Act 2.1

"Rangiku!" Shunsui called to the vivacious red-head.

He had been lounging in the bar for a few hours. He had been at six other bars that day after the morning meeting. He told those who asked earlier in the day that he was working his way back to his division but he had passed it 5 hours ago at the 4th bar. At that point he was so happily under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol he didn't care. Jūshirō had left after the 3rd bar, appallingly too sober for Shunsui's taste. The other captains from the 1st bar, took it in turns to go visit their own divisions but they had all joined up again at the 5th bar, ready for an all nighter.

"Shunsui!" she called back bouncing across the room.

A heap of empty sake bottles lay to on side of the low table, whilst fuller bottles covered the table. They all looked worse for wear. Ushijirō was conked out, face first in a bowl of noodles; Torao was wearing his tabi socks on his hands, made all the more amusing as he attempted to lift up the tiny sake dish to his lips but with a slip, juggle and tumble, lost it in his lap; Yūzō had been singing 'Girl's Just Want to Have Fun'; this made Yumichiki argue with the 10th Captain, saying 'Girl's Just Wanted to be Beautiful'… like him. Yumchiki and Ikkaku had joined the group at the last bar and swiftly caught up. Ichimaru, who was waiting for his old friend Matsumoto, had also joined the group to Shunsui's displeasure. He didn't trust Aizen's vice captain because of the eerie cocky smirk stretched across that malicious face.

"Have you come to celebrate with us?" Rangiku asked as she took a seat in the gap between Ichimaru and Shunsui.

"What are we celebrating?" he slurred slightly as he tipped his straw hat back to reveal blood shot brown eyes.

"Passing my finals."

"Well of course! Let me buy the first round," he said as he lifted his hand to signal the waitress.

"I was going to buy the first round, Kyōraku," stated Ichimaru as he leaned in from the other side of Rangiku and then signalled for the waitress.

"Well of course, Gin. Then I'll get in the next."

Seeing their favourite academy student sitting across from them all the other captains aroused from their stupor. They practically clambered over each other to charm her into their squads but she took it all modestly as if they were just being as friendly as anyone else would be. But then again she probably got that reaction most of the time.

Shunsui took the opportunity, while the captains were distracted by their own argument, to gain Rangiku's attention. "Will your friend be joining us in the celebrations?"

"Who? Nanao?" She placed a finger to the side of her soft pink lips considering the answer as if it was written on the ceiling. "Yes, I forced her into coming. She should be here any minute. Why?" Her big blue eyes fell down to look at his which he had hidden back under the rim of his hat. But a smile did curl his lips as he answered.

"No reason."

Just as he said it he heard Torao groan. He looked towards the captain whose eyes were directed towards the entrance.

"There she is. Nanao! Yoohoo! Over here."

He lifted the brim of his hat, turning to see who he had blindly chosen to be his vice captain. His eyes fell upon a slim figure wearing the traditional red hakama and the white with red striped kimono of the female academy student. Lifting the brim of his hat further up he took in the most exquisite image of perfection he had ever seen. Most would flatly say that the lady beside him was a goddess but after catching a glimpse of her friend by the door he would call the whole world blind. Matsumoto my have the looks of the typical man's desire but her friend had literally stopped him breathing and made his heart dance a jig. Her eyes turned when her friend had called out to her and now she seemed to give a slight shudder as she looked at her friend's companions. Her eyes darken as she lowered her head then she slowly walked through the bar.

"I'll go and get the next round," he said as he rose from beside Rangiku, pulling the brim of his hat back down.

"Look! He's barely looked at her and he's already changed his mind," Ushijirō said to his rivals who nodded in agreement.

Nanao approached the table which she noticed was occupied by the three captains who competed for her friend, two 11th squad members who she had first seen at the academy and Gin, whom she never liked. She was sure there had been someone else sitting beside her friend but brushed it off as them making room for her.

"Good evening," she greeted the table's occupants.

"Hi," it was a collective drawl acknowledgement which she chose to ignore as she sat closely by her friend.

A waitress came over to place a sake dish in front of her and another four bottles in the centre of the table. Rangiku did the honour of pouring her friend a drink and the presented a solo toast to their success with the exams.

"Ise, anyone offered you a job yet?" Ichimaru asked from the other side of Rangiku. He knew the answer and he just wanted to tease her. It had become their greeting in the last few weeks.

"No, not yet," she replied with all the dignity she had within her and laced it with a cold glare of her eyes. He just gave his accustomed smirk and pulled her friend into a conversation.

"Good evening Nanao. For that's your name, I hear."

She didn't feel the presence until the words were spoken but now it was clear and strong. She turned to see a blur of pink and for an instant thought her spectacles had fallen off but then blur settled to reveal a five o'clock shadow chiselled jaw half covered with a straw hat and accompanied with a whiff of sake and sweat. She turned away from the strong scents before replying.

