Nanao was debating if she could get away with more dango. They'd spent most of the day at the festival and she'd eaten crap all day long. Her mother would probably glare if she got more or make a snide comment about her getting fat. Not that that was going to happen. She exercised more in a day than her mother did in a month.

A warm hand fell on her hip and Shunsui pulled her towards the dango booth. "It's your birthday. Get more if you want."

She relaxed into his side and let him place the order not even bothering to ask how he knew what she was thinking. His thumb rubbed a circle on her hip and she knew she should be smacking him away, but it felt nice and it was her birthday and anyway if she did her family would wonder. She accepted the sweet treat from him and let him guide her between stalls.

They'd all slept in and gotten a late start, which was fine by her. Most of the day had been spent walking the festival stalls, stopping to watch some of the performances at the local stage that'd been set up, playing games, and eating everything in sight. Even her family trailing behind them hadn't been able to put a damper on the day. She'd been secretly delighted to watch Shunsui best Hachiro in every festival game. Although she hadn't been quite as thrilled at the numerous gold fish they'd acquired. Shunsui had ended up given them away to younger children who were having trouble catching their own.

Nanao popped dango in her mouth and ignored Shunsui when he started humming the damn song again. She knew him finding out about her predilection for pop music would be a mistake. She pinched his side and he stopped, but she didn't have high hopes it would be for long.

"Nanao-chan!" Matsumoto came running up the street with Hitsugaya and Kira trailing behind her. Kira's eyes strayed to Shunsui's arm around her waist, but Hitsugaya didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he didn't care. Nanao hoped the fact that everyone knew they came to Tanabata together every year would be enough to keep the gossip low. The SWA always liked to joke that Tanabata was Shunsui's early birthday present as it was the only day of the year she allowed him to invade her personal space at all without repercussions. Given that was usually limited to a hand guiding her down the street or an arm around her shoulders or waist during the fireworks.

"Happy birthday," the woman yelled dragging her out of Shunsui's arms and into her own. "Are you having fun?"

"Yes." She returned the hug briefly and then wormed her way out of the woman's arms. "Have you been drinking?"

"Just a bit! Hair of the dog after last night." Matsumoto greeted Shunsui with an exuberant hug and made introductions between her family and the two other men. "Where were you last night, Shunsui-kun? I found Shinji-kun and the rest, but they said you'd gone home."

"I did."

"But it was the night before a holiday! Everyone knows that's for getting drunk and hitting the bars."

"I can never convince Nanao-chan to come."

"Don't blame me," Nanao laughed. "I was fine with you staying out if you wanted to."

"Don't listen to her. She was thrilled to have me home." Hitsugaya did raise an eyebrow at that. Shunsui seemed to notice though and continued covering smoothly, "It meant she didn't even have to help me nurse a hangover this morning before we went to the festival."

Matsumoto blew a raspberry. "Boring! Will you be coming out tonight? I bet together we can get Nanao-chan to come."

"My family is in town," Nanao said motioning towards where they stood awkwardly.

"You all can come!"

"My daughter is pregnant," her mother said coldly. Nanao winced internally. Of course her mother would be pissed that another woman seemed to be asking Shunsui out. "We will not be going out to some disgusting bar."

"We could pick a classy one with coasters?"

Nanao snorted, but her mother clearly didn't think it was funny is her pinched downturned mouth was anything to go by. "We will be going home after the fireworks show."

It really wasn't fair that Shunsui wasn't allowed to have any fun just because she'd pulled him into this silly ploy. If he wanted to go out he should be able to – not that she didn't enjoy having him home with her, but that really wasn't her right. "You can go out tonight if you want," she said addressing Shunsui. "It's really not a big deal." She shot her mother a death glare that stopped the woman from arguing.

"Don't feel like it," Shunsui said pulling her to his side again. "Thanks for the offer though, Ran-chan."

"Well if you change your mind I'll leave my reiatsu open. Come on, boys, I want some takoyaki." The threesome scooted off around them and Nanao braced herself for the onslaught.

"Do you often go out to bars with Matsumoto-san, Kyouraku-san?"

"Rangiku-san is a good friend of ours, Mom," Nanao said cutting off anything Shunsui would have said. This was not his fight to handle. "You know that. We all spend time together at work and socially."

"You're awfully trusting," her mother muttered under her breath.

