Notes: I was going to make Nanao's title "Assistant to the Captain Commander" but Consort is just such a lovely word and quite fitting for Nanao's new job description.
Consort doesn't always mean spouse, more often then not it referrers to a companion or adviser to a person in a seat of power.

Nanao woke with sore eyes, rubbing the heel of her palm against the offending organs she stretched in her futon, noting her stiff neck and muscle cramps caused by an uncomfortable night's sleep. The discomfort was primarily due to the single person futon, which had somehow accommodated two people, one of whom topped six feet. Sitting up Nanao stared down at the person in question, Shunsui had managed to fold himself onto the mattress of the futon, while still curled around Nanao in sleep, bare chest visible while his lower half was cover, but only just by Nanao's embroidered quilt. If Grandmother could see it now she thought with a sigh. Searching around for her glasses, she frowned at the state of her uniform, how had it been that he'd managed to get completely naked, while she remained fully clothed.
"Good morning Nanao-chan" Shunsui rumbled, as he sat up to join her, "did you sleep well?" Standing Nanao rolled her neck from side to side, attempting to ease away the discomfort.
"Not particularly, this bed isn't designed for two" Yawning, Shunsui reached for his eye patch, but reconsider as he felt the state of his hair, there was no use in putting it on twice.
"Well we'll fix that as soon as we arrive at the First Squad, I'll get us a bed big enough for two, maybe three." Nanao froze, turning her head slowly to meet his eye.
"I don't think there's any need for that Captain Commander." Shunsui smiled disarmingly at her;
"My apologies Nanao-chan, a bed for two will be fine for both of us."
"That won't be happening sir" she said, her eyes focused on the wall behind him, refusing to look at him. "The way I acted last night was completely unprofessional."
"The way we, we, both acted last night" Shunsui interrupted. Nanao's frown tightened;
"My actions, mine, my own, I would expect nothing less from you" she hadn't meant for her words to have such a sting, but Shunsui looked as though he'd taken a physical blow.
"I don't understand what you're saying Nanao-chan"
"I will not accept your offer to transfer to First Squad, I shall remain here as Eighth Squad Lieutenant." Her voice was strong, but her confidence was fake, every word felt like glass catching in her throat.
"But Nanao-chan, I need you, we discussed this" moving across the room, Shunsui knelt before her. "Please don't leave me Nanao."

Removing her glasses to polish them on the sleeve of her uniform bought Nanao some time to sort through her racing thoughts. He was right, she couldn't leave him, especially after last night. It was as though the final wall between them had been broken down and it was just them, together.
"You and I" she began "have taken our... Relationship too far. We can no longer be considered work colleagues or even friends. In no circumstances should this kind of relationship be allowed in a work place as important as this" She paused taking a breath. "If we continue along this path; with I as your Lieutenant and you as my Captain, but also as lovers; people will not only talk, but my rank will be questioned, the efficiency of our squad could be sacrificed and general chaos will reign. Soul Society can not handle that right now, this can not happen." Placing her glasses on her nose as she finished, Nanao was hopeful it covered the tears that had leaked from her eyes during her explanation.
Shunsui sat back on his heels, listening intently, his single grey eye intensely focused on the slender female before him.
"You're scared Nanao-chan" She scoffed, moving to stand up, only to be stopped as Shunsui took her hand.
"Of course I'm scared" she said softly, struggling to keep her breathing regulated "I'm scared our home will fall. I'm scared my friends might die. I'm scared... I won't be able to manage without you, and if you're gone, what would I do?" Her pain was blatantly obvious, it tore his heart out. She was scared of losing him, becoming more attached to him then she already was, would simply set her up for a harder fall if he was to perish in this war.
"Are you afraid dying?" he asked quietly, watching her fiddle with the helm of her robe. Dark blue eyes met his for a moment and in them he saw absolute truth.
"No, I am not afraid of death"
Overwhelmed and heart warmed Shunsui pulled Nanao close, holding her delicate frame to his own, kissing her hair, he rubbed a hand down her back as he made his decision.
"Nanao Ise, you're fired" Jerking back Nanao pulled a face.
"I beg your pardon?" The corners of his mouth tilting up slightly Shunsui nodded.
"You heard me, you're fired" Nanao heaved a heavy sigh.
"You can't fire me Kyōraku sir, I already quit"
"From the First Squad position yes, but I'm talking about the Eighth Squad lieutenant's position, you're fired" Frowning Nanao half heartedly struck out at him.
"You can't be serious, you can't do that!" Grinning Shunsui leant forward, risking her wrath as he stole a kiss from her unsuspecting lips.
"Actually I can, I'm the Captain Commander."

