"So? How'd it go? Tell us everything!"

"Seriously have you placed a tracker on me?" She'd just made it to the 10th's Halloween party an hour and a half late and really hadn't expected to be jumped the minute she walked in the door. Although probably she should have known better. It'd taken a month to set up time that was convenient for both of them for Nanao to go out and visit Takumi's studio. He was a busy man and Shunsui seemed to be underfoot more than usual recently – not that that in anyway alleviated her workload. She supposed that was unfair. He was doing more in the office, but with the odd jobs she was taking on it felt more stressful than ever.

"I'm dying to know how the date went!"

"Matsumoto-san, I've told you all over and over again it wasn't a date."

"I heard Kita Takumi is notoriously private," Kiyone supplied helpfully at Rangiku's side. "Almost no one gets to see his studio. It's very romantic isn't it?"

Nanao shook her head. They were like a dog with a bone. "There was nothing romantic about it. I went, I saw his studio, we discussed art, here I am."

"He didn't kiss you?" The disappointment in Kiyone's tone made her smile.

"No. He was a perfect gentleman, because it wasn't a date."

"Men don't ask women to see their studio platonically," Matsumoto argued. "Just ask your Taicho. He's been brooding ever since I told him where you were, because he at least has enough sense to know it was a date."

Nanao flinched. She'd specifically not told Kyouraku Taicho what her weekend plans entailed. She understood they were childhood enemies, but it all sounded so silly and she really had wanted to go. She had hoped she could just not tell him about this particular outing. She knew it was cowardly, but it wasn't so much a lie as it was a tiny omission. "Surely he has bigger thing so worry about," she muttered mainly to herself.

"So when are you going out with him again?"

"We aren't dating."

"He didn't ask to see you again?" Matsumoto looked unconvinced.

"He invited me to a show he has later this month." The women around her squealed and she flinched. "It's a public show. It's not a date."

"It's a date," the women chorused.

"Seriously, I can see it now," Matsumoto said dreamily. "Him asking you to pose for a provocative nude painting, you shyly accepting, but only if it's private and he won't show the painting to anyone, tension slowly building as his professionalism quickly unravels-"

"Stop, now, please." Nanao covered her friend's mouth with her hand. "It was not a date and there will be no nude modeling. I'm going to find a drink." She swept away from them as they went back to furious whispering and giggling.

Shunsui was easy enough to find. She just followed the foul mood his reiatsu was releasing into the air. He had a tight control on it so as not to dampen anyone else's party fun, but she could feel it easy enough. Was he really that upset? From his mood you'd think she'd brought Takumi back to the 8th and got caught dry humping him on Shunsui's desk. She'd gone to a studio to look at some paintings and have a conversation with a great artist. Nothing more. It's not like Takumi gave her that warm fuzzy feeling that she got when Shunsui complimented her work.

Coming up behind where he was sitting by himself dressed as a pirate and nursing a drink, Nanao wondered if she could tease him out of the mood. Perhaps if she could distract him they wouldn't have to have the conversation. "Ahoy matey," she growled in his ear. She ran her fingers lightly over his neck and smiled as goose bumps followed her path.

"Nanao-chan." He pressed a hand down and captured her gloved fingers. "You're late."

"And you're on time. Wonders never cease." He tugged her hand and pulled her out in front of him. "You make quite the dashing pirate. Although I'm surprised you haven't surrounded yourself with wenches yet."

He frowned at that. "Perhaps I'd prefer a princess. You look lovely in pink, Nanao-chan."

She blushed and pulled her hand back to smooth out her dress. "I didn't have time to pick up a costume. I gave Rukia-san money and asked her to do it on the SWA's trip as she was the only one I could trust to buy me something modest when I asked her to and stand up to Matsumoto. I didn't give her much direction beyond modest."

"I suppose that would explain why you and Kuchiki Taicho match then?" He nodded to the other side of the room, and Nanao turned to catch sight of the noble. He was dressed as a western prince in an ensemble clearly meant to complement hers.

