Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach, but it would be awesome for me if I did!

Warnings: This is an AU story. This story goes along my story Astounding Revelations. I suggest you read that story before starting this one.

Pairings: Mainly Shunsui/Nanao

A/N: Many thanks to my beta, ForeverSam, for everything.

Arrival

By: akirk85029

Nanao had somehow managed to shift positions in her sleep. She now lay with her head resting on Shunsui's leg. She was still curled in a ball, with the light blue blanket draped over her small frame.

Shunsui was gently running his hand along her back in a soothing motion. He was afraid to move, that he would loose this contact with her. He looked up as the front door opened and Rangiku walked in.

Rangiku looked at the two on the couch. Shunsui had his bare feet propped onto the coffee table, looking rather comfortable with what appeared to be a balled up Nanao right next to him. "What happened?"

"You didn't tell me she was such a lightweight." Shunsui replied with a yawn, he had almost been in a deep sleep.

Rangiku eyed him suspiciously. She walked slowly to the rose colored Isadora accent chair she claimed as her favorite. "So you got her drunk?"

Shunsui lifted his head from the couch startled at her comment. "And what are you implying?"

Rangiku would have loved to torture him some more, but she noticed the serious look in his eyes, she hadn't seen that look in a long time. She sat down in her chair crossing her feet under her. "Shunsui what are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Shunsui asked staring back at Rangiku.

Rangiku took a deep sigh. She had been dreading this conversation but she knew she needed to have it for Nanao's sake. "What's going to happen when you get your way? Are you just going to drop her and move on to the next girl that tickles your fancy?"

Shunsui's hand stopped moving gingerly along Nanao's back and came to rest on her waist. "Do you not think me capable of being serious at all?"

"Shunsui, have you ever even shown the slightest interest in being serious before?" Rangiku asked of him.

Shunsui stared at her for a moment, his hand subconsciously gripping Nanao's waist. "No, but Ran you're not one to talk either, you've never been in a serious relationship before Hisagi!"

Rangiku smiled at him. "True. I don't know why he's different."

Shunsui grinned back at her and his hand started its movement again running soft strokes along Nanao's back. "Reminds me of Nanao."

Rangiku studied him for a moment. "Do you know what will happen to her if you finally break down all her walls and then you decide to move on?"

"Ran, what can I say to make you believe me?" Shunsui inquired of his friend.

Rangiku pondered his question for a few moments. "Tell me why you feel she's different than any other woman you've gone after?"

Shunsui looked down to Nanao's sleeping form. "How deep of a sleeper is she?"

Rangiku chuckled. "She sleeps like the dead. Don't worry."

Shunsui nodded his head in acknowledgement. "I don't know why she's different. I just want to be around her more than I have any other woman before. For the first time I want more than just sex and for the first time I actually wish I didn't have this reputation. She made mention of being a notch on my belt and that surprisingly hurt."

"You don't have that reputation for nothing." Rangiku stated.

"I know, I know. I did get a kiss out of her though." Shunsui said with a grin.

Rangiku rolled her eyes. "So you did take advantage of her drunken state?"

Shunsui couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess I did. She did tell me that you saved her that night."

Rangiku looked at him a little startled. "Wow, I can't believe she told you that. That was the night you and Jyuushiro were late meeting me because of some family issue or something with his sister. I called you guys later to cancel; I don't know how close you were to possibly being there anyway. When Nanao had first walked in there, I just thought she was probably a run away. She looked so young; she was so young. She looked hungry and tired…"

Shunsui stared at Rangiku when she paused. He was definitely not going to tell her Nanao hadn't gone into detail. He wanted to know something, anything. He remembered that night too because it was one of the very, very few nights they hadn't met up with Rangiku for drinks. That had also been the night that Jyuushirou's sister, the older of the two sisters he had, had just announced that she had eloped with the neighbor's son. It hadn't been a pleasant night.

