Title: Corresponding With Life

Rating: T

Pairing: Hisagi Shuuhei x Kira Izuru

Preview: One of Shuuhei's favorite hobbies was working on Seireitei's newspaper. It's just sometimes it had a way of interfering with his life in the worst ways.

Warnings/Personal Thoughts: Timeline is post the manga, swearing, possible implications

Prompt: 081. Pen and Paper

Almost done.

Shuuhei had been telling himself that for the past hour… correction, hours. This was supposed to be printed at seven AM today. Lately news had been sort of slow, not much was happening since the war was over, it has been several years. Shuuhei had been trying to make sure the articles were long enough and interesting still. It's just the reporters hadn't quite gotten what they needed and the submissions of art, stories, and the like were shorter than normal. He wasn't going to try and extend them or read through some of the things that the taichous and fukutaichous had submitted.

Why did they only choose to send their work to him 25 hours before the deadline, why couldn't anyone ever be prompt? Shuuhei let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed his temples, he loves editing and publishing the Seireitei newspaper. It is his obligation as a taichou of course but he always gets so engrossed in it. It's enjoyable but Izuru had stated to him that he got lost in his own world too much when working on the paper and ending up putting the paper before anything else. He can't remember the last time he had time away from it. Actually, Shuuhei had to go out himself so he could collect a few additions since the reporters were having troubles.

He was almost finished this paper though and he was sure he'd meet his deadline. So he has pulled a few all nighters but shinigami could last a longer without sleep than humans could, probably about triple the amount. An hour later and the paper was done and being printed, Shuuhei smiled triumphantly to himself. Slumping back in his chair and waiting for the copies to finish, his mind wandering.

'How long have I been at this newspaper drought for? A few months now. When was the last time I was home? At least a week. When have I last seen Izuru?'

A smile spread his mind and he looked apologetically into space. 'I bet you've been missing me at home.'

Shuuhei felt renewed energy, if he could just put this into the bin to be delivered then he could go home, crawl into bed with Izuru and just sleep the rest of tomorrow away. He'd take his vacation that day, he was suppose to take it yesterday but since the reports came in late he had ended up staying to help instead of returning home on schedule. Izuru had come in some time today to check to see what he was doing but a few of his subordinates had shooed him away. He wished they hadn't but it was late now and Izuru didn't seem to mind being shooed away, he was just coming in to see what happened.

'I wonder if Izuru will give me special treatment like he always does?'

Being snapped out of his day dream when the printer beeped at him telling him that what he was waiting for was finished. Polishing it up a bit he finally put it away in a bin to be delivered and started his walk back to their house. The sun was barely rising now and the walk to the house was rather short since Shuuhei is a fast walker. Shuuhei tried to open the door to their place as silently as he could because Izuru seemed like if a pin dropped in the house he'd wake up. Removing his shoes he crept silently to the bedroom, pushing the door open since it wasn't closed, Izuru must have expected him to come home tonight.

Although Izuru wasn't asleep.

He wasn't even in the room, Shuuhei looked around, wondering if he missed him in the room. Nope. Not that he could blend in with his brightly coloured hair and since the sun was rising the room was slightly illuminated. Taking a step back he looked down the hallway, the bathroom wasn't in use so that wasn't the case. Shuuhei thought for sure Izuru would still be sleeping.

'Guess he got called out to work?'

Either way, he was tired and just wanted some sleep so he laid down, Izuru would be home soon enough anyway. He'd probably get scolded by Izuru if he stayed up when he was so tired, even if Izuru would do the same. Though Izuru's lectures could be quite frightening so Shuuhei just decided he'd lie down and hope to wake up with Izuru's arms around him. Although he really wished after all this time, he could see Izuru's smiling, welcoming face. Curling up in the sheets he let out a relaxed and relived sigh and then he was fast asleep.

It must have been close to the time the sun sets because it was getting dark when he woke back up, having taken about a fourteen hour rest. It was seven PM now and he yawned lazily, wishing that Izuru would have slept in with him, so then he could've rested a little longer. He stretched and yawned and then began to rub at his shoulders that were sore, he let out a soft groan as he sat up rubbing the back of his head, making his hair messier. He wandered into the kitchen and looked around, no food was set out so be began to fix himself something. When an hour passed and there was no sign of Izuru, Shuuhei gave up and went to go drag the blonde out of the office so they could have a nice dinner.

Upon arrival he was surprised to see Renji at the third, he wasn't the only one.

"Yo Shuuhei, long time no see! You've been locked away for forever."

"It wasn't that long. What brings you here?"

"Izuru requested that I came here to check to make sure everything was handled in the division."

"Doesn't he have today off?"

"He decided he didn't need it and rescheduled it except he's nursing a massive hang over, Rangiku got a hold of him and that was after he had gotten himself drunk."

