I woke the next morning, feeling truly peaceful. My headache was long gone, my body blessedly warm. I snuggled into my covers, feeling safe… only to register that covers weren't that hard…

My eyes snapped open, only for a dark, deep blush to flood my face.

Oh my god… I just burrowed into Shinji!

Sometime in the night, we had ended up cuddling. His arms were around me, my face buried in his chest as I lay on him, between his legs.

Fortunately for me, he was still sleeping soundly… so I took the moment to really look at him. I remembered how warm his eyes had been yesterday, how honest and kind they'd been. Now his face seemed almost innocent in sleep. His hair, usually a well-groomed, flat mop on his head, was in complete disarray. It was almost cute and I couldn't help but run my fingers through it, trying to get it to look even remotely like it was supposed to. I was so focused on that task that I didn't notice the brown eyes that slowly opened… and now watched me in both amusement and raptured fascination.

When I finally had the one side managed, I started on the other… only to jump as a hand started to run through mine. My eyes immediately snapped to his, blushing darkly when I saw him watching me. I immediately looked away, snatching my hand back in embarrassment.

"Morning," I greeted lamely, making him grin.

"Blushing all ready?" he teased. "Must admit, I like waking up like this."

The way he said that made me look at him quizzically… until I followed his pointed gaze.

"SHINJI!" I screeched, blushing darkly as I scrambled to my knees, pulling my uniform shut as best I could. In the night, it had come nearly completely undone, affording him one hell of a view of my rack. I was mortified… and he just laughed.

Beyond embarrassed, I got up and stepped away from him, turning my back to him as I looked in the nearby mirror. I was a terrible mess. My hair was all tangled, sleep in the corners of my eyes… My uniform was wrinkled beyond comparison, making me blush darkly as I realized I'd have to wear it today until I reached my rooms.

"Thank god it's the weekend," I commented softly.

"For sure," he agreed. "The two mornings I don't have to wake up to that damned alarm clock."

I chuckled at that, then my eyes widened.

"Oh shit!" I swore. "My training!"

"Relax," Shinji cut in, slowly coming up to stand next to me, reaching inside his robe to scratch his stomach. "I sent out a note last night and was told they didn't expect you to train on a weekend."

I relaxed immediately, only to tense again, a scarlet tint to my face. He grinned, knowing exactly where my mind went.

"Relax," he repeated. "I only said training had exhausted your mind too much to leave. Oh, and Kouga Kuchiki dropped off a clean set of clothes for you, though he seemed quite amused at how cute you are when you're sleeping."

Now I was beyond embarrassed. I groaned and buried my face in my hands.

"How humiliating…" I whimpered, making Shinji laugh.

"There's a bath through there if you want to use it," he said, pointing to a door behind me. I gladly picked up the bag of clothes and went in, locking the door behind me, making Shinji laugh. "Aww! You don't trust me?"

I blushed even darker.

"Not even a little, you pervert!" I shot back playfully. He just chuckled and I heard him go to the kitchen. So, I started a shower, relaxing in the spray. It was warm…

But not as warm as Shinji's arms…

Immediately, I blushed darkly and threw that thought away.

A low chuckle in my head only served to increase my embarrassment.

"Seems my Master has a new crush."

I blushed darkly.

~Shut it, Durnehviir. ~

He chuckled again.

"It's nothing to get embarrassed about, Master. After all, who's to say that this time, your affections won't be returned? I doubt even he could fake the amount of teasing he did last night."

I was a tomato, I swear.

Last night ran through my head. All those touches, those whispers… He had certainly been a hell of a lot closer to me than a friend would… but he always teased me like that. It wasn't that strange, not to me… but a crush on him? Really? Was not crushing on Kouga bad enough? Did I have to crush on Shinji, too? Or was I just transferring my crush on Kouga to him due to the fact that I knew Kouga could never love me back?

"I would not blame you if that was the path you chose. He seems honorable… and he listens to you. He was one of the few Soul Reapers to reach out to you for friendship while others balked. And for a man… he's not all that unimpressive."

~This coming from a MALE zanpakuto. ~

He chuckled at me as I finished my shower. Once out, I dressed quickly, grateful that Kouga had packed my brush and toothbrush. Quickly using both, I then took my leave of the room, heading to the kitchen. It smelled sinful, it really did.

