"Seriously though what's wrong with you?"

"What are you talking about?" Shunsui sipped his sake and eyed the crowd at the club. He'd come to the living world with Jyuushiro and the Vizard Taichos to visit the remaining Vizards, as he'd promised Lisa he would two months ago at his birthday party.

"Why are you sitting here with me and Jyuushiro watching other men try to take various women home?" Kisuke asked. "From what I remember, usually you're right out there with them."

Shunsui shrugged. "Must be getting old."

"Ignore him. He's pouting because Nanao-san refused to come."

"Your Fukutaicho? From the very little I know of her she doesn't sound like she's the kind of woman who would enjoy a night out at the clubs."

"She isn't. He was confident he could get her here with the promise of seeing Lisa-san."

"I'm not pouting."

"You are too. You've been talking all week about how the plan was full-proof, yet here you are all alone."

Shunsui shot him a glare. So he'd been hopeful Nanao would come. So what? In the last two months he barely got to see her anymore outside of work. Nanao being Nanao, she couldn't resist taking on extra work and worrying about the money. Despite having a kushy gig with his family she'd still taken on teaching some evening classes at the academy and often spent the weekends tutoring academy students working in the library. Then when she was at work she was struggling to be more efficient than ever to keep normal office hours and had very little time for his antics. He couldn't even bring himself to harass her too much since she just looked so exhausted most of the time. All he really wanted to do was drag her to bed and make her sleep, and if it was his bed even better. He missed her.

"What do you care? Isn't alone better for getting a woman? I remember back in the day when you used to fruitlessly try to ditch Lisa-san in the pursuit of female."

"That was mainly because she was competition," Shunsui said with a laugh thinking over some of the more outrageous outings he'd had with his old Fukutaicho. "She used to take immense pleasure in stealing women from me."

"Still it's hard to pick up women if you've brought one out with you."

"Not in the mood anyways. Living world women always just make me feel old. It's hard to fathom 100 years counting as living to an old age so I understand, but they always seem so rushed and frivolous. I was just hoping to spend some time with Nanao-chan. She's working too hard and she could use a night off and a few drinks."

To be honest it wasn't just living world women who'd lost some of their shine. He'd slept with two women since Nanao had left his home. The first had been a sloppy unfulfilling alcohol-fueled affair. He'd blamed the booze for the bad sex, but a few weeks later and much more sober he'd picked up a woman at a restaurant, when Nanao refused to go to dinner with him, and found himself equally dissatisfied. The sex would have been fine other than it not being the person he wanted, but it was like everything had lost its old shine. He'd found himself entirely unwilling to do even the minimum amount of effort required to land a bedmate after that, and had decided he should probably handle his sexual needs by himself for a little while. Not that that had helped much as it just gave him guilt-free openings to fantasize and recently there had only been one woman his imagination was willing to supply. He assumed if he waited it out this new infatuation would pass, because his usual course of action with a new obsession was to sleep with the girl in question and get her out of his system, and that wasn't an option here. He wasn't willing to give up Nanao's respect or their friendship just because his dick and brain had decided to team up against his common sense.

Kisuke opened his mouth, but Shunsui really did not want to talk about Nanao anymore. "Anyways Lisa-chan knows all the latest trends here to impress the ladies with. It wouldn't even be a competition tonight."

"Yoruichi can give you some tips when she gets here."

"Yoruichi-san is just as likely to give me bad tips to laugh at me as she is to give me good tips." He also had no interest in using them. Flirting had lost its appeal when it wasn't Nanao blushing on the receiving end, and right now she was to overworked and stressed to even acknowledge his flirtations let alone blush from them. Usually now all he would get was a very harried, 'is that so?'

"Well, that's true."

"Can't you just help him?" Jyuushiro asked laughing. "Maybe a conquest would get him to stop sulking. He's been impossible for weeks."

