Author's note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is for the 30 Kisses challenge using list gamma. Theme 18: Mercy and Hospitality.


Healing Hands

Nanao hummed softly as she filled out the paperwork. Objectively, she knew that Captain Kyoraku probably couldn't hear her, but she felt the need to do something so he would know that he wasn't on his own, and she really did have to get this paperwork taken care of. She glanced over at the bed where he lay. It had been two days since they had arrived at the Fourth. Her captain was going to be just fine, but she wasn't about to leave his side until he awoke. She had nearly lost him, and Nanao knew she wasn't really going to be able to rest until he opened his eyes.

They had been out on a mission when it had happened. Nanao had been supervising the retreat of their more vulnerable division members while her captain dealt with the worst of the hollows. She had just barely turned, sensing that something was going wrong when she caught sight of Captain Kyoraku falling, one side stained red. Nanao couldn't remember what had happened after her captain had fallen. Yamazakurakaze's voice had been screaming in her ears, and Nanao knew that she must have dealt with the remaining menos, but the next thing she really remembered, she had been kneeling at his side, frantically trying to remember any healing spells she knew.

Captain Ukitake had shown up with reinforcements from the Thirteenth Division moments later. He had quickly taken control of things and had sent Nanao to the Fourth along with Shunsui. It was just as well. Nanao knew that she hadn't been very coherent at the time; she'd been too terrified of losing her captain. On Captain Unohana's orders, Nanao had cleaned up and changed into a new uniform before returning to the Fourth, but since then, Nanao had scarcely left her captain's room save for brief trips to the rest room.

The paperwork was something of a distraction from the fact that Shunsui had not woken yet, but it was also quickly completed. So Nanao resumed her vigil without anything else to distract her thoughts. She gently smoothed his hair. The sound of his breathing kept her calm. Nanao knew that she probably wasn't at her most together right now, but the idea of losing Shunsui quite truthfully terrified her more than anything else. Part of it was the fact that she was in love with him, but a greater part came from the fact that Shunsui Kyoraku had been the one person she could rely on to leave her in her life. He had always been her constant. And she didn't know how to live without him.

She slid her hand into his. His hand was so much bigger than her own. She squeezed it gently, and then started when he squeezed back.

"Nanao-chan?" His voice was hoarse, but his eyes were open.

Her head shot up. "Captain?"

"What happened, Nanao-chan?"

She bit her lip; she couldn't seem to do anything except stare at him. "Shunsui."

And then she burst into tears.

"Nanao-chan? Why are you crying?"

Captain Unohana entered the room, saving her from having to answer. So Nanao just clutched at his hand and cried.


When Shunsui woke again, he was a little more aware. He remembered waking before and Nanao crying, but that was about it. He looked around; He didn't recognize this room which meant he was probably at the Fourth. He couldn't remember much about the end of the battle. His eyes were drawn to the bed. Nanao was asleep, curled up at his side on top of the covers. He could see dried tear tracks on his face.

"She hasn't left you side since you got here," Jyuushiro's voice was soft; Shunsui looked up to meet his friend's eyes. "I think Retsu drugged her last cup of tea, so she would get some rest."

"What happened?" He attempted to sit up. Shunsui managed, but his efforts were hampered by the fact that Nanao had one of his hands clutched tightly in her own.

Jyuushiro smiled. "You were badly wounded, and she took care of the remaining Hollows before working herself into hysterics over your condition. She achieved bankai, Shunsui. You would have been proud. I think your Sixth Seat described it as 'a giant glowing, pink kidou cloud of doom'."

"But Nanao is fine?"

"Physically, yes." Jyuu gave him a look. "I think you scared her pretty badly. It's been something of a struggle to get her to take care of herself while she kept her vigil."

Shunsui let out a sigh. He hated to worry Nanao like that, but he hadn't really had any choice about it this time around. Still, it sound like things had worked out. He offered his friend a grin.

"Glowing pink kidou cloud of doom, huh? What do you want to bet that she'll complain about the fact that it's pink?"

Jyuushiro laughed. "Clearly, you're well on your way to recovery if you already are thinking about was to tease your lieutenant. Retsu says that you'll have to stay here for another day, and then you can go home if you find someone willing to keep an eye on you for the forty-eight hours after that. I would mention it to Ise-san next time you're both awake at once. I somehow doubt you'll have any trouble finding someone to look out for you."

"Is that your idea of subtle hint?"

His friend just shook his head. "Here's a subtle hint for you, if you don't get some more rest, Retsu's not going to let you out of here."

Shunsui just grinned. "Now, Jyuu, when have I ever been adverse to a nap?"


Jyuushiro watched the two of them sleep. They really were absolutely adorable together. Nanao still had Shunsui's hand clasped in her own, and Shunsui had some how ended up curled around her. He rather hoped that this would serve as a wake up call and get the two of them to actually go something about their feelings. It had been to fun to watch them dance around one another for the first couple decades, but at this point, Jyuushiro just wanted them to get together and be happy with one another.

Retsu appeared in the doorway. "How are they going?"

He smiled. "Shunsui woke up again briefly, and I filled him in on things. He was more concerned about Ise-san than anything else."

"And this is surprising to you?" she teased him.

"Not at all. I'm just saying."

Retsu covered the younger woman with a blanket and motioned him out of the room. "Let them sleep, dear. They could both do with the rest. I'm off duty now, and you promised me dinner."

Jyuu kissed her cheek. "Yes, sweetheart."