"Who would have thought Rukia-san had a thing for fairy tales?"

"How was your date?"

"It wasn't a date."

"If Takumi asked you to his studio it was a date. I've heard him and my brother talking enough over the years to know his moves."

"He didn't make a move."

"He invited you to one of his shows, right?" Nanao crossed her arms, but didn't say no. "Yep, then he'll ask you back to his place to show you the piece he just couldn't bare to put on display with the others. Depending on how you react to that he'll ask you out to dinner or just go straight for the kill and ask whether he can paint you that evening. You'd be surprised how many girls he's gotten into bed with a simple sketch or watercolor."

"That's sort of sleazy."

Shunsui shrugged. "He's a guy, and it works. So are you going to let him paint you, Nanao-chan?"

"Of course not."

"Dinner and drinks then," Shunsui sighed looking out over the crowd dejectedly.

"Would you like to attend his show with me?"

Shunsui switched his focus back to her instantly. "What?"

She reached out to flip his pirate eyepatch up so she could see both his eyes. "Would you like to attend his show with me? It's a public show and he said nothing about a date, just asked me to come. I'm sure I can bring a friend along, and then you'll get the pleasure of disrupting any real or imagined plans Takumi-san may or may not have."

"Don't you want to date him?"

"Just because I like his artwork and wanted to see his studio doesn't mean I want to jump into bed with him. He had some good tips on my own technique that I'm excited to try, but other than that he seemed a bit self absorbed." Honestly he wasn't self absorbed enough to entirely put her off based on just that, but she also wasn't going to date someone who seemed to distress Shunsui quite this much. There were other men, and she trusted her Taicho's judgment. Takumi was polite, talented, and a good conversationalist, but it wasn't like she was attracted enough to him to do stupid impulsive things. Shunsui seemed to be the only one who inspired that sort of stupidity in her. Her mind flashed to that kiss on her birthday months ago, and she pushed it away. She'd gotten better about not thinking about that particular memory at any given moment only through sheer force of will.

"He is," Shunsui said eagerly. "Really terribly self absorbed."

She laughed. "I said a bit. If you come to the show you need to be polite."

"Can I put my arm around your waist as we stroll the gallery?"

"We can negotiate for it," she joked.

"Paperwork?"

"Paperwork is always on the table. Speaking of, I need to find Hitsugaya Taicho. Have you seen him?"

"No, why?"

"I promised to help clear some of his backlog if he allowed this party to happen here."

"Why?"

"Because it's easier and faster for me to do paperwork than it is to prepare for and clean up after a party at the 8th. He must have been truly desperate to agree."

"You can't do paperwork at a party, Nanao-chan." He stood and tried to grab her hand, but she dodged away.

"It'll only take an hour. No one will even miss me, and this is really the only time I have."

"You have to pull back on working so hard." She rolled her eyes. This had become a constant refrain over the past few months. He'd always encouraged her to relax more, but now it had evolved into a regular fight between them.

"Taicho, you know better than anyone why I need to. I really don't want to argue tonight. Neither of us are going to change our positions on the matter."

"You're going to put yourself in an early grave," he sighed unhappily. "I don't see Hachiro-san working this hard."

"The faster I get my family out of debt, the faster this is over."

"Until they do it again knowing you'll pull them out of it."

"I told my mother that if this ever happened again I'd marry the lowest shinigami who was from the furthest district and then make sure to visit home with him often. I also threatened to take over the family finances completely if they expected any further help from me if they fell into debt again. As much as I don't want to handle that too, my mother wants to give up control even less."

"You're going to drop dead from the workload and that is unacceptable."

"Taicho, I'll always be around to do your paperwork. You really don't need to worry. Now stop brooding and go enjoy the party. I'll be back shortly if you're even sober by then."

"A full day of paperwork."

"Huh?"

"For an arm around your waist at the art show. I'll trade a full day of paperwork."

"You're going to get more delight out of showing off in front of Takumi-san than one day of paperwork."

