Author's note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is AU.

Preparations

Nanao perched at her desk, scrolls scattered across the surface in front of her. It was more of a mess than usual. Her wedding was less than a week away, and there were plans to be made for the coming battles. Aizen's sudden departure had both helped and hindered plans. Because of Rangiku's warning, Aizen had not been able to cause much damage. However, she still had to prepare her country for a probable war and get married.

It was not a simple matter. Thankfully, most of the preparations were safely in Rangiku's hands. Unfortunately, Nanao had forgotten about a number of traditions and rituals that she had to observe before her wedding day. They were the reason why she was trying to get all of this dealt with now. Starting tomorrow, she would be going through the traditional purification and rites for a royal bride culminating with her wedding on Sunday. The worst part of it would be having to be out of control for nearly four days. Nanao trusted Sir Ukitake and the other knights to take care of her country, and of course, if there was an emergency, they would contact her.

But after everything that had happened, she was nervous about not being right there in the middle of things. Still being married to Shunsui would be worth it. Nanao let out a sigh, reaching for another scroll. Everything she got done today was one less thing for her to worry about. An arm reached over her shoulder and trapped her hand on the desk. Shunsui leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"My Nanao-chan is working too hard again."

She sighed. Her fiancée was bound and determined that she not spend every waking hour doing something productive. Nanao didn't actually mind that most of the time, but now was not the time for taking a break. There was just too much to get done. And she really didn't want to think about the fact that she wouldn't get to see him for the next few days. She had managed to survive eight years without the man. Surely, she could get through a few days without him. Even if she didn't want to.

"I don't have much time to get all this done, Shunsui," she emphasized his first name. "There isn't time for a break."

"But after today, I won't be able to see my Nanao-chan until the wedding."

He was pouting. Not that she blamed him. She found the whole tradition of not seeing the groom before the wedding ridiculous. Nanao knew herself well enough to know that having Shunsui nearby would keep her calmer the closer she got to the ceremony. Still, the council had been forced to make a number of concessions to her already, and Nanao doubted she could get out of this particular tradition.

His arms wrapped around her shoulders. "I'm going to miss you."

"It's only a few days." Her voice was soft.

"I went eight years without you. Can you blame me for not wanting to go without you again?" He rest his chin on top of her head.

Nanao leaned into his embrace. She wasn't about to concede his point, but she wasn't going to disagree with him either. She had learned early on in their relationship that if you gave Shunsui any leeway in an argument he would completely overrule you. As a child, Nanao had found herself carted off to have fun from her lessons if she so much as let any sign of boredom show. Shunsui had claimed that an education would do her no good if she didn't know how to have a good time. Nanao had a feeling that she was currently in a similar situation.

"I really do have to get this done. I'll come find you as son as I'm done. I promise."

He sighed but kissed the top of her head. "All right, Nanao-chan. But if I don't see you before dinner, I'm coming back to drag you out of this room."

Shunsui left after that, and Nanao got back to work. Hopefully, she would be able to get through all this mess with some time to spend with her fiancée before they had to go their separate ways before the wedding. Three hours later, Nanao set aside her brush, her hand aching from all the writing she had been doing. She needed lunch and then would go in search of her fiancée.

He wasn't that hard to find. Shunsui apparently had taken up residence in her garden. Nanao carefully crept up behind him, wanting to surprise him. She though she had succeeded as she approached his backside, and then in a sudden rush of movement, Nanao found herself seated in Shunsui's lap. Her champion smiled down at her, holding her close. He leaned in to kiss her.

The two of them stayed sitting together under the wisteria bower, occasionally stealing kisses from one another, until Retsu and Rangiku came to collect her. Nanao sighed and made her farewells. The next time she would get to see him it would be at her wedding.