"Come on." Nanao tugged Shunsui's arm. "Let's go get good seats on the hill and wait for the fireworks." Shunsui followed and Nanao tried to put some space between them and her family.

"Do we need any snacks before we get settled?" Shunsui asked as the stalls started thinning out.

"No, I'm stuffed." She glanced over at a taiyaki stall and waved when she noticed Renji and Rukia notice them. "I wonder if he finally asked her out?"

"Who?"

"Renji-san," Nanao clarified nodding at the young couple as they started up the hill. "I wonder if it's a date or if he went the 'let's go as friends' route. I hope he didn't chicken out this time. If you care about someone as much as he cares about her you should be honest and upfront with them. I know he's been wanting to ask Kuchiki-san out for a while even if he denies it when anyone asks. It's so obvious."

"Speaking of Kuchiki-san, how does her brother know you birthday?"

"Oh shoot!" She'd completely forgotten about the flowers.

"What?"

"Kuchiki Taicho sends me flowers every year on my birthday. It completely slipped my mind. They're probably sitting on my doorstep. Do you think I have time to shunpo home before the fireworks?"

"Why in the world does Byakuya-san send you flowers?"

"Obviously for my birthday." It was hard to shunpo in a yukata, but she could manage it if she had to. The sky was darkening, but if she bolted home she could get the flowers, drop them off at Kyouraku's, and then make it back just as the fireworks started, probably.

"I didn't know the two of you were that close." Shunsui's sharp tone surprised her and brought her back to the conversation. Was he upset?

"We're not really close," Nanao said hesitantly. She didn't think Shunsui and Kuchiki had any bad blood between them, but maybe she was wrong. She tried to think of anything recent they'd fought about, but even searching her memory she thought the two men were amicable enough. Perhaps she'd read his tone incorrectly. "We're just friendly is all. We work together well, and I've had to spend time with him here and there to right things the SWA has done to his property. I really don't know why Yachiru-chan is so obsessed with driving him crazy. He also attends SWA meetings on his sister's behalf occasionally, and I attend his calligraphy class when I have time."

"You're closer than that with Jyuushiro and he doesn't send you flowers every year on your birthday."

"No, he sends chocolates."

"Jyuu sends you chocolates?"

"Uh huh, I thought you knew." She was truly puzzled by the look of horror blossoming on his face.

"No, I did not know my best friend was trying to seduce my Fukutaicho."

Nanao laughed at the absurdity of that. A joking Taicho she could handle. "We're friends, idiot. Besides neither of them are trying to seduce me. Kuchiki Taicho's present was an impulse that became a tradition. Remember when he was between Fukutaichos? Before Renji-san?" Shunsui nodded. "He was a new Taicho and got behind on the paperwork. I happened to run some last minute papers over to him the morning of my birthday and he just looked so frazzled."

"Kuchiki-san looked frazzled?"

"Well not a normal person's frazzled, but there were paper stacks everywhere and he looked like he hadn't slept so I offered to help and he accepted. I think Kuchiki Taicho accepting anyone's help counts as him being frazzled. I spent most of the day helping him sort out the backlog and then convinced him to join us for the fireworks. When we met up with you and everyone else you wished me a happy birthday. Later that night after I'd gone home, Kuchiki Taicho showed up with flowers and apologized again saying he hadn't realized it was my birthday." Nanao shrugged. "After that it just kind of stuck. He sends me flowers every year. It's sweet."

"How come I didn't know this?"

"Why would you? I suppose I just never thought you'd care one way or the other. I really should go home quickly. I don't want them sitting outside."

"I'll get them," Shunsui offered. "You and your family can find a good seat and I'll take them home. I can grab a blanket for everyone to sit on too. Wouldn't want you to get grass stains on your lovely yukuta."

"Oh would you? I really would appreciate it." He smiled and kissed her temple before bolting off. Breaking him of that particular habit once her family was gone was going to take an extremely large book.

"Is Kyouraku-san leaving? Did you have a fight? Is he going to a bar?" her mother asked worriedly hurrying to catch up with her.

Nanao sighed. Three more days and they were gone. She just had to make it three more days. "He said he forgot something at home, but we should save him a seat. Let's get to the top of the hill before all the good places are taken."