"I'd love to," Kisuke said with a smile behind his ever present fan, "But I've been out of the dating game for quite some time so the only advice I have for you would apply to taming a very temperamental kitty."

"Honestly that might help him with Nanao-san."

His best friend was a traitor of the first order. "I do not need advice for Nanao-chan. It's not my fault she's a workaholic."

"Is your new playmate a big nerd like Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked as she came up behind their table and heard the last of his comment. "Sometimes even sex doesn't distract him when he's working on a new project. It makes a girl feel very rejected."

Kisuke laughed and pulled out the chair next to him for her. "It was one time."

"Three."

"Yes, well you've managed to get creative and pull me off track eventually every single time."

The woman grinned and settled in. "So I have." She poured herself a drink from the bottle on the table. "So who's choosing work over sex with you?"

"Nanao-chan is not choosing work over sex as we aren't having sex. She's choosing it over coming out tonight." Or really doing anything with him ever. If he didn't know better he'd think she was purposefully avoiding him, but there was no reason for that that he knew of.

"Why would you think she would come? The SWA can barely drag her out to a club, and that's after telling her it's her duty as vice-president."

"I thought she'd do it to see Lisa-chan, and it would have worked too if it hadn't been for my stupid brother asking her to babysit."

"Look, there's a dark haired beauty with glasses right over there if that's your type. You could probably convince Lisa to double-team her with you. So why are you so worked up about Ise-san not coming?"

"That's the million yen question tonight," Jyuushiro said smiling into his drink.

"Oh, stop."

"I've waited hundreds of years to see it happen, thought I might die before it did. If you think I'm not going to tease you about it mercilessly you're wrong."

"See what happen?"

"Jyuushiro is under the very mistaken impression that I'm in love with Nanao-chan." And by love his best friend meant the terror-inducing settle down with one woman and have a family kind of love. The kind where you weren't allowed to mess up because that was the only person that really mattered and if you lost them you lost everything. The kind he was sure he would most certainly mess up. He refused to take that chance with Nanao. He refused to hurt her.

"It was bound to happen eventually despite all your talk of how pointless relationships are beyond sex. For all your inability to commit to a particular woman and talk of being easy going, you're not a particularly frivolous man when you get down to it."

"You take that back. I've never had a committed relationship in my life."

"Sure you have," Jyuushiro said unruffled. "You're committed to the 8th and the Gotei 13 and that's almost been lifelong."

"That's work. It's different than putting up with one person forever, and the Gotei 13 pays me for the trouble."

"Doesn't Jyuushiro-san count?" Yoruichi asked with a grin. "I mean you guys have been best friends forever and are always together. There are more than a few people who thought you were more than friends over the years."

"Yes, but he doesn't care who I sleep with. I'm not denying that Nanao-chan and I are good friends or that I enjoy her company whenever I have the pleasure of being in it. In that sense, of course I love her. Hell, I'll even admit I'd like to sleep with her if she was interested in a casual thing, but she's not so we don't."

"So you love her, and you want to spend most of your time with her, and you'd like to have sex with her," Yoruichi summed up. "You just don't think you'll feel that way about her forever?"

"I mean, of course I'll always feel that way about her," Shunsui argued. He couldn't fathom a day when he wouldn't want Nanao around or wouldn't be attracted to her. "But there are other women to be had too, and how can I guarantee I won't want one of them one day?"

"Why would you?" Kisuke asked.

Shunsui gave him a dubious look. His whole life he'd always wanted lots of different women. He'd always enjoyed the attention, and it wasn't until very recently that he couldn't find at least one beautiful thing about every woman who crossed his path. If they were willing, he generally had been too. "Why wouldn't you?"

