The rest of the week didn't improve much for Nanao. Between the gossip and Kyouraku's constant hovering presence, her nerves were beginning to fray from always being on edge. She'd quickly and resolutely shot down any attempt at personal conversation or interaction in the office, and Shunsui had carefully towed the line, probably mostly due to the fact that he believed if he pushed her she'd transfer. He was right in thinking that. It was more her dignity and pride than anything else that kept her at the 8th. Seeing him daily and suffering his sad longing looks and lonely sighs was like perpetually grinding salt into an open wound. He was doing it on purpose too. He knew exactly what generally made her bend to his wishes. She'd never been able to tolerate him being honestly unhappy for long.
"All finished," he said, placing another pile of paperwork on her desk. "Do you need help with the schedules?"
"Since when do you know anything about the schedules?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He'd also been doing more paperwork than she'd ever seen him complete and staying late with her every night, although she was pretty sure half of that was to avoid his family and Kiyoko. Not that she doubted that he wanted to walk her home. She'd refused him every night, but that still didn't stop him from following a pace or two behind her to her front door. She'd yelled at him the first night, but he had argued that he was free to walk wherever he pleased, and if he just so happened to be meandering in the same general direction as her, well there was no crime in that.
"I'm willing to learn," he offered hopefully.
"I have it handled, sir," she said dismissively. "We have a meeting in a bit anyway. Do you want to walk to the 1st or shunpo?"
"Will you talk with me while we walk?" he asked.
"Not about anything that isn't work related," she said simply.
"Then we might as well shunpo closer to the actual meeting time," he said with a sigh.
"As you wish, Taicho," she answered benignly. He made a face at her form of address, but didn't press it further. She finished a few more papers uninterrupted and then quickly tidied her things, as she didn't plan on coming back to the office after the late meeting. Nanao gave final instructions to some squad members as she left, knowing they would knock off an hour early with her gone if she didn't. They'd still probably leave early, but they'd get the assigned tasks done to at least pretend that they didn't.
They arrived at the 1st with ten minutes to spare, which was a first. Over the years, she'd occasionally gotten Kyouraku to meetings on-time, perhaps once or twice she'd managed a minute or two early, but never with this much extra time.
"Shunsui, Nanao-san," Jyuushiro called raising an eyebrow as the two touched down next to him. "Rather early for the two of you?"
"Kyouraku Taicho has been particularly helpful in the office this week," she said simply.
Jyuushiro just nodded knowing that a joke wasn't appropriate in the situation, and there was nothing else to say that wouldn't bring up the reason Kyouraku had been so helpful. "Is it exciting to see everyone before we're all already lined up in the meeting?" Jyuushiro asked Kyouraku with a smile.
"Thrilling," Kyouraku said dryly. "I can't believe I've been missing it all these years."
Nanao watched the two and wondered if they'd had time to talk since Jyuushiro had offered her a safe haven. She had to assume they had, but figured it couldn't hurt to give them another opportunity. "I need to see Rangiku-san for a moment. If you two will excuse me?" she said. Both men nodded and she slipped away.
"She hates me, and she's still making sure I'm taken care of," Shunsui observed with a sigh, as the small woman crossed the courtyard to her friend.
"Didn't you tell her we'd spoken?" Jyuushiro asked, glancing over at the girl. "She seemed concerned that I would need to pick your side to maintain our friendship."
"She won't listen to anything that isn't directly work related, and there aren't sides," Shunsui said frustrated.
"Which is what I told her," Jyuushiro answered with a shrug. "But Shun, you forget how young she is, and the fact that you were her first real relationship. She hasn't had years to fine tune her breakup style. She's doing the best she can."
"We're not breaking up," Shunsui defended.
"You already are broken up," Jyuushiro said with a sigh.
"She just needs time."
"Time to what?" Jyuushiro asked, feeling sorry for his friend all over again. "The only way she'll come back to you, is if you can prove you didn't sleep with Kiyoko-san and that the baby isn't yours. You've had Retsu-san check everyday and the answer is always the same. The reiatsu is getting stronger and it's always Kyouraku."
"I don't feel anything for the woman," Shunsui defended.