Rangiku took a few deep breaths before continuing. "She was looking for a job, any job. But the owner could tell right away she was too young to be working. He told her to take a hike. I paid my bill and followed her out. I had decided to offer to buy her dinner; she really looked like she could use a good meal. What I didn't realize was that someone else had already followed her outside. When I got there the guy had her cornered in a dead end alleyway. He was so drunk that he didn't even hear me approach. I knocked him out easily. It took me a little while to coax her to come with me. I took her home to Tomoya and mom's house. After mom had a good meal in Nanao we finally got her to tell us why she was out there alone."

Shunsui's hand was resting on Nanao's back. He wasn't quite sure what to feel, shock, anger, sorrow. "What convinced Tomoya to adopt her?"

"He checked out her story by finding her parents. He talked to them when they were at work. I don't know what went on but when he came home he was so pissed. I had never seen him that mad before." Rangiku replied.

Shunsui sat there for a few minutes in silence, unsure of what to say next. He looked over at Rangiku confused when she started giggling.

"I wonder what Nanao would say if she finds out that Tomoya did in fact pay for most of her college education. She thinks that the school gave her a partial scholarship. That's what Tomoya instructed them to tell her." Rangiku said with a smile.

Shunsui smiled at that. He was happy there were some good moments in Nanao's life. "What about her brother?"

"She only told me a little about him. I know she told me his name and if I hear it again I'll know it, but for the life of me I cannot recall what it is right now." Rangiku replied while standing up. "Okay, I will give this some thought. I will let you know whether I decide to help you or not."

Shunsui grinned brightly at this. After Rangiku left the room, he moved his and Nanao's positions on the couch, with him lying down and with her lying against his side. He couldn't stop the tremor he felt travel down his spine when Nanao moved an arm across his torso in her sleep. He kissed her forehead and slid an arm around her before he fell asleep himself.

Tomoya walked up the gray stone steps to the red brick building his daughters lived in. He considered both of them as his daughters. He had married Rangiku's mother when Rangiku was only seven and had raised her since then. He had adopted Nanao when she was fifteen and he was fiercely protective over her after he had learned how her life had been up to that point. It was a bright and sunny Saturday morning and he was going to pick up the girls and they were all going to meet his wife at the restaurant for a nice breakfast.

Tomoya walked casually up the stairs his hand sliding along the cool metal of the banister. He opened the large metal door that led to the floor Rangiku and Nanao lived on. He strolled through the beige colored hall and stopped in front of the large light oak stained door. He reached out and pressed the small round button that rang the doorbell.

Nanao slowly awoke and grinned lazily snuggling closer to the broad chest her head was resting on. Her eyes fluttered open at that recognition. She moved up to where she was sort of leaning up resting her weight on one hand while removing her leg that had apparently wrapped around Shunsui's own in her sleep. She jumped slightly when his arm that had been holding her slid down to her hip.

Nanao couldn't believe that she had slept next to him the whole night and she wasn't sure how to take the fact that she had gotten the best night of sleep she'd had in so very long. Shunsui's hand started to move up catching slightly on her shirt before moving under it. Nanao jerked her head to Shunsui's face and noted that he was snoring lightly. She couldn't believe he was still asleep. His hand rested on her back, his fingers gently caressing her. She felt a shimmer run from her head down to her toes. She moved her hand to his to remove it when she heard him call her name in his sleep. It was too much, way too much.

Shunsui woke to the feel of Nanao trying to scramble away from him. He moved swiftly to set her free. He studied the woman for a moment and took in her hitched breathing, the brushing of her hair with her hands, her closed eyes. He realized that he had somehow caused her to have a panic attack. "I'm sorry Nanao."

Nanao opened her eyes to see Shunsui's serious ones. She didn't like the non-playful look in them that she was used to seeing. She calmed her breathing down, trying to get control over her feelings. "It's okay." Nanao replied, not sure whether she was saying that to him or herself though. She looked away from him realizing that she had actually kind of liked the feel of him touching her.

Nanao jumped at the sound of the doorbell and walked to the front door opening it without a second thought about who could be behind it, she had just been thankful for the distraction from the path her thoughts were taking her. She gasped as her adoptive father walked in.

Tomoya smiled at Nanao as he walked in. He knew at least Nanao would be up this early. His smile fell though once he looked over and saw who was sitting on the couch. He turned a stern gaze over to Nanao. "What is he doing here?"