Shuuhei gave a nod sympathetically, hoping he'd make a full recovery, hang overs after hanging out with Rangiku were always brutal.

"How come he didn't come home?"

"Izuru lost his keys while he was drunk again so I had to take him to my place."

"You mind if I come over?"

"Not at all."

The two walked side by side for a bit, rambling on about random things that had been going on when Renji, out of the blue (not abnormal), asked him a question.

"You know why Izuru was out at about three or four AM drinking?"

"So early in the mourning… I thought he rescheduled work?"

"Said he wasn't planning on getting that drunk, just wanted something to distract himself." Renji got a sly grin on his face.

"…"

"Hmm?"

"It's not like him to do that, I can't figure out why he would…"

Shuuhei wanted to ponder about it but Renji was opening the door to his house and he really wanted to see Izuru. Ignoring any questions he had in his mind he followed Renji right in and instantly headed in the direction he sensed Izuru in. Moving swiftly behind him and catching him in a hug before Izuru could turn around and face him. Izuru tensed at first but then relaxed, a habit Shuuhei hadn't yet been able to get him out of it. He rubbed his head affectionately against Izuru's neck and side of his head.

"Hey Izuru-kun."

"H-hey."

Shuuhei smiled "I've missed you."

Izuru fumbled with what was in front of him, tapping his fingers on the glass he was holding. Shuuhei moved his arms so they wrapped under Izuru's so he could actually use them and Izuru put the empty drink down. Gently laying his arms across Shuuhei's and Shuuhei grinned and held him tighter, not ready to let go. Shuuhei kissed at Izuru's neck

"It's been awhile…" Izuru whispered quietly.

"I know, gomen, I've been so busy but you have today off so we can hang out."

"I'm not feeling too well."

"We can stay here."

"Hai, I just need to go lay back down before I get sick."

Shuuhei pulled away reluctantly and lingering his fingers on Izuru's side. Waiting until Izuru was out of arms length before finally letting his arms drop to his side with a sweet smile. He watched as Izuru retreated back to Renji's guest room. Shuuhei just sighed and started rubbing his shoulders, realizing he hadn't relaxed until he was finally in Izuru's presence. Then took notice that Renji was in the room and looked over at him apologetically.

"Gomen for getting all affectionate there, I hadn't seen him in awhile."

"Don't worry about it, I get it." Renji said with that same smirk as before "So…" he drawled out.

Shuuhei looked at him puzzled and Renji continued "What did you two do for Izuru's birthday?"

"Huh?" Shuuhei blinked once, then twice. "Izuru's birthday isn't until," he took a few moments to think "Four days from today, are you talking about what I have planned?"

"Iie, I want to know what you did for his birthday, it was yesterday wasn't it?"

"It couldn't have been." Shuuhei quickly strode over to a calendar to try and figure out what today was.

Renji just frowned "Then what the hell were we celebrating yesterday? You know with all the banners and gifts and stuff? It also doesn't explain why Izuru said yesterday he was going to go spend the rest of his birthday with you."

"I couldn't have missed it." Shuuhei paused "Shit, I had yesterday off for a reason, damn it." Shuuhei paced in the small kitchen swearing at himself.

"I got to go talk to Izuru." He left the room in a hurry and opened the door abruptly.

Izuru peeked at him from under the cover before disappearing mostly under it, curled up in a ball. Shuuhei strode over quickly and crouched down where Izuru's head was and waited for Izuru to poke his head out again. There was tugging as Izuru looked at him with blinking blue eyes. Shuuhei laid down so he could be face to face with him and leaned over and kissed Izuru on the lips, whispering against them. "Gomen na."

Izuru looked at him confused but made no motion to move away. "For what? The hang over isn't so bad…"

"Not for that. For forgetting, the paper shouldn't have come before you, it doesn't come before you." Shuuhei corrected. "If I had realized that yesterday was your birthday I would've came home right away but I lost track of the day. I'll make it up to you I promise."

"You don't care about the paper more than me, you just forgot?" Izuru asked curiously, his voice giving away to his feelings of hurt.

"Hai." Shuuhei looked away from Izuru, embarrassed for the mistake.

"You're forgiven, as long as that was the reason and if you want to make it up to me, just help me with this hang over. It's your fault I have it anyways."

Izuru said the last part jokingly, not wanting to upset Shuuhei and he smiled "You're way to good to me." Izuru smirked and kissed Shuuhei for his earlier show of affection.

"I know."

A/N: I swear these things just keep getting longer and longer, which isn't my intent… Well, enjoy! Also hope you had a good holiday and I hope this new year will be happy!

Translations:

Gomen = Sorry
Hai = Yes
Iie = No
Gomen na = I'm Sorry (Male speaking)