"Which means nothing at this point," Jyuushiro put in.
"I can't just marry her because of one terrible blackout mistake," Shunsui said.
"Either way, Nanao won't marry you now," Jyuushiro added. "Have you talked to Kiyoko-san at all?"
"Not really," Shunsui said, watching Nanao smile at Rangiku in a way that she hadn't done for him all week. "She stays with my family, and I stay here avoiding her besides the daily trips to the 4th."
"You think she's lying still?" Jyuushiro asked.
Shunsui sighed and didn't answer for a moment. "No, I don't think she's lying. From the little I know of her and remember from when she stayed with us all those years ago she's a meek little thing. Raised by her family to be the perfect submissive woman with little to no personality of her own. I doubt she's even capable of lying, particularly on such a large scale. For kami sake, she wanted to find Nanao and apologize, as she didn't know I was seeing someone. I just can't understand how I would, even drunk. I wasn't unhappy in the slightest. Why would any of my brain think to do that?" he said, repeating out loud what he'd been asking himself all week.
"Instinct?" Jyuushiro offered. "You've never been a long term relationship kind of guy, and most of the long term ones you've had have been open relationships."
"Nanao's different. I didn't even think about going to someone else," he said honestly. "Kami, the only thing I wanted was more of her."
"So what are you going to do?" Jyuushiro asked, watching as Hisagi and Kira approached the two women and joined into the conversation.
"Be patient, I suppose," Shunsui said. "It worked to get her the first time. I just have to prove I'm not going to screw up again. I'll give up drinking and do every single piece of paperwork that crosses my desk if that's what it takes. I can protect Kiyoko and the child and support them, but I can't be a part of one more family I don't feel anything for."
Both men stopped talking for a second as Nanao's laugh rang out across the courtyard, and they watched as Rangiku scrambled to try to cover Nanao's ears.
"It's good to hear her laugh," Jyuushiro said quietly.
"I'm not giving up," Shunsui said.
"Good luck with that," Jyuushiro said, not at all unkindly. "Looks like we should head into the meeting."
"Would you get off," Nanao requested still smiling.
"I can't," Rangiku answered. "These two might keep telling lies about me."
"It's no lie," Hisagi replied grinning. "She told Hitsugaya-Taicho that her boobs were attacking her in her sleep."
"You know what," Rangiku demanded dropping her hands. "They're very heavy and if I sleep on my back they try to smother me! Besides we'd been drinking!"
Nanao laughed again. "How did I miss this moment?"
"You were probably busy being responsible," Rangiku said rolling her eyes.
"Come drinking with us more," Hisagi agreed. "Trust me, that's just one of many stories."
"Although the risk lies in that we'd get dirt on you too," Rangiku added, grinning like a cat.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Nanao said snootily as they started walking into the hall. "I'm a perfect lady when drunk."
"This, from the woman who told everyone to get naked the one and only time I've seen her drunk," Hisagi said smirking.
"I was just trying to be fair," she defended.
"It's settled then," Rangiku said clapping her hands.
"What is?" Kira asked before anyone else could.
"Nanao-chan is coming drinking with us tomorrow night," Rangiku explained gleefully.
"Rangiku," Nanao warned.
"Oh come on, we can all get naked if that would make you more comfortable," she said happily.
"I don't think," Nanao started.
"You should come," Hisagi cut her off. "Nothing better for the soul than drinking."
"Well, besides healthy ways of dealing with problems," Kira muttered.
"Oh, don't be such a spoil sport," Rangiku chastised bumping the morose boy with her shoulder.
"It's on me," Hisagi added.
"All of us?" Rangiku squealed.
"No," he said instantly. "You'd drink away everything I own, just Nanao-san."
"You're only offering because you know she's a light weight," Rangiku pouted.
"I can afford a light weight," he said with a laugh. "The king himself couldn't afford you."
"Come on, Nanao," Rangiku wheedled. "Now you have to come. It's free. And you can slip me extra drinks!"
"I suppose a little wouldn't do any harm," she said waveringly.
"A little what?" Kyouraku asked coming up behind them as they all filtered in.
