Unwritten

a/n: This story, as a ficlet series, does move a little quickly, but I hope you enjoy it nevertheless. We're on the second to last part! Thanks to everyone who's given this a try!

It amuses me that everyone enjoyed Shunsui so much. You'll see more of him, sorta. I promise!

Enjoy!

Oh, and a big thanks to my reviewers! I wouldn't continue this without you! Thanks to satterb, Ibelen, Darkephoenix, MasterAkira, Kuromei, and Yakumo!

Unwritten
Part Three

The captain-commander had a voice fit to put anyone to sleep, even those determined to prove themselves as full-grown men. Especially when he droned on and on about topics that weren’t of interest, such as reminders for divisions to be careful in their use of allotted supplies since the budget wasn’t limitless. And reports on the decreasing Hollow activity. Or requests for capable Shinigami to fill still-open positions. The usual.

With Toushirou’s new maturity, he was determined to stay awake and listen to Yamamoto-soutaichou all the way through. However, his determination was nothing against the old man’s ability to cause drowsiness. He faltered where he stood, swaying back and forth between Kyouraku – who kept shooting him amused and knowing looks – and Kurotsuchi who sneered for seemingly no reason at all.

It wasn’t even important things they were discussing. Yamamoto just held these weekly meetings to prove that he was still alive and well and no one should get any ideas of succession in their head. Toushirou had seen Kurotsuchi eye the captain-commander’s position once or twice. And even Soifon had given it a covetous glance or two.

Che. Toushirou didn’t want it. Way too much responsibility and stress for him. He had enough trouble controlling the Shinigami in his own division, much less everyone else’s. The captain-commander could have that headache.

The sound of Yamamoto’s cane rapped against the floor, knocking Toushirou from his reverie. He jumped as if startled and realized that the old man had called an end to the meeting. And five minutes early. Small favors.

Toushirou dragged a palm over his face, trying to wake up as he and the other captains of the Gotei 13 filtered out of the first division chambers. He stepped into painfully bright sunlight, wincing against the terrible illumination. He really did prefer winter.

A hand settled on his arm. “Toushirou?”

He would know that voice anywhere. Toushirou felt tingles where those gentle fingers touched and tried not to blush as he turned to look at Jyuushiro, who was carefully leading him away from the throng and off to the side, out of the way.

“Ukita-- Jyuushiro was there something you needed?” he asked, hoping he sounded professional and not all starry-eyed hopeful like he was at the moment. Toushirou felt himself practically beaming, stomach all aflutter at being able to call his name. Loved the syllables as they rolled of his tongue and --

By the gods! He sounded like a love struck teenage girl!

Jyuushiro smiled at him. Toushirou felt his heart skip a beat.

“Nothing work related, I assure you,” the older man replied softly.

“Even better,” Toushirou said, the response slipping out of his mouth before he could stop himself. It betrayed his emotions entirely.

Something glinted in dark eyes. “Precisely,” Jyuushiro returned, and there was an edge of a hum to his voice.

Beyond him, Toushirou caught sight of Kyouraku lingering on the perimeter watching them. He remembered the conversation with the other man, and pure determination kept the tips of his ears from burning.

“Errmm, okay,” Toushirou said quite intelligently and hated himself for not being more eloquent. Where was the scowling, frosty captain of before? The one who barely managed to get Matsumoto to do her paperwork?

But Jyuushiro’s hand was still on his arm. Toushirou looked down at it, admired the long and elegant fingers. Perfectly clipped and even nails. Strong hands capable of strong things with a hint of callous that no manner of moisturizing could cure. And he’d bet his paycheck this month they were skilled. In all manner of things.

“Imagine what centuries’ worth of experience could be,” Kyouraku had said.

Toushirou swallowed thickly. He forced his eyes to lift back towards the safety of Jyuushiro’s face.

The man grinned. “Thank you for the gift,” he murmured, squeezing Toushirou’s arm warmly. “It was much appreciated.”

Considering that all the information had come from Kyouraku, Toushirou felt a little guilty for taking credit. Though he had been the one to wrestle it away from another avid collector. Fair’s fair, he supposed.

“You’re welcome,” Toushirou commented after a moment of hesitation. “I’m glad that you liked it.” He tried not to let the rising flush grace his cheeks at the look Jyuushiro sent him, one that said he had definitely liked the gift.

“I do. I really do,” Jyuushiro continued and finally dropped his hand from Toushirou’s arm, though the younger captain lamented the loss of the touch. “I would like to return the favor.”

“You don’t have--”

“I want to,” the older man assured him before Toushirou could intervene, not wanting Jyuushiro to do anything out of some polite obligation or anything. “There’s a celebration in the first district--”

“--the Lantern Festival--” Toushirou clarified, remembering with some fondness participating in that every year when he had lived in Rukongai. It was one of the few he had actually enjoyed. Back when Hinamori was still sane and his grandmother was alive and he hadn’t yet met Hyourinmaru. Simpler, gentler times.