"A full day of paperwork and a shoulder massage."

"Taicho."

"A full day of paperwork, a shoulder massage, and a home cooked meal at my place."

"That sounds more like a date than a bribe."

"Can't it be both?"

"You're ridiculous," she said shaking her head. "Think on it and get back to me. Now shoo. There are other people for you to harass."

He clasped her hand and bowed over it extravagantly. "I will await your return, my lady." Then he kissed the back of her hand and she snatched it away quickly.

"Get." He bounced off happily enough and she shook her head again. Why she indulged his moods she could never quite explain even to herself. Lisa certainly never had. She supposed, although she'd never admit it out loud, that at the end of the day she often found his tantrums cute, which she was sure he banked on. Coming from another man she'd be annoyed, but Shunsui's possessiveness rarely bothered her. She knew better than to take it seriously, but it was still nice to think he cared that much about her attentions and opinions, and she liked him well enough that instead of annoying it was often flattering. Besides she liked him happy. It felt nice when she could feel his reiatsu sparking playful and light. His good mood was sure to put her in a good mood and vice versa. It was just the way they were.

An hour and a half later Nanao made her way back to the party with a grateful Hitsaguya Taicho trailing her. It wasn't like the paperwork had been hard, there had just been a lot of it thanks to the bubbly Fukutaicho currently entertaining a crowd at one end of the party. Glancing around the party it seemed like everyone was having a good time. She spotted her Taicho in another circle of people regaling them with a story and looking like he was enjoying himself thoroughly. His reiatsu mirrored his contentment. A pretty woman in a pirate costume was inching her way closer to him in the circle, though he seemed totally unaware, and Nanao rolled her eyes. He'd have a bedmate before the night was over.

She noticed Hisagi and Kira grabbing drinks and food and headed that way. She needed to talk to Hisagi about making her column in the paper bi-weekly for a little while. It was probably early enough in the evening that he'd remember the conversation in the morning.

Some time later Nanao was surprised to find she was actually having fun. Parties usually weren't her scene, but it was amusing to see everyone's costumes and there was such a good mood that it was infectious. Perhaps she had been working herself too hard lately. Occasionally she should listen to her Taicho and spend some time with friends having fun, not that she was going to admit that to him. He'd use it as an argument every time he was trying to get her to shirk her work.

"It seems neither of us had time to search for a costume."

Nanao smiled and turned around. "I take it you asked Rukia-san to choose your costume as well."

Kuchiki gave a fluid shrug that, combined with his costume, looked more regal than it should. "I didn't have the time or the interest to do it myself. However Rukia insisted it would be improper to attend without a costume and an insult not to attend at all. Why did you not select your own costume? I thought the SWA had an outing specifically for that purpose."

"I had too much work to attend. I figured Rukia-san would at least listen to my request for something modest."

"I believe Matsumoto Fukutaicho may still have had some influence over the color choice for you."

Nanao snorted. It was a well-known fact that Matsumoto often tried to play matchmaker for people, and she'd been trying to make Shunsui and Nanao happen loudly and aggressively for years. "She does have an unnatural interest in me and Kyouraku Taicho being a couple. If all she got was the color this time I'll consider myself lucky. Last time she had a say I ended up with a bathing suit that's top pulled right off at the first wave. I was lucky Kyouraku Taicho wasn't on that particular outing or I'm sure she really would have done something drastic. A few years ago she locked us in a storage closet together overnight in the 8th for a laugh."

Kuchiki lifted an eyebrow. "How did that end?"

"Our third seat let us out in the morning. We could have, of course, broken the door off, but Kyouraku Taicho had already blown the budget that month and I just didn't need the extra expense of fixing it." Kuchiki still looked curious, though he was too proper to pry further. She rewarded him for the decorum. "Kyouraku Taicho would never actually force himself on me or anyone else. He just likes to flirt and be dramatic. He was actually probably more respectful in that closet than he usually is in public. Matsumoto-san was very disappointed." If it hadn't been such a cramped closet it would be a mainly pleasant memory. They'd spent most of the evening talking and eventually they'd wound up falling asleep. She'd woken up snuggled into him, but with his cuddling problem and the lack of room it hadn't been a surprise. She'd just been glad she'd woken up and moved before their 3rd seat found them. There had been enough gossip without Enjoji spreading that particular rumor.

