It was always the same dream. The same memory. Shunsui Kyoraku, her powerful captain, was laying crumpled on the floor. Everything else around him was foggy but he was there, dying. Shunsui was staring at her with one eye, the socket where his other eye used to be now gushing blood. Thick, clotting purpleish reddish blood, growing more and more uncontrollable with each passing moment. Her hands were always on his chest and while her mouth chanted healing kido but it wasn't working. Blood was pooling around his body and his face was paling.

"Captain." Nanao was shouting.

"You-you're failing…" Shunsui was whispering.

More and more color drained from his face. More and more blood stained the ground.

"You're failing me, Nanao." He whispered. And then he was gone

"CAPTAIN!" She screamed. "CAPTAIN!"

She woke with a jolt, but this time she wasn't in her bed. She was at her desk. Folders she had neatly stacked were now laying this way and that on her desk. Her pens were out of order. The silence in the room was palpable. The other members of squad 8 were off on rounds but Captain Kyorukau was there. And Genshiro was just walking in, but he was stopped at the door. They both were staring at her. Nanao was very much aware of her elevated heart rate and spiritual energy. She took a moment to collect herself, she re-stacked the files and put all her pens away.

"Nanao-" Shunsui began with a frown.

"I apologize sir. I didn't sleep well last night and the effects are stronger than I anticipated. Please forgive this lack of professionalism." She strung the words together quickly, cutting off any chance of him butting in. "Please excuse me for the rest of the day. I can make up the time this weekend."

"That won't be necessary." The Captain responded. "Please get the rest you need. Genshiro and I can handle the rest."

Nanao didn't believe that but at the moment it didn't matter. She just needed to get out of there. Without grabbing any files or folders Nanao left the room as quickly as possible. She headed straight for her quarters. The look in their faces was too heavy for her to think about. She didn't want to have to see them anymore.

"Genshiro," Shunsui began casually, "Nanao said she didn't sleep well last night. But if my guess is correct, I would venture to say this is more than a one night problem."

"I would venture to say you were correct sir."

"You're a quiet man, but I know she trusts you." Shunsui continued. "Has she expressed any concern about her rest?"

Genshiro paused for a moment. He didn't want to betray the trust of a friend who was as close to him as a daughter. But at the same time, he had seen the circles deepening under her eyes. Her fingers had trembled too many times in his presence for him to brush it off. When he had confronted her she explained what was happening. The sleepless nights. The endless daily anxiety. He offered her help, and a place to stay with his wife but she refused, politely. Still, Genshiro knew now was the time to inform his captain.

"She has sir. Sleep has eluded her for, well, for some time now."

"I sir." Shunsui sighed. "You're a good man, a good lieutenant. I can tell she trusts you."

"Thank you sir." Genshiro nodded.

"But next time you need to bring this to me sooner." Shunsui said sternly.

"I will Captain Commander." Genshiro gave a curt nod and began to go through the files on Nanao's desk.

"Leave those." Shunsui ordered. "Go keep tabs on the other's posts. Inform them Lieutenant Ise will be taking some time off and they'll need to pick up the slack around here."

"I will sir." Genshiro nodded again. "Are you going to go to her sir?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Nanao's quarter's were very much a reflection of herself. She had very little decor at all. The furniture and layout were simple and clean. Her robes were lined up in her closet neatly. Her underwear was folded tightly in her drawers. All of her dishes were put away. Everything was under control. Even the bed was tightly turned down.

Maybe this is why I can't sleep, she thought as she took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose, everything is wound too tightly. Including me.

She showered and changed into comfortable new clothes. She undid her hair and let it sweep down past her shoulders. After so many nights of restlessness the thought of even attempting to sleep was irritating her. Even the thought of sitting down to rest bothered her. She was a live wire left too close to water. In a matter of time a spark would happen, and not a good spark. Why couldn't have good dreams, like she used to have? Dreams of his hands, his lips. The way they felt against her skin. Those were never as real as this one. Those never made her shiver and wake up in cold sweats. Maybe she should talk to someone?

"Or maybe I should quit…" Nanao wondered out loud.

