The dark haired man rolls over on the bed looking up at the ceiling, breathing heavily. The woman next to him is breathing just as heavily. She turns over onto her stomach and supports herself on her forearms. She hangs her head down and lets her slightly damp, long black hair fall around her face.
When her breathing has calmed down she flips her hair back and turns onto her side to face her companion, propping her head up with her right hand. "Now, that should be considered part of our training workout. It would make training that much better. Wouldn't you agree, Shunsui?" She gives him a coy smile.
Shunsui Kyōraku turns over to face her. "You have to know what you're doing for it to be a pleasurable workout. Plus, training comes very easily to you, Mi..."
"Don't you ever say that name!" Her copper eyes darken and are filled with hatred.
"Sorry, sorry, Sora-chan. I swear it will not happen again. I forgot how much you've worked to get rid of that name. Forgive me?"
Her eyes soften and she laughs as he makes his best puppy-dog face. "Alright, I forgive you. Just stop it with the face already", she laughs. She stands up and puts her shihakushō and haori back on, displaying the tenth division insignia. "Thanks for a wonderful night. I'll see you tomorrow night as well?" she confirms.
Shunsui sighs, "How can I say no to you, even if you have an ulterior motive."
Sora pouts, "I have needs too you know." She blows him a kiss and leaves for her own room.
The following morning Sora is talking with Retsu Unohana and Jūshirō Ukitake when Shunsui sneaks up behind her and grabs her butt.
"Ah! You pervert!" Sora slaps him. "How dare you!"
Unohana smiles, "You don't have to pretend. We know that you two have been keeping each other company at night."
Sora blushes. "I thought you might. Nothing gets past you, Unohana-san."
The group soon parts ways and Shunsui escorts Sora back to her office. On the way there, everyone they pass bows and greats them.
"Good morning, Kyōraku-taicho, Koizumi-taicho." Sōsuke Aizen greets the two.
As soon as they are out of ear shot, Sora whispers to Shunsui, "There's something about that kid I just can't put my finger on."
Shunsui rubs his chin thinking. "He's a good kid from what I've heard. He's made his way up in the ranks quickly. He looks like he's a very promising shinigami."
"His aura just seems to scream 'Evil' at me. Whenever I see him I have this sudden urge to run away or take up my zanpakutō against him. I don't think I can ever trust him for as long as I live."
"And what does my aura tell you?" He makes a kissy face at her.
"Baka." She simply states. At his down hearted look, she can't help but laugh. She looks around to see if anyone is watching before planting a passionate kiss on him. "Smile, it suits you better."
A goofy grin quickly makes its way onto his face as he chases after her.
Sora sighs as she finishes the last of the paper work for the day. She stretches her arms above her head and yawns causing her reading glasses to slip down her nose. It's the end of the day and there was more paper work to do today than normal.
"You should take a night off from visiting Shunsui-san. You're not getting enough sleep, Sora." The tenth squad vice-captain informs her captain. The sides of the girl's brown hair are pulled back and braided. She has bright blue eyes that sparkle with her smile.
"I appreciate your concern, Haruko, but for your information, I do not go over there every night." Sora blushes and mutters, "Just a few times almost every week." She pushes herself up using her desk for support. "Come on; let's go watch the sun set."
"Hai", Haruko beams at her captain.
It doesn't take the two long to reach the highest point in the Seireitei, the Sōkyoku. They sit at the edge if the cliff taking in the view of all of Soul Society.
"Why is it that the most beautiful spot in the Seireitei the spot for so much hurt and ruin?" Sora ponders out loud.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"Haruko, what do you really think of my relationship with Shunsui?"
Haruko sits there thinking for a few minutes before answering. "Truthfully? I wonder what your relationship really is. Do you really like him or do you just like his company and pleasure? Either way, I'm happy that you have someone that you can trust in that much. You've known him for so long it was bound to come to this. He's the only one that I think gives you his full respect while still treating you like the woman that you are. I only wish I could find someone half as good as you have."