Jyuushiro grinned again. “Precisely. Would you like to attend with me?”

Toushirou blinked. That couldn’t possibly sound like he wanted it to sound. Jyuushiro couldn’t be asking him on a date, could he? Did this mean Toushirou hadn’t screwed things up entirely?

Something like excitement bubbled up inside of him, threatening to cover his face in a curtain of glee. His belly fluttered again, a thousand jigokuchou dancing inside of him. And he knew that he had to look like an absolute idiot in that moment.

“I did plan to go,” Toushirou commented after he had calmed himself. Trying and failing not to sound too eager.

“And festivals are always better enjoyed with friends,” Jyuushiro agreed, eyes sparkling as he tipped his head to the side. “Can I count on your presence then?”

Friends? Toushirou felt his hope dwindle and die slowly. Just friends? That was it?

Well, he supposed if that was the best he was going to get, he’d have to deal with it. He wondered if Jyuushiro was ever going to see him as anything more than a child. As something other than a fellow captain. But then, he had a sudden and worrisome thought that perhaps he had been put into the same category as Kyouraku Shunsui. One that included the best of friends who could be relied on for anything but were never going to be viewed as someone to desire.

Of course, a greater fear entered the picture after that thought. Was Kyouraku going to be there as well?

Toushirou really, really hoped not. The last time he’d spoken with the man, there had been pictures, diagrams, and enough embarrassment to last him for the next couple centuries if not more. He wasn’t sure he could face the shame of those damn knowing eyes and drunken smile.

Fighting back a shudder, he glanced up at Jyuushiro. “Will anyone else be joining us?” he asked and hoped that he didn’t sound too hesitant.

Jyuushiro chuckled, as though reading his mind. “If you are asking about Shunsui… then no, he won’t be coming. From what I hear, Ise-san has somehow managed to put him into lock down. It will just be us.”

Us.

Toushirou rather liked the sound of that. Even if they only went as friends. Even if he spent the entire time doing nothing more than talking and feeling his heart thump in his chest. Even if it broke afterwards.

Dammit. Why were these things always so damn difficult?

“Sounds like a plan,” Toushirou agreed then. And though it sounded like the end of a conversation, he found himself lingering.

Jyuushiro lingered, too. And they looked at each other, a soft smile on Jyuushiro’s face that made something in Toushirou tingle excitedly. Made him know that this was probably a very bad and painful idea but that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Jyuu-chan!”

Kyouraku’s loud and obnoxious holler echoed through the grounds of the first division, rattling along the walls until they rumbled in Toushirou’s eardrums. He watched as Jyuushiro cringed and looked away, breaking the strange spell that had woven between them. Toushirou blinked, but his companion was already heading away, muttering under his breath.

“I’ll see you this evening, Toushirou,” Jyuushiro said, pausing briefly to wink over his shoulder before he continued towards where Kyouraku waited.

Really, Jyuushiro indulged him too much.

“Yeah, later,” Toushirou returned quietly, anticipation coiling inside of him. And then, he turned to his own division where Matsumoto was no doubt sprawled and snoring over the couch, having accomplished nothing in his absence.

Some things never changed. And yet, he thought with a fond smile that some things possibly did.

-------------

“I didn’t know there would be so many people here,” Jyuushiro commented, raising his voice to be heard over the noisy press of people.

Blue-green eyes darted around, taking in the hundreds of lanterns that lit the long walkway in front of them. Varying in shape and size and color, candles bobbing within their paper shell, they lined the length of the festival. Children giggled and played, darting through the crowd while parents looked on indulgently. The smell of festival food filled the air – a mix of frying dough, frying seafood, and baked goods.

Toushirou didn’t much like crowds, but being with Jyuushiro made it a little easier to bear. He looked over at the older man, who had pulled his hair into a messy bun on top of his head in deference to the lazy heat. On anyone else, it would have looked ridiculous. Or maybe that was just the sheer and utter infatuation speaking.

“It’s a tradition,” Toushirou finally answered and forced himself not to stare, to look at something else lest he be caught mooning like some lovesick fool. “And since the festival only lasts a day, everyone comes at once.”

“I noticed,” Jyuushiro teased gently, and his interest swung to the side, captivated by the brightly colored lanterns bobbing in the wind.

Just like a child. It was kind of cute. Toushirou couldn’t help but think just how much of a date this seemed like. Everywhere he looked, it was either families or couples. Women hanging on the arms of their lovers, giggling girlishly. Men wrapping around their dates and puffing up with pride. Husbands and wives with children attached to them or in some cases propped on their father’s shoulders. He was sure there must have been some just friends here, but they were always in large, loud groups.

