Haruko woke early. It was her first day as third seat of the eighth division. She was excited to get started. She looked over at her sleeping husband. He had given up things for her. He had changed. Six years ago he was a different man but he had been hiding behind sake. She wondered if someone would look at her and see that she had changed.

Haruko leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I love you." Shunsui grunted in his sleep. Haruko smiled at him. She had learned more from him than the zanpakuto training and hand-to-hand combat. She had learned that she married a man with a healthy sexual appetite. Haruko climbed on top of him. She leaned down and whispered his name.

Shunsui's brain was clouded with sleep but was aware of the weight of another on top of him. He heard her whispers and felt her kisses. Haruko knew the moment he woke. His hands came up on her hips and she soon found herself pinned beneath him. He slid inside of her as his mouth came down on hers. Haruko wrapped her arms around him and matched his pace. Her hips rose and took him deeper. He thrust into her, taking her higher. Shunsui felt her nails dig into his back as she reached peak. His name escaped her lips as she went over and Shunsui went with her.

He looked down at her, his hair falling down around her. He kissed her again.

"Good morning," he smiled as he rolled off her.

"It is a good morning." She laid her head on his chest. Haruko laid there content. Part of her wanted to get up and another part wanted to stay curled up next to her husband. She stayed where she was for a while longer and when she started to move away, Shunsui pulled her on top of him.

"Shunsui, I can't be late on my first day," she started to protest.

"As long as you arrive before your captain, he'll never know." He smirked at her and slid into her. His mouth cut off the rest of her protests.

…

Ame had spent most of the night in her captain's chambers. They talked about nothing and everything. He was easy to talk to. As the sky had begun to lighten, she left. He had his treatments early in the morning. She left his quarters and headed to her own. She hoped no one saw her since she didn't want rumors spreading around on her first day.

She had just walked back to her bed with the intent of trying to get a couple hours of sleep when there was a knock on her door. She sighed and went to open it. Jushiro stood on the other side. She thought something looked off about him. Something was missing.

"Captain Ukitake, what can I do for you?" she smiled.

"I need my captain's haroi," he replied with a smile. Ame laughed and took of his haroi and handed it to him. She had forgotten she had it on. They said their goodbyes and he looked at the door for a moment. As Jushiro put on his haroi, he realized it smelled like her.

…

"Unohana, can I ask you a question about my condition?"

"Yes."

"Would it ever be possible for me to be in a relationship?"

Unohana thought a moment. "Possibly. If you met someone with your condition."

"Even if it's dormant?"

She thought again. "Jushiro, I don't see a problem. There is a slim possibility that her condition could worsen but other than that, I see no problems with you exploring a relationship."

"Thank you, Unohana." He started to leave when she stopped him.

"Jushiro, I know the medical conditions of all shinigami. Even those with dormant conditions." She paused to step closer to him. "Do you like her?"

Ukitake scratched the back of his head. "I think so."

"Be sure." Unohana said as she walked out the door.

When Ame walked into the thirteenth division offices, she saw her captain was already there. Also there was a vase full of flowers on her desk. They were a deep purple and very close to the color of her eyes. Jushiro watched as she bent over one and inhaled its scent.

"Captain Ukitake, do you know where these came from?" Ame asked, as she sat at her desk. She was unable to find a note or card.

"They were here when I got here," he said, not looking up at her. It wasn't a total lie. They had been there when he arrived that morning because he had placed them there last night.

They worked in a comfortable silence. Jushiro found himself staring at her and his mind kept wandering. She had pulled her hair back but he remembered the way it had felt when he touched it. While she sat in front of him in her uniform, he still saw her in her skimpy pajamas.

Ame felt his eyes on her as she worked and she tried not to let it distract her but it was becoming increasingly more difficult. Finally she put her pen down and looked over at him. He quickly looked away and she suppressed a smile. Maybe he did think about her, she mused.

"Captain Ukitake, would you like some tea?"

"Yes please." He watched as she prepared the tea. Just as it was done, he walked over to her. "Why don't we drink it outside," he suggested, motioning to the gardens. They walked outside and sat on the bench, enjoying their tea. Ame looked out at the gardens, admiring the different flowers that spread out before her. She felt him watching her.

"You're been staring at me all day," she said.

Ukitake looked away nervously. "They're from me."

"Well, thank you. They are beautiful."

"I was thinking about you and me." Ame turned her head to look at him and she wondered when he had gotten so close to her. "I can't make any promises but I'd like to give us a try."

Ame smiled at him. "I can handle that." His lips had just barely brushed hers when they heard someone barge into the office shouting for him.