy of the title!" He ignored the yelled comments now, on how he should be their captain. They all knew the reason why he wasn't captain yet, and they understood them as well as he did. That didn't mean they liked them. "Friends, we are no longer without a captain. I give you Muguruma Kensei, I give you Muguruma-taichou, Captain of the Ninth division!"

The crowd cheered and yelled, welcoming their new captain, some even recognized him from back when he had been captain of the division for the first time. Some of the newer members looked less convinced, though, and Shuuhei could understand them, too.

They had joined the division's ranks when he had been the one to lead the Ninth, captain in all but title and haori. They saw him as their superior, as the one to turn to and to follow his orders, but in a military organization he couldn't let those feelings get in the way of the chain of command.

Shuuhei turned to face the direction where most of the younger Shinigami were standing and once again motioned for the crowd to calm down. Immediately the noise stopped and Mashiro could be heard snorting behind him. "Puppeteer…"

The silver haired man standing next to her on the small stage hit her over the back of her head without moving a muscle in his face.

Ignoring the almost playful banter between the two people next to him Shuuhei addressed his audience. "You all know me, and you know I wouldn't let any Tom, Dick or Harry butt into our business. But this man is different! I owe him my life, he made me the man I am today."

Turning his head to the impressive man, he motioned for him to reveal his chest. The older Shinigami looked surprised and a little bewildered, but he opened his shihakusho a little further to reveal the tattoo adorning his chest. A black 69, clearly visible for all Shinigami in the room, and testament to the man's loyalty and dedication to the Ninth division.

At the same time Shuuhei looked back at the gathered men and women, and he knew their eyes were switching between the number on their new captain's chest and their lieutenant's face. It was silent, eerily so, and one could almost hear the small wheels turning.

Then: "It's the same!" And that was all they needed. Muguruma-taichou had become one of them, simply by having copied their fukutaichou's tattoo. Little did they know about the true history behind the ink, but that didn't matter right now; it was about breaking the ice, and the hollering and cheering hinted at a successful initiation.

Seeing his hero amongst the people he considered his family made Shuuhei happier than he had felt in a long time, and not even the sour expression on Mashiro's face could make the happiness go away. She'd have to introduce herself later, he didn't care.

Shuuhei was alive, he was happy. He smiled.

o0O0o0O0o

"Shuuhei!" The yell sounded through the corridors of the division's barracks, echoing from wall to wall. Shuuhei jumped up from his desk and sped through the hall separating his from his captain's office.

"Yes, Muguruma-taichou?"

"It's Kensei, Shuuhei."

"Yes, Muguruma-taichou."

"You know I could order you to call me Kensei, right?"

"Yes, Muguruma-taichou."

The older man shook his head and a defeated sigh left his gleaming lips. Now that Shuuhei thought about it (and he thought about it quite often) they really looked gleaming. Wet, almost. He knew Kuna had been here until a few moments ago, Shuuhei had seen her leave the building with a pout on her lips, and now he was pretty sure they had been in here, kissing until Kensei had remembered they were supposed to do work; Shuuhei made sure to remind him of that every now and then.

It was an open secret to anyone in the Ninth division that Kuna Mashiro hated Hisagi Shuuhei just as much as she loved Muguruma Kensei. Everyone could see how much she tried to impress the new (old) Captain, how she flitted around him, showing off her female assets and fluttering her eyelashes at him. And whenever Muguruma-taichou wasn't around, she made sure to let Shuuhei know how little she thought of his strength and him in general.

"Your puppy eyes won't help you, kid, Kensei's in another league!" was only one of the things she would spat at Shuuhei when Muguruma-taichou was busy somewhere else.

His favorite so far was "My mask will crush your stupid face!", but he was sure she'd come up with more soon. Shuuhei didn't know what he had done to her, though, except for being Muguruma-sama's vice-captain, but he wouldn't budge just so she could attach herself to the captain's (muscular) arm more often than she already did.

Shuuhei had a responsibility to his division, and they still were his men, so he wouldn't let them down. And, to be honest, he enjoyed working with Muguruma-taichou very much; probably more than he should, the man was in a relationship after all, but that didn't stop Shuuhei from pining from afar.

"Shuuhei, are you listening to me?"

"Of course, Muguruma-taichou." He hadn't heard a single word. But something told Shuuhei his superior knew about that and didn't care. He'd repeat his orders and everything would be fine, Shuuhei would do what was asked of him and Kensei would be proud.