"Well, as neither Matsumoto Fukutaicho or Kyouraku Taicho are nearby would you care to dance?"

"Really?"

"Rukia insists I need to make more of an effort at these social gatherings. I presume you will not take a request to dance as an invitation to marriage?"

"Do people usually think that?"

"You'd be surprised."

Nanao laughed and accepted his outstretched hand. "I think I can manage my expectations."

They ended up dancing for two songs before Kuchiki turned her in a spin and a new hand grasped her free hand and spun her further away from Kuchiki. She found herself stumbling into the arms of her Taicho.

"Kyouraku Taicho, that was very rude."

Kyouraku shrugged and grinned at Kuchiki. "Pirates steal princesses and hold them for ransom. It's what we do. Can't be helped. You understand, don't you?"

"What ransom are you asking?" Kuchiki asked looking not at all perturbed by the interruption.

"One you surely can't afford. So I'll just take the princess and be on my way." Then Kyouraku danced away from him further on to the dance floor.

"Did you ever think the princess might not consent to being kidnapped?"

"Are you going to fight me, Nanao-chan?" He leered at her playfully and she stepped on his toes for good measure. He gave her a pout. "Haven't you read the stories? The princess always falls in love with her dashing kidnapper instead of the dreary pompous prince she was being forced to marry for love of country. If she's lucky the pirate even turns out to be a displaced prince."

"That's called Stockholm syndrome and it isn't romantic."

"Nanao-chan is no fun."

"Best you let me go back to the stuffy prince then."

Shunsui sulked but loosened his hold on her. "Do you really want to?"

She softened like she always did for him. She'd have to ask Jyuushiro advice for how to take a firmer position with him. Then again his best friend always seemed to indulge him too so perhaps Jyuushiro didn't have any helpful insight. "No, but next time you ask to cut in like a polite human being or I will break all of your toes."

Shunsui grinned and spun her. "As you wish, my lady."

They danced two songs before a slow song came on. Nanao debated putting up her usual fight, but she could see the hopeful look in her Taicho's eyes, well eye as the damn patch was down again. He refrained from making a scene or making his hold on her any tighter though so she figured she could reward him. It was a party after all, and she had just been telling herself to have more fun. She stepped closer into his embrace and he flicked her reiatsu happily with his before leading her slowly across the dance floor.

"What if I upped the shoulder massage to a full body massage?"

Nanao gave a very un-princess-like snort. "Inappropriate."

"How about full day of paperwork, shoulder massage, and a weekend away in the living world. I'd do the paperwork for the trip and pay for everything. We could go to that onsen you liked so much that you visited with Momo-chan."

She was surprised he remembered that as they'd gone years ago on a girl's weekend and it wasn't like she'd talked much about it since. "Again that sounds more like a couple's weekend vacation than a bribe. How about a week of paperwork and your birthday parties move back to a bar setting?"

"That's a hard bargain, Nanao-chan. I only just got my birthday party back at the 8th and that was for a full week of pretending not just a couple hours at a gallery."

"Week of paper work and a defined time when your birthday party makes its way out of the 8th to the bars. Perhaps three hours at the 8th?"

"How about 3 days of paperwork, four hours at the 8th, and a home cooked dinner with me? If everything goes well I may throw in the shoulder massage for free."

"My earlier complaint stands."

"Would it be so bad if it was a date?"

She laughed and rested her head against his shoulder. She saw Matsumoto giving her a thumbs up and rolled her eyes. "You don't date, Taicho."

"Maybe I want to start."

That was new. She pulled back to see his face. "You hate dating."

"Remember how I used to hate Indian food, but then I found the one dish I liked and now I love it?"

