Almost Home

Title: Almost Home
Rating: PG
Fandom: Bleach
Spoilers/Warnings: AU
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.
Summery: Nanao is going home.

Almost Home

Nanao sighed and fidgeted a little in her seat. Even first class got uncomfortable after twenty-one hours in the air. However, they were now just twenty minutes away from landing, and Nanao was that much closer to home. She had been away for almost three years now, and while the opportunity to do her Masters Degree abroad had been one she couldn't pass up, she had missed home. She hadn't even really been able to visit for holidays. Her school's schedule had not matched up well with the major Japanese holidays. Though she had a few visits from her people over the course of the three years. But now she was done, and she was almost home.

Home. There had been a time when that word really hadn't meant much to her. Nanao had always been fairly independent and self-sufficient. You had to be when you were an orphan. She had started out in the orphanage with her older sister, Lisa, but the two of them had been separated by the time Nanao was nine. Nanao had focused her time and energy into her school work, and her closest companions had been the characters in the books she read. It really hadn't been until she started university that things had changed.

Part of that had to do with her roommate. Somehow, Nanao's assigned roommate had ended up being Rangiku Matsumoto, a math major. Rangiku was Nanao's complete opposite in almost every way, but she had almost immediately adopted Nanao. It was Rangiku who had insisted on dragging Nanao out to social events, introducing her to all sorts of people, and setting her up on dates. The dates never seemed to work out, but Nanao had started to make friends. And for all that Rangiku was her opposite in personality, the older woman did understand her well, and Nanao soon found that she was her best friend.

The other reason for the changed had to do with one Dr. Shunsui Kyoraku, a professor in the literature department. Nanao wasn't entirely sure what is was about her that had initially attracted Kyoraku's attention, but the man had certainly focused on her. Nanao had taken one of his classes during her second term, and Shunsui hadn't let himself disappear from her life since. He had been one of the main forces encouraging her to explore the areas she was interested in and continue her studies with original research. He had also been the one to encourage her to apply to graduate school after she'd expressed an interest in maybe getting a Master's degree.

So Nanao had ended up entering the Master's of Library and Information Science program at the university, and Shunsui had changed from a mentor and teacher to a good friend. He teased her and flirted with her all the time still, but Nanao didn't read anything into it. Part of her wanted him to be serious, but the more sensible part of her was aware that if the man had been a bachelor for this long (he was rather notorious about it), she wasn't likely to change that.

But his support and friendship was dear to her, and Nanao wouldn't give that up. Shunsui had been the one to urge her to apply for her doctoral studies at one of the best universities in the field, even if that university was out of country. She'd gone through the past years getting silly emails from the man, and Nanao was pretty sure that Shunsui was behind the care packages she had received as well. She didn't know how he seemed to know just when she needed a laugh or a taste of home, but she would admit that if it hadn't been for him and his support, she didn't think that she would have gotten through the past three years without being miserable.

Probably Shunsui's best surprise had been when he'd called her just before her summer vacation to let her know that he'd be arriving in a week with a gaggle of students to visit "sites of literary interest and significance" in the British Isles, and he wanted her to come along so there would be a responsible adult on the trip. She had agreed, and it had been a fantastic three weeks. Some of the students might have been scarred for life, though Nanao had done her best to mitigate that, but it had been a wonderful vacation, and exactly what she had needed after an extremely stressful term.

A flight attendant interrupted her thoughts, and Nanao prepared herself for the descent. Just a little longer until she as home. Nanao now not only had earned her doctorate, but she was also heading home to her new job: working as a faculty scholar at her old university. She would be teaching some classes, but most of her time would be spent on her research. Nanao had barely scratched the surface with her dissertation, and she was eager to dive into her work. But she was even more looking forward to afternoons spent debating ideas with Shunsui, Dr. Ukitake, and whoever else joined them. She was looking forward to Rangiku dragging her out of her office for a night on the town. She was looking forward to being home.

Getting off the plane and going through customs took Nanao longer than she would have liked, but finally, she was released into the rest of the airport. Nanao had barely entered the arrivals lobby when she spotted the group waiting for her. Rangiku and Shunsui were there as well as Rangiku's younger brother and his girlfriend, and Gin Ichimaru who Rangiku had gotten engaged to earlier this year. They were the closest things Nanao had to family, and despite the fact that she was a little weary, she couldn't help the bright smile that spread across her face.