"A little fun," Rangiku said, giving him a dirty look and putting her arm around Nanao's waist. "Girl's night and all." Then she dragged her away to stand in their usual spots. As the Taicho's usually altered divisions standing across from each other at formal meetings, i.e. the 2nd on the left row, the 3rd on the right row and so on down, the 8th and the 10th Taichos ended up standing next to each other with their fukutaichos taking the spots a space behind them.
Kyouraku and Hitsugaya moved in front of them, Kyouraku with a lingering look at the two women. Nanao didn't meet his eyes, but she could feel Rangiku glaring next to her. "Knock it off," she hissed.
"What?" Rangiku asked truly surprised.
"I don't want any drama," Nanao said quietly as the Soutaicho entered.
"Man deserves to be punished," Rangiku defended.
"There's nothing we can do," Nanao sighed. "So just leave it."
"You're much too nice," Rangiku said as the Soutaicho started taking his seat.
"I just want to pretend none of it ever happened," she replied.
"Even the good parts?" Rangiku asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Nanao said firmly. "The good parts just make the bad parts hurt that much more."
"I suppose that's one way to handle it," Rangiku said.
"Ladies?" the Soutaicho's voice bit into their conversation. "Am I interrupting something?"
Nanao flushed bright red and shook her head. "No, we're done. Thanks for checking!" Rangiku called cheerfully. The Soutaicho huffed but continued on. The meeting was a rather dull one that lasted far longer than it should have, and even Nanao was having problems concentrating by the end.
"Dismissed," the Soutaicho said finally.
"Nanao-chan," Kyouraku said, instantly turning to her.
"Ise fukutaicho, I need you for a minute," the Soutaicho said as people started for the door.
She shrugged at Kyouraku and swept past him, feeling him fall in a step behind her as everyone else filed out of the room.
"Do you need something, Shunsui?" the Soutaicho asked calmly as they came to a stop in front of them.
"You called for Nanao-chan?" he asked, ignoring the disapproval in the older man's tone.
"Yes, not for you," the Soutaicho said simply. "You're dismissed."
Shunsui grumbled for a bit, but left after a few minutes, telling Nanao he'd be waiting for her outside. She just rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the old man.
"He never did understand when a battle was lost," the Soutaicho said calmly. "Ise fukutaicho, I'm sure you are aware of the situation?"
"What situation is that, sir?" she asked, honestly confused.
"The one involving Kyouraku Shunsui and Hayashi Kiyoko," the Soutaicho clarified.
"Ah, yes, I'm aware," she said slowly. "How could I not be?"
"As you were still functioning in your fukutaicho capacity," he said, "I just wanted to be sure."
"Duty comes first," Nanao said stoutly. "I have always been quite adamant about keeping my personal affairs separate from my business ones. If you are concerned, I assure you that the 8th will continue functioning as normal. My previous personal relationship with Kyouraku Taicho will not affect the level of my work. I am first and foremost the fukutaicho of the 8th division."
"A respectable objective," the Soutaicho said. "Unfortunately, the 8th will no longer be requiring your services."
Nanao couldn't control the look of shock that ripped across her features. "Sir? I don't understand. Has the quality of my work gone down?"
"Quite the contrary," the Soutaicho responded calmly. "You've functioned quite admirably, and Kyouraku has completed more paperwork in the past week than he has in centuries."
"Then why am I being demoted?" she demanded, struggling to keep the hissing anger out of her tone.
"It was requested that you be placed elsewhere," he said, ignoring her obvious rage.
"By whom?" she challenged.
"The Kyouraku family," he said simply.
"Since when do the Kyouraku's run the Gotei 13?" she asked coldly.
"They don't," he said. "They requested a personal favor, and made a rather large donation. Beyond that it is part of our duty to protect the royal family and those whom serve it. The Kyouraku family makes the argument that your presence is a continuous unnecessary distraction and puts one of their direct heirs at risk."
"That's bullshit," she said before she could stop herself, and she saw Sasakibe fukutaicho react like he'd been slapped behind the Soutaicho. Perhaps she had allowed too much of Kyouraku's casual manner to rub off on her.
"The decision is already final," the Soutaicho said simply.
"So I'm to be hidden in the Kido Corps like a dirty stain," she said bitterly.
