Jyuushiro had always been a quiet man, almost secretive to a point. He didn't talk to many people apart from Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, head of the Gotei Thirteen and the man who had adopted Jyuushiro into his life many years ago.

"What are you thinking about, Jyuushiro?" the aforementioned man known as Yamamoto asked, noticing the way the younger stared out of the window, leaving his lunch untouched. Jyuushiro was always eating even in the midst of his sickest moments – so if he were ignoring the ohagi before him, something was wrong.

Jyuushiro turned to look back at the man, his green orbs half lidded. His face was pale, leaving Yamamoto to worry that he was getting sick again. "Nothing, Genryusai-sama. I apologise if I worried you."

The old, balding man looked down at the cup of tea he was holding, his jaw set in a tight clench. He hated being lied to, and that was exactly what the slight male was doing right now. "Have you forgotten that I always know a lie when I heard one, young whelp?"

Jyuushiro sighed and stood up, wanting to leave the private room that belonged to his superior. He turned his back to his elder and walked towards the door, intent on exiting. "I do not wish to speak about it. Thank you for the tea. It was lovely, Genryusai-sama."

The old man watched as his adoptive son left the room, not willing to let this confrontation go. He would get answers out of the boy if it were the last thing he did.

Jyuushiro, however, was walking through the area that belonged to the first branch of the Gotei Thirteen, his mind in a haze. He had been dreaming a lot of that brunet he had encountered on a mission a few years ago. He hadn't seen the taller male since, but his mind had been full of thoughts about the other. He didn't truly understand why he was feeling this way towards someone he didn't know when he preferred to be alone. It was a strange feeling, and it was unwelcome.

Ukitake didn't want anyone to be close to him. He didn't want to get close to anyone. Even Yamamoto, the man who had taken him in and treated him as a son, was kept at arm's length. So why was the stubbled man intruding on his thoughts all the time? He didn't even remember the man's name.

Sitting down at an unoccupied table, the white haired male sighed and rested his chin in his hands, staring out at the forested area behind the base. Many times, especially when he was younger, he had thought about running into those woods and never coming back. However, he had never done it though he didn't quite know why.

The skinny man had been lost in his thoughts for so long, he didn't even notice when Yamamoto's assistant, Chojiro Sasakibe, tapped him on the shoulder. It was when a hand grabbed his shoulder roughly, shaking him, did he snap back into reality with a growl, spinning around and grabbing the hand that was touching him.

Staring into the grey haired man's eyes, Jyuushiro hissed at him in a warning tone. "Do. Not. Touch. Me."

Sasakibe backed off once the grip on his hand was loosened, knowing it was rare to see the usually calm male like this. He had never truly understood why the kind man could be gentle one second and then do a complete reverse in personality and turn into something resembling a savage beast.

"Yamamoto-sama asked for me to inform you that there will be a meeting held in his barracks within the hour." If there was one thing Chojiro had to give himself credit for, it was remaining calm in the most trying of circumstances. "The other leaders of the branches will be present."

Ukitake sighed. It was very rare for the members of other branches to be gathered together, but when it happened Jyuushiro hated it. He hated the claustrophobic feeling of being in a crowded room, the dead silence he had to endure as Yamamoto addressed them all, but most of all he hated being around the others. He didn't know any of the others so he couldn't say he didn't like them based on their personalities; he just didn't like people in general. He would much rather be left alone than forced to socialise.

Jyuushiro nodded at the man waiting for a response. He thanked Chojiro for his time before he stood up and started wandering off again, considering whether now would be a good time to run away. He was tempted to do it before a thought struck him; that brunet should be there – if he were still alive.

The skinny male glanced behind him in the direction the meeting would take place, his sharp mind analysing the pros and cons. If he went to the meeting, he would be forced to be around people he didn't want to be. However, if the brunet were still alive and attending the meeting, he would be able to ask the questions that had been bothering him since their meeting all those years ago.

With a soft sigh, Jyuushiro turned around and headed towards the barracks. As much as he didn't want to, he wanted answers.

~~During the meeting~~

Jyuushiro didn't know what to make of the brunet. The stubbled man had been staring at him almost the entire meeting with a flirtatious smirk, turning only to his raven-haired female assistant to whisper in her ear. The woman would roll her eyes and ignore what was said, but there always seemed to be the tiniest hint of a blush on her cheeks once the brunet turned away.

It was annoying the white-haired male, but he knew not to speak out when Yamamoto was talking, lest he suffer a verbal lashing in front of the others.

Just when Jyuushiro felt like he was about to snap at the brunet, the meeting was adjourned, leaving him to try and leave the room before anyone came up to talk to him. As much as talking to the other assassin had seemed like a good idea at the start, he now couldn't believe he wanted to do such a thing. He was planning on missing the rest of the meeting, instead wanting to go back to his home and have lunch.

"Hey, Jyuushiro!"

With an inaudible sigh, the addressed man turned around, finding the brunet and his assistant approaching him. The man wore a large grin on his face while the woman seemed to be holding a rather serious expression on her face. The glasses she wore slipped down her nose slightly before she lifted a finger and slipped it back into place, shifting the large book she was holding at her side.

"Jyuushiro, do you remember me?" the taller male's grin widened to an impossible length.

The first thing Ukitake spat was, "I never gave you my name. How do you know it?"

The stubbled man laughed good-naturedly, his eyes shining. "I asked Yama-jii what your name was. I assumed if anyone knew who you were, it would be him."

"Please leave me alone." Jyuushiro tried to be polite, but he was losing patience with every passing second. "I am feeling rather tired and I would like to be home resting."

"Aww, let me walk you home, Jyuu-chan." The other male stepped forward as if he were intent on doing what he had said.

Jyuushiro, however, felt the urge to punch this man rush through him. Instead of doing so, he leant forward, narrowing his eyes and making his voice as threatening as ever. "Do. Not. Call me. Jyuu-chan."

The brunet paid no heed to this warning and instead laughed, ignoring the other's words. "Where are we headed?"

"Not we. I. Youwill stay here while I leave."

"Don't be like that, Jyuu-chan. Yama-jii asked for me to take you home. He said you weren't feeling well and –"

"Stop calling him that!" Jyuushiro shouted. "And leave me alone! I am fine!"

Before the brunet or his assistant could say a word, Jyuushiro was gone, disappearing quickly out of the front exit.

"You've done it now..." the raven-haired woman muttered to her superior, raising her heavy book to bring it down on the taller man's head.

"Oww!" The brunet rubbed his head, his eyes shining playfully as he stepped closer to the petite woman. "Nanao-chan, what was that for?"

"For being you." The woman – Nanao – rolled her eyes. "What are you going to do now?"

"Follow him, of course." The brunet didn't wait for a reply before he charged out of the barracks, chasing after the smaller man.

"Wait!" Nanao shouted as she ran after the man. "Kyōraku-sama! Wait!"

The raven-haired woman ran as fast as she could after her boss, knowing that without her there, he would make a fool of himself. That was the kind of man Shunsui Kyōraku was, after all.