This is my very first published story/one-shot. I have another story I've been writing based on another story but I haven't gotten the nerve to publish it yet. I guess I'm an expansion writer. If it's not finished I want to finish it or elaborate. I have the utmost respect for the original writers so everyone should always read their works first and appreciate their artistic style and approach.
I hope this one shot compilation is entertaining enough for the Shunsui and Nanao fans out there. (yes I've read and watched everything so I know their status, but I'll forever ship them together). Enjoy the read and share your thoughts but be gentle...it's my first time. ^.^ You can pound me into the ground in chapter two.
Truth 1: A Quiet Read
Small feet stepped curiously on fresh grass, rustling the brush as the tiny frame walked through the cluster of sakura trees. The flowers lightly danced on the branches as the breeze let patches of sunlight and blue sky peak through. Wide and bright violet eyes looked on with warmth and pleasure at the serene sight. The small figure continued through the forest of trees and followed the sounds of gurgling water. The trees gave way to reveal a grassy hillside that slightly dipped down to a small river, clear and sparkling in patches of sunlight. Looking down the hill to the river, it weaved along the treeline, hugging close at times and then drifting away. The river appeared through one end of the grove, and after a dozen meters or so, disappeared through a cluster of trees along the other end of the clearing. The sakura trees encompassed the grove and branches hung down over the descending hill toward the river.
"Ah, perfect." A whispered sigh of bliss escaped the little girl's lips as she took in the beauty of her surroundings. The young eighth squad member looked to each side of her and, finding a tree with partial shade, sat at the base of a tree and leaned back. She pulled the small book up to her lap that she held in her hand and opened to read. The trees and river appeared to hum as she quietly read, enjoying the natural beauty.
~ Many Decades Later ~
Nanao walked the well known path with casual ease through the bloomed trees, smiling lightly to herself as pedals fell from their branches. As she came to the clearing, her lashes dropped and she breathed deeply the breeze that passed over her. Her eyes fluttered open and her smile grew as she walked to her favorite tree and sat at its base. After reclining comfortably, Nanao removed a secreted book from the folds of her uniform.
This is the perfect atmosphere for these texts. I couldn't imagine reading this within Seireitei. Nanao smiled to herself with a light blush crossing her cheeks as she thought about her secret reading place and the conversation she had yesterday with her captain.
"Nanao-channn! Are you still here, it's getting late." Shunsui singed to her as he entered the office.
"Yes Captain, there is still paperwork with deadlines for tomorrow morning and I'd rather complete them this evening." Nanao spoke crisply at her captain without looking up from the paper she was writing on.
"Aren't you going to take a break? You barely took one today." Shunsui leaned a hip on the edge of her desk and folded his arms within his haori as he contemplated. "Come to think of it, the two years you've worked as my vice-captain, I don't think you've taken more than a handful of days off." He looked down at her as she focused her attention on her paperwork.
"Captain Kyoraku, if you applied yourself more to paperwork than you currently do, I undoubtedly would have a considerable amount of free time. Since that is not the case, I am left to finish extra work." She spoke with annoyance in her tone. She paused briefly to read over her writing, and finally looked up to meet his gaze.
"A deal then. Any time you have a day off, you disappear and no one seems to know where you are hiding. If you tell me where you go, maybe I'll do more paperwork and you can have more days off." He smiled wide at his idea for compromise. He had been curious the last few times Nanao left for the afternoon and wouldn't return for hours. Yet, he didn't want to simply seek her out. He wanted her to feel open enough to share things with him, on a personal level.
"Captain," she pushed back in her seat and folded her arms over her chest. "I am not hiding. I'm sure if you applied yourself you would be more than able to find my location. If you're that interested you should simply scan for my reiatsu. In addition, as a captain of the gotei 13, it is your responsibility to contribute to the necessary work and uphold the standards to help run this division smoothly. You use enough 'free time' for the both of us, which in turn, cuts into the opportunity for me to take extra days off." She stared at him, waiting for a response and then finally sighed when he pouted dramatically.
"Nanao-chan, I just want to know where you go. Can I go with you next time?" His pout was exaggerated and ridiculous and he drew in closer to her, his hands placed on the desk.
"Absolutely not. It's my personal day and it's private." She wacked him with her fan as he drew closer to her face.