"That was the requested solution, and the Kido Corps would be more than happy to have you, but as the Kyouraku's do not, as you say, run the Gotei 13, I don't see any particular reason you should be placed there if you do not wish to go," he said. "There are other options."
"Fukutaicho of the 13th?" she offered tiredly.
"That is one choice," the Soutaicho said with a brief nod. "I'm sure Jyuushiro would be happy to have you, but I would like to make you one other offer before you decide."
She stood silently, waiting for him to continue, and tried to calm down her racing thoughts. Shunsui's family had always been an annoyance, but now she was downright pissed off. They had no right to meddle with her work. She didn't deserve to lose one more thing in her life due to Shunsui's mistakes.
"Over the past year and a half or so, and through the situation with your father," the Soutaicho started and she stiffened. "It has come to my attention that ignoring the Rukongai's dealings completely is not perhaps our best course of action. When we were just creating the Gotei 13 the living world and the Rukongai were too much to handle, one had to take precedence. As it is, we still do not have enough shinigami to take care of all the souls in the living world and in the Rukongai, but better access to and knowledge of Rukongai happenings seems to be an excellent idea as a whole. The way it stands now, the people with the most influence and power in the Rukongai are the four top Yakuza families."
"The Higurashi being among them," Nanao filled in, working hard to keep her face unmoving. "If you are asking me to spy on my brother and his work associates, sir, then I will have to accept the post of fukutaicho to the 13th."
"Not spy," he said simply. "Become an ambassador."
"What?" she asked, not following.
"A liaison, if you will, between our two worlds," he expounded. "You will stay a shinigami, but will spend much of your time with the Yakuza, forming bridges and sharing information."
"Just not too much information from our side, correct?" she asked cynically. "With all do respect, sir, I'm not going to screw over my only remaining family."
"That's why you're perfect for the job," he said calmly. "If I send just any shinigami in there they won't get farther than the front door. They don't trust us, and perhaps rightly so."
"Even if I can get past the front door," she said breaking in. "I'm not going to help you dominate them or move them as pawns. I love the Gotei 13, sir, but I'm loyal to my brother too. I won't spill secrets all over the place."
"Exactly," he said with an almost imperceptible half smile. "You're very good at keeping your lips sealed Ise-san, and you've obviously proven you can work through less than ideal circumstances. You are also loyal to both causes. You're the second best option to having someone who is completely devoted to the Gotei 13 secretly infiltrate their ranks. The problem with that course of action is if the ploy were ever discovered, any form of trust or camaraderie that could be built would be forever destroyed. You, on the other hand, have a vested interest in both sides. You won't, as you put it, screw either side over because you care for both. Would I prefer someone who will only play to our advantage? Of course. But can I tolerate someone who will want the best for both sides? The answer is yes. You are the only one who has any chance of remaining an open shinigami and yet still gaining access to their inner workings. When I say ambassador, I mean it. You would be expected to become a part of them as much as you are a part of us."
"I would never be able to tell you everything that goes on, or they would never trust me enough to share it with me," she pointed out.
"I'm aware," he replied. "Which is why the situation isn't ideal, but it's better than the zero contact that we've maintained over the years."
"So whom would I report to?" she asked, trying not to sound too interested.
"The first," he said. "But more specifically only to me. A weekly report would be expected, as well."
"And?" she prompted.
"That's all, Ise-san, become a part of them, gather useful information, form bonds, and hand in a weekly report," he said. "If we know about things like Tanaka we can act and react in a more adequate way. His dealings with Hollows and his manipulation of our internal communications has proven how dangerous these unknown risks are, not to mention the bribery and forgery that was necessary to get you placed among our ranks. It leads one to wonder how many others have been illegitimately placed here."
"And if I refuse?" she asked.
"Then you will accept the offer of the 13th or the Kido Corps," he replied gruffly.
"If I wish to stay in the 8th?" she asked stonily.