Nanao stuttered a few moments. "He slept on the couch."

Tomoya closed his eyes taking a deep breath. "That's not what I asked."

Shunsui tried not to chuckle at Nanao. He knew she couldn't lie to save her life. He decided to save her life for her. "I went out with Ran last night and she offered to let me sleep on the couch so I wouldn't drive home."

Tomoya looked back and forth between the two trying to decipher what the truth really was. He was sure he was not being told it. He sighed before turning back to Nanao. "If you wouldn't mind getting Rangiku up and I will take you both out for breakfast."

Nanao hesitated for a moment before heading towards the back to where the bedrooms were. She gave Shunsui an apologetic look before walking past him.

Shunsui had a feeling he was in for it now.

"I know my daughter works as your assistant now, but I suggest you keep your interest in her strictly professional." Tomoya stated adamantly.

"And what if I don't?" Shunsui asked.

Tomoya narrowed his eyes at Shunsui. "Do not attempt to piss me off Kyouraku. I will protect my daughter from men such as you."

"Oh really, and exactly what am I?" Shunsui asked, starting to get angry.

"You, Kyouraku, are a layabout, a womanizer, and are unworthy of any attention from Nanao." Tomoya stated.

Shunsui stood up with a heavy heart. He didn't want to admit that Tomoya Ise was partially right; he didn't want to be unworthy of Nanao. He walked to the front door and exited, slamming the door behind him. He needed time to think.

Rangiku looked over at Nanao from their hidden positions in the hallway. She sighed as Nanao retreated to her room to get ready. Rangiku was one hundred percent sure now that she was going to help Shunsui and Nanao get together. She believed that they needed each other.

Toushirou sat on one of the hard wooden benches in the courtroom. His crisp black business suit made his white hair stand out even more. Next to him was his partner, Agent Kurosaki. They had both given testimony today, which they knew would be one of many days they would be called to the stand.

Toushirou brushed his hands over his gun and badge. He had been given them back two weeks after his daughter's kidnapping after he had been cleared in the shooting of his cousin Gin Ichimaru. Internal Affairs had found the shooting to be in self-defense based on witness testimony.

Toushirou cast a glance towards the man on trial, Sosuke Aizen, and felt a primal anger course through his body when Sosuke turned his way and smiled at him.

As the hearing ended and the prisoner was being led away, a man walked by seemingly dropping a piece of paper by accident. Toushirou picked up the paper slowly and turned to see Sosuke smirk at him before he was taken through the side door. Toushirou knew it was a note from him, he also knew there would be no way to trace it back to him either. He turned to try and see if he could spot the guy who had dropped the note, but the man had already disappeared into the crowd. He knew there would be no fingerprints and as he opened the paper he realized that it had been printed out by a printer rather than hand-written. He wondered how much Sosuke must have paid to have this man do this. He knew then that Sosuke Aizen still had money available to him; they had only frozen assets they had known about after Aizen's arrest.

As much as he hated it, Toushirou finally chose to read the note, knowing he would probably not like anything it had to say.

'What do you say to a challenge? First one to find her gets to keep her.'

"So what did he have to say?" Ichigo asked.

Toushirou just handed the note to him to read for himself. He knew they needed to step up their game because Sosuke would definitely step up his to find Nanao first. Toushirou looked up as Kaien and Hisagi stopped in front of them.

Ichigo handed them the note. "There'll be no way to trace it."

Kaien and Hisagi both studied the note.

"This is about your sister?" Kaien asked.

Toushirou just glared at him and then walked out the courtroom.

"Yeah." Ichigo answered for him.

"Why?" Hisagi queried.

Ichigo shrugged his shoulders. "Could be any number of reasons really, none of which will turn out pleasantly for his sister if we don't get to her first."

Kaien looked at his cousin. "What's her name?"

"It could be anything now; that is if she's still alive, let alone still living in this country. The last picture we have is when she was fifteen." Ichigo responded.

"Shit…well good luck in finding her. Let me know if you need any help from our office." Kaien said sincerely. He really hoped that they would find her first.

Rangiku and Jyuushiro sat in Shunsui's newly purchased home. Shunsui had bought it about a month ago about a week before Rangiku had listened to her step-father chastise him.