Nanao quickly found herself relieved of her luggage by Toushiro and Gin before Rangiku pulled her into a hug. She had a moment to recover from that before Shunsui scooped her up for a hug of his own. Nanao hugged him back letting out a content sigh. Now she was home.

Autumn Moon

Title: Autumn Moon
Rating: PG
Fandom: Bleach
Spoilers/Warnings: None.  Set just before the Winter War.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.
Summery: Shunsui and Nanao celebrate the beginning of fall.

Autumn Moon

The Seireitei took its festivals and seriously. The moon viewing was probably the biggest event during the fall, and everyone got into it. There were various parties and gatherings scattered throughout the area. Normally, Nanao and her captain would join Captain Unohana and Captain Ukitake with their Vice-Captains for the event. This year was different. Her captain had announced that they would be moon viewing on their own tonight in the human world. Nanao didn't know if it was the approaching war or that her captain simply wanted some privacy for a change, but it was rather out of character for him.

Still, Nanao dressed for the evening in one of her kimonos, uniforms have always been banned or this event. Her captain met her outside their office with a lazy smile.

"Beautiful as always, my Nanao-chan. Are you ready to go?"

She ignored the compliment and nodded. Her captain reached for her hand, tucking it in the crook of his arm.

"Come on, Nanao-chan."

A hell butterfly appeared, they stepped through the portal. On the other side, Nanao found a wood ablaze in autumn colors. The little glade was a top a hill and had a clear view of the sky. A blanket was spread out under the trees, and Nanao could smell the salt air. She knew where they were. She had been born not far from this island after all. Miyajima was famous for its maple trees in the fall.

Captain Kyoraku flopped down on the blanket and motioned for her to sit. Nanao primly seated herself across from him. This was awkward. Normally, they had other Shinigami to provide a buffer of sorts, and being alone with Shunsui Kyoraku in a social setting was still something Nanao found nerve-wracking. He solved the problem by producing snacks from someplace. Nanao couldn't help herself. The maple leaf shaped cakes with sweet bean paste had always been her favorite treat. She didn't know how he knew about that, but it really shouldn't surprise her.

Kyoraku beamed as she began to nibble at one and poured himself some sake. He made an off-handed comment about poetry which Nanao responded to, and conversation began. They managed to chat amiably as the sky grew dimmer. They both stuck to fairly light subjects: literature and art with occasional forays into music. As twilight closed in on them, both of them turned their eyes to the sky, waiting for the first glimmer of the rising moon. Nanao found that in the course of their conversation, she had moved closer to her captain or he had moved closer to her as they were now sitting only inches apart.

Neither spoke as the moon began to edge up the horizon. Nanao blinked in surprise. It was pink. She had seen red moons and orange moons, but she had never before seen a pink moon. The odd color did nothing to detract from its beauty though. The full moon was one of the largest this year. There was a soft pressure on her hand, and she found that Kyoraku had covered it with his own. She met his eyes, and Nanao suddenly found herself blushing. His other hand reached up to stroke her cheek.

"My Nanao-chan looks beautiful in the moonlight." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She shifted closer to him instinctively. Hovering in the back of her mind was the fact that this might be the last year they watched the autumn moon rise together. As reluctant as she was to give into her feelings for her captain, Nanao also knew that she might never have a chance to if she didn't soon. Kyoraku slid his fingers between her own, and Nanao asked the question that had been bothering her.

"Why did you go to such trouble for tonight, sir?"

His smile was a little sad. "I wanted the memories of my Nanao-chan. I don't know what the future holds anymore than you do, but I know better than to waste the time I have. I know Yama-ji's plans well enough to know that you won't be by my side in this coming battle, and I needed some time alone with my Nanao-chan."

Nanao warred with herself. She could lose him, but that could happen no matter what she chose. And if she was honest with herself, she knew she would regret losing him without ever really having him more. Gathering up her courage, Nanao let one word slip from her lips as she reached up and pressed them against her captain's.

"Shunsui."

Her world spun, and when it settled, Nanao was seated in her captain's lap. One of his arms was wrapped around her waist while his other hand was busy stealing her hair clip. Nanao smiled and kissed her captain again while the moon continued her journey through the sky.

