Shunsui woke surprisingly early the next morning. With a groan he closed his eyes against the early morning sun. He decided that being sober had some serious down points. Normal people did not get up this early in the morning and his back was killing him. That's what he got for sleeping on a round window ledge he supposed.

Then again. Being sober had its good points too. He mused as the soft warm mass on his chest sighed in it's sleep, snuggling further into his haori. He gave a light chuckle. If Nanao could see herself now she'd have a fit.

He couldn't believe that she'd actually hugged him. He could count the number of times that had happened in the past 127 years on one hand with digits to spare. So rare was it that Shunsui found himself quite unwilling to let her go. Instead of fighting back as he'd expected Nanao had just sighed and stayed there, slapping a wandering hand once. Shunsui didn't need to be told twice and kept his hands to himself. She was asleep within a minute.

He couldn't blame her. She must have been emotionally exhausted after vocalising so much hurt last night. Shunsui had thought before about how much she did for him in those years before her promotion but he'd never truly appreciated how big an affect it had had on her young mind at the time. He didn't deserve her… He glanced at the clock and sighed it was almost time for the morning meeting. Shunsui rarely ever attended but knew that today he had to be there.

"Nanao-chan." He shook her shoulder gently. "Nanao-chan."

It took her a second to get her bearings once she opened her eyes but when she did she jumped up.

"I apologise Kyoraku-taichou!"

"Its fine Nanao-chan. We just have to attend the morning meeting." needlessly

He saw her face pale drastically and knew the events from the previous day were returning to her foggy mind.

I'm so sorry Nanao-Chan.. He thought sadly as she raced off to change.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Dead silence.

You could have heard a pin drop in the training yard crowded with over 150 Shinigami.

"But- but that isn't fair! No offence to Yadomaru-san but Ise-san has been our fukutaichou for over 100 years taichou!"

"They can't just fire her. Just like that!"

"Well I say we boycott."

"If the boss goes then we go too!"

"YEAH!"

"You will do no such thing!" Said a voice from their mist.

"Boss!" The squad chorused. Creating a circle around Nanao.

"Boss they can't just fire you!"

"Technically I was never your fukutaichou in the first place."

"That's bull boss and you know it!"

"You will all continue to work your hardest under Taichou and Yadomaru. No excuses."

"But it isn't fair!"

"Life is not fair." Said Nanao simply.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure yet. For the time being I'm not going anywhere. I'll be staying in the dormitories with you. Now listen to your Captain."

"Yes boss!" They chorused like scolded children.

Shunsui chuckled from his position on the raised stage. Lisa could be fuku-taichou all she wanted but Nanao was always going to be the squads 'boss'.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

A few days passed and thanks to Nanao's constant orders the tension between the recruits and their new lieutenant was kept to a minimum and drama was avoided within the ranks. Unfortunately the same was not to be said for Shunsui. He was drinking again, and not just normal Shunsui drinking either. He was over-doing it again, just as he had when Lisa first left. Nanao was doing her best to stay out of things, she really was. It seemed that Lisa had warmed to the idea of returning to her old position and was possessive of it.

Nanao was helping some of the newer off duty recruits with kidou when Lisa approached. They scattered immediately, unwilling to end up in the middle of an argument.

"Yadomaru-Fukutaichou." Said Nanao.

"Ise he's gone and overdone it again. I just can't get through to him. The third seat suggested I talk to you. He hasn't been sober in days."

"Taichou is very rarely sober Yadomaru-Fukutaichou. The first thing you want to do is hide his sake. He has stashes all over the office. Check the ceiling fan and the third floor board under the desk. Empty his bottom drawer and behind the books on the shelves and that should be most of it. Whatever you do don't shout at him. He gets like a child and takes it to heart. Give him two asprin before bed and come back to me if its still bad."

Lisa just gaped at the other woman and nodded slowly. "Thanks Ise-san."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

"Come on boss. Come play a game of go with us." Nanao looked up from her book. She was sitting in the common room of the squad eight dorms.

"Be a sport boss."

"Fine."

"Oh you're dead Moto. Challenging the boss to go. Nobody beats her. Not even taichou!"

