My lovelies,

I'm so glad you decided to grace me with your presence, and a hope that this chapter does not disappoint. This chapter is just a bit of whimsy about Ukitake trying to compose and Shunsui trying to "help." Please forgive any incoherency on the grounds that

1. I wrote this at 1 AM.

2. I'm also in a strange mood at the moment.

3. I am rather new at writing dialogue. I prefer to ramble.

4. I really like words. Hence the random ones that Shunsui throws out.

So please, let me know how I did, and please save me from embarrassment by kindly pointing out any flaws. Conversely, if you enjoy it, feel free to let me know through reviews. Reviews are what make me address you all as delightful and wonderful readers instead of silent and ungrateful readers. So please, stroke my ego.

Warnings: Well, I actually did not curse in this one, but Shunsui makes a few less vague than my usual writing references to sex, just because it's Shunsui.

And if you need a refresher, Ukitake is a composer and Shunsui plays the bassoon. Apparently he's also a writer, because it kind of just happened.

"Thrummed."

Shunsui spoke the word as if talking to himself. He was sitting in a rich maroon armchair in Ukitake's study, as his lover attempted to write. Jyuushiro gave a mildly chastising look at his lover, who he had thought was asleep.

"Shun, please. I'm trying to compose."

"And I'm trying to help you, to give you some words, since you won't take sake and you banished me to this side of the room."

"I should've banished you to that side of the house. Now hush. The Old Man wants to look over what I have tomorrow, and I have nothing."

"In that case, let me inspire you, Jyuu."

"Shunsui. Please. I am in no mood for your seduction, nor am I in the mood to channel Nanao in scolding you."

"And for once, I'm not trying to seduce you. In any case, didn't you tell me that music was very sensual?"

"Actually, that was you. And it was in another instance of said attempted seduction."

Shunsui chuckled at that. "A very successful one, if I remember correctly. And I believe you composed one of your most popular pieces afterwards. See, Jyuu? Sex really is the answer to all problems."

Although Ukitake's gaze remained affectionate, he seemed to be walking a fine line between amusement and genuine annoyance. "Well, not on a deadline it's not. So please let me work."

Shunsui was quiet for a few minutes after that. Ukitake wondered idly if he'd been too harsh.

"Shun?"

No answer.

"I'm sorry. I'm just stressed. I hate composing on a deadline, and you know I work best at a leisurely pace. I shouldn't have snapped at you."

Shunsui lifted his hat from his eyes and leveled a long look at Ukitake.

"It's no problem. I just hate to see you so stressed. The old man works you too hard, and I hate not being able to help. So I was trying to throw out some things to help you along."

"Words?"

"Yes. Words that describe how you and your music make me feel."

Jyuushiro blushed. Shunsui wrote short stories in his spare time, and they were often so overly romantic and at times, outright erotic that they bordered on satire. But once in a while, he'd produce a sentence, or a paragraph, which was so honest that it made Ukitake lose his breath. He suspected that Shunsui could write as well as he liked, but spent most of his time writing trashy stories for fun. That would be in the man's nature. Occasionally, he would find little things, a poem on his pillow, or a word traced on the skin of his back, that revealed the true depth of Shunsui's voice. He valued the secret talent his lover possessed, and told him so through his own writing. They traded compositions when they didn't feel like talking, notes for words and sentences for rhythms. It was a game, and yet it was much more than that. But usually, Shunsui was reluctant to talk about writing, even though he had no shame when it came to talking about practically anything else. So a rare admission from the man caught Ukitake's attention.

"And my music…thrums?"

"Yes. You know how some feelings enter your body and sweep through it, so intensely that you feel every vibration? That's thrumming. Like the plucking of a harp string, or the resonance of a chord on the piano."

His serious face morphed into a playful grin.

"Or you in bed."

"Shunsui!"

The admonishment only served to make Shunsui grin as he continued.

"Resonate is another good word. Strong notes resonate. They sneak in your ears, then dance around your consciousness insistently, building all the while. Good words can do that too, although I think that in orchestral terms, strong percussion can get that resonance."

Ukitake listened thoughtfully. He was originally being somewhat indulgent to make up for snapping earlier, but in his own strange way, Shunsui was making sense. Jyuushiro started to jot down notes as Shunsui continued.

"Tension, now that's a good word. Full of sexual undertones and it applies so well to music. Build up the tension with a fierce conflict, than release it suddenly and violently in a blast of sound."

"Are we still talking music, Shun, or is this about sex?"

Shunsui gave his most innocent face, which seemed rather incongruous with the rest of his attire. "Why, Jyuushiro, I was only trying to help you write your music. What would give you the idea that I'm referring to anything else?"

"You always look like a fox in a henhouse when you're trying to hide your lecherous nature. Now, go on."

"Fine, fine. Where was I? Ah, tension and release. Dissonance is another good word. It sounds strange, and somewhat unsettling, but it builds the most fabulous tension. And the more tension, the better the release.

Ukitake hummed slightly in acknowledgement as his jotted down ideas and nodded for Shunsui to continue.

"I'm also partial to the word cacophony. Rather like dissonance, it makes the audience rather uncomfortable with the assault on their ears, but it is a delightful way to introduce a new theme."

Shunsui continued talking as he got up and walked across the room, coming to peer over Ukitake's shoulder.

"As for the resolution, it should be explosive. One huge burst of energy which contains various intricacies. Little musical caresses and ethereal harmonies. Now mind you, these are all simply methods of enhancing the finale."

Shunsui leaned in to whisper in Ukitake's ear.

"And once the swell has subsided, the sensual, plaintive tones of a single bassoon."

Ukitake snapped out of his reverie turn away from his desk and playfully swatted Shunsui away.

"Now you're just angling for a solo. Play fair, Shun, or the others will say that you're sleeping with the composer."

Shunsui pulled the shorter man to his feet, not bothering to step back to allow him any more personal space.

"And what if I am?"

Ukitake returned the playful smile and met his lover's gaze, brushing their foreheads and noses together. "We'll call it inspiration."

Shunsui chuckled for a moment before whispering, practically against Ukitake's lips. "I like the sound of that."