Barely Breathing

Title: Barely Breathing
Rating: PG
Fandom: Bleach
Spoilers/Warnings: Set right after the Soul Society arc
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.
Summery: Shunsui can't sleep at night without doing this first.

Barely Breathing

Silent as a shadow, Shunsui crept through the halls making his way to a familiar destination. It was late, but he wouldn't be able to sleep until he had done this. He hadn't been able to sleep for the last month until he did this. Stopping in front of Nanao's quarters, Shunsui sat down, closing his eyes and concentrating. He could hear the steady sound of her breathing, and something in him relaxed.

He had been terrified during the fight with Yamamoto, but he had also been too busy for that fear to take over. He had even managed to hold it together until after the ryoka had left. But now he had nightmares almost every night about if he hadn't been quick enough in spiriting Nanao away. He was furious with the old man on a number of levels. His comments to Nanao clearly had shaken some of her self confidence that Shunsui had worked so hard to build. Nanao was young, yes, but she was also remarkable skilled and really quite mature for her age. She simply had not had a chance yet to build up experience.

But at the deepest level, Shunsui was furious because Yamamoto had hurt Nanao. Very few things caused him to lose his temper any more, but Nanao was the most precious thing in his life, and he would not allow anyone to harm her. There were times when the depths of his feelings for her scared him a little. Shunsui knew that should anything happen to Nanao, he would be utterly lost. He doubted she even realized how much she meant to him. He had always known that it would be slow going to build a romantic relationship with his beloved lieutenant, but one of the things his long life had taught him was patience. And he was making progress.

However, none of that dealt with his currently inability to sleep without checking on Nanao at least once. On the really bad nights, it was often two or three times. Shunsui also knew that soon he wouldn't have the chance to do this. He didn't how long he would be away from her once the war really started. As much as he hated being separated from her, Shunsui couldn't fault the old man's logic in keeping Nanao here. She was a strategist and had a flair for logistics making her the perfect choice of who to leave in charge of the Seireitei while they were gone. And she would be safer here than on the battlefield. Still, Shunsui didn't like the fact that he wouldn't be able to watch over her when the time came. He trusted her skills, but he was also a little paranoid when it came to her safety. That was one the reasons he was here right now.

A change in sounds brought him out of his thoughts. Before Shunsui could react, the shoji door slid open and his lieutenant stood there is a soft grey yukata and her hair down. Nanao sighed.

"Come on then." She held out a hand to him. "You're keeping me up, and we both need sleep."

To his utter surprise, Nanao pulled him inside her quarters and led him over to her futon. It was a good thing that he was already barefoot and dressed for bed because she pulled him down beside her onto the futon. Nanao snuggled into him and pulled a blanket over them both.

"Don't get any ideas, Captain. We both need sleep, and this seemed a suitable compromise. It is not going to become a habit." Despite her sharp tone, Nanao's voice was sleepy more than anything. "I expected you to behave."

Shunsui wrapped an arm around her waist. "Thank you, Nanao-chan."

"Sleep," she ordered.

Shunsui closed his eyes, and with his Nanao-chan safely in his arms, sleep came easily.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Title: Home Is Where the Heart Is
Rating: PG
Fandom: Bleach
Spoilers/Warnings: Set after the battle with Aizen
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.
Summery: Four moments after the return to the Seireitei after the battle with Aizen.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

It was over. Jyuushiro let out a deep sigh. He was sore and exhausted, but he was still alive, and so were most of the shinigami who had been in the battle. They had won. Now all that was left was the clean up and healing. In some ways, that might take longer than the battle itself. Jyuu slowly made his way back to his own division. He was heading straight to his own quarters. Thankfully, he knew that Nanao would have taken care of any work that needed to be done, and the reports and debriefing from the battle would wait.

Stepping into his quarters, Jyuushiro found a tray waiting for him with a cup of tea and a plate of sweets. He smiled. It was most likely Nanao's doing. Jyuu knew that she had disliked being left behind. She had probably spent here hours were in the Seireitei making arrangements for when they came back in order to keep herself busy. There was also a folded note. He poured himself a cup of green tea as he unfolded it.

Captain Ukitake,

I have taken the liberty of having a dinner for two sent to Captain Unohana's quarters. Please make sure she eats and rests.