"I won't allow it," he stated firmly. "Regardless of the Kyouraku family's wishes, there is nothing left for you there. You've been stagnant in that position for decades, your original potential wasted. I've allowed it to continue, as it was simply easier to do so, rather than listening to Kyouraku whine and finding someone else to replace your administrative skills. At this point, the waste has come to outweigh the benefits. If this is really all you can be, a paper pushing fukutaicho, then so be it, continue to do so at the 13th, but if you have simply remained at this level to stay at his side, then perhaps it is time to realize that the only person you can truly live for is yourself. So what is it to be, child? Have you reached the pinnacle of your potential, or is it time that you begin to leave the nest?"
"Are you not worried in the slightest that I will betray you in favor of my blood relations?" she asked.
"Do you still love Shunsui?" the Soutaicho asked.
"Yes," she answered, seeing no reason to deny it, especially with Shunsui out of earshot.
"And do you love Matsumoto fukutaicho and Ukitake Taicho?"
"Of course," she said promptly.
"And could you betray them anymore than your own blood?" he pressed.
"No, sir," she replied.
"Then I am unconcerned," he said. "When you stop caring for them, I will take precautions."
"I won't stop caring about them," she defended fiercely.
"Than I shall never have need of precautions," he said simply. "I need a decision, Ise-san."
"I want a raise," she said finally, barely believing her own audacity.
"And why do you deserve one?" he asked calmly.
"I lose my rank if I accept this position."
"The ambassador has access to all the divisions and anything he or she would need in a way a fukutaicho never has as per my direct authority," he explained. "You lose a title, but nothing much of rank."
"Do I overrule any fukutaicho or Taicho in their own division?" she asked.
"No, though they will be required to help you in any fashion I see fit," he said.
"Then I lose my rank," she replied. "At least as a fukutaicho I had command over something. Beyond that, the ambassador position will require new clothes constantly as a shinigami uniform will never do. It will also require that I spend more time in the Rukongai, which means eating out more, and inevitably money is the biggest tongue loosener in the poorer districts. Not to mention the small gifts here and there that will need to be made to attract the appropriate friends. As I will no longer have a division budget, I'll need an allowance."
"The required funds will be supplied," he said when she finished. "You will also have your raise whether you choose the ambassador or the fukutaicho of the 13th. Now, your decision."
"What is taking so long?" Shunsui grumbled.
"You don't have to wait," Jyuushiro pointed out, leaning against the wall and watching his friend pace. "In fact, she'd probably prefer you go. Perhaps she's already done talking to him and has simply been hiding from you."
"She hasn't been avoiding me," Shunsui defended against the suggestion.
"Just telling you to get away from her with her every word and action," Jyuushiro said simply. "Maybe some space would do you both some good?"
"Absolutely not," Shunsui stated firmly. "Space will just help her move on. The last thing we need is space."
"Shun, I hate to break it to you," Jyuushiro said, glancing up at the stars, "But she is going to have to move on someday."
"I'm not marrying Hayashi-san," Shunsui growled. "We'll figure it out, because that's what we do, we figure things out together. We're a team, inseparable."
"Nanao-san," Jyuushiro greeted as the door opened and the petite woman exited.
"What did Yama-jii want?" Shunsui asked with as little tact as possible.
"He wanted to finalize and get my signature on my transfer papers," she said coldly, holding out a folder for him to take.
He looked at it like she was trying to hand him a dog turd and refused to take it from her hands. "Why? Why now? Why not at the start of the week? And why like this? Couldn't you have just talked to me?" he demanded. "You said our relationship doesn't affect our work so you shouldn't be doing this."
"First of all," she said strongly, "we don't have a relationship anymore. Second of all, I didn't put in the transfer request."
"Who did then?" he growled, ignoring her comment on their relationship. "I know I sure as hell didn't."
"Your family," she said yawning. "Apparently I am a distraction to your work, and a consistent strain on your home life. Both of these could damage your ability to function as a Taicho and thus I should be duly removed."
"They've crossed the line," he snarled. "They've no right. I'll fix this."
"There's nothing to fix," she said tiredly, holding out the files once more. "It's already done."
"You need your Taicho's approval," he argued.
"Not when the Soutaicho overrules him," she said with a shrug, and let her hand drop back to her side. "Take the forms or not, sir, it's already over."
"You agreed to this?" he asked quietly.
"It was that or be forcibly removed into the kido corps," she said tiredly.
