To all the Kensei and Shuuhei fans! These two have been another favourite of mine for quite some time and I believe them to be a little underrated in terms of fandom on this site.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Warnings: Some language, minor violence, time skips, slash/lemon – there will also be aspects of 'shota', but nothing too serious. This will also be an AU to the extent where Shuuhei was taken back to the Soul Society after being rescued by Kensei. Aizen, Gin and Kaname also never defected from the Soul Society.

Chapter 1.


Survival, the most common necessity in the vast lands of Rukon. Souls growing up in the slums of Rukongai feared death, a perplex anxiety that distilled the struggling need for survival, in the minds of many.

From a young age, death was all he knew. He and his friends did the very best they could to survive, being only short in height and little in power – cowardice was never an option if you wanted to see the light of day again. There was never a time he could truly recall in the brigand days of his child hood, where sadness wasn't present.

Sheltering in caves or abandon houses and stealing to survive, the life of a child soul was itinerate. A young Shuuhei Hisagi would've never thought his world could turn upside down and invert itself when the struggle to survive, evolved into a reason for living.

Survival became safety and reason became purpose, the young Rukon boy finally began to understand happiness when he was saved from iron grips of death. Never one to venture too far from the district he lived in, Shuuhei and his friend's straggle from the borders of the forest into a clearing – lead to a crossroads of life and death.

There was great heartache and happiness found in the untimely Hollow attack and the indecision to sacrifice himself. The knight in shining armor and fairy godmother rescue every child dreamed of came true for him in that moment.

Through all the tears and roughhoused living, a meaning had been created. Shuuhei had been given happiness away from all the blood and death he was surrounded by, and that solace was granted through a white haired warrior he would soon call his friend.

"He's just so cuuuuuute! Aren't you little guy?" An eccentric voice bellowed out while patting him on the head, he'd been called many things through his life growing up; a thief, trash, pauper and scum. Never cute though.

"What should we do with him Kensei? Are we going to keep him?" The girl with green hair begged his rescuer. After being ranted at for the third time, he wiped more tears from his eyes. The Rukon boy sat quietly upon the wooden floor at the back of a freezing room silently watching the two Soul Reapers bicker between each other.

Only a few weeks ago he'd been saved from a Hollow and taken back to a place Shuuhei had only ever heard of in the most wildest of fantasies. Soul Reapers were never really known to show sympathy towards any resident of Rukongai, especially a child. They were trash amongst other treasure and the boy didn't know why the man in the white cloak or the green haired girl with goggles took him with them. The various squad men all took turns in looking after Shuuhei, the girl who called herself Mashiro played with Shuuhei the most. After spending a lot of time with her, he realized she was a child at heart much like himself, always loud and carefree – Shuuhei questioned whether it was natural to feel an ease around her.

"For the last time Mashiro, stop asking because I don't know!" That man barked back, Mashiro giggled while pulling on the boy's cheeks.

"How can you not know Kensei? He's just too cute to give away, we should keep him." She pestered from the top of her lungs, Shuuhei found it funny to laugh at how frustrated the man got when Mashiro opened her mouth. Two weeks had passed and he'd been staying with the various Soul Reapers that rescued him, his hero didn't know what to do with him – as a captain, Shuuhei figured he'd send him back immediately if he couldn't reach a decision.

The Rukon boy already had his homecoming and didn't want to return.

"Look, we really aren't supposed to do this Mashiro and who's going to look after him?" He sighed in a defeated tone, in his child mind; Shuuhei didn't know what this meant. He really wanted to stay, even if he felt out of place, it was far better than the place he originally lived at.

"So you want him to stay Kensei? Yay, yay, yay, yay!" She chanted a thousand times over while jumping up and down. His face lit up, something was really coming easy to him. He'd already been rescued once so the good fortune was welcoming.

"I-I can stay?" Shuuhei questioned in a squeaky voice, his beading eyes looked at Kensei from a far. The man who rescued him… Was letting him stay!

