For those interested. The community 'Shunsui/Nanao: 101 years of love' proposes a challenge starting today. The rules are published on my profile and if you have any question, you can contact me or anyone of the staff. Since there will be three weeks to submit the fictions, you can participate with more then one but please, indicate what category you're participating in, ok? And now, on with the story.

Warning: there's reference to children abuse in this chapter, if you don't want to read, feel free to jump it entirely. While it's not what I had in mind when I started writing, my fingers went away form me and that's the result. I decided to post it regardless, since I think there's been something between Shunsui and Nanao far more troubling then Lisa's disappearance.

Haori

Takeda Ushigoro is your forth sat and you've know him for the last 400 years or so. He's one of the few officers still in your squad after Lisa disappearance. He's not a friend like Jyuushiro but you can consider him a fine drinking buddy and that's what count the most in this very troubling time.

Nanao-chan has risen up to the challenge you present for every fukutaicho sent your way, and even if you try to make it up to her with candies, books and teddy bears, the frosty glare she salute you with each morning is…a damn good way to make you feel guilty.

It's not that she's angry, just disappointed, like the patina protecting your very ugly self has finally came off her eyes and she can't deal with the result. It's not your fault (or that's what you keep telling yourself) but all the same you're much happier when night falls on your division and she returns to her apartment. She may be a fukutaicho, but she's still just a fifteen year old girl, and she needs 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

You gurgle down another cup of sake and Takeda is kind enough to refill it, again.

He's babbling about his most recent conquest, and you marvel he can attract anyone at all: you're Shinigami, and every Shinigami worth their salt is scarred, one way or another. But Takeda is much more then an ugly man with a scarred face. He's creeping, even by your standards and the poor man has found himself in the strangest situations with no fault whatsoever.

He's still going on about his lady's beauty, her black hair, her perfect nose, the soft lips…you cut him off in your head and start thinking about Nanao again.

Since she has been assigned fukutaicho, things have run smoothly and Yamaji stopped giving you headaches on the importance of paperwork and deadlines. Problem is, now it's Nanao that's chasing you around Seiritei with the same gusto a hungry dog chases a fat chicken and you don't like being the cornered one.

That's why you told her off.

In the most horrible way, you reminded her she's not your better and it's not like she could ever fill Lisa's shoes.

She remained where you left her and stopped speaking for two whole days.

She still chased you around and your guilt made you let her win.

It was a week later that the stares began and now that you think about it maybe the two events are not related. You wrack your brain trying to remember if you've offended her further in those seven days but nothing jumps at you. Nothing other then the fact that you bribed Takeda to be in your office every day for a couple of hours faking your signature.

Your friend is as drunk as he could possibly get and he sits still, staring at the wall with the most stupid grin on his face. He stopped talking a while ago and you have to ask

'Has anything happened with Nanao-chan a couple of months ago? She started giving me the evil eye…you didn't tell her you were faking my signature, did you?'

He looks at you, stupefied, and scratches his head while shaking it

'No Taicho…I would never do that'

You nod; it's not that after all

'…but weren't you listening to me? She's the one I was talking about! Why would she give you 'the evil eye'? She knows you approve…'

You freeze and your blood run cold and then hot in the space of a second and with clear understanding you suddenly know why she started glaring at you.

Takeda.

The creeping Takeda.

Who always find himself in a tight spot with no fault whatsoever.

And you've let him in the office with her.

Alone.

The sake you've consumed rushes to your mouth and for the first time ever you're sick to your stomach after drinking alcohol.

You run for the bathroom and the vomit blends with your sweat and your tears, but that's what you deserve after all.

You've failed, again.

And she did get to fill Lisa's shoes in the worst way: you've failed her.

You…you…

Bile rises again and the sounds of your retching are calling attention to yourself. That, you can't permit.

You have a job to do.

You're in the office when Nanao arrives, and a surprised look escapes her before she gives you the scratchiest glare you've ever received. You take it and bend your head in shame.

'I'm sorry. I didn't know.'

It's not enough, not even close, but she takes note of you now: your pink haori and your Capitan robes are nowhere to be seen and your hat is not on your head. You leave your desk and fall before her on your knees. The fashionable way you stile your bread is now gone and the haunted look in your eyes matches hers. She doesn't move but her lips tremble and a crease lines her forehead. She's thinner that you remember and disgust for yourself assault you once again.

She's looking at the floor now with her little fists clammed and shaking.

'He didn't…he…he…not completely…he...'

But you'll never know what he did or did not.

One of your officers finds the two of you in this strange pose: she, trembling and pale, you kneeling at her feet. You already know what he'll say, but you watch Nanao's face while news of Takeda's most gruesome death reach her ears.

And you're glad, fiercely glad you could do this for her.

A sort of misplaced pride fills your chest while a small smile turns up the corners of her lips.

Things will never be the same between you. She's not a child anymore and you're at fault for that.

You only hope she'll forgive you in time.

You know you won't.

The next day, you find a package on your steps. It's quite heavy and made of wood. You take it inside warily because you can't even start imagining who could send you something this expensive.

But when you open it, every doubt escapes your mind.

Hope swells unchecked and a warm feeling wash over you.

It's a pink haori.