"So Jyuu then," he said looking equally exhausted. His friend put a firm hand on his shoulder, and he was glad for the support. At least if she had to go, she wouldn't go far. He could just spend every day over at the 13th.
"No," she said shaking her head. "It was an option, but with all due respect Ukitake Taicho, I didn't think it was the best alternative given the situation."
"I can handle his family just fine," Jyuushiro said simply. "Where else is there for you to go?"
"To my family," she said simply. "The Soutaicho wants an Ambassador to the Rukongai's power families. Luckily I happen to know a few members of one rather well."
"He's sending you into the Rukongai?" Shunsui demanded.
"That is what I just said," she answered rolling her eyes.
"I won't allow it," he snapped, thinking of all the bad things that happened to lone shinigami who made a mistake or got distracted in the lower districts, not to mention the hollows that stalked the area that weren't always cleaned up in a timely fashion.
"The beauty of this sir, is that you no longer have a vote," she replied firmly. "As I said, it's already done."
"I'll talk him out of it," Shunsui argued.
"I can't be a child forever," she said. "And it's obvious that you can't be at my side forever either. This charade ends now."
"Nanao-chan," he said, trying to alter his tone as he realized commanding her wasn't going to do him any good at this point.
"Don't you dare," she said glowering at him. "There is nothing you can do. You can't wheedle or beg me into it. It's better this way."
"How can you say that?" he asked.
"Because seeing you breaks my heart," she admitted in a quiet moment of complete honesty. "It's better this way."
"Love," he sighed out, reaching for her and hating the way she flinched away. Only a week ago she'd have melted into him, let him tease her about being grumpy, and carry her home with only a small amount of physical damage. She'd have let him change her mind, and then claim that it had nothing to do with his badgering. But now she was as distant as she had ever tried to pretend to be before they'd started dating, only this time there was no acting.
"Let me go, Shunsui," she pleaded softly. It was his name that broke him. She hadn't said it once since that day, and he'd honestly worried he'd never hear it from her lips again.
"Only in work," he said defeated. "That's never what I wanted from you anyway. I can't give up on us though."
"You will, in time," she stated and met his eyes unerringly.
"I'll walk you home," he offered, unable to get up enough energy to start another fight.
"Just track my reiatsu," she said flatly. "You'll know if I don't reach my door safely."
"When is the transfer effective?" he asked.
"Immediately, sir," she replied.
He nodded his head once and tilted his hat down over his eyes although there was no sun to block out. "Goodnight Nanao-chan. I'll see you soon."
"Goodbye, Taicho," she said tightly. "Ukitake Taicho. See that you both get home safely." She shunpoed away and he tracked her reiatsu closely, debating following behind her despite her protests.
"If you follow her it will just make things worse," Jyuushiro said, sensing his friend's indecision.
"You think if I threatened seppuku she'd relent?" he asked.
"You think she'd believe for a moment you'd actually do it?" Jyuushiro asked, quirking a smile at his friend's dramatics.
He closed his eyes briefly as he felt her reiatsu touch down safely at her home. She was supposed to be mainly moved in with him by now. Everything was wrong. "I'm going to get drunk," he stated decisively.
"Isn't that what got you into this mess in the first place?" Jyuushiro asked.
Shunsui just grunted. "At this point, what more harm could it do? I'm drinking at home. No one there for me to sleep with. Are you in?"
"If only to make sure you don't die in your own vomit," Jyuushiro agreed with a shrug.
"I knew we were friends for a reason," Shunsui joked trying to pull himself out of his morose mood and not altogether succeeding. For tonight, there was nothing more that could be done. "Come on then."
A/N: Ch-ch-changes. Sorry I had David Bowie going through my head during editing this. Nanao can't spend forever moping around the office now can she?
I'm glad you all liked the Boo Omake. I was torn when putting it up, because I was like hope they don't all hate the diversion, but I thought it was fun so I posted anyway :)
Sorry it's still slightly depressing and sad :( Unfortunately I always hated fics where the characters bounce back two days later after a breakup, friend death, etc. and are like oh ok whatever life goes on let's be happy again. So bear with me!
Till next time, please review!