Just a short little piece. People have asked me why I like Byakuya x Ukitake. My response? I don't know, I just do. I love Ukitake; he's one of my favorite captains…and Byakuya is too sexy not to write about :3 especially with his hair down out of those miserable kenseikan…

Does anyone know how Ukitake refers to Byakuya? I forgot. Byakuya calls Ukitake "senpai," doesn't he? If anyone can help, please do.

And thank-yous to all the people who reviewed:-) It's always nice to hear your work is appreciated.

Review if you like. No flames, please.

AI NO KANSHOKU
Byakuya x Ukitake

His eyes would follow him as he'd walk, stately, with all the grace of a noble. He was a noble by all meaning of the word – the clothes he wore, the company he kept, and even the way he held himself just screamed Kuchiki nobility.

It was hard not to stare sometimes.

"You know, Ukitake, if you stare any harder your eyeballs are gonna dry up and fall out," Kyouraku Shunsui said teasingly as he walked past after the Kuchiki had. For once, his fukutaichou Ise Nanao was not with him, reprimanding her taichou for some small misgiving or other. "I know he's a sight, but try to control yourself, eh?"

"Please don't say that so loud, Kyouraku," Ukitake said as he tried to fight back a blush but failed horribly. "I really don't want Byakuya hearing it and start thinking badly of me."

"Oh, Ukitake, you're too damn adorable for your own good," Kyouraku said, coming over to pinch his friend's cheeks. He gave a hearty laugh upon noticing that they were still pink. "You know, I never pegged you as the lady type, but I must say you have fine, fine taste, if not a little high-end classy."

Ukitake blushed again, and, more to change the subject than anything else, asked, "And where's Byakuya's sister Rukia? I haven't seen her around in a couple of months. Isn't she with her elder brother?"

"Kuchiki Rukia? No idea. She's been on Earth for, what, two months now. Don't know what she's doing, but it's getting mighty suspicious. In fact, I think Byakuya's gonna be sent on a search party for her in a couple days, if I'm not mistaken." Kyouraku scratched some point behind his head. "So how are you doing with your Byakuya infatuation, anyway?"

Ukitake groaned internally. "Please, Kyouraku. It's not an infatuation. And can you please lower your voice?"

"Why? What's wrong with liking someone like Kuchiki Byakuya?"

"I…" Ukitake shrugged, "I…don't know. Nothing."

"Damn right, nothing. So what're you worried about? Go confess and smooch him."

"Kyouraku!"

The man laughed at the stark blush on Ukitake's face before turning away. "All right, all right, I'll stop teasing and leave you here. I have to go see to something anyway, according to my dear Nanao-chan. See you later, Ukitake!"

Ukitake just watched his best friend leave and shook his head. Kyouraku would never change. He was always the flamboyant character.

However, since there was nothing else for him to do, he headed back to his quarters for perhaps a bit of rest; his cough was bothering him lately more than it usually did. Maybe it was overwork, what with no vice-captain and having to do all of his paperwork himself…

He had barely stepped past the door when a whisper of an aura lightly swept his skin. Recognizable in an instant, Ukitake didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. That person came up close behind him until their bodies were nearly touching, breathing into his ear:

"Your friend talks too loud."

"I know, Byakuya," Ukitake sighed, without turning around, "and I keep telling him to quiet down but you know Kyouraku; he never listens to me."

"Maybe I ought to tell him something."

"Then he'd just get suspicious."

A pale hand came up to tuck even paler hair behind an ear, before it settled on the shoulder. "Turn to me."

Ukitake did.

"It troubles you to keep this quiet, so why do you bother?" Byakuya asked him seriously, regarding his lover with one hand still on his shoulder. "You are not the type to keep secrets, and you well know it."

"…I just think it's for the best," Ukitake said cryptically. He brought his arms up to wrap around Byakuya, leaning against him as he sighed. Their relationship was confusing, true, but all the same, it still merited a real bond between them.

Byakuya observed him for a while before his arms came around Ukitake in return.

"Are you angry?"

"Why would I be angry?"

"That Kyouraku teases me about us."

"No. He's as blind as the rest of them."

Ukitake smiled wryly, and decided not to mention that he was insulting his best friend.

"Well, okay. As long as you're okay with it."

"Just tell him to talk quieter or I'll have my bankai down his throat."

"All right, all right. No need to get violent."

Then Byakuya tilted his head up and kissed him, and they didn't talk any more.

owari