A/N: Well, I really don't have anything else to say except here's the next part. (Throws a rope down the edge of the cliff.) There, taht should help a bit. Good, not good? Let me know. -KG

Chapter Six: The Calm Before The Storm

For once, Shunsui could honestly say he didn't know what was going on. He was running errands all over Seireitei, and now the next thing he knew, some woman was kissing him. This woman was not his Nanao-chan, therefore, he didn't approve one bit. Shoving her away rather brashly, he stepped back and put his hand to his forehead, wondering what the heck just happened.

Pushing her may have been a little harsh, but at this moment in time he really didn't care. She had asked for help with something, and then when he, being the gentleman he was, came over to help, she jumped him. Great, this is just his day.

The woman, he noticed, was someone he recognized from the Thirteenth Division. That was also odd, because he was nowhere near there presently. Not that it was odd for soul reapers to be going other places, but being in a side alley in the middle of the day far away from your division was.

He took in the sight of her, her brownish hair waving lightly as she staggered back from the pushed. Now that he looked at her, she looked a little disoriented, like she hadn't done what she just had. Looking strangely at him, she spoke up.

"Captain Kyouraku? What am I doing here?" She still held that dazed look.

"I think you're needed in your division."

"Oh, right. Thank you Captain Kyouraku. I'll be going now."

She had no idea what just went on. Maybe that was for the better, he thought. There wasn't much use in explaining things and just confusing her further. He was definitely not having a good day already, and this wasn't adding anything good to the mix. Nanao wasn't in a very good mood because they had some extra work lately.

There was also the fact that Yukio was supposed to spend the morning with them, watching them work. Nanao didn't like to be watched, he knew that one for a fact. She could always feel when eyes were on her, and she told him once that it was very distracting. Then again, that could've just been his eyes, but he wasn't going to question it.

That was another thing. What would Nanao think of this whole incident? It was a misunderstanding and he hadn't meant it to happen, but he didn't know if she would see things the same way. He instantly felt disappointed in himself. Even if it was an accident, he still promised her that she would be the only one, ever.

He knew he should probably tell her about it. That would be the logical thing to do, but then when he thought of the hurt look that her face would hold, and how it would pull at her heartstrings, he thought that maybe this time the phrase 'what you don't know won't hurt you' would be acceptable.

Still, that didn't take away the slight guilt he was feeling. He would have to make up for it by a long shot. Maybe he could offer to do some of the work? That usually brightened up her mood on a busy day. Thinking on the current issue though, Shunsui thought that he just might be doing paperwork for a long time to make up for this.

Heaving a deep sigh, he flashed towards the office, only partly ready to face his Nanao-chan. What would've happened if he knew she was standing not thirty feet from him?

XoXoXoX

Nanao couldn't believe what was going on. Every logical part of her was screaming that this couldn't possibly be what it looked like. He would never do something so low as to cheat on her would he? She backed up against the wall, hand to her head, trying to figure out some logical explanation for this.

She saw him push her away, saw the strange look that the woman gave him, and watched him leave. She was still trying to get her heart to stop beating so fast, although it wasn't in the good way. If any one of her fears would come true, she hoped that this one would not. She really wanted to believe that this wasn't what it seemed.

A side of her cringed at the thought. This side got angry at whoever this other person was. She wanted to devour the said woman with a douse of her flames. That's how angry she was. She was ready to lunge. She could feel the heat rise to her fingers again, just like before with Yukio. Maybe it was just the day. It had started alright. She didn't know how it came to this.

The other side of her was depressed. What if her greatest fear had come true? What if it really was how it seemed? She almost couldn't believe it, but there was a small, nagging voice in the back of her mind yelling 'I told you so'. It was one of the reasons she'd been so hesitant in the first place, after all. She didn't want to be last week's news, or last year's, if it really was true.

She slid down the wall to the ground, not really knowing what to do. For once, she couldn't think at all, her mind was totally blank. Sure, she wanted a reprieve form Yukio and all he said, but she didn't want this.

Faintly, she wondered if this is what heartbreak felt like, a tear rolling off her cheek onto the ground below her.

XoXoXoX

"Shunsui, you look worn. What's the matter?"

A not-so-well-off Shunsui sat in the Third Division sharing a drink with Captain Giahara and Izuru. Working a bit didn't help him out much. He returned to the office to find Nanao gone. This should have been comforting to him, but right now he really just wanted to hold her tight and take in the smell of her hair.

"Yare, I suppose I will be soon, Ivy. Don't worry about it."

His bluff didn't fool either of them for an instant, but in his current state, they knew better than to prod any further. They doubted even Ukitake would be able to get anything more from him.

"Did Yukio visit your division today?" Izuru was loosened up a little.

"He was, but he must have left. They both were gone when I came back, and neither returned while I was there."

"Nanao didn't come back?"

"You left her alone with him?"

Ivy's question when unanswered as Izuru's worried tone broke through interrupting it. Obviously he thought that it was a terrible idea. He had shared that Nanao had been nowhere to be seen all afternoon. He was a little worried, naturally, but if it was an emergency she would've sent notice. There could've been something she had to take care of.

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"Well...no, but," His frown stayed in place. "I guess she is fully capable of taking care of herself. I just...don't trust him."

They all stayed quiet while his words sunk in. Sure, he was new, but being new and being flat-out not trusted were two different things.

