I had the idea for this fic almost a year ago, I guess, so I decided to give it a try (at last). I'm not really that into theater, but I have a healthy respect for all things musical!

Kubo Tite, not I, owns bleach.


Chapter One: High on a Hill

It was still dark when Nanao Ise pulled up to St. Cecilia's. The school looked grand and imposing in the half-dark of the early morning, and as she took a sip of her chai tea, she shuddered. God, how she hated the school (though this, of course, was something she would never admit). Having slogged through four years of it herself, she could certainly commiserate with its current student population.

She made a face at her tea mug, regretting that she'd used the last of her Secret Santa Starbuck's gift card on the stuff. Why couldn't I remember that I hated chai tea fifteen minutes ago?

Exiting her car gracefully, she grabbed her thread-barren backpack from the backseat before cautiously making her way up the sandy staircase to the backdoor of the school. Sighing, she looked down at the parking lot. It was certainly a breathtaking campus, impeccably manicured at all times of the year, and situated right on the ocean. Nanao delicately shoved her key in the lock, turning with just enough force to move the cogs that kept it closed.

The hall was dark, save a single light from an office down the hall. She walked towards it, taking another swig of the bland tea as she went. As she drew closer, she groaned loudly and swore under her breath. There was a reason she had come in to work a full three hours early, and it most certainly was not to be harassed by her boss. Nanao stood apprehensively by the open door for a few moments, covered by the protective darkness of its shadow, before knocking lightly on the wood paneling.

Shunsui Kyouraku's head poked out into view. A goofy smile immediately pasted itself on his face.

"Ah, Nanao! I thought I heard your lovely groan. Pray, what have you come here for?" He scowled softly, causing Nanao's heart to jump. "You should be asleep. I know that you've been ill lately."

Nanao marched into the small office, lugging her bag behind her. "Well, I had some stuff to take care of."

"What's in that bag?" Once more, Shunsui scowled. "Here, let me take it."

Nanao swung it up onto her chair heavily. "No need. And it's full of librettos, unfortunately," She slid into another chair, closer to Kyouraku's. "I'm on tap to help Mr. Kuchiki with the auditions today, and apparently that includes manual labor," she rubbed her shoulder. "He also owes me over a hundred dollars."

Shunsui laughed, a deep, warm sound that echoed off the wooden walls of the small room. "That expensive? Surely the school will reimburse you."

Nanao snorted. "Probably not. I guess it's some sort of hazing; you know, torture the student teacher and all that jazz. But Kuchiki's a nice man, I'm sure we'll come to some sort of an arrangement." She took another sip of the tea and cringed. "Have you made any coffee yet? This is disgusting."

"No, not yet," He arose from his swivel chair. "Let me get some for you, though," She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off swiftly. "I insist."

Any other day she would have swept across the office and made the coffee herself, but today she was just too damn tired. Her relationship with Shunsui Kyouraku was odd to say the least. There were the moments, such as these, when he would demonstrate his quiet caring towards her, but there were also the moments (these she detested) were he would flirt with her shamelessly, in front of anyone and everyone without a care in the world. Of course, any time he looked at her, her heart would flutter dangerously fast, and an unwitting blush would rise to her cheeks. She didn't acknowledge it had anything to do with him, though. No, it was too hot in the classrooms, or she had been sick lately and it was probably a mild fever. If nothing else, Nanao was marvelous at repressing unbidden emotions.

"So what are you doing?" He asked quietly. He never spoke loudly when it was just the two of them together, and his pleasant baritone rumbled about the room. "I heard Sweeney Todd, but that doesn't sound right."

Nanao nodded silently before answering, "We are doing Sweeney Todd, but think of it as the varsity musical, I guess. Frosh-Soph is going to be The Secret Garden."

Shunsui laughed. "Frosh-Soph?"

"Yes, Frosh-Soph. Haven't you heard that before?'

"No, not really," he chuckled again, sitting back down in his chair. "It's gonna be a little bit for the coffee," Nanao smiled, tugging the weighty backpack off of her chair and scooting closer to the desk. She had a lot of paperwork to fill out; the school had just recently gotten a grant, and the literature department was in dire need of some new materials. She heard her boss chuckle quietly again. "So, Sweeney Todd? That's going to be…" he broke off briefly, smiling. "Quite an undertaking."

Nanao swiveled around in her chair, paperwork still in hand and slightly annoyed. Couldn't he see that she was trying to do something? "Indeed, but Mr. Kuchiki is anything if not ambitious. I was in a production of it a couple of years ago, though, and I do believe that several faculty members have past experience, so we aren't going in completely blind."

"Really? Oh, wait, I think I'd heard that somewhere. You were Johanna, correct?" Nanao nodded, smiling. She'd always been proud of landing that role, especially since she had only been a freshman at the time. "It's hard music."

Nanao nodded again. "Dissonant," she said. "Secret Garden is different, though. Very pretty, and there's a lovely waltz. Ms. Unohana is sure to be pleased."

"I'm sure. And in what, um, capacity are to be involved with these shows?" A strange, almost longing tone had crept into his voice.

She eyed him curiously, though she didn't look him directly in the eye. "Well, I have not yet been informed, but I'd imagine that my involvement will be quite heavy. Why?"

Shunsui smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll miss you, is all. You always brighten up my day." Nanao blushed furiously, and looked back down at the pale, baby pink sheets of paper, chewing on the cap of her pen. "Your beauty and intellect never cease to astound me, love." She hated when he did this. The conversation would be flowing along nicely, easily, and then out of left field he would hit her with something like that.

Nanao cleared her throat delicately, anxious to change the subject. "So, I was thinking maybe a five more copies of One Hundred Years of Solitude, maybe," she said, making a mark on the top sheet. "Maybe Brideshead Revisited and some Kurt Vonnegut too. I've always liked him."

Dear God, today was going to be long.


All of you guys should check out The Secret Garden! The musical is not really that well known, but the music is lovely. So review, please! Constructive criticism is always appreciated.