Sora grins wildly, "You're jealous!"
"I am not!" Haruko blushes a deep red.
Sora laughs and Haruko joins in. "Don't worry. There's someone out there that will make you happy. You'll find him someday, I know it."
Haruko sighs and lays down resting her head on Sora's lap. Sora strokes Haruko's hair as they watch the sun set in silence.
Later that night, Sora sneaks off to Shunsui's room. Everything that Haruko had said runs through her head once again. She taps lightly on the door before entering. Shunsui is sitting in his usual place with two cups and his limitless supply of sake.
She smiles and takes the seat across from him. "After a day like today, you always know exactly what I need." They raise their cups in cheers and drink. "I don't think I've ever seen that much paper work in my entire life. And I had Haruko and the others doing a lot as well."
Shunsui chuckles, "I know what you mean." He fills their cups again. Sora is about to drink when she pauses with the cup to her lips. "Is something wrong?" Shunsui now asks in concern.
She lowers her cup and shakes her head, "No, at least I don't think so, at least not at this moment." She downs her drink. "Not much more. I want to be able remember tonight."
"Very well then", he laughs.
After a few more rounds they head into Shunsui's bedroom. He delicately runs his fingers through her hair, staring into her eyes and smiling.
She returns his smile but her eyes say otherwise. "Shunsui, we've known each other for who knows how many years and we've been sleeping together for about the past twenty years, on and off. What do you really think of me? I… I mean, what is our relationship?"
He freezes not knowing how to respond. When the question finally registers to him, a number of different expressions cross his face as he takes her question seriously.
"Would it help if I said that no matter what your answer is, I'm not leaving tonight?" She raises an eyebrow at him making her intentions clear.
Shunsui sighs, "I'm not really sure if we have a specific title for our relationship. You know I can never fully grasp those kinds of emotions very well at all. You are a very close and dear friend to me and I don't want to do or say anything to change that. That's why I accepted our nights together because you approached me." He scratches his head. "I really don't know what else to say."
"So, we're good friends with benefits."
"I guess you could put it that way, unless you're looking for something more?"
She sighs and drops her shoulders. "I don't know. I do want someone to love and to love me but I don't know if I want it now or when. It's just all confusing. I wouldn't want it to get in the way of my duties as a captain, which I think we have accomplished over the years. I just don't know." She drops her head.
Shunsui gently cups her chin and brings her head up to meet her eyes. He smiles sweetly at her, "I know you'll find all the answers you're looking for one day. Until then, cheer up and enjoy the moment." She laughs softly as he leans in to kiss her. "Till then, you'll have me to entertain you." His lips brush against hers as he speaks.
"Oh?" She pulls back slightly. "Do you think that I'll need you till I find someone else?"
Shunsui realizes the corner he just backed himself into. "I'm sorry, but you aren't someone who changes easily." She raises an eyebrow questioning him. "I've been watching you since you were just the scrawny little girl who came in and became the youngest captain ever, which still stands today, and you haven't changed much at all since then. You're clothes and your hair have all remained the same over the years. You don't want to change anything that might remind you of who you use to be. Somewhere, you know that I'm right."
Sora pulls him closer and leans in to whisper in his ear, "I'll show you how capable I am of change." She shoves him up against the wall and runs her hands over his chest pushing his shihakushō off his shoulders.
He laughs energetically, "I think I'm going to enjoy change tonight." He starts to undress her as well.
A few hours later, Sora leaves a sleeping Shunsui as silently as possible so she doesn't wake him. As soon as she is back in her own room and shuts the door, she leans against the door. Tears start to roll down her cheeks as the conversations during the night come back to haunt her. Shunsui's words about their relationship secretly hurt her deeply. Her hands cover her face as she comes to terms with her true feelings for Shunsui. She stands there for a while before wiping her tear away and going to her bed. As she falls asleep, she knows what she needs to do.