"He is a little strange, but other than that, there's not any solid evidence to go on. Everyone's a little strange, but maybe we're all just acting this way because we don't know what his strengths are yet. I can't believe they cancelled the demonstration."

"I don't think strange is the right word." Izuru's scowl got deeper. Ignoring him a little, Shunsui continued.

"I heard about the Kenpachi thing too. That was odd. He's not one to turn down a fight, especially when he's the one who initiates it. Wonder why he did it. Everyone's been curious about Yukio's abilities."

"Maybe he poisons people to act in opposite ways."

They were all quiet again for some time. Ivy was watching Izuru, who had not stopped frowning since Shunsui mentioned that Yukio had been alone with Nanao. What was with him? This was starting to really worry her.

Izuru waited a minute more before exhaling a big breath of air. "Do you want to know why I don't like him?" They inclined their heads like he knew they would. He didn't really want to share this, but at least Rangiku wasn't here. He too had been broken over Gin's betrayal for some time, but he let it pass quicker than she did.

"I don't know why, but he reminds me of Gin." He felt Ivy stiffen at the mention of the name. Old scars, no matter how long ago they were, could still be wounds. "He's not one to be trusted."

XoXoXoX

For the last couple hours, the only thing Nanao did was wander around. The sun was starting to set, the fading orange rays dipping below the roofs of the division buildings. While walking, she'd been in a daze. She just now realized that she was a bit tired.

There was a fountain in the deserted walkway she was in, so she decided that a little rest couldn't hurt. She was somewhere near the Tenth Division. Nobody was around at this time of day, at least not over here. Most would have already gone home for the night, the rest still working away, like where she should be right now. She sat down on the edge, peering into the water to look at herself.

In her opinion, she looked terrible.

There was nothing really wrong with her appearance, other than a few flecks of dust on her uniform and a few hairs that fell out of her bun, but she couldn't stand the look in her eyes. It was something that anyone who knew her well could tell. They were usually bright and violet, an unusual color for eyes. Now they were dull, devoid of life.

In short, she was depressed. That rarely ever happened. What could she do now? Other times she got like this, Shunsui was always there to help pick her mood up. What was she going to do when he was the reason she was like this? She probably should go back to the office because he was bound to be worried, but she didn't know if she could face him right now. He might try to explain to her if he thought it appropriate, even though he didn't know that she saw. If he did, she didn't really want to deal with it at this moment in time.

The sound of footfalls on the path caused her to look up. Oh, great. Exactly the person she didn't want to see.

Yukio Otori.

"What do you want?"

She almost sounded like a wounded animal in the way she responded, all defensive right away. She really didn't care though. She did not want to deal with this right now. She didn't know if she could handle any more taunts or snooty remarks from him. She just might light him up, despite how much trouble it could cause.

He put his hands out in front of him, like she was going to attack him.

"Easy. I just wanted to see if you were okay."

She snorted a little bit. Right. Sure he was.

"Can I sit down?"

"I suppose." She really didn't care anymore. What else could go wrong?

"Are you okay? I heard about what happened with your captain."

"How do you know about that?" She glared at him. The warning buzzers went off in her head.

"He was at the Thirteenth Division talking to Captain Ukitake. He was worried because you weren't in the office all day." He laughed curtly. "There was still paperwork sitting on your desk. Is that all he needs you for?"

She smiled sadly and shook her head slowly. "I don't know."

Her spirit dropped again. It would've been so much easier if there was just someone to blame other than him. She was suspicious of Yukio at first because he knew, but if Shunsui had talked to Ukitake, it made sense that he might overhear. He was in the Thirteenth that afternoon.

They sat quietly for a few minutes before he put a hand on her arm. She just kept looking straight ahead, not really focusing on anything. True, she wanted someone to comfort her, and at this point she really didn't care who it happened to be.

"It'll be okay I think. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for it. If anything else, I think it was really wrong for him to hurt you like that."

His hand moved to hers. She looked at him, puzzled by his sudden act of kindness. He wasn't so nice in the office earlier. She noticed now that his eyes were a soft blue color. It reminded her of the sky. He was getting closer, she realized, and to her horror, she felt herself move slightly.

Then, an explosion was heard.

They pulled away quickly, Nanao realizing what was about to happen. The explosion rattled the streets, rumbling not too far away. She wondered what may have happened. It was probably something in the Twelfth Division gone wrong.

She got up, suddenly not wanting to be here. Yukio got up as well.

"I'm sorry. That shouldn't have happened. I apologize if I offended you. I'll take my leave now. Farewell, Lieutenant Ise."

She was stunned for a minute. What was she just about to do? Her body shook for a moment out of her control, and if she wasn't out of it so much, she might've cried out in exasperation. Then, if to add to her troubles, Rangiku appeared with a frown on her face. Okay, so she was wrong before. The day could get worse.

"Please tell me that's not what it looked like." Rangiku even sounded sad.

"I...I don't know what's going on anymore..."

"How could you do something like that to Shunsui? What's the matter with you lately?"

Nanao just looked towards the ground. What was happening? As of a few days ago, everything had been fine. Why had that changed? Now she felt guilty along with her sadness. If the gods looked down on her, they were probably laughing now.

Rangiku was saying some other things now, but Nanao was only half listening to her, too lost in her own thoughts. She really didn't know if she should listen anyway. She knew it wouldn't have made things any better even if it did happen. Two wrongs didn't make a right, but Rangiku didn't see what she saw.

She had no idea.

-End of part six