No Title

There she is.

She hears them talking. All the time. They think she can't hear them. So they talk louder.

And she knows what they say. She knows a lot. She knows that they have not had a decent thing to talk about since the ryoka, so they gossip about anything and everything. She knows that they will keep talking about her and Kyouraku Shunsui until something massive happens again. She also knows that in less than five minutes, her Captain, subject of the gossips' attention, and the most frivolous, lazy man in Soul Society, would come flouncing towards her in that repulsive pink, flowery cloak and shady straw hat.

She is right, as usual.

"Nanao-chan!"

She adjusts her spectacles and turns to give him a steely glare. She ignores the obvious attention from those around the corner.

"How may I help you, Captain?" There is nothing for you here.

Shunsui gives Nanao a hurt expression. "I was only worried for my sweet Nanao-chan! So I decided to come and look after you just in case!"

"And as you can see, I am quite fine," she returns to her previous walking.

Shunsui walks beside her lesuirely, lower lip jutting out in a mock pout. "But I have nothing else to do, Nanao-chan."

For his own sake, she wishes he would stop the ridiculous name-calling. "Did I not give you a pile of paperwork this morning?"

Shunsui merely gives her a look of pure distaste and exasparation.

"Really, Nanao-chan, I thought you knew better."

And she thought he would know better than to tease her in broad daylight. Especially when there was a group of idle gossips trailing behind them. But, once again, she keeps her comments to herself.

Instead, she fastens her pace, saying, "I am heading for the library now. You may follow me if you wish, but please keep your volume down."

Instantly, she regrets her words. But Shunsui brightens up and agrees heartily. Whistling, he follows Nanao into the library, until he is respectfully reprimanded by a stern librarian.

"What are we looking for, Nanao-chan?" He says in a stage whisper to Nanao, who is darting between bookshelves to avoid both her Captain and the group of gossips.

"Nothing in particular," Nanao replies primly, straightening up from between two shelves with as much dignity as she could muster.

Shunsui frowns, "Then why are we here?"

To get away from the gossiping geese, Nanao is tempted to say, but she checks herself just in time. Before she can reply, however, Shunsui grabs a random book from a shelf and sits himself down at a nearby bench.

"Do what you like, I'll just be reading over here." He settles down and proceeds to pore over the book he has chosen.

Nanao glances at the category her Captain swiped a book from.

Social Psychology. Interesting.

Deciding that it is safer not to leave Shunsui alone, Nanao picks a girl's romance book from one of the shelves and joins him at the bench. She nimbly switches books with her Captain, and sits down to revive her knowledge of social psychology.

Shunsui beams at Nanao, "Why thank you, Nanao-chan! My Nanao-chan is so thoughtful-"

"Shut up and read."

Silence fills the space between them as Shunsui obediently begins to read. Just as Nanao is beginning to submerge herself in the comfortable silence, she catches a snippet of a conversation. A conversation between those gobbling gossips, no less.

"How shameful... Romancing in broad daylight..."

"Most impertinent. No decency at all."

"And they call it a working relationship. More relationship than work, if you ask me."

"At least get married. Then there wouldn't be a problem."

They are beginning to get louder again. Nanao is aware of Shunsui becoming exceedingly fidgety, changing his posture every five seconds, and making as much noise as possible without opening his mouth.

Nanao sighs and gets up. Shunsui looks up at her with a puzzled, but understanding look. He gets up as well, and returns both his book and Nanao's to the bookshelves.

Nanao waits for him at the bench, her hand clutching the green book she always carries around. Get married, they say. Nanao smiles slightly to herself, They do not understand. But then again, I always was, and will be, the smarter one.

Shunsui appears by her side, a lazy grin lighting up his face. "Eh? Did I make you happy, Nanao-chan?"

Nanao smoothes her hair and walks out of the library.

"Shall we go for some sake, Captian?"

They do not know.
But I know.
You know.
And that is more than enough.
There will be no need for titles...