"Nanao, you really shouldn't be so trusting. He's probably meeting up with Matsumoto-san right now to make plans for this evening. Now I know you tolerate a certain amount of straying from him, but I don't think Matsumoto-san is a good idea. A woman with those looks and personality could steal him away quite easily. And it's one thing to let him have one night stands and quite another thing to let him have a repeating mistress." Nanao gave her an annoyed look. "You heard what she said – that she'd leave her reiatsu open for him. If that's not a sexual invitation I don't know what is."

"Mom, it's not that big of a deal. We all leave our reiatsus open when we want our friends to be able to find us. It just means we aren't trying to hide from anyone. For example mine is open right now so Shunsui can find where we're sitting and so Jyuushiro-san can locate us if he'd like to join us."

Her mother looked dubious. "It sounds very intimate."

"It's not," Nanao said flatly. "Its only intimate when used to express emotions to one another or communicate on a deeper level. That's a bit like reading someone's thoughts and is considered rude if you don't have a very close relationship."

"So how do you know he's not doing that with Matsumoto-san."

"He's not. They don't have that kind of relationship."

"They're friends."

"So are me and Jyuushiro-san, but we would never do something like that. He and Shunsui probably do, but the only person I share my reiatsu with is Shunsui." It was true enough, but saying it out loud suddenly made it seem inappropriate.

"So you can tell when he's sharing his reiatsu with someone else?"

Nanao groaned. "No, but I trust him, ok?" Really it was none of her business if he read other people's reiatsus frequently and vice versa. She'd never really thought about it one way or another before. It was just something they'd naturally begun to do over the years of knowing one another. She'd never considered him an intrusion and he was well aware she reached for his reiatsu that way during certain moments and he'd never chastised her for it. In fact, he often initiated the emotional contact they shared. It was often easier than speaking and so comfortable she'd never questioned it.

"But you could search and see if they were together right now?"

Nanao sighed. "Yes, as long as neither of them were trying to control and hide their reiatsus I could locate them both."

"So do it, prove me wrong."

"I'm not going to spy on him, Mother. Just let it go." Nanao decided the spot they were in was as good as any and stopped. "Is everyone ok with here? Shunsui is bringing a blanket to sit on."

They nodded and then her mother began furiously whispering with her sister and Nanao sighed. She had a good idea what they were saying. She wished Shunsui would hurry up.

"Is this what you do every year on your birthday?"

Nanao eyed Hachiro and wondered where he was going with the question. "Yes most years. There have been a few where a mission or something has come up and thrown off plans, but generally we attend the festival and the fireworks."

"You'd think Kyouraku-san could come up with something more original. Or at least get you a private firework display. I mean the man must have more money than he knows what to do with."

"I like this tradition," Nanao defended crossly. "We've always had a good time, and I would be mortified if he bought me a private firework display."

"I just think you're letting him off easy. Last year for Katsumi's birthday I rented out an entire restaurant and hired a band."

"Yes, I remember." God that had been a miserable night. She'd been surrounded by people she barely knew and been given pitying looks all night since her mother had bragged to everyone that Kyouraku Shunsui would be attending and he didn't show. She'd made up an excuse about work, but no one seemed to buy it. It wasn't like it was her fault, she'd never once implied Shunsui would be able to come to the party. "The festival and the fireworks is my choice." And it was. Nanao wouldn't have any clue what to do with herself if she was made the center of attention in some big expensive production of a birthday party. She genuinely liked their Tanabata tradition when her family was far away from her.

"Whatever you say Nanao-san." The disbelief in his tone made her want to ditch them all on the top of the hill. Luckily Shunsui chose that moment to reappear.

"Perfect spot, Nanao-chan!" He gave the blanket a flamboyant shake and started spreading it out on the ground. Her family filled in and she found she had to press herself into Shunsui's side to fit. He dropped an arm around her and leaned in close. "I think you lied to me."

She shot him a puzzled look. "About what?"

"I think Kuchiki-san must like you a little more than you say to send you such a large bouquet."

Nanao laughed outright at that. "I just always assumed he was too rich to know an appropriate bouquet size and the store probably talked him into too much." Her mother was eyeing them suspiciously and Nanao lowered her voice further. "I swear I'm not having a torrid affair with Kuchiki Taicho." He chuckled and she felt it vibrate through her side.

"Have I told you yet today that you look lovely in your lavender yukuta?"

"Better than the red dress?"