Rangiku liked the house, it was an older Victorian home and she remembered his smile at the time with him saying how much charm the old home had. She wondered as to his real reason for buying the home. She had noticed several tools on her way in, noting that he must be working on some of the renovations himself, to keep himself busy.

Rangiku turned her head over to Jyuushiro as Shunsui took another long drink. She had told Jyuushiro of her plans and even though he was reluctant at first, he had decided to support her if she believed that it could work. Rangiku refilled his drink as he held it out to her. "Shunsui, you know my father was just being over protective."

Shunsui waved her away. "I'm not worried about Judge Ise."

Rangiku raised a brow. "Good then, I expect you at my home at seven tomorrow night."

Shunsui gave her a long look before he finally smiled and downed the rest of his drink. "So you decided to help me despite myself?"

Rangiku rolled her eyes. "I never knew you could act so morose!"

"Hey!" Shunsui cried out.

"Shunsui, if you want her you should go get her." Jyuushiro stated casually from his seated position on the dark sofa.

Shunsui smirked from the rim of his glass.

"Just let me know when you decide to bring her to meet your parents." Jyuushiro added.

"Why?" Shunsui asked puzzled.

"Because you have not once in your life ever brought a woman home to meet them. I just want to be there to see their shocked faces." Jyuushiro responded with a chuckle.

"I don't think I'm the only one in this trio that has that problem." Shunsui retorted with a grin.

Rangiku laughed. "That's so true. Have you even told him about the woman you're seeing?"

Shunsui looked over at his cousin with a thoughtful glance. "I knew it!"

The three sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments.

"Thanks for the swift kick in the ass guys." Shunsui stated throwing another drink back.

"No problem, just don't prove us wrong and Judge Ise right." Jyuushiro warned.

"Understood." Shunsui replied while standing up. "Now, you two know your way out. I'm going to bed because I have a date tomorrow night."

Rangiku chuckled as Shunsui stumbled up the stairs. She turned to look at Jyuushiro. "You think he'll remember in the morning? Or later this morning anyway."

"When it comes to Nanao, he amazingly remembers everything." Jyuushiro replied with a grin. "So how are you going to get Nanao to go?"

"I have my ways." Rangiku replied with a smile.

Rangiku sat on Nanao's bed watching her go through all of her dresser drawers. She tried not to laugh at the irritated expression on Nanao's face.

Nanao had just gotten out of a long, luxurious bath. She was already mad because she couldn't find her glasses and was now wearing her contacts. Now she couldn't find any of her clothes. She was clutching the black towel tightly around her as she turned to her sister, her friend. "Where are my clothes?"

Rangiku stood up with a confused expression, hiding the fact that she knew exactly what was going on. She picked up a pair of panties and held them to her. "Aren't these your clothes?"

Nanao muttered something under breath. She grabbed the panties. "No. Since when have I worn lacey blue thongs?"

Rangiku tried not to chuckle as Nanao moved to the closet. "RANGIKU!!"

Nanao walked out of the closet and found that Rangiku had disappeared. She couldn't believe that she had replaced her entire wardrobe. She had no idea as to what to wear now. She had only wanted a quiet evening, maybe go to the bookstore and find a new book to read. She sighed before she reluctantly put on the new clothes.

Nanao had tried several clothes before just picking the dark blue jersey scoop neck dress that had a fit and flare shape. She pulled on some black opened toed heels as they were the smallest heels in her closet now.

Nanao walked into her bathroom grumbling and then noticed that Rangiku had taken her hair clips as well. She silently cursed her before brushing her hair out.

When Nanao made her way into the living room she noticed that Rangiku was talking to someone at the door. She walked up beside her on the other side and tapped Rangiku's arm.

Rangiku pulled her head back to peer at Nanao, who was keeping herself hidden from whoever was at the door. "Yes Nan?" Rangiku asked smiling, pleased with the outfit Nanao had chosen to wear.

"What is the meaning of all of this?" Nanao asked harshly.

Rangiku decided to make her move. She quickly grabbed Nanao and shoved her out the door closing it swiftly behind her.