"I didn't say you could! But I didn't say couldn't either... If I do decide to let you stay, you need somewhere to live and someone to look after you."

The fortunate news was flowing positively for Shuuhei, he wanted to jump up and down with Mashiro – but knew Kensei would yell at him for 'disobeying orders'. He didn't want to test the grouchy man's patience again, Shuuhei didn't like it when he yelled.

"He can live with me! We can have so much fun, will you let me keep him Kensei? Please, please, please pleeeeeease?" Mashiro fell down to her knees and begged.

"He's not some toy… And you can barely look after your own self without my help. NO!" He grumbled to her, Shuuhei had already learnt that it was one thing to test Kensei's patience, but another to push him over the edge.

Shuuhei noticed a deep look on the captain's face, his hair was really white and looked very bright in the lamp light. He prayed a million times more to himself, Shuuhei wanted to stay, especially after spending nights at the barracks with the other Soul Reapers who would play with him before he went to sleep. He crossed his fingers and hoped he could keep this better life.

"Look after him for a bit while I go and speak to someone."

Kensei had been gone the entire night after that, Shuuhei spent the rest of his time chasing Mashiro and running around the room with her until he fell to the floor in exhaustion. The last few weeks had been tiresome, before he was saved he hadn't eaten a proper meal in a fair while, and it was hard to sleep on the rough surfaces of the warehouse he resided at before coming here.

The Rukon child didn't really dream much, but during his sleep in the captain's office, he dreamed of colour. Vivid sounds and happy voices played on his sub-conscious, the boy knew he'd feel much happier surviving in the Seireitei; proper food, rest and clothes. It all changed because of his rescuer with white hair.

Kensei and Mashiro took him back to the Seireitei and the Squad Nine barracks where there weren't many tears, it upset him to see Kensei yell. He was used to that though, shop keepers and street Urchin's used to chase after him and cuss, but Shuuei never felt down in the dumps when Kensei.

Never hateful, somehow protective.

Shuuhei usually watched him train or do his work and over the last couple of weeks, he realized Kensei was so strong and amazing at everything. The Rukon boy wanted to be like that, he wanted to be big and strong like Kensei and help people.

There was a smile on his sleeping face, he'd been set free from survival.

"So this is the kid huh?" Voices whispered over the silence, Shuuhei remained still on the floor next to Mashiro.

'Ohhh, he is cute – why did'ya lie to me Kensei?"

The two men entered into the space quietly shutting the door, their shadowy figures towered over the sleeping lieutenant and Shuuhei.

"I didn't say he wasn't… I said he was a handful." That gruff voice replied, the two on the floor were lying face down onto the tatami, the boy's own deflated black hair covering his eyes.

"And ya want me to look after him? Why'd you never tell me or anyone else about him before?" The long blonde haired male asked quietly and carefully.

"Because I didn't know what to do, and I couldn't exactly leave him out there alone Shinji. He's just a kid!" Kensei defended in a barrage, Shuuhei and Mashiro's gentle breathing were heard amongst their monotone chit chat.

Shinji's face was a little surprised – "Well, I guess ya did the right thing, but you want me to look after 'im? I don't know if I'd be able to do that, what about my squad and my own life?"

"You get Aizen to do all the work anyway, c'mon Shinji. What about all the things I've done for you in the past?" Kensei said hopefully, Shinji often relied on him throughout the many years they knew each other, and Kensei had never once recalled the 'favors' he promised him – until now.

"I don't know Kensei…" He trailed off in doubt while watching Shuuhei from afar, the boy shifted a little closer to Mashiro.

"It'll only be for a little while, if you haven't noticed yet – the kid's already growing a lot of spiritual energy anyway. Give it a few months and we can ship him off to the academy, just this one favour?"

Shinji sighed, shaking his blonde tresses he looked up and shot a cracked smile at Kensei. "Sure sure whatever, a few months but that's it though!"