"Different. It'd be like trying to compare apples and oranges. So, are you ready for your present?"

Nanao smiled and opened her hands trying to ignore her mother's sharp eyes watching them since the word present left Shunsui's mouth. Usually he got her something small like a hair clip or a book or a fancy pen set. His real present to her was handling all the paperwork the first day back after the holiday. Although she supposed that was ruined this year because of the terms of their deal.

Shunsui reached into his pockets and pulled out a small box wrapped in pink wrapping paper. Nanao lifted an eyebrow, but accepted it. He'd never gotten her jewelry before, which would have been her first guess based on the size and shpae. Seeing her mother lean in further from across the blanket and the rest of her family's attention they'd clearly decided the same thing. Nanao took a brief sadistic joy in knowing that whatever was in the box it surely wasn't an engagement ring.

She carefully removed the pink wrapping paper and found a nice little black velvet box. She opened the box and looked inside.

It was a simple necklace - just a silver chain with a diamond pendant. That didn't mean it wasn't expensive. She'd admired it in a window on a living world trip with Shunsui back in the New Year.

"Oh Shunsui, it's too much."

"Nonsense. Here turn around."

"Really I can't."

"You like it don't you Nanao-chan?"

"Well of course, but Shunsui it's too much."

"Turn around, sweetheart."

She debated arguing further, but in the end she knew it was going to be pointless. The man did whatever he wanted. She shook her head in one final protest, but turned around and let him put the necklace on her. Shifting back she looked at him shyly.

"It's perfect," he supplied with a grin.

She fingered the necklace and smiled. It really was lovely and she really did like it. "Thank you, Shunsui. I love it." A firework went off overhead and they turned to watch the show. Nanao glanced around and made sure no one they knew was nearby. Content that no one was there to see she snuggled into his side freely.

He grinned happily and pressed a kiss to the shell of her ear. "Happy birthday, Nanao-chan."

When they returned home that evening Nanao was happy and relaxed. They'd walked home slowly, holding hands and talking about their favorite stalls from the day. Nanao was quite ready to change out of her yukuta into some casual clothing and settle down with a good book and maybe a glass of plum wine, which is why she tried not to groan and tense up all over again when her mother asked to have a word with her in private. Shunsui seemed reluctant to let go of her hand and she almost wished he'd tell her mother no and drag her back to the bedroom. In the end he let her go though and she trailed her mother back to her guest room. It'd been such a lovely birthday.

"He's never going to marry you is he?" her mother started as soon as the door closed behind them.

Nanao sighed. "What brought this on?"

"We'd hoped that he'd take the chance of your family being in town and your birthday to pop the question."

"Who's we?" Nanao bit out sarcastically.

"Really, Nanao. It isn't a joke. I'd thought maybe he'd do it at his family's house and then tonight when he pulled out that box I thought this was it, but it was just a necklace."

"An expensive, beautiful necklace."

"Be that as it may, it's not a ring. He's never going to marry you."

"Can you just leave it alone? We're fine as we are."

"No. He's fine as you are. Having a woman warm his bed who he'll never have to commit to and who lets him run around with whoever he wants whenever he wants. It's disrespectful to our family and shameful for you. We already had enough trouble trying to find you potential suitors when you were just a solider, but having also been your superior's whore?"

"Mother!"

"It's true even if no one is saying it. You sleep with him and he owes you nothing. You're a plaything and every worthy man in a 1,000-kilometer radius knows it. It'd have been better if you'd just slept with him quietly without having a relationship. At least no one would know about your embarrassment then."

"Funny enough, I'm not embarrassed and I don't have a problem with our relationship. What's it to you?"

"You have a duty to your family."

"My family shipped me off to the academy when I was a child and I haven't asked for a thing since. I have a duty to the Gotei 13, I have a duty to Kyouraku Taicho, but I'm not sure what duty I owe you."

Her mother's face turned a violent shade of purple and Nanao braced herself for the onslaught. "Why you ungrateful little, I can't believe you would, to throw that in my face, how dare you!"

"Are we quite done?"

"He's using you."

"We're using each other." Which was more honest than her mother could know. "I'm happy with the way things are."

"That's a lie and you know it. No woman would be happy to watch the man she loves chasing after and having other women."

"You don't know half as much as you think you know."