Nanao Ise

He couldn't help smiling, despite the young woman's meddling. It was true that Retsu was very likely to forget about things like eating and rest at a time like this, and Jyuu knew that she was already exhausted from the work she had done during and immediately after the battle. Nanao would take care of Shunsui, and he would go and take care of Retsu. Even if it did mean giving into Shunsui and Nanao's matchmaking. It wasn't like he minded, and her presence would be soothing after everything.

Jyuushiro knew that Retsu was well and uninjured. They had spoken briefly on the journey back to the Seireitei. Enough for him to be sure that his lady had not been injured herself, but really there had been no time for anything more. He really did not need an excuse to go see Retsu, but he was grateful for one anyway. It would be easier than arguing with Retsu that she needed to take a break without any sort of reason.

He loved the woman, but she could be very stubborn about her duties as healer, even if her own health suffered because of it. Jyuu typically found that a kiss could end an argument as well, but he'd rather bride Retsu with dessert than fight with her. With a smile on his face, Jyuu head off to take a quick shower and clean up and then he'd go over to the Fourth and pay a visit to the lady of his heart. After all, it really wouldn't be a proper dinner celebrating the end of the war without her.

---

With a content little sigh, Nanao snuggled a little deeper into Shunsui's embrace. He was sound asleep which did surprise her at all. The man had been dead on his feet when he'd arrived at the Eighth Division office nearly two hours ago. Nanao had managed to get him to his quarters, and while he took a hot bath, she made sure the food she'd ordered for the two of them. She had also taken the liberty of arranging several other meals as well. She and Shunsui shared dinner, and then Nanao had tucked him into bed. He'd asked her stay, and this time Nanao hade relented.

It wasn't like she had anything else to do at the moment, and it felt good to be in his presence. She had missed him and worried over him the entire time he'd been gone. It was reassuring to be here in his arms now. He was alive and with her. The arm Shunsui had around her waist tightened, though he did not wake up. Nanao smiled softly. There would be no going back in their relationship after this. Nanao did not think that she could return to the status quo now that she had let Shunsui in, even if it was just a little, and she did not think he would let her back away now that he knew how she felt.

They would have to figure some things out still. Nanao was not going to give up her efficiently running office just because they were now involved romantically. But Nanao was no longer so reluctant to take those steps forward. But right now, the order of business was to get some rest, and here in Shunsui's arms she had no doubt that tonight she wouldn't be having nightmares. Shunsui shifted slightly and pulled her closer to him.

"Sweetheart, why are you still awake?"

Nanao smiled slightly. "Just thinking."

"Well, stop thinking and sleep. You're exhausted." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "You can think tomorrow. If I don't manage to distract you from thinking that is."

"Oh, and how do you plan on doing that?"

He leaned in so he could kiss her properly. Nanao simply let herself fall into the kiss, sliding her fingers into Shunsui's hair. Shunsui finally pulled away, leaving her a little breathless. He nuzzled her nose.

"Tease," she accused him fondly

"Unfortunately, Nanao-chan, I'm exhausted, and so are you. Go to sleep now, and I promise to fulfill the rain check tomorrow."

He tucked her back against his chest. "Now, sleep, precious."

Nanao let out a soft giggle but obediently closed her eyes.

---

Retsu smiled and slid her fingers over Jyuushiro's. She was still tired, but she was no longer utterly exhausted. Of course, that didn't mean she was going to get up just yet. In fact, Retsu knew that she was likely to doze off again fairly soon. Her bed was nice and warm. Jyuushiro was a comfortable presence at her back with one arm draped across her stomach, and Suzu, her Somali cat was a warm presence on top of the covers at her feet. Retsu was completely content to remain here for the foreseeable future.

Jyuushiro had come over this afternoon to make sure that she actually ate and rested instead of getting overwhelmed by work. And Retsu did have to admit without Jyuu insisting that she come have dinner with him. He had even had the meal sent to her quarters to make things convenient for her. It had been a lovely meal, and she had enjoyed sharing it with Jyuushiro. In peacetime they had often shared meals, and it had been a comfortable tradition. It was easy to slip back into it.

Afterwards, she had checked in with Isane, but Retsu had found that things were well in hand and going quite smoothly thanks to Lieutenant Ise's forethought and preparation. So she had let Jyuu coax her into sharing dessert and conversation with him. She had not been very reluctant in the first place. It was a joy to have him here with her alive and well. Retsu had worried about him quite a bit during the Winter War. While she knew first hand that Jyuushiro was one of the most powerful captains in the Gotei Thirteen, and that he and Shunsui together made a very good team, she had still worried about him.