Just as proud as Shuuhei felt whenever he felt adventurous enough to call his Captain by his given name, at least in his own mind, far away from anyone who could hear.

"Aside from me, warrior." It was way too easy to forget about the nag sharing his thoughts.

"Come on, don't be like that! You know you need me. I'm you, for fuck's sake!"

That didn't mean Shuuhei had to like his Zanpakutou's personality…

"You still aren't listening to me, are you, Shuuhei?"

"Yes, Muguruma-taichou." When the last question registered, Shuuhei blushed a deep crimson and finally looked up. "Forgive me, Muguruma-taichou…"

Muguruma-sama stood in front of him, unmoving, his face a mask of seriousness. Until a chuckle broke out of his chest and he fell back into his seat, now laughing out loud and even hitting his thigh in his amusement. "Oh, you're priceless, Shuuhei!" He wiped tears from his eyes and gulped down large intakes of breath before he finally calmed down again.

"Now, where were we?" Some shuffling with papers on the desk, then, "Ah yes, patrols. I want you to put a team together. We'll be patrolling through the outskirts of Rukongai. Make sure you gather talented men and women as well as new recruits, I need to know the wingspread of abilities amongst our ranks."

"Yes, Muguruma-taichou. I will do so immediately." Patrolling with Muguruma-sama, now that was something to look forward to! Shuuhei didn't expect all that many incidents, things had calmed down considerably since the Winter War was over, but even spending time with the man he owed his life would make the trip exciting. And painfully straining on his composure, his self-discipline and his libido…

o0O0o0O0o

Patrols with Muguruma-taichou proved to be quite strenuous, on more than just the celibate-ish way Shuuhei lived his life.

The constant closeness to the powerful Visored made his senses tingling, he was surrounded by the twisted mix of Hollow and Shinigami reiatsu all the time and it made his head swim. Kuna Mashiro's constant presence wasn't helping matters, either. She was oozing reiatsu whenever Shuuhei was around as if she knew the effect that had on him, as well as drool over Muguruma-taichou whenever she could.

Aside from the exhausting amount of reiatsu Shuuhei had to spend on simply being able to move alongside Muguruma-taichou and the Kuna girl, the Ninth's captain made the soldiers do different tasks to train their senses, their fighting skills and anything.

He made the stronger veterans help the new recruits and even joined in from time to time, so even the more experienced fighters could learn new things.

Shuuhei was both proud of his men and women for they could keep up with their new Captain's expectations and curious as to how the new training would help their division to improve even further. He could already feel his own reiatsu limits growing under the constant pressure, just as the amounts of reiatsu of their subordinates grew.

"Hey, fukutaichou-chan, what you're spacing out on?" Mashiro had that unnerving ability of sneaking up on him when she decided to contain her reiatsu. Shuuhei had a suspicion she drowned him in her spiritual pressure every time just so she could sneak up on him.

Ignoring Mashiro's taunts Shuuhei stepped around her, nearing Muguruma-taichou's commando tent instead. He would suggest a particular road to take the next day – it would lead them out of Rukongai and into the landscape surrounding it; that way they'd have the possibility to go all out in their training and Shuuhei felt the urge to try himself against Mashiro, or even Muguruma-taichou? Kazeshini sure was all for it…

"What is it, Shuuhei?" Muguruma-taichou sat in the center of his tent, his haori lying next to him, his shihakusho standing wide open to reveal the broad expanse of his muscular, tattooed chest. Shuuhei fought hard not to drool like Mashiro did whenever she saw the man.

"I suggest we leave Rukongai tomorrow and head for the outer woods, Muguruma-taichou; I think it would be beneficial to have the men and women spar in honest."

"That's a great suggestion, Shuuhei, I'd never have thought of that! I don't find my way around here without a satnav anymore."

"A sat-what?"

"Never mind, Shuuhei, it's a Living World thing. I'll just have you being my satnav around here."

Shuuhei still didn't really get what it meant, but he was glad his superior would rely on him, anyway. It made him feel like he accomplished something – he wasn't the teary kid from the past anymore. It was about time he proved how far he had come in the last one hundred years.

"It'll be my pleasure, Muguruma-taichou." And a pleasure it would be; even more so, should Kensei decide to keep showing off his body. Thinking the name 'out loud' made Shuuhei's skin break into goosebumps, and he already knew what this night's dreams would be made off.