"Well he wouldn't now anyway." Said the 4th seat under his breath.

"He's still drinking boss."

"Stupid git. It's as bad as it was before you became vice boss." Said Moto, placing a counter with force.

"It really is boss. We've all told her but she's too proud to ask you for help. We're worried about him." Piped up another cadet from the couch.

"Yeah, he hasn't been home in days."

"We're all upset over losing you boss but you're still here for now. I don't think taichou sees that. He's heartbroken."

"He has Lisa back."

"Boss. Gods you can be as dense as the captain sometimes. That man adores you. He didn't want Yadomaru back. He needs you."

Nanao sighed. "Game" She stated.

"No way!"

"That was pathetic man." The recruits laughed at Moto's expense .

"You think he's still in the office?" Nanao questioned.

"He hasn't left all week boss. Word has it he's blown this months sake budget already."

"Already." Nanao muttered. She sighed. "I'll go and see if I can get him sober enough even for the captain's meeting tomorrow afternoon."

"Good luck boss."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Nanao knocked lightly on the doorframe. "Captain?"

"Nanao-chan." He slurred. Her brow furrowed in worry. Shunsui never slurred his words no matter how much he drank.

"Captain you're slurring. How much have you drank?"

"Emmmmm…" Shunsui started counting his fingers but got confused.

Nanao counted the empty bottles she could see under her breath.

"This many." Said Shunsui holding up eight fingers triumphantly. Nanao paled. She'd counted more than double that.

Alcohol poisoning. If it were anyone else they'd be dead right now.

"Captain. I need you to lie down on the couch."

Shunsui tried to lift himself but fell down in a heap. Nanao moved to help and working efficiently managed to lie him down on the couch. Shunsui was pale and his eyes unfocused.

"You stupid man. I thought we were over this." She said quietly as she put him to sleep with a kidou. Ready to begin the process of removing the sake from his system.

It was 4am and Nanao was hunched over the captain's desk completing paperwork.

"Is that Ise-san?" Nanao jumped at the soft voice, almost dropping her brush.

"U-Ukitake-taichou!"

Ukitake shook his head at his still sleeping best friend. "It isn't your job to bail him out anymore Ise-san, and definitely not at 4am. You need to sleep." Said Ukitake, concerned.

"He needs supervision Ukitake-taichou. I might as well do something productive while I'm here."

"Supervision?"

Nanao kicked the bin by the desk and with a clatter sake jugs rolled across the floor.

"Oh my… How many?"

"Eighteen. Stupid man could've died if I hadn't found him." Nanao grumbled. "I cleaned his system but patients have to be supervised until they regain consciousness."

"He really gave himself alcohol poisoning?"

"I never believed I'd be back to doing this." Said Nanao, almost to herself.

"Back to? This has happened before Ise-san? When?" Ukitake was seriously worried now.

"It happened regularly after Yadomaru-Fukutaichou left. Taichou blamed himself. I found him one night, of course I didn't know the kidou then so when I brought him to Unohana-Taichou I was hysterical. She fixed him up and taught me. Just in case it ever happened again."

"Did it happen again?"

"A minimum of 3 times a month for the next seven years." She replied absently as she forged the captain's signature to the document.

Ukitake stared at her, horrified. He'd never known… He couldn't believe he'd never known.

"To teach such a kidou to you. You were only a child and you were exposed to that."

"At that point in time I was the only person who spent any time around Taichou. Kaien-San had just died so you were busy and the recruits would avoid taichou. I used to read in the window. She nodded towards it."

"It stopped. Why?"

"I got tired of it and lost control… I slapped him across the face." Said Nanao, turning slightly pink. "That was the end of it…until now."

She signed another document, placing it on the completed pile to her right.

"You're pretty good at that." Ukitake commented.

"I'd sit and do paperwork on those nights as well. It was easier for me to just sign them. It was never misused after I became fuku-taichou I swear."

"I don't doubt that Ise-san." Said Ukitake with a comforting smile.

"Have you any idea why he's done this?"

"It's either something to do with Yadomaru-Fukutaichou or something to do with me."