Kisuke shrugged. "A warm hole is a warm hole. I don't find that they differ much person to person. It's who the person is that makes the sex good. I guess I'm biased because Yoruichi is usually the hottest woman in the room, but I'd honestly prefer having sex with my best friend and the woman I love than some attractive woman I know nothing about and don't care to learn anything more about." Yoruichi grinned at Kisuke's openness, which was rare. The two seldom spoke about their relationship and Kisuke wasn't big on declarations about his feelings or what was going on inside his head. "I'd rather have my worst sex with Yoruichi than my best sex with some woman who could cease to exist and I wouldn't bat an eye."

"Besides it's better when you know what each other likes," Yoruichi put in running a hand up Kisuke's arm. "Practice makes perfect and all that. You must have at least experienced that difference. You and Lisa had relations for a while."

"Well, yes obviously, but we both could go off and have sex with whoever else we wanted to as well, no hurt feelings."

Yoruichi shrugged. "I mean if that's what does it for you then you're clearly making the right choice. If you broke Nanao-san's heart you'd have a very pissed off SWA to deal with, including me if only because it would distress Soi Fon-chan, though she'd be loath to say it. And I suppose I do remember Nanao-san talking about wanting kids at one of those meetings. You'd be terrible with children."

"What is that supposed to mean? I'm excellent with children – just ask my brother and sister-in-law."

"Well, yeah you're made to be the fun uncle, but fatherhood takes actual responsibility, although I suppose you could just foist them off on Nanao-san like the paperwork."

"I would not treat my children like paperwork," Shunsui argued offended. "I'd love to be a dad, and I'd be good at it."

"Wait, you want kids?" Jyuushiro asked with a surprised look.

Shunsui backtracked. He supposed they'd never had the conversation before because it hadn't come up. "I mean I don't actively want them. I'm not out there trying to get women pregnant. But if I could manage a committed relationship, then yes I would want them. Thing is kids are like the ultimate commitment right? Doesn't matter what happens between you and the woman, once you have a kid you're forever connected."

"Not if you're a deadbeat," Kisuke offered.

"Yeah, well I wouldn't be. I wouldn't abandon children if I had them." He folded his arms across his chest and knew he really looked like he was pouting now, but he was a little offended his friends seemed to think he wouldn't be a good father.

"It's a moot point anyway if you can't be in a relationship," Yoruichi said decisively. "So why are you sitting here with us bitching about your Fukutaicho not wanting to hang out? She's clearly just a friend who you have a deep respect and love for." He'd have to forgive Yoruchi if he heard a bit of a sarcastic tone on that last sentence. "You'll see her in the office on Monday. Get out there. Plenty of women to sleep with and no responsibilities or commitments holding you back. Tell them you're in finance. That always impresses the dumb ones who are interested in money."

Shunsui glanced out over the room. Per his new norm, nothing caught his fancy. "Too much effort tonight. I'm not in the mood for small talk."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Another perk of a long-term relationship. No small talk required. Really though you better get used to Nanao-san not being around. You can't spend the rest of your life moping."

"Why? Has she said something about transferring?" Shunsui asked suddenly intensely interested. He felt his heart speed up in panic which usually only happened when Nanao or Jyuushiro were in imminent danger.

"No, but obviously one day she is going to find that guy who can offer her all that and get married and pop out babies. You think you're always going to be the center of her world? Hell, she might even want to quit and be a stay at home mom depending on what the guy does. If you can't give her what she needs you can't expect her to cater her life to you."

He wanted to deny it, say that Nanao would never leave the 8th, but then again wasn't that exactly what she'd been planning to do for Hachiro? He supposed he'd never considered it seriously since the threat was already past. What would he do if he was relegated to dinner once a month friendship status? Or even worse tea once a year when she happened to be visiting her SWA friends? He supposed he'd get used to it. He'd lost people before. That thought physically hurt. Life without Nanao just didn't hold much appeal.

"Seriously, your mood is dragging us down," Yoruichi chastised. "Sleep with someone and shake it off. Look at the redhead over there. I've seen her out before. Super easy. I think she blew Love in a bathroom once after like five minutes of dancing. If I remember right there was no small talk involved."