Retsu had been his healer and his friend for centuries. Their romantic relationship was much more recent. Shunsui teased them both about taking their time about finally getting together. He claimed that he had known they were meant for one another since their first meeting all those years ago. But she and Jyuushiro had been cautious when it came to their hearts, and it had taken time until either of them were ready to step into something more than a friendship. But she was glad now that they had taken those steps. Retsu rest her head against Jyuushiro's chest and closed her eyes. A little more sleep would be lovely. This was not exactly the homecoming she had expected, but it was a rather nice one.

---

It was raining. Shunsui could clearly hear the sound of the rain against the roof. It was sounding like a complete downpour. Not that Shunsui really mind. He was curled up in bed with his beloved Nanao cuddled in his arms. There really was no other place that he wanted to be at the moment. This was everything he had been fighting for really. His home and the people he loved. And to keep Aizen from taking over the world too of course. But really, what had been important was protecting the people he loved.

He glanced at Nanao's sleeping face. He had been a little surprised that she had actually consented to stay with him, but then, he knew that she had worried about him while he was gone. She had hated being left behind, though Shunsui had been rather relieved. With Nanao safely in the Seireitei, Shunsui had not worried nearly as much during the battle. His fierce Nanao-chan might be a very competent warrior, but she was also one of the most precious parts of his life.

Shunsui knew that Nanao had been hesitant to open her heart. He had also known that she felt far more than she let other people see. While he would have preferred that there had not been a war and all the other trouble that had been going lately, Shunsui did have to admit that it had made Nanao far more willing to take a step forward in their relationship. He knew that he would have waited for her to be ready, but he also had to admit that it was absolutely wonderful to have her in his arms now. Nanao's presence was exactly the balm he needed at the moment. Despite knowing that the fighting and killing had been necessary, it did not make Shunsui feel much better. But being with the people he loved did make a difference.

Nanao shifted against him slightly, making a soft nose. Shunsui smiled and gently drew her a little closer to his chest. This was the perfect place to be on a wet, rainy day. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. She stirred again; this time those gorgeous eyes of her opened, and she smiled back at him.

"What time is it?" She turned a bit so she could more easily see his face.

"It feels early." He told her. "Not that it matters. I doubt there will be much going on today except rest and recovery. The party will come later."

To his surprise and delight, Nanao's response to that was, "Good. That means I have you to myself for a while."

Shunsui laughed and nuzzled her nose. "You missed me."

Nanao sighed. "I did. But don't think that gets you out of the paperwork that I know is coming. You owe me."

"I owe you more than just paperwork." He cupped her face in one of his hands and leaned in to kiss Nanao. "I believe I owe you a rain check from last night."

Pulling her close, Shunsui let everything else in his mind drift away as he concentrated on Nanao. He was home and had her in his arms. At the moment that was all that mattered.

Home Sweet Home

Title: Home Sweet Home
Rating: NC-17
Fandom: Bleach
Spoilers/Warnings: Set at the end of the Winter War.  Contains some slight citrus.
Pairing: Nanao Ise x Shunsui Kyoraku
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.
Summery: Shunsui comes home at the end of the war.

 

( Home Sweet Home )

 

How to Tame a Dragon

Title: How to Tame a Dragon
Rating: PG
Fandom: Bleach
Spoilers/Warnings: AU
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters.
Summery: When Nanao and Shunsui's paths cross, neither expects the results.

How to Tame a Dragon

Once upon a time there was a dragon. Or at least, that was what Nanao had been told. She wasn't sure she believed it. Nanao Ise was all of seven years old, but she wasn't stupid. She knew very well that sometimes adults told children things that weren't true, and Nanao had never seen any evidence of a dragon. However, it wasn't like she could really question anybody about it. She had no relatives or family in the village. Not since her sister had died last year. Nanao had been cared for after that, but it wasn't like she actually belonged to any of the families.

She was also quite aware that it was also probably the reason that she had been chosen to appease the dragon. This also didn't make sense to Nanao. She would hardly make more than a mouthful for a dragon, unless it was a very small dragon. If it were up to her, she would have been long gone. Dragon or not, she was not the type of girl who sat around and waited to get eaten. However, the villagers had clearly thought of this, and they had tied up both her hands and her feet before leaving her on the top of the rocky hill about five miles from the village. So Nanao was stuck until she could get herself free, someone came along and helped her, or a dragon showed up and ate her.