"I know what I see. If he's not already sleeping with Matsumoto-san he will be soon, and then he'll leave you disgraced without any monetary compensation. He owes you nothing as it stands."

"Correct, he owes me nothing. You've already got your perfect son-in-law. Can't you leave us alone?"

"Nanao, don't drag Hachiro-kun into this. It isn't his fault he ultimately decided marrying you wasn't for him. He really did try to overcome your profession, but it's too much for most men to handle. He and Katsumi-chan were just better suited."

"I'm done talking about this." Nanao flung the door open and walked out as her mother called after her. Slipping out into the living room she found her father and Hachiro playing a game of mahjong while Katsumi looked on. Shunsui was sitting on the couch apparently reading a book, but he looked up concerned the moment she came into the room.

"Nanao-chan?"

"I feel like going out for a drink. Anyone want to join me?"

"You know we can't," Katsumi said softly.

"We'll that's a pity. Dad? Shunsui?"

Her dad shook his head and Shunsui just looked even more worried. "Fine, I'll find Matsumoto-san then. I'm going to change and go." Heading off to the bedroom she could feel Shunsui following her. Once inside she snagged a pair of her jeans and a t-shirt before moving towards the bathroom.

"You ok?" Shunsui asked through the door.

"Fine. I just feel like going out. You don't have to." Silence answered her words and she continued to change. She needed to get out of this house, away from her mother, and possibly extremely drunk. Rangiku was sure to be more than happy to help the last one along. Exiting the bathroom she found Shunsui changed out of his yukata and into his uniform and haoris, sitting on the end of the bed.

"Are you coming with?"

"Are you kidding? You really think I'm going to miss the chance of Nanao-chan wanting to go drinking with me?" He stood up and she headed for the door, but he caught her arm gently. "Are you ok?"

She shook it off. "I'm fine. My mother was just being my mother. She was pissed you haven't proposed this weekend and has decided that you never will, and I'm a dirtied whore that no other respectable man will ever want now. Brought shame to the Ise name. You know the deal. I want out of this house."

"I could propose?"

Nanao laughed and turned back to him. "Are you nuts? She'd drag us to an officiator and get us married tonight. You wouldn't be able to put her off." The seriousness in his face made the laughter die in her throat though.

"What does it matter? I'm not planning on marrying anyone else and you've said you're done looking. It's just a piece of paper."

"Your family-"

"Wouldn't care. They love you and they don't expect anything real out of me."

"Shunsui-"

"If it would shut her down and get her to leave you alone I'll march right out there and do it." Nanao swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped forward to hug him. His arms encircled her and she gave him a squeeze. "Is that a yes?"

"Absolutely not," Nanao said firmly pulling back to meet his eyes. "I'm not letting you do that and it wouldn't end anything. My mother likes to complain about me. She'd just continue with you cheating on me and making a joke of me, or move on to something else like lack of children. If this week has proven anything it's that there is no pleasing her and you've already done more than enough to try."

"Drinking is usually not your solution."

"My mother is usually a distant problem. I want to be with people who actually like me."

"You're with me."

She smiled. He was so sappy. "Yes, and I can be with you and with friends and with a nice buzz-inducing drink in my hand." She backed out of the hug and grabbed his hand. "Shall we?"

He nodded and she ignored her sputtering mother as she dragged him out of the house past her flabbergasted family. She found Rangiku's reiatsu fast enough and took off at a fast clip.

The bar was hot and noisy, but for once Nanao was grateful for the chaos. Shunsui put a hand on her back to guide her through the crowd and she allowed it till they saw a table of their friends. Pulling away from him she sent Matsumoto a small wave as the woman looked up, which elicited a shriek of glee.

"Nanao-chan! Shunsui-kun!" Trapped in the booth the woman nimbly jumped on and over the table avoiding everyone's drinks and hands to land in front of them and drag Nanao into a crushing hug. "How did you get her here? Should we tie her down?"

Shunsui laughed. "As shocking as this may sound it was her idea." The table made a lot of disbelieving noise and Nanao grinned. "I'm telling the truth."

"Sure you are," Ukitake said gamely.

"Well budge over," Rangiku said releasing her and slapping Kira on the shoulder as he was closest to her. Rangiku shuffled back into the booth and patted the seat next to her.