An unhealthy amount of toned muscles, silvery hair and intent, brown eyes. And a prominent bulge tenting his underwear, hidden in his sleeping bag, hidden in his vice-captain's tent, hidden in between all the other tents in their camp.

"Muguruma-taichou," interrupted a voice from the outside. "Something happened to the tents."

There sure was a lot of tenting going on right now, Shuuhei thought. "A small fire destroyed some of the men's tents and now there aren't enough to keep anyone housed for the coming nights of the patrol."

Kensei rose from his seated place and stepped out of his own tent, Shuuhei following hot on his heels. They could see the smoke rising from the other side of the camp where a few Shinigami tried to salvage what was salvageable.

The officers hurried over and took in the damage. "How many supplies have been lost," Shuuhei demanded to know and it was Mashiro who answered in a suspiciously carefree tone.

"Quite some tents were destroyed, but we still have enough left to keep everyone safe and sound when we squeeze some people together."

"What a good idea, Mashiro, thank you!" Shuuhei grit his teeth hearing the approving tone in his captain's voice. He totally missed the suspicious look the man shot his third seat, though.

"Alright, squads! Set up the remaining tents and then come back together at the fireplace. We'll rearrange the sleeping arrangements then."

It didn't take all that long for the soldiers to set up their camp and soon all men and women were gathered around the fire in the middle of their camp. Shuuhei was proud of his division, they were skilled soldiers and knew their profession.

Muguruma-taichou strode along their rows and watched them with pride in his eyes. When he turned around, he raised his voice. "Men to the left side of the fire, women to the right; Hisagi-fukutaichou, you'll stay with me." Shuuhei did. "Mashiro, I believe you should be on the women's side, right? Please step over there. Now." Shuuhei did not see the irritated twitch Muguruma-taichou's eyebrow did.

Grumbling accompanied Mashiro as she walked over to where the other women stood, her walk provocatively slow.

"Okay, squads," the Ninth's Captain started. "There are twenty-three tents left, including Mashiro's and Hisagi-fukutaichou's. One tent can house three people comfortably, so there should be enough space left for everybody. Each tent is to be housing either men OR women, I won't stand for immoral actions on patrol. Please make sure the new recruits are staying with at least one veteran, so you'll be able to profit from either the elder's experience or the youth's new ideas. Dismissed!"

Everyone immediately got to work, finding themselves new 'tentmates' and going to get their bedrolls. Everyone except for Kuna Mashiro and Hisagi Shuuhei. Both were staring at their captain, mouths agape.

"Where am I to sleep?!" both intoned. The higher seated officers were supplied with private quarters, even on patrol, so that they could replenish their energies in peace and quiet as well as to accommodate the tactical supplies they were to carry with them.

"Mashiro, you really should find yourself some girls to share the tent with, or you will have to sleep outside! You, on the other hand," and he turned to Shuuhei, "I need you to get your stuff and take it into the Captain's tent. Since you were the one to suggest we come where I don't know my way around, I need you to inform me about everything you know about this area as well as your plans for tomorrow's sparring matches. I'm sure you thought about something like this?"

He had to be kidding, right? At first he decides to give Shuuhei less than appropriate thoughts with showing off his body, then he wants him to share the limited space a tent, even a captain's tent, can supply them with – Shuuhei wanted to scream.

"Hai." he said instead and turned around to get his things out of his tent.

Now he'd have to hide the tent hidden in his underwear, hidden in his sleeping bag, hidden in a tent hidden in the wood – from his Captain (and the reason for the tented underwear in the first place!), who would be sleeping next to him.

"Smile, Shuuhei. You're alive!"

"SHUT UP, Kazeshini!"

o0O0o0O0o

Shuuhei wanted to die. Here and now, and preferably without a sound so his Captain wouldn't wake up from the sound his death would cause.

He was lying next to Kensei in the stuffed space of the tent and he hadn't slept in six days. It'd all begin with the built man preparing for bed – of course he had to sleep topless! Then the earthy scent emanating from the sleeping Visored would make his head swim and the sounds he made in his sleep set his groin on fire.

Sometimes he would snore lightly, his breath leaving his lungs with a slight rumble in the chest, sometimes he would sigh and smack his lips as he turned over in his sleep. And did he really have to moan like that? The deep sound did things to Shuuhei's imagination, even worse things than the smacking lips did.