Shuuhei's fate was made final. He was granted a new life that night, a new life away from hell he'd been saved from. The black haired boy picked the right crossroad that day and survival became purpose.


Weeks later...

Things had already changed for him, they'd changed a lot. The most obvious change was a permanent home. Shuuhei didn't worry about the place he left behind any longer, and those tears were shut off like pipework. After living on the hard surfaces of suffering – Shuuhei had finally experienced sleeping in a proper bed and awoke to a proper meal. He no longer arched into a ball to retain his body heat and there was always clean clothes for him. The Rukon boy had finally settled in, and all too fast.

Some of his days were spent playing with Shinji, though he didn't understand why the should be, fun... Made him feel so tired and sore at night. Shuuhei was always running around and lifting things for the captain, he didn't quite understand how people enjoyed this. But he remained obedient and did the things he was told, he got to see Kensei then. Since he left the Squad Nine barracks all those weeks ago, a distance remained in his heart.

Shuuhei became separated from his knight in shining armour. He didn't know the man very well, in fact – he didn't know him at all. But the only thing Shuuhei knew though, was the increased feeling of safety within Kensei's presence. The young boy was developing an attachment to the captain.

Shortly after the visits with Kensei, Shinji's observed with an attentiveness. The captain began to notice Shuuhei's infatuation with Kensei. He started to use the boy's idolosaition as an incentive to get him to exercise and expand his Spiritual Energy. Shuuhei wasn't really a troublesome kid like one would think; he generally listened to others around him and always followed orders. His blonde haired guardian would often compliment on what a great squad member he'd make.

Each passing day bought more of a challenge during Shuuhei's 'playtime', he wanted to become like Kensei. He never once looked back on Rukongai from his haven so he did everything for Shinji, no matter how much he struggled... Shuuhei got there in the end.

It was all smiles.

But the one thing that made his smile widen and eyes sparkle was Kensei. He loved being with the man and every so often, Shinji would take him to visit.

He idolized him, when he played with Shinji every couple of days he would always tell him how he wanted to become big and strong like Kensei. Shuuhei would always remind Shinji that he should work a lot harder like Kensei to get his jobs done.

Underneath that black head of hair – he couldn't think of anyone better deserving of his affectionate devotion than Kensei. The white haired captain was a hero, Shuuhei's own rescuer and he wasn't kept a secret from other Soul Reapers any more. Shuuhei was always told how strong he was by the others that came to visit.

Though, Shuuhei didn't really like it when they ruffled his hair or played with his cheeks face. He quickly grew up from that.

Shinji had promised Shuuhei a visit few days ago after calling him "extra strong and brave." He liked being acknowledged as strong and brave because it made Shuuhei feel closer to being just that. So he tried extra hard during his training and was awarded with the one place his entire focus was waiting anxiously for. Shuuhei had never really felt this kind of excitement either. It was different to finding food to fill his stomach in Rukongai and different to seeing Mashiro or Rose. Everything about Kensei through his child-like perception was concrete and elastic tight.

"Shinji-nii, when are we going? When are we going?" He questioned a couple of times over; tugging on Shinji's arm, the boy picked up the repetition from Mashiro when spending time with her. The green haired lieutenant was a bad influence on him, always teaching him new ways to annoy others.

After begging, asking and pleading answers from Shinji in the most adorably annoying of ways, Shinji caved. "Ughh, give it a rest will ya kid? We're going soon okay, hasn't anybody been teaching ya patience?"

"I've been waiting allllllllll week Shinji-nii!"

Shuuhei looked up at the captain, he really had been taught patience, but Shuuhei was sick of waiting.

"Fine, fine! We're going." Shinji's resolve lamented

It wasn't a long way to the Ninth Division's barracks, but keeping an eye on Shuuhei often proved to be a task in itself when Shuuhei became overworked. The weeks had carried on quickly for both of them though, Shuuhei was becoming physically stronger by the minute. With each passing day, he was also growing stronger in power. It was known to everyone but Shuuhei himself, the boy carried on thinking his playtime was all fun and games – the white lie was coveted by the truth.

