My creativity's still a little dry, but I think this came out well in spite of being forced out (like the last one). Thank you to all my reviewers for your support!

Theme: Care

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or we would know what Nanao was up to by now.

Rain was pouring outside, and Nanao pursed her lips. Her captain hadn't returned yet. She worried that he had fallen asleep and was now getting soaked. He would surely catch a cold this way. And who would have to take care of him? Who would have to fetch endless amounts of blankets, tea, thermometers, and who knew what else? She would.

Slamming her book down with an impatient sigh, she stood up. She stretched her senses to search for his reiatsu and sensed somewhere far off, at a location she was unable to pinpoint from here. Definitely not in his quarters, office, or the rooftop.

She found him in a field closest to the 13th division. No doubt he had just finished catching up with Ukitake. He was lying underneath a large, lonely tree, sheltered from the rain by its wide leaves. Nanao approached him quietly, already quite wet herself.

"Kyoraku-taicho, what are you doing?" she asked once she stood beside him. He tilted his hat to look her and smiled affectionately.

"Nanao-chan," he greeted. "I am merely reveling in the outbursts of Mother Nature, observing her methods of cleansing her property and our sanctuary. Nanao-chan- what are you doing out here in the rain? You'll get sick!"

Nanao's eye twitched. "I was going to ask you the same thing, sir."

Shunsui chuckled. "Come here and lay down next to me. I shall keep you warm and safe!" He opened his ridiculous pink haori as an invitation.

Nanao swallowed and adjusted her glasses. "I'll pass, Taicho. I think you should head back to your quarters; it doesn't do well for your health to sit out here all night."

Shunsui laughed gently and stood up. "It fills my heart with joy to know that my darling Nanao-chan cares for her captain so," he said, clasping his hands over his heart.

She looked up at him with an even face, suppressing a blush. "Of course, Taicho. It's my duty to look after you."

"Ah, my flower, but one might say as captain, it's my duty to look after you," Shunsui replied, lowering hands to allow one of them to rest on Nanao's cheek. She immediately slapped it away, but allowed a small smile to grace her lips.

"Perhaps you're right, Taicho."

Shunsui gave her a warm smile, accompanied by one of his rare, deep looks that made Nanao's heart flutter uncontrollably. He then took off his pink haori and offered it to her.

"Then let's go back, ne? If we both get sick, neither of us will be able to care of the other!"

Nanao hesitated before accepting the haori. After Shunsui checked (rather thoroughly) to make sure it was keeping her dry, they made their way back to the 8th division.