Shunsui eyed the redhead. He just wasn't up for it, figuratively and literally. Honestly he'd rather be helping Nanao-chan with his nephews and niece. He wondered if they'd roped her into hide and seek yet? His niece always chose the same spot behind a tapestry where you could see her feet. He smiled to himself.

"There we go," Yoruichi said slapping his back hard. "Go get her!"

"I think I'm going to try new hunting grounds." Shunsui stood up. "Maybe back in the Seireitei. I'll see you guys later?"

They gave him odd looks, and in Jyuushiro's case a bit of a concerned look, but let him go. If he hurried he could make it out to his family's home before the kids went to bed.

He was surprised when he made it to the house and his brother answered the door. "Shou? I thought you guys would be gone for dinner by now."

"Planning on ravishing the babysitter?" his brother asked dryly.

"I thought she might need help," Shunsui corrected.

"She doesn't. Why are you here?"

Shunsui heard voices down the hall. "I told you, I wanted to see if she needed help. The kids can be a handful. Better question – why are you still here?"

"The restaurant lost our reservations."

"What?"

"The restaurant lost our reservations."

"No, I heard you. I just don't believe you." Shunsui reached out to find Nanao's reiatsu. She was definitely down the hall.

"What's to believe?"

"You're telling me one, that a restaurant lost a Kyouraku reservation and two, that they didn't instantly lie about losing it and bump a table for you?"

"It wasn't a big deal. We decided to stay in instead, and it would have been rude to kick Nanao-san out so we invited her to dinner."

"Where are the kids?"

"You just missed their bedtime."

"Great, well you won't mind if I join you?" Shunsui tried to step into the house and his brother blocked him. A host of suspicious thoughts went through his head but he discarded them as quickly as he thought them. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, you're going to overreact and ruin it."

"Overreact to what exactly?" Suddenly he heard a familiar male voice join the women's and his eyes narrowed. "You didn't."

"Shunsui."

"You set her up." Shunsui pointed an accusatory finger at his brother. "You brought her here under false pretenses."

"Go home, Shunsui."

"No! I'm not letting you. Kita Takumi does not deserve her."

"Not your call."

"She didn't ask to be set up."

"Go home."

"Anyone but him."

"Good, Mom is going to try with cousin Abe next."

"She doesn't need you all meddling." Shunsui felt his annoyance grow and felt Nanao's reiatsu reach out to him. He must have let some of his feelings leak through. He tightened his hold, but the door down the hallway slid open and she came hurrying out. He was pleased to see she was still in her uniform, which meant she'd truly thought she was coming to babysit. Beautiful worried eyes met his.

"Kyouraku Taicho? Is everything ok? Is something wrong at the division?"

"No, everything is fine. I just came to see if you needed help with the kids."

"Oh," she said surprised. "I thought you were going to the living world? You were badgering me about it all week."

"I went, I said hello, it wasn't my thing tonight."

"Yes, well as you can see the kids are fine and we're about to eat dinner, so…" His brother followed up by making a motion encouraging him to leave.

"I can walk you home, Nanao-chan."

Nanao fidgeted awkwardly. "Actually your brother invited me to stay."

"Is that so? Room for one more?" Shunsui knew his brother wouldn't have a good excuse for why he couldn't join and even if Shou did Nanao would probably feel bad and leave with him. "I completely missed dinner."

"Of course," Shou said through gritted teeth, stepping aside.

"This'll be fun," Shunsui proclaimed throwing an arm around Nanao's shoulders. She quickly and efficiently shook him off before following his brother back to the dining room.

Shunsui shared a terse hello with Takumi as Shou asked the staff to bring another place setting. Shunsui took that opportunity to slide in the seat next to the one that he was sure was meant for Nanao. Takumi could sit somewhere else. His brother frowned and slapped the back of his head when he moved by to get to his own seat. Shunsui stuck his tongue out at him as everyone settled and the first course was brought in.