Continuing their way to the barracks, both of them were thankful that it was coincidentally a short walk from the fifth.

Kensei had steadily warmed up to Shuuhei in this time too. If the man didn't have a soft spot before, Shuuhei gave him one. Those tears that the man once created were swept away by playful bouts of laughter and joy, Shuuhei really did think of him as a knight in shining armour.

There were never birthdays back in Rukongai, there was generally never anything to celebrate other than living. But now in the Seireitei, every time Shuuhei went to Kensei's he imagined it to be his birthday. Something to be joyful without a real reason at all.

The patter of Shuuhei's feat coursed directly in front of Shinji's, time wasn't going fast enough. "C'mon Shinji-nii, you're such a slowpoke."

A scowl broke onto Shinji's face, he shook away his blonde bangs. "Slowpoke? That's no fair, looking after you proves that squirt."

Shuuhei ignored his response and nickname; he just tugged on the man's haori trying to speed both of them along. They weren't far now, their footsteps tapped across the cobbled limestone surface. "Around the corner and we'll be here." The blonde haired captain commented, white buildings slowly burst into a clearing. The walk seemed endless given the anticipation for the two.

Downwards from where they were was the Ninth Division barracks.

Squad Nine's duties were suspended for a few days while the Soul Society was on reform.

Kensei's office was stationed at the back of the barracks itself, a small building separated by a meadow of grass. This was both the living and working quarters of the captain. Shinji walked up towards the screened door and slid it open.

"It's your turn to look after him!" He rushed the arrival in an undertone from the small break in the walkway. "I'm gonna go'n do some other things while you look after 'im, good luck." Shinji said in a low-key tone.

The fifth captain closed the door avoiding any small talk, Kensei stared from the wooden desk he sat behind. All care was erased from Shuuhei's mind when Shinji left so abruptly – his guardian was nice but also often eager to rid himself of the task he presented.

"Shuuhei." Kensei spoke from behind, the boys face lit up. "You've been troubling Shinji again haven't you?"

The Rukon boy immediately leaped over to Kensei, the captain gaped at how fast he'd become – moving himself out from under the work desk, he lifted Shuuhei up and perched him onto his own lap. Shuuhei was small for his age, but the lightweight made it easier to carry him around on his shoulders.

"Kensei-san!" Shuuhei smiled with awe, the moments leading up to this couldn't account for the happiness he was experiencing. Everything felt better around his Kensei.

"Wow you've become real fast kid, Shinji must be making you train every day now?" The larger man chuckled.

His words crashed down on Shuuhei, he couldn't contain any emotion. "Shinji-nii's being mean though, he doesn't wanna do anything fun any more " He complained with a heart filled grunt and folded his arms, Kensei ruffled his hair.

"Aww, c'mon now kid. Shinji's just looking out for you, besides… Look at those muscles, you are getting stronger!" Kensei complimented him with a smile while squeezing his fingers into Shuuhei's small arms, Shuuhei's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"You really think so Kensei-san?" The boy shifted a little amongst Kensei's lap, it was cold in the Seireitei and it was even colder in the office where they sat.

"I know so kid. You'll be as strong as me one day, that I promise." Kensei said, wrapping his arms around Shuuhei. The two had grown close in volume over the past weeks since he was rescued by the affectionate man. That soft spot was devouring Kensei's rough complexion and Shuuhei's alone was altering him. The visits bought comfort for both child and man.

That timely rescue of a young boy almost a month ago blossomed into friendship real quickly, something Shuuhei was deeply cherishing.


Eh? Hopefully there wasn't too much dialogue and interaction, but it's going to become important in later chapters! I also changed up my writing style a little bit, hopefully its more solid. Some of this story is also based off a 'doujinshi' I read, it's called 'Everybody Get Together'. This fic won't be an exact reflection of it because that'd be plagiarism, but for the first couple of chapters – there will be some allusions to it.

Thanks and let me know what you think.