At least Shuuhei was in no condition to roll over too far – his omnipresent erection prevented that at least. It was painful whenever his 'problem' brushed against any kind of fabric, though. It made keeping quiet even more difficult, with all the sighs and moans of himself he needed to silence with every touch of any kind.

Hot breath fanned over his closed eyelids and the body heat of his superior washed over him, just as his nostrils noticed the overwhelming scent drowning him. Kensei (and still Shuuhei shuddered just thinking that name) had rolled over in his sleep, his upper body freed of the sleeping bag and now nearly lying on top of the petrified Shuuhei.

The vice-captain tried desperately to wriggle away from the heat and the scent and the walking wet dream itself, but all it did was to cause his angry erection to brush against the fabric of his underwear and make him bite his lips to stop the moan from rumbling out of his throat – in vain.

The shuttered sound left his mouth in a breath and hung heavily in the air of the tent like the foreboding shadow of a sword about to slash down on its victim. Shuuhei held his breath for any reaction from the other man, but nothing happened. At first.

Then a muscled arm snaked its way over Shuuhei's sleeping bag and came to rest lying over his chest, the strong grip dragging the Shinigami closer to his sleeping Taichou. When the dragging stopped, Shuuhei lay flush against Kensei's body, their body heat mingling, as well as their breath, and the younger man didn't dare to even blink, afraid any movement would wake the other up.

His heart was pumping frantically in his chest, but when nothing else happened and the arm circling his upper body didn't seem to be moving anytime soon, his heartbeat as well as his breathing calmed down again.

Lying there, held in Muguruma Kensei's strong arm, his broad chest in his back and his breath tickling his ear proved to be the safest feeling Shuuhei had ever experienced. And soon he drifted off into much needed sleep, filled with images of silver hair, a tattooed chest and low moans and snores.

o0O0o0O0o

Sunlight trickled through the canopy of leaves shielding the camp from unwanted eyes, and enlightened the inside of Shuuhei's sleeping quarters, making him waking up slowly. Over the past six days he'd grown accustomed to the earthy, rich scent of his superior filling the tent, as well as the warmth filling him from the inside and outside, but never before had both been so intensive.

The weight encircling his middle was new, as well. New, but welcome.

And suddenly Shuuhei's mind came up with an explanation for the intensity of all the good things happening to his senses. He was lying pressed flush against Muguruma-taichou's chest, and it was his arm keeping him in place in the cocoon of warmth and safety.

The vice-captain wanted this moment to never end.

Of course an end was inevitable, and it came in form of Kuna Mashiro (of all people). She ripped the entrance open and stood in between the flapping halves, her eyes taking in the situation. When her gaze fell upon the position the two men found themselves in, her eyes at first widened, then narrowed to slits.

Anger flashed in her gaze and the glare Mashiro threw at Shuuhei promised pain in the near future.

"Kensei, you old perv! Get up, it's about time you let go of your boy toy and remember where you belong!"

Muguruma-taichou stirred and unconsciously tightened the hold he had on Shuuhei, dragging him even closer as if he was trying to hide behind the dark haired man. "Go away, Mashiro!"

"No, I won't! You can't send me away like that!" Hurt laced her words and anger spoke out of her voice. "Get your lazy ass moving and act according to your title, Muguruma-'taichou'!"

"As your superior I order you to leave this tent immediately!" Muguruma's voice was loud and massive in Shuuhei's ear and he could feel little droplets of spit hitting his skin as the man's speech grew angrier. "Third seat Kuna, make sure the men and women are awake and begin preparations for the day and after that prepare yourself for a sparring."

The formerly warm and peaceful atmosphere was utterly disturbed by the screamed words and agitated reiatsu emanating from both Visored and Shuuhei shuddered, lying in between them and not exactly knowing what to do. When Mashiro left the tent in a huff, her feet stamping on the ground, he let go of the breath he'd been holding since Muguruma-taichou had started screaming.

"I'm sorry you had to witness this, Shuuhei," the man behind him said into his ear and swiped the spit droplets away from his skin. "Sometimes she forgets her place, but she doesn't mean anything by it."

Shuuhei wouldn't count on that, although he didn't say anything. Not even about the fact that the other man still had to let go of him, or even stop the soft caresses of his face.

After a while he shifted in the warm embrace and made to get up – leaving the warmth, leaving the feeling of being cherished behind felt like being kicked where it really hurt, but they had a division to run. And they weren't meant to be like this, anyway, right?

o0O0o0O0o