Nanao glanced around trying to find another chair. It'd be rude to take the only seat and leave Kyouraku standing. Everything seemed occupied though. "It's fine, I can stand."

"Silly Nanao-chan," Shunsui said slipping past her and snagging her waist to guide her along. "We'll both fit." He plopped down and unceremoniously dragged her into his lap."

"Taicho," she yelped horrified at the amused looks from the table. "This is completely inappropriate." She hit him in the chest with her elbow, albeit a bit harder than she'd meant to as she'd expected him to dodge and he hadn't. He was getting slow in his old age or perhaps just getting too used to being able to manhandle her.

"Yes, Kyouraku-san, let her up. She can come sit on me!" Hirako Taicho offered gleefully.

Despite her struggles Shunsui tightened his arm around her waist, which was unusual. Most times he let her up about now. "Where are you going to sit if you get free, Nanao-chan?"

"I said I would stand."

"No first love of mine is standing while I sit," Hirako Taicho said and then reached out his hand towards her. "I don't know that we've gotten to spend any proper time together. I'm Hirako Shinji."

Nanao felt herself blushing. How completely inappropriate to address someone as 'my first love' and not even know them. "I know who you are Hirako Taicho."

"Yes, but we haven't really been able to get to know each other personally just in passing at meetings." He spread his arms wide. "Let me offer you the comfort of my person and we'll get to know each other better."

"You're going to start a fight," Otoribashi Taicho observed.

"If Nanao-chan is sitting in anyone's lap it's going to be mine," Shunsui declared wrapping his other arm around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder before sticking his tongue out at Hirako Taicho.

"I'm fully capable of standing."

Suddenly Jyuushiro stood up and made his way over to a nearby table. Coughing pitiably he said something to the young men at that table and quick enough one got up and pushed his chair towards him. Jyuushiro gave the man a grateful smile and dragged the chair back over to their table – his cough mysteriously abated. "Have a seat, Ise-san."

"Thank you, Ukitake Taicho." She squirmed to get up, but Shunsui seemed reluctant to let her go. She pushed a warm glowing kido to her hand and said sweetly, "Is there a problem, Kyouraku Taicho?"

"No," he grumbled finally releasing her. "Jyuu takes all my fun."

"It would have gone on all night. What do you want to drink, Ise-san?"

"Plum wine?" she asked hopefully.

"I'll get it." Kyouraku said gamely.

"Sit down, Shunsui. It's Nanao-san's birthday and I don't have a present so I should at least buy her a drink."

"Oh, so those chocolates sent to her house weren't from you then?" He must have found the chocolates when he retrieved the flowers from Kuchiki for her.

Jyuushiro raised an eyebrow at the accusation in his friend's tone, but waved him off. "Well of course those were from me, but I get those for her every year. It's not every year she'll come out drinking with us. I'll be right back."

"Wait, Jyuu, sake too!" her Taicho yelled after his best friend's retreating back.

Nanao felt an arm drape around her shoulders and the back of her chair and looked over to find that Hirako Taicho had slipped into Jyuushiro's vacated seat. "Hello, beautiful," he leered. Nanao felt the blush creep up her neck and onto her face again and cursed her pale traitorous skin. "Shunsui-san, have you tamed in your old age? Your girl blushes prettily at the slightest bit of flirting. I don't think I've ever seen Lisa blush once in all the years of knowing her."

"Oh, Shunsui-kun is just as aggressive with her as anyone," Rangiku supplied happily. "What Nanao-chan isn't used to is other men flirting with her on account of they're all too scared of Shunsui-kun to try."

"You shared Lisa just fine." Hirako eyed Shunsui curiously and Shunsui gave a low little growl that she wasn't entirely sure he'd meant to let slip out.

"Ignore him Ise Fukutaicho," Otoribashi Taicho said. "He's just messing with you. His heart belongs to another."

Rangiku perked up. "Who?"

"Shut up. Rose does not know what he's talking about. I'm entirely free. Especially for a woman as lovely as you. Perhaps there are birthday fantasies I could help fulfill?"

Nanao jumped a bit in her seat when she felt the chair move underneath her, and Shinji nearly fell as his leaning was thrown off. Looking down trying to figure out what happened she saw Shunsui's foot hooked around the chair leg dragging her towards him. The chair settled at the side of the booth and Shunsui threw his own arm over the back of it. She shoved it off and Rangiku cackled.