"A man that can cook," I teased. "Color me impressed."

Shinji grinned.

"Don't get used to it," he told me. "You're cooking tomorrow morning."

I blushed darkly.

"You're assuming I'm going to spend every night with you," I stated, trying to sound annoyed. He grinned.

"The other two many not train on the weekends, but we will," he told me. "I meant what I said. I will do everything I can to help prevent that vision. That means we'll train as often as we can."

I flushed even darker, last night running through my mind again.

"I think you enjoy this a little too much," I stated. His grin widened.

"And you think anyone else wouldn't?" he replied. "Who, in their right mind, wouldn't enjoy their first love in their bed every night?"

Embarrassed, I punched his shoulder, making him laugh.

"Stop it with that 'first love' crap!" I told him, trying to be firm, but too embarrassed for it to come out that way. He just grinned.

"And where would be the fun in that?" he asked, making me hit him again. At his grin, I got one of my own.

"Guess that means you'll have to be my kinky lover then, huh?" I teased. Now it was his turn to blush, before he grinned, his surprise vanishing.

"Game on," he told me. I chuckled.

"This is gonna be fun," I stated.

Thanks to that morning, every time I saw Shinji (and he, I), we'd both start in with the over-the-top flirting, trying to get the other to blush like mad. Every time, he'd gotten me so red there was steam coming out of my ears. I had endured losing to him time and time again for a while month. This time, however, I had a plan. Technically, it was Yoruichi's plan, but since she came up with it for me, now it was mine.

I just couldn't get the grin off my face, one that was making Kit a bit leery of me.

"Relax," I told him for the um-teenth time. "It's not like I'm doing anything to you."

That just made him shake his head. By now, the entire Seireitei knew about Shinji and I, though I don't think any of them realized this was just a game between us, save Yoruichi when I'd asked her for help in how to pull one over on Shinji. She'd been honored to be asked and was more than happy to help. She was a goddess in more ways than flash and had some very under-handed ideas that had me grinning like a fool. I could only wonder how Shinji would take them.

As if the gods were in my favor, I saw that specific target walking just ahead of me, talking animatedly to Kensei. I grinned and skipped over, wrapping my arm around his neck as I swung around his body like a pole, ending up pressed up against his chest.

True to Yoruichi's prediction, he froze at the initial contact… until he realized it was me.

"Hey there, handsome," I teased, surprising him again as I let my hand slide down his chest, down to his sash. "Miss me?"

"A bit," he teased back, letting his arms encompass my frame. "I'd hate to be without those marvelous globes for too long. Wanna give daddy a peek?"

"Shinji!" Kensei said, blushing darkly. I gave the blonde a mischievous smile.

"Maybe," I answered, surprising him again. "For a view of my own."

Then I pulled away, taking the now untied sash with me, laughing as his pants went to his ankles, making him sputter and blush like mad. I laughed even louder as he swore, jerking them back up and chased after me, trying to get it back as I flashed away. Giggling like a mad-woman, I made the mad dash towards the nearest courtyard, pleased that it was the fifth squad's, knowing this was perfect. Sensing him just behind me, I grinned, readied the sash, and stopped next to a pole Yoruichi had just put in this morning for this stunt. Shinji didn't stop fast enough, running right into my trap. I flashed, snagging both of his wrists and tied them to the pole, above his head, making him gape at me.

Then he grinned.

"You really are a kinky girl," he teased. I chuckled.

"You have no idea," I purred, taking pleasure in his surprised expression yet again. "Wanna find out?"

Now he blushed and I knew I'd truly won, making me grin. To finish this tease, I followed instructions, leaning up to his ear, nibbling it softly, amused beyond words when he groaned a little, shifting in front of me.

"Your move, little boy," I purred, blowing softly on his ear, hearing him hiss, before turning around and walking away, giggling the whole time. It took him a few minutes, but it hit him as I just left the courtyard.

"DAMMIT!" he swore, making me laugh and flash away. Immediately, Yoruichi pounced, dragging me into her office, demanding details.

Laughing, I told her everything.