"So Ise-san, Shou-kun says you draw and paint."

Nanao turned a lovely shade of pink that Shunsui liked to think was reserved for his praise only. He was aware that it was possessive and he'd definitely reprimand himself for it later, but right now he was annoyed. Not at her of course, but at the fact that he'd let some other idiot gain that reaction from her. Jyuushiro would have found the whole situation hilarious, he was sure. "Not really. I mean I do, but nothing like what you do."

"She's being modest," Shunsui braggingly interjecting. "Nanao's a wonderful artist." Nanao flushed all over again and Shunsui was glad it was him turning her that color this time.

"It's really nothing. I could never be a professional artist."

"Nonsense," Takumi said pleasantly. "I'm sure you're very good. Shunsui-san has excellent taste. Besides, being a professional just means you've convinced people to pay for it, which isn't necessarily a comment on the quality of the work."

What a pompous show off, Shunsui thought. And that fake bit complimenting him? Takumi was such a stuck up jerk. "I'd pay for Nanao-chan's work. She gave me a piece for my birthday a couple months back and its beautiful."

"Is that so? I'd love to see your work sometime if you'd be so inclined," Takumi said placidly.

"Oh I couldn't. Kyouraku Taicho is being kind. It's nothing special."

"Ah well, Kyouraku Taicho," Takumi said dragging out his last name and title like he was making a point, "does have the tendency to flatter beautiful women, but I'm sure in your case it's entirely true."

Nanao laughed. "Kyouraku Taicho is inclined to find everything I do more impressive than it actually is." Now that was unfair. Was it his fault if she impressed him constantly?

"I hear you're a kido artist as well?"

"Now that I have more of a claim to."

"Tell me about it," Takumi encouraged. "I've always been jealous of people with a talent for kido. I have some reiatsu, but nothing more than a low level shinigami could muster."

Shunsui glared at his brother and sister-in-law. Clearly they'd set Takumi up for success. Getting Nanao on the topic of kido was the real key to getting her over her initial shyness quickly. No other topic lit her up in quite the same way.

The dinner progressed and Nanao was clearly impressed with Takumi. Conversation flowed and Shunsui knew he was starting to brood as he pushed food around on his plate. He understood that Nanao would date other men, but Takumi wasn't the one. He was all flash and no substance no matter what Shou and everyone else said. So what if he was a rich and famous painter and seemed to be taking an active interest in what Nanao had to say? He still wasn't right for her. An unbidden image of a pregnant Nanao bringing Takumi tea in his studio as he worked popped up in his mind and Shunsui clenched his jaw. He was brought out of his reverie by a gentle touch on his knee. He looked up from his plate to find Nanao looking at him in concern, while everyone else continued chatting.

"You ok? You're acting weird." She moved her hand away from him quickly but her warmth lingered.

"Fine, Nanao-chan."

"What do you think Nanao-san?" Her attention was drawn back to the conversation and Shunsui tried to pay attention too.

The dinner was long and painful as far as he was concerned and he was relieved when it was over. By the end of dessert Nanao was discreetly trying to hide yawns. His brother offered them after dinner drinks, but Shunsui made up an early morning patrol as an excuse.

"Well it was very nice meeting you," Takumi said bowing to Nanao as they all headed towards the door.

"You as well."

"I really do hope you'll make time to come out and visit my studio. I'd love to show you around, and if you ever want to show me any of your work I would be delighted."

"If you have time sometime I would be honored."

Shunsui quashed the growl that rose up inside him as he had no right to release it and settled for taking Nanao home. "We really need to be going."

"Of course, I'm sure you'll be busy tomorrow." Takumi's tone was kind enough, but Shunsui was sure Takumi was taking a shot at him. If only he could make everyone else see it. Takumi pulled out a card and handed it to Nanao. "That's the address of my studio and my contact information. Please come by when you have the chance. I'm happy to take a look at your technique and offer some guidance if you wish. Perhaps in exchange you can teach me some kido that doesn't require high reiatsu. I hear you're doing a wonderful job with the boys."