Nanao soon found herself in Shunsui's arms as he caught her. He chuckled at her stunned expression. Nanao spun herself around to hear that Rangiku had bolted the door on her. Nanao wondered briefly how she was going to get back in; she didn't have anything with her, no purse, no keys. "Rangiku unlock this door!"

"Nan, go out and have some fun. The door will be unlocked in two hours so you have at least that amount of time to waste." Rangiku shouted from the other side of the door before moving away.

Shunsui felt bad momentarily, he had no idea that Nanao wasn't aware of this, but he wasn't one to waste a given opportunity. "Nanao let me take you out to dinner."

Nanao turned sharply around to him. She took in his dark blue jeans and his dark pink button-down dress shirt. She couldn't believe how well he could pull off the color pink. She knew it took a very secure man to wear pink. She thought for a moment about whether or not to stand in front of the door for the next two hours before her stomach answered for her as it grumbled out loud. "Fine."

Shunsui chuckled as Nanao moved ahead of him, her arms wrapped around herself. Shunsui gave her form an appreciative glance before he followed. He placed his hand on the small of her back when he caught up to her and led her to the elevator.

Shunsui took her to a small Italian restaurant that Jyuushiro had found while in college and mentioned to him. It was a small hole in the wall restaurant with apparently the best food. Shunsui really paid attention to the atmosphere of the place and noticed the slow, soft music; the dim lights; the dripping candles; and he hoped that Nanao wasn't going to be upset about it.

Nanao was not paying too much attention to the small details at the moment. She was more trying to make herself invisible. She felt vulnerable, exposed. She hadn't worn anything so feminine in so long, too long.

Shunsui noticed her discomfort and tried to take her mind off of other things. "Hey, my little Nanao…." Shunsui said chuckling at the sharp look Nanao just gave him. He knew how much she hated it when he did that, but he couldn't help himself. He loved doing it.

"What?" Nanao asked trying to ignore the joy she knew he got from annoying her.

"So what it's like have Ran as a sister?" Shunsui asked when nothing else came to mind that didn't dwell on unpleasant memories.

Nanao tried not to smile. "Educational."

Shunsui chuckled. He didn't doubt it for one minute.

After dinner Shunsui took her for a walk around the small neighborhood stopping every once in a while to listen to people playing their instruments near the park fountains for money. Shunsui had his arm around Nanao as they walked and he smiled when he noticed that she seemed to be more relaxed with his arm around her.

Shunsui had kept the talk small during dinner and the walk. He didn't want to discuss anything that disturbed her tonight. He wanted her to enjoy herself, to be happy even for just a little bit.

Nanao stopped in front of one of the larger fountains in this area where two violinists were playing a waltz. She closed her eyes and listened to the soft music she hadn't listened to in a long time.

Shunsui looked down to Nanao and saw her eyes closed with a soft smile as she swayed slightly with the music. He leaned down and kissed the side of Nanao's head gently.

Nanao fluttered her eyes open and looked at him. "What did you do that for?"

Shunsui just shrugged his shoulders. "You just looked so content. I couldn't help it."

Nanao looked back out over to the two musicians. "I used to dance. The waltz was once of the dances I was in the middle of training for, for a competition."

"Do you want to dance?" Shunsui asked, trying not to focus on why she probably stopped training.

Nanao shook her head turning her body slightly towards him. "No, there are too many people."

Shunsui sighed. He wanted to dance with her, but he wouldn't push it, not yet. "Come Nanao, let me take you home."

Shunsui stopped Nanao just outside her door and brought his hand to her cheek turning her gaze towards his. "Nanao, I'm going to tell you this so you know what to expect. I'm going to kiss you now."

Nanao tried to look away. She half wanted him to be joking and half wanted him to be serious and she wasn't sure which side she wanted to be right and it disturbed her. She trembled slightly as he stepped closer to her and she didn't know how to take the information that it wasn't from fear. She kept her eyes locked with his, the heat from his gaze warming her inside and out. "But…."

"Nanao, just feel." Shunsui whispered against her lips before he pressed his lips against hers.

A/N : So how was that? I hope it was good enough for you all!! Please review and let me know what you think!!:)