Author's note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is AU. I am not very familiar with the Bleach anime, and Katen Kyokotsu's personality is based on the manga and my own suppositions.

Tactics and Strategy

Nanao had to admit that no one would ever really guess the four of them were trying to figure out how to outsmart a psychopathic supernatural serial killer. She still wasn't entirely sure how a strategy session had ended up being a double date. She wasn't exactly complaining. Retsu and Jyuushiro were very good company, and they were getting quite a bit of work done, but still it felt odd to be discussing the topic at an okonomiyaki restaurant. Retsu had assured her that no one would notice since the place was popular with the local police department.

And she was having a lovely evening. She would look forward to having evenings like this with Shunsui in the future. Though without the threat of a psychopath hanging over her head. They were making progress on that front. Unfortunately, so far the best plan they had been able to come up with Shunsui was not about to go for as it involved using Nanao as bait. Nanao was more than willing to take the risk (she trusted Shunsui to make sure nothing happened to her), but Shunsui was adamant that it was too dangerous. She was going to have to figure out how to convince the man that her taking risks was acceptable. He had been willing to admit that she was a competent fighter and could take care herself before, so at least she knew that the information was somewhere in his brain.

The sad thing was that Stark tended to be rather unpredictable. He didn't have set patterns other than stalking his victims before killing them. He didn't have preferred methods of killing people. So it was hard to predict just how he might attack her. That made it harder both to set up a safe routine for Nanao as well as to figure out a way to take Stark out.

"Are you going to finish that?" Shunsui was eying what was left of her okonomiyaki.

Nanao wrinkled her nose at him. "Yes. Order another if you're still hungry."

Jyuushiro and Retsu grinned at one another. They had been doing that a lot lately. They seemed rather amused by Shunsui and Nanao's interactions for some reason. Nanao took another bite of her dinner.

"So what are we going to try in order to draw Stark out if we're not using me as bait? I don't like the idea of just waiting for him to make the first move. That gives Stark far more control than I want him to have."

Shunsui frowned. "You're right about that. Still, we don't exactly have anything else that might draw him out. Once he fixates on a target, nothing else seems to matter to him as far as we've been able to tell."

Retsu tilted her head to the side. "We could always try an illusion. Of course, that would mean finding someone talented enough to fool Stark which limits our options. I'm not certain that Rangiku Matsumoto could manage it, and she's probably the most powerful kitsune that's not a captain."

"And we both know that prying Ichimaru away from Ise right now will be next to impossible," Jyuushiro sighed. "Pity. He might actually enjoy something like this."

Shunsui laughed. "Are you kidding? It's exactly his idea of a good time. The fact that Stark has a knack for seeing through illusions would just make it all the more fun for Gin. The man's a nine tail kitsune. He thrives on that sort of thing."

"Which is why we'll never get him here in time," Retsu pointed out. "He's been dealing with that rogue kitsune clan for the past two months, and if he leaves before that's dealt with we'll have even more trouble on our hands. That's why Rangiku was reassigned after all."

"So what does that leave us with?" Nanao asked.

Shunsui sighed. "Not much."

"But we haven't had dessert yet," Jyuushiro chimed in. "I was thinking that we might want to stop by that place with the chocolate lava cakes."

Retsu shot him a affectionately amused look. "We know you're addicted to sugar, dear. We're not about to forget dessert."

Nanao just smiled. Jyuushiro and Retsu were in many ways exactly the sort of couple she would want to be apart of. It was clear that not only did they love one another, but they also trusted and respected one another, even when they didn't agree. The couple had a stability that she rather envied. Not that she didn't think that she and Shunsui might end up there eventually, but their relationship was too new for that at the moment. There were still times when Nanao felt hit over the head by the shift from friends to something more. She had never had a relationship like this before, and it all felt so new and yet she was absolutely at ease with Shunsui in a way that she had never been with anyone else.

Their current situation didn't help either. Shunsui was rather overprotective about her safety right now. It was understandable, but it was also a little problematic at the moment. Especially since they didn't have a lot of options for dealing with Stark right now. Still, Nanao sat back and enjoyed the evening with their friends while the germ of an idea grew in the back of her mind. She wasn't ready to bring it to Shunsui yet. When she did that, she wanted more of a plan than simply suggesting that she play bait. Shunsui understood tactics and strategy. If she brought him a plan that addressed those issues, she was more likely to be able to convince him to let her do this.

Still, she enjoyed the evening with their friends, letting the idea develop in the back of her mind. The four of them set out from the restaurant towards the place Jyuushiro had suggested for dessert. The late autumn night was crisp and clear without being too cold. Nanao could see several stars and half a moon despite the city lights around them. Shunsui's arm was a warm weight across her shoulders, and it really was a beautiful night. She enjoyed these evenings away from the pressures of being in charge. While she was a relatively new shinigami, it had not taken long for the Eighth Division to decide that she was just as much an authority figure as Shunsui was. Nanao didn't mind the respect and while she was still slightly uncomfortable with position of second in command, she had to admit that it did suit her.

The situation with Stark was bothering her for several reasons. Nanao certainly didn't like the idea of someone trying to kill, especially in painful ways, but what really bothered her was the control over her life he now had. She had needed to adapt her life and routines in order to protect herself. She was the one who was having to give up things in order to survive. If she didn't, she would end up dead. Nanao prided herself on being in control of her life. She prided herself on her independence, and it frustrated her immensely that she had to change her habits, especially since under normal circumstances there was nothing at all dangerous about them. Nanao wanted to be able to walk around her city alone without being worried about being attacked.

She wasn't about to let Stark control her life for long. But that would require both a more detailed plan that she had at the moment and convincing Shunsui to let her go through with it. However, she would start working on that tomorrow.

"Penny for you thoughts?" Shunsui asked as they arrived at the coffee shop. "You look lost in them."

Nanao smiled. "Later, I can hear the chocolate cake calling my name."