Nanao glowed under the praise and tucked the card away. "Thank you, Takumi-san." She quickly thanked Shunsui's family too and turned to leave. Shunsui tried to put a hand on her back and guide her out, but she sidestepped him and jumped into a shunpo as they got outside. He put on some speed and beat her to her front door by a half step so he could greet her with a grin. "Showoff."

"I had to do something to impress Nanao-chan after Takumi-san spent all night showing off."

Nanao rolled her eyes and unlocked the door. "He did not. I don't know why you hate him. He was perfectly cordial and never bragged."

"He just gets under my skin. He's picked on me since the first time we met."

"I'd hardly call tonight picking on you. He complimented you for goodness sakes."

"Yeah, but he didn't mean it."

"Goodnight, Taicho."

"Wait, can I come in?"

"What for?"

"Tea?" he offered lamely. Really he just didn't want to say goodbye yet. He'd had such little contact with her lately that didn't involve her giving harassed orders about which forms to fill out.

"Taicho, I really am tired."

"I know," he sighed dropping his hand from the door. "I just miss having Nanao-chan to myself. I've barely seen you the past two months."

"You see me almost every day."

"You know what I mean."

She was quiet for a moment. "Did you honestly come out to help me babysit? On your night off when you could have been at the bar?"

He shrugged, a little embarrassed when she laid it out like that. He didn't regret leaving to see her though. "I thought it might be fun. The bar was boring."

"Did you just say a bar was boring?" Nanao held a hand over her heart in mock shock.

"There was nothing going on and no one I wanted to talk to. I thought you might need help finding the kid's hide and go seek spots or coming up with a game to keep them entertained."

"Next time," she said and he brightened. He'd never really offered to babysit the kids, but if he could do it with Nanao they could make it fun. "Well, come on then. I'm not staying up all night so one cup of tea and you're making it."

He followed her happily, kicked off his shoes, and darted to the kitchen as she wandered off towards her bedroom. He shook his head at the state of her cabinets. Once again she seemed to survive purely on cheap instant noodles and tea. He'd have to make food and bring "leftovers" to the office for her to take home. Given her schedule she probably wasn't eating much at all. He made the tea and ventured back out to the living room only to find her in pajamas curled up and nodding off at one corner of her couch. He grinned and set the tea tray down on the small table.

"I'm awake," she defended whipping her head up and blinking her eyes.

"I didn't say anything, Nanao-chan." He handed her a cup of tea and settled in next to her. "So the tutoring is going well?"

"Mmm-hmm. They're doing great. Akihito-chan really has a flare for it. Aito-chan a bit less so, but I'm not sure yet if that's due to lack of talent or lack of interest. Aoto-chan is just barely mastering the basics, but he's so little that's to be expected."

"And the rest of your family?"

Nanao shook her head. "They're fine although I think only my dad is really ok with it all. He rather loves being out at the barn and helping. It's not that physically demanding, and I think he likes to feel useful. Also Jyuushiro-san's brother is just as kind as Jyuushiro-san is. My mom and sister are ok, but it's a rougher adjustment for them as they've never had to work for anyone before. Hachiro-san is by far the worst. He thinks the job is beneath him, but he's the reason they're in this mess to begin with. I can't believe I was ever interested in him. I must have been overworked and not thinking straight."

Shunsui chuckled. "We've all made bad dating choices."

"At least you were never in danger of marrying any of them."

"My brother is trying to set you up with Takumi-san."

Nanao snorted. "No he isn't. Their reservations just got lost."

"Restaurants don't lose Kyouraku reservations."

She cocked her head at him, but seemed to be assessing the situation. "Huh."

"Huh meaning you're interested?" With some difficulty he succeeded in keeping his tone neutral.

