One Hundred Ways to Love
36 of 100: Contract
Shunsui yawned lazily. "Do you follow the rumor mill?"
Jyuushiro continued to comb through his hair with his fingers. Shunsui had interrupted his morning routine by showing up just after sunrise. He doubted the other man had been to sleep yet as there were telling circles under his eyes and he was looking a little unsteady, even sitting. Very likely he'd been up drinking all night and had yet to head to bed. "Rarely," he answered. "Are you planning on sleeping today?"
"In a little while," Shunsui brushed it off. "I heard something interesting this morning."
Jyuushiro had been biding his time in telling the other man about Nanao. It was entirely possible that rumor of her dating had finally reached the Captain. "Really? Nothing pertaining to me, I hope?"
"In a way of sorts… Are you helping my Nanao-chan pick up men?"
Jyuushiro thought of it a long moment and couldn't contain his mirth. He laughed. The image was too ludicrous as he imagined himself and a colorful sign, "Date this woman today!" "You don't think she can pick up men all on her own?"
Shunsui was looking thunderous and with him drunk, Jyuushiro decided that mirth wasn't the best way to handle the situation. He could be too unpredictable when drunk and the situation was sensitive enough on its own. Shunsui had the picky habit of being possessive, not in general as he liked to share, but posesseive of Nanao in particular.
"Well, no, I'm not helping her at all. I was merely asked the other day whether you and she were an item to which I replied you were not. You are not, are you?"
Looking even less pleased, Shunsui answered. "No."
"Then I answered correctly. If you are not an item then she is a free woman to do as she pleases."
"And so she has been making the rounds among officers?"
Was that what he'd heard? If rumors were circulating to that degree the situation was clearly out of hand. Jyuushiro paused. "I highly doubt it. As I was last aware she was still seeing Akon, the only man I know for certain she has accepted a date from. Hisagi asked about her but I think he is too leery of you to make a move just yet. Though if it makes you feel any better I think she and Akon are nearing an end of their little courtship. Too incompatible romantically."
"Really," Shunsui remarked dryly.
"Well, far be it from me to assume greater knowledge of the woman than yourself, but Akon is a well educated man but perhaps too much of a somber one. But it certainly seems as if her time out of Eighth has done wonders for her. When is the last time she dated anyone?" he asked casually.
"I've no idea."
"Has she ever dated anyone?"
"…"
"Ise-san has been in your Division since she graduated from the Academy and I remember quite clearly she was a child at that point. Instead of being grumpy she's entertaining other men, why don't you look at it for the opportunity it is?"
"How is it that other men out with my Nanao an opportunity for me? I don't want her out with anyone else."
"You can't have things both ways, Shunsui. She's yours exclusively or she's not, there's no in between. And if she's not yours she certainly has the right to find someone who does want her exclusively."
"When did I say I didn't want her exclusively?"
"When have you shown her that you do?"
"When have I shown her I don't?" he countered.
Jyuushiro sighed. "I believe it has much to do with your flirting and drinking and sleeping around."
"I don't sleep around, I have one or two girls … anyway, how do you talk to a woman without flirting with her?"
Again Jyuushiro laughed. "What's the harm in dating a bit? As it is you're the only man she's ever really had any kind of experience with if I'm correct, maybe she should see if being with you is what she truly wants? I trust that you want what is best for her."
"Other men are not best for her."
"Yes, but does she know that?" Jyuushiro knows.
"She knows it," Shunsui answered. "But fine. I'll give her a week or two."
"I'm not sure that's really-"
"A week or two," Shunsui pressed firmly. "And at that point any of her pansy ass suitors had better be ready for a fight."
"Well," Jyuushiro pondered. That hadn't gone too bad. Maybe a change of topic would help. "How is Honda-san doing?"
"Probably going to get canned today, my third seat is challenging him."
"If he wins are you still letting Ise-san re-challenge in two months?"
"Nothing will stop my Nano-chan from re-challenging in two months."
If she were less of an early riser, Nanao would've been awakened by the pounding at her front door at barely dawn. As it was, she had already showered and dressed for work and was working on breakfast when the knocking started. Pulling open the battered door she met a bleary eyed Honda Kano.
"Vice-Captain Ise it is so great to see you this morning. Has anyone told you that you are beautiful upon awakening?" He had the most curious expression on his face and his hands were clasped tightly together. She peered beyond him to the street. Was he hiding from someone? How did he know where she lived?
"If you are a fugitive, Honda-san, I highly suggest you seek solace elsewhere. It is my duty to uphold the law of Soul Society, I will immediately arrest you."
A droplet of sweat beaded on his forehead. "N-no, Ma'am. I am here to plead for your assistance. Please come back to Division Eight. I am unworthy. I don't want to be Vice-Captain anymore."
Nanao pushed her glasses up higher onto the perch of her nose. "That is not my problem. Please see the current Captain of your Division for assistance."
"You must come back. I am a pariah. Everyone treats me like garbage. Our paperwork is behind. The building is damaged; you can't even get the front door open properly."
Nanao's brow twitched.
"The secretaries sit around and gossip about me all day. People are piling their damaged uniforms in the lobby room for repairs."
Nanao's brow twitched again.
"Worst of all the Captain is suspending me in ten days without pay if I don't fix it all."
"That's unusually strict of him," she remarked dryly. "Your ineptness must've actually forced him to work."
"And the Third Seat is challenging me today. TODAY, Vice-Captain Ise. I don't want to die like this; I just wanted to be popular!"
"That's pathetic."
"I know, I know! Please help me!"
She furrowed her brow. "How, exactly, should I do that?" Crossing her arms, she waited for an answer.
"Come back to Eighth! You can fight the Third Seat; I will crawl back into my place in obscurity! I'll take night duty for a month, a year even!"
"Those terms are unappealing for me."
Honda looked up. "I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
"Yes, yes, anything," he pleaded.
Nanao thought.
Anything? That was promising.
AN: Originally I had Nanao marching Honda back to 8 after he started telling her all the things he'd done to the place but that would be too early. Plus, I'm sure she wouldn't just walk out on Ukitake like that.
AN2: It was Iba and the goldfish, sorry that was unclear. Nanowrimo is a novel writing contest from Nov 1-30. The goal is to get to 50,000 words before the month is over, this is my 4th year participating. But typically the effort is so taxing I rarely write anything else during that time period. Eventually I'd like to try a fanfic version.