It didn't take long at all before the other Captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei Thirteen noticed what was happening between the Eighth, Tenth, Twelfth and Thirteenth Captains. While Captain Ukitake was the one to keep his head down and his mouth shut during confrontations, Captain Kyōraku and Captain Kurotsuchi were always at each other's throats, fighting over the delicate white-haired man. Captain Hitsugaya didn't seem to have as much of a problem as his elders did, but he had been seen glaring at the Thirteenth Captain during meetings.

There were rumours about what had happened, but no one was entirely certain of the truth. All they knew was that Kyōraku and Ukitake had had a fight which the brunet seemed to spark up again every time they came into contact with each other and Hitsugaya and Kurotsuchi had somehow gotten mixed up in it. This had been going on for almost a year now, and it only seemed to be getting worse.

Currently, Toshiro was sitting in his office, doing paperwork while his Lieutenant dozed on the couch. He was annoyed, having been interrogated by the Captain-Commander earlier that day over his unusual treatment of Ukitake.

"Stupid Ukitake always causing trouble..." Toshiro mumbled to himself as he hastily scribbled his signature down on the sheet before him, just wanting to finish up and go home.

Rangiku awoke with a start at her Captain's voice. "C-captain! I'm awake! I'm awake!"

"I can see that..." Toshiro didn't hide the icy tone from his voice.

Rangiku frowned, knowing that something was bothering her superior. "Is something wrong, Captain?"

"It's just..." Toshiro sighed and leant on the desk, gathering his thoughts. "...All of this stupid stuff with Ukitake and all..."

"Captain, if I may ask..." Rangiku wasn't sure if she should voice her question or not; what if Toshiro wasn't happy with her asking? "...What exactly is going on...?"

Hitsugaya shrugged. "Long story, Matsumoto. Mind your own business in future."

Rangiku's eyes widened in surprise; she knew the young Captain well enough to know that he only ever spoke like that when he was stressed. Shaking her head, she bowed in apology.

"Forgive me, Captain. I won't ask again."

Toshiro ignored his Lieutenant and instead focused on his work. There was silence between them for a while, the only noise the scratching of Hitsugaya's pen. They didn't interact until Rangiku got off the couch, saying she was leaving to meet two of the other Lieutenants for drinks.

When the Tenth Captain was alone in his office, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. It had been so long since Ukitake had found him together with Kyōraku. It was true that Ukitake had Kurotsuchi now, but... despite all that, it was obvious to everyone around them that the scientist was merely using him for an experiment. Hitsugaya didn't know why Ukitake couldn't see it, but then again, maybe he didn't want to know why.

Finishing up the last of his paperwork, Toshiro soon made his way over to the Eighth Division barracks, knowing that his lover would still be holed up in his office with an angry Lieutenant on his back about working. The least he could do was help the brunet out after everything Kyōraku had done for him.

It didn't take long for Toshiro to arrive at Shunsui's office, and he wasn't surprised to find him arguing with Nanao. It was weird for the younger Captain to see the once-kind man raising his voice at a woman – much less Nanao; he had been so infatuated with the woman, he had been putty in her hands.

"Kyōraku, calm down," Toshiro said as he assessed the situation; Shunsui was refusing to do his work again, but he no longer just whined about it; he kicked up a storm. "Lieutenant Ise, please return to your desk and do your own work."

Nanao was reluctant, unable to understand what had happened to her Captain; ever since the Winter War had ended, Shunsui had been so bitter and angry, and that spark of enjoyment he once had for life was gone, replaced by one of hatred.

The raven-haired woman bowed her head, not wanting to show just how badly she was affected by her adored Captain's change in personality. She sat at her desk quietly, trying not to draw attention to herself; she had seen the way Hitsugaya handled the moods easily, so hopefully the young Captain could help.

"What is the problem with you tonight, Kyōraku?" Toshiro asked as he stood by the taller man's side.

Shunsui mumbled to himself in annoyance before he spoke, a deep resentment in his voice that made Nanao's heart break upon hearing it. "Nanao tried to make me do my work... She has no idea..."

"It's her duty to make you work," Toshiro said, trying to diffuse the situation. "Don't be so hard on her. I'll help you with it."

Shunsui nodded silently. He grabbed a pen from the drawer and handed it to his lover before he slid paperwork to him as well. They talked quietly amongst themselves, forgetting that Nanao was in the room with them, hearing every word they said.

"Ukitake has been sleeping with Kurotsuchi," Toshiro said. He was not prepared for the loud shout Shunsui gave, nor the way the brunet threw the bottle of sake at the wall, shattering it.

"He fucking what?" Shunsui snarled. His dark eyes fixed on Toshiro's a deep bitterness no one had ever seen in them before.

"I said he has been sleeping with Kurotsuchi." Toshiro knew Shunsui still had issues revolving around Ukitake, and he couldn't say it didn't frustrate him. He knew that the problems only existed because the brunet was being a dickhead to the white-haired Shinigami, so it was all entirely Kyōraku's fault.

"Where did you hear this?" Shunsui clenched his fists angrily, his teeth grinding against one another. It was as if he was trying his hardest to hold back from hitting Toshiro.

"Matsumoto told me the other day. She said she heard it from Kira and Hisagi."

"And how'd they find out?!" Shunsui roared.

"I don't know, but do not raise your voice at me or I will leave, Kyōraku." Toshiro stood up, intent on carrying through with his threat if he needed to; he wasn't the type of person to put up with abusive partners.