She indulged him and nodded. She had always been the one who wanted to order Indian, and she'd made him try the various dishes till he found one he liked. She hadn't been trying to expand his cultural horizons it'd really been so she could order from where she wanted on late nights in the office. "Your point being?"

"I think dating might be the same for me. I think I thought I hated it because I hadn't found the right dish yet."

She smiled involuntarily at his silliness, picking up on his new game. "And you're trying to imply that I'm the right dish?"

"You're always the right dish, Nanao-chan."

She laughed and pulled his hair lightly in reprimand with the hand that was around his neck. "Getting bored of the old compliments, are we? You're not going to flirt your way into getting the better end of this deal. I'm immune," a lie, but one she liked to tell. "A week of paperwork and four hours in the 8th, it's my final offer."

"Would it be the worst thing?" he asked looking much too serious for this negotiation. "If we were to go out on a date?"

She felt her heart start to hammer in her chest. She wasn't sure this was a game she wanted to play. It was hitting much too close to a mark she'd thought she had well in hand. "Taicho, you're not thinking this through."

"I am though. I like being with you. It may have been pretend, but I'd like to make it real."

"You like the idea of a relationship nothing more. If you don't think I was on my best behavior when I was staying with you then you're wrong. Actual relationships are messier than the deal we made, and you don't have a set timeframe or an easy out at the end."

"Oh? And what heinous qualities were you keeping hidden from me?" She heard the joke in his tone and tried to control her own frustration. He was being ridiculous, and she ruthlessly shoved down the part of her that was hurt by it. He didn't mean to hurt her. She knew that and yet.

"You don't want to date me and any implication to the contrary is a joke and not a very funny one." She pulled back from him so that they had as little physical connection as possible.

"I hate the idea of you with someone else," he said seriously.

"That means you're possessive, not that you actually want a romantic relationship with me. You hate the idea of me with someone else, but do you hate the idea of you with someone else?"

She was surprised by his quick and sincere answer. "Recently, yes."

"Taicho." They'd stopped dancing and ignored the bodies swaying around them.

"I know you don't have any reason to believe me. My track record is not good, but I honestly think I'd like to date you, Nanao-chan. I want you with me. I want you at work. I want you after work and on the weekends. I want you in my bed at night working on deadly kido spells. I want you."

"Think isn't good enough," she said as her heart tried to escape her chest and it felt like her airways were closing up. This was cruel even if he didn't think it was or mean it to be. He should know she wasn't the type to be frivolous with these things. These words weren't a game to her, and he should know her well enough to know that. "There's too much at stake for you to think you'd like to date me. Especially when it's really just a childish impulse to one up your childhood rival. I said I'd go to the gallery with you. You can put your arm around my waist for a day of paperwork. There, deal. You win." That said she pulled her hands from his and left the dance floor. If she stayed any longer she'd betray how truly upset he'd just made her.

"Nanao-chan, wait." She moved faster slipping through the partygoers. People moved out of her way laughing as her Taicho trailed her in what she was sure the masses assumed was just another of their legendary fights. Good, at least that would save her from public embarrassment and rumors. Just another night of the Shunsui and Nanao show – nothing to see here. She fled down a random hallway and struggled as he caught her by the arms. "Wait, please."

"You've gotten your way. I'm tired, Taicho. I'd like to go home now."

"Would you look at me? I haven't gotten my way at all." She turned stiffly to face him. A couple wandered down the hall towards the party shooting them curious looks and Nanao clinched her jaw. He sighed and let them pass and then gently guided her through the nearest door, which happened to be Hitsugaya's office. He shut the door and faced her again in the dim light created by the outside street lamps.

"I'm not fooling around, Nanao-chan."

"Taicho, I've listened to you go on for years about the pointlessness of long-term monogamous relationships. You want me to believe that changed in a week?"

"A week and three months of deeper self contemplation than I care to admit," he corrected. "I miss you."

"So wait till I pay off my family's debts, and I'll be around more again. Don't jump to dating me."

