Author's Notes: Set pre-manga and anime.
The Boy at the Academy
She's in the Academy and, at this point, the person called "Shunsui" is only a vague blur in her mind, tall and dark-haired and nothing special. She barely notices him in the classes they share, her nose stuck in a book. The girls next to her whisper that he's a womanizer. Nanao shuts her book and moves elsewhere. She doesn't like gossip.
She sees him, really sees him, for the first time under the cherry trees outside the Academy entrance. He's talking with Ukitake Jyuushirou and the two seem like friends. Nanao thinks the girls must be wrong about Kyouraku. Ukitake is a good judge of character. He wouldn't speak to Shunsui unless the boy was a good soul.
She greets Ukitake as she passes, her mind already on other things when Shunsui calls after her. She stops in her tracks and can't figure out why, her head turning of its own violation to glance backwards. Shunsui is smiling at her and she sees that his eyes are very gentle.
"You're very lovely, Nanao-chan."
He's a child with the voice of a man. The liquid tones melt over her and she can't quite catch her breath. It's more than a little irritating and she leaves without a reply, leaving him standing there, grinning.
She's in the Academy and, at this point, she does not have time for boys.
Not yet, anyway.
The End