Ukitake's estate looked beautiful as ever Shunsui thought as he stepped through the gate, after coming out of a shunpo step. Walking down the decked path, the tall man waited at the door before knocking, listening for confirmation to enter. Greeted by Kiyone, Shunsui followed her inside to see his friend Jūshirō in bed propped up by several large pillows, Sentarō was beside him, sorting through files and papers on a portable desk which was promptly packed away as the two Third seats left.
The silence was thick in the air, as Shunsui took a seat across from his friend. Dark circles encased Jūshirō's eyes, his pale flesh unfathomably white, almost corpse like. If Yama-jii death was having a bad effect on Shunsui, it was even worse for Jūshirō.
"They seem to be handling Lieutenant Kuchiki's absence well" Shunsui began, watching the pale man carefully.
"They've had many years practice running the Squad without a lieutenant" Jūshirō responded, voice hoarse. The awkward atmosphere hadn't abated, the elephant in the room need to be promptly addressed.
"Are you mad?" Shunsui asked, watching his friend closely, after countless centuries, he knew how to read his oldest and dearest friend which is why he knew what was coming.
"Yes, yes I am mad! I am furious! I'm rageful! Our city is in ruin, my lieutenant nearly died, we're down three Captain and then... And then there's you!" Brown eyes blazed in anger as Jūshirō sat up right, no longer needing the support as rage fuelled his system.
"They choose you! Out of everyone, despite everything we've done together, it was you, it's always you." Hot tears of shame and pain poured down the frail man's face. "Why you? Why not both of us!?" Air contracted in his lungs as breathing became painful and the coughing commenced, but not before he managed to choke out; "Why couldn't Sensei just stay."

Pouring a cup of tea for the suffering man Shunsui felt his pain. It wasn't his promotion that Jūshirō was angry about, it was Yamamoto death that had the Thirteen Squad Captain in tears and a coughing fit. Waiting patiently for the wheezing coughs to subside Shunsui spoke.
"I didn't want this, I never wanted this, you know that" Jūshirō sniffed, head lolling forward into his hands, long stands of white hair falling around his face as he breathed deep.
"I know" he said finally "I don't want it either, not really. I don't envy your position Kyōraku" He pushed his hair back, rubbing his face as he did. "I'm sorry Shun, I shouldn't have yelled, I just -" he paused as a heavy hand descend on his shoulder. His friend's bearded face was smiling as he spoke.
"I know, we all just need to vent. It's what I'm here for."
"And I for you" Jūshirō's hand found Shunsui opposite shoulder, a pose reminisce of their days at the academy making pacts of friendship and adventure.
"Whatever you need, whenever you need it, you are not alone brother." Smiling Shunsui gripped the slender shoulder in his hand tighter.
"Thank you Ju."

Boxes filled with books were impossibly heavy to shift. Pushing them around the room with her knees was the best Nanao could do while waiting for help to arrive. Setting up another box, ready to be filled with books and clothes, a sharp rapping knock caused Nanao to pause.
"Come in" she answered as the slide was pulled back, relief washing over the glasses clad lieutenant.
"Rangiku, please come in" The blonde Tenth Squad lieutenant strode boldly into the room, taking in the organised mess of packed boxes and dust.
"I didn't realise you had so much stuff Nanao," Standing beside a pile of unpacked clothes, Rangiku pointed at them; "Would you like these folded?"

Nanao smiled, after the shock of the last twenty four hours it was good to have some sense of normality restored in her life.
"Yes thank you, just put them in the box when you're done" Nodding the taller woman began her task in comfortable silence with her friend for a moment, but only a moment.
"Are you excited?" She gushed watching Nanao pause, book in hand posed over the box she was packing.
"Yes" Carefully sorting the soft silk fabrics from the harder cotton Rangiku pressed her harder.
"Is that it? Yes, just yes? You're First Squad Lieutenant! First Nanao! The top of the top! Ruler of all us lowly lieutenants."
"No, I'm not" Nanao said softly, dulling her friend's enthusiasm immediately. The spine of the book almost spilt as her hold tightened. "I was fired, I am no longer lieutenant for either the First or Eighth Squad." Rangiku dropped the sweater she'd been folding and moved to her friend's side. Arm loosely draped around her shoulders.
"What are you saying Nanao, Kyōraku would never fire you."
"He did" Nanao said, voice cracking in anger "he fired me and then..." she threw the book down hard in the box "he made me his assistant!"
Rangiku opened her mouth, then closed it in confusion.
"Wait, what?" Nanao sighed, pulling away to pace the room.
"Consort to the Captain Commander" she said finally, pausing at the window, "it's my new title." Rangiku grinned, laughing at her friend's distraught look.
"Consort? You know that's practicality wife, just without a wedding." Throwing her hands up in frustration Nanao cursed.
"I am his assistant, maybe companion, nothing more." Leaning into her line of sight Rangiku smiled slyly.
"Companion? More then a friend? But not just a lieutenant?" Groaning inwardly Nanao pinched the bridge of her nose, of all the things she had to let slip...
"Professional companion, we've always been friends even since I first entered the Eighth Squad and since he fired me as a lieutenant..." Even as the words left her mouth Nanao regretted them, no way was Rangiku going to believe her, nothing in that explanation sounded remotely rational.
"Captain Commander Consort Ise, that's going to be the devil to put on a name badge." Nanao glanced at the blonde with the thoughtful look on her beautiful features. "But it'll certainly look good on a job application form." Nanao's eyes widened as she stared at her friend open mouthed, shaking her head slowly as a giggle bubbled up from her anger and stress. Laughing with her friend Rangiku held a hand to her aching stomach as she laughed harder.
"Does this mean I get to organise an engagement party?"