---

There were times when Shunsui really disliked the duties that came with being a guardian. Somehow it had ended up being his turn to deal with whatever appeasement scheme the villagers had come up with this time. There had been a time when all of the people in the land knew that they were under the protection of the dragons and knew the proper customs. Anymore people had some very idiotic ideas. Typically once every ten fifteen years, some village would get some stupid idea that they had to appease the dragon in order to get rid of bad luck or some such thing. They would leave some poor girl trussed up on a hilltop as an offering.

Sadly, what that actually meant was that one of the dragons would have to come and take the girl to a new home. They couldn't go back to their own village. Dragons were shape shifters by nature, so it wasn't hard to pull the operation off without giving anything away. But finding a new home for the women could be tricky and time consuming. It was duty that Shunsui tried to avoid if possible. He didn't like dealing with weepy women, and quite frankly, he'd rather be napping. But Jyuu had talked him into doing it this time, and Shunsui was stuck.

As he reached the top of the hill, Shunsui frowned and fought the urge to swear. It wasn't a young woman this time. Instead, the village had decided to sacrifice a child. He hated it when they did that. Her head was bent over her hands, and he couldn't tell if she was crying or not. Her head shot up when he approached, and Shunsui realized that she'd been trying to remove the rope around her hands with her teeth. The girl had more spunk than most of the sacrifices he met. And then he saw her eyes.

Gorgeous violet eyes that would never been seen in the face of one of the villagers. Her eyes told him more than anything that she wasn't human. But for a dragon to be in human form at so young of age implied on of two things. Either her mother had been forced into human form while pregnant and she had been born that way or the girl had remarkable control for one so young. Most hatchlings couldn't stay in a shifted form more than a day or two.

While all this was running through Shunsui's mind, the girl had been sizing him up and had clearly decided that he wasn't a threat.

"Are you going to help me or are you just going to stare?" Her voice was young, but the exasperation that tinged it would have been more appropriate in adult.

Shunsui blinked. "Of course, sweetheart."

It was the mere work of seconds to get her untied. Shunsui scooped her up in his arms before she try and get away from him. She really was just a little thing, but Shunsui could easily sense her tightly coiled power.

"What's your name, little one?"

She gave him a stern look. "Nanao."

"Well, Nanao-chan, I'm Shunsui Kyoraku. Where are your people? You're real people I mean, not the ones who left you up here."

Nanao seemed to shrink in on herself. "It was just my sister and I. She died. Her name was Lisa."

That would have been Lisa Yadomaru; Lisa was not a common name for dragons. Shunsui had met her a time or two before. She had been something of a wanderer. He would have to see if there was anymore of her family still around, but for now Shunsui was going to take Nanao home with him.

He kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, sweetheart. You're safe now. I'm taking you back with me."

She frowned a little at him. "Back where?"

"To my lair to start with. We'll see if we can find any of your people, but you'll be welcome there even if can't." Shunsui smiled at her. "We don't have any hatchlings as young as you, but no one ever really minds another hatchling."

Her nose wrinkled up, and she continued to frown at him. Shunsui was faced with the realization that Nanao might have no idea what she was. And out in the open was perhaps not the best place to work on enlightening her. In fact, Shunsui decided that they shoulder probably get out of here sooner rather than later. It would not be good if he got caught making off with the village's sacrifice by some curious villager who decided to make sure that the sacrifice went well.

"I'll tell you the story later, sweetheart. Let's get out of here before someone decides to stop us."

Shunsui didn't give her a chance to protest. He just started walking. Half an hour later, Nanao had convinced him to let her walk. There was something about this little hatchling. She was stubborn, opinionated, and acted like she was centuries older than her actual age. Shunsui didn't think he'd ever met another hatchling like her. She couldn't be over a decade old, a mere infant really. But he could that she was something special. If he couldn't find any family of hers, Jyuu and Retsu would make good surrogate parents, and Shunsui knew that they had been thinking about adopting a hatchling since they didn't seem to be able to have one of their own.