"I believe Rose-san is referencing cute Hiyori-chan," Shunsui contributed.

"That monkey? She's a terror," Shinji said. "Nothing like your exquisite demure Fukutaicho."

"Nanao-chan did not come here to be harassed by old men like you."

"You take that back! I am not old! Nanao-san between me and Shunsui-san who would you rather be your boyfriend?"

Jyuushiro broke in with the drinks. "Who said she'd want either one of you?"

"Of course she'd want one of us," Hirako Taicho said waving Jyuushiro's comment away. "We're very desirable."

"Eh," Rangiku weighed in. The men looked at her horrified. "Don't get me wrong. You're both very desirable, but then you have to look at the playing field. The Gotei 13 is full of desirable men. So in a normal situation women would be panting after you, but we almost have too many choices between fit good-looking men so Nanao-chan might not be interested at all. The real question is what's your type, Nanao-chan?"

All eyes turned to her and she focused on her wine and shrugged. "I don't know."

"Come on, it's easy!" Rangiku said. "Do you prefer dark or light hair? Do you like guys who are fit and thin or bulky with muscles? How about facial hair, yay or nay?"

"I don't have a type."

"Of course you do. Everyone has a type."

"Kyouraku Taicho doesn't," Nanao defended. "He'll go after anything female."

"That's not true!" Nanao gave him a doubting look.

"Just because he's a man-whore doesn't mean he doesn't have preferences," Otoribashi Taicho put in.

"Can we discuss literally anything else?"

"No, I want to know who Nanao-san would choose between the two of us."

"Hirako Taicho you're both attractive men," Nanao said trying to shut the uncomfortable questioning down. "But as I am not currently looking for a boyfriend the question is moot." The answer was also Shunsui, but no one needed to know that.

"But-"

"It's her birthday," Otoribashi Taicho said flinging a balled up napkin at Hirako Taicho's face. "Leave her alone."

"Fine," Hirako Taicho pouted. "I could see why she wouldn't want Shunsui-san to know she prefers me to him. It'll be our secret, love. Speaking of dating, Kira-san why don't you have a woman?" The pale man looked horrified to be made the center of attention. "My Fukutaicho is quite cute, don't you think? And I happen to know she's single."

"Don't waste your time," Rangiku said. "I've been trying to get him to ask Momo-chan out for a decade."

Nanao was relieved when everyone's attention shifted to Kira and Momo's relationship or lack there of. She relaxed into her chair and drank her plum wine. Shunsui's arm crept to the back of her chair again and she gave him a look to make sure he knew he had in no way pulled a fast one on her, but allowed it to stay.

Several hours and rounds of drinks later Nanao was certifiably drunk. At some point in the evening seats had gotten switched up again, she vaguely remembered that Kira and Jyuushiro had left, and she was now pressed between Shunsui and Rangiku in the booth. His hand had drifted to her knee at some point over the course of the evening and she'd let it stay. She was having trouble following the conversation. Something about a mission gone wrong a long time ago that had left Hirako Taicho pants-less and running for cover. The wine was muddling her thoughts and making her sleepy. The table laughed and someone pressed a fresh drink in her hand. Probably Matsumoto. Nanao yawned, closed her eyes, and leaned her head against the booth.

"Awww, how cute is that?"

"That doesn't mean anything!" Hirako yelled. "They're just next to each other. She could still pick me."

Nanao blinked her eyes open to see what the fuss was about and realized it was not the booth she was leaning on but Shunsui's shoulder. "I think Nanao-chan might be ready to head home."

Rangiku started sliding out of the booth. "You two going to get home ok? You're not exactly sober yourself."

"We'll manage," Shunsui said behind her as Nanao stood up. The whole world tilted a bit and she grabbed the edge of the table. "Alright, Nanao-chan?"

"Mmm-hmm." She'd be fine if the world would stop spinning. A warm arm wrapped around her and she leaned into him without a second thought.

"Are you sure you don't need help?"

"I've got her. Enjoy the rest of the night."

"Morning now," Otoribashi Taicho corrected.

Shunsui laughed and started guiding her out of the bar. The fresh air hit her lungs like a punch, which actually helped wake her up and focus her a bit. That was until Shunsui pulled her to him and took off in a quick shunpo step. It only took him a few seconds to get them home, but Nanao felt her stomach roil. Nanao shoved him hard and stumbled away to the side of the house.

