Disclaimer: I do not own BLEACH. This fan fiction was written for the sheer joy of it (and for reviews) and does not constitute a challenge to the copyright holders.
The reader is reminded that the following is part of a falsehood – a deception, an untruth, an invention, a cruel misappropriation of facts for a comfortable narrative that simply never occurred, in short, a lie.
What should have happened was: Captain Kyouraku should have gracefully and pleasantly accepted. He could even have used his preferred expansive movements and language to express his gratitude and sincere appreciation of Nanao's work and furthermore her generous spirit at inviting him to celebrate. Nanao was more than prepared for an overblown response to her invitation; had she gotten such a thing the evening, indeed the next several weeks, would have been far more pleasant.
If only Captain Kyouraku had helped Nanao summon the hell butterflies to issue invitations. He could have personally accompanied that beautiful young lady to The Dancing Hollow, spent time with nearly a dozen good friends and colleagues, eaten, drunk and been merry. He could have bought a round for the table, earning sonorous cheers – and more importantly a sweet, warm smile from his delightful second-in-command. He would have enjoyed compliments on his fine Lieutenant and squad and even received a couple of jealous sidelong glances from some certain Captains without such reliable subordinates. He could have enjoyed a swelling of pride as every single reveler made a point of thanking Nanao for arranging the impromptu night out, a few even embracing her and making it clear they liked being out on the town with her.
He would have received a quiet "I don't know what you did, but well done, Shunsui," from his best friend. He could have given Ukitake a sideways sly look before laughing and admitting he really didn't know how it had happened, but it was certainly enjoyable, no? Jyuushiro Ukitake would have laughed gently and wished his friend well.
As the evening wore on and the kitchen of The Dancing Hollow closed, several of the shinigami in attendance would have decided to call it a night, Nanao inclusive. There would have been a small contingent determined to shut down the night hours later at last call but Shunsui Kyouraku would have realized the wiser course of action, or perhaps more germane to a few unvoiced goals (which, nevertheless, were well known to his closest friends), was to walk with Nanao back to Squad Eight barracks. The fresh night air would have cleared their heads of the worst of the effects of sake, given their dinner a chance to settle, and the pleasant night sky would have given each the kindest benefits of a sweet April evening.
Shunsui and Nanao would have chatted about this and that, walking slowly and easily back to barracks. Nanao would have shivered a little in the brisk air and Shunsui would have been attentive and cavalier enough to offer his haori; Nanao would have been touched enough and cheerful enough from the lively evening that she would have accepted it gratefully. She would have been utterly unable to keep herself from smiling broadly as she wrapped the relentlessly pink garment about herself. Shunsui would have noticed and smiled as well but just happened to bite his tongue as he was formulating a teasing comment. On impulse, Nanao would have wrapped an arm around one of Shunsui's (silently grateful that he hadn't said anything stupid about her many smiles at him this evening) and he would have realized that keeping his comments to himself was yielding far more return than uttering every thought. Shunsui would have crooked his arm as a gentleman does and continued on speaking only on the general health and welfare of their mutual friends.
Some silliness would have begun once back at officer's quarters, where they would have stopped at Shunsui's rooms first. But upon seeing Nanao reach up to remove his haori, Shunsui would have insisted they walk the hundred feet down to her quarters lest she should take a chill walking that distance without the covering. Nanao would have shaken her head at the foolish idea but the warmth of the haori complementing the warmth of friends would have kept cold indignation out of reach and she would accepted a few more moments of her Captain's company with a small laugh.
At her door Nanao would have hesitated after turning her key in the lock. Anxious that her hesitation not be noted or any judgment of her be reduced due to that hesitation, she would have tried to cover it by rapidly removing Shunsui's haori. All too soon it would have been tidily folded in her arms. Nanao would have studied its dusky rose color in the moonlight with great intensity while trying to make up her mind about something. Shunsui would have tried to keep his peace for as long as possible but curiosity kept hounding his restraint and, really, hadn't he been good for long enough now? He would have spoken with as much temperance as he could muster, "Nanao?"
Nanao would have responded by dropping the haori to her side and stepping inside Shunsui's reach to put both hands around his face, cupping his cheeks. Her stomach would have been in a turmoil, heart rate galloping, pumping entirely too much blood into her head. She would have looked into his rich brown eyes and thought once again to herself that those eyes could melt glaciers. "Captain..." she would have uttered. "Shunsui..." she would have whispered.
Shunsui would have worked to steady his breathing, pacing himself to see just what the lovely lady had in mind; his hands would have circled about Nanao and met at the small of her back.
Nanao would have pitched her head back, pressed lightly to Shunsui's chest, and then closed her eyes to feel more intimately the scrape of whiskers against her hands. She would have inhaled softly (marveling at his scent of sandalwood, had he always carried that fragrance?) and slid a hand around to the back of his neck to pull him forward and down.
They would have delighted in the feel of each others' lips, one set full and sure and never without at least a hint of a smile, and the other delicate and soft and surprisingly insistent.
They would have luxuriated in the kiss until the strain of bending down gave Shunsui another idea. He would have dropped his hands hoping Nanao wouldn't dislike the idea too much and wrapped them around her bottom. The better to lift her to him, he would have imagined. Nanao would have been a little startled but given it only momentary notice as now she didn't have to balance herself on tiptoes and could concentrate on pushing fingers into Shunsui's loosely tied hair and wrapping a fist in his Captain's haori.
Shunsui would have pressed an arm around Nanao's upper legs to free one hand which would then have swooped low to pick up his haori, and then he would turn the knob on her door and sweep the both of them into her quarters. At this movement Nanao would have traced kisses down a cheek, over bristles, and along his neck.
This prevarication continues...