At this rate, they weren't going to get back to the lair for at least another date. That was fine with Shunsui though. He wanted the chance to talk with her and make sure that she understood that she wasn't a human before they got around other dragons. It would be an interesting conversation to say the least. Shunsui had a feeling that Nanao would take some convincing. He was also hoping to be able to coax her into shifting forms at least once before they arrived at the lair. For one thing, it would give him a better idea of how old she really was. Their age didn't necessarily translate to human form well. He smiled as he glanced down at the little girl beside him. As much as he disliked these jobs, this time it had definitely been worth it.

---

Shunsui Kyoraku was not like any other man she had ever met. He definitely was not like any of the men in the village, not even the priest. And he wasn't like any of the merchants that had passed through either. For one thing, there was the way he was treating her. Yes, he was treating her like a child, but he wasn't treating her like she was stupid. Another thing was the fact that he had actually helped her get away. No one from the village would have done that. Nanao wasn't even certain that a traveling merchant would done it either.

He also didn't talk like anyone she'd ever met either. Well, there was an odd turn of phrase that almost sounded like her sister at times, but Nanao honestly didn't remember her sister as well as she wanted to. Still, she couldn't quite figure out what was going on with this man. He hadn't tried to hurt her though, and Nanao was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. She could always leave if she felt it was necessary.

Around dusk, Kyoraku turned off the road and led the way to a small cave. Nanao assumed they were camping here for the night. Kyoraku didn't appear to have much in the way of camping gear, but Nanao figured he had some sort of plan. She did hope he had food of some sort. She hadn't eaten since before dawn this morning, and she really was quite hungry. Nanao had gone without food before, but it tended to make her cranky and irritable.

Kyoraku arranged a circle of stones for a fire, and Nanao gathered up what kindling and wood she could find. He took them from her with a smile, and once the wood was arranged to his satisfaction, the man snapped his fingers. Flames immediately leapt from the wood. Nanao blinked.

"How did you do that?" she demanded.

He grinned and wiggled his fingers at her. "I have a knack with fire. It's not one of my main talents, but it's useful."

Nanao had no idea what that meant and continued to frown at her. Kyoraku sighed.

"I guess we'll start at the beginning. What did your sister tell you about your family, Nanao?"

She bit her lip. Lisa had never really talked about their family. Nanao had some very vague memories, but that was it. Her strongest memories of their life before they came to the village involved smoke and fire.

Kyoraku sighed again. "Clearly not enough. Well then, I'll start with the basics. I didn't really know your sister, though I had met her at least once before, and I do know of her. We're probably very distantly related, but then all of us are."

His smile was gentle. "But the reason I know of you sister is because we're both the same species, and so are you. Neither of us are really human, Nanao, even if we wear their shapes well. We're both dragons."

Nanao let out a disbelieving snort. "Are you like a crazy person then?"

Shunsui just shook his head. "I'll prove it to you if you give me your word that you won't run off on me."

Nanao doubted anything was going to happen, but she was willing to wait it out.

"I give you me word."

Kyoraku moved towards the entrance of the cave. His form began to blur and to melt together and expand all at once. Nanao blinked, but the changing form was still there for another minute for it solidified into a large bronze dragon. Nanao gulped. He was quite easily larger than most of the houses in her village. Oddly enough, she didn't feel threatened by him. He was rather beautiful. Without really thinking about it, Nanao reached out a hand to touch the bronze scales. The dragon made an amused sound and turned his head to nuzzle her cheek.

:I told you, my adorable Nanao.: The voice echoed in her head.

Nanao made a face. "Like it was that believable in the first place."

The dragon blurred, and once again the man she had become familiar with stood before her.

"But it is true. Now that we've established that, shall I continue with the story?"

Nanao nodded. Kyoraku came and sat down beside her by the fire.

"I don't know what happened with your family or why you and your sister were sticking to human form. You're rather young to be able to do that for very long, but then again, you seem to have extremely good control for a hatchling. Though I would like to see if we can get you back into your original form."

"Why?"

He smiled at her. "Well, for one thing, you're going to have to do it sooner or later, so it might as well be sooner. For another, some things are easier to tell when you're in draconic form. For example, I'm not quite sure how old you are, and I have no idea what your affinities are."

"What are affinities?"

"Well, mine are air and earth with a smidgen of fire, which is how I can do that trick with the firewood. Your affinities dictate your abilities other than the basic ones of shape shifting and flight which all dragons have."