Ukitake nodded. "You are very dear to him Ise-san. You are very dear to your whole squad. Do remember that Ise-san."

Nanao sighed, approaching the hurting captain and taking his pulse. She grimaced. "His pulse is too low for him to wake. He'll need an IV."

"I'll accompany you if you'd like."

"No thank you Ukitake-Taichou. I think taichou would prefer you weren't there."

"That's very likely Ise-san. Shall I give his apologies for the meeting?"

"Please do. Unohana-taichou hasn't had to run an IV since that night I found him. No doubt she'll want him monitored until at least this evening." Nanao hefted her captain over her shoulder and flashed out.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Six AM saw Nanao knock sharply on the first division doors for her scheduled meeting. Her composure denying that she'd been up all night. She was lead into the huge conference hall, her guide bowing out of the room immediately. Her footsteps echoed on the polished floors and she bowed upon approaching the old commander.

"Rise, Ise-san."

She did calmly. "Good morning Yamamoto-Sama."

"I take it you have made a decision?"

"Yes Sir. I want my position back and I'm willing to fight for it." She said. Her voice strong and unwavering under the commanders intense gaze, her eyes fiery .

"How is Kyoraku-san now?"

Nanao visibly started, immediately cursing herself for showing surprise. Of course he knew, he knew everything.

"He is stable, he should wake within the hour Sir."

"I'm glad that you're challenging Ise-san."

Nanao said nothing.

"Go and check on your taichou then get some rest. Your fight is in 3 days time."

"Yes Sir."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Nanao decided to skip the fourth division. It was common practice from a centaury ago that she give her taichou time to compose himself before facing her down. Instead she headed out into the eighth division gardens. She'd been spending a lot of time out there since her demotion she didn't really feel that she had a place in the squad to call hers anymore and Shunsui was the only other person to use the gardens.

She wandered through the cherry blossoms, lost in her thoughts before settling under one on the thick blanket of grass. She sat for hours.

"Nanao-chan." His voice was timid.

Shunsui stood a few feet away, his head already hung like a scolded child. His obnoxious pink haori hung from slumped shoulders and looked quite beautiful surrounded by the cherry blossoms.

"What would you like me to say Taichou?" She questioned.

He remained silent.

"That I never believed I'd have need for that kidou again? That I thought we were over this?"

"I'm sorry Nanao-chan."

"You would've died if I hadn't walked in that door, if your recruits hadn't been worried enough to say something to me. What brought this on?"

Shunsui remained silent.

"Damn it taichou! I'm still here. Lisa-san is here. What is the problem!?…I apologise" She said quietly. "That was out of line. Three days from now I'm challenging for my position back. I went to Yamamoto-sama this morning…"

OoOoOoOoOoOo

"What is it?" Asked Nanao, rather exasperated, causing the recruits to jump.

"G-gomenasai boss. But we were wondering. What limits are being set upon your fight with Yadomaru-san?" Asked the recruit nervously. "I-I mean there hasn't been a power fight in 517 years, do the same rules still apply?"

"You mean can she kill me. And yes, she can."

"But boss she's a vizard. Is she really allowed pull that on you?"

"Use to your advantage what you have." Said Nanao simply.

"Boss she'll kill you. She's gotten really possessive, it's scary."

"If I believe that she will kill me then I am already dead. If you believe that she will kill me you take from my reasons for fighting. I am not scared of Yadomaru-Lisa."

"But boss… Logic is against you. I don't understand." Said Moto quietly. It was so unlike the boss to dismiss all logic. It seemed so reckless. Yet he understood that on another level she had a point to prove. This was about pride… and of course their taichou who seemed to be falling to pieces right in front of their eyes these days…

"You don't need to understand this Moto. I hope for your sake you never do." Said Nanao, returning to her work.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

"I don't understand Taichou. Why Ise-san is doing this, I mean as soon as Yadomaru goes Vizard she's dead." Said Renji, his eyes expressing worry for the woman that he had served as vice captain with. Byakuya gave him a calculating look.

"Ise-san is an extremely proud woman."