"Nanao?" She bent over and threw up into a bush. A hand rubbed along her back gently and he pressed her bangs out of her face. "You ok?"

At least the world had stopped spinning quite so violently. "Honestly it made me feel a bit better."

He laughed and helped her right herself. "Come on, sweetheart. Let's get you into bed."

"How come you're not throwing up?"

"My tolerance is higher. Sorry, Nanao-chan, I shouldn't have let you have so much."

"Wasn't your choice." They slipped their shoes off and made their way to the bedroom.

"Did you have fun at least?"

"Mmm-hmm, it was different than drinking with the SWA. I didn't have to discuss the yumminess of anyone's ass or hear about anyone's period cramps. Not that those aren't fun to talk and complain about, but it was a nice change of pace."

"Who's yummy ass are you ladies discussing?"

"Oh everyone's," she said snagging her nightshirt off the bed and wobbling towards the bathroom. "Don't worry. Yours rated very highly."

"Higher than Shinji's?"

"We didn't make a formal list." She spat in the sink and rinsed her mouth once before brushing her teeth.

"What about on your own personal list?"

Nanao spat toothpaste out and rolled her eyes. "Your ass is yummier. Happy?"

"That I got to hear Nanao-chan say that my ass is yummy? Yes, infinitely so."

"I'm going to pee. Get out." Nanao finished getting ready for bed and wandered out to find Shunsui changed into pajama pants and holding a glass of water.

"Drink it all," he instructed before going into the bathroom.

Nanao gulped the water down discovering she was thirstier than she thought. Then she discarded the glass, threw the covers to the side, and stretched herself out in an x on her stomach on the bed. The world started to spin a bit again and she let her eyes drift shut.

"As much as I hate to move you," he said as he turned out the light, "I would also like to get some sleep, Nanao-chan."

"Nu-uh, no room."

He laughed and she felt the bed dip as he crawled over her. Then the world spun even more as he rolled them over so he was laying on the bed and she was sprawled on top of him. She sat up straddling him, using her hands to brace herself on his chest and feeling little sparks run through her body everywhere they were in contact.

"We should get some sleep. I have to be up early to patrol tomorrow."

"What are you talking about?" His hand started tracing a pattern on her bare leg and she struggled not to shiver under his touch. The world was going topsy turvy again after the brief reprieve given from the night air and throwing up.

"The Taicho meeting. Some big hollow. Jyuu and I are patrolling tomorrow. Well, I suppose today now. He mentioned it when he left the bar."

"Oh. Do you need me?"

"Nope, Yama-jii said Taicho level only."

"Then it's dangerous." She frowned and rocked back, as she tried to conjure her best argument to go with them, pressing down on his hips. She had the brief thought that she really shouldn't be straddling her Taicho in his bed with only a nightshirt and underwear on, but he felt firm and warm underneath her and his hand on her bare skin was distracting her already dizzy head.

"We'll be careful, Nanao-chan. I promise." He looked so earnest that she smiled despite her concerns. She ran her fingertips along the stubble on his jaw line and felt a deep satisfaction when his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

On impulse she leaned forward and kissed him. He made a surprised sound that she swallowed and then he was kissing her back. The hand on her leg tightened and his other hand buried itself in her hair. There was a reason this was a bad idea, but she let the concern die in the back of her mind. Everything about him felt good. She felt overheated and off balance, but perhaps some of that was the booze in her blood. She rocked her small frame against him once and then broke the kiss in desperate need of air. They were both panting and she hovered over him for a moment longer before sitting up again.

"What was that for?"

"I think it was a birthday gift to myself," she answered honestly. She couldn't bring herself to regret it. Instead she shimmied down so she was laying on top of him her head resting against his chest. He shifted and pulled the covers over them, but didn't push her off. His arms settled around her waist and she sighed feeling the world rock gently around her and the steady thump of his slightly elevated heartbeat underneath her ear. "I know I can't keep you," she admitted softly as she started to drift off, "but it's been nice pretending I can for a little while." He pressed her tighter to him and Nanao felt herself surrender to sleep.

A/N: Sorry about the lack of update last week! Life and work got crazy as it does. Hopefully the long update this week makes up for it some! As always thank you for your reviews – I love hearing my inbox ding when it's not work emails, ha.