"You know I wouldn't allow that." Shunsui countered.

"Sir! How long have you…why are you in my house? Why did you let yourself in?"

"The door was ajar." He responded. "That's not like you, Nanao. I've sat outside your door with serenades for days just to get behind your lock. To no avail. Today I walked in without you noticing. It's dangerous. Are you alright?"

He was met with silence. She stared at him, violet eyes wide, and just shrugged.

"Sit down with me please."

He was her captain, she had to comply. She sat straight backed next to him on the loveseat. Normally this proximity to him would bother he because he would be flirting and distracting her. He would find little ways to brush her hand, her shoulders. Event through the thick soul reaper robes Nanao could still feel his energy, and she knew he could feel hers. That night she felt more vulnerable than she had in a long time, and he wasn't even touching her at all.

"You aren't sleeping." He said.

"Not well. No." She admitted. "I keep having this dream about you."

"Well," He smirked. "I was hoping to end up in your dreams. Though I wanted them to be good dreams. This doesn't sound like a good dream."

"It's a memory really." Nanao stared down at her palms in her lap as she told him, "You laying there with your eye damaged and blood all around you. I'm trying my best to heal you but I can't. It's not working. The blood keeps pouring out thicker and thicker. And then you tell me, you tell that I've failed. And then you're gone. And I'm left with your blood and your body."

When she was finished she turned to look at him. He took both her hands in his. His energy was soothing and heady, like a rich wine before supper. The muscles in her back began to unravel, just a touch.

"You didn't fail me that day."

"I couldn't save your eye."

"But you saved enough of me for Isane and the others to patch me up as best as they could. I lost an eye but I could have lost much worse." Shunsui shook his head. "You've never failed me Nanao."

When she shook her head to argue he placed her hand on his chest.

"You've never failed me." He repeated firmly, pushing his energy even further into her. More and more her muscles relaxed and she began curl in toward him. Nanao sat up and repositioned herself over him, so that she was seated in his lap. She didn't say anything. Her hand was on his chest, just like it was in her dreams. She placed her other hand on his chest and spread her fingers over his skin as if she was pushing healing kido into him. Except this time she wasn't chanting. The warmth of his skin was so real, so different from the cold flesh her mind had grown used too. Shunsui pulled her closer. Her left hand ran up to his face and she traced the line of his eye patch from the top of his head to the empty socket it protected. Her thumb brushed over it lightly.

"It's not pretty." He whispered.

"That's alright." She smirked. "You have enough pretty already."

He quirked an eyebrow. Was she flirting with him?

Her right hand was carefully tracing his facial features as her left hand settled gently against his chest. She finished outlining his lips and then lastly swept gently down the bridge of his nose.

"I've always loved your nose." Nanao leaned in and placed a gentle kiss against it. Then she kissed his good eye. And then finally, she lowered her lips against his. This kiss was deeper, firmer. It demanded that he participate. He responded eagerly, matching her pressure, settling into a rhythm with her. When her tongue teased his lips his arms tightened instinctively around her. Nanao gasped and he broke the contact.

"I'm sorry," Shunsui began.

"No it's alright," Nanao whispered and pulled him closer. "It's alright..."

"You're exhausted."He responded pulling her in to lean against him. She pressed her cheek tightly against his throat.

"But you're here and you're real." She fought weakly.

"Let me come back and show you just how real I can be." He growled. "But for now you need to rest my Nanao-chan."

"But when is sleep the sweetest?" She teased. The thought of being physically separated from him now was agonizing. She began to pepper his throat with kisses. He groaned slightly. Nanao trailed kisses up his jaw to his lips. He captured her mouth once more.

"Another time my sweet." He gave her one final kiss. "Now I give you an official order to rest."

She pouted but he held firm. Nanao walked him to her door. He turned to her before leaving.

"Will you return to work tomorrow and pretend this didn't happen." Nanao nodded. "But after work I won't."

He smiled before shunpoing away. He took her final words as a challenge. Despite his laziness, he always liked a challenge.

Thanks for reading! Not sure where I want this one to go! Please read and review! I don't own bleach at all.