"But taichou she's all about logic… Surely she knows. She must realise that she's of more use alive…. The 8th are so devoted to her…"

"Pride runs deep Lieutenant. What use is life if you could not stand to look at yourself? Of course this is about much more than pride." Byakuya glanced at the eighth's captain.

"He's falling apart." Said Renji.

"Things are not always as they seem, lieutenant. You were still in the academy when Yadomaru-fukutaichou left but all was not well. As Kyoraku's close friend and a very young Ise-san's mentor she left quite a mess behind her. Kyoraku-taichou drank heavily and his squad all but abandoned him. Things remained that way for 6 years, there was talk of disbanding the eighth squad altogether."

"What happened?" Asked Renji amazed. He'd never heard any of this before.

"The squad continued to run. Ise-san kept the paperwork up while her captain slept off his sake each night. Few knew of her work but it was eventually discovered by the Soutaichou. We were never privy to the whole story but there was something a lot more serious than simple paperwork. It's generally believed that Kyoraku's alcohol intake required frequent medical attention but it remains unconfirmed. Ise-san was never made aware of the discovery of her work.

"So she still doesn't know?"

"No. What you must realise is that at this point Ise-san had yet to reach maturity. With the rumours flying all but confirmed it was agreed that it was not fair to ask so much of an impressionable child and steps were taken to disband the eighth division."

"But it never happened. What changed?"

"Ise-san reached maturity and was officially promoted. Of course that brought new problems, rumours flew due to her likeness to her mentor and the squad and its captain were a shambles. She took it upon herself to rebuild the squad and succeeded."

"So Ise-san basically runs…"

"On all but paper, Lieutenant. One as competitive and proud as Nanao-Ise does not willingly hand over a lifes work to the person who caused the hurt to begin with."

"Wow… I never knew…"

"Most don't. Please ensure it remains that way Lieutenant."

"Yes Sir"

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Nanao looked around the crowd, her face a mask of perfect calm, Inside she was slightly frantic. Her eyes finally spotted her captain. Ukitake communicated silently that he had him and she calmed slightly. He couldn't be allowed to do something stupid during this. He couldn't be allowed to distract her, it was too dangerous. A few of the seats shot her a worried thumbs up. She shot them back a reassuring smile.

She flexed her fingers a few times, coaxing the spiritual energy into them and making them tingle. With a sigh she reached up, pulling the clip from her hair and allowing it to cascade down her back. She threw the clip to the confused looking 5th seat. "Mind that for me."

"Messes with her power. She can't figh pro -properly wi it." Shunsui slurred. Jyuushiro looked shocked. He'd had no idea Nanao wore a power blocker. He looked down on his hurting best friend, amazed.

"S'has it sin she wa little Jyuu. Sh don want a cap'in's position…" He slurred.

"My gods…" Said Jyuushiro to himself.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Lisa finally arrived on the grounds. She walked confidently and took up her position opposite her charge.

"Bow." Boomed Yamamoto. Both women did as they were told. Lisa noticed the lack of clip but thought nothing of it.

"Fight!"

OoOoOoOoOoOo

As expected Nanao favoured her kidou immediately, very nearly decapitating the other women before she even raised her blade. Lisa dived out of the way and glared at the younger girl. "If that's the way you want it Nanao." She muttered.

They fought with an unexpected speed, Nanao's talent with kidou became obvious. It was difficult to defend against a Zampaktu with kidou but Nanao wasn't a master for nothing. Most of the crowd watched her with awe, they had no idea she was so talented. Lisa was certainly taking her a lot more seriously.

Nanao's ability to cast even the most dangerous of kidou without word or even motion was proving extremely troublesome while Lisa's speed with a blade had Nanao on her toes.

Lisa growled as she avoided another unannounced attack. She felt the deadly energy brush the hairs on the back of her neck. Nanao had long since forced her to release shikai and as much as it angered her the younger woman was very definitely in control at this point.

A gasp rose throughout the crowd as Nanao revealed a well kept secret. She sent a blast of red fire straight at Lisa while simultaneously casting a powerful lightening kidou at another spot. As Nanao predicted Lisa flash stepped straight into the second spells line of fire. It threw her from her feet and into a cliff face to gasps of amazement.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

"Did she just double cast?" Said Soi Fong.

