Business: Spunky0ne owns Tetsuya. I own Cherry&Tsuku and yes they come as a matching pair.

A/n: a thing for spunky. Heres your raise. Enjoy.

notes: FFE. Idk if this is heirverse just have a thing.

Tsuku, Cherry, and Tetsuya

It was a hot, lazy summer afternoon, and Tetsuya lay back on the grass and sighed. Was it so much to ask for the Kuchiki elders to treat him with a little respect? Hell, he wasn't asking for the moon and the stars – just a little basic courtesy. But it seemed that was beneath those stuffy old aristocrats.

Oh well. At least the servants treat me with some genuine courtesy... he thought. And Byakuya. At least they address me by my name and care about me. Even though a large part of that is just family duty. Because I'm Byakuya's cousin.

He sighed again and ran a hand through his unruly black hair. Sometimes he wished for a real friend, who would love him regardless of his newly elevated status as a Kuchiki. He blew out the air in his lungs and closed his eyes. Maybe if he took a little nap he might feel better. Tetsuya decided that was the best course of action and slowly let his mind drift away into that blissful place between sleep and wakefulness.

He was just reaching that dreamlike state, and feeling quite relaxed. Even wiggling his toes as he lay comfortably on his back, arms by his sides. He was just thinking that this was the life; being in the peacefulness of the meadow with the birdsong for background music. He sighed contentedly. This. This was the life. Peace. Quiet. What more could he ask for on a day like this?

His peace, however, didn't last very long. Because very shortly after he'd drifted off to sleep, he felt something land on his belly with great force. Shoving all the air out of him and jolting him awake with the pain of the impact. A garbled 'oof' sound coming out of him.

Startled, Tetsuya clutched his stomach and scanned the area for the culprit. Ready to leap into action if the need arose.

He half expected an angry assailant or maybe just some kids goofing around with a ball they were kicking about.

He did not expect two little white foxes yipping and playing together.

Tetsuya rubbed his eyes and looked again. Surely there couldn't be foxes here. He didn' even know animals could come to the soul society. But it was true and they were here. And oh gosh, they were so cute playing and chasing each other like that, Tetsuya just wanted to eat them up.

"Oh, you two are just the cutest things," he said, smiling at the pair of them. Instantly they stopped playing and looked at him. Giving Tetsuya a proper look at them.

The first one was s pure snowy white all over, and she stood with her head held high. Regal, like a queen. Her violet eyes meeting his and looking straight into his heart. Her companion – mate, rather, as Tetsuya knew courtship behaviours among animals well – stood a little taller and longer legged. But he was no less striking. His eyes were a a deep, dark ocean blue, and his gaze was deeply intriguing. It was almost as if the fox were analysing him. His body too, was white like his mate's. But his paws, ear tips, and the end of his tail were a sooty black. As if the creature had been dipped in ink or charcoal. Indeed his tail looked like a paintbrush. And he most certainly looked the part of a king, standing beside his queen.

The foxes stared at him for a moment, before advancing slowly towards him, sniffing curiously. He held out his hand to them, and the female approached to sniff his fingers. The male watched him carefully, and satisfied that no harm would come to his mate, followed suit. The both of them tickling Tetsuya's fingers with their cool noses. Making him giggle.

"Oh, aren't you two just beautiful," Tetsuya whispered as the foxes stepped closer. Nosing him as they approached. Gently enclosing on his personal space until they were brushing up against him.

"Oh, that's very close," Tetsuya said, just before they started stepping on him. And then climbing on him.

"Erm, okay guys, that's..." Tetsuya said, a little nervous at how close to him they were. "Guys..."

But the foxes didn't care. They just kept sniffing him, clambering all over him. Nosing and sniffing and wagging their tails. Investigating him quite thoroughly. Eventually pressing their noses onto his face and hair as he laughed. Their whiskers were quite ticklish.

"What're you two doing, sniffing me to death?" he asked. And the female fox licked his cheek. Making him blush a little. And then, very hesitantly at first, Tetsuya reached out and gently hefted the vixen into his arms for a cuddle, marvelling at her.

"Oh, your fur's so soft!" he smiled. The other fox looked at them, and Tetsuya brought him in for cuddles, too. Not wanting him to feel left out.

And that was how they sat for a little while. Perfectly happy in each other's company. Tetsuya slowly stroking their fur as they fell asleep on him. And quite quickly he forgot all about his troubles with the Kuchiki elders.

He was utterly content to just sit with them all day. But that wasn't in the cards as somewhere nearby he could hear the voice of Gin Ichimaru calling.

"Cherry! Tsuku!" and then the man himself stomping through the long grass. Both foxes instantly looked up at Gin, and Tetsuya's gaze followed theirs.

"Oh, so that's your master, huh?" he said. And the vixen – Cherry – yipped in agreement. The fox – Tsuku – flicked his ears. Gin walked over to them, a little out of breath.

"There you two are," he said, looking slightly exasperated at the creatures. "Been lookin' fer you's all day." Gin sighed. Then he smiled, looking at Tetsuya.

"Makin' new friends?"

Tetsuya's cheeks coloured. "So-sorry. I was just resting and they just came over."

Gin smiled. "Guess ya must've looked lonely," he said. "they can smell loneliness and isolation a mile away."

Tetsuya nodded. "I guess I am," he admitted. Gin nodded.

"Tetsuya, right?"

He nodded. Because Gin seemed like the kind of person who needed more friends, too. Gin smiled brightly. "Well, Tetsuya, do you an' yer new friends wanna come have tea? I'm sure Sousuke wouldn't mind us having an extra guest."

Tetsuya blinked. "Sousuke? Aizen Sousuke?"

Gin's smile softened. "My husband, yes."

"Oh." Tetsuya gasped quietly. He'd certainly heard rumours, but... still, it was a little shocking to hear they were true. He really wasn't one for spreading or listening to mindless gossip, but sometimes he caught the odd snatches of it. Perhaps Gin could tell that and that was why he admitted that to him. It certainly felt like a well-kept secret. But he shook the thought away and smiled back at Gin.

"I'd love to come to tea." he said.

Gin smiled brightly. "Well c'mon, then. Let's go."