Nanao nodded. That made some sense. It would explain why various stories about dragons differed so much in what the dragon could do. "So how would I shift forms?"

"Dinner first, Nanao. It will be easier with a full stomach."

Within twenty minutes, Kyoraku had several rabbits roasting over the fire. It wasn't perhaps the best meal Nanao had ever had, but she was grateful for the food. She finished the portion he had handed her quickly and was slightly startled when the man gave her more. Seconds had been next to unheard of for her back in the village. Once she was pleasantly full, Kyoraku began to explain just how to shift forms. Some of it sounded very odd to Nanao, but given that it clearly was possible, she was willing to trust him on it. Once, Kyoraku was sure she understood the concept, he let her try it.

---

Shunsui found himself proved right again about just how extraordinary this little girl was. After two false tries, Nanao managed a complete shift. He had been right that she was young. In her dragon form she wasn't any larger than a large herding dog, making her only seven years old. That was remarkably young to displaying the abilities and the maturity she did. Nanao's scales were a delicate pearl grey with a lilac tinge which set off her violet eyes beautifully. She was going to gorgeous when she was fully grown. Even down, she was enchanting.

Her build was light and slender and clearly indicated that she had some water dragon ancestry. But Nanao's affinities were mainly air and fire. There was a little water, but Shunsui doubted she would be able to do much with that. Still, Nanao was packing quite a bit of power in her little body. And she was quite advanced for her age. He was definitely going to need to find her teachers once they got back to the lair. Shunsui had the feeling that Nanao was going to be one of those hatchlings that could get into all sorts of trouble if left on her own. She probably wouldn't mean to, but given her intelligence and abilities, it would happen anyway.

"Very good, Nanao. Can you get back to human form?"

It only took her one try to do that, but then at this point, that form was more familiar to her. Nanao settled back down in front of the fire beside him.

"Well," she gave him a look, "what did you find out?"

Shunsui chuckled. "You're seven years old, you have affinities for air and fire, and you're adorable."

She sniffed at him. "I could have told you that I was seven."

"I suppose so." Shunsui pulled off one of his haoris and wrapped it around the girl. "Try and get some sleep, Nanao."

Nanao made a face at him, but she cuddled into the pink fabric. She really was quite adorable. Shunsui smiled. He doubted she would stay awake much longer. It had been a long day for her, and he doubted that she was used to spending most of her day traveling. Even such an extraordinary little hatchling had her limits. As he had expected, Nanao was asleep with ten minutes. Shunsui smiled and made sure that she was warmly covered by the haori. This one time he didn't mind deal with the villagers' latest appeasement scheme.

---

Jyuushiro Ukitake bit back a smile as he watched his adopted daughter bully his best friend into dealing with the paperwork at hand. Dragons didn't actually go in for much paperwork, but some records were required, and Shunsui had always hated dealing with it. And he had been quite good at avoiding it. At least, until he had brought home a little hatchling five decades ago.

Nanao was a bright little hatchling, and Jyuu and his mate had adopted her almost immediately. Shunsui had always had a soft spot for her, in part because he was the one who found her. And oddly enough, Nanao seemed to have developed a fondness for him, even if the older dragon constantly exasperated her. Shunsui had actually ended up teaching her when it came to her affinity for air as he was only one in their lair with a comparable strength in that element. And Jyuu hadn't been able to help but notice the wistful look that had started to appear on Shunsui's face when he thought that Nanao wasn't looking.

The two of them were really a well matched pair. Nanao made certain that Shunsui dealt with the necessary things he was all too apt to avoid, and Shunsui kept Nanao from taking life too seriously. Jyuushiro had honestly expected one of them to make a move before now, but then again, Shunsui had probably been waiting until Nanao was completely considered an adult. Of course, Nanao was nearly a decade past that now. She would be fifty-seven on her next birthday, and fifty was the end of a dragon's adolescence. So hopefully, Shunsui or Nanao would do something about their relationship soon. At this point, the entire lair was in on the betting pool, and it had to pay out sometime.

It was a little ironic though. Nanao had been left where Shunsui found her in order to deal with the dragon that they had thought was causing their troubles. And they had attracted a dragon's attention, even if the situation wasn't what they thought it was, and Nanao had been the right choice of sacrifices. Because, really, the only way to truly tame a dragon was to have him fall in love with you. And Nanao was the only one who had ever managed to tame Shunsui.