"Ow Nanao-chan, you're so mean to me." He groaned in mock hurt. His tone changed and he sighed as he rose from his bent position. "Please take a day off soon, Nanao. You've been at it for a while now. I'll take on some more work too, okay?"
Nanao looked at him, her eyes softening to his request and promise. "I'm taking tomorrow off so you don't have to concern yourself. Thank you for your help, sir." She looked up at him with genuine appreciation.
"Wherever you go, I hope you're enjoying yourself, relaxing in the sunshine, under a beautiful tree, reading love poetry out loud." Shunsui placed a hand over his heart and extended his other arm out theatrically.
"Hmm. As if I would do such a ridiculous thing." Nanao turned her face away so he wouldn't see a blush cross her face. She took a breath to calm herself and turned to face him again before speaking. "I'm assuming you'll be taking the day off as well since I won't be in the office trying to force you to work?"
"I certainly am." He smiled wide unabashedly at his admittance to avoiding work. "I have a beautiful spot that's tranquil enough to probably make even my serious Nanao-chan recline in relaxation."
"Is that so?" Nanao's eyes narrowed at the nickname he insisted on using for her.
"Would you like me to take you tomorrow?" Shunsui looked at her hopefully.
"No thank you. I have other things to do tomorrow." She spoke almost reluctantly. The invitation was tempting, but she wanted to enjoy her secret spot. She saw the slight disappointment in his eyes so she gently added, "Perhaps another time Captain."
His eyes brightened again. "Perhaps next time Nanao. You enjoy your day, wherever it leads you."
"Thank you Captain."
She knew her captain would enjoy this place but she would never reveal her secret pleasure in the tranquil yet romantic atmosphere. He would carry on waxing poetry, and though she enjoys the sentiment, she would be uncertain of how to interact with him, hidden away in this secret grove. Additionally, she would never admit to reading this type of literature to anyone as it would be too embarrassing. He did guess close to the truth: in the sunshine and under a tree. Nanao ran her fingers over the title's lettering of her new romance novel and then opened the cover to read.
Off on the other side of the river and grove, Shunsui was being lulled to sleep by the gentle river moving along by his feet. His forearms and hands provided a comfortable cushion for his head, which was at the right angle to prevent the sun's rays from peaking into his eyes. Hearing footsteps approaching from up on the hillside, Shunsui cracked his eyes open in time to see the familiar figure of his vice-captain step out from the line of trees.
She hadn't seen him as he rested in the shade of the treeline, just shy of the grove. He watched her with intense interest. Her eyes held a soft and gentle expression, breathing deeply as the breeze caused her hair and the ends of her uniform to dance playfully. Her eyes gently opened and her smile deepened as she walked.
Shunsui was spellbound by her unguarded and blissful features and did everything he could to remain perfectly still. He wanted to observe this hidden side of her as long as he could without being seen. So this is where you've been going, lovely Nanao-chan.
He watched Nanao position herself under a tree and the limbs bowed around her, almost enveloping her frame with pink from the angle he rested from. Her eyes smiled with her lips curved up and a breathtaking blush appeared on her cheeks. Without thinking, he sat up in a reclined position and supported his weight on his hands as he watched her, entranced by her heightened beauty.
Shunsui continued to watch her as she read quietly, gracefully turning each page at even intervals. He watched as she looked up from time to time, gazing at the murmuring water or to the cherry blossoms that were caught on the wind, wistfully sighing on occasion. The time passed by in serene silence as she read and he watched, hoping nothing would disturb her. He smiled sadly at the thought, knowing this place wasn't as secluded as she may imagine. He knew it to be a romantic location for couples. He scanned the area with his reiatsu as the thought rose to his mind and felt two people approaching from the distance, far on the opposite side before the hedge of trees.
With his speed, he moved into shunpo to sit on a branch within a large tree on the outskirts of the treeline and waited. He heard the young couple giggling to one another as they approached, and with fayned relaxation, as if he had been there all afternoon, spoke to the unknowing shinigami.
"Well hello there. Out for a beautiful stroll in the countryside?" The squad eight captain smiled warmly and tipped the brim of his hat up to make eye contact with the surprised couple.
"Uh-ah, yes Captain Kyouraku. We were planning on going to this spot just past this section of trees." The young man looked a little uncomfortable running into a captain as he held hands with his companion.