He wondered what he and Jyuushiro looked liked to them. He knew with their similar coloration that some might think them related, like the newcomers to the Shinigami still occasionally did. That they were father and son or possibly brothers. But then, they didn’t act the part. Of course, they didn’t behave like a couple either. Or did they?

Maybe he was just thinking too much about this.

“Toushirou?”

He blinked out of his thoughts, turning to look at his companion. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I asked if you were hungry.” Jyuushiro looked concern.

Toushirou suddenly realized he’d probably been staring into space. Putting too much thought when he should be enjoying himself. He internally winced at that.

“Sure,” Toushirou answered and glanced around for a suggestion. “There’s some okonomiyaki over there. Or yakidango.” In fact, both sounded delicious to Toushirou, whose belly rumbled with interest. “The takiyaki is pretty popular...”

They continued walking, and Toushirou narrated what he knew to be available, his memory a bit spotty after the years but coming back to him the more he tried to recall. He reminded himself that they were here to have fun together, and he really needed to try enjoying himself. He would worry about meanings and purpose and definitions later. Otherwise, he might miss something now.

Conversation was difficult because of the noise, but somehow, they managed. The two of them wandered through the festival, taking part in many of the games but having little luck in obtaining victory. Jyuushiro picked out a lantern for himself, something on a light blue background with two fish dancing. And Toushirou blushingly showed off his skills in a top-spinning contest which netted him some regard from the local children.

Jyuushiro went fishing for goldfish, caught several, and let all of them go out of kindness while Toushirou tried to catch a turtle to no avail. They paused to listen to one of the local groups play some music and gorged themselves silly on dango and fruit ame and other foods until Toushirou remembered that this was what it was like to have fun. He’d forgotten what it was like to relax this way. To not care what other people thought when they saw him walking down the street. To just ignore the stares and whispers and be content with the company.

He had missed it. Missed this. Missed not having to pretend to be serious all the time.

The night passed quicker than Toushirou would have expected with the thick heat of the afternoon gradually cooling with the advent of late evening. Some of the crowd lightened as younger children were taken home, asleep on their parents’ shoulders.

Jyuushiro had taken the lead, stopping off at one of the carnival games before continuing on and prompting Toushirou to follow. The noisy chatter of the crowds lightened the further they drew away from the main road of the festival. Toushirou didn’t mind that they appeared to be leaving. Too many people at once made him a bit twitchy. Besides, he’d rather spend the time with Jyuushiro. Alone.

The thought made him nearly giddy.

Jyuushiro’s purchased lantern swayed gently to match his cadence. Toushirou admired the shifting light within the paper shell, the design suiting Jyuushiro as he had initially thought at the time.

“It’s good that the weather held,” Jyuushiro remarked, the sound of flowing water trickling to Toushirou’s ears. “I feared it would storm.”

They had degenerated to talking about the weather now? Was this the inevitable apology followed by a polite “thank you for the interest?”

Toushirou panicked. His heart beat wildly in his chest. Breaking out in a sweat and having to surreptitiously wipe his hands on his hakama. The earlier good mood was gone. Evaporated like mist blasted through by sunlight.

“Yeah,” he consented and hoped it didn’t sound too glum. “Rain would have ruined the lanterns. I’ve seen it happen before.”

They found themselves at a small pond then, stocked with koi. Their bright colors were distinctly visible, despite the dim lighting. Toushirou watched their behavior as the two of them approached, all the fish immediately splashing towards Jyuushiro’s location with an innate eagerness. As if they recognized him on some level.

“Ah,” Jyuushiro began, a light flush staining his cheeks. “Fish have always seemed to like me.”

“So I’ve noticed,” Toushirou commented dryly. He secretly found that flush to be unbearably cute and sexy.

He stepped nearer to Jyuushiro, the act resulting in more than half of the koi disappearing in a flurry of emotion. Soon, there was only one brave pair who lingered closer to Jyuushiro. Toushirou sighed.

“They hate me,” he added, something he had long since learned.

“Maybe they sense Hyourinmaru’s frost,” Jyuushiro suggested, grabbing his sack of leftovers and sprinkling some of the crumbs on the water. They watched as the two remaining fish popped up to snatch each morsel.

Toushirou scowled. “Not according to my vice-captain.”

The other captain chuckled. His fingers trailed through the water and causing the koi to follow in their wake, as though eager for one more crumb.

“It could be the dragon, too,” he commented idly. “Perhaps to them, it is not unlike being watched by a cat.”

“Maybe,” Toushirou hedged. Not that it had ever truly bothered him. He watched as Jyuushiro teased the fish, the fond expression making him seem younger.