"I don't know. I didn't think about it till right now. I mean he's an attractive man and we share common interests. I suppose I should be."

"He's a jerk." So much for neutral.

"You honestly are the only person who thinks that. What'd he ever do to you?"

"I used to come home from academy and he was always there, and he'd never let me hang out with him and my brother. He liked to make jokes about how they sent me off because I was a spare and a freak, mainly out of my brother's earshot of course. So I may have pulled a few pranks on him that weren't always the kindest, and we've just never gotten along." Shunsui didn't know why he was telling her this. He'd never admitted it to anyone since it sounded juvenile coming out, but Takumi had always made him feel unwelcomed in his own home, and what his brother had laughed off as a joke had hurt him. But he thought Nanao would see through his lies if he tried, and he really didn't want her to think his hatred was unfounded.

Nanao frowned. "So he was a shitty little kid. I'm not making excuses for him. That's a terrible thing to say to a child. You're probably both right to dislike each other, but people do grow up, you know. I'm guessing you've matured at least a little since you both met."

"We keep it civil, but I'm never going to like him. He still thinks he's better than everyone even if he's learned to hide it better. I'm not going to lie and say I'd enjoy you dating him. You could do so much better. Hell, I'd rather it be cousin, Abe, if it has to be anyone at all."

"Is that your cousin who lost his wife a decade ago? What's he got to do with this?"

"He's going to be my family's next attempt to find you a suitable man and keep you in the family."

Nanao gave a startled little laugh and leaned back against her couch holding her tea in her lap. "They want me in your family?"

"Who wouldn't?"

"My own family for starters."

"Your dad does and the rest of your family is barely tolerable so their opinions don't count."

"Takumi-san isn't family though."

"My brother considers him as much. It'd be like me trying to marry you off to Jyuu. In fact, my brother probably would prefer you married to Takumi-san than me as far as keeping you in the family."

"Now that's not true. Your brother loves you."

"Yeah, but he likes Takumi-san more."

"You like Jyuushiro-san more too. It's a bit of a double standard to ask someone to put you first when you don't return the favor."

That seemed to be the theme of the evening. He wanted to make a joke about how he'd rather she date Jyuushiro than Takumi and come to the family that way, but the words were dry on his tongue and he didn't say it. Shunsui was mildly surprised to find something had changed, and he really didn't want her with Jyuushiro either. Yep, he might have a small problem. He looked back over at Nanao only in time to find her nodding off and to catch her teacup before it tumbled and spilled everywhere.

"Come on," he said setting the cup down and standing up.

"Hmmm?" she asked sleepily.

He scooped her up and to his delight she nestled closer instead of pushing him off. "Time for bed." She made a soft noise of agreement and promptly seemed to fall back asleep in his arms. He ventured down the hallway to her bedroom, which he had only ever seen via glimpses through an open door. Most of it was as orderly as he'd expect, but one corner by the window had a drop sheet on the floor and a small easel with some finished and unfinished canvases propped up. She really needed a bigger home so she could have a separate studio.

He settled her into the bed under the covers and pulled the clip from her hair and the glasses from her face before setting them on the side table. She almost instantly rolled and sprawled out across the bed, which made him grin. He briefly contemplated slipping in with her – maybe she wouldn't even be that mad? But he discarded the thought just as fast as he thought it since he hadn't asked and they weren't in that situation anymore. If he wanted her he'd have to be ready to commit 100%. She deserved nothing less. The question was whether or not he really thought he could offer that.

"Goodnight, Nanao-chan." There was no response, but he listened contentedly to her steady breathing for a few moments before going back to clean up the tea and let himself out.

A/N: Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and hope you enjoyed the long chapter of Shunsui slowly slowly inching towards realization.

On an unrelated topic, if you like scifi and you haven't read Ancillary Justice and it's two sequels yet, go pick it up right now. I read the whole trilogy in like four days it was so good.