"You are mistaken. Only Matsumoto calls me that, everyone else knows me as Ise," she replied authoritatively.

"No, no! You are Nanao," he paused as she whirled round. He had lifted the brim of his hat now so he could look at her clearly. Her sharp violet eyes stared daggers at his own blood shot hazels as he continued, "And sweet Nanao, and sometimes Nanao the cold-hearted."

"O god! He's actually going for it," Yūzō said.

"But Nanao, the prettiest Nanao of all Seireitei. My lovely Nanao," his eyes flashed as he said the last words.

"And who the hell are you?" she spat, angered by the familiarity he chose to use on her.

"Shunsui Kyōraku. Captain of the 8th division," he took her hand and was about to kiss it when she pulled away from his touch.

"Sir," she said with an undertone of scorn, "I would appreciate it if you would address me in a more appropriate manner."

"And I would be moved if you would be my lovely Nanao."

"Moved? – Whoever 'moved' you, can move you back. I've heard of your reputation 'Captain'," she turned away thinking she had ended the conversation.

"What reputation is that?" he asked taking a sip of his sake.

She turned back. Half of her, the sensible half was shouting for her to apologise and not say anymore. The other half was telling her to go for it, show him how much he disgusted her. And that was the half which was winning over.

"There are many but none are good. You do nothing but lie around all day," which was the rumour. The captain of the 8th was said to be a drunk, womanizing, layabout.

He smiled, leaning in so his hot sake breathe tickled the hair on her neck as he whispered to her. "Then lie with me and I won't be so lazy."

Suddenly a blast of red light erupted between them accompanied with a screen of smoke. Yelps and screams rippled through the room. The stench of rotten eggs, the tell-tale sign of a high level kidō being used mixed with burnt hair drifted across the room. All eyes watched as the smoke cleared to reveal a female student had used the demon spell on a captain. The eyes were fixed for a moment but then the fear of punishment for observing the incident hit them and their eyes turned away.

Her hand was trapped within his firm grip just hovering by the area she had blasted. His kimono and haori was singed and his skin, where his uniform lay open, was charred like cooked meat. 'Oh shit!' was the only thought which ran through her mind.

"You do that again and I'll have to strike you back," he said with a smile. The spell had a powerful kick which would have knocked him out if he hadn't grabbed her hand to reduce its strength. He didn't let go of her hand feeling the warmth emanating from her with pleasure.

"Proving you are no gentleman. Let me go!"

"Ah, Nanao! Why so angry?" he ignored her request, unwilling to let go just yet.

"I don't like drunks making a fool of me," she sneered at him as she tried to pull away with no success.

"Who's making a fool of you? I'll stop them."

"I would show you but I don't carry a mirror," she replied accompanying it with sarcastic smile.

"Do you mean me?" he asked with the look of hurt.

"You're catching on. Now let go of me before I strike again," her eyes narrowed to show she meant every word.

"I was told you were cold, proud and disdainful. And now I find it a lie. You're strong, energetic and feisty. Yet you are mild." He let go of her pulling back slightly so he could take her figure in more fully. She looked at him with utter disbelief. "Why does the world say Nanao is so cold? They're a bunch of fools." She turned away trying to ignore him. "You are efficient with your tightly pulled back hair. Let me see those exquisite violent violets," his warm calloused hands fingered her chin to coax her into letting him see her eyes.

She instantly shook off his touch and smacked his hand with her sheathed tantō. "Where did you study your performance?"

"It's natural but the art is dying out," he refilled the small dish and took a sip with such leisure it looked as if they were merely discussing the weather.

"It's a shame it hasn't died out completely."

"I have decided," slamming down his drink, "you will work under me."

"WHAT!"

"As my vice captain. Vice Captain Nanao," he said flourishing his drink over his hakama and causing him to wince slightly as it touched his scorched skin.

"Ise!" she shouted indignantly.

"Then you agree, Vice Captain Nanao Ise," he grinned as their war of words had come to this stage.

"That's it, I've had enough," and with that she rose from the table ignoring her friends calls and then she was gone.

"Nanao!" Rangiku turned on him as soon as her friend had disappeared from sight, "Shunsui, what did you say to her?"

"All I said was I wanted her as my vice captain," he said happily sipping his sake.

"O! Really? That's great. So why did she burn you?"

"Misunderstanding but everything will be fine. Well, ladies and gentlemen," he lifted himself up feeling the sting on abdomen. "I am heading to my bed. I've had enough of drinking. Good Night."

Shunsui left the bar a very happy man. He had met an intriguing woman who would be an excellent companion. He now needed to tame her before she tried to kill him again.

A/N: This was my favourite chapter to write, especially with Nanao being a vicious cow and Shunsui being a right arse to her. Hope you enjoyed reading it.