"I don't want what we had before. I mean it was nice, I like our friendship, and before that's all I thought I wanted. I thought I could care for you and cheer you on when you found someone who made you happy. And maybe I could have once, but not anymore. I want to be the person who makes you happy, and I understand I might not be good at it. I'm probably going to screw up because this will be my first time in a serious relationship, but it's what I want. I learn fast when I want to though, you know I do. I'd learn fast for you."

He looked so earnest it physically hurt her. "Shunsui, I wouldn't survive it when you figured out you were happier as you've always been. Clearly you think you want this, but I honestly can't image anything that would hurt me worse. If I was upset when Hachiro didn't want me." She trailed off and was surprised to feel her eyes burning with unshed tears. Yep, that was how much it would hurt. Just the thought had her almost crying. "I really wouldn't survive it."

"Because you love me."

She sniffed and blinked her eyes quickly trying to maintain control. "And I can handle that as a friend."

"Well that's stupid because I love you right back."

"You think you do, but you really just want to thwart Takumi-san."

"Nanao," he said in that grave voice he got when he gave a command he actually expected her to follow. His hands touched her cheeks and made her make eye contact. "I'm many things, but out of touch with my emotions is not one of them. I don't give a shit about Takumi. Well, I do, I dislike him and I don't want him with you, but you've already given me what I want there. There'd be no need for me to pursue this any further if that was all this was about. Completely independent of that I want you. I love you. I mean I've loved you for a long time as a friend and it's become something more. I'm in love with you."

"You'll get bored."

"I will not."

"You always do."

"Nanao-chan, I'm generally bored with the women I sleep with before I even sleep with them. You honestly can't judge my relationship capabilities by that."

"Shunsui, I want things you don't."

"You want exclusivity, marriage and babies, and a happy life together. So do I."

"Since when have you ever wanted babies?"

"Since I thought about making them with Nanao-chan," he said with a relaxed grin that normally made her feel happy and safe.

"It's not that easy."

"Of course it is. Nanao-chan is making it difficult."

He would see it that way. Simply make the choice to be in love and completely change overnight. Nanao wasn't wired that way. She liked evidence. She liked tried and true methods. She wrapped her arms around herself and turned away from him. It just wasn't that easy. He clearly saw her shutting down and gently turned her back towards him.

"Think of it as an experimental kido spell," he offered with a touch of desperation in his voice.

"What?"

"It may have its dangers, a few false starts and stops, but in the end the final spell is worth it."

Nanao snorted. "You clearly don't know how many experimental kido spells have blown up in my face."

"But my Nanao-chan didn't give up just because of that, did she? No, she kept working till the spell was just right."

"I've abandoned spells that were never going to work."

"I'm not one of those. We'll work. Just give it a try."

"Not with you. There is no try. It's all or nothing."

"Then let's do it all."

And then she really did start to cry. Because she stupidly wanted it all, but her better sense told her that wouldn't last. That really what would happen was she would lose it all. And then what? Crawl home to her mother and admit she truly was the disappointment they thought she was?

"Oh, Nanao," he reached for her and she went limply into his arms. She could count the number of times he'd seen her actually cry on one hand. Once when they'd lost Lisa, once when she'd been terribly injured on a mission, once the first year she'd had to handle the annual division review though that had been from pure exhaustion, and once when she'd gotten out from visiting Momo in the hospital after Aizen. She'd cried when Shunsui got himself injured too, but she'd never let him see that. She'd have to be careful now or she'd up it to two hands.

He was stroking her head and making soothing sounds and it just made her cry harder. The tears dried up a few minutes later, but she left her face buried in his chest as she sniffled mostly out of shame. When had she become such a weak willed woman? Sobbing over a man confessing his love to her? She shoved him away from her and went over to Matsumoto's desk desperate for a tissue. She was not a beautiful crier. She blew her nose and wiped her eyes staring firmly at the desk in front of her.

"Nanao-chan."