Shunsui's eyes softened at these words; the last thing he wanted to be was alone. He didn't want Toshiro to leave him; the thought of not having anyone with him scared him. Part of that fear was what had lead him to pushing Jyuushiro away, but even he couldn't understand why he had started hating his lover; it had happened during the Winter War, when he thought Jyuushiro had been killed by that child Arrancar. He had felt so scared and angry – so useless!

"I'm sorry..." Shunsui mumbled, sincerity in his voice. He fidgeted uncomfortably before he spoke again. "Please, don't leave me..."

Toshiro shook his head and sat back down at the desk. Sometimes he really couldn't understand why he stayed with Shunsui. "I won't now, but I will if you continue treating me like crap."

Shunsui nodded, scooting closer so that he could pull the small Captain onto his lap. He sighed and buried his face into the younger's hair, holding him close. "...I'm sorry..."

"It's fine." Toshiro reached out and put his tiny hand on Shunsui's shoulder, subtly pushing him away. "Just do your work."

Shunsui nodded. His grey eyes scanned the paper in front of him, burning anger and hatred displayed in them once again. Toshiro was sure that the emotion was directed towards his duties as a Captain right now.

Picking up the pen that had been given to him, Toshiro began working on the stack given to him. He briefly thought about Ukitake and why he had been abandoned if Shunsui was so desperate to not be alone. Shaking his head, he cleared his mind and focused on the paperwork. After all, there was no point wondering too much about something he would never find out about.

~~Ugendo~~

Jyuushiro sat on his futon, a cup of tea in his hands. He sipped at it slowly, listening intently as Mayuri told him all about his newest invention. He was sore, having finished a round of love-making with Mayuri earlier.

"Mayuri-kun, may I have some more tea, please?" Jyuushiro asked, a bright smile on his face.

Mayuri nodded, taking the cup. He left the room, trying to work out when his feelings for Jyuushiro had changed. At first, he had purely used the older man for research purposes, but he now found himself caring about Ukitake's health and wellbeing.

Jyuushiro laid back on the futon, smiling to himself as he waited for Mayuri to return. The sounds of a kettle boiling and small clangs of spoons in cups filled the air around them. It was peaceful to the say the least. He no longer associated those sounds with Shunsui, having decided that things would never be the same between them again because the brunet just didn't care.

When Mayuri returned a few minutes later with a fresh cup of tea in his hands, there was a comfortable silence between the two of them for a while. Jyuushiro had lain back down, his head resting in his lover's lap. The white-haired Captain was almost asleep when a Hell Butterfly flew in through the open door, landing on Mayuri's finger.

"What is it?" Jyuushiro asked, his voice weary.

Mayuri was silent for a few seconds before he laughed. "It seems war has been declared on Soul Society once again by Ryoka. Lieutenant Sasakibe was killed by them. There is a Captains meeting to discuss it that will begin shortly. Captain Kurotsuchi, Akon has requested for your presence at Twelfth Division barracks."

Jyuushiro raised an eyebrow before he nodded. He stood up and changed out of the blue sleeping yukata he had been wearing and back into his shihakusho. Mayuri left without a word to go back to his own Division, leaving his lover to make his way over to the First Division Barracks.

~~ Captain's meeting~~

When Kurotsuchi had said that the Ryoka that had declared war on them were in fact Quincies, everyone was taken by surprise. Shunsui's sharp eyes glanced over at Ukitake, a burning hatred prominent in the grey orbs. Jyuushiro frowned and looked down at his feet, feeling uncomfortable with his ex-boyfriend's glare.

After the meeting had been concluded with orders for immediate preparation for battle, the Captains left the meeting hall. Jyuushiro had left without Mayuri, just wanting to get away from the hatred he didn't understand why he deserved. Kurotsuchi had stayed behind, talking to Yamamoto about what he and his Division had worked out.

The white-haired Shinigami was silent, his mind working on overdrive. He was scared. If war was coming once again... Shunsui... Would Shunsui be okay? Would he be hurt? Killed? Or would he survive but change once again? What if he got even worse? What if... the Shunsui he once knew and loved was never to return...? If that was the case, did that mean Kyōraku had already died? Not in a literal sense, but in one of change? What if...?

"Ukitake!"

Jyuushiro stopped walking as his name was shouted. He turned, finding Toshiro and Shunsui behind them. This was nothing new; Shunsui found enjoyment out of cornering the younger male and tormenting him.

"Ukitake, about the war..." Toshiro begun, but Shunsui continued speaking.

"I hope you fucking die in it, Jyuushiro," the brunet snarled. His voice was thick with anger. "Die slowly and painfully."

Jyuushiro didn't want to show how badly these words affected him. Instead, he kept his head held up, nodding. "Okay, Shunsui... I understand how it is... You may wish that on me, but I sincerely hope nothing happens to you or... or Captain Hitsugaya... Nothing you do will change that..."

The frail Captain was unprepared for the first that came flying at his face. He cried out as he was knocked to the ground, reaching up to try and stop the blood that was streaming down his face from the hit. He looked up, finding Toshiro pulling Shunsui along, away from him.

"..." Wiping at his wet eyes, Jyuushiro slowly got back to his feet and made his way to his Division, ignoring the looks the other Captains who had witnessed the scene gave him.

Ukitake hadn't been lying when he said nothing would change the fact that he wanted Shunsui and Toshiro to be safe. No matter what the brunet did to him, his heart would always long for his best friend back.