Chapter 1

Weeks after Aizen's defeat at the hands of Ichigo Kurosaki, life in Seireitei had basically returned to normal. Guard duty, missions, and yes, even paperwork, once again filled the life of Nanao Ise. Currently, she was assigned on a reconnaissance outing with several other lieutenants, captains, and other high ranking Shinigami to investigate a disturbance in the precipice world, the boundary separating Soul Society from the world of the living.

"I don't understand why all of us are necessary for this – we know it's not normal in there because Aizen removed the cleaner!" Renji complained.

"Just shut up, you're not the only one who doesn't want to be here," said Ikkaku.

For her part, Nanao tried to ignore the complaints of her teammates and prepared herself to begin the mission. She could not understand how individuals so reluctant to partake in work of any kind managed to become seated level officers.

With a quick slip of hand, Nanano pulled her sword out of her sleeve to open up the gate to the precipice world, returning the sword back to its hiding spot in the same instant.

"Oh, Ise, when did you arrive? She's got the right idea, let's begin."

Out of everyone assembled for the mission, it took Captain Hitsugaya to notice it was time to get started. At least he was someone who understood the satisfaction of hard work, a trait Nanao wished her own captain shared.

One by one, the shinigami assembled in file through the gate. Nanao followed behind Rangiku, thankful at least she had friend in the crowd. The ever cold captain of the 6th squad, and the ever creepy captain of the 12th, made up the back of the line.

Nanao hoped this mission wouldn't take long, she had her own work to get back to at the 8th's squad offices. She had left instructions for Captain Kyouraku on what needed to be finished, but mostly she just hoped he didn't manage to create even more work for her somehow. In all likelihood, he would take her being out of the office as permission to take the day off, and would spend it drinking in a bar, or sleeping under the sun.

Reluctantly, Nanao was actually thankful for the time apart from her captain. In the weeks right before the confrontation with Aizen, they had been getting closer than ever. Almost too close. She had folded to his pleas for once, and let him take her out for dinner. Nanao could admit to herself it hadn't been as horrible as she had thought it might be, that maybe it had even been nice, and had been planning on letting him take her out again.

However, Kyouraku's encounter with Lisa in the Aizen fight had apparently stirred up old emotions in the man. He had been distant, not ignoring her exactly, but she was not certainly no longer his focus. At times, he would disappear for almost the whole day – Nanao wondered if he was going off to the world of the living to visit his former lieutenant.

Sighing, Nanao scolded herself for not concentrating on the mission. She tried to focus on the back of Rangiku's head as they plodded through the precipice world, accompanying Captain Mayuri has he took measurements at random intervals.

After all, what should she care about how her Captain spent his time? Hadn't she been the one to turn down his passes for years, no, not years – decades?

Nanao was suddenly shaken from her thoughts with a yell from Mayuri as one of his oddly shaped instruments started beeping loudly.

The column of shinigami came to a sudden halt, with everyone reaching for their swords as an immense spiritual pressure seemed to push down on them all at once. It was all Nanao could do to even remain standing.

A flash of intense, bright, brilliant light, obscured everything around her. And then, at once, as soon as the light had come, there was nothing but empty, soul crushing darkness – and Nanao felt herself falling, her mind seized by panic and fear, she felt as if she was slipping on a slope of despair. Screaming for seconds that felt like minutes, Nanao blacked out completely and lost herself to unconsciousness.

ooooooooooo

Back in his office at the 8th division, Shunsui Kyouraku tried to pressure his friend, the captain of squad 13, Jushiro Ukitake, to join him in enjoying a delightful bottle of sake.

"Should we really be drinking this early, Shun?" the white haired captain admonished.

"Nanao's not here to make me work, so it's almost like a holiday. Time to celebrate!"

"Everyday for you is a holiday" his friend tsked, but still took the cup of drink he was offered.

"Plus, aren't you glad we weren't asked on that mission they all ran off to early this morning? Being saved from running around with that lot is another excuse to have a drink."

Draining his cup, Shunsui realized he was actually on edge with his Nanao-chan out working with other captains in an unknown, potentially dangerous situation. Not that he didn't trust his fellow officers, it's just that he was over protective as far as she was concerned. It had been his call to have her stay behind in Seireitei during the Aizen battle.

Secretly, he also knew that the reason Ukitake had joined him for early drinking was because his old friend realized Kyorakyu would be anxious with his lieutenant out without him. Centuries of friendship resulted in Ukitake knowing him better then he even knew himself.

"You know, I never did ask you – how did your pseudo dinner date with Nanao work out?"

"I think she was surprised that I could act like a gentleman, if only for an evening!" Shunsui said with a wink, as he finished another cup.

"I'd been planning on asking her out again, but she returned to the cold shoulder treatment after I got back to Soul Society following the Aizen nonsense."

"You're probably reading too much into it."

"Reading? Since when does he read?" a female voice asked out of nowhere.

The door to the office opened, and standing there was none other than his beautiful lieutenant, his one and only, Nanao.

"Ah, Nanao-chan, you are back super early, I was just...uhh...getting ready to do the pile of work you left me!" Hastily, Kyouraku tried to hide the sake bottle behind his back.

"Yes, the mission ended early. Captain Mayuri needed to take some samples back to his lab for tests."

"So there were no problems then?"

"None at all – it was entirely uneventful, Sir."

ooooooooooo