"It won't work. It's too risky. I'm sorry."

"Nanao, you're operating under the incorrect assumption that I won't be hurt if it ends poorly too – that you're taking all the risk and I'll just go on with life if a relationship between us ends."

"You will."

"I won't. You're my Fukutaicho and the only reason our division holds together the way that it does. You're one of my best friends. You're someone I trust inherently. As corny as it may sound, you make my days brighter. You're the first reiatsu I seek out when I wake up and the last one I check on before I go to sleep. Do you think I want to lose all that? For what? Sex? I'm not a stupid man, Nanao-chan. I wouldn't risk all of what we already have if I wasn't very very sure we could succeed at having more."

She looked up at him and he looked so hopeful and confident that she wanted to say yes and make him happy. Make him look at her like that forever. That was always the problem with him. He made her positively weak.

He must have seen the waver in her face and pounced. "Nanao-chan, I've met your mother and your family and I still want to get into a relationship with you. That has to be at least some sort of recommendation for my intentions?"

That did elicit a laugh from her. "She'll take you for everything you're worth if you're actually dating me."

"Exactly. I wouldn't take that risk for just anyone."

"The Soutaicho already told you no."

"Yama-jii didn't want me to break your heart, and I've already clarified I don't plan to do that."

"I want marriage and children. If we were dating it would be to that end."

"I'll marry you tomorrow if you want. We can start on children next week. I think we need at least a week of time as just us."

She gave a watery little laugh and touched the pendant around her neck to distract herself. It was the necklace he'd gotten her for her birthday and she hadn't been able to resist pairing it with the princess dress. "I'll think about it."

His face fell, but he did his best to hide it. "Can I make one last persuasive argument?"

"If you must." He leaned towards her and she realized he was going to kiss her. He hesitated a hair's breadth away from her giving her the time to step away from him. She didn't and he kissed her a moment later. It was perfect and it made her knees go wobbly, which worked out just fine as he was there with an arm around her waist and a warm broad hand on the back of her neck. She returned the kiss and dragged him closer. Could she really have this? She wanted it. He backed her up against the wall and deepened the kiss.

"I swear we won't get caught," a male voice reassured as the door slid open. "Come on, baby."

"Oh!"

Shunsui broke the kiss and made an unhappy little growl. "This room's taken."

"Sorry, Kyouraku Taicho," the duo squeaked before taking off and slamming the door as they left.

"I don't think they could make out who you were with the lights off and me in front of you."

"It's fine," Nanao said softly. "Even if they did no one will believe them." Then she tugged on his hair and pulled him down to her so she could kiss him again. She broke the kiss a moment later pulling back and smiled as he leaned towards her trying to follow her lips with his. She touched his lips with her fingers and stopped him. He kissed her fingertips, but didn't move any further.

"Are you sure you still want to think about it?"

"Yes, but your arguments are convincing." More than convincing, but she certainly wasn't dumb enough to make a decision this momentous when her brain was kiss-hazy from him.

"I want to kiss you again."

"Well, you can't."

He chuckled at that and loosened his hold on her. "You'll think about it seriously, Nanao-chan?"

"Yes, though I think we're both insane for even contemplating it."

He smiled at that. "I can't wait to see your mother's face when you tell her."

"I haven't decided anything yet." She returned his smile all the same and wondered how he could possibly know he'd already won. Just a look from him and she felt her resistance crumble further. They were friends and that did matter to him. He wouldn't risk that lightly. She believed that at least. "I'm leaving, Taicho."

"Can I walk you home?" The request was polite and pleading.

"Ok."

"Ok?"

"Yes, you can walk me home."

Shunsui looked delighted and offered her his arm. She rolled her eyes, but took it. "See? I've already got the hang of this courting thing."

"No one calls it that anymore."

"Dating, whatever, same thing. I think I'm going to be really good at it. You'll see."

A/N: Only one more chapter to go… Again to everyone who takes the time to review thank you so much! Always makes my day. Hope you all have a wonderful week!