He really was an attractive man. Strands of white hair curling around his face where they had escape the tie. Dark eyes fanned by equally dark lashes. Skin that was unblemished and smooth despite Jyuushiro’s age. And a mouth that was curled in such a way that he looked more boyish than Toushirou himself.

Toushirou knew that he had to be staring and was on the verge of ripping his gaze away when explosions suddenly lit the sky. He instantly looked up to see brilliant sparks of color painting the night. They must have started the fireworks early. Normally, they didn’t start until full dark, but maybe they had wanted to beat the clouds rolling in from the west and the subsequent threat of rain.

Beside him, he noticed Jyuushiro stand. Also tilting his head towards the sky.

What was it about festivals that pretty much demanded fireworks? Not that Toushirou didn’t enjoy them, but he’d always wondered. They were nice to look at, and sometimes, they came in interesting shapes, but it was always so fleeting. Fireworks shows never lasted long, and in the end, he was left staring at a black sky, wishing it had never ended. They were sort of melancholy. Fleeting like life usual was.

More lit the night. He helplessly looked, drawn by the strong sounds that echoed around him and the faint sounds of wonder from the nearby crowd. One exploded, looking like a fall of cherry blossoms. Several followed, one after another, forming the shape of the Gotei 13 division symbols. That was pretty interesting. Maybe these were some of the Shiba specialties then. Most people from Rukongai tended to avoid mentioning the Shinigami if they could.

He was contemplating that puzzle – watching a firework that suspiciously reminded him of the old man’s bankai followed by one that looked like a burst of Getsuga Tenshou – when something brushed across his hand. Toushirou glanced down to see fingers reaching for his own and curling around. His eyes widened, staring for a moment before his gaze skipped to Jyuushiro. Who was smiling at him softly. Eyes impossibly dark but also glittering as they reflected the light of the fireworks. Looking at nothing but Toushirou himself, everything else seemingly forgotten.

Toushirou’s heart forgot to beat before suddenly trying to escape from his rib cage.

What the hell? Weren’t they just supposed to be friends?

“Jyuu--”

Jyuushiro kissed him then, and all words vanished from the tip of Toushirou’s tongue. His brain abruptly went white with static. All he could think was that he was being kissed. Lips moving. Soft, wet, and warm. So much better than anything he’d ever felt before, and no wonder everyone was so obsessed with this. Not at all like that time he and Matsumoto so Did-Not-Ever-Talk-About. Where she’d been more than a little drunk and Hinamori had just been carted off to the special quarters of the fourth division and he’d just needed someone to be with him. It had only been once and was more than fleeting, but it had almost made him swear off the whole thing for good. Especially when she’d nearly thrown up on him.

But that memory fluttered away as fingers squeezed his, and another mouth slide more firmly against his lips, the kiss deepening. Something sweet washed through Toushirou’s senses, and something else thrummed through his chest.

This was definitely not something exchanged between friends.

Jyuushiro drew back a scant few seconds later, and Toushirou sucked in a shallow breath, blinking in his surprise. He wanted to say something cool and particularly romantic. Jyuushiro was smiling at him, and Toushirou was sure he had a stupidly goofy grin on his face as well.

“That...” he began, the pop-pop of the fireworks floating to his ears, “was incredibly clichéd.”

There was a moment of stunned silence before Jyuushiro abruptly laughed, the sound carrying through the night. “I’m sorry; I thought you would appreciate the romanticism.”

“I did,” Toushirou assured him with a shake of his head. He eyed the older man, whose fingers were still intertwined with his own. “So I take it this is a date?”

Jyuushiro gazed at him, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Yes, Toushirou. Perhaps I should have been clearer.”

“No, no.” His cheeks heated. “This was good. I got the message.”

“Then, you won’t mind if I do it again?”

Jyuushiro’s mouth covered his before he could even form a response, and Toushirou actively participated this time, rather than simply allowing it in stunned bewilderment. Years of unrequited feelings washed away with the realization that they were being accepted and returned, sending a warm flush throughout his body.

“So…” Toushirou started, once the kiss ended and he’d managed to come back to coherency. “Where do we go from here?”

“I rather like the sound of we,” Jyuushiro suggested with a somewhat silly smile of his own that must have reflected the one on Toushirou’s face.

He thought of the books and guides that even now sat in a locked drawer in his desk. Though he doubted locks would prove of any deterrence to Matsumoto. Toushirou thought of Kyouraku’s encouragement and of decades of waiting. He remembered nervous flutters and uncertain emotions, and it had all boiled down to this.

And well, Toushirou really liked this.

“So do I,” he agreed.

*********

a/n: I really don't know how I managed to write something so sweet and fluffy. lol. One more chapter to go! And I think you'll like it! Since it has that promised reason for an M rating in there. *grins*

I look forward to your comments!