Act 5.1

"Vice Captain Ise?"

She could hear the light tapping as she stirred from her sleep. Cracking her eyes open gently she was met by the usual blur but a vague impression of something lying next to her head. Reaching out to feel the objects she discovered a pair of spectacles. She sat up, taking the glasses and placed over her eyes. They were her own glasses, unbroken and clean. I thoughts turned towards the room which wasn't the one he had shown her last night filled to bursting point. In fact, this room looked like it belonged to someone else.

"Vice Captain?"

"Yes."

Her eyes cast down towards the cloth which her glasses had been resting on. She tenderly unfolded the gently folded black material. It was her new uniform and to the side was the vice captain insignia which was to worn on her left arm.

"Good Morning, Vice Captain Ise," a young women had slid open the screen door, "I've brought you breakfast." She knelt a few feet from the futon and put down the tray filled with food, "I wasn't sure what you would like so I made a few dishes. No tomatoes," she smiled as she slid the tray to one side. "Captain Kyōraku has asked that you take your time; your duties can wait until you are ready. He also offers his wash facilities," she pointed to the other side of the room which was partially open to reveal a tiled floor. "And I'd like to say 'Welcome', and we (all squad members) apologise for not being here for your arrival."

She gave an awkward smile and bowed low.

"Thank you," it was the only thing she could think of saying. She was shocked that everything seemed to be clearing up so swiftly after the complete farce which was yesterday.

The women smiled at the gratitude she received, bowed once more then left the room.

"Those lips that Love's own hand did make,

Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate',

To me that languished for her sake:"

"Greetings captain,"

Nanao took the advice her captain had given and took as much time as she could to eat her breakfast, clean up and dress. She made sure she was immaculate before heading to the office but as soon as she walked out of the room she had slept in she wasn't sure which way to go. A subordinate seeing she was wearing the vice captain insignia and the confused look on her features they greeted her warmly. Then walked her to the office pointing out the kitchen, banquet hall and practice grounds. As soon as she walked in the office she found her captain sprawled out leisurely on the floor, his straw hat pulled down across his face to shade it from the sun. He was mumbling dreamily something which sounded a lot like poetry. She spotted a table covered high with paperwork and decided it was her task to clear it. She sat down and started the tedious work which after a short time seemed easier than she thought; it was just the amount which was daunting.

"How brightly shines the moon!" he exclaimed.

"The moon! That's the sun, captain," trying to ignore his stupidity by concentrating on her work.

"Really?" he lifted the brim of his hat to look then lowered it again. "No, I say it is the moon that shines so bright."

"You are mistaken, sir, for it is the sun," she put down her brush as she replied.

"You shouldn't argue with me. I am your captain. If I say it is the moon, star or whatever, it is."

"Of course captain, my mistake," lifting her brush to write again. "If you say it is the moon or sun of what you please, it will be likewise for me."

"I say it is the moon," he stated.

"I know it is the moon," she furthered, smirking at the silliness of the conversation.

"Why Nanao, you lie," he shouted lifting his hat to look at the sun/moon. "It is the glorious sun."

"Well bless me, it is the glorious sun," she exclaimed looked at the burning sun he pointed at. "And yet not the sun when you say it is not," she said as she looked back her work. "Whatever you wish it to be named, it shall be called so by me also."

"Good," he smiled broadly as he lowered his hat and drifted to sleep.

The hours passed on as the mess of papers which were strewn across the desk were piled neatly to one side while the remainder was neatly waiting on the other side to join the completed papers. She didn't notice the presence of the visitor till her captain greeting the guest.

"Good morning, fair maiden. Tell me, my sweet Nanao, and tell me true, have you seen a more radiant gentle lady?" Nanao looked up to find the fair maiden to be a large, scar-faced man with a black eye patch. His hair lay limp across his shoulders but his gender was unmistakable. It was also unmistakable the white captain's haori he wore. "'Such war of white and red within her cheeks!" the delusional Shunsui continued. "What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty as those two eyes become that heavenly face?' Sweet Nanao come look."

"Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet," she couldn't help herself. Today, her captain obviously wanted to see how loyal she was. "Happy are the parents of so fair a child! Happier still is the man who takes you as his lovely bedfellow!"

The mocked captains eyes seemed to glow yellow for a moment and Nanao feared she should have kept her mouth shut but then he turned grumbling something which sounded very much like, "I knew I should have put the bells on today," then shunpo'd away.

"How now, Nanao!" Shunsui sat up and turned enough to look at her properly. She was suppressed to see his eyes were not bloodshot as she had usually seen them. "I hope you are not mad. That was Captain Zaraki. Don't worry my lovely Nanao, if he comes back to take revenge, I will protect you," cracking a cocky smile.

"Thank you, captain."

"It is my pleasure, my little Nanao," he nodded and turned back to lie back down.

"I meant it more for last night and this morning. Thank you."

He turned back to look at her penetrating dark blues from a moment. He couldn't reply to statement of gratitude. He felt the guilt which had plagued him last night after he tortured her mentally through out the day. But so far it seemed that his scheme had worked. He had tamed her into being a loyal vice captain. He just hoped he hadn't tamed her too much. At least she didn't break.

"But when she saw my woeful state,

Straight in her heart did mercy come,

Chiding that tongue that ever sweet

Was used in giving gentle doom;

And taught it thus anew to greet;

'I hate' she altered with an end,

That followed it a gentle day,

Doth follow night, who like a fiend

From heaven to hell is flown away.

'I hate', from hate away she threw,

And saved my life, saying 'not you'."

A/N: I was reading Shakespeare's sonnets and found 'Sonnet 145' which I thought suited the transition the relationship went through. But then again I'm probably reading into it too much and drivelling a whole load of hooha. Next/ Last chapter up tomorrow.