Ukitake just gaped.

"Tha's my Nana-chan." Said Shunsui.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Nanao took no time to revel in the direct hit, she shot a powerful binding kidou at her target. The crowd seemed to hold their breath as the dust cleared. Nanao held position, two kidou balls in her hands, ready.

"Barrier Kidou 137 dark reflection!" Nanao yelled, throwing her arms out.

A number of screams irrupted from the group as they felt it, the pure power of hollow as the creature's blade impacted the shield.

Nanao's footing slipped slightly under the immense spiritual pressure of the hollow Lisa but she pushed back, and with a spurt of power threw her off her.

The captain's watched with baited breath. 137 was a sorcerer's Kidou. The equivalent of Bankai in Zanjutsu. Heck it was excepted instead of bankai in captain's exams. It was also very very rare. Every single one of them were now aware that soul society could not afford to have this woman die.

It was at this point that the vast majority of the gathered reapers lost track of the match. Nanao's pressure soared as the level of ability in the match shot higher and higher until only the Captains and the strongest of the seats could keep track.

The vizard was terrifying. Nanao had to admit it, even in her position. It seemed the stronger Nanao got the stronger the hollow Lisa allowed herself become. Nanao just couldn't out pace the creature….

Attacks seemed to bounce off the hollows tough exterior, the strongest of kidou left only miniscule cuts and bruises and Nanao found herself fighting exclusively in sorcerer's kidou. She was taking a serious beating from the now stronger woman and it registered that if she lost she almost certainly lost her life. Lisa's control over the creature seemed to have diminished completely.

Screams rose once more. Cero. Thought Nanao. There was no avoiding it. On that thought the exhausted Master lifted a barrier, taking the blast head on.

Of course the shield wasn't enough. Nanao had known it even when she cast it. There was no complete protection from a cero attack. The blast ripped through her and she fell to the floor.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Shunsui's anguished shout wrenched at the hearts of everybody present as the cero hit. He recoiled as if hit himself and the pain of his heart breaking was clear as day on his face as Lisa went in for the final blow.

The whole congregation fell silent in respect. They bowed their heads, waiting. Waiting for the smoke to clear.

"Look! Shunsui she's alive ." Shouted Ukitake.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Nanao smirked weakly at the pure shock on the hollow's features from behind her blade. She'd drawn just in time…

Without warning the earth suddenly shook beneath the spectators as Nanao's power flew around her, with a blast it threw the still stunned Lisa back and she shot to her feet.

"BANKAI" Nanao roared, throwing her blade into the air.

Nanao breathed heavily as she caught not one but two blades. "Attack and Protect, sliced lightening."

It was over in a heartbeat. Nanao disarmed the hollow and floored her, crossed blades grazed Lisa's throat.

"Don't make me kill you Yadomaru-san. Surrender."

Lisa glowed and returned to her usual form, a broken woman in the dirt.

"I surrender." She croaked. "You win."

Nanao removed the blades from the older woman's throat and threw then into the air, sealing them. She replaced the dagger in the folds of her uniform.

The cheer that rose was deafening but Nanao took no notice as her eyes locked with her captain's.

"Taichou." she mouthed silently.

"Nanao-chan!" He was free of Jyuushiro's hold in seconds and sprinted across the destroyed landscape.

"Nanao-chan." He breathed, scooping her into his arms and holding her tightly, as if she would vanish any second. "Nanao-chan." He murmured into her hair.

"Shunsui. Let her breathe." Said Jyuushiro gently, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. Shunsui reluctantly placed her back on her feet. She wobbled slightly. "Woah" said Ukitake, placing a supporting hand on her back. "Are you okay Nanao-san?" He asked, concerned.

"Nasty one." She said, moving her uniform to reveal an extremely deep wound on her stomach and a coat of third degree burns.

"The cero" Ukitake breathed.

Nanao released a breathy sigh and collapsed straight into her captain's arms.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

A/N: Review!

Becca