"I see. This really is a beautiful place for a romantic afternoon but I'll have to tell you, today isn't really a good day to be here. However, there is this breathtaking place not too far from where we are now. I'd say it's far more romantic and quiet than here." He talked smoothly and with ease, drawing in and enticing them with an alternative, more private local. He described the other place with such flowery words, the woman's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Haruto, let's go there. It sounds wonderful." The woman blushed to the man standing next to her, drawing his hand up to her chest as she clasped it with both her hands. The man blushed nervously in response and agreed with her. The two gave their thanks and walked off to their new destination after Shunsui gave them directions.
Shunsui waved them off, smiling for their happiness, and for the secret he kept hidden within the grove. He looked back over his shoulder through the trees, sighing with longing as he wished he could glimpse the lovely image of Nanao from his position.
Some time passed and the sun began to hang heavy above the treetops. He had diverted four couples in total and redirected them with silky words and charisma to some of his favorite napping spots. It may cause those locations to be hot spots for those couples, and others; however, it didn't matter to him when it came to Nanao. Not after what he witnessed today.
As if manifesting her, he could feel the familiar reiatsu approaching, so he left quickly by shunpo and returned to squad eight, deciding to rest on the roof above the office. He laid back, covering his face with his hat, and supported his head on his arms and hands. She will be back soon if I remember correctly.
He brought to mind the image of her slender figure, appearing more feminine and gentle than she had ever shown him. Her eyes dreamy as she read, the light blush on her cheeks, the tilt of her head as she sighed, and the cherry blossoms dancing around her. His breath had caught at the sight of her, and though he wished to share the moment with her and be close to her, he wanted to treasure the tranquility she was experiencing in her unguarded state. He would let her keep this secret place to herself. He would guard the area as she read, lest others interrupt her and cause her to leave and not return. Or worse, see her true beauty, open and exposed within the grove of pink blossoms.
Nanao appeared from shunpo just shy of the building, and having sensed her captain, looked up to make eye contact with him. Shunsui had felt her approaching and supported himself onto his hands as he had before, looking down into her eyes. He simply smiled warmly to her and then, noticing a small speck of pink atop her hair, smiled broadly with teeth showing fully.
"Nanao-chan, how was your day off? Did you enjoy the lovely weather today?" Shunsui lightly waved as he casually asked her.
Nanao looked up at him with her expression composed and professional. "It was fine, Captain."
"Okay, but did you get to relax and enjoy yourself? You always work so hard and rarely use your days off." He continued to smile knowingly toward her, genuinely interested in her response.
Nanao saw the sincerity and relaxed her shoulders a little. Her expression ever so slightly softened as she responded softly. "It was relaxing and enjoyable, sir. Thank you for asking."
"I'm glad to hear that. Maybe someday you'll tell me where you like to relax. I'd be happy to share the time with you." He had fully sat up as he spoke, resting his left arm on his propped up knee.
Nanao peered up at him on the roof, looking into his eyes with open curiosity and speculation. "Perhaps. Enjoy the rest of your day Captain."
"Wait Nanao!" The pink clad captain stood and jumped down to stand in front of her. He reached his hand up and carefully plucked the pink flower from her hair, holding it up between the two of them. "If you're ever resting under the cherry blossoms, please let me share the moment with you. I'm sure we would enjoy it together, my lovely Nanao-chan." He looked deeply into her eyes and continued to smile as he saw the moment of embarrassment and indignation play across her face.
Her cheeks blushed deeper than the flower he held between two fingers and glared defiantly at his remark. "I do not rest under cherry blossoms, Captain. It must have landed as I walked by at some point today." She turned her gaze away as she reasoned flimsily.
Shunsui chuckled lightheartedly, gently grabbing and cupping one of her hands in his, and placed the delicate flower into her palm. "Well, if you ever do end up somewhere like that for leisure, please consider inviting me."
"Unlikely." She sniffed her rebuke but she gently enclosed her hand around the flower and looked into his eyes for a long moment before continuing, "See you at work tomorrow." She then walked briskly into the building and left him alone on the street.
Shunsui watched her leave without another word. He smiled longingly where she once stood. "Maybe next time, lovely Nanao."
